Twilight, Sawn, Hades, and Ruso made their way back to the castle, the group getting odd looks, to say the least, from the nobles, but most gazes were averted upon seeing the bulk of Hades, or the sharp teeth of Ruso. Subconscious fear of predators, after all. Though there was the odd swoon from the occasional mare, though who it was meant for wasn't known. "You know, I'm kinda wishing we hadn't come here before Celestia and the others," Twilight said. "At least then, we wouldn't be dealing with the annoyances."
"Or possibly face sun butt's rage at destroying a building," Sawn said, getting a look from Twilight. "What? She has a sun on her flank, the pony equivalent of a butt. You tell me you haven't come up with that nickname since we joined with Diamondback."
". . .Touche," Twilight said. "But yeah, that too."
"On the other hand, it was empty," Hades said. "So if they were going to clear it for a new building, we did help."
"And if it was an entirely new one that hadn't been furbished yet?" Twilight asked.
"Then they know to make it more flame resistant in the future," Hades replied with a chuckle, making Twilight groan.
"Hades, I swear. Sometimes I wonder why I don't have you transferred to another squad," she said.
"Because this group wouldn't be anywhere without his charm," Sawn jokingly suggested, getting a chuckle out of the alicorn and Jiralhanae, and a short laugh out of the Sangheili.
"I'd say be cause every group needs a brawny idiot," Ruso suggested, getting another laugh.
"Shut it, guys," Twilight said as the castle gates came into view. "We're here."
"Right," Ruso said as the four were stopped by the guards at the gate.
"Halt!" a unicorn stallion yelled as he and his pegasus companion pointed spears at them, getting a deadpan stare and reply from Twilight.
"You do realize the armor we're wearing is meant to stop small projectiles moving faster than the speed of sound, or survive contact with parts of a sun, right?" Twilight asked. "And even if you are that idiotic, then how about you ask Princesses Celestia, Luna, and Cadence, along with those who arrived with them. In which case, we'd be able to sneak in while you morons left, leaving the gate unguarded."
The pegasus guard scoffed. "Please. The guard doesn't leave anything unprotected."
"Then you're incompetent as all hell is at rewarding good people," Twilight muttered. "Then try to catch us," she said before she lit her horn, and she and her three comrades vanished in a lavender flash.
"Find her and those beasts!" The unicorn guard yelled to those inside the gate. "We can't let them get to the Princess!"
Those inside saluted just as said group of four reappeared in the Throne room, where Celestia and the others, including Skana's squad of Sangheili, were waiting. "Expect the guard to come in here saying somepony broke in before noticing us," Twilight said. "They were being stupid. Also, hey, Skana."
"Getting into trouble again, little brother?" Skana asked Ruso, who simply grumbled. "I will take that as a yes."
"What happened, Twilight?" Velvet asked.
"The morons tried to stop us, and I teleported us here," she replied. "And yes, I walked up with my helmet off." Of course, with Velvet being Twilight's mother and Skana being Ruso's older sister, both could tell something else.
"And before?" Skana asked. To their credit, the two lasted longer than usual. Which is to say they lasted for all of five seconds.
"We chased the nobles," Ruso eventually said. "And burnt down an abandoned building."
There were two different responses to this. One was Skana telling Ruso, "For your sake, brother, they'd better have had done something to you personally first," and Celestia berating the group for their actions. Though, to be honest, she was slightly sad she had missed the chance to have a little fun. The screams of the Nobles were almost always funny.
"Look, can we get back to the story?" Twilight asked. "There's no telling when the next Keepers attack will occur."
"And how do you think we should?" Celestia asked. "Rarity and the others are in Manehattan."
"That, I believe, I can handle, your majesty," Skana said before taking a circular device from a compartment on her waist, pressing a small button on the side, and tossing it to the floor. "The rest of you," she said to her cohorts. "Camouflage, and watch the doors and windows. If the Keepers are here, there is no telling where they have agents, and we must be prepared." The Sangheili nodded before slowly fading away, though their heavy footsteps were easily heard. "Any second," she said.
To kill that time, Celestia asked Ruso, "So, Ruso, when did you and your brother join the military?" Ruso nearly replied before the eighth word registered, causing him and Skana to laugh. "What?"
"Princess, Skana is not my brother," Ruso said. "She is my elder sister."
"But-"
"If you're going to cite the fact their builds are similar," Twilight said, "that's because of the armor. Put them in Sangheili civilian clothes, and you'll be able to see it."
"And the answer to your question would be three years ago," Skana replied. "And you need not apologize. You would not be the first to make that mistake."
Before another word could be uttered, the circular device beeped before an image of Diamondback, Rainbow, Spike, and Luna appeared. "Okay, now that's cool," Spike said.
"Holoprojector with a bit of magic mixed in," Nightmare said. "Never thought I'd see the Canterlot throne room with my own eyes, though."
"Can they hear us?" Rainbow asked.
"Yeah, we can hear you guys," Sawn said, making the pegasus mare jump. "So, you guys ready to continue?"
Twilight nodded. "Yep. So, it had been four weeks since Voi. . ."