Rise of the Imperial Pony Empire

Chapters

A new home
The Counsel of Settlements.
Revelation
The Battle for Vanhoover
Meeting of empires: SE and IPE
Meeting of empires: NLR and IPE
Operation: Sun-Fall: The beginning-Part 1
Operation: Moon-Down: Invasion-Part 1
Prologue
The plan begins

A new home

Act: 1 Rising.

A odd mare trots into the neutral town of Arthrenia. She was dirty and bruised from the long walk. Her mane was messed up and dirty, her hooves were sore from the walking.

The township were curious of this new arrival, to see one looking in such a state would bring suspicion to anyone at this time and age. Ponies were staring at this newcomer as she makes her way to the town inn near the middle of it.

The inn doors open as the new mare enters attracting all inside. She starts to stumble as she walks in towards the bar, attracting even more attention, even the band has stopped to watch her. Tears were streaming down her face as she fights the pain from her limbs and from emotions.

Finally, she falls. Ponies near her get up to catch her only to be too late as she hits the floor and passes out right then and there. The last thing she sees before blacking out, was a stallion and a mare bending over her.

Location: Arthrenia clinic, North of Canterlot and Cloudsdale

The mare wakes on a fluffy bed to a blinding light above her. Groaning as she rubs her eyes and slowly sits up from the bed. She looks around to see medical equipment connected to her.

'The hell am I?' she thinks

As if in answer a nurse enters with her medical clipboard writing, oblivious of the mare watching her. Finally looking up from her work she gasps as she locks onto the mares eyes. She looks at the mare for a few more seconds till she rushes out of the room. The mare rolls her eyes at the nurse's reaction and lays back down on the soft bed. A few minutes later she hears hoof-steps and she looks over at the door for the nurse to enter again and a doctor as well.

"Where am I?" the mare asks.

The doctor answers, "You are in the Arthrenia clinic. What is your name?"

"My name, is BlackRose." she answers.

"Well Miss Rose, you passed out in the inn after you had entered. You looked like you have not eaten in days." the doctor informs.

"That is true I have not. Thank you for helping me."

"Of course, what kind of medical staff would we be if didn't help ponies?" the nurse says.

"Heh, true there." Rose responds smiling.

They help Rose get up from the bed by letting her use them to hold on to as she moves around. finally taking off the medical equipment on her she can finally walk but not perfectly, she just can't move fast without falling over. Finally helping her back to the bed they say they will be back tomorrow to help her get back on her hooves.

"Thank you again." Rose says with a smile.

"No problem, see you tomorrow." they say as they leave.

As Rose lays herself on the bed to sleep. 'I could get used to this town.'

The next few days were spent by Rose getting back on her hooves and eating healthy till they finally said that she was in good shape. They gave her bits and some provisions to help her out. The mayor of the town visited her once and said that she would be given a home to live in and tax protection for 2 weeks so she can settle in. Finally leaving the clinic, Rose steps into the sunlight. she raises a hoof to block the sun till her eyes got adjusted to it.

It was a busy day for the town, merchants from other villages and towns were going by, ponies working or going to work. Rose walks down the street to the said location of her home. It was a nice town, almost a city for the neutrals, it had a small guard army protecting it. The mayor said it was the largest settlement that is free from the war. He also offered to have Rose sit in the Counsel of Settlements. A union of all the neutral settlements to come together and make large decisions. Rose accepted once away so she can tell her story of woe to the Settlements.

Finally arriving at her abode, she enters it. It was a house, not a large one but one that is good for a single or 2 ponies living in it. She puts all the food within the fridge, before exploring the rest of the home. Her home consisted of, a large room, probably the living room, a kitchen, two bedrooms one with a bed, two bathrooms, one in her bedroom and one near the kitchen. She sits down on the couch in the large room to listen to the radio, a still young invention. As she was listening to music station, a knock comes from her door. She opens her eyes from her daydreaming to get up and answer it.

She opens the door to Arthrenian guard in armor and holding a spear. His coat was a black and his mane blue with a white streak through it. He looks at her with an expressionless face.

"Are you Miss BlackRose?" he asks.

Rose nods, "Yes I am."

"You are called to the Counsel of Settlements by the mayor." he states.

"Alright, let me get ready."

He nods and turns away to wait outside. It took a few minutes till she was ready. Once she was, they headed to the town hall in quiet. She looks at the face of the guard, still showing no expression.

"Um, what is your name guard?" she asks breaking the silence

"It's DeathFury." he replies without breaking a step.

Rose nods but stays quiet. Feeling uneasy, she comes up with another question.

"Whats it like here?" she asks.

"It's nice and peaceful, not many crimes or anything. Not to many abnormal things happen here.." he pauses, "other than you arriving." he finishes.

"Wait..." she thinks, "were you that stallion in the inn when I arrived?" she asks looking at him

His blank face breaks for a split-second before reforming to a blank one. "Well yes, I was on duty there when you appeared. I was also the one who brought you to the clinic."

"Oh, thank you for that." she says.

After walking a few more blocks, they come into view of a large building with marble pillars and of stone. They walk up the steps to the great doors of the place before stopping. Fury turns around to face her.

"You can go on in they will be waiting there for you." he says.

"Thank you again." she replies before entering the doors.

He grunts his response. She enters and finds a great hall with all the Settlement leaders sitting at a desk around a large one. They look at her as they hear her enter. She looks to the mayor who nods to a seat next to him. She makes her way to the spot next to him and sits down behind the desk in the chair. The Counsel meeting has begun.

The Counsel of Settlements.

Location: Counsel house, Arthenia: day 1 of meeting

The leaders sit quietly in their respective seats, waiting for the mayor to start it off. The mayor shuffles his papers on his desk and looks down at Rose. Rose looks back in turn confused at what to do. The mayor then looks back up at the room before him before speaking.

"Hello Mares and stallions, and welcome to the meeting once again." he says.

One stallion speaks up, "So what did you call us here for this time? Another water problem?"

A few chuckles come from the others as well as the mayor.

"Well no, this meeting is regarding her." he points down to Rose making most of the members look at her, some surprised. He continues, "This mare came here hurting and starving. The Clinic took her in and nursed her back to heath. I have not heard her story so this will be something for us all." He looks down at Rose, "Go ahead Rose. Tell them."

She nods, "I am from a village southwest of here. But don't go looking for it anymore...it's gone." A few gasps and murmurs go through the Counsel before she continues. "My family and friends were living a peaceful life. It all started when me and my friends saw a NLR soldier in the forest one day." More murmurs. "We told our mayor about it but he didn't believe us so he just brushed it away. A few days later, we saw a Battalion of soldiers coming to the town. I warned my parents and friends about it, they packed up and tried to leave but the soldiers had arrived right when we were about to leave. I was the only one that managed to escape and hide till they left. When I went back, all I saw were ruined houses and the occasional corpse of a pony. I don't know if my parents or friends survived but I doubt I will see them again." she stops to look down as tears started to appear and flow down.

All of the counsel members looked at her with sympathy for her or anger for the NLR, even the mayor was shocked as he looked at her.

Finally he speaks up, "This a catastrophic act, they broke the pact to not attack the Neutrals." Murmurs of agreement appear.

"We must act!" said one member standing up from his desk. "We must find a way to solve this problem!" said another. "This must be a mistake, why would they attack a Neutral?" said another standing. Soon they were fighting among each-other verbally.

Suddenly the mayor stands up and bangs the table in front of him loudly, it quiets the room as they all look at him. "Look at you all! Fighting over a solution. That was not the point of the Counsel! It was meant to bring us together to solve a problem." He looks at Rose, "We shall let her deside what to do." Rose looks at him quivering.

"M-me?" she asks.

"Yes you Rose." he says back.

"I-I say," she pauses to think, "I say we act. They broke something that was made long ago and they should pay for it. If we don't act they will do the same to all Settlements. We should unite! Become one!" she was standing in front of the mayor. "We should no longer stay Neutral! Instead lets fight back and join the game of war!" Ponies were standing up and cheering to her words. "I say we work in peace to fool them but then when the time is right, we strike!" All the ponies were now cheering her on. 'Today, is a new dawn! Rise of a new nation! Together we fight! For the rightness of all!" A loud cheer yells out from the counsel as they cheer her name. Rose was smiling at her victory in the Counsel.

Location: Counsel House, Arthrenia: day 3 of meeting

It was a long meeting for the Settlements, probably the longest ever. They spent the days discussing the economy, science research, and military. But the biggest dispute was, what will they be called?

On day 3 it was desided, they will let Rose name them, like they almost always do. They all sat in their seats and waited for Rose to begin. She waited quietly for them all to get settled, once the last one was seated she began. "Hello and welcome again to the 3rd day of the meeting. Today we shall discus the name of our new nation as well as other things. Now anypony got ideas for the name?" She asks and braces herself for the yelling. Which it came, loudly. She waited till it quieted down till she started picking out ponies to say what they think. Many of them were good, but not good enough, then she got one from her head.

