Guardians of Harmony: The Champion's Call

         As Twilight led them through the thick canopy of the Everfree forest she couldn't help think about what she'd seen and heard. "This is more dire than anypony realized. If Joan is willing to use such measures to make an example of an enemy. Oh Celsetia what are we up against?"

Joan who was following behind Twilight with her timberwolf at her side picked up on Twilight's distress."You didn't realize that it was this bad did you my princess?" Twilight nodded "I'm sorry, but these are probably the least of this king's atrocities. Have any of your people been captured?"

Twilight shook her head and replied "No, nopony has been caught. They all managed to get away so far." she sighed "This is a disaster."

Joan shook her head "I saw things like that during the blight, and there's likely worse to come. I have no words to help you my princess, I wish I did. We must put a stop to this as quickly a possible."

Tops sighed. "I've seen worse. Much worse. In the reaper war, the enemy would take control of people's mind turn them against each other. But that was only the start, there whole army was made of our dead. They take people dead, wounded, or captured and throw them one what humans called dragon's teeth. Then a large spike shoots up though them hosting them in the air and slowly makes them in to husks. Mindless puppets, undead that the reapers controlled. What they did with krogen was worse yet. But so few of us where captured or killed they only made about about three hundred thousand brutes. But yeah point is wars always get worse before they end. And you know your self the closer one is to loosening the more desperate measures they will take to win. Us being here is prof of that." Said Tops not noticing that the two ponies behind him look greener and paler from his little war story.

       Joan shook her head "Tops you might want to show some consideration for the high mages, they don't look well." Joan looked at Trixie and Sunset. "Be at ease my ladies I'll not tell you tale of how Broodmothers come to be, nor will I say anything more of them as they are........... repulsive."

      Twilight continued to lead them to Ponyville thinking the whole way

      Joan looked at Tops "These husks you speak of sound similar to the Darkspawn, and these Brutes remind me of the Ogres I've faced. It sounds to me like the Reapers and the Archdemons have similar methods. This is most disturbing."

      "I once saw in a old vid that there are constants and variables in all things. Hehehe. My last girlfriend loved human vids. So how much farther boss? Being out here knowing the enemy maybe too has my trigger finger itchy."

A group of griffons had found the seen in the forest including the still living victim of Tops torture. "Demons, as big as Celestia.... bullets bounce off them..." The griffon was sedated and taken back.

       "It'll be a little while yet." Twilight replied "we'll be there in about the twenty minutes."

       Joan arched her eyebrow "Vid? What in Andraste's name is a vid?"

      "Ok now I know we are from different dimensions...." Said Tops with a shake of his head.

     "Twilight you don't think seeing these two will cause a panic. I mean we are bringing them out of the Everfree forest in a time of war." Asked Trixie as she looked over the two.

     "Trixie we know it will, I mean this is Ponyville, somepony in a hood and cloak will cause a panic." Said Sunset.

     "Indeed." Joan replied "There is much we can all learn from each other. I shall be glad when we end this meaningless conflict. War has left me....tired, and wish to have a stable life. One with as little conflict as possible."

      "I know Trixie," Twilight responded "But there isn't anything that can be done about it right now. Everypony is just gonna have to trust in the authority that was given to us in this matter." Twilight sighed.

      "Let me guess that crown is younger then you are huh?" Asked Tops.

      "Actually," Joan said "the princess and I may be the same age. Being a Grey Warden exacts a heavy toll on you, and I've seen the horrors of the Deep Roads more than once. Along with all of my other experiences I feel older than I am. You see I am only twenty four years of age, and if I can't remove Darkspawn taint somehow I won't have that many years left in me."

     "Hehehe krogen die from battle more often then age. You know I don't really know how old we can get before we die I know I'm eight hundred and twenty nine, my mother is over two thousand and my father was older still.... guess that means no matter what I'll out live you then. Oh well comes with life." said Tops

     Trixie and Sunset sheared a glance he is certainly easy going for one who is covered in blood.

     Joan spoke up "I am wondering, since you know what we are. I would like to know just what kind of ponies are all you my ladies Twilight, Trixie, and Sunset? I've never seen ponies with wing or horns, let alone those with both." Joan looked at Twilight "Maker's breath lady Twilight is beautiful, as are ladies Trixie and Sunset." Joan thought

    "Oh," Twilight said "well I'm an alicorn. All Equestrian princesses are. As for Trixie and her marefriend, they are both unicorn. Ponies." Twilight said.

