Chapter 1 - Starry night

It was a warm and peaceful summer evening in Sweet Apple Acres. The sky was completely cloudless, allowing a perfect view of the constellations. Millions, if not more, of shining stars filled the heart with wonder and the mind with questions.

Three little fillies, a yellow earth pony, a white unicorn, and an orange pegasus, were happily laying on their backs on the soft grass close to each other, enjoying the wonderful view of the night sky.

Tomorrow would be the start of the new school year, so the fillies had made sure to enjoy their last hours of freedom from homework and lessons, playing and having fun in each possible way they could imagine.

Now, tired and happy, the Cutie Mark Crusaders watched the stars, hundreds of thoughts forming in their young minds.

“It's really beautiful, don't you think?” Sweetie Belle commented without leaving her gaze of the sky.

“Mhm,” Apple Bloom agreed.

The three friends remained silent for a few minutes before Scootaloo spoke up. “Hey, girls?”

“What's up, Scoots?” Apple Bloom asked the pegasus.

“You ever wonder what's up there?"

"Like what?"

“Maybe somepony up there is wondering what it's like here."

Apple Bloom thought about it."Ah guess,” she finally said. “What ya think 'bout, Sweetie?”

“It makes sense to me. I mean look,” she said while waving her hand at the stars. “There are so many. There must be somepony at least on one of them.”

The fillies remained silent, reflecting about the implications.

“Do ya think we'll ever meet 'hem?"

"I hope so. Don't you?"

“Ah don' know. You Scoots?”

“Who knows? The space is huge. Maybe one day,” the pegasus said. “Maybe one day,” she muttered under her breath, while a shooting star raced through the sky.

On the blood of our fathers, on the blood of our sons

The universe. The unlimited expanse of space that fascinates all sentient beings ever since they began to look at the stars. Filled with wonders and secrets that not even the mind of a poet could even conjure. Galaxies full of supernovas, asteroid belts, and other celestial bodies are interspersed with vast stretches of pure vacuum, forming a unique spectacle.

Of the many wonders that possibly exist, the planet Asgard is one of the most amazing. At first glance is appears to be a rocky planet with conditions ideal for life and a moon orbiting around it like so many others in the universe, but a closer look would reveal something incredible about its true nature. More unique than rare, Asgard is a planet whose sun orbits around it, as theorized by the geocentric theory. The origins of this peculiar and clearly unnatural astronomical phenomena are dated back to a remote era, but the secrets behind are lost forever, along with its creators.

The universe. A place full of beauty. A place full of mysteries. A place full of dangers.

The tissue of reality was brutally ripped when the CCS-class Battlecruiser Last Sunset reemerged from slipspace transition, lacking the usual fluidity typical of the Covenant ships. Instead of slipping from a small and clean hole in the fabric of space-time, the mighty battleship looked like it had been thrown by a menacing chasm, similar in shape and feature to a black hole. The return to reality wasn't the only thing to look wrong. The ship itself was in terrible conditions. There were several breaches in the hull from which atmosphere leaked, half of the lights were turned off or flickered irregularly, and the trail of plasma sticking out from the belly of the ship made it seem what was once a powerful space-predator to a wounded shark.

If the external condition of the ship would appear critical, what was happening in the inside looked more like a living hell.

The Sangheili(1) Shipmaster Vraal Rutaen sat on his command chair on the bridge of the battlecruiser, an expression of pure rage painted on his face. His golden armor was reflecting the crimson light of the alarms, giving him a spectral and terrifying appearance accentuated by his exceptional height. With his two and a half meters, Vraal would be able to look directly in the eyes of the deceased Arbiter Ripa Moramee... a thing that he'd once done; quite a disturbing experience considering that then the Hand of the Prophets was an arrogant, mad, bloodthirsty and heartless bastard. But this is another story...

“Cursed Jiralhanae(2)!” he roared with hate, slamming his fist on the chair's arm and leaving a dent with his formidable strength. 'The fault of all this is of those beasts,' he thought, wondering how a simple exploratory mission in a Forerunner installation was become one of the worst missions in his whole career.

The Battlecruiser was patrolling a system near a Sangheili colony on the edge of the Joint Occupation Zone in search of pirate activity, when they had received a short distress signal coming from a UNSC vessel. Apparently, the human research ship had stumbled upon a Forerunner installation orbiting around a gas giant in a previously unexplored system. Preliminary studies had shown that the artifact worked as a slipspace portal, just like the one on Earth that lead to the Ark, but before the science team could perform further investigation, two Brute ships had appeared in the system and attacked the human ship.

Realizing the importance of the discovery, the Shipmaster had ordered to jump at the coordinates of the distress signal, but unfortunately it was too late. The UNSC freighter had been no match against two CRS-class cruisers, but the Sangheili had been all too happy to retaliate, obliterating the smaller warships in a storm of plasma and energy projectors. Satisfied to have avenged their allies, the Shipmaster was about to send a science team on the Forerunner installation to collect data, but suddenly a small fleet had just appeared on the outskirt of the system. They were not common Jiralhanae raiders, but something far worse.

Banished.

Vraal knew what to do. He was outnumbered and sure has hell he would have not allowed such technology to fall in the hands of Atriox and his followers, so he had ordered to destroy the installation using antimatter bombs.

Unfortunately, the explosive charges were detonated too soon, exactly when the cruiser had begun the slipspace transition. The massive energy emission generated by the destruction of the Forerunner artifact had interfered with their navigation systems, sending the ship to a completely unknown location.

But one problem at a time. What pressed Vraal more now was the condition of his ship.

“Damage report!” the Shipmaster roared to be heard over the sound of alarms by his crew. The officers on the bridge struggled to keep their balance while the ship was shook by the explosions, but they managed to maintain their positions in front of their stations.

“Shield disabled, primary weapon systems non-operating.”

“Structural damages in the bow section. Breaches reported in different sections of the hull.”

“Automatic navigation systems non-operational. Manual controls react late.”

“Hangar Four completely depressurized. Fires reported all along the ship.”

“The crew reports several victims and injured. Medical teams in action.”

A loud explosion, stronger than any other so far, reverberate along the ship, making it tremble to the point that it seemed it was about to break in half.

“By the Rings, what was that?” the Shipmaster asked to his second in command.

“Sir, that was one of the methane refilling stations near the Unggoy(3) compartment,” the Ultra Haka Guwakai responded with his usual unperturbed tone. Haka was an expert blademaster able to remain calm and concentrated even in the most dangerous situations thanks to his analytical mind. The Ultra wore an ornate white armor with a crested helmet and a crimson cloak, making him look like a knight of the medieval Sanghelios.

Vraal closed his eyes and hung his head in a brief display of respect for the members of his crew that had just died, before the voice of his second in command brought him back to the brutal reality. “Shipmaster, according to the sensors, the temperature in the area subjected to the explosion is increasing. If the fire reaches the main methane deposit, we risk losing the ship.”

“Seal the section and depressurized it. Without atmosphere, the fire will die,” the Shipmaster ordered with a heavy heart.

“But sir, some of our brothers are still trapped there!” the officer to the systems, Sesa Rakal, objected.

Yes, Vraal was aware of that. But the lives of the rest of the crew were at stake and even though he knew he would regret it, he was also aware that there were no alternatives.

"You heard the Shipmaster. Do as he said," Haka said in a low menacing tone to Sesa, looking at him with his glacial eyes. Another thing that distinguished the Ultra was his sense of duty and loyalty, even for the most difficult orders. Discussing the orders of the Shipmaster with him was comparable to a death sentence.

The young officer gulped and activated a series of controls, locking the section invaded by the fire while opening the doors of the hyperbaric chambers, allowing the air to disperse in the space.

“The fire is out, sir,” Sesa said barely louder than a whisper.

“It was the right thing brother,” Haka said, placing a hand on the shoulder of the other Sangheili. The officer looked at him, the nodded slowly and returned his full attention on the controls of his station.

“Sir, incoming transmission from the engine room,” Huru K'Teer, the communications officer, said.

“Excellent timing,” mumbled the Shipmaster. “I hope they have good news. On the main screen,” he ordered.

Soon the image of the engine room appeared on the screen with a Sangheili in the foreground. The Sangheili, a female as indicated by her short stature and her physique less powerful if compared to her male counterparts, wore purple spec ops armor with electric blue decors on her helmet and shoulders, that identified her as a member of the Seekers of Truth, the new order of Zealots whose purpose was the scientific research and the maintenance of the technology.

“Tarya, report,” the Shipmaster asked.

“Things are going pretty bad, sir. We've lost a lot of plasma before being able to bypass the main line, the temperature of the main reactor is critical and if it wasn't for the guts of the Huragok(4) the FTL drive would have caused a slipspace rupture in the middle of the ship,” she said looking toward something outside the visual field of the camera.

Just then a floating Huragok appeared in the background, engaged to help a pair of technicians to re-align a plasma coil. There were a series of sparks and electrics shocks. The Huragok gave a shrill whistle backing suddenly, followed by the two Sangheili just in time before the coil exploded violently.

“Zero, are you alright?” Tarya yelled with concern to the creature.

The Huragok, Zero Losses, gave her a reassuring whistle while he helped one of the two technicians to his feet.

A new alarm filled the air. The female Sangheili swore under her breath. “We just needed this,” she hissed.

“What's happening?!” the Shipmaster asked.

“The emergency protocols have been activated and now the repulsor engines have entered into forced shutdown.”

“Sir, without the engines we can no longer maneuver the ship,” the fist pilot, Voro Matkrol, noticed.

“I am aware of this obviousness, Voro. Bring the sensors online again. I want know what we have on our route.”

“Aye aye, sir,” the pilot said. He fumbled with the controls until he was rewarded by a loud beep. “Sensors operating again,” he said, shortly before forming a scowl under his integral helmet. “Sir, we have a problem.”

“What kind of problem?” the Shipmaster asked, already knowing that he was not going to like the answer.

“Our current vector is directing us towards the surface of a moon.”

Vraal mentally wondered if the universe hated him. “ETA?”

“Less then ten minutes before we reach the limits of the gravitational field. Exceed that limit, in our current conditions, we'll not have a way to escape the gravitational force.”

The Shipmaster reflected for a few seconds before addressing Tarya again. “How long till the repulsor engines are fully operative again?”

She turned toward the Huragok. “Zero?” The floating creature moved his tentacles and emitted a series of whistles. Tarya shook her head. “He said it would take twenty minutes.”

“We don't have so much time!”

“I know that, but he said that otherwise the engines will explode!”

The Shipmaster began to reflect intensively, trying to come up with a plan to save his ship and his crew. With the current state of the FTL drive they couldn't even perform an emergency slipspace jump, the attempt to would simply result in them disappearing in the non-space, as it happened to the Long Night of Solace during the siege of Reach.

'I have to save the ship, even if this means I have to go out and push- wait.' His eyes twinkled when the idea came. "Voro, would a sudden change of route with a push strong enough be sufficient to avoid being caught by the gravity field and instead take advantage of the slingshot effect?”

The pilot tilted his head, then answered with caution. “Theoretically, yes, if the angle is correct.”

“Can you perform such a maneuver?”

“I'll do my best, Sir.”

“Excellent. Tarya, I need you to ask the Huragok if we can generate a force pulse using the left thrusters without overloading the reactor.”

It took a few seconds for the Sangheili female to understand the plan. “I see. The pulse would be enough to change the route, but short enough to not damage the engines,” she said with appreciation.

“Precisely.”

Tarya caught the attention of the Huragok and explained the plan to him. Zero tilted his head to the side, but eventually shook it up and down in agreement.

“We'll do our best, sir.”

“Good luck, Tarya.”

She simply nodded and cut the link.

“And please, be careful. Niece,” he whispered inaudibly.

Tarya and Zero hurried toward the lower section of the engine room, knowing that each second was crucial. The Sangheili jumped from a catwalk, landing gracefully on the floor five meters lower to save time. Her companion merely floated in mid air after her.

<You know, you might have used the stairs,> the annoyed Huragok remarked in his native language.

“Pff, you're just jealous of my physical abilities,” Tarya replied while continuing to run. “And besides, I cannot simply float in the air like you.”

Zero couldn't see her face because she was in front of him and was wearing a helmet, but knowing Tarya, she was certainly smirking.

'Sangheili. Always ready to demonstrate their skills,' he thought with a mix of amusement and disbelief while shaking his head.

It took them a couple of minutes to reach their destination, a narrow maintenance duct barely wide enough to allow a Sangheili to pass. At the end there was a control panel that allowed the user to bypass the safety protocols of the engine. With some luck they would be able to set up a thrust pulse without blowing up the ship.

“All right, here's the plan. I'll remain here to control the reactor values while you enter the instructions in the terminal in the duct,” she instructed the Huragok.

At the same moment, the tunnel was filled by voltaic bolts and cascades of sparks. The explosions and the violent vibrations must have damaged the protection of the circuits of the generator and the presence of ionized gas in the air was allowing the high voltage to generate a small scale electric storm in the conduct.

“... On second thought, I will go in the tunnel while you remain to control the values.”

<What?! You're not talking seriously,> Zero exclaimed, clearly shocked. <It's too dangerous, those electric bolts will kill you. I should be the one to do it.>

“Speaks the one whose body is a sack of helium and hydrogen.”

<Tarya->

“It’s just thirty meters. My energy shields will protect me during the process and if I'll have difficulties, you can assist me by radio.”

The Huragok emitted a sound similar to a bleat, expressing his disapproval. <It's a lie, and you know that. Just one of those shocks is enough to discharge the shields and fry you inside the armor.>

“I know my friend. But we both know that there's no other choice. If I don't take the risk, the whole ship is doomed,” she said while stepping toward the tunnel.

<Wait!> Zero said with urgency. When Tarya turned, he handed her a small device using one of his tentacles. <You will need it.>

She smiled when she recognized it. It was a shields enhancer, also known as Invincibility equipment, a device usually used by Jiralhanae Chieftains to resist even the most devastating attack, at least for a small amount of time. How the Huragok was in possession of it was a complete mystery.

Nodding her thanks toward Zero, she took a deep breath, then activated the device and ran into the duct.

She ran at the maximum speed her legs allowed, ignoring the lethal electric charges that hit her body. The voltaic bolts danced across the surfaces of her armor in a visual display that was beautiful as it was deadly, spreading to her skin resulting in a tingly feeling. Tarya was aware if it wasn't for Zero and his device, her shields would have been drained already and she would be dead.

Halfway, a panel as large as her chest exploded from the wall on her right and hit her at the shoulder with enough force to push her against the opposite wall. She ignored the pain and resumed to run, aware that it was only a matter of time before the Invincibility device became exhausted, leaving her exposed to the high tension.

It took her a few seconds to reach the control panel, but it seemed much longer to her. Time seemed to slow down as she moved her hands on the controls, barely conscious of her surroundings.

The sounds of the alarms, the vibrations of the hull, the smell of ozone, these things were barely recorded by her brain. All of her world revolved around the terminal. She mustn't make mistakes. She couldn't make mistakes.

The holo-signals flashed and she heard a loud beep. It worked!

“Zero, alert the bridge that it worked, NOW!” Tarya shouted while she ran toward the exit.

The Huragok whistled through the intercom, giving a green light to Voro.

The pilot wasn't waiting for nothing else. As soon as Voro received the authorization from the engine room, he activated the propulsors. It was the moment of truth. If the pulse was too low, the angle would be insufficient and the ship wouldn't be able to escape from the gravitational field of the moon; if it was too strong, not only would they not be able to use the slingshot effect but the already strained reactor would explode.

It was a clash of titans, technology against nature, engines against gravity. The Cruiser trembled, trying to escape the gravitational field of the moon, the vibrations were strong enough to nullify the effect of the inertial dampers and give trouble to the gravitational plates.

Tarya was almost out of the maintenance duct when the floor tilted twenty degrees, sending the young zealot to clash against the wall with violence. She struggled to maintain her balance and not stumble, when suddenly a massive electric shock hit her. The over-shield device managed to absorb only a fraction of the electricity before exhausting its effect. She screamed in pain when the electricity crossed her body after effortlessly draining the shield of the armor.

The world became a mass of blurry spots while she lost consciousness. The last things she was able to see before hitting the floor were what looked like a pair of long tentacles head towards her. Then, only blackness.

Chapter 2 - Wait, what?

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Chapter 2 - Wait, what?

“I'm bored,” the unicorn guard said to his colleague, arranging the rifle that he carried over his shoulder. The other unicorn, also wearing the armor of the night watch, said nothing, but stifled a yawn. Overseeing the entrance to the astronomy dome during the night was one of the most boring posts.

Not that there was a great difference with the situation in the rest of the west wing, but at least the restricted access section of the archives had some occasional visitor more or less authorized, more specifically the prized pupil of Celestia, the young princess Twilight Sparkle.

Compared with the frantic activities that take place during the day, the corridors of that section of Canterlot castle could be considered deserted during the night. A great part of the staff members that carried out their duties during the day were in most cases asleep in their beds, leaving most of the halls empty, save for the sporadic patrolling guard. The majority of the nighttime activities of the castle took place in the main body of the building where Night Court is held by Princess Luna herself. Even though it’s small compared with the Day Court, ponies of all social classes went to ask audience to the younger of the royal sisters for the most various reasons.

The court duties usually occupied most of the princesses time, forcing her to stay in the throne room when she wasn't performing one of her so called dream-walks, hunting for nightmares. So it was with a certain surprise that the two guards saw the blue alicorn approach in great haste from the corridor, followed closely by one of her personal guards, the lieutenant Midnight Blossom. The young thestral mare struggled to keep up with the night princess, disadvantaged by her shorter legs when compared with that of the alicorn.

“Open the door,” the princess of the night said with a tone that didn't allow argument, her face stoic.

The two unicorns hurried to accomplish the order, opening the heavy oak wooden doors and promptly stepping aside to allow the princess to enter.

“Lieutenant, what's happening?” one of the guards asked Midnight Blossom once the princess was inside the room.

“I know as much as you, corporal. A few minutes ago the princess was holding court, when suddenly she stood up and disbanded all the meetings for 'matters of high priority', before rushing here,” the thestral said, shaking her head. “Let's go, she might need us,” she said while stepping inside.

Even though this wasn't the first time that she saw the hall, Midnight Blossom couldn't help but gape in amazement. The huge circular room was over fifty meters wide, built by blocks of black basalt cut and disposed with millimeter accuracy to form a tall forty meter tower, topped by a huge dome of glass supported by steel bars. On the floor there was a mosaic representing an accurate model of the solar system, with Asgard in the precise center of the hall and the others celestial bodies disposed around. The walls were lined with alcoves which housed relics that had belonged to prominent scientists and scholars of the past.

One in particular seemed to have caught the interest of the princess: a light blue crystal about the size of a fist and shaped vaguely as the head of an arrow, with the surface filled with mysterious geometric incisions. The strange artifact was discovered by her parents hundreds of years before she was born, in a cave in the middle of the tropical jungles that occupied the southern hemisphere before being submerged by the ocean.

With extreme delicacy Luna grabbed the crystal from the niche and lifted it up to face level, then she closed her eyes and touched it with the tip of her long horn. She remained still for several seconds, a concentrated expression painted on her face, before she widened her eyes suddenly, gasping loudly.

“Princess Luna, my lady, are you okay?” the young thestral mare asked worried, rushing toward her.

“Don't worry, Midnight. Give me only one moment,” she said gasping slightly, putting back the artifact in the alcove. “Impossible,” Luna muttered astonished after a few moments, shaking her head. “It has shifted.”

“Shifted? What has shifted, princess?” Midnight asked with a puzzled expression.

“The moon. The moon has shifted from its original orbit,” Luna answered, looking her in the eyes.

The eyes of the thestral widened completely. "What?! How is this even possible?"

"I have no idea, my dear friend, but one thing is sure: I must put remedy before the anomaly becomes too big."

The alicorn prepared herself psychologically to the task. It wouldn't be easy nor quick. It was one thing to guide the moon on its regular orbit, an action that requires only a minimal, almost insignificant part of her powers. But correcting a change, even minimal, of orbit caused by external causes? THIS was a different matter altogether.

“Open wide the dome,” she ordered the guards.

One of the unicorns hurried to execute, running to the other side of the hall. He opened the door in the wall that housed the control panel, then pulled down a big lever. With the noise of gears in action, barbells releasing and electric motors, the massive dome made of glass and steel split along twelve rays in as many segments that opened outward like the petals of a flower, revealing the night sky in all its beauty.

The Princess took position in the exact center of the round hall, her head facing the moon.

She widened her wings to their full extension, pointing her hands toward the moon, while her eyes and horn started to glow due to the flow of mana that was channeled in her body, ready to be released in form of magic.

'It will be a long night,' Luna thought grimly.

Pain. The first thing her brain registered when Tarya woke up was the pain. All of her body ached, her muscles and skin burning as if she was seared by massive sunburn after an intensive training session.

'Wait, if I can feel pain, then I'm alive. And if I'm alive... it worked! The ship is save,' she realized. The young Zealot cautiously opened her eyes, but she soon regretted it. In her current condition the light of the room was almost blinding. "Ugh, my head. It's as if a Mgalekgolo(1) hit me with its shield," she groaned, assuming a sitting position on the bed on which she lay.

"Easy there, miss. You remained unconscious for several hours. And besides, in response to your previous affirmation, I highly doubt that a Mgalekgolo would risk hitting your cranium. Your head is so hard that the shield would break by hitting it,” a sarcastic male voice said.

She tried again to open the eyelids, this time with more success. Slowly, the blurry spots became defined images.

The first thing that Tarya noticed was that her armor and undersuit had been removed, replaced by a pair of white shorts and a band wrapped around her chest.

Then she took notice of her surroundings. The young zealot was in a rectangular hall lit by an orange light that mimicked the sun's rays, in contrast with the classic blue lights that illuminated the rest of the ship, the distinct smell of blood, disinfectants, and medicine filled the air. Arranged along the long sides of the room were rows of beds, some empty, some occupied by more or less seriously injured Sangheili. Female nurses wearing the characteristic green armor of the medical personal roamed from bed to bed, checking the conditions of the patients using holographic terminals.

“Great,” Tarya groaned, rolling her eyes. She was in the last place every Sangheili wanted to be. “The infirmary,” she said annoyed.

“Oh, don't make it sound worse than the reality. I did not even have to sedate you,” the same voice said.

The young zealot finally turned her head, looking at her interlocutor. An average sized male Sangheili wearing green minor armor was beside her bed, intent to control her physiological values on a holographic terminal. The Forerunner rune of the medicine, a reversed T surrounded by a ring, was painted on his chest plate identifying him as a member of the medical personal, while a red line on the helmet indicated his rank of head physician. But it was another characteristic that distinguished doctor Nax Toruo from the other Sangheili on the ship. In the first few days after the Great Schism, Nax lost his right arm because of a close encounter with a gravity hammer. The original limb was now replaced by a prosthesis made in Covenant alloy.

“Well, technically you were already stunned,” admitted the doctor without taking his eyes from the terminal.

'Let's see, green armor, artificial limb, terrible sense of humor... yeah, he's definitely doctor Toruo,' Tarya thought, rolling her eyes.
“Nice to see you again, doctor. Busy day?”

“You have no idea,” Nax admitted. “Over one hundred crew-members hospitalized.”

“I guess you'll be glad that your services are much required,” she asked mindlessly, looking at the beds occupied by the wounded. Her still foggy mind was unable to take notice sooner of the implications of her comment.

The Sangheili finally turned toward the Zealot, glaring her with a serious and hurt gaze. “Miss Rutaen, if you think that I enjoy seeing our brother and sisters coming here, screaming in pain for the injuries, than you'll be very disappointed that I don't. Maybe my profession is not the most popular job among the Sangheili, but if it wasn't for us medics half of our race would be dead by now. So, spare me your sarcasm and try to show a little respect,” he snapped.

Tarya couldn't help but feel like shit for saying such a thing. Among the Sangheili the profession of the doctors was seen for centuries as dishonorable, considering them as individuals that took away the honor of a warrior by making him bleed on the operation table.
Things had begun to change after the Great Schism when, between the conflict against the Jiralhanae and the civil war, the number of deceased among the Sangheili had increased alarmingly. The need of soldiers was high, but so was the number of the injured in combat. If every one of them had resorted to the ritual suicide in order to regain their honor, the Sangheili race would be doomed. Thankfully, while still viewed with hostility by many, the more pragmatic philosophy of ‘recover from your wounds to fight another day’ was becoming more and more widespread. The key role of the medical teams was indisputable. Without their efforts, thousands of warriors wouldn't be able to give their contribution on the battlefield.

“I'm sorry, Nax,” Tarya said hanging her head in shame. “It wasn't my intention to disrespect your job. That was a poor choice of words.”

The facial expression of the medic softened as well as his gaze. “Now, now, Tarya. You don't need to excuse yourself. I know it wasn't your intention to cause offense. You just woke up and you're still disposing the effects of the medications,” he said while he rubbed his hand on his face. Just now the Zealot noticed the signs of tiredness in his eyes. “My team and I were in a state of alert since the battle with the Brutes and we have been working uninterruptedly for the last six hours. As you can imagine, stress and social interactions are not exactly the best of buddies.”

“I guess,” she muttered. “Wait, you said six hours? I remained unconscious for so long?”

“Yeah, and all this time your uncle came here regularly to monitor your conditions.”

The doors of the infirmary opened at that very moment, revealing the impressive figure of the Shipmaster.

“Well, well, well, speak of the Helioskrill(2)...” he trailed off looking as Vraal Rutaen crossed the hall.

The Shipmaster's face showed evident signs of tiredness, but his eyes lit up when he realized that his niece was awake.

“I see that the hero of the ship is again among us. Your nap did worry the whole crew,” he joked approaching the bed.

“You know that our lineage is tough, it'll take more than a bit of electricity to stop us,” replied Tarya, earning a chuckle from the Shipmaster. She then turned towards Nax. “But very likely I, as well as many others, wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the efforts of doctor Toruo and his team. Today they have demonstrated their worth.”

Vraal nodded. “I have to agree,” he said, facing the head physician.

The doctor shifted his feet slightly, not used to receiving compliments and a bit unnerved by the massive figure of the Shipmaster that now towered in front of him.

“Well, technically her condition wasn’t too serious. She didn't suffer any internal injuries or cerebral damage. The last side effects of the electric discharge on her neurological system should disappear in the next few hours, while the burns and the bruises will take a few days to completely heal,” he replied with slight embarrassment.

“Doctor Toruo, you shouldn't diminish the value of your actions. You have saved many lives today, not only that of my niece,” the Shipmaster said placing a hand on the shoulder of the medic. “On my behalf and of the whole crew, I offer our deepest gratitude for the work that you and your team have done.”

Nax was taken aback by the compliment, but recovered quickly and performed the traditional salute, placing his right fist across his chest on the left heart and bowing his head.

“Thank you, Shipmaster. You can't imagine how much your words mean for all of us. We are honored to perform our duty under your command.”

A series of screams and roars drew his attention to the other side of the infirmary. A pair of female nurses were trying without success to calm down a Major that didn't want to receive medical treatment.

"Doctor, help! We need assistance!" one of the nurses said urgently.

“Now, if you would excuse me, I have to sedate the Major Domo before he destroy the room,” Nax said nonchalantly wielding a disturbing device whose design resembled that of a human pistol, but instead of a firing chamber there was a vial filled with a clear fluid, while at the end of the muzzle there was a big needle.

Oblivious to the startled looks of the Shipmaster and the Zealot, Nax headed for his new 'victim'.

The Major Domo Ruyo Kovakan roared and struggled against the hands of the two nurses that were trying desperately to hold him. All of this was against his very nature. He was a Sangheili warrior, for Forerunners' sake! Bleeding from the forehead wasn't a good enough reason to drag him into this dishonorable place!

“Leave me, honor-suckers! I don't need your stupid medications!” he roared at his 'opponents'.

Then he saw him. His great nemesis. The oncoming storm. The predator of the honor. The doctor.

“You!”

“Yes, me!” Nax said with a over cheerful tone. “So, my dear girls, what is the condition of the most scorbutic officer of the fleet?”

“He's got a nasty laceration on the forehead caused by an explosion. We should make a scansion of the cranium in search of eventual fractures, but he has no intention to cooperate,” said one of the two nurses.

“Don't worry. I'll handle him,” Nax said showing the strange syringe.

The eyes of the Major widened at the sight of the medical device, more specifically at the sight of the big needle.

“Keep that monstrous device away from me, cursed cyborg!” the Major yelled in panic.

“Now, now, Ruyo. Stop whining like an Unggoy. It's only a little injection. You will not feel the slightest pain,” he said slipping the needle without warning into the neck of Ruyo, making him scream horribly. “... Aside for the needle, of course,” the doctor deadpanned.

“You...are...pure...evil...” the major trailed with a slumbering voice before falling asleep.

Nodding satisfied with the result, the doctor activated the holographic room divider to work with some privacy.

“I'm glad I was already unconscious when I came here,” Tarya said in a weak voice at the scene she just viewed. “Really glad.”

The Shipmaster didn't reply. Instead, he pressed a command on the terminal, activating the holographic partition around the bed, and faced his niece. Now that they were isolated from the rest of the room, Vraal broke the expression of mock confidence and bravery that he had held until then.

“Uncle?” she asked unsure, taken aback by his sudden change of mood.

"I'm glad to see you're safe, Tarya. When the news that you were injured reached me, I feared the worst," Vraal murmured in a tone that oozed pain and concern.

Tarya found herself shocked to see her uncle, one of the bravest and proudest captains of the Sangheili fleet look so... vulnerable.

"I had to appear strong for the morale of the crew, but inside I was devoured by anxiety. And when I saw you unconscious on the bed for the first time, I've felt a sense of impotence like I haven’t felt since... that day.” His tone was weak, as if speaking was difficult, his mind clearly struggling to hold back painful memories.

That day. There was no need to say more. She knew what day he meant. The day when a task force of Jiralhanae raiders had arrived without warning on the colony world Lakawi, destroying the Rutaen Keep with all the inhabitants. Vraal and Tarya were the only survivors of their clan just because they were on Sanghelios to assist a meeting between the Arbiter and the UNSC. She will never forget when they'd received the frightful news, the horrible sense of suffocation that she had experienced, the roars of anger and pain of her uncle, the nights that she spent crying in her bed remembering the faces of her loved ones.

Chasing away the sad memories, she bowed her head, closing her eyes. "I'm sorry that you had to suffer so much by my fault, uncle,” she muttered. “But I don't regret what I've done. Like I said before, our lineage is tough. We may be the last of our family, but this should not prevent us from fulfilling our tasks. You taught me to be strong, along with the true meaning of sacrifice for a greater purpose and the respect of the duty. My duty was toward the ship and the crew. I had to do it. I could not escape, it would have been an insult to our deceased family members."

She felt suddenly the powerful arms of the Shipmaster tighten around her in an embrace and she returned the gesture. They remained so for several minutes, in silence, enjoying that special moment. When they broke the embrace she looked up and she saw her uncle looking at her with a gaze that showed pride. "My sister raised you well. The more I look to you, the more I can see the resemblance with your mother. She would be proud of you," he said with a sad smile. “I am proud of you.”

“Thank you, uncle.”

They remain in silence few minutes before she spoke again.

“So, how did I end up here?” she asked, changing the subject to a, relatively, less painful theme. “My last memories are quite blurred. All that I recall is that I was running in the duct before being struck by a voltaic bolt.”

A smile appeared on the face of Vraal, this time of true amusement and stupor. “Well, you see, when you passed out, your Huragok friend entered the conduit and dragged you out. You would not think so, but those adorable gas pockets are incredibly strong.”

“Zero risked his life for me?” she asked astonished.

The Shipmaster nodded. “I talked with him before. When I asked him why he risked being electrocuted, he said that for a friend he was willing to do this and more.”

Tarya was speechless. She knew that the Huragok felt sympathy for her, but she didn't know that he considered her a friend.

“I'll have to thank him profusely for this.”

“I fear that you'll have to wait. He's currently helping Osmotic Pressure and the engineer teams to repair the ship.”

“What is the entity of damage?”

Vraal's expression turned serious. "Heavy and extended, fortunately none of the primary systems were compromised and there were no structural damage. We suffered at least two hundred casualties between our kind and the Unggoy, while the number of wounded is one hundred and seventeen. Our current location is still unknown and long range communications with the fleet or Sanghelios are cut off. Add to the picture the impossible planet...”

“Impossible planet?” Tarya asked, clearly confused.

“Promise to not freak out?” Vraal asked with hesitation.

She hesitated a second. “Alright, shoot.”

The shipmaster took a deep breath before speaking in a tone as calm as possible. “The ship is currently located in a geocentric solar system and we are orbiting the planet at its center.”

“... I beg your pardon?”

Chapter 3 - Newspapers, blackboards and holograms

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Chapter 3 – Newspapers, blackboards and holograms

It was almost dawn when Philomena the phoenix woke up on her perch. The marvelous bird stretched her wings and chirped quietly, before directing her gaze to the other occupant of the room. Her mistress and old friend, Princess Celestia, was lying asleep in her bed enjoying the last few minutes of her well deserved rest.

The phoenix peered out the wide French door. The night was coming to an end and the sky was becoming clearer. The sunrise was close and Celestia was still asleep.

Thanks to a series of circumstances given by her age, her powers, and her nature as an alicorn, Celestia, as well her sister Luna, needed just four hours of sleep per night save for rare exceptions caused by extreme tiredness.

This was one of these cases. After a particularly long and busy day, Celestia had stayed up most of the night to sign important documents, going to sleep at four in the morning.

Philomena felt sorry for her, but she knew that without the magic of the alicorn the sun cannot rise properly. She knew what she had to do. The majestic bird fluttered to the bed, landing beside her friend. How she was able to sleep on this soft cluster was still a mystery to the phoenix.

She looked at her friend. Even though when she was asleep her ethereal hair reverted into a physical form, becoming a messy mass of multicolored hairs, she was still what many on the planet would have defined as the living incarnation of beauty.
A soft smile adorned her ageless angelic face, probably caused by a pleasant dream. Philomena was happy to see the sleeping alicorn smiling. She would never forget the countless times she'd seen Celestia crying in her bed, calling the name of her sister during a nightmare. Luckily those times were now just a bad memory.

Who knew what she was dreaming of now?

"Another slice of cake please,” the princess mumbled. Philomena smiled. Celestia may be thousands of years old, but inside she was still the little sweet tooth filly she had met when her egg hatched so long ago.

The phoenix nuzzled her head gently on the cheek of the alicorn with the intent of waking her, but she only managed to make her turn over. However, Philomena didn't give up and repeated the move, this time with more insistence.

"Mmm, Luna, stop it or you will suffer the wrath of the alfalfa monster," Celestia murmured in her sleep.

Philomena didn't want to come to this, but Celestia left her no other choice but to use her secret wake up weapon. The phoenix took a deep breath, inflating her chest and opening her wings, and... she started to sing. It was a simple melody, one that she had learned some time ago by a gentle young pegasus mare in Ponyville, but it had the desired effect. Hearing the notes, Celestia began to stir and yawned softly.

She rubbed her eyes to drive out the residual weariness, and then opened her eyelids, smiling softly when she saw the phoenix.

"Good morning Philomena," she said, caressing the nape of the bird. "Thanks for waking me up, I was more tired than I thought,” the princess said while stretching her arms, then she got up out of bed. Her night outfit was a large azure T-shirt with a yellow smiling sun drawn on and a pair of comfy black boxer shorts. Not the most regal garment, but she liked it.

Walking with her bare hooves toward the wide french door, she took a moment to stop at a small side table on which rested a gramophone. Celestia then used her magic to summon in front of her various vinyl records belonging to many different genres of music.

"Let's see, jazz, blues, country, rock... ah-a! Here it is. The last album of Octavia Melody and Fiddlestick," she said, placing the disc on the turntable and lowering the tone arm.

Soon the notes of a pleasant melody began to fill the air, followed by an approving chirp by Philomena. Satisfied by her choice, Celestia opened the glass door and stepped onto the balcony. The morning air was fresh but not in an unpleasant way. A soft breeze carried the scent of conifer from the Everfree Forest, located directly below the Unicorn Mountain. The princess took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Her wings widened to their full extension, her hair assumed its usual ethereal form and her horn began to glow, first in a discreet manner, then increasingly brighter.

In front of her the sun began to rise over the horizon, painting the sky a multitude of colors ranging from pink, orange, and gold. She felt the warmth of the sun’s rays on her white fur and she opened her eyes. Satisfied by her work, she cut the influx of mana from her horn, still keeping the background connection with the celestial body.

She couldn't help but think of her role and that of her sister. She and Luna didn't actually raise the sun and the moon. If anything their task was to direct their orbit with small influences of magic at regular intervals. A particularly unique task of course. Celestia was well aware that Asgard was an anomaly in the universe, but the origin of their astronomical condition was a mystery dating back to well before her parents.

The alicorn shrugged. She had long since accepted that the solution to that mystery would never be revealed, since much of the knowledge and memories of what predated her birth had been lost long ago.

A more impelling and vital matter was waiting for her. Her morning yoga session. Over the centuries her work had become increasingly sedentary, limiting the opportunities she had to move during the day and instead increasing the time that she spent sitting. Beginning the day with the muscles well loose was a matter of life or death.

After she brought her little carpet on the balcony using her telekinesis, she began her exercises under the gaze of Philomena, who in the mean time had reached her and was now perched on the parapet. Starting with the sun salutation she proceeded with increasingly difficult exercises without apparent effort. One thing of which Celestia was particularly proud of was that, even if she didn't posses a physique as athletic as that of her sister, she was fairly agile and flexible.
She wasn't overweight, rather hers was a body that could be defined as Junoesque.

The princess was in the middle of the bridge pose when she heard somepony knock at the door of the bed room. "Come in!" she said without stopping her contortions. She knew who was coming so she didn't bother to cover herself. The ample oak door opened, revealing a yellow earth pony mare with green hair dressed in a maid uniform while carrying a silver tray on which lay a big glass of orange juice.

“Good morning, your majesty,” the smiling mare said, approaching the balcony with the tray.

“Good morning Sunny Daffodil,” Celestia saluted, standing up. “How was the vacation in the Crystal Empire?” she asked, accepting the glass and taking a sip. Mmm, freshly squeezed oranges.

“It was simply wonderful!” the young maid said with her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. “The crystal ponies are really welcoming, the buildings were so shiny and the landscape was simply stunning. And the castle, it was simply amazing! I mean, Canterlot Palace is glorious, but visiting a building composed entirely of crystal, it was... different.”

Celestia chuckled. “I know the feeling, my little pony. I felt the same thing when I saw the palace for the first time,” said smiling with twinkling eyes at the old memory. However, her smile soon faltered when a shadow crossed her gaze and tinged it with sadness.

“Before Sombra took power,” she whispered bitterly, looking at the glass. She had seen many things in her long existence, some beautiful beyond imagination, others horrendous to the point that she hoped that nobody else would have the misfortune of seeing them. What Sombra had done was beyond horrible.

“Your majesty, are you alright?” Sunny asked with hesitation, noticing the change of humor in the alicorn.

Quickly as it had appeared, her saddened look was replaced by her usual serene face. The princess had mastered this expression, a smile that was reassuring and motherly, but at the same time enigmatic and difficult to read.

“Oh, I'm fine Sunny, just a bit tired,” she lied, not wanting to worry the young maid.

Sunny nodded, visibly relieved. “I don't really know how to thank you enough, princess,” she said with sincere gratitude.

“Don't worry about it Sunny, it was my pleasure. Given the working schedules that you have to endure to serve me, you simply deserved it.”

“You're too kind princess, but I think that if there's somepony here that really deserves a vacation, it would be you and your sister. You two do so much for all of us, working so hard every day and barely stopping for a break,” she said, making the bed for Celestia. “As for me,” she shrugged while smiling, “I'm just a simple maid. Maybe not the kind of job that is recorded by history, but if my little acts help you perform your duties toward Equestria, then I'm more than happy to have strange shifts.”

Celestia smiled. “Thank you, Sunny. Knowing that the ponies appreciate my work and that of my sister is what keeps us performing our task.”

“You're welcome, princess,” the maid said before leaving the room.

Later, a freshly showered and fully dressed Celestia left her chambers, heading towards the dining room. She crossed many high-ceiling corridors, each one decorated with tapestries, statues, paintings, and stained-glass windows, until she arrived to a wooden door guarded by a thestral mare. Her purple armor lacked a helmet, revealing her short purple hair, but otherwise her appearance was flawless and neat.

“Good morning, princess,” the thestral said when Celestia came closer.

“Good morning, lieutenant Midnight. I presume my sister is already inside?”

“You're correct, your majesty. She's had a long night and was rather hungry.”

“How hungry?” she asked raising an eyebrow, knowing the appetite that her sister had in the morning.

The thestral tilted her long and sensible ears to catch the almost imperceptible noises coming from behind the door. “Starving,” she simply replied.

Celestia confirmed the words of Midnight when she stepped into the room, finding Luna intent on devouring a plate of macaroni and cheese with great gusto.

“Good morning, Luna,” Celestia said cheerfully, just to receive a grunt from her sister.

Something was wrong. The voracity with which Luna was eating would have dwarfed a parasprite and judging by the remarkable stack of emptied plates on the table she had a frighteningly large appetite.

“By Equestria, Luna. I haven't seen you so hungry since your re-growth phase,” the day princess said incredulous, watching as her sister finished emptying the dish.

“I had a particularly fatiguing night,” she said, taking a long sip of water from her glass.

"Oh, I see. Did you have another 'private training session' with that handsome guard of yours?” the older sister asked with a mischievous smile.

Taken aback by her sister’s insinuation, Luna spat the water she was drinking all over the table while her face reddened violently. "WHAT!? NO!"

Celestia chuckled at the reaction of her sister, when suddenly the hairs of the night princess deflated to their cerulean physical appearances. Now it was Celestia's turn to widen her eyes in surprise.

“Sister, what in the name-?” she was starting to ask, but stopped when she was finally able to give her sister a closer look. Her eyes were bloodshot and she had circles under her eyelids so dark that they were visible through her midnight blue coat. But what really made Celestia worry was when she perceived the incredibly low levels of mana that her sister was emitting. She was almost drained.

“Luna, what happened to you?” Celestia asked, rushing to her side. “Don't you feel well?”

“Tia, calm down, you don't need to be worried. I'm just exhausted. I spent most of the night using my magic and you know that manipulating the mana for long amounts of time leaves the body tired and hungry.”

Celestia looked at her with confusion and worry. “What happened? What brought you to face a similar effort?”

“For unknown reasons, the moon was shifted from its orbit,” she answered her, while she took a red apple and gave it a wide bite.

Celestia was wordless with bewilderment. “How?” she managed to finally ask.

The dark alicorn began to talk with her mouth full of food. "I was holding the night court when around midnight-" she paused to swallow, then she took another bite "-I felt something interfere with my connection with the satellite. It made me suspicious, so I went to the astronomy dome to investigate with the Crystal of the Ancients."

“And what did you find?”

“Beside the alteration of the orbit? Nothing, sister.”

“Nothing?” the elder sister said with surprise.

“That's what I've said. No signs of magic, no magnetic anomalies, nor impacts of asteroids on the surface. I have absolutely no idea of what could have caused the slip in orbit.”
She sighed, apparently bothered that she hadn’t managed to find the cause. “At least I noticed it before it became too serious,” she muttered.

Now that she was aware about her sister's condition, Celestia looked at her with disapproval. “In this regard, there's something that I don't understand. You knew that correcting the orbit would be a wearisome process. Why didn't you call me? Combining our powers we would have done the job quicker and without you being reduced to this state.”

“The thought had occurred to me, but I immediately discarded it,” she replied with a sheepish smile, trying not to look at her sister.

“Why?” Celestia asked raising a brow, perplexed. “I'm your sister, Lulu. You know you can always count on my help.”

“That's the point, Tia. You're always willing to help the others, but tiring yourself by endeavoring. Your work day was already long and fatiguing without this issue. I just wanted you to get some rest.”

Celestia's expression softened instantly.

“Oh, Luna. I know that you are always ready to assist me, but I don't want you to reach your limits to do it,” she said, nuzzling the hair of her sister affectionately. “Please, promise me that if a problem of this caliber ever happens again, you'll call me, no matter what I'm doing,” she said with concern in her eyes.

“All right, Tia. I promise,” the younger alicorn replied while nodding. Then she yawned and stretched out her arms. “Well, I think it's time for me to retire to my room and get some sleep.”

“If you need more time to rest, you should skip the meeting with the griffons this afternoon,” Celestia offered.

“Although it's tempting, I have to decline the idea. I'm tired, true, but the meeting is too important and I can't skip it.”

“As you prefer, sister. I wish you a good rest.”

Luna rose from her chair and walked towards the door, but stopped halfway and returned to the table. “I almost forgot...” she said using the telekinesis to put two large slices of strawberry cheesecake on a plate.

“Hey, that's not fair. You're taking two slices,” Celestia said in mock indignation.

Luna shrugged. “Life's not fair, Tia. And besides, one's for Midnight. She remained at my side all night and insisted accompanying me here after her shift ended. She has even skipped dinner,” she said, leaving the room.

Celestia smiled. The thestral mare was one of the first ponies with whom her sister had befriended after her return and now they were very close.

She then looked at the empty chairs and sighed. She didn't like having breakfast alone. It was as if something was missing.

Resigned, she called the waiter using a small bell. Almost immediately, a unicorn waiter arrived carrying a tray with her food and a copy of the Equestria Daily.

“Good appetite, your majesty,” the stallion said politely while serving a plate of waffles with berries and whipped cream.

The alicorn thanked him and began to eat while reading the newspaper. Thanks to her advisers she was already aware of most of the news, in particular those regarding economy and politics, but she liked to read them first hand on the newspapers. It gave her an idea of what the ponies were thinking.

Also, how else would she be able to know what movies were coming out?
“Hm, interesting. The director of 'Mare Do Well: The Beginning' has announced he will film a remake of RoboColt,” she commented, sipping her coffee.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders walked on the dirt road that led from Sweet Apple Acres to Ponyville.

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were leading the group, followed closely by Scootaloo. The orange pegasus proceeded slower than usual on her trusty scooter, moving the small vehicle lazily with her right leg instead of flapping her wings with the pace of a hummingbird.

“I hate that rooster,” Scootaloo said, rubbing her eyes. “He's a far too early bird.”

On Apple Bloom's invitation, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle had spent the night at her farm and had breakfast with the Apple family, the three fillies were now heading towards school. It had been all perfect, except for the wake up at dawn.

“Aw, c'mon Scoots. Ya sound just like Rainbow Dash when she's woken durin' one of her afternoon naps,” Apple Bloom said.

“Six in the morning is not a normal hour to wake up,” the pegasus pointed out.

“Well, what can Ah say? Welcome to mah world,” the farm filly said shrugging.

Scootaloo had to admit that Apple Bloom's life wasn't easy. Even if she was still a young filly, every day she woke up early and helped her family at the farm.

"Sorry Bloom," the pegasus said, fearing that she had offended her with her comment.

“Nah, don' worry, Scoots. No offense taken," the earth pony reassured. “Ah guess it's just a matter of habit. Though Ah don' get why Sweetie Belle is so lively. Ah mean, usually she's not so eager to go to school, especially the first day.”

The filly in question was hopping ahead, listening to an audio tape with her Walkmare with her eyes closed. Occasionally she crooned a line of the song, shaking her head.

“Maybe it's the music?” the yellow filly wondered.

“I don't think it's just that.”

“What do ya mean?” Apple Bloom asked, raising a brow.

“I think she's eager to see a particular brown colt,” Scootaloo said while grinning.

Apple Bloom's eyes flashed in realization and she smirked.

“Ya mean Button Mash?”

“Duh, who else?”

“What are you talking about, girls?” Sweetie Belle asked quizzically, taking off the headphones.

“Oh, nothing special,” Scootaloo said with an air of innocence.

The unicorn filly looked skeptical, but didn't persist.

It didn't take them long to reach the schoolhouse. Since it was still a bit early, the three Crusaders decided to head to the playground around the back.

"Uhm, looks like we're not alone," Scootaloo commented, noticing the presence of a few other children intent on playing or chatting. She smirked when she noticed Sweetie Belle looking around, as if searching for something... or somepony.

“Looking for a special somepony?” Scootaloo asked with a smug look at Sweetie Belle, putting emphasis on the last two words.

“Who, me? ....no,” she said with a scrunched face that would have put Applejack to shame.

Scootaloo grinned. "C'mon Sweetie. There is no need to hide it."

"Hide what?"

"That ya have a crush on Button Mash." Apple Bloom said with a friendly smirk.

Sweetie Belle blushed profusely and looked away, suddenly interested in her hands. Her friends were right. She had a crush toward the brown colt, and he seemed to reciprocate the sentiment, but the two of them were too shy toward each other to admit it.

"Aw, don't worry Sweetie. Ya don't have to be embarrassed,” reassured Apple Bloom.

“Yeah, there’s nothing to be ashamed of. So, when will you ask him to hang out with you?”

"I, uh, really..."

She was saved by the embarrassing situation by a voice coming from behind them. “Hi girls!”

Turning around, they saw a pale purple unicorn filly with blonde hair wearing a pink wrap dress sitting on the swing with a book in her lap. Dinky could not be a part of the Crusaders, but this did not prevent her from being their friend.

“Howdy Dinky, how are ya?” Apple Bloom asked.

“I'm fine, thanks. Did the three of you have a good summer?”

“You betcha!” Scootaloo said. “We erased the word boredom from our dictionary.” Sweetie Belle turned. “No, Sweetie, I didn't mean you.”

“Oops, sorry. Force of habit,” Sweetie Belle said. “So, what about you? Do anything interesting?”

“I visited with my family the city where my dad was born, Trottingham. It's a nice place, but I still don't get why they drive on the wrong side,” she said putting a hand under her chin and assuming a thoughtful face. “Oh, we even visited the part of the city museum that usually isn't open to the public.”

“How did you do that?” Sweetie Belle asked curiosity, cocking her head.

“Thanks to his work, my dad is friends with the director of the museum.”

“Ooh, I see.” From what she knew, Dinky's father was some kind of big scientist or Twilight-level egghead who worked in Canterlot, but she'd never caught the details.

“Whatcha readin'?” Apple Bloom asked curiously when she noticed the book in the lap of Dinky.

“ 'Professor What and the planet of the Zorgons',” the filly said, showing the book cover. It showed an earth pony mare wearing a futuristic lab coat facing a bipedal lizard-creature armed with what looked a strange pistol. “My daddy gave it to me. It's really cool. It's set in the future and it's filled with space stuff and aliens.”

Before one of the Crusaders had the opportunity to ask more about it, the four fillies heard the sound of two unfortunately well known voices..

“Did you hear that, Silver Spoon?”

“Yeah, Diamond Tiara. Somepony is talking nerdish.”

“Worst of all, a nerd with a blank flank.”

“Oh, no. Please, anything but the two harpies,” Scootaloo hissed with frustration.

When they turned to the voices, they saw the two infamous earth pony fillies, one gray with glasses and a pearl necklace, the other pink with a small tiara on her head.

“Well, well, well. Look what we have here, the Cutie Mark Crybabies. Are you recruiting other losers for your stupid club? Seriously, aliens?” Diamond Tiara asked mockingly, earning a chuckle from Silver Spoon.

“Our club is not stupid!” Scootaloo exclaimed.

“And we don't alienate the others children from us by acting like bullies,” Sweetie Belle said, receiving strange looks from the others fillies. “What? Alienate means estrange, remove, avert.”

“Pfft, whatever. This doesn’t change the fact that her tastes are weird. Who could be so stupid to believe in the existence of aliens?” Seeing the hurt look on Dinky, the pink bully smirked evilly. “But I guess it was spontaneous, considering your strange family.”

“My family is not strange!”

“Humpf, really? Your father is always out town, your big sister was adopted, and your mother... well, there's no need to comment.”

“Don't you dare talk bad of my mommy, she's-” she tried to reply weakly.

“She's just a clumsy joke of nature,” the pink bully concluded cruelly.

That was the straw that broke the camel's back. Dinky was incredibly intelligent and mature for her age, but she was also really sensible to the affronts. Soon the small filly's eyes became full of tears.

Apple Bloom clenched her fists. Diamond Tiara had just crossed the line. The yellow filly stepped forward and interposed herself between the bully and the victim.

“Ya went too far, Tiara. Give her yer apology, now,” Apple Bloom said with decision, lowering her head to meet her gaze. Of all the children in the class, Apple Bloom was the tallest and most muscular. It was a distinctive feature of her family, thanks to what her sister called with humor, the ‘Apple Gene’.

“Or what?” the bully challenged, not at all intimidated.

“Or ya will regret it.”

“Are you threatening me, hick?”

“What did ya just call me?!” Apple Bloom exclaimed angrily, her eyes reduced to slits.

The situation was about to get out of hand, when the sound of the school bell filled the air.

“It doesn't end here, I'll tell Miss Cheerilee,” Diamond Tiara said.

“Saying what, that you insulted Dinky and her family and then did the same thing with Apple Bloom after she tried to defend her?” Sweetie replied with defiant tone, putting her hands on her hips.

The bully's grumpy face became red with anger. “I- You- Argh, come Silver Spoon. Let's leave these losers,” she said frustrated, walking away. The gray filly snorted at them and followed her friend.

“If she continues ta be so unkind, one of these days Ah'll give her a punch to her stupid snooty face,” Apple Bloom grumbled before she turned to Dinky. “Are ya OK?”

“Yes. Thank you Apple Bloom,” she sniffled. “I'm sorry that she insulted you as well,” she said, ashamed.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Ya don't have ta feel bad. It was all her fault. And besides, friends help each other.”

The other two Crusaders nodded in agreement. Dinky smiled gratefully. “Thank you girls, I'm really happy to have friends like you.”

“You're welcome, Dinky. Oh-oh. Better hurry, or the teacher won't be happy,” pointed out Sweetie Belle.

“Right, you're worried about the teacher,” Scootaloo smirked.

Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes. “Ok, I also want to see Button before the lessons start.”

Chuckling over the admission of their friend, the four fillies arrived in class and sat at their desks just in time. A few moments later the door opened again, interrupting the murmur in the class. A purple mare wearing a white blouse and a black knee-length skirt walked in the class carrying a small pile of books.

“Good morning, children!” the teacher said cheerfully, placing the books on the desk.

“Good morning, Miss Cheerilee,” the children chorused, happy to see their beloved teacher.

“I hope that all of you have enjoyed a good holiday, because now it's time to restart where we left off before summer.”

As if she'd switched a circuit, the mood of the foals changed drastically from happiness to disappointment. She couldn't help but give them a sorry smile. “I know, it's difficult to return to school after weeks of break. So, this being the first day of school and to make the lessons more fun and interesting, today we'll have a special guest to teach you a bit of science.”

Scootaloo rolled her eyes. 'A fun science lesson? Yeah, right,' she thought sarcastically. A quick glance at her friends confirmed that she wasn't the only one to think this way. But strangely, when she glanced at Dinky, she noticed that the small unicorn was smiling, clearly excited. Strange. She knew that she liked to learn new stuff, but she'd never seen her so eager.

“So, without further ado, let's welcome our guest,” Cheerilee said, clapping her hands.

'Great, he'll probably be some old boring egghead,' the orange pegasus thought.

To her great dismay, the door opened revealing a completely unexpected pony. He was a brown earth pony stallion with chestnut hair, dressed with a brown pinstriped suit and a red tie. But what really captured her attention were his azure eyes, sparkling with intelligence and inspiring trust.

“Thank you miss Cheerilee and good morning, future minds of Equestria,” the stallion said happily with a slight Trottingham accent. “My name is Time Turner and I'm professor of astrophysics at the Canterlot university. Today I'm here to make you take a look at the wonderful world of science.”

A series of groans came from most of the foals, but to the surprise of the class, the pony didn't scowl or seem offended. Quite the contrary, he actually chuckled, clearly amused by their reaction.

“Yeah, I know what you're thinking right now. 'Now this boring professor will start talking about boring stuff', right? Wrong. Let me just say that science can be fun if properly explained. What I will try to do in the next few hours is teach you some of the foundations on which the universe rests in the most enjoyable way.”

Now the children were visibly puzzled. Having fun with science? How?

“So, to begin, anypony here have an apple that I could borrow?”

“Ah have it!”

“Thank you, miss...” he trailed off, looking at the filly with the pink bow.

“Apple Bloom,” said the filly, handing him the red fruit.

“Thank you, miss Apple Bloom. Keep this way. Apples are sane and nourishing, like bananas, so always remember to bring one with you. You never know when you'll need vitamins. Now, back to the subject, I don't know if you children know, but thanks to an apple the professor Haystack Newton discovered a thing called gravity,” he said writing the word on the blackboard with a piece of chalk. “It all began...”

Tarya Rutaen, Zealot of the Seekers of Truth, walked through the corridors of the battlecruiser, happy to be back in service. True, the medics have done an excellent job, the burning sensation in her skin was now gone and the bruises were barely perceptible, but like every other Sangheili she preferred to spend the shortest amount of time possible in the infirmary.

Her current destination was located in the bow section of the ship, where the lodgings of the Huragok were. The shipmaster had called a meeting with all the officers to take stock of the situation and decide their next actions, and the participation of the two organic supercomputers were required to expose the most obscure parts of their situation. They were the only ones to have the knowledge and the intelligence to find an explanation for the impossible nature of the solar system. Hopefully.

She finally arrived at what the crew called 'the mad lab', a cross between a forge, a workshop, and a laboratory. It was the place where the Huragok spent their 'free time' (whatever this meant) and could rest.

When she stepped inside, the zealot found herself facing an unusual scene. The two Huragok were currently having a loud discussion in their language, emitting whistles and wiggling their tentacles in an intricate series of movements. The high complexity of their language prevented Tarya from completely understanding what the creatures were saying, but thanks to her knowledge she was able to at least understand the main topic.
As she had expected, they were discussing about the nature of the planet, trying to find a logical explanation, but every hypothesis formulated by one of them was immediately put in discussion by the other Huragok.

<I'm telling you that it's impossible, Zero! The density and the mass of the planet are insufficient to have a direct effect on a star of that size.>

<Well, my idea is always better than yours! How can we be in a giant Shield World without even picking up the minimum signs of it?>

<Maybe it's invisible?>

<An invisible- No, Osmy, that would be simply absurd, even for the Forerunners' standard.>

The Zealot smirked hearing Zero using the nickname of the second Huragok.

<That's why everyone calls you Zero. Because your capacity of using imagination is equal to zero!>

<Well, speaking of strange names, what about yours? Seriously, Osmotic Pressure? Given your temperament, they would have called you Vent Valve!>

'Huragok,' Tarya thought amusedly. 'They are prodigious children, but nevertheless children.'

Deciding it was time to stop their arguing, the Sangheili cleared her voice. Two heads with six eyes each turned in her direction. What she saw after was a purple blur followed by four tentacles wrapped around her body and a series of happy whistles. Tarya found breathing almost difficult. Her uncle wasn't joking when he said that the Huragok are stronger than they seem.

"Ok, Zero, I too am happy to see you again" she managed to say with difficulty, patting the body of the creature gently. "Now could you kindly stop crushing me?"

The creature quickly released her, and gave her a sheepish look. <Sorry Tarya, I was just happy to see you're fine.>

<I too am happy to see her, but I didn't try to crush her rib cage,> Osmotic Pressure remarked, causing the other Huragok to emit an annoyed bleat.

Tarya chuckled. “Nice to see you too, Osmy. So, what's up?”

<We're trying to understand the perverted nature of this planet, but without much success I dare to say. The last two hours have been without noteworthy developments, beside some weird electromagnetic pulses coming from the surface.>

“What do you mean exactly with 'weird'?”

<We're unable to classify them. But don't worry, you'll know the rest during the tactical meeting. I suppose you're here to bring us there?>

The Zealot nodded. “You’re correct. Oh, I almost forgot. Knowing that you both have worked tirelessly for hours, I've brought with me something the both of you will appreciate,” she said, showing a silver thermos she had kept attached to her magnetic waist holder. Under the curious gaze of the Huragok, she poured the clear liquid contained inside into two cups, which she then handed to them.

The Huragok took a test sip with their little blue tongues, but when the flavor hit them, they eagerly drank the remaining liquid.

<Mmm, saline solution with a glucose addition!> Osmotic Pressure said with appreciation.

<Ah, that's the stuff,> Zero Losses commented, placing the empty cup on a workbench. <Ready to go?>

“One last thing. The Shipmaster requires that you two wear your harness.”

<It's really needed?>

“Unfortunately, yes. You know that most of the crew don't understand your language, so they need the translation device.”

<I hate wearing that thing. It reminds me of that explosive devilry that the Jiralhanae forced me to bring,> the Huragok grumbled, recovering the harness from a nearby locker.

Compared with the explosive harness, this one was more slender and lighter, lacking the dozen of plates that covered the gas bladders and above all the explosive charges. The harness, that covered just the base of the neck and the inferior section of the body, not only protected the creature by emitting energy shields, but also contained a simultaneous translation system.

As soon as the two creatures had donned their harnesses, the translation device began to do its job.

“So, how do I look?” Zero Losses asked, showing the black harness. Thanks to the translator, the voice sounded like that of a young male.

“Annoying, as usual,” Osmotic Pressure joked. This time the voice was definitely feminine.

It was strange to hear the Huragok use a comprehensible language, but what Tarya really mused about was their choices of voice schemes. Technically speaking, given their nature of bio-mechanic machines, Huragok have no real sexual genders, nor do they really need them. Their reproductive procedure consisted of two or more of them gathering organic matter and using it to build a new Huragok.
The attribution of a gender to a Huragok was arbitrary, but usually the factors involved were its own choice and its personality.

“Wow, thank you for summing that up,” Zero replied with sarcasm. “Come on, the shipmaster is waiting for us,” he said while heading to the corridor, closely followed by the two females.

It took them a few minutes to reach the bridge, located in the core of the ship. It was almost impossible to miss the doors. The Mgalekgolo pair, Raku Pawa Ogami and Neko Pawa Rumuta, stood completely motionless at the sides of the door, save for the occasional contraction of the bright orange worms under the heavy metal plates. Practically identical, they could be distinguished from each other because the shield of Raku possessed a big dent caused by the direct impact of a human M41's rocket.

The trio soon reached the guarded door and its powerful sentinels. Tarya was going to ask the Mgalekgolo permission to access the bridge, when the bond brothers spoke.

“We are both grateful to see that you have recovered from your injuries, young Zealot. Were it not for your courageous act, the ship would have been destroyed. Our colony is in debt to you,” the hulking creatures said in unison with their low and deep voices. Essentially being a hive mind, the creatures exploited the vibrations of the single Lekgolo worms to generate variable-frequency sounds. This particular form of communication meant that rather than hear their voice, you could literally feel it through your body.

Then the Mgalekgolo pair did something she didn't expect. The two behemoths banged their assault cannons against their shields once and raised their heads, exposing the vulnerable worms in the neck's section. The zealot instantly recognized the gesture. It was a form of salute that they reserved only to those who conquered their full trust and gratitude. Receiving it was a real honor, if not a privilege.

Tarya returned the salute by bowing her head and crossing a fist on her chest. “Thank you, both of you. I'm honored to receive your words,” she said with sincere gratitude.

The mighty creatures nodded and stepped aside, allowing the young Zealot and the two Huragok to access the bridge.

The command deck was illuminated by a dim blue light that left most of the hall in semi darkness. Low pillars containing holographic terminals were arranged on both sides of the hall, leaving a clear view to the huge monitor positioned on the front wall. Currently the screen showed a real time view of a sector on the north hemisphere of the planet, along with a big section of space. But what really captured her attention was the holographic representation of the planet itself, located in the middle of the room.

All around the tridimensional model there were at least a dozen higher ranked officers. The first thing that anyone would have noticed about them would have been the variety of armor that they wore.

Each rank in the Sangheili armed force had armor with a specific color, but the design of the armor varies according to the division of origin or personal preference. The Ultras in the room were an excellent example. She spotted the Combat Harness of the leaders of the infantry and mechanized corps, the EVA variant of the chief Ranger, the Assault version of the assault units and, finally, the veteran variant worn by first officer Haka Guwakai, easily recognizable by the elegant headpiece, to which he had added a red cape as a personal touch.

The zealot found the atmosphere in the room generally relaxed. The bridge officers, wearing their typical gray Flight Harness, were even laughing at a joke told by the weapons master. Good. It was encouraging to see that the morale was still high, even after recent events.

Not far away, doctor Nax Toruo was giving Guwakai a quick update on the situation in the infirmary. By the way Haka was nodding, it seemed that the news was positive.

It was with certain surprise that Tarya noticed the presence of Major Domo Rujo Kovakan, intent on examining the holographic projection of the planet. Her surprise was caused not so much by his low rank when compared to the others (while Major Domo was a NCO rank, it was universally respected because only Majors who had distinguished themselves on the battlefield earned it), but rather because of his appearance. Judging by his left arm dangling passively every time he moved and by the nasty stares that he continued to shoot at the head physician, he had not yet recovered completely from the anesthetics.

The sound of heavy footsteps interrupted her observations.

“Ah, Tarya. Here you are,” the Shipmaster said while approaching. “I see you managed to convince them to wear the harnesses. Excellent,” he added with approval, looking at the Huragok.

“It was easier than you may think,” Tarya admitted.

“Yeah, she just reminded us that just a small portion of you Sangheili understand our language,” Zero said. He suddenly cocked his head, as if he had an idea. "Osmy, are you thinking what I'm thinking?" he asked to the other Huragok.

“We could include a translation device in their combat armor!” Osmotic Pressure exclaimed excitedly.

“Another time, maybe. We have other priorities right now,” Vraal stated while raising a hand, stopping the enthusiasm of the two creatures.

“Right. Is someone still missing, or can we start the meeting?” Tarya asked.

“Actually, yes. We're waiting for the arrival of the Special Operations Officer,” replied Vraal.

The Shipmaster had just spoken those words when the door opened again, causing all the conversations in the room to cease suddenly as a Sangheili clad from head to toes in black Commando armor entered the control room. Tarya felt a cold shiver run down her spine as the newcomer walked toward them, radiating what she could only describe as an aura of death and destruction. Special Operation Officer Zhar Vadam had been transferred on the Last Sunset just a few months ago on direct request from High Command, but thanks to his reputation and his success in the field, the rest of the crew had quickly learned to respect and fear him. Leader of the Spec Ops Units on the ship and member of the Commando Corps, thanks to his fearsome combat skills he had earned several nicknames such as Last Shadow, Silent Reaper, and Demon Slayer.

He possessed what some people called “Vadam blood”, a combination of talent, ambition, and perseverance that had allowed their young lineage to rise in the chain of command of Sanghelios, yet many on board considered him a dangerous individual, due to his sudden bursts of anger under combat stress. Personally, the Shipmaster was glad that the Commando was part of his crew. He knew about Zhar’s brutal and ruthless methods, but so far the young officer had proved to be an exceptional warrior, loyal, intelligent, and damn good in carrying out the mission, whatever the task was.

The Commando snapped to attention in front of Vraal. “I apologize for the delay, Shipmaster. I was helping the crew collecting the corpses from the depressurized section.”

The expression of the Shipmaster darkened. “Were you able to retrieve them all?”

“The bodies of a few Unggoy are lost in space.”

“I see,” Vraal said dryly, hoping that the little creatures were already dead when they were sucked in the vacuum of outer space. “Well, now that we're all here, the meeting can begin.”

The Shipmaster waited a few seconds to allow everyone to gather together around the holographic planet, then he spoke.

“I'll be sincere, our situation is rather precarious,” Vraal said bluntly. “Our current location is completely unknown and our long range communication systems are non operative. The ship itself suffered a large amount of damage and our stocks of plasma allow us a maximum autonomy of two months if we keep the levels of consumption low. For such reasons, our priorities will be to return the ship to an operative condition and find a source of energy to supply the reactors.”

“How, if I may ask?” Nax said. “It's not like there's a service station just around the corner.”

“Our first intention was to harvest the basalt from the moon surface and extract from it the Helium-3 needed to produce plasma but, according to our calculations, returning to the moon would require too much energy.”

“Besides that, the engines are still damaged. The pulse provoked more harm than we expected,” Voro added.

“What are our alternatives, then?” the weapon master asked.

“I suspect that they involve the planet, am I right?” Tarya suggested.

“Precisely. This planet could be the key to return home, but from this point I'll give the floor to Zero and Osmotic,” the Shipmaster said, motioning to them.

“Thank you, Shipmaster,” Zero said. “To begin with, it will be better to start with what we know. The planet we're orbiting around is located in the center of a geocentric system. We're still unable to determine the origin of this phenomenon, but we cannot exclude the involvement of the Forerunners. The planet has a diameter medium of twelve thousand and five hundred kilometers, a gravitational acceleration of nine point eighty-one meters per second squared and a period of rotation on its axis of twenty-four hours.”

“These figures remind me of something,” Voro noticed, perplexed.

“You're right, first pilot, this planet resembles incredibly close to the planet Earth,” Osmotic Pressure said. “The similarities don't end here. Given the composition of the atmosphere, this planet also provides the condition to sustain carbon-based life, as you can see from the images of vegetation on the surface showed on the main screen.”

“Any signs of intelligent lifeforms?” Haka asked.

“Actually, yes. We detected many radio signals of artificial origin coming from the surface, as well as what according to the scanners are urban centers scattered all over the surface.”

“Any indications on their level of technology?” Tarya asked, intrigued. She was barely able to control her enthusiasm. They had most likely just discovered a new alien species!

“Difficult to say, but the lack of signs of extra-orbital activities or residues of nuclear radiation suggest that their technology level is Tier 6, so Industrial Age.”

“I still don't see how this resolves our energy issue. Those primitives haven't even managed to split the atom,” the Major Domo retorted passively. There were a lot of sentient species in the galaxy. What difference did one more make?

“True, but what interests us is the planet itself. There is the probability, also low, that there are deposits of Helium-3 in the superficial crust or deuterium in the oceans.”

“We're just guessing,” the officer to the systems pointed out.

“Then we have to hope that the insights are accurate, Sesa,” Voro replied.

“If it may be useful, we have something more tangible,” Zero added, earning the general curiosity. “During the last few hours we detected unknown electromagnetic pulses coming from the surface, exactly from here,” he said, marking a red dot on the northern hemisphere. “Strangely, said pulses were directed toward the moon and the sun.”

“Any clue about their nature?” the Shipmaster asked.

“Nothing, we’re groping in the darkness. We just know that the levels of energy are monstrous, but we’re not yet able to tell if this energy could be of any use for our purposes. If we could investigate closer on the phenomena, we could know more about it.”

“Well, what are we waiting for?” Ruyo said. “Let's go take this source of energy.”

“And how, if I may ask?” the Zealot asked.

“Launching an assault, it's obvious. It will be easy. I bet those primitives don't even know the ballistic missile. Once they see our power, they'll give us what we want,” was the spontaneous reply of Major Domo.

Hearing a similar affirmation, the blood of the Zealot started to boil with rage. He would really start a conflict with an innocent and completely unaware species that was just discovered, as had happened with the humans? Tarya was about to verbally attack Ruyo when she felt a big hand on her shoulder. She knew what that meant. She took a deep breath and left her uncle to handle the situation.

The Shipmaster spoke. “Major Domo, though I respect your field experience, I find your strategy highly questionable. Aside from the ethical reasons, I won't risk the security of the ship and the lives of my soldiers by starting a war with a civilization completely unknown, on the base of very incomplete information and with drastically limited resources. We are not Jiralhanae and I will not permit that an episode like Harvest be repeated.”

“Then what should we do?” the Sangheili clad in red and white armor asked, clearly disappointed. It had been too long since his last kill on the battlefield.

“For now, nothing. We don't know enough about the inhabitants to decide how to act, so the best we can do is continue to gather data.”

“It will take time to get the high-resolution images of the soil. We have to recalibrate the sensors to maximum precision,” Zero informed.

“Until then we might as well listen their radio transmissions,” Tarya proposed to the Huragok. “Maybe they'll tell us something about the indigenous.”

“I highly doubt that their communications could be of any use,” Zero said, activating a command, “The odds that their language is understandable are almost-”

The bridge air was soon filled with the sound of loud music, followed by singing voices.

Scratch and Neon's in the club tonight.
Oh yeah, we're gonna have a good time.
So grab somepony don't be shy.
It's our job to make you feel alright.

Let's raise the roof, tonight's the night.
We're gonna' party till the morning light.
The house is hot, the beat is tight.
We just wanna' see you… shake it!

All heads in the room turned toward the speakers with different emotions shown on their faces, mostly stupor and confusion. The voices were singing in English, one of the many human languages.

“- nonexistent,” Zero ended speechlessly, his surprise was evident even with the translation device.

“Domo Incanon? (1)Here?!” Major Domo roared, his anger barely hidden by surprise.

“That's impossible, we're too far from their colonized space,” the first pilot Voro said in shock.

“Insurrectionists, maybe? Many human dissidents left the sector of space controlled by the UNSC during the war,” Haka hypothesized.

“It's still very unlikely. We didn't detect any traces of human technology such as artificial satellites, orbital elevators, or spaceships of any kind” responded Osmotic Pressure.

“Then how do you explain the radio transmission in English?” the Shipmaster asked, pointing at the speakers with irritation.

“Shipmaster, I highly doubt that we're facing a human colony,” the Special Ops Officer said, watching something on one of the smaller monitors.

“And what brings you to support this theory, Zhar?” Vraal asked skeptically at the soldier clad in black armor.

“This,” the Commando simply replied, switching the channel on the main screen. This time the transmission wasn't just audio, but also video.

What appeared on the screen was the last thing that those in the room would have imagined. It was a creature vaguely resembling a human female (judging by the anatomy of the chest) wearing a gray jacket and a blue tie, sitting behind a wooden desk.
The female had big green eyes, freckles that adorned her smiling face, and a pair of ears sticking out from her brown hair.

“Hi everypony and BIZAAM! Here's your favorite newscaster, the one and only Canni Soda, with the latest news!” she said cheerfully in English, looking where they supposed was the camera.

The Sangheili and the two Huragok stood motionless and speechless for several moments to listen to the reporter speak quietly about a series of news regarding a place called Equestria.
The Shipmaster was the first to react. Touching the panel, he turned off the transmission. Vraal closed his eyes and took a deep breath. 'This damn planet gets weirder with each passing second,' he thought.

He reopened his eyes. “I want all the operative sensors pointed on the surface and every transmission be controlled. We need all the Intel we can get... on wherever the hell we are,” he ordered before heading for the door.

“Vraal, where are you going?” the first officer asked him, tilting his head.

“In my cabin to get some sleep, Haka. I have had enough shit for today.”

Chapter 4 - Scientific Research

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Chapter 4 – Scientific Research

It was almost recess time, but the children didn't seem to notice. Their attention was completely caught by the speech of the brown stallion in front of them, intent on explaining the meaning of the drawings and formulas written on the blackboard, and judging from their faces, their interest was real. Cheerilee was pleasantly surprised. When Time Turner had agreed to her idea to give a basic lecture of physics to her class, she had feared that the topics would be too difficult to understand for her students. Instead, the brown stallion had succeeded in explaining the lesson in an understandable way for their still limited knowledge, using practical examples, analogies, and a simplified language.

“... for this reason, because of the presence of the air, which allow the propagation of sounds, if a tree falls in a forest and nopony is nearby, it makes noise anyway,” he concluded, earning a general murmur from the children.

In the bottom of the class, Rumble discreetly handed a candy to Pipsqueak.

“I told you,” the pinto colt whispered happily, collecting the award of the bet.

“And with this, our introduction to physics end here. So, anypony have a question?”

A forest of hands stood up from the entire class.

“I'll take it as a yes,” he chuckled.

He was about to choose the first hand when the alarm on his watch began to sound.

“Oh, blimey! It's already 11 am!” he exclaimed looking at the time. “I'm sorry everypony, but unfortunately I have to go.” The children groaned, clearly disappointed. “But, if your teacher agrees... Maybe I could come back tomorrow and answer your questions. What do you think, Miss Cheerilee?”

“Oh, I think it’s a wonderful idea!” she exclaimed, receiving a unanimous 'YAY!' from the class.

The purple mare rose from her chair and congratulated with him. “Thanks again for coming, professor Turner. My students really enjoyed your lesson.”

“I'm the one that should thank you, Miss Cheerilee, for allowing me to have this splendid experience. Seeing their eyes sparkling with enthusiasm for science was priceless,” he said. “And moreover, this has been a splendid occasion to spend some time with my daughter,” he added turning towards a young unicorn filly sitting in the first row. “Alright Dinky, now daddy has to go, but I'll come back in time to pick you up at the end of school, all right?”

The unicorn filly nodded, oblivious to the surprised stares of her schoolmates, who had heard everything.

“Good. So, see you later everypony. I have some work waiting for me. Allons-y!” he exclaimed, leaving the classroom.

An almost surreal silence pervaded the room, with all the stares directed towards Dinky. It didn't take long before Dinky took notice of her classmates intent on staring at her in surprise.

“Ahem, yes?” she asked uneasily.

“That cool scientist that just did the awesomest lesson ever, is your dad?” asked Pipsqueak, voicing the thoughts of all the children.

“Well, of course. Didn't he say that at the beginning of the lesson?”

All the foals shook their heads.

“Hmm, typical of him. Sometimes it's as if his mind is lost in time and space.”

Time Turner walked on the main street of Ponyville, enjoying the nice view offered by the wooden houses with their straw roofs, surrounded by fields. It reminded him of Trottingham, before his hometown became a frantic and trafficked city. He loved this town. Everything was so homely, so quiet, so... extraneous.

'Every time I come here it's as if I'm visiting a new place,' he thought bitterly.

Even though his family lived here his job at the university required him to spend most of his time in Canterlot, allowing him to come back to Ponyville only on the weekends and holidays. He missed his wife and his daughters and he would have liked it if they had all moved with him to Canterlot, but Ponyville was a better place to raise children then the capital, the small community was also more suitable given the particular condition of his wife's eyes. If there was anything that he had learned about the inhabitants of Canterlot it was that most of them were only a multitude of arrogant snobs who’s only measuring meter was external appearance.

He was so lost in his thoughts that he failed to notice that he had entered a multitude of side streets, effectively getting lost. “Blimey! Who turned out the light?” he exclaimed, crossing a particularly dark alley. After several minutes of walking in the labyrinth of alleyway he finally emerged in the market square.

“Humph, and they say that Canterlot's medieval alleyways are tangled,” he said to nopony in particular.

“Now, who could I ask for information? Oh, look, residents!” he exclaimed happily when he noticed two farmers that were busily unloading crates from an old and rusty pickup. One was an orange mare with blonde mane and tail, both arranged in a ponytail, wearing a red and white checkered shirt, a pair of jeans, and a Stetson hat. For being a mare she was really tall, at least one meter and eighty, and she had also a well toned body, a clear indication of someone accustomed to physical work. The other pony was a huge red earth pony stallion with orange hair wearing a pair of overalls and a white t-shirt.

“Let's see if they can help me.”

“How many crates are left, Mac?” Applejack asked, putting down a crate filled with Golden Delicious on their apple stand.

“T'was the last one sis,” Big Mac said with his deep voice, putting down his own crate.

“All right. Ah'll see ya later then,” Applejack said, climbing in the cab of the pickup. She turned the key but the truck's engine didn't turn on.

“Oh no, please, not today,” she pleaded to the truck, trying again to turn it on with little success. “Aw, c'mon!” the young mare exclaimed, getting out of the truck. She opened the hood and started to fumble with the motor. “Horseapples!” she exclaimed with frustration, kicking the dirt road.

“What's up sis?” the red stallion asked.

“This damn ol' wreck is gone,” she said, taking off her Stetson and drying her forehead with an arm.

“Shall Ah call Greased Gear so he can bring the wrecker?”

“Great idea, were not fer the little detail that he told me yesterday that his wrecker is broken. We'll have ta push the truck to his work shop.”

Big Mac sighed with resignation. What was supposed to be a quiet day of market was about to become a wearisome one. A really wearisome day.

The two siblings were about to start pushing the heavy vehicle when a brown earth pony stallion approached.

“I'm sorry for the intrusion, but maybe I can help you,” he offered.

Applejack eyed him closely, before giving him a doubtful expression.

“Thanks fer the offer, sugarcube, and don't take offense, but ya don't seem ta have the muscles needed.”

“Oh, I wasn't talking about the pushing thing. I would rather give a look at the engine.”

“Are ya a mechanic?”

“Nope, I'm an astrophysicist,” he said smiling.

The two farmers exchanged a look, then they both shrugged.

“Sure, why not?”

“Fantastic! Now if I may...”

The chestnut stallion extracted a screwdriver from his jacket and started to fumble with the motor, humming.

“Ya always bring a screwdriver with ya, mister?” Applejack asked, scratching her head in confusion.

“You never know when you'll need it my friend,” the brown stallion answered without turning. “By the way, what are your names?”

“Uh? Oh, name's Applejack and this big red fella is mah brother Big Mac.”

“Eeyup.”

“Pleasured to meet you both. I'm- Ah-a! There you are!” the brown pony exclaimed happily. He fumbled a little more with the engine before he nodded satisfactorily and closed the hood. “Try now.”

Applejack looked unconvinced, but nonetheless she went back to the driver’s seat and turned the key. To her great surprise the engine turned over at the first attempt.

“How did ya do it?”

“Oh, it was just the mana converter,” he explained. “One of the wires was disconnected from the power geode. It wasn't easy to find the fault, but then I just had to tighten a screw to fix it.”

“Well, Ah don't really know how ta thank ya enough, mister...?”

“Turner, Time Turner,” he answered, accepting her hand to shake it.

“Time Turner? Wait, Ah already know that name...” she slapped herself on the forehead when she recognized him. “You're Derpy's husband!”

“Exactly,” he nodded.

“How can Ah have been so blind?”

“Oh, don't worry. I come to Ponyville rarely, so it's normal that you didn't recognize me. Regarding the truck, it was nothing. I like to fix things, especially if it's helping other ponies. However, I need some directions. Could you be so kind as to tell me where the Golden Oak Library is?”

“Sure! Go straight that way, then when ya reach the shop Quills and Sofa turn right. Ya can't miss it, it's a huge tree with windows and a door.”

“Alright, thank you very much. It was a pleasure meeting both of you,” he said, waving as he resumed his way.

“What a nice fella, don't ya think?” Applejack commented.

“Eeyup.”

“It doesn't happen every day that a pony with a degree fixes your car, eh?”

“Eenope.”

Once he left the marketplace, it took Time Turner just a couple of minutes to reach his destination. True to its name, Golden Oak Library was effectively a huge oak tree with a library inside of it. He stood there observing the peculiar building for a few moments. He had to remember to ask Twilight what kind of magic had been used to keep the tree alive.

Suddenly the giant tree and the ground all around were shaken by an underground explosion. Time Turner remained startled and began to worry, but the ponies in the street continued to carry on with their activities as if nothing had happened, so he deduced that there wasn't any real danger.

'Let's see what's happening,' he thought, heading for the huge tree.

A few minutes earlier

In the main room of the library, a young dragon was reading a comic, enjoying his moment of relaxation. He was in his late teens, with green spikes that ran from the top of his head to his diamond-shaped tail end, and was dressed in a zip hoodie, green t-shirt, and jeans.
Not too far, sitting on the ground, a young orange pegasus stallion, wearing blue pants and a gray t-shirt with the words SOLAR GUARDS written above in black letters, was intent on polishing the various components of his golden armor with a clean rag.

“It's a nice day, don't you think Spike?” Flash Sentry noticed.

“Yep. Let's enjoy it while it lasts.”

“You said it,” the pegasus nodded.

“It's just matter of time, by now,” Spike said in a premonitory tone.

As if it had tripped a timer, an explosion from downstairs shook the whole library, throwing open the door for the basement.

“There we are,” he groaned, clearly annoyed.

“Do you think that Twilight will interrupt her experiments to recharge the geodes?” Flash Sentry commented, stopping to polish his helmet.

The power geodes were mineralogical formations containing silicium and litium, able to accumulate high levels of magic that was transformed by a mana converter into electricity used to power the electric motors of cars. Their main problem was that once discharged, they can be recharged only by positioning them in the so called mana spots, special places were the magical energy of the planet flows freely.
It was a slow process that required time otherwise the geodes would explode violently. And during the last few days there was at least one explosion per day in the basement.

“I’ve known her since my egg hatched Flash, and in all my years I've learned that when an idea has struck her mind she has difficulty abandoning it,” he replied, turning the page of his comic.

