The Equestrian Civil War

It was raining in the city of Stalliongrad when Rarity arrived. She put on her fur coat, and got out of the black sedan that she was riding in. She was escorted inside by two handsome-looking stallions. When she walked inside, she hung up her coat, and she was escorted to the office where Diamond Treasure was waiting for her.

She walked up to the door, and knocked gently on the door. It immediately opened, and she walked inside. Diamond Treasure looked up from a sheet of paper, and stood up to greet Rarity.

“Ah, Rarity, it is nice to see you.” She put on a fake smile to greet Rarity.

“The pleasure is mine.” Rarity responded before she sat down. She was wearing a simple black suit with a skirt. She was also wearing a small black beret to shield her scalp from the rain. She took it off, and placed it on her lap.

“We have everything prepared for you, Miss Rarity.” Diamond Treasure explained. “All we need to hand you a few files, and answer any questions you have about this mission.”

“Yes,” Rarity answered. “How long will I be undercover in Manehattan?”

“At most,” Diamond Treasure said as she sat down, “Two to three weeks. You will be having a temporary internship under a Mr. Quirky Code. He has, sympathies, to our cause. He will be your mentor, and he will give you the materials needed to take down the quintuple firewall protecting the OFC database and central control panel.”

“Two to three weeks is all?” Rarity asked, “I had thought it would be at least a month.”

“No,” Diamond Treasure responded. “That would increase the risk of you being discovered. Now, you do know that you will have an alias, yes?”

“You had mentioned that in the hospital in Murmanesk.” Rarity answered. “What will be my new name?”

“While you are working for us,” Diamond Treasure said, “Your identity will be Illustrious. We have already forged the birth certificates. You were born in Baton Hoof, twenty-three years ago…”

Twenty-three? Rarity asked herself. They sure are doing me justice, at twenty-nine.

“You have a keen interest in electronics, and received a degree in Informational Technology at the Neighjing Institute for Informational Technology. You have just gotten out of school, and are looking for a temporary internship to garner experience in the field.”

Diamond Treasure reached into a manila folder, and grabbed a photograph. She handed it to Rarity, who then examined it closely. The mare in the picture was quite attractive, with a very light pink coat and a straight bright blue mane.

“Wait a minute,” Rarity said, “Am I supposed to look like this?”

“Well we just can’t have you walking around the OFC Database looking like you now could we?” Diamond Treasure said, “You would be caught immediately and executed for espionage. Now, back to the identity, you also have a slight Baton Hoof or southern accent. Do you know anypony you can model your speech after?”

“Yes,” Rarity said quietly, thinking about Applejack.

“Alright then, if you have no further questions,” Diamond Treasure stood up from her chair, “Honey Song is ready for you at the airport. It will be a long flight, so you will have to eat in the car. We apologize for the inconvenience.”

“No, it’s quite alright.” Rarity said, “It’s worth it, if I’m going to be eating fine Manehattan cuisine.”

“That’s the spirit.” If Diamond Treasure had any emotion in her voice, it would sound peachy. The gray-coated Unicorn walked Rarity out, and said before she walked into the car, “You will be given instruments to aid you in the car. Listen carefully to the instructions. They could save your life.”

Diamond Treasure then embraced Rarity briefly, and watched as she walked down the stairs to the street, where the same black sedan was waiting. Rarity climbed inside, and looked at Diamond Treasure as the car pulled away. She stood straight, with no emotion on her face. Typical behavior coming from a professional spy, she said to herself.

“Hello, Miss Rarity!”

Rarity nearly jumped out of the car when she heard the masculine voice. It was then that she saw a burly Earth Pony stallion looking at her. His once-orange mane was balding, and his yellow coat was losing its color. He was a bit overweight, and smelled of cigar smoke.

“You can call me Espie.” He introduced himself. “I will be handing you your gadgets for this mission.”

“Please,” Rarity panted, “Do try and introduce yourself without giving me a heart attack.”

“I’m sorry!” His eyes went wide with fear, “I didn’t mean to frighten you!”

“No, no, it’s quite alright.” Rarity said, “You told me you were giving me gadgets?”

“Oh, that’s right!” Espie smiled as his cheeks went bright red. He reached into a tiny suitcase, and opened it. Inside the suitcase was a set of earrings, a ring, and a hairpin. “This tool,” he said, reaching for the ring, “Has a laser inside the diamond. It can break any lock in Equestria. Handy if you need to break into an office where you aren’t dropping off coffee.”

He chuckled at his own joke, while Rarity laughed awkwardly. “These earrings have a GPS inside of them.” Espie continued, “We will know where you are whenever you wear them. They’re waterproof too, so you can wear them in the shower or if you’re fifty feet underwater!”

Rarity looked at the golden earrings, and placed them on. She heard a faint beep, and Espie clapped his hands not unlike a kindergarten filly. “And this hairpin has a deadly dart inside of it. If you need to take out somepony silently and efficiently, this is your tool. This also lights itself on fire when it’s done injecting the poison. It will leave no evidence.”

“That’s it?” Rarity asked as the sedan got onto the freeway before immediately taking an exit to the airport.

“Yes, it is.” Espie said, “When you go on longer missions inside Equestria, there will be more gadgets for you. Until then, be glad with what you’ve got. That’s two million bits you’re holding there, so be careful. It’s very hard to replace these things.”

Rarity nodded in agreement. She reached inside her purse, and grabbed a mane straightener. She turned on the cordless tool, and straightened out her mane. Espie realized what she was doing, and gave her blue mane dye.

