//------------------------------//
// Trollestia Strikes Back 
// Story: Halo: X Team in Equestria 
// by The Good Dark Lord 
//------------------------------//

It was morning, and Princess Celestia was chillin' on her throne, munching on a banana, drinking tea, reading her personal copy of Public Enemy #2. She chuckled. "Ha! That zebra is so black." She dipped her banana into her tea and shoved the whole fruit down her throat. "OMN. Secretary, what's my schedule for today?"

A scruffy looking earth pony with a wild black mane and an orange and dark blue hat on his head came into view. "Well your Majesty, you have a noon meeting with the griffin diplomats, a two o'clock inspection on the quality of your moon cannon, and a five o'clock molesting of Discord's statue."

"Anything else?" Celestia asked as she sipped her tea.

"Oh, and some mares just came by today claiming that Twilight Sparkling Skin, Apple n' Jacks, and Rainbow Slash are being held against their will by a monster in the Everfree Forest."

Celestia spat out her tea. "PFFFFFFT. WHAT?"

"Don't worry your Majesty, I'll see them off."

Before the secretary could make things worse, Celestia levitated a coin in front of his face.

"Look at the change! See the change?"

"CHANGE! CHAAAAAAAANGE!!!!"

"Go get the change!" Celestia tossed the coin out the nearest window, and the secretary followed suit.

Celestia pointed a hoof to the nearest guard. "Guard, get your underpaid ass out there and tell those tools at the main door to allow those three mares entry to my throne room!"

The guard stared at her with a dazed expression. "Hurrr..."

Celestia face hoofed. "Let them in."

The guard saluted and suddenly became more serious. "Yes your Highness!"

The guard sprinted to the door, opened it a little, and poked his head through the opening. After a few seconds he brought his head back out and opened the doors the rest of the way. Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy bolted through the door, causing said door to collide with the guard's face. Nopony gave a second thought to the guard who was now grasping his bleeding snout in agony.

"Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, have the other Elements really been captured?" Celestia asked with much concern.

"Yes your Majesty." Rarity somberly answered.

"By whom?"

"That same meany pants who bucked up Shining Armor and those guards!" Pinkie replied.

Celestia narrowed her eyes. "Now wait, just what exactly were you girls doing there anyways?"

Everypony looked to Fluttershy. "Psst, Fluttershy," Pinkie whispered, "It's your line now."

"Oh! S- sorry." Fluttershy timidly said. "W- well, Twilight was very upset about that monster hurting her poor brother, s- so we all went out to try to capture it, but, that didn't work out so well."

"But why weren't you three captured? Did you escape?"

"That's just the thing Princess Celestia." Rarity said. "He just, well, let us go and told us to tell you this."

"What? Why?"

"I trust that you are well aware of those other three ruffians Shining Armor managed to capture?"

"Yes. They attempted to escape earlier but I stopped them- wait. Is he asking for a prisoner trade?"

"Yes."

"What were his conditions?"

"He wants you to meet him alone at his camp, with the three captive "spartans"- that's what they call themselves I believe- at evening."

"Did he say what would happen if I refused his offer?"

"He... heavily implied that he would kill Twilight, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash."

"Did it just get warm in here?" Pinkie rhetorically asked.

Indeed, all three of the mares suddenly felt the air getting hotter. They soon realized that the heat was in fact radiating from a majorly pissed off looking Princess Celestia. "Come with me." Celestia said as she stepped down from her throne.

"W- where are we going?" Fluttershy nervously asked.

"To the dungeon."

**********

James kicked away another rat that had tried to steal his rations. "Little shits." He said. He looked to Rose and Kenny. "Hey, where did they put our guns again?"

"In the guard's quarters." They both replied.

"Have either of you managed to pick up Braden's signal again?"

"No." Rose responded. "Nothing but static. Like there's some kind of interference."

Then, they heard a door open. The three SPARTANs looked down the hall to see four ponies entering the dungeon.

"The big one's Princess Celestia, right?" Rose quietly whispered to Kenny.

"That's right." He replied. "The smaller white one is Rarity, the pink one is Pinkie Pie, and the yellow one is Fluttershy."

"Hey, wasn't that Fluttershy pony the one we saw just before we got captured?" James asked. "And what the hell happened back there anyway Kenny? When you saw her you looked like you were in a trance or something."

"Well I- I was just uh, um-"

"Spartans." Celestia said. She, Rarity, Pinkie, and Fluttershy were standing in front of their cell.

The SPARTANs stood up straight, facing her. The smaller three ponies visibly shrank back in fear. "How do you know that word?" James asked with suspicion.

"You can thank your leader for that."

