Soldiers: Skyfall

"Hello? Storm it's your dad, they hit the next town over. Me and your mother are heading for the cave on Grassymane's property. Stay safe....we love you."
--Message left on answering machine of Vanhoover Apartment.

Date: August 9th, 1666 CC
Time: 17: 48
Name: Glowing Radiant
Location: Canterlot Streets

The city of Canterlot was a beautiful city often referred to as the Jewel of Equestria and not only was it the very seat of power within the nation it was also one of the most beautiful cities in the world, almost as many traveled just to see the city as those who traveled to seek an audience with the nations rulers.

It was this reason Glowing Radiant chose to open her beauty salon in the city so she could not only work on these travelers but also enjoy the beauty of the city she added to with her work.

Now, though that city was marred by rising smoke, gunfire, and debris littering the streets, Glowing galloped down along with several others she had run into after fleeing her salon when it caught fire. The group had been heading for some safe passage down Lunar Avenue they had heard about on the radio.

Though getting there wasn't the most easy thing as they had to avoid the fighting and more than a few times had to run across streets just a block away from an engagement.

Now, though, they ran into an alleyway and slowed to a stop as they all gasped for air. “We…..we aren't too far….” A mare wearing a waitress uniform said.

“We….just need to rest a bit and keep moving.” A stallion dressed in what had once been a nice suit said.

“Just don't take too long, I don't want to get trapped in the city.” A mare dressed in a greasy jumpsuit said, the only one of the group that was armed with anything even if it was just a large wrench.

“We won't. We are making good time.” Said
a stallion who wore a sports jacket for the local high school, a mare practically clinging to his side. Glowing wasn't sure if they were special someponies or just two students caught up together in all of this, but the stallion seemed protective of her.

The group all sat as slowly their breathing got under control.

“Alright let's get moving.” The suit-wearing stallion said, standing back up and offering a hoof to the waitress near him who gladly took it dusting herself off of the filth from the alley.

The rest of them got up, save the mechanic who had remained standing, keeping watch.

All of them were blasted with air as one of the large invader ships flew over the ally, coming to a stop above the street before it started to lower itself to land.

“Shit, we have to move. That's some sort of troop carrier!” The high school stallion yelled. “Lot of them landed in the school field.”

He didn't need to repeat himself as the group took off down the alley away from the ship and near the end a bolt of energy missed Glowing by inches and she risked looking back to see they were now being pursued.

“Go go! They are after us!” She yelled as they turned to head up the street. Their only chance was to reach Luner Avenue where the military could protect them if the radio was to be believed.

The invaders were soon out of the alley and a few more shots were taken at them coming close enough they felt the heat of the energy causing them to take another turn but the invaders stayed right on them.

Each straight a way, the invaders were closer, and more shots followed them. It wouldn't be long before they were close enough to not miss, forcing them to take more and more random twisting turns, hoping each turn would lose them.

Soon they were running down a narrow road meant for hoof traffic with not much along the walls, the High school stallion was leading them as he was the fastest of the group started trying doors in an effort to find someplace to hide,

Near the middle of the road, a door opened. “In here!” she yelled as he dove inside, pulling the mare with him before the rest of the group followed.

Inside was some sort of restaurant from the looks of it. There were some tables and booths on one side of the room with a bar on the other. A pool table and small dance floor took up the remaining space. Gentle music coming from unseen speakers completed the pleasant looking scene before them.

A yellow pegasus mare with light green mane tied back by a blue bandanna was calmly polishing a mug. “Ah, welcome to the Ivory Wheel, names Sunny. Feel free to take a seat wherever and I'll bring a menu by.” She said cheerfully, causing Glowing to blink confused.

“Pardon the language but what the fuck do you mean take a seat anywhere?” The mechanic said.

“I mean take a seat at the bar or a table, well okay you two can't sit at the bar.” She chuckled gensuring to the two high schoolers.

“Are you fucking stupid?” The mechanic shot back. “Do you have any Celestia damn idea what's going on outside?”

“Hm? Oh you mean that spot of trouble out there? Yes nasty business that, but nothing that is of concern to us much less something to interrupt my job of helping customers.” Sunny said as she collected some menus and started to come around the bar.

“You’re fucking crazy!” The mechanic said.

A moment later the door behind them slammed open and the waitress screamed as the group had no choice but to run to the seating area for cover as the invaders chasing them forced their way inside.

Sunny turned to them with that same pleasant smile on her face. “Ah welcome to the Ivory Wh–” She was cut off as one of the invaders shot her, the blast carrying her off her hooves to crash back behind the bare as the high school mare screamed, the stallion getting between her and the invaders brandishing a chair as the mechanic raised her wrench in an utterly laughable threat towards such well armed creatures.

And in that same instant the music suddenly stopped as the door behind the invaders slammed shut and there was something that sounded like dozens of locks engaging.

The invaders took no notice of this as they raised their weapons preparing to cut down the small group of ponies only to have their weapons torn from their hands by unseen forces and proceeded to be dismantled rapidly, then those parts were further dismantled, then those part as well till there was nothing left of the weapons.

Then the invaders who had taken defensive stances for unarmed combat suddenly started to spasmend and shutter. One looked at its hand as it seemed to be turning to dust being blown by unfelt wind as other parts of the remaining invaders were doing the same.

The invaders panicked and two rushed for the door and tried to open it only for the simple wooden door to remain closed even when they tried to break it down it remained unscathed as more and more of them turned to dust faster.

All of this happened over a matter of seconds before the group of ponies as the invaders turned to dust and simply blew away into nothing as if erased from the universe.

“Well then that was annoying.” Sunny said, popping back up behind the bar completely unharmed.

The waitress gave a yelp of fear looking at her. “Wh…but…but how?” She stammered out.

“Hmm?” Sunny looked at her. “Oh, don’t you worry your pretty little head about that as it's just company business.” She said dismissively. “Anyways take a seat and I'll bring the menus over to you shortly as a matter has come to our attention that needs to be handled but after that the kitchen will reopen.” She said heading through the door to what was probably the kitchen.

The group looked confused and then felt a rumbling and sort of…shifting from all around them and after a few seconds it stopped and the music returned.

Sunny came back out of the kitchen. “Now come on, if you aren't going to take any seats I am going to have to ask you to leave as the room is for customers only.” She said a bit sternly.

“What…what was that rumbling? What's going on?” The suit wearing stallion asked.

“Oh, there was going to be an issue with our previous point of iteration so we had to move.” Sunny said.

“Move?” Glowing asked confused.

“Yes, we decided on Baltimare” Sunny said.

“Baltimare?” The mechanic asked, confused.

“Are you going to take seats or do I need to ask you to leave?” Sunny responded.

Slowly, the group took seats at the table, and Sunny cheerfully brought over menus. “Now then, how can The Ivory Wheel serve you on its grand reopening?”