All of us sat there at the table, most of the alien ponies here were busy wondering who could have stolen those ancient artifacts while I was busy wondering if I could sneak those things back where they belong without getting caught.

'Wait a second, they left those things there for an untold amount of time. Those things are fair game for anyone who had the balls to claim them from that decrepit ruin of a fortified structure. If anything they should be thanking me that I even recovered them and not just used them as chew toys and scratching posts for my pets.'

"How did they all just disappear in the middle of the night! The guards didn't find any feathers, scale flakes, fur strands or even any hoof and claw prints on the ground! It is almost like a ghost came through that castle and stole everything that wasn't nailed down or hidden in a vault! I didn't even think that there was somepony that was bold enough to rob from us!"

'Well I am not an alien pony so surely I don't count as to what they are talking about. And besides of that junk I picked up was either rotting away on the shelves, or was rusting on the walls and halls. Those things are practically worthless unless you can restore them and even then I know that Ordis is having a hard time trying to put those things back together from their ruined state.'

"This is a complete and utter mystery! They even picked clean the treasury and didn't even leave a trace behind to be followed!"

'To be fair you just left it all just lying around on the ground, if Maroo was here she would be able to live the rest of her life in splendor and peace.'

But as I kept on thinking to myself I soon saw that all eyes were once again back on me. I looked at them and they looked at me, and for a moment I thought they were figuring it out and were finally putting the pieces together but then one of them said something.

"Hey, we never even got to know your name since you Princess Luna transferred the translation spell onto you. We can't keep calling you alien and we never really got to translate your language into equestrian so it can be added to the translation spell list."

As we looked at each other I decided that if I am going to be stranded on this planet for what might be the foreseeable future till the end of time and space.

Straightening out my jumpsuit and placing my hands on the table I cleared my throat and said my name to them, and for a moment none of them said anything until the guy I almost strangled to death spoke up.

"Victor? Your parents named you because you are always supposed to win?" The white unicorn in purple and white armor said as he rubbed his throat, it was still a bit sore from having it nearly crushed earlier.

"No, my name is Viktor, it is spelled V-I-K-T-O-R. And I don't always win, there is no point in wining all the time if you are never allowed to learn from your mistakes. I have my fair shares of losses and defeats but for the most part I win." I said and although I didn't want to be tooting my own horn it is the truth, I do mostly win and the only time I lose is if I am just not feeling into it at the moment or I am facing against skilled opponents.

"Are you so confident in your fighting skills that you think that you can win against the captain of the royal guard?"

"I know I can beat you...Shining Armor, without any weapons and with just my feet." I said with confidence and for a few moments the captain was silent but from some prodding and pushing from Rainbow Dash he turned to me and accepted the challenge.

The challenge was set to take place in the guards training area in the left side of the outer castle, apparently he wanted to beat me in front of us men so he can prove himself to them. Oh how the tables are already turned for the poor bastard.

"Good luck captain, you are going to be needing it." I said before returning back to what we were doing earlier and that was getting my questions answered.

First we talked about what was so different about the supposed four types of ponies that inhabit this world, other than their different appearances that is.

"Okay, as you have seen about us unicorns, you can tell us apart from the other sub-species of pony by seeing that we have a horn upon our forehead and that we can directly harness the magic that is in the air. The most basic of spells that us unicorns learn at an early age is a glowing light spell and levitation. At an early age a unicorn will go through something called a magical surge which happens when the young filly or colt in question is either scared or under a lot of stress at the moment when the surge takes place. When the magical surge happens it gives the young unicorn the same amount of magic an adult unicorn would have and most of the time the surge makes the affected filly or colt to lash out at everything around them until they either tire themselves out or are rendered unconscious from an outside force."

"Then of course the way we cast our magic is through our horns, they are made of the same material our bones are made out of but they are slightly more brittle than bones and that when a spell is being cast through them, they become sensitive to touch and it can actually be painful if something were to hit them. And to make it more of a scare factor for us unicorns, if somepony were to hit our horn hard enough when we are casting a spell or when we are not, our horn can break and it will leave us magically inept and render us powerless against any threat out there in the world."

"Compared to the other types of ponies us unicorns are in the middle when it comes to terms of weight, height and muscle mass as we are capable of lifting most heavy objects with our magic and that we tend to be doing most of the least strenuous work available such as administration, business running or other light labor tasks."

After that we moved onto the alien ponies with wings.

