War Was All We Knew.

Chapter Seven

Holy shit, that was the funniest thing I had ever seen; Carmine getting wasted by a fucking cake! I can barely breath. Lemme tell you what happened, that Pinkie Pie or whatever, brought out some sorta weird looking cart. She pushed a button and the whole thing sprung open and allowed several attachments to shoot out such as flags and an oven, a fucking oven! I dunno how that's possible but what I do know is that the old gag of throwing baked goods into people's faces still hasn't died out. I know it's wrong to bring this up but the Carmine brothers haven't had too much of a good history in war. Anthony got shot in the head, Benjamin was eaten by parasites in the Riftworm, and then Clayton almost got his head blown off by a cake. That would've been an embarrassing way to go. But it'd still be fucking hilarious.

(Damon Baird expressing his opinion on Clayton Carmine getting shot in the face with a rouge cake.)

***

Still outside Twilight's library.
One minute after Clayton got shot in the face by a half baked vanilla cake.
Why did that have to happen?

"Oops, sorry mister," Pinkie giggled as she helped Carmine brush off the remains of the cake crumbs.

"It's okay, I haven't had cake in a long time," Carmine said as he used his knife to pluck bits of the cake out of the helmet's air filter. "Could you have used chocolate though? I like chocolate more."

"Oh sure, I have a lot of cake where I work."

"You okay Carmine?" Marcus asked as he jogged over to him.

"Never better," Carmine replied.

"Well that was interesting," Anya said.

"I wish I had more for you guys," Pinkie said sadly, "But in the meantime, do you wanna meet my friends?"

"Might as well try and improve our relations with these guys," Bernie said. She shot Baird a glance and he raised his arms questioningly.

"What?"

"You bloody well know what."

"So where are your friends?" Anya asked Pinkie. Pinkie looked into the crowd and tapped her chin.

"I don't know, you already met Twilight but I can't see the others anywhere."

"Maybe they left?" Sam suggested.

"No they'd never do that."

Pinkie scanned the crowd again and then spotted one of her friends. She waved and ran over to them. Delta watched as Pinkie dragged an orange pony with a large rancher hat out of the crowd by their tail.

"Ah'm tellin' ya Pinkie, ah don't wanna meet them."

"Come on AJ, they just wanna say hi."

"Ah don't care. They look like they wanna eat me."

"But they already ate some of the cake, plus they don't look like they want to eat us."

Delta watched the orange pony struggle to escape but Pinkie had a firm hold on her tail. The orange pony looked up at the Gears fearfully and froze. Pinkie deposited the pony in front of Marcus and Anya who stared astounded at her. Marcus cocked his head to one side as Anya leaned down next to the pony who was now shaking with tears forming in her eyes. Anya bit her lower lip and tried to say something to the pony.

"Um...Hello."

The orange pony burst out crying and curled up into a little ball and continued to sob.

"Good start to making friends," Marcus muttered.

"Hey, it's okay," Anya said, "We're not going to hurt you."

"Leave-me-alone!" the pony sobbed.

"Maybe we should leave this one alone for a little bit," Bernie said.

"Hey!" a voice yelled at the Gear, it almost sounded like it was coming from above them. Delta looked up to see a light blue pegasus with a rainbow mane and tail hover above them. "Leave my friends alone!"

"Well this should be interesting," Carmine said. The pegasus flew down and landed square in front of Marcus, she stood up on her hind legs and swung her front hooves around like a boxer.

"You stay away from Applejack you monsters!"

"You can't be serious," Baird muttered.

"Hey, it's okay. We're not here to hurt you or your friend," Anya said.

"Yeah right," the pegasus said.

"Look," Marcus said, his tone shifting to something much more calm and collective. "We're not here to fight we just want to find out more about this place."

"I don't believe you. Give me one reason to not kick your butts."

"Hmm, let me see," Baird said as he tapped his chin, "We're bigger, stronger, well trained and heavily armed Gears with heavy combat armor on. I don"t think that it'd be smart to fight us."

"Easy, Blondie," Bernie said, "We don't want to cause another panic."

The pegasus flew up and stopped at Bernie's eye level, staring daggers into her eyes. Bernie stepped backwards and put one hand up.

