He could feel every ounce of Tenno steel that made up his blade as it hung over the Colorful pony. He knew what he needed to do, but something inside him made it difficult. When suddenly an old memory played across his mind. The suddenness of this memory was matched only by the quickness of his actions he scooped the hurting Bloom into his arms and bolted into his linset. He laid the pony down and started to punch in data into the holo map. Ordis flared into being close by,

“Operator what are you thinking…*Infected do not make good pets*." He glitches, and the Red pelted frame didn’t even spare him a glance as he kept putting in coordinates. “Operator do you know something I don’t…..” he looked at the data and stopped. “This… these points Ordis knows these points.” The frame nodded, and Ordis looked at the infected Bloom he had put in stasis to slow the infection. He prayed to an entity he no longer remembers the name of and guided the linset to its destination. They arrived shortly, and the frame grabbed Bloom from stasis and sped through the tower. He had a plan, he didn’t know if it would work, but the Frame knew he most likely wasn’t going to survive to find out.

Everything felt heavy and sluggish. Bloom's body ached, and her mind was a storm of thought and emotions. She felt the dream of the giant beetle and the red alien with the talking lights named Ordis start to lift right as the giant tree monster had hurt her. Usually, she would have woken up after such a scary dream yet she still dreamt of apples, of her sister calling her name. She could feel herself lift up she wondered if this is what it felt like to fly. Then everything turned cold she could remember gold lights with white stones like the princess’s castle.

But that cold and gold place it seemed to seep into her very fiber. Her body felt heavier all of a sudden, and she squirmed and tried to move To fight, breathing was getting hard. She flopped and heaved trying to force air into her lungs. Her mind started to slug, and everything began to grow dark.She wanted her sister, her Brother. But what she wanted most was her dad. She heard singing, it was strange, flowing and she couldn’t understand any of it. But it filled her with a warmth like family surrounded her. The song grew louder like the song was demanding her to follow it. Suddenly she could understand more and more of what words were. They sang of home and family both new and old of lost homes of the Void. The words made her miss her family. She could feel herself grow warm and her brain was starting to fall deeper into the songs of the Void as they sang her a lullaby to sleep.

The light started to filter through the farmhouse’s windows signaling the start of another day. But this day was unlike few others. For as the suns rays fell into AppleBloom’s room, the filly curled tightly in her bed starting to stir. But the fog of more than just sleep clouded the fillies mind. The sun hit her eyes, and she flinched at the sudden light. She heard several familiar voices in the distance. But one that shouldn’t have been familiar. The Blue light that spoke in her dream why was it here now? She tried to move her hoof, but it wouldn’t budge. She started to panic a bit when the rest of her body wasn’t responding to her efforts either. She focused on moving her hoof and poured what energy and focus she could. The limb twitched in response, but even that felt unnatural. The conversations stopped suddenly, and she wished she could move her head to see, but that proved too much for her. Like something had cast a spell on her.Then she heard Ordis’s voice again she strained her ears trying to pick any clue as to what was going on. Her mind must have been messing with her Ordis wasn’t real it was a dream nothing more. She heard the soft southern drawl of her sister.

“Wake up Bloom… Can you open your eyes?” she asked, and Bloom poured everything into what should have been a simple bodily movement.Her eyes slowly opened to see the smiling face of her sister. The site was comforting up until the part where she heard Ordis speak.

“Ah, Operator Bloom is awake. A most joyous occasion.” Blooms eyes still a little blurry dilated suddenly at the realization that Ordis was, in fact, real. She started to squirm and move trying to get up, run, do anything at that moment. “Operators motor functions seem to be impaired hmm running synchronization diagnostics.” Something suddenly made an audible click and suddenly all that focus and attempting to move propelled Bloom off the edge into the wall causing her to rebound under her bed. Bloom could only let out a groan at the impact. But the bed offered, cover for her to orient herself. She started to rock a little in the space that was tighter than she remembered but that thought was pushed aside by the bright blue light that was Ordis appeared right in front of her. “Oh, happy rotation the operator is alive and well.” Bloom's response was to scream. She was breathing harder, and harder lightheadedness was starting to kick in. Applejack crouched down to try and calm down the filly.