“Ehm, guys? A little help here? The lab desk is on fire. Again,” came the sheepish voice of the alicorn from the basement.

“Your turn,” the Pegasus said, resuming his cleaning task.

“Yeah, yeah, I know,” the dragon said while getting up from his spot. “At this rate we're gonna need a subscription to the factory of fire extinguishers,” he muttered, closing the door for the basement behind himself.

Shortly after, somepony knocked on the house door.

“I'm coming,” the young stallion said, opening the door. “Welcome to the Golden Oak Library, also home of- Doctor Turner!” the pegasus exclaimed with a smile when he recognized the brown stallion.

“Flash Sentry?” the earth pony replied, equally surprised. “What a pleasant surprise, my young friend. I haven’t seen you since that expedition to study the polar aurora.” Time Turner said, shaking his hand. “Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't you supposed to be in the Crystal Empire?”

“I have been assigned to another task. When princess Celestia decided to assign a bodyguard to Twilight, princess Cadence proposed my name for the job,” he explained with a smile.

“You seem happy about your new task, don't you?”

“Well, I'm proud of being chosen for such an important task, plus the princess and I were already friends,” he said looking away, trying to hide the light blush that was starting to form on his cheeks.

“Oh, I see,” the earth pony commented, smiling inwardly. Knowing the crystal princess there must have been a precise reason behind her decision.

The door for the basement opened, flooding the room with smoke. The smoke thinned quite quickly, revealing Spike, followed by a young purple alicorn mare wearing a scholar uniform and a pair of huge protective goggles.

“I hope that after this umpteenth explosion, you'll pass to a quieter camp of geology, Twilight” commented Spike, brushing away a bit of soot from his shoulder.

The mare lifted the glasses from her face, blackened by the smoke and gave him a sheepish look.

“I just wanted to try one last time,” Twilight tried to justify.

“You said the same thing the last five times,” Spike grumbled, rolling his eyes.

“I still don't know what went wrong,” she muttered.

Time Turner chuckled. “You sound like my wife when she accidentally put the dishes in the washing machine.”

Twilight turned toward him, finally noticing his presence. “Doctor Turner! What a nice surprise. I thought you would come next Monday.”

“Ahem, Twilight? Today is Monday,” Flash Sentry pointed out.

“Really?” She looked at him surprised. “Already?”

“It seems that you've been really busy with your studies,” Time Turner noticed.

“That's an understatement. During the lasts four days she has slept on a cot and came up just to use the bathroom and eat, both operations that she did at night,” Spike deadpanned.

“Spike, stop it. You're describing me as a vampire!” Twilight protested.

Spike just raised a brow, then he pulled the rope that opened the window curtains. The glorious golden rays flooded the entire room.

“Argh! Sunlight!” she hissed, turning her face and shielding her eyes using both hands and wings. Her horn glowed, and she closed the curtains with her magic.

In light of her reaction, Spike began to chuckle while Flash tried to hide a smirk halfway between amusement and sympathy.

“So, how are your studies of geology going?” Time Turner asked, moving the conversation to a less embarrassing topic for the mare.

“My studies on the interaction of magic on the rocks have gone as planned. Between the samples that I borrowed from the Canterlot museum and others given to me by my friend Pinkies sister, I was able to perform all the experiments that I wanted. Regarding the possibility of recharging the power geodes using refined magic instead of mana...”

“You heard the explosion, doc,” Spike simply said, earning a scowl from Twilight.

“Well, magic is not exactly my sector, but I think that I can help you with the part that involves the particle physics. Let’s see what we can obtain when science meets magic.”

“Really? Oh, this will be so exciting!” Twilight exclaimed clapping her hands with enthusiasm.

Several hours after the meeting, Tarya decided to check her uncle's condition. When Vraal had left the bridge, all the stress and tiredness he had accumulated since the battle with the Jiralhanae seemed to have finally prevailed over the big Sangheili.

The door for his cabin was guarded by a single female wearing Minor armor and armed with a storm rifle. It was a scene that until a few years ago would have been impossible. During the time of the Covenant, although they received the same combat training as their male counterparts, females Sangheili could only join the army in rare cases and only in non-combatant units. During the last four years the importance of their role in society had increased, allowing many of them to assume duties previously unthinkable. As a demonstration of this social revolution, one third of the crew of the Last Sunset was composed by females.

“Zealot,” the guard saluted with a nod.

“Minor,” Tarya replied, returning the greeting. “I'm here to visit the Shipmaster,” she stated.

“Just a moment, ma'am,” the guard replied, before activating her radio. “Shipmaster? Your niece is here to see you.”

“Let her come in,” was the reply via intercom.

The guard pressed the holo controls and the door split itself into three sections, allowing Tarya to enter. Compared to the rest of the crew accommodations, the room was wider but not more luxurious. Sangheili didn't care particularly for comfort, their lifestyle was rather simple and austere.

The furnishing was composed of a bed with a footlocker, two chairs near a desk on which a terminal was located, and a bookshelf with three shelves, each one filled with real paper books. Most of the volumes were of Sangheili origin, but there were also many written by human authors. Overall, the room looked ordinary, but there was a detail that stood out immediately. Next to the long window that held the vastness of space, there was a big vase that housed a small Ry'gawi tree. The plant had long hanging green leaves with blue veins, with big yellow tubular flowers at the apex of the branches, a clear indication that soon the tree would produce its characteristic red berries from which distillation results in the famous liquor.

Tarya couldn't help but smile at the sight of the plant. Few people would have imagined that her uncle had the hobby of gardening.

“Seems like it hasn't suffered many damages,” she commented.

“Just a few damaged leaves, but the flowers are all safe,” was the casual reply of the Shipmaster.

Vraal was lying on his bed wearing a long black tunic, intent on reading one of his books, a biography of Fal Chavamee, the first Arbiter. Seen for centuries as a heretic, Fal's figure had been rehabilitated after the Great Schism.

“And that's a good thing; my stock of liquor wasn't so lucky and I'll need all the possible berries to replace the lost bottles,” he said, closing the book and getting off the bed.

“How are you now? You seemed completely exhausted when you left the bridge,” she asked.

“Much better, thanks. There's no better anti-stress than a shower followed by good sleep,” he said, putting the book back on the shelf. “So, discover anything interesting during the last hours?”

“The Huragok and the technicians have completed the calibration of the sensors just one hour ago, so we're not done with the high resolution mapping of the surface, but the communications officer and I have had more success from studying their transmissions. Most of the communications we picked up are television broadcasts and civilian radio stations, but we managed to intercept some transmissions belonging to their military network.” She took off her helmet and put it on the desk. “Huru is still controlling the transmissions but, from what we've seen, there isn't any reference to our ship orbiting around the planet.”

“Excellent news, this gives us a wider room for action,” he said satisfied, extracting a bottle from the low cabinet placed under the bookshelf. “What have you discovered about the inhabitants of the planet?”

“From what we managed to understand, the inhabitants of the region on which we're orbiting define themselves 'ponies'. Using the data gathered by their television programs, we managed to elaborate a CGI model of their anatomy,” she said, extracting a data chip from a pocket in her armor and inserting it into the terminal on the desk.

On the holographic screen appeared CGI images of two creatures similar to what Vraal had seen on the newscast. The models, rather anonymous with their completely gray coloration, showed a male and a female pony standing with their arms open.
As he had previously seen by the newscast, the ponies had a pair of triangular ears on the top of their head and big eyes. He also noticed that their hands had four fingers and one thumb, and a tail at the base of their back.

'Finally a species whose knees are bent in the right way,' Vraal thought, looking at the structure of their legs. Following an evolutionary path similar to that of the Sangheili, instead of putting all the weight on the entire foot, their lower limbs evolved so that it was supported just by the tips, but instead of two hooves per leg, they only had one.

“What are their sizes?”

“In base to our calculations, the average height is comprised between one meter and sixty and one meter and seventy for their females, and between one meter and seventy and one meter and eighty for the males.”

“Roughly like the humans,” he commented.

“With several anatomical differences, beside the obvious presence of fur and tails. As you can see from the models, their big eyes and well developed ears suggest an excellent sense of sight and hearing, while the structure of their digitigrade legs indicate that they can reach a respectable running speed.”

“Interesting.”

“It doesn't end here. Their race seems to be composed by three subspecies.”

“Really?”

She nodded. “What you are looking at now is their base form. The other two varieties have substantially the same basic anatomy, but with some differences." She typed a command and an elongated protuberance appeared on the heads the models. “The first subspecies presents some kind of bony excrescence, or horn, located on the top of their forehead, however its precise purpose is still completely unknown.”

Vraal studied the new form. Beside the horn, there weren't any other differences with the previous one. “And the other one?”

“That is probably the most interesting form,” Tarya brought back the anatomical model to the initial shape, then she inserted another command. At first nothing seemed to happen, but then the models began to turn on themselves, showing their backs.

The Shipmaster blinked in surprise. “Wait, are those...?”

“Wings? Yes,” she confirmed pointing at the feathered appendages.

Vraal frowned. “There's something strange. I'm not a biologist, but even I can tell that the size of the wings is too small to lift a creature that size from the ground.”

“You're right. The ratio mass-wingspan is too low, and the muscles don't seem sufficiently developed. Originally we thought that they were used to help them run or allow them to jump higher, but then we stumbled on this video on one of their television channels.”

Inserting a new command, Tarya made appear a short clip on the screen. It showed a group of six winged ponies, dressed with blue uniforms with yellow lightning-like decors and protective goggles, that were not actively flying, but also performing a series of aerial stunts.

“The Huragok almost went mad when they saw the video. They defy every law of aerodynamics.”

“Considering the nature of the planet, they're not the strangest thing we've seen until now,” the Shipmaster pointed out.

“Fair point,” she conceded, making all three varieties appear on the screen.

Vraal studied all the forms for several minutes, reflecting. The Kig-Yar (1) possessed several breeds, originated in different regions of their homeworld that differed in physique, the shape of the beak, and the presence or absence of feathers, while the Yanme'e (2) changed shape due to genetic factors or aging. Such a massive anatomical diversification was rare in a mammalian species. He couldn't help but wonder what they were capable of. Would they be tougher than they looked, like the humans?

“At least, we know who we are facing. This data will be useful when we meet them personally,” he said finally.

“In this regard, have you thought about our next move?” she asked uncertainly. “As you've said before, they know not of our existence and this allows us greater freedom for action, but whether we like it or not we'll have to reveal ourselves if we want to search a source of fuel to supply the reactor.”

Vraal nodded. “Yeah, I know, and I can't deny that this is a delicate situation. We don't know how they would react to a first contact scenario with what, from their point of view, is an alien race. If we opt for a public revelation, they could get scared or have a violent reaction, both things that could antagonize us to them and their leaders making future relationships difficult. And in our current state we'll need their collaboration.”

“Then the best option would be to contact their leaders and arrange a private meeting so that they can decide on how to introduce us to the inhabitants.”

“That's my same conclusion, but we have absolutely no idea who is in control of their country, nor do we know how to contact them via a secure line.”

“Maybe our priority is to decide exactly which of them to contact...”

“Are you saying that they don't have a central global government?”

“Er, no, but I fear that that's not the main problem,” she said with hesitation.

“What do you mean?”

“Well,” she cleared her voice, “the fact is that the ponies are not the only sentient species on the planet.”

Vraal stopped dead. “Elaborate,” he said, narrowing his eyes.

“We didn't find television images until now, but in their radio broadcasts they have mentioned or were addressing to other creatures called griffons, minotaurs, and zebras.”

“Are we sure they weren't referring to some populations of their own species?”

“Pretty sure, they always refer to themselves using the word ponies.”

“Great!” he said sarcastically. “As if one new species wasn't enough.”

“What should we do?” the Zealot asked. “Try to contact them also?”

He made a quick analysis, imagining some possible scenarios, then he shook his head. “No, we should concentrate our attention on the ponies. So far they're the race that we know better, additionally, if the scans are correct, the energy emissions that we registered previously were originating from their territory. Still, it remains unknown how to approach them.”

“I say that we need a closer look.”

“What are you suggesting?”

“Let's send a recon team on the surface to study them closer. This way we'll have a more complete picture of their society and we'll be able to decide how to act.”

Vraal reflected on the idea, before nodding in approval. “It sounds reasonable to me.” He shook his head, still incredulous. “So many different sentient species that evolved on the same planet and still managed to coexist. I wonder how they managed to not kill each other during their evolutionary process.”

“I don't know, but that's what I want to discover once there.”

“You're speaking as if you were the one who will investigate.”

“And why shouldn't I? After all I'll be on the surface with the teams.”

The Shipmaster whirled toward her, scowling. “Wait just one second, when ever did I say that you'll be the one to lead the recon team?”

“What? You're not saying that-”

“Zhar will be at the head of the operation. His experience in black ops is unmatched.”

She stiffened. “With all due respect, sir, he's a Commando, not a scientist. I don’t doubt his combat experience, but we're not talking of an infiltration in a human military facility or a den of Kig-Yar pirates, we're talking about gathering scientific data about a completely new species,” she said, barely managing to contain her anger.

“Still, you're not qualified to lead the teams,” he said, opening the bottle. A pleasurable smell similar to the human cherry brandy pervaded the air.

“Why? Because my field experience is limited? Because I'm a female?” she paused, widening her eyes when she realized his motivations. “Oh, I see. It's because I'm your niece, isn't it?”

“Our blood ties have nothing to do with this,” Vraal said brusquely, attempting to avoid the topic while he poured himself a cup of liquor.

“Oh, I think differently! You worry that something can happen to me, so you think that keeping me on this ship will keep me safe.”

“You should be grateful that I'm concerned for your safety.” From his tone, it was clear that he was trying to keep his agitation under control without much success.

“By treating me like a child?!”

Vraal slammed the bottle on the table, almost cracking the glass. “Goddammit, Tarya!” he exploded. “You almost died not even a day ago and now you're asking me this?”

“What about the whole “I'm proud of you” thing, back in the infirmary?”

“Don't you dare de-contextualize my words, missy,” he warned her menacingly. “What I said back there was the pure truth, but the situation was completely different. You knew exactly what the risks in the engine room were. What we're talking about now is exploring a completely unknown planet.”

“Even if you want keep me on board, you can't.”

“I think otherwise. I'm the Shipmaster, the highest rank on this battlecruiser, and I have the authority to give you orders.”

“The commander of the ship is in charge of military operations, but according to the directives of first contact, the scientific division is the one that directs the ground operations in those cases, and it's required that at least a Zealot is present during the preliminary recon.”

“Those directives were created by the Ministry of Conversion during the Covenant!”

“And were revisited and re-approved by the Fleetmaster Rtas Vadum himself!”

A stony silence fell in the room, with both the Sangheili locked in a staring contest, each one decided to maintain their own position.

“You can't deny me this, uncle. It's what I’ve been training for, the opportunity of my life. Please,” she muttered without looking away in a pleading tone.

Another long period of silence followed, with none of them dropping their gaze.

Vraal finally took a deep breath, then he sighed. “You're exactly like your mother,” he said shaking his head. “Stubborn and always getting into trouble.”

“It must be a family trait,” she replied with her arms crossed.

“Oh, really?” he asked, skeptically raising a ridge-brow. “Give me an example of when I would have acted on impulse.”

“There was the time when you covered the retreat of your team from High Charity during the Flood outbreak with just a half-empty plasma turret.”

“That was a matter of life or death-”

“Like when you attacked that Jiralhanae pack by yourself?”

“To be fair, I wasn't alone.”

“You had just Haka with you, and you both were armed just with your swords against fifty Jiralhanae lead by a War Chieftain. And what about the time when you ran under enemy fire to save that pilot trapped in the wreck of his Banshee before it was it hit by an artillery shell?”

“I could not let him die in such a dishonorable way-”

“And then there is the time-”

“Alright, alright, you made your point,” Vraal exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air with exasperation.

The big Sangheili headed to the window. He remained in silence for a long time pondering the situation with his hands clasped behind his back and his gaze directed toward the planet's surface. "Fine," he finally said without turning."You'll lead the recon team."

The eyes of the Zealot lit up. “Thank you, uncle!”

“BUT," he added with emphasis, “Zhar will be the second in command. He'll keep an eye on you, preventing you from doing something stupid, while you'll have the opportunity to learn from someone with a lot of field experience.”

“In other words, you're giving me a babysitter,” Tarya deadpanned.

“He'll be your guardian angel,” he corrected, taking the glass from the table.

“I would rather say angel of death,” she replied, crossing her arms.

Vraal clicked his lower mandibles, the Sangheili equivalent of a shrug. “It depends from your point of view,” he said, grasping the glass and emptying it in one gulp. He sighed with satisfaction, feeling the familiar warm sensation that spread from his stomach to his whole body.
“Or, more correctly, from which side of his rifle's optic you are.”

Chapter 5 - In space, everyone can hear you talk

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Chapter 5 - In space, everyone can hear you talk

“How many more envelopes remain, Raven?” Celestia asked her secretary, a young white unicorn mare with black hair wearing an office suit and a pair of black thick-rimmed glasses, while she finished signing the last document of a huge pile.

It was early afternoon and the princess was sitting under a gazebo in the royal gardens, committed in her paperwork. Sure, it was a boring activity even when done outdoors, but at least the birdsong and the scent of flowers carried by the breeze made it more bearable.

“Just five, your majesty,” the mare replied, putting another big pile of sheets on the garden table.

A very un-royal groan left Celestia's mouth.

“Most of them are noble's petitions.”

Another un-royal groan followed the first one. She knew from centuries of experience that most of the time their requests were nothing more than a waste of paper, but unfortunately she had to examine them all, given the probability that in their midst there was something actually important.

“Alright, let's take a look,” she said with resignation, starting to flip through the sheets. “More titles, less taxes, more power, less taxes, more power, less work, - WHAT?! 'Relocate the orphanage far from the Royal Park because the noise of the playing children disturbs the matches of croquet.’ ?" she read in complete disbelief. “What kind of selfish idiot would ever- oh, Blueblood,” she deadpanned when she read the signature. “Bah, sooner or later, I'll end up sending him to a training camp. Maybe some drill sergeant will finally teach him that just because he's prince the world doesn't rotate around him,” the alicorn grumbled, resuming flipping through the pages.

It took her several minutes to finish reading the other papers, but in the end she found that the only acceptable petition was a request of funds from the duke of Phillydelfia for the restoration of the local Conservatory of Music.

“The nobility of these days only know how to waste public money,” she thought annoyed, as the last denied request joined the pile of the others.

Gone were the days when the nobles served as knights that defended the young kingdom of Equestria and its citizens from the enemy armies and the mighty beasts coming from the Everfree Forest. With the improvement of diplomatic relations, and the partial taming of the more marginal areas of the ancient forest, Equestria had gradually entered an age of prosperity and relative peace, pushing most of the members of the upper classes to forget their duties toward the country and indulge in the benefits generated by wealth and power.

“Shall I take away the rejected petitions, your highness?” Raven asked looking at the amount of papers.

A smirk formed on the lips of Celestia.

“I think that Philomena is able to handle it.”

The phoenix in question was perched on backrest of the other chair across the table. Celestia lit up her horn, enveloping the sheaf of paper with her magic and levitating it in the air.

“Philomena,” the princess called, catching the attention of the bird. “Wastepaper,” she simply said.

The bird took off and began to fly around the pile of documents, increasing her speed until she became a confusing orange blur. Smoke started to rise from the living tornado; then the paper caught fire. The phoenix ceased flying in circles and stepped aside, observing her work with satisfaction. When the paper became completely ash, Celestia severed her magical link, allowing the ashes to fall in the trash can located below.

“Good girl,” Celestia said as the phoenix landed on the table.

“You know that there’s a shredder, right?” Raven asked.

“I know, but it's more fun this way,” Celestia replied, giving a scratch at the phoenix's head. “You can go fly a bit if you want,” she said to the bird.

The phoenix cooed hopefully.

“I'm sorry, but I can't come with you. I still have much work to do,” she said with a sad smile.

The bird bent her head, cooing disappointedly.

Announced by the sound of beating wings, a pegasus guard landed not too far from them. He was a white stallion with azure eyes and a blonde mane slightly longer than allowed by regulation tied up in a short pony tail.

“Good afternoon, princess,” Cloud Skipper greeted, snapping to attention.

“Good afternoon, lieutenant. What news do you bring?”

“The griffon delegation is coming. They will reach Canterlot within an hour.”

“Excellent. Anything else?”

“Your sister is waiting for you in the map room.”

“Oh, I almost forgot,” she said, rising from her chair. “Raven, bring these documents to my office please. We'll finish examining them after the meeting with the griffons.”

“Yes your highness,” the unicorn said, enveloping the papers with her purple magic and carrying them away.

“Lieutenant, give the order to send a pegasi team to intercept the airship and escort the delegation during the last tract of their route.”

“As you wish, princess,” the stallion replied with a nod before flying off towards the barracks.

Celestia was about to teleport in the castle but she stopped and looked at the phoenix. She then shifted her gaze at the sky. It was deep azure with the right amount of clouds mostly concentrated around the top of the mountain while the only wind was a gentle breeze almost unnoticeable. She bit her lips. She knew that her sister was waiting for her, but she had been sitting all morning attending her Court and examining documents, plus, as if it wasn't enough, she knew that the diplomatic meeting would certainly be long and tedious. She really needed to release a bit of tension as long as she had the time.

'Surely Luna wouldn't mind waiting a couple of minutes...' she thought with a guilty smile, before she approached Philomena.

“I know it's a short route, and that the time at my disposal is short, but... would you like to accompany me to the castle?”

Philomena tilted her head and flapped her wings twice hopefully.

“Of course, by flying,” she nodded with a smile.

The phoenix chirped happily and soared in the air, fluttering around her. The alicorn closed her eyes, spread her majestic white wings and, with a single powerful beat, she darted in the air.

Finally! Freedom.

When she opened her eyes, she was already dozens of meters from the ground, beyond the level of the tallest tower of the castle. Followed by her dear feathered friend, Celestia kept rising in the sky, until they reached the layer of clouds that ringed the peak of the mountain.

Celestia flew through the white mass, enjoying the soft touch of the clouds that caressed her face; then she wrapped her wings around her body and began to spin on herself, popping out in the blue sky with an explosion of wisps of clouds. She then opened her wings to their full extent without beating them, hovering in place without effort thanks to the help of the powerful updrafts.

The sight in front of her was breathtaking. Everywhere she looked she found forests, mountain ranges, rivers, fields, and cities, all of them bathed by the sunlight. A warm smile formed on her lips. It wasn't just her reign. It was her home, as well as the home of her beloved subjects.

Celestia enjoyed the sight for a couple of minutes, before she decided that it was time to resume her duties. She and Philomena descended toward Canterlot by flying in large circles, until thery reached the level of the roofs of the towers, where the princess gave her farewell to the phoenix.

“Thanks for the flight, Philomena, I really needed it. See you later, my friend.”

The phoenix croaked happily; then she flew away toward the Everfree Forest.

Smiling, the princess continued her flight toward the main building of the castle. She landed with grace on a wide terrace and folded her wings, adjusting her dress to make sure that it had not wrinkled. Once sure that she was presentable, she closed her eyes and sighed with satisfaction.

'I'm sure that Luna will not notice my slight delay,' she thought confidently.

The sound of approaching hoofsteps from behind her proved the contrary. “You're late, Celestia,” Luna said monotonously.

The elder sister snapped her eyes open. 'Oops, spoke to soon.'

Turning toward the source of the voice, she saw Luna standing on the threshold of the glass door with her arms crossed. She seemed to have recovered her forces, as indicated by her mane and tail once again in their ethereal shape with twinkling stars.

“Moi?” Celestia asked with fake indignation, putting a hand on her chest. “Never. If anything, you're the one that is in advance.”

The dark alicorn shrugged. “Then I presume that we are both on time.”

Celestia chucked. “I suppose. You look better. Have you slept well?”

“Like a log,” Luna confirmed with a satisfied smile. “How was your morning?”

“The Day Court was rather uneventful today, while the paperwork has been almost completely a waste of time and paper,” Celestia said passively while they left the terrace and went inside the castle.

The two alicorns walked through a series of hallways, Celestia informing her sister about small political facts until they reached a big double door guarded by two unicorn guards armed with halberds and pistols holstered on their hips, one wearing the golden armor of the Solar Guards while the other the dark blue-purplish of the Lunar Guards.

Both stallions snapped to attention then, at the nod of Celestia, they opened the doors using their magic, closing them again once the princesses were inside the room.

Unlike the rest of the castle, which was richly decorated, the room was bare of almost any kind of furniture.

The walls were made of light gray stone, while the wooden ceiling had visible beams from which hung a great round chandelier made wrought iron with several enchanted candles. Their bright and homogeneous light lit up the room with the same efficiency as light bulbs, but with the advantage of never burning out.
Hanging on the side walls were several heraldry flags, those to the left represented Luna's cutie mark, while those on the right represented the one of Celestia.

Almost at the end of the wide room, located on the right, there was a large circular pedestal made of dark stone and metal, roughly as tall as their hips. The head of the pedestal was slightly inclined, and at its center there was a crystal ball surrounded by two concentric series of glyphs.

On the wall in front of the pedestal there was a detailed painted map of the world that rose from the ground to a height of about four meters. Celestia looked at the familiar shapes of land. Equestria was one of the bigger countries, occupying a good portion of the continent of Epona, but it wasn't the only state. North of Equestria there was the Crystal Empire, while to southeast there was the peninsula of Saddle Arabia. Going further south there was the continent of Zebrica. East, over the sea, extended the vast archipelago of the Griffon Empire; dozens of islands of different shapes and sizes that run from the tropics to the northern latitudes, almost touching the eastern coasts of the Crystal Empire. On the other side of the map, beyond the west coast and divided by the vast ocean, there was Tauren, the land of the Minotaurs.

The confines between nations were marked in red lines, while a series of black marks indicated with perfect accuracy the locations of various settlements, from the smallest village to the biggest metropolis. The capitals were indicated by a four pointed star circled by a combination of seven different glyphs of the same kind of the ones on the pedestal.

Celestia touched the crystal ball, which almost immediately started to glow softly, shortly followed by the glyphs that surrounded the ball; she then proceeded to press seven symbols, following a precise sequence that matched the one in correspondence of the Crystal Palace. Once completed, she pressed the crystal sphere again.

The map started to ripple like the surface of a pond in which a stone was thrown, then the distorted image began to shine, lightly at first then more and more, until it was just a white surface.

The painting in front of the two alicorns wasn't just a map of the planet. It was a mana window.

Invented in an era far before the unification of the pony tribes, the mana windows were enchanted artifacts that allowed the users to communication instantly by transmitting not just their voices, but also their life-size images in real time.
Each capital had one of these magical artifacts and together they formed a communication network that allowed the rulers of the planet to communicate privately without risk of interception, thanks to a special encryption spell.

The glowing surface began to fade away, revealing a huge room made of azure crystal, decorated with purple heraldic flags hanging from the ceiling and pillars made of a pinkish crystal.
Right in front of them there was a pink alicorn mare, with her mane and tail colored pink, purple, and soft yellow, wearing a long yellow dress with cerise sleeves. Her height was lower if compared with Celestia or even Luna, but was still taller than most stallions.

Judging by her expression, she seemed a bit tired, but her face brightened when she saw the two royal sisters.

“Auntie Celestia, auntie Luna! How nice to see you again,” she said with sincere happiness.

“Hello Cadance,” the elder sister saluted, giving her a warm smile.

“Greetings, dear niece!” the night princess exclaimed with a little too much enthusiasm.

“Luna, please, indoor voice,” Celestia reminded her.

Luna rolled her eyes. Clearly it wasn't the first time that her sister reminded her to control the volume of her voice when excited.

“It's nice to see that some things haven't changed,” Cadance said giggling. “How are you?”

“We are fine, thanks. It has been a rather eventless week,” Luna said serenely.

Celestia gave her a quick confused glance, but Luna responded by darting her eyes shortly. The elder sister caught the message. Cadance seemed to already have enough problems on her own. It wasn't needed to worry her about something that had already been solved.

“How are you?” Celestia asked.

“The situation in the Empire gets better day by day. A few more days and the curative spell will complete its work.”

About a week before, a large portion of the crystal ponies had been hit by a serious case of influenza. After an initial panic for fear of a new kind of virus, further studies had demonstrated that it was just a common form of flu. The reason why the symptoms were more severe than normal was because the immune system of the crystal ponies was exactly the same they had a thousand years ago, making them more vulnerable to modern diseases. The natural healing process would have required weeks even with the help of modern medicine, leaving the crystal ponies still debilitated for a long period, but fortunately Cadence had come to a solution. Using the crystal heart as an amplifier, the pink alicorn was spreading the curative proprieties of her health shield all over the empire.

“I'm pleased to hear that, but that's not what I was asking. I was referring to you. You seem tired. I hope that the spell didn't require too much energy from you.”

“Oh, not at all. Compared to the dome I created to keep out King Sombra, it's a breeze. It's just that last night I didn’t sleep at all.”

“Problems with nightmares? Why didn't you say so sooner? I could help you,” Luna said with confidence.

The younger alicorn gave a sad smile to Luna. “Thanks for the concern auntie, but unfortunately I don't think that you can help me. The fact is that I'm worried for Shining Armor.”

“What happened?” Celestia asked worriedly.

Cadence lowered her head and sighed again.

“Yesterday afternoon, in the eastern region of the empire, a train that carried a load of gems destined to the Griffon Empire was attacked by a band of raiders. They derailed the train by blowing up a tract of tracks so that they could steal the load undisturbed.”

“Oh, my. Have there been victims?” Celestia asked with concern.

Cadence remained silent for a moment. “Eight guards and both train drivers were killed by the derailment or the subsequent firefight with the raiders,” she said sadly. “Shining was furious. We already have security problems in that zone, but never of this entity. He felt like he had betrayed our subjects, not taking his duty as prince and protector of the empire with enough seriousness and diligence.”

The princess stopped her narration abruptly, putting a hand in front of her muzzle. Her voice was shaking and her eyes teary. She was on the verge of crying.

“I tried to convince him that it wasn't his fault, but he refused to listen to reason. Our discussion degenerated and we ended up arguing. The last thing he said before he left for the barracks was that he would personally handle the matter.”

“What did he do?” Luna asked, having the feeling that the prince had decided to do something that was brave while at the same time stupid.

“He personally guided an expedition composed of Crystal Guards and members of the contingent of Royal Guards with the intent on tracking down the bandits and stopping them before they could hurt anypony else.”

Cadence bent her head, and soon she was heard sobbing softly.

“I wanted him to take more soldiers with them, but unfortunately many Crystal Guards are still debilitated and those who remained healthy, along with the remaining Solar Guards, are needed to defend the Empire from eventual threats.”

She looked up, showing them the tears that ran down her cheeks forming darker lines of fur.

“I'm worried, aunties. When I married him I was well aware that even if he was the best soldier of the Guard, one day something bad could happen to him. But despite this, the possibility that one day he might never come back to me, it's one of my worst fears.”

“Cadence, I know that it's not easy for you to simply sit and wait for his return, but you have to believe me when I say that nothing bad will happen to him,” Celestia said with the most reassuring tone of voice that she had. “I've seen Shining Armor face far worse situations when he was Captain of the Solar Guard, and he has always managed to get out victorious.”

“I know, but what if this time-”

“Cadence. Does he love you?”

“Of course he does, as much as I love him!” Cadence replied without hesitation, clearly hurt by the question.

“Then there's no force, neither in heaven nor on earth that will be able to prevent him from coming back to you,” Celestia said, giving her a motherly smile.

The effect of her words was almost instantaneous. Cadence's expression softened, losing most of the sadness and worry that were painted on her face. It was clear why so many people saw Celestia as a sort of motherly deity, able to comfort and inspire courage in her children even in the worst moment.

Luna noticed however that her niece still showed traces of insecurity, despite the words of her sister.
The night princess tapped her finger on her lips thoughtfully. “Now that I think about, there is a contingent of Lunar Guards located not too far from where they are. I could order them to send some reinforcements to help Shining Armor in his mission.”

Any residual negative emotion disappeared from Cadence's eyes, which lit up with joy and relief.
“I think that he would appreciate it,” she said with sincere gratitude. “Thank you, Luna.”

“It's the least that I can do to help my family,” Luna said with a kind smile. Then, the more analytical part of her mind decided to ask a question that she had kept herself from asking. “Are there any clues regarding the nature of the aggressors? So far you referred to them just as raiders.”

“The witnesses of the attack said that most of the band was composed by Diamond Dogs, but they also said that they saw the outlines of various figures that flew in the sky, occasionally swooping to shoot at the guards before rising again in the air. Unfortunately the sky was cloudy and it was twilight, thus that's all that they could see.”

“Pegasi?” Celestia suggested.

“More likely griffon mercenaries,” Luna replied bluntly. Given their adventurous nature and their love for the commerce, the griffons were famous to be excellent explorers and warriors, as well as skilled merchants, but it wasn't rare to see these features distorted, so many griffons in search for adventure and wealth decided to take the road of piracy or to serve as mercenaries for the best bidder.

“Who else knew about the train, beside you and your ponies?”

“The only others aware of the transport were the griffon empire's authorities.”

“I see. Given the level of corruption inside their government, I wouldn't be so surprised if the leak of news had come from their side. We'll have a meeting with the griffon delegation within an hour. I'll make sure to bring in an examination to the problems of corruption inside their government,” Luna said.

Their chat continued for several minutes, shifting to more pleasurable topics, including a possible visit from the two sisters in the Crystal Empire in the next future, but eventually they had to say goodbyes. The arrival of the diplomats was imminent, and Cadence seemed to need some rest between the last events and the prolonged use of her magic.

The two parts said goodbye to each other, agreeing to remain in contact in case of developments; the surface of the mana window started to ripple and glow again, becoming a painted planisphere on the wall.

“What do you think, Luna?”

“It's obvious Celestia. It's surely what our subjects would call, uh, an inside job? Is that the term?”

Celestia nodded, pleased that her sister was starting to grasp the modern idiom.
“Maybe the Diamond Dogs are the ones who initiated the attack, but there's the high probability that the planning was made by some griffon aware of the nature of the load. The problem is, who? A greedy member of their commercial guild? Or some warlord of the northern islands?”

“It doesn't matter. I intend to mention this incident at the meeting and I swear, they will listen to us and take action, even if it means that I have to use the Voice and be heard up to the stars.”

As second in command and highest officer on the ship beside the shipmaster, Haka was fulfilling the role of commander while Vraal rested. So far the situation had been quiet, and given the lack of relevant developments in the study of the planet, the Ultra decided to take a little break and observe the hologram of the planet.

“Wonderful,” Haka muttered while marveling at the sight of the huge forest that crossed one of the continents from northwest to southeast. Thousands and thousands of kilometers of land covered by trees, surely full of mighty and dangerous creatures, and hidden places that just waited to be explored. His gaze brightened under his elegant helmet as memories of his infancy flowed in his mind, bringing him back to the countless times he had went to hunting in the forests of Sanghelios along with his brothers, armed just with wooden spears and bows. He wondered if he would have the opportunity to hunt in those forests and again practice his skills as an archer, once the situation would have allowed it.

“Commander Guwakai, we detected a new kind of communication frequency,” the communication officer informed him, bringing him back to reality.

“Of what nature?” the Ultra asked. So far they had intercepted hundreds of communications, from the sport channels to the military frequencies.

“Impossible to determine, sir. The frequency is encrypted.”

“Really?” he asked with increased interest. “Can you decipher it?”

The officer looked at the monitor before shaking his head. “I don't think I would be able to, at least not within an acceptable time. They're using a really complex algorithm.”

This was unexpected. Apparently, they were more advanced than they had presumed.

“Can you at least determine the source of the transmission?”

“Affirmative. The origin seems to be the same as the energy pulses,” the officer informed him.

“Show me,” the Ultra ordered, facing the hologram again.

The image shifted from the whole planet to a small portion of territory. A city, to be exact.

Years of experience allowed the Ultra to instantly recognize the strategic position of the settlement. The city was built on the side of a mountain, allowing a perfect view of the territory below, while the steep sides of the mountain almost made it impossible to reach it easily. The only overland access by ground was a railroad and a cobbled road, and both the communication routes crossed several torrents from which a waterfall originated thanks to a series of bridges made of steel and stone. On the opposite side of the city, just before the slope, there was what seemed to be a landing zone for what according to the radar were airships.

But the most notable feature was the castle or fortress located in the higher point of the settlement.

“What can you tell me about this settlement, Huru?” the Ultra asked the other Sangheili with a thoughtful tone.

“The amount of radio broadcasts is very high, like in all their big cities, but besides the normal civilian transmissions we also intercepted several signals of military origin.”

Haka put a hand under his jaws, reflecting. The large amount of military radio broadcasts and the strategic position was a clear sign that the city had some kind of coordination function, while the design of the castle, clearly built more to impress rather than for actual military purposes, suggested that some important member of their society lived there.

The encrypted radio frequency strengthened his theory. Encrypted communications were usually used to transmit confidential material. While this kind of procedure could be used sometimes by common citizens, given that this was the first time they detected this kind of frequency, the chances that the source of the message was some political or military authorities were really high. Not to mention the mysterious energy emissions.

All these elements put together, led him to believe that the city could be with high probability the capital of the Pony race.

“Do we know with whom they are talking?”

“Another settlement, located in the northern hemisphere of the same continent. That sector hasn't been completely mapped, so we don't yet have high resolution images of the territory.”

Haka nodded. They would have to investigate further about that later. “Excellent. Keep monitoring the transmission, maybe the Huragok will be able to crack the codex. I'm going to inform the Shipmaster,” the Ultra said, leaving the bridge followed by his billowing red cloak.

'Even though it might not be their capital, it remains a good point to start our investigation. Besides, we may have finally found a way to contact them,' he thought as he crossed the door.

'Where is Luna?' Celestia wondered nervously as the griffon airship appeared on the horizon as a black dot. Now, here she was, standing alone on the far end of the long red carpet that extended from the private landing zone of the castle. Well, she wasn't exactly alone. Besides her, there were a dozen members of the ground personnel and over twenty members of the Royal Guard of both the orders, disposed behind her. But this didn't change the fact that her sister still wasn’t there.

Right after the conversation with Cadence, her sister had excused herself to change her clothes. Before the solar princess could even point out that there wasn't enough time, Luna had vanished in a flash while she teleported herself to her room.

Celestia huffed discreetly. The airship was coming closer. “I hope that she'll manage to arrive in time,” she said to nopony in particular. The last thing that she wanted was to risk a diplomatic incident with the dignitaries of a cocky and proud race just because her sister wanted to change her own attire.

“Fear not, dear sister! I am here by your side,” the night princess declared proudly.

The white alicorn closed her eyes momentarily and allowed herself a sigh of relief.

“I really hope that your waste of time was well worth it, because if you had delayed just a few more minutes-” Celestia wasn't able to complete her sentence because when she turned, the choice of clothing her sister chose left her speechless.

Instead of the blue sleeveless dress with a high neckline that she was previously wearing, Luna was now wearing a midnight blue uniform composed by a pair of trousers with a red line that ran on the sides and a jacket with silver buttons. She still had her tiara and her silver horseshoes, but instead of her usual necklace with her cutie mark, she was wearing a belt with a buckle resembling her emblem. Attached to her belt was a cavalry sword inside a black scabbard with astronomical decorations made in silver filigree.
The uniform, combined with her higher stature than even the stallions, and her athletic yet at the same time feminine physique, gave her an appearance that was a perfect combination of beauty and authority.

“Err, why that choice of clothes?” Celestia asked with confusion. “It makes you look rather... intimidating.” More than usual, she dared to think.

“You know how the griffins are. Being predators, war and violence are part integral of their nature and they respect those who are strong and self-confident. The uniform is a good way to remind them of our power.”

“And the sword?” Celstia asked, nodding at the weapon.

“Tia, you surprise me! You know that it's not a real uniform without a sword,” Luna said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. She then gave Celestia a thoughtful look.

“Something's wrong, sister?” Celestia asked curiously.

“You know, it's been a while since the last time you wore a uniform,” Luna noticed, putting a finger on her chin. “Now that I think about, since my return to Equestria I had never had the opportunity to see you wear something that was not a dress when we are in public.”

“Indeed,” the elder sister conceded. “The last time I wore one was over two centuries ago during the ceremony of the treaty of non aggression with the minotaurs. In truth, I can't say that I miss to wear them. I don't feel very comfortable wearing military attire. It makes me look too aggressive.”

“That is really a pity, in my opinion,” Luna replied. “The mere sight of you in your armor was enough to make entire enemy armies flee in terror, frightened by your power.... while your sexiness was able to cause wing-boners en masse among our pegasi ranks.”

“Luna!” Celestia exclaimed in a whisper as to not attract attention. Her white fur was barely able to hide the massive blush on her cheeks.

“What?” she asked innocently. “There was a reason you usually were the one to lead the infantry.”

“... You're making me pay for this morning, right?”

“Maybe,” Luna said smugly.

Celestia merely rolled her eyes. Fortunately, their guards were too far to hear their conversation.

The griffon airship soon became clearly visible in the sky, its design impossible to confuse with the wooden nacelle similar to a brig hanging from a semi-rigid balloon. The ship had two long side fins that not only helped the maneuverability, but also allowed it to exploit the wind, giving the airship additional speed without wasting fuel.
Another distinctive feature was that their engines, instead of using electric energy like the Equestrian zeppelins, were fueled by natural gas. Sure, the smell wasn't the best, but at least it was better than the naphtha used by the minotaurs.

The airship approached closer and closer to the ground, until it reached the metallic docking tower where the crew, with the help of a pegasi team, docked the airship. The propellers slowed their pace until they stopped; a ladder was aligned to the exit of the nacelle.

From the airship descended six griffon soldiers wearing a light armor made mostly of leather and a light helmet; they arranged themselves into two parallel rows and assumed the port arm position.

“Here we go,” Luna muttered, wearing the stoic face that she usually wore when she was in public.

The griffon that had gotten off the airship was a middle aged griffon with black plumage, wearing a red and blue uniform and a metal chest plate. General Edwin Sharpbeak, rising star of the Griffon Army, was the son of a rich merchant who often brought him with during his business travels in Equestria. Thanks to these experiences, and to the period of study spent in one of Trottingham's colleges, Edwin had emerged with a positive opinion regarding the pony race as well as good knowledge of their culture and society.
These factors have played an important role for his career, allowing him to become an influential element in the imperial court.

Luna was rather pleased at his presence. The general not only was in good terms with the princesses, but was also a discreet swordsman. Surely he would agree to a fencing match with her after the meeting.

The happy mood given to her by the prospective of a duel was completely washed away when she saw the next griffon that came down the gangway.

The plumage of his body was brown while the feathers of his head were white; his frame was quite massive, not much for muscles, but rather for a clear problem of obesity, as indicated by his fat belly. He wore a leather sleeveless jacket over a white shirt and dark pants, while a cavalier hat adorned his head.

'Oh, no,' Celestia thought worriedly when she recognized the duke Dominique Ironclaw. She quickly glanced at her sister and noticed how she was glaring at the duke with an expression of pure wrath, unconsciously tightening her grip on the hilt of her sword.

“Of all the dignitaries that the emperor has, he had to send that perverted drunkard,” she hissed venomously, keeping her teal eyes fixed on the griffon in question.

The princess of the night had a personal grudge with the griffon. Two years before, during the Grand Galloping Gala, the duke had shown a poor image of himself, getting horribly drunk and starting to ramble a series of remarks about the other guests that spaced from the offensive to the obscene. When Luna had intervened in person to make him stop and make him assume a civil and decent behavior, Ironclaw had began to flirt in a harassing way with her, before stumbling and falling into a nearby fountain... dragging the princess with him into the water in a clumsy attempt to remain standing.

When the princess had come out from the fountain, dripping water from head to hooves, she had found all present staring at her in a mix of embarrassment and shock.
To her horror, the white evening dress that she was wearing had become almost translucent in the involuntary bath, showing more than what it was supposed to.
Blushing furiously with embarrassment, the princess had teleported to her room and remained inside for a week, coming out only thanks to the efforts of her sister and her friends.

Regarding the duke, the emperor had given him a severe scolding, but besides that there had been no other repercussions to him or his family. The Ironclaw clan not only has a big economical and political influence in the empire, but also belongs to the Northern Alliance, a group of nobles and warlords of the northern islands who had the habit of rebelling almost periodically to the central authority. Provoking them would have just destabilized the already precarious peace and led to a new civil war.

“I'm sure that the Emperor didn't send him without a good reason,” Celestia tried to reason.

“Oh, sure. He wanted to give me the chance to have my vengeance on that fool,” the blue alicorn whispered with anger while the two diplomats began to approach, completely unaware of the discussion between the two sisters.
Luna held her hand on the hilt of the sword, but Celestia gently put a hand on her shoulder.

“Luna, please,” Celestia whispered with a pleading tone. “Sister, you know that I'm the first to say that what the duke did you was absolutely indecorous and humiliating, but I beg you to not do something that you will regret.”

“I regret that I will have to clean the mess.”

“Think of the consequences. Our relationship with the Griffon Empire is already difficult. You don't want to start a war just because of that idiot, do you?”

If Luna was a dragon, she would have snorted smoke from her nostrils, but eventually she ended up closing her eyes and bowed her head slightly. “No, I don't. You have my word, sister. I will not do anything that may harm our kingdom,” she solemnly promised. “But just because I love you and our subjects too much.

Celestia gave her a warm thankful smile. “Thank you, Luna.”

The two ambassadors soon reached them, followed by their escort from a certain distance; not too far in case of a sudden threat for their charges, but neither too close as not to be seen as a menace to the two princesses by the equestrian guards.

Once they were just a few steps away the two ambassadors stopped and bowed, mirrored by the princesses.

“Greetings, general Sharpbeak,” Celestia saluted him with welcoming smile. “Duke Ironclaw,” she said with far less enthusiasm.

“Your majesties,” the duke said, taking off his hat with an elaborate gesture.

“Your majesties,” the general saluted politely with a friendly smirk. “It's a pleasure to see both of you again.”

“Likewise, general,” Celestia said, before addressing the other griffon. “How was the travel?” she asked, more for education rather than real interest.

“Somewhat long and boring, princess, but your mere sight is a relief from the fatigue of our long journey,” the fat griffon said in his best flattering tone.

'Now I remember why neither Luna nor I can stand this sneaky, slimy toad,' Celestia thought annoyed, fighting the sudden urge to roll her eyes. If he thought that a few compliments were enough to gain her sympathy, he was wrong.

“And of course, I obviously wasn’t forgetting about your dear sister,” he hurried to add nervously. “How are you, your highness?” he asked with the biggest grin he could gather despite the situation.

“I felt better until the moment that I remembered about your existence,” was her cold reply.

“Oh. Are you still mad about that little accident?” he asked uneasily.

“You are lucky that you are protected by diplomatic immunity.”

The duke gulped audibly, noticing her sword.

“I propose to head to the meeting room, so that we can start the meeting,” Celestia proposed.

“Er, I'm sorry to bother, but I wanted ask if I can take a moment to smoke before the meeting?” Ironclaw asked sheepishly pulling out a cigar from a breast pocket. “You know, for security reasons its forbidden doing it on our airship.”

“On the contrary, allow me to light it,” Luna offered, surprising everyone for her sudden kindness toward the duke.

“I didn't know that you smoke, princess.”

“In fact, I do not.”

Luna's horn glowed briefly, and the tip of the cigar caught fire.

“I just like to set things on fire,” she said with a mischievous smile.

The cigar nearly fell from the griffon's beak when he realized the implications.

“I- I think I'll go smoke over there,” he said, pointing almost at the other side of the yard. “To reduce the risk of a fire, of course. You never know when you’re too close to the airships.”
He walked away with a gait that seemed a compromise between the need to maintain a certain dignity and control, and the desire to run away in fear.

Once the duke was at a safe distance the general Sharpbeak let out a breath that he had unconsciously held the entire time.

“For a moment I feared we would have smelled burnt chicken,” he admitted with a hint of amusement.

Luna smirked. “Nay, although the temptation was high, his reaction alone was priceless.”

“I agree. It almost compensates for the hassle that I have to suffer traveling with him. Almost,” he clarified, causing a short chuckle from both the princesses.

“Well, general, what news do you bring from the Empire?” Celestia asked, putting aside formalities.

“Besides the sincere regards from his Majesty? The usual good news: piracy is increasing, while the phenomenon of mass desertion continues in our Army. Apparently, the warlords pay better.”

“We think we have an idea about where their finance comes from,” Luna said darkly.

“Oh, yes. That deprecable episode in the Crystal Empire,” he said seriously, all his humor completely gone. “I presume that princess Cadence has told you the details.”

“Indeed, our niece has informed us just today,” Celestia confirmed.

“I won’t even try to deny that members of my race are involved in the attack. Unfortunately, as you well know, the corruption and the presence of un-loyal elements in our government are serious issues that we're trying to fight unsuccessfully for decades, while the northern warlords acquire more and more power with each passing day.”

“It's unfortunate that your Emperor had to reject our offer of help.”

“An intervention of your Guards would have only caused an escalation of hostility, as well as exacerbate the relationship among our countries. And then, you know how we are us griffons. Accept help from the outside to resolve an internal matter would be seen as a sign of weakness.”

The griffon seemed suddenly interested by something behind the princesses.

“Although, I wouldn't mind if in this meeting it were possible to review the normative regarding the commerce of weapons,” the general admitted, eyeing with interest the SAR5 rifles of the Royal Guards. Semiautomatic, accurate up to 350 meters using the iron sight, and with a magazine containing fifteen bullets, the equestrian ordinance rifle was far superior to the bolt-action rifles with which the griffon soldiers were equipped. “We could really use more firepower.”

“I'm afraid that is out of the question, general. You know our policy in this regard. The fewer guns around, the less the risk of a conflict is likely.”

“It’s a shame that the minotaurs don't see the things the same way,” the griffon commented bitterly.

“What do you mean?” Luna asked with confusion.

“Are you aware that those hot heads are doing what seems to be an arms race?”

“Yes, and I don't hide the fact that neither I nor my sister are in any way pleased about it. But I can't see how this is related to the topic.”

“You see, to fund the retrofitting of their army, the minotaurs are selling to half of the world their old military equipment.”

“What?!” Luna exclaimed, unable to hide her surprise.

“And not just melee weapons and crossbows, but also old muskets and muzzle-loaded cannons,” the general continued.

“How is that we weren't aware of this?"

“The black market is not exactly on the advertising flyers, and even our intelligence managed to discover about it just recently. Between the various buyers, there are Diamond Dog raider bands, as well as several griffon nobles of the northern islands,” he said in a confidential tone, eyeing the duke that was still intent on smoking, completely unaware of their conversation. “I'll give you more details during the meeting. In this regard, it's better if I go call that sweaty turkey, before he submerges Equestria with a secular pall of smoke,” he said, heading toward the other side of the large terrace.

“Are you alright, sister?” Luna asked with concern when she noticed the concerned expression of her sister.

“No, Luna. I'm afraid I'm not. His words have troubled me. The world is becoming a giant powder keg, and it needs just a spark to explode,” Celestia said grimly.

'Why did I leave the Guard?' Blue Cirrus thought with annoyance while sipping his coffee, walking through rows of control stations for the usual inspection tour.

After his service in the Solar Guard had ended, the gray pegasus had become Chief Weather Controller at the Weather Co-ordination Center (or WCC for short) thanks to his previous experience as Air Traffic Controller in Canterlot. The task of the WCC was to coordinate the work of the various weather teams scattered all across Equestria and assign them the schedules coming from the Weather Factory.

An important task, essential for the prosperity of their country, but by Celestia's glorious butt, it was far from being exciting.

All around him there were several cubicles, each one containing an operator that controlled an enchanted monitor that viewed in real time the weather of his sector of Equestria.
He was about to return to his office and fill out some backlog paperwork, when one of his subordinates called him.

“Hey boss, could you come here one sec?” the blue mare with a red mane asked.

“Sure. What's up, Cloudy Sky?”

“We may have a problem.”

“Where?”

“Greenville,” the mare pegasus responded, making him frown in confusion for a moment.

“Oh, right, that new town at the edge of the Unicorn Range.”

It was no wonder that it took him some moments to remember the location of the settlement. The town had been founded just one year ago due to the discovery of a mana spot. With the increasing request of power geodes, it was natural to build a recharging plant there, soon followed by a settlement for the workers and their families.

Cloudy Sky nodded. “There's a big rainstorm coming from the western Everfree that they are supposed to redirect toward Trottingham, but instead the clouds are still heading towards them.”

The monitor showed two trajectories, one for the real time position of the storm, and another for the supposed itinerary. The gap was evident.

“Strange indeed. Have they said why they haven't diverted the storm yet?”

“That's the point. Their weather center not only hasn't called us, but they have also missed the last two radio updates.”

“Problem with the radio?”

The mare shook her head. “No, I've already tried to contact them twice. Their radio works perfectly, but it's like nopony is there to answer to our calls.”

Blue Cirrus frowned. His instinct and his years of service in the Guard told him that something was fishy.

“Alert the Royal Guard. Tell them that something's off,” he ordered.

Chapter 6 - Another day at the beach

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Chapter 6 – Another day at the beach

The Zealot pushed a switch, gaining a familiar hum as the energy began to flow through the circuits. Satisfied with her work, Tarya closed the panel and turned toward the pilot at her side, handing him a datapad.

“Alert me when the values will reach the optimal level,” she instructed him.

Gusay, a young yet skilled pilot clad in a blue Flight Harness, nodded. Tarya left the cargo bay of the Stealth Phantom and cracked her neck, resulting in a series of audible ‘pops’. She knew that the maintenance crew was composed by competent individuals that were perfectly able to perform their job on their own, but she had preferred to help them overhaul the systems of the dropship. Considering the task that she and her team were about to perform, she wanted be sure that everything was working.

“Always busy, uh?” a male voice commented.

“There's always something to do and besides, I've slept enough today,” Tarya said.

“You weren't sleeping, you were unconscious,” Nax pointed.

“That's the same,” she replied with a click of her jaws, turning to face the physician. It was only now that she noticed that Nax wasn't wearing his Combat helmet. Instead, he was holding a green Assault helmet under his artificial arm.

“By the way, what are you doing here?” the Zealot asked in curiosity. “And why that helmet?” she added, clearly confused. The only ones that usually wear that kind device were the members of the assault teams and some spec ops units, Nax obviously wasn't one of them.

“Oh, you don't know? The shipmaster allowed me to join the expedition.”

The Zealot cringed inwardly. “Please, tell me that he didn't assign me another babysitter.”

Nax chuckled. “Don't worry, I'm coming just for personal curiosity,” he reassured her.

“Really?” she asked, tilting her head.

“Sure! I'm a scientist and for nothing in the universe will I miss the opportunity to visit a new planet inhabited by sentient creatures!” he exclaimed with enthusiasm.

The Zealot sighed in relief, but she was also genuinely glad to have the doctor with them. The Spec Ops that will accompany her on the surface were trained to perform military recons in hostile territory, not to observe and study a new society, so she could definitely use someone as Nax to help her. Sure, sometimes the doctor could be really annoying due his sarcastic personality, but she knew that he was also intelligent and curious, both important qualities to be a member of the Seekers of Truth. Maybe, once back home, she would have proposed his name to the order of the Zealots for a promotion.

“Do you have any kind of experience in infiltrations?”

“Of course! I did eight missions as Ossoona during the last two years of the war,” he said proudly.

She was about to ask him more about his operative past when Gusay approached them.

“I'm sorry for the intrusion, ma'am, but I wanted to inform you that the analysis is complete. All systems are perfectly operative."

“Excellent,” she nodded.

“Uhm, why is the doctor here?” the pilot asked, clearly confused.

“I'm part of the team now, as scientific staff support,” Nax clarified, before looking around. “Speaking of the team, where are the others?”

“I sent the two Spec Ops Minors to the armory to take our weapons, while the Major went to the Huragok so that they could check his armor,” Tarya answered.

“And the Spec Ops Officer?”

“He's somewhere hunting for poor souls to devour,” she replied dismissively.

“Am I detecting hostility towards him?” he asked with a frown. His tone had suddenly changed, most of his usual warmth gone while his posture become stiffer.

“What makes you think that?” she responded without even trying to hide her sarcasm.

“It doesn't take a genius to get it. Shoot, what's the deal?”

“Nothing, beside the fact that my uncle assigned the task to control me to a bloodthirsty-emotionless monster.”

“Oh, for Librarian's sake, don't tell me you are one of them!” Nax exclaimed shocked with a tone that oozed exasperation, but also delusion, as if he didn't expect a similar comment from her.

“If for 'them' you mean those who think that he's a loose cannon, then yes. Seriously, have you ever seen one of his mission logs? I swear, I've gotten nightmares for several nights after I've seen what he's capable of doing on the battlefield.” She shivered. “I dare not even imagine what would happen if he were to lose control in an inhabited zone. The last thing that I want is a massacre of civilians just before the first official contact.”

“If I were you, I'd be more careful with your words,” Nax warned her.

“Why? It's not like he's here.”

“I have to disagree,” the Commando declared, dropping his clocking system and appearing right in front of her.

“Whoa!” Tarya exclaimed, backing off in surprise at his sudden apparition. “Zhar, what the hell is wrong with you? Why were you cloaked?”

“I'm hunting for souls to devour,” he replied without a minimal trace of humor.

'So he had heard the whole conversation. Great.'
“Oh, my. I hope you won't start with mine,” she joked provocatively.

“Spare me you sarcasm, Zealot. You're not the only one who doesn't like this situation. You don't want me in the team, while I prefer to work alone. Nevertheless, the shipmaster gave me the task to assist you during the mission, and I have to obey his orders. As should you.”

Tarya straightened her posture, part of her bravado lost.

“I'm not questioning the decision of the Shipmaster,” she said, irritated by his insinuation, “but personally I think that I don't need a supervisor, nor your boot camp lessons.”

“Given your limited experience on the field, you'd better take advantage from this opportunity.”

“Don't treat me like a rookie, Zhar,” she hissed in a warning tone. “I'm not new to the battlefield.”

“Yet, despite your rank, you still don't deserve to be treated like a veteran,” he remarked.

The Zealot covered the distance that separated her from the black armored Sangheili in a blink, roaring menacingly.

“Are you accusing me of being unworthy of my rank?” she snarled. The difference of height and mass between them was evident, but the Zealot didn't seem to care about it. Like any other Sangheili, she was ready to defend her honor, no matter whom or what her foe was.

“No, I think that you are not the right leader for this mission,” he stated, totally unperturbed by her display of aggressiveness.

“And who else should be? You?”

“Lacking better suited candidates? Yes.”

Tarya emitted a low, menacing growl, barely managing to control her levels of anger. “We have to talk,” she said with a glacial tone.

“I agree, but I suggest having this conversation in a more secluded place. The crew shouldn't see the officer’s quarrel amongst themselves,” he said, nodding sideways.

She looked around slowly. All the eyes in the hangar were fixed on the two officers.

“What are you looking at?! Go back to work!” she barked to the crew members, who hurried to avert their gaze and frantically resuming their activities.

“Follow me,” she said with a tone that sounded more like an order then a request. Both their ranks corresponded to that of Ultra, although they came from different branches of the armed forces, but the Spec Ops Officer didn't seem minimally bothered by her tone. The Zealot led him through the hangar until they reached a door hidden behind a damaged Seraph that lead to a storage room. The room was small, but also almost completely empty, save for a few weapon crates and a couple of devices used by the Unggoy to refill their methane tanks in the field, making it the perfect place to have a private discussion away from prying ears.

The moment that the door closed, the Zealot exploded.

“Was it really necessary to say those things right in front of the crew?!” she yelled.

“Really hypocritical, considering that you openly described me as a mindless beast driven by his desire for blood,” Zhar replied calmly, managing at the same time to sound threatening; as usual. Everything, from his jet black commando harness, to his posture, seemed to infuse fear in enemies and allies alike.

“However, we're going off topic. I'm the first to admit that my methods, although effective, are quite brutal, but I think that's not your bigger issue with me,” he said, scrutinizing her intently. Despite both of them wearing integral helmets, Tarya felt like his eyes were able to pierce through her mind. “So, tell me, Zealot, what is it that really bothers you?”

So far she had managed to maintain a minimal amount of control, but now, as if he had opened a dam, all her frustrations went down like a waterfall.

“You really want to know? My career, if not my entire life, simply sucks,” she spat. “The instructors made my training a hell just because I was a female; I've spent the last three years working as a technician despite my rank being equivalent to that of an Ultra, forced to overhaul vehicles and ships damaged in battles to which I should have attend, or to examine damaged Forerunner artifacts recovered by morons that haven't the slightest idea about how to handle them properly; and as if it wasn't enough there are those horrible rumors that insinuate that I reached my rank thanks to my uncle, only because he's the commander of the ship on which I serve! And now that I finally have the chance to prove my real qualities and skills, not just to my uncle but also to my damn detractors, a bloodthirsty and paranoid psychopath dares to insult me in front of the whole crew, pretending to be better suited to lead the mission!”

She closed the distance between them until their helmets almost touched and locked her gaze with his, trying to appear as determined and fearless as possible.

“Listen to me carefully, Zhar. If you think you can put me aside and assume the command of the team, well, you're completely wrong. I will not lose the opportunity of my life to a stupid killer like you. This is my command, my team, and you will follow my orders!”

The scene was impressive. Given his reputation as a ruthless killer, very few people would have ever dared to speak that way to the Spec Ops Officer.

Tarya was clearly very brave.

'Oh shit, I'm going to die!' she thought, panicking when the adrenaline rush faded away and she realized what she had just done. 'I've just ranted against the deadliest warrior of the fleet in a secluded room where nobody can hear me scream. That's it, first he will kill me and then he will eat me while I'm still alive.'

The Commando spoke, interrupting her train of incoherent thoughts.

“If you think that I want to lead the expedition for my personal glory, then I have to disappoint you. I stopped caring about crap like that a long time ago. I respect what you had to endure to reach your rank, and I can assure you that I have no issue following the orders of a female,” he said, ignoring her blatant surprise. Honor and glory were at the base of their very culture. To hear a warrior say that they didn’t care about them was like hearing an insult or heresy.

“Then where's the problem?” she asked with caution.

“ 'Intelligent and skilled, she performs her tasks with efficiency and enthusiasm, but despite this she has the flaws of being impulsive and too confident of her own abilities.' Does that sound familiar?” Zhar asked almost casually.

“That's my final evaluation at the academy,” she said shocked. “How-?”

“Don't be so surprised, all those who have the right authorization can access the files of the crew. I prefer to work alone, but when I'm in a team I like to know everything about my teammates.”

She didn't know why, but the more Zhar talked, the more uncomfortable she felt.

“I have to admit, your curriculum is really impressive. Your scores at the military academy are excellent, if not even above average, as well as your scientific knowledge. But the section of your file that remained particularly impressive in my mind was your roster of service. As you said previously, you've took part in several war operations, but I couldn't help but notice that most of the time you fought in the first line or you were committed to retrieve technological artifacts in already conquered areas. All situations where the cloaking device was only used for short amounts of time. When it comes to stealth recons, like the one that we're about to perform, your file lists just three missions, in each of which you were just a gregarious. I could have overlooked this particular mission if you were a just a Minor, or even a Major, but you are the officer in charge of the mission. You are the leader, the one who is supposed to know how to keep the team undetected and continue with the mission in case of a sudden turn of events. This requires cold blood and the ability to think fast and clearly, otherwise not only does the mission go to hell, but so does your team. I've seen enough arrogant idiots be killed just because of their overconfidence and their thirst for glory, worst of all drawing their squads to their same fate.”

He stepped forward, towering over her as a black demon.

“You are an excellent element, Tarya, I'll give you that, but listen to me really closely: if you put the team or the ship in danger because you fucked up the mission in your eagerness to prove yourself, then you'll have to deal with me.”

His tone was low, controlled, bare of any trace of emotion, yet it was one of the most threatening things she'd ever heard in her life.

Despite all of her own will, she couldn't stop the chilling sensation that she felt run through her spine. Gathering all her courage, she managed to reply to his words with a voice more firm and secure than she had.

“Trust me. I will not fail.”

Zhar remained silent, simply staring at her. She couldn't tell if he was reflecting about giving her a chance, or the best way to kill her and make it appear as an accident.

“We'll see.”

Without any other words, Zhar left the room, leaving Tarya alone with her thoughts, still surprised to have survived despite her own stupidity.

Tarya found the courage to leave the room only after several minutes. She felt like a complete idiot. She had allowed her emotions to drive her mind, engaging a stupid discussion with Zhar, with the only result worsening her relationship with the Commando.

“Glad to see that he didn't severe your head with a bite,” Nax said casually. The doctor was sitting not too far on an exhausted plasma battery with his helmet put on the floor next to him.

“He knows the right spots to strike, both physical and mental,” she said wearily, leaning against the wall and taking off her helmet.

“He's a Vadam” the physician replied simply. “Their minds are strong as their physique.”

He took something from a side pocket of his armor. It looked like a small tablet covered in tin foil that emitted a pleasurable aroma once he unwrapped the casing. She immediately recognized the smell. Chocolate. One of the few good things that the Great War had brought.

“Want some? It will lift your mood,” he offered as he threw in his maws a piece of the brown substance.

Tarya nodded and took a piece of the tablet. She closed her eyes and inhaled the smell of the human food before she put it in her maws, enjoying the sweet taste as long as possible, before swallowing. Nax wasn't joking. She felt more relaxed almost immediately.

The two remained to watch the progresses of the repair work in the hangar without saying a word, until Tarya decided to finally break the silence.

“You seem to know him well,” the Zealot said.

Nax nodded slowly. “Ever since he was just a Minor.”

“How did you meet?”

Nax took a moment to recall the far events. “It was several years ago, on the carrier Defender of Faith. He had just arrived on the ship when he spotted this group of morons that was having fun by beating for the third time that week a member of the 'medical scum',” he said, pointing at himself while wearing a sad smirk.

Tarya couldn't help but cringe inwardly. She thought that her life sucks? Nax, and probably many others like him, had to endure a far worse situation for a longer period, doing an unappreciated yet important job, and with an almost complete lack of respect from the members of their very species. She felt once again sincerely happy for him that things had changed after the Schism.

“Well, long story short, after having understood what was happening, the boy knocked out all six of them in a matter of seconds. You can imagine my surprise in front of the scene. Not just for how easily with which he dismissed so many opponents in so short of time, but for the act itself. Until then, most of the warriors that I had met treated me like I was the worst form of dregs in society. When I asked him why he had helped me, despite not knowing me and that I was a medic, you know what he said? 'Because it was the right thing to do.' "

The Sangheili in green armor smiled. “After that episode, we became good friends. We often talked when he came back from a mission. He liked having somebody older than him with which to confide, especially regarding his doubts. I think that in the end he considered me like one of his uncles.”

Tarya was absolutely speechless. She never imagined that the dark officer was not only able to socialize, but also care about others. Sure, he was universally respected on the ship not just by those under his command, but he seemed to keep his distance from anyone, spending his free time by training himself or in solitude in his cabin. Strangely, it was also almost impossible to see him without his helmet besides meal time.

“I find it hard to believe that under his armor there's a living, breathing creature,” she finally admitted. “He's always so cold, almost emotionless, and he seems to radiate an aura of darkness that makes you wonder if the rumors about him being the embodiment of death are true.”

“Trust me, he wasn't always like that.” Nax sighed, shaking his head. “Not until Tribute...” he added in a lower, bitter, tone.

“What do you mean?” she asked, turning towards him.

“Well... no, I'm sorry, but I can't. I promised him that I wouldn't tell it to anybody without his approval. Let's just say that a part of him died in the subway tunnels of the planet.”

Although the topic had attracted her curiosity, Tarya knew that it was better to not press the doctor for more details, so she decided instead to change the subject of conversation.

“Thanks again for the chocolate. Where did you get it?”

“I've bought it from the Rangers of Fireteam Heretic.”

“Those two weirdos?” she asked surprised. The duo was famous for being excellent marksmen and pilots, but also for their unusual lack of discipline that grazed the level of insubordination.

“I admit that they're a bit strange, but they're good guys. And besides, they have several contacts scattered on dozens of worlds. If you need something, they can get it.”

“You know that contraband is, how can I say, illegal?”

“I'm not the only one on the ship to avail to their services,” he replied dismissively, snapping his jaws. “Who do you think sold those human books to the shipmaster?”

His assertion left her completely dumbstruck. “No way,” she finally said in disbelief before she burst out in laughter. “My uncle, the shipmaster, resorts to the black market?”

Nax chuckled. “Welcome to the post-Covenant era.”

“The repair teams are doing an excellent job, don't you think?” Haka remarked as he and Vraal crossed the hangar.

The atmosphere around them was bustling with activity, with many members of the crew busy working on the several aircraft that filled the compartment, from the small Banshee interceptors to the mighty Phantom gunships.

The Shipmaster nodded, visibly pleased. This kind of sight filled him with pride.

When the Covenant Empire had fallen, its logistic network had disappeared forever, alongside with a large number of Huragok, taken away by the San-Shyuum(1) during their hasty flight. The following period had been particularly hard for the Sangheili, no longer able to build or even repair their ships and equipment. Many on Sanghelios had feared that in the long term this would bring their society back to a pre-space situation (assuming that the ONI didn't try to wipe them out first), but thankfully an increasing number of Sangheili, especially females and members of the younger generations, decided to dedicate their existence to the reconstruction of their civilization, learning not only how to repair their technology, but also how to do several other things that once were an exclusive preserve of the San Shyuum.

Vraal was optimistic. He was aware that it would be a long and difficult process, but he was sure that one day his race would reacquire the independence and the power that they once had before they joined the Covenant.

The two high rank officers soon reached their destination. The green coloration of the Stealth Phantom stood out against the purple alloy of almost everything made by the Covenant, but Vraal didn't mind it. Actually, he liked it. He considered the chromatic choice a tribute to those that had fought on the Ark.

The six members of the team were waiting near the Phantom, busy studying the topography of their target from a holotank.

As expected, Zhar was the first one to notice the incoming officers. The Commando seemed unable to be caught unprepared. “Shipmaster on deck!” he roared while snapping to attention, quickly followed by his teammates.

“At ease,” Vraal ordered. “You were all debriefed about your mission, but I'll summarize it to benefit the doctor,” he said, glancing briefly to Nax. “The continent below us is inhabited by an industrial civility composed by a race called ponies. In view of a future contact, your primary objective is infiltrate in what we presume is their capital and discover as much you can about them. If the opportunity arises, I also want you to gather information regarding the eventual presence of deposits of Helium-3 or Forerunner artifacts that may be related to the anomalous nature of the planet. Am I clear?”

“Sir, yes sir!” the members of the recon team roared.

“Good. Remember, your task will be to observe and study. In case your cover was to blow, you have to disengage.”

“In other words, sir, we have to run away?” one of the two Minors asked, clearly uncomfortable. Even if they were Spec Ops, they were still Sangheili, and a true Sangheili never fled.

“Think of it as a strategic retreat.”

“And that is?” he asked, tilting his head in confusion.

“It's like run away, but manlier,” Nax joked, earning a short laugh from the team.

“You have all heard the doctor,” the Shipmaster said with a hint of amusement, before becoming serious. “Now, without further ado, go and bring me all the data you can gather. I want a professional job, not some kind of crap that I can expect from a bunch of Jiralhanae Stalkers.”

The team hurried to climb aboard the Phantom. Tarya was about to do the same when her uncle called her.

“Tarya? May I have a few words with you?” Vraal said, beckoning for her to approach.

“Yes Shipmaster?” she asked coming closer. She noticed that Haka had moved away, giving them some privacy.

“I just wanted to let you know that I have complete trust in your abilities and to wish you good luck,” Vraal said, placing a hand on the shoulder of his niece.

“Thank you, uncle,” she said with sincerity. “You'll be proud of me.”

“I already am.”

Tarya smiled before putting on her helmet and began to walk to the dropship.

“Tarya?” he called with hesitation, making her stop and half turn. “Be careful.”

“Don't worry. I'll be,” she said, than she resumed her walk.

The Shipmaster looked on with his arms crossed as she hopped inside the Phantom and gave him a nod before the side doors of the shuttle closed.

With a subsonic hum, the Phantom lifted from the ground and headed to the blue force field that divided the hangar from the cold vastness of space.
The dropship crossed the barrier with a single fluid motion before accelerating towards the planet's surface.

“Are you still worried about her?” Haka asked him, approaching at his side.

“She's all that remains of my family, Haka. I have all the rights to be worried,” the shipmaster replied, still looking at the energy barrier and the shrinking spacecraft.

“You can't protect her forever, my old friend. You can only prepare her to face the challenges life will put on her path.”

“I know,” Vraal replied, finally facing the Ultra. “And that's what scares me the most.”

“Activate stealth mode,” the Zealot ordered once the Phantom reached the atmospheres limit.

“Aye, aye, ma'am,” the pilot replied, pressing several commands. “Sound suppressors, online. Radar jammer, online. Active camouflage system, online. All systems are operating one hundred percent. We are completely undetectable,” he informed her.

“Excellent,” she said satisfied. Now the dropship was really a phantom. “Keep the current route and speed,” she ordered, returning to the cargo bay.

“We will reach the LZ shortly. Give a last minute check to the cameras in your helmets. We must be sure to record everything,” she instructed the rest of the team.

The order could appear superfluous, considering the excellent maintenance performed by the Huragok, but they all knew that it was better to not take any risks.

“I wonder what kind of government they have,” Minor Legek asked to nobody in particular while checking his camera.

“We're still uncertain about the details, but according to their broadcasts, they have at least one of what the humans call a princess,” the Zealot explained, pronouncing a human word.

“Frinsess?” the other Minor, Felmak, tried to repeat with difficulty. Given the anatomy of their mouth, many Sangheili have difficulty pronouncing some sounds of the human languages.

“It's an English term used to indicate the daughters of the sovereigns, so we have to assume that they are ruled by a monarchy. The closer term that we have to translate it is the word eihkadan.”

“Do you think that she lives in that fortress?” Felmak asked.

“Most likely,” the Major Huram replied. “Certainly an individual of such importance wouldn't live in a small village.”

'They sure have been busy,' Flash Sentry thought with marvel, looking at the union between science and arcane arts that was the laboratory in the basement.

Books about physics shared the same bookshelves with manuals of alchemy, while modern electronic equipment were located not too far from crystal balls and vials containing magical potions.
Scattered all across the room were blackboards with intricate formulas, lab desks filled with mineralogical samples, and countless spreadsheets.

At the center of the room towered two massive tesla coils, between which there was a pedestal on which rested a power geode. The spherical rock was connected by several multi-colored wires to a vacuum tube computer. The sophisticated machine was currently writing on a long paper scroll a series of data that a certain purple alicorn was studying with attention.

Not wanting to startle her, he coughed politely.

“Oh, Flash, it's you,” Twilight said looking up from the huge scroll. From her voice, her mood seemed particularly good.

“Sorry to disturb you, I was just curious to see how you were doing.”

“Oh, you couldn’t have arrived at a better moment! I've probably found the solution to the power problem,” she said with a wide smile.

When Time Turner had left the library several hours before to go get his daughter from school, Twilight's research on the power geodes had reached a new stalemate. His knowledge in advanced physics had helped her make several steps ahead, but at the same time he had showed her a series of new issues related to the process of conversion of the raw magic in electricity. Calculation showed that the mana present freely in the environment tended to be more unstable compared to the one emitted from the mana spots, behaving in a highly unpredictable manner if not regulated by a unicorn's horn.
The earth pony stallion was confident that in time they would find a solution, but in the meantime he had highly recommended Twilight to pause the experiments until further studies were conducted on the interaction between mana and energy.

Given her attitude to never give up, the alicorn had decided otherwise.

“It took me some time, but looking at the studies of Starswirl the Bearded about the ability of pegasi to generate lightning bolts by manipulating clouds, I was able to find the information that I needed to complete the spell!”

After giving a last check to her equipment, she positioned herself in front of the geode.

“If I succeed, we'll be able to recharge the power geodes everywhere, without having to depend from the mana spot,” she said, invoking the magic inside her. The mana started to flow through her body, conveyed towards her horn, which soon was enveloped by a familiar magenta glow. “If I'm wrong, well, I'll have to completely review my studies.”

The spherical rock began to glow gently with a magenta light that matched the color of Twilight's magic, emitting a low humming sound. Twilight watched the geode in increasing trepidation, biting her lower lip in tension. It was the moment of truth.
Then, it happened. Electric bolts leaked from the geode, at first weak, then getting stronger, dancing briefly in the air before they were attracted by the two metal columns.

“Yes!” Twilight exclaimed with pure joy, clapping her hands and jumping in happiness. “It worked, Flash, it worked!” she said, turning towards the orange pegasus, smiling like a happy filly that has just received the present she wanted so much for her birthday.

Flash smiled back, sincerely happy to see her in such a good mood. After all the effort she had put herself through, she had been well rewarded.

His smile turned to a frown when he noticed that the brightness had increased noticeably, while the electric shocks become more and more violent.

“Twilight, is this supposed to happen?”

The alicorn looked at him confusedly before turning towards the contraption.

She gasped at the sight then she ran at her measurement devices. “Oh, no, no, nononono! This is bad, this is very bad!” she exclaimed at the sight of the readings.

“What's happening?”

“The flux of magic is too strong! The geode absorbs a large quantity of magic at such a high rate that it fails to convert all of it into electricity!”

“Then where does the excess magic end up?”

“The geode will continue to store it until it reaches the point of maximum capacity. Cross that limit and it will release the energy all at one time!”

Flash's pupils reduced to the size of pin pricks. It was like a dam unable to discharge the excess water, or a pressure cooker without a safety valve. The whole contraption was about to explode.

“Can you stop it?” he asked, just to find that the alicorn was already trying to severe the spell, her eyes closed and her horn glowing intensely.

She remained in that pose for almost a minute, beads of sweat beginning to run down her face, but in the end she had to desist.

“I can't stop it; the spell by now is self-powered! Unless...”

She lighted her horn once again, this time to generate a purple energy shield around the whole contraption. “There, maybe this will work. The force field will stop the flux of magic, or at least reduce it, giving the geode enough time to disperse the excess energy. Once the levels become low enough, I'll be able to nullify the spell.”

It seemed be working at first. The light produced by the spherical rock decreased noticeably, so much that she ventured to breathe a sigh of relief. Then the first cracks appeared. At first they were almost unnoticeable, but soon they became bigger and bigger, spreading across the surface of the shield with a noise of cracking glass until they formed an intricate network of fissures from which poured out rays of light. The shield itself began to change, shifting its coloration in a kaleidoscope of colors with a frequency more and more violent and hectic.

“What's happening?!”

“Electromagnetic anomalies! They interfere with the magic,” Twilight shouted, trying to shout over the sharp groan of the geode in overload. “I don't know how long I'll be able to hold the force field-”

The shield broke with a thundering sound of shattered glass, revealing the glowing geode in all its dreadful and powerful beauty, like a miniaturized sun.

The whine increased until it reached a level that hurt to hear.

Twilight's eyes widened in fear when she realized that the geode was about to explode.

“Twilight!” Flash Sentry screamed. Without a second of hesitation, the young stallion overturned a nearby desk and he tackled Twilight to the ground. They both fell behind the makeshift shelter, then, for higher precaution, he shielded his charge using his own body.

Not even a second later, the geode exploded with a deafening noise, releasing a light so intense that it hurt even with their eyes closed, while the air around them became suddenly hotter at the heat wave released by the explosion. Flash felt a strong tingling sensation pass through him, and his ears started to ring, but he didn't care. He lay still, entirely focused on protecting the shivering body under him, trying to offer maximum protection by using his wings.

The world around him finally stopped shaking after what seemed to be hours, but probably were just mere seconds.

The orange pegasus dared opening his eyes, blinking several times to readjust his vision. The sight that welcomed him made him blush. Twilight's muzzle was so close to his that they were almost touching. She too seemed to have realized their awkward position, because she was blushing furiously as well.

'Damn, she's cute when she blushes,' he couldn't help but think, unable to avert his gaze from her lavender eyes.

“Uh, are you alright?” he asked hesitantly in a concerned tone.

“I- I think so, just a bit dazed. You?”

“Just a slight tingling, but it's fading rapidly,” he reassured.

“Good.”

They remained still for several moments.

“Uh, Flash?” she mumbled, keeping her eyes locked with his.

“Yes?”

“Could you, uhm, you know...”

“Uh? Oh, sure!” he exclaimed, rising abruptly and carefully helping her get up. “Sorry if I pushed you,” he apologized sheepishly, diverting his gaze.

“D-don't worry, it's OK. You did the right thing.”

They both remained in silence for a minute.

“Thank you,” she finally mumbled.

“For what?”

“For protecting me.”

“Oh, well, it's my duty after all,” he said, rubbing the back of head with a hand.

“And you're doing a great job,” she said, giving him a kind smile that he soon mimicked.

The door to the basement banged open.

“Twilight! Flash!” Spike exclaimed worriedly, rushing towards her. “Are you alright?”

“Don't worry Spike, we're fine,” she reassured the young dragon hugging him.

“I was so worried, I heard that strange sound and I was gonna take a look when suddenly there was that loud explosion and- wow, that is really one big hole,” the dragon suddenly interrupted his worried rant when he noticed the one-meter-wide opening in the ceiling. Apparently, the reason why Flash and Twilight were practically unharmed was because, by sheer fortune, most of the energy of the explosion was released upward, crossing the entire library up to the roof, and continuing its route in the sky.

The three of them remained looking at the late afternoon sky through the sequential holes for a long time, then Twilight lowered her gaze. It was just then that she seemed to notice how badly the explosion had reduced her basement. She remained still as if she was entranced, she then used her magic to adjust a nearby overturned chair and she sat on it, hanging her head and resting her face in her hands.

Spike and Flash soon heard her quietly sobbing.

“Hey, hey, what's up?” Spike asked her gently, kneeling beside her and putting a hand on her shoulder.

The young alicorn looked up at him, showing an expression that made his heart clench. It was an expression that Spike had seen rarely, but that every time had struck him deeply. An expression that spoke of failure and resignation.

“I should have listened to you and Time Turner, and quit my experiments. I could have avoided all this,” she said, gesturing at her lab. Almost every surface was blackened and partially burnt, while many of her sophisticated equipment were visibly damaged, if not destroyed.

“Aw, c'mon Twilight. It could be worse,” Spike tried to cheer her up.

“How?” she snapped. “There's a hole that runs through the whole library, my equipment is destroyed, Flash and I could have been seriously injured or worse, and I risked hitting a pegasus or even a passing airship with an improvised death ray. Tell me, how could it be worse?”

Spike paused to reflect attentively, trying desperately to find an answer that wouldn't put him in trouble or upset Twilight more.

“Err, you could have unintentionally started a war with an unknown alien race?” he offered, bracing himself for her reaction.

To his relief, his big sister as well as oldest friend merely rolled her eyes and shook her head chuckling, clearly amused by the absurdity of his assertion. “Oh, Spike. You read too many science fiction comics. The probability that something like that could happen are so low to be practically nonexistent,” she said with absolute confidence.

The blinding energy beam would have surely gotten lost in the dark depths of space, but Fate seemed to have other plans for it.

The Stealth Phantom trembled violently when it was hit, before it started to fall in an uncontrolled nosedive.

“EMP!” Gusay yelled as he struggled to resume control of the dropship. Tarya and Zhar were the first ones to recover their balance, struggling against the vibrations to reach the cockpit. “The thrusters are in emergency shutdown,” the pilot said, causing Tarya to feel a strange sense of dejavù.

“Activate emergency thrusters,” the Commando ordered while holding on to a handle.

A red warning light flashed when the pilot pressed the switch. “The EMP damaged the commands! They don't work!”

“Leave it to me,” the Zealot said, opening a panel under the instrument panel. 'Hope the Huragok didn't modify the disposition of the circuits,' she mumbled as she fumbled with cables. 'Come on, come on, come on...'

She was rewarded by the warning light that beeped twice before shifting from red to blue, alerting that the emergency thrusters were functional again.

“Emergency thrusters online,” the pilot shouted over the noise of the alarms. “We're too close to the ground; I can only slow down the ship, not stop it. Hang on to something; it'll be a harsh landing!”