"Listen, we can be friends. Just calm down and we can talk."

"I don't think so monster, you don't look like you could win a race against me."

"Why would I want to race you?"

"To show who's best," the pegasus said with a sneer.

"Dash, please calm down. The humans have got some powerful weapons on them," Twilight said.

"Oh yeah?" The pegasus asked Twilight, "Like what?"

"That spiky weapon next to your face is one of them."

The pegasus looked back towards Bernie and saw the teeth of the Lancer's chainsaw staring right back at her. The pegasus dropped out of the air like a rock and scooted back behind the orange pony.

"Wha-what is that?" the pegasus stammered.

"This," Baird said as he stepped up next to Bernie, "Is the Mark Two Lancer. This is the primary weapon of the Gears."

"But why are there spikes on it?" Twilight asked.

"Because it's a chainsaw as well as an assault rifle. Care to show them Bernie?"

"I don't think that's a good idea," Bernie said.

"No no no," Twilight said, "I want to study your race later, I need to see as much as I can before I can get something to write with."

"You sure that you want us to do this?"

"Yes, please go on."

Bernie sighed and flicked on the Lancer's chainsaw power switch. As much as she thought that this was a bad idea, she had to do it in order to establish some sort of diplomatic relation with the ponies. Not that revving the chainsaw of the Lancer would be a good start but at least it was something. Bernie blipped the chainsaw a few times then let out a few second burst of power. The ponies all stepped back and watched in amazement as the blade of the saw span and shimmered in the sunlight. Bernie stopped and saw that the ponies had all backed up and the orange one has stopped crying to watch.

"And that," Baird said, startling Bernie, "Was the Mark Two Lancer Chainsaw. Any questions?"

None of the ponies raised a hoof.

"Good," Baird said, he then muttered, "I really hate talking to these freaks."

"It's okay," Anya said, "We are not here to hurt you, we just want to get to know you better."

"Come on everypony!" Pinkie yelled, "They aren't monsters, just misunderstood."

"What the hell's that supposed to mean?" Carmine asked.

The ponies all looked at each other and slowly approached the Gears, Pinkie kept ushering them forward with her cheerful tone and that did ease the frightened ponies. But it still didn't hide the massive weapons that Delta was carrying. Twilight smiled a little and then looked up to Marcus.

"I think we should get reacquainted," she said holding out a hoof, "Hi, my name is Twilight Sparkle."

Marcus hesitated at first but he took the tiny hoof in his hand and shook.

"Marcus Fenix," he said. Twilight gave a small smile as Marcus shook her hoof. Marcus saw that she was staring at his hand once more and his expression relaxed a little. "Still fascinated about my hand?"

"Yes, very," Twilight said. Marcus paid no heed to Twilight but tried to get her to let go of his hand. Twilight realized this and let go, giggling somewhat. Marcus gave her a friendly nod and went back to observing the squad. Currently, Bernie and Sam were being interviewed by a white unicorn with three diamonds on its flanks and a purple mane and tail, Marcus walked over so he could hear what they were talking about. He stopped because he didn't understand what conversation was going on between them, it sounded like they were talking about the latest Tyran fashion. Gear armor.

"So is this what your kind wears?" the unicorn asked.

"Not all of us, just the Gears," Bernie explained.

"So what is all this apparel made of?"

"A mix of tungsten steel, kevlar and titanium," Sam said, "It's relatively bulletproof."

"Hmmm, looks hideous to me," the Unicorn said as she paced around Bernie and Sam. She then stopped and looked up, seeing Marcus she shook her head. "I cannot believe that you have to all wear such uncomfortable clothes."

"I'd rather wear this than get a bullet wound," Marcus replied.

"But all that looks so heavy, how do you move in it?"

"You get used to it."

The unicorn suddenly put a hoof to her face and shook her head.

"Do excuse me, where are my manners? I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Rarity, I own Carousel Boutique."

"What's that?" Bernie asked.

"It's an amazing designer shop where I can make the greatest clothes Equestria has ever seen!" Rarity exclaimed.

"Sounds nice."

"Oh it is. Many famous ponies have come and bought stuff that I created from my shop! I have never been so proud of myself."

