The Apple family were trying their best to past the time as they stayed in their basement. Big Mac and Granny had just begun to go through the inventory of their well stocked apple cider. They counted each barrel to make sure that they were ready for the sales this year. The little ones had begun to discuss their plans for the weekend, having the hearts and hooves day celebration was to be on a Saturday that week.
"I do hope miss Cheerlee understands why we weren't at school today." Applebloom said.
"Yeah the one day we actually wanted to be at school, and were stuck down here." Scottaloo's patience was wearing thin. "Yeah, we'll probably be the only ones without a date."
"Ummm." Sweetiebell began. Both Applebloom and Scotaloo turned their surprised heads to their friend. Sweetie nervously rubbed her hooves together as her face grew a light shade of pink.
"What Sweetiebell?" Applebloom asked, her and Scotaloo's faces smiling with anticipation.
"Well, I thought.....Well you see.....S-Spike...."
"Hah!" they both said in unison.
"Oh s-stop it!" Exclaimed Sweetie, frustration in her voice. "I just wanted to, you know, see if he'd like to accompany me for that evening."
"Sure Sweetie, whatever you say." Applebloom said as her and Scootaloo both chuckled from the fib.
Sweetie folded her hooves as she turned her body away from them, completely fed up with their teasing.
"Oh come on Sweetiebell we were only fooling around with ya." Applebloom said. Throwing a hoof around her.
"We were?" Scootaloo asked confusedly. Applebloom's eyes narrowed at her. "Oh, I mean, yeah! We were only poking fun."
Sweetiebell sighed with relief.
"Thanks, girls." She put her hoof forward, soon joined by Scootaloo's and Applebloom's.
"On three, Cutie mark crusaders dating specialists." Applebloom said.
"One....two...THR---
A massive quake shook the entire Apple family house. The three young fillies fell forward onto each other, each with a audible OOF. Big Mac threw himself against the tipping mountain of apple cider barrels that threaten to topple over. Granny couldn't stop shaking as her entire form vibrated all around the basement floor. After a few seconds of rumbling, the house stood still once more.
"What the hay was that?!" Scotaloo asked as she lifted herself up from the pile of fillies.
"We should go see what that was." Applebloom said. All three ran upstairs, ignoring Big Mac's cries.
"Wait a minute!!" He yelled, having caught a barrel of cider on his back. He hefted forward and tossed it back on the stack of other barrels. He quickly helped up Granny before dashing up the stairs after the three wandering fillies. He made his way to the living room, where all three stood motionless at the window. He was about to start lecturing them, but as his eyes caught a glimpse of what they all were staring at, he too stopped dead in his tracks.
Alan had taken cover behind a railing above the advancing covenant. Dozens of Elites and twice as many grunts all fired upon him and the marines that stayed behind to lend a hand to the commander. Alan had his retical bouncing off heads like a pinball machine. Each shot nailed the lower infantry and un-shielded elites that tried to advance to the higher ground. He paused only to take cover from plasma bolts but soon kept at it until his ammo count was low. Looking at the decreasing bullets, he turned towards a marine who had bags of clips hung around his vest. The young mans name displayed on his HUD, PVT Riley. He was hiding behind a large rail that divide the open grounds above the bone-yard, unable to move.
"Private Riley!!" He shouted getting his attention.
"Throw me a a couple rounds of DMR." Alan jumped from his cover to take the heat off the kid.
Riley searched frantically before finally finding the rectangular metal box. Smiling, he took one step towards Alan, but felt something burst inside his chest. Alan kept firing until his rounds were depleted. His helmet turned towards the sound of the marine screaming in pain. He saw him crumple to the ground as the beam rifle melted his armor clear through his chest.
"Goddamit." He mumbled. Switching to his pistol, he looked for the sniper. His retical was placed right above the face of an elite Ranger. The Elite hid behind a giant, unfinished metal arc, popping his head out every few seconds to check on the situation . Satisfied that most of the humans had been taken care of, his stature seemed to relax from knowing the rest would overwhelm the last demon up there. Unbeknownst to the poor Ranger, Alan was more then just a demon. He was the reaper.
The Elite decided to follow the rest of his brothers to glory, jumping from his cover. He dashed from his cover only to be met with a magnum round drilled right through his head.
"Gotcha, you bastard." Alan said.He backed away from the edge just in time to see a wave of purple and blue wash past him. He made his way to Riley's body, dragging it away from the edge. When he began to refile his ammo is when he noticed all the red dots moving towards him, and the lack of yellow dots. In fact, it was just him.
"So, it's like that again huh?" He said as he slammed in his rounds. Before he could do anything, the ground began to vibrate. Excitedly, he turned around and saw flames in the distance shooting at the ground. The pillar of autumn lifted from the earth, and sped into the open sky. Smiling, Alan rose up and took cover behind the control point. Here, he heard the voice of captain Keys come to life.
"This is the Pillar of Autumn. We are away. The package is with us."
Looking back at the bone-yard behind him, the red dots began to climb up the stair well. Hearing that the autumn was away was perfect reason for him to bail out of there. There was no more need for him to hold off the reinforcements from overwhelming both nobles. Alan took in a deep breath before checking around the corner.
"027, you still there?" Came the voice of a young woman. Alan instinctively cocked his head to the side as he heard the rumbling of the covenant coming up. He dashed to the open bridge, right behind the control points. Here, he took the time to hide behind a corner, waiting for his prey to run through.
"Alive and killing." He said, holstering both weapons and getting ready to pounce. "Emile with ya?"