The sky was cloudy and dark, a clear indication that soon it would rain. A lone tall figure wearing a black hooded cape walked along one of the muddy streets of the small town, smiling darkly at the sight of her soldiers that carried away the spoils of their work. Everything went as planned. They had arrived in the town all at once, striking hard and fast, without giving the inhabitants the time to react or even realize what was happening until it was too late. In a matter of minutes, it was all over. Sure, there had been that little nuisance given by that team of Royal Guards that arrived to investigate but despite their pathetic attempt to fight, her soldiers had dealt with the issue without a problem.

'Mother will be really pleased with my results,' she thought with grim satisfaction.

The mighty howl of something falling from the sky made her look up, just in time to see a big green object that crossed the sky just above the level of the roofs, before it crashed in the market place leaving behind itself a long and deep trail of loose soil.

The hooded figure headed toward the crash site, followed by some of her troops, stopping at a safe distance. She studied the strange bulbous aircraft for a long time, trying to recognize the design, but in vain. The aircraft was unlike anything she'd ever seen in her life. It was almost alien. She shrugged. It doesn’t matter who had built it. Whoever was inside, they were just intruders that had dared to interrupt their harvest.

“The queen was clear,” she hissed to her soldiers. “Don't leave witnesses,” she ordered, showing a malicious smile filled with sharp fangs.

The Phantom slammed against the ground and bounced, before bumping again and continuing its run on ground for several meters, until it finally stopped.

Several seconds passed before the occupants of the dropship were able to rise from the floor of the cargo bay. Tarya was one of the last to get up, groaning as she tested the various parts of her body to make sure that nothing was broken. A headache was killing her, and she tasted blood in her mouth but apart from this everything else was fine.

A suppressed grunt of pain captured her attention. Legek was lying on the floor, bleeding copiously from a wound on his left leg. The limb was bent at an unnatural angle in correspondence of the ankle, with what looked like a fragment of bone that stuck out from the undersuit of his armor.

Nax immediately reached the injured soldier. After a quick diagnosis, he carefully removed the shinguard before he injected a painkiller near the wound. The Minor couldn't help but emit a sigh of relief.

“What a dishonorable wound,” Legek managed to grunt while Nax medicated his leg.

“Cheer up, you're still alive and soon you'll be back on the ship, surrounded by sexy nurses,” the doctor joked. After he finished applying the medication, he addressed the rest of the team. “Anybody else hurt? Nobody? Come on, don't be shy.”

The response from the rest of the team as well from the pilot was negative, but he noticed that the voice of the Major seemed forced.

“I'm fine,” the officer in red spec ops armor replied when the doctor addressed him specifically.

“Uh-uh, sure,” Nax said, clearly not buying it. The physician then raised his robotic arm towards the Major. From his wrist, where it was supposed to be his energy dagger, appeared instead a red laser light that quickly scanned the body of the other Sangheili.

“Ah, there it is,” Nax hummed once he had examined the scanner readings on his HUD. “You have three broken ribs, one of which pierced your left lung, and also a slight internal hemorrhage. I can give you something to stabilize your condition, but you need to be operated on as soon as possible.”

“Provided that we're able to come back to the ship,” Zhar pointed out while the doctor injected in the wound a reverse-engineered version of biofoam by a slot in the Major’s armor.

“He's right,” Tarya had to agree. “Gusay, give me the report of our status.”

“Affirmative,” the pilot replied through the speakers in their helmets. “The Phantom didn't suffer excessive structural damage besides some dents on the hull, but all systems, including the external sensors and the radio, are in reboot. The procedure will require several minutes. Until then we are basically blind, mute, and deaf.”

“And the good news?”

“That was the good news. The bad one is that we crashed in the worst possible place.”

“Which would be?”

“Right in the middle of a village.”

Tarya did the only appropriate thing in this kind of situation. She facepalmed, cursing the universe. The mission hadn’t even begun and things were already going to hell.

“And there goes the surprise effect,” she hissed with irritation.

Something knocked on the hull with force.

“We are not alone,” Zhar growled.

The zealot sighed with resignation. “We might as well get acquainted with the locals,” she was about to activate the command that opened the side door of the Phantom, when Zhar stopped her hand.

“Hold on,” he said. “Don't be impulsive.”

“Look, we cannot remain here without knowing what's going on outside,” she said, annoyed.

“True, but that doesn't mean we have to throw ourselves into a trap.”

“What do you mean?”

“I'll assume that you hit your head during the crash and the subsequent commotion has made thinking difficult,” the Sangheili in black armor said flatly. “They have just shot down our dropship using an EMP weapon. Do you really expect them to welcome us with open arms?”

“We have no proof that they are involved,” she retorted.

“Oh, sure, in fact the odds that a random electromagnetic pulse could hit a cloaked Phantom in the most delicate moment of re-entry in atmosphere are very high,” he said with sarcasm.

The Zealot blinked. She tried to argue, but to her dismay she realized that he had a point. Again. Damn.

“Alright.” She turned towards the rest of the team. Gusay had joined them in the cargo bay and was now wielding his plasma rifle.

“Gusay,” she said, pointing at the pilot, “You, the Major, and Lekeg will remain here to protect the Phantom and provide us cover fire with the turrets. Felmak, grab a carbine. You'll be our marksman while the doctor will cover your blind spots with his needler. Zhar and I will be ahead and will engage eventual close targets. Clear?”

The others nodded in agreement.

“Good. One last thing.”

She breathed deeply, trying to collect her thoughts, before she spoke again.

“We don't know who's waiting for us outside, nor their intentions. If they're a threat, we'll neutralize them. But there's the possibility, even if it could appear incredibly remote, that they are not related to the EMP and so that they are not hostile. In this case, they'll probably be scared, curious at least, so we'll have to act in a way to not cause panic, or otherwise things will start to go really bad.” She sighed. “We cannot allow history to repeat itself by starting a conflict with a species we have just discovered. We need friendly relationships with the inhabitants if we want to have a chance to go back home, so I'm expecting to see all of you showing them the best of our race and behave with respect and honor.”

Her teammates nodded again, but this time they did it slower, almost solemnly.

Satisfied, she turned towards Zhar, discovering that the Spec Ops Officer was staring at her with his head slightly tilted.

“Is something wrong?” she asked with a hint of hesitation.

“Till now, nothing. Keep going that way,” he responded, taking her aback with surprise. Was that a compliment? Difficult to say, given his emotionless tone.

Tarya coughed, trying to not sound embarrassed. “Alright, let's go.”

The zealot unsheathed her plasma pistol and took a deep breath; bracing herself for whatever was waiting for them outside before she pressed the opening command.

She didn't know exactly what she was expecting to see. A platoon of soldiers with their weapons pointed towards them? An angry mob of farmers armed with torches and pitchforks? A lone child that starred with a mix of awe and amazement at the sight of the mighty space warriors?

It didn’t matter what she could have imagined. What she saw instead caught her completely off guard.

The town looked like a war zone.

She stepped out of the dropship and began to walk cautiously on the muddy road, observing her surroundings attentively.

The buildings were in a horrible state, with strangely familiar round burn marks on the walls made of wood and bricks. Many windows were broken, while the doors were off their hinges or even smashed. Judging by the position of most of the wooden splinters and glass shards, they had been broken from the outside, as if someone or something had broken into the houses.

Several burned vehicles dotted the road. The fires were gone, but the smoke and the thermal scanners of her suit confirmed that it hadn’t happened too long ago.

Something shiny on the ground captured her attention. She bent to grab it, discovering what seemed to be a small brass cylinder. It took her an instant to recognize it. It was a cartridge case. Looking with more attention, she saw that there were many others scattered in the mud, along with hundreds of hoofprints.

Until not too long ago, there were surely hundreds of citizens committed to carry out their daily routines through these streets, but now these same streets were completely deserted.

“Looks like a ghost town,” the Minor Felmak muttered.

“Ghosts don't knock,” Zhar replied, scanning the landscape with his plasma repeater.

“My scanners don't detect signs of life from the nearby buildings,” Nax reported.

“Then where are the inhabitants?” Tarya wondered out loud.

The unnerving silence was suddenly broken by a series of screeching sounds, not too different from the ones produced by the Yanme'e when they were enraged, but more creepy.

“We're about to find out,” Zhar growled, assuming a battle stance as several red dots suddenly appeared on their motion trackers.

Chapter 7 - First contact, engage!

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Chapter 7 - First contact, engage!

The four Sangheili tensed up as the red dots on their motion trackers came closer and closer.

'Damn it, whatever they are, they're fast,' Tarya thought, noting the speed with which they were approaching their position. “Gusay, we're about to have company. Alert Legek and Huram to keep ready the plasma turrets,” the Zealot ordered through the radio.

“Copy that,” the pilot replied.

“Shouldn't we return to the ship? The hull should provide us good cover,” Nax asked. He wasn't exactly a rookie, but given his role of medic he was the less experienced of the group.

“True, but at the same time our mobility would be reduced, making us more vulnerable,” Tarya explained. “It's better to adopt a dynamic defensive strategy, taking advantage of the cover offered by the wrecked cars.”

She checked her HUD once again. According to the radar, the contacts were about to appear in their visual field. The Zealot looked around, trying to guess where they would most likely appear. The ship had crashed in what looked like a market square, if the flipped stands and the merchandise overturned on the ground were of any indication, surrounded by low-rise buildings. Small streets and alleys divided the buildings to each other, while a larger one seemed to lead further inside the town. She wasn't sure, but apparently there was a large building made of brick and concrete at the end of the main street.

“Contact, on the roof,” the Commando reported suddenly, interrupting her study of the surroundings.

Tarya spun around just in time to see a blurred humanoid shape leap from a roof to another, getting out from her sight.

“There, in the alley!” Nax exclaimed, pointing in the opposite direction.

The Zealot turned again, but once again she wasn't able to catch sight of the creature. All she saw was another blurred figure moving quickly across a dark alley.

“Sneaky bastards,” Felmak growled, trying unsuccessfully to follow their moves with his carbine. “They're more elusive than a bunch of T'vaoans (1)."

“Psychological warfare,” Zhar grunted. It was pretty clear that whatever these creatures were, they were trying to unnerve them.

As if the situation wasn't irritating enough, it started to rain.

'Just what we needed,' Tarya thought darkly. While it was true that their armor kept them warm and dry, the rain made their cloaking devices completely useless, interfering with the system of light distortion. ‘There goes another advantage.'

“Contact, twelve o'clock,” Zhar said, pointing his weapon straight ahead of him.

A lonely black creature was standing motionless in the middle of the road, looking at them.

At first she thought that it was another variety of ponies previously unknown, but she quickly dismissed the idea. The more she looked at the creature, the more she thought that it looked like the perverted result of a genetic experiment, some kind of hybrid between a pony and a Yanme'e. The general shape of its body was the same of that of a pony, with the same peculiar structure of the legs and a face with a short snout and big eyes, but beside this, the similarities ended there. First of all, instead of short fur, the body was covered by a black carapace, articulated at the abdomen to allow a wider freedom of movement without reducing the protection. The lower part of its legs presented a series of holes, while its hands ended with sharp talons. Located on its back was a pair of insect wings that at first seemed too small to lift the creature from the ground, but remembering the footage she'd saw with her uncle that very same day, she decided to not jump to conclusions. Its face wasn't any less strange. A pair of fangs stuck out from its mouth, while a long sharp horn protruded from its forehead. But the most disturbing aspect of its physiognomy was the eyes, a pair of soulless orbs completely blue. Lastly, the creature held in its claws some kind of weapon, a long metal spear roughly two-thirds of its height, ending with a two-pronged fork.

The insect pony remained looking at them for several seconds, before it suddenly raised its muzzle in the air and emitted a long high pitched screech.

'A signal,' Tarya realized as several other creatures started to appear all around from their hiding spots. Some were on the roofs, some from the alleys, yet others hovered in the air, buzzing their insect wings quickly, but all were armed with the same strange weapon.

“Oh, great. We're surrounded,” Nax deadpanned, looking at the countless creatures that were staring at them menacingly.

“Finally, a clear fire line,” Felmak said, aiming his weapon at the head of one of the creatures.

“Hold your fire, Minor. Nobody shoots unless they attack first,” the Zealot ordered. “We aren't here to start a war.”

The young Spec Ops lowered his carbine, grumbling something about the 'damn rules of engagement'.

“So, what now?” Nax asked, turning toward their leader.

Tarya was about to answer, when she noticed that another figure had appeared among the ranks of the creatures. It was much taller than the others, almost reaching the height of the Zealot, and wore a black cloak that hid its body completely. Still, the Zealot was able to see a long sharp horn, similar to a twisted blade, protruding from under the hood, as well as what she assumed was the scabbard of a sword. Judging by the way the figure carried itself as it walked and how the drones seemed to clear a path, Tarya assumed that it was their leader.

“I'll try to use a bit of diplomacy,” the Zealot said, holstering her plasma pistol, hoping to not provoke the creatures by appearing as a menace to their leader, who was currently busy observing the Sangheili.

“Wait, let me get this straight. You wanna try to talk with a bunch of humanoid bugs that most likely have just massacred the population of an entire village?” the doctor asked her, clearly taken aback.

“Yeah, pretty much. Not one of my best plans, but I'd like to avoid turning another first contact into a bloodbath,” she said without turning her gaze from the cloaked figure. “With some luck, I'll manage to convince them not to attack us.”

“What if it doesn't work?”

“Then we will show them why the humans call us Elites,” she replied curtly. Without another word, she began to walk toward the creatures.

'I hope that these creepy guys speak English too.'

Princess Lamia looked at the four creatures in a mix of curiosity and confusion, wondering what they were exactly. She had never seen creatures like these beings before in her life, nor could she see any trace of them in the memories collected by the hivemind, the telepathic network of the Changelings.

They were big, that was a sure thing. The smaller one was taller than her by several inches, while the other three easily exceeded the height of princess Celestia herself. Their bodies resembled vaguely those of dragons, albeit with several differences. They were tailless, and their legs were bent like those of the ponies and changelings, ending with two big hooves. She did a double take when she noticed that each of their hands had two fingers and two thumbs. Finally, there was their equipment. The weapons that they carried and the armor that they wore looked far more sophisticated than anything supplied to the soldiers of whatsoever nation of the planet.

The creatures had a short conversation among themselves in a mysterious harsh and guttural language before the smaller one, dressed in purple armor with electric blue decorations on the helmet and the shoulder straps, sheathed its weapon on the hip and began to walk slowly toward the ranks of Changelings.

'I should order my drones to simply kill them. Mother was clear. Don't leave witnesses or traces of our activity. On the other hand...' a malicious grin formed on her lips. 'They're outnumbered and surrounded. What harm can having a little fun be?' she thought as the creature in purple armor stopped halfway between its companions and the rank of Changelings.

“Hail, creatures. We come in peace,” the creature said in a feminine slightly double toned voice. Oddly, her tone lacked any kind of fear or nervousness, as if she hadn't the slightest idea of who they were facing. “I'm Tarya Rutaen, Zealot of the Seekers of Truth.”

'Strange,' she thought. 'Since our attack on Canterlot, there isn’t a creature that doesn't know about us. Seriously, where did these creatures come from, the dark side of the moon? Oh, well, let's play this little game.'

The young queen grabbed the edge of her hood and pulled it down, revealing her facial features. The queens of her species distinguished themselves among the other castes of the hive not just by their powers and mental individuality, but also for their physical shape, that made them resemble more to a pony than an insect. Her long smooth blood colored hair framed an attractive face, were it not for the draconian red eyes and for the short pair of sharp fangs that stuck out from her mouth that gave her the appearance of some kind of evil entity.

“I give you my regards, Zealot. I'm princess Lamia, daughter of Chrysalis, queen of the Changelings,” she replied with fake friendliness, exposing her sharp teeth in a malicious smile. “I have never seen anything like you before. May I ask what you are?”

“I'm afraid that I'm not authorized to give you such information.”

Frowning slightly, Lamia subtly extended her mind toward the 'Zealot'. If the newcomer wasn't willing to give her such information, she would have to take it from them by force. She was shocked when she found out that the mind of the Zealot was impenetrable. She could sense her presence, but she couldn't find even a crack through which to infiltrate and access her knowledge; she could sense her emotions, even taste them, but she wasn't able to feed off of them. It was a completely new experience. Her mind was something unknown. Almost alien.
Despite her surprise, Lamia managed to keep a composed expression.

“All I can say is that we are not exactly from around here,” the Zealot continued, apparently not having noticed the intrusion attempt.

'That's quite evident,' Lamia thought. “So, what brings you to the lovely land of Equestria?”

“We are explorers. We were performing a recon mission, when we had a little mishap with the systems of our aircraft.”

“Uh-huh, if you can call that crash landing a ‘little mishap’,” Lamia commented casually with a smirk.

“I assure you that it's nothing too serious. As soon as we finish the repairs, we'll leave this place.”

“Sounds like a good plan, but unfortunately I can't allow you to leave.”

“And why would we not be able to?”

“Oh, don't play dumb with me. You know exactly why. You ended up in the wrong place in the wrong moment. You have seen all of this,” she said, sweeping at the surrounding area with a wide gesture.

“Whatever happened here, princess, it doesn't concern us. All we want is to leave this place as soon as possible and resume our mission.”

“And let you to tell everybody what happened here?” Lamia asked rhetorically, shaking her head slowly. “Not a chance.”

The Zealot straightened her posture, becoming slightly taller than what she already was.

“Alright, listen up, bug-lady. I shall say this only once: leave us alone, and you and your minions will see another day; try something funny, and I swear on my blood that we will kick your sorry asses so hard that your descendants won't be able to sit without pain.”

The young queen threw her head back and burst into a hearty laugh. “Are you really threatening us? You must be very brave or really stupid,” she commented amused when she retook control of herself. “Anyway, it doesn't make any difference.” Her tone changed suddenly, all traces of humor gone. “Kill her,” she ordered coldly.

One of her soldiers quickly pointed its weapon at the Zealot. The drone's horn began to glow, absorbing mana from the surrounding environment and channeling the magic between the twin tips of its weapon until it reached the right amount of energy. The entire process required just a couple of seconds before the spear fired a bolt of green magical energy.
The sphere of magic struck the Zealot right in the middle of her chest but to the great shock of the Changelings, instead of penetrating her armor and burn the flesh beneath, the energy projectile impacted against a white-blue energy shield that had appeared around the body of the Sangheili.

The Zealot grunted, more in surprise than pain, before quickly drawing her weapon and firing a bolt of green plasma right in the face of the drone that had shot her. The head of the Changeling crackled at the contact with the superheated plasma, then it exploded in a cloud of vaporized blood and gray matter.

While the headless soldier fell forward in the mud with the energy spear still clenched in its hands, the Zealot emitted a sound that Lamia would never forgot for the rest of her life.

"Wort wort wort!" (2)

'Fuck the diplomacy!' Tarya thought with irritation as she fired a bolt of plasma right in the head of the Changeling that had just shot her. 'I've tried to be civil with them, but if those assholes want war, we'll give them war.'

“Go, go, go!” the Zealot barked the distinctive Sangheili battle cry and fired again, hitting a Changeling in the chest. Following her example, her teammates quickly joined the firefight, unleashing a deadly volley of plasma, crystal shards, and radioactive bullets on the ranks of Changelings.

The drones were completely unprepared for the extremely aggressive reaction of the Sangheili, not being accustomed to be the ones attacked, and when they managed to recover from the surprise and started to fire back, more than twenty of them were already lying on the ground dead.

“Fight back, you idiots!” The princess ordered, irritated by the clumsy reaction of her drones and the fact that in mere seconds she had lost more soldiers than during the conquering of the town.

Noticing her attempt to bring order among her ranks, Felmak aimed his carbine at the head of the princess and fired two shots, only to see them impact against what looked like a ghostly green barrier located inches from her body.
The young queen hissed menacingly at him, before she charged her horn and fired a massive energy beam toward the Spec Ops.

“Woah!” The Minor exclaimed, barely managing to evade the attack. “That was close,” he said, catching a glimpse of the small smoking crater that had formed where the beam hit.

“New priority target. Shoot her down!” Zhar ordered.

The team began to concentrate their fire against the princess, but despite the entity of the attack, her defenses held.

The sight of their leader in danger seemed to switch a trigger inside the Changelings, who began to fight with more determination and audacity, taking advantage of their flight ability to attack the Sangheili from above.
Despite this, the battle remained evidently in favor of the Sangheili, thanks mostly due to their advanced equipment and their superior physical skills.

“Fall back!” the princess shouted to her troops after realizing that their losses were becoming too high.

“They're retreating!” Felmak exclaimed at the sight of the drones retreating through the main street.

“We can't allow them to escape and bring reinforcements. With the Phantom still inoperative and without the possibility of getting assistance, we'd be easy targets,” Zhar said, shooting one of the fleeing drones in the back.

Tarya nodded. “Alright, let me check the status of the others.” In the background one could hear the noise of heavy plasma weapons and the screeches of the Changelings. She activated her radio and called the rest of the team. “Gusay, how's the situation there?”

“We're earning our daily amount of glory, ma'am,” the young pilot replied. “These pests are trying to break into the drop ship, but thanks to the turrets we have enough firepower to hold them back.”

“Excellent. Carry on. We'll give chase to the leader of the hostiles in the town and secure the perimeter.”

“Copy that. Good hunting.”

The four Sangheili followed the fleeing enemies deeper into the city, managing occasionally to shoot down one of the drones who remained behind to shoot at them in order to cover the retreat of the other Changelings, but the Zealot noticed that most of the creatures seemed to be avoiding the fight.

The team ended up in another square, smaller than the previous one, surrounded mostly by shops. In the middle of the square was a statue of a tall pony with both a horn and wings, surrounded by a flower bed whose bright colors created a strong contrast with the grim atmosphere of the surroundings.
At the far end of the square there was princess Lamia, flanked by half a dozen drones, but aside from them, there was no trace of the Changelings.

“Where are the other ones?” Felmak asked out loud.

“For the hive!” a raspy voice exclaimed suddenly. A great number of drones appeared from their hiding spots on the roofs, unleashing concentrated fire on the Sangheili.

“Ambush!” Tarya exclaimed while leaping forward to avoid several energy bolts.

The energy bolts that the Changeling spears fired had the same color and speed of a plasma pistol bolt, but were noticeably inferior in terms of damage and rate of fire. Nothing that the shields of their armor couldn't handle, but considering the number of enemies that they were facing, the Sangheili opted to split up in order to have a wider leeway of avoiding the attacks and offer at the same time several fast moving targets instead of a big compact group.

Little did they know that it was exactly what Lamia was hoping for.

“Take them!” the princess ordered with devilish delight.

Screeching and hissing, several of the creatures hurled themselves against the team, trying to overwhelm them using their sheer number.
Tarya fired her pistol at the maximum rate of fire permitted by the weapon, but once it reached the overheating point she was forced to switch to her sword and engage the Changelings in close combat.

Looking at the Changeling princess, the young Zealot noticed that despite the heavy losses reported by her troops, she was actually smiling.

'Why? It doesn't make any sense. Surely she knows that once finished with her soldiers, she'll be our next target,' Tarya thought while she sliced the lance of a Changeling in half before sinking the blades into its chest. 'Unless all of this is just a diversion!' the Zealot realized.

“Centurions, now!” Lamia shouted.

In a flash of green flames, five big figures almost as tall as the Zealot appeared in front of the young queen. They had the general appearance of a drone, but with a more massive and muscular physique, and arms ending with long sharp claws. Contrary to the drones, these creatures wore basic armor consisting of a thick breastplate and a helmet similar in shape to the ones worn by the low-rank Jiralhanae.
The oversized Changelings leaned forward and roared menacingly, showing their mouths filled with sharp fangs, then they widened their arms. Their horns flashed and soon their claws glowed with the same luminescence, becoming longer and sharper.

“Kill them all!”

'Oh crap,' the Zealot thought as the creatures entered berserk mode and began to run toward her. She didn't know exactly why, but those glowing claws didn't seem to promise anything good and she had no wish to see their effects in close combat. The Zealot swapped her sword for her pistol and fired a shot in the chest of the closest creature. A faint glow appeared just an inch above the armor, absorbing the plasma shot before it could hit the Centurion.

'They have energy shields too?' Tarya thought in surprise, continuously firing. Like its human and Covenant counterparts, the shields of the creature glowed more brightly every time it was hit, but with a big difference. They were noticeably weaker.
After only three shots its defensive barrier collapsed, exposing the now vulnerable Changeling to the plasma. The next shot struck it in the chest, melting the metal without difficulty and burning the underlying chitin.
The Centurion howled in pain, but despite the extent of its wound, it continued to advance toward the Zealot, waving its arms furiously in an attempt to claw her body.
“Why don't you just die?!” Tarya exclaimed, firing another shot in the body of the war beast, finally managing to kill it.
She fired another shot in its head for good measure, then she raised her gaze, ready to face the other overgrown Changelings, only to see them disappear in a flash of green flames.

“Where did they go?” Tarya wondered loudly in her native tongue, checking her surroundings in search of the creatures.

“I guess you're wondering where the other Centurions are. I've sent them to take care of your friends,” Lamia said with an evil smirk. “As for you, my dear meddler,” she trailed off as she pulled her sword from the scabbard. “I'll deal with you personally,” she ended with an arrogant smirk, pointing the long sword toward the Zealot. The horn of the queen glowed briefly of green light and soon her blade began to shine a matching luminescence.

The Zealot froze for a second, analyzing the situation.

The most impulsive part of her just wanted to draw her pistol and shoot the bitch in that arrogant face of hers, but she soon remembered about the protective shield surrounding the Changeling princess. It seemed to be as strong as hers and she didn't even know if an overcharged plasma bolt could drop it faster. But there was something else that stopped her from doing so.

Her honor.

The Changeling was challenging her to a duel. Refusing a challenge would bring dishonor on herself and her bloodline.

“I will not let you down, uncle,” she whispered with determination. The Zealot attached the plasma pistol to the magnetic support on her hip and grabbed her sword again, activating it. The twin blades of plasma appeared with a fierce hiss, crackling in the air menacingly.

“Come on, then. Make your move, nishum,” Tarya challenged her provocatively, doing the ‘come and get it’ gesture with her free hand.

The Changeling lunged toward her with a battle cry, soon mimicked by the Sangheili. Their swords clashed halfway in an explosion of sparks and electric discharges.
Tarya remained quite surprised when she saw that the plasma didn't cut the Changeling sword, but decided to put aside her surprise and instead focus on the fight.
Despite the disadvantage in terms of size and strength, thanks to her wider agility the Changeling proved to be an even foe for the Zealot.
Tarya silently thanked Haka and his fencing lessons. She wasn't even remotely as skilled as the Ultra with the sword, but many tricks that he had taught her during their training sessions were now proving their usefulness.
They exchanged blows in a fierce succession of attacks and counter attacks, but despite the respective efforts, not one of the two seemed to be able to take the upper hand on their respective opponent.
Their swords clashed once again in explosion of sparks, and the two soon found themselves in a blade-lock.
Taking advantage of her bigger size and strength, the Zealot started to push forward, forcing Lamia to grab the hilt of her sword with both hands.

“You're no longer so confident, huh?” Tarya grunted with a hint of smugness.

“Laugh while you're still able to,” Lamia replied with an evil smile.

A loud screech and the sudden apparition of a new contact on her HUD right behind her alerted Tarya of the incoming threat. Kicking away the Changeling princess, she sidestepped just in time to avoid a glowing claw cross the air where she was just a moment before.

The Centurion snarled in frustration for the lost opportunity before charging toward her again.

“Buzz off, overgrown cockroach!” Tarya yelled dodging another attack and slamming her left fist into the face of the creature. The Centurion howled in pain and anger, the right side of his face reduced to a mess of cracked chitin and blood. Several fangs were broken or even missing, while his damaged eye poured out a blue slimy substance.

“Ew, you were already ugly, but now you're just awful,” she commented before she beheaded it with a swing of her sword.

“Aw, damn. It almost worked,” Lamia commented without the least sign of sorrow for the death of her soldier.

“You ordered one of your minions to backstab me while we were dueling?! Don't you have any honor?” Tarya shouted with indignation.

“Cowards survive, while heroes die,” the young queen said as if it was a matter of fact.

Hearing such words, Tarya felt her blood boil. This creature was the antithesis of everything at the base of the Sangheili culture.

The Zealot lunged towards her opponent with renewed vigor, performing a quick succession of powerful blows that forced Lamia to back away as she did her best to block the volley of attacks.
With a last side blow of her sword, Tarya managed to blow away the sword from the grip of her opponent.

She was about to impale the disarmed Changeling with her energy sword, but Lamia charged her horn and shot her in the chest with the force of a concussion grenade. The Zealot was slammed forcefully against a lamppost, bringing it down, before she fell to the ground heavily.

“Urgh, I knew that you were a shameful bitch,” she grunted as she lied on her back.

“Why, thank you,” the Changeling smirked. Her horn lit up again, this time enveloping the fallen lamp post with its aura. Still dazed from the impact, Tarya could only watch in astonishment as the heavy metal lamp post began to levitate from the ground before it was released without much ceremony, the strange force dropping it right onto her chest, knocking the wind out of her and popping out her shields. If it wasn't for her now discharged shields, the pole would have surely crushed her ribcage in the fall, instead the Zealot found herself simply pinned to the ground.

“Now, be a good girl and stay there,” Lamia said with an evil smile while she retrieved her sword from the ground.

Tarya tried to lift the heavy pole from her chest, but in vain. Lamia began to advance slowly toward her.

“You really thought that you could kill me? You will pay for your insolence.”

She was about to thrust her sword in the chest of the Zealot, when she heard from behind the sound of heavy footsteps that were rapidly approaching.
Catching just a glimpse of the big black figure that was leaping at her, she managed to avoid Zhar’s energy sword strike by sheer luck, resulting in slashing the air where she had been just a moment before. Without missing a beat, the Commando hit the Changeling princess in the chest with a spinning kick, throwing her several meters away.
The force of the impact was astonishing. Despite the protective spells that enveloped her body, the blow was powerful enough to crack her carapace, as well as at least a pair of ribs. But this was nothing compared to the sharp pain that she felt when her back hit the ground, crumpling her wings in the process.

“My wings!” She yelled in both anger and pain. “You'll pay for this, demon!”

Gathering all her available magic, Lamia hit the Commando in the chest with a powerful concussive spell, hurling him backwards through the window front of a convenience store.
Sitting up, Lamia tentatively tried to move her wings, only to receive an intense rush of pain run down her spine. Hissing in pain, she weakly stood up. She would have to spend at least a week in a curative cocoon to heal completely.

“Go, and bring me the head of that bastard!” she ordered to her soldiers. Several drones and two centurions rushed in the small single story building, eager to avenge their fallen comrades.
In the background, she could still hear the noises of a firefight, a clear sign that the other Sangheili were still fighting her drones.
“Once finished dealing with you two, I'll take care of the rest of your team,” the princess said, glaring at the Zealot with eyes burning in hate.

Her confident expression turned into a frown when she felt the confusion in the minds of her soldiers.

“What's happening? Why is it taking you so long?”

“My lady, the black demon is not here,” one of the drones said in its raspy voice.

“What?!” Lamia exclaimed shocked. “Impossible! He must still be inside.”

“You heard the princess, you useless worms!” one of the Centurions barked in its cavernous voice. “Find him! He can't simply disappear into thin air.”

Suddenly, the menacing sound of an energy sword that was activated was heard from the store along with a powerful roar, followed by the noises of a violent struggle and the panicked screeches of the Changelings inside the small building.

'Never try to engage in CQC with a member of the Commando Corps,' Tarya thought with grim satisfaction when she heard the screams of the drones while they were torn to pieces by the invisible Spec Ops Officer.

The screams had almost stopped when there was a high pitched whine, followed by a blinding blue-white explosion that destroyed a good portion of the front side of the shop.

The Commando emerged from where once stood the door, holding a Changeling by its face with one of his massive hands. Glaring at the young queen, he started to tighten his grip around the skull of the drone. The air was soon filled with the anguishing screeches of fear and pain of the creature as it tried in vain to break free from the vice grip, until they stopped abruptly when its head imploded with a sickening CRACK, spraying blood and gray matter all around.

“Pathetic,” Zhar commented with distaste, throwing the corpse at the foot of the young Changeling queen like it was just a rag-doll.
Taking advantage of her moment of distraction, he grabbed his plasma repeater and fired a long volley of plasma. In normal conditions, the energy shield that surrounded her body would have been able to resist damages much worse, but given the state of weakness in the Changeling due to her wounds and her exhaustion, her defenses were destined to fall prematurely.
Right before Zhar had to stop firing to allow the weapon to cool down, the energy shield collapsed, allowing the last plasma bolt of the volley to hit the Changeling on her hip.

Lamia screamed in pain at the sensation of extreme heat that hit her hip, feeling the plasma burn effortlessly through her skin, reaching deep into her flesh.
With eyes filled with tears, she looked up, just to discover with horror that the Commando was about to shoot her again.

“The princess! Protect the princess!” Yelled a drone, leaping on the Commando in the attempt to stop him, only to be killed a few seconds later by a plasma dagger. Another three Changelings followed its example, undergoing the same fate, but the distraction provided by their death gave enough time for Lamia to escape. When Zhar turned his attention back to her, she was already at a fair distance.

“Grrr, coward,” he spat. “Let's move, we can't let her escape,” he said to the Zealot.

“I'm stuck,” she grunted, still struggling to free herself from the heavy pole.

Wordlessly, Zhar grabbed the lamp post with both hands and began to lift it. The metal pole groaned as it was lifted slowly but inexorably by the Commando, then, when it was above his head, he threw it away.

“Are you alright?” he asked with only the slightest note of fatigue, helping her on her feet.

“A bit sore, but nothing serious.”

He nodded.

Without other words, the two Sangheili set off in pursuit of the Changeling on the run, sweeping away any drone that tried to stop them.

Lamia ran like she had never run before, her mind focused on one thought: survival.
She could distinctly feel the number of minds connected to hers decreasing at an alarming rate, meaning that more of her drones were being killed while they tried to protect her escape.
Without the mental guidance provided by their princess or the high-caste warriors, the drones had lost most of their coordination, finding themselves fighting alone or in small groups, following rigid and easily predictable strategies, with the only result becoming easy prey for the Sangheili.

She didn't care.

'Better them than me,' she thought, continuing to run towards her only way of salvation.

Despite the relatively short distance, the chase lasted several minutes due to the strong resistance of the drones, but in the end the Zealot and the Commando managed to get to the other side of the town. As Tarya had previously noticed the street lead to an industrial building surrounded by a large parking area.

The building was big, at least three stories tall with walls made of bricks reinforced by concrete pillars, and a sloping roof made with corrugated metal panels.
Located on the front of the building was a sign that read 'Greenville's Mana Spot Power Plant'.

“Looks like we'll have to flush them out,” Tarya commented, catching a glimpse of the princess and a handful of drones that entered the building, slamming the doors behind themselves once inside.

Zhar nodded. “We should wait for the doctor and the Minor. Clearing a building is one of the worst parts in urban warfare, and the more we are the safer it is.”

“By the way, where are they? I haven't seen them since the ambush.”

A few minutes before

'Ah, I really missed all of this,' Nax thought with satisfaction as he fired a burst of pink crystal shards in the chest of a Changeling. The unlucky creature had barely time to screech in pain and fear before its body was literally sawed in half by the detonation of the needler's ammo in a bloody explosion. 'I haven't taken part in a battle of such entity in years.'

The Zealot and the Commando were several blocks ahead, but he wasn't worried about them. Despite their young age, they were both excellent fighters.
Zhar was a formidable warrior that kept the Vadam keep high, while Tarya, although she could be impulsive, was a quick learner and had great creativity, both qualities that allowed her to adapt quickly to new situations.

He briefly wondered how the Major Domo would have reacted once informed that he had lost a fight. Very likely he would have yelled and be pissed off for hours. He was snapped out of his happy thoughts by a warning shout from Felmak.

“Doctor, behind you!”

Nax turned just in time to see a hand with glowing claws race towards him. He tried to dodge the attack, but it was too late. The razor-sharp talons of the Centurion cut through his arm with astonishingly ease, severing it just below the elbow.

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah, my arm!” the physician cried in shock, watching his limb fall to the ground.

Felmak quickly aimed at the head of the Centurion and fired, but due to his haste the bullet just managed to graze its thick helmet. He tried another shot but when he pulled the trigger the carbine expelled the magazine with a loud hiss. That one was his last bullet and now his weapon was empty.

Cursing his own distraction, the Minor grabbed a fresh magazine and reloaded the carbine, but when he looked up at the Centurion, he saw it being engulfed by a big green blaze, disappearing. The Minor looked around in confusion, trying to locate the enemy, when his radar registered a hostile contact right behind him. He quickly turned around, only to be hit right in the face by a green energy beam. The almost point-blank shot completely drained the energy shields of the Sangheili, with the side effect of blinding him momentarily.

Taking advantage of his momentary distraction, the overgrown Changeling knocked the carbine from the grip of the Minor and, before he could extract his side weapon, it slashed one of its glowing claws across his breastplate.

The long talons penetrated through the ballistic ceramic plates and the undersuit with almost no effort, reaching the vulnerable flesh. The young Spec Ops screamed in pain, feeling as if hot irons had been jabbed in his body. His scream however changed from one of pain to one of anger when he saw his purple blood leaking from the gashes. For the Sangheili, losing their blood in battle means to lose their honor, bringing shame not only on themselves, but also on their lineage. And this was something unacceptable.

“Raaah! Blasted bug, you shed my blood!” Felmak roared angrily, activating his right energy dagger and jabbing the creature in the throat with a fluid motion.
The Centurion emitted hoarse gurgling sound before, when the Minor yanked out the energy blade, it fell to the ground, dead.

Felmak emitted a short triumphant roar, then he turned toward the doctor to check his condition.

“Doctor, are you alright?”

“My arm! That bastard cut my arm!” The physician cried, clutching his remaining hand on the stump.

“Uh, doctor?” the confused Minor tried to catch his attention.

“I'll never see action again!”

“Doctor,” he repeated, this time with annoyance.

“I've lost whatever honor I have left!”

“Doctor!”

“What?!” Nax snapped. “Can't you see that I'm in the middle of a dramatic moment?”

“That thing has only severed your prosthesis,” the Spec Ops Minor deadpanned.

“Uh?” Nax stared at him in confusion, then he looked down. Laying on the ground, spraying sparks all around, there was indeed an artificial limb made in Covenant alloy.

“Oh, right. Phantom limb syndrome,” he said sheepishly. “Ahem, let me see your wounds...”

Zhar brought the ray of his radar to its maximum range. A quick glance assured him that there were two friendly contacts right within the limit of reception.

“Don't worry, they're both still alive, in the middle of the town.”

“Good to hear.”

“This also means a change of plans.”

“Which would be?” she asked, tilting her head.

“We go inside, now.”

“Wait, didn't you just say-”

“I know what I've said, but there's something wrong. Of all the places where they could have ran, why did they choose that building?”

“Maybe they've set another ambush?”

“Maybe, but I doubt it. You've seen with your eyes how their leader acted. She was more inclined to use surprise and deception during the fight. Set a trap in a place with a few escape routes in case something goes wrong? I don't think it's her style.”

“What do you suggest we do?”

“I say we hurry to reach them, before they are able to put in act whatever they're planning,” he declared, before he ran toward the building.

'And I would be the impulsive one?' she thought rhetorically, quickly catching up with the Commando thanks to her smaller frame.

“Tarya, the doors!”

“I got it!” she said, overcharging the pistol and firing the massive plasma bolt against the lock. The lock melted at the contact with the plasma, leaving a clean hole with the edges glowing red.

The Zealot reached the threshold mere seconds after the plasma bolt and, using her momentum, she kicked the door open.

Beyond the entrance there was a lobby furnished in a rather anonymous way, with drab carpet, walls painted in yellow, and some framed poster with the topic of clean energy.
The furniture was shabby to say the least but luckily the Changelings had provided to improve the room decor by converting the large wooden reception desk into a barricade, adding further cover with the addition of wooden crates and office furniture. Behind the makeshift cover there were at least a dozen drones, all with their already charged weapons pointed toward the entrance.

“Shit!” Tarya exclaimed as she hastily took cover behind the doorjamb, imitated on the other side by Zhar. Leaning her back against the concrete, she checked her shield indicator. The concentrated fire had drained roughly half of her energy shields.

The Commando and the Zealot looked at each other and nodded. In unison they both primed a plasma grenade and launched them inside the room.
The drones screeched in surprise and confusion at the sight of the small glowing globes, but when they exploded, the creatures screamed briefly in pain while they were burned alive by the plasma.

“Let's go,” Zhar said as soon as the fire from the explosion had died, stepping inside at gunpoint.

The room was a mess. Most of the surfaces were blackened by the flames, while the floor was littered with the bodies of several Changelings: some burned by the plasma, some torn to pieces by the force of the explosions, and some others impaled by the sharp fragments of charred wood that once composed the barricade.

A pair of seriously injured Changelings were trying to reach their weapons by crawling on the floor, but before they could reach the forked lances, Zhar killed them both with a headshot.

“Sector clear, move up,” he said, activating the cooling vent of his plasma repeater.

As they crossed the room, the Zealot had to hold the contents of her stomach.

“Ew, what’s that awful smell?” The pungent stench of burned chitin in the close environment made her wish she had a sealed helmet like the one worn by the Commando.

“Trust me, there are worse ones.”

“You keep your filters off?” she asked in confusion.

“Most of the time. In some situations the sense of smell can help you when sight and hearing fail.”

The two remained silent as they ventured further and further into the building, following an irregular trace of green blood left on the floor by a wounded drone or even by their leader; they weren't sure.
After having crossed a section occupied by offices, the trace led them to a door over which there were a series of stairs that lead downward.

'So far, so good,' she thought. 'The only resistance that we met were those guys in the lobby.' However, she didn't let her guard down. She knew from the war tales that her uncle used to tell her when she was still a little girl that a desperate enemy is a dangerous one.

The stairs ended in a long corridor lit by neon lights, at the end of which they found a heavy set of metal doors with the words 'MANA SPOT - AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY' written on them.

The doors seemed robust and, by the sound they produced when she knocked tentatively, they were also very thick. She fired a bolt of plasma against them, with the only result only slightly warming the surface.

“Great,” she grumbled. “Heat-proof alloy. What now?” she asked, turning to Zhar.

“Let's try knocking.”

“How long before the device will be ready?” Lamia impatiently asked the Changeling in front of her, who was checking on a short triangular obelisk made in obsidian.

Along with her surviving drones, she was currently in the recharge room, the actual heart of the power plant. The room was huge, with many metal shelves loaded with discharged power geodes that were disposed radially around a tall pillar of crystal with a frame of metal. The function of the pillar was to channel the mana constantly emitted by the mana spot below to the surrounding geodes. Once fully charged, the geodes were then loaded on an industrial elevator and brought to the upper floor, where they were packed inside wooden crates and sent by trucks to the nearby train station.

The whole plant, a proud facility to the Equestrian’s, had been converted by the Changelings for darker purposes.

The small obelisk intercepted and accumulated the energy coming from the pillar of crystal until it reached the right levels. At that point, the enchanted artifact conveyed the energy to a circle of black runes painted on the floor. The ring of arcane symbols was nothing less than a teleportation platform, powerful enough to be able to transfer objects and living beings all around the planet. The only problem was the energy. Such a device required monstrous amounts of magic to work, the kind that only a mana spot or an alicorn were able to provide, and even so, the charging times were long.

“It's a matter of minutes, my lady,” the drone assured. “The mana is flowing at a high rate through the obelisk.”

“Well, make it happen faster,” she snapped. Once activating the device, she would have been able to contact the hive and call for reinforcements to wipe out those cursed creatures and cancel all traces of the Changelings presence in the town. “Every moment we waste, those things grow closer to-”

A strong impact against the metal doors cut her speech abruptly. The loud noise hadn't yet finished reverberating through the air before it was followed by a second impact, then a third. Something, something really strong, was hitting the door with all its might in an attempt to enter.

The drones tightened their grip on their energy spears, their nervous gazes locked on the metal surface of the security door as they heard yet another impact.
Suddenly, the impacts halted, the only sound being that of heavy footsteps that walked away.

Lamia allowed herself to release a breath that she was unknowingly holding, thinking that the worst was past, just to hear another impact, this time stronger than the previous ones. The deformed doors collapsed inward with a terrible groan of protest, pieces of concrete still attacked to the hinges, before slamming loudly on the ground.

The Changeling soldiers charged their horns, ready to fire at the enemies... only to see a empty hallway in front of them.

“You, go check it out,” she ordered to a nearby drone.

The Changeling groaned, clearly not happy of the task, but nonetheless it obeyed.

The princess watched with a certain anxiety as the drone approached the fallen door with caution, all its senses alert, ready to detect any minimal sign of danger. Once it reached the threshold without problems, the Changeling dared to peek into the corridor.

“What do you see?”

“There's nothing here, my lady,” the drone reported, just a moment before an energy sword materialized in the thin air, stabbing it in the stomach, before disappearing.

“They're here! Kill them!” she yelled in panic, watching the unlucky drone hit the ground.
The other Changelings unleashed a storm of energy bolts at the point where the phantom sword had appeared, only to hit the wall behind it.

Suddenly, a volley of plasma impacted the first line of drones from the left side. The survivors turned to face the invisible enemy, only to be shot in the back by a quick succession of green globes.

Lamia could only watch in horror as her panicked soldiers were slaughtered mercilessly by the invisible enemies, until just the six around her remained alive.

As an act of desperation, she tried to use her mental ability to locate the invisible enemies. Despite the impossibly strong minds of the creatures, she could still perceive their presence.

There it was, right in front of them.

This mind had a different imprint from the one of the Zealot, so she assumed that it had to be the one in black armor. The contact with his mind lasted less than a second, but once she touched his conscience, she withdrew instantly, terrified.
His soul was a concentrate of negative emotions. Pain. Regret. Sadness. But most of all, anger. Never before had she met a being with so much anger inside. An anger against everything and everyone, including himself, that burned inside his soul with the intensity of a fire in a forest.

The air in front of her began to flicker like in a hot day in the desert, revealing a massive figure clad in black armor. It was the same monster that had wounded her and had slaughtered countless of her soldiers like they were flies. And he was staring. Right. At. Her.
The warrior drew his sword and began to advance toward her with deliberate slowness.

Lamia tried to react, but she soon found that her body had become stiff, unable to fight or flee. All she could do was watch the merciless demon come closer and closer.

“Changelings, protect me!” she called desperately, although she knew perfectly that there was nothing that they really could do against him.
The few remaining Changelings hurried to form a defensive line between her and the black demon.

The warrior in black armor stopped about twenty feet from them. He snarled, then he grabbed a small blue ball from his belt and threw it toward the improvised phalanx. The small ball began to glow of a blinding white-blue light the moment it left his hand, crossing the air like a small meteor.

Confused flashes of memories crossed the mind of the young queen rapidly. They belonged to the drones that had died in the convenience store and in the hall of the power plant. She didn't know what that thing was, but she knew of the kind of damage it was capable of.

“Activate the device, NOW!” Lamia ordered frantically.

The small obelisk hummed loudly, transferring magic to the platform, upon which the circles of runes began to glow with blinding intensity.
In a flash of bright light, Lamia disappeared, just a moment before the plasma grenade landed where she had stood. The grenade emitted a high pitched whine, then exploded in a blazing inferno of blue flames that engulfed the surviving drones and the obelisk.

Several thousand miles away, in the core of the region known as Badlands.

The big throne room of the Badlands Hive could have been described with many words, but welcoming wasn't certainly among them.

Like the rest of the Changeling hive, the room's design had an organic look, giving the impression of having grown rather that having been carved into the dark rock of the now extinct volcano.
A complex spider web of green bioluminescent substance encrusted the vaulted ceiling and the thick column of dark stone that supported it, acting at the same time as structural reinforcement and a illumination source, spreading a dim and eerie light all around.

At the far end of the room, at the top of a short set of stairs, stood a big imposing throne made of dark stone, with the back jagged and the armrests carved to resemble two manticores lying on their bellies.

It wasn't exactly a friendly sight. Neither was the figure that sat on the throne.

Queen Chrysalis, supreme ruler of the Badland's Changelings, tapped her sharp nails impatiently on the armrests, an expression of clear irritation painted on her face.

The two Centurion bodyguards at the sides of her throne shifted their weight uncomfortably from hoof to hoof, visibly made nervous by their proximity to their ruler in such a bad mood.
Usually, a similar display of fear coming from some of the deadliest soldiers on the planet would have amused the Queen, reminding her why her name was pronounced with dread and respect among the other species, but not this time.

All her daughters had already returned successfully from their harvest mission, bringing enough nourishment to pass to the next part of her plan. All except for Lamia. She and her troops were supposed to return just after having sent the inhabitants of Greenville via teleportation; instead, not only were they late, but all communications with them had fallen silent.
This could mean only one thing. Trouble. And if there was a thing that Chrysalis hated it was trouble.

The eerie silence in the room was suddenly broken by the noise of the rusty hinges of the doors of the room. The heavy doors of dark oak and iron opened just enough to allow a drone to enter. The creature hurried to cross the distance that separated it from the throne, then, once reaching the base of the staircase, kneeled deeply, touching the ground with its forehead.

“My queen,” the drone greeted her with its raspy voice.

“Speak,” Chrysalis said, barely acknowledging the existence of the smaller creature.

“Princess Lamia has returned from her mission, your majesty.”

“Finally,” she snorted with irritation. “Let her come instantly. I want to know why it took her so long to return,” Chrysalis ordered.

The drone nodded, but seemed to hesitate.

“There's something else that I need to know?” Chrysalis asked, raising a brow.

“The princess is wounded and we lost all contact with their teleportation device the moment she arrived.”

It took Chrysalis all of her self control to not explode in anger. She forced herself to take a breath and remain calm, but behind her mask of impassibility was a storm of emotions so strong that her bodyguards unconsciously took a step away from her.

“Let. Her. Come,” she ordered again with a tone so cold that it would have made a Windego shiver.

Without wasting more time, the drone hurried to leave the room. Shortly after, the heavy doors opened again, this time completely, revealing the young Changeling queen.
As her daughter walked across the throne room, Chrysalis took notice of her appearance. Her dress was torn and dirty with blood and mud, and she was clearly wounded, as indicated by her limping gait and what looked to be a burn on her right flank.

“M-my queen,” Lamia greeted her with a bow, grimacing when her dress brushed against the burn on her hip.

“Seems like you had some complications, Lamia,” Chrysalis commented casually, glancing with indifference at the conditions of her daughter.

“I can explain-” she began to say, looking with pleading eyes at the Queen before she was suddenly interrupted by the sound of the sharp nails of her mother as she rasped them against the armrest of her throne.

“Oh, you will,” she hissed, rising from her throne and slowly descending the short staircase. “Where are your troops, Lamia?”

The young queen kept her gaze on the ground, unable to meet the eyes of her mother. “They're dead. All of them.”

“Where is your teleportation device?” the Alpha queen asked, her tone increased noticeably.

“Lost, probably destroyed.”

“How could it happen?”

“I- I don't know,” the princess responded pathetically.

“You. Don't. Know?” Chrysalis repeated slowly with an incredulous expression. The queen took a deep breath. “You had one task, Lamia. Attack the town, bring the inhabitants here, and return to the hive without leaving traces of your passage. An easy task, like the one that I gave to your sisters, who were able to execute their duty flawlessly,” Chrysalis said quietly. Too quietly. “And yet, you've failed. And you know what I do those who fail.”

Lamia raised her gaze in panic, but before she could say a single word, a strong telekinesis grip grabbed the young queen and lifted her from the ground.

“Give me a good reason why I shouldn't kill you right now for your incompetence!” the queen snarled. “You had the largest contingent of soldiers among your sisters and your target was one of the most isolated, and yet you've managed to lose all your troops?”

“The attack was a success!” Lamia said frantically. “We've captured all the inhabitants-”

“- leaving behind clear signs of our activity,” Chrysalis ended her sentence, looking at her with eyes burning in anger. “You know how important the secrecy is for the success of my plan, but after this half of the planet will enter a state of alert because of you!”

“It wasn't my fault!” Lamia said in panic, feeling an increasing pressure around her body. “We were beginning to cancel our traces, but then a team of guards appeared-”

“Are you telling me that those morons dressed in tin cans, good only to be fucked by those two stupid alicorns, were the ones responsible for sending my plan Tartarus?!” the Queen snarled.

“No! It wasn't because of the guards! We managed to capture them without problems and we even sent most of them here with the last teleport. Everything was going smoothly, until they showed up!”

“They?” Chrysalis asked quizzically, tilting her head slightly. “Who are you talking of?”

“I- I don't know. I've never seen anything like them before. They wore armor able to deflect our attacks and they were armed with weapons with inconceivable destructive power!”

“And you expect me to believe such bullshit?” Chrysalis asked, tightening her telekinetic grip.

“Please, mother! I'm telling you the truth! Please, look at my memories!” Lamia cried desperately.

The alpha queen considered the idea briefly, ignoring the cries of pain from her daughter.

“Fine. Drop your mental barrier,” Chrysalis ordered sternly.

Lamia did as ordered and soon she felt a powerful entity, that she knew from experience was her mother, invade her mind like a starving swarm. The queen explored her most recent memories with haste, watching with boredom as Lamia led her troops in conquest of the small town and subdued the team of Guards, but as soon as she saw the events involving the mysterious creatures, her mood changed from disdain to complete astonishment.

After what seemed an eternity, Chrysalis left Lamia's mind and released her from the telekinetic grip, dropping her abruptly onto the floor. Lamia hit the floor hard, hissing in pain both from the impact and her wounds.

“Go in your chamber and take care of your wounds. I have to reflect,” Chrysalis ordered with a whisper without looking at her.

“Y-yes, mother,” the young queen replied fearfully with a bow, leaving the room with haste.

Once the doors closed, Chrysalis began to pace back and forth in the throne room, her blood boiling with rage.
'Those creatures couldn't have appeared at a worse time,' she thought irritated. 'I must know if they'll be a further hindrance for my plans.' She hadn't lacked to notice that when she had examined the memories of Lamia, another presence had discreetly taken part in the telepathic link.

“Mirage!” Chrysalis called, looking toward a column located in the darkest places of the room.

The air near the columns shimmered briefly, revealing another young queen, this time with hair black as charcoal and yellow eyes that sparkled with intelligence and malignity.

“Yes, mother?” she asked candidly with a sly smirk.

“You were eavesdropping as usual, weren’t you?” Chrysalis asked, even if she already knew the answer.

“I would never do anything like that, mother. I'm just here to serve you at best,” she said in her mellifluous voice. Of all her daughters, Mirage was surely the craftiest and less trustworthy, always intent on spying and conspiring against everyone. Excellent qualities, considering that she was at the head of her espionage net, but Chrysalis always made a point to keep an eye on her.

“Whatever. You know what's happening. Contact all ours agents in Equestria and order them to enter maximum alert. They must report any unusual or suspicious activity that could be related to these creatures.”

“As you wish, mother,” Mirage said with a slight bow without breaking the visual contact, before she teleported away.

'I don't care who or what they are,' the queen thought, re-examining the memories of Lamia. 'I will not allow them to interfere in any way with my plans. Soon, the hive will rise, and nothing will be able to stop us from taking what belongs to us.'

Tarya was crouched in front of the remains of the teleport platform when she heard sounds of approaching footsteps. A quick look at her HUD told her that it was Felmak and Nax.

“Sorry for the delay, we had a little issue with some pests,” the doctor joked.

“It's about time, I was starting to worry about you two. Where did you end up? I was starting to- what in Librarian's name?!” she exclaimed when she turned and finally saw them.

The Minor had a series of deep transverse marks that ran through his breastplate, as if he had been clawed; the doctor instead was holding in his left hand what remained of his artificial right arm.

“Would you mind explain to me what happened to you two?” she asked, dumbfounded.

“Well, you see...” In a short but detailed way, Nax described what happened to them since they were separated from the rest of the team. “And that's how I've lost my arm. Again. After that, we tried to rejoin with you, but unfortunately we encountered heavy resistance from those vermin. When they finally retreated, we followed the signals of your IFF and found you.”

“Although I have to say that we would have found you even without the signal. The trail of dead and destruction that you two left behind is quite evident,” Felmak commented, looking around in awe.

“Don't look at me, most of this mess is the work of the Commando,” the Zealot clarified, resuming her task. The image of Zhar kickinig down the heavy armored door was still fresh in her mind.

“So, what did we miss?” Nax asked.

“Oh, nothing too important, besides Zhar went into a killing spree, and lady beetle fled using a teleportation device which I'm currently trying to figure out how it works,” she commented, studying with a critical eye a piece of cracked crystal that probably once was part of some kind of circuit.

“And what did you find?”

“Nothing. This thing is completely destroyed,” she said with frustration, dropping the fragment on the ground. All that remained of the device was a blackened hollow pedestal containing some shattered crystals. “Maybe the recordings of our cameras will tell me more.”

“Please, no!” a raspy voice suddenly pleaded not too far off. Apparently some of the drones were still alive.

Without hesitation, Zhar crushed the skull of the creature under one of his armored boots. Tarya grimaced at the sight of the limbs of the creature twitching briefly for one last time, before the body went limp. It wasn't the killing per se that disturbed her, but the way it was performed.

“You could have shot it,” the Zealot commented.

“No sense in wasting ammo.” He grabbed the weapon of the dead drone and studied it attentively, trying to understand how it worked, but without success. There weren't triggers or mobile parts of any sort.

“Maybe it has something to do with their horns,” she suggested. “Every time they fired, their horns glowed.”

“I wonder how they're able to do that,” Zhar asked out loud, still studying the weapon.

“I have some theories, but they're pure speculation,” Nax said. “I'll be able to be more concrete once I have dissected one of their bodies.”

Tarya nodded. “Felmak, grab one of the bodies in better condition. We'll bring it to the ship for further analysis,” she said, gesturing to the dead drones. “And take some of their weapons. Maybe the Huragok will figure out how they work.”

A few minutes later, the team was crossing the corridor to make their way back to the Phantom, when Tarya stopped abruptly, raising a fist.

“I think I heard a noise,” she whispered by radio while turning toward a door on her left.

Her radar was clear of any contacts, but she knew well that the device wasn't able to detect contacts that remained still.
She drew out her pistol and checked the level of the battery. Seventeen percent. Low, but sufficient to kill any Changeling that was hiding behind the door.

Tarya carefully grabbed the door handle, trying to make as little noise as possible. She took a deep breath, then she lowered it and threw open the door, pointing her weapon toward the entrance.
In front of her there was a small dark room with the side walls covered by metal shelves filled with cleaning products and cardboard boxes containing what looked to be spare parts. The Zealot was about to leave, dismissing the episode as a trick of her mind, when she caught the glimpse of a shadow moving behind a large vacuum cleaner at the far end of the room. She quickly turned on the tactical light mounted on her armor's shoulder. The cone of light revealed what looked like a tail of blue hairs that pointed out from behind the vacuum-cleaner.

“Stay where you are!” Tarya barked in English, pointing her pistol toward the unknown contact.

“Please, don't kill me! I surrender!” a female voice cried frantically.

“Get out of there with both your hands raised!” the Sangheili ordered.

“Alright, alright, I'm coming out!”

A light green female pony with a blue mane and tail came out with hesitation from behind the big vacuum cleaner with her hands raised. The mare, if Tarya recalled the term correctly, was dressed with blue pants and a gray T-shirt with the words SOLAR GUARDS. The Zealot also noticed that the pony was one of those with a horn.

“Identify yourself,” she demanded.

“P - Private First Class Morning Dew, of the Solar Guards,” the mare stammered, shaking like a leaf.

'She must be terrified,' Tarya thought, looking at her with sympathy. She sighed and holstered her weapon. 'No sense in scaring her more.'

“Sorry, I didn't mean to be so harsh with you. I thought you were one of those disgusting creatures.”

“The Changelings,” the mare murmured with dread, shutting her eyes and shivering, probably to suppress bad memories. “Where are they?”

“They're dead. We killed them.”

The mare gulped. “Are you going to do the same with me?” She asked, still afraid.

“Do not fear. We have no intention of harming you,” Tarya said in the most kind and reassuring tone that she had.

“R-really?”

“I swear on my honor,” the Zealot said solemnly.

Hearing her words, the mare seemed to relax a bit.

“I have some questions. Are you willing to answer?” The mare nodded. “Good. What's happened here?”

The mare closed her eyes and sighed, recalling the events. “When a few hours ago we lost all contacts with Greenville, the HQ decided to send our team to figure out what was happening. When we arrived at the entrance of the town, everything seemed calm. Too calm. We moved further into the town and we saw the leftover of the attack. The sergeant was about to contact Canterlot via radio to tell what we had found, when those monsters popped out of nowhere. We tried to defend ourselves, but it happened all too fast. Before we could realize it, the Changelings had captured us. They stripped us of our armor and weapons, then they brought us here and they have separated us. It was the last time I saw my teammates,” the mare ended sadly, lowering her gaze.

“What about the inhabitants? Where are they?”

“The Changelings. They- they- they took them! They took them all!” the mare cried, bursting into tears and trembling violently. “Stallions, mares, foals- oh, Celestia! I could hear them scream while they were dragged here! They begged to be let go, calling for help, and all I could do was listen to them without being able to do anything!”

Suddenly, the Commando sniffed the air, before he snarled menacingly at the mare.

Before Tarya could ask him what was the matter, Zhar activated his sword and thrusted it in the back of the mare, lifting her from the ground. The pony barely had the time to emit a strangled cry, looking in shock at the twin blades protruding from her stomach, before she went limp.

“Nooooo!” Tarya screamed with horror, watching as the Commando pulled his sword from the lifeless body before dropping it on the ground. “Why? Why did you do it, you monster?! I promised on my honor that nothing would have happened to her and you've killed her! Why?!”

“She wasn't what she claimed to be,” Zhar said, nodding to the body.

The body of the mare was enveloped for a second by what seemed to be green flames, leaving in her place the corpse of a Changeling. The pool of blood had a similar destiny, changing the coloration from red to greenish-yellow.

“Hmm, shapeshifting abilities? So that's why they call themselves Changelings,” Nax commented intrigued, strangely unfazed by the scene that had just happened.

“But- how-?” Tarya babbled in utter confusion. “How did you know that she was one of them?”

“She smelled of rain. If she had really been kept captive in the closet all this time, by now she would have been completely dry,” Zhar said, deactivating the sword and putting it at the magnetic plate on his right hip. “In addition, despite what she said, the door wasn't locked.”

Tarya had to suppress the urge to facepalm. How did she not notice?

“So, where are the inhabitants?” Felmak asked.

“Assuming that what she- it- whatever that thing was - said was the truth, most likely they teleported them away using the device that we saw before. As for where or for what reason, I don't know,” she said.

It was in that moment that she noticed that the top of the big industrial vacuum cleaner wasn't perfectly sealed. In fact, it seemed to have been hastily placed on the drum.

'Was it hiding something?' she wondered, approaching to the vacuum cleaner. Without hesitation, she grabbed the sides of the lid and opened it. What she found inside the drum made her drop the lid in surprise.

“Bloody Halo!” she swore loudly.

Inside the drum was a curled up pony female resembling under every aspect the disguise of the Changeling. Well, almost everything. The colors of her coat and her mane were drab, almost grey, as if a malevolent painter had decided to remove their usual brightness. She also had several cuts on her arms and hands, a clear sign that she had tried to defend herself. The Zealot felt respect for the smaller creature. Despite facing a stronger foe, she had still fought for her survival. But when the pony raised her head and locked her gaze with those of the Zealot, Tarya felt her blood freeze. Her eyes, that she had expected to be filled with some kind of emotion, showed none of this. No relief, nor fear, nor confusion. Nothing. Only two eyes that looked at her with a blank expression, as if her own will to live had been taken away.

“Please, help me,” the mare said with a tone barely audible and completely devoid of emotions.

With the greatest care, Tarya picked up the mare from under the armpits and took her out of the drum, before she placed the pony on the ground so that she was lying on her back. She then took a folded plastic tarp from one of the nearby shelves and placed it under the head of the mare as a makeshift pillow.

“Thank you,” the pony said weakly.

“Nax, what's her status?” the Zealot asked the physician.

“She's alive, but not for long,” he said bitterly after he briefly looked at the biometric scanner integrated in his helmet. “I know almost nothing about their anatomy and most of my instrumentation was in my artificial arm, but if they are vaguely similar to the humans, then I can say that her vital parameters are collapsing.”

“Can't you do anything?”

The doctor shook his head slowly.

“You guys are talking about me, I mean, about my condition, right?” The mare asked, coughing weakly. “I can't understand you, but from your body language, I can guess that the news isn’t good.”

“Your health is in bad shape,” Tarya admitted, crouching next to the mare.

“A polite way to say that I'm dying.”

“I'm sorry.”

“Me too,” she said, looking away with a melancholic expression. “It wasn't my intention to give this pain to my parents. I just wanted to make them proud of me by joining the Guards.”

“What happened, private?”

“What that son of a bitch said is mostly correct. We came here to investigate. At first it looked all normal, but when we entered in the town and we saw the damages and the signs of a fight, the Changelings dropped their disguises and attacked us.” Morning Drew sighed. “It was a nightmare. None of us were prepared for something like that. Except for their attempt to invade the capital, the Changelings had never dared to come so deep into Equestria; usually they remained at the borders of the Badlands.
We tried to defend ourselves, but they were superior in term of numbers and firepower.”

“What have they done to you?” the Zealot asked with hesitation. Aside from the scratches and the small cuts that the mare had on her arms and legs, there wasn’t any wounds that could explain her current condition.

“I- I don't know. They feed off of love, or at least that's what I know from the academy, but when that- that THING fed on me, it was as if it was draining me of everything. It's strange. I know that I should be scared, but I'm not. I should feel anger for what they did to me and anypony else, but I can't. I remember that I felt happiness in my life, but I can't even remember how it feels to be happy. I feel... empty, incomplete.” A lone tear ran down her cheek, leaving a darker trail of wet fur behind.

Morning Dew coughed violently. Her breath became more difficult and irregular. “I don't have much time left.”

“Is there anything I can do for you?” Gently, the Zealot held one hand of the dying soldier with one of hers. To die alone, without honor or the warmth of having a friend or a loved one near, was a horrible way to leave this world. If there was something, anything, that she could do to alleviate the last moments of this mare, she would have done it.

“If the possibility should ever arise, I want you to tell my parents that I did my best and that I love them.”

“I'll do my best to fulfill your request,” the Zealot said with sincerity. Odds were that she would be able to deliver the message in person were extremely thin, but she swore on her forefathers that she would attempt to find a way to keep her promise.

“Thank you,” the mare said weakly. She sighed in relief, as if she had found peace. “I'm ready,” she muttered, a small smile forming on her lips. And with those last words, she went limp and remained still.

“Even with death, your journey doesn't end here. May your soul rejoin with your ancestors and loved ones. Die with honor, warrior, and rest in peace,” the Zealot recited the ancient Sangheili prayer, closing the eyes of the young mare gently. “Let's go. There's nothing more to do here.”

“Shall we take her body with us for further analysis? She could help us to understand their abilities,” Nax asked, pointing at the horn on the forehead of the pony.

“No. It wouldn't be right nor honorable doing so. Leave her here, so that her compatriots may give her a proper burial.”

“What do you think that she meant when she said that they 'feed off of love'?” Zhar asked.

“I don't know. But I’ve got the impression that it's another thing that we'll discover soon.”

The ground surrounding the Phantom was littered with the corpses of several Changelings, all with clear signs of plasma wounds.
Legek was leaning against one of the plasma turrets, careful to not put any pressure on his wounded leg, while the Major was walking among the bodies with his sidearm drawn, intent to make sure that none of the drones was still alive, by slightly kicking the suspicious bodies.
One of them emitted a weak cry, but a plasma bolt in its chest quickly put remedy to the issue.

“Seems like you had fun, Major,” Tarya commented at the sight of the corpses.

“You can say that again, ma'am,” the red clad Sangheili said proudly.

“Where's Gusay?”

“Inside the ship, controlling the systems. I have to admit that he fought pretty well... for being just a pilot,” he joked.

“I heard you, sir,” the pilot replied unfazed from inside the ship.

The Major merely snorted.

“Gusay, what's the status of the Phantom?” she asked, stepping inside the cargo bay.

“The systems are on line again, ma'am, but we have a problem with our active camo. Apparently the energy beam hit the ship next to one of the optical modulators, destroying it. ”

The Zealot sighed deeply before she took off her helmet and rubbed her tired face with a hand. “One problem at a time. Contact the Last Sunset. We have to inform them of our situation, before they start sending assault troops via drop pods,” she said, standing in front of the holotank.

“Aye aye.”

While she remained quiet in front of the communication device, Zhar stood at her side without a word. He was the second in command of the team, after all. He was supposed to take part in the post-mission report.

“The Shipmaster won't take the news well,” she said with frustration, shaking her head.

“Don't be so harsh with yourself. Events beyond you influence had occurred. And although I think that it was completely pointless, given what was happening, you tried to resolve the situation peacefully.”

The Zealot blinked. “Uh, thanks. I guess.”

‘I can never understand if his comments are compliments or just observations.'

The voice of Gusay shook her from her thoughts. “Contact with the Last Sunset established.”

“Open the communication channel.”

The holo pedestal took life, and the pale blue holograms of the Shipmaster and of the Second in command appeared just above the device. Haka had his usual unfazed mood, while Vraal seemed clearly anxious.

“Tarya,” the Shipmaster said, clearly relieved to see her. “Thank the gods you're alright. We lost contact with your team for almost an hour after you were struck by that energy beam. What's your status?”

“Zhar, Gusay, and I are fine, but the three Spec Ops are all wounded, while the doctor lost his right arm again. The Phantom is still operative, but the active camo system is seriously damaged.”

“I presume that given your landing point, you entered in contact with the locals,” Haka asked.

“Affirmative.”

“And?” the Shipmaster urged her, clearly anxious to know the developments of their situation.

“First contact didn't end peacefully sir,” Tarya responded. “We tried to use diplomacy, but they attacked us.”

Vraal closed his eyes and shock his head. “I hoped to avoid bloodshed.”

“The situation is more complicated than it looks, sir. The ones that attacked us weren't exactly ponies.”

“What do you mean?” Vraal tilted his head, confused.

Taking a breath, the Zealot proceeded to tell everything that had happened since the Phantom had left the hangar, also adding to her report the mission logs of their combat cameras and the lectures of the scanners.
Vraal listened intently, an unreadable expression painted on his face as he watched the videos of the fight.

“Are you sure that the leader of these 'Changelings' has managed to escape?” Vraal asked in a inquisitive tone after she finished her narration.

The Zealot nodded. “I saw her clearly disappear just a moment before the plasma grenade exploded.”

“So they know about us,” he said dryly, snapping his maws.

“The bright side is that the Changelings are the only ones that know about our existence, but considering that they're not exactly in good terms with the ponies, it's very unlikely that they will bother to alert the ponies about our presence,” Haka observed. “And although we have antagonized one of the races of the planet, considering that they had just attacked a pony settlement this could eventually turn to our favor when we have to deal with the Equestrians.”

“You mean as sign of good faith? Maybe. By now, we have more pressing matters to deal with at the moment. Like the energy beam that hit your ship. If the locals indeed have an EMP weapon, as well a system able to track even the cloaked ships, we should start to worry.”

“We don't have proofs that the locals are involved,” Tarya retorted.

“On the contrary,” Vraal corrected her. “According to the Huragok, the beam was fired from a small settlement located not too far from your original target,” he said, making a map of the region appear on the holograph in front of them, with the settlement in question highlighted in red.

'Alright, now I too am starting to have doubts,' she thought, observing the town. From the size, the settlement seemed to be able to house a population inferior to the thousand of inhabitants.
“Seems more like a rural town than a military base to me,” she noticed.

“That's my same impression, but this doesn't surprise me. The humans used to hide their MAC under crop fields to make them more difficult to identify, so it wouldn't be so unlikely that we are in a similar situation.”

Tarya frowned slightly. There was still something wrong. “If they really were the ones to shoot us down, by now they would have send somebody to check the impact site,” she reasoned. “Instead, the only troops that they apparently have sent here were the ones with the task to investigate on the loss of contacts with the town. Don't you think that's strange?”

“I can see your point, but I won't take any chances. Once you are all back on the ship, we'll study an appropriate strategy about how to deal with this situation.”

“Wait, are you suspending the mission?” she exclaimed in shock.

“Only temporarily. In the light of recent events, it's essential to collect more intel about the inhabitants of the planet and their peculiar abilities before we can consider the idea of contacting them. We will send a larger recon team to the surface once the repairs of the other Stealth Phantoms will be ready.”

“How long will it take?”

“Roughly a day. Both ships have the engines damaged and their hull integrity is compromised.”

She shook her head “We can't wait that long. As soon as the locals will discover what happened here, they will increase their security measures, if they haven't already done so, making our further attempts at infiltration more difficult. If we want any chance of success, we have to continue the mission.”

“And how do you intend on doing that? You were the one who said that most of your team is no longer in operative conditions.”

Tarya looked briefly at Zhar. Her respect for the warrior in black armor had increased significantly since the crash of the drop ship. It was just now that Tarya realized that, although he hadn't given any real orders, the actions and the observations of the Commando had influenced her decisions deeply. There was something special in Zhar that, despite his solitary nature, made him a leader, somebody to look to as guidance and support in difficult moments. 'There's blood of the Arbiter in his veins.'
“It's a recon infiltration, not a raid. Zhar and I will be sufficient to complete the mission. A team composed by just two elements would be able to move with more ease and with fewer chances of being discovered.”

She had expected some kind of reaction from the Commando, but he kept silent, as usual.
It was disconcerting the ease with which he was able to switch from 'war mode' to 'unnerving silence'.

The Shipmaster considered her idea for a few moments.

“Zhar, what is your opinion?” Vraal asked the Commando. Despite his decades of experience in battle, both in space and on the ground, the Shipmaster held great consideration in his officers. When it came to black ops, Zhar's authority was unmatched.

Tarya unconsciously held her breath as she watched the Spec Ops Officer reflecting. The future of this operation depended on his next decision.

“I have to agree with the analysis of the Zealot, sir. We need to know more about the locals before planning our next moves and the longer we wait, the more the risks will increase.” Her expression brightened once she heard his words, but the moment didn't last long. “But there's still the issue about how to reach the settlement. With the active camouflage inactive, they will be able to spot the Phantom easily.”

'He's right. Think Tarya, think, think, think. There has to be way to pass unnoticed in this purple behemoth.' Her eyes widened in realization as she looked at the map. 'Wait. The hull of this version of Phantom is green, not purple.' Her gaze fell on the forest that stretched just outside the town. 'Please, let it be there.'
When she found what she was looking for, the Sangheili equivalent of a smile formed on her face.

“I've found the solution to the problem,” she said with confidence, raising her gaze from the map. “According to the map, not too far from here there's a river that crosses the forest in direction of our target,” she said, highlighting the water course on the holo map. “We'll follow the course of the river, flying just above the level of the canopy of the trees. Given the time of the day and the weather conditions, the color of the hull should be able to blend in with the foliage, while the noise of the running water will cover the engines.” She traced their route on the map. “Once we reach the edges of the forest, the Phantom will leave us in one of these clearings, from which we will reach the town by foot, while the drop ship will return undetected to the battle cruiser thanks to the cover provided by the night.” She looked up at the other officers with expectation.

“Hmm, clever,” Zhar said after a while, deeply immersed in the study of the map.

“It's an audacious plan, Zealot, not without risks. But it can work,” Haka nodded slightly in appreciation, before turning toward Vraal. “What do you think?”

Vraal glanced briefly at the Ultra, then he returned his attention to the map. He reflected in silence for some moments, but he ended up nodding too.

“Alright, let's give it a shot,” he conceded. “Once you reach the town, your primary objective will be to locate the origin of the energy beam and determine if it's effectively a threat to us.”

“How much time do we have?” Zhar asked.

“Thirty six hours. It's the amount of time that the Huragok estimate that will be needed to complete the reparations of our defenses and to access the encrypted communication network.”

“You think that they will attack us once we reveal our existence?”

“Better safe than sorry. Next contact will be once you'll have reached your infiltration point.”
With that said, the communication ended.

Tarya allowed herself to release a sigh of relief. 'Well, it went better than expected,' she thought. ‘At least he didn't order an orbital bombardment on the town.' She quickly chased off that kind of thought from her mind. 'No. Vraal would never take an option like that into account, not only because we're short of plasma.'

After she had put both her weapons in the charging case built-in in the bulkhead that separated the cargo bay from the cockpit, she reached the pilot.

“Did you receive the coordinates?”

“Affirmative,” Gusay said without taking his eyes from the control panel. His fingers seemed to dance on the holographic commands. “I'm inserting them in the navigation system now.”

“Excellent. Bring us to our destination.”

“Aye aye. New route inserted. ETA: one hour at cruising speed.”

The engines turned on with a high-pitched whine as the turbines took speed, until it became the familiar subsonic hum with whereby the Phantom was well known on the battlefields.
Wavering slightly, the drop ship lifted off from the ground until it was just above the level of the roofs. The green aircraft then rotated toward its new objective and accelerated, leaving behind the town of Greenville and its ghost.

Chapter 8 - Time of investigation

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Chapter 8 - Time of investigation

Observing the town of Greenville through the optics of the rifle from his hiding spot in the crown of a tree, Cloud Skipper couldn't shake the feeling that something was definitely wrong. The settlement was unusually silent and, despite the sun having set, the lights were still off.

“Keep your eyes on the target, Hawk Eye,” the Lieutenant ordered to the other pegasus that sat on the sturdy oak branch, handing back the rifle to the sniper. Specialist Hawk Eye, a red stallion with a white mane, nodded and adjusted the camo net on his shoulders.

Cloud Skipper jumped from the tall branch and used his wings to slow down his fall, landing safely on the soft soil of the forest, before crouching down and walking quickly toward one of the advanced observation posts, careful to remain hidden by the vegetation.
On his path he met several of his fellow soldiers, hidden behind bushes, trees, or lying prone to the ground, all of their gazes locked onto the town in front of them. Many were silent, but he caught the faint sound of hushed conversations, mostly veterans that gave last minute advice to the rookies or guards that were simply wondering what was awaiting them in the town.

He soon reached a brown earth pony stallion that was observing the town with binoculars, using a fallen trunk as cover. Staff Sergeant Linden Branch was a seasoned veteran, but judging by the way he was chewing his apple-flavored chewing gum, it was clear that he was nervous too.

“Anything to report, Staff Sergeant?”

“Negative, sir. Still nothing,” the earth pony replied without taking his eyes off from the lenses of the binoculars. “What shall we do?” he asked, finally averting his gaze from the town.

“First of all, I'll call Lieutenant Blossom to know the situation on the other side. In the meantime, alert the others to get ready for action.”

The Staff Sergeant nodded and went to spread the order to the rest of the unit.

The pegasus put a hand on his ear, activating the radio inbuilt in his helmet. “Midnight, how's the situation there?” he asked through the thin microphone.

“Still nothing, Skipper,” came the reply of the thestral mare through the com. “All's quiet. Too quiet if you ask me.”

“I know, something's definitely off. My team is ready for action, what about your guys?”

“We're ready to kick some ass.” Even if he couldn't see her face, by the sound of her voice he could imagine the smirk on the face of the mare.

“Alright, let's not waste more time. Synchronize the watches, we move in three minutes.”

“Roger that, I'll see you in the town,” the thestral replied before she closed the radio channel.

“Okay fillies and gentlecolts, get tactical,” Skipper ordered through the main radio channel.

“Hooah,” come the hushed reply from the nearby guards. Bullets were loaded in the firing chambers with the sharp noise of rifle shutters being pulled, while the correct position of the different armor plates were checked quickly but meticulously.
The white pegasus leaned his back against the trunk, facing toward his troops. He drew his pistol, checked that the magazine was full, then he racked the slide, loading the firing chamber.

“Winged units, ready to move on my mark to the closest row of roofs; fly low and quick. Ground units, cover us.”

He watched the hands of the watch running quietly before, when the three minutes had passed, he gave the order.

“Go!”

As one, the pegasi took off and darted in the air toward the first row of roofs, crossing the grassy stretch that surrounded the town in a matter of seconds. The flight toward the buildings was short, but full of tension. The standard procedure was to perform recon from above to prevent bad surprises, but the recent rainstorm had left several thunderclouds in the sky over the town and with the air still humid the risk of being struck by lightning was high, thus making the option of a preliminary report unavailable.

To their luck, both the pegasi and the thestrals reached the roofs without problem. The guards then proceeded to take position on the sloped tile roofs, which offered good cover from eventual threats while allowing a clear line of sight.

Once he had confirmed from his counterpart of the Lunar Guards that they had reached the town without incident, Cloud Skipper called via radio to the rest of his troops.

“The area is clear,” the lieutenant reported. “Ground units, advance.”

Turning toward the forest he saw the rest of the Solar Guards leave their cover and advance at a quick but cautious pace toward the town with their weapons ready to use.

Once they were all in position, the guards began to systematically advance toward the center of the town, with the pegasi providing cover from above, while unicorns and earth ponies checked every alley and house they met for suspicious activity.
It didn't take them long to notice the first signs of damage. Many doors and windows were smashed, while the interiors of the houses showed clear signs of a fight. The guards had just surpassed the first two rows of building when the lieutenant's radio buzzed to life.

“Sir, here's Linden Branch.”

“I receive you, Staff Sergeant. Speak.”

“Bubble Gun has found something in one of the houses.”

“I'm coming.” He tapped a hand on the shoulder of a nearby pegasus to draw his attention. “I'm going to get a closer look. Stay alert for anything suspicious.”

Cloud Skipper jumped from the roof and used his wings to glide to the ground.

“Where is she?” he asked to the brown stallion.

The earth pony pointed toward a nearby two story house. “In the living room.”

After having literally walked on the front door, Cloud Skipper followed the noise of hooves on the wood boards to the living room, paying attention to not stumble upon one of the countless objects scattered on the floor.
He found a short unicorn mare in golden armor facing the farthest wall in the room. Her head was cocked to the side and her horn was glowing for what the lieutenant assumed was a scan.

Hearing him enter, the mare turned toward the pegasus, revealing her face. She had an orange coat and fiery red curly hair that her helmet barely managed to hide. But the most disconcerting part of her was her big green eyes, always sparkling with enthusiasm and curiosity, like that of a filly.

The air of innocence that the mare seemed to emanate was broken by the 40 mm grenade launcher that she carried strapped to her back and the relative bandolier of ammo that crossed her chest.

“Hi, sir!” Bubble Gun saluted him with her distinctive childish smile.

The lieutenant rolled his eyes, but couldn't help but to smirk. Bubble Gun was maybe the best explosives expert that he had ever met, and as long as she did her work, he was willing to forgive her unprofessional behavior.

“Hello, Bubble. Did you find something of interest?”

“Weeell, actually there are two things. First of all, these,” she gestured to a series of circular black marks on the wall behind her.

“Scorch marks?” the pegasus asked, getting closer to look better.

The unicorn specialist nodded. “They are too similar to one another to have been made by a dragon. I suspect a magical origin.”

“Unicorns?”

“It's possible, but oddly enough I can't detect any traces of magic. It's like if somepony or somebody has removed them.”

Cloud Skipper stared at the burn marks. They were very familiar, but he couldn't recall where he had already seen them. After a few more moments he turned to the mare. “You said you've also found something else.”

“Yep. I've found these on the floor.” With a flash of her horn, she used her telekinesis to grab a cartridge case from the floor and held it up to the level of her face.

“It's a small caliber, a pistol, probably a civilian model or the kind supplied to police forces.”

Cloud Skipper pointed his flashlight downward, revealing five brass shell casings. Working off of intuition, he pointed the flashlight towards the spot where the origin of the shots would have likely originated from. All he found were some muddy hoofprints on a carpet.

'No blood. Either the pony wasn't a good shooter, or the bullets weren't effective.'

Skipper's radio came to life. “Sir, here's Corporal Spearhead.”

“I hear you, Corporal. What's happened?”

“We've found the Puma of the missing squad abandoned near the train station. By the looks of it, it seems undamaged.”

“Any sign of the members of the squad?”

“Negative, sir.”

“Alright, check if the vehicle still works. We might need its firepower.”

“Understood,” the corporal said, closing the channel.

“It's strange,” Skipper noted aloud. “A Puma would be a very profitable item on the black market. Why have they left it here?”

“Uhm, maybe they didn't know the right contacts to sell that kind of material?” the explosives expert offered.