"Colonel told you?"

"Ah, so his name is Colonel?"

"No." Kenny said before James could say anymore. "That is his rank, your Majesty."

Celestia cocked an eyebrow. "You know who I am?"

"That I do, Princess Celestia."

"But we have never spoken before."

"I know many things."

"Oh really? Well then, elaborate."

"I know that we are in Equestria, in the Canterlot dungeon, North of Ponyville and the Everfree Forset, and I know the names of the three with you; Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Fluttershy."

The three ponies gasped while Celestia simply widened her eyes in surprise at how much Kenny knew.

"How do you know our names?" Fluttershy squeaked.

Kenny decided to make himself seem even more knowledgeable. "I also know where you live." Unfortunately this came off as creepy as the three mares hid behind Celestia, who glared at him angrily. 

He decided to change the subject. "But tell me, Celestia, why do I only see three of the Elements of Harmony with you? Where is your star pupil Twilight Sparkle, the farmer Applejack, and Wonderbolt fangirl Rainbow Dash?"

Once again, he had unintentionally struck a nerve. However, this time it was Celestia who was alarmed by how much he knew, and Fluttershy, Rarity, and Pinkie who glared at him.

"You have no right to talk about our friends like that!" Rarity exclaimed while pointing an accusing hoof. "Especially not after they were kidnapped by your barbaric Colonel!"

The SPARTANs flinched. "I beg your pardon?" Rose asked.

Celestia "Ahem'd" and waved the three mares off. "From what these three have told me, your leader has taken the other three Elements hostage, and is demanding a prisoner trade."

"Okay, stop, everyone just stop!" James cried out. They all looked to him. "First things first, release our bonds so we can take off our helmets!"

Celestia gave a small scowl. "You would try to escape again."

"You already have us trapped in a force field box! How can we get out?!"

Celestia rolled her eyes. Her horn began to glow, and the magic ropes disappeared. James immediately took off his helmet, scarfed down his apple and carrot, and chugged down his water. Kenny and Rose did the same but with less zeal.

Then they put their helmets back on. "Okay we're good." James simply said.

The ponies were a little stunned at what happened. Celestia opened her mouth, then closed it, trying to find the right words to say. "Ah forget it."

Celestia and the ponies then turned and left for the door. 

"Hey!" Kenny yelled out. "You said our Colonel wanted a prisoner trade!"

Before she closed the door, Celestia casually turned her head back to him. "Well you know what I want? A rescue. Besides, I don't negotiate with terrorists. Problem?"

She closed the door.

James started shaking. "FFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU-"

**********

"...Wake up... WAKE UP!"

Twilight's eyes shot open. "AH! Who's there?!"

"It's me, Dash!"

Twilight looked to her right. Rainbow Dash was sitting next to her, tied up and in cuffs. She looked down at herself. Tied up and in cuffs. She looked to her left to see Applejack struggling to get out of her bonds. She observed her surroundings. They were in a small room that was about seven square feet in shape. There was one door in front of them, a dim light above them, and no windows. All three of them were sitting with their backs against the wall.

"Where are we? What's going on?" Twilight asked.

"We got captured, that's what happened Twilight." Applejack answered as she continually tried and failed to escape.

"Oh yeah, that's right..." Twilight said as she remembered her botched attempt at taking out the creature. Then, she became alarmed. "Wait, where's Fluttershy, Pinkie, and Rarity?!"

Rainbow Dash nervously gulped. "Them? Oh I'm sure they got away! Heh, heh, I hope."

Applejack scowled. "I swear if that varmit hurt any of them I'll-"

The door suddenly opened, revealing the creature. "You'll what?" The creature said. Its tone and the timing of its reveal was more than enough to shut Applejack up.

Twilight snarled. "YOU!"

"Me."

The creature stepped through the door and kneeled down on one leg in front of them. Its face still had the same intimidating, unchanged look to it. No mouth, just a blank surface. Its golden unblinking eyes; no pupils, no irises; stared into the souls of the ponies. The crown of horns on its head added to the fear factor. "Twilight Sparkle. Rainbow Dash. Applejack."

"How do you know who we are?!" Rainbow demanded.

"I told him." Twilight answered. She looked to the creature. "Who are you? We have a right to at least know who is holding us hostage."

"I suppose that's fair." The creature said. "I am Colonel Braden 007. I assume you have many questions for me."

"Yes. First of all, what did you do to our friends?!"

"The ones named Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity?"

"Yes!"

"I let them go."

"...No you didn't."

"Yes I did."

"My flank you did! You ate them didn't you!?"

"No. I let them go and told them to deliver a message to Princess Celestia."

