Invasion

Princess Celestia looked to Discord.

“Well, Discord, are you ready?”

“Well not just yet Princess, we’ve yet to hear a plan!” He said with a sinister grin as he looked to Armanii.

“Well, we could find the new portal, that’s a good start” He said sarcastically.

“What about the guards?”

Armanii thought about the possibility of fighting guards. No doubt that would be a challenge.

“What exactly can Discord do?”

Suddenly, Armanii began to float above the ground, turning upside down.

“Sweet Talos! Father of Sal! Put me down! Put me down!”

He fell to the ground, head first. As he sat up he cursed under his breath.

“Slizza cazaxxa...” he said as he rubbed his head. He looked quickly to Discord, a glare in his eyes.

“Oh...was that me? Soooooooorrrrryyyyyy!” He said with a sarcastic tone.
“Discord, stay with me for 5 fucking minutes!”

“Fiiine, as you wish.”

Armanii scoffed.

“We need to get back to the portal, no doubt they have moved it. Anyone have any ideas as to how we shall find it?”

The room fell eerily silent for a long moment. None dared to speak. Later, Twilights voice suddenly cut thru the silence.

“Do you think the Wonderbolts will find it?”

“I got no doubt!” came an excited Rainbow Dash.

“Assuming they weren’t shot down by crack shots...”

“They’re the wonderbolts! The fastest fliers in Equestria! No way a few shots will take them out!”

“You better hope so Rainbow Dash.”

“Give them a bit, you’ll see!”

“Let’s hope...”

And they waited for news from the wonderbolts, they waited for hours, and hours, but still no sign of the ferocious fliers. After a while, dusk began to fall, and Rainbow Dash, once proud and confident in her idols, started to panic.

“They...uh...must have gotten lost! Or stuck in traffic!”

Armanii turned to her.

“Face it Rainbow Dash, they are not coming back...”

The wonderbolts were gone, captured...or dead...

“Now what? Without the Wonderbolts we may never find this place.”

“It is dangerous, yes, but I am afraid that we must send ourselves out there.”

“Do you know how long that would take with two pegasus and 4 grounded ponies and whatever you are!?”

“Yes, at least 2 weeks with our current status...we-”

“It’s outside the Everfree forest” Discord said as he smiled to himself.

“I told you, I know everything.”

Armanii glared at Discord.

“Well then, I guess we know where to look.” He said gritting his teeth together.

“We will need an escort, do you plan to leave now?”

“The sooner the better.”

“Then I will have my guards provide us chariots, we will get there by air.”

Armanii turned to the others. “I shall ride with the Princess, the rest of you in groups of two, Ms. Dash and Ms. Shy, you will be flying. And Discord...do whatever you want just travel with us.”

“Will do maaaaaaaaaaster”

“Suma uma t’gal o hii rewq...” He said under his breath once more.

“Guard, please get us a few chariots and call in pegasus to fly them.”

The guard nodded, and left.

“Do not forget, bring these ‘Elements of Harmony’”

“Will do!” they went to their rooms to grab the Elements.”

“Will these Elements help us?”

“They should, any being that I know of is powerless to the Elements of Harmony.”

“But you did not know of humans...that worries me...”

“True...”

They ponies returned with the necklaces around them, and Twilights crown atop her head.

Soon after, many pegasus with chariots galloped into the hall, stopping in front of the Princess and offering a bow of their heads.

“Well, hop on.”

The ponies boarded their respective chariots, earth ponies on once, unicorns on the other, and Celestia and Armanii on the final one. The pegasus carried them out to the courtyard and prepared for take off.

“Are we ready?” shouted a confident Armanii.

“Let’s go!” they all said in unison.

“Take us there guard, follow Discord.”

The guard nodded and looked to his brethren. With a unison glance they began to run forward, and lifted the chariots into the air. They turned their direction toward Discord and the Everfree Forest.

Armanii kept a tight grip on the side of the chariot.

“Armanii, are you okay?”

“Yes, Just afraid of...” he swallowed hard “...Heights is all...”

