Avery woke up sweating that morning. It was a common occurrence, expected for its familiarity and detested for its annoying nature. He felt the pleasant caress of the early morning breeze. But he knew tropical weather. Pleasantness begat sweltering misery within the span of a few hours; especially when one was clothed in the notoriously unforgiving marine corps BDU.

It had been several days since his apparent rescue by Brownie and they had since left the confines of the forest, bestriding the hardened dirt paths that lead to sweet, sweet civilization. Or at least, that was his best guess. The paths could have been leading anywhere, so barren were they in essence.

In this short time, Avery had been contemplating his shaky relationship with normality. He hadn’t joined the corps expecting a shred of it but this was not written in the fine print. The good lord worked in mysterious ways and Avery wasn’t expecting to go to heaven when he died but really?

The cracked road under his boots was unyielding, following in the faint footsteps of his furry companion. His face was the picturesque visage of stolidity; this was child’s play compared to the things he had to do during his service in the corps. Brownie did not feel the same, if he was reading her—surprisingly human—facial expressions correctly. Her hooves were dragging underneath her and eyes drooped down. She was tired and he had a feeling that they were still a long way from wherever it was they were going.

It felt a bit strange, following her around like a lost puppy. But he was at a loss for what to do. As a marine still in service, his duty was solely to find a way back to the UNSC, but he wasn’t sure where to start. Right now, he was following a brown, mythical horse, who didn’t speak english, down a dirt path in the middle nowhere. He supposed this was the best place to start. He didn’t see any better alternatives. If he couldn’t find out how to get home, he would figure out why he was here.

But for now, it was one step after the other and Brownie made for a strange, yet amusing bedfellow.

Spike walked down the shining halls of the castle, grumbling to himself internally. He had been left behind to hold down the fort again. How typical.

Let’s just leave Spike behind, he thought. He’s only good at cooking anyways!

If there was something to kick next to him that wouldn’t have broken his foot, he would have kicked it but he had learned his lesson before. The castle walls were tough.

So enthralled was he in his own annoyance that he didn’t notice the pony slipping through the door that had yet to close from the girls’ departure.

Half way through the train ride, Twilight discovered something terrible while scrolling through a log book she had brought with her. The address given on the letter didn’t exist. It never had.

“You didn’t think to check if the address was on file? I mean you're like, a princess now, so can’t you do things like that?” Rainbow groaned in annoyance, crossing her forelegs over her chest.

Twilight only bowed her head in shame. Rainbow was right, if she had been more responsible, this wouldn’t have happened. She felt a gentle hoof land on her shoulder.

“It's alright darling, we all make mistakes,” Rarity said, fixing Rainbow with a cold glance with which Rainbow was courteous enough to respond with a sheepish grin. “I’m only confused as to why we were going there in the first place. Surely you don’t think they actually expect you to come with their… thing, would you?”

“I didn’t bring their ‘thing’ Rarity. I left it with Spike…” Twilight sat still for a moment, frozen in her seat. Her eyes widened astronomically and a loud gasp tore from her throat. “Girls, we have to go back! We need to—”

“Settle down Twi, what’s got you all riled up?” Applejack looked into her eyes with concern.

Twilight took a moment to compose herself before replying. “They sent us to this address to lure us away from Ponyville! They never expected us to bring their package—Rainbow, I need you to get to the castle as fast as you can, Spike could be in danger!”

Rainbow snapped her a quick salute, spreading her wings and rocketing out the nearest window. Twilight blinked out of existence and Pinkie woke up with a gasp, shooting out the nearest window in a pink blur.

Applejack blinked. “Well… that just happened.” She swept her gaze towards Rarity and Fluttershy, the only remaining mares of the original six that were still on the train headed to Canterlot. “You gals reckon everythin’ll be taken care of by the time we get back to Ponyville?”

“Well, I think that it’s out of our hooves right now and I’m sure Rainbow and Twilight will make sure Spikey Wikey is okay. Do you want to stop at that donut shop before we head back?”

“Since when did you eat donuts?”

“A bit of fluff in the right places never hurt a mare.” Rarity stiffled a giggle and went back to reading her magazine. Applejack shrugged, slumping against the window with her stetson placed over her head.

“Girls… girls?” Flutttershy stopped whispering and looked out the window at the vast natural beauty of Equestria’s undulating topography. She sighed and rested her head on her hooves.

I hope Spike is okay.

“Carol, Carol, Carol.” The door unlocked itself, letting her into the crashed ship.

A Pelican, I believe it's called.

She walked down its shadowed length slowly, the hallway only illuminated by the lunar plants scattered within. It had been quite some time since she had seen something from the stars. She looked at the side of the ship. Hidden under a shining bramble laid an old message in an even older language:

Jenkins was here.

Maybe Luna was right, she thought. Maybe they’re still here.

Author's Note

I know its a super short chapter but school just started up again and I'm working on some other writing projects at the same time. Hope you liked it, have a good day!

Q/A Time! Favorite Chill Halo Soundtrack
Favorite Intense Halo Soundtrack

Mine are: A Walk in the woods (Basically any of the soundtracks that have to do with woods or walking)
Breaking the Covenant Halo 2 Anniversary