At Canterlot Heights

Chapter 3: Sisters at Arms
February 13th, 1252 - 1800 Hours, EST - Private Fluttershy, Medic
Beta Squad - 12th Recon Brigade - Pegasus Corps
En route to Equestrian province of Appleoosa - ETA 10 Minutes
Mission Objectives: Bring relay station online at all costs. Identify hostiles.
Secondary Objectives: Do not harm civilians.

Fluttershy looked sat in her cold seat in the silent cargo hold of the G-14 Dropship - affectionately nicknamed 'Griffons' by the mainstays of the Equestrian airborne forces. Of course, in the Pegasus Corps every unit was an airborne unit when the need arose. But the same couldn't be said for medics, so when word got around that Fluttershy had a way with nursing anything that could walk (normally) back to health, it wasn't long before the reclusive pony found herself cornered by the local recruiting officer. It wasn't that she would ever refuse to do everything she could for the poor suffering souls fighting and bleeding their hearts out for her and her kin, and it certainly wasn't a matter of inability to cope with the sight of blood or anything related, but Fluttershy was simply used to instituting and working in a peaceful, safe environment - a sanctuary where she could concentrate on healing the injured as only Fluttershy could do - but here she was, mercilessly drafted into frontline service in the 12th Recon, where she would, in all probability, be forced to desperately cling onto the lives of her dying comrades with second-rate medical implements, to endure the chaos of artillery and machine guns, and to realize that relief or possible evacuation will be no less than 20 miles away, assuming that whoever they're up against doesn't discover and overrun Delta Base in the course of their operation. Had it not been for the flamboyant Pegasus beside her, Fluttershy would have cracked under pressure, and they hadn't even landed yet. Yes.. Fluttershy thought. No matter how horrible things get. I've always go Dash.

"Fluttershy? Fluttershy? You alright?" Fluttershy flinched at feeling a hoof put on her shoulder - it was gentle, but still. She glanced nervously at Dash. Not sure she could interact with her quite like before, not now that she was her NCO. They were still friends of course, and considering the circumstances she couldn't think of anyone she'd like to be her sister in arms more... but Sergeant Dash wasn't supposed to pick favorites.

"Oh... I'm fine Rainbo- errr, I mean ma'am... it's ju-" Fluttershy stopped with a soft "EEP!" as Rainbow put a hoof over her mouth.

"*sigh*, look Fluttershy, you can call me by my name, don't worry - that's an order," Dash stated softly with a wink. "Now look, don't freak out! I mean come on, this is what I know from command - the communication relays down, they're just freakin' out a bit over that - noooo problem! Heck, chances are the local maintenance guys slacked off or something, ha!" Rainbow gave Fluttershy a bump on the shoulder and laughed her raspy laugh - Fluttershy responded with a faint smile.

"I suppose... but if it's just that, it seems like they're pushing an awful lot of everypony out here just because they're in the dark... I feel like... I feel like they're not telling us something Dash. Or at the very least... I think they’re expecting something they're not telling us about... and if it's something big..." Fluttershy trailed off, breaking away from Rainbows gaze and staring at her hind hooves hanging off the seat.

"Don't worry bout' it - suppose we DO have a little trouble down there - if there's one thing I can guarantee, it's that it won't be anything Sergeant Dash and company can't handle right?" And with that Dash rose from her seat and on all fours, and bellowed to her squad, "AIN'T THAT RIGHT RECON?"

"MA'AM YES MA'AM!" The squad replied in unison.

" Hey... hold on, do any of you even know what I was talking about?" Everypony in the cargo hold save for Rainbow and Fluttershy murmured amongst each other asking the same question . Rainbow gave herself a facehoof.

The confusion stopped in an instant as the intercom announced loudly amid the chaos, "Ready up Recon! Five Minutes till' Wing-off." Everypony froze, and stared at their Sergeant. Dash thought for a moment - but the time for thinking was over - the time to act was here.