“This is criminal,” Rarity complained, “My mane was beautiful!”

“But very recognizable.” Espie answered, “You need a bland mane-do if you want to stay incognito. And here, take these pills with your lunch. They will help turn your coat from white to very light pink.”

Rarity nodded in acknowledgement, and placed the pills in her purse. “Take them with every meal until they run out too.” Espie continued, “These pills last seven hours before wearing off. If you take them with every meal, before you go to sleep, and once you wake up, you should be fine.”

As soon as Espie finished saying that, the car stopped. “It seems we are the airport,” he said, “Best of luck to you, Miss Rarity!”

Rarity smiled in thanks, and climbed out of the car. She breathed her first breath of fresh air since getting in the car.

She always hated the smell of cigar smoke. It stuck to ponies, and it was the worst stench she could think of at the moment.

She sighed when two Unicorn stallions with plain suits walked up to her to escort her to her plane. She placed two pills in her mouth, and swallowed them with her spell. She suddenly didn’t want to do this; she wanted to head back to Jerhoofalem.

Now it was too late.
***

“Flutter, I’ve got a target! Three hundred meters to the northwest! It’s a column of Celestial tanks!”

Fluttershy gave her copilot a thumbs-up, and turned her Mi-28 Havoc helicopter towards the advancing column. The 76th Infantry Brigade had led the charge into Sappony, and they were driving back the weakened Celestial defenders. With help from War Horse Squadron and other air and naval support, it was almost impossible to stop the Republicans.

Fluttershy flew above the tanks, rocket pods blazing. Over a dozen rockets impacted the seven tanks heading towards the 76th. Explosions rocked the streets below as the tank’s fuel tanks ignited. Smoke belched from what was left of the column as Fluttershy flew away from them.

Fluttershy turned her attention to a barricade the Celestials had set up along a main boulevard that the 76th was attempting to get onto. She leaned the helicopter forward, and Solar Chaser peppered the infantry behind the barricade with machinegun fire. Fluttershy could see body parts separate violently with their host bodies. She almost lost her lunch there.

“Thanks for the assist, War Horse!” Fluttershy heard over her radio link with the 76th. “We are advancing!”

Fluttershy flew past the 76th, and began to hammer more defensive locations the Celestials had set up. She strangely felt little remorse as she watched dozens of Celestial soldiers die, and she knew why. They had chosen to stay loyal to the racist despot that Celestia was, and so they deserved this treatment.

“Uh, Flutter,” Solar Chaser said, “I’ve got a lone helo inbound. It seems to be an AH-64 Apache attack helicopter.”

“Where is it?” Fluttershy asked.

“One click to the east,” Solar Chaser answered.

“I’m heading there now.” Fluttershy said, “I sure hope the 76th won’t need help.”

Solar Chaser sighed, and said, “They are grown mares and stallions. You aren’t their foalsitter. Just do what you feel like you need to do. And if you feel like this Apache is a threat, then by all means, go ahead.”

“You’re right.” Fluttershy said, “Where would I be without you?”

Solar Chaser smirked, and said, “Nowhere, Flutter.”

Fluttershy blushed a little, before she saw the Apache on the horizon. She leaned the stick forward, and the Havoc gained speed. As she grew closer and closer to the Apache, she slowed down, and fired a lone missile at the helicopter.
The Apache rolled to the right, and narrowly avoided it. It grew closer, and fired its machinegun. It hit the Havoc below the cockpit, and Fluttershy could feel the bullets penetrate. She climbed up into the sky to escape the hail of gunfire, and flew closer to the helicopter. She fired two missiles, but they flew on either side of the Apache. It soon left Fluttershy’s line of sight, and she stabilized the Havoc.

“It’s right behind us!” Solar Chaser said, “And it’s turning around!”

Fluttershy climbed, and turned to the left. She could soon see the Apache out of the corner of her eye. She stabilized the helicopter, and she fired a burst of gunfire at the Apache. The bullets struck the cockpit, and shattered the glass. Fluttershy then charged the Apache, and fired a volley of five missiles at the Apache.

This time, one missile struck the Apache in the rotors. The Apache spun out of control, and plummeted to the ground. Smoke and fire spewed from the rotors, and Fluttershy watched it impact a hill, and explode. There was no doubt that the pilot and the copilot were dead.

“Good kill, Flutter!” Solar Chaser exclaimed, “Let’s head back to Sappony. We’re out in the suburbs.”

Fluttershy nodded, and flew back towards the city. It felt weird having killed another helicopter. She knew this chopper wasn’t meant for air-to-air combat. No helicopter was. But she had just engaged in it, and she had claimed a helicopter.

She soon reached the city again, and almost immediately, the 76th requested air support.

“We’re pinned down!” She heard in her headset, “They have AT soldiers in the buildings!”

Fluttershy responded with, “War Horse 1 inbound. ETA is one minute. Hang tight, my little ponies.”

The Havoc sped towards the 76th at speeds of over one hundred and twenty miles an hour. Fluttershy and Solar Chaser dashed towards them, and they flew high above the low-rise apartments where the 76th was held up in.

When they approached the chokepoint, Fluttershy checked her ammo. She had gone through about three quarters of her ammunition, and would need to return to base for ammo and fuel. She became determined to dish out the most devastation against the Royal Equestrian Army yet.

She got her chance soon. She reached the apartments where the 76th was pinned down in the streets below.

