UNSC Saratoga

Captain Snowden looked out his observation window. He watched the planet, pondering what was down there. The door to the bridge opened and Lieutenant Colonel Grace entered, a pair of sailors saluting as she walked by.

"You wanted to see me, sir?" Grace saluted as the Captain turned to her returning her salute.

Snowden turned back to the viewing port."Anything from Sergeant Major Ramirez yet?" Snowden decided to get straight to the point.

Grace shook her head. "Nothing but regular location updates, as of right now they are making observations of a town to the north of their drop location."

"So the mission is progressing as planned," Snowden said. Grace nodded in response. Snowden watched the light of the sun slowly moved over the planet. As soon as the planet went dark, they would be moving into position.

"Sir." Grace got the Captain's attention. Snowden turned to meet her gaze. "Is that everything, sir?" Grace asked eager to get back to her task.

Normally this would be seen as rude however Snowden wasn't most senior officers in the UNSC, he knew she was busy, and that she was dealing with a lot. Quite a lot indeed.

"Yes, you're dismissed, Colonel," Snowden replied looking back at the planet, and with that Grace took her leave as the automatic doors opened her serious expression cracked for but a moment before the door closed behind her.

1st squad moved in a wedge formation rapidly towards the calls for help. The Marines raised their weapons and ducked through the shrubs advancing on the position.

"Check your targets Marines," Ramirez ordered as they came upon the location.

They lined up behind the same wolves as they advanced on a purple mare. The marines got low and trained their rifles on the wolves. All of a sudden the purple mare dropped a shield around herself. The marines watched still waiting for orders. Carlos looked at Ramirez. Ramirez stood up and pulled out his magnum.

"What's the plan, Sarge?" Carlos asked watching Ramirez's actions.

"Let's not waste the ammo Marines, we don't have an unlimited supply," Ramirez said. Carlos nodded, the Marines took their weapons off safe as a 'just in case' insurance policy. Without warning, Ramirez lifted his magnum towards the first wolf.

'Crack!'

The shot permeated the air, the bullet struck the hound in the hindquarters causing it to yelp in surprise. The rest of the pack seemed alarmed until the alpha turned to the Marines after spotting them.

The wolf howled before it turned and began walking off with the rest of the pack. The wolf watched them as the pack began to skulk off.

Twilight had dropped to the ground upon hearing the loud crack as her panic got the better of her. Her shield dropped, and she began to hyperventilate. Stars filled her vision when the growling started again.

"Get you filthy beast!" A rough voice snarled. However, the Timberwolf was evidently hungry enough to ignore him.

The Timberwolf lunged forward to claim the Alicorn prize.

Twilight at this point was out of it, she felt as if she couldn't breathe until something latched around her leg, it was sharp, then it was painful as it began to pull and chomp down harder, that spurred Twilight awake. Twilight went to flare her horn but was beat to the punch by another gunshot.

"Weapons free!"

'Bratatatatatata!'

Automatic gunfire peppered the Timberwolfwith bullets. The wolf released his grip and yelped in pain multiple times before falling backward and splintering to pieces.

Twilight looked at her leg and immediately regretted it. The Timberwolf had evidently had her long enough to shred part of the skin on her leg but left a gash that began to ooze blood at a slow rate.

Twilight seethed in pain as the pain began to extend up her leg.

"Ah hell." The voice approached. "Corpsman, get over here!"

Twilight looked over to see the owner of the voice, as 13 ponies swarmed out of the treeline moving around her. In a moment of panic, she raised her shield around herself once more, alarming everyone. "Take it, easy miss, we're not gonna hurt you," Ramirez said. The soldiers formed a 360-degree circle around the bubble.

"I don't think it can understand you, sir." Carlos approached.

This rubbed Twilight the wrong way. "I can understand you, just fine," Twilight responded earning an alarmed look from all but Jackson, Lemus, Benson, and Ramirez.

"You speak English?" Carlos replied in alarm.

"Not the time Sergeant, go check on your squad." Ramirez pointed. Carlos nodded. "Yes, sarge." Carlos moved off to check on his Marines.

Janice approached the shield and removed her helmet.