"ALRIGHT PONIES - YOU HEARD EM'! GEAR UP AND GET READY TO JUMP, AND THAT'S AN ORDER!" Dash slipped on her sand camouflaged helmet and slipped on her matching goggles. " HOOPS! WAKE UP SOLDIER!" Hoops, none other than one of two certain jocks who had picked on Dash and Fluttershy, who had been taking what appeared to be a pleasant nap sprang awake on two legs giving a crisp salute . Hoops wasn't the brightest, and at first, the two mares had been outraged by the mere fact that they had to share a unit with their former bully. But if training showed Dash one thing, it was deal with your differences - or else. Besides, Hoops was found to be much more affable and submissive without his compadres of chaos in tow.

"That's more like it buddy - but uhh, lose combat stance - you'll need all four to make this landing..." Hoops slipped on his helmet and gear before dropping to mobile stance on all fours. Nobody liked combat stance - ponies could function just fine as bipeds, but the stance was unnatural and even after months of training and transitioning between natural stance and moving about, handling firearms on two legs, it was something most ponies could never get quite used too. In fact, it wasn't all that uncommon for a capable commando to wield a firearm in his or her mouth to some effect. But Dash, despite her own daring nature, didn't encourage such difficult endeavors - heroic pursuits and 'badassery' were second priority - the survival of her squad came first.

"STRETCH THOSE WINGS SOLDIERS - get a cramp out there and you're OUT OF THE GAME BEFORE IT STA-"

*BANG*

" RAAAAAAIIINBOOOOOW! HEEEELLLP!" Fluttershy cried out as the dropship lurched and shook violently - the squad hung onto the seat's armrests desperately, literally shaken and with no guarantee that the Griffon might hold together much longer.

" PIIILLOOOT! WHAT HAPPENED? WE'RE RATTLIN' LIKE A SALT SHAKER BACK HERE!!" Dash demanded urgently over the chaos into her radio.

" Sergeant - We've been hit bad! We've identified a couple of anti-air batteries that were hidden in town - they're clearly guarding the comms array ma'am! GAH!!!" The Griffon lurched again - Now it was tilted 60 degrees on the left side - Fluttershy and Dash along with three others on the right side hung onto the rails, literally hanging almost vertically over the rest of the squad, having slid on top of each other in a great big pony pile.

"DAMNIT PILOT - try and level it out for TEN SECONDS FLAT. RECON - we are LEAVING!! PILOT - open the bucking dooor!!" Rainbow cried over the radio, still trying to cling on to the right side rails.

"AGH - you got it Serge-*PSSSSSSSSHHHHHH*-t, you're being dro- *PSSSSHHH* bout' a mile north of the arra- *CRACKLE* stabiliz-*PSSSH* NOW! GO, GO, GO!" The Griffon still shook and even creaked, but as sure as could be, the Griffon stabilized, though for how long, neither Fluttershy or Dash wanted to stick around to find out. The moment the door opened, Fluttershy took the words out of her mouth.

"EVERYPONY OOOOOUUUUT!!!" She screeched, and as if the mere force of her panic were enough to toss everyone out the hatch and beyond, the squad leaped of the dropship, and spread their wings in an instant, gliding at breakneck speed away from the damaged Griffon.

"PILOT? Can you make it back to Delta Base?" Dash questioned over the shortwave radio while she was still in range.

"*PSSSSSH* -an make it back - I'm hit heavy on the starboard si-*PZZZZ* -I'll get there! GAHH*PPSSSSSH*-ING DOOOWN!!! MAYDAAAAYY*PZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ*..." The transmission went black, and Rainbow glanced over her shoulder just in time to see the Griffon give one last lurch before imploding with tremendous force and violence, still hammered with AA fire from the batteries below. Rainbow choked, and her eyes watered, but only for an instant - because the party was just getting started.

"Sergeant Dash! Incoming!!" cried Pvt. Helia - and the squad, still gliding down to safety peered in hindsight to find that the explosion had propelled several large, flaming, ostensibly threatening pieces of scrap metal their way.

