Of Friendships and Warships

Chapters

Chapter 1 - Arrival
Chapter 2 - Mirrors
Chapter 3 - Cartographers & Maps
Chapter 4 - We shall go Northbound
Chapter 5 - In Ruins
Chapter 6 - Atlantis
Chapter 7 - Spirit of Fire
Chapter 8 - A Deal and Open Doors
Chapter 9 - Prelude to War
Chapter 10 - Destruction
Chapter 11 - Aftermath

Chapter 1 - Arrival

Spike led Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie into the main hall of the castle, where Twilight had a certain mirror set up and modified. As they were approaching, Twilight put a counter into the device set to .00000; then moved it higher to test that it worked.

“What are we here for?” asked Rainbow, “I could be napping now.”

“This!” Twilight excitedly pointed at the mirror as if it explained everything. When the rest just looked at her confused, she continued, “It should allow us to see what we are doing in alternate universes! Who wants to go first?”

“I can see MYSELF being AWESOME? How could I possibly say ‘no!’” Rainbow replied with enthusiasm.

“I’ll need a hair,” Twilight said, pulling one from Rainbow’s mane. After Twilight put it into the contraption, she turned it on and moved the counter .00077.

The mirror showed a gravestone apparently belonging to Rainbow’s mother. “It says she died before I was born? How is this possible!” Rainbow complained. Twilight just moved the counter up to .00177. It showed Rainbow flying overhead.

“Oh! I love cupcakes!” Pinkie randomly shouted then zoomed out of the room.

“Pinkie dear, come back!” Rarity attempted to scold the hyperactive pink pony.

“Okay. Let’s see another,” Twilight said before moved the counter up to .00200. It now showed Rainbow trying to convince a door knob to marry her. “Alright, then. Another,” Twilight said confused about what they saw going on. Moving the counter up a bit rewarded them with a depiction of Rainbow trying to get a clock to go with her on a date.

Nearly half an hour later they get the mirror to show Rainbow hitting on a sink. At this point Rainbow is curled up and whimpering. “Know what, back to .00177 it is,” Twilight said moving the counter down. Now the mirror showed three cupcakes on a counter, no sign of Rainbow.

“That’s it. I’ll see what is wrong with this thing,” Twilight said, concerned that it does not seem to be working.

“I reckon this was a bad idea, Twi,” Applejack said before she followed the rest out of the castle.

=== ===

The crew of the UNSC Spirit of Fire awake from cryo sleep, and start bringing the ship up to alert status. Captain James Cutter heads down to the lab while all that is happening to talk to Professor Ellen Anders. “Where are we, Anders?” Cutter inquires.

“Unknown, sir. The astro navigation system can’t pinpoint a location. We’re not on the map anymore,” Anders replied checking the astro navigation system.

Cutter walks to another console and pulls up the sensor logs. “Sensors show arrived via slipspace less than an hour ago,” Cutter informed Anders.

“Our slipspace drive is gone; however, we got here, it wasn’t use who initiated the trip,” she reasoned.

“Captain, scans have picked up life forms on the surface,” a crewman said over the intercom.

“Any chance they are Covenant, Lieutenant?” Cutter asked hoping they were not Covenant.

“Not likely. No ships, or major power sources detected,” the crewman replied.

“Red Team, you’re going down to the surface. Anders, get landing coordinates,” Cutter ordered before leaving the lab.

=== ===

The Pelican dropship carrying Red Team and their Warthog touched down in a clearing within a forest not far from a small village.

“We will scout out that village we saw on the way down,” Jerome-092 ordered after the team got off the dropship, “Mount up, Red Team.”

The Spartans boarded their Warthog and speed towards the village while the Pelican returned to the ship.

=== ===

Rainbow Dash and her friends minus Twilight and Pinkie had decided to stop in the town market. As Rainbow was still upset about what had happened earlier, her friends thought it would cheer her up a bit. Making their way through the market Rainbow spotted a dust cloud on the horizon, and it was getting closer.

“Stampede!” Rainbow yelled, and ponies started shutting themselves inside whatever nearest building they could enter, except Fluttershy who was nowhere to be seen.

=== ===

The Warthog swiftly approached the bridge into the town itself, then flashed by Fluttershy’s hiding spot. As it got near townhall, it came to a sudden stop before being obscured by the dust it had been kicking up. Fluttershy started slowly sneaking back towards her cottage on other side of the village.

“Looks like a ghost town, sir,” Jerome reported to Cutter. “Saw no sign of any life here since we landed.”

“We all could use some shore leave after being on ice for 27 years. Anders, want to go down there?” Cutter’s voice replied from the Warthog’s commlink.

“Yes, Captain, I would love to get a look down there,” Anders replied.

“I think Kinsano will be joining us down,” Cutter’s voice replied. “Pelican Echo-418, you’re our ride, be ready.”

=== ===

The second Pelican to the surface touched down in front of Sugarcube Corner, and the three passengers disembarked. Of course, the ponies hiding inside knew nothing of what these bipedal creatures were let alone what the machines were or where they came from. Fluttershy was backing into a dead-end alley to avoid being seen, fruitlessly.

“Captain, their like big cats!” Anders excitedly called to Cutter after picking Fluttershy up. “Big, ridiculously cute cats.”

“Anders, put the creature down,” Cutter said noticing Fluttershy looking very frightened. “You’re scaring it.” Cutter turned towards Kinsano, “Too much pink,” he said pointing a thumb at Sugarcube Corner, “even for me.”

“Anders, put it down, now. There’s more inside that structure,” Kinsano said gesturing towards think building Cutter pointed to earlier, “I see more faces like the one on the one you’re holding. I’d hate to need my flamethrower.”

“Is it just me, or does the one you’re holding have wings, Anders?” Cutter asked after deciding the wings were too obvious to not ask about.

“Apparently so,” Anders replied after looking at Fluttershy’s wings.

“Pegasus. I would not be surprised to see unicorns here, somewhere,” Kinsano said, answering the question no one wanted to bring up.

Author's Note

For those unaware, Kinsano may or may not be canon; she appears as a DLC leader in Halo Wars 2.

Chapter 2 - Mirrors

“Red Team, you said it was a ghost town,” Cutter warned the three Spartans via commlink.

“We saw nothing. Maybe We’re too used to looking for Covenant, sir. Sorry, sir,” Jerome replied after a few moments. “We saw nothing on our motion trackers, either.”

“Have you considered you scared EVERYTHING off? Hogs are loud,” Cutter berated Red Team.

“Sorry, sir,” Jerome replied.

“Spirit of Fire to Cutter. We’ve been scanning the village and its surrounding area. There is a nearby structure of some kind. We can’t determine it if there are life signs inside, there’s something blocking more detailed scans of it. It may give us a way home,” a bridge officer reported over commlink.

“Anything from the nearby structures, Lieutenant?” Cutter asked, curious as to if the structures were occupied by possibly scared natives.

“Yes, sir,” the officer replied, “Random numbers of life signs from various structures. Anders, do not ask if we can determine what they are,” the officer continued, addressing Anders with slight annoyance.

“Alright, we are heading for this structure you told us about. Mark it on our HUD. Red Team should still be on recon,” Cutter order through his commlink.

“Yes, sir, location marked. We have Fireteam Atlantis heading down there. Major Aurelleah Sheppard thought one of the structures in the forest might help us,” the bridge officer notified the ground teams.

=== ===

Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle were in the Everfree forest when everything went quiet. Just as the noises were beginning to return to normal, a loud sound similar to rockets had passed overhead making everything quiet again. This being the second time that day that sound passed over the forest made the timberwolves very hostile, more so than normal.

Unfortunately for the three fillies, they were the timberwolves’ target. Ten of them stalked the CMC from all sides. The alpha of the pack, and also the largest, revealed himself in an attempt to run the CMC into an ambush. Upon seeing the big timberwolf, the three fillies started screaming and ran as fast as their legs could go. The pack, after a minute of confusion, gave chase; and the pack was faster.

=== ===

“Hopefully all this turns out well,” Cutter told his companions, Kinsano and Anders, as they neared the marked structure. They walk up to the front door; only to find it slightly ajar, “Well, not like its locked…” Cutter commented.

Kinsano pushed the door open and entered. Not a single alarm or bell went off. “Cleared for entry, Captain, Professor,” Kinsano reported the obvious. “Permission to explore this structure?”

“As long as you don’t use your flamethrower, no matter how much you want to. You, too, Anders,” Cutter said before the group split up.

Cutter walked to the main hall. By chance, Twilight was too busy to notice him enter due to her books. Looking around, Cutter saw a purple alicorn and a screen showing three cupcakes. “A security camera pointed at cupcakes?” Cutter asked out loud of no one in particular.

“No. The mirror shows an alternate universe. It should be showing Rainbow Dash, but it is only showing those cupcakes. I do not know why,” Twilight answered, completely unaware of who she was answering.

“I’m not familiar with this Rainbow Dash,” Cutter replied investigating the mirror more closely.

“She’s the Element of Loyalty,” Twilight replied as if that explained everything, still unaware of who she was answering.

Anders entered the room still holding Fluttershy, and noticed the mirror, “Cupcakes?” she asked seeing the cupcakes in the mirror.

“It should show Rainbow Dash, though,” Twilight replied, unaware she answered someone else entirely.

“Does she know who she’s talking to?” Anders questioned of Cutter while motioning toward Twilight.

“She?” Cutters asked, unknowing why Anders started referring to the sudden use of feminine pronouns when referring to the creatures.

“I checked this one. She appears to have female parts; and as the purple one has similar muzzle, that one must be female as well,” Anders explain.

“You checked? You don’t even know if they have a nudity taboo of any sort, you…” Cutter said before being interrupted.

“Nudity taboo? What nudity taboo?” Twilight asked, interrupting Cutter; and still unaware of who she was talking to.

“Okay, then. Maybe not…” Cutter said, trailing off. He went back to examining the mirror more closely. After a few minutes pass, Cutter turns toward Anders, “I don’t see an off button anywhere on it.”

Kinsano, having gotten lost, wandered into the main hall where Anders and Cutter were standing. “Nice to see we all found the same room,” Kinsano said passing them and approaching the mirror, “Is that blood in the cupcakes?”

“Blood in the whAAAAAHH!!!” Twilight started saying looking up to see three humans and having no clue where they came from. “Who are you? How did you get here?”

“The front door was open,” Cutter replied matter-of-factly.

At that moment Fluttershy decided to ask, “Can you please, if it isn’t too much trouble, put me down?” Anders puts Fluttershy down without saying a word.

“Now you’ve put her down, Anders,” Cutter says when Anders starts to pet Fluttershy.

=== ===

Fireteam Atlantis disembarked from the dropship. As the Pelican was heading back to the ship, they heard screaming coming from ahead of them and getting closer. Sheppard raised his assault rifle, which he had a grenade launcher underneath the barrel and a custom flashlight mount to the side of, and switched on the flashlight to illuminate the dark forest. The rest of the fireteam did the same with their weapons.

“No sound other them screaming of something is always a good sign you’re in the right place,” a marine with a belt-fed general-purpose machine gun said sarcastically.

“Of course it is, Jackson,” Sheppard replied, “Fireteam, move up; we are investigating that screaming, weapons hot.” With the order given the 4-man fireteam moved up towards the screaming they heard coming their way.

Upon reaching the a large fallen tree, they took cover behind it while Sheppard peaked over it to see what the source of the screaming was. “Three small horse-like creatures pinned by a pack of ten wolves made of wood,” Sheppard informed his team. “They look like the creature that Anders, Cutter and Kinsano found in the town.”