"So Rarity," Sam said sitting on a stump in front of the unicorn, "Do you have any other family members?"

"I do, most of them are around Equestria aside from my little sister."

"Okay, where's she then?"

Rarity looked around and spotted Anya and Carmine talking with a trio of fillies, one of which was a white unicorn like Rarity aside from her mane and tail being a light pink and purple rather than dark purple. Marcus stood back and listened to them.

"So what are your names?" Anya asked the slightly nervous fillies. Rarity's little sister cowered behind an an orange pegasus filly as a pony filly shakily stepped forwards.

"Mah-mah name's Apple Bloom."

"Apple Bloom?" Carmine repeated.

"That's a very sweet name," Anya said softly.

"Th-thank you." Apple Bloom said. Carmine crouched down beside Anya and held his hand out to the pegasus filly.

"It's okay, I'm not gonna hurt you."

"Are-are you sure?" the pegasus asked. Carmine nodded and the pegasus slowly walked forward into Carmine's outstretched hand. She allowed him to gently stroke her mane unto which Carmine took hold of her ear between his thumb and forefinger and started rubbing the filly's ear, which caused the filly to make a small, satisfied sound.

"Yeahhhhh," she said, "That feels so nice."

"You like that?" Carmine asked. The filly nodded in reply, Carmine nodded and kept up rubbing the filly's ear. "So what's your name?"

"Scootaloo, yours?"

"Clayton Carmine."

"Cool name."

"Yours isn't bad either."

Scootaloo giggled and gently pushed Carmine's hand away. She looked back and then pulled the unicorn over who froze up and started shaking.

"This is Sweetie Belle," Scootaloo said, nodding towards the unicorn filly. "She's my other best friend."

"Hi there," Carmine said to Sweetie Belle. The unicorn teared up and curled up on the ground.

"Please don't eat meeeee!" she cried. Scootaloo sat down next to Sweetie Belle and tried to comfort her.

"It's okay, Sweetie. He's good, he won't hurt you."

"I don't care! He scares me!"

"It's okay," Carmine said as he got Sweetie Belle's attention, "I promise I won't hurt you."

Sweetie Belle looked up and saw Carmine's open, outstretched hand in front of her. She slowly sat up and placed her front hooves in Carmine's palm. She looked at his hand and then up to Carmine's emotionless helmet, even though she couldn't tell that he was smiling she grinned and giggled a little.

"Your hoof is all funny," she said. Carmine smiled under his helmet and closed his fingers around Sweetie Belle's hooves making her recoil and then giggle again.

"What was that?" Scootaloo asked.

"What? I only just closed my fingers," Carmine said.

"Fingers?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Yes, that's what the appendages on the end of my hand are called."

"Hands?" Scootaloo said, "Is that what you call your front hooves?"

Carmine nodded and looked up to see Anya, Jace and Apple Bloom, the filly was on her back while Anya rubbed Apple Bloom's stomach, making her laugh and roll around. Jace was standing behind Anya, smiling too.

"That's pretty damn cute."

Meanwhile in the back of the crowd, Cole and Baird were with the blue, rainbow maned pegasus along with a yellow pegasus with a pink mane and tail. The yellow pegasus was cowering behind the other pegasus who was trying to look tough but was still shaking like a leaf.

"You-you-you stay back!" she stammered.

"Hey, come on. I ain't gonna hurt you," Cole said. The yellow pegasus squeaked and shuffled back, in response Cole shifted his weight to one knee and crouched down next to the pegasus. "You wanna tell me your name?"

"You tell us yours first," the blue pegasus said.

"My name's Augustus Cole. I'm more famously known as the Cole Train."

"B-b-b-but you don't l-l-l-l-look like a s-s-s-s-steam locomotive," the yellow pegasus stammered.

"It's my Thrashball name, baby. They called me that because I was unstoppable. Whooo!"

The two pegasi recoiled and then looked at each other.

"So who's the other one?" The blue pegasus asked.

"That's Baird, best you stay away from him."

"Good," Baird snapped, "I'm not talking to freaky talking pony things."

"I...um...that's not nice...mister..." the yellow pegasus said.

"Yeah! What makes you think that you can speak to us like that?" the blue pegasus demanded.

