"Every time someone tries to win a war before it starts, innocent people die. Every time."

Steve Rogers - Avengers: Age of Ultron.

Two young stallions raced down the streets of Canterlot, whooping and hollering the whole way. They weaved and bobbed past other ponies on the road, all of them heading in the same direction they were. They were deeply engrossed in their game, sprinting through town without a care in the world.

As they ran down the street, laughing joyfully, they ran past a signpost. Upon it was a flyer notifying of a public announcement that would be held at noon in the town square.

No Humans allowed

It read below in bold letters.

The roads of Canterlot were damp and pockmarked with puddles, the result of a rain shower earlier in the morning. One of the stallions jumped into one as he ran, causing water to splash all over him; instead of being upset, he laughed, his mouth taking on a massive smile. He took a deep breath, the fresh earthen scent of petracore filling his nostrils as a warm, cozy sensation bloomed in his chest.

Soon, the crowds around them began to become denser as the two stallions drew closer to the square. Steel Heart came to a stop by the large stage where everypony was gathering, his chest heaving as he regained his breath. Swift Comet arrived a moment later, looking even more out of breath than his companion.

"Hah, I win again!" Steel Heart exclaimed, a smug grin stretched across his face.

Swift Comet waved him off. "Yeah, yeah, good for you," he said with a roll of his eyes.

After the two had a chance to catch their breath, the two stallions took their spots; they were situated near the front of the stage, allowing them to be right in earshot of the coming announcement. As they waited, the crowds around them started to grow, as more and more ponies arrived.

"What do you think this is all about?" spoke Swift Comet. They could hear hushed whispers around them from ponies who were wondering the same thing.

Steel Heart shrugged. "It's probably just a raise in taxes."

A mare next to them spoke up. "Nah, are you kidding? You're aiming way too low." Her curly mane bounced as she shook her head. "After everything that's happened in the last several years, I wouldn't be at all surprised if they were announcing the existence of a sixth alicorn or something."

Swift Comet perked up. "Looks like we aren't going to have to wait long to find out," he said, pointing a hoof towards the stage.

In an instant, all eyes were drawn forwards as Celestia herself stepped out before them. She moved across the stage, her every step filled with grace.

She approached a microphone that had been set up, her mane flowing majestically. "Hello, my little ponies," she smiled warmly, her voice echoing throughout the square. The cheerful grin on her face than started to fade, her mouth pressing into a thin line. "I wish I could tell you that everything is fine, but that wouldn't be true; a new threat has emerged, one that jeopardizes not just Equestria, but all of Equus," she paused, taking a deep breath as she prepared to speak her next words.

"Earth, the legendary home world of the Human race, is real!"

Almost instantly, gasps and cries came from the crowd, the fear all but evident. They started probing Celestia for answers, asking what was being done, if they were in danger, or if the Humans were going to invade.

The two stallions shared a worried look with each other, a look of uncertainness in both of their eyes.

Celestia's wings shot out, as she raised a hoof in a placating manner. "Calm yourselves, please, calm yourselves!" she urged, doing her best to assuage their fears. "There is no need to be afraid, the royal guard is currently mobilizing, and we plan to launch a surprise attack on Earth.

Additionally, we are also opening up a new recruitment drive, and anypony who wishes to is free to sign up for the royal guard," Celestia said, indicating her hoof toward a nearby booth.

After Celestia spoke, a sizable line of ponies began forming near the recruitment booth, the two stallions among them.

Marcus stood at the batter's box, his hands griped tightly around his baseball bat. He eyed the pitcher warily, his body tense as he waited for him to make a move. It was the final game of the little league season, and his team was down by a point; the game was almost over, and their last chance at winning fell on his shoulders.

Crack!

Before he had even realized it, the pitcher made his move, and Marcus had responded in kind; like a roll of thunder, his bat connected, and the ball went flying over the field and past the fence. The crowd erupted in cheers as he took off, running the bases along with a couple others on his team.

After snatching victory from the jaws of defeat, Marcus later met up with his parents, who congratulated him on a good game. His mother offered him a snack, and afterwards they got in their car and went home.

Rachel was lying down in her tent, her body in a comfortable position. She had a pillow propped up against her back, with a large blanket keeping her warm and cozy. She laid there in contentment, happily reading the book she had brough along, a booklight illuminating its pages for her.

As she read, she heard the sound of people laughing and chatting just outside. She looked up towards the side of the tent, an orange glow being created by the campfire just beyond. The tent flap lay open, allowing a soft smoky smell to waft in.

