Chapters Prologue
Year: 2253
A UNSC Albatross slowly drifted through space hurtling towards an unknown planet. The life pod slowly rotated and was brought into the planet’s gravity well. The ship’s autopilot engaged and straightens the ship, after activating all of the appropriate entry algorithms and set those to work the ship engaged a long range beacon message. “This is Lieutenant Frank Morrison of the UNSC Frigate The Recollection. We were attacked by a Covenant destroyer near the Kilirus star system. To all UNSC forces please respond! Coordinates of my life pod will be broadcasted with this message.” The message then cut into repeat of a set of coordinates then playing the voice message.
Hours earlier aboard The Recollection …
Morrison walked down the halls heading towards the bridge lift he still admired The Recollection she was an old Halcyon Frigate much like the Pillar of Autumn. After the initial Halo incident another Halcyon class Frigate was brought back into the service as the debrief of the Master Chief told the story of how much actual damage the Pillar of Autumn took even after crashing onto Halo’s surface. He passed by a group of Marines and they saluted. “Hello Lieutenant!”
“At ease Sergeant.” He returned with a quick salute. He continued on his way his limp gaunt made him look odd to the rest of the ship. His right leg was a little shot after a battle on Eridanus II. He hit the button for the lift. The door opened and he stepped inside. “Hey! Hold the elevator!” He looked up at the person running it was Ensign Nimot.
“Thanks!” He sighed.
“Why aren’t you on the bridge?”
“Why aren’t you?” She chuckled.
“Touché” The lift slowed and opened to the bridge. They stepped out and headed to the main area. “Now get to your station Ensign.” She nodded and stepped to the Communications console. He sat in his seat at the Navigation Console.
“Glad you could join us Morris.” He looked towards the Gunnery Officer.
“Ah. Shut up Horowitz!”
“Stow it you two!” The captain spoke up.
“Sorry sir!” They answered. Suddenly Nimot’s console beeped and lit up. Her face turned white. “Sir I’m picking up Covenant chatter.” Another Ensign yelled about a Slipspace rupture being detected. “Morris! Bring us up to heading 0, 2, and 4 on my mark.” The captain stared into the empty vastness of space and waited till the Covenant ship came out of Slipspace. “It’s a destroyer!” Nimot yelled. Horowitz shot her a look and she shut her mouth. “Horowitz gets firing solutions ready!” Morrison heard the clack of fingers on keys. “Done sir!”
“They’re coming about!” Morrison looked towards the Covenant destroyer as it turned with its side facing them. He could see pin prick glows of plasma charging. “They’re readying a plasma charge!” The captain looked towards Horowitz and nodded. Suddenly the lights dimmed as the MAC gun fired two quick shots impacted into the ships shield. The shields flickered but didn’t diminish. “Fuck! Morris gets ready with a quick starboard booster.” He clicked a few keys and the screen bleeped. “Ready sir!” The captain watched the destroyer fire as two plasma bolts streaked through the empty space. “Now!” Morris clicked the final key and the whole ship shuddered as it suddenly moved to left. To everyone’s dismay the bolts arced and impacted, burning through the titanium armor of the ship. “Decks one and two are breached. Sealing and sounding general quarters alarm.” The operations officer shouted over the sound of the alarm warning everyone on the ship to get into EVA suits. The destroyer fired again but the bolts were different smaller and a hue of blue. “EMP bolts!” When they struck the whole ship fell dark for about five seconds then the lights and screens flashed back on. “Sir the engines aren’t responding!”
“Are weapons still online?”
“Yes sir!”
“Arm a nuke set for proximity fuse once that nukes within a hundred meters of the ship I want it to blow, also set the MAC for a quad shot.”
“Arming, charging… It’s hot sir!”
“Fire the MAC!” he watched the quad bolts impact with the shield it flickered and finally died. “Launch the nuke!” The nuke launched and streaked towards the destroyer, the destroyer launched two last bolts before the nuke reached it. The bolts collided with the middle of the ship. “Sir we have extensive damage to the hull and multiple breaches. The engines are offline, suggest we engage Cole Protocol and get to the life pods.” The captain looked at the floor and sighed. “Alright.” He clicked a button on his console. “Everyone we are engaging Cole Protocol! Delete all files then hit the life boats!” The captain nodded towards Horowitz. “Captain the rest of the nukes is set to your implant.”
“Alright now all of you to the lifeboats!” Everyone rushed out each of them going into the elevator. They headed to Deck G. Once they arrived everyone rushed towards the lifeboats when an explosion above them caused steel and titanium pipes to fall blocking Morrison from everyone else. “Morris head to the other side! Get to a lifeboat!” The captain yelled through the wreckage. “Alright sir!” He ran towards the port life boats. He found there was only one left and no one else was there. “Hull breach sealing area.” The ships computer hissed. “Damn!” He climbed in taking the pilots seat. Suddenly there was a flash of white light. The nuke had gone off. He saw the wreck of the destroyer pass by The Recollection. “We got it…” He launched the lifeboat. He watched as more lifeboats launched and he radioed trying to contact the captain. “Morris I want you to set your life boat to launch a beacon when you start to enter a planet’s atmosphere.”
“Alright sir.” Morrison tapped away at the keyboard and then notified the captain.
The captain came back over the radio. “Alright Frank…I’ll see you on the other side!” There was another bright flash and The Recollection detonated and his lifeboat shook violently and he was thrown into the bulkhead and knocked out.
Present time…
Celestia was reading in her private library. She was reading over an old pony spell book about mind spells. Luna entered the room, “Sister? Twilight and her friends are here.” She looked towards her sister. “Good I hope they can enjoy a little party.” Celestia and Luna walked out of the library and went to meet Twilight and her friends in the grand hall. They past by guards who bowed as they passed. They stepped into the grand hall and Twilight and her friends were standing waiting they all bowed and stood back up after a few seconds. “Hello everypony.” Pinkie Pie bounced, “Hi! Princess Luna!” She waved to Luna and Luna waved back. “Hello Pinkie Pie.” Twilight stepped up, “So what did you want us for Princess Celestia?” Celestia smiled. “Just a picnic!” She announced. Pinkie Pie bounced again. “Yay! I love picnics!” Celestia and Luna lead the group out to one of the courtyards. It was a late picnic in the deeming twilight of the night hours. “Do you think it’s a little late for a picnic?” Rainbow Dash asks Celestia. “No it’s a perfect time for a picnic. Quite a beautiful night isn’t it?”
“Yes it is Princess.” Applejack answered.
They sat and ate everyone having a good time. Twilight and Princess Celestia talked about magic and friendship. The others talked amongst themselves. Luna kept to herself. They all watched as the sun finally was laid to rest and the moon came over the horizon. “It is so beautiful.” Fluttershy admired
“It is.”
“Hey look a shooting star!” Twilight pointed to the sky. Everyone looked to the shooting star. It slowly fell and it became quite bright. “Wait that shootin’ star is coming in mighta’ close.” The star slowly became a fireball that crashed into the nearby mountain and bounced falling towards the courtyard where they were sitting. "Everypony duck in cover!" The fireball fell going over them completely and crashing in the next courtyard over.
“Come on everypony we must go and see what fell!” Luna commanded. A few guards joined them while they were moving through the halls. They ran out into the courtyard to a mangled mess of debris and scorched earth. “What is that thing?”
“I don’t know.” They approached it. “It says UNSC on it.”
“UNSC?” all of the ponies were confused. Celestia looked at her guards. “Can you open it?” The guards searched the ship looking for a door. “We can’t seem to find any way to open it.” Celestia looked at the back of the wreck; there was a small indent in what seemed to be a door. She pressed it with her hoof and it sunk suddenly the door fell and with it a body. “Sweet Celestia!”
The body was a biped. Celestia motioned to her guards and they lifted the body. “We need to get it to the doctors immediately!” They rushed the body into the castle and to a room filled with waiting doctors. They placed the body on the table and the doctors went straight to work. “Get the pharmacist in here!” A beige pony walked in holding a large bag. “What does it need?”
“We need to deal with a few broken bones and we believe one of its lungs have collapsed.” The pharmacist retrieved a few vials and started to administer the medicines to the body. Slowly they started to calm as the medicines started to take effect. “What is wrong with it shouldn’t we be able to wake it?”
“Princess he is not an it, he is a human from what it seems.” Everypony gasped then became confused. “What’s a human?”
“They are a biped life form from beyond our world. Also we are unable to wake him because he is in a sort of a coma.”
Celestia frowned. A few guards entered with a few boxes. “What is this?”
“A few items from the wreck your highness.” They set them down. Twilight opened one of the small crates revealing a small metal necklace with two large metal plates hanging from a chain. “UNSC NAVY Lieutenant Frank Morrison of The Recollection.” Everyone looked at Twilight confused on what she just read. “This things some sort of soldier?” Rainbow Dash asked. “Seems so. I still don’t understand what the UNSC is?”
“I wish there was some way to find out more on him besides what we know from his items.”
Celestia thought for a moment then remembered something. “Is he still able to think?”
“Of course.” One of the doctors told here in slight confusion.
“Fetch me a mirror!” A guard ran out of the room and returned moments later with a large mirror about as tall as Celestia. “What is that for your Princess?”
“I’m going to cast a spell so we can see into his thoughts.” Her horn glowed with a bright light and the mirror started to show a planet parts were bright orange and looked burnt.
The pelican slowly landed on Eridanus II. A group of soldiers armed with rifles stepped out into the light and were met with a spray of plasma fire. “Grunts!” They hid behind a rock firing their weapons towards the meter tall bipeds. One of them looked over the rock and his helmet was hit by a small purple spike. He grabbed the helmet and tossed it towards the other aliens. “Lieutenant! You ok?” “I’m fine Henry!” Henry looked across a field and saw a large jeep come roaring over the ridge the chain gun firing at the grunts. “Morris! Echo squad is here for the RV!”
“Alright Chuck and Derek I want you two to lay suppressing fire while me and Henry book it to the other rock there.” He said as he pointed towards a second rock across the field. “On my mark!” Everyone readied themselves.
“Mark!” Morris and Henry leapt out of the cover that was the rock and continued at full sprint towards the other rock. Derek and Chuck laid down gunfire. The jeep drove in between the two groups suddenly it was hit by a green bolt of plasma. A banshee flew over head, “Shit!” The explosion destroyed the jeep sending debris across the field. “Take down that Banshee!” Derek shouldered a rocket launcher. He aimed at the banshee till he heard the beeps of the lock on. He pulled the trigger and a spout of smoke spewed from the back of the launcher and a missile flew towards the banshee which tried to maneuver out of the way but it was useless. The banshee exploded and the parts fell to earth crushing a few grunts. “Derek and Chuck we got to get out of here! Fall in on me!” They meet up at the edge of the forest. “Alright we have to meet up with Alpha and Bravo Squads on the other side of this forest. We’ll split up and go solo keep a gap of 30 to 40 meters though.” The four of them fanned out. After crawling through the dense forest for over an hour avoiding larger patrols, Morris slowed as he heard footsteps and the sound of grunts. Suddenly a Jackal jumped onto his back screaming in a bird like voice. “I found a human!” Morrison’s gun was knocked away. Morrison rolled and the Jackal hit the ground hard. Morrison was already on his feet and had his combat knife out. He taunted the Jackal. “Bah you are weak human!” The Jackal lunged and tried to bite Morrison. “Die human!”Suddenly he felt a sharp pain the Jackal looked down and Morris had his blade stabbed through the Jackals stomach. Grunts heard the fight and started firing towards Morrison. He rolled again dodging plasma. He pulled his magnum from its hip holster. He popped up and fired at a grunt its head jerked as the bullet impacted. He lunged towards the body grabbing it and using it as a shield, using the body to push forward against the grunts. As he passed a grunt he used his knife as a sort of short sword. He slashed the grunt across the face and it dropped bleeding. After he finished the grunts he checked each one to see if they were alive. The ones that were he shot in the head. The image blurred.
“Princess? Are you alright?”She was huffing a bit. “I’m fine just a little tired from keeping this spell up.” Twilight looked at the body and what was brought from the ship. “Princess could I get a better look at the ship.” Celestia nodded. They all followed Twilight out of the room but Luna headed towards the tower to start her duties. When they get back to the wreck, Twilight entered the wreck. “Do you think it could be some sort of life pod?” Celestia asked. Twilight shrugged. “I don’t know.” She looked around the cramped space. “How could anypony fit in here it’s so cramped.” She bumped into the wall and it opened. It revealed a suit of armor. “Princess there is some sort of armor in here.” She brought the armor out to show everyone. Rainbow Dash perked up at the sight of it specifically the helmet she put it on. The rest of the group was studying the ship. Rainbow Dash was enjoying the helmet, when she heard an odd click. “Take off the helmet.” Rainbow Dash stopped cold. Everyone heard the voice and turned. The human was standing behind Rainbow Dash holding a metallic weapon of some kind. “Frank…” Celestia tried to talk to him.