“Or maybe because they didn't come here to raid the town,” a voice coming from behind them said suddenly.

Taken by surprise, the pegasus whirled around, pointing his flashlight and his pistol toward the owner of the voice... only to find Midnight Blossom standing a few feet from him.

“Skipper!” the Night Guard officer hissed, attempting to shield her face from the blinding light. Thestrals had excellent night vision, but their eyes were also very sensitive to strong lights. “Point that damn thing away!”

“Sorry!” the pegasus hurried to point the flashlight to the ground. “Are you alright?” he asked with concern, approaching his friend.

“Yeah, I'm fine,” the mare replied, blinking a few times to adjust her vision.

“What are you doing here?”

“Your Staff Sergeant alerted me that you guys have found something,” she explained, coming closer to him. “So, since the night is our domain, I took some of my guards to give you day guys assistance.” She then punched him on the shoulder. Hard.

“Ouch!”

“Now we're even, snow coat,” she grumbled.

“You know, sometimes I forget that thestrals are closer to earth ponies than to pegasi,” the pegasus said, rubbing his offended arm.

“Oh, stop whining like a filly. And besides,” she lowered her voice, giving him her best bedroom eyes, “I thought you liked when I'm rough.”

The cheeks of the pegasus turned red as a tomato. “Anyway, what did you mean before?” he asked after having cleared his throat, trying to hide his embarrassment by changing topics.

“Haven't you noticed that they didn’t take anything?”

Cloud Skipper blinked a few times before glancing around. She was right. The room was a complete mess, many objects had been put out of place, overturned, scattered on the floor, or even broken during the scuffle, but it didn't seem to be missing anything.

“If they didn't attack the town to raid it, then why did they attack?” Bubble Gun asked.

“They evidently came here for something else.”

“Like what?”

“Where are the inhabitants?” the thestral asked. “We haven't seen any of them.”

“Maybe they are being held as prisoner somewhere else,” Cloud Skipper offered.

“Optimistic as usual, uh?”

“We have yet to see a corpse, and the blood that we have found so far is not enough to indicate lethal wounds.”

“Well, there's only one way to find out,” Midnight Blossom declared as she headed out of the house, followed by the two Solar Guards.

As the Guards proceeded toward the center of the town, the extent of damage visibly increased but, aside from the occasional scorch marks on the walls, they didn't find any clue that could help them to identify the nature of the aggressors or the fate of the inhabitants.
When they reached the market square, the clouds had covered the moon, blocking the only source of light that they had so far. The use of the flashlights would reveal their position, so the only other option was to rely on the night vision of the Thestrals.

“I see something lying on the ground, a pair of bodies,” Midnight Blossom reported, peeking from behind the van they used as cover.

“Ponies?” Cloud Skipper asked her.

“I think so, the shapes and the sizes are right, but my guts say that there's something off.” She furrowed her brows. “I don't like it. Smells like a trap.”

“Me too. The best thing to do now is-”

Without warning, a unicorn medic left her cover and sprinted toward the motionless bodies.

“Sterile Gauze, what the fuck are you doing!?” a nearby Sergeant shouted with rage. “Get your stupid ass back here, that’s an order!”

“Maybe they're still alive, sarge!” the mare yelled back without stopping.

“Stupid idiot! I got her!” Midnight said, darting toward the unicorn.

“Midnight, wait!” Cloud Skipper exclaimed, but too late. 'Fuck!' “Cover them!” he ordered to the rest of the units.

Sterile Gauze had already reached the bodies and was currently kneeled beside one of them, checking for a pulse. The moment her hand touched the body, she froze in place. Instead of soft fur, all she felt was a rough surface with a consistency somewhere between leather and plastic.
With a growing sense of dread, the medic grabbed the body by the shoulder to flip it onto its back, lighting up her horn at the same time to see more clearly. The moment she was able to clearly see what was lying on the ground, the mare fell on her hind quarters with a startled yell.

“Changeling!” Sterile Gauze screamed in panic, backing away hastily from the insectoid creature.

Midnight, who had just reached the medic, heard her scream and instantly reacted. The thestral grabbed the unicorn by the collar of her armor and drew her away from the insectoid creature, while her free arm drew out one of her pistols from the holster and fired twice into the creatures head, repeating the procedure with the other one.

“All units, we have a Ghost Locust code! Repeat, Ghost Locust!” she shouted in the radio, her gaze darting about rapidly.

The reaction of the Equestrian Guards was immediate. Several orders coming from the various NCOs began echoing in the air, while the guards hurried to perform the tasks for which they had been trained: the pegasi opened their wings, ready to engage the enemy from high, the unicorns prepared to cast spells, and the earth ponies readied their support weapons.

“We gotta move,” Midnight ordered to the unicorn. “We're sitting ducks here!”

The medic remained still, her gaze focused on the corpses. Growling with impatience, the thestral gave a quick glance at the dead Changelings, staring long enough to make her double take. 'What the heck?'
The adrenaline rush had prevented her from noticing it sooner, but now she clearly saw that riddling the bodies of the drones were several third degree burns, from which came a disgusting stink of burnt insect. The smell was faint, mostly washed away by the rain. 'And it has stopped raining for a while...'

“Midnight, what are you still doing there?!” Cloud Skipper shouted from his cover. “You two are exposed in the middle of the street!”

“Somebody preceded us, Skipper! These assholes were already dead.”

“What?”

“You heard me.”

“... I'm coming.” The pegasus covered the distance between his cover and the two mares at the speed of lightning, landing just a few steps away.

“See?” she said, kicking the dead creature.

The pegasus studied the corpses for a moment. “We're still in deep shit. Two drones can't have attacked a town on their own.”

“I hate it when you’re right,” the thestral deadpanned without looking at him, extracting her second pistol.

Cloud Skipper followed her gaze, but his eyes weren't able to see as well as hers in the low-light environment.

“Bubble Gun, fire a flare!” the pegasus ordered to the unicorn mare.

The explosives expert loaded a signaling rocket in her grenade launcher and fired it into the air. The flare crossed through the air like a miniature meteor before, reaching its peak, it began its descent while hanging from a small parachute.

As soon as the light of the flare brightened the street, Cloud Skipper felt his mouth go dry and his irises shrank in shock. He had seen several crime scenes and dead bodies during his military career, but nothing could have prepare him for the sight in front of him.
Corpses. Dozens and dozens of Changeling corpses were lying on the ground, scattered among the destroyed market stands. Some were still intact, while others were literally torn to pieces, forming a gruesome trail of death that ran along all over the market square and proceeded to the main street.

The guards left their cover to see more clearly. More than a few of those with less experience began to puke violently at the sight of the carnage.

Midnight Blossom whistled in amazement. She didn't seem disturbed by the sight; quite the contrary, she looked like she was enjoying the sight in front of them, like if it was a sunset on the sea.

“Great Maker, what the heck happened here?” Cloud Skipper asked in shock with a barely audible tone.

“I don't know, but whoever did this, I owe him a drink,” the Lieutenant of the Lunar Guard commented casually with a dark smirk.

Ignoring Midnight's comment, the pegasus turned toward a nearby guard with a radio pack on his back. “Contact HQ. We must inform the princesses.”

The flight of the Phantom over the forest proceeded without problem for over an hour when the voice of the pilot came out from the speakers, interrupting the activities of the team in the cargo bay.

“Zealot, we are nearing the target,” Gusay alerted in the typical unperturbed, almost bored tone that seemed to characterize all the pilots, no matter the gender or the species.

“Excellent, contact the Last Sunset,” she ordered to the pilot before she turned toward her mission companion, who was about to put a plasma grenade in a specific slot of his armor. “Zhar, prepare to disembark.”

He nodded, placing the explosive device in his belt with a satisfying CLICK, then he grabbed his backpack from the floor and donned it.
Both Zhar and Tarya had prepared a backpack containing basic survival kits, food supplies sufficient for three days, and the necessary equipment for the mission. The Zealot was carrying in her bag a field communication booster powerful enough to transmit their radio signals up to the battlecruiser, while the Commando... Now that she thought about it, Taria wasn't entirely sure what Zhar had put in his backpack. 'I think I saw him take a detonator...' she thought.

She bent to grab her own backpack when a hand holding a small bag appeared in her visual field.

“I hope you still have space for this,” Nax said.

“What is it?” the young Zealot asked out of curiosity, looking at the black bag, noticing a Forerunner rune written in green. The rune of medicine.

“I took the liberty of preparing a small medkit for you two. Nothing too fancy, just the basic stuff, with a little extra.”

Not too far away the Major snorted in disgust at the sight of the medkit. He seemed about to make a nasty comment about it, but a dirty look from the Spec Ops Officer convinced him that it was wiser to keep his mouth shut.

Tarya looked at the small bag for a moment, reflecting. A part of her found the very idea of carrying a medkit offensive, as if Nax was doubting their abilities. A more rational part of her told her that it was just a way for the doctor to give his support to their mission even if he could no longer take part in it.

“You are not forced to accept it,” Nax said, noticing her hesitation.

Shaking off the residual indecision, the Zealot reached out with a hand toward the medkit and grabbed it.

“Thank you, Nax,” she said with sincerity, putting the medkit in her backpack. “Although, I hope that there will be no need to use it. No offense.”

The doctor snapped his lower maws and waved a hand dismissively. “Don't worry, none taken. I'm still a Sangheili, I understand the implications of accepting it. Take it just as a reminder to always give your best.”

“Just like training,” the Zealot said with a chuckle. The menace of a medical visit was one of the best ways to spur the cadets to commit themselves on top of their ability.

The doctor nodded and walked away, clearly happy to have given his contribution to the mission.

Turning toward the Commando, she saw Zhar give her a nod of approval. The two of them headed to the recharge station to retrieve their weapons and, after having checked that the batteries were completely charged, they proceeded to secure them to the magnetic attachments of their armor.

“Incoming transmission from the Last Sunset,” Gusay reported from the cockpit.

“On the holotank,” Tarya instructed, turning toward the communication device. After a few moments needed for the projector to warm up, the imposing life-size hologram of the Shipmaster appeared in front of the two officers.

“Status report,” Vraal asked curtly.

“The flight went flawlessly and according to the pilot we are about to reach our insertion point.”

“Excellent. Considering the nature of the terrain and the kind of vegetation, we estimate that from there it will take you roughly an hour to reach the target. We are sending you the updated images of the sector. They will make your task easier.”

The Zealot nodded in appreciation. Wandering aimlessly in an alien forest because of incorrect maps was the last thing that she wanted. “What about our orders?”

“Your primary goal is to locate the exact source of that energy beam and determine if it poses a threat for the ship. If so, make it harmless. You have complete freedom of action in this regard, but try to contain the collateral damage. Meanwhile, try to apprehend as much as possible about the inhabitants, in particular their strengths and their weaknesses.”

“Understood.”

“Good luck then, and may your blades brighten your path in the darkness,” the Shipmaster said, closing the transmission after the two officers had returned the salute.

A couple of minutes later, the Phantom slowed down until it stopped, then its side doors opened, revealing a small clearing completely surrounded by thick vegetation.

'Here we go,' Tarya thought as she and Zhar got closer to the edge of the platform.

The rest of the team snapped to attention and wished them good luck on the mission. The two officers returned the greeting, then they jumped from the dropship, landing with agility on the grassy surface over three meters below. As soon as their feet touched the ground, the side doors closed, the turbines increased their speed, and the Phantom darted toward space.

Tarya unconsciously held her breath as she saw the shuttle fly to the night sky with increasing speed, until it was just a small bright point lost amongst the multitude of stars.

'Hmm, either they don't consider a retreating ship a threat, or my hypothesis of a coincidence wasn't so daring,’ she thought at the lack of energy beams shot at the Phantom. Still, she decided to keep such observations to herself.

“Which way?” Zhar asked, turning to her.

The Zealot opened a small panel in her left arm guard, conjuring a small holo screen. She tapped a pair of commands and a navigation point appeared on their HUDs.

“There,” she said, pointing in a south-east direction.

The Commando nodded and pulled out his plasma repeater. “I'll take point.”

Cloud Skipper huffed tiredly as he sat on the hood of one of the military vehicles parked in front of the police station. There were over a dozen Solar and Lunar guards all around him, all just having came back from a patrol or from a surveillance run, that were trying to use the short break to rest a bit, play a game, chat, or read. A pair of guards were even asleep.

'The Maker's only know how much I'd like to take a nap,' he thought, rubbing his eyes. It was already the third patrol to which he had taken part in, but despite everyponies hope, any attempt to find survivors of the Changeling attack hadn't yielded results.

He took off his helmet and drank a long sip of water from his canteen, before spilling a bit of the water on his face to chase off fatigue.
'At least the reinforcements arrived quickly.'
Everywhere he looked, he saw guards of both services securing the area, while forensic teams were gathering evidences from the huge crime scene, taking photos, collecting samples, and performing magical scans, all under the light of countless portable floodlights.

Once the news about the fate of the town had reached Canterlot, the princesses had wasted no time in sending reinforcements. In record time the Eclipse, one of the new Dreadnought-class zeppelins of the Equestrian Air Force, had taken off for Greenville carrying a large contingent of guards, along with princess Luna herself.

The night princess was currently on the other side of the square, listening to the report of Wind Tracker, a member of the Scout Corps. Skipper couldn't make out the topic of the conversation because of the distance, but judging from the expression of the princess, she looked concerned and intrigued at the same time by the words of the scout.

It was strange to see the princess talk with somepony almost as tall as she. Luna and Celestia were amazons compared to the rest of the ponies. Although, to be fair, Wind Tracker wasn't a pony, but a buffalo. She was dressed with a lighter version of the guards' armor, colored matt bronze instead of purple or gold, a forest green set of fatigues, and a red band adorned with a pair of raven feathers around her head.

It was still relatively rare to see members of her species outside their usual territories. Until very recent times, the buffaloes lived isolated from the rest of the region, having little contact with the ponies, but things had changed after the events of what was unofficially known as 'the Apple Orchards War’, a confrontation between the inhabitants of Appleloosa and the tribe of Chief Thunderhooves resolved in a nonviolent way thanks to the intervention of the bearers of the Elements of Harmony. After that conflict, in a meeting of historic importance, the great assembly of the buffalo tribes had decided that it was time for their race to come out from their isolation and play a more active role in Equestria's society. Amongst the results of such decision, many buffaloes had joined the Royal Guards, offering their natural ability to read the tracks and blend with the surroundings to become scouts and explorers.

He heard a dull thud not too far away. Just a few meters from where he and his fellow soldiers were resting there was a long line of body bags, each one containing a dead Changeling, waiting to be brought away. Now and then, a pair of ponies would arrive carrying a new body bag on a stretcher, before depositing it without much ceremony onto the ground, as had just happened.

“The row is growing,” Hawk Eye commented without raising his eyes from his cards. The sniper was sitting on the ground, engaged in a card game with Bubble Gun. Judging by the happy expression of the explosive expert, the Lieutenant guessed who was winning free drinks for the next night off. “Not that I'm complaining.”

Cloud Skipper had to agree with him. Every dead Changeling was one less to be worried about.

“I wonder where they are taking the bodies,” Bubble Gun inquired casually.

“The brasses want to know more about the nature of their wounds. The damage doesn’t match to those caused by any kind of weapon or spell known, so they're sending the bodies to some lab to perform an autopsy,” was the response of the pegasus Lieutenant.

Midnight Blossom snorted with contempt. She was leaning with her back against the side of one of the Puma’s, glaring at the line of Changeling's corpses. “Were it for me, I would have just stacked these bastards in a pile and set fire to their blasted carcasses,” the thestral mare said with clear hatred, lighting up a cigarette and throwing the still burning match toward the black sacks to emphasize her opinion.

The still burning stick was about to land on one of the cadaver pouches when it was suddenly enveloped by a blue light and disappeared in a flash.

“What-?”

The sound of somepony clearing her throat made the little group of guards turn in direction of the noise. The princess of the night was standing a few meters away, dressed in the same uniform that she wore during the meeting with the griffon ambassadors, holding the match in a hand. Without looking away from the Lunar Guard Lieutenant, the princess blew out the match and dropped it on the ground.

“Midnight, as much as I too do not have any sympathy for these awful creatures, I would be grateful if you could avoid further attempts at destroying the evidence. The work of the investigation team is already difficult enough.” She didn't raise her voice. She didn't need to. Her stern expression was more than sufficient to make it clear to Midnight that she was disappointed in her behavior.

The thestral hung her head in shame, flattening her ears against her head. “I'm sorry, princess. I just can't stand the sight of these monsters.” She paused to take a deep drag of smoke, shuddering as she released it. “Not after what they did to Blaze...” the mare finished in a barely audible tone, her golden eyes betraying sadness as painful memories began to emerge in her mind. Cloud Skipper hopped down from the hood of the Puma and wrapped one of his wings around her to comfort her.

Princess Luna grimaced in sorrow for her friend, knowing perfectly well what memory had just surfaced. She was there when Midnight's brother was killed in battle during the invasion of Canterlot. The thestral mare could only cry in anguish as the enchanted blade of the Changeling princess pierced the chest of her brother from side to side. The memory was her most recurrent nightmare, even after two years since the tragedy.

The uneasy moment was interrupted by a blinding flash of golden light and the characteristic sound of a teleport coming from the other side of the square, in front of the town hall. Princess Celestia had arrived.

“I have to update my sister about the situation,” Luna informed, getting closer to the thestral mare and putting a hand on her shoulder. “Try to get some rest. You all have earned it,” the alicorn suggested, offering her a sympathetic smile.

Midnight Blossom nodded and gave her a little thankful smile. “Yeah, a bit of rest sounds good. I think I saw a rather inviting couch,” she said, heading for the inside of the police station.

“I'll keep her company,” Cloud Skipper said, exchanging a look with Luna.

The princess nodded her gratitude to the pegasus, knowing how close those two were. If there was anypony able to make her feel better, it was him.

After the duo had disappeared over the double door, Luna turned away and walked toward the town hall. As she went to meet her sister, a part of the princess couldn't shake off a sense of worry that had begun to grow in her.

‘What took her so long?'

“It's far worse than I expected,” Celestia said at the sight of the devastation surrounding them. Neither of them were new to this kind of violence, but it had been long since events like this had occurred. Not even the battle of Canterlot during the Changeling invasion had been so gruesome. “What is the situation?” she asked her sister.

“All eight hundred and seventy-three inhabitants are missing, along with the six members of the recon team sent to investigate the loss of contacts. We are still looking for eventual survivors, but I'm the first to think that the chances of finding any are nearly nonexistent. The attack of the Changelings was too sudden.” Luna let out a harsh sigh. “I still cannot believe that we have lost so many of our subjects because of those monsters.”

“I fear that this is not an isolated case,” Celestia said quietly.

Luna froze in place. “What do you mean?” Luna asked worriedly.

“There have been developments since you left Canterlot. During the last few hours there have been several reports of towns all across the region that have ceased any form of contact. The list now includes ten settlements.”

Upon hearing the distressful news, Luna felt her knees give away and was forced to grab the exhaust pipe of a nearby gutter to support herself.

“How many?” the blue alicorn asked weakly. “How many inhabitants are missing?”

Celestia hesitated. “We are still not sure, but the most realistic estimates are about six thousand missing.”

The pipe emitted a metal groan as the hand of the alicorn clenched around it. Luna began to tremble as a river of emotions, mostly sorrow and anger, began flowing through her.

“Monsters,” she hissed venomously. “They will pay dearly for this.”

Celestia said nothing, although she was feeling the same way as her sister. She leaned closer to Luna and enveloped her in a comforting hug until the ragged breathing of the blue alicorn returned to normal and she stopped quivering.

“Thank you, Tia,” she muttered. She sniffled and dried her eyes with the back of her hand. She then straightened herself and cleared her voice, returning to the strong figure that the ponies knew. “There is something that I want to show you,” she said, gesturing Celestia to follow her. “We have found what is left of a magic artifact in the lowest level of the power plant, in the same room as the mana spot. The device is almost completely destroyed but from what I was able to deduce, it basically intercepts the energy from the mana capacitor and uses it for powering a teleportation sigil.”

The eyes of Celestia shot open in shock. “Great maker,” she said with a whisper. “This explains everything.”

“What do you mean?”

“We had no idea how the Changelings had been able to reach the other settlements without being spotted. Even using their disguising ability, the sudden arrival of so many strangers would have drawn attention and suspicion.”

The eyes of Luna flashed in realization. “Have the attacks occurred near mana spots?”

Celestia nodded. “Indeed. We thought it was a mere coincidence, but after what you've told me, it all changes. If the Changelings are in possession of such technology, then our subjects are in great danger. I want to see that device.”

Luna nodded. “The power plant is this way, just outside the town.”

To save time, the two alicorns decided to teleport themselves, reappearing a few moments later right in front of the bulky building.
Celestia eyed with astonishment the melted lock of the front door, but when she saw the burned lobby, she gasped. A simple explosion couldn't explain such a level of destruction; this was the result of a strong deflagration combined with very high temperatures.

As they ventured further into the building, something on the gray carpet caught her attention.

“Changeling blood,” she commented, noticing the dark green trail on the floor. Her horn glowed briefly as she performed a quick analysis. “And a powerful one, judging by the traces of mana.”

Luna nodded. She had come to the same conclusion. “Most likely a young queen. Amongst the bodies we have found five Centurions, probably her bodyguards.”

“The presence of Changeling princesses at the lead of the attacks would explain the lack of residual traces of Changeling magic in the other settlements. They are powerful and skilled enough to perform such tasks.” Celestia looked again at the trail of blood. The Changeling Princesses were dangerous, not to say deadly, creatures and to kill or even simply wound them wasn't an easy feat. 'And yet, despite their powers and defenses, something or somepony managed to hurt one of them.'
This brought her to another question. “Tell me, Luna. Did you have any success in identifying who is responsible for the death of those Changelings?”

“Unfortunately, no. All the security cameras were destroyed, and they made sure to leave no survivors. Many drones show clear signs that they were executed after having been wounded. We have found sign of what seems to be a crash landing in the market square, but we have no clues about the nature of the aircraft. However we have found several strange footprints. I have talked with one of our buffalo scouts before. She was able to give me a very basic description of them based on the footprints that she found. So far, all we know about them is that these creatures are digitigrades, they weigh approximately one hundred kilos, and they are over two meters tall, maybe more. Furthermore, by the distance between the footprints, she was able to tell me that they can reach remarkable speed. One of the tracks shows that one of them reached fifty kilometers per hour.”

Celestia was impressed to say the least. “Was she able to determine how many there were?”

“That's maybe the most shocking thing. Apparently, there were only five of them, one of which remained near the impact site.”

“Just four of them did all of this? Surely they must have used some kind of combat or defensive magic.”

Luna shook her head. “The only traces of combat magic that we've found are the ones left by the Changeling's energy spears. However, preliminary studies have revealed the presence of residual levels of radiation in the wounds of the Changelings.”

'So we are in the presence of beings that rely on technology rather than magic,' Celestia though as they reached the lowest level of the power plant. She could clearly see the room of the mana spot at the bottom of the corridor, but when they were halfway, Luna stopped in front of a door in the corridor guarded by a Lunar Guard, who snapped to attention at the sight of the two alicorns. Celestia looked at her sister in confusion.

“There is something else that you should see,” Luna said, giving a nod to the unicorn mare in purple armor. The guard stepped aside and opened the door. “It's in this room,” Luna said, inviting Celestia to enter.

The elder alicorn gave her a quizzical look, but nonetheless she entered the room.

The first thing that Celestia noticed when she stepped into the room was the cold. The temperature was much lower than the one in the corridor, to the point that she could see of her own breath.

“I used a spell to lower the temperature as to not spoil the scene,” Luna explained.

Before Celestia could ask her the reasons for this, she saw the corpse covered by white sheet at the other side of the room.

“I thought it would be better if you saw her before we move the body,” Luna said in a low voice.

Celestia walked slowly toward the body and bent beside it. She grabbed a corner of fabric and slowly drew it back, revealing the body of a young unicorn mare with a light blue mane and green coat. The alicorn realized with sadness that she couldn't be older than Twilight.

“She was part of the first team sent to investigate,” Luna informed her.

Celestia looked up at her sister. “Was she already...”

Luna nodded sadly. “There wasn't anything we could do. She was already dead when the guards found her.”

“What have they done to you?” Celestia whispered, gently touching the cheek of the mare. The moment her hand touched the cheek of the mare, Celestia felt how low the residual level of magic of the unicorn was. It was almost nonexistent. Such levels could be expected from a long since dead individual, not from somepony clearly deceased for a few hours.

'The dull colors, the low reserves of magic...' Celestia's eyes widened in fear as the images of the victims of Tirek, drained of their powers, flashed through her mind.

Without notice, she grabbed the waist of the pants of the deceased mare and lowered them, revealing her flank.

“Sister, what are you doing?!” Luna exclaimed in dismay.

“I have to check something,” the elder alicorn said without turning. “It's still there,” she sighed in relief, putting the garment back into place.

“What?”

“Her cutie mark. Whatever thing the Changelings have done to her, they haven't stolen her magic. Not all, at least. However, they seem to have enhanced their feeding technique.”

In the past, Changelings fed off of emotions, slowly absorbing them until their victim was just an empty shell; an unpleasant experience, but with time and proper therapy, the victim was able to recover, at least partially. What was in front of them was something simply monstrous.

“They have not just drained her of her emotions; they have basically absorbed her life force.”

Luna looked at the unicorn body in horror and pity. It must have been an awful and miserable way to die, feeling her body become weaker and weaker while all the bodies systems collapsed. Her eyes fell on the face of the unicorn. "She looks peaceful," she murmured.

It was then that Celestia noticed the wrapped plastic sheet under the head of the mare. “Has anypony moved her body?”

“No. The guards that have found her said she was already like that.”

'Whoever has killed these Changelings at least showed some compassion for this poor girl,' Celestia thought as she pulled the sheet back into place.

With a final glance at the body, Celestia and Luna left the room. The princess of the night called the sentinel and ordered her to call a forensic team to retrieve the body in the room. The Lunar Guard nodded and hurried to the exit to perform the order.

“What should we do now? Even if we have discovered the game of the Changelings, we are still vulnerable to future attacks.”

“Before I left Canterlot I put the Royal Guard and the police forces on a state of alert, ready to intervene without prior warning. I'll order to increase the security in the areas with a mana spot.”

Luna nodded, smiling faintly. She always admired the control and the efficiency that her sister showed in the moments of crisis. However, a thought crossed her mind.

“What about the missing ponies? Soon the news of the attacks will spread through the entire kingdom.”

“I know. We cannot hide the truth nor would it be right. Our subjects deserve to know about the threat of the Changelings. We will address our subjects with an official statement, explaining to them the situation and attempting to reassure them. However, I think it would be better to omit a few details.”

“You mean the involvement of a third faction in the events of Greenville?”

Celestia nodded. “At least for now, until we know more about them.”

Luna looked at her sister with uncertainty. “Are you sure that hiding this information from our subjects is a wise idea, sister?”

The elder sister emitted an unhappy short chuckle. “Not at all, in fact I'm pretty sure that it will backfire on us in one way or another. But if we do otherwise, we would only spread the panic.”

“More than what will be after the news of the attacks will be made public?” Luna asked with a raised brow.

“I can see your point,” Celestia admitted with a sigh. “I honestly don't know if we should be more concerned over the audacity of the attacks of Chrysalis, or that there is a team of unknown individuals that managed to kill an entire company of Changeling soldiers with ease despite being numerically inferior.”

“I would like to meet them, whoever they are,” Luna admitted after a bit. “They would be powerful allies against Chrysalis.”

Celestia shook her head. “I wish I had your same optimism. The enemy of your enemy is not necessarily your friend. They killed those Changelings just because they were on their path. We don't know what would happen if they were to reach a populated area.”

As they proceeded through a barely discernible path left by some animal, Tarya gave a closer look to their surroundings. She wasn't an expert in xenoflora, but the vegetation was surprisingly similar to those that could be found on human worlds. 'I wonder what could be the cause of so many similarities. It can't be a mere coincidence.'

Their march through the forest proceeded at a steady yet slow pace due to the thick vegetation that surrounded them. The forest canopy blocked almost all the light coming from the moon, forcing them to resort to the light enhancer system of their helmets, dyeing the world around them in a wide shade of blue and purple. But the real issue was the vegetation itself. More than once Tarya was tempted to use her sword to cut through the tangled mess of branches on their path, but had to restrain herself. The dark tonalities of their armor blended perfectly with the almost total darkness of the forest undergrowth even without activating their cloaking system, but there was the risk that the light of her plasma blade could attract unwanted attention. The odds of encountering one of the locals in a forest after sunset was very thin, but the same thing couldn't be said about the local wildlife. Even if they were in a marginal zone of the forest, they didn’t know what kind of dangerous beasts dwelled amongst these woods. The Guta, native to Reach, was a good example of what kind of creatures you can find near populated areas.

After what seemed like an eternity, the forest eventually ended. Moving aside the branches of a particularly thick bush, they found themselves in front of the blue surface of a lake.
Between the edge of the forest and the water’s surface there was a dirt road that ran alongside the lakeshore. Tarya followed the road with her gaze. “We're headed the right way,” the Zealot said as she saw a massive concrete dam located several hundred meters on their right.

After a few minutes of walking along the road, they reached a point where the road parted in two ways: one path proceeded straight, likely running along the valley over the artificial barrier; the other turned toward the dam, leading directly to its crest by a ramp. There weren't guard posts, just a tall iron wire fence placed on both extremities of the dam to prevent the access. Much to their surprise, the gate of the fence wasn't closed but only ajar.

The Commando snorted in disgust at the almost nonexistent level of security. “Sabotage would not only cripple their energy production, but also endanger the settlement downstream.”

Tarya couldn't help but agree with him. The ponies seemed to have another thing in common with the humans: they lacked a real concept of permanence. The dam was made of concrete, nothing more than sand and gravel, destined to deteriorate and crumble in mere centuries, at best. She wasn't expecting the inhabitants of the planet to use oxidation-proof alloys or hard light, but she found the choice of material as frail as the concrete for something as vital as a dam, even questionable to say at the least.

Putting aside their engineering criticism, the two Sangheili reached the top of the dam. It was a good spot of observation, it allowed a perfect view of the territory downstream, including their target.

The small settlement was about two kilometers from their actual position, not too far from the forest, and was crossed by the small river that originated from the drainage water of the dam. The Zealot also noticed another set of woods in proximity of the settlement; judging by the homogeneous sizes of the plants and their geometric disposition, it was probably some kind of orchard.

“Visual contact established. Initiate identification of the point of origin,” she said, tapping a series of commands on her wrist computer.

A long series of data strings began to scroll quickly on her HUD, followed by two ballistic diagrams that intersected in the sky, one showing the trajectory of the Phantom before it was shot down, the other the energy ray, from the point of impact backwards to the ground. She followed the vector with her gaze before she found herself looking at a specific point.

“According to the ballistic calculations of the Huragok, the ray was fired from there,” she said, pointing to a specific section of the town on the right bend of the river.

“Energy scans?” Zhar asked.

“Nothing relevant, aside from the values you would expect from a civilian settlement of this technological level.”

“They may have powered down the weapon.”

“Assuming that there really is a weapon,” she retorted.

“Are you still skeptical?”

“Well, the Phantom has left the surface without interference.”

The Commando kept his gaze on the town, reflecting for a few moments. “It's dark and it's likely that most of the inhabitants are sleeping now. Let's go get a closer look.”

'Time to become ghosts,' Tarya thought as both Sangheili activated their active camo. In a blink the two aliens seemed to disappear into thin air, their bodies nothing more than a faint distortion in the air, practically impossible to detect.

Chapter 9 - Giggle at the Ghostie

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Chapter 9 – Giggle at the Ghostie

Midnight had long since passed when the last train for Ponyville had finally reached the station of the small town, delayed two hours due to a fault of the locomotive. The steam-powered machine slowed down until it finally stopped in front of the platform with a screech of brakes and several puffs of steam, then, once completely still, the doors of the train cars opened.
The few passengers who disembarked from the train grabbed their luggage and began to drowsily walk toward their respective homes, tired both from the long journey and the late hour.

Among the ponies who came down from the train there was a certain young pink earth pony mare with wild curly hair and tail.
Pinkie Pie yawned. The return trip from her hometown had been tiresome even for her, but it was worth it. It wasn't often that she had the opportunity to see her whole family, due to Maud being often involved in some expedition somewhere on the globe, so she had made sure to enjoy the two weeks with her family.

After having left some cupcakes for the machinists and the conductor of the train, the young mare adjusted her oversized travel backpack on her shoulders with a shrug and began to walk toward Sugarcube Corner, humming the song that her granny had taught her to win over her fears.

She still couldn't fathom why so many ponies were afraid of the night. The criminal rate was very low in Equestria and was practically nonexistent in Ponyville, while the dangerous creatures that roamed the Everfree Forest dwelled away from the populated areas.

'They don't know what they’re missing,' she thought as she enjoyed the stroll toward home. It was a nice night, like many in the small town. The air was pleasantly cool, pervaded by the pleasant smell of jasmine coming from the nearby garden of the flower sisters, the sky was full of stars, and from the bushes of the nearby park came the usual night concert of the crickets.

After a few minutes of walking, she had almost reached her destination. There it was, right at the end of the street. Her home away from home. Sugarcube Corner.

The mere sight of the colorful building made her smile grow wider. Not only did she have a lot of happy memories related to that place, but she considered the Cakes like a second family.

Her smile turned however in a confused frown when she noticed at the next road junction a faint distortion in the air, like the ones caused by heat in a hot summer day.

She blinked. The distortion was gone. 'What?' She shook her head and blinked again. Nothing. 'Maybe I'm just tired,' she thought, scratching her nape in confusion.

She was about to shrug off the episode as a trick of her eyes, when her body began acting weirdly, shaking uncontrollably for several seconds before it stopped abruptly.

'Oh, this is not good,' she thought worriedly.

The last time her body had acted this way was when Twilight tried to figure out her 'Pinkie Sense', only to end up accepting the fact that some things are destined to remain a mystery. But this time it was different. Along with the tremor, she felt a nasty pinch in her knee and a cold shiver ran from her nape down to her back. She gasped when she grasped the implications. Whatever strange thing was about to happen not only wasn't something good, but it was also dangerous and scary.

She and her friends had faced many bad individuals during their adventures. What if one of them had come here seeking revenge? The thought of her friends getting hurt was all she needed to shake off any form of hesitation or fear.

'Agent Pinkie will not allow any Meanie MacPants to sneak in and try to hurt her friends,' Equestria's number one Party Planner thought with determination as she let her instinct guide her to the unknown threat, leading right where Golden Oak Library was located.

Tarya felt her left eye begin to twitch. 'I surely didn't expect this.'

The young Zealot had seen many strange things in her life, but this was easily one of the weirdest. In front of them proudly stood a huge oak tree, easily four-stories tall. Actually, the tree literally had four stories. From her position, the Zealot could clearly see windows, balconies, and a front door, all seamlessly integrated with the trunk of the giant plant. Among the highest branches there was even a small terrace with what seemed to be a telescope.

But what was maybe most disconcerting was that the tree's location coincided exactly with the coordinates of the focal point of the energy beam.

'What if it’s a disguise?' She suddenly thought. The Zealot switched her vision to the infrared spectrum, but a quick analysis clearly showed that the leaves contained chlorophyll.

“It's a tree,” she finally said. “They made a building out of a living tree.”

“So it would seem,” was the simple reply of her teammate.

She turned toward Zhar. Thanks to the visual systems in her suit, she was able to see the silhouette of the other Sangheili, as well as her own body, outlined in blue, in a similar way to the VISR system used by the ODSTs.

“You don't seem particularly impressed,” she noted, trying to hide the annoyance in her voice. So far, Zhar had showed only two moods: quiet and pissed off. Not that she wasn't glad that he wasn't in berserker mode, but she was starting to find his lack of emotions rather unnerving.

“I've heard that there are similar things on Eayn (1), although with a design more simple,” the Commando replied.

The Zealot rolled her eyes, but said nothing, instead she observed the bizarre building more carefully, trying to find the best way to get inside.

'Alright, let's see. The frames of the windows of the ground floor are too small to fit our bodies, and we risk breaking some of the branches trying to reach the balconies. The only remaining option is the front door. It seems sturdy, but with the right tools I should be able to-'

“Ah-ha! Gotcha!” a high-pitched female voice much too close for their tastes exclaimed suddenly.

To her great shock, a new contact had appeared out of nowhere on her radar, just a few meters from their position. She turned slowly toward the source of the voice, only to be welcomed by a strange sight.

In front of them was a female pony dressed with a yellow tank top and green shorts, a huge backpack on her shoulders. The mare had a curvy body, tending to the plump side without being fat, with a pink coat and wild curly hair of a darker shade of pink. A strong scent of sugar and baked goods came from her, but Tarya couldn't tell if it was her natural odor or if it was due to working in a bakery.

'Where the hell did she come from?!' She thought, shocked. 'The motion tracker was clear a moment ago!'

The pony narrowed her childishly big blue eyes and scrunched her muzzle in what was supposed to be a serious face. Unfortunately, such an expression was completely out of place on her face.

'Eh. She would be intimidating if she were... well, intimidating,' Tarya thought amusedly despite everything.

The situation lost all traces of humor when the mare suddenly raised a hand, as if trying to probe the air, then she began to slowly advance toward the two cloaked Sangheili.
“I know you are there,” she said.

'Impossible,' she thought, shocked. 'She can't detect us with the active camo. Right?'

The distance between the pony and the two Sangheili was reducing dangerously and what was worse was that the mare was just a few steps from Zhar.

The hand of the Commando had instinctively moved to the hilt of his sword, ready to draw it, when an amber light in his HUD flashed twice, making him turn turn toward the Zealot. Tarya shook her head quickly. Even without words, the message was clear: no lethal force.
After a few tense moments, Zhar moved his hand away from the sword; instead, he brought back his arm and widened his hand, ready to knock out the mare with an open palm strike.

Painful, but at least she would live.

The hand of the pink mare was just a few inches from the chestplate of the Commando when a new feminine voice spoke.

“Pinkie? Is that you?”

Twilight and Flash were on their way back to the library from the park, when they noticed a familiar pink earth pony mare standing in front of the entrance of a dark alley with a hand raised, as if trying to touch something.

“Pinkie? Is that you?” Twilight Sparkle asked, pleasantly surprised, causing her friend to drop her arm and turn around on her hooves.

“Twilight, Flash! Thank Celestia you're here!” the pink mare exclaimed and before they could react, she trapped them in one of her distinctive bear hugs, reminding them of the exceptional strength hidden under her soft appearance.

“What's going on?” Twilight managed to ask once her friend released them from her bone-breaking hug.

“I was walking to Sugarcube Corner, when all of sudden my Pinkie Sense began tingling.”

“Twitchy tail?” Twilight asked with anxiety, looking up and scanning the sky frantically for eventual falling objects.

“Worse,” Pinkie Pie said dramatically, looking at her with a deadly serious expression. “First my body was all wobbly, then my knee was pinchy, and then I felt this chilly shiver run down my back.”

Twilight tried to remember the meaning of that specific combination, but had little success. “Uh, which would mean?” she asked with an equal amount of curiosity and nervousness.

“There's something scary and dangerous. And it's right there,” she said, pointing dramatically toward a dark alley just a few meters away.

Twilight and Flash glanced at the alley behind the pink mare. Besides from some dumpsters, it seemed empty.

“Are you sure that there's somepony there? I don't see anything,” Flash admitted.

“Duh, of course you don't! It's invisible!”

“Invisible?” the orange pegasus asked, raising a brow.

“Yeah! Something's hiding in that alley and it's invisible. I've even seen it.”

Flash blinked, clearly confused. “How could you have seen it if it's invisible?”

“Well, it's not exactly invisible,” Pinkie Pie admitted. “You see, while I was walking to Sugarcube Corner I saw the air shiver faintly for a brief moment.”

“Uh, how brief?”

“Hmm, a blink?” The earth pony mare offered.

Flash exchanged a glance with Twilight. She could clearly see his skepticism, although he had decided against voicing it, probably fearing to offend Pinkie.
To be honest, Twilight thought that the whole thing was strange too, however, she was more than willing to have an open mind. Not only because she had witnessed many strange things since she had arrived in Ponyville, but also because it wouldn't be right to ignore the concerns of Pinkie Pie. She had learned from her own expense what happens when you ignore the worries of a friend, even if they seem like minor nuisances.

“You- you believe me, right?” Pinkie asked with hesitation.

“Of course, Pinkie,” Twilight said with a reassuring smile. “If you say that something's hiding in the alley, then I'm going to believe you.”

“And although I'm still a bit skeptical, you two can count on me,” Flash said with a smirk. “Hmm, just out of curiosity, how are we supposed to find something that's invisible?”

“Fortunately, I know a spell for these kinds of situations.”

She closed her eyes and steadied her breathing, focusing for the task ahead of her. Her horn began to glow and soon it started to hum softly, emitting magenta waves of energy.

“Strange,” she muttered after a few moments, furrowing her brows.

“What?”

“I feel something, but I'm not sure what is it.”

A metallic clatter rang through the air suddenly, breaking her concentration and interrupting the spell. The three ponies turned toward the alley, where they saw an empty tin can rolling on the ground.

Twilight narrowed her gaze. “Who's there?” she demanded with authority, but no reply came. 'Maybe Pinkie was right after all.'

She took a step ahead, determined to clearly see what was happening, when she felt Flash's hand gently grab her arm.

“Ah ah ah. Don't rush. We go together,” Flash said, looking the alicorn in the eyes.

Twilight nodded. She knew that the guard was perfectly aware that she was able to take care of herself, but she also knew that there was no point in going alone headfirst into a potentially dangerous situation.
Flash carefully put down the holdall containing the disassembled telescope and checked for something quickly under his black jacket. Satisfied, he began to slowly advance toward the alley, followed closely by the two mares.

The atmosphere in the alley wasn't the most inviting, what little light coming from the moon was barely enough to see where they were going, and the only sound was the one of their hooves on the ground.

“I'm happy to see you guys again,” Pinkie said quietly, breaking the unnerving silence.

“I'm happy that you're back. I thought that you would have returned tomorrow,” the alicorn replied, giving a broad smile to her friend.

“Maud had to leave for an expedition to the Macintosh Hills, so I accompanied her to the airport of Las Pegasus before continuing to Ponyville,” the party planner explained.

“That's a pretty big deviation,” Twilight noted.

“When you're family, you make this and more,” Pinkie said with a shrug. “Soooo, what were you two doing?”

“We've just come back from the the park. I had a bad day, and Flash offered to accompany me to the hill to watch the stars with my telescope. The sight of the night sky always helps me to relax.”

“Oh, nice! But why didn’t you use the upper balcony of the library?”

“Well, the hill is more spacious and also offers a good view of the landscape... and the upper balcony is not available at the moment.”

“What's happened?”

Twilight looked away, embarrassed. “Well, you see-”

One of the metal trash cans behind them suddenly overturned with a loud noise, spilling garbage on the ground, while its top rolled away until it clashed against the opposite wall of the alley.

The ponies turned abruptly toward the source of the noise, just to see a pair of menacing yellow eyes with slit pupils staring at them from the dark. Twilight readied herself to use her magic, while Flash drew his pistol from the holster hidden under his jacket and aimed it at the unknown threat.

“Freeze!” he shouted.

“MEOW!”

The orange pegasus slightly lowered his weapon and cocked his head in confusion. “What?”

The alicorn's horn glowed, flooding the area with light and revealing the identity of the mysterious presence. Standing on top of a trash can was a big black cat that was looking at them with unconcealed hostility.

“Phew,” Flash Sentry breathed in relief, putting his pistol back into the holster. “So, it was you all the time, eh, little fella?” he chuckled, trying to pet the head of the cat. The cat in response hissed and clawed the air in front of him, trying to scratch the outstretched hand of the pegasus.
“Whoa, buddy,” the young guard exclaimed, retracting his hand out of reach from the sharp talons of the cat. “I get it, you want to stay alone.”

The cat gave them a last nasty glance, then it jumped on the ground and walked away.

“Mystery solved,” Twilight said with a smirk. Her expression turned however to a worried frown when she saw Pinkie Pie. Her hair had partly deflated and she was looking in disbelief in the direction where the cat had gone.

“Pinkie? Are you alright?” Twilight asked cautiously.

“Yeah,” she said, before frowning. “I mean, no. I mean- urgh!” the usually happy party planner exclaimed irritably, stomping toward the exit of the alley.

Twilight and Flash exchanged a glance and hurried after her. Pinkie Pie was visibly upset, something that happened very rarely.

“I don't understand! I was so sure that there was something hiding here, instead it was just a grumpy kitty.”

“Pinkie, please, calm down,” Twilight said in attempt to tranquilize her friend.

“Calm down? Calm down?! How can I calm down, Twilight?” In a blink the earth pony was in front of the alicorn and grabbed her by the shoulders. “My Pinkie sense was wrong! It has never been wrong!” She exclaimed, shaking her friend. “What if it were to happen again? What if I were the only one able to feel a danger but I couldn't?” She suddenly stopped shaking Twilight and gasped dramatically. “What if there's a party and I don't know about it?” she exclaimed, clearly horrified by the perspective. “All these bad things would happen and nopony would be able to know about them in advance and it would be. All. My. Fault!”

Twilight brought her wings around her friend, enveloping her in a warm hug. The effect on the distressed mare was almost instantaneous, her breathing become more regular and her expression relaxed.

“Pinkie, you have no reason to blame yourself. Being wrong can happen to anypony, it's natural. Trust me, I know how it feels to be wrong when you're so sure of something, heck, just look at my lab after the experiment.”

“Experiment?” Pinkie Pie asked in confusion, forgetting her frustrations for a moment.

“Err, long story. I'll tell you tomorrow. The point is, you weren't doing anything bad, in fact, you were just worried for those you care about.”

“This doesn't change the fact that my Pinkie Sense was wrong,” she grumbled, crossing her arms. “It’s never happened before.”

“Maybe it's because you’re fatigued from the long journey,” Twilight offered. “I have no idea how you special ability works, but everypony is more inclined to commit mistakes when tired.

“... yeah, maybe,” Pinkie Pie conceded, finally looking at her. “Well, I better go. I wanna wake up early to prepare a surprise breakfast for the Cakes and the twins,” she said with a small smile. “Will I see you tomorrow?”

“Of course! I would be happy to hear about your vacation, as will the girls I’m sure.”

“Great! I have a lot of photos to show you. Nighty nighty!” She waved at them and walked away, although without her trademark bouncing gait.

“I still feel sorry for her. She was so sure of herself,” Twilight admitted.

“Yeah, me too. At least, she seems to have taken it rather well,” Flash commented.

“It's one of the perks of being Pinkie Pie. No matter what life throws at you, she will always be able to find a way to cheer up.” Her gaze drifted briefly toward the alley. “I don't think it was the cat,” she said suddenly.

“What?”

“The strange feeling that I felt when I cast the spell. It wasn't the natural magic signature of a cat. It felt different, like some kind of disturbance in the environment.”

“If it wasn't the cat, then what was it?” Flash asked, trying to hide the hint of nervousness in his voice.

Twilight tapped her index finger on her chin, assuming a contemplative expression. “Hmm, probably just a residual effect of this afternoon's accident,” she concluded with a shrug. “Energy emissions of that entity can interfere with the magic of a spellcaster.”

The pegasus looked at her with concern. “Do you feel alright?”

Twilight smiled at him reassuringly. “Thanks for the concern, but you don't have to worry. It's just a temporary nuisance, I know from personal experience that all residual effects will disappear within the next few hours.”

Twilight yawned, covering her mouth with a hand. “Well, I don't know about you, but I think that we'd better follow Pinkie's example and go to bed. Tomorrow we have to complete the inventory of the rock samples to be returned to the Museum.”

“Oh, joy,” the pegasus said with a hint of sarcasm as he grabbed the sack with the telescope from the ground, causing the alicorn to roll her eyes in amusement.

Twilight and Flash resumed their path toward the library, completely unaware of the two concealed presences intent on observing them.

“That was close,” the Zealot muttered, releasing a breath of relief once she was sure that the ponies were far enough.

She and Zhar had retreated inside of the alley to rely on the shadows to hide the slight optical distortion caused by the active camo when the user moved, but in the process she had inadvertently kicked a tin can lying on the ground. Fortunately, the ponies hadn't seen the tin jar as it moved apparently by itself, but the noise hadn't gone unnoticed.

Her moment of relief didn't last long. Her body tensed when she felt the big hand of the Commando on her shoulder. She turned, only to see the emotionless helmet of Zhar a few inches from her face.

“Next time, try to be more careful,” the Commando said coldly. “You may not be so lucky.”

The conversation that they had on the ship before the mission flashed through her mind and once again the Zealot wondered if the rumors about the Commando killing his subordinates when they committed a mistake were true.

“Anyway,” he continued with a more casual tone. “good idea using the cat as a diversion, although it was a bit risky.”

Tarya gulped nervously. “I had to think quickly.”

Zhar nodded, then he looked back in direction of the tree. “I wonder how they managed to sense our presence even with the active camo,” he said as he watched the two ponies go inside the library, turning on some of the lights.

“Maybe they're able to perceive the interferences in the electromagnetic field or in the air pressure,” Tarya offered. “Nax theorized that the Changelings use their horns as a natural condenser for some kind of energy that they then exploit in different ways, from energy beams to telekinesis. After seeing that sort of scan performed by the one called Twilight, I think that it’s reasonable to think that the same thing happens with the ponies who have a horn.”

“This still doesn't explain how the pink one could sense our position or how she managed to come so close without us noticing,” Zhar pointed out.

Tarya had to agree with him, it didn't make any sense. A thought suddenly struck her mind. “How come you weren't able to notice her? No offense, but you are quite an expert in fighting stealthy enemies.”

That was an understatement. The number of Jiralhanae Stalkers and ODST commandos that the Spec Ops Officer had killed in his career was impressive, to say the least. According to some rumors, he was even responsible for the death of a team of Headhunters, but the relative files were classified.

The Commando growled, barely containing his irritation. “I have no idea, but I can assure you that she will not have a second chance.”

Tarya decided to not press the matter. Zhar was well known to be a hellhound on the battlefield. The fact that he hadn't been able to detect the mare must have been a blow to his pride.

They waited in silence before the lights of the library were turned off, then, once sure that there weren't signs of activity, they neared the building. It was even bigger when seen up close. Tarya touched the massive trunk, feeling the rough texture of the bark. She smirked. Her uncle would have been fascinated by the sight of the tree.
Her attention was then caught by a big wooden signboard located next to the entrance.

“Golden Oak Library,” she read aloud. “Not really creative, but it seems appropriate.”

The signboard also contained some informative lines about the history of the library. Most of the information was useless to them, nothing more than a curiosity, but the last lines told her a different story.

“Oh, this explains the bodyguard,” she commented, clearly intrigued.

“What have you found?” Zhar asked getting closer.

“According to these notes, the library is also the residence of princess Twilight Sparkle.”

“Really? How interesting. Then it's a further reason to take a look.”

The Zealot studied the door's lock. “Give me a few minutes,” she said, crouching in front of the lock and extracting some tools from a pocket in her breastplate.

It wasn't long before the lock clicked opened with a barely audible sound.

“Here we go,” Tarya said, opening the door with a gentle push and standing up straight again.
'When you deal with plasma reactors and antigravity plates on daily basis, a mechanical lock is a walk in the park,' she thought while putting the burglary tools back in place and taking a step inside the strange building.

The moment she was inside the room, the eyes of the Zealot began to sparkle in excitement. The walls were entirely covered with books, all placed neatly on shelves that seemed to have been grown from the wood of the walls rather than assembled. An entire library filled with the knowledge of a completely unknown species was right in front of her, waiting to be read. It took all her willpower to avoid succumbing to her thirst for knowledge and grabbing the nearest book.

'There will be time later for this. For now, let's focus on the mission,' she thought, studying the room in search of anything that could led them to the origin of the energy beam. 'Let's see, shelves filled to the brim with books, a big round table with chairs, a ramp of stairs that go upwards, two doors, a hole in the ceiling- wait, a hole in the ceiling?'

The hole was circular, at least half a meter wide, with charred edges, like if it had been created by something incredibly hot. Looking down at the floor, she found a hole that matched the one in the ceiling. She compared the vector of the energy ray with the disposition of the two holes, finding out that they matched perfectly.

“Seems like the shot came from downstairs,” she commented. “There should be an access for the basement, somewhere.”

It didn't take long to find it. Of the two doors, one gave access to what seemed to be a kitchen, while other lead to a ramp of stairs that went down.
They walked cautiously down the stairs, making sure to distribute their weight uniformly on the wooden steps to avoid causing unwanted noise, until they reached what looked like a laboratory.
Along with more shelves loaded with books, the wide room was filled with an incredible amount of what seemed to be scientific equipment, as well as blackboards and tables loaded with countless laboratory glassware and sheets of formulas.

What had these things in common? Almost everything in the lab was destroyed or damaged.

Many glass containers were cracked or shattered, the halos caused by the spilled liquid that they once contained evident on the surfaces on which they rested, the electronic equipment was destroyed or heavily damaged, while the tables and a good portion of the wooden floor were blackened, evidently burned by an explosion whose epicenter seemed to be a strange device located in the middle of the room, right under the hole in the ceiling.

“So this would be the experiment that Twilight Sparkle mentioned,” Zhar commented, studying the strange device.

“So it would seem. Or at least, this is what is left of it,” Tarya replied as she examined the wreckage of the equipment. Thermionic valves? She already knew that the ponies were a primitive race, but she expected that they had at least invented the transistor. “It doesn't take a genius to know that something went wrong.”
She spent the next several minutes examining the device, taking pictures and performing scans of the different components.
“I don't know about you, but whatever this thing is, it doesn't seem to be a weapon,” she said once she had finished. “There are no targeting systems, nor even a mechanism to adjust the inclination or even move it. Most importantly, I doubt that anybody would be stupid enough to try to shoot an energy weapon in a closed environment, especially if it can only fire perpendicularly to the ground. My best guess is that it's some kind of device to generate energy.”

“What brings you to such a conclusion?”

“This,” she said, showing what seemed a curved fragment of rock covered by crystalline material in the convex section.

“A fragment of a geode?”

Tarya nodded. “The power plant in that town was full of these things. From what I was able to understand, the locals managed to find a way to use them as batteries, although I still have no idea what kind of energy they use to charge them.”

Zhar remained in silence for a few minutes, digesting the information. “So, we were basically just in the wrong place at the wrong time?” he eventually asked.

“As astronomically low as it is, statistically speaking,” - she admitted - “I think that's what happened.”

The Commando snorted. “All those precautions and paranoia, just to discover that it was a lucky shot.”

“Well, try to look at the bright side. We have one less thing to be worried about, and we didn't have to blow up anything.”

“Many things can still happen. If there is a thing that I know for sure, is that things never go according to plan,” he said, making his way to the stairs.

“Just out of curiosity, what kind of explosives have you brought?” she asked, following him.

“Proximity bombs, explosive charges, plasma grenades, and some cans of C7, as well as the relative detonators.”

Tarya was astonished by the amount of explosive that Zhar was carrying. He had enough firepower to blow a hole in the hull of a human destroyer. But there was something that confused her.

“Where did you get those cans of explosive?”

“Black market,” was the curt reply of Zhar as he opened the door to the library's lobby.

“Oh.” That explained a lot. When the war against humanity ended, a lot of war material was looted, not just from the Covenant arsenals, but also from the ones of the UNSC. She was then reminded of the conversation that she had with the doctor. “Let me guess. Fireteam Heretic?”

The Commando nodded. “The only reason why those two idiots are on the ship is because of their shooting skills and the fact that, thanks to their previous career as mercenaries, they have contacts in the underground.”

Tarya grabbed the handle of the front door, but paused and gave a last look around. 'Might as well take advantage of the situation,' she thought, walking toward one of the bookshelves.

“What are you doing?”

“What do you think? I'm gathering intel,” she replied as she scrolled quickly through the different titles. “Help me finding something useful on our guests.”

After a quick search, they managed to find what they were looking for. Two slim volumes, respectively named Base guide to Equestria and Surroundings, and Introduction to the Pony Race.
The Zealot put them both on a nearby table and began to browse quickly through the books, not even bothering to read what was written on the pages, instead scanning the text with the camera of her helmet, so that she could read their content once they were in a safe place.

The entire process lasted just a few minutes and, once she had finished, she put the books back in place.

“Alright, we can go now.”

The Commando nodded. “Let's find a quiet place from where we can contact the battlecruiser and inform the Shipmaster that the inhabitants don't pose a threat to us. After that, we'll rest a bit until the crack of dawn. I have the impression that tomorrow will be a long day.”

Chapter 10 - Memories - Part 1

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Chapter 10 - Memories - Part 1

23 August 2552 - Human Military Calendar
27° Cycle of the Ninth Age of Reclamation - Covenant Military Calendar
Human world of Tribute, Casbah City

Another dawn had come on Tribute, its light bathing the war zone that was once the capital of the planet.

Two Sangheili in Spec Ops armor, one dark red, the other midnight blue, were walking down one of the streets in the periphery of the city, ignoring the destruction around them. They were walking parallel to a long line of destroyed civilian vehicles when the wind rose, carrying not only the sound of distant battles, but also what many called the scent of war. The sweetish stench of the charred corpses, trapped inside the wreck of their cars, mingled with the ones of burned metal and molten plastic and asphalt, creating an awful combination.

Zhar Vadamee snorted in annoyance at the smell, but he didn't show further signs of discomfort. After countless deployments on the ground, the young Major had grown used to scenes like this, especially since all the corpses didn't even belong to members of his species. They were just humans.

“How long until we reach the target?” Olar, the Spec Ops Minor that was assisting him in the mission, asked. He was a good element, although too eager to prove himself, especially when they worked together. Zhar didn't know for sure if it was his normal attitude, or if it was just jealousy caused by the fact that, although being a year younger, Zhar had the highest rank.

“We are almost there,” Zhar informed him. “It's only five blocks ahead.”

The Sangheili in dark blue armor grunted.

“Is something bothering you, brother?”

“I'm just frustrated, sir. While our comrades are fighting on the front line, the Field Marshal Remoree sent us to retrieve something from a wreckage. Why not give the task to the Jiralhanae? After all, this sector is under their control.”

A few hours before, a Falcon on which was traveling an ONI officer had been attacked and shoot down by one of their Banshees. According to the reports of the Spec Ops division, the officer was carrying with him sensitive intel, intel that were crucial for the campaign against the humans. Due to the air battle still in act over the skies of the city and the massive presence of AA batteries, a retrieval by air was out of the question, so the command had decided to sent the Spec Ops.

“And leave the merit of the recovery to those barbarians? Not a chance. The Field Marshal didn't even inform the Jiralhanae about the true nature of the cargo. He doesn't want to risk that they play some dirty trick.”

They walked in silence for the following twenty minutes, until they finally reached their destination. The tower-block, an elegant structure consisting at least fifty floors, was the tallest building of the residential area. It was surrounded on three sides by a small park with a large square in front of the entrance. The wide space was devoid of obstructions, making the location an ideal landing zone, thus it was logical for it to have been chosen as an evacuation point.

An evacuation that never happened. The Jiralhanae had come in the middle of the night, slaughtering everything in their path.

Destroyed vehicles belonging to the local police department and the planetary security forces were littered through the square, along with the bodies of several humans in riot gear or Army uniforms. In the distance, half hidden by the park's trees, was the still smoking remains of a Pelican dropship.

While they passed through the remains of what had been a one sided battle, his gaze stopped for a moment on a woman's head, still wearing her riot helmet, impaled by a metal spike on the flank of a van. It was just the head. The rest of the body was gods know where, and quite frankly, Zhar didn't wanted to know.

'Brutes,' Zhar thought. 'That's what the humans call them. A nickname perfectly deserved.'

A quick glance to some of the corpses showed perfectly why their species was often used as a psychological weapon. Many of the bodies were barely recognizable, torn apart by the primitive and brutal weapons that they seemed to favor, or in some cases, by sheer brute force.

“It's a pity that we've missed the battle,” the Minor commented.

“Battle? I'd rather use the word slaughter.”

“I don't see the difference, sir. A dead human is still a dead human, it doesn't matter how it's killed.”

Zhar didn't reply, instead he looked more carefully at the surrounding area, frowning at what he saw. The area had been fortified with deployable towers, infantry shields, and even a pair of Shade turrets. Everything was arranged in the most effective way, providing efficient cover and clean firing lines.

The problem was that the infantry was almost completely absent, with the exception of about sixty Unggoy. There weren't snipers on the towers, the turrets were unmanned, and the few patrols that he could see were formed just by a pair of Unggoy, who always followed the same predictable path.

Without somebody to oversee them, except for a handful of veterans, the rest of the Unggoy were doing what their species did best: being lazy.

“What in the name of the Prophets is going on?” he growled, marching with decision toward the closest communication node, forcing the Unggoy in his path to step aside.

An Unggoy Ultra donning the characteristic white armor and full helmet was peacefully sleeping near the slender communication device, completely oblivious of the presence of the Sangheili.

'All hail the conquering hero,' Zhar thought sarcastically at the pathetic scene in front of him, before he unceremoniously woke up the Unggoy with a kick.

The little creature jolted awake and growled, ready to scold whoever had dared to interrupt his nap, but when he noticed the menacing figure towering above him, he squeaked in fear and stood to attention.

“Where is your commanding officer?” Zhar growled.

Shaking like a leaf under the towering figure of the Sangheili, the little soldier pointed one of his oversized claws toward the building.

“Big boss is inside with Jiralhanae and Kig-Yar,” he said with his high pitched voice. “Unggoy stay outside and look for threats,” he hurried to add, hoping to placate the wrath of the Sangheili by pointing out their dedication to duty. It wasn't uncommon to hear about a member of the martial warrior race executing a subordinate belonging to a lesser species on the spot when they failed to perform their tasks. And the Unggoy were on the bottom of the Covenant hierarchy.

“I can well see it,” Zhar replied sarcastically, before walking away toward the entrance of the building, followed by Olar. “Idiots,” the Major growled. “They must have a death wish if they let the cannon fodder do a warrior's work.”

There were still many pockets of resistance in the area and with the evacuation of civilians still in act, the UNSC had started to perform a strategy of urban guerrilla warfare in order to draw the attention of the Covenant away from the spaceports.

The moment he opened the doors of dark tinted glass, he was hit by the smell of death.

'This explains why there were too few bodies compared to the quantity of blood on the ground.'

The atrium of the tower block occupied the first three floors, the structure consisting of surfaces that were a combination of dark marble and teak wood that created an elegant and homey environment. Balconies adorned with plants ran all around while huge windows provided an abundance of natural light.

This artwork of architecture now looked like a slaughterhouse. Wherever he let his gaze fall, he saw Jiralhanae and Kig-Yar that were intent on devouring human corpses.

The Jiralhanae were sitting in small groups around piles of dismembered corpses, talking and joking while consuming huge quantities of raw flesh.

The Kig-Yar instead seemed to be victims of a feeding frenzy, tearing the flesh from the corpses using their fang filled beaks, hissing and growling like feral beasts.

'Savages,' Zhar thought, disgusted at the sight in front of them.

Zhar was the first to admit that he wasn't a saint, but the scene in front of him was ignoble and dishonorable to say the least, a complete lack of respect toward the enemy that went against everything he had been taught.

“Oh, look who have finally decided to join us,” said a deep guttural voice, interrupting his train of thought. “The mighty warriors of Sanghelios.”

The owner of the voice was a Jiralhanae wearing the iridescent blue armor of the Captains, save for the helmet, which he had probably taken off to eat without obstructions. The blades of the Spiker rifle on his hip were bloody, no doubt he had used them to cut the flesh from one of the corpses.

“Want some?” he asked, showing the leg that he kept in his hand.

“We don't eat sapient creatures,” Zhar replied flatly.

The Jiralhanae shrugged. “Bah, do as you wish. More flesh for us, then,” he said, taking another large bite from the severed limb, ignoring the blood that was dripping down his chin and short beard.

“Where is your pack leader?” Zhar asked, ignoring the irreverent attitude of the hulking creature.

The Captain chewed with his mouth open for a bit, keeping his eyes on the Spec Ops Major, before he finally gulped the morsel. “This way,” he said, gesturing for them to follow him.

“You remain silent, I will be the one who talks,” Zhar instructed his teammate through a private channel while they walked after their guide. Olar nodded, keeping an eye on the members of the war pack around them for eventual signs of danger.

It wasn't a secret that Sangheili and Jiralhanae hated each other reciprocally. So far, most of them seemed to ignore the two Sangheili, safe for a few who gave them hostile looks, but in the case of some of the younger members of the pack, the smell emissions that they used to communicate their emotions seemed to change, becoming more acrid.

It wasn't long before they reached their destination. The Chieftain and his officers were sitting on some fabric sofas, discussing amongst them while feasting with the usual banquet of human flesh. It was with mild surprise that Zhar noticed the presence of three Kig-Yar with them, all of them T'Vaoan. One was wearing Champion armor while the others wore the Murmillo variant.

“Chieftain Antigonus, you have visitors,” the Captain announced, gesturing at the two Spec Ops.

The colossus in black and red armor raised his gaze from his meal toward the newcomers, showing a big pale scar on the right side of his face, probably a result of the fight with which he had obtained the leadership of the pack.

“Hmm, I was wondering when you would come,” the Chieftain said with his deep voice after having studied the two Spec Ops for a few moments. “I guess that you are here for the human aircraft.”

“This is correct,” Zhar said. “We were told that it crashed in this sector. Where is it?”

The lips of the Chieftain twisted into a smirk. “Oh, you are really lucky, Major. It's not far. Actually, it crashed on the roof of this same building.”

“Thank you for the directions, Chieftain,” Zhar said with a slight nod, before heading toward the elevators with Olar.

They had already made a dozen or so meters when they heard Antigonus speak again.

“Oh, I almost forgot, the elevators no longer work. You see, during the battle the electrical room was damaged and, as a result, the electricity is gone. I'm sorry, but you'll have to use the stairs,” he said with clearly fake consternation.

“How unfortunate,” Zhar replied dryly, doing his best to maintain calm. 'Especially if you consider that the electrical rooms are always built under the buildings, while the fight was outside.'

“Let's find the damn stairs,” he said in a low voice to Olar, ignoring the increasing chorus of laughter as the news of their 'misfortune' traveled through the members of the pack. “The sooner we complete our mission, the sooner we can leave those beasts and their disgusting stench.”

Fifty flights of stairs later, the two Sangheili finally reached the roof of the tower-block.

“Now I get why the Rangers have jetpacks,” Olar grunted. “Another ramp of stairs and we would have been able to board one of our ships.”

Zhar said nothing. The training he had to endure on Sanghelios had been far more brutal and wearisome than this, and he had long since learned how to ignore pain and fatigue.

'There it is.'

The Falcon was about twenty meters on their left. Judging by the signs on the floor of the roof, after the Falcon had made initial impact, it had broken the landing skids, causing the aircraft to have skidded on its belly until it had been stopped by the now deformed balustrade.

“Watch the sky for potential threats,” he ordered the Minor, before walking toward the Falcon.

The sky above them was crossed by the long trails of smoke and vapor of missiles and the bright globes of plasma weapons, with the occasional explosion when one of the multiple aircrafts was destroyed. So far, the battle took place at high altitude, but the last thing that they needed was to be attacked by a team of Hornets while they were on the highest spot in the surrounding three kilometers.

Getting closer, Zhar could clearly see the extent of the damage. The aircraft was in bad shape, but the left side was the one that had endured the worst fate. The propeller was missing two blades, while what was left of the engine was reduced to a block of molten metal.
The machine gun and the relative gunner on the left side were completely missing, all that remained was a molten hardpoint, probably as a result of a direct hit from a fuel rod cannon.

A quick glance to the bloodstained cockpit confirmed that the pilot had died in the impact. He moved to the troop compartment. There were three more humans, two of which donned ODST armor. One was manning the remaining machine gun, while the other was sitting on the bench, tail side. Sitting in front of him was a man wearing the dark uniform of the ONI officers.

They were all dead. The gunner had a fourth degree plasma burn on his chest, while the officer had his head bent to an unnatural angle. Getting closer, Zhar noticed that the remaining ODST didn't show any particularly serious wounds, aside from a gash on his left leg which he had taken care, if the used can of biofoam was a clue.

Zhar approached him cautiously and gave him a slight push on the shoulder. The human fell on his side on the bench like a rag doll and remained still.

'Probably died of internal bleeding,' he thought as he was forced to bend his neck in order to enter the troop compartment without hitting his head on the ceiling. Whoever had designed the aircraft hadn't certainly done it to accommodate a Sangheili.

The hands of the ONI officer were clenched around the armored canister made of titanium and ballistic glass, holding it against his chest like a mother would do with her child. Whatever the contents was, it must have been really important if this man was protecting it even after death.
When he moved the hand of the corpse aside to free the canister, he finally had a clear sight of its contents, or content in this case. Suspended inside of it was a small rectangular object of metal with a hole in the middle, in which shined a bright yellow light.

'An AI data chip?' Zhar thought, surprised. 'No wonder the Field Marshal didn't inform the Jiralhanae about the true nature of our mission.'

He was about to grab the canister when he suddenly heard from behind him the unmistakable sound of the safety of a gun clicking off. He jerked his head around just in time to see a pistol being aimed at his face.

The ODST had just pretended to be dead. And now, without a word, he squeezed the trigger.

Three semi armor piercing high explosive bullets impacted almost point blank in quick succession against the helmet of the Spec Ops, draining his shields quickly, but much to his surprise, the fourth shot, the one that should have penetrated his helmet and killed him, never came. Instead, the pistol emitted a loud CLICK.

Zhar didn't know if the pistol had jammed or if its magazine was already almost empty, but he didn't care. Without wasting time, the young Major violently punched the ODST in the stomach with his right hand, breaking several of his ribs, while his other hand snatched the pistol from the ODST and threw it away. He then grabbed the human by the neck using his left hand and yanked him from his seat, dragging him out of the Falcon and holding him in the air.

True to their reputation of unyielding warriors even in the most desperate situations, the ODST extracted a combat knife from his arm holster and tried to stab Zhar in the neck, but the Spec Ops was faster and intercepted the attack by grabbing his wrist.

“Nice try,” he complimented in English before breaking the wrist of the man with a quick torsion of the hand.

The human screamed in pain, releasing his grip on the knife, which fell harmlessly on the concrete floor.

“You tried to kill me twice. I should leave you to the mercy of the Brutes, and we both know that they have none,” Zhar growled ominously, staring at the polarized visor of the ODST. “But I feel generous, so I'll spare you the trouble of going down the stairs,” he said, before starting to walk toward the edge of the roof.

“No!” the man yelled in panic when he realized the meaning of the words of Zhar. He began to kick the chestplate and to punch the arm of the Spec Ops with his still sane hand, doing everything in his power to break free from the steel grip of the Sangheili, but without success. Soon the ODST found himself suspended in the air over the safety railing.

“Any last words?” Zhar asked with a conversational tone.

“Go fuck yourself!” the man managed to yell over the pain caused by the broken bones.

“Why does your species always think about mating?” the Spec Ops asked rhetorically, letting him go.

To his credit, the human didn't scream. Not right away, at least. He had already fallen for three floors before the realization that he wouldn't survive the fall hit him. His panicked scream ended abruptly seconds later when his head smashed against the concrete ground, splattering blood and brain all around. Even from the roof, Zhar could hear the sickening sound of the cranium that fractured.

“They should change their motto from feet first to head first into hell,” he joked, causing the Minor to laugh.

Zhar walked back to the Falcon and retrieved the cylinder containing the AI data chip. “We have what we have come for,” he said, attaching the canister to the magnetic lock on his back. “We can go now.”

The Spec Ops had reached the ninth floor when they heard the noise of a slammed door.

“I thought that there was nobody here,” Olar said, giving a puzzled look to the Major.

“Better go investigate,” Zhar said, pulling out his plasma rifle and opening the door that gave access to the floor. “Given the level of professionalism shown by Antigonus and his soldiers, I wouldn't be surprised to find out that a Spartan managed to sneak inside the building.”

All the doors of the corridor had been systematically broken open by the Jiralhanae while they searched for eventual survivors that had hidden in their homes, and judging by the bloody footprints on the fitted carpet, they didn't leave empty-handed.

They were about to turn a corner, when suddenly a Kig-Yar appeared from behind it. The avian creature failed to stop in time, instead he bumped against the chest of the Minor and fell on the ground, spraying all around the contents of the sack he was carrying, which mostly consisted of bottles of alcohol. By the strong smell of alcohol that the Kig-Yar was emitting, he had not merely hoarded the bottles.

“He drank on duty in a war zone?” Olar exclaimed, indignant

“And they wonder why we are the right hand of the Prophets,” Zhar commented, watching in disgust as the smaller creature tried, and failed, to gather the bottles from the floor.

It was just now that the drunken Kig-Yar seemed to take notice of the two Sangheili for the first time. He softly cawed something in his native language, trying get back on his feet, but unsuccessful.

Losing his patience, the Minor roughly grabbed the Kig-Yar by the arm and raised him from the ground. The suddenness of the movement didn't fit well with the current drunken state of the smaller alien and as result, the Kig-Yar emptied the entire contents of his stomach on the boots of the Sangheili.

Olar stared in complete shock at the mess on his armor, still holding the avian creature by the arm, but when the awful stench hit his nostrils, he finally snapped.

“How dare you, you filthy scavenger!” he roared, hurling the Kig-Yar against a nearby wall with enough strength to break his neck, killing him on impact.

“Feeling better?” Zhar asked.

Wordlessly, the Minor grabbed his rifle and fired a couple of times into the chest of the Kig-Yar.

“Now, yes,” he replied, re-holstering his weapon. He sniffed the air a couple of times. “Yuck! There's no way that I'll walk back to the base while carrying this stench around.”

“With any luck there's still water in the pipes,” Zhar said, stepping over the corpse of the Kig-Yar as if it was a pile of garbage.

“I hope so,” Olar grumbled before entering the closest apartment, looking for a shower. It wasn’t long before Zhar could hear the noise of running water.

Not having anything better to do while the Minor cleaned his armor, Zhar decided to take a look around. He wandered through the different rooms, observing with mild interest the different objects that were a part of the daily life of humans, until he stopped in front of a particular room.

The kitchen.

“Hmm, I wonder if...” he trailed off before he stepped inside the room and started rummaging through the various cupboards. 'Ah-ah! There it is,' he thought happily when he found what he was hoping for.
He gave a quick glance around to make sure that nobody was looking at him, then he grabbed the tablet of chocolate and put it in a pocket of his armor. 'Nax will appreciate it.'
His physician friend was crazy about chocolate, but unfortunately it wasn't an item easy to find lying around, even with the help of the Kig-Yar smugglers.

Satisfied with his little discovery, he decided to check the rest of the dwelling. It was then that he found the bodies in the bedroom. They were two adults roughly of the same age, a male and a female, both with chest wounds caused by a Spiker rifle.
The man was the one closer to the door, still holding in his hand a small-caliber pistol, which had obviously failed to penetrate the power armor of his aggressor.

Zhar stared at the corpses in silence for a bit, then he snapped his jaws and was about to leave the room, but stopped in the threshold. His instinct told him that something was off.
He looked more carefully at the bodies, in particular, the one of the female human. By the traces of blood, he was able to tell that the woman hadn't died instantly, instead, she had managed to crawl for a couple of meters toward a closet, leaving a bloody handprint on its door before dying.

What was so important in the closet?

Grabbing the handle, he threw open the door of the wardrobe. What he found inside the small cubicle made him pause.

'Of course. I should have expected .'

Sitting on the floor in a corner of the closet, with her knees close to her face and her arms wrapped around her legs, was a little girl.
Her dark hair were covering her face, but from the way she quietly sniffled, it was obvious that she was crying.

'She must have remained hidden when the Jiralhanae arrived, while the smell of the blood of her parents must have covered her olfactory trace,' Zhar guessed, looking at the small creature in front of him.

He snapped his jaws, knowing what he had to do. The orders of the Hierarchs were clear. He detached the rifle from the magnetic lock on his right hip, then he grabbed the little girl by the arm and pulled her out of the closet. She didn’t offer any resistance.

'Pathetic,' he thought. There wasn't any satisfaction in shooting a creature that didn't even try to defend itself.

However, he couldn't help but feel uncomfortable when, after having grabbed her, he noticed that she was even more lightweight and frail than he had originally supposed.

'What did you expected?' a voice in his mind said. 'She's just a child.'

He paused. Why did he think about her that way? She was a human.

'A human child,' the voice insisted.

Zhar ignored the voice and put the child down.

Even when he let her go she didn't react. He expected that she would try to run away or at least scream, but she did none of this. She just stood there, in silence, shifting her gaze slowly from a body to another.

'Mine is an act of mercy after all. If not me, then it would be one of the Jiralhanae or the Kig-Yar,' he thought, aiming his plasma rifle at her little chest.

He was about to squeeze the trigger, when the girl finally gave him a reaction. Looking a last time to the bodies of her parents, the young human raised her gaze toward the Spec Ops Major. It was just now that he noticed that her eyes, swollen and reddened from crying, were purple, a very rare color in her species.

But what really took him aback was her gaze. Those eyes, once filled with wonder and happiness, like it was normal for a child, were now a pair of empty voids. There wasn't fear in them, nor anger, nor hate, nor even sadness.

It was the gaze of somebody who had already accepted the fact that they were about to die and that there was nothing left to live for.

'And it belongs to a child who is at best seven years old,' Zhar realized.

His breathing became irregular, while the hand holding the rifle began to shake without him having even noticed it.

'What's happening to me?' he wondered, eyes wide in confusion and horror.

He looked back at the girl. He steadied his grip on the weapon and tried to adjust the aim, in vain.

'She's just a human. She's just a human. She. Is. Just. A. Human,' he kept repeating this mantra in his mind, trying to fight the overwhelming sense of nausea that was growing up from his stomach, but without success.

Then, she spoke.

It was just a single word. Her faint voice was barely audible, but that simple word carried enough strength to order the entire universe to freeze.

“Why?”

The Commando jolted awake and sat on his makeshift bed, instinctively grabbing his plasma repeater. His breathing was erratic and his eyes darted all around searching for threats, but once he realized where he was, he put down his weapon.

They had camped inside a big abandoned wooden shed located in the outskirts of the forest, not too far from the huge orchard that they had identified from the dam. The place was isolated, but at the same time it allowed easy reach to the settlement.

Closing his eyes, he took a series of deep breaths, bringing back his heart rate to normal levels.

'Damn nightmares,' he thought, rubbing his face with a hand. It had been years since the siege of Tribute, and yet that wretched memory continued to haunt him almost every night.

A faint noise made him turn. A few steps from him, Tarya was sleeping on her own makeshift bed made of branches and leaves. His startled gasp must have disturbed her, causing her to stir in her sleep, but fortunately she didn't wake up.

He checked the mission timer. Dawn was near and thanks to the nightmare, any residual trace of sleep was gone.

'I might as well spend this time in a constructive way,' he thought, turning on the datapad and beginning to read one of the books that the Zealot had copied.

'Chapter 1: How Equestria was born.'

Chapter 11 - Revelations

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Chapter 11 - Revelations

The chilly morning air greeted Applejack as she stepped onto the porch of her house with a cup of hot coffee in hand, followed by her trusty dog Winona. The young farmer leaned with a shoulder against one of the pillars of the porch roof and took a sip of the steaming dark liquid, enjoying the sight of the rising sun over the hills covered by apple trees. A small proud smile appeared on her muzzle at the sight in front of her, the result of the work of four generations of farmers. Her life was a simple one, based on a few things like hard work and family, but she wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

‘Yup, a simple, quiet life… with the occasional adventure involving some bad guy with a mad plan to conquer the world,’ she thought amusedly, taking a sip of her morning beverage.

The noise of the front door opening behind her, followed by the unmistakable sound of heavy steps on the old wooden planks, told the farmer that they were no longer alone. She smirked. There was only one other pony in her family who woke up so early and the sound of his heavy steps on the old wooden planks was unique solely to him.

“Morning, Mac,” she greeted, glancing at him.

“Morning sis,” the stoic stallion responded, a cup of steaming coffee in his hand. He then kneeled and gave their dog a scratch behind the ear. “Morning Winona.” The border collie wiggled her tail and panted happily, enjoying the attention, then she lay down.

The two siblings and the lively dog remained on the porch, enjoying the simply moment together, but then, without apparent reason, Winona stood still and started flicking her ears.

“What’s wrong, girl?” Applejack asked with curiosity as the the dog started barking. “Ya smelled somethin’?”

The dog looked briefly at the orange pony, then pointed her head toward the road and emitted a howl.

‘Or maybe she heard something.’ Now it was Applejack’s turn to flick her ears. Sure to be told, she could hear a low rumbling noise coming from the road. “Do ya hear it?”

“Yup,” Big Mac said in his usual stoic tone.

With the passing of the seconds the noise became louder and more clear. A vehicle. Several of them actually, all of big size and proceeding at elevated speeds if the noise they were producing was of any indication.

The Apple siblings exchanged puzzled looks. It wasn't a common occurrence that a vehicle passed on the road in front of their farm so early in the morning and, given the nature of the country road, it would require off-road tires and good suspension to drive so fast without damaging the car.

The female collie darted toward the source of the noise.

“Winona, wait!” Applejack called her dog, only to be ignored. “Aww, shucks. Well, let's have a look Mac,” Applejack said. She put her now empty cup on the small table near her granny’s rocking chair and started jogging at quick pace toward the entrance to their property, followed by her brother.

In a couple of minutes they reached the front gate of the farm. Now that she could hear the noise more clearly, she could easily tell that the vehicles came from Whitetail Wood.

‘Strange, there’s nothing in that area, apart for the-’ her eyes widened in realization. ‘The Solar Guard base.’

Applejack gasped in surprise when the vehicles became visible. Driving down the road was a long column of military vehicles with the symbol of the Solar Guard painted on the hoods. The main body of the convoy was formed by four big infantry trucks, each one with a dozen royal guards sitting in the back, while both at the head and at the end of the column was a Puma (she never understood the name choice, the mean-looking cars resembled more like some kind of wild pig or warthog in her opinion...), each one with a gunner manning the heavy machine gun mounted on the back turret. The gunner of the first car crossed his gaze briefly with the apple farmers, but he soon returned to scan the surroundings, in search for potential threats.

“Ah have a really bad feelin’ Mac,” Applejack said in worry as she and her brother watched the convoy drive toward the town. They had seen Guards pass in front of Sweet Apple Acres in the past, but it was always to reach some training area or when their help was needed after a natural disaster like a violent flood. This time it was completely different. The Equestrian soldiers seemed ready to fight and whatever the reason was, it couldn’t be good.

A small group of fast moving shadows passed over her and only when she raised her gaze did she notice the five pegasi flying above the column.

“Hey! Hey! What's goin' on?” she yelled, waving her arms, trying to get the attention of the guards. Her calls seemed to be ignored until the last pegasus of the group, a stallion with a grey coat and red eyes, noticed her and descended until he was hovering a few palms from the ground.

“It’s an operation of national security, miss Apple,” the Guard said with a professional tone.

“Uh? National security?” the farmer asked, a bit stunned that a stranger knew her, only to feel a bit silly. Of course the members of the Guard knew her and her friends. “Whaddaya mean?”

“Apologies, miss Apple, but I’m not authorized to release this information, at least for now. All I can say is that all garrisons are in state of alert.”

“Sarge, we gotta go!” one of the other pegasi called to the stallion.

“Coming!” the guard replied before turning his attention back to the Apple siblings. “If I were you, I would stay home and turn on the radio or the television. I doubt the princesses will keep the kingdom in the dark,” he said, hurrying to regroup with his comrades.

The Apple siblings were not the only ones to have noticed the the military convoy heading toward the town. Tarya and Zhar stood on the top of a nearby hill, completely undetectable to the naked eye thanks to their active camo systems.

The light morning breeze carried a pleasant smell to her nostrils, causing her gaze to shift briefly toward one of the nearby trees. The red fruit hanging from its branches had an inviting look and it took all her willpower to resist the temptation to grab one of them and eat it. She really liked fresh fruit, especially after having been in space for long periods, but now wasn't the right time to think about such triviality. Especially not with the Commando right beside her; the last thing she needed was Zhar doubting of her professionalism.

