The Shimmer of Gemstones

The Shimmer of Gemstones...Act 1

Rarity galloped briskly through the rain, rain clicking and thudding off the shield she desperately called upon to protect her from the incoming elements."Rain..." she uttered under her breath, grimacing as she looked to her hooves and watched the gravel and dirt collect on her alabaster legs,"every...single...time!" Her words became rough and shallow, taking no pity on the ground, nor the water that she began trudging though."Damn that Twilight...why must she be so good at magic? I can't levitate over a simple puddle for Celestia's sake!"

She stopped, hooves together as she used her magic to clean off the grime capping over her hooves."No Rarity" she thought to herself,"one must not be upset at their friends because they are better at certain things..." The mare furrowed her brow, shaking her head as she looked up at her Boutique."I'll always have you, won't I darling?" She pet the door of her clothing store softly, smiling as she trotted inside and looked around. Her ears twitched at the sound of the rainfall, still heavy outside.

Her gaze fell to a fresh bouquet of flowers, gently resting in a sapphire vase. Her expression soften as she lifted the ornament, reading the hastily scribbled note."Dear sister...mom and dad said I could stay with you while they visit our relatives in Prance...I'll be asleep." Rarity's smile lessened, even as she gazed at the beautiful orchids resting in the vase."Sweetie Belle..." she whispered under her breath,"they WOULD dump her on me." She bit her lip, burning the note ith her magic."Every...single...

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Meanwhile...5 Miles west of the

Equestrian border of Germaneigh.

1700 hours

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"...TIME!" Ambrosia screamed out, rushing to her foxhole and clutching her hooves to her chest. Fire scarred and charred the dirt around her, a small field of magic blocking her and two of her squad members."Every motherbucking time!" Her teeth grit as the violet unicorn looked around, seeing the smoking hat of her former Sargent not ten feet away. Dragons flapped and screeched loudly, circling the burnt grasslands and rocky hillside that former Echo Squad was tasked to hold.

Ambrosia glanced over, seeing a shaking earth pony with glasses and a Red Cross on his helmet."Zanzibar...snap outta that stupor. Go patch up Carter...he burn his leg when we came in here..." She pointed to the orange Pegasus gritting his teeth as he whimpered to himself."And use the damned gel, we need him up and moving in five." The green earth pony rushed over as commanded, grunting as he hit his head on the shield, bright orange, mimicking Ambrosia's irises.

There was a soft pause, fire fizzling and popping on the trees around them. The unicorn slowly rose a hoof, ordering Carter and Zanzibar behind her. She slowly peaked a head up, making her shield mobile as she trotted out and into the open. The treeline was only a minute to the south of them, but it was uphill. If they went that way, any attention would draw the dragons their way. Heat rises, so a small spark would burt them up if they ran. They arrived from the east, ten minutes from a small village that went untouched for the time being. The road next to them was a major trade route and small border road between Equestria and the neighboring Gryphon colonies. North was the only logical option, as it lead to a cave system too small for the dragons to follow, and varied enough to allow them escape from the fire that would soon follow.

Second Lieutenant Carter, Private Zanzibar, and Captain Ambrosia made up a tenth of Echo Squad. After an ambush by dragons heading to their home grounds in the Far North, most of their force was wiped out."Damn it...where are they?" Whispered Carter, blinking as he coughed soot, shaking his mane softly as he removed his helmet. Their vests were black from debris, Zanzibar's tail singed at the tip.

Their hoof falls were soft and deliberate, the mountainside in the distance spotted with caves. Zanzibar tapped his glasses softly, making them magnify greatly."I...I think I see a few of our squad...seems we aren't the only ones to head north..." His gaze was interrupted by a swat from Ambrosia, his glasses knocked down and losing their soft, magical glow."Hey..."

Ambrosia punched him hard in the jaw, covering his mouth as she pushed him against a tree and looked up. Three dragons began to approach, their heavy wings flapping with a deep bass effect on everything under them."Fuckin' drop!" She whispered, leveling her chin with the dirt as she slid down and under a few low-lying branches. Carter followed suit, as did Zanzibar, their shadows overtaken and hidden within the extensive forest next to them. Zanzibar's glasses throbbed with a gentle magic, still enchanted by the enchantment that magnified them. One dragon dropped down, his gaze heavy and deliberate as he gazed from one shadow to another.

His voice was as deep as it was threatening."Seems like we have survivors amongst the rubble. Come out ponies...we promise to make it quick." His teeth opened, saliva dripping down his razor sharp teeth, dripping and shimmering on the orange, setting sun. Scales rippled as she leaned down, eyes trailing across the expansive forest, then to the right, ruby red irises glowing as he scanned the cave system within the mountains.

