> Eagle's Flight > by The crossover Trooper > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > By the great eagle!! > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Go brother and inform the men." "Yes, Major!" Wilderspace...a sector of space discovered after the defeat of the Cybrids. When the first pioneers traveled to this new frontier their communication's with the Great Human Empire became strained. With self sufficiency growing due to rising farms and industries the pioneers saw themselves independent. They broke off from the Empire and proclaimed themselves to be the tribe known as the Children of Phoenix. In order to control the tribe fiasco the Empire deployed one of the most brutal and heavy handed knight orders they had to Wilder space the Order of the Blood Eagle. After holding a crusade against the tribals for decades causing the splintering where the Phoenix broke into several smaller but powerful tribes. The Blood Eagle's thought of themselves as a tribe even adopting the powered armor the tribals seemed to be fond of due to a lack of spare parts for their massive war machines the H.E.R.C.S and Imperial support. Soon they declared independence from the Empire and became the Blood Eagle tribe. The Blood Eagle, or buzzards as some tribes nick named them, soon started raiding Imperial convoys and launching attacks against the Starwolf one of the splintered tribes. This is where we follow a Blood Eagle warrior on a journey of great lengths. As Blood Talon was skiing down a slope toward the Blood Eagle camp below he couldn't help but think of the Starwolf planet they were fighting over. 'If we're moving out already that means there is bound to be trouble.' Blood couldn't help thinking. As he was thinking about what could have the sub-clan chief so jumpy he failed to see a massive shadow move over him and the camp. All the while he flew off a slope using his jet pack to ease his landing. He slammed down in the middle of the camp shouting out the order to pack up and prepare to move from the chief. When he grabbed a deployable station and put it on finally noticing the shadow and looked up to see one thing every tribal banned at the first firetruce. "Those Star mutts wouldn't dare use a eco-cidal weapon. No they can't THE PHOENIX AND GREAT EAGLE WON'T ALLOW IT!" He ended shouting in disbelieve as everything turned white he failed to feel what felt like a pair hands reach around his midsection then...black. ---------------------------------- As the sun shined down on a city of golden roof tops a small train pulled into this wonder of Equestrian art.. yes Equestrian as in a country full of ponies all living together in harmony surrounded by the countries of the Griffin Republic, the Minotaur Dominion, The Changeling Conglomerate, and finally the Kingdoms of the Zebra. All of these countries lived in peace on the planet Sardonia key word LIVED as of late a debate was being held over a creature that appeared un-conscious in the royal palace of the sisters of the sun and the moon. The delegates left disgruntled but, couldn't bring themselves away from their duties for long. Only making promises of material support if something were to happen. So the princess sent her student a letter requesting aid in a new unheard of scientific pursuit. Twilight was a fantastic pony: hard working ,extremely intelligent ,and the element of magic. So life was good for Twilight Sparkle as she and the other Element bearers made there way to the palace. "Oh I'm just so excited a new creature made out of black and red steel I have to get thereearlyenoughtoseewhatIneedtolookforintheroyalarchives!" She practically crammed those last words together as she sprinted towards the castle. "Wow...she can get as bad as you Pinky once it comes to learning something." Rainbow dash spoke in her tomboyish accent. "Well you can't blame her darling this sort of thing is up her alley. Wouldn't you be excited if you were given the chance to learn a new trick that would impress the Wonderbolts." Rarity threw back at her. "No can't say I wouldn't....well I at least hope this alien is awesome." said rainbow dash as she tried to re-engage the conversation after a second or to after awkward silence. "R.D For the last time ah' told y'all that the creature ain't ah' alien!" Apple jack replied while trying to calm there shy friend down. "WellwhenBloodTalenwakesupi'mgoingtohavetothrowa "WELCOME TO EQUESTRIA MISTER TRIBAL! party." Shouted their more enthusiastic friend. "Tribal...Pinky come now you honestly don't expect this thing to live like that now do you?" With that they argued all the way to the caslte. Until they could hear a scream of fright. After charging through hallways and flights of stairs they busted down a door in time to see dual streams of red fly out the busted window leaving behind a un-conscious Luna and shaking Twilight. --------------------- Ten minutes earlier As Blood Talon came to he wanted to grab his spinfusor and, lunge at a Starmutt for what they did as he remembered what happened. He just sat there as he thought 'I should be dead with my clan...MY CLAN!' Once again panicking he started to look around and stopped. These furnishings were too well made and...and........soft-. With that he was out again. He awoke to the sound of voices and, what sounded like sandals making there way toward him. So what else is there to do except hold off a group of unknowns? Talon quickly set about his surroundings scouring for anything that could give him a advantage. While he would've loved to face down whoever stole his weapon's he hadn't been about to take a risk with a unknown element. He quickly grabbed a dresser throwing it in front of the door with a slam before readying himself. Because out here in Wilder space...anything is possible. --------------------- "After a rather horrific accident with the cre-" Princess Luna couldn't finish. "What accident princess?" questioned Twilight. "One of our scientists didn't obey our orders of only observing by grabbing one of the objects colored white and blue with some sort of opening facing him. He pulled a small trigger and, well it eviscerated him leaving nothing behind but, the WEAPON that some how survived the blast. It is quite a dangerous creation because everything within a seventeen yard radius had internal trauma. Although everything in a three yard radius from that seventeen was thrown ten to twelve feet." Explained the princess. Twilight was starting to fell rather sick after hearing that. 'Nothing left ,and internal trauma. Even when a fair distance from the core of the explosion some where thrown a distance.' Then it struck her. "Weapon how do you know it was a weapon instead of the obvious? Maybe it was misused also may I know the location of the objects for further evaluation?" "They are located in my tower...you know the tall one with the telescope for star gazing." Luna answered after seeing Twilights questioning gaze. After stopping in front of the door with a sign saying "CAUTION STAY OUT!" "Although you should know the one rule we have that applies to you as well as the other scientists. DON'T TOU-" a crash sounded in the creatures room. After destroying the door because it was found to be blocked on the inside they saw it. The creature no a biped at a full 5" 10' with its golden glowing eyes looking back at them. "STOP IT!!" shouted Luna after it started running for the shattered window. Twilight reached out with a telekinetic spell but, was stunned to see it not even stagger so...she blocked the window with a wardrobe earning the bipeds attention then they were stunned at what happened next. "Bad move freak." ------------------------------ "...freak." He don't have time for these...these things so Talon charged with a fist at the stunned freak. Only for his HuD to flash red from his right he look up at his health bar to see what damage was done and was excited....nadda damn thing but, he was thrown to the side violently "SHAZBOT!!" He quickly got up to see his offender was the one with wings and a horn. 'So her majesty wants to play I will be happy to oblige her.' He thought as he deployed the wrist blade. Again they seem confused at first then a little afraid...good they should be. He charged quickly at her aiming to end this...after all he miss his spinfusor already. Only thing...she dived out of the way as the energy coating on his blade appeared eager to end her. 'A Little tougher than I thought.' Talon turned and was amazed to see a blade that looked to be made out of the night sky appear in her hands. She charged and flicked her wrist sending the sword to bisect Talon only for him to drop low and leg sweep her. When Talon turned to end it he was surprised to see her already rolling out of the way ,but he had to mean business so Talon extend his blade fast enough to nick her in the side and, worst of all the wound cauterized when the energy extended down the blade making her scream. 'Huh I guess she wasn't used to plasma burns looks like she had fainted due to the pain. I have to get to my equipment and fast.' when he turned to eliminate the last one her weird powers were gone Talon turned to see the window clear and, he turned back to her. "Thanks for making this easy." With that Talon jet packed out the window. --------------------------------- "...and that's what happened." Twilight finished her tale of fright as they all looked disturbed except for the two livid princesses and one rainbow maned mare. "How dare that brute assault you little sister. I should have listened to the griffins." Celestia spoke in sympothy her eyes nearly blazing as she turned to look at her younger sister but, there wasn't a mmoment as Shining Armor busted in. No one not even Twilight was excited to see him when they saw the look in his eyes. "Princesses there is an intruder in the lab! With the equipment that creature was caring!" Shouted Shining Armor when he caught his breath. "It has blockaded all entrances and exits and, we are hearing noises coming from the room through the doors!" "Thank you for informing us of this Shining Armor we will need to move with haste if we are to eliminate this threat. Everypony gather round I'm going to teleport us there." With that seven mad mares and one scared Twilight disappeared to face a being not of this world. "Did Twilight have to go?" ------------------------------- *click-SHEANK* 'Ah there is the beautiful sound of my spinfuso-*POP*.....can't I ever be alone!' Talon thought as he swung around and what Talon saw nearly made him double over in hysteria as he kept snickering under his helmet. "WHAT ARE YOU LAUGHING AT!" Shouted skittles. 