Of Friendships and Warships

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.