Part 5: New Game, New Rules
“…But whoever's behind that display knows something,” Shepard reasoned, his eyes narrowing as another volley of fireworks launched, creating a spectacular tapestry across the darkening dusk. “And I am past ready for some answers.”
“Answers to what?” Twilight turned, looking the stallion over suspiciously.
Shepard did not answer her, going over his options in his mind as he considered the situation before turning to the three mares.
“Fluttershy… Rarity… I need a favor,” he started, looking between the white and pastel yellow ponies. “I need you two to go and make sure that Milligan and Patch are both alright. The timing here is too convenient… but I have to see what's going on in town.”
“Why of course, darling,” Rarity answered without hesitation.
“I-I suppose I could,” Fluttershy followed up.
Twilight looked to her friends in shock as the stallion nodded appreciatively.
“Wha… Wait! You’re doing what he says? WHY!?”
“Well… he is very persuasive,” Fluttershy drew back slightly, clearly more intimidated of Twilight than she had been of Shepard even when the red colt was shouting earlier.
“I don’t know… It just seems like we should. I mean… he’s just so... authoritative… So commanding,” Rarity tried to put it to words with her usual dramatic flair, causing her voice to rise and punctuate the appropriate words. That dramatic expression turned to a sudden posturing that Twilight recognized as the elegant pony’s "swooning" face. “So… strong… and dashing and--"
“I'm already taken,” Shepard stated flatly, clearly recognizing where Rarity was going with that line of speech and not wanting it to go any further.
The white pony’s enthusiasm dropped in a heartbeat, her face becoming blank and her tone flat.
“Oh… That’s how it always is, isn’t it?” she stated, sounding severely disappointed. “Oh well, I suppose I can still go to Sweet Apple Acres, check in with AJ, and make sure that Patch is alright. Nopony else knows about her so it shouldn’t be a problem.”
“I’ll go to the hospital,” Fluttershy confirmed, drawing Twilight’s attention again as she displayed an uncharacteristic forwardness. “The doctors know me there, so it shouldn’t be hard.”
Shepard nodded to them, a slight smile on his lips.
“Okay… Move out.”
As the pegasus took to the air (Shepard watched this, still in awe of the physically impossible feat taking place) and Rarity galloped off, Twilight couldn’t help but stare at the stallion.
“Just like that…?” Twilight’s eyes narrowed, sounding at once amazed and irritated. “You come out of nowhere… and take command… Nopony here knows you… they have no reason to trust you… And yet they listen to you… just like that?”
She looked at him in astonishment as he stood a moment longer, appraising her as well.
“How did you do that?”
“Because I have to… Because someone has to,” the Commander stated simply. “Because when there is so much at stake, there are choices that have to be made… and good people will always be drawn to those who are able to make those choices and live with the consequences.”
Twilight was quiet for a moment before her attention was brought skyward again by a burst of red in the shape of a star within a circle exploding in the sky.
“I still think you’re crazy,” Twilight stated as the stallion started off at a quick canter towards the launch point of the display.
“In my line of work,” Shepard called back with a grin. “Sometimes a little crazy is what’s needed to get results.”
Twilight considered for a moment as he started away, with a realization that he had asked nothing of her and gave her no instructions.
Giving her the choice.
...There was little hesitation in her decision.
Shepard made it several yards before the lavender unicorn moved up beside him.
“I’m not saying I believe you…” Twilight stated, although with far less vigor than she had before.
“I’m not expecting you to,” Shepard retorted as the pair moved into Ponyville.
————————————————————
The Bunker
Tali’Zorah and Mordin Solus attempted to keep themselves out of view at a corner near the overloaded junction, watching in amazement as events unfolded before them.
At first glance, the "contacts" had appeared to be much the same as the creature Tali had seen in her hacking attempt. Standing no more than a meter and a half tall on all fours, a bit taller than a volus, she was shocked by their winged locomotion, buzzing across the floor in a manner similar to the Collectors with their insectoid wings. With large, glowing blue eyes and solid black bodies that shone in the light, Tali suspected their nature immediately, but it was the distinct sound they made as they landed that confirmed it… the clinking and settling of metal and rotors.
“Mechs…” Tali realized aloud, watching as they converged on the still fizzling panel, obscuring their actions from the sight of the two organic witnesses as their gossamer wings buzzed and periodically flared.
“Synthetics. Apparent function similar to Citadel Keepers. Repair and maintain. Design seems odd. Unwieldy. Impractical. Clearly built in creator’s image," Mordin examined them with a studious expression. "V.I. or A.I? Either way, obviously not built for defense. Would have attacked by now. Elegant design suggests high level of sophistication. Unlikely they are unaware of our presence.”
*Bzzzzttt*
Quarian and salarian looked to one another for a moment, neither one comfortable with just how close that sounded… or the fact that it was behind them.
“Keeeelaaah…” Tali straightened up, her hands moving to the inoffensive and universally recognized position of "surrender" as she and Mordin turned to note the black mech that had come around, hovering like an insect at eye level with them.
Now that one of the mechs had drawn closer, the two aliens could get a better look, taking note of its sleek and well-polished nature, completely encased in what looked like a solid sheet of black metal. Unlike most conventional mechs, the only exposed joints were at the base of the wings, which from a purely mechanical standpoint should not have been capable of keeping the artificial construct aloft, much less easily hovering. Sprouting from its forehead like an obsidian dagger was a gently-curved horn-like projection. And at the base of its neck, two exposed servos clearly intended to allow for a full range of motion.
