An Elite Guardian

For a time, all I saw was darkness, all because Twilight was stupid enough to use her magic in close proximity. Anyway, eventually, my sight registered a small room of white and gold, and a mare with a familiar etheric, rainbow mane and tail. "Hello, Ruso," Harmony said. "Shame this is how we meet again."

"I can only assume since I am captured and most likely being converted to the Ifrit now, assuming this is not just a subsection of my mind you saved in time," I said before she sighed.

"That would be preferable, to be honest," she said. "The Ifrit captured you and the others yes, but they have been fully converted, and are now preparing the Ifrit forces to march on the Empire. It has been a few months since you were captured, and, well, the only reason you are not under their thrall is a bit of luck, really."

"What do you mean?" I asked. "You said all of your champions are susceptible to their control."

"I did, yes," she said. "But the Ifrit think you are a rogue member of their kind, and the means through which they bring those back under control are different than what they use to enthrall other races, and that is our saving grace. The process takes weeks and leaves the effected weak for a month or two. But it works only on the Ifrit, not others."

"Okay, then, that brings my next question up."

"Why you look like them?" she asked. "It is because of coincidence, pure chance," she answered. "Again, it is helping us. Before I brought your mind here," she informed me, "I subconsciously put instructions on how to use the abilities the seeds give you so that when you wake, you may use them to fight them."

"I don't see how those help," I said. "They have an army of thralls ready to die for nothing, and I am but one Sangheili, most likely without his weapons."

Harmony chuckled. "I'm sure you'll find something out," she said. "After all, you still have your wits, and, well, let's just say there is an Ifrit prophecy that tells of you coming as a savior, but worded to where they think you are their savior, not Equis'. When you wake, you'll have new armor and your weapons as they were. Also, Ruso, one more thing: I was able to sneak into their base-very difficult mind you, so don't ask me to do it again- and improved your weapons' effectiveness against them."

"My thanks, then," I said. "When do I wake up?"

"Now." Bitch.

Before I could say anything, my vision blacked out again.

For me, a few minutes later, my eyes began to flutter open before closing at the light as I heard a heart monitor. I tried to sit up, but a hoof stopped me. "Whoa there, Ruso, take it easy," I heard Rainbow say. "You've been out for a couple months."

Slowly, I opened my eyes, and saw the rainbow mare with the blue coat-wearing armor with a flame pattern and a helmet designed to bring nightmares on a table next to her. "Rainbow?" I asked, my words slightly slurred. Expected, I suppose. "What happened?"

She laughed. "Just that me, Twilight, and Fleur have ascended from being ponies and your potential brought out." Here comes my acting. Here's hoping it's good enough, 'cause i am a shit actor.

"What do you mean?" I asked, to which she sighed.

"He said there'd be some issues of memories not being accepted," she muttered. "Okay, look, there's an ancient  prophecy-I don't know the full details, don't ask me about it- of the first Ifrit being reborn after his death within the pony realm with no memories of his past life and the conquests he did in the name of our world to bring its glory and being controlled by Harmony, the deception goddess. Which considering she's Discord's brother, it does make some sense. Anyways, it said you'd return, and bring salvation to those you fought for all those years ago." With that, she bowed. "My king."

. . .Here's hoping the power doesn't go to my head. "Yeah, none of it's coming back," I said. "Still, if that is the case, then I am honored you are among my army, Rainbow."

"Thank you," she said. "Have you seen your new armor yet? It is on you."

"Bring me a mirror so that I can," I ordered her as I tried to get up, only to stumble a little before she grew in size- I shit you not- to Celestia's size and caught me in her hooves.

"You two heard him!" she yelled at two soldiers- Ifrit in the shape of Sangheili in the room. "Get him a mirror!"

"Yes, Inquisitor," one said as they bowed and left the room.

"Inquisitor?" I asked.

"Ifrit equivalent of a General," she explained. "Fleur and Twilight have it too, as we were with you upon finding the Ifrit camp, and the one who led their forces here also has it. Which reminds me, he wishes to see you once you're well."

"Noted," I said as I tried to stand on my own legs again, this time succeeding. "If I may ask, was it your new Ifrit abilities that allowed you to change size?

"Yep," she replied. "Can even change my shape and species too, but right now, everyone's to remain in their original forms."

"Thank you for the answer," I said as those two Ifrit guards rushed back in with a mirror, and set it up next to me. I looked ta it, and as in shock.

I stood there not in flame armor, but with the armor of the Arbiter upon me.