"Rachel, honey," came her mother's voice from outside. "Are you going to come have some hotdogs?"

"Yeah, I'll be out in a minute," she called back. Turning back to her book, she let herself finish the current chapter she was on, before setting it aside.

Getting up from her spot, she exited the tent and went out to join her family. Approaching the campfire, she found her parents and sister and brother all sitting around it. Feeling the warmth of the fire on her face, she sat down next to her brother, who handed her a stick with a hotdog on it, to which she accepted gratefully.

As she made her hotdog, she looked out over the lake they were camping next to. The water was perfectly still, reflecting the stars above like a mirror.

"It sure is nice tonight, isn't it?" spoke Rachel's mom.

Rachel nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it is."

Shining Armor stood in front of his parents' place in Canterlot, contemplating whether or not to approach. He looked at his foalhood home, the grey cloudy sky above accenting his mood.

It started to rain softly.

After a moment, he finally psyched himself up to approach. Stepping up to the door, he lifted a hoof to knock, but he hesitated. As he stood there, he found himself thinking back to the day he finished his training for the royal guard. He remembered how Humans attacked the graduation ceremony, turning what should have been a joyous occasion into one of horror; it should have been a great achievement for him, but instead just reminded him of how he failed.

He was brough out of his thoughts when he saw something moving out of the corner of his eye. Turning his attention, he spotted a little bee flying around, attracted to the flower box on the windowsill. He watched it as it buzzed around, oblivious to him as it went about its business.

Disregarding the bee, Shining Armor turned back to the door, and with a deep breath, he knocked. He waited by the entrance for a moment, until the door was finally opened by his father.

Night Light's face lit up with joy upon seeing his son. "Shining, what a wonderful surprise," his father exclaimed, enveloping him in a hug, to which he returned. Breaking the embrace, Night Light stood aside. "Please, come in," he said, inviting Shining in with a gesture of his hoof.

Stepping through the door, Shining was hit with a fresh wave of nostalgia; He looked over his old home, all kinds of pleasant foalhood memories coming back to him. He saw the living room where he and Twilight were constantly playing any variety of games they came up with. He saw the vase they were constant knocking over whenever they were roughhousing too hard - thankfully it was plastic, so they never got in trouble. There was also the stairwell wall that the two of them drew on that one time - they did get in trouble for that.

"So, do you need anything from us?" Night Light asked his son as he shut the door behind him.

Shining Armor shook his head. "No, I just wanted to stop by and see you," he replied. His mouth compressed into a thin line. "Something is coming soon, and I might not be able to come see you for quite some time."

Night Light nodded. "Okay. Well, your mother is in the kitchen, you should go say hello," suggested his father, before heading to the kitchen himself.

Shining did just that, following his father to go see his mom. Approaching the kitchen, he picked up the mouthwatering scent of freshly baked cookies, his mother's recipe; closing his eyes, he sighed to himself, thinking back to all the times their mom treated them to her cookies after coming home from school.

Returning to the present, he was about to enter the kitchen, when suddenly he stopped; standing at the threshold, he froze when he spotted his mother. She stood with her back to him, unaware of his presence as she washed her hooves at the sink.

As he stood there, he once again wandered back to his graduation, recalling his greatest failure. As he was lost in his thoughts, his father walked up to his mother and informed her he was here.

At his words, Twilight Velvet turned around, her gaze landing on Shining Armor. She stood there, her eyes lighting up as she gave him a warm smile. "Ah, Shining, it's so good to see you," she exclaimed, her face and mane covered in flour from baking cookies. She was just as beautiful as when he last saw her, her coat having an illustrious sheen to it as she approached.

But as beautiful as she was, his gaze wasn't on her coat, mane or face. Instead, his eyes were locked onto her legs, specifically, the prosthetic limb that took the place where a real one was supposed to be.

The two of them embraced, with Twilight Velvet wrapping her real leg around Shining. Breaking the hug, she planted a gentle kiss on his cheek. "So, what are you doing here?"

"Well, like I told Dad, something has come up, and I wanted to talk to you two," Shining explained.

Twilight Velvet nodded her head. "Of course, come on, let's sit down," she said, ushering him toward the dinner table.

The three of them sat down at the table, with Shining Armor's parents sitting across from him. "So, what exactly is this all about, Shining?" Night Light asked his son.

