*KICK*

Two weeks

*KICK*

Thirteen hours

*KICK*

Forty-Two minutes and twelve seconds

*KICK*

The force of the kick caused the punching bag's chain to break and send it to the ground. It landed with a heavy thud and Twilight breathed heavily. The other ponies stopped what they were doing to look at her. These two weeks had really gotten her into shape. She isn't as pudgy as she used to be and she began to gain that tone muscle that Dash has.

All i've done is avoid them. I need more time to think, though.

"Who said to stop? Get back to it!" One of the drill sergeants barked and everypony went back to kicking punching bags. "Twilight! Front and center!"

"Yes sir!" Twilight replied and rushed over to the drill sergeant. "Sir?"

"You're off early. Go change and hit the mess hall."

Twilight did a crisp salute. "Thank you, sir." With that Twilight casually trotted back to the barracks.

She hated the tight sleeping spaces, but she had to deal with it. The whole guard is going through this training along with the whole pony population in Equestria. Twilight reached the barracks and went inside, closing the door behind her. Once again she's the only one here. She stopped in front of a mirror and look herself over. She is covered in the armor the UNSC designed for everypony. Helmet, flank guards, chest plate, hoof guards. All if it a drab green. With a sigh she took off the armor and slipped on a UNSC shirt that they had to wear along with her dog tags.

Once that was done she left the barracks and headed to the large green tent that is the mess hall. No one is inside it except for her. That sense of loneliness consumed her as she took a MRE over the actual food the cooks are preparing. Over time she came to accept the taste of the vegetarian meal and downed it quickly. She took a second one and ate it slower. She didn't hear the footsteps behind her.

"Hey, Twi."

Twilight jumped at turned to face him. "Taylor. Hi."

Taylor walked around and sat across from her. He took off his helmet, setting it aside. "So is this it?" Twilight didn't respond but just looked at the MRE in shame. "Two. Weeks. Twilight."

Twilight looked up, making eye contact with him. "I know."

Taylor let out a frustrated sigh. "Do you... do you not care about me anymore? Is that what it is?"

"I didn't say that."

"When you were in the hospital, do you know what Celestia asked me?" Twilight shook her head. "She asked me if I love you. Then I cared for you, but now..."

"I think I get it." Twilight cut him off not wanting to hear it. Two weeks and this is what he wants to talk about! I don't want to deal with this. Twilight stood up and began to trot out the tent.

Taylor stood up and threw his arms out in frustration. "Where are you going?" Twilight didn't answer. "Twi... fuck."

Twilight can hear Taylor's helmet hit another table as her hoofs touched grass. It smelled great and did wonders to improve her mood. The smells drowned out all thoughts and she was there. Just her and the grass. Nothing else. She quickly found herself laying on her back with her eyes closed, that grass tickling her.

Twilight rolled around in the grass for a few seconds before laying on her side, sleep trying to over take her. She opened her eyes and squinted as the sun's glare hit them. "Fucking sun..." Whoa... where did that come from? Twilight stood up again and found that she isn't very far from the green tent. She decided to go back.

When she entered she found that Taylor hadn't left. He still sat at the table but he had something in front of him. A closer inspection revealed an MRE of his own. Twilight can make out the smell of meat but ignored it. She hopped onto the bench seat next to Taylor and he didn't bother to look up. Some phantom feeling in the back of her mind poked and prodded at her but she couldn't make it out.

Twilight decided to take a gamble and scooted closer to Taylor, hoping that she hadn't ruined any sort of a relationship. Again he didn't move, just stared at the MRE. Twilight looked away with her ears flat against her head, doubts of even holding a friendship at this point consumed her.

"Do you think she will be mad? What if she decides to not be my teacher anymore?"

Taylor looked over at Twilight who looked on the verge of tears. "Hey, don't say that. You know she'll eventually accept it. And if she doesn't, that's her problem." he said in a soft whisper. His arms wrapped around her and embraced her in a hug.
Twilight leaned into the hug more and let him comfort her. After a moment Taylor let go and stood up. "I have to go."

"A-Alright."

"Can we talk about this later?"

"Sure." No.

