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!