The Great Divide: Book I

Day 1,471

☀️

~~~~~
Baltimare
1:00 AM
~~~~~

Applejack and Fluttershy walked through the streets of downtown Baltimare together, being sure to rest under the various shaders they passed.

“Do you think everything will go back to normal some day?” Fluttershy asked, eyeing her new girlfriend.

AJ eyed her back, giving a light smile. “Of course. We just need to figure out the reason the princesses lost their power over the sun and moon and fix it.”

“That sounds easier than it probably is,” Fluttershy pointed out. “I mean, Equestria’s a large place. And, that’s assuming the root of the problem is even in Equestria.”

Applejack nodded before letting out a sigh. “You’re right. Though, hopefully, the problem makes itself known.”

Fluttershy then moved closer and leaned against the starting woman as they walked. “Enough worry talk. Let’s just-“

“Enjoy each other’s company?” AJ asked with a smile, putting an arm around the pink-haired girl. “I’d like that.”

Fluttershy let out a soft sigh. “I feel so safe when I’m with you.”

“Oh?” AJ Asked as they turned down an alley. “Why’s that?” She then gently backed her girl up against the side of the building, placing her hands beside Fluttershy’s head. “Because of my big, strong muscles?”

The shy girl blushed hard and hid her face behind her hair, nodding quickly. "I-I really like how they... look on you..." she muttered through her hair.

Applejack slowly moved her hand down to Fluttershy's waist, pulling her close. When she did, Fluttershy placed her hands on her shoulders. "I won't let anything happen to you. Though, from what I've seen you do, you're pretty capable."

"I am," the pink-haired girl replied. "Though, I wouldn't last long in a... fistfight."

"Oh, well, I could teach you," AJ said, before slipping behind her special someone and sliding her hands to her other's arms. "I could show you how to throw a punch." Fluttershy looked over her shoulder when she felt the woman's breasts press against her back. Applejack noticed, too, and blushed. "Uh... Sorry..."

Fluttershy shook her head and smiled. "I-It's fine."

Aj smiled back before they saw a small group of armed guards run past the alley. Raising an eyebrow, Applejack left Fluttershy and peeked out. The guards seemed to be heading towards the front entrance of town. As she watched, Fluttershy came up behind her and held her right arm.

"What's going on?" the soft girl asked worriedly.

AJ eyed her and shrugged. "I'm not sure. I have to find out."

"Wh-What?" Fluttershy gasped. "No, don't go. It's probably dangerous."

"I'll be fine, Flutters," Applejack said reassuringly, turning and placing her hands on the frightened girl's shoulders.

Flutters hesitated before saying, "I may not be."

Applejack looked into her eyes and could see how afraid she was. Letting out a sigh, she took her girlfriend's hand. "Alright. Let's find someplace safer."

🌑

~~~~~
Luna's Mansion
1:00 AM
~~~~~

There was a frantic knock on Luna's bedroom door, waking up the princess and her new lover. Rarity was laying atop the princess with her head on the royal tits. When the knocking continued, Rarity rolled off and quickly slid out of bed. Luna, herself, did the same and fetched her nightgown.

"What is it?" Luna called out, slipping the gown on.

"Unknown figures approaching from the south!" A guard called. "Could be hostile!"

Luna went wide-eyed and ran up to the door. "Authorize all weapons! Hold fire in case they're innocents but we must protect our people!"

"Of course, Your Highness!" The guard called before leaving.

The princess held her forehead and turned to Rarity. "I do hope this is nothing to worry about..."

The other woman was busy slipping into her clothes. “If they are indeed hostile, then we should all stay inside. They won’t be able to last long out there.”

Luna thought for a moment before letting out a gasp. Rushing to get dressed, she grabbed a heavy winter jacket, boots, gloves, and a hat. Once she was ready, she bolted from the room. Rarity watched her leave before running after her.

☀️

~~~~~
Baltimare
1:30 AM
~~~~~

Celestia walked up to the city’s entrance, looking out into the distance at the approaching figures. “Any visuals?!” She yelled.

A guard in a nearby watchtower lowered his binoculars and looked down at her. “They seem armed!”

“Alright, then, tell the snipers to get ready!” Celestia ordered, backing up.

As she did, guards armed with automatic rifles moved in front of her to block the entrance. After the first run-in with hostiles about a year ago, a wall was constructed around the cities of Baltimare and Vanhoover. Guards were posted along top and there were only two ways in; the main entrance and the ocean.

Rainbow Dash ran up to her, holding a handgun. “I wanna stand by you.”

Celestia nodded before leaving the area. “Come with me.”

🌑

~~~~~
Vanhoover
1:30 AM
~~~~~

Twilight left the hotel just as Luna and Rarity were about to run past. “What’s going on?”