Its eyes were a glowing green and crystalline in appearance, adding to its insectoid look as the facets each shone a bit differently in the ambient light of the chamber, trained on the two as they noticed its snout was punctuated by two shiny chrome fangs.
It was a jarring mix of harmless and horrifying… and oddly enough, the sentiment was shared by both quarian and salarian as they stared the metal creature down for a moment.
Then it whinnied at them, an odd mix of animalistic and electronic tones.
“I… think it’s trying to communicate,” Tali realized as the mech tilted its head, giving an expression of curiosity; a display of emotion that could not belong to a simple V.I.
“Tali’Zorah…” Mordin thought quickly, keeping his hands up as well as they had no idea of what defenses this mech might have if provoked. “Mech has made no hostile actions. Could be independent of bunker commander. Make peace offering. Show of good will. Transmit software from translation units. May be able to learn purpose of bunker as well as Shepard's location.”
“Okay… Okay…” Tali lowered her arms slowly, her heart hammering as she tried to keep an eye on the mech watching her, while making no sudden movements that might be misinterpreted as an attack. She was glad to see that her omni-tool’s basic functions had been restored, although it was still trying to reboot higher functions and mini-fabrication from its advanced settings.
“Only other option is offense. Would likely trigger new alert. Even with two custom-grade omni-tools, insufficient to combat multiple mechs of unknown make and model.” The salarian sounded nervous, knowing as well as Tali that should the mech view them as hostile, it had a dozen friends nearby to call upon.
“I think we can take them… because if this thing is thinking for itself, I’m betting overloading it and running would be a better idea,” Tali quipped as she tapped on her omni-tool, isolating the software in her personal translator and compressing it into a data file.
“Quarian predisposed animosity towards perceived artificial intelligence. Irrational. Hypocritical. Self-destructive,” Mordin scolded.
“I am working with a geth and a shackled human A.I. I’m pretty sure I fall into the more ‘tolerant’ minority of my people... Alright, I’ve made wireless contact and sent the data-packet… Though we still don’t know if the software will be compatible with--”
“Data assimilated.” The mech’s wings stopped suddenly, dropping the black construct to the stone floor with a surprisingly light step before looking up at them.
“Oooookay… That was fast.” Tali couldn’t help but be impressed as the mech looked between the two of them.
“Communication achieved with unknown organics. Greetings. I am Changeling Unit Forty-Two of Fifty,” the mech nodded its head a bit, its digital vocalization and luminous eyes showing expression leaps and bounds beyond the norm for either mech or digital V.I. programs as it took on an electronic approximation of a male human voice.
“Appears... friendly. Quite fortunate.” Mordin relaxed a bit, lowering his arms.
“Shining Armor Protocol initiated… You are in a restricted area. Identification required for access to Equestria Subsystems. Failure to comply will result in immediate termination. You have one galactic standardized chrono-unit to respond.”
“...Friendly?” Tali turned a bit, glaring through her faceplate at the salarian.
“Cultural translation found… Be advised: current standard chrono-unit equivalent to sixty Earth seconds,” the "Changeling" drone explained, its tone still upbeat and pleasant.
“...May have jumped to conclusion,” Mordin shrugged slightly.
————————————————————
Ponyville
“Oh, you've got to be kidding me...” Twilight's expression turned sour as she and Shepard approached the town square, the front steps of what Shepard assumed was the City Hall taken up by a very elaborate stage. “What is she doing here?”
A small crowd of candy-coated equines were surrounding the stage, many with expressions of shock and awe as several more fireworks launched overhead, continuing to paint the sky with lights that smacked of a desperate cry for attention. As Shepard and Twilight came up to the rear of the crowd, the fireworks that had been launching from twin mortars on either side of the stage went quiet suddenly.
“'She'? You know who's doing this?” Shepard asked, pushing himself up a bit to try and see over the crowd, whose attention was firmly on the stage as a burst of color and spinning wheels lined with roman candles seemed intent to draw the eyes of everypony in range towards the cloud of bluish smoke that suddenly exploded forward from the center stage.
“Unfortunately…” Twilight groaned as the smoke was blown aside, revealing another equine, this one a light shade of teal with an exaggerated purple cape and pointed hat that struck Shepard as something straight out of ancient Earth cinema.
Bad ancient Earth cinema.
"BEHOLD, PONYVILLE! COME ONE, COME ALL!” came the stage-enhanced voice of the female pony, standing on her hind legs for a moment, her forelimbs flared dramatically before settling down on all fours. “THE GREAT… AND POWERFUL… TRRRRIXIE HAS RETURNED!”
The sheer arrogance and boisterous pomp in the voice of this "Trixie" struck a sudden chord in Shepard, who found himself half infuriated to the point of violence and half amused by her over the top introduction.
Keeping a straight face, Shepard turned to Twilight, who had buried her face in one hoof.
“I am sooooo sorry, Shepard. I should have realized when I saw the fireworks.”
“Who is she?” Shepard asked, keeping his tone neutral.
