//------------------------------// // R&R Gone Wrong // Story: Clash of Worlds // by Gunner59524 //------------------------------// Twilight was looking around at the activity in the observation deck. Lasky and his crew had set up a sparing ring, some gaming tables, luxury seating, and more for everyone and everypony to enjoy. Celestia and Lasky were more towards the bow of the ship in the room, chatting about future diplomatic endeavors and enjoying some tea that Pinkie had decided to make. Speaking of Pinkie Pie, she had decided to go help the ship's chef at the bar. They provided drinks and Pinkie taught the chef a few special ways to make tasty treats. Twilight couldn't help giggling at that. Hoya and DeMarco were at the bar, chatting it up with Pinkie and her new friend, enjoying small drinks and treats along the way. Rainbow was sparing and chatting with Grant and AJ and Rarity were at the luxury seats sitting around a coffee table with Madsen, who was sharing stories of Majestic's adventures at Requiem, or at least the ones he could disclose without getting in trouble. Fluttershy was smiling and enjoying the view of the starscape outside the ship at her own spot on the deck. Twilight smiled to herself, glad to see all her friends enjoying themselves. She turned back towards the starscape herself, admiring the amazing beauty of the cosmos. Gunnar trotted up next to her and smiled. "Enjoying the view?" he asked gently. "I am," she replied quietly as she leaned against him. He wrapped a foreleg around her shoulders and held her close, enjoying the view with her. No further words needed to be said. They were happy in each others' presence, neither wanting to let the other go. They loved each other, and that was that. Thorne smiled at them from his place at the game tables. Patchy was hanging out with the Spartan when he noticed the Spartan's gaze shift. He followed said gaze to look upon the happy couple. The creature recognized it right away, having seen similar interactions among some of the crew. But still, none were quite like this. Patchy cooed happily a the sight, the six eyes on his head each portraying a happy mood. Thorne chuckled at the creature before turning back to their game: simple original chess. "Your turn buddy," Thorne said, getting the creatures attention, and the game continued. Every once in a while, members of Infinity's crew would come in to join the festivities. Lasky had no problems with it. He welcomed the other crew that came in. Most crew members could only stay long enough to socialize for a short few minutes or simply say hi and welcome the visitors before they had to return to their duties. Other crew were able to stay and socialize for longer periods of time, Placing bets at the sparing ring, creating a small competition at the game tables, or sharing stories at the bar or lounge chairs. Some even came to simply enjoy the view of the stars in the company of the visitors and fellow crew members. Even some Spartans came up from S-deck to say hello and give congratulations to Majestic on jobs well done. Those that came to stay left unneeded gear, weapons, and armor in the lockers in the back of the room, just like Majestic, Gunnar, Twilight, AJ, and Dash had done. For half an hour, joy and festivity dominated the atmosphere in the room. But that was soon shattered as the klaxon started blaring. "ALL HANDS, COVENANT INFILTRATORS ABOARD, THEY HAVE FREED RAGAS AND SEVERAL OTHER PRISONERS, INITIATING SHIPWIDE LOCKDOWN!" a security officer reported over the intercoms, "THIS IS NOT A DRILL! ALL SECURITY PERSONNEL, TO ACTION STATIONS!" The occupants of the room all looked at each other nervously as blast shields closed over the viewports, blotting out their view of the stars and darkening the room. Red emergency lights activated seconds later and cast a gentle crimson colored light over the occupants. The festive atmosphere was now obliterated and replaced by an air of fear and anxiety. Twilight looked at Gunnar nervously. He stared back into her eyes and placed a hoof on her shoulder, trying to reassure her. Then he turned to the other occupants. "All combat capable personnel, get your gear!" the stallion called out, "Everyone and everypony else, get to cover away from the door! Sorry Captain, sorry Princess, but I have to ask you to take cover." As Majestic, AJ, Dash, and the Marines and ODST's that happened to be in the room got their gear from the lockers, Gunnar turned to Twilight. "You need to take cover too." "No, I'll fight by your side." "But you're still recovering." "I've recovered enough. Don't worry about me Gunnar, everything will be alright," she reassured him. She gave him a gentle kiss on the cheek. "I'll be right there, at your side the whole time. Don't worry." She went to get her gear. "I'm fighting too," Lasky said, "I've never backed down from a fight and I'm not gonna start now." he turned to one of the ODSTs across the room. "TROOPER, MY SHOTGUN!" The soldier complied and collected