September 12th, 1024 ALB. Eclipse Gulf, 225 kilometers north of Baltimare.

The C-130 full of soldiers and equipment had already been flying towards Manehattan for several hours, inside were Starlight and Sunburst.

Both unicorns were just waking up from a tiring day when they were totally awoken by a soldier's commands.

“Attention everyone, new orders and change of destination, we will head to Nieghton. On the edge of the thing's EMP influence. Get ready.”

“Technical sergeant. What did they say?" Starlight asks, curious.

“Another one of those things appeared in the Crystal Empire, miss.” The soldier says, walking away.

The horse that greeted them in Puerto Caballo just stared at them, resigned as well.

“Oh my Celestia… now what do we do?” Sunburst says, worried.

"I don't know."

September 12th, 1024 ALB. Neighton, Equestria.

The streets of the small eastern town were filled with soldiers, all running around preparing for the mission at hoof when a group of trucks arrived, Starlight and several soldiers getting off the truck, they helped Sunburst with his crutches.

The sky was full of cargo planes on their way to land on the airbase nearby.

“Okay, everyone get off; the flights arrive up to here, we are close to the EMP range, from here, everyone either travels by land or stays here. Get off!" A sergeant shouts.

"And now what do we do Starlight? We must return to Ponyville." Sunburst asks.

“We will have to find a way to go…”

Their conversation is interrupted by the loud horns of a diesel freight train that was arriving into the city, with two huge missiles in the cars and soldiers guarding it. Until their attention goes to a pink pony in an officer's uniform coming out of a building.

"Attention! This train and these weapons are headed toward Manehattan. Whoever is not part of this mission, descend now.”

“Is that Pinkie Pie?” Sunburst asks.

“Wow, it is, and it's our ticket… Wait a minute, Manehattan? There are Rarity and Applejack!”

Remembering the danger that these weapons pose and most likely those animals pose as well, Starlight decides on her plan. She will no longer run, she shall no longer leave a friend behind.

“Sunburst, I think I'll have to go to Manehattan, I'll have to take that train.”

"You? But who knows what happens there. It's dangerous!" Says the orange unicorn.

“I will have to do it if I want to fully ensure that our friends there are safe. I have to go." Says an already determined Starlight, trotting to the building the pink mare is outside of.

“Unit six, report to your section for the expedition.” The megaphone says.

When approaching the pink pony who was talking to other officers, she sees them out of the corner of her eye, immediately ending her conversation to greet them.

“Starlight, Sunburst? How did you get here?... What happened to you, Sunburst?”

“It's a long story, Pinkie, but we need your help. Rarity, Applejack and the Cutie Mark Crusaders are in Manehattan.” Starlight says, receiving the pony's hug.

"I know. I tried to communicate with them to no avail.”

“And it doesn't seem like bringing those weapons to Manehattan is the most pacifist idea ever…”

“Aha…”

Pinkie begins to suspect where this is going.

“I need to go to Manehattan, Sunburst will stay.” Starlight states, not beating around the bush anymore.

"No."

"But…"

"I can't let you go, Starlight, because to begin with, that train is an asset of the nation, it's not for passengers, sorry. And second, it is a high-risk mission.” Pinkie says, her smile gone, walking to the mechanism her soldiers were extracting from a crate onto a table.

Starlight recognizes the mechanism, she helped create it herself during her research days in Luna Nova.

“The way I see it, that missile is a Balefire I ICBM, from appearances you've made a bypass that'll replaced the digital module and prepared it for an analog system.” Starlight says, still determined to go.

Pinkie just stares at her.

“And you know this because…”

“I helped design it for several years, Pinkie.”

“There's a reason I recruited the best, Starlight.”

"Yes, but when was the last time your soldiers touched a nuclear weapon, or at least an analog module like this one?” Starlight says.

Sunburst just watched.

“Yes, I know, it's a DMME system, but I already have my ponies and they know what they're doing. Also, when was the last time you held a rifle?”

