Equestria: Kong's Dominion

Chapters

7. Hollow Faust Theory.
1. The North Zebrican War.
2. Canterlot.
3. Naugdawian Civil War.
4. Fixed Course.
5. Turbulence.
6. Skull Island.
8. Bamboo.
9. Secrets of the Past.
10. The Gray Fox.
11. Dangers of Skull Island.

7. Hollow Faust Theory.

Skull Island lies in a deafening silence, all the life that once filled the ears of the expedition members has been silenced by the brutal outburst of rage of the island's hitherto undefeated king.

Standing on the edge of a cliff overlooking the island's many streams and mountains is Tailcoatl, observing her surroundings through her binoculars.

As the cacophony of the jungle came back to life she turned to her right and watched as the primate that had not long ago wiped out the whole expedition moved away and vanished among the mountains of the island, leaving behind a trail of destruction, fire and twisted steel.

The king of the island retreated, now calm.

“Hydra company, you copy? Anycreature flying? Repeat, is anycreature flying?” Comet Trail, the thestral, asked talked over the radio, to no avail.

“They all fell.” The golden-collared pegasus intervenes with determination. “We are south of the island, there is a river a couple of kilometers away, if we follow it we will reach the extraction point up north.”

“What about Twilight and the others?” Spike asks, worried while also nursing several bruises from the impact.

Fluttershy, also injured, is helping those who are also injured; there are not many, just Jade, Spike, Trail, Tail, and her.

“If they're alive, they know where to go. But we have to go north, and we join whoever we find,” Tailcoatl replies.

“And then what? There are no more helicopters,” Jade Finder interjects, dismayed.

“We’ll figure out how to warn the ship eventually, Mr. Jade, but we have to get there on time,” she replies sternly.

“Yeah…” the earth pony says, conflicted. “and I should be at a desk.”

“And we’re not going to discuss this?!” Trail interrupts again. “Are we really not going to talk about this? We got shot down by a 100-foot primate!”

“I know. I’ve never seen anything like that, but now is not the time to find out, now is the time to move,” Tailcoatl cuts in. “I estimate we’re spread out between six and eight kilometers.”

Fluttershy only had memories from ten years ago, until she was interrupted by her guide.

“Are you okay, ma’am?”

“I don’t know what to tell you, honestly.”

“I remember something like this on the news years ago, but I have a feeling you guys may know something.”

Fluttershy fell quiet for a bit.

“I was told you were well paid, Mrs. Tailcoatl, I hope it was worth it,” Jade interrupts them.

The pegasus just gave him an angry look and returned to the shy pegasus.

“Yes.. we do know, but it’s a long story.”

“We got plenty of time.”

Somewhere in the jungle lies the remains of the Stallion helicopter, Hydra 11, badly damaged and with its engines still smoking.

With his pony companion dead in his seat, Trotland sat in a box, struggling to get his radio working and receiving a signal. Blood came from the injuries in his forehead.

For minutes it was just static.

Surrounded by the oppressive, dense jungle, he feels watched, just like in Naugdaw.

“Leader… Hydra to… Group Hydra… Is anyone there?... Do you copy? Over,” The recognizable voice of Major Peakard could be heard through the static.

“Hydra… Trotland here.” He answer the call, panting.

“Trotland… What… Your location?”

“4 kilometers east, highest peak, November, Alpha, Zero, Zero. Over.”

The lieutenant waited a few moments and looked around. Just vegetation.

“Roger… Trotland… East… Peak… Over.”

“Hydra 11, affirmative, next to the Stallion.”

“Trotland… Hold… Position… We’ll… Go… Search… Enough… Ammunition… Kill… That thing…”

The interference was getting stronger and stronger, the lieutenant tried to keep it up as long as possible.

“Explore… Perimeter… Search… Location… Ambush… Over.”

And then the radio went completely silent.

“Trotland. Field reccon. Proceeding,” the blue pony said into the loudspeaker of a dead radio.

Then he turned to look around and saw the thickness of the jungle again.

“Another day in Naugdaw, I guess,” he said to himself.

So he pulled out his combat knife and started walking.

It took Major Peakard several minutes to regain his senses beyond his impotent anger, which turned into a thirst for revenge, which served as fuel for plotting his counterattack.

But now his radio was not receiving signals.

So he started walking towards where he thought his soldiers were, towards the columns of smoke.

And there he saw part of the remains of Hydra 8, but all of its occupants were dejected, except for one unrelated creature, a zebra under a tree and a thin metal panel.

He had fallen down and the tree stopped him, kind of.

“Zash, Zash Zivstreles.” Peakard called to his soldier, feeling his neck. “Come on, son, your heart's still beating.”

Peakard saw him as being quite healthy and complete, which was something, and he was also breathing, which was a plus, so he tried to get him into a more comfortable position to revive him.

“Wake up, boy. Come on, snap to,” he said while patting his face.

After coughing up some saliva, and moaning, the Hydra 6 gunner opens his eyes, eyes of confusion and disorientation. but alive.

“That’s my boy.”

Sitting on the tail of what was once a Huey helicopter, Thrax silently opens a can of love rations with his combat knife and begins to eat it quietly.

Across the creek from the tail of that helicopter is Rain Docker, putting everything he found into a box, ammo, weapons, and equipment inside.

After placing a strip of fifty-caliber bullets inside this box, the hippogriff turns to look at his companion.

His confused face was evident.

“Thrax, what the tartarus is wrong with ya? How can you be hungry right now?”

The changeling just turns to look at him, silent, thoughtful and severely bruised.

“It means Ich am alive,” he replies dryly.

“We just got knocked down by a monkey the size of a building,” Docker replies, dismayed, gesticulating with his claws.

“Ja, it vas unconfentional.”

“Is that really the only thing you answer?!”

“Zere ist no tactical doctrine to combat susch creatures. Vee did what vee could,” The changeling finished, throwing the empty can of rations to the ground.

Docker just shook his head in denial.

“Flying Hydras!”

The cry came from the top of a hill.

Everyone turned to see Major Peakard and Zash waving from above.

Peakard and Zash walked along the river path until they met up with Thrax and Docker, behind them several more creatures.

“Glad ya'll are okay,” the commander greets with a hug of relief.

After a brief greeting hugs between the creatures, Peakard gets back to business.

“How much is left?”

“Seven alive” —Docker replies— “seven confirmed KIA: Johan, Zapar, Tracker, Lemon, Stars, Mason, and Johnson. Trail and the rest are missing.”

Peakard looks grim as his trusted hippogriff hands him at least seven dogtags. He holds them in his claws and puts them in his pocket, hesitating for a moment.

The Major exhales deeply and looks around.

“Where's the Princess?”

Twilight sat by the stream, bandaging her broken wing and cleaning the wounds she had, thoughtful.

The birds sang peacefully and the frogs croaked in the river. A peaceful evening.

Suddenly Peakard arrives flying slowly and sits in front of her.

“Your Majesty, how are you? Are you fine?”

“Other than a broken wing and worrying about my friends, fine, thanks.” She replied, checking her bruises.

“What a relief, I was worried too, ma’am.” He replied calmly.

Suddenly, the Major pulls out his service pistol and points it at Twilight, his expression very stern.

“You're going to start telling me everything I don't know, or I won't care that you're Celestia's protégé, or Queen Skystar's personal friend.”

Twilight tried to remain calm and took a deep breath. She saw her life for a moment through the barrel of that gun.

“Monsters do exist, Major."

"Yeah, I realized it when a giant monkey wiped out my unit." He said sarcastically, pointing at the helicopters, or what was left of them.

"I knew there might be risks in coming here, Major, but the expedition was crucial to our research into the hollow Faust theory.”

“I don’t give a flying feather about your theory, Your Majesty. My soldiers are dead and we're trapped here now... Wait, did you know we would find that thing here? And knew something could happen?” The soldier replied, calm, but with fury in his eyes.

The alicorn nodded slowly.

“Did you hear about the battle of Puerto Caballo and Manehattan, Major?”

“Just news and anecdotes from friends in the navy.”

“Well, the Secret Monster Intelligence League of Equestria, as known as SMILE, has been dedicated not only to espionage for a long time, Major, but also to the study of gigantic creatures like Godzilla; creatures from time immemorial that are returning to reclaim their thrones, SMILE is in charge of all of this. And this island is the culmination of years of study, but I didn’t expect this massacre to happen.”

“You and your theories, you and your science, you and your secrets, princess, have already caused many deaths.” He takes the dogtags out of his pocket. “These are soldiers who won't return home, now they're dead in the name of science.”

There were tears in the princess's eyes, but she stood firm.

“I am deeply and sincerely sorry for the loss of your soldiers, Major Peakard. Every life lost is a tragedy that has weighed on me for years and will always be.”

Peakard looked a little less tense.

“That’s why it’s essential that we get everyone out of here, Major. This island can change everything; we have to understand and prevent more tragedies like those in new and old Manehattan or Puerto Caballo. The Third Company’s sacrifice will not be in vain; get us out of here and we’ll bring in the cavalry.”

The hippogriff stood up and stared at the alicorn, who stood firm at all times against the gun less than a meter from her chest. He pondered his options.

Peakard then lowered his weapon and put it away, turned and returned to his soldiers who were already collecting their fallen ones.

“I am the cavalry.”

1. The North Zebrican War.

Unknown date, 1012 ALB. Somewhere in the Panthalassic Ocean.

The drums of war resound on the three continents, the changeling hosts rush forward against Equestria and its allies; the Kaiser's armies conquer Griffonia and dominate their enemies; and the forces of Khartinia, Colthage and Chiropterra challenge the hegemony of Aris in the sea, land and air.

The war for supremacy on their own continents has dragged this world into a vicious cycle where violence causes more violence.

“Hippogriffia is threatened by enemies on all fronts, Queen Novo wants you to join the army,” or something like that is what that poster stuck on the wall said when Sky Cluster saw it on the street, and driven by the emotion that every young brave, or otherwise stupid, adventurer of his time; had a great idea to join to the Royal Hippogriffian Navy Air Force, because why not?

In the name of "Queen and Country", he left his beloved behind and took that train.

At that station he left part of his heart in exchange for the promise of sending her letters.

“Oh Sky, if you only knew what you had gotten yourself into,” he always said the same thing when he faced death on several occasions in the sky over the seas, facing religious fanatics, some… catbirds?, and horses with stripes; all of them were as skillful in piloting as him.

Every air combat has been an absolute challenge, that's for sure.

“Oh Sky, what have you gotten yourself into now?” he scolded himself when that lunatic, I mean, lunarist fighter shot him and he shot him in return, damaging it as much as he damaged his plane.

That dogfight was a stalemate.

His plane started plummeting to the ground.

Just a few hours ago his squadron had left on a mission from the Trots and Canters Islands to Katren but his squadron was lost in a raging storm that was not supposed to be there on that route, it wasn't forecasted. Maybe it wasn't even the correct route, who knows.

Then they were intercepted by a chiropterran fighter squadron.

Now he had to jump out of a plane that no longer responded to him, those damn religious fanatics had shot them all down.

The mission and his squadron went to tartarus, but they took those lunatics with them, at least.

The jump from his plane was not at all graceful, in fact, it was quite bumpy, Sky Cluster spun many times in the air until he could take the rope of his parachute and begin to descend slowly.

"Is something," he thought, slowly descending towards the ground.

He could have used his wings, I mean, that's why he was born with them, but the truth is that was the last thing he was thinking when he saw that lunatic's plane also fall and let out a dark-colored pony in the distance.

The Hellcat he was piloting crashed savagely on a beautiful white sand beach on an island that Sky didn't even remember existed on this patrol route, it wasn't on the maps... damn, they really got lost in that storm.

The landing was a little softer than his jump, at least.

Panting, he took off his aviator hat and looked at the sky above, seeing a plane very similar to the ones from Equestria plummeting, although this plane had a moon painted on its side; its occupant was further away, slowly falling towards that same beach.

He immediately took off his parachute harness and ran to intercept the newly fallen creature.

Time to finish the job. He thought, while running through that beautiful beach.

He passed a dune and immediately stopped a few dozen meters away from his enemy, that dark-colored unicorn was now perfectly visible, after emerging from its parachute.

They looked into each other's eyes, both with adrenalines coursing through their veins.

The first thing the hippogriff thought was to take his M990 pistol and without checking his aim he fired his seven bullets on that unicorn.

And he saw that he couldn't hit a single shot, heck, he was so nervous that even his grandpa has better aim.

The unicorn, protecting himself with the little magic he was taught in training, he saw that not a single shot hit him, so he also took out his own pistol in response.

Sky began running to where he came from.

Thus began a chase along the beach: a hippogriff being chased by a unicorn whose nervous aim also failed to hit a single shot.

They ran towards the dense jungles of that island.

The unicorn, like a good legionnaire and pilot of Chiropterra, took out his saber, prepared to put an end to this heretic creature who was now running for his life in that leafy jungle that immediately surrounded them.

They run through a stream, a tree path, a crossing and many ferns that now led to an open before a cliff.

There Sky Cluster stopped, on the edge of the void, with the afternoon sun and a valley at its feet; he would stop to admire the landscape if it weren't for the unicorn that wanted to kill him with a huge saber in his back.

He felt his presense behind, that lunatic is willing to cut his throat but wanted to face his victim first.

“This hippogriff is gonna fight." He told himself. "Sky Cluster's not gonna die without a fight."

So he turned around and faced the lunarist, face to face. They both looked clearly exhausted.

He saw the legionnaire's sword that the pony was carrying, the moon carved into the metal of the blade could clearly be seen, as well as the somewhat smug face of his adversary, who now had the advantage over him.

So, he entrusted himself to Aris, the Gods, Celestia, or basically whatever he could think off.

He tried to run, but he was already cornered, a few sword blows here, a stab here, but he dodged them; his mind and heart working at full speed to avoid being stabbed by that weapon.

After the pony went straight to the chest, Sky stopped that sharp blade with his own bare claws.

Searing pain reached his brain, seeing his claws not stopping the sword, blood gushing from between his claws and the blade as the saber came dangerously close to his heart.

With a cry of despair he managed to take advantage of the momentum that the sword bearer had, dodging it, causing the pony to lose his sword on the spot.

Thus, with a well-aimed blow to that horse's face, he took it to the ground, falling together.

However, the lunarist had more tricks; so he took out a knife.

Sky was able to stop his attacker's hoof before the knife he was carrying could touch him.

Now it was upon him, there was no escape.

The edge of the weapon approached his neck and thus, Sky Cluster accepted his fate.

Suddenly a gigantic hand rose from below the cliff, grabbing the edge with a tremendous stomp.

The fight was stopped immediately to look at the hand.

Suddenly a second hand reached up to grab the edge next to them.

Now frightened by the sudden appearance of something they would describe as a huge ape that stood much taller than them and was scaling the cliff.

The pony, stupefied, dropped his knife and stopped applying pressure on his enemy.

