A Hole To Fill

Chapters

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Epilogue

Chapter 1

Celestia and a few of her royal guards stood outside of Canterlot in a large clearing, awaiting the arrival of a space shuttle which is bringing the new Liason for Equiss. "Your Highness I think the shuttle may be running late."

"You don't say Captain Topaz."

"No disrespect ma'am." She let him slide he was a fresh Captain after all. Soon after waiting for another five minutes the shuttle came into view. "Here he is." The shuttle landed blasting air all around causing the landing area to look like it was in the middle of a tornado. The door on the side opened and a voice from the inside, "Alright H you gonna be able to get this back?"

"Joesph I think I can." He stepped off with a large duffel bag staring at the ponies as the shuttle lifted off and took back into space, "Um...Hello Princess Celestia?" The silence after that sentance went on for about a minute, till Topaz found enough energy to talk, "Are you Lieutenant Commander Joesph Char?"

"Yes who else would I be?" Topaz facehoofed at the fact he asked that question. Celestia startled to laugh and then

snapped back to her regal likeness, "Ok well hello Lieutenant Commander."

"Hello Princess Celestia." Celestia wouldn't stop staring at him it was creeping him out, so he gets the guts to ask, "Umm...Celestia why do you keep staring at me like that?" She snapped out of thought, "Um..What?...Sorry you just remind me of someone..." Topaz looked at Celestia with a look of the fuck, "Really he looks like Frank?" They were trying to be hushed but Joesph could hear them.

"Yeah he does before he had his beard after the whole incident."

"Your right..." They both kept staring at him so he looked to the other guard, "So who are you?"

The guard saluted, "I'm Twilight." Joesph was taken aback at first then he remembered his breifing and all the files on most of the ponies he would come in contact on a regular basis inside of Canterlot Castle. "Your mother is Twilight Sparkle right?" Twilight nodded. "Well that means I can't screw up with your names then." Topaz and Celestia were still talking with each other.

"He's acting so uptight..."

"Maybe those are his orders treat us with the upmost respect?"

"Maybe..." Celestia brought her head back up and looked to Joesph. "Lieutenant Commander--"

"Celestia if you want this to be informal that's easy just call me Char. So where will I be staying?"

"Well Frank had a house out near Ponyville."

"Alright then I'll use that as my home."

"Ok but you'll have to stay here in Canterlot for tonight. You will be meeting Twilight and her friends tonight."

"Will I need anything fancy?" She shook her head and turned starting to walk towards the castle. Topaz and Twilight fell in behind Celestia and Char behind them. As they walked through the courtyards of the Castle everytime they passed any ponies they bowed then went on about their buisness till they see Char they stop and look at him. He speeds up and comes along side Twilight. "I'll take it I have some big shoes to fill."

"Yeah you do. Frank was amazing, he was like my uncle while I was growing up." Char nodded. "Alright Topaz and Twilight you two are dismissed."

"Alright Princess." they said in unison.

"Now I'll show you to your room for tonight." She turns into another hall that leads to a stairwell. The room was quite extravagant, it had a large king or queen size bed Char couldn't tell the rest of the room though was full of luxuries, a nice fireplace, a personal library were some of his favorites. "Well I'll let you get settled. I'll send Twilight to get you once dinner is ready." The door shuts leaving Char in the room he started to unpack, "So far so good. Lets see what kind of friendships Frank made."

Celestia walked into her private library, Luna was sitting at a table reading when Celestia entered. "Hello sister, How was the Lieutenant Commander?"

"Luna...I swear to myself...he looks like Frank." Luna stood in quick shock.

"What!?"

"I don't know...He looks like him, his face. He doesn't act like him though well from what I've seen."

"Should we?" Luna impliance was immediately heard by Celestia.

"Yes. Tonight while he is asleep though."

"Alright. Shall we prepare for dinner?"

"Yes." They both left the room to prepare for dinner.

Char was in his room sitting in a chair rereading all of his dossiers on the Elements of Harmony and Princess Celestia. The dossiers were photo-copyed so he had to read the somewhat blurry handwriting of Frank Morrison. Each of the ponies descriptions were full of actual information then off to the side were footnotes, they read of helpful hints on each of the ponies personality querks. He had already read every single one at least fifteen times but he needed to make sure he didn't fuck up at the dinner. When he opened Fluttershy's file he smiled, he always liked the sound of Fluttershy quiet and calm but easily scared. Somepony you want to protect was written next to her name. He read through it one more time and set the file down. He had one file left but he started to disregard it, but picked it up again looking at the clock five fifty. Princess Luna was the name of the file he was unusually intrigued by her backstory. She was saved from evil by the Elements of Harmony...A knock came from the door and he stood tossing the file aside it's contents spilling across the floor. He shrugged and went to the door opening, Twilight stood there. "Dinner is ready." He nodded and stepped out shutting the door behind him.

Chapter 2

He was dressed in his flight uniform. It was a dull gray color, with two golden oakleafs on either side of the color and a patch with the insignia of a Liason. The dinner hall was huge the ceiling went at least two stories up. He looked at the banner's on the wall they had Celestia's symbol on all of them. "Your Highnesses I have brought Char." Char looked at the table seated already was Celestia and Luna. He bowed slightly as a precaution with Luna. "Char there is no need to be formal with me." He brought himself back up, "Sorry...So your Luna?"

"Yes I'm Luna."

"Good to meet you." He smiled and Luna smiled back. Celestia told him he could sit and looked to Luna, "I told you he looked like him even his smile." Luna nodded as the far door opened and six ponies walked in. Twilight trotted over to her mother, "Hello mother!" She hugged her mother who was smiling. Twilight Sparkle looked towards Celestia, "Besides dinner why did you call us here? I really don't think it was just for dinner."

"Probably to meet me." Char had gotten out of his chair and was standing before the ponies, who all just stared.

"So your Frank's replacement?" Char nodded and walked up to Twilight Sparkle holding out his hand, "Yes I'm Char a pleasure to meet you." She took his hand and shook. He introduced himself to everypony formally. After introducing himself to everypony he sat back down. "So let's eat shall we? I'm starved after a week in cyro." Even in her olding age Pinkie let out a laugh.

Char finished eating first, he sat their in silence his hands balled resting his head on them. "Is something wrong Char?" The question was asked by Rainbow Dash.

"Hmm? No nothings wrong why would you think that?"

"I don't know you're just sitting over there looking like you're sad."

"No I'm fine Rainbow Dash thank you for your concern." He kept his head up and watched the ponies his thoughts were slowly churning. What am I going to do? He asked his mind. He caught Fluttershy looking at him out of the corner of his eye but dudn't bring it up she may not have actually been looking at him after all. Luna and Celestia were watching him discretely well trying to be discrete anyway.

Dinner ended with Char saying goodbye to Elements and them leaving to the waving of Luna and Celestia. Char went to his room after saying goodbye. Once the ponies were out of Luna's and Celestia's sight they quickly hurried up to their library. A mirror was already placed against one of the bookshelf walls. "Alright sister are we sure we want to do this?"

"Luna he looks so much like Frank it cannot be a coincidence." Celestia's horn started to glow and the mirror showed the image of Char's room he was in his bed, asleep. "He can fall asleep quite fast can't he?" Luna commented, Celestia shot her a look and she cut her voice. The image blurred and changed, Celestia's horn glowing brighter. The mirror started to crack and the image started to clear...

A woman was holding a small child probably no older than two. A man walked up smiling, taking the child from his arms. "Hello Joesph...It's daddy I'm back and I won't be leaving for a long time." The image changed to the man and Joesph who had gotten older, they were outside the ground was covered in snow. A military vehicle drove up three men got out. The father walked over to the men and saluted. They talked with him and he frowned, "I'm on leave!" One of the men say something about what Luna thought she heard as The Recollection. The father stood rigid and finally nodded. By this time the mother had come out and was by Joesph's side. The father finally walked back to his son and wife. "I have to go..."

"But Frank--"

"No...I don't want to hear it alright! I have to go Captain Jean needs me on board The Recollection were going to scout a mostly uncharted area of a system."

"But what about Joesph!"

"Maria do I look like I want to go!? I have to go I can't just say no!" He knelt down to Joesph. "Son...I'm sorry but Dad has to go somewhere I don't know when I'll be back."

"Why?" Joesph asked meekly.

"Because Joesph it's my job." The father walked back over to the men and got into the vehicle. As he drove away he looked back to his family and whispered, "Goodbye."

The mirror broke the glass falling to the floor. Celestia knelt her breathing deep, "Sister! What happend?"

"I don't know Luna I think it might be something about his memories."

"The last part we've seen before." Celestia took a deep breath and let it out.

"Yes I know we saw it in Frank's mind all those years ago."

"Do you know what that means!?" Celestia looked to her sister, her eyes started to water slightly.

"Joesph Char is Frank Morrison's son. We have to tell him."

"When?"

"Tommrrow at Frank's grave."

"Ok now why did the mirror break?" Celestia thought about it for a moment.

"Do you think the UNSC can change people's memories?" The question only further extended the mystery behind this revelation.

Chapter 3

Light broke through the window as the sun rose in Celestia's dawn. Char was standing at the window looking out upon Canterlot, the guards were doing morning drills, ponies were tending to the gardens, everything seemed at peace. A knock at the door startled him, "Yeah?" The door opened and Celestia walked in.

"Char could you come with me?"

"Uh...Sure but what for?"

"Just come with me. I'll explain when we get there." He followed Celestia through the halls of Canterlot Castle through the courtyards outside the castle and outside Canterlot itself near a long road leading into the hills and off in the direction of Ponyville. Luna was standing near a small headstone and a bush. "Celestia mind explaining why we're here?" She stopped and turned towards him. She pointed her horn at him, "What the fuck is this!?"

"Enlightenment." Luna told him as Celestia hit him with a ray of magic. He tried to dodge it but it was a little late to dodge magic going as fast as a bullet. He stood surrounded by the magic his eyes closed. They hoped the memory spell had worked when he fell to the ground. He slowly got up and walked over to the grave. "I finally get to see you again Dad." He looked back to the princesses. "Thank you for showing me those memories. I still don't understand...my father was killed in action twenty nine years ago. My mother died during the attack on Earrth by the Covenant."

"The UNSC must have changed your memories some how..."

"How they don't have the ability to do...Wait... thirty years ago did Dad ever tell you who was the Commander of the

ODSTs?"

"No..."

"No actually nevermind you don't have anyway for AI to archive anything."

"AI?"