"Now there are the pegasus like my friends Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash, their key feature is that they have a pair of feathered wings attached behind their shoulder plates. Pegasi are capable of controlling the weather by being able to move the very clouds that create the numerous weather conditions that we have seen and studied so far that aren't magical in nature. Pegasi are also capable of walking on clouds and being able to mold them to whatever shape, form and density to fit their needs, it is because of that ability is how the pegasus capital of Cloudsdale was created and is also the central headquarters for the weather factory."

"Because of their closeness to the very weather they work with, pegasi have a high tolerance to cold weather because of the altitude they work in and the snow clouds they handle during the winter. They are more resistant to getting struck by lightning and thunder, the biting frost of snow and are more stable when they are flying in harsh winds when a storm is brewing."

As Twilight Sparkle was saying that, the rainbow headed friend of hers was busy soaking up all the praises her kind was receiving but I had to cut in and say my two bits on the matter.

"Does this also include an inflated ego and a thirst for confrontation?" I said with snark as the cyan pegasus went from flexing her arms as if she was getting ready for a competition to glaring at me and grinding her teeth.

"No, no, that is just how she is." A voice said from behind me and when I turned around to see just who it was, I saw a familiar face wearing an expensive-looking suit with the combed-over golden-blond hair.

"Blueblood what are you doing here?!"

"Why Miss Sparkle, I am simply here to greet our esteemed guest. Why would you think that I have some ulterior motive for doing so?"

"Because you always have some sort of hidden agenda whenever you are involved Blueblood."

"Miss Sparkle, the reason why I have hidden agendas and such frivolous things is that when you are a noble in Canterlot and also a prince to the equestrian throne, you must always be watching out for yourself all the while making sure you are not being used by somepony else who might be trying to sneak their way into an easier life among royalty and nobility. Do you not remember how many so called 'love letters' I used to get when you have previously lived her as Auntie Celestia's precious little anklebiter?"

"I..uhh....no not really, at least ten letters a week?"

"Try ten letters a day at its lowest, much more on most days. So many ponies trying to get me to date their daughters so they can show it to their friends that they are close and favored by the throne of Equestria, and even as I grew up they even tried to get me to marry their daughters so they can have more power than they previously had and also have a say in what happens in foreign affairs."

"Oh...sorry."

"And don't get me started on all the gold-digging mares that always swoon and say that I am the 'love of their life' when they just met me let alone have known me for a while. Always trying to find ways to get into my pants so they can either force me to marry them on the terms of that they are carrying my foal or that I have 'raped' them, such disgusting ponies are ignored whenever I meet them."

"But what about what you did to Rarity at the Gala last year? You pretty much ignored her and used her as a shield when the cake exploded everywhere."

"Twilight, you have to understand that at the time I knew exactly what she was trying to do, we have files on all of your friends, you included, and I had read them over and over several times so I know what to for most part expect from them. Rarity may be the Element of Generiosity but she also had the same mentality so many young mares have these days, that they will marry a prince and live a life of luxury in a castle while all of their needs are tended to, and I knew she was the same way because that was all she ever talked about when she was with you, some of the nobles in Canterlot when she made up those lies to make herself look important, and also on her way up to Canterlot the night of the Gala."

"H-how did you hear about that?"

"Please Rarity, nothing happens within this city without me hearing about it. Auntie Celestia and Luna may rule Equestria, but Canterlot is mine to rule over. Everything that happens within these walls I will know about it, everything that the nobles do, I will hear about it, I maintain this city by acting as its secondary mayor alongside with the elected mayor to ensure that everything runs smoothly here but..."

"The nobles are selfish, greedy, self-serving and are corrupted to the root." Princess Celestia said as she sat down beside Twilight and her sister.

"Exactly, with the exception of a scant few along with Sir Fancy Pants and his wife Fleur de Lis. Other than those few all the others are about as rotten as a spoiled gym sock that hasn't seen the cleansing touch of water and soap."

"But that still doesn't explain why you are here Blueblood."

"I did explain myself Twilight, it is to meet our new guest because our first encounter was subdued and that you were appeared to be running late with your early morning meeting with Celestia."

"Uh huh, and it wasn't for something else like, get in his good graces and not look like such a self-loving jerk that you are?" Rarity said and for a moment it was quiet but that soon ended when the prince started to chuckle to himself.

"So says the mare who was following me around like a lost puppy, trying to flaunt herself at me all the while trying to worm her way into my pants and my heart. You are no different from all the would-be suitors that keep trying to vie for my hand in marriage, I knew what you were trying to do so I decided that if she is going to not even try to act like the rest of those spoiled mares that want nothing more than an easy life in the lap of luxury, then she is going to earn the same dismissal silence that I give them."