“Look, Sis you’ve been asleep for a good bit and from the tales that’s been told, you’ve been through a bit of hell.” She said softly, but that didn’t help with Blooms growing panic levels.

She was scared out of her mind; Darkness was starting to creep into her vision as she continued to hyperventilate. Her mind scrambled for anything to help her.

“I want meh daddy…” she cried out in her head.

“Bloom stop! Breath” the voice was deep and tickled a familiar memory. One she couldn't quite touch. "Slowly" he commanded gentle, and she listened to it. Slowly drawing breath in and out till the dizziness left. She was still scared out of her mind, though. Tears welled in her eyes as she looked at her sister. Who flinched as her eyes met Blooms the filly darted forward into her sister’s arms and let the tears fall.

“Sis I was so scared. There was this ship, and then some aliens popped out, and they seemed scary but nice, and then there was a huge one that wasn’t and …and I got hurt… And sick….” Bloom opened her eyes and found the large mirror that stood in her room. Then her eyes meet her own, and she stopped mid-cry. Something was glowing in her eyes. She unclenched her sister and trotted over to it slowly. The face she stared at wasn’t her own. She touched her face and noticed her the end part of her hoof wasn’t orange like what it was supposed to be it was silver and had a slight swirl on the bottom of it. Her eyes glowed and swirled with stars and power she felt like she could stare at them forever. She traced a hoof down the lines on her face and cheeks taking in every new detail with a strange sense of curiosity as she did. Then it clicked she remembered the infection, The ancient.

“I’m still sick aren’t I…,” she asked without looking away from her new self. But she could see her sister stiffen up at the question she didn’t know. But the bright light that was Ordis her cephalon floated gently into view.

“Operator Bloom… The infestation has been purged, from your system. And this planet. The Warframe Chroma saw to that personally. He gave himself to protect you, though Ordis is still confused on how, but my systems show you are healthy once more.”

Bloom looked at the A.I briefly before her eyes returned to her own eyes. Applejack moved slowly behind her and stood to the side of her Sister. In truth, the older Apple was scared what if this wasn’t her sister anymore but some weird alien that was working their way into her home, but she was doing her best to block those thoughts as they came this had to be her sister. Blooms eyes flared suddenly catching Aj’s eyes tears started to well in those big bright eyes.

“I’m a monster now aren’t I…..” the little apple cried out and on instinct AJ pulled her close.

“No you’re, not Bloom …. You different now but... You’re not a” her sister started but Bloom went ridged, and more tears started to fall.

“you're lying you're scared of me I can feel it. you’re not sure I am your sister and …. And I don’t even know anymore.” Bloom fell to the floor crying, and AJ’s doubt stopped her from immediately going to her. Till, strangely enough, Ordis flared his lights.

“Operator Bloom!!!” He called out “No Operator of mine is a monster… The Tenno use their Warframes for the good of the system. Chroma would not have entrusted himself to you if you were anything else but worthy to wear his frame. Ordis know how it feels to doubt one’s self Ordis is a little glitchy and my memory is not fully intact, but I would be honored to serve the new operator.” Bloom looked at her cephalon and couldn’t help but smile. “Now operator… It’s time for you to sync up.” Ordis floated towards a large golden and white container. Bloom moved slowly towards the imposing locker. She could feel great importance flow off the gold and pure white of it.

“Operator Bloom please turn around and wait for synchronization." She did so she could hear the locker hiss open and mechanization whir and turn. She was starting to get nervous when something dropped onto her back almost unbalancing her it was heavy and felt leathery.Her legs threatened to buckle when she felt something like screws being tightened straight into her spine it started with a pinch and became something near unbearable in a mere second. Bloom felt the leathery hide wrap around her midsection as the pain continued.

She fell to the floor her eyes held tight and her mouth in a wordless scream her sister urged forward, and Ordis popped up in front of her.

"No you cannot interfere with the process!" but she passed through the projection and laid a hoof on her sister trying to help the filly. She didn’t try to remove it for fear of hurting Bloom, but she felt so helpless. She stroked Bloom's side and whispered encouragement.

