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- >The other clones are taking off. Leaving you and the mane 6.
- >Some battlefield cleanup has taken place. Mostly just clones salvaging weapons and
- >munitions. Currently you’re wrapping Chrysalis body in a tarp for transport. Twilight
- >and Rarity are both giving you a hand, twilight holding the body up, while Rarity ties it off.
- >Dash and Flutters were still somewhere in the wreckage, you trusted them.
- >Pinkie and AJ were pulling out little bits and bobs the clones left behind, keeping anything
- >they thought might be useful. Nopony speaks much, just little snippits of mandatory
- >conversation. Eventually you finish wrapping the body, the ponies climb up into the
- >technical as you take your place in the driver’s seat.
- >It’s a long drive.
- >You’ve been going for maybe about seven hours now.
- >The ponies fall asleep, there’s an incredibly sad atmosphere hanging over the group.
- >Flutters stirs next to you, absent mindedly you reach down and rub the back of her head.
- >She nuzzles her head into your hand. You nearly break into tears. You can feel it, there is
- >no good ending in store for you. You haven’t noticed but your hand has begun to tremble.
- >Flutters wakes at this, she doesn’t move immediately, just opens her bright blue eyes and
- >looks up at you. You know that expression, it’s a question.
- “I… I don’t know why… but I just have this feeling that this is a vain effort.”
- >She shifts her body to rest her head on your thigh, you can feel her head bob as you
- >manipulate the pedals of the technical.
- >”t’s okay, you can tell me.”
- >You sigh, breath in, breath out.
- “The crown isn’t going to let the clones stay in this world. I don’t really think they’re fond of
- Me either. I… I don’t trust them… I know most of you see them as some sort of mentor figure… but I dunno, something has gotta give.”
- >”I wouldn’t worry too much.”
- >She nuzzles into your side, feels good.
- >You raise your arm, and pull her in close, she doesn’t complain, rather smiles slightly and
- >gets comfy.
- >”I don’t think anything’s going to happen.”
- “Why?”
- >”It would be a political disaster.”
- “Wait, what?”
- >She pushes off of you slightly a surprised expression on her face.
- >”You didn’t read the news paper we sent you.
- “Er, no. I was busy and it kind of left my frame of mind.”
- >You were drunk and forgot about it. Same thing right?
- >”Oh, well… I won’t spoil the surprise.”
- >She grins at this remark.
- >Christ that drive wiped you out, well good thing you’re not driving anymore.
- >You were being taken by train to Canterlot giving you lots of time to sleep and recover.
- >Unfortunately you were much larger than the ponies, and had to sit on the floor.
- >Didn’t matter, it was still a welcome rest. You used this time to read the paper Shy was
- >talking about. You made the front page
- “Human Volunteer Army Fighting Changelings on Our Behalf!”
- >Well that wasn’t true, but the whole thing made you out to be a national hero
- >There were a couple of pictures from the Las Pegasus staging area
- “Two human soldiers and a ‘technical’”
- >Just two clones in front of a technical having a cigarette.
- “A human soldier shows our camera man his issued equipment”
- >This one was actually impressive. It was #4 standing next to a tarp where he had laid out
- >everything he was carrying.
- “Human scouts return from patrol with casualties”
- >It’s an RX-7 coming back in to the staging area, the gunner is dead and slumped over the
- >front of his PKM. You’re rather surprised by the light the newspaper paints you in, it would
- >be political suicide to do anything against you, well physically at least.
- >”Anon?”
- “oh, right.”
- >You lower the newspaper as Fluttershy hands you a tea. Ever since you offed chrysalis she
- >hasn’t left you. It wasn’t odd, or off putting, it was actually really comforting.
- “Thank you.”
- >once you take the tea she sits down, lies back, and closes her eyes.
- >You go back to the paper, hey lookie here; they even mention you by name.
- “tap tap tap”
- >You put the paper back down.
- “Yes, come in.”
- >The door slides to the side.
- >It’s Twilight.
- “Yes?”
- >”So, I never really got a response from you about the mortars?”
- >You chuckle and take a sip of your tea.
- “They were fantastic. Thank you.”
- >The train pulls up to Canterlot station.
- >#1 is already on the platform waiting for you. He hails you as your group exits the train.
- >”Good to see you’re here”
- “Did the courier arrive yet?
- >”Yeah, a couple hours ago
- “Right then, lead the way.”
- >#1 leads you through the city streets with relative ease. On the wider streets technicals sit,
- >often surrounded by clones smoking or playing cards. You brought the entire army here…
- >as a failsafe
- >Oddly enough you sport more than a few clones and ponies interacting with each other.
- >It’s a very different picture than the one that sparked this journey. The citizens of Canterlot
- >didn’t seem to mind these humans, rather they seemed excited and welcoming.
