Longness of Semper, Still I Remember

Chapters

Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five
Part Six
Postscript
Prelude

Part One

Author's Note

I admit the title card is juvenile, at best. So if anybody is interested, feel free to come up with a more effective display of characters, places and/or situations. Thanks and God bless.

Part One

Twilight woke without a start, as the Tartaran nightmare drained her as much as she had rested that night. She struggled to lift her heavy eyelids with a groan, pushing off her pillow with stiffened hooves. Once she finally rose onto her haunches, she stretched out her new, feathered appendages with a growling yawn, fetlock to her gaping muzzle. Next she extended her legs in the same manner

It happened again.

The same evening terror that has tormented the lavender Alicorn before finding her destiny. Everything around her and her friends was burning. She could hardly remember who she was, or what was happening. Until it stomped menacingly over her with a feral snarl. Then the memories all came back. The crashed ship, the shots fired, that human bounty hunter in white, the doubt and anxieties of what else her Princess knows, the betrayal, the torcher, Sunset's attempt to destroy her, seeing the traitor's bleeding body beneath the Meta, her failed attempt at freeing Church from it with her friends, seeing it kill the Reds and Blues then come to crush the Elements and their throats one by one, holding tightly to Spike before it all went to black.

Normally, Princess Luna would be there to cut it abruptly before the halfway marker. But not this time for some reason. The Nightly Regent's word's, however, were recalled each time she doubted herself. They arose with silent serenity.

"There will come times when you doubt your sacrifices bear substance. That those you trust with your life will disappoint you, or visa-versa. The efforts made by others to redeem themselves will seem for naught. And those whom you lost had perished for a cause that will ultimately fail. But we are all temporal beings, trapped in the present, with only prior memories. Fear of the future is what bounds us most often, based merely on what we know from past experiences.

But don't let those fears and doubts consume you, for they will come to fruition by that very bottled act alone. Always remember, my dear friend, the past can repeat itself, either out of that trepidation or beyond our say. As it can also bring forth a stronger, braver, and more joyous future beyond our imagination. Done by the simplest act of friendly love. Persevere, dear Twilight Sparkle, then you and the others shall succeed."

With that, Twilight got up from her royal mattress and levitated something from the night stand in her magenta glow. The dark, loosely strung wires sticking out of the box, the barcode on the instrument, and the smelted piece of maroon-coated metal gave her a bittersweet smile. Looking at it with melancholic nostalgia, the transformed mare placed a sound barrier over Spike's sleeping basket, then pressed one of its wires loosely back into its socket.

"...Pzz-zzzt...Hello, everyon-pzzz-nd every pony. If you're hearing this, then that means you found a way back into this place...zzzzzzt-covered what's left of my cyborg corpse. By my calculation, my chance of survival is 10,084 to totally fucked. I'm leaving this recording in the hopes that someone might be able to recover it from the wreckage and debris, so I can get a few things off my chest while buying some time for Twilight, Church and the rest.

Sarge, though it hurts to admit it, I found a lot of your tactical decisions to be questionable, if not downright mediocre. I guess I was always such a kiss-ass to you because I was desperate to find a father figure after mine left and never came home. Maybe he would've come back as an alien to acquire my penis for experiments, kind of like how Ego tried to use Star-Lord. Hell if I know. But I directed all those childish and repressed feelings into following your orders, via chain of command or otherwise, in the hopes that I also can climb up the ranks myself.

I'm not going to say you failed miserably though, Sir. In fact, I'm just glad someone I could look up to in what not to do staid in my life, and not tell me to join the girls' junior high softball team when I wanted to be a mathlete. Guess you now know why you thought I threw like a girl. Not that their throwing style is ineffective, or anything like that. In fact, it's quite efficient now that I think back on it. Anyway, at least I got to be a captain with my own successful operatives before the end. Even though I might be labeled a traitor again, and by our own species no less.

Grif, I know you're as much into mushy-sentimental bullshit as I am, so I'll cut to the chase. Thanks for the memories, fat-ass. We may not have shared the same tastes, common interests or any damn thing to agree on, but you were a good friend. One thing we did have in common though was that Donut annoyed us, and we hated Doc nearly as much as Sarge. Okay, that's two. Also we got to be captains, three. Plus my limbs and organs, four and five. Sorry about Sister. Wish I could’ve met your mom at the circus.

Donut....Uh, you take care, okay buddy?

And Twilight, be sure to check on those fillies for me will you? It was nice to be a sort of big, wimpy uncle, or babysitter for them, and their sisters were alright also. But more importantly, you were the first cross-species friend I ever made. And that just made it to the top of my bucket list. So, thanks for that. And thanks for showing what friends really amount to, I guess. Just don't give up, okay?

Now, time to show these bastards what this Captain's really made of! Yeah, suck it Blue! I mean, damn it, Red! I mean, Grey! Suck it, Freelancers! Yeah, come get some! You like that? You want more RP-Ow, the front of my upper leg! Son of a bi~vvvvvpssssssh.”

The message had cycled back to repeat, as Twilight disconnected the chord with a congenial grin. It may not be every morning now, but she kept that to listen whenever she needed a morale boost. She just had to ensure Spike was still asleep and not hearing the vulgarity too often while activating it. Putting the charred device back onto the stand, the Alicorn then turned towards the blinds to open them.

Even though the human technicians could not figure how to repair him, likely due to Sarge's inadequate methods of bulding him, they were able to recover and relinquish that piece after inspecting what remained of Simmons. They downloaded the message into their files, then granted Celestia's request to have it for her student. And despite having his whole being shut down beyond retrieval of his soul and consciousness, she was glad for that last bit of encouragement from her first, and maybe best friend from another planet.

She could hear the gunshots and grunts he made while recording that. And the only reason he survived that long from shielding her passed-out form out of shrapnel’s way was his cybernetics. She recalled him explaining that to her once, after she witnessed him shooting his own foot.

Just as she looked out of her window though, a real disturbing sight met Celestia’s faithful student from through the window panes.

"Spike! Spike, wake up!" She turned back to see her small Dragon assistant waving a pencil in his snoring slumber.

"Huh...check, check, check, check."

"Ah, horse apples!" The Earth Pony farm mare pulled out another length of black, thorny weeds from the ground, seeing the futility of the family's efforts to clear Sweet Apple Acres of them. "Them weeds ain't like nothin' I'd ever seen before! You, Big Mac?"

"N-nope!" He tried to bite down on another patch himself, which responded by ducking back into the soil, then pop up slapping his tail end. Hoping to prevent reliving a recent, painful memory, he tucked his tail tightly between his legs and gingerly stepped away. "Nope."

"Ponies! Attention, ponies! Fall back inside! Repeat, fall back!" Both siblings turned to see a grey stallion calling out to them from near the house. Inside through the window, they spotted Applebloom and Granny peering out to spot them also. Applejack looked down at the twisting, growing, prickly things turn more into vines than weeds, and opted to heed the stranger's advice.

She and Macintosh galloped eagerly back to their family, and be safe at home until this whole thing gets settled. But just as they reached the front porch, the Earth Pony stranger stood in front of her in a steady, but firm manner.

"Miss Applejack," he announced, his voice sounding oddly familiar in its level-headed fashion, "As an Element bearer, I'm going to have you come with me to Golden Oaks."

"What, why!"

"The others are being gathered there also. We need to ensure you're all together for when Princess Twilight comes back to help."

Before she could even ask how the fellow knew all that, a sudden spark of magenta brought a beige Unicorn, with a red mane and purple-lavender strands that made Applejack think of her Alicorn friend.

"The Carousel Boutique is secure, Hunt," she told him, "and so is that section of town."

"Alright," nodded the forenamed Hunt, "then let's get moving."

"Wait," shouted a young voiced from inside, "I can't find Winona! Did you see her?"

"No, Applebloom. I thought she was with Gran. Big Mac, you go in and watch them, I'll go back out an' fetch her!"

"Eeyup!" He did not have to be told twice, leaping over the porch steps with a loud thud.

"Sorry," chided the Unicorn, grimly shaking her head, "but there's no time. We have to go before those vine things start taking more ponies."

