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1140 Hours.

Ponyville Royal Guard Garrison.

A Brilliant white flash illuminated the room. Washing out the orange glow from the ferociously crackling fireplace, but only for a split second.

The violent reverberating growl of thunder shook the windows in their sills. As three ponies sat around the table just in front of the window. The Orange glow of the fireplace illuminating the decently sized room, and the clutter of fancy hoof-carved furniture that was sprawled across it.

The only other pony in the room wasn't sat at the table like his comrades, but stood at the window, waiting for the deluge of rain to begin, before starting to converse with his inner circle. He didn't have to wait long. A wave of rain swept over the land outside with the rapid fury of a tsunami. The pony, who was adorned in bronze armour, the Patch of a Celestial sun with a single sword under which symbolizes his rank as captain.

Captain Stryder turns to face his most trusted friends at his table. The primal roar of the rain outside the captains 'House' inside the garrison was threatening to drown out his hushed words completely as he approached the table.

"So, I imagine you must have a myriad of questions for me, such as: 'Why are you here?' and 'What is so important it required your summons at 11PM on a Sunday night'. And my answer to you all is... Yesterday, Two scouts were flying their routine patrol route. Before they made discreet contact with two flying creatures, not of Equestria."

All in attendance looked at each other questioningly across the table, each having a sickening realization that the rumors were true, before the captain continued.

"The first creature was brown with green splotches, its skin was shiny, meaning it possibly has scales. It held its wings beneath it, and somehow flies without the need to flap it wings. It was stout, fat, and very loud. The scouts described it as 'A constant growl that made the air tremble' it also had a constant 'Whistle'. The second creature was much the same except longer and more streamlined, it also had a thinner tail, and was much louder than the first.

The two creatures broke into acrobatic maneuvers before parting ways, they appeared to be in the midst of battle between themselves. By the fact that neither creature killed the other, and the victor let the loser leave. makes me believe that this may be a territorial dispute between the two. What is you input on this?"

Everyone looked around the table for a few seconds before a tan coloured mare wearing her nightcap spoke up.

"Sir, I'm no Anthropologist, or what ever would be the qualified job to guess the behavior of creatures. But it is possible that it was a territorial dispute. But unless these creatures can wield weapons or magic, Or are insanely huge. theres no real problem as of yet." She said with a hopeful smile.

The captain spoke up, remembering a certain detail in the report. "I Do believe that they can use magic. The Private described it as 'With constant cracks of thunder, fire spewed from its wings and wisps of light that look like miniature green and red suns were hurled at the other'."

The mares face paled considerably at the report. And another Pony, a Chocolate stallion with a fiery orange maine spoke up next with great conviction.

"If they are so capable so as to wield the power of thunder and suns then they must be dealt with swiftly!"

All ponies at the table, including the captain nodded at this conclusion. It was the logical course of action to defend the ponies in their care. This incident had occurred only ten kilometers from Ponyville. Had this freak storm not blown in from The Everfree, Ponyville would have been discovered, who knows what destruction could of happened. Then a thought popped into the head of the last Pony, the runt of the table. The near luminescent red pony mustered the courage to speak up, flicking his droopy grey maine out of his eyes.

"But what about Princess Sparkle? Shouldn't we consult her before carrying out an attack on a foreign entity?-" He was immediately silenced by the glare of his other three counterparts around the table, the mares voice boomed over the white noise of the typhoon outside.

"THEIR ANIMALS, MONSTERS, they are incapable of cognitive thinking or communication, the scouts reports that they tried to communicate with it but it did nothing. Its only reaction came when it was attacked by its counterpart."

The captain stood from his cushion whilst looking down his nose to the quickly shrinking form opposite him.

"I Appreciate your concern, Firebrand. But you have to understand, if we alert Princess sparkle to this development, she'll deny any self defence of Ponyville VIA preemptive strike, in-favor of attempting to 'Study' it or something, Remember that incident a few months ago with that timber wolf?... Princess sparkle is a scientist, first and foremost. She doesn't have the vast experience we do in combat as Royal Guard! She cant understand... to make the decision that counts! And right now the defence of Ponyville is our upmost priority. Besides. She can always study the body much more in depth when we bring it back here..." He said with greedy vigor. "This may be the act that finally gets me recognized in 'The hall of the Guard'.

'Captain Alexi. Makeri. Stryder. Awarded this place in these records for his decisive victory in the first battle of his career. Slain monsters from an alien world in defence of his fellow Ponies! Has a Ring to it...'

The captain thought as he walked over to the front door. His inner circle on his heels

"Be ready, We launch tomorrow morning. I'm going to tell Princess sparkle that we're heading on a training exercise over The Everfree, in order to train my Guard to master their fear of it. Once we leave we commence mission start.
Sergeant Firebrand, have two squads of six take off and fly the directions both beasts flew after their engagement. Have them report back to you immediately, The storms lingering over Ponyville and its surrounding area whilst The Everfree's skies are clear. Spotting two scaled beasts sleeping should be a simple task, creatures that big need a large area, tell them to start with the clearings in the forest."

The red pony simply nodded his lowered head, accepting long ago that when the captain ordered something, arguing would just hurt himself, and his unit.

