War Was All We Knew.

Chapter Six

They were all there, just huddled in a circle as they walked over to Shining Armor. Each of them looked to be several hooves tall and they were all coated in some strange sort of armor that I've never seen before, the things they held in their hands were shiny. A few looked like they had spikes on the underside of them. As I watched the Canterlot Guards surround them one of the monsters looked up and pointed the strange pole thing at Twilight's library, a flash of light and a loud boom followed, almost deafening me. I guessed that this was a weapon of some weird origin and I dove on Dinkie to protect her but there were no more sounds until Princess Celestia turned up and had those weird weapons up and spitting fire at her. But after that I ran away with my daughter and hid in the post office until it had quieted down. We came back out and saw the ponies of Ponyville running, screaming, fainting and being sick as they looked at the side of the big metal monster. I couldn't see the side they were on which makes me wonder what they had seen to create such horrible reactions.

(Ditzy "Derpy" Hooves describing the encounter of Delta Squad from her point of view.)

***

Outside Twilight Sparkle's library.
One hour and ten minutes into mission.
Status on friendly relationships with ponies: Fucked because of Baird. Nice going, asshole...

Celestia stood agape with Shining after Jack's projector shut off and the little robot hovered over to Baird.

"Look at that, we've gone and scared them now," Bernie said.

"I don't think that this'll go down well later," Anya stated. Marcus grunted and poked Celestia in the side of her head. No reaction. Cole, Jace, and Sam also tried to coax the stunned ponies out of their stupor.

"Shit, we're gonna need a lotta smelling salts," Cole said.

"Or I could try something," Baird suggested.

"What are you think of Blondie?" Bernie asked. Baird started to fiddle with Jack, a sort of wry and mischievous smile on his face.

"Just trust me on this."

Jack's projector started up again and the bot faced the Raven again. This time the footage was not any interviews of Gears or combat footage. This time the footage was footage of Delta Squad when they were in the inside the body of the Riftworm after the sinking of Ilima city. The footage ran a whole half hour, ending with the sawing of the Riftworm's arteries and the escape from the body of the Riftworm after it died. As Delta sawed their way out of the worm and fell out along with a tidal wave of blood the ponies were shocked out of their frozen state and started to run around screaming. Some fainted while others promptly vomited just from the site of the blood. Baird stood back and let Jack's little horror show play out before the bot stopped the projector and then cloaked. Delta stood by as the ponies all ran off, fainted or were sick in plants and behind bushes. Marcus shot a glance at Baird who shrugged in reply.

"What?" he asked. Bernie strode over to him and slapped him upside the back of the head. "Ow, what the fuck Granny?"

"Great going tosser, now the whole fucking mission is over."

Marcus grunted and then looked to the crowd, most of them had ran off, taking the ones who had fainted with them. The soldiers were all trying to clean their armor of both vomit and terrified piss. He shook his head and then walked over to Celestia with Anya.

"Do you think this'll end up like Vetres?" Anya asked.

"I hope not," Marcus grimly replied. The two walked over to Celestia and saw her frozen.

"Princess Celestia?" Marcus said.

"Princess, are you okay?"

Princess Celestia's face turned sickly green as a response. Before Marcus could say 'shit' she had bolted into Twilight's library and then disappeared. Anya could only guess what had happened to Celestia.

"I don't think they're going to like us here," Anya said.

"Well, maybe not Baird," Cole said loudly. Baird flinched and then received another swat on the back of the head from Bernie. Cole let out a laugh and then walked over to the remaining crowd of ponies who backed up in fear. Cole set his Lancer down and then picked up a ball that had been dropped.

"Who's is this?" Cole said as he held up the ball. One small colt emerged from a group of ponies and looked up at the ball in Cole's hand. Cole saw the colt and crouched down next to him and held the ball in front of him.

"This yours?" he asked with a smile. The colt nodded and stood a little taller.

"Thank you mister," the colt said.

"Hey, call me Cole. What's your name anyways?"

"Thrash," the colt said. Cole leaned back and smiled.

"Thrash? Damn awesome name you have there. You play Thrashball?"

"What's Thrashball?" Thrash asked. Cole stood up and rubbed the back of his head.

"How have you not heard of Thrashball?"

