-Equestria-
-Ponyville-
-Morning-

The recon team did their morning routines and got dressed but in a way to help their image they didn't put on their armor and wore their white T-shirts along with their normal pants and belt and took only their side arms with a army cap on their head in standard woodland camo. After getting ready and only grabbing a light snack and Eric bringing along his new pet they headed towards the sleeping town of Ponyville.

The four clones slowly walked into the town as the sun was still rising looking around for any hidden threat only to find nothing in the quiet town not even awake yet. Not one of the houses seemed to have any movement in them and it made the battle hardened soldiers uneasy as from experience long periods of time of no sound is never good. The silence was broken when Jackson asked the biggest and most important question there could be in this situation.

"Any idea where we can get something to eat? I'm staving." He asked rubbing his stomach and got three blank stares from his brothers while he smiled weakly back. "What i know you guys are just a little hungry as well."

Franklin rolls his eyes but gives him a light grunt in agreement, then he notices the large house that looks to be made out of sweets. "bet five bucks that is a bakery." He said getting the others to look where he is pointing.

Soon all four of them find themselves heading to the building in question and start to smell sweets of many different types coming from their destination. Franklin reached the door and saw the sign was 'close' and sighed. "Our luck... what the." He looked again and all of a sudden it said 'open'. He stared and the others even shared a odd look before opening the door with a small ring form a bell and walking into the front room that was full of booths and tables cleaned and ready for the day ahead.

Eric headed over to a booth and sat down and was soon joined by the timber wolf that he recently named 'Timber' who wagged its tail happily. "Good girl." He said rubbing the wolf's head as the other three went to the counter which lacked anyone working at the moment but their was sounds and talking from the back rooms.

Franklin tapped a bell on the counter a few times. "Hello? Are we early?" He asked aloud before turning around to face the two others. "What are you guys getting?" He pointed to a menu and they began to talk about how the treats were almost the same as the ones back on Earth.

After chatting a little they hear hoof steps near and a voice belonging to a woman spoke up. "What can i get you gentle colts?" She said, but once they all turned to her the smile she had on her face left and nothing but fear took its place. "Yo.. you... you're the ones who injured that guard on the edge of town!" With that she ran into the back room where the troopers hear a lot of pans and other objects being thrown about.

"Not a great start to improving our image." Dexter said rubbing his neck. "May have to go the morning with out much to eat, wonder if the princess will let us eat?"

From the back room more noise is heard with a sudden pink flash shooting to the counter to turn into a pink mare leaning over the counter smiling at them. "No way! I wont let you four guys from another world go hungry while i work here!" The pink mare called out before grabbing a note pad. "What would you like and its on the house!" She called out in a very happy tone.

The mare was a short compared to most with a bit of bust on her body with Her coat being a light pink with her hair/mane being a darker shade of the same color with a matching tail. Her face wore a massive grin under two large blue eyes that sparkled unnaturally and didn't ease the clones at all, but they couldn't turn away the offer of free food.

Jackson smiled and step forward. "I think I'll take a slice of apple pie if the menu brags about it so much." After he said that she wrote it quickly down onto the pad and looked to the other two standing at the counter.

A voice comes out from behind them. "I'll have some of that pie as well!" Eric called out and she added it to the list.

Franklin shrugged before pointing to a menu. "Give me a coffee and a blue berry muffin." She nodded happily but then something odd happened. Some of her body parts randomly twitched in some sort of order and she gasped.

"Uhh... you ok?" Dexter asked unsure of what just happened.

She didn't answer and simply ran to the back in a pink blur. "I'll be back with your food just don't brake anything ok?" She called out before the door to the back room closed.

"What did she mean by that? We're not animals." Jackson said only for them to hear the bell to the front door ring as it opened and in the door was five armored ponies that the clones now knew as the Royal Guard walked in only to stop and stare back at them in confusion.

The two groups of soldiers stared blankly before the troopers went to chatting about random things as they all do in their idle time and went to where Eric was sitting with Timber and sat to wait for food. The guards didn't let them off easy though as one walked up. "What are you doing here?" He said crossing his arms standing at their table and all four clones plus one timberwolf stared at him in return.