"GAH! Beta Squad - evasive maneuvers!" Dash led the way dodging and rolling around the debris. Tragically, not everyone could be Rainbow Dash.

*WUMP*

"AAAAIIIIIEEEEEE!!!"

"NO! PEPPER! COME BACK! NOOOOOOO!" Dash cried out in agony, as Pvt. Peppermint Crunch was hit full on the back with a blazing slab of metal... and was sent tumbling unconscious to the ground hundreds of feet below.

"Sergeant Dash!" Dash looking below at the tragedy she had just witnessed, slowly found the voice, which somewhat surprisingly was Fluttershy's. She looked at her, hurt and confused. Fluttershy stared back, clearly sobbing and her face stained with tears. They were gliding at a steep angle downwards - almost diving in fact. Neither mare really understood, just how so much could go wrong... how much could be lost before one hoof was raised, before one hostile was in sight. And up until now, nopony truly grasped the reality of war. It was all a joke - a hit and run operation - a game. Until somepony was hurt... killed to be specific. If Dash couldn't get each and everypony under her wings onto the battlefield alive... what kind of leader did that make here?

Pvt. Fluttershy didn't say anything more to Rainbow Dash. But she didn't need too - as her pitiful, sobbing face penetrated her field of vision, it said one thing, although she technically said nothing at all. It said, "Rainbow Dash - not Sergeant Dash - Rainbow Dash, we need you more than ever. We need you to lead us to victory. We need you to get us out of this alive. And we need you now." Rainbow's sorrow was shoved aside. Replaced with austere and infallible determination, and a face to match it.

"Beta Squad!" Rainbow announced. "Form on me - hard landing or not, we're getting to that comms array! Now keep up for Celestia's sake - watch the crossfire and stay together!" And with that the five remaining members of Beta Squad, including Dash and Fluttershy made haste for a rectangular facility at the outskirts of Apploosa distinguished by a large satellite dish and a radio tower adjacent. As they soared over the province's capitol city, they couldn't help how it had changed so drastically from their prior visit. No longer quite a shanty 'wild wild west' menagerie of wooden huts, sheriffs, farmers and rustic bars that smelled of whisky.

Once an enormous reserve of oil had been discovered (was it... three, four years ago?), the town sprang up like the springtime flowers which even now adorned the town hall as they passed over it. Now it was not so much a town, as a fledgling trade center and agricultural powerhouse. In the distance Fluttershy could glimpse the thin smog floating eerily over the oil fields and processing facilities. Yet at the other end of town she could clearly observe the Apple trees and their gorgeous blossoms adorning the lustrous green leaves - no doubt the handiwork of Applejack's cousin Braeburn... Fluttershy had recently caught wind in her final days of peace in Ponyville, that he had kept the business afloat in the modernized Apploosa by teaming up with none other than the Flim- Flam Brothers themselves... and what had become of them, she wondered. Such a deceivingly innocent and beautiful town becoming a city... yet as Fluttershy peeked below her she 'eeped!' silently to herself as she became conscious of the direness of her.. of their situation. The town was crawling with ponies carrying all kinds of melee weapons and firearms, patrolling the town vigilantly. And they weren't wearing Equestrian uniforms. More interestingly. Most of them were townspeople wearing ammo belts and carrying rifles. They were cooperating with the enemy... but why? Some of them noticed Fluttershy - muzzles flared.

"AAH!" Fluttershy screeched. Dash growled and cursed them.

"Listen up ponies! We're almost, there, we don't need anypony else to get hurt before we even hit the floor - fly fast, fly low, in between the buildings - we'll go WHOOF, right past em' and they won't know what hit em'!" Dash may have been shocked at how violent things were turning, and quickly too... but she still had her wits about her. And that, she thought, is why you're the sergeant Rainbow. She more or less gave herself a mental high five - but busy Pegasus is busy.

