"How do we get back?" I asked "'cause there is no way I'm crossing that bridge again"
"Simple Captain" answered Celetia "with the help of my sister, I can teleport all of us back to Ponyville"
"Wait, teleport?" I asked slightly worried "That sounds like it could end badly"
"C'mon Captain" Twilight interjected "this is Princess Celestia. I think she knows what she's doing"
"Ok, but if I come out of this messed up, I am going to be furious" I warned
"It's settled then" declared Celestia "gather around everypo..." she hesitated
"It's fine" I assured her "I really don't mind"
Then Celestia's horn began glowing a pale cobalt, while Luna's glowed a deep blue, surrounding all of us with a bubble of magical energy. I was trully freaking out as I had never teleported before, but I had heard that teleportation has usually ended badly. In a bright flash of light, I realized that we were all now standing in front of a large tree that had a door and windows in it.
So this is where the Keebler company headquarters is I thought to myself as I looked at the tree.
"Wait here everypony" said Pinkie Pie as she disappeared into the tree. I tried to follow her but I was stopped by the sound of power saws, pnematic wrenches, a blow-torch, and an elephant. Fifteen seconds later, the door opened and Pinkie ushered us all in.
"How...but...what the. huh?" I stuttered in amazement as I walked in. The building, which appeared to be a library of some sort, had been decorated with streamers, balloons, confetti, and had snacks, games,and other pony party-goers.
"Captain" said Applejack "there's one thing ya need ta know 'bout Ponyville: If Pinkie Pie was involved, don't question it."
"Got it" I answered with a smile.
"C'mon everypony" squeaked Pinkie "IT'S PARTY TIME"
A cheer rose from all the ponies as they began enjoying the party. Before I had moved from the door, a voice spoke in my head.
"Captain" it said "need I remind you that your power cell is currently at 10% power capacity and falling. I recommend replacing it now"
I threw Guardian's drone and he activated it.
"Good idea G" I answered "do me a favor and head back to base and grab one for me, would you?"
"As you command" he replied obediently as he flew out the door. Where would I be without you, Guardian
I began walking around the party, not really participating as I'm not really a party guy. I eventually found a small balcony that had a nice view of the town and was relatively quiet. I leaned on the banister and reflected on what had transpired. I soon began thinking about Sword Dancer again, just reliving old memories, when a cup of punch levitated its way in front of me.
"Woah" I paniced as I sliced at the cup with my axe "Oh, hi Twilight"
"Hi Captain" she said as she walked more cautiously
"Heh, sorry about that" I apologized nervously sheathing my axe "still not used to magic yet"
Twilight walked up to the railing and placed her forelegs over it.
"Don't worry about it" she assured me "I'm still getting used to what you do to"
She took a sip of punch and looked back at me
"What are you doing out here" she asked "the party is inside"
"I know" I responded "I'm just not much of a party guy. Don't tell Pinkie"
"Don't worry, I won't" she replied with a giggle "So, what are you doing out here?"
"Just thinking" I answered
"Thinking about your partner?"
"Yeah" I said realizing something "Sorry, I don't know why I'm always thinking about her"
"Hey, it's no problem" she said placing a hoof on my shoulder "the way you described her, she's worth remembering"
"I guess" I said as Twilight removed her hoof "I just hope this party doesn't end like the ones Sword and I use to go to"
Twilight looked a little curious.
"Why's that?"
"Well usually" I began "Sword and I would go to some little bar or club, just to hang out, have a few drinks, talk, that sort of thing. After a while, some drunk guy would stagger up to the two of us trying to put the moves on Sword. She'd reject him, but he would persist. I would intervene and be insulted for my augmentations, and then Sword would defend me. Then, he'd try to force himself on Sword, which is inveritably when I would punch them across the room."
I stopped to let Twilight stop giggling
"Yeah" I said shaking my head and smiling "I got us kicked out of alot of places like that"
"So you protected her"
"And she protected me"
There was a silence, which I broke with a question.
"Hey Twilight" I said
"Yeah?"
"I was just thinking, if the Elements of Harmony all took the form of the cutie marks of the six of you" I gestured to the gear in my chest "Do you think that this would be my cutie mark if I was a pony?"
