Pony Veracity (Return to Mount Aris)

Meanwhile, in the frontier ghost town of Appleloosa, the lightly armed military rescue operation convoy has done their best to do what an old west saying told them: ‘They circled the wagons’ and took up defensive positions around the ghost town in various buildings. In the largest wooden building in Appleloosa, the Salt Block, the only saloon in the city, a very attractive looking pale, light grayish violet colored bodied earth pony mare with a very pale, arctic blue colored shoulder length layered hair styled mane and straight tail nervously oversees the repair of the long-range communications kit after buffalo warrior lucky shot hit it.

Her 5ft 6in, very fit equine figure was attired in an M1874 dark blue wool fatigue blouse and M1874 dark blue footmen trousers. Black cavalry boots were on her ten-inch-long pale, light grayish violet bare feet with metallic finishes and dark purple toenail polish. On top of her head, between her ears, was a black officer regulation Civil War slouch hat with gold crossed sabers of US cavalry patch and black and gold hat cord.

Around her waist was an M1851 black leather cartridge belt with a gold eagle buckle, and an M1860 regulation holster with a full flap holding an 1873 Colt Peacemaker. Don't let the gun fool you—it's a laser pistol made to look like an old West gun from Earth. This Earth pony mare was Galactic Vanguard Staff Sergeant Angeletta Glamour, a disguised Imperial Alicorn mare squad leader from Event Horizon's special operation Tactical infantry platoon.

In front of Angeletta was a drop-dead gorgeous yellow pegasi mare with a black shoulder-length layered hair-styled mane and straight tail desperately trying to repair the long-range communications kit after a buffalo Warrior lucky shot hit it.

Her 6ft 9in sleek equine figure was attired in an M1874 dark blue wool fatigue blouse and M1874 dark blue footmen trousers. On her sexy, lengthy, and slender eleven and two-thirds inch yellow Egyptian-shaped barefeet with sheer finishes of purple-colored nail polish were black cavalry boots. On top of her head, between her ears, was a black 1872 US forage cap (kepi) with gold crossed sabers of US cavalry pin.

Around her waist was an M1851 black leather cartridge belt with gold eagle buckle and an M1860 regulation holster with full flap holding an 1873 Colt peacemaker. Don't let the gun fool you. It's a laser pistol made to look like an old west gun of a planet called Earth. Folded on her back were her modest-sized light yellow feathered bird wings. This pegasi mare was Galactic Vanguard corporal Tiffany Sky dancer, a disguised imperial Alicorn mare member of the Event Horizon special operation Tactical infantry platoon, and an Imperial Alicorn military Galactic technician.

"What is the word Tiffany?" Angeletta asks as she watches the defender station around the ghost town and her lookouts, who are watching slowly growing buffalo herds, with an earpiece in her ear.

"Unfortunately, Angeletta, that military transport truck we had to abandon in San Palomino Deserts after it was badly damaged from that sneak attack of that scouting party from the Buffalo herds had the bulk of our communication repair kits in it…So I am limited to what I was carrying with me." Tiffany explains as she tries to get the long-range communications kit working.

(Pop-pop-pop)

“Lookout report!” Angeletta orders

"Lookout 45, staff sergeant…It looks like the Buffalo herds are still not working together…That shooting came from outside the defensive ring…But we have no idea how long our luck will hold out…before Buffalo herds figure out how to work together." Lookout 45 says, holding position on the second floor of the grand hotel armed with a model 1874 sharps sporting rifle nicknamed 'old reliable.'

But like the pistols that all the disguised Imperial Alicorn mares' military personnel carry, the replica rifles are laser rifles made to look like an old West gun from Earth.

"Understood lookout 45…Keep close tabs on those buffalo herds…All personnel may fire if buffalo herds outside the town make any hostile move towards the defensive ring." Angeletta orders as Twilight Sparkle gapes in stunned silence with the order given, and Rarity Radiance signs softly, knowing Justice like she does.

It was earlier that same day before the encounter with the scouting party from the Buffalo herds that attacked the rescue operation convoy heading to Mount Aris in the sea of clouds in the San Palomino Deserts region of southern Equestria.

In the holographic target range of the tactical core building, two Imperial Alicorn mares wearing the standard tactical infantry nano-bot body armor practice with the Imperial Alicorn tactical pulse rifle, shooting moving targets at various distances in VR space. As the last two moving targets appear at the two-hundred-yard mark, both mares line up their shot and pull the trigger simultaneously, striking the target dead center of the body mass.

