Pony Und Panzer!

by Diceman

Rating: everyone
Tags: Adventure, Main 6, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Comedy, Cutie Mark Crusaders, Gilda
Length: 152801

Cutie Mark Crusaders pilot Silly weapons of war.

When a land dispute arises between Equestria and the griffon lands of Queen Walarah, Walarah declares a mock war to settle the dispute. Due to circumstances beyond their control, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo end up taking Apple Jack & Rarity's place in the battle roster, forcing them to design and build their own machine of war.

Vector compliments of http://dolphinfox.deviantart.com/

Published 2013-05-19 17:20:02 UTC
Last updated 2018-11-15 22:04:32 UTC

Chapter II:Surprises and Secrets

Chapter II:Surprises and Secrets

Scootaloo tossed and turned, her body refusing to go to sleep from all the excitement about hanging out with Princess Luna. Despite her tossing and turning both Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom had no problems getting to sleep, the activities from their sleepover party easily exhausting them.Unable to find a comfortable sleeping position Scootaloo made her way out the room and down the stairs. As she made it into the foyer landing she looked up at the clock.

"Two in the morning? Great." Scootaloo looked at the clock again, this time it said nine at night. She shook her head and figured the battery in it was dying.She quickly did the math in her head, if she managed to fall asleep in the next hour or so she would still be plenty rested for the meeting with Luna. She slowly opened the front door, doing her best to not wake any of the other members of the Apple family. Thankfully even with the old creaky wooden door all the apple family thankfully slept like bricks. Scootaloo closed the door behind her and made for the hill overlooking the south field.

"Feels good to get some fresh air." Scootaloo looked around as she walked up the hill. Lightning bugs lined some of the trees each of them sending glowing signals in an attempt to get a date, every once in awhile a bat swooping down to catch the slower ones off guard. Scootaloo made it to the top of the hill, plopping down on the same spot she laid in every couple nights. A small grassy indent in the ground with a few stray fuchsia and orange hairs from her coat.

The moon was high in the sky, only slightly off center. Something about it seemed off though, the glow wasn't as bright as usual nor was it as large in the sky. Maybe Luna is stressed out? She thought as she stared into the mesmerizing moonlight. It was always relaxing to come up here, even more so since Luna rid her of her nightmares. It was the least she could do as thanks, the Princess put this magnificent sky up every night and ponies just slept though it all without once fully grasping its beauty.

"Huh?" Scootaloo heard something that wasn't quite normal for the local flora and fauna. It sounded like a low whooshing sound but became louder and higher in pitch as she tried to locate where the sound was coming from. "What is that?" Scootaloo couldn't seem to make out exactly where or what she was hearing. She knew what most flora and fauna around the farm sounded like, but this was entirely new. It was just then she noticed a shadow on the ground. A shadow the was quickly growing in size.

"The moon!" Scootaloo turned her head to the skies to find a large silhouette coming right at her. Scootaloo took off running, her hooves a bit slippery on the damp night grass as she ran away from the quickly gaining creature. Turning her head to see what was chasing her she managed to make out some details. Whatever it was, it had broad powerful wings with feathers, a beak of some kind and large talons on its front legs. The creature came within inches of grabbing her when a large blue puff of smoke collided with the shadowy figure, making it disappear.

Scootaloo shot up out of bed, hitting her head on the bunk above. She quickly looked around for the creature but found she was safe in bed, her friends breathing the only sound in the room. "I wonder what that was?" she whispered to herself as she got out of bed. As she got out of bed she noticed her entire body was soaking wet and felt sticky. He coat was ruffled and uneven, her feathers droopy and her mane a slack sided mess. Her sheets and cover were no better off, they were drenched in sweat and littered with hair from her coat and mane.

"Wow, that dream must have been worse than I thought, everything is soaked." Scootaloo pulled the blankets and sheets off the bed, tossing them down the laundry chute in the hall. Before opening the door to grab a new one she took a good look at herself. "Yeah, I need a bath before I put any new ones on." Scootaloo headed down the hall and turned into the bathroom. She found Apple Blooms older sister adjusting the shower head.

"Oh, I'm sorry I didn't think anyone was up yet." Scootaloo said as she backed out of the bathroom.

"No problem. Whatcha doin up so early?" Apple Jack asked as she stepped out of the shower.

"Funny thing, I was gonna ask you the same thing."

"It's 5:15 am sugar cube. I'm up and helpin cook breakfast every morning at this time, right after I take mah mornin shower anyhow." Apple Jack turned the nozzle to check the temperature of the water before turning it off again.

"Anywho, ya didn't answer mah question."

"Oh, Ummm." Scootaloo tried to think of a lie, but couldn't seem to come up with anything. thinking back, lying to Rainbow Dash didn't help matters when she started having bad dreams. "I ...had a bad dream."

"Please don't think less of me!" Scootaloo said as she closed her eyes and turned away.

Scootaloo felt hooves wrap around her neck. She opened her eyes to see Apple Jack was hugging her. "Why would I think less of ya sugar cube. Everypony has fears, everypony has bad dreams, its all part of the roller coaster we call life darlin."

"E-even you have fears?" Scootaloo said while hugging Applejack back.

"O'course I do. I'm afraid I might get sick and not be able to feed mah family. I'm afraid of Apple Bloom doin somethin silly and gettin herself hurt or worse and I'm afraid of losing mah farm to some swindler takin advantage of granny Smith's age." Applejack broke the hug. "I'm afraid of a whole buncha different things but promise to tell nopony, others look up to me and need for them to at least think I'm fearless. Helps them conquer their own fears and all that phycolooki or whatever it's called."

"I promise." Scootaloo replied as she crossed her heart.

"Good, now get in there and wash that stink off, ya smell like a pig that's been rollin in the mud all day. I'll go start breakfast while your cleaning yourself up."

Apple Jack patted Scootaloo on the head before heading out into the hall and downstairs.

"No wonder everypony in town calls here 'best pony'. " Scootaloo hopped in the shower and turned the knob, at first hot water came out but then quickly changed to cold as Apple jack started using the sink downstairs.

*BBBRRRRR* "Okay maybe not always best pony."

***

*Ding-ga-ling -ga-ling*

"Breakfast is ready. Get yer behinds up, the sun says hello!"

A crowd of ponies funneled down the stairs all of them looking groggy with the obvious exception of the Apple family members and Scootaloo.

"So, we have Apple pancakes, apple toast and by request" Apple Jack looked like she wanted to vomit for a moment. "Orange parfait."

The ponies sat down at the table as Apple Jack began to pass out the food, retching a bit as she passed the orange parfait to Sweetie Belle.

"So, how did you sleep Scootaloo? I woke up a couple times, the night felt like it took forever." Sweetie Bell said as she greedily dug into her orange parfait, much to the disgust of Apple Jack.

"I ummm," Scootaloo tried to avoid the gaze of Apple Jack but she just gave a wink and a small nod that it was okay. "Slept okay for the most part. Took a shower early though. Can never be too clean when meeting with royalty ya know." Scootaloo faked a smile, a smile so cheesy that if her friends weren't busy with ogling their food they would see right though it.

"And how about you Apple Bloom?" Scootaloo asked, trying to deflect attention off of herself.

"it was okay. Had strange dream though."

"What kinda dream, sis?" Applejack asked as she stacked four cinnamon apple pancakes and two eggs on Apple Blooms plate.

"I was standin on a cloud and then suddenly I fell, but a gigantic water slide caught me and I rode it all the way down into a giant pile of ice cream."

Apple Jack put a plate of four pancakes and some eggs in front of Apple Bloom. "I hope that dream didn't ruin yer breakfast."

"Nah, ya can't eat your dreams. Or maybe ya can, I'll have to ask Luna about that."

"I dreamed about...something about sheep and flying though a hurricane made of...oh what was it...." Sweetie Belle Seemed to struggle with remembering her dream."Toaster was it?". Meanwhile Apple Jack loaded granny Smiths, Big Mac's, Scootaloo's and Her own plate. She sat them down one at the time and took her place at the end of the table.

"Sweetie Belle,darlin, you sure that orange thing is enough for ya?"

Sweetie Belle looked over her orange parfait, which was already mostly gone. "I want to ask for some food but rarity says 'one must always be proper when dieting'" Sweetie Belle managed to say in the worst voice impression Scootaloo had ever heard of Rarity.

"Sweetie, what has your sister been puttin into yer head. Yer a growin filly, ya need ta eat!" Apple Jack got out of her chair and fired up the stove, pouring batter into the pan and pulling eggs out of the fridge.

"But-"

"No buts Sweetie Belle, yer gonna eat what I cook and like it." A few minutes of silence fell on the table as Apple Jack cooked up some food and put it on a plate in front of Sweetie Belle.

"Thanks, Apple Jack but I -"

"You let me handle Rarity. Eat. What would the princess think of me if I sent ya her way hungry, worse what would she think of your sister for lettin ya go hungry."

Sweetie Belle eyef her food anxiously, watching all the ponies around the table staring at her. "Okay then!" Sweetie Belle tore into her cinnamon apple pancakes like a a ravenous wolf, gulping down the first cake in seconds.

"Whoa there nelly! I said eat, not inhale." Applejack couldn't help but laugh as Sweetie Belle stopped and smiled, nibbling on the end of the pancake like a lady.

The rest of the breakfast was uneventful, aside from Sweetie Belle asking for seconds.

Applejack stood up from the table. "I'll meet ya outside in fifteen Big Mac, I need a quick shower before I get to work for the day."

"No problem." Big Mac replied.

"So, whatta y'all wanna do until noon?" Apple Bloom said excitedly.

"Not much we can do. It's gonna be a scorcher today, I don't think your sister would appreciate us all getting dirty, sweaty and tired before the meeting with Luna. I know my sister will kill me if I make a bad impression." Sweetie Belle made a noose in the air and fake hung it around her neck, pulling to make a fake gag.

"We could try the arcade but the owner is sick. The place is practically an inferno by noon without his cool air spell."

"We could just round up who we are taking with us, remember she said us AND our friends."

The group sat there at the table for a few minutes, the only noise breaking their concentration was granny Smith getting up to do the dishes.

"Well Featherweight, Peppermint Twist and Lemon Drop are a must." Sweetie Belle said.

"Snips and Snails as well, just so long as they don't embarrass us that is." Scootaloo added.

"I wish Babsy was here, she would love to meet one of the princesses."

"Yeah, but it's a full days ride to Manehattan. Even if we sent her a letter yesterday she wouldn't even get it till today, maybe not until next month knowing our mail carriers." Scootaloo said with some disdain in her voice.

"Derpy?" Apple Bloom and Sweetie asked at the same time.

"Derpy." Scootaloo confirmed.

"We can...always bring Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoo-" Sweetie Belle stopped herself short as the other two CMC members stared at her like she had lost her mind.

"Never mind, bad idea."

"Anywho, we got a few hours to burn. Y'all wanna help fetch them?" Apple Bloom said exuberantly as she got down from the table.

"Better than cooking ourselves in the clubhouse or hanging around here till we run out of board games to play."

"Then Let's-"

"Now wait a darn tootin minute you young-ins." Granny Smith turned around with a serious look on her face. "You shouldn't leave Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon out of this meeting ma-jig."

"But granny, they act like absolute snobs. They bully ponies all the time for either being blank flanks or havin less bits then them." Apple Bloom complained.

"Yeah and they are both always out for themselves and they don't care who they step on to do it." Scootaloo added.

Granny Smith frowned. "That may be true but sometimes you need to put out the friendly hoof first. If they refuse and continue to act like a stubborn nugget then so be it." Granny rinsed off one of the dishes and set it in the adjacent strainer to dry. "My point is that one day you may need their help. Letting them come along to meet Luna with ya might be the thing that finally breaks the ice."

"But granny-"

"I taint tellin ya do do it. I'm just suggestin it. The hoofballs in yer corner to follow up on it." Granny Smith turned around and went back to work on the dishes, leaving the younger fillies to their thoughts.

"Well, lets go get the others in any case. We can talk about those other ponies on the way." Scootaloo didn't feel to impressed with granny Smith at the moment. What was she thinking, asking us to let our sworn enemies tag along with us.

"Yeah, we can talk about that on the way." Apple Bloom hopped out of her chair and motioned her friends to follow her. They went out the kitchen and though the back door. Around halfway through the north field Apple Bloom spoke up. "I love granny to death and all but sometimes her advice isn't exactly sage."

"I thought it wasn't too bad." Sweetie Belle quickly changed her tone after getting twin angry stares from Scootaloo and Apple Bloom. "I mean ummm, the orange parfait, it wasn't too bad." She said, grinning sheepishly.

"I kinda get where she is coming from but the last thing we need it to be made to look like foals in front of Luna."

"I agree Scoots, how about you Sweetie?"

"I guess, but something tells me shes gonna tag along anyhow."

"What do you mean?" Scootaloo and Apple bloom asked in unison.

"Just a hunch." Sweetie Belle replied.

***Later***

"So what yer tellin me is Luna has a surprise for you?" Snails asked in his typical slow speaking manner.

"Yep, I have no idea what it is but it's sure to be good if Luna is involved" Scootaloo said excitedly.

"But you said only friends of Luna could go. I'm not one of Luna's friends, I wish I could be though."

"No, you ninny. She means friends of hers, which means us, I hope." Snips looked at Apple Bloom expectantly.

"Of course yer our friends. Why do you think we are here? ta tease ya?"

"Ummm..., yes?" Snails replied just as other ponies behind Apple Bloom face-hoofed.

"Just, follow us okay?" Apple Bloom smiled, trying to keep her face friendly under all the frustration. So far every other pony in town had heard of their invitation and tried to suddenly be her '"friend". It sort of reminded her of when Twilight got tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala. Everypony in town was mad to get her attention and blessing for a chance to go to what turned out to be a boring dud of a party.

Oh No! I hope Luna isn't throwing a Gala. All those fancy ponies make parties boring as watching paint dry. Apple Bloom thought to herself as she headed back toward the farm, her friends in tow.

"So any guesses on what it could be Featherweight?"

"No idea Twist. Could be anything. She could even be rounding us up for a vampony feast."

Lemon drop's face contorted. "Honestly, that rumor is terrible. She may have been Nightmare Moon once but there is nothing histrionically accurate about her drinking blood."

"Well she did have fangs during Nightmare Night that one year." Sweetie Belle added.

"Yeah but that was to scare a bunch of little fillies, pip told me she spit the fake teeth out. Besides how can the best princess ever possibly enjoy sucking blood. I mean when I had dental work done my mouth tasted like copper for a week." Scootaloo absentmindedly rubber her cheek, remembering a particularly painful impacted incisor extraction.

"Blood tastes like copper? I always thought it tasted like...I dunno roses."

"Snails, why would blood *gulp* taste like roses?" Snipe asked.

"Both are red, therefore they both must taste like roses." Snails answered.

"Impeccable logic there Snails." Peppermint Twist said with a groan.

"Thank you Twist. I always try to keep up with my studies." Snails replied as ponies in the groups rolled their eyes, Snails clearly missing the sarcasm.

The group continued along until they reached the edge of Ponyville, only a few hundred yards till they reached the Apple Family property line when Apple Bloom heard somepony yelling behind them. Apple Bloom turned around, confused about all the ruckus. "Did Snails cut another fart back there or sumthin. I swear you really need to lay off the beans."

The ruckus wasn't in the group but two ponies running up from behind. One of them wearing a tiara and the other wearing over-sized, high rim glasses.

"Please take us with you blank fla- I mean Apple Bloom!" Silver Spoon yelled as she moved as fast as her giant backpack would allow.

"I told you to pack light, Silver Spoon." Diamond Tiara growled as she helped push Silver Spoon up the slope. After a few tense moments they caught up with the rest of the group, Silver Spoon entirely out of breath.

"So what makes you think I'm gonna let you tag along." Apple Bloom said sternly.

"Don't act like that ol' buddy ,ol' pal. We always hang out with each other." Diamond Tiara gave a big smile and fluttered her eyelashes, as if she was genuinely thinking she was fooling anypony but herself. Some of the other ponies in the group, namely Lemon Drop and Featherweight couldn't control their laughter. The only pony that didn't seem to be almost holding their sides laughing was Snails, who seemed all too enamored in a nearby moth.

"I don't know what you think yer accomplishing by fakin to be mah friend Diamond but it taint workin. Come on everypony let's leave this faker and her co-co."

"Cohort, Apple Bloom." Peppermint Twist corrected.

"Yeah that word. Let leave em be, we have a meeting with the princess to attend to." Apple Bloom turned her back when Diamond changed her tone entirely.

"Please, Apple Bloom. You can't just turn your back on me and Silver. I know we are mean to you and all but it's mostly harmless taunting."

"Harmless like when you abandoned me with 'could of been a swamp monster' Fluttershy yesterday?" Apple Bloom said with a grin on her face.

"That was different. That was err....what do you call it, fight or flight instincts kicking in. I didn't mean it in a bad way."

"Yet you neglected to send anypony to see if I was alright."

"I...but." Diamond Tiara bowed her head and clasped her front hooves together. "Please, meeting with Luna is a opportunity of a lifetime. I mean, if she thinks you are cool enough to hang out with maybe me and Silver were wrong about you girls all this time."

Apple Bloom didn't expect this. The proud and haughty rich filly begging her for forgiveness. Although Apple Bloom knew it was most likely faked, something inside her; possibly the thought of what granny Smith said was making her rethink her original plans.

"Ya know what Diamond, Imma leave the decision to take you along to the rest of the group. You wait right there while we de-de"

"Deliberate?" Peppermint Twist chimed in.

"Yeah, that."

The group of ponies walked some distance away and formed a circle, a kind of huddle in the road.

"So, thoughts and concerns y'all. Spill em." Apple Bloom asked promptly.

"Nay" Scootaloo said.

"Maybe?" Sweetie Belle said.

"As your big brother would say. NNNNoooopeee!" Snips said firmly in a terrible Big Mac impersonation.

"I'm for maybe. I mean she's never taunted me before but I seen what she does to other ponies." Featherweight said.

"How about You and Lemon drop." Apple Bloom said as she set eyes on Peppermint Twist.

"I don't much like her and Silver as much as any other pony but, I cast my vote as yes." The other ponies in the group gave Peppermint Twist odd stares. "No, I know. Hear me out though. In a few short years she will be the head of the rich family, being their only current heir. If you deny her this favor she could turn the families entire wealth against you and the ones you love just out of petty revenge. Same thing goes for Silver Spoon, their combined capital could easily bankrupt Sweet Apple Acres."

"But, how? Sweet Apple Acre's products are known world wide. I mean Zap Apple Jam, Cider lines as far as the eyes can see during Cider season and the best apple pies bits can buy." Scootaloo said while rubbing her belly.

"Yet you're always one disaster away from the farm becoming an abandoned wreck. As smart as your grandma and Apple Jack are with making a good product they are entirely out of their league when it comes to marketing said products. The only reason said items are known worldwide is becuase both Stinkin Rich and Filthy Rich bought their products in droves."

"Get to the point already. All this money talk is makin mah head hurt." Apple Bloom complained.

"Point is, when she gets of age and controls all that money she will stop buying your families produce. Worse yet the both of them could advertise your apples as poison."

"But there not poison!" Apple Bloom shouted.

"We all know that but in the world of economics nearly anything goes. Even worse they could slip a few thousand bits to a senator and poof your deed is suddenly under their control. They could shut you down or just extort you."

"Peppermint how do you know all of this, your like what. Eleven?" Sweetie Belle said while scratching her mane.

"I actually paid attention during the economics class?" Peppermint Twist shrugged.

"How about you Lemon Drop?"

"I think peppermint puts up a good point but if you let her go now you could hold that little debt above her head, never using it till the right moment and if you're lucky you never will need to. If the Rich family has a weak spot it's that they loathe owing anypony a debt. My vote is yes."

"So that's what two nays, two maybes or umm, undecideds and two yes. I guess that leaves me the tie breaker." Apple Bloom looked over her shoulder at the false grin of Diamond Tiara and the half exhausted smile from Silver Spoon. Something inside her just wanted to shout no and laugh all the way to the farm but the points Peppermint Twist and Lemon Drop brought up were both very valid. Not only were her friends correct but the words granny Smith said were barking in the back of her mind, poking at her to be the bigger pony in this situation.

"I'm gonna live to regret this..." Apple Bloom walked up to Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, frowning. "You two can come along, but only if you behave yourselves."

The expression on Diamond Tiara's face was as if she had just won the lottery. "Thank you, thank you, thank you. Trust me, you won't regret bringing me along."

That remains to be seen. Apple Bloom thought to herself as she dodged a incoming hug from Silver Spoon. "Nah, just thanks is enough." Apple Bloom looked over her shoulder, something was telling her that Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle were staring a hole into her. Her intuition proved right, at least partially. Scootaloo looked like she was about to headbutt a bear but Sweetie Belle looked indifferent.

Ignoring the glares from Scootaloo, Apple Bloom walked quickly to the head of the group. "Come on y'all, we need to get to the front gate, I don't think Luna would appreciate us being late." The rest of the short trip was uneventful, although Apple Bloom almost wished Snails or Snips would goof up to draw Scootaloo's venom glare from her back. As the gate came into view Apple Bloom took note of a crowd of ponies at the gate, all of them flashing camera lights and tossing questions at a overwhelmed Apple Jack.

"Ms. Crapple Slack, how do you take the rumors that Princess Luna wants to see your sister so she can suck their blood?"

"Crapple Slack? I that It was Apple Mack?" Another reported Squealed.

"I thought it was Jack Apple."

Apple Jack inhaled deeply. "Shut yer pie holes!" The crowd of reporters quickly went silent. "Mah name is Apple Jack and taint nothing gonna happen to my little sister. I trust Luna completely and so should y'all."

"But rumors have been circulating about a terror that flaps in the night. It surely must be Luna, shes the only frightening pony up at that hour."

Apple Bloom thought it best to try and avoid the crowd when one of the reporters spotted their group.

"There they are! The ponies Luna invited to some kinda secret meeting!" The crowd of reporter ponies charged Apple Bloom and her group. The group scattered and some of them climbed up some nearby apple trees. Unfortunately Apple Bloom was unable to get up a tree in time. She felt her heart skip a beat as the crowd closed in on her.

"Hey, y'all leave mah sister be!" Apple Jack called after them but the crowd ignored her, closing in on Apple Bloom like a pack of wolves hungry for a meal.

Suddenly a big red coat appeared in front of Apple Bloom, stopping the entourage of reporters cold. "When a lady asks you to leave someone alone, you leave them alone!"

Big Mac stomped hard on the ground with his front hooves, making the nearby trees drop multiple apples to the ground. Most of the ponies stopped cold, their eyes filled with fear. Big Mac may be a gentle big brother but few stallions could match his size or physique.

One of the reporters however, seemed to have a death wish and walked up to Big Mac snorting. "Good show but a show none the less. I did my homework before I came here and know for a fact that your personality profile is non- violent. I came here all the way from Canterlot to get a scoop and a scoop I will get. No country bumpkin is going to stop me." The reporter tried to walk around Big Mac only to have his camera knocked in the air right off of his neck.

"Hey?!" The camera flung high into the air and just as it reached eyes level, Big mac gave it a vicious headbutt, shattering it as if it were made of lego bricks.

"Next one to..." Big Mac drew a line in the dirt. "To cross this line get a free nights stay at the infirmary, if ya get my drift. Now If you would all kindly get off my farm before I get angry it would be much appreciated." The crowd of reporter ponies took off toward the exit of the farm as fast as they could. Many of them dropping equipment and just leaving it to avoid Big Mac's wrath.

Apple Bloom didn't know what to make of the situation. It was extremely rare to see Big Mac angry, let alone ready to hurt somepony. "Big brother? You okay?"

"I'll be fine little sis, you all head inside, I'll call ya out when Luna arrives."

Apple Bloom noticed that Big Mac had a small cut on his head, probably from the glass in the camera he just annihilated. "Brother, yer hurt!"

"Oh, it's only a scratch. I'll put some peroxide on it later. Y'all get inside in the meantime."

Apple Bloom rubbed up against Big Mac affectionately. "Thank you big brother."

"Anytime." Big Mac replied.

Apple Bloom made her way to the house, her friends coming up on her sides.

"Did you see that!?" Scootaloo said excitedly. "He smashed that camera like it was made of old fruit. I'm surprised your brothers not a world class boxer with a strong head like that."

Apple Bloom sighed, it's not the first time she had seen Big Mac angry. There had been plenty of times where he stubbed his hoof or dropped something on himself during his work but, this was the first time she had actually seen him ready to hurt another pony. Something he could easily do given his size advantage.

"I just hope he's okay. I hope none of those city folk try and ruffle his coat or anything."

"I wouldn't worry about that, my young ponies. The Canterlot news ponies are legendary cowards when it comes to fetching a story" The group stopped and looked around. Apple Bloom could had sworn she just heard Princess Luna's voice.

"Up here silly!"

Apple Bloom and the others raised their heads to see Luna sitting on a dark cloud hovering above the farm.

"Hello, how are you all doing this fine day!" Luna waved at the ponies in greeting and the fillies and colts returned the greeting back to her. Luna hopped off the cloud and glided down to the ground. The second she landed however, her face went sour.

"Why are you all bowing to me?"

Snails was the first to lift his head. "Because you're a Princess?"

Luna giggled. "No, Celestia may like all the formalities with being a Princess, being as old fashioned as she is but, I prefer to speak to my subjects on even footing, as equals."

"Then-" Sweetie Belle just realized that they never actually covered royalty etiquette in class, that she just mimicked what her sister Rarity did when royalty was around. "Then why do adult ponies bow when you or Celestia are around?"

"I see Cheerilee hasn't gotten to that part of your education. It would be a few more years before you would need to know anyways but." Luna's horn began to glow a bright blue, and image of farmer ponies bowing down to Celestia appeared in the air.

"Many generations ago, not too long after Equestria was founded actually. Me and my sister were born to third generation family that consisted of a mix of Unicorns, Earth Ponies and Pegasi. At first we were thought of as abominations by those that didn't understand why we had all the traits of all ponies in us. It wasn't until we were in our early pre-teen years that our true purpose was revealed. During a drought due to the unicorn magic guild messing up the sunrise and moonrise cycles Celestia tried her hand at raising the sun alone."

"But, she always knew how to do that right?" Lemon drop asked.

"Not quite. You see, me and my sister had to study unicorn magic on our own. Both of us were rejected out of the magic guild due to our odd mix of powers. At first the unicorn magic guild laughed my sister out of their hall when she told them she thought she could raise the sun herself." The image swirled and showed a very young, and very pink maned Celestia running away from older unicorns while crying.

"The very next day when the dozen or so of the magic guilds best assembled to raise the sun, Celestia blocked them. She proclaimed that she and she alone would raise the sun. In their arrogance the guild let out a laugh and humored my sister. She stood atop the hills with Pegasus above and Earth ponies below, all watching her." The imaged swirled again, showing earth ponies below Celestia, Pegasi above and chuckling unicorns behind her.

"So she took a deep breath and with a little more concentration she lifted the sun into the sky on her own." The image swirled showing the pegasi, earth ponies both in shock, the unicorns in the background looked as if their jaw hit the ground.

"My sister not only earned her Cutie mark that day, but her mane became a magnificent sparkling rainbow. A beacon that she had made a contract with a celestial body, something no other pony had ever done. The ponies were so impressed that they all bowed out of respect. She has guarded and guided Equestria ever since that day."

"So, ponies bow to you and your sister out of respect?" Sweetie Belle scratched her chin. "I still don't get it, wouldn't a hug be better?"

"Well- hugs certainly are more personal but-" Luna looked over Sweetie Belle and watched Diamond Tiara with interest. "Your friend seems to be having a fit of some kind , like she's holding something...vile back."

"Oh, that's just Diamond Tiara, she gets that way sometimes." Apple Bloom gave Diamond a disapproving stare and the filly calmed down. She knew her snide outburst would not be welcome here.

"Princess-"

"Just call me Luna."

"Luna- did you get you Cutie mark the same way?" Peppermint Twist asked, although from what Apple Bloom knew of her friend she most possibly already knew the answer.

"I raised the moon a couple days after my sister. I figured if she could raise the sun, then I should be able to raise the moon. but- my powers were not exactly as warmly accepted as my sisters."

"Not...accepted?" Apple Bloom asked.

"That's a story for another day I'm afraid. I have a surprise for you all at the Canterlot Palace."

Silver Spoon looked up at the cliff-side in the distance that held up the Equestrian capital of Canterlot. "No disrespect Luna but It's a very long train ride from here to Canterlot, I haven't told my mom where I am going. I don't think I'm allowed as far as Canterlot without telling anypony."

Luna puzzled for a moment. "Ah ha! I will send notifications to every-ponies parents in the group. I will make sure to have you all home by sundown." Luna Looked over her shoulder at Apple Jack who was busy piling hay in a stack. "Is that okay with you Apple Jack?"

"That's fine with me. Jus have er back by her bedtime."

Luna motioned the fillies and colts close by her. "Now, I want you all to close your eyes and take a deep breath."

The fillies and colts did as they were told. All except Diamond Tiara, her curiosity overpowering her.

The air around Luna began to swirl and was soon covered in a thick black-blue smoke and with a flash of light the entire group was gone.

Apple Bloom had never felt so weird before. It was as if her body was being stretched and compressed at the same time. The weightlessness made her want to open her eyes but she kept them shut as per Luna's command. Just as quickly as it had begun her feet felt the clacking sound of something hard underneath.

"Open your eyes now!"

Apple Bloom slowly opened her eyes to find that she was standing on a very fine marble floor, the kind she had only seen in fancy magazines before. She lifted her head up and to her right was a large table, littered with all kinds of summer fruit treats and to the left of her was the largest pool she had ever seen. It even dwarfed the pond or even the reservoir near town.

"Welcome to my pool party!" No sooner had Luna announced the words pool party did Apple Bloom hear the words "Cannon ball!" from both Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, followed by an enormous splash. The others wasted no time, aside from Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon who were both being extremely picky about water temperature by dipping their hooves in first.

"C'mon Apple Bloom, you don't want to be the last pony in do you?" Luna gave a smile and took a running jump into the pool, her body spread wide and her wings out in a magnificent belly flop. Apple Bloom soon followed with her own Belly flop, although nowhere near as splashy as the much larger Luna's. When Apple Bloom hit the water she felt odd, like her mouth was a little on the scaly side. The shock made her accidentally inhale some water and to her surprise to no ill effects.

Apple Bloom came to the surface quickly, head swimming with questions. When she broke the surface she had Luna's and most of the gang staring at her.

"Is something wrong Apple Bloom?" Luna asked politely.

"I uhh, Inhaled some water but, I didn't have a coughin fit from it. What gives?" Apple Bloom was feeling around the bottom of her neck. It felt as if there were holes in it.

"Oh, I forgot. You never been to a city pool before have you?" Luna asked, trying to hold back a chuckle.

"No, can't say I have. Sweetie and Scoots have been though." Apple Bloom looked at her friends only to have them look back at her with "whoops" faces.

"Let me explain. Around the edge of this pool to the very top of the ceiling is a small barrier. Any pony that passes though this barrier automatically gains the breathe water spell. The scaly feeling you have in your throat will subside soon but first timers often find it a bit alarming at first."

"Why is it even there?" Apple Bloom couldn't grasp why someone would like to breathe like a fish, although she did think it was kind of neat.

"Well, we don't have to hire any life guards that way. In a closed environment like the palace or the city pools we can just use this spell. And any old unicorn could check the spell daily for weaknesses, but I check this one every day personally."

Apple Bloom thought for a moment. The answer seemed obvious but the other question was just waiting to burst in the back of her head. "So, why don't we use this...spell-barrier thing outside, like at the ocean?"

The other ponies went back to playing, leaving Luna and Apple Bloom alone. "Have you ever drawn a line in the sand?"

"Yeah." Apple Bloom responded.

"Well water washes away that line right?"

"Sure does."

"Imagine the spell as a kind of anchor that must sit in the line on the sand. If the line is washed away then so is the spell. Even if we were to make a line of rocks all the way down the cost with the spell it would take thousands of hours to enchant them only to have the spell washed away by the salt water within a year or less."

"So y'all hire lifeguards becuase it's easier?"

"And safer. All manner of wild creatures living in the sea could eat a pony. Having a trained professional there helps mitigate- scare them away I guess is a better word. Enough with the questions for now, we are missing out on valuable splashing time!"

Luna turned around and inhaled deeply."Water fight!" Luna curled into a ball and shot across the pool, sending waves in her wake, splashing everyone.

"Oh no you don't!" Apple Bloom yelled. Apple Bloom quickly got out of the pool and sneaked along the side, until she was right behind Luna. Apple Bloom jumped into the air in a cannon ball, splashing Luna and sending her tumbling forward. Before Luna could react, Apple Bloom surfaced with a mouth full of water and sprayed her right in the face.

"Ahh!" Luna yelled. "Touche little one, touche"She proclaimed while rubbing the water out of her eyes. Luna wasn't down for long, with a little bit of magic she was creating balls of water and hurling them like balloons at the others.

"Ack!" one hit Diamond Tiara square in the face, who was doggie paddling around the sides of the pool. Another bounced off a crudely made shield that Snails just barely managed to get up, ricocheting off him and hitting Snips in the back.

"Engarde all of ye children! Thy Princess of the night challenges thee!" Luna created a few more water balloons but something caught her eye. A stream of bubbles just below the surface was barreling toward her like a torpedo. Before she could get out of the way Featherweight breached the surface, throwing a wave over Luna.

"Thee is quick." Luna quickly recovered only to see both Snips and Snails created a massive ball of water on the other side of the pool.

"Dodge this one Princess!" Snips and Snails hurled the ball at Luna, although very slowly.

Luna couldn't help but laugh. "Thee have impressed me, but thine magic is unstable!" The ball was misshapen and little spurts of water were dripping from underneath it.

"You guys are silly, you know young unicorn magic is unstable. Powerful sometimes, but unstable." Peppermint Twist was busy pointing out imperfections in their spell as the ball slowly approached Luna's position.

"A valiant try but..." Luna dived under the water and popped up behind Snips, hitting him in the back with a water ball. "Not good enough!"

The massive ball of water continued out of the pool and onto the slick floor, slowly moving toward the doorway that led into a nearby foyer. Suddenly Celestia walked though the doorway.

"Luna we need to talk, I just-" Celestia stopped, the magical field holding the water in a ball beginning to fail.

"Uh-oh." Celestia's horn began to glow but it was far too late. The ball exploded in a torrent of water, soaking the monarch. Luna and the others couldn't help themselves, Most of them outright laughing and even those that tried to be respectful; namely Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon cracked a chuckle.

Celestia stood there for a moment, spitting water out of her mouth like a broken faucet for a moment before shaking herself dry. Celestia giggled to herself. "I really need to start keeping a shield up when I come into this room, Luna always manages to get me wet one way or another."

Luna blushed and swam up to the side of the pool. "What brings you in here today big sis? Are you in the mood for a dip maybe?"

Celestia looked at the pool with a glum face. All the children having a wonderful time reminded her of simpler days, days when she wasn't always bogged down with work. "Alas dear sister, no. I need a moment of your time in private, if you would be so kind."

Luna nodded and pulled herself out of the pool, hovering a tower over to her to dry off. "I will be back momentarily children. If you need any assistance or an emergency occurs do not hesitate to ring the red bell by the food." Luna lowered her horn and fired a beam of blue light by the fruit on the far side of the room. A Large red bell, larger than Luna herself appeared on a pair of stands, with a large rope hanging from the center.

As Luna and Celestia walked away Apple Bloom's had a sudden urge of curiosity. Whatever Celestia needed to talk to Luna about must have been grave, the look on her face before she was hit by the water ball was a face she had seen before on her older sister. The very same kind of face her sister wore ...that day.

Apple Bloom pulled herself out of the water and quickly shook herself dry. Taking a quick look around to see if any of her schoolmates noticed her, she slipped into the nearby foyer and then down the hall where she heard Celestia talking. It was quite hard to stay silent as she approached them but she found if she slid along the marble floor instead of walked she didn't make anywhere near as much noise. As Celestia's voice got louder Apple Bloom ducked behind a vase and put her ear out.

"You know we have to get closer to hear them right?"

Apple Bloom jumped up and hit the vase only to have Scootaloo catch it and put it back up carefully. "Jeez are you trying to get us caught?" She said as she adjusted the vase.

"How did you-"

"Like we wouldn't notice you sneak off. Sorry AB but bright red hair and a giant pink bow are kind of hard to miss." Scootaloo finished while pointed out Apple Blooms decorative bow she kept in her mane.

"Then where is Sweetie Belle?" Apple Bloom asked.

"She's covering for us by faking to play marco polo with us. That pool is big enough to hide a whale so it will be awhile before anyone else notices we are gone. Follow me." Scootaloo moved along the ground nearly soundlessly, her hooves holding her weight but being lifted off the ground very little; in a crawling like shuffle.

"Where did you ever learn how to do that Scoots?" Apple Bloom whispered while trying to copy Scootaloo's movements.

"A game called Splinter Gear Solid or something. Try and keep it down, we are almost to the target..." Scootaloo pressed up against a statue of a royal guard and listened in. Apple Bloom at the base trying to get a ear in as well.

"I'm sorry about interrupting your party. I know how very rare it is for you to have guests, let alone be awake at this hour."

"Tis nothing. Whatever it is you needed my attention for must be most dire. The look on your face was just dreadful dear sister." Luna replied.

"The terms of war from Walarah came in. Let's just say what she is planning is entirely absurd." Apple Bloom could hear Celestia unfurl a piece of paper of some kind.

"Read for yourself Luna, personally I think she is entirely mad to request such a thing."

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo peeked over the leg of the statue to watch Luna read a paper, from their vantage point they couldn't quite make out the writing. Lucky for them Luna had a bad habit of mouthing her words as she read them or outright saying them aloud.

"I believe it is in our best interests to settle this conflict as quickly as possible. I have heard your country has a bunker left over from some lost ape like civilization that contains what your scientist dubbed "The Steel Titans". We too have found a similar bunker with various very dangerous weapon designs. My idea is thus: We both construct less lethal variants of these machines and pit them against one another in fifteen on fifteen battles. We should hold at least eight of these battles to thin the heard on each side, double elimination style so only the best of the best are left. We then have one battle with the remaining best of each team, the winner of that battle gets the northern territory. I hope you agree to these terms of battle, hope to hear from you soon. Queen Walarah"

Luna's face went pale. "She has got to be out of her mind. Those weapons are strictly forbidden! I-I trust our own country folk to never use such things but if some evil being like chrysalis got a hold of those designs...

*Sheeck!!*

Apple Blooms still wet hoof slid our from under her, making a terrifying hoof -on- chalkboard like sound that both Princesses surly heard.

"You klutz, they are alarmed, code yellow, cheese it!" Scootaloo took off in a fast crawl, Apple Bloom trying to keep up as best she could.

"Is anypony there?" Celestia moved up to the hallway and looked left and then right, Luna close behind her. "I could of sworn I heard somepony out here."

"I did too." Luna walked ahead of Celestia and looked around when something caught her eye. On the bottom edge of the statue of a royal guard was a small patch of red hair and would looked like a ripped fragment of ribbon on the sharp statue edge.

"I think I know who it was that made that noise." Luna picked up the fragment of ribbon and showed it to Celestia.

"She isn't the only one." Celestia pointed out a single orange feather a bit of ways down the hall and hovered it too herself.

Luna sighed. "Things just got a lot more complicated didn't they dear sister?"

"A lot more Luna, a lot more."

Chapter III: Metal Gears, Solid Chickens

Chapter III:Metal Gears, Solid Chickens

Celestia looked at the orange feather she had picked up from the hall, breathing deeply as she set it on the statue pedestal. "Any suggestions on how to deal with our little spies?" Celestia asked Luna, a somber look on her face.

"Dear sister, we may as well tell them and only them what is to come. We cannot simply just throw them in the dungeon for curiosity."

"I know that. I wouldn't even throw an adult in the dungeons for such a thing. A secret the steel titans may be, but not worth destroying a life over. I guess I can leave how to handle them up to you then?"

"Yes, I will still berate them but it wasn't like the whole of Equestria wouldn't hear about it soon anyways. Between your talking in your sleep and our clumsy mail service no-"

"Derpy?" Celestia asked.

"Derpy." Luna replied.

Luna thought for a moment to get back to where she was before being cut off by her sister. "It's a miracle any secret is held within these walls for long."

"Agreed. I leave the curious fillies up to you." Celestia began to walk away when she stopped and looked back at Luna with a pale face. "Speaking of which, what do I say when I'm asleep?"

Luna giggled to herself. "Oh, not much. Only about how amazing rolling around in cake feels."

Celestia faked a grin. "Ummm...yeah, remind me later to get my room sound proofed." Celestia walked off, muttering under her breath about how many other secrets she could of accidentally given away in her sleep.

Luna looked to the hallway and gave a deep sigh. "At least I have an excuse now to ask Scootaloo about her problem last night."

***

Scootaloo and Apple Bloom sneaked down the hall as fast as they could, Scootaloo stopping every so often to distract a patrolling guard with a dirt clod or two that she picked out of the local potted plants.

"Scoots" Apple bloom whispered. "Are you sure you were not a secret agent or somethin in a past life? You seem really good at this."

Scootaloo put her hoof over Apple Blooms mouth just as a guard walked by the statue they were hiding behind. "Follow me and keep quiet, we're almost back to the pool." Scootaloo ducked low to the floor and crawled along, Apple Bloom close behind.

"Yeah, I guess you can say I have a knack for espionage. I might even get a cutie mark for it." Scootaloo whispered as she rounded the last corner back to the pool.

"You know how awesome that would be!" Apple Bloom replied, barely keeping her voice down. "Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon would never make fun of ya ever again. You could even have a spy name like...err" Apple Bloom tapped her head as she thought.

"Like liquid pony or revolver tiger." Scootaloo asked with sly grin on her face.

"I was thinkin more on the lines of solid chicken but those work too I guess."

Scootaloo shot Apple Bloom a mean scowl. "Still using that joke huh?"

Apple Bloom giggled. "Old jokes die hard, I guess."

The two finally made it back into the pool where they watched for a few amusing moments as Sweetie Belle yelled 'marco' with her eyes shut.

"Polo!" Both Apple Bloom and Scootaloo yelled back at the same time. Sweetie Belle turned her head, opened her eyes and pointed.

"Fish out of water!" Sweetie Belle yelled, although the others didn't seem to care, not a one noticing either pony being remotely wet. Sweetie Belle swam up to the edge of the pool and whispered as she held onto the side. "So, what did you guys find out? Celestia's pajama colors? Luna's Favorite video game? Some evil secret pertaining to Prince Blue Blood's dentist?"

Scootaloo and Apple Bloom shook there heads. "Worse, get out of the pool, we will talk about it over there by the food. I'm famished."

"Famished?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Another word for hungry." Sweetie Belle answered.

Scootaloo and Apple Bloom walked along the side of the pool over to the table full of fruit. Sweetie Belle following them in the pool.

"So, This may seem like a weird observation but your ribbon seems to be torn on the one side." Sweetie Belle pointed to Apple Blooms pink ribbon. Apple Bloom pulled it down and looked at it for a moment, indeed it was missing some fabric.

*Gasp*

Scootaloo looked at her small wings and noticed that the feathers were slightly uneven. "I'm missing a feather!"

Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom looked at each other for a moment.

"Scoots, how do ya know? I mean, I can't tell the difference." Sweetie Belle said as she turned her head sideways to see what Scootaloo was talking about.

"Of course you wouldn't notice but, I preen these babies every morning. You know like every proper Pegasus should." Scootaloo turned her head and ruffled around in her other wing, pulling out a single feather in an attempt to balance herself.

"This isn't good Sweetie, If Luna finds out we were spyin on her we might never be invited to anything ever again." Apple Bloom fondled her torn mane ribbon. "Maybe even thrown in the dungeon."

"I don't think they do that anymore, at least not for petty crimes or to fillies. I think we are too young for that." Sweetie Belle said as she pulled herself out of the pool.

"No, but she could just tell Cheerilee. She could give us detention forever." Apple Bloom added.

"No use worrying about it till it happens. I'll tell you what we found out over some water melon." Scootaloo pointed over to the massive fruit buffet on the table not to far from where they were standing, her stomach growling all the while. The group walked over to the table, Scootaloo picking up a plate and putting some water melon and grapes on her plate. Sweetie Belle getting herself some kiwi & limes and Apple bloom predictably getting herself Apples.

"So, first things first. Queen Walarah or whatnot has offered Celestia some kinda non- lethal alternative to settle our kingdoms differences." Scootaloo took a titanic bite out of her water melon, waving at Apple Bloom to continue the story.

"Yeah, she said they were gonna use some kinda abandoned metal things....steel titans I think she called em." Apple Bloom funneled a few grapes from Scootaloo's plate into her mouth greedily, forgoing her own apples in favor of the lighter snack.

"I never heard of those. Did we go over it during history lessons? Should we maybe ask peppermint about them?" Sweetie Belle took a bite out of her kiwi while looking over in Peppermint Twists direction.

"I don't think she's ever heard of it. I don't think anypony outside of Celestia or Luna ever have." Scootaloo set aside her water melon and grabbed herself a banana.

"Why do you say that? Peppermint is almost as big an...of what did Rainbow Dash call it; an egghead, as Twilight."

Apple Bloom finished the last of Scootaloo's grapes and set her plate aside, the apples on it still uneaten. "It's one of those state secret ma-jiggers I think. No pony but the most elite would even know of em."

Scootaloo pointed over to the doorway that they came out of just recently. Princess Luna walked though it quickly followed by two royal guards. Both guards stopped on either side of the door and Luna turned around to speak with them. After a brief exchange Luna nodded and flew over the pool, landing near the fruit table.

"Act cool, act natural, don't make eye contact." Sweetie Belle whispered as she took another bite of her kiwi.

"I take it you three like the fruit bar I set up for everypony, yes?" Luna asked as she walked around lifting a few choice fruits from the table with her magic onto her own plate.

"Y-yes Luna." The crusaders replied together, anxiously.

Luna walked up next to Apple Bloom and sat down, Slowly nibbling on some strawberries from her plate. "So, I found this little piece of torn pink garment in the hall. Do any of you know who it belongs to?"

Apple Bloom nervously tilted her head so the torn part of her bow was partially hidden by her mane.

"Ummm." Scootaloo could feel Luna's piercing glare. Deep inside she knew the futility of trying to lie to her. Even if she could, the guilt of doing it after Luna had helped her with her nightmares on more than one occasion would eat her up inside.

This fact didn't seem to escape Apple Bloom either. Luna was thousands of years old, if she couldn't even fool her older sister, what chance would she have against a much wiser pony. She needed to come clean. "It's part of my bow, Luna." Apple Bloom angled her head to show the spot where part of the pink ribbon had ripped.

"I see, and Scootaloo has something to confess to me as well?"

Scootaloo's heart skipped a beat but, oddly enough Luna didn't seem anywhere near as angry as Scootaloo was expecting. Either Luna is very good controlling her anger, or was very good at faking it. Either way, lying wasn't going to get her out of this mess. "Yeah, I do."

"Don't be hard on just them Princess. I helped cover for them when they went off on their own. I should be punished too. The CMC works together and falls together." Sweetie Belle stood up proudly but quickly sat back down. "But if you would be so nice I would like to finish my meal before you banish us or something." Sweetie Belle gulped down another kiwi. "You know, growing filly and all."

Luna cracked a smile. "I was never angry at you. Curious and maybe a little disappointed but never angry. Please finish your meal, I will talk to you all privately later." Luna's eyes fell upon Scootaloo. "Except you, Scootaloo. I want to have words with you over there if you would be so kind." Luna nodded to the far side of the pool.

Scootaloo nodded back and set her plate on the table and walked along side Luna.

"Can I ask what this is about. You already know me and Apple Bloom were spying on you." Scootaloo said with some concern in her voice.

"Wait until we are out of earshot of the others. I know of the two well off fillies you brought with you. They are known bullies, even here in Canterlot." Luna stopped by the far end of the pool, Scootaloo standing next to her with their backs turned to the rest of the ponies.

"This isn't about the spying. To be frank that information would have gotten out of the castle eventually anyhow. Even if we didn't say anything surely Walarah would have announced to her news network about the steel titans they found. Names aside it doesn't really mean anything till you see them. No, this is more akin to what you dreamed about last night."

Scootaloo scratched the back of her head. "Oh, yeah. That."

"When I first came into your dream I noticed you were staring at the moon. Do you do that often?"

"Well, yeah. At least since you helped me with my nightmare problem. I do it every so often as a kind of respect thing. I mean you put out that night sky every evening and barely anypony is up to appreciate it." Scootaloo didn't know what else to say. She did occasionally like the night sky but couldn't see the relevance between it and her nightmare.

"I just wanted to confirm that the moon itself didn't trigger the nightmare, every so often I get ponies that are actually afraid of the moon and it triggers nightmares sub-consciously." Luna turned away, Scootaloo catching a brief glimpse of her blushing. "I also thank you for taking the time to appreciate my night, it means a lot to me." Luna turned back to Scootaloo; trace amounts of red still in her face.

"I was wondering what that creature was that attacked you. The dream ended before I could get a close look at it."

Scootaloo put her hoof on her chin, trying hard to remember the details. It had...big wings, talons or claws of some kind. Didn't get a very good look at what kind of feathers it had but the sound reminded me of eagle's flapping their wings. It's also had a sharp beak but the body was too big for any bird I have ever seen. It dawned on Scootaloo what the creature was.

"Luna, I think the creature was a griffon of some kind. Or maybe a that other thing that looks like griffons; hippogriffs I think they are called."

"Hmmm" Luna sat down, puzzling for a moment. "Have you ever actually seen a live hippogriff before?"

Scootaloo thought for a moment. "No, I only read about them briefly in school. Something about them being related to griffons."

"I'm not surprised. They live in the zebra lands far to the east. They are very seclusive and rarely venture out of their own communities. I think that alone eliminates the identity of the creature. Tell me, how many griffins have you ever seen?"

Scootaloo thought back. She had actually seen many of them growing up. Most of them attended the Staliongrad flight school but she occasionally saw them in the countryside. "Quite a few of them actually. Most of them from far away but I do remember seeing Rainbow Dash's best friend Gilda up close."

"What do you remember of her?"

"Well she was a lot larger than Rainbow was, she was actually around the size of Apple Blooms brother. She had a sharp beak, vicious talons, giant wings and a flexible lions tail. She also seemed to have very short temper and a mean streak about her too though."

"Well, that's what i needed to know. I needed to make sure your imagination wasn't adding things that were not there. Sometimes imaginative little fillies add things to their nightmares that makes my job all the harder. At least now I know it is a real griffin and not an imaginary one." Luna paused for a moment. "May I ask why you are afraid of griffins all of a sudden?"

"I'm not!" Scootaloo sat back and smiled meekly, noticing she actually raised her voice at Luna. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean that."

"That's alright." Luna said compassionately.

"I...I guess I'm not afraid of griffons but more afraid that some of my friends and family will get hurt in this whole war thing. I mean, what if some of my favorite ponies get drafted and never come back." Scootaloo couldn't help but wipe a tear from her eye. The thought of never seeing Apple Jack, Pinkie Pie or any of her other friends again was actually a scary thought.

"You won't need to worry about that. The Equestrian army has never required a draft for as long as I can remember. We have it on the books as a possibility but we have never have had a reason to use it." Luna put her wing over Scootaloo. "There, there little one. Your loved ones won't be going away and even if Walarah were to declare a violent war on us I assure you Celestia would not rest until victory was assured."

"R-really?"

"I may be the better tactician but if my sister gets truly angry, nothing on this world could stop her. Come, let us finish our snack before I have the talk with the rest of your friends." Luna and Scootaloo walked back to the fruit table. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom welcoming them back with plates of fresh fruit.

"So Scoots, what did ya talk about with Luna?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Yeah, it must have been exciting. I could see your wings fly up from here." Sweetie Belle added.

"Oh, Uhhh." Scootaloo folded her wings in. "Nothing too exciting."

"Nothing too exciting?" Sweetie Belle stared at Scootaloo for a moment. "I thought when pegasi experience strong emotions they fluff their wings out."

Luna glared at Sweetie Belle, a look that her older sister gave her on many an occasion that practically said "Drop the subject" which she quickly did.

Not too long after they began eating that their other classmates began to come up one by one from the pool and get themselves some food.

"Psst." Luna whispered in Apple Blooms ear but just loud enough for the other crusaders to hear. "I want you all to enjoy yourselves for the next couple hours before I take the rest of your friends home but I need you to promise me that you will not mention the titans to any of them."

"We promise" Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie belle said together in unison.

"Good, I'm gonna do a few laps. I need to work off these calories, otherwise it will go right to my flanks." Luna flew into the air and came down into the water with a magnificent double flip dive.

"Wait. I always thought you were supposed to wait thirty minutes to swim after eating." Apple Bloom said while watching Luna swim the length of the pool.

"Yeah, something about cramps or something." Scootaloo added.

"You fillies are silly. If that were true you would get cramps whenever you eat. We are 90 percent water remember?" peppermint Twist loaded her plate with a few bananas before sitting down next to Sweetie Belle. "The myth stems from people getting motion sick while floating in a near weightless environment. If you don't get motion sick on a regular basis then you are completely fine."

"Peppermint?"

"Yeah Sweetie?"

"You're such an egg-head."

Peppermint Twist gave a hearty laugh, almost snorting in the process. "Yeah, I know."

***

The rest of the afternoon went smoothly. Everyone had a few games of Volleyball, water dodge ball and everyponys personal favorite; who sunk the Luna. Dinner was a spicy delicacy that was prepared in front of everypony by a expert chef. Everypony wondering how he juggled vegetable kabobs over an open flame the way he did without so much as scorching his apron.

After dinner everypony had another quick round water tag before Luna called out to the rest of the fillies and colts.

"Will you all come to me. I have something to say." The ponies all swam up to the side of the pool, Princess Luna drying off her ears before talking again. "I would just like to say that it has been one of most fun days I have had in a very long time, however as they say all good things must come to an end. The sun will set in just a few minutes and I did promise your parents that i would have you all home by sundown."

A few unicorn guards walked into the room, each one carrying a small bag that had star glowing all along the straps. "I have prepared for everyone something of a souvenir of our time together. In each bag if have left everyone special chocolate from my personal connection as well as a moonstone. If you are ever having nightmares I want you all to sleep with the moonstone. I will do my best to come to your aid when you do."

The guard lined up next to each pony, their horns aglow ready to take them home. However three guards seemed to not budge from their spots.

Diamond Tiara moved away from the guard standing by her, Silver Spoon close behind.

"Apple Bloom. I just wanna say...thanks for taking me along."

"Ditto for me as well. Also, Luna, thank you for the wonderful time."

The other ponies in the group also thanked Luna one by one. Each walking up to give her a hug in appreciation.

"You are all very welcome. I hope we can do this again sometime, I can't always be about work, work, work all the time now can I?" Luna nodded at the guards and slowly each one of Apple Bloom's, Scootaloo's and Sweetie Belle's classmates disappeared in an electric flash of light.

"Guards, You may leave the bags here and return to your duties. I will escort these three home personally."

The guards set the bags on the table nearby and saluted to Luna before exiting the room. Luna stood there for a few minutes, it almost looked as if her coat had a slight glow to it somehow. A few more minutes passed and the glow became glaringly obvious.

"Luna...yer-"

"Quiet young ones. I must concentrate. Follow me." Luna walked to the far side of the room and opened up a glass door and stepped onto a balcony, the CMC following close behind. Luna looked to her right, on a far adjacent Balcony was princess Celestia, her horn aglow as the sun slowly began to set behind the hills.

After the sun disappeared and only the afterglow of day was visible over the hills did Celestia turn her attention to Luna. "Okay little sis, you remember the deal. You get double shift tomorrow for me taking yours this morning."

Luna merely nodded in her sisters direction, her body glowing ever brighter. Luna spread her wings and lifting her front legs in the air. The moon rose up in front of her, casting it's light on her and making her look something like an avenging angel. Luna quickly lifted off the balcony, her body entirely enveloped in a white glow. Luna moved her front legs to her sides and with a flash of light moon moved high into the sky.

"Why did you have to use the old way. Showoff!" Celestia looked a bit disgruntled as she went inside, her wings a little ruffled in aggravation.

The glow surrounding Luna faded away as she landed on the balcony.

"W-w" Apple Bloom couldn't speak. there were just no words to describe what she just witnessed. No words at all. Her friends were equally as shocked, both of them just staring in awe as Luna turned around to smile at their gaping faces.

"Phew, doing it that way is always exhausting but well worth the resulting shock factor." Luna casually wiped her brow, wiping away the sweat as she walked over to Apple Bloom. "You know If you keep staring at me with your jaw open like that, it will freeze that way."

All three CMC members closed their mouths and followed Luna back into the palace.

"Luna, that was amazing. I mean, we have all seen Celestia raise the sun at the summer sun festival but that was something else entirely." Scootaloo said as the others nodded in agreement.

Luna smiled at Scootaloo and the others. "I'm glad you liked it. A long time ago I would raise and lower the moon that way each morning and afternoon. It is a bit flashy but it's also very draining to do it that way." Luna's stature seemed a bit more sluggish than normal. Her wings were droopy and her normally radiant mane was muted in its brilliant starry night luster.

"Are you okay Luna? You seem a bit tired." Sweetie Belle walked up to the Princesses side, putting a hoof on her wing.

"I'll be fine little one, normally I sleep during the day but today I wanted something special. For you all and for myself." Luna walked over to the pool and dunked her head in, quickly pulling it out and shaking. "I'm only a bit tired, I still need to show you all something very important. Something that everypony will know of soon enough."

Luna beckoned Scootaloo and Apple Bloom to her side. "I suggest you all hold your breath. These mass teleportations can be a bit disorienting." Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle did as they were told and held their breath. "Good, now give me a moment." Luna's horn began to glow and hum, sweat rolling down her face as she built up the necessary magic reserves. "Here we go!"

There was a flash of light and within seconds Apple Bloom felt her hooves hit what felt like moist dirt. She looked around to find that the teleport wasn't exactly spot on. Sweetie Belle was up a nearby tree and Scootaloo was tangled in some vines just below her. Apple Bloom looked around, they seemed to be in a swamp of some kind. The hot humid air, the smell of dead things and trees that reminded her of the ones in foggy bottom bog.

"Pffft! gross!"

Apple Bloom watched as Luna pulled herself out of some very murky looking water. Her night blue coat covered in swamp moss, dead leaves and specks of mud.

"I think I swallowed a frog" Luna coughed a few times and indeed a very angry looking frog came from her mouth, landing in the water. Getting his bearings the little frog stared at Luna and shaked his angry webbed front feet at her before hopping away, kicking mud in Luna's face as he did.

"Sorry for accidentally eating you!" Luna called after the frog. "Oh my, looks like I was way off target tonight." Luna untangled Scootaloo from the vines above and levitated Sweetie Belle off the branch she was stuck on.

"Sorry about that, being tired and the magical defenses we put on this location are taking their toll on my accuracy" Luna seemed short of breath. If what Apple Bloom saw of her earlier was Luna tired then this must have been Luna when she was exhausted.

"Luna, I think you need to take rest." Scootaloo suggested.

"I will in a bit, follow me." Luna moved with surprising speed given her condition, the members of the CMC barely able to keep up with her. After a few minutes they came upon a stone wall covered in moss. A single hole in the center was the only visible feature on it. Luna lowered her head and stuck her horn in the hole, sliding it in about half way. The wall began to shake violently, quickly shaking off the overgrown moss on it and revealing a moon and a sun on the upper left and right sides.

Luna removed her horn and the wall began to sink into the ground. After a few tense moments of the earth shaking, lights began to appear in what was pitch black darkness where the wall used to stand. Apple Bloom peered into the darkness to find a set of ancient stairs. Incandescent light bulbs were in electrical sockets some of the way down, although from what Apple Bloom could see, most of them were extinguished and only lit the stairwell maybe halfway down at best.

"Follow me but watch your step. These stairs haven't seen hooves in many centuries." Luna took the first step forward but slipped as one of the bricks in the stairs gave way and tumbled down the black mostly unlit abyss. "See what I mean?"

Luna moved forward, the members of the CMC following behind her timidly.

As Apple Bloom took her first few steps in she noticed that these stairs were really steep and narrow. As she continued further down she found it increasingly harder to keep her balance. "Are you guys having the same problem as I am?" Apple Bloom turned her head to find an amusing sight.

Scootaloo was walking down the stairs sideways and Sweetie Belle was scooting down the stairs on her flanks.

"What? These things are steep." Scootaloo said.

"Narrow too. My behind is killing me."

Apple Bloom wasn't a expert on construction but she knew a thing or two about basic farm upkeep and construction from her sister. Whoever made these stairs did not intend for them to be tread upon by any creature of the four legged variety.

"If you puff your chest out and lead both legs forward at a the same time, you can navigate it easier." Luna Called back, the light from her mane just barely visible in the encroaching dark.

Apple Bloom tried what Luna suggested but found it only made it harder to keep her balance. "I dun think it works Luna." Apple Bloom sat down on the step before she lost her balance completely.

"Hold on, I'm already at the bottom."

Apple bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Bell held their breaths in excitement as a blue aura surrounded each of them, lifting each into the air and sending them quickly to the landing at the bottom by Luna.

"Well that was neat, but are you sure you should be using your magic so...co..copi...Sweetie Belle, help me out here."

"Copiously, Apple Bloom" Sweetie Belle corrected.

"I'm not that drained. Here, let me get the lights." Luna fumbled around in the dark, her hooves making clanking sounds on the wall until she managed to hit a switch of some kind, moments later the entire roof began to light up with long white bars of light. Each row turning on in sequence all along the length of the room, although a few of them were flickering or burned out.

"Something of a new technology. It's sparsely used in major cities but apparently whoever made this room invented it long before we did. Come."

On the far side of the room was something that looked like a massive vault door. A vault door that made the one at the Ponyville bank look like an old suitcase by comparison.

"By the nights command, I say open."

Apple Bloom noticed a little glass panel on the right side of the door light up. The colors flashing red and blue with little lines lining up with one another on the surface.

"Voice recognition confirmed. Welcome General." said a squeaky voice from what looked like a stereo speaker in the wall.

The door slowly opened, the lights in the other room coming on as they did. Luna stepped though, with the CMC close behind her into a room full of large white sheets.

"Took us years to figure out how that worked." Luna said with a smile.

"The dangerous weapon is...bed sheets?" Sweetie Belle said as she walked ahead of the group.

Luna laughed. "No, silly pants. It's what is under the sheets."

Scootaloo walked up to one of the smaller sheet covers, grabbed the end with her teeth and gave a heavy pull;ending up on her back covered in a sheet for her efforts.

Apple Bloom couldn't make out what she was staring at. It was some kind of brown, riveted metal monstrosity. There was a flat plate at the front, followed by a steeply angled metal sheet that ended in a box on the top with three rectangular holes. On the left and right were metal sheets that angled backwards and had these strange little cylinder shaped objects in the center with holes in them. The entire thing was help up by what looked like city road pavement but in small rectangular segmented blocks, each of them going all the way around six small wheels on the inside that had some kind of support struts in them. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle moved in to get a better look, Scootaloo freeing herself from the sheet and following soon after.

On the very top of the metal machine was a weirdly shaped metal box with metal cap cover that looked something like a thick bottle cap. Sticking out of this bottle cap was a long metal rod of some kind.

"So...this is a steel titan? Kind of looks silly to me." Scootaloo said as she inspected the sides. "There's a big white star on the side of this thing too. I wonder what It means."

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo walked all the way around the odd metal contraption. Pointing out what looked like doors on the back and a hatch on the top.

"Luna, I don't see how this thing is dangerous. I mean i guess if it gets moving it can be a pain to stop , being all made of metal but...I don't see the danger in it."

Luna pointed to something the crusaders had overlooked. A small bronze plaque that was in the stone on the floor in front of the machine. Scootaloo, Apple bloom and Sweetie belle moved in together to inspect the shiny object they had missed.

Apple bloom began to read aloud the small writing on the bronze plaque. "M2 medium tank, originally intended as a stopgap measure during the second world war. 18 M2 tanks were completed but never saw service in combat as they were considered entirely obsolete by the time the tank was put on the field. Slight M2A1 variants were also constructed, none of which saw combat either."

Below the text was a bunch of numbers and words that Apple Bloom kind of understood but, one word stood out in particular; the word gun preceded by 37mm. She knew she had seen the word before, perhaps it was at school.

"Luna, I have seen this word before but, I can't seem to put my hoof on where."

"I think I remember, It was in the history textbook." Sweetie Belle added.

"Yeah, the section about pirates I think it was." Scootaloo said with some excitement.

"You are sort of correct. A gun is a machine used to shoot small bits of metal, normally lead at high speeds, using a gun powder explosion in a strong but hollow tube. They were invented some time after me and my sister came to power but we quickly outlawed them and destroyed any blueprints on how to create them."

"Why?" Scootaloo asked.

"My sister had the good sense to keep technology in check, delaying advances intentionally until everything was known about the consequences. She even had a spell she used from time to time to get images from far in the future. If she had not stopped this particular technology in its tracks the world would have been a very different place. A place of fear and death, a world of constant wars, orphans and daily tragedies."

"But isn't it a better weapon when compared to bows, arrows and the like?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"It is, but it wasn't so much our own kinsfolk that Celestia was worried about. It was enemies of Equestria getting a hold of such technology. The griffin empire was not always our friendly neighbors, a long time ago they were our fiercest enemies. In order to stop a quickly approaching war my sister forged a odd peace accord with the griffins."

"The peace accord of CL 227." Sweetie Belle said.

"Yes, both sides ordered a stand down of any ballista, troops and such at the borders. In exchange the queen of the griffins at the time granted Equestria ownership of the northern fields and Celestia gave up her holding in the arctic gem mines. Both sides burned and melted down all of their defenses and had inspectors check each others countries for years."

"But...we have weapons now, what happened?"

"Many things. The treaty only lasted as long as the life of the griffin queen that signed it. After a hundred years we slowly began to amass a small standing army and the griffins did the same. However both sides honored the commitments to peace and ceased all technological development in weapons. They found that both sides benefited greatly from one another and that cooler heads always prevailed." Luna walked up to a larger sheet and pulled it off.

As the sheet fell to the ground the CMC just sat there in shock. Compared to the one behind them, this steel titan was much larger. It had a very sharp pointed pike like front, nice and smooth, unlike the odd box-like M2 behind them. the top part of the titan was also different, the entire top was well rounded and reminded them of something like an overturned soup bowl. The most scary looking part was the so called 'gun'. It was exceptionally larger and longer than the M2.

"This is an IS-3, it is one of the more lethal steel titans in this bunker. It is equipped with a 122mm D25-t gun. One shot from this gun is enough to kill a dozen or so adult ponies. It can fire it a grand total of twenty-eight times before the machine needs more ammunition."

Apple bloom couldn't believe what she was hearing. She turned her head to see that her friends too; were in shock.

"How can anyone make something so horrible." Apple Blooms ears fell, just the thought of something killing so many ponies made her sad.

"Not only that, these weapons are capable of killing even me and my sister, given enough of them." Luna stared at the machine, just the thought sending chills down her back.

"But, I thought you and Celestia were both, you know, immortal?" Scootaloo asked.

"Celestia was shot by one of these on accident when we first found this place. it was one of the smaller ones in the back I believe but had the same gun as the one in front of me. She told me that she had never felt such pain in her life, that too many hits like that could easily kill her. She even had a very bad welt on her side from it, something even dragons fire could never do."

Scootaloo sat there for a moment, letting what Luna said sink in. There was something out there that could even hurt...or worse, kill Princess Luna?

"Luna, if these ...tank steel titan things are so dangerous then why not destroy all of them?"

Luna paced for a moment. "We have been but in secret, at least until I was banished that is. We found dozens of these hidden in the earth all over Equestria. Originally we thought sealing them up was enough but as we found more and more of them we started to slowly disassemble and destroy them one by one. Sadly we could not trust any outsiders for help, if the plans or ideas of such monstrosities got out of here who knows what kind of damage could be done."

"And this Walarah found one of these?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"We thought we had sealed up all the ones we found in her country but it seemed we may have missed a few. I still do not know how she plans on making combat between these things non-lethal but it wears heavy on my heart what could happen if such things fell into the wrong hooves...or claws."

Luna staggered forward a bit and leaned up against one of the machines, sweat rolling down her face.

The three fillies immediately ran up to her, each one doing their best to hold up the larger Alicorn as they moved her onto one of the dusty sheets on the floor to lie down.

"You look like you really need a nap." Apple Bloom said as patted Luna on the back.

"I'm inclined to agree."

Every pony in the room looked toward the vault door to find Celestia standing there, something of a worried look on her face.

"Celestia! Something is wrong with Luna!" Scootaloo cried.

"I know little one, she has been running herself ragged for the last couple days and nights, something I warned her against. That flashy moon raising earlier was the metaphorical straw that broke the camels back."

Luna didn't seem to have the energy to even talk back, all she seemed to want to do is close her eyes and sleep right there.

"I see it is worse than I thought. Oh well, I guess I'll have to get the moon and sun later tonight." Celestia walked over to Luna and nuzzled her affectionately. "Silly little sister, always trying to one up me." Celestia turned to the rest of the fillies in the room. "If you would please follow me I need to take you all home now."

Celestia stepped a few paces away from Luna and motioned the CMC members under her wings.

"But what about Luna?" Apple bloom and Scootaloo protested.

"She will be fine, she's just tired is all." Celestia motioned with her wings for the two to get under them. Reluctantly Scootaloo and Apple Bloom joined Sweetie Belle under Celestia's wings. "I will be back for you little sister." With a puff of smoke Celestia was gone.

Apple Bloom felt her body lurch for a moment but the feeling quickly faded when she felt her hooves hit the ground. Looking to her side she noticed the other two were nowhere near as disoriented as when Luna teleported them.

"Apple Jack!" Celestia called.

One of the windows by the kitchen opened up, Apple Jack sticking her head out to greet them. "Hiya y'all. How was everything?"

"Everything was wonderful Apple Jack. I'll have these three in bed in a few moments if that's okay with you."

Apple Jack nodded and closed the window, going back to what looked like dinner dishes on the other side.

"What you saw tonight is not to be told to another soul. The knowledge of the existence of such things could very much end the world we live in. Why my younger sister confided this secret in you all I will never know, but I trust her judgement. Maybe she see's something in you three that I did not."

"We promise, Celestia." The three said in unison.

"Then I will hold you to that promise. In any case I must be-"

"Wait!" Sweetie Belle said.

"Is something wrong Sweetie Belle?"

Sweetie thought for a moment, having momentarily forgot what she shouted for. "Oh, Luna gave us...some kinda bag things that were left by the pool."

"I see, a parting gift of some kind. I will have your local mail mare drop them off, although they may get lost for a few days before reaching here."

"Derpy?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Der-" Celestia giggled. "Deja vu."

Celestia shook her head, laughing. "Yes, Derpy. She has a habit of being...less than fantastic at her job. Anyways I bid you all adieu, I have to get my sister off that cold stone floor before she catches a cold."

"Can Alicorns catch colds?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Let's not find out." Celestia smiled and with a poof of smoke, was gone.

Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo stood there for a moment, the cool summer breeze blowing though their manes.

"So." Scootaloo said.

"So." Sweetie Belle replied.

"Well... I guess this makes us secret keepers then?" Apple Bloom said glumly.

Sweetie Belles eyes widened as she danced in place.

"Why so excited? I mean one slip up and it could spell doom for the entire world." Scootaloo watched as Sweetie Belle danced around energetically. "I mean, that's kind of a really bad idea to leave secrets with little fillies."

"No, I get that part. What if we get our cutie marks if we hold the secret long enough?"

"I get it, we could be the cutie mark crusader, secret keepers." Apple Bloom smiled broadly.

"That sounds awesome! Like getting a cutie mark for being a spy or something." Scootaloo thought for a moment. "What would a secret keeper cutie mark even look like?"

"Hey y'all!" Apple Jack called from the open back door to the house. "It's almost yer bed time. I want you all to brush yer teeth and all that before bed." Apple Jack went back into the house, some of the lights inside dimming.

Apple Bloom looked at the other two. "I guess this means yer all spendin the night?"

"Well, I don't think Apple Jack would have us walk home in the dark." Sweetie Belle said as she looked at the poorly lit path leading to Ponyville.

"Yeah, lets *yawn* get some shuteye." Apple Bloom said as she stretched her forelegs.

"Secrets or no secrets; we got the rest of the summer ahead of us."

Chapter IV: Iron Mare Match

Chapter IV:Iron Mare Match

"Bah wheres my eyeliner?" Celestia fumbled around her makeup cabinet, frantically searching for the right color eyeliner for a oncoming meeting. "Ahh here it is." Celestia picked up a black looking pencil object and heated it up with her magic. After a few moments she ran it around the sides of her eyes and set it down. Celestia stood there for a moment, looking in the mirror before rolling her eyes in frustration.

"Needs more red. I wish my maidens weren't busy." Celestia peered out of her room down the hall. Sure enough, most of the staff were on high alert. Her hoof maidens were all busy carring around food and decorations on their backs, occasionally getting help from the local guards. Celestia pulled her head back into her room and looked at herself in the mirror once more. Sighing deeply she turned her head to a lump of deep night that was on her bed. "If only you were awake little sister, this makeup business wouldn't be so difficult, nor would this emergency meeting."

Luna rolled over, yawned and went back to sleep.

"Oh well, at least you find my bed comfy." Celestia picked up some powder and brushed her cheeks. "This will have to do I suppose." Celestia looked back at her sleeping sister. "Really wish you were awake to help me, I could use your imposing stature to my advantage."

Celestia exited her room, immediately three hoof maidens came to her side, asking if she needed anything. "No, no. You are all busy enough without worrying about me. Just make sure the palace is decorated proper and the feast is ready."

"Yes Princess, as you command." The three said together as they bowed and went their separate ways.

No sooner had the hoof maidens left her side did a guard walk up to her and salute. "Sorry to impose your highness, I have the captains security report right here with me." The guard pulled out a clipboard and handed it to Celestia.

Celestia began flipping the pages, barely even bothering to read them until she came across something on the side. "Four hundred first and second division centurions? Isn't that a bit excessive?"

"No ma'am. We have to show both security and power to our visitors. If we look weak and unprepared they may use it as an intimidation tactic."

Celestia rolled her eyes and muttered 'very well' under her breath as she continued to look though the various status reports around the castle. On the second to last page she noticed a crash report and one of the recently replaced sugar windows by the mail landing being broken and replaced for the cost of six bits. Celestia looked up at the guard with a grin on her face.

"Derpy?" Celestia asked.

"Derpy." The guard replied with a blush on his face.

Celestia giggled. "I guess replacing that entire landing with harmless sugar glass was a good idea. I may not like her clumsiness but I don't want to see her get hurt." Celestia's horn glowed as a big rubber sun stamp appeared next to her. Celestia stamped the report to give her approval for the expense, the guard looking at her strangely.

"I beg your pardon your highness but, shouldn't we dock Derpy's wages for the replacement glass?"

"No. As much as someponies dislike the Equestrian mail carrier service it employs ponies that would otherwise feel useless and rejected for something they were born with. Derpy may be clumsy but she's out there everyday, rain snow or shine delivering that mail, albeit not always accurately." Celestia turned the page and put her stamp of approval on the bottom of the expenses and troop movement document. She quickly handed it back to the guard whom tucked it into one of his saddlebags.

"Never underestimate those that may seem odd. Everypony has their day in the sun, hers will come sooner rather than later."

The guard saluted Celestia and went about his business, pulling out another clipboard and checking it off as he walked.

Celestia walked down the hall and into the dining room where she intended to hold the meeting later that night. The table was decorated with the finest in silverware, the seats were walnut with gold accents and red satin cushions. The curtains adorning the walls were of the highest quality silk, gold and silver Pegasi depictions interwoven into them.

The marble floor was so polished that she could see her face in it and the dishes for the evening were already arriving and being set on magical heating plates on the table.

*grrwwwl*

Celestia looked down, her face beet red. "Oh my, I forgot breakfast...and lunch." Celestia looked up at the clock. She could just ask for something from the main kitchens to tide her over but they were already stressed out with the preparations. She could just wait until the meeting started but that was around five hours from now. "What to do, what to do..."

"Oh!" Celestia remembered that most of the staff ate at a cafeteria on the first floor. She had completely forgotten that her palace had a cafeteria as she had her meals delivered to her every day. "I wonder what they are having today?" Celestia walked back out into the hall, stopping one of the local maids if she knew what they were having in the cafeteria today.

"Princess, err, ma'am." The maid seemed terrified by being directly addressed by the her. "T-they are having carrot casserole and spicy salmon today."

Salmon? I don't remember anyone on my main cooking staff ever cooking meat based dishes... Celestia thought to herself. "Thank you very much. I think I will partake of the casserole."

And maybe the salmon too. I never actually tried it but their is a first time for everything.

Celestia nodded at the maid and walked down the hall toward the stairs down to the first floor.

The maid drew a breath of relief when a guard stopped her.

"You...did tell the princess that Red was on duty today, right?"

The maid looked as if she had just seen a ghost, the color from her face quickly fading. "S-should I run and tell her?"

The guard laughed. "Oh no, with any luck we will get some entertainment out of this AND get Red fired in the process. Now where did I set my camera?"

***

Celestia made her way down the spiral stairs and into the hall leading to the cafeteria. Along the way she saw a few of the senate members talking amongst themselves, some of them breaking out of their groups to bow respectfully at Celestia. As she made her way into the cafeteria she could see that, aside from a few of the laundry mares; she was the only other pony there for food.

She walked up to what looked like a salad bar and began to browse the selection. There were the typical collage of normal salad toppings but oddly enough even a few rarities, things typically not grown in Equestria. Vegetables like black radish, bottle gourd, daikon and even yucca chips.

Such an amazing selection. There is stuff here that none the royal kitchen cooks have even seen. I wonder how the head chef down here gets such exotic produce? Celestia seemed lost in thought and awe at the titanic selection before her. Some of this foods she hadn't tasted in ages, some of them so exotic that even she couldn't get them when she wanted.

Celestia's train of thought was broken when a flash of red walked by the glass on the other side of the bar. Looking up Celestia noticed a mare walk by, she had a deep red coat, a night black mane tied in a ponytail and cutie mark that looked like the shape of a hurricane. On her head was a chefs hat with a gold ribbon tied around the center, signifying that she was the head chef.

"Excuse me." Celestia said.

The mare seemed rather busy but waved her hoof to show that she heard her.

"I would like to know if you have any more carrot casserole." Celestia asked as she browsed the bar, unable to find anything listed as such.

The mare's tail flung to the side in an aggravated fashion. "Listen here ya wonky secretary. I told Senator Carmine that we were out earlier. And no I don't know how to deal with food sickness he got from celery surprise. I told the buffoon not to eat it cold but noo." The mare seemed to not even bother turning around to address Celestia directly. "Ya had to take it away in a doggie bag and not heed me warnings. If you ask me he-" The mare turned around, her eyes went wide briefly but she quickly recovered walking up to the bar to look Celestia in the eye.

Celestia stood there for a moment, not knowing exactly what to do. The red mares deep blue eyes practically digging into her.

"If yer ere to fire me on Carmines request then do it quick. I suggest ye call the ambulance though becuase when I'm done with that snobby little..."

"I'm , not here to fire you." Celestia felt something she hadn't felt in awhile. At first it felt alien but she soon put her hoof on exactly what the feeling was; intimidation. This fiery mare was making her feel small, something she hadn't experienced in a very long time.

The two looked at one another for a few more minutes until the red mare broke eye contact and took her hat off. "I'm sorry Celestia, it's been a rough day. I didn mean to bite yer head off. Let me introduce myself, I'm Red, the head chef of the cafeteria, but everyone calls me Red Typhoon, after me cutie mark."

Celestia didn't know how to quite handle this situation. It had been so long since a pony had not treated her with the up most respect.

She a fiery all right. I wonder how someone like her was even hired as head chef. At least she apologized...

"Don't worry about it Red, everyone has bad days."

Red put her chefs hat back on and turned around to pull some rolls out of the oven, no mittens, just bare teeth. She quickly set them on a nearby counter before turning back to Celestia with a smile on her face and a shocked expression on Celestia's.

"So what can I do for...why the funny looks? Do I have something in me teeth?" Red looked at her reflection on the nearby polished metal oven before turning back to Celestia, a confused expression on her face.

"H-how did you do that? Celestia asked.

"Do what?"

Celestia pointed to the pan with the crescent rolls on it. "You pulled that out with no mittens, just your bare teeth."

Red looked at the pan and laughed. "That be nothin, I do that all the time. Doesn't even bother me."

"But...how?" Celestia asked, perplexed.

"It be part of my special talent. Not only am I a typhoon at cooking but it comes with the perk of having high heat resistance. I can grab things as hot as six hundred degrees without so much as a minor burn." Red picked up the pan with her teeth again and moved it to another shelf to cool.

"I almost want to say that's a supernatural talent. I never heard of a pony having such a thing, I mean maybe if you were a unicorn and fabricated some kind of anti-heat spell then sure but-"

*Grrrwwooll*

Celestia blushed. In all the excitement she had forgotten she hadn't had anything to eat at all today.

"I see you be hungry. Is there anything I can get ya?"

Celestia remembered that today's special was carrot casserole and spicy salmon, something she had never tried before. "Do you have anymore carrot casserole left by chance or can you make a batch up real quick if you don't?"

"No can do lassie. The casserole always goes fast and it takes me hours to prepare it. On top o that I be out of the spices I need for it. My garden only grows so fast you know."

"Oh, wait? Your garden?" Celestia asked, puzzled.

"Ya didn't think all these exotic veggies and fruits were imported did ya? The budget we have down here taint that deep lassie." Red turned around and pulled a black box off the top shelf above the oven. "Tell ya what, It's about time for my lunch break as is, how about we share a drink together?" Red opened up a box to reveal a large bottle filled with some kind of brass colored fluid, most likely of alcoholic origin.

Celestia looked at the bottle for a moment. It was tad unorthodox for her to be drinking so early, even more so with the meeting a few hours from now. "Sure but, only a glass or two."

Red arched her head to the side? "A glass? Okay, hope you can handle yer liquor." Red swung her head and tossed her hat onto a nearby hook. "Get yerself some food, I'll be with ye in a moment."

Celestia nodded and picked up her plate. As she began to put some of the more exotic vegetables onto her plate she noticed the spicy salmon dish on the far end of the bar. As she got closer to it something seemed to overtake her. As disgusting as the thought of eating the flesh of another creature was, the fresh lemon and herb smell coming from the fish was mouth watering. Celestia picked up the spatula in the pan containing the fish and cut off a small piece for herself, setting it on her plate.

I hope no pony saw that, imagine the rumors if they saw me eating meat. Celestia looked around the cafeteria. The only pony that seemed to even be remotely interested in her presence was a lone spectacled maid in the corner enjoying what she figured to be tea or coffee.

Celestia walked over to the table closest to the salad bar and sat down. At first she moved her fork to try the salad she had made on her plate but the salmon on the corner kept calling to her, daring her to try it. "I guess a nibble couldn't hurt." Celestia cut a small piece of the fish off with her fork and slowly moved it to her mouth when something caught her attention. Sitting right across from her was Red Typhoon, watching eagerly as the food came closer to Celestia's lips.

"Don't worry lassie, I won't tell no one. Try it, you will love it."

Celestia nodded and put the fish in her mouth. At first the taste was that of the strong lemon and spicy variety but not soon after she began to chew it did she notice it had other intriguing attributes as well. It had a slightly oily taste to it but not overpowering. The meat itself was very soft and had a creamy texture to it, almost as if she was chewing a half melted marshmallow without any sugar in it. After getting a good idea of what the flavor was like she swallowed the little bit of fish flesh. Oddly enough it had a slightly flaky but smooth texture as it went down her throat.

"So...how was it?" Red asked excitedly.

"It's was...interesting. It feels like I'm eating the combination between a half melted marshmallow and a spicy cracker. I'll think ill have another bite." Celestia picked up the remaining forkful of fish on her plate and put it in her mouth. Unlike last time the fish seemed less odd and easier to enjoy.

"So, is it to yer liking?" Red said while setting down a tall glass for Celestia and a short shot glass for herself, adding a few ice cubes to Celestia's glass as well.

"It's actually quite good when you get used to it but I have a question that's been burning in the back of my mind. Why is the cafeteria serving meat based dishes?"

Red put the black box on the table, pulling out the bottle of brass colored fluid from before. "A couple reasons actually. A few of Carmines associates from Cloudsdale are griffons, quite a few of the flight school members are as well. Not to mention the occasional delegate from Stalliongrad." Red pulled the cork off the top of the bottle and began pouring the drink into Celestia's glass, filling it about halfway. "Griffons tend to be the customers that request meat the most. Originally they requested sheep but I didn't think that would blow over to well with the rest of the staff and patrons, including that wool seller sheep fella, So we compromised on fish."

Red stared at Celestia's half full glass for a moment. "Ya sure ye want a full glass?"

"Yes I am sure. By the way, what exactly is this?"

"Oh, it be fire brandy, one hundred and sixty proof if I remember correctly." Red replied with a smile. "Not having any second thoughts are ye?"

Celestia stared at the glass for a moment. It was obvious that Red was testing her fortitude and resolve but couldn't understand why. Was she trying to test her toughness, her personality or her ability to mingle with 'common folk' as the more snobby nobles called them.

"Nope." Celestia picked up the glass with her magic and held it in the air. "Cheers!"

Celestia tilted her head back and with one tilt of the glass the entire contents were gone.

*Buuurp*

"Excuse me." Celestia said, blushing.

Red typhoons mouth just hung open for a moment or two. "I- but" She seemed to not even fathom how she managed to down so much high quality alcohol in one shot, a fact that amused Celestia greatly.

"Lassie, you just downed enough brandy to drop a full grown stallion. My oh my, I guess the Princess can handle her drinks after all." Red took a shot of her own glass and set it down. "I might even have to challenge ye to a drinkin contest some time."

"That won't be necessary. Alicorn biology is quite a different story from other ponies, the reason I can handle my alcohol so well is becuase I have a powerful liver to deal with it. I can still get drunk but it would take much more than an entire bottle of that brandy to do so." Celestia began to dig into her salad when the idea struck her.

"Hey, can you make two to three more of those salmon dishes for me? I have a meeting tonight with many important griffons and a meal tailored to them might make them less difficult to deal with."

Red got up out of her chair and shook her head. "I canna help ya there, I'm the only one on shift tonight and I still have the entire royal legion to feed in a few hours."

Celestia thought for a moment. She could just order some of the spare royal chefs to handle the evening cooking in the cafeteria. That would free Red up for the afternoon.

"I'll...have a few of the spare chefs from the royal kitchens to cover for you."

Red rolled her eyes. "Good luck with that. most of them snobs think themselves too high and mighty to ever touch cafeteria work."

Celestia laughed. "Oh, I know they won't like it. The workload down here must be brutal compared to upstairs. However, they are mostly loyal, they will complain but honestly I doubt any of them have as much cooking experience as you do with this dish." Celestia nodded toward the salad bar and all the exotic goods contained within. "I bet ninety percent of them never even seen half of what you have down here, let alone cooked with any of it."

Red nodded. "I know that, yer royal cooks are only trained in regional foods. They never traveled around to learn anything else."

"Then why are you down here with such exotic experience and not upstairs?" Celestia asked.

"Dropped outta cookin school. Didn like the company the place kept. After travelin for a few years I tried to get a job here as a royal cook but..." Red sighed. "I needed graduation credentials from the school I dropped out of."

"I'm sorry to hear that." Celestia said.

"Nah, don worry about it. I like my job down here. Ya meet all kinds of interestin characters." Red beamed proudly.

