Invasion

“DOCTOR! DOCTOR!”

Armanii called across the hall for the nurse pony, every second seemed like a dagger in his heart. Rainbow Dash was bleeding out on the throne room floor...

“What! What’s wrong?”

“Oh thank Talos you’ve come...Its Rainbow Dash...”

“What about Rainbow Dash? Does this have anything to do with that robed pony I saw being carried by the guards?”

“Kinda...Rainbow Dash has a serious stab wound.”

“Oh dear heavens!”

“Come look.”

Armanii led the nurse to Rainbow Dash, who by now had passed out from blood loss. Armanii sat down in a chair to prevent his own legs from giving out.

“Will she be okay?”

“Mr. Sve, how strong are you?”

“Pretty strong, why?”

“Can your legs handle carrying her to the hospital wing?”

“I can try.”

“Good. We have to hurry. Like you might have to run!”

“Copy that.”

Armanii stood up and bent over Rainbow Dash, picking her up in his arms and quickly hobbled behind the nurse to the hospital wing. As he left he turned to Celestia.

“Keep an eye on Emerald Impaler, I do not trust him.”

“Ok”

Armanii tried his hardest to stay caught up with the nurse pony, but every now and then she would get ahead of him, and he’d lose her. He often had to rely on his own memory, which wasn’t very good. He took a few wrong turns in places...which only made him feel even worse. With every pony he passed, they looked at him in horror at the pegasus in his arms, and a few spoke up after him.

“Is that the element of loyalty?”

“Will she be okay?”

“Dear Celestia...monsters...”

Eventually, he had made it to the hospital wing. He laid her on the bed as the nurse began to clean the stab wound.

“She’ll be okay right?”

“We’ll see Mr. Sve...She lost a LOT of blood...so I wouldnt be suprised if she didn’t wake up for a while...or at all...”

“Dear Talos...”

“Why do you say that?” she said as she went to the cabinet in the back for some bandages.

“Its a religious thing. Like you ponies say Dear Celestia, we say Dear Talos.”

“Is Talos a nice person?”

“What? Oh I’ve never met him.”

“Do you know anybody who has?”

“Nobody has.”

“So...he and the rest of your higher people are locked away?”

“No...they live in another realm.”

“Seems odd. But then again, your people are very odd.”

“Let’s get back to Rainbow Dash.”

“Right...I’ll work on her around the clock Mr. Sve...but I cant make any promises...”

“Your work on her is all I need to rest easy.”

“Well check in with me tomorrow...I’ll tell you whether or not she’ll make it.”

“Thank you Nurse. I shall return to the princess.”

Armanii left the room, and hobbled with his legs back to the throne room. When he got there, he gave an angry look at Emerald Impaler, who was attempting to put his mask and comm back on.

“Oh, Mr. Sve. You have returned. Good to see you again.”

"You want to explain why you KNEW who she was?"

"In case it has SLIPPED your primitive soldier mind, Mr. Sve, I lied.

"What was the point of lying?"

"When you asked me earlier, I had not been paid off. Like I said, I had to be as vague as possible"

“Fine...but we will talk later about you not helping.”

“Oh that? Your military really knows nothing. I can’t fight my own assassins.”

“Why not?”

“Its part of the code”

“Great...”

They were interrupted by Fluttershy.

“Is...Is Rainbow going to be okay?”

“We’ll see...the nurse isn’t quite sure yet.”

“Oh...”

Emerald Impaler went and sat in a chair.

“She’ll be alright.”

“How can you be so sure assassin?”

“Trust me Mr. Sve, she’ll be alright."

Twilight stepped forward to face Emerald Impaler.

"She mentioned the will of Poison Blade...what is that?"

"It's actually a who. He's the leader of the Silver Assassins."

"Oh...I take it he's not a nice guy?"

"Oh no he's great. He's the best leader to ever grace the Silver Assassins. Wait just one second..."

He started focussing on the images on his comm.

“So Armanii, what’s our next move?”

“We would...we would have to know what city they would attack next...”

“How would we do that...?”

“Woah...” came a disgruntled Emerald Impaler.

“What?”

“Uh...Mr. Sve...you might want to take a look at this...”

Armanii walked over and sat in his chair, putting the comm on his face. Through it he could see the camera angles of the entire Talomanzan Underground Base, the same one he had entered Equestria through. He saw the Talomanzan Soldiers dragging Discord across the ground and throwing him in a caged room.

“How...how can you see this?”

“The Silver Assassin Comm allows us to hack into any camera on the face of the Earth and any Camera Outside it. You must remember, Mr. Sve, that we have been around as long as Talomanza has, and we develop our OWN technology. Talomanza doesn't have plasma blades, that is specifically us. Now then, If you wanted you could see the inside of the Oval Office, you easily could. On more than one occasion I’ve used it to view into a musical. Now...could you explain what that...dragon like thing is? It’s not of Earth...”

“His name is Discord...does this have a television mode?”

“Of course.”

“How do I activate it?”

“GFAH!”

A large broadcasted screen appeared in front of Armanii, and the ponies gathered around to watch.