Armanii tried his hardest not to look over the edge of the chariot. He feared he’d tumble over the side and plummet to his death. He ducked down to prevent himself from looking, at risk of an anxiety attack.

“So, what exactly IS your plan Armanii?” asked Princess Celestia.

“Destroy the portal technology using the Magna-Nades...hopefully cutting them off...”

“Seems easy enough” she said as she looked away

“My only issue is...can we trust Discord?”

“I think so. He is very loyal and will fight for us when we need him.”

“That is not it...If they capture him...how long will he last before...he ‘rats us out’?”

“I...I don’t know. However he’s the deity of chaos, he’ll find a way.”

“We better hope so...”

The tree line of the Everfree Forest was within sight now. But just outside of it lay a ghastly sight...A large mechanical fortress. With a large purple portal in the center, buildings around it, and a giant wall covered about a square mile around the portal.

Discord stopped

“That is...unexpected.” He looked back at Celestia

“Guards, bring us-”

before Celestia could finish her sentence, large plasma blasts shot passed the chariot, nearly killing the pegasus guard. Giant Guns and rockets aimed in their position. Armanii, hearing all the noise, looked over the edge.

“Surface to air Rotary Turrets! Take Cover NOW!”

They all ducked behind the edges of their chariots, while the guards attempted to dodge the blasts.

Celestia spoke over the loud, booming sounds.

“Quickly, we must get out of their sight! Out maneuver them!”

“They’re locked on us, we’re dead if we stay in the air!”

Large plasma blasts riddled the air, forcing Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy to land within an inch of their lives. Soon after, the pegasus flier holding up Celestia and Armaniis chariot took a blast to the helmet, buzzing right through it and killing him. His body fell limp and the chariot began to fall out of the sky at a rapid pace.

Armanii was free falling to the ground when he heard Celestia call

“Armanii, get on my back!”

Armanii searched around for Celestia and grabbed onto her, pulling himself up and grasping for dear life as Celestia spread her wings. The chariot crashed to the ground with a loud clang. All that was left was a twisted, and somewhat grotesque, heap of scrap metal. Armaniis voice could be heard over the plasma shots, shouting to the others, who were still dodging shots.

“Bring us down to the gate!”

The guards nodded and flew down to the gate, a 3 story tall metallic giant with large towers. Ominous guards aimed down at them from the tall structures, and also along the wall. They just sat there, waiting for the command to shoot.

The group jumped off the chariots and looked to Armanii

“What do we do now?” asked Twilight

“I don’t know...Someone must run this place...”

Armanii looked to Discord.

“Discord, do you know how long this has been here?”

“No. I don’t, this surpassed me.”

“This had to have been built within a day. Actually that’s pretty leisurely for Talomanazan military structures...”

A loud, unrecognizable voice came over a loud speaker.

“Tugahl”

Tugahl...speak...

Armanii looked to the ponies. Then looked back to the wall.

“Me ju Solga Armanii Sve! Me kwal asd volpo!”

I am Sergeant Armanii Sve. I come in peace.

The voice on the speaker did not reply immediately. It waited a minute before speaking, this time in English.

“Well, well, well. It’s Armanii. It is good to see you again!”

“Who are you?”

The gates to the large fortress opened, and a man that looked like...no...it couldn’t be him...it looked like Galog, but in a Captains uniform, and surrounded by a large force of soldiers.

Upon the mysterious figure getting closer, Armanii could see that it, in fact, WAS Galog, and he came out to meet him in person.

“Interesting to see you Mr. Sve. Welcome to Talomanzas base of operations in Equestria! Sum-Sarem!”

“Don’t you address me as ‘Mr. Sve’! I know you like a brother!”

“Calm yourself Armanii, I mean it in respect” He said with a devilish grin

“And I suppose those shots, that killed one of our guards mind you, were fucking warning shots?!”

“Of course not!” We’re in a war Armanii, surely you know that.”

“You became a slave to Gritz!”

“He is the Master General and I will follow his command.”