"I guess I understand. So you will you make those dishes for me tonight if I get someone to cover for you? I promise you will have full control of the kitchen while you make your dishes." Celestia remembered her head chef wouldn't like that. "Errr, or at the very least a corner where you can work undisturbed."

Red put her hoof under her chin. "Alright then, I'll do it. I'll get my things and meet them up there in the kitchens...right after we finish this meal."

Celestia and Red sat there, chatting between each other while they ate for the next hour or so until Celestia stood up and stretched her wings. "I better get upstairs and tell the kitchen to expect you, as well as getting all the proper greeting ceremony stuff out of the way."

"I'll be up there as soon as I'm relived down here."

Celestia nodded and stepped into the hall, calling a guard to her who seemed to oddly have a camera over his neck. "I want you to head up to the kitchens and tell them that Red Typhoon will be preparing a dish for the meeting tonight.She is to have at least a part of the kitchen to herself, this is very important."

"Yes ma'am!" The guard saluted and flew out a nearby window.

"With any luck tonight will be great. I may even be able to convince them to call off this silly faux war if I play My cards right."

***

Red Typhoon gathered up her things. The baking pan she cooked things with, her own personal spices for the meal and a small bag of the more exotic veggies from the salad bar. Taking a quick look around her kitchen she turned to the gold-sashed royal chef sent down to relieve her.

"Now, don't be overdoing it for dinner. The recipe's for my thunder melon burritos is on the card index in the back and I suggest you don't try anything too fancy with any of the exotic vegetables in the bar. That goes double for the yucca, I mean it, if ya try anything fancy with the yucca your gonna regret it."

The chef shined his hoof on his sash and rolled his eyes. "I'm sure a expert like myself can handle lowly cafeteria grudge work." He said in an annoyingly posh manner as he smiled. "Now, run along and let the real professional deal with this."

Red wanted nothing more than to kick the smug right off the royal chefs silly french moustachioed face but remembered that above all else she had a job to do. She could stomp a mud hole in him later when she had more time. "Alrighty then Oh so powerful royal cook, I leave this cafeteria in your capable hooves."

The royal cook smiled and sent back what Red could only discern as a flirting wink at her.

Uggg, as if I would ever do anything with such a pansy stallion. Red thought to herself as she left the cafeteria. Red made her way into the hall and up the stairs until she met the door guard a couple floors up. "I be here on the princesses request to make her a meal for her meetin, let me pass."

The guard nodded respectfully and moved out of the way but before Red could open the door she heard a voice shouting on the other side.

"I can't believe it. Celestia's going to lets some low class cafeteria reject into MY kitchen of the gods?" Yelled a voice that Red somehow heard before.

"Sorry head chef but no pony here knows how to make salmon aside from the limited experience with it that you had in the past." Said another voice.

"I don't get it. How does some lowlife cafeteria chef know so much about something so...so?"

"Forbidden?" on of the chefs asked meekly.

"No, disgusting." The head chef replied with a growl.

Red knew she had heard that voice before but she couldn't exactly put her hoof on where. "Oh well, best get this over with." Red pushed open the door and walked in. As she closed the door behind her she could feel the stares of everypony in the kitchen on her. As she turned around she met nose to nose with another pony.

I was a mare, around the same age as her with turquoise eyes, a blond mane with emerald earrings. Her coat was a muted blue-white and her sash was gold lined with diamonds. On her head was the head chefs hat, a large ruby in the center and gold trim all the way down the sides. It wasn't this mare's regalia that gave her away, it was her eyes. The eyes she had met once a long time ago.

"Blossoms Marigold!"

"Red Typhoon!"

The two mares stood there, face to face, each one growling.

"So, I guess Celestia lets filthy 3rd rate chefs in her employ as well as the best of the best. I guess dropping out of cooking school wasn't such a good idea was it mutt?" Marigold said snidely as she backed up.

"I'm glad I dropped out of that school. gave me time to travel and actually learn how to cook instead of the perpetual circle jerk you and yer cohorts constantly did." Red replied.

"Ha! As if we needed to tell ourselves we were the best. You just couldn't handle the complexity of the schools cooking, that's all." Marigold flicked her ponytail to the side.

"I wasn't seduced by the dark side of cooking. Cilantro, tango Salsa, raspberry vinaigrette, all of it too sharp for most ponies to even enjoy properly yet they had no problem throwing it into everything. If I wanted to eat something sharp that no pony would enjoy I would chew nails, preferably to spit them into the coffin that is your career ya slimy worm."

"Tch, dark side? What have you been watching some kind of silly sci-fi film?Whats next you going to tell me your my mother?"

"No, I was talkin about the last time you took a bath. Ya see, dark side is a euphemism for your fla-"

"How dare you!" Marigold stomped right up to Red's face, her face contorted in rage. "I have a way to settle this once and for all, loser has to wash all dishes from both kitchens for a month."

"Lassie, If your thinkin what I think yer thinkin then I gladly accept. Iron mare match it is." Red put both her dukes up, ready to punch out Marigold's lights.

"That's iron chef match you unsophisticated dolt. This isn't wrestling." Marigold said as she backed away, clearly not ready for a brawl.

"Oh, that. Doesn't matter. I get to choose the dish of choice since I'm up here to make something griffons be fond of on Celestia's orders. Which mean little miss Marigold will be makin fish tonight, if I remember right you lot were never trained in preparing meat."

"Tch, even a foal can follow a recipe card" Marigold clapped her hooves together sharply. "I want a timer set up for two hours, fresh salmon for both sides and all my top chefs assisting me on my side. Red, you get the old wood burning stove and ummm...." Marigold looked at her staff, intentionally trying to pick out an assistant for Red that would undoubtedly be horrible.

"Ahh yes. I have a perfect assistant for you." Marigold walked though the crowd of cooks and picked up a something and put her on her back. She walked back though the crowd, her assistant cooks holding hooves to their mouths as to not laugh hysterically.

"You know Marigold, a sack of potatoes doesn't count in this contest. You know the rules say I must have at least one assitan-"

Marigold let whatever was on her back hop down. "This is your assistant. The rules state the challenger needs one but does not state the age."

Standing next to Blossoms Marigold was a young unicorn filly. She had a light purple coat, a two toned blond mane and tail; the outside being slightly darker than the center, light gold eyes and a little chefs hat with a green ribbon on the side.

"A filly?" Red asked.

"Yes Red, a filly. She is here on a summer program to learned the duties of the castle to get credits and bits added to her collage scholarship. Too bad the little runt has no chance...not if her mother is any indication of her ability anyways."

The filly gave a mean look at Marigold before walking forward and introducing herself. "Hello ma'am. I am Dinky, I was told I was to be your assistant for some kind of cooking contest?"

Red stared at the little filly for a second and then at Marigold. "You know what Marigold, I thought you couldn't get any worse than when I knew you back in school but this...this is just terrible. Using a filly to ensure a solid chance of victory is just down right despicable."

"I'm sorry Red I can't hear you over the sound of how awesome I am, start the timer. We will use the griffons as the judges when they arrive. Enjoy you 'assistant' Red." Blossoms Marigold laughed along with the other cooks as she went to her side of the kitchen, leaving Red and Dinky with a out of date stove and equipment.

"Ma'am err..."

"Call me Red wee one."

"Red ma'am, what does this contest entail. I may not be much help but I at least want to try." Dinky asked with a determined stare.

"We have to make three salmon based dishes. A side, a main entree and a dessert or a appetizer, entree and side if the meal doesn't call for a dessert. I already have an idea for the appetizer and entree but the side is gonna be difficult."

Red, shook her head. "I guess beggars canna be choosers. Do you have any experience with cooking by chance?"

Dinky smiled and nodded her head. "I have read and memorized the entire book series 'silver chef' for my extra credit studies here." Dinky's ears folded back. "But Marigold hasn't even let me spice anything let alone cook. She just has me peeling potatoes or onions in the back most of the time."

"I see, she keeps making snide little comments about your heritage too. Marigold may be a snob but I don't remember her going that far. She may be mean but she can't take hit to the face too well."

Dinky sighed. "My mom's...kinda popular but not exactly for all the right reasons. She's a mail mare with a history of being clumsy and a tad bit inaccurate."

"Derpy?" Red asked.

"Derpy." Dinky replied somberly.

"No matter. If you put yer mind to it you can do anything. Here..." Red dug around in her bags and pulled out a ball of aluminum foil. She set it on a nearby counter and opened it up.

"What is that?" Dinky peered up at the object in the foil but couldn't quite make out what it was.

"Heh, forgot yer a bit on the short side." Red pulled a stool up to the counter to allow Dinky a step up.

She turned her head to one side and then to other. "So...this is salmon? Is this like...some kind of meat?"

"You can say that. You won't find to many folks in Equestria eating it but in places like the griffon empire it is fairly common place."

"Is it cooked? Can I try a bite?" Dinky asked.

Red was taken aback by the young fillies enthusiasm. Most ponies would retch at the mere thought of eating something meat based but this little filly seemed to want to try anything. "Sure, why not. Ya need to know what you are cooking with and what to expect."

Red watched as the little filly took a fork and cut of a sizable chunk for herself. She lapped up the spare piece and began to chew. Red watched her as she rolled it around her mouth, something she didn't even see experienced chefs do sometimes so she could not only taste it; but get a feel for its texture.

"So, getting any ideas?" Red asked.

Dinky swallowed the salmon and licked her chops. "That was actually kinda good. Smooth but a bit spongy, soft and not tart at all. I would guess that without the spice you put on it, it would be kind of bland."

Red clapped her hooves together. Clearly this filly has a good head for cooking.

"It seems good for marinating but I think I have another idea, something radical but fits the meal rather well." Dinky walked up to the center counter where other chefs were busy piling ingredients and grabbed a small tray of what looked like cheese.

"What do ya have in mind Dinky?" Red asked as Dinky set the cheese up on the counter.

"A Swiss cheese Souffle. Swiss has a flavor that's not too sharp and its texture compliments the salmon nicely. I plan to make a souffle but have melted Swiss and salmon casserole in the center."

Red couldn't help but smile. "I think we found our side dish. You think you can handle it alone while I deal with the other two?"

Dinky saluted in response. "Yes ma'am! I make this souffles all the time at home." Dinky ran over to the table and began to gather eggs,butter, flour and Swiss cheese in a little wicker basket.

Good on her, now what to make...

Red began pulling ingredients out of her bag until she came across some of the yucca from earlier. "Hmmm...baked plain salmon, slightly crispy with creme cheese stuffed inside grilled yucca chips..." Red covered her mouth as one of Marigolds chefs walked by.

That was a close one, need ta stop thinkin out loud/

Red continued to go over what she would make in her head. Her spicy salmon main dish was more than adequate and the chips would be a nice addition but it came down to Dinky's side dish to bring it all together. Looking across the room she watched Marigold flagrantly show off to the other cooks what she was doing. She even made a habit of announcing it like everypony was deaf.

"So, We marinate the salmon in marinara sauce and then spice it with garlic and olives. We then bake it for an hour. While that's cooking we will make stuffed salmon bread sticks with chutney dipping sauce as a side. Finally we will-" Marigold looked over the shoulder of one of the cooks and grinned maliciously at Red. "We will make a mint snappers surprise with salmon inside. You have your orders boys, get to work."

Red rolled her eyes and went back to work as Marigold approached the ingredients table. When She reached the table she whispered for Dinky to come to her. Dinky, curious, walked up to Marigold.

"I have a deal for you little one." Marigold said in a hushed tone.

Dinky arched her head to the side. "I'm not sure I'm supposed to be talking to you. We are competing against each other."

"Oh, it's nothing of importance." Marigold lowered her head and whispered in Dinky's ear. "You know the difference between me and her? Power, when you command legions of chefs to do your bidding anything can be accomplished in the kitchen. Now imagine for a moment that you yourself would want such power. Tell me in a whisper how you would do that."

Dinky's ears folded back, she knew Marigold was trying to trick her but her curiosity was getting the best of her. She whispered in Marigolds ear. "By studying hard and doing your best?"

Marigold tried her best to stifle a chuckle before lowering her voice. "No Dinky. You gain power by stroking the ego's of those already with power. Take a guess who in this room has the power?"

"You?" Dinky replied.

"Good girl. Now imagine for a moment that I am the one that's ultimately responsible for your extra credit grade when you get out of here. Think of it, a scholarship to Canterlot University to study any topic your heart desires. Free from the chains of common folk to become more that what you could ever imagine. All you need to do is one little favor for me..."

"Which is?" Dinky asked.

"Oh, nothing too difficult just...walk away from this little contest. You see by the rules I have to provide the challenger with an assistant but there is nothing preventing said assistant from just...walking away. Without a third dish Red will be disqualified and I will be made the winner by default." Marigold smiled and patted Dinky on the head. "Just remember were your bread is buttered when making this decision. I can be your greatest asset or your worst enemy." Marigold picked up a case of mustard spice and walked away, leaving Dinky with her dilemma.

"I don't know what to do." Dinky looked at Red whom was busy spicing her salmon and checking the stove temperature.

If i do what she asks then mom will be proud of me that I got my own scholarship, then she won't have to work as hard to put bits back for my future school.

The thought of her mom also nearly brought tears to her eyes. What would momma do? Dinky closed her eyes and imagined she was at home, talking to her mom as she watered the garden, missing most of the plants entirely as usual.

"Mom, why do you work so hard?" Dinky asked.

"Because I have responsibilities to myself and you. Because I want my little girl to have it better than I did when growing up."

"If someone were to just give you all the bits you needed, would you take them and spend more time with me?"

Derpy set the water can down and signed. "I might spend less time working but I would still deliver the mail. I want to be the best mail delivery mare in the world. I'm already the fourth fastest mailmare in Equestria I just need to work on my accuracy a bit. Taking handouts is nice and all but you can't always depend on it."

Dinky stared at the ground. She had a feeling she already knew the answer to the question she was about to ask.

"What if you had to hurt another pony, lie, cheat and step on them to reach your goals?"

Derpy shook her head. "You know how I feel about that. Hurting others just to get what you want is wrong. Think about what your dad did, he swept me off my feet like my own night in shining armor just to get what he wanted and then left me out to dry when a prettier flank walked by." Derpy walked over to dinky and hugged her. "You will never get ahead in life by hurting others, you will only find happiness in doing what you love and trying your best at it."

Dinky shook her head and the image of her mom and their garden vanished, leaving her there with a basket of ingredients on her back that she figured she must have grabbed subconsciously. She looked toward Red as she finished stuffing the yucca chips.

mom's right. Even if I got that scholarship I couldn't look at myself in the mirror each day. If I'm gonna get that scholarship I'm gonna do it the right way.

Dinky Started to walk toward Red when Marigold stepped in front of her.

"So, your decision?" Marigold asked.

"I refuse. You can take your cheating behind over there and try and win the right way."

"Wrong answer, I guess genes are a deciding factor. I mean your mother is a worthless flight school drop out after all. I'm going to enjoy failing your extra credit course. As for this competition..." Marigold signaled one of her cooks with a bucket of something in his mouth to sneak up to the stove while Red was busy rummaging through her bags.

"I always like to ensure my victories." Marigold lifted a hoof and gave a sort of waving signal.

The chef behind her tossed what looked like a bucket of white powder toward a stack of Red's ingredients that she laid out on the counter.

Oh, NO! Dinky thought. If that lands it will ruin everything!

Dinky concentrated hard, mustering whatever little magic a filly her age possessed and shot a small bolt of magic at the airborne bucket. The bolt struck the bucket on the bottom half, making it change trajectory mid air. It bounced off the wall, off the flank of the chef who tossed it and right onto Marigold's head, dumping its contents all over her.

"Ahh who turned out the lights!" Marigold kicked up some of the white powder, some of it stinging Dinky's nose as it hit her.

"Somepony help! I've been a-salted" Marigold cried as she ran into a nearby freezer door, The bucket clanging like a gong.

Dinky instinctively licked the powder off her nose to find that it was nothing more than salt. "Salt? I mean, she could have picked something harder to remove."

"What in Celestia's name is all the ruckus?" Red shouted as she lifted her head out of her bag.

"Marigold tried to bribe me!" Dinky said, sending an angry glare in Marigold's direction.

Marigold managed to get the bucket off of her head just in time to turn toward Dinky growl. "How dare you, you impudent little welp! Me, the best chef in Equestria needing to bribe a mere filly? Preposterous!" Marigold shook the salt our of her hair.

"Besides, even if I did you have no witnesses to corroborate your story." Marigold said with a snide grin on her face.

"Then why were you near Dinky and why are ya covered in..." Red walked up and smelled the floor. "Sea salt?"

Marigold grinned and faked a laugh. "Oh, you know Red, cooking accidents happen and all that."

Red narrowed her eyes. "Cookin accidents...right. Cmon Dinky we got work to do."

Dinky followed Red back to her side of the kitchen but not before blowing Marigold a courtesy raspberry, something that made the mares face turn almost as red as Red's coat. When Dinky made it over to the stove she noticed the staff on the other side were panicking. She learned forward, putting her ear out to get an idea of what was going on.

"Madam Marigold! Zer iz salt all over ze marinated fish! It iz ruined!" One of her cooks said in a thick french accent.

"Psst"

Dinky turned around as Red approached her, her head down low. "I saw what ya did there when that bloke tossed the bucket, caught it out of the corner of me eye but didn't have time to react. I owe ye one kiddo." Red turned around and pulled the main entree out of the oven with her bare teeth to check how far from finished it was. She quickly put the fish back in the bot belly oven and turned to Dinky.

"C'mon. Let's win us a contest."

***

Red and Dinky stood shoulder to shoulder, their salmon dishes covered by silver on a ornate silver cart. To their right stood Blossoms Marigold, her own dishes sitting on solid gold platters with ornate gold covers. In front of them was the oak double doors that led to the royal dining room where the guests from the griffon empire were surely awaiting.

"Pfft, idiot. Anyone knows gold ruins the flavor." Red said without making eye contact.

"Says you. Presentation is everything. If the food looks good then the brain tricks you into thinking it must taste good too. If you stayed in school then you would have learned that in the social psychology class." Marigold cracked a grin. "When I win I want you to clean all the pots and pans first, Princess Luna has a habit of ordering grilled radish sandwiches for her midnight lunch and they have a nasty habit of dirtying up my frying pans."

"And if you lose...well, lets just say cooking for most of the palace creates quite the mess."

The doors slowly opened and Princess Luna stood there in full regalia, ushering the ponies in quietly.

As they passed Luna said in a low whisper to all of them. "Things have not been going too well. Walarah does not have a very good sweet tooth nor does she fancy much of the other meals the royal cooks have prepared. I suggest you be on your best behavior."

Red, Dinky and Marigold nodded and slowly wheeled their meals up to the table. Marigold gave a wink to one of the servant mares on the other side of the table. She was wearing a black maids outfit, had a mint green coat and deep purple eyes. Oddly enough her horn was slightly crooked, something unicorns typically got fixed immediately.

"That mare over there is nick named 'Cold Read'. She will be our distant impartial judge for the night" Marigold whispered.

"Right, impartial my behind, knowing you ya paid her...

I am not paid off.

There was a sudden soft voice in the back of Red's mind.

I am partially psychic. I am usually brought along as Celestia's aide, however I cannot read the minds of the griffons as they seem to be wearing earrings that ward such things. I can however read expressions of any species without fail.

Red grinned nervously at Cold Read.

Celestia stood up and tapped a glass with her fork. "Esteemed guests from the griffon empire, I present you with the main entree of the night. A dish specially catered to your particular tastes, I do hope you enjoy them."

Red and marigold pushed their dishes up to the table and began sitting them out for Walarah's two senior advisers and the griffon Queen herself.

"Ah, Celestia. Always going out of your way to impress and with what looks like my favorite dish as well;salmon." Walarah Began to stack her plate with a little of everything except the cheese souffle which was untouched by any of the griffons.

As the group began to eat Red watched nervously as cold read's eyes rapidly moved from griffon to griffon.

Score update Red is behind Marigold by two points.

One of Walarah's advisers had a nasty sneer on his face when he tasted Marigold's partially butchered over-salted salmon. he quickly pushed it to the end of his plate and tried Red's spicy salmon instead; his face lighting up with glee as he did.

Red behind one point. Red heard in the back of her mind. Apparently Dinky was hearing it as well, she was staring at Red with worried eyes.

"Don worry Dinky, the meals not even remotely over." Red said as she comforted the filly with a hug.

"I can almost taste victory. I can't wait to watch you squirm Red." Marigold stared at Dinky and mouthed something that oddly looked like. "And watch you fail" to the filly.

The meal went on for a good thirty or so minutes before the Griffons finally stopped eating, although Walarah was eying the souffle with interest.

"Tell me, which one of you chefs came up with such an...odd concoction?" Queen Walarah turned her attention to Red and Marigold.

"I-I did, Queen Walarah..err ma'am." Dinky stepped forward, catching the Queen and her advisers by surprise.

"A little filly like you? Cooking food for royalty?" Walarah cocked her head and stared directly at Celestia.

"You let children cook for such important meals? Getting a bit desperately financially are we Celestia?" Walarah's advisers gave off a hearty laugh.

"Maybe you shouldn't judge a book by its cover old friend. Sometimes even the youngest ponies can impress." Celestia stared at Dinky for a moment. "As they say, everypony has their day in the sun."

"You know what Celestia? I agree. It would be rude to dismiss this fillies hard work. I will at the very least taste this odd mixture."

The score is currently tied. Red head cold's voice in the back of her mind.

Approval by the Queen and at least one adviser is required for Red to win while just Walarah alone is required to keep the tie. Rejection by Walarah and one adviser will result in a victory for Blossoms Marigold.

Marigold smiled and whispered under her breath. "Oh, by the way. I forgot to mention I read somewhere that the Queen dislikes most cheese dishes. Shall I start running the water for you Red? Or after you cry yourself all the way down to my kitchen?" Marigold kept a sly grin on her face, utterly confident in her victory.

"Ignore her Dinky. Win, lose or draw always be proud that ya did your best." Red said as she watched Walarah take the first bite of souffle.

"Hmmm, intriguing and there is a casserole in the center." Walarah scooped out some of the casserole and put it on top of the bread like souffle crust. After a few bites, Walarah had what looked like an angry expression on her face.

Marigold is the wi-

Cold read stopped and looked at Walarah again.

Walarah turned to Dinky and smiled. "This...if the tastiest dish I have had in a very long time and I don't even LIKE Swiss cheese." Both of Walarah's advisers nodded in agreement, each one getting some of the souffle for themselves.

Winner declared. Red Typhoon and Dinky are the winners.

Red shot Marigold a smile completely ignoring the fact that it was not her own doing but Dinkies recipe that saved her hide.

"Name your price little filly. I will do my very best to grant whatever request you want." Walarah said as she took another bite of souffle.

Dinky looked up at Red apprehensively and then over to Celestia whom nodded at her to go ahead.

"Ummm your majesty, If it's not too much to ask I would like a ummm..." Dinky hesitated for a moment. Would that be asking too much? maybe if I asked for only a little. "I would like a partial scholarship to Canterlot University...when I'm older I mean."

Walarah stared at Dinky for a moment and then turned her head to Celestia. "Of all things you could have possibly asked for you ask for something not out of greed, not for power nor for fame but something that you would have to work with to better yourself."

Dinky backed away behind Red's back leg. "I'm sorry, I'll take nothing if that makes you happy."

Walarah couldn't control herself and burst out laughing. "Little filly, you didn't even need to ask me for that. I'm sure Celestia has already given your name to the dean by now."

Dinky looked over to where Celestia was sitting. She was indeed writing out a letter with the Canterlot University seal on the back.

"Th-thank you, your umm, highness's." Dinky bowed courteously

Celestia rolled up the letter and handed it off to one off to Luna who nodded and exited the room in a puff of smoke. She centered her attention on both cooks and smiled. "Thank you so much for your hard work but I need some time alone with Walarah. Luna should be with you momentarily for your bonuses."

Red, Dinky and Marigold bowed respectfully and headed out the room, the ornate oak doors closing behind them. Just when as the door closed Marigold stomped her hoof and growled at Dinky. "You little runt! You embarrassed me in front of Celestia herself!"

Marigold raised a hoof to strike Dinky only to receive a pair of red back legs straight to the jaw, sending her tumbling to the floor in a heap.

"Is she?" Dinky said as she watched the unmoving heap that was Marigold's body.

"Nah, she still breathing." Red replied.

"Indeed she is."

Red and Dinky turned around to find Princess Luna standing in the hall behind them.

"I heard everything she said. I am proud that you actually held back, if it was me when she raised a hoof at a child like that...I'm not sure she would be getting up for a long time, to say the least." Luna said as she walked over to the unconscious Marigold.

"You do not deserve this." Luna bent over and ripped off Marigolds decorative sash. "When she wakes up she will have note in her inbox. Maybe a few years of cleaning latrines will teach her to be graceful when outwitted." Luna walked up to Dinky and Red. "As for you two...I won't tell Celestia that you turned such an important meeting into some kind of cooking contest-"

"How did you know it was a cooking contest?" Dinky asked, surprised.

Luna gave a smile. "I didn't, you just confirmed it for me. I had my suspicions about why the royal cooks were trying to best a mere cafeteria cook. The combination of Marigold's easy to read expression and the reason she was there made me suspicious and...let's just say Cold Read' isn't the only pony able to read expressions well."

"So...what be my punishment princess Luna?" Red said stepping forward.

"Hey I helped get us in trouble too!" Dinky stepped forward also.

Luna giggled. "No, there will be no punishments. Well...maybe one, Red do you have any more of your fried potato balls left downstairs?"

Red grinned. "Nah but I reckon I have the time to cook ya one. I'll fry one up for ya...right after me and Dinky here eat dinner."

"I look forward to it."

***

Queen Walarah set down her fork and picked up a napkin, cleaning her beak off with care. "Now that the pleasantries are out of the way, shall we get down to business Celestia?"

"Most certainly. Your adviser mentioned earlier we could do a virtual war using say, interconnected game-things they have in the big cities." Celestia said.

"He did, but we don't have the technology within our borders and my subjects would cry foul if you won that engagement. No offense Celestia but you know how stubborn and hot headed my people can get, imagine if they even remotely figured it was rigged." Walarah got out of her chair and walked up to a window, pulling the curtain aside to look out of it.

"There is something I needed to ask. After so many generations of peace between our kingdoms, why try and start a war now?"

Walarah sighed, lowering her head. "Things have not been going well recently. I had to deal with a plague of parasprites that wiped out a large quantity of our food reserves. After that I had to put down a revolt being driven by hunger. My claw is somewhat forced on this issue old friend, if I hadn't moved for a more...peaceful conflict then my people would have charged your lands in desperation."

"I see" Celestia walked up beside Walarah and looked out the window with her. "Couldn't you just ask for help? We could have just sent aid."

Walarah sighed and shook her head. "That was on the table, I knew you would help us but after my advisers took a toll it turned out that my people are far to proud to take handouts. It seemed the younger generation has been restless, they are hot headed and ready for combat." Walarah turned to Celestia "All griffons are like that when they are younger, thankfully I have grown out of that stage of my life but still; there are parts of me that yearn for combat, albeit of the less lethal variety."

Celestia smiled. "You can take the griffon out of the battle but you can't take the battle out of the griffon."

"A wise saying, one my mother said to me when I was young." Walarah said, smiling.

"May I ask which adviser came to this conclusion?" Celestia asked.

"That would be adviser Vukov of the Wrath clan."

Celestia cocked her head to the side. "Vukov? Why is a military adviser suddenly working on civil matters? Isn't he always competition bound?"

"Yes, I have a feeling he may have over exaggerated the numbers a bit but the fact of the matter is he is very respected and almost holds as much political clout with my subjects as I do. If I call off this whole war-competition thing then I will undoubtedly have to deal with major fallout from it."

"And you couldn't just ask for help from us? I can always send soldi-"

"No!" Walarah cleared her throat. "Sorry, I didn't mean to shout. That would be bad, Vukov could spin it as if where you were taking over power. Refusing the idea of war may only cause riots at most but that action would most definitely lead to civil war."

"Then we need to find a way to exhaust the passion for combat but in a way that limits injuries but still gets their blood pumping." Celestia put her hoof to her chin, deep in thought.

"I assure you rubber tipped jousting will not do it. The discovery of the T word by our scientist didn't ...exactly..." Walarah was looking over Celestia at the stack of after dinner mints one of the maids was carrying out to the table.

"What? what's wrong? Is there food in my mane?" Celestia said as she pulled her mane in front of her to inspect it.

"No. I just had a wonderful Idea. You remember that one dinner we had, the one where Luna triggered a food fight?"

Celestia giggled. "How can I forget? You and me couldn't get the marshmallow off of our bodies for hours. You called Luna the son of a owls drunk uncle."

"And then she hit me in the face with a pumpkin pie. Yes that one." Walarah said as she rolled her eyes. "Do you remember what Luna looked like after that food fight?"

"Now that I think about it, she didn't have so much as a single bit of anything sweet sticking to her. I think she used a spell that bounces sugar- based objects off her body."

Walarah smiled. "How about this, we build wooden mockup titans for a contest of skill, glaze them and have teams cover them in whatever sugar based armor they want. That spell keeps them safe from injury but everyone gets the thrill of the hunt out of their systems?"

"That's...that's just so...silly but at the same time, brilliant." Celestia's mind raced with the possibilities, everypony could have fun, there would be sweets for everypony and griffon when the fighting was over and best of all no-pony or griffon would be hurt in the process.

"I agree."

"I thought you would old friend. How about we step into your office and hammer out the specific rules of engagement over some coffee?" Walarah pointed to a small room in the distance with what looked like it deserved Equestria's messiest desk award."

"Yes, lets get this out of the way. Walnut coffee or french vanilla?"

Walarah laughed. "French vanilla of course, what do I look like? A diamond dog?"

Both Celestia, her maids and one of the advisers followed them into the hall, laughing as they moved toward the office. In the corner of the room one of the advisers stood, holding open his collar.

"You get all of that Vukov? She plans to turn a real war into a child's game!"

A faint crackling sound came from the griffons collar. " We can still use this to our advantage. I was hoping the queen wouldn't find an alternative but we can use this to our advantage. We will play by her rules but the second the opportunity shows itself we seize what we came for. Understood?"

"I understand."

"Gryphic? Are you coming or not?" The other griffon adviser waved at the him, forcing him to fake like his collar was stuck.

"Yes, yes. I had a wardrobe malfunction. I'll be with you in a minute." Gryphic whispered a command and the crackling noise stopped, he adjusted his collar and followed the other adviser to Celestia's office, a smug grin on his face the entire while.

If Vukov plays this right, soon we will hold all the power and the sisters of Equestria will be nothing but a memory.

Chapter V: Announcements

Chapter V: Announcements

"I end my turn" Sweetie Belle said right before dropping a few cards into her trap and spell zone. "I see you're sweating Scoot's. If you give up now I won't think any less of you."

Scootaloo eyed her life-points nervously, a middling 1200 points left while Sweetie Belle remained unscathed. A mere three turns into the game and she was already both hand screwed and field screwed. She had managed to get zombie world out last turn but lacked any follow ups aside from a trap that was space typhoon-ed the second she put it down. She drew a card for her turn and studied her options intensely. She had just drawn a Marionette Mite and had a Red Eyes Zombie Dragon in her hand. She had an Allure of Darkness for draw power but would have to ditch her most powerful monster; Despair From The Dark from the game to use it.

"Looks like my losing streak is over, I'll soon be one for nine-teen." Sweetie Belle gloated as she peeked at her hand, a colossal smile on her face.

"I play Allure of Darkness." Scootaloo placed the card on the field only to hear Sweetie Belle go 'tut tut' under her breath.

"I trigger my trap card, Magic Drain." Sweetie Belle flipped over her trap card, if Scootaloo didn't discard a spell card then Sweetie Belle would stop her only hope for victory.

Scootaloo checked her hand. She did have a spare spell card but it was something that could come back to haunt her if her field card was destroyed. "I discard Terraforming to allow the use of my spell card." Scootaloo drew two cards from her deck; a Zombie Master and a Paladin Of The Cursed Dragon. Scootaloo realized at that moment that she could theoretically end the game if played right. She quickly removed her cost card for playing Allure from the game and studied the board.

She has two six samurai in play, each with 1300 and 1800 attack points and has a Command Knight in play as well.

Scootaloo discarded Marionette Mite from play to take control of Command Knight. She then tributed Command Knight to summon Red Eyes Zombie Dragon into play.

"No traps for that Sweet's?" Scootaloo asked, staring the the remaining face down trap card on the field.

"No, notta thing." Sweetie replied.

"Okay then, I attack your 1800 attack samurai." Scootaloo pointed at the card she was attacking.

"He dies and I take six hundred life points of damage." Sweetie Belle discarded the samurai to the graveyard.

"I activate my dragons power, which lets me special summon any monster it kills in battle to my side of the field if it's a zombie and since zombie world is in play..."

"Yeah, I know, I know." Sweetie Belle pulled the samurai out of the graveyard and handed it to Scootaloo whom set it in attack mode.

"Next I will..." Scootaloo paused and looked at the field. The Command Knight can be mean but it's power was worthless as long as everything stays a zombie from her field card. The other weaker monster had a nasty side effect, if another six samurai was anywhere on her side of the field it could attack her directly, costing her the game.

"I attack the samurai with 1300 attack points with my 1800 attack point samurai." Scoots pointed at Sweetie Belle's weaker but dangerous samurai.

"Oh well, another 500 life points lost." Sweetie Belle added the samurai to the graveyard.

"That's all your attacks, is it my turn yet?" Sweetie Belle said.

Scootaloo studied the field and her hand one more time. "Yeah it's your turn."

Sweetie Belle drew her card, a sly grin running across her face. "I play Dark Hole."

Scootaloo sighed, sweat running down her face. If she had another summon in her hoof then this game was over. Scootaloo slowly discarded her monsters to the graveyard, Sweetie Belle doing the same.

"I activate Jar of Greed." Sweetie Belle flipped over her remaining card in the trap and spell zone to reveal that it was indeed, a Jar of Greed. Sweetie Belle drew two more cards, summoning a monster with 1000 attack to the field and setting a card in the spell and trap zone.

"I attack you directly for a thousand life points. You only have two hundred left. I can almost taste victory." Sweetie Belle peeked at her face down card. "I end my turn by the way."

Scootaloo drew another card from her deck and glanced at the field. The card she drew was a Bait Doll magic card, if the card in the trap zone was the trap she thought it was then this could be her only chance for victory.

"I summon Zombie Master and then discard Paladin of the Cursed Dragon to the graveyard to special summon him to the field using Zombie Master's power."

"Wait, you can do that?" Sweetie asked.

"Yep, as long as another monster is in my graveyard when I do it. In this case it's Marionette Mite." Scootaloo replied.

Scootaloo moved her monster onto the field and looked at her hand.

If that's what I think it is then this game is over, if not then I just continue as normal...and probably lose.

"I play Bait Doll and target your face down card in the spell and trap zone."

Sweetie Belle's jaw dropped as she slowly flipped the card over. "Y-you force activated backs to the wall...I only have one hundred life points now." Sweetie Belle stared dismally at her graveyard, the only monster summoned by her trap was the direct attacking 1300 samurai. "I guess this means I lose again right?"

"Ya know what Sweetie, no. You win." Scootaloo set her hoof on top of her deck, signifying that she gives up.

"B-but all you have to do is attack for the win, I have nothing to stop you." Sweetie Belle said as she pointed out the obvious.

"Yes but I entirely luck sacked that Bait Doll card. Had that been anything else I would have lost. Besides winning isn't everything." Scootaloo felt the warm embrace of Sweetie Belles hug knocking her back.

"Your the best, I was being all haughty and unsportspony like. You didn't have to let me win." Sweetie Belle said as she broke the hug.

"Nah, winning isn't everything."

If Rainbow Dash heard me saying that she would disown me as her sister in a heartbeat Scootaloo smiled as she thought crossed her mind. Nah.

The door of the clubhouse opened up and Apple Bloom walked inside, closing the door behind her. "Heya, there's news that Celestia is gonna make an announcement today in town square. Y'all want to come?"

"Is it related to this whole war thing?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Either that or she found a new place to get her mane done and wants to share it with everypony." Apple Bloom replied sarcastically.

"Oh, I wonder if it's my sister doing her hair!"

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo stared at Sweetie Belle for a moment, Scootaloo lifting a hoof and opening her mouth but instead putting it down and shaking her head in disappointment.

"You know AB, we have these things called radios. Celestia could just forgo the personal touch of making announcements publicly to every city and just put them over the airwaves." Scootaloo said as she pointed to a little box radio in the corner of the clubhouse.

"I know what ya mean Scoots but only a handful of folks out here in the country have them. I mean the Boombox from the other day cost a hoof and a leg to buy, not countin those unicorn charged battery things."

"Those things make you so tired after charging them up. At least they make me tired, somepony like Twilight or my sister wouldn't even be bothered by it." Sweetie Belle added.

"Anywho ya want to come to town with me?"

Scootaloo looked around the room for something else better to do. She wasn't all to interested in hearing how much worse this whole war business could get but besides playing Yu-gi-mon or listening to the radio there wasn't much to do. I could just play Sweetie again but she's no challenge and I don't want to make her quit by winning all the time. Scootaloo thought to herself as she stared at her deck.

"Oh, I know. Scoots we can listen to whatever Celestia has to announce and then get some shakes at Sugar Cube Corner." Sweetie Belle suggested energetically.

"No can do Sweetie, I don't get an allowance for a week or so still." Scootaloo said glumly.

"Double fer me. The money for the family is short for another couple weeks, at least until growing season is in full swing." Apple Bloom added.

Sweetie Belle tapped her hoof on her cheek. "Hey I got it! We can ask my big sister for some bits."

Scootaloo and Apple Bloom looked at each other with their eyebrows raised.

"No offense but I don't think ponies just give away bits, least of all your sister." Apple Bloom said.

"Yeah, she's right. She may be the element of generosity and all but she doesn't exactly live up to her title." Scootaloo added.

"Are you trying to say my big sister is stingy?"

"Well...maybe. Have you ever seen her pay spike for his services?" Scootaloo pointed out.

"She pays him next to nothing. I seen him diggin and diggin for hours on end just to get one piddling opal for his efforts. She takes advantage of Spike being in love with her and that's just plain taint right."

Sweetie Belle seemed lost for words. "Wait...Spike is in love with my sister?"

Apple Bloom rolled her eyes and Scootaloo giggled to herself.

"Little late to the party there eh Sweetie Belle?" Scootaloo teased.

"A lady is never late to the party, she is only fashionably late" Sweetie Belle said as she stood up and put her hoof on her chest, her eyes closed and her tail flicked back in a posh manner. "Besides, if there was a party nopony bothered to invite me."

Apple Bloom hit herself in the face with her own hoof. "Sweetie...she means you are late noticing the obvious attraction between Spike and Rarity."

"There was a party for that...I'm kidding, I'm kidding." Sweetie belle said as she watched Scootaloo and Apple Bloom roll their eyes. "Anyways, we can just offer to wash Rarities dirt bank for her. I mean Shakes are only a bit each right?"

"Dirt bank?" Scootaloo and Apple Bloom said in unison.

"Yeah, dirt bank. It's a little jar that she tosses any bits into that she deems too dirty to spend. After it builds up for a month or so the buys some kinda cleaning solution and cleans them all off before spending them. We can do the work for her, it shouldn't take too long.

"Or you know I can treat my fellow crusaders out." A strangely Manehattan accent came from outside the clubhouse.

Apple bloom rushed to the window and surely enough Babs Seed was outside. "Hey y'all it's my favorite cousin, Babs ." Apple Bloom opened the club house door and lowered the wood plank ramp that led up to the front door. She quickly ran down the plank and hugged her cousin tightly.

"Babs, nopony told me you were comin down to visit."

"My birthday was a couple months ago. I'm old enough to ride the trains solo without any chaperones or any of that stuff, still get the occasional conductor giving me a hard time though." Babs Seed waved to Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle as they walked down the plank.

"So whats this about treating us out?" Scootaloo asked.

"Well, I remember that one time I was here I kinda stole you guys shakes, so I figured can replace em. Besides, it's either that or demolishing Sweetie Belle in yu-gi-mon for the next few hours."

"Sure, why not. Fair warning though, Pinkie Pie goes overboard with the chocolate if you get that particular shake."

The group walked out past the east field and out the front gate. On the way Apple Bloom informed Big Mac of where they were going, the older brother nodding in approval before trotting away with a cart full of hay in tow. When they reached town Apple Bloom noticed that most of the ponies in town were on typical high alert.

Twilight was busy directing ponies to their duties, The cakes were in square setting up a brunch for the Princess, Rarity was running around town fussing at anypony she deemed a "fashion disaster" , causing Sweetie Belle to hang her head in shame as they walked by and Fluttershy was hovering in the air, conducting birds in song for Celestia's arrival. High above town Rainbow Dash, cloud kicker and her sister were busy keeping the skies clear.

"Okay, which one of you failed basic English class?" Twilight yelled as she pointed to a banner that had 'welcome Princess Celest' on it.

"Twilight, the banner is not big enough for her full name" one of the mares holding up the banner complained.

"Then change the welcome to Hi, it will fit that way." Twilight waved at another pony, trying to flag them down as the CMC passed her.

"What's up with all the hub-bub?" Babs Seed asked.

"A announcement pertaining to the war is going to be held soon. It will probably be held in Manehattan as well after she is done here." Scootaloo said as she ducked to avoid the one of the more clumsy decorators.

"I remember that! We had all kinds of weird rationing things goin on not too long ago. They shut down the library, the summer schools and even the public pools. It was crazy." Babs Seed explained.

"Same thing happened here and probably around most of Equestria." Apple Bloom added.

The group stopped right in front of Sugar Cube corner to find a sign on the front door that read 'closed for a special event' on the front door.

"I guess the cakes didn't have anypony to watch shop while they were busy setting up?" Sweetie Belle said glumly.

"Hai girls!" A blur of dark and light pink popped out the front window, knocking Scootaloo and Apple bloom on their backs and making Babs Seed and Sweetie Belle duck.

"Pinkie Pie, are you out of your cottin pickin mind?" Apple bloom yelled as she got up and dusted herself off.

"You know, ponies have asked me that before and every time I come up with the same response; if I had a mind to lose then I lost it a long time ago. At least that's what grandpa used to say, right before he drank himself unconscious." Pinkie Pie arched her head to look at the door. "Hey, I told them I could watch the foals AND run the shop. I mean I am a very responsible mare nothing ever goes-"

Pinkie Pie Face contorted as a loud banging sound came from the back of Sugar Cube corner, followed by the sound of pans tumbling over.

"I'll...be right back." Pinkie Pie smiled nervously as her head darted back in the window.

"So, ya reckon the twins got into sumthin?" Apple bloom asked.

"Knowing those two, more like destroyed something." Scootaloo added with a giggle.

"So, does anypony else find it odd that they left the most irresponsible pony in Ponyville to look after two foals by herself?" Babs Seed asked as she tried to peer in the window to find out what was going on.

"I know what ya mean Babs. Pinkie Pie is nice and all but not always one hundred percent there. I mean puttin her with foals is like putting a cereal killer in a warehouse full of corn flakes. It won't end well."

Sweetie Belle raised her hoof to correct Apple Bloom about the proper definition of the word 'serial killer' when Pinkie Pie popped out of a nearby mailbox, covered in what looked like flour.

"P-pinkie...why are you covered in flour?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Muffin button?" Pinkie Pie replied, grinning ear to ear.

"But- I, that doesn't-" Sweetie Belle suddenly had a orange leg over her shoulder

"Sweetie, her excuse is reasons. Just...reasons."

"But, Scoots it-" Scootaloo put a hoof in Sweetie Belle's mouth.

"We will try and break her logic down latter, for now I want to get me a strawberry shake." Scootaloo looked at Pinkie Pie whom was licking the flour off her leg, trying to get a taste of it. "Can you open the shop temporarily? Just for the four of us?"

Pinkie Pie looked both ways, licked her hoof and stuck it into the air. "Okie-dokie-loki!" She said cheerfully as she opened the door.

"Scoots, my heads hurts." Sweetie Belle whined.

"Try and push it out of your head, thinking about it isn't good for you."

"Yeah, I mean you know screwball right?" Apple Bloom asked.

"That one pony that is constantly in and out of the mental ward in the hospital? The one that sometimes barks in the night?"

"Yeah, how did you think she got that way?" Scootaloo teased.

"Notta clue." Sweetie Belle replied, shrugging.

"The story goes that one day she tried to contemplate how Pinkie Pie's mind worked. She slowly stalked her around town, jotting down notes and keeping her in view at all times to keep track of her behavior."

Apple Bloom slid up beside Sweetie Belle and continued Scootaloo's story. "When she finally got all the evidence she needed to make a th-thorry"

"You mean theory?" Sweetie Belle corrected.

"Yeah, that word. When she tried to make a theory as to how Pinkie Pies mind worked, she snapped. None of the notes made any sense."

"Oh, a few of them kinda did. I do have a habit of just popping out of nowhere and occasionally ignoring gravity." Pinkie Pie had popped out of a nearby bush holding a notepad in her hoof and a pen behind her ear. "But I learned those tricks right after I created Equestria, so it wasn't within her silly mortal mind to understand it."

Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Babs Seed and Apple Bloom stood there for a moment, dumbfounded.

"What in the hay-"

"Cheese waffles!" Pinkie Pie jumped over the confused fillies and headed to a cart that was rolling down the street. After a few moments of haggling with the colt pushing the cart Pinkie Pie returned with a basket full of what looked like cheese dust covered waffles around her neck.

"You gals outta try these, they are so good." Pinkie Pie grabbed one in her teeth, tossed it in the air and gulped it down in a single bite.

"Ms. Pie, they sell those in my hometown for a fortune. How did you afford so many at once?" Babs Seed said as she pointed to the cart as it rolled away, nearly empty.

"Oh, I gave him six bits and a promise of my special BJ."

Babs Seed had a look of pure horror on her face, a look that Pinkie didn't fail to notice.

"What? What's wrong with offering to make someone a jar of my special berry jam?" Pinkie Pie scratched her head.

"N-nothing Ms. Pie, thought you meant something else." Babs Seed said as she blushed.

"Okie Dokie, and please call me Pinkie. everypony else does." Pinkie Pie sat on the ground and pulled the pencil out of from behind her ear. "So, what will you girls be having today?"

"We want ummm... A chocolate, vanilla and strawberry shake. I dunno what flavor Babs likes though" Apple Bloom turned around to Babs Seed, motioning her to come forward and put in her order.

"Oh, do you have mint chocolate chip shakes here by any chance?" Babs Seed said expectantly.

"I think we have that flavor. We also have really weird flavors that no pony ever orders."

Babs Seed arched her head curiously. "Like what kind of flavors?"

"Oh, I'm glad you asked. We have broccoli flavored, spicy glue flavor, boiled boot flavor and last weeks old eggs flavor."

Babs Seed and the others cringed, Sweetie Belle was bent over, nearly dry heaving in disgust. Scootaloo looked as if she actually tasted one of the mentioned flavors.

"Well, anyways take a seat at one of the booths inside. I'll make those shakes up in a jiffy." Pinkie Pie trotted cheerfully into the store, the members of the CMC close behind. The fillies took their seats in a small booth in the front, Babs Seed and Apple Bloom on one side and Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle on the other.

"So Babs Seed, how has your vacation been going?" Scootaloo asked as she watched Pinkie Pie prepare the shakes behind the counter.

"Not too bad, our arcade shut down though, owner got sick."

"That's odd, the arcade owner here in Ponyville got sick to. You think somethings going around?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Eh, it's unicorn flu, some ponies forget to get shots for it every year."

"Babs Seed, I never heard of that kinda illness before, is it dangerous?" Apple Bloom asked.

Babs Seed put her hoof up to her chin and looked absentmindedly at the ceiling for a moment. "What I heard in school is that unicorns get really bad headaches for the first week or so and then they take some medicine but can't cast spells for a month while they are on it." Babs Seed Looked at Scootaloo. "It's much worse for Earth Ponies and Pegasi though. If either of those kinds of ponies gets infected they have to have a unicorn take it off them or it can cause serious problems."

"Like?"

"I remember the teacher not going into specifics but she did say that both parties are out of it and bedridden for a month either way. Teach is real upfront about those things so it must be real bad if she didn't tell us all the details."

Pinkie Pie walked up to the table and set down a tray containing four extra large jumbo sized shakes.

"So, how much do I owe you Ms Pie?" Babs Seed asked as she fiddled with her saddle bag.

"Oh, only your immortal soul or a game-sphere station four." Pinkie replied, an evil looking grin on her face.

"Wait...what?"

"Just kidding. It's on the house, I haven't been able to find Gummy and knowing him there's an eighty percent chance that he's-" Just then a purple eyed alligator popped out of one of the shakes, licking the whipped cream from its face.

"Silly Gummy, you know your allergic to minty things."Pinkie Pie said as she removed the alligator from the shake. Sure enough, Gummy swelled up like a balloon within moments of his body hitting the air.

"Silly gator. Remember the last time you bit Lyra on her tail, you swelled up like a blimp for days!"

Apple Bloom looked at Sweetie Belle who was desperately trying to hold back a question and instead kept herself busy slurping down her shake.

"Ummm, Pinkie Pie, Lyra isn't well, mint flavored no more than I'm apple flavored." Apple Bloom realized her mistake as she blurted out those words. Sweetie Belle was already busy covering her ears to avoid the incoming explanation.

"I dunno, she is mint colored so logic would dictate that she must be mint flavored as well." Pinkie Pie managed to pull out a corn cob pipe and a Sherlock Holmes looking hat from practically nowhere. "It's elementary my dear fillies."

Scootaloo raised her hoof to speak but nothing came out but a half hearted blurp followed by silence.

"Ms Pie, why are you so ....Ehh whats the polite word for it, eccentric?" Babs Seed asked, much to the dismay of Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle.

"Oh that? Personally, I blame Ritt Momney." Pinkie Pie said as she turned and walked away from the table, carrying Gummy in her mouth by his swollen tail.

Babs Seed raised a hoof only to have it quickly swatted down by Sweetie Belle. "Don't you dare, I don't need my brains scrambled by the end of the day becuase of your curiosity. Pinkie Pie will be Pinkie pie, just leave it at that."

Despite the size of the shakes the fillies finished them quickly, either from wanted to get away from Pinkie's hijinks or from curiosity from Celestia's pending announcement. As they left the shop Pinkie Pie waved at them.

"If you see Ritt Momney tell him his magical underwear isn't as magical as he advertised and that it chafes!"

The fillies just smiled meekly back at Pinkie and kept on walking.

"Ya think we will ever understand that mare cuz?"

"No idea AB, I do find her a bit on the silly side though. I mean she's an adult right? How come she's always so...so-"

"Bubbly?" Scootaloo interjected.

"Is bubbly even a word?" Babs Seed asked. The group turned their heads at Sweetie Belle as if somehow waiting for confirmation of correction from her. Sweetie Belle on the other hoof just looked agitated by all the stares.

"What do I look like, a dictionary?" Sweetie Belle huffed.

The three other fillies looked at each other and then back to Sweetie Belle.

"Yes" they all said in unison.

"Oh for crying out-"

"HERE YE! HERE YE!" A thunderous voice boomed out over the town, making the CMC members cover their ears. "The announcement of Princess Celestia will begin in just a few minutes. All towns folks are to convene in the town square at once!" The voice quickly faded by was followed by a minor yell not to long after.

"Luna, you're at eleven and need to turn it down to seven!"

"I AM SOR- I mean I am sorry, Twilight Sparkle." Luna replied.

"Does she mean everypony?" Babs Seed asked.

"I guess so, but what is Luna doing here? She's usually not involved with these kinds of announcement kagingers." Apple Bloom said.

"May as well see what's up. Bet you two bit's things got worse though." Sweetie Belle said.

"You're on Sweetie. Luna is the best princess, she will figure a way out of this mess, just you watch." Scootaloo said confidently.

"Either way we should probably get there while we can still see what's goin on." Apple Bloom said as she pointed to the crowd headed toward town hall. The group made their way to town hall to find that the crowd had already reached critical mass, there was hardly any leg room let alone anyway to see what was going on.

"Can you see anything Babs?" Apple Bloom yelled over the low roar of the crowd.

Babs Seed was trying to weave in and out of the crowd, trying to find a way to the front or a higher ground over all of the other taller ponies. "Notta thing AB, are Sweetie and Scoots havin any luck?"

Above the crowd Scootaloo was busy flapping her wings as fast as she could, barely eight or so feet off the ground. "I see Celestia walking up to the podium. Luna's right b-behind her." Scootaloo began to slowly lose altitude until she felt something grab her by the waist.

"Huh?" Scootaloo looked up to see her adopted sister, Rainbow Dash staring back at her.

"What's up squirt?" Rainbow Dash asked with a smile.

"I guess I am, well kinda. I guess I'm less up and more barely hovering." Scootaloo said while smiling meekly back at Rainbow Dash.

"Don't sweat it kid. Gotta learn how to walk before you can run, unless you're me of course I was out of the crib running AND flying. Anyways what are you trying to do up here anyways?"

"We are trying to get a good view of the podium but there are too many ponies crowded around the stage to get a good view."

Rainbow Dash looked at the crowd and then to a nearby building with a flat roof top. "I have an idea." Rainbow Dash flew over to the building and let Scootaloo off on top of the roof. "Be right back." She then swopped in and grabbed Babs Seed under one leg, Apple Bloom under another and had Sweetie Belle riding on her back. She quickly set each of them down and took up a spot next to them on a nearby cloud.

"How did you carry all of us?" Babs Seed asked.

"I'm pure concentrated awesome, that's how. " Rainbow Dash said proudly.

"Thanks big sis."

"No problem squirt."

Scootaloo looked out over the edge of the building. The crowd below was much larger than she had anticipated. Not only were there ponies from all around Ponyville but some ponies from Appleloosa, Hoofington and a few folks from Canterlot as well. Scootaloo mentally started to count the amount of ponies in town when the crowd went dead silent. Princes Celestia slowly stepped up to the podium, her sister Luna at her right side and Mayor Mare to her left.

Celestia cleared her voice and spoke into the microphone. "Citizens of Ponyvile, I have come to you to report the latest news concerning the war declaration made by Queen Walarah not too long ago."

Ponies in the crowd began to speak in hushed tones to each other for a few moments before settling down again for the Princess to continue her speech.

"I have good news and even better news. The good news is that Walarah has called off any possibility of violent conflict."

The crowd cheered, some of the pegasi even doing cartwheels in the air in celebration. After a few moments of cheering Celestia raised a hoof to calm the crowd.

"The better news is they have challenged us to a contest of engineering and skill for rights to the northern fields in a winner take all format. As my sister Luna was put in charge of the military during the possible war I will allow her the pleasure of leading us to victory and to explain the rules of engagement." Celestia stepped away from the podium and Luna stepped forward holding a notebook. She set the note book on the podium and magicked a pair of reading glasses onto her face.

"After much deliberation we decided it would a contest of both design and skill and therefore will be using pre-built wooden mockups of steel titans, a weapon of legend."

The crowd went dead silent, only Lyra Heartstrings in the back of the crowd had the faintest idea of what Luna was talking about, her ramblings irritating her best friend Bonbon.

"Ms. heartstrings can clarify on this later if you wish to speak to her on these legends. As for the machines themselves they are driven on a purified form of magic that is siphoned from a unicorn and are built with wood glazed over with a sugar based coating."

Scootaloo couldn't help but giggle. "Great that means there's a eighty percent chance Pinkie Pie will eat them now."

"Ahem" Luna stared up at Scootaloo for a moment before continuing. "The rules are the following; those that wish to compete in this competition are to sign up at the mayors office. You may sign up either alone of in groups containing no more than five ponies. The loners will be put into groups of five at a later date."

Luna briefly adjusted her reading glasses. "After teams are separated there will be a battle royale if they're more than fifteen teams per city, we do not expect this to happen in any of the more rural locales of Equestria but we do expect this from city locations such as Fillydelphia and Manehattan where the population density is much higher. After teams have been formed each one will receive design of their choice from the blueprints we have on hoof as well as a full wooden mockup of said vehicle."

The low roar of the crowd started up again but was quickly halted by Luna raising her hoof. "Furthermore each team will receive a striped of no more than one thousand bits for armament, testing and design change purposes. After a month each team will be pitted against their own peers for testing purposes with the actual real game to begin a week later. The teams will be pitted against other teams in Equestria with the top three teams of each city going on to the finals."

"How many teams will there be on each side?" One of the fillies in the front row of the crowd spoke up.

"There will be fifteen teams with one vehicle each team on both sides. Battles will last upwards of twenty-four hours. Top three of the winning team move on to the finals. However there may be situations where multiple teams score the same, in which case tie breaker games will be played." Luna looked out into the crowd, one of the ponies in the back was jumping up, trying to get her attention.

"You have a question young mare?" Luna asked.

"Yeah, how does the scoring system work?"

Luna smiled. "The system works as follows; your vehicle is considered out of the game if its weapons systems and engine are both non-operational. Points are awarded for the killing blow to the vehicle based on how many hours it would take a professional engineering team to repair the vehicle. For every hour the killing team gains one point. However disabling a enemy vehicle isn't the only way to win." Luna flipped the page in her notebook. "Competitors that manage to capture and hold strategic towers will earn one point per minute held. Scouts that report locations of enemies via radio will get one point per enemy spotted and another point for every minute the enemies movements stay spotted, also scouts will receive half the points from any damage inflicted upon the vehicle if they are spotting for an artillery strike."

Luna took a deep breath and turned the page in her notebook. "The battle may end prematurely if one team holds all four capture points for more than six hours or all enemy vehicles are destroyed or disabled. Are there any questions?"

The crowd almost exploded with sound as each pony tried to get their question in.

"Good, I like to hear that you are all enthusiastic about these terms. I however, will not be answering questions. Mayor Mare will be handling all of those in written formant from her offices." Luna picked up her notebook and lifted the reading glasses off her face. She turned to Mayor Mare and bowed, the mayor returned the favor before walking up to the podium herself.

"Some of you may be wondering if this competition is mandatory, that it is somehow like the old draft system of centuries past. I assure you this is not the case, all participants will be voluntary in nature and any pressuring from officials is strictly prohibited." Mayor Mare adjusted her glasses. "I will take three questions from the audience, the rest must be submitted to my office."

A hoof shot into the air. "Honorable Mayor, what kinds of weapons do these things use?"

"I'm glad you asked. These "things" are called tanks, they fire projectiles at each other with a weapon called a gun."

Ponies in the audience began to whisper to one another until another hoof shot into the air.

"Mayor, I remember these gun things in school. There were horrible lethal weapons used for killing. Why would you allow such a thing in what sounds like a friendly competition?"

Mayor Mare adjusted her collar before speaking. "While it is true that the original weapons were used for killing these variants will be loaded with only sugar based weaponry. Ammunition such as pies, candy corn, cakes and the like. The spell we place on each contestant makes any items containing sugar just bounce off of them."

Scootaloo turned to Sweetie Belle a strange gleam in her eye. "You hear that, we can build things!"

"Scoots, you're not thinking what I think you are thinking?" Sweetie Belle asked.

Scootaloo raised her hoof and shouted, within moments all the ponies in town had their eyes on her as Mayor Mare pointed to her.

"Yes, Scootaloo?"

"I was wondering, are there any age restrictions on this competition. I would really enjoy signing up." Scootaloo finished with a smile on her face.

Some of the audience below couldn't help but laugh and it took some time before Mayor Mare managed to calm them down.

"Now, now. You should all admire this young filly, not even of age yet and wants to protect Equestrian lands. As for your question Scootaloo I do not believe we allow underage-" Luna walked up beside Mayor Mare and whispered in her ear.

"I stand corrected. There is not a current age limit on signing up but there will be in a moment." Mayor Mare turned to Luna, both of them whispering to one another. After a few intense minutes where Mayor Mare almost yelled, she turned back to the podium and loosened her collar."

"Luna and me cannot seem to see eye to eye on this matter so we came up with a compromise; any underage ponies signing up for this event must have either expressed parental or guardian permission AND have at least one adult pony supervising either the construction of or operation of their chosen vehicle." Mayor Mare turned to Luna who nodded in approval.

"That will be all the questions for now. My office will take any further questions in writing." Mayor Mare stepped away from the podium and Celestia stepped forward, nodding her head respectfully.

"I do hope that the spirit of competition is strong with the citizens of Ponyville and hope to see many of you sign up enthusiastically and not out of any moral obligations of duty. This concludes the announcements for today, please feel free to partake in the snacks that the cake family has so graciously offered for this event." Celestia stepped down from the podium and walked toward Luna.

"I do hope this works out. The announcement in Fillydelphia this morning was a bit on the near-rioting side of things." Celestia said.

"Only becuase there was only one signup office and thousands of ponies trying to get in all at once. You should have known your subjects love you and Equestria more than anything." Luna replied with a grin.

"Kinda wish they didn't as much, kinda gets tedious acting like an over glorified mom sometimes."

"You even have the hips for it." Luna said snidely as she followed Celestia off the stage.

"I do not! Are you calling me fat little sister?"

"Okay then, I dare you not to partake in any cake products that the cake family has put out. Vegetables only." Luna said as she walked by Celestia, heading right for the cake.

"Not a chance Luna, call me fat all you want, their cake is too good to pass up." Celestia zipped past Luna and began to slice herself a piece of chocolate cake.

"Pfft, you're such a fatty sometimes big sis." Luna teased as she cut herself a piece of cake. "Then again I guess I can't exactly hold the high ground here. Sis?"

Celestia's looked up, her mouth full of cake as if she ate it in a single bite.

Luna rolled her eyes. "Never-mind what I said."

Above the town the town the CMC members were slowly being lifted off the roof and onto the ground by Rainbow Dash. As Scootaloo was picked up by the waist she looked up to Rainbow Dash and asked. "So big sis, you gonna sign up?"

Rainbow Dash set Scootaloo on the ground. "Are you kidding me? Of course I'm going to sign up! I live for competition."

Scootaloo puffed her wings out pridefully. "I'm gonna sign up too. We will get our there and show those griffons how it's done."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa there squirt, what to you mean by 'we'?" Rainbow Dash said.

"I mean I'm gonna sign up with you on your team." Scootaloo explained.

"Yeah, no. You heard what the Mayor said. You need parental permission to do such a thing and I doubt your parents would allow it. Besides, it's probably still going to be dangerous out there and the last thing I want is my little sis getting hurt." Rainbow Dash nudged up against Scootaloo. "I know ya wanna show everyone what you got but you still have a lot of years to live, the last thing I want is for you to get hurt or perish the thought, those years cut short."

"But, Rainbow-" Scootaloo pleaded.

"Sorry squirt, but my answer is no." Rainbow's normally cheerful and determined face was bunched up in a scowl as she said those words.

"Okay sis. Can I at least help with any mechanical work?" Scootaloo suggested.

"Eh, I don't see why not. At least that part isn't dangerous. I could use some help learning how the things operate as well, I don't think Celestia thought everything through and I bet they don't have a user manual." Rainbow Dash said snidely as she watched Celestia eat yet another piece of cake.

"Awesome. Can the other crusaders help out as well?"

"Sure, why not, but make sure their parents know what they are doing first okay?" Rainbow Dash replied.

Scootaloo nodded and ran off to catch up with her friends.

"You're just gonna make her sit and watch while you do everything aren't you?" Twilight Sparkle asked as she walked up beside Rainbow Dash.

"Heh, busted eh? Not entirely true, I was gonna let her fetch me tools." Rainbow Dash laughed halfheartedly while Twilight Sparkle glared at her.

"Oh well, maybe they will learn something from all of this." Twilight said dejectedly.

"That Celestia is a bit of a fatty?" Rainbow Dash replied as she pointed to Celestia getting into a cake fight with Luna.

"Yes, that Celestia is a fat-" Twilight Sparkle stopped herself. "Hey!"

Rainbow Dash flew into the sky rolling in laughter as Twilight stood there, blowing her mane out of her face. "Blasted prankster."

***Elsewhere***

"Hmmnmmm, Yes. I understand. Many pony are signing up for this silly competition. You want me to begin plan B? Yes? Okay then." A pony in a red cloak pulled his hoof away from his collar and stared at the town of Ponyville from a distance.

"They will never know what hit them."

Chapter VI: Late for an Important Date!

Chapter VI: Late for an Important Date!

Scootaloo opened her eyes as she felt a weird sensation in her belly. When she opened them she found herself in a mostly pitch black space with nothing more than a few clouds of floating purple dust in the distance.

"Where am I? The last place I remember I was..." Scootaloo rolled her eyes. "Apple Blooms guest bedroom." She was having another oddball dream it seemed but unlike her others this one seemed a tad on the empty side, usually her dreams at least reflected something she did in the day. She wondered why they were suddenly different.

Scootaloo floated around the void for a few more moments when something cloudy and white appeared in the distance.

"The correct usage is 'there', the other usage is possessive or a contraction of they are..."

The word possessive echoed through the void.

"Sweetie Belle?" Scootaloo said, which also echoed though the void. Suddenly Scootaloo found that she could walk as if there was solid ground beneath her. She began to trot along until she saw the blurry cloud in the distance. Scootaloo ran as fast as she could yelling.

"Sweetie Belle, hold up." She yelled.

Scootaloo chased after Sweetie Belle until something unnerved her, something like a little voice all around her. "Why did you let me...pass, Scootaloo?"

The image of Sweetie Belle appeared before her, her back turned to her. Scootaloo thought for a moment, what did she mean by pass? Was this some kind of race dream? Did she really let Sweetie Belle pass her up like she was an old pony?

"Stop being silly Sweets, you know I would never lose a race let alone let somepony as slow as you pass me up." Scootaloo said as she ran her hoof though her mane pridefully.

"That's not what I meant, Scootaloo." Sweetie Belle replied coldly.

Scootaloo walked up behind Sweetie Belle and put a hoof on her back. "What did you mean?"

Sweetie Belle turned around but her face wasn't there. Instead there were deep pupil-less sunken eyes, rotted ,scraggly mane hairs and bone where her face used to be. Scootaloo backed off in fight as the creature she once thought was Sweetie Belle spoke.

"Why did you let me DIE!?"

***

Scootaloo shot out of bed, her head colliding with the bottom bunk, making her tumble out of bed to the right, clutching her head in the process.

"Sonava..." Scootaloo rubbed her head vigorously as her eyes focused. Looking around the room she noticed her ruckus didn't wake Apple Bloom or Sweetie Belle above her. Looking out the window she noticed that it was still plenty dark outside, though the moon was beginning to set into the hills behind the farm, a quick glance at the clock revealed why; it was almost six in the morning.

Scootaloo got out of bed and slowly opened the door into the hall, although the sweat on her hoof made it quite the challenge to grip the latch on the door. As she walked into the hallway she noticed that the hallway lights were already on and she could hear the sound of the shower going down the hall.

"Oh, I got friends in lower places."

She really needs to learn how to sing... Scootaloo thought as she listened in on Apple Jacks attempt at karaoke. "She could also try singing something not country for once too." Scootaloo looked over herself, her body was almost entirely drenched in sweat and her wings felt heavy and out of order.

If Apple Jack see's me like this then she will know I had another bad dream. Scootaloo thought back, even though Apple Jack said she could come to her with such problems she didn't want to make herself look like a coward in front of her. Help or no help having too many nightmares means you had too many fears, something she wouldn't admit to others;even if she was forced to admit them to herself.

The singing and the sound of the water in the shower falling suddenly stopped. "Uh-oh." Scootaloo looked for a place to hide, There was a towel closet nearby that she could hide in but what If Apple Jack needed a spare towel? She could hide in the little cupboard under the stairs but that's where AJ kept the canned tomatoes for breakfast.

Back to the Room I guess and Hope she forgets to wake up Apple Bloom on the way to the kitchen... Scootaloo tried to turn the latch with her hoof but it slipped right off. "Why do you have to be so sweaty?" She mumbled to herself as she tried again. The door leading to the bathroom at the end of the hall swung open, AJ putting a hoof outside the doorway when Scootaloo heard her say something.

"Silly me, almost fergot my hat." Apple Jack said as she turned around in the doorway, her tail sticking out into the hall.

Scootaloo grabbed the latch with her teeth and opened the door, quickly diving inside as her tail caught the handle to pull it closed behind her;loudly behind her.

"What was that?!" Apple Jack yelled.

Scootaloo could hear Apple Jack walking down the hall and stopping just outside the door to Apple Bloom's bedroom.

"Anypony awake in there?" Apple Jack said.

Please don't open the door, please don't.

"Pew, pew, pew, bang bang!" Sweetie Belle said in her sleep as she rolled over.

"Oh, just Sweetie talkin in her sleep again." Apple Jack walked away from the door and Scootaloo could hear her going down the stairs.

"Great save there Sweetie!" Scootaloo whispered.

Sweetie Belle just rolled over mumbling to herself. "I call hax Scoots, no pony gets a fifty-five hit juggle combo with Zangief..."

I owe Sweetie a few easy wins next time we play...but why didn't she open the door, normally she would be waking up Apple Bloom around now. Scootaloo scratched her mane for a moment but figured she shouldn't look a gift pony in the mouth. She slowly opened the door and looked around. The sun was already coming up over the horizon but she still couldn't figure why the house was so slow paced this morning.

Scootaloo suddenly heard something walk up behind her. She turned to find a droopy eyed Apple Bloom giving a hearty yawn.

"Why you up so early on a Sunday Scoots?" Apple Bloom asked as she stifled another yawn.

Oh, that explains why everypony is still asleep and not up at the crack of dawn.

"Oh, nothing in particular. I was just going to go take a shower." Scootaloo replied with a faked grin on her face.

"You..." Apple Bloom let out a colossal yawn. "You do that, Imma go back to sleep." Apple Bloom walked back to her bed when she turned to Scootaloo. "You make sure to leave big brother some hot water, he dun like cold wake up calls."

"No problem." Scootaloo waited until Apple Bloom was on the top bunk bed before closing the door slowly behind her.

"Actually, I really could use a shower. I smell like old beans." Scootaloo headed down the halls to the showers when she heard someone come up the stairs.

"I thought I heard somethin, what you doin up so early?" Apple Jack asked, a piecing stare across her face.

What's that word they use in all the cool movies for this kinda situation...shit was it? Scootaloo slowly looked back, she knew lying her way out of this would get her nowhere but at the same time she didn't want to set off any alarms. The last thing she needed was for her dream to be seen as a kind of premonition. Worst of all after she asked to help Applejack with the chores and vehicle selection in the afternoon.

Think quick...how does Rainbow Dash get away with it... Scootaloo folded her wings in and began to strut to the bathroom. "Oh you know AJ, gotta look my best for when team Apple beats those griffons into submission and all."

Apple Jack looked unfazed for a brief moment until her face softened into a smile. "Darn tootin we will. I'll get breakfast ready while you get a bath in." Apple Jack hurried back down the stairs, leaving Scootaloo to her thoughts.

That was easier than I thought it would be. I guess appealing to her competitive side helps.

Scootaloo walked into the bathroom and turned on the hot water. "Close call, last thing I want is kept out of the action becuase of some silly dream."

***

It was sometime after breakfast and the few spare chores that mostly consisted of feeding the pigs, cows and chickens that Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle and the rest of the Apple family made it to town to turn in their registration paperwork and head out to the field just outside the Everfree Forrest to pick the vehicle they were to work on.

Oddly enough though the entire group stopped at Sugarcube Corner instead of going right to the town hall to turn in their registration.

"Sis what are we doin here? The town hall is that way." Apple Bloom asked.

"Yeah I heard that if you don't get to the selection early enough you get whatever leftovers they got." Babs Seed added.

"Well me and Big Mac decided we needed at least one more member, I figured I would treat everypony out to shakes while we wait for her." Apple Jack opened the door and let the fillies, granny Smith and her older brother inside before closing the door behind her.

Before Apple Jack could find a booth to accommodate everypony she found her self face to face with none other than Pinkie Pie.

"So, Apple Family and friends, Do you need a place to sit?" Pinkie Pike quickly pushed two booths together and tossed each member perfectly into the both as if they were all rag dolls. "So, can I take your order or get the menus?"

Apple Jack shook her head to get her bearing and then briefly glared at Pinkie Pie. "Menus if you would be so kind."

"Standard menus or the gingerbread ones?" Pinkie Pie asked.

The entire Apple family stared Pinkie Pies way, some of them holding back the urge to even ask. Babs Seed started to open her mouth when Sweetie Belle quickly shoved a hoof in it, shaking her head disapprovingly. However before Sweetie Belle could send Apple Jack the same disapproving stare, the mare had already opened her mouth.

"What in tarnation is a gingerbread menu?" Apple Jack asked.

"I'm glad you asked, not only can you order food from it but you can also eat the menu after you're done ordering. They also come in magically sealed water form, any fruit of your choice can be a menu." Pinkie Pie winked and then nudged Apple Jack on the foreleg.

"Fine, I guess we could do Apple menus if you would be so kind." Apple jack had barely gotten the words out of her mouth before Pinkie Pie left and returned with a stack of light yellow menus. She quickly tossed each pony at the table a menu, each one nearly fumbling it and dropping it on the ground.

"Uhhhh Pinkie, there's nothing on these, and how are we holding what looks like applesauce in our hooves without it gettin everywhere?" Apple Jack set the menu down, a bit too weird-ed out expression on her face.

"Oh, that part. Well the menus are held together magically and you need to take a bite for the Cinnamon words to appear. I'll demonstrate." Pinkie Pie Picked up one of the spare menus on the counter and took a little nibble off the edge, showing great restraint that she typically wasn't know for. A few second later, cinnamon began to swirl and form letters and prices.

"See? Now you give it a try."

The elder apple family members picked up their menus and gave little nibble on the edge, the fillies at the table following suit shortly after. After taking a bite, granny Smiths eyes lit up, then Big Mac's and finally Apple Jack's and Apple Blooms.

"Hey, Pinkie. This tastes really familiar. These wouldn't happen to be be made with Sweet Apple Acre's Golden Delicious Apples would they?"

"I was about to ask the same thing granny and I reckon Big Mac and Apple Bloom were too." Apple Jack said as the other members of the apple family;sans Babs Seed, nodded in unison.

"Of course silly, the cakes are the ones that have been buying up all your golden delicious apples as of late. They used them for this new menu and to work on their new apple fritter. It's even better than your apple fritters." Pinkie Pie said excitedly.

"Bullpoop!" Apple Jack slammed her foreleg on the table, making Big Mac and some of the fillies jump in surprise. "Taint no pony that makes better fritters then me!"

Pinkie Pie smiled. "Well, stubborn stubby pantaloons. If your Fritters are so much better then why don't you try ours and see how they match up." Pinkie Pie poked Apple Jack in the chest. "Or are you Scootaloo?"

"HEY, I'm right here ya know, and how do you even know that joke?" Scootaloo complained as she fluffed her wings out angrily.

"Easy." Pinkie Pie pulled out a crystal ball from her mane, startling Babs Seed but not so much as getting a second Blink from anypony else. "My ball allows me to search out all kinds of neat things at random. Like right now it's telling me that in the near future Big Mac will sleep with a girly girl doll."

Big Mac slumped down in his seat, his cheeks glowing so bright a red that they overpowered the color of his coat.

"Or that granny Smith likes the taste of chalk. Don't feel embarrassed granny, I take calcium carbonate to help settle my stomach sometimes too." Pinkie Pie said gleefully.

I think I'm ready to order Pinkie." Babs Seed said as she motioned Pinkie Pie over to her.

Pinkie Pie set the crystal ball on the table and began to jot down Babs order when her ball slowly rolled over to Scootaloo and settled in front of her. Curious Scootaloo touched the ball and the smoke inside it began to swirl. Scootaloo stared into the ball as the shapes inside it began to take form. Before she could get a good look at it though, Pinkie Pie Picked up the ball and slid it into her mane like it was a secret pocket but not before Scootaloo got a glimpse of the image.

It looked like a barren black and red wasteland, something like a desert but far more red than what she thought a desert could be. In the distance was a cliff that appeared to be on fire but she couldn't make out the details as to how, why or where this place was. She tried to figure out exactly where she had seen that cliff face before when Babs Seed broke her concentration.

"I'll have a banana shake and one of these egg muffin things sandwiched between two waffles, if that's okay with AJ that is." Babs Seed looked toward Apple Jack whom seemed not to notice her as she was still fuming from Pinkie Pie earlier insinuation of superior Apple fritters.

"Apple Jack?" Babs Seed said.

"Oh, what, sure. Everypony get what they want, tabs on me." Apple Jack replied as she looked over the menu again.

Pinkie Pie gleefully pulled a pen and notepad out of virtually nowhere and began to jot down each pony's order. After a few minutes of fierce jotting and a very large order of food from Big Mac, Pinkie Pie made her way to the end of the table where Apple Jack was taking one more glance over the menu.

"So have you decided on what you want or do you need more time?" Pinkie Pie asked.

Apple Jack looked Pinkie Pie in the eyes and then back at the menu. "I'll have an apple cinnamon shake, a egg muffin and one apple fritter, which by the way I still think isn't as good as my own."

Pinkie Pie jotted down the order and smiled at Apple Jack. "Don't worry, defeat isn't always a bad thing. Think of it as a growing experience."

Apple Jack jumped up on the table and shoved her face right into Pinkie Pie's. "You take that back, taint no apple fritters better than apple family fritters!"

"Then how about a friendly wager?" Pinkie Pie said, still smiling.

"Fine, Iffin my fritters are better by unanimous vote by every pony at these two booths then the entire meal is on the house." Apple Jack sat back down in her seat, a smug look on her face.

"Deal, but if our fritters are better you do all the dishes from the morning breakfast rush and the ones from your own meal. Also I get to wear your hat for the rest of the day." Pinkie Pie pointed at Apple Jacks prized stetson hat, a glimmer in her eyes.

"But, that's mah hat. I would feel naked without it." Apple Jack whined as she grabbed both edges of her hat with her hooves.

"As opposed too...being naked all the time? I mean the only Pony I ever see wearing clothes is Rarity. Last time I checked I never seen you in so much as shorts." Pinkie Pie pointed out gleefully.

"Fine but if she's got so much as a stain on er, I swear your paying the cleaning bill." Apple Jack declared.

"Okie dokie loki. Oh and honestly, you assign a gender to your hat? And ponies call me weird." Pinkie Pie walked away from the table, a fuming Apple Jack behind her. Pinkie Pie ignored her and walked though the double doors leading to the kitchen in the back, set her notepad on the counter.

"Okay, you and me need to talk mr author. You already did this iron chef trope earlier in the story. Stop being lazy and come up with some original conversations already." Pinkie Pie seemed to be talking to the cupboar-

"No, I'm not talking to a damned cupboard. I'm talking to you Diceman. You already used this trope in a earlier chapter and I am quite frankly not in the mood to play it out." Pinkie Pie seemed to be talking with some ethereal being that refused to answer her questions or concerns.

"Ok, that's it, I have had all I cans stand and I can't stands no more!" Pinkie Pie reached out into the air with her hoof, a rippling effect appearing around it and made a swift motion with her hoof as if she was swatting at a fly.

*Smack*

"Ow, what was that for?" A voice echoed though the kitchen from virtually every direction.

"So the author finally shows himself. You can write your Twilight and Chrysalis clop story well but you keep running out of ideas for this one. For shame, you are better than that. Also why are you writing me as moody and overly competitive? If I was any further out of character I would be Gilda by now." Pinkie Pie rolled her eyes.

"Well what do you want me to do about it? Writers block is a bitch to get around." The strange voice said.

"I want to you to go outside for a moment, you know that place with all the scary sunshine and people; get some fresh air and come back and do a time warp to fix this mess." Pinkie Pie stomped her front leg in protest and then pointed to the window in the kitchen. Outside said window was a few fillies playing, jumping rope, tag and the like. All under the glory of Celestia's sun.

"Oh and one more thing, stop being so florid with your scene depictions."

"But that's the sign of a decent author the last time I checked. It's all in books like Black Beauty and the like." The voice replied.

"Your point? You use it as fluff too much to pad your word count and make the chapters longer than they need to be. You are NOT Stephen King or J.K Rowling. You are a thirty something guy that writes short stories in his spare time for no other reason than being completely bored." Pinkie Pie said.

"That hurts Pinkie. It's not like you to be so mean." The voice said.

Pinkie Pie sighed and shook her head. "If it makes you feel any better, your stories are better than anything Stephenie Meyer or E. L. James have ever written."

There was a brief silence in the room before the voice began to speak again. "Not sure if you insulted me or not, Twilight and Fifty Shades of Grey are not exactly high brow reading."

"Fine, you're better than John Sual." Pinkie Pie said, huffing in frustration.

"I'm better than Black Lightning? You know what, I'll take it. Be back in a few minutes." The voice replied cheerfully.

Pinkie Pie sat there, tapping her hoof and staring at the clock for a few minutes. After about ten minutes, Pinkie Pie heard footsteps of some kind and then the voice entered the room again. "Okay, had some tea. Had the neighbors bitch at me and checked the mail. Also is over a hundred and ten degrees outside."

"You whine too much, you know that?" Pinkie said.

"Anyways how do you want me to fix this?" The voice asked.

"Oh, that's easy. Do a cheesy time warp segment and act like none of this happened." Pinkie Pie suggested gleefully.

"Do I look like Tim Curry to you? I can't just do the time warp like he does. Besides I don't have a lawyer on hand to protect myself from the ensuing lawsuits if I did.

"Pfft like lawyers ever read fanfiction, even if they did Swiper the Fox would be a bigger target than you, comparatively speaking that is. Anywho stop complaining and get on with it already." Pinkie Pie said as she stomped her hoof.

"Fine." The voice replied.

***One incredibly cheesy time warp brought on by writers block later***

"I was kidding about our fritters being better by the way, AJ. I just wanted to see how you would react." Pinkie Pie said as she walked up to the double doors leading to the kitchen.

"Nah, I'm sorry for blowin up at ya. I'll still try them though, haven't had a fritter in..." Apple Jack starter to move her hoof up and down, mouthing a count as she did. "forty-two hours I think? Seems like forever doesn't it?" Apple Jack said as some of the fillies at the booth rolled their eyes.

"Okie dokie then, I'll have your order done in a few minutes." Pinkie Pie walked though the swing doors into the kitchen but seconds later Pinkie Pie walked out with a tray of food, shakes and the likes for the Apple family and the members of the CMC. Pinkie Pie walked up to the booth and began to distribute the food and drinks when Apple Jack stopped her.

"Wait a darn tootin minute, since when does it only take a few seconds to cook a fritter?" Apple Jack asked.

"What do you mean? I was in there for a good thirty or so minutes." Pinkie Pie replied as she distributed the fritters.

Suddenly the swing doors to the kitchen opened up and another Pinkie Pie stood there, perplexed. "Ummm other Pinkie Pie, did you get that order out of the way for me?"

The Apple family and CMC members glared accusingly at Pinkie Pie.

"Pinkie Pie...did you use that weird double mare pool thing again?" Apple Jack asked.

"Nope, I did the time warp again. She will be gone in a few minutes." Pinkie Pie replied nervously.

Pinkie Pie walked cautiously into the kitchen, grabbing her clone by her apron and pulling her though the doors with her. After a few feet in she sat the Pinkie Clone down and growled angrily.

"Seriously? You couldn't do a time warp without botching it?" Pinkie said angrily.

"I regret nothing! Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk!" A voice from nowhere replied.

"That's it, I'm deleting your other fanfics the second I find my way to you again..." Pinkie Pie said as she rubbed her hooves together.

Meanwhile in the lobby the Apple family were busy eating their meal, conversing among one another about Apple Jacks mystery fourth team member.

"So big sis, are ya gonna let us help ya with the machine you pick?" Apple Bloom asked.

Apple Jack took a bite of her apple fritter and chased it down with a sip of apple cinnamon shake before answering. "Of course, though I reckon none of you are old enough to be on the piloting team." Apple Jack noticed the sad faces of the fillies on the other side of the booth and quickly adjusted her wording of the situation. "I mean sure you can help me with testing, repairs, painting it and all but I don't want you gettin hurt. Unicorn magic or not, there's gonna be stuff flying around mighty fast and I don't need one of you girls losing an eye on my conscience."

Apple Bloom, Babs Seed and Sweetie Belle seemed content with this answer but Scootaloo was fidgeting in her seat.

"AJ, what if this mystery fourth member doesn't show up? Do you have any replacement plans?" Scootaloo leaned forward, hoping Apple Jack didn't have an answer to her inquiry.

"I see where you're gettin at ya little fireball but taint doin. If she doesn't show up then I'll just get a transfer from some other town. I'm sure Braeburn would love to help, or Bushel, cousin Turnip or any of the other dozens of members of the Apple family."

Scootaloo's ears folded back, prompting Apple Jack to console her.

"Don't you fret, a good team always needs a good set of mechanics and ponies to brainstorm, eight heads are better than one and all." Apple Jack said with a smile.

Scootaloo looked up and faked a smile in return, but deep inside she wanted something different, something she couldn't put her hoof on. Not being one to miss Scootaloo's fake smile, Apple Jack leaned forward and stared into Scootaloo's eyes.

"Ah know what you want, I seen that look in Rainbow Dash's eyes so many times." Apple Jack said as she sat back down.

"Which is?" Scootaloo asked cautiously.

"Competition of course. With the exception of Fluttershy, almost every single pegasi I have ever met always had the thirst for competition. Dunno why, but it's just something y'all do." Apple Jack took another sip of her shake, setting it down calmly. "You will have yer chance someday squirt but...uuhhh, yer parents won't allow you to enter that contest, yer too young is all."

Sweetie Belle raised her hoof to get Apple Jack's attention.

"What's up Sweetie Belle?" Apple Jack asked.

"Well we learned in biology class and history class that Pegasus have a very ancient evolutionary discrepancy in their behavior and biology, something all ponies have but much more pronounced." Sweetie Belle stopped after she noticed the odd stares from the elder Apple family members.

"What? What did I say wrong?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Nothing really little one, we just don't understand fancy talk is all." Granny Smith said.

"Try again, English this time iffin ya would be so kind." Apple Jack said as she scratched the back of her mane.

"Okay. Back way before we had the brain capacity to build anything more than small towns or communities we adhered to a very strict rules regarding whom could reproduce. In terms of Earth ponies it was the strongest stallion that had all the breeding rights to all the mares in the heard. Sometimes there would be three or more stallions, but only if they were nearly equal in strength. You follow me still?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Yeah, uhhh sure." Apple Jack said nervously as she stared out the window.

"In old unicorn society it was typically the mares that made the first move while the stallions were the passive group. This also works into later parts of Unicorn society such as most positions of power being held by a mare." Sweetie Belle took a sip of her shake before continuing.

"In terms of Pegasi however, the deal was equal. The entire race was the most warlike and becuase of this everypony fought as equals. Both sides held equal power in their societies and both sides fought to the bitter end if need be."

"And this explains Scootaloo's need for competition how?" Sweetie Belle stopped to see who interrupted her when she noticed it was Big Mac, something she never actually expected to get into the discussion short of a single word.

"Well Big Mac, after the settling of Equestria the Pegasi has no enemies to fight. There was enough food, plenty of water, sunshine and gems. They no longer had to deal with encroaching griffons or dragons of any kind. Some of the elder Pegasus noticed that the younger generations were butting heads with the other races due to not having anything to do. This is how the first Equestrian games occurred. They replaced their thirst for battle that had been bred into them for generations into a thirst to be the best, a thirst for competition." Sweetie Belle took another sip of her shake as she watched Apple Jack's, granny Smith's and Big Mac's mouths hang open.

"Well, its good to know y'all are keeping up with yer book learnin. Learn something new everyday I guess." Apple Jack said nervously as she took a bite of her fritter.

"What? Why is everypony staring at me?"

Apple Bloom whispered in Sweetie Belles ear. "Pstt, My big brother, sister and granny smith dropped outta school to take care of the farm and me shortly after I was born. Yer scaring them with yer smartness."

