Chapter 8

Start of the second day of the Manehattan siege

Sergeant Swift Specter rose from a nap he'd taken and stretched. Amethyst was still sound asleep so he didn't want to wake her up.
The poor mare. that was quite a lot for the second combat mission.
He trudged a little through the outpost that had been set up and asked a few of the civilians how they were doing before seeing Captain Shining Armor.
"Sir, is there anything I can help me with?" asked Swift
"Ah Sergeant. Yes indeed, I have a question. Your group members, can I borrow these for the outbreak? It would be really handy to have eyes in the air."
Swift looked at him in confusion, then said, "Sir, we'll be with you all the way back, so yes, my squadron is at your disposal, of course. Except for Private Amethyst and I, everyone else will be in the air."
"Why don't you fly?" the captain asked confused.
"Amethyst is my responsibility. I pull the cart she will be in. I cannot and will not let anyone else do that." he looked at the captain with determination.
"All right, Sergeant." Shining Armor said with a smile, "But how do you give orders to your squadron?"
"Simple. Amethyst can pass it on. So I can concentrate on the road while it gives orders and signals." Swift explained, "I can definitely take a few wounded with me as well."

A little later, the three scouts from the Stormbreaker Squadron came back. Specialist Night saluted Swift, then said: "The enemy is building barricades to the north and west. South and east are relatively free, which is probably because everything in the south is under enemy control and in the east ... well there is the sea . The most direct routes, north and west, are cut off. "
"That's not good ..." said Swift and thought, "You three, come with us, we have to tell the captain."

Electric was lying under a control panel, cursing softly as she tried to fix the electronics and circuits. The airship had docked in a park that had been converted into an FOB by the Royal Guard. In addition to their airship, there were three others in urgent need of repairs
"Oh Buck me! Just work you piece of junk!" came another exclamation of hatred and frustration when Twilight lowered her head so that she could see under the console.
"Are you okay, Electric?" she asked worried.
"No, I'm not. I can't get this fixed, the ship is in a sub-optimal condition and Swift isn't here. I'm worried my flanks off about him. And I can't sleep because of that ..."
"Glad I got you some coffee." Twilight said with a small smile and with the help of her magic handed a mug of coffee to Electric.
She accepted it gratefully and emptied it almost in one go.
"Thanks, I needed that. How is your search for ..." she looked around briefly, but there was no one on the bridge, "for the element present here?"
Twilight sighed heavily and said, "I haven't found a clue yet. Applejack helps me find it, but it's not easy. There are thousands, if not tens of thousands of ponies in the refugee camp, and that same number have already escaped on trains The sphere only moves very slightly in a certain direction and I may walk past the Elementbearer without noticing it. "
"Sounds as frustrating as my work here. We got a lot of damage." Electric said, then looked at twilight. her front hoof was bandaged, just like her forehead, "is everything okay with you?"
Twilight bit her lower lip, then said honestly: "No ... it's not. I've seen ponies die. And not only that, one of the soldiers died to protect me."
Twilight nearly fell off the ship during the battle. The creation of a protective shield had drained her so much that she could not even teleport anymore, and only thanks to a levitation spell of a unicorn guardian she was still alive. But this guard had neglected his own defense as a result and had been hit by several spears. With a last Pull, he had trow Twilight back onto the ship, where she got injured, but this strain killed the Guard in the end.
Twilight trembled at the memory of the sight.

"This is disturbing news." said Captain Shining Armor and looked at a city map on which Specialist Night had drawn lines in red. Noises of battle could be heard in the background as the Crystal Empire again tried to overrun the trapped soldiers.
"Any suggestions?" the captain asked the group of officers, Swift, and the specialist.
Swift cocked his head, then looked at Night, "Would it be easier to get through here and here?"
"Yes, but as I said, it looks like the Crystal Empire is setting up a headquarters here in this little park. And anyone who cannot fly would have to walk a long distance." replied Night, "but it should be doable if we avoid Headquarters and go this way."
"Or." said one of the other soldiers, "We're running right through and creating chaos on our retreat.
"I like the idea." Shining Armor said, "We'll take this route if we can." He pointed out a route that first leads away from the front, then through the enemy headquarters, "We will wreak as much chaos as possible. If possible, we will destroy the HQ, if not, not badly. Then we run along here until there every now and then we break through their lines from behind and make our way to the train station. "
Everyone looked at the captain as if he had one or more screws loose. But nobody said anything.
Except for Swift.
He had already lost his comrades when the commander-in-chief was reckless: "Sir, with all due respect, but that's nuts! We'll never get there."
"My decision is made, sergeant." replied the captain.
"I have spoken to the others. To cover the retreat some of us will have to stay here and stop the enemy." Another soldier said in a low tone, "I've already recruited volunteers. Ten of us and I will stay."
Everyone turned to this soldier looking shocked.
That was a suicide mission.
"Absolutely no way!" Shining Armor said with a firm voice, "You come with us. Nopony is left behind!"
"Our decision is made, sir. We are staying so you all and the civilians can escape." He looked at the captain, "Otherwise it won't work."
There was an oppressive silence over the small group, and no one dared say anything.
"Sergeant ..." began night, but Swift raised his hoof to silence him. after another Minute, Swift said, "Specialist Night. Find Specialist Ruby. She is orderd to bring all the excess spears, food, water and medicine here immediately. We'll leave everything here." He looked up, "and when we have managed to save the civilians we will bring more supplies."
"If we're still alive then." said the soldier with an uncertain smile.
"Oh you will still be. I don't feel like carrying your lifeless bodies from the battlefield." Swift's grin grew dark, "you'll have to walk yourself."
Night glanced back and forth between the others, then saluted and set out to carry out his order.