"But we gotta find 'er," said the filly, lips quivering, "She could get lost an' hurt too!"

"Moondancer," said the stallion, "go back to the Library and Miss Zecora. Make sure the rest have made it, and meet us there. I'll take Miss Applejack over once this situation's resolved."

"Hold on," said Applejack, "What's Zecora doin' there? Did them vines get to her home in the Everfree?"

"That's where they started coming from, yeah," he nodded plainly.

"With all due respect, Hunt," Moondancer stated, "you're worried about a housepet's safety?"

"I'm not, but they are. That's what matters to them right now. Don't worry, I'll regroup with you shortly."

Then the Moondancer gal huffed in annoyance, saying, "If you say so, Boss. But if you're not back in fifteen, I'll drag your sorry flank, myself."

"Copy that. Now go check on the rest."

"You know what's coming, don't you," she called out to him, as he and Applejack began their jaunt to the orchards. "What you'll have to do when she gets here?"

"That's what I said from the start," he shouted over his withers, ignoring the farm pony's slight confusion. "Now less talking, and start teleporting!"

This Hunt guy might have been a tad curt and impolite to his colleague, but she sure was grateful for his help and understanding. She could not help but wonder about him though. A total stranger and his own group of friends coming to check on the Elements and their families? Rounding them all up for Twilight? But that was not the weird thing that caught her attention. He seemed to know them all fairly well from the get-go. Fact, Applejack could have sworn she crossed paths with this stallion before. But ignoring that at this time, she decided to focus on the here and now, find Winona, and get to the Library before the damn weeds and vines could get any worse.

Part Two

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Part Three

Now, she would be the first to admit that such extraordinary turn of events has put her on the spot. Or second rather, after Fluttershy. And she has always striven to maintain her composure in the most dire of situations. What, with all the vines encroaching upon their quaint settlement, the sky distorted so dreadfully yet elegantly, as well the magic in her horn and sister's behaving erratically. Then to be rounded together by those familiar in town, alongside complete strangers as though they were tasked with such an errand was a tad unsettling. But after everything that has unfolded this past year or so, Rarity could not resist languishing over the next, worst, possible thing to occur.

Rescinded. Before Twilight could properly reunite with her foalhood friend from Canterlot, Pinkie Pie ducked at the last possible moment. Then a massive stalk of black thorns launched in through the shattered window and struck the white Unicorn to the floor. After clearing her head from the daze, she saw Comet and Moondancer using their horns to hold it in place. Seeing how they managed to overcome the fritz caused by the vines, they were able to keep it still for Applejack and that Hunt fellow to chop it with a pair of axes that were brought in also.

"Guess you was missin' somethin' here in Ponyville after all, Twi," her orange friend mused with a grunt.

"Perhaps it'd be best to solve this calamity directly with the Elements," she mused, turning to Twilight, "Wouldn't you agree, darling?"

"Only if we know to whom and what to direct that energy," the new Alicorn replied, "But you're right in that we need to get them out and ready for immediate use. But we still need to find the source, which might be in the Everfree."

"Oh, yeah," pumped Rainbow Dash, "Just like old times!"

As she levitated the case containing the necklaces and crown she brought with her, Hunt, Bon Bon and Moondancer came up to Twilight after conversing.

"Which is why we need to take that potion, Princess," he said, "After you activate it, we'll divvy it up and take a sip each. We should be able to look back and see what happened that led to all this."

"Look, Homestead right?" She had just placed the Elements upon her friends' necks and her head. "I appreciate you and your team helping us during this whole event, and I'm sure Princess Celestia had a good reason to entrust you with whatever assignment you have without letting us know about it. But I'm not sure this is something that relates to your work."

"Nonetheless," he stated, "we're going to have to collaborate in order to handle this thoroughly. Plus, our work is in the Everfree also, which means we need to work together."

"But remember," said Zecora, "that only three more ponies can share in viewing past catastrophies."

"Hunt and I will be two to help watch," said Bon Bon, "while you can decide another of your friends to join us. Tail and Dancer will help Rarity with her magic while also helping the rest keep those plants from getting inside."

"Ooh! Ooh! Pick me! Pick me! I'll do it! Me-me-me-me!" Seeing as how the rest of her friends showed slight unease to volunteer, Rarity watched Twilight decide on the singular choice.

She sighed, "Okay, Pinkie. Just remember we need to learn what's going on behind this whole thing. We can't afford to foal around, like with Caboose, Grif or Donut."

"Or the Cake twins! Or the Crusaders! You bet, Twilight! Thanks!"

As the rosy Earth Pony bounced to join the three standing in a circle, Rarity watched the lavender mare use her glow to shake and swirl the concoction. It eventually yielded the results Zecora had mentioned. But it was not her usual magenta. Instead, it was some purple, boiling substance that steamed a sickly green from Twilight's horn. Something she must have picked up after facing Sombra in the Empire, Rarity imagined. During all that, Spike rushed into the kitchen for some cups as instructed, then came directly back with four glasses. Floating them in front of her, Twilight poured equally small amounts inside, then dispersed them amongst the others.

"So," she asked the Zebra, "what now?"

"To find the proper events you must peek, focus strongly on the answers that you seek."

"Then let's focus on where these plants came from," said Hunt, "and where in the Everfree they started to fester. The root of all these problems should be pulled out from there."

"Like how those things went after the Princesses too," asked Pinkie.

"Exactly," Bon Bon nodded. "We find the source, we can track down what happened to them also."

"Alright," said Twilight, "then let's do this on the count of three. Ready?" Receiving a nod from each, she started. "One..."

"Two..." Pinkie chirped with eager excitement. That did not settle Rarity's nerves in the slightest.

"Three." After Hunt's level statement, all four emptied their cups. The others watched as they put the glasses down, waiting for something to unfold at any moment, before...

Twilight hummed curiously, "Nothing seems to be hap-" Suddenly, four pairs of eyes illuminated into white.

Pinkamena Diane Pie was super-duper excited to be going on a time-searching adventure in the past with Twilight, and Sweetie Drops, and Homestead David Hunt! Even though she was kind of bummed that he shaved his sort-of-itchy beard, the mare was really excited to see him back in town again after spending all that time in the Everfree with his new best friends. Maybe she could ask him to try growing a goatee! That would be even better-looking and frame-up his new-pony jawline with his short-cut mane! Rarity would like that probably!

But once the blinding light faded for her to regain her sight, she went straight to focusing on what was happening around her and the other three. Pinkie found them all inside a massive, glittery, sparkly cave that made her think of her big sister. "Ooh! Shiny!"

"Hush, Pinkie," Twilight hissed, "Look."

Just then, she saw Princess Celestia and Princess Luna stepping up towards a giant rock tree that held colorful, glowing, familiar gems in the branches and stem, with the sun and moon shaped at the base.

"The Tree of Harmony," Luna remarked, "Art thou certain, mine sister?"

"Hey, look," she gleamed, pointing at the center below the limbs, "There's your Cutie Mark, Twilight!"

"Pinkie, shh!" Twilight wanted to hear what Celestia was saying.

"Why! They can't hear us, right? We're just watching the show!"

"Pinkie's got a point," said Sweetie, "They're not even twitching their ears toward us."

"Zecora said we only see the flow of magic during major events," said Davey, "But we still need to listen."

"Even without these Elements," Celestia spoke on, "this shoot shall possess a great magic. Such that if it remains, shall the Tree press forth tending and warding this Forest's untamed growth."

The four viewed the millennial regents with intrigue and diligence, as the pair levitated said gems from the branches and stem. Placing them neatly into their strapped pouches, the Sisters of Night and Day departed with firm haste. That was when the bright flashy light thing came up again.

"Whee! What happens next?"

"Look," Twilight pointed, "This must be when the Princesses turned Discord to stone before us."

"Oh, this is so much fun!" Sure enough, Discord sat in his chaotic, disorderly glory of a throne on top of something resembling a hill, while Luna and Celestia made their approach. Pinkie then followed her gaze on the school of fish swimming midair past her and a bewildered Davey.