"I am not some harlot showing her flank to passing stallions Blueblood!"

"Really? Then if you were really trying to be my mare you would have declared your intentions clearly to me the moment you walked up to me instead of trying subterfuge and seduction to get what you wanted. Flashing your pretty little eyes at me, a seducing smile, even going so far as brushing yourself up against me all the while only talking about yourself and your accomplishments with your fashion store in Ponyville and the clients that come from far and wide. You did everything those same mares do and not once did you not declare your intention nor did you even ask if I would like to be followed by you, you just latched yourself onto me hoping that I notice you and declare for all to hear that you are going to be my marefriend."

"Next time you should take your head out from those clouds you were in and take a step into reality for a moment. Those fantasy stories you have been reading are just that, fantasy and it will never happen with the way you have been approaching them."

Before this could go any further I butted in and said what was on my mind.

"Are you two done yet or would you like it if we left so you two can have your little quarrel in peace?" I said as I rotated my left hand, trying to get a kink out of it as I felt it stiffen up a bit.

The two looked at me and for a moment their faces lit up like a burning Butcher on Earth, red as molten metal and they stayed that way for a while before backing off and turning away from each other with their faces pointed in the air.

"Yes, I do believe we are done here and I do hope that you can stop by my office so I can get to know you better. If you are going to be staying within the city limits for however long it is going to be then I will want to know as much about you as you are willing to dispense. I can't let an unknown exist within my home and as long you are here I hope you remain out of trouble and not cause any kinds of problems while here." Blueblood said and for a moment he reminded me of those obnoxious Corpus officials that I sometimes have to help whenever an Infestation Outbreak occurs in their controlled space.

I hate Corpus dock officers, charged me to board their ship to clear out their problem. Fucking assholes.

Soon after Blueblood left we went back to what we were last doing, and that was me getting information on the pony races.

"Where were we...oh! Right! Pegasi are naturally taller than the average ponies due to them almost always being in constant flight and also being lighter than the average pony. And just because almost all pegasi are light doesn't mean that they are weak, some of them are even as strong as an earth pony but those are the ones who have grounded themselves and have almost given up their flight skills."

"And lastly we got the Earth Ponies who have neither wings nor a horn, but instead share a connection to nature and have an affinity to growing vegetation and other forms of floral plants. It is because of this connection to nature that Earth Ponies are naturally stronger than unicorns and pegasi in terms of raw strength due to a higher muscle mass and also their attunement to nature. Not much is truly known about earth pony magic other than that they are capable of growing anything almost everywhere with ease, and I know this is true because a part of Applejack's family has an apple orchard growing in a desert with nothing more than a thin river keeping both the town and the orchard alive."

"It is because of this gift of nature that several earth pony clans have taken up farming as their main trade as they are the best at it, being able to create a farm in almost any terrain be it a hot desert to a frigid tundra. And from historical records there even has been a farm on the side of the mountain when there was no viable land that could properly raise a field of crops so they had to improvise and have it grown on the side in wooden boxes."

"Out of all three pony races, the earth ponies are supposed to be the shortest but there has been at times that they are taller than the average unicorn or pegasus, and sometimes almost as tall as a minotaur in rare cases."

After that we were about to get started on what was supposed to be the 'alicorn' race but we were interrupted by the solar princess when she cleared her throat and drew our attention.

"I am sorry for interrupting your lesson Twilight but I have a question for our guest, if you would kindly answer it."

"And just what is this question?" I can't really say no to these alien ponies now, can I?

"Just what do you do for a living, a profession you would call it."

"Ah...that...for the most part a galactic peacekeeper to keep the balance of power in check, but for the most part I am a mercenary." Or pirate, that seems to be what a lot of people call us these days.

"I see..."

"You said when we were in Princess Luna's mindscape that you were a soldier when you were with the Orokin Empire, what were you before that?"

"Hmm...I, can't seem to truly remember...the last thing I can ever recall was that I worked at a shipyard, I think as a task-manager...I can't truly recall exactly what that shipyard was for but all I do know was that there was vessels that were departing and docking."

"How odd...from a dock worker to a soldier and lastly into a peacekeeping mercenary...a colorful series of jobs I must say."

"Eh, whatever you have to do to make a living, and truth be told I am rich beyond anything I would ever dream of when I was just a task-manager. I don't even think I would have ever made as much credits as I would have back then as I would have made now."

"Just how much do you have?" Rainbow Dash said, I bet she thinks I am only saying that to make myself look better.

Little does these aliens know that I am swimming in credits, weapons, and useless sculptures and other priceless relics that I can't get rid of at the moment.