Carter slid forward, whispering into Ambrosia's ear."We gotta go, you know these guys scorch first and examine the remains second." She shook her head, gritting her teeth at the Pegasus. I was obvious that she had no desire to engage the beasts, biting her lip as Carter looked to Zanzibar.

"It's my fault they're here...I'll draw their attention..." Zanzibar whimpered lightly, not even looking for their approval. Carter and Ambrosia were higher ranks than him, and if they survived this, he would be in hell back at the academy. He made soft advances, gulping as he rose, looking back at the other two. His hooves made slowly advances, getting closer and closer as his breath quickened.

His eyes widened as a blur of orange magic propelled Ambrosia ahead of him. He leapt right and out of her way as she charged full-boar into the dragon's lowered head. The reptile reeled back, growling and roaring as the unicorn let out a powerful scream, drawing her diamond-edge dagger and jabbing the beast in the eye. A gush of blood and ichor drenched the mare as she grit her teeth, slamming away at his eye before he flung her loose. Zanzibar and Carter took off into the plains between the forest and mountains, their heavy hooves kicking up dirt as they scampered and tumbled into a full gallop. Ambrosia was right on their flanks, rolling to the ground as magic propelling her forward, her form glowing a bright orange. She was a target, but that was the intention. The two airborne dragons caught up quickly, pelting the ground with inaccurate, but very rapid fireballs. Dirt and rocks were slung and pelted off of the three as they sped up, eyes closed as they neared the entrance of the caves.

Their hooves were muffled blocked out by the sounds of loud squaks. Relief began flowing over them as they saw five Gryphons fly overhead. Ambrosia looked up just in time to watch them focus on one dragon. Their claws were powerful enough to dig though the tough scales of their enemy, making large cuts in their wings, slowing them down.

Ambrosia was on her last legs, screaming for Carter to fly Zanzibar to the caves while she drew their attention."For Celestia's sake Car-" her words were halted by a stone slamming into her horn. A nearby boulder was shattered by a fireball, shredding the mineral and sending pieces flying everywhere. Her horn practically shattered, cracking down the middle and sending pieces flying off in front of her. Her magic stopped as she slammed into the dirt, clutching her broken mass of bone and screaming out for them to run. The dragon that had landed was gaining quickly, opening his maw as he snarled.

Carter extended his wings, backflipping halfway and corkscrewing as he made a mad dash at Ambrosia, the dragon's muzzle open just inches from her. His hooves dragged against the dirt before he clutched her waist, spiraling and making a hard left as he threaded the needle between the dragon's teeth. Ambrosia was losing it, blood dripping profusely as she looked down, watching Zanzibar rush into the caves. Carter was next, diving them into one of the higher caves and avoiding stalagtights that clung to the roof of the chambers. Lights guided them deeper until Carter finally dropped Ambrosia, watching a few of their platoon rush over. Her vision faded quickly as she felt the magical touch of others checking her for bleeding.

Zanzibar trotted over to Carter as Ambrosia was cared to by one of the field medics."Second Lieutenant...we...we didn't kill them."

"And?" He retorted, wings curling back to his side.

"It's war...aren't we suppose to kill them or die trying?"

Carter shook his head."Kid...this is war. An army wins a war, us soldiers just have to survive it all..." His words ended with a sigh as he looked back, looking down at his charred tail."Wonder how those Gryphons do it...living like this." He listened as a loud cry chimed out, seconds later being accompanied by a loud thud, then silence.

Ambrosia sat up, ears perked to the cave entrance as she felt the powerful sting of her injured horn sparking and discharging all of her natural magic. A shadow slowly entered, then two more. As the highest ranking officer, Ambrosia rose, pushing the medics aside as she approached the forms.

The largest was first to speak."Captain Ambrosia?"

She nodded, extending a hoof."Affirmative, as well as what's left of my squad."

"Swift Feather, gunnery sergeant, and a small section of Talos' military." The gryphon looked Ambrosia."Ya look like shit" he pointed out."We can fly you over to our closest base of operations."

Ambrosia shook her head, looking at one of the other gryphons."Hey...lemmy borrow your radio." She met th avian halfway, grasping the heavy backpack full of antennas and wires. She made her way over to Zanzibar, grasping him by the scruff of the neck. He struggled momentarily before a rough right hook knocked him on his flank."Call command, rookie..."

