“Okay Girls the princess hasn’t had much time to adjust to the present times,” Twilight told the others as they stood before the throne room. Fluttershy was cowering down behind Applejack, the carriage ride had not helped her nerves at all.
“So what do we expect?” Rainbow asked.
“Oh I bet she speaks with the traditional Equestrian dialect,” Rarity thought aloud, “completely refined and proper.”
“You may enter,” one of the guards said opening the door.
“Well girls let’s meet Luna properly,” Twilight said turning and leading the group in. It was late at night and while as expected there were no nobles in the area, however there were more guards than Celestia normally had on hand.
“Please step forward,” a voice called from the throne. All the girls walked forward and saw the somewhat familiar form of Luna, though she had grown slightly.
“Princess Luna we are here to give you a detailed report on what happened to Celestia,” Twilight stated.
“My guards told me she was taken by some manner of cat creature,” Luna stated, “and Nuada was planning on rescuing her.”
“Yes Princess, the creature Katago seems to be an alien from beyond the skies of Equestria from what Nuada explained. He believes the creature’s goal is to learn how to use magic to further research, what Nuada called the Unified Field theory,” Twilight explained, “as Nuada explained this to us an object literally appeared from nowhere and struck him in the chest. We later learned the object was a summoning object of some form as Nuada used it to bring forth a strange chariot that he said could make it into space.”
“And inside was an Alicorn Twilight,” Pinkie Pie said bouncing.
“Alicorn Twilight? Please explain this,” Luna said taking in everything as best she could.
“Well you see looked like a grumpy Twilight wearing strange clothes with funny looking party cannons on her side. I glimpsed her wings under them as she told us Displaced only and closed the door on our faces. Then the ship just levitated straight up and then took off faster than Rainbow Dash into the sky,” Pinkie explained all this with exaggerated hoof gestures, constant moving around and ended with her foreleg over Luna’s shoulder. Luna nodded her understanding as Pinkie Pie let go and returned to the group of ponies whose mouths were all agape.
“I see, this is more my sister’s and Starswirl’s area of expertise,” Luna said mulling over her thoughts, “I must think on this matter but you said Nuada is going to rescue my sister?”
“Yes Princess,” Twilight said has her mouth began working again, “if you don’t mind how do you and Celestia know Nuada?”
“That is a sad tale to tell, please let us retire to the tea room as I tell it,” Luna said nodding to one of the guards before leading the group to the tea room.
“It was many years ago when Celestia and I were but Fillies.”
Luna hid with her sister in a small cave, both alicorn fillies were starved and dirty. They grazed on near by plants and drank from a pond by the cave mouth but were afraid to go further than sight distance from the cave. Least they lose track of it and each other.
“Luna are you up?” Celestia asked her pink mane flat and full of leaves.
“Yes sister, what are we doing today?” Luna asked shaking herself trying to knock some of the filth off.
“Today I wanted to go over the alphabet with you again,” Celestia said levitating a stick with her magic.
“Can we eat first?” Luna said her tummy growling loudly.
“Yes of course,” Celestia said setting the stick down by the cave wall. Both ponies heard a twig snap and ran back into their cave quickly.
“Do you think they found us?” Luna asked as Celestia covered her sister watching the cave mouth.
“I hope not no pony goes into the haunted forest,” Celestia stated as they waited.
An eternity of waiting later it seemed a shadow appeared in the mouth of the cave, “hello is anyone there? anyone I’m lost and could use a hand.”
“Luna stay here,” Celestia said moving off her sister.
“Wait it could be a trap,” Luna said trying to stop her.
“He sounds sincere, let’s trust him,” she said, “Hello?”
“That’s what got us into this mess,” Luna muttered as her sister walked into the light.
“Why hello little one,” the voice said as Celestia came forward.
“Hello,” Celestia said staring at him, “you said you were lost?”
“Yes, my name is Nuada and I’m trying to find my way home,” the large bipedal creature said.
“Nice to meet you Mister Nuada, I’m Celestia,” she said bowing, “um I only know the direction of the nearest town will that help?”
“If it’s to the west not likely I’m afraid,” Nuada said sitting down setting a saddle bag he had on his shoulders down.
“Um why?” Celestia asked.
“Those Unicorns there ran me out, called me monster and such,” Nuada said pulling out an apple. Celestia’s tummy growled loudly at the smell.
“Would you like one?” Nuada asked offering the apple.
“Thank you mister,” Celestia said taking it in her magic. Nuada flinched at this a little before calming.
“Must be nice having magic,” Nuada mused, “seems to make things easier.”
“Sometimes but magic can’t solve everything,” Celestia said sadly chewing on the apple, “I’d rather not ask this but may I have another?”
“Of course, so what reasons does a filly like yourself have for being out here alone in a cave?” Nuada asked tossing her an apple.
