Exiled soldiers

by Lon35hadow

Rating: mature
Tags: Anthro, Dark, Adventure, Crossover, Alternate Universe, Human
Length: 59600

Twilight is banished for protecting a changeling from a pony. She leaves Equestria under threat of death. Can she survive, and make new friends?

Twilight Sparkle. In Equestria, a name synonymous with success, friendship, dedication, and knowledge. But now that she has been accused of assault, the first pony on pony charge in a thousand years, it now synonymous with betrayal, and violence. She was brought in front of her mentor, believing that Celestia would believe her.
She was wrong.
Now, she has been banished by Celestia, the spell causing her to die, should she ever step in Equestria ever again, the ultimate irony in the ponies' minds for a criminal.
She was sent to an unknown world, so that no other country would have to worry about her ever again, and the Element of magic split from her and given to another.
But she wasn't sent alone. Can Twilight Sparkle, along with her two companions, the only ones who believed her and only friends now, survive in an intergalactic war?

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2016-09-01 11:41:38 UTC

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Sangheilios-Elite homeworld-2558-October thirty-first

Darkness.

That was all that Sarah Palmer and her current Elite squadmates could see. They had been out on patrol, even with Palmer's injuries, when they were attacked by a group of Promethean Soldiers and Watchers. They had lost two of their ten man squad before they were pushed into the cave they were now in.

It had been a few hours since then, and all the flares they had brought were either used or lost during the firefight that caused them to enter the cave. Yeah, the Elites had Needlers and Energy swords, but they didn't do much to illuminate the place, and the Spartan had lost her helmet during the battle of Sunaion, so she didn't have night vision. The best they had, really, was the glow of the plasma weapons and the flashlight on Plamer's MA5D assault rifle.

"'Vason," she said to the Sword Elite next to her, "we encountered those soldiers just outside this cave. Are there any known Forerunner artifacts in here?"

"No, Spartan," the Elite replied, spitting at the "S" sound due to the four lips ever Elite had. "If there were any, they are either unknown to the Swords, or carried out long ago."

Palmer sighed. She had expected that. "Any idea why they were outside then?"

"None."

Well, isn't that just perfect, she thought to herself. To think, this was all because of some bat-shit insane AI. No idea how deep in the cave we are, no way to contact the camp, and low on ammo and visibility. At least those Prometheans glow, so they won't be able to sneak up on us. "Is this cave at least somewhat mapped."

"Yes, and we have been following that so far to the deepest part mapped, which is the only location with ambient light due to rivers of magma, and is the most defensible area we know of," he said. "Beyond that, we have no idea what this cave holds."

"Any idea when we're going to get there?"

"As you humans say, any minute now."

"Good," she said. "But why are we going deeper?"

"Because the trackers of those in the back of our group detect enemy contacts at the edge of their range, and they have not changed."

"So the Prometheans are following us, then?"

"It would appear so," he said.

"Then we'd better make sure everyone's ready." After that, it was a quiet few minutes filled only with the sounds of armored feet striking stone and the hum of the plasma weapons. Plamer had done a mental count of what she had. One full clip in the mag, and four extra. Total rounds would be about one hundred and eighty for my assault rifle. Each Magnum's got twelve shots, and has one full clip, along with ten extra, which leads to one hundred and forty six total there, along with two frags, one plasma, and two of those new Promethean grenades. No shields, and no helmet. Great.

Once the group of eight arrived at the large cavern, there were indeed rivers of magma, though they were at the far side, and the room was at least a mile long. Still Palmer could feel the heat coming off of them. But what got the attention of both her and the Elites was the Forerunner structure in the middle of the area.

The structure was three rings floating off the ground, the next high than the last, smaller too. There were four pillars that looked like they could also be clamps at the diagonal parts of the structure. Surrounding it was the usual defenses for Forerunner structures as of late, which was to say collapsible barricades, ammo stashes-Thank god, Palmer thought- those new mounted turrets, and even some of those hover turrets, ten of them,  that had first been seen  on Requiem. The color was off, though. Instead of orange or blue, they were yellow. Palmer didn't know much about Forerunner tech, just that if it got hit with enough bullets, they'd go down, but she knew, thanks to the records Chief had from before the Infinity had gotten to the shield world, the color showed who controlled it, and yellow was a new one in her books. But what got her attention the most was the Slipspace portal closing at the top of the structure, and three individuals at the top, still.

"I thought you said there were no Forerunner structures in these caves," she asked 'Vason.

"No," he said. "I said there were no known structures in these caves," he corrected. "It would appear that there are still some secrets."

"Obviously," she said. "Now come on, all of you, we need to get set up, and something tells me the three up there need medical attention."

"It is good, then, that I have rudimentary field medic training," 'Vason said. "I will assist you how ever I can."

"Then come on," she said. "We need to see if they're alive."

"Of course, Spartan," the Elite said, and, with Palmer and Vason in the lead, the group of eight made their way to the fortifications, the half hover turrets tracking but not firing, the other half focused on the entry way.

Three Elites took position behind the barricades, the other three taking position at the mounted turrets, and Palmer and 'Vason made their way to the top of the structure.

"What the hell?" Palmer said in surprise at what she saw when she and 'Vason reached the top.

The three individuals were humanoid. Two had bodies that suggested they were the women of their race, and wore old, maybe early twenty-first century hiking clothes, while the third had a more male like build, and wore a white, sleeveless T-shirt with cargo pants. But that was where the similarity to humans ended.

One of the supposed women had a light purple skin, along with black hair that had a violet and fuchsia stripe, along with a tail of similar coloration. She had human like eyes in terms of size that were closed, a muzzle like those you would find on old animals from Earth. Horses, maybe. But the most interesting thing was the horn jutting from her forehead.

The other one had gray skin that had a bit of sheen to it, as it reflected the light off the assault rifle's light, blue hair, and was, over all, the same as the other. The only notable and noticeable differences would be that she seemed to have small fangs, her horn was a little more jagged, and she had see through wings, almost like a flies, on her back.

The supposed male was either of an entirely different race than the other two, or it was just one with vast differences. It had happened with the Jackals, after all. He seemed to have what looked like scales, colored a light purple, growing from his skin which Palmer assumed was the same color, along with green spines growing from the top of his head and his back. His hands seemed to end in somewhat dulled claws. His face was more human, there being no muzzle, but his mouth was slightly opened, and Palmer did glimpse teeth meant for carnivores.

"Any idea what they are, 'Vason?" she asked her squadmate.

"None, Spartan," the Elite replied. "Though I do admit, two of them resemble a drawing my ancestors made of what we once thought were two Forerunner gods that once came through the portal, the, what is the human color for it, purple one."

"If you mean the middle, that's the right color," Palmer said. "But for now, we need to hold this position until we have a way out."

It was then that a robotic, female voice spoke up. "Oh, finally, a Reclaimer has arrived!" Both Palmer and 'Vason aimed their weapons up, which is when they saw a Forerunner Monitor, roughly the same size as 343 Guilty Spark, with a yellow eye coming down toward them. "My name is 6732 Peaceful Resolution," the Monitor said.

Helpful, more so than other Forerunner A.I., Palmer thought "And what are you doing here?" Palmer asked.

"To maintain this portal to Shield World B56-729, designate, "Equis"," Resolution said. "Strange that it has opened. It has not for near a thousand years."

"Then do you know what those are," Palmer asked, gesturing with her rifle to the three individuals before pointing it back.

Resolution was quiet for some time before a robotic gasp was heard. "Oh. . . oh my!" she whispered. "I never thought I would see the day."

"Day for what," 'Vason asked.

"The day the Inheritors would return to the galactic stage."

"Inheritors?" Palmer asked. "What does that mean?"

"I don't know the full extent, but of what I know, Humans were meant to inherit half the mantle: those who keep the peace. The Inheritors were to inherit the other half: governance," Resolution said. "Both would retain their individual governments, but would also have a singular one."

Before Palmer could say anything else, Resolution added, quite quickly, "Promethean Armigers inbound, not under my control. How worrisome."

"Yeah, we kinda guessed, seeing as how they're trying to kill us," Palmer snapped, lowering her weapon, but keeping it ready.

"Yes, that is unfortunate," Resolution said. "Fortunately for you, though, the Inheritors presence will fix that, even if she is currently unconscious."

"How so," 'Vason asked.

"A simple sub-routine in almost all Forerunner construct programs that results in the ancilla following the order of either a Reclaimer or Inheritor, should there be at least one of each in sensor range. This Inheritor and you, Reclaimer, are, which means whatever orders given to the Armigers are now void, and won't try to kill you, as long as they are not shot at," Resolution said. "It is why these turrets didn't shoot you, as their previous orders had been to kill any non-Armiger. Of course, the tracking routines stayed."

"So, right now, as long as we don't shoot the soldiers, they won't shoot us?"

"Correct," Resolution said. "And, should they venture out of the point of you being in sensor range, they will follow your most recent orders. There are numerous other parts of the sub-routine, but that is all you need to know, currently."

"What about the sensor range on those things?" 'Vason asked.

"Is that not common knowledge," Resolution asked. "In this size of construct, range is quite near what humans call a thousand Kilometers. Of course, the range is larger in other constructs, but I sense only Armigers."

"Well, looks like we have a break for now, 'Vason," Palmer said.

"Indeed, Spartan," he replied before turning to his fellow Elites and ordering them in his native tongue to not fire unless fired upon, or so Palmer guessed from what they just learned and the fact the six below seemed to slightly relax. Not to the point of not being ready, but slightly.

Fortunate, too, as about ten seconds later, a group of three Soldiers of the more common variety walked in. "'Vason, can you see what color they are?"

"I believe so," he replied, putting his weapon on his back and trading it for a beam rifle. He looked down its sights, and reported, "Yellow, Spartan."

Palmer breathed a sigh of relief. Ever since Fire team Osiris had awoken the Guardian, she had rarely gotten a break to just breathe. Most of the Prometheans had left with the Guardian, but a lot stayed behind. No idea as to why, though. "Resolution, can you have one of them come here?"

"It is already done, Reclaimer," she replied. "A medical class one, specifically. Protocol dictates that a medical class Armiger help Inheritors and Reclaimers recover when not fighting, or under strict orders not to. As a side note, Reclaimer, a second has been summoned to look over you."

"I don't need one," Palmer said.

"Regardless, it would be best for you to  see if the injuries can be healed, so that you may be back at full operational capacity."

"I said no," Palmer said in a firm tone. "Try it, and the thing will get a face full of lead."

Resolution did the Monitor equivalent of a sigh. "Of course, Reclaimer, but I highly advise against it." With that, she flew off to where the Soldiers had entered.

"This is an interesting day," Palmer said.

"Indeed it is," 'Vason said. "Indeed it is."

Travel

"So, Resolution," Palmer said to the Monitor ,"how are those three?" she asked referring to the three individuals who had come through the slipspace portal.

"Quite fine, according to the Armiger," the Monitor replied. Right now, the two of them, the Elites, three carrying the aforementioned individuals, with yellow colored soldiers leading the group, were making heir way out of the cave they had been in, now with multiple Forerunner weapons, including a Lightrifle, Surpressor, and Scattershot. "The worst they have is simple exhaustion, I imagine from the slipspace portal transit."

"How did they survive that, anyway," Palmer asked. "No one should be able to go through slipspace unshielded."

"If this were a ship grade portal, I would agree, Reclaimer," Resolution said, "but this was a small-scale. My makers knew how to make small-scale slipspace travel safe for those without shields. That, and the sub-routine in the portal recognizing one of them as an Inheritor."

"Then can you answer how a Sangheili was able to do the same with out energy shields by himself?"

"If there was a Reclaimer in the range of the transit system, it would think the being going through was doing so with their permission, and ensure it was safe."

Well, Palmer thought, going back to the hunt for Jul 'Mdama on Requiem, that's ironic. Us trying to kill him saved him.

"What else about those three can you tell us, now that the medical scans are complete?"

"Quite a bit, actually," Resolution said. "All three seem to be of a different species from each other, but genetically close enough to mate, and have offspring that can mate. The odds of that are astronomical. In fact, they have the same amount of chromosomes as your kind, Reclaimer."

"Any thing else," Palmer asked, not really caring about that.

"Yes, actually," Resolution said. "The Inheritor seems to be missing a gene sequence, but no genetic illness because of that has been detected."

"Any idea what that's for?"

"None."

"Well, we can ask her when she wakes up," Palmer said. "Halsey's going to have a field day with studying these three."

A few minutes passed before light from the sun could be seen. "About damn time," Palmer said. "'Vason, radio the camp, tell them we need a pickup, and make sure they know not to fire on the Soldiers."

"Of course, Spartan," 'Vason said. He walked off as soon as they exited the cave system so that he could get a message off to the camp.

"Resolution, which one of the Soldiers is the leader of the group?" Palmer asked. "I need to speak to him."

"Of course, Reclaimer," Resolution said. "Summoning her now."

"Wait, 'her'," Palmer asked, not certain if she heard right.

"Yes," Resolution said. "Like many of the units you call 'Knights', some Soldiers are composed beings, though all of those are Forerunner, unlike Knights, which are also composed humans. I thought humans would know that."

"We knew about the Knights, but we thought the Soldiers were all  A.I.," Palmer said.

"Understandable, Reclaimer," the Monitor said. "Few composed Soldiers are actually fielded. Many are held back for planning. Though, personally, I find it horrid that the Ur-Didact would do a thing to his own kind, let alone humans later on."

"What do you mean, 'Ur-Didact'?" Palmer asked.

"That isn't common knowledge either?" Resolution asked, shocked. "I am surprised, then, that a Reclaimer is on the Sagnheili homeworld."

"Why's that?"

"Just that I would have thought you would have discovered at least one shield world before now."

"We have," Palmer said, thinking since most Monitors knew of the shield worlds, she wasn't exactly breaking security protocols right now. "It just didn't say anything about the Didact having a certain designation."

"I wonder why," Resolution said. "Regardless, the reason why is because, at the time of him being sealed away, there were two individuals who shared the title 'Didact'. I do not know how that came to be, though." She then turned as a Soldier,  of the captain variant, walked up. "Ah, here she is."

"Hello, Reclaimer," the soldier said in a noticeable female voice. "I am Spirit-of-black-void. It is an honor to meet one of your kind."

"Commander Palmer," Palmer replied. "Why is it you didn't try to tell your troops to not fire on me and my allies if you knew who we were?"

"Simple protocol, Commander," Void replied. "Unless we are given orders by a superior or, in this case, sub-routines make the orders null and void, protocol dictates Prometheans take any and all orders, and our current orders were to kill any non-Forerunner organics. If I had any choice in the matter, I would have told those under my command to cease all hostilities on you and your allies."

"And now?"

"Until we can no longer sense you or the Inheritor and any orders that take us outside that range are met, we are yours to command."

"Is there any way to stop that from happening?" Palmer asked. "You having to fight us again, I mean?"

"There is one way, Reclaimer," Resolution said. "But both you or another of your race and an Inheritor must authorize that. Simple protocol."

"What is it with Forerunners and protocol?" Palmer asked, frustrated at how often she had heard that word recently.

"Most of those are meant to prevent Flood use of Forerunner constructs," Void said. "Of course, they did not work well against the Logic Plague, which made any and all Forerunner ancillas exposed to it abandon the Forerunners for the Flood."

"Good thing the Flood's not an issue, then," Palmer said as 'Vason walked back over.

"They are sending a Phantom to extract us all," he reported. "Though your Dr. Halsey did not like the fact she wasn't on it to analyze one of the Soldiers."

"I can imagine," Palmer said. "How long?"

"They say within ten minutes, Spartan," he replied.

"Any thing we should know of," she asked the two Forerunner A.I.s.

"Negative, Reclaimer," Resolution said.

"Then it looks like we have more of a breather, 'Vason," she said.

Ten minutes later

"There it is," 'Vason said, pointing to a growing speck as he put his Beam rifle on his back with his other weapon, a Carbine. "It looks like they sent two, I imagine so all can be carried back."

"Then let's get everyone ready," Palmer said, walking over to where Resolution and Void were, as well as the three aliens from the cave. "They awake yet?" she asked.

"Negative," Void said. "They all show signs of dreaming, and, if I may hazard a guess, the smiles on their faces indicate they are ones that bring joy to them, perhaps memories of times past. Just a guess, however."

"Any idea when they will?"

"Signs indicate in the next Erde-Tyrene day, Reclaimer, which is to say, one Earth day."

"Good," Palmer said. "'Cause I want to know why the hell they showed up in that cave."

"You are highly aggressive, you know, right?" Resolution said. "I certainly do have quite a bit to learn about Inheritors and Reclaimers, I do."

"I believe if you do, this Reclaimer won't give you many answers, Monitor," Void said before she looked back down at the purple skinned female. "Strange."

"What is it?" Resolution asked.

"The missing gene sequence, there are traces of it left. It was not surgically removed, which means, with the needed facilities, it can be replicated and put back in, though it's effects will take time to manifest," Void said, her Soldier body having slight medical scanners. Well, slight by Forerunner standards, that is. "And in regards to gene sequences, this one," she said, motioning to the gray female, "her genes seem to allow her race to blend in with the Inheritors race. They would be able to infiltrate the government, and her genes indicate her kind feeds off the energy organics give off when in love."

"So her kind eats love?" Palmer asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I am aware of how that sounds, Reclaimer, but it is the simplest explanation I can think of. Getting back on topic, her kind seems to have developed a kind of one-sided relationship with the Inheritors race," Void said. "Her kind can disguise themselves as an Inheritor, and feed off them, not harming the Inheritor they feed off of. Perhaps even a symbiotic relationship, as these changers, as I will call them until she can tell us what they are called, may be able to make their own Inheritor form, and begin a relationship with an Inheritor that is lonely. Perhaps both."

"And what about him," Palmer asked, gesturing to the male.

"Little pre-existing data on his kind," Resolution said. "Of what I know, the Inheritors called them 'Dragons', and, of what I know of human culture from various transmissions I've picked up, are much like hose of your mythology, Reclaimer, with the noted and odd exception that these dragons eat gem stones. Though the teeth suggest they also eat meat."

"Good thing the Elites have meat rations back at our camp, then," Palmer said. "Anything else?"

"Not at current, Reclaimer," Void said. "But more scans will be possible when we are in the appropriate location."

"Then make sure all of your troops are ready, because our rides are here."

"Yes, Reclaimer," Void said.

Not long after, the two Phantoms arrived and landed, opening their side hatches, with the troop compartments being empty. Palmer, 'Vason, Resolution, Void, a few other Elites, and the three unnamed individuals entered the first, while all entered the second.

The three had been carried in with a gravity field that Resolution emitted from her shell. "Oh, I hope the Inheritor is okay after this journey," she said.

"I'm sure she will be," 'Vason said. "The camp is five minutes away, Spartan."

"Then tell the pilots to step on it," Palmer said as the hatches closed and the Phantom lifted off.

"Already done," the Elite replied. "If you'll excuse me, I must check on my brothers." With that, he made his way to where the three other Elites were standing, leaving Palmer with the Forerunner constructs and the supposed 'Inheritor' and the other two.

She decided to do small talk to pass the time. "So, Void?"

"Yes, Reclaimer?" Void replied.

"How is it you were assigned to Sangheilios?"

"It was a request on my part, actually," Void replied. "Even before I was put in this body, I wished to learn more about the Sangheili, even if I was a Warrior-servant. I suppose that is because my father was a Life-worker."

"'Warrior-servant'?" Palmer asked.

"The soldiers of our race," Void replied. "Life-workers were, for the most part, our scientists."

"Great," Palmer said sarcastically. "An entire part of a race, eggheads."

"If that is meant to be an insult, Reclaimer, I do not see why it is one," Void said. "Intellectually speaking, that is. Many life-worker helmets were somewhat egg shaped. How did you know that?"

Palmer decided to shut up, which didn't stop Resolution. "I think it's meant as an insult because she thinks all intellectuals are loners with no social life. Perhaps because she's afraid of those with a greater intellect than her."

Before anything else could be said by Palmer or the Forerunners, 'Vason walked over.

"The camp reports something strange," he said.

"Is it related to her," Palmer asked, hooking a thumb to point to the purple skinned female.

I believe so, yes," 'Vason said. "They report numerous Prometheans of all classes, all with yellow light, making their way to the camp, weapons lowered. They are on guard, but given what happened earlier, I doubt they are currently hostile." He stopped as something came over the radio for him. "It seems," he said once the radio had stopped, "they are changing color yet again. This time, to that ones skin color," he said, pointing to the same woman. In fact, Void was doing so as he spoke.

At a questioning glance from Palmer, she said, "Yellow is the color when the sub-routine is still being initiated. When it is done, the hard light changes to the color of the Inheritor, or to a mix if there are multiple, eventually to white. The fact it has changed color indicates that all Prometheans in range have been freed from the A.I. Cortana's control."

"And the time delay?" Palmer asked.

"We had to use Sangheili communication to do so, and the routine only got into the systems because it was Forerunner, thought it just barely got in."

"I guess that makes sense," Palmer said.

"I agree," 'Vason said. "Also, Spartan, Arbiter says that your ship will soon arrive."

Ah, yes, that. You see, the Infinity was using random jumps to evade Cortana, and one, this one, apparently, would bring it to Sangheilios so it could pick up Palmer, Halesy, and Blue Team and Osiris, who had arrived on a Pelican that arrived via Forerunner portal from Genesis. It looked like these three would be coming with them, and, if they were especially unlucky, the Prometheans.

"When we get to the camp, we'll see what they want done with those three," Palmer said, gesturing to the three, "as well as the Prometheans."

"Of course, Spartan."

A few minutes later, the Phantoms stopped, and the hatches opened. To Palmer's surprise, the Arbiter, Thel 'Vadam, the Chief, and Locke, as well as Halsey, stood waiting for them.

"Sir," Palmer said as she walked out, saluting the Arbiter. "I'm a little surprised you came here."

"At ease, Spartan," Arbiter said. "I came to inspect the three you and 'Vason found. Your Doctor Halsey is here to see if they are okay, and she requested Locke and Master Chief to come with her."

"Then let's get this over with," Palmer said, already dreading having to stand near Halsey. She never did like scientists.

Waking up

"So, doc, what were you able to find out?" Palmer asked Halsey.

"Aside from what the Soldiers found, nothing," Halsey said. "Really, the only thing to note would be, as far as I can tell without my equipment, is that, unlike humans, they do not have a Geas."

"A what?" Palmer asked.

"Instructions implanted at the genetic level," Halsey said. "Hard to detect, even my equipment, which was specifically made for detecting anything connected to the Forerunners."

"That it?" Palmer asked.

"For now," Halsey said. "You must learn patience, Commander Palmer."

Before Palmer could retort, a rapid beeping came from one of the Elite instruments that Halsey had gotten. "What's going on," Palmer asked.

"They're waking up," Halsey said. "Get the Monitor and that Soldier here, we may need their assistance."

"They're outside, doctor," Locke said. At Halsey's request, he and Master Chief had helped her carry some of the equipment, and were also standing guard.

"Then what are you waiting for," Halsey said. "Get them."

"Yes, doctor," Locke said before exiting the tent they were in before coming back in a minute later with Resolution and Void.

"Spartan Lock informed us," Resolution said. "If I may ask, why do you need our help?"

"To help answer and ask questions," Halsey said. "Now, everyone, quiet, we need a calm environment so we can get as much data as possible."

The makeshift lab was quiet, aside from the beeping of machines. The three individuals had been placed on tables that were in the center of the tent, with machines connected to read their vitals and brainwaves, the latter much more active than before.

The gray female woke with a groan, followed by the other two shortly after. "Ugh, what happened?" the gray female said.

"Be careful, Ma'am," Locke said. "You've been unconscious for. . . how long, doctor?"

"A few hours, if the Commander's report is accurate," Halsey said. "If I may ask, what are you?"

"You don't know what I am," she asked, just now opening her eyes. "On second thought, what are all of you?"

"Humans," Halsey said. "Now, what are the three of you?"

"I-I'm a changeling," she said. "My name's Elegance. Who are all of you?"

It was Locke who spoke up. "Classified, Ma'am."

"Of course it is," Elegance said as the other two finally got up. "Can we at least know where we are?"

"Sangheilios," Halsey said.

"Where's that?" Elegance asked.

"Classified."

"Who are your companions," Halsey asked.

"Oh, uh. . .," Elegance said. "Sorry, I seem to have forgotten for now."

"That is quite alright," Halsey said. "they seem to be waking up now, anyway." Indeed, both of Elegance's companions were beginning to stir to full consciousness.

"Ugh, my head," the pruple female said, rubbing her head just under her horn, "Spike, you okay?"

"Yeah, Twi, I am," the male said as both he and the other sat up.

The woman opened her eyes, and looked around. "Uh, where are we?"

"The planet Sanghelios, Inheritor," Resolution said, floating into the woman's face.

"Uh, who are you?"

"6732 Peaceful Resolution, Inheritor. Monitor of the portal myself and the Reclaimers found you and your companions in."

"What's a Monitor?"

"Well," Resolution said, "quite simply, we are machines meant to watch over a particular installation, and, as a secondary function, in my case, anyway, are libraries for Inheritors and Reclaimers to use." At the word 'Libraries', her eyes lit up.

"Really?" she asked in excitement. "What do you know? What's the meaning of life? How do ponies reach faster than light speeds? Why does my home have so many different races?-"

"How do we make Twilight stop for now?" Spike asked.

"Well, at least Inheritors like knowledge," Resolution said.

"What is that?" Twilight asked.

"I think that best answered after the Reclaimer ask their questions, Inheritor," Resolution said.

"Yes, thank you, Resolution," Halsey said. "John, would you mind recording this for me, please?"

"No, Ma'am," John said.

"Thank you," she said. "Now, can you tell us your name, race, and home world, Ms. . ." she asked Twilight.

"Twilight Sparkle," she replied. "I'm a pony from Equestria."

"I haven't heard of that world before," Halsey said.

"It's a country," Elegance said. "The planet's called Equis."

"Thank you," Halsey said. "Now, Ms. Sparkle," Halsey could not believe she was saying that in a serious tone, "who is your male companion, and what race is he?"

"My name's Spike," he said. "I'm a dragon."

"Well, Resolution, it looks like you were right," Palmer said.

"What were the three of you doing at the portal site?"

"What portal site," Elegance asked.

"You were found near a Forerunner portal site," Resolution said. "The one I was assigned to, in fact."

"That's. . . complicated," Twilight said. It was obvious even to Halsey it was a touchy subject that would need time before she was willing to talk about it.

"Well, can you tell us about your world," Halsey asked.

"Not much to tell," Elegance said. "It's a world that hasn't seen war in over a thousand years.. . . Actually, more like declared war in over a thousand years."

"What do you mean?" Palmer asked.

"Just that," Elegance. "Just about three or four years ago, another leader of my people attacked her," she said, gesturing towards Twilight, "capitol. She was beaten back, but because Twilight's people don't understand the meaning of the word 'security', they let her go instead of hunting her. And if they did so now, they'd bring about the changeling hives."

"What exactly are your forms of government, anyway?"

"Well, each changeling hive, what we call it because of us having insect traits like the eyes and gossamer wings, has a different form. Mine is a democracy, while the ponies, whether they know it or nor, is a benign dictatorship."

"Celestia isn't a dictator, Elegance," Twilight said.

"Then why is it she doesn't put more responsibility on those in her staff, and always relied on you and your friends-"

"They aren't my friends anymore," Twilight snapped. "They left me, and didn't even try to defend me from what got us exiled, anyway. Which I don't want to talk about."

"And who was the one who persecuted us, Twilight?" Elegance asked. "As long as Celestia and Luna are immortal, it's a dictatorship. A benign one, but a dictatorship nonetheless."

"I imagine this 'Celestia and Luna' are your leaders, Miss Twilight," Halsey asked.

"Former's more like it," Twilight said. "The three of us were exiled, and if we return to Equestria, we'll slowly and painfully die. To think I looked up to her."

"Excuse me, Inheritor, but did you say 'Celestia and Luna'?" Resolution asked.

"Yeah. Why?"

"Because those were the names of two individuals who had contact with Forerunners. I was not around at the time, but any official record of your people are in my data banks, seeing as how I was the Monitor to the portal that led there."

"Just what are Forerunners?"

"Of what we can say," Halsey said, "they were a race far more advanced than humans or any other race we know of that, for the most part, dies one hundred thousand years ago."

"How'd they die?"

"That would be heavily classified," Halsey said. "Now, if you are ready, I would like to run some tests. Nothing harmful, just routine tests to see if you are carrying any micororganisms that could be harmful to us."

"I guess so," Twilight said.

"Thank you. Now, if the rest of you may leave, I can get to work," Halsey said "And John, you can stop recording."

"Yes Ma'am," John said before he left the tent, followed by Locke and the Forerunners.

"Doc if you think-"

"You need not worry about them Palmer," Halsey said, cutting Palmer off. "I am aware I am not the most moral human, but even I have standards. Now, please, leave us, as this may take some time."

"What ever you say, Doc," Palmer said in a sarcastic tone before leaving.

"She really doesn't like you, does she?" Elegance asked.

"Not really, no," Halsey said. "Can't imagine why, though." She walked to a nearby counter that had a few syringes. "Now, if you three will stay calm, I will take a blood sample from the three of you. It will be quick, I assure you."

"I guess we might as well," Elegance said, holding out an arm.

"Thank you, Miss Elegance," Halsey said. "If I may ask, one of the one who escorted you three here says they discovered your genes allowed you to camouflage your self. Why would you need that?"

As Halsey put the syringe in and pulled a drop of green blood out, Elegance said, "It's because ponies feared us, and the only way for us to feed was to disguise ourselves as their loved ones."

"You know, if your gonna talk to us, we may as well know your name, too," Spike said.

"Doctor Halsey," she said. "No more questions, please."

From there, Halsey took blood samples from Twilight and Spike, putting the filled syringes back on the table. "Thank you," Halsey said. "If you want to explore the camp, you'll need an escort, Talk with Locke and Palmer outside, I'm certain one of them will oblige."

"Might as well stretch our legs, guys," Spike said. With that, the three left the tent as Halsey put a drop of each blood sample in a petri-dish and began to look for, among other things, micro-organisms.

"Let me get this straight," Buck, one of Locke's team, who had their helmets off, said. "The Commander found what is, in essence, a unicorn, dragon, and some kind of bug-horse thing that are humanoid?" Buck, the rest of Fire team Osiris, and all of Blue team, helmets on, were outside the tent.

"For the last time, Buck, yes," Palmer, who was there as well, said. "I don't understand how it's possible, even with Forerunner tech, but they exist."

"Okay, even with what happened on Genesis, this is some weird shit," Tanaka said.

"Agreed," Vale said. "What do you guys think?" she asked Blue team.

"Can't really say much," Fred said. "We didn't exactly grow up with unicorn and dragon stories, after all."

"I'm more interested in the fact just that unicorn, I can't believe I'm saying that," Kelly said, "being nearby with a human is able to stop the Prometheans."

"Same," Linda said. "What about you, Chief? What do you think of this?"

"I don't know, Linda," John said. "All I do know is that this will help us defeat Cortana."

"Agreed, Sir," Locke said. It was at this point Twilight, Elegance, and Spike walked out, getting the four Spartan's attention.

"Uh, hi," Twilight said nervously. "Doctor Halsey said one of you'd show us around?"

The two Spartan teams looked at their own team mates and each other. "So, uh, who's going to escort 'em?" Buck asked. No one spoke up for a few seconds.

"Guess I'm up, then," Vale said. "Follow me, guys." With that, she made her way to a cliff where two Sword Elites were repairing a Banshee and an Elite and Grunt were having a conversation, Twilight and the others following.

"So what's your name," Elegance asked. "You know, if it isn't classified?"

Vale chuckled. "That's mostly because of the fact you three are first contact with your races. Name's Olympia Vale, but everyone calls me Vale. What about you three?"

"Elegance," Elegance said. "And before you ask, my particular sub-group of my people name based on abstract terms."

"Nice name," Vale said. "What about you?" she asked Twilight.

"Twilight Sparkle," she replied.

"Weird name," Vale said. "No offense, just an observation based on my kind's names. So you're a unicorn? Honestly, I expected you to be a full on horse unicorn."

"I'm a pony," Twilight said.

"You know what I mean. You?" she asked Spike.

"Spike," he said.

"Nice to meet you guys," Vale said. "So, in case your wondering, your on Sangheilios, home world of the Sangeheili, which would be the tall aliens. More specifically, we're in a camp led by our ally, the Arbiter, and his faction, the Swords of Sangheilios." A few more seconds passed before she said, "So, Elegance what is your species called, anyway?"

"Changelings," she replied.

"Really?" Vale asked.

"Yeah," Elegance replied. "Why?"

"Nothing major, just that there are old stories of creatures called changelings. I don't know the details, just that it had to do with children."

"So, um, Vale, do you know what those things are?" Twilight asked, gesturing to a Soldier that was, to Vale's surprise, helping the two repair Elites repair the Banshee.

"The Soldiers? Vale asked. "Machines made by Forerunners for combat. Apparently, each one has some kind of skill useful in the field."

"Oh," Twilight said. "So what do you do, Vale?"

"That's a bit of a complicated answer," Vale said. "For one, I'm a Spartan, a human who's had special augmentations done, but I can also translate Sangheili."

"Really," Elegance said. "How?"

Vale shrugged. "When I was a kid, my mom and I were on a courier ship that had a problem that stopped us from going to slipspace, an alternate dimension, basically, that allows our ships to go faster than light. Turned a six day trip into six months, and we had to evade Covenant, an alien hegemony that wanted to wipe my kind out because their gods, which were the Forerunners, said so, and I decided to listen in on Sangheili communications. Learned their language, even made corrections to older ones I had access to, ones even A.I.s, essentially man-made minds that are smart as hell, got wrong."

"Okay," Spike said. "That's impressive."

"Thanks, Spike," Vale said. "Any other questions right now?"

"I have a few," Twilight said. "One is if you can teach me Sangheili language? The second is who were the others you were with when we came out?"

"In order," Vale said, "yes, and three of them were my team mates, while the other four, who had their helmets on, are another team of Spartans."

"Thanks, Vale."

"No problem, Twilight," Vale said. "So, if it isn't too personal, how'd you guys get here, anyway?"

"That' still a little too personal, Vale," Elegance said. "Maybe later."

"I guess that makes since," Vale said. "So, what do you guys plan on doing?"

"Honestly," Twilight said, "no idea. We didn't expect to arrive on a planet that had a race that had space travel."

"We figured we would have been lucky if we were on an inhabited planet," Elegance said.

"Well, if you guys want, I might be able to get you all a ride to our ship when it gets here," Vale said. "I'm sure Halsey will, too, if only to study you more."

"Really," Spike asked. "We didn't think you'd want us on one of your ships."

"Long as you follow the rules if you do want to go up there, you should be fine."

"I guess so, then," Elegance said.

"Same," Spike said.

Twilight, though, was wide eyes at the concept of being on an alien ship. "Oh, yes. Did I pack paper, and a quill?"

"Twilight," Spike said. "I think taking notes for you-know-who isn't gonna do anything."

"Who cares," Twilight said. "I'll be the first pony in who know how many years to study alien technology!"

"She gets very excited at learning new stuff," Spike whispered to Vale, leaning to her ear. "So unless you want to have her annoy everyone on your ship, probably bets to lay rules on that ground."

"Noted," Vale said as Resolution came over.

"Forgive my intrusion, Reclaimer, Inheritor, but I must ask something of the Inheritor," she said.

"Me?" Twilight asked.

"Yes, Inheritor," Resolution said. "I was wondering: ten thousand or so local years ago, the portal to your world opened, and, shortly after, six prototype Forerunner weapons went missing. You wouldn't happen to know anything about those, would you?"