Fluttershy stabilized, and hovered above the apartments. First, she used every last bullet in her minigun to kill the AT soldiers. Then, she moved in for the final kill.

She pulled back, and climbed into the air. She then leaned forward, and fired half a dozen missiles into one apartment. The devastation dealt against it was truly epic. Huge pieces of the apartment was blown away, and fell to the street. Part of the apartment even began to collapse as Fluttershy flew past the apartment.

She then turned around, and repeated the same process against the other apartment. Only this time, ten missiles pounded against the walls of this apartment complex. The building was all but left standing as it collapsed almost entirely. Fluttershy stabilized the helicopter, and turned towards the ocean and base.

“War Horse 1 is out, forty bogies confirmed KIA.” Fluttershy reported, “War Horse 1 is RTB for resupply. Good luck, 76th.”
***

“Alright, everypony, listen up.”

Rainbow Dash looked up from her decorative combat knife to listen to what Spitfire had to say. She had gathered all of Wonderbolt Squadron, all twenty-six mares and stallions, into her tiny cabin.

“I’ve just got orders from General Shining Armor in my hands here.” Spitfire said through her sunglasses, holding up a manila folder with “CLASSIFIED: TOP SECRET” plastered all over it. “We’ve got rebasing orders.”

“Where are we heading, Spit?” Soarin’ asked, “Are we heading to Nipponi Island?”

“No,” Spitfire said, opening the folder. “We are to report to Baton Hoof Airbase in four weeks.”

“We’re going to Baton Hoof?” Dash blurted, “But there’s not any fighting there!”

“According to Shining Armor,” Spitfire retorted, “We are there to protect the Louisimana River from Republican attack. His logic is that if the Republicans take Baton Hoof, it will effectively split Western Equestria in two. We can’t have that happen, so we are leaving Jerhoofalem, along with the 5th Fleet.”

“So we’re pulling out?” Fleetfoot asked, “We’re just giving up?”

“Shining Armor’s told me that Princess Celestia is thinking that fighting in Jerhoofalem is like fighting over a mound of rubble. The city is trashed. Luna can have her damn city. We’re pulling out.”

That hit Rainbow Dash hard in the stomach. “What about the infantry on the ground in Jerhoofalem?”

“They will be evacuated from the combat zone and onto the ships in the next two days.” Spitfire said, “Then, we will depart across the Eastern Ocean. We will be in Flankfurt in three and a half weeks, and then we will fly as a group to Baton Hoof.”

Rainbow Dash sighed in relief. Twilight and Pinkie Pie would be safe. Granted, they hadn’t been captured. Or killed. Damn it all, Dash hated not knowing about her friends! She didn’t even want to get started on Rarity, Fluttershy or Applejack. They might as well be lepers in her opinion, although at one time, Dash did fancy Applejack a little. But what she did erased all admiration Dash had for her friend.

There were grumblings in the room about just abandoning the city, but Spitfire stopped them, saying, “Hey do you think I want to do this? Do you think I want to abandon the Temples? No, I don’t. But this is coming from High Command, and do you think I want to dispute them? We’re leaving, and that’s final.”

There was a collection of sighs, and the Wonderbolts got up from their improvised seats and left the room, all except Dash. She stayed there, hands folded and holding up her chin, with brow furrowed. She was obviously in deep thought about her friends. Spitfire turned to do rearrange some pictures, but was startled slightly when she saw Dash sitting there.

“Hey, Dash, are you home?” Spitfire chuckled when Dash snapped out of her thoughts and snapped her head to look directly at Dash. “What’s gotten a rough and tough mare like you so philosophical?”

“Is Shining Armor sure he can get everypony out of Jerhoofalem?” Dash asked.

“Well, obviously he can’t.” Spitfire responded with a scoff, “But why would you think…”

Spitfire then remembered why Dash would say that. She walked over, and sat next to Dash, who was sitting on the foot of Spitfire’s bed. She put her hand on Dash’s shoulder, and reassured her, saying, “I’m sure Shining Armor will put Twilight and Pinkie on the first boats. He wouldn’t want to risk you guys, right?”

“I guess you’re right.” Dash said, “But what if they’re dead or captured already?”

“Don’t you think that if Celestia or Shining Armor got wind of this, we would go on foot to rescue them?” Spitfire said,

“Look, what I’m trying to say is this. Your friends are fine; you shouldn’t worry about things that are out of control. You’re a Wonderbolt! Wonderbolts have no fear, remember?”

Dash sighed, and looked at Spitfire, “You’re right. I’m a Wonderbolt, and my friends are fine. They’re too smart to get captured!”

“That’s the spirit, Dash!” Spitfire said, smiling. “You keep thinking like that, and you’ll make it out of this, okay?”

Dash nodded, and Spitfire patted Rainbow Dash on the shoulder. “Now, why don’t you go to the mess hall and get a coffee? You look like you need it, and it’s only a few hours before we fly our last sortie.”

Rainbow Dash stood up, and walked out the door. She stopped herself, and turned around. “Thanks for that,” Dash said, chuckling and rubbing the back of her head, “I’m really not good at saying these kinds of things.”

“Then don’t.” Spitfire said, taking the tone of an officer. “I order you to go down to mess and get a coffee.”

Dash threw a snappy salute, and said, “Ma’am, yes ma’am!”
***

“This is Sparkle, I have eyes on a HVT.”

“Roger that, Sparkle. You have authorization to wound, not kill. We want this bastard alive.”

Twilight Sparkle responded by saying, “Yes sir. Send the evac chopper now. He’ll be down by then.”