"Oh...sorry." Sweetie Belle whispered back.

Some time passed by silently as the group ate and drank their meals, Apple Bloom finally breaking the long silence after it had been an hour since they finished their meals.

"So when is this mystery mare gonna show up, sis?" Apple Bloom complained as she stared out the window.

"I dunno, but she better hurry up. Vehicle selection is today and I still have to drop off the last bit of registration stuff at the mayors office." Apple Jack replied as she sat back down.

"I hate to spoil it for ya AJ but the mayors office closes early on Sunday." Granny Smith stared up at a clock above the kitchen, which read three in the afternoon. "Actually I think they closed about two hours ago."

"Ah know that granny, I can still fill out the rest of the form after we get out vehicle registration out of the way and just drop it in the inbox on our way home." Apple Jack pulled the Registration form from underneath her hat and set it on the table.

Scootaloo, interested in what it looked like glanced over at the document. Oddly enough the members of the CMC were listed as mechanics in the list below the main crew but something was off. Instead of the crew and mechanics being listed under bold letters, they were hoof written into the document. Below the Names of the CMC was a blank spot where AJ had started to write the word 'alternates' above some lines but it seemed like her pencil tip broke off partway though.

Sweetie Belle nudged Scootaloo on the side and whispered. "That looks like the rental registration form my parents had to sign for a new house. It looks like it's been modified a bit, but most of the structure is the same."

Apple Bloom leaned over to whisper in Scootaloo's ear while Apple Jack was distracted, peering out the window for their late fourth crew member. "Hey, Iffin yer thinkin what I'm thinkin yer thinkin then go ahead and write us down too when she taint lookin."

Scootaloo looked over Apple Bloom's bow in her hair to see that both Babs Seed and Sweetie Belle were nodding in approval.

"Are you three sure about this? i mean it's bound to be dangerous." Scootaloo whispered back.

"My sister's just bein over protective is all. It's the chance of a lifetime and worst case scen-scenar..." Apple Bloom looked to Sweetie Belle for the word she was looking for.

"Scenario..." Sweetie Belle whispered while rolling her eyes.

"Yeah that, worst case scenario we get blow-ed up early on and just get to spend the rest of the summer doin normal kids stuff."

Babs Seed interjected. "But if we actually do well we would be heroes. That and everypony will underestimate us because we are kids n' all. We will have the element of surprise on our side, besides it's not like we can get in trouble as alternates. Apple Jack practically never gets sick. We could even Get our cutie marks doin this!"

The thought had crossed Scootaloo's mind. They never really tried anything like this, maybe their special talent was war? It certainly wouldn't be the first time a pony from Ponyville got a cutie mark cut out for battle.

"She's here!" Apple Jack sprung out of her seat followed by Big Mac and granny Smith. Sweetie Belle leaning over the seat curiously. As the Apple family waited at the door Pinkie Pie skipped out of the kitchen and set the bill on the table.

"Here's the bill, I need a signature and twenty bits please." Pinkie Pie smiled.

Apple Bloom picked up the bill automatically and began to sign her name with the pencil Pinkie Pie set next to the bill, seemingly knowing the drill by heart. "Pinkie, just add this to the Sweet Apple Acres tab, we will take it off the next delivery, oh and take yo9urself a three bit tip as usual." Apple Bloom set down the pencil and Scootaloo seized the initiative.

"Scoots, you sure you wanna do this?" Apple Bloom pleaded. "If we get busted we will be so grounded for the summer.

Scootaloo looked at the rest of the Apple family crowding the door and back to Apple Bloom. "History favors the bold Apple Bloom, besides with my stubby wings I'm always grounded." Scootaloo quickly moved over to the registration form and quickly erased the title 'Mechanics' from above the CMC members names. She quickly then wrote in the words 'Alternates' as quickly as she could, thanking Celestia under her breath that Apple Jacks poor penmanship was just as terrible and indiscernible as her own.

Scootaloo tossed the pencil back to Pinkie Pie whom seemed perplexed, one of her eyebrows raised.

"It's a secret to everypony Pinkie, promise me you wont tell?" Scootaloo said under her breath.

Pinkie Pie nodded and performed her signature cross her heart, cupcake in the eye motion.

"Ummm, I think the last crew member is my sister." Sweetie Belle said as she pointed out the window.

The other CMC members piled up on the back of the booth to get a look. There seemed to be something very purple with a large variety of feathers coming up over Apple Jack's head.

"Either that or it's a peacock." Apple Bloom said sarcastically.

The fillies stared at the adult ponies for awhile until they all came into Sugar Cube Corner, Apple Jack complaining loudly.
"I thought we agreed you were supposed to be here around noon, we are gonna be late with our vehicle selection becuase of you."

"I'm sorry darling but I got an order last night for my new headdresses. I would have been here earlier but I was up all night making them, one simply does not say no to Hoity Toity when he asks for you personally." Rarity said calmly.

"Oh well, I'm sure there's a few good ones left." Apple Jack walked up toward the table motioning the fillies to her. "I want to introduce Team Apple's fourth main crew member, Rarity."

Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Babs Seed and Scootaloo just stood there, all of them unsure whether to welcome Rarity or question Apple Jack's sanity.

"Sis...are you sure you want Rarity on yer team? I mean I'm sure she's capable and all but this is probably going to be very dirty, icky and grimy." Apple Bloom said.

"Well, we needed a unicorn for emergency engine power and as a radio operator. Some of our teammates from other cities wouldn't understand not a word of our country jargon. Rarity is here to recharge the tank and translate stuff for us." Apple Jack said enthusiastically.

"That and we already agreed that I will be doing no major mechanical work. I would rather not get grease stains all over my coat, it just doesn't look very good on my coat and is such a pain to remove." Rarity said as she adjusted her oversized peacock feather hat.

"We can do all the social stuff later, we need to skedaddle down by Fluttershy's place to get our vehicle before the day is over." Apple Jack looked at Pinkie Pie and nodded, picking up her registration form. "I guess Apple Bloom added it to our tab right?"

"Yep, thank you for eating at Sugar Cube Corner." Pinkie Began to clean up the dishes at the table as the rest of the group headed out the door.

Scootaloo stopped and gave a wink at Pinkie Pie before darting out the door after the rest of the group.

Pinkie Pie stepped out the door and called after them. "See you all later, good luck with whatever vehicle you chose!"

***

After a grueling uphill trot led by Apple Jack everyone finally arrived at the designated field where they were to select their vehicle only to find a single royal guard with a clipboard and not a single vehicle to be found. Apple Jack approached the guard whom peered over his clipboard as the she got close.

"Apple Jack of team Apple I presume?" The guard said dryly.

"That's me. Sorry we are late, got held up with some stuff." Apple Jack said.

"Doesn't bother me a bit, as you can see we only have a couple choices left anyhow. Your tardiness has cost you a plethora of choices." The guard stated with a grin on his face.

Apple Jack and the others began looking around, but none of them could seem to spot the remaining choices the guard mentioned.

"I don't want to be a party pooper but I don't see the choices you are talking about." Apple Jack said as she checked behind a nearby rock.

The guard rolled his eyes and put his clipboard into his saddlebag. "Follow me, they are in a nearby field past those trees." The guard pointed to a shallow row of trees behind him which seemed to have a meadow on the other side. The group followed the guard through the brush to a clearing that had one vehicle in the center, the other one was being carried off in the distance by another group of Pegasi.

"Well, looks like your couple of choices is now only one. I guess the air guard was getting bored of selection duty as was packing up for the day." The guard pointed at the vehicle sitting in the meadow.

The group walked up to the vehicle, the guard trying to stifle a laugh as they came up to the front of the wooden machine.

"So, uhhh. What is this thing?" Apple Jack asked.

The vehicle in front of her was tall, a bit taller than ten feet high, had a somewhat boxy design, with a small domed turret on the top, three open flaps on the front, side and back sporting some kind of gun and a cylinder like structure on the right side with a very fair sized cannon sticking out of it.

"This, team Apple is the vehicle that you will be stuck with. It is called the M3 Lee."

"It kinda looks like a dump truck, like the ones in the city." Babs Seed commented as she sneered at the vehicle.

"My, it is quite...ugly. The one the others were carry away looked nice and sleek compared to this...fat thing." Rarity said with disdain in her voice.

"Well yes, the vehicle they were carrying away is the Jagd Panzer 4, a tank destroyer variety. It is being taken into storage and put on display for the next town choices. As for your vehicle shall I explain what you are getting into before you make your one and only option. I mean there still is time to withdraw if you don't want to be seen driving this...thing." The guard tried to stifle another laugh as he looked at the M3 Lee in front of him.

Apple Jack stepped forward, a determined look on her face. "Tell me what it is first, then I'll decide if it's worth our time or not."

The guard stepped back apprehensively and cleared his throat. "This Ms Jack is a M3 Lee, a medium weight combat tank. Weighing in at around eight short tons it has fifty-one millimeters of frontal armor made of northern pine and around thirty-eight millimeters of armor on the sides and back. The turret on top houses a thirty-seven millimeter gun that fires either appropriate caliber chocolate covered or caramel covered fruit of your design. It also has three smaller guns on the front, side and back that fire high velocity candy corn, although it will be rare to use them in battle situations due to how small they are."

"What's that big cannon sticking out of the front right side?" Apple Bloom asked.

"I was getting to that. This is a seventy-five millimeter Pineapple or Pie cannon. It also has an optional ninety millimeter cannon it can mount but I do not suggest using that one."

"Why not? Isn't bigger always better?" Big Mac asked.

"While generally speaking yes, but the gun has too much recoil for the vehicles frame. You would need to modify it to handle such a thing and with a bigger gun requires bigger ammo, and thus less shots. It also is equipped with a six hundred horse power, unicorn magic driven engine, allowing it to reach speeds far greater than it's size would lead you to believe." The guard said as he walked around the side of the M3 Lee.

"So...if its got so much good, why were you laughing at it earlier?" Apple Jack said as she huffed impatiently.

"Well, it has it's flaws. According to the armory journal-"

"Armory journal?" Apple Jack said.

"Yes, its a guide our top engineers have put together for all the vehicles, In a very short time mind you. The problem with this thing is it doesn't turn very well, is a large target and has comparatively weaker firepower than than most of the models we had today. For example that gun on top will not be useful on anything of equal size, it can still damage or disable smaller vehicles but not much else. The bigger weapon is too low to the ground and has a poor firing arc, meaning you have to turn the tank to fire. It's easily flanked as to say." The guard kicked the treads on the side.

"It also has poor ground pressure, making it terrible on snowy or muddy ground."

"So basically its the black sheep of the selection?" Apple Jack said.

"Yes and that putting it kindl-"

"We'll take it then. The Apples never say no to a challenge. If you listed all the problems with this thing then I guess we will have to find a way to fix them then." Apple Jack tapped the M3 Lee on the front hull. "Don't you worry none, we will get this hunka-wood in tip top fighting shape in no time."

The guard pulled out his clipboard and stared at Apple Jack for a moment before pulling a stamp out of his saddlebags and setting it at the top of his clipboard. "Oh well, I guess the enemy needs some easy targets. I'll need your registration if you would be so kind."

Apple Jack stepped forward and pulled the registration out of her hat, giving it to the guard with an angry glare on her face. The guard stamped the paper and then removed a pink slip off the bottom of it, handing it back to Apple Jack. He then walked up to the vehicle, pulled out a black marker and marked the front of the hull with a number ; 009.

Registration complete. This thing will be delivered to the southern test range just south of Ponyville. You will be sharing the range with the rest of your team as well as ponies from Appleloosa. You have full garage with a stock of replacement parts at your disposal as well as a fund of no more than a thousand bits for research and mechanical purposes. You will find a drivers guide inside the vehicle on the commanders seat, I wish the best of luck to you." The guard walked away, waving a hoof at some of the Pegasus in the air.

You will need it. The guard thought to himself.

***Some hours later***

"Aww sis, can't we just stay up all night? We are too excited to go to bed I mean we got so much to do tomorrow, I wanna get my tools together and go right now." Apple Bloom complained.

"Taint no arguing. You skedaddle into bed and get yerself some shuteye. The faster you go to sleep the sooner tomorrow will come." Apple Jack said as she picked up Apple Bloom and set her onto the top bunk of the bed. "I want you four to be up at the crack of dawn to help me with the chores and then we go down to the test range. Okay?"

"Okay" Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Babs Seed and Sweetie Belle replied automatically.

"By the way scoots, yer parents know yer here right? Seems you been spending a awful lotta time here and not at home." Apple Jack asked.

Scootaloo rolled over and yawned, avoiding eye contact. "They are very busy ponies, they know where I'm at and that they can trust somepony like you. Everypony can trust you."

Apple Jack nodded. "Good ta hear, anyways, Gnight y'all."

Applejack closed the door to the room and Scootaloo rolled back over to stare at the light coming from under the door.

I hope she doesn't ever find out about that...they can never know.

Chapter VII: Disaster Prone

Chapter VII: Disaster Prone

"Wait up sis!" Apple Bloom yelled as she fidgeted with her saddlebags. "I need to pack one more book!"

Apple Jack shook her head. "We already have all the engineering books we could possibly ever need. Quit being pokey and lets get on with it, we don't want to be late to the test range."

Apple Bloom puffed up her face in a pout. "I don't want to hear you complain if the hydraulics go out and I don't have hydraulics 101 to know how to fix em." Apple Bloom managed to get the last book stuffed in her saddle back and tossed it over her back.

"See no problem." The weight of the book slowly made Apple Bloom tilt to the right until she fell on her side.

Apple Bloom struggled against the weight but quickly gave up. "Uhhh...Little help sis?" Apple Bloom asked, blushing.

Apple Jack picked up her younger sister and brushed the dirt from her side before unbuckling one of her saddlebags and adding it to her own.

"Alright y'all, we will be meeting Rarity in the south field before headin to the test range. I want you all to stay together and stay off the test range field unless you have an adult or you are in the vehicle itself. Do I make myself clear?" Apple Jack said sternly.

The CMC members all said yes automatically, in a drone like voice.

"Alrighty then, let's move it." Apple Jack started down the road to the south field in a fast and confident stride, making the younger team members nearly run to keep up.

"So Babs, how long you gonna be in Ponyville for?" Apple Bloom asked as she ran alongside her cousin, Babs Seed.

"Looks like the whole summer. My parents are off on business on the other side of the world, they won't be back till late august when school starts back up." Babs replied cheerfully.

"Why didn't you stay there? I mean no parents would have been awesome." Sweetie Belle added.

"Wouldn't work. There's a saying about the apple family, no matter where you are; you're no more than a mile away from another apple. That and Apple Jack is a way cooker baby sitter than auntie Orange." Babs picked up her pace to catch up to Scootaloo

"So I hear that you are in charge of tweaking the weapons eh?" Babs asked Scootaloo.

"Yeah but I really haven't read up much on them yet. I mean from what I could tell the 75 millimeter gun should be adequate but there's a chance we may have to upgrade to that experimental 90 millimeter cannon." Scootaloo arched her head back to think. "I guess I'll have to wait until I see it in action to get an idea of what it needs."

"I hear ya. I got armor duty, Sweetie got engine and transmission...whatever those are and I got suspension duty too." Babs said while smiling. "We were gonna give that to Big Mac but he's not exactly very good at math."

"Wait, Apple Jack suspended you already Babs? What did you do wrong? And Big Mac got suspended too? Isn't he too old for that?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"No, suspension means...wheels, Babs is in charge of the wheels." Scootaloo glanced sideways at Sweetie Belle, rolling her eyes.

"But, it doesn't have any wheels. Seems like a silly thing to be in charge of if you ask me."

The group rounded another hill and began to slow down. Spotting a blanket on the grass and a sun umbrella above it. Rarity was laying down drinking what looked like lemonade, a book open below her as she casually sipped at her beverage.

"Bonjour!" Rarity got up and waved at Apple Jack and the others as the group came up to her.

"Rarity, whats with all the extra stuff?" Apple Jack asked as she pointed to a basket of various scraps of cloth and thread.

"I wanted to make sure that after we do all this testing non-sense that we can spruce the old girl up a bit. I was thinking maybe some leopard spots on the side and a few tinsel ribbons here and there couldn't hurt." Rarity picked up a silver thread and tied it in a bow with her magic. "See a couple of these and it will look fabulous."

Apple Jack opened her mouth as if to berate Rarity but bit her lip instead. "Sure, fine. You ready to go then?"

"Why of course, as soon as I finish my lemonade and another chapter." Rarity laid back down on the blanket and opened up her book "Fashion in War" to her previous bookmark and began to read.

Apple Jack looked furious but shook her head and nodded for the others as she took off running in the direction of the testing grounds.

"Wait, where are you going? The chapter is only a hour hour read, if that." Rarity shouted after the group.

Apple Jack turned around and yelled back. "I'll meet you there when yer finished."

Apple Jack nodded to the rest of the group. The rest of them following her lead as she ran down the hill and toward the testing grounds.

"Sis, do you think it was a good idea to have Rarity on the team? I mean she does know this is serious right?" Apple Bloom asked.

"I reckon it wasn't but it was advised to have a unicorn on each team as a backup fuel source in case of engine failure. Aside from that I don't expect much out of her, this isn't exactly her cup of tea to begin with." Apple jack replied.

The group finally got to the top of the last hill. What they saw nearly made their jaws drop. In the open field in front of them were tanks of all shapes and sizes. Some of them much larger and imposing than their little M3 Lee could ever hope to be. Some ponies had already begun to try out maneuvers on the driving range and a few others had already tried firing shots off in the gun range further down the road.

"Sis, why do I get the feeling that we got the short end of the stick...then they took the stick and gave us a raspberry?" Apple Bloom asked.

Apple Jack was silent as she watched the field like a hawk. "Well shucks. I didn't think this was gonna be easy but this is ridiculous. Some of dem tanks are easily three times the size of ours."

"Kinda wish it was like boxing on the tele, at least they have weight classes." Babs said.

"Well, no use loafin around thinking about what ifs and feelin sorry for ourselves, we got a machine to tune up!" Apple Jack reared up on her back legs and charged down the hill full speed, the rest of the Apple Family following close behind. As Apple Jack headed to the main gate one of the guards held out his hoof and blew a whistle.

"Halt civilian! Make yourselves ready for inspections." The guard shouted.

A pair of royal air guards flew down to meet the Apples, landing just in front of Apple Jack.

"Can I ask what's all the hub-bub about?" Apple Jack asked sternly.

"Nothing personal. We are here to search your saddle bags for illegal contraband. The griffon camp reported that some were trying to sneak in sugar coated rocks in as ammunition and while the sugar wouldn't hurt anypony."

"The rock most certainly would." The other guard interjected. "Some of these cannons would blow the sugar coating off of them from sheer velocity, leaving only the dense stone to do the damage. You can imagine what a rock flying at the speed of sound would do to another pony." The guard ran his hoof across his neck, making a small slicing sound with his lips.

"As Celestia and Luna have decreed safety first, all ponies and griffons are being inspected to make sure nothing lethal is smuggled in." The guard put his hoof out, motioning at Apple Jacks saddlebags.

"I get it, everyone toss him yer saddle bags."

"Wait Ma'am, not all at-" Before the guard could react his entire body was covered in saddlebags, some of them weighing as much as a filly or young colt.

"I told him to say one at a time first, this is the third time today this has happened." The guard began removing the bags from the top of the pile. "While we look though the bags you go over and talk to the entry guard. He will point you to your garage and set you up with the correct safety spells."

Apple Jack and the group walked up to the guard that shouted for them to stop earlier.

"Name please." The guard demanded.

"Apple Jack, of team Apple." Apple Jack stated proudly.

The guard picked up a clipboard behind him and started flipping the pages. "Oh I see, you are the unlucky ones to get the last picks yesterday. We have you setup in garage twenty-seven, please step on the safety circle before proceeding to the garage." The guard jumped in front of the group before they could move. "one at a time if you will."

Scootaloo managed to get to the front of the pack. "Whats the circle do?"

"It casts a protection spell on you to prevent injury from anything with sugar in it." The guard stated.

"Why do we need that? Not like we are firing anything at each other." Babs said.

The guard pointed to a wreck on the far end of the driving range, surrounded by caution tape. It was smaller vehicle, about the same size as the M3 lee but not as tall. A yellow Pegasus was busy scooping out large quantities of cake from the inside of it as well as removing shattered boards.

"Is that Fluttershy?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Only one way to find out. Hey Fluttershy!" Apple Jack yelled at the yellow Pegasus, waving her hoof. The yellow Pegasus shook her head, knocking some of the cake out of her hair to reveal a bright pink shine and waved back eagerly. "Yep that's her. Wonder what shes doing out here or why she's covered in cake."

"We had an accident earlier. Some wall eyed mare miss-aimed her 152 millimeter cake cannon on her KV-2 and obliterated that poor vehicle. Thankfully everyone inside was protected by the spell but if they weren't...well lets just say the hospital would take weeks to pull all the splinters out." The guard pointed at the circle on the ground. "For your own safety."

Each member of team Apple Stepped onto the circle one by one, a green and pink aura temporarily surrounding them as they stepped off.

"Okay, everything seems to be in order. I must however briefly explain the rules. Each garage has a token in it with your team number, these will eventually be switched out with team logos but for now they will do. If you want to use the gun range you must deposit the token with the range safety officer to use it. After one hour your token will be placed back in your garage. Same goes for the driving range, which is allowed four vehicles in separate lanes at one time." The guard pointed three tanks performing maneuvers, the fourth lane being occupied by Fluttershy's broken down machine.

"No pony is to go out into the firing range or the driving range for any reason. If your vehicle breaks down there is a flare gun nestled with three charges in the emergency kit next to the med-kit in each vehicle. If your vehicle breaks down please fire the flare into the air. A tow vehicle will be with you shortly to tow you back to your garage."

"Then why hasn't Fluttershy been towed back already?" Scootaloo said while watching Fluttershy remove more bits of cake from the interior of her vehicle.

"That shot she took blew her tracks to smithereens, we had to call in a Pegasus carry team for it. I swear why did they give a cross eyes pony a tank with such an amazing weapon if she can't hit anything with it but her allies?" The guard sighed. "Anyways you can find your garage along with the others on the field opposite the gun range."

"Question, we own a large plot of land not too far from here, can we use it for drive testing?" Big Mac asked.

The guard scratched his chin. "I don't see why not but you will probably have to submit it for inspection when you bring it back."

Big Mac looked irritated at even the accusation of possible cheating, his stare making the guard back away cautiously.

"Hey now big fella, I didn't insinuate that you would do such a thing. I'm just doing my job is all." The guard looked like he was sweating under the collar.

Apple Jack stepped in front of Big Mac. "Calm down Big Mac, he didn't know that was a sensitive spot." Big Mac's face went back to its usual relaxed and far off staring state. "You will have to excuse him, the only thing that gets him mad is accusations of unfair play. You could call our mother a lazy slacker and it wouldn't get him as riled up as accusin him of cheatin."

The guard nodded and pointed the group toward the garage. "Please move on, I have other registrations to deal with if you would be so kind." The guard looked to the pegasus behind the group and waved his hoof which they returned with a wave back.

"Everything's in the clear. These ponies are really serious about this, they got all kinds of books for this kinda thing." The guards hovered over to team apple and distributed their bags to the owners. "We will you the best of luck." The guard saluted and flew off in the direction of the next group of ponies behind them.

"So Apple Jack, what should we do first? Drive testing? Armor work? Maybe some gun play." Scootaloo seemed eager to get the day started.

Apple Jack had other plans. She couldn't seem to keep her eyes off of Fluttershy, whom was still busy removing a wedding's cake worth of ammunition from her destroyed vehicle. "Nah, let's help Fluttershy first."

The group moved over to the fence, Apple Jack raising a hoof to keep the fillies back and motioning Big Mac to follow her over the safety fence. "Fluttershy, ya need help with that?" Apple Jack asked as she approached the wreck.

Fluttershy sat up, quickly brushing cake from her nose. "Yes please, If you wouldn't mind."

Apple Jack looked out of the driving test range, only a small rainbow colored vehicle was moving in the lane furthest from the wreck. "Okay y'all, hop on over and get to work." The rest of the group hopped over the fence and began to pull chunks of cake out of the interior of the vehicle.

"Fluttershy, why isn't whoever did this helping you at least clean up the mess? Apple Jacked asked.

"Oh she offered but I had a better job for her. You see Angel, mister Bear and mister Jay are all late today for some reason, so I had her fly to my cottage to see what the holdup was." Fluttershy moved something that looked like a large wooden arm out of the way.

"I didn't know there were ponies in town named bear and jay, are they new to town?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"I think she means an actual bear and an actual blue jay." Apple Bloom said.

"Is that even legal? I thought it was ponies only for our teams." Scootaloo asked as she helped Apple Jack move another wooden arm out of the way.

"It's only legal for me. I had Celestia make the exception yesterday since I can talk with animals and no pony wanted to be on my team...at least not anypony that wasn't already on a team." Fluttershy kicked the ground somberly.

"I thought they were supposed to match you up with members if you didn't register as a team." Big Mac said as she checked the tracks on the vehicle. "I mean it's nice and all that they let you register non-ponies but still."

"Long story short there wasn't enough ponies, so I signed the animals up with me instead." Fluttershy tossed the last bit of cake out the side of the vehicle. "So Big Mac, how does it look down there?"

"Well, the tracks are ruined but this things seems to have emergency road wheels on the underside that I can't get to. Seems like an odd place to put em. How much does this thing actually weigh?"

"The booklet said about four tons but I removed most of the armor and weapons, except the 75 millimeter howitzer on the front, whatever that's supposed to mean." Fluttershy pointed to a short barreled gun on the front left of the vehicle.

"What model is this?" I haven't seen any other vehicles today with this open top deal." Scootaloo poked at the sides, cracking the thin wood with ease. "The armor doesn't seem very thick either, no wonder that other tank obliterated you."

"Now Scootaloo I'm sure she just got the short end of the stick like we did." Apple Jack said as she inspected the fractured side armor. She quickly noticed that there were patches where square holes used to be. "What model was this again?"

"It's a heavily modified T40 tank destroyer. The manual said it's based on the M3 Lee tank but I've yet to see one of those out here today. It's been all this really big vehicles like that T29 Twilight was helping earlier or that really slow Su-14 I saw Pinkie Pie driving."

"Hey, Flutters!" Rainbow Dash popped the hatch off the rainbow colored vehicle on the end of the test range and flew up into the sky, waving at her companions to move along without her. "I didn't see you there!" She shouted as she flew toward Fluttershy's wreck.

"Whoa, what happened here?" Rainbow Dash said as she poked the wreck while in the air.

"Guard said some wall eyed pony accidentally hit Fluttershy with a big shot from her KV-2." Apple Jack explained.

"Derpy?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Derpy." Fluttershy replied somberly.

"Wait that was you in that little race car of a tank?" Apple Jack said as she watched the rainbow colored tank do doughnut turns in its lane.

"Yep, Picked it myself. I's an AMX 13 90, one of the fastest tanks they had in stock." Fluttershy said proudly. "I picked her myself."

"Who's driving it?" Scootaloo asked, mesmerized by the tanks speed and agility.

"Probably one of the cloud sisters, kicker or chaser, dunno which right now." Rainbow Dash replied.

The tank did another doughnut maneuver before heading back to the start point and off the track entirely.

"It's nowhere near as fast as me but you know, few things are." Rainbow dash gloated.

"Yeah but I bet it can't take a hit with being so quick." Big Mac said while tossing a broken piece of tread aside.

"Pfft who needs armor when you will never get hit to begin with. I saw some of the ponies in the firing range. Not a single one of the earth pony gunners could hit the broad side of your barn." Rainbow Dash bragged while nudging Apple Jack in the side.

"Comparatively speaking Pegasi would make better drivers, gunners but not exactly commanders, engineers, radio operators or loaders." Sweetie Belle said in a matter of factly tone.

"Uhhh, Sweetie, is this gonna be another science lesson?" Apple Jack asked nervously.

"Yep!" Sweetie Belle replied excitedly.

Apple Jack groaned. "Better get a comfortable seat, this is gonna take awhile."

Sweetie Belles cleared her throat. "I was reading up last night on the jobs a tank crew has and remembered something from biology class about differences in ponies. For example Pegasi have better spatial awareness and sharper panoramic vision than Unicorns or Earth ponies. That's why Rainbow Dash is better at a driving or gunnery role; she can feel the road better and has less margin of error when hitting her targets."

"Aww yeah, Pegasus for the win baby!" Rainbow Dash did a cartwheel in mid air in celebration before sitting back down.

"That said, Pegasus also have some drawbacks. Comparatively speaking they are short tempered and brash-"

"I am not short tempered!" Rainbow Dash said angrily.

"Way to prove her point for her Rainbow." Apple Jack said snidely.

Rainbow Dash opened her mouth to argue back but quickly settled back down when she realized that Sweetie Belle had her dead to rights on her brashness.

"This makes them less viable in a command scenario as they tend to take too many unnecessary risks or panic when things go wrong. They are still reliable for radio operators and loaders but not exactly anything engineering related which means someone else has to be in the tank."

The group seemed perplexed, some of the Apple family members had worried looks on their faces.

"Are you tellin me out team is unbalanced or somethin? I mean with all the local Apple family members being earth ponies and all." Apple Jack was.

"I didn't say that, anypony can do any job as long as they have the skills for it. It's just some ponies have advantages that others don't. Earth ponies have advantages over Pegasi in some areas." Sweetie Belle said confidently.

"Advantages like wut?" Apple Bloom asked.

"For starters Earth ponies have a massive stamina advantage, they can go longer periods of time without rest. Also they have better hearing and are fairly even tempered for most of them. Big Mac for example has been in situation that would frighten most ponies but he always kept his cool. While Pegasus may be amazing at a couple roles, Earth ponies are the jack of all trades." Sweetie Belle stood up and stretched her legs. "I guess that just leaves the single unicorn in the group."

"I think you already proved what unicorns are good at earlier. I barely understood what you was talkin about yesterday at Sugar Cube Corner." Apple Jack said nervously.

"Oh, I want to hear more if you don't mind that is." Fluttershy was on the grass with her back legs spread out, seeming enamored by Sweetie Belles little biology lesson.

"Well, Unicorns have better memories. Even ones that have below average magical talent like say my sister, have to learn and memorize hundreds of different spells."

"I do not have below average magical talent!" Rarity snorted as the guard looked through her belongings. "The nerve, talking about your older sister like that."

Sweetie Belle blushed, putting her hoof to her lips to try and find a witty retort. "Compared to Twilight you are!"

"Ah, tah!" Rarity was momentarily speechless. "Comparing moi to Twilight is silly, she even makes Celestia look like an amateur on some spells. It's an unfair comparison I say!" Rarity picked up her bag as the guard dropped it on the ground, saluting her as she trotted briskly to the rest of the group.

"I say Fluttershy, what happened to you? "You're covered in cake and all...sticky." Rarity began to rummage through her bag, pulling out what looked like a box of Kleenex. "Here darling, it may not be a nice bath but these alcohol wipes will at least get some of that out of your fur."

Fluttershy took the box from rarity and began to pull the wipes from the box one by one, cleaning off her legs, wings and snout. "Thank you Rarity, though I don't like the idea of smelling like booze the rest of the day."

"Why's that dear" Rarity asked as Fluttershy returned the box to her.

"Oh, I just don't like the smell, it reminds me too much of that one night with Berry Punch." Fluttershy kicked the ground while blushing.

"Oh...That. Well darling we all do silly things when wasted, kissing mares is probably been one of them."

Sweetie Belle raised her hoof to continue what she was saying when she felt an ominous rumbling below her. "Does anypony else feel that?" The pebbles on the ground were jumping around as if a ursa major was barreling toward them.

"S-sweetie...whoa...." Scootaloo's mouth hung open as a massive tank rolled onto the test range. Scootaloo wasn't the only pony awestruck. The other ponies gathered by Fluttershy's wreck, including the guards had their mouths hanging open.

"That thing is huge." Apple Jack said.

Rolling across the test range as a slow pace was a boxy looking vehicle with what looked like a cannon large enough to fire Rainbow Dashes vehicle out the end of it. The tracks alone were larger than their own vehicle by far. As it rolled by the top hatch popped open and Twilight Sparkle emerged from the vehicle.

"Hey ladies and Big Mac!" Twilight yelled while waving. "What do you think of my tank destroyer?"

"What in blazes is that thing, it's huge!" Apple Jack yelled back.

Twilight looked down into the vehicle. "You girls finish the maneuvers, I'll join you later to test this big gun." Twilight stood up on top of the tank and with a flash of purple light teleported herself right next to Applejack. "So what do you think?"

"I dunno Twi, you trying to shoot other vehicles or shoot down a couple of airships with that thing." The ground began to rumble as the tank destroyer slowly lumbered across the test range, the vibrations fading as it passed by. "Also how heavy is that thing to be makin the ground shake like that?"

"Well to answer that you need to know what I'm the commander of; the Jagd Panzer E-100." Twilight stood there proudly for a moment until she noticed the confused stares of her friends. "Let me explain, Celestia told me that this this if made of metal weighs in at about a hundred and forty tons. This wooden one only weighs in around fifty-five."

"Fifty-five!?" Apple Bloom said.

"Tons!?" Sweetie Belle added, wide eyed in surprise.

"Yep, she's a big fatty. It's like trying to turn a house in that thing. Anyways she is equipped with eight hundred horse power engine, one hundred and sixty millimeters of solid oak armor before any of our candy armor improvements and lastly a one hundred and seventy millimeter cannon." Twilight smiled. "So, you like?"

"Twilight, can you have Spike send a letter about weight classes or sumthin. This is ridiculous, the vehicle we picked is nowhere near the size of that thing or has anywhere near the fire power. I mean it's in an entire class of its own. We really need weight classes in order to compete." Babs Seed said as she watched the behemoth turn around and head back to the starting area.

"What tank did you guys get anyways?" Twilight asked.

Apple Jack lowered her voice. "The M3 Lee."

"Sorry AJ, I didn't hear you."

"She said the M3 Lee." Apple Bloom said, patting Apple Jack on the side.

Twilight tapped her chin for a moment, her eyes off to the side of her head as she tried to think. "Oh, I remember reading about that thing." She said as she smiled. " It's a giant hulking target dummy!"

Apple Jack stood there silent for a moment. "Way to soften the blow there Twilight."

Twilight patted Apple Jack on the shoulder. "It's not that bad, every one of these vehicles has something wrong with them. The one I picked turns like a cow in a grocery cart, a horribly underpowered engine for its size, can be spotted from the moon and makes so much noise that it couldn't even sneak up on granny smith."

"Wait, you said it was a tank destroyer. Aren't tank destroyers supposed to be stealthy?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Theoretically speaking yes, as per the armor guide Equestrian engineers have provided but there is always more to a war than just proper equipment; psychology. Imagine for a moment I was spotted hugging the side of a hill in this thing and you had a platoon of three or four vehicles lined up around the corner. That gun is enough to demolish anything it hits and possibly even things in the next city. Your comrades would be drawing straws to see who loses their vehicle to get the chance to flank and destroy me. Fear would keep you away from me until backup arrives." Twilight pointed to the gun on the front of the Jagdpanzer e-100. "Scary, isn't it."

Apple Bloom watched as Apple Jack lowered her hat, a move she only did when she was embarrassed or begrudgingly conceded defeat.

"It was nice seein y'all but we got stuff to do in our own garage. Com'on everypony we got work to do." Apple Jack tipped her stetson respectfully and headed off in the direction of their garage. The rest of the group slowly tailed after her but Twilight stopped Apple Bloom before she could leave.

"What's up with Apple Jack? She seemed to be moody today." She asked as she watched Apple Jack round a building on the far end of the test range.

"Sorry Twi. She got held up at the tank selection yesterday and got left with a dud. After seeing all the better options she missed yesterday she's not too happy with herself. I reckon she thinks we can't win."

"I see. If she needs my help I'll gladly share my notes with her." Twilight said energetically. "We could even be study buddies!"

"I thank yee kindly for the offer Twilight but you know my sister, stubborn as a mule." Apple Bloom looked to her side at a mule waiting in line to get his bags checked. "No offense."

"None taken." The mule replied.

Apple Bloom smiled at Twilight and ran off to catch up to the rest of the group but as she made her way to the garage all she could hear was words she never fathomed to hear coming from her sisters mouth.

"Bullpoop! Female dog in heat! Celestia damned stallion fish suckers!"

Apple Bloom walked into the garage to watch her sister biting her own hat in rage, a wrecked heap of wood in front of her.

"What's wrong sis?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Better leave her be Apple Bloom, she needs time to herself. Iffin ya want to know what happened read the note on the doorway." Big mac pointed out a piece of parchment taped the the side of the doorway.

Apple Bloom stared at it, trying to make out the terrible writing, writing that would make her own chicken scratch look like a professional authors.

"Dear team Apple, we sorta, accidentally dropped you vehicle from about a hundred feet up while trying to lower it into your garage though the sky roof opening. We are terribly sorry about the mess we made and have contacted Luna to grant you additional free materials to rebuild your busted tank. If you have any questions please feel free to contact the quartermaster in the last garage on the left before the open grounds."

"Wait so that heap of wood is-"

"What's left of our tank." Babs Seed picked up what used to be the front plate of the M3 Lee an set it aside. "Most of this stuff is in shambles. Wood doesn't take impacts too well, only a few side plates survived. The entire frame is either cracked or warped in spots if not broken completely."

Sweetie Belle lifted up the back plate the reveal the engine a interesting half wood, half carbon fiber monstrosity. "I found the engine and it looks like the transmission is next to it."

"Please tell me at least that works, at least we have a staring point from that." Apple Jack pleaded.

"Give me a moment." Sweetie Belle pulled a book out of her back pack and set it on some of the rubble. She opened it and quickly flipped though the pages with her magic, stopping about half way through. "Lets see...Remove the intake manifold first..." Sweetie Belle removed the bolts holding the intake manifold down and set it aside, she then pulled the manifold off and set it in a pile next to her. She peered in to examine the pistons, shaking her head while doing so. "The pistons look well...borked. It looks like only three of the eight we had are going to work."

Sweetie Belle lifted up the engine with her magic, shaking off a shattered drive shaft attached to it and inspected the transmission. "No good here either, that shattered shaft is going to be a nightmare to remove and we have a whole bunch of gears stripped off inside that I have to remove."

"In English Sweetie iffin you would be so kind." Apple asked politely.

"It's salvageable but I need a good forty bits to order the replacement parts, assuming we don't have any in the garage. The cheaper option is also the most time consuming. I'm not sure If Big Mac and Apple Bloom are to do that much fabrication."

"That's what I'm here for, big sis can help too." Apple Bloom beamed at her big sister Apple Jack, but she didn't return the favor.

"How much is it to fabricate versus just buyin them plain out?" Apple Jack asked.

"Why you askin her? I'm the experienced bean counter here." Granny smith protested. "I reckon counting in wastage factor from Apple Bloom's inexperience it shouldn't cost no more than three bits tops in wood but we have to sugar infuse every single part as per the rules. That's another twelve bits per barrel, assuming the price hasn't inflated to the moon by now."

"You know this could be a blessing in disguise." Scootaloo said excitedly, much to the dismal looks she was getting from other ponies in the garage. "No, no, hear me out. I want each of us to name off something horribly wrong with the old tank."

The other ponies in the garage began to think, some of them putting their hooves on their chins and others just staring blankly at the floor.

"Well, from what I read the M3 used spring loaded suspension. From what I read it has some advantages but takes up a lot of space in the interior. It also has poor ground pressure meaning it gets stuck easy, I dunno why though. I haven't read into it enough." Babs Seed said.

"Sweetie?" Scootaloo said.

Sweetie Belle set down the engine block. "Engine's underpowered, drive shaft is weak and the transmission is garbage. We should probably change the fuel from liquid magic gas to liquid injection. Upping the cylinder count to twelve for more power wouldn't hurt either." Sweetie Belle picked up the transmission and shook it, listening to the rattling of the broken parts inside. "Could use some more gears and an automatic system too."

"The armor could use some upgrades too." Apple Bloom chimed in.

"And lastly the gun is centered weird and it doesn't have anywhere near competitive firepower. We could modify this thing to actually function instead of being a big target. Modifying the original design is within the rules right Apple Jack?" Scootaloo asked.

"I dunno. The rules said you could modify your vehicle however you like but I'm not sure changing everything counts as modification. Seems more like you're rebuilding the whole darn thing from the tracks up. I'll need to check with the quartermaster or Twilight about that. In the meantime I suggest we clean up and salvage what we can of this disaster."

The fillies nodded and began to sort through the debris for anything of value. It didn't take them much to to realize however that the only thing not mangled were the parts that had give way in them. The carbon fiber gas pouches were punctured but usable, most of the gun components on the main front cannon were still usable and a few spare gaskets and springs here and there.

It didn't take long for Apple Jack to realize she needed to clarify what rules they could bend. "I'll be back y'all. I need to have talk about the quartermaster about the rules and to chew him out for this catastrophe of a delivery." Apple Jack walked out the back garage door, leaving the rest of the group to finish up the cleanup and inventory. It didn't take long for the group to toss out the last bits of damaged equipment and access what they had left.

"Granny. Can you take a inventory of what we have to work with in the garage?" Apple Bloom asked.

*Snort* huh wha- oh. Inventory. Right." Granny Smith reached into her saddle bags and pulled out a notebook and pen and began to circle the room, stopping every so often to write things down.

"You gals want to help me with this engine at least. We won't know for awhile if we can modify the vehicle too much but at least we can fix something while we wait." Sweetie Belle held up what was left of the engine, a sad look on her face.

"Sure, why not." The fillies answered in unison.

The group of fillies all gathered around the broken engine, exchanging ideas about how to fix it.

"Granny, would ya look at that." Big Mac said, motioning granny Smith over to his side.

"See what-oh."

"Think we should replace the transmission gears with redwood instead of oak?" Babs Seed suggested.

"We could do that but isn't redwood really expensive? Like out of our budget expensive?" Sweetie Belle replied.

Granny Smith watched on as each pony shot out ideas in turn, the other ponies in the huddle either confirming or giving reasons for disagreement. "I'll be darned, even when not trying to hunt down a cutie mark they still know how to work together and get along."

Granny Smiths compliment did not take long to be disproved however, as the collaboration between the fillies quickly turned into an argument.

"What do you mean beach would would make a bad gearbox material?" Sweetie bell said, huffing.

"It has too much give in it Sweetie, rubber would make a much better material." Babs Seed explained.

"Babs we can't use rubber, there's no way to make it safe in case it goes flyin around after a hit. We would get our tank suspended from the competition if they found out we were using unsafe materials." Apple Bloom stated adamantly.

"Getting hit by rubber? You are seriously worried about being hit by rubber? I didn't take you for a wuss Apple Bloom." Scootaloo teased.

"Well I didn't take you fer a...a flightless turkey!" Apple Bloom retorted.

"Wait, I thought the joke was flightless chicken?" Sweetie Belle butted in.

"And that will be enough of that." Apple Jack walked into the garage, a sour look on her face. "Iffin y'all want to fight amongst each other then fine but do it on yer own time." The fillies in the room bowed their heads in shame. "Or not at all if ya can help it."

"Sorry, Apple Jack." The group quarreling fillies said together.

"Don't say sorry to me, say sorry to those you insulted." Apple Jack said as she pointed to each and every filly in the room. "We can't be bickering like that, its gonna be a war zone out there soon and we need everypony to get along, most of all the mechanical team."

"Sis, what did the quartermaster say about the modifications?" Apple Bloom asked meekly.

"Well I have good news, bad news and even better news that defeats the point of the bad news." Apple Jack said triumphantly. "The good news is they are not only giving us all the replacement parts for the broken M3 lee, they should be delivered tomorrow morning."

"Yes!" Sweetie Belle said as she pumped her hoof up and down in front of her excitedly. "No rebuilding this junk box of an engine or cleaning out the transmission."

"Or fabricatin new pistons, gears and a drive shaft." Apple Bloom added.

"Or shaping and cutting new frame parts and armor." Babs also added.

"Now hold on y'all. The bad news is the rules state that tank selection means whatever you modify has to fit on the original frame, meaning while the final product can look however it wants it has to be able to fit within the frame's weight limit." Apple Jack interjected.

"Oh." The fillies said glumly.

"But...the quartermaster made made a rule exemption for us. The frame has to stay the same but since the original frame was entirely destroyed he removed that limitation and he added a thousand bit credit to our account. Only problem is the vehicle has to at least look like it was once an M3 lee now. He could only bend the rules so much for us." Apple Jack said.

"By the way AJ I finished the inventory. While the kids were busy tryin to fix that engine I found a box with a whole bunch of spare parts behind some wood planks. We should be able to get the frame built today and the engine and such installed. Maybe if we are fast enough take her out for a spin." Granny Smith turned the page on her notebook. "Assuming we all get to work within the next hour or so."

"Then what are we standin around for!" Granny Smith pulled a bandanna out of her saddle bag and tied it around her head. "Let's pump up the volume!"

The other ponies in the room just stood there, staring at her in shocked silence.

"What?" Granny Smith asked.

"You were saving that headband just for this kinda occasion, wasn't you?" Scootaloo asked.

"Yep. I brought montage music too." Granny pulled a boom box out of her saddle bag, set it on the floor and pressed the play button.

"That's my mare, it ain't fair, so what the buck?" Played over the radio.

"Country music...really granny?" Scootaloo asked.

"Yeah I know, it's not akey brakey heart but it will have to do." Granny Smith replied.

Scootaloo hoof faced herself and many others in the room followed.

"Granny, let me show you real montage music." Scootaloo walked up and began to adjust the radio station dial, not noticing she bumped the AM switch as she messed with it the dials. "There 105 fm, rock-house."

The radio played static for a few moments and then started to play. "Can, we build it? Yes we can!"

"Oh horse-feathers..." Scootaloo cursed under her breath.

***

Despite Scootaloo's dubious choice of music and her and granny Smith constantly having a tug of war on with the stations on the boom box the group managed not only to get the frame fixed; by the drive shaft and engine fixed as well. It almost seemed like the entire team worked like lightning the more work that had to be done.

"Just a little more to the left...no, my left. Sweetie Belle said as she waved her arms, conducting Apple Jack and Big Mac to load the still damaged transmission she had been working on over the past hour into place. "Little lower."

"Sweetie, couldn't you just lift this up with yer magic like ya did earlier?" Apple Jack grunted, trying to talk out of the side of her mouth.

"Little to the left and lower it, slowly now." The transmission slowly landed on the new floor board they had installed on the frame, just in front of the fixed engine. "Good, I can do the rest from here." Sweetie Belle grabbed a bag of tools from across the room with her magic, magic that flickered in and out as the bag settled in front of her. "Oh, and for your info my magic is almost dry. I'm not used to using it this much."

"Sorry Sweetie, I don't know much about unicorn magic. Too fancy for my tastes." Apple Jack said apologetically. "Babs, how is them armor plates comin?"

Babs Seed turned from her work, a dismal look on her face. "Slow, I wanted to try a layered effect but don't have the equipment for that yet. These ones I'm workin on are just basic mockups to add weight until I can figure out a better layout. I was thinking maybe make the armor on the front steeper, the original armor was too flat. It's gonna be awhile before I can settle on a design but first I gotta come up with a proper suspension as well."

"I almost have the drive controls finished though, sis." Apple Bloom held up a pair of levers and a gas pedal with a rope attached. "We can probably at least test her out."

"Eeeyup." Big Mac added.

Apple Jack turned her attention to Scootaloo, whom was busy fixing a broken loader breach. "We won't be firing this any time soon. The cannon is fine but the breach will need to be replaced and there is a cork further up that is stuck in there too."

"I figured as much. Not a thing is goin right today it seems. Do ya have any idea what ammunition we could fire?" Apple Jack asked.

Scootaloo looked down the barrel and muttered to herself. "I was thinking maybe we fire something with a lot of potential penetration like say, solid apples but the seventy-five millimeter cannon only has a maximum listed penetration of about a hundred or so. Not only that but any shot over a couple hundred yards loses most of it's potential energy."

"What do you think we should use?" Apple Jack asked.

"High Velocity oranges of course!" Scootaloo grinned squeamishly as she watched Apple Jack's face turn red with anger. "Calm down it was only a joke. Maybe pies or if we can get that experimental ninety millimeter cannon and maybe fire small kegs of cider. May not be able to penetrate but if they use armor that's weak to liquids it could soften them up or even remove their ammo if we soak them."

"Hnnnmmm you know since I'm not really doin much outside keepin an eye on everypony for safety reasons and helping Apple Bloom with the fabricatin, I guess I can head home and find a way to weaponize Apple's." Apple Jack said.

"What we need is...err...what did yer one smart friend call it. The one with the purple-ish coat?" Granny Smith asked.

"Twilight and her coat is lavender, not purple." Sweetie Belle corrected.

"Sue me, I'm a little shade blind. Anywho we need err..what's that D word again, Means colletin information." Granny Smith rubbed her mane absentmindedly.

"Errr....Deoxys?" Scootaloo answered.

"Isn't Deoxy's a yugimon monster?" Apple Blood asked.

"I think the word she was looking for is data, and no not the commander variant." Sweetie Belle said.

Scootaloo and Apple Bloom stared at Sweetie Belle for a moment, a perplexed look on their faces.

"What? That android is awesome and you both know it."

"That's the word I'm lookin for, data. Thank you Sweetie Belle. Personally I like first officer Riker though, he's got dreamy facial hair." Granny Smith swooned and pirouetted in the air before settling back down. "Fictional characters aside we need to collect some data about ammo used. The best way to do that is to watch how they all affect the targets they hit. Since an adult has to be in here to keep a look out for you youngins, me and Big Mac will head out and write some stuff down. That okay with you AJ?"

Apple Jack looked up at the clock and shook her head. "No point, it's almost dinner time and most ponies are probably packin up for the day. I guess if we get up early in the morning we can get to snoopin what others are firing but gettin everyone up and ready takes time. Not counting the massive hold up for checkin in."

Granny Smith smiled. "That's not a problem, there's a mechanics quarters behind that door over there." Granny Smith pointed to a unmarked green door. "I found it when I was taking inventory. It has about six bunks in there and a small pantry that seems pre-stocked with canned goods."

"Well I hope you don't think I'm sleeping in that place, I have my own bed to go home to." Rarity set down her paper and stood up, flicking her hair to the side.

"When did she get here?" Scootaloo asked.

"She was here the entire time Scoots...doing nothing." Sweetie Belle said as she gave her older sister a stare that would burn a hole in the sun.

"What? You expect moi to do dirty, dirty shop labor? And I DID do something. I-" Rarity looked around the room. " I passed Scootaloo that screwdriver!" Rarity pointed to a very polished and clean screwdriver on the floor by Scootaloo's back legs.

"Oh yeah I do vaguely remember you sitting in the corner and polishing that single screwdriver for hours on end, thank you graciously for making our tools clean." Scootaloo said sarcastically.

"Any time dear." Rarity replied while smiling, missing Scootaloo's sarcasm entirely. "No point in the shop being dirty AND the tools, I say."

"Well, Rarity is out of the question fer watchin y'all and we need somepony at the farm to do the morning chores before comin out here."

Big Mac raised his hoof enthusiastically. "I can watch em for ya sis, we can rotate in the morning after yer chores so I can get mine done."

"Then it's settled. Y'all okay with spendin the night here?" Apple Jack asked.

The fillies got into a little huddle, whispering among each other. They broke the huddle a few moments later, all with enthusiastic nods.

"It's settled then, I'll go tell the guards yer stayin here for the night." Apple Jack walked out of the garage with Rarity and Granny Smith close behind.

"So, anypony for refreshments?" Big Mac asked.

All the fillies except Scootaloo followed Big Mac into the mechanics quarters. She sat there, staring at what they had built in such a short time and how they turned a disaster into something better than what they had before. "Everything went better than expected." She said to herself before walking into the mechanics quarters for some much needed R&R.

***Elsewhere***

A creature in a dark cloak stood at the top of the Apple Families tallest hill looking over Ponyville. In its beak was a green bag that seemed to have some kind of white fluff hanging out the top. The wind began to pick up and whipped the creatures cloak, prompting it to open the bag and toss it high into the air, spreading small white fuzzy objects all over the hill and floating on the wind toward Ponyville.

*Kssssk* "Are you done with the operation over target P yet?" A garbled voice came over a receiver in the collar of the dark cloak.

"Yes, operation successful. We should be seeing a breakout at this location within the next few days." The Pony replied.

"Good, take the rest and spread it over Cloudsdale, the more Pegasi and Unicorns we take out of action the better." The garbled voice said.

"Agreed. Agent twelve out." The creature stood on the hill for a moment and watched his work drift into the town below.

"These ponies won't know what hit them."

Chapter VIII: Zombies and Mutants and Pandemics, Oh My!

Chapter VIII: Zombies and Mutants and Pandemics, Oh My!

"Hnmmm...high velocity ice cream cones..." Scootaloo mumbled as she rolled over in her sleep.

"That wouldn't work too well. I mean how would we keep them cold?" Sweetie Belle asked as she leaned over Scootaloo.

"Yeah and how would we stop ourselves from eating the ammo?Also if we fire that kinda ammo we would need to make it apple flavored." Apple Bloom added.

"That's easy, we just change the ammo flavor to orange sherbert or prunes." Babs Seed suggested, quickly gaining her a foul stare from Apple Bloom. "What? Prunes are nasty."

"My sister would sooner take a bath in a washing machine while it's on that have us fire anything not-apple related for ammo, especially oranges." Apple Bloom said. "Although auntie Orange would probably approve."

"Eeeyup!" Big Mac added.

Scootaloo opened her eyes and sat up, bumping her head on Sweetie Belle's forehead.

"Ow!" They both said in unison as they rubbed their heads.

"That's what you get for trying to listen in on her sleep talking, Sweetie." Apple Bloom said disapprovingly as she sipped her apple spice tea.

"To be fair we were kinda listening in too." Babs Seed added as she took another bite of a lemon filled doughnut.

Scootaloo sat up, still rubbing her head from the collision with Sweetie Belle. Dead across from her bed was a makeshift table and chairs made out of food crates from the pantry. The rest of the group had started breakfast without her.

"I hope you saved me some...also ummm..." Scootaloo scanned the room. there was no way there were fresh doughnuts in any of those crates, they would have gone stale a long time ago if her limited knowledge of baking was accurate. Not only were doughnuts present but Big Mac was eating what looked like apple porridge and the empty seat dead ahead of her had fresh cooked eggs and half eaten raisin bread on the plate.

Scootaloo looked around the room, there was nothing to really cook with; no stove, no toaster, not even a pan to cook in.

"So how did you guys get fresh food? There's nothing to cook with in here." Scootaloo asked.

"Silly there's enough food in here to last a year for all of us. Here, I'll show you." Sweetie Belle hopped away from the bed to the empty spot at the table and popped the makeshift seat open with her magic. She quickly peered inside, scanning the contents. "Are you okay with a lemon doughnut, English muffin, chive tea and scrambled eggs?" Sweetie pulled out a single cube, barely an inch across and set it on the table.

"No offense Sweetie but that's not even enough for a mouse to nibble on, let alone a full meal."

"Watch and learn Scoots, watch and learn." Sweetie Belle picked up a glass of water from the other side of the room with her magic and set the cube on the floor. She then leaned over, slowly easing the water out of the glass until a single drop made contact with the cube. In an instant a puff of purple smoke appeared and enveloped Sweetie Belle, causing a brief coughing fit. When the smoke cleared there was a plate of food on the floor containing all the previous items Sweetie Belle mentioned. Sweetie Belle quickly picked up the plate and set it on the makeshift table.

"See?" Sweetie Belle said confidently as she pointed at the food.

"I-I don't get it." Scootaloo said, while scratching her mane absentmindedly.

"It's kinda like dehydrated food in a way. You add water and it breaks a seal; I'm not too privy on how it exactly works but you can store a months worth of food in a single crate.." Sweetie Belle said.

"I heard some of the royal guard on boarder patrol carry them, though not any of the coast guard. Would be kinda odd to have cooked food on you all the time from being wet." Babs Seed got up from her seat and stretched her legs. "Well, I better get to work, those armor plates won't fix themselves ya know."

"I best get to work too. I don't need sis eaten me out." Apple Bloom said.

Babs Seed looked like she had just seen a giant spider, her face frozen in shock as she pointed at Apple Bloom.

"What?" Apple Bloom spun in place looking for what Babs Seed was shocked about. "Whats wrong Babs?"

Sweetie Belle casually got up and walked up to Apple Bloom and inspected her flank. "Well it's not a cutie mark, maybe she is shocked at what you said. I think the proper terminology is 'chewing me out'."

"Aren't they the same thing?" Apple Bloom said.

"How would I know? I never heard of that terminology before." Sweetie Belle replied.

"Babs, what does 'eaten me out' mean?" Apple Bloom asked.

Babs Seed blushed and turned away. "Your a bit too young to know what that is just yet. Heck if my mom knew about it I would be grounded forever. Let's just forget about it and get to work." Babs Seed walked out the room, stopping to motion the others to follow. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle shrugged and followed her out the door, Apple Bloom stopping and turning to Scootaloo.

"You finish up breakfast first. Can't have a day of work without a good first meal, right?" Apple Bloom smiled and walked out the door, leaving Scootaloo alone with Big Mac.

Scootaloo began to eat her English muffin when she noticed a worried look on Big Mac's face. "Whats wrong Big Mac?"

Big Mac did his best to change his expression back to his typical far-away look but quickly realized that Scootaloo could see right through him. "I guess I'm a tad worried. Apple Jack is running late today, normally she is done with all the mornin chores by nine at the latest. That and Babs pickin up dirty terminology from the city. Her moms gonna hear an earful the next time I see her."

Scootaloo looked up at the clock above the door. It was already half past ten. "Maybe she got held up today. Some of the chickens have been getting unruly lately. Also what dirty terminology?"

"Yeah, I'm sure that's it and never you mind the what terminology, yer too young to know it. Anywho, enjoy yer breakfast, I gotta watch the fillies to make sure they don't hurt themselves." Big Mac smiled before walking out the room.

Scootaloo took a few bites of her food before setting it down and sighing to herself. "I wonder if he meant 'eating me out' was the bad term." Scootaloo thought hard for a moment. "Must be a reference to eating at a dirty restaurant."

***Elsewhere***

Apple Jack tossed the last bail of hay from the pile into the barn, wiping her brow before closing up the doors and moving to the other pile on the opposite side. "Phew, I wonder while I feel so dizzy today, must be all the sun I'm gettin." Apple Jack stumbled a bit to the side before getting her bearings. "Hey Rarity! You almost done over there?"

Dead across from Apple Jack, Rarity was in a rubber suit spraying down the last of the pigs. She turned off the hose and pulled back her hood. "Yes I am almost done. Why did I have to do the dirty, dirty work while you get to toss nice clean bails of hay?"

"Be- becuase..." Apple Jack stumbled a few steps to her right and then a few to her left. Her head felt heavy and her throat numb. The world around her began to spin and blur; before she knew it she felt her body painfully collide with the ground.

"Apple Jack!" Rarity yelled to her, although the sound was muted, as if she was calling her name from across the town.

Rarity charged up to Apple Jack and managed to sit her up. However the first thing she noticed when she touched her was the sheer amount of heat coming from her body.

"Great scott darling, you are burning up!" Rarity put a hoof over Apple Jacks head. "Yes, you are almost as hot as a used toaster dear. I need to get you to the hospital asap!" Rarity lifted Apple Jack up with her magic and set her in an empty hay cart. She quickly fastened herself in and began to pull Apple Jack down the road, slowly.

"My word have you been putting on weight?" Rarity said as she broke a sweat trying to pull her friend. "I Swear darling, I told you before, all those apple Treat's go to your hips."

"Sh-shadup. What about the workshop, I ain't got time to be sick...and It ain't fat, sir mix match a lot says big behinds are a good thing." Apple Jack said drearily.

"Pfft what would that has-been know about a proper ladies posterior. Anyways that silly workshop can wait, Your health comes before that stupid competition." Rarity put herself into high gear, running down the road to the Ponyville hospital. "Hold on just over this hill and--" Rarity stopped too fast, flipping Apple Jack into the air but managing to catch her with her magic before she hit the ground. "What in blazes is going on?"

A long line leading up the the entrance of the Ponyville hospital was being patrolled by doctors and nurses in what looked like hazmat suits. One of the nurses quickly approached Rarity, holding a stamp in her teeth, like lightning she quickly stamped both Rarity and Apple Jack on the chest with a mark that looked like a bio hazard symbol.

The mare set the stamp down and held up her hoof. "By order of her majesty Celestia you are hereby quarantined."

"But why, and will this black ink come out? It really doesn't look good on my coat." Rarity complained as she attempted to brush the mark away.

"You are both infected with unicorn flu, a very severe variant of it." The nurse staid staunchly.

"But I have all my shots! How can I be infected if I show no symptoms?" Rarity asked.

"Yeah I think the only sick pony here is me...oh, and I guess all those others in line being worked over by yer staff." Apple Jack said, giggling a bit before going into a coughing fit.

"We will do blood tests later to determine if you are a carrier or not. Until then you are to wait in line while medicine to relieve symptoms is administered." The mare pointed to the back of the line.

"Can I ask a question miss?" Apple jack asked wearily.

"Make it quick I have too many ponies to treat and not enough time to get to them all."

"Why is the line so long?" Apple Jack asked.

"Did you eat lead paint chips as a filly or something?" The mare rubbed her forehead in frustration. "I'm sorry about that, The entire staff has been working double shifts since midnight last night. We are all stressed out and frustrated to say the least. A state of emergency was declared this morning due to so many being sick. The flu pandemic has spread all over town and nearby villages, the hospital is at capacity but we are trying to convert the cafeteria and emergency basement into additional wards."

"That bad?" Rarity asked.

"Worse, every other town in Equestria is reporting pandemics. The vaccines we do have are out of date and limited and well...we are just not equipped to handle a catastrophe of this scale."

"Is there any home remedies you can recommend? Perhaps some orange juice and bedre-" Rarity heard a growling behind her when she mentioned the words 'orange juice' and 'bedrest' in the same sentence. "Oh, sorry dear. Forgot you're a fruit critic."

Apple Jack puffed her cheeks out angrily but remained silent.

"Sadly no. We do not suggest you do anything until we have you both checked out." The nurse replied.

"I guess we just wait in line then?" Apple Jack asked drearily.

"Yes, nurses will be by to test the severity of the infection. We will then administer the proper procedures depending on what the patient needs." The nurse gave a quick glance at Apple Jack. "Since I'm already here I may as well explain."

"If you would be so kind." Rarity said.

"I better explain it while I do the test, I have sinking feeling she's worse off than she looks." The nurse walked up to the cart and adjusted her mask. "Please hold out your hoof."

Apple Jack held out her hoof but looked so weak that it was drooping slightly. The nurse reached in her backpack and pulled out a syringe. Rarity quickly took two steps to the side nervously.

"It's only a needle Rarity, no need to get all nervous." Apple Jack teased.

"The sight of blood makes me a bit faint." Rarity smiled nervously.

The nurse pulled the cap off the syringe and poked it in just above Apple Jack's left hoof and drew some blood. Rarity looked as if she ate too much as she turned away just as the nurse brought the syringe up to her face to put the cap back on. The nurse then set it aside and reached into her pocket and pulled out a sealed alcohol gauze. She opened the packet and wiped away the blood,making sure that the puncture wound was clean.

"Hold it there for a minute or two." The nurse turned away and yelled. "Red Heart! I need you to test this one!"

A mare with a snow white coat, pink mane and tail and a Red cross surrounded by hearts cutie mark trotted toward the group. As she got closer it turned out her backpack was much more than a simple backpack. It had what looked like a solid oak casing surrounded by copper pipes that went in at odd angles and a single massive brass tube at the top. On the back there were what looked like aluminum tubes that had steam leaking from them.

"What is that terrible looking thing on her back?" Rarity asked.

"That 'terrible' thing as you so put it is our pathogen detector." The nurse said sternly.

"It looks like it was built in the middle ages or something. It's just so...so..."

"Steam-punk?" Apple Jack said wearily, interrupting Rarity.

"Yes, whatever that is." Rarity said.

Red Heart frowned as she approached the group, apparently she heard what Rarity was saying about her equipment. "I'll have you know it's not our fault small towns get the least amount of funding when it comes to equipment. Also we are already stretched thin with so many ponies coming in sick, we used whatever equipment we had on hoof...even the ancient stuff in storage." Red Heart turned her attention to her comrade. "You need a test performed nurse Sun Joy?"

"Yes, I need this sample tested and the white unicorn quarantined for additional testing." Sun Joy pointed to Rarity who puffed her cheeks out angrily at the accusation.

Red Heart took the syringe from Sun Joy and tossed it into the brass tube on top. The machine began to whirl and scream, puffing steam out the tubes and leaking water from the copper pipes. "This may take awhile, speed is not this contraptions strong point I'm afraid."

"So...nurse Sun Joy was it? What stage do you think I'm at?" Apple Jack asked.

"You can just call me nurse Joy, the only pony that ever calls me by my full name is Red Heart here." Sun joy stared at Red heart who smiled meekly in return.

"Sorry I was raised to use everyponys full name. It's a respect thing. Besides don't the fillies keep asking you to heal their pok'mans or whatever?" Red Heart said.

"I wish I knew what they were referring to so I could do so. Anyways, there are four stages to this particular disease. Stage one is just a mild fever and some coughing, it can be cured with our current medications and bed rest for a week. Stage two Is the same with the exception of nausea added into the mix, that requires stronger medication and more bed rest." Nurse Sun Joy said.

"Oh a week? That's not too bad I guess I haven't been feelin nauseous or anything." Apple Jack said.

"Well...That's why we have to test, in cases where a very physically fit pony is infected the disease can accelerate to stage three although that is fairly rare."

"And stage three is?" Rarity asked, tapping her hoof on her chin in suspicion.

"Muscle weakness, fainting spells, dizziness and extreme fatigue. Stage four is unconsciousness, possible coma and the disease starts to do damage to the liver, ultimately resulting in death." Nurse Sun joy said with a grim expression on her face.

"Wait...is there a treatment if it gets that far? You didn't mention any treatments." Rarity looked at Apple Jack, worry ingrained deeply in her face. "There is a treatment right?"

*Beeeeeeeep*

The machine on nurse Red Hearts back began to beep and flash a red light. A slip of parchment began to print out of the side of the contraption. Making a racket not unlike two robots screeching at one another. Red Heart leaned over and bit the parchment, pulling it out with her teeth and read aloud. "Patient is in the end stages of...oh my, stage three."

"Rarity was it? I want you to pull her around to the loading bay in the back of the hospital. We need to get her into intensive care immediately." Nurse Sun Joy pointed Rarity to the back of the hospital.

"I don't get it Sun Joy, she makes fifth pony today that is this advanced. This is entirely unheard of for this region." Nurse Red Heart said.

"I know what you mean, I haven't seen an outbreak this bad since the hippo pox in the Zebra lands across the sea. Follow me Rarity." Nurse Sun Joy headed off in the direction of the loading dock, Rarity struggling to keep up.

"Oh please tell me there is a treatment? There must be, otherwise you are just leading her to her deathbed." Rarity said as she followed alongside Sun Joy.

"There is a treatment and since you are probably a carrier already the treatment... is you." Sun Joy pointed to Rarity.

"Huh?" Rarity said, a confused look on her face.

"Yes, if a unicorn gives up his or her magic for a period of time to the infected they pull though just fine but the unicorn in question will be without magic and possibly sick in bed with the infected as well." Sun Joy directed the cart behind the hospital and pulled out a red and green card from her pocket. She then swiped it though a small slot on the back door. The door opened up to reveal a spacious elevator.

"I didn't know this was back here, where does it go?" Rarity asked.

"We have a few floors below as a shelter in case of natural disasters where we can move patients if they are not fit to leave the hospital or be transferred any distance." Sun Joy motioned Rarity to get on the Elevator as she backed the cart in slowly.

"Well are you coming or?" Sun Joy asked.

Rarity stood in place, apprehensively staring at the elevator. "What happens if a unicorn doesn't give up her magic to whomever is sick? Are there any alternatives?"

Sun Joy shook her head. "I'll put it bluntly as I can. If you do not give your magic to your friend then she will die before the next fortnight. There are no treatments for someone of her advanced condition and not enough unicorns available for everypony. You need to make the decision now while the backlash from such a treatment doesn't leave you both out of action for a long period of time."

Rarity walked onto the elevator with a stride that sent a clear message of determination. "I never turn my back on my friends. Press the button to get us where ever we are going, if Apple Jack is going to be sick then we should be sick together." Rarity beamed at Apple Jack whom managed to smile back meekly.

"I owe ya one Rarity but is yer dress shop going to be okay without ya?" Apple Jack asked curiously.

"I'm sure Sweetie Belle can handle the shop...while I'm." Rarity put her hoof onto her face and dragged it down slowly. "What did I just say? I really must be sick if I think Sweetie Belle can run the shop..."

***

"Ahh aah choo!" Sweetie Belle sneezed as she adjusted the magic fuel pump on the engine block.

"Bless ya Sweetie." Apple Bloom and Big Mac said automatically. "I guess all the sawdust from my workstations gettin over there huh?"

"Either that or Sweetie has a boyfriend that we don't know about talking about her." Babs seed added.

"Nah I don't see that happening anytime soon. All the colts find Sweetie Belles voice too squeaky for some reason," Scootaloo added.

"To be fair they don't like you much either Scoots. They think you are too much of a tom boy, don't know where they get that from. You seem perfectly normal to me." Sweetie Belle said as she adjusted the pump again. "Hey has anyone seen granny Smith lately? I thought she went to check out what everypony was firing for ammo this morning."

"She did but knowing her she's being too thorough or she found a nice spot to take a nap, probably both." Big Mac stood up and stretched. "Could you gals kindly stop workin while I go check on her. I can't have y'all doing any machine work with no supervision and all."

"Big Brother, yer not plannin on just runnin off to do yer chores at home are ya?" Apple Bloom said as she glared at Big Mac suspiciously.

"N-noooo." Big Mac replied with a sheepish grin, fooling absolutely no pony.

"Big Mac, you should know by now that anypony in the Apple family is terrible at fibbing. Honestly I can see the beads of sweat from over ere." Babs Seed pointed to a few droplets of sweat forming just below Big Mac's neck.

"Okay y'all got me fair and Squuaare!" Big Mac fell over and landed face first on the floor as granny Smith swung the door open angrily.

"Of all the might stupid stubborn ponies I had to deal with today..." granny Smith looked around the garage. "Hey wheres Big Mac? Isn't he supposed to be watchin you youngins?" Granny Smith heard a groan from under her and she looked down to find her hooves firmly planted in Big Mac's back. "Oh, there you are."

"Big Mac the carpet, reportin for duty ma'am." Big Mac said sarcastically.

Granny Smith stepped to the side to let Big Mac up. "Sorry about that sonny, I thought we had shag carpet or sumthin for a minute there."

Big Mac stood up while rubbing his back. "I'm just glad yer not as heavy as Apple Jack, hoof prints in my back for a week isn't exactly a good fashion statement. Anywho how did watchin other ponies fire stuff go?"

Granny Smith puffed her cheeks out indignantly. "Buckin awful. All the ponies are registerin fer private ammunition tests now. They were gettin all uppity about me inspecting their spent ammunition."

"Why Granny?" Apple Bloom asked.

"They don't want nopony stealin their ideas for when we all have to battle one another in the elimination round. One of em even called me a darn spy." Granny Smith had veins sticking out of her temples and looked angry enough to pop one.

"So nothing? Not even a peek?" Babs Seed asked.

"Well, something good came of it. Twilight, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash all offered to help test and share results, much to the protests of their teammates though. Twilight quieted the decentin opinion right quick though. Fifteen or more heads is better than just seven or somethin like that." Granny Smith scratched her chin absentmindedly, staring off into space until Big Mac poked her.

"Huh, what? Where am I? Chalk tastes good." Granny Smith blurted out.

"Granny, can you watch the youngins for awhile? I need to go check on Apple Jack. She's running a might bit late today with her chores and I still need to do mine."

"Really? That's odd. A whole mess of ponies were missing today compared to yesterday. Only a dozen or so where gun testin and not a single one was lined up for drivin. I wonder if Pinkie Pie is throwing a party or sumthin." Granny Smith pondered. Anywho I need a nap, could the youngins stop workin till you get back?"

"That's okay granny, we need to get out of this stuffy shop anyways. The smell of saw dust is startin to make me a bit dizzy." Apple Bloom said.

"Yeah, I'm worried about Apple Jack too. She's usually really punctual about these kind of things." Babs Seed added.

"I bet it's those unruly chickens again. Always stirring up trouble." Scootaloo said accusingly.

"Why don't you soothe the qualms of your subjects then Scootaloo? I'm sure they can use a leader." Sweetie Belle said while smirking at Scootaloo.

Scootaloo rolled her eyes. "Really, a chicken based joke again? Isn't that getting old yet?"

"Nope, if the opportunity presents itself for a joke, then take it I say. Even if the joke is a little corny." Sweetie Belle replied.

"Anyways crusaders, we could use the break. Maybe help my sis if the farm is giving her trouble." Apple Bloom looked at Big Mac. "We'll follow ya home big brother, granny needs a rest and we're all worried about Apple Jack."

"Well then I guess it's settled then. Granny I'll be back in a jiffy. You girls stay close to me until we are out of sight of the testing range alright?" Big Mac waved as he left, granny smith returning his wave as she stifled a yawn with her hoof.

"Actually Big Mac, I wanted to talk to Twilight and the others about any spare parts they may have if that's alright with you." Babs Seed looked toward the room where granny Smith went. "Also I gotta make sure granny doesn't accidentally do something silly while you all are away. I coulda swore I saw her gnawing on one of the pressed boards yesterday."

"I suppose that's fine. We will see ya later then." Big Mac replied.

The group headed outside past the driving range to find something a bit odd. Granny Smith was absolutely correct, the firing and driving range were practically ghost towns compared to the previous day. Gone was the revving of engines, the air no longer reeked with the smell of used unicorn magic. As they walked along the driving range they noticed the firing range was nearly the same. Only a few vehicles were active testing ammo and gun configurations. It was almost as if every other pony decided to take the day off.

"I don't get it big brother. Where is everypony?" Apple Bloom asked, staring eagerly at her older brother.

"I don't know. Maybe there's a party in town or sumthin? Kinda seems odd that Pinkie wouldn't send out invitations though." Sweetie Belle said.

"Maybe we should swing by town before heading to the farm big brother?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Hnmmm... that would be the long way around though. Tell ya what me and Sweetie Belle will go check what's holdin Apple Jack up at the farm while you two go find out why the testin range is a ghost town."

"Alrighty then, we will swing by town and then head to the farm as soon as we figure what the buck is goin on."

The groups nodded in agreement and went their separate ways.

"So Scootaloo, how is the gun work coming along?" Apple Bloom asked.

"I guess somewhere between an angry version of 'meh' and terrible. The 75 millimeter gun that we have is kind of short barreled and the rifling is all wrong according to my books. I know the folks in Canterlot are supposed to be professionals at making all kinds of replica items but they really jumped the shark on this thing. It's almost like they didn't care about this thing and just tossed it together at the last minute."

"Sweetie said somethin similar about the engine parts. The grain was all wrong, gaskets missing here and there and the magical fuel pump system was entirely reversed on one side. My hooves are killin me from all the extra part fabrication I been doing." Apple Bloom stopped to pick a splinter out with her teeth from just above her front right hoof.

"Well If ya need help I'm free, it's not like that gun is worth messing with and it will probably be a couple days before they drop off that 90 millimeter cannon for it. I mean I did intentionally fail a science test so I could do wood shop ya know."

"I guess so but it just seems we are throwing away our summer for this." Apple Bloom said glumly. "As much as I want my cutie mark I like havin fun too."

Scootaloo stopped at the edge of a hill overlooking the town. "Don't worry, the work is only until it's finished and maybe some tune ups here and there." Scootaloo looked down from the hill and right into town square by the mayors tower. The entire market in the center of town was empty, she could had even sworn she saw a tumble weed roll down the street.

"Apple Bloom, take a look at this." Scootaloo motions Apple Bloom up to the top of the hill.

Apple Bloom stood there in stunned silenced for a brief moment. "Where the blazes is everypony? There should be dozens of ponies shopping and a whole bunch of shop stalls already set up."

"I know what you mean. Either Pinkie Pie's parties have become exceptionally better to the point where no one can resist them or..."

"Or what Scoots?"

"Or the zombie apocalypse has swept through Ponyville. A virus unleashed by the evil parachute corporation."

Apple Bloom rolled her eyes. "You really need to lay off the vidya games Scootaloo, everypony knows zombie ponies taint real."

"Well there's only one way to find out. We head into town and if we see zombies, run to the weapons shop as fast as we can." Scootaloo proclaimed proudly.

"Ponyville doesn't have a weapon shop Scoots, unless you count cafe Dumount's fire chili; that stuff can burn the hairs off yer coat." Apple Bloom said, shuddering.

"Really? That classy place on the edge of town with the bad poetry, silly hats and jazz music that Rarity frequents? I didn't think you ever been in there, Apple Bloom."

"I went with Sweetie Belle and Rarity once, they have full menu that I couldn't make sense of. It was all in fancy so I just pointed to something at random."

"Was it good?" Scootaloo asked.

"The first couple bites taint bad but after that it's like somepony shoved a hot poker down yer throat. I couldn't even taste anything for a week after that." Apple Blood rolled her tongue in her mouth absentmindedly, remembering the feeling.

"I'm not actually sure if zombies can actually taste anything. Any other plans?" Scootaloo asked.

"We can always just run, we don't even have to gallop either. Last I checked zombies are really slow."

"Well what are we talking here; Romero shambling hordes or 28 days later angry speed zombies?" Scootaloo pondered.

"If we go though every type of zombie there is we will be here all month, Romero zombies are the only zombies in my book." Apple Bloom said.

"Fine, fine. Let's just get down there and see what or who we can find."

The two fillies slid down the hill and walked into town. Scootaloo took the lead while Apple Bloom walked lightly behind her, apprehensively. It didn't take them long to discover that most of the town was completely empty. Doors were locked or boarded up, there were bio-hazard signs on many of the structures and the hustle and bustle of Ponyville gave way to the cold, sharp howling of wind between the buildings.

"Scoots, this is creepin me out." Apple Bloom said nervously.

"Having second thoughts about zombies existing are we?" Scootaloo teased.

"N-no!" Apple Bloom replied curtly. "Well...maybe a little."

The two fillies explored the town, not finding any signs of life anywhere.

"You know for being a zombie apocalypse we have yet to come across so much as a rotten entrail. You would think the shambling hordes would drop teeth, hair and maybe a kidney or two but there isn't anything on the ground but dirt and a few weeds." Scootaloo looked around again. They had made it to the town square but all the stalls were missing and every single building, including the mayors office was closed.

"Scootaloo can we leave already? This is really eerie." Apple Bloom said nervously.

"Fine, I'll lead the little chicken home." Scootaloo smiled, gloating at Apple Blooms insecurity. She wasn't watching where she was going when she bumped into something, knocking her down. Scootaloo shook her head while rubbing her right temple.

"Hey, watch where you're..." Scootaloo stared up into two large glass eyes. A creature that was much taller than herself was leaning over her. It had metal rings where the face would be, metal eyes lashes and an bright sunshine yellow coat. "Going?" Scootaloo swallowed some air and let our a blood curdling scream.

"EEEEEEE!!!!!" The pitch was so high that the creatures glass eyes began to crack, as well as one of the windows near by. The creature staggered back in pain, letting out a few muffled curses as Scootaloo shot upright and ran past Apple Bloom, grabbing her by the tail as she flapped her wings frantically for extra speed.

"What's goin on Scoots? What was that thing?" Apple Bloom asked nervously.

*ptah* Scootaloo spit Apple Bloom's tail out and slowed down, allowing her to run along side as they galloped though town.

"I never saw this coming. I mean I've run the probability of an alien apocalypse, a robot apocalypse and even a giant radish apocalypse but I never expected this."

"Expected what Scoots? What was that thing?" Apple Bloom asked again.

"A radioactive mutant, Apple Bloom. I remember them in that one game at the arcade, 'Underlands 2: Revenge of the Radioactive Aussie's'. That thing looks almost exactly like one of the mutant things in that game." Scootaloo and Apple Bloom rounded another corner and came face to face with another one of the yellow creatures.

"Cheese it!" Scootaloo shouted as she made a hard left turn down another alleyway, followed by Apple Bloom. They quickly found themselves with another one of the creatures blocking the way. They took another hard right turn into another alleyway but found a dead end. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom turned around to run out of the closed alley to find the way back blocked off by the encroaching creatures. Three of the creatures stood at the end of the alley, slowly walking toward the two frightened fillies. One of them, the one with now cracked glass eyes held up a metal box with strange metal rods protruding from the top and spoke in a low raspy voice.

"The readings show no spores in the area. Shall we inoculate these two?"

"Yes, let's do so. We should spare them the torment..." The one in the center said with what sounded like a British accent.

The creature in the center reached over to one of the others saddle bags and pulled out a syringe filled with a bluish liquid. He had one of the others pull the cap off and push on the end to let out any excess air.

"Hold still young ones, his will only prick you for a-"

"You won't turn me into a mutant! Charge!" Scootaloo yelled as she rolled forward, jumped into the air and landed a devastating spin kick to the face of the creature with the British accent, sending the syringe flying into the nearby brick wall; smashing it to pieces. Scootaloo landed and tried another kick only to be grabbed midair by magic where she struggled to land punches.

"Run Apple Bloom, they got me in a hold beam! Save yourself!" Scootaloo yelled back at her friend.

Apple Bloom looked for an opening in the group when she noticed the pony Scootaloo kicked was getting up. She noticed that it was a pony she had seen before. An older stallion with a light brown coat, blue eyes and a spiky dark brown swept back hairstyle.

"Dr. Hooves?" Apple Bloom asked.

Scootaloo stopped struggling and looked behind her. The creature she had kicked wasn't a creature at all, but a pony that occasionally visited from Hoofington.

"Have you gone and lost your tiny little pegasus mind!?" Dr. Hooves shouted angrily. "What in the bloody hells did I do to deserve a kick in the head?"

"Y-you're not a radioactive mutant...are you?" Scootaloo asked squeamishly.

"A what?" Dr. Hooves asked, looking aghast.

"A radioactive mutant, you know, from the Underlands. Except you know, they have a different accent."

Dr. Hooves shook his head. "What in blazes put that into your head? Have you never seen a hazmat suit before?"

"Wait, Scoots. I heard of those before, they are used to protect ponies from disease and chemical spills. Though I never seen one before." Apple Bloom said.

Dr. Hooves sighed dejectedly. "I see, you thought we were monsters out to get you. I can understand that feeling, I've had to run from cyber-" Dr. Hooves stopped himself. "Never-mind that. This entire area is off limits until it is cleared of infectious spores."

Scootaloo and Apple Bloom stared at one another.

"Infectious spores?" They both asked together.

"Yes, spores. Many ponies are infected with a flu that typically only harms unicorns. Most of the town is at Ponyville hospital getting treated for various stages of the affliction. Me and my comrades were tasked with escorting ponies out of town and giving them injections before they get sick. Speaking of which I have to get a injection now becuase you knocked the cap of my suit clean off." Dr. Hooves walked over to one of the nurses whom quickly pulled out a needle and stuck him in the size of his neck with it.

"Anyways, you two are next." One of the other ponies handed the doctor a syringe.

"Hey now how do I know you are qualified to poke me with that thing?" Scootaloo said accusingly, failing to cover up her nervousness as she stared at the syringe.

"Oh, how rude of me. I forgot to introduce myself, I'm Dr. Hooves but you can just call me doctor." Dr. Hooves took a quick, polite bow.

"Scoots, we seen him around town before remember? Back when we were trying to find Ms. Cheerilee a special somepony for hearts and hooves day." Apple Bloom said.

"Oh, I remember now. He ran by you and Sweetie Belle and splashed you with mud." Scootaloo looked at the doctor. "They said you were too splashy."

"Sorry about that, I had to deal with a problem of a...cylindrical nature, but that's another story entirely. So will you two get your shots and be on your way out of the town or do we have to chase you down again?" Dr. Hooves nodded to his two assistants, each pulling out a syringe.

Apple Bloom walked forward. "Did you say everypony is at the hospital?"

"Mostly everypony. I suggest after you receive these shots, you head down for a checkup."

Apple Bloom stuck her right hoof out. "Make it quick, I got places to be."

"But Apple Bloom, you hate needles!" Scootaloo protested.

"I ain't got time ta be scared, my big sister could be sick right now and I'm not there to help her." Apple Bloom looked up at Dr. Hooves. "What you waiting for?"

The doctor giggled to himself. "That's what I like about you country folk, always straight to the point." The doctor elevated Apple Blooms leg and injected her just behind her hoof.

"Hey, this doesn't hurt at all." Apple Bloom said as she inspected the injection area. "There's not even any blood where ya stuck it in.

"Self sealing medical supplies. My own invention, now how about you, Scoots was it?" Dr. Hooves took another syringe from one of his assistants and moved toward the floating orange pegasus.

Scootaloo tried to break free from the iron grip of the magic holding her but found it a futile endeavor. "Fine, but if This hurts I'm kicking you in the face again." Scootaloo crossed her forelegs and closed her eyes. "Well what are you waiting for?"

"I'm already done." Dr. Hooves said. "I injected you behind your wings while you were busy pouting about it."

Scootaloo inspected the area behind her wings. "Yeah, whatever. Can we go now?"

Dr. Hooves nodded to his assistant and she slowly let Scootaloo down. "Now remember, off to the hospital with the both of you. There's no telling if the shot I gave you will work if both of you are past a certain stage." Dr. Hooves nodded and the group walked away, leaving Scootaloo and Apple Bloom in the alleyway.

"Apple Bloom, do you think your sister got sick?" Scootaloo asked.

"I dunno. I reckon we go to the hospital and find out." Apple Bloom replied. "I have bad feelin though..."

***

"This don't sit right with me Sweetie Belle, not one bit." Big Mac said in a worried voice as they passed by an abandoned cart full of carrots in the road. "Taint like Ms. Harvest to leave a full cart of produce out in the open; unattended like this."

"Wait...who?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"You young-ins might know her by her nickname, Carrot Top." Big Mac replied.

"Oh...her....nope, doesn't ring any bells." Sweetie Belle said.

"Really? Orange maned mare, works a farm behind our own?"

"So she has two names?" Sweetie Belle asked,

"What, no I...never mind. Let's just get to the farm."

The pair walked by the full cart of carrots and noticed what looked like vomit on the other side of it.

"Looks like someone's breakfast didn't agree with her." Sweetie Belle said as she stepped away from the disgusting pile.

"We we will check on her after we check up on our own." Big Mac said as he continued down the road, Sweetie Belle close behind him. It's didn't take them long after passing up the abandoned cart to reach the farm but what they say made both their jaws drop. The Apple's in the east field remained untouched, the chickens and pigs have yet to be fed, one of the gutters by the front of the barn was loose and only half the hay was bailed.

"This is bad Sweetie Belle, Apple Jack never leaves her chores unfinished." Big Mac said as he continued to count the unfinished chores around the barn.

"I know what you mean. It's like finding an unfinished dress in my sisters shop, completely out of the norm." Sweetie Belle replied.

The two walked around the farm each of them pointing out something that Apple Jack would never leave undone. None of the eggs for the chickens had been collected and the cows in the pasture seemed irritable. One of the cows, Delilah waved at Big Mac and called out to him.

"Big Mac dearest, what time does Apple Jack plan on milking us today? The girls are getting a bit agitated. They want to go inside and knit already."

Big Mac walked up to the fence Line and Delilah approached him. "Have you seen her today by chance? So many of the chores are left undone."