"Fake beings created by our technology take to long to explain. Right now I'm concerned why they changed my memories.

They never even told us Equiss existed..."

"They didn't?"

"Well I learned about it in the military maybe they wanted to leave humans off your world let you ponies live in peace. We did it after we defeated the Covenant we gave alot of their races a world and let them live in peace. The only race we kept in contact with for the most part were the Elites."

"Well maybe that's why they changed your memories..."

"No they would have told us he was going to be returned to full duty. Not change our memories. It must have been something else..."

"Well for right now let's not dwell on it too much. It's something we need to keep to ourselves you can tell the others you are Frank's child if you want otherwise keep that they changed your memories out of the explaination."

"Alright ma'am." Celestia stopped for a second, "You really are like your father." The way he said ma'am sounded so much like Frank.

"Alright so where is this house of my father's?" Celestia pointed down the road.

"Just follow this road. It will take you there."

"Alright I'll get my things once I get there and check it out." He started to jog down the road. His mind was exploding with thoughts and memories that were unlocked by the spell. He put all in the back of his head so he could forget that the UNSC brainwashed him and changed his memories. All he was focused on was getting to the house then getting his stuff.

The house was quaint enough looked like a plain cottage from long ago matching the rest of Equestria's architecture. He tried the door but it was locked their was a mat in front of the door. He knelt down and felt under the mat and gripped a small key. "A little obvious don't you think Dad?" He unlocked the door and stepped inside. The interior was just a cottage one room, a bed in the corner, a table dominated the middle, a small kitchen to the right, a bookshelf to his left, but on the far wall was the most unexpected thing in the house. A gun rack, the rack had every weapon that could possibly be given to a Commander from M6G Magnum to the mighty SR99C-S2 AM sniper rifle. "What did he have these for?" Hung on the wall was another odd thing a black crossbow. It wasn't loaded like the rest of the weapons were or well had mags in them. Well that was all inside the house so he left to go back to Canterlot, but he decided maybe there is something around back? When he went around the house what he found made his heart jump. Before him was a Warthog, the main ground vehicle of all of the UNSC its been used for well Char couldn't remember. It was of the M831 transport variant. He jumped in the front seat and he hit the key to start it up. The engine roaring to life made him scream with excitement.

"Hell yeah!" He bellowed while driving down the road he came from. Celestia was standing on the balcony of her chambers staring out over the land. She couldn't help but admire the beauty even though she saw it each and every day. She looked towards the road leading to Frank's now Char's cottage. She saw the Warthog jump over one of the hills in the road and smiled. "Seems he found his father's Warthog." She looked back at the scene before her, "Still did the UNSC choose to send him here because he is Frank's son?"

Char slowed as he approached the castle. He brought it to a sudden stop right in front of the guards, who were scared for their lives but they were told not to move. Once the Warthog stopped they started to yell at Char who just laughed, "Ah come on you guys I wasn't going to actually run you over!" He passed them laughing. They looked to each other and shrugged going back to their guard positions.

Char entered his room and started to gather his stuff, when the door opened. He turned to see who it was, "Ah hello Twilight!"

Twilight looked at him and raised an eyebrow, "What's got you in a good mood?"

"Well..." He scratched the back off his head.

"Do not tell anyone unless I tell you, you can ok?" She nodded, "Alright good. It turns out I'm the secret child of Frank Morrison."

In the silence of the aftermath of that sentence you could hear a Spartan sneaking up on you while cloaked. Twilight finally took in a deep breath, "WHAT!?"

"I'm his son...I just found out myself it turns out he had me and then had to leave to go back and fight and well he never came back I was so young I just didn't remember him."

"Who told you?"

"The UNSC did." His lie was so terrible that anyone could have seen through it but this pony seemed oblivious or maybe Char is just that smooth.

"That...is...amazing!" She hugged Char.

"Ok...Ok...Now let go I really don't need a hug..." She started to hug him harder, "Twi...Let go..." She noticed she was crushing him with the hug and let him go. "Oh I'm sorry!"

"It's ok...Just remember don't tell anyone about this Luna and Celestia know but that's it no one else not even your mother."

"I hope you do understand alot of the ponies around Ponyville grew real attached to Frank and really don't like to many other humans."

"I get that. I'm just gonna wait for the right time to tell them." His smirked looked as if he was about to open a box that contained Pinkie Pie on unsuspecting ponies. Twilight helped him pack his things that he had taken out which included the dossiers and a change of clothes. The clothes smelt of someone that was asleep for a week without anyone bathing him.

"Dear Celestia these clothes stink!"

Char chuckled, "Yeah they should I was in cyro for a week the clothes tend to stink after that long." They finished packing everything, "Hey Twilight your able to leave the castle right?"

"Yeah?"

"Wanna go for a ride?" He smiled and she nodded knowing all to where this would lead.

Chapter 4

The Warthog flew as he went over a hill at top speed. Both Char and Twilight had their heads out the sides screaming. They approached Ponyville, the ponies inside heard the screams and the sound of the Warthog. They didn't know what the fuck was going on at all till the Warthog slid to a stop outside Ponyville. A crowd had gathered to see what was going on and were surprised to see Char step out of the Warthog, "Hello everypony!" The call startled them, but soon they shook that off and stared at him. Not one reply was made, just coughs. Char shook his head and frowned. "Alright fine, I know you are sad about Fath...erm Frank. I guess I just hoped I could be nice to all of you."

"Now who's this that has driven into Ponyville thinking he's a bad motherbucker?"

The crowd parted to reveal Rainbow Dash, "Ah I knew that could only be you." Her tone was sullen and mean, Char was taken aback she didn't act like this at dinner the night before? She walked through the crowd and right up to Char. "What the buck do you think your doing?"

"Visiting I even brought Twilight along." Rainbow Dash looked behind Char to the mare standing behind him, "Hello Twilight." She brought her gaze back to Char, "No why the hell do you have Frank's Warthog?"

"I used it as a way to travel, I'm sorry that I didn't walk I just wanted to have some fun."

"No you don't get to have fun. That was Frank's Warthog...It's not for fun..." A brown unicorn with a gray mane stepped beside Rainbow Dash, "Mother...It's a Warthog Frank just never used it for fun." Mother? He looked at the unicorn with an eyebrow raised, the unicorn caught his look. "Sorry I haven't introduced myself. I'm Keyes Rainbow Dash's son." This warrented a look to Rainbow Dash with his eyebrow raised, "Keyes?"

"I asked Frank if he could think of a name for him. He came up with Keyes."

He looked back towards Keyes, "Alright. Well besides seeming to upset everypony. What else can I do for you?"

Rainbow Dash looked at him her eyes had no love in them, "You can leave. Go back to the cottage and stay your ass there. I don't want to see you." She walked away Keyes following, everypony else did the same scattering going back to their daily routine. Char walked over to the Warthog, and slammed his fist into the side. "Dammit. I thought at least she would be nice. Twilight go visit your mother or something I'm going to walk around Ponyville."

"But what about Rainbow Dash she sounded like-"

"I don't give a shit! She can bring her problems to me. She wants to see me leave she will have to make me." He walked off into Ponyville. Twilight walked off towards her mother's library, not knowing the outcome of today.

Char had his hands in his pockets while walking through Ponyville his face was neutral even when he tried to say hello and they disregarded him. He was passing by Fluttershy's cottage when two pegasi crashed into him not watching where they were going. "Hey watch where your going!" Char picked himself up from the ground and looked at the two pegasi both of them beige in color one had a pink mane the other had a red mane. "Hey did you hear me!?" The one with the red mane yelled at him.

"Yes I heard you just fine. Now who might you be?"

"I'm Valence."

"Valence? Aren't you Fluttershy's two daughters?" The two pegasi looked at each other surprised, "Yes we are so what?" He sighed, not giving Valence an answer.

"Answer me!" He just looked right into the eyes of Valence and what he got from that was a hoof to the face. Fluttershy had just come out of her cottage to see what the yelling was about when she saw Valence punch Char square in his cheek. She stopped horrified, expecting anything but a good response from Char but Char just stood back up and looked right into the eyes of Valence again. Another punch, this time while he fell Char noticed Fluttershy standing on her doorstep. He spat blood out of his mouth as he stood up, "I really don't think you should be punching people while your mother is watching." Valence's face changed to stone turning to look at her horrified mother.

"Mom...I..." She shook her head and ran back inside crying. "Look what you made me do!" Valence went to buck Char but he just grabbed one of her hooves holding her in place.

"Now do you see how easy it was for me to stop you." His voice and entire demeanor had changed, "Now let's see how easy it is for me too say...toss you." He swung her around and Valence braced for the impact of her and the wall knowing she couldn't recover in time but suddenly she stopped. She looked at Char who was still holding her by the hooves. "You wouldn't have recovered would you?" She shook her head, "That's right you would have hit that wall I would look like an evil human like the rest of my kind you make us out to be like. No I'm not going to toss you into that wall, you can go think about the choices you made and that I let you punch me it's not that I'm willing to hurt you cause I will but I didn't out of kindness. Now get out of here." He let go of her hooves and walked up the path to Fluttershy's cottage.

Valence and her sister flew off, He stepped onto the doorstep and knocked on the door, a bruise had already started to from over his cheek. The door opened slightly and Fluttershy's head peeked out, "Yes?"

"Fluttershy mind if I come inside?"

"Um...sure...if you want to..." The door opened fully and Char stepped inside. The inside of the cottage was cozy and homly, it made Char feel like he could just relax never have to worry. The two of them sat in separate chairs split by a small table, "Fluttershy...Valence didn't do anything wrong believe me."

"But she punched you..."

"Fluttershy...It was just a punch, she didn't do too much damage." He turned his head and felt the cheek which now had a visible bruise on it. He cringed a little when he touched it. Fluttershy started to get up to look at it, "I'm fine." She smiled softly and sat back down, "Would you like some tea?" Char nodded and Fluttershy got up and walked into the kitchen. Char had an odd feeling, was somepony watching him? He scanned the room with his eyes and spotted the reason. A pony was watching him from a room inside of the hallway. He waved and the pony side stepped out of his view. Fluttershy came back into the room with a plate holding two tea cups and a kettle in her mouth. She set it on the table between them. She sat back down while Char grabbed his cup and took a sip, "Lovely tea Fluttershy, but Valence wasn't the only reason I came to talk. I think I might need your help."

"With what?"

"Well...Rainbow Dash kinda yelled at me when I showed up earlier, Now I admit you all must be taking Frank's death hard." She nodded, "Now I don't need her to be my friend but all I need for her to do is to accept me do you think you can do that?"