'Great Eagle, I'm going to die of laughter before I even respond to them!' He took a couple of breathes to stop and return to his cold demeanor. He looked at them preparing to warn them. Before he could though a rope lassoed around his midsection Talon looked up only to recieve a fist to the face that sent his helmet flying off. At first he held his breath wondering if the air was toxic and quickly started looking for his helmet. "HAHA looking for this!" Talon turned to see the rainbow manned woman holding his helmet. As soon as he had turned they all gasped 'Take a picture it'll last longer.' He thought as they continued to stare at him. ---------------------------- When the ponies saw the helmet fly off they were wildly suprised. Because after all how can anything develope a steel skin other than a dragon but, what they saw made them gasp. It didnt look all that different from a pony however it had a flat face and had a spiky mane. The eyes were pure untamed gold like the helmets lenses but there were two jagged scars on either side of his face like a rabid tusked beast attacked him. It was then they heard what was like a device spooling up until they heard the roar of flames. Then the next thing they knew Apple Jack was sent through the air with a look of abject fear on her face. What they saw made there jaws drop to the floor the biped was FLYING around the room with twin streams of red following behind him with Apple Jack in tow. "Is this wha' flyin' is like?!" screamed Applejack. "NOT even close sweet heart!" With that the biped started do corkscrews and loops. Some pony mainly Rainbow managed to get out of the way before Applejack collided with the group the lasso tumbling on top of her. When everypony recovered they turned and stopped dead fore there was the creature with the blue object pointed at them. -------------------------------- 'Ha those faces are priceless. I can't kill them yet though I need some answers. Eh I was never the good social guy in the clan.' As he put on his best smile which made them look even more horrified because of Talon's canines he spoke. "My name is Blood Talon. Now I want answers and I want them now!" > For honor and glory! > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Hehehe...you guys struggle like Star mutts under a spinfusor barrage." I didn't know what to think after they surrendered when I threatened to place a disc in their face. Although they kept struggling after I tied them up. They sought it in themselves to keep throwing insults at me like "scar face" even after I told them my name. "HEY MEANIE PANTS!!" '............meanie pants really?' After I set my helmet down I turned and faced the culprit of what I guess was a insult. Yup the pink one.....wow sounds like a bad holo vid. "Yes how may I entertain my wannabe hostages?" "First of all you didn't have to go to such great lengths to ask questions." Was this purple one trying to tell me of? "Second of all you don't need to go around assaulting everypon-HAHAHA" she didn't get to finish before I started to laugh. "OH by the firetruce you seriously did not just call yourselves a pony." I failed to notice the tall white hybrids powers show around her horn as a pipe started to arc for my back. Years of combat experience and dodging spinfusors alerted my to an incoming object feeling, I always trust my gut, as I started to yell "INCOMING!" I remembered that I was all alone and I spun on my heel and snagged what looked like a piece of lead pipe out of the air. --------------------------------------- Everypony froze as the creature who called himself Blood Talon spun around to fast for any one to track and grabbed the pipe the princess was about to hit him with. The they all froze in fear as he bent it to a pretzel shape. 'Okay so maybe distracting him while the princess knocked him out wasn't such a good idea." Twilight thought. "Alright I'm getting tired of your games. Where going to play Shock-Jock." he said as Blood Talon walked over to a sink with a bucket. They were all puzzled and wondering what he was doing filling a bucket of water. He walked over and pulled out a magic battery used for keeping lights on and such in the laboratory and the cables. At this point everypony heard both of the princesses hyperventilating. 'What has them so frightened?' wondered Twilight till she felt cold water pour all over herself and her friends. "Now let's begin." stated Blood Talon rubbed the cables together getting a magical electric spark thus made the rest of the hostages hyperventilating. ------------------------------------ "Where am I?" I asked with no trace of kindness in my voice. "c...cant...Canterlot." stated the purple one with pride. 'Canterlot wow they really do think there equines.' I turn my attention to the orange-brownish looking one. "What is the name of this country?" I questioned they looked at me like a just grew another head...okay I have to add some force. Then I connected the wires to the white one with purple hair and they all started spazzing after a few seconds I pulled the cables off and I heard crying and walked around to the back the yellow one with pink hair was crying...perfect liverage. "Now I will ask again. What IS the NAME of this COUNTRY!" I added force to some of my words as well as Bringing the cables to bare. Their reaction was instantaneous they were screaming and hollering 'Equestria' over and over on the verge of tears. Looks like I found a fear of theirs. "Alright now what is the name of this pl-" Then i felt something slam into my back. ------------------------------------------------------------ Twilight was relieved to see her brother come and save them when he fired a tranquilizer spell ,as he walked towards them they all gasped to see Shining get decked by Blood Talon. When they started their brawl everypony moved to comfort Twilight ensuring that "The captain of the guard can take this brute.". They where a little surpised when they found out that he could slide across floors at high speeds. "SHINING NO!!!" Twilight was screaming crying even begging Blood Talon to stop when he grabbed her brother and flipped him over his shoulder and commenced to nonstop face beating. Shining Armor threw Blood Talon off as he started to stand he looked back only to be thrown off his feet by a large blue blast. "How could I have missed you cant miss with a spinfusor!?" Blood talon exclaimed he quickly threw his gun away as he sled across the floor only to get close lined by Shining. He responded by flying across the floor away from a hoof to the skull. He flew into the air armed with a new gun with a claw on the end when he fired the ponies were expecting blood only for the claw to grab Shining armor's head. "What the hay!?" Blood talon then threw shining in the air and slammed him on the ground knocking him unconscious. Everypony starred in fear as Blood talon turned to them. "Your beginning to be more trouble than you are worth." He approached the ponies and they returned it with shouts to stay back. "Please we will answer you questions willingly!" twilight shouted she was meet with shocked gasps and questioning glances. "Sure I"ll even untie you if you behave." He informed they looked shocked for a second. "WHY!?" Rainbow questioned. "Your friend looks traumatized...and I'm quite hungry." He finished with a Equuis shattering stomach growl. ----------------------------------------------------------------- "Okay I will." I sat there moving towards the tied up group ,and started undoing the knot. 'I would only be proving the Empire right if I don't stop this useless violence.' When the knot was undone they all prepared to jump me at once but was stopped by goldy. 'I really need to learn there names.' I went over to the table holding my things and saw a repair pack. After attaching it to my waist I walked over there to soldier boy. 'shazbot I really did a number on you might be extra safe points if I fix him up!' I quickly hit the activation key on the packs and watched his face and the rest of his body and armor start arranging itself. ------------------------------------------------- The ponies could only stare in amazement as they watched the green beam start healing Shining Armor. 'AMAZING maybe they do have magic after all!' when it was said and done they watched as Blood threw a hand at shining armor and tensed thinking it was another attack but, they were relieved when Shining Armor grabbed it and let Blood Talon pull him up. On his way to the door he grabbed his helmet and pulled his helmet on and connected two tubes to the back of the helmet. When he started approaching the ponies they all tensed up again. They nearly lost it when he asked "So anyone hungry?" -------------------------------------------------------------- We arrived to the largest dining room I have ever seen. 'This is a bit too much like the Empire if you ask me.' When took a seat at the end of the table all of the others sat at the other end as I removed my helmet. "Do you have anywhere I can change?"