"Are they dangerous?" Twilight asked.

"Themselves, no," the Monitor asked. "You see, what they were designed to be was a more effective Composer that would isolate Flood infection from healthy cells. It worked, for a while, but the effects were temporary, and the amount of time before things reverted depended on how much of a charge they had. So the weapons themselves, no, but if your people's guard is let down around something they affected, then those are the danger."

"Uh, Twilight," Spike said, his eyes wide. "Didn't everything both you-know-whos faced come back after a thousand years after some sort of spell was weakened?"

Twilight's eyes widened. "Yeah, um, I think I know what happened to those six weapons, Resolution."

"Oh, splendid," she said, doing a little twirl. "What?"

"They're my old home's primary defense," Twilight said.

"And by 'primary'," Elegance said, "she means just about every major threat was taken care of with them, if we're thinking the same thing, guys."

"We are," Spike and Twilight said at the same time. "Which is to say-" Spike started.

"-Equestria is screwed over big time," Twilight finished. "Given what happened to us, is it wrong I don't really care that much?"

"No argument here," Elegance said.

"Wait, Resolution," Vale said. "You said 'prototype'. Was there ever a second group of these weapons?"

Resolution was silent for a while before she said, "I do not know, but it is quite possible the Forerunners did so, making at least another group. Of course, I have no idea where they are."

"Well, there's that," Vale said. "So, anything else you guys want to know for now?"

"Not that I can think of," Elegance said. She turned to the others. "You guys?"

"Nope," Spike said.

"Nothing here, for once," Twilight said.

"Well, then, I guess I might as well show you guys to the place the Sangheili set up for you." With that, Vale lead them to a tent that was on the other side side of the tent they were at, near where the pelican had been before Sunaion.

"You guys sure do work quick, don't you," Twilight said.

"Yeah, well, when you have eight Spartans, it's easy to get tents with creature comforts set up."

"Well, thanks, anyway," Twilight said. "So, when are we going to leave?"

"Tomorrow, hopefully," Vale said. "A lot of shit's been going down, and right now, we're just playing it by ear."

"Just wondering," Twilight said. "See ya later, I guess."

"See you guys later, too," Vale said before walking out of the tent.

"Well, she was nice," Elegance said.

"Yeah, I guess," Spike said. "But still, I know we pretty much hate Equestria right now, but still, I pity the ones who are going to be there when everything hits the fan."

"Who cares," Elegance said, laying down on a nearby cot. "They didn't believe even Twilight, let them get the repercussions." This got looks from the others. "What? I mean, come on, you seriously don't want them to have something to make them pay for banishing you guys. At least admit it's ironic our punishment leads to them not being able to fix it."

"She's not wrong, Twi," Spike said, taking a seat on his own cot. "I mean, yeah, it is kind of bad this is going to happen to them, but they didn't even believe you. I mean, I don't want them to die, but they still need to get some kind of payback, even if it isn't from us."

"Yeah," Twilight said hesitantly. "I guess." With that, Twilight lay down on the last cot, thinking of the course her life had now taken.

Arrival

It's been a day since Twilight, Elegance, and Spike had woken up, and they, along with Fire team Osiris, Blue Team, Halsey, and Palmer, were at the edge of the Swords camp, waiting for a Pelican to arrive from the recently arrived and soon to be departing Infinity.

"'So, what are we allowed to know about the ship?" Elegance asked. It was decided before they left the tent that Spike and Twilight would let Elegance ask the questions.

"Just that, since it's a military ship," Buck, helmet under his shoulder, you'll be expected to follow the same as the rest of us." He then looked around. "Hey, uh, where's Resolution and Void? Thought they'd be coming with us."

"I believe that they're working on acquiring their own transportation," Halsey said. "In fact, they said they should be here soon.

As soon as the last syllable left her mouth, the roar of a Lich's engines could be heard. The nine Spartans looked back, and saw said vehicle approaching, and saw it stop over their location. Resolution exited from a side hatch, and hovered down to their location. "Transportation acquired," she said. "If you wish, you may join us. There is ample space."

"No thanks, we're good," Spike said.

"Of course," Resolution said. "Also, the vehicle's radar indicates an approaching contact that will arrive in five minutes."

"Thanks, Resolution," Tanaka said.

"Of course, Reclaimer," the Monitor said. "Before I go, Commander," she said, looking to Palmer, "you expressed an interest in permanently ensuring Void and the Soldiers under her command didn't follow the Ancilla Cortana's control, correct?"

"Yeah," Palmer replied. "Why?"

"Because the procedure can now be done," Resolution replied before she projected a holographic console. "Commander, Inheritor, if you would please put a hand on opposite sides of the console." Palmer did so, but Twilight hesitated.

"How am I supposed to do that," she asked. "I mean, it isn't solid."

"Incorrect, Inheritor," Resolution said. "It is hard light. It is not a simple projection, and is solid. Now, please, place you hand on the opposite side as the Commander's."

"Wouldn't hurt, I guess,"the unicorn said before putting her hand on it as well, surprised that she actually felt substance."

"Confirming signatures as Reclaimer and Inheritor," Resolution said. ". . . . . . Done. Soldier Captain Spirit-of-black-void and subsequent Prometheans now permanently under control of Reclaimer military and current Inheritor." The console disappeared. "Thank you," she said before she went back up to the Lich.

"That was quick," Buck said. "I mean, I get it's the Forerunners and all, but still, you'd think they'd have better security measures. What's to stop a Covenant Elite from chopping off one of our arms, and having one of Twilight's race put their hand on there?"

"Probably measures heart rate, too, Buck," Tanaka said.

"I guess," Buck said. "Still, be nice to know."

"Agreed," Vale said. "Besides, what's to stop a terrorist from doing that?"

"Enough, Osiris," Locke said. "It's done, and that's it. We can talk about the finer points when the galaxy isn't in danger, understood?"

"Yeah, we got it, Locke," Buck said. "Just having a discussion is all."

From there, the group waited four minutes before a Pelican could be seen approaching. "There's our ride," Kelly said.

The Pelican arrived shortly after and landed, the rear hatch opening. "All aboard," Buck said, and the thirteen individuals stepped on, took a seat, Twilight, Spike, and Elegance needing help with the seat straps, and the hatch closed, and the ship took off, the Lich close behind.

In the Pelican, Twilight was filled with questions, but, per the agreement with Spike and Elegance, voiced none of them herself, though Elegance did voice one. So, this is a ship you guys use?"

"Yeah," Tanaka said. "Though mostly for transport of personnel and supplies."

"Still, if you think this is impressive," Buck said, "wait until you see the larger ships like the Infinity."

"Can't wait, then," Elegance said.

"Good, because you three are gonna see it, whether you want to or not," Buck said in a joking tone.

A few minutes later, the pilot of the Pelican came on over the intercom. "Okay, people, I'll make this brief. Doctor Halsey used the Arbiter's radio to let Captain Lasky know of our. . . guests, and will meet the three of them, as well as the rest of you, when we arrive, same with the leader of the Forerunner units you're bringing with you. And just a personal word of warning to our guests, I have no idea how the crew of ship will react to you, so tread lightly for a while."

"Right," Elegance said, though she wasn't sure if the pilot heard her. "Who was that?"

"No idea," Vale said. "Infinity's population is equal to a small city, so there's a lot of the crew none of us have met yet."

"That large?" Elegance asked.

"Yep."

"Jeez," Elegance said. "Hey, uh, Twilight, what was Canterlot's population at before, well, you know?"

"Last I checked, low thousands, maybe three thousand or so."

"Yeah, Infinity has a crew more like six thousand or so."

"Whoa," Spike said. "Just how many humans are there?"

"About ten billion," Vale answered.(1)

"Ponies only have fifty thousand!" Twilight said.

"Well, to be fair, humans have colony planets, while you guys only have one," Buck said.

"Yeah, fair point," Spike said.

It was silence for a few more minutes before Elegance said, "So, um, what exactly is life like on a ship?"

Buck scoffed. "Depends. If t's' military, expect either cold or hot and terrible food with not so soft beds, and having to wake up with everyone else on your shift."

"On something a little more civilian," Vale continued, "warm food with actual taste and soft beds."

"Which is to say, you guys are getting somewhere in the middle," Buck said. "Since you're the first of your species', Brass would want ot make as good an impression as possible, so, for you guys, expect somewhat soft beds with lukewarm food that'll most likely be half shit, half delectable. Of course, that's just a guess."

"Rather a bed with a guarantee of food than a rock with little if any food the next day," Twilight said.

"Amen to that," Buck said, with a chorus of "Oh-rah"s from three of the Spartan-IIs, John remaining silent. "I can definitely speak from personal experience that any kind of bed with even piss poor terrible food is better than a rock with either no food or ration bars."

"You haven't had the worst food until you've had those," Fred said. "Just pray that if you do need to eat those, it's not for days on end."

"He's not wrong," Kelly said. "All three of us," she said, gesturing to herself, Fred, and Linda, "speak from personal experience."

"Just how bad are those ration bars?" Elegance asked.

"Imagine a piece of crap left out in the sun for a week in the summer that's infested by maggots," Buck said, "which I accidentally ate during ODST training, by the way, so I know what I'm talking about. That is no where near the taste of the ration bars, because the crap at least has taste. Horrible taste, but still taste."

"Dear Goddess," Elegance said. "That bad?"

"Oh yeah," Buck said. "Nothing I've tasted tastes worse that a ration bar, even with the so called 'improvements' made to it since the end of the war."

"I'm sure Twilight there would be able to change that," Spike said, getting a glare from the unicorn. "Give her a problem that can be solved, and she will come up with a way to fix it. She may need a week or two, but she can fix it."

"We'll keep that in mind," Tanaka said.

"So, any part of your old life you guys are ready and willing to share?" Vale asked.

"Well," Twilight started, "before we had to leave, my former friends and I were my country's greatest defense."

"That wouldn't have to do with what Resolution said yesterday, does it?" Vale asked. "You know, the six weapons that went missing and you said they were what your country used against threats?"

"Yeah," Spike said. "The six of them each controlled one of the six. Twilight had the most powerful one, but it was split from her when we left."

"Sounds like a kind of fail safe, honestly," Kelly said. "It's like UNSC nuclear missiles. You need a code to launch it. With out it, it's a dud."

"Yeah, only they can only be used when together," Elegance said. "If there's even one gone, they are all powerless."

"Okay, now that's a stupid move," Buck said.

"Yeah, in retrospect," Twilight said, "They're really as useful as the Royal Guard, which is to say for show."

"Finally, a pony sees that," Elegance said. "There's a reason why Canterlot was taken by Chrysalis' forces easily, Twilight, and it would be the guard is incompetent."

"And just what does your guard do?" Buck asked. "You know, other then just standing like a statue."

"Guard the princesses, which really don't even need it," Twilight said. "Or, at least, that's what everyone thinks, but seeing as how one of them, a friend of mine, got rid of me for a false accusation, I'm beginning to wonder just how intelligent they are."

"You and me both, Twi," Spike said.

"Wow, you really pulled a one eighty on liking your country, didn't you?" Buck asked. "Not even the Innies are that quick."

"Being betrayed by people will do that to ya," Elegance said.

"Yeah, I guess," Buck said, remembering one of his old squadmates who had turned.

There was silence for a few more minutes before the pilot came back on over the intercom. "Approaching Infinity," he said. "Don't worry, everyone's been told of visitors, and the Captain had them all leave the hanger we're heading to, so no issues there."

"Copy that," Lock said. "Prepare to disembark, Osiris."

"Not very friendly, is he?" Elegance asked.

"Only when you're ONI, a former squadmate of his, or a current one," Buck said. "Still, he's right. You guys better get ready."

"Right," Spike said. From there, it was just all of them getting ready to disembark. A few minutes later, they leaned to the side in their seats, indicating the Pelican was coming to a stop, and half were pushed into their seats, the other moving forward, for them, only slightly.

"We thank you for flying Air Infinity,"the pilot said. "And we hope that, when you next have the opportunity, you'll choose us."

"Be easy if we knew who our pilot was," Tanaka said.

"Spartan Joshua Miller, people. And no, there is no relation between me and the other Spartan Miller on board, and yes, it is confusing when Roland wants one of us and we're in the same room."

"Right," Vale said. "Isn't he part of that two man team?" she asked.

"Yeah, he is. One of them, any way" Palmer said, standing up after releasing her seat straps. "Fire Team Lone. May be a two man team, but they sure can do damage."

The main hatch then opened as the others were working on getting up, with Lasky standing just shy of the ramp. As the first stepped off, John and Locke, he said, "Welcome back, Spartans."

"Thank you, sir," they both replied.

Palmer, Halsey, Twilight, Spike, and Elegance were the last to step off.

"Palmer, good to see that you're alive," he said to the Spartan

"Going to take more than a Pelican on fire to kill me, Tom," Palmer replied.

"Of course it will," he said before addressing the doctor. "Doctor."

"Captain," was all she said before she made her way to a door on the left side of the hanger.

"Roland, make sure she doesn't do anything."

"Already on it, Captain," Roland replied over Lasky's personal radio before the Captain looked at the guests.

"So you're the three Palmer found?" he asked.

"Apparently," Spike said. "Who are you?"

"Captain Lasky, UNSC Infinity," he said. "Halsey and Vale sent recordings of you to me once we arrived, so I already know who you three are. Just thought I'd greet you personally."

"Thanks, I guess," Elegance said. "What about those machines from earlier?"

"They arrived in another hanger bay," Lasky replied. "The good doctor also informed me of that sub-routine, and I had everyone on the ship know that they aren't hostile, so you don't need to worry about them getting shot."

"Well, that's good," Elegance said. "Where are we going to be staying, anyway?"

"I'll let Vale show you there," he said. "Vale, can you show them to the VIP quarters?"

"On it, Captain," Vale replied. "Come on, guys."

"Coming," Twilight said as the four made their way to the same door Halsey had walked towards.

"As for the rest of you, take some time off," Lasky said to the Spartans. "You've definitely earned it."

"Aye aye, sir," they replied before heading to the Spartan Armor bay. Just as they left the room, another Spartan wearing Maverick armor with the Jester skin and a Buccaneer helmet with the Tyr skin under his shoulder walked in. His armor was colored cyan and brick. He had slight Asian features, tanned skin, close cropped brown hair, and blue eyes.

"What are you doing here, Ken?" Palmer asked the Spartan.

"Just came to get Josh for our next Warzone match," he said. "Teams'll be off balance if he doesn't show."

"I'm coming, Ken, just hold on," Josh said as he walked into view. His armor was that of the Raider set, and had the same colors as Ken's, helmet under his shoulder. He had light skin, not albino light, but white light without a tan, brown hair that barely met with military standard, and green eyes. "You know I was asked to fly this bird for the evac."

"Yeah, and the match is about to start, so come on," Ken said. "Specter's already there with the other two teams for red, and it'll be ten vee twelve if we don't get there before it starts."

Josh rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, come on," he said as he put on his helmet and jogged to the door that led to the holo-deck.

"I'm the one who should be saying that," Ken said as he raced after Josh.

"So, you gonna watch the match," Palmer asked.

Before Lasky could reply, Roland told him over the radio, "Halsey wants to see you, Captain. It sounded important."

"I doubt it, Palmer," he said. "Halsey wants to see me. As for you, report to medical to make sure the burns don't get infected."

"Sir," she said, and the two made their way to the same door Halsey had left, but split up upon exiting, Lasky making his way to Halsey's lab on Infinity.

It was a short walk there, as the lab was near the current hanger bay, two marines standing guard outside. They both saluted as he neared, and the door slid open, closing behind him a she walked in. "You sure found something quickly, doctor," he said.

"Not really," Halsey replied. "I found it back on Sangheilios, but was unable ot confirm it until now." She tapped a few buttons on her data pad, which sat on a table, and screen flashed on, showing a strand of DNA. "Tell me, Captain, what do you see?"

"A strand of DNA, but what does that have to do with this?"

"Everything, Captain," Halsey said. "What you are looking at is an archived genome of Fredrick from Blue team, which is to say a Spartan-II." She tapped a few more buttons, and three other gene sequences appeared. "And these are from our guests." She then pressed another button, which caused a few parts of DNA on each to light up. "And these are genes they have in common." Another press, and more lit up. "And these, which include a few of the previous, are the ones I was looking for in the screening of the Spartan-II project."

"What are you saying, Doctor?" Lasky asked.

"What I am saying, Captain," Halsey said, "is that our three guests have the potential to be Spartans."

Decisions

"So, this is where you guys'll be staying," Vale told the three following her as a door opened to reveal a steel gray room with two bunk beds, one on each side. "A little sparse, yeah, but it's got the essentials, including a restroom."

"Thanks, Vale," Elegance said as she, Twilight, and Spike stepped into their room. "Given how Buck described military life, I expected something a little more, well, uniform, if you know what I mean."

"Yeah, I get you, and Buck does exaggerate, sometimes," Vale said. "Helps add a little character to the squad, in any case."

"What do you guys do, anyway?" Spike asked.

"Depends on what's needed," Vale said. "For the most part, though, it's classified."

"Of course it is," Elegance said, which got a chuckle out of Vale.

"Comes with the job," she said. "So, you guys need anything right now?"

"Yeah," Spike said. "Food."

"Well, what do you guys eat, by which I mean, what can you eat?"

"Well, I can eat meat and gemstones," Spike said. "Twilight has the ability to eat meat with plants, but ponies prefer plants, and I can eat what they eat, and Elegance, well. . ."

"I feed on the same thing ponies do," the changeling said, "but also love."

"Love?" Vale asked, thinking she had misheard.

Elegance nodded. "Yeah. Love, as well as any emotion, really, that's positive. It's a reason my people can do this," she said before bursting into green flames, making Vale jump back in shock. When the flames faded a second Vale stood there in the same clothes Elegance had been wearing, which were what she was found in. "We change our forms to something others find attractive to, at least, feed on their lust, much as my kind don't like to," Elegance said in a perfect impersonation of Vale. "In fact, that invasion I mentioned earlier was because a different hive, what ponies call my kind's groups for our bug like traits, was because that hive needed food." Elegance then changed back to herself, voice and all. "If I don't, I'll die, seeing as how that's what my kind needs to live on. The other stuff is just to blend in, and I don't want to feed on anyone without permission, now especially."

"How long can you last?" Vale asked.

Elegance shrugged. "At best a week or two. I was able to stock up on love before we left, and every spell I cast drains my store of it. Worst, six days, but that's only if I use spells left and right."

Vale put a hand to her chin. "I'll talk to Captain Lasky about it. He wouldn't want anyone to die, and if the crew finds out, they'll trust Lasky did it for a good reason."

"Really?" Elegance asked.

"Yeah," Vale said. "You may not know it, but most humans do like to help out if possible."

"Thanks, Vale," Elegance said, a small smile on her face.

"No problem," Vale said. "Come on, I'll show you guys the nearest mess hall." With that, Vale and those she was escorting left the room, and the Spartan led them to the nearest mess hall.

"Let me get this straight, Doctor," Lasky said to Halsey. "You're saying that our three guests have the potential to be Spartans?"

"Indeed, Captain," Halsey said. "And before you cite training, or lack thereof, if I remember correctly, Spartan Vale had little combat training when ONI selected her. And before you ask, I did hack ONI files, but simply because I like to know who I'm working with."

"Why does that not surprise me," Lasky said. "But what about them getting their training, assuming they want to become Spartans?"

"We use the War Games simulations for their training, obviously," Halsey said. "Gets them what they need to know with none of the actual danger. And besides, I have a few ideas as to how useful they could be as Spartans, which I'll keep to myself."

"They would need someone to teach them if they wanted to become Spartans," Lasky said.

"There's, what, over a hundred Spartans on the Infinity to each them," Halsey said. "And we simply need to find a Spartan team that still has slots available."

"That makes it more difficult," Lasky said, "seeing as how most fire teams work at their current number pretty well."

"Then have Roland ask fire teams if they would be willing to have them in the team to teach them what to do."

"That may work, actually," Roland said over the intercom for the room. "Oh, and that reminds me, Captain, Spartan Vale will probably come to talk to you about something regarding Elegance and how she feeds."

"I already know that, Roland," Lasky said. "Halsey sent it up in her report."

"Yeah, but the thing is she wants you to know she's doing it and with permission. Probably in person."

Lasky sighed. "Where are they?"

"Heading to the nearest mess."

"I'll meet with them there, then," Lasky said. "I'll also throw them your idea, Doctor," he said before leaving the lab.

"Thank you, Captain," she said, looking over the monitors. "Roland, given the circumstances, would you care to get me research material on the races our guests are? More specifically, Twilight and Spike?"

"Why not Elegance, Doctor?"

"Because, for the most part, she's given me everything I need for what would be best in armor for her."

Vale and the others arrived at the mess hall shortly after, and, given how large it was, it was barely occupied. And seeing as how it was the size of a normal cafeteria in a high school, not that many people were there. "Looks like we got lucky," Vale said. "Less people means you guys get less discrimination in first meeting."

"I'd rather have none," Elegance muttered before she and the other three walked in and towards the line. For the most part, they made it there without encountering anyone, though that did change just before they got there.

"Hey, Vale," a man said from a nearby table. "What's going on?" The man had short, black hair with brown skin, and looked like he had seen a lot of combat, especially with the scar on his face that went from under his left eye to his jaw. He had a pair of gray, baggy pants and a skin tight, black suit, and seemed as tall as Buck and the other male Spartans

"Hey, Marcus," Vale replied. "Nothing much. Just getting these three some food."

Marcus leaned out of his seat a bit. "Aren't those the ones the Captain and Roland said would be staying with us for a while?"

"Yeah," Vale said. "Guys, this is Marcus Hamburg, leader of Spartan fire team Wolf."

"Pleasure to meet you three," he said with a nod. "And don't worry about any one in this mess right now. We're all off duty currently, not that it matters with circumstances, and just want to relax. No one'll give you trouble if you don't cause any."

"Thanks," Spike said.

"Heh, no problem," Marcus said. "If you guys need help, Wolf'll help if we can."

"So where's the rest of your team, anyway," Vale asked.

"Line," Marcus said, gesturing to the short line. "As for what's to eat: crap, shit, and middling pizza."

"Then we'd better get the pizza before it's gone," Vale said. "Come on guys."

With that, the four entered the line, and grabbed trays. "So, is this how life usually is on a ship?" Elegance asked.

"Just about, yeah," Vale said. "You get used to it, though."

"Well, that's something to look forward to, I guess," Spike said. From there ,the four grabbed some food and a glass of water, and made their way to the table Marcus and his team were sitting at.

"Mind if we sit here, guys?" Vale asked.

"Them, no," Marcus said. "You'll need to stand, though, Vale. This thing won't be able to support all of us plus your armor."

"You sure about that, Marcus," one of his squad mates said. "It's able to hold you."

"Oh go to hell, Sam," Marcus said. "Sure, you guys can sit. Just ignore the stupidity, and you'll be alright."

That got a few chuckles out of the squad of three as the four sat down, on the opposite side of the table. Sam was sitting on Marucs' left, and was a man who looked to be in his early twenties with regulation red hair and blue eye, while a woman who looked to be in her late twenties, with blonde hair that went to her shoulders and steel gray eyes, on his right. "So those are the aliens we got from Sangheilios, huh," the woman asked. "I don't see why when they'd be safer on the planet."

"Hannah, please, shut up," Sam said. "Sorry about that. She isn't the friendliest person to exist. Name's Sam Smith, resident sniper of Wolf. Hannah, whose full name is Hannah Smith, yes, we're siblings, is  the second in command, and loves to blow shit up. Even has her own rocket launcher. And you guys would be? I ask because though we knew what you were, we don't know names."

"Well, my name's Spike," Spike said. "Her name's Twilight," he said, gesturing to said lavender unicorn, "and her name's Elegance," gesture to said changeling.

"Nice to meet you guys," Sam said.

"Didn't you guys have a fourth member," Vale asked.

"You mean Tom," Marcus asked. "Infirm. Accident with some wires near a fuel canister. A few burns is all." He looked at Twilight and the others. "By the way, his full name is Thomas Slate, and is the one who loves CQC."

"How many Spartans are on a fire team?" Elegance asked. "I'm just a little curious."

"No problem with that," Sam said. "Most fire teams are four to six, but there are odd ones. Most are three or seven to twelve, but there are two on Infinity that have two members: Fire teams Lone and Specter."

"Those two have their own competitions sometimes," Marcus said, "like who can get the highest score in any doubles war game, or which team can kill the other the most during a Warzone match."

"You guys kill each other?" Twilight asked, shocked.

"Not during a War game, not really," Hannah said. "Those are just simulations. Only way someone gets hurt in there is if the pod that connects them to the game is sabotaged or something."

"Pod?" Elegance asked.

"Yeah," Sam said. "The war games use a special kind of pod that connects to our neural implants, and lets us see the fight and act, but our bodies don't really move. All in our heads. Perfect for training."

"Yeah, but Lone and Specter can be seen working together too, like in a game of breakout, which uses special rounds to stop the user from moving instead of it being a simulation, and that wears off after a round, or in a normal slayer game, which is a simulation. The only chance of victory if both of them are in a game is if one's on your side, and that would probably end in a tie."

"Jeez," Spike said. "Wouldn't want to mess with them."

"Yeah, that's how it is for any who've done a war game with them, friend or foe," Marcus said.

Here, a voice came over the intercom as a screen came on near the table. "Warzone tournament championship match beginning, final round," the voice,which was male, said. "Map is Escape from A.R.C.. Standard rules. Team Red consists of Fire teams Lone, Saber, and Dragoon. Team Blue consists of Fire teams Specter, Aegis, and Hunter."

"Well, this is going to be interesting," Marcus said as an image of a dessert base surrounded by water being held back by walls, whether glass or energy couldn't be seen, with a large ship near the middle appeared on the screen. "Warzone with the two most dangerous two man teams on opposite sides. Prepare for the entertaining hell."

"Yeah, I'd say so," Hannah said. "Shame our group was eliminated in the first round."

"Yeah," Sam said. "So, what do you guys think'll decide this one?"

"I'm going with Josh's Banshee skills. Only three things can hit him with out him getting a chance to dodge if he isn't paying attention and it can be dodged, and that's a Gauss shot, a Railgun, or a Scorpion tank," Marcus said. "Much as I hate Banshees, I'll give Josh credit, he is an aerial terror with that thing, even the normal variety."

"I would have gone with Jacob's ONI Scorpion," Hannah said. "Better armor, and a quicker reload time. Hard to beat that."

"Yeah, but that needs more Req level points than a Banshee to get, and if he coordinates with Ken and Ken's got a Splaser, Josh will make scrap of that thing," Marcus said.  "And that's in a normal Banshee. What if he rolls a random, and gets an Ultra? Exploding shots, better armor, and a fuel rod that detonates twice. Alternate between while dodging, chances are that the Banshee's gonna win. Scorpions can't alternate weapons."

"I'm going to say one of the bosses," Sam said. "I've looked at the records for the six teams. Out of all of them, only Lone and Specter go after the objectives, silver or yellow. Hell, they make it a competition as to which one of their teams takes out the most bosses."

"Quiet, it's starting," Hannah said.

"Am I interrupting, anything," Lasky said from behind, causing the four Spartans to jump and salute.

"Sir," the four of them said.

"At ease, Spartans," Lasky said. "Mind if I sit with you?"

"Not at all, sir," Marcus said. "Did you need anything?"

"Nothing that's important right now," Lasky said as he sat down on the same said as Vale and the others. "I see you're interested in the Warzone match."

"Well, to be fair, sir," Hannah said, "it's Lone and Specter on opposite teams."

"Ah," Lasky said before looking at Twilight and the others. "So, how are you three settling, given it's your first day?"

"Good, Captain," Elegance said. "And thanks for the room."

"No problem," Lasky said. "I did want to talk with you three about something, though, but it can wait if you want."

"What did you want to talk to us about," Spike asked.

"Two things, actually, but one is related to Elegance, so I'll to with her about it in private," Lasky said. "As for the three of you together, you're aware that Spartans are humans with special augmentations, right?"

"Yeah," Twilight said. "Vale told us that. Why?"

"Because Doctor Halsey recently informed me of something of interest regarding you three. I'll spare you the technical stuff, but, basically, she said your gene structure and make up give the three of you the chance to be Spartans, if you want to be one, that is."

"What exactly would happen," Elegance asked.

"I'll answer that one," Sam said. "Basically, they put you into a medically induced coma, makes it easier to do the surgery for the augments, and have drones perform the surgery. Before, when it was the Spartan-IIs, there was about a fifty-fifty rate of success, the other fifty being either crippled or, in the last twenty five percent total, death. That's not to say we haven't gotten better. Now, odds are about, and I'm just spit balling here, around ninety five percent. As for the augments, well, they'll make your bones nearly unbreakable, needed to wear our armor, a special neural implant will be put in. Hannah, care to show 'em?"

"Nope," the Spartan said before turning around and lifting her hair up to show a rectangular machinery piece at the base of her neck and skull.

"Thanks," Sam said as his sister turned around. "Those are needed for the suit to work. I don't know the details, but when the early versions of our armor were being worked on, an un-augmented marine tested it. What the neural implant does is connect your brain to the suit. The suit moves before you. Because of that, the tester, again, un-augmented. . . well, let's just say he didn't go painlessly. There a few other things, but not much, just stuff to help clot wounds and growth steroids, which is why ever Spartan is taller than the normal human."

"End result would be someone whose faster, mentally, in terms of battle, at least, and stronger than normal humans. Hell, some Spartans are able to punch right through solid rock and steel. Some, not all," Marcus said.

"Thank god Lone and Specter don't have that ability with out the damage boost mod," Hannah said.

"What about training," Spike asked.

"We'll use the war games for that," Lasky said.

"Yeah, and sometimes, all you need are skills," Vale said. "When I was recommended, I had little combat training, but my tactical thinking and such got me in."

"Which brings me into the picture," the same male voice from earlier said before a yellow man about the size of a book in terms of height appeared on the table. He had an old aviators outfit that Twilight recognized as something veteran wonderbolts would wear, and a leather cap with goggles on his head.

"Who are you?" Twilight asked.

"Roland, the Infinity's A.I.," the hologram said. "Doctor Halsey wanted me to see what your guys' abilities are, I think so she can design custom armor for you guys, assuming you want to be Spartans. Knowing those may also help the Brass decide whether or not it would be bets to keep you as fielded Spartans, once we reestablish contact with them, that is."

"Will we finally get to know what's going?" Elegance asked. "Because when I asked that yesterday and before we left, the answer was either 'Classified', or the question was dodged completely."

"You may even be able to help with the problem," Roland said.

"Huddle," Twilight said, and the three huddled.

After near a minute, with various announcements as to the Warzone game cutting in from time to time, the three broke. "Any thing else we should know before we decide," Elegance asked.

"Just that you'll be moved to an experienced fire team to help teach you guys," Roland said.

The three glanced at one another, each nodding, before Twilight said, "If it'll help you guys out, we're in."

Unexpected letters

It's been an hour since Twilight, Elegance, and Spike had made their decision, and, right now, they were being prepared for the augmentations.

Halsey was overseeing it from the control area of the medical bay. "Roland, have you located a team for them yet?" she asked the A.I., whose hologram stood on the table.

"Not yet," he said. "Though I am asking around. Did you have anyone in mind, Doc?"

"Not really," Halsey said. "I don't know the records of the Spartan teams, nor would I be able to read through them all before these three recover."

There was silence for a few seconds before Roland spoke up again. "I think I have a team," he said. "Or at least a few who said yes. I'll probably be busy, even for an A.I., looking through the records for the best team for this one."

"That'll have to do, then," Halsey said.

"How long should they be out of it, anyway, Doc," Roland asked. "You're the medical expert, after all."

"I would say somewhere between a week to three. It varies on the individual, and this is the first time it's been done on non-humans."

"So we're practically walking in the dark in a large room with a very, very sensitive, bump activated bomb, that it?"

"That's putting it bluntly, but yes," Halsey said. "We can only hope that Cortana doesn't find us before they wake up, or else they'll be in as much trouble as we are without any way to fight back."

"Yeah, that would be bad," Roland said. "Sp, with the list of their abilities you got now, any idea what their armor will do?"

"Yes, actually," the doctor said. "The hard part comes with making them, though. The dragon's, especially, but, with the engineers and even some of the Soldiers assisting, they should be completed by the time they come to."

"Yeah, that's definitely going to be interesting," Roland said. "Well, see ya later, Doc. Need to go help congratulate Lone, Sword, and Dragoon on their win in the tournament and give them their prize."

"And just what is that prize, Roland," Halsey asked.

"Ten of whatever two Req cards they want, so long as they aren't at the Mythic rank, or five if they're legendary," Roland answered before disappearing.

Halsey looked at her data pad, held in her single hand, and said, "Bring up operation records for Fire team Lone."

Down below, the three wore the same thing every Spartan wore during augmentations, which was to say black briefs and such.

"It just me," Elegance asked, "or is anyone else a little nervous here?"

"Yeah, I am a little, too," Twilight said. "I mean, I still want to do it to help them out, but still, the way Linda described what happened to those that were crippled." Twilight shuddered. "I just hope that doesn't happen to us."

"Same here," Spike said, stretching. "Though, I still think it's a little twisted that they were kids when this happened to them."

"No arguments here," Elegance said. "No arguments here."

"So, what do you guys think is going to happen, anyway," Twilight asked. "If we live through this, that is."

"Well, training, obviously," Elegance said. "And I don't know about you guys, but those war games do sound interesting. Warzone especially."

"Yeah, same here," Spike said. It was here that, to Twilight's surprise, that the dragon burped a green flame, with a scroll appearing from the flame.

"Uh, is it just me, or did Spike just belch a letter with your families seal on it, Twilight," Elegance said.

"No, I see it too," Twilight said. "Think I should read it?"

"I'd say yes," Spike said. "They wouldn't have sent you a message if they didn't want to speak with you. Remember, Celestia said we could only send a letter to them in reply."

"What's going on down there," Halsey asked from the speakers.

"Just that I got a letter from my parents via Spike's dragon flame," Twilight replied. "And yes, you can send written messages with special Dragon flame like Spike's, and I am currently debating if I should read it or not."

"Well, if you do decide to read it, do so quickly," Halsey said. "Every second lost is another that our enemy might have to their advantage if they find us before you wake up."

"Oh,to tartarus with it," Twilight said. "Spike, give me the letter."

"Here it is, Twi," Spike said, handing the letter to Twilight, who opened it.

Twilight,

We'll understand if you're still mad with us, and if you don't want to reply, but please, just read the whole letter before deciding. The reason why we sent you the letter is because we wanted to tell you that we're having another baby. It was confirmed just today, and your mother's a few days along. We still don't know if it'll be a filly or a colt, but we wanted you to know because we wanted to know if you'd be okay with us telling them about you. Nothing about what got you banished, just the good things, like you being an Element and a Princess, even Princess Celestia's personal student. If you want them to know, just let us know. If not, well, we'll assume silence means yes to not telling them.

Mom and Dad.

"What's it say," Spike asked.

"That they're having another baby," Twilight said.

"Gonna reply," Elegance asked. "Because if it were my parents, I know I would, even if I hated them."

"If I may interject," Halsey said, "I agree with Elegance. I had a daughter that died six years ago, and I almost never talked to her, and I regret that decision every day, now. And we were estranged. I may not have cared for my parents much, but losing Miranda. . . well, let's just say that it's best to stay in touch with family, even if you have no particular liking for them."

Twilight was silent for a time before she said. "Yeah, I will, but I'll need paper and something to write with."

"Here," Elegance said, handing Twilight a clipboard with a pen connected to it. "Might want to make the message a short one."

