Ryuji watched as his landing craft flew from his orbiter with a large cargo box in tow that was latched to its bottom. As he watched out from the front of the orbiter, he couldn’t help but wonder if this plan was going to go well by giving these ponies the weapons of the tenno. He felt like this was a critical decision on his part. But at the same time, if it was to help his new family and home from invaders or any kind of potential danger, the consequences seemed rather trivial. Once the landing craft was out of sight, he presses a button on his communications console which linked him directly to Celestia and Luna at the same time.

“The third set of weapons is on their way. Construction on the fourth batch is underway.”

“Excellent work, Ryuji. Now that we have some of the weapons, you can begin teaching the selected guards. But, before you do that take a few days to relax. You have been doing a wonderful job for the past six weeks. Why do you come back down to Equestria and go see your friends? Maybe even come and visit Tia and me? We’d be more than happy to have you.”

Ryuji thought about the offer as he looked back to his foundry which was in the middle of creating a weapon for himself. It was a copy of his blade that Hydroid used. But with this, he’d have a blade of his own if Hydroid wasn’t near. And also he’d be able to engage in close combat, not having to rely solely on his void abilities. He responds back to Luna with a slight nod over to come.

“I don’t see why not. I think I just might take you up on that offer. I am sure Celestia would be more than happy to see me huh?”

Luna could only giggle at his words. She gazed at her sister who was behind her who was quietly showing her excitement by clapping her hands quietly and dancing on her hooves side to side.

“Oh, I think she will be more than happy to see you once again, Ryuji. Trust me.”

“Very well.Let me finish my work here.Then I will stop by in Ponyville, then make my way over to the castle. I trust that you already got the shipment?”

He asked as he saw his landing craft already making its way back and docking back into the orbiter.

“We have. We shall keep the cargo save with ‘round the clock guards. Now, hurry up and finish up there. Tia is starting to lose control of her excitement. She misses you terribly and cannot wait to see you again. She is dying to see you again.”

“Luna!”

Celestia scoffed in the background. The coms cut off after the sound of laughter and playful struggling was heard. He just smiled to himself and walked over to his personal quarters to go and take a little nap to pass the time so that his blade would finish up in the foundry. He falls back onto his bed before gazing up at the ceiling, the quiet humming of the ship’s engine slowly bringing him into a slumber as he turns on his side.

”Ryuji. You need you wake up, my dear. My daughters need your help. Should the entities that have traveled to the past success in their plans, your time will be changed. And will cause you nothing but trouble as well as for the rest of Equestria. Please, hurry!”

“Operator?! Operator, wake up!”

Ryuji sat up quickly with wide eyes as he heard or call out his name. He quickly gets to his feet and runs outside of his personal quarters to see what all the fuss was about. Once he saw that..nothing seemed to be out of order, he blinks a few times before scratching the back of his head with a light groan.

“What...the hell Ordis? What are you freaking out about this time?”

“Well, first off, your new weapon is finished. And second, we were swallowed up by some kind of bright light for a moment. But...we haven't transported anywhere it seems. Equinus is still the same planet that we are currently orbiting. Could it have been my imagination?”

Ryuji finally makes his way to the front of the ship to get a view of the planet the ponies lived on. It was still there, so apparently, he did not switch universes. He looks down at his ship’s control then rubs his chin in thought. Something didn’t seem quite right with how it looked down there, and he could only do one thing before going back there himself.

“Ordis, send the landing craft to scan over the lands surrounding Canterlot. I have a rather uneasy feeling about this. Bring up visuals as well.”

“Right away, Operator.”

The landing craft powers up with its usual roar to life and drops from the orbiter. It quickly launches off toward the planet to the destination it was ordered. Whenever the ship scanned the area, the landscape looked the same, but it was covered in snow. This already made Ryuji more alert to his situation. Even more so when he noticed a change in the way the buildings of the towns were built. They seemed to be rather...more olden time. And what was more strange, the ponies he could see within Ponyville’s streets didn’t look familiar in the slightest. And the clothing they wore was definitely out of place from what he normally saw.

“Ordis, I am going down there. And I think I need to head to the castle first. Please bring the ship back...and quickly. I believe time is of the essence.”

He said as he used transference to merge with Hydroid as he always did. He grabs his weapons and equips them, ready for a potential fight should there be one.

“Operator? Do you think that we...traveled back in time?! This is truly a dire situation! But at the same time...pretty neat!”

Ryuji cocked his guns as he placed them on his warframe. He lets out a sigh of annoyance before turning to Ordis.

“I just wanted a little nap, and then this happens.”

Once the landing craft returned, Ryuji wasted no time in getting aboard and flying down towards Canterlot castle. If that dream was truly a vision of some sort, he’d have to get there, and soon.

The sound of two sets of hoofsteps and heavy breathing were heard heading down the corridor and a set of footsteps following closely behind them. The two running from the pursuer held onto each other’s hands as the older one lead her little sister away from the one chasing them. They appeared to be little fillies, around the ages of fourteen and thirteen. They were alicorns, one pure white with a pink mane and another a night blue with a light blue mane. And the chaser was none other than another shadow copy of Hydroid trying to dispose of them, dead guards lying on the ground either severely hurt or even dead.

“Tia, that thing is close behind! I am scared!”

Cried out the little blue alicorn. The older one brought her sister closer as they continued to try and outrun the thing that was chasing them. Celestia was scared for her life just as much as Luna was. But as the older sister, she had to put on a brave face for her younger sister’s sake.

