At Canterlot Heights

February 14th, 1252, 0700 Hours, EST

Appleoosan Insurgent Leader – Identity Unknown

Location Unknown

Mission Objectives: Unknown

Secondary Objectives: Unknown

The leader of the Appleoosan rebellion that had caused so many ponies so much grief sat patiently in his office, completely alone. He had sent his former guard to join the ranks in defense of the fledgling city – everypony counts after all and there were not many to spare. He was running out of time. Given the current situation, his forces could only keep the Equestrians away from the Relay for an hour more at best – that is, if everything went according to plan. Once they had seized it, word of the confirmed insurgency would spread like wildfire. The city would be flooding with Equestrian military forces before noon. His hastily made allies were late for this critical meeting that would mean the difference between victory and defeat, life and death – perhaps they’d been captured? Perhaps they had flaked on him? If so, it was over, and the tyranny of Celestia and her demon sister would prevail… they had to make it!

The leader nearly sprang out of his seat on all fours at a loud banging on his door. Had the Equestrian army found him already? Shoot. He promptly re-seated himself and assumed a business like pose. If he was going to be captured he might as well appear undaunted about it.

“Enter.” He uttered the simple command and to his surprise, his own secretary burst through the door with an apparently urgent piece of paper in her mouth. Her cherry red mane was frazzled and haywire to hell and her pink kerchief was wet with perspiration. And he thought he was nervous.

“Oh… well if it isn’t my charming secretary herself. I was uhh… expecting you?” His take on feigning omniscience was hardly convincing but Cherry Jubilee didn’t care – she was just doing her job. She dropped the note on her table.

“It’s… urgent sir… we’re runnin’ outta time!” She reached across the desk and grabbed his collar and tie by the forehoof and hissed, “Where in the name of Appleoosa are the delegates?!”

The indignant leader pushed her hoof away and responded impatiently, “I don’t know alright?? Anyways what’s this??”

Secretary Jubilee banged her head on the desk before mumbling, “They’ve taken the damn Comms Array.”

“I see…” The brilliant leader stroked his chin, pondering his course of action; with his hoof no less than for the sake of comedic irony. Well, no matter, it’ll take them at least a few hours to repair the hardware we sabotaged…”

“But that’s just it – they managed to get a fire-team into the building while the rest of their force kept us hard pressed on the other side of town – we lost contact with the demolitions team before they confirmed that they finished the job – our team is in a firefight with that team inside the building as we speak. They need backup – soon. Besides, I don’t see why in buck’s name you would destroy that kind of equipment after takin’ the city – it’s a mite hard to get your hands on that kind of technology, and it ain’t like pluckin’ a cherry from a tree – it’s expensive and now that we’re on our own, everythin’ counts...” Jubilee glared at her employer. If they weren’t both for the noble cause of the Federation, she would’ve left Appleoosa and made a fresh start away from trouble. But some quarrels and quirks would have to be put aside for the good of all. Sacrifices, material, ethics and otherwise would have to be made.

“Oh you just hold on there for a minute – last I checked, you’re not in charge, and although I admit that my course of actions was a bit radical, that’s absolutely NO reason for you to romp all over them, and call it a load of flim flam. Why, if you know anything about telecommunications systems then you’ll see me eating my own hat.”

Jubilee and her (self-proclaimed) fearless leader paused for a moment. What to do, what to do? The latter of the two rose from his chair and turned to gaze at the strategic map of Equestria. In red were the domains under the absolute control of Celestia and company. In green was the leader’s territory, the Appleoosan Federation – which in reality was little more than a noble name for a small unity consisting of Appleoosa itself and the few villages and settlements in the region which had pledged their allegiance to the Federations cause – that is, to liberate the innocent and brainwashed denizens of Equestria from Celestia’s iron grip. A cause that was much easier said than done of course. He could not do it alone. And in yellow were the countries and provinces whose allegiance was wavering towards the Federation’s cause.

“You blithering fool – the council told you specifically not to jump the gun did we not?” Speak of the devil.

The leader of the Appleoosan rebellion, formally known as the Mayor of the Appleoosan City Board, turned his attention to his office door to see the delegates from several factions entering the room. They were all in hooded cloaks of different colors with emblems representing their faction, yet concealing their identities for the most part, and there were ten delegates in total. The one accusing the aforementioned mayor of idiocy was in a dark blue cloak adorned with the emblem of Manehattan. Her voice had a cultivated Mid-Atlantic accent, akin to Rarity’s in some ways, but deeper. And in most ways a great deal more posh. Assume such a notion is viable.