“She’s a traveling performer named Trixie…” the unicorn explained as another round of razzle-dazzle firecrackers went off, drawing a less than enthused reaction from the crowd, who seemed disappointed to see the mare on stage.
"I kinda got her name from the introduction... But seriously, who is she?"
“Nopony to worry about… She’s just a half-baked braggart and showpony. I didn’t think she would ever show her sorry flank back here after what happened last time.”
Judging by the sudden boos and heckling that was suddenly launched from the crowd that had been enthusiastic only moments before, Shepard could only guess as to what this "traveling performer" had done wrong on her last visit to what Shepard had observed was an otherwise civil township.
“Now, now…” Trixie stuck her snout in the air with a defined sense of snobbish disdain. “No need for that, my dear ponies. Trixie comes with news from on high and an announcement for every stallion, mare, and foal!”
“Ugh, forget her,” Twilight shook her head as she spoke to Shepard in a low tone. Clearly disgusted by the sight of the mare on stage, she turned away. “Did you want to go see Patch, or collect this ‘Milligan’? This is a waste of both of our times…”
“It is my very great pleasure to inform you all…” Trixie took a dramatic pause before her eyes cast out over the crowd.
Shepard, who was about to follow Twilight’s lead, paused as he caught those eyes, cast as they were directly at him.
Hollow… depraved eyes that he could make out even from this distance.
“…that the world as you know it is about to end.”
There was silence in the town square for a moment as the sheer malice and harshness of Trixie’s voice stunned her audience… followed by a sudden chattering and rather vocal rebuttal as dozens of ponies began speaking almost at once.
Even Twilight, who had been so dismissive, couldn’t help but turn back, her expression one of stunned disbelief.
“Oh, yes… Denial… Refusal… Shouts and demands for explanation,” Trixie called over the sudden uproar, her voice magically amplified. “Trixie has heard it all before… more times than you will care to remember. But do not blame the messenger. The GREAT and POWERFUL TRIXIE is not the one who will bring our beautiful, ideal society to its undignified and tragic end. No… That honor will go to another pony…”
She paused, again for dramatic effect as the crowd started to grow more restless and anxious, some calling for proof, while others, clearly disturbed by even the suggestion, showed that they wished to leave.
“A pony… who stands among us… right… now…” Trixie finished in a harsh, accusatory tone as her eyes seemed to glare over the crowd, who started to look around at one another.
“Shepard… I… think we should leave…” Twilight suggested, her voice indicating that she was growing unnerved by the manner and malice of Trixie’s "performance."
“Slight problem with that, Twilight,” Shepard whispered.
“What?”
“I can’t move,” Shepard admitted, his posture frozen in place for a moment longer before a sudden teal aura surrounded his body and hoisted him into the air.
“Shepard!” Twilight made a dive, missing the red stallion’s legs by several inches as he was drawn up over the crowd and floated through the air in a tumbling fashion, struggling against the familiar sensation of a biotic field until he was released and sent rolling across the stage.
“And here he is… The guest of honor.” Trixie smirked wickedly as Shepard pushed himself to his hooves, turning to face her and ignoring the fact that his armored form was now the center of attention for a crowd of otherwise uninvolved native ponies. “You’ve stirred up quite the hornet’s nest… you know that, Shepard?”
Shepard fought off the feeling of motion sickness that came from having his sense of gravity turned literally upside down as he narrowed his eyes and arched his back, taking what would have been an offensive posture for a human and translated in his head being held high and his shoulders locked back in his four-legged pony form.
“Who are you!?” Shepard demanded, his outrage rising at being so blatantly called out.
“Oh, Trixie thinks we are all much more interested in you, Commander.” Trixie raised one eyebrow and gave a look of appraisal as she took a step towards him, watching his reaction. “Trixie thought you were just another random interloper. An annoyance like the others.”
Shepard did not budge.
“Who are you?” he asked again, his tone both softer, yet more dangerous.
“Imagine my surprise when she learned the truth… Such a clever girl, really, hiding it for so long and playing straight-faced like that. She should have had Trixie's job. Although, had I known, I would never have let you in. Yes… she knew just how to get Trixie to agree with her. Play the swing vote, as it were.”
Trixie took another step forward, now almost nose to nose with the red-coated pony as the grey eyes of the Commander locked with her own violet eyes.
Still, he did not step back.
“Who… are… you?” Shepard asked one last time, not caring about the public attention as he grit his teeth, his surface calm began to crack and exposing the anger that simmered below the surface at being kept in the dark and off balance for so long. The showpony's constant confusing jumps from first to third person weren't helping his disposition, either.
*Vrrrrrmm-BAMPH*
The flash of purple light suddenly made the stage crowded as a violet unicorn appeared between the two figures and pushed them apart with a hoof on each of their chests.
“Trixie! You’ve gone too far!” Twilight shouted, taking a defensive position in front of Shepard.
“Already, Twilight Sparkle?” Trixie’s tone dipped, amusement seeping through. “You rally to the side of the pony who will take away everything you have? You would side with him before the will of your Princess? Without a thought of what it will cost your own kind?”
Twilight flinched a bit, unsure how to react as Trixie took a step back.
“Stupid, BRILLIANT, little Twilight. Always too clever for her own good. Trixie should have known it would be you who would draw to him… You were always the hardest one to write for… The heroine of her own little story, constantly throwing my upheavals off course. Ohhh, we’ve had some fun together, my little pony.”
