Equispartans II

As the Infinity and Spirit of Fire landed outside Canterlot, Twilight and the others ran up to Lasky and Cutter.

"Are those Covenant ships friendly?" Twilight asked.

"No, those are the Banished." Cutter said. "To make it quick, they consist of Covenant led by a Brute who defied their beliefs and lived. His name is Atriox, and we barely won against him on the Ark. I'm certain he followed us here, to finish what we started."

"Then we have to prepare." Celestia said.

"Yeah." Lasky said. "The Griffons retreated, so I'll pull all UNSC forces in the field back to Canterlot to reposition them. We'll need every soldier we can get."

"Right." Luna said. "However, there's more bad news. Blueblood escaped during the battle. We reckon he's going to meet with the Banished or whoever he can that supports him."

"Should we go after him?" Rainbow asked.

"No. Leave him be." Celestia said. "He will get what he deserves when this is done."

Lasky and everyone else nodded. As the forms of countless Pelicans appeared in the sky, farther to the north, at the Banished's landing zone, Atriox strolled towards two Elites clutching a pony clad in robes. It was Blueblood, and he looked significantly worse for wear.

"We found this filth attempting to breach our lines." The lead Elite said. "He requested to meet with you, O Chieftain."

"...Interesting…" Atriox said. "What is your name, Pony?"

"Blueblood."

"Hmm." Atriox said. "Come with me. We have much to discuss."

Blueblood was let free of the grasp of the Elites, and he followed Atriox to his open-air command post. Atriox sat as he watched Blueblood look around.

"I never did get your name." Blueblood said.

"I shall tell you when we are...finished." Atriox said. "Now, what is it you wish to speak to me about?"

"I wish to join you." Blueblood said. "I was stripped of my rightful place and sent to the dungeons like a criminal. I wanted the hoof of a princess and the status that should belong to me. Yet, they believed what I did was wrong. I ask for a command of some of your troops to take my revenge."

"Hmm…" Atriox murmured, and then he began to laugh.

"Was it something I said?" Blueblood said, unsure why the Brute was laughing.

"Yes, it was." Atriox said before he lashed out and grabbed Blueblood by the throat, beginning to strangle him.

"You are an insolent, pitiful worm not worthy of existence!" Atriox roared, throwing him to the ground and stomping on his leg, smashing it to powder, causing Blueblood to scream in pain.

"You honestly believed I would honor a piece of refuse like you? Only a fool would believe such FILTH! I would not even give death to you! But you deserve it, and such I shall deliver!" Atriox howled, smashing Blueblood's other leg. He then proceeded to smash his other two legs as painfully as possible, and at this point, Blueblood was screaming so loud a crowd had gathered to watch. The Banished watched as Atriox pummeled Blueblood's chest, causing him to cough up a spray of blood.

"Now, I believe it is time to end your miserable life. I shall make it as painful as possible." Atriox rumbled, and then, two Brutes held him up by his broken front legs. Atriox then placed his Gravity Hammer, the Skulltaker, to his chin.

"Die." Atriox rumbled, as he swung upward with all his might. Blueblood's head simply exploded, leaving a bloody heap behind. Atriox smiled at the scene, and he dipped his fingers in the blood. Trailing it on his chestpiece, he roared in laughter.

"Soldiers! PREPARE TO MARCH!" He roared, and the Banished roared with him.

"Find the humans and annihilate them! Let none stand in your way!" Atriox bellowed. "MOVE OUT!"

As the Banished mounted up, a storm began to rumble, at it began to rain. As Atriox settled down at a map of Equestria, he smiled.

"Shall we begin, Captain Cutter?" He murmured.

=========

"Captain, multiple Banished signatures closing in!" a Marine called from his monitoring station. Lasky and Cutter rushed over to view the readout.

"It's them." Cutter said. "And they're packing five battalion's worth of infantry and armor."

"We need everyone at combat stations!" Lasky barked, and the soldiers scurried to relay his order.

"We won't be able to hold out long!" Twilight protested.

"Twilight, it's all we can do until we know how to fight them and drive them back effectively." Cutter said. "Right now, we need to set the stage and drive them back and out."

"Alright." Twilight said, still unsure. Then, the Arbiter and R'tas Vadum approached.

"Captain, our reinforcements from the Swords of Sanghelios and the UNSC have arrived." The Arbiter reported. "We now mach the Banished in count of troops."

"Good." Lasky said. "Get them into the trenches and combat-ready, when you give the word."

The Arbiter and R'tas nodded and walked out. Lasky looked over at Cutter, who despite learning of the Elites siding with humanity, still had an apprehensive look.

"Calm down, Cutter. They're with us." Lasky said.

"Still kind of unsettling." Lasky replied. "Let's get to work."

"Right." Celestia said as they crowded around the map of the Banished strike force.