She turned her attention back to the convoy. It was composed by six vehicles in total: four transport trucks, each one carrying at least twelve soldiers, and a pair of vehicles that looked like a primitive version of the Warthogs used by the UNSC. The machine guns mounted on these jeeps seemed to be of the same caliber as the LAAG mounted on their human counterpart, although these were single-barrel weapons, thus more susceptible to overheating when firing for long periods.

Using the zoom in her visor, she tried to get a closer look at the soldiers and their equipment. Their armor covered wider portions of body compared to the ones of the UNSC Marines, but she had no way to judge how effective they actually were. The design was primitive and at first sight it didn't seem able to stop a bullet, much less plasma, but she preferred not jumping too soon to conclusions.

The ponies also seemed to have some sort of air support provided by six winged ponies, pegasi if she recalled the term correctly from the books, who were flying above the column. Their armor was similar to the ones used by their ground comrades, although it seemed to be lighter in order to provide more agility, even if it meant less protection.

‘Not that heavier armor would make any difference if you fall from a few hundred meters.’

Their helmet cameras were recording all these details for future analysis, while the communication device in her backpack was sending the data in real time to the ship database.

Next to her, Zhar was briefly updating the ship about the situation by radio. “Copy that Last Sunset. Next contact in two hours if there aren’t major developments. Vadam, over and out,” Zhar said, closing the contact.

“Any news?”

“According to the communications officer, Equestria and the nearby countries are in a state of alert, if the drastic increase of radio dispatches during the last few hours is of any indication. They have mobilized their armed forces and police corps, as expected.”

The Zealot nodded. “What do you suggest should be our next move?”

“I was thinking to pay another visit to the local princess. Last night she didn’t seemed agitated despite the attack to that town, which means…”

“That she wasn’t aware of what happened,” Tarya completed his sentence.

“Exactly. If we’re correct, she’s the highest authority in this area and it’s thus likely that the commanding officer leading that convoy will have to report to her. We may be able to learn something useful.”

“Hmm. Sounds like a good plan to me, until we find a way to reach their capital.” She quickly glanced to the map on her wrist-pad. “Let's cut through the orchard, it will save us time.”

Scootaloo was sitting at the kitchen breakfast bar, absently munching on her morning cereal with milk while watching her favorite cartoon show on the TV, when a still sleepy Rainbow Dash walked in the room, yawning and stretching her arms. The cyan pegasus was wearing her usual night outfit, a blue tank top with the Wonderbolt insignia and a pair of black boxers.

“Morning squirt,” Rainbow Dash said with a smile, affectionately rustling the purple hair of the filly.

“Morning Dash,” the filly saluted her adoptive big sister. “Where’s Tank?”

“Still in dreamland. You know how sleepy he gets when he eats chamomile flowers for dinner,” Dash said, grabbing the carton of orange juice from the fridge. “So, what are you watching?”

“Land of Adventures.”

“Oh, sweet!” Dash exclaimed, taking a seat next to the filly and pouring herself a bowl of cereal. “I love that show.”

The duo spent the next minute eating their food, occasionally bursting in a laughter over a joke or a particularly funny scene, when suddenly the monitor turned static.

“Aww, right at the best part,” Scootaloo groaned in disappointment.

Rainbow Dash huffed. “I'm gonna have another talk with Fluttershy later. I've told her to keep the storks away from the antennas on the roofs, but evidently she was too easy going with those birds.”

Just as she was about to turn off the television, the screen turned back to life. Her satisfied smile disappeared completely the moment she realized that instead of the kids show appearing, the logo of the emergency broadcast was instead displayed.

“We apologize for the interruption of the programs, but this is a statewide emergency,” said the sober voice of a mare. “Live from Canterlot, Princess Celestia will now address the nation. Please, stay tuned.”

“Uh, Dash? What does it mean?” Scootaloo asked, looking in confusion at the television.

Rainbow Dash narrowed her eyes, but she kept her cool as to not worry the filly. “Trouble,” she responded simply.

Celestia’s office was bursting with activity as a small army of technicians worked feverishly to ensure that everything was ready for her speech to the nation. In order to reach as many as her subjects as possible, her message would be transmitted simultaneously by radio and television. Luckily the room was big enough to house the equipment and the crew of technicians required to operate it with little trouble.

There was a studio camera standing right in front of her desk, with an operator making the last minutes adjustments, while on the desk itself was a mike. The large windows behind the desk provided the right amount of natural light while offering at the same time an excellent sight of Canterlot and the valley below it in the background.

The gaze of the princess shifted to the speech in her hands. The small stack of handwritten paper seemed to weigh a ton. ‘I hate this part,’ she thought bitterly as she gazed at the front sheet. There were a couple of points where her elegant and tidy handwriting had been ruined by now dried tears, but the text was still perfectly readable. It was a decent speech in her opinion, yet she couldn't shake the feeling that her words would sound hollow and meaningless to those who had lost loved ones during the attacks.

When she and her sister had accepted the role of rulers of Equestria after the unification of the pony tribes, they knew that it would be a difficult task and filled with hard moments, and delivering bad news to her subjects was one of the things that Celestia hated the most.

“Nervous, sister?” Luna asked, standing beside her. She was no longer wearing her uniform, instead she was wearing a somber long black dress with half sleeves. The simple yet elegant dress, combined with her stature and physique, gave her an air of authority, but without seeming aggressive like with the uniform. Celestia was thankful for her sister's change of attire, it helped putting her at ease; no doubt Luna was aware of it.

“I’m about to tell our subjects that some of them will probably never see their loved ones ever again, that despite all our efforts, our illusion of safety that we have built during the years has been shattered in the course of a few hours,” Celestia said bitterly.

“Oh, Tia,” Luna said softly. She hugged her sister and started stroking her back to comfort her.

“I hate this part Luna,” Celestia muttered.

“I know, dear sister.” Luna said, looking at her sadly. She would have gladly saved her sister from this painful task by taking her place as the one to give the grievous news to their subjects, but even after three years since her return there were still those who looked at her with diffidence.

Luna shifted her hands to the shoulders of her sister and looked her in the eyes. “If there is somepony able to address the nation without causing massive panic, that pony is you. Our subjects love you, Tia. They look at you for guidance when dire times arise. You are their harbor in the storm, their shelter from the rain, their light in the darkness,” she said, the last part having a hint of a smile.

Celestia could only smile as the kind words of her sister warmed her heart, knowing that she was speaking with absolute sincerity. “Thank you Luna,” she said, hugging the blue mare again. “You are the best.”

“I know,” she joked, breaking the embrace. Her expression turned to a more serious one. “Now go, dear sister. And remember, be strong for them.”

The eldest alicorn nodded and walked toward the desk. She sat on the chair and placed her speech ordinately in front of her, glancing at the pages for a last time.

“On air in thirty seconds, your Highness,” a pegasus stallion wearing a headset informed her.

Celestia nodded and took a deep breath to calm herself. Glancing at her side she could see Luna looking at her with a confident expression.

“Alright everypony. On air in five. Four,” the same pegasus started the final countdown.

‘Alright, Tia.’

“Three. Two.”

'Here we go.'

“One.”

The small red light in the corner of the desk turned on.

Celestia looked at the telecamera, trying to give the same reassuring smile that her subjects were used to seeing on her face, but she knew that her eyes probably betrayed her real emotions.

‘Be strong for them.’

“My beloved subjects, it is with utmost grief that I address to all of you...”

A strange spell seemed to hit Equestria as the message of princess Celestia was transmitted all across the kingdom through the ether. People of every kind, no matter of what age, gender, class, or species, stopped their activity to listen to the words of their beloved sovereign.

Golden Oak Library was no exception. Twilight, Spike, and Flash were all about to have breakfast in the kitchen of the library when the regular transmission of the morning newscast was abruptly interrupted by the speech of the princess. The three inhabitants of the library listened in rapt attention as the white alicorn narrated the events of the previous evening.

Spike dropped his bowl in astonishment, but no one seemed to either notice or care as it crashed to the ground, spilling milk and cereal on the wooden floor; Flash felt cold sweat run down his back as he was hit by a sense of impotence he had never experienced before; Twilight seemed simply frozen in place, her entire world reduced to the image on the screen of her former mentor and friend and her words.

“Great Maker,” Flash said slowly once Princess Celestia ended her speech, turning off the television. “I knew that there had been skirmishes in the last couple years, but this…” He shook his head, still incredulous over the news.

“What do you think will happen now Twilight?” Spike asked to his sister in everything but blood, only to be met by silence. “Twilight?”

The young alicorn was still staring at the dark screen of the television, ignoring her housemates.

“We are facing one of the greatest crisis’ of the last century and that's how I am informed of it?” she hissed, clenching her fists. “With a public speech?” Her body was shaking and more than a few hairs of her mane were now out of place.

“Twilight?” Spike called to her cautiously, trying to reach her with a hand. Before his hand could touch her shoulder, the young princess sharply turned her head toward him, causing the drake to take a step back in surprise.

“Spike, take a letter,” she said coldly.

The young dragon was starting to worry. He had rarely seen Twilight so angry. “Twilight-”

“Now!” the alicorn snapped, glaring at him.

Spike nodded hastily and hurried to grab a fresh scroll and quill.

“Twilight, please, you need to calm down,” the orange pegasus tried diplomatically.

“Calm down? Calm down?!” she yelled, looking at him like he had grown a second head. “The kingdom is in danger and you ask me to calm down?! How can I be calm in a moment like this Flash?”

“Well, getting mad with Spike or me will hardly change the situation!”

Spike shifted awkwardly, his gaze between the two ponies, shuffling on his feet.

“I, uh, I’m ready to write the let-” The young dragon stopped mid-sentence, making a strange grimace. He then belched loudly, releasing a long blaze of green flames from his mouth. The smoke from the magical fire began to swirl in the air, assuming a compact shape, then in a flash of light it turned into the familiar scroll with a red wax seal. As soon as it materialized, the scroll fell, but before it could land in the hand of the awaiting dragon it was enveloped by a magenta glow that snatched it from his grasp.

Ignoring the hurt expression of the young drake for her rudeness, Twilight broke the wax seal and started reading the message, apparently not noticing the way Flash was looking at her in disapproval for her unusually rude behaviour. As she proceeded with her reading of the scroll, her facial expression softened with each line, and by the time she had reached the end of the message, all her anger had completely evaporated.

“Is it from Princess Celestia?” Flash Sentry asked while the alicorn rolled up the scroll with care.

Twilight nodded slowly. “She apologized for not having contacted me sooner, but she needed me and the rest of the Bearers in Canterlot. She doesn’t say why, but I guess it’s pretty obvious.” She sounded exhausted, but also frustrated. The mare then walked toward Spike and hugged him.

The young drake was still confused over her change of mood, but hugged her back.

“Guys, I'm- I'm sorry for my previous poor behaviour,” she said, looking sincerely ashamed once she broke the embrace.

The two males exchanged a quick look. Between the destruction of her lab and the news of the attack, the last twenty-four hours had proved to be very stressful and burdensome for the young princess.

“It’s okay Twilight,” Spike said with a smile. “You’re not the only one distressed by the news,” he added, glancing uncomfortably at the now turned off television.

“Well, I'm gonna inform the girls,” Flash said as he grabbed his helmet and proceeded to fasten its strap. “Spike, can you go to the train station to take the tickets?”

“Sure,” the young dragon said with a nod.

“That won't be necessary,” Twilight informed them. “Celestia has already arranged the transportation. The Aurora will come to pick us up in a few hours.”

The young pegasus guard let a low whistle of surprise. “Really? Wow, Rainbow Dash will surely be happy once she hears the news.”

Sitting on his command chair in the control room of the Last Sunset, Vraal listened as the mare known as Princess Celestia addressed her subjects. Given that the ponies were broadcasting it on all their frequencies, the message was practically impossible to miss.

‘So this is what the leader of Equestria looks like,’ Vraal thought as he studied the mare on the screen.

According from what Tarya had been able to gather from a book, the princess was what the locals called an alicorn, a rare subtype of pony which apparently embodied the virtues and powers of their other races, although it wasn’t still clear what it meant exactly.

The pony monarch preceded to inform her subjects of the Changeling attack for several minutes. She didn’t include the involvement of the Sangheili in Greenville, but Vraal would have been surprised if she had done otherwise. Her subjects would be scared enough by the news of the attack, there was no point in spreading further panic by informing them that there was an armored group belonging to an unknown faction that roamed through their land.

Celestia continued with her speech, explaining what kind of security measures would be established, and while it was clear that she was grieved by what had happened to her subjects, the Shipmaster remained favorably impressed by her ability to remain resolute despite the nature of the events.

‘The princess won’t leave her subjects to live in fear, hiding until the emergency is over; she seems to be determined to do everything in her power to ensure their safety.’ A commendable choice, one that the Shipmaster could only respect.

Once the princess ended her speech, the Shipmaster stopped the video, freezing a frame of the alicorn on the screen.

“What is your impression of her, Haka?” Vraal asked to the Ultra standing beside him without looking away from the main screen.

Haka took a few moments to collect his thoughts, stroking his lower jaws with a hand. “Charismatic, strong, sincere. She struck me as the 'mother of the nation' kind of leader.”

Vraal hummed in agreement with the analysis of his second in command and friend.

His gaze lingered on the magenta eyes of the princess. He had learned that the eyes tell much about a person, and the princess was no exception. Her eyes spoke of a great intelligence and kindness, as well as wisdom. There was also something else, something on which he couldn’t initially put a finger on, until he recognized where he had already seen that kind of gaze. It was the same that the females of his own species had when their younglings were in danger. Celestia saw her people like her children, and like any good mother, Vraal had no doubt that she would have done everything in her power to keep them safe.

‘One thing is sure: one wrong step, and we risk starting a war.’

The Shipmaster wasn’t afraid of the perspective of a conflict. He had been trained to become a warrior since the moment he was able to stand and hold a weapon, and like for any other Sangheili, death was only a natural part of their existence. And yet, war was not something he sought, not when it could be avoided. Too many times he had taken part to the destruction of entire worlds and his hands were dirty with the blood of countless innocent lives. It was not his intention to start another conflict with a species that had caused them no offense.

‘This doesn’t mean that we shall not be ready if the worst were to happen.’ Glancing at a nearby surveillance monitor, he observed a team of Rangers using welding equipment to repair a section of the hull of the ship.

'Two days since the collapse of the slipspace portal and we're still licking our wounds,' Vraal thought darkly, thinking over the list of the repairs that the ship needed. Even with two Huragok at their disposal, the repair teams would still need several days to complete their work and bring the battlecruiser back to its fully functional condition. The slip space drive was still inoperative, several sections of the ship were depressurized and reachable only wearing EVA suits, and excluding the point defense lasers (basically of little use against ground targets), all the weapons of the ship were out of order. To be honest, his main concern in that regard was for the plasma torpedoes; the ventral cannons were pretty low in his list of priorities, given that due to their shortage of fuel, firing with one of those monsters would have just been a complete waste of plasma.

He tried to see the bright side of their situation. Sure, they were basically unarmed, but at least the shields were online again. ‘Great. At least we’ll be able to take a thrashing without having to worry about damage,’ he thought with dry sarcasm, taking a sip of his herbal tea, only to grimace when he realized that it was cold.

He was about to call an Unggoy to bring him another cup, but then he remembered that he had reassigned the little methane-breathing bastards to more important tasks. Grunting in resignation, he drank the remaining cold tea. It was a minor discomfort, but once again he was reminded how his species had become depended on them to perform all those small tasks considered too humble for a Sangheili.

‘How did we manage without them for so long?’ the Sangheili wondered not for the first time, trying to imagine how life must have been before the Covenant made contact with Balahao and its inhabitants. ‘We’ve grown soft. We were once able to do everything by ourselves, from farming to building spacecrafts. All without the help of Unggoy, Huragok, San’Shyuum…’

“She's not something that you see everyday,” Haka commented suddenly, snapping Vraal from his reflection about the consequences of the collapse of the Covenant Empire on the relationship between the different races which once formed it.

Vraal followed the gaze of his friend, noticing how the Ultra was studying the image of the alicorn on the main screen. “Agreed,” the Shipmaster replied. He couldn’t deny that the alien princess had a certain beauty. Not in the sexual way, her physical appearance didn’t exactly meet the canons of beauty among the Sangheili, but she was still beautiful, like a flower blossoming under the first light of the sunrise, or a rainbow originated by the mist of a waterfall in the forest.

Her body was like it had been carved from the finest kind of marble, covered by a candid coat of white fur so pure that it seemed to radiate light itself. Her ethereal multicolored mane waved slowly in the air as if it was underwater, giving her a supernatural appearance, with a particular lock covering her right eye that added a touch of mystery. Even if it was just a video, the mare seemed to emanate an aura of power and magnificence that was impossible to ignore.

Vraal couldn’t explain why, but he had the distinct impression that the alicorn was more than she let appear.

“Do you think that she may be connected in someway with the Forerunners?” Haka asked with a tone that betrayed excitement and hope.

The Shipmaster froze. Like many other Sangheili, after the events that had lead to the Great Schism, his religious belief has been severely shaken, to the point that he considered himself an agnostic; conversely, Haka was among those who still believed in the godlike nature of the Forerunners.

‘When everything around you is falling apart, you hold strong to what you care about most,’ he thought, careful to keep a straight face as to not betray his emotions. Haka was following a noble yet dangerous principle that had caused the downfall of many in the past, when not handled properly.

“It’s possible, but I think that until we have solid evidence, we shouldn’t let our minds be clouded by what could simply be a trick of smoke and mirrors,” Vraal said cautiously, before looking the Ultra in the eyes. “There’s no point in creating false expectations only to see them shattered by the truth.”

His words seemed to cause a change of mood in Haka. “I once let my faith blind my judgement; I won’t repeat my past mistakes,” the Ultra said with an undertone of bitterness.

‘I hope so, my friend.’

‘How disappointing,’ Tarya thought as she observed Captain Spear Head of the Solar Guards leave the library after his meeting with Princess Twilight. The Zealot had hoped to gather some useful information from the conversation between the green unicorn and the young princess, but besides details like the place where the Guards would set their camp during their deployment in Ponyville, most of the topics rotated around things that she already knew.

It still puzzled her that the young princess hadn’t been informed before of the attack, but then again the Sangheili didn’t have a precise idea about how their government worked, nor about their class system. ‘Maybe the title of princess is like our Zealot rank, with different subclasses.’

Tarya considered what to do next. Zhar had gone to examine the guards and their equipment more closely, leaving her alone. She briefly considered examining the propulsion system of one of the vehicles to see how it worked, but that would have probably drawn attention.

Peeking inside the window, she saw a strange creature coming out from the door that lead to the basement with a broom in hand.

‘And who or what is that?’ the young Zealot wondered with curiosity. She knew that different sapient species had evolved on the planet, but it was still strange to see it with her eyes.

The creature appeared to be reptilian in nature, covered by purple scales and green spikes running from the head to the tail. He was dressed with a pair of blue pants and a red shirt.

The Zealot observed with curiosity the creature helping the alicorn. At first she had thought that he was some kind of servant, which would have been logical given that the ponies appeared to be the dominant species, at least in this sector of the planet. On Sangheili worlds, especially in rural keeps, it wasn’t uncommon to have members of lesser races performing the most humble tasks. But as she observed the creature interact with the princess, she quickly realized that their relationship wasn't the kind between master and servant. The two of them spoke without barriers between them, and the alicorn even laughed when the boy made a sarcastic comment.

‘It’s like they’re siblings,’ the Zealot thought, feeling a painful pang of nostalgia at the memory of her brothers and sisters, killed during the Jiralhanae attack on her homeworld.

“Spike, are the files ready to be sent back to the museum?”

“They’re all here, Twilight,” the creature apparently called Spike said, indicating with an exaggerated gesture to a massive pile of bundled documents on the table.

“Did you double check that nothing’s missing?”

“Triple checked,” he replied with a roll of his eyes. Tarya could be wrong, but judging by his voice and the way he acted, along with his size, he seemed to be younger than the alicorn.

The purple mare nodded and gave him a pleased smile. “Alright then. Ready?”

“Ready. Just don’t turn me into some kind of orange-frog hybrid.”

“Don’t worry, it’s not the first time we’ve used the spell,” Twilight said.

“Doesn’t change the fact that it feels weird every time.”

Tarya was confused by the turn their conversation had took, but the confusion turned to shock when she saw the alicorn hit her reptilian friend with a beam of purple energy fired from her horn. The Zealot stared dumbfounded for a few moments at what she thought was an unprovoked display of violence, before noticing that Spike didn’t seem to have been hurt.

The alicorn then enveloped the big pile of volumes with what Tarya assumed was some kind of telekinetic field and levitated it front of the dragon.

Spike positioned himself so that he was beside Twilight, then he took a deep breath and released a long blaze of green flames from his mouth, reducing the documents to thin ash. Then something happened that Tarya hadn’t expected. Twilight collapsed the telekinetic field and the pile of ash, instead of falling to the ground, turned to a compact cloud of smoke. The smoke swirled in the air a couple of times, then it exited from a nearby open window and flew toward the mountain where their capital was located.

‘Wait. Did he just sent those files somewhere by incinerating them?’ she wondered in astonishment, darting her gaze from the occupants of the library to the now distant cloud of smoke a couple of times. She tried to find a logical explanation for the phenomenon, but with little success. Knowing that it wasn’t the best moment for a headache, she decided leave the problem for later. ‘My uncle was right. This planet is weird.’

“Do you need something else Twilight?”

“No Spike. Thank you.”

“Alright then. I’m gonna see if Rarity needs help with her luggage.”

“Fine, just be sure to be ready by the time the airship arrives.”

‘An airship? Interesting.’

“Don’t worry, my stuff is ready,” he assured her while leaving the library. In his haste to leave he left the front door open and apparently Twilight didn’t seem to notice it.

‘Hmm, why not?’ Tarya thought, snapping her maws. It was the perfect occasion to sneak inside and give another look at the book collection of the library.

With the bright daylight coming from the windows and without the urge to find some phantomatic energy weapon (she still couldn’t believe that their current situation was all because of an absurd series of coincidences), Tarya was able to notice details that she had missed during her previous visit.

Several framed pictures portraying the princess in company of Spike and other ponies decorated most of the walls and shelves; in a corner there was a wooden perch, probably for some kind bird which was absent at the moment; on one of the walls were attached several blueprints with schemes of a strange box with six keyholes.

What caught her attention was a pile of small wooden crates neatly arranged in a corner of the room that she was sure wasn’t there last night.

‘They must be the rock samples they were talking about,’ she guessed, getting closer. If she remembered her lessons of geology correctly, there were rocks and minerals of every kind of source and typology, from granite to rutile.

While she was busy reading the different labels on the boxes, one of her sensors came to life. Although the Commando harness that Zhar wore was superior in combat, her armor possessed several perks expressly designed for scientific field research. One of those was a portable mass spectrometer. The moment her gaze fell on a particular crate a blinking icon appeared in a corner of her HUD.

‘Well, well, well. What do we have here?’ She thought, approaching the wooden box. After a quick glance at her surroundings to be sure no one was in sight, she grabbed the lid of the small crate and opened it. The moment she opened the box, her mass spectrograph started analyzing the gray stone inside, quickly producing a long string of data. One detail was immediately evident: the rock sample contained Helium-3, and in big quantities nevertheless.

The eyes of the Zealot shone. ‘As the humans say: jackpot!’

‘Unclassified fine-grained sedimentary rock, basaltic origin, Frozen Lands, Crystal Empire, sample NH7-401B.’ Tarya stared at the label, reflecting. ‘It’s a start, but without a map and the right coordinates this information is useless. Now, I just need to find the relative file-’ that Twilight had just sent back to the museum thanks to her living mailing device. ‘Dammit! And I have no idea where the museum is!’

Directing an exasperated look at the ceiling, she barely suppressed a groan of frustration. ‘Why can’t things be easy for once?’

Ever since their fight with the Jiralhanae, things had continued to go from bad to worse and now that she had been so close to reaching one of her targets, she had literally seen it reduced to smoke. Smoke that once leaving the window seemed to dart toward the city on the mountain…

The Zealot blinked. ‘Wait. If they have sent the files of the rock samples, it means that they borrowed them, which in turns means that they will have to return these crates too. So… all we need to do is follow these crates.’

After taking some pictures of the rock sample and the relative label, taking care to capture the inventory number in detail, she was about to put the lid of the crate back in place, only to almost drop it when she heard the sound of incoming hoofsteps and a familiar voice coming from the stairs.

“Spike? Is that you?” Twilight asked walking down the stairs. “I thought you were already gone to help-” The room was empty. “- Rarity?” The mare looked around in confusion.

Her keen eye for details instantly noticed that one of the crates on top of the pile wasn’t properly closed, instead the lid was only propped sideways on the wooden box.

Perplexed, she grabbed the lid. “Strange,” she said out loud. “I could have sworn that all the crates were sealed.” With a shrug, she closed the box and headed back to finish preparing for their journey to the capital, but stopped when she noticed something strange, a faint disturbance of the air near the open door.

She blinked in confusion, but when she opened her eyes the disturbance was gone. She closed the door with her magic and started darting her gaze all around.

What if Pinkie was right? What if there was actually something in that alleyway? What if someone had entered the library without notice to rummage through her things? What if it was just Spike that had forgot to close the crate and the door in his haste to go help Rarity?

‘I'm getting paranoid,’ she thought, stroking her face with a hand. ‘My eyes are starting to see things.’ It must have been just the result of her stress. ‘After this is all over, I think I’ll gladly accept Rarity’s invitation to the spa.’

The Commando was exploring the town, taking note of locations potentially useful for future operations. He had identified the local police station and a big administrative building that was most likely the city hall and was now inspecting the pony soldiers. The equipment of the Guards wasn’t particularly impressive by Sangheili standards, but it was to be expected considering that the technology of his kind was several centuries ahead compared to that of the ponies.

He was more critical about the soldiers themselves. They seemed quite professional at first sight, but he doubted they had much or even any real experience in combat. A few of them showed signs that they were veterans of some kind, but the majority gave him the impression that they had never seen any real kind of action once finishing their training.

He wondered for a moment how the guards would react if they knew that an alien soldier over two meters tall was standing right in front of them. 'They would probably freak out,' he thought without hesitation. But for now, thanks to his active camo, they were completely oblivious of his presence. As long as he moved carefully and avoided anything that could disturb the light distortion field, the locals had no reason to suspect that he even existed.

‘Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic,’ he reflected. Speaking of magic, maybe it would be better to gather more data about the unicorns and their strange abilities. So far he had witnessed them performing small daily life activities with their telekinesis, but considering what the Changelings seemed able to do, he was curious to see what else they could do with their horns.
His interest wasn’t pure scientific curiosity like the one of the Zealot, but rather pragmatism: there was a chance that they would have to fight the ponies in the future and he wanted to know more about his new potential enemies. After all, knowledge is power.

As he walked across the road, he noticed a couple of pegasi coming from the opposite direction, one was a young mare with cerulean coat and multicolored hair, the other was a little orange filly with purple hair. Not for the first time he wondered if there was a specific evolutive reason behind the bright colors of the ponies.

The mare had a scratchy voice and carried herself with confidence, and although she was a bit shorter than average, she had the slim and toned physique of an athlete. She wore a pair of black sport shorts and a blue sleeveless hoodie, leaving her arms and most of her legs exposed; like the rest of her body, her limbs were muscular yet not bulky. It was evident that her body was built for agility and speed rather than brute strength, but Zhar was sure that she was still pretty strong if the ease with which she was carrying a suitcase with a hand along with the backpack on her back were of any indication.

The eyes of the Commando shifted to the filly. She wore a pair of jean shorts, only with a T-shirt that matched the color of her hair. She was carrying in her hands what seemed to be a sleeping tortoise with a strange contraption strapped to its back. Deciding he had wasted enough time observing the civilians, Zhar was about to leave, but when his gaze fell on the eyes of the filly, he froze.

Her eyes were purple.

Just like hers.

In an instant his mind brought him back to Tribute.

The metro tunnels were dark, the only light was the one provided by the occasional emergency light that flickered erratically for a few moments before turning off. The air was cold and damp, carrying a distinct smell of dust and mold, along with a more faint hint of smoke and ozone. He would occasionally hear distant and distorted screams, yelled in languages that were either familiar or alien, followed by the sound of a firefight; most of the time it was just the sound of Covenant weapons, but sometimes he could also hear the characteristic thundering noise of human guns, as both parties fought with fanatical determination, one in the name of their unshaken faith, the other in the name of their right to exist. Then there was silence once again. None of this was of his concern. He was alone, his only company breaking the eerie silence was the soft sound of his armored boots on the concrete floor and the noise of water dripping from a damaged pipe coming from somewhere in the darkness.

The small team of human soldiers that he had killed moments before had not offered a real fight, being too busy arguing about their course of action, divided between following their duty and listening to the primordial instinct of self preservation typical of every creature.
His armor was now stained with their blood, filling his nostrils with the scent of death, but he ignored it, remaining focused on the darkness in front of him. A deadly game of cat and mouse was being played, with the roles of predator and prey that could be inverted at each single turn. In the desperate attempt to leave the planet before the Covenant Fleet managed to take complete dominion of the sky, many humans had tried to use the tunnels of the metro to reach the spaceport, only to end up in a deathtrap.

The only freedom the humans had now was to choose the way they could die, either hiding in fear in the foolish hope to escape their fate, or leave the world with dignity by fighting back.

Movement, in the darkness, just a moment before all hell broke loose. The human weapons opened fire with their trademark thundering noise, briefly illuminating the tunnel with flashes of flames coming from their muzzles. The violent flashes of the guns blinded him momentarily, but his reaction was automatic, the result of years of constant brutal training and countless deployments in the battlefield. He ducked and fired with his own weapon, aiming at the source of the lights and shooting every shadowy figure that he saw moving in the darkness, until screams and the shots stopped.

He could still hear weak moans of pain coming from the darkness, along with the sound of someone crying. Narrowing his eyes, he began advancing toward the enemy position, keeping his weapon in firing position, ready for use.

His foot kicked against one of the corpses, but even with the light enhancer in his visor he could barely see it. He turned on his shoulder mounted flashlight, revealing-

“Zhar, do you copy?” the voice of the Zealot called him by radio, snapping him from his trance. The Commando shook his head and blinked. Gone were the dark metro tunnels of Tribute filled with the stench of death, replaced instead by the sight of a peaceful town under a bright sky.

Zhar stepped into an empty alleyway nearby and he turned on his radio. “Loud and clear, Tarya. What’s your status?”

“I have great news,” Tarya said, barely able to control her enthusiasm. “While exploring the library, I‘ve found a sample of rock that according to my scanners contains high levels of Helium-3.”

“How high are the values?” Zhar asked after a small pause.

“Obscenely high. I've rarely seen anything like that on a planet suitable for life.”

“Were you able to find out the origin of the sample?”

There was a short awkward silence. “Yeah, about that… The relative documentation wasn’t there. But I know where is it! It’s in a museum in Canterlot, the capital of Equestria. All we need to do is find the archive and we’ll be able to solve our energy issue without having to scan the crust of the entire planet.”

“And tell me, how do you plan exactly to reach their capital within an acceptable amount of time, while also avoiding the control points that they have surely established?”

“Well, I may have a plan. I’m still not sure, but we may be able to get a ride....”

“Aww, come on! Not again,” Derpy exclaimed after she dropped another egg on the floor of the kitchen. She was trying to bake some muffins, but no matter how much she tried to clear her mind, her thoughts were elsewhere. Like the rest of the town, Derpy Hooves had listened to Celestia’s speech, but despite the monarch having assured that she and the other princesses would do everything in their power to keep everypony safe, as proved by the Guards that were patrolling the streets of their little town, the pegasus mare couldn’t help but still feel worried.

Her apprehension didn’t pass unnoticed, because it wasn’t long before she felt a pair of familiar and reassuring arms embracing her from behind.

“It will be fine honey,” Time Turner said softly, lovingly nuzzling his muzzle against her cheek. “Have trust in the princesses.”

“I do,” she sighed. “It’s just… I can’t believe it really happened. I thought that after the wedding...”

“Yeah. Not exactly one of the most pleasant memories.”

“Especially not with your stunt,” Derpy mumbled darkly.

The stallion gave her a nervous smile. “Uh? I don’t know what you’re talking about…”

“You know perfectly what you I'm talking about mister,” she said, looking at him and putting her hands on her hips, assuming her "I'm upset and you're in trouble" pose. The stallion thought she looked intimidating and adorable at the same time.

Time Turner coughed awkwardly. “Alright, maybe it wasn’t one of my best ideas-”

“Acting as bait is never a good idea.”

Invasion of Canterlot, two years before

‘The sky is on fire,’ that’s what Time Turner thought while he and his family ran through the streets of Canterlot, trying to escape the chaos of the battle that was now raging all across the city.

After the collapse of the energy dome, countless Changeling drones enveloped in green flames had started dive bombing the city below, turning what had started like a merry day for all of Equestria into a living nightmare.

The air was crossed by bursts of tracer rounds and combat spells as the Guards tried to hit the drones while they were still airborne, but the enemies were too many and returned the fire of the defenders with their magic powered energy weapons. Things weren’t going well for the ponies; despite the great number of guards the element of surprise had played an important role in the first moments of the attack, especially when coupled with the actions of sabotage performed by the Changeling infiltration teams, and before the pony soldiers could realize what was happening, half of them were no longer able to fight back, having either been captured, wounded, or worse.

And yet, despite the desperate situation, both the Solar and the Lunar Guard didn’t give up, continuing to fight the invaders while at the same time trying to save as many civilians as possible.

Time Turner and his family had been lucky enough to be found by private Silver Lance, a unicorn mare member of the Solar Guard, and now they were following her to one of the several safe location scattered all across the city built for times of crisis like this.

“It will be all right dear,” he said to Dinky, whose only reply was a whimper of fear. The little filly had tripped during the first minutes of the attack, hurting her knee, and now the stallion was carrying her, holding her tight to his chest. “How long before we reach the safehouse?!” he asked to the unicorn mare at the lead of their little group without slowing down.

“It’s not far sir!” private Silver Lance said without turning her head, keeping her gaze focused in front of her for potential enemies. “At this rate we should be able to reach it in a few minutes!”

They made a turn and ended in a small square in the commercial district. A Puma with the colors of the Lunar Guards was parked in the middle of the square; the vehicle was damaged to the point of being no longer drivable, but the machine gun in the back was still operative. There were two Lunar Guards near it, a thestral stallion and a grey unicorn mare, both of them seemed to have passed through Tartarus judging by the scorches and dents covering their armor.

The unicorn was the first to notice their little group. “Fall back!” the mare shouted, signaling them to go away with her arm.

“I have to bring these civilians to Shelter Bravo!”

“So take another route! The area is not secure!”

“What?!” Silver Lance exclaimed in shock. “I passed here fifteen minutes ago with another group!

“Fifteen mikes are eternity in battle! Go away!”

“Where’s the rest of your team?” Silver Lance asked with a growing sense of dread.

“Gone! The bugs took them, we’re all that remained! Fall back!”

Before Silver Lance could reply, a green globe hit her in the left shoulder, making her stumble.

“INCOMING!” the thestral yelled, aiming his rifle at the sky and opening fire.

“Are you alright?” Derpy asked with concern to the wounded guard.

The Solar Guard nodded. “Armor’s absorbed most of the damage, but it still hurts like a bitch,” she hissed in pain while she retrieved her pistol, which she had dropped when she was hit.

“Private, take those civilians to a safe place, now!” the grey unicorn ordered, right before a Changeling landed in front of them. The creature hissed like a feral beast and fired its weapon, hitting the Lunar Guard in the chest with a globe of green energy. Yelling in pain, she fell on her knees, but with an extraordinary effort, she managed to aim her weapon at the head of the creature and fired. They both fell to the ground at the same time.

Time Turner covered Dinky's eyes with a hand and turned away to spare the filly of the horrible sight, while Sparkle and Derpy screamed in horror.

“Aegis!” the thestral yelled at the sight of his comrade falling lifeless to the ground. Fueled by blind rage, the stallion hopped on the back of the vehicle and pulled with decision the loading lever of the machine gun, aimed it at the sky, and opened fire.

“Die! Die, you motherfucking soulless monsters! Die!” he roared with pure hatred, baring his fangs.

“Come on, we gotta move!” Silver Lance yelled over the noise of gunfire, hurrying the family inside a nearby doughnut shop.

The thestral guard in the meantime kept firing the heavy weapon at the Changelings while yelling profanities all the time, his voice barely audible over the roar of the machine gun and the sound of the cartridge cases falling on the floor of the car. The drones fell under the deadly barrage of fire, exploding in gruesome clouds of flesh and chitin, but they kept coming, undeterred by the fire of the machine gun.

Through the damaged blinds of the windows, Time Turner could only stare in horror as one of the blazing Changelings went crashing straight against the armored vehicle. The Puma exploded in a violent ball of fire, obliterating everything unfortunate enough to be too close to it. When the flames died down, all that was left of the brave thestral stallion were some burned remains in charred armor, still clinging to the now destroyed machine gun.

‘Oh, goodness!’ he thought in shock, trying desperately to not throw up after having basically assisted to the death of another pony.

He took a few moments to calm himself, then, making sure to not be seen, he dared to take a quick look outside, only to get down almost immediately. There were at least fifteen drones in the street, lead by the biggest and meanest looking Changeling he had ever seen. The creature must have followed a diet based on protein and steroids since birth, because it had a physique that would have put a bodybuilder to shame.

The hulking creature looked down and saw the battered golden helmet of Silver Lance. With the same effort of a foal stomping on a tin can, it crushed the metal headgear under one of its hooves, emitting a menacing feral growl.

“Search the nearby buildings for runaways!” the Centurion barked to the smaller Changelings with its cavernous voice.

‘Oh, no good. Not good at all. Must think fast.’

“The back door is locked.” Grunting in pain, Private Lance crawled beside him. “Shit,” she cursed softly glancing outside. “You must go. I’ll buy you as much time as I can,” she said to the stallion, loading with difficulty a new magazine. It was her last one.

“Not a chance, miss Lance,” Time Turner said. “You’re wounded, and I doubt you have enough bullets for all those monsters.”

“What do you suggest then, oh supreme commander?” she asked sarcastically.

The stallion remained quiet for a few moments. “Chess.”

“What?”

“In the game of chess sometime you have to sacrifice some pieces to win,” he said so that only she could hear him. “Is there another way to reach the refuge?”

“Yes, it’s-”

“Can you keep them safe?” he asked, looking at his family.

The private looked at him in confusion, before her eyes widened in shock. “You can’t be serious,” she said quietly.

“Can you, Private Silver Lance?” he repeated more forcefully, looking her in the eyes with such intensity that it was like he was trying to look into her soul.

The mare gulped and nodded slowly. “I’ll do everything in my power.”

Time Turner nodded in gratitude. “Thank you.” The stallion looked at the scared faces of his family. “Alright, here's the plan. Derpy, take the girls with you and follow private Lance to the shelter.”

The grey pegasus looked at him incredulously. “What? Wait! What about you?”

“Me? I'm going to distract those freaks and buy you some time,” he said casually, grabbing an empty coffee mug from a nearby table. “Once you’re sure they’re far enough, take my family and reach the shelter,” Time Turner instructed the guard.

“No, please,” Derpy pleaded him. “Don’t do it.”

“Don't worry, my dear. I’ll be fine.”

“You're lying,” she said quietly with teary eyes.

“I know,” the stallion said with a bittersweet smile, before kissing her lips quickly. “I love you all girls,” he said, looking at his family for what could have been the last time. “Geronimo!” he exclaimed in a hushed tone, darting toward the door.

He peeked at the street through the broken glass of the door. The Changelings were close, but luckily none of them were looking in his direction. ‘Perfect.’

Careful to be as quiet as possible, the stallion opened the door and walked outside. Once he was in the middle of the street, the brown stallion whistled loudly and threw the cup with all his strength, hitting the nape of the Centurion and attracting the attention of all the nearby drones as a result.

“Hey uglies! Look at me, I'm a target!” he exclaimed as loud as possible while waving his arms.

“Take him!” the Centurion snarled, pointing his clawed hand at the brown stallion. The Changeling drones hissed menacingly and charged.

“Oh, snap!” the brown stallion exclaimed before running away as fast as he could.

'Good thing I played soccer in college!' The only difference was that he wasn't playing a friendly match with his college classmates, he was instead running from a swarm of nightmarish creatures that basically wanted to feed off his synaptic activity.

The chase across the shopping district lasted for several minutes before he eventually managed to put some distance between the Changelings and himself, but never being able to make them lose trace of him. No matter what he did, the creatures were always able to follow him, like bloodhounds chasing a wounded deer in the forest. ‘It’s almost as if they can smell my fear,’ he thought while he took a turn, before realizing that it was most likely what they were doing. Their species feed off of love, but it was most likely that they were able to sense other emotions.

He changed his path again, but he realized too late that he had made a mistake by taking the wrong turn.

“Oh oh,” Time Turner exclaimed, looking wide eyed at the wall in front of him. “A dead end. I hate dead ends. Why must there always be a dead end in these situations? Ok Turner. No need to panic, you still have a few seconds before those freaks-”

“There he is!” a raspy voice exclaimed behind him.

“D'oh!” Looking behind him, the stallion saw that his chasers were blocking the only exit from the alleyway, trapping him.

“Your run ends here, pony,” the Centurion said menacingly, showing his fangs in a dangerous grin. He emitted some clicking sounds and immediately two of the drones broke from the formation and started to advance toward Time Turner.

“Stay back, you overgrown cockroaches! You don't know who I am. I have a doctorate in physics!” Apparently Changeling drones didn’t seem to have any respect for academic titles, because they kept advancing toward him.

“Don't force me to use this!” the stallion threatened, extracting something from his jacket. The drones raised their weapons at the sudden move from the stallion, ready to fire, only to stare in confusion when they recognized the object.

The Centurion raised a brow, unamused. “A screwdriver?”

“Hey! It's not just a screwdriver,” Time Turner said with indignation. He pressed a button on the side, turning on a small light on the bottom. “It's also a flashlight.” He flicked the flashlight a couple more times. “Pretty cool, huh? There was a special offer at the hardware store.”

The Changelings stared at him with a blank expression until the Centurion decided that he had enough of the antics of the brown stallion. “Take that idiot.”

The stallion took a few steps back but soon his back bumped against the wall behind him. ‘So that’s it,’ Time Turner though as a trio of drones advanced toward him, fangs bared and a sinister light gleaming in their unnaturally blue eyes. ‘This is how it ends.’

As the closest drone raise a clawed hand to grab him, his thoughts went to his daughters and his wife. “I don’t want to go,” he whispered just as the hand of the creature was a mere inch from his face.

The barrier of pink energy slammed against the Changelings without warning like a running train, throwing the creatures up in the sky toward the desolated territory of the Badlands.
The effect on the pony was far different; all he felt was a pleasant sense of warmth in his chest, just like when he was with his family.

Time Turner turned toward the castle and smiled. “I love the Deus Ex Machina.”

Present time

Derpy looked at her husband with her arms crossed. “I still think that what you did was really...”

“Heroic?” he offered with a grin.

“Crazy,” she deadpanned.

“Aww, come on, honey. I thought you liked crazy.”

“Not when there’s danger!” Derpy scrunched her muzzle. “You worried me sick.”

“I know and I’m sorry, but you know that there wasn’t any other choice. If anything were to happen to you or the girls, I would have never forgiven myself,” Time Turner said, caressing the cheek of his wife.

Their gaze met. “You silly hero,” Derpy whispered, closing her eyes. Time Turner mimicked her. Their muzzles got closer and closer, their lips ready to meet each other-

The doorbell rang, interrupting their little magic moment. Husband and wife stared at each other for a few moments before starting to laugh.

“I got it!” Sparkles called from the corridor as she walked to the door. They heard the front door of their house open, followed by the confused and somewhat worried voice of their elder daughter. “Hmm, dad? Could you please come here? You have visitors.”

“Uh? Sure dear.”

The moment Time turner stepped in the entryway, he was greeted by the sight of two pegasi stallions in golden armor standing in front of the entrance.

“I’ll take it from here Sparkle. Go see if your mom needs help in the kitchen.”

The unicorn looked at her father for a moment, but after seeing his reassuring expression, she nodded and left the room.

“So, gentlecolts, how can I help the Solar Guard today?” he said with an enthusiastic grin.

“Doctor Time Turner,” one of the guards began with a no nonsense tone. “We're here to inform you that your assistance has been required with the utmost urgency in Canterlot.”

“Wow, straight to the point aren’t you?” In front of the stoic faces of the soldiers, his smile faded a bit. “I would point out that technically I’m still on vacation for a week, but with recent events I assume that doesn’t matter anymore. So, what am I needed for? Still trying to improve the performances of the mana converters?”

“Command didn’t tell us, sir. They only ordered to communicate you a word. Phalanx.”

“Oh. I see,” the brown stallion said, now completely serious. “Alright, when do I leave?”

“The Aurora will come here at 10 a.m. to pick the Element Bearers and bring them to Canterlot. You will travel with them. Make sure to be at the aerodrome when the airship arrives.”

“Hmm, at least I’ll be in good company. Is there anything else I need to know?”

“Not that we were informed about, sir.”

“Fair enough. Thank you, gentlecolts.”

The two pegasi saluted with a simultaneous ‘Sir’ and flew away.

“Wonderful,” Time Turner said to no one in particular after the guards had left. “Honey?” he called while he got back inside the house. “Change of plans. I have to help save the country again. With science!”

“Sorry again for the suddenness of my request, Mrs Cookie Crumble,” Rainbow Dash said to the unicorn in front of her. The mare had a plump body and a pink coat, but it was easy to see from whom Rarity had inherited her eyes and mane. “Are you sure it's not a problem?”

The older mare gave her a warm smile as they both stood in front of a two storey house built in front of the river. “Nonsense, Rainbow Dash. There’s no need to apologize,” the pink unicorn assured her. “You know that Scootaloo is always welcome in our house.”

“Well, thanks again.”

“You’re welcome dear. Well, Rarity will come by to drop off Sweetie Belle soon, better if I go get her bedroom and the one for guests ready.”

Once the unicorn was in her house, the cyan pegasus sighed in relief. It hadn’t been much time after the TV speech of the princess before Flash had come knocking on her door to inform her that she and her friends were required in Canterlot with urgency. This meant leaving Scootaloo alone for several days. It wouldn’t have been a problem any other time; Scootaloo was a filly able to take care of herself for a few days, but this time it was different.

The little filly was sitting on the suitcase containing the things that she needed during her time at Sweetie Belle’s house, with Tank hovering lazily in circles around her.

“So, problem solved. I’m sure you and Sweetie Belle will have fun over the next few days.” Scootaloo looked at her and scrunched her face, flattening her ears against her head. “Hey, what's wrong, squirt?” Dash asked, kneeling in front of the filly to be at eye level with her.

“It's not that I don't like the idea of staying with Sweetie Belle and her family while you’re away, but why can’t Tank and I stay home alone like usual?”

Dash sighed and looked at the filly seriously. “Scoots, listen. It’s not a lack of trust in you. You are a good filly and I know how responsible you are. But after what happened last night, I don’t think that leaving you alone at home is the smartest nor the safest thing.”

They weren’t blood-related, but Rainbow Dash cared for the filly like she was her little sister and if anything bad were to happen to her… Dash shuddered, chasing away the thought. ‘I don’t even want to think about it.’ The athlete decided to crack a joke to ease the atmosphere. “And besides, I'd prefer to avoid another episode like the one with the bike,” she said with a smirk.

“I said it was an accident,” the filly pouted, looking away in embarrassment.

Rainbow Dash chuckled. Scootaloo was a good filly, but she had the habit of getting into trouble. ‘Eh, just like me when I was her age... nah, screw it. I was even more reckless. I still wonder how dad was able to handle me.’

“Well, let me help you with that suitcase. Our ride will be here soon and I still have to go get Fluttershy.” The cyan mare rolled her eyes. “I just hope it won’t take too much to convince her to leave her home.”

As it was to be expected, Twilight and Flash were the first to arrive to the town aerodrome. The place was simple, basically a big grass field with a few small wooden hangers to protect the aircraft from the weather. It was used mostly by amateurs and small transport aircraft, but it was designed to house bigger means of transport if needed.

As they waited under the cantilever roof of the wooden building that housed the ticket office, Twilight glanced for the tenth time in three minutes at the wall clock.

“If you keep staring at the clock, you risk breaking time,” Flash Sentry joked.

She blushed a bit in embarrassment. “I'm just a bit nervous, the airship will be here soon.”

“There's still plenty of time,” the young guard assured. “Oh, here they come.”

The first of her friends were Rainbow Dash and Applejack. The former was wearing sport attire while the latter was dressed with a pair of jeans and a green shirt, along with her trademark stetson.

Walking between them was a yellow pegasus mare with a very long pink mane and tail, dressed with a green sweater and brown pants. The mare was taller than Rainbow Dash but distinctly less muscular, with a thin and delicate physique.

“Howdy, pardner!” Applejack said, flashing a smile to Twilight and Flash. “Sorry if we’re late, Flutters here was a bit reluctant ta come.”

“She was barricaded inside her house,” Dash blurted out, rolling her eyes.

“I’m- I’m sorry,” the yellow mare said meekly, trying her best to hide her face behind her mane. ‘I wish I was brave like the rest of my friends.’

Applejack must have sensed her uneasiness, and soon the farmer gently put one of her big muscular arms around the shoulders of the pegasus to comfort her. “Aww, worry not sugarcube. After what happened, nopony can blame you ta be a bit jumpy.”

“Indeed, Applejack,” said a posh female voice. The owner of the voice was a tall unicorn mare who could only be described as stunning, dressed with a black knee length skirt that showed off her long legs and a blue blouse decorated with a diamond brooch depicting her cutie mark. Rarity’s body had the shape of an hourglass, with carefully groomed white fur that gave the impression that her elegant figure was carved from pure alabaster, and a long indigo mane and tail arranged in an elaborate hairstyle. Her visage was delicate and attractive, with deep blue eyes highlighted by a sapient use of makeup. The mare seemed to have the power to enchant stallions and mares alike with her flawless body and elegant manner, but few would have imagined that she was beautiful inside as she was outside.

Walking a few steps behind her was Spike, overstuffed with her luggage, as usual.

“Wow Rarity. Only four suitcases?” Rainbow Dash joked, looking at the overloaded dragon.

“I barely had the time to bring what was strictly necessary, darling,” the fashionista said while adjusting her elaborate coiffure with a delicate gesture, either ignoring or not noticing the sarcasm of her friend. “Luckily Spikey-Wikey was there to help me,” she added, smiling thankfully at the dragon.

“Always happy to help,” he said, looking at the beautiful mare with a dreamy gaze.

Twilight rolled her eyes, but smirked anyway. “So, the only one missing is-”

“Here we come!” a high pitched voice exclaimed out of the blue. Riding a bouncy ball the size of a car, rigorously pink of course, there was an earth pony mare with puffy curly pink hair.

The monstrous bouncing contraption came to a sudden stop right in front of the group. “Hiya! Sorry if I'm late, I gave a ride to the doc here,” she said, pointing a thumb to the brown earth pony behind her. The moment he realized the ball stopped, the eyes of the stallion snapped open and he hurried to get off from the unusual means of transport.

“I feel like a drunk kangaroo,” Time Turner groaned weakly as he wobbled a bit on his unsteady legs. “Oh, thank you Flash,” he said when the orange pegasus offered him a shoulder to lean on while he regained his balance.

“Doctor Turner? What are you doing here?” Spike asked.

“My presence was required in Canterlot. My department worked on a couple of projects for the Guard in the past, so I guess they’ll need some kind of assistance.”

“Really? What kind of projects? Do you build special gadgets for super spies?” Rainbow Dash asked eagerly, getting closer to Time Turner, only to be pulled back… by Pinkie Pie strangely enough.

“Dashie, you can’t ask that kind of question! Or he will have to cancel your memory!” Pinkie Pie gasped. “Unless you already did and we no longer remember it...” she said, suspiciously studying the face of the now confused stallion from a distance that many would have considered uncomfortable.

“Uh, is she always like this?” he asked, looking at the rest of the group for help.

“Eh, don’t worry,” Applejack said with a shrug. “Yah get used ta it after a bit.”

“So, we’re all here. Is everypony ready?” Twilight asked, looking at her friends.

“Uh, I asked the town’s vet to take care of my animal friends while we’re away,” Fluttershy said.

“Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo will stay at my parents' house while we're away,” Rarity said.

“What about you AJ?”

“Mah folks can handle the farm fer a few days without me, there’s not much ta do in this period.”

Dash looked at her farmer friend, a thought bugging her mind. “You sure they’re gonna be ok?”

“The Guards set camp in the field between the town and mah farm. And before Ah left, Ah told Big Mac ta clean up mah father's pistol and rifle. Yah know, just in case.”

“I thought you trusted the Guards?” Flash Sentry asked the orange mare.

Applejack turned and looked down at the pegasus. She was easily a few inches taller than him. “No offense sugarcube, Ah really appreciate what yer guys do ta keep us safe, but it's mah family we're talkin’ about. Ah won't take any chance with those monsters around.”

The guard nodded. Knowing how much Applejack cared for her family and how protective she was toward them, especially her little sister, he could understand her point of view.

The mention of the Changelings caused Fluttershy to look around nervously. “Maybe it would be better to remain inside our homes until the situation is resolved. I mean, it sounds safer,” Fluttershy said meekly.

“What?! And force everypony to live in fear for who knows how long?” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, hovering in the air. “No way! That would mean admitting that we are powerless against those overgrown roaches!”

“I have to agree with Rainbow Dash darling,” Rarity said. “Even though I don’t support violence, there are times when you have to stand to protect what you care for.”

“I’m not really much for a fight…” Fluttershy mumbled, looking away.

“Oh, don’t worry dear. I’m sure the princesses didn’t call us to take part in a brawl,” Rarity reassured her. “And in the unlikely case we have to fight, you can count on us.”

“Yeah, especially miss ‘I'll fabulously wipe the floor with you’,” Rainbow Dash joked, referring to the black belt of the fashionista.

The white unicorn scoffed and held her face high. “A lady must know how to take care of herself darling. And martial arts are not so different from a dance after all.”

“Here it comes!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed excitedly while pointing at the sky in the direction of a small dark object. The object became bigger and bigger as it quickly got closer to the town, revealing its true nature.

The Aurora, first zeppelin of the new Dreadnought class, was the pride of the Equestrian Air Force. With a length equal to two soccer fields, these giant armored zeppelins were conceived as troop carriers and support ships for the infantry, thanks to the several turrets equipped with machine guns and cannons; the Aurora, however, had been repurposed as a personal transport for princess Celestia herself for her diplomatic trips, thus resulting in the removal of most of its weapons and the addition of more luxurious interiors.

“So. Awesome,” Rainbow Dash muttered with eyes sparkling in awe at the sight of the massive airship approaching the town. From what she had heard during her training at the Wonderbolt Academy, these airships were able to face pretty much anything in combat; the only thing that could give them a run for their money, aside from adult dragons, were supposed to be the Skyhammer-class airships of the Minotaurs, at least in theory. Nobody wanted to see a real battle between them.

The massive airship initiated the landing procedure, slowly lowering itself to the ground, obscuring a good portion of the small town aerodrome with its big shadow. The propellers slowed down as the engines were angled for the landing maneuver while a team of pegasi crew members assisted the procedure from outside and started to secure the ropes needed to hold the airship in place.

“Uh, sorry if I ask, but why can't we use the train like the other times?” Fluttershy asked, glancing nervously at the giant zeppelin.

“The railway traffic has been heavily reduced for security reasons, while a sky chariot would be an easy target,” Flash Sentry explained patiently.

“And we can't teleport due to the anti-intrusion spells that Celestia cast on the capital,” Twilight added.

Fluttershy gulped nervously. “So we have to go… into the belly of the beast.”

Seeing the distress of the pegasus, Rarity placed an arm across her back to comfort her. “Oh, don't worry darling. I’m not an expert, but from what I've heard these ships are the top of security. We'll be completely safe. And besides, this is the private ship of the princesses! Just imagine all the amenities inside!” the fashionista squealed excitedly.

“Pffft, right,” Rainbow scoffed. “They took all the badassness from the ship to turn it into a floating spa.”

Flash Sentry tapped his chin thoughtfully. “Technically, the point defense batteries are still on board. It’s still the personal airship of one of the princesses after all.”

This got the attention of a suddenly very interested pegasus, as well as a certain dragon. “Really?!” they both exclaimed in excitement.

“Do you think that we can have a tour?” Spike asked with a hopeful look. Excluding the occasional emergency, Ponyville was an ordinary rural town with little excitement.

“Well, you'll have to ask the captain, but I don’t see why not.”

“Yeah!” Spike and Dash exclaimed, exchanging a high-five.

The roar of the engines had in the meantime decreased until the propellers came to a complete stop. A double door opened on the side of the nacelle and a mechanical system slowly lowered a ladder. As soon as the ladder was completely extended, a small group of crew members wearing the uniforms of the Air Force descended from the ship and marched toward Twilight and her friends.

“Princess Twilight Sparkle,” a guard with the insignias of a sergeant saluted her, snapping to attention. “The Aurora is ready to take off as soon as you and your companions are on board ma'am.”

“Dibs on the seat next to the window!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed before Twilight could reply, rushing toward the airship.

The young princess gave the sergeant a sheepish grin for the antics of the pink mare, but he simply shrugged and gestured to the rest of the guards to take their luggage.

The rest of her friends chuckled and made their way to the ladder, Applejack and Rainbow Dash needed more than a bit of persuasion, but eventually they were convinced to hand their own luggage to the crew members.

While they boarded the airship, they couldn’t know that someone else was coming with them.

Chapter 12 - Warning: Hitchhikers May Be Escaping Convicts

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Chapter 12 - Warning: Hitchhikers May Be Escaping Convicts

‘This is what I call traveling in style,’ Rarity thought contently as she sat on her comfy seat with a cup of tea in hand. Looking around, she could barely contain her excitement, still not believing in her luck to be on the personal airship of princess Celestia.

The design of the furnitures was simple yet elegant, composed mostly by wooden surfaces and brass, resembling the interior of a cruise ship, with the only difference being that it was one floating in the air instead than on the sea.

It was a pity that there wasn’t enough time to enjoy most of the amenities that the airship offered, like the massage room, but she couldn’t really complain, after all the mere fact that she was aboard was something that doesn’t happen everyday.

The journey to the capital was going smoothly for all of them, Flash Sentry was giving Rainbow Dash and Spike an improvised tour of the ship, Pinkie Pie was having fun looking outside the windows with childish enthusiasm, Fluttershy was listening to a tale from Applejack about a sheep shearing contest, and Time Turner was looking through some notes filled with calculations so complex that probably Twilight was the only other individual among them able to make sense of them. Speaking of Twilight, the alicorn was sitting all by herself in a corner of the passenger compartment with a book in her hands, but Rarity noticed that her friend wasn’t actually reading it, instead she was looking outside the window, completely lost in her thoughts. It was obvious that something was bothering her and Rarity was quite sure that Twilight could use a friend right now.

“Mind if I join you darling?” the white unicorn asked gently.

Twilight turned her head and blinked. “Uh? Oh, not at all.”

Rarity nodded and took the seat next to her. “So,” she began while adjusting a microscopic fold of her skirt, “I couldn’t help but notice that you look rather distressed Twilight.”

“I just can't stop thinking about what's happening.”

“Oh, you are not the only one, my dear. I still have difficulties in believing what those horrible creatures have done to all those towns,” she said, shuddering at the thought that Ponyville could have shared the same fate.

Twilight sighed. “It’s not just that.”

“Oh?” Rarity looked at her with a curious expression.

“I’m trying to understand how I fit in all of this.”

Rarity looked at her with curiosity, but didn’t press her.

“Ever since I've become a princess, Celestia has always told me that I will play an important role for Equestria. But so far, all I’ve done is just… smiling and waving. And now that Equestria needs help, I was informed hours later by a public speech.” She sighed. “I know that I probably sound arrogant, but I just… I just wanna help. Do my part.”

“Oh, darling.” Rarity hugged her friend. “I'm sure that Celestia and Luna have their reasons for not having informed you sooner.”

“I know. I just wonder what it is.”

“Duh, it's obvious, you silly filly.” Pinkie Pie exclaimed suddenly, causing Twilight and Rarity to jump in their seats. “They're just waiting until you’re a good baker.” The pink mare, who both Twilight and Rarity could have sworn wasn’t here a moment ago, had her face comically pressed against the window to better enjoy the view below. “Oooooooh, look at all those tiny cows down there!”

“What do you mean?” Twilight asked in confusion, unable to see the connection between being the ruler of a country and preparing baked goods.

“Well,” Pinkie began, removing her face from the glass surface to turn toward the alicorn. “When I first moved to Ponyville I really wanted to help the Cakes with the bakery, but I didn’t have lot of experience in the kitchen and my mom didn’t know many recipes to teach me, which was kinda sad, but then things got better cuz I gave her some cooking books for her birthday. Anyway, so at first I had to learn from the Cakes and do a lot of practice.” Her smile turned a bit nostalgic at the memory of the first cake she made all by herself. It was… crunchy. “It was only after a bit that they decided I was ready to help them run Sugarcube Corner. I mean, it makes sense, no? You can't sell cookies and cupcakes if you're not hyper duper sure they’re super yummy.”

Twilight started reflecting over the words of her friend. For being a pony that seemed to incarnate the definition of random, Pinkie Pie had her rare moments of wisdom.

'Can it be? Is it really only a matter of experience?'

Celestia had once told her that ‘some lessons can't be found in books, nor can be taught, you have to learn them by yourself.’

‘Just like the Crystal Heart,’ she realized, remembering her adventure in the Crystal Empire after its return. In that occasion she had learned the meaning of self-sacrifice for the greater good over her own interests. If she had stubbornly kept trying to solve the situation by herself instead of giving the Crystal Heart to Spike, the consequences would have been disastrous. And now, they were in a similar situation.

The more she mulled over the idea, the more it made sense. Celestia trusted her, otherwise she wouldn't have called her and her friends asking for help, but at the same time she couldn't risk a young princess to make mistakes in a such a delicate situation.

‘I can’t blame her for not involving me sooner, nor is it important now. Celestia asked for my help, and I'll do whatever I can to assist her with the best of my abilities.’

The three young mares spent the rest of the journey chatting with each other and Twilight felt part of her tension disappear thanks to the company of her friends.

It was roughly an hour later that the capital was in sight. The tall white towers of Canterlot Castle formed a stark yet pleasant contrast with the dark slopes of the mountain on which the city had been built.

“I'll never get tired of this sight,” Rarity said with a dreamy smile as the airship approached the majestic city at a steady pace. Her smile soon faded, replaced by a sad frown. “I just wish that the reason behind our visit was due to better circumstances,” she said with a sigh.

“Aww, come on Rarity. Don’t frown your pretty face, or you’ll get wrinkles,” Pinkie Pie said cheerily, only to make the fashionista shriek in panic and grab a pocket mirror to check her face to the great amusement of her friends.

Twilight allowed herself to chuckle before looking outside the window.

They were almost there. Just a bit more patience and all her questions would have an answer.

Meanwhile, in the cargo bay, a certain Zealot was inspecting with evident interest and curiosity whatever component of the airship fell under her gaze.

“Having fun?” Zhar asked from his spot. The Commando was sitting on a metal crate, performing some basic maintenance to his weapon. Contrary to popular belief, Covenant weapons still needed regular maintenance to work correctly, although it was inferior to the level required by human guns. After all, a plasma weapon never jammed. The firing chamber of his plasma repeater was open and, after having checked that the magnetic coils were correctly aligned, the Commando was now cleaning the internal components with a clean rag.

“Well, even if the design is primitive and it could really use some more purple, this vessel is really fascinating.”

“It's an airship. A big one, sure, but what's so thrilling about it?” Zhar said, putting aside the piece of cloth and closing the firing chamber with a soft click.

“Oh, more than you would think actually,” Tarya responded with a hint of smugness. This was her field. “Haven't you noticed that despite the volume of the sacks of gas is technically too small to lift a vessel of this size, the airship is still able to fly?” Her mandibles formed the equivalent of a smile when she saw the Commando stop for a second to reflect.

“You're right,” he said, turning his face toward her. “This vessel is too heavy to be able to fly only with the help of hydrogen or helium.”

Tarya nodded. “And from what we've seen, the propellers are used only to maneuver the ship and move it.”

“Than how could it be possible?”

“To be honest? I have no idea. My best guess is that the ship has some kind of anti-gravitational device integrated.”

“Sounds logical, but if it’s so, why not use it also to move the ship instead of using the propellers?”

Tarya clicked her maws. “Maybe they still have basic knowledges of such technology and they can only use it to lift objects from the ground.”

The Commando grunted in response. “Another thing to add to our list of mysteries to solve.”

“Which already includes taking note of their society, identify their leaders, find the location of a possible deposit of Helium-3, investigate the cause of those weird energy emissions, and find out if the Forerunners are responsible for the anomalous nature of the planet.”

Zhar nodded but remained silent.

“A lot of tasks if you ask me,” she continued, “that will require us to venture in several different unknown locations with no idea of what’s awaiting us.”

Zhar put down his gun. “Let’s cut to the chase Tarya. What is your point?”

“My point, Zhar, is that we have to draw some line of action. You know better than me that often things don’t go as planned and this mission is the perfect example.”

“Indeed,” the Commando conceed with a slight nod. “So?”

“So, we have to consider the worst case scenario, which would be our presence be detected. We don’t know how they would react, but I doubt they will be too happy to find some intruders in their capital.”

‘Hmm, maybe she’s not a completely lost cause after all,’ he thought.

“If such situation were to arise,” the Zealot continued, “we will follow the directives of the Shipmaster. We will not engage in combat with the local forces, instead we will retreat to a safe location.”

“You know that they will most likely shoot us if our cover is burned,” Zhar pointed out.

“There won’t be killings,” she said with decision. “Things are going to be difficult enough after our less than friendly contact with the Changelings, the last thing that we need is more enemies.”

“A war fought on multiple fronts simultaneously is always a bad idea,” he commented dryly. “Don’t worry, I won’t start shooting down unarmed civilians at the slightest hint of trouble, if that’s what you fear,” he assured the Zealot. “I’ve taken part in several massacres during the war and quite frankly I have no interest in doing it again.” ‘At least, not without a good reason.’

“What about their soldiers?” Tarya asked, having noticed his choice of words.

“If the circumstances will force us to face them, you have my word that I won’t kill on purpose. I'll do my best to avoid lethal wounds. However,” he looked her in the eyes, “I have explicit orders to do everything in my power to prevent your capture, should the situation arise.”

“My capture? What do you mean?”

‘So naive.’ Zhar shook his head. “You really don’t get it? For being the most brilliant mind on the ship, not including the Huragok, you can be incredibly oblivious sometimes.”

“Then enlighten me,” the Zealot said with irritation, crossing her arms on her chest.

“Very well. Ignoring your kinship with the Shipmaster, which would make you powerful leverage over him if you were captured, you carry the knowledge of sensitive intel that would put the ship and the crew in danger, from the weaknesses in our equipment to our strategies.” Even if the helmet covered her head, Zhar could easily imagine her eyes widening in realization. “That’s the reason why I was against your involvement in this operation, aside from your lack of experience in espionage missions. Anyway, as long as you don’t fall into enemy hands, we should be fine.”

“And what about you?” Tarya asked after a short pause.

The Commando snorted, the closest thing to a sense of humor that he had shown so far. “Me? I’m simply an assent to deploy when things go nasty and they need someone to do the dirty job, no matter how unpleasant it is.” He hung his gun to the magnetic attachments on his back. “My duty is to cause as much havoc and destruction as possible before the enemy manages to kill me. To put it in simple terms, capture is not an option.”

She wouldn’t have expected a different answer from a member of the Vadam clan, according to their family saga their souls were forged in the heat of the desert and tempered with the blood of a thousand battles, but she still found the way he dismissed the value of his own life unsettling. For a moment she was tempted to compare him to Haka, but she quickly realized that the resemblance was only apparent. The swordsman had simply a great self control over his emotions; Zhar instead seemed to suppress them. She didn’t need a degree in psychology to know that it wasn’t healthy.
‘No wonder there are people who call him a walking corpse. I just wonder what caused him to become what he is now.’

Accustomed to space travel, both Sangheili noticed with ease the airship decelerate and tilt slightly forward.

“Get ready,” Zhar said, getting up. “We're about to land.”

‘Oh, goodness,’ princess Celestia thought in disgust as she looked at the image of the corpse of a Changeling. It looked like someone had stomped on its head. Celestia was not new to violence; during her long life she had taken part in a fair share of battles and had witnessed many gruesome scenes, but as she looked at the content of the photos she couldn't hide a grimace. Preliminary analysis had showed that some of the drones had been killed by some kind of melee weapon, whose effects resembled those of an enchanted blade, although with the difference that the wounds caused by the mysterious blade were cauterized or even burned in some cases.

With a shudder, she closed the folder and turned her attention to the unicorn mare standing at the left side of her desk. “You can put them away, Raven,” the princess said to her secretary while handing her the folder.

“You seem disturbed, princess,” the unicorn commented, noticing the expression of the alicorn.

“Let’s say that the content of the file wasn’t exactly family-friendly,” Celestia said cautiously with a grimace, causing the smaller mare to glance at the folder uneasily.

While Raven put the folder in a nearby filing cabinet, Celestia glanced at the elaborated clock made of gold and glass located on the shelf of her fireplace. ‘Hmm, they should be here soon,’ she thought, getting up from her chair.
A quick look outside the windows proved her assumption to be correct as she could clearly see the Aurora approaching the city. The princess gave some last indications to her trusty secretary and left her office to meet Twilight and her friends.

Those new to the castle would have very likely gotten lost, either due to the intricate planimetry or for being distracted by the countless art pieces decorating the place, but Celestia knew the place like the palm of her hand and was able to navigate through the different sections of the castle without problem, reaching the History Hallway in a few minutes.

The sunlight passing through the stained windows depicting some of the most important events in the history of Equestria created a beautiful lights game, projecting a kaleidoscope of colors on the marble surface and the red carpet of the floor.

A couple of maids that were cleaning the windows paused their tasks to salute her with a curtsey, to which the princess replied with a smile and a few words.

Glancing at the commemorative windows, Celestia couldn’t help but think about the current situation of the world. Until the attack of the Changelings the previous day, it was common belief among many of her subjects that the situation on the planet was stable, but Celestia knew all too well that even if there weren’t officially at conflict, the truth was that the situation was one of precarious equilibrium.

Her contacts with the tribes of diamond dogs informed her that many members of their species were joining en masse the war packs in the northern territories, under the lead of some ambitious chieftains.

The minotaurs, an advanced warrior race once governed by a republic, were now ruled by a military dictatorship lead by a group of generals, after they deposed with a coup d'etat their last elected president thirty years before. Since then they had started an arms race that, combined with their nationalist and expansionist policy, didn't bode well.

The situation with the griffons was even more delicate. Their Empire was a federation of smaller kingdoms lead by a local noble family whose authority usually was limited to a single island. All of them were supposed to obey to the Emperor, but their level of loyalty was variable. The barons of the northern islands in particular were in almost constant revolt against the central authorities, while the inhabitants of many of the southern islands showed a particular propensity to piracy. She and Luna had to postpone the continuation of meeting with their delegation after news of the attack reached them, but hopefully they would be able to complete the trattative within the end of the week. Fortunately, both the duke and the general had proven to be comprehensive given the situation and had agreed to prolong their permanence at the castle.

‘If only every problem could be solved with the right spell.’ As much as it sounded absurd, it was easier to stop a demigod with the powers to alter reality than ensure that a peace treaty was respected.

Despite her big size, which made her an amazon compared to her subjects, Celestia’s steps was very light and for a while the only noise in the corridor was the delicate sound of her golden horseshoes on the marble floor. Having reached an intersection, the princess heard the sound of two more pair of hooves coming from the other corridor.

‘Right in time,’ she thought, looking in the direction of the hoofsteps.

A unicorn stallion with light grey fur wearing a red uniform with white pants was coming from the opposite side of the room, followed by a unicorn mare in traditional golden armor.
Steel Shield, Captain of the Solar Guard, was the image of professionality. His short white mane was almost completely hidden by a helmet with a crest of red plumes, while his broad muscular chest was protected by a chestplate of shining steel decorated with a golden sun in the middle of the chest. He carried a scabbard with a saber hanging at his left hip, while a pistol was holstered on the right one.

“Princess,” the stallion said with a curt yet precise salute. His attendant, a mare named Schedule Tab, mimicked the salute but remained silent. The mare gave the impression to have been dragged into the Guard by mistake; she had a petite physique, a soft pink coat, short red hair, and a pair of big blue eyes that, thanks to the round spectacles on her muzzle, gave her the appearance of a doe caught in headlights, something that was not helped by her meek personality. From what Celestia knew, the Captain had promoted her to the rank of Corporal only due to her efficiency with paperwork and she now acted as his secretary in armor.

“Here’s the last report of the situation, your highness,” the stallion said, handing her a folder.

The eyes of the princess quickly scanned the content of the file, growing wider and wider as she read. “Great Maker,” she muttered once she was done. “It’s even worse that I feared.”

The final count of the towns hit by the Changelings was now forty-one, half of which were in Equestria. The remaining settlements were located in Saddle Arabia, Maretonia, and Zebrica.

The Captain nodded. “Indeed, princess. As you can see, we’re facing a threat on a planetary level.”

All the names on the list showed the same similarities: all were settlements located nearby mana spots, and all of them had a population composed either entirely or close to it by an equine species. Although the Changelings could feed off from every kind of creature in theory, they seemed to have a predilection for ponies and other equine species, apparently because they were able to interface more easily with their brainwaves rather that the ones of other races like griffins or dragons.

The reason behind it was not yet completely clear, but it was supposed to be due to the origin of their species. Although their past was still mostly a mystery, the most accredited theory was that the Changelings shared a common ancestor with the Breezies and the Flutterponies; said ancestors had once been ponies whose nature was changed by magic, but if such change was voluntary or caused by external factors was unknown.

The princess closed the folder and handed it back to the Captain. “At least there are no reports of attacks to the Crystal Empire,” Celestia commented with a small smile, trying to see a bright side to the situation. The mana spots discovered so far in the territory of the Crystal Empire were all in the middle of the tundra, far away from the settlements, and most of the small population of the Empire was concentrated in proximity of their capital, under direct protection of the Crystal Heart.

‘After the atrocities they suffered under the rule of King Sombra and the massive cultural shock of being thrown into the modern era, I'm glad they were spared from this attack. They have already suffered enough.’

The stallion said nothing, but if the rude way he passed the folder to his assistant was of any indication, it was clear that he was holding back from commenting.

Some of her subjects were diffident toward their long lost northern cousins, considering them a nuisance at best and a waste of resources at worse. Even after years of its reappearance, the Crystal Empire wasn’t yet autonomous and still needed help from Equestria in terms of resources and troops. She remember how a member of one of her ministries had once spoke of the Crystal Ponies as ‘backlog primitives out of time, good only to take advantage of the work of others’. Needless to say, Luna’s reaction to the comment had been quite vocal and violent. Her sister had grown a particular liking toward the Crystal Ponies, not only because she saw the similarities between their situation and hers after her return from her banishment, but also because they still carried several heritages of the old times that made her feel at home whenever she had the opportunity to visit the Empire.

“I still think that it's a mistake,” Steel Shield commented suddenly, breaking the silence.

Celestia repressed the urge to sigh. She knew what he was talking about. “We've already discussed about it, Captain. Hiding behind a barrier of energy is not an option, especially considering that last time it didn't work.”

“With all due respect, your highness, I still think that a force field would be-”

“Completely useless against an enemy who uses espionage and deception over conventional warfare strategies,” she interrupted him, having no intention to start another discussion with him.

A force field was a passive defense, sturdy yes, but not indestructible, as showed by the invasion occurred during the wedding of her niece. In case of another attack en mass, the only effective countermeasure would be a repulsive field, but unfortunately the spell that Cadence and Shining Armor had used to repel Chrysalis and her swarm during the wedding was not duplicable due to its unique nature. She knew that the Captain was aware of it; she knew also that most likely the real reason why he supported the strategy of the force field was just because he wanted to prove that he was a better commander than Shining Armor and not some kind of replacement. His was a reasoning that Celestia honestly thought was stupid and petty, given that she had never considered him like a replacement or second choice.

It was in moments like these that Celestia wasn’t completely sure if Steel Shield had been the best choice for the role of Captain of the Solar Guard. The unicorn stallion was a loyal officer, competent, and intelligent, but in her opinion he was more a manager than a leader, lacking the ability to truly inspire those under his command.

“Besides, we have spells around the perimeter of the capital that will alert us in case they try to infiltrate the city. Our main concern at the moment are the possible Changeling agents that may be already inside.”

“Our soldiers are actively looking for any suspect activity,” the stallion assured her.

“What about the old mines?”

“The patrol teams haven't reported signs of recent passage and all the known accesses are guarded night and day.”

“Excellent.”

The doors of the main hall opened, revealing Twilight and the other five Element bearers. The visage of the princess of the sun lit up when she saw them. Twilight rushed toward the elder alicorn and gave her a hug, which Celestia promptly returned.

Princess Celestia looked at the rest of the bearers and gave them all a warm smile as they bowed respectfully. “I'm pleased to see all of you again, my dear girls. I just wish it was under better circumstances.”

“Same thing, yer highness, “ Applejack replied with a polite smile.

“I presume that all of you heard my speech this morning.”

“Indeed, princess,” Rarity said. The expressions of all the six mares became serious and somber, even in the case of Pinkie Pie.

“Then you know about the events of last evening. As you may know, since their failed invasion, the Changelings have started a friction war with Equestria, with several small fights on our borders with the Badlands. These skirmishes have also involved the kindoms of Saddle Arabia, Maretonia, and the tribes of Zebrica, but so far the situation was under control. With Chrysalis’s defeat by Shining Armor and Cadence, we thought that they didn’t have the strength nor the resources to perform large scale operations. However, the recent events have proved that we were wrong. The Changelings are not the crippled enemy that we thought; they were simply testing our strength. Their attack destroyed our sense of security, with devastating effects on our morale, as you can imagine.
“And I’m sorry to say it, Pinkie, but I seriously doubt that a party would be sufficient to solve the problem,” the princess added, anticipating the obvious proposal of a particular Bearer.

The pink mare nodded in understanding and shrugged a bit. “I’ll still do what I can,” she said with a little smile, one that Celestia could only return. Even in the darkest hour she lived up to the Element she represented.

“Why have they gone so far from the Badlands?” Rainbow Dash asked. “ I mean, it’s not like there aren’t towns located near our frontiers.”

“Because it was the last place where we expected an attack. The frontier towns are guarded by contingents of royal guards and have special defensive spells. Such countermeasures are absent in other places of the kingdom and we didn’t know they had the ability and the knowledge to teleport troops in the heart of our territory.”

Steel Shield took it as a clue to speak, after having remained silent the whole time. “This brings us to the reason you were summoned, princess Twilight,” the Captain said, addressing only to the young alicorn. “Project Phalanx.”

“Uh, I'm sorry to ask, but what is exactly project Phalanx?” Fluttershy asked timidly, voicing the thoughts of the rest of her friends.

“That’s classified,” the Captain of the Solar Guard said dryly, causing the shy mare to hide behind Rarity. He glanced at the rest of Elements. “I will discuss the details with Princess Twilight Sparkle. All you have to know is that the kingdom is requesting your services and-”

“Hey, she was just asking you a question, you jerk!” Rainbow Dash exploded, suddenly standing right in front of the stallion. Captain or not, she would not allow someone to speak that way to one of her friends. “And I think that we deserve some kind of explanation.”

“I suggest you to watch your tongue when you speak to an officer, cadet Dash,” the Captain said coldly, glaring at the mare.

“With all due respect, the Wonderbolts are part of the Air Force, not the Solar Guard, sir,” Rainbow Dash responded, pronouncing the title with a hint of venom.

“Captain, that’s enough,” Celestia said, stepping between them before Steel Shield could reply to the challenging tone of the pegasus. “The Bearers of the Element of Harmony are Dames of the Kingdom, a title that is basically a knighthood, which authorize them to access confidential material.”

“With all due respect, your highness, it would be unwise to share such kind of information with civilians-”

“These civilians, as you call them, are my best friends,” Twilight interrupted the Captain, “ponies to which I would entrust my life without any hesitation, and they are the reason why Equestria is safe and not a nightmarish land ruled by some evil overlord. I may be still young and new to this position, but I'm still a princess of Equestria and this poses me at the same level as the other alicorns,” she said, maintaining her unflinching gaze on the unicorn. “Which means, I have the authority to give you orders. So, I will ask you only once, Captain. What is Project Phalanx?” Twilight demanded with a tone that left no space for ‘buts’. Her brows were furrowed in a slight scowl and her wings were partially open in an unconscious display of dominance.

“As you wish, princess,” the Captain said in defeat, accepting her authority. “But it’s a delicate matter, and I would suggest to speak of it in a more secure location.”

“The throne room will the perfect place Captain. Lead the way,” Celestia said.

The stallion nodded and started walking toward their destination, followed by his attendant.

“Rainbow Dash, I appreciate your loyalty toward your friends, but I would suggest you to be more careful in the future,” Princess Celestia said, looking at the cyan pegasus. “Every action causes consequences.”

The pegasus nodded. “I will princess. Thank you, by the way.”

“You’re welcome, my little pony.”

The five Bearers started walking down the corridor, flashing a smile to Twilight when they passed in front of her. The two princesses were the last to follow the group.

“My, my, Twilight,” Celestia commented quietly with a smirk. “Seems like Fluttershy is not the only one to have become more assertive.”

“I’m sorry,” Twilight said, averting her gaze.

“Don’t be, my dear. As long as you don’t abuse it, you have all rights to ask for respect to your status and that of your friends.”

“It’s just that after all we have done for Equestria, I don’t like that ponies dismiss us like we were fillies who try to meddle with the matters of the grown ups,” Twilight said, glancing at one of the commemorative windows. “Why is he so hostile toward us?” Twilight asked to her former mentor once she made sure the Captain and his attendant were far enough away as to not hear them.

“Captain Steel Shield took upon himself the duty to give prestige to the Guards after their failures in the past.”

“They can’t really be blamed: Nightmare Moon and Discord were enemies too powerful to be defeated by conventional ways, and Chrysalis had the advantage of the element of surprise.”

“That may be true, but he still doesn’t accept that a group of what he considers common citizens managed to succeed where the soldiers failed. As for Project Phalanx… well, let’s say it is his personal pet project. He was the one to come up with the idea.” The elder alicorn looked suddenly very tired. “The last few hours have been very difficult, and there’s still much to do. I was wondering...would you join me for a cup of tea in the park later, like the old times? I could really use a friend.”

Twilight expression brightened instantly. “I would really like it.”

Without warning, Pinkie Pie stopped and started shivering violently.

“Pinkie Pie, are you alright?” Celestia asked, concerned just a moment before the earth pony stopped shaking.

“Oh, I'm fine princess. It's just my Pinkie Sense going fuzzy. It’s since last night that I feel this way.”

Twilight looked at her in surprise. “Wait. You felt this way this morning too?”

“Uh-uh. My best guess is because of what is happening now. Which is strange, because at the wedding I didn’t feel anything wrong.” She shrugged. “Oh well. The more you know,” Pinkie said, walking again like nothing had happened.

Celestia glanced at Twilight. “Is it normal?”

“I’m sure it’s nothing to be worried about. I think.”

‘Hmm, tough girl,’ Tarya thought with approval and amusement as she watched the young princess Twilight Sparkle put the Captain in line. It reminded her of the several times she had seen battle hardened veterans cowering in fear under the scolding gazes of the females of their keep. ‘I like her.’

Once the airship had landed, she and Zhar had followed the six mares inside the castle. The structure was impressive, both artistically than architectonically, but it paled in front of the sight of the white alicorn.

Princess Celestia was a giant compared to the rest of her kind, with a height of a bit more than two meters and twenty she was bigger than Tarya, roughly the size of an adult Sangheili female. She was wearing a white dress with golden trims, with an opening in the back to accommodate her huge pair of wings; even if they were folded, they were so big that the tips of the primaries reached the level of her calves. Her green, cyan, and pink mane floated slowly in a non-existent breeze, while a long slender horn stood proud on her forehead, just below her crown.
And her eyes. Gods, Tarya was mesmerized by the sight of her magenta eyes. They were warm, like those of a mother, but at the same time hard like those of a warrior. Overall, the alicorn seemed to radiate of power and magnificence like she had never seen before.