“I have a clear shot at the alpha,” the team’s marksman, McKay, said aiming his rifle at the alpha timberwolf. “Permission to fire?”

“Atlantis, fire at all wooden wolves,” Sheppard ordered his team, peaking around the log with his rifle to take out the wolf approaching the three fillies. McKay fired his rifle hitting the alpha between its eyes, causing the wolf to fall apart. Sheppard fired at his chosen target, causing that wolf fall apart before it could reach the fillies. The muzzle flash put aflame a timberwolf trying to get around the fillies. “Flammable or inflammable! I forget which!” Sheppard taunted the burning timberwolf running away.

With no more timberwolves in the vicinity, the three fillies cautiously approached the four marines. “Thank you! You saved us!” the three of them yelled.

“You’re welcome. You should go home, I doubt it is safe here,” Sheppard said to the three of them. “Atlantis, we are near our objective. Let’s get there and get this done before nightfall. I want to be airborne before dark.”

Chapter 3 - Cartographers & Maps

Fireteam Atlantis arrived at the structure well before sunset. As they got close, they noticed no door to enter.

“Carter, plant some charges to blow a hole in the wall. Jackson, go around and see if there is an entrance on some other side. McKay, you’re with me,” Sheppard ordered before turning around and walking around the bush.

“He kno- “ a squeaky voice started say before being cutoff, confirming Sheppard’s suspicions the three fillies followed them. Sheppard reached into the bush and pulled Scootaloo out and handed her to McKay, then he pulled out Apple Bloom and handed her to McKay; he pulled out Sweetie Belle and walked back to Carter.

“How’d you know we were following you?” Apple Bloom asked, worried he could be omnipresent.

“You made to much noise. Nice try, though,” he said to Apple Bloom before activated the commlink on his left ear, “Atlantis to Spirit of Fire, we have a no-go on transport. We’ll head towards the town on foot. We’ve got… three packages to deliver. Atlantis, out.”

“Affirmative, Pelican Foxtrot-247 standing down until your word,” the communications officer replied.

“Major, there is an entrance on the other side,” Jackson reported as he came into view to the six individuals waiting for his arrival. “Tell me they wandered here by accident,” he said noticing the three ponies McKay and Sheppard were holding.

“Nope,” Sheppard replied.

“So, we go into town after this?” Jackson asked as Carter unplanted the unarmed demolition charge.

“Yes. We should get well after nightfall,” Sheppard answered as the group reached the entrance. He swapped Sweetie Belle to his left arm, and pulled his pistol. He entered checking the whole single room with pistol aimed at whatever might have been there. Determining it clear he switched the pistol’s flashlight and holstered it, then pulled out a flashlight. The rest of the group entered, flashlights out and on.

“What does that say?” Carter asked the rest of the team pointing to the strange words that were on the wall farthest from the entrance.

“Cartography Station of Equestria, Everfree Forest Station A01,” Scootaloo read the text on the wall.

“Good enough for me,” Sheppard said hand Sweetie Belle to Carter not caring who read, then he activated the commlink, “Atlantis to Spirit of Fire, structure is empty and hasn’t been used for a long time. You might want to recheck scans.”

“We’ve double checked them before you were sent down. We have another structure 50 klicks north of your position. We recommend checking it out,” the communications officer replied.

“Negative. 50 klicks in unknown territory on foot is not happening, especially with three packages,” Sheppard replied, shooting down any chance of them heading there.

“We’ll get Boomerang Company to check it,” the communications officer replied.

With everything done, Fireteam Atlantis with their cargo, the CMC, started the long trek to town.

=== ===

“I have plenty of maps,” Twilight told Anders, “and you’ll be on your way home in no time at all.”

“It is not that simple, our ship is currently orbiting your planet. We can get our coordinates on the planet whenever we need. The problem is that we don’t know where we are in the galaxy. Without that knowledge, we can’t plot a course home,” Cutter explained to Twilight, who was surprised that they had spaceships.

Cutting the conversation short, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie burst into the room and positioned themselves between Cutter and Twilight. “Touch one hair on her…” Rainbow threatened.

“Rainbow, calm down. They’re just lost,” Twilight said, “Where are Applejack and Rarity?”

“Oh, their looking for Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle, though it isn’t necessary!” Pinkie said excitedly.

“How do you know it isn’t necessary?” Rainbow asked of her expecting an answer that made sense.

“Oh, I read the last scene of the story we’re all in!” Pinkie explained.

Twilight just put her hoof on her face. “Pinkie Pie! THAT IS NONSENSE!” Twilight yelled nearly losing her sanity.

“So, the pink one’s name is Pinkie Pie?” Cutter asked.

“Now it knows her name,” Rainbow growled at Twilight while motioning towards Pinkie.

“What is your name?” Twilight asked Cutter in an attempt to calm Rainbow down.

“I’m James Cutter, Captain of the UNSC Spirit of Fire,” he replied.

“See Rainbow?” Twilight asked Rainbow.

=== ===

Red Team parked their Warthog in front town hall as they finished scouting out the whole area. They had found a hospital on the outskirts of town, but decided against scouting out any interiors. They saw Rarity and Applejack running past them.

=== ===

Shortly after nightfall, Fireteam Atlantis and the CMC arrived at the edge of the forest. Carter and McKay put the ponies they were carrying down. Sheppard started saying, “Town is t-“

“We know where Ponyville is. Do you have place to stay?” Apple Bloom asked.

“No, we were planning on going head to that other structure we were told about,” Sheppard said in reply.

“Follow us!” Apple Bloom excitedly told them.

“Well, it’s not like we are expected there anyways. Okay, lead the way,” Sheppard said after a short pause.

“I’m Apple Bloom,” the red maned filly said, “That is Scootaloo and that is Sweetie Belle,” she said pointing towards each of them in turn. “What are your names?”

“I’m Aurelleah Sheppard,” Sheppard introduced himself, then said while pointing to each of his team in order, “Rodney Jackson, John McKay, and Daniel Carter.”

“Pleased to meet you,” Apple Bloom said, and her companions nodded in agreement.

“Yeah, same here,” Sheppard said.

As the group approached an orchard, a pair of ponies rushed out from the orchard to them. “We were so worried about you! Where were you?” the white unicorn said.

“How many times do you have to be told not to go into the Everfree Forest?” the orange pony asked, “And who are these strangers you picked up?”

“Horribly unfashionable strangers,” Rarity corrected Applejack.

“They saved us!” Apple Bloom said. “Their names are Aurelleah Sheppard, Rodney Jackson, John McKay, and Daniel Carter!”

“They could have hurt you!” Applejack said to the CMC.

“But they didn’t!” Apple Bloom said right back.

“Inflammable wooden wolves?” Sheppard asked Apple Bloom to remind her of their first meeting.

Rarity faints on the spot. “What happened in there!?” Applejack almost yelled.

“We were attacked by timberwolves, but they saved us!” Scootaloo said.

“They accidentally put one on fire while saving us, though,” Sweetie Belle added.

“They WHAT!?” Applejack yelled before passing out.

Chapter 4 - We shall go Northbound

“Red Team, coordinates for a facility in the north have been locked. Get there find out what need from it.” Those were Red Team’s last orders. Now, their Warthog was a burning wreck and Douglas was MIA.

+++ 2 hours earlier +++

“You see that, 042?” Alice asked from the passenger side.

“Yes, and it is gaining! Douglas, shoot that thing out of the sky!” Jerome yelled hitting the brakes and turning the wheel sharp right. The gun on the back went loud, but the large rounds did not appear to do much to the thing pursuing them. “Red Team to Spirit of Fire, unknown hostile has engaged us! Request fire support, danger close!”

“Our comms are being jammed!” Alice notified Jerome. Then he noticed a cliffside was nearing.

+++ Current time +++

“Red Team to Spirit of Fire. Come in.” There was no answer. “Any UNSC forces respond!” There was still no answer, just static.

===++++ ++++=== 1 week later

“Foxtrot-247 approaching drop zone,” the Pelican’s pilot yelled over the engines to the passengers, which were six ponies and four marines. The troop bay door opened to reveal the landscape beneath just as a blur.

“It’s been a week since they’ve arrived, forgive for lighting that timberwolf on fire by accident now, Applejack!” Twilight yelled to Applejack over the engines. Right then the Pelican started slowing and descending.

“Even I can’t go this fast! Only 2 hours to make it to the Crystal Empire at top speed!” Rainbow yelled over the engines.

“Foxtrot-247 on final approach,” the pilot yelled just in time for the dropship to swiftly come to a complete stop without tossing anyone about the troop bay. The Pelican then descended vertically from there. After it landed next to the Crystal Castle, the pilot shut down the engines.

“No, they know what they did!” Applejack yelled, angry that she was to apologize for nothing.

“Why do you even care, it happened to a timberwolf! Let it go,” Twilight tried to tell her friend, though the orange pony was not listening.

Cadence was waiting for them where they landed, and led the ten of them into the castle to the throne room. What they saw was something no could have predicted. Red Team managed to get to the Crystal Empire after they disappeared a few days previously.

“We found them, or rather, they found us. They requested we contact a spirit of fire, so we sent a letter to Celestia. Apparently somepony named James Cutter was there on business with the Princess, so she told us they were sending somepony else to get them instead,” Shining Armor explained to the group.

“We are just here to shuttle them to their destination, then we’re heading back. Boomerang Company didn’t report. Cutter is concerned,” Sheppard said.

“That’s bad, good luck,” Cadence said.

“We aren’t leaving anytime soon,” Twilight said.

=== ===

“Approaching last known location of Boomerang,” the pilot yelled to the passengers.

“Alright, Atlantis, we aren’t landing this bird. Ropes at ready, we are going in ten,” Sheppard ordered the fireteam as the troop bay door opened.

=== ===

“My ponies are concerned about your being here, James,” Celestia said, “What are doing here?”

“We found ourselves here, and now we are searching for anything to get us home. Sparkle, Anders and I have found nothing in her library that could help us. I request permission to look through your library to find something to help us get home,” Cutter said.

“No, I cannot let you,” Celestia replied.

A guard bursts through the large double doors to the throne room, “Changelings are attacking!” the guard yelled before the changeling queen telekinetically through him across the room.

=== ===

Fireteam Atlantis had their Pelican touchdown in a clearing not far from Boomerang Company’s last known location, though there were only signs of a battle in the environment.

“Woolsey, relay to Cutter this: Unknown hostiles have captured or killed Boomerang Company, search has been inconclusive so far,” Sheppard said to the pilot. “Atlantis, gear up, we leave in five.”

“Sheppard, Cutter is either out of range or having equipment problems, your report has been relayed to Spirit of Fire,” the pilot said.

Five minutes later, Fireteam Atlantis started following some mysterious tracks northeast.

=== ===

“I burnt my toast,” Kinsano taunted yet another changeling she had reduced to a crisp with her flamethrower, all while laughing at everything. As royal guards around her were being overwhelmed by sheer numbers, Kinsano was able push forwards. Once she was close enough to the door, she slammed one shut on ten changelings, then covered them in flames. By now the guards were completely overwhelmed. Kinsano turned her back to the door and tossed a pair of incendiary grenades over her shoulders, then ran upstairs and towards the throne room.

The changeling queen was already there, and both Celestia and Cutter were captured. Kinsano did the first thing that came to her mind, burn every single enemy she could see, which was just the changeling queen. She charged and fired her flamethrower at the changeling queen. The changeling queen, unaffected due to linking her life with something else, just slammed her forehooves onto the flamethrower to brake. Her next attack knocked Kinsano out.

