Invasion

“I never liked trains” Armanii said sarcastically to break the silence.

“What?”

“I never liked trains. They take too long.”

“Don’t worry.” Twilight said. “We’ll arrive at Appleloosa soon, it’s not that far away.

“We just need to get there before General Arog does...” Armanii said with a worrysome tone... He didn’t want any of the ponies getting hurt...but with Arog on the loose in Equestria, that option seemed to quickly fade away...

“Just wait Armanii, we’ll get through this!” Pinkie Pie said, trying to cheer him up with a smile and a sense of hope.

“Pinkie, you are wasting your time.” Emerald Impaler said with a snarky attitude.

“Watch it varmint, we’re gonna get through this, or my name ain’t Applejack!”

“My opinion stands. I know more about Talomanza than you will ever know.”

“Quiet, all of you!” Rarity barked, in a rather unladylike manner, quickly fixing herself before speaking properly once again. “This is driving us apart. Even if we don’t succeed, we went down with a fight, and I think THAT is what we will be remembered in history for!”

The group gave a collective smile, and went in to hug Rarity, including Armanii, who stepped a bit out of his comfort zone to do so. Emerald Impaler sat in his seat, staring at the ponies, not wanting to get involved with them and their hugs.

“Join us Emerald!”

“Yeah Join us!”

“We all need something to cool our nerves!”

Emerald Impaler got impatient. slowly fuming with annoyance at the ponies. But he had to stick by Armanii's side

“Sorry. I don’t hug.”

“Why no-”

“The last person i hugged, I murdered. Is that clear?” He said, interruptingly. He said it in a dark tone, almost one that wasn’t his own. He was done. Done with their happiness. He wanted no part of it.

They stopped their hug and stared at him.

“Yessir...” they said collectively, all in a very dry and monotonous tone.

“APPLELOOSA STATION!” came the train conductor.

“Excellent...” said Emerald Impaler as he stood up and walked to the train doors. “Now we can leave.”

Armanii stepped outside into the dusty plains and rugged buildings of Appleloosa, the clock tower chimed at the strike of 5, and all the ponies walked and frolicked about happily. He noticed their garb, old and rustic like American old west tales. He looked around to the large Apple orchard in the east, and to the sheriffs department in front of the train station. Suddenly, he was greeted by a strange yellow pony.

“Howdy there! Welcome to AAAAAAAAAAPPLELOOOSA!”

Armanii jumped back in surprise. Obviously not expecting anyone to greet him so loudly and suddenly.

“AH!” He flew back just a little bit. “Son of Percii you scared the living daylights out of me!”

“Oh, sorry. Didn’t mean to scare yah. My name’s Braeburn, what’s yours?”

“Armanii. Armanii Sve.”

“That ain’t no name I ever heard of. Then again you’re one of them there two leggers, so I guess you wouldn’t”

Armanii wasn’t sure how he felt about the term “Two legger”, nor how the pony knew about humans, and didn’t completely flip out, but he supposed he would have to get used to it.

“Who is in charge here?”

“That’d be the sheriff sir! Want me to take yah to him?”

“That would be excellent, thank you, Braeburn.”

“AND COUS! Cousin Applejack I ain’t seen you in a long while how’ve you been? And where’s your Rainbow friend?”

“I’ve been much better Braeburn, and don’t mention Rainbow...she ain’t doin’ so well...we need to talk to the sheriff fast, and actually, I’d prefer if you were there too.”

“Sure thing cous! What’s the problem that y’all need to talk to the sheriff so bad? And who’s that black robed thing?”

They all stared at Emerald Impaler, he didn’t want the ponies being frightened by the comm, so he hid it under his hood.

“Just call me Emerald...”

“Okay Emerald! Pleasure to meet yah!”

“I wish the feeling was mutual...”

“Don’t mind him, he’s just grumpy!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed trying to cover up the obvious disgust that Emerald Impaler was giving towards Braeburn.

“I see. Well, we ain’t all got good days all the time! Come, I’ll take y’all to the sheriff.”

“Thank you Braeburn.” Applejack said with a slightly happier voice than before. She was very happy to see her cousin, but the sight of Dodge Junction was still haunting...all the blood...the charred bodies...