"Everypony, shush!" she yells. The whole room goes quiet. "I have come up with one." she pauses for effect smirking. "It shall be called, The Imperial Pony Empire. Why is it Imperial you ask? Well we could be a science nation and have a booming military. No pun intended." She finishes to wait for the reaction. The reaction was spectacular. Ponies were cheering at the new name, cheering, "Long live the Imperial Pony Empire!" was what they were saying. Rose looks at the Mayor chuckling at their reactions. Rose joins in with the chuckle at they watch the final meeting of the Counsel of Settlements end.

Location: Capital Arthrenia

It was 1 month after the meeting of Settlements and things were going great with the young nation. The military was growing strong, setting up small bases in every town, a very large one in the new capital: Arthrenia. Tech advances were going crazy already they were creating a new weapon of war, the rifle, a six shot weapon with a mag that needs to be reloaded every time it runs out. They called the Rifle, The Lightning-bolt and sometimes The Thunder, thanks to the sound it makes and the light it generates when fired. They still would use close combat weapons but the Rifle was given to all troops unless the chose not to use it. They also managed to create well paved roads to and from the towns, the closer to Arthrenia, the better the roads.

Rose was voted to be leader of the new Empire and would oversee almost every construction as well as new inventions. The mayor was made Counsel Leader of the new Imperial Counsel of Arthrenia. Which consisted of all the Settlement leaders into one room.

DeathFury the guard was rewarded for his saving of Rose when she first arrived and was made Commander of the Arthrenia Royal guard. They were the elite of the soldiers and every military base had at least one of these Guards in it. They were also responsible for protecting the leader as well as the capital city itself.

The Imperium was growing quickly and rumors spreed to the NLR and the SE of this new unification. They both sent spys to see if it was true but they never found out because the spys they sent were always caught or killed by the Royal Guard. Eventually, the Imperium will show itself and that time is coming soon.

Revelation

2 Years after the founding of the IPE

Location: Canterlot, SE

A spy is running from the guards in the city of Canterlot, home to the Solar Empire. She was caught spying on Celestia and collecting info on military, now, she is running for her life, trying to get out of the city. She had taken out as meany as 7 guards, see didn't have time to count, but only to have more come after her. She had possibly about half of the Canterlot garrison after her. She managed to reach the courier to get the info out of the city. Now, she was trapped in an enclosed city after the gates closed in on her and was surrounded by the guards. She finally surrenders after a long chase.

The mare was now hanging by chains in the Canterlot prison. They had tortured her, giving her no mercy. She had almost died in one of the torture chambers. They had finally given up, they will just let her rot. So she thought.

Celestia herself had showed up at last, the one thing she had wanted all along. She stood proud the Alicorn, glaring down on the spy that intruded her kingdom.

"Tell us where you have come from and you shall live." she threatened.

Smirking the spy replies, "And why would I do that?"

"Like I said you will li-"

"Bullshit." she snaps cutting her off. "You say that and once I had told you would have me killed." she thinks a bit, "But then again, you probably won't know where I come from is."

"Let me guess the Lunar Republic?" she guesses.

The mare laughs.

"Whats so funny?" Celestia asks clearly un-amused.

"Well, I am from a new player in the game of war that we are playing right now. We have better Tech, better armies and better leaders." the mare answers.

"And what that place be?" she asks.

The spy smiles, "The Imperial Pony Empire."

Location: Arthrenia, IPE

Rose looks out over the massive army that had formed in preparation to march into the Solar Empire. Fury and the Mayor stands next to her watching as well. After 2 years since the founding, the Imperium entered a golden age of tech and military. They still have the good old Rifle. They made the battle armor the Troops wear, more stronger and durable as well as add a new Tech armor under the main pieces which acts like a shirt, covering their open coat that's not protected by the main battle armor. They managed to grow their land without the knowledge of ether nations. Now, it was time to go to war with almost a massive 1 and a half million strong, and still growing.

"Well I have a idea Rose." Fury says turning to her.

"Go ahead."

"There is a outpost nearby our boarders belonging to the Solar Empire. I suggest we send a small assault team to delver a message." he informs.

"Hmm.." she thinks, "Yes that would be a good idea. Give them a nice little offer to not fight us or we will crush them."

"Alright i will mobilize a force to move there now." Fury informs her.

She nods, "Good luck Commander."

As he heads off into the keep of Arthrenian keep, Rose turn back to the army in the streets. They were singing a march as they paraded through the city. She smiles, as she starts to sing alone with them.

Location: West Boarder of the IPE

The squad of troopers start to enter the Solar Empire on the west toward the small base set up near the city up ahead. One of the guards near the base entrance spots them and yells to alert the others within the base. Some of the troopers bring their Rifles to bear instinctively, only to have them lowered by Fury.

"Don't worry, let them see us. "We will give them a surprise." he says.

The guards approach the strange dressed men with weapons ready. Stopping a good few inches away from Fury the ask, "Halt. What are you doing here? This is restricted area." says the main guard.

"Don't worry we want to give you all something." Fury replies calm.

The guard grunts, "We don't want your stupid bribes, you're probably from the NLR." he brings his weapons to bear as well as the other guards.

"Whoa, now we are not from the NLR but the IPE." Fury states.

The guard wavers, "Uh what?"

"The IPE." Fury says again.

Some of the guards start to laugh. "What kind of bandit clan is that?" he asks before a sound goes through the air and he falls over with a bullet hole in his head, going clean through the armor on his head. The other guards stop laughing to stare at their dead comrade. They then look up at the Troopers who had their Rifles to bear, and Fury with one smoking near the tip as he stares back at them.

"May I make a suggestion?" he stares at them hard enough that could scare a pack of timber-wolves, "Run."

The guards stand shell shocked till they start to turn tails and run away to the base. Fury and the Troopers just laugh at them as they run, but stop when they see the rest of the garrison, it was slightly bigger than their size of troops. Bringing their Rifles to bear they form a line, putting the close combat troops in the front and the Rifle-wielders in the back to fire over them. The guards were confused as they see them make the line and aim the weird sticks at them. The commander of the Garrison comes out and when he spots the line he thinks for a time before yelling, "Take cover!" about half of the guards follow suit and duck as the others get riddled with the barrage from the Rifles. The rest still recovering from the strange weapon they are facing. Some manage to get up right away and charge at the Troopers only to get ended full of bullets. The battle has begun.

It was a extremely short battle, thanks to the Rifles the Troopers had and the armor the Close-Combaters had. The whole garrison was wiped out save for a few wounded on the ground screaming and crying in pain.

Fury walks forward with the troopers in tow into the base, smiling he says, "That was probably the easiest thing ever done." Murmurs of agreements come from the Troopers as they loot the bodies of the dead. Fury finds the body of the Garrison commander and kicks him with a hoof, "I told you we just wanted to give you something." he says to it.

He turns to face the Troopers, "Alright," he yells, "let's set up defenses here. There is no doubt that they will be coming here to find out what happen to the garrison. We are to hold this area at all costs." He salutes, "For the Imperium!" 'For the Imperium!' came the response from the troops.

Location: Outpost near the IPE boarder, SE

A SE battalion was headed down the path to the outpost, when they heard a loud bang. They all stop suddenly and look around furiously for the source of the sound. The squad leader looks ahead to the Outpost in the distance.

"Come on, this way." he says waving them forward.

"SE troops coming in!" a spotter yells from the tower of the Outpost.

Fury nods acknowledgement, "Alright gather around," the troopers come together around Fury, "We are to hold this Outpost till they can't fight anymore. I want Rifle-wielders on the walls and Close-Combaters by the gate with me. Everypony know what to do?" he asks. He gets a nod or a yes as an answer. "Alright, let's give them hell!" They move to their respective points and wait.

As the SE soldiers come into view, they see a slaughtered Garrison before them. The commander moves up to the front of them, "It seems we are encountering an enemy unlike any other, keep your guard up and search the Outpost for survivors." he informs them. They nod silently and head in through the entrance.

"Attack!!!" Fury yells at his Troopers. The sound of Rifle-fire is followed soon after and screams of orders and dying fill the air almost immediately after. He turns the corner with his Close-Combaters not far behind him, into the Battalion of SE. He slams into the first SE soldier with his sword in his left wing grip and another in his right, stabbing the soldier through the chest and to the heart, killing him instantly. He starts combating many foes at once and downing them all without taking a single blow. Till, he runs into the Commander of the SE battalion. He had twin-blades like Fury but they were slightly shorter. He had a coat of pure white that was plastered with blood, and a yellow mane and tail. He turns on Fury and charges at him with swords high. Fury blocks at the last second and shoves him back.

"Come at me knave." He yells.

"Only if you come first." Fury yells back.

