Second chance: Noble

(Everfree Forest 0:17)

Feeling lightheaded Glimmer stumbled as she tried to stand, she'd never done well with teleportation especially if it was teleportation that she wasn't asked to be part of. Falling to the ground she covered her head and groaned hearing her friends round her discuss what had just transpired, looking at her three friends Silk felt a small amount of pride he teleportation had worked in bringing her friends to a small pond that’s home was in Ponyville Park. Walking up to them she saw a mixture of shock and worry on their faces growing concerned she asked “What’s wrong darlings ?”

“Silk you have to send us back Apple and Cloud don’t know !” Sprinkle said rushing up to the unicorn he eyes wide holding a deep concern looking between her and Sunny Silk asked again “What happened out there ?”

“Silk we met some ponies.....guards or something they call themselves Noble Team,” Sunny explained looking back toward the forest she placed a hoof to her mouth and continued “, they were guiding us back to Ponyville when Cloud and Apple attacked them.”

“Oh well hopefully those two won’t-“ Silk began only to be cut off by Glimmer snapping “They won’t those ponies are bigger than Apple Gem and are definitely tougher than both combined.”

Turning Glimmer began to run back to the forest calling over her shoulder she said “We need to- OOF !” Glimmer found herself running into a purple shield looking around startled she saw that her friends were in the same situation. Igniting her horn she tried breaking out only for her mother’s voice to stop her stone-cold “Glimmer, you and your friends will be returning to the castle Luna and I will handle whatever that pulls has brought us.”

“Mother wait-“ Glimmer tried to get her attention was quickly sent away along with her friends back to the castle where a magic blocking shield was in place to keep them in place when the time to talk came. Turning her attention to the forest she felt Luna by her side turning to the older princess she asked “What do you think is out there ?”

“Whatever it is my dear friend it will have to face two princesses of Equestria before we allow it near the town.” Luna said before marching forward an air of power surrounded her as she made her way into the forest following close behind her Twilight did her best to match the nocturnal princess attitude but worry for her family and fear for what danger the first held had her on edge. That’s when she noticed multiple figures exiting the forest to her right and among them was her wife, a downtrodden Cloud splitter, and the body of Apple Gem which was being carried by two of the figures.

(Near the edge Ponyville Park 0:19)

“Commander are you sure you can trust these equines,” Emile asked over teamcom the team had switched to internal radios to discuss what had transpired with the equines, turning ever so slightly Carter eyed Fizzle as she was still lecturing the only conscious youth the other was being carried by Jorge and Emile who continued “, I mean these two dumbasses just blew a simple milk run whats to say the meetings with the others won't go the same ?"

"We have Fizzle and Cloud both of whom offered to speak for us." Carter said turning back to the forest he noticed the edge looking back toward fizzle he said "Jun let Fizzle know we're reaching the edge of the forest and I'd like her to be beside us at the front when we exit the forest."

"Of course sir," Jun answered but before he relayed the message he cocked his head at Cloud and sarcastically asked ", and what about the kid ?"

"Keep an eye on him Noble three It'd be best if he wasn't the first to speak on our behalf." Carter answered as they crossed the threshold of the forest making there way into what appeared to be an open field, stopping Carter noticed something to his left turning he saw a purple equine with wings and a horn staring straight at him calling back to Fizzle he said "Fizzle I see one of the locals we need you up here."

"Yes, that's my wife princess Twilight Sparkle," Fizzle explained walking past the spartan she seemed to ignite her broken horn shooting a small flare into the sky above them, walking toward her wife Fizzle turned to the SPARTANS and motioned for the team to wait there while saying ", let me talk to her she's most likely fearing the worst."

"Yeah cause what's worse than six fully armored SPARTANS and our hostages." Emile snarked back as he rolled his shoulders glaring down at the smaller spartan Jorge was about to retaliate when Carter turned to them and snapped "Lock it down, the talks have started and it looks like Fizzle almost has this under control."

"Sir I have movement behind us !!" Jun suddenly barked causing the six SPARTANS to whip around facing the forest watching for any movement that the darkness may hide from them, Carter looked to his team and motioned for them to back away from the forest noticing as an indigo light surrounded the area around them silently cursing Carter turned noticing that both the kids had been teleported away from the team turning back to the forest he said "Whatever happens aim to incapacitate.”