Twilight then switched off her comm link. She looked through the scope of her Barrett .50cal, and peered at the Republican officer she was aiming at. He was a broad and strong-looking Pegasus, with a gray coat and a black mane. He wore sunglasses to shield himself from the harsh Jerhoofalem sun. Twilight smirked; it just lowered her chances of being caught.

“Wound, not kill, Twilight,” she said to herself quietly. “Wound, do not kill.”

She aimed the crosshairs at numerous targets that would take down the officer. There were so many possibilities: both arms, both legs, the shoulders, the hips, and her favorite for stallions, the groin. There was always something satisfying about taking down and castrating a pompous Republican stallion.

She was about to take the shot, when she saw another two Republican soldiers cross the street behind the officer. She cursed, and activated the comm link.

“This is Sparkle to Overseer, hold the evac copter.” She said, “I have eyes on multiple confirmed hostiles. Requesting reinforcements on my AO sir.”

“That’s a negative, Sparkle.” Overseer, her commanding officer, replied, “Reinforcements are stretched thin. You’re on your own, Sparkle.”

“Roger that sir,” Twilight replied, “Sparkle acknowledges.”

She shut off her comm link again. She cursed again. Why was it always before she took the shot? It was as if Luna was playing a sick joke on her. She scanned the area for more hostiles, but found that those three soldiers were all there was. She found it weird that an officer at the rank of colonel would have more guarding his pompous ass. She deduced that based on this observation, the Republicans were having the same reinforcements problems.

She found it likely, since the Equestrian Royal Air Force had begun airstrikes on the nearby cities of Tripponi and Damarescus. She had also heard rumors that the Republicans had also begun attacking Nipponi Island.

She sighed. How long had it been since she had done an experiment? Making these observations reminded her when she would perform experiments in the Everfree Forest when she lived back in Ponyville. How long had it been since she had seen something other than this hellish desert? Two months? Maybe it was three?

She shook her head, and looked through the scope again. She aimed the crosshairs at the soldier that was wielding what seemed to be a Hooviet light machinegun. That would be the biggest threat to Twilight if she were to be compromised. She aimed a little bit in front of the soldier, and made last minute adjustments to her aim before squeezing the trigger with her index finger.

The rifle bucked into her shoulder with recoil as the .50BMG round left the rifle. She watched as it impacted the machine gunner in the neck, and as his blood splattered onto the sidewalk below him. The other soldier and the officer lowered themselves instinctively. The Colonel hid behind cover, and the soldier lagged behind. Twilight smiled darkly as she decided the fate of this poor mare.

She fired the rifle again, and the bullet hit her square in the small of the neck. The mare didn’t have a chance. She fell to the street, with a pool of blood slowly growing under her. The officer took note as to where Twilight was, and began firing a handgun at her.

Now, Twilight stood up, and hid behind a wall. She looked out of her cover, and saw the Colonel reloading his pistol. She got out of cover, and aimed at the officer’s groin. She fired immediately, and saw the officer fall to the ground. He writhed in pain, which encouraged Twilight.

She placed the strap of the rifle over her shoulder, and grabbed her Desert Eagle handgun. Even though she could see no other Republicans, she could never be too sure. Twilight crept to the stairwell that took her down from the first floor to the street level. Twilight moved almost silently, all she could hear was the creaking of the floor and the whimpers of the wounded Colonel.

What a pussy.

Twilight opened the door, and ran across the street, bent low towards the street. She reached the Colonel, and grabbed a pair of handcuffs. She cuffed the Colonel, and looked at him in the face.

“So, this is my assassin.” The Colonel spat when he looked at Twilight, “A mare sniper, eh?”

A sexist too.

“I’m not going to kill you.” Twilight said coldly. She looked at him, and shoved the barrel of the Desert Eagle against his forehead, and said, “Though I am authorized to use lethal force.”

“So, the tyrant wants me back?” The Colonel laughed, “You know you’re not going to get anything out of me, darling.”

“Anypony can talk under enough dunks under water.” Twilight replied, making a reference to water boarding. The Colonel’s eyes went wide, and he begged her to kill him.

“Face it like a stallion, will you?” Twilight asked, “I’ve met fillies with more bravery than you.”

Twilight turned on her comm link, and said, “This is Sparkle to Overseer, I have HVT alive. What is the ETA of evac?”

“ETA is seven minutes, Sparkle.” Twilight rolled her eyes at the response. Great, that meant more time with the sexist bastard. “Hold tight.”

“Yes sir.” Twilight replied, and shut off the comm link. She grabbed the Colonel by the forearm, and got him up. “Come on, it’s cooler inside.”

“So, you’re the Twilight Sparkle?” The Colonel chuckled, though Twilight figured it was from the adrenaline draining from his blood. “They make you a tiny sniper? Ha! If you would only see what we did with Applejack…”

“What’s this about Applejack?” Twilight turned around and hissed. She kept the Colonel walking, though she held the pistol against the side of his head, with the safety off, which was unknown to the Republican.

“Oh, we made her a Major.” He said, “I even got to talk to her a few times. She said she liked you, but you were a little indoctrinated, like the others.”

“Indoctrinated?” Twilight asked, “Is that what Applejack said?”

“She’s the Element of Honesty, isn’t she?” The Colonel replied, “She’s not one to lie, or so I’ve heard.”

