Chapters Let me tell you something you might not believe. When Equis was visited by the Traveler, we thought and believed that the races of Equis would become the inheritors of the universe. WIth the powers of the light and magic, we would be invincible.
We...were wrong. The Traveler saw our greed, our hunger for more power, and left us. Then, they came. First...were the Scavengers, or as you know them, the Fallen. They singlehandedly toppled the Griffon dynasty in a siege of forty days. They called themselves the House of Bane. We then realized we were not alone out there. We managed to fend off the Fallen, but we were not ready for what came next.
The Red Legion, under the Dominus Ghaul. Unlike the Fallen, which came to scavenge, he came to take what we had guarded for so long, the Traveler. When he learned that it had left, he decided to take what he could not understand as a prize of consolation. Our magic, which we had guarded for so long against the Fallen.
And he succeeded where no one else did. In a great struggle that destroyed Canterlot, Celestia and Luna were captured, and their alicorn magic taken from them. The Crystal Empire conquered, and its leaders disappeared with their child. Leaving the last ascended Alicorn, Twilight Sparkle, who fled and founded the Resistance, a force to take back their home. By this time...home was a very poor term to be used. The Everfree had long grown rampant, and it had consumed Ponyville. Canterlot and the other cities, broken and in a shambled form of destruction. The Tree of Harmony was dead, seized and destroyed by Ghaul. And the bearers of the Elements of Harmony?
Dead, captured, or long gone into legend and myth.
This happened three years ago. And now, Twilight Sparkle, leader of the Resistance, is now a battle-hardened leader, and custodian of the Crystal Heir, Flurry Heart. Cadance had been captured and her magic taken, and Shining Armor had given his life to protect Flurry and Cadance. Now, the ponies cry for help from the stars to come, in any way. And the Traveler hears their call…
===============
Twilight Sparkle looked over battle reports from her office, inside her Resistance's underground sanctuary beneath Canterlot Mountain, built and expanded by the Diamond Dogs before they were all killed or captured. Twilight was not the same. Her mane had been cut short in a sign of mourning for her brother, and she had several scars lining her body and wings. She had grown to Cadance's size, and with her new age and mind, she had learned the art of war.
"Damn." Twilight swore, looking at one report. Five soldiers had been captured by the Cabal during an ambush, and their bodies had been left headless and desecrated by the Legion, left as a taunting gesture. Furthermore, the news from the Dragon Lands was worse. The Dragons had been wiped out, Torch and Dragon Lord Ember had been killed, and their lands destroyed. The Changelings, Minotaurs, Yaks, Diamond Dogs, Deer and Griffons were all but extinct, but a few of each kind served in the resistance.Twilight sighed but did not cry, as she had no more tears to shed. She looked at a series of photographs on her desk. There were her friends, the Princesses, her love Flash Sentry, and many more. And nearly all of them were dead.
Fluttershy had disappeared with Discord into the unknown.
Applejack, Rainbow, and Rarity had died defending Ponyville from Ghaul.
And Pinkie Pie still lived, but she was not the same. Her mane had long permanently deflated, and she still smiled, but it was a forced smile, always tinged with sadness and loss.
Flash Sentry was serving in the Resistance, but he and Twilight rarely saw each other. And he had escaped from the Cabal multiple times, but his wings had been carved away by the Cabal Psions, leaving scars that would never heal.
And Celestia, Luna, and Cadance…
Captured, and held aboard the Dominus's flagship by Ghaul himself. Shining Armor had given his life to deliver his daughter to Twilight, to ensure the Empire would survive. Not that it mattered. The Crystal Heart had shattered long ago with the collapse of the Empire, which was now in ruins.
"Aunt Twilight?"
Twilight looked up to see Flurry Heart walk in. Now Fourteen years old, she was still the young foal Twilight once knew in terms of physique, but her mind had accelerated rapidly with the times. She was now an effective tactician.
"Yes, Flurry?" Twilight replied, with the kindest smile she could muster.
"I...couldn't sleep." Flurry sighed. "I had a nightmare about...my parents."
"Come here." Twilight said, beckoning. Flurry walked forward and Twilight embraced her tightly, and Flurry started to cry. Twilight hugged back as best as she could, and she muttered soothing words to her niece.
"I miss them…" She sobbed. "Dad's dead, mom's gone...why?"
"I can't say." Twilight said. "I miss them too. I don't want you to think that I'm not taking this hard too, Flurry. I lost most of my friends, my teachers, and most of my family. Flurry, you're one of the very few loved ones I have left. And I don't want to see you cry."
Flurry nodded and eventually, she was silent.
"Let's go to bed, okay?" Twilight asked. Flurry nodded and as they walked into their private dorm, they fell asleep.
=========
Dominus Ghaul walked slowly through the halls of his flagship in silent thought. He would never say it, but he was troubled. The three alicorns in his care were keeping up their mental and physical resistance to the Psions, and he decided to take it upon himself to find out why. He had long claimed their magic, destroyed their world, killed countless numbers of the world's inhabitants, but still they resisted. Two Centurions stood to the side as he entered the bay where the alicorns were kept. They were strapped down in a triangle, and implants put in their bodies by the Psions kept them from regaining their magic, and constantly sapped their strength, keeping them weak and unable to escape. Ghaul watched as the ones called Luna and Cadance slept as best they could, as they knew that their implants monitored their brain activity. Any plans to escape would be noticed and quickly stopped.
"What do you want now, you monster?" Celestia snapped angrily, her voice filled with venom and harted.
Ghaul laughed, a deep, beastly laugh.
"I have been known and called far worse than a monster, pony." He rumbled. "I must commend you. Few of your kind have resisted the Psions as long as you."
"If that is what you call those torturing brutes, than I am flattered." Celestia replied.
"Save it for another time." Ghaul replied. "I have taken your magic, your world is desolated, your kind driven into hiding. What is there to fight for?"
"Hope." Celestia said. "Hope that we will destroy you all."
Ghaul laughed again.
"Hope...such a spineless, naive thought. When I came to this world, I had hoped to only claim the Traveler's light as my own. But your magic...piqued my interest. You did not rely on the Light, but your magic. It kept your society alive. And now...it is dead. Every mountain can be brought low by even the weakest of warriors. And you...are no warrior. You are a fool to resist when all else bowed before me."
"And you are a tyrant." Celestia retorted. "You came to our world and destroyed everything we held dear!"
"I have conquered countless worlds and brought them all asunder." Ghaul chuckled. "Your groans mean nothing. I have heard screams with more power than you ever shall voice in your life. And once I have all under me, my worth shall be proven to all."
"Twilight and Flurry will stop you." Celestia spat.
"Those two are weak, cowardly, insignificant." Ghaul growled. "They hide in the dark, with no power to challenge me. I will have them all broken and destroyed, sooner or later. And when I do...I will kill every...last...one of your kind to prove my will. I will take your magic and crush all who would stand against me. I shall walk over the cold corpses of the thousands of worlds I have conquered to claim the light. And nothing...will stop me then. I would enjoy seeing you then, Celestia. And when all's said and done, it will be glorious."
Ghaul laughed, and departed. Celestia leaned back into her bindings, and she started to sob in the dark, but no one aboard the ship could hear her. But thousands of light years away, something did hear her cries.
Sol System, Earth, Last City.
Commander Zavala stood steadfast at the window, as a massive storm lashed and throttled the Last City with wind and rain. The sky was black and peals of thunder roared, lightning crashed, and the wind howled.
"Still storm-chasing, Zavala?"
Zavala turned to see Cayde-6 walk up, wearing a poncho soaked with rain. Zavala gave a brief nod, and turned back to the window.
"Well, all things aside…" Cayde said, walking up to the window. "It's real nasty out there."
"Where's Ikora?" Zavala asked.
"Right here."
Both Vanguards turned to see Ikora Rey walk up and stand on Zavala's right side.
"The Speaker has told me the Traveler is sorrowful, almost crying out in anger." Ikora said. "It has heard a cry from the great beyond, one of repentance and distress."
"Is that why it's really hammering outside?" Cayde asked.