Blank silence filled the com, saying everything to Alan.
"Damn it. He was a great guy, once you got to know him." Alan heard the hard clank of boots approaching the metal doorway near where he was hiding. A red dot had separated itself from the rest of the group to chase Alan down. As soon as the elite turned the corner, it felt a massive force jump on its back and grab the inside of its mandibles. With one sudden, violent jerk to the right, Alan yanked it's neck out of its socket. When it fell to the ground , he took the time to rummage the body for anything useful.
"Are you still there Noble Six?" He asked as he picked up the elites grenades. "The silent treatment is something I don't have time for. "
"Sir. There's a scouting party on route to my location."
Alan ripped what the elite had clutched in its hand before examining it. Smiling to himself, he placed it on his left thigh before making his way across the small bridge.
"So, give me a minute or two, and I'll back-"
"Sir, with all due respect." Her voice gave way to a subtle but noticeable vibration of grave acceptance. "You need to find a way out of here."
"Like hell lieutenant. I'm not going to stand here and let you die alone."
"Sir. They'll be more focused on me, rather then find a ghost like you."
That last statement made him scowl.
"You are not dying on this rock alone. Please let me help." Alan began to jog upward to the second bridge that connected to the
UNSC Bone-yard intelligence base. He made it halfway before the comm activated again.
"Sir, I'm not making it out of here. You need to move on, find more survivors. Get them out of here. Let me do this, please sir."
Alan looked down for a moment as he made it to the roof top. Here, lay a dead Marine with a sniper rifle laid prone next to him. Alan kept staring at him, remembering the files on Six that he obtained. He knew she'd wouldn't want to have it any other way. For some reason or another, he envied her. Letting out a defeated sigh, Alan spoke again to her, for the last time.
"You took my place on Noble to save more lives then I ever could. You stepped in shoes only meant to be filled by me or you. I guess you're right Lieutenant." he sighed briefly. "You deserve to decide your own fate." He bent down and grabbed hold of the rifle.
He inspected the rounds and was pleased to see a fair amount inside the clip. He looked down from where he was standing and saw that the red dots had begun to scout out the area for him. He crouched low and took aim on the most important infantry.
"Sir, thank you. Get yourself out of here."
"Not yet." He said, pulling the trigger and sending a Zealot elite to his own hell.
"These fuckers need to pay for what they did to my squad." He pulled again and ripped through the neck of a unlucky hunter.
Making the behemoth topple over on a grunt. The Covies began to take notice of him and fired their weapons at him. Needlier rounds flew by as Alan zoomed in on two lined up elites.
"And I do believe that scouting party is begging for your impute on what happened to Noble team." Both minors fell over, stone dead. Alan used the last shot to cripple the leg of the previous hunter's bond brother. Standing up he tossed the empty rifle to the side and began to pick off the increasingly terrified grunts. Only a couple more dozen covenant stood below as he dashed back and forth, evading the covenant projectiles.
"Give them my regrades as well. 27 out." He said before slapping in a fresh DMR clip.
"I will Sir. Noble Six out."
Time slowed down as Alan felt the adrenaline kick in. He began to get increasingly more aggressive with his shots, by ignoring head shots and making them suffer with their other appendages. The crippled hunter tried its best to waddle right under Alan. It fired it's fuel rounds at him, hoping to the prophets that the explosion blew him to bits. The covies all began to find more appropriate cover as they waited for the smoke to clear. No shots came from the roof top, nothing but the sound of wind. The hunter made a loud grunting sound as it finally felt its vengeance fulfilled for its bond brother. Unbeknownst to him though, The sound of pure furry came from right above it. Looking up at the increasing sound, the hunter made out the silhouette of a spartan falling. The weight of Alan suite fell with the force of a hundred cement bricks. His fist clutched a purplish glow of energy that tore the hunter into bits of fleshy, blue and orange goo with a large crater underneath him. The Hunter splattered across the field, some parts even jumped into a unlucky's grunts gas mask, making the petrified creature choke to death from the exposed air, and hunter part in his throat. Alan raised himself up inside the massive hole, he took a moment to marvel over his art before noticing the fuel rod part still attached to the hunters severed arm. Smiling, he rushed over and picked it up. The rest of the covenant came out of their hiding places, stunned with terror as Alan ripped off the canon from the arm.
"Insert cleaver one liner here, regarding my massive cannon." Alan heaved the weapon towards a group of grunts. "And this thing!!"
Alan pulled the trigger, blasting anything that had eyes, legs or even the ability to live. He kept at it until less and less of them cluttered the field. Time moved rather sluggish for the adrenalin seeping spartan. All he could see was exploding green and purple guts; painting the air with such strokes that made him feel like goddamned Van Goh. For some reason, the voices he thought he heard before, ranged in his ears as he kept painting.
Anger was his only emotion on that day.
"Don't wish for it in the form of death, Kid....."
Wrath was his only friend.
"If you'd compare him to any other Spartan, I'd say your claim is inaccurate. In a positive manner though."
Fear was his ally.
"You are most welcome here in Equestria, Alan."
That voice.....That sweet, benevolent voice. He couldn't put a name, or face to it though, only the image of the sun, coating his mind. Alan dropped the gun as he painfully clutched at his helmet. He felt as if there was a spike grenade being lodged inside his head, before it set off. Ignoring his surroundings, Alan crumpled to the ground, dropping all his gear. He tried to get to his feet, but the advancing elites made him realize that it was all too soon. He closed his eyes as one spec ops elite, raised its fist to strike at him with it's wrist blade glowing. To his surprise, the elite turned into nothing but a murky shadow before vanishing in the air. He reopened his eyes to see a flash of bright white. The visible planet was now a blank horizon of empty space.