=== ===

“Cave up ahead, flashlights,” Sheppard ordered.

“I have a bad feeling about this,” Carter said.

“Like ‘someone’s legendarily bad luck just kicked in at full blast’ bad? Or ‘we made a left at Ponyville that should have been a right’ bad?” Sheppard asked, thinking it was the former.

“It’s the former, Aure. I’m sure this place just became warzone, but then again…” Carter said trailing off when he noticed some kind of green substance covering the walls.

“I don’t think its toxic or anything like that. It might not be safe to handle, though,” Jackson said.

A weird voice then started talking, “Just like those three in the machine,” and it said no more.

“Atlantis, to the Pelican!” Sheppard ordered, knowing it was the former.

Upon exiting, the four marines were facing a horde of thousands of black bugs. “Should we call air support? Woolsey modified our Pelican a while back,” McKay said.

“Hold tight marines, death from above!” the pilot said before firing several missiles into the horde and streaking overhead, splitting what survived into more manageable numbers.

“Well that worked, we still can’t win. Give us a few minutes and we’ll floor this horde,” Sheppard calmly notified the Pelican. “Atlantis, open fire!”

=== ===

“We’re coming hot,” Sheppard yelled into his commlink jumping log and falling into a crouch behind from a full run. They made to the clearing, and the rest of Atlantis got cover within the clearing moments later. Sheppard stood up and fired a grenade from the rifle-mounted launcher into the approaching horde.

Seeing that wiping out one small group of humans just wasn’t happening, the changeling king decided to take matters into his own hooves and wipe the group out himself.

“We’ve incoming, and its massive,” Woolsey yelled to Atlantis after he got to the back of the Pelican.

“Here,” Sheppard said offering his rifle. Once Woolsey took the rifle and started firing into the horde, Sheppard grabbed the rocket launcher they keep in the back.

“I will wipe you all over,” the changeling king taunted. Sheppard aimed the rocket launcher at the king.

“I beg to differ, my master,” Sheppard said before he fired the rocket launcher. The rocket found its target ensuring the king would never be whole again. The Pelican took off and flew towards Canterlot.

=== ===

“I will finally have my revenge!” the queen started monologuing, “I will conquer Equestria, then the whole world! Then I’ll kill this spirit of f”

A gunshot cut her speech off. Cutter fired three rounds in short succession into her.

“Changelings coming from the hall! James, I’ve got these,” Celestia said, but before she could attack them a Pelican flew through the wall. It just turned fired missiles into the changelings and collapsing the hall on top of whatever remained. It landed and opened the troop bay revealing Fireteam Atlantis.

“Want to be rescued?” Sheppard said as got off and picked up the unconscious Kinsano. Once everyone was back one the Pelican, it took off flew out of the building.

=== === 1 week later

“James, I think I owe you a chance to look through the rest of the libraries over the country,” she said, “though, you may not look over Canterlot’s.”

Chapter 5 - In Ruins

In front of the ruins of the Castle of the Two Sisters were landed two Pelican dropships, Foxtrot-247 and Echo-418. Fourteen individuals were inside the castle’s library.

“We’d like to have a squad to go through go through your library for whatever can help us, Sparkle,” Cutter said.

“Sure. What will they do after they’re done?” Twilight inquired.

“Just hang around Ponyville until we can leave, or something happens,” Cutter replied, then turned to Sheppard, “Major, you are to wait for new orders.”

“Yes, sir,” Sheppard replied.

“Aure, I found something. It’s about that structure we first found,” McKay told Sheppard approaching with a book, “Good thing Anders was able to upload a translation software to our implants.”

“You said there was nothing there in your report,” Cutter said.

“So we thought, but according to this that wasn’t the structure. It was built to disguise the entrance,” McKay said, “Though this might be wrong.”

“Guess we’re going back there,” Sheppard said to his team, “Atlantis, move out.”

“Where are they going?” Applejack asked Cutter as she walked over to him.

“The structure they found two weeks ago,” Cutter replied knowing they couldn’t be stopped if he was right.

“Stop them! Before put any more timberwolves on fire!” Applejack yelled, still angry at them about that.

“Darling, that was an accident,” Rarity said, concerned Applejack was taking it too hard.

“I don’t trust them,” Applejack growled back.

“They’re cool, AJ. They rescued the fillies, remember?” Rainbow said.

“That doesn’t mean they’re good. I say we kick them out of Equestria,” Applejack said.

“Does anypony know why Pinkie is just imitating a statue?” Twilight asked of everyone left in the room.

“No,” everyone in the room answered at once.

“PINKIE,” Rainbow yelled at Pinkie from behind her, and got no reaction from her. Pelican Foxtrot-247 lifted off, and the sound of the engines still did not get a reaction out of her.

“Hey, guys, I made cupcakes!” Pinkie said upon entering the room, “Wait, is that another Pinkie? I did not use the Mirror Pool, I Pinkie Promise.”

“Could one of them have come from the mirror?” Anders asked.

“Knowing Pinkie Pie, it is a very real possibility,” Twilight said.

“That means we have an axe-crazy pink pony in this room,” Kinsano said readying her flamethrower.

“I don’t think burning anything is the answer, Major Colonel,” Cutter said to Kinsano.

“How come you don’t use the first part of your names, if you use your names?” Rainbow asked Cutter out of curiosity.

“We have ranks. Do I need to explain?” Cutter replied.

“Yes?” Rainbow cautiously answered.

“Rainbow, his rank is Captain,” Twilight said.

“Like Spitfire, right?” Rainbow asked.

“I would think not. I command a warship with a crew of 3500,” Cutter replied.

“WHAT!?” Twilight asked shocked by the large number of people Cutter commands.

“There are plenty of warships in the UNSC fleets that have larger crews, if they survived. When we left the war wasn’t going well,” Cutter explained.

“You’re at war? With who? And why?” Twilight asked.

“Yes, we are at war. With the Covenant, a collective of alien races who want to wipe humanity out of existence,” Cutter explained, causing all the ponies’ jaws to drop except for one.

“I think I know how to figure out which Pinkie is from that mirror,” Anders told Cutter.

“Let’s hear it, Professor,” Cutter said.

“We describe, in detail something really violent, and whoever doesn’t react we detain until determining that they are from the mirror,” Anders explained.

“Okay, let’s do it,” Cutter said

=== ===

“Atlantis, LZ looks clear, I’m bringing us down. The structure is a few hundred meters southwest of us,” Woolsey told the fireteam.

“We might be a while. If you have to, circle until we ready for pick-up. If don’t report in an hour, get reinforcements,” Sheppard ordered the pilot. The fireteam disembarked and walked to the structure.

“Clear off the floor, if you find anything that looks like a hatch or a door, shout,” Sheppard order once they had entered the building. The fireteam started brushing dirt to the edges and pointing their flashlights at the floor. After doing this for ten minutes, they finally found a door.

“McKay, go back to the Pelican and get the shotgun,” Sheppard ordered.

“Sir,” McKay acknowledged, and ran out of the building to the Pelican. McKay got back to the rest of the fireteam after twenty minutes with a shotgun.

“Looks to be a hole in it that is probably how we get it open. Woolsey, start the clock, we’re going in,” Sheppard told over his commlink.

“Yes, sir. Relaying message to Captain Cutter, good luck down there,” Woolsey replied.

=== ===

The Pinkie that brought the cupcakes had been tied up. “Yes, make sure they come back here. They need to give an explanation,” Cutter said to Foxtrot-247 over commlink.

“Definitely like the cupcakes from the mirror,” Kinsano said after examining the cupcakes.

“Alpha-111, take a squad, recover the mirror, and take it to the most remote area there is. Spirit of Fire, lock on that mirror and fire all Archer missile when Alpha-111 gives the all-clear,” Cutter ordered.

“Isn’t that a bit overkill? All of the Archers?” Kinsano asked.

“How powerful are those missiles?” Rainbow asked thinking she could hit harder than the missiles.

“Powerful. They are designed to kill other warships. And we have thousands of them on the Spirit of Fire,” Kinsano explained, “And using all of them on a mirror is overkill.”

“I will NOT risk anything else coming through that mirror. This way it will be more than destroyed,” Cutter said to the rest.

=== ===

Atlantis entered a room with a large circular console in the center, and no visible light fixtures. “I think this is the room we can turn the lights on from,” McKay said approaching the console and hitting a button that just changed to read ‘ON.’ All the lights came on.

=== ===

Mayor Mare was in townhall with several others, listening to the descriptions of the missing ponies. “her cutie mark is three candies,” finished a very light aquamarine unicorn.

“Okay, everypony. I’ll have the guard search, but no promises. They may have just left town for a few days,” the brown pony said.

“I know who can help! The spirit of fire that brought the humans!” the very light aquamarine pony said, then she started running to the Castle of the Two Sisters.

=== ===

“Missing ponies?” Cutter asked the unicorn who ran there, “I’ll see if the Spirit of Fire can scan for them.”

Chapter 6 - Atlantis

With the lights on now, Atlantis could see the facility’s floors, walls and ceilings were made of a pristine white tile-type material. The fireteam entered the facility proper. Words reading ‘Welcome to Research Station A01’ appeared on the wall as they entered. A blood red line appeared with the words follow.

“There is a specimen that may interest you, Fireteam Atlantis,” the security system notified them.

“Specimen?” McKay asked not expecting an answer.

“Been here since this morning,” the security system replied.

“Who built this facility?” Carter asked hoping it would answer.

“I am not at liberty to reveal this information,” the security system said.

“Of course not,” Jackson said having expected it not to answer.

“Well, let’s stop standing around. We’ve got a line to follow,” Sheppard said, “We can always walk and talk. Talking is a free action after all.”

“What could the specimen be?” McKay asked the security system.

“Native. Earth pony. Female. Name: unknown. Age: three-zero-point-nine-nine-five,” the security system responded.

“Okay, that was too much information, but okay,” McKay said worried that the security system was being too liberal with information.

“I am not being too liberal with information, McKay,” the security system said.

“Now it knows my name,” McKay complained.

“I know all your names,” the security system replied. “You are approaching your destination.”

Atlantis entered the lab the line led them to. Inside one of the cages was a pony with three candies as a cutie mark. The other cages were empty.

“What is your name?” the security system questioned the pony.

“Bon Bon,” the pony replied.

“Liar,” the security system replied, red lights flashing as it said that.

“I am not telling you anything!” the pony yelled at the security system.

“Unacceptable. Fireteam Atlantis needs to know your name, pony,” the security system said.

=== ===

“They found the facility,” a dark figure said to Chrysalis, “The Spirit of Fire must not leave. See to that.”

“They also translated the ponies’ language,” another dark figure said, “Use this against them.”

“I’ll have an army waiting for that team,” Chyrsalis said, “This I’ll get that meddling marines, and their gunship.”

“You must see to it,” said a third figure, “What they might discover here where universes intersect will drastically shift the power balance.”

=== ===

“Fine, I’ll tell you my name,” the pony said to the security system.

“We’re waiting,” the system replied.

“Danny, can you get that cage open?” Sheppard asked intent on freeing the pony.

“Maybe, I’ll need a look at it,” Carter replied.

“The console here seems to have a schematic of some sort. I’ll try to download it, forward the information to the Spirit of Fire. If they can make heads or tails of it, we can get to Earth,” Jackson said working to interface a data that was part his kit to the console.

“Your name, pony,” the system prompted.

“Sweetie Drops,” the pony said, and the cage opened on its own.

“Got the files,” Jackson said as alarms started going off.

“Someone grab the pony, we are leaving!” Sheppard ordered, and then the team ran back to the entrance.