“How do you know my name?”
“Your necklace…” He reached to his throat feeling for his tags and they weren’t there. A few guards slowly came up behind him with their weapons drawn. One stepped on a small branch from a tree. He spun to see the two guards and he fired off a round grazing the guards armor and his flesh. The other dropped his weapon and went to help the injured guard. He spun back, “Now I didn’t want him to get hurt, but any threat against me will be neutralize the threat no matter what cost.” Suddenly weight fell on his shoulders as a Pegasus landed on him. He tossed the Pegasus off his back much to the surprise of Celestia and the ponies and the guard himself. Reaching into his rucksack he pulled out a metal cylinder. He pulled the pin and threw it in the air. He bolted back into the castle running through the grand halls while the ponies looked at the cylinder it suddenly exploded into a bright light and with a loud bang. He followed his trail back to the room he woke up in. He looked over the room and took notice of a few crates. He opened the crate pulling out a few emergency rations and a small eyepiece that was equipped with a more basic VISR HUD. He put the eyepiece on clicking a button and it flickered to life. He grabbed a few stun round magazines. He ran out of the room and away from the ponies who had recovered from the flashbang he had tossed the moment before. Once he thought he was at least far enough away he could calm some. He slowed to a fast walk. His limp became apparent once again. He winced in pain when he slowed. He put his hand on his side again. “Ugh. That is not something I can do twenty four seven.” He turned a corner and it opened to a tall stairwell. “Wonder where this leads.” He started up the stairs.
“Princess! We’ve checked the entire castle he ain’t here!”Applejack reported.
“He must be here the gates have been locked…Where could he be…?” She looked to the tower that overlooked the entire castle. “Guards where is my sister?”
“In the tower your highness.” The guard responded with a dull voice.
“Damn!” She rushed towards the tower and the rest followed in suit. Luna was standing on the balcony overlooking all of Canterlot. She heard a small shuffle and the door creak. She turned to see Frank Morrison standing there holding his weapon directly at her head. “You’re awake! Wait what are you doing!” The door busted open and Celestia walked in with the rest of the group. Frank grabbed Luna and used her as a sort of shield blocking all of his body and trapping him on the balcony. “Frank! Let her go!” Frank glared he shook his head in frustration. “Where the hell am I!?”
“You’re in the castle of Canterlot in the country of Equestria.” Twilight responded.
“No…No…” He started to mumble and they did not approach in fear of what he might do. He looked behind him noticing a forest not too far from the castle. He wondered if he could jump and catch the wall, but it had no handholds. He weighed his options he tried to remember anything that might help, to his dismay nothing. He looked down at his suit remembering this is not his normal suit. It was his wing suit. He remembered he was wearing it because his uniform was torn. He looked back at the rest of the group. He gave them a sly grin and they looked confused at first but then they got it as he pushed Luna towards them turning and jumping over the edge. “No!” Rainbow Dash jumped up as he fell. Frank went into a deep dive then spread his arms and legs activating the wing suit. He heard the yell as he fell but didn’t think they would come after him then something hit him…hard. He looked back at it was the one who was wearing the helmet. “Get off!” She was dragging them down they started to drop closer to the ground. He shook her off and she spun catching the air and going back to flying. She dived and came along side him grabbing him one last time but he was prepared he head butts her and she falls but doesn’t recover. “Shit!” He dived down catching up with the unconscious pony. He grabbed her body and they started to go straight down to the ground. They were luckily over the forest so he pulled the small cord for the reusable chute on the suit. When he landed he quickly and instinctually packed the chute back into the suit. He hefted the pony over his shoulder and walked deeper into the forest. He finally found a suitable campsite hidden from the world surrounded by brambles and trees. He had laid the pony down under a tree and tied her with some of the cord he had in his rucksack. “What am I gonna do.” He sat down on the ground and slowly drifted to sleep.
The next morning Rainbow Dash woke up her head hurt like hell and she looked around. She was in the Everfree Forest how did she get here? “Morning.” She was startled by the voice. She looked towards it and it was Frank. He had a small bucket of apples. “Where did you get those apples?” He set them down and sighed. “You stole them didn’t you?” He nodded.
“I’m not gonna lie I stole them. It’s either sit here and eat my emergency rations or live off the bountiful land that seems to be overflowing with food.”
“But it’s wrong to steal!” He sighed again.
“I’d rather be a thief than be captured and be executed.” Rainbow Dash looked at him in disbelief.
“You think were gonna kill you?”
“I assaulted your guards and your princess.” Rainbow Dash looked at him, “But we’ve never executed anypony!”
“Well I’m not a pony! Now eat!” He tossed an apple at her and she was shocked his voice was filled with anger. She was scared she tried not to show it but she cowered a little. Frank noticed this, he immediately changed his demeanor. “I’m sorry I yelled at you.” She didn’t respond but went to eat the apple it was hard for her with her wings and hooves tied. He walked over to the small fire he had set up earlier in the morning. He sat on a rock and stared into the fire.
Chapter 1
Almost a month had passed after Rainbow Dash was kidnapped by Frank Morrison. In time he became the most wanted thing in all of Equestria all of the guards were sent out every town had a guard post. The Everfree forest was occasionally patrolled, random signs of Frank had been found food disappeared from stalls; apple tree may have been picked which was in full bloom the day before. Celestia, Luna, and Twilight were in the throne room talking about the events of the last 29 days. “We still have no leads on him. We’ve been searching for weeks.”
“Of course sister but we can’t give up he has Rainbow Dash.”
“Yes! We miss her!”Twilight shouted. The princesses looked at her shocked she had this outburst. “Calm down Twilight.”
“I’m sorry.” Celestia put one of her wings around her. “Twilight we know you miss your friend.” Suddenly a guard burst in. “Your highnesses! We have a new lead on the human!”
“What is it?”
“Fluttershy went missing…” Everyone froze and Twilight was crushed.
Frank was crawling through the underbrush heading to the apple orchard he had run out of apples the night before and he saw the signs of winter approaching so he went to grab as many apples as possible. He finally reached the end of the forest and stood up as he exited it was still daylight but it was a risk he had to take. When he stepped out he ran across the small field into the orchard and jumping onto a tree picking apples.
Fluttershy was out looking for a chicken she had gotten out of the coop. She was walking across the field. She wandered into the edge of the Everfree Forest searching for the chicken. Bushes shake as she passes through them. She stood in a clearing getting startled by the smallest sound. A bush rustled and Frank stepped out noticing the pony. “Shit…” The pony started to scream but Frank was already hushing her with his hand. Slowly Fluttershy’s vision started to blur as she tried to scream. Frank watched as fear engulfed her face she kicked him but he held tight. Once she was knocked out he stood over her body. “Shit what do I do…?” He picked her up and carried her back to his camp. When he came back Rainbow Dash looked his way. When she saw Fluttershy she exploded in anger. “Frank what have you done!” He glared at her. “I had to Rainbow Dash she’s not dead if that’s what you’re thinking.” Rainbow Dash struggled against the restraints.
“Rainbow Dash calm down!” He stepped over to stop her from hurting herself because of the restraints. She bucked her tied back legs and hit his leg. He cried out in pain as he fell to the ground holding the leg. For him the pain was unbearable but it wasn’t broken. Rainbow Dash sat their looking at him he seemed to have been incapable of feeling pain when she first was kidnapped. She looked at him and felt guilt. He finally stood up his eyes seemed to be lit with fire he picked up Rainbow Dash by the throat. “I have no problems…with killing you…” He said between deep breaths.
“I’m…sorry…”
“There is no sorry about it!” He threw her into the tree and the air was blown from her lungs.
“I should just kill you I’m going to die anyway!” He pulled out his magnum which Rainbow Dash had figured out after a week in his care.
“Frank…don’t…do…this…” She pleaded with him. Her voice was so quiet in Frank’s head his heartbeat and the sounds of the forest filled his head. Finally he heard he weak voice it knocked him back into a small kind of reality of what he was actually doing he noticed he had a live round loaded and aimed right at her head. He lowered the gun. “I’m…sorry…” He tossed the gun away and knelt down next to Rainbow Dash. He reached down to the restraints and loosened them just enough she could walk. “If I ever get like that again get out of here.” She looked at him in shock.
“What about Fluttershy?”
“I’m going to keep her here of course but… I don’t know what were gonna do…”
“About what…?” He just stared up at the sky looking at a range of clouds and the setting sun. The next day consisted of just sitting around and talking, Fluttershy woke up later in the evening before. Fluttershy just sat in the corner and barely talked to anyone. Rainbow Dash and Frank started to talk over the fire through the night. The night was very cold. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy were sitting together shivering. The fire was dying and Frank couldn’t risk going for wood. He looked at the ponies hoping they could stay warm he was wrong they were already shivering. “Damn…” Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy were sitting together for the warmth of course suddenly a blanket was draped over them she looked up to Frank smiling. “Here try and stay warm now I can’t have you dying look bad for my image.” Rainbow Dash chuckled weakly.
“Good thing the cold hasn’t broken your sense of humor.” He sat next to the dying fire. Slowly he felt the effects of the cold and he started to shake uncontrollably. He clacked his teeth every so often causing Rainbow Dash to look up with a confused look. “You ok Frank?” He would always smile and tell her he was fine. After a bit the fire died and Frank was under one of the trees. “Thank god it hasn’t snowed…” He was curled into a balled figure trying to keep warm. The two ponies started to shiver once again but they were asleep. “Well at least if we die they die asleep.” He crawled over to them. He slowly moved them and removed the blanket. Rainbow Dash woke with the sudden cold. Wondering what was going on she looked up and saw that Frank was taking the blanket. She started to open her mouth but he shushed her with his finger. “It’s ok.” He sat against the tree and Rainbow Dash got an idea. She laid down next to him and he pulled Fluttershy next to him on the other side. He covered all of them with the blanket and they slowly fell asleep.
The next morning Frank woke up early the sun was still barely on the horizon. He looked to his sides to make sure the ponies were still there. Rainbow Dash was nestled next to him and Fluttershy was nuzzled into his side. He stroked both of their manes waking Rainbow Dash. “Morning Rainbow Dash.” She smiled. He slowly lifted the blanket and let Rainbow Dash crawl out from underneath. “Shhh…Be quiet Fluttershy is still asleep.” Fluttershy rolls in the blanket and opens here eyes. “Huh…how did this get here?” She moved the blanket and Rainbow Dash and Frank were watching her. Rainbow Dash smiled, “Morning Fluttershy.”
“Oh good morning Rainbow Dash.” Fluttershy looked towards Frank and gave him a look that no one could fully understand was it anger or fear… “Hello Fluttershy once again I’m sorry about bringing you here…” She threw the blanket back over herself and shouted in her quiet voice, “Leave me alone!” He looked towards Rainbow Dash who just looked at him. “You did this.”
“I know that and I think I’m prepared to…” Suddenly guards burst from the trees causing Rainbow Dash and Frank to panic. Frank ran into the bushes while Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy were secured by the guards. “Stop fiend!” He continued to run through the woods. He jumped over a log which ended up leading down a steep hill. He slid down the hill and ended up in a near a small creek. “Frank you may as well give up.” Luna was standing before him with a large amount of guards surrounding him. He stood up and looked towards the arriving group Twilight and her friends and Celestia were standing at the edge. He reached into his bag. “Frank no!” Rainbow Dash yelled from the top of the ridge. “I hope I may be absolved of my sins against you and your people…but do nothing to Rainbow Dash I am at fault here.” He pulled out a photo. He looked at it for a moment then put it in his breast pocket. “Alright take me away.” The world went black as one of the guards knocked him out. “Captain what the hell was that for!?”
“I’m sorry your Highness.”
“He was gonna come willingly!” Luna was yelling at the captain, “Luna that’s enough!” Luna stopped yelling and Celestia motioned for the guards to take him away. Twilight was talking with Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. “What did he do to you guys?”
“Nothing.” They both said. Twilight was perplexed.
“Nothing yet he held you hostage?”
“Yes. He really didn’t do anything just kept our hooves tied so we couldn’t escape but otherwise he didn’t do anything.” Rainbow Dash responded while Fluttershy sat in quiet agreement.
“So he kept you guys fed?”
“Yes he fed us with what he could find. He may have even saved our lives. We were freezing cold and he gave us his blanket. Even we he started to get cold he didn’t take it back. After a while we started to get cold again. We slept next to each other for warmth.” Twilight looked at her.
