//------------------------------// // No Need for Repercussions // Story: No need for Equestria // by DemonWolf //------------------------------// Guards lined up around the chariot landing pad in the wee hours of the morning. Luna descended and landed as the the tube shaped ship landed in the center of the platform. Luna stood to the back as the door opened light flooded the dim area. “Luna!” Celestia cried out giving her sister a hug. Nuada followed her leaving the ship with Ushio attached to his arm and Sparkle at his side. “Sister it is good to see you safe,” Luna said hugging back, “thank you all you’ve done a great service to Equestria.” Nuada glared energy arcing around him before Ushio gave him a look of worry. Nuada paused looking confused for a moment before he calmed down and looked at Celestia, “I cannot stay, Sparkle if you wish you may stay until you are ready to return home. Ushio do you want to stay here or leave with me?” “Why can’t you stay here?” Ushio asked as everypony looked on. “One day I will tell you,” Nuada said energy crackling around his tightened fist. “Um I’ll go with you,” Ushio said feeling it was the best plan. “I’ll explain things,” Sparkle said nodding to him as he flew off with Ushio in his arms. With Nuada out of sight Sparkle turned to the group before her, “let’s get this over with.” ----- Everypony was led inside where a breakfast feast was setup. Sparkle told everypony to stay quiet until she finished her story. Beginning from when she was summoned to when they got on her ship back to the planet. “That is how Nuada and I found Ushio and rescued Celestia,” Sparkle finished telling the story drinking down some orange juice. “Quite the epic story,” Luna commented as the element bearers were all struck silent by the news. “Wait Nuada killed this Katago, that’s horrible,” Twilight said, “who could take a life so callously.” “This is why I couldn’t take you with us,” Sparkle shot at her younger double, “in the multiverse there are things that love and friendship can’t stop. For ponies like myself and Nuada we have to be willing to end those threats. We don’t like it but it’s something we have to do.” “Excuse me, Sparkle,” Celestia said interrupting the two, “but could you now explain how you came to this world?” “Okay, because you’re going to need to know this,” Sparkle said pulling out a device from her armor, “I am now what is referred to as a Displaced. I am a individual who has by some means been ripped from my home world and placed in another world.” “Much like how Nuada described his arrival here,” Luna remarked. “Yes Nuada told me as much. Now there are many Displaced in many worlds, an infinite amount, many humans though recently us ponies have been getting displaced as well. I was taken from my world, and thrust into a world with advance technologies, referred to as the Mass Effect world by other Displaced. That world has a galactic spanning civilization under attack by a force called the Reapers,’ Sparkle explained. “What’s galactic mean?” Rainbow Dash asked. “Anypony here know much about space?” Sparkle asked. “Myself and Twilight probably know the most, and we learned of aliens last night,” Celestia explained. “Okay you know what a solar system is?” Sparkle asked. “A solar system is a collection of planets, moons, and one to two suns, from our observations they vary between heliocentric and geocentric, we have so far observed twenty systems in the sky,” Twilight explained, “astronomers believe that each star in the sky is actually the sun of another system, though some are something else unexplained. “Fairly consistent with my home, well imagine if you can that all the stars in the sky are systems and it is only one tenth of an area called a galaxy where they all orbit a central point. There are aliens that live covering pretty much the entire thing, and Reapers are strong enough to wipe us all out unless my Commander can stop them,” she explained wanting to drive a point home. “That is horrible,” Twilight stated. “Yes it is, now then, the thing about Displaced is that most of them are too strong for normal ponies to handle as I’m sure Nuada has shown Celestia on the ship,” Sparkle said, as Celestia nodded. “Nuada has always seemed so strong,” Luna said, looking surprised by the statement, “though during our rule a millennia ago, we had began to surpass him.” Celestia shook her head, “the power Nuada showed in his battle exceeded anything I’ve ever seen. The elements of harmony would be hard pressed to even slow him down with the power he was putting out. These Light Hawk Wings, they are a force to be reckoned with.” “Are you saying Nuada is stronger than both of you?” Twilight asked. “Not surprised,” Sparkle commented, “like I said Displaced are mostly overpowered, the powers they are given are just too much for Equestrians to deal with. However there is a way to stop invading forces from beyond your universe from getting in.” “There is?” they all asked. “I will show Celestia and Luna how to