Twilight walked through the refugee camp for the umpteenth time. The element that had moved here rested in her saddlebag and pressed very lightly against her side. Applejack walked beside her and kept her eyes open too.
It was just frustrating.
Twilight groaned, then said, "Come on AJ, let's get something to eat. I'm starting to think it's impossible."
"Don't give up Twy." Applejack said with a rather amused tone, "Just because it was so easy up to now doesn't mean that it's always like that. After all, we can make ourselves so useful and help."
"When you're talking about helping." said a relatively pleasant sounding voice from behind the two of them, "Would you mind helping with these foals?" both turned to a white unicorn with a dark purple mane.
Twilight was about to say something when she saw Applejack take a step forward, eyes narrowing.
"Rarity is that you?" Applejack asked in surprise.
"Applejack? Oh my goodness, we haven't seen each other for ages!" said Rarity with a smile. There were about eight to ten foals behind her.
"They aren't all yours, are they?" Applejack asked with a slightly mean but well-intentioned grin.
"No not really. But these Fillys lost their parents. Either while they were fleeing or ..." she looked back sadly, then cheerfull again to the other two: "You don't happen to have a few bits over? I would like to buy some food food for the little ones, but I didn't take anything with me when I fled here. "
"oh yes a moment please." Twilight said and was about to look for her bits in her saddlebag when she noticed something. The sphere moved. and that in the direction of rarity.
She couldn't believe it and turned a little, but the sphere kept its direction. even after a full turn.
"Uhm ... are you all right, darling?" asked Rarity.
"Yes ... yes I am. Come with me, lunch is on me!" said Twilight, suddenly in a much better mood.

All preparations were made.
There was only one direction to go. Swift checked the cab one more time and began to grin. in the pastry room he found the cab driver's hat.
Amethyst had taken a seat in the cab from which she could see the Squadron.
Swift threw on the caprunnerhat, walked forward and said in an upscale tone, "Ah what a lovly day for a city trip. Where want you to go, my lady?"
First she looked at him confused, then Amethyst laughed out loud, which brought some to look at the two of them. "To the train station, fine sir. But please take the scenic route."
"As you wish, my lady." Swift said and trotted forward, threw the harness around his body, then trotted off like a normal cab to get to the starting point. As he walked by, he gave the soldiers a polite nod and said to each of them: "what a wonderful day, sir." The laugh spread among the trapped soldiers. Amethyst was already holding her stomach because of the pain fromt the laughing.
That was what everyone needed right now.
Something to distract them from the task ahead.
"Cabrunner, would you slow down a little, please. I want to enjoy the view." said Amethyst in a mock noble tone.

The distraction was not maintained for too long as all the soldiers gathered on the street. There were a few traveling in cabs with injured civilians, children and the elderly. further up was Swift with amethyst. The Squadron at his side.
In fact, Specialist Ruby looked significantly beefier without her backpack and saddlebags. Swift decided never to have a hoofwrestling duel with her.
"okay guys." Swift said, "I'll have my eyes on the street. Give signals to Amethyst, she'll give them to me and vice versa. If it should be quick with the decision, do what you've always done. Think and act independently if necessary. I want no losses today."
"Sir, yes sir!" everyone called in unison.
"Get ready!" called Captain Shining armor from behind Swift.
after much persuasion, he had been made to run in the middle and not, as he wanted, at the front. There he was able to protect the civilians better with his impressive shield spell and was actually faster on the flanks should need help there.
Everypony got ready.
"Start the stampede!"
That was the sign. Swift started moving with everyone else, turned south with everypony else, and they ran.

"Commander, there!" one of the wonderbolts called and pointed south. On the other side of the front, five shapes soared into the sky and flew south, just higher than the buildings.
"Must be enemies." Dash said, "but they are too far into their territory to attack. We also have to find the Stormbreakers!" Dash kept an eye on the front line while the Wonderbolts scanned the sky. In the meantime everything was set up so that enemy airships and pegasie only sporadically could cross the border. However, this was also the other way around. On the ground the fighting was fiercer and everypony was trying to break through.