Taylor nodded and walked out while putting his helmet back on. Twilight didn't go anywhere. She had no where to be and felt no urge to go any place else. She wasn't sure how long she had been there before the others began to join her in the mess hall. Ponies grabbed dinner and sat with their buddies and chatted about the day's awful training routines. It went like this every day. They finish training, eat, talk about how crappy the drill sergeants are, go to the barracks, and fall asleep to wake up the next day and do the same old bullshit. It made Twilight wonder if this was why some of the human soldiers were always so irritated.

The rest ate quickly and talked for a bit before heading to the barracks. Twilight was one of the last few to go and was about to leave until her friends showed up.

"Howdy, Twilight."

Twilight let out a slight groan. "Hey." she replied unenthusiastically.

Applejack caught wind of this and glanced a worried expression at her friend. "You feelin' okay, sugar cube?"

"Yeah, I'm great."

Applejack grimaced at the tone. She glanced at the rest silently asking them to help her. They all took a single step back except for Rainbow Dash. "Hey, egghead, I hear we're getting some really awesome armor tomorrow. I bet that sounds cool, huh?"

"Sure."

RD's enthusiasm deflated with Twilight's monotone reply. This time Rarity stepped forward with her usual poise, even in the combat armor. "I think you should talk with your coltfri-"

"He's not my coltfriend!" Twilight barked in Rarity's face. What had been a smug expression now showed one of rage, and she didn't know why. He hadn't done anything wrong, so why is she mad at him?

"O-oh, I didn't realize." Rarity stated before backing away. No one else tried to make some sort of comment, not wanting to make Twilight mad.

Twilight herself sat back down again, staring at the table. "He came by to talk to me earlier. I've been avoiding him the past two and a half weeks. I think he still thinks we're... well, I actually don't if we still are. I still like him, but... I don't know." Twilight at this point Twilight looked depressed. She wasn't sure how much longer they would be an item. Everyone knew about their relationship but for some reason she didn't get bugged about it except when it came from Rarity.

Rarity didn't say anything in reply and even Dash looked surprised. "So... did something happen?" Dash inqiured, now hovering above the group. Twilight nodded weakly but didn't say anything. "You going to tel-"

"No I'm not going to tell you because you feel that you should be in the know!" Twilight yelled at the cyan pegasus. After a moment Twilight is assured no one else had anything to say she glared at each of them. "I'm going to the barracks." She left without offering so much as a bye.
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"This is getting rediculous! Three times this week you showed up in my office because you can't control your god damned temper!"

"I can cont-"

"You better get your act together before I decide to court martial your ass! Get out of my office."

Twilight glared viciously at the commanding officer but offer a salute and marched out the door, slaming it on her way out. "Court martial my ass. Who the fuck does he think he is?" she asked herself as she began to trot back to rally point. A pair of boots joined her and kept with her pace. A single glance told her they had assigned Taylor to 'escort' her back.

She could tell it's him due to the armor colors and emblem on the shoulder armor. He didn't so much as look at her or give her a nod of acknoledgement. Which is fine. She didn't want any of those. Now that she thought about it, this is the first time they've even seen eachother since two months ago in the mess hall. That whole time she had sucessfuly avoided him, and now the commanders assigned him to escort her probably to talk to her and snap her out of this new her. But conversation never came.

At this point he either didn't care about her anymore or gave up overall to try and even catch a glimps of her. But what really surprised her is that when she tried to continue one way he shoved her in another and pointed in the direction. The cruelty he displayed against her hit a soft spot and felt hurt by what he did. Again he pushed her in another direction, never saying a word.

Confusion and worry began to take hold of Twilight. This is someone she can and would trust her life with. Someone who wouldn't hurt her. And now that is being crushed as he led her to where ever they're going. They came up to a concrete building that has no windows and a thick one inch iron door. He opened it and again, roughly pushed her in.

As soon as she is in, Taylor spoke. "First room to the right." And then the door closed leaving her in a pitch black darkness.

A few seconds passed before she realized that who ever spoke wasn't Taylor. Or maybe it was. She couldn't tell. Her training kicked in to keep her mind from scrambling and lit her horn. She found herself in a small halway big enough for two ponies to walk through with ease. She began slowly at first before her pace increased to a brisk trot and stopped when she came to the first door on the righ.