"I have a little over twelve million credits." And with that said it was deathly silent, you can hear a pin drop that it was so quiet.

"Wow." "Dayum he's rich." "With that many bits, I could open up more of my boutiques throughout the world!" "I could pay off all of the farm's bills for several centuries and never have to worry about going into debt!" "So many parties!" "Just think of how many animals I can help with that many bits." "Hey man wanna share that love you got?"

"Not to burst your bubble everyone but I am not an economic master but I think my credits are useless here because I don't know what currency you use nor do I know the rate of transfer between the two currencies. For all I know this thing is worthless and has no value at all."

That burst everybody's bubble and I was happy that it did, if they wanted to be my 'friends' then they wouldn't do it for the money, hell only time a friend should ask for money is when they are in tough times and promise to pay it back in time.

"But that does raise a question though."

"And that is what Viktor?" Twilight said as she looked up from her scroll, where it came from I don't know but I can tell that she was writing something with that quill in her hands.

"What am I supposed to do with this?" I said as my warframe raised its left hand, palm facing downwards onto the table as it started to glow an orange color and in a matter of seconds a single gold coin fell from my hand that was soon followed by a small river of coins until after about thirty seconds of gold clinking on more gold it eventually stopped.

The look on everybody's face, the look of shock and surprise, clearly they were not expecting me to show this to them.

"Viktor...where in Equestria did you get this!" Twilight exclaimed as she grabbed a gold coin and looked it over.

"In the abandoned fortress where I crash landed in. While you have left me to my own devices during the night, I had relinquished control of my Rhino Prime for the time being as no one was disturbing me in the middle of the night all the while using Ivara to explore and examine the ruined area and see what was available for study. Seeing how I found countless tomes, portraits, suits of rusted armor and even a vault that held enough gold that it could possibly work as golden inlays for several Prime warframes." I said all the while picking up a single coin before pumping a fragment of my void energy into the coin to make it levitate into the air before making it drop back into my hand.

"You ransacked our old home!" That and it was so easy to do, I bet a crippled Loki can do the job in half the time.

"Well from what the preliminary scans indicated it hasn't been occupied by a living being for a thousand years so pretty much it has been left to rot and it was all up for grabs. You should be thanking me because having it deconstructed and put back together pretty much removed the rust and rot from it all." That and its not like I am going to keep it all, maybe keep it for a while until I can find someone who will take it off my hands all the while making a pretty credit for my troubles.

Probably earn myself this world's currency and be able to learn more about it, hopefully be able to earn myself a reputation as a treasure hunter. Maroo would be so proud of me if I earned the same amount of rep she has, or get jealous that I earned more money from breaking into rotting husks for the sweet loot that sometimes remains inside.

"How were you able to be within the Everfree Forest while you were here in your room? The flight from there to here was well within a few hours and I had already placed a small regiment of our royal guards to protect the crash sight and to secure anything that was left behind. So how did you do it?"

"I have my ways princess, that is all you need to know." Transference is such a useful means to an end.

That was when Shining Armor, my opponent for later in the day's duel, cut in with his own question.

"You said something about a Rhino Prime and Ivara, who are they?" Pinkie asked me as she played with a locke of hair that was between her eyes at the moment.

"Empty golems that are possessed by devil minds."

Immediately after I said that Princess Celestia and Princess Luna stood up and were flaring their wings as their horns started to glow with a bright intensity, apparently they don't like the words 'golems' and 'devils'.

"What did you say!" The pair said at the same time, I guess they share a hatred for devils.

"A phrase that an Executioner said that described what we were. Our warframes are the empty golems and we operators are the devil minds, we are them and they are us."

As soon as I explained it the two slowly sat back down, and I didn't even notice it but the guards that came with us were pointing their weapons at me. Like those little toys will be able to stop me, even if they injure me it will just sent my warframe into a feral frenzy and kill everything that is in this room while leaving me unharmed.

"So that thing beside you...it is an empty suit of armor that is being controlled through magical puppet strings?"

"No, our warframes are not empty nor are they hollow, they are like us, full of life but at the same time it is lifeless."

"I do not understand what you mean, so these things are nothing more than meat puppets?" Sadly yes, but these meat puppets will not turn on us...sans Mesa and Chroma.

"You are not far off but still wrong. Warframes are biomechanical constructs that was created to handle our powers all the while being able to let us fight in the field while keeping us safe from any harm." Unless the Stalker shows up on your ship, that is another matter entirely and you have a chance of meeting your death.

And by chance I mean almost getting killed only to be saved by blind luck.