Twilight rolled her eyes, and threw him onto the floor of the ruined apartment block she was hiding in. He hit the floor with a solid thump, and winced in pain. There was a growing stain of blood around the stallion’s groin. It didn’t seem fatal, and that was good. Celestia knew that Twilight was not opening that stallion’s pants.

Twilight sat down across from the officer, and asked, “What else has Applejack said?”

“Where do I start?” The Colonel said to himself as he sat up. “Oh, there is always her criticism of Celestia. Apparently, she was a bit, oh, what’s the word? Oh yeah, it was dishonest! You know the opposite of what she stood for? Why else do you think she joined Luna?”

Twilight stood up in anger, but the Colonel only laughed, saying, “You know that if you do anything, I’ll die. And then where would you be?”

Twilight sat back down, and asked, “Did she really say I was indoctrinated?”

“Not only that,” the Colonel said, “You were also naïve. Naïve in thinking that Celestia’s rule would last forever. She’s had over a thousand years, and it’s Luna’s turn. Celestia built the Empire, and now it is Luna’s job to maintain it. Do you really think that these past thousand years were as harmonious as the history books say? Being in the Republican Army has really opened my eyes, and it would open yours as well.

“Celestia is not the kind-hearted teacher you know, Twilight Sparkle.” His tone darkened and became suddenly serious. “There were numerous wars, millions of deaths, and dozens of diseases during the past thousand years, and Celestia’s to blame.

“Why do you think the Deer and Elk follow Celestia unquestionably?” The Colonel asked, “It’s because Celestia threatened to burn them out of existence with the sun. It’s what created the Sahayra, you know. When the last Crusade against the Camels ended, Celestia burned the enormous city of Meccamel to the ground by bringing the sun closer to the Camel’s homeland. It baked the land so much, it created the largest desert in the known world.

“There is so much history that Celestia has hidden from the history books in the classrooms.” The Colonel stated, “We have been living in a bubble, while the rest of the world are at each other’s throats. Celestia has planted the seeds for a world war, and Luna will reap the harvest. Are you prepared, Miss Sparkle? Are you prepared for the devastation? Are you prepared for the death? No! And you can thank your damn teacher for that!”

“Shut up!” Twilight lifted the Colonel by his neck with magic. The Colonel began to choke. Twilight drew her pistol, and aimed it between his eyes, and said, “You know you’re lying. This rebellion will crumble.”

She let him down, and the Colonel coughed violently, and Twilight saw blood splatter on the floor. He looked at Twilight, and said, “They said that before the East was in our hands. You know that powers rise and fall. This is the fall of Celestia, and the rise of Luna. Admit it, you are on the wrong side!”

“No!” Twilight screeched. She walked over to the Colonel, and switched the safety off of her Desert Eagle. She was about to pull the trigger, but she heard the distant thumps of a helicopter.

“Looks like I was saved by the bell, Miss Sparkle.” The Colonel smiled. “I’m glad we had this little talk.”

Twilight dragged him up, and walked outside. She shielded her eyes from the dust with her free hand as the AH-6 Little Bird landed in the middle of the street. Equestrian Special Forces got out of the helicopter, and grabbed the Colonel.

Twilight was in a daze when the Colonel left her grasp, and was loaded onto the helicopter. Too many thoughts were racing through her head.

But one dominated her thoughts:

Was he right?
***

Pinkie Pie was growing exhausted. Their convoy had been ambushed eighteen hours ago, and they had been fighting bitterly against the Republican forces, which had gotten reinforcements during the night. While she had received reinforcements, the Republicans were withdrawing, leading them on a wild goose chase throughout the Industrial District.

It seemed that Vinyl Scratch and Octavia were faring worse than Pinkie Pie though. They could barely stay awake, despite the life-threatening circumstances they were in. While Vinyl was still willing to fight, Octavia was breaking down mentally, and nopony could make her pick up her rifle again. She had resorted to hiding behind cover in the fetal position, with tears streaming down her face.

Such was the nature of war.

“Pinkie Pie!” Vinyl shouted, “We’ve got Republican riflemen up there on the second floor! Take them out!”

Pinkie nodded, and set up her M240B on the street. She aimed at a second-floor window, and fired seven shots at a Republican soldier. The bullets missed, and the Republican hid behind cover. Pinkie Pie then began to suppress them while the other Equestrian soldiers moved forward, cornering the force that was desperately trying to protect their Colonel.

And Applejack.

Pinkie Pie shook her head, and let the rhythmic bucking of her machinegun take over her thoughts. She needed to stay focused. But it was so hard to. She couldn’t help but let her thoughts drift back to Ponyville, to a time simpler than this urban hell.

Applejack’s favorite cupcake was Apple flavored.

“Pinkie Pie, keep them down!” A stallion shouted, “What the hay are you doing?”

Pinkie Pie snapped back into reality, and began to fire the M240B again. Bullets peppered the building, and kept the Republicans behind cover. She kept firing until the belt ran out. She silently cursed, and reached for another ammo box. She unloaded the spent one, and loaded the other one. She pulled back the charging handle, and began to fire in bursts of five again at the office building.

Her fellow soldiers were moving forward quickly, and were soon halfway to the building, which was one hundred meters away. Pinkie Pie kept firing her machinegun, but stopped when she saw a Republican soldier fall. She hadn’t expected that.

The Republicans began firing again, and some Equestrian soldiers began to die.

Pinkie Pie blinked, and shook her head. She couldn’t believe her focus was drifting this much. This was no time to let her mind drift, when so many lives were depending on her. But she couldn’t help it.