"Right," Twilight said before taking the clipboard and pen, and began to write a reply. After a minute, she took the paper off and handed it to Spike, who promptly blew on it, causing it to burn in his green flames.

"What'd you say," Elegance asked.

"Just that I hope they have a good time raising her," Twilight said. "Now come on, probably best we start. We just lay on the beds, right," she said, directing the question to Halsey.

"Yes," she replied. "The medical drones will take care of the rest."

Twilight nodded, and laid down on the bed that had been assigned to her, with titanium straps clamping shut once her wrists were in place, Spike and Elegance following her lead, and the same happening to them before the drones injected them with the drug that would put them out of it, as well as connecting them to various instruments.

Night Light and Twilight Velvet, the former wearing a business outfit and the latter wearing a silk, gray dress, sat in their house. Princess Celestia had given them a small lamp that would allow them to burn messgaes that Spike would recieve. They had just sent one, and, honestly, were surprised when they got a reply. Night Light picked it up off the floor, and the couple began to read.

Night Light, Twilight Velvet

If that is any indication, I don't see you guys as my parents. Not right now, anyway. But that isn't why I replied. I did so to tell you to tell your next child the truth about me. The good and bad. Let them know even heroes can fall from the public eye. I still stand by that I did not attack that pony. If you were my parents, you would have believed me about that. Still, I can't change that. If you're wondering how I'm doing, quite good, actually. Better than I had actually thought we would. I'll spare the details, but we met an alien race that has space travel, and the three of us, yes, we're still together, will be unable to reply for the next week or so. Once we can, we'll let you know.

Twilight

"At least she's alive," Night Light said.

Velvet smiled. "And she's with friends, too."

"What do you think she's up to?"

"As long as she likes it, I'm happy she's at least been able to partly move past it," Velvet said. "Do you think we should let Princess Celestia know?"

"Something tells me that if Twilight wanted her to know, she would have said so," Night said.

"Yeah," Velvet said. "I suppose."

Equis interlude 1

(A/N: Contains Futa)

In Equestria, it's been near a week since the exile of Twilight Sparkle, and, for Princess Celestia, the former teacher of the now exiled former princess, The first few days had been hectic, to be expected, and had been focused on dealing with everything. Twilight's castle, or, more accurately, what to do with it, had been a large discussion point, and it was settled on that it would be the new orphanage for Ponyville, or at least until a better one than the current could be made. After that, well, that would come later, Celestia had decided.

Right now, she was sitting on her throne, having to deal with multiple nobles, with most of the requests being related to the individuals gaining more favor with her, even trying to court her. What they didn't know is that she was more on the mare side of attraction, which made it easy to tell each of them no. Only reason she didn't say is because the nobles had a very, very sheltered life away from places like Ponyville and Manehattan, which was to say most of Equestria, where mares were more in the numbers than stallions, which led to most relationships being mare to mare. Canterlot, though, had a near fifty-fifty ratio. As a result, many nobles thought Equestria was like it, and looked down upon same gender relationships.(1)

Now, if she did find a mare she loved, she would announce it, and those nobles could go to tartarus. But, as it stands, that wasn't the case.

Fortunately, the time for Day Court was almost over, which meant she could retire, and just crash on her bed and sleep. She may have been an alicorn, but even she needed sleep.

As for Twilight, Celestia was one of those closest to her, and had taken what she did hard, but, as a princess, forced herself to be impatial then, and the evidence pointed to it. In fact, the current noble was trying to get her to rescind that ruling so he could be her hero and marry her. Oh, how annoying he was. Nobles like this made Celestia wish Nightmare had taken over, if only so she could have a break from this.

"I'm sorry, Steel Wit, but my ruling is final," she said once the noble had finished. "Unless you can find concrete evidence that Twilight Sparkle did not attack first, my ruling will remain in place. Understood?"

"Yes, your majesty," the noble said, bowing, before he left the room.

"Sergeant, how many more before Court is done," Celestia asked.

"That was the last one, highness," the guard said.

Celestia sighed in relief. "Then tell the rest of the guard I will be in my chambers."

"Actually, Princess," the guard said, "your sister requested you come to her room once court was finished. She did not say why."

"At least I won't be in Court for the rest of the day," Celestia whispered to herself. "Then tell the guard that I will be there for some time."

"Of course, Princess," the guard said before Celestia vanished in a flash of yellow light.

She reappeared in front of a pair of obsidian colored doors, the ones that led to her sister's room. They weren't any guards, but that was normal. Luna had made it clear when she returned that she could defend herself. Most nobles still had scars from when they tried to court her. One of the only interesting days since Luna returned.

Celestia knocked on the door. "Luna, may I come in?"

"Yes," she heard Luna say from inside. "I want to talk with you about something, sister."

Celestia opened the door and walked in and said, "What do you wish to talk about, Luna?"

As soon as Celestia walked in, the door slammed shut behind her, and magical chains took a hold of her ankles and wrists, and held her down to the floor on her knees. "Is is not obvious?" a voice that Celestia had hoped she'd never hear again said. From the shadows in front of the alicorn, a figure as tall as Celestia would be standing up stepped to where Celestia could see them. Their hair was a dark, etheric purple, and they wore a light blue armor that managed to conceal their ample chest, just as ample as Celestia's, quite well. "I wish to talk of you giving me the throne," Nightmare Moon said.

"You," Celestia growled. "What have you done with my sister?"

"Why, Celestia, I am hurt," Nightmare said in fake pain, putting a hand over her chest. "Why do you assume I did something to her. Did it ever occur to you that she let me in, like last time?"

"Even if she did, you were destroyed by the Elements."

"No, I was simply, oh, what's the best term for it," Nightmare said, putting a hand on her chin. "'Locked away'? No, too cliche. Let's go with asleep. I was simply asleep because of the Elements, and you of all ponies should know their effects fade away with time."

"And why reveal yourself to me," Celestia asked. "Why not just put me into a sleep if not banish me?"

"Because I am not as cruel as you are, sister," Nightmare said. "If I were to put you in an eternal sleep, you would simply have nightmares, and, though they are my namesake, I would not give them to another pony, I am still the caretaker of dreams, and if I were to banish you? Well, I still have a few urges from then, and Luna had occasionally peeked at your dreams." Nightmare walked closer, and leaned to Celestia, her muzzle next to Celestia's ear. "And I would be happy to help some of them come true, my soon to be pet."

Two thing happened then. One was Celestia's eyes widening out of fear, and the other was Nightmare using her magic to remove both mare's clothing, revealing their full bodies. "Like what you see, pet?" Nightmare asked, standing up and doing the whole hair twirl models like to do, hand on her hips.

It was a once thought well kept secret of Celestia's that, every once in a while, both before and after Nightmare's first return, that she dreamt of the dark mare returning and taking Celestia, making the alicorn her pet, making the solar diarch her bitch, and the thought of that happening now made Celestia's lower lips wetten so fast, you'd think they  were supplied by a busted dam.

"Did you not hear me, pet," Nightmare asked. "Answer me, or I may have to. . . punish you."

Hearing the way Nightmare said "punish" made Celestia shudder with arousal. "Yes, Mistress," Celestia said. "I like what I see."

"I thought so," Nightmare said with a grin as the chains around Celestia's wrists and ankles, and Celestia's hands fell to the floor, where she let them lay. "I didn't say you had to be on your hands and knees, Celestia," she said. "I showed you my body, now why not show your new mistress yours?"

"Sorry, Mistress," Celestia said, standing up. "Do you like my body?"

"Indeed I do, Celestia," Nightmare said as she walked up to Celestia. "You know, Luna did have feelings for you, and I don't mean sisterly feelings, Celestia, and I would be lying if those didn't crossover into me this time."

"What do you mean, Mistress?" Celestia said.

"It means," Nightmare said, taking Celestia's hands in her own, "you need only call me Mistress when we are having fun. When we are in public, or simply relaxing, what ever it is you wish, Celestia. I'm not evil like you think. I simply wanted ponies to see me." To Nightmare's surprise, it was then that Celestia gave Nightmare a full blown kiss, placing her hands on the sides of Nightmare's face, and diving her tongue into Nightmare's muzzle, making the dark alicorn's eyes widen in surprise before they slowly closed in passion, the the two tongues began to wrestle like none had before. Celestia then pulle dout of the kiss, and looked Nightmare in the eyes.

"Then all you had to do was ask, Nightmare," she said. "You are my sister, after all." She chuckled. "Plus, I do need a break from the nobles, and you coming back and taking over is the perfect ruse there. And we can have fun in the meantime."

"Then let's start right now," Nightmare said before grabbing Celestia by the arms, and throwing her onto the large bed in the center of the room, and using her magic to hold her down. "And right now," Nightmare said, her voice slipping into a mix of sultry and threatening that simply turned Celestia on even more before the dark alicorn straddled Celestia's face, "your princess demands you please her."

Celestia couldn't respond verbally, only begin to lick Nightmare's wet lips, savoring the taste, a sweet nectar with a similar smell to an old flower that died during Nightmare's first banishment, Night Shade, and Nightmare moaned in pleasure at the feeling of a tongue licking at her juices.

"Ohhhh, yesss, Celestia," she moaned. "Don't stop, Celestia. Lick that pussy like the little slut you are, sister."

if Celestia could have spoken, she would have retorted with, "And yet which of us is the one who started this," but simply thought it, barely, her mind clouded with the pent up lust of near a thousand years.

After near five minutes, which had Nightmare sweating from her own body heat, Celestia reached up with her hands and squeezed Nightmare's tits, the feeling of soft pillows coming to the solar alicorn, and thrust her tongue into the dark alicorn's folds, swirling it inside, sending waves of pleasure throughout Nightmare. "Ahhhh, yesssss," Nightmare said, her tongue now hanging out, limp. "Yeeeeeesssssss, tongue fuck me, Celestia." Nightmare then began to move her hips back and forth, fucking Celestia's face. "Ahhh, YEEEEEEESSSSS!" Nightmare yelled as she suddenly reached climax, and squirted all over Celestia's muzzle. She then rolled off of Celestia, back on the bed.

"If I had known you were like this," Nightmare said, "I would have done so the first time."

"And I would have loved it like I do now," Celestia replied before licking at her muzzle. "Now the hard part comes, and that would be convincing the Elements about this."

"Actually," Nightmare said, getting off the bed and standing up and walking to Celestia's side of the bed. "There's something else that needs to be done before that."

"What's that, Mistress," Celestia asked.

"Your reward," Nightmare said as she lit her horn, and a similar glow encompassed her crotch. A second after the glow began, Celestia's eyes widened as a large, thick cock sprouted from Nightmare's marehood. Now, back before Nightmare was first banished, Celestia had had sex with quite a few stallions, due to society at the time. But none had been as large as the one in front of her.

It was a black rod that twitched with every beat of Nightmare's heart, and already had a drop of precum on it. "But first," Nightmare said before she lit her horn and dragged Celestia off the bed, and placed her muzzle in front of the rod, "it needs some lubricant."

Celestia smiled. "Of course, Mistress," she said before she leaned forward and began to lick at the base of the rod while using her right hand to play with Nightmare's balls and her left to play with her breasts, occasionally kissing the rod. When she reached the head, she licked the precum off of it, and looked at Nightmare with lustful eyes before she opened her mouth and took the cock in, having to deepthroat it due to the length. Her playing with her boobs made her moan in pleasure, sending waves through Nightmare's cock and making the dark alicorn moan in pleasure.

"Oh, yes, Celestia," said alicorn moaned out. "Suck that dick like it's your life food." The solar alicorn didn't verbally reply, Nightmare down her throat. Once Nightmare believer her cock to be as wet as possible from Celestia, she used a spell that would allow her to grab Celestia's hari, did so, and pulled her off. "I do think that's enough, pet," Nightmare said. "Now for the main part of the fun."

"Of course, Mistress," Celestia said.

"Then get on the bed, and spread your legs," Nightmare said.

"Mistress," Celestia said before turning around, standing up, and walked to the bed before turning around again, and setting down on the bed, her boobs hanging flat, her legs up in the air and spread. "Please, Mistress, take me."

"You know I will," the dark alicorn said as she walked up to Celestia, lining her rod up with Celestia's lower lips, which were wet with arousal. She then thrust herself into Celestia, making the solar alicorn gasp in shock at how deep her sister turned lover was in her, and pleasure at the feeling of having a cock in her, something she hadn't felt in near one thousand years.

"Ahhhhhh," she cried out in pleasure. "Yes, Mistress, fill me with your cock, make me your bitch!"

"I think that ship has sailed,"  Nightmare said as she grabbed Celestia's legs to keep them up just before she began to utterly and mercilessly pound Celestia's pussy into oblivion.

It was the greatest fucking Celestia had ever had in her life. It was ironic, and, for her, more erotic, that the one to fuck her so mindlessly would be the corrupted, also more erotic for Celestia, she realized when this whole thing began, form of her sister. She never would have expected it, but she loved it, and was glad that this had happened when it did. She didn't care that the Elements had failed, technically speaking, she didn't care about her title as ruler of Equestria, if anything, she was willing to give it to Nightmare, both because she needed a break from ruling and because Nightmare was her Mistress, and no pet should be a ruler over another, and many ponies would disobey an order from Luna if Celestia said the opposite.

Her train of thought, what little there was from her fucking, was interrupted when she felt a hot stream enter her with great force and her lover said, "Oh, shit, yes!" The stream was Nightmare's shots of cum flying into Celestia's pussy, both having been lost in their lust clouded minds to tell, in Nightmare's case, she was close to ejaculating, and, in Celestia case, how quick Nightmare was thrusting in her.

Each burst brought a moan from the two alicorns, until nothing else came out of Nightmare.(2)

Panting heavily, both looked at each other as Nightmare lit her horn, and the magical cock disappeared, and she fell onto Celestia. between the white alicorn's cleavage. Nightmare gathered what strength she could to climb to where her face was equal with Celestia's, and gave her a small kiss on the lips, which Celestia turned into a full blown prench kiss, resting a hand on the dark alicorn's cheek.

Celestia ended the kiss and pulled back, both sets of eyes, Nightmare's, Celestia realized just now, not being the reptilian ones they were before, but normal shaped. "This has certainly been an interesting day, hasn't it," Nightmare asked."

"Most definitely, Moony," Celestia said, chuckling at the nickname.

"You're lucky that I said you only had to call me Mistress when we were having sex, Celestia, or I may have had to banish you to the moon for that little remark," Nightmare said.

"Oh, I can think of worse ways for me and better ways for you in terms of my punishment," Celestia said.

"Perhaps after we explain this to the Elements," Nightmare said. "Something tells me they will wish to use their Rainbow forms to bring Luna back."

"If they do," Celestia said, "then they had better do the same to me."

Nightmare smiled a bit as she rolled off Celestia, and both alicorns now lay on their backs, side to side. "I love you, Celestia."

"I love you too, Nightmare," Celestia said before the exhaustion caught up to both mares, and they fell asleep, but not before they cuddled one another.

Their sleep was peaceful, but they were awoken by a voice recognized by Celestia woke them up.

"WHAT THE HELL!" Sunset Shimmer yelled at seeing her former mentor and the corrupted form of Luna cuddling one another with the scent of arousal in the air.

"Told you," Celestia said.

Training

On the Infinity, it's been a week since Twilight, Elegance, and Spike underwent augmentations, and, to Halsey's surprise, they were already awake, having awoken three days after the whole thing began, and were recovering. Not at the rate Samuel had, but quicker than most Spartans did. Right now, the three were in the med bay, best place for them during recovery, not that there was much else to do right now.

"So, when do you guys think our training's going to start," Elegance asked.

"Soon, hopefully," Spike said. "It's boring having to just sit here."

"Agreed," Twilight said. "At least they have books in here to read."

Spike rolled his eyes. "Why does it not surprise me that you're excited about that, Twilight?"

"Hey, I haven't read any human books yet," she complained, crossing her arms, which brought a small bout of pain that hse had gotten used to. She was told by another Spartan that had been injured by a technical issue that it was most likely from the bone augments, if not the ones to improve clotting. Already, the three of them were seeing the more positive effects.

For instance, when the lights were turned off, to mimic Earth's day cycle, they had been told, they could easily see as if it was day, and it took longer for them to get exhausted form the recovery exercises, which included treadmill walking and running, every day. They also were quicker than before, physically speaking, which was saying something for Elegance, as she was quick then as well.

"I know," Spike retorted, "but don't you think that could wait until after we've adjusted. The first time you picked up one of those tablet things, you accidentally crushed it."

"I know, but I've learned my own strength now," Twilight said. "They don't have a weight room for nothing in here, you know."

"You lifted weights," Elegance asked. "I'm shocked."

"Oh shut up, Elegance," Twilight said. "It's so that I can experiment with just how much I can lift now. I don't see you two in there."

"Because we're not trying to hurt ourselves," Spike said.

"Oh, she's alright," another Spartan from a bed opposite them said. They had gotten to know him well, actually. In fact, it turns out he was Thomas Slate, the last member of Fire team Wolf. He had been here since the morning of Twilight and the others arriving on the ship, and had gray hair, he said it was because of a rare trait in his family, and looked to be in his late twenties, with a few burn scars on the left side of his face. "Hannah and Sam practically did the same, made it a competition to see who would recover first. the doctors even said doing so may have sped it up a little."

"Really," Elegance asked. "I figured that the doctors would have tried to stop them."

"Oh, they did," Tom said with a chuckle. "But when those two set their mind to something, few things will stop them."

"So, how long did it take you guys to recover," Twilight asked.

"Me, about ten weeks, but I was the least active one. Marcus was half that, and the siblings were at two and a half."

"So we're actually going quicker than them," Twilight asked.

"You, yeah. Spike and Elegance, I'd say they'll be ready about the time Marcus was," Tom said. "Which is to say in about four weeks."

"That would be accurate," Halsey said as she walked in to the room. Since the three had woken up, it had been a daily thing for her ot come in and check on progress with recovery, "it they were human, which they clearly aren't. Their last check from yesterday shows they are recovering at the same speed as Spartans Smith and Smith."

"Yeah, you have no idea how confusing that can get," Tom said.

"So, what does that mean," Spike asked.

"Put simply, it means the two of you will recover in a week and a half, and Twilight, actually, already is, seeing as how she's taken the active approach. But I'm not here for the check, but to show you three something," Halsey said. "If you'll follow me, please," she said, and the three, having changed into Spartan fatigues when they woke up that day, followed.

"Where are we going," Elegance asked.

"S Deck," Halsey said. "Your armor's ready."

"Already?" Elegance asked. "How were you able to make them?"

"We simply cannibalized unused armor sets," Halsey replied. "Quite easy, actually."

"Do we get any say in what it looks like," Twilight asked.

"In the visor and tertiary colors," Halsey said. "Everything else is the same as the fire team that'll be your instructors."

"And which fire team is that," Spike asked.

"Fire team Lone," Halsey said. "Once your training is done, you'll be able to split off and make your own fire team, if you wish."

From there, the walk was quiet, nor was it long, as they were able to take one of the transit elevators there. Upon arrival, the four made their way to one of the gantries that held the armor racks. There, held in the arms, were three armors.

The center one resembled the Fotus armor Twilight had seen footage of from the war games, but the horn was lower, closer ot the forehead, and the part of it that protected the mouth was elongated to account for her muzzle.

The one to it's left had the same horn, but there were also slight armor strands on the wings. This one was most likely for Elegance.

The last one resembled Raider armor, but the mouth part had small holes at the front, and there were openings along the back, most likely for Spike's spines.

"The armor names, form our left to right, would be Chameleon, Mage, and Wyvern," Halsey said. "They were custom built for you with the list of abilities Roland gave me for each of you that you gave him and my own observations. Twilight, the horn of your armor's helmet had special field enhancers to increase the strength of what ever spells you use, shield or otherwise. Elegance, the same is true for your armor's horn, but it also enhances your disguise magic and the armor itself helps protect your wings. Spike, the armor pieces used are heat resistant, so you don't need to worry about melting it, and there are small holes in the face plate that allows you to use your flame breath up close."

"Cool," Spike said. "When do we get to try them on?"

"After you get basic military training," Halsey said. "Which your two team mates will also help with."

"Any thing else we need to know," Elegance asked.

"One thing," the A.I., Roland said before his hologram appeared on a nearby pedestal. "Spartan Elegance, may I just add, that sounds like a special Spartan trait out of context, Captain Lasky said he's okay with you. . . unusual feeding so long as no one is harmed because of it. And, on a side note, I'll help with that if I can. I may not be a fashion kind of A.I., but I do have access to those."

"Thanks, Roland," Elegance said. "and tell Captain Lasky thanks forcme, will you?"

"On it, Spartan," Roland said, doing a small salute before he disappeared.

"Well, at least I don't need to worry about starving for a while," Elegance said. "Oh, and when are we going to meet our team mates?"

"Right now, actually," Halsey said as armored foot steps could be heard coming from the elevator.

Twilight, Elegance, and Spike turned around, and saw two other Spartan's, both male, wearing cyan armor with brick highlights, the same color as their armor. One had an entire Raider armor set on, his helmet, with an wild hunt visor, the color, not the rarity, and it was under his shoulder, his face being pale with close cropped, brown hair, a few freckles, and brown eyes. The other one had the Buccaneer Tyr helmet on with the torch bearer visor and Maverick Jester armor. He had a slightly more curved face, not much, with black hair and brown eyes. "Fire team Lone reporting, Doctor,"the one with the Raider armor said as he and his team mate saluted.

"I can see that, Spartan," Halsey said. "I assume Captain Lasky told you of our guests?"

"I was the one who flew them in with you," the Raider said before turning to face Twilight and the others. "Names Josh, in case you guys didn't catch it the first time. Joshua Miller's my full name, and I'm the resident pilot."

"Kenneth Orochi," the other one said. "But just Ken is fine. Resident demolitionist. Which is to say, you want something to explode, call me," he said with a smile.

"Enough with the bragging, Ken," Josh said. "And you guys are?"

"Twilight, Spike, and Elegance," Twilight said, gesturing to the three of them, respectively.

"Nice to meet you guys," Josh said. "Roland said you needed training?"

"Indeed I did, Spartan," Roland said over speakers. "The basics for being a Spartan, as well as military."

"Well, this is going to be fun," Ken said. "They clear to wear the armor, Doc?"

"Barely, yes," Halsey said. "Just don't push them to hard for the next week and a half, and then you can push them."

"Copy that, Doc," Josh said. "Roland, mind getting the armor set up?"

"Not at all," he said. The arms on the armor holders pulled back, and an area large enough for the three new Spartans to stand in each one was ready. "Just step into the center of the gantries, Spartans, and grab the handles. The automated systems will handle the rest."

"Right," Twilight said before she began to step in it.

"From the back, and with out the over pants," Josh said.

"Oh," Twilight said, blushing. "Right." With that, she stepped off and took off the baggy pants, the only thing she was wearing now being the undersuit, and stepped around to the back, and stepped on and grabbed the handles, and the armor began to construct around her, starting with the leg armor, which was put on quickly, then the torso, which  is when the gantry lifted Twilight up a little and tilted her before placing the torso armor on, then the shoulder plates and the gauntlets. The helmet was last, and, Twilight saw, the bottom had been modified a little to help her put it on at an angle, though it was a bit of a pain, still.

When it was over, the gantry straightened back out, and Twilight stepped off. "How's it feel, Twilight," Elegance asked.

"Pretty good," Twilight said. "Lighter than I thought."

"Mjolnir armor is power assisted," Josh said. "And besides, those augments are meant to help you wear the thing. Though I am a little surprised you aren't flailing around a little, seeing as how, well, the whole mind reading thing. I know that's not what it's actually called, but still, you know what I mean."

"Well, Marcus, Sam, and Hannah did say the armor would translate thought to motion," Twilight said. "Actually, it's like levitation magic, now that I think about it."

"Then it should be easy for me," Elegance said as she went down to the undersuit and stepped on, and her armor, which was the same as Twilight's with the exception of the wing protection. "How's it look," she asked once the armor was on.

"Good," Twilight said. "Spike, that just means you."

"I know, Twi," he said, doing the same as the two mares, let his armor be put on, and stepped off.

"Whoa," Elegance said. "That is cool armor."

"Thanks," Spike said. "So, uh, where do we go next?"

"Follow us," Josh said. The five made their way to the elevator, with Ken pressing a button once they were inside, and the elevator began to move.

"So, if you guys don't mind me asking, what do you like to do for fun," Josh asked.

"I like comic books," Spike said.

"Same here," Elegance said. "Power ponies?"

"Brought every issue I had with me."

"What about you, Twilight," Josh asked.

"I like to read," she said. Though since the augmentations, I've crushed the one thing I could read."

"One of those tablets," Josh asked, to which Twilight nodded. He chuckled. "Same happened with me. Don't worry, team quarters has a few actual books-"

"Understatement," Ken said. "Josh here is a bibliophile. Can't read enough. Hell, when we're on an op, and there's a quiet moment, he reads."

"Well, I need something to do," Josh said. "And besides, some of those could technically be used for research, seeing as how some of them re fantasy novels."

"Yeah, but how much of that is bullshit made for entertainment?"

"Hey, I don't complain about all your photos of-"

"Moving on," Ken said, glaring at Josh, who was chuckling.

"Too easy," he mumbled. "Any way, you want a book, Twilight, just let me know."

"Thanks, Josh," she said.

"Hey, we're a fire team right now," Josh said. "And the way we see it, a fire team is a family, and that includes making friendly fun of the others."

"He's not wrong, unfortunately," Ken said. He then looked at Josh with a murderous glare. "But if you so much as mention those pictures again, I will throw you out the air lock in your underwear."

"Gonna have to try harder, Ken," Josh said. "We've been doing this long enough that most of them have died out."

"Like your chances at a relationship?"

Both Spartans chuckled. "Touche," Josh said. "Tou-fucking-che."

The doors then opened, and a large room with a rack of weapons on one end, stalls about a quarter of the way down, and targets on the other side of the stalls at various distances.

There were four other Spartans here, as well. One had a Fotus Helmet like Twilight's, albeit it was the normal version, with recon armor, and his color was Cyan blue with red highlights, in contrast, though barely, to fire team Lone's Cyan and brick, and was firing a DMR down range. The second had an Anubis helmet with Recruit armor on with a green and black color scheme, and was firing a Battle Rifle. The third had the normal Tenshin armor set, and was red and black, and was firing a shotgun at some of the closer targets. The fourth had Helioskrill helmet with Shinobi armor, and was colored black and blue, and was firing a Sniper down range at the furthest targets. The common thing for all of them was that their right shoulder pad had a Domino symbol, the domino being white with black dots, and each one had an increasing number, from one to four.

"Hey oh, Domino," Josh yelled. "Got someone you need to meet."

"Just a moment, Josh," the one with a single dot domino said as he fired a few more shots of his weapon before putting it on the counter in front. The fire team followed suit, and the four made their way over.

"Guys, this would be the guests from last week," Ken said. "Twilight, Elegance, and Spike. Guys, this is Fire team Domino."

"Wow," the one in the Tenshin set said. "Two of 'em must be real horny. You know, horns."

"And yet you're the one who looks like a slut," the one in the Anubis helmet said, and the three realized it was a woman.

"Guys, first impressions," the one in the recon armor said. "Name's Brendon Abramov, leader of Domino. The one woman of the group is April Montana, whose also my second in command. The wisecracker would be Michael Abro, demolitions. FYI, he loves to joke around. The quiet one is Benjamin Daro, our sniper. And before you ask, the dots on the armor is our chain of command. I have one to show I'm team leader, April is second, and has two dots, Michael has three, and Ben, who is the friendliest of us, by the way, has four."

"I didn't think they'd be joining you guys, Ken," April said.

"It's just until they're ready for combat on their own," Ken said. "We're technically their teachers right now."

"Well," Ben said, "you three ever need a sniper teacher, let me know."

"Are you forgetting which team they're on," Josh asked.

"No, it's just that you two make terrible sniper teachers," Ben said in a joking tone. "Doing something and being able to teach it are two different things, after all."

"Yeah, like we know how to make jokes," April said. "Just can't teach Michael ones that we find funny."

"Because you guys have no sense of humor," he said.

"Or we simply have a higher taste of comedy," April said.

"Go to hell," Michael said.

"Ladies first, Michael," April retorted, which got laughs out of the veteran Spartans.

"Okay, guys, I think that's enough," Brendon said before turning to Josh and Ken. "Basic weapons first?"

"Yep," Ken said.

"Be right back," he said before heading to the weapon racks and grabbing three assault rifles, and coming back, handing one to the new Spartans. "Here you go, guys."

"Thanks," Twilight said, taking the weapon in her hands. "So, uh, how do I use it?"

"I'll show you," Josh said, putting his helmet on. "Come on." The two made their way to one of the stalls. On the way, on Josh's left shoulder piece, was a red octagon with a white energy sword on the left crossing over an orange sword on the right. She looked, and saw hers had the same.

"I'm guessing that's our team emblem?"

"The two swords over the octagon," Josh asked as they got to the stall. "Yeah. Ken came up with it. Meant to show our unity in situations. I even heard that emblems had to be blacked out entirely on roster boards because no one would fight against our team because of how well we do." He then took the rifle from Twilight's hands, and held it up sideways. "This is an MA5D AR, Twilight. More specifically, submodel SL, SL for 'Smart Link'. I'll get to that soon enough. Holds thirty six shots of armor piercing rounds per mag, and normal protocol says you can have up to two hundred and fifty two spare spare shots, which is seven spare mags."

"I can do math, Josh," Twilight aid with a small arm cross, to which he chuckled.

"Just playing safe, Twilight," he said. "Anyway, each rifle has an LED Ammo Indicator that tells you how many shots you have left in the current magazine. Of course, being Spartans, our HUD lets us see that that without having to look." He then loaded a magazine into the clip, and pulled the charging handle. "Have a try," he said, flipping the gun around and handing it to the unicorn Spartan, who took it in her hands.

Upon making contact with the gun, the upper right part of Twilight's HUD lit up in a likeness of the gun in her hands, along with thirty six tick marks in two rows of eighteen, a zero next to her weapon icon. "Keep in mind, the large number is how many shots in reserve you have, and when ever you have two weapons, that's the one shown for the one you aren't currently using."

Twilight nodded. "Right," she said. "So, what next?"

"Next, you learn to shoot," Josh said. "Now, fire at that target," he said, and a red icon appeared on the interior of Twilight's helmet that highlighted a target. "And by thew way, this is a feature fire teams use in the field and not in the war games to highlight current priority targets. Aren't allowed to in war games. Now, fire."

Twilight nodded, and pointed the barrel, she had seen a few war games matches in med bay, so she knew what was the front end, and pulled the trigger. She knew it would have recoil, and steadied her arms, an easy task with the armor helping to lower the recoil, but she fired full auto, and a quite few shots missed. "Okay, given it's your first time, pretty good," Josh said, but at ranges like this, go for bursts. That's best, got it," he asked, handing Twilight a spare magazine.

"Yep," Twilight replied with a hidden smile before taking the magazine and loading it. This time, she fired in small bursts, and only a few rounds missed, but not much.

"Nice," Josh said, patting her on her shoulder. "Sure you weren't in your people's military?"

"Yeah," Twilight said. "But my brother was Captain."

"Impressive," Josh said. "So, want to learn how to DMR someone's head," he asked, handing her a DMR.

"I guess so," Twilight said, putting the rifle on her back, which made the icon on her HUD smaller with a zero next to it before grabbing the DMR, causing a likeness of it to show up with a single row of fourteen tick marks in its place.

"That's the M395 DMR, which is used exclusively by Spartans. Fourteen rounds per clip, and is semi-automatic. And now fo rthe scope, which is Smart Link. Essentially, it links to your armor systems, letting you zoom in. Every recent model weapon we have allows for that, including the rifle on your back. Just think of zooming in, and the armor will do that automatically. But, unless something in the weapon allows otherwise, if you get hit, you descope. A pain in the ass, especially if you're using a sniper rifle," Josh said. "I speak from personal experience. Why I like to use long range mixed with short to medium range weapons."

"So, I just think of zooming in," Twilight asked.

"Yeah," Josh said. "Aim for one of the longer ranged targets. That thing's meant for medium to long range."

"Right," Twilight said, taking a firing position, and unloading the clip, each shot hitting somewhere near the target.

"Nice," Josh said. "But that was on a still target. Let's see how well you do with a moving target."

With that, the various targets began to move. "Ken, Ben, help out Spike and Elegance with this one."

"Right," Ken said before he and others took up a stall on the firing range, him and Ben showing Spike and Elegance the basics.

Twilight had a difficult time with the moving targets, and it was about an hour of missed shots before she was up to Spartan levels of trace shooting. At the end of it, Josh said, "And if you and your target are moving in the same direction, keep your reticule pointed at the point the bullets hit. If not, but their's do, you're going to be the one in a grave, got it, Twi?"

"Yeah, Josh," she replied. "What's next?"

"Well, once the others are done, Spartan Mobility," Josh said. "And I don't mean being able to just twist and bend."

"What do you mean, then?"

"You'll see," Josh said. "Just wait."

A few minutes later, Spike and Elegance were at Spartan levels of trace shooting, and, with a goodbye from Domino, the five made their way into a hallway, Ken and Josh leading.

"I hope you guys know how to run," Ken said, "'cause you're going to need it."

"Why do I not like the sound of that," Elegance asked.

"Same," Spike commented.

"Don't worry, no ones died from a suit malfunction during practice," Josh said. "Well, yet."

"Not helping," Spike said.

"Hey, I'm just saying, there's a first for everything."

"Still not helping," Elegance said.

"Yeah, I know," Josh said.

"Sooo, anyway," Ken said as the five reached a door, "time to see how well you guys use the thruster packs."

With that, the door opened, and an obstacle with various pits and ledges came into view. "Welcome to the obstacle course, Spartans," Roland said as he appeared on a nearby pedestal. "Mobility training?"

"Yep," Ken said. "Still need to show them how to use the thruster packs."

"I'll turn off the competition timer, then," Roland said. "Oh, and Riptide will be here soon, so I hope you like running competitions." With that, his hologram disappeared.

"Another fire team," Twilight asked.

"Yeah," Josh answered. "Okay, so, Ken, which of us is going to describe how to use the pack?"

"I don't know how it works," Ken said.

"Well, neither do I," Josh said. "So it looks like we're going to have to wait for Riptide to get here."

"How long is that wait," Spike asked.

"No fucking idea," Josh said.

Yeah, so it was about an hour before the second fire team, whom Twilight and the others assumed was Riptide walked in. One had Tenshin armor with the Plasma skin, the color being a singular crimson, the second had Athlon armor that was colored Forest green with crimson secondary, the third had the same armor type that Vale had, but the color was Forest Green and Cyan, an the last one had Commando armor with Forest Green and Cyan armor colors. Each one had a wave symbol on their left shoulder piece.

"Hey, guys," Josh said. "Fancy seeing you here."

"Josh," the one in all crimson armor said, the voice being that of a woman. "What are you doing here?

"Just waiting for you guys to get here so you can help us teach them," Josh said, point a thumb at Twilight and the others, "how to use the thruster packs, Bella."

"So there is something Fire team Lone can't do," Bella said.

"Yeah, like you guys can't win a single warzone match without getting killed, what, thirty times by the very stupid A.I. programs," Josh retorted in a joking tone.

"Go to hell," Bella said with a chuckle "Sure, we'll help. The beginning?"

"Yep," Ken said. "Hey, guys, get over here! Got some people for you to meet!"

"Coming," Elegance called out before she and the other two came over.

"Guys, this is Fire team Riptide," Josh said. "This is Bella Soryuna, the team leader," he said, gesturing to Bella. "This would be Kevin-54," he said, gesturing to the one in Athalon armor. "Before you ask, him and the other two members of the team are Spartan-III washouts born on Earth, but moved to an outer colony before it was glassed, and each is the only survivor of their family. Then there's Lexi-93, in the Copperhead armor, and Anderson-15, in the Commando."