use this device, it’s a mobile data pad,” Sparkle said activating the disk device making images appear. “this has saved on it a folder created by a Displace who ascended to a godlike power level with true immortality. In it is how to shield your world. What you do with that information is up to you.” “Will you show me as well,” Twilight asked. “No, this is for Celestia and Luna to review first, they can share the information later if they want,” Sparkle said, “now then I need to go see Nuada, so if all of you will excuse yourselves so I can get this lesson out of the way.” Nuada touched down at his lake in the Everfree with Ushio and was greeted by his tree, “Ushio this is Kirito, Kirito this is Ushio she’ll be staying with us for a while.” The tree shot light beams out in response, leaving Ushio awed. “Yeah yeah I know,” Nuada replied to the tree, “also if you see a small spaceship, kinda tube like, it should be LtC Sparkle, she’s welcome to stop by.” The tree shot out a few more flashes of light beams and the portal to Nuada’s sanctum opened for Ushio and him. “Shall we?” Nuada asked leading Ushio in. Nuada quickly got Ushio settled into a room and left her to sleep when he felt a call from Kirito, ‘Sir we have a strange ship inbound matches the description you gave me to your friend’s vessel.’ ‘Hail her,’ Nuada requested as a display was projected in front of him, a loading bar and a phone icon accompanied by a ringtone. A moment or two later the screen displayed LtC Sparkle, “hey Nuada, I have a favor to ask before I head home.” “Anything in my power, I owe you for your help,” Nuada replied. “Fantastic, I need a place to sleep this off, I’ve been up for almost twenty-eight hours now, and I don’t want to have to fight with getting home right now,” she said the weariness of her body showing. “Yeah, I’ll have Kirito send you a map to my space tree. Once there just jump thru the portal Kirito will open for you,” Nuada stated, “I’ll prepare a bed for you.” “Thank you, I’ll be there in a moment,” she said as the map was displayed before her. “Okay,” Nuada said as the window cut out, ‘you heard it, please make sure she gets here. I’ll take care of the bedding.” ‘By your command sir,’ Kirito withdrew from Nuada’s mind and went about his assigned tasks. Nuada got up and began gathering bedding supplies, a straw futon, and some light blankets, and one of his hand woven straw pillows. A bell rang as Nuada watched Sparkle come thru a door that appeared in the courtyard. “Subspace?” Sparkle asked confused by the setting sun in the distance, considering it was early morning. “Yup, Kirito made this for me, perfect climate controls, controlled time cycles, and even a control on seasons,” Nuada explained. “Who is this Kirito?” Sparkle asked being lead into a room were Nuada had made a quick bed. “My tree half, I will explain later, you should sleep,” Nuada stated leaving her to sleep. “Officer we have detected an explosion in the special reservation area, the energy signatures are similar to Katago’s ship the Sonja, we need you to investigate the area quietly,” an anthromophic wolf in a police officer uniform stated on a screen. “Yes sir, First Class Detective Bestla is on the case,” a wolf lady stated with a salute. “Don’t let us down, we are sending you the case data on Katago, and whatever you do don’t make contact with the natives on the planet. It is under the highest restrictions so please don’t even think about it,” the officer stated. “Wouldn’t dare, sir, now relax I have this all under control,” she said hiding crossed fingers. “That’s what I’m afraid of,” he mumbled as the line cut out. “Okay Kurama, take us to the restricted area, I have research to conduct,” Bestla said breaking into a manic laugh. “Yes ma’am,” the ship’s AI stated with a quiet sigh. Nuada woke first, having Kirito wake him only four hours into his nap, leaving the others to sleep he went out to his small garden and began checking over his plants. A deep sigh left him as he realized he would have to make another trip to town, having forgotten his supplies at Twilight’s, and he didn’t have enough food for two. “That’s only if she stay with me,” Nuada said to nobody. “If who stays,” a female voice asked. Turning around Nuada saw Sparkle out of her armor, her wings up as she walked towards him. “Ushio, we saved her, and from what I remember of Mass Effect your place isn’t safe for a scared hurt girl,” Nuada stated, “so I am obligated to care for her until she chooses to leave, if she wishes to stay.” “Obligated?” Sparkle asked eyes narrowing, “don’t you mean you want to help her?” “Lieutenant Commander Sparkle, let me tell you something,” Nuada said glaring at her, “I spent one thousand years trapped in a ten foot square room, knowing that I could not age and death would not come for me. I had only a virtual AI for company and all she knew was combat skills. I literally spent one thousand years fighting everyday, my only companion a false existence. I was betrayed by one I