But she had to.
***

“Major, they’ve stopped firing!”

“Then return fire, y’all!” Applejack shouted, “Are ya thick in the head or some’n’?”

Applejack brought her UMP-45 to her shoulder, and began firing at the Celestial soldiers. The sun had just risen over the dead city of Jerhoofalem, and it was starting to heat up. Sweat dripped from Applejack’s brow, and some of it got into her eyes. She tried her best to ignore the stinging, but when it got too much, she hid behind a wall, and rubbed her eyes.

Damn it, since when did she became such a wimp?

Applejack hid behind where the windows used to be, and moved quickly to Diamond Darling.

“Ma’am, what should we do?” Applejack asked, “We ain’t gonna stay here until them Celestials come up here, will we?”

“It’s all we can do, Major.” Diamond Darling answered in a thick Sahayran accent, “When the sun is up, the Celestials rule the sky. Unless we want to be blown to Cloudsdale by their bombs, we’re staying here.”

Diamond Darling ducked her head down when a bullet whizzed past. “We need to just hold them back until we can get armored assistance.”

“Ah understand, Colonel,” Applejack said, “But with them having that machine gunner out there, they’ll be here soon. We can’t hold this much longer, Ma’am.”

“What the buck did I just tell you, Major?” Diamond Darling shouted as she fired her AK-74M outside of the window. “We’re staying here, and that’s final.” She looked to her side, and shouted to the others, “Keep fighting, ponies! We can hold the Loyalists!”

Applejack nodded, and fired a few rounds out of the window at a Celestial soldier. The mare fell to the ground as bullets impacted her chest, abdomen and shoulder. Blood spewed from the impact, and she span around when she fell.

Applejack aimed at a stallion, and fired three rounds in quick succession. They missed, and the stallion returned fire. Bullets smacked and punched holes into the wall, allowing sunlight to pour through the tiny holes. Applejack cursed. They were cornered, and there was nowhere to run.
***

“Pinkie Pie, move forward!”

Pinkie Pie got up, and ran behind a burnt chassis of what used to be a pickup truck. She deployed the M240B’s bipod onto the top of the cabin, and aimed at the office building. She squeezed the trigger, and bullets flew. They hit one soldier, and the stallion fell out of the window. Pinkie Pie was too tired now to react. She was in pure survival mode as the adrenaline kicked in, once again.

She watched as Vinyl got up from her cover, and sprinted towards the office building. Pinkie Pie covered her advance by holding down the trigger of the machinegun, keeping the Republicans behind cover. Vinyl reached the wall, and unlatched her last fragmentation grenade. She lobbed it up, and it landed inside the office building.

The explosion sent Republican soldiers flying out of the building, and some chunks of the walls fell to the street below. The Equestrians took advantage of this, and ran towards the office building, with Pinkie Pie stayed behind, covering them.
***

“Major, what in the hay was that?”

“Frag grenade, ma’am!” Applejack shouted over the gunfire. “Ah can see five wounded, and a few more dead.”

“Buck,” Diamond Darling shouted, “They’re coming up! Guard the stairwells!”

Applejack turned around, and kicked over a ruined office desk. She reloaded her UMP-45, and looked at the door that led to the stairwell. She could hear the footfalls of the Celestial soldiers coming up the stairs.

“Open the door, soldier. The Republicans are right inside that room.”

The room fell silent. Applejack could hear her heartbeat thump in her throat, and sweat dripped down the side of her head. Her index finger traveled up the gun towards the select fire switch, and turned on fully automatic mode. Her finger then wrapped around the trigger, and she aimed the sub machinegun at the door.

She heard more footsteps, and couldn’t help but hear a ticking. Her eyes went wide with realization. They had planted explosives on the door!

She couldn’t get the words out of her head before the door disintegrated in the explosion. A few Republican troops died from shrapnel, and fell to the floor. Applejack shielded herself with the desk, and then stood up, and fired a long burst of automatic fire into the doorframe.

She heard screams, and she ducked down as the Celestials returned fire. Applejack looked to her side, and saw Diamond Darling fire almost her entire magazine at the doorway, before she ducked down. She nodded at Applejack, and Applejack stood up, and fired another burst into the doorway.

“Hold ‘em there!” Applejack shouted, “Nopony gets through that there door, ya hear me?”

A round smacked into the table, and Applejack dropped to the ground.

“Colonel, just how many are there?” Applejack asked, “We can’t hold ‘em forever, ya know!”

“I don’t bucking know!” Diamond Darling responded, “Just make sure we get out of here alive!”

Applejack reached for her last grenade, and pulled the pin. She cooked it for three seconds, and threw it into the doorway.
***

“GRENADE!!!”

Pinkie Pie ran down the stairs, and dove to the ground. She held her hands over her head, and she heard the grenade explode. There were screams of the wounded, and ringing in her ears when she got up. She picked up her M240B, and ran back up the stairs.

Vinyl followed her upstairs, and they took cover on either side of the doorway. Vinyl got out of cover, and fired into the office area. Pinkie Pie crouched down, and fired her M240B into the office, and saw a Republican soldier fall to the ground with blood splattering everywhere.

Other Equestrian soldiers came up the stairs, and covered Pinkie Pie and Vinyl as they ran for cover. They both took cover behind a cubicle wall, and they quickly reloaded their weapons. Vinyl reloaded her Uzi before Pinkie Pie, and fired a burst blindly at where she thought the Republicans would be. During that time, Pinkie finished reloading her machinegun, and dropped to the ground. She crawled beside Vinyl, and fired a long burst to cover the other Equestrian soldiers running into the offices.