=== ===

“Have you fired those missiles?” one bridge officer asked.

“Something disabled all our weapons, we’re defenseless,” another replied.

=== ===

The team reached the surface, and right into another Changeling horde. “Right now, I wish the Pelican were here,” McKay said, raising his shotgun.

“Foxtrot-247, Raven 1-1. Asked for big bombs?” a pilot asked over the commlink.

“Affirmative,” Woolsey answered.

A trio of Shortsword bombers, large fast moving craft with a triangular shape, flashed by overhead of the squad. The bombs landed within the horde vastly thinning it out.

“Now it’s merely impossible to get through, not whatever is harder than impossible. This will be a long couple of minutes,” Sheppard said raising his rifle.

=== ===

Zecora was hiding in a bush from changelings when multiple big explosions happened. She peaked out to see Atlantis open fire on what was left of the horde. The four marines and one pony started moving away, guns be fired the whole way. Zecora, seeing her chance to escape, ran around the horde to her home.

=== ===

“One of these Pinkies are not real,” said Kinsano drooping one of the cupcakes a Pinkie brought.
The red liquid that came out of it was like paint.

“So, nothing came out the mirror?” Twilight asked.

“It would seem so,” Anders said.

“Seems Fireteam Atlantis found something in that facility, their en route. Seems we get another war,” Cutter said as he walked back into the room.

“War?” Twilight nervously asked, “We can’t handle a war!”

“We will fight this one, it is the only way we might get home,” Cutter said. “We’ll have to go up to the Spirit of Fire, though.”

“Can we come?” Applejack asked.

“I’m not sure,” Cutter replied.

=== ===

“Foxtrot-247, redirect to Spirit of Fire,” the pilot of Echo-418 said.

“Affirmative. We’ll take off as soon as Atlantis is on board,” the copilot said.

“Everyone, get on board,” Sheppard said as he turned and fired several bursts into the horde. Not stopping to see the results, he turned and jumped into the Pelican. “Pilot, get us out of here!”

=== ===

“This place could use a lot more color,” Rarity said upon seeing the steel gray corridors of the Spirit of Fire.

“What are the walls made of?” Rainbow asked, “They must be light to be this high up. And how fast does this go?”

“The speed of this ship is nonrelevant. You think Pelicans are fast, you don’t want know how fast the Spirit can go,” an engineer on the way to his post said as he passed by.

“I challenge the Spirit to a race! The first to go one kilometer wins,” Rainbow said.

“You’ve just lost that race,” Cutter said before leaving them, “I’ll be on the bridge.”

“This has a bridge?” Pinkie asked, “Now I throw a bridge crossing party.”

“Pinkie, the bridge of a ship is its center of command,” Twilight explained.

“Pelican Foxtrot-247 inbound. Captain Cutter report to the starboard hangar bay,” a crewman reported.

Chapter 7 - Spirit of Fire

“Major,” Cutter said to Sheppard after Atlantis got off the Pelican, “Anything to report?”

“Found on of the natives in that facility,” Sheppard reported, “We don’t know how she got there, though.”

“Teleporters,” McKay said out of the blue, causing everyone to give him an odd look. “What? I just thought of the answer,” he said confused about everyone’s reaction.

“Johnny, don’t say anything without context,” Carter berated McKay.

“That aside, take our guests to the sickbay,” Cutter ordered, “Have O’Neil have a look at them.”

“Alright, let’s get this circus walking,” Sheppard said to the eight ponies and his team.

=== ===

The elevator doors opened letting a group of four marines and eight ponies into the steel grey corridor.

“This place could use a lot of architectural flourishing and color,” Rarity said to the group,

“This is a military warship, not a civilian freighter; keep that in mind,” Jackson said in response.

“How fast does this ship go?” Rainbow asked.

“Several thousand kilometers per second,” the chief engineer said in reply as she was passing by.

“That is the max sublight speed, though,” McKay told Rainbow. The corridor the group had been following showed a red arrow labeled ‘Sickbay’ on the floor, pointed to a closed door with a red cross in a white square over it.

“We’re here, pones,” Jackson said.

“Rod, you forgot something,” Carter said.

“What did I forget?” Jackson asked.

“You’ll remember, won’t you?” Carter answered. The group entered the sickbay after the door opened it self when they got near it.

“Doctor O’Neil, eight guests here for you,” Sheppard said. “O’Neil, are you here?” he asked when there was no reply or appearance from the chief medical officer. Sheppard walked further into sickbay toward the doctor’s office, and found him asleep at his desk.

“FIRE! FIRE!” Sheppard yelled, waking the doctor up. “False alarm, and there are guests.”

“Those ponies Cutter brought onboard at their insistence?” he asked, the two of them leaving the office and heading to the group.

“None other,” Sheppard replied.

“How are you all, little ponies?” O’Neil asked the ponies leading the group further into the sickbay.

“So close, mister,” Pinkie Pie said.

“What is that one’s name?” O’Neil whispered to Sheppard.

“Rainbow Dash,” Sheppard replied, whispering as well.

“Rainbow Dash, follow. The rest of you wait,” O’Neil said, then lead her towards his office. Before they reached his office, they entered a room off to the side of the hall. “Okay, first I’ll need some of your blood. Don’t worry, it won’t hurt, he said.

“My blood? NO, you will not stick a NEEDLE in me!” Rainbow screamed.

“I could sedate you first,” O’Neil said.

“By sticking a NEEDLE in me! NO!” Rainbow screamed.

“Would someone hold her still?” O’Neil called out.

=== ===

O’Neil carried Rainbow Dash, who had not yet woken up, back to the group. “Had to sedate her, she’ll wake soon,” he said, “Rarity, you’re next.”

Rarity entered the side room. “Okay, what do I do?” she asked.

“Just sit there, and do not panic,” O’Neil said, and he started taking a blood sample. After he had finished, Rarity looked and fainted.

=== ===

“The blood samples will be sent down to the lab immediately. It should be more than enough for them to figure out a way to synthesis it,” O’Neil said to Cutter, who had gone down to check on progress.

“And keep our end of the bargain,” Cutter finished. “I have a new mission for Atlantis, and I want the six ponies to go with them.”

“Six? But there’s eight?” O’Neil asked.

=== ===

In the hangar that Foxtrot-247 was readying for launch, the Elements and Atlantis were getting their mission objects. “LZ coordinates locked in, ready and waiting for departure,” Woolsey said over intercom to the eleven people outside the dropship.

“That’s our cue, everyone,” Sheppard said, ending the mission briefing. The group boarded the Pelican. Once the hangar was clear, Foxtrot-247 accelerated out of the hanger. Cutter then entered and boarded Alpha-111 with Anders and Kinsano. Another squad boarded Echo-418, the two Pelicans launched to two different destinations.

=== ===

On Foxtrot-247, Atlantis and the six ponies were engaged in conversation.

“I have a hard time something that looks so bricky can pull off a sonic rainboom faster than I can!” Rainbow said, recalling when they first were on Foxtrot-247.

“I suppose being designed to quickly get from a ship in high orbit to the ground, they’d be too fast for normal groundside transport at top speed,” McKay said, “Though normally Pelicans aren’t flown at full speed in atmosphere.”

“Why not?” Pinkie asked.

“Because it’s akin to atmospheric entry,” Carter answered, “Pretty much appears like a guided fireball from the ground.”

“And crashes at that speed leave nothing behind,” Jackson added.

“Why’d you name this vehicle after an animal, a fox in particular,” Fluttershy asked referring to the dropship’s designation.

“It’s not a name, rather it’s a designation. It’s there to differentiate this dropship from the others,” Sheppard said, “The name is actually ‘Predator.’”

“Why does no one ever call it by its name?” Rarity asked.

“I do. No one else bothers to remember it,” Woolsey called to the passengers.

=== ===

“We have our orders, marines,” a marine said. Alpha-111 had been trailing Foxtrot-247 before breaking off to touch down in Ponyville. “Princess Sparkle’s library will be open to us, so no need to hide.”

“Sir, what if we are attacked?” another marine asked.

“You know the drill. If you do anything rash, I’ll nail your boots to ground,” the first marine replied.

“We are approaching LZ. Dust off after sundown,” the pilot said to the marines.

=== ===

“Hope Celestia will tell us if we need more ponies to get samples from or not,” Anders said, “It will give us an opportunity to find out more about the species.”

“I think bringing them up to the ship is a security risk, but if O’Neil will does not think getting samples on the ground is safe; who am I argue,” Kinsano said.

“As long as we limit the stock to Ponyville, it should work out for the better. I’m more concerned about what we’re doing to their civilization,” Cutter said.

“Good point there, Captain,” Anders said.

Chapter 8 - A Deal and Open Doors

“You have underestimated pony society, Captain James,” Celestia, “Now, whenever you are able to start sending it to hospitals over my country I can send you the supplies you request.”

“Thank you, Princess, we would have run out in several months. Now we no longer must worry about that for now,” Cutter said.

“Now onto more pressing issues,” Celestia said, “When that team of yours got out of that facility during the attack on Canterlot, they reported some kind of giant changeling that had attacked them. Think it was what attacked the team currently up north?”

“Possibly,” Cutter replied, “It certainly looked like it could throw a Warthog off a cliff. If it hadn’t taken a rocket, it might have been able to crush a Pelican.”

“And somehow let the queen be killed,” Celestia continued, “So the queen couldn’t be Chrysalis. After the second facility the found, they were attacked by a changeling horde.”

“The facilities and the changelings are connected, somehow,” Cutter said, “Possibly to the Spirit’s weapons being disabled as well? Even that mirror?”

“Mirror?” Celestia asked

“Shows cupcakes even though it should be showing Rainbow Dash. They have used a distraction based off that mirror before,” Cutter said. A pink pony burst into the room with cupcakes. “Just like this.”

“Guards, what is in the cupcakes?” Celestia asked the guards.

A guard knocked one of the cupcakes to the floor and replied, “Red paint, Princes. What shall we do with the imposter?”

“To the dungeon with him,” Celestia ordered, “Find out about other changelings.”

“We also have a changeling prisoner aboard the Spirit,” Kinsano said, “He is not very talkative. We haven’t learned anything about the horde from him. I doubt your methods of interrogation are going to produce different results.”

“I think I know a zebra that might be able to help,” Celestia said.

“Who?” Anders asked.

“Zecora,” Celestia replied, “She lives in the Everfree Forest.”

“Okay, then we go get her,” Cutter said, “Pelican’s ready for us anytime.”

“We won’t be taking the Pelican, we’ll go by train,” Celestia said.

“Why by train?” Kinsano asked.

“So we won’t frighten anypony,” Celestia replied.

“How soon do we leave?” Anders asked.

“Right now,” Celestia said.

=== ===

The group of four had been waiting at the Canterlot train station for more than an hour, when the train finally arrived. Once they had boarded and found seats Cutter said, “We’d have been there and back by know.”

“I know, but I’ve made my decision,” Celestia said, “And we are sticking with it.”

=== 1 hour earlier ===

The forest was dark underneath the canopy where the entrance to the facility lay hidden. Changelings, black like the shadows, lay in wait for whoever tried to approach. A queen was among them. A stubby winged aircraft was barely seen through a small gap. The aircraft touched down in a clearing a few hundred meters from the waiting ambush.

“Sheppard, sensors show a number of individuals surrounding the structure. Fragile barrels, as well,” Woolsey notified the team.

“Any idea as to what the contents are?” Sheppard asked.

“No, but try not to hit them. I have a feeling that we don’t want to know what is inside them,” Woolsey replied.

