Ken stood still as the princesses approached him warily.
“What is a Spartan?” The dark princess he guessed to be Luna asked.
“I cannot go into detail. I am a military asset used by the United Nations Space Command.” Ken said pointedly.
“Or UNSC for short. Just know that he is a soldier much like your guards are.” Kisara explained. Celestia unsure but taking into account that he was a military asset to a foreign unknown power.
“Why are you here is a question I would like to know. Not that you are not welcome, your appearance would frighten a hydra.” She said with a smile trying to break the tension.
“I'm beginning to see a pattern.” He said suddenly and they all looked at him.
“He means to say that all of what we know of mythical creatures are your reality.” Kisara cleared up. Celestia nodded slowly.
“We would like to get to know you more. Of course any information you need, you only just have to ask.” She said turning around. Ken took that as to follow her. He began to follow her towards the town. He made note of the pony guard had flanked him but kept a wide berth of him. He couldn't blame them he was in fact a menacing figure. The townsfolk had lined the road as they walked along many bowed their heads to the royalty and young children looked up at him in awe. They made their way to what was a train station. Everything was smaller than normal for him navigating areas was tiresome but when the train came into view it looked like it was made of candy. The ponies walked up onto the wooden platform and he stepped onto the first step and it groaned under his weight and noticeably flexed under his weight. He cautiously continued forward and ducked under the roof to the train they began to load up and he looked at the doorway that was too small.
“This is a problem, how do we get you into the train?” Twilight asked with a frown. The conductor hopped from the engine and looked at him and visibly lost color.
“W-we have an empty log cart…” he stammered out, and before long an empty log cart was hitched to the end of the caboose. Ken stepped into the box, the sound of metal and stress on the cart could be heard, his arms couldn't fit so he put them on the ledges of the box. Ken did feel foolish but what other choice did he currently have. Three guards stood at the entrance watching him. All three were unicorns which only made him more weary. The train brakes disengaged and soon they were moving.
“What do you make of the Royals?” Ken asked.
“The energy that Celestia emitted was close to a slip space anomaly but any information regarding such a thing would likely kill a living organism. So it would have to be filed under magic.” Kisara summarized.
“We need additional information on mythical creatures.” He pointed out.
“I have several files on mythical creatures and tales of lore. But whether they hold true to legends is up for debate.” She said with conjecture. Ken was quiet a moment before they entered a tunnel and his headlamps turned on. The unicorns instinctively pointed their weapons at him in fear.
“The locals are a fearsome race. Reminds me of the grunts.” He said with some measure.
“I would have to disagree, yes they are jumpy but they did stand fast to face you...well they don't know what you're truly capable of.” She surmised, Ken was quiet.
The train left the tunnel and soon a large city built into the side of a great mountain came into view. The spires glistened in the sun and the sky was filled with movement of more than just pegasi.
“Scan.” Ken ordered and after a moment Kisara spoke.
“Scan complete, several different species pertaining to folklore. Griffin, pegasi, and lizard suspected dragon along with several known species of birds. City designated 'Canterlot’ is suspended against the mountain in a way that supports the theory that magic may be a factor in its positioning.” Her analysis complete she gave a small squeal of excitement.
“The more I learn the more I want to know.” She said as the train tracks came alongside a narrow road that lead towards the city. Pulling into the train station a crowd was forming already as guards had created a pathway from the station in the direction of the castle that was closer to the natural mountain wall. Ken made a move to get out of the box and the pressure on the wall of the carriage gave way causing him to unceremoniously fall to the ground. Ken quickly recovered and was standing quickly as the royal sisters approached him.
“I hope the ride wasn't to uncomfortable.” Celestia said. Ken shook his head.
“Please come to the castle, there we can discuss questions you may have.” Celestia said as she began to walk. The folk of Canterlot seemed different, ponies wore clothes others wore nothing, so he summarized it was a show of position in the society. The walk only took them ten minutes before they passed the gates to the castle proper, the gates closed keeping out the civilians.