“What… are you talking about?” Twilight shifted uncomfortably, unsure what to make of Trixie’s rant and realizing that the unicorn had gone more than slightly mad.
A realization that grew more apparent as she suddenly lifted up on two legs… her forelegs hoisted towards the heavens in a frantic motion.
Too frantic, both Twilight and Shepard realized, to be natural. Her hind hooves were lifted more than an inch off the ground and she seemed to be levitating in the air as if held aloft by her forelimbs. Looking at those hooves, reaching high above her head, both Shepard and Twilight could now see the near imperceptible depression on her fur… like thin fishing lines that trailed up into invisible nothingness.
“It’s too bad, really. I rather liked this setting. And I loved this character…” Trixie’s voice twisted, growing deeper and more whimsical.
“That voice…” Twilight eyes went wide as she took a step back and next to Shepard. “No… Oh no… No no no…”
*Shink*
There was a horrified cry from the audience, bringing their presence back to Shepard’s attention, as Trixie suddenly fell forward, limp as a rag doll as she collapsed unceremoniously to the stage and drew a sudden frenzy of shock from the captivated audience.
“This isn’t happening… This can’t be happening…” Twilight looked to the now still form of Trixie, her eyes open and glazed over like those of a doll before she looked up to where Shepard’s gaze was directed.
Slowly fading into sight were the strings that had been holding the Great and Powerful Trixie aloft, attached to a marionette held in a yellow eagle claw. Just past those now loose strings was a pair of scissors that would have been comically oversized were they not held in an awkward lion’s paw, both limbs attached to a creature spawned by no mythology that Shepard knew of.
“Discord…” Twilight’s terrified voice gave name to the creature that floated effortlessly above them. A serpentine creature made up of body parts belonging to at least five different species, all cobbled together like a chimera and topped with a menacing, goat-like face.
“New game…” the draconequus snickered maliciously, dropping the scissors and the marionette to the stage with a grin. “New rules...”
And then all hell broke loose.
————————————————————
Ponyville Hospital
Fluttershy’s approach to the hospital was a familiar one; her days of therapy there fresh in her mind. While Doctor Ward wasn’t likely to be on duty, she felt certain that whoever the night shift physician was would be able to let her in for an impromptu visit.
She also couldn’t explain the sudden surge of confidence she had been feeling. The sense that everything would be alright that seemed to emanate from her and Twilight’s new friend.
He had scared her a bit at first, but even only knowing him for such a short time, she had come to feel as if she could trust him completely; a rare thing for the usually overly-shy yellow pony.
Now all she had to do was check in and wait for Shepard and Twilight to finish with whatever was happening back in town. It had been several minutes since the fireworks and--
“GET YOUR FILTHY HANDS… HOOVES… WHATEVER… OFF OF ME!” came a shout that shattered whatever peace there was in the growing nighttime, causing Fluttershy to snap to reality as she looked down to the ground in shock of what she saw.
A large, enclosed wagon was set outside the main doors of the hospital, a row of armored stallions standing along the trail leading to it as several more were frantically trying to keep hold of a struggling earth pony. He had apparently managed to work off an improvised gag that was now laying on the ground, no fewer than four Royal Guards half dragging the stallion towards the cart.
“Now, Mr. Tart… We’re trying to help you,” one of the stallions stated, grunting as the pony struggled, kicking out wildly and fighting in spite of the straitjacket he wore. “The facilities at Canterlot are far more--”
“MY NAME IS NOT BITTER TART!” the stallion shouted. “IT’S MILLIGAN, YOU STUPID EQUINE! THEY ARE LYING TO YOU! CAN’T YOU SEE IT!? IT’S ALL A LIE!”
“Why aren't the tranquilizers working!?” one of the guards queried, trying to keep the surprisingly stout earth pony from kicking him in the face.
“I don’t know… just… get him in the cart.”
“SHEPARD!!” the stallion called out as the door to the cart opened and the four armored stallions press-ganged him into its threshold. “SHEPAAAAARD!!”
Keeping to the air, Fluttershy dove around towards the upper levels of the hospital as she tried to get a view of the pony being dragged away…
And to her shock, caught view of something she had not expected in the cart next to where Milligan had been thrown…
Something pink, wrapped in a similar straitjacket covered in chains, a very large muzzle forced over her snout as she too struggled against her bonds for just a few moments before the door was slammed shut.
“Pinkie Pie!?” Fluttershy gasped quietly as her hooves went to her mouth. “Oh my gosh… What is she doing in there?”
One of the guards paused, looking up towards the roof of the building.
Above them he saw nothing… and dismissing the sound, turned back towards the cart to fly escort as the guard pegasi that had been holding a silent position hitched themselves in to carry the wagon aloft.
Moving out from her hiding place along the rooftop, the yellow pegasus watched as they were pulled quickly to the sky and out of view.
“Ohmygosh, ohmygosh!” Fluttershy’s eyes filled with tears as she tore through the air back towards Ponyville, unsure of what else to do.
————————————————————
Sweet Apple Acres
Rarity didn’t often walk the dusty road to Sweet Apple Acres, as there was little call for an aspiring socialite and fashion designer down on an earth pony farm. Save for the occasions where she was roped into aiding Applejack with a particularly difficult harvest or for events like the opening of Cider Season, of course.
