My Supreme Commander : Unity is Magic ch2

Everypony gasped.

"Spitty, is that another joke to pull over all the fun we prepared for??!" Rainbow Dash asked with an unpleasant look on her face.

"I swear it's not a joke! The president has been assasinated while he was nagotiating with the earth ponies president, General Stanley." Spitfire asnwered. "I knew that guy was up to no good. Killing his own subjects won't stop him from killing other ponies as well."

"Even high command won't be able to make any decisions without a proper leadership, and by that, I mean a president." said General Greer as he stood up from his place walking towards the stage before stepping over it.

"How about we go into Marescow and send Stanley to his grave already?" Soarin suggested angrily, making Rainbow shiver a little fearfully. "I hated that guy eversince I heard of him from my earth pony friends."

"You plan to take the suicidal course, commander Soarin? I wouldn't stop you if I were the commander in chief. However, some won't allow you to do that." Greer pointed to Rainbow who was looking at her husband with anxious eyes. "Besides, we have no idea on how sizeable and powerful his armies are."

"Even worse, the former president's body guards were also killed, preventing us from getting any info on Stanley's command center." added the intel. major. "Well, I....have no idea on what's our next course of action is gonna be, but I guess it'll be a war against the earth ponies. That would probably be the first decision of our next president."

"No way!" Dashie protested strongly. " I got friends there. I'm not gonna fight them!"

"Calm down, commander Rainbow Dash. We can only hope that our new president won't order us to attack every earth pony, but instead, he or she would mark the forces loyal to Stanely's government as targets. I really wanna help out the revolution by sending out all the commanders in my base and provide all the support they need, but the decision isn't in my hooves. I am sorry." responded Greer. "I just hope our new president will be just like our previous one: a smart pony who knows exactly what to do in every situation. In the mean time, you can all go home and get a good rest.....for now." The general simply left without any goodbyes. Depression was filling his head from the news he heard. He was angry to hear it, and wanted to avenge the president's death. The president was a true democrat, and the entire pegasus race was satisfied in his days. He respected democracy and its basics, and was doing everything by the book. Somepony must come up and take charge in order to stabilize Nubedive. Greer was thinking too much, and he knew that he would end up an old pony quickly. He threw away all these thoughts as he went home to get some sleep.

All the other pegasi left the arena as well. Shock and sadness on their faces, they just couldn't believe it. Soarin and Rainbow Dash weren't any different from the others. The two of them had to return home and get some sleep. Who knows when will they be called for duty again? It was still afternoon, though, but they knew they had to get all the rest they need to be prepared for any emergency situation. Dashie suggested that they stay in her luxurious mansion since most of its chambers were empty. It was at that moment when Soarin realized why did she build a house that big: she was prepared for this day from a long time. His heart fluttered. She wanted to be tied with him all along? She built it all by herself using clouds, but that was her goal from the beginning? To be with him? No wonder why she was like "Ohmygosh ohmygosh ohmygosh ohmygosh...." when she first met him. That made him even happier than ever. She was the one who had always made him smile. She was the one who made his life so colorful. Of course. Before she met him, she wasn't interested in sharing her life with a colt, and her place was pretty much a room with a toilet and kitchen. However, after getting to know him, she made major modifications to her house, turning it into a mansion, adding up a living room, extra toilets, extra bedrooms, and balconies, as well as espanding the kitchen. Dashie knew that if there was one colt she wanted to spend her life with, it would be Soarin. But what happeend recently, the president's assasination, left her mind in a state of disarray. She was a true patriot, not of Nubedive, but of Equestria. Who else could be more loyal than the holder of the spirit of the element of loyalty?

"After you, my lady." Soarin bowed and gestured for Dashie to enter after he opened the door. The rainbow-maned pegasus felt high. No stallion ever treated her with such respect. She went in, but before that, she lifted up his head and gave him a quick kiss on his lips. His mind steamed. Even that simple kiss had a great effect on him. He followed her steps, closing the door behind him.

"You know, I find it frustrating every time I think about it." Dashie spoke as she removed her wedding dress, revealing her sleak cyan body and rainbow mane and tail. "The president's assasination."

"Never trust an evil being. That's a lesson we should've all learned from this day." Soarin said, followed by a sigh. "Now the invasion can commense at any second."

