Invaders: A New King For Equestria

July 1st, 1902

A train to Rockville Equestria

The screeching and moaning of the train's carriage was muffled by the armored casing it was built from. Its protected interior was one of ornate decorations, with its hand-carved crown molding, its golden paint, and red leather seats. It sat at the center, a luggage car before it, a kitchen car and soldier's carriage behind it. The engine was a great ten-wheeled steamer, built for the grand Trans Equestrian Railroad it rode down.

Inside the center coach were the six friends having been sent to meet a new enemy. An unknown force from an unknown land. Rumors had been spread quickly from the edge of Equestria. It was told that their leader was a giant who could breathe smoke. Twilight thought these were silly rumors yet still remained skeptical. She and her friends had met dragons in mountains, had helped fight off an army of monsters that would take the forms of others and steal the joy from their very bodies.

A giant who breathes smoke and rides a steel horse is not such far fetched idea. That was why Twilight sat with her nose in a thick book about the world's history. Looking for anything that resembles them in any part of the world, any legends of smoke-breathing giants. This was nothing new for the bookworm, she was always a bit a bookworm, a Canterlot native, and a personal student to Princess Celestia. Surprisingly, Rarity was reading one of her many books as well, seeing as there was little to do on this train ride.

Pinkie sat across the aisle from her friend, her pink and fluffy hair sat deflated like a balloon over her face and down her back. Her face was stained by rivers of dried tears, tissues covered her table to the point it was near invisible beneath the mounds of crumpled white paper. It was a flurry of emotions that had put her in this state. First worry, worry for her family who lived near the newly occupied town of Rockville. Then anger, anger was an unfamiliar emotion to the usually joyous girl. Anger at these mysterious foes, confusion too, she was confused as to why humans would attack each other in such a manner.

Changelings were one thing, creatures of hate and malice. But, humans? how could people want to do this so badly? Then Fear, she knew her father, an old man when she left home, had joined the Rockville Militia not long before this attack. Death was one thing she feared to have come of him. They all swirled in her head like it was a blender, unsure which she should feel at this moment, unable to comprehend the deep-seated emotion in her heart.

Applejack and Rainbow Dash both knew exactly what they felt, it was anger they felt as they tinkered with their guns at their table in front of Twilight's Applejack bore the blue of the Ponyville Militia, an old single shot Rolling Block rifle in hand. Rainbow Dash wore the same distinct uniform with white stripes on its sleeves, a symbol of the Pegasus Division, her heavy water-cooled submachine gun further identified her position.

Behind Pinkie was Fluttershy, the shy young girl was quiet as ever, feeding a mouse she had found in the soldier's carriage. She showed no concern about where they were going, why? No one could figure it out. There she sat, feeding the small mouse a piece of cheese taken from the kitchen car. The train was mostly silent say for the rattle and moan of the steel wheels of their carriage, and the low creaks of the coach as it rolled on the newly built tracks.

It had to be fairly close to Rockville when the train ground to a halt suddenly, throwing the occupants out of their seats and scattering their personal effects over the hard oak floor. Twilight lifted herself up from the floor and dusted off her violet dress. She climbed into her seat and opened the window, sticking her head out into the hot air. Horror grew on her face as she saw nine men on horseback trotting along the side of the train.

A train robbery was her first thought, she then noted that they were wearing matte gray uniforms. Eight wore helmets and vests covered in numerous pouches and pockets, pistols and sabers on their left hip, rifles hanging on their saddles. At their lead was a man donning a similar getup minus a helmet, instead, he wore a slouch hat with its right side turned up and a revolver across his chest. His face was covered by a thick brown beard that concealed most of it from view, a cigar was clenched between his teeth.

He trotted up alongside their carriage pulling out his cigar to say:

"Well, well, well, this is a mighty fine steam locomotive ya got here. I got a son back home who just loves these ole engines to death" his voice was jovial and kind, sounding like someone native to the southwest of Equestria. He reached a hand out to Twilight, introducing himself "Good day to you my friend, I am Captain Jameson C. Coney of the 6th Mississippi Mounted Rifles. We was just makin' our rounds and happened upon your train stopped at one o' our signals,"

He looked the golden paint of the carriage over, and the six cutie marks painted on its side and then said:

"By the looks of your coach here... I'd say y'all's of some high status. Cotton farmers? Oil folks? Railroad Magnates?" Before Twilight could answer, Rarity opened her window and quickly chimed in:

"We're the Elements of Harmony dear," Fluttershy opened the window next to Rarity and continued shyly

"W-we're here on behalf of Princess Celestia, we're supposed to meet your leader," Captain Jameson just smiled and said back:

"Well, it looks like we've got ourselves some royalty, I'll have to tell Governor Thatcher about this," he picked up his reins and continued "Maybe we can get some pictures with the train I can send to my boy back home," he laughed through a cloud of cigar smoke and kicked his horse up, his men following suit and soon entering a gallop as they looped around and went south in a gray cloud of dust. It was a minute later when the train sounded its low whistle and began to move yet again.

July 1st, 1902

Rockville Equestria

Rockville had changed, it still bared quite a resemblance to the old village it had been the last time Pinkie and her friends had been there. Many of the old houses, even the town hall remained, though its Equestrian banner had been replaced by the banner of this new nation, a flag with stars in a blue canton and red and white bars. That was one of the first things she spotted as she stepped off of the train, that and how the town had been pretty much replaced by white tents and lines of strange metal vehicles.

