In the open field a few miles east of Ponyville two dark green hummers drove at a decent pace inside the lead hummer sat Staff Sergeant Dusty Trails who sat in the passenger seat. It had taken her rifle team just under nine minutes to get geared up and check out the two hummers from the motor pool. There had been a bit of a delay as they found that like everything else their gear had been changed and the armory officer had been inspecting everything when they arrived. Even though the weapons seem to have changed to be more easily by their hands whenever any of them looked at them they knew exactly what they were with ease as if they hadn’t been changed at all.

This day was just getting weirder and weirder as it went on as they simply should not recognize half the stuff they did much less know how to use it. And yet it all came as natural as using their normal gear.

Since this was just delivering a report and returning with information her team had gone without armor and just grabbed some rifles and spare mags. Still…now that they were out of the town the feeling of wrongness in the air had only grown, that feeling was why the hummer behind Dusty’s had a .50 cal. Mounted on it, just in case.

It had been weird finding the hummers changed accommodate bipeds with opposable thumbs but Privet First Class Bright Light seemed to have had no issue driving despite never have been trained to do so with this body.

When they left the garrison they had had to pass by a few Royal Guards who had their hands full keeping the civilians of Hope calm while they dealt with a few car accidents that seem to have occurred as well as what looked like some fights. Despite the few wrecks the town looked to be alright all things consider though it was clear the civvies were scared shitless.

It was when they left the town that things got stranger. Not only had the feeling of wrongness quadrupled but just past the last building of hope the road just ended and the land beyond looked like it had never had a road there before. It was why they had been driving cross county for the past two hours.

It had been about an hour and a half when they moved out of range of the garrison’s radio tower, whatever damage had happened seemed to have effected their link to the communication satellites in orbit so before their radios had degraded too far into static they had been ordered to return before night fall or else a search team would be sent out after them. Dusty had to admit to herself not having contact with command was unnerving; it was one thing when you were under radio silence but it was another when you simply couldn’t talk to Command.

Looking back she could see that Private Violet Storm, a unicorn mare and Corporal Cloudy Skies, a Pegasus stallion ,who road in back of the hummer, were nervous as well, being well and truly on their own with no way to call for back up if you needed it was not a good thing. Dusty had heard that back in the old days radios only went for a couple of miles before you lost signal, she couldn’t figure out how the soldier back then got anything done without being able to call in an air strike if you needed it or report what was happening.

Looking past the two soldiers in back she could see out the back of the open bed of the hummer to the hummer that followed them, she knew Sergeant Flyntel most likely felt as she did, something was very wrong. The two of them had served in the same rifle team since they survive training at Camp Mendez. They had watched each other’s back during training and they continues to do so even afterwards, she had heard some ponies had problems with changelings but she never could understand why.

“We’re almost to Ponyville Sarge, about five minutes I’d say.” PFC Light said and Dusty looked back out the windshield, sure enough the town was just coming into view.

Dusty looked at the town as they neared it, something felt off about it, the town didn’t look right. “Something’s up, stay on guard.” She said. She grabbed the radio and told the squad behind them the same thing though she was sure Flyntel had already gave the same order to his squad.

It was only a few more minutes before they found a dirt road that headed towards the town and the ride become much smoother and faster. It took them no time at all to reach the town of Ponyville; at least they thought it was Ponyville. It stood where the town should be but all of the builds looked to be made of wood with thatched roofs and was randomly placed with no real thought to it. Ponyville was supposed to have stone building with heavy wooden roofs while being in mostly ordered fashion to allow for easy evacuation and defense.

Dusty had read in the history books that the town had been destroyed by Tirek decades ago when he found the town empty during the war with him. After that the town had been rebuilt with some actual planning put into its design. This looked a lot like the pictures of what it used to look like.

As they neared the town limited PFC Light slowed their speed so as not to run the risk of hitting anyone, that all they needed was to bet a ticket and reprimand for hitting a civilian. As they drove into the town Dusty noticed the streets were a bit deserted, this was odd as Ponyville had always been bustling with activity around this time as it was mid-morning.

What few people they did see had clearly been changed like they had back in Hope though they didn’t wear any clothes, Dusty found this made her feel uncomfortable as all the civvies back in hope had been dressed and something about the lack of clothing seem highly unnatural, an odd feeling considering ponies usually went naked but something about these bodies made clothes feel like a must.

Dusty also noticed some people moving along with the other ponies, Dusty had to blink at them as she had never seen anyone who looked like them before and unlike the mares they wore clothes, in fact the only ones not wearing clothing were the mares.

Dusty saw everyone was staring at the hummers as they rolled through the streets of the town, some with fear, others with curiosity and some just plain glared. “Stop here, I want to ask the civvies what the hell is going on.” Dusty ordered and PFC Light stopped the hummer, the one behind them stopped as well a few meters behind them.

“You two with me.” Dusty said to the soldier in the back as she grabbed her rifle and opened the door. The fur on the back of her neck stood on end as her booted foot touched the dirt road of the town, the feeling of wrongness was strong here and everything screamed at her to get in the hummer and fall back to the garrison. Taking a deep breath she calmed herself, she had an objective to complete first.