"Yes and no." Ikora replied. "The Traveler is not angry at us. It is merely expressing itself, in a sense."
"And the Speaker said this?" Cayde said.
"In a way." Ikora replied. "The Speaker told me the Traveler is in need of three Guardians to answer its call."
"We're not sending Guardians out in jumpships in this storm." Zavala said immediately. "The Hawks couldn't handle the winds, neither can jumpships."
"That's not what I mean." Ikora replied. "When the storm breaks, the path will be made clear."
"So, where exactly are they going?" Cayde asked the Warlock.
"Beyond the Reef, to another system the Traveler had visited." Ikora said. "Frankly, I was just as surprised as you."
"We'll send Fireteam Herald." Zavala said. "When the storm breaks, I'll speak to Amanda Holliday and Dead Orbit."
"I'll round up the supplies they need." Cayde said.
"I shall alert the Guardians." Ikora finished. As they turned back to watch the storm, the rain lashed ever more.
Author's Note
Guardian Fireteam Herald details
Chapter 1-The Path is Clear
"You want WHAT kind of ship, Commander?" Amanda Holliday roared at Commander Zavala. The noise ceased all work in the Tower hangar, as frames and humans alike looked at the Shipwright in curiousity.
"As I said, Holliday, I need a ship capable of transporting three Guardians beyond the Reef and with enough storage capacity for extended operations." Zavala said. "Do you or possibly Dead Orbit have one available?"
Holliday groaned and pinched her nose.
"Commander, I have a helluva time patching up the Jumpships and the Hawks already."
"I understand, Amanda…" Zavala said.
"And now I have to make a goddamn cruiser on a moment's notice?" She groaned.
"Holliday!" Zavala snapped."I understand your concern, but this mission was authorized by the Speaker himself. The Vanguard will compensate you for whatever you need. But do you have one?"
Holliday sighed, barked a "GET BACK TO WORK!" at the Hangar staff, who resumed work in a frenzy, and motioned for Zavala to follow her.
"Yeah, Dead Orbit and I have one. But we haven't gotten it flight ready yet."
She tapped on a control panel, and the door opened, revealing a large ship. It had the body of a Phaeton, only significantly larger. Eight large engines were mounted on the back, along with two large wings. A large body shaped like a rectangle on top of the ship finished the picture.
"It's called the Far Road Home." Amanda said. "Dead Orbit found old blueprints for a similar model in a data cache in the Los Angeles cosmodrome. I made it, fixed it up, and stored it on Dead Orbit's pay."
"Is it ready?" Zavala asked.
"Sort of." Holliday replied. "It's capable of flight beyond the Reef and carries expansive crew, utility, and storage facilities, but it's not primed yet. Give me a few hours to prep it. And since it's too heavy for Guardians to fly, three frames will be going with it. One for pilot, another for engine ops, and the last as quartermaster and support. I think Ralph, Don, and Mike should be up to the task. They know the ship inside and out. Problem is, it's not mine to release. Since it's Dead Orbit's schematic, they technically have a say if I can or can't release it."
"I'll speak with Dead Orbit then." Zavala said. "Thank you, Amanda."
"Not a problem." Holliday said. As Zavala walked over to speak with Arach Jalaal, Holliday then saw Fireteam Herald, consisting of Rook-3, Leo Davenwood, and Casiana Rulis walk up.
"That's what we're taking?" Rook asked, looking at the Far Road Home.
"Yep. Zavala's talking with Dead Orbit about releasing it." Holliday said. "Three frames are going with you too."
"Fine." Casiana said. "It's big."
"Yeah, it has to be." Holliday said. "Flight beyond the Reef isn't something a Jumpship is capable of. You'll need a good, big ship with a large power-plant to get you past the asteroid field."
"That'll be fun." Leo said. "Thanks for the pep talk, Holliday."
The Guardians departed, and Zavala walked over.
"Dead Orbit's agreed to release the ship." Zavala said. "I'll let you take it from here."
"Thanks, Zavala." Holliday said. The Awoken Titan departed, and Holliday got on the hangar PA.
"Alright listen up! Our long range ship is going somewhere, so I need Ralphie, Michael, and Don to report to me immediately. Everyone else, GET BACK TO WORK!"
The frantic activity resumed again. Holliday sighed, as it was just another day in the Tower Hangar.
=========
"So, five crates of food and water...three of weapon and armor materials...three boxes of Glimmer and spare parts...Sparrow machinery...a micro-vault...yep, I think we're good." Cayde said, looking at the crates in front of him.
"Cayde?"
Cayde turned to see Zavala walk up.
"Are you actually doing what I asked you?" Zavala asked.
"Well, maybe." Cadye said. "How's the ship?"
"Ready to go." Zavala said. "Round up some crews to move the cargo aboard."
Cayde gave a thumbs-up, and turned on the Tower PA.
"Uh, this is Cayde-6, I need some heavy lifters to move supplies into the Hangar for a long distance flight ASAP. A couple of Titans would be appreciated." He spoke.
"Oh, and the first five Guardians to show up get something free from the depot, your choice." Cayde said when Zavala was out of earshot.
There were five volunteer Titans there in six seconds flat. And the supplies were moved without incident. Except Cayde received a rather angry tirade from Commander Zavala for allowing the Guardians to take from the Depot, once he found out. Cayde then had to mop the Warlock halls three times over as punishment, without help.
========
Casiana, Rook, and Leo walked into the Speaker's chamber, where the masked man awaited them.
"Greetings, Guardians." The Speaker said.
"Hello, Speaker." The three replied. The Speaker gazed at the Traveler, through the pewter-gray sky.
"The Traveler has called to me." The Speaker said. "And I have called you here."
"Why?" Rook-3 asked.
"Because you have proved yourselves worthy of powers long lost, Guardians." The Speaker said, motioning to a small three-sided obelisk marked with the emblems of three unknown classes. The Guardians strode towards it, and three beams of radiant light enveloped them. Then, as Rook-3's vision cleared, he saw himself wielding a shield of darkest purple, interlaced with stars. He turned to see Leo wielding a staff of pure lightning, and Casiana bore a sword of swirling fire.
"The Sentinel, Dawnblade, and Arcstrider were once considered lost." The Speaker said. "Use their power wisely. And the Obelisk shall sustain your light when you leave the Traveler's embrace."
"Thank you, Speaker." Rook said. The Speaker gave a nod and departed to his office. Rook took the obelisk, and the Guardians walked towards the Tower Plaza, where Zavala awaited them.
"You're clear for launch, Guardians." Zavala said.
"And we're ready to go." Casiana replied. They walked into the hangar to find a launchpad set up, bearing the Far Road Home. Three white and orange frames stood near the boarding ramp. Holliday walked over and slapped Rook on the shoulder.
"Take care of the ship, Guardians." she said. "Try not to scratch it."
"We'll try." The Guardians replied. Holliday shrugged in response. As the Guardians and the Frames boarded the Far Road Home, the Guardians sat down. One Frame took the pilot's controls, and the others headed for the rear.
"Guardians." Zavala spoke over the comms. "Good luck out there. This mission is of utmost importance."
"We'll do our best, commander." Rook said.
"And we'll try not to die, too." Leo interjected. Casiana stayed silent. Then, the Frame brought the Far Road Home out of the hangar, and gunned the engines. As it soared out of the City and into orbit, The Speaker watched them depart.
"Blessings of the Light be upon you." he said quietly.
Author's Note
An update as a way of celebrating Destiny 2's official launch!
Are you as hyped as I am?
As the Cabal opened fire on the rapidly approaching Guardians, Rook's shield bashed into the head of a Legionary, taking it's helmet clean off and killing it, before shoulder-charging another and sending it through a wall. Casiana rained flame from above, scorching anything that got in her path. Leo's staff was a blur, as it spun and danced around, crackling with the power of Arc Light. Then, the Warbeasts lunged. Rook threw his shield, bouncing the lizard-like beings into Casiana and Leo's line of fire. The last Legionary drew its wrist blade and charged, but a well-timed Blink Strike and a dodge from Leo killed it. The Equines sat in shock, from seeing the Guardians decimate their captors.