If she had seen the princess during the time of the Covenant, Tarya would have most likely prostrated on the ground, thinking to be in the presence of a Forerunner, but now she merely observed the regal white mare with deep curiosity. After the truth about the Halo rings was revealed, she was skeptical about the existence of the gods, but she didn’t exclude it.
The Arbiter himself had said that there were good chances that the gods existed and she couldn’t deny that it was comforting to have something bigger than you to believe in, especially in the moments of crisis.

Theological reflections aside, she still wasn’t sure what to think about the six mares holding the title of Element Bearers. Aside from Twilight Sparkle, who was the only alicorn in their group, the remaining mares seemed to be ordinary civilians. Well, that was if she ignored the weird pink one.

The conversation between the ponies become particularly interesting when the Guard Captain mentioned some kind of secret project. Needless to say, Tarya intended to follow them and find out what it was exactly.

“Let’s split up,” she said once the group of ponies was far enough away. The Commando looked at her quizzically, obviously expecting a good reason to do it. “You said it yourself. The longer we stay here, the greater the chances of being discovered increase. If we split up we’ll be able to cover more ground in less time. I'll follow their group and try to find out what their secret project is while you’ll look for the device they use for their encrypted communications. We’ll leave the energy emissions for later.”

“What about the rock sample?”

“One of the boxes contains a piece of coal and some of its dust has fallen on the other crates. We’ll use my scanners to follow the radioactive wake left by its isotopes to its final destination.”

Zhar seemed to be satisfied by the plan, if his lack of objections was of any indication, and she took his silence as a clue to start following the group.

“You know that this will end horribly, right?” he said bluntly, like it was a matter of fact.

Tarya stopped abruptly and turned toward him. “What makes you think so?”

“Your disconcerting ability to get into trouble,” he responded with brutal honesty before moving away without giving her time to reply.

The huge wooden doors of the throne room closed with a soft rumble, leaving the nine ponies alone in the big ornate room.

“Here we are Captain. You can start informing them about the details.”

The stallion sighed in defeat, but nodded anyway, starting his explanation.

“As you all know, the last few years have seen an increase of the number of threats that involve powerful magic, against which our soldiers have practically no chance to succeed in fighting against. Project Phalanx was first conceived after the Changelings tried to invade Canterlot.
As you well know, the Elements of Harmony were the most powerful magical artifact at our disposal, but they had the flaws that they couldn’t be everywhere and they required the presence of all the bearers to work; furthermore there were situations where their bearers could be endangered. We all know how Chrysalis’ drones prevented you from reaching the artifact and use them.” Ignoring the dirty gazes from Rainbow Dash and Applejack, Steel Shield continued with his exposition. “The idea at the base of Project Phalanx was to use the magical frequency of the Elements of Harmony as a base to develop a defensive artifact able to protect Equestria and its citizens from an unconventional threat. The plan was to build a network of these artifacts and place them in strategic locations to amplify their effect and spread it all across Equestria.”

“Why haven’t I been informed?” Twilight asked, narrowing her eyes.

“Because quite honestly I doubted that it would have lead to concrete results,” Celestia said. “My sister and I were personally against the idea, especially now that the Elements have been returned to the Tree, but after the Changeling’s attack the House of Lords have been very pressing on this matter, leaving us no other choice but to authorize further studies,” Celestia said. “Which so far have lead to nothing concrete.”

“I admit that we have encountered some unfortunate obstacles,” the Captain said, trying to hide his embarrassment. “The main of which would be that we no longer have the Elements. But, we think we have found a way to overcome the obstacle.”

“The Tree of Harmony itself,” Twilight guessed.

Steel Shield nodded. “Precisely. Unfortunately, our attempts to isolate the energy imprint of the Elements from it have been completely unsuccessful so far. The Tree seems to shield itself from our analysis. ”

“The Tree of Harmony is not just a strange concretion of crystal that emits magical energy, captain. It's something much more complex that we may not be able to fully comprehend.
And it possess some kind of consciousness.”

“That's what our mages and scientists have suggested. And it’s fortunate, because if it’s sentient, we may be able to overcome the obstacle by convincing it using the right means. And this is where you and your friends play your part.”

“Alright y'all, ah'm completely lost now,” Applejack said, scratching her head in confusion.

The Captain looked at the farmer in annoyance for a brief moment, before continuing his explanation. “Even if you gave back the Elements to the Tree, you are still connected with them someway, as proved by the residual magical signature that all of you posses.
Our research team thinks that if we're able to isolate and duplicate each of your magical imprint, we may use it to convince the Tree to no longer see our exams as an intrusion and allow us to retrieve the data we need.”

“I still don’t like it,” Celestia said.

“Neither do I,” was the response of Twilight. “You’re basically trying to weaponize the Elements.”

“You make things look far worse than reality, princess. We’re simply trying to find a way to protect Equestria. Wasn't it the purpose of the elements since the beginning?” Steel Shield asked rhetorically with a condescending smile.

“The Elements are tools to maintain the natural order of the entire world, not of a single nation.”

“Your highness, when I was nominated Captain of the Guard, I've sworn to protect the kingdom from its enemies, and it’s what I’m intending to do.”

“Do not mistake my words, Captain. I too care for Equestria and its inhabitants, but I do not approve the way you intend to use the Tree. Furthermore, we don’t even know how the Elements would react against the Changelings, considering that last time we weren’t able to use them. Changelings are creatures born thanks to dark magic, something that we know is against the natural order of things, but it’s part of their nature to feed off of emotions. The repulsion spell that Cadence and Shining Armor used to repel them used a soul scansion to read the evil intentions of their Queen. For all we know, we could simply break their connection with the hivemind and unleash a swarm of feral drones completely out of control.”

“Or we may be able to prevent events like that of yesterday from happening again. Given our current situation, we have to try anyway,” the Captain of the Guard said with absolute conviction. “If we’re successful, Equestria will no longer have to live in fear of monsters like the Changelings.”

Twilight looked at the Captain. He seemed really convinced of what he was doing. She then moved her gaze to her friends. They looked at each other briefly, exchanging unsure looks for a moment before eventually nodding at her. They too weren’t happy about the whole situation, but it was supposed to be for a good cause.

“Alright, let’s give it a shot,” the young princess said with still evident reticence.

“Wonderful,” the Captain said with a victorious smirk. “Just give us the time to prepare the equipment and we can start the tests.”

“Will it be painful?” Fluttershy asked in fear, her mind already conjuring a lab that seemed more like a torture chamber than a room in a medical clinic.

“There’s nothing to be afraid of, my little pony. It’s just a series of non-intrusive medical exams followed by a couple of scans,” Celestia assured her with a warm smile.

Fluttershy sighed in evident relief.

“There’s still something that I don’t understand,” Twilight asked with a frown. “How were you able to connect the Changelings to the attacks? From what I know, they're very careful in covering their trace. And during your speech this morning, you didn’t mentioned eyewitnesses or other evidence of their activities.”

The Captain glanced at Celestia, but the alicorn ignored him. They had the right to know.

The princess of the sun looked at the six mares with a serious expression. “What I'm about to tell you is highly confidential,” she said, shifting her gaze across every one of the six mares. “I have to ask you to keep this information a secret, until then I won't tell.”

“Even to our families?” Applejack asked uneasily.

“I'm sorry, Applejack. I know how much you hate to lie, especially to those you care about, but we cannot risk this.”

The farmer looked at the white alicorn, unsure, but her trust in the judgment of the princess won. “Alright, princess. Yah have mah word.”

“And ours as well,” Rarity said, speaking for all of them, while Pinkie even mimicked her trademark promise.

“Thank you,” Celestia said, glad that they had all agreed to sworn secrecy. “All the settlements hit by Chrysalis' troops didn't show clear traces of their passage. All except one, the town of Greenville.” Celestia proceeded to briefly explain the way the Changelings had been able to teleport inside the town and how their teleportation device was supposed to work.

“Wow, that’s incredible… but also disturbing,” Twilight Sparkle admitted. “It sounds like a horror sci-fi fiction. But it still doesn’t explain why they left traces of their activity. I mean, why didn’t they clean up the area?”

“They didn’t, or rather they couldn’t, because they were all dead. The streets of the village were littered with their bodies.”

The six young mares stared at the princess with different degrees of shock.

“Ah! The guards kicked the asses of those roaches, uh?” Rainbow Dash exclaimed with a grin.

“Rainbow Dash!” Rarity yelled, appalled that her friend was swearing in front of a princess.

Celestia didn’t seem disturbed at all by the crude language of the pegasus. “It wasn’t the work of the guards, nor of the citizens.” The princess took a deep breath. “What we haven't made public knowledge is that an unknown third faction was involved during the attack. We've found the corpses of eighty-five Changelings, five of which were Centurions, all killed by what we presume are energy weapons not powered by magic, as showed by the residual traces of radiation in their wounds.”

“What?” Twilight exclaimed, surprised. “It can’t be. I mean, theoretically it could be possible, but no one on this planet has the technology or even the knowledge to create such weapons.”

“I know, which honestly confuses and worries me. We have absolutely no idea with who or what we are dealing with, nor what their intentions may be.”

“Well, whoever these guys are, if they’re hostile then we’ll show them that they’d better not mess with us,” Rainbow Dash said confidently.

“Yeah, we’ll give those meanies a ‘stay out of Equestria’ welcome party!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed, pulling out her party cannon out of nowhere and firing a small cloud of confetti in the air.

“Aww, Pinkie!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed in annoyance. Being the closest to the weapon of mass distraction, she had suffered most of the damage and was now covered by colorful pieces of paper, much to the amusement of Applejack and Rarity.

“Oops, sorry Dashie,” Pinkie Pie said sheepishly.

As she brushed away some confetti that had fallen on her mane, Twilight noticed something strange a few meters from them. A bit of the confetti paper seemed to be suspended mid-air, right where there was a slight distortion in the air- Twilight froze. No. They weren't suspended in the air. They were leaning on something.

“Twilight?” Fluttershy called her, but the alicorn didn't respond, her mind was running at one hundred miles per hour, putting together the fragmentary pieces of an intricate puzzle.

‘Well, it’s invisible, duh!’
‘I’m starting to see things.’
‘It's just my Pinkie Sense going fuzzy. It’s since last night that I feel this way.’
‘...no one on this planet has the technology or even the knowledge to create such weapons.’
‘...you could have unintentionally started a war with an unknown alien race?’

‘No. No, it can't be. But then again… Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.’

Her horn glowed and without warning she fired a beam of raw magic toward the anomaly in the air.

The beam impacted against something that shouldn’t have been there and soon a big translucent figure started to appear in the air. Fluttershy and Rarity gasped loudly, but the rest of the ponies present could only stare in shock as they saw a creature as tall as Princess Luna standing a few meters from them. The creature was clad head to toe in a futuristic purple armor whose smooth surfaces gave it an almost organic appearance. Small bursts of electricity danced briefly across its surface as whatever system had allowed the creature to remain invisible finally turned off.

The creature looked down at its body in surprise for a moment, then it slowly raised its head and met the gaze of the purple alicorn with the unfaltering glowing blue eyes of its helmet.

Rainbow Dash was the first to recover the use of her mouth and voiced the thoughts of everyone in the room, including the mysterious intruder.

“Well. Shit.”

Chapter 13 - Hic sunt leones

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Chapter 13 - Hic sunt leones

In the moments following the sudden appearance of the armored creature in the room, Princess Celestia had the opportunity to get a good look at the appearance of their unexpected guest. For a brief moment she thought it could be some breed of Earth Dragon, but she quickly put aside the theory when she noticed the differences, aside for the lack of a tail.

The body was slim yet muscular, evidently evolved to be fast and agile, with long arms ending in tetradactyl hands with two thumbs, and powerful digitigrade legs, each one ending with what appeared to be a pair of big hooves, which matched perfectly with the strange footprints they had found in the town of Greenville.

The armor that the creature wore had a strange, almost alien design, with sleek surfaces dotted with small blue lights whose purpose was completely unknown, while lines of blue light adorned the edges of the pauldrons and the helmet.

The creature shifted its head to look at the ponies in the room, apparently to see their reactions, then it took a step back.

“Don’t move!” Steel Shield yelled, snapping from the state of trance generated by the completely unexpected situation. The stallion extracted his pistol with lightning speed and was aiming it at the intruder, while at the same time he readied his horn to fire a combat spell. A few steps behind the Captain, his attendant too extracted her sidearm, but judging by her unsteady grip on the pistol as well her expression, the mare was obviously scared. “You’re guilty of espionage and have infiltrated in the Royal Palace. Get on your knees with your hands behind your head!”

As expected, the creature didn’t seemed enticed by the idea of being arrested, so it tensed its body and emitted a low growl, getting ready to fight.

Princess Celestia decided to act before the situation could escalate. Her horn glowed with golden light as she casted a spell and a moment later the intruder found itself trapped inside a dome of energy matching the color of her magic.

The creature studied the energy shield for a moment and tested it with a couple of knocks, before punching its surface, but the only result was a series of small concentric waves around the impact site.

Celestia conceded herself a little satisfied smile. It was a simple low-level force field, one that required only a small fraction of her powers, but it seemed to work perfectly. The princess took a few steps toward the energy dome. The movement didn’t pass unnoticed to the creature, who turned its head toward her in a way that reminded the ponies of a raptor.

“Don’t worry. I won’t hurt you, but I need answers. We’ve found traces your people’s activity in the town of Greenville. What were you doing there?”

The creature cocked its head slightly, but remained silent. It simply kept staring at the princess, studying her, before shifting its gaze upward, to her horn.

“It’s a waste of time, your majesty. I doubt this beast can understand us,” the captain said as he got closer to the dome, only to take a hurried step back when the creature snarled aggressively at him.

“It seems like our guest took offense of your words, Captain,” Twilight Sparkle commented dryly, observing the display with a hidden hint of amusement.

Taking a moment to recompose himself, the stallion addressed his narrowed gaze to the young alicorn. “Well, it doesn’t change the fact that this thing is an intruder.”

“Hey, what is it doing now?” Pinkie Pie asked as the creature grabbed an oddly shaped device from its hip. The design may have been completely unknown, but Celestia easily recognized the device as some kind of weapon by the pistol-grip. The pistol emitted a loud humming sound for a couple of seconds, before firing a globe of green energy against the force field. Due to the color of the energy projectile, Celestia briefly associated the weapon to the ones used by the changelings, but when the globe hit the force field, making it start to flicker erratically, she realized that it was something completely different. Something far worse.

‘Plasma,’ she realized not without a little amount of shock as she felt the superheated ionized ball of gas interact with her magic, in a way that was at the same time similar yet different to her bond with the sun.

No wasting time, the creature raised a leg and delivered a powerful kick against the force field, shattering it like it was made of glass.

Celestia was quick to recover and readied her horn to summon another force field, one stronger than the last one. The intruder, however, noticed the golden glow surrounding her horn and reacted, aiming the strange energy weapon her. Or more precisely, to her horn.

The green plasma bolt crossed the distance between them in a blink and grazed the tip of her horn, causing an explosion of pain in the head of the princess of the Sun.

“Celestia!” Twilight screamed, worried as she rushed to her former mentor, who had fallen on her knees and had now a hand pressed to a temple.

“I’m fine Twilight,” the elder alicorn hissed, trying without much success to ignore the pulsing headache. Cracking open an eye, she dared to take a look to her horn, only to see the last third of her horn blackened. ‘Not as bad as what Chrysalis did during the wedding, but it’s still unpleasant.’

She winced when her ears were assaulted by a new loud noise, similar to a hammer banged repeatedly against a hard surface or a series of thunders. Her brain took several moments to recognize the real nature of the sound. The two Solar Guards were firing their pistols.

The Zealot had just fired an overcharged plasma bolt to prevent the alicorn from using her powers and generate another force field, when the Captain and the other guard had opened fire, forcing Tarya to take cover behind one of the columns that adorned the sides of the throne room. Her shields could withstand without problem an assault rifle firing an entire magazine, but she was more concerned about the energy beams that the Captain fired with his horn.

‘Of all the planes in the galaxy, we had to end up on the one where the inhabitants have a Spartan Laser mounted on the head,’ she thought frustrated as she heard one of the energy beams rip a chunk of marble from the column.

Luckily, the alicorn known as Twilight Sparkle had not yet taken part to the fight, to which the Zealot could only be thankful. According to the readings of her scanners during the brief confrontation with Celestia, alicorns were able to summon levels of energy much higher than the rest of the population, thus she was inclined to believe that the young princess would have been a formidable foe. Daring to take a quick peek, she saw that the purple mare and her friends were fussing over princess Celestia, ensuring that she was fine and helping her back on her hooves.

It was only now that Tarya realized with horror the full entity of her actions.

‘I’ve just shot at one of the leaders of this planet. ... I so screwed up.’

On Sanghelios, as well its colonies, the penalty for an act like that against a kaidon was decapitation, usually by the hand of the kaidon himself if he survived the attack. So far the ponies had showed many similarities with the humans, but Tarya felt this was the worst way to see if they also had some element in common with her own kind.

Rolling out of cover, the Zealot raised her pistol and fired a couple of loose shots over the heads of the two Guards. The globes of plasma flew over the ponies, missing them entirely as she had planned, but they did their job as a diversion.

By the time the ponies realized that she wasn’t really attacking them, the Zealot had already covered half of the distance that separated her from the doors.

“Zhar! My cover is burned! We must leave, now!” Tarya shouted by radio as she made a beeline for the exit.

She was almost within reach of the handles when the decorated double doors opened, welcoming her with the unpleasant sight of a team of Solar Guards. The four ponies in the front row were equipped with halberds with glowing blades, while the six behind had rifles with bayonets. The soldiers in golden armor were clearly surprised by her appearance, but after a couple of seconds of confusion, they quickly recovered and aimed their weapons at her. One of the halberd-wielding guards tried to slash the blade of his halberd across her chest, but the Zealot avoided the worst of the attack with a hasty backward jump. Instinct kicked in and Tarya raised her pistol, pointing it to the guards. The soldiers faltered briefly, but held their position.

“You have no escape. Drop your weapon and surrender, now!” The Solar Guard Captain ordered behind her.

‘Not a chance,’ she thought, barely sparing the stallion a quick glance before returning her attention back to the guards blocking her only escape route. She didn’t have much time left, in the background she could hear the sound of more guards coming from the nearby corridors, alerted from the ruckus.

‘Alright, maybe if I manage to parry their blades using my sword, I should be able to-’

“Dash, no!” the orange mare with the odd accent exclaimed suddenly, interrupting her planning.

The next moment Tarya felt a smaller body slam against her with the force of a bullet, sending both of them to the ground.

Before any of her friends could react, Rainbow Dash took to the air and dive bombed against the armored creature with the speed of a lightning. The element of surprise combined with her speed seemed to work, the pegasus managed to knock the intruder off balance, but they had barely touched the floor when things took an unexpected turn. With an impressive display of martial discipline and physical prowess, the creature used the pegasus’ attack against her, transforming the fall into a roll and grabbing the much smaller opponent in the process.

By the time Rainbow Dash realized what was happening, she found out that her opponent had used its left arm to trap the pegasus in a headlock. Panicking, she tried to pry open with her hands the steely grip of the creature, only to freeze when she noticed with the corner of her eye that the creature was using its free hand to point its pistol to her head.

“Rainbow Dash!” Twilight yelled in panic at the sight of one of her best friends being held as a hostage. The young princess and the rest of her friends took a few steps forward, but the creature reacted by pushing the energy weapon closer to Rainbow Dash’s head. The message was clear: try anything and your friend is dead.

“Nopony moves!” Celestia ordered before the guards or one of the Bearers could do something that could unnerve the intruder. Just one wrong move, and Rainbow Dash would die. With her magic temporarily unavailable and Twilight on the verge of a panic attack, her options were limited. ‘Oh Luna, where are you, sister?’

“Please, don’t hurt Dashie,” Pinkie Pie pleaded with teary eyes. Her usually poofy many had now completely deflated like an empty balloon.

The creature stared at the Element of Laughter in the eyes, then looked down to its hostage. Rainbow Dash had grabbed its arm with both her hands, not so much as to try to escape, as she had realized that her captor was much stronger than her, but rather to ease her neck and shoulder of the weight of her body, given that her legs were dangling in the air a few inches from the floor. After a few tense moments, the creature did something that shocked all those present. Maintaining its grip on the cerulean pegasus, it lowered its body slightly, allowing her hooves to touch the marble floor. Rainbow Dash allowed herself to take a small breath of relief; she was still in a very dangerous situation, the creature could still easily end her life either by shooting her or simply increasing its grip around her head, but at least she could now breath more easily.

That little act of kindness gave Celestia a spark of hope. A crazy idea started forming in her mind. It was risky, but maybe there was a way to come out from this situation in a peaceful way.

‘Nothing ventured, nothing gained.’

“Everypony. Stand down.” Celestia’s voice was calm, controlled, but it still resonated clearly through the entire throne room. She slowly raised her empty hands and took a couple of cautious steps forward. The creature noticed her action and aimed its pistol to her, looking nervously to her horn.

“Princess!”

“Don’t worry, Twilight. I know what I’m doing,” Celestia said, never breaking eye contact with the creature. ‘At least, that’s what I hope.’

The warrior has had plenty of occasions to use its weapon, but as she quickly rethought about the events of the past few minutes, she noticed that its first reaction when Twilight had disabled its invisibility device was to run away, using violence only as last resort and always trying to cause as little damage as possible.

“It’s alright,” she said, this time addressing to the figure in purple armor standing in front of her. “I’m disarmed and I mean you no harm. I only want to speak.”

The princess spoke with a calm and controlled tone, as if she was trying to approach a dangerous animal without provoking it. In a way, the situation was similar, but with the huge difference that the creature in front of her was evidently a sapient being.

“I know you can understand me.” It wasn’t much of a question, but rather a statement. “I want to solve this situation without further violence, but I need you cooperation.”

The creature stared silently at the Princess, before glancing left and right, in the direction of the guards.

Celestia caught the message. Like any good negotiator, she knew that trust was an essential factor in establishing a dialogue between factions.

“Guards, lower your weapons and take a few steps back.”

“But your highness-”

“Do as I said.”

Many of the Solar Guards exchanged nervous glances, torn between their loyalty to the Princess and their duty to protect her, but they all end to obeying, although with different levels of reluctance.

With the guards no longer in firing position and more distant, Celestia gave the warrior a little encouraging nod. ‘Your turn now.’

The intruder seemed to hesitate a moment, but it lowered the arm holding the weapon to its side, although without putting it away. It was a small step, but it was still a start.

“There. Isn’t it better?” The alicorn said with a little smile. “Now, I need you to release her.”

The creature remained silent, then motioned with its head behind it, toward the doors.

‘Ah, I see.’ Celestia frowned a bit, then shook her head slowly. “I’m afraid we can’t allow you to leave just like that. But I guess you already knew it, right?”

The shoulders of the creature slumped a bit, as if it was saying ‘It was worth a try.’

“I know that you probably don’t like it, but if we want to come out of this situation in a non-violent way, I need you to release my subject, and come with us. We have many questions and you have some explanations to give us regarding you and your people’s actions.”

‘She’s right, but this is not how it should have happened,’ Tarya thought darkly. ‘This was supposed to be a simple recon, not a first contact mission.’ The plan was to gather as much information as possible about the ponies and then contact them using the encrypted frequency that they had discovered the previous day, but all of sudden Tarya found herself playing the part of the diplomat, a role that she had never desired to do, and worst of all while she had one of the locals as prisoner.

Her escape plan didn’t involve taking a hostage, but when the pegasus had attacked her, her body had reacted automatically. Luckily Tarya had never lost control of her actions, otherwise she doubted the mare currently trapped between her left arm and her breastplate would still be alive.

“You’d better listen to the princess, big guy,” the pegasus, Rainbow Dash if she remembered correctly, said to the Sangheili with her scratchy voice.

The Zealot was about to point out that she was a female too, but stopped, still unsure if she should speak. The ponies already knew that she could understand their language, but if she spoke there was the chance that things would only turn more complicated. She highly doubted they would believe that in another sector of the galaxy there was another alien species that talked their same language, especially when the most logical conclusion was that the Sangheili had spied on them long enough to learn their tongue.

‘Urgh, dammit!’ she thought, frustrated. ‘Zhar is going to kill me! And if the rumors about him are true, not in the figurative way. Well, one problem at a time. I’ll deal with the Commando later. For now, let’s try to not turn this meeting in Harvest 2.0.’

With slow, careful movements, Tarya finally strapped her pistol to the magnetic plate on her hip and loosened her grip on the pegasus mare a bit, causing expressions of relief to appear on the faces of princess Twilight and her friends.

The Zealot shifted her stance a bit and took a calming breath, preparing to address princess Celestia, only to widen her eyes in surprise when she saw, behind the white alicorn, the Captain of the Solar Guard firing a combat spell at her.

‘Demon’s blood!’ she thought, outraged. The Sangheili threw Rainbow Dash to the ground and raised her left arm, summoning a diamond shaped energy shield. The beam bounced on the hard light surface and darted upward, right toward one of the big crystal chandeliers adorning the ceiling.

‘Oh, you have got to be kidding me.’

Warned of the imminent danger by her unusual premonitory abilities, Pinkie Pie grabbed both Rarity and Fluttershy by their shoulders and pulled them back. Unfortunately in the haste she didn’t get a good grip on the pegasus mare, who tripped and fell on her bottom with a surprised yelp.

“Fluttershy!” Rarity screamed.

The yellow mare raised her gaze and saw with horror the energy beam cut the chain holding the chandelier right above her. She closed her eyes in fear and covered her head with her hands, but she knew it was the end.

“Shuwe-mo!” (1) a powerful voice with a distinctively feminine tone barked just a moment before she was shoved aside by something big. Fluttershy landed safely in Applejack’s strong arms and it was with shock that she and her friends saw that the same being that had shot Princess Celestia and used Rainbow Dash as hostage was now standing where she was a moment before.

“No!” she screamed with anguish as she watched the heavy chandelier crash on her unexpected saviour, burying her under the combined weight of broken crystal and metal frame.

Reacting fast, Twilight used her magic to lift the destroyed chandelier.

The creature was on all fours, body shaking and breathing heavily, the shields of its armor glowing erratically with occasional sparks. The mysterious warrior raised its head and gave a brief thankful nod to the purple alicorn.

“Are you- are you alright?” Twilight asked nervously.

As for a clue, the energy shields collapsed with a loud cracking sound. The creature emitted a weak groan and collapsed heavily on the ground, losing consciousness.

While Fluttershy’s friend fussed over her to make sure she was fine, with Pinkie smothering the pegasus with her ample chest, Captain Steel Shield took a few steps toward the unconscious figure on the floor, keeping his pistol aimed at its head, when suddenly a magenta light enveloped the firearm and snatched it from his hand.

“What are you doing, princess?” The stallion demanded, barely holding back his irritation.

“I’m just preventing you from doing something else stupid,” she said sternly, using her magic to remove from the floating pistol both the magazine and the bullet already loaded in the firing chamber. “What in Tartarus names was that for? The princess had the situation under control, but with your actions not only did you waste her work, but you put my friends in danger!”

“That thing is a threat, we can’t take any risks! And I was waiting for an opening as to not risk hitting miss Dash.”

“What about Fluttershy, then?” Twilight asked, furrowing her brows.

“It’s that thing’s fault that the chandelier fell!”

“Which would have never happened if you hadn’t shot in first place!”

“None of this would have happened if your friend wouldn’t have tried to play the part of the hero!”

“Hey, I was just trying to help!” The cyan pegasus said defensively.

Without warning, Applejack slapped Rainbow Dash’s nape.

“Ouch! What the heck, AJ! What was that for?” she exclaimed in surprise, massaging the offended area.

“Ya know what was it for, ya featherbrain!”

“Don’t tell me you agree with him!” the pegasus asked with a sense of betrayal.

The farmer pointed a finger to the Captain without actually looking at him. “Ah’m not sidin’ with that trigger-happy idiot-”

“Hey!”

“- Ah’m angry with ya ‘cause what ya did was plain stupid! Ya worried us sick! What were ya thinkin’?!”

“That thing had just shot the princess and was probably going to go rampaging through the castle! I had to do something!”

“Oh, and yer great plan worked fer shure!” the apple farmer replied sarcastically, crossing her strong arms.

“Alright, I acted on impulse, but-”

“That's yer problem, Dash! Ya never think!”

“Oh, that's rich coming from you!”

“ENOUGH!” Celestia’s voiced boomed through the throne room like thunder, silencing everyone. “I will not tolerate seeing you quarreling like foals, especially in a moment of crisis like this. We have bigger issues at the moment.”

“You mean like the big scary guy in power armor lying unconscious on the floor?” Pinkie Pie asked casually, pointing with a thumb to the armored figure. “What? I was just asking,” she said to the multitude of deadpanning.

Ignoring the antics of the pink mare, Celestia turned toward Steel Shield and looked at him with a scowl similar to that of an upset mother. “Captain, we will discuss your actions later in private.”

“Yes, ma’am,” the stallion responded snapping to attention without even trying to protest.

“The same goes for you, Rainbow Dash,” Celestia added, turning her attention to the pegasus.

“Yes, princess,” she responded, mimicking the Captain.

Celestia nodded, satisfied. A thin stream of smoke rose from the tip of her horn as her magic repaired the damages of the plasma bolt. It was a process that would require a couple hours at least, but they could already see the horn starting to turn back to white from the base toward the tip at a slow yet steady pace. “Now, let’s try to find out something more about our guest.”

“Be careful, princess,” Rarity said with concern as the white alicorn knelt beside the body of the intruder to study it more closely.

“Is she fine?” Fluttershy asked, worriedly looking at the armored figure on the floor, causing several sets of eyes to look at her.

“She?” Rainbow Dash asked, raising a brow.

“I- I just know it,” Fluttershy said, looking down and fidgeting nervously with her long hair. There were far too many ponies looking at her for her liking.

Being well aware of the special empathic abilities of the pegasus, Celestia didn’t question her. However, Fluttershy’s words caused a dark thought to occur to her. ‘If this is really a female, then I’m afraid to find out what the males of her species are like.’

Celestia put her head closer to the helmet of the creature, tilting her ears to listen better. “I can hear her breath. It’s weak, but constant,” she said, causing Fluttershy to sigh in relief.

At a closer inspection, the princess noticed a small tube that connected the back of the helmet with the armor. Celestia grabbed it with her elegant yet strong fingers and carefully pulled it. The moment the tube came off with a faint hiss, the glowing eyes of the helmet turned off.

With her hands slightly trembling in trepidation, Celestia grabbed the helmet and slowly removed it, revealing the face of the creature. Having lived for a very long time, there were very few things that could surprise the elder alicorn anymore, and yet, when her eyes fell on the visage of the creature, she wasn’t able to withhold a little gasp of shock. ‘What in the name of the Maker are you?’

The head was long and reptilian in nature, covered by leathery skin with some scales located in certain areas. This was where the loose similarities with a dragon ended. The mouth didn’t have a bottom, instead it was split in four separated jaws, each one laced with rows of sharp teeth, while the eyes were covered by a single horizontal eyelid.

Overall, the creature had a decisively fearsome appearance.

Celestia’s gaze shifted to the armor she wore; it seemed to be made of some kind of ceramic material, probably mixed with other elements to make it stronger. Celestia gave up to her curiosity and touched the chestplate with her hand. As expected, the armor was too thick to feel anything underneath it. Biting her lower lip, she checked the muscular neck of the creature with a finger. Not knowing her anatomy, it took her a few moments, but in the end she was able to feel the pulses caused by the heartbeat of the creature. There was something strange, though.

“Twilight? I need your help.”

Her former student, who was scribbling on a notepad all the details she could gather from a first look, was at her side in a moment. “How can I help, Celestia?”

“I need you to cast a spell to amplify the sound of her heartbeat.” She would have done it herself, but until her magic healed her horn completely, she was temporarily unable to cast spells.

The younger mare nodded and closed her eyes, concentrating on her task. Her horn was enveloped by a magenta light, but as the seconds passed nothing seemed to happen. Twilight seemed surprised and furrowed her brows as she increased her efforts.

“Is something wrong, Twilight?” Celestia asked. The spell was relatively easy to cast and the fact that an individual as magically gifted as Twilight was taking so long to perform it was unusual.

“It’s strange,” Twilight mumbled. “The spell is having trouble interacting with her body. Her natural levels of magic are incredibly low, almost nonexistent. Uh, maybe if I use more mana…”

The light surrounding her horn glowed brighter and a couple seconds later they could hear a new sound in the air.

Thump-thump. Thump-thump.
Thump-thump. Thump-thump.
Thump-thump. Thump-thump.

It was definitely a heartbeat, but anypony could tell that something was wrong.

“Four beats? Is that an echo?” Applejack asked, confused.

“No. It’s not an echo,” Fluttershy said softly. “She has two hearts.”

“A binary circulation system?” Twilight exclaimed wide eyed. “But- How-?”

“With all due respect, your highness, this is neither the moment nor the right place to investigate the physiology of this creature,” Captain Steel Shield said, his hand subtly placed on the hilt of his sword for any eventuality. “For all we know, it may wake up at any moment.”

Celestia had to agree with the stallion. “You are right, Captain. Bring in a stretcher to carry her and prepare a containment cell. We have no idea of what she’s able to do.”

The guard to which she had addressed nodded and transmitted her order using his helmet radio.

The minutes that followed passed relatively quietly, the guards would stay mostly silent, aside for the occasional exchange of words spoken lowly and the clanging sound of the metal plates of their armors as they shifted on their posts. The main source of noise was the furious scribble of Twilight’s pen on the paper of her notebook as she kept writing notes and drawing sketches of the creature.

“So, what do you think she is?” Rainbow Dash asked to no one in particular while hovering a few feet in the air. Those who knew her could easily tell she was still wary after her recent hostage experience by her nervous gaze and the fact that the pegasus seemed to maintain a certain distance from the creature.

“I honestly have no idea, Dash,” Twilight said, putting aside her writing material. “I’ve never read about anything like her during my studies.”

“And neither I nor my sister have ever seen her kind during our lives,” Celestia said. Despite Steel Shield’s insistence, she had refused to leave the throne room to be examined by the royal physician until the creature had been taken care of.

“Maybe she’s an alien from outer space!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed with her usual childish enthusiasm.

“Pinkie, dear, don’t you think yours is a risky assumption?” Rarity said skeptically. “I mean, really? An alien?”

“Well, duh! What didya expected? A little hairless green pony with big eyes, a cute trumpet as nose, and funny antennas on the head? I mean, look at her! The cool armor, the flashy pistol that was all PHEW PHEW, and finally that strange language.”

Steel Shield scoffed. “Please. Aliens are just a myth.”

“Well, myths are often based on true facts. I mean, ponies thought that Nightmare Moon was a myth too, but now Princess Luna is in this castle,” Pinkie said, looking smugly as the stallion failed to find a way to rebut.

A few minutes later, four unicorn guards wearing the uniform of the Medical Corps came in the room carrying a wheeled stretcher big enough to easily carry an alicorn without problems. One of them, a green stallion with brown mane and squared glasses, took a double take when he saw the creature. “Wow, they told us it was a big girl, but I didn’t think this big,” he joked with a whistle of surprise.

“Enough talking, get busy!” Steel Shield ordered.

“Yes sir!”

Using their magic, the four guards levitated the mysterious warrior from the floor and deposited her on the stretcher. The contraption gave a weak groan of protest for the weight, but the steel alloy held. The guards then proceeded with the next step, fastening restraints made of a magically enhanced material around the arms, the legs, and the torso of the creature to prevent her escape in case she woke up before they reached the cell.

Fluttershy observed the entire scene with a conflicted expression.

“Are you alright, dear?” Rarity asked, looking at the pegasus with concern. The poor girl must have been still distraught from her near death experience.

“She saved me,” the meek mare said. “She could have let me die, but she saved me.” She turned toward her friends. “Why did she?”

None of her friends had an answer. The pegasus was not the only one who didn’t know what to think of the entire situation.

“I don’t know, Fluttershy,” Celestia said, gently putting a hand on the shoulder of the smaller mare to reassure her. “But I’m positive we’ll find it out when she’ll wake up. If you want, you may even be the one to ask her.”

The pink maned mare seemed unsure.

“Dun’ worry, Shy. Ya don’t have ta do it if yer not comfortable,” Applejack said.

“But if you want to do it, we’ll always be beside you,” Twilight assured her, before her eyes started sparkling. “Oh, there are so many thing that we may ask her!” she exclaimed, excited like a filly at Heart’s Warm Eve at the perspective of having a conversation with what was apparently a member of an unknown technologically advanced race. “Imagine all the things that we could learn!”

“Why am I not surprised to hear you say something like that?” Rainbow Dash asked sarcastically, smirking when the alicorn looked at her with an annoyed expression.

She was about to rebut, but stopped. “Urgh. Who’s breathing on my neck?” Twilight asked suddenly, feeling an annoying stream of warm air on her nape.

“Uh, Twilight? There’s nopony behind you,” Applejack said, confused.

The blood of the young alicorn froze.

Chapter 14 - When the elephants fight it is the grass that suffers

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Chapter 14 - When the elephants fight it is the grass that suffers

The Commando proceeded at a steady pace through the corridors of the castle to his objective, his big frame completely blended with the background thanks to the light-distortion field generated by his active camo unit. He would occasionally meet a pony on his path, usually a maid or a guard, but as far as they knew the alien soldier could have never existed.

Zhar noticed that some of the guards had a different kind of armor, this one colored blue and purple instead of the golden variant he had seen so far, and many of these new guards belonged to a pony subspecies they had not previously encountered. They resembled the pegasi, only with leathery wings, cat-like eyes, and sharper teeth.

Once again the Commando was surprised by the variety of forms showed by the pony race. ‘I’m sure Nax will have fun studying them.’

He reached an intersection and, after having stepped aside to let pass a couple of oblivious maids, he gave a quick glance to both sides, noticing that at the end of the corridor on his left there was a flight of stairs that went upward.

‘Perfect.’

According to his HUD, his target was located fifty meters ahead of his current position, on the upper floor. The strange thing was that according to the scanners of the Last Sunset, the signal seemed to come directly from inside a room of the castle, not from a broadcasting device located outside, like it would have been expected given the primitive level of technology of the ponies.

In other circumstances he would have suspected the involvement of the Forerunners, either with one of their communication devices or with the reverse engineering of their technology, but so far they had not seen a single trace of the ancient and powerful alien race.

And then there were the strange energy emissions that went from the surface of the planet to its sun and moon. What could be their purpose?

The voice of the Zealot suddenly came out from his internal speakers along with the sound of gunshots in the background. “Zhar! My cover is burned! We must leave, now!” she said frantically before cutting off the transmission abruptly.

The Sangheili in black armor stood still like a statue, the only signal of the rage building inside him was the way his right hand was slowly closing and opening over the hilt of the sword at his hip. After a few moments, he whirled on his boots and started marching toward the location of the Zealot as fast as he could without risking to compromise the efficiency of the cloaking field.

‘I gave her a chance, and she screwed up,’ Zhar thought. ‘I knew it was a mistake to involve her.’

The Commando activated his communication gear and contacted the battlecruiser. “This is Officer Vadam, I require a Stealth Phantom for immediate extraction at our current coordinates.”

“Zhar, what’s happening?” the first officer Haka Guwakai asked by radio.

“Operation compromised. I’m going to investigate the status of the Zealot. Vadam, over and out,” he reported curtly, closing the contact.

The planimetry of the castle was big and complex, but following the transponder built inside Tarya’s armor, the Commando managed to navigate through the differents corridors and halls until he reached her position. However, by the time he arrived to what appeared to be the throne room, he saw that the Zealot, now unconscious, was being strapped by four ponies to a sturdy wheeled stretcher using what appeared to be a reinforced harness.

‘So much for not starting a diplomatic incident,’ he mused darkly. An infiltration team was hardly the best way to make a good first impression, especially if it was involved in a firefight, if the damages in the room and the blackened horn of Princess Celestia were of any indication.

“- we’ll always be beside you,” a voice that he recognized as the one of Princess Twilight Sparkle said. “Oh, there are so many thing that we may ask her!”

That statement told Zhar two things: one, the ponies had discovered her gender which, considering they had never seen a Sangheili before, could have happened only if Tarya had spoken with them; two, they were going to interrogate her once she get back to her senses, as it would be expected in situations like this.

That is, unless the Commando prevented it.

The problem was now how to get Tarya out of here. Zhar immediately discarded the diplomatic option. He wasn’t the Arbiter and, knowing Tarya, she must have tried to resolve the situation peacefully, obviously failing. Rescuing the Zealot later from her cell would be complicated, and the more time he spent here, the more the risk of being discovered increased. The only option left was doing it now, exploiting the element of surprise and reaching the Phantom while they were still confused.

The stretcher however could be a problem. If he wasted time to free her from the restrains and tried to carry her, he would make himself a vulnerable target.

Unless they were the ones to carry her where he wanted. But how? Maybe with the right incentive…

The Shipmaster and the First Officer would not be happy with what he was about to do, his actions would very likely compromise the future relationship with the ponies, but quite honestly, he couldn’t care less at the moment. He was a soldier, not a diplomat. His orders were clear and he had to follow them.

‘Time for some aggressive negotiations.’

Twilight yelped in surprise when a big hand abruptly grabbed her shoulder and yanked her backward against something that according to her eyes wasn’t there. Her brain was still trying to understand what was happening when on her right a double bladed sword made of pure energy materialized in thin air with an explosion of electrical sparks and a strong smell of ionized air.

The young mare remained mesmerized by the sight of the deadly yet beautiful object like a moth looking at the flame of a candle, but her fascination turned quickly into panic when a moment later said sword was aimed a few inches from her throat, so close that she could feel the heat of the plasma on her face.

Like some kind of horror movie, a big four-fingered gloved hand materialized on her shoulder, along with the rest of the body of her captor, causing several of the present ponies to look with wide eyes in fear behind her.

“Nobody moves, or the princess will die,” the warrior in black armor ordered coldly. The voice was distinctly masculine, with the firm and clear tone of somebody used to giving orders and expecting results.

The emotionless glowing blue eyes of his helmet scanned the small crowd, before finally stopping on Celestia. The white alicorn was considered a giant by pony standards, but the black armored warrior easily towered above her, the tip of her horn barely reaching his eyes when he stood straight.

Celestia noticed instantly the difference between this warrior and the smaller one. It wasn’t just the different design of his armor, this one far more menacing and with a helmet shaped in a way that gave the impression that the warrior was scowling. This creature showed no sign of nervousness even if he was clearly outnumbered and surrounded by at least a dozen armed guards, instead it seemed like he had the situation completely under control. Either he was incredibly arrogant… or he was as dangerous as he looked.

Twilight’s horn started to discreetly glow, but it didn’t go unnoticed to her captor. His big hand grabbed her horn and gave it a slight twist, causing Twilight to cry in pain. “If you try to use your damn horn, I swear that I’ll rip it from your skull,” he growled coldly, making the young princess whimper in fear.

“Do not dare hurt her!” Celestia yelled, enraged, taking a menacing step toward the creature, her mane starting to wave in the air far more violently than usual. The sight of the mare that she considered more like a daughter than a student being in danger was enough to cause Celestia’s blood to boil in anger, and were it not for the current status of her horn, the alicorn would have not hesitated to obliterate the brute. Her wings snapped open in a display of intimidation, as if trying to make her appear bigger than she really was. It was an instinctive defensive mechanism whose origins were dated to a far distant and darker time, when the ancestors of ponykind had to face the many predators that inhabited the wildness in order to protect their offspring.

The sight of the angry alicorn, a being that many on the planet saw as the embodiment of calm and serenity, caused many of her subjects step back in fear; the warrior, however, seemed not impressed in the slightest, if his calm voice was of any indication. “I will not. If you do exactly what I tell you.”

Celestia scowled at the creature. It didn’t take a genius to know that he was here for his teammate. “What are your demands?” she asked, also to try to buy time, knowing that a security team formed by elite elements of her sister’s guards was supposed to escort the prisoner to the cell.

“Not too far from here there is a big balcony overlooking the maze in the park. I want you to carry my teammate there and then leave. When our extraction aircraft will arrive, I will release the princess, unharmed.”

“How do I know that you will keep your word?” Celestia asked with obvious distrust.

“I have no reason to kill her, and a hostage is of no use for us.”

“And who are your people exactly?” Celestia inquired.

“It is not my place to respond to this question.”

Celestia wasn’t satisfied in the slightest by the answer, but decided not to press further. “Fine. Can you at least tell us the reason of your presence here?”

The creature seemed to consider her question for a moment. “We had no ill intentions, if it is what you want to know. We were just performing a recon.”

Despite the situation, this caught the curiosity of Celestia. Exploration was a response to ignorance, a way to know more. “A recon for what?”

The warrior tilted his head slightly. “You are very curious, princess. But I know when someone is stalling. Now, tell the ten guards coming from the right hallway behind me to back off, or things will start to get unpleasant for her,” he said, moving the plasma blade closer to Twilight’s face. “Plasma wounds are incredibly painful, even after they have healed.”

“Harm her, and I promise that you will not leave this place alive.” Celestia’s cold tone was the exact opposite of the fury burning in her eyes.

“I’m already dead inside, princess. I’m ready to face whatever lies beyond the final threshold.” The warrior stated calmly. His sword moved closer to Twilight’s face and the air was soon filled with the smell of singed hair as the energy blade cut a lock of her mane. “The real question is, is she ready?”

“Stop!” Princess Celestia yelled, looking with apprehension at his energy sword. No doubt she knew from the corpses of the Changelings what kind of damages the weapon was able to do. The Commando pulled back his sword. “Alright, we’ll do what you want, but please, don’t hurt her.”

His gamble had worked, just as expected. It had never been his intention to actually hurt the alicorn, he only needed to scare them a bit so that they knew he meant business.

Celestia turned to the guard captain. “Captain, order all units to stand by.”

The unicorn glared at the Sangheili, but obeyed the demand of the princess and a moment later he was speaking through the radio built inside his helmet. The Sangheili had to give some credit to the guards, they had been incredibly stealthy in their approach, but unfortunately for them, his suit was equipped with a motion tracker. Glancing at his HUD, he noticed that the dots had stopped, opening instead a path through the corridor.

What followed next happened so fast that if Zhar had blinked he would have most likely missed one of the passages. With a bright flash and a sound similar to a thunderclap, a midnight-blue alicorn wearing a black gowned dress appeared in front of the Sangheili. Before the Commando could even widen his eyes in surprise at her sudden appearance, Twilight Sparkle was enveloped in a blue aura and disappeared from his grasp, only to reappear a second later on the other side of the room.

The newly arrived alicorn glared at the Sangheili and fired with her horn a massive beam of blue energy at him.

The attack of the princess seemed to have scored a direct hit, a big dark cloud of smoke and dust stood where the Sangheili was a moment before, but when the air cleared enough, instead of seeing the Commando lying on the ground with his armor scorched or worse, the ponies were instead welcomed by an unexpected sight. The SpecOps Officer was kneeled with a fist firmly planted on the floor, with his entire body encased by a humming barrier of white energy crossed by electric bolts.

The shell of energy collapsed with a loud crack, sending a tingling sensation to the horn of all nearby unicorns, and the Sangheili stood completely unharmed in the middle of a scorched area on the floor.

The Commando roared and charged in the direction of the alicorn, throwing on the ground the guards in his path with disconcerting ease.

Captain Steel Shield extracted his sword from the scabbard and tried to intercept the Sangheili before he could harm the princess. Almost without sparing him a second glance, the Commando disarmed the stallion with a violent blow of his own blade, before slashing the energy sword across his chest. The intense heat and the magnetic field of the plasma blades drained quicker than normal the magical barrier of the stallion's armor, who fell on the ground screaming in pain. As showed by the horizontal cut clear across his chestplate, the armor had very likely saved his live, but the plasma had still caused a second degree burn on his chest.

But Zhar barely registered any of this. Adrenaline flooded his veins as the results of years of training and brutal warfare made him react. The alicorn was a hindrance to the mission and if he wanted to succeed, he had to incapacitate her first.

The Commando swung his energy sword horizontally, but the dark alicorn ducked under the plasma blade and launched herself against the much bigger body of the Sangheili, wrapping her arms around his big chest.

“Luna!” Princess Celestia exclaimed anxiously.

A blue glow enveloped both the pony princess and the Sangheili, and in a flash of light, they were gone.

Everything happened so fast. One moment she was held in the strong grip of the creature with a sword of pure energy aimed to her throat; the next the entire world went blank in a flash of light.

‘What happened? Am I dead?’

The disgusting sense of nothingness disappeared as fast as it had came, and all of sudden her senses started working again, only to be assaulted by an overwhelming amount of stimuli. Nothing made sense, her vision was blurred and the sounds reaching her ears was muffled. The world seemed to move slower yet faster than normal at the same time.

She can hear sounds. Voices. They sounded familiar, but she couldn’t be sure. She turned toward the source of the noise, only to see five colorful blurs advance toward her.

Afraid, she stepped back, but the figures kept advancing. Her breathing became frantic, her heart beat so fast that she thought it was about to burst from her chest.

A hand grabbed her shoulder.

Twilight screamed in panic, a bloodcurdling cry of pure fear that rang through the entire hall as she thrashed violently, trying to escape the grip of that monster.

“No! No! Let me go!”

“Twilight!” a firm yet gentle voice said.

She stopped fighting. She knew that voice. Slowly, her sight focused again, and the world made sense once more. She saw faces, faces that she knew. The faces of her friends, looking at her with worried expressions.

Her head turned to the owner of the hand gently resting on her shoulder.

Celestia.

No danger. Safe.

Her vision become blurred again, this time because of the tears.

She hugged the bigger mare and buried her face in her chest, starting to cry like a scared filly during a night storm. Many times during her young life she had faced dangerous situations, but this was the first time that she had truly been so close to death to look it in the eyes.

“Shhh shhhh shhh,” princess Celestia hushed her softly, caressing her back gently. “It’s alright, my dear. It’s over, you’re safe now.”

The great wings of the white alicorn wrapped her protectively like a warm blanket, shielding her from any danger.

She was safe.

The Sangheili reappeared mid-air a few meters from the floor of one of the halls of the west wing, the alicorn still clinging to his chest. Zhar barely had the time to realize that they were in a different area of the castle before he fell heavily onto his back, losing his grip on his sword, which deactivated and clattered a few meters away.

Groaning, he blinked his eyes a few times to adjust his vision. His head was spinning and it took all his willpower to hold his last meal inside his stomach. He had used teleportation in the past, but his experience with the Spire-class deployment platforms had nothing on this. A groan of discomfort made him look down to his chest. Pushing herself up on her hands and knees, the princess eyes comically widened when she realized that she had landed on top of the huge body of the Sangheili.

Snarling, Zhar grabbed the alicorn and threw her violently across the room. The princess crashed against a bookshelf, which collapsed and buried her under a pile of heavy tomes and fallen shelves.

Zhar got back on his feet and checked his position on his HUD, only to growl in irritation when he saw that the princess had somehow teleported them all the way to the other side of the castle. ‘Wonderful,’ was his only sarcastic thought.

“This is Poltergeist-1 to Officer Vadam. Sir, do you copy?” the pilot of the Stealth Phantom asked through his radio while the Commando retrieved his sword from the floor.

“Loud and clear, Gusay,” Zhar responded, recognizing the voice of the pilot. He may have been the youngest pilot aboard the Last Sunset, but he had proved to have remarkable flight skills. “What’s your status?”

“The city is in sight, our ETA is less than a minute. We’re ready to extract you and the Zealot on demand.”

“Change of plans. Remain cloaked and keep flying in circles over the castle until I say otherwise.” His radar signaled several hostile contacts coming from the west door. “I have some nuisance to take care of first,” he said while the doors opened, revealing a dozen of royal guards of different gender and type. Four were armed with halberds, while the rest had rifles with bayonets .

“Don’t move! Stay where you are!” A pegasus stallion, apparently the leader, shouted as he and his comrades aimed their weapons at the Sangheili.

‘Alright. Let’s make this quick,’ the Commando thought, cracking his neck before he started advancing toward the guards, the heavy footsteps of his armored boots echoing ominously through the entire room.

“I said stop!” the pegasus yelled, fear starting to crawl into his tone at the sight of the big armored alien getting far too close for his tastes.

“Open fire!” The team leader ordered on the verge of panic when he realized that the Commando had no intention to comply.

Six rifles shot together in a deadly salvo, but their bullets bounced aimlessly against his powerful energy shields. The Sangheili roared and charged.

The higher gravity on their homeworld, combined with the harsh environment where their species had evolved, had caused the Sangheili to develop powerful bodies that allowed them a physical prowess impossible for many other species of the galaxy.

With a speed apparently unnatural for a creature of his size, Zhar covered the distance that parted him from the guards in the blink of an eye, crashing against the front row like a ram against a wall. The force of the impact sent three of the guards on the ground, their armor visibly dented from the collision. By their grunts of pain, he must have broken several of their ribs.

Being too close to use his melee weapon, one of the guards holding a halberd tried instead to reach his pistol, but Zhar swatted the firearm from his hand, breaking his wrist in the process. Crouching low, he swept a leg across the floor and against the legs of two nearby ponies, breaking their legs in the process.

One of the guards, a big earth pony stallion, tried to stab his chest using his bayonet, but the blade broke against the energy shield surrounding the Sangheili body. Undaunted, the stallion delivered another blow, this time with the stock of the rifle, hitting the Commando across the face. The shield of the Commando flared at the impact but held. Shaking his head, Zhar snatched the rifle from the hands of the pony and proceeded to punch him in the chest, knocking him to the ground after he flew in the air for a couple of meters.

‘Dammit, I must keep my strength in check,’ the Sangheili cursed mentally as he glanced at the guard lying on the marble floor with a dent in his chestplate. He knew from his past experience against human troops that a blow like that was able to kill an opponent of that size. And yet, much to his surprise, after a few moments the guard emitted a weak groan of pain and tried, failing, to get up.

‘That punch would have killed a non-augmented human,’ he thought mildly impressed. Apparently earth ponies had some hidden perks.

A bullet slammed against his left pauldron, while another grazed his neck. The Sangheili turned toward his assailant. The pegasus mare looked at him with an expression of pure horror painted on her paled face, then she took aim again and fired another round. Her hands however trembled too much and the shot went wide, hitting instead an innocent window.

Either they were awful shooters, or they were trying to wound him rather than kill him. He sincerely hoped it was the latter case: to see a guard with an aim so bad was embarrassing, to say the least.

Then again, maybe the mare was simply scared shitless. When she joined the Solar Guards, nopony had told her that one day she would have to fight an alien over two meters tall equipped with energy shields.

He grabbed the rifle and snatched it from the grip of the guard with astounding ease, then he hit her chest with his open palm, sending her crashing on the floor. He turned to the next guard, who was trying to reload as fast as he could, and hit the side of his helmet with the stock of his stolen rifle, knocking him unconscious, before focusing on the other guards. Two unicorns and a pegasus were looking at him nervously but with determination, obviously eager to avenge their teammates.

Holding the rifle like a pistol, due to size difference between a Sangheili and a pony, he fired three shots, each one aimed at the legs. The three guards dropped on the ground screaming, holding their wounds to stop the bleeding, although the Commando had purposely shot them in the limbs in order to avoid hitting vital organs.

‘Hmm, nice weapon. Well balanced, excellent recoil. A pity for the caliber and the rate of fire.’

His study of the Equestrian SAR5 rifle was abruptly interrupted when, with a battle cry, a unicorn mare armed with a halberd severed the barrel of the rifle in half. Dropping the now useless gun, Zhar dodged a slash attack aimed at his head. The unicorn tried then to stab the Commando in the chest, but Zhar easily parried the lunge using the energy dagger mounted on his left wrist. With the same hand he then grabbed the shaft of the halberd right under the blade and gave a firm yank, pulling the mare toward him. The unicorn gave a small cry of surprise, but it quickly turned into a scream of pain when the Sangheili punched her mid-air in the right arm, breaking the bone.

‘That was the last one,’ he thought, ignoring the screaming pony guard, who was currently holding her broken arm with her sane hand. Instead he focused on the sound of reinforcements coming from the corridor.

There was no point getting involved in a fight if he could avoid it. With a blink, he selected the icon on his HUD that activated the active camo unit of his suit, but instead of turning invisible, an alarm started flashing inside his visor.
‘WARNING. ACTIVE CAMOUFLAGE UNIT OFFLINE. SYSTEM IN REBOOT.’

‘Great,’ he thought sarcastically. He redirected the energy from the active camo to the shields, boosting their power a quarter, and prepared for another fight.

The atmosphere on the bridge of the Last Sunset was tense. After the curt message of Zhar in which he informed them that the mission had been compromised, there had not been further updates from the team.

“Gusay, is the infiltration team already on board?” The Shipmaster Vraal Rutaen asked, doing his best to appear calm. However, the occasional twitch of his lower jaws betrayed his growing apprehension. He had all rights to be nervous. It was of his niece that they were talking about, his own blood.

“Negative, Shipmaster. The SpecOps Officer says that there are complications,” the voice of the pilot responded through the speakers.

“What kind of complications?” Vraal asked, narrowing his eyes.

“He didn’t specify, sir.”

Vraal growled in frustration. He had enough of this. “Huru, put me in contact with the infiltration team,” he ordered to the communication officer.

The Sangheili in a grey flight harness pressed a few icons on his control panel, but then shook his head. “The Zealot does not respond. We can still receive her vitals, but her radio is offline.”

“Then put me in contact with Zhar!” The Shipmaster barked. “I want to know what the hell is going on down there!”

“Son of a bitch!” The pegasus screamed as he was thrown out of the window with a broken wing. Luckily for him, there was a conveniently placed tree to cushion his fall, but it still remained an unpleasant and painful experience.

“Zhar, what’s the situation?” The voice of the Shipmaster Rutaen came from the speakers of his helmet.

“Hold still, you damn bastard!” another pegasus guard yelled, jumping on the Sangheili and trying to wrap his arms and legs around his thick muscular neck in an attempt to choke him.

“Shipmaster, we have a situation,” the Commando responded, grabbing the pony on his back with the same ease a child would grab a doll. The stallion gave a yelp of surprise as the Sangheili threw him violently against two of his comrades like a living projectile, sending the three of them on the ground like tenpins. “The ponies know about our presence in the castle and the Zealot has been captured. I’m currently engaging in combat with their local forces.”

“What?!”

“I was trying to rescue the Zealot, but one of the alicorns attacked me and somehow teleported me to the opposite side of the castle. I’m trying to reach Tarya’s position again, but I’m encountering resistance from their soldiers.”

It was Haka Guwakai to speak next, his voice impassive as ever. “Zhar, you had clear instructions of not engaging the local forces in combat. Your action are jeopardizing not only the security of the Zealot, but also the success of the entire operation.”

He backhanded one of the guards in the muzzle, sending him to the floor with a bloody face and a few broken teeth. “Sir, the orders from High Command are clear: no personnel in possession of sensitive intel is to be left in enemy hands, and the Zealot falls in such a category,” he responded, ignoring the guard as he howled in pain while holding his broken muzzle.

“We are aware of the directives of Rtas Vadum, but our current situation is already difficult enough without you slaughtering their security personnel,” Haka pointed out.

“Technically speaking, they’re still alive,” he pointed out.

“My face!”

“Medic!”

“I can’t move my leg!”

‘More or less.’

“We’ll use diplomacy to get out of this mess. Disengage from combat and retreat, Officer. That’s an order,” Vraal said with a tone forcefully neutral. The Shipmaster was obviously having an internal conflict.

Zhar knew there was no point contesting the order. “Yes, sir.”

Retreat. His blood started boiling in rage hearing that word. It was just another way to say failure.

Unacceptable.

With a roar of frustration, the Commando slammed his fist on a nearby table, reducing it to a mass of splinters and broken boards.

He forced himself to calm down. Losing control was pointless. He took a few deep breaths, then he started switching through the various radio frequencies until he found what he was looking for.

“Sir, we’ve lost contact with teams Bravo-3 and 4.”

“Send Bravo-5 and 9 to investigate,” a gruff authoritative voice ordered.

He had to move. If he had to fight too many guards at once, he wouldn't be able to deal with them using non-lethal ways without risking being overpowered.

He heard something shuffling behind him and when he turned his head he saw a very irritated blue alicorn emerge violently from under the remains of a destroyed bookshelf in a miniature explosion of books and broken shelves.

‘I was wondering when she would regain consciousness.’

The princess looked at the several guards lying either unconscious or wounded on the ground with narrowed eyes, before glaring at the Commando. Her horn glowed and a longsword materialized in her grasp.

“Let us see how you do when picking on somepony of your own size,” she said, brandishing the sword high in front of her as the blade started glowing a menacing blue light.

Zhar snarled and pulled out his energy sword, assuming a combat stance.

“So be it. Have at thee, fiend!” The princess yelled, charging her much bigger opponent.

Princess Luna raised her sword and attempted a downward strike, but the Commando parried her blow with an upward swipe, causing an explosion of sparks when their blades clashed. The two opponents glared at each other in the eyes for a moment, then they pulled back and took a few steps of distance, studying each other.

Centuries of experience on the battlefield allowed Luna to see both the pros and the cons of the design of the alien sword. Although the peculiar grip drastically reduced the variety of combat styles, the double-bladed configuration was perfect to trap the enemy sword between the two blades of energy and disarm the opponent with a simple torsion.

But it was the wielder of the blade that worried her the most. Given his size, she had already taken into account that her opponent would be incredibly strong, but she didn’t expect that he could also be so agile.

For his part, the Sangheili instantly recognized the princess as an experienced fighter, if the precision and fluidity of her movements were of any indication. Furthermore, despite her relatively small size, the alicorn was also far stronger than he would have expected.

Their fight resumed, this time with the princess feigning a blow to his right leg, only to perform a quick thrust to his chest. His shields flared, dropping a third, but held. They both kept exchanging blows, but none of them managed to get past the defense of the respective opponent.

‘Where is Haka when you need him?’ the Commando thought as he parried another blow. The princess had the advantage of agility, and it was only using an aggressive combat style that the Commando was able to keep her at bay. He was quite sure that the ship’s Blademaster would have found her a worthy challenge.

After a lucky strike that almost caused the princess to lose her blade, Zhar tried to slash her across the chest, but the alicorn bent her back backwards, the blade passing so close to her body that she could feel the heat, before using her powerful wings to propel herself several meters backward. Luna blowed a lock of her mane from her face and adjusted her grip on her weapon, a determined expression painted on her face.

“We hear noise of a fight! All units, converge to the west wing!” a guard ordered through the radio, just as the stomping noise of combat boots coming from the nearby corridor become louder.

The Commando was running out of time. He had to leave, but how? The mare was obviously a fighter, he doubted she would simply give up and let him escape. He needed a distraction.

Just as a new group of guards came from the second door of the room, located opposite from the one from which came the first group of guards, Zhar grabbed a spherical device from his belt and pressed a button on its surface, causing the device to start floating in the air.

The princess tightened the grip on her sword and narrowed her eyes, getting ready for whatever dirty trick the Commando had in mind. But what happened next was completely unexpected for the ponies. There was a flash of light and where a moment before there was a floating metal orb, now stood a perfect copy of the Commando, holding a plasma repeater in its hands.

“Keep them busy!” the Sangheili barked to the holo-drone, using the targeting system of his visor to mark the alicorn as priority target.

The holo-drone raised its weapon at the princess and opened fire.

Ignoring the noise of gunfire coming from behind him, Zhar ran down the wide halls of the castle at full speed, ignoring the surprised looks and screams of the ponies that he met on his path. His usual modus operandi was to use a discrete approach, but right now stealth was the last of his problems. With his active camo unit offline, the only thing that really mattered was to get out of there as quick as he could.

He crossed a squad of royal guards on his path, but a couple of plasma rounds fired over their heads were sufficient to make them dive for the nearest cover. By the time they realized the Commando was not actually engaging them in combat, the Sangheili was already gone.

The Commando violently opened a door, causing it to slam loudly against the wall.

Another intersection, another brief stop to decide what path to take. ‘This damn place is a maze.'

He opened an image showing his position in respect to an air telemetry of the castle, but suddenly he heard the sound of a door opening on his left, followed by the noise of something crashing on the ground.

He swung in direction of the noise with his weapon ready to fire, but he lowered it when he saw that it was just what he assumed was a servant. The mare, a young pegasus dressed with a black and white maid uniform, was looking at him like he was some kind of demon escaped from Tartarus. At her hooves there was a broken flower pot, which she had probably dropped at the sudden apparition of the Sangheili.

Snorting in annoyance for the distraction, he glanced back to the map on his HUD and once he was sure he was on the right path, he sprinted down the corridor, leaving behind a very scared yet completely unharmed mare.

“Get to cover!” Princess Luna shouted to the guards as they all dived behind the closest cover, be it a column, a bookshelf, or an overthrown table, like in Luna’s case.

Although holo-drones were usually used for fire support rather than actual combat, its ranged plasma weapon combined with its aggressive combat protocols were forcing the ponies on the defensive. Luckily for them, the bolts fired by the holo-drone were weaker than the ones fired by a real plasma repeater, but they were still enough of a threat to not underestimate, as proved by an unfortunate thestral who had been shot right in the chest, before his teammates dragged him away.

At the beginning of the fight Princess Luna had used her magic to teleport the wounded guards in the next room; she would have sent them directly to the infirmary in other circumstances, but she was too busy avoiding the bursts of plasma of the holodrone to properly concentrate.

The princess took a look over her makeshift cover, only to duck hastily when another hail of plasma flew over her head.

Suddenly, several pistol bullets flew toward the holo-drone, forcing it to dodge. Luna tried in confusion to locate the origin of the shots, before a familiar thestral mare took cover beside her.

‘Midnight?’ Luna thought, surprised. The thestral had her mane unkept, and the only armor she wore over her uniform was her hastily placed chestplate.

“I thought your turn ended at dawn!” Luna shouted over the noise of gunfire.

“And miss the opportunity to shoot this asshole? Not a chance, ma’am!” Midnight Blossom said with a cocky smirk, loading a fresh magazine and cocking back the slide of her pistol with a fluid motion.

“Language, Midnight,” Luna scolded her friend playfully. Being forced to be a role model for the country most of her time, she honestly found the colorful language of the thestral refreshing.

The Lunar Guard lieutenant peered briefly from her cover to fire a couple shots, but much to her annoyance, the bullets seemed to pass through the head of the intruder without causing actual damage.

“Dammit! What the fuck is that thing, a ghost?!”

“It is not the real one, but just an illusion.”

“Well, if we don’t take care of this guy, its pal is gonna escape!”

“I have an idea, but I need some cover fire.”

“Gotcha. Alright, everypony! Let’s show the princess we’re not a waste of tax money!” the thestral shouted, darting out of cover. Midnight Blossom and the other guards opened fire against the faux intruder, forcing the combat hologram to focus its attention away from the princess. Much to her annoyance, the thestral mare found out that the holo-drone had decided to pick her as target and soon she found herself being chased very closely by a volley of plasma.
“Argh! Shit!” Midnight exclaimed as she dived for cover behind a column, before she started to frantically extinguish the fire from the tip her tail.

The diversion worked. Unnoticed by the holo-drone, Luna teleported herself close to the ceiling, flaring open her large wings to keep her body suspended in the air while she hastened to enact her plan. Her eyes glowed white and soon she was able to see her target: right in the center of the chest of the illusion stood a hotter mass, its center of energy.

The alicorn dive bombed on her target, wielding her sword with both hands.

“Die, devilish contraption!”

The blade cut deep in the back of the armored creature, causing a fountain of sparks to come out. The body of the warrior briefly flickered erratically, before disappearing abruptly, leaving in its place a spherical contraption pierced by her sword.

The princess hastily summoned a flat energy barrier in front of her and not a moment later the device exploded.

‘So much trouble just for a piece of metal and some light.’

“Princess!” Midnight called her, keeping a hand pressed against her earpiece. “He’s heading to the gardens, south-west corridor!”

“Take care of the wounded! I will try to intercept him!” she yelled while rushing out the room to resume her chase.

‘Soooo sleepy,’ private Bubble Gun thought as she struggled to remain awake. Her team had just returned from their little horror trip in Greenville and she was about to get tucked under the inviting sheets of her bed, when suddenly the alarm had started howling, turning the barracks into a chaotic mess that reminded her of an ant nest that had been disturbed.

Everypony was shouting and running and before she realized it, here she was, covered in her combat gear with the rest of her squad, doing... something. The officer had probably told them why they were here, but she had been too tired to really pay attention.

‘I hope that there’s at least something to blow up,’ the unicorn mare thought, caressing her grenade launcher. If Betsy didn’t destroy something, she would be sad. And when her weapon was sad, she was sad too, and that would be bad.

“Heads up, ponies! He’s heading toward our position!” Sergeant Linder Branch shouted, pumping a slug in his shotgun.

‘Who was coming again? The radios talked about a black demon. Why do all bad things have to be dark? Why can’t they be, like, purple? I like purple. Hmm, nah. Purple can’t be evil. Maybe green. Yeah, a green demon...’

Her deep reflection about the connections between morality and the color spectrum were suddenly interrupted when the doors on the opposite side of the hall opened abruptly. Then she saw it. The biggest, meanest looking motherbucker she’d ever seen in her life. It was really spooky. Luckily she knew how to deal with spooky things.

‘When in doubt, blow shit up,’ she thought, pulling out a grenade from her bandoleer and loading it in her grenade launcher.

“Stand back everypony! I’ve got it!”

Zhar had just burst into a new hall, when he saw a team of guards blocking his way. They weren’t however his main concern. A unicorn mare with an orange coat and red curly hair made her way to the front row, holding in her hands what appeared to be a grenade launcher.

“Welcome to Equestria, motherfucker!” the mare yelled with far too much glee as she fired her weapon.

Without available cover in his proximity and no time to dodge the grenade, Zhar had only one option left. With a lightning fast movement, the Commando kneeled and slammed his right fist against the floor, activating the nigh-impenetrable protective shield of the armor lock, just a moment before the grenade detonated against his right shoulder. As his body was enveloped by the hellfire of the explosion, he gave a silent thanks to the engineers working at the Research and Development division for the upgrades to the power pack of his armor, allowing him to carry another armor ability beside the active camo without compromising the operability of the systems.

The guards hesitated a moment to open fire, the shock of seeing someone surviving the direct impact of an explosive grenade evident in their faces. Zhar took advantage of those precious seconds to better study his surroundings. Right over the guards there was a balcony that ran all around the room, with wide panoramic windows on the walls.

An idea flashed in his mind. It was risky, but if it worked it would allow him to spare time and avoid further useless confrontations with the guards.

Zhar grabbed a plasma grenade and threw it.

“Grenade! Get cover!” a brown earth pony yelled as the glowing blue ball landed a few meters from them.

While the guards scrambled away from the primed plasma charge, the Sangheili ran right toward it, then, much to their astonishment, he jumped. The Commando timed his action so that the grenade exploded right when he was at the apex of the jump. The force of the detonation almost completely drained his shields, but at the same time it projected him in the air far higher than he could have naturally reached.

His strong hands grabbed the stone railing of the balcony, then using the powerful muscles of his arms and torso, he hoisted himself over the railing. Without wasting time, the Commando turned left and sprinted at his top speed, right toward a window that overlooked the Royal Gardens.

His big armored body slammed against the window like a running train, shattering the glass with ease. He fell for at least twenty meters, but his shields had recovered enough to absorb the worst of the impact. He rolled on the ground to dissipate the remaining kinetic energy and without a moment to pause, he started running.

“Holy shit. Did he really jump over a grenade?”

“Dude, that was insane.”

“I have no idea who or what that guy was, but he’s one tough son of a bitch.”

Bubble Gun was oddly quiet. She was still staring wide eyed at the scorched mark left on the floor by that odd glowing grenade. Never in her explosive-filled life had she ever seen something so deadly and beautiful like that.

One of her comrades neared her. “You alright girl?”

“I think I wet myself,” the explosive expert said calmly. “And it's not pee.”

Standing on the balcony of the dancing hall, Luna listened carefully to the headset she had retrieved from one of the wounded guards. ‘I’m still amazed that such useful devices exist. Things have really changed in a millennium.’

The reports of the guards were very confused, a mix of real sightings and what she assumed were false alarms caused by paranoia, but Luna had quickly realized that contrarily to what she had assumed at first, the mysterious warrior was not trying to reach his comrade, but was instead trying to escape. So, instead of playing a useless chasing game through the countless halls and corridors that composed the castle, she had opted to wait until he was in open ground, where there was less probability to cause collateral damage.

Suddenly, she heard the sound of an explosion coming from inside the castle. Narrowing her eyes, Luna turned her head toward the origin of the noise and with a single beat of her powerful wings, she took to the air.

‘There you are,’ Luna thought as she saw the intruder jump without hesitation from a height roughly equivalent to four floors. She noticed the barrier surrounding his armor shine; if it worked in a similar way to the energy shields generated by magic, it meant that the force of the impact must have drained some of its power, making the user momentarily vulnerable. Without wasting time, the alicorn flapped her wings with force and dive bombed toward her target. She was just a couple of meters from him when the creature suddenly dodged her air attack. ‘Dammit! I forgot to take in account my shadow!’ she mentally cursed, noticing too late the position of the sun behind her, just a moment before she forcefully landed on the ground, leaving deep marks with her hooves on the previously flawless lawn.

A small part of her mentally cringed thinking of the work the gardeners would have to do to repair the damage… a most prominent one was screaming at her to dodge the incoming attack from the armored monster two and some meters tall in front of her. Princess Luna ducked, barely avoiding a vicious spinning kick that she was quite sure would have broken the head of a minotaur like a watermelon.

“You seem angry,” she noted, taking a few steps back to put herself at a safe distance.

“I have had enough of you,” he growled menacingly.

“You can always give up,” she smugly suggested, only to see him charge at her with a roar.

Luna tried to deliver a downward slash with her longsword, but the warrior parried the blow, summoning a blade of pure energy from his left wrist, before trying to punch her in the face with his right hand. Dropping her sword, the princess dodged the punch, then she grabbed his outstretched arm with both her hands and spun her body, hurling her opponent over her shoulder to the ground.

‘I knew those martial art classes were useful,’ she thought. Her opponent absorbed the fall with a roll, before literally jumping back on his feet. He turned to face the princess, but Luna lashed a vicious kick aimed to his sternum. The warrior parried the strike by crossing his arms over his chest, but the force of the kick was still enough to make him slide backward a few feet, his armored boots leaving deep trails in the soft grassy soil.

Before her foe could recover, Luna leaped in the air and punched him in the face, draining the remaining energy of his shields and causing his head to turn sideways. With an eerily slow motion, the warrior turned his face back toward her, emitting a low menacing growl in the process.

‘Oh-oh. I think he’s really upset now.’ As if to confirm such a hypothesis, with a roar more opportune to a carnivorous animal than a sentient creature, the warrior lunged at her with unexpected speed and hit her under her chin with an uppercut, sending her to the ground.

‘Alright. It. Is. On,’ she thought, feeling a familiar warm liquid that tasted metallic run down from the corner of her lips.

The warrior tried to stomp her with one of his armored boots, but Luna avoided the attack by rolling sideway. The princess tried to reach her fallen sword, but yelped when her opponent grabbed one of her legs and pulled her back. Using her other leg, Luna kicked him to force him to release her. She opened her wings to push herself away from him, but the mysterious soldier reached out with one of his long arms and grabbed a fistful of feathers from her left wing. Then he gave a violent yank. It was painful, that was sure. Luna screamed in pain as she felt several feathers being ripped from her wing, but quickly retaliated by firing a kinetic spell against the chest of the warrior, throwing him to the ground.

‘Don’t swear. Luna, don’t swear. Tia wouldn’t approve and Mother taught you better than-’ “Argh! Fuck! It hurts!” She experimentally flexed her offended wing, wincing as her nerves send her brain another surge of pain. Nothing was broken, luckily, but the tendons hurt like they were on fire and even with her magic it would take several days to regrow the lost feathers.

She glanced at her opponent, only to groan in frustration when she saw that he was already getting back on his feet. Her horn charged up and she fired another spell. The blow hit home, but the only effect it seemed to have was to make him shake his head to chase away a slight sense of dizziness. For her part, Luna was shocked that her stunning spell was ineffective.

‘I have to do this the hard way then,’ she thought grimly, using her magic to retrieve her sword.

Just then a Puma burst at full speed from the hedge a few dozen meters on their left, landing heavily on the ground and leaving deep marks on the lawn with its armored wheels as it accelerated toward the black warrior. Luna gave a silent ‘sorry’ to the gardeners, but in truth she was happy of the arrival of reinforcements.

“Princess, duck!” the guard riding shotgun shouted with all her might to overcome the roar of the vehicle.

The gunner fired a burst between the princess and the intruder to divert his attention from the alicorn, but instead of running for cover, he turned his head toward the incoming vehicle and pulled out a bluish spherical contraption. Luna thought for a moment it was another combat-illusion like the one she had faced before, but when he threw it at the vehicle, she realized too late it was actually some kind of grenade. The glowing device flew through the air in a wide arc and landed with deadly accuracy right on the hood of the Puma, where it remained attached like a magnet. Widening her eyes, the princess had barely the time to summon her magic and teleport the guards out from the vehicle just before the grenade exploded, turning the Puma into a deadly ball of fire that kept running without control before crashing against a tree.

‘That was close.’ She glanced at the three stunned guards she had rematerialized beside her, but other than being a bit shocked they seemed to be fine.

When she looked back at her opponent, however, she saw that he had used her distraction to run away and now he already had a fair advantage of distance.

“Oh no you don’t!” she shouted. “Follow me!” she ordered to the three Solar Guards while she sprinted behind the creature.

Luna knew that what she was doing was probably a stupid decision. She was wounded and her mind was clouded by anger and pain, but she couldn't care any less. It was a personal matter now.

She kept running, leaving the guards behind her, but she noticed with satisfaction that she was slowly gaining terrain.

At the end of the park, right on the edge of a gradient a dozen meters tall, there was a panoramic terrace that overlooked Canterlot Creek. The creature reached the stone railing and, without slowing down, he jumped over it.

The moment his combat boots touched the rocky surface, he started sliding down the highly inclined slope. He clawed with a gloved hand against the rock surface for balance and to control his speed, then, when he was a couple meters from the bottom of the slope, he jumped, landing with a splash on the gravelly river bed. The level of the water was low in this period of the year, barely reaching his calves, so he was barely slowed down as he ran toward the opposite bank.

Princess Luna was close behind him. “Geronimo!” she exclaimed while she too jumped over the edge of the terrace. Due to her wounded wing, instead of gliding, Luna instead used her magic to absorb the energy of the impact. She landed without damage to her body, but the water splashed her, drenching her dress. ‘The royal tailor will not be happy,’ she thought in frustration as she gave chase to the creature, her long toned legs giving the impression that she was gliding on the water rather than running.

They both heard the sound of engines and a moment later a couple of Puma and an APC Pangolin stopped on the edge of the opposite riverbed with a harsh noise of brakes, their gunners quickly aiming their weapons toward the warrior. The intruder stopped in the middle of the creek, his gaze shifting quickly between the vehicles in front of him and the alicorn behind him, the noise of reinforcements coming from the castle not too far off.

Then, he did something that Luna didn’t expect: he ran toward the edge of the waterfall.

‘Is he crazy?! Where the heck does he think he can go? Urgh, come on Luna, one last effort!’ she thought, running behind him.

After having ran for a couple hundred meters in the low water, the creature abruptly stopped a few steps from the edge of the waterfall.

“End of the line. Surrender, you have no escape,” Luna said a bit breathless, looking at him sternly. From the noise behind her, she could clearly tell that the guards were getting closer to their position. “It is over.”

The mysterious soldier turned his face and locked his gaze with hers. He then took a couple of steps backward until he was dangerously close to the edge of the waterfall.

“Ey. Khaweko, gawek gi-ha,” (1) the warrior growled in a language that Luna had never heard in her life, before he threw himself over the edge of the waterfall.

Eyes wide in shock due to his extreme action, Luna ran where he had been just a moment ago, but when she looked over the edge, all she saw were the turbulent waters falling down for several hundred meters.

“Princess!” the familiar voice of the thestral lieutenant called her. Midnight Blossom tried to land, but when she noticed that the current was too strong for her, she opted to simply hover a few inches from the running water. “Oh, shit! Your wing!” she exclaimed worriedly when she saw the missing feathers.

“Do not worry, Midnight. Tis but a scratch. That thing tried plucking me like a turkey after using me as punching sack, but I am quite sure that he will find several bruises on his body tomorrow morning,” Luna said with satisfaction, wincing discreetly when she moved her offended wing. She had survived far worse wounds in the past, but she’ll pay a visit to the royal physician anyway, just in case. “Gather some pegasi and check the base of the waterfall.”

The thestral glanced down over the edge of the waterfall. “With all due respect, ma’am, there’s no way he could have survived that fall.”

“I will believe it when I see his corpse,” the alicorn said grimly. The only reason she was still alive after having fought that thing was because she was an alicorn. She was not going to underestimate these creatures. “I also want all unicorn guards to start actively scanning the castle and the city in search of invisible units, if my sister has not yet ordered it.”

“It’s a complex spell and it will take time to search all-”

“Then the sooner they start, the better it is. For what we know, there could be more of them.”

“By the Halo rings! Did you see that?” the pilot of the Stealth Phantom asked in shock to the Sangheili sitting beside him in the cockpit. The weapon operator clearly shared his astonishment. The courage of Zhar Vadam was known by all the members of the crew, but sometimes the line that parted courage from madness was really thin.

The invisible aircraft was hovering a few dozen meters above the highest tower of the city, but thanks to the high resolution cameras the crew had been able to observe the entire scene.

“Last Sunset, this is Poltergeist-1, we have lost the signal of the SpecOps Officer,” Gusay reported.

“Was he captured?” the first officer Haka Guwakai asked.

“No, sir. He jumped from a waterfall.”

“He did what?” Haka asked with a clear hint of incredulity in a rare display of emotions.

“He jumped from a waterfall,” the pilot repeated, still shocked by the action of the Commando.

“What about the Zealot?” the Shipmaster asked after a long pause..

“According to the scanners, she’s still inside the castle. Shall we attempt to rescue her?” the pilot asked, glancing at the two Rangers tasked to man the side turrets. They weren’t an assault team, but maybe exploiting the element of surprise...

“Negative, Poltergeist-1. New objective. Perform an aerial telemetry of the city and its surrounding area, including the base of the waterfall, then return to the ship.”

“Affirmative, Shipmaster. Gusay, over and out.” He turned to the infantry bay. “You heard the Shipmaster. You two can take a seat, there won’t be need to use the guns.”

As a response, the two Ranger groaned loudly, clearly disappointed that they would not see any action. After two days spent helping repair the ship, they had volunteered for this mission hoping to shoot something.

“If it is of any consolation, we have the recording of the fight.”

This seemed to cheer them up a bit. After all, the fight had been pretty awesome.

An oppressive silence reigned in the control room of the Last Sunset. None of the Sangheili officers dared to utter a single word as they worked on their stations. Occasionally, one of them would dare to steal a quick glance at the Shipmaster, only to return focus on their respective jobs.

Vraal Rutaen sat on his command chair still as a statue, his eyes locked on the live time hologram showing the city of Canterlot, while several different emotions were now clashing inside him in a violent fight for dominance.

‘They have my niece.’

He was perfectly aware of the risks when he had allowed Tarya to take part in the mission and yet, now that his biggest fear had come true, it didn’t help in the slightest.

‘They have the last remaining member of my family.’

He kept repeating to himself that ordering Zhar and the Phantom to retreat had been the right choice, and yet, a dark part of his mind was screaming in rage demanding for blood, accusing him of being a coward who hides behind rules and weak moral codes, when it was obvious what he should do.

‘They have Tarya.’

It would have been easy, the Sangheili had the advantage of the element of surprise and superior technology. It wouldn’t be the first time he faced a similar situation. The pawns may be different, but the game was the same. The ponies would have been helpless against a direct assault. Just like the humans…

Images of countless burning planets flashed in front of his eyes and for a brief moment he saw the world below them share the same fate of countless others, reduced to a ball of molten glass and ash.

‘No.’

The days of Vraal Rutaenee, Shipmaster of the Covenant Fleet of Righteous Vigilance, were long gone. In his place now stood a warrior who had seen far too much death and destruction during his life.

