Chaotic Harmony: Do Over

The site was lightly guarded. It was probably in the hopes they wouldn't draw attention. They knew stealth was their only hope for success. Unfortunately for them, the jig was already up.

I watched the camp for an hour, just to make sure I knew who we were dealing with. It didn't look like anyone dangerous was there. Of course, I wasn't so dumb as to underestimate them.

They all seemed rather casual with each other, even the apparent boss. There was none of the fear or difference I saw with the pale mare or Blue Moon.

I returned to my own camp where a small contingent of royal guards waited.

“Alright, listen up,” I began. “It doesn't look like there's anyone important but keep on your proverbial toes. Ah counted fourteen in all, but the tent could be holdin’ another. Ah'm gonna start things off. You guys come in after and round’em up. Keep some distance from the tent until Ah clear it.”

It went without saying we were to take everyone alive if possible. That was Equestrian standard procedure. ‘Everyone deserves a chance at redemption’ is pretty much the motto of the Equestrian justice system.

“Alright. Let's go.”

We approached quietly, moving in cover. Eventually, we were close enough to hear the idle chatter of the cultists.

A spell one of our unicorns had cast as we moved changed our coats and clothes to a camouflage pattern that matched the dead forest area. That helped us blend in, even as we began our charge.

There were no war cries or yells as we rushed the remaining distance to the cultist camp. This wasn't a movie.

We were already in the camp and taking down our enemies with enchanted batons. One hit on an unsuspecting pony left them paralyzed. An aware pony, unfortunately, usually needed two or three hits. The swords the cultists were using only needed one hit to kill. Not exactly a favorable matchup for us.

That said, my guys were trained soldiers, while the cultists were a bunch of dumbasses that had probably never held a sword.

I waded through them like a shark through a school of tasty filets. My strength aided the enchantment in rendering those I struck out of commission.

When I neared the central tent, an orange blur shot out and slammed into my chest. It wasn't too painful, but it took me off my feet. I swung my baton, but the orange missile kicked off of me before it made contact.

I skidded to a stop on my feet and looked to see what exactly hit me. It was an orange pegasus stallion with a short blue mane and a stormcloud for a cutie mark.

“Well, one of you can actually fight back. I'm impressed,” I mocked.

The pegasus sneered at me. “I can do more than just fight back. I've mastered the epitome of pegasus magic. Eat ten million volts!”

He swung his wings forward and a bolt of lightning arced out, striking me square in the chest.

His triumphant grin vanished at the sight of my unamused stare.

“First off, that was only eight point two million. Second, it's current that kills, not voltage and that bolt was rather ohm deficient. Third, Ah'm the herald of Thor. You know, God of Storms, sky, and lightnin’. What makes you think that the thing mah boss is the god of would ever do anything bad to me?”

His face fell, all confidence replaced by pure terror.

I gave him a toothy grin. “You know what, Ah'm a nice guy. How about we start this interaction over. Alright, you only just hit me, second first words; go!”

“I... I surrender.”

“Much better.”

It wasn't long before the rest of the cultists were captured. Like I said, they may have had a slight numbers advantage and were fighting to kill, but the Royal Guard were well trained and quite competent.

There were casualties, of course, but no fatalities. Amongst the injured were three career enders, though. The worst was one of the unicorns had their horn broken. Even if the doctors managed to reattach it, it was unlikely he'll be able to do anything more than lift a fork to feed himself with it.

The medics would treat the injuries and those that could would return to duty. Those that needed further aid would be airlifted to the nearest hospital.

Amongst the cultists, though, there were six fatalities. Four of them were self-inflicted. They blew themselves up like magical suicide bombers. It was... horrifying. I was going to have nightmares for weeks.

Suddenly, I found myself enveloped in a cuddly pink hug.

“You look like you need this,” Pinkie said.

I smiled at the pink mare that appeared out of nowhere and returned the gesture. “Thanks, Pinks. Yeah, I did. Thanks.” After a moment, I let her go. “There's a few ponies that could use a smile in the medical tent.”

Pinkie gave a salute. “Aye aye. Operation Soldier Smiles commencing now.”

I gave a chuckle as she bounced away. She really did know exactly how to brighten a day.

I got to my paws. I needed to inform the lieutenant of Pinkie's arrival, as she probably bypassed every checkpoint.

I made my way through the camp. Despite the last of the captured cultists being carted away a few minutes prior, there was still a tension in the air. Scouts have reported no nearby patrols or secondary camps, but the Cult of Kronos was crafty. They could have still been hiding nearby.

The lieutenant was using the tent the cultists were using. He was talking with one of the scouts while three others scrounged through what was in the tent, looking for anything that might hint at what they were planning. Unfortunately, the only things that weren't ash were a couple propaganda books that could be found in any bookstore willing to carry them.

I read them, of course. Know your enemy, as Sun Tzu said. Like many similar works on Earth, the points and arguments were well written and compelling. They wouldn't attract followers, otherwise. Also like similar ideologies on Earth, if one actually did any amount of research, they would see it was complete bullshit.