"Oh my! That doesn't sound like her at all. Apple Jack would rather eat her own hat then let a single days worth of chores go undone." Delilah replied, clearly in shock. "I saw her bailing hay earlier but when I looked again she was gone, That white coated unicorn with the fancy hair as well."

"You mean Rarity? Why was my sister here?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Oh she was hosing down the pigs while Apple Jack tossed the hay into the barn."

"Wait, wait, wait. Are you sure it was my sister? I mean doing the dirty work doesn't seem like something she typically does." Sweetie Belle said while getting right up into Delilahs face about it.

Big Mac pulled Sweetie Belle back and apologized for the little fillies inquisitive nature. "Sorry but time is short, did any of you ladies see where she went off to?"

"Let me ask the others." Delilah walked over to the other cows and talked with them briefly. One of the cows with what looked like crossed eyes yelled up from the group.

"I saw her! The white unicorn pony was pulling her in a cart. Apple Jack looked something awful though."

Big Mac and Sweetie Belle looked at one another.

"My sister, oddly doing manual labor" Sweetie Belle said.

"Apple Jack letting chores go undone." Big Mac replied.

"Rarity, pulling a cart with the most stubborn pony in town in it." Sweetie Belle said.

"Apple Jack allowing herself to be pulled in said cart." Big Mac replied.

"This can only mean one thing..." They both said in unison.

"Aliens!" Sweetie Belle said triumphantly.

Big Mac started to mouth what he was going to say but stopped and stared at Sweetie Belle with a bored expression on his face. "Seriously Sweetie Belle? Aliens?" Big Mac put his hoof over his face and shook his head. "You fillies need to lay off the movies and viddya games for a while."

"Wait, it's not aliens?" Sweetie Belle asked in a disappointed tone.

"Nnnnope. It's far more likely Apple Jack was injured during her work or got sick. Besides I heard aliens like kidnapping cows, if what you said were true then no cows would be left to tell us what happened." Big Mac pointed to the large packs of cows in the fields.

"I see...it must be xenopony-morphs then!" Sweetie Belle said excitedly. "Wait, that's worse. I don't want to be face hugged!" Sweetie Belle ran behind Big Macs legs.

"Calm down little filly, there taint no aliens around here but there is a pony that probably went to the hospital that we need to check on. Right after we feed the pigs and chickens though, I don't want a riot on my hooves cause they are hungry."

"Okay then but if I see a single xenopony-morph I'm throwing chicken feed in its face and running." Sweetie Belle said confidently.

Big Mac giggled. "That's fine by me, Sweetie Belle."

The two agreed to split up and get the chickens and the pigs fed quickly, although Big Mac had to remind Sweetie Belle not to call the chickens "Scootaloo" as they may get offended. Soon they found themselves on the road to the hospital, passing by the same abandoned cart full of carrots.

"Someone should really take these carrots back, they will rot if they sit out in the sun too long." Sweetie Belle said as they walked by the cart.

"Maybe, they don't seem to be shocked yet. I bet Carrot top was heading into town to shock them before sellin them on market." Big Mac said as he examined the carrots. "They don't seem wet."

"Shocked?" Sweetie Belles eyebrow raised on one side. "I was always told you should never put anything in an electrical socket."

Big Mac sighed and nodded his head forward to keep Sweetie Belle moving. "Shocking works in many ways. If you want to prepare the food and eat it later you half cook it in hot water then dunk it in ice water to keep the flavor and texture. If you just want to store it then you can dunk it in ice water and then put it in a cold cellar for later. Doing that slows down decay and makes vegetables keep longer. Works for fruits too, though the Apples we farm sell too fast to even bother with it."

"And ...the vegetables don't get a cold?" Sweetie Belle asked.

Big Mac groaned. And I thought Pinkie Pie was a little dense sometimes...this is gonna be a long walk. Big mac thought to himself.

***

Scootaloo and Apple Bloom stood in the grassy field in front of the Ponyville hospital, both staring in awe.

"Jeeze, is everypony sick or something? I though he was over exaggerating." Scootaloo said.

"I dunno, almost every pony in Ponyville is here, there's even a few from other smaller towns too. The pony in the middle of the line is the sheriff of Appleoosa" Apple Bloom said.

"I'm glad those ponies aren't radioactive mutants. So many of those weird suits around." Scootaloo watched as the ponies in the hazmat suits passed out medicine and refreshments to the ponies in line, apologizing profusely for the holdup. A few of the nurses however seemed to forgo using the suits and just wore protective masks over their faces, one such pony noticed them out of line and quickly approached them. A strange steampunk-like contraption strapped to her back.

"Are you fillies here with your parents or guardians? Or just visiting?" Nurse Red Heart stopped briefly and looked over Scootaloo and Apple Bloom. "Oh, I know you two. Sorry I didn't recognize you at first, it's been a long time since I seen you two last."

"I saw you like, three or so years ago for a shot of some kind but I was really little then." Apple Bloom said.

"Yeah I remember you visiting to give out flue shots at... my home a couple years back." Scootaloo added nervously.

"So I guess you are here to see your sister Apple Bloom?" Nurse Red Heart asked politely.

"Is she here? I don't see her in line anywhere." Apple Bloom scanned the line to see if she somehow missed her.

"She was admitted with stage three flu sometime ago. I can escort you to meet her but only after administering shots and testing you for the flu itself." Nurse Red Heart motion to one of the other nurses to help her when Apple Bloom interrupted her.

"We already got injections from that Dr. Hooves guy. He said we need to head here to get checked up." Apple Bloom said, noticing the large needle in the other nurses mouth.

"Nurse Dandy, we won't be needing that. They already got a shot from Dr. Hooves." Nurse Red Heart said.

The other nurse looked crestfallen and set the needle back in her saddle bags. "Do you need assistance testing them Red?"

"What about everypony else? there's got to be hundreds ahead of us." Scootaloo pointed at the long line. "It doesn't seem fair to them."

Nurse Red Heart smiled and shook her head. "Silly filly. Elderly, disabled, mares heavy with foals, the immune deficient and fillies and colts have priority when it comes to treatment. Now, I'll need a blood sample from both of you."

"Belay that order. I shall scan them myself for any signs of sickness and then take them to their kin, post haste." Said a deep and commanding voice.

Scootaloo and Apple Bloom knew that voice anywhere and apparently so did the nurses. Each of them and many of the ponies in line bowed respectfully.

"Princess Luna!" Scootaloo yelled excitedly.

"Hello Princess, how ya doing?" Apple Bloom asked.

"I am doing fine but others not so much. You two will follow me up to the intensive care room where thine sister is being treated." Luna said in a prompt and serious manner.

"E-excuse my insolence, your majesty." Nurse Red Heart said meekly. "I-it's common practice to test ponies before they enter the hospital during pandemics. Hospital code four-four- seven-"

"I know what the hospital codes are nurse, I helped write some of them centuries ago. The contraption on your back is slow and cumbersome and they need to be at their kins side immediately. I will not take any more complaints from you, do I make myself clear?" Luna said, barely holding back a yell as her eyes glowed hot bright white.

"C-crystal clear, your majesty." Nurse Red Heart bowed deeply, shaking in fright.

Scootaloo shot Luna a glare and the princess nodded in return.

"I am sorry nurse, my mood has been as ill as the ponies in this line this morning. My apologies for scaring you." Luna bowed her head respectfully and nodded for Apple Bloom and Scootaloo to come to her side. The two fillies walked up to either side of Luna and looked up at her. "I hope you remember what teleporting feels like and manage to not stumble."

Magic began to build up around Luna's horn and with a bright flash of night blue light they were in a hospital room. Scootaloo dizzy from the spell, fell over on her face the second her hooves found solid ground.

"You know, the hospital was right there. We could have just walked." Scootaloo said as she pulled herself off the floor.

Scootaloo managed to pull herself up and looked around the room. It was a small room with all kinds of whizzing contraptions and medical monitoring equipment. Some of which she had only seen in the movies. There were other ponies in the room as well. Between two beds ,Celestia was sitting, her horn glowing bright yellow. In either bed beside her were Rarity and Apple Jack, both of them appeared to be on ventilators and life support machines.

"Sis!" Apple Bloom rushed to the side of Apple Jacks bed, her eyes quickly filling with tears." Big Sis, what's wrong?"

Apple Jack didn't reply. Her eyes remained shut and her body unmoving.

Scootaloo walked up to Apple Bloom and put her foreleg around her. "She will be okay....right princess?" Scootaloo stared at Luna and Luna adverted her gaze, as if she didn't have the heart to tell her.

Soon, other ponies began funneling into the room. First Big Mac then Sweetie Belle, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Twilight Sparkle, Spike, Pinkie Pie, Sweetie Belle and Rarity's parents and lastly Babs Seed and granny Smith.

"Sis!" Sweetie Belle ran to Rarity's bedside and looked over her sister, crying, her parents close behind her. "Sis, ya gotta wake up." Sweetie Belle tried to shake Rarity but was quickly pulled back by her mother and father.

Celestia, whom had been silent with her eyes closed finally spoke up. "They will be fine, but they will be in a coma for at least a month and bedridden till nearly winter by my estimates."

"What happened to them?" Apple Bloom cried.

"Did somepony hurt my big sis? I swear I will bite their ears off!" Sweetie Belle said angrily.

"Twilight, you felt it too didn't you. You all did?" Celestia said.

Twilight, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie all nodded together.

"Luna and I felt it as well. A sudden drain on all of our strength and the sinking feeling that someone connected to the elements of harmony was in peril." Celestia said softly.

"Verily, that is why I set out to notify the others post haste but I could not find them as most of them seemed to know where to go already." Luna said. "Twilight was very fast to beat me to the punch as to say."

Twilight smiled weakly. "Well, I guess I'm just perceptive like that."

"Sort of, Luna's connection with the elements is much fainter, having been victim to their powers before when she was nightmare moon." Celestia looked at Luna but she turned away her head in shame. "Be that as it may the only reason these two ponies are still alive is becuase of their attachment to the elements of harmony and our quick intervention."

"What exactly happened Princess? I heard from the nurse that they tried the typical cure for stage three unicorn flu. Did it not work?" Twilight asked.

Celestia shook her head. "This is no ordinary variant of the unicorn flu. It was magically modified and intentionally spread using fungal spores. The moment they tried to stop the flu from going to stage four by the normal means of a unicorn sacrificing her health and magic to save another, it immediately went to stage four for both of them."

"But I heard others having no problems with stage three being treated." Fluttershy said.

"That my little ponies is the terrifying part. Whomsoever spread this disease intended for it to kill a couple elements of harmony, their magical connection was the trigger itself."

There was a collective silent gasp around the room from nearly every pony present.

"The only reason the other elements avoided infection is becuase the winds kept much of the spores away from the current vehicle testing grounds. I take it most of you spent the night to get a head start on testing the next day?" Celestia asked.

Twilight, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie all nodded.

"I figured as much, our team of medical specialists noticed that the spare spores not deflected by the wind were destroyed by used magic coming from within the engine of the tanks. A lucky coincidence I must say." Celestia raised her head and the glow from her horn dissipated.

"I have done all I can for now. I must rest before I can continue. Could you kindly take my place Luna?"

Luna nodded and switched spot with Celestia, her horn glowing a powerful hue of night blue as she sat down and focused her power.

"Celestia, do you have any leads who could have done this?" Twilight asked.

Celestia nodded. "Not much happens within my kingdom without me having some information-"

"Wh-who was it?" Apple Bloom lifted her head from the bed, tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Be calm little one, you cut me off. I don't have any clues to work with right now but whomever is responsible...

"is a threat to the safety of everypony in Equestria."

Chapter IX: Secret, Secret, I Got a Secret...

Chapter IX: Secret, Secret, I Got a Secret...

Scootaloo watched Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle pace back and fourth in the same spot they had been pacing in over the last four days. I once polished floor was now pock marked with indentations, most of which would occasionally trip up a nurse or two. At one point one of the doctors cursed them out for making the floor difficult to navigate but he was quickly silence by a angry stare from Apple Bloom and a comment about the hospitals shoddy construction, one of the more hilarious moments but nowhere near enough to abate the waves of boredom in that hallway.

She had tried to talk them out of the constant waiting game, telling them that walking back and fourth will not bring back consciousness to their sisters but she was quickly stonewalled by Apple Blooms stubbornness in that debate. It wasn't like she wasn't worried about Rarity or Apple Jack; if that was the case she wouldn't be here day in and day out with her friends. She didn't see the sense in waiting around but each time she wanted to raise an objection she would remember the first argument about the subject and stay quiet.

"You don't know what it's like!" She remembered Apple Bloom yelling. "I could lose my sister cause of all this!"

"Yeah, you don't know what it's like, you don't have a sister!" Sweetie Belles words still made her slightly angry.

How could they both say such things? She loved Rarity and Apple Jack as if they were her own sisters, she just knew that badgering the doctors and nurses for information was a waste of time. She figured she could toss up the outburst to being grief stricken but pacing wasn't doing them, or the other crusaders any good, if anything it was making them more agitated. What was nearly as bad was that everypony had their work piling up on them, sure Babs Seed would keep her mind occupied , she would head back and fine tune the armor after chores at the farm but without the whole team there to finish the rest it was a pointless endeavor.

Maybe she really didn't understand what it was like to nearly lose a sister, aside from her adoptive one; Rainbow Dash, she only had limited knowledge of what a real family is like. She knew what happened to her parents but was never told the specifics and the one grandparent that took care of her was long gone. The only other member of her family that she knew of was a cousin that never visited her, nor even validated her existence with so much as a letter.

I do hope she gets better soon, being cramped up in this hospital all day is driving me up a wall. Scootaloo thought.

Suddenly one of the nurses popped her head out the door leading to the intensive care unit where Apple Jack and Rarity where recovering. She looked down on the two fillies and the two fillies looked up at her expectantly. "Both of your sisters are stirring, I will let you both in to see them after I do some blood work and run a few tests."

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belles faces both had a grin from ear to ear.

"Hear that Sweetie? Sis is gonna be alright!" Apple Bloom couldn't contain her jubilation and was hopping up and down in the hallway, much to the disdain of the nurses treating other patients.

Sweetie Belle wiped away tears of joy. "You really think so? I mean , the doctors said they are nowhere out of the bad part of the woods yet. Though I don't know what they mean by that, I thought this was a hospital; not the Everfree Forrest."

Scootaloo on the other hoof breathed a sigh of relief. Things could at least get back to normal with Apple Jack and Rarity awake. She felt so bored and worn out from all the emotional yoyo-ing from the past few days that she didn't even have the urge to correct Sweetie Belle on her lack of knowledge on metaphors.

Scootaloo stood up in her chair and stretched like a cat."Wait, we got to tell the others!" Scootaloo hopped out of her seat and headed down the hallway, stopping and turning back to the others. "You two go on and greet them, I'll head to the farm and shop to tell the others."

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle nodded appreciatively at Scootaloo before she ran down the corridor toward the elevator. She didn't know if it made her a bad pony or not but she was more relieved that she was getting some fresh air than AJ and Rarity being awake.

Scootaloo ran down the corridor, grabbing her scooter off a hat rack near the elevator and pressed the button to go down. She waited patiently at the door, ignoring a minor cramp in her leg from sitting down for so long. The bell dinged and the door opened, there in the door stood nurse Sun Joy, pushing a cart of food.

"Oh, hello Scootaloo. Do you want anything off the guest tray today?" Sun Joy said as she wheeled the cart off the elevator.

"No ma'am, I have to get to the farm to tell others the good news, Apple Jack and Rarity are both waking up!" Scootaloo could barely contain her excitement as she got on the elevator.

"Oh well then I better get this cart rolling, they will probably be starving at this point. So long as the doctor says it's okay that is." Sun Joy looked over the food on her cart. "I seem to be missing bagels for some reason."

"Sure, good. Gotta go, gotta tell everypony the good news." The door closed and the elevator moved to the bottom floor. When it opened Scootaloo noticed Fluttershy in the lobby dropping off flowers, a tag with Apple Jack and Rarities room number was hanging off the vase.

"Fluttershy!" Scootaloo hopped onto her scooter and raced toward Fluttershy, stopping just short of her and getting an angry stare from the desk nurse.

"Sorry, forgot about the no scooter rule, nurse Willow Bark." Scootaloo said apologetically. The nurse merely nodded and went back to filling out paperwork.

"So, what has you so excited Scootaloo?" Fluttershy asked.

Scootaloo inhaled deeply. "ApplejackandRarityarewakingup!"

"Ummm...could you slow that down to about a quarter speed if you would be so kind?" Fluttershy asked.

"Oh, sorry. Apple Jack and Rarity are gonna be waking up soon, I'm off to tell everypony at the farm and..." Scootaloo looked at Fluttershy's wings. "How fast can you fly?"

"Not very fast I'm afraid. My wing power is just above a two the last time I checked. Why?"

"Could I ask a favor of you? I need you to notify Rainbow Dash of the news. She's been taking her afternoon naps on the higher clouds and I ...ummm." Scootaloo looked back at her own, small, mostly non-functional wings and frowned. "Can we just say I'm a little altitude deficient and leave it at that?"

Fluttershy smiled, ruffling Scootaloo's mane affectionately. "Don't worry I'll tell Rainbow Dash about the good news. We will get the others, you just get the news to the farm."

"Thanks Fluttershy." Scootaloo was about to hop on her scooter when the nurse at the desk peered over her folder and shot her nasty glare and a low growl.

"I-I'll just use this outside." Scootaloo opened the door, dragging her scooter along when she remembered she forgot her helmet at home that day. "I guess full speed ahead isn't an option." Scootaloo flipped open her scooter and stood on it.

"Half speed it is I guess..." Scootaloo beat her wings at half as fast as normal and took off at a steady pace, although one barely any faster than just running. She sighed heavily as she watched the horizon ahead of her move ever so slowly. "Better there in one piece than joining them in the hospital I guess."

***

Big Mac wiped his brow as he tossed another bail of hay into the barn. Looking over his shoulder he watched as granny Smith tried her best to do the same, Although she could carry them the toll it took on her stamina was enormous.

"Granny, you sure you don't want to buck apples instead, like Babs is doing?" Big Mac asked.

"No, she's doing fine on her own in the west field. You're the one that needs the most help. Taking on your own and Apple Jacks chores while she was sick is a big challenge and I taint leavein ya on yer own when I still got some kick in me." Granny Smith tossed a bail of hay clear though the top window of the barn before collapsing on the ground.

"Granny!" Big Mac rushed to help her up when granny Smith held up a hoof in protest. "I'll be fine sonny, I just need to take a quick rest. A hay nap would feel good right about now." Granny Smith looked up at the remaining hay bails and climbed up on on of the ones lower to the ground. She quickly made herself comfortable and within moments she was asleep.

"Oh granny, what am I gonna do with ya? Yer pride's gonna get you put in the hospital iffin ya keep this up." Big Mac shook his head dismally. In just a few days the farm started to fall apart, most of the basic chores were easily handled on his own but with so many apples yet to be gathered and only two, maybe three able bodies at most; two of them fillies. It seemed like more than they could handle.

Maybe I should ask Twilight and the others for assistance Big Mac thought as he pondered solutions to their dilemma. He then remembered that granny Smith while having no problems getting along with the others was too stubborn to accept help, even when she desperately needed it.

"I guess it's just her way of coping while AJ is gone." thinking back over the last couple days, Granny Smith had been working herself to the bone, whether it was becuase she saw things not getting done, her pride as an Apple or as a way to fill the void that Apple Jacks presence left, he couldn't tell. He just wished she didn't push herself so hard.

"Well I guess I can milk the cows while she rests." Big Mac trotted to the other side of the barn and hopped over the fence to the field where the few cows in their employ where busy grazing.

"Good afternoon ladies." Big Mac said.

"Good afternoon Big Mac." The cows replied in a depressed tone.

"Let me guess, no milk again today?" Big Mac asked somberly.

The cows just looked at one another with sad expressions on their faces. Each of them staring at Big Mac with weary, sad eyes for a extended pause until one of them stepped forward.

"We're sorry Big Mac, we've just been too depressed to produce. It's just not the same without Apple Jack around."

Big Mac sighed and shook his head. He could hardly blame them for their lack of milk production, the entire farm had an aura of melancholy about it since Apple Jack was incapacitated. "That's fine, the chickens have been down too. Even the pigs are too blue to bother to roll around in the mud, though I guess I should thank them since that means I don't have to hose em down every afternoon."

"We will eventually get over it. None of us can look you in the eye and collect our pay if we don't give milk in return."

The other cows nodded in agreement.

"That's mighty fine of you ladies but this is trying times for everypony and I don't really control the finances around here. I do however have an idea. Have any of y'all apple bucked before?" Big Mac asked.

The cows whispered among one another when a couple of them stepped forward. "We don't know about how to kick trees, our hooves are not broad enough for that, but me and Edna here can shake them with our horns. I can show the others how if you want."

"Good, instead of milk this week how about y'all help pick up apples in the north field. You don't have to carry the apples back to the barn just knock em out of the trees and place them in the baskets. Me, Babs and granny will handle the rest."

The cows looked at one another, each one making a motion to agree or disagree with a raised hoof. After a hasty vote the decision among them was unanimous; they would all help with the gathering of apples.

"Looks like we all agree. C'mon girls, we got work to do." The cows all formed a line and headed toward the north field, some of them singing a tune to themselves that was oddly reminiscent of 'off to work we go'.

"Well, that's one less field I have to do. I should probably check on Babs, she might need help with them baskets." Big Mac Turned west but before he could make his way to the field he noticed a blue colored streak heading in his direction. It started out small, like a blue spec in the sky, but moved toward him in a unnatural fashion, zigging and zagging as it approached the farm.

"Oh no, Aleiums!" Big Mac dived behind a nearby outhouse, covering his nose from the stench. "I remember reading in the tabloids that they move strange right before abducting us country folk."

The blue spec moved faster, it was coming right for Big Mac.

I need to get inside, before they beam me up! Big Mac made a run for the barn when the blue object slammed into him, spinning them both out of control. "Please don't probe me!" Big Mac yelled as he landed on his back, the blue blur landing behind him in a heap on the ground.

"Ow, ow, ow. What's the big deal Mac? Running out in front of me when I'm coming in for a landing like that." A raspy voice said.

Big Mac had his hooves over his eyes. "Please don't take me, I'm just a simple farm pony!" He could hear the rustle of the grass as the alien moved toward him.

"I'm not going to take you anywhere ya big goof. Take your hooves off your eyes." The voice replied.

Big Mac slowly pulled his hooves from his face and looked up. A pair of medium purple eyes were staring down on him quizzically. It was a light cyan pegasus with grey hair they seemed to be in different shades of grey rather than just one solid color.

"D-do I know you?" Big Mac asked, perplexed. He had seen this pony before but didn't know where.

"Of course you know me, you dunce. I'm the fastest pony in Ponyville!" The mare stepped back pridefully and spread her wings.

"Thunderlane?" Big Mac asked.

"Thunderlane, really? That slacker? I'm offended Big Mac." The mare turned her back to Big Mac, huffing angrily.

Big mac noticed that this pony had the same cutie mark as Rainbow Dash. "Ummm Rainbow Dash? Is that you?"

"Who else would it be? Do you know any other ponies with my kind of speed, cutie mark or long rainbow ma-oh...yeah, that." Rainbow Dash blushed. "Sorry about that, forgot ponies don't recognize me while my mane and tail are like this." Rainbow Dash ran her foreleg through her mane and let it sit on her leg. "The medicine they gave me for that flu that was going around kind of had a nasty side effect of draining all the color out of my mane and tail."

"I hope it's not permanent, it makes ya look way older than ya are." Big Mac said as he looked back at granny Smith, still sound asleep on a bail of hay.

"It does not. I think it makes me look more like Daring Doo but no, it's only for a couple weeks. My color will come back after the medicine is out of my system. It's also messing with my voice and making my flight balance all wonky. If I didn't know any better I would say I have all the flight balance of Derpy right about now." Rainbow Dash frowned, staring back at her wings.

"Well anywho, what brings ya to the farm? Wanna buy some apples?" Big Mac asked.

"Nah, I like cider and all but I'm more of a pear kinda mare." Rainbow Dash leaned in close to Big mac and lowered her voice. "But don't tell Apple Jack I said that, I'll never hear the end of it from her if she found out."

Big Mac chuckled. "Sure thing, I remember when Rarity said she was more of a grape lover. Apple Jack pulled out her '101 reasons why apples are the best fruit' book and wouldn't stop badgering Rarity for a month. Anywho, what can I do ya for?"

"Well I just got news from Fluttershy that Apple Jack and Rarity will be out of a coma soon. I been flying around town telling all our friends so we can visit them when they wake up." Rainbow Dash said.

"Hey! Big Mac!"

Rainbow Dash and Big Mac turned their attention to the road leading up to the barn. Scootaloo was coming up to the barn, yelling Big Mac's name.

"Over here Scoots!" Big Mac yelled while waving one of his forelegs.

Scootaloo hopped off her scooter and rushed up to Big Mac. "I have great news, Apple Jack is-....who's the new pony next to you?" Scootaloo stared at Rainbow Dash for a moment. "Big Sis?"

"Yeah I know, I'm much less rainbow right now and not exactly dash either. By the way though I beat ya to it. I already told Big Mac and everypony else about the situation at the hospital." Rainbow Dash said.

"Oh, well. I guess I can race you back after I get my helmet from the house if you want." Scootaloo said.

"I don't think you could beat me in an air race squirt. Even if I'm a bit unbalanced for flying at the moment." Rainbow Dash gloated.

"No I mean, race me on the ground. My scooter vs your running." Scootaloo proposed.

Rainbow Dash put her hoof on her chin and stared over Scootaloo. "Sure, I can probably do that. Go fetch your helmet squirt and meet me by the front of this barn."

Scootaloo gave an excited 'squee' sound and ran off to fetch her helmet, leaving Rainbow Dash and Big Mac some time alone.

"So, how you folks holding up? I remember Apple Bloom couldn't stop crying for hours after she found out. I even noticed you shed a few tears. That's not something I see you do often." Rainbow Dash asked.

"Me and granny wanted to cry but we have to be strong, for Apple Bloom and Apple Jack's sake. Besides, if she's wakin up then that must be good. I still don't know how granny managed to hold back her tears though, granny loves us all like we were her own children but she especially protective of Apple Bloom and Apple Jack." Big Mac sighed somberly. "Too bad she decided to take a nap, I'm sure she woulda liked to hear Apple Jack's voice sooner rather than later."

"It will be okay Big Mac, she deserves her rest. She's been working herself too hard these past few days as is. I'm kinda surprised though, Scoots seems a bit more enthusiastic than I would have expected her to be. I mean, you guys are like a second family to her." Rainbow Dash watched as Scootaloo looked though some tools by the house for her helmet.

"You didn't know?" Big Mac asked.

"Know what?" Rainbow Dash replied.

"Scootaloo doesn't have a first-" Big Mac had to cut himself short as Scootaloo ran within earshot, her helm strapped to her head. "Never mind I'll tell ya later."

"So Big Sis, you ready to get beaten down by the master of Scooters?" Scootaloo asked in a triumphant tone.

"Pfft, you sound confident. Just don't blame me when you lose by a landslide." Rainbow Dash replied.

"Let's hope no landslides are involved in this race. I don't want to have to stop and fetch your pet turtle, Tank." Scootaloo said sarcastically.

"Hey, that was a low blow!" Rainbow Dash protested.

Big Mac was holding his sides with laughter. "Better call the fire department on that one Rainbow Dash."

Rainbow Dash frowned. "We will see who's burning who when I leave you in molten dust, Scootaloo."

"Any time you're ready 'granny' Dash." Scootaloo stuck her tongue out at Rainbow Dash and blew her a raspberry.

"Big Mac, give us a goal marker and a call." Rainbow Dash arced her back and set herself low for a fast takeoff.

"Okay then. First one to the hospital is the winner. On your marks, get set,...GO!" Big Mac yelled.

The two ponies took off, both of them leaving a trail of dust, dirt and grass clippings in their wake. Both of them neck and neck, until they were no longer in sight.

"Well, I better go get Babs Seed. She will prolly want to visit too." Big Mac hopped over the fence leading toward the north field when he stopped. "Maybe I shouldn't tell anypony about Scootaloo...it almost seems better that way."

***

"What seems to be the holdup Twilight?" Fluttershy asked as the nurse at the desk shook her head.

"From what I could talk out of the doctors, Luna has called for first visit rights. She said she had to deal with a sensitive situation, about what though I couldn't tell." Twilight said.

"Could you just ask Princess Celestia? I know you can send letters to her whenever you want through Spike." Fluttershy looked at Spike as he scratched behind his head scales.

"I wrote one. Spike sent out word and then an additional letter when I got here." Twilight said.

"Just be patient Fluttershy. Celestia can be a bit slow with the response time, especially when she has afternoon court to deal with. I mean- urp!" Suddenly Spike burped and a puff of sparkling green smoke came from his mouth, forming into a curled up parchment bearing the Princess Celestia's seal.

"Oh, there we go." Twilight grabbed the parchment from the air with her magic and unfurled it. She began to read the letter aloud for Spike and Fluttershy.

"Dear Twilight, Princess Luna is in charge of most of the competitions workings while I have taken up both her day and some of her night court duties. I am not privy to most of the minor workings but I remember her saying that she needed to speak with Apple Jack and Rarity about a problem with their team application. Beyond that I am just as clueless as you are. Do not worry though I am sure Luna will resolve the problem with all due haste."

"Your Teacher,

Princess Celestia."

Twilight folded up the letter and put it into her saddle bag. "Well I guess that's something to go on. She shouldn't be up there long then."

"But, but Twilight, what if they didn't cross their T's and dotted their I's properly? They could be kicked out of the competition entirely!" Fluttershy said in a panicked tone.

"I think that would be the last of their worries. I mean they are pretty much not fit for any competition since they got sick. The first elimination round starts in just a month or so, I doubt they will be well enough to finish building their tank AND be well enough to participate." Spike said.

Twilight rolled her eyes. "That may be true but knowing how stubborn Apple Jack can be, I wouldn't put it past her to try anyhow. As much as she would hate it I'm kinda hoping Luna boots her from the competition, for her own health."

"Yeah, I guess you're right. She needs a lot of bed-rest and the last thing she needs is to be worried about some silly competition. I hope Rarity isn't too upset about it though." Fluttershy said.

"I don't think so. Rarity has been wanting to take a vacation every summer for the past two or three. This is the chance for her to head off to Costa Del Sol for some sun and relaxation. It's not like she was really invested in this, she was kinda just the only unicorn not assigned a team." Twilight said.

"Oh well, not like it's the end of the world or anything. Think I can talk Rarity into taking me with her on vacation?" Spike said enthusiastically.

Twilight put her hoof over her face and dragged it down past her mouth while shaking her head.

"Oh don't be that way Twilight. Spike is just trying to spend some time with the pony he loves, there's nothing wrong with that." Fluttershy ruffled Spike's head scales affectionately.

"Yeah I might even be able to talk her into wearing that blue swimsuit you were wearing last summer, Twilight." Spike said enthusiastically.

Fluttershy's face went red, immediately followed by Twilight doing the same. "Oh, ummm, hey look at that." Twilight pointed though the glass door at Scootaloo taking off her helmet in an effort to change the subject. Scootaloo was folding up her scooter, a giant triumphant smirk on her face.

Twilight, Fluttershy and Spike walked outside to greet Scootaloo, the orange pegasus greeting them exuberantly.

"Hi, Twilight, Fluttershy and Spike. You won't believe what happened." Scootaloo could barely contain her joy as she waited with baited breath for them to ask what happened.

"Errr....what happened?" Twilight asked.

"That happened!" Scootaloo pointed to another pony just coming onto the field in front of the hospital. "I beat Rainbow Dash in a ground race!"

Rainbow Dash looked as if she was going to collapse but when she noticed her friends watching, she quickly changed her stature as if nothing was wrong. "Yeah, yeah. So you beat me in a foot race." Rainbow Dash yelled up the hill. "I am still recovering from being sick, I demand a rematch when I'm better." Rainbow Dash flapped her wings, carrying her up the hill where she landed in front of the group.

"Anyways, you're fast on that Scooter. I look forward to racing you when I'm back in peak condition." Rainbow Dash gloated, doing her best to disguise her heavy panting for air.

"But Rainbow, the inoculation only drained your col-" Twilight got a quick glare from Rainbow Dash. Twilight smiled "Oh, never mind then."

"Anyways why aren't you gals upstairs visiting Apple Jack and Rarity?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"We can't, Luna is up there dealing with some kinda problem with their competition entry. Not that it would really matter though, neither of them are in any condition to compete or a position to complain about being disqualified." Twilight explained.

"Wait, what kind of entry problem?" Scootaloo asked.

"You know exactly what kind of entry problem."

Scootaloo looked over the Twilight. Standing right behind her was Princess Luna, a very stern expression on her face.

Twilight noticed Rainbow Dash bowing and turned around, automatically going into a bow herself, Fluttershy following suit soon after.

"We have much to speak about young pegasus." Princess Luna said.

"If you will pardon my ignorance Luna, but what does Scootaloo have to do with a problem with the entry application?" Fluttershy asked meekly. Before Luna could answer Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle popped up from either side of Luna's back legs, both of them staring at Scootaloo with saddened, puppy-dog-like eyes.

"Sorry Scoots she asked us who signed us up as alternates for the competition and well-" Apple Bloom said.

"She said if we didn't tell her who did it she would make us pay back all the bits we were loaned. Do you know how long it would take to pay back a thousand bits?" Sweetie Belle complained. "That's like thirty years of allowance, at least."

Twilight giggled to herself. "Luna, you're such a trickster, you know you can't levy fines against an under age pony. Nor could you make them pay it back from the loan, as stated per contract you could only disqualify Apple Jack and Rarity for non-disclosure."

Luna sighed. "That may be but forgery is still a very bad thing to do, something I thought these three and their cousin were above." Luna gave a narrow stare at Scootaloo and then back the the other two fillies by her back legs.

"Scootaloo...what does Luna mean by forgery?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"I don't know, I don't remem...oh." It struck Scootaloo like lightning, they had entered their names on the alternates list for piloting the tank just in case the main crew could not perform their duties. "We kinda, sorta forged Apple Jacks signature to register us as the alternate crew for the competition."

Twilight, Fluttershy, Spike and Rainbow Dash all gasped at the same time.

"What has gotten into you girls? You should all know better." Twilight stared into the eyes of Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom, both of which folded their ears and lowered their heads in shame.

"Yeah, what's the big deal Scoots? If you wanted to be in the competition that badly you could of just asked to be on my crew." Rainbow Dash watched Luna shoot her a glare. "With parental permission of course." Rainbow corrected herself.

"Oh, my. You're not going to banish these fillies are you Luna? Or jail them? Or jail them then banish them?" Fluttershy asked.

"No, as loathe as I am at their actions sadly I cannot actually forfeit their entry. The board handling the entries did not catch the forgery in time. However Apple Jack can withdrawal the entire team once she is well enough to make the trip to Canterlot to do so." Luna said.

"Wait, you didn't tell Apple Jack or Rarity about this did you? That seems like terrible news to get just as you wake up." Fluttershy asked.

Luna shook her head. "No, I will not give them the news until they are well enough to handle it and I cannot force the withdrawal on Apple Bloom or Sweetie Belle until the elder siblings are well enough to say so. However Scootaloo and Babs seed are removed from team activities post haste. Apple Jack's signature does not count for either pony as she is not a blood relative." Luna looked at Sweetie Belle "Had Sweetie Belle's parents not been on vacation and unavialible for discussion, she would be removed as well."

Luna raised her eyebrows. "Actually, that disbands the team entirely. If memory serves the other two apple family members are too busy with the farm and all teams need a minimum of four ponies and at least one adult for supervision for ponies that have yet to come of age. Unless any of you would like to supervise them then I am left with no choice but to disband the team."

"Princess, I...may have a pony in mind that can supervise, and getting the signatures from my parents is not a problem. So you don't have to disband the team." Scootaloo pleaded.

Luna inhaled and rubbed her temples. "Very well then, but if your parents our guardians want you removed from the team then I will be there to make sure it happens. I will also need to review the credentials of this pony you want to supervise. Am I understood?"

"Yes Princess Luna." The Cutie Mark Crusaders said together.

"I will take my leave then. Scootaloo I will have a talk with your parents before the day is out about this situation. I expect you to introduce me to them tonight." Luna said as she lifted off into the air.

"Oh and one more thing, do give Apple Jack and Rarity my regards. Until we meet again, enjoy your visit." With a puff of blue smoke Luna was gone.

Scootaloo watched the sky, as the other ponies walked by her into the hospital. Twilight stopped and raised an eyebrow and spoke.

"You know, now that I think about it; I have never seen your parents, Scootaloo." Twilight said.

"Oh you know. I'm a uhh...latch key kinda pony. They aren't much around becuase of uhhh...work and stuff." Scootaloo lied. Twilight didn't look as if she was convinced but merely nodded her head and headed inside the hospital, leaving Scootaloo the only pony left.

What have I gotten myself into?

***

Scootaloo waited in her smell double room house and watched the clock closely. In just a few minutes she would have to take Luna to see something she had never revealed to a single soul. Something she didn't even trust her closest friends to know. Her eyes wandered from the clock to the note on the floor.

Meet me outside your home at eight p.m. sharp. I want you to introduce me to your parents, if your parents are not home I will need you to tell me where I can find them. Hope to see you soon, Princess Luna.

She really didn't want to show Luna where her parents where but the stipend to cover her expenses for the month was used up. She couldn't hire stand ins to keep the illusion up and even if she did Luna could easily see through the facade. It wasn't like she didn't trust Luna with what she was going to tell her, the princess of the night has probably seen thousands of secrets in her lifetime. It was the possibility of it getting out that frightened her.

A knock at the door broke Scootaloo's concentration. She looked up at the clock and realized that it was exactly eight p.m. sharp. Scootaloo Stood up, deep down she had hoped that Luna wasn't punctual or something came up.

"I'm coming!" Scootaloo walked out of her room and into her combination living room/dining room and up to the door. She took a deep breath and opened the door. Luna was standing there, a small bag in her mouth.

"Good evening Luna, welcome to my humble home. Please, come in." Scootaloo bowed and stepped to the side. Luna lowered her head and walked in, her horn maybe only two feet tops from the ceiling. "Sorry, this house has a very low ceiling, I wasn't even sure an Alicorn could fit in here."

Luna looked around for a moment and set the bag on the floor beside her. "I had to ask around to find where you live, it seemed the address I found in the town hall records hasn't been there for years.. This house isn't even marked on the town ledger anywhere either. I'll need to have a talk with the mayor about updating it. As for the low ceiling, that is fine. I am used to sometimes being a bit too tall for some homes."

Scootaloo smelled something coming from the bag on the floor. "Can I ask what's in the bag? It sure smells good."

"That little one is four separate meals to be shared with your parents, myself and you." Luna looked into the bedroom that was no more than a dozen feet away. "I daresay you all share the same bedroom?"

"Ummm...I uhhhh." She felt as if she had lost her nerve. Maybe telling Luna the truth wasn't such a good idea after all. If this got out somehow the taunting at school would never cease. "Yeah, but don't go in there, it's kind of a mess right now." Scootaloo wiped a bit of sweat from above her right eye. Luna could see only one bed in the room but had no idea how big the room was, maybe she could get away with not telling her.

"That is an extremely crowded room. It didn't look very large from the sky." Luna said as she looked down on Scootaloo.

"Oh, well you're kinda big for the whole house and all. It may be your perception becuase you know, you're so big." Scootaloo said, trying her best to sate Luna's sudden curiosity with her room.

"Very well. I assume your parents are not home then? Do you know where they are?" Luna said while staring at Scootaloo.

"Ummm...uhhhh." Scootaloo's mind froze up, she could just say they were away on business but Luna could teleport or fly anywhere in a jiffy. She could even try to talk to them through dreams, though she would get suspicious when she failed at the attempt.

"Is there something you're not telling me Scootaloo? I wish to have dinner with your family as an apology and a gift of friendship." Luna noticed that the single small table only had two chairs, one of which looked like it hadn't been used in a very long time. Luna walked toward the chair, picking up the bag and setting it on the table. When she examined the chair it only confirmed that it hadn't been used in a long time. There was a thick coating of dust on the seat as well as sporadic cobwebs on the back.

"Do...you live alone here Scootaloo? Are your parents living in a separate home or do they rarely ever come home becuase of business?" Luna continued to press Scootaloo for information.

"Luna. Stop with the questions, please." Scootaloo began to cry, being reminded of who used to sit in that other chair hurt.

"I see. Whomever used to sit in that chair was very close to you." Luna opened up the bag and pulled out two containers, setting on on either side of the table before setting the bag on the kitchen counter.

"Well since your parents are not around I guess we can eat this together if that's okay with you?" Luna opened up her container and closed her eyes, inhaling the splendid smell of steamed vegetables and spicy sauce coming from the container.

"I g-guess we can. I'll get something to dust off the other chair." Before Scootaloo could fetch a rag to clean off the chair, Luna picked up the dust and cobwebs with her magic and dropped it in a trash bin by the fridge.

"I already took care of it. Take a seat. I want to start dinner before it gets cold." Luna popped open Scootaloo's container with her magic.

Scootaloo hopped up into her chair and looked inside the container. There was a small closed cup of some kind of soup, an egg-roll, noodles with red onion fragments in it and a large serving of some kinda of deep fried substance covered in red sauce, steamed vegetables and peppers.

"I know what the egg roll is but what's this other stuff?" Scootaloo asked.

"Fried noodles and onion, Wonton soup and General Tso's tofu. My own recipe, I cooked it earlier. Celestia's likes having her chefs prepare her food but I prefer the personal touch. Be careful though, it's spicy." Luna levitated one of the bits covered in red sauce and put it in her mouth. Her face began to turned light red as she chewed and swallowed.

"These ghost peppers are bit on the spicy side. Do you have anything to drink Scootaloo?" Luna asked.

"Sure, there's some chocolate milk in the fridge as well as some juice."

Luna opened the door to the fridge from across the room and pulled out a half gallon of chocolate milk. She set it on the table and pulled two glasses out of the cupboard and set them on the table. She then quickly poured herself a glass and began drinking it as she poured Scootaloo a glass.

"You know Luna, the host is supposed to get things for a meal, not the guest." Scootaloo said as she nibbled on her egg roll.

"Oh, that. Sorry. I'm so used to letting my magic do the work that I forget others don't have that luxury. I dare say my dinner manners are not very good either. I been banned from the royal table on more than one occasion for hitting my sister with a ball of mashed potatoes." Luna set her glass down, the milk in it mostly gone.

"You mean like drinking and talking at the same time? How did you even do that without choking?" Scootaloo asked.

"Alicorn secret. Go ahead, try it. I only used light Cayenne pepper in yours, it shouldn't be too spicy."

Luna watched with excitement as Scootaloo lapped up one of the bits with her tongue, chewed it thoroughly and swallowed. "Well?"

"I can't put my hoof on it. It's got a texture I have never tasted before. Kind of tough but with no real crunch to it." Scootaloo lapped up another piece, chewed it quickly and swallowed. "It's really good though."

"I'm glad. It's based on a recipe that I got from a diamond dog, although I had to modify it as one of the ingredients as it wasn't fit for pony consumption." Luna explained.

"Which was?" Scootaloo asked as she took another bite.

Luna had a disgusted look on her face. "Are you sure you want to know?"

"Sure, it's not like whatever the bad ingredient was is in this right?"

"The recipe called for a chicken, its breast meat in particular." Luna said.

Scootaloo took another bite. "I guess that's not uncommon. Diamond dogs are predators, kinda like how griffons are."

"That's not the worst part, on the bottom of the recipe, scratched out; was a ingredient that I couldn't fathom they would actually eat." Luna seemed to not want to tell Scootaloo what the original ingredient was.

"C'mon, it can't be THAT bad. Can it?" Scootaloo asked.

"The last alternate crossed out ingredient is pegasus wing meat." Luna lowered her head. "I can't imagine what it must be like to be killed for food."

"I can't either and I hope I never know or experience that happening to me or anypony else." Scootaloo continued to enjoy her meal, as if Luna had barely said anything at all.

"Odd, you continue to eat, unfazed. Most ponies you age would have stopped at such a terrible revelation. Why is it that you're untroubled by this?" Luna asked.

"Well we had a big section in school about predators and I kinda checked out the wrong book from the library. Me, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle got the adult version of the book on predators. It was, well, very detailed on what predators kill and eat. Pictures and everything." Scootaloo explained as she ate the last bit of her Tso's tofu before moving on to her noodles.

"So that doesn't bother you?" Luna seemed puzzled.

"Nope. Sometimes you can't fight your own biology. Besides I eat lunch across from Snips and Snails, both of them showing off how they can hover boogers over their meal, nasty." Scootaloo opened up her soup and dunked her egg roll in it.

"And ponies say I have bad table manners." Scootaloo and Luna shared a laugh together.

"I know, colts, what ya gonna do?" Scootaloo picked up her soup and drank it as if it were water. "This stuff is really good. I didn't peg you for a chef, Luna."

Luna blushed. "It's isn't much but I do hope your parents complement me on my cooking as you have. It feels nice to be recognized for a skill other than being a Princess every so often."

Scootaloo nearly choked on the last part of her egg roll. She was having such a good time that she had almost forgotten why Luna was here to begin with. "Luna?"

"Yes?" Luna replied.

"You said you came here with the food as an apology?" Scootaloo asked.

"I did. I wanted to say I was sorry for my earlier outburst, I was in no position to scold you as if I was your parent. What you did was undoubtedly wrong but my reaction was out of bounds, your parents are the ones with that authority. I dare say that sometimes I act like a mother to everypony, just like my sister." Luna said.

Scootaloo didn't know what to say. The fear of her secret getting out terrified her to no end but the guilt of lying to not only a pony of considerable power but to a pony she considered a friend was eating away at her.

"Luna, it's me that should be apologizing, for what I did and what I'm about to show you. I just hope you can keep a secret and forgive me later for it." Scootaloo closed the lid on her container and hopped down off the chair. "Do you fancy yourself a walk tonight?"

"Sure, can I ask what for though?" Luna asked as she closed the lid on her container. She seemed as if she was intentionally ignoring Scootaloo's earlier comments.

"Nothing big, just want to introduce you to my parents." Scootaloo opened the front door. "Shall we?" Scootaloo watched apprehensively as Luna got out of her chair and walked outside. Scootaloo closed the door behind her and walked ahead.

"So your parents are in town after all. It's odd though, the two ponies described to me by your friends were no where in town today. I am eager to meet them though." Luna said.

"It's a good twenty minute walk from here. I hope your don't have anywhere important to be tonight." Scootaloo said, as she made a left turn on to an abandoned road.

"As a matter of fact I have night court in a couple hours. Should we just fly there? It would be a lot faster." Luna suggested.

"I thought about that but halfway there is nothing but tree's covering the path. Besides, I kinda can't fly." Scootaloo picked up her pace from a walk to a light trot.

"Very well then. Lead the way." Luna replied.

***

Scootaloo slowed her pace as she watched the sides of the road for any movement. She knew deep down that with Princess Luna close by she didn't need to be so cautious but she had heard rumors of a pack of timber-wolves occasionally in the area. Now that she thought about it there was a reason she always took the long way around to see her parents; the main path was not well lit by the moon, and spiderwebs were in the trees all around it. It was as if the entire path was a perpetual Nightmare Night.

"I must say Scootaloo, your parents live in a remote area." Luna said as she swatted down a spider web blocking her path, much to the protest of the spider on it.

"We are almost there, see?" Scootaloo pointed to an old sign being held up over the path by two very rusty wrought iron poles.

"Err...where is 'there'" Luna tried to read what was on the sign but whatever was written on it was covered by a thick moss.

Scootaloo continued ahead but stopped in front of the entrance and sat in the road. "Luna, what I'm about to show you should stay between both of us."

Luna nodded her head in agreement, though why her parents abode needed to be a secret was beyond her. Scootaloo moved on ahead and Luna followed. They walked into what looked like an open meadow with mossy strange shaped rocks all around. There was barely any light coming from the moon above due to a light fog in the air, a fog that only added to the unsettling atmosphere. Scootaloo continued along but Luna's curiosity got the better of her. One of the rocks ahead was covered in moss and while Scootaloo was busy leading the way Luna lit up her horn and brushed the moss of the flattest part of the stone. The could make out words etched in the stone, though time had done serious damage and she could only just make out the writing.

"Here lies Darius Moonstruck, may he bask in the glory of the moon on the other side."

Luna racked her brain for a moment as she slowly began to fall behind Scootaloo. She knew she heard the surname Moonstruck before. After a moment of thinking it struck her. Wait, wasn't the name of Albus Moonstruck's son Darius? It couldn't be, Darius was born just under three months before she was banished to the moon for a millennium. If his eternal resting place was here than that would mean.

No, Maybe Scootaloo's parents are grave keepers... Luna looked around, none of the graves or grounds were very well kept. It actually looked as if no pony; aside from a handful of relatively moss free graves, had been here in a very long time. Maybe they are just very poor at their...

Luna tried to delude herself into resisting the belief she knew in her heart was true. It all made sense now, Scootaloo's hesitation, her parents gone all the time, the small house set away from prying eyes.

"Luna?" Scootaloo turned to Luna, she was sitting down in front of a moss free grave, although the copper boarder had long turned to corroded green.

Luna walked up beside Scootaloo and her heart sank. Either this was an exceptionally elaborate prank or Scootaloo's parents where-

"Here lies Cidolfus Hyral and Vespa Loo, taken away from us tragically. May their spirits find a way to the other side and may they always watch their daughter, Scootaloo, from afar." Luna's heart sank. Unlike the other graves the words on this one were clear as day. Scootaloo was an orphan, but how she kept this from everypony for so long eluded her. She sat down and put her wing over the young pegasus, bowing her head in respect.

There was no need for words, nothing needed to be said. All Scootaloo's strange behavior was now crystal clear. The only questions that burned in her mind was how and why. Why did a pony of her age not get registered into the orphan home system to find a loving family? How did she end up an orphan to begin with? Luna searched for the courage to ask those questions but nothing came out, she was just feeling too sad to pry into Scootaloo's past. She had to know though, her curiosity easily overpowering her common sense.

"Scootaloo, you must know that I have many questions. It may be an inappropriate time for me to ask but-"

Scootaloo hugged Luna, her tears running freely and soaking her fur. She sat there, for a few moments, crying and sniffling. Luna Patted her head, it must have been a massive burden to keep such a secret from all her friends and even a larger one to not be consumed by jealousy.

Scootaloo broke the hug and wiped her eyes.

"Well...from what I was told...

Chapter X:Repressed Memories

Chapter X:Repressed Memories

Scootaloo and Luna sat side by side, Luna with her wing over Scootaloo's back, waiting for Scootaloo to speak. She wondered how such a small filly made it with no parental supervision but worse how her sister let this little orphan slip though the protections they put in place so many centuries ago. Scootaloo Dried her tears and looked up into her eyes, as if ready to speak.

"I was three years old when I lost nearly everypony in my family. It as my third birthday and the day we decided to have our family reunion. I only remember bits and pieces becuase I was so young but what I do remember what the head of the fire department said... " Scootaloo lowered her head somberly.

"Which was?" Luna asked softly.

"That it was my fault they all died. I killed nearly every pony in my family that day." Scootaloo wiped her eyes.

"That's ludicrous! How can a filly of a mere three years cause such a catastrophe?" Luna asked.

"The head chief of the fire department said a single cinder from a candle on my birthday cake is what caused the house fire that led to so many dying. One of the people that left the party earlier, an older griffon friend of my parents; said I headbutted the cake in excitement before he had to leave for a meeting. I don't remember doing that but the fire chief said a candle was found, melted by one of the hemp curtains in the house, near the place they believed the fire to start." Scootaloo said somberly.

"I see, an accident. Continue." Luna said, although the skepticism in her voice was apparent.

"I remember the worst parts, flames consuming my home and the screams of the ponies trapped inside. I lost consciousness from all the smoke and I woke up when one of the fire ponies was pulling me out of the house. The only pony in my family left alive was grandma Scoots. She avoided the entire thing becuase of her insistence on having the pool setup for the after-party a block or two away."

"Wait that chair-" Luna asked.

"In my living room? Yeah, It belong to grandma. She raised me after my parents died. She was never the same after that day though, she never blamed me for everyponies death but I could hear her crying to herself late at night sometimes." Scootaloo said.

"And what happened to her?" Luna asked, although apprehensively.

Scootaloo's ears folded back and she lowered her head. "A couple of days after I turned six she passed away from old age."

"I'- I'm sorry Scootaloo. Both for the loss of your family and for you being alone for so long. I don't even know how you managed to live alone for so long, surely somepony knew of your plight?" Luna asked.

"I was transferred to a orphanage originally but I never really fit in. I was constantly taunted for my lack of flight and the orphanage owners didn't care one lick about me; all they cared about was the money I brought in." Scootaloo explained.

"Wait, money?" Luna looked confused.

"Yes. My parents left me an inheritance or more accurately my grandma did. I was too young to actually claim it though, at least until I met this lawyer that visited me. He said that the only remaining family member waived all rights to my inheritance but becuase of my age I would still need an older payee. Oddly enough though he said it was already taken care of and I would be receiving a stipend of two hundred bits a month to cover home expenses until I was old enough to claim the rest. I lived in that house ever since." Scootaloo sighed.

"I don't deserve any of it though, not the striped or my inheritance. No amount of bits will bring back the ones I've lost or wipe clean my own clumsiness that killed them." Scootaloo looked into the sky, the fog had grown thicker and the light from the moon barely broke though the thickness of the trees. "I told you all that I know, can we go now? This place is dangerous at night."

"Arroooooooo!!!!"

Scootaloo's fur and feathers stood on end. "Timber wolves!"

Luna stood up, unfurling her wings aggressively to protect Scootaloo. "Do not fear little one, mere Timber wolves are no match for me." Some of the bushes behind one of the graves began to rustle and a pair of slender wooden legs stepped out of the bushes. "Move no further if you value not being kindling, wolf." Luna pointed her horn at the pair of legs and fired a bolt of fire that landed right in front of the bush.

The wolf fell back, rolling on the ground to put out the few embers that reached his leafy coat. The wolf quickly stood up and growled, his yellow eyes piercing the thick fog as he began to yip in a low tone. Soon, more pairs of yellow eyes began to shine through the fog.

"It appears it had friends. Scootaloo, I need for you to hop on my back. We will need to make a hasty escape. I may be immortal but I cannot insure your safety with such numbers." Luna nodded for Scootaloo to hop on her back and Scootaloo did just that.

"Sorry but you will be going hungry tonight, wolves." Luna's horn lit up, the blue light from her horn blowing away the fog and within seconds she disappeared with a puff of smoke.

Scootaloo felt as if she had ate too much pie, her body feeling as if it was being stretched, as if her legs and head where in two different places at the same time. She closed her eyes but it only made the sensation worse. When she felt like she was about to lose her dinner the sensation stopped, she slowly opened her eyes to find that the teleportation had ended.

"Sorry for that, teleportation sickness is rough till you get used to it." Luna keeled down, allowing Scootaloo to hop off her back.

Scootaloo hopped off Luna's back and looked around. She was in a very dark blue room, the only light source being a fireplace on the far end of the room. "Luna, where are we?"

"My bedroom of course." Luna's horn lit up and a few light blue lights on the ceiling began to illuminate the room.

"Still kinda dark..." Scootaloo could just barely make out shapes in the room. there was a blue pillow by the fireplace and what looked like a shelve full of books next to it. Luna's bed was to her right, decorated with night blue and black lace and had pillows scattered messily all over the mattress. next to Luna's bed was a obsidian black nightstand with what looked like teabag and a teapot sitting on top.

"Sorry about that. I have excellent night vision and lights in this room are typically not needed. The maids don't even bother to clean it as most of them have been injured because of the low light." Luna picked up the teapot and a pitcher of water from above the fireplace and levitated them in front of her. "Can I interest you in some tea?"

"Nah, I just want to get home. Can you teleport me there?" Deep down she wanted to explore a bit more but Luna's choice of decor was a bit on the spooky side, completely alien to her own room.

"I'm afraid in good conscience that I cannot do that. Those wolves will have gotten your scent and being such easy prey they would have tracked you back to your home. I can't risk them breaking down your doors in the middle of the night and making a meal out of you." Luna said.

"They never have before, why would they now?" Scootaloo asked.

"You are far away from town. I will not risk such a thing. I will have locksmith reinforce your home at its entrance points in the morning but for tonight you will sleep here, in my room." Luna set the teapot and pitcher down. "I will leave you here, I need to look up some things in the royal library, specifically the records section."

"But, what if I need you?" Scootaloo asked.

Luna pointed to a small clear stone sitting above the fireplace. "Just touch that stone, a maid or I will be with you shortly." Luna walked up to a pitch black part of the room and opened up a door, letting in a flood of light from the hallway. "I will see you in the morning, for now rest well. I suspect we have a busy day ahead of us tomorrow."

"Is it about my family?" Scootaloo asked.

"That and I have a hunch." Luna nodded her head and walked out of the room, closing the door behind her.

Scootaloo sighed, it wasn't like she wasn't used to being alone and she knew nothing in Luna's room could hurt her; it was just the idea of sleeping in such an alien environment that bothered her. I kinda wish she would tuck me in or... Scootaloo slapped herself. "What am I thinking? Every time I visit their graves I start feeling this way." Scootaloo couldn't help but have a longing for a real family, it was something she had wanted ever since her grandma passed away. "I guess I should get some sleep, maybe that will take my mind off things."

Scootaloo hopped up on Luna's bed and immediately felt dizzy, her world spun round and round until she found herself collapsed on the pillows. It was as if she was up for days before jumping in this bed and an immediate tiredness consumed her. Scootaloo tried to fight it but found herself curling up and nodding off to sleep. "Nice *yawn* warning ...Lu...na."

***

Luna pulled out another file and tossed it into the pile with the rest of the incorrectly organized items she had found. "Who in their right mind organizes names in reverse alphabet and by the prime numbers represented by the number of letters in their name?" Luna complained as she tossed another file aside. "It's almost as if somepony with dyslexia came up with the idea followed by somepony with obsessive compulsive disorder putting it into effect."

"Luna?" A voice said from somewhere in the Library.

"Up here sis." Luna replied angrily.

Celestia flew up to the third floor of the royal library and looked down the rows of book in an attempt to find her sister. "Where are-"

"Row forty-five, section S, or what would be section S if the librarians organized like NORMAL ponies." Luna growled.

Luna picked up another book and set it aside. She then tossed her head until a bit of her mane was in her mouth. She began to chew on it in frustration.

"Luna, that isn't a very healthy habit to have. Eating your own magical mane gives us gas, remember?" Celestia said as she walked down the isle, a cup of tea floating by her side. "I was told by the night keep that you were here looking for something. I hope you plan to put this all back in order, Ms. Fizzleworth does not take kindly to ponies messing up her organization."

"Ms. Fizzleworth can go chew bark for all I care right now. I mean what kind of insane pony does organization like this?" Luna picked up a book titled "The History of the Apples" and tossed it aside.

"Well what are you looking for exactly?" Celestia asked before taking a sip of her tea.

"Anything pertaining to the Loo family. I just found out one of the competitors, Scootaloo, has been an orphan for an extended period of time. She appears to have been living alone since an early age without anypony noticing." Luna tossed aside another book with the title "Changelings and You."

Celestia spit out her tea, hitting Luna right in the face. "Did you say the Loo family?"

Luna pulled her soaked mane out of her eyes, a grim expression on her face. "Yes sister, the Loo family."

Celestia grinned sheepishly. "Sorry about that but I'm a bit shocked. Scootaloo is a member of the Loo family? I thought they had no more heirs."

"Wait, you know of them? I haven't been able to find anything on them in this entire library." Luna said.

"A moment if you will." Celestia set her empty cup of tea on the floor and stared at a black section of wall underneath a blue orb on the roof. She closed her eyes and the blue orb began to glow, after a few moments a book appeared below it and floated down toward her, landing with a small thud on the floor behind Luna.

Luna walked over to the book and picked it up with her magic. The edges of the cover were in poor shape and a thick coating of dust was on the cover. Luna inhaled and blew the dust off, going into a brief coughing fit as the dust settled around her. Luna narrowed her eyes, trying to read the decayed title of the book she was holding up with her magic. "The Sky Isn't the Limit: A history of the Loo family." Luna opened up to the middle of the book to see a strapping young colt in a black and white picture staring back at her. Making out his features was difficult as the picture wasn't in color and was in poor condition but he seemed to be standing in front of something. Something she has seen before but couldn't put her hoof on where.

"It's an airship Luna, read the page." Celestia suggested.

Luna nodded and began to read aloud the text below the picture. "Rylgar Loo completed the first airship in equestrian history on march 8th 785 CE. He is pictured above standing in front of his creation, 'Wingless Wonder'." Luna closed the book and looked at Celestia. "Wait you don't say-"

"Yes, The Loo family were some of the best engineers in Equestrian history. They invented the magic combustion engine, hydrogen and helium balloons and all kind of aeronautical devices. I'm not surprised you didn't know about them though, you were not around when they came into fame."

"I don't understand. Surely if Scootaloo came from a famous family she wouldn't have lived alone, let alone no pony knowing her real identity." Luna said as she opened up the book once more.

"That's what concerns me. The entire family sans the eldest matron on the mothers side passed away years ago and even she is no longer with us. Their only known heir was-"

"An older sister?" Luna held up a picture of a small cream colored filly with a brown mane.

"Yes, but she has been missing for many years. If I remember correctly somepony told me she had a falling out with her parents a couple years before their death. No pony has seen her since.Though I have to say the source was a little shaky to say the least. Now that i think about it almost seemed rehearsed." Celestia said.

"It says here that...oh my." Luna pointed to a number on the page followed by many zeros.

"I know all about that. That money is currently in a vault, it is being held for when or if any members of the family show up to claim it. I believe it was Gerald of G and J attorneys that was handling that inheritance." Celestia said.

Luna set the book down. "It makes no sense, Scootaloo has been receiving a stipend for her expenses. She could have loving family and everything."

"Maybe you should talk with Gerald about this in the morning. I will browse the Ponyville Hospital records to confirm if what Scootaloo claims is true and if so why such a event was not publicly known." Celestia yawned. "In the meantime I need my sleep, your night court is brutal sometimes." Celestia stretched out her wings and flew above the aisle and to the landing far below. "Try not to stay up to late, you get grumpy when you do."

Luna opened up the book once more and poured though the pages. "This is odd." Luna noticed that many of her family members seemed to have underdeveloped wings, including both her mother and father. "I wonder if it's a family trait..." Luna continued to look at picture after picture until she came to a small news paper clipping that was several decades old. It looked as if it was in some kind of reporter Q&A format but much of it was smudged. One part of it stood out more than the rest.

"So what possessed you, being a pegasus and all, to build an airship factory?" The reporter asked.

"I always wanted to fly but my wings were only just enough to carry myself short distances at barely a hover. Ever since I was a colt I wanted to soar above the clouds and with this invention everypony can experience my dream with me."

Luna tried to make out the last part but could only just make out the words "secret invention" at the bottom.

"I wonder if this secret invention was ever revealed." Luna turned the pages to find that it wasn't the case. A news snippet from a few years later made her heart sink.

"Rylgar Loo, age 58, found dead after his first airship crashed during a test flight before its final trip."

"Such a sad turn of events." Luna closed the book and yawned. "I guess I have a very busy day tomorrow. I should check on Scootaloo before I set the moon into a slow decent..." Luna stood up and stretched out her legs. She paused to stare at the mess of books and files she had left on the floor. "I should clean this up but..." Luna looked over how complicated the sorting was and shook her head. "Yeah, no. I would just put everything back wrong."

"I do hope the librarian can forgive me...then again she kind of deserves this result from such a weird cataloging structure." Luna closed her eyes and in a puff of blue smoke teleported back to her room.

***

Luna opened her eyes to pitch black darkness, her room was as it always was at this time of night. The only sources of light was a glowing orb she kept for decorative purposes and the remaining embers in the fireplace across the room. The only sound in the room was the soft steps from her hooves and a very faint snoring coming from her bed. Luna walked over to her bed only to find there was no room on it for her to sleep, Scootaloo had sprawled out over the most of her queen size bed.

"So looks so adorable when sleeping." Luna whispered as she resisted the urge to run her hoof through Scootaloo's mane. "I wonder what she is dreaming about?" Luna closed her eyes but again stopped herself.

I can't do that. My job is to track down and stop nightmares and the like, interjecting on someones personal dreams would be wrong, wouldn't it?

Luna pondered the morality of going into another ponies dreams. "I guess its the same, some ponies have given me flak before about the privacy of their own nightmares. Rainbow Dash and the members of the Wonder Bolts in particular." It was always the ponies with the overly brave facades to protect that always gave her a hard time, typically pegasus ponies.

"I guess a peek couldn't hurt." Luna closed her eyes and felt her spirit lurch from her body and into Scootaloo's dreams. When she felt her hooves hit solid ground she opened her eyes and looked around. there was a vibrant pink sky but on the ground was a dense rolling fog that could only mean one thing.

"I went in too far, I'm in her deep subconscious. I need to leave before her mental defenses find me..."

Luna was well aware of the dangers of hanging around in someponys deep subconscious. She had accidentally gotten herself trapped in Celestia's for days when she first began to practice her own unique form of magic. Luna closed her eyes to reverse her spell when a faint laughing made her open one eye curiously.

A much younger Scootaloo was running though a field of flowers following a larger pony. A pony with a long flowing brown mane, green eyes and a light orange coat.

"That must be Vespa." Luna said as she watched Scootaloo and Vespa frolic and playfully tackle one another in the flowers.

Suddenly the bright pink sky above turned a dark hue of brown and the fog around her began to have small spurts of black in it.

"It's too early for her defenses to have detected me just yet..."

A black griffon appeared on the far edge of the field. His feathers and fur were as dark as night, his tail had many burn scars all over its length. He wore a coat that looked military issue but that of a officer of commanding rank, dark grey with a single black cross on the right shoulder.

"Ah Vespa Loo, so good to see you again." The griffon greeted in a deep commanding voice. "Have you had time to consider my generous offer to buy a hundred airships?"

Vespa put herself between the griffon and Scootaloo, shielding her from view. "General _______ , I told you my husband would meet with you later on this matter and that we didn't have clearance from Canterlot to sell you that many. I also remember telling you to not visit my home for business reasons."

"Huh, it appears Scootaloo has holes in her memory pertaining to the name of that griffon." Luna said to herself as she watched.

Vespa had a look of venom on her face, it was not hard to tell that she was not even remotely fond of this black feathered acquaintance, something Luna agreed with, something about him just wasn't right.

"Calm yourself Vespa, no need to get angry in front of your foal. I'm here on a more personal note, I heard she was having a birthday in a month or so. I just wanted to tell you I will be stopping by with gifts for the little one." The black feathered griffon grinned at Scootaloo, she responded by hiding her face behind her mothers legs.

"That's...nice I suppose." Vespa still had a look on her face that screamed 'you are so not invited' but Luna figured this was a repeat customer and Vespa couldn't afford to decline him.

"Very well, sorry for the business questions earlier. I will see you in a month or so, Vespa. And you too little Scootaloo." The griffon gave a bow and walked away.

As soon as the griffon was out of earshot little Scootaloo spoke. "I don't want him at my party momma, he frightens me."

Vespa bent over and nuzzled Scootaloo affectionately. "I don't like him much either but he's our shipyards most valuable customer. Hopefully we won't have to deal with him at all, just as soon as the contracts for Stalliongrad go though we won't need him to buy anything anymore. We can just tell him where to get off and be done dealing with him."

"He scares you too momma?" Scootaloo asked.

"Yes dear, you are too young to understand why but you will one day. Would you like some lunch? I have some peach surprise in the fridge." Vespa said.

The image began to fade and another came into view. A room full of ponies surrounding a table, party hats adorned by all of them. In the center was a birthday cake with Scootaloo standing in a chair, hovering above it.

"Happy birthday dear Scootaloo, happy birth day to youuuuuuu!" The crowd sang. Scootaloo, a little overexcited at the prospect of cake dived head first into it without blowing out any of the candles, making the rest of the crowd scamper about to put out the ones that landed on the floor.

"Scootaloo you silly girl, you're supposed to blow out the candles; not eat them." Vespa laughed as she picked a few spare candles out of Scootaloo's face, blowing them out and setting them on the table.

"Sorry." Scootaloo said as she licked frosting from her face.

The rest of the ponies in the crowd had a hearty laugh, each of them beginning to put presents on the table for Scootaloo to open. One pony in particular seemed to be in a big rush, a brown haired, cream coated pegasus that Luna swore she had seen before elsewhere.

"Love to hang around mom but I need to be on the train in an hour to make it to work by tonight." The cream color pony said hastily.

"You know ______ you could just work at the shipyard instead of that dirty mechanics shop. Me and your father could schedule you in a reasonable fashion so you are home more often." Vespa suggested.

"Sorry mom but I have no altitude...err, aptitude for designing airships. We already had this argument, I want to make cars and carts for the big city." The cream colored pony said adamantly.

Vespa sighed. "Fine but do try and make some time for us and for your little sister too, for the holidays at least."

"Sure mom, I can do at least that." The cream colored pony kissed Vespa on the cheek and walked away.

"That must be Scootaloo's sister. Doesn't seem like they hated each other or anything...I wonder why Scootaloo doesn't remember her name though." Luna put her hoof to her chin. "This seems very odd, like her memory was modified at some point. If it were blanket memory damage much more would be missing but these missing names seem oddly specific."

The black griffon from before walked into the room, a present in his beak. He set it on the floor by the other presents on the far side of the room. He motioned Vespa over to a corner to speak privately, a motion she begrudgingly obliged to.

Scootaloo watched them as well but couldn't make out what they were saying over all the noise. Either that or she had also long forgotten the discussion.

"Hmmm she remembers their lip and beak movements, but I'm sure they are within earshot." Luna began to read the lips of Vespa and the unknown black griffon.

"You can't possibly be telling me that-"

"I just did. Celestia gave me a resounding no on selling you that many airships. Actually as of today our building contracts for you expired." Vespa said gladly.

"Well I guess that means we will have to form a new contract then. We can circumvent Celestia with the next contract, say, twenty ships a year for the next five years? I'm sure that is doable." The Black griffon said smugly.

"I will do no such thing, actually I want you to leave immediately and never darken my doorstep ever again. I know about your little book you wrote, I will not have such a hateful creature anywhere near my family." Vespa pointed to the door, a look of victory on her face.

"You...dare refuse my generous offer? You will make those ships for me or I will make you pay." The black griffons feathers were slightly ruffled. "Actually, how old is Scootaloo today...would be a shame if something tragic were to happen to her..."

The griffon took a hook to the face and without missing a beat Vespa hurled herself at the black griffon, kicking with her legs as hard as she could. The griffon tried to block but Vespa was absolutely livid. She ignored the fact that the black griffon was twice her size, had sharp talons, and more war experience and just plowed into him like a train, slamming him clear though the wall and into the kitchen, tumbling into the back yard. She just kept kicking, hitting every square inch of his body she possibly could until her husband pulled her off.

"Let me go! He threatened to hurt Scootaloo!" Vespa yelled.

Vespa broke free and managed to land one more clean swing across the black griffon's beak, snapping off the tip before he flew into the air, out of range. "You EVER come near Ponyville again I swear to Celestia you will not leave unless in a casket!"

"You will regret you decision Vespa. Your entire family will pay for this treachery." The black griffon flew off and the image began to dissolve.

"I can't call her reaction unwarranted. I have seen angry mares beat the tar out of dragons and house cats take on bears if their offspring were threatened like that. Something feels off though, she remembers that part but not any names." Luna closed her eyes to leave Scootaloo's mind when another noise broke her concentration.

The sky above began to darken, flames began to spring up inside Scootaloo's subconscious and an image began to form in front of Luna, one of smoke, flame and crying.

"Momma! Momma where *cough*cough* are you!?" Scootaloo was stumbling about in a torrent of thick smoke, looking for Vespa. She quickly found her but the scene nearly made Luna cry. Vespa was trapped under a large support beam, barely conscious of her surroundings.

"Momma!" Scootaloo put her hooves on the side of the beam and pushed with all her might. "Momma get up!" Scootaloo collapsed in exhaustion on the floor next to her mother. "Mom...ma."

In the smoke behind Scootaloo was a Firepony breaking through a wall but as he made it through a large section of ceiling crashed down in front of him, blocking him off from Vespa and Scootaloo.

"Sc-Scootaloo...?" Vespa stared at her daughter and then at the Firepony frantically trying to find a way through the flames. Summoning up whatever strength she had left she stood up, the weight of the lumber above her burning into her coat, grabbed Scootaloo by the scruff of her mane and with everything she had tossed her over the flames to the Firepony. She then collapsed, her last burst of strength leaving her.

The Firepony, continued to look for a way to save Vespa as he picked up Scootaloo but the entire house was coming down. He stared at Vespa and bowed his head, sorry that he couldn't reach her.

Vespa looked up and smiled. "Don't worry about me, save her. That's all that matters." Vespa closed her eyes just as more debris fell onto her. The Firepony charged at full speed toward the opening in the wall he made and jumped through. His back leg making a sickening crack as he landed on the back lawn. Scootaloo was quickly picked up by another Firepony and moved to a medic cart where she was put on an oxygen tank immediately. The image began to fizzle and fade out and Scootaloo subconsciousness began to return to normal.

Luna wiped away a tear. "If only there was some way to..." The idea of time travel had popped up in her head, she remembered reading it from one of Twilight's friendship reports but hadn't thought of a use for it until now. "No I couldn't, as sad as this is if I started using time travel to fix every tragedy then I would never get any rest. Not even counting the possibility of making a paradox." Luna pondered, was there a way to make things better for Scootaloo? She sat there and something bumped into her, a glowing green orb.

"Uh-oh." Luna recognized a defense mechanism when she saw it and it took less than a second for the orb to turn from green to red. It started to blare out a loud siren, alerting other orbs to her location.

"Shit..." Luna teleported some distance away and the orbs turned yellow and flew out in all directions, it wouldn't be long before another one collided with her. "Time to leave." Luna closed her eyes and felt her body lurch and stretch and within a few moments she sensed her hooves putting pressure on solid ground. She opened her eyes but immediately staggered forward in pain, the spot where the orb bumped into her had left a nasty burn.

"I guess I should count my blessings then. If those things hit me while red I wouldn't be alive to complain about it." Luna's horn lit up and she began to heal her wound when she heard Scootaloo beginning to stir.

"L-Luna?" Scootaloo sat up and yawned, her eyes unmoving from the wound on Luna's side. After staring at it for a few moments her eyes went wide and she hopped off the bed, running toward Luna. "Luna, you're hurt! Are you okay?" Scootaloo stared at the burn mark on Luna's side. "Do you need me to get you some antiseptic? Maybe some bandages?"

"I am quite alright Scootaloo, I've had far worse than this." Luna said.

"Where did you get it from? Did one of the candle holders in the hallway fall on you or something?" Scootaloo asked.

"I ummm..."

I can't tell her I was in her mind, not only will she most likely not forgive me for such an intrusion but it may trigger a memory relapse. I don't want to have her reliving those moments in such detail if I can avoid it.

"I ran into a particularly nasty nightmare creature. A Balor if I remember correctly." Luna lied.

"I think I read something in a fantasy book about those once. Aren't they fictional?" Scootaloo asked.

"Yes but so are most dreams, the power of a ponies mind can make them very real." Luna said. "Don't worry though it is nothing I cannot handle." Luna added after seeing Scootaloo's worried face.

"If you say so. By the way, your bed is well...strange. I feel like I rested all night but I couldn't have been asleep that long." Scootaloo looked at the bed, remembering the strange sensation of being quickly dragged into a deep sleep.

"You actually woke up a little on the early side, dawn isn't for a few more hours, which reminds me." Luna walked over to one of the closed windows and opened it wide. Light from the moon flooded into Luna's room, forcing Scootaloo to cover her eyes and squint.

"Jeez that's bright." Scootaloo said as she covered her eyes from the bright moonlight.

"I will just be a moment." Luna stepped out onto a balcony spread her wings and lifted her forelegs into the air. Her horn lit up, sending sparks all around as she slowly lowered her forelegs as if she were pushing the moon down and sure enough, the moon began to descend towards the hills, very slowly.

"Huh, your setting of the moon is just as flashy as your raising?" Scootaloo asked as Luna made her way back into her room, closing the balcony doors behind her.

"Well yes, but that one moon raising was fancier than it needed to be. Sometimes a Princess has to impress and that was one of those occasions." Luna said.

"I think you're impressive even if you didn't move the moon around like it was a beach ball." Scootaloo said in a flattering manner.

"How kind of you to say so. I oddly find it easier to get along with younger ponies of your age group, too many of the older ones here in Canterlot have their own agenda. Political cloaks and daggers if you will but we can talk more about that tomorrow at breakfast." Luna yawned. "I hope you don't mind sharing the bed with me."

"Just as long as you aren't like Sweetie Belle and snore like you have a rocket up your nose or put cold hooves on my back like Apple Bloom." Scootaloo said.

Luna gave a light giggle and motion Scootaloo up onto the bed. She then hopped up into the bed next to Scootaloo and laid down, within moments the room was silent except for the sound of two ponies breathing.

***

The next morning went by so quickly that Scootaloo barely remembered it. Breakfast was little more than a few pancakes and two bagels...mostly becuase she kind of sorta knocked an entire pan of eggs on senator Carmine of Cloudsdale moreso than anypony rushing her. It wasn't long before she found herself outside the palace with Luna, following her through the streets of Canterlot.

"I still can't believe carmine was so angry, egg yolk is a good look on him if you ask me." Luna said cheerfully.

"I didn't mean to dump the entire thing on him. I thought that little thing sticking of the front was a pair of tongs or something, not the lifting bar to take it out to clean the pan." Scootaloo said.

"You're not the only one that has made that mistake, I accidentally dropped an entire pan of spaghetti on my sister the same way. After I returned from my banishment I had no idea what all those contraptions in the cafeteria were. Gone were the wooden chairs, massive oven and long oak tables, all replaced with new things. A self heating food bar, plastic and metal chairs and tables that fold up and sit on the wall neatly." Luna said while taking a sharp turn on Sapphire avenue.

"Where are we going if you don't mind me asking? Isn't sapphire avenue like, the boring side of town?" Scootaloo asked.

Luna stopped, it completely slipped her mind that Scootaloo might not want to follow to a boring old lawyers office. Luna turned to Scootaloo and smiled. "Oh, sorry. Did you want to go home? I can teleport you real fast or get you a train ticket if you like."

"Oh, I'm not ready to go home yet, there's somepony in Canterlot I needed to talk to." Scootaloo said.

Luna raised an eyebrow curiously. While it was normal for a resident of Canterlot to have business about the city it was quite another for a country pony whom barely ever visited Canterlot to have any. "May I ask who?"

"You said we needed adult supervision for the contest and I had a pony in mind I needed to speak with." Scootaloo replied apprehensively.

"I guess I won't be able to talk you out of the contest will I? Oh well, meet me at the palace entrance after you're done and I will make sure you get home. Actually I have a better idea, come over here." Luna motioned for Scootaloo to stand in front of her and the filly obliged, although a tad reluctantly.

"I will cast a tracking spell on you. After I conclude my business in this district I will be able to find you. Canterlot is a big city, I would hate for a young filly under my supervision to get lost." Luna lowered her head and a bolt of red light wrapped around Scootaloo's neck, forming a brass and ruby necklace.

"With that I can teleport to you at any time. If you get in trouble just press the ruby inwards." Luna pointed the the ruby jewel in the center of the necklace.

"Oh, okay then. The place I need to go is on the other side of town. I'll see you later." Before Luna could ask any further questions Scootaloo took off like a rocket, disappearing into the crowds of ponies in the street.

Luna rolled her eyes. "Oh well, at least I know I can get to her if I need to. Now, where was that building..." Luna started to walk briskly down the street, looking at each address individually. "Four, eight, seven, three...ah here it is." Luna looked up but found the building less than inviting. The sign above the doorway was rusted and some of the hinges where the sign connected were beginning to crack. The windows were covered with wood planks and the front door looked as if it had seen better years.

"I'm sure this is the correct address..." Luna said."

"Princess Luna?" Said a posh voice from behind.

Luna turned around. Standing in front of her was a dashing white unicorn stallion. He was wearing a black tuxedo with a golden monocle in his pocket, had a short, wavy light blue mane and a trio of gold crowns on his flank.

I think I have seen him somewhere before, perhaps at one of my sisters parties. Luna thought.

"Oh, how terribly rude of me. I am Fancy Pants though I am sure we have seen each other before now." Fancy Pants gave a short polite bow. "I noticed that you were standing in front of this derelict building and I was curious as to why."

"Well I was told this was the G and J attorneys building but it seems I was given out of date information." Luna said.

"My word, yes. G and J attorneys were absorbed by another law firm a couple years ago. It's actually not far from here. I would be honored to show you the way." Fancy Pants bowed politely again.

"Sure, that would be very nice of you." Luna replied.

Fancy Pants trotted down the street, Luna close behind. It wasn't long before she found herself in front of another building, this time, one in much better condition.

"I don't think I've heard of this law firm before... 'Rocket Pony'?" Luna said as she stared at the sign above the door.

"Yes they are relatively new. I don't even think I ever seen them in a case before when I think about it. Might be on of those acquisitions based companies." Fancy Pants said.

"I guess I'll find out. Thank you for showing me the way Fancy Pants." Luna gave a polite bow and Fancy Pants returned the favor. She opened the door to the law firm and stepped inside. The decor was par the course for a law firm, beige carpets, white walls and a front desk made of polished oak. The receptionist pony at the front desk dropped her paperwork and rushed forward, bowing to Luna.

"My goodness gracious, what can I do for you today your highness." The Receptionist said eagerly with a hint of nervousness in her voice.

"I am looking for a lawyer by the name of Gerald, I was told his former law firm was absorbed by this one." Luna said.

The receptionist lifted her head. "Oh you can find him on the third floor, he's usually in book keeping since he handles all the companies inheritance and settlement cases."

"Thank you." Luna said before walking over to the stairs on the right side of the receptionist desk. As she climbed up the stairs she could hear arguing echoing down the stairwell.

"Eight hundred thousand bits, that is my final offer. I need to know where the youngest is, it is very important to the general." Said a deep, angry voice.

"I told you, I am under oath as a professional and a family friend. No amount of bribery is going to get me to talk. If your precious general is too stupid to find a bright yellow mare with silver hair then you have issues." The other voice replied.

"Damn you Gerald, we need to know where Scootaloo is. And her color if you can, the general knows she isn't yellow and silver." The angrier voice said.

Yellow and silver? General? he can't mean...

***

Scootaloo trekked through the dirty and greasy sidewalks of the engineering district, looking around to find her quarry. The entire area reeked of used magic exhaust, oil and spray paint. She had originally thought that finding the pony she was looking for to be an easy task but she had already forgotten the address.

"I wonder if any of the signs will jar my memory?" Scootaloo looked around, looking at each sign in hopes that one would help her remember what she was looking for.

"Big Bill's muffler repair...no. Blaine's wing adjustments and patches...no not that either." Scootaloo continued down the street until something caught her eye. A sign that read "Wild Fire's Custom Jobs." Scootaloo closed one eye in pain, her head began to hurt and she could feel the throbbing in her temples, something about the name of this shop brought back repressed memories.

Something about that sign, that tire on fire just seems familiar...

Scootaloo made her way into the work bay of the the shop, laying about the floor where a myriad of tools and parts of debatable origin and variable quality. The front desk of the shop seemed to be just as messy and unorganized as the bay, though it looked as if no pony had been in the main room in months judging from all the dust around the register.

"If your looking for modifications to any of your vehicles there is a waiting list, you can sign it over there by that stack of propellers." A cream colored pegasus pony with a dark brown mane styled in a mop top fashion was busily working under an airship engine. She focused on her work, not even making eye contact with Scootaloo.

"Ma'am?" Scootaloo's head hurt, she knew who she was after earlier but it was becoming fuzzy, as if she didn't want to remember.

The Pegasus under the engine slid out. "What's a filly doing in my-" She stood up, her eyes widened and her jaw dropped momentarily. "Sc- I mean." The pony cleared her throat. "What do you need? I don't do skateboard modifications but I can refer you to a shop that does."

Scootaloo stared at this pony for a moment, her head swimming as it made sense of where she had seen this pony before. It came to her, she knew who this pony was and where she had seen her before but part of her didn't want to remember the details.

"Big sister?" Scootaloo said.

Chapter XI: Sisterly Sacrifice

Chapter XI:Sisterly Sacrifice

Wild Fire blushed momentarily, quickly changing her tone to appear as if she misheard Scootaloo. "Are you lost, little filly? Are you looking for your parents maybe?" Wild Fire took a step back, trying her best to appear confused.

"N-no." Scootaloo replied, holding her head as if she were in great pain. "I- I think you're my big sister."

"That's not possible. I uhhh...never even seen you before." Wild Fire replied though she wasn't to sure of her own ability to lie.

I swear Gerald, I'm going to kick you square in the bean bags if that spell breaks. Wild Fire thought as she approached Scootaloo.

Scootaloo stumbled back. "No- I know you." Scootaloo closed her eyes and flash of a memories of her being hugged tightly by the pony in front of her. She started to remember a name when she heard a call in the back of her mind, the sound of her mother calling a name...

"Elly, Scootaloo, it's almost lunch time." The voice said.

"Y-you're real name, is Elly Loo." A surge of details flooded her mind, making her nearly collapse from the strain. "You're the eldest daughter of Vespa Loo and my older sister." Scootaloo stumbled and fell over, being caught by Wild Fire before she landed face first in some grease on the shop floor.

"You okay Scoo- I mean, kiddo." Wild Fire had look on her face of pure horror. She knew Scootaloo knew exactly who she was, still she had to keep up the charade just in case the spell protections triggered.

"Who are you trying to fool here? Me...or yourself." Scootaloo said wearily.

"Oh, what to do. What to do." Wild Fire realized she wasn't going to fool anypony. "Listen. I need to get you to a special doctor very soon. If you are remembering me forcefully then there's a very real chance you are going to get sick."

"I- I don't care. I finally found a living family member. I finally found out that I have a sister." Scootaloo hugged Elly, tears drenching her coat. "Why did you leave me alone all those years? Didn't you even remember me?"

Elly bit her tongue. One part of her wanted to spill the beans, to be with her sister after such a long separation but the other part was a surge of duty. Staying hidden was the best way to protect Scootaloo from the enemies she didn't even know she had.

"Spread out, find her! Our informants told us she would be somewhere in this district today. If we find the eldest then the younger will not be far off." Something was shouting outside, it sounded as if it came from above.

Elly's ears stood up and her feathers fluffed out. "That's not good, if they find me here they will definitely find her."

"Find who?" Scootaloo asked.

"No time to explain now. I need you to follow me." Elly stuck her head out the shop briefly, a trio of griffons were flying above, occasionally diving down to check on random shops all down the street. "Scootaloo, press that green button to the left of the battery. I want you to press it hard then tap the button twice."

Scootaloo looked around the floor for something green and indeed found it under a workbench by an old battery, just as Elly said. "What's going on? I don't understand." Scootaloo said.

"Listen, there are some very bad griffons after me. We need to get out of here." Elly slowly closed the bay door and locked it from the inside. "I'll explain once we are safe."

Scootaloo nodded and pressed the button as instructed. A door on the bay floor opened up, revealing what looked like and old storage cellar of some kind. Before Scootaloo could ask what was down there she felt herself be grabbed around the midsection and tossed down into the cellar where she landed with a thud. She looked up to see Elly jump down and frantically press a red button on a panel on the wall.

"Close, close damn you!" The ceiling above slowly closed, closing just as a loud bang hit the bay door.