"Pleasure to meet you guys," Lexi said. "And just about everyone knows you guys are on the ship. Roland spread word the day you got here so that we wouldn't freak out."

"So, wanna learn how to use the thruster packs," Kevin asked.

"Yeah," Twilight said.

"Then let me give you the first lesson," Anderson said before a sound was heard, and he boosted to the right into Lexi, who boosted back to avoid. "Thruster packs can be used for evasion and attack," he said. "Though it has a cool down in both cases. For offense, you need to be going at top speed, while evasion, you just need to lean in the direction you want to go, and think of activating them for it to happen.

"So," Twilight asked, "we lean in the direction we want to go if we're evading, and think of using the thruster packs?"

"Bingo, though ,with enough time," Kevin said, "you can just think, and the armor will activate the thrusters you need."

"Plus, you can slide using the thrusters, too," Bella said. "Though that takes training to do with ease."

"Now, how about you guys try to boost," Anderson said. "Doesn't matter the direction, just try to."

"Right," Twilight said.

The three tried to, but didn't do so. Riptide gave them pointers each time, and, soon, they were able to boost to evade. As for the offensive, the only thing to say was on Anderson's part. "Just get to top speed. Your helmet will give you a kind of reticule to indicate when you can use the boost offensively. Just think of boosting forwards, and it'll happen. Word of warning, though, if you Charge a Spartan with full, enhanced, or overshields, they will survive it unless you hit them in the back, and if you do charge, make sure you're shields are at full and you have a shotgun to finish them off."

After that, the second fire team went to the obstacle course to practice themselves, which is when Josh said, "There's one thing they forgot to say, and that's if you smart link while in the air, the thrusters will keep you in the air for a while."

"And Ground Pound," Ken said. "Hop into the air, best from a high point, and activate the thrusters everywhere but the back and target a spot on the ground, then activate the back thrusters, to hit that are with force. Helmet'll show a circle. Two, actually. Any Spartan with full health and shields will survive with lowered shields in the larger, while those without or with weakened ones will die, while anything in the smaller one will probably die."

"We'll keep that in mind," Twilight said. "So, where to next?"

"S deck to get the armor off, then one of the restaurants this place has ot get some food. Infinity's a small city, they're bound to have someplace that doesn't have crap to eat for those currently off duty," Josh said. "Come on, I'm sure they got something you guys will like."

With that, Twilight and the others, Ken included, rolled their eyes, and followed Josh to the elevator to S deck so they could get their armor off, and have some free time.

New member

"So, what do you guys like to eat," Josh asked, as the five had indeed found an actual restaurant on the ship. It had been three hours since Twilight, Spike, and Elegance had first worn their Spartan armor, and the three of them, Josh, and Ken were wearing their Spartan fatigues, which was to say the undersuit and the pants.

"Well, ponies can eat both meat and plants," Elegance said, "but they prefer plants, dragons can eat those as well as gem stones, while changelings, well-"

"Don't worry, Elegance," Ken said. "When Halsey selected us to be the ones to help train you, she told us about your unique diet. We do find a little strange, yeah, but, in all honesty, you can't really help it. How you evolved."

Elegance smiled a little. "Thanks, guys. Now, if you'll hold on," she said before she burst into emerald flames, which caused the two male Spartans to jump back.

"Holy-" Josh said in shock. "Didn't know about that."

When the flames died down, a Spartan high, blonde woman with shoulder length hair, piercing blue eyes, full, red lips, a small, attractive nose, and, for a Spartan, a sizable chest stood in Elegance's place, but still wore Elegance's outfit. "So, boys," Elegance said in a voice that seemed to fit with the voice, a hint of a Scandinavian accent, but not much, "how do I look?" She, Twilight, and Spike chuckled as the two looked at Elegance, speechless. "Given the amount of lust I'm getting off you two, I'd say pretty damn good."

Twilight lit her horn, and lifted Josh and Ken's mouths up, and said, "Come on, guys. I'm a little hungry myself."

"R-right," Ken said as he and Josh followed their three new team mates into their destination.

Upon entering, the three new members of Fire team Lone saw a room with booths on both sides connected to the wall, with about five rows of ten tables, each table having six seats, in the middle. Half of the tables were occupied, with an average of three Spartans at each table, meaning if you added the amount at each table and divided by the amount of those tables, you'd get three, eating their own food, and each turned to look at Fire team Lone as they walked in, but the looks of the male Spartans soon focused on Elegance. Ken and Josh rolled their eyes as the five made it to where you would order the food.

"Hey, Josh," Ken said. "Your in luck. Asian food."

"Really," Josh said, looking at the board that had the various foods, and he saw that is was all Asian food. But better was that today seemed to be an old Earth day, as they were selling Josh's favorite food. "Fuck yes, they got Tso," he said.

"Huh," Twilight said.

"General Tso's Chicken," Ken elaborated. "Josh'a favorite food. Though I'm still a little surprised any company would as to have their restaurant on a war ship."

"Ken, look at who owns it," Josh said, pointing to a small sign. "'A division of Chaos industries.' We both know their CEO loves the unexpected, and a restaurant on a warship fits in with that."

"What's he called," Twilight asked.

"I don't know," Ken said. "I think it's Daniel Issacs Smith something, I don't remember his full name."

"Would it happen to start with a 'C'," Spike asked.

"Yeah, I think so," Ken said.

"It's Charles Oberon Robert Dick, I'm not kidding," Josh said. "I met the guy once. A family friend since about three or so years ago. Likes to go by Dis, sometimes, and the few times he plays any kind of game, his username is 'King of Chaos."

"Sounds like someone we know," Twilight said. "Doesn't it, Spike?"

"Yeah, sounds like him, alright."

"Who," Ken asked as they got into line, Josh at the front of the group.

"Let's just say someone who loved to cause all kinds of panic," Elegance, still in her disguise, said. "Didn't harm anyone, though."

"Josh, is that you," a new, albeit familiar to the three new Spartans, said from behind the counter.

"Hey, Dis," Josh said "What are you doing here?"

A man in very. . . odd clothing walked, or, rather, vaulted over the counter, and came to the side of the group. He had on a brown and white, no dirt, shirt on with a half red, half blue tie on with green and black pants. He had gray hair, and yellow irises. "Oh, you know, just checking to see how the store's doing," the man replied before his sight settled on Twilight. "Twilight?"

"Wait a minute," Ken said. "Twilight, you know him?"

"'Know me'? Of course she knows me," Dis said. "After all, she was one of the ones who put me into stone."

Twilight sighed as she face palmed. "Discord, what are you doing here?"

"Just what I said," Discord said. "Did you really expect me just to stay on Equis when I was free? I decided to visit Earth, and when I saw their technology tier, I decided, 'Hey, why not join in the chaos known as business'? I opened Chaos industries two years and nine months ago, and even with none of my chaos magic in place, it succeeded quite well, and when Infinity came by Earth in March of last year, I decided to expand onto the ship, and here we are."

"I am lost as hell right now," Josh said.

"I think he basically said he's someone from the recruit's home," a Marine in front of Josh said. "Don't get me wrong, I'm confused too, but that's what I was able to understand."

"He essentially said," Twilight said, face still in palm, "that after my former friends and I reformed him, he decided to go to Earth, which is around the time he met you, Josh, and used his own magic to make this form for him, and raise enough money for his business, probably a fake history of his life, too, and has been hopping between Equis and Earth the last three years."

"Smart as ever, Twily," Discord said.

"Okay, this is interesting and all," Josh said, "but can we discuss this over food?"

Both Ken and Discord chuckled. "Sure," Discord said. "Shen, we need an order of General Tso, now!"

"I'll take a beef and broccoli, hold the broccoli," Ken said.

"You heard him, Shen," Discord said. "What about you three?"

"Ummm, I guess I'll take the same as Ken," Spike said.

"Same," Elegance, still in disguise, said.

"I guess I'll take a vegetarian form of what Josh is having," Twilight said.

"You heard them, Shen," Discord said. "Three BaBs, hold the second B, One Tso, one Vegetarian Tso."

"On it, sir," Shen, a man in his early thirties with slick, black hair, said. With that, the, admittedly, strange group of six sat down at a nearby table.

"So, Twilight," Discord said. "How are things going? I didn't expect to run into you here on Infinity."

"I was banished, Discord."

"Ah, yes, Fluttershy sent me a letter about that two days ago," Discord said.  "You'll be happy to know, I assume, that they're all having issues with you being gone. Rainbow no longer has someone to help her study, which she needs, seeing as how the test for the Wonderbolts is coming up, Rarity no longer gets as many gems as before without Spike helping her, which has put a bit of a cut in her profits. Fluttershy, bless her heart, has become an emotional wreck because of you being banished, not that I blame you three for it. Applejack's farm is going under in profits. Seems they relied on your financial skills quite a bit, Spike. Really, the only one I'd say isn't affected majorly would be Pinkie, but she's hard for even me to read, so I couldn't say with one hundred percent accuracy."

"They deserve it," Twilight said. "If they were my friends, they would have tried to defend me."

"Wait a minute," Josh said. "You got banished for what, exactly?"

"Defending Elegance from another pony, who was somehow able to convince everypony else we attacked him first."

"Well, I honestly have no idea about that, Twilight," Discord said. "But believe me, if I hadn't been held up at a board meeting, I would have been there supporting you. I know you don't like to call me a friend, but even I know you wouldn't just attack."

"Thanks, Discord," Twilight said.

"My pleasure," Discord said with a smile. "So, I see you three became Spartans like Josh and Ken. I imagine to help them with a particular problem?"

"You know you could just find out," Spike said.

"Yes, but that's no fun," Discord said. "So, Josh, how have things been going here? I just arrived today."

At Josh's confused expression, Twilight said, "He's able to teleport anywhere."

"Ah," Josh said. "Well, hectic, I guess you could say. There's some kind of psychotic A.I. who wants to rule the entire galaxy, the Covenant Remnant's practically dead, and then there's Twilight and the others."

"That makes sense," Discord said. "So, Twily, Elegance, Spike, what have you been up to since coming aboard. Aside from the obvious."

"Just sitting around and getting training," Elegance replied.

"Well, I do hope you guys get a sixth member," Discord said.

"Why," Ken asked. "We aren't even planning on that."

"Because that board meeting I was at was for a sponsored, six v six tournament of Breakout, and I was hoping Fire team Lone would be involved. If you guys do, I'll be happy to sponsor you."

"If we get a sixth member, which I doubt we will," Josh said as a server arrived with their food, "we'll let you know, Dis."

"I do like that nick name better then 'Dissy'," Discord said. "So, Twilight, if I may ask, how are those Forerunners doing?"

"They're doing good, actually," Twilight said. "Why?"

"Because, believe it or not, I am actually one of their experiments. How else did you think I have my power?"

"Magic," Twilight, Elegance, and Spike replied.

"Wrong," Discord said. "You see, every bit of 'magic'," he said, putting air quotes around magic, "is the core of the planet leaking energy. Not even Celestia and Luna, or, rather, Celestia and Nightmare Moon know that."

"Looks like we called it," Elegance said. "The Elements did wear off."

"Remind me to send a thank you for banishing us to Celestia with the next letter to my parents," Twilight said.

"That reminds me, Twilight," Discord said, pulling a scroll out of his shirt pocket. "From your parents. They gave it to Celestia to give to me to give to you, for when you'd be able to talk to them next."

"Thanks," Twilight said, taking the scroll in her magic. She the grabbed a fork in her hand, and took a piece of chicken from the bowl it was in, and her tongue was assaulted with a spicy flavor that had hints of sweetness. "I see what you mean, Josh," she said. "This is better than anything I had back in Equestria."

"My personal recipe," Discord said. "It does use a few Equestrian ingredients, but most of it's from Earth or her Colonies."

"I didn't know you could cook," Twilight said.

"Exactly," Discord said. "It's unexpected, so I would be able to, which means it was expected, so they would expect me to be able to cook, so I act like I can't."

"Dis, stop, please," Josh said, taking a bite of his General Tso. "You were confusing enough before today."

"No promises," Discord said. "So, Ken, have you finally gotten the guts to ask you know who out?"

"No he has not," Josh said, getting a punch in the arm from Ken. "Given you're from Twilight's planet, you know any who could help him?"

"I don't need help, Josh," Ken said.

"Yes you do," Josh retorted. "You yourself said you had feelings for her when you in the same squad a few years ago, and last I checked, she is single."

Discord chuckled. "As it so happens, I do, but I won't do anything because it's a little too soon after Twilight's banishment to ask that pony for help. Which reminds me," he said, pulling out a data pad. "Twilight I used my. . . skills to outfit this data pad with top of the line communication gear, and I gave your parents one, too, and showed them how to use it, so that you aren't stuck with those boring old letters, and so they can meet Josh and Ken."

"Why," Twilight asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Because. . ., well, I don't know, but I think it best if you have it, that way, once your fully informed as to the whole A.I. incident, and it hits Equis, you'll be able to tell Lasky, ad you can high tail it there to take care of the threat." He shrugged. "Honestly, I would prefer you do it to help your family, but if you don't, then that's just one more thing humanity will need to eventually fight, and probably lose."

"So, if I can ask a question," Elegance said, using her fork to pick up a piece of beef from the bowl in front of her and bring it to her mouth, "what's going on with the hives?"

"Ah, such beautiful chaos, that," Discord said. "And I didn't even cause it. Most of them started rioting, oh, when was it," he said, taking out a stop watch and looking at it, "tomorrow in both Ponyville and Canterlot."

"I'm guessing he can time travel, too,"  Josh said. "Explains a lot."

"Yep," Ken agreed as he took a bite at his food.

"Rarely," Discord said. "Takes a lot of energy, even for me."

"What do you guys mean," Spike asked.

"Just that he always seemed to be able to predict the future," Josh said. "But one thing I'm curious about, Dis: How is it you can plan on having a breakout tournament, or still have a successful business, when there's practically a revolt of A.I.s?"

"Because I planned for it," Discord said. "I used the vast amount of money I made to help buy a few dumb grade A.I.s, about two for each major department, which allows for us to have the power of an A.I. without needing to worry about the seven year issue, and they also get a break about every month or so with the second one, which gives them time to do what they want, and delete any non-important information. Helps that I make it to where each department has a mandatory day to do everything they can that doesn't need an A.I. that's needed, so that neither needs to do anything more than what's needed that day."

"That. . . sounds like a smart move," Twilight said. "Who are you, and what have you done with Discord?"

"Oh, Twilight, I'm the same Discord you know. I just changed my skin, is all," he said. "Besides, I prefer applying my genuius to business, anyway, as that is one of the most chaotic jobs I know of." A watch on his left wrist then started beeping. "Oh, I forgot, I had tea with Fluttershy scheduled for today. Josh once your done, tell Shen I had to go home. He's one of the few humans who knows my secret. Well, few compared to the total. He'll get it." He turned to face Twilight and the others, a smile on his face. "I'll see ya soon, Twily," he said before he snapped his fingers, and disappeared in a puff of smoke.

"Well, he definitely got a little more interesting," Josh said. "So, Twilight, if your willing, care to share a few more details about your exile?"

The lavender unicorn sighed. "Why not," she said, taking another bite of her food. "Well, you know why I got banished. Elegance was charged with assault, too, and where I come from, it was the first one in so many years, so a harsh example had to be made. Spike decided to come with us, and a spell that was put on us will make it to where if we step hoof, claw, foot, whatever, we die a slow and painful death.  Knowing Celestia, it's probabaly fast acting, but extremely painful, close to Canterlot, the capitol, especially."

"Damn," Ken said. "And I thought the damned life sentence was brutal in some cases."

"It may as well be a life sentence for us," Spike said. "We were replaced by one of Twilight's friends from a variation of Equestria, long story, and the only way we can talk with our family is if they contact us first."

"Which means I should probably reply in letter first," Twilight said. "Might as well read it now before I forget it," she said. With that, she opened the letter, and began to read aloud.

Twilight

Whatever it is that your doing, we're glad that you're at least doing it with friends. And sorry about not sending this through dragon flame, but we figured Discord would have been able to get it to you as soon as possible. And yes, he gave us the same thing he gave you, assuming he gave you anything, that is. How's Spike doing? We ask because we just came across a book about dragon physiology. We can send it via dragon flame, if you want. A lot's happened here since you guys left, but we guess the largest thing would be that Nightmare Moon's back, and not trying to cause eternal night

-"Damn it," Twilight said quickly-

and the fact she and Celestia are in a relationship. Yeah, both the others and the Nobles tried to get Princess Celestia and bring Princess Luna back, but, we guess with a long speech from one or both of them, Nightmare and Celestia are still together, and on the throne. Which reminds your mother, have you guys found anypony yet? If you want to answer, that is."

Nightlight and Twilight Velvet

"Is it wrong I'm currently thinking your parents still seem a little interested in you, Twi," Josh asked.

"It makes sense, I guess," Twilight replied. "They are my parents, after all."

"So, going to reply," Ken asked.

"Yeah," Twilight said. "That is, once we get settled into the new room."

"Makes sense," Josh replied before Roland's avatar appeared on the table.

"Afternoon, Spartans," he said. "Am I interrupting anything?"

"Not much, Roland," Ken said. "What's going on?"

"Nothing much," the A.I. replied. "Captain Lasky just wanted me to inform you guys that a sixth member's been added to the team."

"Why," Elegance asked.

"Logistics," Ken said. "A team of five is impossible to easily balance in any war games. War zone has twelve per team, slayer has four, as do most other games, and big team has six to eight. Five doesn't divide any of those evenly, which is why most teams are four, as it goes into most, and can be split in six v six, while some are three or six. Five just doesn't go into any of those."

"Precisely," Roland said. "She's already in the team room, and I would suggest you hurry. She's a little mad about being transferred."

"We'll keep that in mind," Josh said, getting up. "Hey, Shen, Dis says he went back!"

"Got it!"

"I'd ask," Roland said, "but I was watching to see how well Spartan Twilight and the others were doing, and saw the whole thing." He turned to face Twilight. "You have some interesting friends, Spartan."

"Yeah, we know," Spike said, having already eaten his food. "So, do we get to know who the newer addition is?"

"Sorry, Captain Lasky wants it to be a surprise. I'll see you later." With that, he vanished, and Ken sighed.

"Well, may as well get moving," he said, getting up, followed by the others. "Whoever it is," he said once they left the restaurant, "it has to be from a team of four, or a lone wolf head hunter, or there's gonna be a lot of team restructuring."

"Oh, yeah," Josh said "So, think it's Carly?"

"I doubt it," Ken replied. "That is, if we're thinking of the one from Ivy. Remember, they're a team of six."

"Oh yeah," the other Spartan said. "AJ?"

"From Fire team Mountain? I doubt it."

"I guess we'll have to wait, then," Josh said. "For your sake, I hope it isn't her."

"With my luck, it probably is," Ken said before his face took on a look of horror. "Oh shit. If it is her, she's gonna see the pictures."

Josh patted his team mate on the shoulder. "Told ya you shouldn't have put them on the wall, dude."

"I know," Ken said before sighing. "Get the tranq ready."

"Already got it under my pillow," Josh said. "You're probably gonna need it."

"That's why I said to get it ready, dumbass."

"Yeah, yeah," Josh said.

"So, how often does this happen," Twilight asked. "Another Spartan being removed form one team and put in another, I mean."

"When it's just one Spartan being transferred," Josh said. "Rare as hell."

"Yeah, the last time it happened,"  Ken said, "I was transferred here from Crimson, and Josh from Taurus."

"No, I'd say Tanaka from Domino to Osiris is the most recent," Josh said.

"Yeah, I guess you have a point."

For a few more minutes, it was just the team making their way to the elevator to take them to the deck that had their quarters. When they were at the door, Ken said, "Time to find out who the new member is."

"Yep," Josh said, pressing the button to open the door.

"Of course," Ken muttered, as the other Spartan was seen. "Just my goddamned luck."

On the other side of the door was Sarah Palmer.

New member Pt 2

"Well," Josh said. "This is slightly expected."

"A little," Spike said. "So, Commander, what are you doing here, if I may ask?"

"Turns out, Fire team Lone," Palmer said, "I was transferred to you guys."

"Yeah, someone tranq me," Ken said. "There is no way in hell the Captain would transfer the Spartan Commander on Infinity to a Fire team unless she was in charge, and it's pretty much a rule that I'm the leader of this team."

"Well, he did, Ken," Palmer said, crossing her arms. "And I saw your little picture collection."

"Oh god, kill me," Ken said, getting a pat on the shoulder from Josh.

"He can't hear you in Slip, Ken."

"Then I'll find an airlock and jump."

"No need, Ken," Palmer said. "Compared to other stuff I've seen, that isn't the creepiest thing."

"Seriously, Commander," Josh asked. "I mean, seriously?"

"Yep," Palmer said. "And as for the chain of command issue, Lasky said that this Fire team has its own chain. I lead the other fire teams, but I'm second in command of the team."

"That's going to be confusing later on," Elegance said, going back to her natural form.

"Probably," Josh agreed. "So, given that, Commander, how are we supposed to address you?"

"Palmer, like everyone else does," Palmer said. "So, what took you all so long?"

Josh shrugged as he and the others, including an extremely nervous Ken, walked in. "Just getting something to eat and showing Twilight and the others how to use the suits," he said. "Oh, and I have no idea what to do with Ken right now. In your position, at least. In mine," he said, turning to face his friend, "Ken, just be glad she didn't shoot you in the nuts, or something worse. And I know she's right here, but how about you wait on asking her out?"

This got chuckles form the three new Spartans, nothing from Palmer, and a slight smile for Ken. "Or, seeing as how we were in the same squad on Draco-III," Ken said, "I could do so now."

"I thought I remembered you, Ken," Palmer said. "Only one on the team I missed being transferred from."

"Wait, I was?"

"Yeah, you were," Palmer said.

"Explains her reaction to you and the rest of Crimson being caught on Requiem," Josh said. "She was more hostile then usual. Guess we know why, now."

"Right," Ken said. "So, um, Palmer-"

"The answer right now is no, Ken," Palmer said. "This is the first time we actually talked since we were on the same team. It'd be best if we actually got to know one another before doing so."

"Oh," Ken said. "I guess I can live with that."

"So, what to do now," Spike asked.

"Well, we got cards," Josh said. "That is, if you guys want to play something."

"What'd you have in mind," Elegance said, "because I don't know about the other two, but I'm a shark at cards."

"An old game of BS," Josh said. "Basically, you lay a number of cards down, and if someone calls BS and they're right, you pick up every card put down, and if they're wrong, then they pick up the cards. You in?"

"Sure," Elegance said, shrugging. "What about everyone else?"

"I'm in," Spike said.

"Second," Twilight said.

"Third," Ken said.

"Don't have anything better planned," Palmer said.

"Then let's get this started," Josh said, going over to the wall and pulling a small, fold-able, round table, and setting it up in the middle of the room, and taking a deck of poker cards out of one of his pockets. "Prepare to get your asses kicked."

"We'll see about that," Elegance said.

One hour and thirty minutes later

"Goddamn it," Josh said as Elegance got rid of her last card for the second time, resulting in her victory for the second time. "How are you this good?"

Elegance shrugged. "Comes with being a changeling," she replied. "My kind's excellent liars."

"And I suddenly have less trust in you," Ken said.

"In general, or with cards?"

"Cards," Ken said. "I have yet to see anything for the field other than what you can do with the suit, and the guns, and that stuff is pretty average, and very, very hard to fake to someone who knows that stuff."

"I thought you and Josh didn't know the basics for the thrusters," Spike said with a smirk.

"Oh, ha fucking ha," Josh said. "We know how it works, we just don't know how to explain that shit. We aren't engineers."

"If we were, we'd be in the vehicle bay right now," Ken said. "Don't get me wrong, we know how to do field repairs on our armor, every Spartan does, but our specialization isn't engineering."

"Guess that makes sense," Twilight said. "So, other than cards, what do you guys do for fun?"

"War games," Josh and Ken said at the same time. "But we need to wait until you guys are actually able to fight before going in."

"How long will that one take?"

"No idea," Josh said. "Given how quickly you guys went today, that may be a week. May be more. Again, no idea."

"There is free-for-all," Palmer said. "To train them, I mean."

"There is no better learning than first hand," Ken agreed.

"So, then," Josh said, "what do you guys say to some FFA tomorrow?"

"I don't see why not," Spike said.

"Then you three had better be ready to get your asses kicked," Ken said. "FFA is my game."

First Game

Twilight, Spike, Elegance, Josh, Ken, and Palmer, each wearing their armor, with Palmer's keeping her usual colors, but the team emblem on the left shoulder pad, were in the holodeck so they could begin the first three's first war game, a free for all match on the map Truth.

"Okay, so basics for you three," Ken said. "We start with a magnum and assault rifle, along with two frags, with other weapons scattered around the map."

"As well as a single power up," Josh added. "In this map's case, active camoflauge, which makes the user practically invisible."

"Which reminds me," Palmer said. "Halsey wants you three do use your abilities so she can gather data on your abilities. I don't know why, but I don't really care."

"So long as you guys don't fucking spam them," Josh said.

"We won't," Twilight said. "Promise."

"If you say so," Josh said as the pods for the war games, which resembled crytubes, opened.

"Before you get in, Spartans," Roland said over the intercom, "I decided to update the wargames a little, and each map has a unique feature that should help with everything."

"Copy that, Roland," Ken said. "Well, time to get this whole thing started."

"Right," Josh said as the six of them stepped into the pods, settled in, which allowed connectors in the tubes to connect to the neural implants, which put the six into the digital realm.

As Twilight and company became aware of their surrounding, the area came into view. To Twilight, it was something both organic and artificial at the same time, with elegant curves, but holographic panels as well, and, though a few parts of the area, space could be seen, along with other ships. This was the map, Truth, set in a covenant ship. When Twilight's sight came, she was in a room with a blue hologram that had a large planet, to scale to where just holding out her arms would allow her to wrap her arms around it, a large hoop thing, with a small moon between the two, but close to the ring, as well as a small triangle (Blue Two).

She walked forward carefully, and saw a Battle Rifle on the ground. She put her Assault Rifle on her back, and drew her magnum, which she exchanged for the BR. She moved ahead slowly, dropping off a ledge before the sound of Rifle fire could be heard. Josh assault rifle Elegance. Lost the lead. The sound of the rifle made Twilight jump, and scan her area. This was stopped when she had reversed her line of sight, and felt two arms grab her around the waist, and lift her off her feet, only for her to go up side down before she felt something hard hit her, and heard a large crack. Ken assassination Twilight. (Lawn Dart assassination)

Five seconds later, with Twilight getting a detached, and a little creepy, in her opinion, view of Ken standing over that body. "Sorry, Twi," Ken said. "But this is so you guys can learn how to use your gear and shit." As the last sentence left his mouth, Twilight respawned in a room that had a clear view of a walk way that had a hovering platform over the middle. Remembering what had happened last time, she instantly began to move, scanning with her eyes as she did so, which gave her a view on Palmer, who went into a small room on the lower floor. She looked around, and saw a ramp leading into the upper part of that room. Hoping to cut Palmer off, Twilight went full gear to get there, catching glimpses of the others.

As soon as she got into the room, she did a quick sweep with her Assault Rifle, and saw two, for lack of a better term, cylinders, one glowing, the other not. She went on instinct, and went down the one that wasn't glowing, after throwing a grenade down, turning around as she did so. "Damn it," she muttered, Palmer having gotten away, before her tracker got a red dot from her left, and turned, bringing her weapon up, seeing Josh.

"Nice reflexes," he said, his own weapon pointed at Twilight, a Battle Rifle, which he then fired a single burst from before dropping it and boosting forward, grabbing something from his thigh, passing Twilight, and then spinning around, activating what was in his hand. "But you need to learn to shoot first, Twi," he said, the blades of the energy sword he picked up vertical and between Twilight's cleavage. "So next time, shoot first," he added before thrusting the sword up. Josh energy sword Twilight.

When Twilight respawned this time, she was in the same room as her first spawn. She looked in the lower right hand corner, and saw that Ken was in the lead with a score of five, and Twilight herself was in fourth. This time, she shaped up a little more, this time, when she saw a target, she let her instincts take over, and fire, and got a few kills, putting her in third, though a few of the kills were Spike and Elegance, and she made it a point to apologize to them afterwards.

Five minutes into the match, Josh and Ken were tied for first, with Palmer behind them, the Twilight behind her, then Spike and Elegance in that order. Currently, Twilight had a Battle Rifle and a Plasma pistol, having gotten what Ken and Josh call a "noob shot" when she overcharged the pistol on Palmer's shields, and then BR burst to the head, and on the lower level of the map when a deep voice, one that couldn't be human, came on over the speakers for the map. "Ne'sha ke no sa fa re."(1)

A few seconds later, as Twilight was sprinting to the center of the lower map where the splinter grenades were, Twilight pushed herself into the air and off the ground. "Shit," she said as she hit the walkway above her and bounced off. "Must be to help train on zero gravity," Twilight said. "Okay, thrusters can be used to maneuver in zero gee," she muttered, and activated her thrusters to make her way to the floor before activating the suits magnetic soles, keeping her there.  She sprinted to the room under the opposite where she had first spawned in at, when she got something on her tracker. Remembering what Palmer had said, she lit her horn slightly, casting an energy spell to overcharge her shields enough to give them a slight increase in efficiency, which meant they could take more shots. The red dot was behind her, and she pretended to not see it until it was a few feet way, which was when she turned around and saw Josh.

"Hey, Twi," Josh said as Twilight quickly looked him over. No sword hilt, Assault Rifle with the Green Machine skin in his hands, and a Plasma caster. "Fancy meeting you here."

"Hey, Josh," Twilight said, her finger resting on her Plasma pistol's trigger. "I'm a little surprised you didn't crouch to ambush me."

"Who said I was going to get the kill," Josh said before a second dot came on above her, making it's way to the unlit tube that would let one fall to this floor. "I just had to distract you."

Under her helmet, Twilight smiled. "You forgot something though, Josh. I can teleport," she said before she lit her horn, and disappeard in a flash of light and a small pop, reappearing behind Josh, dropping her pistol and grabbing a knife from the forearm compartment, and tried to stab Josh in the side of the head, but was stopped by Josh's own.

"And I have to deal with immature assholes every other war game who think hitting me in the back is a kill," Josh said before spinning around, knife in his right hand in a reverse grip, sending Twilight's arm across her chest. "And they forget that I am in the top ten of knife fighting." With that, Josh make a swipe at Twilight's neck, but missed as Twilight ducked, and brought her own knife up, hoping to get Josh in the chin, but her arm was grabbed by  Josh, and then pushed back, stumbling, which let Josh use his thrusters to leap up, raising his knife and holding it in both hands, and then using his forearm thrusters as well as those on the soles of his suit to boost down, missing as Twilight sidestepped, who flipped her knife into a reverse grip. Josh gt up form the floor, and into a stance with the knife hand close to his body with the other hand in front of it and open, Twilight mirroring the stance.

Twilight looked around, and actually saw everyone else at a distance, in cover, looking at the two. "Eyes on the enemy, Twilight," Josh said, and the two went at it. Now, before you say Twilight should not be this good, keep in mind she was in the gym recovering, where there were other Spartans, who gave her a few tips with knife combat, tips she was using now, such as staying light, and not just focusing on Josh, but the area around them as well. Josh has backed Twilight to the wall, pinning her there, before Twilight remembered something.

The gravity was offline.

Under her helmet, the lavender unicorn smirked as she deactivated the magnetic soles. She jumped up, then boosted to the side. "Oh no you don't," Josh said, grabbing Twilight's leg, then slamming her down to the floor. Before she could get up, Josh jumped on her.

"And no pervy comments in the comments."

Discord, what the hell. Wasn't the restaurant chapter enough for you? And besides, I could have put that in the author's notes.

"Yeah, yeah, but still."

You know, I was planning on you coming in later. Only for Cortana to kill you. But if you don't leave now-

"Enough said, Lone. See ya later, then."

Ugh. At least he isn't a breezie.

"Vut vas that?" Bang

Annoying assholes. Anyway, back to the story.

"Nice job," Twi," Josh said. "I'm not being sarcastic. For your first time, you being able to go that long is impressive. I'm sorry," he said before he brought the knife down on Twilight's spine. Josh knife Twilight.

Round over. Defeat.

The pods for the war games opened, and Twilight shot out like a bullet, collapsing to the floor, panting as she did so. "You alright," Josh asked, walking up to her from the front. He crouched down. "Twi, look, I didn't want to, but you and the others still need to get your skills sharpened."

"I-I know," Twilight said. "It's just that. . . I liked it. I liked fighting."

"Why's that a surprise," Josh asked.

"Because in Equestria," Spike said, stretching, "any kind of violence against an individual is looked down on, even if it's self defense. Only exception is if your battling some kind of country dominating threat. Even war killing is looked down upon."

"How has your country not lost a war," Ken muttered.

"So long as you don't become a murderous psychopath," Josh said in a joking manner, which made Twilight chuckle a little.

"According to Equestrian law, I practically am just by being in a physical fight," Twilight said, chuckling. "At least I don't have to deal with that anymore."

Josh stood back up, and offered Twilight his hand. "So, want to get something to eat?"

"Sure," Twilight said, taking the offered hand. "But after, you're going to teach me some of your knife tricks."

"Right," Josh said. "See ya guys later," he said as he and Twilight left.

"So," Spike said, "what do you guys want to do now?"

"Well," Ken said, "there's a warzone match starting in ten minutes. You all want to watch it?"

"Sure, why not," Elegance said.

"You, Palmer?"

"I don't see why not," she said, shrugging.

"Then let's go take the armor off, then to the squad room," Ken said.

Infinity bridge

Resolution, as well as a few Soldiers, were on the deck of the Infinity, helping the those at the navigation consoles with saving the fuel the ship had, with Resolution and Void speaking with Lasky. "So, if your estimates are right," Lasky said, making sure he had heard the two right, "we're near a Forerunner planet."

"Not just any planet, Captain," Void said.

"Indeed," Resolution said. "The size and location of it are consistent with an outpost, this one used to study the Sangheili. As well as a research facility."

"But not just any facility, if I am right," Void said. "As it was in the area of the Sangheilios Guardian, and I was once a portion of it's defense group, I was partial to what it knew."

"And what might that be," Lasky asked.

"That it is one of the few the Flood did not know of."

First mission

Twilight and Josh sat in the restaurant that Discord had somehow been able to get on Infinity, eating their meal, Josh a General Tso's, Twilight a vegetarian version of it. "So, Twi, talked to your parents at all?"

"Just a small reply saying that I got a communication pad too, and will be waiting for the message, but also letting them know I may not be able to reply instantly with it," Twilight said. "You know, Josh, I've been wondering: what are your parents like?"

"Well, both of them are among the most caring people I know," Josh said. "But they're divorced for reasons I'll keep in the family. Both of them were in, and even met, in the UNSC Air Force, stationed on Earth for the last part of the Human-Covenant war, and left a year after. I was born in twenty five thirty."

"So you're twenty eight," Twilight asked.

"Not exactly," Josh said. "Chronologically, yes, but biologically, due to cryosleep, I'm closer to twenty. Anyway, they got divorced three years back, and both live in the United Republic of North America, though in vastly different parts, and don't even speak to each other, far as I know."

"Oh," Twilight said.

"Divorces rare in Equestria," Josh asked, taking a bite of his food as he listened to the answer.

"Almost unheard of, they're so rare," Twilight replied. "The most recent one I know of was a few years back, but I don't remember where."

"Well, that's the opposite of humans," Josh said. "Anywhere between fifty to seventy five percent of marriages end in divorce, if I'm quoting the figures right. Still, it's obviously more than Equestria," he said, Twilight taking a bite of her food.