"You all okay?" Leo asked.
The one called Flash Sentry nodded. Casiana and Rook set to removing the ponies bindings and arming them with the weapons the dead Cabal carried.
"You're Flash Sentry, right?" Leo asked. A few of the fighters frantically shook their heads in a "No" gesture at Flash, who sighed and nodded.
"Lieutenant Commander Flash Sentry." Flash said. "Who are you?"
"I'm Rook-3." Rook said. "That's Casiana Rulis and Leo Davenwood. We're Guardians of the Last City, we came to help."
"How can we trust you?" one fighter said. Flash gave him an angry look, which silenced him. Rook rolled his eyes and sighed.
"Enemy of my enemy is my friend, correct?" he asked Flash, who nodded reluctantly.
"Fine. We'll take you to our base, but just to make it clear...I don't trust you."
"We didn't expect it." Casiana said. "Are those your weapons?"
She motioned to a pile of weapons that resembled pre-Golden Age muskets, only they were fitted with blue metal, and a cylindrical cartridge rested on the side.
"Yep. Caster rifles." Flash said. "Resistance's weapon of choice. Old, but reliable."
"Grab 'em." Rook said. Flash threw the rifles to his troops, and as they armed themselves, Rook noticed a shadow on the horizon.
"Incoming!" he yelled as the Cabal Harvester opened fire, and deployed a full platoon of Cabal. Flash and his troops opened fire, while the Guardians rushed the incoming Legionaries. Casiana knee-kicked the helmet off one poor soldier while Rook grappled with a Phalanx for his Autorifle. Leo hurled an Incendiary Grenade and dodged under a Phalanx shield, blowing the Cabal's helmet off with a well-placed Hand Cannon shot. Then, a pack of Warbeasts began to charge at them.
"Warbeasts!" Flash cried. "Open fire!"
The Resistance troops opened fire, and their Caster Rifles hit hard, dropping a few of them. One managed to reach Casiana, who threw the beast down and hit it with a Scorch Melee, killing it. Then, the ground shook, and a Red Legion Colossus hit the ground as the Harvester flew away. Rook, Casiana, and Leo watched as the Colossus fired a volley of missiles that hit Flash's position, sending his troops flying into the air.
"Let's go!" Leo said, assuming a combat stance and attuning his light to the Striker class. The Colossus threw his railgun aside and strode forward, accepting the test of strength. Rook made the first move, sliding and leaping onto the Cabal's head, backflipping off it while landing a kick. The Cabal shrugged off the blow and tried to punch the Titan into the ground. Rook slid past the blow and through the Cabal's legs, planting a Lightning Grenade right between his feet.
"See ya!" Rook cried as the Lightning Grenade sent five blasts of electricity, each in excess of 5000 volts, directly though the Cabal. The lightning coursed through the Colossus, frying it and sending it groaning to the ground.
"Nice kill, I'll give you that." Flash said, getting up from the ground. "My fighters…"
"We'll take care of them." Leo's Ghost, Ness, said. "But we won't last long out in the open. Where's your base of operations?"
"Follow me." Flash said. As the Guardians jury-rigged a sled to each of their sparrows to carry the wounded, they didn't notice a flickering Fallen Marauder watch them, clad in the black and silver colors of the House of Bane. It clacked into its comms unit, and departed.
=======
Flash brought the Guardians to a large hill, bigger than the town.
"What's all this about?" Leo asked.
Flash walked over to a bare portion of grass, and touched it. A glowing rune appeared, and doors swung open.
"Neat." Rook said.
"It can only be activated by a pony." Flash said as he sealed the doors behind them. "Makes sure that the Cabal can't gain access."
As the Guardians guided their Sparrows, Flash brought them to a series of fortifications, guarded by ponies with Caster rifles. The defenders eyed the Guardians warily, and a few raised their weapons until Flash held up his hoof. They opened up a palisade, though rather slowly, and they found themselves in a colossal cavern that had been turned into a base of operations. Rook could see weapons caches, what seemed to be a generator complex, a medical building, and barracks for the soldiers, and countless Resistance soldiers. Most were ponies, but a few Minotaurs, Griffons, Diamond Dogs, Changelings, Zebras, and a couple of Dragons could be seen.
"Nice place." Leo said.
"It used to the the largest mine in Equestria." Flash said. "The Diamond Dogs turned it into our main base when the Red Legion came."
"And how do the Fallen play into this?" Rook asked.
"They came before the Cabal." Flash clarified. "They toppled the Griffon Dynasty in a forty-day siege. Now, they keep to themselves, but we're still scared they might return. We already have the Cabal to deal with."
The Guardians nodded, and they followed Flash to the main building, the command center, though a gauntlet of stares, glares, and whispers. As they entered, Twilight looked up from her maps, and she frowned slightly upon seeing them.
"Flash." she said.
"Twilight." he replied.
"Who are they?" Twilight asked him, referring to the Guardians. "They're not Cabal, I can tell."
"They call themselves Guardians." Flash said. "They saved my flank and the flanks of my team. I think that's the seventh time."
"You're really lucky, Flash." Twilight said. "Good to meet you, Guardians."
"You too." Rook said. "I'm Rook-3, that's Casiana and Leo. So, what's with the Cabal here?"
Twilight sat down and sighed.
"That will take some time to explain." she said. "But I guess you need to know. One year after the Fallen took Griffonia, we had prepared defenses should they attack us next…"
==========
Canterlot, four years ago.
Princess Cadance and Shining Armor walked through the halls of Canterlot Castle, to the Throne room. Normally occupied with squabbling courtiers, it was now a military base of operations. Celestia and Luna were at the window, watching the storm outside.
"Cadance, what do you have to report?" Luna asked.
"The shield is up and at full strength." Cadance said. "Though, that storm might make things difficult."
"And our radios have kept shorting out." Shining added, looking to a terminal. "Plus, our sensors beyond a mile out have stopped responding."
"Could be the storm." Luna said.
"Maybe…" Celestia said, turning to the window, watching the storm close. Then, black shapes, boxy and bold, appeared in view. Celestia froze, realizing the shapes were not Fallen.
"Battle positions!" she cried as the Red Legion fleet came into view, firing volley after volley at the shield surrounding Canterlot.
"Shield strength is dropping!" a Guard cried. "It's not holding!"
"Brace yourselves!" Luna cried as the shield shattered, providing the Red Legion with a clear opening. Threshers, Harvesters, and countless smaller fighters rained down, spewing rockets and slug rounds, cutting down anything in their path.
=====
"INCOMING!"
"ON THE RIGHT! ON THE RIGHT!"
The screams of the guards added to the carnage as the Red Legion troops deployed. Countless Legionaries, Phalanxes, and Incendiors moved up, covered by sniper fire from Psions. Warbeast packs moved on the flanks, driving the Equestrian defenders to the front, where the main infantry cut them down. The unicorns hastily threw up barriers, but volley after volley of slug rounds shattered each of them.
"Hold the line!" a Guard lieutenant cried, just as he was filled with slug rounds. Despite the Equestrian's best efforts, the Cabal carved a steady path towards the citadel, where the Princesses were directing the battle.
=====
Aboard the Cabal Flagship, Dominus Ghaul watched multiple screens display the Red Legion's power over the ponies. He saw pegasi, earth ponies, and unicorns stand valiantly, but ultimately fall one after another.
"Dominus!"
Ghaul turned to see Thumos the Unbroken approach.
"The ponies have put up a shield around the castle, preventing our advance."
Ghaul laughed.
"Activate the draining device." he ordered. "And prepare my boarding craft. Let us test their resolve."
"At once, Dominus."
=======
Celestia and Luna watched in horror as the Cabal sealed the city's gates, cutting off any hope of escape. Twilight had been told to stay in Ponyville, and Cadance had escaped with Shining and Flurry early in the battle.
"How do we win against this...slaughter?" Luna asked her sister, who sighed in sorrow.
"You don't."
