//------------------------------//
// Recon 
// Story: Equestria Six 
// by Nightmare Darkness 
//------------------------------//

He spent several hours watching the outskirts of the settlement. There were several different kind of ponies, ones with wings that flew proficiently named pegasi, normal non special ponies, and ones with a horn extremity called unicorns. Based on observation only unicorns looked to be the most threatening followed closely by pegasi and finally the regular pony.  The sun moved slowly but noticeably faster than it had during  it had all day not long after the sun disappeared the moon appeared in the sky quickly. 

“That is another anomaly. Moon and suns don't rise and fall so quickly.” Kisara observed. 

“A lot about this place makes no sense. But we need information.” He stood up and sprinted under the cover of darkness towards the village. He put his back against a wall and looked around the corner. A pony was walking around lighting lanterns with a long pole. 

“Best not to have any casualties we don't know how they would react if you happen to kill one.” She cautioned. He simply nodded in agreement as he rounded the corner and then quickly down an alley. His years of being ONIs assassin and go too reconnaissance specialist against insurrectionists it was easy to move about undetected in the sleepy village that wasn't expecting to be infiltrated. He found himself next to a building that seemed to have a lot of noise coming from it. He looked around the corner and saw it written in english Salt Block Tavern. So they know english, makes things a lot easier he thought.

“You have wonderbolts tickets!?” A voice exclaimed causing Ken to stop.

“I know it's all gonna be awesome but it's ok I'll get you one I was planning on taking Bon Bon. I'll see you tomorrow Rainbow.” Said the voice. The door opened and a light green unicorn with a split color mane and tail, it walked out with a stumble and towards his direction. The unicorn stood at around his hip so he towered over the inhabitants like a colossal creature encased in armor. He heard her mumbling to herself drunkenly as she made a sharp turn to walk down the alleyway. He was pressed against the wall and she hadn't taken notice of his presence because of the change in lighting. She was walking past him and she tripped over his foot causing her to grumble angrily and kick his toe. She stopped and looked up at him, her jaw opened as her eyes became large. She seemed to sober up instantly. Before she could scream, in one swift motion hit her at the base of her skull quickly and she collapsed. He lifted her up like a toy and placed the pony over his shoulder. 

“Not an ideal candidate but we can learn much from it.” He moved swiftly from​ the alley  and quickly made it back across the open ground and into the woods. Within 45 minutes he was back at the Condor. He placed the unicorn in a seat and pushed the safety bar into place over its head. 

“Maybe we should remove the horn.” He wondered out loud. 

“Maybe, but maiming the creature might make it uncooperative” she surmised. While he was going to wait for the unicorn to wake he was going to do inventory. The cargo that was on the Condor was ammunition, food supplies, as well as the DMR rifle and three Sniper rifles with fifteen boxes of ammunition. At least he didn't have to worry about ammo for the time being.

“Ah...my head.” A voice said. He turned around and stood in front of her. The unicorn looked up and her voice caught in her throat and only came out as a squeak. 

“Nod your head if you understand me.” Ken said. She simply nodded slowly.

“What is that village?” He asked.

“Please..” she began. He held up his hand, she flinched away.

“I need information about this area.” He said factually. 

“Ponyville.” She said looking at his hand then his face. Of course it's called Ponyville. 

“Do you have a military?” he inquired.

“The guard…” she said.

“What are their capabilities?” He pressed.

“Swords, arrows, magic…y-you know things that protect us. I don't really k-know much about that kind of thing...” She explained timidly.

“Elaborate on magic.” Kisara said she looked around confused. Ken held out his hand and Kisara’s hologram appeared. Her eyes grew as she looked at her.

“What are you?” She asked.

“I am Kisara, an artificial intelligence. Who and what are you?” She asked. She was quiet a moment before she breathed in to calm herself.

“My name is Lyra Heartstrings. I am a unicorn and I work as a lyre player.” She said looking at her then up at him.

“Ok Lyra what is magic?” Kisara asked.

“Magic is… well that's hard to explain.” She said and then her horn glowed and a DMR floated up encased in the same glow that was on her horn. In a flash he pointed his magnum at her head. She stopped instantly because of the shock of the quick motion and the DMR dropped to the ground. She looked at it confused. 

“What?” She began to ask. Ken pointed the magnum out of the hatch door and at the ground. Lyra's eyes followed the weapon and he squeezed a round into the ground and a tuft of dirt exploded upward. 

“Understand?” He said. Lyra's color drained and her ears flattened against her head and nodded slowly. She watched him put the magnum back on his leg. 

Kisara spent a lot of time questioning Lyra on the surrounding area history, military, leaders, important person's, and conflicts that have happened recently. Ken had left Kisara to it as he began to patrol the area. 

“Lyra is asleep.” She notified.

“What did you learn.” He asked as he scanned the treeline and skies.

“We are in a land called Equestria, it is ruled by two known as the princesses, Celestia and Luna. Their military is very ancient something compared to the technology of the 16 century. The only thing that is of note is magic. I'll need more data on this subject. So far there has been an emergence of a group of ponies that are known​ to hold the Elements of Harmony. I ask to elaborate but she only knew their names and who was each element. But beyond that I also need more data. There are too many variables to make a proper contingency plan. But if I were to sum up the nature of the situation. You are the one of the most dangerous and powerful beings on this planet. I also did more in-depth analysis of the ship. The FTL is repairable but we need parts that most likely do not exist on this planet.” She finished and after a moment of digesting the information he sighed. 

