Clash of the Legends

Shining Armor loaded his crossbow, ensuring he would be ready in case of sneak attacks. However, as far as he could tell the only pony that landed near his current position was Scorch-Mane, and on that note he didn't hear the loud whoosh of thrusters activating. He may have been injured in the impact, so Shining made great haste into the Everfree forest. Making sure to keep an eye out for supplies and ambushes, he cantered from his temporary shelter in the Town Hall into the forest as his golden armor reflected all light from the setting sun, illuminating his path. He remembered what he was taught in the academy about forests.

"If it shines, it's a target. If it moves, it's dangerous. Now drop and gimme twenty."

With this in mind, he kept a steady pace into the gloom and lurking shadows of the forest, hoping he wasn't too late.

Somepony tapped Scorch-Mane into conciousness. His eyes stang from the blood that had congealed on them, his hooves were chipped beyond normal measures, and his armor was dented so far inwards he felt sharp jabs of pain when he breathed. Wincing as he coughed some blood out, he gently looked up, so as not to earn neck injuries, to see who the mystery tapper was. His eyes traced out the figure. Maroon, striped yellow...that's weird. Blue eyes, confused expression...That's uncanny. Banker styled red and yellow mane, and Lunar guard armor...How in the bu-

"El Tee." Said the replicant stood in front of him, and raised a quick salute. "You were unconcious. I pulled you here, cleaned you up, and then sat and looked at the pretty water." Scorch-Mane was shocked, before he regained his senses and looked about the room. Moss and leaves were covering the walls of the dimly lit cavern as a few rays of light shone through the cracked roof. Dead center of the room was a glowing silvery pool.

Remembering what his long, long dead mother told him, he took a guess as to where he was.

There is a place, deep within the Everfree Forest, where the Mirror Pole resides. This would let a pony copy themselves, as many times as they wished. One day, you might find it, and bring this family some money, hm?

He'd done it. He'd finally achieved his foalhood dream, to be the intrepid explorer who finds the Mirror Pole. Happily nestling this moment into his 'Cheerful Bits' folder in his mind, he realized how bulging the other folders in his filing cabinet of life were. Miserable Crap, Suicide Notes, I saw him, the titles of the folders were endless.

Frowning, he finally spoke, spitting a slight bit of blood onto the ground.

"Well, I finally copied myself." He proudly declared as he began shakily getting to his hooves, "You are now my second in command. Well done." Extending a hoof to shake, the clone stared, before happily nodding and shaking. Now all he has to do is make a team.

The night was as silent as Luna's banishment. The Princess of Night had been patrolling the streets for supplies, vehicles, and most importantly, shelter. It had started raining a few hours ago, and hadn't let up. Sighing, she carried on trudging down side roads and central streets in the hopes of finding a building that hadn't fallen apart. The district she was in was well known for being crime-ridden, and the state of the homes were prime evidence. Shattered windows, blood stains congealed onto the concrete, broken masonry and wood littered the roads. Stepping over some objects was difficult. On one occasion, she even found a whole house that had tipped onto its side, windows shattered and doors agape in a hollow scream.

After having no success where she was, she stepped underneath a balcony and sat down on a tired old chair. She removed her helmet, and began to smooth her straggled mane. After a few minutes, the rain became much heavier, so heavy in fact that she was forced to levitate a whole table above her head just to prevent herself from becoming soggy. When she finally exited the borders of the run-down district and entered the residential district, she went inside the nearest house and simply slept on the sofa in a deep, dreamless sleep.

Cadence was happy where she was. The moment she arrived, she saw a chest, and found; a crossbow with smoke canister launcher, a sack of smoke grenades, a taser, 50 stun bolts, Paralysis poison to be tipped onto bolts, and a laser pen. Picking all these up and latching them onto the armor she had specially designed for high ranking officers in her ranks, she trotted off to find shelter, clicking the laser pointer on and off as she went. Lasers were refracting all over the place when she shone the tiny pink beam into the larger crystals.

To top all this off, the first house she entered had a fireplace with a small sack of coal next to it. Cheerfully lighting the fire, she felt her whole body relax as the warming rays slowly lulled her to sleep on the sofa.

Aerlion Drift spat out at least 5 snout-fuls of sand, trying to remove the dryness from his mouth. When he had landed, the crater he created uncovered one of the chests he was supposed to find. I say 'uncovered', but more accurately he had dug through the ground and slammed his snout into it. The only 2 reasons he was aware of this were the blood stain on the box and the incredible pain in his snout. Upon opening the chest, he had the greatest award for the pain he had endured on impact. Inside he found; a large crossbow with a scope and laser pointer, a few extra pieces of armor plate to make up for the different configuration Pegasi had, 200 bolts, a nightstick, and a knockout gas grenade. After quickly attaching the armor and loading the bow, he spread his wings and flew up to look for shelter.

It didn't take long, as right next to the crater was a small shack with a tiny oasis nearby. Swooping down Aerlion could see inside the shack through the dirtied windows.

A table and two chairs were set up in the corner, accompanied by a small coal oven and workbench opposite. Nearby, a small canvas bed was held up by chains in a crude prison-like style. The rest of the building was made of wood, except a metal trough outside that linked to the Oasis. A pair of dried palm trees shaded over a small wooden chair and table, behind that a barbecue. Satisfied, he gingerly dropped onto the sand in case of burning. When none occured, he smiled and headed inside.

Princess Celestia was completely entranced by the fact they got her bedroom correct down to the last manebrush on her dresser. She hoped they had the pantry stocked, as the flight from Appaloosa to Canterlot had ravaged her with hunger. Making sure to remove her armor plating, she trotted down the errily silent corridors into the kitchens. No chefs, but she could remember how to cook. She was taught only a few decades ago, how hard could it be to light a stove?

All of the other 5 survivors looked to the castle, spotting thick black smoke billowing from the kitchen windows. A single message came over their radios, the first of the match.

"Ummm...guys, is lettuce supposed to be on fire?"