Shining took a breath, steadying himself for what he was about to tell them. "We recently discovered that Earth, the legendary home world of the humans, is real." His parents went wide-eyed at that, reacting pretty much exactly like how he had expected. "Now don't worry," he said quickly to calm their fears, "Equestria and her allies are planning a preemptive strike against them. I'm going to be taking part in this first assault, alongside Twilight, her friends, and the other princesses."

He paused after that, his gaze briefly falling on his mother's prosthetic leg. He looked away from his parents, letting his head drop down as he closed his eyes. "And I'm not going to fail this time."

For the third time that day, he found himself back at his graduation yet again; he could recall every moment of the attack vividly, including the moment that he froze. During his days at the academy, he had always been looking forward to the day when he could finally serve his country.

But when the humans attacked, he was completely unprepared; while some of the other graduates were fighting off the humans with nothing but their hooves, or helping civilians get to safety, all he could do was shiver in his fur. He remembered how a human with a sword began to approach him, brandishing the weapon menacingly. He heard his mother shouting at him, but all he could do was watch as the human continued to approach. The human closed the distance between them, raising the blade above its head, and just when it was about to strike him down, his mother shoved him out of the way.

Night Light shook his head. "Shining, not this again," he exclaimed, a soft frown forming on his face.

Twilight Velvet reached a hoof across the table toward her son. "Shining, sweetie," she said in a soft coo, "what happened that day was not your fault, we've been over this."

Shining shook his head, his eyes misting. "It doesn't make me feel less guilty," he said, his voice heavy. "It should have been me, if I hadn't froze that day..."

"...Then you would have been the one hurt, and I wouldn't want that," Twilight Velvet cut him off. "I don't regret what I did, and I would do it again in a heartbeat; I would do anything for you or your sister. Now what I want to know is how many more times I'll need to tell you this," she said, her mouth forming a half smile.

Shining chuckled softly. "Probably a lot," he admitted truthfully. "But thank you."

Twilight Velvet said noting in response, instead getting up from her seat as she approached Shining Armor. "It's my pleasure," she said as she wrapped him in another hug, "I love you Shining."

Shining Armor returned the hug. "I love you too."

Erin pushed her way past the large double doors, passing by a departing couple as she stepped into the hotel. With a wedding gift clutched in her arms, she moved through the ornate lobby, the chandeliers sparkling above.

Entering the ballroom, she made her way past several guests, approaching a group that was chatting by a table in the corner. "Sorry I'm late," she apologized, still holding the gift. "There was a traffic jam on the road."

One of Erins friends gave a wave of her hand. "Don't sweat it, nothing much has happened yet anyway."

"Here, I'll take that for you," offered another of her friends, reaching his hand out for the gift.

Erin smiled. "Thank you," she replied, passing it to him, where he then went to set it aside somewhere.

"So, where's my brother at?" Erin asked her friends.

"He's right here," came a new voice from behind; Turning around, Erin found the groom approaching her.

The corners of her mouth tugged up, and she rushed at him, enveloping him in a hug, which he returned.

"How are you feeling?" she asked him.

"Jittery," he replied simply.

Erin smiled. "I'm not surprised."

"How did I let you talk me into this!" Connor exclaimed with wide eyes. He gripped the safety bar as the roller-coaster car climbed higher and higher, his knuckles turning bone white.

His friend Dave simply waved Connor off. "Relax man," he said like it was the easiest thing in the world. "It'll be fun, you'll see."

The car continued to climb, soon reaching the top and allowing Connor to see for miles around. His knees started shaking as they approached the edge, with his breath becoming so fast paced you could pick it up with a speedometer.

Finaly the car dropped, and Dave gave a cheer of excitement, while Connor let out a high-pitched scream that was anything but manly.

Twilight and the others were all gathered around the friendship map, each friend sitting in their respective throne. The light from the map cast them all in a soft glow, revealing the japing jaws and wide eyes being shared amongst them.

"I-I can't believe this..." Rarity choked out.

Twilight nodded, a sympathetic look on her face. "I understand, this is a lot to take in."

Fluttershy was sitting in her chair, her wings wrapped around herself as her body could be seen visibly shaking.

"Flutters? You doing okay?" Pinkie asked the meek Pegasus, who was shivering as if she'd seen a ghost.

Fluttershy gave a nod so soft it would've been easy to miss. "Yes, I'm okay," she managed out after a second. "It's just scary to think about, is all, that there's a world out there ruled by humans."

Starlight stood off to the side, her head cocked as she stared off into the distance. "You have to wonder what they're capable of though," she said, looking to the others. "If they can make mini canons, that what else can they do?"