    "He he he why do all the blue ones like other females. First the Asari witch there whole race are bi-sexual females, now we got miss blue coat here shaking up with the red head.... That is another thing why do all the red heads get the blue girls? I mean I saw Shepard once she was a red head and she was said to have a Asari lover....." Tops at this point dissolved in to random mumbling.

   Sunset rolled her eyes. "As that maybe besides unicorn and Alicorn there are Thestral or bat ponies, the Pegasus ponies, and the earth ponies. All have there own type of magic but unicorn and Alicorns are the only spell casters." Explains Sunset.

   Joan cocked her head "Unicorn ponies? I've never heard of ponies like that before, nor have I heard of alicorns before. This wolf I summoned is different from the ones I'm used to, what kind of wolf is this?" Barkly barked happily.

   Twilight laughed "That's a timbewolf they are native to the Everfree Forest." Twilight was thoughtful for a moment "I've never heard of summoning magic like that before, do you know anything about it Sunset?"

   "Not that I seen it seemed more like how Fluttershy controls that manticore of hers..." Said Sunset.

   "Timber wolf? Ponyville? Equestria? Did a comedian name most of your world?"Asked Tops trying to keep from laughing.

    "Oh no," Joan says "I don't control him. You see we rangers learn to work with the flow of nature in all of it's forms. We are rewarded with the ability to gain cooperation from animal spirits like this one. All rangers can summon a wolf, a bear, and a spider, master rangers like me can call upon more powerful and capable animal spirits. Also I am a highly skilled Duelist, I've learned to fight with my sword and dagger in such a way that I'm all but untouchable by nearly any. Save the most skilled and accurate of enemies, I learned these skills from a pirate queen friend of mine by the name of Isabella. She a most, formidable woman in all regards." Joan was now sporting a fierce blush "I also have some other abilities I've learned, but I don't feel quite right talking about them just yet. They are considered to very unsettling." Joan said

   "Fancy talk but ain't a creature alive that can dodge a mass effect round. And you see what they do to unshielded foes. Hell my face shows what my universe's weapons do.

    That Geth pyro almost killed me when my shields broke under that flamethrower of his. Luckily my M300 claymore dose more damage at once then it did." Said Tops subconsciously rubbing the burn mark on his head plate.

   Joan looked at Tops dubiously "I have a sense for impending attacks, it's developed through a process that involves some magic, that allows me to react much faster than any non rogue. So I could likely dodge even that kind of weapon, I am not however eager to find out. One could always be wrong of course." she wore a puzzled expression "Tops what is a Geth? For that matter what is a flamethrower? Is it like a dragon's fire breath."

   Twilight froze in her tracks and stared at Joan "You know about dragons? How?"

   Joan studied Twilight intently for a moment "I know quite a bit about them yes, though it was not by choice that I learned. When you have to fight them for your life and kill an number of them, you learn or you die. My armor is made from the scales of a dragon that friends and I killed in the Frostback Mountains. Master Wade crafted it in a matter of hours, it was quite something to behold really."

   "Well the standard firestorm flame thrower shoots out a forty foot wide cone of fire at around twelve thousand degrees Kelvin. So if a dragon's breath can melt armor then yes. As to the Geth they are a synthetic race created by the Quarians, and until about three years ago they where at war with all organic life. Then the reaper war happened then Shepard did what she dose and now the Geth and Quarians shear a planet hell I knew a Quarian merchant that had a Geth consciences in his suit. I get the benefit of a AI in your weapon or armor but it looks weird when they talk to them." Tops said

   "Yes a dragon's breath can indeed melt armor, I've actually seen it melt solid stone. Their claws are as sharp as scythes too, they can shred through most kinds of armor. All in all they are very dangerous animal that sometimes take sentient prey." Joan said

    "Wait," Twilight said "dragons are animals? That doesn't make sense!" Twilight exclaimed

    "Is it different here my princess? Joan replied.