Already she was imagining the bath she would need to indulge in to get the dirt of the farm off of her white, velvety coat, and considering what fragrances to put in the water.
It was some surprise then when the unicorn came up to the arch that stood over the path that led to the Apple Family house and barn proper, taking note of the elderly green mare that was leaning too and fro in her rocking chair, looking out over the road.
“Good evening, Granny Smith.” Rarity put on a smile and bowed her head respectfully to the matriarch of the Apple Family. “I hope you’re doing well tonight.”
Granny continued rocking, staring blankly out over the road as if she had not heard the unicorn, although now Rarity was close enough to take note of the mute expression in the old nag’s eyes.
Growing a bit worried, Rarity raised her voice a bit, waving at the green-coated, grey-maned earth pony.
“Granny Smith? Are you alright?”
“Storm’s a-comin',” the elder mare stated plainly in her creaking aged drawl, still not looking up. “Worst one Ah’ve ever seen. Ponies may not be able ta weather this’n.”
Although at first relieved, Rarity couldn’t help but note the ominous nature of her words.
“Oh, I didn’t think the Weather Patrol had any big storms scheduled for the week... and certainly nothing dangerous,” the unicorn tried to reassure her. “I’m sure it’s nothing. Oh, I came to see Applejack and Patch... you remember? Your new hired-hoof... Are they in?”
“Mah memory’s jus’ fine, missy. Better’n yours, Ah’d reckon. Mah age, nopony listens anyways. So no point in messin’ with it no more.” Granny Smith shook her head. “They was entertainin’ somepony, Ah think... Back in the barn.”
“I see... Thank you, Granny. I... hope you feel better,” Rarity shook her head, feeling a bit sorry for the aged mare.
It couldn’t be easy reaching that age, she thought... and she dreaded to think how she might look if she got to be--
*CRASSSSSHHH*
*RAAAAAWWRRRRRR*
Rarity was snapped to reality in an instant as the side of the Apple Family barn exploded outward suddenly, a familiar roar shaking the trees for miles around as the starry night sky itself seemed to erupt from within.
Frozen in place, Rarity could not tear her eyes away as a bear-shaped beast she had seen once before dipped its head down for a moment, coming up with something secured in its teeth.
It took Rarity a few moments to register the form of the limp mare, held up by a thick vest that she recognized as one she had personally sewn together, but that couldn’t cover the patchy brown and white nature of the pony's checkered fur.
But it took no time at all for Rarity to recognize the rope that was slung up and over the towering bulk of the ursa minor, tying around and tightening over one ear before it darted forward. Nor could she ignore the obvious shape of a certain stubborn farm pony with the other end of the rope clenched in her teeth, refusing to let go even as she was pulled up through the air, the enormous ursa making leaping strides towards the Everfree.
The entire event, loud and sudden as it was, was over in less than a minute, leaving a very overwhelmed fashionista standing in shock with her mouth hanging open while the door to the Apple Family house opened up, revealing an equally-shocked Big Macintosh and Apple Bloom in the doorway.
“Yep... Ah reckon they’re ‘round here someplace,” Granny Smith stated obliviously, not even turning around as the remains of the Apple Family barn toppled creakily to the ground, kicking up a thick cloud of dust.
————————————————————
Ponyville
From where the scissors landed on the stage, a sudden plume of smoke exploded outwards and a dangerous-looking creature with the body of a large lion, bat-like wings, and a wicked-looking scorpion tail sprang into existence. While a short distance away, as the marionette cross struck the floor, it too burst apart, the fractured bits of wood expanding and growing in seconds into the form of several wolfish creatures, apparently composed out of nothing but sticks and vines.
And with a full-bellied laugh, the creature that still defied gravity, floating effortlessly above the stage, rolled onto its back and grinned as the monstrous beasts dove off and towards the crowd of ponies, who panicked in an instant, darting to get away.
“Discord! Why...? How...?” Twilight was still in shock for a moment as one of the wooden wolves dove across the stage at her, snarling with what looked like tree sap foaming at its mouth.
Not stopping to think, Shepard surged forward, putting himself between the unicorn and the creature in a defensive position...
*ZOOM*
*KA-CRACK*
...before a blur of rainbow colors came shooting out of nowhere, impacting the creature at high speed and shattering it into a thousand twigs while causing the Commander to recoil as his mind instantly reeled back to a very similar bolt of light that had driven him off a planet’s surface only a few short hours ago.
"Twilight!” came a new voice, somewhat androgynous, but nonetheless welcome as Shepard came to note the appearance of a new pony, this one with a very lean, athletic build, wings, and a blue coat that was topped (and ended) by a perfect rainbow mane and tail that Shepard doubted was natural.
“RAINBOW!?” Twilight pepped up, her stunned moment having passed. “Thank CELESTIA!”
A sudden scream stole the moment before any further inquiry could be made by the already lost Commander Shepard, drawing both of the mares' attentions to the crowd which was already under attack from all sides as the timberwolves and manticore, creatures that were rarely seen outside the Everfree Forest, attacked.
With a few ponies already hurt and on the ground bleeding from wounds inflicted by thorny claws and the manticore’s tail, there was no time for strategy or discussion.