Rainbow Dash scoffed. "Who cares what they can do?" she shot up into the air, pounding her hooves together. "We're going to crush Earth easily!"

"Don't be getting cocky now, Dash," Applejack reprimanded the Pegasus with a frown and a shake of her head. "Humans, are no joke, and shouldn't be taken lightly."

"Are you kidding?" Rainbow retorted, looking down at Applejack with wide eyes. "After everything we've faced, the humans of Earth stand no chance against us! Right girls?" she looked to the others for encouragement, but started to frown when none of them backed her up.

Starlight looked up to where Rainbow Dash was hovering above them. "Actually Dash, I agree with Applejack," she said, earning a smirk from the Earth pony, and a scowl from the Pegasus. "The war with the humans was very serious, and to this day is still the deadliest conflict in history. We shouldn't just wave this new threat off, especially when we don't even know what Earth is capable of."

"Yeah, yeah," Rainbow muttered out. "The Humans are dangerous, I got it," she folded her hooves over her chest as she floated back down to her seat.

"Are the humans going to attack?" Fluttershy asked, still shivering somewhat.

"If they do," Applejack started, "they'll find Sweet Apple Acres ain't gonna go down without a fight."

Twilight shook her head. "Don't worry, that's not going to happen. Celestia and Luna have a plan," she said, trying to put them at ease. "A preemptive strike is currently being planned against Earth; all of Equestria's allies are going to be helping to protect our world from this new threat."

"And what about us?" Rainbow postulated, gesturing a hoof at all of them gathered around the table. "I don't know about you all, but I'm not content to just sit around while the fate of the world hangs in the balance," she said with a huff.

Twilight pursed her lips. "The presence of you all would greatly help with the war effort and morale," she began. "However, none of you have to do this if you don't want to, and you are more than welcome to walk away," she explained to her friends.

"You can count on me, Twilight," Rainbow said. "We'll show those dumb Humans whose boss!"

Applejack gave a nod of her head. "Ah'll do whatever ah need to do to protect muh family and Sweet Apple Acres," she said with firm eyes.

Pinkie shot a hoof up into the air, waving it so fast it almost became invisible. "Once we defeat the Humans, I can throw a party to celebrate!" she said, the corners of her mouth stretched into a massive smile.

"While the thought of going to war is... distasteful," Rarity began, using a hoof to fan her face. "So is the thought of leaving my friends to face those monsters alone."

Fluttershy nodded. "Yeah, like what Rarity said. I don't like idea of hurting others, but if we have to fight, I'll be right there alongside you all," she smiled from behind her mane.

"I'll do whatever I can to help," said Starlight.

Twilight looked around at all of her friends, the corners of her mouth curling softly. "I might not know what the future has in store, but it makes me feel better knowing that you'll all be by my side when we find out."

"Isn't this nice?" Kate said to her boyfriend, whom she was out on a walk with. She griped his hand and looked at his face, which was cast in a soft glow from the setting sun.

John took a deep breath, feeling the fresh air fill his lungs. "Yeah, it is."

They followed the pathway through the park, enjoying all the nature around them. Birds flitted through the air, while squirrels scampered on the ground and in the trees; the path took them by a small pond, where they could see little bugs skimming on the surface of the water.

Stopping by the water's edge, the two looked into each other's eyes. Their hands intertwined, as the two of them leaned in close, before they shared a passionate kiss.

"I love you," John said warmly.

"I love you too," Kate replied with a smile.

Sarah entered her local Mcdonalds, the smell of their iconic fries wafting into her nose and making her mouth water. The lobby was filled with other patrons who were sitting at tables with the food they had ordered. She could see children playing in the play space, their parents watching them from the nearby booths.

Stepping in line behind a balding man who was ordering his food, she patiently waited for her turn to order. She could see the employees working in the back as she waited; she watched as the workers went about making the food, hurrying to fulfill the current order before moving on to the next.

"Can I take your order," the employee asked Sarah once it was her turn.

Sarah nodded. "Yeah. Can I just get a big mac meal, please," she said.

Flurry Heart rested soundly in her crib, swaddled up in a little yellow blanket as she sucked on her little hoof. She had Whammy, her beloved plush snail with her. She was clutching it so tightly, that were it alive, it would probably be gasping for breath.

Princess Cadance sat just off to the side, silently watching Flurry as she slept. Her lips curled softly, her eyes sparkling as she looked upon her child's peaceful form. Reaching a hoof forward, she gently stroked the side of Flurry Heat's head, earning a soft coo from the baby.

