As I went through the portal back to Equis, I felt my body split, I imagine back into my three personalities, and the armor change to Infinite Lines. When we exited the portal, myself, Rhino, and Cybis, landed on our feet, this time in front of the Vex part of the portal.
"That was interesting," Cybis said, and I saw he had Sunset in a fireman's hold, which, given that I had no extra weight, meant that Rhino had the Knight.
"You think," Rhino said. "Josh, why did you decide to bring the Hive here?"
"You should know, Rhino," I say, taking my helmet off. "You were in my head after all. We destroyed their worms, and gave them full free will. The loss of their worms also took away their abilities. And the Tower does have holding cells."
"Still think it's a bad idea," he mumbled.
"Just get him," I say, gesturing to the Knight over his shoulder, "to the cells. We can see which side he wants to be a part of later."
"Fine," Rhino said before the room.
"And what about her?" Cybis said, gesturing with his head to a currently unconscious Sunset.
"Does she still have the Darkness in her?" I asked.
"I definitely sense some," Nolandroid said. "Not much, but enough to where she can use it."
"Then we wait for her to wake up, and ask her a few questions to see what she plans on doing now," I say. "I doubt she can defeat the three of us, let alone the rest of the team. Especially since we can use the Darkness."
"When we're one person, yeah," Cybis said. "But we don't know if we can in our current state."
"You forget," I say, brandishing the sword from Church, as well as the fracture Plasma Pistol Dinkle got from Spartan Josh, "we got help."
"Yeah, but they aren't Guardians."
"So," I say, shrugging. "The Stranger isn't one, either, and she can still harm the Vex."
"Fair enough," Cybis says. "I'll get her to medical." With that, he left and made his way to medical just as the others came through, Forge carrying two of the Knights.
"Before you ask, we are separate again," I say, already sensing their question. "Rhino's on his way to the cells with the one we carried, and Cybis is on the way to medical with Sunset."
"We were going to ask what we're going to do next," Forge said. "But thanks for that."
I chuckled as I turned to the others, and saw them wearing their armor. "No idea as to what's next," I say. "But I think some r and r is in order, given we've been doing a lot for the past, what, day?"
Forge and Sight chuckled. "Yeah, that's about right," Sight said. "Well, I'll see ya guys later," she said before leaving to head to the cells to dump her Knight, then, I imagine, find Rhino.
"Yeah, same here," Forge said, doing the same for Cybis.
"What about you three?" I ask Twilight, Applejack, and Nightmare.
"Probably going to drop these things off," Applejack said, bumping her shoulder and the Knight up, "then Twi and I are probably going to find something to do."
"Well, have fun," I say as Twilight and Applejack left. "What about you, Nightmare?"
"I don't know," she said. "A lot has changed since I left, and I don't really know what ponies do for fun these days."
"Well, I'd be happy to show you around Ponyville," I say, holding out my arm. "If you'd like to, that is."
"I'd be thankful," she said. "Once I get this to the cells, that is."
"Allow me to escort you, your highness," I say with a small, joking smile on my face, which got a small chuckle from her.
"Thank you," she said, "but I can walk myself."
"Then I'll let you escort me," I say with a laugh.
"Or we could just go," Nightmare said. "This thing's starting to get heavy."
"Then let's go," I say, and the two of us left the room to make our way to the cells.
"So, what did you do for fun before, well, you got a vacation house on the moon?"
She sighed. "Nothing with others," she said. "Celestia was always doing official business, and the castle staff never stuck around when I was nearby. Thus, I never did anything fun with others."
"The we'll have to fix that," I say. "Nolandroid, get the others, and see if you can have Ace and Harvest come over. Fleur too. It's about time we have a party for everything we've accomplished. Actually, every Fire team. They've earned it."
"I'll see what I can do," he said.
"So, your first attempt to give me a taste of what ponies today consider fun is a party?" Nightmare asked.
"Yeah. Oh, and tell them all that Rhino, Cybis, and I are in charge of the playlist, Nolandroid."
"Right."
Oh, I am going to enjoy this.
A few minutes later, we were at the cells, Rhino and Sight no where to be seen. Go figure. "Open cell right here," I say, going to a nearby cell and opening it. Nightmare walked into it, and set it down before walking out.
"The other Fire teams are coming," Nolandroid said as we left the cells. Thank you Ghost radio.(1) "Just need to see about Harvest and Ace."
"Get on it," I say before he appears then vanishes.