His surroundings became one with the white cluster of nothing. His breath felt cold, and his skin grew numb. He looked up and saw the light of the moon beam at him behind grey, emotionless clouds. He glanced around, seeing the crystal shards of frozen water dance around him. He got to his feet, miraculously, and pulled off his helmet. His face lacked the usual beard he took time to grow, still evident, though was the rough patch of stubble he liked to feel. His skin still had color to it, but slowly began to grow pale against the small drops of snow. He let a small sigh as his breath coated the air with ice.
"What? Where?" Alan stepped back until his armor bumped against the base of a tree. He jumped back in surprise, unaware of the shadow behind him.
"A little agitated Ally?"
Alan froze colder then the snow that dropped down. He began to remember this place, this part in his life.
"Natalie?" He turned around, seeing those gorges, lavender eyes. She had her auburn hair tied behind her, her face beaming with enthusiasm. Unlike Alan's pale skin, she still possessed lost of life in her face.
"Yeah, its me short stack." She walked up next to him, smiling as she past by him. Her air assault helmet was held in her left arm, tinted black like the night sky above them.
"You getting ready for Halsey's experiments tomorrow?" She asked, standing by his side. Alan said nor moved any type of body movement. This seemed all, unreal. Nothing was making any form of sense, nothing had any coherent thought. He began to rationalize the events taking place, trying to make sense. He was about to say something but Natalie stood by his side, grabbing hold of his hand. That stopped all thinking or train of thought for the young man as he felt her hand once more.
"Hey, you alright?" She asked with concern.
Alan said nothing. All he could do was look down at her hand. Natalie smiled and put her helmet down near the tree. She let go of his hand, placing them on his helmet. She was almost the same height as him, only to beat him a few more inches. Alan felt the padding slip past his rough face, and feeling the cool breeze of the snowy night. She put the helmet down near the tree, next to his. She smiled at him. Alan's eyes kept on her, unbelieving that this was happening. Again.
"Hello, anyone in there?" She said, rubbing his hair. The rough sensation brought back Alan for a moment.
"Yeah. I'm just....in deep thought." He replied.
"Of course you are. " She walked around him, making him turn around to face the open field from where they stood. "Halsey normally wouldn't ask for test subjects like you or me. I'm even surprised she asked for 089 and 056."
"Ivan and Bryce?"
Natalie laughed.
"Yeah those two, lovable nitwits."
Alan moved a bit closer to her.
"I imagine you were able to sneak a peak at the review files?" He asked, beginning to feel like he knew what the answers were. Only, it felt as if something were holding his brain back from remembering exactly. Details were fuzzy and his mind felt exhausted.
"Yep, says they want to test the spartan threes with A.I partners. And we are the lucky ones to help with this."
"I see." Alan looked out towards the endless sea of ice. Small, soft drops of ice splashed across his sensitive skin. "Will they be saying who exactly will test it first?"
"They want one person in a group of four. However, that person will be given the A.I compartment to evaluate his teams performance." She looked at him, her eyes glowing with pride. "Me, Bryce and Ivan recommended you."
Alan looked back at her. "Me?"
"Yes you." she smiled, her face a bit closer to his. "You're our leader. We know you'll be able to do this."
"I..." Alan swallowed the lump that unknowingly gathered in his throat. "Okay. I'll do it."
"Don't worry so much small stack." She grabbed around his waist, and placed her head in under his chin. "You'll do fine."
Her breathing felt warm against the only visible skin on him. Alan, for the first time, relaxed against the cold air. He lowered his head on hers. Smiling once more. He closed his eyes, feeling the sensation overwhelm him. The air around began to sting again, but it wasn't the cold air that stung, it was a burning stinging he was feeling. He felt Natalie fall against him. His eyes were still closed before he realized for some reason, his helmet was placed back on. He looked down and found himself in a crater near a downed pelican. In his arms was the same marble white spartan he knew, and loved. Tears were starting to gather as he now remembered this part.
"N-no. Not this please. Anything but this." He glanced up and saw two other bodies. They were pulled and twisted apart. As if brutes were to use them as their own personal punching bags. Only one spartan had vital signs, and even those were on the edge. She raised her arm, astounding how she even had the energy to lift it up at Alan in the heavy armor she wore.
"Alan...." She whispered. "You came for us." She said.
Her tinted, cracked black visor hid her badly bleeding and ripped apart face from him. Alan stood still, his muscles in lock down. All he could do was repeat the words he already said.
"Of course. I'm not leaving you guys here."
Natalie smiled inside her helmet.
"Heard you disobeyed orders from high command. Again." She chuckled, but then started to violently cough blood through her helmet.
"Save your energy...you're going to--"
"I don't need it." She said desperately. "You need to move on. grab what's left of the Intel, and book it and...." She grabbed his breacher chest plate. Pulling him closer to him. "And don't you ever look back you hear me? Alan?"
"I...." Alan's voice cracked slightly as she held her there. "We go together." Alan could only sit inside his head. Watching everything unfold before him. Everything was coming back, too much for even him to handle. He wanted it to end. Unfortunate for him, it wasn't going to any time soon.
"Not this time short stack. You get yourself out of here. You get back in the action and make ever single one of them pay. "
Natalie's arm started to shake as she used her other blooded arm to reach for her tags. She also had two other tags from the other two Spartans.
