Guardians of Harmony: The Champion's Call

        Twilight gulped nervously as she double checked the chalk diagram with the book. As Trixie set the crystals from the old mine in triangle pattern one the seal.

Twilight looked over to where Sunset Shimmer stood. "Are you sure you know the spell?" asked Twilight the young alicorn was worried the fate of Equestria rested on Sunset's skill as a summoner.

"Yes Princess I've got it, it's not that different from a regular summoning it just requires more power." Answered Sunset.

Trixie stood by her crystal and nodded."Yes and that why we are casting it barring the other princesses we are the strongest casters in Equestria. So you just cast the spell and we will give it the power to its job." said a confident Trixie.

Twilight shut the book "Right we can do this... NO! We will do this for Equestria!"Said Twilight as her horn started to charge up followed a moment later by the two unicorns.

They poured power in to the crystals and from them in to the summon seal as sunset guided the magic. The sky over the ruins of the castle of the royal sisters darkened as as clouds gathered and swirled in the center of the vortex a bright light formed, it was every color and no color all at once. The sound of deep rumbling filled the air, as sweat poured down the brows of the three mares. Then the light descended without warning with a twisting trail of clouds following it. Upon reaching the ground it released a massive burst of energy knocking the mares from there hooves and back to edges of the courtyard. As the smoke cleared the saw figures on the ground in clear pain the smaller of the two was emptying the contents of its stomach as the other larger one groaned in pain

       As the smaller figure stopped retching, it stood shakily on it's legs to it's full height. The figure was a human female, standing a little over over five and a half feet tall, possessing a mane of shoulder length red hair, brown eyes, and smooth well kept dark tanned skin.

       Clad in strange armor that seemed to be made of scales and carrying both a sword and a dagger made from a strange red metal. She looked to left where the larger figure stood and shouted "Dragon!" in her soft voice charged with alarm and determination. Her blades flashed from their sheaths and were at the larger creature's throat in less that a heartbeat.

      The larger creature clearly still in pain, had just gotten to its feet when he herd the woman shout he drew his shotgun turning just in time to see the a human female with a sword and dagger to his neck as he set the barrel of his Claymore shotgun against her stomach.The larger creature was wearing strange dark red armor plate that seemed to have shifting patches of black that seemed to move to swallow up light reflection, with purple trim on it and a strange black padded under cloth could be seen. The creature stood almost a foot taller then Celestia would. It then smiled and spoke.

     "What's wrong human? Never seen a Krogan up close before?" It chuckled a true smile on its orange-ish yellow face witch bore more then few scars three most noticeable as well as a burn mark mares it dark blue head plate.

     She looked at the creature with puzzlement "Krogan?" she said appraising the seven foot being in front of her. "I have never heard of Krogans before, and the only beings I know of that are this tall are the Qunari." she looked him over carefully "You're no golem and you're to small to be an ogre, and you're most definitely no darkspawn." she lowers her blades re-sheathing them and looking around. "Where are we and what are you?"

     "Hehehe, I'm a Krogan sweetheart, my race stopped the Rachni and drove them to near extinction, we survived nearly being exterminated ourselves only to be cured to raise up and save the galaxy from the Reapers who sought to wipe out all life. And I am Tops one of the most bad-ass, hard charging, living wreaking ball, unstoppable elite N-Seven Krogan soldiers you will ever meet!" He said with pride vigor and striking a pose resting his shot gun on his shoulder and the other hand on his hip.

     He looked around "As to where we are fuck if I know. Hurt more then getting charged by a brute, getting here that's for sure. "He looked right at Twilight. "The wildlife here looks weird wonder if it's edible."

     "I am Joan Cousland, the only daughter of Teryn Brice Cousland and Teryna Elinore Cousalnd. I am also a Grey Warden, the Grey Warden that slew the Archdemon. I'm not familiar with the N-Sevens you speak of, is that some kind of mercenary guild?" her gaze follows his and she lays eyes on a creature she has never seen before. "I wouldn't recommend trying that, we have no idea what that creature is or how dangerous it may be."