Unbeknownst to the group of separating ponies now walking through the rain to their respective barracks. The four of them hadn't been alone during that meeting. Hanging from a low tree limb that extended over the arch of the captain's roof. A lone Vampire Thestral had been listening into their conversation intently. She releases her grip on the tree limb, righting herself midair and flapping her wings furiously, fighting the force of the constant barrage of the rain pulling her down. Her usually unnaturally fluffy fur didn't help her in that feat, her fluff absorbing the deluge like a sponge.

Eventually the combined forces of rain and the weight of water in her coat forced her to land. But she didn't stop, she couldn't stop. The lives of creatures where held in her hooves, she must report her find to Princess Luna!

On and on, she galloped as hard as her body would allow, only slowing to a jog occasionally to catch her breath. By now she was shivering violently in the cold of the rain.

"GRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAHHHHHH! I HATE RAAAAIIIIIN!!" She screams into the black swirling heavens above her.

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1140 Hours.

Wallaroo's / Mist Cougars F.O.B (Forward Operating Base)

The clearing was bathed in rich white moonlight. Painting the Small city of shrub camouflaged Canvas and nylon tents in an eerie white glow that reflected off everything.

The only souls moving around at this time? The sparse frequent patrols of three, moving, around the perimeter and inner 'Roads' between the fabric structures. The random sods currently stumbling around cross-legged between the tents looking for the bathroom truck that has been moved so many times today during setup, its current location was a mystery. And Lancer, Who sat on the front step of the Command Truck, Enjoying the peace of the cool night air.

As Lancer took another hearty gulp from his warm cup of Milo. The door behind him slid open, a long shadow spreading over the ground in front of him.
Lancer turned to see his friend since school, John Brigan, or 'Johnna' as he was nicknamed among the crew.

"You know the plan?" Johnna inquired as he joined Lancer on the grated step, His own cup of Coffee steaming in hand.

"Once i finish my Milo, and my sorry lot finish their first cooked meal that didn't spend the first twenty two months of its life in a plastic bag. 'Tan Tabbies' pack up and depart for the village spotted during an air patrol. Strictly recon." ...Another Hearty gulp...

"Yeup, Tats' De' plan" Johnna said in a dopey voice. Before sipping his coffee.

Lancer brings his industrial sized mug to his lips again, before taking it away and shaking his head, chuckling.

"Hmm? What's so funny?" Johnna asked cracking a smile.

"When my crew drove out of that fog bank we ended up breaking 90 road rules i'm pretty sure, before running out of gas in some poor bastards spring onion crop. By the end of our panicked spree we had driven through three fences accidentally stolen an empty chicken coup and destroyed a fair portion of some poor farmers livelihood. That field was apparently only a ten minute drive straight south to that village."

"It's a good thing you didn't go there. That village is on the tactical map, its fair game. Probably crawling with Snakes or Dragonborn." Johnna rebutted.

Lancer Scrunched up his face in thought, placing his cup on the step next to his right foot, before turning to face his friend.

"Thats What gets me Johnna. How could we be 'Magically' Teleported from the northern most sectors of the map to the southern most? It doesn't make sense! You know as well as i do that the combat area is over three hundred and fifty kilometers across!" Lancer began to raise his voice in frustration.

"I Dunno, but its best to not question it too far. We know where we are now. We just have to deal with it." The buff well tanned Samoan said into his mug, taking another sip.

Lancer stood up at that and began to walk over to his 'Lady' who was parked in a recess in the trees, just off to the side of the entrance into the clearing.

"Hey, Jay! You gonna finish your drink?" Johnna asked, before looking into Lancers abandoned mug. All that greeted him was the Remnants of a melted marshmallow.

Light Erupted from the Vehicle into the early morning mist as the turret hatch opened and Andrew popped out the top of the vehicle.

"Where is he? We're supposed to be gone already!" He exclaimed with a frustrated tone.

"Your saying something?" Lancer huffed whilst scaling the left side of the puma.

Andrew let a relived smile out over his broad square face.

"No sir. We're ready to leave!" Andrew reported with a raised professional soldiers voice.

Lancer slipped into his hatch like a caterpillar climbing back into its cocoon. before slamming the hatch shut he turned to face Andrew.

"You may want to button up so we can get going. don't look now. but you just re-woke the party." Lancer said quietly whilst pointing to the tents with his thumb.

Andrew followed his point before exclaiming a profanity and falling into his position slamming his hatch shut. Cooks from both teams, Not in the slightest appreciative of having their recently achieved sleep interrupted. Had taken up arms and were quietly charging at the Puma, Waving the Various implements of their profession.

As Jackie released the parking brake and the Puma began rolling down hill away from camp, so they could start the engine without waking everyone up. Lancer was Doubled over in his seat laughing up his lungs.

"That was the most Hilarious thing I've ever seen! They were trying to be so 'Threatening' waving their pans and knives and rolling pins and soup ladles through the air whilst quietly yelling and charging at us!"

An rather uneventful half hour drive later the Puma had pulled up and came to a stop behind a small empty hill that overlooked the town. Its significantly thickened foliage camouflage making it look like a rectangular bush from the air. But their parking was cleaver, so that only Lancers shoulders and head would protrude out form over the hill, to allow him the view he required for his recon. AND Allowing him to still have the protection of his Vehicle. Without give their position away.

With their checklist of 'To do's' Completed, the crew buttoned up their vehicle, and used their spare time to sleep. Before falling asleep a passing glance was afforded to the dashboard clock in front of lancer. Its glowing arms portrayed the time as 3:12AM

"... We need to rethink our sleeping patterns..." he mumbled to himself.