"How do they work?" Twilight said as she looked at my warframe, her eyes not once leaving the golden pieces that dot my warframe's structure.

"Sorry, its classified." That and even I don't truly know how they operate, I only got glimpses of the original blueprints when they were first given to us.

"What do you mean classified?" Seems like she doesn't like mysteries being left unsolved.

"Exactly as it sounds like, classified. I cannot tell you how they work nor can I tell you how to make them. All I can tell you that killing one of them is damn near impossible with the weapons you have available, but with the weapons I have at my disposal, I can incapacitate and capture them with ease."

"So there is nothing we can do to stop you if you oh so desire to attack us?"

"Pretty much, but I have a moral code and besides I rather not fight here. I have been fighting pretty much all my life and I am so tired of it all, never having a moment of peace, never being able to rest, hell I haven't even been able to even be able to enjoy myself because of the damn wars I have been fighting in."

"So you have been hiding away somewhere while this thing fought in your stead while you were also controlling it?" The white captain said, a bit of distain was in his voice as he said it. Guess he doesn't like people who are not directly in the frontlines.

"Yup, pretty much."

"When was the last time you took a bath?" Twilight asked me as she scribbled down her question and looked up at me, expecting a good answer from me.

"Uh...roughly seven hundred years ago."

"That is disgusting." "Oh damn, rank!" "Fillies and gentlecolts, the grossest being alive!" "Oh please, I was on the moon for a thousand years and I never had to take a bath upon my return." "At least he doesn't smell bad..." "How are you not covered in filth and dead skin cells if you haven't taken a bath in that long?"

"Hey! Let's see you take a shower when your entire life was nothing more than being asleep in a cramped pod while controlling a death machine that is capable of wiping out entire battalions of enemy soldiers all by itself all the while caring about hygiene when you have thought of yourself being nothing more than a being of pure energy instead of a being of flesh and blood?"

"Oh, right...sorry."

"No worries, although I wish to enjoy what it must be like to be normal again...or as normal as I can possibly ever get with what I am right now." Being a civilian again, every soldier's worst nightmare and most challenging task to date.

All became silent as we stopped questioning each other but soon we were either staring silently at each other or were just talking to one another about me and what was said so far.

Eventually though we returned to our questionings but this time it was focused on the gold I had acquired along with the other relics and tomes I had 'acquired' from the ruined fort I crashed into.

"So Viktor...would there be any chance of you returning what you have taken from our old home?" Princess Luna said after a while, seems like she is still recovering from her little misadventure.

"No, you left them there for however long in that place all alone and unattended so that left them up for grabs. After all finders keepers, and besides unless you are willing to trade to something for them, you are out of luck."

"What do you have in mind?" Princess Celestia said as she crossed her arms at me, making her already large chest much more pronounced for some reason. Is she trying to divert my attention for some reason? It serves no purpose whatsoever and nor will it distract me any further than they already have.

"What do you have to trade?" I fired back, just like I always did with other Tenno who wanted to trade precious resources with me back home.

I thought that I would be the one to have an upper hand in this trade negotiations but as it turns out this Celestia...she is real cutthroat when it comes to making deals and getting exactly what she wants. I think the Corpus might be able to learn a thing or two from her if they ever find a way to here.

Where ever here is exactly.

But back to this trading deal of ours, I would be giving back most of the portraits, refurbished suits of armor, weapons and other metal objects, non-moldy tomes and scrolls, and lastly any strange artifacts that I may have found. And in return they would help me by bringing my ship all the way up here without damaging it any further than it already has been, that and I get some better niceties for my room, that is a plus. They will not be getting any of the gold that I have pilfered from their abandoned coffers, and even though I could probably use them to purchase anything these lesser, groundside beings might be welling to sell to me, I wouldn't need them as I have no need for them or that my ship is capable of providing the same services they would bestow to me.

That and I highly doubt these aliens will know what to do with all this extra wealth that they would get if I did give it all back to them. Do you know what people are capable of doing when they find out that they are going to become several million gold coins richer than they previously were? I wouldn't know, I don't know the value of these ancient coins other than that they are probably worth several times more than the new coins that have been printed and produced.

"So I take it that will be everything then?" Celestia asked as Twilight finished writing on the scroll, the quill looked like it was about to burst into flames as the tip of it was smoking from how fast it was being rubbed against the paper.

"Yes, that will be all, you bring my ship up here so I can conduct a thorough scan on its damaged systems so I can repair anything that might have sustained any damage and I will be handing back to you most of what I have acquired from your ruined empty home."

"Then we are in agreement then." The white princess said and I merely nodded and all was well.