Braeburn led them across the train station to the sheriffs building, a large, wooden building that was slightly grey and unpainted. Pictures hung on the walls, Armanii assumed that they were criminals on the run, although nothing bad seemed to happen in Equestria, as far as crime went anyway. He never had any worries about it, all the ponies seemed so nice, why would crime be an issue? These were the thoughts going through Armaniis head at the time, but when he finally saw the sheriff he giggled a little bit. He hadn’t seen a pony with a large mustache before, and his was overly ridiculous. He tried to contain it, but looking over at Emerald Impaler, who was now showing his comm in the darkness of the building, he could hear a faint chuckle coming from him.

“Evenin’ y’all. Whatcha need?”

Armanii sat down in a chair and looked at the sheriff with a grim look.

“Sir, we come with grim tidings. There is an army coming to destry Appleloosa.”

The sheriff and Braeburn looked confused.

“What?”

“There is an army coming for you, and for us.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean what I say! Do you know what the word ARMY means?”

“Of course we do. But there ain’t no hostile armies of Equestria.”

“If you knew I was human, then you know there is a military force that follows. You know about Talomanza, don’t you Braeburn?”

The sheriff looked over to Braeburn.

“Braeburn, is this true? What’s going on around here?”

Braeburn sighed...

“Yes, I knew, I got the word a few days ago that there was an invasion brewin’...The newspaper came in from Canterlot...but no one but me reads the paper anymore, no one here seems to care what’s goin’ on outside of Appleloosa. I didn’t want nopony gettin’ worried.”

“Do you know what they will do!?” Armanii scream, almost getting up out of his chair. “They will kill you, they will burn you, they will torture you, they will RAPE YOU!” He barked it out at the sheriff and Braeburn, Emerald Impaler chuckled for a second and walked over to whisper in Armaniis ear.

“I didn’t think the Talomanzan soldiers were horse fuckers mr. Sve.”

Armanii wasn’t amused. He was dead serious about it. They would do anything in their power to make sure that they had no hope left in them at all once they were finished with them...

Braeburns mouth fell agape.

“What do we do?”

“Fight back, try and hold them off.”

“But...there ain’t no way we can win!”

“If we take out the general, Yemzii Arog, we might have a chance.”

Emerald Impaler interrupted the conversation.

“Good luck getting close to Masher, he’s always on high alert.”

The sheriff and Braeburn cowered at the mention of the word masher, they shifted backwards, as if they were not only afraid of the hooded man with a blade hilt on his belt, which was clearly visible, but that somehow the word ‘masher’ had struck a chord with their fear factor...

“M...m...masher?”

“Relax, it’s only a nickname.” Armanii said, trying to get the two ponies to calm down. He said it with assurance, although with the way Emerald Impaler had been talking about him, he wasn’t confident that Masher was just a nickname for no reason...he earned it somehow, and if it wasn’t what he thought...how on Earth did he earn that nickname? He almost didn’t want to find out...

The sheriff looked at Braeburn.

“Prepare the pies. We’re going to battle.”

“Yessir!” he said as he ran outside like lightning escaping the clouds.

“Did you just say...pies?”

“Yes. Why?”

“Nevermind...i just have a bad feeling about you using pies against a force with guns...”

“Well, we’ll just have to trust it. We’ve done it once before.”

“It just leaves a bad taste in my mouth...” Armanii said, looking down to the floorboards. How would pies ever compete with guns? How on Earth would these ponies survived...he can’t fit them all on the train...the train wasn’t that big...what if some ponies had to die...oh dear Talos...not that...

“So then tell me, two legs, how YOU would fight them?”

“You ponies dont have magic im told. Correct?”

“We’re Earth ponies. No magic around these parts.”

“Damn...”

“We can throw things pretty well however.”

“Can you throw things like these?” he pulled out a few magna-nades and a flagzoid grenade, placing them on the table. The sheriff looked at them closely, examining them. He examined them for a long while before picking them up and throwing them in the air to see how heavy they were. The magna-nades came close to connecting.

“Watch out!” Emerald Impaler said as he grabbed the balls in mid air, bringing them back down onto the table. “Do not play with these.”

“What are they?”

“They are grenades, they explode when they are used right.”

“Like a magic bomb?”

“Somewhat, yes.” Armanii said in a very sarcastic tone.

“How do you use them? And how many do you have?”

“These ones you toss together, and throw them as far as you can into soldiers, this blue one you take it and pull out this blue crystal here, when you throw it, it will explode, turning any soldiers, or ponies, into solid ice, making icicles out of them. It’s made of a certain chemcal, and both explode after 10 seconds.”