"Oh really? Well them, what did you tell them to tell Celestia, hm?"

"I told them to tell her that if she ever wanted to see you three alive ever again, she would release Kenny, Rose, and James."

"Wait, y- you're going to kill us?!"

"...Nah I was just bluffing."

"Who bluffs about murder?!"

"I do."

"...You mentioned someponies named Kenny, Rose, and James. Were those the three creatures Shining Armor captured?"

"Yes. And as you can imagine, I was not too happy when he told me that."

"And then you sent him and ten other guards to the hospital!"

"They were military hostiles who attacked me without reason! I had every reason to defend myself! Go ahead! I dare you to unjustify that!"

"You're dangerous! And your lackeys tried to hurt Fluttershy!"

Braden stood up suddenly, looming over the ponies menacingly. They shrank back. "Never call my SPARTANs "lackeys". NEVER! DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?"

The three mares quickly nodded.

"Now then, tell me, what do you mean by "tried to hurt Fluttershy" ?"

Twilight strengthened her resolve. "A few days ago, Fluttershy had an encounter with your "spartans". She was out picking flowers. She told us that the red one tried to sneak up on her with a dagger, and that she didn't even know it until she was saved by the passing guards who you later beat up."

"Interesting."

"Interesting?"

"Kenny. He's the one who wears red armor. He's, eh..."

"Is there something we should know?"

"...He's a fan."

The ponies looked quizzically at the SPARTAN. "I beg yer pardon?" Applejack asked.

"Kenny, the one whom you claim tried to "sneak up" on Fluttershy, he is a fan of you ponies."

"..."

"Yeah, I know. I was a bit surprised myself when I found out."

"What do you mean by "fan"?" Rainbow Dash asked with a hint of interest.

"He has been... observing you ponies for some time. I don't know for how long, but he knows a thing or two about this "Equestria" place. He admires you. He respects you."

"Then why would he try to sneak up on Fluttershy with a weapon?" Twilight said, trying to keep the conversation from getting too friendly.

"I'm willing to bet he was going to try to communicate with her. But your guards screwed that up, didn't they?"

"You don't know that for sure."

"You can ask for the details on what happened if you meet him."

An awkward silence followed.

"What are you doing here?" Twilight asked, breaking the silence.

"Hm?"

"You and the other spartans. Nothing like you has ever been seen in Equestria before. Why are you here?"

Braden scratched his chin, thinking of a response. Then, he pointed to the ceiling. "Do you know what you are in?"

"A building?"

"No. You are in our ship."

"Um... if this is a ship, then shouldn't it, you know, be in water?"

"This ship flies."

Rainbow Dash sat up. "It flies? How fast?"

"At top speed, faster than you."

"Oh yeah? You wanna bet? Let's race!"

"I'm afraid I can't do that."

"Aww, why not?"

"Because A: this is a military fighter, not a tool for racing. And B: it's wrecked. We have to fix it."

"Oh. Did you crash?"

"Did you not notice earlier? We fought right next to it."

"Oooooooh so that's what that thing was. Can you fix it?"

"Yes. All we need is time, then we can leave."

"A'right now hold up all of you." Applejack said out of nowhere. Braden, Twilight, and Rainbow looked at her. "Does nopony else here see just how weird this whole situation is? Here you are, holding us captive, and we're all just having a casual conversation like nothing's happened." She shook her cuffs. "Just let us out, darn it!"

"I'm sorry ma'am but bear in mind that your government is still hostile towards us and holding some of my kin captive. I must do what is necessary."

Braden stood up and proceeded out the door. He stopped before he closed the door. "Ms. Sparkle." He said.

Twilight looked to him.

"I am sorry for harming your brother. I'm not asking for forgiveness, I just want you to understand that I had no other choice."

"..."

He closed the door.

**********

Braden closed the door. He stepped back, and leaned against the other wall. He gave a frustrated sigh. "Dammit, how the hell did I get sucked into this?" He thought to himself. "I'm supposed to be on Reach with John and Carter fighting the Covenant, not playing standoff with ponies."

He heard noises outside the Longsword. Braden stopped his inner bitching and went into super- serious mode. He lowered the ramp and stepped out, expecting the worst. 

To his mild surprise, an almost regular sized horse stood about twenty feet away from him. It had wings, a horn, a crown, and a wavy multicolored mane. And it did not look happy.

"...Princess Celestia?"

"Yes." The alicorn said. "Colonel?"

Braden decided against asking how she knew his rank and got right down to business. "Yes. Now then, where are they?"

"Where is who?"

"Do not toy with me. Did the ones called Fluttershy, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie not deliver the message?"