"Miss? I'm Petty Officer Janice, I'm the field doctor with this unit." Janice showed Twilight the red cross symbol on her helmet. Twilight looked at her own injury and winced. Backed against the wall. Then again, judging by what they did to the Timberwolf they had more than enough opportunity to kill her.

"It's alright if you don't trust us ma'am, but at least allow her to help you," Ramirez said.

Twilight looked back at her injury one more time as the blood oozed down her leg and spread into the dirt.

Twilight nodded and a small opening appeared for Janice.

Ramirez nodded to Janice who looked ahead and stepped through. The window closed, trapping Janice inside.

Janice noted to herself she had no experience with horses but she couldn't tell her that. As Janice got closer she looked into the mare's eyes. She was watching Janice regarding her with suspicion. More to the point she was watching what was dangling around her neck, her MA5.

"I get it, I'll put it down," Janice said, slowly grabbing the top of the rifle. The tensed and her horn buzzed with what looked like electricity. With slow deliberate movements, Janice walked towards Ramirez hoisting the strap over her head and set the weapon gently on the ground.

The mares expression softened, and the buzzing stopped. However, Janice made deliberate slow movements towards the mare. As she approached she got a bearing on the extent of the injury. It was basic, she wouldn't die. "Well, the good news is, no arteries have been severed," Janice said.

"Mhmm," Twilight replied with a bit of malice. Janice removed her backpack and opened it grabbing the biofoam, however she stopped. Biofoam contained a few medicinal properties including morphophetamine, and polyethyltriphosphate, which Janice had no idea if it was toxic to her species. So instead she busted out something more simple, old-fashioned first aid with gauze, and a tourniquet.

Twilight watched with a mixture of fear and curiosity, she wasn't performing any medical spells but was doing something, she wasn't sure what though. Janice pulled out the tourniquet and unbuckled the release.

"This might pinch a little ma'am," Janice said. as she lifted Twilights leg to fasten the tourniquet. "Hey." Janice began, Twilight looked at her instead of at the strange strap she had. "What's your name?" Janice mustered the most genuine smile she could.

Twilight looked away. Janice frowned and fixed the tourniquet to Twilight's leg.

"Twilight..." Twilight finally said. "My name is Twilight Sparkle." She finally said. Janice's smile returned as she hit the button on the buckle and the tourniquet tightened, causing Twilight to wince.

"What is that thing?" Twilight asked in curiosity. Janice looked at the tourniquet.

"This is called a tourniquet, it cuts off blood flow to your bleeding extremity." Twilight regarded it with a fascinated expression.

"So primitive, but effective." Twilight looked at Janice and looked at the mare's horn. "Aren't you a unicorn? Why not just use a healing spell?" Twilight asked as Janice went for the gauze.

Janice regarded the question. How to best answer the question tactfully. A white lie never hurt anyone. "I just never really practiced spells," Janice replied. This drove something in Twilight to push for more answers but when she went to speak a painful surge erupted in her leg as Janice began to pack the wound.

Pained whimpers came from Twilight as Janice finished packing the wound and began to wrap it. Twilight picked her head up and eyed Janice dangerously. "Sorry, Miss Sparkle, but that should be that. I'm done." Janice informed, Twilight looked inspecting her work. It was surprisingly clean. Despite the leftover blood on the ground, it was holding nicely, despite the pinch from the 'tourniquet' as she called it that she used.

"She good to go Corporal?" Ramirez asked from beyond the barrier. Janice nodded.

"I'm done sarge, but she'll still need to get to a hospital to get this wound properly treated," Janice said.

Ramirez winced. "We can't just take her back to her town. All of us going into town would likely cause a panic, and we need to be mindful of disease." Ramirez said.

"Now hold on. You can't just leave me here." Twilight deadpanned.

"We won't, we will just have to take you back with us," Ramirez replied.

Twilights horn flared. "I'm not going anywhere with you."

"Relax Twilight. We won't do anything to harm you." Janice attempted to deescalate the situation.

"Well you can stay here or come with us, and I'd rather not have let a poor girl get eaten by giant wolves." Ramirez shot back.

"My friends know I'm out here, I sent my friend Pinkie to find them before I came looking for you," Twilight replied.

Suddenly a howl sounded through the air.

"Well it sounds like leaving you is out of the question." Ramirez pointed out.