"Because they're not from our planet," Baird said as he walked over to Cole. Thrash yelped and bolted behind a few larger ponies, still clutching his ball.

"Looks like they're still afraid of you," Sam said as she walked over to him.

"No I just think that it saw you walk over and saw your hidden personality," Baird retorted.

"Well at least I didn't show off the footage of Marcus ripping a giant worm's arteries apart with my Lancer," Sam shot back. Baird was about to say something back when the door to the Library opened and Celestia walked out.

"I do apologize, I've never done that before."

"What? Vomit?" Cole asked, "Baby, I did that a lot when I was on a Raven."

"Yeah, you fucking coated me in your shit once," Baird said.

"Well you shouldn't have gotten in the way of the blast zone."

Celestia let out a weak chuckle and got the attention of the bickering Gears.

"I appreciate you trying to cheer me up but there is no need," she said, "Now, might I ask who is in charge of your little group?"

"That would be me," Bernie said, "I'm the senior officer."

"Ah good. Now can I ask you something else?"

"Yes?"

"Who is in charge of your settlement?"

"What do you mean? You mean where we come from?"

"Yes, something like that," Celestia said.

"Well Chairman Hoffman is in charge of the COG now," "After Prescott died we re-established the Coalition and Hoffman became the new Chairman."

"May I meet this, Chairman Hoffman?"

"Sure, after we can establish communications with Command."

"If I might interrupt," Marcus said stepping forward, "Can I ask a couple things regarding you, Princess?"

"Yes?"

"The first was when we were shooting you, how are you not dead?"

"Oh that's simple, I created a shield to protect me from your weapons."

"Created a shield?" Baird asked.

"Yes, I have the ability to create protective barriers," Celestia replied. Marcus was about to ask how but decided to hold off until there was a possibility of getting some of the COG in Ponyville to study and research the place. He went on to the other question.

"We shot at you and endangered the entire town. How come you stood down after Baird's joke?"

"Hey! That was a statement!"

Celestia leaned closer to Marcus and Bernie and spoke quietly so that only they could hear.

"If I may say this, I thought that the joke was funny but this...Baird character is rather rude and he seems very sullen, self centered and annoying."

"You just listed all his best features," Bernie whispered back.

"But the reason I was relaxed and backed off was because I was afraid, your weapons are absolutely terrifying and I knew that you could easily take over the whole of Equestria if you wanted to."

"Ugh, I've had enough of bloody wars."

"Why is that?"

"We've been fighting on our world for almost ninety years," Marcus said, "This is the longest that we have gone without having a major enemy to fight. First it was the UIR then it was the Locust and then the Lambent, we never seem to get a break from wars. It's all we know, and it cost me everything."

"I know how you feel, Marcus Fenix," Celestia said, placing a hoof on his shoulder, "We also are at war so to speak."

"Goddamn it!" Marcus yelled, "Can we ever get a break from all the fucking fighting and dying?"

Celestia recoiled and took her hoof off of Marcus.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you."

Marcus let out a disgruntled sigh and looked back up at Celestia, he adjusted the hold on his Lancer.

"No need to be, it's just been a long time since we had any peace and we really need that peace to fix up our home planet."

"Maybe we can help each other out," Celestia said. Bernie and Marcus looked at her perplexedly.

"Where are you going with this?" Bernie asked. Celestia gave a small smile and leaned down closer to the Gears.

"Well, your race is very experienced with war and since we are currently in the middle of one I was thinking that you would be able to fight for us and in return we would help you rebuild your world."

Marcus and Bernie stood fast and didn't speak for several seconds, they just glared at Celestia until she broke the silence.

"What?" she asked.

"You want us, a bunch of Gears who you barely know and who just fought for friggin years, to become your fucking lapdogs?" Bernie said.

"If lapdogs are what your race calls mercenaries then yes."

"No, fuck that," Marcus said, "We are not gonna fight anymore, we're goddamn sick of it!"

"I don't want you to fight, I want you to scare the enemy."

Marcus had turned and walked a few steps but stopped when Celestia said what she wanted him to do. Scare off the enemy? Why would she want that instead of crushing them with brute force? More importantly, who were the enemy? Marcus looked to Bernie and saw that she had the 'why-don't-we-ask-her-more?' face, something that she had just recently started to use. Marcus jogged back over and shifted the weight of the Lancer in his arms.