"Right."

"How about a game of 'Pin the Tail on the Pony'!" At that, Celestia and her sister turned agape to find her tail missing from behind, and looked back to see Discord swinging it playfully like a whip.

"Foalish sport and jests end this day for thee, Discord," she proclaimed with venom, "Thou shalt now pay the price of such calamitous reign on this earth!"

"Oh, I highly doubt that. And why must you speak so antiquarian. Why not speak like my friends from the aquarium instead? Even they sound less fishy. Or better yet, those ponies enjoying the spectacle behind you!"

"Wait," Sweetie said, now alert, "he sees us?"

But the Princesses never turned their heads again, thinking it was another prank from the Master of Chaos. "Very well, let them check your tail-free flanks."

"Thou hast ruled these lands with terror and unease," Luna spoke with equal spite, "But no longer! Behold, thine own downfall in the Elements of Harmony!"

With that, the gems lifted from their satchels and spun rapidly around Luna and her sister. Discord, however, was not paying attention. Or, that seemed to be the case. He was chewing loudly and obnoxiously over a pawful of black seeds from a paper bag, when he tossed some onto the Princesses' snouts. "Hungry? Oh, well. Suit yourselves."

They did not falter in their efforts, as they chose then to concentrate their focus channeling their power from the Elements. Once the blinding pillar of iridescent light engulfed the entire region, the Draconequus seemed to be entertained by it. "So intense, and so sure of yourselves! Remind you of anybody, David? Certain ladies with red hair and black armor! Hilarious!"

While he was mockingly petrified, Pinkie Pie looked to see Davey with a funny-looking face. It was almost like it turned to rock also. But Twilight was not looking at the stallion, nor did Sweetie Drops, and instead watched the event continue.

"Hark, mine blood kin," Luna sharply remarked, "this task be now complete. Should we not press on with these our newfound instruments and seek these ponies naming themselves Disciples who allowed such malice for their own secret gain?"

"Neigh, sister," Celestia answered lowly, "By now they be all but vanished from sight and mind of the Everfree after we seized what they sought also. But we must protect the Elements, alongside such relics from ancient forebears long-since perished afore Poninity."

"Dost thou mean...?"

"Yea, Luna. The guide towards the gateway of that foul beast called only Mantle must never be found nor used by any creature."

"And what of mine efforts in constructing a novel entity of intellect? Mayhaps that be of service to our cause after Starswirl’s intent."

"Thine theory on magical intelligence can continue with due diligence as well. But be wary, mine sweet little sister. I fear something as original and untested may yield unpredicting fruits greater than Discord, himself."

Pinkie Pie then looked at Twilight, who got anxious and was mumbling to herself about Ancora and Nightmare Moon. They stood there no longer, as the Regents of Equestria left into a restored horizon. But then Sweetie pointed out something. "Look, the ground!"

Sure enough, the black seeds Discord had tossed sank into the soil like pebbles in a river. Without even using a spell, Twilight and the others saw them take root and begin to sprout up to the revered Tree. But before reaching the surface, a blue field of light glowed in the dirt and kept the seeds from growing further. That is, until the power weakened from the Tree after so long, and after living without the Elements used to protect Equestria and the planet the past millennium or so.

But that was not the only thing that caught their attention. Davey looked up from the glowy-blue-flickery light show in the ground to see a group of ponies gathering in the cave and ruins on top.

"The Disciples," he muttered, "they must've somehow known about those black vines coming up. Now they're looking for what they want in the abandoned castle."

"But the only way they could've known that," said Sweetie, "was if they were told about it."

Celestia’s faithful student nodded with grim intensity. "Discord."

Part Four

"Come on! This has your cloven hooves all over it!"

"I'll have you know I have only one cloven hoof." Said appendage departed from his serpentine body to roundhouse Rainbow's flank. "And such accusations. I thought we were friends."

"Drop the act, buster," her pink friend snapped, "We're on to you!"

"Who else could've told that occult about the vines," asked Comet, more anxious than ticked.

"Better yet," Applejack added, "who else could've known about 'em to break all them loose onto Ponyville?"

"And who else has something to gain from taking the Princesses," Thunderlane wondered, "Somepony who's not currently imprisoned?"

Then Rarity said, "Surely there's just far too many coincidences to suggest otherwise, Discord. How could we not summon you with the Elements?"

"Ladies, stallions. Please, rest assured I am innocent. Would I lie to you?"

"Yes," came the vast majority. Only Fluttershy, Fire Streak and Homestead Hunt offered a "Maybe" instead.

"Well, it seems we have reached an impasse," said Discord feigning interest, "I'm telling the truth, but you think I'm lying. What do friends do in a situation like this, eh Princess? I'm sure you and the rest know a thing or two about trusting others. Congrats on the promotion by the way, Twilight. You deserved it."

"Maybe you didn't let those vines out," Fire Streak offered, "but we're thinking you at least have an idea what's causing this now."

Hearing somepony actually giving this guy a bit of leeway nearly made the prismatic mare explode. But since it was a retired Wonderbolt who seemed to know what he was talking about, she just crossed her forelegs begrudgingly.

But then Homestead spoke. "If you can help point us in the right direction, we'll be able to put in a good word to the Princesses - if they're ever found - then start to trust you a bit more."

That was the feather that broke the Pegasus' back. "Are you kidding me?! This guy's nothing but trouble! I say we blast him back to stone and see if those Disciple pals of his come and free him!"

"Works for me," answered Applejack on impulse, taking her stance.

Rarity stomped, "Hear, hear!"

"Let's see if he's got a funny bone to zap first," Pinkie exclaimed.

"Everyone, shut up!" The grey stallion's outcry caught all their attention, and got Fluttershy to huddle away from him. This situation seemed to bring back unpleasant memories. "Look, I get that you all have doubts on what he's saying. From what I'm told, he's the one who made you the worst versions of yourselves. But even after, did any of you learn from it? I mean, from that wedding I heard about, did any of you show your best selves when Twilight suspected something about Chrysalis incognito?"

All five paused for reflection while glancing sheepishly toward their Alicorn friend, allowing for Homestead to continue. "And yes, even I had a similar experience. Seeing those I looked up to and trusted with my life use me, lie to me, and turn against me like I was some pawn. And I thought that's what life had to offer. Nothing but lies and betrayal, until you came along and showed me otherwise. Then I was glad of the satisfaction knowing those responsible were brought down. So why aren't you satisfied that you showed someone else a better way to be, like Twilight did for Shimmer? Or did any of you not named Fluttershy actually put in the effort to help this guy?"

"Hey, that almost sounded like Zecora!" The amused smirk from said Zebra was forgotten when Homestead stared down at Pinkie for interrupting.

That grating, cryptic voice entering Rainbow's ear embittered her to no end. She knew that voice. She knew exactly whose it was, fuzzy or not. She did not know how it was physically possible, but she did not care right now. She wanted to really make sure he did not say another word after what she saw him do to her friend. But then, she also remembered how far he went to help them all, even save them: half-dead in a bleeding heap. His words also struck a chord with how Twilight still managed to help somepony who wanted to kill her. Despite what that bitch did to Twilight right before that. How she might have done that with Gilda also.

Then she saw how downcast the rest were, while Fluttershy was gaining confidence in hearing somepony support her. She guessed maybe she still felt sore about what happened because of how she acted during those bad times. The Element of Loyalty, for crying out loud. And hay, if nothing else, then she should at least have faith in her best friend since flight school. But now she has somepony else to wonder about, seeing as he obviously kept secrets still, including about himself.

"I may not know the first thing about making friends and keeping them. But I do know if we're just excluding others like this, we're as good as dead. How're we even still alive? How do you know he won't think it's pointless to try to be better without more backup? Why’d you even listen to Celestia to begin with?”

"Damn, Hunt," flatly stated Bon Bon, "that's the most I ever heard you talk."

"Not for me," Moondancer muttered.

"Really, Bon Bon," Rarity chided, "there's a child present."

"What," asked Spike, "I heard worse from those guys at Blood Gulch."

