A screen shows a Griffin hen and Saddle Arbian stallion wearing nice clothes sitting behind a desk as they set papers down and look to the camera with smiles.
Saddle Arabian:"Good morning Equus, I'm Dalin ve'Ganish and with me as always is..."

Griffin"Gilphonia, and thank you for joining us this morning on Global News for this monumentous day. As we all know 40 years ago Equestria took the full brunt of an invasion that threated all of Equus and through their bravery and sacrifice the world was shielded from destruction, and while the scars have healed the memory will not be forgotten easily."

Dalin:"That's right Gilphonia and now we go live once more to Equestria where the fruits of everything that has happened since that day comes in full...."
--Equus Global News Broadcast.

Date: March 11th, 1706 CC
Time: 09:00
Name: Twilight Sparkle
Location: Brightstar Shipyard

Princess Twilight Sparkle stood with the rest of the leaders of the nation of Equus, like them she wore her best clothes to mark the occasion as the dull murmur of the large crowd that was gathered before the stage just outside of the shipyard. The crowd was made up of people from every nation just like the representatives on the stage and among the front row were cameras all ready to broadcast live to the entire planet.

The air was filled with anticipation and the electricity of excitement for what was to come, even Twilight felt it.

“Ah here you are.” Chrysalis said walking up to her from for stage and Twilight had to take a second to get her mind to restart at the sight of the changeling queen in a light green dress that complemented her form very well, though weather that was from the dress design or Chrysalis adjusting her form to make sure it did Twilight didn't know and didn't care.

The alicorn smirked. “Where else would I be? You know me, always got to be in the thick of it.”

“If that was true then you wouldn't be on the stage.” The queen said simply. “But i get it, this…”

“Is something they all earned, besides I can catch the next one.” Twilight finished and the queen nodded before nuzzling the top of Twilight’s head and sighing.

“You know it won't be long and I don't think I'll be able to do that.” She said,

At this point Twilight had grown to be only about a head and half shorter then the changeling Queen with showing no sign of stopping. “Oh I am sure you'll find a way using the walls or ceiling ... .or just pulling me down to do it.” Twilight smirked before using her magic to pull the queen down into a kiss to demonstrate.

They separated after a few seconds and Chrysalis sighed happily like she always did as they were joined by a third who was half as tall as Twilight was.

“Ah Violet, you made it.” Chrysalis said smiling.

“I wouldn't miss this Sire.” Violet responded wearing a very simple plain dress as was her style.

“And where is…” Chrysalis started as a fourth joined them. “Ah there you are Broken.”

Broke shrugged. “Was getting a snack.” She said currently wearing a suit jacket as her only attire to mark the occasion, Chrysalis was just glad she didn't show up in her jumpsuit.

“Surprised you aren't going up with them.” Twilight asked already knowing the answer.

“They will be fine on their own, I made sure all those systems have so many redundancies that if they can’t handle a problem then the project was doomed from the start and I have no intention of my hooves leaving the ground.” Broken said, despite her attitude, Chrysalis could taste the pride and trust in the engineering teams she had selected and worked with for some time.

Before they could talk more a stallion in a headset waved to everyone to signal it was time to get into position and so the four of them went to stand behind the podium.

As they did, the crowd quieted down and looked toward the stage as the cameras started rolling, putting the podium on two large screens to make sure those in the back could see as well as make sure it was broadcasting.

After a few moments Celestia, her regalia shining brightly, stepped forward to the mic and cleared her throat.

“Thank you all for joining us here or watching from your home across our wonderful world to witness this historical event.” She said, voice echoing across the crowd from the speakers.

“As you all know this moment is built upon the foundation of a great tragedy and stands as a symbol of all of our resilience and outright defiance in the face of that day.” She said. “That day was unlike anything seen since the Discordian Era with many innocent lives affected both directly and indirectly.

<<>>

A crowd had gathered outside of Baltimare International Airport, or what was left of it. Despite being in the middle of the day many of them held candles as the fence before them was decorated with pictures and flowers, those who had been aboard Equestrian Airways Flight 3492, one of the first civilian aircraft shot down in the invasion only a couple months ago. A week ago a team searching the Starswirl National Forest for refugees had stumbled upon where Flight 3492 had attempted to make an emergency landing, there had been no survivors as the flight had come in too steep due to the loss of its engines and was scattered over half a mile.

It had taken a week to identify the bodies, the black box having recorded the final moments of those aboard in the form of audio.

In the crowd stood an earth pony mare and pegasus stallion, the stallion holding the mare as she cried though it was clear if not for her doing so he would break down.as they stood before a picture of a young stallion barley out of his colt years holding a piece of paper accepting him to university.

As the pair were in the holds of their grief a single Zebra carefully stepped through the crowd wearing a finely tailored suit he soon reached the front of the crowd and looked over all the pictures of ponies till he found the one the young stallion and gently place a single flower from his homeland before it before turning to look around at the crowd.

Spotting the couple he approached his face reserved as she opened his mouth, closed it several times before he cleared his throat which got the couple’s attention.

As they looked at him he licked his lips before speaking in a careful tone as if trying to choose his words carefully. “My name is Nyasi I am…I…work for the Jilanian Corporation and….I…” He closed his mouth trying to find his words as the couple looked at him confused. “I….I was at the airport…the…the flight was overbooked…y…you son had been chosen at random to be scheduled for a later flight…he…he told me he was on his way to sign up for classes and….I…I….I gave him my seat on the plane…..I…..I am so sorry…..”He said voice cracking as his carefully controlled presence that had helped him for years in his work began to crack under the weight of the guilt he felt. Before any other time could pass the couple pulled Nyasi into an embrace and together the felt the grief of the loss of flight 3492

<<>>

“The tough decisions that had to be made…”

<<>>

Staccato-3: Approaching target......visual established in 3.....2.........command we have a problem.

