Chapter Fourteen

ATTENTION ALL CITIZENS OF CANTERLOT!

Due to recent events, the Chairman and military forces of the Coalition of Ordered Governments will be arriving in the city within two days. It is recommended that no hostile action is to be directed towards them for they are fully capable of taking over the entire kingdom of Equestria with ease. All interaction with the humans is to be kept friendly and on no account must be asked of what happened in Ponyville.

Thank you all for cooperation.

(Notification poster put up in Canterlot referring to the arrival of the COG)

***

KR-Zero-Two. Two klicks outside Ponyville airspace.

Applejack leaned back against the rear wall of the Raven but the vibrations were making her feel sick so she leaned forwards again.

"Hey, if you're gonna chuck make sure you bag it," Baird said.

"Urg, don't make me think of it," Cole said.

"I'm just warning her."

"You okay AJ?" Twilight asked.

"A little better than yesterday, but ah still feel kind of sick."

"No kidding, you drank half a keg of Appleshine with Dizzy," Baird said.

"Ah didn't know how strong the stuff was."

"Well, at least it's better than the old stuff he used to brew up in Port Farrell. Man that was some nasty stuff."

"I thought it was pretty good," Cole said.

"That's only because you got used to the taste."

"It didn't take long though."

Applejack hunched over and groaned, Rarity patted her back and sighed.

"You poor thing. When are we going to get there?"

"Soon," Marcus said, "Very soon."

"How soon?" Pinkie asked.

"We keep up this airspeed and we'll be there in several minutes," Carmine said from the cockpit.

"What's this button do, Carmine?" Apple Bloom asked.

"That's the button to operate the winch. Don't touch it okay?"

"Okay."

Bernie leaned back in the gunner seat and watched as Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy flew up to them.

"Say Bernie, what's that you're carrying under your flying machine?"

"Oh, that's something that Baird made while he was here. Go on Blondie, tell them what you made."

"Let's land first, then I'll show it off."

"Is Applejack doing okay?" Fluttershy asked. Bernie turned around to see her with her head in a large back and a sickening sound emanating from her.

"No, I don't think she's doing well."

"Oh my. Well, I'll be here to help her if she needs it."

"Thanks Fluttershy," Applejack moaned.

"Urg. Dibs on the bag after you AJ, flight sickness setting in," Cole said, his face going pale.

Several minutes and four air sickness bags later, the fleet of Ravens arrived in Canterlot airspace. Marcus kept a grip of the bar overhead and stared down at the ponies below. He could make out that a lot of them were in the upper class of the kingdom's society. He leaned out and watched as the ponies below pointed upwards at them. As the Ravens circled the castle, Marcus finally was able to see just how big it truly was.

"This place is much bigger up close," he shouted over the multiple rotors of the Ravens.

"Canterlot castle is much bigger than it seems," Twilight replied.

"It looked big from Ponyville," Baird said, "Since it was on the side of a fucking mountain."

"Canterlot Castle is easily the biggest Castle in the whole kingdom. Princess Celestia has made accommodations for your Chairman and soldiers."

"Wait, the Princess voluntarily allowed the COG to stay at the Castle?"

"Oh yes, she thought it would be a form of repayment for saving Ponyville."

"Seems a little extreme, there's another reason behind it isn't there?"

"Yes, actually. Since we are at war with Queen Chrysalis and her Changelings we need to have the security of the Castle improved. Changelings are able to disguise themselves as a pony or Royal Guard, it's so good that we have to create spells that nullify their ability to change into ponies. But it hasn't been very effective recently, the Changelings have adapted to the spells and have almost infiltrated the Castle."

"And by having us there you think that the Changelings will have a hard time being accurate copies of humans?" Baird asked.

"Exactly," Twilight said.

The Ravens circled around and then landed by the front gate of the Castle. Carmine dropped off Baird's custom vehicle and then landed several feet away from it. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash touched down next to the Raven, avoiding the rotors.