"Hush, darling. It's the principle of the matter."

"It's not my most temperate moment," Homestead shrugged after a calming breath. "Guess something finally snapped. Still though, something had to be said."

"And he's right," Rainbow's timid, yellow friend spoke up. "What if Discord really is telling the truth? We won't know for sure, until we actually give him a chance. Otherwise, that would be unfair to him. And how would that make us any better?"

"Well," said Discord, actually struck dumb by somepony not his best friend standing up for him, "I suppose it's a step in the right direction for us both, mi compadre."

Rainbow Dash barely noted how that sounded like the jerk knew the ex-Freelancer, himself.

"Just," Homestead regained his composure, "tell us what you know. We'll do what we can to stop this from escalating, and you can just walk away after you help us contain it."

"Um, Boss," Moondancer pointedly remarked, as all their attention was brought back to the silent mare of lavender in front of them. Her violet irises shrank in a shocked daze. She never even pointed out Bon's language next to Spike.

"Right, sorry. Princess, what will you have done with Discord?"

She was shaken from her apparent stupor after Spike elbowed her back to the present. "Oh, right. Discord, if you're not responsible, nor helping those Disciples use the vines for cover, then at least help us figure out a way to stop them, save the Tree of Harmony, and find Princesses Luna and Celestia. We're not making any progress by just standing here talking."

"Well," Discord pondered, "I for one am glad this whole drama's come to a close. There's a small band of fellows in the Everfree Forest I know of who might help. They did not bring the plants about, mind you. Those things simply popped up after that illogical Tree finally lost its mojo. However, they may point out somepony they knew and taught to navigate through that chaotic mess, even with my input."

"That's a good place to start, I guess," she sighed. "So long as it's on our way to the Castle ruins."

"Oh, I will do you one better. I'll send you there, myself!"

"Wait, wh-"

And with that, he snapped his talons.

Once the ponies had vanished, he took his lion paw stroking his goatee. "Hm. Perhaps I should have warned them about the carnage they might encounter there. Oh, well. Now, let me see how well those venison tribal folks have been since I last saw them millennia ago!"

But before he pulled his tail to teleport himself this time, he began to ponder further. "Oh, but how am I supposed to surprise and expect anydeer to listen? They probably heard the absolute worst distinctions of mine from their ancestors. That sort of thing never stopped me before. Apparently, that never stopped David there to hold a conversation with those ponies. Though that was nearly a year after they thought he was dead.

So, how did he manage it? By giving himself space from everypony he betrayed? He didn't seem all that intense when he was in the same library with those mares and Dragon. Maybe he wasn't all that off put by crossing paths with them again, knowing it was unavoidable perhaps?

Except for that moment he just suddenly lashed out and had a bit of a tantrum. Almost as if he felt he was deserted and shipwrecked all by his lonesome. Or, wait. Did he actually see something of himself in me? And what about Twilight? I was expecting more of a sharp tongue and lip from her at first. What cat caught her tongue? Or more, whose feline Cutie Mark? Did she find something of herself in him, somehow? Is...is David the common link for me to become good friends with Twilight?"

He floated idly by as the implications flew insensibly over his head and through his ears in a blur unreadable.

"Nah! Why overthink it? Let's just check on the latest King of the Thicket, shall we! Oh, balderdash! Now I'm starting to sound like Zecora, too!"

"Just be sure to close that drama shortly, yourself," the Zebra spoke up, "or else they might read you like a book on a shelf."

"Oh, zip it why don't you! What? Even I have standards not to stoop to vulgar expressions!"

Part Five

Twilight coughed at the sudden spray that came onto her and he friends. Right away she send a gust of wind with her magic, then set up a domed shield over them all.

"Great! Now what?!"

"Dance! Tail," Hunt shouted after Dash in the fray, "Get your barriers over Sparkle's!"

The pair of Unicorns did so, as plundervines and gaseous, giant pony trappers encircled the twelve ponies and Dragon. And in the midst of all that, they spotted a few sprawled equines in red pools on the ancient cobblestone floor. But still, they were not alone. There were three other occult members waiting from the worn-down threshold for the Elements to arrive. They turned first in surprise then glee in seeing the bearers trapped in the heart of the threat from out of nowhere. They had a Unicorn fire a bolt onto the Princess' forcefield to try weakening it for the ominous plants.

"I'm an Alicorn," she objected to the covering of her own bubble, "I can take it!"

"You need to get to that Tree pronto," he countered. "Once you teleport us down there, we'll give you mares suppressing fire!"

"He's right, darling! And these things took the other Princesses from Canterlot!"

"And the real deal's with the Tree in that there cave y'all saw! We're gonna need all the help we can get, Twi!"

"But how do we fight a bunch of vines, and giant pony trappers, and meanie ponies inside a big, black, gooey, icky cave?"

"I don't even know if I can fight!"

"You six get close to the Tree as you can," Hunt answered, "Streak and Lane will sweep past the Disciples once Tail and Dance make an opening! Then Agent Drops and I will hold off the ponies, while the rest focus on the vines and barriers!"

"But I don't even know what to do to save it?"

"You'll figure it out, Princess. You're smart like that." His low and even shift in tone nearly threw her off again. "Trust your gut, and your friends. They'll back you. All of us. Now, do you trust me?"

"You had me at 'Do you trust me'," Pie rumbled in her own baritone.

"Yeah," Dash grunted, "anything's better than sitting here right now!"

"I'll help as best as I can!"

"I'm with Fluttershy! Hear, hear!"

"Yeah," cheered Spike, "me too!"

"You're darn tootin' partner!"

"Alright," Twilight huffed in anticipation, "let's do this together! Ready?"

"Ready," was the unanimous shout. Twilight's horn grew brighter and more intense as she concentrated on them all to the Tree's location. The occult Unicorn mare must have caught on - that, or they all heard the plan - and decided to use that same technique in pursuit.

The lavender Princess landed them directly before the dying Tree, its limbs and branches covered in oozing vine sap. Moondancer and Comet Tail sent a sonic wave towards the cavern exit from their shields, where several more ponies joined the three Disciples from earlier.

"Go! Now's our chance!"

By Hunt's command, Fire Streak and Thunderlane swerved beneath the vines that were coming back from the shock, and tripped over the occultists who merely skidded on the floor in the blast. They maneuvered all the way towards the huge gap, and watched for anything coming at the charging cream and grey Earth Ponies. Sweetie Drops pulled out a grappling hook and tossed it onto a reaching vine, secured it, then swung over Homestead's head to hit the ponies from above. Hunt stayed low and bucked, punched and flipped over those trying to get back up. During all that, the Unicorns and Pegasi kept on the vines as planned to ensure none of them not on the Tree could get to the Elements.

"What's the plan, Changeling," a voice caught Moondancer's attention, as she recognized their leader in the center of it all.

"Concentrate on those ponies," he shouted back to his cohorts. "I'll handle the Elements!"

As the lime mare known as Cockatrice sent barrages to throw off Moondancer and Comet's efforts defending their team, the stallion with a dark mane and golden streak sent a vial of pale-grey liquid towards the ensnared Tree of Harmony. Both Hunt and Drops leapt to block or intercept, but without success. On impact, the vial shattered with a blast and puff of smoke. Just as Twilight began to tell her plan to save the Tree, more vines wrapped around it then came at her and her friends. Not only that, but even much thicker ones grew all over the terminal arbor of stone.

"No!"

"Agh! This isn't working," Rainbow growled with frustration, as more vines wrapped around her fetlocks. Too many for Applejack and Pinkie to chop with the hatchets. Thunderlane and Fire Streak were not faring any better, as three Pegasi drew their attention also.

"Don't ya give up on us now, ya hear! Keep at it!"

"But what could possibly give us a chance now," asked Rarity, desperate to entangle more vines around themselves with her blue glow.

"This isn't funny, or fun at all!"

"Damn it," snapped Homestead, as he and Sweetie were pushed back to a staggering pair of yellow Unicorns by Cockatrice and her half-dozen troops. "Where's Discord?!"

"Where do you think," answered the blue mare. "He's probably hiding after he sent us here to finish us off!"