She couldn’t help noticing the leers the clothed people were giving her and she slung her rifle and motion for the two with her to stay near the hummer as she walked towards a group of ponies and the strangers, she wondered where the changelings were as a fourth of the Ponyville population were changelings.

While she didn’t like the looks the strangers were giving her she needed information. “Excuse me, sirs.” It was clear the strangers were male by their build. “I was wondering if you might answer a few questions.” She asked politely.

One of them smirked and Dusty noticed the mare beside her wore a black collar and looked between the stranger and Dusty with fear. “How about you answer why a bitch is talking to me like some sort of equal.” The male said as he stood straighter and the two beside him glared at her as the mare’s eyes widened in fear.

“Excuse me?” Dusty said a thread of annoyance in her voice at how she was addressed. “I am Staff Sergeant Dusty Trails, equestrian Defense force, and who the hell are you?” She said. She saw the mare’s face went from just holding fear to having a hint of confusion.

“I don’t give a fuck what your name is bitch.” The stranger said as he started to walk towards Dusty, the glare on his face no shifting to anger. The stranger tried to grab her and she easily side stepped him and he went stumbling into the front of the hummer. Turning around the stranger was clearly pissed and Dusty drew her side arm and took aim. “Hands up, now!” She ordered.

The stranger just grew angrier. “You think you can give me an order bitch?” He said and lunged for her again. Dusty side stepped but left her leg in place as she grabbed the strangers arm. With her leg sweeping his legs out from under him Dusty let his momentum carry him to the ground as she twisted his arm behind his back and placed the barrel of her pistol against the back of his skull while his face was buried in the dirt.

“I don’t know who the hell you think you are but attempting to assault EDF personal is not taken kindly.” She said and twisted his arm tighter elating a small cry of pain from the stranger.

“You fucking bitch!” one of the other yelled as he charged her. Dust look up just in time to dodge a kick aimed for her face. Coming to her feet again the second stranger threw a wild punch and Dust grabbed his arm, spun them around and leveled her pistol. Three quick squeezes sent rounds into the second assailant’s stomach and he fell back with a cry of pain caused by the .45 caliber round now buried in his gut.

Dusty heard the click of a round being chamber by Corporal Skies and Privet Storm raised their rifles and took aim at the other two strangers.

The mare stood stock still as she looked on in pure fear as the stranger dusty had shot lay on the ground clutching his stomach as he ground in pain, blood seeping between his fingers.

“Ok, now then someone mind telling me what the hell is going on?” Dusty yelled at the three still standing people. She looked around quickly and saw they were drawing a crowd rapidly and she noticed most of the mares wore red collars while only a few wore black. Dusty level her pistol at the growing crowd as the stranger glared at her, she almost felt like a rabbit corned by a hungry wolf.

She then saw other strangers wearing armor pushing through the crowd; they defiantly were not royal guard or EDF soldiers. The armor wearing stranger pushed through the crowd brandishing hammers. “What is going on here?” One demanded.

“That bitch did something; I don’t know what, some short of magic.” One of the strangers yelled pointing at dusty who glared.

“She doesn’t have a collar, neither does the other one.” Someone in the crowd yelled.

The armored stranger who spoke before glared at Dusty as he inspected her closely. “Who is your owner?” he demanded.

“My what?” Dusty asked, anger clear in her voice, she was quickly running out of patience. “I am Staff Sergeant Dusty Trails of the EDF and I demand you identify yourselves.”

This seemed to anger armored stranger as they raised their hammers and charged. The street echoed with a brief clatter as the Corporal and Privet fired burst from there rifled and the strangers jerked as their armor sparked when the armor piecing rounds passed through it with ease. Why the hell are they charging soldier armed with guns when they were wearing obsolete armor? Dusty thought as the strangers went down and several mares in the crowd cried out in fear.

The strangers in the crowd surged forward. “Light them up!” Dusty yelled as the three soldier opened fired on the attacking strangers. She didn’t have time to unsling her rifle so she used her sidearm as it was already in her hands. She saw two soldiers had piled out of the second hummer and were firing as well as the mares either dropped to the ground screaming or fled in terror.

It didn’t take long for the stranger to take off either once half of them lay in the street dead and the soldier reloaded quickly as more of the armored strangers were running up the street. Dusty waved her hand forward as she unslung her rifle and brought it to her shoulder. “Drop them!” The street echoed with automatic weapons fire as the soldier fired on the new wave of hostile contacts, none of them had any idea who it was attacking them but rule of engagement were clear in this situation.

“They are flanking us!” Corporal Skies yelled as he fired into a side ally.

Damnit they were going to get surrounded at this rate and they didn’t have the ammo for an extended fire fight. Without any idea of how many were attacking them Dusty had no real options here. “Back in the Humvees!” she yelled as she back peddled towards the vehicle.