They watched as Dominus Ghaul, flanked by two companies of Blood Guard Centurions and Psions, descended on a pad-like ship. Celestia and Luna flared their horns to attack but Ghaul gestured to the sky, where his Flagship, carrying a massive ring-shaped object, came into view. Their horns dimmed, Celestia and Luna watched the Cabal Dominus walk forward.
"Welcome to a world...without magic." he laughed. The ring charged up a blast of orange energy, and fired. The pulse ripped through Canterlot, and every single pony fell to the ground, drained of their energy, and the Unicorns felt their connection to their magic be severed. Celestia and Luna fell to the ground, staggering to maintain themselves. The Blood Guard surrounded them, and they looked at Ghaul in despair.
"Do not look at me, filthy creatures!" he roared, slamming them across the room with a single swipe from his fist.
"You are weak! Cowardly! FILTHY ANIMALS!" he roared. "You are not powerful, you've forgotten the fear of pain and death!"
He approached them slowly, as Celestia and Luna groaned in pain and struggled to stand up.
"Allow me to reintroduce you." he said, as he stomped on each of them, one at a time, pressing them down into the floor.
"I came for the light." he said. "But this magic far exceeded my expectations. And you do not deserve it! This power is not meant for animals such as you!"
The two Princesses were bound by the Centurions, and Ghaul laughed.
"I...am...Ghaul. And your magic....is mine!"
The shield surrounding Canterlot broke, and the Red Legion advanced, massacring the helpless defenders. Celestia and Luna's last vision was the Blood Guard planting the Standard of the Red Legion before all of Canterlot, before they blacked out.
The Guardians froze in shock. Twilight sighed as she finished her tale.
"After that, the Crystal Empire fell, my sister-in-law was captured, and my brother is dead. Their daughter is the heir of the Empire, but it doesn't matter. The power source for the Empire shattered long ago. Celestia, Luna, and Cadance are being held aboard the Dominus's Flagship in orbit. There's no way we can get to them."
Rook, Leo, and Casiana nodded.
"We'll help as much as we can." Rook said. "What can we do?"
"Ask around. The world knows there's always something to do around here." Twilight said. "But before I forget...You cause any trouble here...I will treat you as our enemy. And I will fight you as I would my enemies."
Rook and the Guardians nodded and left.
=========
Ghaul returned to the Princess's chamber, and Luna was awake this time. But she was caught off-guard. Dominus Ghaul was laughing.
"You certainly have surprised me, Princess of the Night." he chortled. "I hear that the famous...Flash Sentry...has escaped for the seventh time."
Luna said nothing. Ghaul looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
"But that is not why I have come. Scout reports say three Guardians of the Traveler have arrived."
Luna gasped slightly.
"I merely came to tell you this and more. Once your pitiful Resistance is crushed, I shall claim the Traveler next. On the other hand... You, Luna, are different. We are alike."
"How so, monster?" she finally spat. Ghaul walked forward and gestured to the stars.
"We were both cast out, hated, despised." he rumbled. "As the custom among Cabal, I was left for dead, the runt of my litter. The Consul found me, and trained me into what I am now. You wanted revenge against your sister, I wanted revenge against the corrupt Empire that betrayed me. What was it...ah, yes. Nightmare Moon was what you were called, wasn't it?"
Luna froze.
"How do you…"
"Your old castle." he replied. "Even I have my pastimes. But you...with your magic and ambition, you were unstoppable. I have ambition, but not magic. Help me understand, Luna. What is magic? I will return at a later time, and I want to know the answer."
Ghaul departed, and Luna fell back into her restraints to sleep.
====
The Guardians walked out into the main area, going mostly unnoticed among the resistance fighters. Many of them eyed them suspiciously, to which the Guardians ignored. Fireteam Herald walked over to the mess hall and sat down, their Ghosts coming out. Ness was the first to speak.
"I've sent the data package regarding what Twilight told us to the Vanguard." the Ghost spoke. "Ikora told us to be careful, as we don't know what the Red Legion's packing."
"So, what now?' Leo asked.
"We see what needs done, and we do it." Rook said. "But for now, we rest."
The Fireteam nodded to each other. Soon after, an earth pony came to them.
"Commander Twilight requests you in the command center, Guardians." he spat before leaving. The Guardians followed him, though Casiana seemed a bit irked at the pony's hostility. They entered, and saw that several Resistance Squad Leaders were present, and they snorted at the presence of the Guardians.
"Well, Guardians, something came up." Flash said. "We've managed to locate a Red Legion prison camp, here in the Dragon Lands."
Flash moved a holographic map to show the location.
"Problem is, it's too heavily guarded for us alone." he sighed. "The Cabal have auto-turrets that shredded our aerial fleet, and their ground troops have a constant eye on everything. There's no way we can bust the door down."
"What about this?" Rook asked, pointing to a secondary facility on a mountainside, above the camp.
"That's their Mine." Flash replied. "Their prisoners are forced to mine ore for them."
"How do you get in?" Casiana asked.
"I haven't been there, so I can't say." Flash admitted. "But I do know from flyovers that the mine has support pillars that keep the mountain from collapsing, due to the Cabal machinery digging inside of it."
"That's the key" Leo said. "We cut those pillars, the whole mine will collapse, which'll cause a landslide that'll bury the defenders. Where are the prisoners kept?"
"Underground…" Flash said.
"Then we'll cut the support pillars, collapse the whole thing from under them." Rook said. "While they're distracted by the mess, your troops can storm the prison and free the prisoners."
"Makes sense." Twilight said, walking up. "One problem. There's only one entrance to the main cell area, and it's guarded by flak turrets that can carve through anything. What if you can't cut the pillars in time? Riddle me that."
"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it." Rook said. "Get your best fighters ready. We'll kick in the door and cut those pillars. Once you're inside, we'll support you as best we can."
"Fine." one Squad Leader said. "A suicide mission with untrustworthy aliens. What fun. I doubt they'll even stay and fight..."
Rook slammed his fist on the table, startling everyone present. He then turned on the Squad Leader at fault.
"You want to know something, Pony?" he said. "You can't win this war alone. We've lost far more than you can fathom back home. You've lost one world, we lost an entire star system. You don't know what "stay and fight" even means. We stood and we fought to save our system and repel the Darkness. You want to know if we'll stand and fight?"
Rook turned to leave with his Fireteam.
"You can bet on it." he said before they walked out.
Author's Note
Goshdarnit, that took a while. But I'm happy with it. Are you?
Resistance Base Home One
Three hours after First Contact
Rook walked down the main concourse towards Twilight's command center, where Leo and Casiana were in a meeting with the Resistance Command. So far, there wasn't outright hostility towards them, but Rook could hear what they said as the Guardians passed. And it wasn't pleasant. Rook did his best to ignore them. Ever since his outburst at the meeting, a few ponies even hid themselves as they approached. The Exo sighed and continued to walk towards the barracks.
"So, Rook?" Fen asked. "What's the plan?"
"What plan?" Rook replied.
"The plan to liberate the Cabal Prison." Fen replied.
"We'll get to it later." Rook said as he entered the command room. Casiana, Leo, Twilight, and Flash looked back at him.
"So, what's the plan?" Twilight asked the Titan. Fen gave him an "I told you so" look, and Rook sighed.
"We enter the camp here." Rook said, pointing to a large gorge near the main yard. "Once the Resistance fighters have the Red Legion occupied, we use explosives to cause a landslide that will bury the defenders."
"And we'll have to deal with the Flak turret perimeter they've set up." Flash said, pointing to five large turrets on the map. "They have a large view radius, and I've seen them in action. They can take out tanks in a few shots. If they're not down when we attack, we'll need a helluva lot of sponges to mop us up."
"We'll deal with the guns." Casiana said. "You focus on getting into that camp."
"Right." Flash said. "When are we heading out?"
"Tonight." Twilight said. "We'll strike under cover of night. Most Cabal take day watch, when there's more escape options for the prisoners."
"Then give the word when you're ready." Rook said as the Guardians departed. Flash looked at Twilight, who sighed.
"What's wrong?" Flash asked.
"I've heard rumors." she said. "Of somepony living in the Frozen North."