Twilight entered the room which had no door and found it just as dark as the rest of the building. She cautiously made a few steps in before flood lights flashed on, temporarily blinding her. When her eyes finally adjusted she found herself in a cery large concrete room, devoid of all live except for one particular alicorn.

Twilight didn't bow like she normaly would have but stood there diviant. She watched the alicorns expression from one of boredom to one of curiousity. "Does thou no longer bow to her superiors?"

"I think I like you better when you don't mix old equestrian with new equestria." Twilight replied coldly.

Luna's expression soured at Twilight's blunt statement. A short sigh escaped her lips and testured for Twilight to sit, which she did without hesitation. "Twilight, I don't like what they've done to you. I prefered the librarian who always did her studies. Always loyal. Always caring."

Twilight sat there, not really listening, but one question lingered on her mind. "Was that Taylor who brought me here?"

Luna ignored the question and continued. "Due to your change, we feel that it would be best for your metal health if we pulled you from training. You will no longer server under the UNSC."

"Who's this we?"

"Me, Taylor and Tai."

The urge to correct Luna's grammar attcked her OCD but she pushed away the feeling. "I don't want to be discharged."

"It's not a choice."

"I'm not being discharged! I'm perfectly fine and I can handle myself!" Twilight objected, standing in a blind furry.

Luna seemed unfazed, unmoved. "I'm sure you can Twilight but it is for your own good. You will go home tomorrow and you will not set hoof in the training grounds again unless acompanied by an official."

"This is bullshit!"

"Twilight, language!" Luna yelled, flaring her wings to try and intimidate the unicorn.

Twilight stood up and moved towards the door, stopping just before she left. "Fuck all of you."
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Twilight paced back and forth in the main room of the library. She's mad, no pissed off that they could send her off like this. She didn't want to read, eat, sleep or anything except go back to the training grounds. Eventually she laid down on the couch and let sleep take over her dispite not wanting to sleep.
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Twilight felt something shaking her. She let out a graon and curled into a ball. She didn't want to wake up, she felt tired, sleepy.... Again she felt something shake her along with a distant whisper. She couldn't make out the words or recognize the voice. "Mmm... leave me alone, Taylor."

"Taylor? Tayor isn't here Twilight. Come on, wake up." the voise ushered her, again lightly shaking her.

This time Twilight opened her eyes and found herself in the main room, sleeping on the couch. She turned her head and is met with a mass of purple and green. It made her jump but she calmed once she realized it was just Spike. Now she remembered. Taylor isn't here because he has to train everyone else at the camp. Now that they pulled her out she's going to get pudgy again. It felt great being in this good of shape and she didn't want it to go.

"Hello, Equestria to Twilight?" Spike said while waving a claw in front of Twilight.

Twilight looked up, still tired. "What? I'm sleeping."

Spike gave her a worried glance. "You've been asleep for eleven hours, and you're still tired?"

"Eleven... hours?" Spike nodded. "What time is it?"

"Almost nine, and I'm starving!"

"Deal with it! Go find something yourself." Twilight commanded before closing her eyes again to fall asleep. A moment later the sounds of claws walking away and a grumbling Spike filled the air before it went quiet again. Some minutes passed and sleep never took her again. Annoyed, she tossed and turned trying to find a suitable position, but couldn't.

She felt the want of somepony or someone rather, to hold her till she fell asleep. She felt empty and alone. More alone than she has ever felt before, and it is unsettling. Twilight opened her eyes and sat up. She looked at the clock again and saw another thirty minutes had passed. She hadn't heard more from spike and got to her hooves and began to trot around the library.

First she checked the kitchen and didn't find Spike. She then went to the main room, upsatirs to her room. There she found the little guy curled up in his basket. A hint of a smile tugged at her lips before she went back down stairs. She wandered how he mannaged without her or anyone else to look after him.

Twilight went to the calendar she has set up in the kitchen and glances at.Two weeks before everypony finishes training. A sigh escaped her lips and she went to the refrigerator, opened it, and found a small basket of muffins from Derpy. Twilight gripped the basket in her magic and set it on the table, taking a muffin in the process. It taste great. A perfect mix of spices made the sweet savory taste of it so irresistible.