“In my days on the second line...”

Pinkie just rolled her eyes before being interrupted.

“I think it will be worth bringing her, general. – The reddish horse from Puerto Caballo says. – She's got the spirit and seems to know these mechanisms well.”

“Don't help her, Alberto.” Pinkie tells him.

“Come on, Pinkie, I have to get on that train; our friends are there… Rarity, Applejack.”

Pinkie, seeing that she won't be able to stop her, exhales.

“Sergeant Alberto Roca. Give this mare a uniform and a rifle. She will get on that train despite my warnings. Don't take your eyes off her, she's very valuable for this mission. Mr. Sunburst will stay with me until further notice.”

"Yes ma'am." Sergeant Alberto says, standing firm.

“You helped her get into this. Now it will be your responsibility to get her to Manehattan in one piece.” Orders the pink pony.

"Yes ma'am."

September 13th, 1024 ALB. Manehattan, Equestria.

In the city that never sleeps, the air was tense, evacuation notices had arrived in the morning and the avenues outside the city were in enormous chaos.

The news channel continued to give bulletins about the creature approaching the city, which was already near Trotterfield.

“And you heard Prince Blueblood, representing the two sisters at the press conference, saying that Canterlot hasn't ruled out using nuclear weapons to stop the creature.”

At the hotel the girls were getting restless, deciding on a plan of action.

“I'm extremely worried, darling , that thing is coming here, Starlight doesn't appear, the flights are canceled, the express trains have left and the highways are jammed.” Rarity says to her friend.

“Equestria declared a state of emergency and called up everyone possible; I say that we must unite to help in the evacuation.” Applejack says.

"Yes, but what will we do with the girls? They can't stay here."

While their older sisters argued, the Cutie Mark Crusaders could only limit themselves to listening to the news and the conversation.

“Now what will we do?” Apple Bloom asks.

“Well, wait for them to decide, I guess.” Sweetie Belle says, bored.

Suddenly, the phone in the room rang, but the adults paid no attention because their talk.

"I'll answer." Scootaloo offered.

She took the phone.

"Hello? Scootaloo speaking…”

The discussion between the older sisters still couldn't come to anything conclusive when Scootaloo spoke to them.

“Rarity, Applejack, they're calling you.” The pegasus calls them.

“Not right now, we're busy, darling.” Rarity answers.

“Rarity, Applejack, it's Starlight calling.”

"Oh really?" Applejack wonders.

Taking the phone, Rarity puts it on speaker for the others to hear.

“Starlight? How and where are you? We have tried to contact you all day yesterday.”

“Hello Starlight.” They all tell her on the phone.

“Hello!... – says Starlight. – Look, it's a very long story that will be for later, I'm in Neighton, girls, but first you need to listen to me.

“We hear you.” Rarity states.

“First, stay calm, please, I know that thing is going there, I'm on my way, you must look for shelter, be it a basement or subway stations, but look for shelter.”

“OK, Starlight. Rarity and I will stay to help with evacuations and whatever is needed, but we will evacuate the Cutie Mark Crusaders tomorrow… When will you arrive?” Applejack says, with the CMCs looking at her, resigned.

“I will get there tomorrow morning. The military has plans for those things. Please be very careful and don't take risks.”

“It's okay, darling, it's great that you're coming here. We'll be waiting for you, be very careful too.” Rarity answers.

"Bye!" They all say.

The phone was hung up.

The television in the living room continued to broadcast its bulletin.

“Blackouts and electrical interference are increasingly radiating towards the southeast, all citizens within 300 kilometers of the creature are informed to please do not go out, seek shelter and avoid roads.”

September 13th, 1024 ALB. Neighton, Equestria.

It was dusk in the small eastern city, the horns of the freight train were heard loudly, announcing its departure.

“Well, Starlight, I wish you good luck, you'll need it. You don't have to do it, but it seems like you've already made up your mind.” Pinkie Pie says, saying goodbye.