“Turn up the volume, Mr. Sve. side button.”

Armanii put the volume on full, and they all listened to the sounds of the Talomanzan base.

The screen showed Discord, locked in a room, as he tried to escape it, it shocked him. Outside the room, was Galog, and he walked around the room in a pacing state.

“Discord...God of Chaos.”

“And you are?”

“Galog Ishmaam. I own you now.”

“HAHAHAHAHAHA! None own me!”

“You seem unable to escape.”

“You’ve just put me in a challenge. I’ll get out.”

“I’d like to see you try.”

“What do you want Mr. Ishmaam?”

“I want to know what makes you tick. HIT IT.”

A large bolt of electricity sparked around the cage, zapping and singeing Discord. He let out a large scream and fell to the ground in pain.

“So, God of Chaos, will you help us?”

“Not for what you’ll do...”

“Very well.”

Galog gave the signal to let loose on the sparks again. Discord let out another scream of pain, and Galog tried to talk over him.

“You will serve Talomanza soon Discord. It is just a matter of time. I will find a use for you soon enough!”

Discord continued screaming in pain, and Galog just walked around the cage, examining the being before him.

“Falo! Thaloi! Fuug!”

“Irel Siya” came a young soldiers voice.

At the point Armanii shut off the screen.

“I wont watch any more of that...”

“What did he say? At the end?”

The ponies looked at the Talomanzans, Emerald Impaler was the first to speak up.

“He said, Falo, Tools, Now.”

“Tools?”

“Yes, as in torture tools.”

“Oh my...”

“Indeed, Talomanzan ways of torture are the most dreaded in all the world.”

“Will they kill him?”

“Of course not. Just make him lose his will to live, eventually they’ll find a use for him. Whether he dies after they’ve used him...thats up to the gods.”

“Poor Discord...”

Armanii stood up and spoke.

“I don’t know how strong Discord is, but I suspect we may have a few weeks before he is completely broken. We will need to check periodically on his condition.”

“Okay...”

“Quickly, Assass...Emerald Impaler. What else can this screen see?”

“Anything with a camera.”

“So...can it see the other rooms of the base?”

“Of course.”

Armanii turned the screen on and searched around the rooms. He found one room with a lone scientist, working on a machine.

“Who is that?”

“I’m not sure, what is he working on?”

They looked to Emerald Impaler

“Do not look at me, I do not know Talomanzan weapons. I know Silver Assassin weapons.”

“I know what it is...” came Armanii.

“What is it?”

“It’s an old project of Dr. Vedrachs...It was called Project Mindshare...but it was scrapped...why would anyone be working on it?”

“Spare parts perhaps?”

“Ranzha Vedrach makes his parts VERY specific, cant just take spare parts...”

“Is it being repaired?”

“Why repair it? It was scrapped.”

“Maybe it’s being recommissioned?”

“Doubtful, we’ll have to learn more from watching Vedrach.”

“Then watch. We need all the information we can get.”

Armanii turned the screen back on and searched for Dr. Vedrach. After minutes of searching with fruitless results, he went back to watching Discord.

Galog stood at the edge of the cage, and prepared his tools for torture.

“Are you ready to submit Discord?”

“Not to you.”

“Stubborn mule.”

“Rude Cazzaxxa!”

“So you speak Talomanzan? Hehe, then I won’t spare the convenience of English for you.”

He turned behind him.

“EHGOLD!”

Another shock came from the cage, causing Discord to scream out in agony. Galog took one of his tools and put it on the floor of the cage, sliding it towards Discord.

“Qsu mani plaou hjuin fre te?”

“No...And speak normally...”

“That is normally, monstrosity! But regardless, it’s a Flagzoid Grenade. Otherwise known as...”

“Frost Grenade...I know it.”

“Good,Should you disobey us for too long, I will release one of those into your cage, turning you to ice. Got it?”

“Turn me into what you will, but you’ll never earn Discords powers...”

“Trust me...I will.”

From Galogs side came a buzzing sound.

“Cii Ishmaam, fre te Ranzha Vedrach.”

Galog picked up his radio and spoke into it.

“Irel?”

“I Canzu zol Eldri fulmna pel hjulmag.”

“Irel. Gu me dret.”

He turned off his radio.

“Well, Discord. Looks like you’ll be spared my kind of torture for now. I need to attend something...”

“Go...”

“I’ll keep the electricity going while i’m gone.”

He flipped a switch, Discord screamed, and Galog left the room.

Armanii flipped quickly trying to follow Galog. He finally found him walking down a hallway, when he ran into Doctor Vedrach.

“Ah, Ranzha Vedrach.”

“Galog Ishmaam.”

“Xepli?”

Vedrach nodded, and they walked together down the hallway.

Armanii used the cameras to follow Galog and the doctor. They walked down a series of hallways to a meeting room, they opened the door and walked inside, inside were 6 men and women sitting around the table, with Gritz at the end.

“Galog Ishmaam.”

“Pilka Jigo Gritz, Kaiziimakz, Kaiziikoroz.”