....Waiting for a response. "OH um down the hall first door to the right." Response was hurried...small amounts of sweat. Yup nervousness I removed my self from the room and down the hall I walked past another hybrid except pink...."Hi." And continued on not even bothering to look at the bug looking one in chains 'Hmm...maybe they aren't as childish as I originally thought.' As I turned to the door I caught a quick glimpse at their faces and commenced to laughing when I shut the door. ----------------------------------------------------------------- I came back to the dining room with my armor in a duffle bag from the deployable inventory. I was wearing a black jumpsuit with blood red shoulders reaching down to my hands a red blood eagle emblem on the front ,and a red outlined black talon on the back. I walked in to see ten ponies glaring at the bug but immediately gained all of there attention. "Surely Mister Talon with all the clothes you wear I would expect you to have a more stylish wardrobe than that dreaded suit of armor you wore." Hmmm I don't know whether to take that as a compliment or insult. As I sat down I saw a sandwich in front of my seat I looked up to see the others staring at me intently even buggy over there. I barley took a bite and man did I want to hurl. I did a spit take and rinsed my mouth with the glass of water. "SHAZBOT!! That tasted like hay ugh!!" I exclaimed Only to be delivered a swift retort. "Of course it is what did you expect?" I prepared to deliver a shock of a life time. "I don't know a glorak stake maybe some hamburger we stole from a Imperial supply freighter that one time." I was met with stunned silence the only noise being laughter from that bug over there. "Y..yo....y...you eat meat....WHAT KIND OF SICK MONSTER ARE YOU!?" exclaimed purple. "The one that likes to live.".....silence how I have missed you. ------------------------------------------------- "So I introduced myself in that lab lets hear your names." stated blood talon after swallowing a piece of imported steak that princess Celestia ordered to be cook for our.....friend NO that is diffinantly not going to EVER happen...not after what he did to Fluttershy. "Well I'm Twilight Sparkle and these are my friends: Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Fluttershy." Twilight finished as Celestial and Luna pick up where they left off. "And me and my sister are Princess Celestia and Princess Luna." We were going to keep going but the chuckling being on the otherside of the table stopped us. We thought we were throwing glares that could melt ice…but we were proven wrong when he laughed. "Ugh what the hay is so funny!?" Rainbow questioned. "Y'all's names sound like flavors of cotton candy." Blood talon finished on the other end of the table. We looked at him strangely and I was about to retort when a dual toned voice stepped in. "Will anyling explain to me what's going on?!" And with that we all turned our attention to the changeling in chains and tattered clothes. ******************** 'Now what is that?' It looked to be a cross between a glorak and a pony! "Excuse me but who are you?" I questioned. "Oh me I'm Queen Chrysalis of the Changeling Swarm "Dust to Dust."' She finished. > For Freedom! > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I believe someone else should explain to her whats going on. I'm not really good with royalty." Blood Talon declared he was given a flat look in response from Celestia. "Well I wonder why that is." With that Blood returned to his seat having a first real moment to ponder on what has happened. With the eco-cidal weapon launched till' his current predicament. He had only been thinking about one thing. 'Where is my clan?' They couldn't have ended up where he was...where was he anyway? He turned his attention to the inhabitants after hearing his name only to see their questioning glances "Mmm... what?" he asked he received exasperated glances. "We explained to her what happened now, can we get back to the topic at hand?" she explained to me with impatience in her voice. So the royal highnASS doesn't like me all that much huh. Well can't really blame her, tribals aren't well known for their tact when it comes to non-tribals. Still I am representing a old faction of Imperial knights I might as well start acting like it. Now how to respond...AGH come on my I-don't-know-how-may-greats great grandfather used to be the Great Eagle I can at least try to act like I had some form of royalty in my blood. "Yes...well now that we are at a table and, we are all done with...assaulting each other how should we proceed...Hm?" Oh great thinking jackass we would be receiving a disciplinary action from our ancestor for sounding like an idiot...talk about a disgrace. -------------------------- The princesses were admittedly a little shocked how could a brute go from nasty and cruel to acting cordial in a snap of their finger even if he was a little rusty. It appeared that there was more to this Blood Talon than they initially thought. They weren't the only ones though the mane six as well were surprised. The girls because of the sudden shift of attitude and the air of authority he had around him. Meanwhile in her kneeling position Chrysalis held her clawed hands to her mouth a small snicker escaping them. Another thing ponies didn't know about changelings was the fact that they could sense ones mental state. It made targets that were easy to control much more easier to find. "Yes well we would like you to tell us where you're from first of all." Celestia demanded thinking they could find a brand new species to bring to the worlds attention. Unlike the others that thought his devices were magically powered she knew better. She knew a far more advanced being was sitting in front of them. Call her crazy after living the eons she had Celestia knew even stranger possibilities could exist. She rather would like to have as much information as she could to make an ally. Rather than blindly make an enemy. Sadly the only response she got was a finger pointed up. What the hay could that mean? Did they live in the clouds. In a secluded space where even pegasi couldn't reach? That could explain the need to create the device he has to fly. Rather than assume she asked for a verbal reply rather than some vague direction. The answer she got would make her second guess herself. "If you desire a exact location it would be Iridanus-II. A bit of a broad answer...space." Blood Talon announced destroying all of the calm the air barely held. -------------------------- 'I think I broke them.' I thought to myself with a hint of humor. They really weren't expecting that one did they? Well I guess I can't really blame them. They look like they are barely entering a renaissance era. Hell they probably still believe their world is flat. Now the shouts of skepticism are being...well shouted. "But that is completely impossible! Our pegasi have gone to such heights and all they ever came back with was a frozen body and death!" The dark blue royal may as well have deafened me from that yell. She received affirmatives from around the table supporting her denial. However Swiss-miss over in the corner appears to actually be thinking about it. "Well when it comes to exploration and, war look no further than my people." With finality I gained curios yet revolted stares from everyone. Really couldn't they drop this whole holier than thou shtick they appear to have? I feel sorry for there neighbors truly I do. Foreign relations must be strained if they have that attitude...I can't really speak for myself can I? Yet my eyes are drawn to the black creature over there with holes in her body. She sat there in what appears rags and chains. I can only venture to guess what she did to piss off the obvious pacifists. "So say we believe you...why are you here." Well finally Princess bleach over there talks. It appears that they will 'humor' me. Well how should I explain the Tribes...well this is going to be a roller coaster for them. -------------------------- Chrysalis sat in chain and, Iron collar watching this warlike being begin a explanation of his 'Blood Eagle' Tribe. Unlike the others she felt his honesty, aggression, and sheer power of will. This being was speaking truth and to be honest...she really liked his tale. He keep't throwing it in their faces that his people is one of the mightiest warriors of the Tribes. When they were first an Imperial order of knights only to be left in wilder space to die by their empire. How his people fought these 'Bio-derms' with a tenacity only seen by Equuis' standards of dragons. The tales he spun of shattering the greatest tribe the 'Children of Phoenix' into a slew of minor tribes. Who have grown in power in the years since. Of the advanced yet nomadic ways his people moved about worlds. He spoke of their military descent and traditions. Truly she could see her own species living such a lifestyle if they were to switch places. As she sat in that position of obediance to the ponies who continue to unknowingly kill her people. She wished to have what he and his did...freedom. So solemnly do her people get a chance. Many eons her people have had to hide. When once upon a millennia they could walk and feed freely. All because of one infamous moment in changeling history they hid away in their caverns to survive. --------------------------- 'We host a barbarian.' Luna thought as she gazed down the table. There grim colored assailant sat eating his meal. However he may act he was no more a noble than her a mortal. His traditions that he vaunted were that of a butchers. The only time they apparently acted on decency were only to his 'fellow tribesman'. They didn't even treat there differing kinsmen with any respect from what he told. Non-tribals even worse so and, that left a marr on Luna's train of thought. One she planned to get answers for. "So butcher what made you spare us from a traumatizing interrogation?" She spat out the label butcher with as much venom as possible. Her sister nearly recoiled from the sheer hatred in the question. She was about to diplomatically admonish her in a panic before the beast answered first. "Well 'princess'" he spat with as much venom "I very well couldn't just go of killing the ,at the time what I thought, second most high ranking people of this land. If you weren't there and, I wasn't running the clock those other six would have been traumatized." The tribal stated getting scathing looks from around the table as well as an incredulous from the captive. That look turned into a snicker. Which turned into a grunt of pain as it earned back-hand across the face. Luna nearly grinned at the responsible party until she shoved that notion deep into her subconscious. She could take the joy of a chained foe in later after she dealt with the foe at her family's dinner table. Her sister was once