"Delta Squad," Twilight said as she hopped off the Raven, "Welcome to Canterlot."

"Not too bad a place," Baird said as he looked around, "Pristine, large, clean. Reminds me of Jacinto before everything went to hell."

"Let's get off this chopper," Cole said, "Me and AJ have had enough of flyin' for one day."

As the ponies and Gears disembarked the Raven there was another noise that emanated from the back of the Raven's bay. Carmine hopped back up to the Raven and opened the rear cargo door, allowing the CMC to spill out and land in a heap next to his boots. Apple Bloom rolled off Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo and looked up at Carmine.

"Hey Carmine."

"Girls? What are you doing here?" Carmine asked.

"We stowed away in the back of your flying machine," Scootaloo said, "We wanted to come with you."

"Why didn't you just ask?"

"Because we didn't think it would be as fun," Sweetie Belle said. Carmine chuckled and ruffled the manes of the three fillies.

"Come on, let's get going."

The fillies followed Carmine as he went over to join the remainder of Delta as Baird was showing the new creation he had made with several of the engineers. What it appeared to be was an Armadillo APC but the front of the hull was bulged and had more weapons protruding out of it, there was also what looked like a long, upward curved tail on the back of it that had a Longspear rocket launcher on the tip.

"So what is it?" Bernie asked.

"This, my friends," Baird said as he patted the side, "Is a new type of APC I'm thinking of getting mass produced once we get Sera back in working order."

"What are you going to call it?" Marcus asked.

"The Scorpion. I named it that because of the modified Longspear launcher on the tail end, also I had the old guns taken out and replaced with four Vulcans and a Mulcher in the tail."

"Sounds a little overkill, Blondie," Bernie said.

"It may be but when we get back we are gonna be fighting Stranded and I think a little overkill might be enough to make them give up fighting."

"So does it work?" Cole asked.

"Oh yeah, it works."

"Let's ride it to the castle," Twilight said.

Canterlot Castle. One hour after landing.

"I have to say, Princess, you've got one impressive castle." Hoffman said as he walked next to Celestia.

"Thank you, Canterlot Castle has been around for over a thousand years. It's been the place where the rulers of Equestria can keep watch over their land with little threat of attack."

"So, you're not the first ruler, am I right?"

"Indeed, there were a few before me. But that was long ago, they are not spoke of nowadays. Did you have rulers before you?"

"Yeah, there were a lot of rulers before me. It all started with the Allfathers, they founded the COG many years ago, long before the Pendulum Wars. It's a little different to what you guys have."

"Sounds very different indeed," Celestia replied, "So then, shall we discuss the matter of this war we are in?"

"What you are in, me and my troops are done with fighting."

"I am not asking for you and your soldiers to fight, I only ask of assistance of how to fight. I know that you were a great Commander at one point, I wish to see if that you can still command the way you used to."

"I guess I can do that. Show me what you've got and I'll make it work better."

Meanwhile, Delta had claimed one of the larger, empty rooms as their own and had set up collapsable bunks, tables and chairs. As the squad went to one of the chambers that had been adapted to a large mess hall for the Gears, Marcus stayed behind in the room. For the past few days the same nightmare had been tormenting him and interrupting his sleep. He so far had been sleeping for a few hours, trying to make up what was lost in the nights but once again, the dream came to him. It started out the same way each time, Dom would break him out of a prison cell similar to the one in the Slab and toss him a bag of armor and a weapon. Then once they made their way through the maze of cells that contained shrieking Locust and Lambent they would be outside where a pitched battle was going on between Gears and Locust. Marcus would then follow Dom to where Carlos and Adam Fenix would be firing at the Locust. Carlos would be shouting orders that Helena Stroud was giving while Adam Fenix covered him, Marcus joined the fray and engaged the Locust with Dom, Carlos and his father until a Raven circled around and landed on a helipad to the left of them.

"Marcus!" Carlos yelled over the gunfire, "You gotta get your dad out of here!"