"Promise me you'll keep fighting. No matter where or how. But that you'll fight for us." She grasped his hand, tightly squeezing until her arm went loose. Alan tried desperately to hang on, but it was too late. Her body dropped against his arm, her helmet left his gaze and he was left with another corpse to comfort him. Tears dropped down like acid from his face as she fellfrom him. Looking at the tags, his vision became like a water painted nightmare. His teeth clenched tightly as he felt the inner reaper rise once more. His rage began to swell again. From across, the golden visor of his recent squad mate, Bryce, reflected a colorless spartan reading himself against the horde of approaching covenant.
Celstia and Luna had teleported themselves to Fluttershys cottage moments after each remanding squad member gathered around her. Spike and Zecora had been trying to restore order to the panicked animals ever since the explosion. Mostly, all that was needed to be done was to give treats to each and every one to get them to stay in one spot. That is aside for Angle, who had been trying to take other animal's treats for himself. Spike had been trying all day to catch the furry little bastard, but to no avail. It wasn't until the bunny thought he had Spike on the ropes is when the two goddesses appeared with the other three warriors. He jumped from the shelf, right over Spike's head, and hopped his way towards Sam. After being teleported once more, the young marine staggered a bit before regaining his balance. It took him a moment to realize that they were back inside the cottage. Angel hopped on the marines shoulder piece to escape Spike. Sticking out his tongue at him, he then proceeded to eat the treats he nabbed from the other creatures. Sam sighed a little as he scratched the bunny's left ear, making him thump his foot in happiness.
"Oh hey you guys." Spike greeted. He made his way to the three aliens, his smile slowly fading as there was only three aliens left. There was the two humans and the more terrifying looking Elite, but no signs of the metal man and Bathou'mus.
"Hey, uh where's the machine dude and Bathou'mus?" He asked innocently.
Celestia and Luna stepped up to him. They both looked back at the squad who each had looks of sorrow. Konthou didn't say anything. He simply walked past the little dragon as if he never existed. He made his way outside before sitting glumly near the creek. Sam and Daniel followed suite as they needed the time to mourn their commander. Sam gently picked up Angel and set him comfortably back on the chair. Angel looked up at him, seeing the hurt in his face. Still, he managed to pat him on the head before following Daniel out through the door.
"Ummm. Can somepony fill me in here?" Spike asked, clearly not getting the memo. Celestia, her head throbbing immensely from all the magic she used was about to explain. Luna though stepped forward and wrapped her hoof around his shoulder.
"It would appear the two leaders of their company....Have.." Luna struggled to find the words to explain their sacrifice to him. Spike still was confused at the situation, until Zeccora stepped behind him.
"Two leaders, both brave and wise." She began. "Left the earth today in that massive demise."
Spike's pupils shrunk. "Wh-what?!" He stuttered. "B-but that can't be. They..."
"Spike. Listen, it's alright." Celestia said, grunting in pain. "They did what was necessary to protect all of us." Luna went to her side and leaned into her so she wouldn't fall over. Smiling at her younger sister, Celestia looked down at spike. "They saved all of us."
Outside near the cottage, Konthou looked at his own reflection in the water. The gravity hammer blade shimmering against the sun from the blood it was stained with. He stood there for what seemed like forever, thinking over and over, what next.
"Why did you leave me again Bathou'mus? Why? I have no direction, I have no reason." Konthou fell to his knees, putting his hands on them as he began to meditate. Perhaps if he took the moment to think things over, unlike the other times he had not, maybe something would become clear. He opened his eyes and saw the two humans standing right behind him. Sam and Daniel both had their weapons drawn to ensure no funny business was to present itself. Konthou glared at them in the reflection of the water, he scoffed before turning his head slowly around at Sam.
"If you don't mind." He began. "Would you please do me the favor of making it slow and painful?" He said almost sadistically. Sam looked at him, then back at Daniel. The bald marine showed no signs of approval or disapproval. The choice was Sam's to make. Konthou kept his glare on Sam, wanting him to do it, wanting him to end him. There was nothing left for the elite, nothing at all. For all he cared, the peaceful land of Equestria could burn with his brother. The intensity began to eat away at Konthou, his anger raised, and his eyes began to bloodshot as he awaited his fate. Sam looked down for a moment before letting out a small sigh. He looked at his assault rifle before placing it on his back with a metallic click.
"Orders are orders." He said before sitting down next to the elite. Daniel nodded in compliance before holstering his needleer. Stunned, the elite's rage engulfed eyes, slowly calmed.
"Why?" He asked. "Your commander is dead, my brother is dead. Orders or not, I'm no longer any use to you." He hung his head down. "I'm no use for anything."
Daniel sat down on his left, all three stared at the creek for an endless barrage of seconds turned into minutes. Daniel was the first to speak up.
"Yeah, you are an asshole." He started. "Your kind massacred most of my friends." Konthou looked at him, not knowing if he was going to stand up and kill him right there. But Daniel simply let out a deep breathe and turned to him, his face having some form of hope for him.
"But I'm pretty sure you're different. Sure you were retarded enough to follow whatever those scrotum looking prophets of yours spat out, but I guess you kinda made it up by killing those brutes aboard the scarab."
"What Daniel is trying to say." Sam began. "Is that we aren't going to kill you unless you give us more of reason." Sam stood back up, looking down at the elite. "
You want to honor your friend? Then remember what he fought for. For them." Sam said, pointing at the cottage.