Princess Twilight could only watch helplessly as she struggled to ward off the assault. Trying to spread her wings for a better position, she failed to concentrate enough on her wings to synchronize their beats, causing her to fall. Fluttershy and Spike jumped directly towards her, as she held her little Dragon tightly in seeing the ominous threat heading their way.

"Stop!"

At that, all the vines, bulb traps and branches obeyed the sudden command. "Release them."

Again, the plants heeded the order, gleaming from inside their black skin. Letting Rainbow free, along with the other Pegasi, and pulling back from their strike on Twilight, Spike and Fluttershy. The stranger's voice prompted even the Disciples and the Earth Ponies from engaging. All turned to see the source standing sternly over them, gracefully yet strongly placing the cloven hooves forward with each step. The majestic and mysterious presence was reinforced by those brown eyes under a set of six-point antlers that glowed from within instead of the usual Unicorn's shimmering dust around the horn. The buck stood exactly at the cave's center, where even Changeling fumbled back by this sudden appearance of might and serenity. All were still, and quiet.

"I come back to my cousin, the King's Thicket, and find this in the forest forever untamed. Ponies using our Tribe's herbal magic against their own kind who seek to restore the balance? I had hoped Discord's sudden appearance timed with my own visit was not an omen."

"And who the Hades are you," bellowed a Disciple stallion, having either the guts or lack of brain cells to speak up.

"Ah," gasped the blinking Draconequus from out of nowhere, "I see you all met my new buddy! Everpony, meet Blackthorn! Blackthorn, everypony!"

"And I suggest those of you wishing your own destruction to flee from here and rethink you life choices," the Deer so named Blackthorn stated. "Otherwise, I'm sure to deliver your doom by such devices you used, as you clearly desired."

"Isn't he a blast to hang around?"

"Changeling," quivered Cockatrice, yet trying to show defiance, "what should we do?"

"Looks like," he answered, pondering his options, "we should take this chance to regroup. Would hate to risk our operations twice in the same year."

With those words, the occult ponies skulked angrily and fearfully away, as the glowing antlers and Blackthorn's towering presence remained steadfast. As the remaining ponies and Dragon stared agape at him, they heard a bright, cheery voice sharply break the silence.

"Hi! I'm Pinkie!"

So, after that, Blackthorn explained how Discord came to this Thicket Tribe to describe the situation, as the King and his cousin were bickering how the Everfree was losing balance and containment. It turned out King Aspen, so named, believed allowing the Forest to grow rampant was necessary to reestablish that balance. Even to the point of teaching a certain Disciple Lieutenant how to make certain potions with Everfree plants and herbs to traverse through it and use it against their fellow ponies. Even if that meant those same ponies will later seek whatever means to elevate themselves over all creatures, including the Tribe. So many contradictions.

And the King's cousin, Blackthorn, happened to be the ruler of the Thicket before relinquishing that power to patrol and safeguard all creatures throughout the Everfree and outside its borders, believing Aspen to be the best candidate to lead the Tribe. Guess he failed to recognize his cousin's bitter distrust and apathy toward ponies all around. Again, self-contradictory.

Anyway, as Discord and Blackthorn were standing there and explaining all that, Was-or, Homestead sent Moondancer and Comet up into the Castle ruins, seeing as how the self-proclaimed Guardian of the Everfree still kept the vines and trappers in check. Which reminded Twilight of her solution.

"So, anyway," Rainbow said, "Twilight, any idea how we're supposed to save the damn Tree gone to crap?"

"I do, actually," she nodded, ignoring her friend's diction. "It's like Discord said, the Tree of Harmony just gave out all it's remaining power after protecting the Everfree for so long."

"Right," said Bon Bon, or Sweetie Drops, whatever she was calling herself, "And Celestia told Luna that it still held all that power to help contain the Everfree without the Elements."

"Exactly," she agreed, "which means the only way to restore the Tree's life and power is simply to...we need to give up the Elements of Harmony."

"What?!"

Her friends were all deeply troubled. And she could understand why, seeing how Discord looked very much pleased to hear that. They even voiced that concern, prompting Fluttershy to remind him their friendship still remained. Even Homestead Wa-Hunt, offered to meet and have a chat with the Draconequus now and then, reminding them all what he said about making an effort too.

"But Twi," Applejack interjected, "the Elements are what keep us together."

"You're right about what you said before, Applejack," she assured her friend, "That the Elements brought us together. But it's our bond that keeps us strong together. And forming strong bonds with others."

"I am willing to establish contact with you, Princess Twilight," Blackthorn bowed his head, "and hope to inspire the same with my Tribe. It seems we need one another for these woods to thrive."

"And I can hardly wait to work with this fellow much more in the future," Discord gleamed, prompting a simple eyeroll from the Deer.

"Plus we still got the Elements for emergencies, then bring them right back," added Rainbow, "So, no biggie."

"But what if something worse happens to the Tree before we can even use them," Fluttershy asked with worry.

"It's like the Princess said," said Homestead, "You've got each other to get through whatever happens next."

"And," she muttered, "what about you? And your team?"

"We'll see each other again soon enough," he replied, eyeing the blue Pegasus, "for better or worse. But I think now's a good time to get you fully up to speed about all this."

He then reached out a hoof for Bon Bon to place a book with his Cutie Mark on the cover. They pulled it from a satchel retrieved from the ruins, after Comet and Moondancer returned with the rest of their gear clearly left behind. After seeing the vanilla yellow mare nod to him then glance at her foalhood friend, they placed their own bags onto their backs for departure.

"I'm sure some, if not all of you, have figured out...who I was. But this'll give you a better idea of what we're dealing with. Even Agent Drops, Moondancer and Fire Streak contributed. And I hope the time spent apart again will be enough for you all to prepare and get whatever you've got off your chests next time we meet up."

As the gems were placed back into their limbs and stem, Homestead, his team, and Blackthorn quietly left them all as the former bearers watched the plundervines fading away from the Tree's restored magic. Rarity seemed upset by that, hoping to invite the Guardian to the Carousel Boutique and help inspire her for a new ensemble. But once the insidious plants disintegrated from the Tree itself, they found the Princesses safely freed from their hidden prisons at the Tree's base. And after they received a reunited hug from a relieved and elated Twilight, all remaining ponies watched as something sprouted from the roots, opening a budded flower that revealed a box with six locks on every side.

Celestia seemed to notice the book under her former faithful student’s wing, as she told her it was mystery she was confident Twilight could solve with her friends.

Part Six

Just think of what Delta said. Remember what it is you strive for, what really matters most, who matters most. Right here, right now. That's the key to finding out what to do, learn to be better, and how to face all of life's troubles. That's what I picked up from this place, at least.

Twilight closed the journal after reading that final entry. No date. No entry number. Just a small paragraph suspiciously directed towards her. She had skimmed through the entire tome to collectively gather the recorded data. But then looking at the logs more thoroughly brought to light things she never realized were sitting at her front door. The facts were encapsulated to the depths of her mind. Now, she just wanted time to process all that she learned, before taking that next step in gaining the full truth and sharing it with her friends. Spike went to help Rarity put on the finishing touches and restore her shop, as the Alicorn ruminated in Golden Oaks.

First was the basic knowledge of how it all started.

From what she could tell, based on the rate of solidification in the dried ink from each page, as well as the dated entries sprinkled within the text's entirety, she would say that such an event occurred shortly before erecting that memorial, but directly after recovering Simmons' robot remains. By then, those human technicians attempting to revive him concluded he was beyond help. So that only meant the sort of power to enact such a feat of conversion of the spirit and awareness while nearing passage to the other side, as well as placing said entity into a reanimated husk unattended for millennia at least, requiring the strength of two Alicorn Princesses, or all three, was aimed towards the dying Freelancer before her own ascension.

And according to the first log entry, this new assignment began shortly after her coronation. So while she was in Canterlot, training in the functions and intricacies of policymaking and etiquette, not to mention flight, he had been sent by Princess Celestia to Ponyville after spending about half a year with his new body. Like a yearling trying to walk for the first time. Or like when her own magical construct began as a foal.