Sky Cluster, equally dumbfounded, stared at the enormous animal that had just appeared in front of them.

It seems like there's always a bigger fish.

Author's Note

Well, it's been a semester of writing, hope you like this start.
New Chapter every week!

2. Canterlot.

July 30th, 1034 ALB. Canterlot, Equestria.

The world has changed greatly since the Chrysalis' armies marched towards the capital of Equestria, life is now more complex than we ever imagined back in the year 1007, twenty-seven years ago; that's a lot.

Equestria is no longer the illusory country of harmony and peace that it was, the war, famine and death that that fateful year 1010 brought hardened the hearts and character of those who lived through the horror.

Harmony isn't what it used to be, so we had to become its greatest bastion.

Stalliongrad and Griffenheim threaten harmony in the world.

If we want peace, we must prepare for war.

The Arsenal of Harmony shall endure.

We are conquering the limits of magic and atoms, we are reaching the known limits, breaking paradigms, beliefs and superstitions.

We conquer space, we take cameras into orbit and see things never before imagined, we reached new frontiers in less than a century, on this planet and beyond. We'll get there, before they get there first.

Harmony is threatened in Equus, in Griffonia and Zebrica, the United Ponies Alliance is ready to defend it, whatever the cost.

We defended harmony in Equestria, in the Crystal Empire, in Zumidia, in the Seapony Sea, in Yakyakistan, in New Mareland. We rely on Maretonia, Kiria, and the River Federation to defend it in their own regions.

We supported Arabia, Gargiloya and Senturya with their problems, and harmony endured.

We thought the same thing when we entered the Naugdaw civil war, that we were going to wipe out commies. It was a difficult decision for the Princesses, but they proceded nonetheless.

Nothing has gone right in that war since we entered 1025. The creatures in the UPA question our reasons for being there now.

And today, in the middle of a protest for peace in Naugdaw, I find myself in Canterlot, to talk to Princess Luna about something even more fascinating we discovered at Luna Nova Institute, even more fascinating than when we sent the first pony into space, perhaps even more than the discovery of the titans.

Negotiations between the UPA, the decadent government of Barko Gecit – capital of Naugdaw – and the leaders of Talarayi are progressing in Vermillion. Meanwhile in Canterlot, a bustling city, has been paralyzed by anti-war protests in the capital.

Twilight, Spike and Fluttershy get out of the taxi that was in the traffic jam.

“I hope the princess understand your reasons, Twi,” the pegasus mentions, passing between the protest signs, the military police and the royal guard in front of the royal palace.

Massive pacifist protests and demonstrations could be seen from Vesalipolis to Colthage. Hundreds of thousands clamored for the return of the soldiers in Naugdaw.

“I'm worried, I don't think this is the best time to ask them,” The dragon intervenes.

“SMILE is about to suffer a funding cut, Spike, after that, we'll stay on Luna Nova until further notice. When the war ends, they will never approve our expedition,” Twilight says, walking past the guards who greet them.

The halls of the royal palace were a hive of activity, with numerous ministers, generals and workers going and coming, chatting and arguing.

“I'm worried that we won't be able to convince them. We didn’t prepare the presentation enough,” The dragon intervenes when they enter the antechamber of the throne, there were two guards stationed on the edge of the enormous door and the assistant Raven Inkwell.

There was a color television on the wall, a new addition.

“We would have organized this better, it's just loose sheets Twilight; you're always very organized about that, in just one day we would have organized it well,” the dragon continues, but the alicorn did not answer and turned to watch television.

On television, Princess Celestia was seen in a statement, on international television, addressing her subjects.

“My little ponies, today I have to announce to the world that the leaders of the United Ponies Alliance and the Naugdawian government, after arduous negotiations, have agreed to end the war and bring an honorable peace to this country. Therefore, I hereby declare the immediate withdrawal of the UPA Expeditionary Force, starting tomorrow until October 1st, in agreement…”

This news was both a relief and an added burden on the minds of the three present.

“We won’t have another day.” Twilight stated seriously, approaching the secretary. “Hello, Raven, we're here to see Princess Luna.”

“Welcome back, Your Majesty–”

“Just Twilight, please.”

“Apologies, Miss Twilight. Princess Luna unfortunately has an urgent situation that has just arrived and I'm afraid that she won't be able to receive you…”

Twilight just stared at her, frustrated.

Before the conversation could continue, the two doors to the throne room opened, letting out a pair of ministers who were still arguing and did not notice their presence. Behind them was Luna, who saw them with a mixture of resignation and happiness to see each other again.

“Twilight, it's nice to have thee, didn't you receive our postponement dragon letter?” The blue alicorn says.

“For the umpteenth time?" the lavender alicorn asks, sarcastically. "Don't worry Luna, we'll be quick, but please, listen.”

Luna, showing a friendly expression, but visibly tired of dealing with so many things while her sister was not in the Palace, lets them into the throne room.

“It's not easy to run a nation, Twilight, so please be brief, like you said. Thou have five minutes, we have to meet with Blueblood... again.”

The princess of the night did not bother to climb back to the sisters' throne and preferred to be below.

“So, Twilight, tell me what you're looking for now; Godzilla is gone and we don't know what happened to it… Wait, don't tell me... another giant creature?” she said, satirically.

Spike takes a double-leaf sheet of paper from the saddlebags and hands it to the princess to look at.

“This is the satellite photo of an unrecorded island in the Turquoise Sea, it had not been discovered… until now.” the lavender alicorn says, pointing at the picture.

The island, framed by coordinates and a scale, had a shape that resembled the shape of a hominid skull, like that of the apes in the jungles of southern Equestria.

“Civilizations in Equestria, Les Méridiennes and Abyssinia spoke of it: Skull Island. The land where their gods did not finish their creation.”

Luna just watched them with a look of incredulity.

“It's famous for the number of planes and ships that have been lost there,” Fluttershy adds.

“It seems far-fetched, Twilight Sparkle,” the princess of the night point.

“If we find things as strange as those insects years ago or that giant lizard, I don't think this is so far-fetched, Princess,” Spike contradicts.

“I assure you, Princess, this may be worth it, exploring the last corner of the earth where no living creature has ever set foot. It would be the discovery of the century, after Godzilla, of course,” Twilight argues.

“It's probably extremely dangerous, we think, who knows what dangers lurk in those lands, Sparkle,” The lunar princess interrupts.

“Princess Luna, this is a place where myths and science meet,” Twilight insists.

“And even if there were fantastic things on that island, Twilight Sparkle, we still don't believe it's safe, plus the resources given to SMILE are already too many. We're sorry, but no,” Luna said, getting up to leave, with time already upon her.

As Spike picks up the papers, Fluttershy and Twilight stand up as well, following Luna.

“SMILE and Luna Nova have contributed a lot to the advancement of Equestria and its allies, Princess, and the Hippogriffs are already organizing an expedition.”

“To thine own self be true, Twilight Sparkle, along with the search for extraterrestrial life, SMILE remains on the podium of money that we could have invested better. We have other national priorities, I’m afraid,” The blue alicorn says.

“Yes, but those ponies are crazy,” The lavender alicorn interrupts.

Luna watched with suspicion as the doors opened. Ironic.

“SMILE should have stayed in espionage after its reactivation,” Luna insists.

“Princess, I believe this is a unique opportunity for Equestria and all creatures, please,” Fluttershy intervenes, equally convinced.

“Since the Hippogriffian Intelligence Department will also be making an expedition, we can join the operation… with your permission, of course,” Spike adds.

Luna simply walked while listening to them.

“And what do you expect to find?” She questions.

“Resources, medicine, geological discoveries, possible fuels or special materials…" The lavender alicorn lists. "Also, Princess, I swear that we will follow all the necessary security measures and more, to keep your peace of mind.”

“To be honest, Princess," Spike intervenes "We don't know what's on that island.”

Luna stops to look at them again.

“But we do know something, Princess Luna." Twilight intervenes. "Within a day, an Imperial satellite will pass over it and in three days, Griffenheim and Stalliongrad will have the same images as us.”

Luna now seemed a little more open to the idea.

“Whatever it may be, Princess, you'll want to find it first, right?” Fluttershy finishes.

The night princess seemed thoughtful.

“We don't know how I can say this… but that makes a bit more sense, Sparkle,” Luna said, incredulous.

The excited and amazed face of the lavender alicorn and her friends was visible, and so they began to thank her.

“Okay, we shall grant thee thine boarding pass, Twilight Sparkle, but promise us one thing, just one thing…” she intervened seriously. "This is the last thing, Sparkle, we will not be able to grant more things like this, after this, you will stay in Luna Nova, do you promise us?

Twilight, excited, nods and thanks. Immediately afterwards, Luna turns around to continue on her way.

“Princess Luna!” she intervenes again.

Luna, already tired, exhales and turns around again.

“We will need the military to escort us, please.”

Author's Note

The first days of this story have been great, and got a good welcome, I appreciate it a lot for your interest in my work. Thank you and see you next week.

3. Naugdawian Civil War.

August 2nd, 1034 ALB. Barko Gecit Air Base, Naugdaw.

The UPA's intervention in the Naugdawian civil war has been a disaster.

Armies from all over the world, mainly Equestria and Hippogriffia, landed on these shores not many years ago with the firm objective of erasing from existence the communist guerrillas sponsored by Talarayi, in turn sponsored by Stalliongrad and other UPA's rivals in Zebrica.

All the power of the alliance was used to fight simple guerrillas in the jungles.

The result?

Twenty thousand soldiers who did not return home and tens of thousands of locals who now hate our guts, plus hundreds of thousands of families who are now asking for their relatives to come home.

A huge mistake, Celestia still regrets it. Apparently, she's feeling increasingly exhausted after a millenia on the throne... I think it started when the ponies of Puerto Caballo took up arms and aligned themselves with Stalliongrad... Roca Roja was that pony's name, if I remember correctly.

But let's not digress.

At the base of the Third Joint Air Assault Company at Barko Gecit Air Base, the atmosphere was bustling, the princesses' orders for the withdrawal were not long in coming. It was finally time to return home for the soldiers.

Planes were preparing to take off, helicopters were returning to their hangars, ready to be prepared for their return home; trucks and jeeps were moving here and there, carrying boxes with all kinds of contents. Hippogriffs, Zebras, Ponies, Changelings and Deer were doing their daily chores or, alternatively, enjoying their leisure time before packing up.

After months, they will finally be home for Hearts' Warming, or whatever celebration they had.

“Attention Third Company: Your transport will be leaving at 0600. Congratulations, ladies and gentlecreatures, we’re going home,” The hangar’s PA system announced.

Around a table were a zebra, a hippogriff, a thestral and a changeling, the latter of whom was reading.

“Hey, Zash, how many letters did you write to your mother these past few months?” Rain Docker a grey hippogriff, asks.

“Like ten or fifteen… I think,” the zebra answers.

“And how many did she write to you?” the blue thestral, Comet Trail, asks now, curious.

“... About 3 or 4,” The zebra answers again.

His interlocutors just stood there thinking until the changeling reader broke the silence.

“Zash, your mom stinks,” the orange-eyed bug said.

The laughter was general.

"Thanks Thrax, so sweet of you," The zebra told his companion sarcastically.

The changeling just smiled a little before continuing his reading.

The atmosphere was definitely good and lighthearted.

But not for everycreature.

Above, on the railings of the hangar offices, stood Phin Peakard, a green hippogriff, Major and commander of the 3rd Air Assault Company of the 1st Joint Airborne Brigade, awarded several times, including the Aris Medal of Honor for his actions on the Warzenan front by Queen Novo herself.

He saw his soldiers quietly before entering into the offices.

Sipping a beer, Peakard sat at his desk metal desk, behind him a local map, the company's flag and a radio announcing the negotiations.

“What a humiliation," he thought.

As his mind wandered, his right-claw creature, a pony from New Mareland, entered the office.

“Sir,” the light blue pony asks.

“Trotland?” his superior answers.

“Did you need me for something, sir?” The lieutenant asks, confused.

“No…” He answers curtly.

“Understood…” the stallion says, slowly retreating until he is interrupted by his commander, still thoughtful.

“What will you do when you return to the world, Trotland?” Says the Major, opening his box of memories.

“Ah… ehrm… I already have a job, sir, at Mareland Airways, my wife Linda and my son Will have already moved to New Manehattan… Did you know that they are already rebuilding it, by the way, sir?” His subordinate answers, somewhat uncomfortable, but Peakard did not heard it, he was pensive.

Peakard could only remain silent and look at the numerous medals, dogtags and letters that his little treasure chest contained. So many honours and merits for nothing.

"Sir?"

The Major's train of thought came to a halt again.

Peakard just turned around and shook his head.

“Oh, get outta here Trotland, go and have some fun, don't worry about me,” he told him, but the Major's mind was elsewhere still.

“Everything okay, sir?”

"Everything okay."

The pony, resigned, simply left the office.

Peakard became thoughtful again.

Night falls in Naugdaw and with it, tropical rain, one more night for those hardened soldiers, hopefully the last one there.

The soldiers, putting on a brave face in the face of bad weather, returned to their barracks, happy and smiling. Some were joking and laughing.

The Major left the hangar, still pensive, heading towards his barracks until he was interrupted again.

“Major Peakard!”

The hippogriff turned to see a guard, a female deer, in her guardhouse.

“You have a call, sir!” the soldier says, pointing to the phone booth.

Without another word, Peakard walks over and picks up the phone.

“Peakard here.”

“Major Peakard, General Faber Greyfeather speaking. You and your boys have one last mission,” was heard.

The Major felt an internal euphoria upon hearing those words, but he remained calm.

“I wouldn't object to it, sir.”

“I acknowledge your permissions to go home have already been processed, Peakard, don’t you want to take some time?” the voice on the other end replies.

“I came to carry out the orders given, sir.” The hippogriff says, determined.

“Don’t get too excited, Major, scientists from Luna Nova, New Mareland and the HDI discovered a new island with our satellites.”

Peakard just nodded.

“They need helicopter transport for exploration work and armed escort.”

"Yes, sir."

“Good.” The voice answers, about to hang up.

“And sir.” The Major interrupts, now smiling. “Thank you.”

Night of August 2nd, 1034 ALB. Lotus downtown, capital of Zen Kinh.

Somewhere in the center of Lotus, across the gulf we know as the South Kirian Sea, Twilight and her two friends find themselves in the bustling night streets of this country, with torrential rain pouring down.

“Twilight, I don’t understand, you already got the military escort, why a tracker?” Fluttershy tells her, trying not to get more wet than necessary with the umbrellas they brought.

“Yah, why a follower of Dr. Caballeron, too?” the Dragon asks.

“Because Dr. Caballeron had many followers, mainly mercenaries, they have no loyalty to anyone now,” Twilight says.

They crossed the busy street.

“She fought as a mercenary for Zalathel Zarca, fought in Hindia, in the Zongo war… she also rescued several downed pilots in recent years.” The alicorn continued.