"He didn't die for his religion, he didn't fight for what some old fucks said. He fought for what he thought was right." Sam smiled as he held out his hand for Konthou. "So you could do the same." Konthou looked at the hand, unbelieving that they would simply let him have a second chance.
"You think it's going to be that easy? For you two to just allow me to walk around, this 'pony hell' with the fact that I'm a monster to you and everything here?"
"We're not saying it's going to be easy.' Daniel said. "And we will never forget what happened between our species." Daniel stood up. "But you can still do what is right. Still fight for what he believed in. Because we are going to do the same for Alan. Our commander."
Konthou looked back at the creek, thinking intensely. Could he change? Could there still be hope for him?
"I....I......Don't know." He said. Sam pushed his hand a bit closer to him. Konthou again looked at it then back at the sergeant. Surprisingly, in the history of the long and grueling war of genocide against the humans. The Elite, a Sangheili, grabbed hold of a human hand.
Bathou'mus jumped from cover to cover, avoiding his own squads fire on him. He grunted some more as plasma bolts painted the air around him. He hid behind a large stone wall, waiting for his chance to strike back. He glanced around his cover, seeing the flood slowly waddling up to him. Bathou'mus would've liked to know that the slowing pace, was due to the fact his squad was trying to fight back the infection. He looked at his ammo capacity, two grenades, a human pistol with three clips, and a human assault rifle. He curse the awkward handling of the human's digits, but still he managed too pick off some flood forms creeping up on the side with the pistol. The first time he had used it, left him stunned and perplexed at how such a weapon was even powerful enough to take down a fully fledged Hunter in one shot.
'I'll be keeping this for later.' He mentally noted. The blood curling screech of the Flood ringed in his helmet. He looked around and could feel the vibration of hundreds more approaching him.
"Gods be damned. Looks like I'll be joining my brothers. But first." He evaded away from his cover, and used the assault rifle to shred through the fleshy like substances that poisoned his brothers in arms. He kept evading and blasting until his ammo finally read zero. The elite cursed and tossed away the rifle, reaching for the pistol. Before he began to fire at charging flood, his hand began to shake. His vision stared became distilled, and his mind reeled back into the bottom of his skull.
"Wait....A Minute....I know this place." He started to mummer. "I...Remember....." He collapsed on both his knees.
Something was trying to make him forget. Something was trying to block out his memories. Ignoring the Flood, the gun fire, and his surroundings, which became more like a nightmare, slowing down as he started to regain concision. But something was forcing him to forget, to indulge in the vision before him.
"RRRAAAAAAAAAuuuuuuuuuughh!!' Bathou'mus roared against the sky.
Screaming at the pain that forced his head in seeing what he already endured. He closed his eyes and ripped off his helmet as a flood form leaped at him. He wanted it to do it, he was calling its bluff, knowing that this was all just an illusion. When the strike never came, he opened his eyes to see himself awake. But everything just shifted into a different setting. A familiar setting.
He stood inside a bridge of a covenant CSS Battlecrusier. The Purity of spirit to be specific. The last ship to make it off the installation before it met with the fate of the flood. Bathou'mus looked around, seeing a couple of familiar faces. One being 'Refumee and the other elite, the smaller Zealot class one, began to cause Bathou'mus to feel like his head was been knocked around with a gravity Hammer. Feeling the vertigo slip from under him, he waddled forward towards 'Refumee.
"Brother..." He said, trying to grasp hold of the control panel for support. The Elite didn't turn around, his face showed no signs of acknowledging him.
"'Refumme!" he shouted. Still he didn't respond. Bathou'mus turned to look at the Zealot Elite, the one who's left eye began to twitch. Bathou'mus looked back at 'Refumee who now looked down. Turning around to face Bathou'mus and the Zealot, the leader let out a long painful sigh. Behind him, a bright blue light hovered above him with a low humming noise vibrating around it.
"I am sorry if this information has disturbed you lord 'Refumee." It said with a some what high tune to it's voice which would periodically change its pitch slightly. "But the Creators made it quite clear that the rings were designed to eliminate all life in the galaxy. Would any of you like to see the relevant data?"
"At a later time...Oracle." 'Refumee said at last. "I must speak with my men."
"Of course. I will be monitoring the ship's systems." With that the blue orb past by the two elites, with a humming buzz into the opened door way. After the door had hissed shut, the Zealot folded his arms and looked down.
"Brother...." 'Refumee began. "I do not know what to say."
Bathou'mus felt weaker by the minute as he tried with all his might to remember this scene. He KNEW this had happened to him, only that now something felt like it didn't want him to remember. Wanted him to feel like this was fresh and new. New pain, new horrors thrust back to him. Only they weren't, they had happened before. Bathou'mus punched the control panel he had held himself on. If it was pain that wanted him, then pain was what he was going to get. The fist he had penetrated with the holographic interface, had no weight to it as he thrust again and again, each time felt like punching through water. He tried to yell at the two elites, but both ignored his cries.
"What shall we do 'Refumee?" Asked the Zealot. He had relaxed his arms, and pulled off his helmet. "Shall we inform Bathou'mus?"
The spec ops elite that stood invisible inside the bridge, dropped to his knees.
"Bring him up here. I will tell him everything. "
"Understood." With that the Zealot exited the room. Leaving the ship master and the invisible Elite.
Bathou'mus raised himself again, still feeling unbalanced. He leaned up against the control panel, completely giving up any effort to fight against the inevitable.