"Nah. I don't think so. Stanley knows very well that if he tried to get in, we'll rain hell from the skies above upon him. Or you're forgetting who has the toughest air force in all over Equstria?"

Soarin chuckled. "Pretty optimistic, aren't we? Still we gotta be careful. The earth ponies may not have an air force, but they sure have some powerful anti-air weapons, not to mention their giant experimental ones. We have to avenge our president's death by killing this hayminded brute Stan."

"We aren't barbarians, Soar. I'd say the earth ponies should deal with him since they're the ones who are really sick of him. All we have to do is give the revolution a favor and capture him. Not to mention that he started killing his own ponies before our president, so it would be more rightful if they had their revenge from him."

"Yeah. You're right. Generally, our kind, ponykind I mean, aren't barbaric. I'd say that, when the revolutionists have their grips on Stanley, they'll court-marshall him for mass murdering." He slipped out of clothing. Rainbow guided him to her bedroom, which was surely king-sized. A large doube bed was placed on the far side of the room. A closet was located right beside the entrance, and on its left, was a large plasma TV. A cloud-shaped mirror with several drawers under it was placed on the wall beside the bed. The blanket on the bed had a white cloud with a rainbow-colored bolt coming from it, just like Dashie's cutie mark. The mare climbed the bed, laying on her back and giving a sigh of relief.

"A court-marshall would be more reasonable if you ask me, so that Stanley can hear his crimes before meeting his end, and that he would be a lesson to all dictators."  RD then layed her back on the bed. "I can't believe every pony race now has its own territory, and that nopony from any nation must interact with ponies from other nations. I can feel there is a plot behind it. I mean, it sounds like divide and conquer, as if someone wants us dead or enslaved."

The almost white stallion sighed. "I got that feeling too. But I am still hopeful that we will re-unite Equestria.....and find out whoever is behind this plan." He then looked at her with a smile on his face. "And no one is going to even touch you, Rainbow. I have promised to protect you, and I will."

"Oh you sweet talker." she giggled at his statement as he approached her. Never in her life had a stallion approched her in that way. They either came close to her for just a normal talk, or to abuse her, in Billy's case. The feelings she had in her heart while seeing him...comfort, safety, and love, rather than annoyance, danger, and hatred. Why would she be negative? She got married to her favorite Wonderbolt, or former Wonderbolt to be more exact.

"Gotcha!" Soarin deviously spoke as he placed himself over her. This time, however, their lips met faster, and the kiss was deeper than before. In his mind, he was imagining how their lives would be when they had foals. He always hoped that the war would end soon so that he and Dashie could raise their children peacefully. "Ready to bring forth the next generation?"

"W...well, I'm...still nervous. I mean, how are we going to raise our foals in these times? We'll be out there on the front lines all the time."

"Spitty can foalsit them." they both giggled. Still, the answer made Dash a little more relieved. Surely Spitfire could do that while they are away, and at the same time, she could do her job, which wasn't as exhausting as the commanders'. "So, got any last words before carrying our future?"

"Three: I love you."

*****

The sun was setting when she returned to her home town. Using her ACU's construction function, the orange mare just finished construction of a series of defensive anti-surface and anti-air laser turrets at the gates of the fortress wall that was protecting Ponyville. Fortunately for her, she had enough mass and energy to buid these defenses. In that little town, there were ten energy generators and seven mass extractors, and these resources were transferred to the ACU telepathically. However, with only one ACU, the resistance could not hope to win the conflict against Stanley, who possessed plenty of them. The ACU took fairly big beating, about 58%, due to attacks from Stanley's forces on the convoys that were carrying the civilian population to Klavitsa, the unicorns' nation, which promised to take the best care of them. It prepared massive and numerous refuge camps for them. Applejack sighed, wondering about her family. Applebloom and Granny Smith made it to Klavitsa, so she didn't have to worry about them. Big Mac, on the other hoof, was one of her two main concerns. How many times was he sent to the front lines? She didn't know. She didn't even know if he was alive or not. Her other concern was her husband, Caramel, a former sergent in Stanley's engineering corps who then joined the revolution as a technical and strategic assistant. He married AJ shortly afterwards, with the acceptance of her older brother and cousin. Her mind never rested during her mission; she was totally exhausted. AJ was one of few survivors of the escorting force. The rest were either dead or taken prisoners by the earth pony dictator. Passing the main gate, she was greeted by the guards in the watch towers. A smile stuck on her face. Her ACU was easily recognizeable by the three red apples on the orange-colored walker vehicle's chest.