more going to speak until the dining room door burst open with a burst of magic. There standing with seven other guards ponies was Shining Armor himself a shield in one hand and a arming sword in the other. They appeared readying to charge at their obvious target ,who had a hand in his large bag, until her sister decided she'd had enough. ------------------------ "Prince Armor that is enough!" Celestia bellowed to the angered Crystal monarch and his loyal soldiers. She knew they were lucky to get out of the situation they had been in. She also payed attention to Talon's speech about his tribes history. The Blood Eagle seldom dulled out mercy upon their foes. Only once they earned the Blood Eagle's respect did they receive such treatment. She knew her sister and the elements hadn't earned that. The only one who could've was about to begin a exercise in futility. She also knew that if what he said about his origins were true they shouldn't antagonize the only one they had received. "Princess Celesti-" he began only to be cut off from the prime diarch. "Prince Armor you are to stop this at once! We have already begun diplomatic talks cease this aggression at once!" The prince of the Crystal Empire looked torn before he saw the worried look of his beloved. With a dour expression he sheathed his blade and ordered a stand down command to his guards. Celestia caught a thankful look from her niece before she bade her husband to sit beside her on the left side of the tribal. She noticed Chrysalis once more at the sound of another strike ,probably in retaliation for a remark, and internally sighed at the amount of work on her plate. The same day her niece caught the dethroned tyrant hiding at a guerrilla encampment inside the borders of the Crystal Empire. There violent, abrasive, bad tempered, butcher of a guest arrived. Nearly killed two members of royalty and, tortured two out of four. She quickly devised a plan to push of some work for tomorrow and set it in motion. "Well everyone we all seemed to have a draining day. So I believe we should push off some work for tomorrow once we are all well rested. Twilight I'm sure you and your friends are well acquainted with your guest quarters." She received a nod from the six then turned to the visiting royals. "Cadance, Armor you two remember your old bed chambers as well correct?" She received two more nods then almost hesitantly she turnd to their final 'guest' " Well Mr. Talon would you like any special conditions for your quarters?" The response was not all that surprising so far. "Yes Princess I'd like to have the most secure quarters you could provide. One that would withstand a attack but, not so obvious as to invite any would be assassins." The Tribal answered with a unidentifiable look before finishing his plate and grabbing his bag. Celestia wasn't all that surprised at the response. So far that all checked out. She prepared a order to organize forgotten wartime accommodations in the south wing while she had a nasty thought. His size bothered her. The average size for bipeds was around six foot. Being two inches off wouldn't be abnormal...until he removed his armor and dropped another two. She shook her head thinking about him should be held till tomorrow. She dispatched the order in faux dragonfire to the maid staff. Then after waiting two minutes had a terrified guard guide the tribesman to his room. After all the guests began the journey to their bed she and, her sister shared a look then turned to the "Mad Queen of the Renegades". ---------------------- "Come on Shining it's not so bad." Cadance reaffirmed her beloved. "Cadance he could have killed all of them! The Princesses, the elements....my sister." He droned off in despair remembering her screaming, begging for mercy as he was beaten within a literal inch of his life. He could still feel the deep gouges in his face that would've been left by that things clawed gauntlets had something not healed him. He and his wife turned a familiar corner their old chamber down the majestic corridor. "His weapons, his technique and, gear even his sheer being was like something sent straight from tartarus itself." He turned his gaze to his wife who had adopted a concerned look before watching the floor as they walked. "While he was talking before you arrived. He was telling us about his people. Their martial society and, customs decree that mercy should only be given to the worthy...friend or foe." She turned to him once more. "What sort of life would ones people have to live in order to make them that way?" She asked a whimper in the question and a tear nearly falling from her eye. This only served to remind him why he fell for her in the first place. Her loving attitude drew her to care and worry for the ailing. Those who lived horrid existences and, those who were scarred or too scared to carry on. To hear of a people who only knew how to fight or die. It probably disturbed her deeply. "I don't know Cady. I don't want to know. That guy though he is brutal. His moves were that of a wild beast yet that of a calculated hunter. I only saw moves like that from the old timers who served during the Skirmishes." The Skirmishes was a title given to a black mark on recent history. A Griffon territory had assembled it's state militia and launched a large scale assault on a Equestrian province to steal bits, food and, material worth. The third Equestrian regulars were stationed and barely managed to hold off the attacks. It was only thanks to a timely diplomatic intervention from the Princess that stopped the Griffonian Republican guard and, Equestrian Elite guard from being deployed. The survivors were forever scarred by the experience. They always said they could still smell oiled blades and blood soaked earth. They could hear the war cries and screams of despair. They entered their old bed chambers noticing the lack of dust. The palaces cleaning staff still as professional as ever. Shining quickly set to remove his armor for bed and a shower. Cadance doing the same. It was silent for a long time before they both laid to sleep. Enjoying the presence of the other they spoke of good night. Then nodded off to prepare for tomorrow. ------------------------- All six of the mares quietly walked the halls to their multi bed guest suit. None dared to disturb the silence between them lest they open the flood gates. Clip-clop clip-clop the pattern continued for some time before. "Raaarrgh!" The sudden bellow of rage and following sound of fist meeting marble scared the other five of the party. It made guards turn their heads preparing to intervene before they returned to their posts. Rainbow had smashed her fist so hard into the pillar they walked by that her nails drove deep into her fist cutting the skin. "What the BUCK! What was that! How could it! WHY would it!" She prepared another haymaker before she petered out. Her fist slowly lowering and her shoulders sagged in defeat. Just like that the gates not only opened...they blew. Two mares, that being Pinkie and Fluttershy, fell into tears holding one another. Applejack quickly began to rant spurring on the chromatic hotshot of the group, who in turn, encouraged her. The final two mares the unicorns of the party lied in between. Raving about the ugly existence of the 'so called' tribal but, weeping at the experience they had at his hands. "That bucker is going to get what's coming to him mark my words Rarity." Twilight spoke through gritted teeth. The magical aura on her horn shooting off rage filled purple sparks burning the carpet were they landed. "I know Twilight but, we mustn't be to hasty correct? I'm sure the princesses are using this time they bought to come up with a plan." The fashionista walked over to the trembling pegasus and wrapped her in a hug. The other unicorn followed to hug Pinkie. "Well I'll tell y'all what. When the princesses make their move ah won't be so easy going as ah was last time!" Her declaration quickly garnered support from the stunt devil of the group. "Aww yeah now that's what I'm talking about! Now that we know his moves it'll be too easy taking him out!" The guards in the hall showed their support for the six heroes with smiles. Soon after helping their two friends with offers of encouragement and, affirmations of safety they finished their walk to their quarters to prepare for the next day. -------------------- Click-clack click-clack. 'Keep marching soldier pony pay no attention to the tribal behind you.' Talon though to himself slipping another small disk behind a structural support. He had been repeating this process for the last ten minutes. Slipping Sabutoer Det Disks on items that would have themselves moved around the palace and, locations that would reek havoc if they were to say...violently leave their locations. The S-DD's were meant for Nighthawk squads that would need to do a lil' prep work for the next days attack. Talon knew his position. Outnumbered, outpositioned but most certainly not outgunned nor outsmarted. He saw the small looks those 'princesses' gave eachother. What they pulled in there was just a delaying tacting. Buying themselves some time they hoped to get the upper hand on Talon the next day. Their mistake by not having one or two guards escort him from the rear. He needed several things to give him a chance tomorrow. If he had none? Dead or imprisoned. If he had half? At best bet he'd be a caged bird. No-one cages a Eagle! Now if he had what he needed? He'd have moderate freedom and a moderately hostile environment to live in. It'd be just like home. Except he wouldn't be totally free. Talon wasn't a fool though. 