They were met by three infantrymen armed with peculiar rifles, donning the same uniforms as the cavalry they had met previously. One approached them, a young black man whose head seemed a bit smaller than the helmet.

"Please follow us!" he sternly said, he looked past the group at the fifteen royal guards climbing from the train "Your guards are gonna have to stay here," he said. Twilight turned and ordered the guards to halt. The six friends followed the three soldiers through the camp. Soldiers and workers milled about, many not even wearing their proper uniforms. Soldiers leaned up against the buildings smoking cigarettes.

Others helped the labor forces in moving equipment and supplies, mechanics attended to the vehicles. Some soldiers sat in their tents and cleaned their guns, some simply laid back on their cots. The three soldiers led them to the old town hall where a band of gray-clad musicians wearing forage caps stood with their instruments at the ready, their conductor stoked them up.

They began to play for the six women, a rather upbeat and almost patriotic-sounding song. Somewhere in the middle, the song changed to one almost completely different. And almost as if one queue, a man stepped out of the old and splintered front door of the town hall. The man was a hulking beast, his broad form very noticeable in the gray suit he wore, a strange suit it was. It seemed far more simple, the coat was simply a matte gray with several patches on the shoulders and gold buttons, a white dress shirt, and a black-tie beneath it. In lew of dress shoes, he wore calf-high black boots.

He was armed, on his hip was a large revolver, across his chest was a silver automatic pistol. He was bald, his head beneath an officer's cap, his face was covered by a thick beard of gray and black that did little to hide how serious he was. He stood there, hands behind his back as the band continued on with the song. When the rather short song finally reached its end he walked over to the group and introduced himself to them in a much more calming way than his appearance let on:

"G'day to you fine ladies," he said "I am Military Governor Aaron Lee. Thatcher, son of Robert Edward. Lee. Thatcher Junior and Annabelle Louise Thatcher," he gave them each a firm handshake and asked them their names, each of them telling him, say for Pinkie Pie who merely stood silent. Aaron simply asked in a sympathetic voice "What's wrong, young lady?" She was still silent "I suppose it's none o' mah concern," he said, then he ushered them inside the town hall.

They went upstairs and into an office, at the center, there was a desk with a large gray box sitting atop it and a simple picture frame as well as a nameplate reading Military Governor A.L. Thatcher. On the walls were numerous filing cabinets and a fully stocked bookshelf, a wooden clock, and two paintings one of a man in a bicorn hat on a rearing horse, and another of an old man white-haired man wearing an old-style gray suit, both behind the desk on either side of a mirror and the man sitting at said desk.

"Now," he said rather quietly "Might I ask why you're here? Though I think I know the answer. You're here because we invaded and took over your town here,"

"That's exactly why we're here" responded Twilight, who was one of only two who were sitting. Rainbow Dash and Applejack stood behind both Twilight and Rarity with guns in hand. Fluttershy stood between the two and Pinkie Pie who claimed she was going to her family's home outside of town. "What brought on this invasion, why are you here?"

"That's confidential information," he responded leaning back in his swivel chair "The War Office of the Confederate States of America is not allowed to expose such information,"

"WHO SAYS?" shouted Rainbow Dash

"I DO!" Thatcher returned, "I have half a mind to throw you out on your tales for such disrespect," he crossed his arms under his pistol. Twilight's violet eyes widened, it was like a cannon had struck her. It all came back to her in a flood of memory, the name, Aaron, the patch on his right shoulder, a blue cross, and a red field with thirteen stars. His face, a gray and black beard, the accent, his eyes were even a shade of emerald green. She fumbled with her words for a moment before finally asking:

"Do you know anything about..." she tried to remember exactly what his identity was "... CSSEC-001" Governor Thatcher's face turned to one of shock, he sat up in his chair with lightning speed.

"Where have you heard that name?" he questioned, almost angrily. Twilight stuttered in fear, Aaron slammed his heavy fist on the desk, knocking the picture frame on its face "TELL ME GODDAMN YOU!" he shouted, the two armed women aimed their guns at him to which he responded by putting his hand on the revolver at his hip "I have a quicker draw than all o' y'all" he said

"WE CAPTURED HIM!" Twilight shouted back in fear, Thatcher leaned his heavy form back in the chair, Sterness still crossing the lines on his aged face. She continued on in a more calm manner "He's being held in the dungeon at Canterlot, he's been detained there for almost a month," The massive man lifted himself up from the chair and turned to look out the window behind him, his hands folded behind his back.

"I'm afraid y'all are gonna have to leave," he said in his more calm and casual voice.

"What..?" responded Twilight confused. He turned his head to face them and responded:

"Leave now," his voice having regained the firmness. "And tell that Princess Celestia lady to expect a letter from the 'Office of Military Governor Thatcher' within the week," Twilight and her group turned to leave, but were stopped yet again by Thatcher "Wait a minute," he said as he made his way over to the bookshelf near the door. He pulled out a brown leather-bound book and handed it to the violet-haired woman. "A gift, the truest of books to ever exist in all of history"

She looked over its plain cover which simply read Holy Bible and thanked the man before leaving out into the hot Equestrian air, confusion as to whether or not they had accomplished anything overcoming the five girls as they returned to the train minus one friend.