"Because I've been through a lot of shit and I don't want to end up insane from talking to you anomalies."

"He's not very friendly is he?" the blue pegasus whispered to Cole.

"Yeah, but he's okay once you get to know him. So what are your names?"

"I'm Rainbow Dash," the blue pegasus said.

"I'm F-F-F-Fluttershy," the yellow pegasus said. Cole smiled and offered the two an outstretched hand, Rainbow Dash hesitated and then walked forward into Cole's open hand. She allowed him to stroke her mane and then realizing that he wasn't going to hurt her she walked closer so that Cole could hug her around her neck.

"Hey thanks," Dash said.

"No problem," Cole replied, "I've always wanted to hug a horsey."

"Hey, I'm a pegasus."

"Sorry," Cole said. He then looked up and saw Fluttershy had stood up and was looking up at Cole and Dash, he was surprised to see that she was smiling. Cole held out an arm and ushered her over. "Come on Shy, you wanna join in the hugs too?"

Fluttershy squeaked and ran into Cole's open arm where she embraced the Gear and giggled.

"Awww, ain't you the cute one?" Cole said.

"Thank you Mr. Cole," Fluttershy said. Baird looked over his shoulder and saw the ponies cuddling with Cole, he groaned and sat down on a tree stump.

"I wonder where I can throw up?"

"Hey, come on Baird. No need to be like that."

"You know that I'm not enjoying this."

"Why Mr. Baird?" Twilight said as she walked over with Marcus.

"Because I don't like being in this girly world," Baird snapped back, "It fucking sucks and I wanna just get back to fixing Ravens and shit."

"What?"

"He wants to fix up machines," Marcus said.

"Like what?" Twilight asked.

"Anything!" Baird barked.

"Would fixing a parade float make you happy?"

Baird looked up and then to Twilight and then cocked his head to one side. He looked like he was mulling over what to do when he suddenly stood up and walked over to Twilight.

"Show me to the machines," he said.

Twilight led the still irritated but a much less bitter Baird to what looked like a workshop in the center of the town and showed him inside. Baird looked around the place and saw that it was packed with engine parts, broken machinery, and various tools to work with. Baird nodded and cracked his knuckles.

"Okay, show me to the broken shit."

Twilight led Baird to a large dilapidated float that was made to look like a large basket of fruit. Baird let out an irritated grunt and then he walked around it, looking for something appealing about the float.

"So what's up with it?" Twilight asked him.

"How the hell should I know?" Baird said, "You said that you knew what was up with this piece of shit."

"No I didn't, I asked if you wanted to fix up one of our floats."

"Well then how the hell am I supposed to do that without any information on what's wrong with it?"

"I thought that you were smart."

"I am smart!" Baird shot back as he stormed over to Twilight, "You just haven't seen what I can do with a wrench and all the stuff I dug up on the Locust. I friggin researched them ever since they first popped out of the ground and I managed to help save Sera from being wiped out."

Twilight looked at Baird quizzically as she took in what he just said.

"You study other species too?"

"Um, yeah. Why? Is that a big thing here?"

"Well, I also have been studying and researching other Equestrian species but I've never had the chance to study something like you before."

"I'm not an idiot Twilight," Baird said, "I know what you're gonna say next and the answer is no."

"Awww, pleassssssssse?" Twilight begged, "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I really think that it'll help Princess Celestia understand your kind better."

"Well if you want to learn about Sera and humans then go and study the others, I need to figure out how to fix this scrapheap."

Twilight left Baird alone, a few curses drifted through the door as Twilight left but she didn't know what they meant. All she could guess was that it was normal.

"But what if it's some sort of old human dialect?" Twilight thought. She nodded as she came up with the idea on how she was going to greet the Gears next time she saw them.

Back at the Library, Carmine had gotten the Raven fired up and was loading up Jack, Jace and Sam for transport back to Command HQ. The Raven's rotors hadn't started up yet but the hum of the engine was present and somewhat relaxing. Twilight saw Delta all gathered up around the Raven, she could see that they were talking and she wanted to find out and see if they'd like her new greeting. She smiled and trotted over to the squad, hoping to strengthen the relationship between their races. Delta didn't notice as she trotted over and take in a breath.

"What's up, motherfuckers?"