When the Silent Fall

Chapter 1 – Planetary Problem

Shuur 'Makhanee moved like shadow. His comrades showed yellow on his motion tracker; there were also six red dots ahead. He heard his superior Spec op speak over their coms.

“Targets detected, move slow, these demons are to be feared.” Shuur doubted that these human ‘demons’ were much different than the others he had killed, but he obeyed. “Do not let them reclaim the complex, Shuur move up the left!” Again Shuur obeyed his superior. His now transparent figure moved ahead, away from his cloaked comrades. But before he could reach the demon activating the sword base terminal, he felt something grip his back. He was turned around as his camo faltered, and a demon covered in steel grey armor brought out his knife. This is how I am to die? He questioned in his head, at the end of a prehistoric knife? He felt pressure on the top of his helmet as the blade cut through his armor. How could he have known my position, Reach was to be ours! Shuur felt pain spike through his head. For the great journey… Then, whiteout.

(ஜ۩۞۩ஜ)

Six finished his assassination. Not this time you elite bugger! He let the body fall to the floor. Now where were the rest of you again, god where’s my guide? On the other side of the screen, a child was running frantic in his room, looking for a book.

(ஜ۩۞۩ஜ)

Shuur awoke with a start, he was lying face down, on dirt. I… I live? He then continued to try to stand, only to regret it. Gah! Would the Jiralhanae with the gravity hammer stop the pounding at once! His head cried with pain, the feeling was now spreading throughout his entire form. Alright I yield, I yield as he let his frame fall to the ground again, tired and confused. Was this the promised land? Or was it just another part of the great journey? The Sangheilian Spec op pondered his continuing existence; his deep red armor gleamed in the sunlight. Wait, sunlight? Shuur raised his head, scanning his surroundings. He was in a forest, filled with the sounds of distant animals.

Now he was truly confused, even if he had survived, would he not be in a human complex? Why was he laying on the ground, in a forest? Where were his robes, a follower of the great journey was to gain the most intricate of robes once they complete the journey! Was his death not honorable enough? Why was he here? The self-attempted query continued on in Shuur’s head until a shuffling in the woods caught his attention. He turned his head to the left to see three small equines, each draped in red gold cloaks baring matching symbols on the same side. Both creatures continued to stare at one another for the longest of times before Shuur heard the orange one speak, actually speak human English.

“What in Equestria are you?” The small purple maned speaking equine asked, then continued to walk forward, only to be stopped by the yellow one standing next to it.

“Scootaloo, don’t go near it, it’ll probably try to eat us or somethin’.” Shuur listened to the second speaker, its vocabulary sounded incomplete. Then the white one spoke up.

“How is it going to eat us if it doesn’t have a mouth?” She questioned. The yellow one examined him before it continued,

“Well maybe not eat us, but it still has those claw things.”

The orange one named Scootaloo spoke again, “Come on Apple Bloom, don’t be such a little filly.”

The Yellow one named ‘Apple Bloom’ now looked upset, “I ain’t no filly, I just think we ought to be careful.” It then turned to the white one, “Right, Sweetie Belle?”

Sweetie Belle then replied, “Actually, I’m with Scootaloo on this one.”

“ See, now come on and let’s check it out!” Scootaloo said with a look of triumph. The excitement emanating from the orange Pegasus was not hidden to Shuur as they approached. However, the same could not be said for Apple Bloom.

When they reached Shuur they continued to look at him, and despite every fiber of his being telling him to scare or kill them, he decided against it. They are but children, and these are a new species to be found by the Covenant, it could bring me honor to grant us new allies. though at first it had scared him that they spoke English, he hadn’t heard them actually call him by the name the humans had dubbed Sangheili so he assumed the English was but a coincidence. But the silence was not last to last, as one found his sword.

“What’s this tube thing?” she said, or at least Shuur assumed that they were female. She then continued to prod it, and that’s when Shuur chose to speak.