It was like a fire burning through Bloom's body as the time passed by when suddenly everything stopped. She laid there with what had just attached itself to her. It was too heavy for her to move and the pain was too fresh in her mind to try. But Bloom could feel something stroking her back, and she opened her eyes to see her sister nearby it was comforting. Ordis spoke again

"Transference is holding strong... booting up main systems." Bloom looked at her hooves to see them flash white. Images started to pop into her vision lines pop up, and two numbers appeared. Bloom felt the power flow through her, and she started to get up slowly. "Health systems, Activated," she flashed Red, and the red numbers started to climb rapidly. "Shields Cycling now" the same process repeated but with blue. "Warframe power balancing and energy recover low but functioning." the line in the right corner of her vision filled with blue, and she felt stronger. She stood as more strength filled her body. Her head swam with colors and words on her face. But what freaked her out the most was she could feel this presence in her mind she froze up as she thought about it.

“Who are you?” She managed to think, and she could feel the presence seem to move. When a black box popped in the upper corner of her vision. It read Chroma, and it showed the face of the red frame she remembered.Then it spoke in that voice that had told her to calm down. It filled her with a sense of calm yet again.

“I am Chroma, we are the Warframe, and we are the Operator now.” Those words filled her with a sense of pride she couldn’t explain.

“You saved me… you sacrificed yourself for me?” she asked, and he nodded she could feel the hide she wore warm up in a comforting fashion. She actually nuzzled against it for some reason it felt like an old loved garment she hadn’t worn in ages. It made her feel like she wore the greatest suit of armor the world had known and nothing could get past it. She felt strong.Suddenly she was brought back to reality by the sound of her sister calling her name right in front of her. She saw her sister's eyes full and scared for her.

“Bloom are you ok you started to shake then rub yourself on the hood of this thing like it was a family member?” she asked plainly and very concerned.

“I guess in a way it is sis,” Bloom said, and Aj blinked a couple of times trying to process what she meant.Bloom trotted over to the mirror again to look over herself but with Chroma this time.The pelt covered her kinda like a hoodie there was even a part that included her tail It moved like it was attached same with the rest of Chroma's pelt the pain was gone now replaced with a warm sense of security. It took her back to a time she really couldn’t remember very well. She mentally thanked Chroma again, and he chortled softly. While AppleBloom looked herself over in the mirror Applejack was wrestling with that thought of is this really her sister. She started to look at a particularly ticklish spot the filly had and slowly pushed out a hoof to attack it. At the sudden touch, Bloom squirmed away and looked at her sister… until Aj put her whole, hoof into trying to tickle her sister. Bloom squirmed and laughed at her sister’s hoof until she moved out of the reach of the offending appendage. She looked at Applejack with her new eyes and with the Chroma on her back she looked rather fearsome. Suddenly Aj grew fearful as her sister stuck a stance. The fear hit a peak when Bloom launched herself at her sister. Applejack screamed in real concern up until the point where Blooms lips touched her belly and rash berried her sister until she begged for mercy. Applejack laid on the floor and looked at the ceiling as she regained her breath. Bloom had plopped on her sister with a smile. She looked back at her hair and noticed something missing, and she laid her head on her sister’s chest…

“Sis do we have Ma’s bow?” the question silenced a significant portion of Applejacks doubts on the subject, and she smiled.

“Ya, we got it Ordis said he cleaned it up real nice for you. It’s on your nightstand.” At the mention of her beloved bow she looked over, and sure enough, her mother’s bow sat pink as ever on her nightstand. Bloom smiled and sighed with relief.

“It’s always the little things ain't it?” she asked, and her sister responded more like her brother than anything.

“Eeyup.” That’s about the time voices started to come from the other side of the room.

“No Ordis it’s not some sort of sneak attack training it just a sibling thing….. Oh for Celestia’s sake no their not trying to cause harm to any pony….. Quite snickering every time I say that it’s the proper term you Flashy computer.” It was definitely twilight’s irritated voice to be echoing as it came up the stairs. "Sorry to interrupt but Ordis won’t leave me alone till I check to make sure you’re both fin….” She stopped mid-sentence when her eyes made contact with Bloom and Chroma. “Is that the Warframe Ordis has been talking about?” she asked, and her eyes lit up almost as bright as Blooms. Her eyes started to rush as she picked up Bloom in her magic and carried her away from Applejack. Bloom began to flail a bit in the purple unicorn’s magic.A quill and scroll popped out of nowhere and started to jot down everything as she circled the poor hybrid like a shark, but instead of blood, this one was out for knowledge. And it was somewhat scary from Bloom’s perspective. Even Chroma was scared at the way Twi looked at them.