“And our sources say she spends most of her time in a dive bar in Lotus, I wouldn't trust her,” Spike says.

“And you're going to guide us through the jungle, right Spike?” Twilight contradicts sarcastically.

The dragon fell silent.

In the entrance there was a Kirin, who, for a couple of kirian bits, let them enter.

Fluttershy felt nervous as she entered that establishment, full of red and green lights, jukebox music, Kirins smoking and drinking things she didn't want to know about and... female Kirins dancing weirdly, accompanying the males to places she didn't want to know about either... wait... Are you sure they're female?

“Look, there she is,” Twilight says, derailing the pegasus' train of thought.

On the pool tables there was a light yellow pegasus mare with a pretty golden collar, an eagle head helmet and emerald details

This mare was playing billiards.

Fluttershy didn't know anything about that game, but the shot that pegasus made to the last ball was impressive nonetheless.

The pegasus reached out to grab a bunch of bills, it was probably the bet.

However, a kirin approached her and started saying things to her face, he didn't look very happy.

They both saw each other face to face. She stared at the first one.

Another kirin approached her from behind with a knife. The air tensed, there were now four of them around the pegasus.

Without saying a word, the pegasus struck first, punched the first one in the face, kicking the one with the knife, breaking the pool cue in the face of the third and knocking out the fourth with what was left of the stick.

The bar was filled with confusion and a few screams at the scene of how four adult Kirin fell to a mare.

Fluttershy covered her eyes at such a display of violence.

Spike was amazed.

“I think that’s our mare,” Twilight said, equally impressed.

A bag of bills and bits was placed on the table in front of Tailcoatl.

“So an uncharted island, huh, princess?” the pegasus with golden collars and the eagle helmet says.

Before the others could reply anything, Tailcoatl continued.

“Let me recite how you're going to die: rain, heat, mud and all those diseases caused by mosquitoes… ah… just like home at Tenochtitlan.”

Twilight and friends just limited themselves to listening.

“Sure, you can carry chloroquine for malaria, but what about the other bacteria?... and I haven't even started on the things that'll want to eat you alive, ladies... and dragon," the pegasus said, smugly.

“We'll double the pay,” Twilight replied.

“You've got no idea how dangerous that is, your majesty.” She says, even more presumptuously. “Quintuple the amount… plus a bonus if we ever get back.”

“If we ever…?” Fluttershy says, now uneasy, drawing the gaze of the other pegasus at the table.

“Pay her,” Spike says, uneasy too.

Twilight just looks at them out of the corner of her eye.

“I mean, I think Miss Tailcoatl deserves a better compensation, Twi,” Spike corrects himself.

Twilight, already decided, just lifts the mug of cider in front of her.

“Ahuizotl bless you, I guess…” the alicorn said before taking a sip.

“One more question, princess,” the pegasus interrupts. “You came looking for a tracker. I don’t know who or what I’m going to track.”

“That’s all the information we have, unfortunately," Fluttershy says shyly.

“Indeed, there is no map, only satellite images, so we need someone like you, with your background and your particular experience in the jungle. Someone to lead the expedition,” Spike continues.

“We are academics and scientists, normal ponies, we need somepony with experience,” Twilight reaffirms.

Tailcoatl was already looking more convinced of the idea.

“In case something goes wrong…” the alicorn continues. “Creatures go to war looking for something, Tailcoatl. If you'd found it, you would have already returned home, isn't it?”

The pegasus looked at them, thoughtful.

Author's Note

Published on December 22nd, 2024.
I wish ya'll a Merry Heart's Warming, and a sincere thank you for reading.

4. Fixed Course.

August 3rd, 1034 ALB. Port of Madrepore, capital of Khamrin.

Night has fallen on the metropolis on the Marekong River, but its port is as lively as any other time, with dozens of boats embarking and disembarking every day.

The local kirins move about, carrying all kinds of goods, spices, boxes of all sizes, animals of all kinds, sacks and bags, etc.

There is Tailcoatl, making her way through the creatures, silent.

At Pier 14 the activity is on the Royal New Mareland Ship Strong Hoover, with all manner of creatures coming and going from the ship, while cranes lift helicopters onto the deck of it.

On the aircraft you can see the characteristic silhouette of a yellow hydra and three daggers crossing on a red shield as background; the third company's coat of arms.

Meanwhile, a truck arrives, from which the soldiers get off while Rain Docker, the hippogriff, complains.

“How stupid, why are we doing this?... Is this a joke?”

His companions just looked tired of so many complaints all the way from Naugdaw.

“One day to go, just one day.”

They get off and take all their cloth backpacks on their backs.

“And no, now we gotta go to another damn island, with another damn jungle,” The hippogriff of the group continues.

“Naugdaw ist not an island, blöd,” Thrax the changeling replies, fed up.

“Well, Featherport is, and that's where I should be right now, with a good cyder in my claws, watching the sun setting.”

“Featherport istn’t one eitha…" the changeling interrupts. "It’s a port.”

Rain Docker stopped to process the joke.

“It ain't funny, dude."

Twilight, Fluttershy, and Spike stepped out of their cab and took in the full hustle and bustle of activity at the dock.

Twilight carried the papers, Fluttershy her camera, and Spike the suitcases, as always.

Next to some containers they see a group of creatures, some in blue uniforms, others in aquamarine uniforms, they were definitely members of the New Mareland and Hippogriffia expedition.

As they meander through various creatures and a thief being chased by the local police, Twilight and friends encounter the hippogriff with a notebook.

“Hello… uh, Windy Claw?” the alicorn greets the gray hippogriff.

“Oh, Princess Twilight Sparkle, you've arrived... I wanted to say that it's an honor to be on this expedition with you, we didn’t expect SMILE to join us. He is Jade Finder, head of the New Marelander expedition.”

“G'day, Your Highness, it is an honor to be on this expedition with you,” the unicorn say, bowing.

“No need, Jade, just call me Twilight, please. By the way, these are my friends and trip companions: Fluttershy and Spike.”

Her friends greeted.

"As my colleague said, I'm the proud leader of my expedition and expect all of our hospitality, Princess." Jade continued.

"Why, thank you, Jade." The princess of friendship continued.

After a few more greetings, they sign their names on the list and head off to the stairs leading up to the ship.

Guarding the entrance is Major Peakard, looking happy for the first time in many months.

Twilight and her friends approach him.

“Yes, tell me?” the hippogriff asks, now more firmly.

“Twilight Sparkle, Fluttershy and Spike, we're on the list, Major Peakard.”

Peakard checked his memories quickly.

“Oh yeah, I remember now, you're the princess of Equestria and your friends are pretty famous in half of the world...” the Major says.

“That's right, sir.”

“Yes, activists like you and your friends turned their backs on us back home.” he replied sternly, remembering all the news that had come about politics.

“You don’t blame the civilians for losing the war, do you, Major?” Twilight replies, her companions just staying silent.

“Words and pens are more dangerous than a rifle; it's very easy to talk about peace when you're not in combat, Your Majesty.” Peakcard contradicts. “And we didn't lose the war, we got outta there.”

Knowing that there was no point in arguing with the very soldier who would take them, the alicorn left the matter alone and her companions prepared to board the ship.

Night of August 4th, 1034 ALB. Madrepore, Khamrin.

With the sound of her foghorn, the RNMS Strong Hoover sets sail for the southern Kiria Sea. Her journey will take several days until she reaches the turquoise sea, west of the Trots and Canters Islands. It will be a long trip around the continent.

The Strong Hoover was a large ship with a long deck and several helicopters for the mission on it. Many Hueys, a Stallion and a Chinook made up the formation.

In the meeting room were creatures from all over Equus, Zebrica and Griffonia, some wearing olive green UPA standard uniforms, some wearing Arisian blue, some wearing the New Marelander aquamarine green and some simply not wearing a uniform at all.

In front of the projector is New Mareland's Jade Finder.

“Greetings and welcome.” he begins his presentation.

“I am Jade Finder, head of the New Mareland Special Intelligence Service expedition, this is my colleague Windy Claw from the Hippogriffia Department of Intelligence.”

The slide switches to a satellite image, the outline of an island that looked like a hominid skull could be seen beneath a layer of clouds.

“Our expedition will take us to a place where all known sea routes have avoided passage for centuries, perhaps millennia.”

The image of the island was now seen without any interference.

“As our satellite showed, the island is surrounded by a perpetual system of storms, which kept it hidden from the outside world.”

The soldiers looked intrigued, but not very enthusiastic.

“But with Major Peakard's helicopter transport, we'll be the first ones to cross to the other side.”

He paused and looked back at Twilight and company.

“We are also joined for the first time by the SMILE Exploration Team from Equestria, led by Her Majesty Twilight Sparkle, her partner Fluttershy, and Spike.”

Twilight and friends just limited themselves to greeting and smiling.

“We'll focus on the surface and they'll focus on what's underneath..." he said, while turning to the group. "Princess?”

This was the signal for the alicorn, who now takes the floor, passes the slide and starts her presentation.

“It’s simple, we plan to use explosives to shake the ground and thus create a map of the island’s subsoil. The computers and sensors in the surface will detect the shock waves and create an image.”

Now the slide showed a map of the island with several targets and silhouettes of helicopters.

“We'll fly from the south coast and drop seismic charges to measure the density of the Earth.”

Everyone present looked somewhat confused.

“Are you droping bombs?” Tailcoatl asks, drawing everyone’s attention.

“...Scientific instruments, I would say, hehe,” Spike replied, joking a little, his pegasus friend remained neutral, she preferred to not give an opinion.

“You hear, folks?” Comet Trail, the thestral, interrupts. “We’re scientists now.”

The soldiers laughed, the real scientists didn't, Windy Claw scolded them silently.

Jade Finder takes the floor again.

“Then, we'll land to establish the base of ground operations, guided by Miss Tailcoatl, somepony with extensive experience in jungle environments.”

The yellow pegasus nods.

“Now Lieutenant Trotland will speak.” The alicorn said.

The blue pony stood up and walked over the slide.

“Well, once we're on the island, the storm interference will block our communications with the ship, meaning we'll be alone.”

The new slide now shows a meeting point, marked with an X, up north.

“Two days later, the resupply team will meet us on the north coast of the island. It will be the only good chance to leave for an undetermined time. So, a word of advice to everycreature here." The lieutenant pauses. “Don’t get lost, okay?”

August 5th, 1034, Northern Kiria Sea, east of Radiance.

The ocean was calm on the Verdinian Coast, soldiers, sailors and scientists were going here and there.

Tailcoatl walks between the helicopters and soldiers performing maintenance on them and installing their weapons. She heads toward Twilight and friends alongside Major Peakard.

They were watching a computer the size of a small refrigerator being lifted into a helicopter.

“We’ve made computers so small they fit inside a helicopter now,” Spike says, surprised.

“It's fascinating, indeed,” Peakard replies.

“Oh, there she is.” Twilight interrupts, turning to look at the yellow pegasus with the golden collars. “Major Peakard, this is Tailcoatl. Commander in the sky, commander on the ground.”

Both creatures come face to face.

“I’m just hanging around here,” the pegasus says, greeting.

“Where did you served, Miss?” asks the hippogriff, curious.

“In many places, Major, in Tenochtitlan, in Colthage, in Hindia, in Zongo, now in Naugdaw.”

“A mercenary, ain't it? What a surprise... A money soldier.” The Major looks at her scondingly.

“Indeed, sir. If I did end up finishing off any of you in Warzena, I'm sorry,” she says, sarcastically.

The hippogriff refrained from commenting. Twilight and company sensed the discomfort.

“I see you were hired because you're a good tracker. I hope you will be of use to us... Excuse me,” the Major said, before leaving.

Twilight saw the awkwardness of the situation and tried to leave before Tailcoatl spoke to her again.

“I thought you said this was a civilian operation, your majesty,” the golden-collared pegasus said, turning to look at one of the machine guns that had been mounted on the helicopter next to it.

“Oh, those… we just ordered the aircraft… the weapons came extra,” Twilight says, now retreating as well.

Turning to look at the numerous boxes of explosives and material that were being lowered to the lower deck, the pegasus becomes contemplative.

August 13th, 1034, Turquoise Sea, west of Trots and Canters Islands.

After a quick stop at Pombal, Ornithia, the RNMS Strong Hoover is now heading definitively towards its destination southwest of Les Méridiennes. Celestia's setting sun is visible on the horizon.

The soldiers of the third company are now enjoying their last free hours before continuing with their routine before night.

Fluttershy stands on the deck, watching the lives of these brave creatures, taking photos of the soldiers.

Ponies, hippogriffs, zebras, changelings and deer playing board games, exercising and/or getting their hair cut.

“Hey Trail, whatcha writing?” Rain Docker, the hippogriff, asks.

“A letter to my daughter back in Fillydelphia,” the thestral replies.

His partner comes closer to see the letter. And said started to speak, “Dear Moonlight, I said I'd be back for your birthday, but I lied to you shamelessly. I'm a bad father and I hope you will forgive me with this letter.”

They both laughed.

“Ten-hut!” Shouts Lieutenant Nick Trotland, interrupting their activities.

The soldiers of the unit immediately snap to attention.

"Look alive!" Trotland ordered.

Major Peakard then arrives in a serious manner.

“At ease, you birdbrains!” The Major says.

Major Phin Peakard walked over to his soldiers and smiled.

“I recognize that our return home's been delayed, folks, but we'll be home soon. Just remember, that at some point down the line, ten or twenty years from now, ya'll will look back with nostalgia on these days. The family, the friendships we forged back out there. The brotherhood.”

His soldiers, from all over the world, seemed happy with their commander's words.

“I know I will miss each and every one of you, comrades,” —the Major looked around, then looked at Trotland.— “we served in the most decorated chopper unit in UPA's history, and we're still standing.”

The Major walked over to the drinks and took one.

“If that’s not something to be proud of, and tie one on, I don’t know what the tartarus is.”

He picked up a cyder and approached his soldiers.

“Drinks up, gentlecreatures!”

Author's Note

Yes, I included some deleted scenes in this story as well, hehe. I wonder if you'll be able to identify them.

Edit: Published on december 29th, 2024. Happy new year!

5. Turbulence.

August 14th, 1034 ALB, Turquoise Sea, west of Trots and Canters Islands.

The sunrise on the beautiful turquoise sea was amazingly beautiful, the weather and the rising of Celestia's sun fills the RNMS Strong Hoover with liveliness, liveliness that is totally eclipsed by the huge accumulation of black clouds in front of them, impenetrable by daylight and only illuminated by the numerous lightnings that occur inside; thunder and rumblings are heard in its bowels.

Tailcoatl, Fluttershy, and Spike stand on the railing outside the ship's bridge, watching anxiously as the storm rages not far away, and peeking into the discussion being held by Twilight, the ship's captain, Jade Finder, and Major Peakard.

The ponies on the bridge worked at their daily tasks, peering through binoculars, viewing screens, measuring maps, turning knobs and buttons.

“The storm looks much wilder in reality, Your Highness” —the captain argues— “we should consider postponing the mission.”