Swift ran just behind the tip of the spearhead, and panted heavily.
That was more exhausting than expected, but at least he still had the Cabrunner hat. Somehow that was important to him.
"Sir," Amethyst called forward, "Specialist Night reports a blockage, three blocks ahead."
Swift ran to the front: "Blockade, three blocks ahead."
"Understood." said the soldier, panting just as hard.
He swiveled to the left, towards the east, there was no resistance to be seen. So they navigated the city, creating confusion and havoc upon the enemy.

After what felt like running a hundred blocks, the whole group had to slow down, but there was no stopping.
Swift was breathing hard, his legs tired and aching.
"Enemy air units!" a unicorn called, and Swift looked up at his squadron.
"Amethyst, give the order to..." he began at to say but then he saw how all five of them folded their wings, fell in the direction of the ground and not only caught the fall about five meters above the ground, no, they now also flew onto the group of soldiers too, with the enemy pegasia in tow.
"That was impressive!" Swift said honestly, then the soldiers began shooting the enemy pegasi with their spells.
Swift ducked as the Stormbreaker rushed over him, not because of them but because of the spears thrown after them.
He heard Amethyst scream.
He looked up again in panic and was afraid of what he would see when he turned around.
He did it anyway.
Amethyst ... was perfectly okay.
The spears had all missed the mare and were now stuck in the rear wall of the passenger cabin. She had curled up into a relatively small ball in time.
Swift took a deep breath and silently thanked Destiny. Then he also thanked Death for sparing her.

"This is nonsense!" Rarity said as she looked at the necklace she was wearing now. She was on board the airship and couldn't believe what had happened, "you want to tell me that I am some kind of chosen one?"
"Exactly. You're an element of harmony!" Twilight said excitedly.
"It's kind of a joke, right?" she asked again.
"I'm sorry, Rarity, but it's true. I got the confirmation from Princess Celestia in person when I got mine." said Applejack.
"But I'm not a fighter! I sew and make clothes for the troops!" Rarity tossed her hoof in the air, "How could I take on anything more dangerous than a runaway sewing machine?"
"We do not know that, yet." Twilight said, when Electric came into the conference room.
"Oh, as I can see we've found somepony. Hi, I'm ..." She didn't get any further, becouse Rarity literally screamed when she saw Electric.
"Darling, what are you wearing? Such a beautiful mare should wear a dress, and not ... this crime of clothing!"
"but I like my overalls." Electric said and looked down at himself, "They are comfortable and I have saddlebags for my tools.
"Overalls? Plural? I think I'm going to pass out ..." Rarity said and covered her eyes with one of her hooves.
"Yep. That's the Rarity as I remember her." Applejack said, not without a chuckle.

"okay soldiers, our big performance. Assault on enemy headquarters!" Captain Shining Armor called from the center.
"Private, take a spear out of the wall! You will want to defend yourself!"
"Sir, yes sir!" called the private and took a spear, turned it skillfully in their hooves and immediately threw it into one of the positions in front of them.
The guard in it was downright impaled, the second had it not better because Amethyst threw a second spear. the third hit the lock of a gate and opened it.
Swift was impressed and looked at Private in amazement before saying, "That was amazing, Private Amethyst! I can confirm both kills."
Amethyst smiled like a innocence filly on a sunny Day when she said, "Thank you sir."
The whole group stopped in the courtyard of the enemy headquarters and fighting broke out.
Unlike at the front, there were also soldiers of the Crystal Empire without the distinctive helmet.
and prisoners.
"We'll take care of the prisoners!" Swift called to Captain Armor, left the cab and ran to the cells. They used one of the remaining spears to break open the cell doors.
Inside there were soldiers and civilians, none of them looking particularly good. But that could be helped.
"Quick, there are transport carts outside, big enough for several ponies. I only need four that are strong enough to pull them!" Swift said to the former prisoners.
Volunteers were quickly found and the loading of civilians and injured began.

As there was no safe place for the children at the moment, Electric took care of them in the library. Twilight was looking for children's books outside, because that was something their library didn't have on board. When she came back with the books, and some more than expected, she strutted in and proudly announced. "I have several history books, some math books for new school leavers, and best of all, kid-friendly encyclopedias!"
Electric looked at her deadpanned.
"What?" Twilight asked, "I loved these books as a foal!"
Electric still said nothing, closed his eyes and grumbled loudly before she said: "You take care of the children, I'll go get books."
"Me? But ... I have ... wait! You can't ..." Twilight tried to protest, but Electeric was already gone.