“I know what you’re lot told me, but this might be our only chance to catch the Equestrian Military off guard – you all know well enough that they were getting suspicious… the signs were all over. “We had to take action FIRST... see, I don’t know about you slackers, but it’s immensely frustrating to watch Celestia and her precious Office of Pony Intelligence hoarding weapons and technology to use against anypony who won’t agree with her political views, while we sit here and lie in the shadows waiting to have our flanks handed to us on a silver platter!” The suddenly assertive leader pounded his hoof on the desk vigorously. Murmurs of mixed opinion amongst the delegates flooded the modest office.

“Please,” insisted a firm and deep voice emanating from the largest of the delegates (by far), wearing a tan cloak of weathered rawhide – adorned with the simple insignia of the local Buffalo (fittingly, an oil and sand Native Equestrian painting of ye’ olde average Buffalo). “We all, make great journey, from native land… We come now, no to fight – we come now, to unite… we different – but together…” Chief Thunderhooves held his last words, gesturing with his hoof to the council. “Together – our difference, make us mighty.”

Chief Thunderhooves wasn’t the most eloquent when it came to diction or creativity using the Equestrian language – yet there were times when his very wisdom and understanding of the situation and needs at hand eclipsed all else. He had come a long way since the conclusion of his quarrels with the Appleoosans in the forms of various accusations and pie fights. A good thing too – subsequently, Celestia’s Royal Reforms of 1247 which had made all kinds of technology available meant that deadly firearms such as the PAR-44 Battle Rifle, or the PMP-40 Submachine Gun had soon replaced the trivial Apple Pie and Assault Cake as the conventional weapons of choice.

The pacified delegation and the mayor proceeded to the meeting room through a side door in the mayor’s office instinctively. The delegates, still murmuring briskly amongst one another about plausible unified currency in the new federation, future justice administration and legislation, and other aspects of politics promptly hopped onto their respective seats at the end of a long, conference style meeting table, three delegates seated on the right, two delegates and the mayor on the left. Chief Thunderhooves being the only exception due to his tremendous size, politely removed his seat and instead chose to stand where he would have been sitting if Appleoosan rump receptacles had kept Buffalo in mind. They all took a wandering gaze at the meeting room – quaint, tidy, simplistic, having been unoccupied since their last meeting in mid-December to discuss the coming conflict. And to enjoy a Hearth’s Warming Eve party and feast in the very same meeting room before becoming drunk. Needless to say, if Secretary Jubilee had not kept extensive records of that night’s careful planning, nopony would recall that a meeting had taken place to begin with. The mayor called everyone to immediate attention. Playtime was over.

“Excellent, now that we’re all here, we have urgent matters to discuss on the rapidly descending matter of… our conflict with, not Equestria itself, but it’s undisputed ruling class who imposes it’s policies and jurisdiction upon Equestria’s inhabitants.”

The mayor’s passionate interpretation of what was quite blatantly, a coup, stirred the council. Murmurs of assent spread through the assembly like wildfire. The mayor called for silence.

“For well over a decade now, that very ruling class has watched us through espionage and conferences because said class fears our ideals and our intentions – five years ago, in the light of her Majesty’s Royal Reformation Acts…” The mayor sneered almost viciously at the mention of the term. The Federation Council grimaced quite nearly in unison. “…A military base, plainly known as Delta Base was established within the province of Appleoosa, who has since imposed intolerable civil restrictions, unfair trade regulations, and at times… martial law upon our people…”

Evidently sharing such experiences, the assembly burst into an uproar of incriminating cries against the ‘Celestial Tyrant’ and her ‘Wind-Up-Tin-Minions’, the latter a degrading of her ‘Royal Guard’.

The mayor grinned in satisfaction at the crowd, crying, rallying for the cause of righteousness. Now. Now we can truly begin. He continued his rattling speech.