“I doubt he did that for you I think he did it for himself.” Rainbow Dash was shocked and hurt. How could Twilight just blatantly tell her everything he did was in his own interest? “Rainbow Dash he could have just wanted you alive so he could bargain using you as his chips.” Rainbow Dash shook her head.
“No! He wouldn’t do that he’s not some feeling less soldier!”
“But you saw the vision he just mindlessly killed those aliens.”
“But they tried to kill him!”
“He could have asked them to surrender!” Rainbow Dash took the last remark hard. Why didn’t he ask for them to surrender instead of just killing them. She couldn’t understand it.
The next day Frank awoke on a hard bed inside a cell. When he sat up he was greeted by a guard at the door. “Well look who’s up.” Frank grunted.
“What’s that human?”
“Nothing…”Frank sat and waited he knew eventually something would happen but what happened was what he didn’t expect. The door opened and Rainbow Dash entered. “Hi Frank.”
“Hello Rainbow Dash.” He didn’t move from the bed.
“Um…Frank?”
He looked towards her, “Yeah?”
“Did you keep us alive just so you could use us as bargaining chips?” Frank’s face immediately became dark. “At first…Yes…But after awhile we got to know each other I…”
“No…That’s enough…” She started to turn. “I’m not done. That’s what I was told to do…All of my kind are told to do that; capture and use to bargain if we can, but I couldn’t let you guys die. I’m sorry that I tried to hurt all of you if there listening in… I was just scared now I’m ready to face my fate do what you will just don’t hurt Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy.” Rainbow Dash hugged him he didn’t flinch nor did he hug back he sat staring at the wall.
Behind a one way mirror Celestia and Luna watched him and Rainbow Dash talk. They could hear everything. There was a mirror in the corner so if they wanted to look into his mind they could. They felt sorry for him he was scared not trying to hurt anyone but he did so he must pay right? They didn’t know. When they saw Rainbow Dash hug him and heard him accept his fate only then did they understand he felt but he kept those emotions bottled. “It’s not good for him.”
“I know but I think in his race. His kind are supposed to be tough and emotionless or at least on the outside.”
“Have you noticed he seems to be tormented in his sleep?”
“Yes I think this may remind him of something in his past.”
“I think we should get everyone together and look into his mind again.” They went back to looking through the mirror Rainbow Dash was still there but he was hugging her now too.
“Rainbow Dash thanks for all your help. If I die…No never mind…” She looked at him puzzled.
“It’s fine Rainbow Dash.” He let her go and she walked out of the cell. Celestia stepped into the room. “Well…hello Princess Celestia.”
“Frank.”
“Something you wanted?”
“I want to look into your mind.” He grunted.
“Now you’re sounding like the shrinks back on my planet.” He started to chuckle at his inside joke. “Ok so you want to probe my mind fine, go ahead.”
“Alright well if we may can we give you a sedative so you can sleep?”
“No I feel like sleeping anyway.” He lay down on the bed fully and she left. Soon the guards heard the quiet breathing of Frank sleeping.
“Alright everyone were going to look into Frank’s mind.” Celestia’s horn lit up and the mirrors image blurred once more.
“I hope you know what you’re doing Morris.”
“Oh calm down Henry.” Morris set the charge on the wall. Everyone went back around the corner of the alleyway. “Ok breach on my mark. One…Two…Mark!”He clicked the detonator. The wall exploded and they rushed in with their weapons up. He expected a lot of Covenant on the other side but the room was practically empty except for a few Elites on the other side. Their energy swords hummed to life as the squad fired at them. Rounds deflected off their shields and they slashed at the humans. The humans dodged and kept firing. “Humans…You will perish by our hands!” Suddenly one of the Elites cried out in pain. He fell to the ground half his face was blown out. All of the Elites roared and pushed against the humans soon they were being pushed into a corner. “Henry! Derek! Chuck! I want you guys to get out of here.”
“Morris we can’t just leave you!”
“Go! That’s an order I’ll hold them off and meet up with you guys!” The three run out of the alleyway that they were pushed into and the Elites cornered Morris. Morris reloaded his weapon and blasted the closest Elite. The Elites shield went down and he went down under the hail of bullets. Soon after a few minutes of tense keeping them at bay, it was down to Morris and a single Elite. Morris dropped his empty weapon and unsheathed his knife. The Elite laughed, “You think you can kill me with that puny blade!?”
“Well your shields are down.” The Elite laughed once again. “Bah! You shall not get passed my blade!” The Elite lunged and Morris dropped down low. Dodging the Elite, the Elite lunged again but when Morris crouched the Elite kicked him sending Morris sprawling to the ground. The Elite stepped on Morris’s chest. “You will pay for your insolence human.” He stabbed Morris in the leg with his sword. “You are going to die a painful death human.” Suddenly the Elites head exploded. “Morris!” The rest of his squad rushes in clearing the alleyway and the room they were in before. After they secured Morris they actually looked at what the room was for burnt corpses, half-eaten. “Food storage…” The image blurred out.
“Those aliens ate his race…?” Everypony was disgusted.
“No wonder he hides his emotions he’s horrible tormented with what he’s seen.” They all look towards the cell.
“Wake him.” They look towards Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. Fluttershy doesn’t budge when they tell her it’d be best if he was comforted by people he knows the best. Rainbow Dash enters the cell and walks over to the sleeping body. She poked him with her hoof. He turned over, and his eyes slowly opened. “Hey Frank.”
“Hey Rainbow Dash.” He sat up and he winced in pain and Rainbow Dash went to help.
“What’s wrong?” He waved her off.
“Nothing just some leg pains.”
“That’s the leg that the alien stabbed you isn’t it?” He nodded and she hugged him.
“It’s ok Frank. You can talk about what you saw were all here for you…” The rest of the group walked in. He greeted each one after learning the names he did not know. Twilight looked at him with disdain. “You are just a killing machine aren’t you?” Everyone looked at Twilight and Frank stood up.
“You can think of me as a killing machine Twilight. I can take it I have already been called that. Children have been scared of me because of the scars I bear.” He lifts his pant leg revealing a large scar. "I got this from the sword you saw," He lifted his shirt. There was a circular scar to the left of his chest. “I got this later on in the war I took a needle in my chest. So go ahead and call me a killing machine I survived what would kill many.” Everyone grimaced at his scars. Twilight looked at him. “I really don’t care about your opinion, Twilight. You are just one pony.” Celestia started to say something but Frank waved her off. “Yes I know it’s a disrespect to your people Celestia.” Twilight finally stepped up. “Frank…You just aren’t making me believe you’re not a killing machine. You killed aliens without asking them to surrender. You didn’t hesitate to even try to talk with us when you first woke up…”
“You know why I didn’t try to talk! I woke up in a strange place and walked out to ponies messing with my stuff! I meant no harm and your guards attacked me shooting one was a provoked measure I wouldn’t have shot otherwise!” He interrupted her.
“Frank! You still didn’t try to talk!”
“Do you not think I don’t regret that decision to this day!?” He roared. “I have been going over the same day, night after night in my dreams! You’ve seen my nightmares and my dreams each one is violent because that’s what haunts me!”
Applejack busts between the two, “Come now! You two ain’t gunna fight like this. Everypony just calm down ya’ hear!” Frank starts to calm and walks back over to the bed. “I’m done with you ponies, unless you have something more important to say?” They all started to leave the room, “Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy you two can stay if you want. Fluttershy its ok if you don’t want to stay I know you must not like me still…”
“No...I’ll stay...”
“I will too.” Both Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy stayed in the room. “Why did you want us to stay?”
“I just want some company.” He looked up at them he was crying.
“Frank… why are you crying?” Fluttershy finally started to speak with a much more friendly tone.
“It’s nothing.” Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy look at him their faces told him he could talk to them. “It’s Twilight…I know she means well but she’s right I didn’t try. I didn’t try to gain my senses.” Suddenly Rainbow Dash slapped him with her hoof. He felt his cheek and Fluttershy was shocked. “Don’t you ever say that about yourself! You aren’t a killing machine you can show emotions and compassion you showed us it when we were freezing!”
“I know…but what am I supposed to do. You two seem to be the only ones who know the real me.”
“That’s not true…well at least I think…The princesses think that you’re not this ruthless killing machine Twilight takes you to be.” Frank looked at Fluttershy. “Maybe, but can you be sure?”
“No.”
“Well we’ll just wait this out.” The door opened and a guard walked in, “Here’s your food…” He set the plate next to him. He grabbed the plate and started to eat with his hands being as courteous as possible. “I do get fed here don’t I?” Everyone chuckled. “Yeah that you do Frank.”
“Better than apples eh?”
“Better than apples every day.” He nodded. Once again the door opened this time. Another guard came in he had a bandage over his right shoulder. “Hello.”
“What is with…Ah you must be the pony I shot.”
“Yes.” Frank stood up. He stepped towards the pony and put out his hand, “I must apologize for shooting you.” The pony put his hoof in his hand and they shook. “You are forgiven.”
“Now I hope we can forget the whole mess and possibly be friends?” The guard was completely caught off guard at Frank’s words. “You want to be friends?”
“Of course in my race accidents can allow them to meet new people and make friends.” The guard smiled. “Sure.” Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy smiled.
Luna was standing on the other side of the mirror. She watched intently as Frank made a new friend with the guard. “He seems to be adjusting well.”
“Indeed.” Celestia stepped next to her.
Outside the castle beyond Canterlot a figure watched through a crystalline mirror the events inside the cell. “He does seem to be making good progress maybe soon we’ll be able to induct him into the plan. Frank Morrison one of the only humans to see the world of Equestria how will you fair in the next few weeks.”
Chapter 2
Frank was lying on his bed when the door opened and the princesses stepped in. He stood up, “Hello your highnesses.” Celestia looked to Luna who hadn’t seemed to notice that you used “your highnesses,” it was odd but she quickly shook it out of her head. “Something wrong Celestia?”
“Nothing’s wrong Frank thank you.” He sat back down. “Now what did you come to talk about?” He crossed his arms and laid his back against the wall. “Were here to tell you that you can leave the cell now.” He sat up straight, “What? I ‘m free to leave now?”
“Yes.” He stood up and walked out into the hall. They followed, “Come on let us show you to your more new living quarters.” He looked at Celestia.
"Did you just say living quarters?”
“Yes we’ve been studying some of what the thing on your ship calls logs. It’s says bedrooms are referred to as living quarters.”
“There is no need to use my terminology Celestia that is something I wouldn’t even think you would use.”
“Why not?”
“Military terms aren’t usually used by anyone outside the military.” She grinned.
“What? Is it something I said?” Frank was confused.
“Oh nothing.” They finally arrived at a large door. “Here is your new room.”
“Thank you Celestia. Thank you Luna.” He gave them a bow and entered the room. As he entered the room Pinkie Pie launched a bunch of confetti. “Hi Frank!”
“Hello Pinkie Pie.”
Youtube Video
“Thanks everybody!” They all went to partying, Vinyl Scratch was the DJ of course and everypony was dancing. Frank was leaning against the wall, Rainbow Dash walked over, “Hey Frank why aren’t you dancing?” He looked down to his leg. “Oh…You can’t dance because of the leg? How hard is it to dance you were running fine…?”
“That’s only when its necessary. Either way I wasn’t much of a dancer.”
“Come on Frank! You can at least try can’t you?” He sighed.
“Fine…Come let’s go then.” They stepped into onto the dance floor. It was awkward for Frank to dance, but he tried as best as he could. “Yeah I see what you mean by not being able to dance.”
“I’m trying aren’t I?” Rainbow Dash laughed. They danced and partied through the early afternoon soon the party died down. Twilight and the rest of the ponies remained. She stood before Frank. “Twilight do you want something?”
“Yes I want your reaction.” Frank became confused.
“Reaction to what?” Twilight reached into her bag with her magic pulling out a small photo. Frank’s head face twitched slightly.
“Where did you get that?”
“We took it off you once we captured you.” She raised it up so he could see the actual photo; he started to reach for it. The photo burned reducing to ash. He froze, “Do you know what you have done Twilight…?”
“Yes I just burned a photo of yours.” Everyone looked at Twilight then turned their attention to Frank his face twitched his hands were clenched into fists. Rainbow Dash started to ask about the photo when Frank stepped up to Twilight. “You…should…not have done that…”Suddenly Twilight was thrown across the room. “Twilight!”
“No! Do not help her. She knows what she has burned! That picture was all I had left!” He walked over to Twilight who was still dazed and trying to get up. He grabbed her throat and lifted her. “I won’t kill you but you may live with the same pain I live with.” He looked straight into her eyes they were filled with fear. “Frank put her down!” Rainbow Dash pleaded.
“She burnt the only picture I had left of her!”
“Who is she!?”