“It is my sword, now don’t touch it.” The equines froze, he continued, “I would also be appreciative if your ‘Scootaloo’ got off of my helmet.”

Their reactions were comically fast. Each equine got off at once, and as Shuur stood , they huddled into a little group. He then turned up his helmet speakers as to hear their speech.

“Ah told you it is dangerous, it said sword!” said Apple Bloom.

“Ya, but it spoke equish, isn’t that enough to tell if it’s friendly?” Scootaloo retorted.

“Diamond dogs speak equish, and they’re not friendly.” Added Sweetie Belle.

“Alright, fair point but he’s not a diamond dog.” Scootaloo then added, “But if he is bad, wouldn’t he have tried to hurt us already?” Scootaloo then glanced at the two beside her, who were mulling it over. After some whispering that Shuur couldn’t hear they turned to face him. Scootaloo stepped forward.

“Um, Hi there mister monster guy um,” she seemed to falter, but didn’t have to continue as Shuur stepped in.

“I am no monster, Scootaloo, of that I can assure you,” he stopped to see the equines reaction then proceeded, “Though I am a warrior, I do not intend to do you any harm.”

This seemed to make Scootaloo lighten up enough to smile, which for some reason made Shuur feel a little fuzzy inside. “Well that’s good mister, um sorry what`s your name?” At this question, Shuur faltered slightly. Sure at the said words that they were actually speaking ‘equish’ his thoughts that they were human allies had been quelled, but he didn’t trust them enough to tell them his name.

“You may call me ‘Elite’ for now little ones.”

Scootaloo then began to speak again, “Well mister Elite, would you like to come back with us to ponyville?” Shuur was surprised that they would already want to bring him back to a settlement, but thought better of it when he saw their suns position.

“Very well, I shall join you on your journey back to this, ponyville.” Scootaloo smiled again,

“Alright then off we go.” But before they continued, she turned to the others and shouted in unison,

“CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS, DISCOVERERS YAY!”

Shuur was taken slightly aback at their sudden outburst, but when they started moving, he followed. What odd creatures thought Shuur, I had better watch myself, who knows what other creatures this planet sustains.

(ஜ۩۞۩ஜ)

Not much had transpired as the cross species group made their trek through the woods. They spoke seldom, usually to trade info about the others kind. The silence didn’t bother Shuur though, every  mission he had ever been on had always required silence. But as he observed, the lack of sound disturbed the equines.  Either that, or it was the eight foot tall alien behind them. At the mention that he wasn’t from this world the equines seemed to quiet down considerably, something about sucking out there brains. Scootaloo found it time to ask another question,

“So uh, Mister Elite,” Shuur looked down at the little filly, “What are you here to do, um, I mean if you’re an alien then are you here to take over our planet?” Shuur almost chuckled.

“No little one I am not,” he then looked up at the sky, which was beginning to turn a vibrant orange, “In fact I’m not sure why I’m here.”

The cutie mark crusader all let a relieved sigh. Then Apple Bloom them asked a question to her comrades that had been troubling Shuur for some time, “How do you think our parents will react?” This apparently went unconsidered as  Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle suddenly took worried expressions.

“ So mister Elite, do you think you could try to stay out of sight when we reach ponyville?” Sweetie Belle then asked.  Shuur couldn’t hold the chuckle that escaped his mandibles.

“Worry not little ones, I can do much more than that.” Sweetie Belle put on a face of doubt but decided to not disagree with the gigantic alien. Just then Apple Bloom let out an excited gasp,

“Girls were here!”

Shuur looked out beyond the forests reach to see a medieval village. He almost broke down right there, It is as I feared, this planet is rather new.