“What happened to Sergeant Galog Ishmaam who would do anything for his friends?”

“Sergeant Galog Ishmaam is dead. You will address me as Captain Ishmaam from now on, I command these troops.”

“Since when did they promote you to Captain?”

“Since I orchestrated a magnificent attack of course. I have done so much service to Talomanza! I deserve this rank! I deserve to lead for once!”

“You always were the best student in the city of Maraskon...”

“And you were always an egg head. Stendarzza University! You went to do great things there. But we soldiers do the REAL duty!”

“Listen to yourself! Do you hear the words you speak?!”

“Of course I do. I am not deaf.”

“What will you do huh? What will you do?!”

“I will lead Talomanza to victory over these...things. Kyalmatz Armanii, surely you remember that from school.”

“Of course I remember Kyalmatz, but that doesn’t mean I want to follow it! It is ridiculous, you step on others to gain pride for yourself is what it is!”

“It is the Grand Victory, the Grand Achievement. It is the pinnacle of everything Talomanza stands for. And you call yourself a soldier...”

Galog scoffed.

“Look here Galog, I have nothing against you. You are my friend.”

“But I have a war to win.”

“Fine, then win your war, but we shall fight! Discord! Now!”

Discord summoned chocolate rain clouds upon the Soldiers, the soldiers sat underneath it and looked up. One soldier took his mask off and stuck his tongue out.

“mmmm...Kahrass! Kwazza Ghol!”

“Kwazza Ghol?”

“Irel!”

Then they all took off their maskes and held out their hands to catch some, drinking all they could.

“DISCORD! Something useful!”

Discord spawned chickens to run around the soldiers, but they didn’t flinch.

“Cazaxxa! I’ll handle this!”

Armanii tossed the magna-nades into the air. With a loud CLACK they connected and armed with a beep. Armanii caught them and threw them into the crowd of soldiers. One of the soldiers jumped back and grabbed the ticking bomb, shoving it down the beak of a chicken and tossing the flightless bird back at Armanii. Discord dematerialized the chicken and the bomb before it exploded.

“That was close, I don’t think i could take seeing a chicken explode today.” he chuckled to himself.

“Then it’s time to use the Elements...Ponies, use them!”

Twilight looked at the others as they levitated to the air. A beam connected their energy to Twilights crown, and as her eyes opened, a beam of light in the form of a rainbow clashed down upon the cowering Talomanzans, Galog included. For a long while the blast ensued, nearly blinding Armanii, who sat in awe and amazement at the sight before him.

“It’s like seeing a light show!” he shouted, nobody really hearing him.

The beam subsided and the ponies returned to the ground. There was a huge cloud of smoke surrounding the soldiers, and no pony or human dared to make a sound...

The smoke began to clear...and Armanii was the first to see...

That the Soldiers had not been harmed. Rather, there were colorful flowers sprouting out of their armor. The still cowering Talomanzans looked up from their position, staring at the flowers. Galog looked behind him and burst out laughing. The soldiers standing behind him also began to laugh outrageously, each one plucking the flowers out of their armor.

“That is all you have Armanii? Pathetic!”

“It was all I had...”

“Well you’ll have to try harder, until then...Solmaz! Afon Discordia!”

A soldier raised his weapon and fired a net onto Discord, zapping him with harsh plasma energy, Discord screamed as the net surrounded him and he collapsed to the ground.

“Afon hii”

“Irel Siya!” said the soldiers as they grabbed the net and dragged him behind the walls of Sum-Sarem.”

“Now you best get out before I decide to follow code and execute all of you.”

The soldiers aimed their guns at Armanii and the rest, their trigger fingers wiggling.

“Get out.”

“Galog! Look at yourself! You are not you! We have been friends since we were 5! I was there when you needed a friend! I was your best man at your wedding! I mopped up your tears when your father passed away! Do you remember none of that?!”

“I do not speak to TRAITORS!” He raised him arm into the air, and with a swift swing of it he screamed...

“Ratchna!”