"No, I don't want to leave my men," Adam argued.

"Come on, dad!" Marcus bellowed as he picked up his dad by the arm and pushed him towards the chopper.

"We'll cover you!" Dom said. The radio then flared up and Helena Stroud was heard shouting.

"Fenix! You've got to get out of here with the files!"

"What files?" Marcus asked.

"The info on the Locust queen," Carlos said, "We finally know her weakness."

"Come on, let's go!" Dom said. As the four sprinted to the chopper, they were intercepted by several Drones and a pair of Boomers. Marcus ordered them to push through until they got to the Raven, as they fired upon the Drones the Boomers returned fire and blasted the wall that Carlos was hiding behind to bits, leaving him on the floor, incapacitated.

"Carlos!" Marcus yelled.

"Go! Get your dad out of here!" Dom shouted as he ran to help his brother. One of the Boomers lept over the wall and swiped at Adam with it's large fist and sent him crashing to the ground. Marcus span around and emptied a clip into it before picking up his dad and dragging him back, but Adam pulled out his Snub pistol and scored a headshot on the Boomer.

"Come on dad, you can make it."

"No, Marcus, you need to do this," his father replied, looking behind him. Locust were swarming towards them, many more than they could handle. "You have to take the files and get out of here."

"No! I'm not leaving you behind!"

"Do it Marcus!" Dom yelled.

"We'll cover you as long as we can," Carlos said. He sat up and then gunned down a Drone making it's way to him. "GO!"

Marcus ran back as his squad held their ground against the horde, when he reached the Raven he looked back.

"I'm not leaving you guys behind again."

He tossed the files up to a Raven gunner.

"Take those back to Command, now!"

"Yes sir!"

As the Raven took off and flew away, Marcus charged back to assist his squad in their final stand. The battle was long and arduous but they seemed to be holding their ground.

"We're winning!" Dom yelled.

"Keep shooting!" Marcus said. As Carlos was gunning down a Grenadier it dropped one live grenade that rolled over to Dom. Carlos jumped up and dove at it.

"Dom! Look out!"

Dom had little time to react as his brother pushed him away and landed on the grenade. It then detonated, splitting Carlos in half and showering Dom in blood.

"NOOOOOOO!" he yelled as he sprayed bullets at the Locust, "YOU MOTHERFUCKERS KILLED MY BROTHER!"

"Sniper!" Adam yelled. But it was too late, the sniper fired and Dom's head exploded in a shower of skull, blood and brain.

"DOM!" Marcus yelled. He span around to see a Savage Drone with a Retro Lancer charge at his dad and then skewer him on the bayonet. He fired and killed the Drone but his dad was dead before he could reach him. Marcus opened fire again and managed to kill a few more Drones when he heard something behind him, he span around and was then looking at General RAAM with his huge knife that killed Lieutenant Kim. RAAM brought then knife back and then thrust forward at Marcus, Marcus shut his eyes for the blow but instead of feeling the knife penetrate his armor and flesh Marcus felt nothing. He opened his eyes and saw that he was no longer in the battle, but in a field in the middle of the night. Then, a voice called to him.

"Marcus Fenix. Do not worry, you are safe now."

"What the hell. Who are you?"

"I am Luna, Princess of the night."

"Show yourself," Marcus said, trying to focus on the voice.

"Very well."

Marcus watched as several stars descended from the sky and settled on what appeared to be a, flowing, dark blue mane and tail. The pinpricks of light then lit up more showing the Princess standing in front of Marcus. She had a very calm look on her face as she approached him, nothing like the first time she laid her eyes on him. Marcus kept his stance and his expression the whole time as she slowly made her way to him.

"How'd you do that?" he asked her.

"Do what?" Luna said.

"My dream, how'd you pull me out of it?"

"I didn't pull you out of it, I stopped it before it got too bad."

"But how did you stop it?"

"It's simple, Marcus. I have the power to enter and alter dreams at my will."