The rainbow mare turned, clearly a pony of action, and nodded to Twilight and the stranger.
“Give me the Cliff's Notes later! I hope you know how to fight, Red, because we’re gonna need help!” she said quickly, before diving forward at a speed that Shepard would not have thought possible... except for all of the other things happening around him that he didn’t think were possible.
“Come on!” Twilight dove past Shepard as well, trying to fight back any sense of doubt she was having as the violence escalated around them. The civilian population of Ponyville; mares, stallions, and more than a few foals, were all under vicious attack.
An attack that was suddenly underneath Shepard as he felt another wave of pressure surround his body, the effect of gravity lessening as he was lifted back and away.
“SHEPARD!” Twilight turned for a moment as the Commander again struggled against the biotic field.
“GO! THEY NEED HELP MORE THAN I DO!” Shepard shouted with a commanding tone, snapping Twilight from her hesitation and causing her to turn and leap off the stage, her horn alight as she rushed to the aid of a pony that the manticore was angrily bearing down on.
“Oh, you are sooooo sure of that, aren’t you, Shepard?” Discord asked, lazily lounging as he drew the red earth pony in armor up more than fifty feet into the air, holding him in position. “Because if I were you, I would have other concerns.”
Much to the draconequus’ disappointment, the red pony did not struggle or try to get away, merely folding his forelegs together and glaring at the impossible creature before him.
“Like 'letting me in to see what I’d do'?” Shepard stated blankly, causing the creature’s face to burst into a grin.
“Ahh, you remember me! I did think that was odd... simple cybernetics interfering with a biometric rewrite. I bet she didn’t even try to get into that handsome little head of yours. Except for programming the motor functions, obviously, but it wouldn’t do to have you falling all over yourself, now would it?"
“Great, now you’ve got me. Call off your flunkies,” Shepard demanded, his expression still blank.
“Oh, yes... There are those heroic mannerisms coming into play. That is what she thinks of you, isn’t it? That you’re some kind of savior? Somepony to do what she can’t? What nopony’s EVER been able to do?”
Discord’s giddy expression dropped suddenly, his misshapen eyes growing more hardened and angry.
“But we both know that such idealism has no place in the real world, Shepard. There are no heroes... Just players on the galactic stage, coming and going in their time. And we both know... your time is running out.”
Shepard’s eyes narrowed as well, not fighting with the feeling of being lifted against gravity as his mass was manipulated and thus keeping himself upright.
“Who... and what... are you?”
Discord smirked again as the calls from below drew Shepard’s eyes in spite of himself, bolts of purple and trails of rainbow darting about... Making an impact, but perhaps not enough to protect all of the ponies as they continued to run in the chaos.
“Awww... feeling a little conflicted? Tell you what, I’ll give you the option...” Discord casually flicked his wrist, a small plastic bottle in his furry lion paw as his eagle-claw hand moved over and pulled from it a stick with a hoop at the end.
Blowing a fairly large bubble, Shepard watched as an image formed on its surface.
And drew in a breath as his emotional mask all but shattered.
From an above perspective, he could see Mordin and Tali, face to face with what looked like a black pony with insect wings... Although he heard nothing of the exchange, the sight of them in a tunnel that looked suspiciously like the one they had explored earlier made it hard to ignore.
“Your friends have been found by one of my associate’s little dismantling droids. Good thing they’re unarmed... or the changeling would already be carving them apart with the high powered fusion torch in its horn, and salvaging any technology they have on them. Like those ships you probably saw outside our little bunker,” Discord explained, clearly enjoying the expression on Shepard’s face. “They might be able to handle it by themselves... They might not. Of course, the Changelings are notoriously unreliable when it comes to combat. That fusion torch might just tear a few little holes in the female’s suit... and who knows what might get into her system.”
“Don’t. You. Dare...” Shepard tried to reach forward, but flailed a bit as he rotated haplessly in the frictionless hold of the biotic field.
“Oh, don’t mistake my intentions; It’s not up to me. However... I could send a little something out to ‘take care’ of the changelings... Maybe even give your alien friends an edge,” Discord stated. “You know... help your genocidal doctor friend and your lover in the bubble-suit.”
“You son of a...” Shepard couldn’t contain a snarl, not caring where the creature got his information.
“Ohhh, such a temper.” The draconequus drew his claw back over his brow theatrically, apparently uncaring of the cries for help below them. “Being angry with me isn’t going to solve anything, you know. It surely isn’t going to help your colorful friends deal with my pets.” Discord broke his dramatic mood for a moment. “Which is actually pretty funny to watch, by the way...”
Discord smirked as Shepard’s eyes narrowed on him.
“Just because I can tell you're simply BURNING with questions... it would be rude of me not to relieve you of your ignorance. Of course, my timetable is a bit... chaotic. If you want to help them, have it your way... Play the hero. These ponies don’t have long left in any case. But I assure you... I'll be gone long before you finish... and so will your answers... Or, if you would rather think of your team first and save your friends back in the bunker, I can do that... Although, I’ll have to leave to send that signal. Can’t do it from up here, you know. And I’m afraid I won’t be dropping you off before I leave, so you’ll have to hang around up here until somepony can get you down. Or we can chat... and let them all fend for themselves... But who knows? Maybe by the time we're done there'll be time left over to clean up my mess before anypony gets... too horrifically injured. They need never know you had any say in the matter.”