A roll of thunder brought Twilight from the muffin and glancing at the window. A second roll of thunder sounded, but further away. "It's not supposed to rain." She remarked to herself. Setting down the muffin Twilight made her way to the window. Out side she can see a black warped spot in the night sky that had a mystic blue edge. A large object jetted out other the black warping sphere. Its dark color makes it hard to see against the black sky save for the stars showing its outline. The hole closed with a thundering clap and the object hung in the air for a few seconds before faint lights appeared on the edge.

A sudden realization hit Twilight like a brick and she lit her horn and disappeared with a small 'pop'.
_______________________
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Luna laid on her bed, a book between her hooves. Her room is dimly lit but bright enough for her to be able to see the words on the hundred year old pages. She admired the staffs abilities to keep books in such great shape. Luna is torn from her book when three consecutive, distant booms interrupted her. This worried her as the weather wasn't due fro a rain storm in three days. Not only that but no more thunder came after a minute.

She glanced over at the small communication relay at the side of her bed. Only use it for dire emergencies. Luna toyed with the idea before finally deciding to wake her sister. She pressed a button with her magic and waited. On the other side she can hear a groan then a weak "What?". "Tai, I sense something bad."

"What, Lulu? You know I don't like being woken this late at night for some petty reason." Celestia complained in her grogginess.

Luna paused for a moment before replying. "I believe we should hail the commanders."

"Why didn't you do that first instead of waking me?" Celestia nearly shouted through the speaker.

Luna winced. "My dearest apologies, I will conta..."

"I'll take care of it."

Luna replied with a weak "alright" while she waited. A few seconds passed and no reply came from any of the ships. Luna can hear Celestia cursing under her breath as she tried again. "Bucking magical interference."

Another few seconds pass and a reply finally come through. "Good evening Princess, how can I help you?" A familiar female voice greets them.

"Hello, Renona. Luna here thinks something terrible is happening." Celestia said rather annyoed.

"Well if by bad you mean three Covenant cruisers just exiting slipspace, then... yes, something terrible is about to happen." Said Renona in a mater-of-factly tone.

No reply came from Celestia and Luna figured she was just being slow. "What's happening now?"

"All UNSC ships are engaging the cruisers while their shields are down. Also everyone is being prep for ground engagement. That includes your ponies."

"Thank you, Renona."

"My pleasure."
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Twilight appeared in fromt of a mass of organized chaos. Ponies and humans ran in different direction, some with armor, others without. The humans shouted commands and ponies followed them without hesitation. Each ponies armor had attached weapon platforms that they used instead of the conventional weapons humans used.

Twilight sprinted towards the bareacks and found that her stuff is still where it was. Her locker and bed are in the same place along with her armor. She levitated the armor over her body, connecting the buckles that held it in place. She then attached her flank guards, hoof guards, and helmet. She enabled the weapon platform that's attached to the body armor and a mechanical arm lifted a weapon up and to the side slightly. A targeting reticle appeared on the eye protection built into the helmet.

Once satisfied, Twilight rushed out of the barracks and into the mass of ponies who began to hop into warhogs desgined for troop transportation. She quickly ran up to a line and waited until it's her turn to get on. She sat rather uncomfortably while more ponies got on. A few minutes later the warthog lurched forward at encredible speeds. It wasn't the first time she has ridden in one but it awaly made her feel queezy.

It wasn't long before she can see a mass of unicorns levitating sandbags into piles to build cover. Pegasi roamed the skies looking for enemies and choke points in the small town of ponyville. One particular pegasus caught Twilight's eye and she watched as the cyan pegasus gave out orders to the others.

The warthog stopped and everyone in it hopped out except the driver, who drove back to the training grounds. Twilight quickly followed the group to te center of the small town, and of course, who else would be in charge of the squad she so happily joine.

"Everyone on me! Lets go!" The whole group followed the one she had been avoiding this whole time. "Hold it!" He commanded and everyone stopped including Twilight. Taylor approached Twilight looking rather pissed. "You've got to be fucking me right now. I knew you had become defiant but this is pushing it, Twilight."