"Hey Serge! While we're givin' em' the slip, why don't we strafe em' with our rifles and give em' a run for their money?" questioned Brolly, a white blue maned Pegasus with... and umbrella of all things on his flank. He knew Dash and Fluttershy as acquaintances prior to the war - he had helped Rarity after her fall when her false wings went poof at Cloudsdale, and more recently he had participated in the creation of the giant tornado for the water season with them. Though the question had been asked on occasion, Brolly was never one to discuss how exactly an umbrella could be one's special talent. Pvt. Helia, a minty mare with blond hair and a sunflower for her cutie mark, suggested Brolly was simply waterproof. Dash just thought it was a mistake - if he had joined the army sooner, it would've been a machine gun. He was a 'trigger enthusiast' if that could be called a talent.

Rainbow sighed impatiently at Brolly's overzealous request. "Brolly, we would probably hurt some of the innocent townsfolk, if there are any around, and besides - we're not entirely sure who's the enemy, and who's a friend, so just ease off trigger-boy... for now. In fact, let me just institute as a rule right now - don't shoot unless shot at - clear?" Brolly nodded solemnly and that was the end of it.

"Alright - dead ahead ponies! The roof, land on the roof! Keep a low profile and avoid contact for the time being - We'll break down that door..." Dash gestured at the roof level door which likely led to a stairway into the facility.” And we're going to clear out the building ASAP, got it everypony? Yes?" Nobody responded. "Yes, good, great, let's do this Recon..."

The squad landed on the roof of the Comms Array. For being offline, Fluttershy noticed that the building appeared to be in perfect shape. It could have been built yesterday for all she knew. She sighed as she realized that the possibility of a simple maintenance issue was moot at this point. They were in for a fight, and she was almost entirely certain of it. And to think... poor Pepper was already... Fluttershy sobbed a bit under her somewhat oversized sandy helmet adorned with the Pegasus Corps emblem (A pair of silver wings place over an olive wreath and a single gray star.) and the red cross on the sides denoting her as a medic. She hoped she would not be forced to assert that fact by watching another friend fall in battle... or before the battle has even started. But no Fluttershy told herself subconsciously. These ponies need you... Rainbow Dash needs you. Whether you pick up a gun and... and... and take care of them yourself... or whether you're there to stop the bleeding... But that was just it - it didn't matter what Fluttershy could do when it came to fulfilling her duty as a soldier - she was a nurse, a caretaker, a softie and a lover - how could she bring herself to stand on two legs, pick up a gun, and end Celestia knows how many lives with the pull of a trigger. No matter what the 'enemy' believed in, they were still ponies, living creatures with friends and feelings, just like anypony else... who was Fluttershy to kill them in cold blood for what they believed in and what they didn't?

Rainbow Dash removed her goggles and placed them on her helmet... she motioned for the squad to crouch on their hooves. She proceeded to whisper, only audible enough for them to hear clearly, "Alright everypony - so far so good... stay low and ready your weapons - I'm just gonna take a quick look around and see what we're dealing with before we sneak in and secure the facility... Pvt. Lavender! Get in touch with the rest of 12th Recon, I want to know where they are and that we're going to be... improvising a little bit. Let em' know we'd appreciate a little backup, or at least they can distract the rebels and keep some heat of our backs you know?" Dash gestured at Pvt. Lavender Skies, a pale yellow pegasus with light lavender mane to match her name. She was the communications handler for the squad, and she always had a headset wired to a cellular transceiver for long range situations in addition to the standard issue helmet and goggles headgear, and a walkie-talkie for short range encounters. Fluttershy remembered her from Winter Wrap-Up a year or two back... fittingly enough, she always kept a small stalk of Lavender attached to her helmet. Nopony really knew where she kept getting fresh Lavender but nopony minded either - it was refreshing anyways.