"And why would you bother with this game?" the Commander asked, glaring all the while. "You could just as easily keep me up here and tell me nothing. I'm obviously at your mercy... What sense does it make?"
Discord grinned.
“Sense? What fun is there in making sense? It's all a game, don't you see? And there is no point in playing if one's character isn't tested... So, which will it be, Shepard?"
Choices:
"It was never a choice." (Save the Ponies)
"Turn off the mechs." (Aid Tali and Mordin)
"Start talking." (Get Some Answers)
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Interesting concept, but not my taste.
...
My god this is good. I'm keeping an eye on this one.
"It was never a choice."
SAVE THE PONIES!!!
I think things got a little too complicated a little too quickly. But w.e.
SAVE THE PONIES
heh, all part of jumping into the fire, behind.... .
"It was never a choice"
Also, I'm calling it, Equestria is a virtual world like in 'The Matrix'.
782594 Awww, I'm sorry it wasn't to your taste, Punisher.
Given the personality Shepard has due to reader choice, he'd probably chose to save the civilians.
No! NO! Renegade!
...Or at least help your real friends, Tali and Mordin!
782759 Sooo what's your final answer? The whole point is that the readers choose, so please do vote.
782738 Doesn't matter what personality setup says. Democracy chooses the course here. If the people vote Renegade, I write renegade... just remember that all choices have consequences.
782772 Shepard's not Renegade enough for my liking, so I'll go with that option.
This is a tough call. Save the civvies, the team, or get the answers that may just make the difference in the long run. Heartless as it is to say, the civvies are just programs by the looks of it, looks like bringing the scientists was a bad idea so it may be best to help them, or get answers that could solve everything.
I'm going to be hated, but get some answers from him.
Mr D: Why so serious?
782788 I'll take that as a vote for Tali and Mordin
And I bet your shepard had a horrible case of 'scar-face' 
Unless of course you spent the money on the face-fixing machine and then didn't tell Garrus. 
(edit: Re-read and I realized I misunderstood what you meant. You meant that he wasn't renegade enough and you wanted renegade... GOTTT it.)
782800 Maybe and maybe not... There are no wrong answers, just different paths. Shepard isn't stupid, but he also doesn't know the details just yet or the circumstances of what is happening to his friends.
782821
There can be wrong answers just as there can be wrong paths. Unfortunately we don't have a cheat sheet or a map for it. As a leader it comes down to making the tough calls. Feels like a game of chess, sometimes the pawns must be sacrificed in order to obtain victory. Only question is who are the pawns and who are the other pieces? Hope to see more.
782800
Whether or not they are programs, Shepard wouldn't know one way or another.
I say save the civilians. Programs or not, Shepard cared about saving all the lives he could.
Save the ponies!
It was never a choice.
Answers can come later and Tali/Mordin can handle themselves, they wouldn't be on my team if they couldn't.
"It was never a choice."
Shepard ain't about to negotiate with an omnicidal maniac like Discord.
782863
Yes, yes noble sentiments. However, let's present this problem. We have Shepard facing two choices, saving the civvies or get the info. Now let's say the info could save even more lives than the ones that could be saved by picking the first option. If he should save the civvies though, twice the amount of lives would be lost with the info gained from Discord.
Now what would be more acceptable, saving the few or saving the many? It sounds heartless, even wrong in every way, but that's what's expected of a leader. Save as many as you can.
Save the ponies.
It was never a choice. As much as I don't want Tali, hurt, that might work out for the best.
783007
But what if Discord's information is really nothing? Shepard already knows Discord is chaotic, and even the name would produce mistrust. And what if there is any genuine information? Is there any guarantee it will save anyone at all? Doubtful at best. Not to mention Shepard is in a totally new world, wouldn't it be best to win the hearts and minds of the inhabitants? Gathering information from the populace could possibly produce the same results as Discord. Perhaps Shepard, by saving the people, will meet with Celestia and Luna, therefore, gaining even more information from grateful monarchs etc.
In the end, it seems more logical to save the people, and morally correct as well.
It was Never a Choice.
783155
In the field, morals mean next to nill. Morals are for those who are miles upon miles behind friendly lines and have never seen what goes on in the front. And what good does it do Shepard of winning the hearts and minds of the populace when their is no one left to win over? Discord is a very powerful, very old being who holds knowledge that not even Celestia and Luna themselves are privy too.
Sacrifices must be made sometimes, even when they seem wrong. We can always look at the moment from the distance and say 'Oh I would've easily done that and saved the day no sweat' but when you have the enemy in your face when seconds area commodity that you can't afford? Don't make judgements when you hold only speculations and hopeful 'what ifs'
from the looks of it, it seems Shepard's gonna save the ponies. (although ive been wrong before) Considering that Tali has a plan incase the changeling unit becomes hostile, (of course it could somehow NOT work) and even if the ponies are all programs, Shepard couldn't know at the time. then you could take a risk with the answers, but knowing Discord, the answers he gives you could be given as riddles. I'm going with saving the ponies, mostly because it's the more stable choice. (i hope i worded that last bit right)
783178
No offense, but I know exactly what I am talking about. Since the American Revolution, I believe possibly many generations before that, my family has had at least one member in the military. And I know, from journals and records, that in every single war that my family has served in, each one showed kindness to enemy prisoners, treated them as friends, and it was far more than enough to get plenty of information. A recent example would be my dad in Iraq, he let an Iraqi soldier live and befriended him, and gained valuable intel that way. Perhaps its a extremely rare event, but the evidence is there.