"Um...I think so..." He drank the last of his tea and stood to leave, he knelt enough so he could whisper into Fluttershy's ear. He told her something and then left. Fluttershy sat in silence for about thirty seconds before starting to cry and drop her cup causing shards of porcelain to spread around her chair.

Chapter 5

Two ponies besides the princesses knew his secret. Not keeping a secret am I? Char continued his walk through Ponyville, he was going through the park when a voice hit his ears. The pony was sitting under a tree singing, "An cuimhin leat an grá

Crá croí an ghrá

Níl anois ach ceol na h-oíche

Táim sioraí i ngrá

Leannáin le smál

Lig leis agus beidh leat

Lig leis agus beidh grá

Cuimhne leat an t-am

Nuair a bhí tú sásta

An cuimhne leat an t-am

Nuair a bhí tú ag gáire

Tá an saol iontach

Má chreideann tú ann

Tug aghaidi ar an saol is

sonas sioraí inár measc

Céard a tharla do na laethanta sin

Céard a tharla do na h-oícheanta sin

An cuimhin leat an t-am

Nuair a bhí tú faol bhrón

An cuimhin leat an t-am

Go sioraí sileadh na ndeor

an ormsa nó orainne a bhí an locht

Ag mothú caiite s'ar fán

Cén fáth an t-achrann is sileadh na ndeor

Tá áilleacht sa saol Má chuardaíonn tú e

Tá gliondar sa saol

Creideann sé"

The silence of everything but her voice was broken by a clapping. She opened her eyes and looked at the source of the clapping. Char was standing a few feet away clapping, "Can I help you?"

"That was beautiful."

"What?"

"The song. What else?"

"I didn't think all of you humans had refined tastes."

"Frank must have taught you that song." She nodded and stood, "I'm Soothe."

"I'm Joesph Char." They started walking together seemingly to Carousel Boutique.

"So your the new Liason?"

"Yes I'm Frank's replacement."

"I heard about Rainbow Dash's speech." He looked at her, "Word travels fast in this town."

"Always has. I wish it wasn't hard for you. You don't seem so bad."

"I'm not, I'm just being misjudged due to past contact with my race."

"Well there's not much we can do about it is there?" Char chuckled and stopped outside Carousel Boutique, "Well I gotta get going I need to go see Twilight about something. See you Soothe."

"Bye." She went inside and he walked off towards the tree that sat inside of town. He knocked on the door and Twilight answered, "Hey is your mother around we need to talk?"

"Yeah but she's studying..."

"Can I come in? I shouldn't be too long." Twilight stepped back to let Char go past the door and she shut it.

"Twilight who's here? I thought I told you I didn't want to be disturbed."

When she noticed Char she stopped, "Oh, Char what do you need?"

He stepped forward and held out a folded note, "Here take this and read it once I leave. Please follow the instructions and don't come chasing me down once I leave either ok?" He turned and walked out leaving the two Twilights alone, Twilight Sparkle unfolded the note. Written on the paper was a message and instructions,

Twilight Sparkle,

I didn't think it would actually come to me having to tell everyone so quickly but I guess I'm not as good at making friends as my father was. I hope you understand and follow the instructions in this note.

Joesph Char Morrison

Twilight Sparkle face could not have been any more serious, she folded the letter back up and walk back into her private study. Char having delivered what he needed and tired of the ponies giving him shit went back to the Warthog and drove back to the cottage. He parked the Warthog where he got it and went inside. He went over to the bed and sat down when he noticed a picture. He grabbed it, it showed him with the Elements after they rebuilt town hall. "They'll be more accepting of me after this I wish I didn't have to tell them for then they'd only love me for being Frank's son." He looked over to the gun rack needing to blow off some steam. He picked up the Anti-Material rifle and checked the magazine full and cocked, ready to fire. He brought it with him outside, he looked across the mountains looking for any kind of target. He laid the rifle down and laid down behind it bringing the rifle to his shoulder and aiming down the scope. He clicked the magification to times twenty five which allowed him to see almost anypony in Ponyville. He saw Rainbow Dash out on a walk with Keyes. He finally picked a target, a small apple on a tree that was residing on the mountain side. He took in a breath and held it.

Rainbow Dash and Keyes were walking through Ponyville for once undisturbed by any kind of ruckus, "Mother why are you being so hard on him?"

"Because he's probably as bad as the other humans."

"Mother...Frank never said anything about all humans but him being bad your not being to kind."

"I don't give a damn about what Frank said the only other humans I came in contact with tried to kill me. So I really don't care if he wants to be nice, he can go to Tarturus for all I care."

The crack of the rifle traveled through Ponyville. Rainbow Dash and Keyes stopped and looked towards the hill where the cottage was, "What is he doing now!?"

"Mother just let him be."

Another quick succesion of three shots made them look back once more.

"What is he firing at?" Rainbow Dash flew up and scanned the hillside herself when the next shot came she saw a tree get split by the bullet and fall. She flew back down and looked at Keyes, "He's shooting a tree..." her look seemed of defeat that she couldn't get mad at him.

After that fifth shot Char stood up and grabbed the rifle the sun had already started to set, so he went inside. "Well that was a nice change of pace, shitty asshole UNSC officers to asshole ponies that aren't shitty. Let's hope that changes tomorrow he said to himself as he laid back down on the bed after securing the rifle.

Chapter 6

Dawn...Char already awake staring out at Ponyville. Wearing his father's old armor that was stashed in the weapon rack. The helmet was in a cupboard next to the weapon rack. He held the helmet in his hand as watched Ponyville rise to a new day. When the sun had fully risen he put the helmet on and started to walk down the hill.

The center of town was a buzz with ponies as Twilight Sparkle said something about an important announcment was going to be made. They expected Twilight Sparkle to step up onto the impromptu stage, but instead an armor clad Char walked up onto the stage. Immediately there was a murmur of disgust. He looked at all of them and took off the helmet, "Probably better to let you see my face." Suddenly a shout from the crowd, "What the hell are you doing back here!?" Rainbow Dash once again walked through the crowd her words piercing Char like knives. "Rainbow Dash do me a favor and shut up for a moment so I can fucking talk." She was shocked, no one ever told her to shut up before. "Now I hope all of you will believe me when I tell you this." A long silence broke out, "I am the son of Frank Morrison." The silence went on.

Char looked down to Rainbow Dash who looked like she was about to tackle him, "Now your telling lies..."

"It's no lie."

"No I know it's a lie you aren't Frank's son he never had a son."

"That's what he told you didn't he? Once he crashed here and thought he'd never return don't you think he would tell you about his son it was a tie back to Earth he just wanted to forget about it if he was gonna be stuck here."

Rainbow Dash was trying to find words to say but couldn't. Char unclipped his pistol and tossed it to her hooves. "Your choice if you think I'm lying shoot me or you can believe me."

Keyes stepped up behind her, his horn started to glow and the gun was lifted and aimed, "Oh don't forget to click the safety to off..."

"I already did." Char grunted.

"Well my father taught you how to use a pistol well then...What's your choice Rainbow Dash shoot me or believe me?"

"Shoot him." Everyone gasped both of the Twilights horns started to glow. "No! Just stop I'll let her shoot me." He pointed right to his chest, "Go ahead shoot me."

The small crack of the pistol made the crowd cringe, they heard the bullet hit the metal on his chest plate. When everyone looked back expecting a dead body or him lying on the stage in pain. Nope he was still standing a bullet hole in his chest indeed blood seeping out of the hole and onto the armor. He sat down and motioned for Rainbow Dash to come closer she didn't want to comply but did. He took his hand and smeared blood on it, he then slappeed Rainbow Dash's side leaving a blood red hand mark. "Heh...If I die I'll get to see dad." He lost consciousness. No one dared move, Rainbow Dash was still staring at the hand print, the two Twilights picked Char up and started to carry him to the hospital. Everypony else besides Rainbow Dash and Keyes slowly wandered off.

"Mother are you ok?" No answer she just stared at the mark.

"Mother...? Mother!?" She finally looks up, "What?"

"What's wrong with you?" She shook her head and walked off.

Doctors surround the body of Char as they went to work they used magic to pull the bullet out, they cleaned the wound and dressed it but that's all they could do he lost alot of blood and it was considerably close to the human heart. They moved him to Intensive Care and placed him under twenty four hour surveillance. Either of the Twilights were always there watching him, and once word had gotten to Celestia and Luna they visited to. A letter was found in Char's pocket which told of his plan and that if she shot him she was not to be punished neither was whoever who actually shot the gun since he knew Rainbow Dash probably couldn't fire the weapon and that he was sorry.

"Why would he do this?" Celestia looked to Twilight Sparkle.

"Well everypony in town wasn't being too nice with him."

"Why? What he done to warrent any of this?"

"Nothing..."

"This happened when Frank came here and we got use to him, but we can't get used to him?"

"He told everyone that he was Frank's son in desperation."

"Dammit! I told him not to tell anyone!"

"Princess he had a just cause too. He can't do his job when everyone hates him."

"Couldn't he just ignore the ponies all he would have to deal with is you six."

"That's the problem Rainbow Dash was the one who hated him the most."

"I got that from the note! Where is Rainbow Dash? I need to talk with her." The door opened, and Rainbow Dash stepped into the IC ward. She had her head low, and when she saw Celestia she prepared for what ever was to happen.

"Rainbow Dash I should banish you to the farthest reaches of Equestria!" Rainbow Dash lowered herself to the floor scared ready for the punishment.

"But your not going too. Are you Celestia?"

Everyone turned to see Char sitting in his bed the door was open so he heard everything. "I wrote that she was not to be punished for calling that shot. You want to punish her you can do it once I'm dead."

"For the love of myself! Chat your awake!"

"Yeah I just took a bullet to the chest and I'm awake what is it now?"

"You've been out for a day you shouldn't be awake."

"Never underestimate humanity." He slid his legs out of the bed and motioned for Celestia to help him stand. She complied and helped him stand. "Now Rainbow Dash you did what you thought was right..." He started to cough, "...But it was the wrong choice in the actual problem, If I hadn't counted on you shooting me or well you ordering Keyes to you would be banished." The pegasus stood back up and hugged Char.

"I'm sorry Char I just didn't believe you is all."

"Rainbow Dash look at my face." She looked at him, "Do I look like I give a shit if you believed me or not then."

"No."

"That's right you believe me now and that's all that matters."

