Year 2308, 1334 hours,Town Center, Ponyville, Equestria, Planet Equis

Vega

"We've got wounded over here!" I cried out, carefully picking up the unconscious azure colored mare. She was covered in minor cuts and bruises, with perhaps a medium concussion. Her breathing was labored and shaky, which meant a punctured lung. That means, we have only minutes to get her taken care of. Having relatively little to no medical training other than knowing how to field dress a wound, I reached into one of the many pouches on my armor, and removed a small canister with a needle and squeeze handle. Without so much as a bat of the eye, I tore her shirt off, to find out which lung had collapsed. I immediately learned she was not wearing a bra, and thanked Selene my face was covered with a visor. Ignoring the fact she was very comfortable with her appearance, I noticed that the entire left half of her chest had collapsed, and had to release a sigh of frustration.

There was a small clatter, as the second armored figure from the belfry landed beside me, followed by Twilight and the girls who hurriedly passed the now neutralized Ursa. There was a collective gasp, as they saw the mare with her shirt torn off. Rainbow was the first to jump to conclusions as she lunged at me. She didn't make it ten feet before landing flat on her ass along with a black eye. The girls stood dumbfounded as the second armored figure stood before them. "I wouldn't do that if I were you... You might make her condition worse." It said, in a timid voice, clearly female. She then turned to Twilight. "Could you please restrain your friend?" She asked before adding "I really don't want to hurt her..."

"Twilight! What the buck are you doing?!" Dash shouted as her friend nodded and lit her horn in a lavender aura. Instantly, the cerulean pegasus found her hands, feet and wings bound, with a look of surprise and betrayal. "Are you crazy?! Let me go! He's gonna hurt her!" She cried, thrashing against the restraints.

"I must agree with Dash Twilight." Rarity said with a look of horror as she watched me trail my hands over wounded mare's ribs. "He's practically raping her!" she spat, which only garnered a laugh from me.

"Twilight, is this chick serious?!" I asked shaking my head, before stabbing the unconscious mare in the chest with the needle, squeezing down on the small lever. There was a loud gasp from the mare, as she began coughing up bloody foam. Standing, I turned to the group of stunned mares. "Now, if you no longer have anymore accusations, I would really appreciate some help... Now!" I barked getting five of the six ponies to jump, in surprise from me speaking to them. Twilight nodded releasing Dash from her restraints before speaking.

"Right, the hospital isn't far." She said, now in leader mode. She quickly turned to her friends and started doling out order. "Rainbow, I'm sorry for restraining you, but i need you to get to the hospital as fast as you can, and tell the staff to be expecting a severe trauma patient." She barked, getting a nod from the glowering mare, before taking off at top speed. "The rest of you, look for anypony that needs help." And with that, the mares went into action. The lavender mare turned to face me and the other clad figure. "Alright lets go."

I gave her a nod, and carefully picking up the wounded mare, took off at a medium jog, following closely behind her. Much of the town had been reduced to ruins, from the Ursa attack, and debris littered the street, making it hard to navigate.

"How far?" I asked, holding the injured mare in a fireman's carry. Careful not to jerk around the mare too much. The foam had stabilized her, but had not healed her.

"Not far... Five miles." Twilight huffed, making me I shake my helmet clad head in disapproval. It would take too long on foot, despite how fast I am. Turning to my partner I nodded and gave her the knocked out mare.

"We she won't make it if we continue like this." I said, quickly scooping up the lavender mare. She gave a surprised yelp, then demanded what i was doing. Without a word, the armor's jumpjets activated, sending me and twilight up thirty five feet before dropping down 500 ft ahead. There was a moment's pause as Auriel landed then activated her jumpjets, sending her and her charge up and over. The next minute was filled with Twilight's shrieks, as we jumped over obstacles, as the Hospital came into view, staff ready to receive the wounded mare. After a couple more jumps, we landed before the staff, which surprisingly ignored us and took the injured mare, as one of the doctors hurried over to where I was standing.

"What happened?!" The stallion asked as he tried not to stare in awe of both mine and Auriel's armored forms. I have to admit, i look pretty badass in this suit.