“Ken I have done additional scans and found Forerunner signals.” Kisara alerted, Ken nodded in understanding.
They walked into a throne room and then a door on the right. He was able to walk through the doorways there easily. He was led to a room where a table that came up to the middle of his thigh stood. It was surrounded by simple chairs, and several ponies were sitting around it. Celestia and Luna took spots at the head of the table and Ken moved to a spot opposite them. He looked at the chair and simply moved it to the side and chose to stand.
“Please have a seat Spartan.” Celestia offered.
“Nothing you have would support my weight, I will stand.” Ken said simply. Celestia exchanged looks with several of the ponies at the table.
“Very well. Spartan, what do you want to know? How did you arrive here?” Celestia asked.
“I will let Kisara explain the situation any questions you direct at me should be directed at her.” He said before he stood at ease. The helmet lamps shone and then Kisara stood on the table about 3 feet tall. All ponies in the room eyes widened, the only two who kept their composers were the royalty. Kisara bowed to them and then placed a hand behind her back giving off a formal look as she raise her head.
“Kisara, for those who do not know me. First, we would like to have access to information in the future we may need.” She asked. Celestia didn't move but seemed to consider this.
“As I stated all information you need will be provided.” She stated.
“Second, we arrived from space via our vehicle a D81-Condor long range transport.” She said before looking at the group, several whispers of shock and surprise along with murmurs of amazement.
“Where are you from?” Luna asked.
“We escaped one of our planet's named Reach.” She explained, several of the ponies looked at them suspiciously.
“Escaped? What did you escape from?” Twilight asked, Celestia looked at her and nodded.
“The Covenant.” she said with a weight in her voice that made Celestia lean forward.
“What is the Covenant?” She inquired.
“A group of alien species that as a collective are bent on human destruction and wiping out all life on the planets that any humans inhabit.” she stated. They looked at one another.
“There is no force strong enough to destroy a planet.” Luna said frowning.
“Yes there is and they do. As we escaped from Reach the Covenant were glassing the planet.” She said coldly.
“Glassing?” Celestia asked. Kisara raised her hands and a large screen showed up and then a recorded video log. The video showed a Covenant cruiser over a shining city then the energy seemed to build up before the laser bore down on the city melting and disintegrating all it touched.
“This is only one of the cities on several world's that have met this fate. The Covenant fleet have several ships like this cruiser and they are so numerous that they can destroy an entire planet.” She said putting her hands down leaving the video to go on a loop. None spoke before Luna broke the silence
“How...how do you fight such a power?” She asked.
“To the best of our ability. One victory at a time.” Kisara said. All looked to Celestia, who looked to be deep in thought.
“Why do they want to destroy you.” Celestia asked.
“We don't completely understand that, but we seem to have a connection to forerunner technology which they worship.” She said.
“Forerunner?” Twilight asked.
“You also have forerunner ruins here, our scans indicate it.” She said. Luna and Celestia looked at one another concerned.
“We have ruins but we simply call them the ancient relics.” Luna said simply.
“To be sure the ancient relics you know of were made by the long lost forerunners, information on them is restricted by ONI protocols.” She stated.
“What is ONI?” Luna asked.
“I'm sorry all I can say is, it is a branch of the UNSC.” She said crossing her arms in front of her chest shaking her head. Kisara's eyes widened as she looked back a Ken.
“Incoming slip space anomaly detection… confirmed two Covenant cruisers…” she said alarmed. Ken quickly went to the window and looked to see two cruisers heavily damaged crashing towards the planet high in the atmosphere.
“Projected one cruiser is going to crash land…but both are heavily damaged.” She said as all of the ponies had emptied their seats and we're looking at the sky in horror with the thoughts of what Kisara had just shown them.
“It seems the war has come to this world as well.” Kisara said sorrowfully.
“I thought I was going to be bored this whole time.” Ken said as Celestia looked up at him as if he were insane.