'I can't just ditch this place to go into a unkown environment with no back up!' He thought as he slipped another S-DD on a unattended food trolley. He and his 'escort' turned a corner before he saw a slightly defensible guestroom. "Either they're planning something or they're really naive.' He entered, ignoring the terrified expression of the the guard pony, then immediately set to work. He immediately pulled the deployable inventory station out of his back and set it up in a corner blocked from all entry points. He pulled out the blaster he kept hidden in the bag and shuffled it under his pillow. After making sure it wouldn't mis-fire and take his head. He pulled his armor out and half assembled it for a quick speedy equip. He gazed around the room then walked over to the Dep-I station and pulled out one of it's three turrets. After careful consideration he deployed it so that if something enters the door unannounced it would be hidden by said door while it was open. After making sure all was in place he walked back over to the Dep-I and pulled out a cloaking field generator. Secreting it away he set to work preparing for a 'good night's sleep'. --------------------------- The guards were on a four hour rotation they also hadn't been taking their job seriously. One of them fell for the rock technique of yore'. Moderately confident in his ability to make this work he slipped the armor back on and attached the cloak. One of the bigger problems with the cloak generator was that it creates a hum once powered. Not loud enough to defeat its purpose but, on closer inspection a low hum could be heard in the room. The second is the slight haze around the cloaked. Second verse same as the first except instead the haze could be seen. The plan was simply. Step one exfiltate room, step two infiltrate dungeons, step three plant S-DD's on cell locks, step four and five are inverse of one and two. The rock technique will work on both since Talon'll be leaving at the end of one shift and returning during another. He slowly cracked his door mid guard yawn. Then with a power armored flick of the wrist a crack could be heard down a hall. The guard goes to investigate and Talon cloaks then leaves. 'It's almost like sneaking through a Glorax nest.' He slinked down one, two, three halls before he hits his first snag. 'Where is the dungeon?' He shifts left then right before he felt his gut squeeze. 'Alright guess it's right.' He followed a series of halls before descending down multiple flights of stairs. Along the way he's had to avoid patrols before arrived seeing a slow yet steady shift in the guard armor. From a dark purple and silver to a crystalline. 'What the hell? Are they like the tribes same species yet different styles of armor?' He waited to ask once his life wassn't being threatened. He slowly creeped forward till he hit a snag. Two guards both in crystal. He couldn't use roc. He'd only be able to get away with it once. If he knocked them out alarms would be raised and after yesterday he'd be first on the chopping block. If he yelled or shouted that would only incentivize them to raise the alarm right then. So Talon was fucked. That was until a dual toned voice screamed out in agony followed by three screeching sounds. The two guards raised their halberd then stormed inside to investigate. Talon quickly followed in before the dungeon door closes and lept to a small outcove in the wall. After several minutes of screeching, screaming and, swearing the guards marched back to their posts begrudgingly. Talon waited till the door slammed shut to start moving in. He shifted quietly between the cells slipping the little havoc rekers into their new homes taking note of the occupants to get a sense of his time table. Three half-lion half-eagle folk 'weird'. Two half-men half-bull men 'What's that minor tribes name again? The Minatuar Tribe? They'd get a kick out of these guys.' Six ponies 'Meh'. Then eight bugfolk add one Miss-Swiss. There was one thing that freaked him out though. No matter what he did or, where'd he go there eyes tracked his every move grinning. 'What the hell?' He quickly finished his work then prayed. 'Please please please work!' He waited for the yawn, the door cracked open, another power armored flick and, his prayers were answered. Like a Cybrid at a all human you can kill boufoy he hauled his light armored ass all the way back to his room. Then when he notice instead of a guy a gal was guarding the room he flicked, they left, he went in. He waited some thirty minutes then he breathed a sigh of relief got out of his armor then layed his head to rest over his blaster. He chuckled "They'll never know what hit 'em." Then a wink and the hunt was on. > Eagle's Wit > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- It was midmorning turning noon and, Talon was once more marching down a corridor. He was once again in his armor helmet included. His gaze shifted left, right, up, down. After a night's worth of paranoid rest and espionage. He was prepared for the coming event. He gazed left his helmet masking his eyes behind a golden glow. He saw the hate filled glare of the guard as he and his escort passed. He wasn't blind he knew that wasn't the only look he'd receive from a citizen loyal to their crown. That's why he brought the chaingun. He gazed to his static minimap watching explosive icons move about or stand still. He smiled at the thought. His murder lead, a title given to a mentor of orphans, would be proud. Backed into a corner with virtually no advantage? Blow the corner out and set up a bottleneck. They turned a corner he hadn't been down and cursed his suits lack of a map. He hoped his mad gambit worked...if so a emergency field scanner was going to be in high demand. His eyes shifted down to his HuD's ammo display. All three-hundred rounds accounted for. It may not melt half a room but, it'll coat it a new sheet of lead. Another corner was turned and a heavy set door sat at the end of the corridor. His helmets auditory sensors picked up faint voices behind the overly designed door. As he and the guard approached two more guards, in steel armor with black and orange plumes, saluted then opened the doors. At the creek of the two heavy oak doors all voices ceased. 'Great out of the fire and into the plasma conductor.' Talon entered the new room observing the contents. Six mares on one side. Two diarchs on their thrones. Then two others on the other side. Also a massive amount of guards from all different types in the room. Some were on large balconies above the obvious throne room. Then the doors he passed through had four instead of two. Then a pair for each window. 'Probably some secret doors filled with more waiting too'. Talon turned his gaze back to the main hosts of the palace. They were wearing their regalia then again so was he and they noticed too. They noticed little if nothing out of the ordinary despite the new chaingun in his right hand. 'So it begins' Talon thought as he prepared himself for the bush beating the other party would commit. ---------------------------- Celestia was nervous. Even with a full night's preparation she knew this wouldn't be a easy feat. What she was hoping to accomplish was a temporary imprisonment until they had their fill of a investigation. If he conducted himself adequately he could be put on parole. It was the purpose to present so many guards during this meeting. She even had some of the Elite guard hidden away with invisibility spells. The aforementioned guards were positioning themselves around the tribal as he approached. If worst came to worst they would have the initiative. If it didn't come to that and no solution presented itself. She'd hoped to at least put him under some form of house arrest. Possibly restrict him to the residential, and mess wings. Along with a curfew and twenty four hour guard. When the tribal arrived he wore his armor. The blood red on black mixed with the golden glowing eye's off putting. While her subjects and niece were disturbed by the need to eat meat. She was more terrorized by the details. His meat was cooked with herbs and spices. Entailing that his species had a hardy constitution of trial and error. The carnivorous species of their world had hardly any need to cook their food. For carnivores the practice of eating even confections was under the most rare circumstances. For a meat eating species to develop cooking techniques was a bit distressing. Then there was the other articles on his plate. A healthy mix of vegetables implying his people were the, till then thought, theoretical omnivore's only talked about in closed biology groups. She even payed attention to his facial structure at yesterday's 'dinner'. Now she could tell why his face was so off putting. No it wasn't because of his golden eye's nor his invasive staring. His ears were affixed to the side of his head. Giving him a full three hundred-sixty degrees worth of average hearing. While a pony could hear farther or more quiet noises. They had to adjust their ears. Allowing a individual to sneak in to the auditory blind spots. The next was the way his eyes were positioned. Even the griffins eyes were set to the side for a near full range of vision. Once a creature or object caught their attention. A griffon would have to turn their head so that the could examine it with one eye. Talons eyes were set to the front. Focusing all his vision into a small but highly perceptive area. Anytime somepony or something would move his eyes shifted and locked onto the entity. It reminded her of a aggravated Timberwolf. Her mind returned to the present. She observed the device in his right claw. Most likely another machination of death and war. She looked to his helm and noticed the gold lens watching her as if they were looking for a opening. The eyes under that helms lens' probably were. She turned her attention to the throne rooms other occupants who were noticeably on edge...she couldn't fault them. Her sister was near the point of raking gouges out in her chair's armrests from aggravation. Shining Armor had positioned himself slightly in front of his wife. The image would've made her smile if circumstances weren't as they were. Celestia's student and her friends had a myriad of reactions. Two were on the verge of tears with Rarity trying to comfort them. The other three were on the verge of charging the tribal then and there. She took a deep breath and with a smile that stopped wars from breaking out she turned to Blood Talon and asked. "How was your night?" ------------------------ Over two hours of yelling and Cadance was almost at her wits end. The day had started off rather mundane barring the hushed whispers of the maid staff about the