     "Well the N-Seven is the Citadel counsel's new elite operation force, we where formed during the Reaper war, recruited from all races mostly mercenaries and other the like and trained to work in teams by the original N-Seven forces of oddly enough the human alliance military. The name passed over to us after the war. In recognition of our efforts." He turned away from Twilight and looked at the human."What I don't understand is how a human doesn't know about it or the Reaper war, after all your home planet was one of the hardest hit and was where the finale battle took place. Hell I was there on the ground for it!"

      Joan looked her large companion over dubiously "Reaper? I've faced many threats in my time as a warden, but never have any of them been called reapers. There are also only four known races in the world Humans, Elves, Dwarves, and the Qunari. I can not speak of any of your race, nor have we suffered an invasion since the last bilght." she walks to the fallen creature to check on it and notices highly unusual features for an equine. She calls to the krogan "This pony has wings and a horn, Tops would look around and see if there are any more like this one please?"

     "Never heard of those races, and all on one world? That's news, even spanning the galaxy it's hard for the few dozen I know of to get along when the each have there own world's.... Well except the Batarians they where nearly wiped out at the start." He said out load seemed to be more to him self then to her. As he looked to see to non winged horned "ponies" hugging each other. As he walked closer he heard whispering?

    Joan continued to examine the strange equine "We really don't get along that well, the qunari landed on the northern island of Par Volin three hundred years ago and started a campaign of conquest, they were only stopped a century and a half ago." she thought about the dwarves and Prince Bhelen's ascension to the thrown of Orzamar. She shuddered at the overly bloody nature of the things she'd had to take part in.

     "That big one wanted to eat Twilight!" Whispered a panicked Trixie

      "Shhh it might hear you!" whispered Sunset as she watched the two creatures talk then the big one.... Tops it called its self, started walking to them.

       Trixie tightened her grip as did Sunset. "This is your fault Sunset!" whispered Trixie

       "My fault! I cast the spell as the book said! It's Star Swirl's fault he wrote it!" Sunset whispered back, slightly louder looking at Trixie

        Trixie met her eyes, and hissed more then whispered "Don't you dare try to pin this on my ancestor!"

        The krogen now standing over them cleared his throat as he looked down at the two mares. "Am I interrupting?" asked Tops, to which both mares screamed and fainted..... "Hey I'm not that ugly.... am I?" He asked staring at the passed out mares.

       At the noise form the others Joan turned her head at Tops' response "I don't know, a face like yours could give a broodmother nightmares and a case of madness." she said dryly.

       "What? I know my scars aren't that deep I know, but they are clearly visible.... at lest the ones on my face are. Right?" Asked Tops actually worried his scars had faded.

At this point Twilight's mind had rebooted and she noticed Trixie and Sunset unconscious at the krogan's hooves. She then quickly teleported to her friends and stood over them making a shield, and both creatures jump. "What did you do to them?" She demanded

      Tops look at Twilight, "Never seen biotics that color before...."

       "Tops wait!" Joan screamed to late as the smaller creature blasted him with a spell knocking him to the ground.

       Twilight turned to Joan "What did he do to them!" she snarled.

      Joan moved over to Tops to find him still breathing, but unconscious. Joan looked at the alicorn. "That was an impressive spell my lady." Joan said softly "I assure you he did nothing to harm them, he simply asked them a question and they fainted is all." She turned to Tops looking him over "I've never seen a spell like that before, the closest one I've seen was the sleep spell used by the mages from the Circle of Magi. I am quite impressed, but I think that we gain nothing by attacking each other and laying meaningless accusations, don't you think my lady?"  she spoke with a respectful and gentle tone.

     "You are right." Twilight replied while lowering her shield and checking on the two unconscious unicorns.

     Tops shill shook his had a few seconds later "Ok that was one hell of knock out punch, it was a good one. What did I miss?" Asked Tops as he got back up a blue glow covered him as his left hand glowed orange. Trixie and Sunset had only fainted and woke with a few soft pokes.

    "Oh not much," Joan said "I just resolved our little misunderstanding." she watched as Twilight woke the other two ponies. "I find this place, wherever we are to be interesting. These beings are different, talking ponies what's next? Talking dragons?" she mused

    Twilight was gently prodding Sunset and Trixie "Sunset, Trixie wake up, we've done it! The summoning spell worked." Twilight squealed gleefully.

