Author's Note

Because this is the 10th chapter, I made it the longest yet! Or at least attempted to, it's still 10 words shorter than chapter 5. Enjoy!

Chapter 10: Recollection

I woke up in bed, mouth agape in a massive yawn. It was my first full day in my latest form, a pegasus. After travelling back to Ponyville, the Princesses told me that I could live with Twilight Sparkle, if she had the room to spare. Upon the fervent agreement of the lavender unicorn, everyone disbanded and left to their respective homes, mine now in a library. After Twilight gave me a full tour of her library, she showed me my room and left for some late-late-late night studying. My new Alpha Crawler lay at the foot of my bed, resting its robotic head in sleep.

It was hard to believe that I now had a pet dog, and it was an AI, no less. I was more of a lone wolf, sometimes teaming up with other Spartan IVs if the mission called for it. Having a constant companion that acted like a canine yet looked like an android was unsettling, to say the least.

“Hm. That smells… Good.” I mumbled, rubbing the sleep from my eyes with my hooves. The Promethean perked its head up at the sound of my voice, before stretching luxuriously and sidling towards me. As I slipped out of the warm haven of bed sheets, I heard a knocking on the door, and then Spike came in, dressed in a ridiculous flowery apron. “Hey Alec, breakfast is rea-oh. Nevermind, you’re awake. Come on down when you’re ready.”

I nodded as I yawned again, longing for sleep. I still had my Spartan enhancements, after all these changes, but my new pony body preferred a regular sleep schedule. I couldn’t really complain, because I no longer had nightmares of failed missions, just dreams of my new… Friends. Yes, I could truly consider the Princesses and Element Bearers my friends, after all they had done for me.

I stumbled into the hall, before turning and trotting to the stairwell. The delicious smell was wafting from below, and I came downstairs to find… Pancakes?! Oh my God, I hadn’t had those in decades. I sat down in the chair that was put out for me, mouth watering as I eagerly waited for the food. This new body made me feel.. Nostalgic. I felt kind of like a kid again, able to truly be open about things, rather than having to ball up and squash my emotions like what the public and UNSC wanted and believed. As a Spartan IV, I was supposed to be stone-cold, emotionless. I had tried so hard to be that, but this world had cut the rope that held it all together.

My mental rambling was interrupted as a stack of pancakes was set onto my plate, and I fell to it with a fork in one wing (I had no idea how I was able to hold stuff with my wings) and a knife in the other. The pile of food was soon gone, leaving me with a full stomach and some crumbs on the plate. I took another pancake and attempted to feed it to the Alpha Crawler, but it simply shook its head and sat in place.

It was going to be a looooong life.

-------------------- Tohl ‘Vadam’s POV --------------------

I watched the Reclaimer (I had resigned myself to this new mental perspective with a sigh) devour a large stack of food, curious as to where it all went. He could not have a stomach so empty as to erase such a pile from existence, but he went and did it anyway. My musing was interrupted by one such food item, dangling temptingly in front of my snout. I shook my head in surprise and remained sitting, unsure as to what to do. My body decided for me, lunging towards the product and snapping it into my jaws. It tasted rather good, yet I had no idea how my robotic body had a sense of taste, or a stomach for that matter.

-------------------- Crimson’s POV --------------------

I had shrugged at the Crawler’s reaction, turning away before I felt-rather than heard- a rush of air as it leapt for the pancake in my wing. It latched onto it with ease, sliding the food from my grasp and vanishing into the snout of the creature. Spike was standing with a look of surprise on his face, and Twilight had actually looked up from her book she had been reading.

We all looked at the Promethean in varying degrees of shock, as it just sat and tilted its head, before speaking. “Well, that was unexpected.”

Our jaws dropped. Apparently my pony body could achieve comical feats, and I had to push my lower jaw back up. I managed to stutter out, “Y-you talked! Prometheans d-d-don’t talk!”

The Alpha Crawler cocked its head again, apparently thinking of a response, before stating a single word, a name, that made us all double-take. “Tohl.”

I heard a plate shatter, having fallen from Spike’s grasp, and I turned to look at the dragon. He was still standing, with eyes wide and mouth impossibly wide in an ‘o’. Twilight was heard muttering ramblings to herself, as she stared at the Crawler in curiosity. I was feeling uncomfortable from the silence, so I decided to ask the question we were all wondering, but not actually saying. “Is that you, Tohl ‘Vadam?”

The Promethean stood up before walking towards me, uttering its answer, “Yes. Yes it is. It is good to see you, Alec, Reclaimer.”

“OH MY GOD! TOHL! I THOUGHT YOU WERE DEAD!” I shouted, eyes tearing up from joy and relief. I flung myself forward and hugged the robotic canine, rocking back and forth from a sudden emotional influx. I heard Tohl try and say something, so I reluctantly let go and sat back. “Since when were you such a child? It’s like I was your missing dog.”