"What's wrong?" Scootaloo said.

"Shhh, keep your voice down. One of them spotted me through little window on the bay door." Elly said as she looked toward the back of the cellar. "Keep quiet and follow me." Elly moved toward an old brown and grey door at the back of the cellar. "This used to be an old war shelter, there's a tunnel that leads out of the city and into the old mine system below it."

Next to the door was a red lever. Elly pulled on it with all her might but to no avail. "Help me with this will you?"

"Okay." Scootaloo hopped up and pulled on the lever with all her weight within moments the lever began to move but not in the way either intended it to. Instead of it coming down and opening the door the lever snapped like a twig, sending Scootaloo crashing to the ground and shards of rust all over the cellar.

"You okay?" Elly said while picking Scootaloo up, checking her for injuries.

"I'm fine but was that lever the only way out?" Scootaloo stared at the door, upon further inspection it looked horribly rusted.

*Clang*Clang*

A noise above brought Elly's attention to the room above. "Shit, they are tearing through the aluminum door." Sure enough the clangs were being replaced with the sound of sheering metal, like talons on a chalkboard.

"This isn't good." Elly backed up toward the rear of the cellar, motioning Scootaloo to follow.

"Who are those griffons?" Scootaloo asked.

"They are class S tracking agents, assassins and kidnappers if you will. They are here to take me and you, away." Elly sat down next to Scootaloo and embraced her in a hug. "Listen Scootaloo, if they find us down here I'll do my best to fight them Off. I want you to make a run to the nearest city guard you can find. No matter what don't look back and don't help me."

*Kring*

The sound of the hinges on the bay door echoed throughout the shop and soon Elly and Scootaloo could hear the sound of talons colliding with the floor above.

"Fan out, I can smell the scoundrel was here recently...or maybe she is still here."

***Meanwhile***

Luna leaned closer to the door, resiting the urge to kick the door down and confront Gerald's guest about Scootaloo. The way he was speaking about her was suspicious, but until she knew more it would be improper to ignite a confrontation.

"Come on Gerald, think of the treasures that will open once we have the keys, you could be an exceptionally rich and powerful pony." The deep angry voice said.

"That heirloom somehow found its way into your dirty claws but without Elly's cooperation it will never work. I dare say you should just return it to her family, it was never yours to take from the ruins of their home to begin with." Gerald replied, sounding extremely agitated and protective. "Now if you will please leave me to my work. We have nothing else to discuss."

Luna wondered what he could mean by heirloom, there was nothing in the history books that even mentioned such a thing. Why would the Loo family not put it in a bank where it would be safe?

"You know Gerald, our agents have discovered a few of the safe-houses of the elder sister, Elly Loo. If we cannot get the information from you then I am sure we can 'persuade' her to give us what we need."

Luna gritted her teeth angrily. She knew a threat when she heard it.The idea of Scootaloo's sister being threatened or hurt infuriated her to no end. Black shadows began to flow around Luna's horn, the floor began to warp under her and even the paint on the walls was peeling off and setting fire. Luna focused her magic on the door and with a twist of her head ripped it clean off the hinges.

"You will do no such thing!"Luna roar. Luna stomped into the room, her magic singeing some of the papers around her. Some of the older books began to smoulder.

"P-princess Luna! Calm down please, some of these records are irreplaceable!" Gerald shouted as he tried to stamp out some fo the flames.

Luna noticed a flash of feathers make for the window but she quickly grabbed whatever it was with her magic and flung it out into the hallway, slamming it up against the wall behind her. Luna turned around to confront a large muscular built orange and grey griffon in what looked like military attire.

The griffon coughed, clutching his chest in pain. "H-how dare you attack a delegate of the griffon kingdom, I have diplomatic immunity! I will see you hang-" The griffon looked up into the white glowing eyes of Luna and went silent, his beak quivering with fear.

"No, Please go on about how you Equestrian granted immunity protects you getting your hide roasted by me." Luna said. Luna scorched the wall next to the griffon with her magic. "No, please. by all means attack me. I dare you."

"Luna, don't. Breaking diplomatic immunity would cause an international incident of astronomical proportions." Gerald complained.

Luna turned to Gerald. "I don't care Gerald. You may be willing to let this scoundrel threaten an Equestrian citizen but I will not stand for it." Luna turned her head back to the terrified griffon. "You have exactly thirty seconds to tell me where your companions are before I teleport you to the dungeons and forget where I placed the key."

"I-I can't, I'm not privy to the location of *gurk*"

Luna lifted the griffon up by the throat with her magic and slammed his head into the wall.

"Please stop, I don't know anything!" The griffon begged.

"Princess Luna! I will not have you doing such barbarous things in this law firm! I demand you cease this at once!" Gerald stepped forward, his chest puffed out only to receive an angry glare from Luna, making him step back fearfully.

"If you cooperate I will let you go free, but if I so much as get a hint that you are lying, it's off to the dungeons with you." Luna sat down staring angrily at the griffon who just barely managed to pull himself up from the crumpled heap he was earlier.

"T-They said they were starting with the safe-house in this district then moving on the the shop district and eventually the airship docks. We heard she has multiple safe houses in this city and in the countryside." The griffon looked at the open window behind Luna but thought better of trying to escape, less he end up slammed against another wall.

Luna fired a spell at the griffon and in an instant he was gone.

"Luna! What did you do to him!" Gerald protested.

Luna turned to Gerald, her eyes going back to normal. "I wiped his memories of this event and sent him back to the border between Equestria and the griffon lands, without any of his identification or passports." Luna levitated a passport and a diplomat ID card in front of her and set it on fire with her magic.

"I am astonished at your lack of manners, Luna." Gerald protested.

"Good, but you should be disgusted at yourself for letting him threaten an equestrian citizen like that." Luna said.

"I deal with some of the worst of the worst criminals in Equestria, I hear talk like that all the time. So much so that the royal guard stopped bothering to investigate such things but that aside who is going to pay for the damages you caused?" Gerald pointed to the singed papers behind him and then to busted wall opposite the door.

"I'll deal with that later. I need to make an appointment with your for this afternoon. You can work out the specifics but it needs to be today. In the meantime I need to find Scootaloo." Luna Closed her eyes and searched for the location of the necklace Scootaloo was wearing.

"Princess? Is this to do with the Loo estate by chance? You know I'm not allowed to say certain things about it, at least not while under contract." Gerald said.

"I don't care Gerald, Scootaloo's safety is my primary concern. I will grant whatever immunities you need to spill the beans." Luna found a trace of the necklaces magic on the opposite side of Canterlot. It seemed to be underground slightly and the condition of the user was...panic. Pure panic.

"Very well Luna I-" before Gerald could finish his sentence, Luna disappeared in a puff on blue smoke.

"Well then, I guess I get the fun part of cleaning feathers, ash and blood off the floors and walls." Gerald grumbled.

***

"Sir I have found a switch of some sort." One of the griffons yelled, pointing at a switch on the floor near an old battery. "Shall I press it?"

"Hold it, the last time we pressed one of her hidden switches I was tared and feathered by the triggered trap. You know how hard it was to discern the tarred feathers from my own? I spent the next week in pain trying to get it all off of me." One of the other griffons complained.

"Stand aside, I will press the button." The griffon stepped on the switch and the floor moved under them ever so slightly.

"A Hidden room perhaps?" One of them asked another.

"I don't know, this is an engineering bay. Maybe it is just a broken jack of some sorts?" Another pondered.

Below them Scootaloo and Elly had their ears up against the wall, listening in on the griffons conversations.

"Well at least the override held out, but if they keep jabbing at it it just may give anyhow." Elly said in a low whisper.

"Why's that?" Scootaloo asked.

"The circuitry and hydraulics for this building are close to fifty years old now. They could short it out and it would go to emergency mode, meaning it will open up." Elly looked over at the old circuit box on the wall.

"Couldn't you fix it to where it doesn't?" Scootaloo said while staring at the circuit box across the room.

"Maybe if I had been smart enough to bring a tool or two with me down here, but even if I did it would leave us with another problem, being trapped down here." Elly put her ear back on the wall.

"Sir the switch is sparking, I think we may have shorted it out!" One of the griffons said in surprise.

"Well don't stand near it you imbecile. The last thing I need is to have to carry one of your hides to the infirmary for electrical shock."

"Shit!" Elly said louder than she wanted, quickly covering her mouth. "Double shit!" she whispered soon after.

"Did you hear that commander? I think there's something below us." One of the griffons said and is clawed at the floor.

"I heard it, and I would know that foul mouthed voice anywhere. You hear me 'Wild Fire' you will not get away like last time." The largest and most decorated of the griffons began to stamp on the button under the table and slowly the floor began to slide back bit by bit. Enough to where one of them could get a claw down to help pry it back.

"Listen, the second that thing is open enough I'm going to fight them, I want you to fly away as fast as you possibly can." Elly walked up underneath the claw that was pressing the ceiling back, jumped up and bit down on the griffons leg, hard.

"Ahhh! Dirty little!" One of the griffons pulled his leg out from the opening and blew on his leg. "She bit me sir, that little runt bit me!"

"Sis I can't fly!" Scootaloo whispered.

"Sonuva... okay then plan B, bluffing them, then you run." Elly whispered back.

"Hey jerkfaces! I have a ten thousand watt Tesla coil down here with your name on it if you open up that door any further." Elly yelled.

"Sir? How should we proceed?" One of the griffons asked, a hint of nervousness in his voice.

"You won't be." Another deep, female voice came from behind them and when the griffons turned around they were within spitting distance of Luna.

"You have exactly ten seconds to run before I put my size eight horse shoe right up each and every one of your behinds." Luna stepped forward, her eyes beginning to glow hot white.

"I don't know what you're talking about Princess. As you can see me and my consulate members were just investigating this abandoned shop for a possible purchase. The old embassy is getting a bit cramped lately." The commander of the griffons said as he stepped forward, flashing his diplomatic badge.

"You are not fooling anypony here. I managed to extract some information from one of your comrades about your purpose here. like I said, you have ten seconds to leave before I start busting heads." Luna said as she began to mouth a countdown.

"Don't be fooled, she's just the weaker pampered younger sister of Celestia, she's no threat to us. Besides, we have diplomatic immunity, she can't do anything to us without causing an international incident." One of the lower rank griffons said arrogantly.

"You have a point. There are four of us and only one of her. There is no way a pampered princess can beat the griffon kingdoms finest." The griffons quickly spread out in a frontal arc across the bay doorway as to not all be directly in Luna's line of fire.

"Back down princess or we will be forced to ...deal with you in the most unpleasant of manners." One of the griffons flashed his large sharp talons in a threatening manner.

"Are you all touched in the head?" Luna smiled. "You have no idea what you're getting yourself into."

Down below, Elly and Scootaloo were listening through the crack in the ceiling.

"Is that princess Luna? What in blazes is she doing here?" Elly asked.

Scootaloo shrugged and then remembered the necklace she was wearing. "Oh, I think she sensed I was in distress from the necklace she gave me."

"Oh, you're friends with the princess? I thought you just had gaudy fashion sense." Elly said jokingly.

"We have to get out there and help her. I don't want to see her get hurt." Scootaloo said while staring at the over ride button.

"And what do you expect to do exactly? The only reason I was going to attack them is they need me and you both alive and can't use full force. Normal griffons are bad enough but those agents could seriously injure, even kill a full grown pegasus with ease." Elly said.

"She's most certainly right, Scootaloo." Scootaloo jumped up, looking for where the voice she just heard came from.

"Settle down sis, it came from your necklace." Elly said while pointing at the gem in the necklace, which had taken on a red glow.

"Luna? Are you sure you shouldn't just run away or call some guards or something?" Scootaloo asked.

"No, these mongrels will learn the hard way." Luna replied.

Up above the ground began to shake, arcs of black lightning began to dance across the street around Luna's hooves. The griffons around her suddenly had a change of heart, a couple of them backing away.

"Sir, she looks dangerous." One of them said.

"Non-sense, our unicorn power index put her at just over a thousand points, much stronger than normal but still only enough to take on a couple of our agents at most." The lead griffon charged forward only to be knocked back but a blue bubble of purest black that had formed around Luna.

A pair of white hot eyes shined though the black mist around Luna's body and soon a piecing cold voice echoed though the street. "Do you really think your trinkets can judge the true nature of my power? That toys made in a single mortal lifetime can even fathom the kind of power obtained through centuries of discipline?" A cruel laugh echoed down the street, sending shivers down the griffons spines. Some of the shop owners down the street stepped out to see what all the commotion was only to immediately retreat into their shops, closing the metal shutters with utmost haste.

"Screw the theatrics, take her!" The lead griffon commander charged forward with two other agents, the fourth taking to the skies for a possible aerial attack but as the group got to the outside of Luna's bubble it popped, sending a wave of shadow in all directions. Large chunks of concrete and asphalt where flung clear though building walls, steel shutter doors whined and warped with the pressure wave given off by Luna and her attackers ended up scattered around the street. Moments later her body erupted in a puff of black smoke and the night sky above began to grow dark.

***

Celestia picked up her cup of tea as she settled down to read the newspaper when she felt a surge of magic around her horn, snapping the teacup into little pieces.

"Luna?"

Celestia ran to the nearest window and opened it, she had felt this surge of power before, knew it all too well the first time it happened. Looking over the city she could see dark clouds forming not to far from the airship docks. "No, she's out of her mind, she's letting her emotions get the best of her!" Celestia dived out the window, spreading her wings and flying as fast as she could toward the airship docks.

I pray she doesn't lose control. I told her not to use that power unless her life is threatened.

Elsewhere other Unicorns where beginning to feel the same thing as Celestia. Dinky, while working her duties for extra credit dropped a cake on the floor in the hallway.

"What's wrong lassie?" Red asked as she helped the filly up.

"I feel something...something terrible and heavy. It feels like it can suck the sun right out of the sky!" Dinky began to sweat nervously.

"I think yer just feeling the effects of too much pie, I told ya that last bit of pumpkin pie looked funny." Red said as she picked up Dinky and set her on her back. "I'll get ya to the infirmary."

***

*Pffft* Fancy Pants spewed out tea onto the ground and began to cough uncontrollably.

"Dear are you alright..." Fleur Dis Lee began to stumble but was quickly caught by a still coughing Fancy Pants.

"You feel it too don't you dear?" Fancy Pants said as he managed to walk Fleur over to a chair, setting her down before pulling out a handkerchief to clean around his mouth.

"What is that, it's...so overwhelming." Fleur felt a tingling feeling in her horn coming from the other side of town.

"It kind of feels like Princess Luna but far more primal and far heavier." Fancy Pants set his handkerchief on the table and looked up, the sky above the other side of Canterlot was turning black as night.

"Oh my..."

***

"Ow, what was that for, egghead?" Rainbow Dash said as she rubbed a spot on her head where a wrench just hit her from above.

"You're not feeling what I am Rainbow. I remember feeling this before, in the Everfree Forrest, a terrible power the evening of the day we first met. But this time it feels stronger, far more heavy than before. It even dwarfs Celestia's power..." Twilight Sparkle stared out the garage door toward Canterlot, sweat running down her face.

"Hey egghead, I came here to help you with the suspension on this wreck, not stare starry eyed out the- oh, wow..." Rainbow Dash stared out the garage door at Canterlot and the ominous black cloud that had formed over one side of the city. "What is that, Twilight?"

"Luna." Twilight replied as she looked down on Rainbow Dash. "Or more accurately, Nightmare Moon."

***

The lead griffon fell the the ground, gasping for air as the whole atmosphere around him felt as it it was made of liquid iron. It was unbearably hot, as if they were in a volcano and as the smoke cleared he saw his comrades were faring no better. One of them was out cold, struck in the head by what looked like a solid fragment of concrete from the street. His other two comrades were nursing injuries of their own, one had a toe on his claw blown clear off and the other seemed to be pulling himself out the side of a building or; judging by how warped the building was, a former building.

The smoke in front of him was popping and cracking. Bolts of black electricity shot out, occasionally knocking out a street light or blowing out a tail light on someones parked scooter. As he staggered to his feet he began to perform the silent signal to his companions for a full retreat when a voice called out from the smoke cloud in front of him. A voice so cold that it made him freeze in something he had not felt in a long time; fear.

"Leaving so soon?" the voice said, making his heart skip a beat.

The smoke cleared and before him stood not princess Luna but a mare of blackest night, one much taller and thinner than Luna. not only was she taller and lightly built but she donned ornate light blue armor, a helmet that covered the top of her head down to her snout and all the way back down her neck. It had little openings on the top for her ears and horn, which was far different to Luna's; it was thinner, longer and ended in a sharp point. Her chest was covered by armor that had many open spots on it and a crescent moon in the center. Her legs also had what appeared to be shin guards.

"Sir, that isn't Princess Luna. We have no data on reports of such a creature." One of the griffons said as he pulled out a strange looking scanning device.

The commander wasn't convinced. It had the same mane as Luna and he had heard rumors that the Princess could transform but not exactly what she looked like when she did.

"Not Luna you say?" The black mare said as she spread her black wings and opened her eyes. "There are only three known Alicorns in existence. My sister Celestia, Princess Cadence and myself, although I go by another name while in this form."

"So that old tale is true, Nightmare Moon does exist." The commander said.

"Sir? I don't follow." on of the other griffons said as he scanned the air with a strange device.

"There is a legend that there was a creature that nearly killed Celestia many centuries ago. I believe this is the creature in question."

"Sir, you're overreacting. My scanner puts her power index at only one thousand and six. There are high range unicorns stronger than that." The griffon looked at his device, something was off.

"Hah! One thousand and six? I can take something that weak in my sleep!" The griffon missing a toe lunged forward, his front leg outstretched as he reached for Nightmare Moon's throat.

"No, stop!" The commanding griffon yelled.

"Impudent mortal!" A flash of black light hit the charging griffon, lifted him into the air and slammed him into the street so hard that his body slid back a couple yards, taking several inches of asphalt with him before he came to a rest next to the commander.

"I figured, she was hiding the bulk of her power to lure us into a false sense of security." The commander leaned over his fallen comrade and checked his pulse.

"Sir, it appears in my dazed condition that I ummm, fumbled the power index calculation a bit. I uhhh...was kind of holding it upside down. her power index is over nine thousand."

"What!? Nine thousand!" The commander shouted.

"And I'm not even remotely warmed up." Nightmare Moon jogged in place, clearly mocking her attackers. "Come now, you can do much better than that."

Sweat began to roll down the commanders face. There are greater elder dragons, ones thousands of years old that can't even hold a candle to her power. He stared into Nightmare Moon's eyes, her snake-like unblinking and cold emerald eyes. This wasn't anything like Luna. Those were not the eyes of a benevolent ruler, but those of a mare that would kill them without so much as a second thought. There were two options left for him and his still functional comrade; fight a losing battle or retreat and leave the others to this creatures mercy.

"Retreat, there is no victory here." The commander said.

"But sir, what about our comrades?" The other griffon said as he pointed out the other two unconscious griffons.

"Leave them, Equestrian interrogation tactics are weak and even if they managed to get info out of them it's not like they know anything anyhow." The commander nodded at his subordinate and they both took to the air.

"Really now? You act all tough, attack a being many times more powerful than you, try to kidnap a filly under my supervision and yet you still think you can get away with it." Nightmare Moon unfurled her wings and arched her back legs when a shout from behind her made her stop cold.

"Princess Luna!" Celestia was up in the sky, glaring down on Luna with white hot eyes.

Nightmare Moon turned around and glared at Celestia. "Do you mind? I was busy capturing fillynappers."

Scootaloo peeked out the floor to see what was going on. Celestia was angry, really angry. Her mane and tail where completely different, they looked as if they were made of fire. Her body changed as well, little sparks of white fire occasionally licked of her coat and her body was covered in what looked like armor made of dried lava covering her body in the same way Luna's armor did.

"Even so, did you need to resort to using THAT power? You know how hard it is for you to control yourself in that form." Celestia said sternly.

"Why do you always underestimate me? I was using my power for the greater good and yet you still berate me?" Luna replied with a snarl.

"Look around you. If you had been just a second late with reining in your power at the end of the transformation you would have injured every pony within a city block, even killed some of the ones closer to you." Celestia pointed to how all the building around Luna had started to buckle forward, many of them missing doors and windows.

While Luna's attention was centered on Celestia the two remaining griffons took flight. Moving though the sky with the utmost haste.

"But I didn't now did I? Your pestering allowed those fillynappers to get away." Luna puffed her wings angrily.

Scootaloo crawled out of the hidden room, much to Elly's surprise. "Are you out of your mind? It's super dangerous out there. Those two look like they are about to butt heads and you will be in the middle of it!"

"I know, I fight with my friends sometimes too. That's why I have to break this up before it gets past arguing." Scootaloo ran into the street and inhaled deeply.

"Are you stupid or something!?" Elly Yelled behind Scootaloo, trying to fit through the small opening but unable to get through.

"Stop IT!" Scootaloo yelled.

Nightmare Moon turned around, her eyes glowing white. "Who dares yells at me to-" She stopped mid sentence. In the middle of the street was the very filly she nearly committed murder to protect. "I- I'm." Nightmare Moon closed her eyes. Her black coat slowly fading back to the night blue, her armor falling off and evaporating in a puff of smoke and when she opened her eyes it was not the cold sharp emerald eyes, replaced with the soft dark cyan of Princess Luna.

"Luna?" Scootaloo asked apprehensively.

"Yes. I'm...sorry for that outburst. Keeping my temper in check in that form is...difficult, to say the least." Luna smiled as she approached Scootaloo. "But I'm glad to know you're safe from those filly nappe-"

Before either Luna or Celestia could react one of the formerly knocked out griffons grabbed Scootaloo around the waist and held a single talon to the young fillies throat.

"Stay where you are or the filly gets it!" The griffon pressed his talon against Scootaloo's throat, drawing a small amount of blood in the process.

Luna bared her teeth and her coat began to darken again. Her cold voice echoing down the street as she gritted her teeth in rage. "If you so much as even move to execute your plan...let's just say that I will leave you in a void, begging for death for the rest of eternity!"

Celestia swooped down, her molten armor blocking Luna's approach. "Calm yourself Luna! This is not the kind of situation to be using brute force."

Luna paused then sat down on her haunches seeming to realize that her power wouldn't make a hostage situation any better.

"Good, allow me to handle this." Celestia turned to the griffon and began to transform back into her usual self. First the molten armor falling off and evaporating. Then followed by her mane, tail and eyes returning to their normal, rainbow colors. "Tell me what I need to do for you to let that filly go."

The griffon thought for a moment, moving his claw from Scootaloo's throat. "My wing is busted. I need a flight out of here. I let the kid go and umm...." the griffon looked around until he spotted a small, single engine prop plane parked in a garage on the opposite end of the street.

The griffon pointed down the street at the plane. "I want that vehicle towed to the edge of this district to the runway, provisions for a couple days an-"

*Thunk*

The griffon swayed back and forth and then collapsed on his side, unconscious. Luna taking advantage of the moment, fired a beam from her horn, quickly teleporting Scootaloo to her side.

"Why do the bad guys always have to be long winded and never check their backs?" Elly was standing up on her back legs with what looked like a bumper jack grasped firmly between her front legs. "I mean really, I couldn't possibly have been louder lugging this thing around." Elly tossed the bumper jack on the ground and spit on the unconscious body of the griffon she had just knocked out. "Jerk, lucky I couldn't find the bolt gun in my shop. No pony threatens my little sister like that."

Luna stared at this pompous pegasus for a moment. She knew she had seen her somewhere...or sometime before. "Wait, I know you."

"As do I. Luna, I want you to get them to a safe place in the castle. I need to stay here and deal with the torrent of reporters that's bound to show up." Celestia looked up and down the street and sighed. "And all the property damage."

"Agreed. Shall I summon the guards to pick up the would be filly nappers?" Luna said as she stared at the two unconscious griffons on the street.

"No, if I know my elite guard they should be here right about..."

Suddenly a dozen gold armored Pegasus swooped down from the sky and landed right next to Celestia, each one standing at attention and saluting her.

"Now." Celestia said while smiling. "Sargent Bricks, you're all of half a second late. What kept you?"

"Sorry your majesty, me and the men had taco night last night and lets just say the latrine is going to need a plumber soon." The Sargent looked around the street. "I'm assuming these griffons are the trouble makers?"

"Yes. I want them in class S lock down after you have a medic treat their wounds." Celestia said.

"And the mare next to the bumper jack?" Bricks asked.

"She is under Royal protection until further notice, same goes for the filly next to Luna as well." Celestia pointed at Scootaloo and the Sergeant nodded in agreement.

"As you wish." The royal guards said in unison.

"Luna, move both of them to my personal quarters. I will need to speak with them shortly about...well, where she has been." Celestia glanced towards Elly.

Luna nodded in agreement.

Elly seemed apprehensive, as if she knew explaining herself was going to be difficult but a welcoming wave from Scootaloo eased her nerves and she approached Luna.

"Don't worry Elly. Luna is not a bad pony, she doesn't bite...well, I guess she more explodes but that's ...kind of a different thing." Scootaloo said as she tried to reassure Elly that nothing bad was going to happen.

Luna turned away, blushing. "Well, I ummm...I guess filly napping is one of my buttons."

Elly walked up beside Luna and bowed gracefully before her. "If you hadn't shown up when you did, I'm not sure I could have fended them off. I can always out fly them but I wasn't expecting my sister to find me today."

"You are welcome but you have some explaining to do, come." Luna nodded for Elly to get on her right side.

Elly apprehensively got on the other side of Luna and closed her eyes. "Make it quick, I never did get used to moving around this way.

Luna nodded and with a puff of smoke they teleported away.

Celestia sighed, Crowds of reporters began to flood down the street as well as ponies coming out of their buildings. Some of them distraught, others absolutely livid about the damage Luna had caused. "Bricks, you did bring my royal checkbook with you right?"

Bricks pulled out a gold and silver checkbook from under his breastplate. "I grabbed it when I was informed your sister was involved. Property damage is kind of her thing I hear."

Celestia rolled her eyes as the first few reporter ponies began to shove microphones in her general direction. "Undoubtedly."

***

"So, can't you just tell me why you never visited? Or why being my older sister you didn't try and live with me? Or why you so much as didn't send a letter? Or why I didn't even-" Scootaloo was cut off by a popping sound behind her. She turned her head to the sound to find Celestia had entered the room, her mane ragged and bags beginning to form under her eyes.

"Luna, you allowance will have to be cut. Mine as well, my hoof is killing me from writing all the checks to fix the damage you caused." Celestia walked over to a pillow on the floor and collapsed into it.

"We have been waiting patiently for your arrival. Elly had requested a elderly unicorn to come and cast a spell on her. At first I didn't allow it but she told me that a spell she put on herself disallowed her to speak of certain events. A binding silence spell of sorts." Luna looked at Elly suspiciously. "Or a way to erase memories."

"Enough of that Luna, conspiracy theories will not help anypony here. Elly, after the fire killed most of your family, you disappeared. Can you tell us why you left when your family needed you?" Celestia said softly.

Elly sat up, her ears folded back. "What I say must not leave this room, if it ever got out me..and my sister would never have a moments peace."

Celestia's eyes fell on Luna whom nodded in agreement at the same time with her.

Elly took a deep breath. "Soon after the fire and funerals I had an argument with grandma over who would take care of Scootaloo. She told me that she was the better candidate for the job, due to a misprint in the paper stating she had also perished in the fire, that I would be a prime suspect for the griffons pursuing me and Scootaloo."

"Wait...those griffons today have been pursuing you for that long? " Luna asked.

"I am intrigued as well. More so as to why then how long. Or why you never bothered to contact me personally. You must have known your parents could call an audience with me at any time of the day or night and that I would afford you that courtesy as well." Celestia added.

Elly sighed. "Before the fire, dad had completed his prototype airship. A ship he said he should of never designed but did so on your behalf, Celestia."

Celestia stood up and shook her head. "I remember that day, he was vehemently against my request."

"Request? What request?" Luna asked.

Celestia sighed and walked up to the fire on the far side of the room. "A few years before the disaster that befell the Loo family we were having...troubles with the dragon clans south of our borders. Our tacticians and informants told me that even with my power as a fallback for our forces that we couldn't hope to win if they declared war." Celestia lowered her head somberly. "The senate had come to a unanimous decision but I was the one who had to make the final decision. The decision to fund the design of an airship of war."

Luna gasped and stood up angrily. "But the agreement between the griffon kingdoms and Equestria doesn't permit such a thing to be created. I was there when we signed that blasted document!"

"Calm yourself Luna. I am well aware that I was breaking agreements. I didn't want to but at the time the dragons were massing their forces for war. We had to make preparations for the worse case scenario. A scenario that I managed to solve a few months later."

"Explain." Luna said, laying down on a pillow.

"I learned that the leader of the dragons, Tiamat, was a prideful leader and would duel any challenger. So I challenged him to a duel over the Sah'kris desert and he accepted." Celestia said.

"Why such an open battlefield? Dragons are very fast fliers and even an adolescents breath can melt stone, surely that would be the last thing you would like to...oh wait." Luna put her hoof over her face. "I almost forgot about that."

Celestia smiled. "Dragons fire may be lethal but I can absorb it without a sweat in my other form. I picked an open field becuase I knew he couldn't resist taking shots at a large white target in the open air. That he would continue to try and bake me with his fire. That even though elder dragons are fast, they turn like a cow in a shopping cart."

"I suspect you won?" Luna said.

"Barely. I managed to use his own fire on him but her managed to hit me with a large stone before my victory, leaving a large cut under my right wing." Celestia lifted up her right wing and parted the fur and feathers to show a deep scar going down the length of her wingspan. "Only Luna has ever wounded me worse than this. It is only the second time in my life that I had bled."

Luna tried to look away from the wound, although the other two were quite interested in her story and her wound.

"After I had defeated him I had him agree to a binding contract spell. Him and his followers were bound to never make war with Equestria or any nation allied with us for as long as he lives or maintained leadership." Celestia sat back down on her pillow. "Sadly the senate had already allocated the funds and the ship was very far into the design process."

"Dad called it 'Project Ragnarok'. He tried many times to derail it but in the end the senate pushed him to complete it with the funds they allocated." Elly interrupted.

"Exactly, but before it was due to go though testing I put my hoof down. We did not need a war machine and even though the senate resisted I managed to pull enough votes to have the airship stored in a safe place." Celestia said.

"Why not just outright veto it?" Luna asked.

"I try to do things in a less monarch way that in the past Luna. A veto in this day and age would be a right pain in the flank to deal with. I would lose many allies in the senate doing that. Though if I needed to I would have." Celestia said.

"Dad, never the one to waste things created two halves of a locket. Both of them magically sealed unless two members of the Loo family willfully put them together. Doing so would reveal the hidden location of the airship." Elly explained.

"When did they come up missing?" Celestia asked.

"The lockets were in our home the night the fire started. They disappeared after the fire had settled." Elly said in an aggravated tone. "Some unknown faction of the griffons have both lockets, that is why they are after me and you."

"I don't understand. How did they find out about such a device?"

"I don't know. A lot of things never made sense to me or grandma but we had a suspicion that your court had spies in it. What's worse is whomever is pulling the strings of those griffons today has possession of both lockets." Elly said.

"Wait, the only griffon anywhere near your home during the time of the fire was-" Luna stopped mid sentence and watched as Celestia grit her teeth.

"General Ivan Vukov, it must be him. He was one of the few foreign customers your parents had. Exporting dozens of commercial airships to the griffon kingdoms." Celestia said.

"I thought that too at first but it turns out he was being inspected by customs at the boarder when the fire started. He was nowhere near our home. At least, that's what the Police ponies told us when I asked about it." Elly said. "I don't believe it though. Mom did hand him his ass on a platter earlier that day. Still It's kind of hard to set a fire yourself from hundred of miles away."

Everypony fell silent for a short time, each trying to figure out what griffons aside from Vukov could have possibly gotten a hold of the lockets. Each time one of them had an idea it was immediately shot down due to logistical issues. Either the griffon in question was already accounted for or far away from Equestrian soil. The only griffon near that might have known about the project was Vukov.

"I guess we will have to figure the who later." Luna said as she rubbed her temples.

"Agreed. Though I think Vukov is good start." Celestia said.

"I have a few questions of my own for big sis." Scootaloo said. "Like why I couldn't remember you until I met you in person.

"Scootaloo I...I had your memories of me erased in their entirety or at least I thought they were. Gerald hired the mage and he seemed to do a less than admirable job." Elly said glumly.

"Why?! Why would you do such a terrible thing!" Scootaloo cried as she grabbed Elly around the shoulders and shook her.

"Clam down Scootaloo, allow her the room to explain." Celestia said softly.

"After the funeral me and grandma had...something of a falling out. I wanted to take on the burden of raising you myself but she kept telling me that doing so would destroy my career as a mechanic as there was practically no work for my specialty in Ponyville. I tried to argue the point when it was revealed that the lockets were missing. No pony but a few family members knew the secret behind it but the lockets could only ward discovery spells for so long. Whoever stole them would find out what they needed to do within a couple years at best." Elly sighed.

"You...wanted to be with me?" Scootaloo said tearfully.

A tear ran down Elly's face. "Yes, but duty prohibited it. I hired a lawyer though a law firm to go about purging your memories of me. I then set up a un-plotable spell on you, granny and made myself the secret keeper. I then put a binding contract spell between myself and granny, meaning that even if I was discovered I couldn't give the location of Scootaloo or grandma." Elly explained.

"That explains the mage you had in here earlier. You needed to remove certain protections from yourself or face the consequences." Luna said.

"She didn't avoid the consequences Luna. She broke a fundamental law of magic with all those crossed spells; a spell must always have a counter, be it physical or magical. Locking it the way she did created a loop that made it unbreakable so long as neither of them ever spoke." Celestia interjected.

"She's right. There is a very terrible consequence that combination of spells has, accelerated aging. Grandma aged four times faster than she normally would have. This eventually broke the un-plotable spell at the cost of grannies life." Elly wiped a tear away from her eye.

The room was silent for what seemed like an eternity until Scootaloo spoke up. "So...grandma died becuase of me?"

Elly stood up, her ears perked. "No, no, no! Never think such things! Granny knew the risks associated before that loop was made. She did it of her own volition to protect you. The griffons stopped searching Ponyville for you becuase of her sacrifice."

"You made a dangerous sacrifice yourself, Elly Loo." Celestia said. "Instead of finding a secret keeper yourself, you made yourself bait for them to chase after."

Elly nodded. "I had to. After grandma died I set up a living expenses account in my name but had the money delivered though multiple agencies to Scootaloo every month. Even the royal bank of Equestria has its spies. If the money from our inheritance was disappearing with no trace of me then said bankers could be threatened to reveal Scootaloo's location."

"But since it was moving at a slow pace and though different hooves it was difficult to trace." Luna said.

"That and I revealed myself to them intentionally. Having them go after a much harder target instead of filly napping what they would consider target practice." Elly nuzzled up against Scootaloo. "No offense but a pegasus that can't fly is kind of lacking means of escape."

"So...now that the cat's out of the bag does that mean these griffons will chase after us both?" Scootaloo asked.

"No, it means the exact opposite. Elly Loo, you should have trusted me to handle her protection in the first place. What you did could have not only caused irreparable damage to Scootaloo's mind but put others in harms way." Celestia said sternly as she stood up. "However, to keep Scootaloo's identity not only a secret but evade forces that work in the shadows for so long is admirable."

"I think what my long winded sister is getting at is that you made a great sacrifice that you never needed to make to begin with. The royal guard would have easily handed those griffons their rear ends on a bun if we had known she was being chased." Luna stood up as well, stretching her wings.

"You don't get it do you?" Elly said pridefully. "The Loo family has always valued individualism over anything else, I even had my father write me out of his will becuase true Loo's do not like handouts. I wanted my little sister to at least grow up in a peaceful town where the press, royalty, enemies and beggars wouldn't harm or spoil her. I could have used the royal guard as a crutch but if Scootaloo hadn't found me then they would still be chasing me and she would be nothing but an afterthought, a phantom they could never track down."

Elly folded her ears back. "No. Though all those reasons are valid the real reason I did them is becuase I was stupid. I was just a young pony, barely of age to work full time jobs. The combination of my own stupid pride and the loss of everypony I ever loved scared me. I kept making one stupid decision after another. My fear and pride is what made everything worse. I didn't realize that I was playing right into their claws, that they knew exactly how I would have reacted."

Celestia and Luna glanced at one another and then back at Elly. "Everypony makes mistakes. We both have made terrible mistakes, ones we still regret to this very day. The important part is that you learn from those mistakes." Celestia said softly.

"No! I continued to hurt myself for Scootaloo's sake. I was hoping that one day I..I would die so I would stop hurting and they would stop chasing after us. I...I..." Elly began to sob uncontrollably.

Scootaloo edged up close to Elly and embraced her in a hug. "It's alright. I know that feeling, the feeling of keeping all those emotions bottled up for so long. You never got over our parents deaths did you?"

Elly wiped her tears, still sobbing sporadically. "N-no. Grandma was set in the old ways and kept telling me that I had to be strong. That I couldn't show the world an ounce of weakness or it would eat me alive. I had nothing of my parents or family left. They didn't even find the corpses after the fire. I just kept it bottled up inside."

Luna raised an eyebrow for a moment, Celestia noticing her reaction and nodding as well.

Elly hugged her sister tightly. "That's in the past now though. I promise to never leave your side ever again." Elly dried her tears when she remembered something. "Odd question, how did you find me? Or even remember me for that matter? I was told that forcefully remembering me could trigger a coma."

"If my knowledge of spells remains correct. I believe it requires the presence of Celestial level magic to weakest the after effects of certain spells. Maybe Luna's proximity to Scootaloo softened the blow, maybe even repaired the memories passively." Celestia said while winking slyly at Luna.

Luna blushed slightly but quickly turned her head away, doing her best to look innocent. Shit...she knows there's only a couple of ways that happens for a mental spell. I"m so getting a lecture from her later. Luna thought to herself as she tried to avoid eye contact with Celestia.

"That explains the how but doesn't really explain why."

"I started to have dreams about the district you were in. Really fuzzy ones and I figured if I went there I could find a solution to our engineering woes. You didn't appear in any of my dreams until I had a dream while sleeping on Luna's bed." Scootaloo said. "It was really vivid too. Mom was there but there was a scary part that was hot and really really blurry too."

Luna continued to avoid eye contact from Celestia. Well...fuck. She thought to herself.

Originally I was gonna just hire any old engineer to help but after that dream I had to find you. I knew somewhere deep down you were in Canterlot. Luna told me needed an extra crew member for my team and that it had to be an adult, for supervision purposes. I figured if mom knew you then you might know me too. So I asked around Canterlot and somepony with an eye patch directed me to your shop. I was hoping to hire you to help us with construction and testing." Scootaloo explained.

"That would be old Dale. I know almost every mechanic in Equestria by name, I tell them only to send me reputable customers. I guess he saw a little filly as reputable. Or at least not a threat." Elly said.

"I was wondering why you went to such an odd district but sadly I will have to disband your team entirely." Luna said.

"Why!?" Scootaloo said.

"We can't have you at a set place everyday working on a vehicle for a silly competition. Targets that are creatures of habit will always end up as easy targets." Luna said.

"Where did you hear that from?" Elly asked.

"A spy novel of course." Luna replied.

"Actually no, that's a perfect idea." Celestia said with a sly grin on her face.

"What? Have you gone mad?" Luna yelled.

"No, hear me out on this. Hiding her away is exactly what they would expect us to do. If she's out in the open under say, your watchful eye. Well let's just say that demonstration of power you pulled earlier would scare off an army, let alone a few griffons." Celestia said.

"While it is true that I am watching over the competition, but I cannot be in all towns at once." Luna paused. "Wait, I can in a way. I can make illusion duplicates in my stead."

"Exactly. They wouldn't dare to strike again with you there. Even if they know illusions are about, they won't risk it." Celestia said.

"We could also set up protections on their home. I could make it un-plotable again, set up multiple tracking spells, have hidden guards all over town." Luna put her hoof to her chin. "Do you think all of this might be a tad excessive? I don't even think our witness protection programs have that kind of budget."

"You can use our family vault if you need extra funds. It's not like either of us really use our inheritance, short of Scootaloo's living striped that is." Elly added.

"That's very kind of you Elly but I owe your parents a monstrous debt and even if that wasn't true I would do the same for any citizen, regardless of status." Celestia said with a smile.

"It's settled then tomorrow we will-" An urgent knock at the door interrupted Luna.

"Your highness, I have urgent news to report." A deep muffled voice said from the other side of the door.

"You may enter." Celestia said calmly.

A guard that looked like he just ran a marathon entered the room. "Your highness, look what we found on the prisoners!" The guard pulled out a small piece of square gold metal and set it on the floor.

"We found this on one of the griffons we brought in this afternoon." The guard said.

"What is it? Some kind of identifying badge or communication device?" Luna asked.

"We...ran a magical analysis on it. It's worse than that, it's a mind control device." The guard said.

Luna and Celestia stared at the square of gold on the floor and then at one another.

"Things just got a LOTmore complicated, little sis." Elly said glumly.

***Elsewhere***

A tall griffon stood by a window where he watched the sun set. He was an older griffon, probably in his late fifties with jet black feathers and a beak that was oddly missing the point on the end. He wore a dark grey military jacket adorned with countless medals including a single black cross on the shoulder area with a skull in the center. He slowly picked up a cigar on the table and put it in his beak. Her then lifted her right leg off the floor and snapped his talons together, creating a spark that lit his cigar up. He took a long slow drag of his cigar and then turned around, setting it in an astray made of pure silver.

He pulled up a large leather chair and sat in it at a large oak desk. He reached over with his right claw and pressed a green button, a speaker crackled in the silent room. "Bring her in." The black griffon said in a deep voice.

The griffon sat back in his chair, watching his door. Moments later three shadows appeared in the light at the base of the door. The knob turned slowly and two large griffons walked in slowly with a mare in between them. She had a long flowing brown mane, green eyes and a light orange coat. As she walked in the other two closed the door behind her.

"I want you to deactivate the free will blocker in the head region only, turn the other region to hold mode. I don't want any accidents." The black griffon said sternly.

The two other griffons at her side nodded and one of them pressed a very small button on a gold square behind the mare's ear.

The mare closed her eyes and shook her head. "Ow, I felt like a bus hit me...where am I?" The mare looked around and spotted the black griffon at the desk. "Now I remember...You!" The mare tried to charge at the griffon but her body was stiff and unresponsive.

"Let's not have any of that. I am here with a peaceful proposition." The black griffon opened up a drawer on the right side of his desk and pulled out two halves of a golden locket and set them on the table.

"I think we been over this before. That spell only breaks if the two willingly put them together, it knows if we are being forced." The mare said angrily.

"Oh, I am quite aware of that little hiccup. That is why I have decided to give you a gift of sorts. Earlier today some of my men came across a filly that you would be particularly happy to know is quite alive." The black griffon smiled as he slid the locket halves to the other side of the desk.

The mare seemed speechless, her eyes tearing up and her mouth wide open in shock. "S-she made it out of the fire?You must be lying."

"Better yet we found her with her older sister if I recall correctly. Think about it, you merge the locket and train my troops to pilot that prototype and I let you and your whole family reunite under my rule. I mean c'mon, it's not like I'm unreasonable." The griffon said.

The mares face contorted in anger and she spat out a loogie, hitting the black griffon on the beak. "I know for a fact that is a load of griffon shit, I read your book. You want to treat all ponies as second class citizens, fit only for work camps and cheap labor."

The griffon grabbed a handkerchief from his desk and wiped the spit and mucus off his beak. "I do remember writing that but the fact remains that a second class citizen under griffon rule is where ponies belong. At least as a second class citizen you have some freedoms as opposed to what you currently have, none."

"I will never help you. The Loo's would rather die than to ever allow scum like you to destabilize the harmony built by the sweat and blood of Equestrian citizens. You know the saying, the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few." The mare declared triumphantly. "Go ahead and put that device back on. I would rather not listen to you lies any longer."

"Such a fire cracker, it's the very reason it had your body paralyzed for this little encounter. I would rather not let a repeat of a previous meeting occur." The black griffon pointed to the blunt tip of his beak. "You have a really vicious kick."

The griffon reached into his desk and pulled out some photos and tossed them on top of the desk face up. "You may want to reconsider. These were taken by the Equestria air press earlier today."

The mare looked down on the photo and tears began to form in her eyes. "S-scootaloo? Elly?"

"Soldiers, take her to a isolation room and give her full movement privileges. Lock her in there for a day or so with these photos. She needs time to herself to make a real informed decision." The black griffon handed one of the other griffons the photos and the other one pressed a button on the mare's ear, putting her back into an obedient mode.

The griffons and the mare left the room, closing the door behind them. The black griffon grabbed his now almost half gone cigar and took a long drag from it.

"Checkmate, Vespa Loo."

Chapter XII:Determination

Chapter XII: Determination

Scootaloo opened her eyes and looked over to the bed on the other side of the room. Elly was already up and about doing things around her small home. This had been the case for the last couple of days since they left the palace. She would sleep in a bit more than normal and Elly would be up and at it making breakfast an hour or so before dawn. Scootaloo sat up and stretched, today was the day she could actually introduce her friends to her big sister. All she had to do was wait for the mail containing the royal order from Celestia and Luna to continue going about her business as usual.

"We need time to set up a proper guard system in Ponyville. We need eyes on you and the rest of the town but not so much as to be entirely obvious." Scootaloo remembered the words of Celestia, she remembered her being very adamant that both her and Elly staying inside their home.

"You are safe inside there, I have set up a new un-plotable spell myself. No pony short of my sister can break it." Scootaloo remembered Luna's command, she had never seen her so...stern before.

"Maybe she's just really worried about me." Scootaloo sighed. She knew Luna and Celestia meant the best for her but being cooped up all day like some kind of chicken was a bit unnerving. Worse yet her sister Elly was a sore loser when it came to basically any game, making the cooped up situation all the more unbearable.

"Really Scootaloo? A 745 hit combo? Did you swallow a game genie or something?"

Scootaloo giggled to herself. Remembering her massive win streak in 'Mortal Konflict' the previous day, though she still didn't know what a 'game genie' was. She pushed her blanket to the bottom of the bed and swung her legs to meet the floor. She then stretched again, this time like a cat before standing entirely upright. Scootaloo looked back at her wings, none of them seemed to need preening but to be fair there wasn't much wing to preen. She did notice that a few new feathers toward the edge were coming in though.

"Well If they can't be functional they may as well look pretty." Scootaloo said to herself as she stared at her diminutive wings.

"You know, staring at them and feeling sorry for yourself isn't gonna make you fly." Elly walked into the room with a small plate on her back that contained a single orange, two pancakes and three eggs. She walked up to Scootaloo's nightstand and set the plate of food down on it.

"Yeah I know. Still wish I could fly though." Scootaloo said.

"Well that's one of the fifty- fifty things you get by being a Loo. Most of the pegasus in our family end up either very poor fliers or unable to fly. That;s why most of the family end up being airship builders, myself included." Elly said.

"But you have nice full grown mare wings. You don't need an airship to fly." Scootaloo pointed at Elly's wings.

Elly looked back at her own wings. "Yeah, I'm one of the few members of the family with fully developed wings. Our great aunt on our moms side had them as well, so I guess I dodged the proverbial genetic bullet on that one but I'm still not a strong flier."

"How so? Those wings are larger than Rainbow Dash's." Scootaloo said.

"Yeah they are large but take a closer look." Elly folded out her wings and set them straight in the air. "You see, while there is a lot of size to them they are not particularly well toned for acceleration. I can in a pinch go fairly fast but I don't have the proper feathers or power to maintain top speed." Elly stretched her wings out to the sides as far as they would go. "I do however have the wingspan to be a glider and have excellent turning ability. It's how I managed to evade the few griffons that did chase me over the years."

"But griffons are really fast and stronger physically. You would think they could catch you easily." Scootaloo said as she examined Elly's right wing.

"You would think that but I noticed that almost all the griffons chasing me had one thing in common, they are good at diving but turn like they are a made of stone. They couldn't risk using talons when they did managed to get the jump on me, they needed me alive and couldn't risk the chance of hitting something vital." Elly folded her wings back into tucked position. "Most of the time if I managed to get in the air they wouldn't bother chasing me. Speed isn't everything you know."

"I guess it's not. Sure helps though." Scootaloo stared back again at her own wings.

"Stop that." Elly said as she booped Scootaloo lightly on the nose with her hoof. "You may not have flight capable wings but you have the other things that make Loo's special. Sharp wit and guts to follow through with things, despite of the consequences."

Scootaloo looked up to Elly. "Well, we still have that whole tank thing to build yet but we don't have clearance to leave my house yet."

"Yeah, I know. Cabin fever is starting to take its toll on me as well. Normally I would just do whatever I please and just ignore what Luna and Celestia command but..." Elly ruffled Scootaloo's mane affectionately. "I have a sibling to protect and sometimes the cost of a gamble is like the rent in Canterlot; too damn high."

Scootaloo raised an eyebrow. "Is rent really that high in Canterlot?"

"Did you see the prices I have to charge for something as simple as electric scooter repair? Just one months rent in that city could pay for a small home out here in Ponyville." Elly complained. "Anyways I'll be back with my breakfast in a minute. Just so you know though I want a rematch in 'Mortal Konflict' after we eat."

"You're on but don't expect me to set my handicap bar to full this time." Scootaloo said confidently.

"Whoa now, shots fired. I'm not that good." Elly smiled before walking out of the room.

Scootaloo sat down next to her meal and began to nibble on one of the pancakes when she realized something; Elly was right, she did have a good head on her shoulders, or at least it felt that way when compared to other fillies her age. Then again her skills were limited to structural things, like how to put together a scooter, replace a batter or damaged spark plug.

"You're doubting yourself again." Elly said as she walked in the room with her own plate on her back.

"Huh?" Scootaloo said, her mouth full of pancake.

"I know that distant self loathing stare anywhere. I know, I used to do it a lot to myself in the mirror when I was younger. You will eventually stop doing it as you get older though." Elly set her plate on nightstand near her bed, and swallowed one of her eggs in a single gulp.

Scootaloo chewed the pancakes in her mouth and swallowed before speaking. "it's true though. I only know a few things about mechanical stuff and well, tank cannons but that was a really short primer, a book I borrowed from Twilight.I mean, haven't you ever felt you know, inadequate?"

Elly nibbled on a bit of her toast before replying. " Are you kidding me? Both of my older cousins used to entirely demolish me when it came to engineering competitions. They would make elaborate engines that ran on steam or purified unicorn magic. Gadgets that could turn ponies into chickens temporarily and even a pie cannon that could fire straight into space."

"Wow, sounds awesome!" Scootaloo said excitedly.

"It was but it had a hurtful effect on me. At the time I didn't realize exactly how much older they were than me and I always ended up with silver medal in the competitions I entered. I kept beating up myself about it even thought about quitting mechanics all together. Then mom stepped in and dropped a little tidbit of advice that I have held in my heart ever since." Elly pointed to her heart.

"If you won't believe in yourself, then why should other ponies believe in you?" Elly said, closing her eyes to imagine her mothers voice.

"That...sounds cruel and not at all like the mom I remember." Scootaloo said disapprovingly.

"She was dead right though. At the end of the day you have to look at yourself in the mirror and believe in yourself. If you believe in yourself then other ponies will believe in you." Elly grabbed the egg on her plate and finished it off in a single gulp. "After taking that bit of advice I doubled my efforts, studied hard and spent night after night for my entry to the next competition."

"Did you win?" Scootaloo asked.

"Buck no, my experimental dual engine had a massive cooling failure and exploded in my face nearly took a judges nose clean off his face." Elly said , laughing a bit as she remembered the incident.

"That must of been disappointing. All that work and it just blows up in your face like that." Scootaloo said somberly.

"Nah, I learned that day that losing and failure can be just as good as success and winning." Elly said cheerfully.

"How so? That doesn't sound like something to be cheerful about." Scootaloo said.

"Think about it. Everypony is wrong sometimes and being wrong means you can either keep being wrong or fix what is wrong until it is right. If that engine hadn't exploded then I would have never known about the problem, a problem I would have never fixed. It's better to be proven wrong then to forever be wrong." Elly stated proudly.

"Sounds more like you skimped on the testing a bit sis." Scootaloo said.

"Exactly. In my haste to get me a gold medal for the first time I skipped a crucial part of any invention;testing. I corrected the mistake and entered my invention in the next contest. Though the judges were behind a metal blast barrier when I started it up this time." Elly rubbed the back of her neck, blushing in embarrassment.

"Did you win that time?" Scootaloo asked.

"Yep, by a whole one point." Elly said proudly.

"A single point? That doesn't seem like much."

"Nah, the judge from before was still a bit miffed about the last time but I finally did it, I beat my cousins in a contest." Elly said.

"Were they happy for you?" Scootaloo asked.

"Nope, said next time they will make me look so bad I don't even place. They didn't much like a upstart like me popping their inflated ego." Elly took another bite of her food and swallowed. "Still proved them wrong though, got silver in the next two competitions we entered."

"Did you ever beat our cousins like, consistently?" Scootaloo asked, taking a bite of her food as well.

"Nah, I got the best of them here and there but they were still far better than me, even got hired for the family business on a few high profile contracts. If they were alive today they would probably still be better than me." Elly said.

"Don't you want to be the best though? I mean Rainbow Dash wants to be the best all the time." Scootaloo said.

"Who is this Rainbow Dash you keep mentioning? She a friend of yours?" Elly asked.

"Kind of like an adopted sister. She want's to join the Wonderbolts, she even managed to get on the reserve team. Or well, she was, she's been really busy with this whole tank competition thing." Scootaloo said.

"I see. Has she been helping you out with any of the work?" Elly asked.

"Well, no. Not really. Rainbow Dash is well, a bit self absorbed at times." Scootaloo said.

"She sounds like a bad influence if you ask me but I'll reserve judgement until I meet her." Elly said.

"Do I detect jealousy big sis?" Scootaloo said while lowering her voice to a accusatory tone.

"Huh what? N-no of course not. Why would I be jealous of somepony I don't know?" Elly blushed and turned away quickly from Scootaloo.

"Ha! I knew it, you are-" A sudden knock at the front door made both Elly and Scootaloo jump up in surprise. "That's odd. Mail isn't due to run for another hour or two at the earliest. I wonder who that could be." Scootaloo moved into the foyer and towards the front door when Elly stopped her.

"Wait, you haven't told anypony where this house is aside from the postal mare right?" Elly whispered.

"No, I was told by Luna not to tell any pony aside from a few select ponies." Scootaloo responded in a hushed voice.

"Who have you told where the house is?" Elly whispered.

"Just the mail mare and Apple Bloom." Scootaloo whispered.

Another knock came from the door, this time more urgent than the last. "Hey, is anypony home in there?"

"I'll take a look. If I remember correctly Luna said that only me, you and herself can unwind the unplottable spell by revealing the location of this house." Elly looked up though the hole in the door, being careful to not make any sounds.

On the other side stood a slightly anxious mulberry colored unicorn mare. She had a dark purple mane with a single streak of indigo and rose pink running though her mane that ran all the way back to her tail. She seemed to have a set of stars with one large star in the center on her flanks.

"There's some kinda mulberry-ish colored unicorn out there." Elly whispered.

"Oh, Berry Punch? Tell her I don't got booze, I'm not old enough to get any for her. I swear that drun- wait, did you say unicorn?" Scootaloo asked.

"Yeah, she has a star on her flanks and like, dark purple-ish mane with streaks in it." Elly said.

"Oh!" Scootaloo pushed Elly aside and opened up the door. "Hi Twilight, what brings you here?"

"Scootaloo what is she's a spy!" Elly said as her fur stood on end.

"She's no spy. She's one of my friends." Scootaloo ushered Twilight into her house.

"Scootaloo! If she blurts out about the location of -"

"I'm here on personal business. I'm no your enemy Elly Loo. I'm here to talk to you about the security measures in Ponyville until you and Scootaloo's pursuers are apprehended." Twilight said as she set her saddle bag on the floor.

"Wait, how do you know about all that?" Elly asked.

"She's Celestia's student and handles all kinds of problems around Equestria and stuff. She even beat a Ursa major!" Scootaloo said excitedly.

"Ursa minor, Scootaloo." Twilight corrected.

"Really? That thing was minor? It was bigger than that dragon you guys shooed away." Scootaloo said.

"Minor accomplishments aside-" Twilight giggled to herself. "Sorry, no pun intended on that one. Anyways I have been charged by Luna and Celestia with helping lock down the town with as many detection spells as I can muster. As of today you are free to move about the town as you wish. however I must warn you that only up to a mile around the main town is protected. My spells do have limitations."

"Oh, but the tank testing grounds are outside that limit. Does that mean those are off limits?" Scootaloo asked.

"That's a bummer. I was kinda hoping to get my hooves dirty with some class A engineering." Elly said somberly.

"That isn't a problem actually. Luna herself is goi8ng to be on watch for the duration of the competition here in Ponyville, or at least her images will be.We also moved the 8th and 12th combat regiments into town under the command of Spitfire of the Wonderbolts." Twilight said.

"THE Spitfire?" Scootaloo said excitedly.

"How are you going to hide that many troops in such a small town? Won't the town folk start asking questions?" Elly asked.

"That's the ingenious part. I know stallions from those regiments stand out like a sore hoof, that's why all of them will be in disguise." Twilight said.

Scootaloo and Elly looked at each other and then back to Twilight. "Disguised as what exactly? Brick houses?" Elly said sarcastically.

"Sarcasm noted. No, we have them all disguised as rowboat teams and put ads in the paper stating that rowing teams will be doing all their practice and competition in Ponyville. It probably won't fool those griffon agents that are after you but the fact is eyes will be everywhere watching over you while in town. You will be practically untouchable." Twilight said proudly.

"So...we can leave my house now?" Scootaloo said eagerly.

"Yes, I don't see why no-whoa!" Both Scootaloo and Elly ran past Twilight so fast that she spun in place and fell over.

"Sorry Twilight but I really need this!" Scootaloo yelled back.

"You can have our breakfast in Scootaloo's room if you want!" Elly yelled back.

Before Twilight could stand up and answer, both of them were well out of earshot, having run over a hill leading into town. "A little too enthusiastic I think and she forgot to put on the tracking necklace I brought them." Twilight opened up her saddle bag and set a single gem on the kitchen counter. "Well at least I can setup this hypersonic ward for griffons." Twilight looked around the small cottage. "So She lived her alone for years and no pony was the wiser eh?"

Twilight walked out of the cottage, closing the door behind her and sighed. "I'll have to catch up to them sometime today to give them these necklaces."

Elsewhere Elly was spreading her wings and taking to the sky for the first time in days, Scootaloo trying to follow suit but only managing to hover off the ground a few inches at best.

"Not too bad sis. You're doing better than I did at your age." Elly said, cheering her younger sister on.

Still feels like I'm getting nowhere. I can only manage to hover a bit and only in short bursts." Scootaloo moved her wings as fast as she could but only managed to get maybe another six inches of air at best before landing back on the ground, exhausted. "See what I mean? Rabbits flapping their ears get more air than I do."

"It will come to you eventually and I can bet my lunch that you won't ever see a rabbit fly. That's just preposterous."

No sooner did Elly make her statement than a pair of rabbits ran by Scootaloo. A male was chasing himself a female for a date and he was occasionally hopping into the air and fluttering his ears to get altitude so he could continue to keep watch on the potential mate in the tall grass.

"Well...looks like I'll be eating words for lunch today." Elly said as she watched the rabbits run off into the distance.

"Mah, it's too early for lunch anyways but I know something you been wanting to do for the last couple days. Follow me!" Scootaloo ran off in the direction of the tank testing grounds.

"You may not be able to fly sis but you sure can run." Elly said to herself as she followed Scootaloo from the sky.

***

It didn't take them long to reach the outskirts of town where the tank garages and testing grounds were located, or at least it didn't for Scootaloo. She had run clear out of Elly's sight. "I need to get higher into the air, I can't have her out of my vision like this."

Elly climbed up another hundred or so feet when something blue and kind of rainbow colored flew by her, knocking over a raincloud then rounding about to stop behind her. It was a mare, about her size and build but with very slim wings build for speed. She Had a light cyan coat, a short sporty mane and tail that had multiple colors of the rainbow. On her flanks was what looked like a cloud with a bolt of lightning colored in rainbow colors coming from it.

"Hey, ya missed one slacker!" The mare said angrily.

"Err...missed what now?" Elly said, looking around for what she missed.

"That storm cloud you just passed up, you do know as a weather patrol pony you're supposed to you know, kick storm clouds before they build up." The mare said in a sarcastic tone while rolling her eyes.

"Weather patrol? Oh, you must be mistaken. I'm new to Ponyville, I'm here to help my little sister with this whole tank competition thing." Elly said.

"Oh, sorry for that. I mistook you for Ponyville weather patrol. They are usually around the town at this altitude during this time of day." The mare said, blushing apologetically. "Anyways I'm Rainbow Dash. What's your name?"

Elly's eyes went wide. "Oh, you're That Rainbow Dash? My sister mentioned you a few times. Actually i think I seen a picture of you in her room before.

"I see my reputation precedes me. What else did she tell you about me?" Rainbow Dash asked, clearly gloating. " I bet she even told you about my Sonic Rainboom."

"Rain broom? Is that a cloud cleaning tool or something?" Elly asked.

"No, No. Rain Boom. I wouldn't be caught dead in the sky carrying a broom. In the sky while I work, too much of a lightning hazard." Rainbow Dash said. "So, what's your name?"

"Well My nickname is Wild Fire but my real name is Elly loo. Glad to meet you." Elly put a hoof out to Shake with Rainbow Dash when Rainbow Dash narrowed her eyes. "Wait, 'Loo' as in the Loo family?"

"Yes?" Elly said, confused.

"So that means you're Scootaloo's...sister?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Yeah? I assume you are familiar with the Loo family then?" Elly asked.

"Bit's and parts. I remember reading in flight school that you were basically the black sheep of the family and Scoot's parents hated you." Rainbow Dash accused.

"No, no you have it all wrong. We ran that in the paper as a cover up story, to prevent...things from happening." Elly pleased. "You have the story all wrong."

"I know Scootaloo is a member of the Loo family and her sister suddenly appearing seems awfully fishy. You're here to steal the family fortune and break Scootaloo's heart aren't you?" Rainbow Dash flew up into Elly's face. "Admit it, you want the family fortune to yourself, why else would a long lost sister suddenly show up?"

"Rainbow Dash!" A newspaper surrounded by a light purple aura appeared in front of Rainbow Dash and bopped her on the nose. "Bad Rainbow, you been reading too much Daring Doo Mysteries again."

Rainbow Dash looked down below her. Twilight Sparkle was standing below with a rolled up newspaper hovering next to her.

"But Twilight, you have to admit there is something clearly suspicious about Scootaloo's older sister just suddenly showing up." Rainbow Dash accused as she pointed at Elly.

"I was going to explain that but you kept pointing and getting in my face about it." Elly growled.

"Get down here, both of you. I'm calling mediation." Twilight declared.

"Aww but mediation is boring. It never catches the bad guy." Rainbow Dash begrudgingly flew toward the ground, Elly soon followed suit.

Twilight waited for both of them to land before moving in between them. "Firstly, Elly, I met Scootaloo at the tank testing grounds. I already berated her for running too far ahead of you." Twilight turned to Rainbow Dash. "I'll explain the specifics when I don't have such a tight schedule but Scootaloo has been an orphan for a very long time now."

"Wait, what!?" Rainbow Dashes jaw dropped. "W-ait a moment, if she's been an orphan for so long then why didn't her big sister take care of her?"

"Because she was busy keeping the griffons that wanted to hurt both of them on her tail and not Scootaloo's. Didn't you read 'The History of Airships volume three? The entire family died in a fire when Scootaloo was very young. Well almost, Elly wasn't present when it happened and neither was Scootaloo's grandma."

"Oh, I see." Rainbow Dash folded her ears in wings back and glanced somberly at Elly. "Sorry, I didn't know the whole story. I'm kind of protective of Scootaloo."

"Tell you what, I'm going to treat Scootaloo out to dinner in town tonight, kinda a makeup to her for all the birthdays I missed. You can come too, actually bring all of Scootaloo's friends. We need to clear this up." Elly said.

"You sure about that? I mean this could be a massive security breach if all this got out. Maybe you should talk it over with Scootaloo and maybe run it by Celestia or Luna first. News travels really fast around Ponyville and I would suspect that both heirs to the Loo family suddenly showing up would attract all kinds of unwanted attention." Twilight said.

"We can maybe confine it to her closest friends, ponies she interacts with on a daily basis. I'll have a talk with her, if Rainbow Dash's reaction is any indicator of what could happen." Elly watched as Rainbow Dash lowered her head shamefully before continuing. "Then we will have to un-muddy the waters and hope it doesn't come back to bite us in the flank."

Twilight sighed. "I was due in the tank testing grounds in a hour but now I'll have to have a meeting with Celestia about this. I'll get back to you on her thoughts about all this shortly." Twilight closed her eyes and in a purple flash, was gone.

"Well, at least I know where Scootaloo ran off to. It was...interesting meeting you Rainbow Dash." Elly said as she took to the skies.

"Yeah sure, I guess." Rainbow Dash rubbed the back of her neck.

Elly turned around but realized she didn't know where the tank testing grounds actually were.She turned back to Rainbow Dash to ask her but she was already a blue and rainbow blur on the horizon, busily dealing with Ponyville's thunder cloud problem.

"Huh, I guess I can go up higher for a better view." Elly managed to get just a few more feet into the sky when she heard what sounded like a massive explosion. "Whoa, that was loud." Elly looked behind her and saw a cloud of smoke less than a mile or so south of her. "I guess I found where the testing range is-" Elly had a sudden realization. "Scootaloo!" Before Elly could dive for speed she felt a pair of hooves grab her from under her front legs.

"I heard that too. Put you wings angled down, I'll help you get there faster." Rainbow Dash had sped up behind Elly and was flapping her wings furiously. "What are you waiting for? Yer kinda heavy ya know."

"Oh, sorry." Elly angled her wings for a dive just as Rainbow Dash began flapping her wings with all her might.

It was like a whole new sensation. Everything around her was like a blur, is what it must be like to go fast. Judging by how fast the trees were moving beneath her she was moving at least in excess of five hundred miles per hour. Elly looked up at Rainbow Dash, she had seen that look before, that look of worried determination.

She really must care about Scootaloo...

Just as soon as it began she felt the world around her and herself begin to slow down. She could see a smoking wreck in the tank testing grounds below. Rainbow Dash Let Go and flew as fast as her wings would carry her too the ground.

"What's going on?" Rainbow Dash yelled as she landed outside the tank driving range.

"Rainbow Dash!" Fluttershy waved Rainbow Dash down.

"Fluttershy!" Rainbow Ran toward Fluttershy, who was busily picking bits of chocolate out of her fur.

"What happened here Flutters? Is anypony hurt?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Oh well you see, Lyra was trying a new fuel system for their teams umm...Panther Tank was it? Anyways her new energy system interacted with her old one and detonated the entire engine block, oh and their entire supply of hard candy ammunition too." Fluttershy explained.

"Is anypony hurt!? Where's Scootaloo?" Elly landed just behind Fluttershy, shouting questions at her.

"I...ummm, shes well..." Fluttershy folded her ears back, and backed away slowly.

"She's what?" Elly asked in a panic.

"Is entirely fine. So are Lyra, Bonbon and the rest of her crew, although they will be sticky until they get themselves a bath." Scootaloo said as she walked out of the crowd followed by Sweetie Belle and Apple bloom.

Elly didn't waste a moment and scooped up Scootaloo in a bone crushing hug. "I was so worried about you! I was worried you were hurt of worse in that explosion!" Tears began to form in Elly's eyes.

"Jeeze sis, I love ya and all but getting hurt in this area is nearly impossible. Also I think you may be choki-i-ing me." Scootaloo broke away from Elly, gasping for air.

"Wait? How? Clearly that explosion could easily seriously injure a pony , even kill them." Elly pointed above the heads of the crowd where the wreck of the exploded vehicle laid. There were fragments of wood ranging in size from pebbles to 2 by fours strew about, some of them impaling other nearby tanks. Large chunks of sugary goods were also everywhere, chunks of chocolate, peppermint fragments and what looked like a transmission made of fossilized cake was in the middle of the yard.

"Surely even high velocity shrapnel could hurt somepony." Elly said.

"Nah, we get a spell put on us during inspection before entering that makes of impossible to hurt by anything containing sugar. Since all of the vehicle parts, the fence and even the dirt in the testing areas has a light coating of sugar or have their cores infused with it, all of it bounces harmlessly off us." Sweetie Belle said while patting Scootaloo on the back. "Also, sister?"

"Scootaloo, I thought you said you didn't have a sister?" Apple Bloom asked.

"I umm. Well you see, it turns out I do have a sister, it's just she's always busy in Canterlot." Scootaloo lied.

Apple bloom and Sweetie Belle looked at one another and then back at Scootaloo.

"Okay then. I can understand that, I mean if my sister wasn't sick she would be in Canterlot all the time during the summer." Sweetie Belle said.

"And I still have cousins that I've never met so I guess that's plausible. So errr...Scootaloo's sister, what's yer name?" Apple Bloom asked.

"I'm Elly Loo but my nickname is Wild Fire." Elly bowed slightly as she introduced herself.

"She's a professional engineer from Canterlot! She's gonna help us with building our tank!" Scootaloo fluttered her wings excitedly.

"Wait. We just got done cleaning up the shop, we were actually coming out here to tell the operators to clear out the tank." Sweetie Belle said.

"Yeah, remember that whole thing outside the hospital? Babs Seed already went home and neither Granny Smith." Apple Bloom stopped and looked at Sweetie Belle.

"Or Rarity will give me permission to compete." Sweetie Belle added.

"Really? Why not? I got us an adult to supervise us and everything." Scootaloo stated, pointing at Elly.

"It's not like Apple Jack didn't give me permission, she was right furious about the whole forgery thing but she was gung ho about everything else. It's just..." Apple Bloom sighed. "Granny Smith doesn't think I'm old enough yet and I kinda feel guilty with all the chores piling up on big brother and granny while she's in the hospital."

"Rarity is well...a bit delirious from the sickness. It will be another month before her short term memory stops malfunctioning. Right now we can barely get a consistent answer out of her for what color bathrobe she wants to wear, let alone permission for this contest." Sweetie Belle kicked the ground. "I wish I could get a hold of mom or dad, they wouldn't have a problem with it."

"Ummm, Sweetie, your mom and pops are at the hospital right now. I saw them while I was cleaning up the sky this morning." Rainbow Dash said.

"What? Really!" Sweetie Belle ran off in the direction of the Ponyville hospital stopping a hundred or so yards away to yell back. "I'll see if I can get permission okay?"

"Apple Bloom was it?" Elly asked.

"Yeah?" Apple Bloom said.

"What do these chores at the farm entail exactly?" Elly asked.

"Oh, well you know, farm stuff. Feeding and getting chicken eggs, washing the pig, helping the cows milk themselves and buckin n' sortin apples." Apple Bloom paused. "Yer not thinkin what i think yer thinkin are ya? I don't think granny Smith or big brother will take too kindly to a city slicker workin on our farm."

"Oh, no, no, no. I had enough of THAT non-sense growing up when I got a summer job helping Apple Jack. I've had enough stubbornness for one lifetime." Elly said.

"Wait, you know my big sister and big brother?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Of course I do. I used to live in Ponyville, I know most of the residents. Or at least I used to, haven't been here in years. What I mean is I can hire some seasonal workers from Hoofington to help with the apple harvest and such. I'll even provide the the funding so they can build a summer home here in Ponyville while they work." Elly said with a smile.

"Are you...nutty? Do you have any idea how much a house costs?" Rainbow Dash said.

"Yeah, and? Being a mechanic pays well and I promised Scootaloo I would help her with this competition. Money is no object." Elly said as she rubbed Scootaloo on the head.

"Are you sure? I mean are you absolut-"

"Yes! Yes I am." Elly interrupted. "S-sorry. I get a little antsy when folks don't accept my generosity."

"Okay then. I guess I'll go have a talk with granny and Big Mac, see what they think of all this." Apple Bloom headed off in the direction of Sweet Apple Acres leaving Scootaloo, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Elly and the few stragglers from the crowd that had yet to disperse.

"Well, I'll be off. We still on for dinner tonight? Oh and can Fluttershy come too?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Sure, bring whoever." Elly said.

Rainbow Dash nodded. "Will do. I'll see ya around town square tonight." Rainbow took to the skies and in a few second was nothing more than a blue dot on the far end of town.

"So, want to see the hangar?" Scootaloo asked.

Elly felt a small tap on her tail. She turned to meet face to face with Fluttershy, whom immediately backed away in shock, staggering over her own tail and following over. She quickly got up back on her feet, noticing a few ponies staring at her strangely.

"I, umm...Elly was it? You can't go into the hangars yet, you have to check in with security." Fluttershy whispered.

"Can you speak up a bit? I can't hear you." Elly said.

"I ummm..." Fluttershy turned her head away, her hair mostly covering her face.

"Did I say something wrong?" Elly moved forward. "Are you okay?"

"Let me handle this." Scootaloo walked up next to Fluttershy and whispered in her ear. Fluttershy whispered back while doing her best to avoid eye contact with Elly. "Oh I see, I forgot about that."

Scootaloo stared at Elly while Fluttershy continued to whisper. Scootaloo broke away from Fluttershy and nodded to her. "Sis, we have to go though the inspection and protection procedure at the registry desk down that way." Scootaloo pointed to a desk at the far end up the driving range.

"Is that what she wanted to tell me? Why couldn't she j-" Scootaloo shook her head and Elly nodded back in response.

"Fine, lead the way." Elly sighed.

***

After a brief visit to the front desk for registration Scootaloo led Elly to garage and after fidgeting with the combination lock on the front door for a few minutes they finally managed to get in. As she entered the shop a familiar smell of grease, wood chips and metal assaulted her nostrils. Even though it had only been a couple days since she last been in a workshop somehow it felt as if this was her first time all over again.

Scootaloo jumped up and hit the switch to turn on the lights. Above them were bright florescent lights slowly turning on in sequential order with a few toward the front and back having minor blinking issues. her eyes however were immediately drawn to the center of the shop. Sitting on a large hydraulic jack was a she could only imagine as some kind of wooden garbage truck. The front was slightly angled there seemed to be a cannon sticking out of the right side and there was a smaller cannon on the very top in what must have been a very cramped space. Elly began to walk around the vehicle, taking in every detail of it's construction.

The suspension looked as if it was spring loaded and the road-wheels were covered with tracks as if it were a bulldozer or other large construction vehicle, most likely to spread out the load over a wider area to avoid sinking into soft ground. However the tracks were fairly thin for the overall size of the vehicle which means it would still have issues on some kinds of terrain. She slowly walked alongside the vehicle, noticing how exceptionally flat the armor was and how there seemed to be little port randomly around the whole vehicle with empty tripods in them.

"So, this is your vehicle you picked? Kinda seems like a poor choice compared to some of the parked ones outside." Elly said as she kicked one of the road-wheels.

"Yeah well, we kinda turned up late and this was the only option left. the original was actually entirely destroyed, i think Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle rebuilt it to original specifications. We wanted to rebuild it better but you know, time and all that. I think we got the short end of the stick though, from what we read its under-armored, too tall and under-gunned compared to what the others have." Scootaloo said.

"I see that. Armor is flatter than pita bread. The large caliber gun is set too low to the ground to be of any use unless they are right in front of you on even ground. All the spare holes on the sides won't do you any good." Elly walked underneath the vehicle. "Suspension is a really outdated spring configuration while many of the ones outside are torsion bar." Elly moved out from under the tank and began to inspect the little opening all over the sides. "What are these openings for? Ventilation?"

"Those are supposed to be little side gun ports but we removed them, they seemed to small to actually do any kind of damage." Scootaloo said as she pointed to a pile on the other side of the room containing candy corn firing guns.

"That little dome on top, does it do anything?" Elly asked staring at the very small dome on top of the vehicle.

"Not really. We found in testing that the caliber is on the low side. It can hurt other vehicles but most times it's only there for cosmetics.

"I see. So you ended up with a lemon while everypony else ended up with solid gold. Am I right?" Elly asked.

"Yep. We tried our best to get it up to snuff but it's just not good enough. We haven't even decided what armor to use on it and the competition starts in just under two weeks." Scootaloo said as she kicked the floor, discouraged.

"Well when life gives you lemons you make explosive lemons and toss them at the pony that gave you them in the first place. Or make lemonade, I don't remember how that saying actually went." Elly blushed. "Anyways who was doing what here in the shop?"

"Well, I was working on the weapons system. Apple Bloom was assistant fabricator for parts with Big Mac, Sweetie Belle was our engineer and Babs Seed was in charge of frame work and armor. She's no longer on the team, her parents kinda said no and took her back to Manehattan. Apple Jack was lead director and granny was in charge of all the paperwork stuff. Still Don't know what Rarity was supposed to do but both of them are sick." Scootaloo said somberly.

Elly opened up the front hatch and peered inside. "I see she set the transmission in the back with the engine. Would be better if it was centered but I guess that works, tank is already a bit front heavy." Elly stepped inside the tank and sat down in the divers seat. Next to her on the right was a small seat for the pony controlling the large gun. On her left back was a seat with a radio station and above was a seat for the commander in the very small turret.

"So this thing needs, what, four ponies to operate?" Elly asked.

"Actually the recommended amount of ponies is five but we figured the loader wasn't really needed as the gunner could do both." Scootaloo said.

"I see, then Who is handing you ammo for the smaller gun on top?" Elly said as she noticed the ammo was reasonably far away from the gun on top.

"We hadn't worked that out. Maybe Sweetie Belle could do that when she isn't busy on the radio." Scootaloo shrugged.

"So we have all of two weeks to get this thing in working combat condition." Elly said as she stepped outside the tank.

"Yeah, I don't think we have enough time to get it up and running. We could take it in as is but I don't think it actually stands a chance." Scootaloo said somberly. "We could at least find a way to get that experimental ninety millimeter gun on this thing. On paper it sounds like a dream come true. Effective long range, more accurate, higher penetration and better damage output." Scootaloo pointed to the large gun barrel and breach on the far side of the shop.

Elly's face contorted in a determined yet oddly devious smile. "Sis, gather up your friends and meet me here in an hour. We have work to do."

***

Elly paced back and fourth in the shop while Scootaloo and Apple Bloom watched nervously. Occasionally she would stop and stare at the clock, then continue to pace back and fourth.

"Sis, yer making us nervous. I'm sure Sweetie Belle will be here soon." Scootaloo said.

"In the meantime couldn't ya just tell us what we are doin? I don't like sitting around doing nothing." Apple Bloom said.

The sound of the door opening up caught every ponies attention. Sweetie Belle walked into the shop, her head down low as if she were sad.

"What's wrong Sweetie?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Oh, don't tell me your parents told you no?" Scootaloo asked worriedly.

"Nope! They said I can!" Sweetie Belle suddenly went from sad to perky in an instant, catching everypony off guard.

"Good to hear. Now everypony take a seat." Elly said and show took a seat near one of the work tables. "We have exactly twelve days to get this tank in working order and competitive. I have come up with a way mount that large gun on the other side of the shop but I'll need all of you on fifteen hour shifts minimum to do it. Can i count on you fillies to get the job done?"

"You can count on me sis." Scootaloo said.

"Me too!" Apple Bloom added.

"Doesn't this violate quite a few child labor laws or something?" Sweetie Belle asked.

The rest of the group gave Sweetie belle confused looks, as if she had suddenly said a dozen curse words all at once. "Oh, sorry. You can count me in."

"Good. I have a blueprint ready in the other room but first..." Elly Walked over to a radio and pressed the play button. "We need montage music!"

The speakers creaked and began to play. "Cause I've got friends in low places, where the whiskey drowns and the beer chases my blues away and I'll be okay."

"Seriously? Country?" Elly covered her ears as if nails were suddenly dragged down a chalkboard.

"What? Garth Shooks is an amazing singer." Apple Bloom said defiantly.

Elly reached over and pressed play on the secondary cassette slot on the radio. "Your the best, around! Nothing ever gonna keep ya down!"

"There we go, much better. Okay ponies, lets get to work!" Elly cheered.

Scootaloo, Apple Bloom and Sweetie belle all stood on their hind legs and tapped their hooves together.

"Cutie Mark Crusaders gun carriage operators! Go!" They cheered in unison.

Chapter XIV: Take It to The Limit

Chapter XIV: Take It to The Limit

Scootaloo instinctively closed her eyes, not wanting to see where Derpy's shot had landed. She covered her ears just as the shot exploded on the side of someponies hull. The Shockwave knocked her out of her seat and into Elly's lap.

"Get back up there sis, this isn't over! She's still functional!" Elly growled as she pushed down the accelerator as hard as she could.

ShScootaloo opened her eyes and crawled back into her gunners seat. When she peered through her scope, the sheer carnage surprised her. The entire gun mantlet of team Derpy's KV-2 was blown clear off and was sticking into the side of the Tiger's turret. She could see into the inside of the Kv-2 and could of sworn she saw Derpy just shrug her shoulders and mouthe "I don't know what went wrong".

The Tiger itself was no better off. The shock of having an entire gun mantlet sticking in the side of the turret destroyed the loading breech and caved in the turret on the left side. The guns on the front were both crossed, mangled together and entirely unserviceable.

"They are unarmed!" Scootaloo shouted.

However, no sooner had she shouted that they were unarmed, did the twin cannons on the front of the Tigers hull open fire.

"What are you waiting for? Shoot her!" Elly said as she pushed as hard as she could into the Tiger, doing whatever she could to keep the Tiger simply from running them over.

High velocity candy corn sprayed everywhere as it bounced off the front of Unbreakable's hull. Sweetie Belle checked her instruments, trying to gauge how much damage their armor had sustained.

"Frontal armors holding firm, but if they keep this up they will eventually just splinter their way through it bit by bit" just as Sweetie Belle had finished her sentence, a piece of candy corn from an earlier ricochet bounced down from the commanders hatch, off Elly's chair and into Sweetie Belle's left hoof; stopping cold and falling to the floor.

"Good to know that protection spell is working" Apple Bloom said as she finished loading the next pie into the breech. "Ready to fire!"

Scootaloo looked through her view port, small bits of candied destruction bounced off the front of Unbreakable, each one slowly taking bits of wood with them. The turret of the Tiger was essentially unworkable, the turret ring was half way shattered, the guns were broken and even the coaxial gun in the mantlet was pushed in. However, as she tried to aim the gun at the body of the tiger, she noticed something wrong; she couldn't bring the gun to bear on the hull of the Tiger.

"Apple Bloom I can't get the gun down any further. You have any idea what is wrong?" Scootaloo asked.

"She only has maybe four degrees depression Scoots. We only had time for a nice uniform turret, we couldn't get the ocilating turret we wanted done on time."

"That's not good. We need to back up a few feet for a clean shot." Elly put the tank in reverse, but the Tiger driver was having none of it, the second she began to back away the Tiger slammed into them again, guns blazing.

"It's no good, she's not letting up" Elly said as she tried to break the deadlock without success.

"Derpy team can you hear me?" Sweetie Belle asked over the radio.

"I think thier radio may be bunk. We haven't gotten a message from them in a while now" Apple Bloom said.

"Are you thinking what I think you're thinking?" Scootaloo asked.

"I dunno Scootaloo, burlap is kind of itchy for a dress" Sweetie Belle replied.

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo both stared at Sweetie Belle, rolling their eyes.

"I'll see if I can signal her somehow." Scootaloo climbed up into the commanders cupola and tapped hard on the top to get Derpy's attention. Derpy's ears stood up and she waved to Scootaloo to show that she noticed her. Scootaloo took her right hoof horizontally and placed it up against her left leg, which she was holding up vertically. She then moved her right hoof away slowly from her left leg and then moved it quickly into the side of her left leg, knocking it away.

Derpy just stared at Scootaloo absent-mindedly for a few moments and then nodded, confirming that she had got the message. What was left of the KV-2 backed away slowly, it's left track dangling off the side of the vehicle; its road wheels running bare on the ground. The driver of the Tiger failed to even notice them pulling away, his attention fully on keeping Unbreakable locked into place.

The Kv-2 made pretty good time for a vehicle as damaged as it was. It managed to back away a good thirty or so feet. Meanwhile, inside Unbreakable, a few more stray rounds bounced around inside, one of them damaging Sweetie Belles radio equipment.

"I hope she knows what she is doing, we can't take too much more of this" Elly said.

One could hear the candy corn ripping up layer after layer of wood, the sound of the impacts becoming much lower in pitch as they bounced off the front of the hull.

"You think they would have run out of ammo by now" Apple Bloom said.

"She's charging forward!" Scootaloo yelled.

Scootaloo watched in horror as the KV-2 kept swerving left and right each time adjusting its course for them, then to the Tiger.

"You may want to brace yourself for impact, that broken track of hers is throwing her all over the place." Scootaloo held onto the gun breech.

If she hits them, then I can take the shot. If she hits us by accident, I need to be able to at least fire on them when she pushes us aside Scootaloo thought to herself.

Apple Bloom jumped down from her loading chair and huddled in the back corner with Sweetie Belle, both of them snugly against the back wall of the tank as to not go flying around the vehicle upon impact.

Scootaloo took one more quick peek out of the commanders hatch. Derpy was going to hit them, all of her bare road wheels on the left side were breaking away and she was mere seconds away from impact. Scootaloo closed her eyes, bracing herself for the impact when the strangest thing happened; there was no impact, at least not on them. Scootaloo looked out of the commanders hatch and watched the KV-2 roll on by, roll up the side of a small embankment like skater on a half pipe.

The tank came back at them on the opposite side, except this time the KV-2 was aimed squarely at the engine deck of the Tiger.

"Pull back now!" Scootaloo shouted.

Elly pulled a lever and the tank pulled back hard in reverse. The Tiger tried to keep up and then it happened. The KV-2 slammed hard into the engine deck of the Tiger crushing the entire side of the vehicle and blowing out the tracks.

"Stabilize her sis, I have a shot!" Scootaloo shouted.

Elly hit the brakes and angled the tank slightly to the left to help deflect some of the shots coming from the short range cannons on the front of the Tiger.

Scootaloo looked down her gunsights, adjusted the angle to hit the lower front armor plate of the Tiger, but before she could fire something unexpected occured.

Slowly peeking out of the top of the turret was a small rising stick, tied to the end of it a white flag signifying surrender. Holding onto the flag was a very disgruntled looking griffon with purple eye liner, slowly rising out of the wrecked turret.

"Ok, ok. You dweebs win, no point in dragging this out" Gilda said, a haughty tone still in her voice.

One of the pegasus referees above made some signals with a pair of flags and blew his whistle, quickly swapping it for a megaphone.

"That concludes todays match, all competitors are to assemble at the banquet we have put together for all of you by the main announcement podium. A cart will be by momentarily to pick up those unable to get back under their own power." The ref put away the Megaphone and flew off, signaling other referees to get a cart over to Gildas wrecked Tiger.

"Hey dweeb, we still have an artillery unit left the last time I checked" Gilda growled at the referee.

The ref stopped and glared at Gilda angrily."My ledger shows they ditched the vehicle in the water seconds after you raised that white flag. Kind of a scummy thing to do if you ask me." The ref pointed at his ledger, showing a picture of an artillery unit with a big blue water droplet over the picture. "See, that thing is all wet." The ref quickly put his ledger away and flew off into the distance, clearly aggravated by Gildas attitude.

"Well, now that the ref is gone, I wanna see what ponies managed to take me down after running rampant through most of your team" Gilda said while flicking bits of wooden debris from her head feathers.

Derpy peered out of the front of the broken KV-2 turret and waved, followed shortly by Dinky and Red Typhoon.

"Hi, sorry I had to ram you, but we like winning" Derpy said.