Pinkie Pie got up as a Republican aimed his rifle at her, and fired at the floor beside Vinyl. Pinkie dropped her machinegun, and pulled Vinyl back with her arms behind cover. Vinyl looked at her in shock, and then saw the bullet holes in the floor. She turned back, and nodded in thanks.

Pinkie smiled, and grabbed her M240B again. She stood up, and fired six bullets at a blue Unicorn stallion. The bullets slammed into his chest, neck, and head. His brain matter splattered everywhere as the rounds blasted open his skull.

Pinkie Pie got up from her cover, and ran across to another cubicle wall. She had a better angle at Republican soldiers, and killed off two in quick succession. She turned her M240B to fire at another mare, but she stopped. Her eyes went wide, and she lowered her machinegun.

There she was, Applejack, shooting at Pinkie’s friends. Applejack couldn’t see Pinkie, but Pinkie couldn’t stop staring at her. The noise of the firefight dimmed in her head, and all she could focus on was her friend.

She looked like she had been put through Celestia knows what. Her mane had blood, mud and dust caked in it, and her face was marred with cuts and gunpowder. Her hat was worn, and there were quite a few bullet holes in it.

“Pinkie Pie, what are you doing?!” Vinyl shouted over the gunfire, “Come on focus!”

Pinkie Pie blinked, and looked at Vinyl. She slowly nodded, and raised her M240B. Her aim shifted from Applejack, to another mare. She had a black mane, and had a tan coat. She wore a tan helmet, and a desert camouflage uniform. Pinkie Pie’s finger squeezed the trigger, and three bullets hit the mare in the shoulder and upper chest. The mare fell, and

Applejack turned her head to see what had happened.
***

“Colonel!” Applejack shouted. She ran over to look at the damage. Diamond Darling was bleeding profusely from three gunshot wounds, and a pool of blood was flowing under her. Applejack held the Colonel’s head up.

She smiled weakly, and said, “Applejack, I knew this was going to happen. Do you think we could’ve kept going?”

“Nah, we can still save you.” Applejack said, “Ma’am, if you would let me…”

“No.” Diamond Darling hissed. “I want to die today. It was my destiny. I want to die a warrior, not live as a cripple.”

“Ah guess this is it, then.” Applejack said slowly.

“Yes, I believe so.” The Colonel replied, “Tell my father I died… honorably.”

Diamond Darling’s eyes went wide, and blurred. Applejack lowered her head, and closed her eyes for a few seconds.

The battle around her was forgotten. Applejack opened her eyes, and closed Diamond Darling’s. She had died honorably.

Applejack lowered Diamond Darling’s head, and grabbed her UMP-45. She stood up, and killed three Celestial soldiers in a single burst. Applejack as beyond angry, as pure wrath and hatred took over. They had killed her superior officer, and now she was going to fight to the last bullet.

She vaulted over the table she was using as cover, and ran at a Pegasus mare. The Celestial looked shocked as Applejack charged her. Applejack smashed the butt of her UMP-45 into the mare’s face, and watched as she crumpled to the ground. Applejack placed her boot on the mare’s chest, and fired three bullets point-blank into her face. It was unrecognizable when Applejack left the corpse.

Applejack aimed her UMP, and killed another Celestial soldier. She dropped to the ground, and reloaded her last magazine into the sub machinegun. She got up, and killed another two. All that was left were two mares now. And Applejack was closing in for the kill.
***

Pinkie Pie and Vinyl had just killed what seemed like the last Republican soldier. Pinkie Pie looked over her cover as silence fell over the office. She didn’t know where the Colonel was, the Pegasus was nowhere to be seen.

She then hid behind cover, and smacked herself in the head. Duh! Why hadn’t she known it earlier? The officer must’ve died earlier in the chase, and they must’ve not known it!

“Vinyl,” she said, turning to look at her friend. She raised her machinegun when she saw a mare run towards her friend.

Pinkie Pie froze when she saw it was Applejack.

“Applejack!” Pinkie Pie said, “What are you doing? It’s me, Pinkie Pie!”
***

Applejack stopped running when she heard her friend’s voice. She had been chasing after Diamond Darling and Applejack’s forces the entire time?

“Pinkie,” she said, “What are ya doin’ here?”

“What are you doing trying to kill us?” The other mare turned around, and said. Applejack gasped as she recognized her as Vinyl Scratch, the town’s DJ. Applejack lowered her UMP-45, and looked at the two mares.

“You’re the officer we’re going after?” Pinkie Pie asked, “Because we were looking for her!”
Pinkie Pie handed Applejack the photograph. It was an old photo of Applejack’s commanding officer before Diamond Darling, Cloud Head.

“She’s been dead for weeks, Pinkie.” Applejack said, “What ya got there is outdated intel.”

“So, there’s no Colonel?” Vinyl asked.

“Well,” Applejack said, “Somepony did replace Cloud Head, her name was Diamond Darling.”

“Where is she?” Vinyl asked.

Applejack sighed, and said, “She’s also dead. She just died in this here room. She’s right over there if ya don’t believe what Ah’m tellin’ ya.”

Vinyl and Pinkie Pie got up, and walked over to Diamond Darling’s dead body. They stood there for a few seconds, though it felt like hours, and walked back. Pinkie Pie chuckled softly, and her head went to the back of her head.

“Oh, that was Diamond Darling.” She said, chuckling, “I think I might’ve killed her.”

