Equestrian Conflict

Today was a very important day for Twilight Sparkle. She had set today aside specifically for her nationwide Celebration of Friendship. In cities all across Equestria, shops were closed, stands were set up, and everypony in the land was getting ready to Twilight's address to the citizens. Even the other princesses were out partaking in festivities. In Ponyville in particular, ponies from across Equestria and even some foreign dignitaries had come to see the decorations and hear the Princess of Friendship speak in person. Unfortunately, Rainbow Dash was in Cloudesdale on a three day flight class. Applejack was in Appleoosa. Apparently there was a new planting technique that Braeburn wanted to show her. Nonetheless the parties went on.

As the sun approached high noon, Twilight stepped up to her podium set in town square. As far as she could see, ponies were lined up. The square and streets were full. Ponies were packed in shoulder to shoulder. Twilight took a breath to calm herself before beginning her speech. She lined up her cards and cleared her throat. Everypony went silent.

"Good afternoon fillies and gentlecolts, griffons and hippogriffs, and all other members of our audience. Today is a day that I shall commemorate to the Celebration of Friendship in all its forms. Friendship is truely-."

A low humming seemed to emanate from somewhere. There was a short buzz sound as a building just off the square exploded in a ball of fire.  Immediately panic broke out. Ponies ran for shelter. Others tried to put the fire out. The fist explosion was soon followed by several others. The pegasi took off to get away and give the earth ponies and unicorns space to move. Twilight tried to fly to help the ponies who were trying to keep order. Her tail was grabbed by one of her guards and she was pulled back to the ground. It was one of her guards.

"My apologies, Princess. We need to get you somewhere safe."

"What? No! I need to help these ponies any way I can." Twilight was acting on impulse.

Several more explosion blew up more of the buildings around Ponyville. The sky was starting to fill with smoke.

"No time to argue!"

More guards were emerging from the town. Twilight was escorted, rather forcefully, back to her castle. As soon as she was clear of the scene, two machines flew through the smoke. They had propellers on the tops of them and short wings sticking out of the sides. They were definitely helicopters, but not Equestrian made. The sides slid back revealing ponies in suits holding a weapon of some sort on a pedestal.

One of the guards called out.

"We're under attack!"

A loud, constant "Pat-Pat-Pat" was heard, as the helicopter's weapons began to shoot into the guard's ranks. Nearly a dozen fell. The guards tightened their ranks and closed gaps with shields. Their weaponry was nearly useless compared to that of their adversary. More buildings exploded as the bombardment continued.

From the ranks, several pegasi charged the helicopters. The enemies were not expecting this. Some of the soldiers fell from the sky, but most made it to their targets. The ponies on the weapons were skewered on their spears, and the pilots were ripped from their seats. The two helicopters flew out of control into the ground nearby.

The explosions had stopped. The ground grumbled, nonetheless.

The captain called to reform ranks. The ponies formed up, ready to face whatever came next. Several large vehicles bearing long cannons emerged from the smokey haze that covered the ground. These vehicle were bright red, and had massive cannons on them. There were more machine guns mounted on top. They shook the ground as they moved, on treads instead of wheels.

The tanks halted once in full view. A red pony wearing a hat and uniform poked his head out of the top of his machine.

"Greetings, Captain. You should know, it is not often I get to meet my rival face-to-face." He spoke with an accent, yet if he was foreign, he knew the language well. "I will be pleased to accept your surrender. In exchange, you and each of your troop will be granted a life in the new Equestria we will create."

The captain stood at the head of his troop. "Get your sorry plot off our land, and go back to Tartarus where you belong!"

In reply, the enemy commander grunted. "So be it."

He re-entered his tank, and the Equestrians raised their spears and shields. All three, for the road was only wide enough for three, began to fire more guns into the ranks. The shields, made of nearly two inches of solid iron, held. Every now and then, a shot would find its way through some hole in their ranks. The captain was struck down, but his last order was an all out charge on the armored opponents.

His charge was shot lived. The moment they broke rank, the lead ripped through their line. The slaughter was over. The pegasi fled to Twilight's castle, moments before the shield went up. Most of the town was crammed into the throne room.

The armor worked its way through the town, following the pegasi. They arrived and found an angry Twilight Sparkle with a scared baby dragon.

Again, the tank commander emerged from his hiding place. "Hello. Princess Celestia, I presume?"

Twilight was very angry. "Go! Just go away and leave Equestria alone!"

The commander refused. "No. You see, we're in the middle of something very important and need your co-operation. Its for the best."

"You come here, you destroy my town with fire, you kill my guards, and you expect me to just help you? You're psychotic!"

"I prefer the term, spirited. You will help us, one way or another. Alicorns are powerful, but they are just as vulnerable as any other pony."

Twilight held her head up high. The commander shrugged.

"Very well, the hard way it is. Corporal, get the drill." More tanks had lined up and nearly surrounded the castle. A new tank emerged, only instead of a turret and guns, it had a massive drill with gemstones on the blade. It approached Twilight's shield and began to spin, as it ground away.

As the day went on, Twilight began to get a serious headache. She tried to contact Celestia and Luna in Canterlot, but its shield went up almost at the same time Twilight's had. Instead, she wrote to Applejack.

The infantry finally made its appearance as well. The tanks were parked and the crews set up a camp. Rows upon rows of tents dominated the town. Hundreds of tanks were in line. The Battle of Ponyville was over. The Siege of the Castle had begun.