The princess motioned for her to follow. “Come with us. We might need your magic.”

Twilight nodded and closed the door before running after them, using her arm to shield her face from the wind. As they approached the front entrance, they saw guards already posted on top of the wall. Each was armed with an assault rifle while a couple here and there had sniper rifles.

“Take aim, but hold fire!” Luna shouted. “Can anyone see them?!”

“I can!” One of the sniper-wielding guards replied. “There’s a small group of about ten! They don’t seem armed!”

Suddenly, a bullet tore through his head, causing his body to fall off the wall. Luna gasped as the guards on the wall opened fire. A couple of them got taken out with a precise headshot, indicating a sniper or two on the opposing forces.

“Take cover!” Luna screamed, just as Cadance ran up to her. “Cadance. We need a shield.”

The princess of love smiled and nodded, closing her eyes as her hands began to glow a cyan color. Focusing her energy, she aimed her hands at the entrance as a cyan shield started to form, covering the entire city.

“Twilight,” Luna said, turning to the young woman. “Help her keep the shield up. Let no one through.”

Twilight nodded and stood in front of Cadance, her own hands glowing purple as she took hold of the princess’ hands. The shield started to glow a little brighter and appeared to become less transparent.

“I hope my dear sister is okay...” Luna said as she watched the intruders open fire on the shield.

☀️

~~~~~
Baltimare
2:00 AM
~~~~~

The approaching unknowns kept getting closer and closer to the wall of Vanhoover, until they finally pulled out guns and started firing. When the guards in the wall ducked for cover, half of the group charged the front entrance.

~~~~~

Celestia and Rainbow Dash dipped and listened. “Gunfire,” the multicolor-haired girl gasped.

Celestia looked at her protector. “I think they’re in,” she said, before the gunfire resumed, sounding closer.

Rainbow turned around just as two of the invaders rounded the corner. Without hesitation, she gunned them down, using more bullets than necessary.

“Little excessive, but... effective,” Celestia sighed, clearly upset by the violence.

Rainbow turned to her and sighed. “Sorry, I... forgot that you lied to remain blind to this sort of thing.”

Celestia started at the dead bodies for a few seconds before looking at Rainbow again. “Let us go.”

~~~~~

Applejack and Fluttershy were huddled together inside Applejack’s house in the bedroom. They could hear the gunfire as it seemed to be getting closer and closer.

“I feel so useless,” AJ sighed, looking over at the window. “I should be helping...”

Fluttershy let out a silent gasp and looked down at the floor in shame. “I-I’m sorry...”

Applejack went wide-eyed and looked at Fluttershy, holding her closer. “No, I didn’t mean it like that, sugarcube. I just wish there was a way I could help them and keep you safe.”

The pink-haired girl thought for a moment before smiling softly. “You won’t be able to sleep knowing you could’ve helped.” She then got up and went over to the closet, opening the door and pulling out a baseball bat. “You should go help. I’ll be fine.”

AJ nodded and got to her feet, too. “You sure, sugarcube?”

Fluttershy quickly shook her head. “Nope. So, hurry up?”

Applejack chuckled and stepped up to her. “Stay confident. And safe.” She then placed a kiss beside the scared girl’s mouth before running out of the room.

Fluttershy touched her hand to her cheek where she was kissed. Biting her lip, she ran out of the room. “Please, hurry back!” She called out.

Applejack gave her a thumbs up before pulling out her revolvers. “Alright, ladies... Time to go to work...”

Kicking open the front door, she aimed her guns and shot one of the invaders in the head. Another one was about to shoot a civilian, however AJ got a shot off first and splattered his brains on the wall.

An invader dropped down from the roof in front of her and swung a metal pipe downward at her. AJ made an “X” with her revolvers to block before kneeing the stallion in the stomach. When he dropped to his knees, AJ put the gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger.

~~~~~

A violet-haired girl snuck in through the kitchen window of Applejack’s house, gun in hand. Looking around, her eyes fell on the stairs to the upper floor. Smiling, she made her way over to them and slowly and quietly made her way up.

~~~~~

Applejack slid into the legs of a purple stallion, knocking him over before using her legs to snap his neck. After shooting two more, one gun was empty. Hooking the empty gun to a clip in the front of her belt, she continued to shoot two more as she used her free hand to grab bullets from her ammo pouch. Dropping them into the slots in the chamber, she grabbed the gun. With a flick of her wrist she snapped it shut and fired at another intruder.

🌑

Gunfire pummeled the shield as Twilight and Cadance struggled to keep the shield up. As they did, Luna made her way up to the wall, making her way to the guard who got shot. Letting out a sigh of sadness, Luna grabbed the rifle and took the deceased guard's position.