“Can you keep a secret?” she asked.
“I know not a soul in this world whom I could tell, nor would I if given the chance,” Nuada said.
“My sister and I are hiding from the King’s guard,” she told him.
“Sister!” a small voice yelled from in the cave.
“Luna what’s wrong?” Celestia asked.
“Sister we don’t know this monster, he could work for the king or trying to lu..lu..lure us into a trap,” Luna said glaring at Nuada her horn charged.
“He’s nice,” Celestia said, “look he gave me an apple and I have a second one for you here.”
“They could be poisoned you can’t just trust strange monsters,” Luna said.
“That’s it!” Nuada roared standing up, “you little one are being rude.”
Luna released the spell she was charging and hit Nuada in the chest burning the garment he was wearing, but doing little else.
“Luna,” Celestia cried out as Nuada closed the distance.
“That hurt and was rude,” Nuada said rolling his sleeves back as he marched towards the little filly dodging spells she threw at him taking the occasional glacing shot. As he raised his fist Celestia stepped in front of Luna.
“Please don’t hurt her, she’s young and been thru so much,” she said hoofs spread.
Nuada looked calmly at Celestia, “all I was going to do was give her a spanking.”
Both fillies looked at Nuada with shock, Luna eeped and then ran into the cave.
“Spanking?” Celestia asked confused.
“Yeah, I was taught when I did or said something wrong I would get spanked, you know a few butt swattings,” Nuada said sighing as he sat back down, “teaches that all actions have consequences and some hurt.”
“I am aware of spankings, but don’t parents give those out?” Celestia asked.
“Would you rather I hit her?” Nuada asked, “besides I’m figuring your parents aren’t around, to give them out.”
“We never had parents,” Celestia stated sadly.
“I’m sorry,” Nuada said gently stroking the filly’s head, “here.”
Nuada emptied his bag of apples, before standing up and setting his bag on his shoulder, “see you around kids.”
“Wait,” Celestia called out.
“What is it?” Nuada asked.
“Um you said you didn’t know anyone?” Celestia asked.
“Yeah traveling alone,” Nuada said.
“Well maybe we could be friends?” Celestia asked turning on the puppy eyes.
"You wanna be friends with me?" Nuada asked confused.
"Yes, you're nice, and Luna and I could use a friend. That I was thinking you could too if you didn't have any," she said.
"Okay," Nuada said agreeing to it, "let's eat, Luna if you want there are apples out here."
</hr>
Everyone was quiet as Luna finished the story.
"A few days later Nuada took us out into the world. He taught us how to defend ourselves, pushed us to learn new magics, and showed us that family doesn't have to be blood related," Luna stated.
"Princess Luna," Twilight started but was unsure what to say.
"I did something terrible to him as Nightmare Moon, and sealed him away for 1000 years. I betrayed my brother," Luna said crying. Pinkie was the first to hug her, soon after everypony including the terrified Fluttershy was hugging the crying princess.
LT.CMD. Sparkle double checked her gear, ensuring the weapons were all in top shape, before releasing the hatch letting them out into the, now partially voided, ship. The hallway that was large enough to fit three of her ship easily was empty.
“Expect resistance,” Nuada said stepping forward, “I’ll take forward point.”
“I’m a ranged fighter anyways,” Sparkle responded before falling quite. Nuada strode forward, into the expansive hallway. A blast flew by Nuada as they arrived at an intersection, a large robotic cat head with a cannon in its mouth was floating there.
"Why am I not surprised?" Nuada asked as he focused on the master key. An energy field manifested in front of him as a shot from the cat head bounced off of it. A second later the robot had a massive hole in it Nuada turned to see Sparkle with a sniper rifle in hoof.
"Overkill much?" Nuada asked moving forward.
"I saw a robot and thought it would have armor," she replied swapping to a smg, "figure they are all that weak?"
"Most likely, if it's like the show my powers came from then I can probably beat them all bare handed," Nuada replied thinking back to the show.
"Then let's not waste time," Sparkle said taking off at a trot. Nuada used his battle armor to float with her.
"We're lost aren't we?" Nuada stated seeing ship maintenance access ways and machinery.
"My omni-hoof says there is a life form this way," Sparkle said with a growl.
"Okay, glad there aren’t any more of those kitty faced robots around here," Nuada said walking behind her.
"Well this looks like the brig," Nuada said seeing sealed doors. Sparkle used her omni-hoof to hack a console and found the only prisoner file on saved.
"Subject number: 8843
Name: Ushio
Notes: survived mixture 67, no visual changes, however no use of mana detected. Hold for further observation," Sparkle read the file, "it goes it to tests and new mixtures. This guy is nuts."
"I agree, let's go," Nuada said turning to leave.
