A Noble Death

by LSTS Connor


Chapter 5

‘I knew I was tall but this is just ridiculous’ Was the first thing to go through Six’s mind as she entered the city itself. Six was already used to looking over the tops of people’s heads but the species here were only reaching up to her shoulders maybe halfway up her neck. It was almost comical if it weren't for the occasional taller than average alien.
All around her was the classic hustle and bustle of any human city. Only instead of humans, it was a bunch of shoulder height, multi-colored horses with either horns, wings, or neither going about their daily routine. 

She could even spot the many tourists out of the crowd as they snapped pictures of various sights and attractions. Six also couldn’t help but appreciate the sights as well. This city very much relied on its tourism with the amount of flashy and impressive architecture that was on display here. And that’s not even mentioning all the casino’s Six could identify with scores of different ponies entering and exiting the almost seizure-inducing light show on display. Six was honestly quite thankful for her helmet right now as she walked along the street.

She was currently looking for some type of library or information stand to guide her to said library. Even in such a flashy town as this, there would be a library somewhere. After turning several corners six had found just the thing she had been searching for. Since she had entered the city proper she had gone relatively unnoticed by the crowds of ponies, the ones who had noticed her just stared, whispered a bit, and stayed out of her way. 

Walking up to the small information stand, Six grabbed one of the many maps of the city. To say the stand’s attendant was confused is a massive understatement, as this huge armored creature started looking at one of her maps. She didn’t know whether to be scared or confused. Should she call the guards? She didn’t have time to answer that question when the creature put the map under its wings and walked off.

Now with a map under her wing and its contents in her memory, Six began to make her way towards the Las Pegasus Public Library. It was around midday when Six entered the building luckily not drawing much attention to herself on her way there. Sitting behind a desk in the lobby was a lone librarian doing some paperwork. The several hundred kilo Spartans approach didn’t go unnoticed by the pony as she looked up from her work. Only to be met with the emotionless golden visor of Six’s helmet looking at her from the other side of her desk.

“U-um how may I help you?” Asked the librarian nervously one of her hooves slowly moving towards the silent alarm button under her desk. Anypony entering any sort of building covered in armor with a knife sheathed on their shoulder couldn’t be there for something legal. So the response she received from the armored creature in front of her thoroughly threw her through a loop.

“I am looking for information regarding general and military history as well as information pertaining to our government” Came Six’s voice through her helmet’s speakers. Short and straight to the point, just how Six liked it. Processing Six’s response, her hoof stopped in its track towards the alarm but still kept it close, just in case. 

“U-um first, please remove your helmet as I cannot allow creatures who hide their face to enter.” She said pensively. Six stared at the pony in front of her, debating on whether removing her helmet and thus making herself vulnerable was worth the risk of getting the information she needed. After a short internal debate and an audible sigh through her speakers, Six reached up and grabbed her helmet.

The hiss of the pressure seal being broken startled the librarian slightly as Six removed her helmet with a small twist revealing her scar-filled face. To say that the librarian was surprised that it was a fellow pony under that helmet instead of some type of monster was a massive understatement. Six just stared expectantly at the receptionist urging her to now tell her where the information she was looking for is located. Seeing this snapped the receptionist out of her trance.

“Oh uh yes!” She scrambled through the notes on her desk briefly. “Follow me please” Six nodded and attached her helmet to her hip as the pony in front of her stood up and walked through the double doors behind her, Six following close behind. Passing through the doors and into the library itself Six noted that it looked just like any other library she’d seen before.

After a few minutes of walking and book grabbing by the librarian Six was lead to a small seating area where several other ponies were also reading. Placing the gathered books on the table the librarian turned to the Spartan and spoke. “If you need anything else I’ll be back at my desk” With the librarian now walking back the way they came. Watching the helpful librarian leave Six noticed the mark on her flanks. It had the shape of an open book with a small bookshelf sitting behind it. 

Curious Six looked towards the other ponies sitting nearby as they quickly ceased in their not so hidden staring at Six. They also had similar marks on their Flanks only containing different symbols. Noting it down to check whether she had one herself under her armor Six opened one of the books the librarian had grabbed and started reading, opting to stand as she doubted the wooden chair could hold her weight


Hours pass as Six gathered all the information she could about the local government and its history. Good news first, these ponies were not part of the Covenant opting to instead treat their rulers as gods who control the Suna and moon through magic. Speaking of magic, once Six first read about such a force she wrote it off but as it got mentioned more and more in battles, strategies, and general use, Six didn’t write it off anymore. With this new apparently magical force discovered by the Spartan, Six focused on learning as much as possible about it.