“We’ll keep it in mind,” Twilight answered. Then the ten of them started walking to the facility.

“You had better not put any timberwolves on fire,” Applejack growled.

“That was an accident, AJ,” Rarity reminded Applejack.

“What is the thing you’re holding, Aurelleah? It looks cool,” Rainbow asked.

“This?” Sheppard asked, and Rainbow nodded. “It is a Misriah Armory MA5B assault rifle with a underbarrel grenade launcher and custom flashlight mount,” Sheppard replied.

“Why do y-“ Twilight began saying.

“Movement ahead,” McKay interrupted, “Recommend finding cover.”

“Take cover in these trees, and prepare to engage,” Sheppard ordered. The four marines and six ponies hid behind the trees, waiting for the order to attack. Sheppard raised his rifle and aimed at the changeling queen he saw from his position. “Jackson, take Fluttershy and flank left. Carter, take Rarity and flank right. Pie, I need a distraction. I’ve got a queen.”

“Distraction?” Pinkie said pulling out her party cannon from somewhere, “I can throw them a party that they’ll never see coming!”

Pinkie sank into the ground with the cannon, then rose from the ground on the other side of the horde. She fired the party cannon, attracting the changelings to her location. Sheppard fired one round causing the queen to fall. Muzzle flashes from the left and right signaled other changelings falling, with an occasional purple beam throwing a changeling into a tree. After the gunfire stopped, Sheppard ran towards the fallen queen. The rest of the group also ran there.

“Woolsey, prepare for dust off. We’re heading back with a package. Make sure the Spirit has a medical team on standby,” Sheppard ordered the pilot over comms.

“Carter, Jackson, keep the queen alive and head to the dropship,” Sheppard once they had regrouped. “Dash, Sparkle, we’re going to the structure. If more changelings are there, we’ll deal with them.”

“Uh, sure,” Rainbow answered. The three then headed to the structure. There were no changelings in the area, but a white and black creature that looked like the ponies was there.

“Zecora! What are you doing here?” Twilight asked.

“I heard loud sound, and came to find the source,” Zecora replied. “Though it seems to have found me, instead.”

“Do you know how to get answers out of a changeling?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Yes,” Zecora replied.

“Do you need anything?” Rainbow asked.

“Yes,” Zecora replied again.

“Lead the way,” Sheppard said. Zecora started towards her hut. The team with Zecora left thirty minutes after arriving at Zecora’s hut.

=== ===

“We’re at her hut now,” Celestia said. “I don’t think she’s here right now.”

“Couldn’t hurt to knock,” Cutter said. He walked up to the wooden door and knocked three times. No one answered.

“Captain, Fireteam Atlantis reports capture of changeling queen successful,” an officer reported over comms.

“Guess we should head up to the Spirit of Fire, they might have Zecora with them,” Kinsano said.

Chapter 9 - Prelude to War

The four marines of fireteam Atlantis, the six ponies that are the Elements of Harmony, and one zebra finished loading various supplies onto the Pelican. As the rest of them boarded, Pinkie ran off somewhere.

“Did you forget anything?” Sheppard asked of Zecora.

“That was the last trip, we can head to your ship,” Zecora replied.

“And leave Pinkie here? I don’t think so,” Rainbow countered.

“Anyone saw her last heading?” Carter asked, “I think I’ll be able to find her, with McKay’s help of course.”

“Why me,” McKay complained weakly, “It is always me.”

“That’s because you’re smarter than you let on,” Sheppard told McKay.

“I saw her head towards the place where the fight happened, but I’m not sure,” Rarity said.

“Then get going, you two,” Sheppard ordered Carter and McKay, “You have five minutes, so be fast.”

“I was thinking we would just walk there real slow,” McKay sarcastically remarked, “But if you don’t want us to…”

“McKay, don’t be like that,” Carter rebuked, “On another note, how did she not leave foot, er, hoof-prints behind?”

“Don’t ask. Nopony knows how she does that,” Twilight said, “I once saw her sitting on an untouchable anomaly we could see.”

“How did you come across such a thing? Oh, right; we’re in a rush,” McKay asked then realized the time limit they had.

Carter and McKay both headed back to the battlefield they encountered the changelings at. On the way, they found the pink pony searching for something. “What are you looking for? We need to leave,” Carter said to the pony.

“I realized I dropped something on they back, so I came here to look for it,” Pinkie said, still looking for it. She approached a suspiciously cylindrical bush while searching. “Hey, look at this! I found something!”

“You found what?” Carter asked. Pinkie started moving the bush, and caused some dark blue gas to leak out of a barrel that was inside it.

“Looks like a barrel, with something coming out of it,” Pinkie said not aware of any possible danger. She then noticed where she dropped her party cannon, “I found it!”

“Good, let’s get back. And fast,” Carter said.

“Did a stray round strike that barrel?” McKay asked as they started back to the Pelican.

“I would hope not, they could have been pressurized,” Carter replied.

“If they were pressurized, that barrel would have exploded by now,” McKay said, “But it didn’t. Something doesn’t add up about what they were doing.”

“We’ll report that at the earliest opportunity, but we need to-“ Carter started saying until a cough from Pinkie had interrupted him. “Pie, are you okay?”

“Yes, I am!” Pinkie excitedly replied.

“Well then, if you say so,” McKay said. The three then walked the rest of the way back in silence. Once they had reached the Pelican, McKay said, “How much time did that take us? The changelings were up to something, but we caught them in the middle of it.”

“Four and a half minutes,” Twilight answered.

“We already figured out they were up to something, but don’t know what,” Sheppard told them, “Perhaps just moving fuel from point A to point B.”

“Anyone who wants to board this bird, now would be a very good time,” Woolsey said over commlink to the three standing outside. Once everyone had boarded, the Pelican took off and headed to the Spirit of Fire.

“Why do you use mostly just use the second part of your names?” Twilight asked Sheppard.

“That would actually be last names. We use them because first names are for close friends and family,” Sheppard answered.

“Well, we generally have to parts to our names,” Twilight explained, “Both parts would be equivalent to both your first names and last names. It is just so fascinating to see what alien cultures are like!”

“I thought finding out what their architecture and fashion is like would be fascinating, too; but alas, it is not. Way to plain and boring,” Rarity said.

“Then when we first can, you can look outside of military vessels and uniforms; if humanity survived the war, that is,” Sheppard said to Rarity.

“Your fighting a war?” Rainbow asked.

“Yes, we are,” Sheppard answered Rainbow.

“Awesome! I bet you’ve seen your share of epic battles,” Rainbow said.

“No, war is not awesome, and the battles are not epic. I’ve nearly died hundreds of times,” Sheppard countered Rainbow, “And if we lose or have lost this war, then we are all dead. No more UEG, no more UNSC, no more humans.”

“So that is why your ship is so plain,” Rarity said.

“The fact that it is a military vessel has everything to do with it, yes,” Sheppard said to Rarity.

“Does it have weapons?” Rainbow asked.

“Heavy deck guns along the upper outside, I believe they’re railguns. The main gun is a MAC, basically a massive coil gun. We’ve also got Archer missiles, which if I’m not mistaken are nuclear,” Sheppard answered, “We don’t have shielding, like Covenant ships; though we do have good armor on our ships. I think ONI had a team looking at Covenant shields to develop shields for our ships, but who knows what ONI does.”

“I could throw them a party and let you find out for sure,” Pinkie said before coughing again.

“Pinkie, are you okay?” Applejack asked.

“I’m FINE,” Pinkie said before coughing.

“Pinkie, dear, please be tell us if you are really okay,” Rarity tried to convince Pinkie to admit.

“Pinkie, you need to be honest with us,” Applejack said, “Are you okay or not?”

“I am fine,” Pinkie said between coughs.

“I think that gas from the barrel might be poison, not fuel,” McKay said, “Woolsey, have a medical team on standby for when we dock.”

“You should have said so earlier, I already called it in,” Woolsey replied, “Cutter’s Pelican is currently circling until we’ve got the pink one to the sickbay.”

“I want to stay with my friends, though,” Pinkie complained.

“We are docking,” the pilot said to the passengers, “You know where I’ll be if you need me.” The Pelican entered the hangar at low speed, and came to a stop near a medical team.

“We’ll take them from here,” one of the doctors said while motioning to Pinkie and the changeling queen.

“Zecora, maybe you could help them,” Sheppard told the zebra, who hadn’t said a word for the whole trip there. “The rest of use will head to the bridge, so you ponies are free to wander. Just don’t get into any trouble, okay.”

“Sure, we won’t get in trouble,” Twilight said. Twilight and her friends minus Pinkie headed out of the hangar. The second Pelican came to a stop near fireteam Atlantis, and its passengers disembarked from the dropship.

“Major, you and your team will come with us to the bridge. Anders, dismissed,” Cutter ordered, and Anders left the hangar towards her lab. The rest went up to the bridge.

=== ===

The five ponies were walking down the corridor, when they came to where it crossed another corridor. An arrow on the floor pointed towards what was labeled ‘Vehicle Bay.’

“I think I’ll head this way,” Rainbow said heading the arrow pointed.

“Sure, see ya later,” Applejack said.

“Remember to not get into trouble,” Twilight reminded Rainbow.

“I haven’t seen where they make what they wear, yet,” Rarity said, “I would so like to see what materials they use.”

“That would probably be labeled as causing trouble, Rare,” Fluttershy said.

“That. Is. The. Worst. Possible. Thing,” Rarity dramatically said while summoning her fainting couch and falling onto it.

“Conjured couch on Deck 14, Corridor C2-9A,” someone on the intercom said, “Owner, please move your property over to the side so as to not get in the way.”

“If you ask, I’m sure it won’t be any trouble,” Twilight said.

“Okay, then I’ll ask,” Rarity said getting up and sending her fainting couch to where ever she kept it stored.

“Don’t know about you, but I want to know if there are any animals aboard the ship,” Fluttershy commented. “I thought I saw a cat, but it seemed to disappear when I looked at it.”

“Why’d they keep cats on the ship, Flutters,” Applejack asked, “It is a military ship.”

“Actually, they might have cats and dogs. This ship seems to be designed to be away from civilization for a long time, so the crew might have brought pets with them,” Twilight said, “But then again, what Applejack said.”

=== ===

“Where does this door go?” Rainbow asked out loud of no one in particular. She followed the arrows labeled ‘Vehicle Bay’ until one arrow pointed towards a door. Not receiving an answer, Rainbow approached the door, triggering the sensor that tells the doo when to open. Behind the door was a cavernous room full of vehicles, some of which got Rainbow’s attention. The large scorpion-like tanks nearby were unattended, so Rainbow thought she’d be able to check them out without getting caught. She started approaching the tanks, until the intercom went off.

“Battlegroup Firestorm, prepare for ground deployment. Fortress drop has been green-lighted, secure a base site,” the intercom said. Rainbow ran out of the room back into the corridor and started searching for her friends.

=== ===

“They are preparing to release poison gas into cities? Are you sure about that?” Cutter asked Celestia.

“They seem to want your technology. I suggest we just give it to them,” Celestia said.

“That is not happening, I’ve already gave Battlegroup Firestorm the order to deploy. If they want to attack you, then we can return that favor,” Cutter said, “But we are not giving up our tech for them, or you.”

“Then we shall not be allies,” Luna said.

“Lieutenant, prepare for self-destruct on my order,” Cutter said, “Princesses, you won’t get this ship. Not even the changelings. If you want, we will leave and never return.”

“It is already too late for that. That is why we brought you here, disabled your weapons,” Celestia said.