"What do you mean 'scare them off'?" Bernie asked.

"And who are you fighting anyway?" Marcus added. Celestia let out a disgruntled sigh and turned to face the horizon.

"Didn't Prescott used to do that?" Cole asked.

"Yeah, every single time he had to say something just to get our attention and make himself look important," Baird replied.

Celestia didn't hear them and started to speak.

"For the past month we have been at war with the Changelings led by Queen Chrysalis. Ever since we defeated them at the Royal Wedding they have become much more violent and have attacked several towns and villages, we have tried everything we can to stop them but a lot of my brave soldiers have been injured in the fighting. This is why I need you Marcus Fenix and Bernadette Mataki, you said that your kind has been fighting for as long as you can remember. I need your experience to help us fight the Changelings or at least train my soldier to fight like you."

"I don't think that'll go down well," Baird muttered.

"So you want us to either fight for you or train your soldiers?" Marcus asked. Celestia nodded and turned her head so that she could look at Marcus out of the corner of her eye.

"I will ask you once more, you may refuse if you wish. Marcus Fenix, will you and your race help Equestria in the war against the Changelings?"

Bernie didn't miss a beat.

"What's in it for us?"

"We help you rebuild your world."

"And how are you gonna do that?" Baird said as he walked over with Cole.

"Simple. I can gather ponies who are willing to help and we can fix up your planet."

"Have you seen what we have done to the place in all those years of fighting?" Marcus asked.

"I will see it if you decide to help us in defeating the Changelings."

"You're trying to bloody swindle us aren't you?" Sam said.

"I'm not trying to 'swindle' you, more of trying to 'convince' you."

Marcus growled and Baird leaned closer to him.

"I have an idea," he whispered, "Why don't we call in the rest of the COG to convince her to back off and not use us as her personal Gears?"

Marcus's scowl dropped and he gave Baird a nod. He didn't want anything else to do with fighting, he had lost too much and if they accepted this they could jeopardize the future of Sera and the rest of mankind.

"Seems crazy enough to work."

"Oh it will, don't you remember the reaction we got from just us when we came out of the Library? Now imagine that multiplied by about a thousand. They'll have to agree to our terms."

"Anyone else agree we go with Baird's idea?"

Delta agreed to go with the plan, aside from the few sarcastic comments, Baird seem genuinely proud of himself. But it wasn't too much to be proud of, there was still no way of getting the COG in to Equestria nor was there any radio communication. The only proof of Delta being in Equestria was Jack and the recorded files of everything that he had seen through his photoreceptors and cameras so if they wanted the COG to follow them, then Jack would have to go back to Command to have the files extracted. Marcus didn't like having to give up their bot but Command, and more importantly Chairman Hoffman, had to see this. Marcus drummed his fingers on his Lancer before coming up with a decision.

"Carmine, take Sam, Jace, and Jack back to Command. They need to see what Jack's got on his files so that they can brief the COG forces that are coming here."

"What? How come we have to go with Carmine?" Jace asked.

"Because this place in at war right now and we can't risk losing Jack to the enemy in case they get critical information from him," Marcus replied.

"But hasn't Jack only got what's been going on in this mission only?" Sam said.

"Actually no," Baird said, "Jack's get a lot of important Locust information and battle strategies. We don't know what those 'Changelings' really are but there's no telling what they could do with that kind of information. It's best that you go with Carmine in case those things decide to try and get Jack, not that they will because they barely have any technology here and there's no way they could crack Jack's files without some sort of super computer."

Sam nodded and smiled.

"That's nice of you Baird, you didn't try any say anything else."

"Nah, I'm saving it until you leave."

Sam shot Baird a sly smile. Baird smiled back but then movement in the corner of his eye made him spin around and raise his Lancer. He kept his sights trained on a pink object bouncing around behind the other ponies. He had no idea what it was but it seemed that he was the only one who saw the pink object, Baird was about to open fire when a loud voice make him stop.

"Hey! Freaky monster things!" it yelled. Delta turned around and saw the pink object.

"What the hell is that?" Marcus asked. Twilight walked over to him and smiled.

"I was wondering when she would show up," Twilight said.

"Who's 'she'?"

"One of my friends, she's really nice once you get to know her."