Dash crept cautiously to the outcrop of the building, about two feet high, so that the squad could hide effectively from anyone below or at the same level if they crouched next to the outcrop. Dash did just that, before taking a pair of small binoculars from her side and peering around the perimeter. A patrol here and there - Dash could see several squads from the 12th Recon being deployed by several griffons - according to plan, unlike her squad, of course. Of course her team would just happen to get the end of the stick. On the other hand, she surmised, this little mishap could turn things around. Whereas every fire team was a dozen blocks away at best, they were already in position, if not hopelessly outnumbered. However, seeing as the bulk of forces appeared to be busy with the rest of 12th Recon... Beta Squad would have the element of surprise and an opportunity to secure the facility. Once they were dug in, Beta Squad could hold position and wait for fire teams Alpha, Charlie, and Delta to join them to fortify. Meanwhile, Lavender could use satellite communications to request backup from Delta Base - but that was a lot of guesswork and a lot of assumption.

"Sergeant Dash! I've hooked up with the other NCO's in the area - a few Griffons got shot down like ours but aside from a few casualties in air..." The squad exchanged concerned looks - even Hoops, who quite literally could not see the dire circumstances at hand (His helmet and his thick bangs obscured what appeared to be his entire field of vision). "Everyone made it to the rendezvous and they're fighting their way to the comms array as we speak - 1st Lieutenant Sparkle told us t-" Dash went wide eyed and all formality aside, interrupted Lavender.

"Hold on Pvt - Lieutenant Sparkle? As in Lieutenant Twilight Sparkle?"

"Yes ma'am... you're... you're friends aren't you?"

"Haha!" Dash almost leaped in excitement before realizing she, as a leader should demonstrate better self-control.

"Only Best Friends Forever! Do you still have her on the line?"

"Yes ma'am!" Lavender removed a rather generic looking phone wired to the transceiver pack on her back with her mouth and held it to Rainbow's ear. Rainbow's excitement turned to fearful concern for the rest of 12th Recon - gunshots and explosions echoed in the background - get used to it filly' Dash told herself.

"Hello?! Hello?! Lavender?!! Beta Squad, NCO respond!" The voice practically shouted over the comm line. Oh well, how was Twilight supposed to realize how relatively quiet it was on the other side?

"Twilight?? TWILIGHT, it is you! It's Rainbow... err well, Sergeant Rainbow!"

"WHAAAT? Rainbow!? What in Celestia's name are you doing out he- *BANG-BANG-BANG* GRENADE! HOOF THE DECK EVERYPONY!! *BOOM* "

"I'm Beta Squad's NCO - what the heck is going on over there! Our Griffon got hit hard, we leaped out midflight and landed at the Comms Array!"

"THAT'S IT PONIES - PUSH EM' BACK! Give it all you got everypon- wait what?! Rainbow? Ahh... alright! Here's the plan, and listen up because we're a little busy on my end! Take the facility by any means possible, then dig in and wait for us - Expect us to be there in half an hour, give or take a minute... If you can, get your communications specialist to contact Delta Base - they'll know what to do! Otherwise wait, and we'll cross that bridge when we get there! Understood?"

Rainbow understood perfectly - and though she would never admit it, she felt that much better off with Twilight calling the shots.

"You got it Twiligh- err, Lieutenant Sparkle!... oh, and Private Fluttershy says hi!" Rainbow teased affably - glancing at Fluttershy over her shoulder listening, she could not help but feel enormous pleasure in seeing Fluttershy smile genuinely for the first time since they'd been dumped onto this oasis quickly turning to god forsaken wasteland. She heard Twilight giggle despite the less than ideal circumstances for laughter.

"That'll do Sergeant Dash... and... keep Fluttershy... keep everypony - even you, safe... Alpha Squad, out." The line went dead. Dash motioned for Lavender to put the phone away. She turned to fast her four squad mates. Fluttershy looked at Dash expectantly, still concerned and scared for everypony's wellbeing, but cheered by the presence of even just one more friendly voice.

"Beta Squad," Dash began firmly. "Load weapons! We're going in. Form on me - Pvt. Helia!" Helia ran from gazing over the ledge to meet Dash. "Satchel charges, on the door, now!"

"But Sergeant..."

"But what soldier?!"

"The door is unlocked... see?" Helia pushed down on the handle and the door clicked open with practically no effort. Rainbow Dash flushed beet red.

