Cinder had easily identified Drake and Jack when they had come out of the forest and had disarmed her torpedoes when she saw a blue horse with them, somehow matching the enhanced speed of the armor with wings, how she even flew given her size compared to her wings was beyond her but at this point she had stopped trying to rationalize the small horses with odd colors and body parts. Currently though Drake was talking with the large blue one who he had marked as 'Princess Luna' on the display, she had access to his suits microphones but she had honestly never cared for negotiations, even when she was for them. She had landed the Manticore on its three main mechanical docking assistants that would normally only be used on the smallest of stations. Currently the two were discussing Flint, or, 'The Green Egg' as the two smaller horses called it. The small rainbow maned one had spoken quite a bit at the beginning of the conversation but had since then fallen silent, appearing bored like Cinder with the lack of actual action. Deciding that she should probably take note of at least some of the conversation she allowed the audio input to play again..

"... and again i am sorry for my fleet members having scared your 'ponies'," Drake finished, the word 'pony' still sounding odd to him, he had been up to this point explaining his fleet's actions since their less than graceful landing.

"Well then, Drake of Caldari," Luna began, "What are you exactly, you and your comrades all appear to be made of metal, but you two are smaller, and i have not seen any real movement besides flight from your two larger companions,"

"Those two are in vessels of their own, i assure you that there are pilots to both of the, er, objects," Drake said, hoping that Luna would not question him further on how they flew, he did not feel like explaining the advanced technologies that were encapsulated by the word 'Spaceship'.

"Well then, what is your race, you have told me that you are all from different countries, but you failed to mention your race, and i have never heard of creatures made of materials as strong as you besides the dragons, and they are much different than you,"

"You mean you think that-" Jack began, realizing that the ponies had not seen anything but their armor, at this he began to laugh, "Oh that's rich! That's fucking gold right there!" he howled almost falling on his side, "They actually believe we're made of metal!"

"I can understand the confusion," Drake said, looking at the now scowling Luna, "What you see here is armor, if we were to take it off i'm fairly sure we would have about the same makeup as you 'ponies' do, although we have much less hair,"

"I see," said Luna, trying to find where such armor would fasten together at as she continued, "and what are you called?"

"We are Capsuleers," replied Drake, "We are the evolution of humanity, we have gained immortality and control of the stars themselves." Drake said all this with an air of supremity to it, much like the Canterlot nobles Luna thought, the only difference was that she could tell by the way he spoke that what Drake said about immortality and power was true, but the fact that he believed he had a right to her beautiful, beautiful, stars angered her.

"And just what gives you right to the stars?" She questioned, anger evident in her voice.

"There is nobody that can keep us from them, if we can take something then why shouldn't we? Those that have opposed us have crumbled with nothing more than a thought, something so grand can only belong to those with the strength to take them," Drake said, oblivious to Luna's anger.

"The stars belong to me," Luna said with finality, "I control the stars and the moon, they do not belong to anyone but myself!" What she said confused Drake, how anyone could control celestial bodies so far away and with absolutely nothing was impossible, he scoffed at Luna's claim and said,

"If you truly do own the stars as you claim then they have been taken from you in your absence, i doubt you could reach even one of them, you lack the technology, the most I've seen is primitive at best, and i doubt that your soldiers could so much as scratch even one of us," Drake challenged. Luna was enraged, she glared daggers at the capsuleer, while Hawk and Frostwing's claws lit up with magic. Jack had been watching the whole conversation with amusement and was currently checking his gun nonchalantly, taking occasional glances at the two ponies in the back while Cinder quietly re-enabled her weapons systems. Flint could do nothing, and Rainbow Dash felt that this was probably one she should sit out on. Just as the tension between the two groups was about to reach a breaking point Princess Celestia and an escort of armored pegasus guards landed, unnoticed by the two groups who had been focusing on each other.

"What's going on here?" She asked both groups, a calm neutrality in her voice. As she spoke everyone in the clearing looked at her, recognizing her as either a threat, or in charge of things.

"The 'capsuleers' here were just explaining themselves." Luna said through grit teeth.