Twilight burst out into laughter at the snarky comment, giggling at both of our reactions. I found myself wondering, when DID I become so… Emotional? I’ve never felt, let alone expressed, happiness like that. Is it this new body? I turned my head to give the unicorn the most disdainful glare I could muster, which must have been terrible because she fell from her seat, laughing her ass off. I sighed and faced Tohl again, shaking my head like a disappointed parent.

I was never going to get used to this. I think.

A few hours later, Twilight, Tohl, and I were boarding a train to Canterlot. Apparently the Princesses had taken the liberty of examining my armor before I became a Flood, and had also retrieved my Battle Rifle. They had a ‘surprise’ for me, one that I could predict rather easily: it was useless in my new form.

As the locomotive slowly accelerated, I leaned my head against a window and sighed. I was having a hard time adjusting to being a pony, because of all the emotional baggage it came with. As a Spartan IV, I was completely fine with death glares, people running away and screaming, and others looking in awe. As a pony, having others come up to me and try and talk to me was… Unreal. Even some mares-did I REALLY just think that? They’re FEMALES DAMNIT- came and made small talk with me. Twilight Sparkle seemed protective of me for some reason, but I had no clue why. I just wanted to get to Canterlot, find out what the ‘surprise’ is, and get some rest.

I was jarred from my thoughts when the train slowed down, stopping at a station at Canterlot. I was surprised we had made it already, unless I had lost track of time. I figured the latter. As Tohl, Twilight, and I trotted to the palace, I saw ponies dressed ridiculously strut around, with their noses so high in the air that it looked like they needed a chiropractor. We reached the palace, and one particularly snobby unicorn with a white coat and blonde mane took one glance at me, before stiffening, muttering, “Stupid commoners. Why can’t the mangy rat and his dog go back to the ditch they came from?”

I narrowed my eyes at the insult. Being a pony also gave a boost to my already-enhanced hearing, so his attempts at hiding his comments were in vain. I stalked up to the jackass, before stating in a deadly, venom-laced tone, “Why don’t you say that out loud, so people can actually hear you, you ugly piss-poor excuse for a sentient being. I’ve killed for less than that, I’ve killed for nothing but the reason that it’s my damn orders, and I sure as hell won’t hesitate now that I’m out of the UNSC.

“Keep your smartass comments to yourself, shitface, sir.”

I walked back to Twilight and Tohl, and we continued into the palace, leaving a very bemused and frightened unicorn stallion behind.

I should’ve known he was fucking royalty.

We were guided to a massive hall in the palace, with stained-glass windows on the sides, depicting different scenes, including one of the Element Bearers defeating Nightmare Moon. Princess Celestia and Luna were sitting on their thrones at the end of the hall, with Luna looking exhausted. I could tell because she kept nodding off, only to jerk her head up and mutter to herself.

“Twilight Sparkle. It is good to see you, my faithful student. Thank you for coming on such short notice. I had called for Alec, however. If Luna agrees, I’m sure you can be told what we are about to tell Alec. Do you agree, Luna?” Celestia said, looking at her sister.

Luna was still asleep, so Celestia poked her with a hoof, causing her to startle awake. “Who? What? Huh? Oh, Celly. It’s you. Did… *yawn* Did you need something?”

Celestia replied, with a brow raised, “Yes. I was asking if you agreed that Twilight could hear what we are going to say to Alec. Are you sure you don’t need to return to your quarters?”

“We’re sure, Celly. We… *yawn* We guess Twilight can be told as well. Now please, just five... More… Minutes…”

Luna started resting once again, so Celestia just shook her head before wrapping Luna in a golden glow, and apparently teleporting her to her bed. Celestia began to motion for us to follow her, when the doors to the hall burst open and the unicorn from earlier stormed in, nose still held high, even in anger.

He looked livid, with his face flushed red, as if from a yelling contest. He bowed to Celestia quickly, before glaring at me and ranting, “How could you hold council to such VERMIN, Auntie Celestia! That thing insulted me, accused me of insulting it, and threatened me with death! I demand that he be put in chains!”

I was shocked. This little shit from before was the nephew of the Princess?! Judging by the angry glare that Celestia sent my way, I knew that she took this a bit personally. I spoke up so I could at least tell my perspective, “He stated earlier, before we came into the palace, that we were stupid commoners, why can’t me, the mangy rat, and my dog go back to the ditch that we came from, and I heard him, thanks to my enhanced senses. I told him ‘why don’t you say that out loud so the people can hear,’ called him a jackass, and said I killed for less than that, I killed for nothing more than orders, and I sure as hell won’t hesitate now that I’m out of the UNSC. I then proceeded to tell him to keep his ‘jackass comments to himself, shitface.’”

Celestia quirked an eyebrow at the pissed unicorn, questioning him as Tohl chuckled, “Is this true, Blueblood?”

Blueblood?! I burst out guffawing at the name, because it made so much fucking sense. Blueblood looked like he was going to burst, before all the angry confidence left his face as he said, “Yes, Auntie.” Tohl and I fell to the floor laughing our asses off.

