Twilight stared out the window of her room, waiting. She sighed and turned away, looking over at the heavy, ornate gown that a Griffon soldier had dropped off. She sighed and looked down at the collar on her leg.

"Damn him." she swore, and deciding there was no delaying the inevitable, she changed into the dress. Though it was soft and it fit well, it was still extravagantly decorated with gems and embroidery, and it was heavy and awkward to move around in. Twilight spun around a few times, getting a feel for the heavy skirts and the tight corset. She tied her hair back, and then she sat down in a chair, waiting.

"Just get here soon." She said to no one in particular, then, there was a knock on the door.

"Are you ready?" came the voice of Blueblood.

"Ready as I'll ever be." Twilight replied. As she walked over to the door, it slid open, revealing Blueblood in a tight suit. He clicked the button twice, and the shield covering the door disappeared.

"Shall we?" he said, offering his hoof. Twilight smacked it away in anger.

"We shall, but I'm not taking your hoof. I am perfectly capable of handling myself." Twilight said, and as they walked, both said nothing. Soldiers, Crawlers, even the occasional Knight passed them, and they then arrived at the dining room, lavishly decorated, as always. As they took opposite sides at the table, Griffons walked in, bearing plates of food. Blueblood sighed and began to eat.

"You're not eating?" he asked with mock curiosity.

"Says the person who kidnapped a Princess of Equestria, breaking at least twenty laws in the process. But to answer your question, I'm not hungry." She replied.

"Hmmh." Blueblood scoffed. "Once the Prometheans are through with the Diarchy, there won't be an Equestria left standing for by aunts to rule. I intend to be King. And you…" He said.

"Queen." Twilight finished. "To be honest, if you honestly think that I'm going to suck up to you and just step aside, then you are sorely mistaken." Twilight said. "And you're not an alicorn. Therefore, you can't rule."

"That's where you are wrong. Once the Sisters are...out of the question, I intend to bestow the rites upon myself and gain my wings. Then, I can rule officially." he said, drinking a swig of wine.

Twilight scoffed. "The UNSC is coming, you know."

"I have this compound fortified to the point of impenetrability. No one is coming for you." Blueblood said. "And once you're mine, nothing's going to keep me from you. In more ways than one."

Twilight growled, to which Blueblood scoffed.

"To be honest, there is no flower more beautiful than you. But as they say, the more noble the flower, the more satisfying it is to pluck."

Twilight barely restrained herself from slapping him, instead she growled louder. Blueblood sighed.

"You should know I'm not a sexual monster. I have my tastes in mares."

"And I have my taste in stallions. The best ones don't make jokes about taking mares by force." Twilight said.

"Forgive me. I do seem to get ahead of myself now, do I?" he said.

"You certainly do, for a traitor." Twilight said.

"I only intend to lead Equestria into a new age." He said. "One of conquest and strength."

"More like on of slaughter and treason." She replied.

"I don't really enjoy that term, treason. How can I be betraying a country's trust if I never had it in the first place, or what if I was never loyal to it?" Blueblood said.

"Touche'." Twilight said. "But riddle me this. Once you're caught and on trial, you're going straight to Tartarus for this."

"Tartarus is too good a place. I would prefer the moon, which is where I shall send all who oppose me and my rule. I do need to get my hooves on the banishment ritual." he said.

"Really?" Twilight asked.

"Indeed. It is a fate worse than death, as they say." Blueblood said.

"Then allow me to do the same to you." Twilight said.

"How? You have no magic, and the collar keeps you in line. You have no way of escape." Blueblood said angrily.

"That's where are wrong." Zag whispered. Tapping himself into the UNSC comms, he radioed the Blackbird bearing Crimson.

"Crimson! Are you there?" he asked.

"Who is this?" Chris's voice responded.

"An old friend." Zag replied. "You still have my gift, I presume?"

"No way...ZAG?" Chris said, shocked. "Is that you?"

"In the flesh. Though explanations can come later. I am sending detailed defense plans to your Pelican. Know this, Chris. I am ready to fight once more. Zag-938, Reporting for duty, sir!"

"Good to have you back, Zag." Chris said. "Cause some ruckus and do what else you can. Meet us at the primary LZ near the garden."

"Copy. I'll see you later."

"Solid copy." Chris said.

"Who the hell was that?" Grant asked.

"An ally. Let's move! Pilot, what's our ETA?"

"Two minutes!" came the reply.

"Lock and load, Crimson!" Chris said. As the fireteam approached the rear, Chris radioed Chief and Locke.