“Ya killed her?” Applejack asked. Pinkie nodded, and Applejack sighed, and said, “Ya know what, how about we walk away from this, and ya ponies say ya killed them all, okay?”

“Why should we?” Vinyl asked, aiming her Uzi at Applejack.

“Because,” Applejack said, “If ya haven’t remembered, I represent the Element of Honesty. Ya don’t wanna kill me, Ah know that for a fact.”

Vinyl sighed, and slowly lowered her Uzi. “Fine,” she said, “We’ll stay here, and confirm the kills. You go. This is the only time I’m going to do this. The next I see you, you can trust me when I say you will die.”

Applejack nodded, and said, “Ah wouldn’t expect anything different. Ah guess this is goodbye then, Pinkie. We never really said it to each other.”

Pinkie Pie looked up, and smiled. “Yeah, I guess it is. I’ll see you around, Applejack!”

Applejack slowly nodded, and turned to walk down the stairs and out of the office.
***

Nightmare Moon looked out to see the skyline of the modern portion of Sibearia City. It was an ancient city; the first city founded by the Bears. To be precise, it was formed seven thousand years before she was banished to the moon. It is rumored among the academics of the world that all modern species in the real world originated on the continent of Cervidia, containing modern-day Elkia, Ibearia and the Vandeerlands.

Nightmare Moon sighed, and looked at the files she had been given from Stalliongrad. Rarity had accepted her mission, and was en route to Manehattan as she was reading it. There were rumors in the intelligence community that the Celestials were preparing to withdraw from Jerhoofalem.

Finally, Nightmare Moon thought, I didn’t think they would stay there that long.

Now she could begin drawing up plans for an invasion of the West. She guessed it would be another month and a half before Nipponi Island fell, given the rate of the Celestial retreat from Sappony and Hoofoshima. But, she would need to send troops to beaches outside of Hoofyo to fully ensure a quick victory. If the capital of Nipponi Island fell, they would hunker down in the northern cities of Pyongman-e and Buckahama, which could be easily blockaded.

But, she would need the full strength of the Republican Navy if an invasion of the West would be successful.

Nightmare Moon shook her head, and looked at the map of Western Equestria. She would like to invade near the border with the Buffalo Lands, maybe close to Las Pegasus and Mexicolt City, but she liked the prospect of attacking Baton Hoof. Controlling the Louisimana River would cut Western Equestria in two. And, if that were to happen, the chances of recruiting the Griffons seemed likely. The Griffons hated Celestia more than the Bears and the Zebras combined, and if they got involved, it would sound the death knell for Celestia.

But, there was always the prospect of crossing the Eastern Ocean and hitting Celestia in the back door, near the industrial powerhouse and major naval base of Flankfurt. Nightmare Moon smiled at the choices that she had. It definitely felt euphoric to be on the winning side of a war.

Nightmare Moon heard a knock on the door. She looked up, and invited the guest inside. She put away the papers into the files, and placed them on her lap, where they wouldn’t be seen.

A slender female Bear walked inside, and handed a letter from the Foreign Ministry. She opened the envelope, and reached inside for the letter.

“Your Royal Highness Princess Luna,” it read, “At the order of Premier Ivan the Kindhearted, the nation of the Socialist Union of the Ibearian People has begun to take steps of officially recognizing the new nation that is the New Lunar Pony’s Republic. A treaty is already in the works, and it is our genuine hope that the cooperation of our two nations knows no bounds.”

Nightmare Moon smiled wickedly while she was reading the letter. This is better than what she had expected at this stage of the talks. She also noted the change in Ivan’s name. How far propaganda went in this nation startled her slightly.

“Since it has come to our attention that you are currently in a state of war with the Kingdom of Equestria, the Ibearian people know full well what the consequences of this move are, and are still willing to recognize you. As the first nation to recognize you, we will protect you with the full armaments of the Bear’s Liberation Army, Navy and Air Force. This piece of correspondence is to be destroyed as soon as it has been read. Sincerely, Foreign Minister Maxim the Sly.”

Nightmare Moon nodded as she finished reading it, and walked over to the fireplace in her suite. She threw the letter inside, and watched as it burned slowly.

She could not help but make the link between the burning of the letter and the burning of the supremacy of Equestria. It would soon come crashing down violently around her sister, and Nightmare Moon would be the master of the known world.

Tell me what you think! I hope you liked the scene between Applejack, Pinkie Pie and Vinyl, because I really enjoyed writing it. Also, Meccamel is a camel pun for Mecca, in Saudi Arabia, and Hoofyo is a pun for Tokyo.

I would also like to credit someone for helping me with my writing. A few days ago, I was browsing through the Amazon eBook store, and came across 2K to 10K: How to Write Faster, Write Better, and Write More of What You Love by Rachel Aaron. I was kind of skeptical, but it was 99₵, so I bought it. Wow. I finished this chapter in two days. I know what the date says on my fanfic, but I work on another fanfic, and I work in a cycle. I do one chapter for this story, and then one chapter for the other. Each chapter usually takes me two weeks or more to write. Since I read this book, I wrote 4785 words yesterday and 3307 words today, excluding the Author’s Note. I definitely recommend this book to you who have trouble writing. It will make you a better writer for sure!

Next chapter: With the Bears pledging support to Nightmare Moon, and Celestia’s forces in retreat wherever they combat the Republicans, will a world war spark from this civil war? Find out in the next chapter of The Equestrian Civil War!