Kestria

"I'm not sure." Dambro replied. "I'll stay here until you're healed..." Dambro said. He looked at Chrysalis, analyzing her.

"Oh..." Chrysalis said, becoming depressed about not being loved.

"It's not that I wouldn't be happy to have you as a marefriend, I just don't know you, and you don't know too much about me, and I've had the worst day one can have!" Dambro's volume rose with the last part. He realized that. "I'm... Sorry." He said.

"How?" Chrysalis asked. "I've gone through my worst defeat. And considering living in exile. What happened?"

"I used to be a hero. Kind of like how you do the- did the best for your people, I did the best for mine. I had a team that I knew my whole life. An island paradise, with happy inhabitants. It was all great, until I was attacked earlier today. I don't know what they were. Beings straight from the greatest depths of Karzahni. They burned the villages, killed my people, killed my team. And, in a way, killed part of me." Dambro said. Chrysalis felt something unlike anything she'd felt before. Sympathy. She saw the stallion before her as one facing struggles that she was also facing.

"That's... I'm sorry." Chrysalis said, disappointed with herself for thinking she was going through the worst that any other had gone through.

"You have no reason to be sorry." Dambro said, looking down at the cave floor through his Kanohi Faxon, the Mask of Kindred, which allowed him to use the power of animals. "If anything, I should be sorry for you. I tried to save more of your Changelings, but I couldn't."

"Well, you saved me at least..." Chrysalis said.

"Yeah. You don't mind sharing the leaf pile, do you? I'm not sure I can sleep on the cave floor. I swear on my life I won't push you off." Dambro said.

"Not at all." Chrysalis moved over slightly, allowing Dambro to lie down.

"Thanks, Chrysalis." Dambro said. He walked over and laid down. A rather cool breeze went over the two, causing them to shiver.

"Um, would it be alright if I snuggle you? It's a little cold, and with the extra body heat..." Chrysalis explained awkwardly.

"I don't see why not. Crap, I forgot I can build a fire... I can't do it in the dark, so let's snuggle for survival then." Dambro said, turning to Chrysalis and closing the distance between the two.

Chrysalis hugged him tightly. Dambro hugged back gently, careful to not hurt her. She rubbed his shoulder with her head, and yawned, Dambro beginning to do so as well. They fell asleep shortly after.

***

When Dambro awoke, he was surprised. The alicorn in the cast was still there, meaning everything that happened yesterday really happened, not that there was much of a doubt in his mind. He had his wing draped over Chrysalis like a blanket, as well as his forehooves. Dambro felt wetness on his mouth, and realized that he and Chrysalis' muzzles were touching.

He wasn't sure what to do. He blushed, and thought about continuing the kiss, or pulling away. He decided to continue the kiss as Chrysalis woke up, cheeks turning a bright red. The two began to-

Well, that escalated quickly.

Princess Celestia and Luna met on the balcony of Canterlot Castle, discussing Chrysalis' invasion.

"We heard from Twilight what happened. Did she really... Beat thou?" Luna asked. Celestia sighed, and turned to her younger sister.

"Yes. I'm not as invincible as I thought." Celestia said, and fell silent.

"We sent some soldiers down there to find them, if somehow they survived the fall. We think it's not likely, but better safe than sorry." Luna said.

"But Luna, this means I can't protect my ponies from her." Celestia said.

"She was just lucky to get such a shot, sister." The Princess of the Night said reassuringly.

"Even so, we have no fallback except the Elements of Harmony to stop chaos engulfing all of Equestria." The Princess of the Day responded.

"Maybe assistance from the stars will come eventually." Luna said, gazing upward as she brought the moon down, and her sister brought the sun up.

"Hopefully, who knows when the next time I am useless to stop an attack will be." Celestia said.

"Other than Chrysalis, we have yet to see any others who can best you at combat. So don't fret, sister." Luna said.

"If you say so." Celestia agreed.

2 years later...

Dambro was making sure Amity, he and Chrysalis' daughter, wasn't getting into trouble as she wandered their house that was the cave. Over the past two years, Dambro had spruced up the place with Chrysalis' help. There had been enchantments made to keep unwanted guests from entering the small part of the world they could call their own.

Of course, most important of all, Amity, their first daughter had entered the world. She was a Water Toa, but had her mother's eyes, as well as horn and wings. As Amity walked, she fluttered her wings every so often. She went to the door of the house, leading outside, but waited for Dambro to open it. Her mane was a dark blue, complemented by her brighter blue fur. Her yellow eyes lit up as she wandered outside, jaw dropping as it did every time she went outside, showing off her fangs, with her dad.

She went over to the small play area Dambro built. He had made a miniature fortress for the filly. Amity ran around it a few times, then saw a tree, her tree, that she loved to climb. She hopped on it, fluttering her wings to get higher when she couldn't climb.

When she reach the highest she could go, she triumphantly stomped. Dambro flew up to her, making sure she didn't fall. All was well for the three living there. Something would come along and change that.

***

"Sky, let's land. Careful, we aren't sure about gravity." 4728 warned.

"I know, Joey." She said.

"Stop calling me that!" 4728 said.

"Why, Joey?"

"My name changed. Spartan 4728 or 4728 is what I go by now." He said. His time during the Human Covenant War changed him quite a bit from how he acted on Kholo, but his time on Kholo was miniscule in comparison to that in the war.

The ship, after entering atmosphere, was fine.

"See? I know what I'm doing." Sky said. 4728 sighed and looked around. There was a village below them. The Pelican began making a beeping noise.

"Dammit! We're losing power, gonna go down!" Sky informed. She grabbed her armor abilities and went to the back of the Pelican. 4728 followed, not sure what Sky was gonna do.

"What are you doing, Sky?" He asked

"Jumping." She said. She waited for the ground to come closer.

"Tell me when." 4728 said.

"Now." Sky said, jumping from the ship, 4728 following.

They landed in a small farm area, surrounded by trees.

"Where the hell are we?" 4728 looked around.

"Does it look like I know?" Sky responded

"What's the plan now, Sky?" 4728 asked mockingly.

"Figure out what's going on here." Sky said, pulling out her Promethean Vision ability from a satchel she'd grabbed on the way off the Pelican.

"How many of those do you have?" Joseph asked.

"Three." She said.

"Is that even safe?!" 4728 asked.

"Yes. I'm a special kind of Spartan, a Foxtrot, like you." Sky said. "That's why they wanted me for the program in the first place. They saw how good you were, leading a team and all."

"Oh..." 4728 said. Sky turned on her Promethean Vision, that highlighted any living thing.

"Only thing is, I had a choice to do it. You were taken." She said.

"I know about the Fours, Sky. They were all willing to join the Spartans." He said.

"I joined it so I could avenge you." Sky said. 4728 stopped and thought about what she just said. Had she cared about him that much, to risk her life with the augmentations? Apparently so.