She thought it over for a moment and answered
"It is quite possible, although you ARE the first human to ever have an Element"
I turned my head slightly toward the entrance to the balcony
"Don't look now Twilight, but everyone else is watching us" I whispered
"Really?" she responded "I wonder why that is?"
"They all think we are in a relationship of some kind, since we get along so well"
She giggled again "Oh really? How can you tell?"
I pointed to my temple
"Computer Assisted Social Interaction Enhancer or C.A.S.I.E. for short" I explained "basically it enhances my ability to read social situations. An after-market upgrade allows my computers to even interpret brainwave patterns"
"Wow" Twilight said genuinly impressed "How many different gadgets do you have?"
"Enough" I said vaguely "Watch this"
I turned back to the balcony
"Hey Rarity, you can come out now" I said "I actually have something for you"
She walked out on the balcony blushing a bit from being caught as four sets of hooves retreated from the door.
"I have no idea what you mean, Captain" she said trying to save her dignity
"Sure. Anyway, I almost forgot that I said I had a spare Lapotron Emerald for you"
Rarity's eyes lit up at the mention of the crystal
I entered the release code into my arm, causing a hiss of air to signal the opening of my power cell chamber. The gear spun like the knob on a padlock until eventually the support frame that contained the crystal slid out of my chest, exposing the green and blue gem. I removed it from its housing and held it out to Rarity, who had a look of terror on her face.
"C-captain!" she stuttered "What are you doing!? I thought you said that removing that from its container would cause it to explode"
"Normally, you'd be correct" I began "these crystals are special because they draw in and store energy from numerous sources. The only problem is that, when they are left alone, they will keep absorbing power until they can't hold any more and vent themselves by expolding. That is why the electronics are in place: to regulate its charge pattern. But when Nightmare Moon entered my systems, she caused a huge surge of energy to bombard the crystal, which burn it out so it wouldn't recharge"
I looked at the unicorn who was looking at me with a familiar look of confusion.
"Long story short" I clarified "This crystal will not explode. Also, there is a little energy left in it, so it will glow on its own"
Rarity imediately took the crystal from my hand with her magic and began squealing to herself like a schoolgirl.
"Oh thank you, thank you, thank you" she cheered "This will be PERFECT for my new design" And she ran off.
"Well, that was not what I expected" I said a little shell-shocked
"But Captain" asked Twilight "don't you need that to keep you alive?"
"I already sent Guardian to pick up a new one from my base" I assured her "and besides all of the critical systems in my body have a back-up system that lasts for a few hours"
"Did someone say my name?" asked Guardian as he hovered onto the balcony, crystal in his grapple cables.
"Well" I said as I turned "speak of the devil"
Guardian dropped the crystal into my hand and realigned himself with my systems.
"You may want to take a step back" I warned Twilight, who complied
I placed the crystal into its housing and closed and sealed the chamber
"Here goes"
I channelled the energy from my emergency battery into the power cell, causing it to flash brightly as it was shocked into life.
"Power cell activation successful" reported Guardian
"Back in business" I said triumphantly
"Ms. Sparkle" Said a gruff voice from the door "The Princess has requested your presence as well as the Captain's"
"On our way, Sarge" I said
The guard-pegesus was shocked that I could tell his rank, but he kept his stone demenor and walked back to his post.
"How did you know he was a sergeant?" asked Twilight as we walked to into the library
"Lucky guess" I replied with a shrug
We where soon standing in front of Princess Celestia. Twilight bowed and I saluted.
"Captain Archangel of the Augmented Division of Special Operations" She began "I would like to extend an offer to you"
How did SHE know that
"As you wish your majesty"
"I offer you the position of leader of a new breed of defender. Your mission will be to stand ready to fight any evil that threatens Equestria or its inhabitants"
I was stunned. Was she really offering me the chance to use my skills for more than just petty squabbles?
"I accept your offer Princess" I answered gesturing toward the ponies "But on one condition: that I remain in Ponyville with my friends"
"And I would also like to remain in Ponyville, Princess" added Twilight
Celestia chuckled softly, then answered "Permission granted, both of you"
"Well, in that case" I said as I snapped to attention and saluted my new commander "Captain Archangel, Royal Equestrian Special Operations, reporting for duty ma'am"
This was going to be the best deployment ever.