"Head trauma, medium concussion, Several fractured ribs, collapsed lung, and minor lacerations." I replied setting Twilight back on her feet. "I managed to stabilize her, but she's in need of emergency surgery." The Doctor nodded and hurried off to prep for surgery.

Twilight, after catching her breath, looked at the both of us, and shook her head. "What are you doing here?" she asked now that we were back on solid ground. "I mean, not that I don't want you here. Quite the opposite actually." She added as I slowly reached up to my helmet, and disengaged the airtight seals. There was a hiss of pressurized air, as I removed it. Auriel followed my example and removed hers as well, shaking out her short blonde hair.

"To put it simply Twi, Contingency Alpha-Theta Niner" I replied getting a puzzled look from the mare, as she tried to remember the many contingency plans we devised. After a moment, realization lit up her eyes.

"Alien arachnids, taking over everyone, and attacking others?!" She replied relatively surprised by the revelation. "I thought that one was a joke!" she cried, throwing her hands up.

"Yeah... Me too, until it actually happened. Had to kill a few thralls to get here." I replied as if it were an everyday occurrence. This got a gasp form Twilight, as she sat down.

"By Celestia... I'm so sorry that happened... Are you alright?!" She asked, now on the verge of tears. The thought of having to kill somebody you know is never an easy thing. I wrapped her in a hug and smiled.

"I am, now that Auriel and I are safe." I replied giving her a small squeeze. "Plus, Auriel and I got out of there virtually unscathed. I'm just glad to have been able to put that bear down. I mean what the hell happened?" I asked taking a seat next to her. "You know what, it doesn't matter. The question I should be asking you is, are you okay?" I asked concern evident in my tone. I know that she's fine physically, but seeing something killed is never easy.

She gave a nod, as she pulled her knees to her chest. "Yeah... Just seeing something murdered is kinda hard to swallow." She replied with a sigh. "Thank you for showing up when you did. If you had hadn't, then Trixie would have surely died, along with countless others."

"I just did what I had to do. Nothing else." I replied casually before looking at the now damaged helmet. Despite the blow from the Ursa, it only suffered minor damage. "So this is Equestria huh?" I asked getting a small laugh from Twilight.

"Yeah. I should probably let Luna and Celestia know of your arrival. I know Luna's gonna be ecstatic" she said with a small smile. I chuckled in reply as the cerulean mare known as Rainbow Dash approached, her right eye covered with an icepack looking pissed.

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1400 Hours, Ponyville General Hospital, Ponyville, Equstria

"Alright bitch, it's go time!" Rainbow said throwing the ice pack down on the ground, revealing a purpled, and swollen eye. She was seething with pent up fury, as she stared down Auriel, who shied away. This got the pegasus to smirk cockily, as she watch the display. "What? Not so tough with out your helmet?!" she mocked, only to get silence as an answer.

"Rainbow Dash, She's not the enemy!" Twilight said, getting between her and Auriel. "In fact, if it wasn't for her, knocking you on your flank, Trixie might have died because of you being so bucking brash!" She shouted, shocking the pegasus. "Tartarus Dash, what the heck were you thinking? Vega had just saved our town. Not to mention called for help!"

"Well... He was feeling her up... What the buck was I to think?!" Dash replied, not about to let it go.

"By the moon, you are so hard headed! Don't you think after seeing Trixie hurt that bad, he had to remove her shirt to get a better read on the situation? Or that he was 'feeling her up' to find out what was broken?" Twi argued, knowing that she had the pegasus beat.

"But... I... Well..." She stammered, trying to find a rebuttal argument. After a moment, she looked at her feet, sighed in resignation, knowing that Twilight was right.

"Honestly, I can understand you wanting to protect Trixie, and I admire that." I said, getting the rainbow maned pegasus to look up at me. "But in a situation like that, you have to remain calm, and think." I added, getting a solemn nod from her. "Plus, she's not in my pride." I added with a smile, which i immediately regretted, as Dash wore a look of terror when she noticed my canines.

Twilight simply facepalmed and breathed out an annoyed sigh before explaining to Dash that my kind are omnivores, and assured her that Auriel and I, wouldn't eat her. It took some convincing, but after a minute or two, she calmed down, though wary of mine and Auriel's eating habits.

