Halo 2: Shadowed pasts and Ancient Runes

Chapter 20: Changing of the Guard
Planet: Equis October 19, 2552
0550 hours

Twilight couldn't sleep a wink that night. What she had learned about Cam was... shocking to say the least, and it didn't make matters better that Bill, although he didn't say it, still wanted to shoot him in the face. She stood on her balcony, overlooking the leveled city and sighed. This had been too long of a day for everyone.

"Mind if I join you?"

Twilight turned about to see Laurence standing in the doorway and raised a brow. "How did you get in my room?" She asked. Laurence laughed and leaned against the railing.

"I'm a Spartan, remember?" He asked. Twilight nodded, accepting the explanation. She gazed off into the city and felt a tear brimming her eyes.

"I can't believe it's all gone... My home, ponies I knew? They're just... gone." She whispered. Laurence put a hand on her back and sighed.

"You get used to it, kid. I know we did. We lost every colony that I know of; hundreds of worlds gone, and now Earth is on the Covenant's shit list." He turned to see the sad expression on Twilights face and felt a little bad for laying that all on her at once. "Sorry we couldn't do any better." He said dryly.

Twilight put a hoof on his arm and gave him a reassuring smile. "You and your team did so much for us already. And," She continued with a smile. "Star Trot really appreciates all you've done for her, too."

Laurence smiled and gave a heavy breath. "So... What is it like to... be with someone who isn't like you?" He asked. She smiled and rolled her eyes.

"You mean what is it like being with a different species?" She said mockingly. Laurence nodded and pulled out his canteen, offering it to Twilight who kindly declined.

"Well, it was different, and it happened fast. Really fast. But, I don't know, something just clicked when I first met him. He saved my life, my friends, even all of Equestra. And, he never asked for anything in return. Although, he did get more than he bargained for." She giggled.

"Any... quarks in your relationship?" He asked. She shrugged and nodded.

"There were a few. Like why he wore clothes. Most ponies don't, except for high social events. Even then, they don't wear much. He explained that it was a cultural taboo in human society." She explained. Laurence nodded in confirmation.

"So, no complaints from either side?" He asked. Twilight chuckled and shook her head. He was clearly digging for answers to see if it was okay to be with Star Trot.

"Follow your heart, Laurence. Just because you're a Spartan, doesn't mean you don't have one." She walked back into her room, levitating a pair of tea cups from the kitchen. "Would you like to stay for some tea? I got it all ready." She said, holding the cup to him.

Laurence smiled and plucked it out of the air. "Huh. I didn't see anyone or hear anything cooking in the kitchen when I got here." He pointed out. Twilight took a sip and sighed happily.

"That's because I cooked it while we were talking." She said, tapping her purple horn. "Magic is a pretty neat thing." She said with a grin.

Laurence chugged down the mint tea and smiled to his host. "Thank you. If... you'll excuse me, I have someone I need to visit." He said, heading for the door. He stopped and flashed a smile at Twilight. "If it's any consolation, I really don't hold anything against Nathan. He's an okay guy, but orders are orders. My superiors want him in chains, and I can't refuse them otherwise they'll put 'em on me."

Twilight gave a half smile and trotted to the kitchen. "Then I have to warn you; Nathan won't go without a fight. And I won't let you take him without one either." She warned. "But, until that time comes, I hope you can see fit to... think things over."

He nodded and left. "Can do. Now," He said to himself, walking briskly down the hall. "Time to pay a visit to Star."

"Do you think you'll be alright, Miss Trot?" The Night Guard asked as he led her to a vacant room in the castle. She sighed, knowing that she wouldn't. She wasn't being... hurt anymore, that was an upside. Downside is her home was destroyed in the attack. She was lucky to get a room. Seeing as how she helped out with the defense, she got special treatment.

"I think I'll be okay. Thank you." She smiled, entering the room. It was cozy, much like a five star hotel room. The castle wasn't meant to house anything but royalty. (That and the Spartans who were working here) But, it was now the kingdoms makeshift relief shelter. Everypony who could cook, clean, or even walk was helping their fellow comrades settle in and comfort them in this time of despair. She never thought she, a common Earth pony, would be lucky enough to get a personal room.

"Alright. Please, don't hesitate to call us if you need anything." He said, trotting off down the hall. Star sighed and slumped onto the couch. She didn't have any of her personal belongings, just her armor, weapon, and thoughts.

And somepony knocking at her door. Who would visit this early? She opened it and smiled as Laurence stood awkwardly in the doorway. "Hey there. How are you?" He asked. She let him in and gave him a quick peck on the neck. (She had to jump for that but it was worth it. Oh so worth it.)

"I'm okay. What brings you by?" She asked curiously. He shifted a little and placed his helmet on the table. She stared at it with an almost child like fascination. He quickly picked it back up and set it to his side.

