We exited the forest about ten minutes of straight running. I looked back, and saw no pursuers or Sniper glare. "That could have gone better," I said.
"Indeed it could have," Crota said. "Come. We are near one of the towns still loyal to my family. We can get. to Canterlot from there."
"Right," I said, nodding. "Lead the way, Crota."
"Of course. Follow me," he said, his blade in his hand, and we began to make our way to this world's Ponyville. This one was uneventful, though we did keep our eyes open for anything. When we saw the town, it looked similar to ours, only a lot more. . . bleak is the word I'm looking for here.
The ponies were nowhere near as friendly, hell I'd say they were outright hostile if we didn't have our weapons out, but I can't really blame them, now can I. "You must forgive them," Crota said. "They are weary of newcomers, especially those in armor resembling that of the Raiders."
"I guess that makes sense," I said. "After all, here, they are the bad guys."
"Yes, that does have a factor in it, but so does the fact that they tyrant Luna is even more powerful now than before."
"What do you mean," Cybis asked.
"Before we and the Traveler arrived, Sekana, or Celestia, as she was called at that time, and Luna, or Nightmare then, were powerful already, and were on opposite sides as they are now. My sister trying to subjugate the ponies, Nightmare trying to protect them. But, upon learning who their birth families were, they changed. Nightmare became Luna, and became just as powerful as Sekana would be with the Elements of Chaos. And those were lost some time ago, even before this all started."
"Well, looks like we have an advantage, then," Rhino said. "You got three of the Elements of Harmony."
"Ah, I had heard of those. Your world's version of the Elements of Chaos, if I am not mistaken," Crota said. "Oddly enough, the Tree your Elements came from exists here as well. It seems both worlds do have some in common."
"Other then the ponies names or the amount," Cybis said before an explosion rang out.
"The Raiders," Crota growled. "If there is one thing I can say about them, it is they are determined. I must contact my sister and have her get us out of here."
"Go," Rhino said. "We'll buy you the time you need."
"Are you certain?"
"Dude, we pissed off our world's Celestia when she had the Elements, and are still here. Fucking their shit is child's play for us, especially with our tricks," I say. "Cybis, sniper position with Tlalock on top of town hall. Keep 'em in cover. Rhino. . . well, do what you do best. I'll do the same."
"And what about the others from back home," Cybis asked.
"If you are worried about paradoxes where when you injure someone in this world," Crota said, "you injure those in yours, you need not worry. My mother was able to fix that issue before I met you without the Raiders knowing. You can harm them without harming your allies."
"They have Ghosts?"
"Phantoms, and yes."
"Okay. Cybis, switch from suppression to kill."
"On it," he said before making a break for town hall.
"Good thing both of them know dimensional shit, huh," Rhino asked me as Crota went into a nearby building.
"Yeah, I guess," I reply. "Come on, we need to get set up." Over Ghost Radio, trademark because Bungie doesn't call it that far as I know, I told Cybis, "Cybis, once you get up there, let us know which side they're coming in from."
"I was going to do that anyway."
"Just making sure," I said. "Come on, Rhino."
"Right," he said, and we both moved to the center of the town, as it would allow us easy access to everywhere else in this Ponyville.
"Nolandroid, tell me we got our weapons please."
"Yeah, we do," he replied, not materializing. "Stored in the Void."
"Hell yeah," I said. "Time to go BA. Last Word with year two Vanguard sidearm and year two Dragon."
"You sure?"
"Positive," I say.
"Okay, then," he said, my load out changing. Yes, I know two exotics, but I give no shits right now.
"And get some songs cued up. I'm thinking Sparks and Change."
"Thousand Foot Krutch? Did not expect that," he said. "Cued."
"Good. What you going with, Rhino?"
"What else," he said. "Suros, Conspiracy Theory, and Variable, along with Sunbreaker. Your sub?"
"What else," I say, echoing him. "Gunslinger with double throwing knife and headcharge." By headcharge, I meant I would get a knife back for each headshot kill throw. Hey, when you get the Last Word and You're a Hunter, badass rules state you must be a Gunslinger. I am going to have a lot of fun.
Anyway, as we got close to the actual center of town, a few streets away from Town hall, Cybis came over the radio, saying, "I got them on scope. Each cardinal direction. And I'm using PaT, so they can't see the glare right now. Waiting for your mark, Josh."
"Copy," I said as Rhino and I snuck into two separate alleys, our weapons waiting. "When I give the mark, unleash hell, Guardians. Need to buy Crota time, and there's something I didn't expect to say."
"Same," my counterparts said. A few minutes later, Cybis said, "They just met up. Far as I can tell, it's this world's version of Disciple and Obsidian, nopony else- scratch that, we have an issue. I just saw a Tracker, what I'm calling this world's Hunters, go invisible. Might be looking for us, probably more."