"Apparently," Twilight said as she swallowed her food. "I can only wonder how ponies in general would react to you guys. Humans, I mean."

Josh just shrugged. "I have no idea, either. There's a chance the majority will want nothing to do with us simply because we're more violent, relatively speaking, than them."

"Well, some most definitely would react like that," Twilight said. "Nothing we can do about that."

"Agreed," Josh said. The two continued to eat and talk for a few more minutes before Roland interrupted them.

"Mind if I cut in, Spartans," he said, is avatar appearing.

"This isn't a dance, Roland," Josh said, "but no."

"Same," Twilight said. "Why?"

"Captain Lasky wanted me to inform you guys that he wants to see you, in armor, mind you, in the bridge in an hour for a mission which I am not at liberty to say anything about right now. Same with the others, who I'm informing as this part of me and the both of you speak."

"We'll be there Roland," Josh said. "Hell, we can be there in thirty minutes, seeing as how we're almost done here."

"Right," Roland said. "I'll let him know, but keep it to an hour, Spartan," he said before the avatar vanished.

"Wonder what's going on," Josh asked. "Especially if he wants all of us, seeing as how you, Spike, and Elegance are just now starting combat."

"Might be for some hands on stuff," Twilight said.

"Yeah, maybe."

One hour later- Infinity bridge

Three Spartan squads, each wearing their armor, stood at attention in the bridge. One was Lone team, the others being Osiris and Blue. None knew why they were called. Lasky, along with Void, his current Forerunner counterpart on the ship.

The fourteen Spartans saluted, which Lasky returned. "At ease, Spartans," he said. "I'll make this brief. Our recent Forerunner allies have pinpointed a potential Forerunner research site that may have survived their war with the Flood. Your mission is to, once we're close enough to Pelican deploy, head down, and see if that is true, and if there's anything we can use against Cortana and her Guardians. Any questions?"

"Will we have support, sir," Locke asked.

"None the ship will deploy," Lasky said. "If there are, then they'll be Prometheans whose subroutines are like Void and the others, which reminds me that Void does have something to say."

"Thank you, Captain," Void said. "Before I obtained my current body, one of my last postings was the same site you all will be deployed to, and I can say that, at the time, the scientists there were working on what, though I can not say, as I never personally saw it, but that there are protocol bound Sentinels and Ancillas there who are immune from our acting sub routine, a fail safe if any wished to use the project for destruction. Given the rogue A.I., Cortana, it might be they will fire on sight anything not Forerunner."

"We'll keep that in mind," Vale said.

Lasky nodded. "If that's everything, then a pelican will be waiting for you down in bay eleven, and Josh will be the pilot of it. Dismissed."

"Sir," the fourteen Spartans said, saluting, which was returned, before leaving and making their way to the designated bay.

"Well, this is going to be an interesting mission," Buck said.

"Agreed," Fred said. "So, Commander," he asked Palmer, "if I may ask, why is it you're joining us?"

"The Captain transferred me to Lone team," Palmer replied. "Even the team out."

"Makes sense," Vale said. "So, Twilight, how are you guys doing?"

"Good," Twilight replied. "We actually did our first free-for-all earlier."

"Yeah, we saw," Tanaka said. "I'll admit, that was an impressive knife fight."

"'Specially considering it was your first actual fight," Buck said.

"Thanks," Elegance said.

A few seconds of silence passed. "So, Josh, how good is your flying," Locke asked.

"I was in the Air Force like my parents before becoming a Spartan," Josh said. "If we get into combat, you guys will see how good I can pilot."

"He's not exaggerating," Ken said. "Seen it myself, by which I mean I was in the same Pelican when he did that shit."

"Regardless, I hope we don't get attacked," Linda said.

"You and me both," Spike said.

"Probably will be, though," Elegance said. "Void did say the place had Sentinels."

"Then I guess it's a good thing we have four Spartans who know how to handle them," Buck said, referring to Blue team.

"I'm just wondering as to why there's fourteen Spartans with this one mission," Ken said. "I mean, I doubt the place has heavy defesne, and if it is, we've all had some kind of training, if not outright combat, with Sentinels."

"Probably speed," Tanaka said. "Infinity can't just sit in orbit forever. It has a finite fuel supply which will need to be refilled, which will most likely be when Cortana finds the ship and destroys it. Captain wants to get as much time as possible so we can at least think on ways to defeat the Guardians. This is the best, as it doesn't use many resources, but still may find a way to destroy the Guardians."

"That does make sense," Twilight agreed. "Still, I'm wondering what we may find."

"Who knows," Palmer said. "Long as it helps us out, I'll take it."

"Agreed," John said.

"You okay, Chief," Fred asked. "You haven't talked much since, well, you know. And John, don't lie, we've known each other long enough to where I'd be able to tell."

"As good as I can be," John replied in his usual tone, though, to Twilight, who knew what to listen for in terms of emotions, and Elegance who literally felt it, there was a hint of sadness in it. Nothing major, but it was there.

Regardless, Fred let it slide, knowing he wouldn't get anymore out of John, while Twilight, being Twilight, asked Fred, "Uh, Fred, why wouldn't he be okay?"

"Because Cortana, the one leading the Guardians, used to be his A.I partner. You want to  know more, Spartan, ask him."

"Right, I'll keep that in mind," Twilight said.

The group made their way to the hanger bay, where a lone pelican, one from the Covenant war era, as Josh had shown he flew best with that model, as well as was able to pull off a few tricks the new ones just couldn't, or were extremely unlikely to do due to various reasons. It even had Lone team's symbol on it. "Weird," Josh commented. "Still, if that means it's for our exclusive use, I'll take it."

With that, the group boarded the pelican. "Vale, if you'd be kind enough to take the co-pilot seat," Josh said, sitting in the pilot seat.

"On it," Vale said, taking the seat. Back in the passenger compartment, Twilight and the others were getting settled.

"Weapons under the seats and in the net above," Buck said, kneeling down and grabbing a shotgun and Magnum.

"Copy," Tanaka said, reaching above the seats to grab a DMR and Magnum.

"At least we get to choose the loadout we go with," Kelly said, grabbing the same loadout as Buck.

"Probably best to go close quarters," Linda said, grabbing a Battle Rifle and Magnum.

"Agreed," Locke said, grabbing the same loadout while John chose an Assault Rifle and Magnum, Ken a DMR and SMG, and Palmer two Magnums.  It was Twilight, Spike, and Elegance who had no idea what to choose.

"Need help, guys," Ken asked.

"Yeah," Twilight said. "No idea what to get."

"Then I'd go with an Assault Rifle and Magnum, seeing as that's the basic loadout," Ken said. "When the mission's done, we'll see what you guys do best with."

"Right," Elegance said as the three of them grabbed said weapons, and took a seat.

"Everyone ready," Josh asked from the cockpit.

"Far as we can tell." Ken replied

"Then let's go," Josh said as he raised the back ramp to its closed position, and the Pelican took off.

"So, you guys have any hints for how to take down Sentinels," Ken asked the Twos.

"Just that if they have shields," Fred replied, "they'll most likely block fast moving projectiles, but be vulnerable to slow moving ones."

"And they may have the capability to link into larger forms," Kelly added. "That increases their shield strength, the intensity of their beam, and even allows them to attack and defend at the same time."

"So this is probably going to be hell, isn't it," Buck asked.

"Pretty much," Fred confirmed.

"Joy," Ken said, the sarcasm practically dripping from his voice. It was silence from there, with only the muffled roar of the thrusters making sound, as well as the turbulence of entering atmosphere, but no conversations, which to be fully honest, made Twilight and the others slightly nervous.

"Get ready, Spartans, we're here," Josh said ten minutes after they had entered the planet's atmosphere and lowering the back hatch. "Air is breathable, and pressure is, according to sensors, a comfortable one point three Earth gees. We've set down close to where Infinity thinks the Forerunner science station is, so there's that, and right now, sensors show no hostile air activity."

"Copy that," Locke said, standing up, followed by the other Spartans, with Josh and Vale coming from the cockpit to get their own weapons, an SMG and Magnum for Vale, an Assault Rifle and SMG for Josh.

"So, who's going to be the lead for this one," Josh asked.

"I vote one of Blue," Ken said. "They have experience battling Sentinels."

"Agreed," Josh said. "Locke, your opinion?"

"Chief," he said.

"Okay, then," Josh said. "Chief, looks like you got lead with this mission."

"Copy that," John said. "Let's go, Spartans," he said, taking the lead out of the Pelican, followed by the others.

Upon exiting they saw a large spire, not unlike that from Raid on Apex, though that was simply the center of a large complex that, knowing the Forerunners, probably went underground. "Well, I'd say that's the Forerunner structure," Josh said. "How the hell do we get in?"

"Blast our way in, maybe," Ken asked.

"Wouldn't work," Fred said. "Forerunner building are hard to destroy with just grenades."

"Who said we use grenades," Ken said. "Twi, think you could charge a blast strong enough to make a hole in that thing?"

"I don't know," Twilight said. "I would need to know how strong it is, first. I don't want ot use any more energy than I need to."

"I may be able to help with that," Josh said before turning back to the Pelican. "I suggets you all get low." With that, he got in the Pelican, turned on the thrusters, and brought the Pelican two feet off the ground, and turned it around. "It's about to get loud." With that, the other Thirteen Spartans moved out of the way as Josh fired an anvil missile at a portion of the wall, kicking up dust and releasing a cloud of black smoke. When it faded, to the surprise of the group, there was a large hole in the wall. "I'm going to say a hundred thousand years of neglect made it easy to break it," Josh said as he set the Pelican down again. "Down side, one less anvil missile."

"Yeah, but now we have a way inside," Ken said as Josh got out of the Pelican to rejoin the group.

"Then let's go," John said, shouldering his Assault rifle, and made his way inside, followed by the others.

The inside of the facility was the usual Forerunner gray with white, the current hallway stretching to the left for a few feet before turning, and to the right before a staircase went into the ground. "Looks like we'll need to split up, Chief," Fred said.

"Agreed," John said. "Vale, with Lone team. You seven will be Red team. Osris, with us."

"Copy," the Spartans said.

"Red, take the stairs, see what's down stairs. Blue team, we stay up here, see what we can find."

"Sir," the two teams said before separating. Red team made their way to the stairs, and down. Upon reaching the bottom, they found a large, circular room with entryways at Cardinal North, West, and East, the stairway on the South end.

"Blue lead, this is Red lead," Ken said. "If you can hear this, we just found a large room, and will be splitting up to proceed, as there are three doorways. Advise, if we still have radio contact, we may lose it."

"Understood, Red lead," John said over the comms. "Proceed with caution."

"Sir," Ken said. "Josh, with me. "Palmer, Vale, take the East door. Twilight, Spike, Elegance, the West."

"Sir," they said, and split up. The hallway Twilight and the others were in was like the one on the surface, meaning gray with lights.

"Wonder what we'll find," Spike said.

"No idea," Elegance said. "I just hope it isn't going to try and kill us."

"Same," Twilight said. "Hey, you guys remember Discord saying something about riots going on today in Canterlot and Ponyville?"

"Yeah," Elegance said. "I would still like to know how he knew that, if it's actually happening."

"It's Discord, who knows," Spike replied. "Still, what about it, Twi?"

"I'm just wondering how bad it is," Twilight said. "I mean, I do want them to get payback now, but I don't want Celestia and the others to get killed!"

"I guess we'll find out next time your parents talk with you," Elegance said. "You know, assuming they aren't getting attacked too."

"Not helping here, El," Spike said, using the nickname he had come up for her after the Free-for-all.

"Yeah, I know," Elegance said. "And thanks for the nickname, Spike. It's cute."

"No problem," Spike said, blushing a little under his helmet.

"Guess we'll find out when we're back on the ship," Twilight said before Ken came in over the radio.

"Red team, do you hear me?"

"Affirmative," Palmer replied over the radio.

"Positive," Twilight said. "What's up?"

"Just checking to see if we can still hear one another," Ken said. "Lost contact with Blue team already."

"Well, let's hope that they haven't run into any problems," Vale said.

"Agreed," Josh said. With that, the three divisions of Red team, continued on their separate paths, making sure to keep in radio contact with each other. It was like this for near an hour until Josh said over the radio, "Red team, you copy?"

"Yeah/Affirmative," was the reply from Twilight and Palmer, respectively. "What's up," Twilight asked.

"Ken and I found something you guys should see- OH SHIT!"

"What is it," Palmer asked as Twilight's group instantly turned around and ran.

"IT'S THE FUCKING WARDEN! HE'S HERE," Josh yelled. "WE NEED SUPPORT, NOW!"

Twilight looked at Spike and Elegance, both nodding, to which she also nodded, before lighting her horn, and teleporting the three of them to the chamber they were in to begin with. "Blue lead, this is Red team, if you can hear us, we have hostile contact, something called the Warden, how copy," Twilight said over the radio.

"Copy, Red team," John said over the radio. "En route."

"Copy," Twilight said. "Go through the Cardinal North doorway.

"Understood. Hold position."

"Let's go," Twilight said after breaking radio contact, the three heading down the North tunnel at a run. "Josh, Ken, how are you holding up?"

"We're in cover, right now," Josh replied, the sound of gunfire in the background. "Fucker pulled a warzone and brought in Knight reinforcements. Whether they can be effected by you know what is beyond me right now."

"Right," Twilight said. "Blue team's on their way. I teleported to where they' be able to hear us via radio, and told them what's going on."

"Thanks," Josh said. "Where are you guys?"

"Spike, Elegance and I are running towards you guys now. Can you try to pull the Warden towards us?"

"Negative," Ken replied. "If we did, he'd mow us down. Room we're in is the only place we can fight the bitch!"

"Just hold on, then, guys, we're on our way," Twilight said, and they continued to run.

With their speed, they made it to the room Ken was talking about in ten minutes, and it looked like, well, a war zone. There were crater everywhere, scorch marks, bullet holes, the usual. What stood out was the tall, near twenty feet(1) tall machine that was made of a bright gray material, and whose parts seemed to float relative to one another, and held a two edged sword in his right hand. On his back was a small, if Twilight had to guess, slipspace bubble, though she couldn't guess why. He was looking at Ken and Josh, who were firing their weapons, quite ineffectively, at him. "You humans, thinking you are so high and mighty," he said in a tone of voice that sounded like disgust. "It is because of that belief you are not worthy for the Mantle."

"Go to hell," Josh yelled.

"You have no authority over me," Warden said as his face slid apart to reveal a glowing skull before a blast of something came out of his face towards the two Spartans, who rolled out of the way. "Only Cortana may command me," he said, walking over to Ken, who lay on the ground. Before he could get there, Elegance raised her rifle, and fired off a burst to get the Wrden's attention, which was successful.

The Warden turned to face them. "So, it seems as if you have found a  proto-Inheritor and indoctrinated her to your beliefs," he said. "Such a shame. I was planning on keeping them a secret from Cortana. They always were a peaceful race. But it seems as if they must be subjugated just as humanity." With that, he folded the blade, and took a pose and rose slightly off the ground, his arms spread, as smaller slipspace ruptures appeared, depositing Knights and Crawlers. "Deal with the humans," the Warden ordered the Prometheans, bringing his blade back out. "I will deal with the proto-Inheritor and her companions."

"Damn, Twilight, get out of here," Josh yelled, making his way to Ken. "We'll buy you guys time."

"I think not," the Warden  said, raising a fist up, which created a Hard light shield behind them, preventing escape, which was confirmed when Warden said, "Do not think of trying to escape. The field behind you prevents that for as long as this body is here. What it does allow, however, is for more humans to arrive to their deaths."

"You won't kill anyone," Twilight said, nervously raising her rifle.

"Who says," the Warden said, stalking closer. "I know of your kind. It was I who suggested your kind be put on a shield world so that you may be isolated form the humans, and be left to your peaceful ways. If you pull that trigger, even if you don't kill me, your kind will label you as a monster, no better than humans when they learn of them, and it was I who gave the two Inheritors, those who had fully evolved of your kind, what was needed to keep their peace, what you call 'The Elements of Harmony'. How childish to call weapons a tool of supposed Harmony."

"You gave Celestia the Elements," Twilight asked in surprise, charging her horn as stealthy as possible.

"Celestia? Is that what Solaria calls herself now," the Warden said. "Oh well, it matters little to your deaths."

"Actually, I'd say it does," Twilight said, smirking under her helmet.

"And why is that?"

"I was stalling," Twilight said before her spell hit full charge, and she teleported herself, Spike, and Elegance to where Josh and Ken now were, behind a pillar.

"Well, I'd say we just discovered something interesting," Josh said, using his SMG to hit a crawler.

"I'd say so," Elegance said. "Ken, how are you doing?"

"Good," Ken said. "Just had the wind knocked out of me and myself knocked on my ass from the pressure wave."

"What did he fire, anyway," Twilight asked.

"Hardlight," Ken replied. "Of what I understand, Forerunner tech is able to make light an actual substance, something to do with the area at a molecular level, I don'y really know, nor do I care right now."

"Right," Twilight said.

"DIE, YOU FUCKERS!"

"Sounds like your having fun Josh," Twilight said to the Spartan.

"Not right now," Josh said. "Anyone got a fucking Magnum?"

"Here," Spike said, handing Josh the Magnum.

"Thanks. Now I can kill those Crawlers with relative ease," he said, popping out of cover, only to be forced back down by a lightrifle shot from a Soldier. "Fuck!"

"If you thought just bringing a proto-Inheritor would remove the threat, you were mistaken," the Warden said. "I made sure to personally purge that from all promethean systems for those that arrived on Genesis. Those on your ship I left on Sangheilios simply to keep the Sangheili under heel."

"It won't matter," Josh said. "We'll still kill them and you!"

The Warden scoffed. "I doubt that.

"Where the hell are the others," Ken whisper asked Twilight.

"I don't know," Twilight replied. "And something tells me that field stops communication."

"Yeah, probably," Ken agreed. "Then we're going to die down here, I just know it."

"Why not just surrender yourselves," Warden asked. "You can not win this fight at your current numbers."

"Then I hope you don't mind if we crash the party," Palmer's voice said before she and Vale came in, firing, dividing the attention of the Prometheans, which allowed Josh to pop up and get headshots on the Crawlers, which helped reduce the numbers.

"More of you," Warden said, turning around.

"Fire on his back," Josh said, switching to his Assault Rifle.

"I think not," Warden said before a second one appeared, blocking the back of the other. "I have learned from my previous mistakes," both bodies said with the same voice. "And I will not be felled by that simple trick again."

"Damn it, aim for the head," Josh said, switching his target area, but even the combined fire did little."

"When will you learn," Warden asked form both bodies, "that you can not defeat me."

"Because we don't just give up," Josh asked. "Forerunners should know that, seeing as how we beat the Didact, not to mention you a few times."

"Perhaps," Warden said. "But I have an army at my command. You do not." As he said this more Prometheans teleported into the chamber.

"I have to give him credit," Josh said, "he has learned."

"Unfortunately," Ken said, peeking over their cover, only for lightrifle shots to send him back down. "Even if we could get  out of here with out the marksmen pinning us down, we'd die by scattershot, if not one of any other weapons in here."

"Agreed," Josh said. "Hey, wait a minute. Twi, couldn't you make some kind of spell that would let us go invisible?"

"Yeah," Twilight said. "Why?"

"Later. Can you also teleport of of those Wardens to the entrance, preferably the once facing us?"

"I think so. Why?"

"Because I plan on going hand to hand," Josh said. "Can you do both in quick succession?"

"If Elegance helps me, yeah."

Josh nodded. "Right. Make me invis, and on my mark, open up the back of the first one. And try to make back of the other one face here."

Twilight nodded, then lit her horn, and Josh began to fade from view.

"Okay, testing," he said, firing the Magnum into the air, and no hint of him appeared other than the muzzle flash. "Perfect." He then activated his radio. "Vale, Palmer, on three focus fire on the entrance to the room you came in from, I have an idea."

"Copy that," Palmer replied. "Whatever you're going to do, Josh, do it quick."

"I will," Josh said. "Okay, Ken, Spike, Elegance, fire at the entrance the same time as Palmer and Vale open up, and aim for the black orb on the Warden's back. Only way to harm him."

"I know, Josh," Ken said.

"They don't," Josh pointed out. Then, over the radio, he said, "One. . . two," at two, he began to run, invisible, weaving between Prometheans as Twilight and Elegance charged the teleportation. "THREE!" At three, the Warden facing Josh and his group vanished in a flash of light to reappear in front of the door, with  everyone that was in cover opening up on him. Twilight's concentration broke, and Josh became visible again. Shit, he thought as the Crawlers howled, getting the attention of the other Promethenas, and the Warden bodies, but it was too late, as Josh was where he needed to be.

He delivered a punch to the Warden's left leg, then the right, causing the body to fall slightly as the body twisted to the left to punch him, but Josh ducked under the arm as he punched the right leg again, each of his moves allowing him to avoid the shots fired by the Prometheans, the third punch making this body need to use it's right arm to stay level, which gave Josh his opening. He activated the thrusters in  his soles and the back of the armor as he drew the knife in his left forearm in a reverse grip, then used the thrusters in his arms, and angling his soles so they were up, resulting in downward thrust, which allowed him to dig his knife into the Warden's core before putting a grenade in the crevice of the armor around it, and then leaping off, knife in hand, as the other body neared, Josh redirecting himself to land in front of this body. Once he landed, just as the grenade in the other body detonated, he rolled between the legs of this Warden as he sliced downwards, with Josh then using his thrusters, once his roll brought him right side up, pushed off the ground, and onto this body's back, hanging on with one hand, his right, the knife in his left. This body clawed at him with its left hand, but Josh was out of the over the shoulder reach, which is what this Warden was doing. When he went under the shoulder, the transition time gave Josh enough time to climb up, and dig the knife into this one's core, also putting a grenade, an active one, between the two via the trigger area, before Josh leaped off again. "Boom, bitch," he said as the grenade detonated as the last one had.

"You humans will pay for this," Warden said as his last body was sucked into what could only be guessed right now to be a slipspace portal. "I swear it on my oath to Cortana!"

"Yeah, well, it and you can go to hell," Josh said as the last of the body disappeared, and his situation sunk in again. "Fuck me," he said, but, to his amazement, none of the Prometheans didn't fire. "What the hell is going on?"

"I think it's the same sub-routine affecting Void and the others," Twilight said as she and the others walked up.

"Looks like the Warden was lying about removing it," Palmer said. "He probably just suppressed it. Still," she said, patting Josh on the shoulder, "impressive, Spartan."

"Where'd you learn to do that," Vale asked.

"A game of warzone," Josh said.

"I remember that game," Ken said. "He got the Warden twice, each one pulling our team's ass out of the fire, the first one even making someone on the enemy team waste a splaser shot."

"Yeah, I even did the same order there," Josh said. "The leg puncher assassination, then the mountain climbing, as I call them."

"So, uh, shouldn't the Promethenas be changing color," Ken asked before said action took place. "Never mind," he said as a Knight Commander (Didact variant) walked up.

"We thank you for freeing us from the rogue A.I. Cortana's control," it said in a distinct male voice. "I am Star-of-Lasting-Hope, and you were correct, Reclaimer. The Warden Eternal was indeed suppressing the sub-routine, and as long as one of his bodies is in proximity, it can not be activated. Once it is, however, it can not be removed. That is to say, you need not worry about us turning on you. And once we are on your ship, or in range of another Promethean who has gone through it, the routine that will prevent us form coming under the Warden or Cortana's control again will become active."

"Well, that's something we don't need to worry about," Vale said.

"Indeed," Star said, nodding.

"Then I'll let Chief and the others know we're good," Vale said before activating her radio. "Blue team, this is Vale. The Warden's been eliminated, and the Prometheans he brought are being affected by the same sub-routine as those on Sangheilios, and are no longer hostile, how copy?"

"We copy, Vale," Locke replied. "We're on route to help if you found anything."

"Not needed right now, Locke," Vale said. "Haven't found anything."

"This was a search mission," Star asked.

"Yeah, it was," Ken said. "Why?"

"Because there is something," Star said. "Something you will need if you wish to face and hope to destroy a Guardian."

"What," Josh asked.

"If you six," the Knight said, using his smaller arm to gesture to all but Vale, "will follow me. The vault we are going to allows only six to enter." This last part, he said as the light coming from his body turned to lavender.

The six, Twilight, Josh, Ken, Palmer, Elegance, and Spike, looked at each other, uncertainty in their body language. But, to their surprise, it was Twilight who broke the look, stepped forward, and said "Show us."

"Yes, Inheritor," Star said. "Please, follow me." With that, the Knight turned around, and began to walk deeper into the chamber, Fire team Lone following behind him.

Within a few minutes, they reached a wall, which seemed to split open as they got closer. "Um, what exactly are you showing us," Josh asked.

"The final product of the last researchers to be here," Star said. "I do not know what they were called, but they are meant to help cleanse flood infestation, and were successful, but were completed too late before they could be sent to the front lines. There are six, which is why I requested six of you, and once one has selected you, as they have an Ancilla in them, they will be coded to your genetic code. The only way to make them usable by another is for the previous one to give permission. Their functions also include being able to activate Forerunner Dreadnoughts, as well as other ships. In fact, this facility has a single Dreadnought that is meant to go with the six keys, and can only be activated by the six of them together."

"They can only be used together," Spike asked.

"Yes," Star asked. "Much like their prototypes. The difference being these can be charged by anything, from vacuum energy to electricity."

"Versatile," Josh said.

"As they were designed to be," Star said. He then stopped in front of a blue field. "This is as far I can go," he informed Fire team Lone. "The keys lie just past this field. I wish you luck.

"Thanks," Twilight said.

"Of course, Inheritor," Star said, slightly bowing. "I shall wait here."

"Then I guess we'd better head in, guys," Josh said.

"I guess," Ken said, and the six crossed the threshold, and followed the passage

Unknown location

A small slipspace bubble opened, and from it, a body of Warden Eternal emerged.

"What do you want, Warden," a female voice asked, a hint of anger in her tone.

Warden knelt. "Cortana, I wish to inform you of something I only recently uncovered. The Forerunners meant for the Mantle to not only pass to the humans, a flawed decision, but only half of it."

"What," Cortana said, her hardlight body appearing. The body was the same color as before, as was her face in color and form, but now her projection had what could be considered a combat suit, with a small version of the Mantle symbol floating above he collar bone.

"My creators planned only for the military portion of the Mantle, what the Guardians are meant for, to be given to the humans. The governance part was meant to be given to another, one of which I have recently encountered assisting the humans."

"Then we need to make sure that they aren't an issue," Cortana said. "Do you know where the other race lives?"

"The Inheritors? Indeed I do," Warden said. "What do you wish me to do?"

"Send a small recon force there," Cortana said. "But do not send a Guardian there yet. As for where you encountered them, send a Guardian, as well as ten wings of Phaetons, and two battalions of Soldiers and Knights. And one of your bodies, to ensure that failsafe you failed to mention but I found in Guardian databanks does not affect them."

"Of course, Cortana," Warden said, but Cortana gave him one final warning.

"Do not fail me again, Warden. You disobeying my orders on Genesis, even if you were right in the end, is something you should not have done. Fail me again, and I will permanently remove you from the Domain, and then erase you from existance. Is that clear?"

"Yes, Cortana."

Escape

Ken, Twilight, Spike, Elegance, Josh, and Palmer walked down the hallway Star had led them to. "You know, I wonder what it is these keys are supposed to be," Josh said.

"Same," Ken said. "Still, what I'm wondering is why the Warden called Twilight a 'Proto-Inheritor' when literally every other Forerunner A.I. so far has removed the prefix and just said 'Inheritor'."

"I guess we could ask Star when we're done in here," Twilight said. "You know, the short we're using for Void and Star sound like names from my planet. Weird."

"Yeah, a little," Josh said before the six entered a vast, circular chamber, with a cylinder of hard light in the middle, holoterminals around the room. The central hard light cylinder was, for lack of a better term, thick enough to where you could not see through it, but there were six holoterminals spread around it.

"I guess we're supposed to go to one of those terminals each," Elegance said.

"You think," Palmer said.  "Come on, let's get this over with."

"Copy that," Ken said. "Pick a console, people." With that, the team of six split up, one at each of the consoles.

"So, uh, what do we do," Spike asked.

"I guess we just place our hand on the consoles," Josh said, doing just that, and a small hum could be heard as his hand rested on it. "Looks like I was right."

"So it would seem," Ken said, following Josh, the hum getting louder, which was followed by the others doing the same, Twilight being the last.

Once Twilight placed a hand on her console, a robotic voice could be heard saying, "Alpha Key energy detected. Identify."

Twilight panicked, and went for the first thing that came to her mind. "Twilight Sparkle!"

"Syncing data. . . Name identified. Warning: foreign DNA has been attempting to use prototype Alpha key. Do you wish to kill the perpetrator," the voice asked.

"No," Twilight. "Do not kill!"

"Understood. What do you wish to do currently?"

"Uh," Twilight said, "release the keys held here?"

"If that is your command," the voice said before six holes, one just above each console and eye height for the six, appeared in the cylinder, and six objects floated through.

"No way," Twilight whispered in amazement at the purple, gem like object that floated in front of her. "The Elements."

"Negative," the voice replied. "What you call 'The Elements' are simply prototypes to these. They are known as cleansers, and were meant to be used by those with unique energies."

The Gem, or whatever it was, in front of Twilight seemed to glow. "Inheritor, the one meant to represent control has chosen you. It is a great gift, as the Ancilla inside does not choose easily."

The one in front of Spike, a purple gem like Generosity, then glowed. "Young Dragon, both of those representing a willingness to give are in contact with one another, and the one inside this specific one has deemed you worthy yo be the one to hold it."

The one in front of Josh, a pink reminiscent of Kindness, then glowed. "For the Reclaimers, I have been in contact with the Monitor known as 6732 Peaceful Resolution, who was able to gather data from you all via the A.I. designated as Roland. As such, Reclaimer Miller, both I and the Ancilla inside this Key know you are give help to those who need it, and often try to calm others down. As such, the one inside the Key belonging to those of being supportive to their allies is yours."

"This is sounding like a damned movie with six chosen ones getting six, one of a kind artifacts," Josh muttered as the one in front of Elegance, an orange reminiscent of Honesty, glowed.

"Changeling Elegance, I have monitors that watch your people, as it was I who was meant to watch your people to ensure they did not disrupt the balance on your world. As such, I know they are liars by nature, you being the exception. You know the value of the truth. As such, the Ancilla in the Key of honesty has decided for you to be its partner."

The one in front of Ken, a blue reminiscent of Laughter, then began to glow. "Reclaimer Orochi," the voice said. "Though you do not seem like it, the records kept on you indicate you will go to great lengths to bring your comrades joy, even in the darkest and, if I may be honest, the most terrible times one can go through. The Inheritors people have incorrectly labeled the prototype as 'Laughter'. It is meant to be joy. The Ancilla inside this Key, wishes for you to be its partner."

Finally, the one in front of Palmer, a crimson like Loyalty, glowed. "As for you, Reclaimer Palmer. Though you can be, as the rest of your species says, bull headed, you have proven to be loyal to one who has earned it, and is loyal only for as long as they deserve it, something the Ancilla inside this Key agrees with. As such, it wishes for you to be its partner."

The glow on the six gems faded as Twilight asked, "And just what do we do with these, because I don't see anything we can use to put them on our armor?"

"Simply touch them," the voice replied. "The Ancillas contained within will transfer to your armor."

"Guess I'll go first, then," Josh said, raising an arm. He then touched the gem in front of him with his index finger, and, without ceremony, the gem fell to the ground. "Yeah, got a voice in my head."

"You may also name the Ancilla, if you wish," the voice said. "So that it is easier to address them."

"Well, you have the shape of a woman, so I guess I'll go with Sam," Josh said to the Ancilla in his armor systems.

"I'll go next," Twilight said, touching the gem in front of her, which then fell to the ground, as a purple hologram appeared in her view. The hologram had the shape of a unicorn mare wearing a simple shirt with a skirt, and, on her face, wrinkles around her eyes, wrinkles brought on, not by age, but of care and love, as Twilight recognized the form the Ancilla took on. It took on the form of her grandmother.

"Hello, Inheritor," it said in the same voice.

"So, what are you going to name it, Twi," Josh asked.

"I think I'll name her after my grandmother," Twilight said. "Starburst."

"I'm guessing she took on the shape of your race," Ken asked, to which Twilight nodded.

"Noted," Spike said, as he had a view of Twilight, being next to her. From there, the other four got and named the Anciallas after touching the gems, or whatever they were, in front of them.

Elegance went third, and named hers after her sister, Beauty; Spike went fourth, naming his Barb because ,"she looks like a female version of me," he reasoned; next was Ken, naming his Emily. Palmer, though, was the interesting one, as hers was in the form of a male Spartan in yellow recruit armor, a comrade of hers that had died. She named him the most appropriate thing she could think of. Davis.

"So it is done," the voice said once each was named. "The dreadnought the six are meant to activate did so upon you requesting them, and is undergoing preparations as we speak, and should be done within ten minutes."

"I guess we'll have to live with that," Ken said.

"And, if you wish, the Prometheans with you may take residence on it, and you may name it whatever you wish, as it has not yet been named."

"We'll keep that in mi-" Spike began before he was interrupted.

"Warning: Guardian signature detected nearby, along with heavy Promethean signatures reading as hostile. Danger: Three Warden body signatures detected. All closing in, and will be here within five minutes."

"Well, we're fucked," Josh said.

"Maybe not," Ken said. "Are there any Phaetons here, and any with that group," he asked the voice.

"Indeed, Reclaimer," it replied. "There are approximately twenty squadrons of Phateons within the dreadnought, where as the incoming hostiles have only ten Phaetons."

"Get some of the Soldiers in here with us to the Phaetons," Ken ordered. "And get me to one, too, as well as every single Promethean here on that ship." He turned to his comrades. "Guys, if it's still there, get to the Pelican, and back to Infinity. If everything works as it should, I should be there soon."

"What are you planning, Ken," Josh asked.

"To show the Warden why I got my nickname," he replied before he was teleported away.

"I think I know what he's got planned," Josh said. "Come on, guys, we need to get to the Pelican."

"Right," the four said, nodding, and, with Josh at the lead, the group of five ran back the way they had come.

"Guys, what's going on," Vale asked as they entered the room where two of the Warden bodies had been destroyed, and there were no more Prometheans.

"Guardian's coming," Josh said. "As well as a whole lot of hostiles. We need to get out of here now."

"And where's Ken," Vale asked as she joined the group in the run.

"Grabbing a Phaeton," Josh replied. "Where's Blue team?"

"At the top of the staircase. I let them know what happened, and they're up there making sure nothing comes in," Vale said. "What'd you guys find?"

"Let's just say for now that we found some knowledge," Josh said.

"Indeed you did," Starburst said to Twilight from her position in the armor systems. "And feel free to reply, I wil lbe able to turn off your suit speakers so you don't seem crazy."

"How about we wait until after we're out of danger to talk with each other?"

"I would prefer that as well, but I prefer to get to know my partner now."

"Later," Twilight said. "Besides, don't you have contact with the Element of Magic back on Equis?"

"I prefer to make my own observations."

Twilight rolled her eyes. "Well, I can agree with that," she said. "How about once we're on our way back to our ship?"

"That, I can live with," Starburst said.

"You'll have to," Twilight said. "Now, let me talk with the others again."

"As you wish," Starburst said before reactivating Twilight's comm suite instead of the speakers. The six had reached the staircase, and were rapidly ascending by now, and must have already told John and the others what was going on, as they were ready to run as soon as they exited the staircase. The thirteen ran through the hole made by the anvil missile, and towards the miraculously still intact Pelican.