(Outside the barrier)

Landing roughly outside Cloud Splitter shook his head trying to get rid of his dizziness hearing something to his right Cloud turned to see Princess Twilight and Fizzle assessing the shield that had been erected before them, hearing some groaning coming from behind him he saw Apple Gem slowly coming back to the world. Walking passed Cloud Twilight leaned down next to Apple and activated her magic scanning the kirin after a moment she turned to the rest saying "He needs to be taken to the hospital."

"I can go with him Princess." Cloud spoke up to the two magic users catching their attention Twilight turned to the colt a small frown on her face she sighed and said "Then I'll send you to keep Apple Gem company, but once this situation has been resolved we will talk."

"*GULP* Y-y-yes ma'am." Cloud stammered as he made his way over his unconscious friend standing beside him he took a deep breath while Twilight prepared the spell. After a moment of concentration, the two colts were sent away in a flash of purple light once they were safely away Twilight turned and observed the shield that had been erected by Princess Luna. Walking up to her wife Fizzle took note that she was deep in thought running a hoof over the shield wall before her, the power and control that was used in making it showed just how much power and discipline Princess Luna had. Shaking her head Fizzle turned back to Twilight and asked "So what's your plan for disabling this shield ?"

"Time and careful maneuvering, I'm going to cut a small hole for us to get through."

"How long will that take ?"

"I can't say but hopefully those 'SPARTANS' can hold on till then." Twilight said in a somber tone as she ignited her horn and got to work at cutting a section away.

(Inside the shield)

Seeing a flash of indigo light streak toward him Six rolled to his left feeling the heat radiating from the blast reminded him of covenant plasma, turning to the team Six quickly relayed the information to the team gaining green confirmation light. After a moment two more lights shot out aiming for both Emile and Jorge both of which rolled out of the way going in different directions, after a moment someone flashed between Jun and Kat a large indigo equine that shared the same build as Twilight Sparkle. Glaring at the SPARTANS the equine spoke "You shall rue the day you tried to harm the children of my friends !" after which she flung her back leg out catching Kat in the gut sending her flying into Emile who had begun his charge trying to tackle her, Jun acted quickly springing forward he slammed into the equines side knocking her down Jun quickly got ahold of her while saying "Listen, lady, we aren't trying to hurt anyone just calm down and-"

Flaring her wings the equine shot into the air slamming Jun into the top of the dome causing the spartans shields to flare up a brilliant gold, noticing that Jun was still on her back she let out a sort and flapped her wings again flying forward before quickly stopping while bucking her hips forward flinging him into the far wall behind the team. Jun fell to the ground with a crunch yellow sparks dancing across his armor he let out a small groan while forcing himself up he said "That hurts a lot more than you'd think I wouldn't recommend trying it."

"Understood Noble three," Carter said as he dodged another salvo of indigo light the mare had begun casting down from the sky at them, watching closely Carter noted that her horn glowed before each salvo launched concentrating on that he thought 'Kat and I have the same type of appendages on our heads too.' turning to Noble two Carter said "Kat try using you horn also."

"And how do you expect me to do that !?!" Kat snapped back while dodging another beam of light turning his attention back toward the mare Carter began concentrating on the appendage like feeling something he let out a breath a dark blue light shot out clipping the mare causing her to fall to the ground. Staring at him Kat was about to question what her commander had done when she was lifted into the air and flung back toward Jorge who had been acting as a shield for Jun, not expecting the sudden impact of a thousand-pound spartan both Jorge and Kat slammed into the ground landing in a heap crushing Jun beneath them. Looking back at the equine Carter noted a slight burn on her wing still smoldering from his blast, taking note Carter thought ‘it might be a first-degree burn maybe a second-degree.’ Rolling the wing the equine stood tall charging her horn to blast him she snarled "You thought that mere amount of power could stop me!"

That's when a flash of silver flew from her right side quickly finding a target in her shoulder embedding itself to its haft this caused her to fire the beam into the sky while howling in pain, her own blast shattered a portion of the shield, looking closer at her shoulder Carter noticed a small combat knife embedded the equine then tried to remove it when a voice called out “Hey bitch there's more where that came from !"