"Locke, Chief, be advised. We have an ally in the compound. He'll meet us at the LZ."

"Confirmed." Locke and Chief replied.

"Good." Chris said. As he drew his Shotgun, the pilots set the Pelicans down in the Garden. Opening the doors, the three fireteams dropped out and assumed positions.

"Ken, David, stay here with Blue and Osiris. Rest of us, on me." Chris said. "Zag, what's your status?"

"I am outside the door, ready to move in on your word. You had better get here fast, however. The meal is finished."

"Confirmed." Chris said. Moving towards the keep, they breached a side door and entered the kitchen.

"Six, kill the power. Toggle VISR." Chris said. Six slammed his fist into the breaker, and the lights went out. Toggling their VISRs, the Spartans walked down the corridors towards the dining room. Nearing the door, they set up in a breach position.

"Zag, we're stacked on the east door."

"Confirmed, as I am on the west. Ready to breach."

"Breach." Chris said, and they slammed the doors open. Blueblood and Twilight recoiled in shock at the sudden sight of Zag and the Spartans. Blueblood recovered first and teleported Twilight into his arms and hastily pointed a Boltshot at her head.

"Nopony moves or she dies!" he roared.

"Drop the weapon and stand down!" Chris said, keeping his sights on his head. There suddenly was a loud roar, and a Phaeton appeared, aiming straight at the Spartans. Blueblood smiled and pointed his Boltshot at the Spartans.

"If you move, I open fire." he said. "Drop your weapons now."

Reluctantly, the Spartans lowered weapons. Blueblood started to walk back towards the Phaeton as its bay door opened. He leaped in, and the Spartans advanced slowly.

"Many pestilences to you all!" He roared, then Zag saw a small flash come from the woods. Then, a rocket slammed into the wing of the Phaeton, sending it spiraling towards the ground. As it crashed, the Spartans and Zag jumped down and advanced slowly towards the crippled Phaeton...

===============================================================
Meanwhile, back on the Infinity, Lasky and the group stared at the camera feed.

"Who fired that rocket?" Lasky demanded.

"No one sir." Roland replied. "The Equestrians haven't arrived yet, and the Spartans are the only ones on station."

"Then who fired it?" Celestia asked.

"The only evidence of someone being there was a small slipspace rift there exactly five minutes ago." Roland said.

"Slipspace rupture?" Palmer asked.

"It was big enough to accommodate a single human." Roland said.

"Who is it?" Lasky asked.

=============================================

Then, a second rocket flew past and exploded up in the dining room. The Spartans turned to see a large group of Prometheans being blown to bits. Chris scowled, turned, and began to walk over to the form of Blueblood, pinned beneath the wing of the Phaeton.

"Looks like you're the one trapped, shithead." Chris said. "How do you want to die?"

"Buck you. I still have my failsafe." Blueblood spat, drawing the remote. He motioned over to the form of Twilight, the collar on her leg still attached.

"If you don't back off, I press the button, and the explosives on the collar detonate." Blueblood said. Chris stood up and backed off, keeping his weapon pointed at him. Blueblood stood up and walked over to Twilight, who was struggling to get up. He growled and pinned her, readying his Boltshot.

"If I can't have her, then NOPONY CAN!" he roared, about to pull the trigger. Chris and the Spartans raised weapons to fire….

Only they never got the chance. A single gunshot came from the woods, striking Blueblood in the leg. As he fell, the Boltshot dropped. Zag and Chris then rushed and tackled him, while Grant secured Twilight and cut off the collar on her leg. Then, they heard heavy footsteps. Noble Six raised his Assault Rifle and walked towards a slowly approaching biped, who was walking towards them.

"Who are you? Identify yourself!" Six said.

"Calm down, Six. You know me." said a deep, warrior's voice. Chris then saw Six flinch for the first time. Six lowered his rifle as the hulking figure of a SPARTAN-II walked towards him, his armor green and orange in the Grenadier style. In his hands was a rocket launcher and a M6C Magnum. As the rest of the fireteam advanced, the mystery Spartan walked over and Six did so as well.

"Good to see you, Noble six." the Spartan said, slapping Six on the shoulder. Six nodded and handed him a pair of Dog tags. Then, Six spoke.

"You too…"

"Noble Five."

Author's Note

JORGE LIVES!

Yeah, the Slipspace bomb could've transported him to Equis and forward in time.

So please no ratting on about the canon. In my mind, he could've survived.

Update!