“My sister…” Suddenly he dropped Twilight. He walked over to the bed. “Twilight you have just burnt the only remaining picture of my dead sister the last of my family.” Rarity and Applejack helped Twilight to her feet. “Frank…”
“Rarity…Applejack…let her walk on her own she can feel the pain I walk with can’t she.” Twilight’s leg had a large gash down it blood trickled out. “Go take her to the doctor’s. I will talk with Celestia.” Frank walked out of the room. Leaving everyone else to digest what just happened. “What just happened?”
Rainbow Dash stepped up to Twilight. “You just saw the killing machine you thought he is.” Twilight shivered, “His eyes they had no remorse he looked like he was just gonna kill me and walk away.”
“Maybe you deserved it Twilight…” Everyone looked to Fluttershy as if she just said she was from the pits of Tarturus. “You think she deserved that? Nopony deserves to be beaten like the way I am!”
“Twilight did. Twilight you have been learning the ways of Friendship.”
“Yes but I don’t…”
“Well maybe the lesson here is to forgive your friends and forget what they did. No go get that cut looked at.” Twilight limped out of the room. “Come on Fluttershy let’s go see Frank.” Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy left the room, leaving Pinkie Pie, Applejack, and Rarity in the room with their thoughts. “What just happened?”
“Ah’ don’t know Rarity. Ah’ just don’t know…”
Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy entered the throne room to Frank explaining to Celestia about what he did to Twilight. “Frank are you ok?” He looked towards them, “I’m fine.”
“Celestia what are you gonna do about this?”
“I’m going to do nothing.” Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy are shocked.
“You’re not gonna do anything!”
“No I’m not Twilight got what she deserved. I do think it may have been a little over excessive but she hounds him for no reason.” The doors open once again and Twilight entered. Celestia looked towards her. “Twilight, you have gotten what you deserved you have hounded Frank for no reason but to make him mad so you can prove a point. You burned the only picture of his sister…”
“Celestia I think that’s enough no need to lecture her she has had enough.” He walked down the stairs and looked into the eyes of Twilight. “Twilight you saw the way I get when I almost killed Rainbow Dash when she bucked me and I went this way when I failed to save my sister.” He knelt down to her. “Now I only want you to see me for whom I really am. I want you to look into my eyes again.” She finally looked into his eyes after just staring into his chest. “I don’t want to hurt you Twilight.” She just stared back down at the ground. “I’m not gonna get to you am I?” She shook her head. “Well I have only one thing left to do.” He hugged her. At first she sat there then she hugged him back. “I’m sorry for everything.” He released her, “its ok Twilight.”
The next day was Frank first day as an official guest of the princesses. Twilight and her friends went out with Frank for the day, while they were walking through Canterlot a lot of people scoffed as he walked by, “Seems my reputation is still in bad shape.”
Twilight nodded. “How‘s the leg?”
“Fine I still have a bit of a limp.”
“How bad is the limp?” He didn’t notice a limp but walking on all fours must disguise anything a human would see as a limp.
“Really small…It’s a lot like your limp actually I just put a little extra weight on the leg when I step with it.”
“That’s fine it shouldn’t bother you much does it hurt?”
“Sometimes…” He nodded. “Well what are we gonna do?” Rainbow Dashes stomach rumbles.
“Maybe we should get something to eat?” Everyone nods in agreement. “I know the perfect place.” Rarity chimed. She led them to a café. They sat down and ordered food. Frank was once more out of place he sat well above the ponies. “Aren’t you going to order anything?”
“No I’m not hungry.” Once everyone else’s food arrives they begin to eat. They talked through most of the lunch. He sat their listening and responded when asked a question but otherwise he was thinking. Finally he put his hands down and cleared his throat. “I think I need to work on my image.” Everyone looked at him.
“You think?” He chuckled. So he went on explaining that if he was to get anywhere in this place he’d have to get a decent image instead of the alien that tried to kill the princess.
“Do you have a plan?”
“No not really. Maybe make some friends inside the castle first.”
“How bout’ the guards?”
“You may have an idea there Applejack.” He tapped each of his fingers on the table in a methodical pattern.
After lunch Frank went back to the castle. He went to Celestia’s private library and knocked. “Come in.” He opened the door. “Celestia could I ask a favor?”
“Sure.”
“Do you think I could train with the guards?”
“I don’t see why not…”
“Shall we go see what their up to?”
“Yes.” They left the library walking towards the guard dining hall. They entered the hall; all of the guards looked their way and bowed to the princess then noticed the figure next to her. “What is he doing here?” A guard in silver armor with golden trim asked. To the dismay of the guards Celestia answered, “He is to dine with you from now on and to train with you.” He slightly bowed to the group of guards. When he looked back up he noticed the guard he shot was in the crowd. Celestia motioned for the guard in gold trimmed armor to step forward. “Frank this is Commander Lightning.”
“Hello Commander.” Frank put his hand out. The commander reluctantly put her hoof into his hand and they shook. “Looking forward to working with you.” After that Celestia left and the lunch resumed. Frank walked over to a corner of the room and stood there staring out the window. The pony he shot came beside him. “Hello, Frank.”
“Hey. I have a question what is the Commander like?”
“I don’t know how your commanders were where you’re from but she puts us all through the ringer during training.”
“So expect a hard time.”
“I would yes.”
“Alright thanks Topaz.” Topaz walked back to the table. Soon a bell rang and all of the guard stood up. A pony in pure gold entered. Commander Lightning stepped up to the pony and saluted. “Alright everyone! Let’s get moving to the target range.” Frank’s face twitched when he heard range. He started to follow the group when the Commander waves him over. He walks over, “Yes Commander?”
“This is the Captain Lieutenant.” Frank straightened and went into a crisp salute. “At ease. Now I hear you are to train with us?”
“Yes I am. I have one question though.”
“What is it?”
“Are you the one who knocked me out when I surrendered?” The captain gulped he had heard of the damage he did to Twilight Sparkle after she burned a photo of his. “Yes.”
“Good technique, but a little rough you could have given the person a concussion or killed them so a little softer would have been better.” The captain was shocked he expected a punch or something but all he did was compliment him on his technique and give him a tip. “So what are we doing on the range today?”
“We’ll show you.” He followed the Captain and the Commander to the target range. “Were going to do a simple team exercise, two teams pitted against each other.”
“What will I be using?”
“A modified crossbow of ours because you can’t do magic. It will still fire magical bolts.” The armorer came out of the blacksmith behind the range. “Here is your crossbow. We took one of your weapons and adapted the grip to it for this crossbow.”
“What’s it shoot?” The armorer hands him the crossbow. Frank takes aim at a target. He fires the bolt hits making a large blue splatter on the target. “Like a paintball. Little drop…” The Captain and Commander looked at each other while he messed with crossbow. “Alright Lieutenant are you ready?”
“Yes and one more thing call me Morris…”
“Alright…Morris…That will take some getting used to…” Frank laughed, “Its ok Captain. Just a tradition in my family.”
Frank and his small team were set on the far side away from the entrance to the range. “Alright… So what are we gonna do?” Topaz was part of his team. “You are in command, Morris.”
“Alright I want all of you to stick with me when we…” He heard a large bell ring signaling to start. “Alright this is it! Let’s go.”
Morris crawled through the underbrush he was able to bring one thing from his small amount of gear. He brought odd netting that no one actually understood why. He looked to the group of bushes to his left and right and saw a member in each. His face was painted a camouflage color so at first his squad mates didn’t see him till he made a small amount of movement. He raised his hand and made a motion that symbols to move up. He got up to a crouched position and moved across the open area to another set of bushes. His squad mates regrouped here. “Alright Topaz you and I we’ll head up through the left. You two head up on the right.” The two whose names he did not known nodded and moved to the right. He heard splats and they say they were out. “Well…They known were here now.”
“Not really Morris they were out there not us.”
“Yes but they know we must be near no squad should ever split up for too long. Wait here I’m going to see what were up against.” He lies back down and crawls into the bush. He moves a bit of bush out of the way and looked out upon the open area before him. He saw the other team set up in the rocks overlooking the area. He looked towards the edges which had a large amount of shrubbery. He crawled back out. “Alright Topaz you and I are going to crawl through the bushes on the side of the range.”
“I’ll follow your lead.” They crept over to the edge of the range and lay back down. “Now we gotta take this slow.” They started the slow trek across a stretch of bush in improvised ghille suits.
The other team meanwhile was wondering where the hell they were. The Commander looked over the edge of the rocks scanning the area before them. “It’s almost been seven minutes since we shot the first two. Where are Morris and Topaz?” He looked over to the other set of rocks where the other two guards in his squad were sitting. “You two see anything!?” He hollered the guard shook his head. “Where are they…?”
“Alright Topaz I want you to take my crossbow.”
“And do what?”
“Eliminate those two.” He pointed to the guards closest to them. “What are you gonna do?”
“I’m going to take care of the Captain and the Commander.”
“With only your hands?”
“Not just my hands. Now wait to take out the guards till I give you the signal.” Frank snuck past the first two guards and sat lower on the rocks out of the sight of the Captain and the Commander. He looked over to Topaz who was still lying in wait. He raised his hand and clenched it. With the signal given he stepped up ever slowly creeping behind the unsuspecting ponies. “If this is what the Lieutenant calls strategy he is a fool…”
“He’s trying our patience’s seeing if he can get us to come out.”
“Nor is he right behind you…” The two ponies cringed and slowly turned. He was standing before them unarmed. “Your unarmed and you think you can take us on!?” The captain laughed. “Come now…it’s best to surrender.”
“I have my whole…team…” He looked to the other rocks and the two others weren’t there. He looked behind Frank and saw them walk out of the range with splats on their back. “There are still two of us. Take him down!” They raised their weapons but Franks moved before they fired he ducked doing an upper kick knocking the crossbows away. “I have effectively disarmed you. You lose.”
“Not till one team is splattered!” The Captain roared. The Commander just sat and watch she was about to join in when Topaz appeared behind her and threw her to the ground shooting her in the chest. Topaz looked back over the rocks and saw the Captain and Frank fighting hand to hoof as it were. Topaz stepped up onto the upper ledge, “Morris!” He tossed his crossbow into the air and Frank caught it. While he was distracted catching the crossbow. The captain bolted for his crossbow. They both spun and brought them up. Two clicks and a splat, the Captain looked down his armor was covered in blue. Nothing was blue on Frank or even near him for that matter. “How the hell!?”
“I destroyed the firing mechanism Captain. Good game though I hope to go through that again maybe this time you’ll try not to camp hmm?”
The three of them walked out of the range and into the waiting area. The Captain walked in, “The lieutenant and his squad has won.” The other two of Frank’s squad cheered. Twilight and her friends walked in, followed by Celestia. “I’ll talk it you all were watching eh?”
“We were…Tell me what did you covered your squad in?”
“In my military this is camouflage otherwise known as a ghille suit meant to blend in with the current surroundings and make the wearer look like anything but what he is.”
“Truly amazing…I think we should try to adapt this Captain.” The Captain nodded. He stepped towards Frank. “You did good out there Lieutenant I would be honored to have you be one of us. “ Frank was well…frankly surprised. (I did not want to make that pun forgive me.) “You want me to be a royal guard?”
“Yes. Do you agree Princess?”
“I do he is very capable.”
“Well I think I might just take you up on your offer.”
Chapter 4
Frank heard the low rumble of a Pelican’s engine. Was he dreaming he felt the couch, “I’m not dreaming?” He sat up and looked towards the window it was still night. He walked up the stairs to Rainbow Dash’s bedroom. He opened the door and walked over to her bed. He shook her slowly, “Rainbow Dash…Rainbow Dash…” She opened her eyes. “Yeah…What’s up.” She yawned.
“Rainbow Dash come on we need to go check something out.”
“What?”
“I swear to Celestia I just heard a human ship land over in the Everfree.” Suddenly Rainbow Dash was on her hooves. “Let’s go.” They left the house and Rainbow Dash lifted Frank down to the ground. “Come on we have to move. I don’t know how they will react to Equestria.” They ran towards the Everfree Forest. Once they got inside the forest Frank slowed to a walk. “Rainbow Dash I want you to go wake up Twilight and tell her that other humans have showed up and I am going to talk to them.”
“But I can’t…”
“Rainbow Dash just go, they shouldn’t shoot me.” Rainbow Dash ran back towards Ponyville. Frank slowly continued deeper into the forest and the sound of a pelican’s engines became louder. He hid behind a tree looking out into a clearing where the pelican had landed. Two ODSTs were moving some crates around which Frank found odd he didn't remember any ODSTs on The Recollection. The clearing was bathed in light from flood lights that were set up. He stepped out and called to them. They dropped the boxes and brought their guns up. When they saw who it was they immediately lowered them. “Lieutenant! You’re alive!” He nodded.