"Indeed," Said Jack, now resting on the butt of his gun, the barrel finding purchase on a rock, "and blue here was just about to attack us," at this he cocked his head sideways looking in Luna's direction. At this Celestia raised an eyebrow, looking towards her sister as well.

"What Jack means to say is that Princess Luna here was... not in agreement, with one of our statements," Drake covered.

"Kind of racist if you ask me," Said Jack, getting a cease-and-desist signal from Drake.

"and what exactly did you state?" asked Celestia, looking now to Drake and Jack.

"I simply explained my races place in the universe, at which she seemed to get upset," Said Drake.

"Well the stars are kinda her role as an Alicorn...." Dash said off to the side of the two groups. Drake suddenly realized what was going on, the 'ponies' believed in a religion involving the sky, making her a religious figure of sorts. At this realization he apologized quickly.

"Apologize Princess, i did not mean to insult your beliefs or those of your subjects, had i known sooner i would have explained myself in a... more respectful, manner," Drake said, hoping to defuse the hostile feelings the Princess had, in hopes of not having to wage a war on the first new sentient species that had been found.

"More respectfully?" Celestia questioned in quizzical tone, "i think you might be better off talking with both my sister and myself as we both have, different perspectives on things."

"Maybe we could hurry explanations up and begin negotiations somewhere else," Said Flint from his capsule, "Its somewhat uncomfortable in here with gravity at this angle, besides I'm sure our pony friends would be much more at ease if they could see us all, instead of having half of us hidden away,"

"Indeed," Cinder spoke through Drake's suit.

"I believe your ally has a decent point Drake," said Celestia, "Our negotiations would do better in a different environment. However, I cannot allow you and your 'friends' to simply go free until i truly know that you will not be a threat to my little ponies. Unless you have any suggestions I'm afraid you will have to accompany my sister and I back to Canterlot, Equestria's Capital,"

"I would rather my comrades and I not go very far from this area, as quite a few of the things we have here need to be dealt with before they become a danger to any of your people," Drake said.

"Well Applejack's farm isn't far from here,," explained Rainbow Dash, "Everypony could meet there, its not too far,"

"An excellent idea Rainbow Dash," Said Luna as she stepped forward, "If you would allow my two Shadowbolts here to accompany your hidden friends they could find a suitable place to get themselves ready for negotiations, speaking to a cold piece of metal gets.... unsettling, after a while,"

"Personally i think its a great idea," Said Flint, "Cinder has plenty of room to fly us all back to this town after we get to a spot i can leave my capsule,"

"and just where do you plan to leave your pod?" asked Drake.

"If Aura is correct your Proteus' capsule loading bay is accessible, Flint could land there, and grab a pair of clothes as well, after that i can fly him back, and the two dark ponies could follow," Cinder said, seemingly in agreement with the idea.

"I guess its settled then," Said Drake, as Rainbow Dash and Cinder each shot off in two different locations, "Lead on Princess,"

It had been almost an hour and a half but the group was now seated in Applejack's Barn around a table. Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Twilight were still on their way as Applejack and Rainbow Dash were faster. Both Flint and Cinder were both seated next to Drake and Flint, who were both still wearing armor.

"So tell me Drake," Celestia began, "How exactly have you come to Equestria, and why?"

"We didn't exactly choose to come here," Drake said, "It's all an accident really, and i can give you my word that we don't intend to stay any longer than we have to,"

"Thou hast left out exactly how thou hast come to be here," Luna said.

"Its all really bad karma," Cinder said, "We attacked a battleship sitting on a wormhole and the ship blew up halfway through it, right after that we got sucked through and ended up in orbit above your planet, we would've left from there but Drake's ship is badly damaged as your shadowbolts know, and Flint's ship was waxed."

"You forgot to mention that Teyreon died before the Apocalypse popped," Said Flint, "Although that's not too important,"

"I am sorry for the loss of your friend," Celestia said.

"Oh don't worry about him, I'm sure he's fine, bastards got it better than we do right now," Flint said with a chuckle.

"Dost thou truly prefer death than being stuck here?" Luna asked.