"They did."

"Then you know my terms!"

"I do. But I will not tolerate you harming my little ponies." Celestia's horn began to glow.

"You stupid bitch." Braden unsheathed his katana and sprinted towards Celestia. She fired a thin stream of energy that hit Braden in the chest. The spell she had cast upon him enveloped him in an aura of colors and held him in place as if he was pinned against an invisible wall. He struggled to break free.

"I will deal with you later." Celestia said as she walked past Braden and into the Longsword. He was not facing the Longsword at the moment, but he could hear what was occuring. He heard footsteps, and a door opening. Clangs sounded against the metal floor. "Crap."

Suddenly, Rainbow Dash filled his field of vision. She was free and out of her bonds, hovering in front of him. "Woah. The princess totally got you. You're still in there, right?"

Braden growled. Rainbow Dash backed off and landed on the ground, looking a little hurt. Along with Celestia, Twilight and Applejack also came into view, free from their ropes and cuffs. Applejack had a smug look of victory on her face, while Twilight seemed to be conflicted, as if not sure what to really think.

"Colonel Braden 007." Celestia said with all her sternness. "I hereby place you under arrest for assault and kidnapping, and I sentence you to the Canterlot dungeon for life!"

Braden started shaking uncontrollably. "NO!" He spat out.

"There is no use denying it, spartan. Deal with it."

Twilight tapped Celestia on the shoulder. "Um, princess, I think you're being a little rash..."

"Rash? Nonsense!"

"No really you should at least hear him out-"

"Not now Twilight, I'm busy taunting him. Oh don't worry Colonel, I'll be sure to place you in the same cell as your other spartans-"

Braden's right arm bust out of Celestia's magic field. The broken pieces shattered against the ground like glass. "You ponies really don't like doing things the easy way, do you?" His left leg broke free.

"Quickly you three, get close to me!" Celestia yelled. Twilight, Rainbow, and Applejack huddled up close to her. "Stay close! I'm going to teleport us out of here!" Her horn began to glow, and a white light enveloped them.

At this point Braden had completely shaken off the last of the magic and was charging towards them. "NOOOOOO! GET BACK HERE!"

The four ponies disappeared in a flash of light.

Braden dropped to his knees, his fists raised in the air. "RRRRAAAAAAAAWWWW!!!!"

Yeah, he's not a happy camper anymore.

**********

Celestia, Twilight, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack reappeared in the throne room. Conveniently, Fluttershy, Pinkie, and Rarity were there waiting for them.

The Mane 6 had a big corny group hug of friendship.

Fluttershy was crying. "Oh my goodness you're all safe and sound oh boo hoo hoo!"

Pinkie was spazzing out. "You're back! This is great! I'm going to throw the biggest "Welcome back from being held hostage" party ever!"

And Rarity was, eh, meh whatever. "Oh I am SO relieved that Celestia managed to save you from that horrible ruffian!"

"Phew-ee, I'm sure glad that's over." Applejack said in relief.

"My little ponies, did he do anything to you?"

"Hm?"

"You know. Did he torture you, touch you, viol-"

"We talked." Twilight said.

"Okay but did he-"

"No we just talked." Rainbow said.

"Did he say mean things?" Fluttershy asked.

"No he just... answered our questions. And he was kind of... cool. Buck if anything, I'd say Colonel Braden's just trying to make sure his friends make it out okay."

"He even said he was sorry for hurting Shining Armor..." Twilight added.

"Regardless, he is a threat to ponykind." Celestia said, crushing the emotional fragileness of the conversation. "And I will not rest until he is brought to justice."

**********

Braden sat on the ramp of the Longsword, fuming. That goddam princess horse. All he demanded was a simple prisoner exchange but noooooooo she just had to complicate things, didn't she? Man he was so pissed off, so PISSED off, SO PISSED O-

A twig snapped.

Braden immediately raised his sniper rifle. Two blips were on his radar ahead of him in the treeline. Not a sound was heard, then...

A six note, six beat tone was whistled out from the treeline. "Oly Oly Oxen Free!" A voice called out after.

Braden calmed down and holstered his rifle. "Oly Oly Oxen Free, All out in the free, We're all free." He responded.

Two SPARTANs stepped out from the trees.

"Richard, Ashley. Glad to see that you're both still alive."

"Likewise, sir." The two SPARTANs both said in response.

Braden motioned them towards the Longsword. "Get in. We have a lot to talk about. First I'm going to fill you in on what's been going on for me, then, you two are going to tell me what you've been up to."

The three SPARTANs entered the Longsword, and closed the ramp.