Celestia helped him back into his bed and he fell asleep. Celestia went back to Canterlot, both the Twilights went back home, Pinkie left with out so much as a word, Rarity left the same, as did Applejack. The only ponies who stayed behind where Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. Rainbow Dash was asleep in the chair across from Char's bed while Fluttershy had her hoof in Char's hand, "I never returned the favor Frank."

Chapter 7

Aweek went by and Char recovered. Char was waiting outside of Canterlot. It was the day he was supposed to meet a UNSC Pelican. When it cut through the clouds, he smiled and keyed his radio, "Well hello there!"

"This is Alpha Seventeen-Two. Requesting to land."

"Go ahead." It landed blowing air around Char. The bay door opened and a soldier stepped out and Char handed him a data pad containing everything he need. "Alright we'll be back in an hour." The Pelican took off and started to break the clouds, Char noticed something odd was the Pelican glowing? No must just be the sunlight playing tricks...

An hour later he was in the same spot a small group of Pelicans now broke the clouds and slowly came in. They all seemed to be glowing. "Ok now that's not a coincei---"

BOOM!

All of the Pelicans seemed to have been hit by invisible rockets flying way over him and crashing in the mountains beyond. He could hear their screams on the radio, "Mayday Mayday this is Alpha Pelican Group we are going down. Engines have exploded we are going down!" After that he heard some short screams of terror then static. He flat out booked it to the Warthog. "Nothing could make Pelican engines explode like that expect for...magic." He gunned the Warthog in the direction of the Castle.

Celestia saw the explosions and immeditately headed down stairs. She would have ran but she was too regal for running. Char on the other hand was already at the Castle gates and pushed right through the guards. As soon as he saw Celestia he took a deep breath, "WHAT THE FUCK JUST HAPPEND!?"

"I DON"T KNOW!" She yelled back.

"WHY ARE YOU YELLING!? I'M THE ONE WHO'S PISSED NOT YOU!"

"I guess your right. Now what happend from your point of view I only saw the explosions?"

"ALL I SAW..." He stopped for a moment and took a breath, "All I saw was the Pelicans glow and then BOOM they explode

and crash on the other side of the mountains."

"You said they were glowing?"

"Yes as if some type of Unicorn magic was doing something hell if I know what though."

"Dammit I thought they were gone!"

"Who were gone?"

"A group of insurrectionists they didn't like the decision to ally with the UNSC and were attacking towns at random. We

couldn't find them...so we asked your father for help. He went out and came back a week later saying they weren't going to be a problem anymore."

That's a little dark. "Why are they showing their faces again?"

"Probably because of you and your father. When your father died they're were reports of cheers coming from the mountains."

"Well what are we going to do?"

"I'm sending you to deal with them I don't care on the manner just take care of them."

When did Celestia get so dark? "Alright Celestia, mind if I take Twilight along with me best if I had a pony for negoation purposes instead of just me?"

"Alright she's still in Ponyville I believe." With his new orders Char ran back to the waiting Warthog and drove off back towards Ponyville. He stopped at the cottage and ran inside coming out with his helmet and a BR85HB SR Battle Rifle. He jumped back into the Warthog and gunned it. He drove around Ponyville not wanting to have to run through the ponies he stopped close enough to Twilight Sparkles library that he could run there without to much trouble of running into other ponies. He knocked on the door. Twilight Sparkle opened the door, "Where's Twilight?"

"She's taking a nap."

"I need her to come with me. There's a problem and I need her."

"What kind of problem?"

"Some insurrectionists just blew up a few UNSC Pelicans unless you want the UNSC to blow through here I suggest you wake her up I got to deal with them."

Her mind went back to the incident with the ODSTs. "Ok." She walked into the back area of the library while Char stood outside. "Twilight! Get up Char needs you!" He heard some shuffling and Twilight entered his view. "What do you need me for?" She asked sleepily.

"Insurectionists blew up a group of Pelicans. We need to deal with them before the UNSC comes blowing through Equestria!" Twilight's face instantly changed to a state of alert.

"Let me get my armor." She ran back into the room and came out in her armor. "Alright let's go."

The Warthog flew over the hill as it headed down the path towards the mountains. Few words were exchanged except for one question, “Why are there six pedals if there are only four directions?” Char looked to Twilight after that with a dumbfounded expression. He just shook his head and looked back towards the road. Silence filled their ears except the roar of the engine.

They finally arrived at the first crash site. Char shut the engine off and climbed out of the Warthog. There were no bodies outside the Pelican he thought to himself as he walked towards the opened bay of the Pelic—Shit. Bodies lay strewn across the floor, metal impaled into them from the crash, and some had missing arms but he couldn’t see any of the body parts. He looked away and gagged. “Twilight stay over ther—” The sound of her puking stopped his sentence. He looked to his right she was standing with her head over the side of the small cliff that the crash site was on. He saw a smoke trail over in that direction so he stepped beside her and looked down the gorge. He could see one of the crash sites, was that movement? Yes something is down there and it’s alive.

“Twilight come on something is alive at that crash site down the gorge.”

He started to climb down the face of the cliff into the gorge. Twilight ever so slowly descended after him with higher precaution as her hooves made it hard to climb. They finally get to the bottom and start to walk towards the crash. When they got close there was only silence no sounds no movement. Char motioned for Twilight to stay hidden. He stepped out into the open, walked over to the Pelican and peered inside. He looked away quickly and shook his head. He started to walk back over to Twilight. She stepped out from the rock they were hiding behind.

“Their all dead, their weapons are gone too. I don’t understand why though.”

He looked at her face it was overcast her expression, someponies did this they killed these humans with magic. She thought to herself, suddenly she was being tackled by Char as a loud crack resonated through the gorge. They both rolled back behind the rock, “Twilight stay here and out of sight.”

He poked his head around the corner, another crack resonated and he brought his head back behind the rock. His rifle was back in the Warthog, all he had was his magnum. “Shit…” He un holstered the pistol and held it with both hands. Soon more shots rang out not from the rifleman that had them pinned but from automatic weapons. The cackle of the guns ringed across the gorge, Char stuck his head out and saw ponies armed with assault rifles take up cover, firing at the rock. Another shot from the rifleman made him bring Twilight who was stunned that the ponies were actually shooting at them.

“Come out human! We know your there!” One of the ponies hollered.

“Why should I your just gonna shoot me!?” He pulled the pin on the grenade. Five…Four…Three…He tossed it over his

head and over the rock into the open. The ponies saw the small metal object. “Get out of the way!” The grenade detonated, Char came around the rock his magnum up. The explosion took up most of his view but he saw the rifleman up in the rocks he aimed…A body dropped. He quickly swiveled his aim towards the ponies recovering from the explosion. “Drop your weapons!” He commanded, they just turned and started to fire. He jumped and rolled landing beside the Pelican. He got up into a crouched position and crawled to the edge of the Pelican leaning out firing the magnum at the ponies. Two ponies dropped taking bullets to their shoulders. A pony appeared next to him and swung the magically held weapon towards his head. He didn’t have time to react he was knocked to the ground his pistol went flying, the ponies surround him. Twilight leans her head out from the rock the ponies are standing over Char his pistol lay at her hooves. Her horn glowed as she lifted the pistol with magic. One of the ponies brought up a pistol from his saddle pack. Char closed his eyes ready for the sudden pain.

BANG

A body fell right on top of Char. His head had a hole in it oozing blood. He looked around Twilight was standing holding the pistol she was shaking the ponies faces immediately went flat.

“Get away from him! By the command of Celestia’s Royal Guards!”

The ponies started to laugh. “You think we’ll listen to a Royal Guard. Your Highness Celestia was the one who brought the human scourge to Equestria!”

“How is one human a scourge?” The ponies were tripped by a sweeping kick from Char who with Twilight’s distraction was able to get up. The ponies quickly recovered and started to throw kicks and punches. Char was dazed from the head blow he took a kick to the ribs. He was tackled by two ponies he shook one off but the other held tight. A pony retrieved his gun from the ground and started to fire. Char shook the last one free and right into the pony’s gun. A gut retching scream was let out as he took multiple rounds and fell blood splattered all over the pony with the gun. The pony started to move but was knocked out by Char the rest started to run and he grabbed a rifle and started to fire, click. “Fuck…” He dropped the rifle and let them run. He quickly turned back around to the unconscious pony and Twilight who was shaking back behind the rock. He picked up the pony and hoisted him over his shoulder, “Twilight. Come on we need to go… there aren’t any survivors.” She slowly followed him as they started the walk back to the Warthog.

Chapter 8

Char and Twilight headed straight to Canterlot, when they arrived the guards were shocked when Char was carrying a pony soaked in blood. “What happened to him?” Char said nothing and walked past them. He walked through the courtyards the ponies looking at him with horrible looks. When he finally got to the cells inside the castle he carried the pony into one and laid him on the floor. “When he wakes up notify me and Celestia.” He told the guard. He headed back towards the main hall and up a stairwell.

Celestia was in her library when Char entered, “Celestia…”

“Yes Char?”

“The Insurrectionists are armed with human weapons and there was a firefight. At least three confirmed kills and three wounded. No survivors from the crashes.”

She frowned, “You had to kill them…?”

“I had no choice they were firing at me and Twilight. Celestia I loved to go over the full details but I have to go talk with Twilight, I don’t think anypony could take killing another without having issues.”

He walked out and shut the door. Celestia looked back to her books with spite. She was sitting here working on this while her former student’s daughter is going through deep psychological trauma…But I can’t leave this work it is too important. Her mind raced with thoughts as she tried to figure out if she should help Char consol Twilight. She looked back to her work, “Fuck it…” She started to trot out of the room after Char.

“Twilight?” Char stuck his head into Twilight’s quarter room, she was sitting in the corner he could hear her crying. He walked over and he set his hand on her shoulder, “Twilight…You killed a pony that would have killed you and they were about to kill me you protected me. I know father is looking down at you from where ever he is in heaven with a smile on his face.” The reference to Frank made Twilight smile a little. Char’s hand squeezed a little on her shoulder, “It’s always hard to kill something…It gets easier every time…That may make me sound heartless but it’s true.” Char sat down next to Twilight, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small photo. Celestia walked into the room, Char was hugging Twilight. She started to open her mouth but Char but a hand up spotting her out of the corner of his eye. He let Twilight go and stood up, “She’s all yours Celestia.” He walked out of the room and Celestia walked over to Twilight. She saw her staring at a picture; the picture was taken 24 years ago when Twilight was first born. Twilight flipped it over written on the back,

Taking a life is always hard watching one being born is just as hard.