palaces two new attendees. She hadn't personally brought in Chrysalis herself despite being a part of her escort to the dining hall yesterday. That would've been the act of courage her Shiny and his guards performed raiding the "Mad Queens" encampment. After the Canterlot invasion a year and a half ago the Equestian Royal Guard dispatched some twelve divisions to the Changeling Conglomerate. When confronted they were told that Chrysalis is in fact a false queen leading a army of renegade changelings from a multitude of hives. They confessed to having no knowledge of this renegade brood and their "Mad Queen". So for a full year the Equestian regulars dispatched multiple scout parties to the surrounding wilderness. It was only half a year ago that they found their first target. Chrysalis had reorganized the structure of her brood by breaking them into what they called "Hive clusters" across the continent. Normally this wouldn't be possible to do. A actual changeling queen could only project their telepathy field over half a country if they were fueling it with their very being. However Chrysalis had devised a way to expand her telepathy field by creating a new breed of changeling. This new breed was called the Nexus or Nexii. They would seat themselves into a hive cluster within the field and begin to project their very being into it empowering the field. After encountering their first hive cluster all it took was one changeling prisoner on psychoactive spells to give another clusters position. Every battle escalated till the point it was up to the Elite guards duty to break and storm the renegade broods primary hive cluster. It was after a long and hard battle that they realized the Mad Queen wasn't present. Indeed it was discovered that a highly complex network of escape tunnels that took eight days worth of scouring to discover that Chrysalis had indeed escaped...until a week ago. It was a crystal guard patrol that detected strong ambient magics in the Frozen Wastes. After a quick investigation they were surprised to see a changeling encampment. After a report was shuffled to prince Armor the newly reinforced Crystal guard deployed in mass to the encampment. To the surprise of all Chrysalis was found in the deepest chambers of the encampment. After disabling the excuse of a guard she had. She was dragged in chains and iron collar to her new dungeon cell. Cadance had known of Talons existence from a letter she received from her aunt. It was just a coincidence that he awoke on the same day she accompanied the prison transfer. She could only get second hand accounts of the events leading to that dinner but, while what she heard scared her it also piqued her curiosity. While her family and friends were angered or scared by this tribal she had a growing curiosity for it. One of those curiosities was how he and his people were raised. She imagined one didn't come out of the womb with a serious disposition of hatred to that which didn't wear black and red. So amidst the yelling of threatened imprisonment and death threats she concentrated her voice to speak her question to the sole party. "Excuse me but, could you tell me what it's like to grow up as a Blood Eagle?" Talon stopped in the middle of a gesture that required him to use one finger of his hand with a raised arm. Before he turned to look at Cadance."What?" The tribal asked getting a reaction of Shining to stand protectively in front of her before she laid a hand on his arm. "I was just wondering because you told us about your people's history but, not what it was like to be one of them." The question was asked with a honest heart. One that made Talon drop only half of his aggression. He still fondled the trigger of his weapon. "Well life a Blood Eagle warrior starts as simple as any other. You're born to a mother in a sub clan if your not apart of the main clan. From there you do as all babies do. You dribble snot and saliva everywhere while you grow." Everypony shared a uneasy chuckle at that. "Then you start learning how to walk and, whoever's taking care of you at the time starts set obstacles in your path suited for a baby." That unease in the room began to grow. "After you survived your year long obstacle course you go to train with a coven. Which then you start to learn the tribes culture and history." The unease dropped considerably. "Also how you will fight with no mercy and terrifying ferocity that no one would challenge the tribe after." And~ the unease shot through the roof and into the field of horror. "When you reach the age of nine you begin learning how to clean your equipment and weapons. One year after that your givin a training suit like your issued when you graduate. Then you begin training at high speed maneuvers, shooting and hand to hand combat." The minds of the non tribals conjured images of foals lined up in guard armor honing a blade of seething hatred. "Five more years of that and you get to begin training ops where you and half of the coven face off against the other half with training bases and ammunition." Cadance, on the verge of tears, interrupted "But wouldn't the parents of your people's children be abhorred at such treatment!?" She cried looking for a bouy amidst the storm "No ma'am as a matter of fact our parents push us harder! They say it's good for character." A sob. "Now hold on we're almost done. After two months of this training exercise using games like territory, capture the flag and, rabbit you return to boring home life for a three year probation period for combat readiness...in case a war party gets a little starved for men." With that he ended his experience of growing up a few sobs in the room and some with green faces. Cadance meanwhile could only slowly shook her head from side to side in disbelief. His experience of growing up would explain why he was so aggressive. It was all he knew! ------------------ The expressions of the throne room's occupants were apparent. The tears loosed from half of the elements began to wash the marble floors. The culprits that of Rarity, Pinkie Pie and, most of all Fluttershy. Applejack had lowered the brim of her hat over her eyes. Her rage for the tribal momentarily forgotten. Rainbow had closed her eyes. Images of her surrogate little sister training for war to the point of exhaustion in her head. Twilight gazed at her hands in shock and disbelief. The idea of her childhood education being instead that of a guard. Celestia and Luna held eachothers gazes some form of silent communication at work. Cadance was nearing the point of sobbing but, held herself in dignity. Shining kept switching between casting looks of worry to his wife and, gazing back at Talon with a look of caution. In the middle of that Talon looked at them all as if they grew a second head or, lost the only one they already had. He didn't really believe that such a common facet of tribal life could be such a shell shock to those who couldn't have known. They all huddled and talked to one another on the other side of the throne room his suit picking up their conversation. He heard subjects like "why" the answer was obvious they had enemies all around them. If it weren't other tribes vying for territory it was the Bio-derms sacking their worlds for war materials. If it wasn't them it was the Empire trying to restrict planets and, shove the tribes on "reservations". Bastards have always been like that. Then came the questions of "How could he survive that?" Another simple answer spit, grit, and pride that was instilled into them when they were young. Talon was mostly the last two. Then his blood ran hot when he heard them coming to a conclusion...greedy barbaric savages. Now Talon was familiar with being labeled the last two. That was the problem...he was familiar with it. With a roar he slammed his power armored fist in a pillar small pebbles flying from the crack. "DON'T you DARE suggest such a thing just yet you weaklings!" They spun around to gaze back at Talon taken aback that he heard them and shocked by his deep electronic roar. Talon could barely keep himself from storming over and throttling them. "You have NO idea what it's like in Wilder space! If it's not the other tribes attempting to take our world's it's the Horde! If it isn't either of those it's those Imperial bastards trying to shove our people in their 'Reservations for our own good!" He struggled to reign in his breathing his vision on the verge of turning the same color as his armor. "If you aren't ready in Wilder space any one of those thing would chew you up and spit you out in a bleeding mess!" He finishes off by jabbing in their direction...with his chaingun. At once he felt a pair of arms around his neck and new he'd been had. In a hyped up rage his instincts of four years of tribal combat kicked in. A quick burst of his jet pack sent him and his passenger in the air as he heard a loud clatter of crashing armor from below. He cut his jet's power sending him and his rider down. Using the built up momentum and his armors weight he crashed ,assailant first, onto a pile of other guards who until then were cloaked. When he heard a wheeze and felt the grip around his neck lighten. He kicked his legs up over head his body following then his head slipped out of the hold. Immediately he rose in a crouch and revved up his quad barreled chaingun aiming at the guards, who had spread their wings, that were about to descend from the balconies. When suddenly a shout stopped them all short and, Talon shifted his aim to the lead diarch. She looked absolutely dismayed over what happened. Celestia saw him aim his weapon at her and those around but, she knew he wouldn't fire. After all these types of meetings were apparently important in his culture. As long as no one struck another these meetings were peaceful. She knew that if she didn't stop this now though. He would begin a killing spree. She had ordered her guards to halt and sent the three unconscious guards to the medical wing. She and Luna shared a look then decided it was time. With a flick of the wrist the guards grew into a stance ready for a fight at any second. Then after taking a deep breath to still her self. "I am afraid after the previous day's events and that of today. I have no choice but, to place you under arrest for a indefinite amount of time. Till such a moment we believe you have repaid Equestria for the assault against it's royalty and it's citizens." She let herself breath once more. 