“Another already arrived, and they want technology and resources. Things we can’t give to them, but if we get your technology to them…” Luna said trailing off at the end.

“The Covenant will not get this ship,” Cutter said to the two Princesses.

“They’re not around anymore, your UNSC won,” Celestia said.

“But they aren’t here to help you,” Luna said, her eyes glowing green for a moment.

“Captain, changelings,” Sheppard said pulling out his sidearm.

“Well, there went surprise,” “Luna” said, before dropping her disguise along with “Celestia.”

“But it doesn’t change anything,” both changeling queens said at the same time.

Chapter 10 - Destruction

“Sheppard, take the ponies on this ship and get them off. Take anything you need with you on the way,” Cutter ordered.

“Captain, an unidentified vessel is approaching us,” one of the crew reported just as Fireteam Atlantis left the bridge.

“Ah, they’ve arrived. At last,” one of the changelings said.

“Sir, they’re launching boarding craft and fighters,” the crew member reported.

“Do everything we can do to delay them, then arm the self-destruct. All combat personnel, prepare for boarders,” Cutter ordered, before turning to the two changelings. “Who are they, and what do they want?”

“Atriox just wants technology and power,” the other changeling said, “And if we get him what he wants, then he spares our lives.”

“You would just let us die here and now,” Cutter asked, “Not if I have something to say about it.”

“Oh, but you won’t,” the first changeling taunted, “Not after what he’ll do to you. To all of you.”

“Maybe we could do it first?” the other changeling asked.

“No, Chrysalis,” the changeling replied, “We will leave them for him.”

“If we delayed, they could have found something better than what they’ve already got,” Chrysalis said, “We could have done much more with that.”

“You could have caused them to slip away,” the other changeling said.

=== ===

“McKay, have you got a location?” Sheppard asked. The team was at a security station looking for the ponies through security cameras.

“Yes, Deck 5 Corridor 14B for four of them,” McKay said, “We can pick one up on the way there, then a stop at sickbay for the sixth.”

“Carter, tell Woolsey to prep the Pelican,” Sheppard ordered, “And see if we can’t get a pair of Warthogs, ones without weapons. And all the ammunition, weapons, and medical supplies they can spare and fit on the Pelican.”

=== ===

“What is with everyone running around, with weapons no less,” Rarity asked anyone who would listen, though she got no answer.

“Might have had something to do with the last announcement, the one about boarders,” Applejack said.

“Think they’re bad, still?” Twilight asked.

“No, not anymore,” Applejack said, “Has anypony seen Rainbow lately?”

“Why do you ask?” Fluttershy asked.

“I have a feeling she’s in trouble, and not by her own fault,” Applejack answered.

“Boarding craft have arrived, all hands to defensive stations,” the captain said over the intercom.

“You might be right, we’ll just have to find her ourselves. Let’s go,” Twilight said.

“How do we find her? This ship is massive, its like searching all of Canterlot; during the time it was attacked by changelings,” Fluttershy said not know how they would find Rainbow.

“We’ll head to the last place we saw her, and if she isn’t there we’ll try to follow her hoofsteps,” Twilight said.

“I’m more concerned about meeting these boarders,” Rarity said, “They seem to have caused everyone here to fight them.”

“We’ll just have to hope we don’t run into them, then,” Twilight said.

“That’s our plan?” Applejack asked.

=== ===

“Are we being attacked?” Rainbow asked a passing marine.

“Yes, so stay behind me and nothing will happen to you,” the marine said raising his rifle as he neared the corner.

“Okay,” Rainbow acknowledged. The sounds of battle started, and slowly grew closer to them. Several more marines arrived and took up defensive position in the corridor.

=== ===

The blast door in front of Fireteam Atlantis closed before they got through, leaving them to make a detour on the way to Rainbow Dash. “Guess they’ve already boarded us,” Carter said prompting the team to head down a different corridor.

“How long until we reach her?” Jackson asked.

“Now you speak up, eh,” Carter said, then they ran into a squad of grunts led by a pair of brutes, “Wouldn’t have been long if we hadn’t run into anything.” The team had already taken cover and the two squads had started firing at one another. One of the grunts pulled out a grenade and primed it just as the grunt was shot, leaving the grenade to detonate with the enemy team.

“That worked, if it was luck,” McKay said, “We’ll need more ammunition, and bigger guns.”

“Grab their weapons, and move up,” Sheppard ordered, grabbing the energy weapon one of the grunts were using. The rest followed his lead.

=== ===

The fighting had reached the defenders Rainbow Dash was with. The first sign of it was the forward lines of defense had pulled back, bringing with them machine guns little or no ammunition and severely damaged light vehicles. The first enemy squad that entered the defenders line of sight were mowed down the one of the machine guns, the next squad showed that machine gun was empty. Through it all Rainbow just hid in the corner covering her folded ears. After three squads had been eliminated, they stopped coming.

“All clear, for now,” one of the marines yelled out.

“We are going to advance and set up the defensive line, give more time to fight them off,” another ordered, “Pony, might be best if you stayed with us.” Rainbow got up and followed the marines to a forward position and found a dark corner to hide in.

“Someone, on the gun,” the marine ordered pointing the mounted intact weapon of a wrecked vehicle. “We have no idea how much time until the next attack, or when resupply is coming. We will hold this position for as long as we can.” All the marines took cover behind structural supports or barricades and readied any weapons they still had. It wasn’t long until the next wave arrived, but long enough for the marines to hold their position for an unknown amount of time.

The first squads of the next wave arrived and got gunned down from the mounted weapon. The next few squads trued to throw grenades, but a barrage of plasma fire from their left flank stopped that attempt. Then next few squads to attack were caught in a crossfire from the marine defenders. After the wave had been fought off, the marines using the enemy weapons came around the corner.

“Whittaker,” one of them said as they approached, “We are looking for a blue-furred pony. Have you seen her?”

“She’s in a corner back there, Sheppard,” the marine officer said pointing towards where Rainbow hid. “Thanks for the assist, Major.”

“I recommend using their weapons, you’ll hold out longer,” Sheppard told the officer while pointing towards the fallen enemies with his thumb. Sheppard and his team then walked towards Rainbow’s hiding spot.

“Come on, Dash, we need to find your friends and get off the ship,” Sheppard said.

“You know where they are? Are they okay?” she asked, ears going up.

“Yes, they are; though, we don’t know where they are right now,” Sheppard said, “Which is why we need you to stay with us.”

“Sure, I’ll stay with you,” Rainbow said.

“Alright, let’s go,” Sheppard ordered his team.

=== ===

The four ponies were walking down the corridor when a Warthog stopped right in front of them. “You Twilight?” the driver asked.

“Yes, why do you ask?” the purple alicorn asked, “Am I in trouble?”

“Here,” he said holding a black rectangular box out to her, “Take this, keep it safe. Good luck.”

“I will, don’t worry,” Twilight said, “But why are you giving it to me?”

“Because you are the best one to guard it until either your people can finish what we started or my people come,” the marine said, then drove to one of the many positions the defenders were holding.

“You seem to have got their trust about,” Applejack said.

“Maybe Rainbow did not come this way,” Fluttershy said.

“What makes you think that, darling” Rarity asked.

“I thought I heard something bad,” Fluttershy replied.

“Just the echo from that vehicle,” Twilight said. A bulk head not far in front them exploded. “Or maybe we were just too occupied to notice what you heard. She must not have gone this way.”

=== ===

Rainbow and Atlantis arrived at where the bulk head exploded about an hour later. “Looks like someone fired a missile from the other side,” Carter said after examining it.

“This way goes deeper into the ship,” Carter said facing down a corridor, “I think they would have gone this way. We might come across an intact security station with camera access, too.”

“So, we go down the corridor. We can also get to sickbay quickly, once we’ve got them,” Sheppard said.

“Perimeter breach. Fall back to secondary defensive positions,” the intercom went off.

“We need to wrap this up fast, we’re losing too much ground,” Jackson said.

“Double time it, then,” Sheppard said, and they started running down the corridor. Just as Carter predicted, there was a functioning security station with camera access.

“McKay, see if you can find them,” Sheppard ordered pointing at the security station.

“I think I found them,” McKay said a few minutes, “They’re at sickbay. We can finish up here and leave. There’s a transport Hog parked just outside.”

“Good, double time there,” Sheppard ordered. The squad ran to sickbay with Rainbow in tow.

=== ===

“You sure she’s okay?” Fluttershy asked one of the nurses who were in sickbay.

“Yes, she just has a feather in there,” the nurse replied.

“We need to go, Pinkie,” Applejack said urgently.

“Sorry, just got word,” the nurse said after talking to a marine guard, “The five of you need to stay, Atlantis is coming to pick you up.”

“Where are we going to go?” Rarity asked.

“You are going back down there, you can find a way to save us down there,” the marine guard said.

“How are we going to get down?” Twilight asked the guard.

“Atlantis is working on that. The plan is to use a Pelican, but at this rate that may fall through,” the guard said.

“Are they close?” Pinkie asked.

“They are on their way, but I don’t know how close they are,” he said.

“Please tell us when they arrive, if that is not too much trouble,” Fluttershy meekly requested.

“Unless they beat me to it,” the guard said, “Anyways, they’re here now. Warthog’s outside, in the corridor.” The five ponies exited out into the corridor where a large vehicle with a roll cage in the back instead of a gun waited. Atlantis and Rainbow Dash had already got in.

“Mount up, we need to go. Now,” Sheppard said very urgently. The five ponies managed to get into the back of the vehicle.

“Most elevators are out, but the vehicle elevator to the hangar should be in working order,” Carter said, “But it won’t handle the weight of a Warthog in its current state. We’ll be at the Pelican, though.”

“Punch it,” Sheppard ordered Jackson, who was driving it.

“Yes, sir,” Jackson acknowledged as he brought the vehicle up to speed.

“This elevator, is it safe?” Twilight asked Carter.

“If need be, there is a ladder in the shaft. If there is a hull breach, blast doors in the shaft will be closed,” Carter said, “But it won’t be safe, just follow our lead. Don’t panic.”

“Okay,” Twilight said with a sigh, “I’ll take your word for it.” The vehicle made a left turn where two corridors intersected. “If your people haven’t lost your war, will any more come?”

“If we haven’t lost the war, then they won’t send a ship for hundreds of years,” McKay said with sadness creeping into his voice. The Warthog pulled to a stop in front of the elevator mentioned earlier. Everyone in the vehicle jumped out, then saw that the boarders were approaching their position.

“Go, I’ll hold them off for as long as I can,” Jackson said, “Get them out of here! Good luck.” Jackson turned towards the boarders with his weapon raised. Sheppard hit the controls for the elevator, and the doors closed just as Jackson started firing his weapon. The doors on the other side of the elevator shaft started opening as the elevator came to a stop at the appropriate deck.

“They’re breaching the door, get in! Now!” the pilot yelled urgently. The group ran from the elevator the to dropship while the pilot took the controls. The doors were breached just as the Pelican started lifting off, and one of the attackers had a heavy weapon aimed at it. The Pelican was hit when the weapon was fired, prompting the pilot to yell, “We are going nowhere.”

“McKay, Carter, hold them off. Woolsey, with me. Ponies, we are going for a lifeboat, and you are getting on it,” Sheppard said matter-of-factly, “No questions asked, now is a very good time to leave.” McKay and Carter leveled their weapons at their attackers and fired, while Woolsey, Sheppard and the ponies ran across to a door to the corridor. Once they were in the corridor, Sheppard sealed the door. “This won’t hold them long we need to move, no time for rest,” he said to the ponies. They started running down the corridor following arrows marked ‘Lifeboats.’ Eventually they reached the lifeboats, but their attackers were closing in as well.