    "Well yes." Twilight responded "Spike can talk and think like everypony else, and the breath of dragons certainly can't melt armor or stone. There has been no proof of that even happening. And they don't prey upon sentient beings either."

     "Spike? Like the name. Might name a son that if I get back.... can we even go back?" Said Tops

     Sunset flinched "No the spell was not the same as regular summons. While a normal summoning would shift a creature to our plane, the one we used acutely 're-anchored you existence. A normal summon will time out and return or return when killed, to there home plane. This is do to them being anchored there. You two are stuck here for the long term. I'm sorry to say." Said Trixie

    "That's Trixie's ancestors fault. When he made the spell he felt that by shifting the dimensional anchor would give the summon more incentive to help cause this is now there world. The last time it was used was when he was still young. And from that we have the stories of Megan the mighty who was the first human ever met by ponies. She not only saved us long show but she taught us everything she could. It's cause of her we have airships, trains, and hundreds of other innovations. Trixie's guess is that Mister Tops is from a world that is many times more advanced, then both hers and ours... also a popular myth that no one has confirmed or designed, is Princesses Celestia and Luna are her daughter's that's why there immortal. But like Trixie said they won't tell if it's true or not." said Trixie

   "So if I have kids they have to be with locals... I'm ok with this my Aunt is a Asari. And so is my cousin. So this is no big.... wounder what the children of krogen and pony would look like? Hehehe. It might be the start of a new breed. Given my race evolved from herbivore herd animals as well. So it's not a big difference... well size wise but then again I'm a krogen. We're always the biggest in room." said Tops with a shrug

   Joan sighed "it's just as well, with what happened Leliana will have assumed that I am dead. So it's really for the best. Of course if I don't cure the taint within me I'll die soon anyway."

   "Taint, you've mentioned that before Joan. What is it?" Twilight asked

   "I will explain it my princess, but this neither the time nor the place. We really need to leave this forest first, I will explain when we meet with the the other leaders in your nation. I wish only to tell the story one time." Joan said

  "Oh, well that's sensible. We're getting close we'll be in Ponyville soon." Twilight said.

  They exited the forest by Fluttershy's cottage where the mare was having a picnic tea party with Harry the bear, Angel the demon from the darkest pit in rabbit skin, and Chewy the Manticore.

   Twilight saw Fluttershy and said to her "Oh hello there Fluttershy, as you can see we've accomplished what we've set out to do. Now we need to take them into Ponyville so I can send a letter to the princess. So we'll see you later." Twilight said "Come on everypony we need to get this done." she said marching towards her castle.

   Joan looked at Fluttershy for a moment, nodded and followed Twilight.

   Tops watched as Shy quietly waved along with the three animals....

   After he was sure they where out of ear shot. "Is it me or was the fact she was having a lunch with what look like dangerous animals unnerve any one else." Said Tops glancing back the way they came.

   Sunset chuckled, "I be more scared of that rabbit. I still think it's not really one.

   Joan looked at Tops "I've got a dangerous animal right here Tops." she shook her head. She then turned to Sunset and said "What do you mean Sunset? It certainly looked like a rabbit to me, though the ones I'm used to are grey not white."

   Twilight giggled while trotting onward.

   "Most animals are smart but that 'Angel Bunny' as Fluttershy calls him is smarter then a lot of ponies I can name, and is almost abusive with Fluttershy to get his way. Also he got one he'll of well aimed carrot throw. The little monster also seems to know just where to aim to make it hurt too." Said Sunset clearly holding back but there was still more then a little venom in her words.

   Joan winced "That is most disturbing Sunset. I'm glad I don't have to deal with that."

   Twilight shook her head "I doubt he'll ever do anything really out of line, he really does love Fluttershy." Twilight paused "Ah here we are." she made a sweeping gesture with her hoof towards a large crystalline castle/tree hybrid structure. "This is my castle and where we start to turn the tide of this war. Follow me please." she said trotting inside.

   "Sparkly.... But good tactical point, clear view of the sky, one of the four tallest building, large open kill zones from any angle... I like it, this shows you ponies have more tactical sense then you let on. If it wasn't so shiny it be perfect. What are the defenses?" Said and asked Tops showing he was not quite the dumb brute he appeared to be. Tho most ponies seeing him and blood on his head, chest, and arms gave him a wide birth.