'Strong as he maybe even Talon should know he can't take three Royal body guard regiments.' Celestia was about to signal the guards to detain him...before there was a laugh in the room. Startled she looked at Talon who held his gut. Talon couldn't believe it. He actually thought ahead of time for a occasion he ,at the time, thought up. He knew he wasn't in the clear yet. However he had the tools he prep'd ahead of time. "Sorry princess but, I don't think you would want that to happen." She grew a look of agitation. "And why would that be Talon?" The question had a certain amount of incredulity to the gall of his statement. One he was going to answer. "Because I laid enough explosives in this castle last night to deface the mountain side." > A warrior's word > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Talon was no stranger to this act. He had guard multiple war chiefs in numerous parley's with many different tribes. When one or more representatives acted shady or weren't entirely truthful. One of the representatives would put something in place to ensure the death of all parties. It was a good strategy. It had worked when the worst came to pass too. So to see them react with jaws dropping and shouts of denial he knew he made the right choice. Especially when he saw the grinding teeth of the Lunar diarch and the dejected gaze of the solar. In that moment he had made a good judgment call and waited for them to call off the guards ,who looked as if they were going to jump him any second now. At the second they were about to send a message to find the S-DD's he stopped them. "That's a exercise in futility your highness." At the sound if his voice they jumped and he could see the apprehensive question in their eyes. "The bombs are well hidden. Not to mention that half of them are constantly moved around the castle's facilities as well. The time it would take for you to find them means they won't be discovered till' well after this meeting ends." They looked down cast at the floor. 'Those six women look like they had about enough of me. The other four aren't far behind either.' Talon thought as he watched the twelve across from him. He decided it was time to end this and relocate his living quarters. "Listen and listen well. My terms are thus follows: I will be able to leave and enter castle grounds as I permit. I will not leave your nations borders without explicit permission. When I leave I won't tell you or any of your personnel and disappear for too long. Also I'll be able to acquire materials with local currency. These are my terms and they aren't up for debate. Remember this well. You have my word as a warrior of the Blood Eagle that I won't break these conditions." Talon was a mere warrior yes...but that doesn't make him a fool. He hadn't wanted to put concessions in his terms but, the thin ice he was standing on was cracked enough as it was. He didn't need to go and break it even more. If he pushed too hard he would have to use the S-DD's. If he didn't push enough his terms would be turned on him. -------------------- Luna in a moment of lucid horror realizes their fatal mistake. The term 'Tribal' had blinded them all to his capabilities. Their people had devised weapons and devices far ahead of what any people on Sardonia could for centuries. They had underestimated Blood Talon severely. If they dont agree to his terms canterlot would be nothing but a pile of rubble at the foot of a mountain. If they agreed he would be left to his own devices. She gritted her teeth. Her nails about to dig into her palms from how clenched her fists were. If it was a thousand years ago they would have buried Talon in a pile of guards and imprisoned him. However the peace that has reigned over their land for so long had made her subjects soft...too soft. Luna was having a hard time restraining herself. The previous day he only managed to get the upper hand do to surprise. Today could be different...couldn't it? She had to know one thing though. One thing that could make or break her agreeing to his terms. "What do you mean we have your word? What is there to stop you from going back on it?" Luna's question appeared innocent to her friends. Her sister cast a question with her eyes. She observed the tribals body language. His fists clenched tightly. His shoulders bunched up and his head turned to her so quickly that they almost heard a crack. "You dare to question the word of one who fights for the Eagle? How dare you! I should kill you right here for suggesting such a thing!" The tribal was on the verge of following through too. The guards were about to attack till she sent her own signal telling them to stand down. While she had reservations still. She was less weary of this agreement. While her sister may have forgotten their own knights and their traditions. Those moments of history were fresh in her mind. The tribals response was once more furious and threatens violence. However she could remember her and her sister's knights taking major offence to someone questioning their word. Luna looked to Celestia giving another voiceless signal. She immediately looked back at Talon an eyebrow raised. Celestia appeared to roll the concept around in her head before closing her eyes and letting out a noiseless sigh. She once more looked down on Talon from her throne as Celestia voiced her own question. "Can you be trusted to not bring any harm to my subjects?" The question her dear sister asked seemed to be a simple one. A simple yes or no, on the surface but below that surface was a test. She didn't quite have a firm grasp on his culture. His two lessons, in-depth, on two completely different subjects. However her sister was seeing just how forthcoming this troublemaker would be. "Only in either self-defense or a innocent getting hurt. Oh do not give me that look. I may be a violent tribal but I'm not a butcher....mostly." Once more his response was honest. No one would ever self incriminate themselves so much in his place if they were even a hundredth as honest as he was. Luna shared yet another look with Celestia before her sister turned to give him an answer. "I shall..." ------------------------ Shining Armor jumped as he heard yet another rattle of pegasus armor one that had just landed. He'd been sending pegasi into the air on routine search patterns for two day's now. It has been three day's since anypony has last seen the tribals new unwanted occupant. Normally this process would be overseen by a regiments commanding officer. However none of the palace staff, from the lowest maid to the highest guard, wanted anything to do with "The Bloody Vulture." He has had to dispatch and personally review the orders and reports or, they'd never happen. He has attempted to bring this to the princesses, the keyword being 'attempted.' Anytime he asked for them the staff would inform them the princesses were busy with their duties. He was on the verge of ripping his mane out from frustration. Shining Armor didn't particularly care for the tribal. However after working for the princesses closely, he knew they would want to keep tabs on their new guest. Tabs which wouldn't be available if the bastard wasn't found soon! It happened the night of the meeting. They had been to busy looking for the bombs only to discover their true size. The things were barely the size of a bit! It had taken them two in a half days to find them all. They had apparently been hidden behind columns, structural supports, and on multiple service trolleys. Even now they were still unsure if they found them all. He never said anything to any pony but, even with the weapons he had they wouldn't have been able to carry that much of a charge in their size. Shining didn't have it in his heart to tell any of the princesses that they had fallen for a bluff. Truthfully no one really noticed his disappearance until half way through the second day. He had waited to observe how the guards would perform this procedure since he had left to be with his wife. Leaving him here in the present trying to out fox the eagle. He stayed at his post for one more hour reading hollow empty reports. He even told the patrols to keep a eye out for twin crimson contrails, the signature of his jet pack. He stopped to wonder at that. All his guard ponies being able to fly. The sheer mobility a army would have. Before long he set down the last report then left the patrol tower his head hanging low. He walked the halls some more hoping to spot the red and black armored tribal himself before, he went to he and his wife's quarters. While they were rulers of the Crystal Empire they couldn't both be gone for long. One or two day's more and they'll have to return to their kingdom. His sister and her friends were returning tomorrow to ponyville themselves. The whole purpose of their visit being moot since Talon got up, handed them their tails, then took possession of all his items. Which were missing. Not just from a "secure storage area" but, they were missing from the palace entirely. He figured where ever he has been he'd apparently seen the need to move his equipment there. Honestly this whole business has him confused. At first he though that the castle was housing a war machine, a golem of sorts. Then he thought they were hosting a complete and total psychopath. One who thought everything was do or die...literally. That last part was true but, it wasn't from some form of psychosis or mental condition. It was the way he and his people were raised since they could walk. A society of advanced techno barbarians who were completely surrounded by conflict and warfare. He couldn't imagine having anymore experience than what he'd had from "The Hunt" a label for Equestria's sporadic hunt and capture of Chrysalis. He wasn't even the Royal guard captain for all of it honestly. They always took as many prisoners as possible when they attacked the Renegades hive clusters. He had