“Thank you, sergeant, dismissed.” The Lieutenant watched the scout leave before turning to me. “Shiro, how are things looking?”

“Good. Pinkie's here. Not sure if she let anyone know or if she Pinkied her way in.”

The lieutenant laughed. “Probably the latter. Good. Five more to go.”

“Ah'm sure they'll be here soon enough,” I assured him.

“I have no doubt. Those mares are quite capable.”

We sat and talked as we waited. Fluttershy arrived next. Rarity and Applejack arrived together twenty minutes later. Twilight would have been before them but she was distracted by some of the things she found. Rainbow was last, as she was the only one to have to travel outside Equestria to get hers.

With all six mares and artifacts accounted for, the camp was on high alert. We knew there were likely cult scouts watching the place. They were likely waiting to strike until they could get all six, which meant an attack could come at any time.

“They likely don't know Pinkie is already here,” the lieutenant said. “Once we begin, though, there will be no question. If a counter attack is going to happen, it'll happen then.”

“What's the likelihood of an attack?” Twilight asked.

“It's hard to say, but assume it's guaranteed.” He looked at Fluttershy. “Are you able to see anything?”

Fluttershy shook her head. “Anything involving Shiro is difficult. His chaos magic interferes with my sight, makes things... fuzzy. Add to that the strange, tumultuous magic of the area and I can't see anything at all. I do have a feeling something big is going to happen. I can't say if it's good or bad, but I have a feeling it will change things.”

“Let's hope that ‘something big’ is strengthening the anchor,” the lieutenant said. “Alright. No more delays. Let's get this show on the road.”

Six soldiers gave a nod before heading out, likely to spread the word that we were about to begin.

“Alright. Head to the anchor, now. Mister Tora, please accompany them. You will be our last line of defense, in case any slip by.”

“Sir!” I acknowledged, giving a crisp salute.

It was funny how easily I fell back into the military mindset. Even years later and with a completely different body, it was natural.

“You heard the stallion,” I said. “Let's tighten this lock.”

“We'll follow your lead,” Twilight said.

“This way.”

I led the girls out of the tent. In the time we had been waiting, the number of guards had increased dramatically. Now, on top of the dozen I arrived with, there were another fifty. If the cultists wanted to take this place, they would need at least twice that number.

We headed up the hill to the ruins that crowned it. Most of the structure had fallen, but the ring of standing stones and the plinth in the center looked as if they were new.

“Alright, girls,” Twilight said as she started examining the pillars. “Rarity, place yours here...Pinkie, here. Rainbow here. Mine goes here. Fluttershy, yours is beside mine and Applejack, your's is the last one.”

As if on cue, as soon as she gave everyone their instructions, a great cry rose up from the forest. I looked to see at least a hundred ponies burst from the treeline and charge the camp.

I scoffed. “Thanks for the warnin’, dipshits. Twilight, get to magicin’.”

“On it!” As soon as each artifact was placed, she began chanting. The language was a harsh, guttural language that reminded me of Klingon combined with someone clearing their throat.

It took everything in my power not to charge the enemy. The Royal Guard were skilled, but the cultists had numbers. They were outnumbered more than two to one. Still, I couldn't leave the girls.

With their numbers advantage, a few managed to sneak by and charge up at us. They were easily dispatched, but the girls needed to focus. Twilight may have been the one chanting and actually casting the spell, but all six of them were feeding it. They were in full glowy-floaty mode and oblivious to the outside world.

Just as I found myself wishing they would hurry up, each of the pillars began to glow. It started faint, but quickly grew brighter and brighter until it became difficult to look at.

Finally, when the pillars shone like beacons, six rays of light lanced out and impacted the plinth.

“Ha ha! Take that, Kronos Krazies! We win!” I mocked.

My mirth was short lived, though, as a great thunderous crack echoed across the battlefield. I quickly turned around and gazed at the ruins behind me.

The anchor was split in two.

“Wh-what happened?” Twilight asked as the magic faded and she and the others were lowered to their hooves. “That wasn't supposed to happen, was it?”

As if to answer, a crack in the very fabric of space opened up above the shattered plinth.

I stared in horror as three tigerians stepped through the rift and onto Equestrian soil.

The one in front was built like pro-wrestler, with arms as big as my head and a sword to match on his back.

The second was thankfully smaller, but the rod of crystal on his back made me worried. I could smell the magic wafting off of it.

The last was a female, surprisingly. She was smaller than even the staff wielding one and had a long knife and a thick tome of some kind on her belt. She was also the only one that didn't glare at everyone around her.

One of them was dangerous enough. I didn't think I could handle three at once, especially since I was pretty sure the one with the staff was a mage.

“Shiro!” Twilight called as she and the others rushed to my side. “We've got your back.”

I gave the other Tigerians a grin. I wasn’t alone. We could take these guys.

There was a flash of metal and blood sprayed from the throat of the mage. Another flash and another spray of blood from the big guy.

The two fell, clutching their throats as the life left their eyes.

We looked on in shock as the knife wielding female fell to her knees, bowed her head and offered her knife to me.

“I surrender.”