“Take care, Starlight, say hello to the girls for me.” Sunburst says.

“Thank you very much to both of you, for being there in the worst moments.” Starlight says, giving them a hug.

“Be very careful. You'll have Big Mac’s fourth division watching your back.” The pink pony says to a Starlight who was trotting towards the train, putting on a helmet.

"See you!" She says, trotting away.

The train's diesel engine begins to rev, slowly pulling the cars, with horns and bells ringing.

“Everyone ready!” A colonel shouts.

Starlight, hurrying, approaches the car, where Sergeant Roca extended his hoof to her.

“Well, Private Glimmer, welcome aboard the Manehattan Express.” The horse tells her.

Equestrian highways were blocked, sending constant emergency calls to the services.

Reports of people trapped on roads, crashed planes, and evacuation orders could be heard throughout Hollow Shades, Mareland, Manesbury, Stratusburg, and Manehattan regions.

Not even the Discord would have caused so much chaos.

September 13th, 1024 ALB. RHS Seatoga, Eclipse Gulf, 190 kilometers east of Baltimare.

“Yes, Your Majesty, yes… the warheads are on the way… I agree, Your Majesty… Yes, I will inform you. Thank you."

Stronghammer hangs up the phone.

The call to Canterlot was necessary to seek approval for the mission, despite Twilight's protest letters sent. The royal sisters have decided that the priority will be their subjects.

There was no more to say.

Stronghammer nods his head, indicating the green light for Seaspray and Rain Rider's plan.

“Okay, let's get to work everycreature, I need the exact location of the MUTOs right now.” Seaspray orders.

Stronghammer, thoughtful, approaches an pile of papers.

"Admiral." Fluttershy interrupts him.

"Yes ma'am?"

“Please don't do it.” Twilight follows.

“I understand your concerns, ladies, but we sacrifice lives every minute keeping these thiis thing away from the population and now we have two more on the way.”

Twilight and friends are frustrated by the admiral's stubbornness.

“There are millions of lives at risk.” Stronghammer says, approaching the map table again.

“What I want to know is… Is it going to work this time? Can we kill them?” The admiral tells her.

“But we tried it before! You were there!” Spike points out.

“Those are programmable warheads, sir, of megatons, not kilotons. Nothing can resist that explosion.” Rain Rider intervenes.

“Indeed. The 1016 bomb is a firecracker in comparison.” Finish Seaspray.

September 13th, 1024 ALB. Somewhere east of Friesville, Equestria.

Night fell on the railway convoy, the machine's horns echoed between the canyons and gorges with a river at the bottom of them. Fog covered the dark night of Luna's new moon.

Starlight and her companions could only watch as they passed a bifurcation that led to a bridge that crossed the canyon, totally destroyed.

“That doesn't bode well.” Starlight says.

“Calm down, Private Glimmer; better come and give me a hoof here.” Sergeant Alberto tells her.

Taking out the electrical mechanism from the tip of the missile, the private and the sergeant talked.

“I thought nuclear bombs were detonated by remote control.” Says Sergeant Roca.

“MUTOs disable anything electrical, including detonators. You can’t even be on the range without these things breaking down.”

Then they take an equally heavy mechanism, putting it on the tip.

“But this, on the other hoof, it’s old, it’s an analog clock.” Starlight says, putting the mechanism on the missile.

“The harder you beat, the faster it is?” The horse asks, jokingly.

Starlight's laughter was interrupted by an explosion on the other side of the mountain that caught everyone's attention.

With a metallic screech and a jolt, the train began to come to a complete stop.

They could see gunshots and explosions that lit up the night on the other side of the mountain.

"Oh, mier..." Rock whispered in his native languaje.

“Sergeant Roca, come running with the radio immediately. Now now!" The colonel shouts.

Starlight looked at him.

The peaceful silence of that night in the forested mountains was being broken by the multiple explosions that occurred on the other side of the hills, while Roca and Glimmer were running towards the front of the convoy.