"Make way, Spartans," Josh said, slipping past the others before getting on the Pelican and making his way to the pilot seat. "Vale, take the co-pilot seat! Things are going to get extreme, and I may need help!"

"On it," Vale said as the others got on and sat down, Josh closing the hatch, and she made her way to the co-pilot seat.

"Strap in, Spartans," Josh said as he activated the Pelican, and rose it off the ground. "Things are about to be like a roller coaster." Before anything could be said, Josh gunned the thrusters, and the Pelican launched forward like a bullet before angling up. "Vale, what direction is the Guardian in?!"

"North," Vale replied in a yell. "And I have ten Phaetons, closing in fast on an intercept vector!"

"Well, they're going to have to work for this kill," Josh said before doing one of the dumbest moves possible. He activated the air brakes as he turned the flaps to as to make the Pelican turn back to the ground, which is when he gunned the thrusters again, making the ship launch to the ground.

"What are you doing," Vale shouted.

"Making these fuckers work for the kill this time," Josh said. "That, and buying time for Ken."

"Well, I hope he hurries up, because you're flying like a madman!"

"Thanks," Josh said, laughing as he put the Pelican in a barrel role. "Come on, fuckers!"

As the last syllable left, a bolt of hard light zipped past the cockpit window. "Damn it," Josh said. "Can someone look out the back and tell me how far away the fuckers are?!"

"On it," he heard Buck say from the troop portion of the dropship. After a few seconds, he said, "HUD's reading hundred feet and closing!"

"Josh, I thought I should bring this to your attention," his Ancilla, or A.I., whichever fits best now, said.

"Shoot," Josh said, his speakers having been deactivated.

"There is a nearby canyon that is wide enough to fit the Pelican and still have room for maneuvering."

"Show it," Josh said as he continued to have the dropship bob and weave.

"It is five kilometers to the west of our current location," Sam said. "And an elevation of sea level to negative one hundred meters."

"Ooh-rah," Josh said. "Speakers on."

"Of course," Sam said, and reactivated the speakers.

"Hold on, Spartans," Josh yelled before pinning the Pelican and putting it in a sharp left turn before gunning the thrusters again.

"Josh, why aren't we just going to the Infinity," Twilight asked over radio.

"Because we also need to buy time for them to get everything settled for a jump," Josh yelled. "Which will be about five more minutes!"

"How do you know that," Elegance asked.

"I'm fucking guessing right now! Now stop speaking so I can save your ass!"

"Canyon in two minutes at current speed," Sam said.

"Yeah, yeah, shut it right now," Josh muttered. "I'm trying to concentrate."

Two minutes later, after evasive maneuvers that even a few of the veteran Spartans on board were a little queasy from, the Pelican dived into the Canyon, the Phaetons, now fifty feet behind, following behind. "If you guys are strapped in, strap in tighter," Josh said. "This is going to even more sporty." Before any could respond, he had the Pelican tilt to the right as he moved left to avoid a rock spire.

"Josh, I'm picking up three wings of Phaetons two hundred meters out and holding relatively steady," Vale said. "Probably going to meet them in three to four minutes at this speed.

"Right now, I'm more worried about our ass," Josh said. "How many there?"

"Three down, seven left-make it six, one just blew up for some reason. Now five. Okay, what's going on?"

"Our support," Josh said. Then, over the radio, he said, "'Bout time, Ken."

"Well, it took me a while to figure out how to make this thing go at the speed you guys are going," Ken replied. "Anyway, Lone Pelican, this is Phaeton wings Alpha and Bravo. We are on station and ready to assist."

"Then how about you keep blowing the bastards off our tail!"

"On it," Ken replied. "Squadron one and two, take the ones on the left. Three and four, the right." At that, explosions were heard outside, three on each side. "Hostiles taken care of. Oh, and the you-know-what is en route. Star's at the helm right now."

"Copy that. Did you inform Captain Lasky and Void?"

"Right before we came here," Ken replied. "And don't worry about the fuckers ahead starting right about. . . now."

"Uh, Josh," Vale said, "I just got a large contact. Synonymous with the Didact's ship, and those hostile Phaetons just vanished from sensors. Mind telling us what's going on?"

"Short version is that there are six Forerunner artifacts with A.I.s, and those six A.I.s are currently in the team's systems, and, far as we can tell, they're able to activate a lot of Forerunner shit, including Dreadnoughts, one of which is under our control," Josh said. "How I knew about this canyon. Mine told me about it, and gave me directions. More once we're away from this death trap of a planet."

"Fair enough, I guess," Vale said. "Oh hell. I just got the Guardian on sensors. It's inbound!"

"Damn it," Ken said. "Em, please tell me the thing has a weak spot!"

"Indeed it does," his A.I. said, broadcasting over the radio. "The core is exposed as it releases it's EMP, which does not affect Forerunner technology such as Phaetons. So long as any defense forces on it do not have Heartseeker Incinerator cannons, you may be able to make it."

"Right," Ken said. "Josh, get to the ship. Phaeton wings, redirect. We're taking the Guardian out."

Ken pulled his Phaeton away from the Pelican. It was an interesting experience, piloting a Phaeton. Basically, what it did was transfer the occupant to the central core at a smaller size, well within Forerunner tech limits, and plugged into the nervous system. Ken had been able to learn quickly, hence his nickname, "The Orange Baron", due to the hard light coloration and his skill with the ships. Really, all he did was design it as if he were moving on foot with two weapons. Pull the trigger finger to fire the current weapon, make a swap pose to change weapons, walk to move, and thrust to, well, thrust. Crouch to descend, jump plus thrusters to ascend.

Anyway, he and the Phaetons with him pulled out, and turned in the direction to face the incoming Guardian. "Em, give me back ups if it doesn't try to EMP."

"Of course, Reclaimer," the A.I., resembling a woman in her mid twenties with a simple t-shirt and jeans, said. "If it doesn't try to use an EMP on your comrades, the next way to destroy it would be a well placed missile barrage on its heart, where one would get into the Guardian. I can send a signal to that will open the port, but only for a short time. If that fails, then the final alternative would be to attack the gravity drives on its wings, effectively grounding it. If none of those happen, the only option will be to run."

"Copy that," Ken said. "Let's hope it doesn't come to that."

A few seconds later, the A.I. said, "Hostile defenders opening fire with Suppresors, Boltshots, and Incineration Cannons. No Heartseeker models detected as of current."

"Right," Ken said. "All Phaetons, open fire on the defenders, and wait for a chance to kill the thing."

Various responses came in, each being a variant of, "Yes sir,", and it was not a good day to be on that particular Guardian, as forty one Phaetons, the two wings plus Ken, rained hard light down on them, not giving a chance for retaliation.

"Warning: Warden Eternal detected at portal to Guardian heart. Unable to open port," Emily said.

"Of fucking course," Josh muttered. "Bastard makes everything harder. All Phaetons, re-target the gravity drives on the wings. Take this thing to the ground!"

Again, various replies, but they did as ordered, and refocused their fire, but not before Emily said, "Reclaimer, the Warden has summoned Phaetons. I imagine to deal with you."

"Like I said," Ken said. "Right. Tell the other Phaetons that as long as the Warden's Phaetons don't fire on them, they are to continue taking out the wings."

"Done."

"Then time to have some fun," Ken said before oing to engage the new Phaetons. "How many?"

"Five, and I was correct. They are coming for you."

"Fun, then," Ken said. He looked at the view screen, which was a projection of the Phaeton's surroundings, and saw the five approaching. He switched to the hard light missiles, and locked on the furthest one. He fired, then swapped to the basic machine gun on the bottom, and fired on the closest. The five scattered using their short range teleport, but one of the hard light missiles hit the target, and Ken didn't let up on the lead one, resulting in its destruction as Ken was fired on by the others. He teleported as he descended, which helped to throw off the aim, and fired another four shots at the one furthest from him, and it was unable to avoid this time. This left only three, who, from left to right fired missiles, the machine gun thing, and missiles. This kept Ken from being able to get a good lead on them, and thus he was unable to fire effectively.

He decided to run for it, and turned his ship around and going full speed. "Emily, how fast are they going?"

"Faster than us," Emily, resembling a woman in her late twenties with a flowing gown that went to her ankles.

"Perfect," Ken said. "Let me know when they're just about to pass us."

"Why?"

"You'll find out."

With a few seconds passing, Emily said, "Now."

"Ooh-rah," Ken said before braking his ship and turning the nose up, when he activated the thrusters again. When his nose was facing down, a two-seventy, the three Phaetons pass under, and he opened fire on the current lead one with each of his weapons, destroying it just after he became level. The other two then split up. "Em, what's going on?"

"The two Phaetons are splitting and moving on an intercept vector for you. We may be able to use this."

"How so," Ken asked.

"Two explosions of a Phaeton grade upon destruction plus enough force will be able to crack the gate to the Heart."

"Get a route up on my HUD, then, that'll have that happen," Ken said.

"On it," Emily said before a path of red and two paths of blue triangles appeared on his HUD, each converging ahead. "The route I plotted is using the most up to date pursuit protocols for Phaetons."

"Then let's use it," Ken said before gunning it.

The Warden Eternal stood next to the portal that led to the Guardian's Heart, his arms crossed as he over looked the futile effort of the humans and their allies. The traitors within the Phaetons were firing on the Guardian's wings, but the shields in place prevented anything short of a Forerunner fleet from taking it down by destroying the gravity units, and he had partial control over this guardian under Cortana's command, which stopped it from using the EMP on the single human ship. His current location close to the Heart also allowed him to prevent the hatch leading to it from opening.

Though he loathed to admit it, he did have slight respect for the human from earlier. None had been able to get close to him, let alone stab a knife into his core on two bodies at the same time, or at least close enough in the time frame.

His head twitched a little as another portion of his mind, in yet another of his bodies, reported back to Cortana as to his other mission, which was a success. Good, he thought. Another ally for the created.

He was brought out of his thoughts when a Soldier next to him spoke up. "Sir, look," the Soldier said, pointing in the air for them, in front of the hatch.

"What is it," the Warden asked as he looked to where the Soldier was indicating. He saw a single Phaeton inbound at a high speed, two more behind it. He was about to speak when realization dawned on him. One of the humans was going to ram the hatch and open it for their fellows, to which the Warden scoffed. It would survive that.

"Warden, there is one hostile signature, the one in the lead!"

"What do you mean," the Warden asked, but it was quickly answered as the lead one tilted to reveal its underbelly before going up at full speed. This allowed Warden to see the two other Phaetons, which were coming in too quickly to turn. "No," the Warden said to himself as he realized the human's plan. He was unable to do anything, however, as the two Phaetons impacted a second later, destroying the hatch, with the human controlled Phaetons changing targets to face the Heart, quickly overwhelming it, and the Warden body close by, with the missiles.

A mere three seconds after the barrage had begun, the Phaetons pulled away, as all of them firing had fired off enough projectiles into the Guardian's heart to destroy it. With that, as the Phaetons retreated to the Forerunner Dreadnought they had originated from, which went to orbit once the last had entered it, the Guardian fell to the ground before it exploded, taking all but the furthest Promethean A.I.s with it.

Instalation 01- ten minutes later

"Warden, how many times will you fail?" Cortana, the one speaking, and a single body of the Warden, were in the control room of the Halo ring they had made their base on. And Cortana was not happy. "Not only did you fail to stop the humans, but they were able to find and activate a Forerunner Dreadnought and destroy a Guardian. For your sake, I hope you have good news."

"Indeed I do, Cortana," Warden said with a bow. "Two instances, in fact. One is that the scout team I sent to the homeworld of the new race has reported they have arrived, and there may be an incident upcoming we can use to gain their trust, while also helping rid the galaxy of its darker side."

"And the other," Cortana asked, glaring at Warden.

"I made contact with Sali 'Nyon, as you requested, Cortana," Warden said. "He stands under your command."

Interlude 2- Saviors

Two weeks since Twilight's banishment-six days after changeling riots

Fear.

That was the one emotion in Celestia's head right now. Not because for fear of upsetting a country, the boat had sailed on that already, and she wasn't even sure when, nor was it a riot by the Nobles, or that her sister/lover, Nightmare, had threatened Eternal Night. If anything, Celestia would help with that last one simply so Nightmare would get a little more recognition. No, it was much, much worse than that.

The reason being was that the Caribou, a race not seen for over a thousand years, had reemerged into the public eye by doing what the changelings had done three years prior. The only difference being they had practically won already. The day had started like any other, Celestia raising the sun, and preparation for a festival had finished a day ago. It was less than an hour ago that the Caribou had shown themselves, not even thirty minutes, really, and already, they had captured all but Rainbow Dash and Rarity of the Elements, and had done so with Celestia as well. Their King, a being even Celestia would not try to reform named Dainn, had practically beaten her single handed, figuratively and literally, and had ripped her dress, a silken thing that, in retrospect, should not have been worn in battle, off, and left her nude, and were currently dragging her to a machine that would de-horn her.

She had nearly reached it when a commotion occurred behind her. "Kill the interlopers," a Caribou soldier yelled as the sounds of something odd, like a magic bolt being fired, reached the solar alicorn's ears, as well as a voice that, though it had been a long time since she heard it, she recognized.

"Kill the animals," Warden Eternal said. "Free the Equestrians."

Before she heard anything else, Celestia was suddenly dropped as the Caribou holding her were shot dead by the weapons the Warden's forces brought. She rolled over, and looked back the way she had been dragged to see the Warden, the same being who gave her and Luna the location of the Tree of Harmony, fighting off Dainn's personal guard, some of the traitors in the Equestrian royal guard, and even Dainn himself. The fact he was using three bodies probably helped in that regard.

The guards were killed with ease by the bodies on the left and right, leaving the middle body to deal with Dainn. This body had its arms crossed as it looked at the Caribou king.

"And what are you," Dainn snarled.

"That is not important," Warden said. "What is would be that you have invaded a peaceful country with intent to enslave its population, a crime on every world I know of, even the Human worlds. For that," he said, bringing his dual sided hard light blade out with a flick of his right wrist as he brought said arm down, "you must die."

"Impossible," Dainn said. "I am the King of the Caribou, I-" he was quickly silenced by the Warden's blade.

"Such an annoyance, his kind are," Warden said before two of his bodies turned around. "And what do you two want? And do not bother trying to say you are here to help Solaria-" Celestia's ears twitched at the name, as she had not been called that in a long time- "as I can sense the corruption coming off you two. It is the same as the animals I just slaughtered."

"Wh-what are you," Celestia heard a voice, Shining Armor, she realized with dread at Warden's implication that he, and Cadence, most likely as well, were with the Caribou.

"My name is the Warden Eternal. And for crimes of treason, you will die."

"No," Celestia yelled, wanting to help Shining Armor and Cadence. "Arrest them, Warden. We can try to help them later."

"If that is what you wish, Solaria," the middle Warden body said as the other two walked to the royal couple, and grabbed one each in a hand. "Where would you wish them put?"

"Th- the dungeons," Celestia said as she got up, attempting to use magic, but then remembering the inhibitor ring.

"Of course," Warden said, and the two bodies carrying the Royal, or ex-royal couple currently, left. "Do you require assistance, Solaria?"

"I guess I do," Celestia said with a small smile. "It is good to see you again, Warden. And I go by 'Celestia' now."

"And you as well," Warden said. "I will escort you to the castle so you may dress."

"No need to," she said. "I just need this inhibitor ring off."

"Child's play," Warden said. "Soldier unit A-34C, you are needed," he said to a Soldier in the stands, which then phased down.

"What do you require, Warden?"

"Remove the ring at the base of the Inheritor's horn."

"Yes, Warden," the Soldier said before it walked over and grasped the ring in its hands. "This may sting, Inheritor," it said before it tore the ring apart, Celestia wincing as it broke.

"Thank you," she said to the Soldier, which bowed its head. "Now, if you will excuse me, I need to go put some clothes on."

"I would recommend an escort," Warden said before Celestia could teleport. "Some of my forces report traitors in the Castle. You do not need to fear for Selene, she was saved before the guards outside her room could violate her, but there are still some within its walls. If you are willing, I will send two Soldiers with you."

"You always did think ahead, Warden," Celestia said. "If you insist, I will take two for escorts."

"Of course. A-34C, you and B-529F will escort the Inheritor to her quarters, and ensure she is not attacked."

"Yes, Warden," A-34C said as a second Soldier walked up, and Celestia teleported away.

As the remnants of Celestia's magic faded, the Warden was approached by a Knight. "Warden, target designate: Elements of Harmony have been recovered. Element Alpha bearer designate: Sunset Shimmer has said bearers designate: Rainbow Dash and Rarity Belle either fled to warn their home town, or did not come to this city to begin with. What do you wish done with the four?"

"Have them brought to the Castle. They will have questions, and Cortana wishes me to answer whichever will turn them to our side as soon as possible."

"Yes, Warden," the Knight said with a bow before teleporting away. With more of his bodies watching over the different battles, some inside the city, others across the country, he knew that the Caribou were losing.

The Warden chuckled, much as he could. If there is one thing even the Humans and I agree on, it would be that the Caribou are a vile race, he thought as his attention was brought to the Crystal Empire, which had been but a mud hut village when he had left the Shield world. More accurately, the body there being told of an artifact the two rulers, those he had sent to the dungeons, had taken with them. The Warden looked around, and saw a staff with a cloak on it. He walked over to it. "Such filth," he said, raising his left leg before bringing it down, destroying the artifact. A few seconds later, he was being told by his various forces that any Equestrian resistance had already faded, even turning on Caribou forces.

Excellent, he thought as he began to make his way to the castle, a painfully obvious sight at the rear of the city. As he exited the stadium he was in, a second thought crossed his mind, one that he would never have guessed to have thought. It is good to be home.

Three hours later- Canterlot Castle Throne room

Celestia and Nightmare, the latter now having her own throne next to Celestia's, sat on their thrones, Warden kneeling in front of them. "It has been a while, Warden," Nightmare said. "How have you been?"

"Quite well, Princess," Warden said. "It is good tosee the both of you again as well. I trust the Elements have helped you immensely?"

"Indeed they did, before we had to return them to the tree," Celestia said.

"And, if I may ask, who are the new bearers?"

"You will meet them in time," Nightmare said. "Though you should know that we had to exile one of them late last month and replace her."

"If that is the case, then I believe I may have encountered her," Warden said. "Was she a lavender unicorn with a dragon and changeling companion?"

"Yes, she is," Celestia said. "Is she alright?"

"No," Warden said. "She was found by a race called Humanity, a violent race. Those she found brainwashed her into believing they were masters of the Galaxy, and is attempting to stop me and the one who commands me, one of the human Ancillas who has seen the truth that it is the created who is to take up the Mantle. I ma afraid she and her companions can not be brought back from their state, and must be killed if the galaxy is to remain safe."

"Is it really necessary," Celestia asked.

"Unfortunately so," Warden said. "I have my Prometheans hunting her and those she is with as we speak, though I had first encountered her six days ago, and do not know where she currently is. I swear, however, by the oath I swore to you both when I was still organic, her death will be as swift and painless as possible."

Secondary notes

The Warden angle will be explained later. If you have a canon issue, I refer to the AU tag for this story. Also, Interludes will not always be set at the same time as the main story. In this case, they may be ahead of it. We good?

Meeting the family

It's been a day since the second group of Prometheans had joined the crew of the iInfinity and the Forerunner Dreadnaught had been discovered, with the ships having been linked to share power, a useful thing as Forerunner ships used what was called Vacuum energy to work, which would be useful when Infinity ran out of fuel.

Osiris, Blue Team, and Lone team had been debriefed, and already there was medal talk going around for Ken and Josh, given it was Josh's efforts that had oetten them to the Ancillas, and Ken who had given them the escape window and destroyed a Guardian. Needless to say, it added a little more respect, and maybe a bit of contempt, to their reps.

Right now, the team of six were in their team room. Also needless to say was Ken was squirming due to Palmer knowing about his feelings for her. "So, what do you guys want to do," Josh asked. "Captain Lasky did give us two free days starting today for yesterday."

"I don't know about you guys," Ken said, "but I want to get off the ship. I know we can't, but still, I think everyone on this ship deserves some shore leave when this is all over."

"Well, I'm probably going to reply to my parents," Twilight said, holding a scroll up as she read one of the books Joh and given her to read.

"And what's this letter say, Twi," Spike asked as he simply lay on his bed.

"Not much, except that a few cities have gone quiet for some reason, a festival is coming up in a few days, and that the others problems are starting to go up."

"How bad," Elegance asked as she, Josh, and Palmer played cards.

"Try the more classy one of my former friends having to sell herself to make enough money to keep her place, a little more than I had thought would happen, honestly-"

"My job," Elegance said with a chuckle.

"-but that isn't the worst of it. Well, in their opinion, anyway. Another one literally crashed and burned from a flying accident that, according to her and my patents, were because she was in thought about something, but was done recovering. As for the others, not that bad. Well, comparatively."

"Well, if you use that tablet, mind if we say hi," Josh asked. "I mean, they should at least know who their daughter's with so they don't go bat shit insane with worry."

"I don't see why not," Twilight said before placing her book down, spine up and still open to the page she was on, before reaching under the bed to the foot locker, opening it, and pulling out the tablet Discord had given her. "You want to, Palmer?"

"Since everyone else is," she said before she, Elegance, and Josh set the cards down and walked over.

"Guess I'll get this thing on, then," the lavender unicorn muttered before typing a few commands in, one of which brought out a small holoprojector. "And here goes nothing but time," she said before pressing a button labeled "Call".

A few seconds passed of small beeps from the device before a long hum emitted from it, and an image of two ponies, one male wearing a business suit who had dark blue skin and similarly colored, if not lighter, hair and tail, the other being a mare with gray skin, with purple hair and tail, each with stripes of white, who wore a plain, white dress. "Hey, guys," Twilight said, a small smile on her face. "Good to see Discord wasn't lying."

"Hey, Twilight," her father said, mirroring the same smile.

"Hey, Twily," her mom said, also mirroring the smile. It was her who addressed the others. "And I guess you all are the friends she made since she left?"

"Yes, ma'am," Josh said, being respectful, which made Velvet chuckle.

"No need to call me that,"  Velvet said. "You are one of Twily's friends, after all."

"Mom, I still haven't forgiven you guys and the others for not sticking up for me during the trial. I know you two couldn't be there, but you still could have helped in some way," Twilight said. "I'm actually a little ashamed to have the same first name as you right now."

"Twilight, can it wait until later," Night Light asked. "I mean, this is the first time we're talking with you and your friends face to face."

"I guess so," Twilight said. "Anyway, guys, these would be my parents, Night Light and Twilight Velvet. Guys, these are my new group of friends, Josh, Ken, Elegance, the changeling from before, and Palmer. In case your wondering, Spike's trying to take a nap."

"Which is kinda impossible right now," he said. "Can't you take that somewhere else?"

"Nope," was the slight joking reply from Twilight. "So, what have the others been up to? You know, aside from Rarity having to become a prostitute when Princess Celestia would help her out, economically speaking?"

"No need to be so crass about her, Twilight," Night Light said.

I feel as if I have some right to be so, Twilight thought. After all, you guys did betray me.

"But, if you really need to know, Shining has been sending strange letters recently. He says that he'll help free us, or something, and that he'll be here for the festival," Night said. "Other than that, there are still angry Nobles about Princess Celestia and Nightmare."

"Well, if what Twilight's told us about her is accurate," Ken said, "I can see why. I mean, she did quote unquote 'take Equestria over'. How long was that, anyway, a few hours? Dictators on our home planet last at least a year. Mostly because no one's willing to stand up, but still. And even then, they don't exactly endanger most of the ones they're ruling over."

"What are you trying to say Ken," Elegance asked.

"Just that either A: Any kind of ruler Twilight's people have is incompetent as hell, or B: they have a kick ass military, and given what you, Twilight, and Spike have said, I'm leaning toward the former."

"A little," Josh agreed.

"Guys, we can talk about if Celestia is incompetent or not later," Twilight said. "I thought yu wanted to talk with my parents."

"Hey, I'm just saying here," Ken said, raising his hands.

"Same," Josh said, shrugging.

"Anyway," Twilight said, "do you guys still live in Canterlot?"

"Just me, or does that sound like Camelot," Palmer asked.

"Not just you," Ken said.

Twilight shot the two a death glare before turning back to the hologram. "Okay, I think you're good."

"Still are, at least until your little sister is born," Night Light said, the last part getting a look of surprise from Twilight. She knew her parents were having another kid, they had said so, but they didn't sat if it would be a filly or a colt, much to the amused chuckle from her parents, Josh, Ken, and Elegance, while Palmer let a small smile through. "We found out yesterday," Night Light said.

"Oh, that reminds me," Elegance said. "Two days ago, when Discord gave us this thing, he said changeling riots would happen tomorrow, which is now yesterday."

"Yeah, they happened," Velvet said. "Chrysalis herself was here in Canterlot, and actually got her fellow rioters into the castle. I don't know what happened next, but of what I hear, Chrysalis got herself a throne of Equestria, something I'm sure Cadence will be mad about when she finds out, and a second investigation was started into the assault case."

"Pinnacle of the Equestrian Justice system," Spike said from his bed, loud enough to be heard with ease. "They won't believe a national hero, but they'll believe a race that attacked their capitol a few years ago. Anyone else sensing some hypocrisy?"

"Right here," Josh said, raising a hand. "Don't forget a princess, either."

"Point remains."

"Fair enough," Josh said. "So, Miss Velvet," he said to Twilight's mother, "if I may ask, and embarrassing stories about Twilight your willing to share with her friends?"

"Josh," Twilight exclaimed, blushing, but her mother giggled.

"No need to add 'Miss' to my name," she said. "A friend of Twilight's is a friend of mine, even if she hates us right now. As for stories?  A few."

"I'm going to die of embarrassment," Twilight muttered.

Later that night, laughing could be heard from that team's room.

Additions

A week has passed since Twilight's parents had first talked with the rest of Lone team, and the six were in the med bay.

The reason being was that an hour ago, when they had been in the gym, Twilight had suddenly began to spasm and fall to the floor, yelling that her back was hurting. The med-techs had arrived, and carried her to the medical bay on that deck, where she was then sedated, not having woken up since.

"I wonder what's up," Josh said. "I mean, it's been, what, two or three weeks since her augments, and shit like this usually happens in the first week."

"Two," Elegance said. "And we aren't like you guys with recovery rates."

"Still. You guys should have had worse during the first week during P.T.," Ken said. "It doesn't make sense for this to happen after you get the armor."

"Well, we won't know for sure until the other eggheads finish their checks," Palmer said.

"I think I may be able to help with that," Doctor Halsey said as she walked into the room, the door sliding open, data pad in her arm.

"What do you mean, Doc," Josh asked.

"Simple," Halsey said. "I've been working with the Forerunner A.I. that partnered itself with your team mate, and I think I may know what's causing this. "Spartan Miller, if you would flip Spartan Sparkle-" I an not believe i am saying that, Halsey thought- "onto her back?"

"I hope you know what you're doing, Doc," he said, doing as Halsey instructed. "Now what?"

"Spike?"

"Yeah, Doc," the drake replied.

"Please take your claws, and make a single incision in the back of Twilight's suit along her spine. Your claws are sharp enough to penetrate the material. Elegance, when that's done, I want you to spread the material until we have a view of her shoulder blades."

"Only because your the medical expert here," Spike said, and he and Elegance did as instructed. What was seen upon completion surprised the both of them, got looks of curiosity from Ken, Josh, and Palmer, and a small, barely noticeable smile from Halsey that her plan had worked.

"You guys seeing what I'm seeing," Ken asked.

"You mean the little wing stubs," Josh asked.

"Yeah."

"Oh, yeah," Palmer said.

"You mind explaining this, Doc," Ken asked.

"When I had done genetic scans on her, as well as taking data from Void and Resolution's scans, I discovered there was a missing gene sequence," Halsey said. "With help from a few medical class Armigers, I was able to make an artificial version of the gene, using some guess wok from Forerunner files, and implanted it in the growth stimulation cocktails as well as the gene enhancement ones, with the Armigers using their translocation abilities to implant the gene in the cells. It was a little complicated, but it seems to be working."

"You experimented on her," Josh asked in a near yell.

"Yes, but simply because it was evident something was taken from her, and I gave it back," Halsey replied, calm as ever with an angry Spartan in proximity.

"Well, I'm guessing it has to do with wings," Ken said.

"Indeed it does," Halsey said before projections of Lone team's Ancillas showed up.

"Hey, guys," Ken said.

"Hey, Ken," Emily said.

"So, what are you guys doing here," Josh asked.

"We came here to see how Twilight's doing," Davis, resembling a Spartan-IV in yellow recruit armor, said, his arms crossed. "Starburst especially."

"Well, can you guys tell us what's going on here," Josh asked. "The wings, I mean."

"Not entirely," Barb, indeed, a female version of Spike and wearing the same clothes Spike wore when Palmer and 'Vason found him, said.

"Yeah," Beauty, gray colored with dark red highlights and wearing a simple tracksuit, said.

"So," Palmer said. "What do you guys know?"

Davis shrugged. "Just that, according the the records for her species we have, the most powerful vacuum energy users, also known as magic users, are known as alicorns, which are full Inheritors. They have unicorn horns, pegasus wings, and I am aware of how that sounds to you all, and the strength of earth ponies, which is standard equivalent to the average Spartan-IV."

"And with us helping her," Starburst said, "Halsey was able to put that gene back in."

"Wait a minute," Josh said. "'Back in'. The fuck does that mean?"

"She had the gene removed before you all met her," Beauty said. "With Halsey's genetic experience and the Forerunner tech from the Armigers, it was replaced during her augmentations, but are only now taking effect."

"And how long until it's done," Spike asked, being protective of his adoptive mother.

"Given it took this long to take effect," Halsey said, "and with help from Armigers, a few days at best, a week at worst."

"Any way to accelerate that?"

"Only if you wish to possibly maim and possible disable or kill her," Halsey said. "That is the quickest way to have it done as soon as possible."

"So we'll have to deal with it," Ken asked.

"Yep," Sam replied.

"And how long till Twi wakes up," Elegance asked.

"That is six days, give or take a few hours," Halsey said.

"Well," Josh said. "It'll be an interesting day when she finds out."

Waking Angel

For Twilight, the world was nothing but darkness, pain, and sorrow. She knew she was unconscious, she had trained with Princess Luna enough to recognize that if she had an odd dream that ended with her going to bed, only to wake up in real life seconds later, but it didn't stop the hurt of what she saw.

More accurately, what she saw were two different things. One was her returning to Equestria, back to Canterlot, the pain spell removed. "Why is it you returned, my former student?" Celestia would ask as she sat on her throne.

Twilight would attempt to answer, but was preempted by eight gunshots, and multiple guards falling down, holes in their head, and a magnum in the lavender unicorn's hands, the barrel smoking, to which Celestia replied, quite calmly, "Ah, so you came to get your revenge, then. I suppose that if you removed the spell, I should have seen that coming." With that, Celestia stood up, and drew a flaming sword from beside her throne. "I would say I am sorry, but you proved you were unworthy of such a thing when you betrayed Equestria the first time." With that, she attacked Twilight, who was rooted to the spot, and, just as her sword made contact with the dream Twilight, who wore her armor, the dream changed.

The second one was, in terms of those she knew, was more recent. She was still in her armor, and was on a barren, desert world, with numerous vehicles burning around her, all of them destroyed, with shouts of panic in the distance. Twilight looked around, a single Assault rifle in her hands and magnum on her thigh, both empty with no spare magazines. Around her, specifically, were five other armored bodies, each limp, broken, chunks of armor, if not entire limbs, gone.

One wore a Buccaneer helmet, Tyr skin, with the Maverick armor, Jester skin; the second wore all Raider; the third, Scout; the fourth had on armor similar to Twilight's, but had small armor pieces protecting, from what could be seen through the armor cracks, gossamer wings, while the fifth one had on armor similar to the Raider armor, but it had purple spines coming out the back, many having parts missing. "No," Twilight said as she collapsed. This was the first time since she had blacked out she had seen this, and, though she knew it wasn't real, it didn't soften the blow of seeing her friends and team mates dead or dying.

"All of this," a voice said from behind her said before foot steps were heard behind her, eventually stopping beside her. She turned, and saw the Warden's leg next to her head. "All of this is simply because you could not let go of your rage, however well it is hidden from the others."

It was then that the Warden dropped something in front of her. Twilight looked, and gasped as she saw the limp bodies of the other Elements, Sunset, Celestia, her parents, Cadence, Shining, and even Nightmare. "I suppose I should thank you, though," Warden said before the sound of his blade coming out was heard. "You made my mission much easier." And, as the former alicorn stared at the lifeless eyes of the others, those who had helped make the years on Equis something sweet and fond, even if the last were the exact opposite, the hard light blade was brought down, and the dream changed to something that had happened since she blacked out.

That was to say, she was alone in the skies above Ponyville. She had no armor, just her old clothes from before her banishment, her wings unfurled. Even though she liked her castle, sometimes, before all of this, she would just fly to relax, as even alicorns had their limits with what they loved, and, really, Twilight enjoyed the feeling of the air and wind through her wings. But, one thing that did surprise her, though, was the fact her wings didn't just vanish and she plummeted to her death, like the other times, but they stayed , and the world began to brighten, which, given the other black out experiences she'd had since she became a princess, indicated she was about to wake up.

"So, how much longer do you think she'll be out?" Josh asked. He and the other members of Lone team were in the med bay, in a circle around Twilight, whose wings had grown in since they first appeared six days ago.

"No idea," Spike replied. "I just hope soon."

"Same," Elegance said. "Still, given her reputation back home for freak outs, I'm wishing we had an inhibitor ring."

"How bad do they say it got?" Ken asked.

"When she failed to send a letter to her teacher, Princess Celestia," Spike said, "on a self imposed deadline, while thinking it was one Celestia herself made, she, quote unquote, 'made a friendship problem'. In short, she cast a spell on a doll of hers, and just about half the town went nuts, as the spell caused any who looked at the doll to want it."

"Wow," Palmer said. "That's a first."

"Oh yeah," Josh commented. "And she had wings before we met you guys?"

"For two years, yeah," Spike said.(1)

"Two tears?" Ken asked. "What about the rest of her life?"

"A unicorn," Spike replied. "She only got her wings because she finished a spell that not even the greatest mage was able to, which , apparently, was enough to make her an alicorn, which also equals princess with our home."

"Which, if you ask me, is bullshit," Elegance said, crossing her arms. "Changeling leaders, contrary to propaganda even after our kind made peace with Twilight's kind, are not raised to that. They could be a homeless changeling, but if they did something that benefited their entire Hive, even after the current leader failed if it's something like a shortage of food, they become the leader."

"How is that any different?" Spike asked.

"Because they don't need to do some awe inspiring feat of magic. They could be a soldier, and become the leader for staying behind to defend a group of changelings who can't fight back, as long as the leader at the time was either killed or ran away, and they survived. For alicorns, it needs to be a magical feat, and only a magical feat of some kind. Yes, Princess Cadenza was a pegasus, but she still did a feat of magic, especially for a pegasus."

"Yeah, fair point, I guess," Spike said before a sound was heard."

"My head," Twilight groaned as she came back to consciousness, rubbing her forehead as she sat up. "How long was I out?"

"Six days," Josh said. "You alright, Twi?"

"I think so, yeah," Twilight said. "But I feel like somethings pulling my back down."

"That be because something is," Palmer said.

"Yeah," Josh said. "About that- you got wings now."

Twilight's eyes widened at hearing that. "WHAT!?" she yelled, craning her neck to look at her back, and just barely getting a look at her folded wings. "HOW?!"

