Pierce the Netherscape: Enter Oblivion

    After a couple hours of walking towards Canterlot, Rei Sonkei, Colorshy, Blue Jay, and Princess Celestia had finally reached the base of the mountain upon which Canterlot lay. “Okay,” said Colorshy, “why are we here at the waterfall?”

    “There is a secret and secure entrance to Canterlot that only I know how to use,” replied Celestia. “Very few ponies even know of the existence of these caves, anyway. I highly doubt Oblivion has blocked off this entrance.” She then cast a spell that opened a hole in the waterfall. “Hurry up and go through,” she shouted. The others quickly followed her orders and ran into the cave. She then ran in herself and closed the waterfall behind her.

    “Yes,” said The Campaigner watching the ponies from a computer screen. “Trot right on into my trap, my little ponies. One way or another, you shall never see the light of day, ever again.”

    “Campaigner,” called The Primagen, “your plan better be working. Even my power is taking a long time to open the safe where the Elements are located.”

    “At least you found it, be grateful for that. Now, how is the invasion coming along?”

    “Your cyborgs are very effective. We have pushed most of the civilian ponies into the corners of the city, but the guard ponies are giving us a fairly hard time. They are being led by another alicorn, though this one doesn’t seem as strong as the first one.”

    The Campaigner sighed before he responded. “Very well, I shall mobilize Thunder to assist the cyborgs. You keep trying to get the Elements. Oblivion won’t like waiting.”

    “Very well, but don’t you think Thunder is a little extreme?”

    “He’s been cooped up in his cage for who-knows how long. A cyborg tyrannosaur should never have to wait that long before any real combat. Now get moving!”

    “Fine,” said The Primagen as he left. The Campaigner then returned to his screen and pressed two buttons. One releasing Thunder onto the streets of Canterlot, the other mobilizing his trap for the four ponies.

    Meanwhile, the ponies were having a hard time navigating the labyrinth cave, even with Celestia leading the others. “Um... princess,” asked Rei, “are you sure you know where you’re going?”

    “This is a very large and complex cave system,” she replied. “It takes time to navigate.”

    “So in other words, you’re lost, correct?”

    “No,” she replied quickly. “I am simply unable to gather all of my bearings.”

    “She’s lost,” Colorshy whispered to Blue Jay.

    Suddenly, the four heard a noise down the cave in front of them. “What was that?” asked Rei.

    “It sounded... mechanical, like a robot,” commented Blue Jay. “I think something’s heading our way.”

    “Get ready, everypony,” said Colorshy, pulling out his rifle. “We have no idea what’s coming. That being said, you may want to step back, Princess.”

    “With what’s happened in the past day, I’ll take your advice.” She then stepped back as the other three hovered there with their weapons drawn. For a while, there was nothing but silence, but it was quickly broken by the sound of quickly fluttering wings, like an insect. The ponies looked around for the source of the noise, but they couldn’t find it, and all of their wings were moving at a normal speed.

    “Blue Jay,” asked Colorshy quietly. “What is that noise?”

    “I don’t know,” he replied. “I want to say it’s a mantis, but it doesn’t sound like any mantis I’ve heard of.”

    As the two were talking, Rei turned around and a look of horror came upon his face. “Blue Jay,” he said panickedly, “have you ever heard of a mantis that’s about 30 feet tall?”

    “No,” he replied. “Not 30 feet.”

    “Then you may want to turn around and take some notes.”

    The others turned around slowly as Rei backed up. Soon, they were face to face with a giant cyborg mantis. (Boss image: http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&safe=active&tbo=d&biw=1024&bih=587&tbm=isch&tbnid=MF-rLMhtGlBITM:&imgrefurl=http://www.overclock.net/t/1187332/whats-your-most-frustrating-video-game-moment-ever/120&docid=3pKLCjqXYz4NMM&imgurl=http://cdn.overclock.net/6/60/60d96ef9\_turok-dinosaur-hunter\_70082.jpeg&w=540&h=405&ei=HWMSUaSUKIiC2gXCk4DgAg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=382&vpy=197&dur=1469&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=142&ty=74&sig=116582513766076600224&page=3&tbnh=143&tbnw=192&start=34&ndsp=23&ved=1t:429,r:43,s:0,i:233) “What is that?” shouted Celestia.

    “That looks like The Campaigner’s mantis minion!” shouted Rei. “Everypony run!”

    The four ran/flew quickly away from the mantis, which was attempting to fire globs of acid towards the four, but continuously missing. Eventually, the mantis began chasing the ponies. “Rei!” shouted Colorshy. “Try laying down some suppressing fire!”

    “Okay!” shouted Rei, who began flying backwards and opened fire at the mantis. “I don’t think this is working! Can I get some help?”

    “I’ll see what I can do,” replied Colorshy, who also turned around and fired his rifle as fast as he could. The two continued to fire, but the mantis showed no signs of weakening.

    “Wall!” shouted Blue Jay. He and Celestia turned in different directions, but Rei and Colorshy didn’t have time to react before they crashed into the crystal wall, opening another small cave.

    “Thanks for the early warning, Blue Jay,” said Colorshy, getting up and dusting himself off.

    “Sorry, it’s getting pretty dark in here.”

    “Yeah, yeah,” said Rei. “Cut the chit-chat and HELP US KILL THIS GIANT MANTIS!”

    The mantis was closing in on Rei and Colorshy, who were backed into a corner but shooting (or at least trying to shoot) the crap out of the mantis. The mantis was about to strike the two when Blue Jay flew up behind the mantis and gave it a slash on the back of its head, which did nothing but get its attention. “Damn,” he commented under his breath, “this guy is tough. I’m gonna have to change tactics.”

    “DUCK!” Rei shouted to Blue Jay as the mantis was bringing down its scythe on him. Blue Jay ducked just fast enough to avoid a fatal blow, but he was still downed. “Blue Jay!” shouted Rei as he flew up to the manits’s head. He then smacked the mantis in the head with the butt of his gun and started shooting at it. This did end up stunning the mantis just long enough for Colorshy to rush to Blue Jay’s side.

    “Are you okay?” asked Colorshy.

    “Yeah,” he replied getting up and brushing himself off. “Just a little shaken up. This mantis has some pretty powerful armor. How’s Rei doing?”

    The two look up to see Rei still shooting the crap out of the mantis’s eye, and the mantis was showing signs of weakening. “Yeah,” commented Colorshy, “I think Rei has things covered from here. We should go check on Celestia.” The two then walked off casually, leaving Rei to continue firing, even though blood from the mantis was starting to splatter on his face.

    “Dammit!” shouted The Campaigner as he saw that the mantis had died on his screen. He pounded his fist on a nearby table, which quickly broke in half. “I knew those ponies would cause a few problems, but this is unacceptable!”

    “Campaigner!” called The Primagen running in excitedly.

    “This better be good,” replied The Campaigner. “I’m having a fit of rage here.”

    “It is good. I have obtained the Elements.”