“Third Battalion, this is Alpha to Charlie, is the bridge free? Colonel Flight here. Over." The officer says.

All he could hear on the radio was interference and shouting.

Starlight, curious, approached the entrance of the tunnel that crossed the mountain towards the bridge.

“I repeat. We have a train with very important cargo to the coast, is the bridge free? Over."

Nothing.

“Third Battalion, I need a report. Over.”

The tunnel entrance was in total darkness.

“Is it clear or not? Over." Colonel Flight asks, exasperated.

Interference and distortion.

A sound like a distant trumpet sound would scare them, putting them on alert.

“I think we will have to check manually, colonel.” Starlight says, at the entrance to the tunnel.

Suddenly a shock wave came out of the tunnel that stunned everyone and turned off all the lights on the train and their lamps.

After they got back up, they all looked at each other worriedly, hearing distant clicking noises.

They prepared to enter the tunnel.

The absolute darkness of the tunnel was interrupted by the lights of the lamps attached to their Lightning rifles.

The atmosphere was calm. There was not a single audible noise when they emerged to the other side of the mountain where there was a bridge that crossed another gorge covered in thick fog.

“Do you think it's intact?” Sergeant Roca asks.

"There is only one way to find out. – Says the colonel. – Do you want to go up or down?”

“Yes, we will go up. Private Glimmer, stay close to me.”

At the base of the bridge fruit bats flew about in their nightly activities. There colonel Flight was going down the bridge structure with a thestral soldier.

At the top, Starlight and Alberto walked slowly, illuminating the tracks with their flashlights and the unicorn's magic.

Then a sound. Roca stumbled, dropping his lamp into the foggy void.

"Oh no." He said.

At the base the two ponies were startled by the falling lamp, making them turn around.

“Moron...” Said the thestral.

Suddenly the dark mist of the night was illuminated behind the colonel, on the river. Making them turn around again.

They saw a huge Phoenix Mk.III tank on fire heading towards them from the water.

The colonel and his companion managed to avoid the metal beast that made the riverbank rumble and screeching.

“Nighter, are you okay?” Flight asks.

"Yes I'm fine."

After getting up, they turn to the river, where a tide of burning military equipment passes in front of them. The burning smell intensified.

Colonel Flight takes his whistle, warning.

In the middle of the bridge, Private Glimmer and Sergeant Roca had reached the middle, confirming that the bridge was intact.

“The bridge is intact.” Starlight says.

“Alpha, this is team Bulldog. In order to move forward. Over." The sergeant says with his radio, not realizing that the mountains behind them were moving.

“Here alpha. Roger that." They answer him.

At the other entrance of the tunnel, the train soldiers were beginning to get on.

"Let's go. All aboard!" They shouted.

Immediately the train began to rev its engine again, sound its powerful horn and turn on its lights.

Colonel Flight and Private Nighter were still at the base of the bridge, receiving a diffuse radio communication.

“What do you say?... No, I don't have eye contact... I can't hear it, say it again. Over." Flight says before they're both surprised by the huge single-clawed paw rising up.

At the top of the bridge, the enormous animal forced Sergeant Roca and Private Glimmer to lie down on the track sleepers, now overcome with fear.

There was nothing between them and the female MUTO that appeared trough the mist.

Roca could only feel how dread filled every part of his being as the creature approached them, making the ground rumble, filling the air with the sound of its clicks and growls that announced her presence.

Starlight, though fearful inside, stood her ground, lying down, aiming her rifle and flashlight at the creature now moving beneath the bridge. Her heart racing, but her mind determined not to give in again.

The creature passed under the bridge, its long bright red eyes certainly looking at them, knowing they were there, and the low, resonant hum of the female was approaching the structure.

When Sergeant Roca's radio began to crackle, the creature approached its eye from below; all the horse could do was tremble in terror, whispering to Starlight to help him turn it off.

The beast's clicking and growling intensified as the creature shifted from crouching to standing, she was taller than the bridge itself, overshadowing the dreadful little ponies.