only taken three lives in those battles. They kept him awake for a week. He couldn't imagine doing what Talon did for what's probably his whole life. The thought scared him. He was shaken from his line of thought when he saw the "Light of His Life" entered their bed chambers from a corridor closer than him. He picked up his pace from a dejected shuffle to nearly skipping down the corridor he slowed himself when he reached the door. He opened it as quietly as possible to see her staring out over the balcony. He slowly shut the door and snuck across the room nary making a sound until he was right behind her. He slowly lowered his hands over her eyes before whispering in her ear. "Guess who?" The response was as beautiful as he was hoping for. The soft giggle that passed her lips as she smiled was enough for him to shake off his earlier mood. She turned around quickly stealing a kiss stunning Armor in place for only a second before she slips past into their room. It was a few minutes later after, they had removed their regalia and sat at a small table drinking tea. "So are you ready to go home Cady?" Shining asked his wife who, after a taking a sip of tea, responded. "Yes, I really am. Honestly I was not expecting the prisoner transfer to take as long as it had. I just hope something hasn't happened while we've been here." Her response gave shining Armor pause. He gave the idea some thought. "Yeah even though the Crystal Ponies are slowly getting back on their hooves. I know the thought that being a millennia in the future has left them extremely easy to scare." He looked back over to Cadance who looked into the distance out a nearby window. "Yes. Hey Shiny how old do you think he is?" Cadance asked him her voice unintentionally mirroring her thoughts. The question took Shining back as to the unexpected suddenness of it. He knew who she was talking about. "Well going by how long it takes a ponies brain to mature. Also that stand by probationary period he told us about twenty eight or twenty nine why?" He responded honestly he didn't really take any time to consider the possibility really. "We-well I was just thinking about life like that. How much he urged conflict and combat. Also how tall he was outside of that armor...only slightly taller than Twilight I... never mind." She looked off to the side. "Well I'm quite honestly tired. After the first two days then finding all those bombs. Followed up by staying with Twilight and her friends then dealing with the Changelings in the dungeons I'm drained. I think I'll turn in for the night Shining." She finished off her statement by standing up and moving to prepare her sleep wear. Shining Armor was stuck. On one hand his wife's question had serious weight and conviction behind it. On the other hand what she said could be just as true. It might just be severe mental and emotional strain, either way he was in the same spot. With the guards and staff breaking procedure and, the bombs taken care of he could do nothing but enjoy the rest of his time back in his home city. With that thought he followed her to bed. -------------------- 'There all done!' Talon thought to himself setting the last of the turret's up in the cave. After agreeing to his terms Talon immediately set out to relocate all he had to his name at the time. It wasn't much but it counted... it had to. After grabbing his gear and leaving that ,would've been prison cell, he immediately set out to recon a new temporary home. It took him a few hours but he found a caved in area of the gardens that lead to a underground chamber. The only thing that lend any sort of credence to this being a good place to set up was the condition of the gardens around it. The vines overgrown and the shrubbery wild, it obviously hadn't been seen to in considerable years. He took stock of his new home. The Dep-I had some emergency supplies stored in it. Three turrets, one proximity mine, two deployable repair stations, several thousand rounds of ammunition AND the weapons but, he would be able to use the heavy stuff. The Dep-I also had several emergency sensors along with the sensor station itself. It wouldn't cover half a continent but he had reasonable coverage of the mountain and city. If he could key it into non human life signs he would be able to track the local population too. And it was all thanks to the Nano bots it used to store and assemble too. Otherwise a machine the size of a back pack would have no way to store that much gear. Human tech like the Inventory stations and, the power packs wouldn't be half as possible if it wasn't for the salvaged Cybrid tech. Say what you want about those twenty foot tall war machines, they made good tech. If he could acquire more materials and have the Nanobots assemble them into components, he could get access to better gear like medium armor. However he didn't think silicon was all that readily available a material though. If he needed it he'd have to raid shipments. Even though it would bring back some normalcy it hadn't come to that yet. He looked over to the other side of the cave a table and bed he'd liberated from the castle store rooms. Lying upon the table was a pile of books he'd taken as well. He was hoping to study up on the lore of this world but, he skied right into a wall when he cracked one of them open. While the language the Equestian populace spoke was close barring a few cultural differences to his. The language written in their literature was a completely different subject to begin with. He couldn't make heads or tails of the heiraglyphs within. If he had one of his xeno biologist brothers with him things would be different. Alone as he is he'll need to make do and hopefully come across a sort of 'latchkey' to make it more decipherable. He wasn't only hoping to read books on history. He picked out a few that looked like they dealt in economics and science as well as maybe politics and diplomacy too. He wasn't a fool. He knew he couldn't brute force his way through every obstacle in his path. If that were the case then he and his tribe would be the only ones left standing. All of Wilder space would be theirs to rule. He turned to another side of the cavern which contained several boxes worth of dried meat. No matter how amazing Nanobots were they couldn't create edible food. If they could his people wouldn't have to raid as many Imperial food shipments as they had to. As he pulled his helmet off and took a bite out of what looked like dried beef he began to un pack the past five day's. 'I'm completely lost on a alien world. Thrown here from a eco-cidal weapon that the howlers fired... damn cowards. Then I had a scuffle with the local regime. Honestly that shouldn't have happened in the first place. One of the primary tenets of the tribes is to only kill warriors not innocents. Honestly I don't think I have ever SEEN an innocent before. All tribals don their armor and weapons to defend their home. While the young are ferried to safer planets. I wouldn't really call anyone other than those six women innocent but, I attacked them anyway. I guess I have shamed the tribe...just another one to add to the PILE!' He slammed his fist into the wall before returning to his thoughts. 'Their guards haven't seen much action I guess. They wouldn't have hesitated in the throne room. Their princesses would have briefed them on me, my jet pack wouldn't have shocked them. Those two women didn't hesitate though they attacked me head on...they deserve some respect for that. That lavender one also tried to keep me distracted while her royalty attempted to surprise me with that pipe. Those other three were just scared. Then there was those other creatures in the dungeons. They require further investigation.' He walked over to a map he'd taken from one of the castle's many sitting rooms. 'This place is beautiful...almost Earth like. If I could get a signal to the tribe this world would make a almost perfect colony.' He looked at the corridor leading into the cave and notice a lack of light. He grew a grin of predatory quality. 'Guess I could go for a night on the town!' ------------------ Cadance and her aunt's were walking to the dining room, after seeing Twilight and her friends off. She was always saddened to see her sister-in-law leave but, knew Twilight had a life to get back to. As they walked they continued to discuss a myriad of subjects, raining from this years up and coming Friendsip Game's. To the latest trends the nobility were chasing. It was not long before their conversation drifted to what was expected. "Do either of you have any clue where he might've gone to?" Celestia asked with a nervous smile. Honestly Cadance couldn't blame her, she was too. "Obviously he went to terrorize some poor mare sister. He seems to be a one track feind from what our conversation gleamed." Luna's response held a air of aggravation to it. Cadance couldn't blame her either, she had heard that Luna was one of the first to fall to his techniques. Cadance was of a different mind. Having been the only one who hadn't been in active combat with him, she has only seen a predator backed into a corner. Something about his appearance was...off though. She couldn't quite place her finger on it but he seemed quite...young. "Sister even you shouldn't be so aggravated as to believe such things. He has woken up in a place unfamiliar to him. Place yourself in his shoes would you really do any different?" Celestia asked Luna who appeared to mull it over in her head before she answered "Yes!" The response earned a sigh. They turned the corner to the dining hall. "The first thing he did was run. That is understandable however, his next action after that was to gain access to his weapons but, worst of all is his first interactions with us. I believe he called us freaks before engaging with us in combat dear sister. No kind or civilized creature would act that wa-" Luna was caught off guard by what they saw in the dining hall after the doors opened. Sitting there was Talon. With a Black coated red and white maned Earth pony colt. Bandages wrapped around his head and over a eye. Sitting in Talon's lap eating off a spoon, as Talon softly stroked his mane.