//------------------------------// // Emotional Q and A // Story: A Marines peace // by Cone of Wonders //------------------------------// Once the sun had begun to rise over the hilltops, Twilight woke up with the hopes of making the alien feel more welcome after last nights performance. She looked over and saw the human still sleeping in his armor. How he was able to sleep in it would be a good question for later if the princess would let her. But for now, she hopped out of her bed, brushed her messy mane and galloped softly over to Rust. "Rust"? She whispered gently, trying not to make him jump out of his sleep. No response. She tried again, this time a little louder. "Come on Rust, wake up". This time, Rusts eyes opened slowly. He groaned before sitting up, forcing Twilight to take a step back. He looked around the room before moaning and covering his face with both hands. He wasn't happy. "Are you ok Rust"? Asked Twilight. Rust turned his head over to his left where Twilight was and gave her a look that said "What do you think"? But nonetheless answered her question. "You mean apart from the fact I'm still stuck here? No I'm completely fine". His voice cranky and moody. Twilights ears dropped to her sides. She couldn't help but feel sorry for the human. After all, how would she have felt if she was in some unknown land separated from all her friends and family. Especially after having lost some of his men, the situation must have been torturous to say the least. "I'm sorry". Spoke Twilight. "I didn't mean to upset you". Rust sighed and stood up before the unicorn. "It's all right. I never was a morning person anyway". Twilight smiled a bit at his friendly response and walked a little closer to him. There was something that she felt like she had to say. "Listen Rust, about last night, I-". Rust cut her off. "Look, Twi. I know what you're going to say. And I forgive you and your friends for attacking me. Especially your yellow friend. Besides, you already apologized yesterday for that remember"? "Actually that wasn't what I meant to ask you". Rust raised an eyebrow. "No"? "No. I just wanted to know, you said you lost your friends yesterday. I know that Fluttershy gave her... condolences but the rest of us, well we didn't give you much support. So, on behalf of all my friends, I'd like to say sorry for your loss". Twilight lowered her head with sorrow, truly showing how sorry she was to the marine. Rust stood there for a few seconds. He certainly didn't expect that to come from the purple pony's mouth. However he took a step forward up to Twilight and patted her on the head. Figuring how regular horse enjoyed that, he figured that ponies would too. Twilight lifted her head upon feeling the humans hand touch her mane and saw him with a small smile on his face. "Thanks Twi. I appreciate it". Twilight smiled back and Rust lifted his hand off the unicorn. He then walked over to the spot he had been sleeping on and picked up his gear, attaching it to his armor as he did. "So Rust, would you like some breakfast"? Asked Twilight, still being as friendly as she could. Rust grunted and nodded before he began to follow Twilight down the stairs and into the room where he had been tied to a chair the day before. He walked over to the table which had a wodden horses head standing in the middle of it and assumed it was the dinner table. He sat down carefully as the chair was a little smaller than average chairs. Twilight walked into the kitchen leaving Rust for a moment. Soon enough, she came back levitating two plates of eggs and toast. One for both her and for Rust. How she was able to do that with the plates was something that Rust would need to ask later, but for now he didn't seem to care about anything other than food. As she set the plates down, Rust began to dig in. It had been too long since his last meal. However it became apparent that the purple unicorn sitting opposite him was eager to ask him some questions. "So Rust"? Rust took his eyes off of his food and up to Twilight and noticed that she was now levitating a notepad and what looked like a quill. "Yes"? He asked cautiously. "Is it okay if I ask you some questions about you and your species"? Rust thought carefully. He could just tell her the general knowledge of the human history. That would keep her amused for a while, as long as she didn't ask anything that was classified. Besides it wasn't like he had anything better to do. "Sure, why not"? He said halfheartedly before digging into his toast. "Wonderful"! Twilight nearly squeaked as she got ready. "Question 1, What species are you"? Rust lifted his head up for a second. Didn't he tell them that already? "Didn't I tell you yesterday back in the forest"? He asked. Was the pony trying to mess around with Rust or was it just him? "Well, yes but this isn't for me to just learn, its for the princess too, so that we can understand your species better". "As much as that helps me, that still dosen't explain why you can't just write it down". Twilight nodded awkwardly before attempting to write it down, but stopping and looked back at Rust with a look of worry mixed with confusion. Rust raised his eyebrow, wondering what was taking her, then it hit him. "You don't know how to spell human do you"? He said simply. Twilight shrugged and gave him an apologetic look. Rust sighed. "H-U-M-A-N". Twilight wrote each letter carefully as though she was attempting to create a masterpiece. "Now I know how Spike feels writing some of my letters". She thought, a little embarrassed, after all it was only a five letter word. "Sorry". She apologized after finishing writing the word. "Happens to the best of us". Rust admitted. Twilight nodded before writing down her second question. "And the strangest". Rust finished in his head. "Okay, question two, how many of your species are there"? "It was once at twenty six billion, but now its nowhere near as much". Twilight paused for a moment. She was expecting a few million at the most. But twenty five billion?! How was that possible? But one thing caught her attention the most. "Once"? "Pardon"? "You said that there was once twenty six billion humans? I don't understand". Rust looked down, hoping he wouldn't have to explain the last thirty years of humankind's history... and survival. "We were at war, with another species. Well, several different species that joined together centuries ago to form this... group called the covenant. And we nearly lost. If Rust hadn't lowered his head, he would have come across Twilights face, shocked and horrified. "You were at war? With these covenant"? "Yeah... we were. By the time the war ended five years ago, Humanity's numbers were no higher than two hundred million". Twilight could only raise her hoof to her mouth and hold back tears as she took it all in. Over twenty six billion killed in one single war. Rust seemed to be managing well enough, memories are easier than the real thing, once they've been experienced. "But, how? How could they do something like that, the covenant"? "You know, Instead of explaining it to you". Rust took off his helmet and place it on the table. "I'll show you". Rust fiddled with his helmet for a minute until some sort of light shone out revealing a picture of the middle of a city from Rusts point of view. There was also a noticeable isosceles triangle in the bottom right corner facing to the right. "If things get a little too much for you, just tell me and I'll stop it, okay"? Twilight nodded before using her magic to pull the curtains on, making the room darker and easier to see the projection. Rust then pressed a button on the helmet, making the video log play.