The ponies interrupted Armanii.

“What are they saying?”

“Master General Gritz, Counselmen, Counselwomen.

As the counsel spoke, Armanii and Emerald Impaler acted as translators for the ponies.

“Ishmaam.” Said Gritz. “What is the progress on that monster you captured at Sum-Sarem?”

“Progress: Minimal.”

“When can we expect an impact?”

“I do not know sir. I am doing my best.”

One of the counselmen spoke.

“Captain, we must inform you once again that this is an urgent matter. We require that things mind to learn more about Equestria. If we ever plan to use Doctor Vedrachs machines, we need to know what these horses are capable of.”

Ranzha Vedrach spoke up.

“Well, sirs and madames, you see, through vigorous research and anatomy study of these horses, I have learn a lot.”

“Like?”

“I found that the Pegasus race can not only fly, but can control the weather as well! Their light bones and energy allow them to move clouds, rainclouds, tornadoes, and possibly control earthquakes.”

“Have you any idea how to harness this power?”

“I have one, but I cannot be sure yet.”

“You best hurry Doctor. How goes Mindshare?”

“Mindshare goes well, and I have full confidence in it.”

“Remind us again, Captain Ishmaam, why you requested Doctor Vedrach to rebuild Mindshare, not just mindshare, but also the Magenta Initiative?”

“In case we needed them in the fight against ponies, Ma’am.”

“Well, Captain, I personally feel we do not need to work on such things, what do you think, Master General Gritz?”

Gritz thought for a quick second.

“I think the Captain is justified in his decision. Just in case we need them, they will be there.”

“Thank you, my General.”

“On an unrelated note. How goes the campaign with Arog?” The counselwoman spoke to Gritz.

“Arog has finished his active duty in Iramman. I have set for him to be flown back to Talomanza to aid in the war on Equestria.”

The Counsel looked surprised.

“Sir, Arog is a monstrous killer, not an...ordinary general...”

“That is exactly what I wanted. He will be my new ears here for Discord. Ishmaam, You have 1 week left with Discord, if you cannot break him, I will have Yemzii deal with him.”

“Sir, General Arog will destroy him.”

“Oh well.”

“Sir you have my word I will break Discord. Until then, what will General Arogs next move be?”

“I’m ordering him to Sum-Sarem to begin the full scale invasion, city by city. Starting with a small town called, uh...’Dodge Junction’ i think it was called. Then on to Appleloosa, and from there a force to their mystical Everfree Forest, all leading up with my other 3 Generals to the final battle at Canterlot. We will siege every city until we control Equestria from the boots to the hat.”

“And what if Sergeant Sve tries to intervene?”

“Captain Ishmaam, if Sergeant Sve tries, he will be slaughtered as a traitor. Via Nazza Pru. He is an ant.”

“And what of the failed assassination attempts? I have heard no word from the Silver Assassins as you promised. You hired 3, 2 have not brought back word of success. I fear we must send our own, I knew we could not trust the Silver Assassins.”

“We will see, Captain. At any rate, we are injecting the new recruits with the 65-7-2 Regrowth Serum as we speak. You should go in for the injection as well, Captain, you’ll be doing a lot of fighting in later months. I assume you haven't received your weekly injection?”

“Yes sir. and No sir.”

“How goes the breaking in of the ‘new workers’, Captain?”

“Fine, the big red one was fighting back for a while, but I subdued him and put him within solitary confinement.”

“What about his sister? The little one, with the bow.”

“You mean the one that Private Garo shot?”

“The one that was in the health ward.”

“Ah yes. I sent her to work in the plasma mines of Sum-Sarem, she’s not good for anything really, just whiny, but good with apples I hear. Keeps going on about ‘Big Mac’ like some sort of burger.”

“Is that not the name of the red one?”

“I really don’t care.”

“Fair enough.”

Gritz spoke up.

“Anyone for meat and music?”

“Of course!” They said in tandem.

“Then this meeting is dismissed while we eat. Bring in the music pony!”

A shackled Octavia was brought into the meeting room. She was forced to speak in Talomanzan.

“Y...yes sir...”

“Play for us, dear worker...” he said sarcastically. “Marbaro Reliz’ ‘Blue River of Talos’”

“I...I don’t know that one.”

“Well, get the music.”

“From where sir?”

“Guard! Get her the music!”

“Yes My General!”

Armanii shut off the screen once again. Applejack was ecstatic, and jumped around excitedly.

“Dear Celestia! Applebloom and Big Mac! They’re alive! They’re alive!”

Emerald Impaler stopped her jumping and looked her in the eyes.

“For now.”

“Party pooper...” Came a disgruntled Pinkie Pie.

Emerald Impaler ignored her and carried on with his business, taking his comm and mask and putting it back on.

“Armanii,” Celestia spoke. “What’s our next move?”

“Find out what they plan on using Mindshare for, and what the Magenta Initiative is...”

“And?”

“Stop the siege of Appleloosa.”

“How?”

“Ponyville might be gone, but I won’t let another town fall, especially not to...”

“Masher...”