Once the news of AJ's return reached their ears, Braeburn, Big Mac, and Caramel hurried outside the field headquarters, formerly the Apple family's home. The three stallions saw the huge walker looming before them, slowly approaching their location, with a small quake in the earth. Caramel guided AJ to the repairing station as he saw the damage she took in the form of cracks and holes in the ACU's hull. The orange mare followed his instruction, and managed to set it in the specified position.

"C'mon, everypony! Let's get it fixed up!" shouted one of the engineers as he ran towards the walking machine. Applejack took a deep breath before opening up the cabin door and exiting her war machine. Due to the fact that ACU pilots are put high up, about 20 meters, they had to exit it and step on a platform that was stationed at an appropriate height, and this was a disadvantage to earth ponies commanders. Pegasi could easily glide down, and unicorns would simply teleport to ground level. When AJ went out and stepped over the platform, she saw her brother, cousin, and husband standing in front of her, a smile on each of their faces.

"Howdy, ya'll." she spoke, running to hug them one by one, starting with her brother, whose embrace was a bit strong for her. It was a sign that he missed her alot.

"Welcome home, sis." Big Mac responde with a tear running down his right cheek. "Ah thought you were a gonner."

"Ya'always have to trust ya li'le sis, bigger bro. This ain't mah first fight against Stanley's goons, ya know."

"Ah guess ah'll take ya word for that. Still, always be careful."

"Will do, bigger bro." AJ then left him and went to hug her cousin, Braeburn.

"Cousin, Ah am so glad ta see ya. Ah always knew that ya'll come back." that was his response. He had always trusted that AJ would come back alive, knowing how smart, yet strong, she was. He knew she could evade enemy ambushes, but a small portion of himself was still worried, knowing that, no matter how smart and strong she was, Applejack was not perfect.

"So am I, Braeburn. Them enemies were too many, but nothin Ah couldn't handle." said the orange mare with a smile.

"Though I expected you to come back with little damage." Caramel spoke from behind with a smile. Applejack turned around; a wide grin shown on her face. She couldn't tell how glad she was to see her husband once again. She ran towards him and gave him a tight hug. He hugged her back, and planted a kiss on her forehead. "I'm so glad to see you again, my dear."

"Me too, hon." she replied before looking at him in the eye.

"Stanley dared to hurt you? I promise you, AJ. I'll bring the hurt down on him." he leaned forward and gave her a passionate kiss in which the orange mare melted. A couple of seconds later, they broke it up. The colt lightly stroke her golden mane. "You really need some rest, dear."

"Nah. Ah don't need any rest. Ah can go, fight mah way through his forces, 'n get ta Stan's fortress ta kick his dirty flank!"

"Please, my delicious apple. Don't be so stubborn. Besides, you'll get your chance. It's not only you who wants to punish him for what he did to our people. I hold a heavy grudge on him, and so does your brother, your cousin, and the rest of the resistance. But you gotta remember that you're the only pony among us who can pilot an ACU. The rest of us are uneducated, and therefore, you'll need all the rest you can get so that you can do your duty well. " a tear dropped from right eye. He was very worried about her, and he didn't want her to go out again without resting.


"'N bah the way, Ah found yur friend Fluttershy while Ah was in Ponyvostok. She was unconcious, 'N right now, she's in the livin room....Ah mean, medical section." Big Macintosh spoke.

Applejack didn't wait. She hurried downstairs towards the living room, where several patients and injured soldiers laid while getting their treatments from the medics stationed in Sweet Apple Acres. AJ saw a yellow, pink-maned pegasus lying on a bed at the corner, and trotted towards her. She saw that Fluttershy's mouth and nose were covered with an oxygen mask, and that she was still unconcious. Doctor Whooves, the leader of the medical team, assured Applejack that her friend was fine and that she would live. The orange mare let out a sigh of relief while still watching the unconcious pegasus, wondering what was she doing in Ponyvostok. The time, however, wasn't good for questioning. What mattered was that she was okay. The three colts who welcomed her home walked down the stairs, only to see her sitting on a chair beside the wheel bed that Fluttershy was lying on. She was stroking the yellow pony's mane when she looked up at them. She thanked her older brother for saving her life as Fluttershy was a very dear friend of AJ.