As she watched Flurry rest, she thought back to the other day, when the rebels attacked. She remembered it so vividly, all the violence, death and ensuing chaos; but most of all, she recalled the terror she felt when she feared the humans would try to hurt Flurry. She had rushed though the palace, having been so desperate to protect her daughter.

Cadance looked at the mobile hanging above Flurry Heart's crib. It depicted the sight of crystal ponies, dancing and galloping, while light poured in from the window, casting it in a fiery glow.

She thought of the unimaginable threat that had just been revealed to them, and how sooner or later, they would have to face it. What if the humans were too much for them? She wondered anxiously. What if they failed to defend their world. What if Equestria and her allies fell to humanity?

She screwed her eyes shut, scenes of war and conquest playing within her mind. She felt her heart starting to beat harder and harder, the thought of her subjects suffering at the hands of humans taking her over.

But most of all, what she feared the most, was that she wouldn't be able to protect Flurry Heart.

It was at that moment that Flurry started shifting in her crib. Her face scrunched up, seemingly in distress as she let out soft cries.

"Shh, it's okay," Cadance cooed, reaching out a hoof to comfort Flurry. "Mommy's here, and she will do anything to protect you."

Christopher sat at his desk, his gaze glued to the computer screen. Large bags had formed under his eyes, the result of many restless days working on a project his boss had assigned to him. He mindlessly played with a toy car he had on his desk, trying to find anything to keep himself entertained and not lose his mind.

As he worked on the project, his attention was diverted away from it when one of his coworkers approached his cubicle. "Hey, I'm making a sandwich run for some of us in the office, you want anything?" his coworker asked.

Christopher nodded. "Yeah, yeah, I'll take a ham and cheese."

"Got it," he replied, leaving Christopher to his work.

He inhaled through his nose, a stale, mildewy smell filling his nostrils. Looking to a clock, he noted the time, counting down the minutes like he has so many times before. He looks back to the computer screen, glaring at it, while longing to finally go home.

Janet drove down the highway, the engine rumbling as other cars passed on by. She kept her eyes on the road, being mindful of both her and the other drivers.

Suddenly, a car changed lanes out of nowhere, making Janet's heart jump in her chest. She slammed her hand on the horn, honking at the reckless driver.

She turned her attention on her son in his car seat, smiling in relief when she saw he was alright. He was playing with a toy plane, while preschooler music played in the background.

"Are you excited to go see Grandma and Grampa?" she asked as she turned her eyes back on the road.

"Yes!" he exclaimed, clapping his hands as a smile adorned his face.

Janet gave a smile of her own. "Well, we'll be there soon okay."

"Can we get some McDonalds after," he asked almost immediately.

Janet smiled again. "We'll see," she replied.

Dragon Lord Ember landed before all the gathered dragons, the nearby lava flows casting her in an orange glow. "Earth is real, and the Humans that call it home think we're ripe for conquering!" she bellowed, her voice carrying over the din.

At her words, all the dragons started roaring in outrage.

Ember nodded along with their protests. "Well, I think otherwise! If the Humans think that we'll be beaten easily, then they have another thing coming! They'll be sorry for thinking they could mess with us and get away with it!"

"... Listen, I get it, I do," Thorax explained to the other Changelings. "I don't like the idea of war either, but Celestia has insisted that this is the only option. This is far too great a threat for us to stand idly by; we can't let the others face this alone."

"For the longest time, we hid from the Storm King and his empire," spoke Queen Novo, a large crowd of Hippogriffs gathered before her. "But we can't cower from this new threat, as hiding will not keep us safe. This time, the Hippogriffs with face their enemy head-on, and we will stand with the others in the defense of our world!"

Tempest Shadow stood with a ridged posture, her firm eyes focused on the solders of the Storm Empire. "We are the toughest army on the face of Equus, and we will not shy away from this enemy. The Humans of Earth will know our power, and they will come to fear our name!"

Luna's moon hung above Equestria, gazing down at its citizens as they slept. But where most of the nation was dreaming, one small corner was bustling with activity.

Not far from the portal to Earth, a vast sea of tents and torches and been erected. It was a makeshift camp, set up by the Equestrian army. There was tension amongst its solders, as they sharpened their blades and fastened their armor - for they were going to war.

As her army readied itself, Celestia stood in silence, her unwavering gaze locked onto the nearby portal. It looked far more imposing up close, sitting there ominously as it cast off an eerie glow. A breeze blew through the clearing, creating a slight chill - however, Celestia didn't let it bother her.