"Ahh.. well, uhhh, nix that! Save the charges... follow me - in combat stance... quietly... don't shoot unless I say so... good luck Beta." The squad got into biped combat stance - everyone, even Fluttershy drew their weapons (though she was obviously going through some moral conflict in doing so). They had their favorites of course, but at the moment it was just standard issue PAR-44 Battle Rifles. As the owner’s manual might tell you, it was an 8lb, gas-operated, rotating bolt, magazine-fed, selective fire assault rifle. However, Sergeant Dash acknowledged that manuals are for eggheads, so she wouldn’t tell you that. Following Rainbow Dash single column, the squad marched quietly, crouching into the descending, dark staircase. Not a word was spoken

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February 13th, 1252 - 1800 Hours, EST
OLYMPIAN 'Uno' A001, SpecOps Sector 3 - Office of Pony Intelligence
En route to Equestrian province of Ponyville
Mission Objectives: Escort her Majesty Princess Luna to Ponyville safely
Secondary Objectives: Eat Something

"Your majesty, do you... wish to rest when we arrive?" Uno queried the softly, yet clearly yawning monarch as they trotted at a moderate pace along the road to Ponyville, their identities hidden under brown, hooded cloaks.

"Surely not fair subject! We... ahh, sincerest apologies. I do believe there will be work to be done in the interest of Equestrian security... and, perhaps some festive gratification to be had? We do so remember our last appearance to thy fellow villagers... in the event of the holiday 'Nightmare Night' in which they all seek to be frightened and surprised by me!" Luna made a 'scary' face at Uno, promptly giggling at her antics posthumously.

"They... actually seek to be scared by you? That is.. in the form of Nightmare Moon... but why? Doesn't that associate feelings of... of terror or fear with you?" Uno couldn't quite grasp the concept that anyone would like to be scared - and he especially despised surprises. Indeed, inceptively, Uno's was xenophobic as such - he couldn't stand to not know, it terrified him. Partly because no surprise he had ever received had been anything close to pleasant. And Uno had received quite a bit of surprises in his relatively dull lifetime..

"Oh well... do not misunderstand us - I felt the same way at first - I arrived at the celebration only to discover that our subjects treated us with fearful shrieks and enmity... 'your Princess of the Night, hath arrived!" I would say - but still, they would cower and flee like insects in our dear sister's sunlight..."

"That's... that sounds dreadful... but what did you do about that? And why would they feel that way about you? I mean honestly, in my opinion... that is, if I may your majesty, you don't look like a monster or something to be frightened of." Uno wasn't sure if he would offend the godlike alicorn or appease her with his perception of reality, but from where he was standing, she didn't look scary at all. He didn't have much to compare her to, but she certainly wasn't the most unattractive mare Uno could have been caught with. Of course, he thought, perhaps every mare in Equestria looked like as regal as Luna and Celestia - when you're coerced into an almost complete lack of social associations, or even an actual identity, you can't exactly stroll out of the training facilities to take note of who has the best mane, or eyes, or flank in Canterlot. In his lifetime, minus Celestia, his training 'handlers', the palace guards, and more recently Luna, Uno had seen, at best, ten ponies who were by no apparent means associated to his life, female or otherwise.

"Well... as circumstance revealed, our tone of voice was somewhat... intimidating, and according to, Twilight Sparkle, one of my few new friends..."

"Twilight Sparkle?!!" Uno exclaimed suddenly. Luna stared at him wide-eyed and astonished by the sudden intervention.

"Err... yes subject... you are familiar with her?"

"Well umm... no... I don't think... I'm not sure... no, it's just that the name kinda' rang a bell and I... ugh never mind! Sorry for interrupting you your majesty..." Uno looked down, disappointed, as a fisherpony might after failing to catch a ten-foot Rainbow Trout. Twilight Sparkle... he had heard it before, he was sure of it!

Luna put a hoof on Uno's shoulder. "Subject... err, well, may we call you by your nickname?"

