Halo: Equestria (Version 2.0)

Epsilon Eridani system, Planet Reach. 0200 Hours, UNSC Firgate FG-115 Juniper on station.

With a mighty buck shot, the holographic Elite target fell, vanishing from sight. Clanking boots ran past the defeated target in a blur of sage and silver. An empty buckshot cartridge clattered to the aluminum-alloy floor as the sounds of a new buckshot being chambered was heard. Three Grunt targets popped up now, each being dispatched with a single shot from a M6G Magnum. The blur continued to roar past the fallen targets, bullet casing in being left in its wake. The blur came upon a semi-large and rotund room. In the center, a holographic Wraith tank hovered there. Immediately, the training rounds erupted from the Wraith and the blur dodged to the left, circling the holo-Wraith as it ran. Upon reaching the rear of the Wraith, the blur hopped onto it, and threw a M9 frag grenade inside the engine. With a simple dismount and small dash, the blur reached the end of the course and hit the timers' 'Stop' button right as the Wraith exploded into holographic debris.

A light Ping was heard, signalling the end and completion of the training course. The blur was now visible and not a complete array of sage and silver. The Spartan stood at seven feet even. Its armor was somewhat bulky and large, natural for the CQC/CQB-type Spartan IIIs. The Spartans' Sage CQB helmet came off, revealing a young man with brown hair, in a high and tight cut, and blue eyes. A scar on his upper lip showed he'd been in at least one bad situation before. He slung his M45 Shotgun onto his back and holstered the M6G Magnum. He looked to the time board and grinned as his designation, A098, was placed on top of the leader board with a time of thirty-five seconds flat. Below his rank was C935 with a time of forty-one seconds.

"Well done Captain." a feminine voice said from behind. The Spartan turned and saw Kathy, Spartan C935. She wore the standard issue Recon armor. It complemented her light figure with its smallness and stealth capabilities.

"How many times do I have to tell you, just call me Antony." Antony said. He didn't need to see Kathy's' face to know she was smiling.

"I do it because it bugs you." She said playfully.

"Uh huh, sure. Hey, where are the others?" Antony asked as he placed his helmet on the table. He grabbed a nearby rag and began to clean the camera attached to the side of his helmet.

"They're down in the Mess Hall. Might want to hurry though; Derek has almost claimed all of the meatloaf." Kathy warned.

"It's Meatloaf Monday?" Antony asked, his eyes sparkling a bit. When your best non-Spartan friend becomes a cook and makes one hell of a good meatloaf, you never miss out on it.

Kathy's' Recon helmet gave a slight nod and she chuckled. "It's pretty much the only good food on this ship." She said grabbing a M392 DMR from a nearby weapons rack. Antony looked at her, confused at first, then smiled.

"You're not going to beat my time, you know." He warned.

"Oh yeah? Just watch me." Kathy teased.

"Can't. Gotta eat. I'll see you later." Antony said as he stored his weapons. He approached the door and turned to watch Kathy hit the 'Start' button on the timer and dash off into the course, her DMR raised. Antony smiled, shook his head, then left the training course.

*     *     *

After a ten minute commute from the ships' gym to the Mess Hall, Antony entered the cafeteria to the usual sounds of chatter, knives and forks, and the occasional laugh. He scanned the room and found the rest of his team sitting at their usual table. One of them, Jane, smiled and waved over to him. He raised a hand, showing he saw her, and entered the lunch line. In front of him, a couple of ODSTs were waiting on the cook to give them their lunch, and they were getting irritated.

"Come on Turtle! You take forever on Meatloaf Mondays!" One called out, a scowl etched on his face.

"If you want the meatloaf to be good, then be patient, Walsky!" the cook called out.

"Hurry it up Jenkins! No wonder you're called 'Turtle'." the other ODST yelled. Antony cleared his throat and the two ODSTs looked beside them and sneered.

"What do you want, chuckle fuck?" Walsky asked rapping a knuckle on Antony's chest piece.

"Show a little respect for the cook." He said monotoned, his eyes drilling deep into the ODST.

"Ooo, so scary! Big, mean ol' Mister Spartan here wants me to show Turtle some respect!" Walsky said laugh as he pointed a thumb at Antony.

Glancing at the thumb, Antony squared his jaw, grabbed the thumb, and broke it. The ODST ceased laughing and he began to cry out in pain as Antony slowly turned the broken digit. A sadistic smile broke across Antony's lips as the ODST struggled in his grasp. Antony released the ODST and the soldier clutched his broken thumb. His friend stared wide-eyed at Antony, his jaw moving a bit in an attempt to say something.

"Would you like a matching broken thumb to go with your boyfriend here?" Antony asked. The ODST shook his head quietly and guided Walsky out of the cafeteria.

"I'll get you back, freak!" Walsky yelled as he passed the doorway.

"Empty threats!" Antony called back in a sing-song tone, then turning to the line. Behind the counter stood a young man, about in his early twenties.