Growling, he comes forth slowly, then once he was a few inches, he lunges at Fury. Fury, surprised by the sudden attack gets beaten to the ground holding off his blows, till he finally gets the upper hoof by hitting the Commander in the head with the flat side of the blade stunning him momentarily. They move back a few inches, then simultaneously charged at each other once they collect themselves. The Commander was beating him down. Fury swings only to miss and hit the ground. The Commander see a chance and cuts his right wing off, leaving only a stub and a blood fountain. Fury screams in pain, for to lose a wing by combat was the most painful thing to happen. Fueled by his pain and anger for losing his wing, he charges at him only to get sidestepped and get his other wing cut off. He nearly passes out from the pain and blood loss. The Commander stood there gloating and laughing.

"Whats wrong wingless? Too much pain?" he laughs.

Fury gritting his teeth and fighting the pain, he grabs his fallen sword by the mouth and throws it at the Commander. He was laughing to much to notice the sword coming at him and stops his laugh short with a choke. He looks down at his chest to see the sword protruding out of him. His blades drop to the ground as he takes in the pain. With a final sound, he falls over on his side dead.

The SE soldiers seeing their commander fall, call out a retreat and they start to flee the fight back down the road. The troopers were cheering as they run, only to stop short as they spot Fury wingless, on the ground in a pool of his own blood.

Location: New IPE Outpost, field hospital

The new base was quiet. Most due to Fury being wounded in combat, and the morning of the loss of others. They didn't take too many losses, only a handful were lost, mostly due to lucky blows by the SE in combat. The SE, well, they didn't fair so well they lost almost all of their Soldiers in the fight. Only around 17 survived.

Fury was laying on the medical bed, unconscious, with medical equipment attached to him. There were a few others in there as well, some minor, some large like a broken wing or a cracked bone. Fury's remains of his wings were now wrapped in cloth to stop the blood loss, which it did. He had almost died right then and there on the field. He was lucky they had great medics in their team.

Location: Vanhoover, SE, west of IPE

The soldiers of the battalion were running back to the large base set up there to warn the Commander there of the new threat. Upon coming into view of the base guards, they were immediately let in. Just about all of them needed medical attention after the fight they had with the IPE.

As the Soldiers lay in the hospital in the base, the Commander enters the place to talk with the most able of them all, a Pegasus with a broken wing and many cuts across her form.

She sees the Commander come to her and stands at attention, "Sir!" she says saluting.

"At ease soldier." he says waving her down to sit. "What happen to the rest of you?"

Her face fills with dread, "It was a trap. The garrison was killed when we got there. When we entered the Outpost, we were jumped by unknown attackers." she says.

"Was it the NLR?" he asks.

"No. It was not. Its something new. Something we have never faced." she replies.

"Can you describe them?"

"Well....They had a odd looking armor it looked like it was thicker than ours and that was proven in my fight on one. It was red colored with a Black streak down the middle of the armor." she informs.

"Hmm...any clue on what they could be called?" he asks.

"Well, in my fight, I saw a symbol and 3 letters. IPE." she informs.

"This is new." he mumbles, "You have done well soldier. Do you know were your Commander is?" he asks.

She looks down, "He was slain in combat, only us 17 survived."

"Damn, he will be missed." he says.

"Yea."

"Well I should leave you be to rest. You and the rest of your team will get a higher ration of food." he says.

"Thank you sir." she replies laying down.

The Commander walks out of the Hospital and demands a messenger. The messenger comes up, she was a Pegasus.

"Sir what do you need of me?" she asks saluting.

"I need you to deliver this message to Celestia of this new threat we are facing." he says.

"Yes sir it shall be done right away." she says before taking off toward Canterlot.

Watching her fly away, he sighs, "This was a peaceful part of the Empire, now there will be war."

Location: Canterlot, SE

Celestia was reading messages from the bases when she picks up an urgent one from Vanhoover. She pops it open and begins reading it. As she reads down, her eyes grow in size in shock. She puts the paper down and looks out the window near her. Thinking back to the spy she captured a few days back. She put the pieces together in her mind as she looks back to the window once again but this time, looking Northwest.

"It seems we have a problem." she says grimly.

The Battle for Vanhoover

1 week since the Outpost takeover

Location: IPE Outpost on the SE boarder, road to Vanhoover

A massive army of IPE Troopers were marching from the Capital and to the city of Vanhoover, to capture it. Rose was overseeing the march into the SE lands. Fury was back on his hooves, he got new wings, metal wings. They were a flying tool as well a weapon, for they had bladed tips on each wing 'feather'.

Rose was in her Combat armor, a slightly more advanced armor than the Royal Guard. She had twin-blades at rest at her side, able to be reached with ease. The blades were small when put up but of decent size when out, and something you don't want to mess with in combat. She also had retractable short Rifles. Though they are good at short to mid range, they can hurt upon impact and has larger bullets than the standard issue Rifle the Troopers get.

They march in the thousands down the road past the Outpost and Rose.

Fury looks over to Rose, "Are you sure you want to come with us?" he asks.

Rose looks back over at him, "Come on Fury, I can take care of myself." she says looking back to the Troopers.

"I know, just that if we lose you we lose everything." he states.

She turns to him, "That's sweet, but I will be fine, besides, If I were to die you would take over." she says.

He grunts as he turns back to the moving troops. They were almost completely into the SE.

"We better get going." Fury says to Rose before walking off.

"Yes." she replies.

Location: Outskirts of Vanhoover, SE

The SE soldiers were well ready for the battle, for thanks to the Outpost battle, they were prepared for war. Many thought that this will be a short one, they were wrong. The city was blockaded by the IPE for 2 weeks before they moved in to engage the SE defenders, well worn out from food loss. The battle was fierce, for both sides took losses but the SE had more for the IPE had the better Tech.

The SE lines were defeated and beaten back into the city, were the fight was even worse. They managed to hide the population before the attack in underground bunkers. Fires were springing up in the city as the fight continued, sounds of IPE Rifle-fire sound through the city.

The First part of the battle for the city started in the fields around it. It had entrenched SE soldiers defending the city. Fury had command of the left side and Rose the right side of the field. To break the defenders, both sides of the army charged at the same time, easily breaking the defenders and pushing them to the city. The second part was within the city.

The battle that took 3 days, was in the city, they finally cleared up the last of the SE soldiers. Most of them dead or wounded, some surrendered. Large parts of the city was in ruins. The civilians started to come out from the hiding places after the IPE Troopers found them and told them to come out. Even though the IPE had overwhelming numbers, the SE soldiers fought on to the last, at least some of them did.

Now, the IPE had the Northwest coast of the Solar Empire under their control.

Location: Now IPE controlled Vanhoover, IPE

Rose stands overlooking a map of the nations, Smiling at their first victory on the SE. They were now right next to the NLR. She looks up at approaching hoof-steps to see Fury coming over.

"I said I would survive." Rose says.

"Indeed you did." he replies. "So, whats the next action?" looking down at the map table.

"As you can see we now have control over the whole of this part of the coast." she says gesturing to the Northwest coast. "In turn, we are very close to the NLR." pointing to the NLR on the map. "So we need to have a fairly large garrison here at Vanhoover." she states looking back up at Fury. He was nodding along. "Choose one of your Commanders to lead the Garrison here." she finishes.

"Sounds good, I will do that right away." he states and turns to go.

Rose sighs before turning to go to the civilians of Vanhoover. Stopping in front of them she yells, "Do not be afraid of us. We are just a new nation in need of land. We will restore the city back to its glory and more! We will not tolerate any crimes committed at all or you will be jailed for a time being. It would be great help if you all could help out in the repair of the city. Now there is a care center by the Military base if you need food or anything." she finishes, and watches as they head off, slowly, to the care center location.

Rose smiles at them.

Location: Canterlot, SE

Celestia was on her throne, alone, think about the past which she rarely did at all, but since Luna's leaving and the break up of the Elements of harmony, she couldn't help herself but to think about all that's gone. Mid thought she was broken from it as a messenger enters quickly.

He quickly bows down, "Sorry Princess, but it is urgent." he pulls out a letter from his bags.

She nods, using her magic she takes it and unwraps it to start reading. Her face changes from shock to anger to hatred then back to a calm blank once she has finished. She looks back down at the messenger.

"I want you to deliver a message to the city of Arthrenia demanding a meeting between the leader and me." she says.

The messenger nods, "As you wish."

She watches him leave with the new letter to the IPE.

"I want to know why they would go to war with us." she says quietly to no one.

Location: Arthrenia Keep, IPE

Rose was sitting quietly in her throne, reading a book she selected from her own library. Being leader had its perks, you can order almost anything and it will be done, you had the biggest collection of books so you could never get bored.

She hears a sound of hoof steps coming from the door and she sees it open to reveal one of her Guards. He was holding a letter in his magic grip.