“What do you recommend?” He asked.

“Honestly I suggest releasing Lyra and have her take you to the town. They do not have any weapons that can seriously injure you as well as you have a drop shield armor ability.” She said. Not seeing any real other way forward other than her suggestion. He could deal with any threats against him if he was placed in a situation. 

Several hours later Lyra awoke to see him standing in front of her. He reached down and unlocked the safety bar and she looked up at him unsure. 

“I want you to take us to your town.” He said simply. 

“Y-yes.” Was all she said. 

“I am Spartan Ken-B312. I am leaving all of my firearms here.” As he said this he removed his magnum,  assault rifle and the elite plasma sword. Lyra walked down the ramp from the condor and Ken followed her as the ramp closed behind them making her jump. They began to walk, Lyra looked around unsure at the dark shadows of the forest. Suddenly his HUD radar flared with red dots closing in on his position. 

“Unknown enemy, 100 meters. Three contacts.” He had no idea what would attack him here. 

“Lyra.” She froze at her name. 

“Three enemies are attacking stay behind me.” He ordered and she quickly got behind him. He faced the direction and a wolf like creature that looked like it was made out of wood sprang out of the bush and jumped directly at him. His fist flexed and with a left hook caught the wood wolf in the head and shattered it into splinters. The other two went for his legs and one grabbed his ankle, his shields only flared as he swept his right arm in a downward motion with his fingers extended and shattered the wooden wolf's neck causing it to fall apart. The third broke off its attack and circled around and lunged for Lyra who cried out in horror. In mid air Ken caught the wolf and slammed it into the forest floor. It was all over within moments and he looked to Lyra. 

“Let's keep moving.” He said walking in the direction of the town. Lyra stood dumbstruck before coming to her senses and chasing after him. 

“Wow...just wow. With your bare hooves! Nothing but a dragon could be that strong!” She said. Ken stopped and looked at her.

“Dragon? You never mentioned anything about dragons.” He said. 

“None live around here besides a baby one named Spike. So you don't need to worry.” She said quickly. 

“I used my hands. I do not have hooves.” He said as he continued to walk. 

“What are you?” She asked bewildered and more curious now that he seemed like he wasn't going to kill her.

“I am a human.” He stated.

“Human? I have heard of them but never thought they were real.” She said. 

“You have heard of humans before?” Kisara said suddenly.

“Yes but in old books that say they lived thousands of years ago.” She explained.

'I will have to get ahold of these books and see if they may be related to us in some way.' She said to him only and he simply nodded.

“So Kisara you say you're an art..ti..fical... intellect?” Lyra asked.

“Artificial intelligence, I am a created computer that has a personality matrix to put it simply.” She explained as Lyra looked more confused than when she asked. They soon were walking from the treeline and Lyra trotted forward ahead of him.  Not even half way towards the town and a large crowd was already gathering. Several ponies were shifting back and forth whispering unsure. Surly if he had walked towards the town by himself it would be chaos. Lyra looked at him.

“Maybe you should stay here. I was horrified when I first met you...truth be told I'm still afraid of you.” She said honestly. He wasn't surprised, even in the UNSC he was ostracized, always the lone wolf until he was posted with noble team.

“I will wait here.” He said stopping as Lyra jogged towards the crowd. Another pony ran out and hugged her she was a normal pony with a cream coat with a blue and pink mane. Lyra looked to be talking to them and several ponies that looked to be leaders began to approach him. Leading them was a light purple unicorn flanked by a orange pony wearing a cowboy hat, and a white unicorn on with dark purple mane and tail. Lyra had walked behind them and they stopped ten feet away from him and they all looked up to him. 

“This is the human, Ken.” She introduced and looked to Ken.

“This is Applejack, Twilight Sparkle, and Rarity.” She said. A silence became uncomfortable as Ken held out his hand and Kisara's image appeared. 'they are three of the elements of harmony that you were briefed about.’ she said to him alone.

“Hello, I am Kisara.” All three ponies jumped back in shock. 

“Holding a pixie?! What in tarnation?!” Applejack exclaimed. Twilight had quickly put up a barrier of purple energy.

“We do not mean you any harm.” Kisara stated. 

“Please don't take offence that we do not trust you simply because you say so darling.” Rarity said. 

“I've sent word to the princesses about you.” Twilight said. Ken finally moved his head and looked at her. Her ears flattened in fear, as Applejack gritted her teeth looking for a fight.

“Just know that we are not hear to start conflict.” Kisara reiterated again, Lyra placed a hoof on Twilight's shoulder causing her to look at Lyra.

“He defeated three Timberwolves bare hooved.” She said cautiously. The three of them looked even more on guard. 

“Warning large energy surge.” Kisara warned and a blinding light that burst forth and two large horses both with wings and a horn. One on the left stood at least to his chest, her white coat and a multi colored mane with the same tail. On her left was a dark midnight blue with a mane that looked like the night sky. Several guards flanked both of them.

“Princess!” Twilight said to them and suddenly it was quiet and the white princess stepped forward with a serious look.

“I am Princess Celestia. Who are you and….” She stopped and looked at Kisara dumbfounded. 

“Princess Celestia.” Kisara said courteously. 

“What...or who are you.” she asked bewildered.

“I am a Spartan.” Ken said simply.