//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: Equestria Reborn // Story: I Have Returned 2: The Broken Ones // by EPiiCx5587 //------------------------------// I Have Returned 2, The Broken Ones Chapter 1: Equestria Reborn New Canterlot City, a stunning metropolis, and heart of the UNSC lead government of Equestria. Once a megre little mountainside city for nobles, and the rich in the days of old, now shining example of the combined efforts of both Ponykind and the human race. To most the city was unrecognizable compared to its former self. After all, only five years prior most ponies didn’t even know what a lightbulb was, now there were high rises scattered all around the city, and cars moving through the morning rush hour. Thoughts like this, and of how much the Pony race had changed in the few short years following Equestria’s union with the UNSC flooded the mind of one particular pony as she layed in bed trying to catch just a few more z’s before her day inevitably had to star- “President Luna, it is time to get up.” A voice said, a voice that Luna heard utter that awful phrase every morning reminding her of reality once again. Her eyes fluttered open as she could see her alarm’s holographic display tell her that it was seven AM in the morning. Beside the alarm clock was the avatar of the A.I. of Equestria’s capital building, who also had a fragment in Luna’s own house. The A.I.’s name was Iris, a black haired human female wearing a leather biker suit. “Come on now, you’re not just a little princess anymore, you’re the president of an entire planet.” The A.I. continued, putting her hands on her hips. “Plus you have a meeting with Admiral Osman today.” “I know Iris…” Luna said before yawning. “I already have the coffee machine making your favorite brew for you.” “Heh, thanks.” Luna slowly but surely moved her body out of the bed and stretching her still tired body. Once she was fully awake she made her way to her closet to grab her UNSC uniform she wore everyday. With Equestria now being under the UNSC, they also had to follow human law which meant mandatory clothes. Walking out of her room, Luna made her way to the bottom floor of what most would consider a mansion. She sat down in her dining room as a Pony servant of hers brought her a cup of coffee, and breakfast. It was a simple dish of scrambled eggs and toast which she sarfed down quickly before she had to leave to get to her office by Eight AM. With breakfast out of the way Luna quickly went to the bathroom to brush her teeth, and fix her hair. She didn’t have time for a shower today. Her morning routine finally done, Luna exited her mansion passing by a few human guards on her way to a small roundabout in front of her estate with a limousine parked in it. The driver if the limousine got out of the vehicle to open up the back door for Luna to enter which she did while thanking the driver himself. The interior of the limousine was nothing much to write home about, after all it was meant for government use rather than parties. Inside was her personal assistant Burning Eclipse, a yellow coated, black haired unicorn mare. Not that her being a unicorn mattered anymore, after all it had been almost five years since magic was eradicated from Equestria, in actuality the anniversary of that event was a mere two days away. Today on the other hand was the anniversary of a certain someone’s return to Equestria… Just like Luna, Burning Eclipse was wearing a UNSC uniform. The young mare was holding a document of some sort, and had a very worried look on her face. “What’s wrong Miss Eclipse?” Luna asked. “...It has happened again Madam President.” “Wait another one, but the last one only happened just a few days ago? This is unlike them to strike again so soon. Where was it?” “A UNSC warehouse in a small industrial town up north. It happened last night.” “Any casualties?” “None from the current report, injuries on the other hand, yes. Six ponies and three humans were hospitalized, and are currently in critical condition.” “Damn Sun Order again… Did they ransack the place before they destroyed it?” “We can’t tell at the moment. The document I have right here has all of our current information.” Eclipse said as she handed over the papers to Luna. After the destruction of magic in the year 2558 for the most part humanity took over Equestrian government. They soon publically revealed Celestia’s tyranny, and how she held them back for thousands of years. Most other species bowed down out of fear to the humans that now ruled their planet, all except for the Griffons. From the start they challenged humanities rule over the planet, and were almost completely obliterated in all but one short battle, a testament to how advanced the human race was. The remaining Griffons who didn’t surrender, and a group of Ponies not wanting to believe the truth about Equestria formed the ‘Sun Order’. They were a small but powerful rebellion, using guerrilla tactics to slowly hurt the new Equestria and the UNSC. Nobody knows where they’re located, only that their base is somewhere hidden in the northern mountains of Equestria. For years they have quickly come out only to destroy valuable UNSC assets, and then to retreat back into hiding once more. They struck swiftly, and left little to no trace other than a spraypainted Celestia’s cutie mark. “I have a meeting with Osman today, perhaps it’ll convince her to finally send some more support.” “You really think so? They have their own insurrection to worry about, plus the last remaining Storm Covenant.” “The only reason why support has been minimal is because we don’t exactly have a clear target. If we knew where they were hiding, well then we could just