"What is happening?!" He thought, sulking to himself. "I know this." He grunted as the memory dispersed again from him. "What is happen--" Something cut him off.
Soft sobs could be heard from across the bridge. But the only beings in the bridge was him and 'Refumee. Bathou'mus glanced over towards a door that had a glowing white light peering through the cracks. He wobbled a bit, before slowly making his way over. He stopped next to 'Reffumee and looked at his somber expression. Bathou'mus looked down at the ground, his brain still hemorrhaging from the concealed memory. It took all his will power for him to not fall over as he plunged deep into his mind. The pain was almost unbearable,he felt like being pelted with a barrage of plasma rounds that seemed to never end as he fought his way into the depths of his mind.
He breathed heavily before he found what he was looking for. With the intensity and insanity of a thousand suns, he grabbed at his prize like it was the last drop of water in a infinite sea of sand and dust. His iron grip never faltered as he ripped it out of what appeared to be another's grasp. Bathou'mus staggered a bit before he grabbed on the railing that led to the ominous door. After he pulled the air back into his lungs, he took one last look at 'Refumee. He remembered now, what was to happen next. Sighing, he pushed himself back on his feet and towards the door. He ignored the violent, thunderous footsteps and obscenities that were shouted behind him as he knew about that form of ignorance all too well. He walked up to the door and closed his eyes as the pain from this memory reminded him why he choose this path. The sobs he heard earlier from the door, were heard behind him, not wanting too turn around, but feeling like he needed too. The Elite glanced back at the other Spec ops elite that had collapsed on the ground, his hands wrapped around his face as he mourned over the loss of his faith. Bathou'mus cringed slightly as he too felt the same tears flow from his eyes. He placed his hand on the door, opening it up as he stepped out into the pure white light.
Discord stretched his back a bit before giving it a satisfying crack. He began to yawn some more as he adjusted around in Celestia's throne. His uneven eyes glanced around the hall marveling over how much the room suited his fashion. The floor was turned into a napoleon ice cream rink, with the guards unwillingly skating across it in pairs and with muzzles strapped on them. Clearly they had proved that they had lost the privilege of speech. He turned to look at the most amazing achievements that were presented by wafer cookie form where the glass art used to be.
One showed him being praised by all three types of pony kind, another showed the two princesses bowing before his brilliance. Others showed him doing more unbelievable things such as slaying the cotton candy beast of the coco mountain. But one in particular had a darker edge to it, one that shown brightly behind him. He had both his mismatched arms around two beasts that faced each other, ready to rip the other apart. One resembled Alan but his armor was colorless, and his visor was tinted blood red. The other was Bathou'mus, and his armor appeared more pointed and sharper then before. His armor color was also devoted of the light spectrum. In the middle was Discord's new form, only the red and blue energy coming off of the two metal giants, were being mixed into a perfect purplish glow that was surrounding Discord.
Discord Chuckled as he admired his art. Reaching for a glass he began to pour himself a cup of what appeared to be grape juice.
"Oh you two are going to be soo much....' Discord's eyes widened as he jumped from the throne. He dropped the cup as he began to search for what had disrupted his magic. Using a lollipop he plucked out of the candied throne, he looked into it to see a group of six ponies walking through the main corridors.
"Right on time." Smiling he instantly vanished from where he was.
Moments later, he appeared outside the court area where he once stood for more then a millennium. The entire maze was cut down and replaced by a theme park with him being the main theme on every coaster, merry-go-round and concession stand. The only occupants in the park, were the entire royal guard force, that appeared horrified at how unnatural every ride was. Most guards were tied down and forced to ride most of them, and those were the lucky ones. The others were chained up in stands and forced to be the subject of ridiculous games. Such as pin the tail on the pony, bobbing for rotten apples, and Discords favorite, the complaint office.
Phantom like ponies gathered around as they shouted a the most unluckiest pony of them all. This pony also happened to be Twilight's Big Brother and head of the royal guard. Shinning couldn't believe how ridiculous all these complaints were. Not a single one would be considered understandable or even sensible.
It was always some like "Too much Mustard on my Haydog!" And "Not enough dip for the chips!"
Shinning slammed his face on the desk. His ear perked up as he heard the voice of all his misery come from right behind him.
"I'll take that as your two weeks notice?" Discord chuckled. Shining quickly tried his mightiest to buck Discord, but the straps on his back hooves fastened when he tried to complete such a task.
"Let me out of here Discord!!" He shouted with rage.
"As you wish.' Discord snapped his fingers a he transformed the stand into what appeared was the dungeon. But unlike the gritty and painful housing for the major offenders of a country, this placed looked more like a shrine for willy wonka. Two chocolate fountains with Discord statues gurgled in front of the young prince, making him look in disgust at how everything he protected and guarded was turned into a foal's candy fantasy.
"Well, now that we got you out of that disgraceful position." Discord began. "Why don't we put you in a position you're more affiliated with?" Discord gave him a good shove towards the two fountains.
Shinning stumbled around before loosing his footing and falling in one of the chocolate bowl. He sat back up and spat out the sweet, sticky substance that stuck to his fur. Before climbing out, the Discord statue on top of the fountain began to shoot out a large and powerful blast of more Chocolate at him. The blast knocked him out of the fountain and onto a marshmallow path that rose up a few feet. Shinning was too busy trying to dig out the sticky syrup in his ears to notice the two chained behemoths that twirled above the ground in a anti gravity prison. Discord chuckled some more as he grabbed Shinning with his dark colored paw. Using him like butter knife, he wiped him clean on two giant gram crackers.
