Location: Bridge, Eternal Phoenix
Date: May 12, 2208
Time: 0730 Hours
POV: Marcus Bradley
I was suited in my CMC-400 Powered Armor and carrying my custom (first-variant) C-14 Rifle as the ship traveled through Warpspace. As the ship neared our destination, I called my second-in-command Ghost Lieutenant to come to the bridge.
Five minutes later, She arrived dressed in her Hostile Environment Suit and carrying her AGR-14 Rifle. "You called me Commander?"
"Yes, I believe you have been under my command for nearly the last...Nine months?" I tried to clarify with my lieutenant. She nodded and I continued. "Well, I believe my second-in-command and chief researcher should have some time for shore leave."
"I'm fine with just being on the ship, the crew has really warmed up to me." She said, trying to shoot down the idea.
"No, I must insist that you have some time off." I said sternly before asking calmly. "You've been away from home for nine months now, aren't you home sick?"
"Now that you mention it...I've been wanting to return home, just to see how they would react." She said, looking at the floor. I put my armored hand on her shoulder and said:
"That's good to hear, I've been worried about you." She looked up at me curiously. "Ever since that battle last week, the crew have been reporting you wake up with nightmares and have been burying yourself in work."
"So, shall I have Sarah plot a course to Equestria?" My lieutenant asked me, I shook my head before replying.
"We're already on the way there, pack your things lieutenant, you're going home..." I said before she hugged me and ran to her quarters to gather her things.
Location: Edge of Town, Ponyville
Date: May 13, 2208
Time: 9:30 am
POV: Third Person
It was a sad day for Shining Armor, Princess Celestia, and the Main Five. Twilight has been missing after being wrongly banished from Equestria. Its been nine months since she was last seen and searches are still ongoing, even though the odds of finding her are dangerously low.
"I'm so sorry my faithful student, I was too blinded by anger and sorrow to see the truth." Princess Celestia said sadly as she used her magic to lay a bouquet of flowers on Twilight's memorial. "Wherever you are, I hope you're alright."
"I wish I could turn back time...just to see you once more." Shining Armor was on the brink of tears as he put another bouquet of flowers on the memorial.
The Main Five were about to give their own messages and flowers when the roar of an engine was heard behind the group. They all turned just in time to see a strange-looking aircraft fly above their heads and land a few meters away from them. They got in combat poses as the door opened, preparing themselves for anything, except what they encountered...
Location: Edge of Town, Ponyville
Date: May 13, 2208
Time: 9:34 am
POV: Twilight Sparkle
I watched as the Medivac's boarding/departure ramp opened and the Commander and his personal bodyguards exited first to secure the LZ. Once the Commander told me it was safe to exit, I picked up my rifle and bag of personal belongings before walking down the forward-facing ramp of the Dropship.
"Who the buck are you guys?!" Shouted a familiar voice, one that I recognized as Rainbow Dash's.
"They're my new friends." I answered as they came into view. I had my helmet on so they couldn't see my face and my mask distorted my voice to be unrecognizable. The only thing they might recognize was my hair, which was the only thing that was visible outside my HES (Hostile Environment Suit).
"Twilight? Is that you?" Princess Celestia asked when she saw my hair, I wasn't surprised by her quick deduction but what surprised me was her tone of voice...it sounded like she was regretful.
I used the opportunity to read her thoughts as well as the thoughts of my friends and brother. I saw that they all were hopeful that I was really the Twilight Sparkle they knew and loved. Sadly, that Twilight is long gone, destroyed by nine months of training, combat, and the constant loss of close friends.
I decided to find out if they would really accept me for what I have become. I took off my helmet and mask, earning gasps of shock from the ponies before me. "Hello everypony, its been a while."
"TWILIGHT!" they shouted as they came in to hug me, only to back off when I instinctively readied my rifle and let loose a burst into the ground next to them.
"Sorry about that, its just muscle memory." I apologized as I reloaded my gun and slung it over my shoulder. "Damn, you were right Commander, I really do need some time off."
"Well, since we're already here, why not introduce ourselves?" The Commander suggested as he and his bodyguards stood down. "My name is Commander Marcus Bradley, leader of the Terran Mercenary group known as Talon Squadron."
"I see, so these are your troops?" Princess Celestia asked as she gestured to the Marines.
"Not only mine, but hers should I be deemed unfit for combat." The Commander as he stuck a thumb towards me.
Location: Edge of Town, Ponyville
Date: May 13, 2208
Time: 9:42 am
POV: Shining Armor
I was shocked when the creature named Marcus Bradley gestured towards Twilight when he stated the soldiers were under her command. I looked at her friends and all their jaws reached the floor from the information.
"Excuse me, Twily, but what's he talking about?" I asked my LSBFF, who was smiling at the acknowledgment that she was second in command of this so-called 'Talon Squadron'.
"I'll tell you, but can we talk somewhere else? I'm getting tired of constantly looking if something's gonna come out of the Everfree." She replied, everybody voicing their agreements.