“How far's the island?” Peakard asks.

“About forty kilometers, maybe more,” the captain answers.

“Bring us closer to that place, please, Captain,” Twilight insists, pointing the map.

“I’m sorry, princess, my ship, my rules, if you want to take off, it shall be from here,” The captain concludes sharply.

Twilight then turns to Peakard.

“Can you get through that, Major? This is our chance.”

The Major continued to analyze the weather map, where he saw an area with colors that were a bit more friendly to the eye. Trotland didn't seem sure of it either.

“Through this hole here?” He points with his claw.

“Yes, it’s a rare pocket of low pressure, it means we'll be less time inside the storm,” the alicorn states as the colonel looks outside and analyzes the storm.

“With all due respect, Your Majesty, we appreciate your passion, but as the leader of this mission, I'm in control,” as Jade turns to look at the captain. “The mission is aborted.”

Twilight can't believe her luck and tries to insist.

“Well said, the princesses will be impressed by your great courage,” Twilight says, sarcastically, trying convince him.

“I hope they'll be impressed with my common sense, Princess,” Jade counters. “We’re just going to make a map.”

“From one of the last unexplored areas of Faust and you want to leave because of some rain?!” The alicorn insists. “You can stay on the ship if you want, Jade, but it could be years before we have another opportunity like this one.”

"This is crazy, your majesty," he replied.

Twilight turned to Peakard.

“I was told your unit is capable of handling the harsh climate, Major, isn't it?”

Peakard just listens to her and turns away again as the princess continues.

“Why don’t we let Major Peakard have the last word, Jade?”

That storm was definitely the most horrible storm Peakard had ever seen in all his years of service.

“There’s no way I'm gonna get on that helicopter," Jade Finder said.

Jade Finder looked into the helicopter's interior, its doors open and its unbelted seats. His heart twisted in fear.

Behind him, exiting the ship, were Twilight and friends.

“Shouldn’t we tell them why we asked for gunships, Twilight?” her dragon friend asks.

“And scare them even more, Spike? It’s just a precaution, don’t worry, what could go wrong?” the alicorn tries to cheer them up.

"Everything," he replied.

Fluttershy said nothing because of the same terror in her gut.

“Two minutes to takeoff. Troops and civilians to your assigned crafts.”

Here they separated, Spike and Fluttershy to a helicopter with the zebra and thestral in it, and Twilight gets on another, where the hippogriff and the changeling are; as they talk while Major Peakard, Trotland and other pilots leave the ship towards their respective aircrafts.

“What has the Major gotten us into now, Thrax?” Rain Docker, the hippogriff, asks.

“Nozing he can’t do,” The changeling says. “He’s leading us zis time.”

“Does he not miss his bed? Cuz I miss mine.” Docker insists. “Don’t you miss yours?”

While Thrax only does routine checks, Twilight just listens their talk.

"Have you even got a bed?”

The changeling stayed silent, scanning the various panels. The buttons only made humming sounds of activation.

“You got a bed, right?”

Peakard, before boarding his aircraft, farewells to Trotland, who goes to the Stallion helicopter.

“Ninety seconds, ninety seconds to takeoff. Pilots, review the action plan,” The loudspeaker announces.

Explosives are rigged, radios are tuned, machine guns are loaded, computers are anchored, crates are hoisted, pilots fasten their seatbelts, soldiers put on their helmets.

Fluttershy takes her last photos, trying not to let her nerves get the better of her, and climbs into the plane. There is Comet Trail as the pilot and Zash as the gunner.

“Clear decks. Take off in minus one,” The loudspeaker announces.

"Battery?"

"Ready."

“Generator?”

“Double ready.”

“Engine start?”

“Thrice ready.”

Turbines began to roar on the deck of the RNMS Strong Hoover, blades spinning faster and faster as deck controllers signaled the commencement of takeoff by circling their backlit wands overhead.

“This is Hydra 1 to Hydra Group. It’s time for your favourite show once again.” Peakard announces over the radio. “As always, folks, Flying Hydras never say die!”

Everyone took a breath.

The signalpony gave his signal and Hydra 1 took off immediately. Followed by Hydra 2 and so on.

Within seconds there were ten Hueys, a Chinook and a Stallion in the air.

“Battle formation. Keep visual.” Peakard orders, then checks his notebook. “Hydra 5, let me know when you're close.”

The aircraft soon arranged themselves into two V formations.

“Hydra 5's in ze slot.” Thrax announces.

"Roger that" —Peakard continues.— “hydra group, form up on me, keep it toghether.”

The nerves were palpable, that storm was no small thing.

Fluttershy, controlling her nerves, takes a final photo of the cloud wall in front of her.

“Let’s do this,” Peakard orders.

The aircrafts immediately tilted forward.

"Hydra 3, niner zero, niner zero," the radio chatter said.

“Maintain course, nothing we haven't done before,” Peakard warns.

Passengers hold on to whatever they can.

“Dear Moonlight” —Docker says over the radio, joking— “you ever looked into a hurricane and decide, ‘Maybe I should fly straight through it’?”

Comet Trail just smiled nervously on the other helicopter.

"Cuz that's boutta happen."

“Dear Moonlight, you might vant to hang on!” Thrax said.

Dark clouds soon surrounded them, turning day into night, illuminated only by lightning.

They soon found themselves in violent turbulence and rain, with crosswinds tossing the aircraft around.

Everyone held on to their seats with all their might.

Alarms sound, propellers spin, helicopters rise and fall; wind shear.

Master control, a light on the panel indicated.

“Hydra 1 to Hydra group, switch to inertial navigation.”

The revolutions per minute markers increased again. Pilots were fighting the cycling.

“Remember the Minotaur myth of Icarus, whose father gave him wings made of wax,” Peakard says.

The helicopters were gaining altitude again. The metal is trembling, struggling to keep up against the forces of nature.

“And warned him not to fly not too close to the sun.”

The helicopters continued to waver, struggling to get back into formation, thriving through the torrential rain outside of the cabins.

“But his exhilaration was too great.”

The knots per hour were now decreasing. Thunder illuminated the passengers. The helicoper loses lift.

“And Icarus flew higher and higher.”

They pulled up the collective pitch lever before Hydra 5 falls further. Twilight felt lighter, pure dread in her guts, as the helicopter lost altitude.

“Until his wings melted.”

Hydra 5 loses altitude. They meed more power, Thrax pulled the lever as hard a he could.

“And fell into the sea.”

Hydra 5 recovered, speed increased.

“But the United Ponies Alliance Army is not an irresponsible father, gentlecreatures,” Peakard continued determinedly. “They've given us white hot, cold rolled Aris steel...”

The alarms continue to ring, the cyclic pitch lever is becoming more and more difficult to control.

“Guaranteed not to melt.”

The Queen Novo figure on the board became increasingly agitated.

Suddenly everything was white.

Author's Note

What a cliffhanger, isn't it?

6. Skull Island.

Author's Note

It ain't me, it ain't me. 🗣🔥

6. Skull Island.

The flying Hydras emerged from the storm and before them was the most beautiful sight they had ever seen.

Skull Island opens up before them like a paradise untouched by any outside contact for millennia. An aquamarine sea, white waves breaking on the numerous white sand beaches surrounding plenty of islets filled with dense green vegetation.

Twilight and the entire Hydra company feel fascination and relief at the same time.

A splendorous orchard of life before them could not leave them indifferent at all. Voices of astonishment and adjectives of all kinds can be heard on the radio, it seems that the storm has been left behind.

“Come down low and level,” Peakard instructed.

The helicopters now zigzagged between the numerous islets, closing in on their target, the main island.

Fluttershy was almost crying with emotion at such a spectacular sight, Spike was simply gaping.

Flocks of exotic birds, species never before seen by anycreature, their songs echoed in the jungles and cliffs of the island's rugged outskirts; the only thing that silenced them was the roar of the gas turbines of those helicopters, a technology previously unsuspected in this part of Faust.

Hydra Company flew towards their destination, dominated by a smoking volcano and rugged cliffs and mountains, all teeming with life and color.

Unknown insects, plants of all colours, giant trees with enourmous crowns, covered in moss and vines, mammals and reptiles wander through the ground covered in leaf litter.

Millennia, perhaps millions of years of evolution carried out out of sight of the world.
Perhaps, it should have stayed that way.

One of the company's helicopters had loudspeakers installed, clearly a system to fight the guerrillas psychologically, or simply a method to maintain evercreature's morale.

And some enthusiast of the group, perhaps a hippogriff, brought a cassette from home, with the song “Fortunate Griff” by the famous rock group Trotence-Seapony Revival. His companions were definitely not strangers to this song, in fact, after more than a year of deployment, they may already be fed up with it.

"Some griffs are born made to wave the flag
They're grey, yellow and blue
And when the band plays 'Hail to the Queen'
They point the cannon at you, Lord"

“The Ride of the Windigos would've sounded better, but oh well,” Comet Trail thought.

“Hydra Leader to Hydra Group, split up. Survey your zones. Over” —Peakard orders over the radio— “hydra 7 and 8, bring the expedition ashore.”

“Roger that. Hydra 7 and 8 going to zone six.”

Two hueys split up from the formation and flew to the east.

After a few minutes of hovering around, Jade Finder points to a clearing in the forest.

“We can land there!”

Thus, Hydra 7 and 8 comes down to the landing zone, there, Jade Finder, Windy Claw, Fluttershy, Spike and other members of the expedition disembark.

The second they touch down, the soldiers move to immediately unload all the boxes filled with scientific equipment, supplies, and computers.

Twilight brought a portable movie camera, perfect for watching the action unfold through her lenses. She watched as all the creatures from Hydra 7 and 8 descended into the clearing, the grass rustling in the wind from the blades.

The 3rd Joint Company now heads into the second phase of the surveying plan in attack formation.

The loud sounds of those flying metal beasts immediately frightened all the surrounding fauna, herds of antelopes, primates and unknown bovines fled from such thunderous noise.

On the ground, the computer cases are opened, revealing sophisticated green text CRT displays, the latest in technology, along with huge batteries and radio beacons for communication.

At the same time, a television camera was prepared for the upcoming show.

After a few keystrokes of different codes and calibrating everything, Jade finally grabs his radio.

“System's ready. Green light for seismic charges. Over.”

“Roger that.”

In the helicopters, the soldiers were happy, it was a time of fun for them, and boy were they going to enjoy it.

The gunners opened the boxes with the danger symbol and admired what was inside.

“Hydra group, drop 'em,” Peakard orders.

Immediately the Company's creatures dropped the loads one by one, which opened fins during free fall to slow their descent.

Afterwards they simply embedded themselves in the ground, with animals fleeing terrified for their lives, at least Fluttershy wasn't seeing this right now; she didn't like the idea, but she reluctantly did it for science.

After a brief buzz, the charges explode, leaving a fireball behind Hydra 3 and 4.

The soldiers let out a cry of excitement at such a display, don't you all love the smell of fireballs in the morning?

Tailcoatl didn't look very convinced, but she looked intrigued by the display from the helicopter.

On land, the computers didn't take long to receive the seismic signals, providing extremely revealing data to Spike and Fluttershy, the latter trying not to think about the chaos Twilight has brought.

“Are you seeing the same thing I am, Flutters?” the dragon asks.

“Indeed, incredible,” she replied.

As more seismic loads fell, more data arrived.

The readings showed very interesting spikes on the seismograph and echo.

“Twilight, I didn’t want to believe it, but you were right” —her dragon assistant calls— “the underground is practically hollow.”

Twilight smiled diligently, this meant the completion of the job she had been working on the longest since joining Luna Nova.

Explosions and fireballs rocked the island, the soldiers felt at home doing what they were always best at.

The explosions illuminated their pupils and reflected in their sunglasses. What a sight.

Suddenly, one of the gunners on Hydra 3 looked forward and his heart sank. The pilot soon saw it too.

It was the trunk of a tree coming straight towards them like a thrown spear.

“IMPACT!” the deer pilot yelled.

The base of the tree went all the way through the helicopter's cabin to the back, obliterating everything in its path.

Hydra 3's blades continued to spin by sheer inertia as the Huey plummeted inexorably to the ground.

Hydra 3 is down.

On Hydra 4 they watched the display of such brutality in shock, so much so that they didn't see the huge hand reaching out to take the helicopter on the other side.

The impact on the side of the aircraft caused it to fall immediately, spinning at high speed. The alarms sounded, the helicopter was out of control.

Hydra 4 is down.

Centrifugal force sent one pony gunner flying toward his final destination.

The pegasus second gunner held on with all her strength until she felt the impact with the ground.

It was all a mess of short circuits, red lights and sparks, the changeling co-pilot tried to get out of his seat while the second gunner found himself dazed.

Suddenly the cabin shook violently and rose above the treetops again.

The soldiers inside looked on in horror as a huge ape held what was now the hull of a helicopter, raising its cockpit above him and roaring in fury.

The gunner fell from a great height towards her end while his fellow co-pilot fell straight into the jaws of his nemesis.

Things were quiet on land, it was already time for lunch. So Windy Claw was eating a nice tuna sandwich until the interruption.

“Attention, Hydra group, Hydra 3 and 4 are down, I repeat, Hydra 3 and 4 are down!” Peakard announced, dismayed. “Hydra 4, you copy?!”

The ground crew was startled.

“At twelve o’clock!” they announce on the helicopter radio.

Before them was a huge silhouette, towering above the trees.

The radio conversation was all confusion, orders, warnings, questions and gibberish.

Tailcoatl and Twilight saw the huge creature in front of them. Twilight tried to record it on camera.

It was a bipedal ape, approximately 30 meters tall, muscular, with strong and long arms, with the face of a gorilla, a gigantic gorilla with brown and black fur, with brown eyes full of as much intelligence as rage.

Many bad memories of Manehattan came to Twilight immediately.

“What’s that?” “I’m not in range,” “Keep your distance,” “Your orders, sir,” that’s what she could hear in the gibberish on the radio.

But they could only see the enormous silhouette of the titan in front of them, less than a kilometer away, behind it, the sun that dazzled them.

“We've got a target at two o'clock, sir!”

Peakard admired the animal, stupefied as well, that gigantic animal made him remember all those news from Puerto Caballo and Manehattan and an acquaintance that served in the Royal Navy.

“Is that an ape?” Trotland asks over the radio.

Immediately the formation of 8 hueys, a stallion and a chinook separated and began to circle around the huge creature.

The beast clenched its fists and prepared to fight.

“Gunners stand by,” Peakard ordered, this was definitely never in the tactical operations manual, not even after those incidents.

The ape looked around with enormous fury.

The confusion on the radio was only eclipsed by the Major's orders:

“Hydra group, fire at will!”

The machine guns immediately began their work.

In Hydra 5 Rain Docker and Thrax were arguing in terror.

“What's that thing?!”

“Keine verdammte idee!”

Twilight just held on to whatever she could.