“NOW…” His suddenly booming voice shook the antique chandelier above the meeting table. The delegates ceased bickering and looked upward almost expecting it to shake loose and fall. “…Now, as of four days ago, I have made the move that we have all in truth been too fearful to make. I, have led my people away from the dictatorial rule of Princess Celestia and her accomplice Princess Luna – four days ago, under my authorization as well as the town councils’, I ordered the Appleoosan Militia to seize this province for itself, eliminating the local Equestrian Military personnel present, and disabling a communications relay on the outskirts of the city…”

A delegate in a red cloak rose to speak – the mayor could not identify the emblem on his cloak as it was adorned on the back. He spoke in an articulate, icy voice with a hint of melodramatic poise. “Well I say Mayor, that’s all high and mighty of you to proclaim, however, let us shove aside all of this grandeur and face the music that’s quite frankly banging on your doorstep. The fact of the matter is that in small numbers or not, Celestia’s forces are here, and if something is not done swiftly, they will be here in force by the day’s end, quite possibly sooner. ” The delegate strode to the end of the table opposite to the mayor to gesture towards Appleoosa on a typical political map of Equestria. The official answer to the question of Equestria’s unity was reflected by the map of 1251, which showed an undivided green mass with Canterlot slightly north of its center. Unofficially, the country had been divided by dissident province governors and cry’s against Celestia’s tyranny for over a decade. ‘Unofficial’ being the keyword

“The fact of the matter is, that within the hour everypony in Equestria will know that a province has made a decisive offense, and act of treason against her majesty’s rule – and you will be held accountable – the council warned you not to, and yet you proceeded, and as such, the cause of the Federation and Equestria’s future, free from the iron will of two goddesses is now endangered by YOU!” The red cloaked stallion pointed an accusing hoof and glared at the mayor sitting opposite of him. “Now TELL ME MAYORI…” His voice boomed before settling to a deceivingly casual tone. “Why should any of us waste our lives, our foals, and our foals’ foals, to die and fail attempting to save you and your miserable bushel of apples at the edge of the known world?”

Utter silence penetrated the room awkwardly as the mayor considered his rebuke – but before he could answer the silence was broken by a flash of blinding green light emerging from the door to the meeting room, as it slammed open so hard it fell off its hinges. The assembly gasped and squinted blindly around the room helplessly, before the light faded and the room settled to its previous dim, serious demeanor. A frightening coarse voice filled the room. When they could see again, a new cloaked figure in a forest green and black garment had appeared next to the red-cloaked stallion near the map.

The figure hissed eerily and loud enough for everypony in the assembly to hear, “Becauuse… you shall have MY support!” It laughed a cruel cold laugh that sent shivers up everyponies’ spine. How archetypically villainous.

The formerly astute red-cloaked stallion cringed in fear for the duration of the meeting and promptly wet himself in front of the entire assembly. The mayor was the first to recover from shock.

“Who in BUCK’S name are you,” demanded the mayor as he reached a hoof up to straighten his collar tie.

The assembly’s new ‘guest’ chuckled beneath its hood. “Who do you want me to be?”

The mayor glared in annoyance. “WE’RE KINDA BUSY HERE, SO I’M GUESSING YOU MADE SUCH A GRAND ENTRANCE BECAUSE YOU WANTED TO TELL US SOMETHING!!”

“Now, now… do calm yourself… we are… a friend, for your purposes, take that whichever way you choose, and we have come to offer our assistance in your… valiant cause against everyponies’ dear friend, Princess Celestia…”

The assembly, having accepted their previous state of shock, proceeded to bicker about the newly suggested alliance with a complete stranger. The Manehattan delegate raised her hoof gracefully requesting to speak. A tradition the other unrefined delegates including the mayor had evidently forgotten since the last assembly.

“Ahh, it appears that somepony here has manners.” The mayor waved a hoof dismissively at the newcomer’s suggestion. “You have something to say?”

“Yes, as a matter a fact, if I may ‘point out’, we, even collectively are in no position to take on Celestia’s forces head on and without sufficient planning – she is simply superiorly equipped. We must abandon the province… even if that means the mayor,” She said mockingly while giving the mayor a rare dirty look, who returned with a dropped jaw. “Must face the consequences himself so that the rest of us will live to fight another day when we are capable of doing so… soon perhaps, but not now, it simply can’t be done!” She waved her hooves with her exclamation in the air dramatically. Having finished she flipped her mane delicately.