Second was the nature of his teammates.

She never took the time to learn Arcane Star's relations, let alone connecting him to her foalhood friend. Now to find out Moondancer has been struggling with and repressing those dark feelings concerning her, that rocked her to the core. Instead of subconsciously embittered by her friend never coming to the party, the mare's first attempt at opening up to others outside a library, Moondancer wondered if having Twilight for a friend was even a good thing. Considering her father was murdered by one of many monsters threatening their homeworld just to find Twilight, that did not seem totally irrational.

But then it appeared Homestead, as he now called himself, caught on to something she held onto and addressed the issue. After admitting his own role in those events, he pressured her more and more until she could no longer contain it. That despite having her family already broken and estranged, Moondancer was still angry at Twilight for never checking in on her. Never writing, nor visiting. And had been left to try and pick up the pieces on her own, starting with her mother.

The fact that Golden Heart became desperate for answers, endangering herself and her daughter, although it involved a separate party, had miffed Moondancer greatly. Knowing that Twilight had those answers, but never even thought of her.

And after hearing what had happened to Twilight, she did not know how to respond or feel about it. Homestead suggested she put it down to help regather her thoughts. And she did. Down to the last pent-up aggression she so passively stowed away. From the moment her father left, to her mother getting the cold shoulder too, then hearing Twilight was a no-show to her party. Now the Alicorn wondered if she should let her friends say their piece with the stallion first, while she and Moondancer talked. She outlined three conversations in her head already, depending on the reaction.

Bon Bon, otherwise named Sweetie Drops, was a different matter. She was under the same impression as Homestead that she was to survey and assess his situation for the Princesses, in the event of a potential regression or relapse. She felt she had essentially been put on foalsitting duty in her own backyard. It never really bothered her that he was a former agent of that corrupt military program. In fact, she was relieved to hear he made an effort to help defeat it, albeit through questionable means. Yet he still strove to make up for that to his human-dying breath. No, what really ticked her off was that she now had more secrets to keep from her human-fanatic, energetic, and overly sensitive, passionate friend, whom Twilight also knew from Canterlot. Guess she could relate to the secrecy also.

This was sounding more like a "soap novel" of Rarity's as she went.

Fire Streak also jotted down some things that he had picked up from the other two during exercises. Thunderlane wanted to do what he could for Equestria to help heal the wounds, especially since he had just been admitted to the Reserves. He knew Derpy from her brief stint on the weather team before mail delivery, and heard about what happened in Dodge Junction alongside her close friend, Amethyst Star, or Sparkler.

They each were heading to pick up their siblings from school when they found out. Just hearing news of another attack, after the official statement of a dragon in that area earlier, was disturbing at best. But it was even harder to believe that somepony close to home was found dead miles away, and in another town that already suffered. And to hear from the siblings the Crusaders were attacked also? It was something they did not realize how bad it could be, the way the Element bearers have handled things in Ponyville.

Comet Tail was the least shaken of the bunch. He had heard of what happened in Dodge Junction, about Derpy, and was troubled by the news unfolding like everypony else. But he did not have that same connection as did Bon Bon. But even Fire Streak knew some Wonderbolts who were either injured during the fighting, or ponies killed in the final battle. There was another stallion from Ponyville who died there, but Comet did not know him well enough either. Bon Bon just knew about his knowledge and efficiency with astronomy and physics through Lyra, and recommended him to help Moondancer.

And thirdly, Celestia sent them to those ruins? Just to find an ancient artifact predating Ponykind, before the plundervines grew and those Disciples were monkeying about? While she was in Canterlot, he was in town with her friends without saying anything?

They were searching, and found, some tablet called Inspiring Manifest, alleged to contain the spell to transcend ideas and thoughts onto the objects aimed to be altered while affecting the user's mind. Only, that was not its original function. If in fact Forerunner, it had to be relocated and kept from those occultists before they could find it, as it could pinpoint where the remaining relics have scattered from the Castle over the centuries. Maybe even find the ponies' main base of operations if they had one or more.

But now Twilight had one last thing to check. Twilight had this deep inclination to know. To understand what else she might be keeping from Twilight, her friends, Homestead, and even her own sister. Twilight took one, last sip.

"Easy now," came the faded echo of Celestia's voice. "Make sure to breathe."

He coughed a sudden gust of air from lungs unfamiliar to him. Out of instinct, he raised his limbs over his face to check on their state. Instead of seeing bloodstains and burn marks as he had expected, he found his appendages covered in grey fur without any digits altogether. "What the hell?"

"Please," Celestia gently spoke on, "remain calm. Breathe."

He did not seem to listen, as Twilight saw him shift his head back and forth looking for something. Seeing the gold-tinted visor of his old helmet, she watched him scramble out of the covers of the sick bed, and try raising it from the nightstand. He struggled to pick it up, and resolved to simply slide it closer to his face to gaze intently at his reflection. Stiffly, raggedly, his brown eyes quivered. "Oh, great."

Then a bright flash came into the room, fading to illuminate the newly minted black cat with yellow eyes on his flank. "You have got to be fucking kidding me."

And then a second flash of light sent her another vision.

"Don't you fret none, sugarcube. The six'f us will always be united by the Elements o' Harmony." She watched as she and her friends departed from the stained-glass throne room and down the hall. "After trainin' and partakin' in the Celebration here with the Princesses, you can hop right on back over and we'll really have ourselves a good time. We'll always be together, and no amount o' royal duties ain't gonna change that. It'd be like you never left. Right, everypony!"

"Especially after all that's happened to us in the past year. How can we not, darling?"

"You bet! We'll be back rockin' just like old times, baby!"

"Yeah! Pinkie Pie," Spike asked.

"Pudding..."

"You should take that as a yes," answered Fluttershy. They strolled down towards their destination for their train, when the grey stallion stepped out from a shaded corner observing them.

“Hm, Semper Fidelis.”

“Forever Faithful indeed, my little David.”

"I'm actually surprised you didn't bring their attention towards me."

"I figured you weren't quite prepared," Celestia stepped from behind him, "considering you haven't said a word to announce your presence."

"I'm getting there," he nodded, "Just need to make sure everything's set for the new team. And speaking of which, you sure I'm qualified for this?"

"You adjusted well to Fire Streak's therapy and training at proficient levels. And after your tactical contributions retrieving lost human weapons and equipment, I say you more than qualify and have earned it."

"It's just that I was only one of two people before all this. Before Epsilon, I was a naïve, angsty boy scout with a grappling hook to the balls. Then after that, I was a paranoid, aggressive melodrama while also a dick. And I'm still not sure these are my own recollections, or just residual memories of a dead man. ...Two dead men."

She nearly went to offer a congenial hug after that.

"Luna told me of Twilight's struggles at night. She still faces similar doubts of being her own pony, while also based on the intellect, curiosity and mannerisms of my former star pupil. Mind you, she may share the same trait of overlooking simple things as Sunset, but that's just how most intellectuals behave. Myself included."

"So, you genuinely believe I'm the same Freelancer?"

"No individual remains the same as time progresses, nor should they. Tell me this, David. Do you still possess the same thoughts and emotions from the actions of your former, human self?"

"Mistakes and past sins are the dirt and bullshit we grow from, I guess," said the Earth Pony. "I feel as though I still made those choices, made that whole mess, and still feel the need to clean it up somehow. So, yeah. In a way, do."

"Well then," she smiled, "it seems we have the perfect job for you."

He heaved a grunted sigh, "I just hope I don't end up like some redneck we know." Then he spoke hoarsely, "'Men, it appears those damn, dirty Blues have gone and made cutesy pally-pals with the pony natives! If we don't have tactical superiority by making even more pony pals than they do, we'll sure as hell take 'em down with us!'"

That caused Twilight to snigger alongside the genuine laugh he and Celestia shared.

"And best not forget that Lopez fellow."

"Hay, Dios. Ayudame, por favor."

"Best of luck to you at Ghastly Gorge," chuckled Celestia warmly.