"The Crystal Empire is dead, Twilight." Flash said. "Cadance is gone, and Shining...he's not coming back."
"I know." she replied. "But...some part of me refuses to believe that."
"I know. he was my commander, too." Flash said. "And I know for a fact that Flurry misses him dearly."
Twilight nodded and brushed a tear away.
"Thanks, Flash. Let's get ready."
====
The Guardians headed towards the Archives, where the Resistance kept their records, and whatever historical artifacts they could retrieve from the Cabal. as they entered, one mare, a mint-green unicorn, scooted over.
"You're the humans, right?" she asked.
"Yes. Well, I'm human, but Rook's an Exo, and Casiana's Awoken." Leo said. "Who's asking?"
"I'm Lyra Heartstrings." she said. "I'm was a researcher on humanity before the Cabal and Fallen came. I had tons of theories about them, and since you're here, care to help me verify a few?"
"Why not?" Leo said, shrugging. "We've got time."
Leo sat down with Lyra, who produced a notepad and pencil.
"I thought your magic was taken from you." Leo said.
"Mostly." Lyra sighed. "When Ghaul unleashed that device, he cut most, but not all, of our magical connection. Some unicorns have residual magic that can muster a few basic spells, but for the most part, unicorns are just...unicorns. They have no magic, and thus they're not special."
"I get it." Leo said. Pegasi can fly, but Earth ponies are…"
"Strong." she said. "Really strong. They were our go-to option for heavy troops when the Fallen came. They didn't stand a chance against the Cabal. Speaking of, are there Cabal in your star system?"
"Oh, yes." Leo said. "But no Red Legion, thank god. In the Sol System, we've killed all their high-ranked commanders and countless numbers of their troops, and the other races kill more. The Vex on Mars have nearly pushed the Cabal off world."
"Wow." Lyra said. "Those Cabal seem weak."
"They're not." Leo said. "They're good fighters, and even though they've taken massive casualties, they have no way of going home. From what Ikora Rey and Casiana have told me, they can only go home if they achieve victory. They're cast out when they go to war."
"Seems fitting." Lyra said. "I wish they didn't come here."
"I've seen what the Cabal are capable of, and I have to say I agree. What was Equestria like before the Cabal and Fallen came?"
"It was paradise." Lyra said sadly. "No war in a thousand years since, and we lived happily. Now, I miss those days."
Leo nodded.
"Lyra, I get it."
"How could you?" She snapped. "We lost everything. Our world, our homes, the lives of countless beings, and our rulers were taken from us. What did you lose?"
"We lost planets." Leo said. "We lost Mars, Venus, the Moon, and our homeworld. We have one Last City. Every day, I go out with my fireteam to reclaim it. I do understand your pain, Lyra, and we'll do everything in our power to help you reclaim your world."
"Thanks." Lyra smiled. "I guess I forgot that there's ponies here to help."
"True." Leo said. "Thanks for the chat, Lyra. I'd better regroup with my fireteam."
"You're welcome."
Leo waved goodbye and headed to the Plaza, where Twilight was briefing the Airship crews on their mission, while Rook and Casiana watched.
"...Once you've made it into the prison airspace, you'll be targeted by their turrets without mercy. Your mission is to stay alive and keep your airships afloat. We'll need them to extract the prisoners." Twilight said.
"How are we supposed to keep the Cabal from shooting at us?" One pilot asked.
"The Guardians will trigger a landslide that will bury the guns." She replied. "One they're down, move in and deploy. Now, get your ships prepared to move out."
"Yes, commander!" The pilots chorused and they headed out. Twilight walked over and sighed.
"I'm still getting used to being called that." She sighed. "Are you ready to go?"
"Locked and loaded." Rook said. "We'll kick the door out and cut them down."
"Glad to hear it." Twilight replied. "Pick an airship and let's move out."
The Guardians boarded the lead ship, and as the hangar doors opened, the Resistance headed towards the occupied dragon lands.
=====
As the various Cabal soldiers supervised their own company of prisoners, Valus Cur'an, better known to the Resistance as "The Warden" walked into the main control room for the Flak turrets.
"Report." He barked.
"Yes, Valus." a Psion replied. "The new canister shells have been loaded into the guns, which are ready to fire on your word."
"See to it that nothing breaches this prison." He grunted before he retreated to his private quarters. He walked to a seemingly bare wall and pressed it back, revealing a small shrine. Above a golden medallion inlaid with dried Cabal Royal Nectar was a suit of Cabal Centurion's armor. Unlike the Red Legion's black and red plate, this armor was purple and gold, bearing the colors of the Loyalists, who sided with the deposed Emperor Calus, who now floated through space, exiled by Ghaul and his Red Legion. Cur'an took a small object, a Cabal audio log, and tapped a button.
"Journal of Valus Cu'ran, Four years and three days since exile." Cur'an spoke. "Dominus Ghaul has ordered that all Red Legion troops are to capture or kill the Guardians who have arrived here. I laugh at this, as every soldier knows that the Guardians ended Tau'uarc, the Shield Brothers, and countless more of our kind. I digress, however. Emperor Calus has issued me orders, befitting of our old friendship. I am to disrupt the Red Legion operations here as much as I can, for the Emperor tells me that his Loyalists will arrive soon to assault the Red Legion."
Cur'an took a deep breath before continuing.
"Yet, the Resistance forces here grow bolder and more dangerous by the moment. A Bracus managed to capture the Flash Sentry, but they were killed by Guardians who came to their rescue. If the Guardians, with their power over the Light, are coming here, however…I know what I must do."
Cur'an sighed.
"End log."
Cur'an brushed his hand over the gleaming violet and gold of his Loyalist armor, and growled. He slowly took each piece off it's mount, and entered his armory, knowing what came next would mean certain death if caught. He stepped out, now in his Loyalist armor, bearing a Headhunter Rifle, and opened up the interface for the Flak network through a console.
"I am through with hiding." He growled, changing the firing sequences on the turrets to target the main barracks, where the guards rested, along with setting the generators to overload, which would kill the prison's power supply. "Now, I come out the shadows. Let's see Ghaul depose...this."
He tapped the button for the Turrets to open fire.
As the Flak turrets opened fire on the main barracks, the Resistance forces watched in shock as the Cabal guns fired on their own troops.
"What's going on?" A pilot asked. "Those guns…"
"Are giving us a chance." Rook cried. "Let's go, we have no time to lose!"
As the Airships entered the camp, the surviving guards were either attacked by their own prisoners, or well-placed shots from the Resistance aerial troops. The Guardians leaped off their airship, and Rook crushed a Psion beneath him upon landing.
"Move out!" Rook cried as the Resistance began to storm the prison.
Author's Note
Yep, there are Cabal Loyalist double agents in the Red Legion. From what I've learned, Emperor Calus was usurped by Ghaul during the Midnight Coup, and exiled aboard the Leviathan. That's how Ghaul became a Dominus. In my mind, some Loyalists may have inflitrated the Red Legion, and that's how I came up with Valus Cur'an.
Nice twist, eh?
Chapter 5-Rising in Death
The Guardians raised a battle cry as the surviving Cabal troops attempted to fight back. A pack of Warbeasts and their handlers managed to rally a few squads, but a well-timed Daybreak from Casiana killed them.
"Spread out!" Flash cried as his Caster rifle killed three Psions. "Find the prisoners!"
"Roger that!" Rook cried as he and his Fireteam entered the barracks, now pocked with holes and all around them were the moans of dying Cabal.
"Terminal here." Ness said, floating over to the Computer. "Let's see what we can get."
Ness fired several beams of energy at the interface, and did a Ghost's equivalent of flinching.
"What's wrong, Ness?" Leo asked.
"Someone in the Prison turned the turrets around and made them fire on the Cabal. We've got an ally here, but no record as to who."
"A pony prisoner?" Rook suggested.
"Not likely." Ness replied. "The guns are controlled by the Warden, so they'd need the Warden's keycodes to turn the guns around."
"Noted." Rook said. "Let's move."
As they proceeded to the main yard, the lights dimmed and went out.