“Bloom this one scares me I can’t move, and we don’t have enough energy to activate any of our defenses….” “I don’t even know what that means” Bloom cried out loud, and AJ tried to get Twilight to stop.

“Twi please you’re freaking… Well, to be honest, every pony…” AJ tried to bargain as she followed the hyper unicorn.

“But I can learn so much from just observing this alien life and how it’s bonded with Bloom.” She didn’t even drag her eyes away from them. Chroma squirmed, and Bloom waved her hoof till twilight looked at it.

“Twi please let me down Chroma’s starting to call you names like corpus and a salad named V… please!” she gave her the best puppy dog eyes she could she could even feel them glowing slightly. From Twilight's perspective, everything stood still as her eyes locked onto Blooms eyes filled with the stars filled in with an orange galaxy that swirled into them. She put her hooves on either side of Blooms face and pulled her closer so she could look into them. Hell, she even looked into the alien's eyes that set on top of Blooms head…. Even they were doing their best to be cute and try and persuade her… She shook her head and realized how she was acting. She set Bloom down and laid in front of her.

“I’m sorry Bloom I got excited.”All of a sudden there was the sound of hooves clopping up the stair.

“It seems old habits die hard my dear student.” Bloom looked over her shoulder to see the solar princess herself walking up the steps into her room. Bloom quickly turned and dropped to a bow as did Twilight. But then Chroma lifted himself from her back with a slight hiss of pressure. The pain on her back flashed briefly, and Chroma bowed itself to the sun princess. Bloom peaked an eye, and she nearly lost her composure at the shocked expression the princess wore on her face. Then she smiled and bowed back to the Frame. Everyone gasped, and Chroma chirped in shock then looked at Bloom who looked back to him.

“It is you who I must thank Tenno you saved one of my little ponies with no thought to yourself and even sacrificed a part of yourself.” She gave the Chroma pelt a soft smile and Chroma growled and chirped while the translation ran over Blooms view. “He says that it is a sacrifice Tenno are prepared to make to protect the system.” Celestia nodded with a bit of concern.

“A brave statement from a brave warrior one who has latched themselves to one of my peaceful ponies… I appreciate what you have done I still worry about what this may have brought to this world.” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath and released a heavy sigh. Chroma and Bloom looked at each other with a bit of worry….

“I can’t tell if she likes me or wants to slay me…” Chroma said, and Bloom nodded in worry. But both snapped back to the Princess when she opened her eyes.

“But at this point in time, we must celebrate the recovery of young Bloom. And I believe your granny has prepared quite a feast for all of us. Come along Twilight we can discuss what to do next about these developments.” She turned and flicked her tail and Twilight followed close by. Aj started down the stair then looked at her sister.

“You feeling a little-overwhelmed sis?” She asked, and Bloom nodded then looked at Chroma, and her sister left her alone.

“I sense you have a lot of questions…. Bloom.” She looked at her frame and sighed

“You could say that partner… But more than that I’m worried what are we, what are you and why am I like this now…”Chroma touched a claw to his face and seemed to think for a tick.

“We are two different Races, species, and even… planetary origins… but now we are one, In Mind and body.” Chroma hovered and bowed his head at her and Blooms eyes reflected the shock she felt at his words.

“Does this mean I’m not an apple anymore…..Or does that make you an apple now… Or … or Ah my heads all spiny now.” She cried out softly and put a hoof to her head to try and stop the feeling.

“Much of the question you ask are hidden from me as well I cannot remember where the tenno came from I only remember the Orkin and their void… But little else has been revealed to us. Whether our connection to the Lotus has been severed I don’t know I hope not the Lotus is wise and kind… not unlike your princess.

“There’s two of them. Well, three princesses actually counting that Cadence alicorn in the crystal empire.” Chroma floated just for a second until something clicked.

“Just as powerful as you say Celestia is?” he seemed to panic slightly. Bloom felt a course of fear run through him. Celestia reminds me of the Orokin and what little my memories are the Orokin still scare me. He seemed to grow small and Bloom’s heartfelt his fear. She reached out and wrapped the pelt in a hug. He warmed up to her touch. And she smiled when an elderly voice called from downstairs.