“10 seconds, got it, but I need more than just one.”

“Unfortunately, sheriff, I have only these, and I need these. But if you were to search the packs of soldiers, say knock them out and steal their items, you can grab more. Only higher commanders carry these blue ones, so they are a bit more rare...”

“That’ll do for me. When do they come?”

“Soon, we need all the time we can use.”

“Right. Braeburn got started on the pies, I’ll rally the townsfolk and send this information their way. Don’t you worry two legs. Appleloosa ain’t falling to those savages.”

The sheriff walked out, heading off to gather the townspeople to a meeting at the clocktower.

“For your sake...I hope it doesn’t...” Armanii said under his breath. He was almost certain that General Arog would be there soon, but he had to try and get every last waking hour with the ponies so that he didn’t feel like a complete failure...

When they saw what came ahead...

The ponies of Appleloosa worked through the night, building barricades and baking pies, being trained in the use of the grenades with the help of some very large rocks. The children participated, the women participated, and the men participated. And all through the night they worked, they worked until their backs ached and their hooves were worn down and their legs couldn’t support them anymore. Armanii oversaw the final product, examining every barricade and brick to the last detail. He was tired, he needed sleep. He just hoped the Talomanzan army didn’t attack during the night. When he went to sleep that night, his dreams were haunted by the sight at Dodge Junction. What if Masher did THAT to them...what if he was captured, what if he couldn’t save them...?

He slept in the jail cell with the other 5 ponies. Emerald Impaler stayed watching the town all night, walking in the darkness, thinking to himself. He never went to sleep. But then again, Silver Assassins are used to never sleeping.

The morning came with a loud rooster calling the morning sun. Armanii awoke to the soft morning light shining through the window of the cell. He went outside to find Emerald Impaler sitting on the porch of the Sheriffs building. staring out front at the train station. The other ponies weren’t awake yet, so Armanii took this time to see if he could learn more about the assassin that was to aid him in his fight. He sat down beside him.

“So, how long have you been up?”

“All night.” He replied without missing a beat, as if he expected the question already.

“Oh. You never went to bed?”

“Would you have rather taken the chance with a Talomanzan attack in the middle of the night? While all of you slept comfortably?”

“I guess not.”

“Good.”

Armanii sat quietly for a while before asking his next question.

“What were you thinking about? You looked like you were thinking about something important.”

“Oh? Nothing, just a few things from a long time ago. It’s nothing.”

“Nothing doesn’t cause silence my friend.”

“I’m not your friend, and unfortunately, it does.” he stood up quickly. “The Talomanzans are near...”

“How can you tell?”

Emerald Impaler pointed a lone finger to the north.

“That familiar sound.”

From over the horizon could be heard the familiar drone of thousands of soldiers...

“RAHTZ! RAHTZ! RAHTZ!”

Armanii stood up.

“You don’t have much time sergeant.” Emerald Impaler droned. “Wake everyone up, the murder starts today.”

Armanii quickly ran inside and shook the 5 ponies from their sleep. Dreary eyes were what greeted him as he explained the situation.

“What is it Armanii, it’s too early for this...” Said Twilight as she arose from her slumber.

“We have no time. Talomanza is coming, we must wake ALL the ponies up NOW!”

That got their attentions, quite quickly too. The rest of them bolted upwards and ran out the doors, nearly tripping Armanii as they ran. They ran to each house and woke the ponies inside, Braeburn and the Sheriff too. Ponies walked out of their houses with pies in their mouths, setting them up behind the barricades. Armanii and Emerald Impaler, not wanting to get caught up in the flying bolts that would soon follow, took the stairway to the top of the clock tower, from there, they could watch the battle, and give orders to the ponies. The shouting of the Talomanzans was getting even louder now.

“RAHTZ! RAHTZ! RAHTZ!”

Armanii looked over Appleloosa and shouted.

“Ponies! Together we stand against Talomanza! Together we shall not fall!”

“FOR EQUESTRIA!” The ponies shouted as the Talomanzan force came within distance. At the head of the large force, was a tall man, looking about 6 foot 5. He had black hair and was decorated in a Talomanzan Generals outfit, with large sleeves and gloves. He spoke with a booming voice, over a loudspeaker.