called family, and left to rot forever. I am done with being nice, I have a job to do. I swore on my honor that I would protect Equestria and I’ll do just that but I don’t have to be nice about it.” Sparkle recoiled from the outburst, she figured he was hurt but didn’t realize how bad, “I am sorry.” “Don’t worry about it, it doesn’t concern you,” Nuada said turning away from her. Sparkle regarded the human, remembering how she felt when she had been forced to break apart the Geth hurting her new friends. Shaking her head to clear it she put a hoof on his shoulder, “Look you are hurt I get it. I’ve been there and still am trying to get past it. So if you ever want to talk about it contact me.” “You know I actually have one last favor to ask,” Nuada stated. “What can I do to help,” Sparkle asked. “If you meet a Displaced human can you send them my way, I would like to talk to them,” Nuada said for a moment his face showed the years of wryness, his eyes dull shadows showing little emotion or energy. ‘Sparkle this is Starswirl, Mistress has returned and got herself in a pickle, can you get ready and go meet with her?’ an older voice said filling Sparkle’s mind. ‘Got it, glad to hear she’s active again,’ she responded back, the other voice not responding. “What’s with the glowing?” Nuada asked, looking at the medallion around Twilight’s neck. “Just a friend calling me up,” Sparkle said, “anyway do you want to come with me, I’m about to get ready to meet a Displaced from classic earth.” “Let me talk with Ushio, maybe I can let her stay with Twilight and Spike,” Nuada said getting up, his face returned to his neutral expression. A little while later Nuada knocked on the Golden Oak Library. “I’m coming,” Spike’s voice called sounding tired and irritated. The door opened to reveal a very sleepy looking dragon. “Sorry to bother you Spike, but is Twilight home?” Nuada asked. “Yeah, Twi it’s Nuada,” Spike said waving Nuada and Ushio in. “Good, I have so many questions,” she said running up to him. “Hello Twilight, before questions can I ask a favor?” Nuada asked. “What do you need help with?” she asked confused and saw Ushio standing behind him. He rags were replaced with one of his hand woven tunics and some pants. “Sparkle is going to take me to meet a Displaced from earth, could Ushio stay here for a few days. In exchange I will sit down and tell you my story, like you’ve been asking when I come to town,” Nuada explained. “Um sure,” Twilight said taken back, Nuada had been avoiding talking to her about his past the last few times he came to town. “That’s good, Ushio this is Twilight Sparkle she’s this world’s version of Sparkle and this is her assistant Spike the Dragon,” Nuada said introducing her, “Twilight, Spike, this is Ushio she’s a new friend of mine whom Sparkle and I saved from Katago’s ship. She needs some friends and a place to stay, as Sparkle is taking me to meet some of her friends and help me meet some more DIsplaced. Please take good care of her.” “Sounds fun,” Twilight said, “I have so many questions for you.” “Eeeep,” Ushio said as Twilight latched on in a hug, “nice to meet you both.” “Okay I should be back soon, thank you,” Nuada said leaving, followed by lots of byes. “So this Mistress Change is from an Earth like mine?” Nuada asked getting into the shuttle. “From what I understand yes and no, she’s complicated,” Sparkle triggered the portal system. Gate stones flew out of the puddlejumper and formed a gate in the air. With a flash of blue the wormhole formed. Sparkle’s ship came thru the wormhole over Ponyville, making loud popping noises as it landing at the edge of town. “Nuada you going to be okay?” Sparkle asked looking at the pale human. “So much blood, so much death,” Nuada said not really moving. “Right, so I’ll go get Ushio,” Sparkle said leaving the puddle jumper. Taking a trot thru town she stayed in armor keeping her wings hidden. A few ponies gave her odd looks that she ignored as she walked by, use to being the odd one out. Knocking on the door to the Golden Oaks Library she felt a wave of nostalgia, remembering when she had lived in the same place in a world long gone to her. "Can I help you?" Spike asked. "I'm LtC Sparkle, I'm  here to pick up Ushio for Nuada," she said glad her helm kept her face hidden as she began to tear up. "One second," Spike said leaving the door open as he called for Ushio and Twilight. Ushio came out of the kitchen wearing a cute sundress with an apron on. "Miss Sparkle welcome, where is Nuada?" Ushio asked concerned. "He's resting on my ship, he's had a long day," she replied. "Day? It has been a week here," Ushio stated. "Time dilation," she replied as the basement door opened. "Sparkle good to see you, I was curious if you could answer some questions," Twilight asked as she left the basement. "Depends, I need to leave soon so you get two questions," Sparkle replied. "Okay then," Twilight agreed, "how are you an Alicorn?" "Magic, beyond that not sharing you'll have to figure it out