"Copy," I whispered. "Rhino, you get that?"
"Crystal clear," he replied. "Cyb, they got blue shimmer?"
"As usual for us."
"The we know what to look for," he said. "So, what are going to do about Luna?"
"Take her out f needed," I say. "She isn't linked to Nightmare anymore, and she isn't Nightmare. She's also a threat right now. We try to bring her back to, for lack of better terminology, the Darkness here. That fails, we kill her, much as I don't want to."
"And her dad?"
"Kill, no question."
"Ooh-rah."
"And Cybis, if they leave your sight, come to where we are."
"Copy."
A few minutes later, Rhino and I heard hoofsteps on the roofs above us. Stealth makes you invisible, but it doesn't silence you, something I make sure to tell any Hunters. A message appeared on my HUD, a feature we had put in every Guardian helmet to act like Metal Gear Solid's Codex, silent comms, and had tested it again and again until not even magic could get through it, and our Ghosts were currently seeing if the Raiders had something similar.
Should we attack?
I replied with just a thought. Negative. Wait until they come down or attack. If it's the former, Melee. Noland's got the comm silencer up, so they won't be able to call for help.
Copy. A few more seconds passed before a blue smear dropped to the ground, and a cloud of dust popped up.
I got it, I said, putting my hand cannon on my thigh before drawing me melee knife, and sneaking up on the blur, which was slowly moving. When I reached its back, I said, "Guess who," before reaching around and digging my knife into the Trapper's throat, which made it become visible, showing off Crota Raid armor with the same shader as this world's Luna. I brought my knife out, a spurt of blood following it before the stallion in the armor fell to the ground.
"Guys, something's up," Cybis said over the radio as soon as the body fell. He had panic in his voice. It took a lot for that to happen.
"What is it," Rhino asked.
"Luna, with this world's AJ and Twilight, en route to town center, as well as every other Raider! I'm en route now."
"Copy," I said. "We'll hold out as long as possible. Should be fun."
"For us, perhaps," Luna said as she landed behind me. "It's funny. My father told me to beware of you, but I paid no heed. Now you have not only found Crota, but killed my best Trapper." Oh the irony.
"Yeah, well," I said, "Trappers aren't Hunters." With that, I flicked my hand up and caught my knife blade first before throwing it at this world's Twilight's face. Good thing our's isn't here, seeing as how she fell then and there, which made Applejack charge me, but her tail was caught by Rhino, who dragged her back, and hit her in the back of the head. "Plus, we Guardians know how to adapt."
"And yet, we have the numbers," Luna said, and juts like that, the two Raider teams came into view. Rhino used his lift ability to get past Luna and land next to me, facing the new arrivals, just as Cybis jumped down from the rooftops to do the same on my opposite side.
"So, what do you guys think," I asked. "Time to go badass?"
"Hell yeah," they said, and we dropped our weapons to draw our swords, me having Dark drinker, Rhino having Raze lighter, and Cybis having Bolt caster.
(00:16)"Then let's go," I said, and we charged into the group, swords raised high. I don't know about the others, but I went after Luna, Applejack, and a revived Twilight, who each had their own swords. I brought my blade down to attack Luna, but was blocked by the other two before Luna tried an upwards slice, which I jumped back from, with a backflip for extra style points as I brought out Void edge. Upon me landing, I crossed them like i was Darth Malgus from the intro cinematic for SWKOTOR. The next three attacks were well timed, too.
(00:33)Twilight and Applejack attacked with horizontal slices, which I blocked with my two swords.
(00:35)Luna was next, trying to get in through the opening, but I was able to side step it.
(00:37)The three of them attacked at the same time, Twilight from the left, Applejack from the right, and Luna from the middle. I blocked the one from Twilight with Void edge, and used Dark drinker's length to block the other two. Now for retribution.
(1:05) It took a while to get the leverage I needed, but once I did, I backed away, which made my opponents swords fall to the ground because they kept trying to brute force me. I used the opening to cut off the arms of this Twilight and Applejack before initiating what I like to call the "Tornado of death" on Luna, which is the Dark drinker special, though with a second sword added in, making it impossible to block. This beheaded Twilight and Applejack while pushing Luna back. When I was done spinning, I flipped the swords into a reverse grip, and the two of us looked like Starkiller and Darth Vader from the Fore Unleashed two trailer where they face each other on a snowy field. Some one take a picture, because that is badass incarnate. I stole a quick glance at the others. Cybis was going full on Sith Lord on this world's Obsidian team, lightning and all, Rhino using both his blade and hammer to push Disciple back. I then looked back at Luna, and attacked, but not before dropping my swords, and jumping at her. It was here I went full on badass.