   Twilight's ears flattened against her head "There aren't any defenses," she said blushing in embarrassment "I only just got it. We haven't had any time to deal with things like that. We were starting to....."

   "But then the attacks came." Joan finished for Twilight "I see, they took advantage of a transitory state in your nation's history and attacked in the most cowardly fashion imaginable. All for thing that could have been obtained through trade and peaceful negotiations, and coexistence.  This is true barbarity in it's highest form." she shook her Head while trying to contain her rage.

   "If resources where the only reason I doubt the would attack. There is more to every war and battle then what's in fount of you. War is a tool of politics. Even a soldier like me sees that it's more then just how many you can kill. If that's all war was I doubt even my people would have them." Said Tops..... who then looked at Twilight. "After you send that message to whoever you need to. We are drafting a militia force the enemy had troops in the woods so that most likely means they want this town and maybe you."

    "So there's another agenda here." Joan said "After my experience with Loghain I'm not surprised. I never once thought that resources were the real motive here to be honest. Simple trade would have been enough were that the case."

   "Wow," Twilight said "we're really lucky to have you here Tops. You really know what you're doing." Twilight look thoughtful "Trixie, Sunset I'm beginning to think that our actions were the right ones indeed."

   "Just remember my princess, we are not here to turn your nation into a world dominating power. We are here only to defend it from an unnecessary act of war from aggressive nations." Joan warned.

   "Speak for yourself. We are going be here for the rest of our lives, and I'm still considered a young krogen by my race we live for thousands of yeas. So we are fighting for our new home as match as they are. I plan to make sure that by the time old enough to be called a warlord among my people that only dumbest pyjack will mess with Equestria. After all its our home too now. And I have more then just krogen culture I can share." His hand glowed then a window of scrolling text appears above it. "I may not be a engineer, or a doctor, or scientist but I have some data files in those fields learned the hard way the a little knowledge in the omni tool can help. Let me disarm a bomb that was set to take out a whole city. Though the timer said one milliseconds till boom. I won't lie I was worried I was going to meet my ancestors that day. But my point is, this Megan you spoke of before was right can't just let thing stagnant. So after this war is over. I'll help reform your armies and advance you technical level. Who know maybe I see you ponies build a city on your moon in my life time." He smiles at her as the glowing thing vanishes.

   Joan shook her head "Tops I know that this is our new home, but this is a non aggressive nation and should remain so. What you propose will change the nature of this culture for the worse and what's more....... wait did you say the moon!" Joan stood there her jaw agape from this revelation.

   "Le-let's just go inside." Twilight replied nervously as she entered the castle.

  "Yeah I mean I've set foot on more then a dozen planets, moons, asteroids and seen star systems with not one, not two, but three Suns. It was pretty cool. The only planet was tactically caught in between all three so it orbit the any of the suns but was locked in place by their combined gravity wells. " Said Tops nonchalantly as he followed Twilight in.

  Discord was at a chalk bird with betting stats for.... who will fall in love with the summon, what gender it would be and what race?! Also Dash, Pinkie, AJ, and Rarity seemed to be there discussing it......

  Joan said nothing and simply followed them into the castle.

  Pinkie looked over the chalk board "Oh, oh, oh I know, I know. Joan's gonna fall in love with a mare! Maybe more than one." Pinkie squeed.

    Tops blinked.... "How she does know your name?" He asked amusement in his voice. As everypony stairs at Pinkie.

    Discord just chuckles "That's two different bets. My dear Pinkie."

    Twilight simply shrugged and replied "She's just being Pinkie Pie. We really have no idea how she does it, but she does it."

    "Well duh." Pinkie said "Of course I know that Dissy, what kind of pony do think I am? The kind of pony that  doesn't remember where she put her mane?" Pinkie giggled.

    Joan stood there dumbfounded. How could this mare know her name! Barkly in the mean time simply hid under his front paws.

   "You know what I ain't going to question it." Said tops raising his hand defensively.

    "There thing you don't try and figure out, why the biggest thresher maw lives on Tuchanka, why Salarians can never just give a yes or no answer, Why krogen females have to discus everything for hours before they act. So why question the pink one. I mean would understanding make the fact she knew any different?" Said the krogen as he walked to discord's betting board. Looked him the eye... which was unusual given most beings are smaller then him.