Bullets rained down on the primate, who only covered his face and roared with even more anger as he spun on his own axis, choosing his next target.

Suddenly he made a great leap and headed towards Hydra 2, hitting it with his fists with tremendous force, the helicopter fell straight to the ground.

Hydra 2 is down.

He beat his chest in a show of strength.

Tailcoatl, inside Hydra 6, watched this with dismay and terror as she heard the helicopter she was in activate its rotary machine gun.

“Don’t go near 'im, you’ll kill us!” she shouted.

“Who said you give the orders?!” Comet Trail replied, adrenaline pumping.

On Hydra 5, Twilight started thinking fast and prepared a spell to try to drive the animal away.

“You have to get us out of here, Peakard, this can't be won,” she said on the radio.

However, her concentration was broken when she saw Hydra 11, the Stallion, next to Hydra 5, was caught by the tail rotor, which injured the primate's hand and caused him to let go of the aircraft.

“Hydra 11, mayday, mayday, mayday, we're going down,” Trotland calls, spinning towards the mountains.

Hydra 11 is down.

As the animal roared with another victory, Peakard continued to give orders:

“Hydra 5, this is Hydra lead, Hydra 2 went down one kilometer north of the river. Deploy recovery team, over.”

Twilight decided to act again this time, creating a shield over the new fallen helicopter.

Hydra 5 immediately deployed one of the gunners who rappelled down and approached the downed aircraft. The alicorn maintained the shield.

“Hydra 5's in sie position. Vee got one going down, over,” Thrax says.

“One injured, needs med–"

Suddenly Twilight's force field was destroyed by the titan's stomp, immediately crushing the helicopter and everything around it. Twilight only felt the blow to her magic and her stomach at what she had seen.

“It crushed them?!” Docker asked, terrified.

Before the primate could turn its attention to Hydra 5, another helicopter flew past, firing at it.

The ape chased after them, also followed by another one behind.

In front of the ape, Hydra 1 was heading straight for the target.

“Kill that damn animal now!” Peakard ordered, as his aircraft’s machine guns fired everything they had.

Suddenly, the creature leapt at them, leaving them behind and revealing Hydra 10 chasing the creature from behind.

The crossfire damaged both aircrafts, who collided head-on and fell into the jungle.

Hydra 1 and 10 crashed violently into the trees.

Hydra 1 and 10 are now down.

From Hydra 6, Tailcoatl watched as the crew of Hydra 8 attempted to rescue their fallen, but heard the primate's roar and turned the other way.

The creature was now heading towards the ground camp.

The soldiers and scientists fled from the enormous 30-meter primate that was approaching them at full speed; several were crushed.

A soldier, fleeing, tried to take shelter behind some boxes. There were several of the expedition, including Jade, Windy, Fluttershy and Spike, who ran as fast as they could.

Those who stayed behind saw the giant's hand sweep the ground, sending them flying.

On Hydra 6, Tailcoatl only watched in horror at the massacre happening down there.

“Hold on,” Comet Trail announces.

“Watch out!” The pegasus announces.

Suddenly, in front of them, a soldier flew out from the ground, it was probably a zebra.

The poor wretch's trajectory was heading straight for Hydra 6's windshield, which crashed savagely into it, cracking the glass, the zebra seemed conscious somehow and yelled.

But he didn't stay there for long, as the wind and inertia did their work, lifting the soldier up onto the roof of the helicopter, towards the propellers.

The sound was metallic and several red particles were seen among the smoke and the loose earth. The alarm began to sound.

Hydra 6 was now falling down.

“Brace for impact!” the Thestral announced.

The Huey crashed into a treetop, creating a huge hole in it, which cushioned the impact a bit.

Utter chaos.

“Hydra 1 ist down, Hydra 5's on its vay. Vee've got you in sight, hold on Major Peakard,” Thrax says.

On Hydra 1, Peakard managed to slip out of his safety belt and climb out of the helicopter's hull. His deer pilot was still alive, trying to free herself.

“Hold on, I’ll help ya,” he says, preparing his combat knife.

Suddenly the helicopter is grabbed by the primate's hands, sending its pilot flying, falling like a ragdoll to her destination while yelling.

Peakard watches in dismay as his underling flies away and the helicopter that was once Hydra 1 gets thrown and hits Hydra 5 directly.

The helicopter carcass flew directly at them.

Twilight was shaken tremendously by the impact, almost falling out of the aircraft, but hanged on.

“Mayday, mayday, mayday, Hydra 5 ist falling,” The changeling announces.

Twilight held on for dear life. The fire and engine alarms were blaring around her.

“Listen, tell me somezing. You love your mom?” the changeling asks, fighting a losing battle for control of his aircraft.

“I love her!” Docker replies, almost crying.

"How musch?"

"A lot!"

Hydra 5 crashed into the jungle.

Meanwhile, the gigantic ape continued its attack, hitting Hydra 8 from above with both fists, making it explode instantly while Hydra 12, the Chinook, passed by.

He manages to grab the huge helicopter by the sides, now with smoke coming out of its engines' overexertion, swinging it like a toy and throwing it at Hydra 7.

Hydra 7 and 12 collided in mid-air.

Hydra 7, 8, and 12 are down.

Peakard watched as the creature mowed down the last of the 3rd Joint Air Assault Company.

Before him he saw how the titan held his last helicopter, Hydra 9, as if it were a toy, from which his soldiers fell to their deaths and he tore the aircraft apart as if the metal were made of paper. His blood boiled with rage.

Hydra 9 is down.

As one of his soldiers told him to leave now, yelling, but Major Phin Peakard listened to no reason or shouts, he just watched in impotent rage as that damned monkey crashed the aircraft into the ground, exploding.

At that moment, Peakard swore revenge at the roar of the victorious ape.

For now.

8. Bamboo.

In the jungle, the mighty jungle, surrounded the group led by Tailcoatl on all sides. With rifle on their shoulders and machete at hoof, they made their way through the dense vegetation, stepping over logs and rocks. They were now slowly descending a slope.

The air was filled with the buzzing of mosquitoes and sounds of creatures that those following her could not recognize.

In the front row, as said, was Tailcoatl, followed by Comet Trail, then Spike and Fluttershy, all with a weapon, except Jade Finder, who was trying to keep up with them.

The shadows of the trees only let a few rays of the mid-afternoon sun filter through to the leafy ground that crunched under their hoofsteps. The humidity was palpable, making the whole place feel like an oven.

“It’s called the ‘Hollow Faust Theory’, Twilight posited that beneath the surface there is a vast ecosystem inhabited by gigantic creatures…” Spike says, looking tired from having already walked several miles. “She was beginning to theorize about this even before Godzilla showed up.”

“That's why we're here, she needed to understand everything better to avoid destruction by these creatures…” Fluttershy added, also breathing raggedly from exhaustion.

“Although I'm not sure if she expected to meet something like that primate, she wanted to corroborate what many of her colleagues at Luna Nova considered nonsense… Even Starlight came to doubt this, even though her work was highly respected,” The purple dragon continued.

“She believed that this island was an exit point for those tunnels under the earth,” —the yellow pegasus added, while their guide listened attentively— “whatever lives down there, comes out through those, ancient species like this one could live there, unnoticed for millennia.”

Suddenly the lush tropical forest receded to give way to a wide, tall grassland that rose higher than their heads.

“This is Comet Trail, can you hear me? Over,” he tried to talk into the radio.

Static.

“Anyone there?” We're going north, to the extraction point. Over.”

Static.

“Everything here is too calmed. Over.”

Static.

“We’re out of range, soldier, leave it for when we get closer to the group,” his guide intervenes.

Their walk through the grassland gave way to a marsh of low grass and reeds. To the right, still grassland, to the left, a lake with floating log and a couples of herons perched on an islet.

Fluttershy took the opportunity to take a few more photos, fascinated by the rugged landscape around them.

The herons squawked and took flight before the island and the tree trunk began to move and rise from the water, alerting the group, who stopped in surprise.

Comet Trail immediately raised his gun, aiming at whatever was moving, Tailcoatl, on the other hoof, remained still.

From the greenish water emerged a huge bovine, almost thirteen meters tall; an extreme case of island gigantism, Fluttershy would say.

The bovine looked like a cross between a western buffalo and a yak, but extremely oversized, and it did not seem to have the reasoning that its evolutionary cousins on the continent have.

His brown fur was greenish due to the different types of moss, algae and aquatic plants that accumulated on his a body during his long days half-submerged in the island's marshes as an amphibious creature; that islet was his hump, pretty good camouflage I dare say.

The animal had enormous horns on its head, forking into three large branches, from which moss and algae hung.

“Comet, put the gun down…” Tailcoatl calmly tells the thestral, who was about to pull the trigger with his hoof, looking extremely tense.

“Calm down, buddy. We won’t do anything to you,” Fluttershy tried to say to the beast that approached them and was less than twenty meters away, staring at them with that cow-like gaze: slow and analytical at the same time.

His bovine growl further tensed Trail, who was on the verge of firing. Fluttershy, meanwhile, continued to direct kind words at the animal.

“Calm down, soldier, no sudden movements…” Tailcoatl told him, slowly approaching the thestral.

The soldier seemed was trembling.

“Shh. Put the gun down,” she said, almost whispering in his ear.

The animal came closer and closer, now less than ten meters away. Comet Trail closed one eye to aim.

The bovine was chewing the cud and was now looking at these new visitors with an inquisitive look. It blew steam from its huge nose and continued to chew the cud.

“Stay still, let's calm down,” Tailcoatl said calmly as she approached the soldier, while Fluttershy smiled at the animal.

Tailcoatl slowly raised an arm, placing her hoof on the barrel of Trail's rifle, who was extremely restless.

“Put your gun down, it's alright.”

The nervous thestral slowly complied with this order as his guide continued to tap the barrel with her hoof.

Fluttershy, now calm, took a couple of photos of that majestic bovine specimen.

The animal, calm and ruminant, softened its inquisitive gaze and slowly turned around, turning its back on them to continue with its day back in the water.

The group was finally able to let out a breath in relief.

Fluttershy said goodbye to the animal before the group continued on their way.

The shovel dug into the pile of loose earth, next to it a large mound containing several pilots and soldiers' helmets and two pairs of boots each, but not their rifles, those will be useful.

The minute of silence is over.

“These soldiers, our friends, did not die here in vain,” Peakard told the small contingent accompanying him in the impromptu funeral rites for their comrades, paying them their last respects; Twilight and Windy Claw watched from a distance, thoughtful.

“And I swear by Aris, that their deaths will not go unavenged,” The Major announced, causing his soldiers to look at him somewhat doubtfully.

Major Phin Peakard put his campaign cap back on.

“We needa find Trotland and the ammo, let's go.”

The thick jungle has now given way to a lush bamboo forest. A labyrinth of tall stems rustling in the wind, disturbing to say the least.

Peakard and Twilight at the head of the formation, scattered among the tall, thin green and yellow stems.

Behind them, the soldiers, with weapons drawn and pointing in all directions, looking up and down.

“Feel a whole lot like the place we just left,” Zash interjects.

“What do you mean?” Windy Claw says, almost whispering, his heart was deeply terrified by this place.

“Naugdaw, into crap.”

“I don’t belong here” —the hippogriff said, even more restless— “I’m a civilian.”

The zebra paused for a moment and turned to the hippogriff.

“Y'know what a civilian is, Mr. Claw?” He said, taking the second rifle from his back and handing it to him. “Just a soldier without a gun.”

The hippogriff took the rifle without a word as the zebra walked away.

“Great, I’m a civilian with a gun.” As he analyzes the AR rifle in his claws, resuming his pace. “This thing even shoot?”

“Sure zing,” Thrax said, whispering to himself.

The green camouflage helmets blended in perfectly with their surroundings, some had written messages, others had mesh over them, and one or two had an ornament.

The group meandered through the stems, birds singing in the background, creating an echo among the bamboo.

“You ever heard sie story of sie mouse, ze lion, und sie thorn?” the changeling asked his hippogriff companion.

"Yeah."

“Zere you know that, in case vee see ze primate again.”

“You do know that the story is about the mouse making friends with the lion because he took the thorn out of his paw, right?"

“Nein…” Thrax says, stopping. “Sie maus kills sie lion vith sie thorn.”

Rain Docker stared at him confounded, swatting a mosquito on his cheek.

“Who told you that?”

“Mein hive's queen,” he said seriously, resuming his pace.

Docker stared at him a few seconds more, and resumed his pace.

“That actually explains a lot.”

Suddenly the birdsong fell silent, leaving the place in a deathly silence.

The forest was now silent.

A soldier, a unicorn, opened his canteen and began to drink from it, looking up. But he saw something terrifying.

The sound was swift, like an arrow striking the ground at terminal velocity. The canteen fell to the ground, spilling the precious liquid inside.

Everyone heard it and slowly turned back.

Twilight turned around too and her stomach sank at the sight.

The soldier had been impaled from snout to neck by a bamboo stalk, his body motionless, a look of terror in his lifeless eyes still there.

Windy Claw turned green with nausea, while Twilight, containing herself, looked up, following the bamboo stalk that had stuck into the ground.

Seven meters above the ground was a huge, colossal arachnid that emitted a clicking sound that reminded the alicorn a lot to Manehattan.

Eight long legs that raise an enormous cephalothorax, eight eyes, small capillaries and two large extremities, pincers.

Her heart began to beat faster.

They all saw the same thing above their heads, bewildered and terrified by it.

Suddenly the impaled soldier rose slightly from the ground as the trunk of that bamboo rose and pulled out what was once his spinal nerve, trachea and jaw, leaving him inert on the leafy ground.

That was definitely not a bamboo.

Suddenly the spider's legs began to stomp here and there, putting everyone on alert, trying to avoid the arthropod's sharp limbs.

Confusion spread like wildfire, and therefore, chaos.

They all zigzagged, avoiding the legs.

Thrax was the first to fire his AK rifle, a souvenir from Naugdaw, at the creature above his head.

Twilight casts a few spells as well, but this only enraged the creature, who was now screeching.

Anyone with a gun shot at the spider.

The spider continued to attack, sending out tentacles that attached themselves to Rain Docker's uniform, quickly lifting him off the ground.

Zash tried to take him, but it was too late, he was already too high.

Writhing, the hippogriff pulled out his combat knife and desperately began to cut away at the tentacles climbing up him.

“Hold on!” Thrax said, pointing at the tentacles, but it was either hit the tentacles or hit his friend. He chose not to.

"Ich cannot get a shot!"

Docker looked at the arthropod's pincers and fangs that came closer, he cut off everything he could, but remained stuck.

On the ground, Thrax kept trying to shoot at those tentacles, but it was in vain; however, he saw the spider's leg move next to him and he had an idea.

“Cut ze legs! Cut zem off!”

They quickly unsheathed their machetes and knives, Twilight continued trying to hit the target with the spells between the trees.

One severed leg after another, bleeding a viscous liquid, the spider lost its balance, but continued to attack, launching its legs like arrows at the creatures below.