He quickly bows, "For you, it came from a messenger of the SE." he states.

Rose quickly looks up from her book, "The SE?"

"Yes" he nods.

"Alright let me see." she says. He brings the letter to her so she can grab it with her hooves. She unveils it to read it.

"Hmm....I guess she will get her wish." she says closing the letter. She looks back to the Guard and pulls out a paper and quill, "Here give this letter to the messenger to bring back to Celestia." she says.

"Yes, ma'm." he salutes and takes the new letter and leaves.

Once he left Rose sat quietly for a time before thinking out loud, "So, she finally want to meet us?" She looks back at her book she put down, she picks it back up and keeps on going.

Meeting of empires: SE and IPE

Location: Arthrenia, city streets IPE

A few days of getting ready and cleaning the keep, they were ready to meet the Ruler of the Solar Empire. All Troopers in the IPE were told to stand down unless provoked to let Celestia into the Capital.

Rose was standing with Fury next to her as well as the Mayor, with the Royal Guards beside them. They wait in quiet for Celestia and her escort to enter the through the gates of the city to the Keep. The citizens of the city wait along the road to there, watching the gate carefully for her.

Finally, the sound of a guard of the great gates of the city cries out for the opening of it. All chatter that has been, ended as the grand gates open. Its sound echoing through the city in the quiet streets lined with ponies watching.

Celestia, upon the gate being fully open, enters with her Guards behind her scanning the city for dangers. She looks strait ahead to the Keep, where Rose and company sit overlooking and watching her from the balcony. The city remains quiet as she passes through to the Keep, thankfully. The walk to the Keep from the gates was a good 5 minutes. She arrives at the steps to greet Rose and Fury there. She starts her way up them with two guards on each side.

Rose nods, "Celestia."

She nods back, "Empress BlackRose."

Rose turns with Fury to enter the Keep along with Celestia and her guards following close behind. The Doors slam shut blocking all sound from the outside.

Location: Arthrenia Keep meeting room.

The meeting room in the Keep was rounded. It had 4 doors one to each other part of the place other than the one they just came through. It had a dome roof with a spiraling-like artwork on it. The room floor was a shining marble a light brown as its main color. It was also circular, if you had not figured it out yet, with desks set up near the middle with a podium in the dead middle facing out from the entrance door toward the desks around it. At the top or front of the place opposite of the entrance, sits a Throne of red and bronze.

Rose enters and sits in the Throne as Fury takes her side. She motions for Celestia to sit in a desk. She heads over and sits in one to the left of Rose with the guards behind her. She sit patiently and looking at Rose like she is studying her. Rose was doing so in turn.

Sighing Rose starts, "Well are we just going to inspect each other or are we going to chat?"

Celestia nods, "Let's start off with why did you attack us?"

"A good topic, I'd say. We attacked you because well, we needed more land. We would have offered a letter but, Fury here got heavily offended by your troops." she says pointing a hoof at him.

"I am sorry about that, do you still have the letter?" she asks calmly.

"Indeed we do." Fury answers before Rose and orders one of the Guards to retrieve it. The guard returns later with it in his grip. Fury takes it from him and thanks him quietly before passing it to Celestia.

She scans it over reading before responding, "This offer.... is crazy." she says putting it down on the desk in front of her. "You demanded for all of the Solar Empire's west coast....but then again, you already have it." She mutters under her breath, "From war."

Rose heard it as she said it and responds, "Well it would have been more easier than by letter plus, it would have led to war anyway if you had declined it."

Celestia nods in understanding, "That does make sense though, But could you have sent it another way?" she asks.

"We could have but we wanted to keep ourselves a hidden nation till you responded, and the roads were dangerous, due to sitting right on the boarder of the NLR." Rose states.

"I could understand the second reason, but the first, no. May I ask why?" she says

"Well..." Rose thinks putting a hoof on her bottom jaw, "We like to be hidden from the world till now."

"So now you all are revealing yourselves?" She says lifting a brow.

"Yes, we are now."

They kept chatting for hours till a certain pony came in. The cloaked figure enters the hall and all goes silent as he walks over to Rose. Rose watches him come to her and prepares to remove his cloak. Celestia and her guards go instantly on alert once the figure took it off. It was not a pony, but a changeling. His coat was not of a normal changeling color of black, but gray along with all the rest of his body save for his wings and eyes. His horn was not holed like others but still curved and was gray like the rest of him.

"My Empress I have returned from the NLR." he says giving a scroll to Rose.

"Good, you may rest here now, Tryx." she remembers Celestia, "Oh! calm down he won't hurt us." she says.

"Are you sure?" Celestia says weary, only to get a nod from Rose. "Alright, stand down." she tells her guards as well as she sits back down.

As Tryx leaves the room to another part of the Keep, Rose looks back to Celestia, "He is a half changeling." she states. "He is both pony and Changeling if you are wondering what I mean by that."

"Fascinating, never heard of one like this." she says.

Rose nods, "Of coarse you would say that not many are known."

"Hmp." Celestia crosses her hooves on the desk in front of her. "So, anything else?" she asks.

"Well, we could go tom peace and work together versus the NLR." she suggests.

Celestia nods, "Hmm, yes that is a good idea."

"Great!" Rose beams, "When do you hope to attack?" she asks leaning on the desk in front of her as well.

"Hmm well, in the next few days we will attack them near our boarder. You can attack on your front to help us." Celestia says.

"That's a swell idea, they won't know what hit them!" Rose says smiling.

Celestia smiles in kind, "Shall we make preparations?"

"Yes, let's do so." Rose waves out a scroll and writes down a few things before passing it to Celestia. "This is a military pact it indicates that we are to work together in armies and they cannot attack one another." she states.

"Sounds good." she says looking down and reading it before signing it on the bottom next to Rose's name. When she finishes she gives it back to Rose who looks over it before nod affirmation and lays it on the desk.

"We have done great work here, don't you agree?" she says looking back at Celestia.

"Yes we will stop them and reunite Equestria together. One condition, if you see Luna on the battlefield, you are not to hurt her but try to capture her and bring her to me alright?" she says.

Rose nods, "Of coarse." She gets up from her throne as well as Celestia and they meet at the door. They both smile to each other before opening it to the crowd of ponies waiting.

Location: Arthrenia streets outside of Keep

The ponies were quiet as the rulers came out of the Keep. They had all gathered around the entrance only the guards of the IPE kept them from going farther than the steps. The two rulers, fully outside and on top of the steps, kept a emotionless face as they both looked out over the crowd. Fury was next to Rose with somewhat of the same face as them.

Finally, they looked at each other before giving a swift nod and turning back to the crowd.

Celestia beams, "We are united!" she exclaims.

Cheers sprang up from the crowd of ponies gathered there and the whole city was throwing streamers somehow, the hats were understandable but the streamers came from nowhere. Both Rose and Celestia were smiling happy with the alliance with the two nations.

Rose however was more smirking than smiling.

Celestia moves down the steps after shaking Rose's hoof for one final time. She heads down the street among the cheering ponies with her guards flanking her smiling and waving, till she reaches the gates and leave the city to head back to Canterlot. The gates close again once she left.

Rose was smiling at her victory, her plan was coming nicely.

Meeting of empires: NLR and IPE

Location: Arthenia, IPE

A day after the meeting with Celestia, Rose ordered a letter the be sent to Luna of the NLR to invite them to a meeting as well. Rose got the message from her in response, it was agreed to meet them here at the Keep.

Rose was on her throne when she got the letter and was almost jumping with excitement at Luna's response to agreeing. They were to come to the Keep of Arthrenia in one day, if nothing interferes with the plans. She broadcast to the population on the meeting, the result, was more celebration. Sure they know that the SE and the NLR are at war but still, they like to follow the plan that was passed on the newspaper printed to the public. No spys were able to see it.

Fury entered the throne room where Rose sits reading, again. She looks up to Fury and smiles as he enters the room. The throne room was much like the Canterlot castle but not quite so, it did have the pillars lining to the throne and two windows next to the throne. The banner of the IPE hang on both sides of the Throne by the wall, almost as big as the throne itself.

Fury smiles back at her and shakes his head, "This room will never get old to me."

Rose giggles, "Well, I made it perfect then."

"Indeed you did."

Fury moves to her side and sits in the small mini-throne with a desk and looks around the room, unsure of what to do. Rose looks down at him and sees him board out of his mind.

"You know you could always read." she says.

Fury looks up at her, "You know I am not a reader."

She rolls her eyes smiling, "Sure."

"I'm not." he states.

Rose just smiles and goes back into her book and says quietly, "Yes you are."

Fury catches that, "No! Why do you always say that?" he says looking back at her.

She starts to laugh, "Well, I caught you once reading."

Fury gets flustered, "I-I that was not me I assure you."

She looks down at him, barely holding in her laughter, "O'really?"