That regained Twilight's attention, "Wait, Ghastly Gorge? What's happening there?"

"Thanks, I'll need all I can get."

A light blinded her once more, as she heard a familiar voice that alarmed her, standing at the Gorge's edge.

"So, Mr. Hunt," said the Disciple Lieutenant, Changeling, "When you and your team find this Inspiring Manifest you told us so much about, what makes you think the Elements'll just give it to you when you ask for it?"

"Heh," Homestead chuckled back, "What in Tirek's name makes you think I'll even give it to you, never mind ask for it? For the longest time I was lied to, taken advantage of, stabbed in the back, and left for dead. Now that I've found a way out of all this, why just toss over my one assurance?"

That made Changeling laugh boisterously, as Twilight was struck dumb by this exchange. "Oh-ho-ho, I think you and I will get along nicely! And funny you should mention that name, considering our source of information on a certain Lord of Chaos."

"Meaning?" "Meaning?"

At that, a hunched, cloaked figure on four, black hooves advanced and lifted his hood with red, apelike arms.

Postscript

Author's Note

I'm aware Wash never spoke a word of Spanish, nor showed any understanding of what Lopez ever said. But then, looking back, he never really said he didn't either. Yes, it's true he didn't know Dos-Point-O helped fix the radio in Season 11, but he never paid attention to him like all the rest because he was busy trying to get a message through. So, I took the liberty of having him bilingual to allow for a casual Dos-Point-O reference, and a joke to Shannon voicing both Freelancer and robot. :rainbowwild:

Anyway, whoever's following this story, I hope you thoroughly enjoyed it while I've been getting it out of my head. :twilightsmile: And again, for those few reading this to the end, I currently have no ideas cooking up to further extend this plot. So, feel free to try it out yourselves if you want. Or maybe, if you know the original author, find out what the person thinks. So take care, and God bless.

Postscript

Dear Celestia,

I know this is something not to talk about via messages from Spike. In fact, I'd like to have this discussion face-to-face. But with the Celebration happening tomorrow morning, there's just so many things to do that it can't be held right away. So, I'm thinking we can talk over the Summit at the Crystal Empire. Share this with Luna, Shining and Cadence maybe.

But to name the subject of the matter, there's something I'd very much like to understand. It's not about the Disciples, the Mantle, Tirek, or even Chairman Hargrove. I'm sure most of those things will come to light at the Summit, as they are need-to-know as well. No, what I need to learn is this: Tell me everything you know about David.

"Hello, and welcome to our homeland Equestria! I can only imagine what you might be wondering concerning us and our world."

"Blarg."

"Oh," Twilight cringed slightly at the teal-armored Sangheilli with blue trim, "Hold on, give me a sec."

After a bright glow of magenta dust from her horn to his throat, mandible-like jaw and mind, she said, "There. Can you understand me?"

"Blarg honk, honk honk blarg."

"Well, at least I can understand you now. Guess I need to tweak that spell a bit later on. So, how would you like to be called? Ambassador Tucker Junior? T'Lakka Tucker Junior? Or, just Junior?"

"Ah, honk!"

"Dubstep-T?"

"Blarg blarg!"

"Well, okay then. You can call me Twilight if you want. I do hope this is the beginning of something wonderful between the two of us."

"Bow chicka honk honk."

"Ugh, I see you have your father's wit."

"Har-har-har-har."

“That was an extraordinary, collaborating spectacle, Princesses,” enthused the Chairman, as her former faithful student and new friend walked on, “We are most fortunate in having this chance and bear witness to a momentous celebration.”

“We are glad, Chairman Hargrove, to share such a joyous occasion with you and Ambassador T’Lakka Tucker,” her sister replied evenly. “It’s not every millennium we encounter those from beyond our stars, let alone offer them a splendored taste of our culture and prowess.”

Celestia glanced at Luna knowingly, as Malcolm spoke. “Quite so, Your Highness. This is indeed so rare an opportunity for us not to squander.”

“On that,” said Celestia, “we couldn’t agree more. And we most surely anticipate, with much optimism, to whatever lies before us.”

“No matter the challenges,” Luna finished, “we’re sure to face.”

“And I'm truly glad, myself, in knowing we’re on the same wavelength. By the by, I trust those communication satellites have been of good help to you thus far.”

"Okay, so how'd it go?"

"About as well as expected," the ivory mare answered the shimmering, miniature human in black, "He's surely well aware of our hesitance to move along with further arrangements."

"Yeah, like you said," shrugged Allison, "that's expected. But I wasn't talking about Hargrove, y'know."

"Same," she sighed, "Luna and I made sure to fill them all in on the Disciples, Hargrove's surveillance...and him."

"I'm guessing Twilight's big bro didn't take that real well."

"Again, to be expected. Until Twilight stood up for him. Then the only consolation he found was the distance between them before and after the vines."

"Sounds like those boys are gonna have a nice talk here soon enough. What'd he say in that journal?"

"He gave it to Twilight before leaving the Everfree. It was my one chance to know if anything were to happen right away. Now he's gone to check in with Changeling and Cockatrice."

"Guess he knew the best place to keep that info if he's been made, huh?"

"Perhaps. Doesn't soothe my nerves, however."

"Damn, I knew you got a motherly side toward ya. Never realized you adopted the guy."

"What else have you uncovered, Allison?"

Now it was the construct's turn to sigh, "'Fraid not much. Nothing on the guys, or even Church's whereabouts. Only that Hargrove's got a similar gig going on someplace called Chorus, some file attached labeled Operation: Siren, profiles and psych evals for some guys named Wu, Gates and Ortez. Couldn't access any of them, though. Not without alerting FILSS to my converted, flawed programming. Even inside Pinkie's head didn't help with that, you can imagine."

"Anything else?"

"I've been trying to find others for help. Working to get ahold of an investigative journalist and another program hiding at Blood Gulch, without Hargrove listening. Trying to get as much help as possible. Also, I'm seeing if Kaikaina's dental records and DNA match the decomposed body wearing her armor and tags. Can't be too sure with that girl."

"You wish to incorporate another simulation soldier as a potential asset?"

"Eh, world's best swordsman, can't predict the idiot, you get the gist."

"Chrysalis' Hive?"

"Still having trouble locating that. Maybe if we got that Discord guy to help out, we'll have better luck."

"And what word from Commander Sunny Side?"

"I just got back from Our Town, actually. She concluded, and I agree, that Starlight Glimmer's little socialist reform experiment is just that. A personal agenda. No ties to the Disciples yet, from what we've gathered."

"However...?"

"She's been sending fliers and messages openly to the public, including foals, about her little crusade. We intercepted a couple for further analysis, just in case."

"Something to be extra mindful then. Redundant to alert the public at this point, seeing as no laws were broken, nor the peace has been disturbed yet. Hopefully, we'll learn how to better address it after stopping Tirek."

"Yeah," Allison hissed from beneath her projected helmet, crossing her arms, "'bout that. Seeing as how this could prove lethal to those of my persuasion, how do you feel about converting a certain smart A.I., loosely speaking, to augment his lifespan and capacity to help us before he goes rampant?"

She could not even ponder a sound response at this time, for Celestia sensed a great amount of energy coming from the mirror against the Crystal Palace wall. The glass glowed and rippled like a lake, prior to a figure in cyan immediately diving out and somersaulting before the solar Regent. The figure she recognized from long ago knelt with both fists on the floor, the narrow glint on the visor tilted slightly to notice the Alicorn.

A filtered, female voice huffed from inside the helmet, "Thirty moons. They couldn't come sooner."

"All the more reason for me to watch this room as it happened," Celestia responded, readying herself in case she was wrong, "Identify yourself."

"Hey, hey, hey, relax!" At that, a cobalt glowing human appeared after that male voice spoke up too. "Chill the fuck out, Les. Carolina's with me. And it's been barely five months when we found out. Still not grasping the concept of pacing yourself, are ya?"

"It can't be," breathed Allison in a stupor.

"Hey there, Beta," the female greeted grimly as she stiffly rose. "I've been wanting that rematch for a long...long time."

"Hey, come on," said Church, "Let's keep it civil, ladies. Okay?"