The soldiers opened fire on Armanii and the ponies, in a hurry they hopped back onto their chariots and took off, Armanii on Celestias back. Armanii looked back long enough to see the rotary turrets lock onto them again, but they didn’t fire. Galog just sat there staring, and eventually turned around and walked back into Sum-Sarem.

No pony dared to speak during the long flight back. Armanii in particular felt as if his heart had been struck with lead...Galog was no longer his dear friend...

He thought long and hard about what to do...what would he do? He isn’t the Master General, he wasn’t a warmonger. He didn’t study for war for 12 years in the city of Maraskon...he was only there 3...He spend the other 9 years of his education in Stendarzza...studying technology and diplomacy...rationality.

He didn’t know what to do...he needed ideas....he needed help...

Upon returning to Canterlot, Armanii jumped off Celestias back and proceeded to lock himself in the throne room. Grabbing the radio from the table, he began to listen in on the Talomanzan chatter.

In the throne room, Armanii paced back and forth, holding the radio in his hand. With Discord captured, who knows what the Talomanzans could accomplish...hopefully Discord could cause serious problems for them, but it was unlikely...the Talomanzans were always experts on torture...

The radio was blasting on full volume, with all the scientists collaborating on what it was that had come through the portal. Lions paw, eagles claw, one tooth...it was definitely Discord but there was nothing about their plans for him. He continued to listen, but was abruptly interrupted by the 6 ponies and the 2 princesses.

“Your plan backfired Armanii.” announced Princess Celestia

“I know that!” Armanii snapped back.

“Hey, there is no need to be snappy.”

Armanii sighed. “Yeah, it didn’t exactly go according to plan...”

“What exactly WAS your plan? Because from what i see, this is going to destroy us.”

“My GOAL, Princess, was to have Discord scare the army away, or distract them so we could...well...kill them with what I had. Apparently Galog had other plans...”

“What exactly ARE those plans?” Twilight asked, calm, but concerned.

“I do not know, but with Discord they have that extra boost in power, i doubt it will be long before their next action.”

“What can they do with Discord?”

“They can torture him, force him to do their bidding...they are VERY good at that.”

Luna chimed in.

“Discord is not one to just give up on anypony. I have faith in-”

Armanii interrupted her angrily.

“Your faith is misplaced! You do not know what they will do! What they CAN do!”

“Do not address my sister like that!”

“I will address people however I damn well please! I am your only help here!”

“Your plans have done nothing but cause us harm! They backfire and we always end up paying for it! This is by far the worst! I can’t believe we actually thought YOU could help!” yelled Rainbow Dash.

They stood there and argued with each other, when suddenly an unfamiliar voice came across the radio. They silenced each other as Armanii listened to the foreign voice.

“Jigo Arog, druug nahchem arcolla?”

“Siiviim gluu zvah juus. Maakah vhuz Discordia qaz okram.”

“Jigo Arog, oploo hjai veq?”

“Irel, yori qwer oporanii...Koleg Sialo.”

Armanii dropped the radio in shock, koleg sialo, why koleg sialo!? He paced the floor rapidly, talking to himself.

“No...no no no no no no no NO! Why koleg sialo....why here...?”

The ponies looked at him with a puzzled look.

“What does that mean?” Twilight asked, trying to calm him down.

no response, he didn’t hear her, so she spoke a little louder.

“What does that mean?” but still no answer

Rainbow Dash flew up to him, trying to get his attention.

“Hey, what does that koleg sialo mean?”

This time he ignored her, continuing on with his rant.

Princess Celestia walked up to him and said in a sweeter tone.

“Mr. Sve, what does koleg sialo mean?”

He heard her this time, oh yeah he definitely heard her, but he ignored her. He didn’t want them to know, he was still trying to cope with what had been said.

Princess Luna was frustrated now, she had had enough. In her royal Canterlot voice she shouted.

“ARMANII SVE! WE COMMAND YOU TO TELL US WHAT KOLEG SIALO MEANS!”

Armanii spun around with a look of anger in his face. He looked strait into the eyes of the princess and screamed...

“SLAUGHTER MARCH!”