"Y-Yea."

She looks back to her book, "Hmm, me and something else would disagree."

He scoffs, "And what is that something else?"

"Your head."

That makes him go quiet, "Damned brain." he says quietly.

Upon hearing this, she could not take it anymore and she just bursts out laughing at him. Fury just looks at her like she was crazy. She catches him looking.

"Don't look at me like that." she says.

He keeps going.

Her face starts to grow red, "Stop it, you are making me feel awkward."

He chuckles, "Boy its so easy to make you embarrassed."

She groans and dives back into her book, she hears Fury chuckle. She perks up suddenly and looks at Fury with mischief. He sees her his smiling face shatters to a one of worry for himself.

"You know," she says smiling and pulling out a book from beside her, "You could always try reading. Or I can 'convince' you to read." she finishes with lidded eyes and getting close to his face.

His eyes widen realizing what she means by 'convince', "Ok! Fine I will read one book!" he says grabbing the book she is holding and opens it immediately to the first page.

She laughs to herself, "Next time, I won't give you a chance." she says looking at him with a smirk and a wink.

Fury whimpers softly at her and focused more on the book he is holding, but deep inside himself he smiles at her acts but at the same time is scared of it. He remembers what happen last time.

One day later

The city was almost the same way as when Celestia came but with more...nervous feeling in the air for the night queen. Rose and company sit where they were before with Celestia, overlooking the streets to the gate. The gate opens to the NLR ruler and her legionaries, a gasp sounds through the city, for as Luna walks, the moon follows her and leaves the ground in night around her. It was a spectacular sight, the day and night in the same place. Luna's armor was shining in the night spot she was in and her guards were not the normal pony, most of them were bat-ponies. Some were bat-unicorns. They entered the city, begining the 5 minute walk to the Keep.

Luna climbs the steps to the entrance of the Keep and meets Rose on the top step much like Celestia before her.

Luna stands tall before Rose, "So, you are the one who wanted to meet me?"

Rose nods, "It is, I wish to discuss matters that will benefit us both."

Luna nods back understanding, "Very well."

They enter the Keep to finally start the meeting with each other.

Location: Arthrenia Keep, meeting room

Not much had changed since Celestia's meeting. A few new banners of the IPE hung from the walls nearby that was really all. Rose sits in her throne as the moon goddess sat at a desk opposite of where Celestia sat from the previous meeting.

Luna was the first to talk, "What is it that you wanted to talk about?"

Rose looks over at her, "Well I am sure you hate the SE as much as I do, so maybe we could come to an agreement on that topic."

"I do hate my sister and her weak Nation she had formed, I would love to see it in ruins." Luna says nonchalantly.

Rose smiles at her words, "Then we have already started on the right hoof. This is Fury," moving a hoof to him beside her. "And this is Tryx." Gesturing to the Half changeling.

"Huh, is that a Half-breed?" she asks pointing at Tryx, who in turn looks back at her with light fear.

Rose nod, "Yes he is. Its good that you don't freak out though about that."

Luna puts her hoof back on the desk in front of her, "Well I have seen a fair amount of Half-Breeds like him, so I am used to it." she says smiling at Tryx. He smiles back and releases a breath, finally calm.

"So," Rose says, "Shall we begin?"

"Yes, lets." Luna replies. "What made you want to become my ally?" she asks shooting first.

"I want to ally you because we both have the same hate, the Solar Empire." Rose informs.

"Already a good reason!" Luna says with a smile. "Anything else?"

"Well, I am already at war with them anyway, we took over the Northwest coast of their Empire." Rose says. "They put up a decent fight though I will give them that." Seeing Luna nod with a smile at Rose as she talks, makes her smile along. "And we could develop a two team strategy."

"Do you mean by that like, attacking on two fronts?" Luna asks leaning on a hoof.

"Yep."

"Very good plan already."

Rose snickers to herself.

Luna hears her, "Whats so funny?"

"Its just that you are so willing for anything." Rose says still giggling as well as soft chuckles from Fury as well as Tryx.

Luna pouts. "Well are we going to make an alliance or no?" She says tilting her head slightly.

"Of coarse we are." Rose says and pulls out the paper, all ready and prepped for the alliance, and gives it to Fury to give them to Luna who gladly takes them, and reads it down before signing it with her name. Rose nods once it was done and claps her hooves together happy. "May our friendship be everlasting!" she proclaims.

"May it will." Luna says as well before getting up. "I must say this meeting was short." she comments.

Rose nods agreement, "Same, this was probably the shortest meeting in history."

"Hah, Yea."

Location: Arthrenia Keep steps, IPE

Both leaders step out to the crowd from the Keep. Both had a smile on their faces, Luna was more bigger though. She steps forward to the tip of the steps before yelling out, "May the IPE and the NLR live forevermore in peace and may they prosper together!" she raises her forelegs to a more bipedal stance on her rear legs to raise the forelegs above her head in pride.

The effect was great, the crowd burst into cheers at the joining of nations. Luna reverts back to her quad state and trots back down the steps with the night shining on her like when she came in. She struts down the street happily with her guards behind her.

Rose was smiling at the Moon goddess, and herself.

They had done it, and now all they need was for the rest to follow through.

Operation: Sun-Fall: The beginning-Part 1

Location: Arthos, IPE,

Operation: Sun-Fall

The city of Arthos. Proud, beautiful, and loud. It was an industrial powerhouse, and home to most of the factories in the IPE. It held the second biggest base in the IPE.

Now the army was only going to get bigger.

The SE assault army was to enter the city, combine with the garrison in Arthos and wait for orders the attack from high command. The SE Operation army was a good 750,000 strong, combined with the Garrison makes it almost a Million.

It was a force to be reckoned with.

They entered the base within the city and set up to wait. The command center was set near the middle. It held, of course, the Commander and his officers. Also, next to it was the messenger post. Troopers would come in and out of there holding letters from loved ones or delivering to them. The base had 50 barracks buildings that could hold just over a million, they were well ready for more troops. The Mess hall was massive. I took a large amount of the base in the back. The whole base was surrounded by walls with towers at certain points.

The Commander was sitting in his office checking charts and documents given to him, when an messenger enters. He looks up from his work to her. She hands him the letter before leaving the command center. Commander Mirroring Heat removes the seal and begins to read the new letter.

Dear Commander Heat,

You have a green light on the Operation of Sun-Fall. We want you to move as soon as possible to attack when the other Commander, Marrow, makes his move. He got this letter as well.

For the Imperium, High Gen. DeathFury

Heat sighs as he puts down the letter. "We were only here for 2 days and now we have to move out?" he asks the air. He stays silent for a time till talking again. "Well, we might as well get moving." He gets up from his seat in the CC, (Command Center), office to the door to the base outside. Upon his exiting, both guards posted outside salute on instinct. He heads out to the broadcast station to relay the news to the camp.

He enters the Broadcast station to meet with the broadcaster, Thunder Charmer. She looks up from the station setup to Heat and salutes to him.

"At ease." he orders.

"What is it you want sir?" She asks.

"I just got orders to move out and head to the front, I need you to broadcast to the base to pack up and get ready."

"It will be done."

"Good, I will leave you to it." he says leaving the place. He inhales the air outside of the center. "Well, lets get ready." he says quietly to himself and moves back to his office.

Location: North of CloudsDale

"Welcome to Cloudsdale troops." Heat says facing them with the floating city behind him. "I want the balloons up an ready for out attack. Unicorns cast the spell to make our non-Pegasi walk on clouds." He turns to the engineers of the army as the others do their thing.

"Get the WAM-1A up and ready for use. We just got it from High command, lets put it to good use."

Hours of preparations later

Heat was overlooking the final preparations when a engineer trots up to him. "The WAM is ready, sir." he informs.

Heat looks at him, "Good lead me to it."

"Yes sir."

Heat follows the engineer to where the WAM was located. Keep in mind that this is only a 1A line, first in its class. The camp was almost ready, balloons were in the sky only held down by ropes to the ground, unicorns were casting the spell for the troops in lines. The WAM was located in the middle of the camp, originally draped in a large tarp, it was now reveled to the commander.

It was a large Quadleg Mech. It had enchanted gems on the bottom of its legs so it can be on clouds. It had a large rectangular body with four box like parts sticking out of the side in the back and front were the legs go. The legs had large springs on it so that it could jump to incredible heights, not as high as Cloudsdale sadly but enough to reach the cloud path to it that floats off the ground. The body had a large engine run on steam in the rear. The cockpit was sitting in the front of the body slightly higher than it. It had four turrets for the ponies to protect it, one on the top, for air defense above it, on the sides, and one on the bottom. The height was taller than four Celestias stacked. It was an ugly but beautiful piece of tech.