Twilight winced weighing her options. She knew she could easily take on a pack of Timberwolves, but not like this. "Times running out ma'am." Ramirez looked at the approaching pack.

Twilights options were non-existent at this point. As Ramirez turned to leave Twilight lowered her shield. "Once I'm well, I can leave on my own terms?" Twilight asked.

"I'll make sure we get you back here as soon as possible," Janice promised as she thrust her bag to Jackson. "Jackson. Help me get her on my back." She ordered. Jackson came over with Ramirez, they each lifted Twilight onto Janice.

Janice adjusted herself before reclaiming her MA5.

"Let's move 1st squad." Ramirez lifted his hoof to his ear. "Saratoga, this is Raider 7 requesting distort, we're moving to LZ now," Ramirez said.

Twilight looked confused but was trusted from confusion when he pointed forward. Deeper into the Evetfree. 'Are these ponies crazy?' Twilight thought.

"Form a diamond formation around doc, let's move to evac." With the order, they were off the path and heading towards the nearest opening in the trees.

The forest slowly became darker and gave way to a swamp.

"Where are we going?" Twilight asked.

"Were heading to our ship," Janice replied

"You're ship? Did you come on an airship or something?" Twilight again asked.

"Something like that," Ramirez answered, annoyed.

Twilight picked up she was asking too much and went silent.

Janice smiled and looked back. "It's alright, he just doesn't like civilians," Janice reassured.

"Can it Corporal." Ramirez chastised.

"Roger sarge," Janice replied.

They finally came into the open area and began to spread out to form their security.

"Alright, spread out," Ramirez ordered. Janice carried Twilight up to the LZ.

As they stood Janice could feel the weight start to weigh down on her. Then the sounds of the pelican approaching drew Twilights curiosity once more.

When it came into view her shock became very evident.

The shock didn't end as it landed and she began to move towards it. Another pony walked from the door to the back of the compartment.

"Who is this?" The pilot asked as Janice walked onto the pelican.

"We found her in the woods. She's hurt, sir." Ramirez replied. Janice set Twilight in one of the seats and began to strap her into the seat.

"Now I gotta quarantine." The pilot complained walking back into the cockpit mumbling something about 'alien bastards' before the door closed.

The troops piled in and took their seats.

"Who's hungry?" Jackson said, everyone, looked at him.

"I guess I could go for some grub," Benson replied.

"You guys can go get grub once we gear down and decon. God knows what diseases she's immune to that were not. Keep your distance from the other crew members." Ramirez said touching his earpiece. "Saratoga, Raider 7. Requesting to enact quarantine procedures on 1st Squad. I'll also need the Chief Medical Officer in the hangar." Ramirez said getting grumbles from the squad. "Hey, I didn't ask for the pea gallery!" Ramirez seethed.

Twilight watched the exchange and felt almost bad for the ponies eyeing Ramirez carefully. If he noticed he didn't say anything.

With that, the ship took off and began to fly low for the mountains.

The Pelican flew over the Everfree for close to seven minutes. All the while, Twilight looked around the strange flying machine she was in looking at the various lights, the straps holding her to the seat. Curiosity got the better of her, she pulled on the strap and it didn't budge. Her next thought went to. 'How do I get out of this?' As she pulled once more but then noticed the buckle in the center of her chest. As she reached for it, a hoof stopped her and she turned to meet Janice's gaze and she shook her head 'no.'

Twilight took this opportunity to ask some questions. "Why are you so adamant about taking me with you to your airship?" Twilight asked.

Janice gave a reassuring smile. "Let's save those questions for a little later after we close that injury of yours, then I'll answer any questions you might have," Janice replied. Twilight nodded seeming to understand the mare.

"However, for the record-" Janice started, Twilight looked back at her. "-it's more for the good of your society. We need to ensure you don't bring any of our diseases from our world back to your people."

To Twilight this made sense, but they were ponies. Wait, did they say their world? Twilight looked back at her. "Wait you said 'your world?'" Twilight asked a tinge of shock crossing her face.

"Miss Sparkle, I'll answer your questions later but now is a very bad time," Janice replied, leaving Twilight to ponder what she meant.

Muffled chatter started up, coming from all around her but she couldn't make out what they were saying, and nopony was saying anything.