"So... What are you guys?" Dash asked eying both me and Auriel up and down. "I mean, I know you guys are aliens, but what are exactly?" This got a smile from Auriel and Twilight.

"Well, I think we should wait until the rest of your friends arrive, along with Luna" I replied, turning to Twilight. "Speaking of Luna, mind sending her a message that I'm here in Equestria?" I asked getting a nod from Twilight, who immediately summoned up a quill and parchment, and began writing away.

"Wait... How do you know Princess Luna?" Dash asked with a look of confusion, which garnered another smile from me.

"Well Twilight's not the only mental pen pal I have" I replied getting back to my feet. I towered over the two mares by at least a foot, not counting the height the armor provided. "You see, I asked Twilight during one of our meetings to bring along one of your princesses, so we could talk peace, and eventually bringing me over. So She brought Luna to one of our meetings, and after a rough start, she and I became good friends." I explained, getting a nod from the mare.

"Aaand, done!" Twilight said, sending a scroll off to the Lunar diarch. "Soo... My place?"

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1430 Hours, Golden Oaks Library, Ponyville, Equstria

It turned out everypony else was lucky, since Trixie's the only one requiring in the entire town requiring medical attention. The rest had practically made it unscathed, save for a few scrapes and bruises. The three of us met up with the other for at Twilight's place of residence. Now I've heard of tree houses, but never anything this literal. I mean her house is a fucking tree! By Selene, who ever came up with the idea of hollowing out a tree, and enchanting the inside to be bigger than the home itself, I want to shake there hand. Almost all the decor had been carved out of the tree. The Book shelves -which I'll be pillaging later-, counter tops, even the stairs! The only problem i have with the place, is it's a matchstick away from disaster.

We were led to what was probably the den, on the second floor. Auriel and I were pulled from our marveling, when Twilight said to make ourselves comfortable. Not one to disappoint, the two of us began the long and arduous task of removing our armor. It took about ten minutes to remove the suit entirely, Auriel took less time, since hers took no damage. Taking a seat on the couch, I set my left hand ablaze with arcane energy, surprising the Pegasus across from me as i tore the fabric of space, leaving a black gash floating before us. Reaching in I pulled out a bottle of aged mead, and four crystal glasses, and set them on the coffee table before us.

"I hope you all don't mind breaking the law." I said with a smile pouring each of us a glass of the golden brown drink. Rainbow Dash immediately lit up, at the prospect of alcohol, as I closed up the rift. Ever since Equestria, put into effect a prohibition on all alcoholic beverages, Many ponies had gone thirsty. There was a rise in crime, as the creation and distribution of the illegal substances grew. While Celestia sanctioned it, Luna found the law entirely ridiculous.

"Is a Manticore always pissed off?" She asked with a wide smile before taking a drink of the room temperature beverage. Her smile quickly faded, as a look of astonishment replaced it. "This is better than cider... How is that possible?" she whispered to no one in particular.

"I'm glad you like it..." Auriel said timidly as she took a sip of her own, a small smile gracing her lips. "One of my better batches" She added with a happy sigh. Dash nearly fell out of her chair when she heard her say it.

"You made this?! That. Is. So. Awesome!" the mare gushed, making Auriel blush, from the praise. Taking a sip myself, i noted the subtle flavors of maple, oak, cherry, and a hint of vanilla, within the honey brew.

"I must agree, Auriel. Best batch yet." I replied, making my friend beam with pride. Looking to Twilight, who seemed to relax a lot more with the drink in hand, I had to stifle a snicker. The look on her face was pure bliss.

After a minute or so, the front door opened and the sound of multiple pairs of feet stepped across the threshold. "Twilight! Are you home?" A regal voice called from downstairs.

"In the den Rarity!" Twilight replied, still in her semi blissful state, as the sound of multiple footsteps coming up the steps could be heard. There was silence as the four ponies reached the top of the stairs, looks of shock, surprise, awe, and confusion, painted their faces as they stared at the four of us sitting back on the couch enjoying an illegal Beverage.