eliminate them. We don’t though, so she sees is at pointless. But I suppose the covies, and the innies don’t exactly help put things in our favour.” The limousine came to a stop right outside of the capital building of Equestria. It was one hundred and fifty stories tall, and was the tallest building in Equestria. Before the driver could get to it, Luna opened the door and exited the vehicle along with Eclipse. Luna had to go through multiple security clearances in order to get to her office, but when she finally made it with five minutes to spare. With that time, she elected to sit down in her luxury designer chair custom built for her and look at at the city skyline. Eclipse on the other hand went to her separate office, It was breathtaking how far one city came in five years. New Canterlot city was by far the most advanced city technologically in Equestria. Most other cities were still implementing new technologies, making them look much like a hybrid of both human and Pony architecture. Luna had been President of the planet for almost five years now. She was the one leading her species through such a confusing time in their history with so many things they once knew completely changed. A smile crawled upon Luna’s face as the sun made its way higher up in the sky. It was a new dawn for her planet, a dawn that would lead Ponykind into the future. On the massive wall sized monitor in Luna’s office, the face of Admiral Serin Osman appeared right before her. “President Luna, I see that you are enjoying the view.” Osman said giving a twisted smile. “I quite am. It is an amazing city, although it is probably nothing compared to Sydney.” “Don’t put yourself down like that, you’ve built a fantastic metropolis.” “Greatest city in the entire planet Admiral.” “Yes, and quite the planet it is. I see that your little ‘Sun Order’ problem isn’t getting any better.” “Is that the reason why we’re having this meeting Admiral?” Luna said, now turning her chair towards the screen. “That is correct. I see that you just had an attack on a small shipyard a few days ago.” “Actually Admiral Osman there has been another one just last night. This time a UNSC wearhouse. We don’t have a full detail on the damages yet, or if they took anything, but I’ll have a report for you once we know.” Osman stayed quiet for a moment. “Hmmm, I see.” “I know the UNSC has a lot on their hands, but if we were to get some support, perhaps we could find out where they are hiding in the north so we can get rid of them.” “President Luna right now I am trying to assess whether the ‘Sun Order’ is a large enough threat for the UNSC to put a lot of their effort into. As it stands I do not know yet.” “They have caused enough violence already.” “Yes, but they are small in numbers and can only attack small establishments.” “They are still large enough to be a threat. Who knows what they have up their sleeves, and who knows what they took from that wearhouse.” “President Luna I understand your concerns, believe me, but we can’t send anything big to Equestria right now. Like you said, we have our hands full, and we still haven’t unlocked the power of the Elements of Harmony just yet so they can’t help us right now.” “Please Admiral Osman, if you grant us some help this problem will be eliminated so-” “I said I can’t send in anything big to aid you. I do have one thing though that I can send to help you.” Luna was astonished. Osman actually was going to send support to Equestria! This is exactly what she wanted! “Really Admiral that’s fantastic!” “Yes, like I said earlier I want to see exactly how big of a threat the ‘Sun Order’ is, that’s why I am sending you help. I have a personal black ops team called Kilo-Five, it consists of one A.I., one scientist, one ODST, three Spartan IV’s, and one Spartan II. They will assess the problem, and if possible eliminate it.” “Admiral Osman you have no idea of the amount of gratitude I have for you right now.” “Thank you very much, but there is just one thing you need to be aware of about Kilo-Five. You may not like it.” Luna’s heart skipped a beat, and a twinge of fear swelled up in her. “And what would that be?” “Ten years ago I was the one leading Kilo-Five. With me now being the head of ONI I had to choose a successor for myself to lead the team. I had a few who did their jobs alright, but the current leader has been the best one out of the lot.” “I don’t see why this should worry be Admiral Osman.” “....Her name is Jane Arimondo.” Luna’s heart skipped another beat. Jane Arimondo, a women who she couldn’t make up her mind on whether she liked or hated. A woman she once knew as Twilight Sparkle. Osman continued. “I hope you can put your past with Spartan Arimondo behind for the duration of her visit. Can you do that.” “I... ugh… Sigh yes Admiral, it won’t be a problem.” “Good to hear that President. I’ll make sure Kilo-Five gets to Equestria as soon as they can once they finish up their current endeavors. For now I have other matters to attend to, have a nice day President Luna.” And with that the monitor switched off leaving Luna alone in silence, still in shock over what she was just told. Jane Arimondo, some would call her a hero, some would call her a murderous traitor. Either way, it had been five years since she saw her, and now a plethora of old wounds would about to be reopened. The Avatar of Iris appeared on Luna’s desk. “Hey prez, how did the call with Osman go?” “We’re getting support against the ‘Sun Order’.” Luna said, her voice sounding like she was about to have a panic attack. “That’s great prez! I bet you’re super excited for when they arrive.” “Glad that we’re getting support, yes. Excited for their arrival, I’m not so sure about that…”