Dexter spoke up to answer such a simple question. "Cause we have to eat too you short sighted moron." The guard didn't take kindly to the insult and glared and the others were already giving hate filled looks that the clones weren't impressed at all by.

Jackson stood up and glared at the brave guard pony. "Is there trouble? Cause if so speak up and we can settle this soldier to soldier... if you even can be counted as one." He taunted that only further angered the pony and the others weren't getting any better either.

The other guards soon slowly went to their comrade and the clones stood up and the two groups faced off not noticing the ponies who came in for breakfast to stop and watch the two sides stand off, nor did they notice the pink mare to drop off their food. Except for Timber who started to steal her new master's food.

the small crowd that included the ones who worked the bakery watched silently waiting for the first move to be made. But soon boredom took the clones and they looked away from the ponies and started to eat, While Eric scolded Timber who has taken half the slice of pie he ordered. And oddly the pink mare has brought the food Dexter was about to order, how she knew no one will know.

The ponies were slightly confused before one opened his mouth. "HA! They knew they couldn't beat us and backed down." He smiled and the others laughed while the ponies watching eased a little seeing a fight wont brake out and glad the guard was here to keep order, If only the troopers didn't feel like it was over just yet.

Jackson with his pride on the line stood up and took a step to stand right in front of the guard who spoke and ended up towering over the colt. "No... we don't fight kids who play dress up. But if you want to go... well we don't start fights but we sure as hell end them." He stated looking down on the slightly shaking colt. "How about you make yourself look good and not pick a fight that you may not win in front of half the town." He nodded to the ponies watching and some holding their breath.

The colt slowly backed away only to bump into another guard that somewhat reassured him and he stepped aside for the stallion behind him to take his place and looked the clone in the eye. "Easy to scare a recruit. Try a veteran." He said in a deep voice.

Jackson only cocked his head to the side. "Your a vet? What kind of combat you seen? Ever had the blood of your enemy on your hands or weapons? Held a comrade in your arms as he bleed to death?" He slowly advanced on the stallion who stood his ground but his face was showing a little bit of horror. "If you are a vet then I have nothing to fear from your army what so ever. Now if you excuse me I plan to eat my food before it gets cold, thank you." With that he sat down and started to eat.

The guards at that took the hint and backed off and ended up at the counter and placed their orders but still gave the four clone troopers looks every so often before they got a table on the other side of the room. The other ponies slowly went into a normal routine still giving the table of clones some space and went on their normal day if not slightly delayed.

After a few minutes of eating and chatting the clones stood up and gave their thanks to the pink mare who still jumped up and down even as she carried a tray of food to a table and waved them off as they stepped outside. The town was now alive with ponies setting up in the nearby market and others heading to work, and of course nearly all of them stopping for a second or more to stare wide eye'd at the troopers who paid them little mind and begun towards the train station.

"So the train to the capital should either be waiting on us... or we're waiting on it." Franklin said as they walked the streets and they soon realized they didn't know where they were going.

Eric speaks up after they manage to go in a circle. "Sir maybe we should get some sort of map... we never did recon the town and get any kind of routes planned out." He says frowning at the odd looks they were getting and if he looked he could spot a few giggling and pointing to them. "And it seems the natives can tell we're lost..."

Franklin sighs in defeat and points to the massive castle. "Maybe we can ask for help there... if we don't have them over react."

Jackson smiles. "That's where i was held for a bit, and i think they got Dexter's G36 there too."

Dexter looks at the massive structure. "Bout time i can get that thing back... hope they took care of it and not done anything stupid with it."

"Well lets get going before it gets to late and end up missing our train... if we have to we can use the Humvee and go on a road trip... may take a day though..." Franklin said and they altered their wondering towards the massive shiny building in town.

At the Castle of Friendship Twilight has been busy as of late and once again not slept and it was showing as she smiled madly as she went over her latest personal project. In the basement of the castle she has taken the captured weapon and start to dismantle it and examine its inner workings and she found out the gun did so very easily and was many, many notes into just how the simple layout is made not even begun on how it full works.