"Heya' Tony! Nice work on that Helljumper." he said.

"Thanks Jenkins. So, I heard it was meatloaf today?" Antony asked slapping his hands together and rubbing them together.

"Yes sir! Fresh loaf too! You get first slices." Jenkins said as he cut and served his legendary meatloaf to the Spartan. Antony took the tray back and smiled.

"Thanks Jenkins." He said nodding to the young cook as he walked out of the line.

"See ya' around Tony!" Jenkins said with a smile. He turned to the other soldiers in the line. "Alright, who's next?"

*     *     *

Antony navigated the maze of tables and chairs towards his own table. At the table sat Jane; Spartan B004, Derek; Spartan A666, and Ghost; Spartan A001. They all looked at Antony as he sat down took his first bite of lunch. A smile came to him as he chewed.

"Mmm. I don't know what it is, but Jenkins makes a mean meatloaf." He said taking another bite.

"Afternoon to you to, Sir." Jane said smiling a bit as her Captain ate. Derek let out a chuckle.

"Sir, may I ask as to why you're still in your armor? It's leisure hours." he asked.

"I came straight from the course here. Didn't get a chance to change out." Antony said taking another bite and a swig of water. "Besides; Ghost is always in his armor." He added pointing a finger at their teammate.

"Well, that's because we think he was born in it. He'd tell us, but he's always quiet. Kinda like Snake Eyes." Jane said as she smiled at her reference to that old twentieth-century cartoon. Ghost simply stared at them all from behind his black-visored Scout helmet.

"Not eating, are ya' Ghost?" Derek asked. The Spartan in question simply shook his head slowly in response.

"Where's Kathy?" Jane asked Antony.

"Down at the course. Trying to beat my time after I beat hers." He said pushing away his empty tray.

"You beat her time?" Derek asked, his jaw slightly slacked. Antony nodded as a smug smile came to him.

"Yup. Shotgun, Magnum, and one Grenade. No armor abilities. Thirty-five seconds flat." He said. A small round of applause came form the other three.

"Nice run, Sir." Derek said.

"Not so fast team." Came another feminine voice. They all turned to see Kathy standing there in her armors' black under suit, a smirk planted on her lips. "I beat your time Antony." She said simply.

"What?" Antony asked, a bit dumbstruck.

"Thirty-four seconds. By one second." She said pointing a thumb to herself. "You should've stuck around. It was an amazing run." She said a bit snobbishly. Antony scowled a bit at Kathy. She simply laughed at him, wiping a tear away. "Oh, the look on your face. Anyway, I have a message from the Captain. We're going into Slip-Space in ten minutes. He wants us combat ready for when we reach out destination." She said, a serious tone coming to her voice.

"Where are we going?" Derek asked raising an eyebrow.

"Outter colony world. Been having some Insurrection issues as of late. The Juniper has been tasked with providing protection from Insurrectionists." Kathy explained.

"So we're playing bodyguard?" Jane asked.

"Looks like it. Come on, we need to go suit up. He wanted us ready five minutes ago." Kathy said turning to leave. The others all got up and walked out with her.

*     *     *

Captain Jacob Faust stood on the bridge of the Juniper with his hands clasped tightly behind his back. He stared out of the view ports into space as his bridge crew made the preparations for Slip-Space. Beside him sat an AI projection pedestal. It hummed as a white light blinked on the projector. Suddenly, the white light began to take form. First came the basic shape; an animal with four legs. Then it began to take on a sharper look. The mane and tail came into form, curly, long, and red. The snout became more curved and feminine looking. Finally, a pair of rose red eyes opened. The pony AI looked up at Jacob and spoke in a crisp, English accent.

"Good afternoon Captain." She said. Jacob sighed and continued to stare ahead.

"Good afternoon Rose." He muttered. He hated that AI, ever since he learned that an old ancestor of his had created a children's show based on ponies; the kind Rose had been modeled after. His family name was, and always will be, linked to those damned twentieth-century ponies.

"Is something the matter, Captain?" Rose asked tilting her head a bit.

"Not at all Rose. Are the Combat Teams geared up?" Jacob asked still not looking to her.

"Yes sir. Gipsy Squad, led by Captain Antony, was the final squad to report in that they are ready. Stations across the ship have reported that they are slip-space ready." She informed him.

"Lieutenant Capone. Is the Slip-Space drive ready?" Jacob asked looking to a young woman who was scanning the screen before her.

"Yes sir. The drive is at one-hundred percent and ready to go." She responded.

"Send us under way then." Jacob said waving a hand forward. In front of the ship, small lights began to form, and soon a massive black hole opened up, and the Frigates' engine roared to life, thrusting the ship towards the slip-space hole. "That is all Rose. You are dismissed." Jacob said sparing a glance to the AI. Jade nodded, a saddened look coming to her and she slowly faded. Jacob let out a frustrated sigh as she vanished. He needed to send in a new AI Request form.