the weapon before tossing it over to his Captain. The man pumped the shotgun once, chambering a round, then got to work helping prepare for possible hostile attacks. The combatants flipped up the tables and chairs and even pulled some military grade cover from one of the compartments located all over the ship, deploying it to cover the door. Twilight took cover next to Gunnar, making sure he knew she also meant what she said literally. Thorne took cover with them, and surprisingly to the ponies, so did Patchy. The non-combatants took cover further back, staying away from the fight. Celestia had offered to participate in the fight but the Captain shot down the offer, judging it to be wiser that she stay back and at least protect the non-combatants from a more direct position. As the humans and ponies finished setting up the cover, they heard a loud BANG on the door. "SHUT THE BLAST DOORS!" Lasky yelled, and one of the ODST's went to the control panel and activated a second layer of more heavy duty doors. Every combatant in the room took up arms and positions after that. They watched, listened, and waited. An uneasy feeling of anxiety, fear, and suspense kept every occupant of the room on edge. BANG, they heard it again, BANG, and again, BANG, and again.... and then it stopped. For a moment, it seemed quiet, as if the intruders had moved along. But then came the muffled beeping sounds getting faster and higher in pitch coming from the other side of the door. Gunnar figured it out first and acted right away. "EVERYBODY GET DOWN!!!!" hey yelled out, and just as everyone did so, the door exploded in a wave of shrapnel, pressure, plasma, and heat. The next instant, there were plasma bolts coming at the combatants. One of the lightly armed and armored technicians in the room went down in an instant. But as the smoke cleared, the humans and ponies returned fire. Gunnar popped a Spec Ops Grunt in the head and the little menace went down in a spray of blue fluid. AJ, Hoya, and Lasky wasted no time, and started peppering the enemy with bursts from their shotgun grade weaponry. A couple ODST's tossed out some grenades that took out some more Grunts and a few Spec Ops Elite Minors. The firefight continued as the two sides traded fire. Gunnar and Twilight took the lead in kill score as they popped enemy after enemy with their Phalanx Plasma DMRs. "THEY JUST KEEP COMING!" Madsen yelled. "QUIT WHINING, KEEP SHOOTING!" DeMarco yelled back and he downed another pair of Grunts. Rainbow kept firing bursts from her Plasma AR, downing even more enemies in the seemingly endless flow of hostiles. The combatants could also see UNSC personnel far down the hall, trying to get to them. But then witnessed a horrifying sight. A massive Zealot decloaked behind them and eviscerated each one, one by one with his energy sword, not even showing mercy to the now frightened female Marine. "FOCUS FIRE ON THE ZEALOT!!! FOCUS FIRE!!!" DeMarco yelled frantically over the cascade of bullets, but no one seemed to hear him. Gunnar made eye contact with the Zealot and recognized him right then and there: Ragas. The Elite let out an earsplitting roar of rage and vengeance and charged. Twilight saw him and swung her weapon around, but she wasn't fast enough. The elite tackled Gunnar and had him by the throat as he slammed the stallion against the covered viewport. "GET AWAY FROM HIM!!!!" Twilight yelled as she shot the Elite in the back several times. The creature decided to throw the now unconscious Gunnar aside like a ragdoll and turned on Twilight, who was still firing at him, trying to pop the creature's powerful shields and get a kill shot. She failed to dodge the energy sword as the creature swept it at her legs.... but a field of energy prevented the blade from making contact with her armor or flesh. Ragas roared in rage before realizing that there was a Huragok in the room. Patchy glared at the Elite and let out a harsh, grainy, whistle that made him sound angry. No translation needed, he wouldn't let Ragas harm his new friends without a fight. The elite tried to charge Patchy but Twilight used her magic to hit the Elite with an adrenaline fueled concussive blast, sending the elite flying into the nearby bulkhead. Just as the elite managed to shake himself out of the daze that cause, Twilight hit him again with the Plasma DMR with three headshots. The first two shots were all that remained to pop his shields.... then Twilight scored a kill on the deadliest Elite on the ship. The others in the room had finished off the other covies in time to see those last moments. They were all staring at her with mixtures of fear, awe, and pride. She stood there for a moment, breathing heavily... before the adrenaline wore off and the pain in her leg returned. She couldn't scream in pain, she couldn't gasp, she couldn't even keep standing. Fatigue overtook her and her vision went black. She collapsed. "TWILIGHT!" Dash cried as she flew over just in time to catch her unconscious friend.