She was busy laying out some of the smaller pieces that worked the trigger when Spike came down the stairs and called for her. "Hey Twilight!" He yelled but she didn't hear or ignored his call. He sighed before he walk the maze of books she collected and paper she tossed away or was about to be used and grabbed a cup of tea she was drinking and proceeded to toss the warm drink at the bookish mare snapping her back to reality with a squeal and a glare at Spike.

"Spike!" She yelled and glared at her assistant who wore a not impressed look.

"Twilight we have company... and i think this." He points to the weapon she has stripped. "Belongs to them and i'm sure they would like it back." He stated blankly before letting the info sink into her brain working over time.

Then he watches her eyes widen and her thoughts hit a train wreck. "Those clones are here!? WHY?!" She yelled at the young dragon who waited for her to calm down before speaking.

"They came to collect what is theirs and they also need a map or something of the town so they can walk around town easy." He said evenly.

Twilight was now in a rush to try and reassemble the weapon and failing badly. "I shouldn't of even touched this thing! What if they get mad about me taking it apart? WHAT IF I BRAKE IT!?" She was lost in worry as she rushed dropping books, notes, and metal parts.

Spike sighs and turns to the stair case he came down and calls. "You guys can come down here." And soon boot steps are heard coming and Twilight stopped to listen to the new sound as her ears turned to the source to see four figures in white shirts enter the basement and stare blankly at her and the mess around her.

And one speaks up with a not very happy tone. "Is that my G36 you took apart?" Twilight couldn't respond and sat silent a moment. He sighs and walks towards her and pushes her aside and gets to putting the weapon back together with amazing ease and in less then a few minutes the weapon is together without a part missing and he pulls the trigger and hears a click making him smile and nod. "Please don't go doing that again please, ok?" He asks her and she nods slowly.

She finally speaks. "Sorry... not every day you get to examine tech from another world... especially ones without magic." She rubbed her neck before perking back up. "Oh right Spike mentioned you needed a map right?" She walked her maze of books and notes easier then one would think and her magic opened a draw on a nearby desk and pulled out a rolled up paper and levitated it over to them. "This is a map of the town and the outskirts area. Hope it is helpful." She said looking the four.

"Thank you Princess this will come in handy. Also how are those two guards my men wounded in the fight the other day?" The leader asked making Twilight shudder a little.

"The one who was injured by the weapon... he will be stuck in bed for a long while due to the internal damage from the weapon. The other walked away with minor bruises but is fine." She informed them.

"That's good to hear. We'll make sure anything like that wont happen again." He said nodding to her. "Now we'll be on our way... we're due in Canterlot soon... and we can now find the train station." With that he turned to the stairs with his teammates and went up the stairs leaving the princess with a dragon who was giving her a blank look.

"I'm not cleaning this up." He said before heading up as well leaving the princess of friendship to clean up the mess she made on her own.

After a moment of getting their bearings the clones made it to the train station to find a train waiting for them for the past twenty minutes. The train was rather short consisting of a Mail car, high class passenger car, and lastly a engine and its coal car. On the platform were a pair of unicorn guards in gold armor much like the others before with swords on their hips.

Franklin walked up towards one and they both looked over each other with curiosity. "I assume you are one of the clone soldiers the princesses wish to meet?" The pony guard asks.

Franklin nodded. "Yup that's us. You here to escort us or something?" He asks back looking at the guards partner and back to the one before him.

The guard looked at the clones behind Franklin. "Our job to keep you company on the way to the capital and make sure nothing bad happens." He stated and reached over and open the door. "Lets not keep them waiting any longer then they should." He said motioning them to enter the passenger car that four men happily walk in and find seats in the car and the guards follow closing the door.

The clones were amused to find they got a VIP car and didn't waste time in exploring it. The two guards stood watching the four act like kids in a toy store go from side to the other. Jackson jumped over a little private bar and set up behind it while Eric took a seat at it and ordered something. Dexter took a seat by a window not far from the door and stared to look about. Lastly Franklin found a couch along the side and laid down on it and pulled his hat over his eyes.