"Great, a cook, a retard and a filly on one side how about the chumps about to shoot me?" Gilda asked.

"Should we show ourselves Elly? I mean Luna did warn us-"

"We should, if anything, it will send home a message that we are not to be trifled with" Elly said, interrupting Scootaloo.

"I'm all for it, how about you Sweetie Belle?" Apple Bloom asked.

Sweetie Belle didn't reply, as she was busily trying to make her mane presentable, only stopping when she caught a scowl from Apple Bloom.

"What? If they are gonna take pictures and stuff for the papers I have to look fabulous. I would never hear the end of it from Rarity if I went in front of a camera looking like I took a ride in the dryer on fluff" Sweetie Belle said as she tried to fix her mane in the radar screen reflection.

"I haven't got all day, the cart will be here to pick us up shortly. What are ya, chicken?" Gilda teased.

Scootaloo snorted angrily and popped open her commanders hatch on the top of the turret. She hoisted herself up and peered out over the tank, staring down Gilda with a vicious glare.

"Who you callin chicken?" Scootaloo growled.

"Yeah, Scootaloo is more of a really angry goose at this point" Sweetie Belle added as she popped her head out of the left side hatch.

"Really Sweetie Belle? A goose? That doesn't sound very menacing" Apple Bloom added.

"Are you kidding me? Those things are mean, they hiss at you and spread their wings like they have no fear at all. One even bit Rarity right on her behind one summer when she got too close to its eggs. They are outright terrifying" Sweetie Belle said nervously.

"Really... a bunch of kids beat the best commander in this contest? What did you have a unicorn cast a bonus luck spell on ya or something?" Gilda teased further.

Elly popped open the front drivers hatch and smiled. "You don't need luck when you have and engineer like me. I actually know what I'm doing, unlike that monstrosity you're driving."

"Monstrosity? This is the best vehicle money can buy. Anything that gets in front of us is as good as wrecked" Gilda said proudly.

"Unless they are small and quick to get around you. That's why you ordered your team to prioritize any targets that were nimble. Having an unarmored backside means even a pea shooter can completely wreck you if it gets around. Too bad you missed one" Elly finished snidely, tapping the front armor of Unbreakable.

"Pfft whatever" Gilda hopped out of her broken vehicle and took to the skies, along with two other griffon crew members. "I'll see you losers in the finals, assuming that piece of junk makes it that far."

Gilda and her crew flew off, faint laughing could be heard as they passed behind a hill.

"They are really not that bright." Elly jumped out of Unbreakable and began to circle around the demolished Tiger tank Gilda and her crew left behind.

"What are you doing sis?" Scootaloo asked as she too hopped down from the top of Unbreakable to join her, soon followed by Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom.

"I'm examining how they put this thing together. It's a design I've never seen before and could help us in the future if we run into her again" Elly said as she looked into the back of what was left of the turret.

"Isn't that cheating?" Both Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom asked together.

"Yeah, what they said. That's kinda like spying and definitely against the rules" Scootaloo said.

Elly rolled her eyes and sighed. " Have any of you fillies ever heard of corporate espionage rules or obvious obstruction laws?

"Why do you ask questions you know that we don't know? It's like you have some kind of super villain need to do that" Sweetie Belle stated. "I mean the pronoun game is really dated if you ask me."

Scootaloo and Apple Bloom stared quizzically at Sweetie Belle for a moment.

"What? It's true, at least according to my sisters Dr. Mil books" Sweetie Belle said.

"Anyways, it's only called spying if you're in a place where you're not supposed to be or hear something that was never meant for your ears. Out here in the open all things are obvious, so long as I don't tamper with anything." Elly circled the tank and noticed that they essentially made the rear armor on the vehicle paper thin at the back, but very thick just over the engine deck.

"Apple Bloom, come over here. I Think you will find this interesting" Elly motioned Apple Bloom over to her.

Apple Bloom rushed over to where Elly was standing and her mouth dropped. "How in tarnation did they make the top super thick and the side thin as paper out of one piece?" Apple Bloom walked around the vehicle trying to make sense of what she was looking at. "I just don't get it, the only way they could have done this is if they manually cut and sanded down a massive chunk of tree."

"That's some pretty advanced machinery too. The ones at the airship construction yards could do it, but those things are massive and expensive. Their team must have deep pockets to get something like that." Elly peered into a hole by the engine deck.

"You've got to be kidding me..." Elly said, flabbergasted.

"What? What's wrong sis?" Scootaloo asked as she tried to look around Elly's wing to get a look at what she was staring at.

"See for yourself" Elly said, backing away to let Scootaloo peer inside.

Scootaloo looked through the hole and noticed there was just a single block of wood where the engine should have been. "That's weird, I don't know what I'm looking at. It's just...a big old block of wood. Wait, it kinda looks like ours."

"It's a direct electric engine, like the ones on trains in Fillydelphia and the one I helped install in Unbreakable" Elly said.

"Wait, I have seen those before in a book once. Aren't they huge? Like the size of a trailer house or somethin, I mean besides our engine?" Apple Bloom asked.

"I read that same book. Those things are massive, me and Elly had to come up with a miniature design just for our own tank." Sweetie Belle added, still figiting with an unruly lock of hair on her mane.

"It doesn't make sense. Griffon technology is nowhere near this far along the last I checked, it took us nearly a week just to come up with a miniaturized version and I've worked on them before. They could have gotten a second hand engine from an old train but-"

"They wouldn't even know where to begin, right?" Scootaloo asked.

"Exactly. I wonder what else they have been doing that we don't know about. Scootaloo, jump on my back and tell me what you can see inside the tank" Elly said as she lowered herself a bit to allow Scootaloo to stand on her back.

Scootaloo jumped on Elly's back and looked into what remained of the heavily damaged turret. There wasn't much left to really see. The loading system was nothing but splinters, the seat positions were all mangled and even the back side of the gun barrels was entirely jammed with splinters and dust.

"Can't make much out of it. Seems Derpy did a really good job entirely wrecking everything in this thing." As Scootaloo prepared to jump down, she noticed a kind of spring system right underneath where the loading system used to be.

Huh, that shouldn't be there. The rules clearly state no metal parts for safety reasons. Scootaloo thought to herself as she landed on the ground next to Elly.

"Sis, they have some kind of spring system under the gun" Scootaloo said as she pointed to where the gun assembly would be.

"That's a violation of the rules if memory serves. All vehicles were inspected an hour or so before the event began, so they must have put it in as soon as the inspection was over" Elly said as she took to the sky to get a better look at the vehicle.

"Should we report them? " Apple Bloom asked.

"Yeah, that's cheating!" Sweetie Belle added.

"Don't think we can. That ref over there has been watching us look around the vehicle while we wait for pickup. All Gilda and her crew have to say is we sabotaged them by tossing springs into their tank." Elly landed by Scootaloo just as the pickup cart came into view."Just put it out of your mind, even if they were found guilty it would only get them a slap on the claw at best."

As the cart came into view, Elly noticed Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle duck behind her in a defensive manner, both peeking out just to the left and right of her wings.

"What? Is something wro-oh ponyfeathers." Elly looked toward the cart and noticed there were two other ponies in the back of it; Apple Blooms older sister, Apple Jack and Sweetie Belle's older sister, Rarity.

"You did tell them we were going to be in this competition right?" Elly asked.

Apple Jack waved at them, soon followed by Rarity.

***

"So, let me get this straight. Wild Fire, which our family used to hire as help during harvest is actually...?" Apple Jack paused, waiting for Scootaloo to reconfirm what she just told her.

"Yes, her real name is Elly Loo and she's my older sister" Scootaloo said.

"Wait...so you're not an orphan? You actually have a family?" Apple Jack asked, clearly baffled.

"Orphan?!" Sweetie Belle, Rarity and Apple Bloom said together, shocked.

Scootaloo swallowed some air, she knew this day would eventually come. Ever since her sister came back into the picture she had been avoiding telling everypony her situation. Not only for her sister's sake of avoid all the vitriol she would undoubtedly get, not to mention all the concerned stares she would get in town; like she was somehow broken or different from any other filly.

How to go about telling them...and how did Apple Jack even find out? Scootaloo thought to herself.

"Don't get yer hooves in a hustle, I've known for a long time now. At least for a few years now" Apple Jack said. "Long before you even met Apple Bloom I knew."

"But, when...how?" Scootaloo asked.

"Well, your granny used to stop by Carrot Top's stand every morning to pick up some carrots and then stop by my cart for a few apples. She mentioned that she was your grandma and that your parents were constantly in and out of town. I believed it for awhile, until your granny passed away that was." Apple Jack inhaled deeply, trying to catch her breath. "Sorry, still not 100% after being sick still."

"Wait, she had a grandmother?" Rarity asked. "How? When? I almost know every pony in town except this mare."

"She avoided you because you're a gossip gums. She had a big secret to bear and she didn't need no-pony snooping around her families business" Apple Jack stated, pointing an accusatory hoof at Rarity.

"Then how did you find out aside from snooping around hmm? You think a secret that big would be well kept" Rarity retorted, a victorious grin on her face.

"Fer yer information, ferreting out a lie is an apple family specialty. Also, I caught on when I finally met Scootaloo's so called parents, I seen the same pair of ponies when I was much younger in Manehattan during a play. They were a couple washed up old actors from when I was staying with my relatives." Apple jack turned her attention to Scootaloo "Also, you have slight nervous wing twitch when yer tellin a lie."

"But those ponies came really recommended, they fooled everypony" Scootaloo said.

"Not everypony, you forget a lot of ponies in town knew your parents and some knew you as well. We even tried to adopt you after your granny died, but, well..."

"Well, what?" Scootaloo asked impatiently.

"We were blocked by a wall of lawyers and paperwork. You weren't even listed on the orphan registry. Shucks, even the Cakes tried to find a way to adopt you, but couldn't find a way." Apple Jack stared off into the distance, noting that they still had a few miles to go before they made it back to the staging area.

"Wait, no pony ever brought this up or asked her about it before? You think a filly her age living alone would be a massive red flag to the community" Rarity complained.

"I brought it up during a community meeting shortly after her granny passed away, before the mayor could even speak, she was blocked by a well dressed city pony and a small security force. It was like Scoots here had her own personal secret spy service or sumthin." Apple Jack glared at Elly loo. "But you showing up...once I'm better, me and you are gonna have fightin words."

"Apple Jack!" Rarity shouted.

"Sis? Why?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Because she left her alone!" Apple Jack heaved over coughing, Apple Bloom and Rarity trying to pat her on the back, but being pushed away by Apple Jack.

Apple Jack looked up, still wheezing. "What kind of filth abandons a young filly to fend for herself? Have you no shame?"

"Apple Jack, you don't know the entire story!" Scootaloo pleaded.

"No, she's right. I made a lot of really dumb decisions in trying to keep Scootaloo safe. Looking back, there were probably much better options than what I settled on. When granny passed, I had only been an adult for a couple years. A combination of fear for her safety and the fear of me not being able to provide a stable home for her scared me to death." Elly lowered her head. "I am ashamed of myself. I can't even begin to make up for what I did to Scootaloo. If it makes up for it in the least, I will gladly let you beat me up, I won't even try to stop you."

Apple Jack was taken aback as if she was not expecting that answer. "I...I wasn't expecting that."

"Apple Jack, maybe you should calm down and let her explain what happened?" Rarity asked.

"Yeah, sis. You don't know the whole story" Apple Bloom added.

"Does my mane look a bit too ruffled? I don't want the news taking pictures of me if I look like a got in a fight with a blender" Sweetie Belle said as she tried to adjust her mane.

"Darling, not the time for that. Though you do have a bit of wood in your mane...and a bit of a cowlick going on" Rarity said as she adjusted Sweetie Belle's mane.

Rarity stopped as she noticed all the glares coming from other ponies in the cart. "What? Just because we are having an emotional exchange is no reason not to look fabulous for the press."

Apple Jack shook her head and stared at Elly. "I want you to explain to me step by step what happened after you granny passed, possibly even before that."

Elly opened her mouth only to be stopped by a growl from her stomach. "Can we maybe talk about it over food, after the point tally perhaps? My treat?"

"You know I still kinda wanna hit you in the face, but manners tell me never turn down free grub. That and I've had mostly nothing but hospital food for the longest time. I'll see you at...?"

"Oh, there's a place called the Captains Grill on the edge of Ponyville. I used to go there as a filly."

"Sis that place shut down years ago" Scootalloo interjected. "AJ, meet us at sugar cube corner, okay?"

"Fine by me."

***

The cart finally arrived at the edge of the staging grounds. After a brief exchange to set up a kind of dinner date with Apple Jack and Rarity, each group went their seperate ways.

"Don't be long dear, we have much to catch up on. Also your mane is a mess, I simply must perm it" Rarity yelled and waved as she walked away.

"You too, Apple Bloom. I still need some help at home with the chores" Apple Jack stated staunchly.

"Sis, your're fresh out of the hospital. You should relax for a bit, ya don't wanna make yourself sick again" Apple Bloom said.

"I can still do little stuff around the farm, you can help me with that at least." Apple Jack sighed. "Big mac won't let me do anything more than little stuff, stubborn mule... no offense mister."

"None taken" said one fo the mules pulling a nearby cart.

"Isn't that the pot calling the kettle black" Apple Bloom grumbled out of the side of her mouth at Scootaloo's direction, eliciting a laugh from her.

"What did you say?!" Apple Jack growled.

"She said you were calling a kettle black, but I don't think you own a black kettle. Do you?" Sweetie Belle asked.

Apple Jack stared at Sweetie Belle and then at Apple Bloom. "Yer gettin double chores tomorrow for that one smart ass little missy...no offense to you either."

"None taken" A well dressed donkey said as he passed by.

"That's fine. You don't work too hard, okay sis" Apple Bloom said with a smile.

"That's the problem..." Apple Jack sighed. "I'll se yall later." Apple Jack walked away, her ears folded back.

"What's wrong with her?" Scootaloo asked. "One minute she's ready to tear your head off and then the next she's all mopey.

"I have no Idea Scoots. The Apple family seems like a simple thing to understand at first. You think they are all workaholics, typical farm ponies that revel in a job well done. However, I think it goes much deeper than that. I think somewhere deep down she wanted to be a big sister to you as well, possibly even a replacement mother."

"I can see why she's like that. Apple Jacks always been like a combination of a big sister and mom to me. She would let me stay over, even on school nights." Scootaloo noticed a pony beginning to post large scores on a big bulletin board. "Look's like they are putting up the team scores."

Before Elly, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle or Apple Bloom could approach the bulletin board, a crowd of ponies swarmed in, each clammoring for a peek at their score.

"That was quick, I wonder how we did?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Move back, move back everypony!" Luna came walking through the crowd, hovering a podium above her head and placing it just to the left of the bulletin board. Luna then stood on the podium. "Every pony that took place into todays competition, please have the courtesy to keep the talk to a low roar. I'm about to announce the teams that move onto the next round, teams that are moving on to the losers bracket and the teams that were eliminated entirely."

The ponies in the crowd began to slowly calm down, some of them sitting in anticipation...or jumping wildly in anticipation in Pinkie Pie's case.

"You think we made it sis?" Scootaloo asked.

"I'm not sure, we only took out a small part of their team. I sure hope we make it" Elly said worringly.

"Today was the first match of the competition Ponyville vs Hoofington. The top 5 teams are as follows;

Luna pulled a stack of cards from a drawer under the podium. "The first ranked team for overall performance is...team Derpy, for thier amazing assitance in taking down a Tiger tank, reporting enemy movements and heavy support fire."

"What! You got to be kidding me! That backwoods retard team dusted us at the start!" The crowd parted to give a paticularly livid filly some yelling space.

"You know, AJ would say that I'm a bad pony for enjoying others suffering, but you know what; I'll be that bad pony if it means I get to enjoy little miss princess eating crow" Apple Bloom said proudly.

"Why would you eat a crow? That doesn't sound very tasty, also meat. Gross." Sweetie Belle added, putting her hoof in her mouth and making a gagging sound.

"Excuse me little filly, but what seems to be the problem?" Luna asked calmly.

"Honeykins, that's the princess you're talking to. Mind your manners" A well dressed pony with slick greased hair said.

"No, I'm going to speak my mind. You dare say that cross eyed, dumb, poor excuse for a mail mare and mother-"

"Hey!" Dinky yelled in protest.

"And her inbred bastard child-"

"Hey!" Derpy yelled, gritting her teeth in anger.

"And a shoddy, talentless cook-"

"Oh, that's It! Filly or not I'm putting these Irish hooves to good use and tanning her little flanks!" Red jumped forward only to be stopped by Dinky and Derpy holding her tail.

"Dear, you seem to be aggrivating the peasantry" the slick haired ponly said with a nervous grin.

"Don't care dad. Anyway, where was I? Oh yeah, that those team killing jerkfaces should get anywhere near first place is laughable at best and downright criminal at worst. Look at Derpy, she can't even see straight. She never get's mail addresses correct and she's a single mother because no stallion would have her." Diamond Tiara glared at Derpy, whom looked as is she was about to burst into tears.

"Enough!" Luna growled, her mane puffing up angrily. "I will not have you insult a pony for defects she has no control over. Mr. rich, if you do not get your daughter under control I will be forced to handle the problem personally." Luna's eyes were glowing hot white, you could hear the gritting of her teeth.

"Y-yes your highness, sweetcakes, pelase don't anger the princess of the night any further" Mr. Rich pleaded with his daughter.

"Pfft what can she possibly do, she's just the lesser sister of Celestia. She's probably adopted, the half witted, dark horse, emo cun-" A beam of light struck Diamond Tiara and in a puff of smoke, she vanished.

"Wh-what did you do! You disentegrated my little filly!" Mr. Rich yelled angrily.

"Silence!" Lunas power was so heavy that she was beginning to burn the top of her podium with her hooves from the pressure. "I sent you little monster to the Las Pegasus quarry work camp. It is a camp designed for both overweight ponies looking to lose weight with a summer job and ponies with severe attitude problems because of poor parenting."

Luna took a deep breath, her mane no longer on end and her eyes going back to normal. "Before her little outburst I was going to give you a token for the reserve team in the next match because you were accidentally destroyed at the start of the match. I will still give this token, but your team will have to wait for her return. Her sentence is only a week or two at most depending how she shapes up. I will file the paperwork granting you visitation rights."

"How dare you take away my authority as a parent to raise my child as I see fit-"

"I will hear not a word more from you, Mr. Rich. If you did your job as a parent I wouldn't have to intervene so harshly. Continue to speak up and I will fine you an additional five thousand bits, do not test my patience." Luna inhaled deeply, trying her best to compose herself. "Now where was I?"

Mr. Rich seemed as if he wanted to say something more, but held his tongue out of fear of pushing Luna too far.

"Well, can't say she didn't deserve it. You play with fire and you're eventually going to get burned" Scootaloo said.

"Eh, she will be fine. I had a cousin that was at that camp to lose weight and get in shape. The drill sargents are a bit harsh, but they feed you well and they aren't crazy. They will work her, but they won't go too far. least that's what my cousin said anyways." Apple Bloom's attention was redirected to the podium, where Luna has regained her composure.

"I am sorry for that outburst from me, but I have a few buttons you don't press and that filly was stomping all over them. Anyway, next on the list is the Cutie Mark Crusaders!" Luna looked over the crowd and winked at Scootaloo and her team. " For thier excellent supporting role and damage done to a far superior vehicle, of which gave them a huge score boost."

Other ponies in the crowd turned around to see what Luna winked at, some of them confused.

"Wait, did a bunch of fillies just get second place?" One pony asked.

"You saw the footage of the battle from the big screen, they locked horns with one of the largest enemy tanks on the Hoofington team and came out on top." Another pony added.

"Psst just grin and wave girls, grin and wave" Elly said as she smiled nervously and waved.

"Sis, I thought you were used to this kinda thing?" Scootaloo asked.

"You would think so, but I always get a bit nervous; even to this day."

"I hope my mane looks okay" Sweetie Belle whispered.

"Oh hush, we all look a bit dirty, all the tank crews do" Apple Bloom said.

"If I may have your attention. The next group on the list is team...Fluttershy?" Luna did the smallest of doubletakes and then looked in Fluttershy's direction, a bemused expression on her face. "It says here that you destroyed a light tank and managed to sneak up and destroy four other much more powerful tank destroyers...is this accurate?"

"Oh, yes it is. Mr. Bear has been training the crew on how to move about all sneaky like. At first I didn't agree with it since it didn't seem fair but then-"

"Crawk!" A giant pink Flamingo interrupted.

"Oh yes, it really was a mean insult" Fluttershy said as she patted the Flamingo on the back.

"Care to share with the rest of the crowd Fluttershy?" Luna asked politely.

Fluttershy suddenly noticed how many ponies were looking directly at her. She began to breathe rapidly, closing her eyes and ducking behind her large bear companion to shield her from the crowds view.

"Don't worry, Fluttershy, I'll tell them what happened in your place." Twilight Sparkle walked up to her friend and reassured her before walking up to the front of the crowd. "During the battle, Fluttershy's team managed to sneak up behind an enemy tank destoyer and shoot them in the back without being spotted. Somehow, that enemy got on her radio frequency and started calling her a big crybaby wuss and then-"

"I got out there and wrecked their shit! I will give all my enemies suprise butt kicks and hear the lamentations of thier loved ones and repair crews. There will be a torrent of unending sponge cake that will blot out the sun and give them nothing but the dispair of defeat. I-"

"Rawr?" Mr. Bear said as he picked up and hugged Fluttershy to calm her down.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I, umm...got a little carried away there." Fluttershy blushed, her bear companion licking her mane affectionately.

"Well then... I know a pony that I'll do my best to never anger. Anyway, next on the list." Luna flipped the page and began to read to herself before looking up at the crowd of ponies. "The next two on the list are teams Pinkie Pie and team Rainbow Dash, both for thier excellent teamwork in cordinating supressing fire."

"Aww yeah, you spot em, I splat em!" Pinkie Pie said as she shared a high five with Rainbow Dash.

"Wait, Twilight's team didn't make the top five?" Rainbow Dash asked Luna as she glanced at her downtrodden friend.

"Team Twilight made 7th place, they are in the losers bracket. She has another chance to redeem her poor performance.

"Shucks, I guess rolling out into the open, even with all that armor was a bad idea." Twilight kicked the ground in frustration. "Stupid scumbag artillery..."

"As for the rest of the team; I will be posted exact point results on the baord behind me within the hour. If you're team is in the bottom five of your team, then you are eliminated. However, it's only a game and remember, you're all winners in my book. In the meantime, we have prepared a banquet for both teams near the parking area where your vehicles were originally parked. Try to enjoy yourselves, even if you were eliminated." Luna stepped away from the podium, just as Celestia landed behind her and whispered something in her ear, something that made Luna jerk back, her ears folded in worry.

"Something is wrong" Scootaloo said as Luna seemed to be in some great distress.

"What do you mean?" Elly asked.

Luna shot a worried glance toward Scootaloo, then back to her sister. She sighed and nodded at Celestia then began to walk toward Elly and Scootaloo. As she approached Luna pointed to a spot of grass that was out of earshot of most other ponies.

Scootaloo and Elly nodded and headed towards the spot indicated by Luna.

Something is wrong, I never seen Luna so worried before. Scootaloo thought to herself.

"Luna, what's wrong?" Scootaloo asked.

"Elly, Scootaloo. I bring grim news, the pony responsible for maintianing your estate for all these years has been killed. We found his body just minutes ago. Celestia has ordered a full lockdown of all boarders as well as the entirety of Canterlot." Luna checked around her to make sure no pony was listening in.

"Gerald...no..."Elly tried her best to hold back tears, but it was in vain as they were quickly free flowing. "He...he was like an uncle to me..." Elly said as she tried to control her crying.

"That's not the worst part, they wrote a message for us to find in Gerald's blood on the wall." Luna stared at Scootaloo, an expression of deepest worry on her face. "It said 'the sisters are next'. "

Elly gasped, quickly grabbing up Scootaloo in an embrace. "Over my dead body!"

"Sis, I think that's the point" Scootaloo said as she tried to push away from Elly's crushing embrace. "Mind putting me down, your're hugging a bit too hard.

"What would you have us do?" Elly asked, setting Scootlaoo back down on the grass.

"As of this instant, I am officially your fifth crew member. I will also be living with the both of you in your small home as of today" Luna said sternly.

"The guards we have all over ponyville isn't enough?" Scootlaoo asked.

"Afriad not, the security detail we had protecting Gerald were some of the best as well. None of them survived the fight either." Luna looked toward her sister Celestia who seemed to be preoccupied arguing with Queen Walarah. "My sister thinks I should remove you from the competition as well, but I have the final say in that and I figured me being with you at all times would be a much safer compromise."

One could hear the loud voices coming from Walarah and Celestia, each of them barking mad at one another.

"I call horse shit, the medallion worn by YOUR inner guard was found at the scene of the crime, including identifying claw marks that match your personal guard!" Celestia shouted angrily.

"How dare you accuse me of putting a hit out on some worthless beancounter lawyer pony. As if I would order something as tasteless as assasination!" Walarah yelled back.

"I best go try and diffuse that, a citizen executed on her watch is bad enough, but she's still furious about her royal guards being killed as well." Luna flew into the air, landing between Walarah and Celestia.

"Maybe it would be better if we disappeared again?" Scootaloo asked.

"We already tried that. Even if we were to vanish into the dragon wastes or far north they would eventually find us. Sadly our best bet is to take up Luna's offer... but something still bothers me." Elly sighed, her thoughts seemed to be wandering as she stared at Canterlot in the distance. "Only a few ponies knew where to find Gerald and only Walarah has the resources to assasinate him unnoticed...either that or whomever organized the hit has more connections that we initially thought. "

Elly stared at the Queen of the griffons as the confrontation between her and Celestia diffused.

"I smell a rat..." Elly growled.

***

The old griffon stretched his wings as he lit another cigar. Looking out the window from his desk chair, he watched as his forces marched in lines, each of them saluting him with a wing outstreched. Others not in line were busying themselevs on various small attack aircraft and a few lightly armored ground vehicles. However, the crown jewel of his army could be seen in the distant shipyard, so massive that is obstructed the view of the mountains behind it. He inhaled from his cigar and then set it in a little claw on his chair to hold it while he turned his chair around to face the office door.

He reached over the desk and pressed a button. "Bring her in" He said in a gruff voice.

"Unhand me! What is the meaning of this!" A female voice could be heard through the door and possibly clean down the hall.

The door opened and a well dressed griffon in a gold and lavender dress was being pushed forward by two large burly griffon gurds in green and brown uniforms.

"Ivan!" The female in the dress growled.

"Come now my former Queen, you can at least address me by my formal name. I prefer you not call me by my first name in front of my minions" Ivan said as he picked up his cigar from the chair, taking a long drag before putting it back on the chair claw.

"What is the meaning of this! I am your Queen and I demand to know why I was stripped of my crown, tossed in a potato sack and dragged here. You will release me or I will have your head!" Walarah growled.

"You're not in any position to be making threats Walarah, barely a third of the entire population even consider you remotely fit to lead anymore." Ivan pressed another button on his desk, a small monitor loweing from the ceiling attached to what looked like a mechanical arm. "Bring Vespa in here, I want to see the look on her face."

The two guards saluted and moved like lightning out of the room, leaving Ivan and Walarah alone.

"I know what you're thinking; can I possibly take on a trained killer with years of combat experience?" A crude smirk appeared on Ivan's face. "By all means, I'll give you the opportunity, but first I want you to see what I have built." Ivan pointed to the window behind him, standing up and turning his back on Walarah, beckoning her beside him.

Walarah hesitated, carefully planning her next move. I'm an orange belt in Klaw Magraw and with his back turned I could possibly-

"Even now you think you're capable of beating me in combat. Even in the incredibly rare chance you land a killing blow, you will be horribly outnumbered."

Walarah sighed and walked toward the window beside Ivan. Peering out the window she stepped back in terror. "Wh-what is going on here!? Why is my entire military out there?"

"Bwahaha, you think that is YOUR military? No, I built this all myself, right under your beak" Ivan gloated.

"How? Where could you possibly get the funding for this?" Walarah asked.

"Simple really, I had the royal accountants under my wing for years. Not to mention your fund allocation for public works just vanished. You wondered why so many of our youth were constantly restless didn't you? None of the general welfare funds went where they were supposed to, nor any funds for the roads. It was easy to sneak millions of bits into my war machine."

Walarah felt the cold talons of her once subordinate on her shoulder. "Why, why all the military hardware?"

"War of course, or at least an overwhelming force to push Equestria into a quick surrender." Ivan Looked Walarah right in the eyes. "What I need from you is something that only you can provide. The remnants of your military could pose a problem to me and I would rather our forces not engage in a civil war. What I want you to do is join my forces. Bring some of our old decommisioned airships back into action, join me in the glory of battle and reap the spoils."

"And if I refuse?" Walarah asked, her voice tinted in fear for the possible answer.

"Trust me. You don't want to know what I will do to you and all of your allies if you refuse my generous offer. Actually, I'll show you what I will do soon as, ahh, there she is."

The door to the office opened up. The two guards walked into the office, between them was a mare with green eyes, a brown flowing mane and a light orange coat. Her expression was blank, as if she was staring off into space.

"Vespa Loo!?" Walarah stepped back. "But, she died years ago!"

"Officially dead. We managed to kidnap the entire family in a single night, Illusion magic is an amazing thing. Guards, set to mind only, keep the body paralyzed."

One of the guards nodded and pressed a button on a small gold square behind Vespa's ear. A few moments later Vespa was out of her trance, her eyes blinking slowly and her head bobbing side to side as if she were dizzy.

"So Vespa my dear, have you decided to help me put this locket together?" Ivan asked, his claw tapping near a buttonon his desk.

Vespa got her bearings and gritted her teeth. "No, trying to play my emotions against me with pictures isn't going to make me budge. The fact that you still haven't managed to catch them is testament to your incompetence."

"Who said I didn't catch one of them?" Ivan grinned as he pressed a button on his desk. The monitor above turned on, at first it was nothing but static. However, after a brief adjustment of a dial on Ivans desk a picture started to come into frame. It was a room, roughly ten by ten feet and colored white. In the room was a single pegasus pony. She had a brown bowl cut mane, a cream colored coat and a tire with fire coming off of it for a cutie mark.

"E-elly!?" Vespa's eyes went wide.

"I'll give you one more chance, either tell me what I want to know or put together this locket with a family member." Ivan moved his claw to another button on his desk, this time a red button with a capital black S on it.

"What are you going to do to her?" Vespa said as she watched Ivan hover his claw over the button.

Ivan stared at vespa and then moved his glance onto Walarah. "I suppose that I should give a demonstration of what happens to those that defy me. Be it pony," Ivan looked at Vespa "or griffon." Ivan cracked a grin at Walarah and then pressed the button.

On the screen a light red clouds of gas started to fill the room. The pony in the room used her wings to hover above the gas, but she quickly found that it was filling up the small room. She immediately tried to hold her breath and after a minute began to breathe in the red gas.

"Please, stop. Don't hurt her" Vespa cried.

"You had your chance Vespa, now others suffer for your pride" Ivan said with a grin.

"I won't allow it!" Walarah took a swing at Ivan, clipping his beak. Ivan responded with a chop to her chest to wind her, followed up by another chop to the back of her neck, knocking her out cold.

"Pitiful" Ivan gloated as he kicked Walarah in the stomach.

Vespa watched in terror as the image of Elly inhaled copious amounts of the gas. At first she seemed fine, but then she collapsed on the floor, her face contorted in pain. She began to kick wildly in an effort to control her pain, but it wasn't long before you could visibly see her screaming on pain, her body contorting in unatural poses in effort to find a way to make it stop.

"Stop it, I'll give you what you want!" Vespa yelled, tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Very well." Ivan pressed the button again and the red mist began to dissipate. Elly was still on the floor, but breathing. "In case you are wondering, no the gas I used isn't fatal in short bursts and has no long lasting effects. It's a pain gas called serration gas. Quite a powerful interrogation tool as it mimmics the effects of thousands of little serrated knives stabbing every inch of your body." Ivan pressed a button and turned off the screen which quickly retracted towards the ceiling. "Now, about this locket..." Ivan grinned.

I can't believe she actually fell for a projection...soon all of Equestria will be mine!

***

Chapter XV: Band Of Sisters

Chapter XV: Band Of Sisters

"I don't think I have ever seen Celestia lose her composure that badly. I mean, I seen her frustrated, maybe a tad angry, but her mane turned all fire red and yellow there" Elly said.

"Yeah, Walarah was mostly cowering in fear once Celestia turned the flames on" Scootaloo added. "Celestia is kinda terrifying when angry to be honest."

"She tries her best to put out an aura or impression of civility and kindness; mainly to placate the masses that see her are a being worthy of worship. That said, she's actually quite down to earth despite what other ponies may think." Elly stopped at the crosswalk, instinctively putting her hoof out to stop Scootaloo, even though it was unneeded.

"Sheesh sis, I'm not five." Scootaloo put her foreleg over Elly's leg, pushing it to the ground. "Also, what do you mean by that?"

Elly giggled. "Mom would occasionally take me with her to meetings with high ranking officials and such. Celestia was often there. I would usually be off in the corner playing with my toy airships while they talked adult things. Celestia usually got bored about halfway through and would come over to the corner with me to play. She really liked the blue airship with the retractable wings for some reason. Mom thought it was adorable, not so much the others at the meeting."

Scootaloo laughed, putting her hoof over her mouth to stifle it. "That mental image is actually kind of hilarious. I mean, I get she can be playful sometimes, but didn't expect her to be that direct."

"Well, she knows her position is important, so she puts on an act. Honestly though, if she had her way she would nap till noon and eat cake for breakfast." Elly rounded the corner and saw the big sign with sugar cube corners logo on it. Outside the store was three tables with ponies sitting at them. As she got closer she noticed one of them was Luna and the other two pairs were Apple Bloom, Applejack , Rarity and Sweetie Belle. However, as she approached she noticed worried looks on the older sisters faces.

As she pulled out a seat next to Luna she watched as the worried stares turned into angry glares, both solely on her.

"D-did I do something wrong?" Elly asked.

"Now, I understand you two are angry, but I suggest you both keep your composure. Both Elly and Scootaloo have been through quite a bit and I-"

"I don't give two horse dookeys about composure! This poor excuse for a sister is putting a giant target on Apple Bloom's back and I taint liken it one bit!" Applejack shouted, cutting off Luna.

"I concur. Had I known about the type of folks that were after her I would have made sure Sweetie Belle never came within a country mile of you!" Rarity added.

"Errr...what's this about again?" Elly asked.

Applejack lunged forward, raising a foreleg to punch Elly when a blue aura caught her mid air and sat her back down in her chair.

"Lemme go Luna!" Applejack protested.

"No, you will allow her to speak for herself." Luna turned her head to Elly "To refresh your memory, you seemed to have forgone telling Applejack or Rarity about the kidnappers and murderers pursuing you and Scootaloo."

Elly opened her mouth to speak, but only a short high pitched squeak came out. Oh...oh no. We been working so many double shifts that I forgot to tell them about that... "I...well, you see..."

"I told her not too" Scootaloo shouted.

"I dun believe that for a country second little missy, yer just covering for her screwups! She put a bunch of fillies in harms way without tellin any of their closest kin what was goin on." Applejack slammed her hoof on the table "She deserves a right good rear kickin for that, at the very least."

"While I have a distaste for violence, I must say that Applejack is right; repercussions for inaction's are in order" Rarity added.

Sweetie Belle got down from her seat and went to Scootaloo's side. "No, there wont be anything like that. They are after Scootaloo and Elly and even assuming Elly never came about, she would have still been a target eventually. We have had targets painted on us for years now and no pony was the wiser."

Apple Bloom got down from her seat and stood by Scootaloo as well. "Yeah, yer always puttin yerself in harms way for us, it's about time we do the right thing and do what we can to protect our friend."

Scootaloo smiled. The feeling of elation that her friends were there to back her up filled her with pride.

"I get that darling, but this quite a bit more than just a some petty diamond dog prankster or Discord being himself, these are real murderers out there; they will have no qualms about killing you outright if it means they can get to Scootaloo" Rarity said.

"I get shes like a sister to you Apple Bloom, but...I ..I just can't put you in that kind of danger. It would break all of our hearts if something bad were to happen to you..." Applejack pleaded.

"And what about me Applejack? Would you abandon me to these figurative wolves? I thought you thought of me as family?" Scootaloo asked, tears running down her eyes.

"I-I do sugar-cube, it's just you will have all that protection around you at all times and stuff. There is no need to put Sweetie Belle or you in danger like that." Applejack added nervously.

"Listen Applejack, I'm sorry you had to hear how deep this goes from someone besides me and I know I make mistakes, I get a little absent minded in my work sometimes and forget important details. However, this is the exact thing I tried to avoid for years; I put the target on my own back and made sure false information about what Scootaloo looked like and where she was leaked." Elly took a deep breath to compose herself. "I know you were angry about me leaving her on her own, but it was a lose-lose situation for me. Do I endanger her and her friends by staying by her side or do I sacrifice my own well being and safety for others."

"Oh...that explains why she wasn't around" Rarity said, putting a hoof on her chin to ponder.

"I well, I still-" Applejack stuttered.

"Could you do what she did sis? Could you really ostracize yourself from your loved ones to protect them?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Or you sis? I mean, I know I get on your nerves a bit, but we are inseparable when we are both together. Even if we don't exactly match personality wise" Sweetie Belle added.

"I guess we are at a crossroads here. I normally wouldn't get into family business, but this isn't exactly what I would call black and white. Yes, some things could have been done better; such as Elly going to my sister first with these problems instead of taking on such a burden at her age." Luna shot Elly an disapproving glance, making Elly turn her head in shame. "That said, it wasn't the worst idea in the world. Knowing how my sister works Elly and Scootaloo would have had a full regiment of guards protecting them twenty-four seven."

"Which means we would have been a bigger target since those that were after us knew where we were and what we were doing at all times" Scootaloo said.

"I...I just don't want to lose any of you. I don't need to bury more family before their time comes..." Applejack wiped away a tear.

Scootaloo sighed and walked forward, putting her forelegs over Applejack's gently. "I know you want to protect us. That's what family is for, but at the same time we can't live in fear of what could happen. We live in a world where a rogue basilisk could turn us to stone, a hydra could attack the town and eat us in one gulp or one of us could end up dead just from landing the wrong way off a swing." Scootaloo paused as she watched Applejack's and Rarity's face contort a bit at the thought of them suddenly dying.

"I-I don't want to even think about that." Applejack stared at the table for a moment before making eye contact with Scootaloo.

"I get that whole protective sister thing, we all do, but you have to give us some space to takes some risks. We will never grow on a personal level if you keep on smothering us." Scootaloo took her her forelegs off of Applejack's. "Twilight, Fluttershy, Rarity and the others all risk their lives for one another on a near weekly basis. All I ask is you let us be there for one another."

"Applejack...I loathe to say it, but they have a point. I mean, I really don't like it, but our little sisters are not going to be little forever" Rarity said as she put a hoof on Applejack's shoulder.

"I..."Applejack sat there for a few minutes, silent as she tried to process all that had occurred. "Luna?"

"Yes?" Luna replied.

"I...I can have your word that nothing bad will happen to them, right?" Applejack asked.

"I assure you I have the absolute very best all around town to keep an eye on them, as well as myself. As of this afternoon I am officially part of their team." Luna gave a sideways lance at Elly, but quickly turned her gaze back to Applejack. "While there is always a possibility of something going wrong, they would be folly to attack her head on with so much protecting her."

"I guess that's about as much as I can expect. I won't stop you all from the whole competition thing now that I have Luna's assurance. Still, if y'all could stop by every so often , they would put my mind a little more at ease." Applejack looked toward Rarity.

"I concur but would like to add an extra stipulation. No running off on adventures on your own, that goes for all three of you. I know how you all like to stir the proverbial fecal pot" Rarity said.

"Fecal pot? Is that like a pot shaped like a feet?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"No, no she means a pot full of sh-" Apple Bloom stopped herself as she received a disapproving glare and shake of the head from Applejack.

"I need to have a talk with Babs Seed's parents. Yer learning too much bad city stuff fer yer age" Applejack said.

"I hate to break all the sentimental emotions flying about, but could we kindly order our meals?" Luna asked. "I spent so much time keeping Celestia's temper in check this afternoon that I missed the banquet at the end of the event."

"Yeah, I saw her get all fired up; like literally fired up. Care to share what that was all about?" Applejack asked.

Elly's ears folded back in distress.Oh no...if she tells them Gerald was killed...then everything that just happened will repeat itself.

"Oh, just some overly complicated political non-sense. You know things most ponies wouldn't bother with." Luna lied as she casually laughed and waved her right leg about.

Did...did the princess just lie for me? Elly thought to herself.

"Oh, stuff no pony here cares about. Okay then." Applejack picked up the menu in front of her and looked over the top of it directly at Elly. "You gonna come sit with us?"

"Err...is that okay? You're not going to try and knock my block off again are you?" Elly asked apprehensively.

"No. I was gonna pull mah punches with you the first time around anyhow. You worked on our farm back before Apple Bloom was even born and I can't right hurt a friend of the family too much. Even iffin ya are a screw up." Applejack looked back at the menu. "You just happen to hit one of my buttons, I get a bit protective of the one you pressed."

Elly looked at Scootaloo. "I understand completely."

"I'm not sure if that was an apology or not, but yes. Please do sit with us, I would like to get to know Scootaloo's sister a bit better." Rarity shot a sideways glance at Applejack "Even if you are a screw up, as Applejack so kindly put it."

Elly smiled and pulled up a chain next to Luna, Scootaloo taking Luna's opposite side. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom took their seats next to their sisters.

"Waiter! A round of shakes on me if you would please?" Elly yelled.

"Shakes? First?" Luna asked, puzzled.

"Why not? We all worked up an appetite. Dinner is on me by the way" Elly added.

The waiter walked over to the table and pulled out his ticket book, setting it on the table as he pulled out a pen. "I'm ready to take your orders."

"I'll have a number three with extra cheese" Applejack said. "Oh, and make my shake apple spice if you would."

"A number four side a side salad, no onions if you would dear. Make the shake vanilla, but with a bit of pineapple at the top" Rarity said.

Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom looked at one another and then at the waiter. "A number six and a chocolate shake" they all said in unison.

"Also, wheres Pinkie Pie? She's not working tonight?" Apple Bloom asked.

"She's off on fridays during the summers. She's probably at the one bit movie theater" Rarity answer curtly.

"That was...a bit odd" Elly said sheepishly. "The talking all at once I mean."

"They been here together and often for years and they almost always get the same thing for dinner. Spooky at first, but you'll get used to it after awhile." Applejack set her menu down. "So, what you gettin?"

Elly studied the menu for a few moments, her eyes catching something she hadn't had in a few weeks. I hope they don't think of me as some kind of freak for ordering this... "I'll take a number twelve with a side salad as well."

Rarity picked up her menu, not recognizing the order number. She had to turn the page a few times to find them listing. "A salmon steak with lemon and paprika, heavy cheese macaroni and a side of corn on the cob?" Rarity looked up from the menu and stared quizzically at Elly. "You...eat meat?"

Others at the table were looking at her, not with looks of disgust, but genuine curiosity.

"I admit, it's a very acquired taste. A functional one as well, you really don't get enough proteins from beans and the like, not for all the heavy manual labor I have to do anyhow. Picked it up when I opened up a side shop in a coastal town not too far from Stalliongrad." Elly watched as the stares coming her way went from quizzical to content.

"I guess that makes sense. I mean, Rarity likes caviar, which is just gross." Applejack said, teasingly.

"It is not, it's a sign of refinement and glamour for the elite" Rarity retorted.

"I guess that makes sense. You wouldn't mind if I tried a bite from your plate would ya?" Scootaloo asked.

"Sure, but I warn you the first time is always a bit funky" Elly said, smiling.

"And your order Princess Luna?" The waiter turned to Luna getting ready to jot down her order.

"I’ll have two number nines, a number nine large, a number six with extra dip, a number seven, two number forty-fives, one with cheese, and a large soda." Luna set her menu down, smiling. However she noticed the shock on the other ponies faces, including the waiters.

"Oh, I meant a diet soda, I have to watch my figure and all." Luna laughed.

Holy hand grenades, she can friggin eat! Elly thought to herself.

"So, Elly. I heard that you are some sort of mechanic from what I have heard?" Rarity asked.

"Huh? Didn't Sweetie Belle fill you in on the details? I mean, we have been working together long hours for a month now" Elly said in a confused tone.

"Well, me and AJ here have been in an out of the hospital on a recovery regiment" Rarity replied. "Kind of hard to keep up with the goings on when you have a doctor on your case every week." Rarity shot Applejack an accusatory stare.

"What? I told the doc I was fine to work. I didn't need his help" Applejack retorted.

"Oh hush you, we could both barely walk right after we got home from the hospital, let alone handle our workload. I think the doctors and nurses did a fine job" Rarity said.

Applejack merely snorted in disapproval, rolling her eyes and letting Rarity continue.

"As I was saying before AJ showed her stubborn side, I was wondering what it is you actually do." Rarity leaned forward a tad in her chair. "I mean, I heard of your family of course, but I have lived in Ponyville my entire life and never so much as seen you around town when I was younger."

"It's kind of complicated. See, it wasn't like me or the rest of the family was anti-social or anything, it's just we typically only lived in Ponyville during the warmer months. The home we originally had here was more of summer home. The family also occasionally skipped a year or two in Ponyville to use other homes we had set up." Elly tapped her hoof against her chin. "Let me see, we had a homes in a Seacattle, Laspegasus , Stalliongrad and I think one near the great northern expanse, but we rarely used it due to it being so remote."

"So...what yer sayin is you moved around a lot?" Applejack asked.

"We did. I didn't make too many friends while in Ponyville either, except the Apples, which I did summer work for on occasion; though under an assumed name to keep the paparazzi off my tail. A lot of my time was spent on work and contest entries during the months I was in Ponyville." Elly sighed. "Once I was old enough to start striking out on my own, I really didn't make that many friends; I was always absorbed in my work."

"Wait, I don't remember me moving around that much, at least from what I can remember" Scootaloo added.

"About a year after your birth mom had a long discussion with dad and some of the other relatives. She wanted to settle down and raise a child that wasn't so pressured to be like them. Mom actually got in a big argument with dad over the whole thing. Dad was adamant about both of us being self sufficient and hard working, mom on the the other hoof wanted to try a more gentle approach with Scootaloo's upbringing." Elly sat back in her chair and stared at the sky. "Sometimes I think what I would have been if mom & dad were not such a large influence on me."

"Well, we all have a bit of our parents in us. Big Mac is such a dead ringer for his dad in size , speech and mannerisms that it's actually kind of scary. I'm a bit softer like mom" Applejack noticed a few awkward glances from Rarity and Apple Bloom directed at her. "A bit softer and don't be tellin Big Mac about that; I got a reputation to keep up."

Apple Bloom let out a giggle, earning herself a stare from Applejack.

"As I was sayin. You can try yer darndest to be different from them, but sometimes you just can't escape yer heritage. I learned that lesson a long time ago and I'm thankful I did." Applejack rubbed Apple Blooms mane playfully, knocking her bow a bit off center. "I may not have gone out and been something different that what we Apples normally do, but I wouldn't have traded it for anything." Applejack gave Apple Bloom a quick nuzzle, much to the fillys half hearted giggling and protest.

I guess I have been missing out all these years. I was so terrified and absorbed in myself that I didn't give enough time for others... Elly thought to herself as she looked down at Scootaloo and smiled. I'll make sure that never happens again.I promise I'll make up for lost time...

The waiter walked up to the table, balancing plates on his back using a specialized saddle used for carrying goods. He slowly began to set the shakes and meals in front of each pony, though Elly's meal was seemingly jumbled up.

"I'm sorry, the cook kind of shattered the filet on the counter when she took it out of the freezer. Unfortunately it was our last one, I hope how it looks isn't too jarring" the waiter apologized.

Elly stared at her meal for a moment before leaning in and taking a bite of her salmon. "Well, it's not bad, a little overcooked on the underside, but honestly I have had far worse."

"Mind if I try a bite?" Scootaloo asked, curiously staring at a small piece at the edge of Elly's plate.

"Knock yourself out, but I warn you; it's gonna taste funky the first time around." Elly pushed her plate towards Scootaloo, allowing the filly to try it for herself.

Scootaloo stared at the piece of fish for a moment, seemingly having second thoughts about trying it. It kind of looks like a cherry doughnut that's been chopped up... Scootaloo thought to herself. She leaned in, scooping up the smaller piece in her mouth in a single bite. The first flavor was a sharp bit of sour followed by a quite change to a savory kind of flavor, like toasted rye bread, but much stronger. The texture was kind of flakey, but spongy at the same time; like a bit of taffy that had dried out too much. After a bit of chewing, she swallowed, the sensation going down her throat was barely any at all; as if it was smooth and weightless.

"So, how was it?" Applejack asked.

"It's...a bit hard to describe. It's like a semi-bitter, yet savory bit of taffy. It's really odd going down too, like it's there but not there?" Scootaloo pondered for a moment. "I guess...like a really soft doughnut dunked in coffee?"

Rarity and Applejack looked at one another for a moment then back at Scootaloo.

"So, gross then?" Rarity asked.

"Not really gross, more like different. Like I said, it's just one of those things you have to try for yourself." Scootaloo pushed the plate back to Elly. "You have strange tastes sis."

Elly laughed. "It grows on you. Kinda like coffee or..." Elly looked at Applejack and smiled slyly "Oranges."

"You did not just do what I think you did? I'll have you know I memorized all one hundred facts why Apples are better than oranges. Fact number twel-" Applejack stopped mid-sentence, noticing others at the table giggling to themselves. "What's so funny?"

"She baited you, sis. It's a prank" Apple Bloom explained.

"Sorry, I couldn't help myself. Scootaloo told me you have bit of overly passionate love of all things apple; to the exclusion of any other fruit." Elly leaned over and took a sip of her shake. "Just joking to lighten the mood."

Applejack let out a hearty laugh. "But no, seriously, Apples are better."

The rest of the ponies at the table erupted in laughter.

***One Hour Later***

"We should do this more often I reckon, I mean, more of the food an laughing and less of the fightin I mean." Applejack said was she waved goodbye to Elly and Scootaloo.

"Do stop by the shop later on, I need your measurements for proper uniforms!" Rarity shouted.

"We will!" Scootaloo replied.

As soon as Applejack and Rarity were out of earshot, Elly turned to Luna and bowed down respectfully. "I don't know how I can repay you for not telling them about Gerald's assassination. Had you told them...well I don't think a force on this planet would have stopped Applejack and Rarity from beating me to a pulp."

"I was wondering that too. I didn't think princesses could ...lie I guess? Then again you really didn't, just avoided specifics." Scootaloo added.

Luna sighed, rubbing her head with her hoof. "I did not do it for your health, Elly Loo. I did it because as of today it is a state secret; releasing such information would almost immediately call for a panic and even outright call for war if it reached the senate."

"Oh, well. I guess I was presuming a bit much then" Elly said glumly.

Luna smiled. "I may not have done it for you, but I did do it for both Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. Had they learned about such details they would have doubled down on how overbearingly protective they were being. I get it's only natural, but..." Luna stared at the moon, where her figure once was. "I know first hand how suffocating having an older sister can be." Luna looked down on Scootaloo, nodding in approval. "I completely agreed with what you said tonight, that you need room to grow and experience life on your own terms, that each and every mortal life could be snuffled out in a mere instant."

Luna's horn glowed and created an image of a filly walking in a field of short grass. The filly in question began to grow older, but always seemed to avoid the tall grass as she aged. "It reminded me of an old story I was told as a child. You see this filly avoided the tall grass her entire life because all of her friends and family told her it was dangerous; that wolves would gobble her up if she stepped into the grass." The image of the pony aged until she was no longer able to walk and was bed ridden. "However, she caught a disease from a rare ivy that rapidly aged her and none could fine a cure."

"That sounds terrible!" Scootaloo said.

"It is, there was a legendary flower that could reverse all the damage done, but none could find it. The filly, now a very old mare, decided that before her death she wanted to see what was in that tall grass." The image showed the once young filly stumbling on the road, parts of her coat falling out from the accelerated aging. "When she finally reached the tall grass, she walked through it and found a bed of flowers. Her curiosity sated, she laid down in the flowers, waiting for death to take her..."

"That's...morbid, Luna. I'm not sure what the point of this story is exactly" Elly said.

Luna smiled. "However, death did not come, her body slowly changed back into a filly before she was afflicted by the rare disease. You see, life favors the bold and those willing to explore the unknown. Yes, one should be aware of dangers, but they should not stifles ones will to get out in the world and live."

The image ended just as the filly ran home to her parents, embracing them in a warm hug. "It may be easier to close off a door, but sometimes you need to seize fate and take a step through that door into the unknown. That to live life any other way is to devalue its grandeur." Luna placed her foreleg over Scootaloo shoulder and pulled her close, leaning over to whisper in her ear.

"I hope when the day comes that you need to walk through that door, you remember my words and do so with pride." Luna removed her leg from around Scootaloo's shoulders. "I bid you both a good night and again, congratulations on your performance." Luna spread her wings and took to the air, stopping briefly. "I suggest you take he path to your home that is open and lit by my moonlight. So long as you walk in it, you will have my protection."

Elly and Scootaloo waved goodbye as Luna flew off into the distance.

"So...bedtime story before you tuck me in?" Scootaloo asked.

"I would say you're too old for that, but sure; why not" Elly replied.

***

General Ivan Vukov relaxed in his desk chair as he watched the silhouette of his secret weapon blot out the moonlight as it was slowly undocked. He reached over to the left side of his chair and picked up a lit cigar that had been resting on of the the ornate claws on the arms of his chair. As he moved it toward his beak a knock at the door made him flinch slightly.

"Come in" Vukov said as he took a drag from his cigar.

"All is going according to plan, general. We have located the resting place of Ragnarok and the locket that Vespa and Cidolfus put together also acts as a key for activation. However..."

Vukov spun his chair in place, slowly facing his subordinate. He leaned over and set his cigar in the silver ashtray on his desk. "Let me take a guess, you ran into not one, but many unforeseen complications?"

The griffon bowed his head, sweat rolling down his beak. "Y-yes sir. It appears that a high level magical protection has been put on the entire craft. We have had our crew working to dispel it, but it seems to be Alicorn in origin." The griffon took a deep breath, watching closely for Vukov's reaction.

"Is that it? Tell me, what exactly does this protection do?" Vukov asked as he picked his cigar back up from his silver ashtray.

"We have been able to figure that out. It seems to be a protection put in place right before the ship was to enter trials. From what we have managed to gather, only members of the Loo family can operate any of the controls or guns."

"Hmmm, that's actually not a problem." Vukov took a drag from his cigar and blew the smoke towards his subordinate.

"Sir?" the subordinate stood straight up, looking confused.

"We can kill two birds with one stone. Vespa already thinks we have Elder sister captured thanks to some very expensive illusion magic. Sadly we still do not have enough feathers to replicate the younger one yet, due to the little brat not being able to fly." Vukov took another drag from his cigar. "However, we can make her think we have both captured until we actually catch them. See, having mindless zombies to load and and fire the gun is fine and all, but I want her to be sane of mind to pilot and command it."

"Sir, are you absolutely out of your mind?" the subordinate shouted.

Vukov stood up from his chair and with a swift motion of his right claw backclawed the subordinate to the floor. "I will not have a soldier second guess me, do I make myself clear?" Vukov turned back to his chair and sat down, once again putting his cigar in his beak.

"S-sorry sir, I just want to know how our glorious leader thinks so I may serve him better!" The subordinate said as he stood up saluting Vukov.

"Brown beaking aside, I will indulge you. See I have a very hate-hate relationship with the Loo family. Especially Vespa herself. Cidolfus I don't much mind, but I find him spineless and the pairs two brats are mostly irrelevant to me. However, if we capture both of them and present them to Vespa as we threaten to torture them, she will gladly pilot Ragnarok without question to guarantee their safety." Vukov pressed a button on his desk and a large bottle of red wine appeared in an instant, a pair of wine glasses on either side of it. "We have her at the front of the pack with her entire worthless family in slave mode taking on the bulk of Equestria's fleet. If they survive the battle, they get to live out the rest of their miserable lives as slaves under my new empire."

"A-and if they are killed in action?" the subordinate asked.

"It's win-win, I don't have to ever deal with Vespa's attitude ever again and Equestria wastes resources they cannot replace. We move in the Odin with the support fleet and wipe them out." Vukov turned to look out the window as the airship being undocked. "All we need to do is capture the little one. Have your men come up with a way to get her away from all those prying eyes yet?"

"We do have a plan in motion to bait the younger out. The calculated chance of getting her here is at best ten percent." The subordinate thought for a moment. "Sir, I may have a plan to get those feathers you mentioned. We have very little chance of extracting the younger, but maybe a trade could work?"

"This is different and quite bold. A mere lieutenant has an idea. Go on, amuse me." Vukov said as he turned his chair once again, a smile on his face.

" I propose we bait them into a trade. Trade them a picture of Vespa Loo and one of her feathers for a handful of Scootaloo's feathers. We emotionally bankrupt an enemy with a possible hostage situation and get what we need to complete your plan." The subordinate bowed down respectfully to Vukov.

Vukov let out a screeching laugh that echoed across the room. "Absolutely brilliant! Pit the ponies own herd mentality and absurd infatuation with family against them!" Vukov nodded in approval as he composed himself. "Pluck a few feathers from Vespa, ones close to her body so they carry a stronger scent and have them delivered to their little garage in Ponyville. I want multiple backup plans and their capture if at all possible, the real thing is much more compelling than an illusion." Vukov reached over and poured himself a a glass of wine. "Also, I will put in for your promotion to the special forces. We need sharp mind like yours in there. Dismissed."

"Yes sir, thank you sir!" The subordinate saluted Vukov and then left the room in a hurry.

"At very worst, this will be an amusing show..." Vukov said to himself as he took a sip of his red wine. "I wonder how they will react..."

***

"Hmmmnnn pancakes...yeah, sis, more butter." Scootaloo rolled over in her bed, gnawing on her blanket. The light from the sun had yet to penetrate far enough into her room, a signal for her to wake up.

"S-scoots?" Elly said as she walked into the room.

"Yeah, eggs over medium if you would. Raisin toast on the side..." Scootaloo said softly.

Talking about food in her sleep again... Elly thought to herself. Elly moved up beside Scootaloo's bed and began to lightly shake her. "Wake up Scoots, we have a busy day ahead of us today."

Scootaloo began to stir. Slowly opening her eyes and sitting up. She looked around the room briefly before locking her half shut gaze upon Elly. "W-what time is it?" Scootaloo asked.

"It's a little bit past seven in the morning. I already went out and picked us up some breakfast biscuits to eat before we head out for the day" Elly said as she pointed towards the table in the foyer.

"S-seven? Are you crazy or something?" Scootaloo said as she rolled out of bed, rubbing her eyes soon after she landed on her feet. "What's going on that's so important that I have to get up at the crack of dawn during the middle of summer?"

Elly smiled, though the edges of her mouth seemed to split open as she smiled; to the point where blood was dripping from them. Soon her face began to contort, her mouth opening wide as a griffons head peered though Elly's mouth. "Why, it's your sisters FUNERAL!" The griffon jumped from Elly's body, tearing her in half.

*Gasp* Scootaloo sat up quickly, her eyes wide open as she stared at the wall at the bottom of her bed. Her room was still mostly pitch black, aside from the little bit of light coming from the moon into her room. It took her a few moments to get a grip as to where she was and even longer for her breathing to return to normal.

"Hnmmm Scoots?" Elly mumbled.

Scootaloo almost jumped at Elly mumbling her name, only stopping herself short when she realized they both shared the only queen size bed in the house.

"Scoots?" Elly sat up, her eyes wide in horror. "Are you okay?" Scootaloo was trembling uncontrollably as she stared down at her hooves, seemingly unaware of her own shaking. Elly leaned forward embracing Scootaloo in a hug as she reached over and turned on the lamp by the bed. "Shh, calm down...nothing is wrong, it was just a bad dream."

She's shaking like an unbalanced blender filled with rocks. Shes dripping wet from all the sweat too.

"S-sis...It it was dream about a griffon, one that ripped you apart from the inside out. I...I can't...I don't want to-" Scootaloo leaned into Elly's chest, bawling uncontrollably. "I don't want to lose you!"

Elly embraced Scootaloo in a hug, rubbing her neck up and down Scootaloo's mane affectionately, like a mother would to greet her foal or calm her foal down. "Shh...it's okay. I'm not going anywhere, not if I have anything to say about it."

"I...I can't bear the thought of losing someone I love again" Scootaloo cried.

"You won't. We have the best security in Equestria around our home at all hours of the day and night. We have a Alicorn that can detect if the slightest thing is wrong with you and come running to our rescue. Also, I'm a big mare, I can handle a odd griffon here and there." Elly pushed Scootaloo to forelegs length and locked eyes with her. " You won't lose me, I promise."

Scootaloo leaned forward, nuzzling Elly affectionately stopping to lean her own head against Elly's in a resting position. "I- I..." Scootaloo tried to mouth the words " I love you" but before the words could leave her mouth, she was already asleep; still leaning against Elly's head.

"I love you too Sis." Elly put one foreleg behind Scootaloo's neck and slowly lowered her back down onto the bed, using the other foreleg to tuck her in gently. The then reached over as slowly as she could and touched the lamp, turning it off. She sat there for a few moments, watching over Scootaloo as she slept, making sure that she was dead asleep before she slowly lowered herself beside her. She noticed Scootaloo began to tremble again, so she put a foreleg over Scootaloo chest and rested her chin in Scootaloo's mane. The trembling stopped as quickly as it began and she could feel the filly crack a smile and hear her mumble I love you once more.

"Ditto, sis, ditto." Elly whispered.

Chapter XVI: Desperate Measures

Tenative

"I said get yer rears on the ground and give me fifty! You with the hipster-goth mane, I want that tank to shine so bright that it's a war crime!"

Other ponies stopped for a brief second to see what was going on, quickly adverting their eyes when the well dressed army pony demanded a gawker to drop and give him fifty pushups for "being a fat , nosey potato".

Elly stuck her head out of the garage door, shaking her head in disappointment before going back to work. "I get that Twilight and her crew got stomped a couple days ago, but why the overly abusive drill sergeant?"

Apple Bloom rolled out from under the tank, her face and coat covered with splotches of grease. "Maybe she was thinking discipline was her problem?"

Scootaloo chimed in, popping out of the top of the turret commanders hatch. "I dunno, pretty sure driving out into the open in a tank the size of a school was more the problem."

"Yeah, I guess that would do it. That and the enemy artillery took a great interest in shooting at her exclusively." Apple Bloom stood up, brushing flakes of wood off her coat. "In other news, the entire front end is pretty banged up. We might even want to think of changing the hull entirely."

"Can we do that?" Scootaloo asked. "Wait, lemme check." Scootaloo ducked back into the tank, making quite a bit of noise and yelling ouch a few times as she banged her head. After a few moments of rummaging about, she poked her head out of the top of the commanders hatch, a thick book between her hooves.

"So, anything in there about changing the hull entirely?" Elly asked as she inspected the crumbling front plate of the tank.

"It says those that make it through the preliminaries can request for a new hull if they trade in the old one and the old hull is either irreparable or beyond the teams budget to fix." Scootaloo ducked inside the tank and looked around the inside before popping back out the top of the commanders hatch. "Didn't Sweetie Belle say that transmission is basically demolished?"

"Yeah, she mentioned it. Then again a lot of teams had that exact issue. Who knew having a transmission made of wooden gears on a multi-ton vehicle would be a bad idea?" Apple Bloom rolled back under the tank followed by a spurt of cursing. "The torsion bar system is shot too."

"That bad huh?" Elly asked.

"We could fix it before the next match, but she won't be at a hundred percent and she will vibrate like a cake mixer to boot." Apple Bloom slid out from under the tank and stood up, shaking her head free of dust and wood chips. "It's a right mess up under there."

Suddenly the front garage door opened and Sweetie Belle walked in, a bag of food in her mouth. However, Luna was not with her, behind her was the drill sergeant from outside, whom was carrying another bag of food as well.

"Hey everyone. I got lunch! Oh, and this nice pony behind me helped me carry it the rest of the way here." Sweetie Belle sat the food down on the floor. "Let me introduce you to R. Lee Army!"

Elly tried to smile, but couldn't get it out of her. It wasn't like the pony in front of her was all that intimidating. He was a solid six inches shorter at he shoulder than she was, quite small for a stallion. He wore a solid green drill instructors hat and a green uniform with his rank displayed over the right side. She could tell that he was quite old, maybe in his late fifties and had beady eyes and a buzz cut underneath his hat. His Cutie mark seemed to be mostly obscured by his military jacket.

R. Lee's beady eyes narrowed on Elly. "Are you the dumpster coon that sent this filly out alone to carry all this food?"

"N-no, she had-" Elly said.

"Speak up! What is your major voice malfunction!" R. Lee Army shouted.

Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom stared on, as this tiny pony had Elly scared witless.

"I said Luna was with her. Luna was going to help her carry that stuff here!" Elly said.

"What kinda diamond dog shit-stain lets a filly and a superior officer do the grunt work when she's perfectly capable of doing it herself?" R. Lee Army asked.

Elly walked up to R. Lee Army and got up right in his face. "They both volunteered to go get lunch, short-stack!"

"I may be short, , but I didn't know they stacked shit as high as you!" R. Lee Army retorted. "You're probably one of the local night ladies. You look like you can suck a golf ball through a garden hose!"

"What's a night lady?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"You'll find out when you get older!" Elly and R. lee Army yelled at Sweetie in unison.

"Listen, sir-"

"No, shit-stain. I work for a living, you will refer to me as sarge! Now tell me, what is your name so I can add you to my shit-list?" R. Lee Army demanded, interrupting Elly in the process.

"I am Elly Loo" Elly replied curtly.

"Wait, repeat that?" R. Lee Army asked.

"Elly Loo" Elly repeated herself.

"Oh" R. Lee Army laughed. "Fumbles!"

"Wait" Elly's eyes went wide. "Sargent R?"

"Well, well taint this a treat. Here I was thinking I was talking to a pile of shit and instead I was talking to one that can't catch shit!" R. Lee Army laughed.

"N-nice to see you too, sarge." Elly folded her ears back, a frown forming across her face.

"Fumbles? Why did he call you Fumbles sis?" Scootaloo asked.

"Sis? I didn't know you had a little sister." R. Lee Army walked over to the tank, motioning for Scootaloo to come down.

Scootaloo nodded and pulled herself out from the top of the tank and jumped down next to R. Lee Army. "So, who is this exactly sis?"

Elly sighed, rustling her wings in obvious disgust. "The name I knew him by was Sarge. He was the hoofball coach of Dremdale fillies academy back when I was ten or so."

"He called you fumbles, was that a nickname?" Sweetie Belle asked.

R. Lee Army laughed. "Oh, do I have story for you fillies!"

Elly frowned and put a hoof on R. Lee Army's jacket. "If you would kindly NOT bring that up, it would be much appreciated. It's bad enough that nickname followed me into middle school."

"Oh come on, a little childhood trauma builds character. Can't say the same for your dads checkbook though, he lost a lot betting against me that game." R. Lee smiled. "How is your old man? I haven't seen him since I was redeployed up north."

I guess news doesn't travel very far when you're posted in the middle of nowhere. Elly thought.

Elly lowered her head somberly. "I guess you don't get news papers up north?"

R. Lee Army scratched the back of his head. "No, where I was stationed the last ten or so years was a bit too far off the main supply chain. We got only the very basics and occasionally a book or two."

"Sarge, you may want to take a seat for this..." Elly said somberly.

Elly explained to R. Lee how a house fire a few years ago killed nearly every member of the Loo family, save for herself and Scootaloo. She specifically avoided details about the other problems of being pursued and the self isolation from her sister.

"I...I" R. Lee took his hat off and put it over his chest, bowing his head respectfully. "I had no idea. I just retired a few months ago, this is the first time in years I been back to a major town." R. Lee Army put his hat back on his head. "I apologize for my earlier outbursts and lack of knowledge about your parents."

R. Lee Army looked at Scootaloo and back at Elly. "I can't imagine growing up without parents, At least you two have each other."

"But, they only-" Elly dived forward, putting her hoof in Sweetie Belles mouth, much to her protest.

"Never mind her, would you like to share lunch with us?" Elly asked, smiling meekly to try and cover her nervousness.

"I would fumbles, but those maggots outside hired me to get them in shape and I'll be damned if they aren't scrubbing that tank clean with toothbrushes by the end of the day." R. Lee walked by Elly and toward the door, stopping to look back at the tank. "I suggest you redo that entire hull, from this angle you can see it buckles in the middle a bit."

R. Lee Army opened the door and stepped out, stopping midway. "Oh, and fumbles?"

"Yes..." Elly growled.

"I suggest you do a few laps around the outside of the facility. Wouldn't want ya to be nicknamed combat whale in the next round." R. Lee Army gave a short smile and closed the door behind him.

Elly grit her teeth from side to side. "That insufferable asshole. Just had to get in the last insult didn't he?"

"But, you look nothing like a whale" Sweetie Belle said, gaining herself disapproving stares from Apple Bloom and Scootaloo.

"Never mind him. I'm starving." Elly picked up the bag from the floor and walked toward a small table in the corner of the garage, setting it down. "Food now. Tanks later."

Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo moved over to the small table and sat down opposite of Elly. Sweetie Belle opened up her bag and passed two containers over to Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, followed by a couple edible starch sporks.

"So we all got the same thing right?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Nope, I told the cakes to surprise us this time. Well, except Elly, she's got the weird stuff." Sweetie Belle said as she pointed to Elly.

"Hey now, Zahali salad, fries and a tofu burger isn't really that strange" Elly picked up the burger and bit into it, spraying her fries with Ketchup.

"Nice aim sis. Got your food this time instead of Apple Blooms face" Scootaloo smiled as she gave a sideways glance at Apple Bloom.

"Ketchup does not taste good goin down the nose, I'll tell you what." Apple Bloom opened up her container and found a pile of onion rings and a pair of vegetarian tacos.

"I wonder what I got?" Sweetie Belle opened her container and looked inside. "Hmm a side of garlic bread and spaghetti."

Scootaloo eagerly opened her container to find something a bit unorthodox and unexpected; a small salmon filet with a side of salad. "Ehhh..." Scootaloo stared at her food for a moment, not entirely sure if she waned to try a full course of salmon or not.

Elly put her burger down and leaned over to take a look at what was bothering Scootaloo "Well, you were probably gonna have to try a full meal of it eventually. Honestly, ponies eat too much sugar and bread as it is, a little meat in the diet couldn't hurt."

"So, Sweetie; where did Luna head off too?" Elly asked.

"A couple guards dropped by and told her of some kind of emergency situation on the edge of town. Something about a pony walking around aimlessly with parcel in it's mouth." Sweetie Belle stuck her spork into her spaghetti and twirled it around, getting a large clump of it on the end.

"Could be another pony that got sick. Heard there's been a few sporadic folks getting sick after than pan-pan...panhandle hit?" Apple Bloom said.

"Pandemic is the word you're looking for Apple Bloom. Also, yeah, could be. Though thankfully there have been no reported deaths from the first wave. Whole lot of therapy though for those down for an extended period though." Elly pondered for a moment "I hope they get the help they need. Dunno why I'm worried though, the Equestrian medical association handled that pandemic about as well as anypony could have expected."

The door cracked open and R. Lee Army stuck his head in. "Are you girls expecting mail by chance? There was some kind of really confused earth pony in a mail-mares uniform. Said he had a package to drop off to Elly Loo, but couldn't find the right garage."

Elly, Scootaloo, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle all exchanged confused looks with one another. "No, we weren't expecting any direct mail; all of ours gets filtered through the military for ...reasons."

"Well, you got mail. Looks fishy though, no return address on it." R. Lee Army removed a small letter from his jacket pocket with his mouth and trotted over to the table, setting it down gently.

"Should we open it?" Scootaloo asked.

"No, Luna would have our hides if we went astray of the protections she put in place. We wait for a inspector to take a look at it." Elly recommended.

"It's just a piece of mail the size of a postcard, why are you so afraid of it? Did that big city life turn you into some kinda pansy or sumthin?" R. Lee Army said, barely keeping his voice at room level.

This isn't good...if I tell him pony-nappers and assassins are after us...

"Well, you see Mr. Army, there are some pretty bad folks after us and-"

"Scootaloo!" Elly growled, cutting Scootaloo off.

R. Lee Army's eyes narrowed on Elly, giving her a stare that could cut through steel. "Either you start explaining whats been going on or I'll make sure you are doing push-ups till dusk." R. Lee Army leaned in close to Elly, eliciting an uncomfortable jump back from the mare. "Spill the beans, maggot!"

"Y-Yes Sarge!" Elly said.

***Elsewhere***

"So he's just been standing there for the past hour, walking a few feet left and right before stopping dead?" Luna asked one of the well built ponies in a swimsuit.

"Yes your highness, we spotted him early in the morning during our rowing practice. We observed him just standing about. We thought at first he was watching us, but after a couple laps we noticed he was just...spacing out." The Pony in the swimsuit shook his head. "We noticed the parcel he was carrying around the third lap and stopped to investigate."

"And that's when you realized he could be under some kind of mind control, as per your orders? Seems a little bit shortsighted not to investigate it immediately" Luna accused.

"N-not to make excuses, but we have had a few false alarms in the last week. Mostly Berry Punch being wasted or Derpy being herself. However it is no excuse for our dereliction of duty and we are humbly sorry for our lack of action on the matter." The entire swim team bowed in unison in an attempt to show their sincerity.

I guess it can't be helped, we can't go after every spare phantom or drunkard that wanders into town. Luna thought to herself.

"Have you sent for a bomb squad?" Luna asked.

"We did, but it had to be sent to Canterlot , we don't have any in our ranks that are experts at defusing explosives" one of the ponies replied hastily.

"There is one, but he's colorblind and we can't afford such a mistake" another added.

Luna shook her head. Of all times for Celestia to half ass the quality of dispatches here. Then again, most of the exceptional troops are at the northern expanse... "I guess it can't be helped then. I will deal with the possible bomb myself. I want a hundred yard shrapnel barrier around the carrier; I do not want any civilian casualties or property damage."

The various ponies gathered around Luna all saluted in response and moved out in a circle to carry out her orders. Luna then created a barrier around the front of her body and then slowly walked toward the confused pony. He seemed like he was barely a teenager, he had a short cut blond mane, a green unkempt coat and a face covered in fur-freckles. He seemed to have a paintbrush dipping into a can of paint for a cutie mark and blue eyes, though from what she could tell both irises were shrunken. As she approached she noticed the young colt shudder, as if he was afraid of her.

"S-stay back griffon, I-I know kung-fu!" The colt dropped the box.

Luna quickly put a barrier up around the colt mere seconds before the box hit he ground and covered her ears; fully expecting an explosion. The colt seemed a bit more confused than before as he was punching the barrier while shouting about how hes going to kick some griffon behind. It was then that she noticed a gold fleck just behind the colts ear.

Is that what I think it is?

Luna reached out with her magic, her horn glowing a dark blue and plucked the gold object from the colts ear, quickly bringing it to herself for inspection.

"Huh? W-where am I?" The colt said, looking around himself like he was lost. "P-Princess Luna!" The colt immediately bowed his head and laid low the the ground, his entire body shaking in fear.

Really wish ponies would stop doing that, I'm not that intimidating Luna thought.

"You will slowly move away from that parcel on the ground and behind the shield the guards are putting up around us" Luna said calmly.

"Y-yes, your majesty, w-with upmost haste!" The colt stood up and bolted at top speed toward the edge of the shield, one of the guards opening a hole in it to allow him passage.

I said slowly...Luna held up the small gold square and examined it. It was much like the ones from the captured griffons still being held for questioning. It was small, no larger than a bit, but much flatter than a bit would be. It also seemed to have intricate lines up and down the middle of it which from her limited explanation from the court scientist was a form of circuitry; though one much more advanced than anything Equestria currently used.

As she inspected the device, she noted that there seemed to be a very small scorch mark in the middle. Upon closer inspection she noticed what appeared to be a very barbecued tick clinging to the surface of the device.

From what we gathered these devices can give out anywhere from very simple commands to moderately complex ones. Seems this one got borked by a parasite...

Luna levitated the device over to the nearest guard. "I want this taken to Celestia as soon as possible. She must know that the situation has escalated."

The guard walked through the barrier and grabbed the device, quickly putting it in his saddlebag. "With light speed, your majesty!" The guard took to the skies, heading off to Canterlot as fast as his wings would take him.

"As for this parcel..." Luna checked to see that the shield was still up and then put a bubble around herself. "Well, if it's a bomb then I should be fine." Luna used her magic to removed the binding on the box and opened it. The box was almost entirely empty, containing only a single slip of paper and a single light orange feather.

Luna lifted the slip of paper and began to read it aloud. "Attention remaining Loo family, the feather contained is from Vespa Loo herself. If you ever want to see your mother ever again then bring a handful of Scootaloo's feathers to the road leading to Hoofington just outside of town around five in the afternoon. You will be given a picture of Vespa to certify her safety in return."

T-this doesn't make any sense, the majority of the Loo family is dead...aren't they?

***Back at the garage***

"So, you neglected to tell me about this the first time around, why exactly?" R. Lee Army asked, tapping his hoof impatiently as he stared eye to eye with Elly.

"B-because it's not your business and I don't want any pony involved that doesn't need to be, S-sarge!" Elly responded, though her tone was clearly staggered in fear.

R. Lee Army shook his head and turned around, pacing back and fourth. "All the Loo's, all of them just as stubborn as the grass is green. You know how many friends your family has? Your dad was friends with almost every major manufacturer in the country. You mom delivered supplies on an airship during a blizzard when no one else would." R. Lee Army shook his head in disappointment. "I guess it's to be expected though, Loo's are too damn proud to accept help when they need it."

"Like you have ever helped me. All I remember from you is the constantly putting me down and making junior high for me a pain in the flank with that stupid nickname of yours!" Elly growled. "Even when you were invited to family picnics you would show up calling me fumbles and making me do laps and other non-sense."

"I still don't get why he calls you fumbles..." Sweetie Belle asked.

R. Lee Army sighed. "It's a pretty short story youngin. You see, me and Elly' dad, ol Cid go back a long time. He was an engineer in the Army for a few years to get a few certifications that civilians couldn't get normally. He married Vespa after he got out of the military , but kept in contact with me here and there over the years. When Elly here was about seven years old she developed the same flaws her mother had as a filly; a severe lack of depth perception."

Elly growled, obviously displeased with R. Lee Army telling the story.

"It was actually really common in the Loo family from what Vespa told me. I suggested to Cid to enroll her in little league hoofball; it would give her good amount of exercise to correct that depth perception problem. I offered to help out with her training a little bit on the side. Would show up every so often with an exercise regiment and nearly show up to every one of her games to-"

"To insult me in front of everypony and make a mockery of my problem!" Elly growled.

"That's not the intent. Yes I gave you a nickname that some would call insulting, but I was also there to cheer you on and push you to be better!" R. Lee Army steeped forward pointing. "And to teach you that the world isn't all sunshine and rainbows, that life will keep throwing you hardball's and you can either catch 'em or let them continue to hit you in the face."

"Mr. Army, I think you being a little r-"

"Please don't interrupt me youngin." R. Lee Army said curtly, cutting Scootaloo off mid-sentence.

R. Lee Army turned his attention back to Elly. "Tell me, after your second year of little league hoofball, what was your catching average?"

"About half?" Elly said, though she seemed unsure of it.

"It was actually almost seventy percent by my memory and by the third year you were one of the top ten shortstops in the entire league." R. Lee Army said. "I mean, you batting average was still pretty terrible to be honest, but at least you weren't pitcher levels of bad in that regard."

"You didn't do any of that. I practiced hard so ...ponies would.." Elly sat down and stared at the floor. "Stop making fun of me."

R. Lee Army nodded his head. "It's called tough love. Sometimes you make progress through adversity. I'm also the one that gave your mom the practice regiment to get you back on track." R. Lee Army put his hoof on Elly shoulder. "You're not alone in this world Elly, even though I come off as harsh, I only ever have your best interests at heart. I may be kind of a- am an asshole, but I'm an asshole that cares."

Elly sat there, not sure whether to be angry that he argument was demolished or happy that she was helped without her even knowing it.

*Riiiiirrrrpppp*

Elly turned her head quickly just to see Apple Bloom opening up the letter. "Apple Bloom, are you insane!? That could have been a bomb, cursed or worse!"

"S-sorry. I kinda can't resist opening up mail when we get it at home. It's kinda a bad habit." Apple Bloom pulled out a small letter and behind it a single orange feather fell out of the envelope. "Whats one of Scootaloo's feathers doin in here?"

"That's not one of my feathers. It's a bit too large" Scootaloo said, pointing to her own dainty feathers on her wings.

Elly moved over to the table and picked the feather up, her nose instinctively contorted for a brief second. "A-am I smelling things?" Elly ran the feather under her nose, inhaling with great gusto. "T-this can't be!"

"W-whats wrong? Why is she smelling the feather like it's a baked good?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"No, I think I recognize that too, mind if I take a sniff?" Scootaloo asked.

"That must be one magical feather to get you two all over it like that" R. Lee Army commented. "Wait a second... it couldn't be..."

Elly lowered the feather down to Scootaloo to let her get a good whiff on the odor from it.

"T-there's no way!" Scootaloo yelled.

"Will you two tell us whats going on already? This is weirdin us out a bit" Apple Bloom said, staring at Elly and Scootaloo with a combination of disdain and confusion.

"It smells like, no it IS moms feather." Elly inspected the shaft of the feather all the way down to the base, she noted that the end had a small amount of blood on the end, like it was plucked out too fast. "I...I don't get it though. She died in that fire, the coroner found dozens of burned out bodies and even identified all of them."

"I remember the ceiling falling on mom, I don't think there was any chance she got out" Scootaloo added. "But that odor...it's her, it's really her.

"I'm a bit lost here. How do you know what your mom smells like?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"It's a bit complicated, but I can explain. You see, all children imprint on their mothers by smell to some degree, but for Pegasus ponies it's a might bit stronger. The mother usually puts her wings over her children when they are sleeping and they remember the odor from her body. It also helps the foal find it's mother if it gets lost." R. Lee Army sighed. "The strong sense of smell fades as they get older, but they never forget what mom smells like."

"That's...kinda gross maybe?" Sweetie Belle said.

"I think it makes sense. I think Cheerilee went over something like it in class last semester" Apple Bloom added.

"I don't remember that part" Sweetie Belle replied, scratching her head.

"That's because you got sent to the nurses office for eating glue..." Apple Bloom said.

"Oh, Right. I did get detention for that, didn't I?" Sweetie Belle blushed in embarrassment. "Also to be fair, it was some tasty glue..."

Elly stared at the feather for a moment, her mind racing with how such a fresh feather could still be around. Either their enemies were baiting them into a trap by making a fake one or this was the real deal and there was a massive coverup the night of the fire. "Mind if I see the letter Apple Bloom?"

"Sure, it's yer mail anyhow." Apple Bloom handed over the folded letter to Elly, whom quickly unfolded it and began to read aloud.

"Attention remaining Loo sisters, the feather contained is from Vespa Loo herself. If you ever want to see your mother ever again then bring a handful of Scootaloo's feathers to the road leading to the dragon wastes just outside of town around five in the afternoon. You will be given a picture of Vespa to certify her safety in return." Elly was struck by a sudden sinking feeling; dropping the letter as if she just seen a ghost.

"T-this can't be real, is has to be some kind of trick or trap to get to us." Tears began to run down Elly's cheeks as she lowered her head, deep in thought.

Scootaloo nuzzled up against Elly." I know how you feel, I-I'm just as shocked as you are. I know it's probably a trap though...but...that lure, that possibility...I want it to be real..."

Elly patted Scootaloo's mane as she leaned on her. "I know, it's just there's no possible way this isn't a trap of some kind."

"I'm gonna head out, I need to report this to a guard or Princess Luna. If they have hostages then she has to know about this." R. Lee Army headed for the door when he felt his back leg being grabbed by something. He turned his head and saw Scootaloo, holding his back leg and staring up at him."

"I know you only have our best interests at heart, but if you tell her...they...they might just..."

"Kill her?" R. Lee Army said, cutting off Scootaloo's pleading. "I know that and I'm damn sure Luna will know that as soon as I tell her. Listen, Scootaloo..." R. Lee Army bent down to removed the filly from his back leg, patting her on the head. "I know this is rough, for both of you." R. Lee looked up at Elly for a brief moment. "But, both of you are what we refer to in the army as emotionally compromised. These griffons are professionals, they know how to take advantage of pony psychology. They put you in a no win situation and expect both of you to act recklessly."

R. Lee Army stood up. "I know it may be hard for you to to accept, but you may have to live with the possibility that either A, your mom is long dead and this is a trap or B, your mother is alive, and will be used as a heavy bargaining chip...or worse."

"I-I don't think I could stand to bury her again..." Elly Loo said somberly.

R. Lee turned around and headed for the door, stopping just short of exiting the garage. "I know this may seem harsh, but you mother would rather die than see either of you hurt. Any parent would gladly give their lives to protect their offspring; it may hurt but it might be best to just let the past die."

R. Lee Army walked out of the garage and shut the door, only the muffled sounds of him cursing out Twilight to "stop being such a fucking useless bookworm, scrub that turret till I can see my face in it!" could be heard.

"W-we aren't just going to sit back and do nothing, are we?" Scootaloo asked.

Elly sighed. "I don't know Scootaloo, I just don't know."

***Ponyville hidden barracks, three hours later***

Luna paced back and fourth, staring at both letters on the table while her chief staff and R. Lee Army watched on nervously. She would occasionally stop, blurt out an idea and then quickly shut herself down in afterthought.

"So...we figured out some of their initial motives. The theory is they wanted to emotionally strike both of the Loo sisters in a possible attempt to capture them, while at the same time announcing to the world that they have a possible hostage or even multiple of them." Luna stared at the letters, still unsure as to how any of the Loo family could be alive, let alone Vespa herself.

She stared at a report on the wall, the coroners report from the night the majority of the Loo family perished. The same few issues kept popping up in her head. Why the identification was done by a griffon kingdoms national in a different town, why was it done within a couple hours when there were near fifty corpses to examine and lastly why there was no coroners assistant to cross reference or confirm his findings.

Luna turned to R. Lee Army "How much longer till those graves are dug up?"

R. Lee Army bowed his head. "The medics had some concerns about it, and setting up for the extraction is taking longer than normal."

Luna nodded. "I understand the caution around such delicate operations. The possibility of an unearthed corpse resulting in some form of undead ghost-form; especially with how she died, is fairly high." Luna sighed. "It's disgusting to give out such an order, every fiber of my being hated to give it. The fact remains though, we must know if the body in that casket is the real thing."

"I know the feeling your majesty; Vespa and Cid were close family friends. I don't envy the position you're in right now princess. If this gets out, either that they are hostages or that you dug up corpses without asking the living kin..."

"I am very well aware of the damage that could be done" Luna Said as she cut off R. Lee Army. "The senate would go ballistic if they found out the Loo family was being held hostage. War would most likely be completely unavoidable at that point, given their political and industrial importance to many of the sitting senators. Not to mention that the paparazzi would have a field day if they found out I was ordering the excavation of corpses; let alone well known ones like the Loo's."

"I'm guessing you want to keep this operation under-wraps from Celestia as well?" R. Lee asked.

"Without a doubt. I don't expect her to get angry with me, it's more for her protection than anything else. I'm sort of the dark horse sister, I can take a hit to my reputation; she isn't in such a privileged position to do so herself." Luna turned to one of the guards as he opened his mouth, staring right at him. "And yes, I am completely aware of the pun I just made due to my coat color, there is no need to point it out."