“Where is the Captain?”
“He is on a small frigate that came and saved us from a nearby planet.”
“What frigate?”
“The Mandrake.”
“Hmm…” Frank hadn’t heard of The Mandrake.
“How come they only sent one Pelican?”
“ONI doesn’t like take risks.”
“ONI? Damn it…”
“I know sir.”
“Alright, so what’s the situation on the ship?”
“The Captain is in command.”
“Really ONI put a commander in charge of one of their frigates?”
“Yeah so Capn’ took charge and was gonna send at least a company down to find you but Commander Harris he insisted that we only send one Pelican.”
“Alright stay here.”
“Why?”
“I have made contact with the local life and well it’ll be easier if I show you. Just wait here, don’t shoot anything.”
“Alright sir.” The soldier gave him a salute and Frank returned it. He turned around and headed back into the forest. He made his way back to Ponyville and Rainbow Dash and Twilight were waiting. “So what are they here for?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“To find me. They landed in the Everfree to conceal the location of the ship. Now I want you two too come with me I think it would be best if the soldiers here knew what is friendly.”
“Frank you know the townsfolk won’t like the other humans and they surely don’t like you.” Twilight’s voice was anxious.
“Twilight its ok I’m sure we can smooth everything over.” He started to walk back to the clearing with the Pelican with Twilight and Rainbow Dash following. “As long as ONI doesn’t fuck this up…” He muttered to himself. Twilight heard this and cocked her head a tad bit, he shook his head. She didn’t push the issue though. When they got to the clearing he told them to stay in the bushes till he told them to come out. He walked into the clearing and two soldiers walked over to him. The soldier he was talking with earlier spoke first, “So what did you talk to the locals about?”
“Well I actually brought two of the locals.”
“Really!?”
“Yes now I’m going to warn you. They are a little odd. They aren’t humanoid at all. They are well how to put this...they are ponies. They can talk though so just prepare yourself.” The soldiers looked at each other as if he was gonna show them some gruesome aliens. “Twilight and Rainbow Dash you can come out now.”
Twilight and Rainbow Dash stepped into the clearing. The soldiers looked at each other, then to Frank. “Sir those are horses.”
“Well correct and incorrect… I’m a unicorn and she’s a Pegasus.” Twilight told them, they once again looked at each other and back to Frank. “Sir?”
“I told you they are a little odd. You’ll grow accustom soon enough.” One of the soldiers took his helmet off revealing a young face with sandy blond hair. “Hello there.” He knelt down. “I’m Sergeant Gregory.”
Twilight stepped forward and put her hoof out. It shocked Gregory for a second but he took the hoof in his hand and shook it. The other one kept his helmet on but walked over to Rainbow Dash. He seemed to be looking at her through the visor but it was polarized so it was a one way mirror type thing. The soldier put out his hand. “I’m Kingston.”
Rainbow Dash looked at him with a confused face. “Kingston that’s a funny first name even for a human from what Frank tells us?” Kingston laughed. “That’s not my first name. It’s my last name.”
“Why do you go by your last name?”
“Tradition.” Frank chuckled and Rainbow Dash tossed him a look and he just laughed more. Twilight finally shot him a look and he stopped. “Sorry.”
Soon they were all sitting on the ramp of the Pelican. “So you’re telling us you’re led by a monarch and you like it?”
“Yes why?”
“Twilight on our world a lot of monarchs were horrible and cruel.” Frank interjected.
“Oh. So what did you do with them?”
“We usually…” Frank shot Kingston a look and he hushed.
“Twilight what we did to them is something we shouldn’t discuss.” Twilight nodded understandingly but with burning curiosity in her eyes. “When is the next time you two are due on The Mandrake?”
“Well were supposed to head back when we find you and take you along.” Frank looked to Twilight and Rainbow Dash. “I’ll be back alright. Just go home and get some sleep I should be back in the morning.” They nodded and walked back towards town.
“Alright let’s head up.” They climbed into the Pelican and Kingston went into the cockpit. The Pelican’s engines roared to life and lifted off the ground. Kingston brought it above the tree line then boosted the throttle and they flew off the planet and into the deep expanse of space. Frank entered the cockpit to see what The Mandrake looked like. “So that’s The Mandrake?”
“Yes sir. She’s small for a frigate but she can take a punch. Nothing compared to The Recollection of course.”
Suddenly a voice came over the Com-Panel. “Pelican Echo Five-One?”
Frank clicked a button on the panel. “Mandrake this is Lieutenant Frank Morrison. I’m heading aboard ready to be debriefed.” There was a long silence then a small click. “Morris? Is that you?”
“Yes, Captain it’s me.”
“Alright once you get onboard head straight to the bridge." In a hushed tone, "Do not talk to any ONI spooks.”
“Alright sir.” The Pelican came to a large bay door which opened as it approached. The Pelican entered the docking bay and landed. Everyone stood up and waited at the ramp of the pelican for the bay door to seal. He heard a thundering boom and a hiss. Kingston clicked a button on a panel next to the door. The ramp dropped, and before Frank was a hero’s welcome. Two lines of Marines extended out past the Pelican each on in salute. He looked to Kingston and Gregory, “Now this is a welcome!” He walked off the ramp and through the path way. He made his way to the elevator and hit the button for the bridge.
Inside a separate area of the ship an area inaccessible to anyone outside ONI, “Commander they found Lieutenant Morrison.”
“Good. Any life?”
“He is alive if that’s what you mean, or if you mean on the planet yes there are life forms. Very intriguing ones at that. Gregory said they are some sort of horse race.”
“Horses?”
“He used the word pony sir. Well actually he referred to the two he met as a Unicorn and a Pegasus.”
“What kind of fuck do you think I believe in!?” He slammed his fist on the table.
“Sir we have footage from the helmets camera.” He lifted a remote and clicked a button. A screen lit up across the room and played footage from Gregory’s helmet camera. “My god…”
“Ensign I want Delta sent in tomorrow.”
“Alright Commander.” The Ensign left the room. The Commander was left in his chair staring at the playback from the helmet camera. “We have found other life outside the Covenant. Should I spare them being glassed? Or should I try and see with Command if they will want them as an ally.” In the Commander’s head a voice stirred, “Their ponies what good will they do on the battlefield?”
“We don’t know anything about them?” He told the voice.
“That doesn’t matter they are defenseless against the Covenant.”
“Then why aren’t they glassed?”
“You have a point.” The voice sighed, “But still we don’t have the kind of time to sit here and investigate.” The Commander shook his head.
“We’ll make time.”
He turned in his chair clicking a button on a Com-Panel on the desk. The screen flashed, “Contact Colonel Potters.” The screen turned blue then flashed again showing the face of an old man. “Anything new to report?”
“Yes sir we have made contact with a new alien race. I’m sending you footage of the race.”
After a few minutes of the Colonel watching the footage. He looked back at the Com-Panel. “Commander I want you to spare them.”
“Sir?”
“They are useless to us.”
The voice in the Commander’s head agreed with the Colonel. The Commander shook his head. “Harris…Do what you have to do to spare them but see if you can capture a few.”
“What for?”
“Research.” The word made Harris worry. Research was a word not used lightly around ONI it meant many horrible things the SPARTAN Program was called research and ONI was all over the Halo incident. He clicked a switch on the Com-Panel, “Ensign tell Delta to gear up they are headed down now. Tell them to exterminate. I want them to capture a few of these aliens at maybe even the two we saw in the footage.”
“Alright sir.” The Com-Panel shut off and Harris leaned back in his chair. “What have I just done?”
“You just ordered a platoon of ODST's to kill some aliens nothing more nothing less."
Morris was standing in the middle of the bridge and the entire bridge crew was staring at him. All of their faces showed disbelief. “I know it’s hard to believe magical pony aliens that haven’t been touched or let alone seen by the Covenant or us.” Horowitz spoke up first.
“Yeah that is really hard to believe but it’s coming from you Morris.”
The Captain looked at Morris, “Man your station.”
“Sir…Are we leaving the system?”
“Yes.” Morrison froze.
“Sir, I can’t leave.”
“Why?” Morris started to explain with a long winded testimony but failed finally with a sigh.
“Sir…I’m sort of part of their society. I’m a guard for their princesses. I can’t just leave.”
“I’m sorry Morris but I just want to get back.”
“Then I’m leaving.” Everyone was again staring at Morris. He stood there unmoving. “I’m sorry but I can’t leave them I finally have a home that actually needs me you can easily replace me.”
He walked over to the elevator. He entered and hit the button for the deck he the Pelican was on. Once the elevator doors opened Kingston was standing at the elevator door. “Morris I can’t let you enter this deck.”
“Out of my way Kingston.” Kingston laughed.
“Come on Morris let’s get you down to the planet.” Kingston started to walk down the hall. Morris looked over to the armory.
“I better get some new gear.” He told himself.
Kingston looked behind him and saw Frank walk into the armory. He stopped and smiled. Soon Frank came back out armed with the base MA5B assault rifle. “Alright I’m ready.”
They continued down the hall and into the landing bay. The Pelican was just as they left it. They climbed aboard and turned started her up. Soon the Com-Panel beeped. Kingston pressed the button, “Yeah?”
“Where are you headed Echo Five-One?”
“I’m going back down to the planet to retrieve the supplies and equipment.”
“Alright you’re cleared.” The door slid open and Kingston gunned it. “Alright…” He turned to Frank who was in the copilot’s seat.
“I have some bad news Frank.”
“What?”
“ODST Platoon Delta was sent down to the surface about ten minutes ago.” Frank immediately froze.
“Where did they land?” His voice became cold.
“About three clicks deeper into the forest that the Pelican landed in. They will know that I’m landing so as soon as we land get back to your friends I’ll try and stall them.”
“Do not do anything that will get you killed.”
Delta Platoon was moving through the trees, they heard the Pelican come in to the ground. The one in the lead looked back to the rest of the platoon behind him he nodded and they started to run.
The Pelican landed and Frank was in the back waiting for the wheels to barely touch that ground. He hit the button and the ramp fell. “Thanks for the ride Kingston!” Frank ran out onto the grass and booked it into the tree line running for Ponyville.
Chapter 5
Twilight rolled over in her bed. She couldn’t sleep, she was worried about Frank. Suddenly she heard banging on the door to her house. She shot up wondering who could need her at this time of night and ran down the stairs to the door. She opened it revealing Frank who was standing there breathing heavily.
“Frank what are you doing here? I thought you were gonna be back till tomorrow?”
“We have a problem.” She moved out of his way, and he entered the house.
“Twilight it seems someone above me has ordered a platoon of troops down here.”
“And? What are they here for?”
“I don’t think they are going to be friendly.”
“What can’t you do something about them?”
“No…their orders were given by somebody higher than me. I can’t do anything but sit here and wait for them. I want you to get as many ponies out. Do it quietly and quickly.”
Frank sat up on a roof keeping his eyes glued to the trees of the Everfree. He heard a click and some static. “Hey Frank you there?”
“Kingston?”
“Yeah. The ODSTs are headed your way. They are armed with MA5C’s this is not a peace mission.”
“Alright. Any other info?”
“None at this time. I will try to get some more. I’m calling in some favors back on the ship.”
“Alright.” Another click and the Com-Link was offline. He sighed, “I don’t know what I’m gonna do…” He picked up his rifle and jumped down onto the road.
The ODSTs approached their objective. They split into three squads. “Alright Squad One you are to take the east side, Squad Two takes the west. Squad Three will clear the middle stretch.”
Three lights flashed on the CO’s HUD. His squad being squad three was overlooking the center of town, “Commander, there is an unidentified signal on the Coms.”
“Can’t you figure out who it is?”
“No whomever it is has this encrypted beyond our access codes.”
The Commander stopped and thought about it for a moment. Encrypted Com signals, the voice in the Commander’s head stirred again, “I hope you know it’s a UNSC member.”
“Yes I know who it is exactly.” He told the voice.
“Alright then should I send a report to The Mandrake?”
“No Helios. It would make the Captain suspicious. We will just have to kill him and bring the body back. We’ll have to fake an accident.”
“Easy.”
“Indeed.” He stood up and followed the rest of the squad into the town.
The roads were empty but Frank picked up the ODST orders. He knew Harris’s voice, “Alright Harris let’s play a game.” Frank picked up his rifle and ran towards the east side of town. The only large target was either Sugarcube Corner or Carousel Boutique. He ran along the road. Over his Com-Link he heard the first squad, talking with each other. He climbed up onto the roof of a nearby house when he heard their footsteps. He laid down and waited waiting to strike, “So where are all the aliens?”
“Probably in bed, Mike.” These two were alone. They were to scour this block.