After discovering an infiltration team in the residence of their leaders, the inhabitants of the planet would have every right to be upset and any attempt to solve the situation with violence would very likely bring a conflict. A conflict that in all honesty, Vraal wasn’t intending to start.

They were lost, stuck in the orbit of a backwater planet without any contact with the rest of their race, unable to call for assistance. Their situation was dire, to say the least.

As Shipmaster, it was his duty to take care of the ship and its crew; the lives of the men and women under his command depended from his decisions and he knew all too well that making the wrong choice would cause their death, as well as that of countless others among the inhabitants of this world.

Even if his very soul felt like it had been stabbed, he couldn’t play favorites, even for his niece, when so many lives were at stake.

The First Officer noticed his distress. “She’s still alive, Vraal. We will get her out of there,” Haka said, placing a hand on the shoulder of his old friend.

The Shipmaster looked at him and gave him a thankful nod.

‘Yes. Yes, we will. Just because I’m not taking the easy way, it doesn’t mean that I’m abandoning her.’

“Huru. Are we able to contact them?” he asked to the Sangheili at the communication station.

“Not yet, sir,” the communication officer said with some hesitation. “ Although we finished decoding their special frequency this morning, the Huragok have discovered a problem in our systems that prevents us from properly interfacing with their communication network. They are currently working on a solution, it should take a couple of hours at most.”

Vraal nodded. “Alert me when we’re ready.”

He wasn’t a politician, but he would do everything in his power to make sure that the inhabitants listened to him.

“What about Zhar?” the Ultra with the red cloak asked.

“Let’s list him as MIA for now. Alert Major Ukran that the SpecOps are temporarily under his command.”

“Do you really think he’s still alive?” Haka asked with a hint of skepticism.

Vraal glanced at the Ultra. “He’s young, but resourceful. If there’s someone able to survive the impossible, it’ll be him.”

‘Especially if the rumors about the identity of his father are true.’

A few miles from Canterlot, in a small clearing in the deep of the forest, life proceeded peacefully for the local fauna, blissfully ignorant of the problems of the outside world. The gentle sound of running water coming from the small river that crossed the clearing mixed with the melodies of the multiple birds perched on the nearby trees.

The quiet of this little corner of paradise was abruptly broken when the Sangheili emerged from the water, causing several forest critters to scatter in panic. Ignoring the cries of alarm of the birds, Zhar scanned his surroundings in search for threats, but found none. Swimming underwater to avoid air patrols had apparently worked, although the current had not made it easy; luckily for him, his armor allowed him an air reserve of thirty minutes.

With slow, almost lethargic, movements he forced himself out of the water, ignoring the pain coming from his aching muscles.

Jumping from a waterfall wasn’t exactly an experience that he was eager to repeat, but it was the only option he had to avoid the capture or reveal to the ponies that the Sangheili had dropships able to turn invisible. If things turned ugly in the future, which was very likely, the Stealth Phantoms would be a precious trump card. He would have not resorted to such a drastic strategy, if it wasn’t for the princess.

Speaking of the alicorn, she had proved to be a formidable opponent. Her speed, her reflexes, her agility, everything reminded him of a Spartan. He knew first hand what the human super soldiers were able to do, being one of those few lucky enough to have faced in combat one of them and have survived to tell it.

“Last Sunset, this is Officer Vadam. Do you read me?” he called by radio once he was out the water, but the channel was silent. He tried a few more times, trying different frequencies, but he still received no response. He growled in frustration. Either the ponies had disabled the radio transmitter in Tarya’s backpack, or more likely he was out of the operative range of the device.

He studied the map on his HUD. Apparently, there was a hill located roughly a mile from his current position, in direction of Canterlot. The elevated position and the proximity with the city built on the side of the mountain would give him better chances in contacting the ship in orbit: if not, at least it would give him a better view of the territory before he decided his next move.

He started walking toward the edge of the clearing, but as soon as he reached the first trees, he quickly realized that with each step he took, his limbs felt heavier and weaker, while thinking straightly became more and more difficult.

‘Something’s wrong,’ his foggy mind thought as he clawed the big trunk of a nearby tree for support. Why was he so tired? He knew his limits, in the past he had been able to go on for several days without sleeping, with little to no food, all while fighting nonstop.

It had taken far more time than expected, but combined with his physical exhaustion and the adrenaline wearing off from his system, Luna’s spell finally had made its effect. Zhar fell on his knees, trying as hard as he could to remain awake, but it was all for naught. His body crashed on the mossy soil of the forest and after a few more moments of struggle, the Commando lost consciousness.

Hidden by the thick foliage of the underbrush, several pairs of blue eyes observed the Sangheili lying on the ground.

“He’s one of them,” the Changeling hissed with its raspy voice. “Call the rest of the lance. We must bring him to the princess.”

Chapter 15 - Subject: Macto cognatus

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Chapter 15 - Subject: Macto cognatus

‘Urgh, dammit. It’s turning into a habit,’ Tarya thought groggily while she slowly woke up. ‘This is the second time in two days that I lose consciousness.’ Her head hurt, but it was nothing compared to the headache she had after that electrical discharge in the engine room. She found it a bit odd that she couldn’t hear the noise of any medical equipment like last time, but given the softness of the bed on which she was laying, she couldn’t complain.

‘Wait a second. Since when were the infirmary beds so comfortable and small?’ she thought, realizing that her feet were dangling in the air over the edge of the mattress.

Reminiscent of what happened in the ship’s infirmary, the Zealot cautiously cracked open her eyelids. She winced a bit when the light pouring through her eyelids caused a new twinge of pain in her head, but her discomfort only lasted for a few moments before fading away. Blinking a couple of times, her vision finally adapted to the light, revealing the sight of an unfamiliar white ceiling and the total absence of any display or icon in her visual field.

‘Something’s wrong,’ she thought just before her eyes widened as memories from the most recent events flooded her mind. The airship, the infiltration in the castle, the alicorn firing in her direction, the falling chandelier- ‘Oh, no no no no no no!’ The young Sangheili sat up abruptly and looked around, confirming her worst fear. She wasn’t in the infirmary of the Last Sunset, she was inside a containment room!

‘I’m a prisoner. Wonderful,’ she sarcastically thought, groaning in frustration.

The cell was small, yet not claustrophobic, with few furnishings consisting of a bed, a small wall-mounted table with a sturdy looking stool fixed to the floor, and a strange device that looked like the fusion between a sink with a toilet, which was partially hidden by a low partition wall to provide a minimum of privacy without hiding the user completely.

One of the walls of the cell was made of a transparent material a couple of inches thick, beyond which there was another room roughly four times the size of the cell. The other room was bare of any furniture, the only notable details was a sturdy looking metal door and a black boxy contraption hanging in a corner of the ceiling, probably some kind of primitive surveillance device judging by the lenses pointed at her.

The young Zealot passed the palm of a hand across the transparent wall. The surface was cool and smooth, without evident signs of a door or passage of any kind, almost as if it was a single massive slab of crystal. She was briefly assaulted by the irrational fear that they had sealed her in the cell, but once she realized how illogical and unlikely it was, she quickly discarded such a thought.

Still, she couldn’t fathom how she had ended up in the cell...

Tarya heard a soft whirring noise and moving up her gaze she noticed the camera adjusting its angulation to better look at her.

‘Well, at least I’m not naked,’ she dryly thought while glancing down at her body. The ponies had removed her armor and weapons for obvious reasons, but at least they had the decency of leaving her black undersuit. Not that it really mattered, given that her species didn’t have external reproductive organs, but having clothes made her feel less vulnerable.

Could she had avoided this situation if she had acted differently? Maybe trying to explain her intentions when that pony - Princess Celestia if she recalled correctly her name - had trapped her using that strange force field? She didn’t know and honestly, the more she thought about it, the more she realized that there was no point dwelling on the past. As far as she knew, not even the powerful Forerunners could change the past. There was only one real question she should be really worried about.

‘What should I do?’

She was a prisoner and thus, following the more traditional Sangheili philosophy, she would have to kill herself, not only to deny her enemy sensible information and a potential leverage over her uncle, but also to regain the honor she had lost when she was captured.
However, the ponies were not technically their enemies and she couldn’t bear the thought of leaving her uncle alone. She was all that was left of his family, there was no way she would cause him more pain. Furthermore, Vraal would most likely blame the inhabitants of the planet for her death even if they were not directly responsible. She shuddered at what would happen. She had no way of knowing if the pain caused by her loss would make him violent, and even if damaged, a CCS-battlecruiser was still able to cause tremendous levels of destruction.

Maybe she could escape? She considered the idea for a few moments, but she eventually discarded it. Beside the fact that she had no idea where she was, where her equipment was, how many guards there were, or even how she was supposed to leave this cell, escaping would not play favorably to their cause, but only increase the mistrust that the ponies probably already had. ‘Trespassing is truly a horrible way to make a good impression.’

The last option was to wait for whoever was supposed to interrogate her and do everything in her power to prevent things from taking an even worst direction by acting as a mediator between their species, even if that would cost her honor.

She made her choice.

Tarya looked right at the camera and gave a nod of acknowledgment to whoever was watching her. In response, the camera zoomed on her with a faint whirring sound.

‘All I have to do now is wait.’

“Are you nervous, Luna?” Princess Celestia asked her sister. Both alicorns stood in front of the heavy metal door of the containment cell, escorted by four unicorn guards armed with shotguns, in case things turned ugly. The princess would have usually considered their presence excessive, but given that they still had no idea what they were exactly dealing with, she had preferred to follow the ‘better safe than sorry’ philosophy.

“A bit,” the blue mare admitted, fidgeting with her hands, adjusting an invisible fold in her dress. She had changed her dress with a black one that left her arms uncovered, a necessary decision given that her previous set of clothes had been ruined during her fight against the alien warrior.

Aliens. It still sounded so surreal, but the evidence was irrefutable. Skeletal structure that didn’t match any known species, binary circulatory system, chemical composition of the blood completely anomalous. ‘Not to mention their technology.’ The mere sight of the armor had caused Doctor Time Turner and the other scientists to stare at it like it was some kind of holy artifact. It had been with a certain reticence that they had obeyed her order to limit for now their studies to a superficial analysis without tinkering with the equipment of the prisoner. The last thing she needed was one of them blowing up because they had mistaken a grenade for a radio.

“Me too,” Celestia replied with an excited smile. “It’s not everyday that you meet a creature from another world.”

“And it is not everyday that you meet a creature able to single handedly send twenty-seven guards to the infirmary.”

“Your point?”

“My point is, if they are anything like us, they will send more of them to retrieve their comrade, and I do not think they will ask gently. You have see how dangerous these creatures are. I mean, look at your horn.”

Celestia glanced up at her horn. Her magic had almost completely healed it from the contact with the plasma, just the last half inch closer to the tip was still blackened. A few more hours and there would be no trace left. “That’s why it’s imperative that we establish peaceful relations with them before something seriously bad happens. From what I’ve seen in the throne room, it’s possible to reason with these creatures. Furthermore, contrarily to her teammate, the prisoner had used violence only as last resort and always tried to do as little damage as possible.”

“You sound particularly optimistic, especially considering that last night you doubted that whoever had killed those Changelings could be our ally,” Luna noted.

“I said that we may be able to establish peaceful relations, not become best friends,” Celestia pointed out.

“Maybe you could ask young Twilight Sparkle to befriend them,” the princess of the night half joked.

“I’m not sure getting Twilight in the same room with one of them after she was held hostage with a plasma sword aimed at her throat would be the best idea,” the white alicorn said dryly. Celestia blinked and took a deep breath to chase away the bad memory, then she adjusted a lock of her multicolored mane and gave her sister a smile. “Ready to make history once again?”

Luna let a short chuckle and returned her smile. It had been a long while since she saw Celestia so excited and nervous at the same time. “Do you even have to ask, dear sister?” she asked playfully.

“Let’s proceed then,” the elder sister said, gesturing to one of the guards to open the door. The thick reinforced metal door swung with barely any noise on the well oiled hinges, and the two princesses walked inside the room with their armed escort following them.

The prisoner was standing in her cell facing the entrance, following with her light green draconian eyes the ponies as they closed their distance. The princesses stopped a few steps from the transparent partition wall, with their guards remaining in the back, and started silently studying the creature in the cell, just like she was doing with them.

The gaze of the creature eventually moved toward Celestia’s horn and for a moment the princess could have sworn that she saw a glimpse of guilt in her eyes. Celestia felt her confidence growing a bit.

‘So I was right. She does show empathy.’

Princess Celestia decided to be the one to break the ice. “Greetings,” she said with her well practiced smile. “We already met, but due to the rather, ah, peculiar circumstances, we didn’t properly introduced ourselves. I am Princess Celestia and this is my sister, Princess Luna. We are the rulers of the kingdom of Equestria.”

“We know that you can understand us, otherwise Rainbow Dash would have been wounded not only in the pride but also in the spine,” Luna said, deciding to not yet mention the fact that her partner had engaged in combat the entire palace garrison while trying to rescue her.

“So, would you kindly tell us who and what you are?”

The creature glanced at both of them for a moment, then nodded and moved her jaws.

“I am the Zealot Tarya Rutaen, of the Swords of Sanghelios. As for what I am, I am a Sangheili.”

Celestia blinked. Her voice sounded young, like that of an individual in her late twenties or early thirties, but she could be wrong. It was oddly deep, slightly double toned, with trace of an accent that she could not identify, but not unpleasant. However, what probably surprised them the most was how the creatu- the Sangheili moved her four jaws to articulate the sounds, sometimes closing them to make them resemble the mouth of a pony. It was a sight unsettling yet fascinating at the same time.

“It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, miss Tarya Rutaen, considering the circumstances.”

“Likewise, princess,” the Sangheili replied with a tone that sounded sincere. “Believe me when I say that things should have happened differently.”

“I suppose so. It may sound a bit cliché, but to be honest I imagined that our first contact with the member of an alien civilization would have took place in a cornfield in a rural area,” Celestia joked, only to blink a moment later. ‘Considering everything that has happened in the last couple of years, with our luck that place would have probably been Ponyville.’

The prisoner tilted her head and raised one of the small ridges she had instead of eyebrows. “You already figured it out, uh?”

“It was the only logical explanation, unless your people have remained hidden someplace underground for all this time. We took the liberty to run some tests while you were unconscious. Nothing invasive, just a few scans without the interference of your armor,” Celestia hurried to assure when she noticed the worried and indignant expression of the Sangheili. “What we found was… well, different. It doesn’t take a genius to see that your physiology is not of this planet.”

“Not to mention your technology,” Princess Luna piped in. “Your equipment seems to come out of a sci-fi novel.”

“I see. How did you know I would be able to understand you?”

“Earlier in the throne room you were obviously able to understand us, while after a rather, ah, tense confrontation with your teammate, we know that you’re able to speak our language.”

As soon as the words left Celestia’s mouth, the body of the Sangheili stiffened.

“What did he do?” she asked lowly.

‘And here we go with the not so good news,’ Celestia thought. “He tried to rescue you by taking Princess Twilight as hostage, but when his plan failed and we tried to capture him, he reacted violently.”

Feeling her knees get weak, Tarya put her hands on the transparent wall for support, lowering her head and taking a deep breath in attempt to prepare herself for the worst. “How many?”

“Twenty-seven-”

Both princesses flinched when the Sangheili suddenly punched the barrier made of crystal. The guards reflexively aimed their rifles at the Sangheili, but Celestia quickly gestured them to lower their guns. They obeyed, albeit with evident hesitation. Not that she could blame them, the punch had been powerful enough to crack the surface of the enchanted crystal.

“And he dared to accuse me of being unsuited for this mission,” Tarya growled lowly.

“All the guards are luckily still alive,” Celestia said with evident relief of the Sangheili, who was now watching in fascination as the crystal slowly repaired itself.

“It was not luck, Princess Celestia,” Tarya said lowly, straightening her posture. “Our orders were to avoid the use of lethal force in the eventuality of a fight.”

The transparent wall had now completely repaired itself, leaving no trace of damage.

“Interesting,” Tarya mumbled, passing a hand on the smooth crystal surface. “Your technology is more advanced than your primitive facade would suggest.”

“Primitive facade?” Luna repeated with a raised brow, sounding mildly insulted. Even years after her return from the moon, she still took pride seeing how their ponies had progressed since her exile.

“Relatively speaking, of course,” Tarya assured. “Do not take offense from my words, it’s just that compared to us, your people are quite primitive.”

The blue alicorn decided to accept the apology.

“What happened to my teammate? Was he too captured?”

“His status is currently unknown,” Luna said tactfully. “He managed to escape… by jumping from a waterfall.”

The Zealot slowly shook her head and said what they could only assume was an imprecation in her native language. It sounded vaguely like an old dialect of the dragon tongue, yet they weren’t able to discern the meaning of any word. “Have you already found his body?”

The alicorns exchanged a look. “So far all our efforts have been for naught,” Celestia said. “Do you think he may still be live?” she asked after a few moments.

The Zealot though about it for a bit, probably considering if she should reveal what probably was classified information. “Considering he fell from several hundred meters, chances of survival would normally be nearly nonexistent… but the armor he wears is a special model.”

“How special?”

“I’m afraid I’m not allowed to share such details,” she replied, as expected.

“Just like I imagine you’re not allowed to reveal several other things.”

“Consider my situation, princess. We may be holding a civil conversation, but I’m still a prisoner.”

“As consequence of your actions,” Princess Luna said evenly.

The Sangheili remained silent for a few moments. “I am willing to cooperate by answering your questions, princesses. However, do not mistake my words. I will not betray my people by revealing to you sensitive information that may put them in danger. Just like the wellbeing of your subjects is your priority, the same principle applies in my case with my crewmates.”

“As long as you don’t lie to us or hide information that may put our subjects in danger, I find such terms acceptable,” was Celestia’s response. The Zealot looked satisfied.

“You previously said that he was holding back while fighting against our guards,” Luna inquired, unconsciously shuffling her wounded wing. The balm she had applied helped greatly, but she still felt a slight hitch where her feathers were ripped off.

“I assume you’ve already seen the corpses of those Changelings. It should give you an idea of what we’re able to do in combat.”

“So you were actually involved in the attack to the town of Greenville,” Princess Luna said as a matter of fact.

“Not directly. When our aircraft was forced to perform an emergency landing in the middle of the settlement, the inhabitants had already been taken away. By the time we realized the town was not abandoned, the Changelings had already surrounded us.”

“Not exactly the best form of welcoming to our planet,” Princess Celestia commented.

The Sangheili snapped her jaws with a distasteful look. “Their leader, someone that called herself Princess Lamia if I recall correctly, approached us probably out of curiosity. We weren’t looking for trouble, so I tried to speak with her to solve the situation without the need of violence, but evidently she didn’t want to leave witnesses of their actions, so she ordered her minions to attack us.” She growled. “Fools. They must have thought that we were easy prey.”

“Instead you taught them a lesson of humility,” Luna said with the smallest hint of a smile, looking visibly pleased.

“I was the one to lead my team during the counterattack,” the Sangheili said with evident pride in her voice. “We eliminated any Changelings that dared stand in our path, but unfortunately their leader managed to escape. However, I’m confident that we sent them a message that they won’t easily forget.” There was a sinister light in her eyes as she recalled the fight.

“You have our gratitude for killing those creatures,” Princess Luna said with a little smile.

“It wasn’t our fight, princess. We just retaliated to their attack as self defense. However, after I saw what those beasts did to your people… I just wish we arrived sooner.” The expression of the Zealot became sadder, almost regretful.

“You were the one to find Morning Dawn in that storage room,” Celestia said softly.

Tarya slowly nodded. “That filthy parasite stole her identity and devoured her life, then it just left her like she was trash,” she said, clenching her fists and quivering in anger. “That’s not a death worthy of a warrior. She served with honor, and her last thoughts were for her family and her country.”

“I’ll make sure that her parents are informed of her last message,” the alabaster alicorn said solemnly.

“You have my thanks. That’s all she asked me during her last moments.”

The next couple of minutes were spent in respectful silence.

“It must not have been an easy fight, considering you were so heavily outnumbered.”

The Sangheili snorted. “Taken singularly, they weren’t much of a challenge. In group they were more problematic, but nothing that a bit of strategy and discipline couldn’t solve.”

“Correct me if I’m wrong, but you seem to belong to a warrior culture.”

“Indeed, princess. All Sangheili are trained to fight since the day they can stand and hold a weapon in their hands, without petty distinction of gender or status. Being a warrior is part of our nature, and we consider it a great honor to die in the battlefield.”

“Thanks to your comrade, I have experienced directly the prowess in combat of your kind,” Luna said dryly as she opened her wing, allowing the Zealot to see the missing feathers.

Tarya shifted uncomfortably. “For what it’s worthy, I apologize for the actions of the Commando.” Her gaze then moved to the blackened tip of Celestia’s horn. “And I’m sincerely sorry for shooting your horn.”

“It’s already almost completely healed,” the princess replied, shuffled her wings in a dismissive gesture. “Your teammate told us that you were performing a reconnaissance, but he didn’t explain the reason. So I want to know, and I want an answer as honest as possible: why are you here?”

The Zealot spent a few moments collecting her thoughts before she spoke again. “Our ship reached your solar system as consequence to a malfunction of our engines. Several of our systems were damaged and we were forced to assume a geostationary orbit around your planet while we performed the needed repairs. Given the probability that someone would eventually notice our presence, we decided to send a team on the surface to gather data to better understand your civilization before attempting any form of contact.”

“Let me guess, some sort of ‘know your enemy even if it’s not your enemy’?”

“Something like that,” the Zealot conceded.

“Wasn’t there any other way?”

“Right. An alien spaceship suddenly appears in the sky and starts broadcasting greeting messages on random frequencies,” the Sangheili replied sarcastically. “That would have been the best way to cause worldwide panic and increase the chances of incidents. The fact that your planet is divided in several autonomous countries doesn’t really help. If we had publicly revealed our presence to Equestria, we would have likely caused tensions with the other nations.”

“What was the plan, then?” Princess Luna asked, crossing her arms. “I doubt you were planning to spy on us from the shadows indefinitely.”

“Once we had gathered enough intelligence, we would have contacted you using your encrypted communication frequency.”

Luna looked at her in confusion. “Encrypted frequency?”

“You know, the one that connects this palace with what we assume are the capitals of the rest of the world?”

“You can intercept the communications of the mana windows?” Celestia almost yelled in shock, feeling her body tense. Mana windows were considered the most secure way the leaders of a country could use to speak in private and exchange confidential material. Just earlier that morning she had a conversation with the leaders of Saddle Arabia regarding the plans for a joint military operation!

“Mana window? That’s what you call it? Hmm, interesting. Anyway, no. We’ve picked up the frequency but we were unable to listen or see the conversations.” Celestia seemed visibly relieved. “All our efforts so far had been aimed at decoding the signal and trying to use it with our communication systems to communicate with you.”

“Speaking of communication, you have an excellent grasp of our language,” Celestia noted. “How long have you been studying us?”

“Actually, we reached your solar system less than three days ago. And no, the members of my species do not possess exceptionally fast learning skills.”

“Then how do you know our language?” Princess Luna asked with a raised brow.

Tarya knew that they would eventually ask it, but it still made her uneasy. For a moment her jaws closed completely in an almost comical way. “That is a simple question with a complicated answer,” she said nervously, avoiding for a moment their gazes. “You may not believe me, and we ourselves still have difficulty wrapping our heads around it, but… you are not the first alien species that we have encountered that speaks this language.”

Princess Luna and Princess Celestia shared a look.

“So the old tales were true,” Princess Luna commented, intrigued.

“That’s what it would appear, dear sister,” Celestia replied.

Now it was the Zealot’s turn to be confused. “You seem to be awfully calm after such a revelation.”

“Does the word ‘human’ mean anything to you?” Celestia asked with a curious yet somewhat amused expression.

‘Domo ikanon, Nishum, Homo sapiens, Reclaimers… yeah, I’m definitely familiar with that word,’ the young Sangheili thought. “Yes. They’re actually the species that shares your language. They call it English. The real question however is, how can a civilization that has yet to achieve space travel know about the human race?”

There was obviously the possibility that a human ship had crashed on the planet in the past, but she highly doubted that an entire species would adopt an alien language for their everyday life.

Celestia nodded. “There’s an explanation, although most of it’s based on our mythology.”

Tarya snapped her jaws in the equivalent gesture of a shrug. “I’m willing to listen. A legend is still better than nothing.”

“Very well then.” Celestia took a moment to collect her thoughts. “The exact origin of these legends is lost in time, but according to the stories that our parents told us when we were just fillies, a long time ago our world was visited by the last members of an extremely powerful and wise civilization. Our ancestors offered them refuge from a great calamity and as recompense they built portals to connect this world with many others and also taught our ancestors how to access a different plane of reality that exists above this one, a plane that allowed the users to share their knowledge and influence their cultures, even if their minds were not actually aware it.”

‘Sounds like we were right when we theorized this world was visited by the Forerunners. Probably after the Halos were fired. The ponies offered them a new home and as recompense they learned how to have access to the Domain, or at least something similar,' she reasoned. 'A telepathic network that connect subconsciously to the minds of the inhabitants of different worlds, including Earth. The fact they’re not aware of such a connection would explain why nothing like this was ever mentioned in any human file. But than why didn’t our Luminary detected any trace of Forerunner technology?’

“What happened to the portals?” Tarya asked, trying her best to hide her interest. According to the rumors, Jul Mdama used a Forerunner portal to escape to Hesduros from his prison. Maybe they could find one that would allow them to contact Sanghelios or at least the UNSC?

“Lost, destroyed, or simply forgotten,” Celestia said, to great disappointment of the Sangheili. “Anyway, there is no real proof of that they were actually created by a species able to shape the cosmos as they desired, or that such a civilization even existed.”

‘You would be surprised to know how often the legends are actually true, princess.’

“Aliens are real. I still can’t believe it,” Flash Sentry said quietly as he kept his eyes glued to the big surveillance screen. The young guard was currently in a control room not too far from the containment cell, along with the six Bearers, Spike and a pair of guards that were sitting in front of a sophisticated working station similar to that of a television studio, recording everything that was happening in the cell.

“And yet it’s true,” Twilight commented as she took notes without looking away from the screen. “This is so fascinating.”

“Yup,” Pinkie Pie said, groaning in disappointment when she realized that her popcorn bag was now empty. There wasn’t a lot of action in this movie, but the special effects surely looked real!

“Ah have a bad feelin’ about that there alien gal,” Applejack said.

Pinkie Pie got closer to the farmer. Too close for her liking. “Is you honesty sense tingling?” she asked with interest, once again ignoring the basic concept of personal space.

“Nah, it’s just ah dun trust somepony who hides in the shadows ta spy on others.”

“Oh, Applejack. She’s not a pony. She’s an alien, you silly!” Pinkie Pie said with a bright smile, apparently missing the point.

“I don’t know, Applejack,” Rarity objected. “I admit that I’m still wary about her, but despite her intimidating appearance, she seems to be a rather educated and respectful individual. Nothing like that brute.”

“He was really scary,” Fluttershy commented nervously. “Oh, sorry Twilight.”

“No, it’s… it’s alright, Fluttershy. Thanks to Luna everything ended up fine.”

Spike wordlessly hugged her. Both he and Flash Sentry had not been present, but they had heard from their friends what had happened in the throne room.

“I should have been there,” Flash said, looking down in shame.

“Flash, while I appreciate your dedication to your duty, there was no way to know that something like that would happen,” she reasoned. ‘Furthermore, I would have not handled it if he was seriously hurt while trying to protect me.’

“What do you think, Rainbow Dash?” Rarity asked to the pegasus.

“I feel conflicted,” she admitted. “On one hand she shot Celestia with that space gun and used me as a meat shield-”

“Which would have never happened if yah hadn’t pulled that there stunt,” Applejack noted.

“On the other,” the pegasus said a bit louder, sending a dirty look at the orange mare, “she saved Fluttershy from turning into a pancake, and if what the princesses said is true... I mean, if she was really evil, she would have just used it as a distraction to escape.” The blue mare furrowed her brow. “Unless… Unless it wasn’t just a complicated scheme to make us think she’s not evil but good, when in truth she’s really evil. But if she’s really evil, then why didn’t she just- Urgh! Too much thinking! Why can’t things be more easy?”

“Because this is reality, darling, not an adventure novel or a Saturday morning cartoon show.”

“Thank goodness! That would be so weird. Can you imagine if our lives were just a show to entertain a mass of strangers and sell toys?” Pinkie Pie said.

The two guards operating the recording equipment looked at Flash Sentry in confusion, but the orange pegasus just shrugged.

“Well, if what she said is true, she was nice with that guard during her last moments,” Fluttershy commented quietly, causing all the ponies in the room to grow silent.

“What do you think Spike?” Pinkie Pie asked to the little dragon. He had been oddly silent and asking his opinion was also a good way to change subject.

“... she looks pretty.” All the eyes in the room were now pointed at him. “I mean, she doesn’t have a tail and her mouth is kinda strange, but, well, you know…”

“Hmm, must be a dragon thing. She has a rather reptilian appearance, after all,” Twilight reasoned, apparently unaware of the blush on Spike’s cheeks.

“Do you think she’s even prettier than moi, Spikey-Wikey?” Rarity asked playfully with a small pout, placing a hand on her chest.

“What? No!” the little dragon said frantically to the white mare. “You’re the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen Rarity- I mean, no! I mean, not that you’re not pretty, which you are, but you- her-” His ramble ended in an incoherent mumble of embarrassment as he buried his now red face in his hands, while Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Flash Sentry shared a brief laugh at his expense.

“Shhhh! We’re missing the best part!” Pinkie Pie said as she pulled out from her poofy tail a new bag of freshly made popcorn, saving Spike from further embarrassment. “Time for the shocking and predictable plot twist!”

“You mentioned that your ship was shot down. How did the Changelings do it?” Celestia asked, worried. If the Changelings had managed to build a larger version of their infantry issued magical powered energy weapons that were able to destroy vehicles, the implications were worrisome.

“Those beasts were not the ones that forced us to an emergency landing. They didn’t even know about us until our ship crashed,” the Zealot said, much to the princesses relief. “Our shuttle was hit by a beam of energy while we entered the atmosphere of your planet, sending our electronic systems offline. We analyzed the vector and tracked down the source of origin of the beam. It was fired from Ponyville’s public library.”

Celestia widened her eyes in surprise and horror, while Luna grimaced. If Twilight and her friends weren’t involved in troublesome situations, they had the tendency to create problems themselves.

Before the two alicorns could say anything in defense of their fellow princess, said mare appeared in the room in a bright flash of light. Judging by her ruffled feathers and a few stray hairs, she must have teleported in a hurry.

“I’m so sorry!” Twilight Sparkle exclaimed frantically to an obviously surprised Sangheili. “I was just conducting an experiment, it wasn’t my intention to hit your ship! Please, you have to believe me!”

“I do.”

“I swear, I didn’t know- You do?” That was surprisingly fast.

“I’ve seen what’s left of your device in the basement, it’s obvious it wasn’t a weapon. If anything, it will probably end in the records as one of the luckiest shots in history.”

“You were in Ponyville?” Twilight asked nervously. The Sangheili nodded. “Wait. Does it mean that last night…?”

“Your friend would have found us, were it not for the sudden arrival of you and your bodyguard.”

“Ah-ah! I knew it!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed from behind one of the guards, appearing apparently out of nowhere. To his credit the stallion made only a little startled jump without screaming. “They called me crazy, but I was right! Muhahahahahahahah!”

“Pinkie? Nopony called you crazy,” Twilight assured her. Eccentric, chaotic, or illogical were far nicer and more accurate ways to describe the earth pony mare.

“Oh… can I still laugh though?”

Twilight blinked. “Uh, sure.”

“Good. Muhahahahahahahah!”

“Is she always like this or should I be concerned?” The Sangheili asked to no one in particular while looking wearily at the pink mare.

“Eh, you’ll get used to her,” Twilight assured her with a shrug. “Eventually,” she added after a brief pause.

The Zealot nodded slowly, then blinked in confusion. “How did she get here?”

“From the door, you silly,” Pinkie Pie replied with an innocent smile.

The alien frowned, obviously unconvinced by the explanation. “I don’t remember seeing or hearing you get inside this room.”

“I’m really good at hide and seek,” Pinkie Pie said with sly confidence, placing both hands on her hips.

“Speaking of hiding, I’m quite sure that you paid me another ‘visit’ this morning,” Twilight said as a matter of fact.

“I saw that officer walking in the library to talk with you and I followed him out of curiosity.” By the look she was giving her, the purple alicorn didn’t seem to approve. “As I already said, we were trying to study how your society works and given that you are a figure of authority among your people, I thought it was worth investigating.”

Twilight seemed to accept the explanation, although begrudgingly. Then she seemed to remember something. Something that had to do with the boxes containing the geological samples...

The metal door opened again, interrupting her train of thoughts, and six ponies and a little dragon entered the room.

“Our deepest apologies, your highnesses,” Rarity said, slightly out of breath. “We tried to tell her to stay with us in the observation room, but she didn’t want to hear reason. Mostly because she disappeared before we could actually say anything,” she added the last part with a disapproving look at the pink mare.

“But Twilight left the room before meeee!” Pinkie Pie whined. “And I wanted to meet the alien lady too!”

“It’s alright, Rarity,” Celestia said with a chuckle of amusement. “Since you’re all here, we might as well proceed with an introduction. Everypony - and dragon - allow me to present to you the Zealot Tarya Rutaen.”

Twilight flushed a bit as she realized that she had missed introducing herself after she teleported, but quickly recomposed herself. “Hello, I’m T- Princess Twilight Sparkle,” the young alicorn corrected herself, remembering that this counted as a diplomatic encounter. “And these are my friends,” she said, pointing at each of them, “Pinkie Pie,-”

“Hiya!”

“- Applejack, -”

“Howdy,” the mare said with a tip of her hat.

“- Rarity, -”

“Nice to meet you, darling.”

“- Fluttershy,-”

“Uh, hello.”

“-Rainbow Dash,-”

“Hi,” the mare said, flashing a competitive smirk.

“- my personal guard Flash Sentry,-”

“Ma’am.”

“- and last but not least, my trusty number one assistant Spike.”

“Hi-” the dragon began, only to cringe when his voice chose exactly that moment to break and come out with a high pitched sound. “I mean, ahem, hi,” he said again, trying to sound as deep and masculine as possible.

“It’s a pleasure to make acquaintance with all of you,” the Sangheili said, sharing the amusement of the rest of the room.

One of the guards’ radios suddenly buzzed to life. The mare listened to the transmission, then she addressed Princess Celestia. “Your highness, Mr. Tuning Fork reports that the mana window is active. Someone is trying to call us.”

“What do you mean with ‘someone’? Can’t you be more specific?”

The guard shook her head. “Apparently the code doesn’t match that of any other known device.”

“Hmm, it took them longer than expected, but finally the Shipmaster decided to make his move,” the Zealot admitted. “Excellent timing. I was starting get worried.”

“Shipmaster?” Luna asked, unfamiliar with the term.

“Uh! Is he a master of shipping and an expert of romantic affairs?” Pinkie Pie asked. “Because then I bet he’d be best buddies with Cadence!”

“The Shipmaster is the commander of our vessel,” the Zealot explained, probably missing the meaning of most of what Pinkie Pie had said.

“So he’s basically your leader?” Twilight Sparkle asked.

“That’s an accurate description.”

“Do you have any particular advice about how to deal with him?” Princess Luna asked.

“Keep in mind that he’s a warrior, not a politician, so try to be direct, just like he will do. Also, try to act confident, or he will see it as a sign of weakness.” Noticing a few stares at her last remark, she added, “It’s nothing personal, it’s just how our psychology works. Anyway, the fact that he’s calling you is actually a good sign. It means that for now he’s not planning to resort to more drastic and violent measures to have me back.”

“That’s… reassuring,” Celestia commented with an uncertain tone. “Alright, let’s go Luna,” she said, heading out of the room.

A few minutes and four flights of stairs later, the sisters reached their destination. Luna used a quick spell to adjust both their dresses and manes for possible imperfections (a princess must always do a good first impression) and gestured at the two soldiers guarding the room to open the doors.

There was already an occupant in the room, a yellow unicorn stallion dressed in a suit with the distinctive markings of the Arcane Science Department that Celestia recognized as Tuning Fork. She had known him since the time he attended her school for Gifted Unicorns and now the stallion was part of several working teams whose projects were aimed at combining science with magic, as well as being one of the few allowed to interact with the mana window.

“Princesses,” he saluted them nervously, passing a hand through his well kept blue mane.

“What’s the situation, Mr. Tuning?” Celestia asked, mostly for the sake of the stallion, already knowing what was probably happening.

“The map started to work all of sudden, but it makes no sense, your highness! According to the device, whoever is calling it is doing it from the maze in the royal gardens!”

“The signal doesn’t come from the garden, but from above it,” Luna said as she observed the map, while her sister moved to the pedestal with the circular control panel.

“The sky is completely clear, princess. There are no clouds or airships above the castle,” the stallion said in confusion.

“I assure you they’re up there,” Celestia said while she studied the various icons. “Waaaay up there.”

The unicorn widened his eyes and paled when he realized what she was implying. “So the rumors are true?”

Rumors. That word made the princess pause. ‘We were able to cover the confusion of this morning as a drill of the guards, but it won’t take long before the rumors of what really happened spread out of the castle.’ It was imperative to address this matter as soon as possible before some journalist started spreading panic with a highly inaccurate version of the events.

“Thank you for the assistance, Tuning Fork. You can go now, we’ll handle things from here.”

“Princess-”

“You can go now. Thank you,” she repeated with the same kind smile yet with a more forceful tone.

“You know Tia, you can be really scary at times. And the best part is that you don’t even need to be angry,” Luna said playfully once the stallion had left the room.

Celestia simply looked at her in annoyance, before pressing a specific combination of symbols to authenticate the new contact. The moment she confirmed the command, the magical map of the planet on the wall was replaced by a black screen on which were quickly scrolling columns of alien glyphs.

“Alright. That’s new,” Celestia said slowly. There was something vaguely familiar about them, but she was unable to make sense of any of them.

She tapped the central button twice to accept the call and once again the image changed, this time showing a big room characterized by purple and blue smooth surfaces that gave it an almost organic appearance. On the back she could discern what appeared to be a circular metal door, with a red banner at each side depicting a strange golden symbol that resembled a stylized mix between a star and one of those strange double bladed alien swords (1).

She saw several figures standing at the sides of the screen, but aside from the cold light provided by some holographic control stations, most of the room was left in the dark, making it difficult to see them clearly.

What, or rather who she could instead see without problem was the Sangheili standing at the center of an elevated platform, in front of what seemed to be a floating command chair.

‘Oh, goodness. He’s big,’ was the first thought that crossed Celestia’s mind.

Mana windows were built to reproduce images on a real scale of the users to give the impression that they were standing in front of each other while they spoke. The Sangheili on the screen was, lacking better terms, huge. He was easily over two and a half meters tall, with a powerful muscular body clad in an intimidating set of gold-colored armor, topped by a helmet with a protuberance vaguely similar to a large stubby horn. On his right hip was attached the deactivated handle of an energy sword.

The skin of the alien shared the same shade of light brown of Tarya, but his eyes were yellow instead of green. Ignoring the maws filled with sharp teeth, the princess met his gaze. His eyes were the ones of a warrior, hardened by years of violence and fighting, as well as suffering.

“I am the Shipmaster Vraal Rutaen, commander of the CCS-class battlecruiser Last Sunset, of the Swords of Sanghelios,” he introduced himself with his powerful and baritone voice. “I demand to speak with the leaders of the country known as Equestria.”

“You're already doing it, Shipmaster Rutaen. I’m Princess Celestia and this is my sister, Princess Luna. Together we rule over this kingdom.”

“Greetings, Shipmaster,” the princess of the night saluted.

The Sangheili simply replied with a curt nod of his head.

“On behalf of all the nations of this world, we are honored to meet-”

“Let’s cut to the chase, princess,” the Shipmaster interrupted Celestia brusquely. “We both know the reason why I’m contacting you. You have a member of my crew as prisoner and I want her back.”

‘Tarya wasn’t exaggerating when she said he likes to go straight to the point,’ Celestia thought, a bit baffled. He wasn’t exactly hostile, but not even respectful. Either the Shipmaster had no idea who he was talking with, or he simply didn’t really care. For him, she was just the leader of a recently discovered country, not a mare with great magical powers and centuries of experience and wisdom. It was… oddly refreshing.

“I would gladly grant your request, Shipmaster, especially given the importance of this moment for my people, but I’m afraid that things are a bit complicated,” the alicorn said with tact. “The Zealot was captured because she was spying on us, while her teammate is guilty of several crimes, including assault to royalty and wounding several of our guards. Surely you can understand our concerns regarding our security.”

The mandibles of the Sangheili twitched as he looked the princess deep in the eyes. “I wish to see her.”

“I can assure you that she’s fine and no harm was done to her-”

“Your words mean nothing to me, princess,” the Shipmaster said, narrowing his eyes. “I want to see her with my eyes. Now.”

“How dare you make demands, you-!” Luna started with outrage, only to be interrupted by the tip of a white wing pressed against her mouth. Her sister gave a wide apologetic smile at the Shipmaster and chuckled nervously.

“Luna, do not enrage the big scary alien,” Celestia whispered to her sister through the corner of her strained grin. Celestia cleared her voice and addressed the Sangheili again. “I’ll give the order to bring her here, as a gesture of good faith.” The Shipmaster nodded in satisfaction. “However,” Celestia said with a more stern tone, “in return we demand that both sides maintain a civil behaviour. We will not show signs of hostility, as long as you promise the same.”

“Oh, trust me, princess. You don’t want to see me turn hostile,” the Shipmaster said, flexing his jaws in what Celestia assumed was the equivalent of a smile. It was unsettling, to say the least.

“Is that a threat?” the younger princess demanded, narrowing her eyes as she took a step forward.

Celestia cleared her voice loudly. “Luna, why don’t you bring our guest here?”

The blue alicorn seemed about to argue, but a simple look at Celestia told her that she was in ‘big sister mode’.

“I will be back soon,” she said, giving one last hard gaze at the Shipmaster before disappearing with a flash of light.

The Shipmaster growled in surprise when Luna teleported away. He looked at Celestia, but the princess simply shrugged and offered him a small apologetic smile.

“Your sister seems to posses a fierce personality,” the Shipmaster noted after a few moments of uncomfortable silence.

“She tends to react that way when she thinks someone is undermining her authority.”

“I know a few individuals like her. Many are good leaders who only wish the best for their people. Others… not so much,” the Shipmaster said, lost for a moment in his thoughts. “You seem to respond better to provocations.”

‘Was he testing us?’ Celestia wondered, carefully hiding her emotions behind her well practiced mask of serenity. Despite his brusque ways, it was evident that the Shipmaster was an intelligent individual, not some kind of mindless brute. “I’ve learned long ago that a cool head can save you in many situations,” she said calmly. ‘It also helps giving my opponent a false sense of security.’

‘The only blade you have to fear is the one you cannot see,’ Vraal mentally quoted the ancient Sangheili proverb as he studied the princess. Celestia may have acted like the embodiment of diplomacy so far, but the Shipmaster had no doubt that she was a dangerous individual, instead being one that studied her opponent while carefully planning her next move. She reminded him of a San'shyuum or an ONI officer, although without any visible trace of slyness or malevolence.

“I’ve watched your speech this morning,” he said, eliciting a small surprised look from the mare. “You seem to really care about your people.”

Her smile remained the same, but her gaze hardened. “I meant every single word. My sister and I will do everything in our power to defend our subjects from any kind of threat,” the alicorn said with a polite yet firm tone.

‘There she is. Strong-willed and fierce, just like I suspected. This is going to be an interesting challenge,’ he thought, starting to feel thrilled. It had been a while since he had met a worthy opponent in strategy games.

The moment the two royal sisters left, the room fell in a somewhat awkward silence. Even Pinkie Pie, who was now softly humming a happy tune, didn’t seem to know how to start a conversation.

Surprisingly, it was Fluttershy of all ponies to take initiative. Mustering all her courage, the little yellow pegasus slowly walked toward the crystal wall that separated them from the Sangheili.

Gulping nervously, she moved her nervous gaze upward until she met the eyes of the Zealot.

“Yes?” the alien asked, tilting her head slightly.

The pegasus opened her mouth to speak, but all that came out was a barely audible noise similar to a weak wail.

Tarya tilted her head. “I’m sorry, what did you say?”

Fluttershy looked down in embarrassment and hid her face behind her long hair. She was about to murmur an apology and leave, when she felt a delicate hand touching her shoulder.

“Come on, darling,” Rarity said encouragingly.

“You can do it, Shy!” Pinkie Pie said with a beaming smile.

Feeling her confidence return stronger than before thanks to her friends, the pegasus decided to try again. “I wanted to thank you for saving my life,” Fluttershy said louder.

The Sangheili blinked with the strange vertical membranes she had instead of eyelids, then her expression softened. “You’re welcome.”

“Why did you do it?” Fluttershy asked with a bit more confidence.

“Why should I have not done it?” Tarya asked rhetorically. “It was the right thing, especially considering that I was in part to blame for it.”

“Just in part?” Rainbow Dash repeated with a heavily sarcastic if not somewhat hostile tone.

“Rainbow Dash!” Fluttershy exclaimed.

“What? It’s true! She was the one to deflect that beam of energy with her glowing-space-shield-thingy.”

“Which probably would have never happened if you had not tried to tackle me. I have to admit, you were really brave to try to engage an opponent that was far bigger and stronger than you all by yourself in that manner,” she said, causing Dash’s chest to inflate with pride, “but you were also incredibly stupid and reckless.” The pride burst out like air from a punctured balloon so violently that it broke the barriers through the eleven dimensions and was ejected in slipspace. “In different circumstances, you could have ended up seriously hurt, or worse.”

The cyan pegasus was about to rebut, but the memory of the Sangheili in black armor using Twilight as shield before charging at Princess Luna through a line of guards made her pause.

“Well, don’t think I’m afraid of you guys. You just took me by surprise,” she said, trying to sound as convincing as possible. That actually earned a chuckle from Tarya. “And, uh, thanks for not breaking my spine like a breadstick,” she added with a more humble tone.

“It had never been my intention to hurt any of you.” Tarya lowered her gaze and shook her head. “It wasn’t supposed to end like that. My orders were to simply observe, avoid detection and do not interact directly with your species, but then…”

“When things didn’t go as planned, you didn’t know how to react and panicked,” Twilight concluded her phrase with a little smile of comprehension. “I know how it feels, it happens to me sometimes.”

“You mean on daily basis?” Spike asked with a teasing grin, earning a light wing slap on his nape. He rubbed his head, but when he raised his gaze he noticed that the Sangheili was staring at him in curiosity. However, before he started feeling uncomfortable, Twilight spoke again.

“Given that we don’t know when they’ll be back, why don’t we play a game in the meantime?”

“Oh! Oh! I love playing games!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed enthusiastically. “What are we playing? Twister? Candyland? Table tennis?”

“Actually, I was thinking about a different kind of game,” the princess of friendship said, looking at the Zealot. “A question for another, and both of us will have to respond as honestly as we can. What do you think?”

The Sangheili looked down to meet the gaze of the purple mare, intrigued by her proposal. “Deal. However, as I have already told Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, there are some details that I’m not allowed to share.”

Twilight nodded in agreement. “Sounds good.” Then she pulled out a little notebook out of nowhere and started scrolling through its pages, each one filled with her neat and precise calligraphy. “Oh, this is wonderful, there are just so many questions I want to ask you! Which should I ask you first…?”

“Actually, I already answered more than a few questions to the other princesses, so I think it’s only fair that I’m the one to start.”

“But- But-” Twilight stuttered, looking at the Sangheili like a filly who had been denied a cookie, but then she sighed in defeat. “Fine. What do you want to know?”

Tarya thought for a few moments before deciding. “Your horns.”

“Uh, I’m sorry?”

“Since I set my feet on this planet, I’ve witnessed both the Changelings and the Unicorns use their horns to do things that should not be possible for living beings. Firing beams of energy... moving objects with telekinesis... teleportation…” she listed off, vaguely gesturing in Twilight’s direction at the last one. “What I want to know is, how do you do it?”

“Well, with magic of course,” Twilight replied as if it was the most natural thing. Really, why was this a big deal?

The Sangheili narrowed her gaze and scoffed. “Do not insult my intelligence, Princess Twilight Sparkle. Magic is just a word born out of ignorance and superstition to explain unknown phenomenon.”

The alicorn, as well as those present, looked at her in shock. “What?! How can you say something like that? I know that your species is more technologically advanced than ours, but you can’t expect me to believe that you think that magic is not real.” Her eyes widened as a thought occurred to her. It was unlikely, but maybe… “You- you don’t know about magic?”

“I’m too old to believe in children stories,” Tarya said in annoyance. “Either you give me a serious explanation, or you can forget receiving any answer from me.”

Twilight narrowed her eyes. She may have been a unicorn before her ascension, but she had always been open minded to expand her knowledge beyond the study of arcane arts, thus she knew the value of science. But to disregard the subject she had dedicated most of her life, the very thing that had allowed her to earn her cutie mark and became the mare she was now, well, that was too much.

“Alright, how do you explain this then?” she asked with a challenging tone. Her horn shone brightly and a small vase appeared in the cell.

“Teleportation. The atoms of an object are broken down, turned into a stream of energy and information, and then reassembled to their original form in a different location. An advanced technology, difficult to achieve, but I’ve already seen it before coming here.”

“How about this then?” Her horn glowed again and this time the vase levitated in the air until it was at the same level of the chest of the Sangheili.

“Telekinesis, basically a manipulation of the gravitational field surrounding the object you’re currently levitating,” Tarya said without missing a beat.

“Take it,” Twilight said. “Give it a good look.”

The Zealot was not sure what the alicorn had in mind, but nonetheless she carefully grabbed the vase and examined it. It was a rather unremarkable object, a clay vase without paint or any other kind of decoration.

“Now drop it,” Twilight instructed her after a few moments.

“What?”

“Drop the vase on the ground,” the young princess repeated calmly.

The Sangheili looked at her for a moment, but complied to her request. She dropped the vase, which shattered on the floor in several pieces. A few moments later the different fragments were enveloped by a soft magenta glow and started levitating in the air in front of the Sangheili.

“That’s a creative way to clean up, but you still have to-”

What happened next was like watching a video on reverse. Like the pieces of a puzzle, the fragments of clay assumed their respective position until the vase was once again intact.

“What do you see?” Twilight asked.

Tarya grabbed the vase and carefully examined it once again, looking for imperfections, cracks, anything that could indicate that it was a pile of shards just a moment before. Nothing. The surface was perfectly smooth, without a single imperfection. It looked new.

“I could have used a glass pitcher, but you would have probably suspected that I just melted the edges of the fragments to attach them back to their original form. As you know, when clay is baked, the heat modifies its molecular structure, making it virtually impossible to modify its form once it’s out of the kiln.”

“That’s impossible,” Tarya muttered.

“Oh, wait. I can also do this,” the princess exclaimed and once again her horn glowed.

Instantly the nostrils of the Zealot were invaded by a pleasant smell of food. It came from the vase… or rather, the vase was now food. She applied a bit more pressure with her hands and discovered that it now had the same consistency of bread crust. Not only that, it also had the smell of bread and, as she had confirmed by tasting a small piece, it also tasted like bread crust. Tarya dropped the vase made of bread and slowly sat on her bed, trying to ignore her spinning head.

“How?” she weakly demanded as her mind was trying to find a logical explanation.

“I told you. Magic,” Twilight simply said, crossing her arms and smiling smugly.

The Sangheili massaged her face and took a deep breath. This wasn’t the time for a mental breakdown. “Alright. I’ll keep my mind open and accept that in this place magic is real until I find proof against such an assumption.”

The princess smiled. “That’s all I ask.”

The Sangheili looked at her and chuckled. Aside for shattering her vision of reality, she was starting to like the purple mare. “Your planet is proving to be a truly mysterious place, princess. When we first arrived here, we detected an energy radiation completely unknown. I suppose that’s what you call magic.”

“Are you talking about a widespread environmental radiation?” Twilight asked for clarification. The Zealot nodded in confirm. “That would technically be called mana. It becomes magic once it’s processed and refined through alicornium, the material that composes the inner part of our horns” - she said while tapping her own with a finger - “and that’s also present in traces in other parts of our bodies, like our hooves and feathers.”

“So, to summarize in an overly simplified way, your bodies absorb this ‘mana’ and use it as a source of energy to produce magic?”

“It’s a bit more complicated than that, but I guess that’s the best way to describe the process to someone without any previous knowledge of magic. Just like without sunlight there couldn’t be photosynthesis, without mana it would be impossible to create magic.”

“I see. Where does it comes from?”

“It may be hard to believe, but we still don’t know exactly the origin of mana. The most accredited theory is that in the core of the planet there’s a portal to another dimension where our laws of physics do not apply.”

The Sangheili hummed, intrigued. She was probably just scratching the surface of what she was sure was a very complex and vast argument, but the process at its base was similar to the way the Forerunners powered their technology by exploiting extra-dimensional energy.

“So, are you satisfied with my answer?”

Tarya nodded. “You may proceed asking me your question.”

The alicorn emitted an excited ‘SQUEE!’ and grabbed her notebook. “Spike, take note,” she said, practically shoving a pile of paper and a pen in the young dragon’s hands. “Alright, first question: how-?”

Princess Luna reappeared in the middle of the room, stopping the young princess before she could even start her question. “Miss Rutaen’s presence is required in the communication room,” the blue alicorn said curtly while she marched toward the wall of crystal. “Are you going to be a problem?”

“I already told you my willingness to cooperate with you to solve this situation, princess,” was the reply of the Sangheili.

Princess Luna nodded, apparently satisfied by her answer, then placed a hand on the sturdy transparent barrier. A few moments later the crystal in the point she had touched glowed faintly and a hole appeared, quickly growing in size until it became a passage wide enough to allow the Sangheili to pass through it without problem.

“Crystal magic, I learned it before King Sombra invaded the Empire,” she explained to the stunned Sangheili as she stepped inside the cell. “Do you have any previous experience with teleportation?” she quickly asked.

“Uh?”

“I will take it as a no. Please, do not think about food,” Princess Luna hastily instructed her before grabbing her wrist.

“Wait, what are you-?”

The alicorn’s horn glowed and she and Tarya disappeared in a flash of light along with the four guards, leaving Twilight and her friends alone in the room.

The purple mare looked down at her notebook, then up at the now empty cell, then back at the book, and then one last time at the cell.

“Twilight? Are you alright, darling?” Rarity asked cautiously.

In an impressive display of eloquence and self control, the young princess responded with a loud groan of frustration to the heavens.

True to her words, less than a minute after Princess Luna was gone, the door of the room opened and Tarya stepped into the room along with the blue alicorn and four ponies wearing golden armor. The design of their armor was even more primitive than those used by the humans, but they carried firearms, just like Zhar had said in his last report.

The moment Vraal saw his niece, he released a breath of relief that he didn’t know he was holding.

“Shipmaster,” the Zealot saluted him in the language of the humans. Which was the same that these ponies spoke. Weird and surely worthy of further investigation, but right now it wasn’t his main concern.

“Zealot. I sincerely hope that you’re not making a habit of making me worry for your incolumity, young lady,” Vraal said sternly, crossing his arms on his chest.

“I apologize, sir,” Tarya responded, cringing at the the scolding tone of the Shipmaster. “Things have taken an unexpected turn even since this mission began.”

“So I’ve noticed,” he replied dryly. After a few more moments, his gaze moved to the other occupants of the room, studying them. “Are they treating you well?”

“They have been excellent guests, considering the circumstances,” Tarya hurried to reassure him.

“Are you sure? You seem to be a bit dazed,” Vraal noticed.

“I’ve just experienced their system of teleportation, sir.”

Vraal glanced at the now innocently-looking Princess Luna. “I see.”

“Are there any news about Zhar?” Tarya asked with a hopeful tone that quite honestly surprised him. Last that he checked, his niece wasn’t exactly thrilled to work with the Commando.

The Shipmaster shook his head. “We’re still trying to find him with our scanners, but either his transponder is offline, or the thick canopy of the forest is interfering with our equipment.”

“Our guards are looking for your lost man as we speak, Shipmaster,” Princess Luna informed them with a smile. “We’re doing everything in our power to find him.” The way she said it, it sounded more like a threat than a reassurance.

“Your help in the searches is… appreciated,” Vraal replied coolly, staring back at the alicorn. Maybe it was because they were not in the same room, but the mare didn’t seem intimidated at all by the Sangheili, just like her sister.

He felt his respect for them growing a bit.

“If you don’t have any objection, I suggest addressing the elephant in the room,” Princess Celestia said, causing the aliens to look at her in confusion.

“I don’t see any pachyderm,” Tarya stated plainly.

Celestia blushed a bit in embarrassment. “I apologize, it’s a figure of speech. What I mean is that now that we are aware of your existence, we should address the matter of your presence on this planet in a more official way.”

The Shipmaster stroked his lower jaws with a hand. “And by official, I presume you desire to arrange a meeting.”

“That would be preferable, Shipmaster. I’m sure you agree with me when I say that certain matters can only be discussed in person rather that through a screen. And I seriously doubt you would have sent a recon team on the surface of the planet if you just planned to contact us by our special communication network. There must be more, something delicate that needed to be addressed in person.”

‘Hmm, she’s good,' Vraal had to mentally admit.

“Obviously, I assure that during your visit we will take all kinds of measures to insure your incolumity-”

The Shipmaster emitted a barking laugh. Was she really worried for him? How adorable. “I am no longer a youngling, princess. I can take care of myself,” Vraal declared as a matter of fact, moving his hand on the handle of his energy sword.

The gesture didn’t pass unnoticed to the alicorns. “I suppose,” Celestia said with a frown after a few moments.

“I’d need to confer in private with the Shipmaster,” Tarya suddenly said. “Do you mind if we talk for a bit in our language? It will make things faster,” she asked politely to the princesses.

“I don’t see why not,” Princess Celestia said, while her sister simply nodded. Vraal had almost missed the way Luna’s wing subtly brushed Celestia’s arm before she gave her permission, but said nothing.

The young Zealot nodded, thankful, then turned back to the screen. “You handled the situation better than I expected,” she said in Sangheili.

“I had to deal with my fair share of politicians during my life, but I still prefer to fight my battles with the plasma of my sword rather than the ink of a pen,” Vraal admitted, snapping his jaws. “I’m honestly relieved that I don’t need to deploy an assault team to storm the castle in order to rescue you.”

The Zealot chuckled, but quickly stopped once she noticed that there was no trace of humor in her uncle’s expression. “Are you serious?”

“The Major Domo and the Mgalekgolo volunteered for a rescue mission as soon as they heard news of your capture. The only reason they’re not already there is because I denied it, knowing their complete inability to avoid collateral damage,” the Shipmaster said dryly. The Zealot didn’t know if she should have been more worried about their eagerness for a fight or the fact that the words of her uncle were the only thing holding them back. “What have you told them so far?”

“Just that we casually stumbled upon their planet due to a problem to our FTL drive and we infiltrated their castle to gather information about their society. Oh, and their language is one of the many spoken by the humans.”

“I would have preferred if you first consulted with me before revealing certain details, but at least you didn’t mention something really important like our lack of combustible or that we’re basically stuck here for an undetermined amount of time.”

“I know where my loyalty lies,” she said defensively.

“I never doubted it. Now, first of all let’s get you back on the ship, then we can-”

“Actually, it would be better if we postpone the meeting until tomorrow.”

The Shipmaster looked at her in confusion. “Give me a good reason why I should leave you in custody of these creatures any longer.”

“I can give you two. As much as it may sound absurd, these aliens possess strange powers that cannot be explained scientifically, at least not with our actual knowledge. The quickest and most efficient way to learn about them is from the natives, preferably before we start any diplomatic meeting.”

Vraal narrowed his eyes and glanced discreetly at the alicorns. Princess Luna was quietly chatting with her sister, but her horn was glowing a pale blue light. For some reason, he could tell that she seemed to be frustrated, even if she hid it well. “Do you fear a trap?”

“No. So far they have seemed sincere with me, nor have I seen evident signs of deception. I just want to know what we’re dealing with as soon as possible, so that we’re ready for any nasty surprise we may encounter in the future. I’ve already started to gain the trust from one of their younger leaders and her friends. She’s willing to respond to my questions about her world in exchange of non-confidential material.”

“You sound like my sister,” the Shipmaster said, both amused and proud of her. “As she always said…”

“... Words build bridges, swords destroy them,” she quoted what her mother used to say when she was in charge of their keep when the kaidon was absent. “As for the second reason, it would also be a good way to earn their sympathy and gratitude if we let them first deal with their current crisis. Their leaders can’t leave the capital in a moment like this to get on our ship, while the sight of one of our shuttles would only cause panic among the population.”

“Hmm, alright then. Have fun playing the part of the Ossoona in plain sight,” he joked. In truth, he was impressed of his reasoning abilities. It made him hope for a future where his people will be more than just soldiers. “Sorry if you had to wait,” he apologized, switching back to a language the ponies could understand. “As the Zealot has already informed you, our ship suffered damage when we reached your solar system. It will take several hours to complete the repairs, and unfortunately I need to oversee the work of my crew.”

“You could delegate the task of representing you to a member of your crew,” Princess Luna offered.

“Tempting idea, princess, but unfortunately my men are soldiers, not diplomats. No matter how much I may trust them, this is a delicate matter that I need to handle personally. Furthermore, in my culture doing so would be an act of disrespect toward you,” he said, playing the card of the cultural differences. “There’s also the matter that your country is in the middle of a crisis after the recent Changeling raid.”

The gazes of both alicorns hardened at the mention of the insectoid race.

“There have not been reports of new attacks, but there’s still much work to do to bring things back under control,” Celestia admitted. First contact with an alien civilization or not, their people still had priority.

“Then it would be wise to postpone the meeting until the situation has calmed down a bit. Would tomorrow morning be a more appropriate moment or is it too soon?”

The two sisters exchanged a look, silently communicating with their eyes for a few moments, then nodded.

“That would be appreciated, Shipmaster,” Princess Luna said with a cautious yet thankful tone. “We will wait for your arrival by sunrise, if you agree.”

“I find it acceptable.”

“Then it’s settled. The meeting will take place in the castle.”

“I thought the point was to maintain discretion. Wouldn’t the arrival of one of our aircraft cause panic?”

“That won’t be a problem, I assure you.”

“In this case, I’ll take my leave then, your highnesses. I’m looking forward to meeting you in person,” the Shipmaster said, bowing his head respectfully.

“Likewise, Shipmaster Rutaen,” Celestia said as she and her sister bowed back.

“Zealot,” Vraal said curtly, looking at his niece.

“Shipmaster.”

“May your blade lighten your path.”

“And never fail me in the time of need,” she completed the salute.

Vraal looked at the princesses one last time, then gestured to the communication officer to cut the signal. He sat back in his command chair. He rested his head on his clasped fingers, staring intensely at the the screen, which now showed the image of the northern hemisphere of the planet below them.

“You know that all critical systems beside the slipspace drive are already back to full functionality, right?” Haka Guwakai noticed, adjusting his red cloak.

“I’m perfectly aware of it, Haka, but they don’t need to know.” He snapped his jaws. “Lying at them left a bitter taste in my mouth,” he admitted. “I don’t know how Zhar can do it all the time.”

“He’s Spec Ops, deception is part of his life,” the Ultra reasoned with a note of distaste.

The Shipmaster decided to not comment. “Select a small security team for tomorrow’s diplomatic meeting,” he ordered to his second in command. “Only Sangheili. No more than five.”

“You can count on me, Shipmaster. My blades are at your service,” Haka said respectfully, bowing his head and placing a fist across his chest.

“I’d prefer if you stay on board. If there is any trouble, you’ll have command of the ship.”

“Then who will keep you out of trouble?”

“Really amusing, Haka. If your blades are really as sharp as your words, then we’ll have nothing to fear.”

They both shared a short laugh.

“In all seriousness, I’m quite curious to meet them in person myself. Princess Luna seems to have the spirit of a fighter.”

“It’s her sister that worries me the most,” Vraal said, activating a nearby holotank to find the best spot in the castle to land. The gardens offered plenty of space but no cover, while the main courtyard allowed easy access to the castle, but left them vulnerable to eventual snipers.

“Shall we use one of the Stealth Phantoms?”

“No. There’s no reason to reveal that we have aircrafts able to turn invisible, and we don’t need to alarm them with excessive firepower, so we will also keep the gunship in the hangar. A troop carrier will work just fine.”

“As you wish, sir. I’ll go see the Major Domo Kowakan to arrange the escort,” the Ultra said before leaving the command center.

“Any news from Zhar?” The Shipmaster asked to the communication officer.

The officer shook his head. “Still nothing, sir.”

“Inform me as soon as there is any news. I’ll be damned if my best warrior is found by those primitives first.”

“Looks like you’ll be our guest longer than expected, miss Rutaen,” Princess Celestia said, looking at the young Sangheili female.

“So it would seem. I hope it’s not a problem.”

“Not at all, my dear,” Celestia replied. “Having an alien as a guest for dinner will be interesting.”

The mention of food caused a deep rumble to resonate through the air. Startled, the ponies looked at the Zealot, who glanced at her stomach in embarrassment. “I apologize, my last meal consisted of a protein bar before the sunrise.”

“It’s a bit late to lunchtime, but that won’t be a problem. Do you have any preferences?”

That made the Sangheili pause. “I don’t suppose meat is a part of your diet,” Tarya said nervously.

“That won’t be a problem,” Princess Luna said with a smirk. “Guards, bring back our guest to her new quarters, and alert the kitchen staff to prepare something that meets the tastes of our guest.”

“New quarters?”

“You didn’t expect us to put you back in that cell, did you?” Celestia chuckled as she opened the door… only to find Twilight Sparkle on the other side, with her group of friends standing behind her.

“Oh, you’re already here. Splendid!” Celestia said, clearly surprised. “How did you know we were about to call you and your friends?”

“Pinkie Sense, princess,” Rainbow Dash responded, jerking a thumb in Pinkie Pie’s direction.

“Oh. Right.”

The two sisters quickly updated Twilight and her friends about their conversation with the Shipmaster.

“Are yer sure that’s a wise idea, princess?” Applejack asked while looking with evident distrust at the Sangheili.

“We’re still taking precautions, Applejack,” the alicorn assured her. “Just because she’ll no longer be reclused in a cell, it doesn’t mean that I’ll leave an individual that was spying us just a few hours ago roam freely through the halls of the castle.” The princess looked at Tarya and gave her an apologetic look. “Nothing personal, I assure you. Just standard procedure.”

“I seriously doubt that anything about this situation can be called standard, princess,” she duly commented. “But I understand you concerns.”

The alabaster alicorn nodded in gratitude before addressing Twilight and her friends. “Anyway, if you don’t have any objections, I would be glad if you could keep company to our guest for the rest of the day.”

Twilight instantly perked up and smiled brightly. “I really hoped you would ask that!”

“Oooooh! This is gonna be so exciting!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed, hugging Rarity in enthusiasm.

“I suppose it would be a quite unique experience,” the fashionista admitted, quite thrilled herself.

“You can count on us, Princess,” Rainbow Dash said.

“Oh, uh, I suppose it’s fine,” Fluttershy said.

“Yeeha,” Applejack said with a noticeable lack of enthusiasm.

Flash Sentry simply replied with a firm nod, while Spike gave the princess a wink and a thumbs up.

“Then it’s settled,” Luna said, gesturing the guards to escort the Sangheili to their destination. “See you later, miss Rutaen.”

“Princesses,” the Zealot saluted, before she and the guards left the room, followed by Twilight and her friends.

Before the group could leave, however, Princess Celestia called her old student. “Twilight, do you mind if we have a word with you, please?”

“Sure thing, Celestia. I’ll catch up with you later, girls. And boys,” she added when Spike gave her an annoyed look. “What can I do for you, princess?”

The alicorn chuckled. It still amused her how the young mare kept addressing her that way even now that she too was a princess. “My sister and I were curious to know if anything in particular happened after we left.”

Twilight smiled and she gave them a quick yet accurate summary of the conversation they had with the Sangheili.

“You’re saying that she was unaware about the existence of magic before coming on our world?” Luna mused. “Interesting.”

“Indeed! This may explain why their technology is so advanced, but it also raises so many questions! Just think about all the things we may be able to learn from her!”

Twilight’s enthusiasm slowly disappeared however when she noticed that both Celestia and Luna now had a more somber expression. “Is there a problem?”

“This is yet to be seen, but it is possible,” Luna said dryly.

“But, I don’t understand,” Twilight said in confusion. “From what you’ve told us, your conversation with the Shipmaster went well.”

“Indeed. A bit too much well for our liking, if we have to be honest,” Luna said.

“Do you think that they’re lying?”

“We think that they are hiding part of the truth. The Shipmaster has been quite accommodating with us, considering how eager he was initially to have the Zealot back, only to change his attitude after their conversation.”

“That’s where you and your friends come into play, Twilight,” Celestia said.

Twilight looked at her old mentor in confusion. “Princess?”

“I need you to try to learn as much as you can about her and her people.”

Twilight remained silent for a couple of moments, connecting the dots. “This is not just a friendship lesson, is it?” she asked cautiously. “Are you asking me to be a spy?”

“Of course not, my dear. But you have to keep in mind that you are a princess of Equestria now, and as such you have duties toward our country and our subjects. Their safety is our primary concern and the best way to do it is by knowing what we’re dealing with.”

“I understand,” the young mare said cautiously, obviously feeling unease. “But it feels wrong.”

“If it makes you feel better, it is safe to assume that our guest is playing the same game with us,” Luna offered. “Her intentions and curiosity may be sincere, but do not forget the reason why she was captured in first place.”

‘You’re not really helping her, Luna,’ Celestia thought, looking in annoyance at her sister, who simply ignored her stare. “We’re not asking you to extort from her the secrets behind their technology. You have a natural talent at socializing, Twilight, so just try to be yourself and ask her about things like her family, where she grew up, or what kind of education she received, like you would do while holding a normal conversation. You would be surprised how many useful things you can learn from small details like these,” she said with a reassuring smile.

There was still some lingering doubt in Twilight’s eyes, but the words of Celestia seemed to have put her more at ease.

“I’ll see what I can find out.”

“Thank you, Twilight. Now go, before Pinkie Pie traumatizes our guest with her antics,” Celestia joked, eliciting a small laugh from the younger princess before she walked away down the corridor. The moment Twilight was out of sight, her shoulders slumped and her multicolored mane sagged a bit.

“Stop feeling horrible, Tia,” Luna said suddenly. “You did not corrupt her innocent mind, you just taught her a lesson that she had to learn eventually.”

“I know that being the leader of a country is not always sunshine and rainbows, but I would have preferred waiting for Twilight to gain a bit more experience in politics before introducing her to these games of shadows.”

“Unfortunately, we do not have time for that, so she will have to do a crash course. It is just like you said. We need to know more about the Sangheili and their true intentions, with any means at our disposal.”

“Just like you did when you tried to use that translation spell while they spoke in their native tongue?” Celestia asked with a raised brow. Luna didn’t reply, instead she just crossed her arms and looked away in annoyance. “Why did you even bother? The spell was designed to work with the creatures of this planet, not with aliens.”

“Hmph. It was still worth trying,” Luna said primly, closing her eyes and pointing her muzzle at the ceiling.

“Sometimes you really sound like Rarity, sister. Are you sure you didn’t follow her same school of recitation?”

“If anything, she is the one to sound like me. Anyway, I am going to the astronomical observatory and see if our telescope can find their ship. The thought that we didn’t notice an alien vessel in orbit right above us is unsettling.”

“And I’m going to pay a visit to Captain Steel Shield in the infirmary to inform him about the latest developments.”

“I am sure he will be ecstatic about the news,” Luna said sardonically.

Celestia rolled her eyes. “More likely he will have a stroke.”

Chapter 16 - Close encounters of the first and fifth kind

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Chapter 16 - Close encounters of the first and fifth kind

“You did what?!” Captain Steel Shield exclaimed loudly, looking incredulously at Princess Celestia. He tried to get up from his hospital bed, but a delicate yet incredibly strong feminine hand on his shoulder held him down on the mattress.

The tall white mare couldn’t help but roll her eyes at the stallion's reaction. 'I knew he wouldn't like the news.' She had spent several minutes telling him in detail about the conversation that she and her sister had with the Sangheili Zealot, as well as the one they had with the Shipmaster Vraal Rutaen. The Captain of the Solar Guard had listened to her tale while remaining silent most of the time, speaking only to ask a few questions, but when Celestia had told him that she and her sister had invited the aliens to the castle, he was unable to contain his shock.

“I arranged a meeting with the leader of the Sangheili for tomorrow morning to discuss their presence on our planet,” Princess Celestia repeated calmly, ignoring the outburst of the Captain and instead checking that his IV bag was still correctly attached to his arm after his brusque movement. His armor may have saved his life, but the energy sword of the Sangheili Commando had still caused damage.

She was glad that the stallion was recovering in a small room separated from the main hall of the infirmary, where most of the guards that were wounded during the fight against the Sangheili Commando had been recovering. The official reason was to give the captain the privacy necessary to work without distractions and without the risk of someone learning about confidential material. The unofficial reason was to avoid further negative repercussions on the morale of his soldiers.

"So you’re telling me that after they break in the castle, attacked members of the royal family and wounded several of our guards, we’re welcoming them with open arms?” the stallion asked, looking at her in disbelief.

"I admit it may sound like an inconsistency, but given the current situation, Luna and I agreed that the sooner we deal with this matter and focus our full attention back to the Changeling threat, the better. We’re not going to reveal our secrets, if that’s what you’re worried about, but we need to know what we’re dealing with.”

“What about their spy?”

“Her release is the best way we have to show them that we don’t have hostile intentions despite the unfavorable circumstances of our first contact with an alien civilization.”

The stallion didn't say anything, but from his silence it was evident he wasn’t thrilled.

“I can tell something is bothering you Captain,” the princess commented.

“Can I speak freely, your highness?”

“Of course, Captain. You know I keep an open door policy.”

“With all due respect, princess, I think that you and your sister are making a mistake," Steel Shield said with a blunt yet respectful tone. The alicorn cocked her head in curiosity but said nothing, instead she prompted him to continue with a small gesture of her hand. “As you told me, the Sangheili are aware that the Changelings were able to kidnap thousands of our citizens, completely bypassing our defences in the process.They know that we’re vulnerable and they will surely take advantage of this. If we really have to negotiate with these creatures, then we should do it from a position of force.”

“What are you suggesting then, captain?” Celestia asked, raising one of her perfect eyebrows.

“It’s too late to cancel the meeting, but I think we shouldn’t release the Zealot so easily. She’s our best bargain chip to make sure they don’t pull out some dirty trick.”

“You mean use her as a hostage?” The princess shook her head. “That would be seen as a provocation by the Sangheili, with disastrous consequences. They still have to respond for their actions, but if we keep the Zealot prisoner then they will probably send one of their teams to rescue her.”

"They can try."

Celestia stared at the Captain of the Solar Guard in disbelief before her expression turned stern. "I'll pretend that's just your wounded ego speaking, Steel Shield. If I didn't know you any better, I would say that you're hoping for a conflict."

"No, princess. The last thing that I want is to put Equestria or anypony in danger, but for some reason I can’t help but think that this whole situation is fishy. For all we know, they may use tomorrow's meeting as an excuse to attack us.”

"The Sangheili are not our enemies, Captain," the alicorn calmly said.

"How can you tell for sure?" the stallion inquired.

"Because you and the other guards that were wounded today are still alive," the alicorn said bluntly. “We’ve both seen what they did to those Changelings,” she said, gesturing to the bandages covering his chest. “And we’ve both experienced first hand what their weapons can do." Her horn had completely healed by now, and the pain she had felt when it was hit by the plasma was now just a painful memory. “And yet their Commando was under orders of using non-lethal force.”

She brought a nearby chair closer to his bed and sat down.

"I don't doubt the courage and the value of you and the other guards, but this is a fight that we can't allow to happen. The castle is surrounded by a densely populated area, and if we do anything that may antagonize those aliens, we risk putting countless innocent lives in danger. Furthermore,” she added, crossing her legs, “don’t forget that we are not the only ones vulnerable. Their ship is damaged and their priority is to repair it. It’s unlikely that they would waste resources in a conflict."

"That's assuming that what their Shipmaster told you is the truth," the stallion pointed out, crossing his arms and promptly wincing as he inadvertently touched the bandages covering the plasma burns that ran across his chest. Even with the medications and the painkillers, the wound still stung.

“True," she conceded, ignoring his grimace of pain, for which he was grateful. "That’s why we’ll take the appropriate precautions during their visit. But while we’ll keep our eyes open for trouble, we’ll also offer our assistance. At worst, they’ll just refuse our help and ask to be left alone while they complete the repairs to their ship; in the best case scenario, this may be the first step toward an alliance with a highly advanced space civilization.”

“Sounds too good to be real,” Steel Shield commented skeptically.

“Maybe you’re right.” Celestia shrugged. “Maybe it will all be a waste of time and we’ll end up ignoring each other until they leave our planet, but if tomorrow’s meeting will help prevent a waste of lives, I’ll still consider it a success.”

The stallion stared at the princess before finally nodding. “I still don’t think it’s a good idea, but I’ll trust your judgement as well as that of your sister.”

“Thank you, Captain,” Celestia said with a little grateful smile. “Believe when I say that I keep your opinion in high regard. But this is a situation that must be dealt with the utmost caution. We already have enough problems with the Changelings, the last thing we need is having a highly advanced race of space warriors that make the ancient Pegasi hoplites look like a bunch of amateurs by comparison as an enemy.”

The captain’s attendant stepped in the room, carrying in her hands a metal tray with a glass of water and a small cup with a few pills.

“The doctor says it’s time for your medicine, sir,” Corporal Schedule Tab said meekly.

The stallion grumbled in annoyance, but accepted the tray from the unicorn mare with a nod of thanks.

“Any news from the rest of the world?” he asked to the alicorn before downing the pills with a gulp of water.

“The leaders of Saddle Arabia, Maretania and the Zebra Unified Tribes accepted our offer of assuming military leadership in future joint military operations,” Princess Celestia said. “Needless to say, Princess Cadence gave us full support even if her country was not hit by the Changelings. She even offered to use the Empire as sanctuary to the communities of our most northern settlements that are more vulnerable to possible future attacks.”

The stallion gave a grunt of approval and gulped down another pill. As much as it annoyed him to rely on allies, it was good to know they were willing to cooperate and follow Equestria’s lead. After all, their country had the highest flourishing economy and one of the strongest militaries of the planet, it was natural they should be the ones in charge.

“The yaks are being… well, yaks, while I still have to consult with the griffins.”

“What about the minotaurs?”

Celestia’s expression turned into a scowl of annoyance. “Their ambassador said that they would provide us assistance without actually specifying of what kind. In the meantime, they will increase their military presence in the bases they established on the coasts of Zebrica,” the alicorn said distastefully. “To protect the local population from future attacks, according to them,” she added with evident skepticism.

“Of course those cow-heads would try to turn the current situation in their favor,” the stallion commented with a roll of his eyes. While equine species had, in general, a herd mentality that led them to instinctively join into a group, the minotaurs instead tended to impose their authority over others. “What about the situation within our borders?”

“Given your current… impossibility to oversee the situation, Captain Dark Wing is currently directing the work of the general staff. According to the last reports, the situation is under control for now.”

If the stallion was irritated that the Captain of the Lunar Guard was filling his position while he was recovering from his wounds, he didn’t show it. Whatever grudge he had with his counterpart, he knew it wasn’t the moment to let petty rivalries interfere with their duty.

“And Project Phalanx?” Steel Shield asked, looking at the princess with expectation.

“Due to the events of the last few hours, we were forced to postpone the tests,” she admitted.

“Your highness, you promised me you would support the project,” Steel Shield reminded her.

“And I still will,” Princess Celestia assured him. “I will ensure that the tests will be completed within the next couple of days. But right now Twilight Sparkle and her friends have another important task at hand.”

“What? Befriending the enemy?” The Captain asked with a sarcastic smile.

“As a matter of fact, yes,” Celestia replied without missing a beat. “Things may be easier if the Zealot were to speak in our favor tomorrow."

“I’d like to share your optimism,” the Captain commented, just as the door opened again and a tall dark figure walked in the room.

“How are you feeling, Captain Steel Shield?” Princess Luna asked.

“Better, your highness. The doctor says that I should rest for a few days, but I have no intention to waste my time in this stupid bed with our current situation.”

The blue alicorn studied him for a few moments before nodding in approval.

“Was your visit to the Royal Astronomical Observatory profitable, dear sister?” Celestia asked.

“Oh, absolutely. It turns out that our problem is bigger than expected,” Princess Luna said with a grim expression, showing the document folder she was holding in her hand.

“How much bigger?”

“According to calculations, their spaceship is almost two kilometers in length.” The princess of the night dropped the folder on the bed, revealing several photos.

Celestia grabbed one of the photos and widened her eyes in shock. “Mother of me,” she muttered as she observed the image of a big dark bulbous object on a starry background. The alien vessel reminded her of some kind of mysterious creature from the abyss, with four fins under the ‘head’, which was connected through a slightly more narrow section to a larger section. The alicorn found the oddly organic design fearsome yet beautiful at the same time.

"A vessel this size should be able to carry thousands of troops," Celestia remarked as she studied one of the photos. "And most likely it possesses energy weapons like the ones used by their recon team, only on a much bigger scale." She couldn’t help but to make a mental comparison between a pistol bullet and an artillery shell, then she did the same between the plasma pistol of the Zealot and the weapons that were probably mounted on the alien spaceship. It was a disturbing thought.

“This monster makes the Minotaur heavy airships look like toys by comparison. How did we miss it?” Steel Shield wondered as he stared at the images.

"I thought about the same thing. When I asked Nightlight how they could have avoided detection until now, he hypothesized that they may have a - uh, excuse me a moment - ah, yes, a ‘system of counter illumination’," she quoted, reading from a note. "It basically allows their ship to blend with the dark background by manipulating the light reflected on its hull. These photos were made thanks to a recently installed optical filter that we were planning to use to study the moons of Thor, and even with our special equipment we located the vessel just because we were actively looking for it."

“So, let me get this straight: we found something that we didn’t know was there because we knew it was there?” Steel Shield cautiously said.

“As absurd it may sound, yes.”

The captain stared at the pictures and slowly shook his head. The alien vessel was the nightmare of any strategist came true. It was able in theory to reach its target without being detected until it was too late and unleash destruction while being literally out of reach of the defenders’ weapons.

“I guess it’s too much to hope this is just a bad dream induced by the painkillers, huh?” he asked with a humorless smile.

“I’m afraid you’re awake, captain,” Princess Luna said dryly, although not without a bit of sympathy.

Steel Shield slowly nodded and closed his eyes, letting the information sink into his mind as he fully grasped the gravity of the situation.

“I’ll take care of the organization of the security details for tomorrow’s meeting,” the stallion said as he opened his eyes again. “Corporal, bring me the service schedules of all the guards currently stationed at the castle. Both Solar and Lunar Guards."

"But sir, Captain Dark Wing-"

"I don't care, we need our best ponies for this operation. If the old bat has any issues, he can complain with me once this whole mess is over.”

While Steel Shield proceeded to list to his attendant what he would need, the two princesses left the room.

“Well, all things considered, he took the news better than expected,” Celestia said optimistically once they were out of the infirmary ward.

"If you mean that he is respectful of the hierarchy and will follow our orders, as any soldier is expected to do, then I have to agree with you," Luna deadpanned.

“You still do not like him, huh?” Celestia asked rhetorically.

"No. Can we have Shining Armor back?"

Celestia looked at her sister in annoyance. Steel Shield may not have been perfect, but she was still the one to choose him. “Luna, we have already discussed about this several times. As prince of the Crystal Empire, Shining Armor already has enough responsibilities to attend without having to worry about a country located thousands of miles away. Furthermore, I doubt Cadence would like having her husband so far away most of the time.”

“Point taken,” the younger alicorn said.

“Speaking of Shining Armor, do we have any news about him and his expedition?”

“Captain Dark Wing received a report just a couple hours ago. The detachment of Lunar Guards that I sent made contact with his unit last night. He accepted their help and now they’re scouting the Sapphire Highlands looking for the base of the raiders. So far their efforts were fruitless, but considering the stubbornness of the Sparkle family, it is merely a matter of time before they find that den of criminals.”