“Their too close, Sheppard,” Woolsey said, “We’ll never launch in time.”

“Take them and leave, I’ll handle them,” Sheppard said, “Had to die sometime, might as well be now. If I see that you failed…”

“I never fail,” Woolsey boasted, “I won’t fail this, too, even if it kills me.” Woolsey sheparded the ponies into the lifeboat and took the controls. After swiftly going through the pre-flight checklist, he launched the lifeboat and headed down to the surface. The lifeboat hit the atmosphere at a high enough speed to cause flames to surround the front have.

“How fast do I have to go to make that happen?” Rainbow asked pointed through the window.

“So fast you can’t do it, Rainbow,” Twilight said. The craft speedily approached a forest that Twilight immediately recognized. “We’re landing in the Everfree Forest!?” she said almost panicing.

“Hold on, this will be a rough landing,” the pilot said. A few minutes later the craft hit the ground, and everyone blacked out.

An hour later a golden aura opened the rear hatch. A regal white pony and a regal blue pony stood and looked in. The purple alicorn started to regain consciousness. Upon seeing the white alicorn, said, “Princess Celestia?”

“This time, yes, my little pony,” Celestia said, “A changeling caught us, and held us. Your crash helped us escape.”

“Did everyone survive?” Twilight asked.

“Not the pilot. I have feeling that a lot of good people sacrificed themselves so that you would not be killed,” Luna chimed in, “I looked forward to meeting the people our captors had been talking about.”

“Not now, sister,” Celestia said, “Twilight, were you given anything?”

“Just a small black box for whoever comes next,” she replied, “I still have it. It has important information, but I doubt we’ll be able to access it for a long while.”

“We’ll talk at your castle later, when your friends have woken up as well,” Celestia said.

Chapter 11 - Aftermath

Twilight, Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie, Rainbow, and Applejack were lying in in Twilight’s castle in Ponyville. Celestia and Luna were wandering about the castle. A knock was heard from the large double doors that was the entrance, prompting all the ponies to go straight to the door. The only one to even consider answering it was Twilight, who opened the door with her magic; revealing that a white pony with golden armor was the one knocking.

“Princess Twilight, the mirror you requested to be retrieved has been retrieved,” the guard said.

“Thank you,” Twilight said back, “Just put it in the library.”

“Looks like no one got around to destroying it,” Luna said, while the group walked the map room.

“Just as I’d hoped,” Twilight replied, “With I think I can find a way to save them, though I might never know for certain.” Twilight opened the doors to the map room with her magic as they approached. Once all eight ponies had entered, she closed the doors. “Spike, are you here?” Twilight asked when she heard snoring from small throne next to one of the six thrones that surrounded a large circular map. The question had awoken a purple dragon from his slumber.

“Yes, Twilight?” the dragon asked, “Do you need anything? Snacks?”

“No,” Twilight replied, “But I told you we’d be talking the Princesses, Spike.”

“Oh, yeah, right. I forgot,” Spike said trying to hide from Twilight.

“Why don’t you go read one of your comics?” Twilight asked the dragon.

“Sure!” he said excitedly as he scrambled up and ran out of the room, closing the door behind him.

“Now that that is out of the way,” Twilight said, “What is it that you wanted to talk about?” Celestia and Luna went to stand between thrones while the rest took seats in the thrones with their cutie marks on them.

“We wanted to talk out this ship you said arrived here,” Luna said with concern, “And what happened involving them, what they did.”

“Well, they first arrived by accident,” Rarity started telling the Princesses, “And nearly scared everything off when they did arrive. They nearly scared poor Fluttershy to death in particular.”

“At first there were only three massive ones,” Rainbow said with a shudder, “They looked like robots, too.”

“They came in this big loud vehicle, which we saw plenty of while on their ship,” Fluttershy added, “They named it after an animal.”

“The next group came in a flying machine,” Applejack continued, “They did not have so much armor on.”

“Did they ever say anything about fighting a war?” Celestia asked.

“Yes, they did,” Twilight said, “They didn’t know the outcome, but they were fighting a war.”

“Perhaps they ran away from it?” Luna thought out loud.

“They did not seem to have run away from it,” Applejack said, “They wanted to get back to their war, not bother us.”

“That is why they came down here, in the first place,” Twilight added, “They gave me something that might have what they found down here on it.”

“What did they find?” Celestia asked.

“Some kind of advanced research facility,” Rainbow replied, “They brought us to one, for some reason.”

“Oh, those,” Celestia said, “I thought we had destroyed those. What the people there were researching could have destroyed Equestria, I had to do something about it.”

“Glad to see some good might have come from them, though,” Luna said with a sigh of relieve, “I thought they would have been long forgotten.”

“You knew?” Twilight asked, almost yelling.

“We thought you’d never find them, and we were right,” Celestia said, “For a while anyway.” A knock was heard at the door. “Who is that?” Celestia asked as she walked over and opened the door, seeing Cadence and Shining Armor there. “Well, Luna and I should head back to Canterlot. Oversee repairs and what not,” she said turning to Luna.

“Spike and Zecora filled us in on some details,” Cadence spoke once Celestia and Luna left the room, “I’m just glad you okay!”

“Zecora?” Twilight asked, “I thought she was up there with us.”

“She mentioned being sent down early,” Shining said, “She wouldn’t tell us why. I don’t think she even knows why.”

“Hey, we should go to Sugar Cube Corner!” Pinkie said randomly.

“I think that is a wonderful idea,” Cadence agreed.

“Okay, then. Not like we have a reason to sit around the map,” Twilight said, “Let’s go.” The eight ponies left the map room and started walking to the front door, crossing paths with Spike on the way. “Spike, want to join us?” Twilight asked as they passed.

“Naw, I’m good,” Spike replied, “Still got chores to finish up here.” Spike went back to what he was doing as the ponies left castle.

=== ===

Far above the surface, a flat purple ring with blackness that covered the stars appeared. Out of it drifted a long blocky object with many blinking lights, and a white logo that read ‘UNSC’ on both sides. Its appearance did not go unnoticed.

On the ground, Luna was looking through a telescope at this object. Celestia flew up to the tower that Luna was in.

“The damage to the city was surprisingly minor, the worst of it was wall that had been knocked down and hall that something exploded in,” Celestia said relieved it wasn’t any worse, “Luna, what are you looking at?”

“Yes, something just appeared over Equstria,” Luna said with worry clearly showing in her voice, “It has markings that mark it as UNSC, the faction they said that ship was from.”

“We know they’d return,” Celestia said, “Better sooner than later. They should certainly believe we didn’t destroy their ship.”

“I’m concerned that they won’t believe us telling them we didn’t,” Luna said.

“I doubt they could blame us, we don’t have any ships like theirs,” Celestia tried to comfort Luna, “They might just pass over. They might not think we’re worth bothering, even. No need to get all worked up.”

=== ===

“…and that’s when I jumped on her head!” Pinkie finished telling her story to the rest of the group. Just as she finished her story, a draconequus popped in right next to her. “Discord, what are you doing here?” she asked.

“I just figured it drop in,” Discord said as an arm dropped from ceiling, which he then picked up and reattached. “I don’t think we’ve ever met in person, Armor Shining, or is Shining Armor,” Discord said detaching his arm and hold out to Shining Armor.

“You must be Discord,” Shining Armor said flatly.

“Well that’s quite observant of you,” Discord said while wearing a mysteriously conjured trench coat, after which it ceased to exist just as mysteriously.

“Discord, did you do this on purpose?” Twilight asked, “Because the timing is awfully convenient.”

“Well, since you said my timing is convenient,” Discord said with a laugh, “Though I doubt you would understand what just arrived.” On que, Discord teleported the mysterious probe into his hand; showing it to be very small, about the size of a large cat.

“Where did that come from?” Twilight and Rainbow said simultaneously.

“Just from orbit, I don’t know where it came from,” Discord said matter-of-factly.

“DISCORD!” Twilight yelled.

=== ===

In a dark room, a human with dark hair was watching a monitor that was showing the what the probe’s cameras were pointing at; which right now, was Twilight. A door opened, letting light from the corridor in along with a tall man with a gray uniform. The person watching the monitor swiveled his chair to face the man who just entered.

“Captain Alexander Richardson, UNSC Into Light, reporting as ordered, sir,” the man who entered said.

“You see that?” the seated person said who continued when Richardson nodded, “Telemetry from the probe. Something or someone teleported it, and it found the Spirit of Fire’s black box. Ship’s gone, but the wreckage is still there. Your orders are to find if there are any survivors, and make contact with the natives there.”

“Do we have a translation package?” Richardson asked.

“By the time you get there, it’ll be ready.”

=== ===

“That probe is gone,” Luna said to Celestia searching the whole sky for it.

“I told you they would leave us alone, Luna,” Celestia reminded her.

“It didn’t disappear the way it came, though,” Luna said.

“Discord?” Celestia asked.

=== ===

“Now would you stop, you seem to have attracted outside attention,” Discord said interrupting Twilight’s rant. “And they are not coming for revenge, too!” Discord finished imitating Pinkie.

“Don’t just try to…” Twilight began saying until Spike burst in with a scroll. “It’s from Celestia!” Twilight said excitedly as she grabbed to scroll.

“What is it about?” Cadence asked trying to look over Twilight’s shoulder to see the contents.

“Just asking if Discord has the probe,” Twilight replied, stressing ‘Discord.’

“Fine, I’ll put it back,” Discord said defeatedly.

“The damage is done, draconequus,” Shining said.

“Don’t be so closed-minded, Captain of the Guard,” Discord said.

=== ===

“Captain on deck,” a marine guard said as Richardson entered the bridge of his Autumn-class heavy cruiser.

“Are we ready for slipspace?” Richardson asked the pilot as he took the command chair.

“Yes, sir,” the ship’s AI said, a hologram appearing the nearby pedestal.

“Then take us out, Atlas,” Richardson ordered the AI.

“ETA to destination is five hours,” the AI said as the ship entered slipspace. “Just so you know, Captain, ONI got us that translation package faster than they predicted. They say that because whoever is around the probe continued talking made it easier.”

“Anything else?” Richardson asked, knowing ONI would have pulled something together.

“The purple pegacorn,” Atlas said putting an image of Twilight from the probe onto the screen in the front of the bridge, “is named Twilight.”

“Anything else?” Richardson asked again.

“The pegacorn is female,” Atlas replied.

“I’m not even going to ask how they determined that,” Richardson said.

“I determined that, actually,” Atlas pointed out, “You should know how I did, you are a mammal.”

“Does anyone know why we got an AI that thinks it’s a scientist?” Richardson asked of anyone who knew the answer.

“You’ve asked that five times in total, sir,” Atlas said.

“Get off my bridge, Atlas,” Richardson said exasperatedly.

=== ===

Applejack had just gotten back to her farm when the sun started to sink below the horizon. It took a few minutes to reach the door of her family’s house. She entered to find five ponies waiting for her.

“You were gone for a long time, sis,” Apple Bloom said, “We were wondering if you were coming back soon.”

“Had some things I had to get done,” Applejack said, “Long story, and I don’t want to tell it again.”

“Was it about those from the spirit of fire that visited us,” Apple Bloom asked loudly.

“Yes, and they won’t ever be coming back,” Applejack said with a bit of sadness in her voice, “They’re gone, now.”

“So, maybe their people won’t be coming,” an elderly pony said.

“No, Granny Smith. Their people are coming,” Applejack said, “Sooner rather than later, Discord took one of their probes.”