for yourself," Sparkle said dismissing her question. "Fine, it sounds like you know about human physiology would you share what you know?" She asked, "so if Ushio or Nuada get sick we can help." "Fair argument however neither are true humans at this point not sure if my data will help," she stated, "I will send some notes to you thru Nuada at a later time though." "Thank you, please visit again there is a lot I want to know about you and the Displaced," Twilight said as she levitated a bag to Sparkle, "a gift from Rarity for Ushio." "Miss Rarity gave me this dress and some other clothes," Ushio said with a blush. "Sounds like her, let's get going," Sparkle said as Ushio and her made their goodbyes. Spike gave her some last minute cleaning tips and Twilight told them to visit soon. Ushio was quiet as she walked beyond saying hi to ponies she recognized. Sparkle lead her to the ship where they found Nuada shaking in the fetal position. "Nuada?" Ushio cried out rushing to him. To find him unresponsive. "I knew this was going to happen. Ushio I can't stay any longer, can you use advanced tech?" Sparkle asked moving Nuada back into his seat. "Yes, my people were fairly advanced," Ushio said as Sparkle brought out a tech kit from a storage compartment. "This is a dream walking device, put the headband on two people and as they sleep they share dreams," Sparkle explained, "when you get home, put Nuada to bed by making him take one of the pills in there, then put the devices on and go to bed." "What happened to him?" Ushio asked as Sparkle began piloting the ship. "He helped fight in a small army. Nuada was okay as we fought the ghouls and enemies, however afterwards he started to get sick. My diagnosis is he's suffering a mental shock," she explained, "he needs mental help, however I can't stay, I have to go back to my world and fix my ship or there is going to be serious problems. So I need you to go and help him deal with this." "Understood," Ushio agreed. Sparkle set the ship down at the lake's edge, the ship cutting out and dropping the last foot, and help carry Nuada to his tree. Flashes of light meet them. "Hey Kirito, Nuada needs rest please take us to his sleeping area." The tree lit up again and a portal opened. Stepping thru, they found themselves in the little courtyard by the house. "Good luck, Ushio," Sparkle said leaving Nuada on a bed,leaning down and whispering, “you’re gonna be okay, be strong.” With that and a great deal of guilt Sparkle left. Ushio pulled out the equipment Sparkle left, and a pill from a bottle of them. Feeding the pill to Nuada she place the metal circlet on his head and took one on herself. “I hope this works,” she said laying down next to him. Nuada looked around, it was a battlefield, blood and bodies everywhere. Ponies and griffons everywhere looking at him. Standing over them all was Katago laughing. "What did you do?" Nuada asked his sword appearing in his hands. "Me? Don't you recognize this? These are the corpses of all that you killed just hours ago,” Katago laughed as the bodies began to move and shift. Swarming onto Nuada the ponies and griffons began to tear away at him their soulless eyes wide open, locked in place. “No help somebody help!” Nuada cried as the bodies began to cover him. All Katago did was laugh. She felt like she was drowning she couldn’t breath but she wasn’t dieing, cracking her eyes open she saw she was in the tank again. Stripped of her clothes and floating in this vat of lime green fluid. “Well then it’s time to see if you can gain magic,” a voice said to her not sure how she heard it. Looking she saw the tigerman, presiding over a computer console. He pressed a button and she heard a machine whir to life and she saw restraints lock onto her body. She felt pain as something bored into her back, thrashing but unable to escape. The burning pain of the drill stopped and she felt ice enter her veins. “This will flush your system out,” Katago explained, “I will then pump the blood of a mana user into you, and we’ll see what happens.” Ushio thrashed wildly as she felt fire enter her bloodstream, pain so intense she wished she could die. Every part of her body screamed in agony as the foreign blood entered her system. Nuada began clawing his way thru the bodies as they were tearing at him, climbing ever up, he gasped for air as he breached the surface of the corpses. Looking around he saw the scene had shifted as he was now also in a room where Katago was using a computer and a girl was in a tank of some kind. Ushio watched in horror as the back wall and floor of the room changed into a mass of flesh, ponies and strange half bird half lions swarming about. Looking closer she wanted to retch as she saw they were all rotting corpses. A human hand burst from the floor and Nuada began pulling himself up out of the bodies, his clothes were torn and his body covered in blood and wounds. His nice white hair now a deep crimson. Ushio tried to call him, to tell him to flee from this room, but