The Iron Pony: Harder than Diamonds

An armored transport car rattled across the frozen tracks, pulled forward through the effort of a huge locomotive engine. Perpetual snowfall blew past the windows of the car, partially obscuring the view of the great Crystal Spire on the horizon from the inside. Of course, it was the middle of Winter, so it was only to be expected this far north. The train itself bore no markings or identification, just the steely grey and black of its cold metal exterior.

Only four ponies rode the train. The rest of the space was taken by crate after crate of supplies, medical equipment, and a few boxes they weren't allowed to look in. The four ponies couldn't have been any more dissimilar. The conductor, an earth-pony, was in the engine shoveling coal into the furnace. One unicorn guard, a Solar Guard at that, was helping him. In the train car was another guard, a crystal-pony, staring out one of the windows anxiously. Finally, a pegasus was sitting in a wood chair lazily, rocking it back on its back legs.

The pegasus was strange himself. He was stark black, his bored eyes a ruby red. His mane was black as well, slicked back in thick spines with blood-red tips and smelling faintly of gasoline. His cutie mark was exposed, a silver wrench crossed with a white wing, a symbol emblazoned on a few of the crates. The stallion was wearing a khaki vest, standard issue for the overly-secretive and highly skilled Pegasus Operative National and International Emergency Squad, or P.O.N.I.E.S., as they were better known. His most unusual feature, or rather features, were his left foreleg and left wing. They were metal, comprised of gears and pistons rather than bone and skin, attached firmly to their sockets. He never gave a straight answer when asked about them, preferring instead to skirt around the subject or flat out refuse to answer. This pony was Steel Pteryx. Lieutenant Steel Pteryx.

The black pegasus turned to look at the crystal-pony. "You nervous, Private?" he asked the dull-coated soldier.

"N-no sir." the grey guard answered weakly, not looking at his superior. "Fear has no place on...on the battlefield."

"Fear is the only thing that keeps you alive in the field, Private. Keeps a good spring in your hooves." the lieutenant somewhat-jokingly reassured.

The crystal-pony clinked as he turned his head to meet the pegasus' eyes. His quartz crystal armor was not very well suited for movement. After what seemed to be a long moment of consideration, the private spoke again. "Have you ever had to kill another pony, sir?"

Steel itched his muzzle with his metal leg. "Yes."

The crystal-pony was taken aback by his nonchalant attitude. "Wha-? Uh, is...is it easy?"

"To kill? Yes. To cope...well, eventually." The pegasus grew a little tense.

The private noticed quickly, and changed the subject.

"I don't want to die, Lieutenant Pteryx."

"Does anypony?" Steel responded, relaxing.

"I have a wife, sir." he pulled a photo from the collar of his curiass. "She's going to have my filly soon."

"Filly, huh?" Steel mused as he rose from his seat and crossed over to look at the picture. He delicately took it in his hooves and stared at it. "Whatcha' going to name her?"

"Amethyst."

"Pretty name." the pegasus stated simply, stuffing the picture back into the crystal-pony's armor. "What's your name, Private?"

"Diamondshine, sir!" the pony saluted proudly. "Private First Class!"

"Well, Diamondshine, to survive, you need to kill." The lieutenant said grimly. "Are you willing to take another pony's life if it means seeing your daughter open her eyes?"

"I would slay an army." The private stated, puffing out his chest.

"Then you're ready. And I'll make sure you get home." Steel reassured, resting his heavy metal hoof on Diamondshine's armor with a clink.

"Thank you, sir." the private sighed, relieved.

"We're almost there anyway. What could possibly happen this close to Empire territory?"

The Solar Guard burst in from the engine, flustered and covered in soot. "Pteryx, out the window! A railless train!"

Steel Pteryx shoved Private Diamondshine roughly to the side and leapt to the small window. His ears instantly flattened to his skull. "I have a feeling that's not an escort."

Steel studied the strange thing plowing through the snow parallel to the train. To the others, it looked like a train car put on huge rubber wheels. To him, it was a blueprint to be read. He already knew how it worked, inside and out, without any plans or instructions. The vehicle practically tore itself apart in his mind's eye, exposing all of its secrets. Armored plating on a reinforced frame concealed a massive engine that ran off of...petroleum. Diesel? Definitely diesel. It would be hoof-operated by a series of pedals and wheels to control acceleration and steering, respectively. A holding cell inside was sealed by a heavy bulkhead door, probably filled with soldiers, or maybe empty for prisoners.

"Lieutenant?" Private Diamondshine asked tentatively, breaking Steel's concentration. The bulkhead door parted, leaving a huge opening in the side of the strange vehicle.

Several ponies were inside, with strange devices strapped to their flanks. Again, Steel knew how these devices worked, but for a different reason. He invented them. There was no mistaking those six long barrels and seemingly endless chains if lead.

"GATLING GUNS!" He shouted to his fellow passengers.

"What?!" Diamondshine managed before being tackled to the floor.

The windows shattered as the leaden projectiles tore through the air and embedded themselves in the wooden interior. Ricochets pinged and sparked off the plated armor of the car, denting it and even piercing it. The buzzing of the guns seemed to never end.

A lavender alicorn leapt back from her telescope with a short cry. Thinking fast, she bounded from the edge of the Spire that she had been watching the scene unfold from, speading her wings and looping into an open window. Tearing down the crystal halls like her hooves were aflame, she weaved around scared servants and confused guards, until she reached her target.

"Applejack!" She shouted to the orange mare as she skidded to a halt. "Get Rainbow and Rarity! I'll explain on the way!"

"Hold up, Twi. What about Fluttershy an' Pinkie?" Applejack asked inquisitively.

Twilight Sparkle shot her friend a look of terror.

"Ah get your point. Meet ya in the courtyard."

Steel picked himself up off of Diamondshine with a groan. The rattling train car was splintered all to Tartarus, although much of the cargo was miraculously unharmed. The unnamed Solar Guard's body was slumped against one wall, riddled with holes and splattered with blood. The engine was maintaining speed, so Steel assumed the conductor was unharmed.

"You alright, Private?" he asked the coughing crystal-pony.

"I (cough) think you crushed my ribs."

"Quit bitching. At least it's not a chunk of lead in your skull."

"What are they doing now?" The private hesitantly asked, not moving from his prone position on the splintered floor.

The lieutenant chanced a glance over the broken windowsill, the icy air cutting his muzzle like knives. The antagonists were parting inside their transport, a single pony struggling with his flank-mounted gun. It had one huge barrel rather than six, and a second pony loaded something into the back of it. Steel, as expected, knew this weapon too.

His P.O.N.I.E.S. training having conditioned the pegasus to stay calm in a life-or-death situation, Steel quickly bucked open one of the crates emblazoned with his cutie mark. Inside, amidst the light packing material, was a near-exact copy of the same weapon.

Wasting no time, Steel loaded a large shell into the gun and strapped to his own flank. He leapt over to the door and wrenched it open, snow and howling winds filling the compartment as he did so. The other pony had finished struggling and was finally steady on his hooves.

It was synchronous. Both stallions took aim at the other. Both placed the trigger into their mouths. Two small bursts of flame, and two reality-shattering explosions.