    Trixie and Sunset facehoofed, "Please tell Trixie that the princess is not squealing like foal on her first date."

    "Even I can't lie that well." deadpanned Sunset.

    Then Tops looked at the human. "You sure their sane?"

   "I'm sure that you aren't." Joan said with a smirk "You remind me of my friend Ohgren, he's a dwarf. Like you Tops he's really tough, I wouldn't be surprised if he had gotten up as quickly as you did."

   Twilight blushed deeply and collected herself. "You two should be pleased we did it! Now we save Equestria."

   "He he he he he.... I'm a krogen I can breath prison gas and keep going." Said Tops with a grin

   "Maybe you should tell them why their here first? Princess." Said Sunset with a sigh

   "Poison gas? You mean you can survive a Miasma?" Joan gasped "That's truly impressive" She turned to Twilight. "I know little of the summoning arts, but I've learned enough from my friend Wynne to know that our arrival is no accident. So tell me twilight why did you and I presume your friends here summon us? It can't have been on whim."

    Twilight thought for a moment "You're right Ms. Cousland, we summoned you because we are in need of help. Our homeland Equestria is being threatened by other peoples from foreign lands. Specifically the races threatening Equestria are the Griffons and the Minotuars. They launched simultaneous surprise attacks on Equestria from the western and eastern seaboards capturing two major cities and several smaller mining settlements."

    Twilight  drew a breath "We were caught completely off guard, because of the sudden nature of the attacks. They knew they couldn't challenge us directly so they resorted to sneak attacks. The cities they've seized are both port cities Applewood and Baltimare. The minotuars attacked from the west and have taken some our land there but they have been stymied by the pegasus ponies in Los Pegasus, the griffons have met with less resistance and are on their way to Manehatten. So we need help from some other races, ones with more battle experience and ability that ours." Twilight looked at the two of them with pleading eyes.

    Tops could not hide that smile if he tried. It was a smile larger then any seen on Pinkie Pie. "He he he he he he..... So let me get this strait you used some wired mumbo jumbo to bring me an the runt here. To basically pull a commander Shepard and whip your military in to shape and lead you to victory?" Said the towering and amused dragon like creature with the scariest smile in the world at this moment.

     Twilight blanched at the implication "Well, sort of, the royal guard can fight. Really well in fact, but we're not very good when we're off balance. So maybe you can help buy us time by throwing our enemies off balance until we recover. Heck maybe you really can turn the while thing around for us, I'm not really sure."

    Joan processed what Twilight had said. "As a Grey warden it is my duty to protect the innocent, and help those who are in need. I will help you Twilight, it's what Duncan would do, and Lelianna would be all for helping as well. So you have me. Tops, I would never presume to speak for you. What say you?" she said extending her hand to the large dragon like krogan.

   "I say point me at them and I show you why the krogan are the most feared soldiers across the galaxy! Harrrrrrrrrrr!!!" He said with almost a primal roar of joy and excitement. "A true krogan never turns down a good fight. The worst insult of my people is to say something or someone ain't worth killing." He stood at full height and saluted with a fist across his chest "N-seven captain Topsarcus Hardtherus at your service, I have lived for over eight hundred years as a mercenary and the last three as an N-seven. You need it dead I'll kill it!" The pride and joy oozed from his words like Pinkie talking about a party. It was clear he was from a different culture one that embraces war.

     "Well then you two need to follow us to Ponyville so I can send a letter to Canterlot. Then we can begin to figure out how to go about turning things around." Twilight said "If you will all follow me please." she said turning to leave.

      Joan puzzled at what she had just heard "Eight hundred years, you know enough to make a real difference then I'll wager. Let us go." she began to follow Twilight. As she went Joan was making sure to pay attention to her surroundings, she was not one to be caught off guard.

     A shriek of a bird of prey was the only warning before twelve fully armored griffins broke through the the thick canopy of the everfree.