As they approached the now shadow cast village Shuur spoke, “Well little ones it is my time to disappear, worry not I will be at your side the entire time.” Sweetie Belle’s expression had not changed, until she looked back to see Shuur partially cloaked. She gasped, causing the other two to look as well, only for them to join in the gasp as a shadow was all Shuur cast now. He let another chuckle out as he saw there expressions, “As I said before, I am still here.” Apple Bloom gave Scootaloo a worried look, who simply shrugged in return. They decided to go to Apple Blooms place first, a farm as Shuur understood. His suspensions were confirmed as they neared a group of buildings at the top of a hill. Shuur took a moment to look around, they were now going up a path surrounded by trees each bearing odd red fruit.

As they continued he saw a large red building, standing at least nine meters tall. It was a confusing sight, how were equines capable of constructing anything? His confusion only furthered itself as he looked around, each building looked like it was well made, yet they had no dexterous digits. A voice unlike the ones he had heard before caught him off guard, it sounded more matured but still prominently female.

“Apple Bloom, we were all worried right sick about you!” A larger pony now stood in front of the group. Her hat only served to confuse Shuur farther, They make headwear as well, what next, they fly? This question answered itself as a Cyan winged pony flew into the vicinity, stopping mid-flight after seeing the group.

It flew down and began to speak, “Oh gosh there you guys are, I’ve been looking everywhere for ya!” She was female as well, were they all female?

Shuur was now absolutely mind blown. I… that doesn't even… what next they move their sun, don’t think that, chances are… Shuur decided that all of his knowledge of physics were now forfeit. Apple Bloom continued to ask her sister 'Apple Jack' if she could go to the barn.

“Course ya can, why would ya need mah permission?” Apple Bloom didn’t answer, she just thanked her sister and motioned for her friends to follow. As they left Shuur followed, still absolutely mind blown.

They reached this ‘barn’ soon enough. To Shuurs knowledge a barn was a building to store animals, and as usual, Shuur was incorrect. When they opened the doors he expected there to be some sort of animals stored in the many pens, then again, barn could be some sort of guest house in their description. As they entered Apple Bloom closed the doors behind them.

“Um, alright Mister Elite, you can come out now…” Shuur looked around to make sure that they truly were alone, confirming they were he uncloaked. The expression on the three fillies faces truly made Shuurs day. But he had a question that needed answering.

“Why didn’t you tell me that Pegasus could fly?”

Scootaloo looked a little flushed, “Well um, I thought that would kind of be self-explanatory, sorry.” Shuur simply looked down to the little filly, he had never even thought about the possibility of flight. He had believed that the wings were for increased speed, or to further jumps, but not flight.

Shuur simply sighed, “Very well, I guess this is to be my quarters?”

Apple Bloom nodded, “I hope that this is okay, ah mean I hope you don’t take it as offensive, but this all we got that is excluded from our main house.”

Shuur looked around again, this time to locate possible escape routes in case a denizen came to the barn for something. Afterwards, Shuur nodded, “Yes this living quarters will suffice, thank you little one.” Apple Bloom perked up and then yawned.

“Alrighty then, come on girls, let’s get home, ahm tired.” Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo both nodded, and they looked back and waved before Apple Bloom opened the doors, and she too waved. Shuur responded in kind, waving as they left. Great,, now they’re autonomy allows for waving, wonderful. Shuur found a pile of hay to lie upon, true it was not what he would’ve liked to sleep on, but he sucked it up and did so anyway. He began pondering about the day’s events, the mission on Reach, the steel grey demon, waking up in a forest, then finding out that he wasn’t on a mapped planet, and denizens of said planet could defy all knowledge he had of equines, and physics.

He thought that maybe this was more of a hell for those who did not die honorably. He quickly vanquished those thoughts as he had much honor throughout his campaign record. Shuur laid back into a more comfortable position. He lay there waiting for sleep to take him, before he realized that this  planets day cycle was different. A most definite Planetary Problem. Shuur groaned, this was going to be a long night.

Heyo all you who are reading this, I would like to mention that this is my first FIC. Also it has also gone under a complete remake, the only things that are the same are the main character and the planet he ended up on. Good day to you all, next chapter on Saturday/Sunday.