And after reading a book on magical theory, Six had found a whole new respect for the rulers of this country. If they controlled the Sun and Moon they must be incredibly powerful and after reading about the military history of Equestria, they were also brilliant strategists and soldiers, leading multiple successful campaigns against their enemies. 

Six had gathered all the information she could, and now armed with the intel she needed for a plan, she grabbed her books and went to return them back to their shelves. 

Walking back towards the lobby, Six could hear the sounds of conversation through the double doors she had entered through. Opening the door the sounds became audible words.

“-an you lead us to the individual ma'am?” Said a gold and silver armored unicorn guard to a confused librarian. Deciding to face the guards that were probably here for her directly, Six stepped out and into the lobby itself, her heavy footfalls drawing the attention of the guard and the librarian. Both of them stared at the Spartan, the librarian glancing between the guard and SIx as a small “Oh Celestia” escaped her lips before she slowly began to back up away from the staring pair.

“Can I help you?” Asked the Spartan her tone stern, as she looked down at the smaller soldier in front of her. The guard cleared his throat before his horn lit up slightly, Six tensed up at the glow.

“We have received reports of an armed individual creating a disturbance in the area” The guards eyes locked onto the sheathed knife on Six’s shoulder. “So if you could please surren-”

The sound of a faraway explosion snapped the guard's attention away from the Spartan and towards the exit behind him. The muffled screams of running ponies could be heard outside.

Seconds later a pair of guards were thrown through the door. Their armor beaten and damaged, black figures flying in shortly afterward, weapons at the ready.

Within the blink of an eye, Six had drawn her knife and jabbed it into the closest figures neck, a spray of green blood splattering against her still unprotected face.

The other figure was in shock at the speed his battle-buddy was just dispatched. He tried to slash Six, the weapon floating in his green magic.

He let out a battle cry as his sword swung through the air intent on retting revenge for his fallen comrade.

Only for a gargled cry to escape his maw as Six flipped over the back of his injured comrade, her extended wings feathers slashing into his neck.

Both figures soon fell to the ground dead, a green pool of blood gathering underneath them. Wiping the blood off of her knife and face, Six reequipped her helmet and turned to face the three guards staring at her in shock. They had just witnessed her take out two armored pony-sized individuals in less than 15 seconds. As far as they knew nopony was that deadly in the guard.

“What’s the situation outside?” Six asked the two injured guards. They didn’t respond. “Give me a SITREP now!” Six ordered forcefully. That seemed to have done the trick as one of the injured guards began to speak.

“We...We were attacked by an unknown force...F-form what we could tell... we are losing...bad” The guard responded in a strained voice as the uninjured guard began to look them both over.

‘Great guess the action never stops...not even after death’ Thought Six as she blocked the door with a nearby broom. It wouldn't hold them off for long, but it would do for now. Looking around the room, Six’s eyes fell upon the librarian cowering in the corner. Tears were streaming down her face as she was muttering something to herself over and over again.

‘Poor woman’ Six thought. There hadn’t been any major wars to affect Equestria for a few hundred years and violent crime was so rare it was practically unheard of. But as for right now, they needed to make sure this building was secure and that all its inhabitants were safe, and she had the information Six needed. 

Walking up to the mare, Six crouched down in front of her, bringing her to eye level with the mare. “Don’t worry.” Six said softly, her voice being broadcast though her helmets speakers.
 “Everything will be alright, you will make it through this. I will make sure of that. Now what's your name”

“...Lily” Came the weak reply from the mare.

“Lily... Right now you are the only one of us with the most knowledge about the layout of this building. I need to know if there are any other entrances and or exits” Asked Six.

“O-only one other. I-its a fire exit at the back of the building. I-i-t leads out to the back alley” Responded the terrified mare.

“Thank you, now where do you keep your First-aid kits.” Questioned Six softly.

Lily pointed at one of the draws of her desk. Six walked over to the drawer and opened it, grabbing the kit inside before walking over to the guards.

“How are they?” Six questioned the uninjured guard handing him the First-aid kit.

“Not too great they got banged up pretty badly and…. hey, wait a minute just who the Tartarus are you?!” Yelled the guard in anger

“Lieutenant Sierra-B312 Callsign Noble Six. Now stay here and lock the door behind me while I go secure the other exit. Do not open the door unless it is knocked six times.” Six walked back over to the cowering librarian. “Lily know you're scared, but I need you to go help treat the injured we have okay?”

“...*sniff* o-okay”

“Good” Responded Six moving through the door back into the library itself. The sound of it locking behind her heard over the muffled sounds of battle outside.

‘Time to get to work’