"That's right, you're the Princess of the night. Makes sense that you can do that."

"You are very intelligent, just like your father."

"I'm guessing you can access memories too?"

"Indeed I can, I've seen a lot of your memories since you arrived."

What do you mean?"

Luna sighed and stared off towards the horizon.

"Ever since you arrived here, Marcus, I've felt that there is something great about you. Something that even you do not know about yourself. I've watched your dreams, seen the things you have done, the losses you have suffered. But I know what you are to become in the future."

"Then what am I gonna be?" Marcus asked with great interest.

"Marcus Fenix, you are to become the next Chairman of Sera."

Marcus stood in silence, unblinking and unsure what Luna said was true.

"How the hell can you predict something like that?" he said, "You're not even from our world."

"Ah, but you are capable of commanding with efficiency. You would do anything for your government and your fellow soldiers, do you not feel as if their lives are your responsibility?"

"This is some crazy shit your saying, Luna."

"It may be, but it may also come true as dreams have in the past."

"I don't dream of being the next Chairman. I just want my home planet to be back to normal."

"Then why not lead it to salvation?" Luna said with a small smile on her face. Marcus ground his teeth and looked up at Luna.

"I see what you mean, and I might take it into consideration. But I'm not guaranteeing it."

Suddenly a strange green aura formed behind Luna. Marcus saw it and raised his rifle, Luna turned around and stared in horror as it engulfed her and turned into a bubble. She stared at Marcus and then tried to blast her way free with magic bolts.

"What the hell is going on?" Marcus said, he raised his Lancer and pulled the trigger but the weapon jammed. Marcus tried to clear the jam but the bubble had winked out of existence, along with Princess Luna. He suddenly awoke, lying on the cot he set up before he slept. Marcus then sat up and rubbed his eyes and looked out the window, totally unsure of what happened.

"What the fuck just happened?" he said to the empty air.

He shook it off and decided to go to the mess hall for something to eat. As he made his way through the halls he noticed that there were a lot of Gears patrolling the place. Even though there was a war going on he thought that all this security was a little overzealous, but if was going to deter the Changelings then it was guaranteed to work. He made his way past a couple of Onyx Guards and went over to join his Squad sitting at a large table with a few other ponies. Cole was the first to see him.

"Heyyy, Marcus."

"You sleep well?" Baird asked.

"Not really, I had same dream again."

"Haven't you had that ever since we killed the Locust?" Bernie asked him.

"Yeah, but it was different at the end."

"How's that?" Carmine asked as he stroked Apple Bloom's mane. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle were snuggled up to him, hoping to get some attention from him too.

"I dunno what happened but right at the part where RAAM was going to kill me, Luna showed up and stopped the dream. Then she went on to tell me that I was going to become the next Chairman."

"Okay, that's a little weird," Sam said, "You sure it was her?"

"Positive."

"Next question is what happened next?" Jace asked.

"I dunno. Next thing that happened was that some sort of green mist started to form behind Luna then it turned into a bubble and then engulfed her before disappearing."

"Wow, that's interesting," Anya said, "So you woke up after that?"

"Yep. I don't know if it was real or not, it seemed real."

"That's weird," Baird said. As Marcus went to go get some food, Princess Celestia stopped by the table.

"Good Morning, Delta. Have you seen my sister Luna? She's missing."

"Marcus did," Cole said, "He said she was in his dream or something."

"Hmmm, did he say anything else?"

"Yes, he said that there was some sort of green mist and a bubble that took Luna away."

"Did he say what kind of green it was?"

"Dark," Marcus said, "A dark, almost military green."

"Oh dear," Celestia said, her eyes filling with fear. "She's here, she's close. Get your army ready, NOW!"

And without another word, she bolted from the mess hall, leaving the Gears both perplexed and confused.

Author's Note

Just a little heads up if you didn't read my blog post, this chapter was posted without my knowing but it's been fixed and is now ready to be released. So if you're reading this, then all is well.