    Discord grinned "care to settle any of the bets?" he asked.

   "I'm a omnivore but my race evolved from herbivores, I have had 4 ex's of 3 races, I'm male, strait, single, eight hundred and thirty seven years old, and I have four testicles. Did that settle enough bets?" said Tops with smile

    As Rainbow hoof pumped in the air having won one of the bets. As Rarity and Applejack facehoofed.

    Discord grinned "It does thank you."

    Tops lumbered over and sat next to spike who just starred at the krogen in awe.

   Joan shook her head and walked into the room  and looked for somewhere to sit down.

   Twilight bristled at what she'd seen and heard "What! Why are you all doing this! It's just.....just wrong!" Betting on someponies love life is unacceptable. I want you all to this at once!" she demanded

    "I don't see what's so bad about... Hay snake thing you take credit chips? I so one hundred and twenty thousand says that the pink maned yellow coated winged one we passed to get here gets laid before the princess." Said Tops the hint of joy in his voice was clear to all.

    Discord just smiled. "I'll take that bet though it might be a while before ether of us collects knowing both Twilight and Fluttershy." Said discord as he stroked his beard.

   Twilight exploded "STOP THIS RIGHT NOW DISCORD!!" she fumed

   Joan sharped her gaze "This is insane! Do not one of you have a trace of dignity? You are all vulgar, there are dwarves in dust town that won't do something like this. Have you so quickly forgotten that we're in the middle of a war?" she fumed along with Twilight.

   Applejack rubbed the back of her neck nervously, while Rarity's face turned red, and Rainbow actually hid behind Applejack. Spike coward behind Tops, seeking to avoid being cough in the shit storm that had suddenly materialized in the castle.

   "That's why I joined in. Things like this, silly pointless and often money wasting help raise moral. Back on Tuchanka I had a prize fighting varren Snagle Fang won me more money on a good day then weeks work paid and when the war broke out I donated him to the varren breeder to help with breeding attack varren..... Any way you need to let loose some times, drinking, gambling, and dancing are most popular. Middle of the war I herd the Hero Commander Shepard bought every trooper in  the bar purgatory a round of drinks one night. With out reminders of fun or what there fighting for soldiers will quickly loose there will to fight and maybe there lives...." Tops opened a hard pouch on his hip.

   Pulling out a flask. "Here princess. The drink may match your coat but it's good and not to strong. Have a sip and settle your nerves." He said holding out a flask of what is presumably alcohol.

   "No way!" Twilight shouted "I have to be responsible, I am a princess. Joan if you'll come with we shall have some tea." Twilight left the room to head towards the kitchen

   "There is a difference between keeping morale up and being offensive Tops. This," she said waiving her hand around "Is offensive and inconsiderate on a very high level. There are better ways to do this, ones that don't toy with something that I thought you of all people would have a proper appreciation for." She got up from her seat and followed Twilight.

    Tops looked to Discord. "Clean this up and pay the blue one I'll talk to them...." Said Tops before following.

    He closed the door behind him self and looked at the two females. "one in ten thousand. That was. The odds of me being born. After the Rachni war my people where spreading to fast do to our aggressive nature and high birth rates. To stop the war that broke out they sterilized us... Well not a one hundred percent but made it so only one in every ten thousand is born the rest die before taking a breath. The plague was cured three years ago. But it still doesn't change the fact that my vary birth was a lucky die roll. The little bets they where doing may have been in poor taste. But there small compared to the ones my race took every time a female was pregnant or the chance your troops face in this war. Hell they where probably doing it to take there minds of the fact they will be losing friends and family before this is over. So sorry that betting on hopeful things is in bad taste in war around here!" Tops was close to shouting but held it down to a rumble.

   Joan glared sharply at Tops "Anyone's birth is a matter of luck Tops. What was done to your race is terrible, but it in no way excuses having no taste. There is a line. Bad circumstances do not excuse crossing it, beside it's just toying with something that unlikely to even happen. Even with all we can do it's far more likely that we'll both be dead before this is over." her Brown eyes her cold and hard "It seem to me that you really should know better, of all people you should know better. It's a disappointment to say the least that you lack discipline on this matter." she stormed away