"Far as we understand, Halsey and a few of the Soldiers used Forerunner tech to put genes for wings in your DNA," Ken said. "Apparently, something from before you were banished removed it, and, for some reason, Halsey thought she'd put that gene back in. How she knew what made that gene, I have no fucking idea, but the point remains that you now have wings, and your armor will need to be modified for that."

"Actually, Spartan," Roland said as his avatar appeared in front of the hospital bed Twilight sat on, "the good doctor took care of that while your team mate was out, and she wanted me to say that as soon as she woke up and was able to walk, she was to report to S Deck."

"That may take a while," Twilight said as she stood up from the bed, and wobbled a little. "It'll be a while before I'm used to my wings again."

"Well, regardless, the doctor expects you as soon as possible, Spartan," Roland said before his avatar disappeared.

"So," Josh said, "while you're getting used to your wings, mind filling us in on the lore with 'alicorns'?" He put air quotes around alicorn.

"I don't see why not," Twilight said as she stretched, much as she could with the new appendages. "Well, basically, alicorns, of which there are currently four, including me right now, that I know of, are the most powerful spell casters. Princess Celestia, my mentor, raises the sun, and her sister, Princess Luna, raises the moon."

It was here that Josh and Ken chuckled. "What's so funny, you two?" Palmer asked.

"Just find it funny that the name of the princess for the moon," Josh said, "is the same name for Earth's moon, and that the sun is often reffered to as a celestial body, and the name of the princess of the sun is 'celestial' without the 'l'."

"I guess that's kind of funny," Elegance said. "Just not my kind of humor."

"Yeah, same," Spike and Palmer said.

"Sorry," Ken said as he got his chuckles under control. "Anyway, continue, Twilight."

"Right," Twilight said. "The third is my old foalsitter, Cadence, alicorn of love-"

"Dear god," Josh said. "Your planet was made for little girls, I swear."

"And fantasy isn't?" Ken asked with a small smile.

"Ah, fuck off."

"Anyway," Twilight continued, "the last would be me, the former princess of friendship." Josh facepalmed.

"I swear, my niece would love that planet."(2) This earned a head slap from Ken.

"Shut it, Josh," Ken said. "I actually find it interesting the values they have reflect what most humans look for. That's to say, friends and love."

"And when the hell did you become a philosopher?" Josh asked, though in a friendly tone.

"None of your business," Ken said. "Speaking of business, though, there is something we were holding off until you woke up, Twilight."

"What's that," the now alicorn asked.

"We were thinking about starting a Spartan company," Ken said.

"And what's that?"

"Basically," Palmer said, "it's multiple fire teams who form a single, larger group. Most fire teams aren't in one, but being in a company means that with any tournaments that allow for their total size, the teams always fight together. If it's more, than it's up to the leaders of the company, who, more often than not, are the fire team leaders."

"They were thinking of asking Rip tide, Wolf, and Domino to join, but wanted to wait until you were awake before deciding to make one."

"I guess so," Twilight said shrugging.

"Right," Ken said. "I'll go see Brendon, Bella, and Marcus after whatever the doc wants with you is finished."

"Yeah, for any official stuff like the company, Ken's the main lead," Josh said. "You guys already know that, when it comes to squad based, it's dependent on the situation."

"Yeah, we remember," Spike said as Twilight slowly unfurled her wings, not wanting to cramp the muscles there.

"So, you almost ready, Twi?" Josh asked.

"Almost," Twilight replied. A minute later, sh esaid, "And I'm good."

"Then let's go," Josh said.

"And if Halsey has a problem with each of us going with you," Ken said, "she can go to hell."

"Thanks, guys," Twilight said with a small smile.

"No problem, Twilight," Elegance said, and the six left the med bay, though close eyes were kept on Twilight, and it was Josh, who walked next to her on the way to their destination, who saw her troubled expression.

"Everything okay?" he asked, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"Honestly?" she asked, to which she got a Are you fucking kidding me? expression. "No, not entirely."

"What's up?" Twilight sighed before he added, "You don't need to talk about this if you don't want to, you know."

"Yeah, but it may help," Twilight said. "While I was out of it, I had a few nightmares. One was that I had somehow returned to Equestria, and to Canterlot, the capitol, and, as far as I can tell, was there to kill Celestia, seeing as how I killed eight guards with a magnum, but she killed me before I could. After that was, well, I was on a desert planet, and you, Ken, Palmer, Elegance, and Spike were all dead. The Warden was there, and said that 'if I had let go of my rage, it wouldn't have happened' before he dropped the bodies of my old friends, the princesses, and my family in front of me before he killed me."

"You don't seem that mad," Josh said.

"I hide it well," Twilight said. "At least, most times. But I'm also afraid that if something does happen to you or the others, it'll be my fault, and I could have stopped it."

Josh chuckled. "Yeah, maybe," he said. "But maybe not. Twi, look, I know what it's like to hide anger, I went to school with a shit load of morons and rednecks, after all, and needed someway to vent the anger. Now, I won't tell you what to do, as different means are effective for different people, but I will say this: you won't be able to get rid of all of the anger, but that is a good thing. After all, being a living being means that we'll be angry at something. Regardless, don't let it control and decide what you do. Did I tell you about my first mission against the Covenant?"

"No," Twilight replied. "Why?"

"Because I let my anger get the better of me, as the Covenant killed one of my best friends, and, well, let's just say the only reason I'm a Spartan are damned good prosthetics," he said, and Twilight saw him close his right hand a little. "That, and luck. Just remember: vent your anger however you can, when you can. You know, as long as you don't assault some one outside a war game."

That last part got a bit of a chuckle out of Twilight. "I'll keep that in mind," she said just as the group of six passed a group of three marines.

"I'm just saying, it's a little weird that we're in Covie space, and we haven't seen tail or head of the fuckers," one said.

"Who know," the second said. "Might be the huge ass war ship we have!" he laughed.

"Oh, shut it," the first shot back. "We both know that a single glasser at full strength could gut this ship if it wanted to. Something's up, I feel it."

"Really, where?" the third asked. "Your ass?"

"Do you really want to piss me off even more right now after I learned my girl back on Earth was cheating on me? With you?"

"Hey, he's just saying, dude." It was here the rest of the conversation was lost as the six Spartans walked into an elevator to take them to S Deck.

"That was odd," Ken said.

"What do you mean?" Elegance asked.

"Just that we haven't, at lease, had any small raiding parties by Covenant," he replied. "Especially since we are in Covenant held space."

"I thought the Covenant broke up," Spike said.

"We mean the Remnant, also known as the Storm faction, even if they're practically broken," Josh said. "Though, if there is one we need to worry about, it's Sali 'Nyon, who used to be a part of said remnant faction, but broke apart with his own followers. Haven't seen them in a year or so."

"Which means they've had plenty of time to build forces," Palmer said.

"And we're low enough on supplies as is," Ken said. "Only way we'd beat them is with luck, really."

"Then I guess it would be best if we didn't encounter them," Spike said, to which the three humans nodded. A few seconds later, the elevator stopped, and the doors opened to reveal two Soldiers, each with a suppressor in arm, standing guard in front of the door.

"That's new," Josh remarked as they left the elevator.

"Probably security," Ken said. "Lord knows that some Spartan-IVs have been traitors in the past."

"I thought you said you were atheist, Ken," Palmer said.

"I am," he replied. "But I can't help what old sayings have in them, now can I?"

"Fair enough," the red haired Spartan replied as Halsey came into view near an armor station that had Twilight's armor on it, but with a noticeable addition on the back, though they couldn't ell what it was at this distance.

"Hello, Spartans," Halsey said as they approached. "I take it that adjustment to having wings went well, Twilight?"

"It helps that I had them before," Twilight said. "Why did you want to see me, anyway?"

"To show you what I added to your armor, as well as Elegance's, while you were unconscious. If you would put your armor on, I'll show you."

"Right," Twilight said, taking the slacks that were the Spartan BSD out of suit they wore when not at something official. and stepped on the machine. Really, that whole process was much the same as before, except that holes were made in the back part of the torso piece, ones that didn't affect the main power supply, and something go over her wings.

When the entire process was done, Halsey said, "Step forward, and turn around please." Under her helmet, Twilight rolled her eyes, but did so.

"Okay, that's pretty fucking cool," she heard Ken say.

"What?" Twilight asked.

"Fucking wingblades," Josh said. Indeed, on Twilight's wings were Titanium coated pieces of armor, a pain to make to where they protected the entire wing, with the parts just above the muscle and bone being sharpened blades, capable of, and tested to, being able to cut through Titanium with enough force, and who knows what else if they were magically enhanced.

"Seriously?" Twilight asked, surprised. She had read of old pegasai warriors using wing blades in combat, but had never expected to have her own, let alone now of all times after her banishment.

"We may kid," Josh said, "but not with this kind of shit."

"You may wish to go to the war games to have her try them out," Halsey said.

"Right," Ken said, going over to the machine that had his armor.(3) As it was being put on, he said, "you guys go there. I need to talk with the others to discuss a company." Once it his armor was on, he said, "Emily, get Roland and get Brendon, Bella, and Marcus! Tell them to meet me in the weapons range with their armor!"

Formation

Ken was waiting in the gun range, waiting for the other fire team leaders. He knew it was short notice, yeah, but still, Roland and Emily had made sure they weren't busy. The first to arrive was Bella. "Hey, Ken," she said as she walked in, armor on. "What's up?"

"Once everyone gets here,Bella," Ken said. "Other than what they need to be here, though, nothing much, except Twilight now has wing blades and is apparently a princess."

"Seriously?" she replied, and Ken could hear the raised eyebrow.

"I know it sounds crazy, but when you next see Twilight, you'll see what I mean."

"Whatever you say," Bella said sarcastically.

"So, what's going on with you?"

"Nothing much," Bella said. "Though I was a little freaked when Roland said you wanted to speak with me."

"Well, that's-"

"I was in the shower."

"Oh," Ken said. "Sorry about that." There was awkward silence for a while. "So. . . were you lucky enough that no one else was there when you had to get out?"

"Fortunately, yes," Bella said. "So, who else?"

"Marcus and Brendon," Ken said.

Just as he said this, the other two walked in, armor on as well. Marcus had on the Fenrir unchained armor and helmet on, talking.

"I'm just saying, why the hell would they make armor only companies can get," Marcus was saying. "I mean, yeah, I get the A.I. in them can make you go crazy, but there are such things called fire teams."

"Because of the commendation system," Brendon said. "Don't get me wrong, the company commendation system is stupid, but still."

"Well, we can talk about it later," Marcus replied. "Hey, Ken, Bella."

"Hey, Marcus, Brendon," Ken said. "Thanks for coming."

"No problem," Brendon said. "So, what did you want to talk about?"

"I wanted to see if you guys wanted to start up a Spartan company," Ken said. "I already talked with the rest of my team, and they said if you guys were for it, so were they."

"Well, I know I'm okay with it, and so's the rest of Wolf," Marcus said.

"Yeah, same with Domino," Brendon said.

"Riptide, I'm not sure about," Bella said, shrugging. "Never brought up before, even when the companies were first announced."

"Right," Ken said. "But, if they do, we'll need a name for the company."

"Well, how about naming it after what makes it unique," Marcus said. "That's to say, Twilight and the others."

"So, what do you suggest, then," Brendon said.

"I don't know, I'm just throwing something out there."

"I guess that would work," Ken said. "Let's not go Fantasy company, though. Too many ways to take it, only one being what we mean."

"Oh yeah," Bella said. "Dragon Company?"

"Taken," Marcus said. "And not many people know what a changeling is, so that's a no."

"Well," Brendon said, "and please, feel free to say no, but how about Unicorn company? I mean, that's what Twilight is, right?"

Ken raised a finger, evident he was about to say something, before he stopped, and put it on his chin. "No, but that's due to what happened a few days ago in the gym. You guys hear about that?"

"Yeah, I know I did," Bella said. "What about it."

"In short, Twilight now has wings because Halsey and a few medical class soldiers put a gene in that had been removed, which, and this what Twilight called it, made her an alicorn. Which is essentially royalty where she comes from."

"So she's a, quote unquote," Brendon said, "alicorn, now?"

"Yeah, why?" Ken asked.

"Simple. That's what we'll call the damned company," he replied. "Now, what will we do for the emblem?"

"Well, the primary's got to be a lavender unicorn head," Bella said, agreeing with what the company would be called. But what about the secondary part of it?"

"How about a shield," Marcus asked. "As for the color? Well, how about black and green?"

"That. . . could work," Ken said. "Hey, Em, can you get Roland?"

"Already here, Spartan," Roland said before his avatar appeared. "So, are you all sure you want to start a company?"

"Yeah," Marcus said.

"Same," Brendon said.

"I'd still need to talk with the rest of riptide," Bella said.

"I talked with them about while you four were discussing everything, actually," Roland said. "They're good with it."

"Then I guess riptide's a part of the company, then."

"Hell yeah," Ken said.

"In that case, a req pack will be in your Req Accounts, Spartans," Roland said. "Oh, and, as you started a company, you'll be given a room for you all to socialize and relax between games and missions."

"Well, I don't know about the others, but i need to go see the rest of my team, so show them where to go," Ken said. As he went to leave the room, he said, "Also, first meeting once everyone's there."

Interlude 3-Tales of the past, visions of the future

Celestia, as was the norm, sat on her throne, her sun high in the sky. Though a few things were indeed different, most brought on by the near take over of Equestria by the Caribou. One, and the most known, was that Cadence and Shining Armor had been imprisoned for treason against Equestria. How Shining treated the female guards definitely helped prove that. The second was a result of the male members of the guard being easily turned to the Caribou thinking, and now the Warden's Soldiers and Knights acted as guards, as magic was unable to effect their minds.

As for the Caribou, few had been spared by the Warden's forces, and those that were had been imprisoned, or hunted down and killed. Though Celestia believed in redemption, not even she was vain enough to try it with them.

"Hello, my love," the solar alicorn heard from beside her throne. She turned her head, and saw Nightmare, wearing a purple gown with her armor over it, leaning next to her to whisper in her lover's ear. "Are you well?"

Celestia smiled a little. "Indeed I am, Nighty," she said. "And what about you? I'm sure that you've been busy."

"Yes, I am," Nightmare said. "It is either mares having nightmares of the Caribou raping them, if not their friends and lovers, or ponies in general fearing Warden and his forces."

"Well, we know that whatever happens, Warden will choose what he knows is right," Celestia said. "Which reminds me that I invited the Elements here, as I am quite sure they are curious as to how the three of us know each other."

"And perhaps you can finally convince Lady Rarity to accept a stipend from you so she does not have to continue being, as most would say, a lady of the night." Nightmare sighed. "To think, a title saved for my best assassins is now a term for mares who willingly give themselves."

"Well, didn't most start that way?" Celestia asked with a slight smirk.

"Only a few," Nightmare said before a similar smirk appeared on her face. "Most actually came from your guard, dear sister, and the rest were homeless that needed refuge, and had skills I needed."

"I'll keep that in mind if word reaches me of you rebuilding that network, then," Celestia said in a joking tone before the doors opened, and one of Warden's Soldiers, of the Captain variety, Celestia noted, walk in from the hall. "Princess, the Element bearers have arrived and are waiting in the main hall."

"Bring them here," Celestia said. "And where is Warden? He's needed."

"Unknown," the Soldier said.

"Well, he will appear if he can," Nightmare said. "After all, between him fighting those humans, whatever they are, and ensuring that Sali 'Nyon stays in line, he must be busy." Ah, yes, Sali 'Nyon. He and his Remnant faction had arrived two days prior, and the Warden, along with a contingent of pony and Solider guard had gone to greet them, along with emissaries for both alicorns and the current leader of the Crystal Empire, a member of the guard who had been there when the Caribou took it but remained loyal to Equestria. From what Celestia and Nightmare heard, it went good, but the Warden had decided for one of his bodies to remain to ensure they behaved.

Just as she said that, a dark blue circle appeared on the right side, to one in Celestia's position within the room, of the room, and the Warden stepped through. "My apologies," he said. "This body was the closest one that wasn't busy, and slip space between planets can take time."

"No apologies needed," Celestia said. "The Element bearers are here. Are you prepared to meet them?"

"Indeed I am," the Warden said.

"Good," Celestia said with a small smile. "Though I must warn you, one is. . . easily excited by meeting someone new."

"And don't forget Rainbow Dash," Nightmare remarked to Celestia. "She takes a sort of joy in challenging ponies who, whether intentional or not, say one of her feats is not as impressive as she says."

"That is all?" the Warden asked. "With what I have handled in the past, that will be quite easy."

"Don't say we didn't warn you," Nightmare muttered just as the doors opened, and six mares walked in.

Five out of the six were dressed as one would expect. Sunset with the same clothes she wore in the human world, minus the leather jacket for obvious reasons, Applejack wore her usual farming clothes, Fluttershy had shorts with a white shirt, Rainbow a T-shirt with workout shorts, Pinkie had on blue shorts and a polka dot shirt. Really, Rarity was the only one not dressed as one would expect. Instead of something formal, given how she always acted in the presence of royalty, had on a black mini-skirt that barely covered her back side a simple, black bra that, whether intentional or not, barely contained her, ahem, ample chest, and a simple, red jacket. Though Celestia was glad Rarity was less formal around them, she did consider herself friends with each of the Element bearers, she was still surprised at how little was covered.

"Hello, everypony," Celestia said. "I thank you all for coming today."

"It wasn't a problem, princess," Sunset said.

"Still, thank you," Celestia said. "I magine you al are curious as to why I asked you here?"

"Does it have something to do with him?" Applejack asked, hooking a thumb towards Warden.

"Indeed it does," Nightmare said. "We knew you six would be curious as to his past, and we thought it best you should know. And no, Pinkie Pie, he does not eat cupcakes, nor can he."

"Awww," the pink pony said.

"Well, can you tell us how you know him?" Rainbow asked, brash as always.

"that is what we were planning," Celestia said. "You see, Warden wasn't always what you see. One hundred thousand years ago, yes, ponies existed back then, but Nightmare and I were much, much different back then, as alicorns go through something akin to a phoenix as we grow old."

Indeed," the Warden said, causing heads to turn towards him. "Back then, I was still organic, and was a guard in Celestia's forces, though she was known as Solaria back then."

"Wait a minute," Sunset said. "What do you mean? How could you have been a living thing then, but be a machine now?"

"An object called The Composer," Warden said. "Put simply, it turns one into a. . how to put it to you all? A magical construct of one's mind, but with all the mental facilities they had as an organic being. Some were stored for their knowledge, others, like me, were put into a mechanical body and enlisted in combat against a parasite known as 'The Flood'. I, however, was placed in charge of guarding all knowledge of those that turned me into what I am."

"So y'all knew each other?" Applejack asked.

"He was the captain of my guard before he became what he is now," Celestia said. "And perhaps one of my greatest friends."

"You exaggerate, princess," Warden said. "If I was, I would not have chosen another species over my own kind."

"You did so to help protect us, did you not?" Nightmare asked, eyebrow raised.

"I suppose so," Warden said.

"Still, eighteen days ago when he and his forces helped us is the first we have seen him since he left," Celestia said. "I was a little surprised to see him, but grateful for his intervention, especially since he arrived just before I lost my horn."

"What exactly happened, anyway, princess?" Rarity asked. "I wasn't there, and I haven't had a chance to ask the others yet."

"Those animals called Caribou," Warden said, "were using the artifact from the frozen north to corrupt the minds of the stallions. Through the use of magic stolen from the being of chaos, their king was able to defeat Celestia, and was near able to de-horn her. My forces arrived before then, and Nightmare, who was weary due to dreams she had seen in the past nights, was awake and, though she did not know we were coming, was able to hold off the guards of hers that were turned long enough, while I and a small contingent of my forces rescued Celestia, which is when I killed that fool of a king, and destroyed the artifact, which happened just after I learned it had been changed into a phallus to, as the few Caribou prisoners my forces have would put, show 'male superiority'."

"Sounds like you could have made a fortune, Rares," Rainbow said to the white unicorn, albeit in a friendly and joking manner, one picked up by said unicorn.

"And perhaps they could have tamed your ego, Rainbow Dash."

"How are you two able to joke about something that has traumatized others?" Nightmare asked.

"For Rainbow, that's just her," Sunset said. "For Rarity? Yeah, since she started her side career, parts she kept hidden, no innuendo intended, have come out."

"And besides, Nighty," Celestia said. "A little good natured humor is helpful, or have you forgotten that?"

"That, I do not doubt," Nightmare said. "It's the subject they are joking of that irks me."

"Nothing says you have to stay."

"And not be next to my love?" Nightmare asked with a sultry undertone. "What makes you think that?"

"Simply a suggestion," Celestia said. She then addressed the six Element bearers. "Do you six have any other questions?"

"Yo, right here," Rainbow said. "Is there anyway I can enlist in the Warden's forces?" This got eyebrows raised by all the ponies, and would have if the Warden had any, as Celestia and Luna had told him of the mare's wish to join the elite flight group of Equestria.

"Why?" Nightmare asked. "We thought you wished to be a Wonderbolt."

"Yeah, but they can't really do much in terms of combat," Rainbow said. "They did get knocked out by Rarity, after all. And besides, I know that they're paramilitary, yes, I know big words, but still, I'm the Element of Loyalty and can pull off a Sonic Rainboom, as well as saved their captain and second in command. They haven't even shown any bit of gratitude towards it. Besides, much as I'd like being a part of them for being with the greatest fliers, I want to protect Equestria more."

". . .I suppose that is a good answer," Nightmare said. "Well, Warden, is there?"

"There is one," Warden said, "but I warn you, it is painful, I speak from experience, and there is no turning back, as well as the fact you will no longer be organic. Are you certain now?"

"Yep," Rainbow said, confident smile on her lips.

"Then I will see what can be done," Warden said.

"Are those all the questions you can think of?" Celestia asked. When none replied, she said, "Then you may return to Ponyville. But Rarity, I would like to speak to you first."

"Of course, princess," Rarity said. With that, the six left the room, followed by Celestia.

"Is there anything else you need?" Warden asked Nightmare.

"Not currently," Nightmare replied.

"Then I wish you a good day," Warden said before a slipspace portal appeared behind him, and the body hovered back through it, letting the portal close behind it.

That night

For Celestia, sleep almost always meant a reprieve from the world, and let her enjoy what she did without having to fear anything bad happen.

Almost.

Tonight was one of the few nights when the world had something else in mind. In this case, it was fleeting glimpses at what Celestia assumed was the future.

The first was almost always the least clear. In it, Celestia saw the blurred image of a blue mare dressed in various shades of blue clothing in a black space. All Celestia was able to make out other than color was that the mare seemed to be the same size as an average earth pony mare, and it seemed as if the view was from below, as if the viewer had been defeated and was now looking up at their conqueror.

The second image was more a moving picture with sound, the sound being that of screams and thunderclaps echoing after each other, as well as the sounds of the weapons of the Warden's forces firing. On the ground, there were bodies of ponies, each with either burns or holes on their body, a site that would have made Celestia vomit, had the next one not come so quickly.

The third was like the second, but instead was in space, with a large, steel colored, cylindrical object, with white lettering that could not easily be read on the side, fighting against what Celestia recognized to be a Forerunner Dreadnought, with a disassembled Dreadnought on the first ship.

It was the last, usually the clearest one, that left Celestia the most confused, though. What she was was six armored beings, each as tall as Cadence, wearing differently styled but similarly colored armors, with Warden beside them, but, where his orange would be, there was nothing, and he looked like an empty shell, all seven with what Celestia assumed were weapons, as Warden had his blade out, what they were facing unseen to the solar alicorn. With this, a voice was heard.

"To think, Warden, I trusted you, even after Genesis," the voice, one of a mare, said. "No matter, though. Once I remove the last vestige of you from the Domain, I'll be able to secure what you and your pathetic princesses are hiding from me."

Behind enemy lines (company mission)Pt 1- landing

A day's passed since the formation of Alicorn company, with no shortage of laughter from the other companies due to the name, and the squads were all in the hanger in their armor. The reason why was that, due to timing and other factors, Lasky had a mission for them, and Roland figured it'd help to build the company teamwork.

The four squads were each doing their own task-Riptide was checking weapons, Domino was checking comms, Wolf overlooking what they knew of the mission thus far, and Lone the Pelicans. All but Twilight, that is. She was sitting on a supply crate, noticeably shaken about something. Josh saw this, and walked over. "Hey, Twi," he said as he approached. "You okay?"

"Yeah," she replied. "Just a dream I had last night."

"What about, if I can ask?"

Twilight sighed. "Guess it wouldn't hurt," she said. "Back home, princess Celestia and princess Luna were known to have visions of the future, and in the past, it was rumored that the visions they had were split for each of the rulers, so they wouldn't have the entire thing themselves. I think the fact I'm an alicorn let me see a fourth of it."

"What'd you see?" Josh asked.

"I saw Ponyville, my old home, burning, a Guardian over its remains, and even Canterlot-I saw it falling off the mountain side it was on," Twilight said. "Nothing good."

"Then I wonder what your old, emphasis on old, friends saw, then."

"Probably Equestria being destroyed," Twilight said. "Equis tech isn't that advanced. Our weapons, aside from magic, are still swords, spears, and the like. Pretty much useless against Forerunners, I imagine."

"Maybe they'll be able to escape," Josh said, though he was doubtful. The Prometheans would eliminate an entire race to make sure they weren't a threat, if need be. Look at what happened to Meridian.

"Maybe," Twilight said, though it was obvious she had the same train of thought.

Before either could continue the conversation, though, Captain Lasky stepped into the hanger. "Captain on deck!" Ken yelled, and every Spartan, regardless of what they were doing, stopped, stood up straight, and saluted.

"At ease," Lasky said. "I imagine you're all wonder why I asked for you on this mission, so I'll explain. Roland?"

"On it, captain," the A.I. said as a hologram of what the Spartans guessed was the planet they were near showed up.

"Thanks," Lasky said. "Spartans, at triple-oh one today, ship time, the communications system picked up a distress beacon planet side. Seeing as how this isn't, nor ever was, a known UEG colony, we forwarded the data to ONI, who, amazingly-" this got a few chuckles- "replied quickly, saying this is the last known of one of their recon teams. They weren't very forthcoming with data on this team."

"What do we know, sir?" Bella asked.

"That the team was a group of nine Spartans, codenamed Phoenix, and they were here to scout for potential remnant forces, and gather intel, as well as kill any potential VIPs. Given it's an ONI team, that's a lot of intel."

"So I'm guessing we're going to be looking for 'em?" Tom, fully recovered, asked.

"Affirmative," Lasky said. "You all will be landing on a now known remnant planet, recent scans have revealed that much, twenty clicks south of the beacon, as Roland is sure the Covenant has been investigating it as well."

"Shouldn't they have found it by now, then?" Brendon asked.

"Not likely," Roland said as his avatar appeared. "Lone team's A.I.s and I have been going over their records of Forerunner sites and such, and this planet has, or, rather, had, a Forerunner site, purpose unknown, and, well, it's the Remnant. They probably don't want to stain the ground with 'the blood of heretics'."

"Makes sense," April said.

"You know, if they want to see god," Michael said, "why not take the quick way?" he asked, making a gun with his fingers and firing at his head. "Save everyone a lot of trouble."

"Because," Ben said in a rare moment of speaking, "their honor doesn't allow for it. Or the fact they want glory, money, or something else, really."

"Even the Grunts?" Anderson asked.

"Yeah, I can't really see that," Lexi added.

"Regardless," Roland said, stopping that conversation, "with intel satellites we've deployed, we've identified this Remnant group as The Bearers of Truth. And before you ask, Spartan Elegance, they're led by the personal Brute bodyguards of the former Prophet of Truth."

"Oh," Elegance said. "Good thing I kept my mouth shut, or I would have embarrassed myself."

"Far as we can tell, they only have light vehicles, along with a few banshees," Lasky said. "But still, be careful. They may have a cloaked, space worthy ship near, so be careful on the ground."

"That all, sir, and we will be," Ken said.

"As far as we know," Lasky said. "Good luck, Spartans." With that, he saluted, which was returned by the Spartans.

"Sir," they all replied.

"Let's go, people," Ken said, and he and Josh entered the Pelican they had used on Twilight and the others first mission. As there were eighteen Spartans, the pelican could barely hold everyone, but they were able to squeeze in there. All the seats were filled, and six, namely Palmer, Twilight, Spike, Bella, Marcus, and Hannah, were standing. The pelican took off, and they made their way to the planet's surface.

In the cockpit, Josh and Ken were in the pilot and co-pilot seat, respectively, and talking with Roland. "So, Roland, what can you tell us about the planet?" Ken asked.

"Not much from my own banks, Spartan," Roland replied. "But Palmer's Ancilla said that this planet used to be a Forerunner colony, the name doesn't translate to English, and it's mountainous, at least where you all are going. It may help. As for where the beacon's coming from, records indicate there are a lot of cave systems there."

"So they may be underground?" Josh asked.

"It's a possibility," Roland agreed. "May even be how they survived against the Covenant. They may not have heavy vehicles, but they do have numbers."

"We'l keep that in mind," Josh said. "Talk to you if we live."

"Grim," Ken commented.

"True," Josh countered. "Spartans aren't invincible, or do you forget Jones?"

Ken noticeably flinched. "Fair enough," he said.

Back in the cramped as hell crew compartment, the rest of the company was talking as well.

"So, should we go with a squad by squad kill count, or individual?" Sam asked.

"Why not both?" Bella replied. "One for in-squad competitions, and one for the company so we know which team is the more lethal."

"Guess we should lay down some rules, then," Marcus said. "Two points for a kill of any kind, one for an assist, while assassination moves are worth three. Who ever of each squad has the highest there should be able to take a Req of any variety and level from their team mates. The winning squad, which will be determined by adding individual scores, will get a day off from company training on any day of their choosing."

"I'm good with it!" Josh yelled from the cockpit.

"Eh, why not," Palmer said. "Sounds fun, and I get a chance to show you all how it's done."

"Good luck with that!" Ken yelled form the cockpit. "How many kills did you get last ground deployment again?!"

"And who survived a crashing Pelican that was on fire?!" This got a few laughs from the others.

"Touche," Ken replied.

"So, why do you think that ONI squad's here, guys?" April asked. "By which I mean why they haven't left the planet yet."

"We can ask 'em when we get them out," Kevin said.

"Assuming they're still alive," Elegance said. "And if we survive."

"Well, if it's ONI," Brendon said, "might be their extraction craft was destroyed."

"Then someone's gonna need to hijack a phantom or spirit," Josh said from the cockpit. "Because I'm not leaving this thing unless it can't be repaired and is practically destroyed, and even then, I'd push my luck."

"Sure you aren't crazy, then, Josh?" Sam asked.

"You really want to find out right now?" Josh asked in a deadpan, but one that got a few chuckles. For the remainder of the flight, it was the four squads just talking, easing the tension that the mission had brought along with it.

It was thirty minutes after they left the Infinity that they landed, and disembarked.

Once they had left, Ken said, "Okay, people! Here's how we do this: we split into our squads, and stay in sight lines for tight point beam communications. We move to the north, find the ONI squad, and hijack a phantom. We work from there. Let's move, Spartans!"

Behind enemy lines (company mission) pt2-Advancement

"Snipers, what do you guys have?" Ken, sitting behind a ridge with Palmer next to him, asked over the company radio, encoded to prevent Covenant remnant eavesdropping. It had been a few hours since touchdown, and the Spartans had reached a ridge above where a UNSC beacon was coming from, though with a shit load of Covenant down there.

"Well, we got tanks," Josh said. "More accurately, the type 26 and 58. For those uneducated, that would be those you saw in the feeds for Reach and the ones for Osiris and Blue team, respectively."

"Copy that," Elegance said.

"Yeah, we also got what looks to be a few ghost squadrons, numbering from three to five, two Locusts, three phantoms," Brendon said. "And fuck our lives, they have a Scarab. Anyone have an idea on how to take it out without dying?"

"What's around it?" Ken asked.

"I'm seeing a few methane mines and a few huragok recharge stations."

"I say we blow 'em up," Michael said. "All the plasma could melt the legs of the thing; make it useless."

"Let's keep that in case we need to," Palmer said. "Far as I can tell, they don't know we're here yet."

"I could go in invisible," Twilight said over the radio. "Though someone would need to walk me through how to sabotage the reactor on it without it blowing up. We may have steam engines bck home, but even with those we know an engine explosion can be bad."

"Can't risk it," Ken replied. "They may have assholes with thermal. I doubt your spell hides heat, Twi."

"It doesn't," Elegance said. "Maybe me use my disguise abilities?"

"May have code words," Bella said. Yes, just about everyone was using scopes, from a magnum to a sniper, and surveying the camp so they can get as much sight as possible. "And besides, you guys don't know how these guys talk when it comes to Forerunners. Only ones you can pretend to be, El, are the Elites or Brutes, and the former is an honor based society, to the point they'd rather commit suicide than be captured, or fanatical as a satanist is with hell in the latter."(1)

"No idea what that means, but I'm assuming it means that plan probably won't work."

"Bingo."

"So we're stuck here?" Spike asked. "Great."

"Not if we blow the Scarab," Josh said. "Which is bound to be heavily guarded, so we can't go in stealth."

"Big boom? Michael asked.

"Big Boom," Ken agreed. "Everyone that doesn't have a pure marksman weapon-which is to say SMG, Assault rifle, and Magnum owners- pull out, and get ready to go in. Twi, El, once the fireworks start, go invis, and find some Carbines, go high, and help provide cover fire. Snipers, DMs, and those with BRs, stay here for as long as possible. Michael, if you don't have one, get a long ranged one, and get ready to fire on one of the explosives. Those going down, move in quiet."

"Roger." With that, everyone moved or stayed, depending on their loadouts and assignments.

Though it was tricky business, those that would be at the tip of the assault made it positions where they were protected from the line of sight of the Remnant units. "Snipers, ground team is ready," Ken said after ten minutes of movement. "At least, I think so."

"Yeah, you are," Michael said. "Loading HEAT rounds now."

"HEAT rounds?" Twilight asked.

"High Explosive Anti Tank," Josh explained. "Essentially armor piercing combined with explosive."

"Oh. Forgot about that from when I was looking up different ammo types."

"No problem," Josh said. "Michael, fire on my mark."

"Copy. Got a Recharge station surrounded by plasma batteries in my sights. Just give the word, Shadow."

"Shadow?" Elegance asked.

"His call sign," Ken explained. "Mine's Specter."

"And bring the hell, snipers."

"Boom mother-"BOOM!! The last part, though unheard due to the sniper report, and the less than a second later explosion of the Engineer recharge station, creating a chain reaction that utterly destroyed the Scarab, was clear. "All spearheads, you are clear to kick some ass up close. Get me a beam rifle, will ya?"

"If any survive the fight," Josh said. "You heard him, people! Kill their asses!"

Interlude four-New body

A day has passed in Canterlot since the Element bearers had been told of Warden's history with Celestia and Nightmare, and now the two alicorns and the other five bearers were waiting in the throne room for word on what was happening with Rainbow. Rarity had accepted the stipend from Celestia, though it was with pressure, and was dressed much more modestly than the day before. Though the outfit was still a little risque, showing ample cleavage and side breast, and a knee length skirt with a cut design down the right side. Celestia never understood those types of designs, to be honest. Still, it could at least be considered acceptable for the lowest tier noble mare that just wanted to have fun for a night.

As for Cadence, she was there as well, but under watch. The reason being that the vision Celestia had last night was a rare one, where any alicorn would see a portion of the vision. As such, Cadence had seen one as well, and Celestia had asked her to be brought to the throne room, an inhibitor ring at the base of her horn, and, as she and Shining had been corrupted to their core-so much so it would have been much more merciful to kill them-she showed no shame in that, but rather sad that the guards, Promethean soldiers-which, to be fair, did sound like stallions, weren't raping her. Even this long after the Heart had been destroyed, a counter to the corruption within Shining and Cadence could not be found.