“So can we talk to them when they come back?” Apple Boom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle asked all at once.

“Nope,” Big Mac said.

“They might not be interested in talking to you,” Applejack said.

=== ===

Twilight’s friends had each gone to their own homes by the time she, Spike, Shining Armor, and Cadence had reached her castle. “Are you going to stay here for the night?” Twilight asked her brother.

“Yes, we thought we would,” Shining Armor said, “More for your sake, than ours. We’ll go in the morning.” The four entered the castle and Twilight nearly jumped when she saw the probe.

“I forgot I asked Discord to leave it here,” Twilight said when her companions looked at her oddly.

=== ===

The UNSC Into Light exited slipspace near the debris field. “Pelican squadron, pick through the wreckage. If you find anything important, you know what to do,” Richardson said over the ship’s intercom. Turning his attention to the screen in the front of the bridge, he saw that Atlas relayed the feed from the probes camera to it. The first thing Richardson noticed probe was in a different building that looked like it was made from crystal. The first thing everyone else on the bridge noticed was the purple pegacorn’s rear was facing the camera. The second thing Richardson noticed was the translation package worked. “Well, now we know the translation works. Atlas, show the scans of the planet.”

“Changing display before everyone starts drooling over her...” Atlas began.

“It is imperative that you not finish that sentence, Atlas,” Richardson interrupted.

“You drool in your sleep, too, you know, Captain,” the AI taunted before finally switching the display to a scan of the planet.

“When we’re done, I’m requesting a new AI,” Richardson muttered.

“Oh, I am so offended,” the AI said, “That you would do both those things. I heard you.”

“Where is the beacon from the probe, show it,” Richardson ordered to get back to work. The zoomed in on an area within the northern hemisphere of the planet.

“According to the planets tilt, it is summer in the northern hemisphere,” the AI said.

“I want a team down there in ten minutes,” Richardson ordered.

“Perhaps we should bring a few up here,” Atlas suggested.

“We are not bringing any of them up here unless it is necessary, and you can’t disobey that order,” Richardson said running out of patience for the AI.

“Fireteam Zulu reports ready from deployment, Captain,” Atlas notified.

“Have Pelican 666 standing by,” Richardson told the AI.

“You sure you want Parker to take them down?” the AI asked.

“Stop doubting me, AI,” Richardson told the AI.

“Pelican 542, to Into Light. We found a wrecked Pelican floating around out here,” the Pelican’s pilot reported over the commlink.

“Who killed it?” Atlas asked.

“Unknown, it’s a mess. Designation, Foxtrot 247,” the pilot reported.

“Not one of ours, must have been from the Spirit,” Richardson reasoned.

=== ===

The Spirit of Fire was floating in a void of nothingness. All the boarders had mysteriously vanished, but that didn’t change that fact that the ship was gone. The crew of the old ship started regaining consciousness.

=== ===

“All Pelicans report no black box, the wreckage here does not amount to one ship,” Atlas notified Richardson a few minutes later. “Also, Pelican 666 is ready for launch.”

“Tell 666 to launch,” Richardson ordered, “As for the wreckage, if the ship hasn’t been destroyed; then where is it?”

“I have no idea. I recommend finding whoever took the probe,” Atlas answered, “But then again, easier said than done.”

“Tell Zulu their secondary objective is to find out who made the Spirit vanish,” Richardson ordered the AI.

“Done. We should notify command about this,” Atlas said.

=== ===

“Just got an update from that operation, Lord Hood,” an assistant said “The debris field they found does not amount to the whole Spirit of Fire. They believe something made it vanish.”

“Tell them to find out what happened, and retrieve the ship,” Hood ordered.

==== ===

Cutter slowly got up, and looked out of the bridge. There were no stars to be seen, and the two changelings had disappeared. He couldn’t recall what had happened before hand, but it was obvious something happened. He heard footsteps heading to the bridge, and assumed they had lost the ship. The source of the footsteps revealed himself within the minute as Major Sheppard.

“Captain, what happened? Where are we?” the marine asked, “I got them off the ship as you ordered, but I thought I was going to die until a few minutes after the lifeboat launched.”

“You know just as much as I do, Major,” Cutter said, “Anyone other than the crew aboard the ship?”

“As far as I can tell, there are no hostiles aboard the ship. Really strange, too. We might actually be dead right now, though. I’ll search the ship, see if anyone else can figure this out.”

=== ===

Pelican 666 entered the planets atmosphere and decelerated. Within minutes, it arrived at the crystalline castle that the probe was inside. “Touch down in one mike, ping us for dust off when you’re ready,” the dropship’s crew chief said, opening the rear hatch as the dropship made its approach. The next minute, Zulu had disembarked from the dropship leaving to take off into the night sky.

“The best place to start is the crystalline structure, so might as well,” the squad leader, a light-haired marine, said before knocking on the door to see if anyone was home. The purple pegacorn from their briefing before deployment answered the door.

“Who is it?” she asked as she opened the door with her eyes half shut.

“Major Patrick Josephson, UNSC Marine Corp. You have UNSC property,” he replied matter-of-factly.

“UNSC!” the purple pegacorn exclaimed while jumping in surprise.

“Are you aware of the Spirit of Fire’s whereabouts?” he asked.

“I thought they were destroyed, though I never saw that happen,” she answered quickly, “Are you from there, too?”

“Negative, we’re from the UNSC Into Light; an Autumn-class heavy cruiser,” Josephson replied while pointing out the rest of the squad.

“My name is Twilight Sparkle, come in,” she said, “Did you win the war?” The squad entered the castle, and Josephson went to the probe and input the deactivation code.

“We did, with the help the Elites,” the Major replied, “I’ve deactivated the probe, so Atlas can’t use the camera on it.”

“The probe has a camera?” Twilight asked surprised because she saw no part the could be a camera, “What did it see.”

“Everything,” another marine replied, “Even behind.”

“Just so you know,” Twilight began, “We don’t have a nudity taboo, that wouldn’t have been a problem.”

“So, Evans just got more information out of her than the probe?” a third marine commented.

“Stow it, Corporal,” Josephson said, “I apologize for Corporal Davis’ comment, not good for a first contact situation.”

“At least its better than the last,” the marine named Evans added.

“Too true,” Josephson acknowledged, “That war they told you about, was our first contact with other beings.”

“How could it have gotten that bad?” Twilight asked quickly.

“You do have a lot of questions, don’t you,” Josephson started, “It got that bad because of a misunderstanding. The war lasted 28 years, and the final battle took place outside the galaxy.”

“That is quite far away,” Twilight was barely able to say anything.

“Twilight, who are you talking to?” a pink furred pegacorn asked as she entered.

“Major Patrick Josephson, ma’am,” Josephson replied.

“You came for the probe, didn’t you?” she asked before noticing the probe with horror, “Wait, what happened to the probe? There lights on the last I saw it!”

“I turned it off,” Josephson replied matter-of-factly, “Our AI was using to look at Twilight’s parts whenever she was in front of the camera.”

“Why would he do that?” the pink pegacorn asked very concerned for Twilight.

“Be glad he had only one camera,” Evans replied, “He is always spying on the crew, for “research purposes.””

“Before I forget to tell you, my name is Mi Amore Cadenza; just Cadence is fine, though,” she said then turned and walked off.

“Your AI sounds like a – know what, I can’t think of the word,” Twilight commented.

“Atlas is a real jerk, but he does good work; some of time, that is,” the marine named Davis said.

“Atlas is the name of your AI?” Twilight inquired curiously.

“Yes, and you don’t want to meet him,” Josephson said.

“In the morning you should talk with Celestia,” Twilight suggested.

“Captain, in the morning send a squad to make contact with the country’s leadership, we’ve secured the probe and proceeding to find whoever took the Spirit of Fire,” Josephson said over commlink to Richardson. “Twilight, do you know who could possibly have taken the Spirit of Fire?”

“Know I do not,” she said hanging her head, but raised her head a few moments later, “I have a few spare rooms you can take for the night. I know you don’t have any bits so you won’t be able to stay at the inn.”

“Thanks for the offer, but we have to get the probe back up there. We’ll be back,” Josephson told her.

=== ===

Pelican 666 docked with the heavy cruiser, releasing the precious cargo of one probe in the hangar before moving off to unload the troops. Richardson met the dropship to debrief the squad in person, though he normally left that for the AI.

“Captain, though we have recovered the probe, we are no closer to finding out anything about the Spirit of Fire. Permission to go back down to search in the morning?” Josephson reported talking swiftly.

“Permission granted. Now, is there any knowledge we can use,” Richardson said to quickly get back on topic.

“They don’t have a nudity taboo, but that isn’t very useful,” Davis reported.

“Captain said useful knowledge, Davis,” Evans rebuked.

“They have some sort of telekinesis, at least the ones with horns, I recommend not engaging them,” Josephson reported.

“How’d a civilization not develop a nudity taboo?” Atlas chimed in.

“Atlas, you are not part of this debriefing,” Richardson said, facepalming.

“You have always left briefings and debriefings to me, so what changed to make you do this one yourself?” the AI asked.

“This is too important to leave to you, Atlas,” Richardson said with annoyance.

“That is not a good enough reason, so let me do it,” Atlas said.

“Hey, Atlas, I turned the probe off, I doubt you’ll want to talk to me,” Josephson told the AI in an attempt to drive it off, that failed anyways.

“I turned the camera back on,” the AI came back.

“I should have just shot the camera, you know,” Davis tried taunting.

“I should have spaced you when I had the chance, Davis,” the AI countered, prompting Davis to shudder.

=== ===

Several hours later, two Pelicans left the heavy cruiser heading to different destinations. One was heading down to the capital, Canterlot; and the other was heading towards Ponyville.

In Canterlot, two alicorns were in a tall stone tower with a telescope in it.

“That large ship just launched two smaller ones,” Luna observed, “One is heading this way.”

“Really?” Celestia asked.

“Yes, they look like to small ship the spirit of fire would send use,” Luna continued, “But thet’re different. Curvier.”

“And why would the spirit of fire send use different small ships than normal?” Celestia asked.

“I do not know,” Luna replied, as that was the only answer she could think of.

=== ===

Twilight, Cadence and Shining Armor were near the Ponyville trainstation when they noticed a dark shape rapidly approaching the town. Rainbow Dash, who was lying on a cloud above the three of them, also noticed it. Thinking the town was in danger, the rainbow maned Pegasus flew to the mysterious object in an attempt to stop it. As she approached the object, she recognized it as a Pelican; but it was too different to be from where she thought it was from.

“Parker, watch it, in bound!” Parker’s co-pilot warned him, though Parker had already maneuvered to avoid the collision. Parker brought the dropship to a stop near the purple pony he saw the previous night, and the crew chief opened the rear hatch.

“Everyone out,” Josephson ordered the marines inside.

“You again?” Twilight said with shock after the Pelican had left.

“You know him?” Shining inquired.

“He stopped by last night, about the probe,” Twilight answered.

“You told him about the probe?!” Shining yelled with a mixture of anger and fear at and for his sister.

“No, I did not tell him. He knew about it before that,” Twilight said defensively.

“I was briefed about it before coming down the first time, and I’m familiar with that model,” Josephson explained. “Now, is there any being that could take a ship?”

“Discord did that,” Shining replied quickly.

“Where do we find Discord?” Josephson asked, but only got confused looks from the ponies.

“You might want to ask Fluttershy, but she might not talk to you,” Twilight suggested, “She lives in a cottage near the Everfree Forest; that would be the forest we’re near.”

“Thanks for your help, we’ll head there without further delay,” Evans remarked.