“ENOUGH!” Celestia roared, shocking Tohl and I into silence. She spoke in a disappointed and upset tone, “You will NOT insult and threaten my nephew. And Blueblood,” he gulped nervously as he attempted to wipe a smirk off his face at our humiliation, “Do NOT insult Alec. He saved multiple ponies lives, and deserves respect. Now both of you apologise.”

I snapped to attention and shouted out, true UNSC fashion, “Ma’am yes ma’am! I apologise for my actions, sir. It will not happen again.”

Blueblood muttered under his breath, “You better make sure it doesn’t, vermin.” Then, speaking up in a tone dripping with sarcasm, “Apology accepted, Alec. I apologise for my appalling behavior, and it will not occur again.”

I nodded my head, speaking in a regular tone of voice, “Apology accepted. Thank you.”

Celestia looked pleased, Blueblood left the hall in a huff, and Tohl just sat on his haunches, laughing.

Celestia had led my trio of friends through multiple halls, ending in an… Armory, of all places. She then turned to us, “Alec, Twilight, through these doors is the surprise I mentioned. Alec, I am sure you will enjoy it. One last question: what is the name of your… Dog?”

The Alpha Crawler in question stood up from his haunches, stating a reply, “I am Tohl ‘Vadam. And I am here to guard the Reclaimer.” Celestia seemed to take this in stride, the only sign of surprise was a slight widening of the eyes. “In that case Tohl, you may enter as well.”

We strode into the room, my eyes immediately falling onto the items in the center of the room, resting on a table. It was a set of MJOLNIR armor.

My armor. Built for my pony form.

Next to it was my Battle Rifle, but it looked different. It was missing the clip, trigger, and trigger guard. But it was there.

I rushed to it, immediately reaching a hoof out to touch the cool metal of the armor. I felt a sudden jolt, as if I was either shocked or on a major coffee buzz, and then a sensation not unlike water flowing smoothly around me. My armor vanished, only to reappear on my being. And it was glorious.

I jumped into the air, kicking out with a hind leg and somersaulting. I touched down, only to activate my new thruster pack and blast a good three meters forwards. As my hooves settled onto the ground, now clad in MJOLNIR, I took a look at my HUD. My shield bar was there, as well as my health, but there was nothing for grenades, weapons, or armor ability. I used my thruster pack again, and nothing happened. Shrugging, I reached for my Battle Rifle and the same experience occurred.

As my Battle Rifle materialized, it attached to my left foreleg, like a built-in cannon. The symbol for my BR55 formed in my HUD where my weapons would, and there was no ammo counter. In it’s place, it showed a blue bar. I raised my foreleg and thought of firing, and how it would work, only to have a trio of gold and midnight blue bullets fire. The blue bar in my HUD jumped a bit, part of it turning orange. It showed if it overheated.

Twilight had caught one of the bullets in her magic, and examined the swirling colors. She let it release to the pockmarks where the other two hit, and looked at my gun in wonder. “It shoots magic. I took a look, and it’s a combination of starlight and sunlight. I never even knew this could happen! It’s unbelievable! Think of the research grants alone we could acquire with this! Lemme have a go! I HAVE TO TEST THIS!”

I shook my leg from her grasp, giving her a glare through my new Venator helmet. I turned to Celestia, who was standing with a smug grin on her face at the apparent success of my gear. “Thank you so much, Princess. I made a vow earlier that I would protect this planet. I am no longer in the UNSC, for I have been gone so long that I am now classified as MIA. It is not KIA, because the UNSC wishes to maintain an image that Spartans never die. I now owe my services-and life- to Equestria, and to you and your sister. Thank you.” I then did something I never thought I would do. I bowed.

“Rise, my little pony. You are welcome, for this was the least that we could do. I am pleased that you find this satisfactory. May I inquire, why is the public to believe that Spartans never die?”

I looked at her with a look that said, ‘Do you really not understand?’, even though she couldn’t see it, and replied, “Because we’re Spartans. We never fail a mission. Now how do I get this armor off?!”

Tohl and Twilight fell to the ground laughing their asses off at the final comment. “Yeah, glad you find it funny. I don’t want to walk around in MJOLNIR with a magical Battle Rifle on my leg all day. For once I’m actually able to walk around without clothes on. And how about you try living in your armor for a week?”

Twilight stopped, giving it some thought, before answering, “Naah, I like it better when you’re in it.” She proceeded to tumble over giggling again. “Just think that it is not there. It will vanish, as well as the weapon. The gun is now part of the armor. *Snrk* But please, allow us to decorate it, so it will be proper.” Celestia answered my question.

“Oh, that is IT! Buck you guys, I’m heading home to the library. Wait… Did I just say BUCK?! WHY CAN’T I BUCKING SWEAR CELESTIADAMNIT! GAAAAH! I CAN’T EVEN! GAAAAAAAAH!” I shouted, thinking off my armor. I then proceeded to leave the room, trio of laughing ponies and Promethean still cracking up about my predicament.