The two guards shared odd looks before going their own ways. One went to inform the conductor it was clear to go while the last went to the bar and sat at it beside Eric. The guard was about to place his own order to the temporary bar tender when he heard growling from under him and looked to see Timber.

"Huh... can you keep that thing under control. Some ponies are scared of these things." He said pointing at the wooden wolf.

Eric laughs a little. "I'm taking she has to deal with a large amount of upper class snobs and such?" He reached down and rubbed the wolf's head making her stop growling. "I'll keep her close by me to keep her in line."

Jackson has gotten a few cups and filled them all with what smelled the strongest and placed them on the bar for them all. "Not sure what it is... think its wine of sorts. Drink up anyway boys." With that he threw his head back and downed the cup in one go and had a disappointed look on his face. "I've had flavored water stronger then this." He then went to trying to find something stronger.

Eric shrugged and downed it while the guard took a drink and tried to not show how hard it hit them and failed as Eric patted on on the back a few times. "Sorry... i guess you guys are used to this more then i am." He said coughing a little.

Jackson comes back with a out of place bottle with 'Apple Cider' on its label and a smile on his face. "I believe this is sweeter and stronger then that wine." He filled the empty cup in front of Eric and filled the guard's as well after he downed the wine in it. "That should be a little better." He tips his own cup back and a smile comes to his face. "Not bad for apple juice, still got a good kick to it at least." The other two soon join him taking sips from their cups and start to get into a chat with the guard wondering what their army was like.

Over by the window Dexter was watching the landscape slowly pass by before footsteps were heard coming down the car to him and he turned his head to the source to find an odd sight. Coming down the car was a young mare who was looking over his brothers oddly as she past them. She seemed to wear what could be guessed a waitress's outfit but something seemed a little off about her, and that was further proved as she looked at him and smiled and sat down across from him.

"Well hello there." She said leaning forward to him making him raise an eyebrow at her.

"Hello ma'am... can i help you in anyway?" He asked crossing his arms and trying to ignore her bust she almost seemed to be purposely showing him.

She giggles lightly. "Oh just wanting to get to know who these aliens are who after a day or so being here is already going to meet the princesses. You must be important or something." She said looking him in the eye and for a moment he saw her eyes flash green for a moment before he shakes his head shrugging it off as their "magic".

"Yes... our first mission of recon the land has turned into a mission to make peaceful relations with this country before our brothers come marching through that portal on the war path." He stated calmly. "I'm sure you don't want an army of 'aliens' burning most of the country with weapons never seen before." He added.

She was quiet a moment as if adding it all up. "I'll have to agree with that... i rather prefer my home not gone." She said nodding. "And what do you mean by 'your brothers?'" She asked cocking her eyebrow.

"We're clones... and we call each other brothers. Also can tell that you are looking for information with you trying to butter me up and show off your goods. So whats your game?" He leaned forward to her and she leaned back in turn.

She looked back and forth a little as if looking for a way out. "What do you mean? A mare can't get to know somepony new?" She laughed nervously. She leaned forward again and her eyes flashed green again looking into his eyes and once again he just stares back blankly.

"Now that i think of it... this train is very short... And where'd that guard who went the same way you came from go?" He fixed her with a stare and she was now backed into her sit slightly sweating and she gave a look over to the guard who was at the bar and for some reason he looked back at her.

The guard stood up and walked their way and his back received two black odd looks from Jackson and Eric who were enjoying their conversation. When he got to them he looked down on Dexter and arms crossed. "Are you scarring this young mare?" He said in a stern voice and a slight glare aimed at Dexter who looked up at him in turn.

"I would ask you to question where you partner went my friend. Cause i'm not sure whats in that mail car but i'm sure nothing is there to really keep him busy unless he had to help the engineers. And to top it off this mare comes out of the blue the same way he came and i'm sure she didn't come from the engine, her outfit is to clean." He was standing now and Jackson and Eric was not far from them and watching.

The sound of a door opening and closing got them all to look at the front of the car where Franklin stood at the door. "The train is missing a unicorn guard." He comments starting to walk forward and all eyes fall onto the mare who was now getting a slightly irritated look on her face.