"Civilians." Caramel spoke angrily. "Why do they have to be victims of any war? Why do most of the victims of any war have to be civilians? This is just....barbaric!"

"That's cuz civilians 're easy targets." Braeburn replied before facing him. "Tyrants don't them civilians shoutin' out in the streets 'gainst 'em, 'n so, they use force ta shut 'em up.....'n they enjoy it when they see their own subjects sufferin while cryin out for their rights." He then held Caramel's right hoof. "Caramel, Ah don't want you backin down. Ever. Ah know this is hard on ya, but ya gotta muster yurself. We need every soldier we can get, 'ncludin you. Got it?"

Caramel nodded and responded. "Yes, sir. For our families, for our country, for our people."

*****

"We got to hold the line, no matter what!" Spike shouted through the mic in his ACU's command cabin. He was a commander in the Klavitsan military, and was piloting a Titan-class ACU, which was considered a unicorns' technological marvel. He was leading a defensive army of Hunters, the unicorns main battle tanks. Although his land factories were consuming energy and mass produce more tanks at top speed, he was losing tanks more than gaining. He wasn't alone, though.

"There is just too many of them!" Twilight shouted back from her own Dreadnought-class ACU. She helped Spike build a wide network of defensive neutron turrets to hold off the invading Seasam forces. However, they did not seem to be able to hold them off, but instead, one turret after the other, they were falling. Surely Twilight and Spike were prepared for an invasion, but not a force of this size. Earth ponies always relied on strength in numbers to overwhelm their foes. Twilight relied heavily on the use of experimental weapons, but in her situation, she wasn't able to assemble even one experimental factory due to the speed and aggressiveness of the enemy's forces.

Soon, their defenses were breached, and their factories, as well as themselves, were vulnerable. However, at that moment, just when all of it seemed to end, the purple unicorn saw several White Eagle bombers carpet-bombing the earth ponies' mechs and tanks with black napalm. The bombings were performed on three runs, and afterwards, the path was clear. Twilight and her dragon friend Spike were assigned to hold off Stanley's army from occupying a small town on their side of the Grand Mountain Pass, and they were using the town's mass deposits to build their production facilities, while energy was collected from the generators they built by themselves. Spike knew exactly who dispatched the bombers. It was shown clearly on his radar.

"Rarity! Thank the princesses you came! Twi and I thought we were done for." he said before wiping off some sweat that formed on his forehead.

"Are you two alright? Command has received your distress signal, and so, they sent me to aid you." the white pony replied from her Zaftra-class ACU. She put her reliance on aerial forces more than land units.

"Thanks, Rarity." said Twilight while looking at her savior in her screen. "However, the Seasam commander will surely rebuild his forces. We tried to talk to convince him to stand down, but he continuously refused."

"And Twilight, your ACU's heavily damaged. Your self-healing system isn't as fast as mine, so I suggest you go back to base. Besides, you look really exhausted." Spike said to her.

"But...." the purple unicorn was trailed off by Rarity.

"Twilight, dear, listen to your younger step-brother. You do look very tired, and so, you need to get some rest. Please, let Spike and I handle this ill-raised enemy."

Twilight sighed. This was her duty. She couldn't just run from it. But her companions were right. Her ACU was badly damaged from enemy attacks as she stepped forward to defend her step-brother after their defenses were broken. "Okay." was her only response. A large, White Swan VTOL transport aircraft hovered over Twilight's ACU, and used the lifting beam in its keel to raise her from ground level and get her inside before leaving the battle zone. On her screen, Rarity saw the face of the earth pony commander she had yet to fight.

"After I'm done with your little dragon comrade, I'm taking you for myself." he giggled evilly.

"No you're not!" Spike shouted furiously. "You'll have to go through me to get her, you fiend!"

"You could barely hold off the previous attack, but the upcoming wave will be your death, little lizard."

"Spike, dear, we can win this if we work together. Hold him off as much as you can while I assemble a larger aerial force. We will make him pay for stepping into our land." the white unicorn assured him.

The purple dragon took a deep breath. "Yeah. Let's kick his sorry flank for good!"