The Wasteland Strikers

A chilling fog hung over the camp like a wet blanket. Everywhere, soldiers scurried about, packing gear and loading wagons. Into this chaos walked a white earth pony, with an electric blue mane. A short sword hung at his side, and a traditional circular shield hung over his back. He approached the commander of his squad.

"Asteroid, sir!" He called out. The pegasus turned to face him. "The men are ready to move at your command."

Asteroid looked past the pony, a soldier named Thundercloud, and caught a glance of his squad. Over the past few months, the ponies had acquired a grudging admiration for him, and were finally willing to take orders. He turned back to Thundercloud.

"Good," he said before turning to address his men directly. "Listen up, you lot!" He called out. The ponies stopped fidgeting about and snapped to attention. "You all know what's going on. We're being shipped out to Canterlot. A threat has been made, and we're to ensure that the royal wedding goes on without a hitch. This will be our first real assignment, and we will be in public. So remember, be professional, and don't forget your training."

"Yes, sir!"

"Alright then, let's move out!"

...

Rubble reached up to swat at a fly that had been bothering him for the past few minutes. Nightshade, the guard next to him, moved his eyes to watch. Without adjusting his gaze, he muttered out of the side of his mouth, "You know that we're not supposed to move."

"What difference does it make? No pony is here to see us. They're all at the ceremony!"

Nightshade grunted, then resumed his position. Just then, a mare strode through the front door.

"Excuse me, sirs," she said in a slightly slurred tone. "Is this where the wedding is?"

"Yes, ma'am." Replied Rubble. Nightshade stared at her for a second, then his eyes narrowed. Rubble didn't notice this."I need to see an invitation for admittance."

The mare nodded. "Oh yes, my invitation, it's right he-GLCCCKKK!"

Her eyes went wide as a curved, shining dagger ran across her throat. Her eyes rolled up, and she crumpled to the floor. Rubble's mouth opened in shock, and he turned to his partner, whose horn was glowing the same color as the dagger.

"Nightshade, what did you do? That was-" he trailed off as the body of the mare in front of him began glowing a sickly green, then transformed into a hideous insectoid creature.

"It was a changeling," Nightshade calmly said. He then used his magic to pull out a second dagger. "C'mon, where there's one, there are always more." With that he ran off. Rubble took one last look at the body, then drew his sword, muttered a curse under his breath and ran off to join his partner.

...

Longshot hated changelings.

Ever since he had been a foal, the images in school books had always frightened him. The insectoid wings, the curved fangs, the holes in the legs: They were the creepiest things he'd ever seen.

And now there was a whole army of them.

He loaded his crossbow, held in one hoof while his mouth loaded bolts, took aim, and fired. Another changeling fell out of the sky, it's head impaled by a solid metal spike. Suddenly, he heard a buzzing behind him. He turned around. A changeling had snuck around his rear, and was lunging towards him. He held up his crossbow in front of himself.

THWACK!

He lowered his crossbow. The changeling had been decapitated by a halberd. He turned to the source. Another earth pony, almost identical to himself with the pale orange coat and deep blue mane, had decapitated his enemy. He grinned.

"Thank's, sis." He said. His younger twin sister, Pole Arm, nodded in reply, then spun around, chopping up another changeling. Satisfied that his back was guarded, he turned around.

"Hey!"

A voice cut across the battlefield, and both twins turned to look. Racing toward them was Breeze, nimbly flying around incoming changelings. He landed neatly next to them. They both raised their weapons.

"Easy, it's okay. I'm the real deal."

Longshot's eyes narrowed. "Prove it."

Breeze grinned. "You threw your plate at me back in training. It hit me right in the face, and I earned the nickname 'Spaghetti mane.'"

Longshot and Pole Arm lowered their guard. "So, what brings you here?" Longshot asked.

"The squads regrouping over on 32nd street, in the hospital. We've got some other survivors in there. You two are the last one's I found."

Longshot grinned. "Sounds like a party. What are we waiting for?"

...

Across the city, in a house that appeared to have seen better days, a small group of ponies were gathering. Many refugees had fled, taking refuge in the house. These ponies were now crowded into the kitchen, a small room at the center of the house. Throughout the rest of the house, Asteroid and his squad had set up defenses and were trying to beat back the furious changeling offensive.

With a loud bang, another small group of changelings burst into the house through the front door. They quickly found themselves face to face with a massive golden unicorn. Gritting his teeth, Bright Shield raised a wall of magic in front of himself and charged. The changelings tried to push back, but they could not hold back the stallions wrath. He slammed them out of the door, sending them flying down the street. Bright Shield slammed the door shut and pushed a couch in front of it just as another wave of changelings began their assault. One of their horns stuck through the door and stabbed his hoof. Growling, he pulled back.

"We're getting nowhere with this!" He shouted. "We need to go on the offensive, and push them back!"

Bandage, the squads healer, a short little unicorn, raced over to him. The medic's horn began to glow, and Bright Shields hoof healed. The healer seemed worn out from keeping the rest of the ponies on their feet.

"We've got a plan, but we need a little more time," He panted. Hold them off just a little longer."