"Anyway, It all began when I found myself in the middle of the Saddle Arabia desert." Twilight began as we walked through Ponyville.
Location: Desert, Saddle Arabia
Date: September 13, 2207
Time: Unknown
POV: Twilight Sparkle
Sand...Sand was all one could see for kilometers around. I was traveling southwest in hopes of finding somepony so I could find out where in the wide world of Equestria I was. I walked for a good six hours before deciding to stop by an oasis and have a drink.
As I bent over to have a drink, the roar of an engine drew my attention away from the water. I watched as an aircraft flew above me, heading northeast until landing vertically behind a sand dune. As it did, I ran towards it in hopes of returning back to Equestria and proving my innocence.
"Sir, are you sure this planet is uninhabited? I swear I saw a city on the way here." I somepony say as I crept up the sand dune to avoid being spotted.
"Shit. I hope we weren't spotted by an locals, our mission is supposed to be a simple artifact recovery, we don't have time to deal with any of the local populace." Another pony said as I poked my head over the dune.
"Ha, you think you can sneak up on us?" Somepony asked me as I felt the barrel of a gun on the back of my head. "Hey guys! I found someone who shouldn't be here!"
"Keanu, Reeves, come with me. Dwayne, Johnson, stay here and watch the dropship." A fourth pony said before I heard armored boots approaching on the soft sand.
"Now my little unicorn, tell me why you're here and what your planning to do with our dropship." My unseen captor ordered as I heard the click of the gun's hammer being pulled back.
"I'm just l-looking f-for a w-way h-home." I stuttered as the hoofsteps got closer. I closed my eyes and waited for the end to come...but it never did.
"Dammit Lucas! How many times did I tell you NOT to threaten a civilian!" The fourth pony shouted at the one who had a gun to my head.
I cracked my eyes open to see three bipedal creatures clad in strange armor on top of the dune, all three of them carrying very strange weapons that looked more like metal rectangles than actual guns. I then felt the gun on the back of my head get pulled away and I breathed a sigh of relief.
"Now, what do we do with you?" Asked the lead bipedal as he walked down the dune towards me. "Where did you come from, little girl?"
"F-From Equestria, w-who are y-you?" I asked, probably shaking with fear. "M-my name i-is Twilight S-sparkle, by t-the way."
"My name is Marcus, I'm from Mar Sara." He answered as he crouched down to look me in the eye.
"Mar Sara? I've never heard of such a place." I tried to clarify with the creature.
"I don't expect you to, Mar Sara is a planet far, far from here." I was appalled by the knowledge that I was talking to an Extra-Equestrian! I wanted to ask him so many questions but the rational part of my mind told me not to. "But enough about me, what are you doing all the way out here?"
"I was banished from my home for something I didn't do." I said, my excitement quickly being replaced with sorrow. "I just realized, I can never return to my home..."
"Well, we can't just leave you to die, why don't you join me and my crew? We are looking for some new members." Marcus suggested, earning a objection from the one behind me.
"Sir! You can't just let this...thing join our crew! She's not even a Terran!" Shouted the one behind me.
"Yes I can, and yes I do. So, what do you saw Miss Sparkle? Will you join me and Talon Squadron as a mercenary?" Marcus asked, giving me a few minutes for me to think it over.
But the decision itself was not the hard part, it was the choice of leaving the only home I have ever known, possibly forever, or trying my luck at getting home, only to be exiled once more. After giving it some thought, I made my decision.
"Okay, I will join you." I said, shaking his hand before he stood up and gestured for me to follow him.
"Dwayne, Johnson, come meet our newest recruit!" He shouted as we crested the sand dune. revealing the VTOL (Vertical Take Off and Landing) aircraft and two more Mercenary soldiers.
"Yes Sir!" They both shouted as they ran up the dune, clad in the same strange armor and carrying the same weapons.
"Meet Twilight Sparkle, a local from this world, she'll be a part of the crew from now on." Marcus ordered the two, who just looked at me in a way similar to my look towards them. "Am I understood?"
"Sir, yes sir!" They then saluted Marcus and we boarded the aircraft...
Location: Center of Town, Ponyville
Date: May 13, 2208
Time: 10:12 am
POV: Twilight Sparkle
"And that's the story on how I became a Mercenary under Talon Squadron." I said as we arrived at the Golden Oaks Library. I opened the door and was jumped on by a familiar purple figure.
"TWILIGHT!" The figure I recognized as Spike said as he hugged me. I nearly let my instincts take over when he appeared but I forced myself to accept the surprise. "Where have you been? I was so worried!"
"On the adventure of a lifetime..." I answered as everyone except the Commander and his Marines entered the building.
"Remember Lieutenant, we'll be back in two weeks." Commander said before he and his Marines jogged off back towards the Dropship, the ship taking off ten minutes later and flying out of sight.
"Now Twilight, do you return to your boring old life or do you stay with your new family on the Phoenix?" I shook the thought out before heading inside my old home and shutting the door...