"Twilight dear, I hope that's not what i think it is..." The regal mare now Identified as Rarity asked staring at the crystal holding the golden brown beverage. Twilight smiled sheepishly, earning a sigh of frustration. "You do know that there is this thing called Prohibition right?" she asked before turning to face Auriel and I. "But where are my manners. My name is Rarity"

She held out her hand for me to kiss, but but after a few pregnant moments of silence, she noticed the icy glares from both Auriel and I. Twilight gave a small cough to get the white mare's attention. "Uh, Rarity, that's an intimate greeting to their kind..." She said getting a look of both shock, and embarrassment.

"It's true... Only to family and ones pride do we ever greet one another in such a way." I said setting my glass down. Slowly rising to my feet, dwarfing here by at least a foot, and making her and the others look up at me. "With the mistake in manners aside, my name is Vega Nocturne." I added, giving a polite bow. "And this is my best friend and sister, Auriel Lunae." I said gesturing to her. She gave a small smile and nodded.

"Hi! I'm Pinkie Pie, and I know we just met, and that you're an alien, but I want to be your best friend!" The pink mare said popping up behind me. This of course caused my combat reflexes to go off, and next thing everyone knew, my fist fazed through her, making everypony stare wide eyed and jaw dropped, Auriel and myself included.

"By the goddess, she's an Eldrich abomination..." I whispered, pulling my hand back, as Belecruu laughed inside my mind. Taking a deep breath to calm myself, I looked at the smiling pink mare, and sighed. "A pleasure to meet you Pinkie... Just please, don't sneak up on me like that."

"Okie dokie lokie." she replied happily before somehow, popping up next to Dash. By the goddess, i'm going to figure out that mare I thought, looking at the remaining two ponies by the steps. After a moment more of silence, the orange mare in a stetson stepped forward and smiled.

"My name's Applejack. And might I say that was one heck of a fight!" she said nearly tearing my arm off with a handshake. "Me an mah kin own an orchard just outside of town, so if ya ever want to try the best apples in equestria, come on over anytime." she beamed.

"A pleasure you to meet you Applejack" I replied with a wide smile. I didn't realize my mistake until most of the mares, excluding Twilight, Rainbow Dash, and surprisingly the butter colored pegasus, whom i had yet to be introduced to, backed away in fear, at the sight of my sharp canines. "By the goddess, not again..." I groaned before turning to look at Twilight, then back at the others. "Yes, Auriel and I eat meat." I said with a sigh of annoyance, having to explain to them that we aren't going to eat them.

Minutes passed, as we assured the three mares that we would not eat them or their friends. Fluttershy, as i had learned her name during the conversation, seemed to relax more despite not showing any fear in the first place. During this time, I had poured three more glasses of mead, for the three newcomers, when a bright blue flash, blinded use for a second, followed by a loud squee, from none other than the princess of the night, Luna.

"Oh we are so glad to see thou! Why hath thou not contact us for thou's arrival?" the lunar princess asked, pulling both Auriel and I in a rib crushing hug. Everypony but Twilight was in shock at the sight of the princess, glomping the to aliens.

"Luna... Can't breathe..." I rasped trying to escape the mares death hug. Realizing she was crushing the two of us, she let us go and gave a sheepish smiled, accompanied by a light blush. I have to admit, it was damn cute.

"Good to see you too Luna." I managed say, after gasping for sweet sweet oxygen. "I would have contacted you and Twilight, if the situation had been better." I explained getting a nod of understanding. "Might I offer you a drink?" I asked, getting everypony in the room to turn pale. Luna's smile only grew brighter at the prospect of having a drink.

"We would enjoy a beverage with thee" She replied shocking everypony. Not having any more glasses stashed away, I focused my mana, and my hand once more ignited with white flame, as small water droplets in the air condensed and began to take the form of one of the glasses, before freezing. I then poured her a generous amount of the honey wine wearing a smug smile on my face as i glanced at the fashionista.

Upon receiving her alcoholic beverage, Luna spoke once more. "So what is the mean of thou and thou's companion's arrival?" she asked taking a tentative sip. "We know it isn't to slay Ursas" she added with a playful smile, getting a small laugh out of me.

"You would be correct, princess. The academy was attacked by... I don't even know what they were. Spiders of some sort. And I'm talking fist sized." I replied grabbing my helmet and a small computer from one of the many pouches. "Auriel and I barely made it to the portal." I added setting up the computer on the small coffee table, then connected the recording in the helmet. "If you have a weak constitution, i suggest leaving the room."