Zash leapt towards and narrowly avoided one of the limbs, but it rose again and lunged at him.

He managed to dodge it as well, taking out his machete and cutting it with a clean blow.

Docker watched as the claws and fangs of this thing came towards him.

Leg after leg was cut off.

Desperate, he managed to free himself from the tentacles with his knife, falling to the ground hard, but still alive.

The soldiers then fired again at the cephalothorax, and also at the opisthosoma, wounding the arachnid.

The insect bled out, dripping a reddish, viscous liquid onto Docker below.

The spider collapsed to the ground, Docker got moved from the spot by his changeling companion just in time.

“Hab dich!”

The spider's belly hit the floor first, then its cephalothorax.

The eight-eyed red creature makes clicking noises and tries to move, but without its legs it doesn't get very far.

Peakard came up from the side and pulled out his gun and with eyes full of rage fired five bullets into the arthropod's head, finishing it off once and for all.

It was over.

The grassland outside the bamboo forest was quiet, everyone present was quiet and thoughtful, most probably traumatized.

Docker, one eye red from an ocular hemorrhage, looked up at the sky, exhausted. The hippogriff was tired, and viscous.

Thrax, the changeling, still bruised and cut with his green blood, removed his helmet and turned to the ground and sighed in relief as he put his hooves on his head and meditated.

Zash, with uncertainty in his expression, looked at his Major while sitting in the tall grass.

Twilight's nausea had subsided, but she could never get that image out of her head, she sat for a while with a thousand-yard stare.

She wanted to go for her friends, she wanted so much to go and find them, but remembered that, in this jungle is a death sentence to walk alone.

She could just hope and pray they were OK, hopefully Tailcoatl is guiding them.

Peakard, a veteran of a thousand battles, was already accustomed to this, he was just standing there letting them rest for a minute, his only thought was revenge right now.

The alicorn's thoughts were interrupted by the Major.

“Snap it, let's move,” he announced.

9. Secrets of the Past.

The grasslands have given way to thick jungle again, Tailcoatl, leading the way again, making their way.

“Don’t separate,” she announces to her group of survivors.

The humid afternoon atmosphere continues to create an oven, mosquitoes and all kinds of strange insects surround them.

Suddenly Tailcoatl stops dead, and so do those following her.

“What the Tartarus is this?” Comet Trail asks.

With amazement they can see among the undergrowth and trees stacked rocks, not just stacked, but creating a wall that transforms into a semi-collapsed semicircular arch.

It is an old entrance.

“Ruins… just like the ancient temples in Ayacachtli or Tenochtitlan,” Tailcoatl said, entering through the arch without the central voussoirs. "But simpler."

Before them lies a vast collection of ancient buildings, a fascinating display of architecture, remnants of a once flourishing civilization that Fluttershy couldn't pass up without taking a photo.

Creepers and moss hang from the stone walls and monoliths, but there are also numerous carved and yellow-coloured stones.

The air is filled with mystery, the ruins look old, but not that old for some reason.

The strange symbols on these stones are seen everywhere.

Fluttershy pointed her camera at one of the symbols to take a photo.

Her heart jumped as eyes opened from the glyph, staring piercingly at her.

With a scream she almost dropped the camera.

Suddenly, dozens of equines emerged from the ruins. Their stripes perfectly resembled zebras, but their colors made them blend in perfectly with the surroundings of the jungle and those ruins.

Their striped fur was stony and greenish in color, and they were all armed with metal-tipped spears.

The group's cries of confusion were immediate, forming a circle as these equines surrounded them. They were greatly outnumbered.

“Back off, back off!” shouted those with a gun at the zebras staring at them, closing the encirclement.

They were completely silent, but staring at them menacingly.

“No, no, no, no,” Tailcoat, equally startled, told her group, trying to calm them down. “Don’t shoot.”

The natives were so close that if they had taken one more step, they would have fired.

Suddenly, from the other side of the ruins, a group of more zebras enter and stare at them.

Comet Trail was about to pull the trigger, Tailcoatl also aimed at the one who looked like the leader of the group.

Spike pumped the shotgun.

“Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow!” shouted a stranger as he pushed his way through the zebras.

Everyone turned to see how a hippogriff emerged from the group of zebras.

“No! There is no need, gentlecreatures,” he announced.

In front of them was a hippogriff in a military uniform that was a little too small for him, with a bomber jacket and a cap with the Hippogriffian symbol. He looked to be about forty years old or older.

“Everyone, keep your wigs on!”

Everyone looked at him in disbelief.

“Let’s not make a fuss, shall we?” he said reassuringly.

“What?” Comet Trail asked.

“I didn’t believe it when they told me you were coming. I spent the whole morning thinking about how Dusk and I dreamed of this moment happening. And now you’re here.”

The group lowered their weapons a bit.

“Twenty-two years, four months, and eight failed attempts to return to the world…” he said, a smile appearing on his face, gesticulating with his claws. “And now the world comes to me? What a crack…”

With a humble laugh he turned to look at the natives who did not move an inch, “They never smile.”

“Did you crash here?” Fluttershy asked, fascinated.

“Oh, excuse me, miss.” The hippogriff immediately stood to attention and saluted. “Lieutenant Sky Cluster, 12th Fighter Wing of Her Majesty Queen Novo’s Royal Navy Air Force, my pleasure.”

He took a break and continued with his conversation.

“I even put on my uniform for you guys,” Sky Cluster laughed a bit more.

Fluttershy looked at him curiously.

“You guys are more beautiful than a tuna sandwich and a beer, at Taloncaster Stadium, on opening day,” the hippogriff told them, pantomiming a sandwich and a glass with his claws, staring at his imaginary food with nostalgia and longing.

“But you guys are real…” He said, closing his claws. “Right?”

Everyone looked at him with curiosity and confusion, except the natives, who didn't even flinch.

Sky Cluster turned to his fellow zebras, “Told ya, didn’t I? I told you. It’s okay.”

The natives, unfazed, looked a little calmer and lowered their spears.

“That’s it, calm down," the hippogriff said.

“There’s something out there in the jungle, dude,” Comet Trail tells the hippogriff nervously.

“Oh, there’s a lot of stuff out there.”

Everyone looked at him with caution and relief.

“Come on, we have to go home…” He said with a smile. “You don’t want to be here at night, do you?”

Lieutenant Nick Trotland continued to explore its perimeter, coming across an idyllic lake between the cliffs.

His heart was filled with relief as he looked at the scenery and sat down on a rock on the shore. The lake was serene, surrounded by tall trees and green cliffs covered by a light mist.

He looked around, but there weren't many landmarks to guide him. He didn't notice the waves forming in the middle of this body of water.

Calmly, he placed his rifle on the sides of the rock, walked into the water up to his knees and took out his canteen; and filled it from the lake. The water did not look very clean or crystal clear, but it was the best there was.

Dipping his hooves into the water, he raised enough water to clean his wounds, especially on his head.

The blood diluted by the vital liquid fell down his cheeks so that it could be cleaned by him.

Suddenly he heard something creak and turned towards the green cliffs surrounding the lake, making a blind spot behind the corner.

It was the sound of trees creaking, putting him on alert again.

Suddenly, from behind the cliff, a huge ape emerged, walking on two legs in water that reached the titan's knees.

Trotland looked at the huge animal, which for the moment had its back turned to him.

He admire the titanic ape.

Suddenly she turned towards him and advanced, making him run and hide behind the rock on the shore.

But the primate did not notice him, he only looked around and contemplated his wounds. He touched a serious wound on his arm and grimaced in pain.

The ape then crouched down closer to the water and continued to look at the wound on his right arm. He then raised his right hand and saw the cuts on his palm.

Nick Trotland looked at the animal in amazement from his cover.

After roaring lightly in pain, he looked back down, the lake water reflecting his massive body.

The primate touched the water with his finger before dipping his left hand into it, creating waves.

He brought his hand to his mouth and began to drink the water as the excess fell like a waterfall from his palm.

The primate drank it for a while.

Suddenly his inquisitive eyes opened again to see something staring into the water.

He stopped drinking and with his other hand he lunged at something in the water.

Trotland took cover behind the rock again.

The primate grabbed something and pulled it with all his might. Trotland didn't see what it was, but the thing was screeching aggressively.

A tentacle emerged from the water, then another and another, and the primate was immediately surrounded by several. He struggled.

The squid's limbs wrap around the ape's body as it continues to struggle and roar furiously.

As he pulled at the tentacles and arms, his attacker's body rose from the water, revealing the massive cephalopod holding him. The squid screamed.

The animal suddenly stomped furiously on the cephalopod's body, releasing a lot of ink accompanied by a higher-pitched screech.

The arms and tentacles around the biped loosened, allowing it to break free, tearing one of its limbs free.

A piece of tentacle flew towards Trotland, who shielded himself behind the rock.

Suddenly the ape calms down, sitting back down.

The little pony peeks out from his hiding place to see the titan tear off pieces of his new prey and eat them like spaghetti.

With awe and terror, he realized the magnitude and brutality of the island, it was a majestic and ominous sight at the same time.

The primate continued to devour his new meal, savoring the seafood until he stood up once more.

The primate turned around and turned its back on Trotland, dragging the squid along with it.

The pony just stared at the ominous animal going away.

The party now followed the banks of the river, guided by the hippogriff and his native companions.

As they turn around a bend in the river, a huge wooden wall reveals itself before them, several stories high, protecting something between the two walls of the enormous cliff.

“You must have noticed a lot of strange things on this island,” Sky told them, leading the group through one of the small entrances in the wall into a village of thatched roofs, wooden walls, and linen cloth. “As long as we stay here where the zebras live, we’ll be fine.”

They crossed the river towards some piers that gave entrance to the village on the banks of the river.

Spike looked back at the wall, tall, imposing, made of massive logs, some with sharp points pointing outwards along their length. The jungle around them was filled with a cacophony of creature sounds, they felt watched.

“That wall… Is it supposed to keep that thing out?” the dragon asks.

“Nah, he’s not the one they want to leave out,” the hippogriff said, walking again.

“What?” Jade said, falling in step.

“These zebras still live in an era long before us, and it seems they will continue to live like this for centuries to come.” Sky Cluster told them, passing between the zebras going about their daily business: cooking, saddlery, textiles, carpentry, construction, fishing; but everyone stopped what they were doing to see the strange creatures arriving.

Their well-known winged lion-horse, accompanied by three equines with similar colors, two with wings, one with a horn, a purple lizard with wings, and a bluish equine with bat wings. Definitely outsiders.

“There is no crime, no private property,” the hippogriff tells them, as the crowd surrounds them. “They are beyond all that.”

In front of them were two zebras, male and female, elderly, they were definitely the patriarch and matriarch of the village, with different colors in their stripes and different ritual paint; behind them were more warriors.

Sky Cluster approached them with his wings spread and a gentle smile.

The old zebras looked at him for a few seconds, then nodded and left.

“Thank you, thank you,” Sky told them, whispering and nodding.

He turned to them.

“Good news, they say you can camp here.”

Tailcoatl looked dumbfounded and tried to keep up with her guide hippogriff.

“I didn’t hear them say anything.”

“Ah, they don’t talk much, but when you live here for so long, you start to understand. You’ll see.”

Suddenly Jade Finder stands in Sky's way.

“Listen, wait a minute. We can’t stay here, we have to leave the island…” He tells them desperately. “We have life, I... I have life out there.”

“Jade, now is not the time,” Tailcoatl interrupts, calming him down.

“What comes here, usually stays here, my friend,” Sky replies with a smile in his face.

They continued walking until they came upon a huge ship stranded in the marshes surrounding the village. On its bow the words ERNS Colton could still be seen.

It was a cargo ship, rusted metal, corroded paint, vines and moss were what made it up now. Parts of the metal had fallen off, revealing the metal structure of the hull.

“As far as I know, this ship ran aground here ten years before I arrived, I presume their civilization advanced to the Iron Age with this gift from their gods,” Sky said, cheerfully.

“You've been here since 1012?!” Fluttershy asks, amazed.

“Yep.”

As they approached the metal frame, they entered through one of the holes in the ship.

“Hey, what happened to the war? Did we win?”

“Which one of them?” Comet asks.

“Typical… The North Zebrican one?”

“Oh, yes. They won it.”

“Really? Against the three countries? Wow! How?”

“It’s… It’s a long story actually,” Tailcoatl tells him.

“Meh… We’ll have time.”

The ship appears to have been repurposed as a temple, Sky led them through the corridors to what was once the ship's cargo hold.

“This is sacred ground for them, if you value their hooves, don’t touch anything.”

Before them was a large open space inside the ship, light provided by torches on a pole and gaps in the metal plating.

Sky Cluster took off his cap and walked respectfully through the temple.

“Wow,” Fluttershy said, whispering.

“Twilight would've loved this,” Spike added.

In front of them stood another elderly zebra, probably the priest of this sacred place and his assistants. Unfazed, they took the lead of the column of visitors.

The zebras that were silently praying there stood up and gave them way.

On the sides of his path were numerous rocks stuck in the ground together, but at different distances, each one painted white which together created an entire image.

In the first group of rocks there was an image of several equine figures with spears, surrounded by two large lizard heads with sharp teeth that were trying to devour them, all surrounded by incomprehensible glyphs.

“The zebras on this island lived in terror for thousands of years,” Sky Cluster said, beginning his speech. “That’s a long time to be afraid.”

On the other side was another set of stones that formed the image of zebras praising what looked like a great ape.

“And one day the strangest thing happened” —the hippogriff continued— “some of the things they were afraid of began to protect them from the things that would eat them.”

Another set of rocks gave the image of probably the same ape kneeling before two skeletons of its own species, its expression denoting sadness and mourning.

“But I guess nothing lasts forever.”

The group looked at the images with admiration and amazement.

In front of them, occupying the whole wall, was a large group of stones that formed the image of an enormous ape being worshipped and protected by equine figures with spears in formation around it.

“This is where they honor the last of their saviors.”

Everyone watched in fascination at the magnanimous image of the ape, as Sky approached the foot of the altar.

Everyone turns to look at their new guide.

“Yes… He is Kong. He is the king here, a God for these equines.”

Lieutenant Cluster began to walk among them, almost in a trance. The others just fell silent and gave him their full attention.

“Kong is a good king,” he says, pointing at Tailcoatl. “He tends to keep to himself. This is his home, we are his guests.”

Sky steps back in front of the group and looked disappointed, pointing at the them.

“And you don't go to someone's house to throw bombs unless you're looking for a fight.”

Everyone felt a bit ashamed.

“And wasn’t it Kong who killed your friend?” Fluttershy asks, uncomfortably.

Cluster's expression turned stern.

“No,” he replied, pointing to a group of rocks. “One of them killed him.”

The group of rocks gave the image of a huge animal, lizard-skulled, walking on its only two legs, a large stocky body and a long tail, decorated with sharp serrated teeth and claws. Parts of its body seemed to be made of bone, others were pure muscle; or so it could be seen from the monochrome image, a white silhouette.