- >You follow #1 into the main throughway, a wide avenue that leads straight through the
- >town and to the castle. The middle of the Avenue is taken up entirely by technicals and
- >RX-7s, oddly enough the clones seemed to have developed something of a trading hub in
- >the middle, bartering for cigarettes and liquor, exchanging ammunition and money.
- >”Hey #1… what’s happening over yonder?”
- >AJ points to the castle gates. There’s a crowd of ponies about five deep, all holding signs
- >and chanting angrily at the castle.
- >#1 clears his throat before responding.
- >”It’s a protest, lots of Canterlot natives want to see all clones receive citizenship for their
- >work.”
- >This is going to go poorly, you already know it.
- >The mane 6 separate from you and head on inside the Castle.
- >#1 leads you to the center of the column, this is where the most tarps have been set up,
- >making both an eating and a trading area. Surprisingly enough, you see some of the more
- >posh Canterlot citizens are here trading with some of the humans. Mostly trading things
- >like liquor or bits for changeling horns or bits of chitin. Either way, the clones working the
- >booth see you and #1. They immediately reach behind them and pull out a large tarp
- >wrapped corpse. Before you can turn away, the clone hands you a pack of cigarettes
- >before saying.
- >”hey, good job man.”
- >You nod and turn to be on your way.
- >Within a couple minutes you’re standing behind the protesters at Canterlot castle.
- “#1?”
- >”yeah”
- “give me your Makarov… and your pen flare.”
- >”huh?”
- “I don’t trust them, last time I was here I got roped into this war.”
- >”ah, say no more.”
- >With that #1 hands you his Makarov and a spare mag. You put this in your right boot, and
- >cover the area with the pant leg. The pen flare you tuck into your waistband.
- >You make your way through the crowd, once the guards see you they open the gate.
- >Same as last time they take your Mossberg, knife, and 1911. You have to try hard not to
- >smile. As your lead to the throne room.
- >You are let into the throne room, it’s empty but you are told to wait.
- >Once the guard closes the door you promptly move your Makarov to the small
- >of your back. You begin to hear ‘s’ noises, someone’s talking but you just can’t quite make
- >it out. You follow the voices until you reach the back of the throne room. You press your
- >ear against the wall.
- >”Luna, I can’t let you do this.”
- >”Why not? Those chimps are changing our culture.”
- >”Let’s just follow through with our original agreement and put it behind us.”
- >”And let them integrate into our society. We won’t let these pungent brutes change us
- >any more!”
- >”Sister. You’re being unreasonable… again.”
- >You hear the throne room doors open, it’s the mane 6. Unfortunately for you.
- >Pinkie calls out “Whatcha ya listening to Anon!”
- >Luna and Celestia go silent.
- >The wall you’re leaning on explodes outward, tossing you across the room.
- >Your heads spinning, everything is ringing, and you are only slightly aware of the navy blue
- >hoof pinning you down. There’s a good deal of shouting going on. You quickly put yourself
- >back together. Luna has you pinned down, and is arguing back and forth with her sister.
- >The six seem mostly confused or scared.
- >Alright you’re back in the game now.
- >You saw this double cross coming, but you are pissed.
- >While Luna has her head turned to her sister, you grab a bit of masonry that made the trip
- >with you. She turns her head back to you, horn aglow. That’s when you swing your brick.
- >It connects with the side of her head, causing her to tumble off of you. You scramble to
- >your feet, draw your pen flare, and shoot it through a stained glass window.
- >You are now #1.
- >Being a clone is weird, but you’ve reached the point where you are a spate personality
- >now, so it’s not as bad as it used to be.
- >In the beginning you enjoyed the idea of being put back into the reflecting pool.
- >You didn’t see it as death, rather, you saw it as a return home.
- >Now however, you’ve developed a taste for life.
- >You hear a couple of clones murmur and point up.
- >You follow the finger, there’s a red flare flying in a high arc over Canterlot.
- >Without hesitation you climb on top of the nearest technical and call out.
- “Men! It’s time!
- >There’s a series of shouts and calls as engines start and the news spreads.
- >You are Anon again.
- >You drop the pen flare and draw your Makarov.
- >Unfortunately Luna’s already up again.
- >Celestia tries to step in
- >”Luna! Anon! Please just listen to me.”
- >Nope! You raise and fire, three quick rounds.
- >The rounds never reach their target.
- >The instead ricochet off the air between you and Luna.
- >Now you see it, a thin yellow film between the two of you.
- >Magic, this shit is getting annoying.
- >Celestia glares at you.
- >While her attention is focused on you, Luna hits her square in the chest with a bolt of
- >magic. The mane 6 at this point reach full panic mode, with twilight getting the worst of it,
- >and crowd around Celestia. You use the distraction, dropping the Makarov and picking up a
- >piece of rebar taken out by the earlier explosion. You assume that bullets are going to
- >remain useless against magic shields of bullshit.