"Uhh... sure, I don't really see why not. You're my supreme ruler after all... certainly."

Luna didn't like the sound of that. "Subje- err, Uno, we ask for your choice because it plays it's part! Despite popular belief, you must understand that when we ask for your opinion, we treat you as equals...." She lowered her head and sighed in resignation. Still with her hoof on his shoulder she went on. " You realize that you can trust us... I mean, me, do you not?" She smiled at Uno, who in his mind couldn't deny that it was hard to say no when she shot him adorable glances as such.

"Well... umm, listen, your majest-"

"Call us Luna... Uno... please? Twilight feels that it makes us more... accessible." Again with the smiling. Why would she bother trying to befriend him? He was a subordinate wind-up toy soldier for what it was worth - didn't this pony have any other friends to harass?

"Well, alright, Luna..." The princess grinned appreciatively. "I'm really sorry to tell you this... both as my princess and... as an acquaintance but... I don't really have any friends, and the way I've been raised, I honestly have trouble trusting anyone."

"Even?"

"Yes..." Uno sighed in exasperation. "Even you Luna."

"Oh... I'm sorry to hear so... it is only that... well, quite frankly we were under the impression that we were friends - you see, we have found it difficult to adapt to the radical changes which our sister has borne witness too over our period of seclusion on the moon... and honestly... oh come now Uno, you are our only companion thus far whom we can speak to freely! Can we not place our trust in thy care?" Although Uno himself didn't see her placing trust in him fair (for Luna) as he could not do the same for her, he simultaneously couldn't see why not. Besides, he was trained to keep secrets - giving them out was just another story

"Certainly Luna - I'll listen to anything you have to say and..." He bit his lip. Careful what you tell this mare, very careful.

"And if you don't wish me too, I won't tell a soul." Uno probably threw half the OPI loyalty protocols out the window in one sentence, but hey. Score one for the kidnapping victim.

"Truly subject? Thou canst keep thy word?!" Luna pushed excitedly, an equally eager look of hopeful anticipation on her face. Uno could hardly believe how... how unlike her sister Luna could be. Back at Canterlot her dark, ominous appearance in contrast to her sister gave Uno the impression she might have been the more serious of the two.. just howmuch younger exactly was Luna than Celestia to begin with?

"Yes, yes, calm yourself princess! I guess uhh... I suppose... we're friends. Happy your majesty?"

"Oh most joyous night! Certainly we are!" Luna's face lit up like a flare. But her mood tones down as she prepared to inform Uno of something rather important. "But Uno, I thought I might explain... you see, now that we may trust you as a friend... well... don't tell our sister..."

Uno couldn't exactly lie to Luna or himself at this point. If a princess had something to say she would only say to her personal bodyguard, it was probably something worth hearing. "I won't Luna... go on?"

"Well... we don't share our sisters anxious viewpoint on the events unfolding as far as, 'rebellion', or 'insurgency'. We don't... we do not feel as if something such as idle threats from local leaders or even the communications incident occurring in Apploosa is a matter worth attending to - because in our eyes, they are nothing more than idle threats. In all straightforwardness, we expect the 12th Recon to mend the array, whatever ails it, and to return immediately with nothing noteworthy. Similar.. how may we put it? Several..."

"False alarms?"

"Yes! Exactly - several 'false alarms' similar to Apploosa have taken place in the recent, and even distant pass, prior to our... uhh.. our own coup d'état against our sister." Luna blushed furiously at the very irony of the concept.

"I see..." Uno could relate to such views. He simply could not imagine an Equestria without Celestia or her sister, the very masters of the Sun and Moon respectively. What could possibly compete with, not only the vast, formidable armies of modern Equestria AND the two seemingly demi-gods themselves? But then again, he had been raised under the impression that the monarchy was infallible, flawless, and omniscient... although his recent travels with Luna were bending those principle teachings.

"But then, why are we here to begin with? Why bother expending resources and risking your life to put on a show for a town of ostensibly loyal townspeople?" Uno just had to know this.