"But who is she?"

Twilight smiled as the pink object pushed its way through the crowd until it revealed that it was a pink pony with a box on it's head.

"Who's that?" Cole asked. Before Twilight could answer the pink pony spoke up.

"Hi monsters! My name is Pinkie Pie!"

Delta stared at Pinkie until Baird said something.

"Well then...This is weird."

"Does she usually act like this?" Bernie asked Twilight.

"Yep, that's Pinkie for you. Our resident party pony knows when there are any newcomers. She actually was the first to see your big metal transport thing."

"So what's she doing here?" Marcus asked.

"Probably going to give you a welcome cake."

"A welcome cake?" Anya said. Cole let out a chuckle and stepped forward.

"A cake, damn. Hell, I'll go for anything now I'm that hungry."

Pinkie trotted over to Delta, a small box balanced on her head and a large grin on her face. Even the presence of eight heavily armed and armored Gears, Pinkie could easily retain her pleasant cheerfulness and overzealously happy personality.

"Helloooo monsters!"

"Um...what?" Baird said.

"We ain't monsters," Jace said.

"Oh, well what are you then?" Pinkie asked.

"We're called humans," Sam said. Pinkie cocked her head to one side and then smiled and nodded.

"Ohhhh. Okay okay. Lemme start again."

"You can't be serious," Baird muttered. Pinkie cleared her throat and started again.

"Hellooooooo humans! Welcome to Ponyville. I brought you a cake."

Pinkie leaned forward so that Marcus could take it. He took hold of the box and Pinkie bowed and backed up. Marcus stared at her and then slowly opened up the box, inside was a small cake with 'Welcome to Ponyville' written on it in bright pink icing.

"Awwww, now ain't that cute?" Cole said. He went to reach for a piece when Baird stopped him.

"Hold up Cole. Be careful with that, we have no idea what's in it."

"Come on Baird, lighten up a little," Sam said as she scooped up a part of the cake.

"Yeah Blondie," Bernie said, "It's just a little bit of cake."

"Yeah, well, don't come crying to me when you're shitting out blood."

Most of Delta had gotten a piece of the cake and were about to eat it when Pinkie got their attention.

"Waitwaitwait!" she said, "I forgot to give you the Welcome Song."

"What welcome song?" Marcus asked.

"Oh dear," Twilight said.

Pinkie darted off, leaving a cloud of dust that comically took the shape of her form before being blown away. The Gears looked at each other then back to Pinkie as she was pushing a small cart. It didn't look special, just what almost looked like trunk on wheels with a few frilly decorations. Pinkie motioned the Gears forward which they did, clearly confused about what this thing was.

"So what now?" Jace asked. Before anyone could answer him Pinkie pressed a small button on the side of the cart and it instantly sprung open. Flags of many colors, trumpets, chimneys that looked like candy canes, baked goods and even a open popped out of the inside of the cart, taking Delta by surprise.

"HOLY SHIT!" Baird yelled. Pinkie took no notice of Baird's surprised outburst and started her little Welcome Song as she danced and pranced around the cart and the Gears.

"Welcome welcome welcome, a fine welcome to you. Welcome welcome welcome, I say how do you do?"

"God, my fucking head hurts," Marcus grunted.

"My ears are gonna start bleeding soon," Baird said.

"Welcome welcome welcome, I say hip-hip hooray. Welcome welcome welcome, to Ponyville, tooodaaaaaaaaaay!"

Pinkie ended with a slide before stopping just in front of Marcus. She was grinning and nodding towards the cart.

"Wait for itttt."

"Wait for what?" Marcus asked. Suddenly the chimneys blasted out a heavy stream of confetti coating the Gears.

"What the hell was that?!" Bernie yelled.

"Just a little confetti," Pinkie said, "Now for the cake."

"Um, is it supposed to be doing that?" Carmine asked as he pointed to the cart which was shaking violently. Delta watched as it rocked back and forth before the front of the oven blasted open and a large cake shot out of the oven and hit Carmine directly in the face. He flew backwards and landed on his back and stayed still.

"Carmine!" Marcus yelled. This seemed to stir Carmine, he sat up and wiped some of the cake off his helmet. He looked up to the sky and brushed himself off.

"Mmmm, vanilla. My favorite."