- >You sprint the distance between the two of you, raise your weapon.
- >Luna fires another bolt at you. For a split second your vision goes white.
- >You can feel the searing pain on your left shoulder and cheek.
- >But you don’t stop, you swing your rebar. This time you connect with her neck
- >She goes down again. You raise for another swing, but not before she looks back at you
- >and fires another bolt. Reflexively you stumble back, however the bolt of magic shatters
- >against a transparent purple barrier. Both you and Luna look over at Twilight, she’s still got
- >tears in her eyes, but she looks just as angry as you.
- >You are now #1, the castle guards are fighting to hold the gate.
- >But compared to the changelings this is a cakewalk. The guards are well disciplined,
- >but woefully unexperienced and under equipped.
- >There are three technical in front of the gate. You’re operating the gun on the middle one.
- >A squad of clones runs by and gives you the ready gesture.
- >You turn around and bang on the roof of the cab. The technical speeds away from the gate,
- >it’s joined by the two next to it. The chains connecting the technicals and the gate go
- >taught. With a great tearing and screeching noise the gate is pulled off its colossal hinges.
- >They land with a heavy thud, throwing up a wave dust.
- “Keep pushing forwards!”
- >With that the technical goes into full reverse and rolls over the fallen gates.
- >You are now Anon.
- >Luna wastes no time and immediately engages Twilight with a more bolts of magic.
- >You rush forwards, and swing up with the rebar.
- >Luna notices you last minute and shifts out of the way, letting your rebar pass harmlessly.
- >However this leaves you open, she bucks you square in the ribs.
- >You’re fairly positive a few of them broke. The pain causes you to drop your rebar.
- >As you stumble back you see a blur of movement in front of you.
- >It takes a moment but you realize that the rest of the six have joined in the fight.
- >You take a moment to get your breath back, but before you can jump back into it,
- >A blue burst of light throws everyone back. Luna was gone, only Nightmare moon
- >remained
- >You are now #1.
- >You’ve spread out to take most of the courtyard.
- >The earth ponies and the unicorns are trying to hold all the castle entrances, but to no
- >avail. However the pegasi are proving to be a problem, swooping down and picking out
- >individual clones. They were working in teams of two to pick up and drops the
- >comparatively heavy humans.
- >As a result you were focusing your fire skyward. Great tracer tendrils lace forward seeking
- >their targets. C’mon #1, breathe, lead, fire. The mounted gun barks and chatters in reply to
- >your orders, you watch the tracers burrow their way into a pegasus team. Unlike the
- >changelings who would burst, the pegasi simply dropped.
- >You take a quick moment to get a grasp on the situation. The clones had indisputably taken
- >the courtyard and have very nearly taken the entrances. There’s a couple groups on the
- >walls still holding out, but otherwise those are taken as well.
- >Shit! Up high again, another formation of pegasi.
- >They fly straight and steady you see them drop a bunch of objects before flying off.
- >You are now Anon, and your wired as shit.
- >You are committed to this fight now with all your heart and soul,
- >but you’re no idiot, you notice the Makarov next to you, where you dropped it earlier.
- >NMM lowers her head and opens her mouth to speak.
- >”Twilight, don’t you see how the-“
- >You pull the same trick you did with Chrysalis
- >Except NMM is a fair bit faster than Chrysalis.
- >You don’t even get to fire a shot, as she magics the gun out of your hand.
- >Oh, hell no! You fall back to plan B, grab another brick and sprint towards NMM
- >She fires another bolt, Twilight shields you again. You bring the brick down on top of
- >her helmet
- “Clang!”
- >She drops again, she may be great with magic, but she’s terrible in a melee. You drop the
- >brick and simply grab her head. You smash it into the wall, repeatedly.
- >You are now #1, you see as the clones dive to the ground as the dropped objects impact.
- >However, they don’t explode. This makes you more concerned. They look like crystals of
- >sorts. Are, they glowing?
- >Oh shit!
- >They’re magic!
- >And you have a head ache.
- >You run your had across your upper lip, why is your nose bleeding.
- >You look down at your hand; your number tattoo no longer shows #1,
- >It’s a classical skull and crossbones. It all comes together. The ink for the tattoos,
- >The crystals.
- >it’s a magic activated poison. You don’t know how much longer you have,
- >And looking around the fighting has paused as the clones realize this as well.
- >You raise your fist in the air.
- “We may die, but we’re taking them with us!”
- >You level the mounted gun at a cluster of cornered unicorn guards
- >You fire.
- >You are now Anon.
- >You pull your arm back about to slam NMM head into the wall again.
- >Before you can however her horn lights up and everything goes white.