The newcomer only proceeded to laugh her icebound laugh once more. “Ohh, yes, you’re little county is under attack now isn’t it Mr. Mayor?” She strode over to his side and rubbed his hoof against his cheek playfully as if he were some sort of adorable pet. Mr. Mayor did not approve. “Well don’t worry. As a token of goodwill towards you’re cause, an… initiation into this council of sorts, I will make sure that the Equestrians will be dying to run home to see their precious Celestia…”

The assembly murmured in concern.

“That is what you want isn’t it? I hope you all realize, that whatever you do, the war for Equestria’s… independence, begins today. You’re chief executive friend here has guaranteed that…”

The mayor sighed in resignation as the delegates took turns shaking heads and discontent hooves at him. The strange and assertive newcomer patted him on the back amiably.

“However, do not despair – and do not fret – is this not the chance you’ve all waited for?”

Murmurs of reluctant assent characterized the assembly once more.

“Then have no fear – together, we will stand strong and vanquish Celestia’s regime once and for all! I will personally see to it, that the Battle of Appleoosa will end in a Federation victory – I will let you decide afterwards if I am… worthy of your council, and if you will continue to need my assistance – leave the details to me…”

The council approved patriotically, crying ‘Mow down her Majesty!’ and ‘Long live the Federation!’

“In the meantime, consider your little meeting concluded – I will see you all again on…” The stranger pursed her lips. “The 20th of February at 4:00 PM sharp, no later… you shall receive enclosed information by courier on the details of where exactly at your normal places of residence… good day to you all. Until then, your evacuat- that is, your transportation is waiting outside… I suggest you take your respective airships and escorts to a remote location before heading back to your places of origin, as the Equestrian military will likely be tracking unidentified aircraft hailing from a territory which is in rebellion…”

The assembly paused, taking in the advice from the stranger. They bickered curiously as they all rose from their chairs and left the meeting room casting mystified glances at the unexpected stranger on their way out.

“One last piece of wisdom to you all…”

Everypony stopped and turned their attention.

“Although, officially, the conflict that will ensue today will not affect your provinces for the time being negatively, prepare yourselves. Your assistance for… the cause will be required soon… sooner than you’d expect too. You have been warned.” With that, the stranger proceeded to cross the room again to gaze at the map as the assembly cantered out, discussing the meetings outcome with each other. Within’ moments, the mayor and the stranger were left in the dimly lit room alone. The mayor approached the stranger awkwardly, half expecting her to eat him or something of the sort. The stranger was the first to speak.

“Mr. Mayor – I hope you understand that victory against Celestia will not be easily afforded… I hope you comprehend that sacrifice… must be made.” The mayor shuddered and shook his mane loosely as a chill ran up his spine. WHY does she have to be so… so creepy?

“Of course I do… contrary to what the delegates from our blasted assembly think, I know that better than most – the ponies that are fighting to defend Appleoosa as we speak know what they signed up for…”

“Good. Then perhaps the bitterness of today’s victory will go well with your soldiers’ sacrifice.”

Ooh. The mayor didn’t like where this was going. “Wh-what are you insinuating? Wh-who do you think you are??!!” The stranger only stared at the map undaunted by the mayor’s demands. With a green glow from beneath her hood, a small flame subsisting on visually nothing appeared in midair in front of her.

“Mr. Mayor, do you encourage your ponies to smoke?”

“This is prepo- wait what? No! Of course not – tobacco does horrors to the mind and body of anypony! That’s beside the point you…you creepy wi-” The mayor was cut off as his mouth was forcibly closed shut by a rush of magic from the stranger. His eyes widened as the stranger turned the little green flame and presented it an inch from his face. She looked him in the eye viciously, and the restrained mayor would’ve shrieked in horror if he could, as he saw her face for the first time.

“It’s a pity my little pony…” She cackled horribly, still looking him in his terrified eyes. She leaned her neck over to whisper in his ear. “Because they will NOW!”

The stranger turned her attention to the map, and thrust the flame towards it. The region labeled ‘The Equestrian Province of Appleoosa’ was burned mercilessly to ashes in an instant. The mayor blacked out to the sound of her cold, rattling laughter.

==================================================================================================================================================================================================

Meanwhile...

Sergeant Rainbow Dash rested her head on the rather enormous Communications Screen console. Relieved at last - the word had gotten out. Reinforcements would be there by the truckload by noon, maybe earlier. Celestia would be furious - she wouldn't show it, but Dash just knew she would be. Heck, I would be furious, she thought with a slight chuckle. She lifted her head off the console as she realized her head resting on it had been pressing various keys. The console screen now read 'asaajsssskljssssfjscerewgdssfse.j92jj2'.