"Okay that's it, get out of here! Next destination is west!" shouted Captain shining armor.
The convoy was now much bigger, but the speed had hardly decreased. Swift's legs grew heavier, his breath rattling.
"Sir, if you want, I can do the pulling for a while!" said Amethyst a little worried
"I ... can ... not ... handle the spear ... as well ... as you do." Swift said with a gasp, bowed his head and stormed on, "I can do it!"

It was getting dark when a guard sent a signal in the south.
Yellow smoke.
Commander Dash was nearby, guiding the wonderbolts towards the smoke.
"Ma'am, there are the five fliers again!" called one of the wonderbolts, pointing forward.
Just as Dash was about to say something, a green smoke grenade detached itself from the ground, and another, red one behind the green towards the east.
"They belong to us! And there seem to be even more on the ground!" Commander Dash said and turned to get there
When she got close enough to recognize the five, she immediately recognized the batpony as one of the Stormbreakers.
She flew next to the formation and asked, "Where's the sergeant?"
Specialist Night pointed down and Rainbow Dash could already see the petrol stain and the metal wings from above ...
and a cab that he pulled ...
"Wonderbolts, defend airspace, I'm going down!" Dash called and sank lower to fly alongside the cab.
"Sergeant Swift, have you changed your job?" she asked with a smile, then saw the amethyst sitting injured in the back of the cab, "Everything okay, Private?"
"Yes ma'am. Just a broken wing." Amethyst announced with a salute.
Swift looked up, sweat ran down his face and dripped from his muzzel, "I don't know ... like earth ponies ... can take the running ... all the time ..." The earth ponies in the group of soldiers didn't even seem to notice they pulled something.
But looking around she also saw the purple armor of Captain Shining armor.
"Excuse me a moment, Swift." Dash said and fell back, then saluted the captain.
Two more blocks ... and an enemy barricade.
After all, it wasn't as heavily guarded as the one they had escaped from.

The first soldiers broke through the barricade, then the first carts came with injured and civilians. The cheering on the allied front line was great and a passage was willingly opened.
Swift slowed behind his own line, panted heavily and sat on the floor for the time being.
Nor did he object when a paramedic came to him and gave him something.
Whatever it was, it felt good and his aching legs eased.
He didn't even hear his squadron talking to him, or that Captain Armor came up and praised his squadron.
However, he fell over when the captain patted him on the shoulder.

"Well Swift? How are you?" asked a familiar voice.
Swift looked up and saw that he was facing Death.
"Did I die from overwork?" Swift asked a little uncertainly.
"No, you are not. I just wanted to visit you. And I have a message from Destiny for you." Death smiled his lip-less smile.
"Oh okay ..." Swift said uncertainly, looked at his back - no wings - and asked, "Why don't I have any wings here?"
"You have lost your real wings. That was a loss that even your soul felt. And the metal wings have no soul in them." Death answered his question
"Ah ... makes sense." Swift said, "what's the message from Destiny?"
"She announces that she is proud of you. You are making good progress, but finding the elements of harmony and the bearer is only part of the mission. The elements need to be activated too." said Death, "and she's ready to make a little deal with you. A nice, long life, if you can find and activate the elements. With Electric if you want."
Swift gaspe and couldn't believe his ears.

The unconscious Pegasus, meanwhile, was taken to the ship's infirmary with Electric at his side.
"Will he get well again?" she asked with concern in her voice Fluttershy.
"Oh, I think so. It was just a bit to much strain for a Pegasus with so much weight on his back." Fluttershy replied, then giggled, "maybe he should apply for leave. Or at least see if he can suspend ground battles next time."
Then she turned to Amethyst again and examined her wing

End of day 2 of the Siege of Manehattan.

Author's Note

I forgot to write something about the world in chapter 7 to make it more understandable / logical, so here are two facts.

Fact number one:

The Crystal Empire came as a surprise, so it was difficult at the beginning to slow down the advance. Many villages, towns and communities were simply overrun and the majority of the Equestria army was poorly equipped and even less trained in combat. Few units were well trained and later became elite units, including the Wonderbolts
Due to the loss of all these communities, villages and cities, the Crystal Empire was quickly able to integrate unicorns, earth ponies and pegasias into their ranks in addition to the Crystal ponies. there are also volunteers on the part of the Crystal Empire.

According to dark rumors, injured soldiers of the Equestria Army are brainwashed by the Crystal Empire and forced to fight on their side, but this has not yet been confirmed, nor has it been explicitly refuted.

Fact number two:

The sea invasion of the Crystal Empire was possible due to a failure of the military leadership. Very few have even considered that something like this is possible. When the ships landed with the first enemy troops, the streets were full of civilians. Most of the soldiers now fighting in the city just happened to be in Manehattan to leave, to cure illnesses or to rehabilitate after serious injuries.
According to initial estimates, Manehattan will have to hold out for another 3 days before reinforcements come, which will then weaken the borders in the south with the badlands.
Most of them do not know why soldiers are stationed there.