"Carolina? You..." The magical spectra could not recover from seeing her second worst failure, of all time. "You're alive?"

"Don't sound so disappointed."

"Yeah," Church broke the tension sharply, "also the guys are with us too."

"What," Celestia asked.

"Well actually, they're on this planet called Chorus, though I'm guessing you prob'ly knew that by now. No? Well, okay. Looks like I finally got one over you, Tex!"

"That makes two of us," Carolina muttered. "Also, now who's getting impatient?"

"Oh, and we used these teleportation grenades to another magical, pony mirror thing that's being kept in the care of Hargrove's fucking psychotic lapdogs that were running a fucking civil war on Chorus for his personal fucking enterprise. And there are these half-horse, half-shark bitches causing trouble down there. And did I mention the guys are caught in the dead-fucking center of that?"

"So much for civility," Celestia huffed in bemusement.

"Oh, and you think maybe you could do that thing that Sunset chick did for Tex way back? Yeah, I'm getting some sort of algorithm or software equivalent of a migraine going on. God. Also, how's Twilight by the way?"

Prelude

Journal Entry 001:

It's been a while since I've done one of these things. But since I've grown accustomed to mouthwriting, along with some other new functions over the past half year or so, I better get back on it. I'm told it can be for posterity, assuming anyone'll even read this, as well as therapeutic. So, what the hell? Or, in terms of this place, what the Tartarus?

Let's just get caught up to speed. Everything can be traced back to Project Freelancer, a military organization under the United Nations Space Command of Sol III that had gone horribly wrong. The men in charge were corrupt, and the soldiers following them were blind, wittingly or not. Guess which side I was on.

Eventually, it was the project's own experiments that tore it apart from the inside, and I was the unlucky one sent to pick up the pieces. I recovered weapons, armor enhancements, A.I. fragments and M.I. subjects all in an effort to keep the wrong people from getting to them first. But I was too slow, and also duplicitous.

Everyone fought over and killed for the remnants of Project Freelancer, including old friends and former teammates. I didn't know if I could believe in anyone anymore. But during all that, I met the Reds and Blues in Equestria. They had been used by the Freelancers as I had. They were cannon fodder in a conflict with no purpose but to train and experiment their agents, armor and equipment. Dexter Grif’s own sister, Kaikaina, fell victim to that alongside others.

And the leaders of the equine nation on Caballinus IV were coerced by the project. The central figures were left in the dark, while their subordinates aggressively cooperated with full knowledge and consent to what they were doing. And those who trusted their leaders to make amends and free their homeworld from that insidious program, they collaborated with the Reds and Blues to accomplish that.

But more importantly, both were either stupid, naïve, or some combo of the two to trust. And although I believed myself the only one who could do what was necessary, I had been spat out and tossed from both sides of the battlefield. And worse still, I caused more avoidable trouble for those who were victims of the project as I was.

So, I had to make a decision. And ultimately, I went with those ponies and sim troopers to defend their own homes and lives from the corruption. Together, we were able to put an end to everything. The Freelancers, the fragments, even the Director of the whole operation. They're all gone. Even at the cost of some of our own lives.

Sadly, something must've happened to the Reds and Blues on their ride back to Repertum, because all frequencies lost contact with their ship. One of the sim troopers was killed in action protecting Equestria, along with a former Freelancer agent. Their names were Captain Richard Simmons, and Agent Washington.

Now as for where I fit into all this, well that takes some more difficulty to explain. Agent Washington is dead, him and everything he was, even his birth name. Physically, his body failed, and his heart and brain were shutting down. But before they pulled the plug, the Equestrian leaders managed to pull one last effort to give me a second chance.

They took in one of the tanks holding a spare pony husk from the Forerunner facility in the Frozen North after reconfiguring the hidden entrance. Somehow, they were able to incorporate what they learned about artificial and magical intelligence, and converted my psyche, spirit, mind, whatever, into an M.I. so to inhabit that body while stimulating the dormant nervous system. Yeah, I know, the idea itself is mind-boggling to say the least, so I won't go into details. Even if I understood an eighth of them. I'm sure Church wouldn't envy me. And why I was spared and not Simmons is beyond me. He was the true soldier. And true friend.

So now, I'm an Earth Pony stallion. Grey coat, blonde mane and tail, blue highlights to go with them, and brown eyes. Shortly after I woke up, I somehow got this strange brand on my flanks, much similar to the ponies here on Caballinus. I guess coming back from the dead meant something significant to my identity, or something. Because the marks themselves remind me of Washington's family pet cat. Always getting himself into trouble, nearly getting himself killed, in fact should've five times over, but then walks away like nothing happened. I seem to bounce back with nine lives also. That, or I just have bad luck.

Now, after constant surveillance while recovering, or more, accumulating to this new body for the past ten months, or moons as they say on this planet, I'm given my parole to lead investigations. I also contributed in their efforts to retrieve lost Freelancer weapons and equipment on Caballinus and return them to the UNSC, so there's that. Now these cases concern some sort of occult that believes Ponykind should be the heirs to the Forerunner tech, calling themselves Disciples of Mantle and Pure Reclamation. They're an organization almost as ancient as the Princesses here, if not equally so, and are willing to do anything and everything to ensure Humanity, Sangheili, Covenant Zealots, anybody, doesn't touch it. Even at the cost of their fellow ponies' lives.

The search team assigned to me are as follows:

Special Agent Sweetie Drops, former member of some monster-hunting program under Canterlot supervision. She's an Earth Pony also, currently Ponyville resident, and my parole officer of sorts. Informing the leaders of my recent development and behavioral patterns, in the hopes I don't repeat another back-stab. The Princesses won't admit it, even to themselves it seems, but Lord knows I need it.

Anyway, next is a Unicorn named Moondancer, daughter of the late lead scientist on all things alien found here at Caballinus. From Canterlot, very proficient in spells, defensive, astrophysics and so on. Was threatened by the Disciples alongside her mother for her father's research. So she's definitely motivated and driven to jeopardize their operation as much as she can.

Third is Pegasus Thunderlane, recruited from the reserves in the Wonderbolt division for this intel-espionage assignment. Lives in the adjacent settlement of Ponyville also, with his parents and little brother close by. He had a friend who was killed in the attack of Dodge Junction, a fellow cloud worker who was also ensnared by Freelancer's A.I. fragments.

And then there's another Unicorn, a stallion named Comet Tail. Again, Ponyville. A very knowledgeable astronomer, physicist and arcane engineer that will be assisting Moondancer in complex spells, calculations and the like. He will also learn defensive techniques under her, so to support her properly with his own horn. And right now, I'm glad Tucker's not here.

And lastly is a second Pegasus, one who will provide fitness and endurance training, as well as further reinforcement from the air. Name's Fire Streak. Again, so glad of Tucker's absence. A retired member of the Wonderbolts, he became a gym teacher and health-fitness rehab coach in Cloudsdale. He even became my coach while accumulating to this new body. After the fight against Freelancer, he was more than eager to help when offered a job.

No word from Sunnyside, so I guess she won't be joining. Today's our first day of orientation. A formal meeting, starting to know the team a bit, while also learning some things about each other. As the appointed leader of this team, I decided to put all my cards on the table. Let them know who I was, what I'd been through, what I did, what I expect from them, and how to act if they feel I might cross over for a strategic advantage at others' expense, including them. You get the gist.

I also wanted to ensure that any and all personal gripes they might have with the project through me, or maybe even other individuals, are kept separate from the job, and only confront them directly should they ever entangle with it. I'm sure I'll do great when it comes to the newly crowned Twilight and her friends. And I'm positive it's inevitable. Already, I noticed Moondancer quietly disliking the prospect for some reason. And I'm sure to get the basic chew-out from Special Agent Drops here shortly. The others I guess won't take as brief a time to gather their thoughts, either about me or otherwise.

For now, I believe that's everything off my post-bucket list.

Also, I converted to vegan. At least I still get eggs and dairy. Daisies, not so sure about.

This is ~~Agent~~ Homestead Hunt signing off.