“Bloom suppers gonna get cold if you don’t get your hide down here." Chroma chuckled at the hide part and floated to her back and sealed himself back on. Bloom’s eyes watered, and she let out a Pony feather in a very pained manner. Chroma heated up and eased the pain a bit.She felt power flood into her limbs, and she did a little prance to get her legs working again, and she jumped the first flight of stairs to land with a thump but when she attempted the second she slipped and ended up falling down the rest. When the world stopped bouncing, she found herself in front of the whole family the princess and twilight. She blushed and righted herself and slinked to the table embarrassed. Everypony giggled, and Bloom could feel her ears heat up. “Well, it's about time young en.” She motioned for the young hybrid to dig in, so she did the second the young frame touched the food she didn’t stop shoveling apple or dessert her hunger hitting her like a train. Tears started to well in her eyes as she took in the smells of home and food. Everypony looked at her with a little worry. “You might want to slow down, or you’ll choke,” Celestia warned, and Bloom paused and looked at her family. “I was scared I wasn’t gonna be seeing any of you again…..” she sniffed and wiped away the tears and gave a smile “it’s good to be home." Everypony smiled, and Bloom suddenly perked up in her seat.

“Oh oh did Ordis tell you what I did before the creepy crawler got me?” she said with such pride the apples all leaned forward. “Bloom pulled up the holo-screen out of her hoof and brought out the piece of shiny metal. “I sold an apple!” she proclaims with the utmost pride. Ordis blinked in and nodded “yes the young Bloom did.” All the ponies around the table stared for a minute then fell into a loud fit of laughter Bloom looked around confused

“What aren’t you proud?” she asked and Applejack nodded

“We're just happy your home Bloom.” Bloom smiled, so she grabbed another fritter and munched on it a lot slower as she looked over her H.U.D the symbols in the right corner caught her attention, and she focused on the first logo, and it glowed white and read spectral scream. She shrugged and went back to eating.Then she burped, and a small jet of flame shot out for the briefest of moments. Applejack who was sitting across from her eyes were like dinner plates in her head and Bloom shrunk into her chair

“sorry sis...” Bloom sheepishly let out everyone was stunned until Ordis suddenly proclaimed

“Oh, happy solar cycle Operators first Spectral scream Ordis will save this to his personal data banks.” Everypony fell into laughing.

Elsewhere in the system.

A Large frame sat in meditation in his liset a blue cephalon blinked into view.

“Operator you have a new message….” He looked and nodded before holding out his hand and pulling up the message. “Tenno we found him.” The message closed and the cephalon reappeared

“A new location has been discovered want me to plot a course?” he asked, but the frame was too busy sending a new message. Once done he nodded to the A.I while several other lisets flew into view. They all made the jump to the void his ship leading the charge. They dropped out around the new planet and entered the atmosphere.The hunt was on.

Once the feast was finished the princess departed asking for updates and letters on Blooms progress which Twilight more than eagerly agreed to. Everypony departed, and Blooms body felt sluggish again. She yawned, and AJ chuckled “looks like somepony is ready for bed again” Bloom looked at her with dim eyes nodding her head in agreement. But she asked Chroma a question in her head.

“Why am I so tired yet I’ve only been awake a couple of hours?” she asked as she climbed the stairs.

“Your body has gone through many different changes it needs more time to adjust tomorrow you’ll be stronger and able to do more, I promise. But while your body rests your mind will train.” She gave him a questioning look but she crawled into bed Chroma and all and her eyes closed with sleep taking her quickly. But Bloom's dreams brought her to stark white void with a small building and halls littering the landscape. There Chroma floated in front of her.