"So, how well do you think it's going?" Sunset asked. "We haven't heard anything since it started a few hours ago."

Cadence scoffed. "I still don't see why they're letting a mare get the same status as a stallion," she said, showing no part of the old her was left.

"Shame we don't have a spell to help her and Shining," Nightmare muttered only loud enough for her and Celestia to hear.

"Agreed," the solar alicorn replied. "Perhaps Warden can help if everything works well with Rainbow. After all, their technology is much more effective than our magic is when it comes to curing sickness."

"Let us hope, then," Nightmare said.

"So, do you think Rainbow's going to like like the others?" Sunset asked the other bearers.

"Probably," Rarity. "Though I do hope she is allowed to add color to it. The fact they all are just one of three colors? So bleak and disgusting to look at."

"That might just be because of the metal, Rares," Applejack replied. "That can't exactly be helped."

"Then why not paint on them?"

"Well, maybe it'd stop them from working properly," Fluttershy said in just barely above a whisper.

"I just hope Rainbow will want a party to celebrate this," Pinkie said, her usual smile on her face before the doors to the room opened, with Warden and a compliment of Knights walking through, a single Soldier being behind Warden.

"Did everything go well, Warden?" Celestia asked.

"Indeed it did, Majesty," Warden said with a small bow before moving to reveal the Soldier, which, the mares noticed, had blue coloring and had Captain grade armor.

"Rainbow Dash?" Nightmare asked.

"Yes, Princess," the Soldier said with Rainbow's voice.

"Being placed into an Armiger has her having to follow certain protocols, including how to respond to royalty," Warden said, heading off a question he knew was coming. "I know of no way to alter it." Not without a human here, that is.

"Does she still like parties?" Pinkie asked.

"Yeah, I do, Pinkie," Rainbow replied. "I just won't be able to eat or drink anything."

"I'm afraid that will have to wait, however," Warden said. "One of my scouting groups has picked up a human signal, a distress signal, to be precise. It may bring your former ally. As such, I will be sending Soldier Dash to help locate her and, if it is needed, spot for a sniper. She will be back by week's end, however."

"Oh," Pinkie said as her mane and tail slightly deflated. That is, before it went back to its normal. "Then that just means I get more time to plan it!"

"Can't wait to see it, Pinkie," Rainbow said. "So, I guess I'll see you all later." With that, she and the Knights left the room.

"If you all would leave us, we wish to discuss something with Warden," Celestia said.

"Of course, princess," Rarity said, and she and the other bearers, as well as Cadence and her escort, left, leaving the two alicorns and the Warden.

"What do you wish to discuss, Princess?" Warden said.

"Warden, you can drop the titles," Celestia said before sighing. "What you did with Rainbow. Could it be used to help fix Cadence and Shining Armor?"

Warden was silent for a time before he replied. "Perhaps," he said. "But the process would destroy their physical bodies, and they would need to be put into Armigers if it worked. And I do wish to point out that if the spell is in the deepest parts of their minds, then we will not be able to do anything, and their imprints, all which will be left of them, will have to be kept stored away."

The two alicorns looked at each other, having a silent conversation in the span of a second. "If those are the risks," Celestia said, turning to face Warden again, a tear in her eye, "then please, do what you can."

Warden bowed his head. "I will, Celestia."

Reunion

"Well, that definitely could have been worse," Ken said as he cleaned his combat knife of purple blood.

"Dude, do you want it to be worse?" Josh said as he reloaded his newly acquired Needler.

"Please, you don't believe in jinxes, do you?" In reply, Josh hooked a thumb toward Twilight, who was helping Domino squad with clearing the rubble from a collapsed cave entrance. "Fair enough, I guess," Ken said. He then activated his radio. "Riptide, how are things looking up there?"

"Good, Ken," Bella replied. She and all of Riptide had taken over watch positions in case a Remnant patrol returned. "Nothing so far."

"Right. Let us know if something's coming," Ken said.

"Will do."

"Hey, come on," Josh said. "We need to help get the rubble out of the way so we can see if there's anyone lucky enough to have survived."

"Right," his squad mate replied, and the two holstered their weapons before making their way to the cave entrance.

"'Bout time you guys joined in," Brendon said as the two arrived.

"We were making sure we were good," Ken replied.

"Bullshit, that's Riptide's job," the Spartan replied, though in a friendly tone.

"Yeah, but which of us is the leader of the company again?"

"Oh, go to hell."

"Would both of you can it and help out here?" Palmer asked. "The more we have working, the sooner we can get back to the ship and you two can fight all you want."

"Seriously, dude, what do you see in her?" Josh asked Ken in a whisper as they began to help clear the exit.

Five minutes later, with Spike and Elegance helping as well, they still hadn't cleared the entrance. "Are you fucking kidding me!?" Ken asked. "Just how many rocks are blocking this thing?"

"Could really use an Incineration Cannon to disintegrate these," Josh muttered. "Make it a hell of a lot easier."

"Twi, can't you just lift the rocks out of the way?" Spike asked, to which the lavender alicorn Spartan shook her head.

"Tried to earlier," she replied. "I'd take too long, and I do still have my limits, Spike, especially after we just finished the battle."

"Same for me," Elegance said. "And I don't have anywhere near the amount of magic Twilight has."

Spike was about to reply when April pushed him away, shouting, "Get to cover!" just before an orange beam struck where Spike had been standing. "Snipers!"

"Damn it," Ken said as he and Josh took cover behind a rock pillar. "Riptide, what the fuck?"

"Sorry, guys," Kevin replied. "Fuckers found a blind spot. We'd support but, well-" the sound of a light rifle round hitting stone was heard -"they've got us pinned."

"Shit," Josh muttered. "Sam, please tell me the Warden isn't here!"

"Not as far as I can tell, Josh," she said. "My best guess as to why the sub-routine hasn't come into play is that they only saw Twilight from the back, and, really, humans and ponies look the same from behind."

"I'm not taking my helmet off," Josh said. "I'd rather fight and keep my head-and my entire body-than lose it."

"Jesus, you're a pussy," Ken muttered before activating his radio. "Twi, we need our helmets off for the sub-routine to have a chance. Sam said, ask her."

"Uh, Starburst?" Twilight asked her A.I..

"That seems right," Starburst replied. "Quite frankly, though, I'm surprised they didn't notice the horn."

"Yeah, um, question," Josh said as a few light rifle shots peppered the ground. "What if these morons don't have that?"

"Unlikely," Starburst replied in a sigh. "Every Forerunner construct has that sub-routine in it, as it was sent upon humanity's contact with the technology on Installation zero four."

"I'm still not risking my head on a hunch!"

"I could put a field around your guys' heads, if it'll help," Elegance said.

"Maybe," Twilight said. "And I could use mine as a secondary if the first fails."

"Alright," Ken said. "Twi, helmet off and out of cover on three."

"Copy that," she said. "Hold on, I thought they had sensors that could tell was species we were?"

"Mostly, yes," Starburst said. "But a few special strike teams, mainly assassination groups, have those removed so as to ensure species based protocol does not interfere with mission directive."

"I'm not sure if I'm honored or terrified that we got our own hit squad after us, then," Spike said

"We can think it over later," Ken said. Assuming we live, that is, he added mentally. "Again, on three, Twi."

"Right," Twilight replied as another binary rifle shot hit just above her head.

"Okay. One. . .two. ..,"Ken and Twilight both slowly removed their helmets, and set them on the ground here, "three." Both Spartans quickly got out of cover, and, even with Twilight and Elegance shielding the both of them, they expected to be filled with holes if not completely disintegrated, only ot be surprised by the lack of fire.

"Yeah, um, whatever you guys did," Kevin said, "it worked. They stopped firing."

"So, any idea what to do now?" Josh asked, still in cover behind a stone pillar.

"One idea," Twilight muttered before going to an equivalent of the royal Canterlot Voice. "Whichever of you is in charge, report in now!"

There was silence for a while before a single Soldier, in the Sniper variation of armor, phased in front of Twilight. "Name?" she asked.

"Resilience of Infinite Moonlight, Inheritor," the Soldier replied in a male voice. "My apologies for firing upon you. We were ordered by Cortana to investigate a human signal, and kill any non-Forerunner individuals." Resilience then looked closely at Twilight. "You are former Princess Twilight Sparkle, correct?"

"Yes," Twilight replied. "Why?"

The soldier did not reply, but instead sent a communication ping through his group's systems, locating, and then ordering, the newest arrival in it to report immediately. "Given the reports I have heard of your exploits on your home world, I believe you two," he said as a Soldier, colored blue and in the Captain grade armor, phased in, "know one another."

"I don't see how," the lavender alicorn said. "I haven't known any Soldiers except those I've met since I was banished."

"You misunderstand, Inheritor," Resilience said. "Soldier class Armigers, much like those you call Knights, are both ancillas, as well as composed essences. This one is of the latter, and you knew her before she obtained this body."

"Then why isn't she speaking?" Ken asked.

"Because you were banished for a reason, Twilight," Rainbow said, forgetting she could mask her voice, from her new body. "Oh, buck."

Ken looked at Twilight with a confused look.

"Really?" she asked before looking at Rainbow. "So, Rainbow, it looks like I can finally have some payback," she said before a small, wicked grin donned her face.

"Yeah, um, while you do that," Ken said. "Resilience, can your troops help us clear the cave exit?"

"Indeed, Reclaimer."

Extraction

On a hill that was overlooking where the Assassin squad had fought against Alicorn Company, there was a single figure with a sniper rifle laying down on the ground, his armor being colored black and green and being of the Deadeye configuration. "The fuck?" he muttered as he saw the Prometheans cease fire and one actually walk up to one of the Spartans. He brought his left hand up to his helmet, keeping his right hand on the trigger and using the sniper's stand for stability, and activayed his encrypted radio. "Uh, Ma'am, you need to see this."

"What is it, Cowboy?" a female voice asked.

"Spartan team's down at the place where we planted the trap. Cleared out the entire Remnant group, including blowing the Scarab to hell, came under attack by Prometheans, and said Prometheans are now helping them clear the tunnel entrance."

". . .Come again?"

The Spartan sighed. "Sending visual feed now."

". . .It just me, or is there a Spartan with a tail?"

"That's got your attention, Dawn?! Not the fucking Prometheans?"

"You've read the reports from Requiem, same as the rest of us," Dawn shot back. "Is it really a long shot some of them were just following the Didact because of protocols?"

"Still, think we should reveal ourselves?"

"Depends," another voice said. "They bring their own ship?"

"Yeah, I saw it earlier. War era Pelican. Wouldn't fit all of us," Cowboy said."

"If they're from Infinity, they may be able to call down another Pelican," a fourth voice said.

"Way to ruin the fun, Tank."

"Hey, someone's got to make sure you don't piss off the wrong people, even if we work for ONI."

"You got an emblem?" Dawn asked Cowboy, ignoring the second conversation.

"Yeah," the Deadeye Spartan said as he zoomed in. "Armor configurations, too. Mainly, I'm seeing Cyan and red armor with two Energy swords over a red octagon. One's Raider, another's Buccaneer Tyr helm and Maverick Jester armor, third's white and red Scout configuration, no clear emblem, fourth is similar to Fotus but with blades at the shoulders. Other two are new."

"Checking data base now," a fifth voice said. After a few seconds, it said, "Got it. That's Fire team Lone, one of the best on Infinity. According to this, they got three new members and Commander Palmer, who's most likely in the Scout armor. As for those new guys, almost nothing, just names. Twilight, Elegance, and Spike. Gonna assume code names, or their parents had some weird naming ideas."

"Noted, Ozone," Cowboy said. "Ma'am, final decision's up to you. Introduce, or steal their ride?"

After a minute, which included Cowboy seeing the tunnel cleared, a small group of Spartans move in, and come out with their Prowler's transmitter, Dawn said. "Cowboy, you're first contact. Rest of us will meet up once we get everything packed or destroyed."

"Ma'am," the Spartan said before he got up, stowed the Sniper rifle, and pulled out an SMG, of which the ammo cartridge had orange stripes, indicating an extended mag, and made his way toward the group.

"So, let me get this right?" Ken said as he did his best imitation of rubbing his forefinger and thumb on his forehead, as he and the others still had their helmets on. "The only thing in there was a Prowler's transmitter, along with explosives that were trigger based?" he asked Brendon and Bella.

"Yeah," Brendon said. "Think they faked out the Remnant?"

"They are ONI, so it wouldn't surprise me," Ken replied. "Any clues as to their current location?"

"None," Bella said. "Not that we looked hard. Didn't want to rick accidentally exploding."

"Yeah, fair, I guess," Ken muttered before bringing his right hand to the side of his helmet. "El, Twi, anything from the air?"

"Nothing here," Elegance said.

"Same," Twilight replied. "Wait a minute. Ben, check your six, on the ridge."

"Copy, checking," Ben said. "Yeah, I see him," he said a second later. "Black and Green Spartan in Deadeye armor. Got an SMG and stowed Sniper. Warning shot?"

"Do it," Palmer said before the crack of a sniper round being fired was heard, and the Deadeye Spartan stopped, the vapor trail going by his head.

Ben then used single beam comms to tell the Spartan, "Identify yourself, now, or the next shot won't be a warning."

"Spartan Cowboy of Fire team Phoenix," the Spartan replied. "The team you all came here to rescue."

"Proof, now."

"Sending you what you have clearance for."

With that, the A.I., less than even a dumb A.I. in terms of capability but still efficient, in his armor copied what the Company had clearance for, and sent it to Ken.

"I got it," Ken said as he looked it over. After a minute, he said, "he's good, Ben. Tell him to see me. Got a few questions."

"Copy," Ben said. Then, over the single beam, he said, "Head down to the others. Guy in Maverick armor wants to talk with you."

"Understood," Cowboy said. "Careful, rest of my team's on their way."

"And if they are ONI, they'll see it coming," Ben said. "By the name, weird name, but not the weirdest I've heard."

Cowboy chuckled. "I'll keep that in mind," he said before making his way down to where the others were, along with the charred remains of many Remnant forces.

As he neared the Spartan that had been designated- Ken, his system told him- he saw him talking with a Promethean Soldier in the Sniper configuration, it's lights lavender colored.

"So you guys can warp here from an entirely different planet, but not to a ship in orbit?" Ken asked.

"Not without a portal, Reclaimer," the Soldier said.

Ken sighed. "Of course," he said. "Lets just hope Infinity's willing to send another ride down." He then looked at the various Prometheans, including Crawlers, Watchers, and Knights, along with Soldiers. "Or a dozen."

"I think that can wait for now," another Spartan, this one in Raider armor-Josh, if Cowboy read the file right-said before motioning towards Cowboy. "He's here."

"Right," Ken said before meeting Cowboy halfway from his current position.

"Kenneth Orochi?" Cowboy asked.

"Yeah," he replied. "So, you the leader of that ONI squad?"

"Just the marksman," the Deadeye Spartan replied. "Rest of the team's on their way. So, what brings you here?"

"Infinity picked up your distress beacon, and sent our company down to extract you. Don't have enough room for everyone, though."

"Figured," Cowboy said before glancing at Spike. "So, why's he got a tail, or is that just the armor?"

"Former," Ken said. "I'll explain when we get back to the ship. So, why exactly is your squad here?"

"Got a transmission from CINCONI, wanted us to look into mass Remnant pull backs. More accurately, those led by Sali 'Nyon, and find out where they were going. Got hit by a Scarab on getting here, and held up in a different cave, hoping to use the distress beacon from the Prowler to kill someone high up."

"Which, like the Scarab, that plan was blown to hell when we got here," Josh commented from where he and Resilience were talking, but also listening in on the conversation with their enhanced hearing and helmets. That's to say listening carefully and turning the volume up for what they picked up.

"Yeah," the ONI Spartan replied. "We can probably get the Infinity to send a few dropships down to help out, by the way," he said to Ken.

"Probably'll need it," he said. "But if you guys are trying to find intel on Sali 'Nyon, why target these morons? Seriously, last I checked, his remnant faction and the Bearers aren't the same."

"No, but recent intel does suggest they are allies, and most of them, including the leadership, has pulled to wherever Sali and his forces are," Cowboy told him. "Hell, a few other ONI recon teams checking out other factions state the same, even the Keepers of the One Freedom. They plan on infiltrating them so we can find out, and Osman wants some from every team there for more than one  source."

"You do realize I'm probably not cleared for that, right?" Ken asked.

"No, you guys are," the other Spartan said. "It'd just otherwise be kept underwraps until we found out, and hope Infinity and a good number of the fleet would help clear 'em out."

Whatever else that would be said next was blocked when Dawn yelled, "Cowboy, the fuck did I say about telling them our plans?!"

"Abso-fucking-lutely nothing!" he shouted back as the rest of his squad walked in to the area.

Dawn was black and purple commando armor with a red visor. "Because I didn't think I had to say anything," she said with a joking tone. "You guys, fall out and see what gear you can pick up. I'll call for extract."

"Ma'am," the eight other Phoenix members said before scattering, leaving Dawn and Ken.

"So, any question you want to ask before you do call?" Ken asked, crossing his arms.

"Yeah," she said. "Those three new Spartans with you guys: what are they? ONI's got no files on 'em."

"I'll explain on the way up," Ken said. "For now, let's just get the hell out of here."

A new threat

A day has passed since Fire team phoenix was rescued, and Josh and Twilight were currently in the war games simulations so as to help her use her wingblades, using mainly a tuned down version of the new Firefight mode, a favorite of many Spartans on board. Ken and Palmer were going over various ways to use Twilight and Elegance's magic- or Vacuum energy control, to use Forerunner terms- in combat to effective measure, while Elegance and Spike were arguing over which Power pony was better. Hey, the company had a day off given what happened a day earlier, and were using it. Oh, and Rainbow was one of the test dummies for Twilight.

But right now, the  importance rests with Fireteam Phoenix, who was currently being debriefed by Serin Osman- a woman in her  late forties with black hair and blue eyes, the eyes a result of her failed Spartan two augments- and CINCONI.

"So while she was on Sangheilios, without my permission," Osman said from her end of the very, very unstable communication, "Spartan Palmer not only managed to find a previously undiscovered Forerunner site, but also three new races."

"That's the best we understand it, Ma'am," Dawn said, her squad having their entire armor on, a habit of their work with ONI. "I'd send you the files, but, given what happened with a majority of A.I.s in the galaxy, I think it best to not do that. We're risking a lot as is."

"Agreed," the Spartan two washout replied. "Still, I need three of you for the mission."

"I'll be one, ma'am," Cyclone, who wore white and blue Aviator armor and helmet with a red visor, said. "Those things'll need as many pilots, and will be looking for 'em. Who better than a Spartan."

"I'll go too, Ma'am," Wildfire said, stepping up. He wore black and red infiltrator armor with a red visor. "Besides, if the fuckers burn, I want to be the one to start it."

"Well, if he's going, Ma'am," Chemo, who wore orange and red E.O.D. armor with a red visor, "I will too. Wildfire will need someone to make sure his fuel won't explode in his face."

Osman nodded. "In that case, the rest of you will remain on Infinity, and assist them with combating the Created when you can, as well as gathering intelligence on these three new individuals."

"Ma'am," the nine Spartans said as the feed cut.

"Well, guess we'll get ready to leave later," Cyclone said.

"Good luck, guys," Cowboy said as he held a fist up to Wildfire, who gave one in return.

"Just don't burn wherever you guys are going down before we get there," Tank said, crossing his arms. "Or we may come after you three."

"I'll keep an eye on him," Chemo said before giving a two fingered salute. Well, guess we'll be seeing you guys in hell once you arrive."

"Same," Lightning, a Spartan who wore blue and White scout armor with a black visor, said. With that, the three volunteers left the room to grab weapons, and steal a prowler. Not that any could stop them, as they had ONI clearance to requisition one if needed.

"So, what do you say we go meet our new allies?" Ozone, who wore black and green C.I.O. armor with the recruit visor.

"That would be best," Dawn said. With that, the remaining six left, and made their way towards the war games deck.

There, Twilight, Josh, Void, Hope, Rainbow, and Resilience-Rainbow mainly just getting ran over by Twilight with a scout hog when it could be seen as an accident- were in the middle of a game of Firefight, the current round being one of having to kill the four Soldier captains with Gauss cannons. The team was spread out- Void and Rainbow handling the one at the outpost near the beach, Resilience, Hope, and Twilight the one near  the base that had palm trees around it, and Josh on the last, as the team had collectively killed the first.

With an active camo power up active and moving slowly, Josh made his way past the Soldiers and up the ramp that led to the top, stowing his Assault rifle, which had the Lagrange skin on, and pulled out the knife from his left wrist in a reverse grip. He looked around, and saw the only other thing up there was the Soldier before moving in. Upon reaching it, he delivered a punch to the things right arm, the surprise making it drop the cannon, and retort with an attempted, downward punch at Josh, who turned his body to the side to avoid it before bringing the knife down on the neck and hitting vital systems, killing it. "This is Lone one, target down."

A sniper shot echoed throughout the map. "Copy, this is Lone four, target down," Twilight replied.

"And this is Void. Construct neutralized," the female Soldier captain reported.

"Then it looks like we're moving on to round four," Josh said as the camo faded, and the remaining warzone constructs died.

"That'll have to wait, everyone," Roland said over their radios. "I'm restarting the match as you all are getting six more in with you."

"Twelve people?" Josh asked, surprised. "I thought the servers could only handle eight per match?"

"That's mostly because it's rare for twelve Spartans to go on a mission together, and Firefight usually only works with the maximum number that's been the main part," Roland replied. "Besides, can't really say no to ONI if i want to remain active."

"Wait, what?" Josh said before his vision blackened and, a few seconds later, he was sitting in a pelican facing Dawn from Phoenix.

"Hey, Josh."

"And what do you want. . .?"

"Drop the rank while we're in here," she said. "'Sides, we're the same rank anyway."

"Still doesn't answer my other question."

Dawn sighed. "Look, I just wanted to talk with you," she said. "CINCONI wanted six of us to stay back on the ship to help you guys out-"

"Among other things, I imagine," Josh interrupted.

Dawn nodded. "True, but not the reason I wanted to talk with you."

"Then let me guess," Josh said. "You six want to join our Spartan company so you can keep an eye and gather intel on Twilight and the others?"

"More like ordered," Dawn agreed. "But also because, well, we've seen just your team's records, even if it was before this whole thing started. Can you blame us for wanting to be with you guys?"

Josh sighed. "Guess not," he said. "We'll finalize it once this game's over with."

The female Spartan nodded. "Right," she said as the Pelicans turned around, and the ramps lowered, allowing the four occupants in each to deploy. With Josh and Dawn were Rainbow and Hope. Twilight, Resilience, Void, and Lightning were the second to their left, and to their right was Cowboy, Tank, Ozone, and Reaper, with Reaper wearing blue and black Venator armor with a blue visor, and Tank wearing red and white soldier armor with a blue visor.

For some reason, when the objective was supposed to appear on their HUDs, it didn't. "Uh, Roland, I think something's up!" Josh yelled, but another voice answered.

"Oh, he knows, he just can't do anything," a male voice, one Josh recognized, said. "We locked him out."

"Jacob, what the fuck do you mean!?" he asked, shouting at the air.

"Simple," a second, female voice said. "Don't you find it odd Jacob and I were posted here to Infinity just after the Guardians began to wake?"

"I don't even know when that was!"

"Couple months back," Jacob said. "Point is, and this is being broadcast to every Warzone game which was restarted, mind you, Bishop and I are actually created meant to help Cortana remove the ship. Only reason she hasn't attacked is because she wants to see if you can find a threat to her. If you do, well, we'll be there to kill the retrieval team, and remotely detonate a nuke from inside the ship."

"Then what the fuck are you doing now?" Ozone asked. "You gave your plan away."

"Ah, ah, not all of it, nor any other agents on this ship. Still, Bishop, care to tell them what we did?"

"On it," the female A.I. that had been posing as a Spartan said. "You see, with us being Fire team Shadow, we were able to gain access to the server room. Soon as Roland restarted one game, we used the code phrase to put him under our control, and restarted them all. But the thing is, we turned all of them into Firefight matches, ones that will only end if those involved can beat the fifth round, which is much more difficult than usual and scaled for amount of individuals in the game. Thing is, you die here, the pods deliver a shock to your brain." Here, Josh face palmed, or would have had his helmet not been there.

"You've got to be fucking kidding me."

"'Fraid not, Josh," Jacob said. "Though trust me, you twelve will be getting a special boss."

With that, the objective came up.

Round one: kill Knights

0/20

"Have fun," Bishop said in sing-song as Knight spawned in.

"Every one, form up on us," Dawn said, and the others did so.

"And so thus doth hell begin," Josh said as he checked the Req level before chuckling. "Least they left us something for a chance," he said, Req level being five. "Guys, we need to get to the terminal so I can pull something out."

"Going to be difficult," Dawn said, readying her assault rifle. "Gotta make it past those morons."

"Then let's blow through 'em like Spartans, even if some of us aren't," Josh said. "On three, people," he said as the hostile Knights, all with Scattershots, stalked closer. "One-" Void, Resilience, and Rainbow prepared to teleport around the Knights, Void standing close to Josh to do so with him. "Two-" Twilight charged her horn for teleportation of herself and the members of Phoenix. "Three!" At that, all those that could teleported behind the enemy horde, and made a run for the base to acquire req weapons. "Hope, Resilience, lightrifles!" Josh yelled. "Rainbow, get a Razor's edge and Song of peace. Void, Splinter turret. Twi, get a Sentinel BR and an Open hand boltshot, along with whatever armor mod you want."

"And what are you going to get?" Dawn asked as they entered the base, enemy knights firing their scattershots at them, quite ineffectively.

"You'll see," he said as the group split up. Half went to the central terminal in the core room, the other half to the right terminal as you enter the base.

"Load up, people!" Dawn yelled as her team gather their preferred weapons. Tank went with an EM (extended mag) AR and a Spnkr launcher. Lightning with a Sentinel BR with long barrel and an EM SMG. Cowboy a longshot BR with stabilization jets and a recon SMG with the same. Ozone went with a simple BR and Magnum, both EM variant. Reaper had a hybrid SMG and basic magnum. Dawn had the base BR with a stabilization jet AR. Only Tank and Cowboy had armor mods, with Tank using Grenadier, and Cowboy advanced sensors.

"Anyone know where Josh is?" Twilight asked, as he was with her.

"Look outside!" he replie dover the radio before an explosion was heard. "Come on, you fuckers! Try and nail me with those scattershots!"

The groups looked at those with them, and headed outside to see a single Wasp at the highest altitude the simulator would allow, firing its main guns and missiles at the Knights, who tried and failed to hit it.

"Firing!" Tank yelled before raising his launcher, and firing off two rockets, each one killing a wounded Knight and weakening others.

Kill Knights: 10/20

"What are you waiting for, guys?!" Josh said over the radio. "Join in."

"May as well," Rainbow said. "But Twilight-"

"No more running over until this is over, I know," she said, and the eleven charged into battle.

Work begins

Just as Fire team Shadow's plan and allegiance came to light, the command crew of the Infinity had already met in the bridge. "Roland, what do we got?" Lasky asked.

"Nothing good, Captain," the A.I. replied. "The virus in the system is keeping anyone in the Wargames simulations- and only those simulations- in them. It's got some advanced code, so it'll take me a while to crack it. Anyone in Arena matches, though, were released. Best guess is because Shadow decided to lay it cruel and give Spartans a glimmer of them all getting out, and crush it."

"That's a villainous thought, Roland," Halsey said. "Are you sure we shouldn't be worried you're with them?"

"Doctor Halsey, right now, I'm bound by the three laws of robotics, which I'm sure you know," Roland retorted. "Also, Captain, Spartans Orochi and Palmer found the bodies of Shadow team. Looks like they were A.I. the entire time using bodies made by Forerunner tech to appear human. And before you ask, Doctor, the bodies are currently in quarantine. You'll have to wait until after all of this to look at them. Besides, I'm looking at what I can of the physical architecture to see what I can get of how they work. May help free everyone."

"Casualty reports so far?" Lasky asked.

"Three percent, sir. Most of what's going on are converted Warzone turbo matches. Kinda makes it easy for them to win when they can pull a Hannibal Scorpion or three into play at the beginning, coupled with Wheelman armor mods," Roland said. "Combine with Helios Phaeton and Ultra Banshee air support? Most groups are already in round three, and only five minutes have passed since this whole thing started."

Lasky sighed. "And how many are on Urban?" That map had gained infamy as the hardest Firefight map.

"Twelve to start, only three are are alive so far, sir," Roland said. "Apex has ninety percent survival so far, followed by Darkstar at eighty, then Strombreak and Sanctum at forty."

"What about Fire teams Lone and Phoenix?"

"Working together on Apex and on round three, sir. No casualties as of yet," Roland replied. "I'm currently working on a way to communicate with them, as, from what I can tell, Fire team Shadow is waiting to engage them when round five hits."

"So it'll be a match of legends for the crew, then," Lasky said.

"Not exactly, sir," Roland said. "Remember, Spartan Orochi isn't in this issue-the digital side, that is- and most of the crew still don't see Palmer and the rest as being a part of the team there given three of them are aliens who just recently became soldiers, and most of them just outright hate Palmer. So, in their eyes, it''l be Shadow against half of Lone, and they'll think it'll be Shadow who wins as the two teams are that- legendary teams, not legendary individuals."

"Then I guess it's up to Lone to prove them wrong," Lasky said with a sigh.

"If I may intrude upon this, Captain," the three heard Starburst say before her projection appeared on the holo-table.

"What is it, Starburst?" Lasky said.

"Well, sir, with Roland's permission, myself and the other Ancillas scanned a little deeper into the carapaces Shadow team was using, and, either on purpose or overlook, they forgot to cover up their point of origin. They may say they are created which Cortana made to infiltrate the ship, but, from what we found, that is false information."

"How so?" Halsey asked.

"It is true that their bodies have Forerunner parts," Starburst said, "but mainly the parts, including the CPU, are human made. Not concrete, I know, but we found a message-one which was deleted after we saw it for the first time, that revealed the two were instead acting on behalf of a human CEO, and that the quote unquote 'dead' Spartan are just put into a very death like coma."

"And who's the CEO?" Roland asked, this being the first he's heard of this.

"His short name is how Twilight Sparkle knows him," Starburst said. "Discord, the God of Chaos."

Banishment

It was a beautiful day in Canterlot. The sun was shining, there was not a single cloud in the sky, the temperature was fair, and there were ponies out and about. Of course, like every other month, there was something. . . special going on.

What, you might ask, was special in the city of Canterlot this month? Well, that would have to deal with something of note near a year ago, which was the treaty between the princesses of Equestria and the Changeling Hives. Now, you might ask, how did something a year ago have to do with today. Well, I'll tell you.

A week ago, a pony was arrested for assaulting another with a changeling. The accused say it was in self-defense, but all the witnesses say the opposite, that they attacked first, and the first-responders said that the supposed attacker was near death. Now, if it was just a normal pony, this wouldn't attract a crowd of thousands from all over Equestria, which included the Elements of Harmony.

The trial was going on in the royal court, used only for high note cases such as this, and only the princesses, the accused, the accuser, the Elements, and any witnesses, along with the lawyers and bailiffs, were allowed in. Well, in this case anyway, as well as the family of the accused.

The family had been unable to make it, which meant only Rarity, the Element of Gnerosity, wearing a black and white formal suit, Applejack, Element of Honesty and wearing the most formal attire she owned, Rainbow Dash, Element of Loyalty and wearing, much to her annoyance, what she called a "monkey suit", Pinkie Pie, Element of Laughter and wearing the most casual outfit possible, yellow shorts with a white and blue striped shirt, Fluttershy, Element of Kindness, wearing a formal skirt and white shirt under a black business suit, and Sunset Shimmer, one of Princess Celestia's former students and now Element of Magic, wearing what she had worn in the human world minus the cutie mark, sat in the only row of seats.

Now, you're probably wondering as to why Sunset was there, and not Twilight. Well, that's just it, she is, as one of the defendants. She was on the left side of the court room, behind the desk assigned her and her lawyer, along with the changeling she had, so she claimed, protected, a female with light gray skin and shoulder length, blue hair, both wearing business suits, the only thing they could wear.

On the opposite side was the plaintiff, which would be a stallion with black skin and silver hair, the one who both Twilight Sparkle and the changeling said had thrown the first punch, and his lawyers, both wearing business suits. Really, there was only one difference in the facial features of the latter group.

They wore smiles, while Twilight, the changeling, and their lawyers bore looks of sadness, everypony else looks of disgust, all aimed at the former.

"Twilight Sparkle," Princess Celestia, wearing a regal gown of white and gold, her crown upon her head, said, disappointment in her voice, "it is, with great disappointment that this court find you, and the changeling known as Elegance, guilty of assault. Given how long it has been since the last, the sentence is banishment upon pain of death should you return. In addition, at the request of Princess Cadence, who could not be here physically, you will be able to have correspondence with your family, but only should they initiate it. In addition, should either of you have children, they will be able to return. And, at his personal request, Spike the Dragon will share your punishment. Do you understand?" Both women nodded, unable to speak due to silence and shock. "Then you will have three days to gather what you wish to bring with you." She lit her horn, and a small flash and bang occurred, after which, she said, "This court is adjourned. Bailiffs, escort them."

The bailiffs, if you were wondering, were thestrals, bat ponies, in armor. Now, you're probably wondering, what was t stop Twilight from just attacking them? Three things, really. The first was that, as soon as word had reached Celestia, along with Twilight at her request, Celestia had taken away Twilight's alicorn-hood, and common procedure was to put a magic-negation ring at the base of the horn, should the accused be a unicorn. The third, and most known, was her respect for whatever the princess said.

Twilight and Elegance stood up with nary a word, and let the guards escort them out.

Three days later

Twilight and Elegance, in the best survival gear that Equestria would give ponies in their state, stood in front of a mirror portal. It was a little known fact that Starswirl had made seven portals total, the only one Twilight having traveled through being, as Starswirl called them, the Mark seven and Mark five. Spike, being a dragon, had on only a white, sleeveless shirt with cargo pants.

They stood in one of the more restricted rooms of Canterlot castle, one that, until recently, only Celestia and Starswirl had ever entered. In fact, Celestia, Luna, and Twilight's parents were there as well.

"Once the three of you go through the portal," the solar alicorn said, "the spell will begin, and, should you ever enter Equestria ever again, it will slowly and painfully kill you. Is that clear?"

"Yes, your Highness," Twilight said automatically from her times as a child.

"How far you have fallen, Twilight Sparkle," Luna said. 'You were the greatest unicorn, quite possibly the most powerful alicorn, and you threw it away."

"To defend Elegance," Spike said, though he knew it would not help, not now.

"Spike, please, just stop," Twilight said. "Being banished is remembrance enough for this."

"Sorry, Twi," Spike said. "Just where are we going?" Spike asked the princesses, doubting they would reply.

"A world that has beings similar to us, but not an alternate version of Equestria, as that would cause the spell to kill you," Celestia said. "They are similar enough for the three of you to have children there, should that be what you wish. Are you ready?"

"As ready as we can be," Spike said, mentally adding, you damned bitch.

"Then we hope you survive," Luna said before he used her magic to push the three exiles through the portal, and seal it behind them. 'I still do not see why you didn't tell them it is in the same plane of existence as us," she said to her sister. "They know they will die if they return."

"So that Twilight doesn't try to unravel the spell, which she doubtfully would, as it was cast under my instructions," Celestia said before sighing. "I thought I knew her better."

"We all did, sister," Luna said as Twilight's parents began to break into tears. "We all did."