And, we do not know how old Discord really is, nor do we know how old Celestia and Luna are, so your point there is moot.
Lastly, to address your point on sacrificing, I may be letting my Christian background color my point of view some. Sure, in war, tough decisions are required. But to quote a favorite movie of mine "A king may move a man. A father guide a son. But your soul is your own and when you stand before the Judgement, you cannot say 'I was told by others to do thus!' This will not suffice." Regardless of how you feel on the matter, I personally believe that sacrificing innocent lives that you could have saved is no better than murder, whether or not the information you gain by sacrificing those lives could save double, triple, or a thousand times more lives. Again, that is my own personal belief, and I hold myself to it with every decision, including ones for a story online.
Apologies to the author, I get carried away at times.
i vote for whatever part Discord gets his ass kicked
783371
When hell beats on your doors the few you can call friend may stand by you but the souls you condemed stand ready to tear out your throats. I had a friend of mine who was in the same situation your father was in. He pulled a soldier out from the rubble and gave him medical attention and brought the soldier to his jeep with the rest of his squad. The explosion from the hidden C4 could be seen from quite a distance.
Before order stood Chaos. As long as there is chaos Discord exists, and chaos was there before order. Discord has his origins just as much as Celestia and Luna, but the stories tell of how Celestia and Luna found the Elements to banish Discord away. He would have to predate them to warrant such a response for his actions.
I've had family in the military and I've lost family in the military. I know what I speak of, don't be so presumptious to think others do not know what it is like.
Save the ponies, who needs exposition anyway? Plus Tali and Mordin can handle themselves
Save the civvies. Tali and Mordin are capable fighters, and they DO have functioning Omni-tools. Renegade won't work, since Discord isn't the kind of thing to give out free answers.
Then again, he would expect that. Renegade would throw him off...
Sorry. Civilians at stake, they take priority in the long run. More fame to Shepard, more good guy points.
783643 I never said you didn't know. But I always say something just in case, you can never be too careful after all.
In the end, we both have different opinions for the same situation because of different circumstances and it is best to leave it at that.
Seriously? Nobody voted this? OK THEN!
Turn off the mechs!
SAVE. THE. TEAM.
Tali is a robotics expert, and Mordin is no slouch, they'll be able to handle a mech that only wants to know who they are.
Discord is most likely going to speak in riddles and even then explain nothing about what is going on.
Answers would be nice, but as far as Shepard knows he is directly responsible for an attack on civilians and is capable of defending them.
THERE WAS NEVER A CHOICE.
Finally, I actually remember to vote when I still can!
Sweet, sweet paragon options. 
My vote: Save the ponies.
The crew can handle a droid, right? I mean, I DO have the disadvantage of not knowing much of anything about Mass Effect, but I would assume they could take care of a few droids.
As for answers, I'd say that Twilight could probably get them from Celestia pretty handily. I mean, you know, once the ponies are saved and she immediately gets a message out to her. Because that's kinda, you know, what she would do.
So I'd say save the ponies. Get your answers from Celestia later. She's bound to know something. Your team can handle themselves. You wouldn't have brought them if they couldn't.
if anyone has played mass effect they would know the paragon answer is the best answer
so i vote paragon
"It was NEVER a choice"
It was Never a choice
It's always best to stick to your guns and morals/integrity, if you stray from it....well the result usually isn't pretty.
It was NEVER a choice!
It was Never a choice.
Because we're all goodie-goods and hafta save us some pony.
Save the ponies, Tali and Mordin are more then capable of defending themselves.
I vote for shutting down the mechs. Even though I dont doubt Mordin and Tali´s abilities, im still going with my choice, in case it actualy would go to hell.
It never was a choice, was it?
There was never any choice.
Turn off the mechs! There's a million ponies like them, but that team's one of a kind, and he's going to need his team a heck of a lot more than a group of civvies. I've already lost Mordin once, it can't happen again.
save the ponies!
His first reaction would probably be to save the civilians (he is military after all), Mordin and Tali can probably look after themselves (it depends on if that one is working alone), from the looks of it RD and Twilight can handle themselves (meta, and Fluttershy should be back soon). There is no guarantee that Discord will tell the truth and he could have it be misleading riddles. It is obvious that Twilight knows something of who this discord is and may have some information anyway. just rambling.
Wait. Discord says they have been found by ONE of his pets, Tali can easily take down one mech, probably even quietly.
Poor Tart, at least they know where they are going now. Although that would have been a lot of guards for Shepard to deal with. Not to mention that the town may have turned on him or been attacked while they where checking out the hospital. So feel it was the best choice.
There was NEVER any choice. Shepard as a paragon saves civilians, that's all there is to it.
Pinkie in a straight jacket, it finally happened.
on a side note, i would love to see maybe an outline for just what each choice might have done to the next chapter (so it doesnt increase the work exponentially) when the book is finished.
Tough choice, but I say save the ponies
Aid the civies. Mordin and Tali can handle themselves. They are tech specialists. They can just incinerate their way to victory.