Until I spoke up that is.

"I am still keeping the portraits of you and your sister." I said quickly which earned a bit of a red face on the two princesses along with several of the other alien ponies that are present.

"May I ask why?"

"I need more art in my ship, it gets boring having to stare at the same set of digitalized environments every single day. And besides having my ship's walls lined with ayatan sculptures and landscape pictures of planets within the solar system does get old and boring." Looking at waterfalls of methane and landscapes of eroded land gets dull after a while.

"Ayatan sculptures? What are those?" Oh you poor fool, you are so lucky to not know this curse of mine, these damn things are everywhere and I can't get rid of them.

"Well they are sculptures that are made of gold and metal and are also powered by a mysterious energy source that allows them to move in place to make them more appealing." And they are worth a lot of money to the right people.

"Can I please see one? I wonder how they move if they are sculptures, seeing how ours are made of stone and even magic can't make them move without either wearing away at the stone or they can barely move in any direction without accidentally destroying itself."

"Maybe." I said after a few moments, I am just afraid that she might find a way to accidentally blow herself up if she were to tamper with the endo power source that fuels the ayatan sculptures.

"Aww." Twilight made a sad face as her ears went backwards as she started to give me a strange look, her bottom lip was quivering and her eyes started to water. Just what is she trying to do here? Is she hungry or something?

"Remember Liaison Twilight that all of my Ayatan sculptures are back in my ship which means that I don't have them currently available to me at the time." That and the few sculptures that I keep with me are for my room, not other people.

"Oh, right...duh." The purple girl sheepishly moved back to her princess and made herself scarce to avoid me giving her the stink eye.

Talking about the artifacts that my people have I kindly told her that for our people they are just sculptures that minimal use of either being a neat interior decoration for our ship or a means of energy when they are broken down to its base power component. Twilight immediately went on a tangent, talking about how priceless relics shouldn't be destroyed just to be used as a fuel source but I tuned her out, it isn't like these things are so limited, the damn Orokin made so many of these things that even their spoiled children were trying to find ways to get rid of the damn things.

I gladly obliged them of that endeavor and now I too find myself trying to get rid of them, but for the time being I am just placing them all over the ship's walls, ceiling and floor.

At least if my ship ever gets captured I can probably buy my way out by offering a wall or two.

Eventually however we have been talking for the greater part of the day, skipping a meat time along with several other things that I am not accustomed to, but for the time being I was allowed to ignore it due to a cultural difference and not knowing what it was. It was well into the afternoon when we stopped talking to pack it in for the day and before we could depart for what they call 'dinner' we were stopped when the captain of the guard spoke up in a rather loud and commanding tone as it was directed at me.

"We are not done yet Viktor!"

"Aren't we? It is time for as you people call it 'dinner' and if I am to acclimate back to a normal civilian life then I must attend and see what your species offer in terms of rations...food."

"Oh no! You are not postponing this sparring contest because you are afraid to fight me!"

'Did this motherfucker really just call me a coward?'

'Oh hell no! Someone is going to die tonight!'

"Well then captain, lead the way then. Lead me to our ring so I can make you wish you hadn't challenged me."

And off we went, down some stairs, through more halls and past several armed guards. All of them asked what was happening and what was said to them made each and every single one of them run off to spread the word.

"The captain of the royal guard is going to fight the alien in a sparing contest!"

If only it was true that it was going to be a contest, it was actually going to be more akin to a beat down brawl.

Arriving in the guard training yard I saw that it was pretty much an open area with several wooden racks holding their antique wood-and-metal weapons, several sparring circles made of stone and lastly what looks like an arena in the far off corner. I can easily guess what that is used for and where we are going.

"So I take it that we will be fighting in there?" I asked as I eyed the arena suspiciously.

I rather not destroy it on accident and have to pay them back to repair it.

"Yes, what? Is there something the matter, getting cold hooves already?" Shining Armor said in a condescending manner at me.

"No, I am just wondering if the ones who will be watching us will be safe from any collateral damage." If I know anything about fighting in a friendly duel or in this case a spar, there will always be something being broken be it the floor, ceiling or very rarely the walls, but something will break. Also a medic on standby wouldn't be such a bad idea, broken bones and dying are very likely things to occur.

"Don't worry, there is a shield enchantment build into the arena to prevent any accidental discharges from going into the crowds and injuring them. Just don't do anything that might end up in the crowd." the guard captain warned me as we stepped through the portcullis leading inside before going our separate ways on either side of the arena, everyone else was going through a different door way leading into the surrounding stands.