“Kill shot! Ten points were awarded to both shooters! Final tally: Shooter one: perfect... Shooter two: perfect…both shooters tie!!” the computerized voice announces as the holo system shuts off, awaiting the next two shooters to step up to the range. As the Imperial Alicorn mares check their Imperial Alicorn tactical pulse rifle to make sure that it is safe, the two shooters walk up to the cage, turning over the weapons to the Armorer.

"I must say, mares…you two are very impressive in marksmanship…most shooters never get a perfect score in the moving targets simulator using the standard Imperial Alicorn tactical pulse rifle…but that's why Imperial Tactical infantry is most feared throughout Imperial Alicorn space…catch mares." The Armorer compliments, flipping a gold coin to the two mares.

"Thank you, Armorer, for the coin." Both mares said simultaneously, catching the coin in their armored hand.

As the two mares turn the corner, they press a button on their minicomputer vambrace on their forearm, shedding the standard tactical infantry nano-bot body armor they are wearing. Soon, the body armor is replaced with the midnight blue casual women's uniform of the Imperial Alicorn tactical infantry, which consists of a white short-sleeve military-style shirt with two pockets on the chest and a midnight blue knee-length A-line skirt. On their barefeet was a pair of black high heel pumps with two-inch stiletto heels, and a black beret sat on their head.

The bigger surprise was that these two mares were not Imperial Alicorn mares; they were First Lieutenant Emerald Luster and First Lieutenant Anita Stormchaser, both terran mares, a unicorn and pegasi. To make these terran mares harder to identify and link them to the Event Horizon special operation company, the company created custom body armor for them.

Their custom body armor gives them the appearance of an Imperial Alicorn mare. For the terran unicorn, a pair of metallic silver bio-mechanical feathered bird wings form on her back as she activates the body armor. For the terran pegasi, a horn forms on the helmet, and her natural feathered bird wings take appears of bio-mechanical feathered bird wings as she activates the body armor. The changes are not just simple cosmetic. Emerald can fly with the metallic silver bio-mechanical feathered bird wings on her back, and Anita can perform a simple form of Imperial Alicorns magic with the horn on the helmet.

"That was fun, Anita," Emerald said gleefully as she lifted her legs up one at a time, slipping her black high-heeled pumps with two-inch stiletto heels off her flawless and unblemished ten-inch, long, slender, narrow, and elegant pearly purple-colored Egyptian-shaped bare feet with suede-finished charcoal gray toenail polish.

"It was Emerald (flipping the coin in the air and catching it when it dropped), so how many coins do we have now?" Anita asked as she politely laughed, knowing her fellow lieutenant enjoyed showing off her flawless and unblemished pearly purple ten-inch-long slender, narrow, and elegant Egyptian-shaped bare feet; she removed her pumps and wore them barefoot.

“At present, collectively, we have twenty challenge coins in our possession…ten for me and ten for you," Emerald answers as her barefeet pop-plops over the cement sidewalk as the two mares made their way over to military Land Rover parked in the street.

"Are you up for an early lunch, Emerald? We can drive over to that new café in Restaurant Row to eat, " Anita suggests as Emerald tosses her black high-heeled pumps with two-inch stiletto heels into the backseat of her military Land Rover, intending to drive the vehicle barefoot to Restaurant Row.

"Sounds good, Anita…" Emerald commented, buckling into the vehicle and awaiting Anita to climb into it and buckle up herself.

"Well??" Emerald exclaims, astonished watching her friend lift her legs up one at a time, slipping her own black high heel pumps with two-inch stiletto heels off her flawless and unblemished white ten-inch long, slender, narrow, and grand Egyptian-shaped bare feet with navy blue crème finished nail polish and toss her shoes into the backseat.

"Tee-hee…you are not the only mare that likes showing off her flawless and unblemished white ten-inch long slender, narrow, and grand Egyptian-shaped bare feet with navy blue crème finished nail polish, Miss Luster," Anita said with a hint of pride and dignity as she climbed into the military land rover crossed her ankles and placing her supple curved bare heels on the dashboard as she buckles in.

(Back to the frontier ghost town of Appleloosa, old salt block)

“How can that imperial Alicorn issue an order like that…shot if buffalo comes into range of the defensive circle!!!" Twilight Sparkle said sourly as Rarity sighed softly to herself.

"As distasteful as it is, Twilight dear…that the world we now live in…" Rarity said insightfully as Twilight's moderate violet eyes narrowed with contempt toward Rarity.

"Are you really on board for killing a buffalo, Rarity?" Twilight asked briskly, business-like, as she looked at Rarity piercingly.

“In ancient Equestria, we never had to face the possibility of taking someone's life; it was out of the question to preserve harmony during that time. As Maretime Bay, Bridlewood, and Zephyr Heights, the interior of this new Equestria gets along…Any city or breed outside Equestria is no longer friendly toward the interior of Equestria…those groups live a harsh existence at this time. So we can't judge any action using ancient doctrine." Rarity explains astutely as a spasm of irritation crosses Twilight's face as she storms out of the room.

