Rainboom Revolution

The task of the rebel Agent Cruelty (alias Lieutenant Supercell) and the 15 or so rebels under his command, all wearing the symbol of upside-down butterfly colored aqua-green, was a simple one. The rebels were operating under the assumption that the royal sisters knew the Agents of Chaos would do something in response to the Sonic Rainboom, even if they didn't know what it would be. This uncertainty would mean the loyalists would be forced to react to whatever the rebels decided to do instead of the other way around.

The mission of the Cruelty squad was to prepare the way for the main rebel attack force under the Animosity label, firstly by cutting communication lines between the castle proper and the Royal Guard barracks. Once that had been done, they were to attack the barracks and grab a few "horned one" hostages to use as bargaining chips before joining the main rebel attack force against the officer barracks nearby. The Cruelty operatives were mostly thuggish pegasi criminals lead by a few rebel Royal Guard officers - the rebels had somehow "replaced" the criminals in prison, and now those criminals were seeking revenge against the system that had locked them up.

The sabotage is accomplished quickly and quietly, although the unusual amount of activity around them alerts the squad patrolling the Guard barracks - Lieutenant Skyver and his subordinates, most notably Guard Upper Class Buck Withers and Guard Lower Class Ventas. Skyver's squad ends up inferior in numbers to the rebels, but that wouldn't matter if they manage to wake the sleeping residents of the barracks. Hence when Agent Cruelty gives the attack order, he emphasizes the need to hit fast, grab whatever "horned ones" they find, and hold onto them as they retreat to join the main force.

The armored Agent Cruelty, accompanied by his Upper Class Guard second-in-command, busts through the main security door to initiate the attack. The criminals supporting the rebels pour into the barracks, Cruelty and his second-in-command pulling a few aside to join their main objective - the unicorns under Skyver's command.

It does not take long for Cruelty's group to catch Skyver himself by surprise - only Buck Withers and Ventas are with him, the others are scattered at posts around the building - as Skyver tries to verify the reports of activity around him. The three stallions, each representing a main Equestrian race, are surprised and then stunned in shock as Cruelty and his group bust into the meeting room where they are currently located.

"Get the horned one!" Cruelty exclaims, having recognized Ventas as a "horned one" and traitor to Agents of Chaos.

"What is... what is even the meaning of all this, Lieutenant?!" Skyver shouts out, recognizing his fellow pegasus Lieutenant.

"The corrupting influence of the horned ones in this organization must be purged, do not stand in our way Lieutenant!" Cruelty shouts out in turn, the second-in-command zooming past him to ram into Skyver. Other members of his group attack Buck Withers, who is able to check them due to his earth pony strength, and the cornered Ventas, who recognizes to his horror that the rebels are looking for him in particular.

Buck pushes back those trying to get him, but can do nothing to help Skyver, knocked down by the joint attack of Cruelty and his second-in-command, or Ventas, who is grabbed and carted away over pleas for help. Other voices are echoing outside the room - some members of Agent Cruelty's party are in battle with awakened Guards, others are dragging captured unicorns away. Buck Withers helps Skyver back on his hooves, but Cruelty and the other members of his rebel party exit the room before either stallion can do anything else. Buck and Skyver attempt to chase after them, but Cruelty and his second turn back around and knock them both back down to stop their pursuit.

Around Buck and Skyver is chaos - individual Guards attempting to make a stand, rebels whooping and cheering as they grab hold of any unicorn seen, and after a moment Cruelty ordering a general retreat with whatever prisoners they already have. Buck and Skyver both realize they're about to be trampled and attempt to get out of the way, but again Cruelty and his second strike, temporarily making sure the retreating rebels have free reign to run them over. By the time Buck and Skyver can get out of the way of the stampede back out, both stallions have a black eye and a number of trampling bruises.

What's worse to Skyver though than the injuries to himself is the fact the rebels took him by surprise - he was not expecting an assault by a large group, just a few rouge members as had been the case with the Agents of Chaos before. It would be a very serious problem indeed if this enemy had managed to gather a disgruntled mob in support of their cause.

"We might have a full rebellion on our hooves - I want a full rollcall of everypony in the barracks, on the double!" Skyver orders as he again gets back on his hooves.

"Sir yes sir!" Buck Withers exclaims, rushing off to implement the orders once back on his hooves.

Lieutenant Skyver, in turn, rushes to a window facing out toward the rebels running away with several unicorn prisoners. As he tracks the retreating rebels, his heart falls when he sees them joining another force wheeling a large machine with them. There was a full rebellion underway, and he had to rally the loyal troops against it as quickly as he could...