She didn’t understand what it meant, but the picture meant a lot. Frank was standing next to Twilight Sparkle who was holding Twilight in her hooves. Celestia put her wing over Twilight and started to talk.

The pony that Char had captured slowly started to wake up. His head hurt like hell and he was still covered in blood, he finally noticed the blood again when he looked down at himself in the darkness. Wait darkness? Suddenly a light shined in his eyes, blinding him for a moment till his eyes adjusted. “Now what are your plans?”

The pony remembered the human’s voice, “I won’t tell you anything human.” A fist smacked into the pony’s gut making him exhale harshly, he was breathing deeply when Char repeated the same question, “What are your plans?”

“I…Won’t tell you anything…” Suddenly he felt the feeling of cold steel against the side of his head.

“Now are you going to tell me what I want to know or am I going to have to splatter your brains on that wall?” The pony was shocked but he had heard the humans acted like this ruthless, but he sensed something in the human’s voice was it reluctance?

“I won’t tell you anything.” He dared himself to challenge the human. There was a loud bang and searing pain traveled up the pony’s body. The human just shot him! He looked down to his leg which was stained red but he could see fresh blood oozing from the wound.

“It didn’t go all the way through…what a pity.” The human’s voice had changed completely he sensed nothing just like a machine. He felt another sharp pain as the human stuck a knife into the wound, “I can easily make this hurt a lot more or you can tell me what I want to know.” The pony shook his head.

“Well then…” The human twisted the knife, pain traveled to the pony’s brain causing him to jerk and scream. Once again the cold steel feeling to the side of his head, “Tell me what I want to know…NOW!” The pony knew this was it he started to cry.

“Please…I tell you want you want…Just don’t kill me! I have a wife and a young filly!” The human lowered the gun and started to untie the pony. Once he was untied the human went to work on his leg. He walked into the shadows behind the light and came back with a small canister. He drew his knife, “Don’t open your mouth when I do this, hold your mouth shut and do not scream.” The pony prepared and the knife dug into the bullet wound. When the pony heard the small clanking of the bullet against the floor he let out a scream he was holding in, “Now this might sting a bit.” The human inserted the tip of the canister into the wound and depressed a handle on the side, immediately the pony felt a burning sensation go through the wound, as quick as it came it disappeared. “There that should hold you till we are done with our discussion.” He started towards the door and the pony followed limping after him complying knowing that he would have to listen to get back to his family in one piece.

Char opened the door of the cell and light filled the room, waiting outside was two guards and Celestia, “Char! What the hell were you doing in there!?”

“Celestia if you want me to take care of this insurrection then let me do it.”

He walked past her and the prisoner followed he led him back to his original cell and sat on the bed. The pony stepped inside and Char nodded to the guard who shut the door. “Ok so what are your plans?”

“Our plans?”

“Yes what are you and the Insurrectionists going to do to get the so called “human scourge” off Equiss?”

“I really don’t know much but what the Commander said to me last. He mentioned something about raids on a town today.”

“What town!?” Char’s voice had a sense of urgency to it.

“I…think it was…Trot…No…Um…Ponyv—”Before the pony could finish his sentence Char was already out of the room and running for his Warthog. He heard a distant yell, “Celestia get the guards ready! Ponyville is going to fall under attack!” The prisoner slowly moved his tongue around his mouth, he spit out a small object. The object flashed…Good he had activated the beacon. The pony walked over to the door and knocked it opened and he was handed a rifle. “Let’s do this.”

Char gunned the Warthog down the road to Ponyville, his mind was clear. One thought moving through, protect Ponyville shoot anything that tries to stop you. He shook his head…No don’t shoot anything shoot at what shoots first. He passed his cottage and saw Ponyville everything was fine from what he could see as he approached. When he was close enough he brought the Warthog to a stop and jumped out into a full sprint to town hall. He ran through town crashing through groups of ponies who yelled at them as he passed and he would yell at them to head to town hall. Some seemed to listen others didn’t he couldn’t really tell. When he finally got to town hall he was breathing heavily, he took a deep breath and walked to the front of the steps, “Attention Ponyville!” His voice was somewhat rasp and few paid any mind. He quickly brought his magnum to his hand and fired a shot into the air. Immediately everypony stopped and looked at him. “Now I have gathered from a recent discussion with somepony whom I will not discuss that Ponyville is going to be attacked. I want all of you to gather everyone and prepare for evacuation or whatever the Princesses deem necessary for this situation! Do not panic though for the love of Celestia!” The use of that pony expression sort of sent a sense of he’s serious through the ponies for an odd reason, but they complied calmly they went around gathering everypony. Char waited for the inevitable arrival of the Elements. Rainbow Dash and Keyes showed up first. Char held his magnum out to Keyes, “Keyes take this and use it if you have to on anypony who tries to hurt your mother or anypony else ok.” Keyes slowly took it with his magic and nodded. Char looked to Rainbow Dash, “I want you to get going now. I have to get ready for the guards so we can hol—”

BOOM!

A loud explosion wrang out through the whole town, nothing in town actually exploded. Char looked towards a huge plume of smoke that came from Canterlot.

“NO!” Char took off. Running back to his Warthog, he jumped into the Warthog gunning the engine and taking off. He put his helmet on and made sure his gun was loaded. As he closed in he noticed something in the road. The Warthog was almost going to hit it. A black object, what the fuck is it? OH FUCK! Too late the mine exploded, Char was thrown from the Warthog which exploded chunks of metal fell everywhere, Char was laying on the ground his vision blurry and his ears wringing. His rifle next to his hand he grabbed it and stood up steadying himself. He looked towards the Warthog which was destroyed and looked towards Canterlot. Not too far…He started to run gun in hand adrenaline pumping ready to kill anything that stood in his way.

When he got to the gate to the castle he could see bodies. “Fuck…” Both guards and Insurrectionists bodies lay strewn all over the gate. Empty shell casings and guns lay at ponies’ feet. He checked a few of the ponies for spare magazines and then headed through the gate. As he walked deeper he heard faint gunfire, an explosion symbolized a grenade going off. The gunfire intensified afterwards and was on the other side of the next wall. He sprinted over to the gate and but his back to the wall bringing his gun and head ever so slightly around the corner. The courtyard was in utter chaos guards were at the main castle entrances holding off Insurrectionists, all of them being lead by a blood re- SON OF A BITCH! He aimed at the pony a flicked the trigger back he fell his brains all over the wall he was next to. Bursts of gunfire erupted from his gun his rage fueled mind scoping heads taking out multiple ponies with single bursts. The guards noticed the ponies falling and the bursts of fire. One spotted his gun fire and waved. You idiot he thought as quite a few of the ponies turned towards him and concentrated on him. He kept firing as most of the ponies couldn’t fire for shit.

Click the infamous click, he dropped the gun and grabbed his last grenade. He pulled the pin and tossed it running into the fray. Bullets landed all around him arcane bolts from crossbows that deflected off walls from missed shots were all over impaled into the ground or for the shots that didn’t miss impaled into ponies. A bullet skimmed his shoulder causing him to flinch but he kept going. He had no expectance to come back from this alive. As soon as he came to the first ponies he threw his knife into the ponies head, his body fell and he scooped up his gun and started to fire. Click he dropped it and picked up another, a shotgun…He pumped and fired into a group all of them taking 8 gauge pellets into them screaming. He ran decimating the group that was holding the guards at the entrance. Once he was complete he grabbed the shotgun he was using before but ran out of ammo and searched for slugs and shells. The guards came running out of their cover to congratulate him but they all stopped when another explosion occurred. Celestia’s tower exploded debris fell everywhere ember sparks filled the air from the fires starting, smoke already filled the air. Neither nopony nor anybody would see the face Char had when Celestia’s tower exploded. He was there then he was gone running through the castle halls shotgun in hand loaded his brain not giving any thought to the wound on his shoulder his mind only thought of combat. He ran up the stairs and Insurrectionists were waiting they started to fire but he ran through the spray and downed the two groups with a few shots. He reloaded he didn’t slow down to do it voluntarily no it was an automatic reaction to firing. Never let the click happen and you’re safe. When he got to the remains of the tower, he let out a scream to the world below. A note was left in paint,

WE HAVE THEM.

Suddenly a Pelican came out of nowhere hovering over the tower’s remains. The bay door opened and a trooper beckoned for him to get in. He jumped on not thinking straight crying in his helmet. Inside the Pelican was a group of soldiers, ODSTs. They all saluted and he waved them off removing his helmet. One of the ODSTs walked over to him and stuck a biofoam canister into his shoulder wound and depressed the handle. Char looked at the wound, when did I get that? One of them took his helmet off, his face was old. “Hello Lieutenant Commander. I’m Lieutenant Kingston.”

“Hello Kingston thanks for the lift.”

“You’re welcome so you ready to get the Princesses back?”

“You know where they are!? Wait how did you know we were in trouble?”

“Celestia messaged us with the TAC-PAD that the UNSC gave her to keep in contact with us. Were a little late but we have their location. They are in a remote village in the mountains.”

“We can’t just raid a village!”

“I probably chose the wrong word it’s more like a compound all thermal scans show that the only friendlies are the princesses and one other pony.”

“Who is it?”

“From what we can tell they are in armor but that’s it.”

“Unicorn?”

“Yes.” Char frowned and punched the wall.

“GOD DAMMIT! I’ve failed too many fucking times!” Kingston put his hand on Char shoulder.

“That’s why we’re getting them back. Ready to fucking do this cause were about five minutes out.” He shook his head.

“Yeah let’s fucking do this.”

Chapter 9

The ODSTs and Char geared up. Char kept the shotgun he was using and grabbed a new magnum and an assault rifle. The ODSTs looked at him like he was crazy.

“Think you got enough fire power mate?” One of the ODSTs asked as Char grabbed a few packs of C-6 plastic explosives.

“The guns are for getting in. The explosives are for making an impression. This probably isn’t their main base of Operations. Too close to Canterlot for that must be deeper in the mountains where we can see that doesn’t matter right now.”