"Well, lets start it up shall we?" Heat says while going up the latter to it. "Common engineers, lets get in." he orders and opens up the hatch to get in. Shortly after the engineers follow short and sit with the commander in the WAM. Heat gets a good look around it from the inside. "Not very roomy is it?" he comments, getting sounds of agreements. "Well lets start her up!" the engineer starts to turn switches and press buttons resulting in a loud sound and rumble of an steam engine.

He looks over the co-pilot who nods the lets go. "That there is to move forward and the small hatch above you is so you can look out as you move to see more clearly." he informs Heat who nods.

Heat opens the small hatch above him and looks out over the camp. The troopers were all watching the WAM take its first step. Sighing quietly Heat move the lever forward, "Here we go."

The reaction was slow but the front left and the rear right leg started to move the Mech forward eventually. Once the mech set its first legs down the next ones moved forward with it. The sound of cheers from the troops start up as the mech moves with its commander. He stops the Mech to look down at them.

"It is time we strike at them! Get to your balloons and grab yer gear! We are going to war! For the Imperium! For the Empress!" He yells out as they scramble to prepare. He keeps the Mech moving to the cloud path leading to Cloudsdale.

Location: Cloudsdale, SE

Some little colts and filly's were playing around outside with a hoofball when the ground started to shake every so often. They dismissed it till a stronger, much closer one sounded till they stopped. They started to back away from the location of the sound was coming from and started to run to their parents who were watching them from the benches nearby.

They too stopped to listen and watched.

The whole city seemed quiet but the sounds of heavy stomping.

Then, it appeared. The great beast from below that was somehow walking on clouds, jumped up from the road ending a few feet away from the parents of the foals. The reaction was immediate. A mare screamed at the monster that walked upon them as balloons came up from the cloud floor and land on the road, depositing the troops they carried.

Heat was watching the Parents from the safety of the WAM cockpit. "Lets move out." he informs the driver. He switched seats to keep a look out for any SE troops. The Balloons were dropping off the troopers from below. They trotted with the WAM, keeping a lookout from the ground.

Each squad of Troopers had at least one unicorn to keep them from falling through the clouds. The pegasi Troopers had no worry of falling. Every balloon had one squad, at 25 troopers it was a large balloon. They would go up, then come back down for more troopers.

The WAM moves forward with thundering steps down the road of Cloudsdale, alerting all indoors of their presence. So much, that even the garrison could hear it.

Minutes after entering the city, the roads to the path of the WAM was blocked with pegasus guards, ready for action. One steps forward to dress the WAM. "What are you doing here? You are disturbing the peace and breaking the alliance agreement!" he yells up.

All the IPE troopers aim their rifles at the pegasi troops making them stand at the ready. Heat responds by the speaker in the WAM, "We know of the alliance, and what better way to break it for our Empress than to attack the SE?" The WAM's turrets turn to the crowd of SE troops and commander. The SE commander's eyes go wide before he is shot to bits by the WAM's turrets.

Seeing their commander get obliterated by the IPE and the breaking of the agreement, causes them to get enraged and charge to IPE troopers with a war cry. Heat just sighs and smiles as his troopers open fire upon the SE. "Well this will be over quick." he says. His turret gunners open fire as well, creating a hailstorm of rounds at the SE troops.

The battle lasted only 15 minutes. There was something new the SE had, they managed to develop a rifle. More like a musket than a IPE rifle. Heat realized this when they started fighting for he saw smoke come from the SE troops from behind. How he had not seen this before, he does not know, but he must send word to the Empress immediately.

The rest of the city was overrun by the IPE mass numbers. It was a very short battle for the city of Cloudsdale for it only had about half of its original garrison, making it a quick battle.

The WAM was dropped back to the ground below the city where the non-pegasi ponies sat. The pegasi stayed in the city. Of course the population was terrified of them. They just took them over with sheer force. IPE guards patrolling the streets kept them from rebelling against them.

One victory, only a whole nation to go.

Location: Arthrenia, IPE

Rose was laying in her bed reading, as always. When little Morning Dawn starts to wine and cry getting Rose's attention. She groans and sets her book down to get up to her little filly in the cradle in her room.

"I'm coming. Mommy's coming." she says as she trots over to her and looks down at her from her cradle. She puts a hoof down for Dawn to play with which she grabs with her tiny hooves and coos adorably. Rose giggles, "Why are you so cute?" Dawn giggles in response as well.

Morning Dawn, the offspring of Fury and Rose. Born after one year of the founding of the IPE. She had the eyes of Fury and the coat of Rose, as well as being a pegasus. Her hair was a combo of Rose and Fury, a blue and red mix.

Rose was still playing with Dawn when a knock on her door sounds through her chambers. "Come in." she says without looking up from Dawn. Fury enters quietly behind Rose, hearing Dawn playing with Rose's hoof he sneaks up on her and when Dawn sees him he lifts a hoof like to shush her. Dawn giggles softly in response.

"Boo!" Fury jumps and grabs Rose, she squeals and giggles as he grabs her and pulls her back. Dawn was having a giggle fit all the while watching them. Fury turns Rose around so that she can see him.

"So, anything new?" Rose asks shaking a small amount.

"Well, other than the news from the Operation: Sun-Fall side, I think we are open to do what we want." he says smiling.

"That's great news! Do you have it with you?"

"Indeed I do." he says pulling it out. "Oh, just so you know, I have not read it."

"Thank you, Furry." she says giving him a quick kiss on the nose while he pouts.

"Its Fury, not Furry." he grumbles.

Rose giggles in response, "I know, but its true, you are furry. Like a cat. Even Dawn loves your furriness." she says getting a small giggle from Dawn as she was mention.

"Well, I will give you that I am furry, but I don't like the name you know." he replies.

"Well, I am still going to tease you with that name till you die." she says smiling.

"Hmm, I could always tease you with Rosey." he suggests with a smirk.

"Hmm, you could..."

"Its not could, its I CAN."

Rose breaks away from Fury and heads back to the crib with Dawn in it giggling a fit. Rose laughs at Dawn, "What got you so worked up, huh?" she asks as she puts a hoof down to Dawn to grab on to. Fury trots next to Rose and watches Dawn.

"Maybe she is just happier with both of us together with her." he suggests.

Rose nods agreement, "Maybe..."

They stay silent watching and playing with Dawn till Rose speaks up, "I almost forgot, you still got that letter?" she asks turning to Fury.

"About time." he comments and hands her the letter.

Rose just rolls her eyes and opens the letter. Fury looks over her shoulder to read along. In the end, both were a bit amused at the info the letter gave. Rose moves forward still holding the letter in her hoof.

"Well, that's nice."

"Indeed it is, they finally got rifles, but they suck." Fury responds.

"You know.." Rose starts, "We could have a bit of 'fun' when Dawn gets picked up by her sitter." she had moved next to Fury and nuzzled into his neck.

Fury goes immediately tense from the nuzzling. "Oh, so you are not going to send a letter back?" he asks looking down at her.

Rose stops and looks back at him, "I am but, it can wait a bit."

He nods, "That it can."

Location: Cloudsdale, IPE

Heat was sitting in his office when he got the letter from Rose. It stated that they were to hold up for at least 3 days to restock and rest till moving forward to Canterlot. It was a simple task. The troopers could stay in Inns and Bars to enjoy themselves. The WAM was kept in shape and was moved once or twice per day to keep it from getting weak.

Soon after the time ended, the troops were on the move again to Canterlot. By that time the whole of the SE was on alert for any IPE troops in the area.

The WAM was occasionally patrolling within the Camp with thundering steps, its guns always on the lookout for the SE that make it though. A large base encampment was set up near Cloudsdale full of troopers, with a few troopers heading off to Manehatten and the other cites to take them over.

Now all Mirroring Heat had to do, was wait for orders to move again.

Operation: Moon-Down: Invasion-Part 1

Location: Southset city Fort, IPE

Around same time as the other Commander started.

"Wake up and line up, troopers!" yelled Commander Marrow as the troopers lined up in columns for daily inspection.

They had arrived there at Southset and Marrow was already giving more drills, waking them more early, and the inspection every day, so that they are battle ready and fresh to perform the charge into the NLR.

"It is necessary for victory." Marrow responded to the question of a tired trooper after the first day of giving more drills.

As Marrow was standing, watching the high officers inspect the troopers moving along the lines, a messenger of the Legion came up to him. His ears twitch and swivel to the sound of hoof-steps headed his way. Being a Bat-Pony made him better aware of his surroundings and senses. The only real bad thing is he is more sensitive to light.

He turns to face the arriving messenger to receive the letter or whatever she had with her.

The messenger salutes to him before speaking, "I have a letter that just arrived today from Arthrenia, sir."

Marrow nods in acknowledgement, "Give it here. I'll read it now." She gives him the letter from which she got out of her saddlebags. He looks at her again after getting the letter from her, raising a brow at her, he comments, "You don't need to be so formal, Shadow Rift. We have known each other for a long time."