"I know you'll love being back to a low, simple guard." He said as he pointed at the two hovering figures behind him. Shining looked back and gasped at the display in front of him. The two beings where no scary rumor's his guards where spreading around. They were indeed real. Shining rubbed the back of his neck before giving his retort.
"How am I supposed to guard those things?" He said pionting at them. "Their freaking huge! And why would I even help you!? Go buck yourself" He said folding front hooves as he sat on his flank. Discord, unamused by his actions, he simply shook his head.
"All you have to do his warn me of their behaviors. If they awaken or seem like they're about to, you contact me with this." He said, making a large jaw breaker appear. "All you have to do is tap it three times and POOF!" Discord flashed away and then exploded out of the hard candy, sporting a swimsuit and a flag with his name on it.
Shining turned his body around, trying his best to ignore him. "First you foal nap me from the crystal empire to humiliate me, then you think you have the guts to make me your personal body guard for....those things!" He turned his head back around, venom in his eyes. "Go to Tartarus you freak."
"And, if you don't..." Another snap of his fingers and Shining could see a group of ponies making their way through the candy themed castle on a giant lollipop that Discord stuck in the ground.
"You can say your good-byes to Celestia's prized student."
In the middle of the lollipop orb, stood Shinning's little sister.
"You wouldn't.." He began, teeth clenched while he growled at him.
Discord, on the other hand, hoovered next to him with a marshmallow over his steaming head. For some reason, Shinning's frustration began to roast the marshmallow that hung on another guards horn.
"It's really up to you. You are the most experienced guard here. And it is such a simple task." With that, he stuffed the marshmallow between the two gram crackers from earlier and with on bite, ate the large, door sized treat. Shinning was about to blast him to pieces with his magic, but that look in Discord's eye, made it clear he had no other options.
"Fine." He mumbled. "But no harming her, OR her friends. Got it?"
"Oh I wouldn't dream of physically hurting anypony. Though, I can't speak for them." He said, regarding the two beings over head. With that, he grabbed the guard that stood stiff, upside down in the marshmallow ground, plucking him out and teleported away. Shinning sighed heavily as he the frozen Image of twilight stood there.
"Twilly."He said, Hanging his head down low.
Bathou'mus, couldn't see anything in the white void. There was no indication that he was making progress, aside from the increasing sobs that came from, well everywhere. One moment, it came from his left, another the right. The only way he could barely tell he was accomplishing something, was when they sounded slightly louder each time. He continued like this for the longest time. Then, there it was, a sound that filled his helmet with such sadness. A song that he felt was being sung by someone. He couldn't tell where it was coming from. He stood still. Trying to listen to the words that were softly spoken across the infinite void. He even cut his breathing down to listen even more clearly. Closing his eyes once more, he began to hear more and more of the words.
"Sleep, little baby, for the red bee hums the silent twilight's fall
From the grey rock comes to wrap the world in thrall
My child, my joy, my love and heart's desire
The crickets sing you a lullaby beside the dying fire."
Bathou'mus looked at his radar, hoping to find anything within his distance. There were red dots misplaced everywhere, making it impossible to detect anything around him. He looked around in a full three sixty. Then, something caught his reptilian eye in the distance. Not wanting to let miracle escape him, he sprinted at full speed towards the dark object. His rough breathing got heavier and heavier as he tried all his might to reach what appeared to be a black, rectangle shape. Using his helmet's binoculars, he scoped in to find it to be a charcoal colored door. With white holes appearing all around it. The closer he got, the more the words became clearer.
"Dusk is drawn and the Green pony's thorn is wreathed in rings of fog
Sheevra sails his boat until morning upon the starry bog
The pale moon has brimmed her cusp in dew
And weeps to hear the sad, sleep tune I sing, my love, to you."
Even though Bathou'mus could hear the words, they where still difficult to make out from the inbetween sobs and choking. Whatever it was, it made him a bit angry that such a beautiful voice was being hurt from forces unknown. This made him pick his pace up faster, until the door became more than a spec in the distance. He kept at until he evaded last second at the door, bursting through it with force a cement truck, shattering it to splinters. He kept rolling until he pounded the ground with his fist to stop his momentum. The light from before grew too intense for him to handle. Closing his eyes, he waited for it to become clearer once more. While he waited, he could still hear the words being sung, only, there were right next to him. Whoever was singing, her voice was like a refreshing bath of cool water to his ears.
"Sleep, little baby, for the red bee hums the silent twilight's fall
Eeval from the grey rock comes to wrap the world in thrall
My child, my joy, my love and heart's desire
The crickets sing you a lullaby beside the dying fire"
Bathou'mus stayed still until the light was replaced by darkness and a eerie silence. When he opened his eyes, he heard the sobs return once more. This time, though, he could make out the silhouette of a pony lying down near a bed post next to a cell. A cell he found he was in too.
"What the hell." he mumbled. The prone figure suddenly rose it's neck at his subtle cursing. Turning slowly around, the creature stared directly at the hunched over Elite in full armor. Visible tears could be seen flowing from her emerald eyes. Although, her left eye was badly bruised and swelled, followed by spouts of blood on her muzzle. Her right pupil shrunk in pure fear. She covered her head with her hole filled hooves as she shrunk into the only corner away from Bathou'mus.