Looking toward the voice she was met with another spartan this one had a dull yellow bubble type helmet and carved into its surface was a skull, holding his kukri in his right hoof Emile brandished his weapon at her Emile snarled "Come, pick on someone your own size !"

"WITH PLEASURE !" the mare snarled back pulling the knife from her shoulder she flung it at the spartan only for him to deflect it with his own weapon before he threw it at her, rolling to the side the equine looked up in time, seeing that Emile had closed the distance between them he delivered a small jab to her stomach causing her to double over from pain spitting up some blood he didn't stop as he delivered another jab to her jaw sending her head to the side Emile finished his attack on her by taking a hold of her right-wing and rolling her over his shoulder slamming her into the ground landing squarely on her stomach, during this move an agonizing pop could be heard as the wing was dislocated. Flaring her horn again she created an indigo pulse that forced Emile away from her taking the opportunity she turned and bucked him catching his lower jaw as she did Emile was sent flying end over end before he crashed through a fractured section of her shield leaving a large spartan-sized where he had gone through. Carter was the last of his team standing or at least pretended to be Six was somehow hiding in the open landscape most likely using the smoke and small fires to hide waiting for a good moment to attack, standing tall Carter readied himself this equine was tough she'd taken two direct hits from a spartan along with being slammed in the ground. Rolling her shoulders the equine cracked her neck and spat a small glob of blood onto the ground her shoulder wound oozed, she had multiple shallow cuts and some bruising had begun to form but she still mad aged to crack a smile while saying "I am princess Luna of Equestria and whom might you be mighty warrior ?"

"So you're finally ready to talk ?" Carter asked taking a deep breath to steady himself watched as the mare began charging her horn while saying "Yes after all warriors such as yourself should be remembered even if you'll be in the dungeons for your entire life."

"Fine, I'm Carter A-259." Carter snarled back as he charged toward Luna ready to duel her and bring this fight to an end, Carter rolled forward as he came out of the roll he drove his shoulder forward doing his best to launch Luna away from him. But this fight was going to be long and he could only hope that Six would be making his move soon and no sooner had that thought come to his head Luna grabbed him in her magic lifting him into the air she began to apply pressure using her magic. As the pressure around his body began to increase Carter's MJOLNIR systems began kicking in and locking his armor trying to protect the spartan inside from the increasing pressure, hearing a voice cry out the magic cut off allowing him to fall to the ground looking up he noticed that Jorge had managed to bring himself back in time to tackle the princess pinning her to the ground. Looking up at the massive armored pony pinning her to the ground Luna let out a snarl adjusting her head slightly she fired a blast of her magic directly at the stallion causing him to stumble back as yellow electricity danced across his body, taking the opening Luna began charging her magic while saying "I will tolerate this no more soon you'll be nothing but dust beneath my HOOVES !" the last part was howled out as she reared her head back ready to annihilate the enemy with her magic.

Carter struggled his system was close to unlocking but he needed another thirty seconds which was an eternity in a battle but as his mind began to close in on the dark thought Luna suddenly hitched forward, the indigo magic around her horn sputtered a few time before dispersing. Her hooves desperately reached for her neck clawing at an imaginary force that seemed to be choking her, after fifteen seconds though the air along her back began to shimmer, and slowly coming into view was Noble Six. He used his cybernetic arm to choke her applying as much pressure as he could while trying his best not to crush her neck. Placing his back hooves against her wings Six did his best to keep the mare down as she desperately clawed at the arm trying to break his grip. Slowly pushing himself up Carter heard a few voices behind him turning he saw Twilight, Fizzle and a number of other ponies some wearing armor pushing their way into what was left of the shield taking a breath he did his best to croak out an order to Six "Let her go Six it's over !"

Hearing the order Six quickly let go of the princess flapping his wings he flipped away from the mare while pulling his combat knife out still ready for a fight. Turning to the newcomer's Carter saw that two of them stuck close to Twilight and Fizzle the first was a baby blue equine with wings, a pegasus as he recalled Glimmer explaining each tribe they had been turned into, her mane was cut short and ragged looking like she had just woken up and was rainbow-colored just like Cloud Splitter, next up was an orange pony with a worn brown stetson sitting squarely on her head her forest green eyes glared heavily at the SPARTANS but quickly turned to shock as she saw the state that Princess Luna was in. Walking up to the spartan Twilight looked down at the commander standing a head taller than Jorge she gave a small bow before saying "I am sorry about the circumstances of our first meeting."