"Power's gone." Spyre said, just as the ground shook and the base rumbled.
"What was that?" Casiana asked.
"That was an explosion from the Generator wing, if my calculations are correct." Fen said. "We've got to get moving."
Rook slowly advanced, and then Casiana pulled him back just as a Cabal energy barrier boxed them in. Rook punched the field only to receive a powerful shock in return. Several Cabal Legionaries and two Psions approached. Leading them was a Centurion clad in Purple and Gold armor, bearing a long rifle.
"We have secured the Guardians." a Psion spoke. "Shall we kill them now, Valus?"
The Guardians tensed up, but not two seconds later, the Centurion tapped on a wristpad, and the barrier blasted outward, slamming each Legionary into the wall of the arena. The Psions screeched angrily and went for their Slug Rifles, only for the Centurion to bash their heads together, killing them. A second tap on his wristpad, and the barrier went down. The Guardians slowly raised their weapons, but the Centurion raised his hand.
"We must move, Guardians." he spoke. "The Red Legion will find the bodies soon enough."
"Why kill your own troops?" Fen asked.
"I do not serve Ghaul, nor the Red Legion." the Centurion said. "Allow me an introduction. I am Valus Cur'an, of the Imperial Loyalists."
"Loyalists?" Rook asked.
"We serve the rightful ruler of our empire, the deposed Emperor Calus." Cur'an said. "It is difficult to explain, but Ghaul assumed the title of Dominus only after the Midnight Coup."
"Midnight Coup?" Casiana asked. "You mean Ghaul doesn't rule the Empire?"
"He seized the throne and exiled Calus aboard the Leviathan." Cur'an said. "But we must move. The turrets will cover our escape."
"Alright, but we don't trust you." Leo said.
"As you wish."
Cur'an shouldered his Headhunter Rifle, and the Guardians followed him to the main control room. Upon opening the door, the Guardians cut down the stationed Cabal with a burst of gunfire. Cur'an then unlocked the Cell Bay and the armory.
"Let's go." Rook said. "Valus, can you hardwire the Turrets to target any Red Legion reinforcements?"
"That would shoot down our ships as well that are in the battle zone." Cur'an replied. "Once our escape is secured, I shall do as you ask."
"Fine." Rook said. "Flash, what's your status?"
"We've got the prisoners loaded, but we've got a big problem! A squadron of Threshers are closing in, and we don't have the firepower to take them out!"
"We do." Rook said. "We'll take care of the Threshers. Move out to safety."
"Roger that!"
Rook motioned, and the Guardians, followed by Cur'an, headed to the open yard. Only they didn't notice a Security Camera recording them.
====
Ghaul stormed into the command room and ordered a report.
"Dominus, the Resistance has attacked and captured the XV15 detention center!" a Psion said."Reports say the defense turrets there fired on our troops! The Guardians are also there, fighting with the Resistance!"
Ghaul growled and slammed his fist on the command table.
"Who is in command there?" he asked in a low voice.
"Valus Cur'an." was the reply. "I shall send his file to you."
"Do that immediately." Ghaul said. "I shall look into this "Valus Cur'an"."
Ghaul left and headed for his chambers on the bridge. As he interfaced and brought up Cur'an's file, he furrowed his eyes.
"So, you were at the Palace the night of the coup?" he murmured. "With links to the corrupt Emperor, Calus? I shall certainly keep an eye on you, Valus. If he has the courage to stand against me, there may be others at the Emperor's call…"
Ghaul growled, and moved to stand at the bridge window.
=====
As the Guardians and Cur'an rejoined Flash and the Resistance troops in the main courtyard, Flash eyed the Centurion with suspicion.
"He's with us." Casiana said. "He made the turrets take out the Cabal, killed the power, he's the reason we took this prison."
"And I have downloaded every piece of Cabal field intelligence onto my wristpad." Cur'an added. "Weapon caches, vehicle bays, base locations, and a full readout of the Cabal fleet in orbit."
Flash raised an eyebrow, but motioned for the Centurion to come aboard. As the Guardians and the Cabal did so, Cur'an tapped his wristpad, and the turrets opened fire on the mountainside, burying the Prison and two of the five turrets.
"What about the Threshers?" Spyre asked.
"Leave that to me." Cur'an said, tapping his wristpad once more. As the Threshers came into view, the three remaining turrets opened fire, cutting the Cabal fighters down, while the Resistance made their getaway.
====
As Twilight got off the radio with Flash and the Guardians, she sighed in confusion and exhaustion. Not only had a Cabal Centurion aided her forces in the prison break, he was coming to Home One with more intel than the former Princess could dream of. She was grateful to the Guardians, but she still had a few lingering doubts about the Centurion being seen in her base. She sighed, grabbed Flurry Heart, and headed for the Hangar, where the airships were setting down. The three Guardians disembarked, followed by the Centurion.
"Greetings." Twilight said.
"Greetings to you." the Centurion replied. "I am Valus Cur'an. If you'll allow me, I'll upload the intelligence I gathered to your network."
"Fine." Twilight said. "Flurry, take him to the Engineers. The rest of you, great work. Flash, how many did we get?"
"About a few hundred." Flash said, coming forward. "They said most of them were moved to different prisons before our attack."
"Alright, get them armed and ready." Twilight said, nodding. "Guardians, with me."
As Fireteam Herald walked with Twilight, she sighed.
"I suppose I owe you thanks for aiding my troops." she sighed. "I wish I could be out there, fighting instead of hiding like a rat in a burrow."
Rook looked at her curiously. Twilight huffed as they entered the command post, just as Flurry Heart returned.
"Aunt Twilight?" she said. "The scouts have a report from the Frozen North."
"And?"
"Someone's been killing any Cabal that get near the old Crystal Empire." Flurry said. "They know it's a stallion with a long rifle, but other than that…"
"Nothing?" Twilight finished. Flurry nodded in affirmation, and Twilight sighed.
"If it's him…" she murmured. "He could help."
"You know he's gone." Flurry said. "Aunt Twilight, Shining Armor is dead. He died in front of you."
"Yet we left the body behind." Twilight growled sadly. "Funny, he always said he would defend Equis all his life. Now, he's doing it in death. Flurry, get the Guardians. Tell them I've got an errand for them."
Flurry flinched, but she hastily summoned the Guardians.
"What's the matter?" Casiana asked. Twilight sighed and looked at the Warlock.
"Well, it's a long story." she said. "You know the third Alicorn, Cadance? She had a husband, my brother, Shining Armor. When the Red Legion captured the Crystal Empire, he gave his life to get Flurry to me, while Cadance drove off the Cabal. She was captured, and the Empire was left in ruins. Recently, there's been reports of somepony in the ruins, killing the Cabal who patrol there."
"You want us to investigate?" Leo asked.
"Yes." she said. "Just...do it quickly. I have something to attend to."
The Guardians nodded, and headed out towards the airship bay. Twilight made sure they were gone before she went down a smaller tunnel, which led into a monument of some kind. On the table was the shattered Crystal Heart, now darkened and broken. Twilight sighed and let the tears fall as she collapsed, sobbing.
====
The Guardians were dropped off near the ruins of an old train station, as it was the closest the airship could go before the constant blizzards would down it.
"What exactly are we looking for?" Rook asked. "A body?"
"Maybe." Leo said. "If this Shining Armor's even alive, maybe we'll find him."
"Let's go, Fireteam." Rook said as they entered the blizzard.
As the three Guardians entered the ruined Empire, Fen, Spyre, and Ness were scanning everything, their blue cones of light giving off eerie illumination. The buildings were in fragments, and shadows pocked every corner. Slug Rifle holes were in every surface, and Rook could feel an atmosphere of fear and death.
"I can't believe this was once a prosperous city." Ness sighed. "The Red Legion are monsters."
Leo shook his head sadly, agreeing with his Ghost.
"Wait, up ahead." Spyre said suddenly. "What's that?"
They walked over to the beacon that Spyre had set, and to their surprise, lay a deactivated Vex Goblin unit, its "juicebox"
"Vex?" Ness asked, confused. "What are they doing here?"