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Vega

1331 hours, Emerald Falls Youth Academy, Women's Dormitory, Emerald Falls, Planet Mars

Corpses litter the hallway, as the both of us made our way to the men's dormitory. Blood, and brain matter painted the wall where I had killed the Thralls. Screams could be heard throughout the academy, as students and staff were attacked by the xenos. I took a cautionary glance back at Auriel, to see if she was alright.

"Come on, we have to move." I said, before making our way to the stairwell. We Immediately regretted it, as several of the Thralls clambered up the stairs. Too closes to get any head shots, I began hacking away with the broad bayonet. Blood and screams filled the stairwell as their numbers thinned enough to open fire. What happened next could only be described as a slaughter, as metal rods filled the stairwell shredding everything with flesh, splattering brain matter and viscera all over the walls.

Wiping the blood from my visor, the two of us moved carefully down the body strewn stairs. I couldn't help but sigh in relief as Didn't recognize any of the thralls both student and staff. Taking a moment for us to catch our breath, I began to utter a small prayer for the students I had liberated "Sicut pulverem coepimus, ut nobis Dest revertetur. Quiesce jam, deam Ut custodiant te in calido amplexus eius." And with that the both of us were moving again.

We didn't talk for the remainder of the time, as we focused on getting to my room. Bodies were strew across the hallway as we continued to fight our way through, the loud staccato of the GSM-40, filling the air. With the hall cleared, the two of us broke out into a dead run, trampling the remains of what were once students and staff. Six seconds passed as we ran, finally coming to a stop at my door. without so much as a word, I kicked the solid wood door off it's hinges and made my way to the center of the room. Focusing on the spell, my hands burst into white flame, as arcane energy crackled throughout the room. Runes quickly covered the walls, floor and ceiling as the energy swirled around the both of us. There was a flash of light, and the screen went dark.

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1523 Hours, Golden Oaks Library, Ponyville, Equstria

The mares sat in shock at what they had just witnessed on the small screen. Rarity had fainted about halfway through the feed. Fluttershy and Applejack had a green tinge on their face, and the smell of puke only confirmed my assumption. Pinkie's wild unruly mane had fallen straight as tears stained her cheeks. Dash had remained silent, a distant look on her eyes as she tried to comprehend the deaths of so many.

Twilight and Luna seemed the least disturbed by the video feed, as both wore stoic expressions. It isn't everyday that somepony see's death of so many at the hands of one of their friends. Silence filled the room for the next ten minutes as they all tried to cope. The tension was so thick, that you could cut it with a knife. Finally sick of the silence, Fluttershy spoke up.

""What was it that you said to them?" she asked surprising everypony on the room. Even I have to admit, I was expecting someone else to speak first. ""If you don't mind me asking that is." She quickly added, hiding behind her mane.

"Sicut pulverem coepimus, ut nobis Dest revertetur. Quiesce jam, deam Ut custodiant te in calido amplexus eius." I replied taking a slow breath. "It's a prayer in my People's tongue. It's rough translation is 'From dust we began, and to dust we shall return. Be at peace in the warm embrace of the Goddess'." I explained reaching into one of my pockets and retrieving a small leather bound book, the words Tenentes dea Selene embossed on the cover. Fluttershy nodded in understanding as Twilight seemed to perk up at the prospect of a new book to read as she eyed it hungrily. Chuckling lightly, I gave her the book.

The purple mare squeed with excitement, as she clutched the book to her chest. "Oh thank you, thank you, thank you!" she cried smiling ear to ear. Everypony in the room, including Auriel laughed at the display. With the dark atmosphere finally vented, everypony began asking the both of us questions. The usual, 'What are your people like?', 'tell me about Mars?', 'Can you teach me how to use one of those gun things?'. The questions went well on into the night, and we were already down two bottles of mead.

Finally, as it reached dusk, Luna had left us to attend to her duties. With that, it left one question in my mind. "So, anypony know where Auriel and I can bunk for the night?"

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Author's Note

So sorry for not posting in so long. I came down with a serious case of writers block and had just gotten over it. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, and remember to please leave comments.