"Deal with it! I'm fight whether you like it or not!"

"This is unbelievable. Fuck...." Taylor turned around frustrated before facing Twilight again. "Fine, but you do everything I say without question. Do I make myself clear?"

Twilight didn't answer at first, glaring at him. "Yes. Sir." The only reason she even agreed is to stay on his good side.

Taylor again and began to sprint. Twilight and the other four ponies she didn't know followed him down one of the many dirt roads of Ponyvilled. Suddenly the black night sky is lit up in a neon green. Dirt is thrown into the air and waves of hear washed over Twilight. The brightness of the blast caused her to shut her eyes and when she opened them again she is on the ground, her ears ringing. Not far away she can see Taylor struggling to get to his feet along with three other ponies.

Roaring above Twilight caused her to look up and three Longswords fly pass, guns firing rounds at nothing. "Get up! Keep moving!" Twilight blinked at the sound of someone giving commands. She feels disorientated, confused. She rolled over and pushed herself up watching two ponies no three regroup with Taylor. The other is still on the ground.

"Twilight, get a move on!"

Twilight quickly regathered with what is left of the squad and they began to move again. Once the ringing in her ears had gone she can hear the distant sounds of weapons being discharged. Adrinalin began to pump into her bloodstream as they got closer to their destination. They quickly rounded a corner and the first thig Taylor did is got on his belly. Twilight and the others follwed suit and crawled to what little cover they had.

The firefight is happening else where as the gun shots are still distant but they stopped here. He's waiting for something, but what? To Twilight's left is Rarity who is laying on her belly as well. Waiting. To Twilight's surprise, the white unicorn's coat is more of anlight shade of brown than the once vibrant white, and she isn't complaining. This is the first she had seen her in two months.

Twilight took a peek over the cover and saw nothing. She looked closer. "Taylor, the fog." Twilight hissed in a low voice.

"Where? I don't see anything!" He replied in a similar tone.

"Spec-Op Elites. I'm taking the shot."

"Stand down!" Twilight ignored his command and fired.

Her whole body shook with the recoil of the forty-caliber rounds as each one hit and killed an elite, its head being torn in half. Twilight stared in horror at what she had done and couldn't bring herself to duck back down when flashes of blue sped towards her. *whizz*

"Dammit, Twilight! Stay down!" Taylor barked in her face. "Rainbow, we need air support!"

A moment passed where more plasma hit the sandbags, melting them into glass. "Roger, coming in hot!"

Twilight looked up at Taylor who is now resting with his back against the low sandbag wall with his assault rifle ready. Twilight looked up and saw a faint rainbow streak in the black sky. It slowly began to aim towards the ground. The sky lit up in flashes of white and yellows and the ground tore up as the forty-caliber rounds dug into it. "Now!" Taylor shouted as he looked over the cover.

Twilight did the same and saw at least twenty disorientated elites who's shields sparked as they tried to recharge. Gun fire filled her ears as they cut down the rest of the elites. Their bodies are torn apart and blood soaked the ground as each one fell, body parts flying off their owners. The urge to throw up took over Twilight and she hung over the sandbags, or what is left of them, and felt her stomach lurch. She quickly lost her lunch and what little dinner she had, coughing and gasping for air by the time she had nothing left to regurgitate.

Twilight took a quick moment to recompose herself and scanned the rest of the group. Everyone lookes just as sick as she did. Everyone except Taylor. Then again he is wearing his helmet so she can't really see his expression. He sat on the ground with his assault rifle at his side, watching them. More times than not Twilight caught him turning inher direction for a brief moment before going back to watching the others. Taylor stood up and looked off in a different direction.

"Come on, they need us on the west side of Ponyville." he said in a low voice. He began to walk and the other quickly collected themselfs and followed.
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Author's Note

Well, here's the new chapter and the covenant arive. Can the ponies and humans win? Maybe... with a little help (foreshadowing).
Also, Twilight... I guess you could say she beginning to develope moral dilemmas, or she's becoming bipolar. Either option is viable.
(Editing will be done once I get to a computer since my phone doesn't like to tell me errors I've made. For now I just want the chapter out.)