*     *     *

The Juniper had been in Slip-Space for about two days now. The trip would take five days to reach the distressed planets' location. Rose sat in her private storage chamber, scanning information being relayed from each sensor on the ship. Slip-Space maintainers, engine power, Cryo-Bay statuses; all of it was relayed to her. As she read the reports, a second screen nearby was playing My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. Rose felt it was somewhat of an origin for her, and she grew to like the show. The current episode was Lesson Zero; one of her favorites. The show went on as background noise as she did her duties.

Suddenly, a warning appeared. It flashed in giant red text, stating that the slip-space field around the ship was beginning to collapse. Rose began to panic as she exited her show and the other reports and manifested at the Bridge. She looked outside and expected a blue tube that the ship was going through.

She couldn't be more wrong.

The usually blue tube was now a menacing red, and it was slowly starting to shrink around the ship. Rose raised the alarms and buzzed for the Captain.

"CAPTAIN FAUST, EMERGENCY!" She yelled.

"What in the hell do you want!?" Faust roared. "Why are the alarms going off!?"

"The slip-space field is collapsing around the ship, sir!" Rose said, her pupils the size of pin-pricks. Jacobs' voice became serious now.

"I'll be up in three minutes. Try to stabilize the field until I arrive." he said closing communications. Rose looked up to see the bridge crew rushing to their stations. A few minutes later, Jacob entered the bridge and took his seat. "Give me a solution people." He ordered.

"Sir, the field is rapidly closing. I've tried my best at maintaining the field, but it's done nothing!" Rose said as more warnings popped up before her, only increasing her panic. She now looked like Insane Twilight from Lesson Zero, her holographic mane and tail were frayed and messy, her eyes the size of a ladybug.

"Try and do something Rose!" Jacob ordered slamming a fist into the arm of his chair.

"I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!" She roared back. Right after her outburst, the ship came to an immediate stop. Jacob and the bridge crew were thrown all over the place, slamming into opposite walls or consoles. Rose looked around quickly as the ships' manifest began telling her who was now dead from the sudden stop.

This only increased her panic.

Soon, the walls of the bridge began to dent inwards, sending bolts and sparks flying. The ship groaned as if it were mortally wounded. Rose slumped down onto her projection pad and covered her face with her hooves. This was the end, and she knew it. Everyone one board, including her, were going to die within the next five minutes.

"R-Rose..."

Rose looked over to Jacob. His face was bloody, a massive cut on his forehead.

"Y-Yes sir...?" She asked, pain and sadness in her voice.

"You're t-the worst AI I-I've served w-with..." He said as he fell silent. He said nothing after that, nor did he move. Then, as if things were hit with a light switch, everything went black for Rose.

The UNSC Frigate Juniper was gone.*     *     *

Space.

Planets, moons, and stars.

All orbiting their respective suns, silently turning as they went about their lives, not a worry concerning them.

For a particular blue and green planet, the space above was full of bright, twinkling stars, each shining down on the planet.

On the planet in a large tree, a telescope was poking out, staring at the stars above. A pony sat at the observing end of the telescope, going from it to a note pad that was hovering next to her. A quill was scratching away on the paper as she spoke in a clear, and refined tone.

"The stars tonight appear to be in another constellation. This time, I'm seeing the Orion formation, along with the Treasure Chest formation. They appear to be the only ones out tonight." She said as a yawn came from her. Pulling away from the telescope, the pony rubbed her purple eyes and whipped her purple and pink highlighted hair back into its nature formation. Her tired eyes looked at the notepad, reading the notes it took. "That's good enough for tonight." She said making the quill and notepad hover over to her desk. She was about to turn away from the telescope when there was a massive red flash in the sky overhead. Immediately, she went to the eyepiece and scanned the skies.

What she saw made her jaw drop.

"SPIKE! WAKE UP!" She yelled upstairs. A groan replied to her.

"What do you want Twilight...?" Spike asked tiredly as he stumbled down the stairs rubbing the sleep from his eye with a claw.

"We need to get the others. I just saw something in the skies and it's very important!" Twilight said as she looked back into the eyepiece. She gasped in terror and ran to her front door. "LET'S GO SPIKE!" She yelled already outside. The little dragon groaned and ran after his pseudo-sister.

In the skies above, a massive fireball was hurtling towards the planet, crashing through the atmosphere with no control. Pieces of it came flying off from all over it as it descended. With a mighty roar, the fireball broke through the nighttime clouds, heading right for a large forest. In a matter of seconds, the fireball impacted with a mighty explosion, slicing through the trees and fauna with ease as it rocketed across the ground, sending them flying and crashing in its wake. After a couple minutes of skidding, the massive object came to a slow stop. The front half of it peaked over the edge of a cliff, almost crashing into the Ancient Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters with one of its' large engines. Smoke slowly streamed up from the crash site.

And in a nearby small town, six ponies and a small dragon were running into the forest to investigate the crash.