"I'll see what I can get off its data core." Fen said, beginning to scan it.
"That's odd...This Vex was merely a scout." the Ghost said, returning to his Guardian. "However, I've got some coordinates
for a location near here. Let's get moving."
The Guardians trekked into the mountains near the Empire, their weapons jumping from shadow to shadow.
"You hear that?" Casiana asked. "Sounds like…"
"Gunfire." Rook finished. "Herald, double-time!"
The Guardians broke from the path and made their way towards the sounds, which came from a valley crevice nearby.
"So...anyone know why the Vex are killing the Red Legion?" Rook asked. "They're wasn't any trace of Vex when we arrived here."
"So it would seem." Casiana replied. "Though, I get the feeling we're being watched…"
As to answer Casiana's statement, there was a crack, a roar, and the area was flooded with bright orange light. The Guardians took to cover, and Rook peeked over the edge to see a human clad in feathered orange robes cutting the Cabal and Vex down with a Daybreak. And on the precipice behind him…
Was a pony in a cloak, armed with a long rifle.
"That's our target." Leo said. "But who's that Guardian?"
"I don't know." Casiana said. "But it's a Warlock, for sure."
As they watched, the last of the Vex and Cabal were killed, and the cloak-clad pony slid down to rejoin the Guardian.
"Well, a bit flashy for my taste." the pony said.
"Flair makes things a bit more fun." the Guardian replied. "Sagira, are we clear?"
"We're clear." a Ghost replied, coming out. "Though I still don't get why the Forest brought us here."
"I think I do." Osiris said, looking at the boulder where Casiana, Leo, and Rook were hiding. "You can come out. We are allies and friends, Guardians."
Fireteam Herald slowly came out, not sure where this was going.
"Ah, more Guardians!" the human said. "I wondering how the Forest will handle this…"
"What Forest?" Rook asked. The Guardian looked at Rook with a raised eyebrow.
"That complicates things." the Ghost replied. "Have you heard of the Infinite Forest?"
"No." Rook said.
"Panoptes, Infinite Mind?"
"Nope." Leo replied.
"The Red Legion?"
"Yeah, but we've only fought them on this world." Casiana finished.
"So the Red Legion didn't attack the City and capture the Traveler in this timeline?" the Ghost mused. "That's quite a fascinating divergence from the original history!"
"Wait, what?" Rook asked in shock. "The Red Legion captures the Traveler and the City? What's all that mean? Who are you?"
"I'm Sagira." the Ghost said. "And my Guardian here is Osiris."
"And our companion…" Osiris said. The cloaked pony shed his hood, revealing his sickly gray coat and blue mane, with a
"Shining Armor...Reborn."
Sol System
"No way." Cayde said, watching the feed and audio stream from The Far Road Home's satellite camera, which was currently locked onto Fireteam Herald.
"Impossible." Ikora said in disbelief. "Osiris has returned?"
Zavala was silent, quietly thinking.
"He was banished from the City centuries ago." he finally murmured. "How could this happen?"
"Search me." Cayde said. "That's the thing about Vex Tech. It's wild and unpredictable."
"And it can break the rules of time, space, and reality." Ikora added. "Zane, can we still contact the Far Road Home?"
"Negative, Ikora Rey." Frame Zane-76-31 replied. "A solar storm is blocking our communication attempts to Guardian
"Thank you, Zane." Ikora replied. "Stay on it."
"I'll notify the Speaker." Zavala said, starting to head out.
"I would not." Ikora replied. The Titan Vanguard turned to her in disbelief.
"Why?" Zavala asked.
"Because I know Osiris. This could merely be another time's Osiris, or an Osiris belonging to no time at all. Zavala, this is not something we should concern the Speaker with."
Zavala shook his head and looked at Ikora.
"Are you sure?" he asked.
"Dead sure." Ikora replied. Zavala walked back to the head of the table and sighed.
"What else do we have?"
Cayde shrugged at the resuming of frantic activity. For the Vanguard, there was no rest.
After a while, Osiris, Sagira, and Shining brought the Guardians to a small camp inside of a cave. Shining shed his cloak, revealing several slug rifle wounds and more pieces of Vex Tech embedded inside him.
"What happened?" Casiana asked.
"You can thank Osiris." Shining said gruffly. "He brought me back, though I'm not the same."
"Shining Armor is essentially a cyborg, half pony, and half Vex." Sagira clarified. "And being brought back through Vex tech isn't exactly a painless process."
Shining growled at the Ghost.
"As she said." he scoffed. "Right now, I'm just in some sort of limbo between not really living, and not really dead."
"And since we travel across realities every day…" Osiris said. "We decided to pay a visit and see what has changed in this timeline."
"One thing, though." Casiana said. "How does Ghaul manage to capture the City, and the Traveler?"
"He cages the Traveler." Sagira said. "He strips the Guardians of their light, and scatters the Vanguard. A fireteam of three Guardians manages to regain their Light, reform the Vanguard, and end Ghaul. That's the timeline we just came from."
"Rook, we've got an incoming transmission from the Resistance base! Emergency!" the Ghost yelped.
"Put it through!" Casiana said.
"Guardians, you there?" Flash's voice cried.
"What's happened?" Rook asked.
"The Cabal found us!" Flash yelped, and Rook could hear Caster Rifle and Slug rifle fire in the background. "They blew the
"Roger, on our way!" Rook cried, just as the line went dead. "Herald, get ready!"
"You'll need transport." Osiris said, pulling out three small cubes inscribed with Vex symbols. A few twists and turns, and a
"That portal there will take you straight into the action." Sagira said. "Move!"
"Roger that." Rook said. "Osiris?"
"Yes?"
"Thanks. I hope we meet again." Rook said. Osiris nodded, and as both groups vanished into Vex portals, Shining Armor took one last glance at Equestria before he returned to the Infinite Forest.
Sagira wasn't wrong when she said the Guardians would enter straight into the action. Upon arriving, Rook had to punch the helmet off a Legionary. Helping his fireteam to their feet, he loaded and cocked his Auto Rifle.
"Over here!" a Minotaur cried, bearing an axe. "They're coming in from the roof!"
The Guardians nodded and followed the Minotaur into a veritable scene of carnage. A massive hole had been blown in the roof of the hill, and Cabal were entering through it via Harvester or Drop Pod. A thick line of Resistance fighters, led by Flash Sentry, were holding the line, but it was clear they wouldn't last.
"Flash!" Rook cried, hurling and sticking a Centurion with a Magnetic Grenade. "Sitrep!"
"We're outnumbered and outgunned!" he cried. "Valus Cur'an is escorting Flurry Heart to safety with a few other fighters!"
"What about Twilight?" Leo asked. Flash shook his head in anger.
"She was captured." he growled. "Hold the line, nothing gets past!"
Rook placed down a Ward of Dawn while Casiana and Leo used Daybreak and Arc Staff. Their use of the Light forced the
"What's the plan now?" Rook asked. "I'm running low on ammo."
"Same here!" Casiana and Leo added.
"And more Cabal troops are incoming." Spyre said. "We need to leave. Right now!"
Flash hesitated, then nodded.
"Get my fighters out of here!" he said. "There's an evac tunnel to our secondary base over there! MOVE!"
"What about you?" Leo asked, firing his Hand Cannon at an Incendior.
"I'll buy you all the time I can. I'm not going quietly" Flash said, grabbing a sword. "Go. Now!"
Rook covered with his Machine Gun while Casiana and Leo led the few remaining Resistance troops to the Evac tunnel. Rook soon followed, and the last thing the Titan saw of Flash Sentry was him reloading his Caster Rifle, to face the coming horde.
Flash stood on the bodies of the deceased as the Cabal advanced. Hurling an axe into a Centurion's face, he dodged and killed a Gladiator with a shot to its liftpack. The explosion killed it, but two more took its place. Three Slug rounds hit his leg, sending him to the ground. Flash continued to fire his Rifle, scoring a few final kills before he was forced to the ground. Flash hurled himself into the fray, bearing a sword. Smashing in the head of a Phalanx, his last sight was of a volley of Slug rounds coming right at him.