“The Commanders spooked about who’s listening in on the radio.”
“Could it just be Kingston back at his Pelican?”
“No they would know it then this guy’s radio is encrypted.”
“Well he’s gonna die nonetheless.” They walked into an alley between the house Frank was on and the one next door. Frank crawled to the edge and got into a crouched position. He looked at the two ODSTs. He jumped down behind them making almost no sound. The two ODSTs didn’t notice him and wouldn’t even know that he killed them. He stuck both of them with his two knives. Their bodies dropped to the ground, and he dragged them out of the way and hid the bodies making sure to grab ones grenade belt.
“Funny thing is you ODSTs think you guys are gods. A single platoon of you is only twenty men.” He walked out of the alleyway. He ran back out and down the road.
Harris was with his squad soon men started going off the grid. “What the hell is he doing!?”
“Your men are dropping off the grid…They are dead.”
“He’s killing ODSTs! He must know that he’s going to be court marshaled and executed.”
“He does, but he’s not going back.”
“You think he’s staying?”
“Yes he’s lost everything back on Earth." Harris shook his head, Helios fell silent. Harris looked to one of his men. "Corporal get the explosives ready." The Corporal nodded and reached into his satchel, "Ready to cause some chaos sir?"
"Hell yeah set it on that building there." The building Harris was referring to was town hall.
Frank heard radio chatter about explosives. He started to head into the next area that the ODST's would be situated entering what would be the central sector. "Now where would Harris be?" His thought process was cut off by a large explosion, the shock wave broke windows and awoke the rest of the ponies who were still in town. Frank looked towards the explosion. "Town hall..." He ran, his breath erratic.
The ODSTs cleared the entire town hall and found a group of the aliens. "So what do we have here?" The Corporal who was handling the explosives turned and saluted Harris. "Seven prisoners sir!" Harris knelt and look into the eye of the one in front. The pony stared right back, "Frank won't let you get away with this..." the voice was the voice of Rainbow Dash. She spat in Harris face, he smacked her and looked to the Corporal. "If she moves shoot her." The message was delivered, Rainbow Dash laid on the ground unmoving breathing.
Frank slowed as he got close enough to see the gaping hole in the side of town hall. He zoomed his helmets optics, he saw the ODSTs holding ponies hostage. He saw Rainbow Dash lying on the ground with the guards talking to the rest of them getting them to move. Soon he heard more shouts as a team of two came into the building with another group of ponies, including Twilight, Applejack,Rarity, and Fluttershy. He wondered where the hell Pinkie was but he put it out of his head if anything she might be dead the ODSTs probably shoot her when she threw them a party. Out of the corner of his eye he caught a glimpse of pink. "Maybe she's still here after all..."
Frank tried to find Pinkie but she had disappeared, "Where the fuck did she go?" He gave up after about twenty minutes. He started to head back to town hall.
"Commander we have a large group of aliens in the town hall. Should we maybe excute them and play it over the radio so he'll hear?"
"A fine idea Lieutenant. Grab one of them and excute it after ten minutes."
Fuck, that was all that went through Franks mind when he heard the message. He started to quicken his pace.
The guards chose a Fluttershy to be the first. All of the other ponies faces were dark. Fluttershy was crying, she was sat in front of a radio transmitter. Harris stood near the transmitter, "Morris if you can hear this you should give up we have the aliens. Listen..."
The crying played through Frank's helmet, he couldn't take it. He ripped the helmet off and tossed it to the ground. "I don't know if I can take this..." He kept moving but a slowed pace. He could still hear the crying, it was horrible.
"Frank...Frank?" The voice startled Frank, it was Celestia's voice.
"Celestia?"
"Yes Frank it's me. Calm I'm speaking through your mind."
"Celestia no offense but I don't have time I either move or Fluttershy dies."
"I know. I just want you to remember no matter what happens you won't be at fault."
"Celestia what are you talking about?"
"Your putting all the responsiblity for this incident on you."
"No Celestia. I'm not responsible Commander Harris is." He shook his head as if to signal Celestia to stop talking. Of course she noticed it being able to see the movement so she left his mind.
"Fucking magic..." He continued onward into the clearing surrounding town hall. No guards in the windows from what Frank saw so he ran across. Frank tried the back door and it was unlocked but must have been blocked as it wouldn't open into the building. He went around to the where the hole started in the wall. "Is everyone inside?"
"No we are just waiting for you."
Chapter 6
The sound of a shotgun being pumped made Frank drop his gun in realization that if he didn't they will have a nice coat of human blood as paint for the town hall. "That's good come quietly." Frank knew all to well the person holding him at gunpoint it was Gregory. After getting his hands tied behind his back he was led inside town hall and put up in front of the ponies.
"Frank!"
"Don't move any of you." He looked to Fluttershy who was stilling sitting in the middle of the room crying. "Shh...Fluttershy everything is going to be ok."
"Well considering you got captured and we have you all at gunpoint, I'd say no nothings going to be alright." Harris came out of a side room holding a Magnum in his hand, Frank could only guess what is was going to be used for.
"I would usually just shoot any prisoners but those would be Covies." He slowly walked around Frank his eyes darting to Fluttershy and the group every so often.
"So what are you going to do now Harris? You have me."
"Yes and you will be taken back to Earth for trial, but first..." The gun came up and he fired a bullet flew and dug into Fluttershy's wing. Frank sat unmoved, the ponies screamed; Twilight's horn started to glow and a chair was thrown at Harris, but to no avail she was too tired to actually do any damage so all that got her was a pistol grip to the side of the head. They dragged Fluttershy off while Frank didn't move he just sat quiet, Rainbow Dash and the others couldn't beleive it he couldn't do anything just sit and watch. Rainbow Dash could feel a fire start to grow in her stomach. She looked towards Frank one last time to see if he had some sort of trick planned nothing but the cold eyes that told her, I'm sorry. She started to move but was pushed down as Frank was thrown on top of her. "Now you are to stay here till we clear this town and start readying the HAVOCs." Since most of the ponies were untied due to the fact that they really couldn't fight against armored ODSTs...with guns...So they helped Frank get to his knees. "Dash you ok?" Rainbow Dash looked at him, with a sense of disdain.
"Rainbow Dash...I'm sorry I couldn't do anything...Bet you expect some sort of eleborate plan?"
She nodded slightly, "I have one but..." He leaned down and whispered it into her ear. Her face went cold, "You can't do that..."
"Dash...I know your problems with it...But I don't have any other way." He sat back up and looked at Twilight and whispered the plan to her while Dash chewed through the rope. She nodded, and became silent. "Harris! Get your ass out here!" Soon Harris came out with a puzzled expression. "What do you want Morris?"
"Nothing but--" Frank jumped up from the group of ponies and tackled Harris. The other ODSTs heard the commotion and came running in wondering what the fuck was going on. "Commander!" Harris waved them off.
"I can handle him!" They just sat and watched while Harris and Morris fought. Frank looked back to Twilight who's horn was starting to glow. Not much time left he thought to himself while he dodged Harris's punches. The ODSTs were surprisingly to attached to the fight to notice Twilight's horn. Frank grabbed Harris and looked at Twilight who's horn was glowing brightly. "NOW TWILIGHT!" As soon as she heard the words she spread a magical shield around the ponies. Frank kicked Harris back and ripped off his armor revealing the grenade belt he took off that one ODST. "Shit! Get back!" Harris and his ODSTs ran back through the door and Frank started to follow hoping he had time when he was hit from the side, he was launched through the air and into the wall. The grenade belt went through the door way and detonated. Frank got up and was ready to kill what ever had tossed him but what he saw was Pinkie but her mane was straight instead of poofy. "Pinkie?"
"No I'm Pinkamena Diane Pie and your not dying today." Frank was confused.
"Pinkie?" He repeated.
"No! I'm Pinkamena Diane Pie!"
"Ok...Well thanks..." He ran into the back room while Twilight deactivated the shield and went to getting everypony out. He ran into the back room intent on finishing this once and for all. Bodies laid strewn across the room when he entered the grenade belt did serious damage all of the ODSTs were dead. "Where's Harris?" He saw another door at the other end of a hallway that started to his left. He grabbed a rifle from one of the ODSTs and headed down the hall. He opened the door slowly to Harris holding Fluttershy his magnum held to her head. "Harris put the gun down!" He had a large gash across his forehead and Fluttershy's wound wasen't stiched and was still bleeding. "No! If you want her to live you let me go!" Fluttershy looked at Frank she was going into shock.
"Fine. Just let her go." Harris seeing his chance dropped Fluttershy and ran. Frank ran to Fluttershy's side and grabbed his emergency bio-foam canister. "Please let me not be too late..." The sun started to rise over Equestria.
Harris ran out of the town hall past all the other ponies. They didn't seem to care, but maybe they didn't notice. He checked his TAC-PAD on his wrist every ODST was off the grid. "Helios? What happend to the rest of the ODSTs?" Helios chuckled.
"I think the indigiouns lifeforms fought back." Harris was wondering what Helios was talking about when he passed two ODSTs in the road their necks snapped. "Holy fuck! What could have done this?"
"Do I look like I care?"
"I can't see you! You stupid AI!" He ran out of Ponyville and into the woods to the extraction point which was where Kingstons Pelican was earlier. Once Harris arrived he only found nothing everything was gone. He keyed his radio, "Mandrake this is Commander Harris. I need extraction!" A voice came back over the radio, the voice was old but powerful.
"And this is Admiral Lockhart you are ordered to hold your postion while we come down and detain you." The words shook Harris to his core that and a Admiral answered his extraction call.
"Detain?"
"Yes you are under arrest."
"For what?"
"For attacking a sentient life form without proper motive."
"But I was ordered!"
"Colonel Potters has also been arrested. We should be there right about now." A pelican flew over the treetops and slowed. Once it had landed the bay door opened and three Military Police came out lead by the Admiral. Harris raised his hands while the MPs cuffed him. Soon Frank and Twilight come running into the clearing. "Admiral!" He saluted once he saw the Admiral. "At ease Lieutenant. So you're the one who made first contact?"
"Yes sir!"
"Knock that sir stuff off! You found an entirely new alien race. You don't need to call me sir."
"Alright Admiral."
"It's Lockhart. Now I didn't come just to arrest this piece of shit and Colonel Potters for ordering an attack on a race of aliens that were not at war with and that had no intentions of going to war am I correct?" The MPs drag Harris onto the Pelican.
"Yes Lockhart. They don't want to go to war, just live in peace."
"Alright good just need that for the record." Lockhart turned and started to get back on the Pelican.
"Lockhart what about me!? I'll take it I'm getting court marshaled?"
"Hell no! Your gettin' promoted!" Lockhart tossed Frank a new pair of dogtags.
"Your now Commander Frank Morrison Offical Liason to...wait what planet is this?" Both Lockhart and Frank look to Twilight for an answer.
"Umm...Equ...Equiss?"
"Alright that works. Offical Liason to the Planet Equiss. We'll have a Pelican bring some stuff down for you." Lockhart saluted Frank as the Pelican took off and the bay door closed. Frank held the dogtags in his hands and looked to Twilight. "Seems I won't be leaving after all."
"No you aren't are you Liason?" Both Twilight and Frank wondered where that voice came from. Suddenly Celestia landed in the clearing. "Hello Frank. Hello Twilight."
"Princess!" Twilight ran over to Celestia and nuzzled her side. Frank saluted and started to walk back towards Ponyville.
"Where are you going?"
"Princess my job isn't done I gotta clean up the mess." Celestia smiled and nodded.
"Go we'll catch up." She shot a glance to a crying Twilight and Frank smiled. Frank slipped the dog tags over his head and ran back to Ponyville.
Two days later....
Frank entered Fluttershy's hospital room. He wasn't supposed to be in the room at the moment because it was after hours but he didn't care he was only checking on her. Fluttershy was asleep when he shut the door and sat down in the chair. He looked out the window at the recounstruction of town hall which after having a hole blown into via plastic explosives and the grenade belt tossing shrapnel into all the support beams and what not it made the building quite unstable so they decided to demolish it and build a new one. He put his hand on the bed as a goodbye before he left when her hoof was placed over his hand. "Please don't go." She was looking at him through tired eyes. He sat back in the chair and held her hoof.
The other ponies were actually outside the hospital room the whole time watching the scene. It made every single one of them cry even Rainbow Dash. It was a hard journey for everypony. An alliance was struck with the UNSC between all of Equestria nothing could be said for the rest of the planet but they would give in time.
Epilogue
Thirty years later...