"Sorry, that armor system is still classified. Can't let you getting any data on it." He said. She blushed and nodded, shifting awkwardly on the couch across from him.

"So, what brings you by?" She asked again. Laurence shifted, again, and gave a small smile.

"Did you know, when you kissed me back at the hospital, that was my first kiss ever?" He asked her. She smiled, but quickly frowned. He knew what she was thinking. She had been forced to kiss that monster probably. She never had a normal kiss, just forced and tortured. "You don't have to think about that, Star. That part of your life is over." He soothed.

She felt the smile creep back on her cheeks and turned back to him. "Well, I'm glad I was your first. But, you still haven't told me what brings you here so early." She said again. He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.

"Well... Maybe, um... Maybe I kinda liked it. And, well... I guess I like you, too. So, um. If you want, I guess I could-" No other words escaped his mouth as she pressed her lips into his. It was warm, passionate, and long. Very, very long.

Only when Laurence was free, was his mind able to function again. He was happy, she was happy, and that's really what mattered to him. Sure, he came here as an enemy, but she had become an undeniable friend, more than a friend, and she was someone who was hurt most by those she thought she could trust.

Just like him.

Star smiled and wrapped herself around his neck. "So, you like me? Really?" She asked. He nodded, making her nearly squeal for joy. "Well, we've all had a pretty rough few days..." She started, lowering her eyelids in a seductive fashion. "Maybe we should rest for a little while?"

Laurence got the message pretty quickly. He just couldn't do that, not yet at least. She was just getting over an emotional part of her life, and having her jump into something like that just wouldn't be right.

"Star, maybe we should take it slow." He told her. She smiled and kissed his cheek. Laurence returned it. "I... gotta go help with straggler round up and clean up duty, anyway. But, I just think you should take it slow, huh? No reason to rush things."

Star nodded and hopped off the couch. "I understand. And thank you for thinking about me. I'll see you later, Laurence. Right?"

He kissed her lightly on the lips and walked to the door. "You can count on it." And with that, he was off to the wastes of the former capital city.

The morning in the now decimated Canterlot was more active than it had ever been. Dozens of Ponies, the Spartans, and the Princess' were picking up debris, locating the bodies of fellow ponies, and killing any Covenant straggler who dared remained alive. Rarity and Bill were on the west side, the capitals business district.

Rarity wanted to be around Bill for the time being, in case he tried to do anything stupid to Cam. She watched as he lifted up large pieces of walls, move bodies to the side of the road, and shoot any Covenant still living. He certainly wasn't the same man who had been working with her for over a month.

"Bill, are you going to be okay?" She asked him. Bill just glared at her as he threw another Covenant corpse into a fire.

"One of my friends is a traitor. How would you feel if you found out your best friend was a traitor?" He asked harshly. She winced at his tone and trotted to his side.

"Look, I know you think it's dreadful what he did, but he only wanted a way out of your... our war. Doesn't that make sense?" She protested. Bill chuckled and shook his head.

"Rarity, you've lived a sheltered life, full of peace and love and kindness. I was a soldier since I was seven. I learned to fire a gun at eight. I killed my first person at fourteen. When you're born for war, and the only person you can trust is the man beside you... Put it all together. Spartans are brothers and sisters, and I just learned yesterday that my brother tried to sell me to pirates so he could live a rich life on a goddamn beach!" He shouted, punching a dead brute in the face in frustration. Rarity sighed and continued picking up debris.

Bill was right; she'd never know what it was truly like. She trusted everypony around her, just as much as they trusted her. She hoped she'd never have to find out what it was like to have a friend betray her or try and 'sell' her like some kind of object. "I-I'm sorry, Bill. I guess I'll never know what it's like, and I hope never do."

Bill looked over to her and felt a little bit guilty for snapping like that. He wasn't one to loose his temper, but this was something that even he couldn't really handle well. "Rarity, I-"

She held up her hoof and gave him a warm smile. "I understand, Bill. And just know, none of us will ever betray you." She walked over and nuzzled his hand. "You can always trust me, alright?"

He smiled and ran his hand through her mane. "Yeah... Let's get back to work, huh?" She nodded and hefted another piece of drywall with her magic, only to be met with the body of a foal. She began to tear and looked away quickly.

"Bill... there's... there's...."

Bill walked over to see the small foal, half buried in the debris. "Son of a bitch..." He muttered. He unburied the baby and cleaned the body with his canteen. The foal was no older than a few months at least. He picked the baby girl up and wrapped it in a cloth. He cradled the foal and carried her over to a patch of flowers.

"Where are you taking her?" Rarity asked between sniffles. Bill placed the child in the bed of marigolds. He began murmuring something which Rarity couldn't understand. Bill placed two bits over the foals eyes and walked away. If he hadn't been wearing his helmet, Rarity would have seen the tears that were now running down his cheeks. He quickly tried to banish them away, but they persisted. They were there to stay while his body was wracked with pain and guilt.