Luna pondered the other questions once more. Trying to figure out the past without evidence was getting her nowhere fast, so focusing on why Vespa's captors would need Scootaloo's feathers was bothering her the most. If they had a suitable mage they could make a voodoo doll of some kind in order to hurt, control or use her as a unknowing spy. However, such magic was easy to detect and even easier to block.

Could they have found Ragnarok and there was some kind of security that required her feathers in particular? It could be a possibility, even Celestia did not know exactly where the Loo's buried Ragnarok; something that bothered her greatly. Honestly, who buries a weapon and then leaves its protection up to a civilian? Then again, Celestia probably had her doubts about the legitimacy of some of her senate and possibly worried about Nightmare Moon getting her hooves on such a weapon, back when it was a controlling part of her body.

The last idea was that getting Scootaloo's feathers would be a way of somehow tricking Vespa into working with them, maybe reveal the location of Ragnarok while using Scootaloo's feathers as a kind of fake hostage.

"Hmm, do you think they would try and lie that they had captured Scootaloo and use her as leverage against Vespa?" Luna asked.

"Sounds plausible, I mean, if it were my own child being used as a prisoner against me, I would do pretty much anything I could to ensure their safety. but..." The Guard Chief cleared his throat. "I think I would like to see a physical body and not just a few feathers that they could have picked up anywhere."

"That does seem logical. From what I have read Vespa is a incredibly smart pony. Though I do not know if her sense would override her natural protective nature toward her offspring." Luna looked at R. Lee Army "You said you knew Vespa personally, would you be able to clue me in on how she would react?"

R. Lee Army scratched his head. "Vespa was and probably still is one of the more level headed ponies I have ever known. She does however have an incredibly protective streak in her when it comes to her children. I once hear she fought off a full grown grizzly bear in Stalingrad because it got a little to close to Elly when she was just a few years old."

Luna sighed. "As expected of any mother, and the griffons know this and will have no qualms exploiting it." Luna rubbed her temple on her right side. "I really wish this was like old wars; it was conducted honorably back then. It was settled in the old way, in multiple one versus one combat; first one to die, loses."

"Ma'am?" R. Lee Army said, noticing Luna was mumbling a bit to herself.

"Sorry, I got side tracked. This string of events has stressed me out considerably. So many small details that-" Luna's eyes went wide. "That's it! Small!"

Guards in the room looked back and fourth at one another, clearly confused as to what Luna was getting at.

Luna picked up the small gold square with the dead tick still attached with her magic and held it up at eye level. "See, small. I have an idea what will get us at least a pair of eyes on the inside, maybe even give away their location."

Luna rushed to the door and opened it, running outside with a trail of confused royal guards following her. She stopped in the middle of the street, ponies staring at her as she darted her head back and forth; looking for her quarry.

"Mrow?!"

Luna heard it and out the corner of her eyes she noticed a fat tabby cat pawing at a window to get in. Luna walked up to the cat and lifted it up with her magic, much to the confusion and dismay of the locals.

"Mommy, what I Luna doing to that cat?" A filly asked, tugging on her mothers tail.

"Maybe a public service? Maybe shes trying to find that poor cat a home?" The mother replied.

Luna levitated a small nearby rock and used her magic on it to transmogrify it into a small comb with multiple small scoop like slits in-between the bristles. She brought the cat closer to her, though it seemed to be less enthusiastic about being held in the air against its will. Luna began to brush the cats fur vigorously, inspecting the comb every few strokes.

"Dear...we need to go. I think Luna has snapped again, we might want to not be around when Twilight and her friends get here to calm her down" the mother with the small filly said, shielding her child's eyes as they walked away briskly.

"Y-your highness, I think you best stop brushing that cat, there are lots of eyes on you" R. Lee Army said, pointing to the multiple Ponyville residents that stopped in shock and confusion to watch Luna brush a cat."

"Eureka!" Luna set the cat down on the ground where it hissed at her and walked away swishing its tail indignantly. She held up the comb to her face and used her magic to pick the single solidarity flea on the comb up into the air, where she surrounded it in a small bubble.

Luna examined the small creature, but her concentration was quickly shattered by all the stares from the small crowd that had formed around her.

"Why does the Princess of the night have to be so...strange?" One pony mumbled.

"Don't let her hear you say that! Do you want to spend the next few years banished on the moon!?" Another pony whispered.

"Yeah, did you hear what she did to the engineering district in Canterlot? Shes a loose cannon, I swear." Another pony said.

"Hey!" One of the rowboat ponies elbowed R. Lee Army. "Most of us are not in uniform, you look official tell the crowd that *whisper*whisper* and *whisper*."

"Now, now don't everyone get all upset. Princess Luna here was just capturing a few specimens for testing. Reports came in that the pandemic that came through this town recently could be transmitted by fleas. She's just doing her duty to confirm if that is true or not." R. Lee Army stepped out, yelling at the crowd that have gathered.

"Oh, that makes sense!" One pony said.

"Oh, shes more hooves on than Celestia, I like that" another added.

The crowd began to clap as Luna stood there, still unsure as to exactly handle the situation. "Y-yes, just a bit of field work." Luna smiled, though it was more forced than she would have liked.

R. Lee Army walked in front of Luna, waving his forelegs back and forth. "Please disperse. Luna needs room and concentration to get more specimens for testing!"

The crowd began to slowly disperse and after a few more minutes of waving his hooves to break up the crowd he turned to Luna. "Now that the gawkers are all gone, may I ask you why you're holding a single flea prisoner up there?"

Luna nodded. "I had an idea. Mind control this little fella and put a few vision and tracking spells on him. I disguise myself as Scootaloo to make the exchange and hide this little fella in the feathers."

"So a spy then, not a bad idea. Pretty sure mind control spells are incredibly illegal though" R. Lee Army said, as he rubbed his chin.

"I'm well aware of the exact wording. Illegal for use on sentient creatures, fleas are about as sentient as any other insect." Luna examined the insect in the small bubble, it seemed to have given up trying to escape and merely settled on the bottom of the bubble to clean itself. "Even if that wasn't the case, the stakes are far too high to no screw the rules."

Luna moved the bubble beside her and stared in the direction of the garage. "We need to get move quickly, the meeting time is nearly upon us!"

***Back at the garage***

Scootaloo sat down, spinning a small stubby screw driver on her hoof. She stared at the edge reflecting the light from the room, trying to take her mind off the days events.

"Phillips head screw driver Scoots" Elly said, waving her hoof from up under the tank.

Scootaloo continued to stare at the screwdriver spinning around on her hoof. Try as she might, she just couldn't seem to focus on anything other than the fact that her mother might still be alive; that even if she was the only one there was a slightest possibility of a real complete family.

"Scoots?" Elly said, rolling out from underneath the tank. "Scootaloo?" Elly waved in her hoof in from of Scootaloo to get her attention. "Equestria calling Scootaloo, over!"

'S-sorry, did you need a wrench?" Scootaloo said as she picked up a socket wrench.

Elly sighed, shaking her head. "No, I need that thing you're fiddling with."

"Sorry. I'm just too lost in thought to really pay attention" Scootaloo responded somberly.

"Yeah, I can understand that." Apple Bloom popped up from the side of the tank, carrying a road wheel that she quickly tossed aside. "I lost both of mah parents before I even got a chance to get to know em personally. I think I would be as restless as you are if there was a even a hint that they were still around."

"I wish we could do something, hell the thought ran through my head a dozen time while I was under the tank. I'm not willing to risk leaving you all alone again or you getting taken away from us." Elly grabbed the screwdriver from Scootaloo and pulled herself back under the tank. "I'm not a mind reader, but I'm pretty sure mom would tell us off if we planned to rescue her by endangering ourselves."

Scootaloo stood up and stretched her wings out. "I need some fresh air."

Elly slid out from under the tank. "In that case, Sweetie Belle, could you go with her to make sure she doesn't try anything reckless?"

"What about being reckless now?" A voice from the other side of the garage said.

Scootaloo, Elly and the others ears shot up as the door to the garage opened up.

"Oh, it's just you Luna..." Elly said as she slid up under the tank once again. "Your lunch is on the table, though it's probably really cold by now."

Luna walked into the garage, R. Lee Army close behind her.

"What do you think you're doing maggot? When the princess enters a room you're first reaction should be to bow!" R. Lee Army yelled.

"Blow it out your ass, ya old codger. Luna is a team mate, in here all ponies are equal." Elly slid out from under the tank, tossing a bit of tread she had disconnected to the side.

"It's fine Mr. Army. We all speak frankly in here, well, maybe not as frankly as cursing out loud in front of impressionable fillies." Luna gave Elly a quick accusatory glance, which Elly responded to by turning away bashfully.

"So Luna, have you figured out what we are supposed to do about the whole exchange thing?" Scootaloo asked.

"There will be no we in this event. I will be disguising myself as you to deliver some of your feathers. Speaking of which, would you be so kind to remove a few?" Luna stared at Scootaloo and then at the clock on the back wall of the garage. "Quickly if you would, we only have twenty or so minutes till the meeting."

Scootaloo nodded and unfurled her minute wings. She stared at them for a moment, trying to figure out what feathers she could live without; though in the back of her mind she knew it really didn't matter. Not being able to fly sort of made being picky a pointless endeavor. She finally settled on a few feathers close to her body; ones that were a bit out of place with the rest of them. She began to quickly preen them and before long there was a pile of a dozen or so of her own diminutive feathers on the floor.

"Is that enough or should I preen the other wing?" Scootaloo asked.

"That will be quite enough thank you." Luna's horn glowed and the feathers levitated up to eye level. She then turned to R. Lee Army "I request that you stay here and make sure these fillies-" Luna turned her head to set her gaze solely on Elly and then Scootaloo. "Do not try anything that would get them in trouble."

"Not a problem, your highness. I may be retired, but I'll be damned if I let these civvies slip by me!" R. Lee Army saluted.

Luna smiled and headed out the door, stopping midway out of it. "I will post a couple extra guards around the garage, just in case." Luna stepped out the doorway and shut the door behind her.

Elly shook her head and went back to work under the tank. After about seven minutes of unbolting she could no longer stand the dead silence and pushed herself from out under the tank. "So, you gonna explain what she's planning on doing aside from getting a picture?"

R. Lee Army rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm not supposed to tell anypony, but if it will keep you two from doing anything reckless, I'll tell ya..."

***

"So, how do I look?" Luna asked on of her guards as she turned in place, trying to get a better feel for her now much smaller body.

"You look like the real thing your highness. Although I think Scootaloo's wings are a tad bit smaller than the ones you put on" the guard added.

Luna stared at her orange fairly average sized wings for a moment. "You're right, I scaled the transmogrification to have matching scale body parts. I keep forgetting Scootaloo is far from a normal pegasus." Luna closed her eyes and her wings began to shrink in size. "There, better?"

"That's about right, may be off by a inch or so. Nothing all that noticeable though" The guard added.

"Good." Luna stared at at the clock on the wall, only ten minutes till the exchange was to occur. "The mind controlled bug is holding on firmly in-between the feathers, yes?"

"Yes ma'am" The guard replied promptly. "Inside of this envelop as well."

Luna grabbed the envelope in her mouth and ran towards the door. "Wish me luck!" Luna yelled behind her as she made her way through the barracks and out the door.

***

"Personally, it's not much of a plan. There's a whole lot that can go wrong, but it was the best we could come up with on such short notice. Aside from capturing the delivery, but that would possibly endanger Vespa if it turned out to be t-" R. Lee Army stopped mid sentence, his ears popping up.

"I-is something-"

"Shush it for a second!" R. Lee Army growled, quickly silencing Scootaloo. "Something is very off. The guard outside, his faint whistling has stopped."

*Tink*Tink* Clink*

R. Lee Army ducked low to the floor, motioning Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Elly to him. "Now I'm sure you heard that!" R. Lee whispered. "Is there any place in this garage that can act as a safe room?"

Elly took a quick glance around the room. "Aside from the inside of the tank, there is the ammo storage room. It has pretty thick blast door."

"The tanks not a good idea, we already removed some of the hatches for recycling and the front of it is banged up enough to be a weak-point" Sweetie Belle added, nodding at Apple Bloom.

"We can't drive it out either, the transmission is disassembled and even if it was there are quite a few entirely stripped gears" Scootaloo said.

"Listen, if that's what I think it is up there, they will be coming through the ceiling at any second. I want all of you girls to get in that ammo room and stay there. Don't open the door for anyone, pony or otherwise." R. Lee Army heard a few more sets of claws scrape against he roof.

"What about you?" Elly asked.

"I'm staying out here to fight them, buy you as much time as I can to make sure they don't get into that room." R. Lee motioned the group to move to the ammo room. However, Elly wasn't budging.

"I can't do that, I can fight too!" Elly argued, puffing her chest out to make herself look bigger than she actually was.

"Were you born retarded or did you train to get that way!? These are quite possibly professional killers up there! A civilian doesn't have a chance against them!" R. Lee Army pointed at the door to the ammo room where the fillies were standing, all of them motioning Elly to come to them.

Elly stood up, staring at R. Lee Army. "I'm not running anymore." Elly turned to Scootaloo. "Close the door sis, we will be fine."

"Elly!, No, don't do this! I don't want to-"

Just as Scootaloo yelled several cloaked figured crashed through the ceiling and another three or so broke through the front door. Elly, realizing that Scootaloo was reluctant to close the blast door quickly ran over to the door, jump kicking it shut before rolling back over to R. Lee's side.

"You are one stubborn mare, Elly Loo." R. Lee Army said. "Just like your mother."

Elly smiled. "I'll take that as a compliment."

The dust and debris from the room began to settle and Elly and R. Lee found themselves surrounded by six very large griffons in cloaks. They all wore what looked like dark blue or jet black cloaks, each one with baggy or tight fitting black clothing that covered them all over. Each worse a mask that was custom fit to each of their faces and if it wasn't for one of them having a wardrobe malfunction; you couldn't even tell they were griffons.

"You see that Elly?" R. Lee said as he took a defensive posture, his back against Elly's. "Right on the cinch holding the cloaks around their necks."

Elly stared at the edge of the cloak, following it's edge to the cinch. In deep cobalt blue was a grim reaper holding a scythe with the letters 'FTB' stamped in below.

"What is that?!" Elly asked.

"Allow me to answer that for you, young mare." The shortest of the griffons stepped forward, pulling the cloak from his head and removing his mask. "We are Fade to Black and I am Karl Nobiling. We have orders to take you back to our glorious leader, unharmed if we can help it."

"Fade to black is Queen Walarah's personal assassination squad." R. Lee said, noticing Elly's blank stare out the corner of his eye. "I heard only those with a hundred or more stealth kills are taken into their fold. They are the worst kind of murderous scum."

"I see our prestigious reputation follows us, even here so deep in enemy territory. If that is the case then I have a proposition; If you-" Karl stopped and stared over at the blast door "and your adorable sibling come with us without a fight, then no one else gets hurt."

"And if we refuse?" Elly asked.

"Then we kill all the spares, fillies included and take you by force. Oh, and we will make sure it HURTS the entire time. Some of my associates have a bit of a sadist streak in them. Take the griffon to the right over me, he has a nasty habit of flaying his prey alive." Karl stepped back, motioning the two griffons by his side to step forward.

"So, it's your choice; come quietly or their deaths will be on your conscience. What will it be?" Karl said, smiling smugly.

"Could you perhaps give us a moment to weigh our options?" Elly asked.

"I don't see why not, but make it quick. I am an impatient griffon" Karl responded.

R. Lee Army turned in place and leaned toward Elly, both with their heads keeping watch over one another's shoulders, but being within whispering distance.

"So what do you think our chances are?" Elly asked.

"If it was maybe two or three we might have a chance. Six top end trained killers is effectively suicide though. I'm not willing to surrender you to them though. I couldn't live with myself if I let one of my best friends children be taken while I was still alive to do something about it." R. Lee stared directly at the largest griffon, trying to discern if he had any obvious weaknesses. "Those cloaks obscure their movements and equipment as well."

Elly nodded. "They are not allowed to kill me right? I may have an idea to get us out of this mess..."

***

This is ridiculous! Luna thought to herself as she stared at the sky. Why would sister set the sun this early in the afternoon, in summer no less!? She stared up at the sky as the last bits of twilight left it, giving way only to darkness and a quickly ascending moon. No, that's not sister moving the moon. The grip is far weaker than her own and nowhere near as fluid. Luna stood there, at the road leading to the dragon wastes, wondering if she should turn back into herself and put the sun rightfully back in its place. No, it's mere minutes before the exchange. There's a good chance I'm being watched as well.

Luna scanned the road, trying to make out any approaching shadows. I lack night vision in this form as well. I'm beginning to wish Scootaloo was a Bat-pony instead of just a pegasus. Suddenly a group of griffons appeared no more than a few hundred yards from her, though it was difficult to make out exactly how many there were. One of the griffons stepped forward, lighting up a lamp that he was holding and set it on the dirt road.

"The rules are as follows. You will set the feathers on the ground and we will take them. Once we have confirmed the package is the real deal we will leave the photo of Vespa in an envelope and leave. Any attempt to follow us will result in pain for poor Vespa or execution of a multitude of other slaves we have acquired." The griffon scanned the road. "We are also well aware that you are not Scootaloo."

"I-I am too!" Luna said, though she was not exactly sure her retort was remotely convincing.

"You stand there and expect me to believe that they sent out a filly we have been trying to capture all alone to trade with dangerous and possibly murderous assailants? Do you think me born yesterday?" The griffon sighed. "It matters not to me who you are, so long as the trade goes smoothly."

One of the griffons leaned over and whispered at the other, the one previously speaking nodding in confirmation.

"Actually, on second thought. We would like to see your true form. I would like to know whom we are dealing with." The griffon set a small envelope on the ground in front of him. "We will then make the exchange."

This isn't good. If I show who I really am then there is a real chance they will be tipped that something is off... Luna thought of what would be both compelling and logical to transform into. Yes, Celestia's protege! Luna closed her eyes and imagined herself as Twilight Sparkle. He body lifted into the air slightly and a bright white light enveloped her. She could feel her skin and coat rustle as is expanded and changed color, taking on a light indigo hue. She felt the stubby wings fade into nothing and the short, sporty mane being replaced with the well kept sleek mane of a full grown mare. Lastly a horn sprouted from her head, though it felt sort of odd having a much smaller horn than usual.

As she floated down to the ground, she noticed one of the other griffons lean in and whisper to the lead one.

"So, Twilight Sparkle was it? That makes sense; for Celestia to use her lap dog for all the work." The griffon motioned Luna forward a few feet then pointed at the package she was holding and then to the ground.

Luna nodded in confirmation, but there seemed to be ...less griffons than from before at least it seemed so; she still didn't have her natural night vision to mark certain that was the case. She leaned down and dropped the package on the ground and backed away several yards.

The griffon approached the package, leaned over and opened it with his beak. He stared into the box , looked up at Luna and nodded in affirmation. He picked up the box with his claw and stuffed it into his robes. "Bring the picture...and the magic detection device."

Blast it all...did I use all Alicorn level spells for that or only some? Luna thought.

One of the other griffons approached, himself pulling out a small blue coin from his robes. Another one next to him picked the envelope off the ground and followed him.

A few tense moments went by as the congregation of griffons talked to one another.

"The coin shows no foul play. There is no unicorn magic anywhere on these feathers;there is a faint amount of pegasus magic, but that's to be expected." One of the griffons said as he pocketed the blue coin.

"I see. As for the E list, we will leave that to FTB. We will leave the photo as agreed upon" the leader said, setting the envelope on the ground.

"And if FTB fails?" One of the other griffons asked.

"It's only one target, but I understand your concern. She is very talented from what I have read in reports." The leader turned to Luna, spreading his wings. "As agreed, the photo is in the envelope on the ground."

What is an E list, what is FTB? Luna wondered.

The griffons took to the skies before Luna could prod them for any more information. The leader stopped mid-air and stared at Luna. "Oh and Miss Sparkle, do try and die with some dignity if you would?"

Luna could just barely make out shadows swiftly moving around her. She had a sudden sense of foreboding dread and jumped to the left, just as a dagger whiffed past her neck, cutting off a bit of mane. Before the dagger could even hit the ground , she felt the heat of another body dead behind her. She ducked just in time to feel the gust of air across the back of her head move her mane to one side and spot the faintest gleam of metal out of the corner of her eye.

Luna reflexively planted her front legs on the ground and kicked out with her back legs, barely grazing her assailant's front claw. She then felt the earth below her tremble ever so slightly, quickly jumping up just as another shadowy figure ran below her.

I need my night vision, fighting like this is going to get me killed!

Realizing that she had not the time or distance to transform back into an Alicorn, Luna focused her mind on the spells that would give a unicorn the greater edge in her current situation.

Major Spell sequencer!

Luna's horn glowed light purple. Greater Stone Skin, Greater Iron hide, Greater Martial Reflex!

Just then a dagger grazed her side, sending sparks into the attacker and illuminating him briefly, which Luna capitalized on by grabbing him by he claw and judo tossing him as hard as her current body would allow.

The griffon landed just barely ten or so feet away, quickly righting himself and charging right at Luna.

I need to get some distance to get back into my true form. Twilight's body may be powerful for a unicorn, but it's far too limiting with odds stacked this high against me. Luna barely completed her thought just as another assailant took a swing at her head with a hatchet, missing her horn by barely a few inches.

Luna stomped on the griffons leg and pointed her horn at his face. Flames erupted from her horn, setting the griffon on fire. He tried to pull away, but Luna kept her weight on the griffons leg, making sure that the spell completed it's full casting.

The griffon screamed and writhed in pain as he tried to get away, finally managing to unpin his front leg from under Luna just as the spell completed. He quickly rolled around in the grass, patting himself down in order to put out the flames.

Luna ducked once more as another pair of griffons tried to tackle her, one managing to sink his front claw into Luna's skin; drawing blood as he flew by.

Mortal body means mortal problems! Luna winced in pain as she took a quick glance where the pain was coming from. She almost wish she hadn't. Just below her cutie mark was a large open wound with some of the skin flapping in the wind. She could feel the copious amounts of blood run down her leg and see the exposed muscle contract as she staggered backwards.

The griffon she had previously thought she had cooked charged at her with renewed vigor, his body only just showing a few small burned areas.

This isn't good, Twilight's attack magic is pitiful. What was she good at again!? Luna dodged yet another swipe from another griffon, this time the knife just barely nipping the fur just above her jugular.

Luna quickly put up a barrier that deflected the next couple of attackers, bouncing them back several yards. Well at least she's almost as good as her brother in that department. But- The realization hit her as to what Twilight was exceptional at and with a flash she teleported herself several hundred feet into the sky.

I need to make this quick, the momentum from this high up will not be cancelled by another teleport...

The griffons on the ground began to look around, trying to find out where Luna had gone off to. One of them finally got the idea to look up, only to see the silhouette of a unicorn juxtaposed against the light of the full moon.

"She can't dodge, get her!" One shouted to the others.

Luna felt her shoulders and back broader, her neck and horn extend and her legs stretch. She could feel the burn of her wings as they sprouted from her back. She could feel her tidy mane go back to the smooth flowing near weightlessness that she was used to and watched as her light purple coat changed to deep night blue on her forelegs. Her sight went completely black for a brief moment, only to be replaced with her natural night vision; illuminating her attackers as clear as day. However, her backside still had a nasty sting to it. She quickly looked back and noticed that while the would was healing automatically; it was far from it's usual speed.

Those blades must have powerful enchantments on them. I will have to look into that once I deal with them. Luna stared at the sky below her; seven attackers were all coming for her all at once, with one a mere hundred or so feet away from her. Luna clamped her hooves on her forelegs together and then slowly spread them apart, creating a glowing crescent half moon. She then moved her left leg down horizontally, creating a shaft of light that connected to the crescent.

Luna then moved her right foreleg to the middle of the shaft just as the glowing subsided. One of griffons was within slashing range, closing in on her-

"Why don't you be a good unicorn and die, Twilight!" He shouted as he slashed with his dagger.

*Ding*

The dagger collided with the top part of a ornate combat scythe. The shaft was black, but put off deep flowing flames made of pure shadow. The blade itself had a deep purple armor plate over the top part of the blade while the blade itself was semi-transparent with hundreds of stars glowing on its surface, illuminating both Luna and her attacker.

The griffon opened his mouth , but no words came out as his eyes widened in shock.

Luna leaned forward, allowing the light from her weapon to illuminate her face better. "I am not Twilight..." Luna spun in mid-air, slamming the griffon in the chest and sending him crashing into the dirt a mere second later, leaving a sizable crater in the dirt.

"I am the night!" Luna roared.

***Back at the garage***

*Pant pant* Elly staggered to her feet once more as a stream of blood poured from a cut just above her left eye, keeping her blind on one side. Behind her laid R. Lee Army, his body completely hunched over in a fetal position; a bloodied dagger mere inches from his body.

"Sarge?" Elly said, keeping her eyes on the five cloaked griffons in front of her. "Sarge, how bad is it!?" Elly yelled.

R. Lee stood up, just a small gash across his shoulder was bleeding lightly. "Managed to dodge the worst of it, but that kick winded me pretty badly."

R. Lee scanned the room, trying to take in what the next best moves might be. "You have any bright ideas?"

Elly could feel the hint of desperation in R. Lee's voice, after all these griffons wanted her alive and him being dead wouldn't bother them in the slightest. Sadly though, she hadn't a clue as to what to do; they had been fighting them for only a few minutes and both of them were already winded. R. Lee, while still being a tough old coot was able to dodge them and land a few solid hits back. However, his counter attacks lacked any real stopping power; either these griffons were incredibly bulky under that clothing or R. Lee's age was catching up to him.

"Not at the moment." She absolutely hated hearing that come from her own mouth, but the fact of the matter was she was clean out of ideas. She was having the opposite problem sarge had with the two she was dealing with; their attacks didn't hit all that hard, but they were significantly faster than her. She had managed to clip one and get a feel of just how light and flimsy their bodies were. She knew that if she landed a clean heavy hit that they would be down for the count.

The idea suddenly crossed her mind. If the ones fighting Sarge were slower and bulkier than him and the ones she was fighting were fast and nimble, then they should switch whom they were dealing with. The problem was as her back pressed up against Sarge, she could feel just how exhausted he was. His breathing was all over the place and she wasn't doing much better herself. She knew he would never admit it, but he was well past his limit.

"S-sarge. I have a plan. You make a run for it and I do what I can to hold them off..." Elly knew they were done for and every fiber of her being hated to admit defeat. Had it been a fair fight they might have held out, but with their reserves all but depleted, there was no way she could see to win.

"Are you stupid?" Sarge growled. "I couldn't look myself in a mirror if I let my best friends little girl come to harm. I would rather die first!"

"Hang in there sis, we can come up with a plan!" Scootaloo yelled from a crack under the door.

"You hear that Karl, a bunch of fillies think they can make a difference!" The singular griffon at the door laughed out loud. "Now just open the door kiddies, I only want the Loo brat."

Scootaloo puffed her cheeks indignantly. "Not on your life buster!" Scootaloo turned to Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, both sitting at the back of them room, completely at a loss for words.

"We have to help them, there's got to be something we can do!" Scootaloo yelled. "If we don't they will kill sarge and then both of you!"

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle stared at one another briefly, then both at Scootaloo.

"I wish we could help, but I don't know how to fight close up like that" Apple Bloom said.

"I could hurt them with what little magic I do know, but the second they get close to me..." Sweetie Belle scratched the back of her head. "I know it hurts to hear this, but hiding in here is the safest option."

"My sister could die out there!" Scootaloo growled. "S-shes the only family I got left..." Scootaloo began to tear up. She reached over to a sheet and pulled it off to dry her tears, revealing the end of a barrel.

"Wait, is this-"

"Yeah, I stored it in here once it was obvious that we couldn't get it to fit the turret. It's the experimental ninety millimeter gun." Apple Bloom said.

*Gasp* Sweetie Belle gasped, catching Scootaloo's and Apple Bloom's attention. "Come here, we need to get close so he doesn't hear us!"

"Hear what? What are you little runts planning in there?!" The griffon at the door yelled.

Scootaloo, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle huddled in the back corner of the room.

"So, you know how the guards put magical protections on us to stop anything made with any amount of sugar from hurting us right?" Sweetie bell asked.

"Yeah, I saw a big shell hit Fluttershy right in the side and just lose all it's momentum and fall flat. It didn't even so much as knock a feather out of place" Apple Bloom added.

"Exactly and the shell velocity from this gun is-"

"A hair over mach two last I checked. Wait...are you-" Scootaloo said, interrupting Sweetie Belle.

"I am. I load a shell into this gun, then you open the door just as I put up a barrier and then you shoot that griffon" Sweetie Belle said.

"Wait, how much would that hurt them? I mean, these shells are only about eight or so pounds. We use them for firing range tests. Doesn't seem like it would do a lot..." Apple Bloom said as she stared at the pile of shells around the room.

"Are you insane!? A shell that size and at that speed would hit with nearly two million joules of energy!" Scootaloo said, nearly shouting it, but catching herself from doing so.

"That's a lot?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"That's far more then just hurting them, that's enough to splatter them all over the walls like jam!" Scootaloo stared at the bottom of the door, watching the shadow of the griffons feet moved back and fourth as he tried to pick the lock to the door.

"Are you sure it's that much? I mean...I-I'm not sure I want to kill anyone" Apple Bloom said.

Scootaloo turned her attention back to her friends. "They teach this stuff at beginners flight school, pegasus can handle high velocity landings due to the natural magic in our bodies. It's all beginner level stuff; to help young pegasus avoid injury and know their limits. Griffons have some of the same flight magic ,but trust me; even low balling what this gun can do will still splatter him across the room."

Sweetie Belle looked to Apple Bloom.

"I...I don't want to be a murderer" Sweetie Belle said somberly.

Scootaloo watched at the first lock on the door turned, leaving only one more before the griffon outside had access to them. "We may not have to. Listen, we load the shell into the breach and open the door. We threaten them with it while Sweetie keeps a barrier up just around the end of the barrel."

"What if they call our bluff?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Then we shoot the tank as a warning shot; if they don't back down...then...then-"

"We shoot one of them." Apple bloom interrupted, her ears folding back at the mere thought of doing such a horrible act.

"So the plan is, Apple Bloom, you load the gun and fire it, Sweetie I want you entirely focused on keeping a barrier up as long as you can. And I'll aim and stabilize from the front." Scootaloo nodded in confirmation and both her friends nodded back slowly, though with some reluctance.

Meanwhile, Elly and R. Lee dodged another round of attacks, though this time the griffons had gotten the better of them. Elly took a quick jab to her lower ribs as she finally managed to land a solid hit on one of the griffons, however; the pain from the impact was unbearable as she collapsed on the floor; clutching her lower ribs. Thankfully the griffon that hit her was knocked out cold.

"Well, that's one down at least..." Elly said, gritting her teeth as she stared at the heap of black laying on the floor a few yards from her. "How are you holding up sarge?"

"Not too hot. I think I have a liver rupture going on. Hurts like hell just to stand up." R. Lee said as he panted heavily in between each word.

Elly could tell he was doing his best to keep his composure; but he body was riddled with tremors and he kept weaving from left to right; barely keeping himself upright.

"Griffons!" Scootaloo yelled from the door. "I have a offer for you!"

The griffons turned their attention toward the sealed blast door, the leader of the group stepping forward. "I'm listening, but do make it quick; I am not a fan of stalling games."

"I will open the door and surrender to you on the condition that you leave immediately and guarantee the well being of my friends" Scootaloo yelled.

"Sir, there no need to bargain with them. I only have maybe one more tumbler on this lick to pick and we have them." The griffon at the blast door pointed to the lock, moving to the side to show that a indeed he had already gotten through the others.

The leader ran a claw under his chin. "Open the door and I swear I will not kill any of your friends. Well being is not so much on the table for all the trouble you caused, but I'm sure you all can live with a few broken bones right?"

Apple Bloom whispered to Sweetie Belle "What is this guy, a sadist?"

"I don't think they are part of a death metal band, Apple Bloom. Judging by how they dress they seem way more into goth and possibly R&B" Sweetie Belle said as she rolled her eyes.

Scootaloo and Apple Bloom stared at one another briefly before both shaking their heads in disapproval, though not saying a word to Sweetie as to why.

"What? I just don't think griffons are into Italian death metal is all" Sweetie Belle growled.

"Just have that shield up when I open this blast door, okay?" Scootaloo whispered.

Sweetie Belle nodded and began to form the shield on the end of the cannon, being sure to leave the muzzle unobstructed.

"Okay, I'm opening he blast door, stand back!" Scootaloo pulled the lever to release the lock on the door and mere seconds after it opened a griffon swooped in, bouncing off of Sweetie Belle's barrier.

"What is this trite non-se...oh, oh no. The griffon bounced off the shield, landing dead in front of the cannon, his chest dead center in the cannons sights.

"I will give you two options,...L-leave here, or we redecorate the garage with his innards!" Scootaloo demanded.

The griffons stared at one another, then at Scootaloo. They all laughed together.

"That is hilarious, she thinks to kill you-"

*THOOOM*

The unmistakable sound of a cannon being fired rattled the entire garage, smoke filling the air as the shell collided with the griffon. Scootaloo fell down, her ears ringing and throbbing, Apple Bloom staggered back, barely keeping the cannon level and Sweetie Belle had small holes and cracks forming on her barrier.

"She fired, the little nutcase actually fired it!" She could just barely make out the griffons yelling.

"Full retreat, the guards will be here any second!" She heard one of the griffons yelling. "Abort mission!" The smoke slowly began to clear revealing the damage she... they had wrought.

Elly was on her back, staring in shock at the tank, which was now pained a crimson red and riddled with feathers. Bits of bone, beak and innards lay strewn about the garage. The griffon that was standing mere feet from her was now little more than a stain painted across the room.

Elly stared at the stain, then to Scootaloo. She looked at her own body, now covered in blood and entrails. She stood up and ran towards Scootaloo yelling something she could just barely make out.

"Are you all right!?" She screamed.

Scootaloo blinked, the world got fuzzy and her legs like mush. She could feel a warm sensation from her ears running down her face. The world went black and she fell to the floor.

"Scootaloo? Scootaloo!"

"That makes six" Luna growled as her scythe tore through the neck of another griffon, lopping of his head in a single swing; the head rolling to a stop in front of the last assailant. "So far I have killed four outright and disabled two others beyond the point of escape. As I see it you have two options, surrender or perish." Luna swung her scythe to the side, clearing off the entrails and blood from the blade.

"I...Y-you" The last griffon stuttered. "H-how, how are you this powerful? You are nowhere near rated to fight this many of us!"

Luna let out a cold, bellowing laugh. "Maybe when I'm not angry, but when I get warmed up, I can take dozens of unicorns on my own. A filthy non-magic user such as yourself have no prayer against me." Luna stepped forward, her scythe now within swinging distance of the griffons neck. "Death or imprisonment, your choice."

The griffon fell to the ground, begging and pleading for his life.

"Good, now stand up and drop your weapo-"

Before Luna could cast a binding spell, the griffon leapt forward, a hidden dagger aimed right for her throat. Right before the blade hit her flesh she blocked it with the flat of her scythe. "Oh, I am going to make it hurt for you~"

Luna grabbed the griffon with her magic , a dark black flame started to dance on the tip of her horn. "Black shadow flame magic is probably one of the worst ways to die. It burns away at your flesh slowly, stripping you of any emotion other than your ability to feel pain. It keeps you magically alive as it burns you away until only ashes remain."

"Lu- Nightmare moon!?"

Luna heard a shout from behind her, but didn't bother to turn around. "Yes, Twilight Sparkle?"

Twilight gasped for air, she had clearly run up here with great haste. "Scootaloo...attacked, garage in shambles, many hurt. Blood...everywhere." Twilight gasped for air. "C-could you turn off the evil mode for a bit? The magic pressure from you is...making it hard to breathe."

"Fine." Luna stared into the griffons eyes, he shook violently for a few seconds, then fell to the ground unconscious. She then closed her eyes and concentrated. She could feel the weight of shadows on her body slowly move away. The slight ringing in her ears had faded and she now felt calmer, more collected.

Luna opened her eyes and almost wanted to vomit on the spot. "D-did I do all this?" two corpses lay crushed to death into little more than pulp in a tree. Another was disemboweled and had his innards tied around his neck. Another had had his head chopped clean off. Two more were strewn about the field, barely clinging to life and the one behind her was shaking violently.

"Do you not see-...Oh, right. You don't have night vision." Luna said calmly.

"See what?" Twilight cast a light spell around her, but an expression of immediate regret spread across her face. "Holy Celestia! D-did you do this?" Twilight asked, though she obviously knew the answer.

"I...don't really take too kindly to those that try and kill me it seems." Luna said.

"I think I'm going to be sick" Twilight covered her mouth, doing her best to avert her gaze from the corpses around her.

"So...what did you want to tell me? I didn't quite catch what you said the first time." Luna said.

Twilight did her best to keep her disgust in check turned to Luna. "There was an attack down by the garages , They tried to take Scootaloo and Elly!

Luna's eyes went wide with shock as she took to the sky, leaving Twilight with the injured and dying. She made line straight for the garage as fast as her wings could carry her.

No, please be okay! I can't live with myself if anything happened to them...

***

Chapter XVII: Preparing For The Worst

Chapter XVII:Preparing For The Worst

*Huff*Huff* Scootaloo darted down the road as each garage around her fell to pieces, the bricks that made up their walls and foundations slowly turning to blood. She took a quick glance behind her, the sky was blood red with deep black clouds billowing far lower to the ground than normal. She would occasionally see a cloaked figure out of the corner of her eye, only to have it disappear when she glanced its direction. She kept checking behind her, the blood that was oozing from the bricks had now formed into a wave behind her, a wave that was quickly swelling to a head.

She tried to push herself harder, her tiny legs beating against the ground with all her might; though barely drowning out the sound of the wave building behind her. She took another glance, only to find that the wave had a black shadow forming in the middle, slowly creeping its way to the crest. It moved up and she watched as a shattered griffons beak breached the surface at the crest.

"You killed me, you killed me you little runt..." The beak spoke, but not in a regular voice, in cold voice that felt like a thousand needles scraping on her neck. The wave began to slow down as the griffon inside it began to emerge from the crest of the wave sitting atop it, like a throne of gore and terror.

Scootaloo slowed down, remembering what Luna had taught her in the past, that facing your fears in a nightmare is far easier than running. "I-I didn't kill you, you killed yourself!" She shouted back, though she was still entirely uncertain that her argument made sense.

The griffon lifted a leg to his face, though it was a little more than a stump, then slowly removed his robe, parting it to the right. Scootaloo winced at the sight; his rib cage was broken in many places, jutting out at odd angles. A lung was hanging on by a single bit of viscera and half a beating heart still remained. She could even see the dark clouds in the sky though the hole in his chest.

"You did this to me, murderer!" he shrieked.

"No, I didn't...you gave us no alternative!" Scootaloo cried.

"Pay the blood price!" The wave began to rise into the air until it was several hundred feet tall.

Scootaloo stood still, frozen in fear.

"BEGONE!"

A bright blue light pierced the sky and through the wave, obliterating it and the griffon completely in a dazzling display of blue and purple light.

***

Scootaloo sat up in her bed much too quickly for her own liking. He body shook violently as she tried to breathe, sweat rolled down her face and wings, drenching her bed sheets. She slowly began to open her eyes, her head swimming and her vision blurry. It took a few minutes of hard breathing before her tremors began to subside. She stared at the bed across from her, the one her sister would occupy; it was empty as it had been for the last couple of days. She was up early again, no doubt being just as nightmare ridden and restless as she was.

She noticed the morning paper on the nightstand between their beds, the mail pony had been replaced with a first class logistics officer that had been delivering all their mail, groceries and odds and ends for them ever since the incident. though he was reliable, being copped up in the house all day was starting to grate her nerves a bit, though she wasn't even sure she could face the outside world; not after what had happened.

She reached over to the nightstand and touched the brass lamp sitting next to the paper. The room illuminated, though the low power bulb still made the room a bit darker than it needed to be. She picked up the paper and began to read, as per usual she was on the front page again, along with various other tidbits over what had occurred in the last couple days.

She scanned the page a few times before settling on the top story.

'Loo family, heroes or monsters?' The story title read like some kind of bad movie that only shows in the theaters every other year. Elly had told her that she head from Luna that this kind of attack on ones person was common place; the Equestria press didn't get too many bones, but when one was tossed to them they split the story ten different ways. One day attacking the victim and the next running political hit pieces on Celestia and Luna. She was also told that quite a bit of griffon money was involved in these articles as a way to blame shift.

She tried for a few minutes to read the top story, before turning the page in disgust. They interviewed some kind of psychologist and he was trying to paint her and Elly as both sociopaths; as if she needed more ponies poking her guilt. She turned the page to find that the Cleaver-land Brownes had managed to go 0-16 again, losing to a 1-15 team she had never heard of. There was a minor train derailment outside of Las Pegasus and the weather would be raining with heavy fog again today.

She kept scanning the page when a small article caught her attention. R. Lee Army was still in a coma and in critical condition. Doctors were now looking for a suitable liver donor and were asking any pony with a matching blood type to come forward.

"Why can't they just magically replicate one for him?" She said to herself. Then again, she knew next to nothing about magic, so there might have been some kind of reason a donor was needed. She had been told there was a very high chance the old pony would die from his injuries; making her both feel guilty for not firing that cannon sooner, but at the same time she still had regrets firing it.

"How was I to know that was a live one!" She tossed the paper aside, burying her face in her hooves. She very well knew that even a sugar slug would have killed him, but to find out one of the shells was live solid armor penetrating slug ...what if they had used that in a mock battle? She would have accidentally killed a friend, maybe an entire crew of them. She stared down at the paper on the floor and sure enough the same story that had been run two days in a row was there.

They were busy blaming Luna for there being multiple confirmed live explosives in multiple garages as well for brutally killing assassins in a way that would make a horror movie seem tame. She couldn't figure out why they were so adamant on blaming Luna; she had to defend herself and it's not like she can be everywhere at once. It's plain to anypony that she was set up.

"It's really unfair what they are doing to her..." Scootaloo said to herself.

"You get used to it, trust me." Elly walked into the room, a plate of food balanced on her back, setting it on the nightstand beside Scootaloo. "Hungry?"

"Not really..." She lied. She felt absolutely famished, but he mind would keep wandering to what happened and she just couldn't keep her food down; the image of all that blood and gore was just too much.

Elly sighed then leaned in to nuzzle Scootaloo. "I know what you are going through, It's been rough for both of us, but if we don't eat anything we are going to be scarecrows by the time Luna gets back to us."

Elly stared out the window. The sky was practically swarming with patrols from the 7th legion special forces. "They know this house is unplottable, but they circle day and night anyways. I guess after what happened Celestia spared no expense in beefing up Ponyville's security."

"I really wish I could go out, talk with my friends. This isolation driving me up a wall" Scootaloo said somberly.

Elly stared out the window then back at Scootaloo. "After what happened...I can't blame her." Elly leaned in and embraced Scootaloo in a hug. She could feel cold wetness of her coat and the smell of sweat all over her. "Another nightmare?"

Scootaloo nodded. "I felt Luna purge it, but it just keeps coming back worse each time."

Elly hugged Scootaloo tighter, much to the little filly's discomfort. "I know...I know. I have them too. The other one is worse though, the thought of what could of happened. I thought you died when I saw you fall over like that."

"Sis..." Scootaloo said, patting Elly on the back.

"Yes?" Elly said.

"Air please!" Scootaloo cried.

Elly quickly backed off her embrace, letting Scootaloo breathe. "Sorry, I'm just..."

"It's okay" Scootaloo replied, taking a deep breath. "I guess we both need time to sort things out...still doesn't make it less of a hassle."

"Well, we should probably eat; maybe that will help us both sleep a little better." Elly grabbed the plate off the nightstand in her mouth and jumped into bed with Scootaloo. She then set the plate of food near Scootaloo.

"So, what is this?" Scootaloo asked without looking at the plate.

"Honey waffles as the bread with eggs and cheese in the middle. Did think about making something else to go with it, but we are entirely out of a lot of things. The military has a very...bare-bones idea of what qualifies as food." Elly picked up a waffle in her mouth and swallowed it in one go, egg, cheese and all. "Also, I think I would rather eat the carpet before I touch that box of MRE's they gave us."

"I dunno, I had one yesterday. Kinda tasted like stale cookies." Scootaloo said as she picked up one of the sandwiches and took a bite.

"You...did add water right?" Elly asked, staring at Scootaloo quizzically.

"Water?" Scootaloo replied , taking another bite.

Elly laughed. "Oh well, you will understand the next time you go to the bathroom."

Scootaloo looked at Elly, seemingly not getting the joke. "So... you think they will let us go outside today?"

Elly sighed, staring out the window. "No, we are still waiting for the all clear from Luna. She had plans to relocate us to a more secure location. Possibly the palace or a military fort somewhere. I don't think we will get any outside or us time for awhile."

Scootaloo sighed. "Well...at least we have each other, right?"

Elly nodded.

***

Ponies in combat armor and military fatigues ran past Luna as she made her way to the command room. However, every few steps was just another delay; ponies in uniform kept stopping in front of her to salute or bow to her.

"Your Majesty! How can I be of service!" An ensign stopped and said as he saluted her.

You could start by maybe not blocking the walkway? Really wish teleportation wards were not in place here... Luna thought to herself.

"Could you maybe, clear a path to the command room? I'm due for a meeting. Kinda hard to get there when everypony is running around like they have their hea...er...have to go to the bathroom" Luna smiled nervously.

Best not even remotely mention decapitation, the military is already having a hard time with that particular PR nightmare I left behind...

"Yes ma'am!" The ensign waved down a sergeant and whispered in his ear. The sarge then blew on his whistle, stopping everypony in the room dead cold in their tracks.

"Attention! Luna needs to get to the command room, escort line immediately!" The Sergeant bellowed.

Multiple ponies lined up in front of Luna, creating a escort line.

"Thank you." Luna said as multiple ponies in front of her began to escort her, making sure others didn't impede her path. What was going to take almost twenty minutes before now only took five. As she arrived at the door to the command center she nodded to the troops, thanking them.

The troops all gave a quick salute and quickly filed out of the hallway. Luna stood there for a moment, trying to collect her thoughts. She opened the door and walked into the room, only to meet a half dozen or so eyes on her; Celestia's included.

"That's odd, you're on time today Luna. I wasn't expecting you for another half hour at least." Celestia said curtly as she stared at a glass map on a table in the middle of the room. "Anyways, it appears everypony...and griffon is here."

Luna hadn't noticed it, but at the back of the room was griffon, sitting on a chair, drinking some tea as she went about looking over paperwork.

"I...sister, there is a griffon in the back of the room." Luna said as she pointed Gilda out.

"She is the reason I called this meeting today. Gilda, could you please introduce yourself?" Celestia asked.

Gilda walked forward, extending a claw out to shake with Luna. "Name's Gilda, nice to meet the butcher of Ponyville" Gilda said snidely.

"B-butcher?" Luna said, stepping back.

Gilda gave a hearty laugh. "I'm kidding, I'm kidding. Seriously though, you did a number on those assassins. I heard an entire platoon was needed to clean up that mess. Anyways, I'm Gilda, Celestia's double agent."

Luna stared at Celestia and then back at Gilda. "We had a double agent this entire time, but have been getting blindsided at every turn?"

Celestia looked at Gilda, motioning her to sit down, then doing the same for Luna. "We have a lot to go over it seems, please be seated."

Luna, Celestia, Gilda and a few other top Military brass all sat down around a square table. You could practically cut the tension and silence in the room with a hatchet. Each of the military brass were eyeing Luna warily, as if she was infected with some kind of disease. As they all took their seats, Celestia spoke.

"As you are very well aware, we have been blind sided by the enemy on multiple occasions including an incident a couple days ago that resulted in the death of two guards, injury of a retired sergeant and the near capture of two civilians." Celestia took a deep breath. "Though I'm not sure if anyone at this table doesn't already know this; it''s been all over the news, but to cover my bases I need everyone on the same page."

Multiple military brass shot Luna accusatory glances, though not a single one seemed to want to speak up; at least not to her face.

"So, firstly; yes I am a double agent and yes, I am taking an extreme risk by coming here today. Most likely the information I have at this point will be all I get as I'm probably marked for death." Gilda looked around the table at the odd stares she was getting. "In any case I'm sorry I was unable to prevent the catastrophe from a couple days ago; that particular section of the military works on less than twelve hours notice. That said, I do have key information regarding what we are up against." Gilda stood up and walked over to the glass map just a few yards from the table.

Gilda pointed at a mountainous region at the eastern end of the northern expanse. "I have good information that Ivan Vukov has built a base right here, just short of the Kumite mountain range."

Celestia watched as the other military brass stared at one another, each seemingly dumbfounded.

"That's impossible, those mountains are patrolled regularly from the sky during the summer, there's no way a base of any kind is there" one of the generals said.

"I concur, furthermore a base is impossible in that terrain, it's far too cold most of the year. It's also prone to avalanches and is solid granite all the way through. You would have to be a madman to build anything there" another general added.

"Ivan Vukov is a madman, he's gathered an army consisting of several airships including a single apocalypse class battleship called the Odin." Gilda pointed to a section of the map just right of the base. "Worse yet, we discovered why they wanted Scootaloo's feathers. They have managed to con Vespa and Cid into not only revealing the location of Ragnarok, but scouts confirmed they managed to move it from it's resting place and underground hangar in the dead middle of the northern expanse."

"Horse manure!" One of the Generals growled. "Ragnarok is a myth, a fairy tale and there's no way a ship that size would have gone unnoticed by our scouts."

"Hold on, you said apocalypse class battleship? I thought that project was cancelled. That the Loo family refused to draw up plans for the thing" another general said. "Are you telling us that the Loo's betrayed us?"

"I assure you, they did not.Cid and Vespa were both very much against military contracts unless I pushed them for it." Celestia said. "More than likely they just retrofitted a large merchant ship from the few they already had. Also, Ragnarok is not a myth, it was a very real nearly completed project."

The generals around the table stared at Celestia, some of them looked as if they wanted to get up and slap her right in the face, but thought better of it.

"I can confirm, I had a flea track them all the way back to their home-base. It was killed later by the cold, but the location is accurate" Luna added.

"Get angry all you want; it was a black project that was started but never finished. The ship was only about eighty-five percent done according to our last records. I had Cid and Vespa move the vessel to an unknown location...before, well. Luna?"

Luna took a deep breath. "We had our experts dig up the graves of every single reportedly dead Loo family member. Copse dolls, every single last one of them. Which means either Vukov has dozens of ponies as bargaining chips..."

"Or slaves, I have a hunch though. She's going to force Vespa or Cid to pilot it" Gilda said, interrupting Luna.

"Well, if she does, it's treason then" One of the general said.

"Not that simple. That vessel has multiple protections that only Cid or Vespa would know. It very well might be she would be mind controlled while doing so." Gilda reached into the pocket of her jacket and removed a single gold square, setting it on the table. "I'm sure you are all briefed on what these are, right?"

"Mind control devices. Our labs have yet to find a way around them" another general spoke up.

"Unfortunately for us, I was unable to get any info on how to counter these." Gilda sighed "which doesn't exactly leave us with too many options. Attacking that base head on would be suicide and from my own information; Equestria has no troops in position to do anything about it."

"If my own estimates are correct; it should take them close three weeks to finish work on Ragnarok. Which means we have three weeks to throw together whatever forces we can muster and meet them on the field." Celestia shook her head "that said, I have no idea what forces we have entirely to us. That's why I called you all here, I need reports on numbers and your expertise."

The generals all stared at one another briefly.

"In terms of air forces, we have about ten or so legions of pegasus. We currently have six or so frigates mothballed that could be brought online within the week. We have an additional twelve or so ground legions...but that terrain is horrible for fighting ground to air; not to mention the heavy snow this time of year" one of the generals said.

"We could retrofit about half a dozen or so civilian air transports. Also there is a couple of Centurion class museum destroyers that we could get online. Maybe not in top shape, but ready somewhat" another general added.

"What are we looking at in terms of opposition?" Celestia asked.

Gilda nodded. "As of yesterday they have the apocalypse class Odin, twelve destroyers, two carriers, five frigates and three corvettes. They also have the Ragnarok, which unlike the mostly civilian conversion ships they have is an actual full fledged warship. They also have about ten more legions in terms of fighting power in the air."

"Wait we could...no, that wouldn't do." There are those tanks we have, but those are thousands of years old, never-mind if they fell into enemy claws.. Luna thought to herself.

"If you're thinking that, the answer is no. That place is to remain sealed; there is a weapon in that place that should never see the light of day" Celestia said.

"No, I meant...the tank one" Luna said apprehensively.

"Oh...no. That won't do, there is no way those rust buckets will even move at this point, let alone fight. Also, how is your relocation plan coming along?" Celestia asked.

Luna sighed. "We have decided to move every pony, every participant from Ponyville to...that bunker. This includes the bearers of the elements of harmony. I have been moving them the last couple of days; the south end of town and the Loo sisters are last on my list. It has already been stocked with everything they need for the foreseeable future."

Celestia raised an eyebrow "That's... and odd choice. I'm guessing the locations I shared with you are too dangerous?"

"Doubly so. I had spoken with intelligence agents and they have good reason to believe most of the hiding spots you gave me are compromised in some way or another. Either they are know to the enemy or will be found too easily." Luna sighed "It hurts me to put them in a hiding spot within spitting distance of where the battle will likely commence..."

Celestia smiled "But you want the elements of harmony in spitting distance, as backup in case things go south?" Celestia asked, though her body language seemed to give away that she already knew the answer.

"Well, I didn't completely want to remove them from the equation. None of them may be military grade combatants, but each have their own quirks and abilities that could make them valuable to us in the conflict ahead." Luna looked about the table and while Celestia seemed bemused by Luna's high praise of the elements of harmony; the rest of the military brass seemed unimpressed.

"Do any of you even have a clue to who is in that group?" Luna asked angrily.

"We are all well aware. An above average unicorn, veterinarian, fashionista, waitress, a farm pony and a flight school dropout weather pony. Not exactly war material I'm afraid." The general said dismissively.

Luna and Celestia both seemed slightly annoyed at the general, though he seemed not to care in the slightest what they thought of him.

"What I want to know is why we are wasting resources and time moving expendable civilians to a bunker none of the staff knows about" one of the generals asked.

Celestia's eyes narrowed, and her mane started to produce small spurts of flame around the edges. "I see no pony as expendable nor will I tolerate superiority complexes around this table, am I understood?" Celestia stared at the other two generals briefly "That goes for the rest of you, am I absolutely clear?"

Despite her anger, none of the generals seemed to budge in the slightest; either they didn't care to speak up, didn't fear her or knew just staring at her said far more than actual words could.

"The reason is we don't want agents of Vukov taking hostages even remotely connected to the Elements of Harmony or the Loo family. Allowing their capture would a death-knell to Equestria as a whole" Luna said.

"I agree. My information confirms that in order to bring out Ragnarok's full power Elly and Scootaloo are needed. The ship had a four way identification system that would take months to circumvent. It can fly and fight with just Cid and Vespa; but many of it's features are locked away; though what features I am still unaware of" Gilda said.

Celestia sighed. "If they were to be caught we would have to deal with a ship that can teleport and have a main cannon capable of ...well, killing an Alicorn."

Everypony at the table went dead silent; all of them staring at shock at Celestia.

"You greenlit a weapon capable of killing you? Are you insane?" One of the generals barked.

Celestia lowered her head in shame. "No, not to kill me. But...as a last resort against Nightmare Moon."

Luna sat back, aghast at what she was hearing. "Y-you...what? Why?"

Celestia lifted her head, making somber eye contact with Luna. "I panicked. I knew you would return as nightmare moon at some point, so having such a thing commissioned was..." A single tear ran down Celestia's cheek. "Sadly required, assuming Twilight failed to become a bearer or you were not able to be saved."

S-she meant to kill me? I... Luna sat there, completely in shock. "I...don't know how to exactly take this..." Luna sat there for a bit. "Then again, I guess I get why . I was entirely out of control."

"Well...we can talk about it privately later, for now we need a battle plan" Celestia stared at Luna for a brief moment. "Do you have any ideas what we can do about being outnumbered? You were always the better one when it came to war after all..."

"Well, it depends on how they are distributed. I can take on a few ships on my own as I'm sure you can as well Celestia. The problem is we will be exhausted by the time we take down just a few." Luna stood up and stood next to Gilda, running her hoof down the screen. "Assuming the numbers we have are accurate we can hit the smaller support ships, then teleport out, calling a full retreat. We can evacuate a few towns in their path and slowly bleed them dry as they push into Equestria."

"You do know they they will destroy two major economic centers as well as an airship construction facility on the way, right?" One of the Generals pointed out.

"There is no way our meager forces can possibly take them head on, we are outnumbered and outgunned" Luna stated flatly. "My sister and I may be capable of taking out several ships and battalions on our own, but we have to rest at some point. Bait them in slowly, then-"

"Then why not hit Ragnarok first?" one of the generals asked.

"Because I want them weakened before we attempt to rescue of the Loo family" Luna said.

"Why?" Another general said, cutting Luna off. "Why go through all the effort to save them? You would sacrifice multiple cities, a few small towns and military lives for a couple dozen airship builders?" The general stood up and walked over to Luna, getting face to face with her. "In all my years I have never heard of such a harebrained idea. They may be the best damn airship builders to ever live, but this is war; we can't afford any lives to rescue a bunch of civvies."

The general walked away, turning to Celestia as he opened the door. "I will mobilize my legions and go with the senates original plan. I was hoping Celestia would have a better alternative, but she seems too interested in enabling her ...overemotional sister." The General shot Luna a nasty glance then opened the door, marching out in a huff.

"He's right, we should plan to destroy that thing. As much as It pains me, those civilians are effectively enemy combatants" another general added.

"And what? Leave a both Sisters without a family again?" Luna growled.

The general said nothing, just shook his head in disappointment.

One after another more of the top brass filed out of the room, each shooting Luna a look of disgust. As the last one reached the door he turned and stared at Luna "You need to realize the many come before the few. Call us back if anything changes. As of now your advisory role is hereby dissolved. Have a nice day, your Majesty." With a look of disgust on his face the last of the military ponies filed out of the room, slamming the door behind them.

"Well...that ended poorly" Gilda said.

What kind of rank and file insubordination non-sense is this? This meeting was not-

"Calm down Luna, they did this to me right after the attack on Ponyville as well. They are all understandably angry with me about keeping a lid on many aspects of this situation." Celestia stood up, walking up to Luna. "I know it seems like insubordination; but the fact of the matter is I can only advise them, then senate has already pushed me aside of any commanding role."

"What!?" Luna growled. "What kind of treachery is this!?"

Celestia shook her head "It's entirely out of my hooves. The senate completely outvoted me on nearly every turn. They do not have any confidence in me when it comes to matters of war."

Luna snorted angrily. "Why?!"

Celestia stared at Luna and then to Gilda. "For me its because it's not in my nature to fight. For you It was multiple senators calling your sanity and stability into question."

Luna growled, her eyes glowing bright white.

"Calm down. That's exactly why your stability was called into question, that and the way you butchered those assailants. You're too hot tempered; especially when that filly is involved." Celestia could see the shadow flames starting to dance around Luna's eyes; indicating a possible transformation. "I get it though, the whole motherly protecting thing. I went through the same phase as you with Twilight."

"Yet you were ready to have her try and fight me when I was Nightmare Moon, full well knowing I could kill her with the greatest of ease should she have failed" Luna growled. "Some mother you turned out to be." Luna caught herself for a moment, she was taking out her anger and frustration on Celestia. "I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that."

Celestia smiled, ignoring the potshot Luna had taken at her. "It's fine. That clash was going to happen eventually, had I faced you then I would have most likely been defeated. Twilight would have taken up arms after my defeat, though I am doubtful she could have beaten you without the elements."

"She's talented yes, but not remotely a match for either of us. The key difference here is I don't hurt or kill ponies as Nightmare moon, the thought never even crossed my mind. Those monsters being led by Ivan would have no qualms about committing atrocities on pony-kind." Luna shuddered. "I read the book her wrote, I wouldn't put the worst crimes past that fiend!"

"I read it as well, it was quite a bit jarring to say the least" Celestia said. "Worst of all was Gilda's report, her was willing to torture them in ways unimaginable. To think he would do that to mere children...

"I think you're both being dorks about this" Gilda said, rolling her eyes.

"Pardon?" Celestia said.

"You heard me. Both of you are being dorks about this. Listen to you, calling both of the Loo sisters mere children. I get that you know, one is a Filly and the other an adult; but both have seen and dealt with a lot of terrible crap in their lifetime. Hell, Scootaloo turned a griffon into a giblets and Elly has bested our best for years."

Gilda marched up to Luna poking her in the chest with a claw. "You need to learn to keep your cool and stop treating everyone like they are an enemy." Gilda turned to Celestia and pointed at her with the same claw. "And you need to stop being so spineless, tell those brass that things are going your way or the highway."

Gilda walked towards the door, her back to Luna and Celestia. "Listen, I have a hunch. That little filly you think is so weak, I fought with her. The fire and determination in those eyes, I seen stronger griffons flee before such insurmountable odds, but not her; she has a heart of iron." Gilda turned to Luna and Celestia "You mark my words, before all of this is through it will be that little twerp and her dork of a sister that make the difference." Gilda opened the door and walked out, slamming it behind her.

Luna and Celestia stood there for a few minutes, each of them not knowing how to exactly take in what just happened.

"Sister, what is a Dork?" Luna asked.

"It's complicated, but never mind that." Celestia sat down and began scanning over the paperwork in front of her. "Sit down Luna, we need to come up with a way to save that family...

***

Elly stared at Scootaloo, but the little filly stared right back at her, her eyes narrowing in determination. Elly flipped another card from the top of the deck onto her side of the table, clearly showing she has sixteen to her side in the form of a jack and a six of spades.

Scootaloo peeked at her card once more, a single queen face-down. The card showing face-up was a ten of diamonds. She knew that getting a hit at this point would most likely bust her, but she also knew that her sisters favorite stay number was twenty. "Hit me!" She said confidently.

Scootaloo watched as Elly slowly flipped the card onto the table face up, revealing a two of clubs. Scootaloo stared at Elly's pile, waiting for her to flip it over.

"I guess you win, I busted ultra hard" Elly said with a smile as she revealed her hidden card to be a Queen of hearts. "I guess that song was right, you really can't play with the queen of hearts."

"What song?" Scootaloo asked.

"Never mind, I'll get you a record of it later. So...wanna go again?" Elly asked.

Scootaloo stared over at the corner at the Gamesphere console they had gotten a while back. She really wanted to play it, but knew better to ask.

"I know, I know. Card games are boring!" Elly sighed. "But you know what the military guys outside said; no electronics that put out a signal of any kind; we can be traced and attacked that ways."

"I don't think that would matter. They are circle patrolling around the house, even though they can't see it. Anyone with half a brain could see they are guarding something important and investigate" Scootaloo said glumly. "May as well put out a neon sign that says 'Loo Sisters are here'."

Elly managed to stifle a giggle. "I find it odd though. In all my years I was never attacked by agents of that caliber. I wonder what changed?"

"I... I really don't want to talk about that." Scootaloo looked down at her hoofs, imagining them covered in blood for a brief moment.

Elly quickly embraced Scootaloo in a hug. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to go there."

I really wish i could help her with this, but I'm no doctor and we can't leave the house just yet Elly thought as she loosened her hug on Scootaloo. "Maybe we could play scrabble?"

*Knock Knock*

A sudden knock at the door made both of them stare at it as if a monster was right behind it.

"What's the password?" Elly yelled.

"The password is wings" A voice that sounded oddly like Luna replied.

Scootaloo's ears perked up. "Luna?"

"Well that is the password, I would say hold on while I unlock the door but-" Elly watched as bolt lock on the door slowly turned. "That. I mean, why bother knocking?"

The door flung open to reveal Luna, though a Luna that was much more...serious. From what Scootaloo could tell she seemed a tad bit high strung, not exactly angry, but more nervous than she would normally be. Luna seemed to be checking her back to make sure no pony was watching.

"Gather your essentials quickly." Luna stepped into the house closing the door behind her with authority. "We need to move quickly, there is a chance I was being followed."

Scootaloo and Elly stared at once another. "Scootaloo, I'll grab my tools, you get something to entertain us." Elly quickly made for the bedroom while Scootaloo grabbed a backpack and tossed her Gamesphere into it along with a few board games.

"So where are we going?" Scootaloo asked.

"A secure location, one you have been to before" Luna said.

"The palace?" Scootaloo asked.

"No, no. Too obvious." Luna replied.

Elly rushed out of the bedroom, the clang of metal in her twin saddlebags quickly drowning out any more of Scootaloo's questions. "Sorry, family habit. Never go anywhere without tools."

Scootaloo rolled her eyes.

"What? You know how many times a wrench saved my hide? Or a spare rubber seal?" Elly said, smiling.

"Come close, and well, I suggest holding your breath. We will be teleporting with Alicorn magic and not Unicorn. Makes me harder to trace if we are being followed." Luna motioned Scootaloo and Elly too her.

Elly and Scootaloo stood on either side of Luna, both of them staring up and waiting for Luna to start the teleport. Luna closed her eyes, beads of sweat running down her cheeks. Her horn began to glow a deep night blue, the carpet around them began to singe slightly and a gust of wind rushed through the house; opening all the cabinets in the kitchen.

"H-hold on, almost there!" Luna grunted.

With a flash of light Scootaloo could feel her hooves leave the ground, her head felt as if it were detached from her neck and her stomach in her eye ball all at once. She tried to look around but all she could make out was a stream of deep blue and rainbow colors. As suddenly as it started she could feel her hooves collide with wood. Looking below she could see that she was standing on the root system of a tree. She wanted to almost vomit for a brief second, but the nausea passed just as quickly as it came.

"Up here sis!" Elly yelled.

Scootaloo looked up and saw Luna standing on a branch, Elly next to her though barely keeping her balance.

"Sorry about this. I'm not used to moving multiple ponies with me with Alicorn magic just yet. I actually accidentally dropped off Fluttershy in a nearby swamp earlier." Luna said, blushing.

"Fluttershy is here?" Scootaloo asked.

Luna jumped down from the tree, followed shortly by Elly whom seemed to need a bit more room to glide down.

"Yes, as well as most of the population of Ponyville or at least all of the ponies that were in the competition and their immediate families. To be honest I'm surprised more didn't go wrong; mass teleporting is already draining, let alone using Alicorn magic to do so." Luna nodded for Scootaloo and Elly to follow her.

"So, I get we are using Alicorn magic so we can't be followed, but I'm a tad bit clueless as to how you can even trace a teleport" Scootaloo said.

"I'm a bit curious as well. I been working in engineering for years and even I don't know how to do that" Elly added.

"It's a bit complicated" Luna stopped for a brief moment to get her bearings "But I will endeavor to simplify it where I can. You see, the regular unicorn spell uses a trick in quantum tunneling to open an instant gate from one point to another. The unicorn calculated the direction, landing spot and momentum cancellation all in one go. There's a safety of sorts built into the spell that also makes it traceable, you see if the calculation puts the pony teleporting inside a mountain then it will automatically pop them right back where they started."

"I think I get that, though I think I only barely remember what quantum tunneling is from my electronics class. Not really my thing" Elly said.

"I only understood about half of what she said..." Scootaloo said glumly.

"Sorry. It's hard to explain, but in short every teleport leaves a return point and if you can find the trace return point, you can figure out the exit point as well. Alicorn teleports use a different method; it is literally hopping through a separate dimension to get where you need to go; you literally leave this plane of existence for a limited time." Luna stepped in some frozen moss that stuck to her hoof, taking her a few moments to shake it off before continuing. "Gross, anyways it does leave a trace behind, but trying to trace it would be impossible; unless you were willing to brave the dangers of whatever dimension we jumped through."

"I think I read something about this in a comic book once, I think it was X-ponies?" Scootaloo pondered.

"I know the one!" Elly said excitedly "That...Duskcrawler guy does teleports that way!"

"Oh, right. That guy." Scootaloo added.

Luna stopped and shot Elly and Scootaloo a confused stare. "I have never heard of this X-Ponies thing. It sounds interesting. Could you maybe point me in the right direction once this predicament is settled?"

"Sure, I think Apple Bloom has some old issues sitting about her room."

"Thank you...now where were we?" Luna stopped, staring at her surroundings for a moment. "Ah, this way...I think."

As they walked Scootaloo started to notice an unsettling similarities to someplace she had been before, but couldn't quite put her hoof on it. "It feels like I have been here before, but everything is all...winter-ey now."

"You have, though when you were here it was summer in this region. This time of year this bog from what I have been told goes into a winter-mode of sorts, due to it being located just behind the west mountain range leading to the northern expanse. Colder air from the mountain range drifts down and changes the season." Luna ducked under a branch, then stopped. "Ahh, here we are."

Luna stepped aside, pointing to a pair of green massive twin metal doors, the kind you would see on a outside basement entrance, but three times the size.

Luna walked forward, her horn glowing as she lifted the heavy metal doors with her magic, the hinges creaking and grinding making a eerie echo across the silent bog. "Hmmm, seems they need oiled. Not surprising given the temperature drop."

It was just then Scootaloo remembered where she had seen this place before and her peering into the hole confirmed it. the poorly kept stairs, the light-bulbs that were broken halfway down, though they were all now replaced with magical torches and the smell, the funky smell of steel and oil coming from below. "Is this that tank bunker you showed us before Luna?"

"Tank bunker? before?" Elly tilted her head at Scootaloo. "You been here before?"

"Yeah, Luna kinda sorta showed it to me, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle before we met you. We didn't see much of it, but it's a really neat place" Scootaloo said enthusiastically.

Luna merely nodded and went ahead, motioning Elly and Scootaloo to follow her with her right wing. "You see, we have plenty of safe houses, bunkers and the like spread across all of Equestria, however most of those were compromised due to the possibility of spies."

"Oh I get it, this place isn't on the bo-" Elly slid forward, losing her footing on the narrow stairs.

Luna reacted like lightning, catching Elly with one of her wings and righting her with her magic. "Be careful, these stairs were not built with our body shape in mind."

"So, who then?" Elly pondered for a moment. "I mean, these are narrow, which means either smaller creatures or-"

"Bipedal ones. Creatures that destroyed themselves many, many eons ago through war, famine and hatred of their own kind. This and a few other locations are the only vestiges of what they were that we have found." Luna continued down the stairs, ignoring Elly's initial look of bewilderment on her face.

"So, what were these bipedal things called?" Elly asked.

Luna lit her horn as they reached a landing at the bottom of the stairs, illuminating an iron door. "Just a moment." Luna lowered her horn and the door slowly opened, revealing a well lit area with ponies chattering.

"Scootaloo!" Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle yelled.

Scootaloo gasped and ran toward her friends, embracing them in a hug.

"I missed you guys so much, I was worried how you all were doing after...we fired that cannon" Scootaloo said enthusiastically.

"We don't really don't remember what happened after that. We both got knocked out cold from the back-blast on that cannon" Apple Bloom said.

"Yeah, all we were told is they stopped attacking and left, we couldn't see nothing from all the smoke either. Did the adults leave something out?" Sweetie Belle asked.

Scootaloo pondered for a moment, maybe it was best that they were left in the dark about the gory details of that day.

Yes, It would be wise to spare them those details. I know it hurts a bit, but your sister and I will be there to help you through it.

Scootaloo heard the voice of Luna in her head and turned to her just in time to get a reassuring wink from the princess.

Scootaloo turned back to her friends. "Nah, it wasn't anything important enough for you to hear about." Scootaloo followed Sweetie Belle as beckoned her further into the complex, leaving Luna alone with Elly.

"So, now that we have some alone time, I-

"If you're gonna try and apologize for what happened, I don't wanna hear it. There was no way you could have known. That said, have you apologized to Rarity and Apple Jack yet?" Elly asked.

Luna sighed "Yes, though both of them were absolutely furious with me at first, Apple Jack was barely holding herself back from slugging me in the face; though I couldn't blame her. My overconfidence through this whole ordeal has caused quite a bit of trouble. To be honest I should have relocated the both of you to this bunker quite some time ago. We could have avoided a whole lot of trauma, pain and hit to our dignity that way."

"I think it was better in some ways" Elly said.

"In what way?" Luna asked, giving Elly a confused glance.

"Sure, the whole possibly dying part was pretty bad, but you never get stronger by running away from your problems. It kinda reminds me of what mom used to say 'fix the problem, don't band-aid it'." Elly put her hoof to her chin "Though I think she would probably tan both of our hides had she known we were intentionally putting ourselves in harms way."

"As any parent rightly would" Luna said, smiling slyly.

Elly scanned the room noticing a white blanket covering something large in the corner. "So, I don't want to be master of the obvious, but I can smell the oil and steel in the air; that sheet is covering something tank related isn't it?"

Luna nodded. "It is, the human creatures left behind effectively a museum of old weapons and a terrible history of atrocities that shake me to my core just thinking about them."

"I thought humans were a myth, like, an incredibly bad myth. The kind you tell your little sister to get her to go to bed kinda thing. So...they are the ones that created the tanks?" Elly asked, trotting over to the sheet and biting it down on it. "Well, let's take a look at her!" Elly pulled with all her might, flinging the sheet backwards onto some less than enthusiastic ponies chatting in the opposite corner. Both of them cursing at her as they removed the sheet and left the room.

Elly's eyes went wide as she stared at the so called human tank. It was something else. The metal work, while rusted was finely welded in the front into a sort of pike nose. The turret was all one single cast, rounded at the top with multiple view ports all around and inscribed on the right upper plate was what she could only think was this machines designation; IS-3. The curses of those behind her suddenly meant nothing to her, this thing, this human created tank was a feat of engineering that topped anything she had ever seen.

"T-this is amazing!" Elly jumped up onto the tank and started to inspect it. "These welds are all top notch." Elly stomped on the metal, making a few dull clang sounds. "This doesn't feel like any steel I have ever touched. It's much more dense and rugged. The wooden mock ups we were using are nothing compared to this!"

Luna giggled "I see your enthusiasm for tinkering is still strong. Sadly, none of dozens of tanks in this facility are functional. Quite a few of them are little more than rusted husks and the fuel they use is entirely different than what airships use."

Elly jumped up on top of the turret, but quickly noticed the edges of the hatch has significant water damage and was rusted shut. "Hmmm, I wonder what it's like inside." Elly looked around for another entrance, but noticed the only other two were both rusted shut. Another one at back of the turret and one shaped like a triangle just below the gun. Elly jumped off the turret and onto the back of the vehicle, noting that this appeared to be the engine deck or at least she assumed so by all the slanted vent holes on the back. "This thing is so much more advanced than what the Equestrian military has."

"Yeah, it's far beyond what we are currently capable of making. Though even if we could both Celestia and I would forbid it" Luna said.

"Hmm, I can kinda see why. This thing looks like it can destroy a village all on its own." Elly prodded at the engine deck, opening one of the hatches. "I only think I have ever seen this kind of engine configuration once. It was on a train and was discontinued for being too pollution heavy. This is diesel engine if I'm not mistaken." Elly stuck her head in and looked about. "Yeah, seems so. This is a really inefficient powerhouse. The rest of it is amazing, but this engine is kinda bunk compared to what we already have.So, why exactly was this never reproduced, you know aside from being a killing machine?"

Luna sighed. "It wasn't so much Equestria's military misusing it, me or Celestia could easily step in. However...other countries...

"Could capture and reproduce it. That would trigger a worldwide arms race almost immediately. Kinda like how mom and dads airship design secrets were so sought after, except this time instead of some idiot making an inferior ship that doesn't run we have some dolt killing ponies, griffons and the like as a bid for power." Elly hopped off the tank, quickly brushing spare flakes of rust off her.

"Spot on. I figured being an engineer you would be angry such a thing was hidden" Luna said.

"Nah, I'm very well acquainted with espionage. That and mom was entirely on board with not selling airships that could be turned into weapons. Her and dad are the ones that pushed to stop the mass sale of them to Vukov..." Elly stopped, the realization that both her parents were still alive was something that was both exasperating and a bitter pill to swallow.The thought that she might have to bury them yet again... "Luna...could I possibly ask a favor?"

Luna smiled. "I am already a step ahead of you. I am already working on a plan to rescue your entire family. The military brass wants nothing short of total destruction, but I will not sacrifice innocents if I can help it. Rest assured, everything within my power is being done to make that happen."

"Luna, thanks. I'm not sure I could handle burying them all over again." Elly bowed down graciously.

"Hopefully, you won't have to."Luna turned around, getting ready to teleport when she remembered what Gilda has said. She stopped her teleport spell mid cast and glanced at Elly. "This...may seem to be an oddball idea but..." Luna approached Elly, looking nervously side to side. She lowered her head near Elly's ear and whispered. "This may seem dumb, but I have a suggestion if you will indulge it for a moment."

Elly raised her head closer to Luna's mouth. "I'm listening."

"Just so you know, there are no guards at this location. There was too high a risk that a spy would give out this location. So...this may seem odd, but I suggest you start fixing up these tanks. If we fail out in the field there is a possibility they will eventually find this place, you need to have something ready to defend yourselves." Luna took a quick glance around, making sure no other pony was listening in."This may seem like a dumb hunch, maybe even a premonition, but your skills may be the turning point of the upcoming battle. Though I hope I am wrong about that."

Elly paused for a moment, a smile forming on her face. "I was going to fix them up anyhow. You don't put an engineer in a complex full of amazing devices shes never seen before and expect her not to go poking around. Hopefully we won't have to use them, but rest assured if the proverbial shit hits the fan, we will be ready this time."

"I expected as much. Though I am worried that you are so gung ho about this." Luna whispered.

"I won't go looking for trouble, but I'm not getting caught off guard again. I don't want any more assassin-kidnapping non-sense" Elly said boldly.

Luna smiled, lifting her head. "I will be on my way now. I will be visiting periodically." Luna stared into the next room, watching Scootaloo and Apple Bloom playing hoof-ball with each other. It's good to see her semi-normal again. Hopefully the socialization is what she needed to help her cope. "I bid you farewell Elly Loo." Luna's horn glowed a deep blue and in a flash, she was gone.

Elly stared at the tank behind her, then over to the next room, watching Scootaloo play with her friends. "This thing can wait, family comes first."

***

Chapter I:Early Vacation!

Chapter I: Early Vacation

The scent of heated chalk dust assaulted Apple Bloom's nostrils as she entered the early morning extra credit summer shop class. The room had a few ponies that had failed their last science test, including her two best friends, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle. The room was set up with a chalkboard up front, sets of five tables that seated three students each and a door on the far end that connected to the wood shop where they would spend the entire week before being let go for summer vacation, most likely making towel racks.

"Over here, Apple Bloom!" Scootaloo yelled, waving and patting the empty chair beside her. As she made her way over to the chair in-between Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle she noticed someone she never expected sulking in the back of the classroom. Diamond Tiara sat at the back table, alone, mumbling to herself angrily about having to work in a filthy shop for the next week. Apple Bloom took her seat between the overly excited orange Pegasus and the clearly bored Sweetie Belle.

"So" Said Sweetie Belle in a bored tone "I guess you two failed last weeks science test too, huh?" Apple Bloom and Scootaloo nodded, although Scootaloo did so more energetically, as if working in a shop was something to be proud of.

"You know Scootaloo, ya think with how yer actin ya wanted to be here" Apple Bloom said as she pulled a book out of her saddlebag and set it on the table. "I mean, yer no good at buildin stuff, so why are ya excited?"

Scootaloo could barely contain her eagerness as she yelled "Power tools! Why else would anyone be excited about shop class?" The other two members of the CMC rolled their eyes as Scootaloo continued to ramble about how amazing cordless drills are.

"Scoots, it's not as cool as you think it is, we use em on the farm almost daily. They make a lot of noise,vibrate and get the job done faster but that's about it. You almost sound like you wanted to fail yer science test." This statement did little to dampen Scootaloo's spirits however as she continued to twitch and babble excitedly, as if the poor filly drank the entire contents of the espresso machine in the faculty lounge.

*creek*

The four fillies stood at attention as the door to the classroom creeked open. I hope it's not Mr. Knocks, he will make us run laps after shop Apple Bloom thought to herself as the door finished opening. A familiar grey rose mane popped out from the edge of the door, followed by a pair of bright emerald eyes and a cerise coat.

"Good morning students!"

Scootaloo's face drooped into a frown as the other three fillies responded "Hello miss Cheerilee" in a almost robotic manner. "Oh well, don't get all excited to see me now" Cheerilee said, smiling sarcastically. Scootaloo's hoof shot up into the air, waving it frantically to get Cheerilee's attention as she sat down.

"Yes Scootaloo?"

"Miss Cheerilee, I don't mean to be rude but wheres Mr. Knocks? Are you running the shop class today?"

Cheerilee set her saddlebags on the front desk and pulled out a set of science books with her teeth, setting them on the desk next to her bags. "Mr. Knocks has been called to Canterlot palace on important business. I'm afraid the extra credit shop class is cancelled for the next week."

A cheer of elation erupted from the back room from Diamond Tiara. "Yes, no dirty shopwork for me!"

Cheerilee stared at the elated unicorn, grinning to herself. "Oh, all of you are not getting off that easy. All of you will read this one hundred page text book front to back and then take a quiz to make up for your failing grade last week."

"But..but miss Cheerilee, can't you run the shop? I only failed the test so I could get a chance to learn how to use power tools." Both of Scootaloo's friends looked are the orange Pegasus unsurprised.

"Called it!" Apple Bloom whispered out of the side of her mouth at Sweetie Belle.

Cheerilee stared at Scootaloo quizzically for a moment. "So you failed my test to intentionally do the extra credit course? You could have just done it without failing the test. In any case I am not qualified to teach shop class dear."

"I bet shes afraid of power tools" Sweetie Belle whispered.

"Ahem, Sweetie Belle" Cheerilee said sternly. "I am not afraid of them. It's just if any of you get hurt while I try to teach you without proper qualifications, I could lose my job as a teacher." Cheerilee's eyes shifted nervously to the large table saw though the window in the door.

Who is she trying to fool? Us or herself? Sweetie Belle thought as the watched Ms. Cheerilee's eyes shift nervously, a big fake reassuring grin on her face.

"Anyways, I will pass this book out. When you feel you have read enough, you can raise your hoof and ask for the test." Cheerilee picked up and set a stack of three books and took a third textbook to Diamond Tiara in the back of the room. No sooner had Cheerilee sat down and pulled out a copy of "Fabulous Flowers" magazine had Scootaloo's hoof shot into the air.

"Yes, Scootaloo?"

"Can I take the test now please?"

"But you haven't even opened up the textbook." Cheerilee said with one crooked eyebrow

Scootaloo flipped quickly though the pages, skimming bits of passages as she went, almost as if she was that famous performer from the city; Dr. Whooves. "Yeah, there's nothing in this book that I don't already know. Can I do the test now please?"

"Are you absolutely sure? there will be questions about air currents, volcanoes and such on the test."

The fuchsia maned Pegasus pointed to her small flightless wings. "Ahem, Pegasus here, we know all about air currents."

Laughter erupted from the back of the class, Diamond Tiara holding her sides as she spoke."HA! I don't see how. it's not like you can fly anyways" Diamond Tiara said mockingly from the back of the classroom.

"That will be quite enough Diamond. I will not have you berating your classmates in front of me."

"Yeah it's not like you're a failure at farming or anything" Apple Bloom added sarcastically.

"At least I am not a poor, worthless, parent-less country yolkle!"

"Diamond Tiara!" Cheerilee shouted. "You will see me after class young filly! Comical jabs are bad enough but attacking others family disposition is inexcusable. You will be doing Detention time for that remark."

"But Ms. Cheerilee, she started it!" Diamond Tiara whined.

"And I finished it. Apple Bloom you will give me twenty pushups after class for baiting Diamond Tiara."

"Yes Ms. Cheerilee" Apple Bloom said, faking disappointment.

"The rest of you, get to reading. Scootaloo come up to my desk please." The Orange Pegasus hopped of her chair almost with gusto, running over to Cheerilee's desk as if she was giving out free ice cream. "Scootaloo, I want you to answer all these test questions on the page in front of me at my desk." Cheerilee lowered her voice "I would rather not have the others copy off you, you know the drill."

Scootaloo picked up the pencil Cheerilee had set in front of her by the test and went to work, quickly marking off answers as if she had a cheat sheet right in front of her.

"As for the rest of you, get reading. I will test you in two hours." Cheerilee pulled out a copy of "Picture Perfect" magazine and propped her legs up on the desk as she folded out the magazine on her lap. "Oh, neat daisy circlets are in this year." She said as she turned the page.

Scootaloo watched her teacher closely as she marked off questions on the test. She noticed that Cheerilee's magazine was just a ploy, her eyes were looking right over her though a crack in the center of the magazine, almost daring her to send tail or wing signals to her friends. Sorry girls, can't help ya out of this one. She quickly marked off the last two answers on the page and set her pencil down on the desk.

"Done already Scootaloo?"

"Yes, Ms. Cheerilee."

Cheerilee put her magazine down and pulled the test towards her. Watching Cheerilee's eyes dart from left to right quickly, Scootaloo started to have second thoughts about some of her answers. "Umm, miss Cheerilee, I think the last answer on that test should have been option B and not C, like I put down."

Cheerilee looked up from the paper with a smile on her face. "Oh, don't worry Scootaloo, you have a perfect score."

"YES!" Scootaloo yelled. "I mean, may I be excused miss Cheerilee. I want to get right into my summer vacation."

"Yes you may Scootaloo. Have fun and I'll see you in august" Cheerilee gave a big smile and a pat on the young fillies head. Scootaloo could barely contain herself as she rushed for the door, only stopping to wave at her friends. "I'll be at the arcade when you guys finally get out of here."

The other two CMC members smiled and waved at Scootaloo as she left the room with a grin on her face.

"So...Sweetie Belle, how much do you know about volcanoes?"

***2.5 hours later***

"Wow this is boring without the others" Scootaloo said as she beat yet another arcade game. "This Battle Frogs & Double Diamond Dogs game is boooringly easy, It's not even worth the bits I put into it. It's nowhere near as mind numbingly hard as the original Battle Frogs" Scootaloo walked out of the arcade grumpily only to hear something like a guitar riff in the distance.

(~Come on, come on, come on, lets go!~)

Scootaloo followed the sound around the corner.

(~Come on, come on, lets go!~)

Running through a alleyway between Sugarcube Corner and another building she could hear the sound getting louder.

(~Come on, come on, come on, lets go!~)

Scootaloo could feel the vibrations in her hooves, just one more turn around the bend.

(~Come on, come on, lets go!~)

Scootaloo rounded the last corner and into the main street of Ponyville to find to her surprise a line of ponies. With the exception of Pinkie Pie the rest of them were classmates. At the front of the line was Sweetie Belle and behind her was Apple Bloom carrying a boombox on her back. Scootaloo ran up to the side of Apple Bloom just as Sweetie Belle started to sing.

"~Vacation, need a little sun, gonna get my friends together and have a little fun. Ain't nobody gonna tell us what we're gonna do. Because today, it's up to me and you.~" Sweetie Belle pointed at Apple Bloom.

Apple Bloom picked up where Sweetie left off. "~Temptation coming up to me. A little relaxation and I'll be great to be, Come on and weeky weeky loo at the, believe it's gonna start now.~"

Feather Weight interjected, putting on a pair of shades."~ Kick it back, kick it back, kick it back to the track. Kick it back, kick it back, kick it back to the max!~"

"Everyone!" Sweetie Belle shouted.

"~Vacation's where I wanna be. Party on the beach where the fun is free. We don't need a holiday to start to celebrate!~"

The rest of the crowd stopped when Sweetie Belle lowered her voice in a oddly sensual tone "~Cause I need a break, I need a vacation.~"

"Scootaloo!" Apple Bloom pointed at the fuchsia Pegasus.