"Sorry, force of habit." she says resting from attention.

Marrow chuckles at her, "You know since my promotion you have been doing this mostly only around others. But even though we may be of different rank, it does not change our friendship." he informs as he opens the letter.

Rift chuckles with him, "I know, but its still a force of habit."

He chuckles once again before continuing to read the letter. Meanwhile, Rift was restless as the minutes passed and was shifting in her spot. She finally asks, "What does it say?"

"Its orders, we can move out and begin the invasion." he informs her.

"Woo! about time!" Rift exclaims earning a short laugh from Marrow.

"Now I know you are excited, but I want you to be careful when we go into combat." he warns.

"Ya ya, be careful." she say rolling her eyes and smiling.

"Remember what happened when your ego beat ya last time?" he asks smiling back.

Rift deadpans, "I thought we were not going to bring that up again."

Marrow just puts on a shit-eating grin, "I had to rescue your ass."

"Ok, fine I will be careful." she says before turning and walking away from Marrow. "You didn't have to bring it back up..." she murmurs to herself. Marrow hears it and chuckles at her before turning and going to the officers who had finished inspection.

They all salute at him as he steps up to the podium. Once he was at the top they turned to look out over the lines next to Marrow. All eyes were on him.

Time to give the info to the troops.

"All drills are now over from this point on." he starts getting some relived sighs from the troopers. "But thanks to that, we are more ready than ever, orders have been given to me by the Empress to start the invasion just as the other Legion is going to do. So now, get yourselves ready to move out in two days time." he pauses to salute the troops and yell out, "Pony Imperii!"

"Pony Imperii!" the troopers cry out in union and salute along with Marrow before being dismissed.

Location: North of Smokey Mt., East of Tall Tale, NLR

Two and a half days after leaving Southset

"So..." Rift says trying to strike a conversation with Marrow next to her as they headed down the road to the crossroads that split to two cites, "About when should we be able to see combat? I mean we are already in NLR lands." she looks over to Marrow who had turned to look at her as she talked.

"Well, we will be there in perhaps one more day then we will choose which city to attack first." he informs looking back ahead.

"Why not we choose now?" she asks.

"I will have scouts sent to each city to see which is more of a better target to strike. Then when they return, we choose."

"When you put it that way it make sense." she comments as she turns to look back ahead.

Marrow chuckles, "Guess it does..." Rift just looks at him mouthing "What", when she suddenly trips up her walking and faceplants onto the road with a small 'whomp' as she meets it. Marrow sees her fall and just starts laughing at her as he slows to a stop to help her up. "Don't want to die by the road before we get to the real combat, right?" he says smiling as she takes his hoof up.

Rift just smiles, "Yea. Its just the ground wanted to meet me before I get there." she comments.

"Hah! Yea." Marrow says continuing with Rift down the road surrounded by their Guards.

They stayed silent for a few more hours till they pitched camp in a clearing to rest. Marrow turned to look at Rift sitting around the campfire in front of them. "So, tomorrow we will finish out trip to the crossroads and then send the scouts to the cities to gather info on them." he informs Rift who nods.

"That sounds good." she says standing up from her seat and stretching her wings. "Well I am beat, Goodnight." she thinks for a bit, "Good eternal night." she rephrases with a smile as Marrow shakes his head.

Marrow watches her go and stays around the fire to think for a bit before calling it a day, or night in the NLR's case.

Location: Crossroad fort, NLR

"Thank the gods we have half-changelings in our Legion." Rift commented once they sent out the scouts.

They had set up a small fort at the crossroads and from there, waited for the scouts to return from their missions. The first scout that came back was from Tall Tale. It had a simple garrison of only 10,000 NLR soldiers. By then the other scout from Smokey Mt. had returned with almost the same info but with only a garrison of 9,500 soldiers, pegasi only due to it being a pegasi military training base, which they found out.

"Hmm," Marrow was thinking. Should they attack the strongest and remove the threat of a large retaliation attack or go for the weaker city because it has less troops and only consists of Pegasi? He was looking at the map of the region in his tent, along with Rift who was helping...somewhat.

"We should attack Tall Tale, its stronger and it is more critical to take." he says.

"Are you sure?" Rift asks. "It is pretty well defended from what the scouts say."

"That's why we must take the strongest. Plus, it is connected to the main road that leads deep into the NLR."

"That is true....but what about the other city? They could get alerted and attack us from behind."

"Wait a second...." Marrow thinks for a bit. "We have way more than them...how could we forget?"

Rift face-hoofs, "Wow...just...wow. We could just split the army and attack them both. Its that damn simple!"

"Well, of course we can, we got plenty of troopers."

"Yea but every one of them counts."

They go quiet for a time till Marrow speaks up. "Ok, want to start making the plan or keep debating?" He asks looking up from the map.

"Yes, lets do so."

"Alright, so I will find a suitable commander to lead the attack on Smokey Mt. Most of that army will be consisted of pegasi." He points a hoof to Tall Tale. "We will attack Tall Tale. We will start with a steady bombardment, then enter to clear the small city."

"And Smokey Mt.?"

"Do the same there, but due to it being a base you have no fear of civilians getting hurt."

"Let me guess, I am going to be with you in the assault on Tall Tale." Rift says.

"Spot on." Marrow smiles.

They kept chatting out on how to execute the assault for a few more minutes till finally agreeing with a conclusion and exiting the tent. Marrow called for his second in command and bought him into the tent to discus the plan. Rift however, was gathering the personal guard for Marrow.

A few hours of preparations later, they were ready and set for war. Two armies for both places of attack. The Tall Tale army had the only WAM-A1 in the legion, but they have low amount of pegasi compared to the other. The WAM was the same as the other Legion attacking the SE, but was painted to match the night. It was time for the assault to begin, both armies marched off to their point of attack.

Location: Tall Tale, NLR

The bombardment had begun on Tall Tale. It was a very nice looking city, white buildings of stone and wood. Clean streets that were once full of ponies move about. After the bombardment, the city looked like a shell of its former glory, holes littered here and there in the streets and buildings, creating choke points everywhere.

Marrow and Rift were moving with the troopers down the main street with the WAM thundering along. The whole city was quiet, as Marrow expected. They reached a T-section of the streets with a tall building at the tip of the T. It was damaged, with rubble spread around the ground and doted with a few craters here and there. No bodies tho, it seamed they all had made it to safety before any losses could take place.

A single shot rang out.

A IPE trooper drops to the ground with a hole through his nose and stopping at the back of his helmet, eyes wide. The troopers dive for cover as more shots ring out and flashes come from the building. The troopers return to favor with the firing of their own rifles on their back. The WAM retaliates with all the turrets turning on the building and firing.

An officer looks over to the fallen trooper from the cover of rubble. "Clever bastards aren't they?" Marrow nods absently at his comment.

More troopers were arriving from the main road and other streets. Shots were now ringing out across the city as the IPE and NLR clashed. The WAM was firing away at the building in front of them, shots were pinging off of the WAM as it was struck by bullets from the NLR soldiers.

Marrow chuckles and shakes his head, "They might as well just run away, they can't hurt that damn thing."

Another trooper falls with a yelp. Marrow winces at the fall and it motivates him. He turns to the troopers near him. "We need to clear that building. Are you all willing to do so with me?"

"Sir, yes sir!"

"Alright." He looks back to the building through a crack in the rubble. He spots a hole in the left side of it, an almost perfect spot to enter. "See that hole right there? On the left? We must reach there to clear them out. Wait for my signal, when I give it, run as fast as you can to the hole. Got it?" He hears 'Yes sirs' being replied back to him. He watches for the right moment...any second now....

The WAM stopped firing to reload its guns and the NLR were still firing though, they were much slower than before.

"Now!"

Marrow and the troopers following him jumped to their hooves and over the rubble, charging toward the hole, using whatever cover they can gain to help get them there. Rift sees him and the others charge. Looking over to the troopers under her command she gives one order; "Suppressive fire." Immediately, her troopers fire upon the NLR within the building in rapid succession.

Marrow reaches the hole first then a few of the troopers. He spots Rift looking at him and nods his thanks. Rift nods back at him before barking orders to the troopers there. Finally, just about all of his troopers had arrived with him. They enter the hole to the building after a brief pony count.

The hole led to a hallway that was ended into the main room in the center of the building. There were the occasional doors to other rooms or parts of the place. Marrow had with him 9 troopers, four Close-Combaters and four Riflestallions (or Riflemares for Females in the team), the last one was a medic, noticeable by the white and red crossed marked right shoulder guard and the medical saddlebags. The medic was the only mare in his group.

They came across a large room that had seen better days. It had broken windows near the front, a double door that had been blocked by debris, a staircase in the middle-back of the room that splits off to the upper floors. The troopers enter with caution, weapons at the ready.

And that was good that they were ready....