“Ponies of Appleloosa! I, am Yemzii Arog! Talomanza brings is weight upon you! You have chosen to be inferior! You have chosen the way of Princesses and weak politics! You chose to be ruled! I command these troops, but I am not without mercy! Surrender now, and none shall be harmed! Those who do not wish to see bloodshed, join me, and together we will build a new Equestria, a new Talomanza, and a new hope for the land! Who will join Yemzii Arog!?”

The ponies looked at each other questioningly. One mare put down her guard and stood up over the barricade. She grabbed her husband and walked over to General Arog. They stood before him, as they spoke.

“We appreciate your mercy, General...”

“And I appreciate your willingness. Come, stand by me.”

Emerald Impaler looked down upon the ponies, and into Arogs eyes.

“Watch this.” He said with a grim tone. “Watch what he does next.”

Arog looked at his troops, and then to the ponies beside him. He raised a hand.

“Ponies! See your brethren before you! Let them be your examples! SOLMAZ! RATCHNA!”

The soldiers lifted their guns and opened fire on the two ponies beside Arog, killing them swiftly. Their bodies fell to the group in a heap, and the soldiers, once the deed was done, lowered their weapons.

“SEE THAT PONIES! Mercy is never shown by Talomanza! You have chosen to fight! And a fight you shall receive!”

Braeburn stood up from behind his barricade, a mad look in his eye.

“We ain’t scared of you two legs! Appleloosa ain’t fallin’ to the likes of you and your monsters!”

The rest of Appleloosa gave a cheer, the shouted and screamed and hollered out of joy. They would fight to the death for Appleloosa.

General Arog pulled out a plasma pistol.

“Show me what you’ve got!”

The rest of Appleloosa stood and readied their pies, while the soldiers of Talomanza readied their rifles. Arog lifted his hand once more, and with his booming voice, screamed.

“PUTRID PONIES! RATCHNA!”

The soldiers opened fire, the ponies ducked behind their barricades as the plasma bolts flew threw the air. Braeburn grabbed his pies and began throwing them across the battlefield, some strong arms these ponies had. From the top of the clock tower Armanii could see the entire battle unfold. So far, not a single pony had fallen, minus the two who were stupid enough to trust Arog. Pies were landing in the face masks of soldiers, blinding them temporarily. One pie that Braeburn threw, landed in the face of a soldier. Who, in shock, turned around and shot dead 3 of his own mates before being shot in the head by General Arog himself.

“Dumb Grunts...” Emerald Impaler said to himself.

“This is good! We have a winning chance!” Armanii said in excitement.

“You still have to deal with Masher.”

“Why is he called Masher already!? Tell me so that I know!”

“You will see. Right about now perhaps, if what I think will happen, happens.”

“What?”

Armanii looked down, Braeburn was standing outside of his barricade, with 4 other ponies, he stood and stared forward at General Arog, and shouted.

“We ain’t scared of you! You call yourself Masher! Well try and mash this!”

The 5 ponies charged forward through the barrage of plasma bolts, quickly approaching Arog.

“No one calls me Masher! NO ONE!” he let off with a furious scream. He reached for his gun as the ponies enclosed on him, his soldiers not daring to shoot for fear of hitting their general. Braeburn and the others scratched and bit Arog, punching him with their hooves as he continued fighting them off.

“Damn horses! Get your dirty hooves off of me before you regret it!”

But it was too late, Braeburn bit into Arogs jacket and tore it down the side, exposing his arm. Arogs arm, or should I say, Mashers arm, began to vibrate and shift like liquid. Emerald Impaler saw the whole thing.

“You wanted to see why he’s called Masher Armanii? Look at his arms.”

Arogs arm shifted and squirmed under the daylight sun, smoke rose from it and his arms began to grow...from deep within the pony cluster around Arog could be heard a deafening shout.

“YOU’VE DONE IT NOW, HORSE!”

Arog punched the ponies off of him with swollen arms, they kept growing and growing and growing to the size of small cars, his muscles bulging and his hands the size of cinderblocks. He lifted himself up on his arms, and he began to squash ponies in his way, going on a rampage, Braeburn got out of the way, but the other ponies weren’t so fortunate to escape what was now the Mashers clutch. He picked up ponies in his hand and threw them into buildings, or sometime just crushing them into mush underneath his hulking form. Armanii’s jaw fell agape when he saw the spectacle of Masher for the first time.

“THAT’S WHY HE’S FUCKING CALLED MASHER!?”

“Told you, i knew you wouldn’t like it.”

“How on Earth...what...how...” Armanii was at a loss for words, it was a hulking man with giant arms...he was called masher because he was a mutant...