- >Everything’s spinning again, there’s an unbearable ringing in your ear, why won’t
- >things stop moving. You open your eyes.
- >Things won’t stop moving because your falling.
- >NMM used the last of her energy to overcome your magic resistance and teleport you, and
- >herself. A suicide move. Yes she had wings, but she was also passed out from exhaustion.
- >You are now #1.
- “Acck, heh, heh.”
- >The coughing is getting much worse, blood come up with each small movement.
- >Now that the clones had nothing left to lose then had completely taken the castle floor and
- >were moving on to the second story. You had abandoned the technical, choosing to spend
- >you last moments shoulder to shoulder with your clones, but your numbers are dwindling
- >rapidly, not just the poison, but also the lack of command, the reckless tactics.
- >Random sporadic gunfire and pipe bomb explosions echo through the castle.
- >You turn back to the small group that was following you.
- “Keep… *pant*… going.”
- >As if on cue one of the ones near the back, collapses, vomits, and dies.
- >You gaze at the others, the pain on their faces obvious, the capillaries have burst.
- >even the ones in their eyes. You never realized how much punishment a man could take
- >You make the decision once you notice that no more gunfire is present.
- “Men… Last… Ahkkk.”
- >You spit out a blood loogie about the size of a mint.
- “Last cigarette.”
- >You are now Fluttershy.
- >You are no longer capable of thought.
- >Anything that happens how is a kneejerk reaction.
- >Your frozen in place your friend’s words are running right through your mind,
- >not leaving any imprint or trace of meaning.
- >”What in tarnation happened!”
- >”I think they teleported, we have to find them.”
- >”What I thought he magic immune?”
- >”Resistant dash, he’s magic resistant.”
- >You know you understood the concept of teleportation.
- >Twilights even done it with you several times.
- >You know this is going to be worse.
- >As Anon would say, he could feel it in his bones.
- >”Oh no! I think I see him.”
- >”Where Pinkie?!”
- >Pinkie points into the sky through a smashed open window.
- >Dash immediately takes off.
- >Twilight taps you, bringing you back to the present.
- >You don’t think you’ve ever flown so fast.
- >You are now #1.
- >Your only a quarter way into your cigarette, but you’re the only one left.
- >It’s becoming hard to focus. The colors are changing, and you’ve stopped feeling your
- >extremities. You become aware of hoove steps coming down the stairs
- >”Are they all dead?”
- >”I dunno, it looks like it.”
- >You bend down and pick up your fallen comrades pkm.
- >It’s heavier than it should be a testament to your lost strength.
- >You brace it at your waist, not strong enough to shoulder it.
- >The two guards round the corner.
- >You fire. The .30 caliber rounds easily tear through the guards, as if their armor
- >was tin.
- >They don’t die, rather they collapse on the ground rolling in pain.
- >You rake a second stream of fire over them, putting them down.
- >The shots attract more hoove steps. There’s a twitch and you vision gets worse.
- >You see indistinct shapes coming down the stairs shouting at you, brandishing weapons.
- >You depress the trigger; your fire is neither accurate or controlled.
- >But in the tiny hallway the rounds punch through the front ranks of the guards and bury
- >themselves in the second. Something stops you, a sharp pain, you look down.
- >There’s a crossbow bolt in your gut.
- >Then another one hits,
- >You don’t live to see the third one.
- >You are now Anon.
- >You spread yourself out in an attempt to slow yourself down.
- >You start tossing off all of your equipment in an attempt to make yourself lighter.
- >”Anon!”
- >Dash is speeding up behind you, followed by Twilight and Flutters.
- >You reach back your arms, the intent is clear.
- >Out of the corner of your eye you see NMM hit a Castle tower.
- >There isn’t as much blood as you imagined the body just kind of impacts and bounces.
- >The ponies grab on to your hands, and start working to slow you down.
- >You’re slowing down but you’re not sure if it’s fast enough.
- >This is it the grounds coming up fast.
- “Crunch”
- >You let out a hiss of pain and sit down… sit.
- >on the ground.
- >You look around, and sure enough your sitting in the courtyard. Surrounded by technicals
- >and corpses, but your alive.
- >You look up and let out a cheer.
- “Yeeessss! Hooooooo!”
- >Without thinking you pull the three ponies into hug.
- >Laughs and smiles are had.
- >Eventually they break the hug.
- >But not before you pull Flutters in for a quick peck on the lips.
- >It’s so cute when she blushes.
- >With that you bring yourself to your feet, you look down to examine yourself
- >Sure enough, your left tibia is ticking out your shin.
- >It doesn’t even hurt you just point and laugh.
- >It’s over, it’s all finally done.
- >”I got another one over here!”
- >”Take em’ down!”
- >You turn just in time to have a crossbow bolt impact your left eye.
- >You jerk upright, try to take a step forward, but collapse instead.
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