The sky was a dull gray, no rain just silence as seven carriages stopped in front of a stage with am open grave in front. Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, and Rarity stepped out of their respective carriages first. Then came their husbands and children, Twilight had only one child a daughter of the who only goes by Twilight and her husband who was a unicorn from Canterlot whom she met twenty five years ago. Rainbow Dash's son stepped out his father died in a accident ten years ago who also didn't have a cutie mark no matter what they tried he became skilled in many crafts but was never talented. Fluttershy's two kids and husband stepped out surprisingly her kids weren't shy like their mother and father but were quite brash alot like Rainbow Dash. Pinkie Pie who actually had no children nor a husband was of course alone. Applejack's son was a hardy young lad who bucked trees alot like she did thirty years ago. Her husband was not of the country sort but of he loved apples all the same. Rarity her name held in high regard across the land of Equestria had two daughters both were artists in their own right, one of music the other of paper. Her husband was a courteous gentleman rich and well known because he married Rarity he was still a gentleman but no of upperclass when they met, Rarity changed that. Lastly stepped out the two princesses Celestia and Luna carrying a large coffin without the aid of magic. After setting the coffin in its grave, they took the stage.
"Everypony we are gathered here to mourn the death of a beloved and dear friend to Equestria. A man known to us as a friend and as a protecter. He served with us as a Captain of the Royal Guard and was our Liason to our ally the UNSC. Frank Morrison was a man of no small virtue..." Celestia's voice began to waiver and tears started to fall, she sucked in a deep breath. "But he has left us due to his age. His death will be a sad day in our memories but we shall remember him as fondly as we can. His life will be saluted by a silence of Equestria." As she finished the sentance everyone fell silent all that was heard was breaths and the wind. All of Equestria was silent, they knew Frank Morrison had died and his memorial was silence of all of Equestria, he was to be given just that. Three minutes pass by and Celestia continues, "We know that he is irreplacable in our hearts and we know he will live on in our hearts forever, his flame eternal..." They laid coffin to rest and filled the grave. The tombstone etched into was heart with stiches running down its middle.
A week later after the funeral....
A Nimitiz class shuttle slowly entered the space outside of the Equiss system, the ship had UNSC emblazoned on the side. The ship's pilot activated a recording mechanism on his console. "This is Lieutenant Commander Joesph Char, I'm approaching Equiss for my assignment as Liason." He pressed the same key again and sent the recording on its way. "How did I ever get stuck with this job?" He asked aloud, The ship's AI answered, "Why wouldn't you want this job?"
"Because H I'm not a Liason I should be on the front lines."
"Of what war?"
"You got me on that one."
"Well you may as well relax were heading into the atmosphere."
Foreword~ It has been a few weeks since I finished this story and I enjoyed writing it. The ending wasn’t my best work but it got me thinking what would have happened if certain events never happened. Well here you go I chose a few key events and changed them. This does include the death of two main six characters so if you can’t handle any of them dying please refrain from reading this chapter. Otherwise read on and I hope you enjoy.
Chapter 6
The sound of a shotgun being pumped made Frank drop his weapon. Town Hall really didn’t need a coat of red paint. “Good come quietly.” Frank knew the voice behind him and it made him scorn himself for trusting him, it was Gregory. Gregory bound Frank’s hands with some rope they brought. What no cable? Good it’s a plan then. He was brought into the main room and dropped in front of the group of ponies.
“Frank!”
“Don’t move any of you!” He looked to Fluttershy who was stilling sitting in the middle of the room crying. “Shh…Fluttershy everything’s going to be ok.”
“Well considering you got captured and we have all of you at gunpoint I’d say that’s not true.” Harris came out of a side room a magnum in his right hand, Frank could only guess what it was for. Harris walked over to Fluttershy and knelt down, “She’s cute isn’t she…Well maybe I won’t kill her she could be a nice pet for my kid…Nah.” He shoved the pistol into the bottom of her head making her yelp and cry.
“Don’t you touch her! It’s me you want you motherfucker! They just want to live in peace!”
“What happens when the covies come here and glass this place?”
“They won’t! For the years that the war has been going on they haven’t found this planet what do you expect just because we showed up the covies will too!?”
“Yes I do and the Colonel thinks so as well!”
Frank knew exactly who he was talking about. “I knew that fucker had something to do with this!”
“Ha! They’ll put you up in front of a firing squad for all this! See you back on Earth!” He dropped Fluttershy who crawled back to the group as he laughed. He walked back into the side room followed by the other ODSTs. Frank crawled over to Dash who was still lying on the floor. “Dash you ok?” She looked up at him with a small sense of disdain. He knew exactly why he allowed this to happen; well he didn’t actually allow the ODSTs to attack did he? He didn’t know nor did he fucking care at the moment only thing that matter was getting them out of here.
“Dash can you bite through these ropes?” She tried and nodded. “Ok bite through those I have a plan.”
“What’s the plan?” He looked to Twilight who asked the question.
“It pretty much entails me either blowing myself and the ODSTs up or blowing up just the ODSTs.” Twilight’s eyes went wide.
“What!?”
“Twilight calm down…You guys need to get out of here your more important than I am so while I get them distracted get everyone out of here use whatever spells you need to keep them safe alright?” She nodded. When he felt the tension of the rope release he yelled, “HARRIS GET YOU ASS OUT HERE!” Harris comes walking out of the side room.
“What is it did yo—” He was suddenly tackled to the ground by Frank. With the commotion a few of the ODSTs come out of the side room as well their eyes falling on the two soldiers fighting on the floor. They raise their weapons but are quickly put down by an order from Harris. “Are you sure sir?” One of the ODSTs asked.
“I think I can handle a guy with a limp!” His fist collided with the floor splintering the wood. Frank’s fist collided with his chin causing him to reel back and roll backwards off of Frank giving him time to stand. Harris lunged and Frank quickly rolled to the side. With Harris on the ground he quickly pulled off the over shirt he was wearing exposing the grenade belt. “Oh shit!” He heard one of the ODSTs scream as they backed off into the side room. He started to walk over to Harris when one of the ODSTs tackled him, he threw the man off. He looked to where Harris was lying but he wasn’t there. Where the fuck? He heard a faint click. And swung around, Harris was standing pistol in hand held to the head of Rainbow Dash. “GET YOUR HANDS OFF HER!” He lunged for the handgun and got a hold of it before the ODST Commander could react. They fought for control of the handgun when it went off. They both looked at each other and he dropped Rainbow Dash. A bloody stain already started to form across her stomach. “NO! YOU FUCKER!” Frank’s fist collided with Harris’s face breaking his nose. He grabbed the pistol out of the now unconscious Harris’s hand and he fired at the ODSTs who started to fire as well. Bullets filled the room and chaos ensued Twilight screamed as a few of the captured ponies were hit by ricochets. Frank’s mind zeroed on one objective killing every single ODST in the building, all sounds but him and the ODSTs gunfire disappeared and became nonexistent. He sat on the edge of the door way bullets colliding with the wall across from him as ODSTs fired their weapons into the doorway. He unclipped one of the frags and pulled the pin. He tossed it around the door and counted… “One…Two…Three…”
BOOM! The grenade went off and he ran inside firing.
“NOW YOU’RE ALL GOING TO DIE!” The ODSTs laughed at his remark they heard it all before from the zealots at first they felt guilt for trying to kill him now they didn’t all he was to them was another elite. Frank finished clearing the room and grabbed a rifle from one of the bodies. One moved and he quickly brought the rifle up and double tapped the body. These men were no longer human…They were the Covenant. His mind thought of them that way just to make everything easier. But then a thought popped back into his head. A certain cyan pegasus. He stopped and turned around running back through the door way ignoring every other cry for help his mind refocused on helping the cyan heap over by Harris’s unconscious form. He knelt down and grabbed his can of emergency biofoam, he quickly found the wound. It wasn’t too severe from what he saw he quickly filled it with the foam and bandage it. Just like they taught you, was all that went through his mind. Her eyes blinked a few times as she regained consciousness. Her face was pale she had lost a lot of blood. “Rainbow Dash you gotta stay with me!” He heard an odd sound but he didn’t care. He heard gunfire…He didn’t care. He sat their holding Rainbow Dash in his arms keeping her company as she slowly passed. “NO! DON’T FUCKING DIE ON ME!” He took a small syringe from his pack and injected it into her chest. Pure adrenaline shot staving off shock for decades; no this was time to be serious no more jokes. He felt a hand on his shoulder and he turned quickly ready to break the hand of whoever it was when he looked into the face of Kingston. “Come on get her on board we need to get them to the Pelican!” Frank stood and saw a few marines loading ponies onto Pelicans. He saw the Captain leading a small group of them. He picked up Rainbow Dash and carried her to the nearest Pelican and got her inside then he stepped out and started to get the rest onboard. Then he noticed the docs…They were working looking over tons of stretchers filled with ponies many of them covered by a white sheet. His heart sank…He couldn’t do anything and then he saw a few more stretchers come in. On them were the writhing bodies of Rarity and Pinkie Pie, he ran over. They both had bullet wounds. Frank didn’t understand though, why the hell are there this many marines here? He ran over to the Captain. “Sir why the hell did you come after me?”
“Because the brass told me so! Well that and I can’t have you getting killed now can I?” Frank chuckled slightly.
“Sir? What happened one seconded I would be most certainly court marshaled for my actions even with proper reason. Now I have marines coming through and wiping out the ODSTs?”
“Well when the brass caught whiff the Colonel and his plans let’s just say they didn’t like it very much so they told me to send down some help.”
“Who the hell told the brass?” Kingston walked up behind the Captain.
“I did. When the ODSTs went in I called up my friend Admiral Lockhart and I got him to convince the Board to call off the attack and get Colonel Potters and Harris arrested.”
“Come on were headed up to the Mandrake!” The Captain climbed aboard the nearest Pelican. Kingston and Frank climbed aboard the one Frank had loaded Rainbow Dash onto. While Kingston went up to the cockpit to talk with the Admiral Lockhart Frank sat next to Rainbow Dash who was unconscious but stable. The doc told him thanks to him hitting her with that adrenaline she’s gonna make it guaranteed. He held her hoof all the way up. He didn’t know the condition of Rarity or Pinkie Pie but right now he could care less. He had grown attached to Rainbow Dash seeing as she was his first friend here. When they got aboard there were another two lines of soldiers extending from the Pelicans bay doors. Every single one of them, they unloaded the dead first. Each would be checked over then ready to be shipped back to the planet below if they were a pony otherwise they were cremated then shot into space. Next came the marines who went down to the planet followed by the ponies who were greeted with warm feelings, then came Frank. When he stepped off the Pelican everyone fell silent. He walked over through the path once again, he one of the soldiers felt sorry for him. He had just fought off ODSTs and that was badass and all but he still killed them all in good cause of course defending a race of life that could not defend itself. When he made it through everyone in the lines turned quickly and faced a small stage. The Captain was standing at the podium, and started to give a speech honoring the fallen soldiers even though they were technically AWOL during the attack once it was called off but everyone knew they never received the orders to stand down. “And now Lieutenant Morrison will say a few words for the ponies we couldn’t save.” Frank stood he didn’t know he was gonna have to do this he was already on the verge of tears. He walked onto the stage and stepped up to the podium.
“The ponies we lost today and the ones we may lose in the next few days due to unforeseen events; will be remembered in our hearts forever. They didn’t die on the battlefield…No they died to the negligence of a few of us humans who couldn’t think that it is wrong to kill...” He stopped midsentence and took a breath trying to keep himself together. “To kill these ponies for no reason. They haven’t done anything to invoke us. I took an oath to protect the helpless and I did just that so…” His voice intensified, “If anyone has any kind of doubt to my actions you can take it elsewhere, I won’t give two shits about what you say.” He walked off the stage his mood soured by his own words he didn’t know why he was acting like this no one seemed to react oddly to his words not even the ponies reacted they sat and listened to him quietly. He entered the elevator and hit the button for the crew level.
When he finally got to the quarters he was given not a few hours prior he sat on the bed and started to cry. Humans and ponies died today for no god damn reason at all except for idiocy on the part of humanity! He held his head with his hands letting his fingers dig into his scalp. No your fine you’ve handle this before people have died in your arms people have died without you so much as batting an eye. Why are you crying now? He asked himself so many questions and he couldn’t answer too many of them. He heard the intercom click and the Captains voice clicked on. “Morris you’re wanted down at sick bay!” Frank quickly stood and walked out of the room back to the elevator and rode it to sick bay. Waiting at the elevator was Kingston. “Come on Rainbow Dash just woke up and she’s asking for you.” Frank’s heart warmed as he heard these words, good to hear that she was ok. Kingston leads him to a room and Frank walked in. Rainbow Dash was lying in the bed while Twilight and Fluttershy sat on the couch next to it. Looking into the vastness of space. “Frank!” Rainbow Dash started to get up but Frank quickly moved to her bedside and pushed her down. “No…You need to rest. You just got shot remember?” She smiled slightly and she stretched out her hooves and gave him a hug. “Thanks for saving me…” She whispered into his ear.