The clicking sounds of the female announced that she had opened her mouth, ready to take a bite out of the bridge, and therefore, the little ponies lying there.

Glimmer and Rock were in absolute fear until the scene would be interrupted by the train's horns, approaching and drawing the creature's attention.

The MUTO roared shortly before crossing half of her legs to the other side of the bridge to walk towards where the sound was.

Starlight and Alberto, relieved, could see that in the creature's belly was a translucent bioluminescent sac full of strange orbs.

The two stood up to watch the female disappear into the thick fog.

Now there was only silence.

“Con un demonio…” Alberto said, somewhat relieved.

Suddenly, both raised their rifles at the sound of detonations coming from that direction along with a roar.

Then nothing.

“Wait… it's that...?” Starlight said, squinting her eyes.

They both lowered their rifles when something bright broke through the fog between the tracks, it was approaching.

Their heart raced again as the shrill sound got closer, appearing out of the fog something bright.

The train on fire.

"Run!" They screamed. Now the adrenaline was flooding them.

Starlight was several heads ahead. Her heart beating even faster than before.

“Alberto! Run!" Starlight shouts.

“Starlight!” Sergeant Roca shouted before the creature's leg destroyed that part of the bridge, destroying everything in its path.

Starlight, with adrenaline at its maximum, can only think about jumping from the bridge into the void. The river.

The dip in the water was hard, disorienting her, but the enormous impact of the hundreds of tons of the machine next to her stunned her even more. Struggling to swim to the surface.

When she comes out of the water, taking a breath, with her ears screeching and her vision blurred, she manages to see that a train car with a missile falls into the water, while the MUTO takes the other missile in her snout to begin swallowing while the unicorn tries to swim to the riverside.

That night wasn't a good night either.

September 13th to 14th, 1024 ALB. RHS Seatoga, 260 kilometers northeast of Baltimare.

Collision alarms sounded on the ships.

“It submerges.” The captain announces.

Outside, between the ships, the thorns of the mighty Godzilla bowed before disappearing along with his tail among the ocean waves. Leaving everyone on the decks dumbfounded.

In the planning room, Stronghammer's work was interrupted by the considerable tilt the ship was suffering.

Twilight and friends grabbed anything that could fall before looking at the screens.

“We lose eye contact. It submerges.” A technician announces.

The admiral, also surprised, stares at the screens.

“He changed course and is accelerating. He's going to leave us behind.”

September 14th, 1024 ALB. Winsome Falls, Equestria.

The river bank was calm, birds singing, land animals here and there. Also one or another scavenger, however, the latter would be scared away by something.

Among the tangle of branches, metals and fallen soldiers that were on the riverside, Starlight wakes up, disoriented.

She's dazzled by the white morning light of the cloudy sky.

Muddy and with several scratches, she coughs up some water when trying to get up. Hearing something.

The peacefulness of the morning was interrupted by the sound of many engines.

Opening her eyes a bit more, she sees a UH-1 helicopter arriving at the scene, it has the changeling cockade.

"Uh?" She wondered.

Still disoriented, she tries to gain the strength to get up and turn around.

Along with the changeling jägers that rappelled down came a hippogriffian CH-47 that had cargo harnesses.

The changeling soldiers shouted orders in their language, carrying the missile that fell into the water last night to the harnesses.

They attach the weapon to the harness.

"Achtung, wir müssen diese Rakete sofort in die Luft bringen." The officers shouts, ordering them for the missile to get airborne inmediately.

Starlight gathers strength to get up and approach them slowly.

The jäger officer's orders were interrupted by one of his subordinates, signaling to him, crossing his arms.

“Wir haben einen am Leben!” He yelled, pointing at Starlight.

The jäger turned, only to see an exhausted unicorn coming to them.

He screamed for a doctor.

“Arzt!”

Author's Note

I can now dare to say that we're near the endgame of the plot.
As always, thanks for reading, and stay tuned for next week's chapter.