“Kong is a god on the island, but demons live below.”

Fear filled their hearts at the sight of such a horrible creature.

“What are their names?” Tailcoatl asks.

Sky turned his eyes to see his fellow zebras and back at the group.

“The Iwis don’t say their name, but I call them Skullcrawlers,” he said, almost whispering

A brief silence.

“Why?” Tailcoatl asks.

“Because it sounds threatening… Plus, it has my initials on it.”

The group did not look very convinced.

“Hey, I just made up the name, it was to scare you.”

“You got me,” Fluttershy said, shivering.

“Well, it's a good name, I can't deny it,” Spike said.

“Well, I’ve never said it out loud before, I know, it sounds ridiculous,” the hippogriff replies.

He shook his head, while every creature was trying to reassure him of the coolness the name.

“Listen, call them whatever you like, okay?”

Sky returned to his stern expression again.

“Those damned, dirty lizards. They come from the caves, from the depths, that's why Kong got angry! Your bombs woke these things up... Y'know what? If he'd not been around, you wouldn't have gotten this far. They're clever, savage monsters.”

Cluster approached Tailcoatl, who listened to him attentively with a neutral expression.

“And he can handle them as long as he finds them small. Just don’t wake up the biggest one,” he said, pointing with his claw.

“And what size is it?” Fluttershy asked, shivering at the thought.

“Huge, really huge. He killed his entire family.”

Comet and Jade watched this with concern.

“Kong is the last one left, but he's still growing. And let's hope so, because the Iwis say that when Kong dies, the biggest one will rise to the surface.” He continued, now looking at the main altar.

Tailcoatl turned to look at the natives, all with neutral expressions, unchanging.

“And we'll all be bucked up if that happens... heh, heh.”

Then the golden-collared pegasus turns back to Sky, and approached him.

“Listen, a resupply team will arrive on the north side of the island in two days.”

“You should come with us,” Fluttershy continues.

“On the north side of the island?”

“Yes,” Tailcoatl replies, as the hippogriff begins to laugh in her face.

“Two days?” he says, laughing out loud.

They both laughed condescendingly, while Sky patted her harder and harder and the pegasus of Tenochtitlan returned to a serious expression.

“You won’t get to the north side in three days,” he says, no longer laughing as he walks away. “Two days. Impossible. No, there’s no way.”

They all felt these words hit their hearts.

Sky walked a few steps away and remembered something, then turned around again.

“At least not on hooves.”

10. The Gray Fox.

The green, swampy waters reached their chests, mosquitoes and leeches prowled in these waters, water lilies and algae clung to their bodies and uniforms; there was the group led by Peakard, in search of their leader's right-claw pony.

Their slow walk comes to a complete stop when the Major stops at the edge of the swamp, Thrax, second in line, signals to stop with his arm to those following him.

Phin Peakard raised his M14 rifle and looked through the scope.

In front of him was a lonely tree in the swamp, with scattered leaves, and unknown growls coming from it.

The hippogriff calibrated his sights and saw a kind of bird, more similar to a pterodactyl, like those found in museums, than to a real bird; bat wings, a snout with protruding teeth, and a long, serrated nose; grey, blue and yellow colours and sinister eyes.

“What an ugly-ass bird,” Peakard said to himself, before taking aim again.

The bird continued to look around before its head was disintegrated with a loud bang.

The bird's screech made all the leaves on the tree, or rather, all the birds in the tree, fly away in a flock, growling and roaring.

These birds flew over the group, and they were able to see their horrible features and were horrified.

“Dear Moonlight…” —Zash said— “Tartarus exists.”

So Peakard lowered his rifle and walked on, the others keeping pace with him.

“And monsters do exist,” Docker said quietly. “Under the bed and the ones who brought us here.”

Twilight, hearing the conversation, felt those words.

“Please, Docker,” the zebra answers. “It seems like—”

"Seems like what? Like he wants to go kill the monkey instead of getting us off the island? Yes, it does... and we're not going to get there on time," said the hippogriff, dismayed.

“Where?” Zash asks, indifferent.

“To the extraction point. We've gotta get there in less than two or three days.”

“Vee'll get zere, don't vorry,” the changeling answers, to which the zebra responds.

“Wait Thrax, what if Trotland–”

“If Peakard said he’s zere, he’s zere, period,” the orange-eyed changeling said sharply, gesturing to continue walking.

So they continued their walk reluctantly.

At the docks beside the village, Sky Cluster guided his companions towards the shore.

“We were close to making it work, Dusk and I were going to take it out to sea to try to get back… until one of those ate him.”

They stopped beside the small pier.

“There it is,” he announced to his group.

In front of them was a boat, or what looked like one, a chimera of multiple parts: wooden hull and keel, wings and ailerons of airplanes with Aris and crescent Moon signs still distinguishable on them; at the bow, reminiscent of what was a bomber's ball turret; while in the center was what appeared to be the bomber's cockpit. A fantastic piece of improvised engineering.

Tailcoatl admired the Frankenstein boat for several seconds.

“Well, it’s neat,” she said.

The others didn't look so convinced.

Sky looked at her, then at his creation, “I know, right? She's a beauty."

The cockpit of the craft still contained much of its avionics and piloting equipment, the archaic levers, the steering wheel based on the bomber's steering wheel, adorned with a baseball; a complete bomber cockpit, except it was just the shell and the instruments.

“Does this thing even floats?” Comet Trail asks.

“Well, my friend and I spent more than six years building it,” said the hippogriff proudly. “It’s called The Gray Fox, and of course it floats.”

Moving to the back, Sky placed his hand proudly over the heart of his boat, a Prance & Whinney R-2800 Double Wasp, eighteen-cylinder radial engine mated to a Colts-Royce Griffon.

Like a proud father, he caressed the metal plate of the chimera engine, turning the tip where the propeller would be.

“We took parts from my Hellcat and from his Moonfire,” he said, as the others looked on curiously. “And one day we found a B-17 on the beach, it was like a miracle.”

“You must be joking,” Jade interjects. “It looks like it’s made out of tetanus!”

Sky Cluster stepped away from the engine and faced the New Marelander unicorn.

“Sir, I know it’s not pretty, but with a couple of extra hooves we can fix it up, and if you can’t think of anything better, gentlecreatures, let’s get to work.”

Tailcoatl, Spike and Comet already looked convinced.

“Okay, let's do this,” said the pegasus.

Fluttershy prepares a new roll of film in her camera and strolls through the village. The native zebras are friendly, but stoic and silent as ever.

She takes photos here and there, warriors with spears, cooks at work, fisherzebras, weavers, farmers, etc.

Although silent and expressionless, a slight, modest smile could be seen on their faces, bringing comfort to the yellow pegasus.

She even let them see her camera and use it cautiously.

Somehow, they managed to understand each other without words, and they got together to take a photo of the entire tribe.

The shy pegasus took a photo to remember, all saluting according to her visual instructions, with the left hoof up.

Suddenly a sound reached her ears, a cry for help, according to the tone. It was inevitable that her attention would be drawn to it. It sounded like a cow and came from outside the walls.

She cautiously and curiously approached the small entrance that the wall has in it, the inhabitants followed her, but did not accompany her when she ventured outside.

She stepped through the entrance into the hostile outside world, seeing the huge, sharpened logs that protected the wall from intruders trying to climb it.

She followed the sound for a few meters until she saw the creature.

It was a giant buffalo, although this one looks juvenile, trapped under the tail and fuselage of a downed Huey helicopter, bellowing for help; it had probably been there for hours.

“Oh no, poor thing. I’ll help you out,” said the pegasus, calmly and measuredly.

Fluttershy tried to push, pull and lift the tail of the aircraft with all her might, but it was useless, the aircraft barely lifted a few inches.

The animal's face showed desperation and help, but Fluttershy couldn't move it.

Suddenly the helicopter suddenly lifted off, rising high enough for the animal to stand up and bellow in relief.

Fluttershy took a few steps back in shock at seeing what had picked up the helicopter.

In front of her stood Kong, towering over her, helicopter in hand, growling and staring straight at her.

The little pony was frozen in panic.

But the titan dropped the fuselage, which crashed meters away from her, causing even more sparks and smoke.

Kong just stared at her, his gaze inquisitive.

Seconds felt like hours.

Finally, the titan turned around and went back the way he came, letting her breathe a sigh of relief.

Major Phin Peakard led his soldiers across the marsh in the scorching afternoon heat. All around were rugged cliffs, rivers and grass.

The single file moved west, Twilight was in the middle of the group.

Surveying his surroundings, the Major saw that a huge primate handprint had been marked with dried blood on a cliff. Peakard stopped in his tracks and turned to see the mark in all its grandeur.

“Wow, you see that?” —he points with his rifle— “It does bleed.”

Everyone stopped to look at the mark, awed by its magnitude.

“It was us,” he says, determined. “Let’s find Trotland, there’s enough ammo on the fallen Stallion and finish off the ape.”

Peakard turned and resumed his march, the others followed him.

Twilight stared at the hand for a few more moments, admiring the intrinsic beauty of this mark. “It’s magnificent.”

“Do you know vhy I use this one, instead of the M16?” Thrax tells her, standing beside the alicorn, showing him the AK in his possession. “Ich took it from a peasant who vas vith Talarayi, he surrendered vhen vee razed his village, he vas like fifty years old and had never seen a weapon until vee arrived.”

Twilight was intrigued by the little story the changeling told her.

“Sometimes the enemy doesn’t exist until vee look for it,” the soldier said, resuming his pace and leaving the alicorn behind.

“And what will happen if he knocks on the door?”

“Ich'll still have his gun,” he replies indifferently, raising the assault rifle above his head.

Twilight became thoughtful before resuming her pace.

Comet Trail joined some wires together, making electrical contact that managed to slightly activate the engine's spark plugs.

Rusty screws, orange chains, and rotten metal marked the surroundings of The Grey Fox.

“OK, we have forty-eight hours to get to the north coast,” Tailcoatl announces. “Trail, do you know what you’re doing?”

“Of course, my father has a mechanic cutie-mark, if I don’t fix this, he’ll disinherit me.” The thestral says, rising his head from inside the ship’s hull. “If he ever sees me again…”

“Wait a second, Miss Mercenary, Stalliongrad was an ally of Equestria… And now they’re actually at war?” Sky turns to Tailcoatl, confused. “And the Empire? And why are we in the UPA now? Is Novo still there?”

The Griffin Empire, well, is still the same, just consolidated; Aris joined the UPA to finish off Chrysalis… Novo retired and now Skystar is there… and between Stalliongrad, Equestria and the Empire, well, it's more of a cold war what's going on right now.” The pegasus answers.

“Well, I already imagined that Her Majesty would retire sooner or later and… a Cold War? Do they rest in the summer?”

Tailcoatl stares at him, trying to think of a response to that, while Jade Finder meditates at the stern of the boat until Sky speaks to him.

“What about the hoofball World Cup? Did Aris win?”

“The Hippos?” —Comet intervenes— “they haven’t even reached the quarter-finals. Actually, have they ever won?”

“They are my national team, where are you from, boy?”

“Fillydelphia, Equestria.”

“Oh, of course, have the foals won any cups? Yeah, I doubt it.”

“Yes, in fact, a couple of times, at this year’s World Cup and the one before last.”

“Yeah, of course,” the veteran said sarcastically.

“And who wins in a fight, a pony or a hippogriff?” the batpony asks, rising his head again.

“The pony, just for his magic.”

Comet Trail nodded in victory and went back to his business.

“Yes, because the pony is small, and must have some sort of magic, but if the hippogriff takes it to the water, he wins by a hair.” Sky says with all the confidence in the world.

The batpony just nodded condescendingly.

“It’s obvious, isn’t it? Checkmate!”

Tailcoatl and Spike, repairing their parts, just had fun with the conversation.

“And we also sent a pony to the Moon,” Jade Finder added, thoughtfully.

“Really?” —said the hippogriff, looking up at the sky— “so what? They left him there? I thought only Celestia can do that… So what did that poor bastard did to deserve it?”

“Nothing, we sent him up there for science, it was only thanks to the magic of it that he achieved it,” said the unicorn, looking up.

Sky preferred not to give the matter any further thought, and resumed his work.

“Hurry up, guys, we're running out of daylight,” says Tailcoatl.

The forest of white trees surrounded Trotland on all sides, the whiteness and tranquility of the place gave him the shivers. What an oppressive atmosphere.

He stuck his knife into a tree trunk and left hanging the belt containing the letter to his wife and son back in New Mareland, pistol and ammunition. He sat down on a fallen tree trunk.

“Hydra Leader, this is Trotland, over.” He tried to get through the radio, but got nowhere.

Static.

“Hydra Leader, this is Trotland, anyone there? Over.”

Static.

Resigned, he turned down the radio and looked around.

“My dear Will, sometimes life kicks you more than it should,” he said to himself.

He left the radio on the trunk and went to rest.

Suddenly the trunk moved and his heart skipped a beat. He jumped, and rolled a few meters and stood up.

In front of him, the trunk came to life, sprouting six legs and a insectoid head. It walked towards him slowly.

Trotland, terrified, grabbed his rifle and fired ten shots, stopping the giant insect before him.

The animal just squealed in confusion, looked at him, hid its head and turned around, walking away.

“Damn bug, I almost had a heart attack,” he said to himself, sighting in relief.

Suddenly he heard a guttural sound behind him… It was a growl. His heart sank.

He turned around and immediately saw a huge lizard on two legs and a long tail, its head looked like a skull with lots very sharp teeth lunging at him.

The last thing he saw was the jaws of the beast approaching at unimaginable speeds. Then nothing, it was all black, he felt nothing.

The surrounding ground was splattered with drops of blood and the forest fell deathly silent.

Night fell on Skull Island. The only light was the equatorial lights in the sky and the torchlight from the village and a room in the superstructure of the wrecked ship.

The walls of the cabin are filled with drawings of Kong, words and glyphs, a mix of Chiropterra and Hippogriffia customs could be seen in the rusted walls, as well as an entire wall marked with vertical and diagonal lines, all marking the days that passed. A total of 8,045 days passed.

Comet Trail put on a rock music cassette with his radio and started playing, so to speak, with a native spear.

“And whose music is that? What happened to jazz, Vera Mane?” the veteran asked.

“You’re like a time traveler, just that this is the new vibe,” the batpony replied, making movements with his new found deadly toy.

Sky Cluster tried to get ready for when he left, using a piece of mirror to see his reflection, a hippogriff with more than forty years of life, half of them spent on a uncharted island in the middle of Aris-knows-where. Around him walked Jade, interrogating him.

“I don’t know if I’ll like what I’ll see after shaving…” Sky said to himself.

“I hope that thing you call a boat will take us upriver in thirty-six hours, because if the window closes… we’ll have to row against the current, Mr. Sky,” said the unicorn, worried.