The Pelican bay door opened and wind rushed into the bay. Char placed his helmet on his head, “Alright ODSTs your mission is secure everything else but the Main Building that will be my job as well as rescuing the prisoners. You are to shoot any armed hostiles and try to detain the unarmed ones. All ponies are to be designated hostile.” The Pelican lowered and the gunfire started. The constant pinging of bullets against the armor grew to a continuing thump. As soon as they were a few hundred feet off the ground they all jumped out. They were using flight suits for this insertion due to the fact that the ponies had human weapons so thusly they had rocket launchers just couldn’t figure out how to lock to vehicles was the sketchy part. The group fell and split the ODSTs would insert outside the compound and work their way back inside while Char landed on the roof of the main building. Char pulled the chord and the parachute unfurled from the pack. He quickly came in on the roof and landed quickly undoing the pack and dropping it. He grabbed one detpack for his insertion. He set it on the floor and armed it he walked away and detonated it and jumped down the hole, shotgun ready. The ponies inside didn’t expect the explosion so when he jumped down and blew the brains out of one of them. They started to fire their rifles but were quickly put down by Char. He ran down the hall using the thermal scans of the building and the layout built from that to guide him. His HUD had the whole building displayed in the corner but quickly changed to floor layout. The objective was three floors below him. He headed for the stairwell and a large group of ponies were waiting for him. They were waiting, all armed with rifles. “Where the fuck do they keep getting all these guns!?” He grabbed a grenade and tossed it while he rolled into cover into a separate hallway. The grenade detonated out of their defensive position so he switched to his rifle securing the shotgun into a back holster on his armor. He flicked his head around the corner and saw that they used furniture as cover. He laid down and crawled out of the hallway and fired into the furniture he heard screams as the ponies felt the bullets smack through the furniture and into them. He picked himself up and ran to their defensive position jumping over the furniture dropping a grenade on his way over. One of them saw the grenade and kicked it with the last of his might. The grenade sailed and down the stairs right after Char. It detonated sending Char down the stairs rolling. He recovered and get back up going back into full sprint. Ponies popped out of the rooms and start to fire but quickly hit by Char accurate fire. After going through a few small groups of ponies he arrived at the room serving as the jail. A steel door blocked entrance and it was locked. Another detpack set and another explosion. The prisoners didn’t expect the explosion so they cowered in the corner but when Char came running in they jumped up. “CHAR!” He smacked the lock off the cell door and motioned for them to get up, “Kingston I have the objectives secured. Heading out now what’s your situation?”

“WERE A LITTLE FUCKED OUT HERE! THEY HAVE TURRENTS! WE’RE PINNED!” Static broke into the radio and Char clicked it off. He turned to Celestia and Luna. “Get Twilight out of here go to Ponyville. I have to save Kingston and his squad.” Twilight cocked her head a little. “ODSTs? You called humans to come help you?”

“No I did.” Celestia answered before Char could turn back around. She motioned for them to move. They followed Char to the back of the building to a door leading to a balcony. “Alright get the hell out of here. Don’t come back.” He started to walk away but turned back, “Celestia if I don’t make it bury me next to dad.” Celestia nodded slowly. Twilight started to turn around and say something but Luna just shook her head. “Twilight let him go if he dies he dies. He is prepared to accept whatever fate he is given.”

They went out onto the balcony and took off the two Princesses carrying Twilight. Char started back towards the front of the building. When he opened the front door, his jaw dropped slightly the ponies had turrets aimed at the hill leading into the compound. Char placed his rifle down and grabbed his magnum. The one thing with a zoom function it had to be his pistol. He zoomed it not the best zoom factor but he quickly dispatched the gunners and holstered the pistol and picked up his rifle. He ran towards the closest group, he fired his rifle into the group. Bodies fell and others reacted to the gunfire coming from behind them, they turned firing their weapons towards Char taking their attention of the ODSTs. With that window the ODSTs moved up running to a small wall and took cover behind it. Kingston keyed his radio, “Thanks for the window! You gonna be able to hold them while we clear the first building?”

“I might need some help! They got me pinned here!” Kingston and his squad quickly hopped over the wall and started towards the group of ponies who were holding Char behind cover. The ODSTs walked right up to them and blasted them with their rifles.

“Alright you’re clear.”

“Thanks. Now get those buildings cleared! I got some explosives to string up!” The ODSTs ran into the first small building off to their left while Char went back into the main building. He slowly went through the rooms and cleared the first floor. He set an explosive charge at each corner of the first floor and started to move to the second floor to place the last one in the middle. The explosives probably wouldn’t bring the building down but he just wanted a large explosion.

Twilight and the two alicorns stood on the hillside watching the battle rage in the compound below. They couldn’t leave they wanted to but they couldn’t.

Char walked up the stairs onto the second floor the floor layout of this floor showed a large room at the end of the hallway he was in. He ran towards the door and busted through it. On the other side was a large group of ponies. Char dropped his weapon; each one of them had a gun trained on him. “Nice of you to join us human!” A single pony walked into the inner circle in front of Char. His body was a light tan and his mane was a dark indigo and odd colored mane. He wasn’t a unicorn like the rest of them either he was a Pegasus. “You thought you could just barge in here and take your princesses back without us capturing you or the rest of your human companions? We already have your friends captured and now you. You failed…”

“As long as the princesses and Twilight got out I didn’t fail.” The pony laughed.

“You seem to not care if you die humor me but why?”

“That’s how we humans can be were prepared to die for what or whom we stand for…”

“Noble…But foolish…Kill him.” He walked back out of the circle and the ponies started to aim, why were they aiming? Well at least they wouldn’t kill each other. Char closed his eyes and reached for the detonator. He did what he could he got Twilight and the princesses out. He knew he might be coming out of this one alive. The ponies still hadn’t shot yet, was it just savoring the moment that they could finally kill him? Whatever it was it allowed him to click the detonator. The explosion rocked the building all of the ponies and Char fell to the ground. The building started to fall apart.

Outside on the hill when they saw the explosion Twilight started to move but was held back by Celestia. All three of them were crying. They watched as the building fell, the screen of dust shrouded the compound from their sight. After a minute or two the dust settled the main building was decimated, and the ODSTs were out in the yard staring at the building.

“Dammit!” Kingston took off his helmet and threw it on the ground. Suddenly ponies came running out of the other building they looked towards the building and to the humans. They started to fire their guns but were quickly dispatched. Out of the sky came Luna and Celestia carrying Twilight. The last of the ponies came walking out of the building with no weapons saying they surrender. Each one of the new prisoners was tied and corralled into a group. Twilight and the Princesses stared at the rubble crying, Kingston came beside them, “I’m sorry…” His voice trembled as he spoke. “I know you guys took Frank’s death hard and now this…I just can’t believe he went out like this…” Soon they heard rubble shift and the tan Pegasus crawled out from the rubble. “How the fuck are you alive!?” The four of them were stupefied at the fact that a pony just crawled out of the rubble of a building destroyed by a large explosion. He brought himself to his hooves. Shaking his head, he looked to the group standing before him. “How did you escape my men?”

“What men? You mean the ponies in that building over there?” He jerked his head towards the first building, “All of them dead…What a poor ambush gave us the advantage by cornering themselves.” The Pegasus shook his head violently and started to move towards the group, when a small round object rolled through his legs. Kingston immediately pushed the Princesses and Twilight back and dived down to the ground. The grenade went off sending the Pegasus flying backwards and landing back in the rubble. Kingston and Celestia looked up quickly and saw a bloody Char standing amongst the rubble. A piece of wood from a support beam impaled through his midsection. He coughed and blood splattered onto his face and oozed from many of cuts on his face. He tried to step forward but stumbled and fell over. They shot up and ran to his side. He wasn’t moving, Kingston rolled him over and he was still breathing, ever so slightly. “I NEED THE PELICAN HERE NOW!”

“Dammit! We are not going to lose him! Not after what he’s been through!”

“There’s not much we can do!”

“I DON’T GIVE A DAMN THIS MAN WILL NOT DIE ON MY WATCH!” The sounds of electricity filled the room and then surged into the body of Char. His chest rose quickly then fell. “It’s not working!”

“Try again!”

Twilight Sparkle, Twilight, the Elements of Harmony and their children, their husbands, and the Princesses stood outside the room in the hospital watching the doctors’ work on him. All of them were tense and crying, a final shock went through Char. Nothing but the dull continuous beep came from the heart monitor. The doctors’ stepped back their heads aimed at the ground. One went to turn off the monitor when the most heavenly sound to all of the ears within hearing distance. The dull beep was replaced with a weak beep of his heart, Char was alive. The ponies started to cry tears of joy and hug each other. When the beeping started to become more regular all but one of the doctors’ left the room. Celestia entered the room and the doctor bowed slightly, “He is stabilized Princess but he is in a deep coma. I don’t know if he’ll wake up.”

“Is that all?” Her voice was choked.

“Yes.” The doctor exited the room and left Celestia with the comatose body of Char. Tears started to roll down her face, “I don’t know how I can fix this…” She slammed her hoof into the side of the bed. “I can’t fix this! Dammit!” She started to scream. This was eating at her.

Days passed Kingston and his men went back up to the UNSC ship that was orbiting the planet with the message that they could leave. Celestia visited Char daily. The others visited when they could Rarity’s children visited sung songs and left pictures. His body still sat their motionless except for his chest rising and falling for every breath.

Celestia walked into the room, she had a small saddle pack with her. She placed the pack on the small table across the room and sat next to the bed. She nuzzled Char’s head…The doctors’ told her he might be able to feel so she was trying to reach him in the coma. “Come on Char I want you to wake up…please…I just want you to wake up…” She sat there for ten minutes then left forgetting her saddle pack. She was half way to the castle when she remembered her saddle pack. When she came back it was open nothing was moved except for a picture that was now on the floor. The picture was of Frank and Celestia after the signing of the UNSC Equiss treaty thirty years ago. She looked to Char his body hadn’t moved to a different position since she was there twenty minutes ago. She shrugged and picked up the saddle pack, and put the picture on the small end table next to Char’s bed. She hugged him and started to pull away when she was pulled back. A whisper escaped Char’s lips, “Don’t leave…” His eyes were still shut but he was awake, she started to cry again. Her tears dropping onto Char’s face, “Celestia its ok I’m awake just like you asked.” His hand moved through her mane. She finally pulled away from Char. She wasn’t quite overwhelmed by Char’s awakening but more or less confused her emotions were out of control. What was it that she was feeling was it relief? No it couldn’t be it was something more…Love? She scolded herself at that thought; she couldn’t be falling in love with a human could she? Her mind flashed back to Frank her feelings slowly became close to what she was feeling now when he was around for so long. She was falling in love wasn’t she…Is it because it’s Frank’s son or is it because she actually sees qualities beyond his father that she likes? She shook her head and focused on him being awake. He was looking at her with a strange look, “Something wrong Celestia?” She shook her head.