"WH-Who are you?!?!" She said shakily. "P-P-Please....D-Don't-t...H-Hurt M-Me!" She pleaded. The dark pony stole a peak from beneath her hoof at the new company, only to find the white glowing eyes staring directly at her. The chain around her neck pulled against the wall as she tried to distance herself even further from him.
"My name is Bathou'mus." He said calmly. The Elite slowly sat down against the other corner of the cell. "I'm not going to hurt you."
Chrysalis slowly lowered her hooves, seeing him farther away from her gave her some room to breathe.
"What do you want?" She asked.
Bathou'mus looked around the bug like cell, reminding him of 'Yaname'e quarters on certain ships in the covenant.
"I....I'd like to know where I am."
"You're in my hell." She responded. Her eyes began to swell again as she tucked herself into a small ball. "My everlasting house of pain and demise."
"Wait. So I'm dead?" He said, disbelievingly looking at his hands.
"Wait..." The Changeling looked at Bathou'mus for a moment. "Aren't you that being that crashed landed here?"
"Ummmm, I think." He looked over at her, resting his hands between his thighs. "Hard to remember exactly..."
"Then he has succeeded.' Chrysalis looked away from for a second.
"Who? What is going on here?"
"Discord. The spirit of chaos." She turned her head, coughing a bit violently before continuing.
"Discord? What the hell is a Discord?"
"Not what, but who."
"This is still not making any sense." Bathou'mus looked around the place one more time before asking her another question. "Who are you?"
Chrysalis looked at him through her teal silk like mane. Her good eye looked away as she talked in a depressed tone.
"Chrysalis. Former queen of the changelings."
Bathou'mus looked at her for a moment before speaking. "What's a changeling?"
"A being that can change into any pony we desire." She began. "We have established our colony out here in the badlands, surviving on what scraps of love or smaller insects that we can catch."
"Love?" Bathou'mus asked quizzically.
"Yes, we can not only survive off it but use it as power for taking down nations." She let out a sad sigh. "Or try to take down nations."
"What do you mean?" Bathou'mus asked, not sure if he wanted the answer.
"I...Being former queen, it was my duty to keep my subjects sustained and happy with our rations. Little love exists in the badlands." She swallow her lump which painfully forced itself past the neck chain before continuing. "We had entered a drought and my subjects were getting more hostile over our rations. fearing a civil war was too break out, I commanded all my units to try and take over Canterlot and take their love by force." She ung her head once more as she mumbled the last phrase out. "As you can already see how that turned out."
"Failing to keep your promise of food, and failing trying to lead an army." Bathou'mus said.
Chrysalis nodded.
"At least you only wanted food, not complete genocide of their race." He said with a light chuckle, which angered the Changeling.
"You think it's funny?! I was a leader, a proud leader that had thousands depending on me!" She tugged at the chain, hissing through her teeth. "What would know about failing on my scale?!"
Bathou'mus stayed silent for moment. With a strained motion of leaning forward, the Elite grinded his mandibles as he talked slowly at the Queen.
"You think you're a monster? You think you failed big time?" Bathou'mus shook his head. "I....MURDERED....HUNDREDS OF INNOCENTS...WITH MY HANDS." Bathou'mus began to feel a burning sensation inside him as he gleamed at her. "I lead hundreds to kill innocents. You? you led an army to get groceries." Bathou'mus shook his head. "Don't ever compare yourself to me. You are a pillar of light next to me and my failures." Bathou'mus hung his head down in shame.
Chrysalis didn't know how to respond. All she could do was hang her head down with him and mummer the words, ''I'm sorry,"
to him.
After a while of complete silence, Bathou'mus let out a deep breathe before asking the one question on his mind.
"Were you the one I heard singing? "
Chrysalis looked up at him, before a light blush coated her face.
"I...well...it's was just something my mother would sing to me." She unknowingly traced a few circles in the ground with her hooves.
"It was rather lovely."
Chrysalis, for the first time, smiled at the compliment.
"Thanks, but I don't think singing is going to get us out of here."
"If you don't mind. Could you please explain why we're here?"
Chrysalis looked up at him seeing him looking directly at her.
"O.k, this will take a while, but we've got time."
"Thank you." Bathou'mus said before he began to sit more comfortably. "I'd like to know where I am."
"Like I said. You are in my hell. My never ending failures and punishments for them in an endless cycle." She let out a long sigh before she rubbed the tears off her face with her hoof.
"I see." Bathou'mus said, understanding her physical state. "But how did we get here?"
"The one who put us here, needs to keep us here until we break." Chrysalis looked down somberly at the dirty cell. "I didn't last very long. He absorbs you're special powers by putting you in a never ending hell. When you break, your talents or special powers become his forever." Chrysalis began to tear up a bit.
"Wait, I don't have any magic or anything...." Bathou'mus stopped talking as Chrysalis raised her hoof.
"Not magic. Not exactly. Think of your base character traits for all your species. Imagine that gone from you."
"Like your morph powers?" He asked.
Chrysalis sniffed a bit before nodding.
"I see. But What exactly could he gain from the Sangheili?"
Chrysalis let out a long painful sigh. "He doesn't want YOUR traits, Bathou'mus, he wants you broken."
"I don't understand. Why? And why would he steal your power if not mine as well?"
Chrysalis became even more irritable as she relayed what she knew about Discord's plan.
"He....he want's you two to break. To keep fighting each other. So he can gain unlimited power from the chaos energy you two provide for him."
Bathou'mus tilted his head to the side. "Wait, who else is trapped here?"
"The other one."
Bathou'mus's eyes shot open at the realization.
"The demon."