Ramirez stood up and faced the ramp as it opened, Twilight could recognize the mountain she and her friends defeated the dragon on, and then they entered what seemed to be a cave and the Pelican turned itself to reveal it in fact wasn't a cave. A pony wearing some kind of uniform, and red vest was on his rear hooves holding orange glow sticks waving them towards himself directing the flying machine they were in.

When the Pelican touched down in the hangar Janice was the first to her hooves and placed herself in front of Twilight.

The rest of the Marines stood up after her and began to make their exit, their hardened boots thumped against the metal deck. A pony in a white hazmat suit stepped on when the ramp dropped.

"What do we have petty officer?" The pony asked.

Janice unbuckled Twilight and released her from her confinement. "Have a..." She looked to finally notice she had both wings and a horn. "A pony civilian ran into her in the forest she was injured by the local wildlife."

"Okay," The pony turned back to a pony with a similar coat color to Twilight except her mane was a smokey black. "Ensign, get up here and help us get her to the med bay."

She abandoned the stretcher and stepped onto the Pelican.

"Okay Miss Sparkle, we are going to lift you and take you to the med bay," Janice said as she positioned herself to pick up one side of her.

On a three-count, the three ponies lifted her out of her seat and carried her out of the pelican and onto the stretcher.

"Miss Sparkle was it?" The first pony asked.

Twilight nodded, "Twilight Sparkle," she said looking at all the ponies still baffled by her surroundings. More to the point why were the unicorns not using their magic to carry her?

"My name is Doctor Bowman, I'm the chief medical officer on the UNSC Saratoga." Twilight had so many questions. 'What on Faust did UNSC stand for? What kind of airship are we on? Where did these ponies come from?' She needed answers and she vowed mentally she was going to get to the bottom of it.

Ponyville, EQ
Evening hours

"What if she's hurt? Or worst?" Rarity held a hoof to her mouth.

"We need to go in and find her, I'll beat those jerks into the ground if they hurt her." Rainbow made a punching motion.

Applejack shook her head at her friend's antics. "She's an Alicorn Dash, I'm fairly certain she can take on anything that comes her way."

"She's right darling, but I still can't help but worry," Rarity cringed willing certain thoughts to go away.

Applejack looked into the dark forest. "Well, it's too dangerous to go in at this time a night."

"What are we supposed to do? Leave her in there?!" Rainbow scowled.

"I don't like it as much as y'all do sugarcube," Applejack replied.

"I think it's worth talking to the mayor on the matter," Rarity suggested turning to head towards the town hall. Applejack sighed and fell in behind her.

"Yeah, I reckon you're right Rares. I just hope there's somethin' she can do."

Later

"Unfortunately there's not much I can do at the moment," Mayor Mare answered. The three mares looked fearfully.

"Wha'? We can't just leave her out there!" Applejack exclaimed.

"Yeah! If you won't do anything then I will!" Rainbow Dash barked turning to fly out the manor door, that was until Applejack gripped her tail in her teeth halting the blue pegasus.

"Whoa nelly, ya' can't just go flyin' into the Everfree like a tornader'. That's wha' got Twi' in this mess," Applejack reasoned. Mayor Mare sighed and looked at the three mares that appeared at her door.

"Look, I can send a message to the regional guard but that's about as much as I can do." Mayor Mare replied.

Rarity scoffed, "That still does nothing until morning."

Rarity stomped her hoof against the wood floor to insinuate her point, Mayor Mare furrowed her brow at this. "Well, what do you expect me to do, galivant off into the Everfree Forest with my advisors in the middle of the night?" Mayor Mare quipped silencing Rarity.

"Well, we have to do something!" Rainbow flew up in the mayor's face. The mayor pushed Rainbow away gently with her hoof.

"Wait maybe we can!" Rarity suddenly lit up in a sudden moment of clarity.

"Like what Rares?" Applejack asked. Rarity looked over at her friend.

"We can send a message to Princess Celestia! Twilight is missing after all and she's a Princess too, that makes it royal business." Rarity lifted her hoof to drive the point home.

"Well, what are we waiting for?!" Rainbow lit up flying out the door.

"I'll get that message sent out right away," Mayor Mare called to them as they left leaving her in peace once more.

The three mares ran across town to Twilights castle and proceeded to knock on the door. They asked Spike to send Princess Celestia a letter and informed him about what was going on.