"I think you may be missing the whole 'Immortal' part of all this," Jack said, "Teyreon woke up in a fresh new body right after he died, he's probably sitting in a station enjoying a drink right now." As he finished saying this all of the ponies jaws dropped except for Celestia, whose face remained entirely neutral.

"So you are here because you guys attacked somebody?" Rainbow Dash asked after a few seconds.

"That is what i said," Cinder said, slightly annoyed that the ponies seemed so blunt when it came to the concept.

"Was he an outlaw or somethin'?" Applejack asked, "I mean he musta don somethin' for y'all to be attacking him like that,"

"Nope," said drake, " But he would've attacked Flint in his cargo ship if we hadn't killed him. Why do you think he was just sitting there? He was probably waiting for something smaller than him to fly by so that he could get an easy kill,"

"So he was a bad person?" Applejack asked more than stated.

"Nope, just another bloke," Said Jack.

"I don't think any of you are getting the concept," Cinder began, "Killing is simple, easy, and common, where we come from, and judging by your happy-rainbow land you've got going on here, where the most you have for weapons is spears and shit, i'm going to go out on a limb and guess that you guys don't do that,"

"I would just like to point out that we have no intention of doing that sort of thing here," Drake stated, "Its done where we live because if you don't defend yourself before you are attacked, then you generally die,"

"Besides, none of you fly anything expensive that would be worth it," Jack said as the rest of the group glared at him.

"While i would enjoy being able to take you for you word Drake, I don't think that would be wise," Celestia said, "While my spells tell me that you are at heart a good person Drake I cannot in good conscience allow you to roam uninhibited around my ponies,"

"Well we can't just leave," Cinder said, "In fact I believe that's one of the first things we told you,"

"and if we do just leave the wrecks of these ships all over your country then eventually bad things will happen," Flint said.

"Yea, you wouldn't want our drones to go rogue in the atmosphere, they would strip the planet," Jack replied.

"We- I, may have a solution to your problem," Luna began, "My shadowbolts could make sure thou refrains from anything rash, however I believe that there are only two to your four,"

"We have The Elements of Harmony," Rainbow Dash said, "Maybe they could stay in Ponyville so that we could keep an eye on them, and if something goes wrong we can just zap 'em"

"Now hold on a minut-" Applejack began, before Celestia began speaking,"

"That may work, The Elements of Harmony should work with them exactly as they did on Discord," Celestia said, "My student, Twilight Sparkle, will be able to assist you in leaving, and my sister shall leave her Shadowbolts here, I trust that the elements and them will not need to take action against you. Would that be correct Drake?"

"It would, I assume that we will be here for some time, possibly over two years," He said, "It would be foolish to attack so many peopl- Ponies, especially when the things we need are in their country,"

"Then it is settled," said Celestia, "However, the Griffins and other countries will be wanting to know what happened today, in a few weeks time i shall need you to come the Capitol, and explain yourself to them. I will not have Equestria going to war over this,"

"Hawk, Frostwing, You will accompany the Capsuleers for their time here, especially Jack, Until they are able to leave Equestria. Make sure that nopony is harmed by them during their stay." Luna ordered her Shadowbolts.

"Rainbow, Twilight should be on her way here, when she does arrive, tell her i will send her a letter with details on it and that she is to find a place for the Capsuleers to stay," Celestia said. With that, She and Luna both took off, back to Canterlot.

"Well she left in quite a hurry," Flint said chuckling, "I didn't think it'd be that easy to get her to let us stay,"

"Well its not like we can leave anyways," Cinder said,"

"Hey, i know we got off to a bad start, but you guys seem pretty chill, maybe we could be friends or something?" Rainbow said as she started leading the group out of the barn, oblivious to the scowling Applejack.

"Do ah' get any say in this?" Applejack asked as everyone but jack was just out of the room.

"No." Jack said with a less than friendly chuckle as he walked out the door. Leaving an upset Applejack with nothing to do but follow.

Author's Note

Hey! Sorry for the long time between updates guys, now that its summer they should be out a lot faster. Also, i know Celestia leaves really quickly in the end but that is all explained later so don't worry too much about it.