“No nothing’s wrong.” She smiled and sat down next to his bed. He started to sit up but immediately winced in pain. Celestia slowly brought him back to laying down, “Char you need to rest.”

“When I have to take care of my duties?” He looked at her right in the eyes, “I don’t have time to rest. I have to deal with the Insurrectionists.” He tried to sit up again but was met with Celestia’s hoof.

“You already dealt with them…?”

“There was no way that was their main base of operations…Was it? It was just too easy.”

“How was that easy!? You had to blow up a building you were in to kill them!”

“That’s not what I’m talking about. The pegasus that survived then died by my grenade he did call all of the ponies his men…Still I’m not sure.” He finally sat up after pushing Celestia’s hooves out of the way. She started to get out of the bed wincing in pain.

“Char! You can’t keep pushing yourself like this! You got blown up at least twice in the past week and shot who knows how many times!” Char’s mind flashed back to the Warthog and the landmine then to the castle courtyards and the halls of the main building and how many close calls he had he still stood. He was still in his fatigues that he wore under his armor the clothes had plenty of holes in them; a rather large one in his midsection he felt the skin, there was large circular scar. He turned back to Celestia, “Just get me back to my cottage I can rest there.”

“Why can’t you rest here where there are doctors’ to help you?”

“Just take me to my cottage…Please?” Celestia walked around the bed and used her wing to give him support. They walked out of the room surprising the doctors and nurses with Char being awake and moving. Celestia lead him out of the hospital. Char remembered something, “Uh Celestia I forgot. How are we going to get me to the cottage?” Celestia looked at him and smiled, her horn started to glow and suddenly the world kind of darkened and changed. They were at Char’s cabin. “How?”

“Magic.” She giggled at Char’s expression. “I used a teleportation spell.” He chuckled, and scratched the back of his head.

Celestia helped him inside and he lay down on the bed. “Thanks. You can leave if you want no need to keep me company.”

“It’s fine I want to stay.” Char sat back in the bed his back against the wall his head resting on the wall as well. His eyes were closed, and he took a deep breath. “Celestia is there something wrong with me?”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know I just killed a couple dozen ponies and I haven’t been shaken by it.” Celestia frowned.

“Char I don’t know why you haven’t felt anything after killing those ponies. Maybe it’s because they almost killed you and Twilight the first time that you killed them? Maybe it’s because you think that it’s useless to cry over the dead? I don’t know.” He scoffed at her, "Whatever it may be I just don't feel right that's all I never cry when the guy next to me took a needle to the throat did I?" She looked at him puzzled as she didn't know. "Of course not. I think it's like that picture Dad left, it's always harder for a soldier to watch life come into this world than watching it leave."

They sat and talked for a few more minutes going over the experience that had happened days before. Celestia mulled over her feelings in her head the whole time but she never brought them up hoping that she could deal with them herself.

“Shush…Someone’s at the door.” He said in a hushed tone. The door slowly opened and a pony stepped inside. It was Rainbow Dash, when she looked to the bed she jumped back in surprise. “Char your awake! Wait what are you doing with Celestia?”

“Talking with her…Now why are you here?”

“I’ve been coming here since you went into the coma…to pay my respects.”

“You couldn’t do that at my room in the hospital?”

“I just couldn’t face you well your body I had caused you so much trouble before—“

“Rainbow Dash I really don’t care what happened before…You forgot what my father did before didn’t you?”

“Yes…But—“

“No. No buts about it you forgave him and I’m forgiving you. Now if you may I’d like to continue talking with Celestia in private.” Rainbow Dash cocked her head in confusion but obliged. She left the cottage without another word.

"Now Celestia I think we all could use some well deserved rest well that's all I've been doing but... you look like you've been u this entire time." She nodded and smiled. "Celestia...I'm serious go get some sleep." Celestia sighed and left the cottage she said goodbye as she opened the door.

Chapter 10

When Char opened his eyes the cottage was dark. He stood and walked over to the window. The moon was high in the night sky so it must have been around midnight. He walked into the kitchen area and opened a cabinet revealing a large amount of rations. He grabbed one and started to eat. Bread and jerky what a great meal, a knock at the door surprised him. He walked over to the door and opened it on the other side was Luna. “Luna? What do you want?”

“Have you seen sister? I haven’t seen her all night.”

“Wait how did you know I was awake?”

“I went to visit you but the doctors said sister took you home. So when she didn’t come home I came here.”

“Are you sure she isn’t in the castle?”

“Her room was locked but the guards said she wasn’t in their when they broke the door down.” He nodded and walked out of his cottage.

“Take me to the castle. Wait you can teleport us there right?” She nodded and her horn started to glow the same effect happened and they appeared in the castle library. He walked out of the library up to Celestia’s room the door was still missing. He walked into the room. It was a mess books lay scattered across the floor. She was here she must have came in without anyone noticing. A bottle sat on the floor, the label read it as some sort of alcohol. She was drunk when she came here too great. He walked into a small bathroom bile was spewed all over. “Damn…” He covered his nose with his arm at the stench. He turned back and continued to search the room. Nothing of use or any kinds of hints to the whereabouts of Celestia, he left the room and went back to the library. Luna looked up from a small table, “Char come here you may want to look at this!” Char walked over and looked down at the books. They were old spell books from what Char could tell. He noticed odd markings all over them. “Uh…Luna I can’t read Equish.”

“The spell on this page is a transformation spell it can turn other beings into ponies.”

Char immediately looked to Luna, “Why the hell would she have something like this?” He started to mumble to himself. Luna looked at him with confusion. He walked out of the library and down to the courtyards. He looked to the mountains, there was an odd glow emanating from them…Wait is that smoke? His eyes went wide when he saw the glow and the smoke coming from the direction of his cottage. “LUNA!” She appeared next to him from the balconies above, “What?”

“Get us to my cottage now!” Her horn lit up.

“Why?”

“Just do it!” Effect of teleportation and they appeared in front of the burning cottage. The flames nicked at Luna and Char causing Luna to jump back with a yelp. “Dammit!” Char was looking at the ground there was a picture with a message.

We have Celestia and say goodbye to Luna.

Char picked up the letter and looked to Luna. “Luna get help…Tell Twilight Sparkle about everything that happened. I’m gonna save Celestia.”

“You know where she is!?” Suddenly he disappeared in a flash of purple smoke. Luna scowled and took to the air. A teleportation spell with the caster not being next to him, they must have been watching us she thought as she flew back to Canterlot.

When Char reappeared he was surrounded by ponies all of them armed. He raised his hands, “This time I don’t have any explosives I promise.” He gave them a sly smile as some of them shudder. Some of them had to have seen the explosion or at least the rubble.

“So you’re the infamous Joesph Char?” A voice came from behind all the ponies. They parted slightly and a unicorn walked into the circle.

“Déjà vu” Char muttered but the unicorn continued as if he said nothing.

“I am Commander Stormfront. As you can tell my men and I have captured your princess and now you. We plan on releasing her…if you’re willing to cooperate.” He gave a sadistic smile.

“Cooperate with what?”

“You will be told later so will you cooperate?”

“Looks like I don’t have a choice.”

“Alright throw him in with the Princess.” Two ponies came from behind Char and poke him with their guns.

“Get moving.” He started to walk and the group started to dissipate. The two guards lead him through the halls to a door made of steel. One opened it and the other led him in. Celestia was lying in the corner when she heard the door open and saw the guard lead Char in. She looked at him in surprise but didn’t move. The guard opened the gate and Char walked into the cell. When the gate shut and the guards left the room he rushed over to Celestia kneeling next to her. “Celestia?” Her eyes were closed but they slowly opened. “Oh…Hey Char when did you get here?” He let out a slight chuckle.

“You must be on one hell of a hangover.” He sat down next to her and she closed her eyes again. He slowly descended into deep thought. What the hell am I going to do? He looked to Celestia and he heard her breathing. “At least I found you…”

Luna on the other hand was explaining everything that happened to the Elements and a few of their children. “Then he was teleported away and then I came here.”

“We have to help him!” Most of the ponies seemed to have squealed those words. The ponies looked to Luna.

“What?”

“Um we thought you would have had an idea…” Luna shook her head.

“I don’t best thing I can think of right now is we call the guards and find them.” Suddenly Luna let out a large yawn, “But I think it would be best if we all got some rest.” The ponies all nodded and left to get some sleep.

When morning came, the guards were scrambling Topaz was yelling at a large group of them to get their asses in gear.

“Come on move it! We got a princess to save!” The guards finally got everything ready and Topaz looked to Luna who was watching.

“Ma’am we are ready to go!” He saluted. Luna looked to the mountains, “Any word from the pegasi teams?”

“No Ma’am.” Luna sighed and continued to stare at the mountains. Soon Twilight Sparkle and the Elements showed up with Keyes.

“Why is he here?” Twilight asked from the group of guards.

“Because we can use all the help we can get that and he knows how to use a gun.” Keyes brought the pistol Char had given him during the attack.

“Alright Twilight do you think you can find him with that spell you told me about?” Twilight Sparkle nodded and her horn started to glow. After a few moments her horn dimmed. “I found him they have him and Celestia locked up in another compound hidden deep in the mountains. Is everypony ready?”

Back in the cell…Celestia’s eyes opened and she shook her head. “Where am I?” When she saw the bars she instantly remembered everything. She looked to her left and saw Char sitting there his head cocked to one side asleep. “Well at least he found me…” She settled back into the corner hoping Char would have a plan. She leaned over and nuzzled his chest. His eyes slowly opened and he noticed Celestia nuzzling him.

“Um…Mind telling me what you’re doing?” She looked up at him as if she didn't expect him to wake up.

"Um..." She brought her head away from him and he stood.

"Celestia? What was with the spell about turning other beings into a pony form?"

"I was just looking into it."

"Bullshit you and I both know that what you just said is utter bullshit. Tell me the truth."

"I was thinking about turning you into a pony..." He started to respond but Celestia cut him off by continuing, "But that was before you let yourself get shot by Rainbow Dash and you were being accepted a little bit more." Char glared at her for a few moments then let his face relax.

"Alright I guess that would have helped...I would have still been the same person, hell I think they'd be more outraged if you did that." He chuckled. She looked at him smiling in her head sighing in relief that he believed her and that he didn't find out about her feelings. She still beat herself up on the fact she even thought she had feelings for him. He was a soldier he could die at anytime and it would be heart breaking. No she didn't give a damn about that she could care less if he died as long as she got to spend time with him and see him happy unlike his father...Maybe this is what this was, trying to make him happy and make up for her so called failure to Frank.