Bright Shield gave an exasperated groan. "Great," He moaned.

"Quit whining," scolded Bandage. "Just do what you do best, and keep being an angry wall of meat."

Giving a scowl that could rival Celestia's, Bright Shield turned back to the door and lowered his head in preparation.

Meanwhile, in the basement, Asteroid, Rubble, and Arcane Sigil, a hot headed mare and the most magically adept of the group, were digging a hole. A few refugees had begun helping as well.

"How soon till we hit that sewer line, Rubble?" Asked the commander.

Rubble mopped his brow and looked up. "Just another inch or so, sir. I think we should call the squad down."

Asteroid shook his head. "First, we evacuate the civilians. This can't look like we're retreating until we're long gone. Otherwise, the changelings will just push in." He turned to Arcane Sigil. "Sigil, get the refugees down here. Rubble, you break open the tunnel. As soon as we have an opening, we'll fall back. Then, you know what to do."

Rubble saluted. "Understood, sir."

...

The changelings were gathered outside of the house. The ponies inside had put up more resistance than they had expected, and their numbers were cut. But they could no longer see the ponies, and the house was quiet. Finally, as a group, they began to slowly creep up on the house. The ponies within would taste sweet.

"Three, two, one, NOW!" Called out Rubble, as he kicked away a support and leaped through the hole after his companions.

Upstairs, the changelings felt a sudden shift. For a moment they were confused, then one of them looked up and gave a shout. The house was collapsing all around them. Frantically, they scrambled towards any exit. Only a few made it out.

...

In the palace, Chrysalis was eagerly awaiting news of her victory. This was the hour she had spent her whole life waiting for. And now, it was within her grasp!

A changeling entered. Chrysalis frowned. He looked quite beaten up, despite the minimal amount of resistance encountered in the city.

"You," She snapped out. "Where were you? What happened?"

The changeling looked up. "My queen," He said. "I was with the force in the lower east quadrant of the city. We encountered heavy resistance. We were about to destroy the guards responsible, but they collapsed the house where they were hiding. Nearly my entire squad was buried."

Chrysalis frowned. "What happened to the guards?" She asked.

"We didn't find their bodies, but it seems as though they were caught in the building as well."

Chrysalis grinned. Those guards may have killed her children, but they had suffered just as much. "I hope they burn in the afterlife."

...

Down in the sewers, Asteroid and his men regrouped. They had been split up, and it had taken a while to find each other. The refugees were safely hidden in a completely drained section. Asteroid looked around. It seemed that his whole squad was there, but they looked-

Scared. Helpless. He looked down. Many of them had likely lost family, and many more didn't know where there family was. He knew that his parents were out of town, but he thought back to his childhood. When his father was in the guard, and he spent every day wondering if he would come home.

And now these ponies looked to him for guidance.

It was a burden he wasn't sure he could bear.

"Do we know of any other survivors, anywhere else in the city?" He asked.

The guards looked up, shook their heads, then looked down, each lost in thought. He sighed. Then, he heard a small, high pitched voice.

"Um, ex-excuse me?" He looked over.  Standing nearby was a small filly. Her coat was filthy, and she looked scared.

"M-My mommy isn't here, and I-I was wondering if any of you saw her."

Asteroid turned to the child. "I'm sorry," he said. "We don't know. We don't really have any idea what's going on." The filly bit her lip, and it looked as though she were about to cry.

"Wait." Every pony turned to the voice. It was Arcane Sigil. "I can cast a scrying spell. It should be able to show us where your mother is."

She walked over to the filly, and her horn began to glow blue. A second later, an image was projected. It showed a mare being led in chains, along with a line of other ponies, out of one of the city gates. The squad started.

"They're...They're taking ponies out of the city?" Said Aquamarine. "Why would they do that?"

"In case they lose." Said Asteroid. He looked up. "If they take those ponies back to their homeland, then even if we somehow defeat them, they still get what they came here for." He began to pace. "But if we go after them, then we would be oath breakers. We would likely be charged with desertion, and put to death. But if we stay, then those ponies get condemned to a life of slavery."

He sighed, then looked up. His eyes were set, and determination seemed to radiate from him. "I'm going to free those ponies." He said. "If any of you want to stay, that's fine. I'm not ordering you. You can stay in this city, wait until there's chance to free it, then take it. That's fine. But I took an oath to protect Equestria, and we're the only ones who know what's happening. We're the only one's who know that those ponies are being taken." He looked at his squad. "If you do come, it is very likely that you won't be coming back. History won't remember us-Nopony will ever know what really happened." He turned down the tunnel. "If any of you do come, we will be hunted outcasts. We won't have any heroes welcome, or celebration. At the end of the day, it will be just another event in a dark day. But if you want to, then come. Come help me free those ponies."

His squad looked at each other. None of them said a word. Then, suddenly, Rubble spoke up. "I said I'd follow you, sir, and I meant it. You can count me in." And he walked over to stand by the pegasus. One by one, the rest of the squad moved over to stand by their leader. When they were all standing there, Asteroid turned forward.

"C'mon, then. Let's go do our duty."