"Hey," Sparkle grabbed his shoulder with magic, "we can't just leave her?"
"We don't have time to waste on this," Nuada said.
*slap*
Nuada looked at Sparkle, her hoof across her body, having not moved after slapping him.
"What is wrong with you?" Sparkle asked, "there is a girl in there who needs help. Like your Celestia she is trapped and alone right now. She has been abused, tortured, and hurt. AND YOU WANT TO LEAVE HER HERE?"
Nuada didn't respond for a minute as he glared at Sparkle. For a brief moment he saw the filly alicorn that he had met so many years ago.
"Fine, which cell is she in?" Nuada asked.
"Third on the right give me a minute to crack the lock," Sparkle said.
"Don't bother," Nuada said triggering his sword, "If you can hear me girl stand away from the door!"
Giving her a moment to move Nuada cleaved the door to pieces with a loud clang the door fell apart.
Alarms began to blear as he stuck his head in. There was a young bunny girl in rags hiding in the corner under a blanket that only hid parts of her.
"Ushio right?" Nuada asked walking to her as Sparkle watched the hall from the door. The girl flinched as Nuada's approach, trying to curl into a smaller ball.
"Listen, I'm here to rescue my sister, Katago took her from me. Now if you want you can come with me, I'm going to beat him, save my sister and destroy this ship if I can," Nuada explained.
"But if I don't stay here he'll hurt me," she said holding herself.
"Not much time, I'm picking up inbound," Sparkle said.
"Is that a talking pony?" Ushio asked her eyes wide.
"Yeah I live planetside with a whole nation of them," Nuada stated.
"If you beat him can I meet more ponies?" she asked.
'What is with girls and ponies?' Nuada thought to himself, "Yes but we have to leave now."
"Okay," Ushio said wrapping the blanket around her shoulders.
"Nuada cover the girl I'll clear a path," Sparkle said as she opened up fire into the wave of kittyfaces coming at them.
"Right," Nuada said his sword at the ready. Ushio stayed close to him as they ran thru the kittyfaces destroying them all as they went.
"How are you holding up," Sparkle asked the girl.
"I'm okay miss pony," she replied, breathing hard from the running.
"My name is LtC Twilight Sparkle, this is Nuada, let me know if you need a break," Sparkle said ignoring Nuada's eye roll.
“I’ll be fine,” Ushio said keeping up with them.
“Hey Ushio, do you know where the main control center is or the bridge?” Nuada asked cleaving thru a dozen kitty faces.
“The bridge was mounted to the front top center of the ship,” she said, “but that’s all I know.”
“Good enough, Sparkle can you reference our current position and give us a direction?” Nuada asked shredding more kittyfaces.
“Calculating now.”
“Insolent worm, how can they be getting past all of my defences?” Katago asked himself glaring at the screen floating before him.
“Nuada is going to save me,” Celestia said glaring at the tiger man. She was sealed in a hourglass, the sand encasing her up to her neck and an inhibitor ring on her horn.
“Not going to happen, even if he gets here, I now have enough data on your ‘magic’ I’ll just destroy him and the other two myself,” he said laughing maniacally.
“Other two?” Celestia asked unable to see the screen.
“The fool brought another, what was it? ah Alicorn is what you call them, and has freed my slave,” he said banishing the screen, “it matters not the data I get off you will make up for the loss of the slave.”
“You’re a monster Katago,” Celestia glared.
“Your opinion matters not,” he said as he sat at a giant pipe organ and began playing.
“Those giant double doors should be it,” Sparkle said as they came to the end of the hallway, the kittyfaces had stopped coming at them and they had advanced calmly to catch their breath.
“Weapons check, be ready,” Sparkle said doing a once over with her guns.
“Ready,” Nuada said before whispering into Sparkle’s ear, “if things go bad or I tell you to leave, make sure you go, take Ushio with you, I’ll contact you thru token if needed.”
“Roger, and hey be careful, we need every good Displaced alive in this multiverse,” Sparkle stated before nodding to Ushio to open the door.
As the door opened the three were greeted by music playing, and a very large open room. Nuada did a quick sweep of the room, and saw Celestia in the large hour glass, and Katago at the organ.
“Welcome to my ship, the Sonja,” Katago said rising as the music stopped, “now then I am afraid I’ll have to remove you from it.”
“Kagato release Celestia now and I won’t remove you from this world,” Nuada threatened.
“It’s Katago damnit!” Katago summoned an energy blade and swung it at Nuada who blocked it with his own blade.
“Ya ya, just let Celestia go. I already know what is going to happen. I told you I’ve seen this all before.” Nuada explained as he parried the attacks. Sparkle dodged off to the side with Ushio, dropping her behind a pillar before teleporting across the bridge by the organ. Katago cried in pain as small arms fire burned into his back, the rounds left a silver fire trying to burn him before if fizzled out.