While the others were going into the stands to watch the spectacle that is going to be an ass-whooping of a lifetime, I was moving to the right side of the arena with my Rhino Prime beside me, the guard captain had two of his own guards beside him.

"So, do you want to fight me with my warframe or without it."

"Put it on, you are for the most part a thin frail pony without it so it is best to put it on if you even have a chance of winning." Strike one.

"You are going to come to regret saying that. These warframes are not what make us so powerful, these things actually contain our power so it doesn't wreck havoc on those that don't deserve it." And with that said I returned to my transference chamber and reconnected with my Rhino Prime.

"So your armor acts as nullifier ring...I bet you are only saying that to make yourself feel better." Strike two.

"You are going to come to regret those words." I said as I put my arms behind my back, locking them in place so they don't accidentally swing around and whack the prick in the face.

"Bold words, lets see if you can back them up." And that is strike three.

"Make your peace with your gods, you are about to learn a lesson on why you never antagonize the Tenno." I said, separating my feet and getting into a battle stance.

Shining Armor grabbed his sword and shield as one of his guards placed a frilled helmet on top of his head, his horn poking through a hole above his forehead. That is a structural weakness along with a biological weakness as well. I can use this to my advantage.

The two of us were standing at the ready, waiting for the referee to give us the green light to fight, and as our referee ran between the two of us, the tall and thin pegasus guard wearing what looks like an off-duty uniform comes to a stop with a black and white checkered flag before thrusting it upwards before flying off, starting the fight.

The royal captain made the first move by blasting a bolt of lavender energy at me from his horn, the bolt impacted against my right shoulder, almost spinning me on my feet as I was unprepared for such a sudden attack let alone one that was that powerful and that fast.

Looking down at where he hit me to where he was standing I noted that it wasn't taxing nor was it in any way very powerful. All it did was catch me off-guard and that it didn't even put a dent in my shields.

Staring up at the guard captain I decided that now was the time to strike and move I did, sprinting right at the enemy combatant and before I could ram right into the captain I watched as his horn began to glow again but this time instead of firing a bolt of energy at me he instead created a lavender barrier around himself. I collided straight into the energy barrier, my body bouncing off of it but I saw the captain wince as I hit the barrier, seeing that it is like an extension of him I decided to hit the barrier again but with a firm, strong kick to the center.

The barrier cracked under the weight of the impact and for a moment I thought it was going to break as soon as I lifted my foot off of it but to my surprise it held its form nor did it shrink down in size like a Corpus Nullifier shield does, it held together, for the time being.

Spinning in place I bring up my left leg and kicked the barrier in the same spot, this time more cracks formed on the shield and I watched the captain let out a grunt of what I think is pain of the mental kind but before I could bring it all together to a quick end he forced his barrier outward and it threw me off balance for a second time.

'So his mental attacks from his horn is all raw power and his barrier can handle a few of my unarmed hits...I bet it would shatter under a single Fragor blow.'

Staggering backwards I catch myself in time to see the captain running right at me, his round shield raised and his sword beside him as he goes in for a thrusting stab that I easily dodge by stepping closer to him, my body colliding into the shield in his left hand as his sword rushed behind me and for the moment we stood their landlocked. The two of us push against the other and for a being that is smaller than me by at least a good foot and a half he is able to hold his own against me but seeing how I am not using my arms at the moment he wouldn't be standing as I would have grabbed his shield and tossed it aside before steamrolling and plowing him into the ground.

With the two of us so close to one another I waited for Shining to make the first move and he did by taking a single step back before slamming his shield into my chest, the metal shield actually denting inward from the impact, metal objects dent to do that when they hit proto-shields. I watched him look down at his shield when it dented against my body and in that moment I saw weakness and I exploited that brief moment by raising my knee and kicked the shield out of his hand before spinning in place and kicked him in the torso, sending him back several feet before crashing into the arena wall behind him.

Cracking my neck to remove any kinks that may be building up I slowly made my way towards the downed captain, keeping a fair distance away from him in case he tries to blast me with another mind bolt or if he tries to feint in a free stab but he does nothing as I get closer and closer.

As soon as I stood over him however, he quickly got to his knees and pointed his horn right at my center mass and in an instant I watched as a sphere of energy built up before discharging right into my torso as it once again sends me flying backwards but this time I actually felt my shields weaken from the sheer raw power from the explosive blast.

Peeling myself off the ground I dusted myself off before staring down the kneeling captain.

"You're not bad captain, I have to admit." I said while shifting myself on my feet, switching the weight I am placing on each foot as I shuffle side to side.