"Princess!" A nearby guard exclaimed. "What are you doing?"

"Protecting my people," the night princess said as she looked down the scope. "Now, ready up! Get the ground team out there!"

Trap doors in the snow outside the shield flipped open as royal guards with machine guns emerged, firing upon the invaders. There were two teams of four, one on each side, slowly circling around front. As the bullets started flying at them, they dove for cover, returning fire. As the bullets struck the shield, Cadance and Twilight were finding it harder and harder to keep it up. Suddenly, one bullet got through and struck the ground near the two mages.

"Oh, no," Twilight grunted. "We should've probably picked... a better spot..."

"There wasn't time," Cadance pointed out. “Just keep it up!”

Both Twilight and Cadance did their best to keep their attention on the shield. This became next to impossible when another bullet got through. This time, Twilight was shot directly in the shoulder, causing her to let out a pained squeak.

“Twilight!” The older mage exclaimed.

Twilight shook her head with a grunt. “Just keep focusing on the shield...”

The shield was now starting to flicker a little, like a lightbulb about to go out. Luna noticed this and looked down at the two to see Twilight with blood dripping from her shoulder.

“Oh, no,” she whispered, before looking out at the battlefield.

She found the group that was attacking the shield and aimed. Lining up her shot, she pulled the trigger. Seconds later, she watched the stallion’s head jerk back with a bloody spurt before he collapsed. When she reloaded and looked down her sight, she saw one of the shooters aiming at her. After dispatching him, she reloaded once more. Before she could even look down the sights, a bullet zipped past her, hitting the scope and damaging it beyond use.

Ducking for cover, the princess let out an angry grunt as she ripped the broken scope off the gun and tossed it aside. “And, I was doing so well, too...”

☀️

Fluttershy held her bat tightly as she was pressed against the wall of the bedroom next to the door. Heart pounding, she listened and waited. She then heard a light shuffle sound coming from the hallway. If it was Applejack, she’d make herself known. This had to be a hostile.

Fluttershy got her bat ready and, when the intruder stepped in the doorway, Fluttershy swung and hit her in the chest.

“Fuck,” the violet-haired girl grunted, about to aim her gun before Fluttershy whacked her on the back, causing her to fall to the floor.

“Please, stop!” Fluttershy pleaded.

“Not happening!” The intruder snapped, going for her gun.

Fluttershy tackled her and pinned her arms down. “I’m begging you, please!”

“Fuck off!” The girl yelled, throwing Fluttershy off. She then grabbed her gun and stood up. “Should’ve killed me when you had the chance.”

Before she could aim, Fluttershy gasped and swung her legs, knocking the girl backwards. There was a sickening crack as her head hit the corner of the bedside tackle.

Fluttershy scrambled to her feet to see the girl slamming as though she was having a seizure. Blood pooled under her head. Fluttershy grabbed her baseball bat and whimpered.

“I’m sorry,” she said softly, raising the bat.

With shaky arms, she brought the bat down hard on the girl’s head... but it wasn’t hard enough. Crying more, Fluttershy kept whacking and repeating “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” With one final whack, there was another loud crack as blood splattered her face.

The shaky woman dropped to the floor and quickly scooted back against the bed, staring in shock at the corpse. There was the faint sound of rapidly approaching footsteps before Applejack appeared in the doorway.

“H-Holy shit,” she said, her eyes going from the body, to the bloody bat, then to her girlfriend. Gasping, she ran over and knelt down beside her. “Fluttershy?” She asked, lightly shaking her. “Fluttershy?!”

🌑

Twilight’s vision started getting blurry as she kept focusing all her energy into the shield. The shield started flickering even more, making Cadance look at her.

“Twilight, are you okay?” The older mage asked, sound more worried than before.

“I-I’m just feeling... woozy...” Twilight replied as she dropped to her knees.

Luna scanned the battlefield with her scope, finding that the guards have successfully shot everyone. About to call it quits, one of the guards heads burst and he dropped to the snow.

“Sniper!” They all yelled, ducking for cover.

Luna gasped and looked around, finding the last attacker up on a hill. Her guards couldn’t get a clean shot, but she could. When she had her shot lined up, she noticed that the sniper was aiming at her now.

Twilight looked out the front gates to see the barrel of the rifle. With a grunt of effort, she focused all her energy to make the shield the size of a trash can lid and moved it in front of Luna.

When the sniper fired, the bullet hit the shield, shattering it. Twilight collapsed as Luna took the shot, ending the sniper’s life.

The princess then turned around to see Twilight unconscious. “Get her inside!” She exclaimed, dropping down into the snow and running over.

Cadance put her arm around her sister-in-law and helped her up. Luna got on the other side as they helped the exhausted woman to her home.