Nuada closed in slashing at Katago only to be blocked at the last second. Katago then grabbed Nuada’s arm and threw him at Sparkle. The kinetic barrier of Sparkle’s armor protected her as Nuada and her slammed into the wall. Nuada’s battle armor cracked under the force, and Nuada coughed some blood up. Sparkle opened fire again driving Katago back just long enough for Nuada to get back up.
“Get Celestia out of here,” Nuada coughed out charging Katago.
“Roger,” Sparkle replied swapping to her sniper rifle.
Rounds bounced off the glass of Celestia’s cage as Nuada kept Katago occupied. Celestia watched helpless, and confused. She recognized Twilight her faithful student, but she was an alicorn and she fired a weapon with the intent to kill with ease.
“I’m not your Twilight,” Sparkle said over her gun fire, “I made sure your’s is still safe and innocent back planetside.”
“I see, where did you come from then?” Celestia asked. Sparkle growled glaring at the glass and stopped shooting at it.
“Another world, I’ll explain later with Nuada.” she said as she turned to Katago and sniped him in the back. The bullet tore thru his shields and wounded him slightly.
“Insolent wretch,” Katago screamed throwing Nuada and charged Sparkle. Sparkle managed to block his sword attack with her omni-hoof blade. As she went to teleport away she noticed her magic being blocked, going for guns with telekinesis proved fruitless.
“I’ve analyzed your magic and can now block it,” Katago said kicking her sending her flying over by Ushio, who was trying to block out the sounds of the battle.
"Nuada problem," Sparkle said, guns inert on her sides, "active magic is being blocked, guns are at reduced power."
"Yes my studies on your world has been most useful," Katago leaping back, "mana will lead me on the path to true energy. Watch this."
Katago snapped his fingers and the master key went dead in Nuada's hands.
"Sparkle got something to crack that cage?" Nuada asked staring down Katago winded from the fight.
"All tech and magic is disabled, the bridge is under his total control," she explained grabbing Ushio’s attention.
"I'll be there in a minute," Nuada stated gasping for air. Sparkle nodded and lead Ushio off the bridge.
"What can you do boy? You have no weapon or power, you will die shortly, and yet you still oppose me," Katago smirked readying an energy blast.
"I'll admit you have me in a bad spot," Nuada stated calming himself, "but Sparkle reminded me of something earlier."
"Oh what's that boy?"
"Years ago when I met a filly she showed me the power of friendship, and because of that I could remember who I truly was. I forgot for a while there but, now I remember who I am," he said, energy arcing around him, “I am Nuada the one whose sword can never lose!”
"Foolish worm, die!" Katago released the charged attack. The giant energy ball flew straight and true, and blasted into Nuada.
"Nuada!" Celestia cried out watching the energy ball explode.
"Foolish boy," Katago stated before he felt something amiss, "what?"
The smoke began to clear around Nuada, floating before him was two long shapes like shields made of light. One moved and washed over Nuada giving him ethereal combat robes and armor, the other compressed itself into a broadsword of light in Nuada's hand.
"Impossible, all energy should be disabled beyond mine," Katago stated.
"Light Hawk Wings, the life force of the gods, this Katago is the true ultimate energy," Nuada said taking a low stance prepared to end this in one blow, "and with it I will stop your reign of terror."
"Just try it," Katago charged at the same time with his sword. Nuada brought his sword up high for a down cleave, leaving himself open with a jump. Katago didn't miss the chance and swung his sword as he used his ship to make a shield over his head.
A flash of light later left Nuada on the other side of Katago, energy burning across his middle where the energy sword had hit him.
"Light Hawk Wings, if I had only know of them," Katago stated turning to face Nuada. The energy on Nuada faded leaving him unmarked and unharmed.
"You won boy," Katago stated as his body split in two and burned away to dust, the hourglass holding Celesta shattering and let her fall to the floor.
"Nuada are you okay?" she asked as the power around him faded leaving him in his Jurai battle armor.
“I'm fine," Nuada said grabbing his sword, "we need to leave though."
"Why?" Celestia asked, looking around. That moment the ship shifted and half of the bridge shifted.
"I may have cut the ship in half," Nuada said running. Celestia took off after him
Sparkle target neutralized, need evac asap, Nuada thought to the token around his neck.
Getting a position lock be there soon, was her reply as they ran.
Luna watched the night sky as the elements slept on the tea room floor tiered from the late night and everything going on. She noticed a sudden flash of light that lit part of the sky for a moment followed by what looked like shooting stars from the point of origin.
"What was that, Princess?" Twilight asked rubbing sleep from her eyes.
"I don't know, I just hope everypony is okay?" Luna said, light streaking towards them. Luna took flight telling Twilight she would be right back.