Rainbow scoffed an irritated "Whatever," beneath her breath and pressed and held the 'Backspace' key for a moment with her right hoof - doing so, she glanced at it and was reminded that the previously blue hoof was stained red, streaking up her foreleg. It wasn't fruit punch - and it hadn't come from her. She sighed wearily, and turned to face her squad as the recalled storming the building only a few hours ago. Having been in the upright combat stance for nearly the entire night, clearing the building and then bringing the array back online with some help from Helia, she slung her PAR-44 on her back and resumed walking on all fours, something she relished in. Combat stance was necessary for mobility and dexterity on the field, but it simply wasn't natural. She took another fleeting glance at her blood-stained foreleg. Slaughtering your own kind isn't natural. She turned her head to hide her face for a moment as she wiped a tear from her face with her clean foreleg. She felt someone cleaning her other one.

"It's... it's al-alright Rainbow... you d-did what... what you had to do." Fluttershy said as she tenderly cleaned Dash's leg with a wipe from a first-aid kit. It wasn't really that her leg was dirty and needed to be clean - everyone in Beta Squad was dirty and needed to be cleaned at this point. But Fluttershy could tell the blood of somepony else was bothering Rainbow. She knew it would've made her cry.

"No... we all did what we had to do," Rainbow Dash stated solemnly, and walked slowly down the communications room where the squad was sitting and cleaning their weapons, playing cards, or sitting quietly contemplating their first kills on the battlefield. Private Hoops in particular had proven to be the 'tank' of the unit, and had killed three insurgents before he was caught with an empty rifle, after which he opted to engage in hoof-to-hoof combat killing another two. He had been shot on his left hind-leg however, and even after being given immediate field aid and heavy bandaging by Fluttershy, he found himself delirious at the considerable loss of blood and unable to walk. He was resting on his side in the corner of the room now, with Private Helia who was explaining how he had been very brave, that everybody (especially she) appreciated him, and he they would all be back to Delta Base with air-conditioning, proper beds, and hot meals in no time.

Dash walked outside onto the dusty and slightly battle scarred streets of Appleoosa to meet none other than Lieutenant Twilight Sparkle. Trailing behind here were several remaining squads of Recon, dusty and bloodied from the morning push to link up with Rainbow's unit. Strangely enough, at about 0630 hours that morning, the Appleoosan units quite simply began retreating, only occasional turning to take a pot-shot or toss a grenade at the advancing Recon units. After putting up one hell of a fight on the streets too.

"Twilight!! Sweet CELESTIA it's great to see you!" She promptly hugged the otherwise stern Lieutenant who smiled and responded in kind. They proceeded to discuss accounts of how the offensive had went, reinforcement arrival times, and what would happen next.

"It's so great to see you Rainbow! I just... well, I wish we could've met in better circumstances but... still, it's great to see a friend!" Twilight smile earnestly.

"Better circumstances? We've won!"

"Yes, yes, I suppose we have... but there's just ooone teensy little drawback..." Twilight face turned serious in an instant. Rainbow's followed suit.

"What's that?"

"The ponies who are most likely responsible are nowhere to be found. The town council, the mayor - gone without a trace!" Twilight's face scrunched up in deep thought.

"What? You mean the nutjobs who gave us all this trouble just picked up and left? How? And why would they just decide to stop fighting and head for the hills?" Twilight nodded with an irritated frown. The conversation endured for a minute - before being broken up by Fluttershy's shrieks.

"TWILIGHT! RAINBOW DAASH!! THE SKY!! L-LOOK!" Fluttershy's eyes widened in horror as she looked to the sky from her standing outside the Comms Array's main entrance and pointed a shaking hoof to the impending threat. Twilight and Rainbow gave each the sky a glance, then each other, bearing the same shocked expression. Reinforcements would arrive in half an hour. It would be too late.

"EVERYPONY INDOORS!" Twilight shouted. Rainbow fulfilled her namesake and dashed indoors within' seconds, tackling a stunned Fluttershy and bringing her in doors in a matter of moments. Twilight shut the door and leaned her back against it as if somepony would try to break it down.

"Dash - IS there a basement??"

"uhh... yeah! Yeah there is!"

"Get us there - now."