"I imagine it will be sometime before I get my own Ghost," Nightmare asked.
"We've already got ponies working on it," I say. "Celestia was the one who made them before, well, you know, and we're trying to replicate her spell work on that area."
She sighed. "Of course," she said.
I chuckled. "You know, you can take your helmet off now, Nightmare," I say. "You've had it on the entire time since earlier, and I don't count the other side of the portal."
"I don't know how to," she said, making me face palm.
"Go fucking figure," I mumble. "Then we need to visit Nexus and the others, who are working on replicating the spell, as helmets can be taken off by Ghosts."
"Then lets go," she says before the two of us, me in the lead, make our way to the R and D area of the Tower.
It was awkward silence for most of the walk there, and it was broken by, of all beings, Ace and Harvest, who were still full ponies, in the main hall. "What are you guys doing here?" I ask. "I figured you'd be on the farm."
"Nolandroid told us about that party you're throwing and that we were invited," Ace said. "And believe me, we need a chance to unwind."
"So, Josh," Harvest asked. "How are you doing?"
"Fine," I say. "And guys, this would be-"
"Nightmare Moon, Celestia's sister," Ace said. "We were at that, well, what ever it was earlier."
"A pleasure to meet you, your highness," Harvest said as she and Ace bowed.
"I am surprised you see me as royalty," Nightmare said. "Given what happened earlier with my sister."
"Well, though my mother," Harvest said, "is too stubborn to admit that Celestia attacked first, we saw it clearly, seeing as how we were close to where she stood before it started."
"Well, good to know some saw it clearly," I say. "How are you two doing, anyway?"
"Good," Harvest said. "How's AJ?"
"She's doing good," I say. "She and Twilight are going to be at a party we're throwing later. Which reminds me: Do you guys wanna come?"
"Sure," Ace said. "We need something exciting, seeing as how Bucking season finished a few weeks ago."
"Who else is going to be there," Harvest asked.
"A few friends of ours," I say. "Tonight is when it starts."
"We'll be there," Ace said. "Right now, though, we need to get back home and make sure Applebloom doesn't get the cows in a panic."
"Have fun," I say as they head towards the doors and Nolandroid shows up.
"Josh-"
"They're in," I say. "Now come on, we're heading to R and D."
"Yeah, um, I'm going. . . somewhere else," he said in a hesitant tone before speeding off to follow Ace and Harvest. "Hey, guys, wait up!"
Both Nightmare and I just looked at the direction he went before looking at each other. "That was. . ."
"Weird," Nightmare offered.
"Yep," I say. "I'm suddenly a little worried about going there."
"Agreed, but I still need a Ghost," Nightmare said.
"Then let's get this over with," I say, and we continue on our way.
We made it to the R and D lab a few minutes later, and I opened the door. Something I regret to this day.
"HOLY-" I yell before slamming the door closed. "THIS IS THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ROOM, NOT THE RODS AND DEEPTHROATS ROOM! YOU SICK FUCKERS, NO PUN INTENDED!" I yell, kicking on the door at the end for emphasis. "Sorry you had to see that, Nightmare."
"It is alright, Josh," Nightmare said. "Before I was banished, orgies were commonplace, even for Celestia and I."
"TMI, Nightmare," I say. "T. M. I."
"You know I have no idea what that means, right?"
"Yep."
"Well, then I'll go in and see their progress," she said, earning her a look of disbelief from me. "Don't worry, I won't get involved."
"Right," I say before she walks in. You know, now that I think on it, I wonder why the researchers decided to have a love- I know who it is.
I walked away from the door, and made my way to where Chrysalis, Chitinia, and Shade were staying.
I got there quickly, anger evident in my steps, and stopped right in front of Chrysalis' door, and I heard snickering. I knocked on the door.
The snickering stopped. "Who's there?" I heard Chrysalis say.
"Chrysalis, I know you had something to do with the R and D room orgy going on, and if you don't tell me what, I will personally bust this door down, find the deepest pit that has sharks and a kraken in it, and throw you into it." Ah, how I love threats others know I can keep, if not make it possible.
She didn't last long. "Me and Shade did it because we needed love to eat."
I sighed. "This is why ponies fear the changelings, Chrysalis. Now, stop the orgy, and apologize, and then start working with them on a way that'll allow you to feed without doing. . . that!"
"On it," Shade yelled before I walked away.
Thank god tonight's the party, or I might lose my mind. Well, time to invite Church and Spartan Josh.