Spartans Never Die, They're Just Missing in Action

"Asking's not my strong suit" -The Master Chief

Castle Dungeons

Fred heard something in the darkness, the doors across the hall opening. The SPARTAN quickly checked his motion sensor as he saw a white dot appear. This meant that either it was not a recognized covenant enemy, or it was an unknown lifeform.He tapped the floor with his boot just loudly enough for his two companions to hear him. Still, they stayed in a restful position as what sounded like a set of feet approaching. Through the bars the saw something shimmering in the air-exactly like the high-ranking elites in the Covenant looked like when they used their camouflage.

"Looks like an Elite....on my signal, we break through the bars. If it is one, and the Covenant really hasn’t stopped fighting us, take out the threat. Anything else and we go with an interrogation, clear?" Fred ordered.

"Roger" Both Linda and Kelly replied. The air shimmered as whatever it was looked through the bars. Then they heard a sharp gasp. The two teammates looked toward Fredric through their visors, and saw his hand clutched in a fist. Then, in a swift motion, it uncurled and a finger pointed forward.

In an instant, all three SPARTANs jumped up and sprinted, straight through the thin stone wall and iron bars. They grabbed their opponent, with Fred holding his assault rifle to bear on it. SPARTANs could easily tear through thin steel, but after the thick bars and stone, it was might hurt in the morning. Then they saw it shimmer some more and uncloak, and what they found was surprising to say the least.

"I'm sorry to have disturbed you, SPARTANs." said they now-visible, dark-blue horse which they held down before them. Her voice was not of fear, as one might expect, but in awe. "I can say I know that you have wrongly been imprisoned, but that my sister had quite frankly jumped to conclusions."

"So, if you're here to let us go, why cloak yourself? That doesn't help your 'innocent intentions' act." Fred questioned.

"I wanted to see if you were the Spartans I had seen in my visions. I promised my sister I would use an invisibility spell for reassurance. I can’t let you go now, but I’m here to tell you how you can help yourselves help, to make…peaceful relations. Oh, forgive me for not introducing myself, I am Princess Luna, co-ruler of Equestria."

"So, what about the other one.... Celestia, was it?"

"Yes, that's my older sister. I must say she acted rather brash. Any further and she would have gotten all of Equestria killed." For a second Fred couldn't stop himself from imagining the SPARTANs from killing all the guards and taking over the country.

"Okay, so then what is she planning on doing?"

"Well, you can't tell my sister tomorrow that I talked to you. She will most likely try to forge an alliance by showing you her superior power in numbers'" Luna burst out laughing as she said the last part. "Although she is usually peaceful and even values each of her citizens personally-as long as she thinks of you as a possible threat to the citizens of Equestria or that you have might inherently have evil motivation and objectives-then she will not trust you. Try and play along though, and this could become beneficial to you. I would rather it be so. In my visions, as well as tonight, I have seen what you can do…I hope that we decide on peace rather than violence."

"That's preferable."

"Good. And I shall try my best to make sure my sister acts civil and convince her to be a delegate of peace. Goodnight Spartans." Fred nodded his head as she slowly trotted off, deciding to hold off his questions about this so-called Equestria until a more appropriate time.

Royal Throne Room

"Captain Shining Armor, are you saying that these creatures have not attacked, yet when you magically scanned it, you found huge holes in the walls and bars of the dungeon? And still they chose not to leave?"

"Yes Princess. We were trying to check up on the prisoners."

"Hmmm….interesting. I guess we’ll know their motives soon enough. Please escort them here."

"Of course Princess, I shall return shortly."

Castle Dungeons

"Kelly, Fred. They're coming." Linda reported. Quickly the other two SPARTANs stood rigidly and waited as they heard what they assumed to be multiple 'hoof beats'. Soon, six Pegasi holding spears waited outside the completely shattered cell wall. One of them, with slightly more intricate armor stepped forward.

"Your presence has been requested by Princess Celestia. We will be your escorts." The three simply stood and one-by-one, stepped through the rubble.

"Okay, secure comms only." Fred whispered through the private channel. He saw both Linda and Kelly's green acknowledgement light wink. For what seemed like hours, the guards led them through the endless corridors-most likely to confuse them. Too bad SPARTANs were trained to adapt and learn from their surroundings constantly.  Although the corridors were well lit and decorated, they held an ominous complexity in the pathways that Fred noticed most people probably would be lost within. Only a few ONI bases were this complex-and that's saying something considering ONI was the Office of Naval Intelligence-and even the most grizzled army veterans watched their steps when they knew one of the ONI government spooks was nearby. The group stopped before a massive set of doors.

"We're here." the leader guard grunted. The SPARTANs simply waited for the doors to open. The guards slowly opened up the doors and they found themselves in the same room the portal had led them to the previous day.

"Well well, open sesame..." Fred commented to himself silently.

At the end of the room Fred saw the two 'royal' sisters. It was quite a large room, and all across the walls were gleaming stained glass windows. Each one seemed to tell a different, captivating story. Now that he was able to more thoroughly examine it, Fred realized then that these monarchs were the real deal. They had power and a wealth of resources, and peace talks would definitely help if he wanted his team to be able to get back to the UNSC anytime soon.  The moment of peace ended as the group of both guards and SPARTANs made their way towards the Princesses-tension dripping from the air.  Fredric then used his visor to zoom in on the Princess, the one which he knew was still untrusting of them. Celestia. And as he saw her face, he knew that she was much more prepared than she was the day before. Her posture seemed to project an air of confidence, and the slight grin she had was one of somebody who knew they had an advantage. On her face she wore the glare of someone who knew they were in control. And she knew they knew it as well…