“Yes, he was part of Gritz’ early designs of the N.A.M.Z.A. project, 4 I believe. He was the first experiment, and the last of that version. The project had a malfunction, and the radiation involved destroyed his arms. They became hulking masses that could punch through walls and brick and stone. But he only becomes this when his arms are exposed to sunlight, he becomes enraged, he hates it. But he is the Masher, he’s just what Talomanza wanted in their search for super strength...”

“He’ll destroy us!”

From across the field, over the screams of ponies and yells of death, could be heard Masher.

“I SEE YOU SERGEANT!”

“Oh fuck...”

Masher moved towards them at a rapid pace. He rammed into the side of the clock tower with great force, knocking the tower over and forcing Armanii and Emerald Impaler out of it. Armanii grabbed his rifle and began taking shots at Masher, but the bullets bounced right off of his skin...he couldn’t hit him...

“THORN IN TALOMANZAS SIDE! AND AN ASSASSIN TOO? OH GOODY!” His hulking frame said.

“Emerald, do something...”

“I can’t fight Masher...”

“You’re an assassin!”

“And he’s a legend!”

They both backed up quickly as Masher hobbled towards them.

“Theres one thing I can do...give me that Flagzoid Grenade.”

Armanii threw the genade to Emerald Impaler, who proceeded to pull the crystal out of the socket and hold onto it until masher was close enough. When Masher was nearly upon them, he threw the grenade at Mashers face, hitting him and blinding him temporarily. Masher ran off from the blast, allowing Armanii and Emerald time to hide in a nearby building with other ponies, who were hiding from the now advancing Talomanzan soldiers.

“We’re all gonna die, aren’t we?”

“No, no you won’t die...”

“Those...things...they want us for slaves don’t they?”

“Yes...but I have an idea...get on the train now! We’re leaving for Canterlot NOW! Round up all the ponies that are still fighting and get them on the train, we need to go!”

“Yes sir!” the pony said in a very southern accept, hopping out with the rest of the ponies into the fray of battle, where the bodies dropped like flies under the Talomanzan boot.

Armanii and Emerald Impaler were left alone in the small building, and Emerald Impaler sat down to try and get a small break.

“I need rest, wait before you go Armanii.”

“Why friend? Are you alright?”

“Don’t call me friend, and yes, I’m fine, I just...what was that?”

“What was what?”

Emerald quickly stood up.

“Watch out!” he shouted as he drew his blade and deflected 3 mini plasma daggers. Another Silver Assassin was afoot.

“Dear Talos! What was that?”

“Silver Assassin...WHERE ARE YOU!”

A disembodied voice came from the rafters of the building.

“Emerald Impaler? Is that you?” his accent sounded very Japanese.

A large man in black robes jumped down from the rafters, his face was covered by the general Silver Assassin comm, and he looked with awe at Emerald Impaler.

“Emerald! Friend! It is you!” he gave Emerald Impaler a massive bear hug, to which Emerald Impaler returned it. They shook hands and lowered their blades for each others company.

“Brother! We thought you were dead! You never came back!”

“No, I didn’t.”

“How has your mission here gone then? Were you captured? Do you need help?”

“Nothing like that, friend. What are you doing here? Are you the third assassin they sent from S.A.D. J?”

“Indeed I am! And I must say this place is beautiful, I’ve never seen a place so wonderous.”

“With this war, I think I’ve seen nicer looking things in Diamond Bracelets torture cabnet!”

They let out a large laugh, Armanii didn’t understand the joke.

“She’s a dirty one, that Diamond Bracelet!” Said the other assassin.

“I heard something going on between you two?”

“Yes, I was recently reassigned to her task force, I have a thing for her now, it was why I requested it.”

“You know you can’t marry or date within the group, Virus.”

“I know, but it’s worth it for secret love is it not?”

“I suppose so...look, you better get out of here, Virus, I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Why would you hurt me? We can kill him together! Collect both of our pays!”

“Its just that...he bought me off, so that I would protect him.” Emerald Impaler drew his blade on his friend.

“You know you shouldn’t do that Emerald...”

“I don’t care, It was my choice to allow it.”

“But what if General Gritz catches you?”

“He won’t, I’m still safe in my home.”

“So am I, but he’ll find a way.”

“The Talomanzan dogs can’t find their way out of a paper bag!”