Rarity ambles into the area in a quiet corner of the old salt block. Rarity pulls shoes and socks off before sitting on the ground, crossing her legs before slowly closing her moderate azure eyes. She enters a relaxed mind as a light cornflower blue magic aura forms around her horn. Their bright flash of magic from her horn as she pulled into Imperial Alicorn reverie; in the reverie, Justice was waiting for her at a small table with tea. Rarity pip-plops in her barefeet over the glass block floor towards the table and sits at it.

"I knew you would use the Imperial Alicorn reverie to contact me, Miss Radiance," Justice said friendly, and Rarity softly chuckled as a large white feather stroked her bare sole the moment she sat down on the chair and crossed her legs; one knee tossed casually over the other.

"I must thank you, Justice, for teaching me how to enter the Imperial Alicorn reverie…through the Imperial Alicorn DNA the research scientist had to use to reinforce my decay DNA.” Rarity said, appreciative as the large white feather stopped stroking the bare sole of her foot. A moment later, a large dark hole appeared near the ground, at which time Rarity inserted both her feet into the hole, making them disappear.

"You are welcome, Rarity…it was unfortunate that the bodies of the remaining six element holders' DNA had decayed that badly…forcing the Imperial Alicorn research scientists to search for compatible Imperial Alicorn DNA to reinforce the decaying DNA of each element holder…I have been informed that a compatible match for the element holder of Kindness has been found…They are currently resurrecting her as we speak…I have no completion date as yet." Justice clarifies as a second dark hole appears. From that hole appears a superb pair of light gray (more toward the white spectrum) ten-inch, long, slender, narrow, and elegant Egyptian-shaped bare feet with suede-finished burgundy toenail polish.

"But I am guessing, Rarity, that you didn't enter the reverie to talk about the next element holder," Justice said, knowing as he repositioned the hole Rarity's feet were sticking out of.

“Not at all, Justice…It's Twilight I want to speak about." Rarity explains as Justice positions Rarity's smooth round heels at a slight downward angle, effectively creating a downward slope.

"So what up with Twilight, Rarity?" Justice asked, running two fingers down the incredibly soft and pillowy light gray (more toward the white spectrum) bare soles of Rarity's barefeet.

"It tickles…tee-hee. Staff Sergeant Glamour ordered the shooting of a buffalo if they were near the defense ring, and Twilight was not on board for that." Rarity explains as Justice creates magic wedges to force Rarity’s ten shapely toes to splay open so he can get at the skin between her toes.

“Technically speaking, Rarity…this military operation…on the books is a rescue operation with military personnel. Even Celestia knows it is a military operation, and the ponies monitor the operation know it is a military operation…So I don't understand why Twilight is not on board." Justice comments, creating a thin bottle brush and running the bristles over the skin between Rarity’s toes.

“Ah-ah hehehaha…I know that Justice. I didn't spend the first few weeks after being revived, not learning about your people…Being the first revived, the imperial Alicorn research scientists were keeping a close eye on me to see if Imperial Alicorn DNA would change my physical appearance and remain stable." Rarity explains that Justice made the magic wedges disappear, allowing her ten shapely toes to relax and return to their natural position on her feet.

"If you learned about my people, Rarity…Then why are you concerned about Twilight?" Justice asked as he created two magical toothbrushes and started to follow the contours of Rarity’s gracefully curved arches on both her feet.

"Myahahahha my Ahaharches….Twilight might still think that Equestria didn't change in five centuries of darkness and that restoring all of Equestria to harmony is possible. Even those we don't have the power to do so." Rarity explains as she slowly pulls her feet out of the holes, and they disappear.

"I see, Rarity…But until Twilight realizes that… there's not much we can do about that." Justice said casually, gesturing Rarity to reinsert her feet into the hole again.

“Sigh…I know you are right, Justice…but it's still disappointing." Rarity exclaimed crestfallenly as she reinserted her feet into the hole, making them reappear once again from the other hole.

"But don't lose hope, Rarity," Justice said, encouraging as she exposed her incredibly soft and pillowy light gray (more toward the white spectrum) bare soles to be manipulated by Justice as he likes.

“I appreciate that, Justice…so let not become fixate on that and enjoy this quiet visit in the reverie between us…Besides, my bare soles are helpless in front of you, and I know you can create anything here…so create tickle tools to use on my helpless bare soles as we visit.” Rarity said upbeat as she wiggled all ten of her shapely toes, beckoning to begin the assault upon her very sensitive bare soles, as they visited before she had to return to the awakening world to face reality.