"~Vibrations, need to get me some and drive out all my complications and turn them into love. Ain't nobody gonna tell us where we gonna be because today, today it's you and me.~"

"Pinkie Pie!"

Pinkie Pie began to sing the next line but was slightly off key from all the excitement."~Vacation's what I wanna do. Party on the beach, fun for me and you. We don't need a holiday, it's time to celebrate. Repeat after me, I need a vacation!~"

"Vinyl!" as the crowd passed the home of Vinyl Scratch aka DJ pon3 she started scratching her records to the beat as Sweetie Belle took over the Lead.

(Lets go, lets go, lets go, lets go!)

"I wanna...beee ...where the fun is...freeeee, so come with......mmeeee.~"

"Everyone!"

"~Vacation's where I wanna be. Party on the beach where the fun is free. We don't need a holiday, it's time to celebrate!. Cause I need a break, I need a vacation.~"

"Again!~"

"~Vacation's where I wanna be. Party on the beach where the fun is free. We don't need a holiday, it's time to celebrate!. Cause I need a break, I need a vacation.~"

Sweetie Belle lowered her voice. "~Repeat after me, I need a vacation!~"

(I need a)

"~Vacation~"

(Come on and)

"~Vacation~"

(I need a)

"~Vacation~"

(Come on)

"~Vacation~"

"Let's Go...whoa whoa!" Sweetie Belle stopped suddenly and the buildup from behind her knocked her into a muddy hole. Shaking her head to get the mud out of her hair she noticed a no swimming sign on the far end of where the swimming pond used to be.

"Hey! What gives? Wheres all he water gone?" Snips protested.

"Maybe someone got really, really thirsty and drank it all." Snails said.

Scootaloo looked around the edge of where the pond once was and saw a construction pony pulling a large hose into the back of a cart. Scootaloo quickly ran over to the large barely shaven pony and asked panting. "Hey mister! Where did the swimming hole go?"

The gruff Pony took off his hard hat and said in a apologetic manner. "I'm sorry kid. Celestia ordered this water to the Equestrian reservoir for use by the Canterlot errr...armor guild."

"Armor? You mean metal n' stuff?" Apple Bloom asked already knowing the answer.

"Does Celestia need the worlds largest plate to eat the worlds largest pie?" Pinkie Pie added.

"She needs you, Pinkie?" Snails asked.

"No silly. I wouldn't...hmm actually." Pinkie Pie swished her tail up to her mouth and started to nibble on it. "Nope, I wouldn't make a very good pie. I taste too much like hair."

"You mean she tastes like insanity" Scootaloo whispered to Apple Bloom.

"I heard that! I don't suffer from insanity." The rest of the fillies and colts stared at Pinkie quizzically, as if she was lying somehow. "I enjoy every moment of it!" Pinkie shouted, quickly bouncing away towards the town, other ponies shaking their heads in confusion.

"Crazy pink ponies aside, why does Celestia need that much water?" Apple Bloom asked.

The gruff construction pony scratched his mane. "Sorry kid, I don't know myself. I was told an announcement would be posted this afternoon in the town square. Aside from that I'm just following orders." The gruff pony finished rolling up his hose and lifted it into the back of his cart. "I'm sure there's some privately owned swimming spots you can use somewhere, somepony in Ponyville must have a pool." The Construction pony hitched up his cart and rode off, leaving the group of fillies and colts to their dilemma.

Sweetie Belle sat on her haunches, a somber look on her face. "So, anypony else know of any other swimming spots?" The other ponies in the crowd shook their heads but one pony, Apple Bloom was nodding her head excitedly.

"Oh, oh I know. Fluttershy has a large pond on her property. Maybe we can ask her if we can use if for the afternoon."

"Or we can ask some of the weather patrol Pegasus to empty a few clouds for us to fill this swimming hole back up." Featherweight interjected.

"Or we can go swimming at Foggy Bottom Bog" Snails shouted. The other ponies stared at him, some muttering "ewwww" and others face-hoofing themselves.

"Snails, do you have a death wish? Nasty swamp water, snakes, biting bugs of all kinds." Featherweight was pawing a line in the ground with each mention of a reason why they should avoid foggy bottom bog.

"And Pinkie Pie said hydra's live in that swamp too" Sweetie belle added.

"Hydra's huh? The sun's a bit hot today but not enough for me to risk being eaten. Besides there's probably a river or something feeding into the bog that's safer to swim in." The other ponies in the group nodded at Scootaloo's assertion. "I have a idea. Featherweight I need you to do a flyover of foggy bottom bog, see if any usable rivers further down feed into it." The cream colored Pegasus gave a little salute and took off in the direction of foggy bottom bog. "Apple Bloom, I need you to ask Fluttershy if we can use her pond."

"Will do partner." Apple Bloom ran past Snips & Snails towards the edge of the Everfree Forrest.

"Sweetie belle you...find something to keep everyone entertained. Sing something from I dunno... Red Scurry perhaps." Scootaloo said drolly."

"But I only know Bohemian Rhapsody from that artist."

"Mix him with Twisted Cinnamon Sisters or something. I have a certain rainbow maned Pegasus to hunt down."

"Why would you need to hunt down Blossomforth?" Sweetie Belle said, missing Scootaloo's intentions by a country mile.

"I said Rainbow maned Pegasus not 'way too flexible for her own good' Pegasus. You know the fastest mare to ever come out of Cloudsdale?"

"Thunderlane?" The rest of the ponies said together.

"UUggg, Never mind. Just sing a song or play monopoly, something to keep yourself entertained until I get back."

"Okay then, who wants to play twenty questions."

Scootaloo sighed as she headed for the outskirts of town, keeping her eyes on the clouds for a certain flash of rainbow colors. "I hope we find a swimming spot soon" she said to herself as she wiped her brow. "The sun is brutal today."

***

Featherweight glided majestically over the clouds, following the shallow rapids that fed into Foggy Bottom Bog below. Despite looking incredibly inviting, almost enough to make him swoop down for a quick dip. The only problem was down the sides of the river large bushes of poison joke were in full bloom, not a problem for a Pegasus but would be problematic for his friends to walk through. To make matters worse Sweetie Belle was right on her warning of Hydra's as Featherweight spotted more than couple in the rapids during his flight. All of them possibly babies or teenagers due to only having one or two heads but where there are possible babies there are definitely mothers, angry mothers that wouldn't think twice about making a small filly or colt lunch for her kids. "Well this isn't going to work" he said to himself,sighing. A few more minutes passed until Featherweight spotted a large blue bulge on he horizon.

"Jackpot!" he yelled smiling as he came down from the sky to investigate. As he swooped under the clouds to get a better view of the object his ears folded back in disappointment. "Great, Scoots was right about it being fed but It's too risky to go swimming in the northern ocean." He remembered from class about how the northern sea had terrible undertow and was pot marked underneath with small volcanoes. Only a handful of spots were a safe to swim but required many pegasi as life guards, none of which were on duty during early summer.

"Great, back to town I guess.Turning mid-flight Featherweight caught a warm air current and headed back for town, a few hydra below blowing him raspberries as he passed overhead. "I wonder if the others are fairing any better."

***

"Fluttttershy~" Apple Bloom yelled loudly, trying to find where the shy Pegasus ran off to. "Where is she, she's normally doin her afternoon rounds about now." Apple Bloom walked around the house and to the chicken coup, a grouchy Diamond Tiara following her.

"This is a big waste of time, just two bits per filly is all I ask in return for using our pool."

Apple Bloom pulled her head out of the coup, blowing a feather off her snout. "Why are you of all ponies followin me around anyways?"

"Hrmp, I am trying to make a sale. I would think even a simpleton like you could get a grasp on such a simple concept" Diamond said haughtily. "I mean really only two bits and you can stop searching for a swimming hole and have the best in town, ours."

Apple Bloom turned her head in a barely contained snort of laughter. "I don't want anything yer peddlin Diamond, so why don't you skedaddle. I would rather swim in that mud-hole than take up yer offer." Apple Bloom yelled for Fluttershy again, this time towards the edge of the woods near her property.

"Umm...one bit and a silver shilling then?"

"Ah said no Diamond, why are you even followin me anyhow?"

"Because miss Cheerilee said I can only get out of detention early if I hang out with you for the rest of the day and" Diamond Tiara shuddered as she uttered her next few words with a clear look of disgust on her face. "Be friend-like with you."

"Then why are ya trying to sell me a pool ticket? Real friends don't charge just to hang out by the pool."

"Are you sure? My dads economics book said "The best friends are those that pay."

"Well that just means yer dad is...err what did Scootaloo call it... A douche-waffle, whatever that means."

"My dad is...wait what is a douche-waffle?"

Apple Bloom shrugged and trotted towards Fluttershys pond leaving Diamond Tiara dumbfounded. "Hey wait for me, if Cheerilee sees me without you I'll get detention for a month." Diamond ran up behind Apple Bloom as she reached the pond.

"Fluttershy~"

"Stop wasting time blank flank she's not anywhere on thi-" Suddenly a large pink and green weed monster rose up from the pond wearing a snorkel and mumbling.

"It's Swamp Beast! Rich and powerful ponies first!" Diamond Tiara took off running towards town, her tail between her legs. "Sorry Apple Bloom, hanging with you isn't worth getting eaten." She yelled as she ran out of sight. Apple Bloom stared at the strange creature for a moment before giggling to herself.

"Fluttershy is that you?"

The beast mumbled and nodded at the filly, pointing at all the pond weeds on her wings, legs and face.

"Oh, do you want me to help get ya untangled?" Fluttershy nodded again trying to move her legs out of the water. Apple Bloom grabbed onto the weeds covering Fluttershy's back legs with her teeth and gave a mighty tug. The weeds came off with a little extra effort, perhaps too much as Apple Bloom stumbled back, landing in the water with a splash. Fluttershy managed to get the rest of the weeds off of her body, pulling Apple Bloom up in a panic.

"My goodness, are you okay?" Fluttershy said with a hint of panic in her voice as she pulled a drenched and weed covered Apple Bloom from the pond.

"Taint nothin Fluttershy, I needed the dip anyways." Apple Bloom shook herself off, kelp-like weeds flying from her back and mane as she did.

"Whats with all the water weeds Fluttershy?"

"I umm, well you see the otters and seals were complaining about the pond having a bit of a entangling problem, so I decided to take a dive and check it out for myself." Fluttershy held up one of the Weeds for Apple Bloom to examine. "This is the culprit, a invasive species of fresh water strangle kelp."

"How do you get rid of it?" Apple Bloom asked.

"It's not easy, I have to drain the entire pond before I can start the eradication procedure."

"Oh, darn. I was hopin we could swim today. The local pond has been comen..comen...err."

"Commandeered, Apple Bloom." Fluttershy corrected.

"Yeah, that word. It was commandeered by princess Celestia for the Armor guild in Canterlot or sumthin."

"Oh, they took half the summer reserves as well this morning." Fluttershy added as she made her way to her house, Apple Bloom following closely behind. "I had no idea what for, but Rainbow Dash set off this morning in a huff becuase of it. She has to bring in snow clouds from the northern ranges to make sure we have enough reserves in case of an emergency."

"So there's no swimming at all?" Apple Bloom asked, already knowing the answer.

"Until Rainbow Dash, Cloud Kicker and Thunderlane get back from the range the entire town is on strict water conservation."

***Elsewhere***

"Bah, stupid Apple Bloom. With any luck that sea monster will eat her and we will have one less failure blank flank to deal with." Diamond Tiara opened up the gate to her back yard , her head held high and her eyes closed.

"At least MY parents had the good sense to build a in-ground pool so I don't have to deal with any boring blank flanks at the pond." Diamond Tiara set her crown on the steps by the back door and walked onto the diving board, keeping her head high and not paying attention to her surroundings.

"And a one and a two and..." Diamond Tiara jumped from the diving board only to open her eyes midway and grab onto the edge of the board. "What the hay! Where did all the water go!?" Diamond Tiara pulled herself up back onto the diving board, her father rushing out the back door.

"Honey bun are you okay?"

"I'm fine but where did all the water go?" Diamond Tiara demanded.

"Honey bun, there's a water conservation law in effect. It will be a few days before the Weather Patrol can refill the reservoir. Until then all non-essential water has been put back into the reservoir."

"But dad, I want to swim, it's hot as a frying pan out here." Diamond Tiara whined.

"Well, we can always play shuffle board together. And I can still make some cold lemonade."

"No dad, no old pony games."

"Ohhh." Mr. Rich seemed disappointed, bowing his head in defeat as he sulked back inside.

***Elsewhere***

"But Fluttershy, can't we swim in yer pond before you drain it out?" Apple Bloom pleaded.

"Absolutely not! You saw how tangled up I was and I'm a full grown Pegasus. What would happen if you or one of your friends got tangled up while swimming, they could get waterlogged or even worse *gasp* drown..." Fluttershy shook her head, trying to rid herself of the mental image of Apple Bloom drowning.

"Maybe we could get a life guard?" Apple Bloom suggested.

"I'm sorry but no is no, but if you want to keep cool you can always go to the beach."

"Ah guess that's and option but none of the life guards will be on duty for another week or two." Apple Bloom sulked. "Ah guess we are out of options."

Fluttershy put her hoof on her chin. "Oh, I know! Maybe I can talk Twilight into conjuring water out of grass or something. We can use that as a pool."

"Would ya do that for us?" Apple Bloom said with a mile wide smile on her face.

"Sure would, but I need to finish my rounds for the day. Meet me at the library in an hour."

"Will do!" Apple Bloom said excitedly. Apple Bloom gave Fluttershy a hug before running off back to town to tell the others.

"This is gonna be great. Twilight can do anything, maybe even make two pools!"

***

"Where the hay is she?" Scootaloo was zipping around the edge of town, trying to spot a certain rainbow maned adopted sister. She had already checked all the usual spot Rainbow Dash liked to sleep. The cloud by town square, the tree by the park, even inside the bell tower in town which Rainbow hadn't used since the the 'ringing' incident.

"Maybe she's at her house, but I can't fly to reach Cloudsdale." Scootaloo stared up somberly at the distant Pegasus capital. "I guess I need to find...somepony." Scootaloo watched as a local pony; a very muscular, white coated, red eyed loud pony affectionately referred to as 'Horse Power' and unceremoniously nicknamed 'Roid Rage' by others lift a few tree trunk from the ground and bench pressed it.

"Wait isn't he on the weather patrol?" Scootaloo rolled her scooter over to the pony and waited for him to finish lifting before asking him a question. "Mr umm... Horse Power. Do you know where Rainbow Dash is by any chance?"

The short winged muscular pony tossed the tree aside like it was a twig and snorted. "Rainbow Dash is out to the northern mountain range with most of the weather patrol."

"Oh, how long will she be?" Scootaloo asked.

"Dunno, three or four days at least while they round up clouds."

Scootaloo sighed in disappointment. "Can I ask you to take few rainclouds over to the pond and empty them by chance?"

"No can do kid, there's barely any in the sky right now and all weather patrols are on standby by royal order. "

"Then why is Rainbow Dash out collecting clouds?"

"Because Rainbow Dash is a REAL PEGASUS AND TAKES ORDERS FROM NO PONY, YEEEEAAAHHH!!!" Horse Power was flexing his muscles proudly. Scootaloo staring at him in confusion, not quite knowing what to say. "S-sorry. I get carried away sometimes."

"Oh..." Scootaloo wings drooped. "I wish I knew what was going on, it's hot as a oven out here, no cloud cover and barely any water."

"I know what ya mean kid, I ain't got nothin to do myself, that's why I'm out here, lifting to relieve stress." Horse Power picked up a log and began lifting up and down like it was made of straw.

"Okay then. I'll make sure to tell the others. Scootaloo set off on her scooter towards town.

"I sure hope the others had better luck than I did."

***

"Absolutely not!" Twilight stomped her hoof in agitation.

"But Twilight, it would only be for a day." Fluttershy said nervously.

"I know but I would be violating Celestia's directive, also if I did change it when it finally changed back everypony's coat would have nasty green stain for weeks. I would get fallout from Celestia AND Rarity if I did that. I would need to be in the witness protection program if she found out I turned her little sister's coat green."

"But Twiilight~" Apple Bloom said while presenting her puppy-dog like eyes. "You could make the water out of ummm...hay or sumthin, couldn't ya?"

"That could work, why don't we borrow some hay from your sisters barn." Fluttershy suggested.

"No, No you don't get it. All resources are on rationing mode, food, water, building supplies. You name it, it's rationed." Twilight pulled a book from the top shelf. "I don't understand what it means exactly, maybe she's preparing for a disaster or a disaster has struck and we haven't heard about it yet." Twilight's eyes went wide. "Or even war!"

Twilight pulled another book from the shelves and flipped though the pages with blinding speed. "Hmm...Spike!"

The young dragon came running down the stairs. "What Twilight? I'm not even done with the fiction section yet."

"Do you know if the copy of Equestrian history volume five was loaned out?"

Spike sighed and pointed at the bookshelf. "Dead ahead of you, two books to the left."

"Oh, silly me. Thank you Spike." Twilight said while blushing.

"Whatever, I got books to sort" The baby dragon walked back upstairs, grumbling to himself in what oddly sounded like "you think living in a library she would understand sectional sorting already..."

Twilight turned through the pages until she found a entry on past Equestrian wars. "Of all the wars Equestria has fought the worst was the griffon war of 1925 CY. While injuries were minimal the war lasted nearly two decades as both sides fought for the 'fields of plenty' a region with very rich soil, perfect for planting crops. It was won with a coin toss after both sides fought to a standstill. Equestria won the flip but promised to share the gains of the land with the griffon empire." Twilight turned the pages and began reading aloud.

"During times of war, even mock war, Celestia orders the rationing of all resources until a reasonable estimate can be made. This procedure is usually automatic and may have a couple week to a month of less than comfortable living for its citizens."

"Do you really think it's war Twilight, that sounds scary." Fluttershy said as she looked over Twilight's shoulder at a picture of some kind of armed vehicle.

"It doesn't make any sense though. War declarations on Equestria would trigger all kinds of thing aside from just resource rationing. Drafts, increased security and a wide scale personal announcement from Celestia herself." Twilight took a deep breath. "Maybe we are over thinking this."

"Yeah I mean, aside from like...what were those things, changeling? No one wants to fight us." Apple Bloom said while looking over Twilight's shoulder at her book.

"That's becuase changelings fight with subversion, sabotage and mass number surprise attacks. Physically they are not very strong in their natural form." Twilight pulled a book from the shelf. "I have a book on their hive structure here if you want to read it."

Apple Bloom shook her head. "Nah, I'm out of school for the summer. Last thing I need to gum up my fun is more study'in"

Fluttershy nodded her head at Apple Bloom. "Is there anything we can do? The towns practically an inferno with no swimming. Can you maybe ask Celestia to you know...hire the lifeguards early this year?"

Twilight rolled her eyes and sighed. "I can do that but I don't expect good results."

Twilight walked to the bottom of the stairs. "Spike! I need you to take a letter."

The purple dragonling poked his head out the door. " Gimme a second, I'm almost done."

Twilight paced patiently for a few moments while her dragon assistant finished sorting the books upstairs. "Okay Twilight, tell me what ya need me to write." He said as he poked his head out the doorway, parchment and quill in his claws.

"Ahem" Twilight cleared her throat. "Dear Princess Celestia, I am writing you to request that you open the ocean and hire the life guards early this year. The town has been in a bit of a slump becuase of the emergency rationing and many of it's citizens would enjoy a nice trip to the ocean to cool off. Thank you for your consideration. Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle."

Spike rolled up the parchment, took a deep breath and breathed green fire over the parchment. The paper caught fire and then disintegrated into glittery smoke, flying out the window with the utmost haste.

"Give it a minute, Celestia's usually really fast about thi- hic!" A red laced parchment popped out the dragons mouth before he could finish his sentence. "See what I mean? Like clockwork." Spike began to unfurl the letter, clearing his throat before reading aloud.

"My dearest sisters student, I am currently answering her mail as she is predisposed in a meeting. I do not know how my sister runs things during the day and it may not be my place to order such a thing but I assure you I will speak with her clerks about hiring life guards earlier for the year. As it stands the rationing will remain in effect until we have an idea of how to proceed with the situation here in Canterlot. A announcement will occur in Ponyville town square this afternoon, assuming your towns less than accurate mail carrier reaches her destination on time.

Protector of dreams,

Princess Luna"

Twilight hovered the parchment over to her to read it herself, noticing the lunar seal of approval on the bottom of the page. "It's legitimate, but I wonder why Celestia would leave Luna in charge of answering mail. Normally if she's busy I'll get the response later or one of her clerks will handle it." Twilight stared at the response, Luna's royal seal glittering at the bottom of the page. "I'll have to look into this, this is just too weird."

"Well, Ah guess I should go tell the others, thanks for all the help Twilight, you too Fluttershy." Apple Bloom gave each of them a quick hug before heading out the door.

When Apple Bloom was well out of earshot Fluttershy walked over to Twilight and whispered. "I know you were withholding info. Why didn't you just tell her the truth?"

Twilight's ears folded back. "Because I really hope it isn't true. Her generation doesn't deserve to endure such a thing."

***

"So...*huff* huff* Any more requests?" Sweetie Belle said while trying to catch her breath.

"Nah, I'm bored. Anyone wanna play a board game or something?" Thunderlane's younger brother Rumble pulled out a board game from his backpack called "Risk-y".

"Hey!" Sweetie Belle turned her head to watch a a familiar fuchsia maned Pegasus come over the hill leading up to the pond.

"Hey Scootaloo, any luck on getting us some rainclouds?" Sweetie Belle said as she danced in place.

Scootaloo pulled up to the group of ponies hanging out by the empty pond, a glum expression on her face. "No such luck, Rainbow Dash and most of the Ponyville weather patrol are far north collecting clouds for a storm. The only one of them I found was Horse Power and he's been grounded until further notice."

"Ahoy!"

Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle looked up to the skies to find Featherweight swooping down on them for a landing.The others running up to him excitedly.

"I have good news and...terrible news, everypony." Featherweight declared. "There are a whole bunch of streams heading to the north all the way to the ocean but...there a slight problem."

"Which is?" Scootaloo asked.

"There are hydra's almost everywhere, parents and their kids are all over those waterways. I don't think we will be swimming in those streams anytime soon."

Sweetie Belle sighed as she wiped her brow. "I think it might be their errr...what did Cheerilee call it...spawning season?"

Scootaloo and some of the others Shrugged their shoulders , all except Peppermint Twist who nodded her head. "Yep, hydras spawning season is the first couple weeks of summer. It's one of the reasons the coast guard isn't out yet, the baby hydras can and will attack ponies if given the chance. As babies they kind of act like sea lampreys but way worse."

"It's just a snake thing right? We can handle those!" Snails said as he stood tall.

"You're silly snails. Let me show you what they look like and what they can do." Peppermint Twist pulled a book out of her backpack and set it on the grass, turning the pages until she found the page with the sea lamprey documentation. "Take a look, things are creepy."

Snails took a look at the page but quickly turned away holding his mouth. "I seen some gross things but sucking out organs? That's a horrible way to go."

Peppermint Twist picked the book back up. "Hydra's are serious business, even the babies are dangerous. That's why the coast guard has to give the all clear before any pony can swim for the season."

"Creepy critters aside I wonder where Apple Bloom is..." Scootaloo looked into the town, a large crowd of colors were congregating in the center of town. "Hey, somethings going on in town, maybe Apple Bloom is there?"

The group of colts and fillies made their way into town only to find a sea of ponies blocking a stage with a guard sitting at the very top on a podium.

"Sweetie Belle! Scootaloo! Over here!" Apple Bloom frantically waved her front legs, motioning the crowd of younger ponies to her, Apple Jack and Big Mac.

"So, how did Fluttershy's go? Can we swim in her pond?" Scootaloo asked excitedly.

"Nothin doin, she has to drain the entire thing to get rid of some kinda invasive weeds at the bottom of the pond. She said it's gonna take awhile."

"I'd offer y'all to take a dip in our watering hole for the farm but with water rationing in effect we need that fer the trees." Applejack said while taking her own hat off and fanning her face with it.

"Eeyup." Big Macintosh added.

"What's all the hub-bub about AJ?" Sweetie Belle said.

"Sweetie Belle darling, ladies do not say such uncouth words such as 'hub-bub' we say proper words like 'commotion' or 'congregation'." Sweetie Belles older sister, Rarity walked up to the crowd wearing copper tinted shades and what looked like a white fedora with a Pegasus feather in it.

"Hi sis! Hows work at the shop going?" Sweetie Belle said with enthusiasm.

"Dreadful, I got an order from Canterlot to hold off on dress making. I been bored out of my mind all day, but I did manage to finish my new Fedora. Do you like it?" Rarity said as she pointed to her white fedora with a sky blue feather.

Sweetie Belle stared at the fedora for a moment. "I like its ummm, feather?"

"Hey yee! Here yee!" The crowd went silent as the ponies of Ponyville all turned their attention to the guard at the podium at the front of the crowd.

"Presenting Princess Luna." The guard stepped off the stage as a swirl of glittering black smoke appeared, quickly taking the form of the Princess of the night. Luna walked up to the microphone, adjusting it for a brief moment before speaking.

"Fine citizens of Ponyville, you are all wondering why such severe rationing has been put in place."

The townsfolk all whispered among themselves.

"I come to you today with good news and bad news. The bad news is that the Queen of the Griffon empire, Walarah has declared war against Equestria." Before Luna could open her mouth again the crowd broke out on a torrent of whispers, some crying and a obvious aura of fear.

"You hear that y'all, war." Apple Bloom said with worry in her voice.

"But a war means a draft, there gonna send off my big sister to...*gasp*" Sweetie belle hugged Rarity tightly around the legs, Rarity doing her best to comfort her.

"I'm too young to lose my new big sister!" Scootaloo cried.

"Ahem" The whispering from the crowd stopped as Luna cleared her throat to catch their attention. "I was not done with my announcement. The good news is that; in her wisdom Queen Walahra has decided to forgo traditional warfare. She has challenged our sovereignty to the large plains to the north. While we do not know what she wants these it can be guessed that they plan on growing winter berries in that region. There will be another announcement in a few days when we figure out what kind of competition she requests, she wants to tray and take that land from us fair and square."

The crowd broke out in whispers again.

Princess Luna waved a hoof over the crowd. "As the rationing measures were a knee jerk reaction, all of them will be lifted as soon as tomorrow morning." Luna looked at Apple Bloom directly. "Now if you please I need to have word with a little filly."
Luna stepped down from the podium, the crowd making a path for her to the red maned little farm filly.

"Ah, Scootaloo. It has been awhile, I take thy dreams are pleasant?" Luna said as she walked by the fuchsia maned Pegasus while looking at her from the corner of her eye.

"I am to understand that you, the younger sister of Apple Jack sent a request via Celestia's student Twilight Sparkle, yes?" Luna was starting right at Apple Bloom, as if peering into her very soul.

"Y-yes, your majesty. It's gonna be a couple weeks before we can go to the ocean. I was hoping we could get our pond water back."

"I see. My handmaiden notified me that becuase of hydra spawning season the waters are unsafe until two or so weeks after summer officially starts. I do however have an alternative solution." Luna gave little wink and lowered her head to whisper at Apple Blooms level. "I want you to gather up your friends and meet me at the edge of Apple Acres tomorrow just afternoon. I have a surprise waiting for you all."

Luna stood up nodded her head to the older Apple Sister. "With your permission of course."

"Oh, sure. I suppose me and Mackintosh can handle the chores for a day. Sure, y'all make sure to pack a lunch though."

"Then it is settled, I will see you all tomorrow." With a puff of night blue smoke, princess Luna was gone.

The towns people began to slowly disperse although some of them with worried expressions on their faces. The local fillies and colts on the other hand were elated.

"You hear that? We get to hang out with Luna tomorrow." Apple Bloom said excitedly.

"Oh, I wonder if Rarity minds me going?" Sweetie Belle looked up at her older sister who nodded in approval, although trying to disguise a hint of jealousy behind her shades as she did.

"This is awesome, Luna is like, the best Princess ever." Scootaloo said exuberantly.

The crusaders and their entourage of fillies and colts ran off, chattering amongst themselves about what was in store for them tomorrow afternoon.

"They do know that if we lose that northern field it's going to hurt us something fierce. A large quantity of our best gems come from that region." Rarity said as she frowned at Apple Jack.

"Our Pegasus get storm clouds from that area on occasion too, no to mention the soil is good for berry growing in any season. I guess there's no use worry about it now though. We should take a leaf outta their book and just have fun while the gettin's good."

Rarity sighed and adjusted her fedora. "Oh, to be young and naive again."

Chapter XIII: Unbreakable

Chapter XIII:Unbreakable

Rainbow Dash tapped her hoof impatiently as she paced back and forth in front of the registration desk toward the back of the loading field.

"Registration will end in five minutes. I repeat all tank teams must register or be disqualified in five minutes" the royal guard at the registration desk yelled over a loud speaker.

Rainbow Dash turned to the pony at the desk and slammed her front legs on the desk as hard as she could to catch his attention. "Can you give us like, another ten minutes or so? I have a friend that is running behind and she's just a filly."

"Sorry ma'am, but rules are rules. If your friend isn't here in the next few minutes, then she is automatically disqualified" The guard pony stated firmly.

"B-but she's just a kid, she doesn't know any better" Rainbow Dash argued.

"I don't care if she's the grand duke of Manehattan, rules are rules and if my timing is right, she now only has two minutes to register" the guard pony said as he stared as his clock on the desk.

"Fine, I'll sign in for them!" Rainbow Dash shouted as she picked up the quill in her mouth to sign Scootaloo and her team in.

"Hey! You can't do that, they have to sign in themselves!" The guard pony yelled as he grabbed the quill out of Rainbow Dash's mouth.

Suddenly a gust of wind caught both the guards and Rainbow Dash's attention. Behind them, in the field, a strange magical disturbance was blowing the grass down in a circle fifty or so feet around. The air above the ground was dense as well, almost as if heat was being generated from nowhere. Arc of black lightning began to dance around the perimeter of the disturbance, some of them singing the grass around it.

"What in Celestia's horn is that?" The guard asked with a stupefied look on his face.

"Clear the area! We have an illegal teleport coming in!" One of the sky guards yelled.

Quickly, dozens of air troops began to swarm around the disturbance. Some of them holding above it while others began to surround it in a circle. A white sphere appeared in the center and began to spread, pushing out every living creature already within the disturbances radius.

"Get ready. I want whoever used an unauthorized teleport to be arrested" One of the guards from high above the disturbance yelled.

With a flash of black light, a large white silhouette appeared in the center followed by a smaller one to the right of it. The blazing white light began to fade, revealing a ten foot tall tank.

"Unauthorized teleport, you are to surrender immediately. You're in violation of Celestial code five eleven, section C!" One of the guards yelled.

"I am very well aware of my sisters codes and if I remember correctly, royalty is excluded from that law." Princess Luna stepped from behind the tank, beads of sweat running down her brow. "If any of you have a problem, you can take it up with me."

The guards around the tank began to back away, some of them taking respectful bows, while others backing away in a near panic to get as far away from Luna as possible.

"P-princess Luna! Excuse me for speaking out of turn, but why did you not tell us you were going to be teleporting into the grounds. You caused an alarm that didn't need to be sounded. Also, why did you bring a tank with you?" The guard pointed to the large tank beside Luna.

"Firstly, your flight delivery troops ignored this teams request for transportation, but didn't tell them till this morning. I had no choice but to teleport them here, hence the surprise entrance. I'll have to make a couple more trips as you left some of the other teams vehicles behind." Luna said sternly.

The hatch on the side of the tank popped open and Scootaloo popped her head out, quickly followed by Elly, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom from different hatches on the vehicle.

"Squirt!" Rainbow Dash yelled as she ran toward the tank, stopping briefly to bow before Luna before making her way to mingle with her adopted sister. "I thought you weren't gonna make it to register in time?"

"Actually, we didn't make it in time, Rainbow Dash. We are exactly two minutes late for the registration process." Luna said as she looked at the pony at the registration desk. "However, I do believe the pony at the desk could make a few exceptions, as it was part of his duty to make sure flight squads were evenly distributed for pick up and delivery this morning." Luna gave a mean glare at the guard at the registration desk.

"O-of course your Majesty" the guard said nervously. "I'll keep the registration open for another hour or so."

"Good to hear." Luna turned toward Scootaloo. "I'll be back to wish you luck after I go get the other stragglers. I believe Derpy's team are also awaiting transport."

Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash exchanged nervous glances. "Can we kind of just forget about Derpy's team? Please?" Scootaloo asked nervously.

"Yeah, I'm with her. Every time she's been at the firing range she's managed to somehow misfire and destroy team Fluttershy's vehicle. So much so that we started keeping a high score tally, sixteen times she has managed to one shot Fluttershy's vehicle. To put it nicely, she's a team killing asstard." Rainbow Dash said.

"That may be, but at least she gives every team motivation to get as far away from her as possible. Besides, she's smart enough to be able to tell enemies and friendlies apart." Luna began to walk away. "I think. Anyway, I'll see you in about an hour or so." With a bright black and purple flash, Luna was gone.

"So, is this the vehicle you're entering into the contest?" Rainbow Dash asked as she walked around the tank. "It seems a bit different than I remember."

"Yep, we put a lot of work into it." Elly said as she hopped out of the top hatch. "Let me show you." Elly jumped down from atop of the tank next to Rainbow Dash.

"You remember how it was kinda tall, shaped like a box?" Elly asked.

"I remember it being kinda ugly and the other teams laughed at it" Rainbow Dash replied.

"Well, while the rules said we had to have the vehicle at least look like it was related to the parent chassis, there was nothing in the rules preventing us from changing other features" Elly said.

"Example, I completely removed both the turret on top and the large caliber gun on the right side. I removed all the pointless gun turret holes along the sides to reduce weight and added in armor plating where they were. Next I made the entire front uniform like other tanks on the test range. I then made the entire four or so feet of the chassis into a turret." Apple Bloom stated proudly as she pointed out patch holes all over the vehicle.

"You did this Apple Bloom?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Yep, each of us was in charge of a certain aspect of the vehicle. I was in charge of structural stability and framework" Apple Bloom said proudly.

"She's a really good builder. I noticed she wasn't exceptional with things if they got too technical, but if it was foundation or structure related, she was a top notch" Elly said proudly.

"After Apple Bloom got done with the frame, Sweetie Belle got to work on how the entire thing would move" Elly said.

Sweetie opened the back hatch just as Elly and Rainbow Dash passed the back of the vehicle. " Originally the entire vehicle was being run by a nine cylinder non-injection system. I felt that it wasn't up to par and scrapped the entire thing and replaced it with this baby." Sweetie Belle opened up a white box in the back of the vehicle below her. "I found the entire engine assembly and transmission to be entirely too complex and open to being damaged from misuse and possible enemy fire. I replaced it with a direct energy magic to electric system."

"I ...don't understand" Rainbow Dash said.

"The original engine was similar to ones I've seen on airships. This one is a state of the art electric train engine. It gets anywhere from eight hundred to a thousand horsepower, and has one hundred percent torque whenever you press the gas pedal" Elly explained.

"Can you give me the lamens terms? I'm just a driver, not an engineer." Rainbow Dash asked.

"Oh, sorry. Short story, it gets around fifty or so kilometers and hour in terms of speed" Sweetie Belle said.

"And never get's stuck in the mud, thanks to the torsion bar suspension and double wide tracks we put on it" Elly added.

As they came around the front of the tank, Scootaloo beamed at Rainbow Dash.

"I was in charge of the weapons, ammunition and aiming systems" Scootaloo said enthusiastically.

"I was gonna ask about that. I remember egghead saying something about your teams tank being horribly under-gunned and that you had a hard time fitting a larger gun to the vehicle" Rainbow Dash said, staring at where the old gun used to be on the right side.

"Yeah, I tried dozens of different ways to fit an experimental ninety millimeter gun, but the chassis just couldn't take it. So my modifications ended up being dead last in terms of importance" Scootaloo said.

"Wait, Elly here didn't just push you aside and do all the work did she?" Rainbow Dash asked as she shot Elly an accusatory glare.

"No, no, It wasn't like that at all!" Scootlaoo said.

"Accusations aside, I was the one that came up with a basic shape for the tank, using my years of engineering experience. I was charged with finding what the vehicle lacked the most and finding a way to correct those problems. The reason I left the weapons until last is because the tank had not a single advantage compared to the competition" Elly explained.

"Like?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Put bluntly, the tank was too slow, the guns were in weird positions, the armor too thin and you could spot this thing coming from the moon due to it being very tall and weirdly shaped. You can make due with an underpowered weapon if you take your shots carefully, but you cannot make do if you're easily singled out as the weakest link. Ponies might not target the weakest vehicle, but-"

"Griffins will." Scootaloo interjected.

"Why would a griffon target you first? We won't even be playing against them for another two more elimination rounds at the earliest" Rainbow Dash said.

"There's a griffin on the enemy team today. You should know her fairly well" Scootaloo said somberly.

"Wait, Gilda is here? But she isn't a pony, she should be training with her own kind" Rainbow Dash said.

"She isn't. Gilda has dual citizenship and has decided to play for the Hoofington team today. She is also more than likely a spy for whoever is after me and Scootlaoo" Elly stated glumly.

"While the others were busy fixing up the tank, I decided to check out our own teammates and our opponents at the Hoofington testing grounds. Hoofington has been using much different training regiment than we have, they have been firing very low velocity pain balls from their guns in mock battles. From what I discovered, Gilda and her team have yet to be hit a single time in those training games" Scootaloo said, lowing her voice so only Rainbow Dash and Elly could hear her.

"That doesn't explain why you think Gilda would target you first" Rainbow Dash said.

"Did you skip biology class or something?" Elly asked.

"Err, maybe a few times" Rainbow Dash replied, blushing.

"Griffins are predators, not only do they have exceptional spatial awareness, speed judgement and exceptional vision-

"They also have predatory instincts, intentionally picking out the weakest link in a group and quickly working their way up." Elly interjected. "Scootaloo watched one of her games, she managed to tag and destroy all seven of her teammates on the opposite team before they even managed to spot her. She is by far the most skilled and dangerous opponent on that team."

"And she's driving one of the most dangerous vehicles on the opposing team today, the Tiger tank" Scootaloo said.

Rainbow Dash snorted, trying her best to contain her amusement. "Just a Tiger tank? Twilight is driving a Jagd panzer E-100. She can blow that thing to smithereens in a single shot. Hell, Thunderlane's team is driving an E-100. We have so much heavy armor, we can't possibly lose."

Rainbow Dash took to the air, performing a double cartwheel and flip before landing on all foor legs behind Scootaloo. "And of course you have me driving the AMX thirteen ninety, the fastest most agile tank ever made. If the big guns fail, you have a speedy death machine to do cleanup."

Elly and Scootlaoo exchanged stares.

"Well, somepony has a high opinion of herself" Elly said.

"When you're as good as me, there is no such thing as 'opinion' only fact. And the fact of the matter is, Gilda may be good, but I'm amazing." Rainbow Dash took to the skies once more. "I'll see you guys for the briefing and the setup later. Till then, try not to worry too much. We got this in the bag."

Rainbow Dash flew off before anypony else could comment on her overconfidence.

"She really is a smug, overconfident little pegasus, isn't she?" Elly asked.

"I guess so. I didn't even get to tell her about the gun we mounted on this thing" Scootaloo said as she pointed at a small model number at the bottom of the gun mantlet that read '105mm T5E1'.

"Or my steering improvements" Sweetie Belle added.

"Or yer compression armor improvements, Elly" Apple Bloom said.

"That's fine. We will show everypony what we are made of today, that even the smallest ponies will have something to contribute" Elly said, beaming.

"Darn right!" Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom yelled together.

"Let's get this thing registered and parked, we have a debriefing to go to." Elly walked up to the registration desk, reached in her saddle bag and pulled out an already completed registration form. She set the form on the desk and walked back to the tank.

"Ma'am, it seemed you neglected to give your tank a code name, I can't complete the registration without one" the guard at the desk said, holding up the paper and pointing to a blank spot where the code name would be.

Elly turned to the guard and smiled. "Do me a favor then, fill in that blank with the name 'Unbreakable' " Elly said with a smile.

***

As Elly drove the tank into the field opposite the registration desk, she noticed that there seemed to be more vehicles parked on the grass than was allowed in the battle today, making finding a parking spot difficult.

"Sis, I thought the battles were supposed to be fifteen on fifteen. At least that is what the rulebook we were given said" Scootaloo said as she peered through her commanders periscope.

"I know what you mean. I heard rumors that other cities had multiple teams cut due to the recent pandemic. They might have added other teams from different towns to compensate" Elly said.

"She's right, my radar and radio station is picking up a total of twenty two vehicles on our side." Sweetie Belle pointed at a large green screen next to the radio station. It was a sort of map of the surrounding area, but was dotted with green shapes, some of them moving, others already stationary.

"I wonder if they are gonna rotate teams out or sumthin" Apple Bloom said as she spun around in her loading station chair.

"I guess we will find out as soon as the briefing starts, but for now finding a parking spot is a problem. I swear this is like being at a mall" Elly said as she made a sharp right turn into the next isle.

"Oh hey, there's a spot" Elly said, noticing a parking space between two salvage and repair jeeps.

"Looks like someone else is revving up to reach it first though" Scootaloo said.

On the other side of the lane was a much smaller tank with what looked like a three cannon gun on the turret mantlet and the word 'Princess' in large, purple lettering on the front of the tank.

"If memory serves, that's a Matilda medium tank. It's actually kind of slow, so we should be able to get that parking spot before they do" Scootlaoo said.

Elly revved the engine, gaining speed as she rushed for the parking space. The tank on the opposite side of the lane; the Matilda, did the same. Oddly, the slower Matilda seemed to be heavily modified and was holding speed nearly on par with the M3 Lee. The Matilda gained even more speed, pulling much closer to the parking space.

"Ponyfeathers." Elly pulled back both levers, braking hard as the Matilda pulled up in front of the parking space. The hatch on top of the turret popped open and a pony stood halfway out of it. It was a younger filly, with a pale magenta coat, purple long flowing mane with a white stripe down the middle and piercing blue eyes.

"Oh no. Not her, anypony but her" Scootaloo groaned.

"You know that pony? I thought you fillies were the only underage team in this competition?" Elly asked.

"Hey loser, why don't you show yourself so we can laugh at your slowness?" The pony teased.

"Now cupcake, there's no point in being rude" A deeper voice from inside the tank said.

"Dad, you're cramping my style" The pony in the Matilda replied through gritted teeth.

"I know that voice anywhere. Is that Diamond Tiara out there?" Sweetie Belle asked nervously.

"Yeah, sounds like her dad is with her too. If she's here that means Silver Spoon isn't too far behind" Scootaloo said.

"Elly can you just turn around? She has a nasty habit of making everypony feel miserable and that's the last thing we need" Apple Bloom pleaded.

Scootlaoo nodded to Elly. "Yeah, they are school bullies with a snobbish streak in them. Diamond Tiara's dad owns multiple department stores all over Equestria, so she is very wealthy and not remotely down to earth."

"Are you going to show your face? I would like to see the loser driving that ugly wreck of a vehicle." Diamond Tiara continued to tease, fluffing her mane in an inflammatory manner.

Elly stared for a moment, eyeing over the details of the vehicle when she had an epiphany. "I'll handle this." Elly grabbed Scootaloo and set her down in her driver's seat.

"Can't we just ignore her and go find another parking spot?" Scootlaoo asked.

"Nah, I got this" Elly said as she popped open the turret hatch and stood up.

"I see the loser of this little race finally shows herself" Diamond Tiara opened her eyes as she finished fluffing her mane only to see a friendly face staring back at her.

"Yup, you sure showed me who is fastest, but are you sure your vehicle should be going that fast? I mean you don't want to strain it out before the battle begins later today" Elly said, a wide smile on her face.

"This thing has the very best parts money could buy. It's fast, well armored, good firepower and is very stylish. Unlike that boxy, ugly green, monstrosity you're driving. I mean what model is that? I didn't see that anywhere in the pictures of the roster" Diamond Tiara said as she pulled out a book from inside the Matilda.

"Oh, this is a heavily modified M3 Lee. Nothing special about it. Anyway, you beat me to the parking spot so I'll just let you have it" Elly said with a smile.

"Eww, the M3 Lee? I actually have pity for you." Diamond Tiara looked down into the Matilda. "Dad, sharp left turn, we are taking our prize."

The Matilda revved its engine, but the road wheels on the left side just spun in place.

"Dad, what gives?" Diamond Tiara asked.

"It won't budge, pudding cake" a deep voice replied.

"Oh, It seems you went and snapped your left tread by accident or shall I say, ineptitude" Elly teased.

Diamond Tiara looked down to the left side of the tank. Flopping uselessly to the side was a small part of the tread that used to cover the road wheels on the left side. "Hey, what did you do to us? I'm telling the judges you sabotaged us!"

"I didn't do anything you pompous little brat. Your lack of engineering skill and understanding of the limitations of your vehicle did it to you" Elly stated sternly.

"Lies, we had the best engineers money could buy, this is just a freak accident." Diamond Tiara said as she looked down into the tank. "Push her harder, dad!"

The Matilda revved its engine harder and a sicking crack echoed across the parking lot. The other tread on the right side popping off as well. Diamond Tiara popped out of the turret again, her mouth wide open at the damage her dad had caused.

"Let me explain to you why your tank is in such awful shape. Firstly, your treads are far too narrow for the speed you were going, it was only a matter of time before they slipped off or snapped. Your first mistake is two fold, keeping the tracks narrow on a vehicle that's not supposed to go above twenty or so kilometers an hour. Secondly, you stopped suddenly, exerting all that force on the treads and braking system. The mistake that caused that nasty cracking sound was not upgrading your braking system to compensate for the extra engine power you undoubtedly put into it. Historically speaking, that vehicle only used a 2x Leyland E164- magic injected engine, which, if I'm correct, only has a hundred and ninety horsepower at best. That vehicle was never designed to move quickly" Elly said with a triumphant grin on her face.

"Furthermore, money is no substitute for hard work, learning, practice and competent engineering. You may have money on your side, but that will only get you to the battlefield, it won't save you on it" Elly jumped out of the top of the turret and sat down, leering down on Diamond Tiara, as if gloating.

"And who do you think you are miss know it all? I have a masters degree in business and economics. Why learn about these little vehicles when money covers my weaknesses just fine. I respectfully ask you to stop picking childish fights with my daughter" the voice from in the Matilda said.

"For your info I have multiple masters degrees in engineering, aeronautics, aerospace engineering, math and chemistry. I hold four mastery certifications by multiple guilds in Canterlot, including the 'Mechanical Mastermind' award given to me by Celestia herself. You can take your easily earned and probably bought degrees and shove them where the sun doesn't shine for all I care" Elly said, spreading her wings proudly.

"Wow, your older sister is just vicious. She trolled them by being nice and let them mess up on their own." Sweetie Belle peeked through the drivers view port in time to see Diamond Tiara turn multiple colors of red in anger.

"Pfft, let's not tell any lies here. Admit it, you're just some delusional, silly waitress serving hay burgers at a local fast food chain. If you were anypony of importance my dad would already know you" Diamond Tiara teased.

"Actually cupcake we don't know her name. We haven't even introduced ourselves. I'm Mr. Rich, and the mare outside is...?" Stinking Rish asked in a haughty tone.

"Elly Loo." Elly replied proudly.

The side hatch on the Matilda swung open hastily. A Stallion with a light tan coat and dark, slick-backed hair popped his head out of the tank. "Wait, repeat that, I could of sworn you said your name was 'Elly Loo'."

Elly didn't speak, but instead nodded her head in confirmation.

"Oh, oh dear, it appears I ummm...I'll just be quiet now." The stallion was sweating profusely, only giving Elly a slight grin before ducking back into the tank.

"What's wrong dad? Who's Elly Loo?" Diamond Tiara asked.

"Yeah Mr. Rich, I know all the celebrities and I have never heard of anypony named 'Elly Loo'." Silver Spoon added.

"Do they teach you anything in that school of yours? Elly Loo is the heir to the Loo fortune and owner of the company that makes almost every single airship in the world. Short of royalty, she's possibly the most important pony in Canterlot" Mr. Rich said with a hint of nervousness in his voice.

"Wait, sis, didn't you disappear for a long time?" Scootaloo asked.

"Wait, your sister's that much of a bigshot?" Sweetie Belle asked.

Elly put her head down into the tank through the top hatch. "I've had Gerald running the operations of our family business for years. Luna talked me into taking back my leave of absence CEO position a week and half ago. It was all over the stock journals and Canterlot news all week last week. I guess you fillies don't read the papers, though."

"Ummm miss Loo, I'm not sure Apple Jack will approve of me hangin out with you once she's better. She might see you as some kinda bad influence or sumthin" Apple Bloom said apprehensively.

Elly giggled. "Don't worry, I'm not a snob or anything like some of the high horses in Canterlot. I mean, I think you know me better by now, having worked with me over the last two weeks." Elly lowered her voice to a whisper, "To be frank, I don't like using the family name to impress or get some kinda pull with ponies, but like dad told me, sometimes you have to be a little pushy to get things done."

"Well, okay then. I just hope my sister likes ya as much as I do" Apple Bloom said.

"Oh, and one more thing, just call me Elly, I'm not one for formal titles." Elly pulled her head out of the tank. "Anyway, you folks can have this parking spot, I mean you DID win it fair and square."

Elly jumped down into the tank, closing the hatch behind her. She then quickly sat in her drivers chair and put the vehicle into a quick 180 degree spin. She then hit the gas, spraying mud and grass all over the Matilda's broken tracks and front as she zoomed away to find another parking spot.

"Why did you do that for? They couldn't move to even park there." Sweetie Belle said as she stared out the read viewport above the engine.

"It's a trick my dad taught me when dealing with snobby Canterlot types. If you let them win, but at the same time make them feel like they still lost, it confuses them. Nothing infuriates a snob like a depleted sense of self worth, they won't bother you again unless they are gluttons for punishment." Elly pulled out the lane and made a sharp left turn, parking the vehicle slightly out of line with the rest of the other parked tanks.

"You sure we can park here?" Scootlaoo asked.

"I noticed something when I got on top of the tank, there are no white parking lines anywhere. That means that technically, anywhere is parking" Elly said as she pulled a lever to set the tank in park.

"Won't we get a ticket or something for this?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"I don't think I've ever seen a police pony in Ponyville" Apple Bloom added.

Elly popped open the top hatch and jumped out, lending a hoof to Scootaloo to help her out while Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle used the side hatch.

*Ding dong ding*

"All contestants have been accounted for, match debriefing will begin in ten minutes. Please make your way to the speaking podium in a quick , but orderly fashion." A mares voice echoed over the entire field, catching the attention of ponies still making last minute adjustments to their vehicles.

"Huh, that was way sooner than expected" Scootaloo said.

"Luna must have gotten the last missing contestants here while we were busy parking" Sweetie Belle added.

"Best not to waste time. We can do last minute tune ups after the briefing" Elly said as she jumped down from the tank, Scootaloo close behind her.

The group quickly made it across the open grass field to a mass of ponies congregating around a small wooden stage with a single podium in the center. Behind the Podium sat Celestia, Luna and a very well dressed female griffon. She had a large, three pointed silver crown with a single diamond in the center. A vibrant red dress with gold and emerald lace all he way down the right side and a single ruby and gold ring on her right claw.

"Who's the fancy dressed griffin sitting next to Luna?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Fancy? If my sister saw that monstrosity of a dress, she would call it tacky" Sweetie Belle added.

"That is Queen Walarah. I remember meeting her when I was just a filly when I was out on a business trip with mom. She looks imposing, but she's actually quite friendly" Elly said.

Elly noticed Walarah stare her direction and give a half hearted wave.

"Seems she remembers you" Scootaloo said.

Elly waved back, trying to force herself to smile as she did. "Just remember, she could also be one of the griffons behind that little incident by my shop, so keep your guard up."

"Incident?" Apple Bloom said quizzically.

"Yeah, what does she mean by incident, Scootaloo?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"You didn't tell them?" Elly asked, looking surprised.

"I, uhhh." If I tell them they will find out I been an orphan all these years Scootaloo's ears folded back and she began to sweat perfusely. She slowly backed away behind Elly, trying to shield herself from the veiw of Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom.

Elly, noticing Scootaloo's obvious discomfort, reassuringly put her foreleg over her shoulder and smiled. "You don't have to worry, you can tell them when you're ready. Just remember it's better to hear it from you than for them to find out another way."

Scootaloo stared up at Elly and nodded. "I- I'll tell you guys everything after this match is over" Scootaloo said nervously as she stared at Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle.

Apple Bloom and Sweetie belle looked at one another, then back at Scootaloo.

"Fine by me" Apple Bloom said.

"Ditto" Sweetie Belle added.

"May I have everyponies attention" Luna said in a booming voice as she stepped up to the podium.

The ponies in the crowd all went silent, their attention entirely focused on Princess Luna.

"As you all know, some months ago Queen Walarah came upon a situation that could have led to a bloody and prolonged war with Equestria, but in her infinite wisdom she came up with a compromise; this competition. Todays battle will be an elimination round, the top five scoring tanks from each team will move on to the next round. In that round they will have to score in the top five again and then lastly, one more time before the main battle begins. I will give the podium to my older sister to explain the rules of todays competition." Luna stepped away from the podium, allowing Celestia to come to the front.

"Thank you Luna. Todays competition will be fifteen on fifteen battles with each team having four reserves that come into play one at a time when a friendly tank is destroyed or incapacitated. An enemy or friendly tank is considered destroyed when certain criteria are met. If said vehicle is immobile, silent and had its main gun destroyed for more than three minutes. A winner is declared when either all enemy vehicles have been destroyed or indefinitely disabled or an enemy vehicle has been occupying your flag zone for more than three minutes without being damaged. At the end of the match each individual team will be given a score based on their performance. I will now give the podium to Queen Walarah to explain this system." Celestia stepped away, allowing Queen Walarah to move up to the podium.

"Thank you for having me today, Princesses of the sun and moon." Walarah adjusted her dress before continuing. "As you all probably know by now there has been some political turmoil in my own country as of late, turmoil that was out of my control. However, this compromise has settled the problems in my home country and I am glad that Celestia and Luna have been so very gracious in coming up with the specifics for this little competition." Walarah bowed gracefully before Luna and Celestia and they returned the favor.

"However, I am not here to tell everypony how amazing their leaders are. I am here to explain the scoring system. You teams overall score is based on the following; damage done, enemy vehicles destroyed, scouting information done, assisting other vehicles, how long you sit in the enemy capture zone and hitting enemies in your own zone. Each vehicle type will be judged according to their own specifications. Each vehicle will be assingned a tier that will show up on your map. Lower tier vehicles will be worth less for being destroyed or damaged than higher tier ones." Walarah took a deep breath, adjusting her dress again before continuing.

"Vehicles can be repaired only once in the field and once at the base with spare parts. Tracks may be repaired as many times as needed. However, if a part is damaged or destroyed again, the team is only allowed to use thier own wits to get it working again, no spare parts. Each team is also restricted in ammunition, as in they can only carry ammo that contains sugar as one of the ingredients." Walarah cleared her throat once more. "I now give the podium to Luna."

Queen Walarah stepped away, allowing Luna to step up to the podium. "I would like to add one more thing, even though this whole competition may seem serious, I must remind everpony that it is just a game. I hope you all find a way to enjoy yourselves. With that out of the way, let the games begin!"

The ponies in the crowd cheered, a few of them yelling 'we love you Luna!' as she left the stage.

"Well, that went fairly well, if you keep up like this you might end up buried in fanmail by the end of this competition" Celestia teased.

"I hope so, weekends are kind of boring around the castle. It would be a nice change of pace to feel appreciated instead of dealing with the constant political bickering of my night court" Luna said cheerfully.

"I just hope this competition gets rid of all the restlessness my people have been experiencing" Walarah said with concern.

The crowd of ponies around the stage began to disperse, some of them heading over to the refreshments stand that just rolled up to the far left of the stage, others to make last minute adjustments to their vehicles.

"Shouldn't we do some last minute adjustments as well?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Nah, I think we need to get some food into us more than anything. Can't make good decisions on the battlefield if you're constantly distracted from being hungry" Elly said as she made her way to the refreshment cart.

Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo followed Elly to the refreshment cart when suddenly, Scootaloo stopped. She had a sudden sinking feeling in her gut.

"I don't think we should leave the vehicle unattended for so long. Somepony could sabotage it" Scootaloo said.

"I guess you're right." Elly turned her attention to the refreshment cart. "Eight apple fritters and four bottles of apple juice please."

The mare at the cart gladly handed Elly a small basket of apple fritters with four bottles of apple juice sticking out the side.

"Oh, wait. How much do I owe you?" Elly asked, frantically patting herself down.

"Nothing, dear. All expenses are paid for by Luna and Celestia for todays event. Even if they weren't I couldn't let those adorable little fillies starve now could I?" The cart mare smiled at Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo as they munched down a single apple fritter each.

"Thanks, I kinda left my coin purse at home today." Elly smiled and picked one of the fritters out of the basket, finishing it off in one gulp.

"Jeez sis, take time to enjoy it next time will ya" Scootaloo teased.

Elly grinned sheepishly. "You fillies stay here and finish up your meal. I'll check on the tank and make sure it's not being tampered with."

Elly took to the skies and within moments was out of sight.

"You think she would mind if I ate her other fritter?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"As long as you get a replacement for it. I mean, the cart is literally ten feet from us at most." Apple Bloom smiled at the cart mare and she returned the favor with a wave.

Scootaloo munched on her remaining apple fritter when she noticed a griffon wearing a purple beret walk up to the food cart. She looked familiar, like she had been to ponyville before. She had a moderate amber coat, dark brown wings, white neck and head feathers with light purple tips. She also looked as if she was wearing some kind of eyeliner, but upon closer inspection, it was her natural purple color around her amber eyes.

"Isn't that Gilda? Rainbow Dash's friend?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Former friend" Sweetie Belle corrected. "I heard from my sister that she's a giant jerkface."

"Hey lame-mo, you got any fish or jerky in this thing?" Gilda asked rudely.

"No, and with that attitude you won't get anything from me. Not unless you ask nicely." The mare at the cart stared at Gilda firmly, her eyes unwavering in her stare.

"Pfft whatever. I'll catch my own food later." Gilda turned and noticed Scootaloo. Both Scootaloo and Gilda stared at each other, neither of them blinking. Gilda cracked a smirk and walked away, her left eye watching Scootaloo until she was out of sight on the other side of the stage.

"What was that all about?" Apple Bloom asked.

Scootaloo didn't respond, she knew exactly what Gilda was up to, but didn't want to make her friends worry. Either she was sizing us up or she's a spy like sis thinks she is. Either way, she won't try anything, not with Luna and Celestia so close.

***

"Ok ponies final checklist. Turning, brakes and acceleration, check." Elly turned the tank in place, accelerated forward and then hit the brakes.

"Sis do we have to do this? This is the third time in the last thirty minutes. Celestia and Luna will be here to teleport all the tanks to the battlefield in a few minutes" Scootaloo said as she watched Luna and Celestia approach the first tank on the far edge of the field.

"What we should be worried about is the map layout. We have all of two minutes after the countdown flare is shot to come up with a viable plan. I kinda wish they preuploaded the maps to our radars." Sweetie Belle stared at the blank green screen with the other allied vehicles periodically showing up as green blips.

"Are you fillies ready?" Luna said just outside of the tanks back hatch.

"Ready as we will ever be, Princess" Elly replied.

Luna stepped back, lowered her head and fired a blue bolt into the side of the tank. It was quickly enveloped in a bright blue aura and within seconds disappeared.

Seconds later, they appeared in a grassy field. Scootaloo quickly got her bearings and looked around in her gunners viewport on top of the tank, only two other allied vehicles were nearby; the monsterous Jagd. Panzer E-100 driven by Twilight Sparkle and her crew and a heavily modified T-40 tank destroyer being driven by Fluttershy, a bear, a flamingo and a blue Jay.

"You know, I'll never get used to that" Elly said as she shook her head, tying to get her bearings.

"Oh look, they uploaded the map to my radar!" Sweetie Belle pointed at her radar excitedly.

Elly, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom crowded around the small radar display, each examining a small part of the map.

"Looks like we have a large ditch on the far west with a wall of rock and a small road leading up to a large rocky outcrop." Apple Bloom pointed out what seemed like a death trap, an open road where they had little functional cover and the other side had makeshift buildings galore.

"I don't think we should go down that way. I mean we will need some ponies to cover it, but they should stay behind the few rocks we have on this side, or up on the hill where the base circle is behind those rocks." Elly pointed out a line of rocks on the west side of their base.

"There's a lighthouse on a mountain to the north, looks like a small road leads up to it" Scootaloo examined the small road further in her viewport. "Never mind, it's far too steep for this thing to get up there."

"I have an idea, we can head up to the lighthouse area, but instead of going up to it we hide on the hill nearby. Get behind some bushes there and relay where the enemy is going, maybe even get a few potshots if we're lucky" Sweetie Belle recommended.

"And if things get too hot we can back off into that little makeshift town south of the hill" Elly added.

"Looks good to me, any objections?" Apple Bloom asked.

Elly, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo shook their heads.

"I guess it's settled then, I wonder what the others are planning?" Sweetie Belle turned on her radio only to immediately turn it off as a storm of noise assaulted her ears. "Heh, sorry must have had it on the wrong channel."

Scootaloo continued to watch as more and more friendly tanks appeared near them. Rainbow Dash's AMX 13 90 appeared behind them, followed by Diamond Tiara's Matilda. A few seconds later pinkie Pie's Su-14 appeared to the right of the Matilda, dwarfing the tank in its shadow. The last few tanks began to pop in until at last, the fifteenth team member appeared; Derpy, Red Typhoon and her daughter Dinky in the KV-2.

"So, what's the plan?" A voice that sounded oddly like Lrya heartstrings said over the radio.

"Mister Bear says we should wait to ambush them somewhere, he suggests waitng in a bush and focus firing the first enemy that appears. Wait, really mister Bear? That seems awfully rude not to at least give them a warning shot, to make it a fair battle." Fluttershy's voice came over the radio.

"I think the whole point of an ambush is to get the first few shots, element of surprise and everything" Twilight Sparkle said over the radio.

"I guess, but it just seems so...mean" Fluttershy replied.

"I'm planning on getting up there by the lighthouse. I can spot all the enemies from way up there" Rainbow Dash said.

"Make sure you paint the targets for me, so I can shoot them with my giant birthday cake cannon!" Pinkie Pie added.

"The game will begin in thirty seconds, please start your engines!" Luna announced from far above the battlefield.

Engines began to start up all around, almost all of them dwarfing the low humming coming from Unbreakable's electric engine.

"Do you hear that? Twilight's engine is louder than a propeller." Elly grabbed a pair of earmuffs above her and put them on. "Jeez, what does she have in that thing? A jet engine?"

"No kidding. She's in a tank destroyer, so much for being silent and deadly." Scootaloo added, covering her ears.

The start flare from Luna lit up the sky above them and within moments tanks began to move out of their starting points and into position.

"Wait and see what direction everypony is going Elly, see which side needs our support." Sweetie Belle said as she watched her radar intently.

"Enemy spotted!" Derpy yelled over the radio.

A single Vk2801 had managed to rush to the bushes overlooking the base on the opposite ridge line.

"Everypony move it or lose it, artillery fire will be incomming!" Twilight yelled over the radio.

"I'll get em!" Derpy yelled.

"Please not me, not me, not me..." Fluttershy wimpered over the radio.

*Fwoom*!

The deafening sound of the Kv-2's 152mm cake gun echoed over the field followed by large chunks of wood flying in all directions. Derpy had missed, instead she accidentally shot Diamond Tiara's Matilda in the back, leaving it nothing more than a pile of cake and splinters.

"Whoo hoo! Not me!" Fluttershy yelled exuberantly over the radio.

"Derpy, you team killing fucktard!" Silver Spoon yelled as she dug herself out of the pile of cake.

"Negative one point for Ponyville Team!" One of the refs above announced.

"Scootaloo, do you have a lock on him?" Elly said as she maneuvered the tank to a nearby rock for protection, just as a large keg explosion of cherry juice from an enemy artillery unit exploded near Pinkie Pie.

"Almost..." Scootaloo aimed the cannon just a few meters ahead of the fleeing Vk2801 and fired. The small Apple pie flew through the air and struck the Vk2801 in its rear drive wheel, blowing off the tracks on the right side and damaging the engine.

"Anypony have a shot on that thing? We are reloading!" Scootaloo yelled as Apple Bloom opened the breach to load another pie into barrel.

"W-we do" Fluttershy said meekly. "Now mister flamingo, take your time and aim." The pink Flamingo adjusted her aim port, turning the dial to line up the enemy tank and fired. A sponge cake hit the Vk2801 in the side, completely wrecking both the turret and hull.

"Nice shot Flutters" Rainbow Dash said over the radio. "By the way I'm already up by the lighthouse."

"Why didn't you take a pot shot at the enemy scout?" Lyra complained over the radio.

"Becuase I don't have any gun depression in this thing and even if I did I don't want to give away my hiding space while spotting these guys" Rainbow Dash said.

"Elly, gun it. We need to get up to that hill and support her." Sweetie Belle watched as multiple red blips appeared on her radar. "We have what looks like four heavy tanks and three mediums. Can you identify what heavy tanks are there?"

"Rodger." Rainbow Dash looked though her drivers port, only moving the tank slightly to get a better view. "Kinda hard to tell, looks like a M6, Tiger, Vk3601 and an IS-7. The mediums are a T54, a M4 Sherman and a M3 Lee. They are heading around rock to the east."

*Boom*

A large keg of cherry juice detonated on the wall of the light house behind Rainbow Dash.

"Ponyfeathers, somepony must have spotted us." Rainbow Dash put the tank in reverse just as a hail of pastries from the medium tanks below obliterated the bush she was previously hiding behind. "Under fire, taking cover behind the light house. Pinkie do you have a lock on that IS7?"

"Rodger, cake bomb away!" Pikie Pie yelled.

The Su-14 rocked back and forth as it fired a massive wedding cake into the sky. A few moments later an announcement from above confirmed that Pinkie Pie had nutralized the IS-7 in a single hit.

Meanwhile, allied tank destroyers in the ditch to the west were busy taking fire from the enemy tank destroyers popping from behind buildings as well as flanking fire coming from the ridge above them.

"Can anypony get those mediums on the ridge above us? I have already suffered heavy damage and can't take much more of this" A Stug three driver said over the radio.

Unbreakable pulled up to the bush on the hill just in time to see the last heavy tank head up around the side of the mountain. The heavy tanks on their team including a vk4502 B, KV-2, KV-4 and a AMX M4 45 were on a collision course with the enemy heavy tanks on the far side of the mountain.

"We have a problem. We can either eliminate the heaviest armor on the enemy team by going around behind them, or we can take out the mediums giving our tank destroyers problems." Sweetie Belle pointed to the mediums showing up on radar on the ridge line and then to the five remaining enemy heavy tanks heading around the mountain.

"Well, the heavy tanks are outnumbered dlightly, but ..." Apple Bloom paused and stared at Scootaloo.

"Gilda is the most dangerous enemy on the enemy team by far. If we take out those mediums she may still be in game to cause us serious problems later" Scootaloo said as she stared at Sweetie Belle's radar display.

"I been hit, gun wrecked, retreating to repair. Crap, I've been tracked, can't hold out much longer" Twilight Sparkle cried over the radio.

"We can't afford to lose a gun that big, let's go." Elly put the tank in gear and made a hard left turn, quickly gunning the engine and gaining much needed speed as they rolled down the hill.

"Apple Bloom, I need the next shot ready to load as soon as I fire. We are going to be seriously outgunned up here." Scootaloo turned the turret around so it would be aiming at the flanks of the enemy tanks when they come from behind them.

"Rodger that" Apple Bloom replied as she lifted the next pastry up, ready to load it the moment Scootaloo fired.

"You guys goin to give those guys suprise butt pinches?" Rainbow Dash asked over the radio.

"Rodger that, can you assist?" Sweetie Belle asked in return.

"Assist? I plan on kill stealing, like a boss." Rainbow Dash put her AMX 1390 into gear and rushed down the mountainside. Her path was a bit different than Unbreakable's, as it was going to the south side of the hill instead of the north.

"Ummm Rainbow Dash, are you doing what I think you're doing?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Let me get the first few shots, that will distract them so you can come up from the other side and put a few holes in them. Afterwards we can get them in a pincer attack, maybe even push them down the hill in front of those allied tank destroyers" Rainbow Dash said.

"She can't take a hit in that little thing, if she gets tracked or spotted first, she's done for" Scootaloo said, a hint of panic in her voice.

"I'm sure Rainbow Dash knows the risks, but if we lose those tank destroyers we will be horribly outgunned if those heavy tanks to the east fail to stop their advance around the lighthouse." Elly rolled around the corner of the hill and spotted an ememy M3 Lee taking pot shots at an e25 trying to hide behind a rock.

"You got a shot on him Scootaloo?" Elly asked as she angled the vehicles armor slightly, just in case the M3 noticed them.

Without giving an answer, Scootaloo fired the main gun, hitting the enemy M3 Lee in the back toward the right side of the vehicle. The explosion knocked the M3 forward, its engine falling out and the maingun flying off into the distance.

"Whoa! I didn't expect it to do that much damage. I was just trying to disable them, not send them a game ending greeting card" Scootaloo said, shocked at the damage she had done.

"Incoming enemy T54!" Sweetie Belle yelled.

Suddenly a T54 medium tank pulled up around the corner and fired. The hard pastry projectile made a hair raising grinding sound as it struck the upper right of Unbreakable's turret. For a moment it looked as if Unbeakable was done for, but the projectile dug in very shallow and just stuck there, hanging out of the turret.

"Huh, pretty sure we were done for there" Apple Bloom said.

"Very nearly, look." Scootaloo pointed to a bulge in the upper right hoof side of the turret. The wood around it was warped and beginning to crack.

"Are you two done being shocked? We still have a T54 in front of us that wants to play." Elly angled the tank as she pulled back, just in time for another shot from the T54 to skip off the front plate.

"Loading apple pie." Apple Bloom picked up an apple pie and popped open the breach of the gun, not even allowing the smoke to clear before popping the projectile into the cannon and closing the breach.

"I'll need assistance squirt, just get that M4 off my tail while I wreck this nublet!" Rainbow Dash yelled over the radio. Rainbow Dash rolled up behind the T54 and began strafe along the left side of the enemy vehicle, putting shot after shot into the side of the T54, blowing off its tracks and doing significant damage to the engine compartment.

However, Rainbow Dash's AMX 13 90 took two shots to the side from a persuing M4 Sherman, immobilizing her right in front of the T54's gun.

"Well, been nice workin with ya, squirt" Rainbow Dash said over the radio just before the T54 shot her in the side, flipping her AMX 13 90 over.

"Tank disabled, points awarded" a pegasus pony wearing a referee's uniform announced above them.

"Rainbow Dash!" Elly and Scootaloo said together.

Scootaloo gritted her teeth angrily. "Oh, it is ON!" Scootaloo turned the turret to face the undamaged M4 Sherman. "You will regret doing that to my other big sister." Scootaloo fired a shot directly into the turret ring of the M4 Sherman, blowing the turret clean off in one shot. A red haired pony crawled out of what was left of the turret, covered in lemon merang pie fluff and shook her hoof angrily.

"Geeze, you could have been less brutal about it" the pony complained as she started to clean herself off.

Scootaloo quickly turned the turret and gun on the damaged T54, she then opened up the top hatch of the tank and stared down on the T54. "You have three options here, get flipped over by us, be destroyed by us, or surrender."

Scootaloo waited and listened, she could hear the muttering inside the vehicle as the ponies inside argued about her ultimatum.

"Did you see what they did to the M3 lee and the M4 Sherman? We should surrender and save ourselves the embarassment" one of the ponies inside said.

"Lucky shots I say. I don't even know what they are driving, it looks like it was thrown together at the last minute" another said, the calousness in her voice readily apparent.

"Uh, guys. I think I just heard their gun reload" another pony said as she heard the faint echo of a gun breach closing.

"Well?" Scootaloo asked, impatiantly tapping her hoof. After a few more moments of intense muttering, the hatch on the top of the vehicle popped open. Slowly, a small white flag being held by two nervous hooves reached from the top of the T54's turret, shaking as they waved the flag in surrender. However, before the referee in the air could declare the vehicle defeated a low pitched whistle could be heard through the air.

"What is that sound?" Scootaloo asked, her ears flapping excitedly in an attempt to pinpoint the location of the noise. The sound kept getting louder and seemed to be coming from above them.

Wait, I think I heard this noise somewhere before. When Pinkie Pie was testing her...uh-oh. Scootaloo thought.

"Reverse now, Elly! Step on it!" Scootaloo yelled.

Elly pulled a lever and stepped on the gas. The treads spun in place momentarily as the vehicle started to reverse. Seconds later a large keg of juice slammed into the front half of the surrendered T54, ripping the front end off the vehicle as if it were paper and splashing the crew with sticky fruit juice.

"That was a close one, lucky us the enemy needs to work on their aim" Scootaloo said.

"Can't say the same for those poor ponies in the T54 though, that looked like it could have hurt, even through the spell protections." Elly added as she watched the ponies from the demolished T54 pick themselves off the ground.

"Ummm, how do I call that? Is it a team kill or?" One of the refs above fiddled with his clipboard, as the other refs flew to his side in an attempt to make a proper call.

"Two confirmed kills for Ponyville, two losses confirmed for Ponyville" Another ref hovering over the ditch announced.

"We lost Twilight's group, as well as a E25. There's just a single enemy Su-152 memaining down there." Sweetie Belle stared at her map monitor, friendly vehicles were dropping off like drunk flies over a keg of apple family cider. Suddenly an impact shook her away from her radar.

"Another point for Ponyville. Kill confirmed by artillery" The ref above the ditch announced.

"Looks like Pinkie Pie cleared that out for us" Apple Bloom said.

"Glad to he-" Pinkie Pie's voice was suddenly drowned out by the sound of an impact, followed shortly by the sound of something splashing, then nothing but static.

"Pinkie?" Sweetie Belle said over the radio. "Pinkie Pie, respond please." Sweetie Belle sat there, hoping for a reply when she realized that Pinkie Pie's presence on the radar was no longer registering. "You don't think?"

"Yeah, enemy artillery decided we weren't worth taking shots at anymore. Not sure if they just guessed her position or she was spotted by the tank destroyer she obliterated. Either way there's nothing left down here to shoot at." Elly sighed and put the tank into a spin, stopping suddenly to face the lighthouse.

Sweetie Belle looked over the radar. "There isn't much of anything left to shootat and we pretty much run out of friends as well." Sweetie belle scanned over the radar until she found a single faint blip hiding near some houses to the southeast of their position. "Wait, Derpy is still technically in this, though from my screen it looks as if her vehicle hasn't moved in the last five minutes at least."

"How many enemies do we have left?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Well, the artillery and it looks like one live heavy tank was spotted in the small town to the north. It looks like it was going around the hill on the other side of the lighthouse." Sweetie Belle scanned the screen one more time. "Yeah, we have artillery and a single Tiger tank to deal with."

"What? What in blazes happened to all the heavies pushing up around the back of the lighthouse?" Elly asked.

"All gone, it looks like we were winning, but that tiger pulled back into an ambush position. It took out our heavy armor one by one." Sweetie Belle said.

"Gilda..." Scootaloo said aloud. "It's her isn't it?"

Sweetie Belle looked over the battle ledger to the right of the Radar. "Yep, it's her alright. She's the only one on that team using the Tiger."

"We can't beat a Tiger head on, we can damage it, but that's not what I'm worried about." Elly said as she put the tank into gear.

"I thought our armor was good enough to take a Tiger head on?" Scootaloo asked.

"Not even close. You see the bulge in the turret there?" Apple Bloom pointed to a spot on the turret where the armor was just barely holding on.

"Yeah, that's where the T54 shot us. It didn't go through." Scootaloo said.

"Because the shot was a very shallow. My guess is the impact angle is something around a hundred and ten degrees or so. If that shot was at a flat on ninety degrees, it would have most certainly caused us a lot more grief." Apple Bloom said.

"Scootaloo, remember when we were watching what kind of ammo most ponies were using?" Elly asked.

"Yeah? You said most ponies were firing ammo that does alot of damage over a wider area" Scootaloo said.

"Exactly. Apple Bloom and I worked out that around seven out of every ten vehicles fired ammo like that. So we designed this armor to take a larger impact over a wider area. We even had derpy hit the front plate during test firing to see how it would react to large area damage" Elly explained.

"After about three shots, two of which hit Fluttershy's vehicle, she managed to hit the target. After we inspected it we found that if the size of the ammo fired at us was wider than half an apple pie, it had next to no chance of causing damage." Apple Bloom put her hooves together and slowly spread them apart, so that they were around ten inches apart from each other. "About that big."

"It comes at a price though. Any shots that are high velocity and reasonably compact have a very high chance of going right through us. We were incredibly lucky that the one shot that did hit us was poorly aimed." Elly pulled up to a bush on the opposite of the southern town. "See if that Tiger has arrived yet."

Scootaloo looked though her commanders periscope. She slowly panned the periscope left, then right, searching for the missing Tiger tank. "Nope, not a thing, not even any tracks in the road coming this way."

"Any places to hide? I have a feeling that the only way to take on the Tiger is an ambush" Elly said.

Scootaloo peered through her periscope again. She noticed that while some of the houses were damaged from firefights and clumsy driving earlier in the battle, most of the makeshift homes were in fair shape. One in particular stood out, a home with an attached garage that was half way open. It looked like it had just enough ceiling clearance for them to hide if they needed to.

"There's a house that's right next to the road, I think we can hide in the garage." Scootaloo scanned the other homes for their viability as cover. "We can also make a run for it by swerving in between them if that Tiger finds us."

"I really don't like the idea of ambushing. I wish we could just take it headlong and decide who has the better team instead of playing shadow tag with 'em" Apple Bloom said.

"I know the feeling, but we have to play to the strengths and weaknesses to the vehicle we are using. I mean look what Twilight did, she got that big heavy armor stuck out in the open and they just kept hitting her until her frontal armor failed. We can maybe take a couple nasty hits, but the best armor is sometimes not being seen and hit at all." Elly put the tank in gear and slowly inched it through the brush, angling it slightly to the left so she can both have a chance to bounce a shot and give herself and Scootaloo vision on the road going around the lighthouse.

"Everything looks clear" Scootaloo said.

Elly gunned the engine, pulling them up to the half open garage door. "Scootaloo, I want you to use the gun barrel to lift the door the rest of the way up."

Scootaloo slowly lowered the gun barrel under the garage door, lifting it up ever so slowly as to not get the door or the gun stuck. "Okay, it should be locked in place."

Elly backed up and turned the vehicle toward the garage wall that led into the main space of the makeshift home. "This may get a little bumpy." Elly stepped on the accelerator, sending the tank crashing through the wooden wall and into the center of the home, the garage door falling down behind them from the impact.

"Are you out of your mind Elly!?" Apple Bloom asked as she picked herself off the floor of the vehicle. "You could of at least informed the rest of us to what you were doing.

"Shhhh, keep it down, look." Elly moved her head to the left to allow Apple Bloom a good look through her drivers viewport.

"Oh, I see." Through the drivers viewport Apple Bloom could see through the two foyer windows in the home. Down the road leading to the other side of the lighthouse there were dust clouds being kicked up by something large. Seconds later the large silouette was visible through all the dust.

"Why does that thing look scarier than before?" Apple Bloom backed away from the viewport to rub her eyes.

"What's wrong? All I can see from my port is a ceiling made of particle board." Scootaloo tried to adjust her periscope for a better view but found it futile. Every direction was nothing but wood walls.

Apple bloom leaned over Elly and got a better look at what she thought she had seen. "Uh, she really modded the horse dookey out of that thing." The vehicle was large and boxy, but unlike Tiger tanks she had seen before, this one was far more vicious looking. The small spikes on the front of the vehicle were now longer and had little barbs that faced the other direction from the point. Just above them to the right and left were twin fifty-seven millimeter snub nosed cannons, either side of them covered with extra wood plating. The turret was entirely different as well, the picture she had seen had it equipped with just one long barreled gun, but this one was different. The turret had what looked like folded back rabbit ears across the top of the turret, it was also significantly wider than before. The worst part was that these two rabbit ears like structures lined up with not one eighty-eight millimeter gun, but two of them.

"What does it look like? I can't see anything up here" Scootaloo complained.

Apple Bloom moved her head away from the viewport to allow Elly to get a better view.

"You got to be kidding me..." Elly said, her jaw hanging open. "Two of those high penetration guns? Four if you count the lesser ones."

"Wait, what?" Scootaloo hopped down from her turret chair and pushed Elly's head out of the way, not even noticing her obvious discomfort. "Whoa...just, whoa." Scootaloo stepped back, allowing Elly to adjust her neck.

"Little bit too enthusiastic there, sis." Elly said as she rubbed her neck where Scootaloo's back hoof had been sitting.

"Sorry, but how are we going to fight That thing?" Scootaloo asked.

"We do out best. We wait for it to make an opening for us and we do whatever we can to damage it. Remember the score system lets us move on to the next round if we do well enough. We don't actually have to win" Elly said reassuringly.

"I don't think Rainbow Dash would agree with that or the rest of our team for that matter." Scootaloo jumped back up into her seat. "We need to come up with a plan to beat that thing."

"Incoming transmission!" Sweetie Belle yelled excitedly.

"Sorry about not saying anything earlier, we had to fix our radio after it took a hit and accidentally got stuck on the country music station. Mom has been kind of delaying me because she likes it" Dinky said over the radio.

"Hey, I happen to like 'Friend's in Lower Places'. I mean, diamond dogs need friends too, though I'm not sure why they need to drink so much" Derpy chimed in over the radio.

"I dun think that song is about diamond dogs lassie" Red added.

"Terrible, ear bleeding music aside, what's the situation like out there? Our radar is still on the fritz. It keeps trying to show us episodes of 'Lost' for some strange reason.

"We have two enemy targets left. One of them is a Tiger that looks like it is straight out of a horror novel and the other is artillery that has nothing left to shoot at. Are you able to assist with the Tiger?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Not sure we can beat it, even together. We had to retreat after one of its shots damaged our radar and engine. Everything that has tried to hurt that thing got its flank handed to them on a silver platter. We even managed to land a hit on it head on and it just shrugged it off like we were firing sweat peas at it" Dinky said with some sadness in her voice.

"There has to be a weakness on it somewhere. I mean, our allied vehicles had bigger and better guns than we did and couldn't dent it. How did the Tiger react to you when it was cornered?" Elly asked.

"It, backed up against a building, it intentionally cornered itself to where it couldn't escape" Dinky replied.

"That's odd. You think they were trying to cover up a weakspot or something?" Apple Bloom pondered. "That must be it, well, either that or they didn't want to deal with big tanks from multiple sides."

"Well, we have two options. We can easily outrun the Tiger, take out the artillery and capture the base while Derpy's team distract the Tiger." Elly looked to Scootaloo.

"Or we distract the Tiger ourselves and give Derpy a killing shot at it" Scootaloo said as she sighed at the idea.

"Both are pretty bad if you ask me. If we run away nopony will take us seriously" Sweetie Belle said.

"But if we trust Derpy to actually aim a shot perfectly for once in her life-"

"Hey! I aim very good, thank you very much!" Derpy yelled over the radio, interrupting Apple Bloom.

"Like I was saying, if we trust this to Derpy, it's a fifty-fifty chance of victory" Apple Bloom finished.

Scootaloo sighed, both options were less than sure wins. If they managed to start capturing the base, the Tiger is fast enough to take out Derpy's KV-2 and stop them. The other option wasn't sure fire either, Derpy had dubious aim at the best of times and all the moving around the Tiger for better shots could end poorly if Derpy missed or worse hit them instead.

"We need a plan soon, that Tiger is done looking through the alley ways between the far east houses and is coming this way." Elly watched as the massive Tiger roared its way back onto the main dirt road and headed their way.

"I have an idea. Derpy, I want you to aim and try to hit us when we roll out of this home to suprise attack the Tiger." Scootaloo watched as her friends jaws opened up in surprise.

"Are you crazy?" Sweetie Belle asked, shocked by the thought of intentionally being shot at.

"You sure all the action hasn't gone to your head sis?" Elly asked, putting her hoof over Scootaloo's forehead to check her temperature.

"No, I'm fine" Scootaloo whined as she batted Elly's hoof from her head. "Derpy is a tad crosseyed right? Ever notice how whenever Fluttershy's vehicle is on her left side when she aims right and always hits her?"

The other ponies in the tank all looked at one another with confused looks on their faces.

"Trust me on this one. Worse case scenario, Derpy team kills us and no one can really blame us for that, right?" Scootaloo smiled, hopeing for support on her crazy idea.

"I say we do it. She's right, worse case scenario we lose horribly to Derpy's aim and honestly, this is only an elimination round. I think we scored high enough to move on to the next round." Elly let off the brake and waited with baited breath for the Tiger to roll by.

The ground began to tremble, the makeshift windows in the building began to shake violently as something massive approached the house. From inside the tank one could ear the sqeaking and clanking of a suspension system that was horribly overburdened with armor. One could even smell the scent of imminent doom approaching. The rumbling became louder and louder with each tense moment until the vehicle finally came into view. A thick cloud of dust and dirt in it's wake, the large Tiger tank rolled by the window of the makeshift home and suddenly stopped in front of the garage.

"Why did it stop?" Sweetie Belle whispered.

Elly could just make out the back end of the turret on the Tiger, it looked as if it were turning this way, aiming at them. Uh- Oh Elly thought.

The Tiger fired a pair of shots from its twin cannons into the garage door, both of the shots sailing within inches of the backside of Unbreakable. Spooked, Elly stepped on the gas, crashing through the side of the building, coming up behind the Tiger. "Scootaloo?!"

"On it!" Scootaloo peered through her periscope as she turned the turret around, but what she saw was unexpected. The backside of the Tiger's turret was entirely open. She could see a griffon team member hand cranking a switch to turn the Tiger's guns on them. They must have sustained damage to their hydraulics system at some point? Scootaloo thought to herself. I could hit anything from here, the engine deck, the fuel reserves, the inner workings of the gun... A moment of hesitation allowed the Tiger's gun to get around just enough to fire another shot, this one ripping through the back part of the engine deck, sailing right over Sweetie Belle's head and through the other side.

"Don't think, shoot!" Apple Bloom yelled.

Scootaloo pulled the trigger and the next few moments felt as if they lasted an enternity. She watched the smoke clear quickly as the pie left the cannon and headed for the griffin turning the turret crank. His face went wide in horror as he watched the pie collide with the crank controls, knocking him over from the shockwave of the impact. The pie then bounced off the crank controls and into the back of the twin gun loading mechanisim, shattering into three seperate fragments. The first ricocheted upward into the top of the turret and then down again onto the loading mechanisim, breaking it into a hundred peices. The other two bounced into the engine deck, both of them wedging themselves into cylinders in the engine, cuttting power down significantly.

Scootaloo, after Apple Bloom tugged on her tail, snapped out of her shock and opened the breech, helping Apple Bloom load the next shot when she saw it rolling toward them; a tank silouette rolling through the dust and dirt that all the cannon fire had kicked up. It was Derpy's team in the Kv-2, coming to assist them.

The large tank rolled up on the other side of the Tiger and pointed its 152 millimeter cannon directly at them at near point blank range. It was then that Scootaloo realized that they were on the left of the Tiger, where Derpy's crosseyed aim problems were much less of an issue.

A cold sweat came over Scootaloo, this was it. Either Derpy obliterated the Tiger or shot them point blank. This is it.

The KV-2 came to a stop, made minor adjustsments to its aim...

and fired.