"Well... you see, that was not our brainchild - it was my sister's intention and plot all along. She explained to you how placing a military force here along with half of the bipartisan monarchy..." She puffed her chest out in mock pride followed by a sparse giggling fit. Uno smiled slightly - who knew royalty could in fact be permissible company. " Would serve to deter rebellious thought here. While that is entirely an applicable reason to our being here, it is not the proprietary concern. In fact, I only consented to come along on this seemingly redundant journey because... well." Luna was looking nervous now. Yup. The puppeteer of the moon, co-ruler of Equestria, wielder of magic almost unimaginable. nervous.

"Well... what is it? It's not as if I can really criticize you or scold you for anything. You're the princess." Uno noted dully.

"Hmm... true. Very well... we came because we thought it would be an ideal excuse to engage in social endearment."

" Err.. beg you're pardon ma'am?"

Luna sighed irritably. "We used our sisters plan as an excuse to have fun. To remove ourselves from the confines of the palace and our royal duties... we did it to ease our sister's concern of course, to please her, but we could not simply refuse an opportunity to indulge in all that we have missed after so many years of desolation! Besides - our sister finds time for her subjects, she always mingles with the public and her own friends - it is only fitting that we follow suit."

Well, isn't somepony considerate? Uno could hardly believe what the buck he was hearing.

"Princess I... I just don't know what to say."

"Oh..." Luna's ears dropped and she frowned slightly.

"Well, I suppose it would be in both our interests to make haste for town..." Luna's horn glowed for an instant, and in a flash of blue light, the road and the trees and the countryside and Ponyville vanished... and just like that the dynamic duo was at the entrance to Ponyville - colorful houses and quaint shops on either side, Sweet Apple Acres blossoming with springtime fervor in the distance. Ponies of all sorts bustling about their daily business. Uno promptly felt his jaw drop.

"WHOA, WHOA, HOLD ON... you could have done that the whole time?" Uno could not stop himself from leering at the princess... though her horn had vanished, and her cutie mark had been replaced with single white star.

"Well... yes. I apologize Uno, please calm yourself..." the 'incognito' Luna had a laughing fit - but no matter how nice her laugh was, in this context it sounded evil.

"Then why didn't you just teleport us here in the first place?!" Uno hissed through clenched teeth. Luna was giggling softly at his seething anger at this point. She relented however and her face became one of apologetic disposition.

"We are sorry dear subject... we only wished to have an opportunity to converse with you and get to know our bodyguard better - we wanted to see the countryside as any of our villagers might... besides, do cheer up! We have three days before the parade at any rate - why not enjoy it? Come! We remember a culinary establishment we took fancy too during our last visit!"

Uno could hardly believe how quickly his 'mission' had spiraled into ridicule. He had walked several miles undercover, under the impression that he would finally be doing something to prove his mettle, to strike fast and kick ass for a change - do the one thing he was actually allowed to do in life. But no, it was just another joke. He was a joke. And to think, somepony was out there, fighting for princess and country, being the hero, taking names... and ladies too. And he was stuck out here with lonely Luna discussing how there was no war, there wouldn't be any war, and last, but not least, that his assignment was to be her travelling buddy and her 'pin cushion of secrets' while she moseys on down to Ponyville to mingle with the locals, maybe get drunk, and then to quite possibly get assassinated in a parade with hundreds of posers on tanks and steroids who could theoretically be on the front accomplishing all the things. Or maybe everything would go fine. And then they would all party for no apparent reason.

Just as the thought hit him, a bright pink pony with an outrageous head of fluffy, cotton candy-like mane and bright eyes metaphorically oozing with exuberance sprang, seemingly out of nowhere upon Luna and Uno, bouncing as if she were on a pogo stick... ahh wait, check that, thought Uno. She really was on a pogo stick.

And quite unpredictably she cried out, "DID SOMEONE SAY PAR-TAY FOR NO APPARENT REASON??"

Oh, he thought. Did I think that out loud?