Command: What is Staccato-3?

Staccato-3: Enemy ground forces have reached the target and i am seeing small arms fire on the target

Command: Understood, proceed with mission.

Staccato-3: Command, did you hear me? There are refugees on the bridge!

Command: Understood Staccato-3, proceed with mission.

Staccato-3: Command you can't be serious there are civilians on the target.

Command: Staccato-3 that bridge gives enemy ground forces direct routes into other parts of Equestria. Destroy that target or we will find another way or the enemy force will be a direct threat to evacuation site Foxtrot-Lima-034 as well southern parts of Equestria. Destroy that target.

Staccato-3:.......understood Command...... beginning attack run....missiles away.................confirmed hit....target destroyed....i repeat the bridge has been destroyed........gods help us all.....

<<>>

“The Heroic acts…”

<<>>

Lieutenant Apple slid down an embankment to a trooper holding position. “That's the last of the refugees, let's get out of here.”

“Sir, we can’t go yet.” The trooper replied.

“What?” Apple asked.

“I heard on the radio there was a corps of engineers in the area, I haven't seen them come through yet.” The Trooper replied.

Lieutenant Apple frowned and clicked his radio. “To the unknown Corp of Engineers this is Lieutenant Apple we are all ordered to fall back from this area and protect the refugees.”

There was a short pause before the radio crackled back. “We are aware, we ain't leaving till we do something to cover the retreat, we will link up with you as soon as it's done.”

“You are under direct orders to evacuate with the rest of us.” Apple ordered not about to leave anyone behind.

He was answered by an explosion over the radio and the sound of gunfire. “Shit they found us, unknown if able to disengage…..just get everyone out of the valley, we will buy as much time as we can but get everyone out of the valley!” The engineer yelled before cutting the connection.

Apple looked down into the valley as enemy forces were swarming over it searching for the refugees further up the mountain trying to figure out how some corps of engineers planned to cover them from a force that outnumbered them.

His eyes went wide as realization dawned on him. “Trooper move, get up the mountain now, double time.” he said and repeated his order over the radio as he turned and galloped up the embankment toward the small pass they were using to evacuate.

Around ten minutes later Apple’s ear swiveled around as he heard multiple distant explosions and a crumbling sound that gave way to a dull roaring sound.

Apple and the refugees watched a wave of millions of gallons of water swept down the valley, the invaders tried to reach their ships but the water was faster, even their dropships couldn't escape as they too were swept away by the force of lake Remedy as the dam that created the lake was destroyed by a small corp of engineers and bought Apple and those under him the time they needed to escape through the mountain pass.

<<>>

“There are many stories from that day, too many to count as on that day everyone became a veteran.” Celestia said. “And through those stories, those sacrifices we are here today on this monumental day to make sure those stories were not in vain, that something meaningful came from it.”

She took a moment to compose herself with a deep breath. “I would like to let Captain Sparkling say a few words.” She said as she stepped back and an earth pony mare wearing a navy dress uniform stepped forward to the podium.

“Thank you Princess.” Sparkling said before looking out to the crowd. “As the Princess said I am Captain Sparkling and I am sure thanks to being selected for this moment but I felt I should speak myself. I was only 7 when the invaders came and if not for my Brother Dasher I doubt I'd be here.” She said, taking a small deep breath. “He protected me throughout it all despite his own young age. Gathering supplies from the other apartments in our building, we had a good stockpile when the EDF patrol found us 2 weeks after the victory day.” She smiled as despite it all remembering all ehr brother had done still made it a happy memory for her.

“Sadly like so many others we never learned what happened to our parents and despite his own demons Dasher continued to look out for me and it's because of him I became the mare who was chosen for this mission. So Dasher, I know you're watching and I am eternally grateful for all you've done for me, I know I was a handful growing up and you weren't much older.”

“It’s for him and those like him who stepped up on that day that I am stepping forward for this mission as its leader and I only hope I can live up to those that came before.”

With that she went to the side of the stage and left to change for her mission.

Celestia retook her position. “Well, I could go on about the achievement this is and what this means for us all, or the technical details but I won't bore you with that. What I will say is how none of this would be possible without every nation coming together both in our darkest hour but after. And now every nation will be joining us in this moment as we take our first steps into the future.”

As Celestia said this a rumble came from far behind her in the shipyard as the massive ship, the Helios, did a preflight check of its engines. The crowd watched as the last of the supplies and crew boarded the ship and the doors closed.

The world watched as a countdown began as Captain Sparkle entered the bridge and took her seat. “Helm take us up.” She ordered.

“Aye!” the helmsman, a griffin belgian typing away and soon there was a rumble as the ship vibrated. The massive launch jets fired and slowly Helio, Equus' first starship lifted off the ground leaving drydock where it spent nearly 30 years being built and her crew selected and trained from around the world.

As it rose higher and higher the forces on the crew slowly dissipated though they hadn't been much thanks to the dampeners. A satellite in orbit watched broadcasting to the planet below as Helios went to the marker that hung in space.

“Helm…..set a course for the edge of our system ... .lets see what's out there….” Captain Sparkling said as the helmsmen input the command.

With a brief shutter Helios vanished as it entered FTL and Equus entered the rest of the Galaxy.

Author's Note

And there we have it, a fic that took me 5 years to finish do to life and loss of motivations but i have finally reached the end of the fic.

While i have plans for this series still i think i will take a break and focus on some other projects to help my creativity and try to avoid another 5 year long fic doe to burn out and life.

I thank you all for sticking with me through this work and i hope it lived up to expectations and was as enjoyable as the rest of my works that came before it.

Till next time, catch you all later!