"Apparently you are smarter then the ponies." She said standing up only for the M1911 to be pointed into her gut by Dexter.

He gave her a even look. "Best sit back down before you find out what this thing can do. I bet the princesses will question where that missing guard is." He said pushing her back into her sit.

And to everyone's surprises the mare starts too chuckle darkly. "If only they really put guards on this train." With that said two green flames engulf both her and the other guard making the clones jump back in shock and take aim with their side arms. Once the fire is gone standing in the place of the two ponies were two black skinned creatures that looked like ponies if not for the insect wings and water blue eyes. What was once a young busty mare was a stallion as tall as the guard that went missing that wore metal armor while the former unicorn guard now wore dark green armor in the place of the gold.

The clones were confused on a new worldly level but that didn't stop them from reacting to the two charging them with jagged daggers hissing a battle cry and showing long fangs.

Dexter being so close to the former mare was quickly tackled and pined and was fighting to keep the weapon away from his chest. Jackson was about to put a 45. into his comrade's attacker before he was hit by the other knocking the gun out of his hands and he turned and gave a punch into the offending shape shiftier knocking the breath of of it.

Eric and Franklin didn't waste time and took aim and both fired twice into their two targets. Eric's M1911 punched into the green armor'd one fighting with Jackson and ended it quickly while Franklin's P99 put two rounds into the shoulder blade injuring the one pinning Dexter down and giving him the chance to kick the bug like pony off him and in turned pinned it with his gun aimed at it's head.

They all were silent a moment before once again the door at the front opened and a pony in overalls and a conductors cap walked in and stared. "What in Celestia's name happened!" He yelled out in confusion making the troopers laugh a little.

"We'll explain later, for now lets just get to Canterlot and turn this mess over to the real guards..." Eric said walking over to the bug pony he killed and checking the armor for anything of use. "Nothing much on them. Any idea what these things are?" He looks to the conductor who was still in shock.

He spoke after looking at the two for a moment. "Those are called changelings that can take the form of any pony and take their place. Not more then a year or so ago their queen attacked the capital but were repelled... seems they're not been fully dealt with." He informs the clones who now focus to the single injured changeling with rage in its face.

Dexter fixed the look on his face by bashing the bug pony's face with his pistol making it grunt in pain. "Now... i still have a question but that trick you tried to pull. What was up with your eyes flashing green every few minutes you locked eyes with me?" Dexter asked replacing the gun barrel to the changeling's head.

The shape shifting pony was quiet a moment before speaking. "I was trying to mind control you... but... my magic failed to do anything to you." It sounded curious of the idea but it didn't make Dexter happy hearing something tried to mind control him.

"If it worked i'm sure my brothers would know me acting weird and telling you all about our military just cause you showed some C cup tits." He said blankly. "And now... what was your mission?"

The changeling didn't answer and spit a him with green slime that stuck to his cheek and in turn got a final heavy hit from the gun knocking it out. "Well that could of gone better." Jackson said already heading back to the bar and took a drink of the cider.

The other three joined him and all grabbed a cup. "We try to make friends with a country and end up fighting one of its enemies." Franklin said.

The conductor came up to them. "Well you all may want to get ready we're about ten minutes away from the city and i'm sure the guards want to know what happened here." The pony said before heading to the front of the train.

With that the clones all raised their classes and tapped them together. "Another mission we almost made it through without fucking up." They all called before downing their drinks.

At the train station a small crowd was waiting as the train pulled to a stop. the small crowd was made up by guards who waited to escort the outsiders, press who wanted to see them, and a few nobles wondering who is more important then they are.

When the door to the passenger car opened out walked four not to impressive creatures that resembled ponies only with odd feet and heads. But what set the crowd off was that the four were dragging two changelings behind them and dropped them right in front of the front guards and the lead one spoke. "These two tried to pose as guards and get information. We dealt with them." he points to the one that wasn't bleeding with bandages over its arm. "That one is still alive, i'm sure you would like to have a word with it." With that they turned to leave wondering in the direction of the Palace leaving a large group of confused ponies to stare at two bloody changelings.

Author's Note

If you guys spot any mistakes they will be fixed as soon as my editor gets to them.