"Twilight...I'm sorry." he groaned as his body was peppered with rounds, carving multiple holes in his chest, though he still breathed. A Centurion ended his misery with a final shot to the head, upon he lay still. The Cabal turned to the direction the survivors had fled, only to find the supports had caved in, sealing the tunnel and the survivors away safely.
As the Survivors entered the backup base, Rook walked over to the wall of the cave and threw a punch, cracking the granite.
"Rook!" Casiana scolded. "There's no need for that!"
Rook sighed and turned to the Warlock.
"You're right." he groaned. "Where's Valus Cur'an?"
"Right here."
The three of them saw the purple-and-gold clad Centurion appear.
"Flurry Heart is safe." he said. "I wanted to return to assist as best I could. Seems I was too late. My condolences."
"All good." Leo said. "How many did we lose?"
"I estimate 80 percent of our troops have died or been captured." Cur'an said. "Our situation is dire. But there is good news."
"What?" Rook asked. Cur'an handed him his medallion, and touched the Emperor's sigil in the center. A hologram
The Cabal Emperor.
"My liege, Calus." Cur'an said. "Emperor of the Cabal."
Rook, Casiana, and Leo nodded.
"You do not bow in my presence?" Calus said. "Quite impressive."
"Our apologies, Emperor." Rook said.
"Your apology is accepted." Calus replied. "I have heard from Valus Cur'an of your mighty deeds, Guardians. I extend my power to you. As I cannot leave my Leviathan, I am sending to you Primus Thuras, leader of the Loyalists and my Legions. They are yours to command, as you see fit. Grow fat in your strength, Guardians. If we are to ever meet in person, I will show you power beyond the Light. As our traditional send off would be unfitting, I shall simply say...Good luck."
"So, the Loyalists are sending forces, Valus?" Leo asked.
"Indeed. But we will need more allies to defeat the Red Legion." Cur'an replied. "What of the scavengers to the north?"
"The Fallen?" Rook asked, unsure. "They're good fighters, but how will we contact them?"
"We go to them." Cur'an replied. "And hope they accept us. I will remain here to greet Primus Thuras and his troops. You must go."
"We'll be back as soon as we can." Rook said. "Hopefully with the Fallen on our side."
"I hope so, Guardians." Cur'an replied. The Guardians radioed the Far Road Home, and soon they flew off towards the Griffon lands.
Author's Note
Update!
Next time-The Fallen are a tough group to persuade, as the Guardians find out. And Ghaul interrogates Twilight for information about Magic.
Equis, Orbit, Debris field
Aboard the Far Road Home
Rook walked through the hallway of the Far Road Home to the small crew barracks. To his amusement and annoyance, Leo was still asleep. Rook sighed, nodded to his Ghost Fen, and punched Leo hard on the shoulder. Leo was awake in an instant, and his knife was at Rook's neck.
"You could've been less rough." Leo grumbled as he grabbed his hand cannon.
"Well, we've made it, and Casiana wants us on the bridge ASAP." Rook replied. "So...Let's go."
"Alright, alright…"
Leo and Rook walked to the bridge to find Casiana at the window.
"Why aren't we moving?" Leo asked.
"Guess." Casiana said.
"Out of gas?" Rook guessed.
"Nope."
"We overshoot the planet we're going to?" Leo asked.
"No." Casiana said, motioning to the window. Rook and Leo walked over and raised their eyebrows. A massive Cabal Flagship was parked in orbit, and Leo could see three Fallen Ketches anchored behind the world's moon.
"Fallen and Cabal?" Rook said. "What are they doing here?"
"I would guess they made it here before us." Leo said. "Which leads us to the question of...what Cabal and Fallen are we dealing with?"
Casiana walked over to the window, her eyes focusing on a logo on the flagship. It looked like two arches with sharpened points.
"I've seen that logo before…" Casiana said. "On a patrol to Mars before I joined the Fireteam. It was on a Command Terminal on Firebase Delphi."
"So, we're dealing with a Cabal Commander?" Rook asked.
"No, that's not it. Spyre…" Casiana said, referring to her Ghost, "Managed to get the details of the sender, and that was it."
"So, this logo has something to do with a high-ranking Cabal?" Leo said. "Like Ta'aurc or the Shield Brothers?"
"No, again." Casiana said. "That logo was from a Dominus. The highest rank a Cabal warrior could ever achieve, second only to the Emperor himself."
"Shit." Rook said. "Ralphie, get us a connection to the Vanguard."
"Yes, Guardian." the Frame replied. "Attempting connection...connection successful. Connection strength is 3 for 5."
"Commander Zavala, this is Fireteam Herald, can you hear us?" Rook spoke/
"We hear you, Herald." Zavala's voice replied. "What have you found?"
"Commander, the Cabal and Fallen beat us to our destination." Casiana reported. "I believe that a Cabal Dominus has landed here, evident by the Cabal Flagship in the world's orbit. Fallen of an unknown house are also in orbit. Ikora, do you know this logo?"
"I do." Ikora said. "That is the emblem of the Cabal Red Legion. They are fearless, unmatched warriors. And rumor has it they have never known defeat."
"We'll put that to the test." Rook said. "Can you send us reinforcements?"
"Negative." Zavala replied. "The Dead Orbit fleet, nor Holliday has any long-range ships available. We're trying our best, but for now, Guardians, you're on your own. Deploy to the surface and report what you find. Keep the Far Road Home in orbit and hidden as best you can. That ship is your only way to escape that world should you need it. Keep it protected."
"Yes, Commander." Leo said. "What about the Fallen?"
"We'll deal with them later." Zavala said. "Tower out."
Rook nodded, ended the connection, and sighed.
"Don, take us down. Keep us away from that flagship."
"Understood, Guardian."
The Far Road Home dipped into a dive and slipped through the debris in Equis's orbit, and after a brief time spent dodging the wreckage of spaceships, they entered the atmosphere of Equis.
=======
"Head back to orbit, and we'll call when we need you." Rook told Don, who saluted and flew the ship back into the sky.
"Let's go." Rook said once Don reported they were hidden in the debris field. Casiana and Leo nodded, and they walked into the town, not knowing what lay ahead.
=====
"I'll tell you one thing…" Leo said, his scout rifle monitoring every shadow. "This place is creepy."
"Indeed." Casiana said. "The air smells of death."
"And what happened to the inhabitants?" Rook said. "Where are they?"
"There's no bodies…" Leo said. "So they aren't dead, or they're hiding."
"Or...they were taken by the Cabal." Casiana added. "Either way, weapons ready."
"Roger that." the other two Guardians replied. Then, Rook held up his hand, telling the others to stop.
"You hear that?" he said. Leo was about to ask what, when they heard the sounds of a struggle from up the street. The three Guardians broke into a sprint and slid into cover. Rook looked over a fallen beam and saw six or so equine beings being held by Cabal Legionaries, around seven. There was also two Cabal with large tanks on their backs, and five lean, gaunt creatures that growled and skittered.
"I think that's the Red Legion." Rook said. "Those equines are in trouble."
"Why should we help them?" Leo shot back.
"Enemy of my enemy." Rook said. "Wait, quiet down. They're talking."
Rook saw one Legionary approach a pegasus with an orange coat and a blue mane.
"I know you...Flash Sentry." the Legionary groaned. "You have quite a...reputation for escaping our custody."
"And you are no better." Flash Sentry replied. "You have a reputation for being monsters and conquerors, you horn-heads."
The Cabal bristled angrily at this. The Legionary smacked Flash to the ground, and held his Slug Rifle to his head. Rook growled, and ducked back into cover.
"Leo, Casiana, let's move in, and show these Cabal what Guardians are made of!"
"Right." they both replied. Casiana took the left, while Leo took the right. Rook took cover, and when his team told him they were both ready, he motioned and they leaped into view, each of them used their new powers, summoning the Sentinel Shield, the Blade of Dawn, and the Arc Staff. The Cabal recoiled and opened fire as the three Guardians engaged them in combat.
Author's Note
Update!