   "I told you I saw a light in the old castle! The general will pay us well for capturing the princess of friendship and her high mages.!" Shouted one of the menacing birdcats holding what to tops looked like crude gun with a bayonet.

    Tops stepped in front of the princess the griffins here just a few inches shorter then a human. He drew his shotgun from his back as it unfolded his left hand glowed orange as his body was coated in blue hexagons. "Sorry you winged varren ain't capturing nothing." His left hand glowed again as they charged him.

Then music stated to play. He swung his shot gun up and fired at the first griffon blowing it had clan of and tearing a hole in the chest of the one behind him. He slid back a mechanism on his shot gun ejecting a red hot object. Before using what was now clearly a range weapon like a club and hit the first of two more griffons in the head so hard that it pointed backwards. The second made contact his bayonet snapping on the Tops' armor before the fool fired a point blank shot struck him but just dropped smashed from the krogens armor.

     Top grinned at the Griffin. "That sucks for you." He shouted over the music before slamming his head in to the griffins caving in his helmet and skull. The rest of the griffins bypassed the large beast that many now thought was a demon or deformed dragon. Aiming to grab their prey and flee.

    Joan stepped in the way slashing two of the griffon's throats as she did. Their blood was barely fresh on the ground when she smiled at another of them. "You will go no farther!" she shouted. As the griffon started towards her a timberwolf leapt out of the forest clamping it's jaws around the griffon's neck.

     The remaining griffons halted their advance as the timberwolf took it's place at Joan's side. Joan smirked "I guess this is your first encounter with a Ranger then?" she readied her blades "None of you will leave here alive." she pounced on two more griffons with great speed and drove her blades into their throats and then removing them with practiced ease. The timberwolf wasn't idle, it tackled another griffon snapping it's jaws and ripping with it's claws. Joan cast her now predatory gaze on the survivors.

    There was a thick click then the sound of Tops..... hand cannon... And one Griffin was splattered across the land the group and ground.

      "He he." Tops hand glowed as he stopped the music and ejected another glowing thing and replaced it with one that was black and red.Before pushing the grip thing up making the gun click again. "Joan was it, I don't know about you but I'm hungry." He grabbed the Griffin by the neck and lifted it of the ground. "What do you think these winged things taste like?"

      "No please I surrender don't let the dragon eat me!" Pleaded the griffon as the smell of him pissing him self met everyone's nose.

     "No Tops, eating another sentient being is wrong." she walked over to them and crouched down placing her dagger against his throat. "Now tell, why you want this nation so badly that you and your allies would resort to such craven ploys?"

   "Equestria is the richest and most fertile land there is... And pony meat is a delicacy that the new king loves." Said the choking Griffin.

     "He he he. And here you where chiding me for my joke." Said Tops.

     Joan's expression hardened "Tops, make an example of him please, and don't be gentle. I want these monsters to be reminded of their place, on other words dead! May you find mercy in the next world, you find none here." She got up and walked away leaving the griffon to his fate.

    "Oh it's been a long time since I was asked to do that. Now I wound how Aria is... Oh well. This is going to hurt you a lot." Said Tops as he dragged the griffon over to a rock as his hand glowed orange and a blade formed of his fist. Trixie and Sunset covered there eyes with Twilight's wings. As the krogen cut open the live griffon though his armor then pinned him to a tree with shards cut from the rock and left him hanging there alive.

    "Al-ways loved human culture this one was called the blood eagle. Second time I used it. He will die in two hours thanks to a small dose of medi-gel." Said Tops admiring the unconscious but mutilated griffon.

    Joan nodded and turned to the three ponies who agape with horror "I am honestly very sorry that had to be done. I however will not abide such things as what he said. Please understand that this will require great violence on our part to protect you people. I am so very sorry my princess, were there another way I would not hesitate to use it."

    "Le-let's just go now." Twilight said shakily as she headed towards Ponyville.

    Tops followed along looking at the wooden wolf, "What with Barkly? Is it a plant of some kind?"

    Joan looked over the wolf for the first time "I'm not sure really, he's usually a Blight Wolf. I guess it works differently when I summon my animals here." she said as they followed Twilight toward Ponyville.