“Here we will train to better use the frames powers and abilities, but we will also learn about the threats that spread throughout the origin system if they were ever to come to this place. Chroma spoke clearly and with authority giving Bloom that feeling of familiarity again. Suddenly a large two-legged creature appeared next to Chroma it was roundish and bulky looking it had a head shaped like a pumpkin with two glowing yellow eyes it looked around and twitched every now and then.It had a long weird tube in its hands. At First, she didn’t know what to make of it when suddenly her brain filled in the blanks. It was a gun a crude and archaic weapon called a grakata fast fire rate with average damage output. “Good Transference is holding strong it's giving what I know too, you. Now, these.” There was extra weight on her back all of a sudden, but her body worked on autopilot she reach her hooves to her back and stood on her hind legs using the extra weight of Chroma’s tail to keep her balance. The Dex Dakra were gripped by the claws Chroma provided on her hooves. The weight was weird and wrong until yet again her body kicked in and told her it was right they were perfect for striking. Chroma nodded and faded out of view when he did the Grineer readied his weapon and prepared to fire. Bloom ears heard the click and lunged forward removing the upper half of the Grineer from its torso. Bloom looked back, and the pony part of her brain started screaming as she saw the blood on everything, her hooves, the blades she was shaking. The world was weak. “Why did you make me do that why did I have to kill it why…WHY?" She screamed the last bit out loud she felt tears start to sting her eyes

“Bloom you're panicking your disrupting transference….Bloom” Chroma’s voice was cut off by the yells of several more Grineer advancing on her. But Bloom was frozen in terror the lancer came up and smacked her to the ground with his rifle Chroma’s voice was scratchy and sounded very far away. Bloom curled up and could feel tears falling as two parts of her brain fought for control. They surrounded and started to fire on the crouched hybrid it stung and made her yelp each hit caused her shields to blink and drain they were beginning to drop rapidly. I’m scared is all the filly repeated again and again as they fired on her then Chroma’s voice whispered in her head.

“Me too.” Her eyes snapped open, and her shields flared and died, and a bullet hit her side, and she screamed at the hot pain it brought, but something else came bubbling to the surface something that made the little bar right under those images fill slowly. Rage pure rage, It filled Blooms systems the pain dulled as she got up slowly and glared daggers at the cloned mutants in front of her. She saw what their empire did to those who weren’t them, she saw the brutality they inflicted upon those who were weaker than them saw the death and destruction they brought. She screamed, and flames followed. The first lancer in front of her fell to smoldering ashes within her fire. The other ones started to back away slowly looking at each other and speaking in their broken language. She saw what they would bring to Equestria if she didn’t stop them she saw her Family and friends in danger to these creatures. She turned her flame to the rest each fighting briefly before falling to her flame the last actually tried to run before being burned away. She stood in the middle of dancing flame and death. She breathed slowly and calmly Bloom surveyed her hoof work and found herself taking comfort in the chaos that they had caused. She had the power to make a difference, and she vowed to use it to protect her family an planet she promised to be a Tenno. Chroma appeared again he looked worried Bloom wore a grim expression as she looked at her frame, and he bowed making her arch an eyebrow.

“I’m sorry Bloom But you panicked, and transference made it so I couldn’t stop the training I” she held up a hoof, and he stopped.

“This frame has a lot of power and responsibility to it and… I need to learn to grab it by the tail and own up to it to protect my family." Chroma dipped his head again.

“Sleep Bloom you’ve earned it." The world evaporated, and she closed her eyes again.

Only to open them to a cold and pitch black area she couldn’t move, but her hoof hurt and her vision in one eye were tinted a sickly orange it hurt to breathe she felt something twitch under her. All her hooves but one touched something leathery under her, but she couldn’t see or make anything she was seeing or feeling. She felt a tug on her mind, and she fell back to sleep.

Elsewhere.

Applejack sat at the dinner table and tried to sort her head out. On one hoof her sister was back, on the other, she got hurt and now had an alien attached to her… A creak alerted her to granny smith entering the room. The elder took a seat across from her granddaughter. “It’s good to have Bloom back home The Princess sent a letter to Mac he'll be back in a few days,” She said with a small grin on her old face. But Aj looked at her still wearing that grim expression.

“But what if it isn’t actually Bloom?” she asked and granny without missing a beat.

“then we'll beat the tar out of 'em for lying to an Apple and find the real one, but; I can feel it in mah bones this is our Bloom even if she’s different and looks a little funny, she’s still our Bloom." The elder smiled and trotted off to bed leaving Aj with a bit of a smile. She looked out the window to the stars and made her way to bed.

Author's Note

Reedited and improved I'm actually going to shorten this chapter and move a part of it to the next chapter