“You’re welcome.” He looked to Twilight and Fluttershy who were still staring out into space. He walked around Dash’s bed and came up behind them grasping the two of them in a hug. Both Twilight and Fluttershy yelped in surprise but when they saw it was Frank they relaxed and hugged him back. He set them down, “So how are the other’s doing?”
“They’re fine Rarity and Pinkie Pie are in the room next door and Applejack is down the hall.” Twilight answered quickly and went right back to staring at space.
“You two sure do love looking at space don’t you?”
“Yes…It’s amazing!” Fluttershy said quietly.
“Yes it is. Sometimes it just makes me wish I could stay up here never have to go back to any planet fight any aliens. Just travel through space… But that’s impossible so just a dream!” He said with a laugh when a horrible sound cut into all their ears. Only Frank knew what it was the sound of a heart flat lining. He ran into the hall as doctors rushed into the room next door. Please let it not be this one he told his mind. He stepped inside to the room as doctors crowded around the two beds performing CPR and using defibrillators. He heard the electroshock and the bodies’ slump back to the beds. After about a minute they all stepped back and shut the monitors off. When they cleared Frank was standing in front of the beds. Rarity and Pinkie Pie lay on the beds dead. He walked out of the room and entered Rainbow Dash’s room everypony staring at him with a confused look. “Rarity and Pinkie are dead.” He left the room without another word. He headed back to the elevator and went to the mess hall to get something.
Inside Rainbow Dash’s room all of the ponies were shocked. Rarity and Pinkie were stable not ten minutes ago. Fluttershy was the first to cry then Twilight and then Rainbow Dash. The three hugged each other for support. After a few minutes they noticed that Frank wasn’t actually there. “Where’s Frank?”
“Fluttershy why don’t you stay here and I’ll find him.” Twilight left the room in search of Frank. She saw Kingston talking with one of the doctors and she walked over.
“Hey Kingston?”
“Yeah?”
“Have you seen Frank?”
“No he might be in his quarters I’ll take you there if you want?”
“Yes please.” He turned and started walking to the elevators with her following closely.
Frank sat on his bed magnum in hand. He had already drunk the bottle of whiskey he had gotten from the mess hall. He held the magnum in his hands the barrel pointed at him. He brought the gun up and to his head. When the door opened, and Twilight walked in. His eyes went wide, as did hers. “Frank! What are you doing!?”
“I’m sorry Twilight I just can’t go back and face anyone knowing that I let Rarity and Pinkie die! I got captured I fucked up and they got killed!”
“That wasn’t your fault!”
“Everything that has happened is my damn fault! If I would have never survived the crash none of this would have ever happened! I’d be better off dead!”
“That’s just silly!”
“GOD DAMMIT TWILIGHT THIS ISN’T SILLY!” She stepped back slightly.
“Just put the gun down Frank you don’t need to do this none of this is your fault.”
His finger twitched and Twilight started to move but stopped when the gun didn’t go off. Twilight started thinking of how she needs to get through to him. Then she got an idea, “So your just gonna quit are you?”
“What?”
“Your just gonna quit aren’t you!? You fought off the Covenant and they have killed tons of humans but did you quit?”
“No.”
“So what makes you want to quit here?”
“Because those deaths I didn’t cause these ones I did!”
“That’s bullshit you and I both know it!” It was the first time he heard Twilight swear. “Rarity and Pinkie Pie dying is not your fault! Your just stressed you just can’t stand the fact that humans tried to kill us and you’re a human but remember you tried to kill us once.”
“Now you’re the one bullshitting me.”
“Just let it go! You didn’t cause them to die! Somebody else did not you!” First time she said somebody and not somepony. Frank stared at her and let the weapon go. It fell to the bed and she ran over to him as he sat there and cried. She climbed onto the bed next him and put her hoof on his shoulder. “It’s ok you still have a ponies to take care of…” He looked at her and smiled, she was right she still had to take care of her and the rest of her friends.
The next day all of the ponies and Frank were returned to the planet below and Frank was given orders to stay on the planet now dubbed Equiss by the Admiralty. He is to act as the Liason between the UNSC and the planet. When he got back to Ponyville he was greeted with a hero’s welcome nopony brought up anything about Rarity and Pinkie as he was still tender. Everypony was the two ponies would be missed. Frank was built a home outside of Ponyville about a ten minute walk to and from. He also found a path that led all the way to Canterlot it would be a long walk but hey a hike now and then to see the Princesses was good for a man.
Twilight would live alone and work on magical spells that Celestia sends her. Rainbow Dash would get married, as would Fluttershy who had a daughter. Applejack pulled through her wounds fairly easily got married to what she called a city slicker and had a son. The pony she married was from Canterlot but he enjoyed apples and hard work as much as she did and honesty was his top virtue even for a city slicker as she said.
Frank would eventually grow old and die but he requested that his replacement be sent before that so he could get accustomed before he died. He never thought that they would send his long forgotten son.
The scene was amazing. The ship landed around sun down and when the man stepped out and Frank saw him. His jaw dropped, “They told me you were dead.”
“What?”
“Joesph?”
“Yeah?” Frank gave Joesph a hug. Which surprised Joesph but when Frank explained he told them that they told him that
his home was attacked by the Covenant and he was rescued by marine forces.
“Well Joesph…Welcome to Equestria! Let’s get you introduced to the princesses.”
Frank would teach his son everything within two years all that he had learned and many of the events that would occur later would never happen. Frank would be given a choice that could easily change his life. Celestia gave him the choice, “Die or become a pony?” Not a very hard choice for him he didn’t want to leave his friends and his newly reunited son. He would choose to become a pony and he would move away from his son and disappear.
Chapter 3
A week went by and Frank trained with the Royal Guards. He was moved to the Princesses active guard team. Frank was in the dining hall when he Captain walked in. “Morris! You’re needed in the throne room!” He looked at Topaz. “What do you think this is all about?”
“Don’t know see you when it’s done.” He walked over to the Captain and followed him to the Throne room. “What’s this about Captain?”
“We are going to Ponyville.”
“Why?”
“Visiting.”
“Visiting?”
“Visiting.” Frank laughed and shook his head. They arrived at the Throne room door. “Head on in.” He told Frank. “Alone?”
“Yep you’re soloing this one.” He nodded and walked into the throne room. Celestia looked up when she heard the door open and close. “Ah! Frank you’re here.”
“Yes Ma’am but why do you need me for a visit to Ponyville?”
“Thought you could use the rest you’ve been training so hard for the past week.”
“So I’m off duty during this?”
“No you’re to be on guard the whole time.” He raised an eyebrow at how quick she responded.
“Of course you’re off duty… Now I want you to choose two guards to take your job.”
“Two?”
“Yes. So who do you have in mind?”
“Topaz and Lightning Ma’am.” She was stunned for a moment at his quick decision. She looks towards one of the guards next to her. “Go fetch them.” The guard left the room.
“It’ll be nice to be able to see my friends again.”
“They miss you Twilight keeps checking on your progress.”
“Well when are we leaving?” The door opened and Topaz and Commander Lightning walked in. “Right now.” Soon enough they were on their way to Ponyville. When they landed a group of ponies had already gathered. Topaz leaned to Frank. “Did you ever get your reputation straightened outside of Canterlot?” Frank looked at him his face was void of all emotion. “Nope.” Topaz didn’t like it the last time he went outside of Canterlot; ponies threw rotten food at him. The carriage landed and Topaz and Lightning stepped out, each moved to one side of the door. Celestia stepped out and everyone bowed, then Frank stepped out behind her. Everypony froze looking at him knowing exactly who he was. Everypony stood up, one of the ponies in the crowd spoke up, “What is he doing here!?” Twilight and her friends walked through the crowd. “Hey Frank!”
He stepped out from behind Celestia and the crowd saw his armor. Emblazoned on it was the mark of the sun. He was a Royal Guard. Twilight and her friends stopped and gave an informal salute. “It’s alright guys. I’m off duty.” They lowered their hooves. “So how have you all been?” Everyone said they were fine they seemed a little anxious. “It’s the townsfolk isn’t it? Let them do what they want. I won’t do a thing.” Suddenly a brick smacked into his face he fell to the ground. Everyone went silent, Topaz looked into the crowd. “Who did that!?” He hollered into the crowd. “Topaz its fine.” His nose was bleeding and a bruise was already forming on his cheek. He looked in the direction where the brick came from. A lone pony stuck out he was black with gray hair. He walked through the crowd who split to create a path. “Frank…? Don’t do anything you’ll regret.”
“It’s alright Twilight…” his voice trailed off. “Come down here.”
“Who’s gonna make me?” The pony was asking for trouble.
“I will give you only two more chances. Come down or I will get you down.”
“Naw I like it up here.” Twilight was growing more and more anxious. “This won’t be good for his image if he gets into a fight.” Frank looked at the pony that was taunting him. “You are trying my patience and I know you know who I am. Now calm down before you make the badass mad.”
“You’re not a badass so you escaped the guards for a month whoop dee do. Now look your one of them.” Frank looked to Twilight and mouthed the words “I’m sorry.” She nodded, he turned back to the pony. “Last chance, come down now.”
“No.”
“Alright, you give me no choice.” He turned back to Celestia, “Permission to tackle him Ma’am?”
“Granted.” Suddenly the pony’s eyes went wide. He started to turn to run but Frank was already half way up the wall. “Shit!” He ran and Frank was close behind. Frank started to fall behind and the pony thought he was in the clear. He turned into an alleyway. He hid behind a crate. “Ha that was so easy to get away from. He’s not as tough as everyone thinks!”
“I’m not tough?” The voice startled the pony. He looked up and Frank was on top of the house looking down at him. “You might as well just give up.” The pony sighed. “Alright come on.” He lead the pony back to Celestia who was now at Sugar Cube Corner.
“Celestia I got him. Topaz mind taking care of this?” Topaz walked over and took the pony into custody. “Well an eventful visit isn’t it?” Twilight looked at him, “Yes and thank you for not hurting him.”
“I said I wouldn’t do anything to anypony and I meant it.” With that done he sat down at the table next to Celestia. Commander Lightning looked at him with her eyebrow raised. He cocked his head. “What are you doing sitting next to Celestia?”
“It’s my place.”
“What do you mean?”
“Celestia told me that my seat his right next to her. So this is my spot. Now Commander I forgot to brief you on this but you are to protect Celestia and me.” Lightning nodded her head. “I just want you to know though I can take care of myself. Celestia is who you should watch more not me.” Lightning nodded again. “Alright Morris.” Frank went back to enjoying lunch with his friends. They went on through the day giving Frank the tour of the town. Soon the sun was going down. “Well I think it’s about time, that I got back to the castle.”
“Princess Celestia is it alright if Frank stays here for awhile?”
“I don’t see why not he’s been training so hard for the past week. He could use the break.”
The six ponies jumped in joy. “Yay!” Frank stood there shaking his head and laughing. “What a cute bunch you are.” They all stopped and looked at Frank. “What?” They all started to laugh. “What? What’s so funny?” They didn’t answer him which made him annoyed, but he shook it off. “Alright well where will I be staying?” This stopped the ponies. “Where are you going to stay?” Twilight thought about it for a moment. “I think you’ll stay with me.” Rainbow Dash spoke up. “Wait…For one how is he gonna even get up there? Two how is he gonna stay up their when it’s made up of cloud?”
“Can’t you cast a spell that allows him to walk on clouds?” Twilight smacked her face with her hoof. “Right I forgot about that.” She concentrated for a moment and her horn started to glow. Soon Frank started to glow slightly then it faded. “There he can walk on clouds for today and tomorrow
“And I can just fly him up.” Rainbow Dash stretched her wings in anticipation. “Well shall we all pack up for the night?” Everyone nodded. “Come on Rainbow Dash.” Frank and Rainbow Dash headed to her house which was floating over Ponyville. “So uh…how are we?” Suddenly he was lifted off the ground. He looked up at Rainbow Dash, “Rainbow Dash you sure you got this?” She was sweating and huffing for air. “Rainbow Dash?” They finally reached her house. She dropped him onto the clouds and fell down. “Rainbow Dash!? This is why I asked if you could do this or not.”
“I’m fine…I just need to rest…” He helped her up. “Come on let’s get you inside.” He carried Rainbow Dash into the house. “Where’s your room?”
“Up the stairs and to the left.” He carried her to her room. She paid no attention to the décor as he laid her on the bed. He pulled a blanket over her, “Now get some sleep.” He walked out of the room and headed back down stairs. He looked at the couch in the middle of the living room. He laid down and slowly fell asleep.