no sound could escape her lips. “Ah the murderous boy returns,” Katago said shifting his attention away from the console. Nuada fell to his knees worn out from the fighting, “you’re right I am a murderer.” ‘No Nuada you saved my life, you acted out of need not vengeance,’ Ushio thought at him, struggling harder her restraints began to weaken. “I killed ponies and griffons alike out there, I killed you, I swore never to kill, and I did so so easily,” Nuada said sinking back into the bodies, tears streaming from his face. ‘No, no, NO!” Ushio’s restraints broke and the glass of the tank shattered. Ushio found herself in the cute white sundress Miss Rarity had given her. Nuada looked up and saw her standing free, “Ushio?” “Nuada, you freed me from Katago,” Ushio said stepping down the dream changing around her. Kneeling down the mass of flesh turned to a grassy meadow around her, “you saved myself, and Celestia. I’m sure you fought to defend lives not to take them.” “You’re right Ushio, thank you,” Nuada stopped crying and stood up. “You haven’t won yet,” Katago said his form shifting swirling to a dark miasma, “I will end you.” Nuada watched as the darkness faded away, before turning his attention to Ushio, “That’s a nice dress.” “Thank you Miss Rarity made it for me, she said that it was a travesty against fashion to be wearing those rags,” she said spinning around. “That was nice of her,” Nuada said with a smile, “now then this is feeling dreamish.” “Oh that’s right, Miss Sparkle said you were traumatized and lent me a dream sharing device.” “So this is a dream?” Nuada asked looking at the grassy meadow, “and we’re sharing it?” “Yup,” Ushio said the area shifting to a picnic. “Okay.” Nuada stretched waking up, feeling a weight on his side he looked down to find Ushio laying on him in the dress from his dream. Pulling the device from his head, Nuada gently moved Ushio off him and got up. Memories of the dream began to fade as he went about his morning chores. Nuada explained his trip to Kirito, meeting Mistress Change and getting enchanted by her friend Gilgimesh. Nuada even demonstrated the effect as a shovel hit him in the face. Kirito observed it as ambient energy spontaneous changing to matter, then fading away after hitting him.  An hour later, Nuada went to wake Ushio. "Hey wake up," Nuada said shaking the young bunny girl. Slowly she stirred, realizing that Nuada was looking better, she jumped up and hugged him, "Nuada! You're okay!" "Not sure how okay, but I am doing better, thank you," Nuada held up the dream headband, "I'm kinda fuzzy on what happened." "Miss Sparkle said you were suffering from a kind of emotional shock, she couldn't stay, the ship was critically damaged. So she left me with this dream sharing device, so I could help you," she explained. "I must thank her later, and thank you, Ushio, I remember you came to me in my dream," Nuada said with a gentle smile. "You're welcome, so what is going to happen now?" She asked. "Right we never discussed the future," he said tapping a fist to his other hand, "well I have no way to contact deep space to find anyone to help you, so until something changes you are welcome to stay here." "Thank you," Ushio said giving him a hug, that he returned a bit awkward. "You're welcome, now then I left my stuff at Twilight's didn't I?" Nuada remarked thinking back to when Celestia was taken. "Yes I was going to grab it when Sparkle picked me up, but it was too heavy." "That’s fine, I'll go grab it today," Nuada said, "but first a proper tour." "Lady Bestla, I have finished the scan of the debris around the planet, it is Sonja the ship of the criminal researcher Katago. Reason for detonation, the ship was cut clean in half. Secondary and third energy residues detected sources unknown. End report," the Ai Kurama said as his wolf mistress was tinkering with her wrist communicator. "Bring up energy signatures two and three," she said setting the device down. A screen displayed both patterns side by side. "On three overlay our data on mana," she said recognizing the wavelength. "A match at seventy-five percent, isolating remaining twenty-five percent, close match to sub-light drive signatures. Conclusion energy belongs to a close range ship." "Okay now bring up the second signature on the large display," she said grinning. The display showed an impossible energy signature, it looked like it looped back on itself and was made of the four forces of physics and something else. "Displayed data is partial, scanners cannot make sense of energy signature." "Odd you should be able to read fourth dimensional energies, " Bestla said confused, "this is interesting." "Shall I compile a report for HQ," Kurama asked. "Do that, I'm going to take a skipper down to the surface and scan for this strange energy," she said picking up her wrist communicator pieces and tossed them in a bag, "see you later." "But ma'am, this is a special..." Kurama sighed as his mistress left the ship and began ignoring his hailings.