A loud Thud resonated through the room of troopers. Marrow looks to the staircase, tracking the sound thanks to his bat-pony ears. Hes eyes go wide and ears flop down in fear and threat.

What stood there, was a Earth Bat-pony, a Bat-pony without wings but has remarkable strength and power. To make matters worse for Marrow and his troopers, it was a heavy variant of the NLR Soldier. Plated in armor from hoof to head, and usually armed with a great-sword. They are strictly used on these types of ponies, ones that could lift the armor with ease and master it. They were rare in a small battle but a grand scale battle however, they were an common sight.

The whole room had gone silent, other than the sound of combat outside. All eyes were on ether Marrow or the NLR heavy, unsure of how to react. Everyone but Marrow and the Heavy jumped when it spoke.

"Ready to die?" it asks in a muffled voice of its helmet

A few mil-seconds of processing before the Troopers opened fire upon the Heavy. The Heavy reacted by thundering forward to the nearest trooper, ignoring the bullets hitting him, when it reached him, it landed a blow right to the neck, cutting his head clean off. It stood watching the head roll before moving on.

"Target the eyes!" Marrow orders while reloading.

It turns to Marrow's voice with silted eyes. Marrow reacts by taking the combat stance and spreading his wing-blades. All time has seamed like it slowed as the tension built up. All gunfire had stopped when they started their staring contest. The troopers had started to move back from the duo to the walls. Now all that needed to happen was,

for somepony to move....

The Heavy moved first at sudden, with a war bellow it charged at Marrow, who swiftly dodged with a jump and flap of his wings. Landing him across from the heavy. While he dodged, he landed a blow on its back with his wing-blades, leaving a half-penetrated cut in the armor. Growling, it turns around to face him, with the great-sword scraping the ground by his side, once again beginning the waiting game. They began to circle each other, never losing eye contact. Marrow decided to move this time, leaping forward, narrowly dodging the blade sent up to counter him, he landed another blow on it on the left shoulder guard, shattering it and making it crumple to the ground in pieces. Turning around swiftly, he attempted another blow only to be blocked by the great-sword with a angry Bat-pony behind it. He used the block to bounce off and land across from it again to begin the circling.

It began to taunt him, "Brother, why do you fight for this false empire?" it said under its helmet.

"It is my home and country." he replies.

"Do you forget that it was LUNA that saved the Bat-pony race?"

"No, I do not," he watches him for any movement of attack while thinking out his. "but that does not mean we have no rights to choose who we follow."

"What? Luna saved the Bat-ponies long ago, we owe our allegiance to her."

"That was then, this is now." he replies.

It grunts before going silent. Marrow finds his attack plan and goes for it. Leaping forward like before, but dropping to dodge the slow blade and swinging out to the armored chest of the heavy. It emits a loud screeching as it cuts into the armor only halfway, making Marrow's ears flop down to his head. The heavy brings his great-sword down where Marrow was at only to hit the ground and getting it jammed into the stone floor. Cursing at himself and the stone floor, he attempted to free it, giving Marrow an open chance.

He takes it.

Charging forward with the wing-blades forward in front, he aimed for his chest, right where the half-penetration cut was. It tried to block him with its fore hooves. The first attempt was blocked by the armor on his legs, but the second went right through it, cutting it clean off. It screamed in pain as his life essence flowed from the broken limb and pooling on the floor. Marrow felt a bit of sympathy for it at the back of his mind but he pushed it away and came in for the final blow. He came closer....closer..till....

It went through the cut in his chest. It let out a soundless scream, eyes wide as it stared into Marrow's. marrow could feel the blood seeping from the cheat wound onto his open wing. He decided to do something for the poor Heavy.

"What is your name? I would like to know it so I can remember what a great opponent you were." he says.

It started speaking, blood now coming through its lungs. "M-My...name is..M-Midnight S-S-Shadow...."

Shadow started to cough hard, blood flowing from his mouth as the life left him to join the others. Marrow withdrew his wing-blades and looked at Shadow. "May you rest in peace forevermore, Brother." he says. He heard hoof steps from behind and he turns to see the troopers headed his way. The gunfire has stopped outside, he noticed.

"Trooper, report." he orders to the one now entering.

The trooper salutes before speaking. "All hostile activity has been almost crushed. We have virtually won the city."

"I was here the whole time?" Marrow says quietly. "You are dismissed trooper." The trooper nods before walking off.

"What in the hells did I miss?" Marrow heard Rift comment from the corpse of Shadow.

"Well, you missed a big fight."

"I can see that." Rift says. She looks back down at Shadow. "What was his name?"

"It was Midnight Shadow, a Bat-pony earth. A NLR Heavy."

"Dang, hope I don't got to fight one of them." she comments about the armor.

"Lets hope not, I'll have to save you again." he says with a smile.

Rift Rolls her eyes and smiles back.

The city's remaining NLR soldiers were ether killed or captured by the Troopers. The death toll was quite high, 1,752 deaths on the IPE side and just about the whole garrison on the NLR. Reports came back from Smokey Mt., the attack was a success, with few deaths and many captures. Marrow gave orders to regroup at Tall Tale to prepare for the next move into the NLR.

Marrow was in the bed preparing to sleep after the battle when he remembered Shadow....

"Never shall I forget you Brother..." he said as drifted off to sleep.

Prologue

War is death and chaos in it's true form. As it has always been in the war between the two sisters. The New Lunar Republic lead by Luna broke away from her sister to form it. As her sister Celestia, formed the Solar Empire. They both demanded that all must chose a side, many of those that chose, went to war as the others that didn't, stayed hidden away from the war. And those few that chose to stay neutral, will change the war forever as it was one pony that started, The Imperial Pony Empire.

Journal entry: 1

Location: Northwest of Canterlot

My parents said it was best to start a journal so, here I am writing my first entry. Not sure how long this will go but i could probably get used to doing this every so often. I have no clue what to write about right now so I might as well end it here for next time.

Journal entry: 2

Location: Northwest of Canterlot

I finally got something! Me and a few of my friends were out in the forest gathering some wood when we saw a NLR soldier. We hid near him to watch. I could tell my friends were scared but I was not. Instead I was curious. Why would a lone soldier be out here? I was going to sneak up on him and follow but my friends kept holding me back saying 'It's too dangerous.' or something. They then 'convinced' me to head back home with them and tell the town about it. So here I am, home. I would have followed him if I could.

Journal entry: 6

Location: Northwest of Canterlot

This is bad very bad, I knew that soldier was up to something. Now there are soldiers everywhere! I am hiding in a hollow tree, I can hear them every once and a while come by. I usually hold still till they pass. At least I got some food before I left. I hope mom and dad is ok.

Journal entry: 8

Location: Northwest of Canterlot

They are leaving soon, I overheard them talking about taking the ponies back to their land. I am so scared right now, that would mean all my friends and family will be gone forever. I will check out the town when they are gone.

Journal entry: 13

Location: moving North of Canterlot and CloudsDale

I still can't believe it all from that one night. The night when I lost everything, my family, my friends, my home....Why did they have to find us? Why us? I still have a few days worth of food i managed to find in the town after they left. I have heard my father talk about trading with a nearby town in the North, so I am headed there. Hopefully they can help me.

The plan begins

Act: 2 Act of Betrayal.

Location: Not known.

Days after the twin meetings, the IPE received letters from both sides as they waged a mass war, asking for assistance or to make their move. Two large Nations clashing together in false hope that their ally will come as well...

Location: Arthrenia, Keeps' war room, IPE

The War room was full of activity, Fury chatting with the generals of the two army fronts that will attack ether the SE or the NLR. The NLR assaulter's had a much darker kind of the armor they wore, so I would fit with the night. The SE assaulter's had a more sunny color on their armor, to match the sun. Same kind of weapons, but just different color armor.

Fury was chatting with the commanders of the sides around the round map table. A loud bang sounds throughout as they look to the door to Rose entering. Both commanders salute her upon her entering, other than Fury, who just stands and watches her enter.

"At ease commanders." Rose says to them. "So what have we got?" she asks Fury.

"Well, we got them both attacking the same front. Which is what we wanted right?" Rose nods, "They have just about none defending our front. Really they left an open window as big as this castle." Fury informs.

"Very good Fury. How is the Prototype tests going?"

"They are going well. Only a few problems that can be fixed easily."

"Good." Rose turns to the other commanders. "Now are you two ready for war?" she asks them.

"Yes ma'm!" they reply simultaneously.

"Alright. NLR commander, form your army at Southset city."

He nods before leaving to do so.

"SE commander, form at Arthos to the north of here."

He nods, "As you wish." and follows the NLR commander in turn.

Fury waits till they leave before speaking, "So we are finally going to do it?"

Rose turns back to him, "Yes we are. It is time for the plan to start."

He smiles, "Lets start the operations shall we?"

She returns the smile, "Lets do this."