As Celestia stood there, Luna approached and came to stand at her side. "How are you doing, sister?"

"About as well as I can be, given the circumstances," she replied to which Luna nodded wordlessly. "Have the troops been briefed about the upcoming battle?" Celestia asked.

"Yes, they have," confirmed Luna. "All of the troops have been informed of the threat before them, and to be ready for anything. And moreover, the unicorns were also notified of their role in supporting the rest of our forces."

Celestia's lips formed a thin line. "Good," she nodded.

"Princess," spoke up a new voice. Turning around, Celestia's eyes fell on Twilight and her friends as they approached.

"Hello, Twilight," Celestia smiled.

Twilight was about to respond, when Pinkie suddenly sprang up from behind her. "Hiya, Princess Celestia, it's me, Pinkie Pie!" she exclaimed, having definitely had one too many energy drinks.

"So, this is the portal to Earth, huh?" spoke Applejack as she stared at the anomaly.

"Yes," Luna replied.

Rarity tilted her head at the gateway, its stars seeming to twinkle. "I must say, its actually quite beautiful," she remarked. "It's hard to believe it leads to a world full of monsters."

"Believe it," came the voice of Shining Armor as he joined the group. "Beyond that portal is the homeland of the greatest enemy this world has ever faced. And if we want to defend our people, then it's time for us to become monster slayers."

Turning to face Celestia, he gave her a curt nod. "The troops are ready to move out on your orders," he informed her.

"Okay then," Celestia acknowledged him. "Make it so."

The anomaly resided ever present in the clearing, spotlights shining onto it as it was observed 24/7. After the disappearance of most of the recon team, and the rescue party that went in after them, the doorway was cordoned off. A perimeter was then set up around it, to guard against any unknown that might come through.

Michael stood at his post beside the Humvee, a rifle at his side. He could see the sky starting to lighten up, as the sun began to just barely crest the horizon. He took a deep yawn, feeling the effects of exhaustion tugging at him.

As he stood there guarding the anomaly, he took pause when he thought he saw movement. He rubbed at his tired eyes, thinking that maybe what he saw was just a trick of the light. He looked back towards the doorway, and then all of a sudden there was a bright, disorienting flash of light.

He stumbled backwards, his rifle falling from his grip as he rubbed at his eyes. As he was left reeling from the blinding flash, he could hear the sounds of screaming and gunfire.

"We're under attack! We need back up!" he heard someone shout.

Trying to recover, he attempted to reach for his weapon, but was suddenly tackled by something. He tried to fight back, but his vision was still impaired, making it hard to see his attacker. The last thing he felt was a heavy blow to the back of his head, and then everything went black.

Celestia stepped through the other side of the portal, the light from the local star shining down on her. She closed her eyes, and inhaled deeply, her lungs filling with fresh air. Listening closely, she could hear the sounds of birds chirping in the trees. At first glance, it seemed to be just like back home - but yet, not.

Scattered around the portal were strange objects, which seemed similar to lampposts and carriages. It was near one of these 'carriages' that the human guards were subdued and tied up.

"The area is secure, princess," Shining Armor notified Celestia as he approached her. "We used a spell to temporarily blind and get the drop on them."

Celestia nodded. "Well done, Shining Armor," she commended him. "Have we sent out any scouts yet?"

"Yes," he confirmed, "I've sent out several pegasi to get a lay of the land."

"It's real!" spoke up a new voice, with a tone that was both hushed and in awe. Diverting her gaze, Celestia spotted Twilight standing at the portal's threshold, her eyes twinkling as she took in the scene before her. She took a tentative step forward onto the soil of the human world. "All this time we thought Earth was just a mares-tale, but it's actually real!"

"It looks a lot like Equestria," Fluttershy said as she made her way through along with the others.

"Yeah, except it's home tuh monsters," said Applejack.

One of the scouts returned from their recon mission, emerging from over the trees as she set down in the clearing.

"Did you see anything?" Shining asked the scout as he approached her.

The scout nodded her head. "Yes. I spotted what looks to be a large human city not far from here."

Shining Armor shared a quick look with Princess Celestia, before turning back to the scout. "Than we take the city."

Author's Note

...GASP!... there, it's done! So sorry about the long wait.

Anyway, this is it, the final chapter before the invasion begins. I have big plans for the coming chapters, it's going to be a two-parter, so be sure to stay tuned. If the trend keeps up, it should be up sometime next April.

Till next time.