“We will be fine, Lulu! We just have to make it to where it can’t find us and we will lose it!”

Eventually, they came to a balcony they cut off their escape. And in the state of fear, they couldn’t open their wings and fly off. At this point, they were too scared to move as the shadow Hydroid stood before them with a gun in one hand and a sword in the other. It stepped closer and closer. Celestia stood in front of Luna in a defensive stance with her arms out, her eyes were starting to well up with tears as she thought that she and her sister were going to be killed here and now. The sword it held onto was lifted up into the air and began to swing down. The sword did not connect with her flesh, however. Only the sound of metal clashing against metal. Both Celestia and Luna opened one of their eyes to see another one of those things, but this one was protecting them!

"I will not let you destroy Equestria's future simply because I exist in it..."

Ryuji said as the deadlock with the shadow Hydroid broke as he pushed forward with force, making the clone stagger back which also pointed his gun at him. The bullets started to fly, and Ryuji started deflecting the bullets away with his sword while charging at the shadow copy. Both the filly princesses watched on as they held each other closely still in fear, but not so much now as their savior fought off the very thing that nearly killed them. Their blades connected and clashed with one another as they tried to cut and stab each other. However, the shadow was matching Ryuji move for move as it seemed to already have a grasp on the way he fought. Ryuji knew he had to do something different, and he knew exactly what that was. There may have been a copy of his warframe, but they couldn’t copy himself. With a flash of light, Ryuji rolls out of Hydroid with his own sword in hand and quickly shoves his free hand in front of him, firing off a highly concentrated beam of void energy which connected with the shadow directly i.n the chest. The shadow staggered back and pointed his gun at Ryuji, which he then dodged as the bullets were released using his void dash. He then charged forward as fast as he could and swung his sword, dealing a severing slash to the shadow’s hand that held the gun. He vanished again as the shadow’s sword came around for a death blow, but Ryuji pivoted around behind the shadow and reappeared as he shoved his blade directly into the back of the dark Hydroid. As the sword was now impaled fully through the dark Hydroid, it caught fire and began to turn away from the element that Ryuji had embedded in the sword. As the last of the shadow burned away, Ryuji took his sword and twirled it in his hand before sheathing it back into the scabbard he had on his back. After that, he turns his attention to the two that were huddling together at the balcony’s edge against the railing. He already knew these two just by looking at them when he first saw them, However, seeing them like this, as fillies made him kind feel better since they didn’t tower over him.

“You two are safe now. That thing will not be coming back to harm you.”

He said as he approached them and knelt down in front of them. They looked at him with gratitude in their eyes, overjoyed that he had come just in time to save their lives from a rather unpleasant death. They both wrapped their arms around him in a big hug to show him their thanks. Ryuji carefully brought his arms around them both as he chuckles lightly.

“This really isn’t necessary, you two. I simply did as I asked to ensure that the future of this land was preserved. Plus we cannot have an Equestria without its two rulers.”

He tries to pull away from them, only to have them hug him a little tighter. He closes his eyes and simply reaches up and runs his hands along their manes. A little comfort from him won’t hurt. Soon they looked behind him to see Hydroid standing as still as a statue, the syndana flowing at his back just as a cloak would from the cold night air.

“That...thing looks like that one over there..is it going to..?”

Asked Luna as she pressed against Ryuji for protection. He shook his head immediately with a reassuring smile.

“No, I promise you he won’t try to hurt you. Without me in there, he won’t move much. Though, I am sure you are wondering why I am here and what I am.”

Just as soon as he said that royal guards came running onto the balcony with their weapons pointed a both Ryuji and Hydroid. Celestia and Luna were quick to call them off after explaining that Ryuji is the one to took down the shadow and saved their lives. After explaining this, the guards went from hostile to calm and grateful for saving them both.

“Please, come inside. Let us provide you with a comfortable room for the night and a delicious meal as a thank you. It is the least we can do for you.”

Celestia said as she gently took his hand and tried to lead him along. He gently pulled away from her grip and shook his head softly. This wasn’t the time to be relaxing, especially since he wasn’t at the right time. He smiles lightly to Celestia and Luna before bowing his head in thanks for the offer.

“I thank you for your kind offer, princess. But, I am afraid I must find a way to return to my own time.”

He said before disappearing back into Hydroid. They watched as the still form came to life and moved once more. He walked over to the edge and began to speak.

“Ordis, send the ship my way. What I needed to do here is done. We now need to find a way back.”

“Wait!”

Cried out Celestia as she ran to him and grabbed his steel hand, a look of hopefulness in her beautiful magenta eyes. Ryuji turned his gaze down to her as she seemed like she really didn’t want him to go. Even her sister was giving the same kind of gaze.

“Please, let our mentor help you. He is good with those kinds of spells and I am sure he’d be happy to help you return to your own time. But in the meantime, let us take care of you. It is the least we can do…”

“I don’t want to cause any trouble here. Are you sure?”

“Yes, we are very sure, now come on!”

Said Luna as she took his other hand with a rather adorable smile on her face. They both lead him inside to castle with the guard close behind. Though Ryuji and the guards diverted both of them to different directions to avoid them seeing the blood and gore that laid in the main corridor. The layout of the castle was still pretty much the same, thankfully. It would appear he’d be staying in this time for a little bit. He just hoped everything back in his own was alright.

Author's Note

Back in business baby! :D

May the darkness grant you peace.