"No need to-"

"Twilight why do you apologize to these invaders they attacked the children of your friends and held your own daughter as a hostage." Luna cut the commander off slowly limping over to them her wing hanging at her side as she still tried to catch her own breath, grimacing at the state her friend was in Twilight shook her head and wave a hoof at the commander while saying "Fizzle filled me in these six were guiding my daughter and two of her friends back to town, they had explained to her that the original plan was for them to wait in the forest while my daughter and her friends brought me to them for introductions."

"But that can not be true !" Luna snarled back as she glared down at the commander straightening himself up Carter replied coolly "It is, we have had no point in lying to anyone here tonight."

"How should anypony here trust you !"

"Simple," Carter said turning to Six he pointed to the spartan who was currently replacing the knife he had pulled earlier looking up at the group Carter continued "Noble Six here could have done a lot worse, instead he tried to choke her out."

"That's yer defense." the orange mare barked back walking up straight to the stallion she poked his chest while glaring up at the spartan who simply looked down at her and said "Considering your princess attacked us first yes and I think its a damn good one."

Baring her teeth Applejack was about to snap back when a purple hoof set itself on her shoulder looking up at her oldest friend she saw a stern look on her face that told her to back off. Taking a step back Applejack looked around noting two armored figures laying atop each while a third stood over them keeping a watchful eye on the group, Twilight also noted the unconscious ponies also remembering the one that had smashed through the barrier earlier Twilight said "I believe a few of your teammates must be taken to the hospital and while they're treated we will discuss......this accidental meeting."

"Agreed," Carter said nodding his head he turned to his fallen comrades letting out a sigh of relief their biosigns that the armor could read was yellow, without the proper equipment he couldn't tell what had happened sighing he continued ", the only problem ma'am is each of my SPARTANS fully armored weighs a little over a thousand pounds." at that statement Twilights eyes bulged looking over at the armored ponies she cleared he throat.

"Transport will be difficult but," Twilight turned looking behind her at the armored ponies with a smile gracing her face she continued ", I believe my unicorn guards can help move those three to the hospital."

Receiving the order the guards separated into small groups and three to each spartan, after a moment a mixture of differently colored auras surrounded Kat and Jun and slowly lifted them into the air. Sweat could be seen on the brow of each of the guards as the SPARTANS were lifted, turning to the princess Carter coughed into his hoof and said "It may be best to send them closer to the hospital."

"Agreed, I'll need a moment." Twilight said walking up to the group she ignited her horn, taking this moment Carter walked over to Six who had been joined by Jorge switching to internal coms he said "Ok, considering all that's happened this isn't the worst first contact we've had."

"What now sir ?" Jorge asked adjusting his head slightly to watch the princess who had taken position away from the Spartans while still keeping a watchful eye over them. Adjusting his own vision Carter eyed the princess along with Six he muttered "We play nice."

"That's all sir ?"

"Yes."

"Ok, well by the looks of it Twilight finished sending the others to.....the.......hospital." Jorge said trailing off as he finally noticed where the princess came from, following his gaze Carter noticed that she had come from where Emile had landed groaning Carter was about to ask if she'd sent Emile away but didn't have that option when she asked "So before we can go any further do you mind elaborating further for me just who you are ?"

Seeing how serious she was Carter decided Emile would have to wait sitting down Carter switched back to external audio he said "Ma'am as your wife most likely told you we're SPARTANS and our team designation is Noble team."

Raising an eyebrow at the commander Twilight was about to ask another question when a blinding golden light flashed before them, standing at the center of the flash was Princess Celestia a pearl white mare with a pale rainbow mane and tail that seemed to below in the wind standing next to her was a pale blue alicorn with darker blue markings along her body her own mane was short and cut to frame her face. Looking over the battlefield Celestias' eyes rested on her sister for a moment before moving to her ex-student, looking past her at the SPARTANS she began walking over to them she ignored her student and sister. As Celestia stood in front of the warriors she smiled down at them speaking in a warm motherly tone she said "Noble team we've waited a very long time for your arrival and I've heard so much about you."