Bill finally knew what hopelessness and despair felt like...

"Sister!" Luna shouted. "There is another over here!" The Grunt in question took off running, firing over his shoulder at the night goddess, infuriating her further. "Oh no you don't, knave!" She yelled, hurtling a ball of dark magic at the diminutive creature.

It yelled and transformed into a ball of white light, then hurtled into the sky at blinding speeds. "Ah, a new star for my little ponies to gaze at!" Luna cheered triumphantly. Tia sighed and kept on working at cleaning the the streets.

Block after block was destroyed. Houses, businesses, museums, and parks were left in ash. Celestia felt a heavy weight in her chest thinking about all those under her care who perished over the past few days. The chaos the Covenant caused was overwhelming. And then a painful realization dawned on her.

Chaos!

"Luna? Continue your cleaning and search for survivors. I have to check on something." She yelled, flying back to the castle. Luna watched her sister go and shrugged. For all she knew, she was just over tired. Luna happily continued her work, spotting a Brute rise from a pile of rubble.

"Ah, another star. And this will be a big one!"

Celestia walked briskly through the halls, making her way to the dungeon. She hoped and prayed that the prison holding him was still strong enough. There was no way she alone could strengthen it, and with the Elements now too busy with caring for wounded and hunting down straggling Covenant, there was nothing anypony could do if he broke out.

"Uh, Princess?" She turned to see Laurence striding down the opposite hall towards her. She smiled and stopped briefly to meet him.

"Yes, Laurence was it?" She asked. He nodded and she gestured him to walk with her. "I need you to come with me. I want to show you something. But first, I need to check on someone."

Laurence shrugged and walked along side her. "Where are we going?" He asked. Celestia turned to a large iron door, surrounded by guards. She nodded and they unlocked the bolt with a loud thunk.

Her and Laurence were met by a dimly lit stairwell, which seemed to descend forever. "Wait here, Laurence. I'll be back in a few minutes." He nodded and she began the dark decent.

The echos of her hooves against stone was deafening, and the walk was long, but she finally made it to another iron door, which she pressed her horn to. It squeaked open and there was the statue of the draconequus. The one and only Discord.

She was about to walk around the statue when a bright, pink light emanated from its chest, blinking in rhythm with his voice. "Ah, Princess Celestia! So good of you to visit. I must admit, my new quarters are a little bland... Perhaps you could put a window in here?" He pouted.

"Discord! You have no right to demand anything!" She hissed. She cringed when she heard the concrete surrounding his body crack ever so slightly. He chuckled lightly at her.

"It won't be long until I'm free, Princess. Oh, I cannot WAIT to pay a visit to your little student!" He chuckled. Celestia scowled and stepped forward.

"Don't you DARE!" She said low. "You would be wise to stay in your prison. There are new beings out there that even you cannot contend with!"

"I know!" Discord hissed. "The chaos they stirred up is just so delicious!" Celestia was furious at this point. He had to know about how many ponies have died from the attacks.

"Innocent lives were lost and all you can think of is chaos?! Do you not care?" She yelled. Discord made an unamused sound and chuckled.

"Oh, just like good ol' Tia. Too caring for her own good. Well, I'm quite tired, my dear. Until next time!" He sung.

"Discord?!" Celestia shouted, but was met with only silence. His magic was diminished and he was still dormant... For now at least. Celestia huffed and ascended the stairs, back to an awaiting Laurence.

"What's down there?" He asked. She brushed past him quickly, not bothering to answer the question. "Okay, must be someone who's no good..." He muttered.

"Laurence..." Celestia began, turning back towards him. "What has happened on my world has caused a substantial amount of Chaos."

Laurence looked out the window and nodded. "Yeah, I can see that... What about the chaos is so important?" He asked. Celestia trotted faster, forcing Laurence to a jog.

"The God of Chaos, Discord, is locked up in that dungeon. He feeds off chaos, it strengthens him." She shuttered at the memories of what he caused to her and to her faithful student. "We won't be strong enough to face him if he breaks loose. Our world can't handle this many disasters at once..."

Laurence knew how she was feeling. They too were facing multiple wars. Between humanity fighting for their existence against the Covenant, and trying to hold down the rebels; it was getting pretty strenuous on the UNSC. "Well, That doesn't sound good. You also wanted to show me something?" He asked.

"Oh, of course. I feel it is time you know about our past." She said low. Laurence shrugged and followed her through the castle.

Discord smiled and hummed to himself in his stone prison. "Ah, well it still is easy to get under Celestia's fur." He kept running his plan over and over in his head. It was perfect, not ingenious, but good enough for his standards.

"Twilight's human will make a great pawn..." He mused. "Oh, Twilight? I have a little dream for you to dream tonight!"