Spartan and Pony

12 Hours Later...

John stood outside, looking up into the strangely colored sky. No events on Earth had ever caused such a reaction from the atmosphere, not even the invasion of the flood. Something just didn't seem right about all of this. Reach's skies had only been blue, and a dark shade of brown, filled with dirt and dust as a result of the Covenant's actions. Sighing, he could still remember seeing that one lone soldier, who refused to leave, giving the rest of them precious time. Spartans weren't supposed to be soft, and he by no means was. Still, he felt sorry for that lone Spartan, even if it was by choice.

"There was nothing you could have done John. They would have killed you too." Cortana told him. There was obvious care in her voice, and John found it somewhat calming. The fact the Cortana actually knew him as a person, not a war machine or a soldier, sometimes helped him remember that he was indeed a human, not the weapon that most people believed him to be.

"I know." He said as he observed the pistol in his hands. It still maintained it's silver sheen shining brightly in the mid day sun. Looking up, he watched as the ponies in front of him talked in a hushed tone, no doubt talking of the events occurring. Looking back up, he remembered back to that day, when he got onto the Pillar of Autumn, leaving that soldier to his fate. Unbeknownst to anyone but him, when he left that Spartan behind, he was leaving his little brother to die.

Planet Reach... 2552...

Six was dead. He knew it. The Elite had thrown the Energy Sword right between his ribs, and into his heart. It was only a matter of time before his body gave out. Even a Spartan couldn't survive a stabbing wound to the heart. The pain was unbearable, but still, he felt at peace. The new artificial intelligence had made it off world, and there were still Spartans alive and well. Including his big brother, John. Separated at birth, they had only just met five years ago. He desperately breathed in, trying to suck in oxygen, which he already knew would never make it to his brain. Never to be distributed across his body. The Elite in front of him growled in satisfaction, twisting the blade. Six began to close his eyes, not giving the Elite the satisfaction of a pain filled cry of agony. In his mind, he tried to relay the last facts he could remember, before dying. I am a Spartan of the UNSC... My Squad is dead... My brother... John... Is alive... My name is... Is...

Present Day...

John looked down to his pistol, wondering what Six may have been thinking during his last moments. Had he been thinking about Cortana? The planet itself? He wished he could ask him himself, but he would never get the chance now. Despite what many thought, he could still remember small bits about his family. Only things they had said, except for Six. He remembered what he looked like, and even what his personality was like. Six had been the only person of flesh and blood he had ever opened up too. Six had been the same way. Six, of course, wasn't his real name, but he couldn't remember it. And John, having not met him until the five years before the war, had no memory of his name either. Still, he had cared about him, and Six had cared for him. Just before Six had been transferred to the Noble Team, John told him that he would always be there if he needed him. What a lie... He had left him to die. Simple as that. He hadn't wanted to, but he had no choice. Orders were orders, and he had to follow them. But then again, why had Six stayed behind? He had disobeyed orders, simply because he wanted the others to get off of Reach safely. Or was it that he didn't want to give up the planet without a fight?

"John, stop. You know that he gave himself up like that because he knew you were alive. He wouldn't have wanted you there." Cortana told the chief. John shook his head, trying to get thoughts of Six out of his head. He had a mission to complete. These strange ponies had required his help, and that was exactly what he was going to do. He slung his Battle Rifle from over his shoulders, and marched over to the ponies.

"Have you found out where the first one is?" He asked bluntly. One of them gave a startled shout, while the others simply jumped. The blue one, Rainbow Dash, stared at him angrily, telling him that it was none of his business. The purple one, Twilight Sparkle, scowled at her friend and nodded.

"We managed to put our heads together, and the most talented unicorns in Equestria gathered to put their skills together. It wasn't easy, but we managed to find out where the Element of Loyalty is." She said.

"Where?" John asked.

"That planet you called Earth, but it's in a different year... 2015. We aren't entirely sure why, but the Elements seem to be in certain areas, in certain time periods, so..."

"Then let's get going."