Equestria's Supreme Commander

Yeah, that surprised me, too. What Twilight had asked cause the others, even the prisoners, to look in surprise. Before I could answer, though, she said, "I-I shouldn't have asked that," before she ran off into the house.

"Go," Shadow said. "We got this."

I nodded. "Right," I said before I went off into the ruined house in search of Twilight. It wasn't much of a search, as I found her in her old room a minute after I entered, with her crying on the floor.

"You alright, Twi?" I asked her, already knowing the answer.

"N-no," she chocked out. "I shouldn't have asked you that."

"Why?" I asked. "Worst that could have happened was I said no."

"No, it wasn't," Twilight snapped as she looked at me, tears in her eyes. "The worst you could have done was say yes."

"What do you mean?" I asked, honestly confused.

"I mean these!" she yelled, flaring out her wings. "Don't you get that I'm practically immortal?! I may be the princess of friendship, but I have to deal with the fact that, eventually, I'll be the only one left, everypony else having died of old bucking AGE! The only ones left would be Princess Luna, Princess Celestia, and Cadence, and who knows with Cadence, without her horn! Celestia may as well be an enemy now, and Luna, I barely even know enough to call her a friend." I chuckled. "What's so funny!?"

"Just the fact that the princess of friendship doesn't know one of the most basic friendship rules: some friendships go on, even after death." Thank you, Avatar, the Last Airbender. "And besides, don't Equestria's believe in reincarnation or some shit like that?"

She glared at me. "In a way," she said. "What's that got to do with it?"

"Simple," I said. "That means that, even if they have a new name and body, if you meet them, they will be your friends, still, and you can make new memories with them."

She looked down at the floor. "I-I hadn't thought about it that way," she said. "But still, I shouldn't have asked you on a date."

"Why not?" I asked.

"Because, I doubt you'd go out with me," she said. "You were able to save both Equestria and the Crystal Empire by yourself,  after all."

"True," I said. "But that's once on each. You and your friends have done it more than that. If anything, I should have been the one to ask, not you."

"Then why didn't you?" she asked in an accusatory tone, to which I shrugged.

"Honestly? Never been that good with the opposite sex back home," I said. "Still, even I know it's rude to ask a question and run off before it can be answered. And I do have an answer, Twilight."

"Wha-" she began before I leaned forward, grabbed her by the wait, and pulled her into, admittedly, my first actual kiss. She was tense, as was to be expected, but she relaxed into it, and relaxed her arms across my shoulders and behind my neck.

After what felt like forever, but my HUD's clock saying thirty seconds, I pulled out of the kiss, a small strand of saliva all that connected our lips. "I'd be happy to go out on a date with you, Twilight. And besides," I said with a small smile, "the fact I can't live forever just makes me want to give you as many happy memories as possible. Now, what did you have planned?"

"Well, actually," Twilight said as she blushed, "I was planning on just playing it by ear, for once."

I chuckled. "That's new for you, Twilight."

"Well, like you said once the augmentations were done," Twilight said, "'no plan survives contact'."

I chuckled. "True enough," I said. "So, want to help Luna and the others take the Loyalists to the castle, or what?"

"May as well," Twilight said. "Besides, once we get to Ponyville, we'll have plenty of time together."

"Can't wait," I said, and the two of us then made our way to meet up with Luna and the others.

Somewhere in the void

The merchant resembling Dr. Brackman was leaning over a table that had a disassembled device of sorts, the parts scattered around. He was intent of finding out what it did when a small pop came from behind, breaking his concentration. He looked back, and saw an anthro earth pony mare with a white dress, her hair and tail an etheric rainbow. "Ah, Harmony," he said. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"

"I need something," she said. "Well, more accurately, my most recent displaced does."

"So, you found the one to gather the six once they're needed?" Brackman asked.

"I have," the mare replied. "But he's short on equipment, and I was hoping your displaced and the Spartan would be able to help with that."

"What do you need?"

"From the Commander," Harmony said, "I need a ship. I'll send you the specs later if you're willing."

"Oh, I am," Brackman said. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to get back to studying this piece of tech," he said, turning back around. "It appeared in front of me an hour ago, and I've been trying to study it for the past half hour." Harmony looked over Brackman's shoulder.

"I can honestly say I've never seen anything thta uses those components before," she said. "But I do have another question for you."

"If it's about the next group, then no, I still have not found a world for them, even with your brother's help in that regard," he said.

"Noted," Harmony said. "Well, Brackman, I will see you next time, I suppose."

"And to you as well, Harmony."