Meanwhile, Spike was looking through Twilight's notes that he still had with him, trying to convince himself that all these years of research were worth it. His mind wandered between the idea that his friend and adoptive sister had probably already been eaten, crushed, or sickened in this hellish corner of the world, and the idea that he hoped she was with Peakard, sane and alive.

He didn't blame her for anything either, he knew the risks and he wanted to come too, he would never abandon her, much less for a discovery as vital as this one. He was as involved with the titans as she always was.

With his mind wandering here and there, he settled down for sleep and lay down on the makeshift bed he managed to piece together from leaves and branches.

Meanwhile, Sky continued talking to Jade.

“I don’t know when I’m talking and when I’m not,” he said, smiling.

“You are,” Jade replies.

"Really?"

"Yeah."

“Am I talking?”

"Yes."

“Your mouth moves.”

"Sorry?" Jade said, confounded.

“I’m going to stab you at midnight, boy” he said, smiling evilly.

“Really?” the pony said, worried.

Sky just laughed, “Just horsing around… Unless…”

As the hippogriff and the unicorn tried to understand each other, Tailcoatl entered the cabin and passed by the batpony practicing his martial moves. He approached a large opening where Fluttershy was, who had set up her camera on a tripod, looking up to the equatorial lights.

“How paradoxical that the most dangerous places are the most dangerous, isn’t it?” the pegasus of Tenochtitlan tells her.

“Indeed… I'd love to take a long exposure photo, but the flash broke.”

“Ah, I know... Use this,” said the pegasus, taking a lighter out of her saddlebag.

The device the gold-colored pegasus had had a golden horse skull and a painted gem engraved on it.

“Doctor Caballeron’s insignia?” the shy pegasus asked curiously.

“It was his. When he was arrested back in 1010, those of us who escaped capture and scattered, I have been to many places since then, but this lighter has never left me since then.”

“Yes, Twilight told me about you, your whole history,” the pegasus said, bringing the flame closer to the shutter.

“I was a mercenary for Zalathel Zarca, Hira Ramachan, Akida Bomboko, then the UPA and now I am on this island… I guess I've gotten used to war and dangerous situations."

“Do you have family?”

“No… not that I know of… That reminds me that your friend told me that we go to war searching something… It seems I'm still trying to find it."

"You'll do," the other pegasus answered.

They looked up to the colorful night sky.

The equatorial auroras shone brightly in the clear night sky above the soldiers, gathered around a campfire, some sleeping, some standing guard.

“Docker, stop vasting time and vatch ze perimeter,” Thrax said to his companion, returning to rest a bit from his guard.

The hippogriff immediately stands up, and silently takes his position.

Meanwhile, Peakard sits, contemplating the small fire they managed to make. The flames illuminated his eyes.

Twilight slowly approached him and sat in front of him.

He didn't mind her, the fire reflected in his irises.

“Major Peakard…” —said the alicorn— “this mission to the downed helicopter… it’s madness. I understand your desire to find the Lieutenant, but I fear the rest of your ideas...”

Peakard watched, almost mesmerized, the fire and then turned to look at the princess.

“If you don’t like the way I do things, you know where the exit door is, Princess. You set this off when you put the island on the map and I’m not running away.”

Twilight looked at him worriedly.

“I know an enemy when I see one.”

11. Dangers of Skull Island.

August 15th, 1034 ALB, Skull Island, Turquoise Sea.

Dawn breaks on the inhospitable Skull Island, the first rays of Celestia's Sun peek out from between the high mountains and the jungle around the huts of the Iwis, who begin their routine tasks, silent as ever.

Inside the rusted hull of the ERNS Colton was a small altar, engraved with the image of a crescent moon, a black and white image of a dark-colored unicorn, and a legionary sabre firmly staked to the ground; beside it was Sky Cluster, kneeling.

“This pony was called Moonlight Dusk, when we left uniforms, religion, and war behind, he became my brother, my soul mate, and my best friend,” the hippogriff said, his voice breaking, “and we swore we'd never abandon each other.”

Everyone gave him a minute of silence so the veteran could vent.

Then the hippogriff stood up, determined, “Let’s get out of this place.”

Then he took the saber with the crescent moon engraved on the blade, its stainless steel reflecting the light in the room., held it, and put the sword in his sheath.

At the dock where The Gray Fox was, everyone was there, tightening nuts and bolts, joining cables and joining metal.

Jade Finder, checking the starter levers, slightly moved one that made a sporadic mechanical, cranking noise.

A grey smoke came out of the transmission compartment, and along with it came Comet Trail, coughing.

“What in the Tartarus are you doing?!” the thestral screamed, stepping out onto the deck.

“The fuel ignited!” Tailcoatl exclaimed, approaching the Frankenstein engine at the stern.

Sky Cluster readied the bomber's cockpit covers, peering through its windows toward the engine.

“Let’s try it,” Tailcoatl announces, pushing the throttle lever as hard as she could.

Fluttershy and Spike turned the engine crank with all their might.

The mechanical sound grew louder and louder, with grey and black smoke coming out of the exhausts, but it died down quickly.

“Third time's the charm, let's go,” Comet exclaims, making adjustments to the engine.

The engine's start was heard in fits and starts, Sky Cluster whispered with faith to his creation, Tailcoatl pushed the throttle lever forward with all her weight.

The engine became louder and louder.

Until the nose cone of what was once the plane began to spin steadily. The engine roared and vibrated with life after so many years, and smoke came out of the exhaust steadily as well.

Everyone cheered at the comforting sound of internal combustion. Their joy was palpable.

Fluttershy sighed for a moment until she turned to look at the dock.

In front of them was the entire tribe, gathered to watch, stoic and silent, they witnessed the machine roar.

Sky Cluster was overcome with a feeling of deep melancholy as he saw all his life companions of more than twenty years gathered there, watching him departing.

He approached the bow of The Grey Fox, his arms and wings outstretched, tears streaming from his eyes.

The elderly zebras approached the dock and faced their departing foreign guest. Their expressionless faces conveyed a deep sadness and understanding.

“I guess, it’s goodbye, ain't it?” said the hippogriff, with a lump in his throat. “… Thank you, thank you for everything.”

The leaders, serene, nodded their heads in resignation. Their faces, marked by ceremonial paint and tribal markings, conveyed a final farewell to the hippogriff.

Melancholy and gratitude ran through the veteran's heart, his mature face showed it. He nodded slowly.

“If you ever go to Hippogrifia, look for me there,” he told them, smiling, as the Gray Fox slowly moved away from the pier, he stood with his wings and arms outstretched.

Fluttershy did not miss the opportunity to take some last photos of the Iwis, their stoic faces, she also felt the same as the veteran pilot, she felt what they felt.

The pulley system on the wall opened a passage through which the boat passed, heading north.

The huge trunks cast a shadow over them as they entered the exit into the unknown, and there, they saw for the last time those unusual zebras with stone colors, paint and tribal markings highlighting their features.

They passed to the other side of the wall and then the pulleys lowered the logs again, blocking the entrance to the silent home of an unknown tribe on an unknown island.

The morning sun radiated a comforting warmth before the hotter evening hours, the sky colored in warm colors, the jungle full of life and the river reflecting the rays of light from the rising sun.

The Gray Fox moves with determination and a calm rhythm along the current.

Comet Trail plays rock music on his cassette, which plays timidly in the boat, while he climbs onto the roof of the bomber's cabin, waiting for some signal.

Fluttershy and Spike gaze at the majesty of the island from the bow, Jade and Tailcoatl just admire the scenery for a moment while Sky is at the helm.

A flock of birds flies above them.

While Spike and Jade take a break for lunch, Sky pulls a photograph out of his pocket and shows it to Fluttershy and Tailcoatl.

The photograph showed an age-worn black and white image of a female hippogriff, smiling and posing for the camera.

“I have a wife… I had a wife…” —said the veteran, confused and thoughtful— “Did I have a wife?... I don’t know if I have one anymore.”

The hippogriff looked at the photograph again and showed it to the group again. “I got married before I enlisted, she had sent me a telegram the day before I was shot down, saying that my son was born.”

Fluttershy was touched by the story.

“I have a son out there, a fully grown hippogriff I haven’t seen,” Sky said, turning toward the mountains.

“And he’ll probably leave you for dead,” Comet said from the roof, causing a scolding from Tailcoatl. “What? I was just saying.”

“You don’t know,” said the golden-collared pegasus, turning back to the veteran. “You’d be surprised how much people wait, sir.”

“Meh, I don’t think they’re actually waiting for me, that doesn’t bother me y'know.” Sky said, and then turned back to them. “I just wish I could see him at least once… That’ll do.”

“We’ll take you home, sir,” Fluttershy assured.

Suddenly static was heard of the radio.

“Hydra 5, respond, anyone there? Over.” The radio was heard, coming back to life.

Everyone immediately turned to Comet Trail who took the call.

“Roger, this is Hydra 5, I can hear you, we’re on a boat, heading north, down the river, over.”

“A boat?” the Rain Docker asked on the other side. “Where did you get it?”

“We just met an old veteran, a time traveler, from the North Zebrican War, you'll meet 'im.”

“What kind of boat are you in?”

“It’s more of a plane than a boat actually, call it a planeboat, you'll see it.” The thestral said cheerfully.

“Ask them for their location, Trail,” Tailcoatl ordered.

“Oh yeah, deploy flares to find you, guys.”

“This is Peakard, roger that, Hydra 5, deploying flares, over.”

Suddenly, between the hills, in front of them, a beam of reddish light rose several meters above the trees.

“Over there!” Jade Finder exclaimed, approaching the bow of the boat.

Everyone cheered at the ray of hope.

“We got visual, two kilometers north, over,” Comet announced over the radio.

“Roger that, Hydra 5, meeting at one hour, Hydra 1 over and out.”

They'll finally meet again.

The atmosphere at The Grey Fox was filled with happiness, Comet raised his hooves in relief.

Suddenly, with a roar and a swift movement, a flying creature, a cross between a long-serrated pterodactyl and a hideous vulture, swooped down upon them, grabbing Jade Finder by the cross and carrying him away.

With a cry of terror from the pony, the vulture lifted him many feet out of the water, away from the boat. Soon more of them arrived.

Fluttershy, terrified, covered her eyes and ran for cover. Spike watched the scene in terror.

Comet Trail and Tailcoatl quickly grabbed their weapons and took aim, but their targets were now just a silhouette in the distance, with the sun behind and dazzling them.

There was no point, he was already too far away. Nopony shot.

The screams of terror intensified as more vultures approached and wrestled with each other, several of them grabbing him by the limbs.

A macabre spectacle of silhouettes took place in front of The Gray Fox crew when screams of terror turned into screams of despair and pain when the silhouette of one of those animals lunged at him, severing a limb from that equine silhouette. And even more came.

The screams of pain and suffering fell silent slowly, and the growls of the flying creatures intensified at their new feast.

“Hey! This... This can’t be,” Comet exclaimed, shocked.

“He’s already dead by now,” Tailcoatl announced grimly. “Everyone grab your gear, we have to get going.”

Everyone looked completely horrified, but the golden-collared pegasus stood firm.

“We have to go ashore to meet Peakard.”

“No, wait a minute. Isn’t anycreature going to say anything about that?” Spike said, dismayed.

“He’s gone, and he’s not coming back. There’s nothing to say, period,” Sky said, returning to the cockpit.

Tailcoatl just sighed.

It was not long before The Grey Fox drew near the shore and its occupants climbed out, following a stream to a rocky ford where they sat down.

“The flare was two kilometers away, they shouldn’t take long,” Tailcoatl announced, observing the surroundings.

Sky took the opportunity to fill his canteen.

“Unless they've been eaten,” Spike said.

Suddenly Sky Cluster heard a rustling sound, hoofsteps and cut weeds, immediately turning towards the source of the sound.

From the jungle emerged Major Phin Peakard, accompanied by eight soldiers, Windy Claw and Twilight Sparkle.

Comet Trail immediately brightened up, standing up to greet his comrades. “Thanks Celestia you arrived safely.”

His comrades reciprocate, hugging each other.

Twilight, Fluttershy and Spike soon follow suit, relieved and happy to see each other again.

“It seems you were right after all, Twi,” the dragon told him.

“I would've preferred not to, Spike,” the alicorn replied, worried.

“How many are there?” Tailcoatl asked Peakard, drawing the trio’s attention.

“The ones you see” —the Major turned to his soldiers for a moment— “are the ones there are, ma’am.”

“We lost Jade Finder,” The pegasus replied.

“A pity,” said the Major, somewhat indifferent.

“It’s nice to see you all!” Sky Cluster exclaimed, approaching Peakard. All the soldiers stared at him.

“And who's this?” the Major asked.

“We picked up a passenger,” Tailcoatl announced.

“Lieutenant Sky Cluster, 12th Fighter Wing, Her Majesty Queen Novo's Royal Navy Air Force.”

“You’ve been here since the North Zebrican War?!” the Major asks, impressed.

“Yes, sir, did I miss the parade?” the veteran said cheerfully.

“What an adventure,” the major replied, smiling, and saluting along with his soldiers. “Attention, Lieutenant.”

“We'll get him home,” Tailcoatl intercedes, “if we follow the river, we will reach the boat and reach the shore in time.”

“That sounds good,” Peakard replies, turning to the pegasus, “but we’re not leaving yet. We have a missin' pony, ma’am.”

“Wait, we're missing one?” asked the pegasus.

“Trotland. He’s on the fallen Stallion west of here.”

“West?!” Sky intervenes, gesturing with his claws. “We can’t go west, that’s where the skull things live. We have an old saying, ‘East is Best, West is Worst.’”

Everyone looked worried, except Peakard.

“Y'know southwest" —he made a pause— "we can talk about that, but you're gonna need a lot more guns if you're gonna go west, guys.”

“Guys, I think we should listen to Cluster,” Fluttershy chimed in.

“Yeah, this is crazy,” Spike added.

Twilight remained silent, she knew it was pointless.

Hearing all this, Peakard turned back to Tailcoatl, “Hey, your job is finding lost soldiers, right?”

For the first time, the pegasus looked doubtful, but thought her response some second, “Okay, sir, but if we reach that position and he’s not there, we won't send out a search party. We're back here by nightfall, understood? In tweny-four hours we have to be on the other side of this island.”

Sky shook his head in disappointment and walked over to the soldiers.

“Roger that, heard you loud and clear,” Pearkard said, with a somewhat cynical smile, turning back to his soldiers. “You heard the pegasus, we moving out at 10:00.”

Everyone got ready to rest for a while.

“It's a good group of boys, we’re all gonna die together out here,” Sky said to the soldiers, who were laughing nervously. “You're a good group of boys to die with, hehe, I'll tell you that much.”

Their nervous laughs were now just worried faces, as Cluster laughed wryly.

“You shouldn’t have come here.”

Tailcoatl sat down for a while, passing by Twilight’s group.

“Don’t forget to tell me that this is a bad idea, princess.”

“It’s a terrible idea,” they responded.