"One would think that with the amount of determination to keep on fighting along with the sheer willpower to persist when others would have either crumbled and lost or outright admit defeat, you hold onto it like a rock in a river. But sadly that too will not save you from defeat." Rolling my shoulders to loosen them up I took a few steps forward before outright sprinting right at Shining Armor, my intent is to bulldoze him into the wall before using my foot to scrap him out from the wall and fling him to the floor.

But for him he saw this coming and formed a barrier around himself again but this time I watched as the barrier started to grow in size as it began to push me backwards and towards the wall behind me.

With the wall behind me getting closer and the one in front of me is moving slowly, he is planning to crush me into submission.

Being unable to retreat nor being able to advance on the lone enemy combatant, I decided that I would have to elevate myself to a new position to break through this barrier without getting crushed. Running to the wall I started to run up it as the grip on my feet held firmly as I ascended up the stone surface only to reverse myself and leap towards the lavender barrier. My body smacked into it but the way the barrier was angled at the time I was able to keep myself from sliding down and immediately scaled its flawless surface before stopping right above the captain only to receive a pain-filled glare as he looks right back at me.

Raising my left foot I dropped it down with enough force to create a crack on Shining Armor's barrier, with a second foot stomp it created even more fractures across its surface as I kept my eye on the captain below. Stopping for a third time I saw the barrier flicker for a brief moment but it held firm and stayed solid and with each stomp I made the barrier kept on cracking but it still held firmly until I realized that he was changing his shield barrier from its original dome shape to a much more directional arc to keep up the energy demand that is starting to strain his body and mind.

With one more stomp the barrier finally gave way as I watched the lavender energy fizzle out and fade away, resulting me in falling right on top of him as I kept myself from outright crushing him with over three hundred pounds of biomechanical muscle and metal. Pressing my armored foot onto his throat I glare down at his prone form as he tries in a vain attempt to pry my boot away but because he is so weak all he did was annoy me further so I decided to stomp out any and all resistance he has in his body.

Sweeping my right foot under his back I lifted him off the ground before quickly spinning around and planting my left foot into his neck and pinning him to the wall that he had previously blasted me into.

"You lose Captain Shining Armor, you have the heart of a warrior even in the face of adversity and an inevitable defeat. But here you lose today, let it be known that if I had used my arms this would have ended far earlier." I said in a calm tone as I kept my foot on his throat as I transported myself beside my warframe, leaving it in its current position as it kept him pinned to the wall.

"The thing about us Tenno, captain, is that when we are operating our warframes, we never rest, we never tire, we don't need food nor water, we are the greatest threat to anything that dares to earn our ire. You should count your blessings that you didn't earn mine when your princess raided my mind for my private and hidden thoughts and did not enact the Law of Retribution on her, and once it has been declared it can never be removed." And with that said I patted my warframe on the arm and it immediately removed its foot from his throat before taking a step back and returned to a much more calmer state of mind as I made my way back to the crowd of ponies that were coming down the stairs into the arena.

Almost all of them were wearing varying degrees of emotions but most of it was fear, they were all afraid of me because I singlehandedly bested the captain of the guard with my arms behind my back and no weapons. The lavender unicorn girl was not wearing the mask of fear but it was a mixture of wonder for what I managed to do and also worry for the captain that I just wiped the floor with.

"Well, that was fun while it lasted." I muttered mostly to myself but apparently these girls heard it as their ears flickered in my direction.

"You call that fun?" Rarity said as she sidestepped Twilight, the lavender girl quickly moving over to the downed captain, my guess to do some sort of medic-related duties.

"Uh...yeah? It gets the blood pumping and it keeps you on your toes when there is danger afoot." And it also means you are still alive and not a pile of meat and bone on the floor.

"Well we don't think that was fun, it was entertaining to watch you show us what you are capable of doing, but it wasn't really fun for us." Rainbow Dash said as she cracked her back and let out a sigh of relief as her white unicorn friend Rarity shivered at the sound of bones popping back into place.

"Fine then, what do you girls for fun then?" I said as I rolled my shoulders and rolled my eyes back in the transference pod.

As soon as I asked that I got the feeling that I should immediately regret it because I watched from the corner of my eye the pink pony girl with the unruly wild hair gasped loudly before bouncing over to me and started to talk in a rapid-fire fashion.

I think I just sealed my own fate.

Author's Note

On an unrelated note, Blueblood is not the spoiled rich brat that so many people depict him to be, I am going in a different route for this character.

My internet has been on and off for a while so its iffy for now. That and I finally got civilization 6, Go Tsar Peter Go!