As soon as she reached the passenger door she opened the door and dove in as did the other two. Looking back she saw the rest of her team had done the same. “There’s no room to turn around.” PFC Light said.

“No choice, go forward, we will circle back around.” Dusty order and the PFC pushed the pedal all the way down. The hummer shot forward followed quickly by the second. Most of the armored stranger dove out of the way but some actually seemed to try to attack the vehicles, Dusty watched as they vanished bellow the front of the hummer becoming speed bumps for the rapidly moving hummers. Looking in the side mirror she saw their bodies roll under the hummer behind them as well.

“Yeah double tap!” PFC Light said with a smirk as he looked back from his side mirror to watch the road as the hummers tore through the streets of Ponyville.

Startled mares and the strangers dove out of the way as they roared past. More of the armored stranger appeared and seemed to be trying to stop them but the ones who didn’t move fast enough suffered the same fate as the first group.

As they drove a loud thud sounded from the roof of the hummer and Dusty looked up at the roof. “Dusty, one of those fuckers is on the roof!” Flyntel said over the radio.

To prove this correct and armored head appeared in the windshield to glare at the mare in the passenger seat. Dusty unlocked her section of the windshield and slammed it forward into the face of the stranger knocking his head out of view for a moment. It quickly reappeared but now the window wasn’t in the air and Dusty took aim with her side arm. With a squeeze of the trigger the attacker’s head snapped back and as the hummer took a corner the limp body rolled off.

Dusty growled as it was quickly replaced by one of the attacker landing on the hood, his hammer clutched tightly in his one hand. With a swing he sent it into the windshield of PFC Light, thank the gods it was armored but it still sent a spider web of cracks.
Dusty took aim again but a sudden turned caused her shot to miss as the stranger was jerked to the side. He was still able to keep his grip though and he smashed his hammer into the window again causing more cracks.

Dusty took aim again and put two rounds in the shoulder of the arm that was holding onto the hood. With the pain of the bullet biting into his shoulder the attacker let go automatically and PFC Light jerked the wheel quickly and the stranger soldier fell off the hood. Dusty watched as he was run over by the hummer right behind them

“Dash windshields fucked.” Light said as he unhooked the windshield and pushed it down. “Oh fuck!” he yelled and Dusty looked back in time to see them heading straight for some market stalls that sat against a building. Light hit the brakes and jerked the wheel causing the hummer to skid out as it fishtailed wildly.

With the sound of splintering wood the hummer crashed into the stalls sending wooden shrapnel everywhere. A cry of pain drew Dusty’s attention to the stallion behind the wheel and her eyes widened at the piece of wood sticking out of the stallion’s shoulder as he clutched it.

“Shit, get a medkit.” Dusty yelled to the two soldiers in the back.

“Don’t, I’m good.” Light said as he gritted his teeth while he grabbed the wheel.

A very distinct clatter echoed from outside the hummer and when Dusty looked she saw Flynel’s hummer had stopped and one of the soldiers was on the .50 and firing on the approaching soldiers.

As Light put the hummer back in gear two thuds came from the back of the hummer and when Dusty looked back while raising her pistol to deal with the enemy soldier she was surprised to see two mares in the back, one grey and one white. The grey one looked at Dusty with fear in her eyes. “take us with you!” she said and Dusty saw they both had black collars on and while the grey mare seemed to be mostly afraid the white mare had a look of determination in her eyes as she held the other mare close.

“Fine but hold on.” Dusty said, she knew she was taking a risk bringing the two stranger but something about the fear in their eyes and what she had seen so far told her they just wanted to get the hell out of Ponyville. Dusty looked back at Light. “Punch it.” She said and he nodded as he put the pedal to the floor and once more they were racing forward as their two. Passengers held onto the side of the hummers open bed for dear life.

“They are blocking the road with carts up ahead.” Light said and Dusty looked to see a line of soldier behind a row of carts.

“We are going straight through.” She said and Light nodded as he pushed the hummer to top speed. The solder behind the barricade realized the hummers weren’t slowing down and quickly dove to the side a moment before the EDF Humvees plowed through their makeshift road block sending bits of carts in all directions.

Dusty looked back at the two mare who watched the town rapidly shrink behind them and saw them visibly relax as the white mare held the grey one protectively while the other hand held onto the side of the hummers bed. She loomed at Dusty and nodded in thanks, her electric blue mane blowing in the breeze.

Dusty sighed as she sat back into her seat. “Take us well out of sight of Ponyville Light, then we are getting you some medical attention and you get to ride in the back seat while Skies drives.” Dusty said and Light nodded, wincing slightly s they hit a bump in the field they raced through.

Dusty Trail had no idea what was going on in Equestria but whatever it was it was bad, majorly bad and she needed to report his to the Colonel as soon as possible.

With nothing but open wilderness before them the two Equestrian Defense Force Humvees raced away from the occupied town of Ponyville with two intelligence assets as passengers.

Author's Note

Well that went to hell in a hand basket rather quickly.

If I didn't get the speech of the Caribou right i'm sorry as I haven't really read the stories and am basing this off of info I have researched.