“So what?”

“What are you going to do?”

“Honestly Celestia I don’t have any way out but give in to their demands. Let’s just hope they let you free.” Suddenly they heard shouts and the guards came in. “You two come one it seems somepony found us.” Char shot Celestia a look and a small smile. Well time to break free. As they were lead out the door Char grabbed the first guard and broke his neck. The second guard started to react but Celestia bucked him into the wall. They heard a quick and loud snap. “Alright let’s get going.” Char grabbed one of the two rifles and lead the way. They stopped for a second in a side room to catch their breath after wandering aimlessly for a good ten minutes. Char checked his boot his knife was still there. “So what are we going to do?”

“We need to get outside and to the rescue team.” Celestia nodded and Char stood taking a deep breath. He opened the door and they started through the halls again.

Luna and the Royal Guards were outside fighting. Well the guards were fighting Luna sat back with the Elements. Topaz was shouting orders to the guards when a small flash erupted from across the yard a rocket whizzed past his head and impacted into the hill showering dirt everywhere, “Fuck!” He dived back down as more bullets whizzed over him.

Celestia and Char continued down the halls but finally found what they were looking for a stairwell. Char went down first rifle up and ready. They were on the third floor when he saw nopony waiting for them they ran down the last flight of stairs and into the halls of the first floor. They ran and finally ended up in a large entryway a set of double doors at the far end. “Seems easy…”

“Quite to easy in fact.” The pony who was talking with Char before stepped out of the shadows with a few of his men. “Seems we have to kill you.” His guards dropped each with a few rounds in them.

Char dropped his rifle, “There you are no more hiding behind guards eh?” Char reached for his knife in his boot and the pony pulled a knife seemingly out of nowhere. They slowly closed in on each other and the pony lunged at Char. The pony brought his knife down but Char rolled out of the way. Char knew that the pony had a speed advantage and range with his magic but Char had experience. Char decides to go on the offensive after the pony lunged at him a few more times, when the pony lunged at Char he dropped down and slide under the pony. The pony reacted but was still nicked by Char’s blade. Blood slowly oozed out of the wound. Soon they end up in a deadlock in the middle of the room their blades held against each other. Each side pushed with all their might. Char’s face was covered in sweat, he couldn’t keep this up but neither could the pony it was a matter of who gives in first and that would probably be Char. He looked to Celestia who was standing off to the side unable to do anything watching with fear in her eyes. Char looked at her and smiled letting his knife go. The pony pushed forward stabbing his knife into Char’s chest. Celestia’s eyes went wide and her horn immediately started to glow as she grabbed Char’s knife out of the air and used it to stab the pony in the throat. She brought it all the way across in her rage a slit across his throat appeared blood poured and he fell. She ran to Char who was coughing a small bit of blood was spilling out of the side of his mouth. The doors burst open and the Royal Guards rushed in. Topaz came in first seeing Celestia over Char’s body he ran over concern across his face. “What the hell happened?” He asked Celestia as the few medics that came with the team ran over to Char.

“He was fighting…him…” She quickly looked to the dead pony, “They got into a deadlock and he just dropped his knife allowing him to stab him and I must have grabbed the knife and killed him.” Topaz looked to the body which was now lying in a rather large pool of blood. “You killed him…? Are you gonna be ok?” Celestia looked at him with a confused look.

“Why would something be wrong?”

“You killed a pony don’t you feel anything?” Celestia sighed.

“This isn’t the first time I’ve dealt with death Topaz you’ve only been alive for fifty years…” Her voice trailed off as they carried Char out of the room. The Elements walked in as they carried him out, “Princess you ok?”

“Sister!” Luna came running in and hugged her sister.

“I’m fine Luna calm down.” Luna let her go and stepped back. “Now I just want to go back to Canterlot and get some rest. Twilight Sparkle you and your friends can go home as well no need to stay here. Topaz?”

“Yes Ma’am?”

“I want this place cleared out and everything you confiscate that is human bring it back to Canterlot. Arrest all the ponies who are alive in this place.” She walked out of the room.

“Yes Ma’am!” Topaz shouted to the guards and they went deeper into the main building. Twilight Sparkle and the Elements looked to Luna once again. “So…what did you need us for?”

“I don’t know why except to help find Char and Celestia…”

“Maybe you just wanted to have some friends around you?” Luna turned to see Fluttershy had spoken her voice was soft.

“Yes I do believe that might have been it. It’s hard to get over all of this.”

Epilogue

When Char opened his eyes again he had a splitting headache. “Ugh…” He started to sit up, when he was pushed back down he tried to see who it was but his vision was blurry. “It’s ok Char your fine…”

“Celestia?” His head went back down as he relapsed into unconsciousness.

He opened his eyes again and the room he was in if he was in a room was dark. He sat up, “Hello? Celestia?” A door opened and Celestia walked in noticing him sitting in the bed. “Oh you’re awake.”

“Yeah and why does my head feel like it’s been kicked repeatedly…?” She walked inside.

“That is a side effect of the spell…” She told him as she shut the door. He sat up a little straighter.

“Spell? Celestia did you do what I think you—” He looked at his body which was now covered in fur. He quickly looked to Celestia, “Celestia why did you—” He was interrupted by her hoof coming to his mouth. “Shh…” He pushed the hoof away,

“Celestia why did you do this?”

“Because…” She rolled the question in her head why did she turn him into a pony? He glared at her waiting for an answer. “I really don’t know…” He laughed at this.

“You don’t have a reason!? Holy shit! I thought Celestia had a reason for everything!” Celestia narrowed her eyes and was about to say something but Char waved his hoof. “No no Celestia don’t take it like that! It’s just so funny you always were said to have a reason for something. And now you don’t have one? I find it ironic.”

“How is that ironic?”

“It just is…” He smirked at her. “No use being a lazy ass.” He tossed the sheets to the foot end of the bed and slid down to all fours. He took a few small steps forward and fell over. “This is going to get some getting used to…” Celestia just looked at him. He looked back confused why she was just watching him. He stood and stepped up to her he was only at least a foot or so shorter than her. He craned his head back and saw he didn’t have wings, but he had a horn. “Celestia...?” No answer.

“Celestia…?” Still nothing. He reaches his forelegs around her and gives her a hug.

“Celestia!” She shook as if he brought her out of deep thought. “Huh…What?” Char chuckled.

“It’s ok Celestia it’s nothing.” He let her go and walked over to the balcony doors. He threw them open. He was still surprised how fast they rebuilt the castle after the siege but that didn’t matter that was done. “So what are we going to do about the UNSC?”

“I told them you died fighting against the Insurrectionists.”

“Wow…So I’m dead that’s great.”

“Yes…You have a new life a clean slate.”

“For some reason I doubt that will change what I do…”

“It doesn’t you are still going to be a guard but you are now a pony the only people who know who you are, are me, Luna, the Elements and Topaz.”

“Ok so pretty much dumping me into the world as a new pony and I’m gonna have to make some friends?”

“Yep.” He face hoofed at that fact.

“Well at least I shouldn’t be shunned anymore.”

“You wouldn’t even if I kept you as a human. Word of you saving Luna, Twilight, and I from the Insurrectionists has traveled all across Equestria I doubt anypony would shun you after that.”

“So where’s my grave? I gotta have one if I died correct?”

“Right next to Frank’s.”

He smiled and looked out to the early morning over Canterlot. With the battle over and him almost dying on two occasions Char smiles. He’s done enough time to give it to the next guy, “I was never cut out for the war stuff anyway.”

“Hmm?”

“Nothing just talking to myself…”

A few days passed and stories of a large unicorn that traveled the mountains between Canterlot and Ponyville were heard in the surrounding area. The name “Regent” spread like wildfire rumors that he was an Insurrectionist sprung up as well but quickly disappeared as the guards kept that under tight wraps.

One of the more recent stories tell of a sound being heard from the mountains. The sound of a thunderous crack could be heard occasionally from either Ponyville or Canterlot; a few remembered the sound and wondered who could be firing the rifle that Frank would fire so long ago. The elements lived their daily lives when they heard of Regent they didn’t know exactly who he was at first till while Valence was on a walk through the outskirts of Ponyville and edged into the Everfree. She was attacked by a pair of Timberwolves but was saved by a unicorn that matched Regent’s description when she retold the tale back in Ponyville but what she didn’t tell was what he said to her, “Tell your mother and the Elements that I’ll be stopping by soon.”

Now going on a few months he still hasn’t showed up on any of the pony’s doorsteps or even their window sills from countless other stories of ponies encountering Regent. The Elements slowly died off one by one, it all started with Pinkie she was so frail near the end she rarely smiled, but when she was found she had a smile plastered across her face. Her window was opened and a small note was on the table across from her. The others slowly began to pass, Rarity and Applejack passed fairly close to each other. Next were Fluttershy and her husband that was a sad day for all of Ponyville. Last it came down to Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle the two surviving Elements. Rainbow Dash was visiting Twilight Sparkle one day when they heard a knock from the door. On the other side stood Regent in his enigmatic glory, he smiled as he stepped through the door. Telling them exactly who he was and why he came up with the new name. He had been traveling around Equestria learning many of things from basic magic to the fine arts of Equestria. He said it was all bullshit to him well except the magic without that he couldn’t have time to fire the rifle that he stole from the new Liason. They remembered when he found that the rifle was stolen, hell that was one shit storm they couldn’t easily forget. The poor guy almost made Fluttershy cry but luckily her two kids set him straight non-violently of course…well for the most part. He told them of stories of his adventures and they told him the rumors about him he laughed most of them off calling them lies which of course they were but some he didn’t say anything too nor did his expression change from the serious tone he had when listening to them. He told them that his new life was going along well and of course he told them the creepiest thing he has ever said. “I’ll watch after them once you’re gone.” They both shuddered as he said it and he just scoffed at their thoughts. “I’m not going to be like that. Celestia says they are to most likely be the next Elements of Harmony she doesn’t exactly know which ones will be so I have to figure it out. Just my luck.” He finished talking with them and took his leave disappearing once again only to reappear at their deaths always leaving a note behind. Each one inscribed with the same message.

Recall the times when you were happy. Recall the times when you laughed. Life is wonderful. Do you have faith in it? Turn your face to life, to eternal joy. What happened to those days? What happened to those nights? Do you remember how you turned to grief? Do you remember how you turned to sorrow? Is the blame mine or ours?

Soon each child would be called to Canterlot each receiving a letter from Celestia telling them that she needed them. When they would come they would find a surprise waiting for them that would shock them to their core.