I activated my super, Arc Blade, and rolled on landing, putting me in Luna's sword range, which she then swung, but I blocked with my knife before pushing up and out of her hand, and moving in close, delivering quick slashes that didn't do that much except draw blood, that wasn't what I was doing. I spun to her right side and grabbed it, putting it over my back as I crouched, and proceeded to deliver two quick stabs with my blade, one in the stomach, one in the chest beside the heart, keeping the knife in the second time as I delivered an electrical shock to Luna, then spinning out as she swayed from side to side before grabbing her sword as it fell, performing a slight flair with it, spinning it, before spinning myself, and cutting her head off. Here, I saw this version of our friend had a Ghost, or Phantom, here, and it quickly raised a shield to prevent me from destroying it, and I knew she would be back soon.
I looked at the others, and saw them finishing with their groups. "Guys, we need to get out of here to a better position!"
"That's not going to happen, Josh," Nolandroid said. "Look behind you."
I did so, and saw every other Raider in this world behind us. Fuck my life.
"You won't be able to stop us," a newly, and quickly, I may add, revived Luna said behind me. "We are much more numerous, and we know how to destroy Phantoms, and I am quite certain your 'Ghosts' are the same. You three won't be able to stop us." It was here that Rhino and Cybis were forced back to where I stood.
"Nolandroid, stop the music," I said, and the music stopped. I then looked at Luna, and said, "Yeah, the three of us can't defeat you. Not while we're separate." God damnit, I hope this works. "After all," I said, creating an orb of light and darkness in my left hand, "sometimes, one is as powerful as an army." I then turned and the three of us, Rhino and Cybis having seen where I was going, thrust out shade orbs, that's what I'm calling them, together, and a flash of light occurred, causing those not at the center to avert their eyes to avoid being blinded.
When the light faded, they all looked at where I stood. What they saw, instead of three Guardians of the three classes, was a single Guardian of each. I had on a cloak that seemed to be made from large bird feathers, my Equum Alatum chest piece, and boots and guantlets that were flowing, as if made from water, but were sturdy as well, with the claws from the sealed Ahamkara gauntlets at the end of the fingers. Guys, what does helmet look like?
Fotus, Tara replied. Well, it looks as if being here made the three of us become a technical alicorn when fused, or our training gave us that much power together. Time for some fun.
"So," I said. "Who wants to die next?"
Before any of them could reply, I heard the familiar sound of a Hive tombship, and Luna snarled. "You are lucky today, Guardian," she said. "But rest assured that when we next meet, you will die." With that, she and the other Raiders began to run, but before they could get far, I drew my void bow, and fired a shadow shot arrow at Twilight's legs, not killing her, but allowing me to walk over and knock her out before I decided to separate again.
"That was interesting," Rhino said as he picked Twilight up.
"Definitely," Cybis said as Crota walked up.
"It is good to see that the three of you are alive," he said.
"It'll take a lot to kill us," I said. "By the way, we captured a Raider for interrogation."
"I can see that," he said. "And it is Twilight Sparkle. Sekana will be pleased to see her former student again."
"She was her student here, too," Rhino asked, surprised. "Sure, why the fuck not?"
"So, when are we going to head to Canterlot," Cybis asked.
"Actually," Crota said, "when I informed my mother of what had happened, she and Sekana decided to come here as soon as possible."
"Explains that," Cybis said, looking at a Tombship that settled just above our current location.
"This is going to be interesting," I said just as that orange glow came from the bottom, and ten figures, eight resembling the Knights we had back home currently, appeared.
Crota walked over to the other two, both female and wearing actually very elegant gowns with armor over them. "Hello, mother, sister," he said.
"Hello, my son," the taller of the two, who had dark red skin with three fingers, it seems that pact didn't change that, and a gown resembling, color wise, Omnigul's. "It is good to see you are alive and unharmed."
"Yeah, or you'd get no end of it from me," the other, I presume Sekana from the voice and simple common sense, said.
The three chuckled before Crota said, "Yes, well, for that, those three are to thank." He gestured back to us, and Cybis and I gave a light bow, Rhino being unable for obvious reasons.
"Highnesses," we said. "A pleasure and honor to meet you."
It was Auryx who walked towards us first, Sekana following. "No, it is all mine for meeting you three," she said."I have talked with the spirit in the Tree, and she has told me of your deeds. You have my thanks, as well, for protecting this town from the Raiders."
"Hey, it's our job to do so," I said with a slight chuckle. "And Sekana, Crota said you may like what we have. Rhino?"
"Right here," he said, laying Twilight on the ground.
"Twilight," Sekana asked in a gasp. "I thought she had died."
"Regardless," I say, "she's here, and, with your permission, we'd like to try something. You all use Darkness, right?"
"Yes to both," Sekana said. "Why?"
"To bring her to your side."