The stallion whimpered, shaking as he look up at her."I-It's Private..." His lip quivered as she spun on her front hooves, advancing and pushing him against the cave wall.

"THE FUCK YOU SAY? I don't see a private, and I don't know who made you one...all I see is a fuckin' rookie." She was seconds from ripping that SoB apart, fire igniting in her eyes as her horn dripped blood freshly."How many times have you been taught to never use non-unicorn magic around dragon territory? They smell that stuff from miles away. You are fucking lucky we only had three to deal with..." She ripped the patch from the newbie's vest, pointing out of the cave.

The three gryphons watched Zanzibar lower his head, slinging the communications over his back and heading into the battle-scarred plains to call for evac. Swift made his way over as Ambrosia, Carter, and what little remained of Echo Squad made their way out. A medic hastily re-covered the unciorn's bleeding horn, bounding the mess in gauze pads as he clumsily stumbled over stones. She pushed him away when he was done, looking over at carter and nodding softly, allowing him to head out and see what the surrounding were like. They didn't need any more surprises.

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North eastern edge of Ponyville

2035 hours

Carousel Boutique

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The alabaster unicorn put the finishing touches on her latest gown, sapphire encrusted ruby pendent hanging delicately from the dress. Rarity knew her work was great, but this was something special. The intricate lacing and flowing train that comfortably blanketed the wearer's flank, combined with the magic laced silk and faux rabbit hair that trailed down the edge of the outfit. Rarity hummed softly, folding the design carefully with her magic and stowing it away for delivery."Canterlot...must be so nice to life the posh life..."

"You...don't want to be here, Rarity?" Sweetie Belle's green irises shimmered in the soft lighting as she rubbed her eyes, trotting down the steps from her room."You'd leave me here...with mom and dad?"

Rarity shook her head, furrowing her brow as she approached the filly, sitting on the steps and petting the young mare's head."Hey now...shouldn't you be asleep? You know mother and father only leave you here because I'm always available..." She went silent for a second, adding,"not that I have any problems with you staying with me. It's just...I wasn't meant to live this life...it's not my destiny. I don't want to be that ponies that always has time to spare...I want to be..."

"The type of pony everypony should know? I know, big sister...y-you want to live the high life...and...and marry somepony famous!" Her hooves clicked together lazily as she looked up, the young unicorn's lip quivering as she held back tears."Just don't forget me when it happens...I...I know you'll be famous one day...and will never need me around...but..."

Rarity kissed the filly's forehead, nuzzling her softly."I promise to never forget you...and always find a moment to spend time with my favorite pony." The young one nodded, tears trickling down her cheeks and she hugged her sister tight."I'm ready for bed now...big sister...I think I'll sleep in your bed tonight..."

The two were halfway up the stairs when the loud flapping of wings called their attention."Go on upstairs Sweetie Belle...I will see what the noise is." She patted the unciorn's flank as she rushed to her sister's room.

Rarity yawned as she looked at the clock, opening the door and stumbling backwards as two soldiers, Pegasi with long, powerful wings spread wide. Rarity nodded softly as she backed up, looking at the stretcher being brought in."Rarity?"

"Yes sir...what is this about?" Rarity shivered lightly as her heart fluttered. The two brought the violet unicorn inside the home.

"You opted to provide a home for injured soldiers should they live in your town prior to enrollment into the military...where is your second bedroom?"

"But...there was only one pony in town to enroll...that was years ago..." Rarity couldn't believe her luck, grumbling in defeat as she pointed upstairs, sighing."First door on the left..."

Ambrosia stretched as she looked up from the stretched, hind legs crossed as she raised a hoof at Rarity."Sup?" She saluted coyly, a smug grin on her face as she was escorted upstairs and into the soft, civilian bed.

Rarity reluctantly thanked the stallions for their time, heading upstairs and peeking into the guest room. Ambrosia was tapping her hoof against the her shattered horn, cringing as she locked eyes with Rarity. The alabaster unicorn made her way in, looking around nervously."Do you...require anything?" Rarity's voice was laced with fake kindness as she glared at the soldier, who simply hook her head and lay back.

Before she was out of the room, Ambrosia whispered something. It was far too quiet for Rarity to comprehend, but it sounded like a "Thanks". She closed the door, trotting to her room and sitting on the bed.

"Who's that?" Sweetie Belle was laying next to Rarity, her curious gaze looking between the closed door and her sister as she desperately nudged Rarity.

Rarity tapped her hooves nervously against the wood of the bed as she looked over."Trouble...Sweetie Belle...trouble."