“Emerald, this is your last chance, I must kill the sergeant. I won’t hurt you if you just step aside.” The assassin drew his blade as well.

“I can’t allow that Virus, I must protect him.”

“So be it.”

The assassin swung his blade at Emerald Impaler, he blocked it and ducked behind Virus, who back flipped over Emerald and locked him with his hands. Emerald Impaler used a blade hidden in his boot to stab Virus in the leg and get away. Armanii stood back, wanting to help, but fearing that if he got involved, the assassins would, on purpose or not, cut him to shreds. He could still hear Masher rampaging outside, as plasma bolts fired through the walls, Armanii ducked down to avoid them as the assassins fought, struggling with one another.

“I am done with this Emerald!”

Virus pushed Emerald Impaler away and activated a button on his comm, a large screeching noise came from Emerald Impalers comm, causing him to fall over in pain, trying to cover his ears.

“They don’t call me ‘Virus’ for no reason...” he said as he walked passed him to Armanii, who was laying on the ground in fear. Virus lifted his blade and prepared to strike.

“You should have known better than to trust an assassin.”

Armanii looked, horrified as the assassin focussed his blade, but he saw a sight that relieved him. Emerald Impaler came from behind Virus and stabbed him through the chest, without his comm on, which was still making noise behind him. Virus let out a shriek as the blade pierced his bones and cut up and burned his guts.

“EMERALD! WHY!?”

Emerald looked over to Armanii

“Toss me your gun!”

Armanii looked to his side and threw Emerald Impaler his plasma pistol. Grabbing it in mid air, Emerald Impaler swung it around and shot Virus straight through the skull. He fell over onto the ground. Dead. Emerald Impaler retracted his blade and bent down over Virus, flipping him over to see his face. His eyes were still wide open...

“Rest in peace...My friend, Virus...” he said as he closed his eyes with his fingers.

Emerald Impaler rose up and looked at Armanii. From the way he was looking at him, Armanii could see tears in his eyes, but he felt that he was surely mistaken. Silver Assassins don’t cry...well, he was right. Emerald Impaler let a few tears fall before quickly turning around to pick up his comm.

“What did I say about friends...” he said coldly.

“I thought you didn’t have friends!”

“I shouldn’t! Virus was the only exception...”

“You murdered your friend for money!”

“IT HAD TO BE DONE!”

“All you Silver Assassins ever care about is your money! He was your friend and you didnt even try to reason with him, just flat out murdered him!”

Emerald Impaler stood silent.

“What? Nothing to say?”

“Perhaps you’re right MR. SVE! Maybe I DO care too much about money. But try growing up in a gutter house with nothing, and see how much money you’d want after your father beats you and your mother does drugs!”

Armanii stood silent.

“Forget it. You don’t understand. Your communist government gave you soldiers everything you ever wanted. Not all of us were happy. I need time to think.”

“Emerald I’m sorry...”

“Don’t be, you’re right. Goodbye Mr. Sve.”

Emerald Impaler walked out the door and into the battle. Armanii looked out to him, as he cut his way through the horde of soldiers trying to pile on top of him. He sliced them in half as he walked by, eventually reaching the end, and walking off into the setting sun.

Armanii looked back to the train, where the 5 ponies were getting the rest of the living populace of Appleloosa on board the train. Armanii darted towards it, dodging the barrage of bolts coming from the soldiers behind him. The train was taking off just as he hopped through the doors.

“GO GO GO! GET OUT OF HERE!”

“But what about Emerald?” Said Fluttershy, concerned.

“He’s gone his own way. Just go!”

The train gained speed, and more speed, until the station whooshed past them. Plasma bolts zoomed past the train, and the vision of Masher faded away across the horizon. The remaining ponies from Appleloosa sat on the train bound for Canterlot. Braeburn, the sheriff, and 15 other colts and mares, some young children as well. Armanii looked out the window, over it he could see a lone figure, black robes, walking on the dirt away from the train. He knew it was Emerald Impaler.

“Farewell...Emerald Impaler...I hope we meet again...”

“Will he come back?” asked Fluttershy.

“I do not know...I hope so...”

Braeburn walked up to Armanii as he was speaking with Fluttershy.

“Sir, I can’t thank you enough for at least tryin’ to help us. We got a few of them though! I guess that’s somethin’ to be proud of!”

“It sure is, Braeburn. But how many we killed isn’t my concern, nor is Masher...”

“Then...what is?”

“Where his next strike will be...”