“He’s a stallion of action, Luna. We both know he doesn’t like sitting behind a desk for long.” Celestia smiled at a newfound memory. “I think that’s one of the reasons why Cadence fell in love with him. That girl has always had an adventurous streak.”

“She may be adopted, but she’s still our niece,” Luna said with a proud smirk before yawning.

“I think you should rest a bit, Luna, you’re far over your bedtime.”

The blue alicorn placed her hands on her hips and looked away in the distance, striking an eroic pose. “Nay, sister. Sleeping is for the pitiful mortals.”

Celestia just stared at her blankly. “Luna, this is a critical situation, we can’t afford making mistakes for something as stupid as tiredness. Go get some rest, I need you at the best of your abilities.”

Luna rolled her eyes, but decided to not argue. “As thou command, your highness,” she said with faux deference before teleporting away.

The alabaster alicorn shook her head at the antics of her sister and quickly made her way toward her office. It didn’t take her long to reach the main body of the castle, but as she quickly turned a corner, she almost bumped into someone she was not expecting.

“Oops, my apologies, Princess Celestia,” General Edwin Sharpbeak said as he stepped aside to avoid the collision. “I didn’t see you coming.”

‘Oh, right. The delegation of the Griffin Empire is still here,’ she thought with a little twinge of guilt. ‘After all that has happened in the last twenty-four hours, I had completely forgotten about them.’

“Worry not, general. If anything I’m the one that should apologize. Things have been rather hectic lately and I can’t tell for sure when we’ll be able to resume the negotiations,” she said with an apologetic smile.

The griffin made a dismissive gesture. “Worry not, your highness. Your subjects take the priority. We’ll wait as long as necessary… assuming you don’t get tired of our presence,” he ended with a smirk.

Celestia smiled. “Oh, Edwin. You know that you’re always welcome,” she assured, dropping the formalities.

“What about the duke?” the griffin asked with a raised brow.

“Just keep him away from Luna and everything will be fine,” Celestia half joked. “Speaking of which, where is he?”

“Prince Blueblood invited him to a card game at the gentlecolt’s club. He should be back in the evening.”

The alicorn smiled and silently thanked Blueblood for the initiative. Despite his flaws, her nephew was still a skilled politician and knew how to make her life easier.

“If you don’t mind, I’d like to exchange a few words with you on the way to my office.”

“It would be a pleasure, princess,” the griffin said with a bow of his head.

The princess smiled and resumed her walk, slowing down her pace to allow the general to keep up with her longer legs without looking ridiculous. “Did you receive any update from your government?”

“As a matter of fact, yes. I was about to contact you anyway. Our embassy received a telegram less than an hour ago,” he said, showing an open envelope. “My government is willing to help Equestria by sharing any useful intelligence we may gather about Changeling activity within our territory, and I’m also authorized to offer military assistance in case of engagements with Changeling forces within a reasonable distance from our common borders. That’s it, provided you agree to allow our patrols to cross the border in order to engage the enemy.”

Celestia looked at the general, considering his offer. Their empire was formed mostly by islands, but there was still Griffonstone and a few other coastal settlements built on the Epona mainland, so the chances of actually seeing griffin soldiers assisting the Royal Guards wasn’t so unrealistic.

“I’ll have to speak about it with my sister and our general staff, but I’m personally favorable to that agreement.”

General Sharpbeak smiled. “Glad to hear it. We may be a stubborn and prideful race, but we still remember how Equestria helped us after that seaquake hit us thirty years ago.”

“We just did the right thing,” the princess said with a slight shrug.

“Shipping tons of supplies and providing medical assistance almost for free?”

“What can I say? We’re ponies,” Celestia replied a mirthful smile, causing the general to laugh.

“Canterlot is truly lovely in this period of the year,” he commented after a bit. “It reminds me of our capital, only more clean and with far less poverty and crime.”

“We’re quite proud of our social model,” she said, unable to hide her pride. It had taken her centuries of hard work, but it was well worth it. “It’s a pity your family wasn’t able to join you.”

“Maybe next time, when our chicks will be older. In the meantime, I’ve made a few photos.”

“I’m sure your wife will find them inspiring,” Celestia commented, referring to his wife’s hobby of painting with watercolors. One of her paintings was even displayed in her office after she received it as a gift during Sharpbeak’s first visit.

“I concur. However, earlier today when your guards were performing that ‘security drill with blank ammo’,” - as he parroted the official excuse for the ruckus caused by the skirmish between her soldiers and the Sangheili Commando, Celestia could almost hear the quotation marks - “I was taking a picture of your splendid park from the balcony of my room, when I casually noticed something, uhm, unexpected,” he said, reaching for something inside his jacket.

‘Why do I have this horrible feeling that our card castle is about to collapse?’ Celestia thought as she forced herself to maintain a curious smile.

“Ah! Here it is!” The picture was a bit blurred, but Celestia could clearly see that the photo that the griffin held in his claw showed her sister Luna wrestling on the meadow against a much larger figure completely encased in black armor. Centuries of experience allowed Celestia to hide her true emotions, but internally she shivered as she recalled the way the Sangheili had charged without hesitation at her sister with his sword. According to Luna, the alien warrior had proven to be one of the toughest non-magical enemies she had ever fought.

“So, princess, can I dare to ask you why your sisters and your guards were engaged in a firefight against a completely unknown creature?”

Her smile only grew wider and her left eye twitched a couple of times. ‘And there goes the chance of avoiding a long explanation. Curse you modern technology!’ Celestia emitted a short nervous laugh. “It’s complicated,” she admitted in embarrassment. There was no point trying to deny the evidence, furthermore she esteemed the general too much to lie right in his face. “Tell me, general. Do you have any plans for this evening?”

“Oh my! Princess! Asking a date to a married representative of a foreign nation? How scandalous!” He exclaimed in mock shock, earning a chuckle of amusement from the alicorn.

“I’m sorry for crushing your dreams, general, but it’s nothing like that. I’m having a few guests for dinner, one of which I’m sure you’ll find really interesting.”

The suite was decisively more spacious and cozy than the containment cell. Located in one of the towers of the west wing, it consisted of a wide main room and a small bathroom. There was even a wide window facing the city, but unless you had wings it would lead only to a six story fall.

Twilight Sparkle and her friends were currently the only occupants of the room, along with their Sangheili guest. The guards that had escorted the Zealot were waiting outside, per request of the young princess, leaving Flash Sentry as the only one with a weapon in the room. The young pegasus stallion was leaning with his back against a nearby wall, his posture relaxed yet ready to act at the slightest sign of trouble. It was in situations like this that the confine between friend and bodyguard became blurred, but nonetheless Twilight was glad of his presence.

Due to the hectic course of the events, no one had the opportunity to eat, so the castle’s staff had provided the group with refreshments. For the ponies and the single dragon, a wide tray holding a variety of freshly made sandwiches; for Tarya, the meal had consisted of a bowl of chicken salad, which she had promptly devoured with gusto while sitting on a sturdy metal chair.

Watching a Sangheili eating for the first time was a new experience for the Equestrians. Twilight and Fluttershy had been fascinated by the way Tarya used her four jaws with dexterity to push the food down her throat.

Rainbow Dash and Spike had commented how the whole scene was scary yet awesome.

Rarity had almost fainted in shock and had ended up leaving most of her cucumber sandwich untouched, much to Pinkie’s joy.

“Hmm, bring my compliments to whoever prepared this food, it was delicious,” Tarya said contently, placing the now empty bowl on the table. The bowl had originally contained enough chicken salad to feed two full grown thestral stallions, but the Sangheili had cleaned it without problems.

Such display of appetite elicited a whistle of admiration from Rainbow Dash. “Wow! You eat almost as much as Pinkie Pie!”

“Hey!” the pink mare exclaimed in protest through a mouthful of potato chips. Rainbow Dash looked pointedly at the snack bag in her hands. “What? Watching her eat made me hungry.”

“I’ll make sure to inform the chefs that you enjoyed the meal,” Twilight Sparkle said. “I’m still a bit surprised that you’re an omnivore,” she noted as she glanced at the four jaws of the alien.

“When our ancestors still hunted on the coastal plains of our home world, they used their jaws to capture their prey, which consisted of creatures small enough to be swallowed whole. Over time, evolution allowed us to widen our diet, but the original structure of our mouths remained the same,” the young Sangheili female explained.

“Does it mean that you could potentially survive without meat?” Fluttershy asked curiously. Animals eat meat because it’s their nature, but sentient beings are able to choose. She knew of a few griffins that had turned vegan by replacing meat with the opportune vegetarian surrogate.

Tarya tried to imagine for a moment her life without the delicious taste of colo (1) meat. ‘Blasphemy!’ a little Zealot in her mind immediately roared in outrage at the mere notion, swinging its tiny imaginary energy sword menacingly.

“In theory yes, but in order to stay healthy, our bodies require an elevated daily intake of proteins and fats, which is the reason meat is a preponderant component of our diet.”

“So the consumption of vegetables is facultative for your species?” Fluttershy asked.

“Pretty much.”

“Interesting,” Twilight commented, before staring at Spike, who was unconsciously licking his lips while zoning out. She cleared her voice, catching his attention.

“What?” the young dragon asked, feeling a bit uncomfortable under her gaze.

“The answer is no, mister,” Twilight said sternly.

“What?! I didn’t say anything!”

“But you were thinking about a diet of ice cream, gemstones and burgers. You know what the princesses and the doctors say, so you’re still gonna eat your veggies regularly.”

Spike grumbled but said nothing, confirming her suspicions.

“If you don’t mind, I’d like to resume the conversation we started in your, aehm, previous accommodation,” Twilight asked a bit awkwardly to the Zealot.

“There’s no point sugar coating the pill, princess. Diplomatic hostage is just a polite way to say prisoner,” Tarya said as politely as possible. “Anyway, sure, why not? I still have many questions myself,” Tarya said as she grabbed a bottle of water from the table. She put its neck between her gaping maws, pouring the clean liquid directly into her throat. The ponies either stared at her with wide eyes or tried to ignore the slightly unsettling sight.

This seemed to perk up Twilight. She was still uncomfortable with the task that Celestia gave her, but the chance of learning more about a completely new culture was too inviting to pass.

Barely noticing the Sangheili quenching her thirst, she grabbed her notebook and started scrolling through its pages. What could she ask first? She had originally planned to ask Tarya about her planet, but the science behind interstellar travel was another subject she was curious about. Oh, what about her culture? Or even-

The princess stopped mid-action as she was about to flip another page. Now that she thought about it with a calmer mind, there was a detail she was particularly curious about. Twilight closed her notebook and gently put it in her lap.

“When you first spoke with the princesses, you said that you are a Zealot. Does it mean you are part of a religious order?”

When she heard Princess Twilight's question, it took all of Tarya's willpower and control to not spit the water she was drinking out violently. Slowly lowering the now almost empty bottle, the Sangheili kept a calm facade while her brain frantically tried to find a way to avoid a diplomatic disaster.

‘Curse my stupid mouth,’ she mentally swore. If she told them the truth, which necessarily involved the Forerunners and how they were once worshipped by her people as gods, then she would be forced to tell them about the Covenant, the Great Schism and the war against the humans.

Despite the circumstances that had lead to their meeting, the ponies had proved to be friendly with her, if not a bit wary, as expected when facing the unknown. However, their attitude would quickly change for the worst if they knew that the Sangheili were not too long ago part of a galactic empire of religious fanatics that waged a genocidal campaign against another sapient species.

Refusing to answer was out of the question, it would only create mistrust. Maybe she could lie? ‘No, that would probably cause problems in the future if they were to hear contradicting versions of my tale.’

Then how to get out of this uncomfortable situation?

'Maybe a compromise is the best option. Not a real lie, but not even the whole truth. It should work, until they’re ready to hear the real version of the facts.’

“Not exactly,” Tarya slowly said while she placed the now half empty bottle back on the table. It had taken her a few moments to reply, but the group assumed it was to collect her thoughts. “In the past the title was used to appoint to those who sought proof of the existence of the gods by interpreting the signs of world around them. But eventually our religious investigations brought us to explore the secrets behind the very nature of the universe, thus the term Zealot in our language become a synonym for ‘those who seek for the truth’ or scientists.” Spike’s hand was a blur as he quickly took note of everything Tarya was saying, the scribble of his pen the only sound in the otherwise silent room as all those present listened to her. “Our investigations often require us to venture in places that are not safe, but this doesn’t constitute an obstacle for us. We are scientists and scholars that have no fear to step into the battlefield in order to find the answers to our questions.”

“Does your search for the truth also include espionage?” Twilight Sparkle asked, crossing her arms.

The corners of her mouth twitched as she briefly looked sideways. “I admit that sometimes we have to take a more subtle approach to achieve our mission," she admitted, "that’s why my armor is equipped with a device that allows me to turn invisible.”

“So, what does it makes of you? Some kind of spy?” Rainbow Dash asked suspiciously.

“No,” Tarya said, shaking her head. “A spy is usually someone who infiltrates a place to steal information in order to cause harm to an enemy. While it’s true that sometimes we have to explore places we’re not supposed to be, we do it to expand our knowledge.”

“It still doesn’t necessarily mean that what you do is right,” Rarity countered. “Knowledge can be dangerous if used in the wrong way.”

“The definition of wrong and right is subjective, miss Rarity. A cynical individual would say that life is an infinite gradation of grey, but I personally like to think it’s up to us to decide whether to step in the light or remain in the darkness.”

"Ya make it sound like it’s a hard choice. Ah was taught that honesty is always the best policy," Applejack said.

"And I agree with you, miss Applejack. Unfortunately, there are those who will take advantage of other's transparency to perform their dirty deeds."

"Ya mean individuals like you?" Applejack said with a pressing tone, causing Tarya to narrow her eyes.

Sensing the tension in the room, Twilight decided to step in the conversation. "Alright!" she exclaimed a bit louder than necessary with a strained smile. “That answered my question. Now, given that you told us about you, it only seems fair that we’re the ones to share a few details about our lives. I’m sure this will help to reach a better mutual understanding!” She said the last part while giving Applejack a meaningful look.

The Sangheili kept her gaze locked with that of the apple farmer for several moments before slowly nodding at the alicorn. “That would be nice. It would give me a better understanding of your society. However, before we start, I’d like to ask you a question, princess.”

“With pleasure. What do you want to know?”

"I've noticed that compared to the other types of ponies, alicorns seem to be quite uncommon."

"That’s an understatement. There are actually only four of us on the entire planet."

Tarya looked at Twilight in surprise. "Is there any particular reason?"

“Well, you have to understand that alicorns are quite unique compared to other tribes,” Twilight began, entering what her friends called her ‘academic mode’. "We alicorns incarnate the power of all three tribes: the strength of earth ponies, the ability to fly of pegasi, and obviously the magic of unicorns."

“You previously mentioned that all ponies possess magic,” the Sangheili noted.

The young princess nodded. "Indeed. All ponies have magic inside them, but, except for some very rare exceptions, unicorns are the only ones able to cast spells. The powers of the other tribes manifest in more subtle ways, like the ability of pegasi to manipulate weather or the way earth ponies can influence the growth of plants.

“And then there’s their origin,” Twilight continued. “Aside from Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, the rest of the alicorns were not naturally born. For example, until a few months ago, I was a unicorn, but after completing a particularly powerful spell, I briefly ascended to another plane of existence and became an alicorn.”

The Sangheili stared at the princess in bewilderment. Princess Celestia had mentioned something about higher planes of existence and how it is possible to access some of them under particular circumstances, but to use them to ascend to a superior, more powerful form?

She was not sure how Haka and the other followers of his spiritual group would react if they heard it. They still believed in the divine nature of the Forerunners, although they were not as fanatical as those that still followed the teachings of the Covenant, and they regularly gathered in the cargo bay on deck seven to pray. She personally had no issue with them and their belief, but hearing a group of individuals chanting ancient Sangheili litanies in a dark room gave her the creeps.

“Your family must have been proud of you,” she mused, banishing the memory of the cultists during one of their prayer services from her mind.

“You have no idea,” Twilight Sparkle said, unable to hide a smile. “My parents were just as happy when I received my Cutie Mark and became Princess Celestia's student."

Tarya vaguely remembered something about the ponies receiving a mark at a certain point of their life, but decided to leave that detail for later.

“I think I can somewhat relate,” she said, remembering when she had been accepted by her order. “So, who wants to speak next?” Tarya asked, looking at Twilight’s friends.

“Oh! Oh! Oh! Pick me! Pick me!” Pinkie Pie said enthusiastically, bouncing on her hooves while waving her arm like a student at school.

“Alright, miss Pie. You may proceed,” Tarya said with a hint of amusement. For some reason she found the childish attitude of the mare funny rather than annoying, a sharp contrast with the serious atmosphere of the ship. It reminded her of when she was younger and more carefree.

“Thank you!” The pink mare beamed. “I’m a baker, part time foalsitter, and Ponyville’s premier party planner!”

“Party planner?”

“Yeah! Ya know, ponies that organize and throw parties!”

Tarya scratched the back of her neck. "I'm afraid I'm not familiar with the concept of party," she admitted.

Pinkie Pie gasped in shock and stared at her with an expression of absolute horror. How could she not know what a party was? From what kind of terrible alien world did she come from?

Tarya barely had the time to blink before a pink blur wrapped her arms around her torso. “You poor, poor, little thing!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed in sorrow while hugging the Sangheili to comfort her. It was a rather comical sight, considering that even sitting, the mare barely reached her shoulder. “All this time without knowing the joy of a party! Don’t worry, we’ll fix this serious gap right now!”

Fishing a pair of thick square glasses from her curly mane to look more professional, Pinkie Pie cleared her voice and began her impromptu lesson.

"A party is just the bestest and most fantastexciting thing ever! There’s music, cake, friends, games, and cake!”

"Uh, you said cake twice," Fluttershy timidly noticed.

"That's because there's never enough cake!"

"She's right," Spike said with a solemn nod.

As Pinkie Pie continued with her explanation about the nature of a party, she quickly noticed that Tarya seemed to be completely lost in her stream of words if her confused expression was of any indication. That wouldn’t do. Parties were important and the alien lady deserved to know what they were. She scrunched her face and started thinking hard, looking for a way to explain the concept in a way that the Sangheili could understand.

"... uhm, think of a party as a secular ceremony with recreational activities to celebrate merry events," Pinkie said.

That did the trick. "Oh! I see," the Sangheili exclaimed as her eyes lit up in understanding. "We usually do it for special occasions, like when one of our young reaches adulthood, or to celebrate the new harvest."

Pinkie Pie smiled in satisfaction. ‘Explain what parties are to an alien: check! Next step: organize a party for said alien!’

“I’m captain of Ponyville’s Weather Team and also a member of the Wonderbolt Reserve,” Rainbow Dash said proudly, striking a pose as if expecting to be photographed or to be asked an autograph. Her winning smile however slowly dropped when she noticed the distinct absence of awe in the Sangheili’s expression.

“What is a Wonderbolt?” Tarya asked quizzically, tilting her head slightly.

Rainbow Dash’s horrified reaction was an almost perfect copy of that of Pinkie Pie. “You don’t know what a Wonderbolt is?! Where have you lived, under a rock?”

“No, I just come from another planet,” Tarya said patiently, watching in mild amusement as the massive blush that Rainbow Dash now sported bloomed. She found the ability of ponies to blush interesting to say the least, especially considering that their faces were covered with fur.

“Oh. Right.” The mare cleared her voice in attempt to hide her embarrassment, and decided to give a quick explanation. “Anyway, the Wonderbolts are an elite unit of the Air Force, composed of the best fliers among the pegasi. They often exhibit their skills during air shows, but they are regularly employed in the event of emergencies as quick response teams, or to perform delicate missions, like reconnaissance in particularly dangerous areas.”

“I see,” Tarya commented, intrigued. Having seen the Yanme’e in action several times, she had no trouble imagining the military applications of a species able to fly. "What about you?" she asked to Fluttershy.

“Oh, well, there’s not really much to say about me. I’m just Ponyville’s animal caretaker,” Fluttershy said meekly, nervously playing with a lock of her long mane.

“Ah! She’s being modest!” Rainbow Dash said, wrapping a wing around her friend’s shoulder. “She can talk with animals.”

"Really? Is it a common ability?"

"Not at all. Our dear Fluttershy here is the only pony we know that possesses such a unique gift," Rarity said. Knowing how her friend hated being the center of attention, she moved the conversation in a way that made her feel more comfortable while at the same time causing interest in the audience. "And if I remember correctly, you recently joined a group of ponies that share your passion for nature, isn’t it right darling?”

Fluttershy nodded. “I’m part of the Equestrian Conservation Society,” she said with a tiny smile. “It’s an organization dedicated to the study and defense of wildlife and magical creatures.”

“Magical creatures?” Tarya cautiously asked, mentally praying that the pegasus wouldn’t freak out like her two friends, fearing that the meek creature may have a heart attack.

“Beings able to use magic or whose existence is deeply influenced by it,” Fluttershy explained calmly, unfazed by the question.

Tarya nodded and turned her attention to Rarity, who offered her a graceful smile before introducing herself.

"I am a seamstress and dress designer," Rarity said with a flourish wave of her long mane.

Fashion. A controversial theme in Sangheili society. While they weren’t strangers to wearing more elaborate clothes, they usually did it for ceremonial purposes rather than showing off. Her species had always been minimalistic and practical, preferring actions to a display of wealth, seeing excesses of luxury as a sign of vanity. However, it was still a form of art that reflected their mentality and culture, and after centuries of stagnation under the Covenant, there had been an increase of variety in civilian clothes, although with moderation.

“I own a boutique in Ponyville, but my dream is to be able to someday open a few more shops all across Equestria and become popular in the fashion industry.”

As the unicorn exposed her dream, Tarya studied her. There was ambition in her eyes, but not of the malevolent kind, rather a desire to see the value of her work being properly recognized.

“It mustn’t be easy,” Tarya commented, knowing that it was a sector that required skills and creativity.

"Indeed. There's a lot of competition and you have to always be a step ahead to meet the client’s demands.” Rarity bit her lower lip. “I don’t suppose you would mind if I ask you a few questions about the fashion of your people?”

“Stealing designs, Rarity?” Rainbow Dash asked teasingly. “Watch out, if they sue for violation of copyright, they will ask for a galactic bill.”

“My word, Rainbow Dash!” Rarity said, scandalized. “A lady does not steal! I merely hoped to find a source of inspiration,” she explained, looking hopefully at the Sangheili.

"Unfortunately, I'm not an expert on the subject, nor I think there’s a real one among my people. A friend of mine works as an engineer in one of our forges and is behind the creation of a few recent models of armor, but I don’t think it qualifies her as a fashion expert.”

“Oh. I see,” Rarity said, trying to not sound too disappointed. Not that she had anything against armor, even if she wasn’t a military enthusiast, she personally thought they had a certain charm, and the ones of the Sangheili possessed an undeniable beauty, but they were hardly the best source of inspiration for a new line of dresses.

“But," Tarya added when she noticed the crestfallen expression of the mare, “once I have my equipment back, I can show you a few images of our civilian attire if you’re interested. I have to warn you however. My people do not like excesses and our minimalist lifestyle is reflected by our clothes.”

Rarity tapped a finger against her chin. “Well, I will not turn down your offer. Who knows, I may actually find a few new ideas.”

Tarya nodded and looked at the next pony. However, instead of speaking, Applejack merely kept staring at the window, ignoring the rest of the group.

“Uh, Equestria to AJ? It’s your turn,” Rainbow Dash broke the silence as she and her friends looked at the orange mare with expectation.

Applejack raised the brim of her hat and looked at the Sangheili, huffing in annoyance like a child forced to do a tedious and unwanted task. “Ah’m an apple farmer,” she said curtly with a distinct lack of enthusiasm in her voice. “Ya know at least what an apple is, right?”

“Yes, I’m familiar with that kind of fruit. I assume the massive orchard near the town of Ponyville belongs to you.”

Applejack blinked in surprise at the Sangheili’s words, before scowling. “How’d ya know ‘bout mah farm?” she demanded with a wary tone.

“My teammate and I crossed it this morning in order to reach the town more quickly.”

“Didya break into mah house too?” Applejack demanded, deepening her scowl.

‘She sure has some fire burning inside her soul,’ Tarya thought as she held the stare of the orange mare. “No. Forgive my bluntness, but the residence of a family of farmers is hardly a target of any strategic interest.”

“Oh, well, forgive me if mah humble farm is not worthy of yer attention, Yer Alienness," the orange mare said with mocking deference.

The lower jaws of the Sangheili twitched slightly as she once again stared at the earth pony. "I apologize if my words insulted you in any way, it wasn’t my intention."

"It's not what ya said that bothers me. It’s what you are," Applejack grumbled.

Tarya narrowed her eyes. “Excuse me?”

Rainbow Dash frowned at her friend. "AJ, what's the deal with you?"

"Nuthin'," Applejack said stubbornly, crossing her arms and looking away.

"There’s no need to lie,” Tarya said, causing Applejack to bristle when she heard that particular word. “I’m still unfamiliar with your species, but it doesn't take a genius to see that you bear hostility toward me. May I ask you the reason?"

The orange mare looked right at the Sangheili and scowled. "Well, forgive me if ah dun trust a gal that spend her time spyin' honest workin' ponies from the shadows like a thug waiting fer the right moment ta stab us in the back."

The room fell silent after the mare spoke. Twilight opened her mouth to say something to her friend for her rude statement, only to be brusquely interrupted by a low menacing hiss coming from the partially widened jaws of the Sangheili.

"Do not dare to insult me, pony," Tarya growled coldly as she slowly rose from her seat and locked her burning glare on Applejack. The apple farmer was suddenly reminded of how small her kind was compared to the Sangheili as she was forced to raise her gaze to look at the Zealot.

Unseen by the other occupants of the room, Flash Sentry quickly yet discreetly brought his hand to the holster attached to his hip, ready to draw his pistol if the Sangheili became a threat to his charge and her friends. Applejack was a strong pony, even stronger than him, but in a fight against an opponent of that size the mare had no chances of getting out unscathed.

"I do not deny that my actions were questionable, but I am not some lowly filthy criminal planning the best way to harm innocents. I worked hard to become who I am now, spending countless sleepless nights studying about subjects that your species has barely started to speculate, and pushing my body to its limits on the training ground, all while fighting against the bigotry and ostracism of a society where, until recently, women were relegated to taking care of our homes and raising our children.” The Zealot said, slowly walking toward the apple farmer. To her credit, Applejack stood her ground. “I come from a warrior culture centered on the concept of honor and being captured is one of the worst things that can happen to any of us, and yet, rather than try to escape or kill myself, I’m doing everything in my power to prevent a war between our species. If you have a real problem with me due to something I did, then fine, feel free to despise or even hate me; but do not look at me in contempt just on the base of a preconception.”

What followed was one of the most intimidating staring contests Applejack had ever took part in, but despite her nervousness, she didn’t back off and stared back at the alien. She prided herself at being good at judging people and for several long tense moments her green eyes looked back at the yellow-green ones of the Sangheili, almost trying to probe the depths of her soul.

After what seemed like an eternity, the mare finally lowered her gaze.

"Yer right,” Applejack muttered. She took off her hat and looked the Sangheili in the eyes yet again, this time without scrutinizing her. “Ah dun approve yer methods, but it was unfair of me ta judge you before actually knowing you.” She nervously played with the brim of her hat. “Ah’m sorry for what Ah said, Ah didn't mean ta insult ya."

Tarya remained silent for a few moments as she studied the mare, then she slowly nodded, apparently satisfied. "I accept your apologies, miss Applejack."

"Thanks. Uh, dun take it bad, but it still dun mean Ah trust ya," the farmer clarified.

"I know, and I wouldn’t expect anything less from a person with your level of moral integrity. After all, trust is something that needs to be earned, not freely given.”

This seemed to surprise Applejack, if her stunned expression was of any indication.

“Well,” the farmer began, not really sure how to reply, “I really appreciate yer understanding.”

“You are welcome.” The Zealot turned her head to the only males in the room. “So, this leaves us with-”

“What did you mean when you said that you should have killed yourself?” Spike suddenly asked with a troubled expression.

The Sangheili looked down at the young dragon. It was the first time that he actually addressed her since his brief introduction, and his first question had put her in another difficult spot. Looking around she noticed that the ponies were looking at her with the same confused and uncomfortable gazes.

Tarya closed her eyes and released a long sigh. “My mother used to say that there are a few important things that really define our lives. How we die is one of these." She turned her back to the group and slowly walked toward the window. The mid-afternoon sun shone high in the sky, bathing the city of Canterlot with its warm light. It may have not been the sun she was used to seeing when she was still a child, but it was still beautiful nonetheless.

“As I already mentioned, Sangheili culture is centered around honor. It’s something so important to us that we even associate it to our blood, seeing them as one and the same, to the point that losing our blood is equivalent to losing our honor.” She touched the cool glass of the window with her hand and her gaze slowly moved downward, to the cobbled yard surrounded by the walls of the castle.

"Being taken as prisoner is one of the worst things that can happen to a Sangheili, for we believe that it means we were not strong enough to prevent our enemies from capturing us alive, and this is a cause of dishonor, not just for us, but for the rest of our clan as well. In order to deny satisfaction from our enemies and to spare the shame to our family, it’s usance among my people to kill ourselves if rescue is unlikely or if we have no way to escape on our own.”

When she looked back at the small group, she noticed various degrees of worry on their faces.

“Fear not. I already decided not to resort to such drastic measures, for it would only cause harm given the already difficult situation we’re facing."

"That's... good?" Twilight said hesitantly, feeling conflicted between horror and fascination for a culture that was so different from her own.

“Wow. You guys are really extreme,” Rainbow Dash said, staring at the Sangheili with wide eyes.

Tarya snapped her lower jaws. “Since we hatch from our eggs we are taught that life is harsh and difficult. It’s one of the reasons we’re not allowed to know the identity of our fathers.”

“Wait, what?! Why?”

“To avoid nepotism,” Tarya calmly replied. “Our children are raised in a common house by the various members of the keep, without distinction or preference. This way, each child has the opportunity to really demonstrate their value and skills.”

“That’s so sad,” Pinkie Pie muttered with a downcast expression, quickly banishing the thoughts about how her childhood would have been without knowing her dad.

“Hmm. The ancient pegasi had a similar culture. Well, except the whole ‘not-knowing-who-your-father-is’ thing. They were however taught how to fight since the moment they learned to fly,” Rainbow Dash said, only to notice that most of her friends were looking at her in surprise. “What? After we did that Hearth's Warming Eve pantomime I got curious. It’s not like I’m turning into an egghead like Twilight just because I read a couple of history books.”

Twilight rolled her eyes in annoyance at being called an egghead, but actually smiled. It was nice to see Rainbow Dash widen her culture, even a small step at a time.

“So your ancestors had a tradition as warriors? I guess this explains why I've seen so many pegasi among the ranks of your soldiers," Tarya said, looking at Flash Sentry.

"A good number of guards may be pegasi, but this doesn't make us a race of warmongers,” the young stallion explained, figuring he could add his two bits to the conversation. “After the unification of the tribes, life became easier and as result our culture has gradually become more peaceful." Flash Sentry shrugged. "Personally, for a long time I wanted to be a guitarist in a rock band, but I eventually chose to join the guards instead. Less screaming fans and more morning drills than expected," he joked before glancing at Twilight, "but in the end I don't regret my choice."

The way he looked at the alicorn didn’t pass unnoticed. Unseen by the rest of the group, Rarity exchange a knowing grin with Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy, causing the former to giggle quietly while the latter blushed a bit.

Tarya turned toward the last occupant of the room. "And what about you, young one? Spike, wasn't it?"

"Uh, yes," he replied timidly, feeling a bit intimidated by the way the Sangheili towered above him, forcing him to crane his neck in order to meet her gaze.

"If I recall correctly, you said that you're some kind of helper for the princess."

"Yup! I'm her number one assistant!" the young dragon said with a bright smile, puffing out his chest with pride.

"It must not be an easy task, especially for a child," she noted.

"Child!?" the young dragon sputtered in indignation, red in face. How dare she call him a child! In front of Rarity nonetheless! "Lady, I'm not a baby! I'm almost fourteen!" As to prove his point, he stood as straight and proud as he could, adding a couple inches to his rather diminutive stature. Even with his best efforts he still barely reached a little over the waist of the Sangheili.

"Ah, there is some fire in you," Tarya said with a hint of amusement.

"Well, kinda obvious. I'm a dragon."

"A dragon? Hmm, interesting," she mused, lowering herself a bit and staring down at him intensively.

"Uh, you're starting to creep me out," Spike said, fidgeting nervously under her curious gaze. The fact that she was so big didn't help either, bringing back unpleasant memories from when he had tried to join the dragon migration. Sure, she had not been mean with him and he had to admit that she was quite cool, but the Sangheili still made him feel nervous.

"I apologize. It wasn't my intention to make you feel uncomfortable. It’s just that I’m still surprised that so many different intelligent species evolved on your planet.”

“Is it uncommon?” Twilight asked with interest.

Tarya shook her head. “No, it’s simply unique. We know of a couple alien races that developed different subspecies, but they still have a common ancestor. As far as I know, this planet is the only place where different sapient species have evolved individually and managed to coexist."

“Then I suppose we must be the classic exception to the rule, darling,” Rarity said, gently ruffling Spike’s crest in an affectionate way, much to his happiness.

"So it would seem," the young Zealot commented. "He's the first and only member of his kind that I've seen so far. Are dragons rare?"

“They may not be as numerous as other species, like ponies or griffins, but they're not a rarity. It's just that dragons are not really common in our country. Most of them live in the Dragon Lands,” Twilight explained.

"Then how did he end up living with you, if I may ask?"

"I was the one to hatch his egg during my admission test for magic school, and since then Princess Celestia tasked his care to me. He may be my assistant, but he’s my friend first and foremost,” the alicorn said, tenderly wrapping a wing across his shoulders. “And he’s also part of my family,” she added softly, causing the young dragon to blush a bit. “Even if sometimes he really tests my patience, I don't know where I would be without him."

"Probably studying in a dark dusty room surrounded by dangerously tall columns of books and empty cans of food, dressed with stained clothes and with a pair of thick glasses due to the time spent reading without the proper illumination," Spike speculated out loud, shattering the tender moment.

"Spike!" Twilight yelled indignant as she stared aghast at him. The young dragon realized with horror his mistake but it was too late. Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie burst into a violent fit of laugher as the alicorn materialized a rolled newspaper in her hand. “You insensitive scaly jerk!”

“Wait, Twilight! I didn’t mean- Ouch! Mine was just a very likely scenario- Please, not the head!”

'And to think that the first time I saw him I thought he was some kind of servant,' Tarya thought as she watched in amusement the young dragon hiding behind Fluttershy to escape the alicorn chasing him.

“You know, sometimes I regret being an only child,” Flash Sentry commented to Applejack.

Applejack chuckled. “Yeah, siblings can be both a blessing and a pain in the flank, sugarcube. Especially the younger ones,” she added, earning a round of agreements from the other mares in the room.

“What about you, darling? Do you have any siblings?” Rarity asked to the Sangheili once Twilight had finally calmed down.

Tarya’s expression quickly darkened. “I do. Or at least, I did…”

The fashionista widened her eyes in realization and covered her mouth with a hand. “Oh! I- I’m so sorry. I didn’t know-”

“Worry not,” Tarya said with a dismissive wave of her hand. “It was over two years ago.”

“What happened?” Fluttershy asked softly.

Tarya stroked her lower jaws, trying to find the right words. “The galaxy is a big place, miss Fluttershy. It’s full of wonders, mysteries and adventures. But it’s also a place full of dangers. Not all of those who venture through its vastness are friendly.”

Twilight remembered how Tarya had mentioned that the Sangheili had met other alien species, including the humans, but she dared not to interrupt the Zealot. This was not the time for questions.

“There was a short yet terrible war between my kind and a species called Jiralhanae. We emerged victorious and as result their army was shattered. Unfortunately, many Jiralhanae ended up forming war bands that started raiding our colonies for resources.” She closed her eyes and took a deep ragged breath before resuming her tale, somehow managing to remain calm. “Lakawi is one of our most ancient and powerful colonies, but its star system is located in a remote area of our territory. The Arbiter, our leader, sent reinforcements as soon as we received the distress calls, but by the time the fleet reached the planet, the keep where my family had lived for dozens of generations had been completely razed to the ground. My uncle and I were the only survivors of our clan, just because we were not on the planet during the attack.”

For several minutes, no one dared to speak. Tarya noted with mild interest how, despite many similarities with humans, the ponies seemed to express their emotions using their bodies, in particular their ears, tails, and, for those who had them, wings.

Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy seemed to be the ones to react worse to her tale. Their ears were pressed flat against their heads and both now had teary eyes. She was shocked to notice how the previously puffy mane of the pink mare had now deflated, to the point that it was now almost as straight as the pegasus.

“Why did you start fighting?” Twilight asked somberly after a while. She knew that fighting was an instinct present in every creature, but she still didn’t think that causing suffering was right.

“The events that led to the conflict are… complicated,” Tarya said with a thoughtful tone, her gaze lost in the distance, as if recalling some dark distant memory. “All I can say for now is that the war changed us deeply and left several painful scars that I'm not sure will ever heal.”

The room became once again silent as none of the locals wanted to address what was obviously an uncomfortable topic for the Zealot.

Applejack lowered the brim of her hat over her face, but Tarya was still able to catch a glimpse of her eyes. There was sadness in them and, oddly enough, also comprehension. Tarya realized that the mare had probably suffered the loss of somebody she cared about, probably a member of her own family and her tale must have caused unpleasant memories to resurface.

“Alright,” Tarya suddenly exclaimed, breaking the heavy silence in the room. She took a deep breath and removed a bit of moisture from the corner her eyes. “I think it’s my turn to ask a question,” she said, trying to use a lighter tone.

“Are you sure?” Twilight asked. “If you want we can always-”

“Yes, please. We can’t change the past, and there’s no point dwelling on it. The sooner I distract my mind, the better it is.”

“Ask when you feel ready,” the young princess said with a little smile of sympathy, mirrored by the rest of her friends.

The Zealot nodded in thanks at the group, but as she started looking for her next question, her mind went back to the presentation they had given her and she realized there was something odd.

"There's something that I do not understand,” the Zealot said cautiously. "It's clear that there's a bond of deep friendship between all of you, but I don't think you would have been invited to the castle of the leaders of your country just because of it. With the obvious exception of Princess Twilight Sparkle, the rest of you do not seem to have a real reason to be here, beside for moral support."

"Oh, you silly. Of course there’s a reason we’re here. We're the bearers of the Elements of Harmony!" Pinkie Pie beamed, back to her usual self.

"Elements of Harmony?” Tarya repeated with a thoughtful tone. “I remember hearing you talk about them with the Captain, back in the throne room."

"You mean before Twilight shot you, making you freak out and start fighting against the guards and thus causing this whole mess?" Pinkie Pie asked with disconcerting innocence.

"... Yes, miss Pie. Thank you for reminding us I'm the one that started the current interplanetary crisis,” Tarya deadpanned.

"You're welcome!" Pinkie Pie replied with a beaming smile to the Sangheili, ignoring or, more likely, unaware of her sarcasm.

"Eheh, don't mind her,” Rarity said with a nervous laugh. “She wasn’t trying to be mean, she’s just a bit eccentric.”

Tarya looked at the pink mare, just in time to see her sneeze a small cloud of colorful confetti.

“I can easily tell,” the Sangheili commented flatly. “So, back to the Elements, I’m curious to know more about them, if it’s not an issue.”

“Not at all. They’re common knowledge among us ponies,” Twilight Sparkle assured her. “However, to better understand the Elements of Harmony, we have to explore a bit of the history of Equestria. The first mention of the Elements dates back to the end of the so called Age of Chaos..."

Chapter 17 - Game of shadows

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Chapter 17 - Game of shadows

Queen Chrysalis sat in a big ornate chair with a glass of red wine in her hand, flanked by several of her daughters as she listened about the latest news from Canterlot. The monarch was dressed with an elegant low cut green dress that hugged her feminine figure quite nicely, showing her legs and arms as well a good portion of her cleavage, but like the opulent decors of her palace, it was mostly to satisfy her personal vanity rather than to impress foreign visitors or masses of adoring subjects. The only outsiders that came to her hive were the victims of their raids, and they usually didn’t last long, while the lower classes of Changelings were genetically programmed to serve her unconditionally.

Behind her, a huge window took up most of the wall, offering a grandiose view of her colossal magmatic chamber of the extinct volcano where her hive was built, but aside for it, the wide room was mostly bare of details aside for a few decorative columns and the floral theme carved in the ceiling.

The only furniture in the room consisted in her chair and the small round hardwood table in front of her, on top of which was placed a round silver colored device roughly the size of a dinner plate with a blue crystal in the middle. The magical device wasn’t as sophisticated as a mana window, but it still served its purpose perfectly. Hovering a few inches above the glowing crystal was a life sized holographic projection showing the upper half of a unicorn, as evinced by the long protuberance protruding from under the hood of the pony, but this was all the queen could evince about the identity of her interlocutor, for the pony was wearing a white mask that completely hid their visage, along with a heavy hooded dark robe and white gloves.

Chrysalis couldn't even tell if the pony was a stallion or a mare, due to what she assumed was a talisman at the end of the mask's muzzle. Each time the pony spoke, the gem glowed a soft pink, altering their voice so that they assumed an androgynous tone.

‘An effective and ingenuous disguise, but I still think it looks ridiculous,’ Queen Chrysalis thought, taking a sip from her tall glass of wine. Given their peculiar feeding habits, the wine, just like any other beverage or food, brought little nourishment to her body, but she still consumed it to enjoy its pleasant taste.

Supervillain costume aside, the unicorn had proved to be a precious asset so far, providing precious information that allowed the success of their recent raid. All in exchange of a few favours, like infiltrating certain places to steal particular items or disposing of certain troublesome ponies, the last one being one of her favorites. You never have enough food when you have an entire hive to rule.

“That’s quite a lot of information that you were able to gather. How accurate are your sources?"

"Very accurate," the unicorn calmly replied. “Some of this information was gathered personally by me.”

The Changeling queen raised a brow. “Risky,” she commented. "Are you sure no one suspects you?"

“Absolutely. I’m in the perfect position to access confidential material without raising suspicion,” the unicorn said with confidence.

“If you say so, Shadow Herald,” Chrysalis commented with a little shrug. While it obviously wasn’t the real name of the pony, the title intrigued her nonetheless. Did it mean that the unicorn was just an intermediary between her and their leaders? Unlikely. From what she had seen so far, the Shadow Herald seemed to be somepony very high in the ranks of their organization, Unicornia Imperat.

According to her sources, Unicornia Imperat was a unicorn supremacist organization that was officially destroyed by Celestia shortly after her sister's banishment, but as she was able to discover a few months after her failed invasion, a small group had survived the purge and had kept working hidden in the shadow for centuries, until they had contacted her to propose an alliance. An alliance that the Queen had quickly accepted once she had realized how useful they would be for her plans.

“What else were they able to discern about these creatures, these, uh, Sangheili?” she asked, testing the way the foreign word rolled on her tongue.

“Not much more than what I’ve already told you. Instead of interrogating the prisoner, the princesses,” - the pony pronounced the title with contempt - “let Twilight Sparkle and her ragtag band of companions have an amicable chat with the alien.”

“Aww, the white hag and the asocial brat want to befriend the visitors from the stars,” Chrysalis cooed mockingly. “How pathetic.”

“There’s nothing to laugh about. This is yet another demonstration of their incapacity,” the unicorn said, clearly unamused. “Once again she and her sister have shown that they’re not worthy of ruling Equestria, betraying the trust of their subjects by making stupid decisions that put the lives of ponies in danger.”

‘Bold words, coming from a hypocrite like you,’ Chrysalis thought. After all it was thanks to the help of Unicornia Imperat that their recent raid had been a success. The rebel group had not only provided her with valuable intelligence, but its members had also performed discrete acts of sabotage all across Equestria, preventing the royal guards from realizing something was wrong until it was too late. Many would have been disgusted by their treason, but Chrysalis couldn’t care any less about their lack of morality. If this group of ponies was willing to betray their own kind in order to achieve their purpose, who was she to complain?

“Furthermore,” the unicorn continued after a small pause, “as much as it hurts me to admit it, given their past results, there’s the possibility that they may succeed. After all, they did manage to befriend the draconequus.”

That did give Chrysalis pause. “An alliance between Equestria and the Sangheili would be problematic for our plans,” she had to agree. The Sangheili had proved to be fearsome opponents, far superior in combat to her drones and even her mighty centurions. “But I take it you already have a plan, am I right?” the Queen said with a knowing smile.

“After their attempt to infiltrate the castle, relationships between ponies and the aliens are tense. Celestia hopes to solve the situation using diplomacy… however, if something were to happen during the meeting, things would quickly degenerate, maybe even leading to a conflict.”

Chrysalis smiled evilly. “I like the way you think. So, what do you need?” she asked, knowing that she was somewhat involved in the plan.

“We have agents all across Equestria, but our numbers are low in the castle and most of them are not suited for the task,” the Shadow Herald admitted. “We cannot introduce too many ponies loyal to our cause without raising suspicion.”

“So you need muscles for the dirty work, huh?” Chrysalis slowly swirled the wine inside her glass, pondering the request. “We both know the issues that your request poses. There may not be a force field around the city like last time, but there’s still the problem of those detection spells.”

“We already have a way to work around the problem,” the Shadow Heral assured her.

The queen raised a brow in mild surprise. “You mean that those amulets you boasted about so much lately are actually real?”

“It wasn’t easy,” the Shadow Heral admitted, “but as expected, our mages were successful in creating amulets able to hide the magical signature of your species.”

“Hm-hm.” Chrysalis didn’t sound particularly impressed by the prideful tone of the pony. “Do they actually work?”

“Of course,” the pony replied as a matter of fact. “They were crafted by some of the best unicorns on the planet after all.”

‘Yeah, yeah, I get it. Unicorns master race, bla bla bla,’ the queen thought in annoyance. “Alright, I’ll trust you on this. After all, if my drones are discovered it will be your problem.”

“The amulets will work,” the pony said firmly.

The queen shrugged. “If you say so. How many of my Changelings do you need?”

“At least eight, a dozen would be better.”

“An entire squad?” Chrysalis asked with mild surprise. “They’re not enough for a frontal assault and they’re too many if you plan to do something like placing a bomb under the peace table.” As much as the idea of blowing up Celestia’s fat ass with a few kilos of explosive was endearing, she had other plans for the alicorn and thus she needed her alive. Possibly in one piece.

"We have already made arrangements to take care of the alien delegation. We need the help of your drones for another task."

"Which would be?" Chrysalis insisted, starting to get annoyed by the lack of details.

“Killing the Zealot. If she dies while she’s still under Equestrian custody, the blame would fall on the princesses.”

“Bullshit,” the Changeling Queen said flatly. “You don’t need all that firepower just to assassinate someone. A single infiltrator would be sufficient. There’s something you’re hiding from me.”

“I assure you-”

“Stop acting all high and mighty, we both know perfectly that you’re the one that needs my help. So, either you tell me what you really need my soldiers for, or you can go fuck Grogar’s corpse as far as I’m concerned. And please, don’t lie to me, or I can assure you that my drones will not obey you if you give them orders that differ from mine.”

Chrysalis could swear that under that mask the pony was glaring at her, but she didn’t care.

"... We need them to abduct Twilight Sparkle."

That made Chrysalis pause. “The nerd princess? Why would you need her?”

“That’s none of your concern,” the Shadow Herald replied curtly. “I told you why I needed your drones, but that’s it. Just do as I say and you’ll receive another shipment of prisoners as reward for your help.”

Chrysalis felt her left eye twitch, but she somehow managed to contain her anger, although barely. ‘Do you really think you can boss me around like some lowly lackey under the promise of a measly tribute? You’re lucky we’re not in the same room, or I would strangle you with your own guts for your insolence.’

“Very well,” she said dryly. “You said that they will receive the alien delegation tomorrow at dawn, isn’t it?”

“That’s correct. When can you send your drones?” the unicorn asked.

Queen Chrysalis finished what little wine was left with a single gulp and handed the glass to a nearby Changeling without even looking at the lowly creature. “Tonight at midnight, at the usual place. Make sure the idiot you send this time remembers the correct watchword in time. You know what happened last time.”

She barely suppressed a grin as she noticed the Shadow Herald shake in repressed anger. “And I suggest you feed your pets before sending them on a mission,” the masked unicorn said stiffly.

“I’ll try to remember. But you know, we’re so many and the food is so scarce…”

“Spare me the part of the misunderstood creature,” the pony said flatly. “You’re not a victim of her tragic nature, we both know that you like what you are.”

“Aww. You’re no fun,” she said in annoyance with a pout. “Is there anything else you wanted to discuss?”

“That would be all for now. I’ll contact you again once your drones will be in the castle for final details.”

"I can hardly wait," Chrysalis said with an insincere smile, promptly dropping it once she cut the spell, ending the transmission. “Urgh. I swear, if I have to listen that supremacist moron any longer I’ll go crazy,” she groaned, rubbing her face with a hand.

She eyed the now inactive communication disk. It may have not been as advanced as a mana window, but the device was still not something within range of everyone. The costs of material and manufacture, along with the complex spells behind it spoke volumes of the resources Unicornia Imperat had at their disposal. It also revealed a few details about her unlikely ally.

She may not know what the pony looked like under that disguise, but behind all that paranoia she knew for sure that the Shadow Herald was an arrogant individual. Not just for the way they spoke with her, often bordering condescension, but for the very simple reason that she was able to see them in the first place. An enchanted scroll or journal would have been the safest way to communicate, and there were far easier ways to speak through distance, ranging from special spells to radios, but the fact that the unicorn had chosen a method that allowed her to see them, even if it meant that they had to don that disguise each time was a proof that all of this was just a way to show off their power and resources and satisfy their ego. ‘Truly pathetic.’

“I still don’t get why we have to cooperate with those idiots,” one of the younger queens asked rhetorically. “They’re food and yet they think of us like equals.”

“They’re useful tools, it doesn’t matter what they think,” Chrysalis said as she stood up from her chair and walked toward the large window behind her. “As long as they serve their purpose, we’ll pretend to be best friends with them.

“Any news from Phasmidia?” Chrysalis asked as she watched her hive from the thick glass of the window. It was hard to believe that the huge cave inside which the hive was built had once been the magmatic chamber of a now long extinct volcano, or that said place was in the middle of a deserted wasteland, and yet here it was. The hive was a masterpiece of architecture and ingenuity, easily rivaling Canterlot in terms of size and maestosity. It consisted of countless towers of various size and shape, interconnected with bridges and catwalks, while huge glowing concretions hanging from the ceiling provided all the necessary illumination, while an intricate system of underground tunnels and chambers effectively doubled the size of the complex. Chrysalis sometimes thought it was a pity that the only ones able to appreciate it were the high-caste Changelings.

“Her guest is still unconscious,” Mirage informed her, casually adjusting a lock of her hair. “She’s tried to wake him up using her powers, but his body seems to be refractory to magic.”

Chrysalis caressed her chin thoughtfully while idly observing the activity below. Wherever she looked she could see Changelings performing their tasks with a coordination and efficiency unthinkable to any other species. “How peculiar,” she commented out loud.That was something that demanded further studies. The Sangheili already had a massive technological advantage over the races of Asgard, if they were also immune to magic then things were even more complicated.

“Mirage, I want you to go to Equestria with the drones,” Chrysalis said to the younger queen.

“Do you want me to oversee the operation in Canterlot, mother?”

“No. After you’re done with the Shadow Herald or whoever will be waiting for you in the forest, reach Phasmidia and help her in interrogating the alien. If by tomorrow evening you haven’t achieved remarkable results, bring that creature here and I’ll personally deal with him.”

The young queen smiled with malevolent delight. “I can’t wait to play with him.”

“Just try to not overdo it. We need him alive… for now.”

The door opened and in came six equines, each kept still by two Changelings holding them by the shoulders. The majority were Equestrian ponies, but there was also a zebra stallion and a Saddle Arabian mare. All prisoners had their hands tied behind their backs and were gagged with rags to muffle their screams.

“Oh, just in time! I was starting to get hungry!” Chrysalis said with a cheerful tone as she made her way toward the prisoners.

One of the ponies, a blue pegasus stallion, managed to get his mouth free from the rag. “Let us go, you fucking monsters!” The pony thrashed and kicked, trying in vain to escape the grip of his captors. They may have not been earth ponies, but they were stronger than they looked.

“Ohohoh!” Chrysalis chuckled in amusement, walking toward the rebellious stallion. “You’re a fiery one, huh? I like it when they fight back,” she said with a somewhat sultry tone, licking her lips. Despite his bravery, she could clearly feel his fear.

And it was delicious.

“What do you want?” the stallion demanded, darting his nervous gaze across the room, not missing the way the younger queens in the room were watching him and the other prisoners with malice.

“You know how we Changelings feed off of love, don’t you?” Chrysalis asked rhetorically with a smile that didn’t bode anything good.

“Yeah,” the stallion replied hesitantly, before his eyes suddenly widened like he had realized something. “Wait. You’re gonna fuck our brains out or something?”

The question caused the Changelings in the room to erupt in a loud laugh.

“Hmm, your offer is tempting,” the Queen said amused. In an uncharacteristic gesture of tenderness, she gently cupped the stallion’s face with her hands and stared at him with bedroom eyes. He was quite attractive, with a nice athletic body and a thick red mane. Maybe in another situation he would have been a good toy to vent some tension. She tightened her grip around the stallion’s face and brought him closer, until their snouts were just a few inches of distance. “But I’m not in the mood today, so I’m just going to suck your life,” she said coldly as her eyes and horn began glowing of an eerie green light.

Chrysalis widened her mouth and the stallion started immediately screaming in agony as she sucked the multi colored cloud coming from his eyes and mouth.

‘No matter how many times I do this, it still feels amazing,’ she thought with pure pleasure while she drained not only the stallion’s emotions but also his life force, barely noticing the muffled screams of terror of the other prisoners.

It had took her years to decipher the content of those yellowed manuscripts she had casually found while exploring the ruins of that centaur castle and even more to adapt the process to the physiology of the Changelings, but it was well worth the effort. Love tasted amazing, but why limit their diet to a single choice when there was an entire menu? She could taste a whole array of emotions, each one tasting differently, and together they formed what she could only describe as a symphony of flavours.

It was a pity that she was still working on the spell by the time she tried to invade Canterlot, but the desire for revenge was just one more reason why she eagerly looked forward for the day she would drain Cadence and her damn husband.

The process lasted for almost a minute, after which Chrysalis finally released her grip from the pony, which promptly collapsed on the floor. The color of his coat was several shades paler than the original, just like his empty eyes, which now stared unfocused at her hooves as he struggled to draw what were probably his last weak ragged breaths. One of the downsides of the process was that while it allowed to obtain much more energy, feeding off from the victim for too long would usually bring them to their death.

“Aww, mother,” one of her daughters pouted in disappointment, looking at the unhealthily pale form of the stallion. “There’s not much left.”

“Don’t worry my dear, there’re still plenty of food for all of you,” Chrysalis assured her with a warm smile, a complete contrast to the merciless look she gave the remaining prisoners, whose muffled screams matched their desperate thrashing as they attempted to escape the drones holding them in place as the hungry Changeling queens approached them.

She looked down at the now motionless body of the pegasus and smiled cruelly.

‘And soon, we’ll have as much as we want.’

Once the transmission ended and the hologram of the Changeling Queen disappeared, the Shadow Herald took off the mask and let out a long sigh of relief. Dealing with Chrysalis was always so tiresome but it was a necessary evil if they wanted to succeed.

‘If everything goes as planned, once the two tyrants will be disposed of we'll no longer need those monsters and could get rid of them.'

Gathering enough ponies without causing suspicion and sending them to the Changelings to keep them on their good side was getting increasingly troublesome.

'Better get back to work. Time is ticking and there's still much to do,' the unicorn thought, quickly removing the rest of the disguise before hiding it in a secret compartment at the bottom of a wardrobe along with the communication disk.

Chapter 18 - Memories - Part 2

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Chapter 18 - Memories - Part 2

23 August 2552 - Human Military Calendar
27° Cycle of the Ninth Age of Reclamation - Covenant Military Calendar
Human world of Tribute, Casbah City

For several long moments after the human child asked him that question, the young SpecOps Major could only stare at her, unable to formulate a proper answer. Here he was, a proud member of the Sangheili race, a warrior of the Covenant Empire, unable to answer the question of a little girl. A question so simple yet so paradoxically complex at the same time.

Why?

Why had the Covenant spent the last three decades killing every single human being they had come across?

Why did they invade this planet, just like countless others before?

Why were they destroying this city?

Why did they kill her parents?

Why did she have to die?

He removed his finger from the trigger and slowly lowered his plasma rifle.

“I don’t know,” Zhar said after what felt like an eternity. The little human child in front of him kept staring at him with her purple eyes.

‘Liar. You filthy spineless liar.’

He knew all too well the reason. The Prophets had deemed the humans heretics, blasphemous savages guilty of the destruction of the gifts left behind by the Forerunners before they began their Great Journey, and for such unforgivable sins their species had to be wiped out from the galaxy like the parasites they were.

And yet, as he looked this human, this child, in the eyes, Zhar knew that he couldn’t give her such an answer. For some odd reason, he didn’t see a nishum, an enemy of the Covenant and a hindrance to the Great Journey; all he saw was just a scared little girl whose only fault was to exist.

‘And just a few moments ago I was about to shoot her down like some kind of rabid beast,’ Zhar thought, suddenly feeling like scum. Glaring at his plasma rifle, the Sangheili reattached it to his hip and looked back at the child. She simply stared back at him in confusion, probably wondering why he had not killed her yet. Zhar wondered what the humans taught to their children about the Covenant. In their eyes, they were probably the monsters that infested the cold depth of space, waiting for the right moment to rain fire and destruction from the sky.

His thoughts were suddenly interrupted when he heard the sound of footsteps coming from the corridor.

“Major, I am done cleaning my armor.”

Zhar turned his head sharply just in time to see the other Sangheili step into the room.

“We may now leave this-” The sight of the little girl caused Olar to stop mid-sentence. The Sangheili remained frozen where he stood for several moments, simply staring in surprise at the young human in the room, before years of rigorous training and religious indoctrination spun him into action. “Nishum!” the Sangheili growled with pure hatred as his hand moved automatically to reach his plasma rifle.

“I hope you’re aware that an unarmed child that doesn’t even reach your waist is not a threat to a Sangheili warrior, or I’ll have to seriously reconsider your combat skills,” Zhar deadpanned.

The Minor recoiled at the comment, suddenly aware of how foolish his reaction must have looked.

“Why is that human still alive?” the SpecOps asked after a few moments, barely able to keep his embarrassment under control.

“She’s just a child. She’s not worthy of our time,” Zhar said curtly. “Let’s go, brother. Our mission here is complete.”

Olar nodded, before he slowly shifted his gaze from the officer to the only other living being in the room. “Just a moment, sir,” he said, drawing his weapon and aiming it at the child. “ I’ll make this quick.” Before the SpecOps could fire, however, Zhar stepped right in front of the little girl, obstructing his line of fire.

“I said we’re leaving now,” Zhar said more forcefully.

“But sir, the human-”

“Put down your weapon, Minor.”

Olar blinked in confusion. He took a step sideways to have a clear shot, but much to his astonishment Zhar mimicked his action.

“What is the meaning of this, Zhar?” Olar growled, trying his hardest to keep down his growing anger.

“Our mission was to retrieve the human AI, not executing civilians,” Zhar calmly replied.

“The orders of the Prophets are clear. The humans are guilty of heresy against our Lords and thus they must all be exterminated.”

“She is just a child. She wasn’t even born when her species committed those crimes,” Zhar argued, unconsciously clenching his fists.

“It doesn’t matter. She’s still a human. Now, move aside, Major.”

“No.”

“No?” Olar repeated in outrage.

“You will not harm this child,” Major Zhar Vadamee said as he took a step toward the other Sangheili.

“Don’t move!” The Sangheili in blue armor barked, now aiming his plasma rifle at the chest of the Major.

“Pointing a weapon to an officer is an act of treason,” Zhar growled.

“The only traitor here is you!” the Minor snarled. “By protecting that filthy beast, you’re defying the orders of the Hierarchs, breaking the oath we all took to serve the Covenant! And those who break the oath are heretics, worthy of neither pity nor mercy!”

Zhar narrowed his eyes and mentally prepared himself for the imminent fight, knowing that it was pointless to try to solve the situation peacefully. Olar was a firm believer of the Great Journey and trying to change his mind would be a waste of time. Maybe one day the Minor would have reached the rank of Zealot, but one way or another Zhar had no way to know it. They both knew there was no way they would both leave the apartment alive.

“So it be. For what it’s worth, it was an honor to fight at your side.”

Olar seemed to hesitate for a moment, before steadying his stance and offering one last nod in sign of respect. “Likewise, Major.”

The window next to Olar suddenly shattered in an explosion of glass shards. Barely slowed down by the glass, the large armor piercing bullet completely drained the shields of the SpecOps Minor and penetrated all the way through his helmet and cranium, spraying the wall behind the Sangheili with a mixture of brain bits and purple blood.

Zhar instinctively dived for cover as Olar’s lifeless body collapsed on the floor like a stringless puppet, before he heard several violent explosions coming from the yard in front of the building. There could be only one reason the human soldiers would venture so deep in a sector under control of the Covenant, the same reason he and Olar had been sent here. The AI.

As much as he wanted to join the fight, he still had a mission to complete. Instead of leaving the room, however, his gaze moved to the human child. What about her?

The most obvious thing to do was just to leave her here, so that the members of her kind could find her and bring her to a safe place, but Zhar had no guarantees that the human soldiers would waste time looking for survivors while they were so deep behind the Covenant lines. Or that they would even be able to penetrate inside the building. The Jiralhanae were barbarians, but they were also tremendous fighters. And once the Brutes were done with the UNSC forces, there was a high chance that one of the members of Antigonus’ pack or a Kig-yar would find her.

No. He couldn’t leave her here. There was only one possible option.

Zhar crouched low in front of the little girl and slowly reached her with a hand. The child winced and whimpered in fear when she felt the big hand of the Sangheili touch her shoulder, but when she realized that the huge alien wasn’t hurting her, she dared to look at him.

“I don’t want to hurt you,” he said in English with the most reassuring tone he could muster. “We must leave, this place is not safe.”

The child stared at him in confusion with teary eyes before shifting her gaze to the corpses of her parents on the floor.

“Your parents gave their lives so that you could survive,” he said, feeling something unexpected. Respect. By giving their lives to protect their daughter, these humans had proved to be honorable individuals. “It is your duty to honor their sacrifice.”

The young human sniffled and nodded weakly. ‘Such a little yet brave creature.’

Using the same care he displayed when he handled his younger cousins, the Sangheili grabbed the human child and brought her close to his chest, careful to not crush her with his strength.

“Let’s go, little one,” he said quietly, activating his active camo and turning both of them invisible.

The shot fired from Edward's sniper rifle was still resonating through the air when the two Marines equipped with rocket launchers opened fire against their designated targets. Spartan Ale 02-05 conceded himself a moment to watch in satisfaction the two Shade turrets exploding violently in a cloud of fire and burned metal, before he and the rest of the UNSC troops opened fire. The Spartan aimed his modified MA5C assault rifle and shot two bullets in the head of a Grunt Ultra, the closest thing the little methane-breathing bastards had to an officer. While not as accurate as a DMR, its COG sight allowed him to engage the enemy from a distance with discrete accuracy, with the bonus of having higher ammo capacity and a M301 grenade launcher mounted under the barrel instead of the more common flashlight, making it the right weapon for the mission.

The next and last pair of rockets were aimed at the communication node and one of the deployable methane recharging stations, the destruction of the latter vaporized any Grunt unfortunate enough to be close to the contraptions. Taken completely by surprise by the attack and without anyone bringing order among their ranks, the surviving Unggoy panicked, screaming in fear, running in circles, or in some cases even started shooting in completely random directions, accidentally killing a couple of their own.

Taking advantage of the chaos, the human forces advanced toward the building, using the destroyed cars all across the square for cover.

'So far, so good,' Ale thought as he momentarily took advantage of the cover provided by a half-destroyed Warthog to reload his weapon with a single fluid movement, before resuming his advance while shooting at the enemy soldiers. He knew it wouldn't last for long.

As if to confirm his thoughts, the front windows of the atrium of the building where their target was exploded and Covenant forces quickly poured into the square. The first were the Jackals, who quickly formed their typical defensive formations using their glowing shields. The avian aliens were soon followed by the pack of Brutes, who wasted no time unleashing a deadly rain of superheated metal spikes and plasma on the UNSC forces, forcing the human soldiers to take cover.

When ONI had found out that the Falcon carrying one of their AI had been shot down, the spooks had quickly ordered a mission to retrieve it before it fell in the hands of the Covenant. Ale had honestly thought that an entire squad of Marines lead not by one, but three Spartans was overkill, but when he had been informed that the sector was under Brute control, he was actually grateful for all that firepower.

Gorillas, Baby Kongs, Bravo Kilos, it didn't matter what you called them, the Jiralhanae were the nightmare of any human soldier. Fast, strong, and incredibly violent, those beasts were able to rip their enemies apart using just their bare hands, which they often did. And if that wasn’t enough, their weapons were not designed to kill the enemy, but rather to make them bleed to death in the most gruesome and painful possible way.

A Skirmisher raced through the battlefield firing its needler rifle, hitting a Marine in the leg. The man collapsed with a cry as the projectile of glowing crystal passed through his limb and the overgrown Jackal was quickly on him, widening its fangs. Before the space raptor could dig it’s sharp teeth in the man’s throat, a couple of bullets hit its chest, followed by a third in the head.

“It’s hunting season, turkey!” Sarah yelled, the barrel of her M6D pistol still smoking. Keeping up her fire at the Covenant infantry, the young woman scooped the wounded Marine and dragged him behind the wreckage of a car, killing a trio of Grunts in the process. The man hissed in relief when the Spartan III jabbed the needle of a biofoam canister in the wound, before shouting a warning at her. The young woman quickly turned around and aimed her pistol at another Skirmisher that had tried to sneak behind her, but before she could pull the trigger its head exploded.

"Hey! That was mine!" she exclaimed with indignation on a private COMM channel. If it wasn’t for her Mark V/B, the young Spartan would have been easily confused for an ODST. The girl was cocky, loud, and literally lived for combat, a far cry from Ale or the other members of the Spartan II program. Not that Ale really minded. Working with the two younger Spartans during the last few weeks had been… interesting.

"Sorry sis. Try to be faster next time," Edward replied smugly. “All units, we have enemy reinforces coming from south-east,” the sniper reported through the team COMM, switching back to a more professional tone.

“Focus on the enemy snipers and heavy weapons,” Ale ordered. A few globes of plasma zipped dangerously close to his body, increasing the temperature inside his suit by a few degrees. “Sarah, take care of the light infantry, I’ll handle the Brutes.”

“Time to kick some alien ass,” she declared, pumping a slug in the barrel of her M90 shotgun and sprinting to action. Even if her face was hidden by her blue EVA visor, Ale could easily tell she was grinning.

The Spartan II sighed. Even if he could relate with them far better than with other members of the UNSC that were not members of the Spartan program, there was something off about his younger ‘cousins’ that disturbed him. Sometimes they seemed to like their job a bit too much. It wasn’t the normal sense of satisfaction and accomplishment that all the Spartans felt after a successful mission. The Spartan IIIs actually took pleasure in killing.

Ale resonated it must have been a consequence of what they went through before joining the Spartan III program. He knew how the ONI agents visited refugee camps and orphanages looking for children whose families had been killed by the Covenant, playing on their desire of revenge to recruit them. It may have been necessary, given how desperate the war against the alien empire had turned, but Ale was still disgusted.

When the two young Spartans were assigned to him, Ale promised himself that he would do his damned best to make sure the two kids made it through this nightmare alive. In the following weeks he had lead them into battle countless times at the best of his abilities, sharing with them any useful scrap of experience he had cumulated in the several years he had spent fighting the Covenant in order to increase their chances of survival, quickly earning their respect and admiration.

“Stop crying and kill those heathens, you cowards!” a deep gruff voice ordered.

Ale saw a Brute shouting orders to a small group of Grunts, trying to bring back some form of order among their ranks. He aimed his assault rifle at them and fired a 40mm grenade in the middle of the group. The following explosion, boosted by the methane contained in the tanks of the Unggoy killed most of the Grunts and severely wounded the Brute. He finished the bigger alien with a short burst of bullets in the chest, before killing the few surviving Grunts with accurate headshots.

“Ale, at one o’clock!” Sarah’s voice came from the speakers of his helmet with an urgent tone.

Ale saw something very fast fly toward him and instinctively ducked. The rocket propelled grenade flew right where his chest was just a moment before, exploding somewhere behind him. The Brute Captain growled in frustration and fired his weapon a few more times. Thanks to his speed and augmented reflexes, the Spartan avoided the worst of the explosions, but the alarms of his suit alerted him that his shields were almost completely drained.

Luckily for him, it was than that the Jiralhanae ran out of ammo.

‘Now,’ the Spartan thought as he sprinted toward the Brute. The alien was still reloading his weapon when the Spartan reached him and punched his ugly face. The Brute staggered, grunting in pain and surprise, but quickly recovered its footing. It spat a few broken teeth mixed with dark blood and with a savage roar it swung its Brute Shot in an attempt to hit the Spartan with its sharp blade. Time seemed to slow down as the augmented human entered what was colloquially known as ‘Spartan Time’, deftly dodging the melee attack while at the same time grabbing the M7 attached to the magnetic holster on his left hip.

The Spartan aimed the SMG almost point-blank to the right eye of the Brute and fired a long burst, ripping out half its face. He then looted a spike grenade from the belt of the fallen enemy and threw it several meters away, sending it with astonishing precision on its target. The Brute had barely the time to realize that something had hit the back of his helmet before the grenade exploded, obliterating its head along with a good portion of his upper body.

“Show off,” Edward joked through the COMM, killing one of the Kig-Yar snipers that had taken an unhealthy interest in him.

Ale couldn’t help but snort in amusement.

A savage roar, accompanied by the broken body of an unfortunate Marine flying across the square, told the Spartan II that the Chieftain of the war pack had finally joined the fight, using its gravity hammer with deadly efficiency.

A bullet from Edward’s sniper rifle hit its horned helmet, only to bounce harmlessly against its powerful energy shields. Two more followed and ended with the same result.

“Fuck!” the Spartan sniper swore in frustration. “How do we kill that monster?”

“I got it!” Sarah’s voice chimed through the COMM, just as Ale heard another noise, the unmistakable roar of the engine of a Warthog.

Turning in the direction of the noise, the Spartan II saw the young woman driving the battered vehicle across the square at full speed. Her actions didn’t make any sense at first. She didn’t have a gunner, not that it would have made any difference considering that the minigun was destroyed, furthermore the engine was smoking and just a step shy from catching fire. It was only when he noticed her trajectory that he realized her plan.

‘She wants to ram that thing?!’ Ale thought in disbelief as he watched the Warthog running toward the Chieftain. Theoretically it was a good plan, the kinetic energy of the car would have been sufficient to kill or at least wound the Brute. In reality it was a horrible idea.
The huge alien didn’t try to avoid the incoming vehicle, instead it adjusted its grip on his gravity hammer and smiled malevolently at the Spartan behind the wheel. “Get the hell out of there, Sarah!” Ale ordered the younger Spartan, but it was too late.

With a speed that should have been impossible for a beast of that size, the Brute swung its gravity hammer downward and hit the hood of the Warthog. The impact not only violently halted the charge of the running vehicle, but threw it in the air above the Chieftain like an oversized toy, before it violently crashed upside down.

The dazed Spartan III slowly crawled out of the wreck of the vehicle, only to be pinned down by a massive two-toed foot. The Chieftain twisted the handle of his weapon to use the blade attached behind the head of the hammer, but before he could use it to cut off the head of the young super soldier, a long burst of automated fire hit him between the shoulders, drawing his attention from his victim to the Spartan in black armor aiming his assault rifle at him.

The Jiralhanae Chieftain roared and charged at the Spartan II with his hammer raised in the air, covering the distance with long strides of his powerful legs. Ale stood his ground and kept firing short bursts at the Brute. ‘I have his attention. That’s all that matters,’ he thought as Sarah got back on her feet.

With a savage battle cry the Chieftain brought down his hammer to deliver what would have surely been a devastating strike. In one single fluid motion, Ale jumped backward just a moment before the impact, delivering a kick in the face of the Brute while clamping his rifle to the magnetic attachment on his back. The shockwave, combined with the thrust of his powerful legs, projected the augmented human several meters away, but thanks to his reflexes he safely landed on his feet with catlike grace.

Meanwhile, the Chieftain used the back of his hand to clean some blood from the corner of his mouth. Staring at the dark stain on his hand, he growled in rage. "Tell me, demon,” the huge alien said with his deep cavernous voice, glaring intensely at the human super soldier. “Do you bleed?"

Instead of replying, the Spartan simply grabbed both his SMGs from his magnetic hip holsters and aimed them at the Brute.

The Chieftain bared his fangs and adjusted his grip on the gravity hammer. "You will."

‘We should be far enough,’ Zhar thought once the noise of the battle was just a distant cacophony of explosions and gunfire. The Sangheili checked his surroundings and, once he was sure they were alone, he decloaked and gently put down the little girl.

“We’re not far from the human lines. Proceed down this road until you see the ruins of a mall,” he said, pointing the way with an elongated finger. “There’s a small UNSC outpost. Your people. They will keep you safe and bring you away from this accursed place.”

The child turned her head to follow with her gaze the direction he was indicating, then she looked back at him.

Zhar shook his head. “I can’t come with you,” he said, answering her unspoken question. “It would be too dangerous for both of us. They would suspect a trap if they saw you with me.”

He knelt in front of her and took something from a pocket of his armor. “I think this belongs to you,” he said, offering her the chocolate bar he had taken earlier from the kitchen of her apartment. Nax would have surely approved if he knew. Maybe he would tell him. He knew he could trust the older Sangheili. He had always been willing to listen to him and after this experience, the Spec Ops felt he had a great weight to remove from his chest.

After a moment of hesitation, the little girl accepted the chocolate, touching his big scaly hand with her much smaller one in the process.

She looked up at him and their eyes met.

“You asked me ‘why’ when I found you. I- I don’t know why all of this is happening. For all that matters… I’m sorry.”

He stood up and turned his back to her. He had already taken a few steps when he heard the child speak.

“Wait,” she said barely louder than a whisper. Zhar stopped and looked over his shoulder. The little girl was staring intensely at him with her beautiful purple eyes, showing for the first time something that wasn’t pain or resignation. Gratitude. “Thank you.”

Zhar felt like he had just been stabbed in the chest. The Covenant had destroyed her world, killed her parents, and ruined her life, and yet she was thanking him? It was too much for the Sangheili. “Farewell, little one. Be safe. And may our paths never cross again.” He turned on his active camo again and disappeared like a ghost.

The little girl simply stood there for a couple of minutes before slowly heading off in the direction the Sangheili had pointed out. What she didn’t know was that Zhar kept following her from a certain distance to make sure she safely reached her destination. Not too long after, the human child was in sight of a barricade. She stopped a few meters away and after a few tense moments a human soldier emerged from cover and cautiously approached her with his weapon drawn. The man quickly scanned her with an electronic device and visually checked the area, then, satisfied that it wasn’t a trap, he grabbed her hand and lead her toward a nearby building that had been turned into an outpost.

Zhar released a breath of relief he didn’t know he was holding and walked away. He did it. She was safe.

‘Was it heresy?’ A part of him said yes. Not only had he spared a human, thus disobeying the orders of the Hierarchs, but he had also helped her escape. If she survived, she would probably grow up hating the Covenant and maybe one day they would meet again, this time in the battlefield.

And yet Zhar felt oddly at peace with himself. He had done what he thought was the right thing.

The words of an old Unggoy Deacon briefly echoed in his mind. ‘We are all sinners. Without sin, there wouldn’t be faith.’

‘I made my choice. I will accept the consequences of my actions.’

The eyes of the Sangheili Commando snapped open as he awoke abruptly from his agitated sleep, grateful that the memory had come to an end. It didn’t matter how many times he relived those moments, it never got easier. He quickly noticed that he wasn’t wearing his helmet, although he could still feel the weight of his armor on his body.

Blinking a few times to clean his blurred vision, he realized that he was kneeling in the middle of a room carved in stone, with some kind of vines made of a greenish material hanging from the ceiling wrapped around his wrists and a similar pair locking his ankles, restraining him.

He shuddered inwardly for a moment. The vines reminded him of tentacles. Chasing away the awful memories of the Fall of High Charity, he got back on his feet and tested the strength of the vines, growling in irritation when he realized that the silicone-like material was more resistant than expected.

“Oh, good! You’re finally awake, sleepy head!” a feminine voice with a familiar double toned tone said cheerily from the opposite side of the room. He looked toward the source of the voice just in time to see a Changeling with shoulder length purple hair and dressed with some kind of black leather armor stepping out of the shadow. “Greetings,” she continued, offering a psychotic grin to the Sangheili. “I’m Princess Phasmidia. What’s your name, big guy?”

Zhar narrowed his eyes and growled.

“Oh, come on. Don’t be rude. I promise we’re going to have so much fun together.”

‘I seriously doubt it.’

Chapter 19 - Playing with fire

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Chapter 19 - Playing with fire

After her brief introduction, which the alien didn’t even deigned of a reply, Princess Phasmidia watched with interest her captive testing the strength of his restraints. After being stationed in this god forsaken outpost for what felt like an eternity, being in the same room with the Sangheili was a thrilling experience. The alien warrior was truly an interesting creature, a deadly combination of brutality and cold intelligence like she had never seen before, and while he glared at her with his intense amber eyes she had no doubt that he was also studying the best way to kill her. A commendable mental exercise, yet completely useless, given his situation.

“Spare your energy,” she half-heartedly said. “Those restraints are made with the finest Changeling secretion and they’re strong enough to hold back a full grown minotaur, so there’s no way you can break them.” Just to be safe, however, she made sure to keep a few meters of distance between herself and the alien. “So, are you going to talk or what?” she asked with an irreverent smirk. “I mean, you can talk, right? I can’t really see a tongue in your mouth…”

As much as Zhar would have liked to remove that stupid smile from her face, along with her jaw and eyes, he managed to keep his anger under check.
“Where am I?” he demanded, quickly yet attentively studying his cell. The only source of light in the room came from what seemed to be big glowing fungi growing on the bare rock walls, while the room itself was completely bare of any detail, aside for a sturdy looking door made of wood and metal, likely guarded on the other side.

“Not even an introduction? How rude,” the Changeling commented annoyed, only to receive another nasty glare. “Fine,” she huffed, rolling her eyes. “You’re in a underground facility in the middle of the Everfree Forest, surrounded by over a hundred armed Changelings, miles away from civilization or any hope of help. There, are you happy now?”

The Sangheili’s only response came in the form of an hostile growl.

“Hmm, I’ll take it as a no. How strange. I wonder why you’re so upset,” she said, feigning ignorance. “I mean, if it wasn’t for my scouts you would still be unconscious somewhere in the forest instead of having this pleasant conversation with me.”

The Sangheili closed his eyes, took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. “Alright, let’s make a deal,” he calmly began. “Let me go before I really get angry, and I’ll grant you a quick death.”

Phasmidia raised a brow. “Wow, you really know how to speak to a lady,” she deadpanned, unfazed by the threat. “You know, there’s no reason to be so hostile with me.”

“Ignoring the fact that I’m currently your prisoner, your kind attacked my team the moment we set foot on this planet.”

Phasmidia wave a hand dismissively. “Details. Blame that moron of my sister for that mess. Despite these, uh, precautions,” she said with a vague gesture at his restrains, “I’m not your enemy. I just want to know more about you and you people, nothing more. However,” she added with a darker tone, “if you don’t cooperate, then I’m afraid that things will start to get rather… unpleasant for you.” As to prove her point, her horn and hands briefly crackled with green energy.

“Oh, I’m so scared,” Zhar flatly replied, unimpressed by her display of power.

Phasmidia pursed her lips in annoyance. ‘As expected, he’s not easily intimidated. Well, it was still worth a try.’ The Changeling princess tapped her chin, trying to think about a different tactic. While entertaining to watch, physical torture had never been her forte, and beside, it wasn’t always an effective method to obtain informations. depending on the subject it could take time to bear results. Her speciality was mental interrogation, but while theoretically faster and more effective, she had no idea if her powers worked with an alien mind. Of course, the best solution would have been if he simply cooperated, but how?

‘Maybe a little charm will do,’ Phasmidia though a few moments later, her lips forming a seductive smile. “How about we make things more interesting?” the princess offered with a suggestive smirk. Strutting a pose like a model, she pushed out her chest to emphasize her breasts while casually playing with a lock of her long purple hair. “If you tell me what I want to know… then I will let you know me better, if you get what I mean.”

Even without a disguise, the high-caste females of her species were considered extremely attractive thanks to their exotic appearance combined with the special pheromones their bodies emitted when they wanted to lure a victim. Given her countless positive experiences, she had no doubt that he wouldn’t be able to resist her offer, just like many other idiots before.

Or maybe not.

“If you think that the promise of a sexual intercourse with you will make me more cooperative, than you are sorely mistaken,” Zhar bluntly said, taking her completely aback. “You’re not physically attractive by the standards of my species, your pheromones are just an olfactive nuisance at best, and to be completely honest I find the mere concept of lowering myself to mate with a creature like you simply disgusting.”

Phasmidia’s eyes and jaws widened to an almost comical degree as she stared at the Sangheili like he had just slapped her face. Her bewilderment however quickly turned into anger as her horn and eyes lit up with a angry green glow. It was now Zhar’s turn to widen his eyes as his entire body was suddenly invested by a painful surge of energy. His muscles spasmed violently, his eyes burned, and his nerves felt like they were on fire, and yet, the Sangheili clenched shut his jaws and eyelids as he silently endured the pain, unwilling to give his captor the satisfaction of hearing him scream. After almost a minute of pure agony, just when he felt he was about to reach his limit, the Changeling finally severed her spell. Zhar’s body went limp, the only thing that kept him from collapsing on the ground being the restraints around his arms.

In any other circumstances Phasmidia would have been impressed by such high pain tolerance, but right now she was just too angry to care. “Watch your tongue when you speak with me, beast,” she hissed to the Sangheili, any form of joviality completely gone from her voice. “I don’t care if you’re some kind of big badass warrior on your world, but here you’re just a freak that stumbled upon something far bigger than himself; I’m the one who calls the shots here and you’re going to answer my questions.”

“Why... don’t you try… and make me,” the Commando growled weakly, looking in defiance at the Changeling princess.

Phasmidia grit her sharp teeth. “As you wish.” Her eyes and horn glowed once again and Zhar suddenly felt a new form of pain, something that he could only describe as a presence trying to creep into his mind.

The Sangheili had already felt something similar during his confrontation with Lamia in the power plant, but while back then his opponent had just brushed his consciousness, this time it was a full scale attack. Putting aside the revelation that the inhabitants of the planet had telepathic powers, he focused on his breath and brought back all he knew about meditation to concentrate and isolate his mind.

“Hmm, your mental discipline is impressive,” Phasmidia commented out loud after probing the surface of his mind for a couple of minutes. For a creature without prior experience in dealing against mental attacks, he was faring far better than most of the prisoners she had interrogated during her life. “It also seems like Lamia wasn’t kidding when she said that your bodies have a high resistance to magic. Which means I can’t use any conventional spell to force you into submission.” This made things more complicated than planned, but after spending so much time without a real activity, the Changeling welcomed eagerly the new challenge. “Oh, I’m soooo going to enjoy this!” she exclaimed excitedly before doubling her efforts. His thoughts may be hidden, but even his mental barriers were unable to hide completely his emotions.

“So much anger…” Phasmidia muttered with a frown of concentration. “And hate… and pain… and loss… You have suffered quite a lot… But you’ve also caused a lot of suffering.”

‘You have no idea,’ Zhar thought, unknowingly lowering his guard. It lasted just a couple of seconds, but it was exactly what Phasmidia needed.

‘Really? Let me see,’ she eagerly replied, surprising Zhar when he realized that her voice was actually coming from inside his mind. Before he could focus again, she slipped a mental tendril inside his mind, reaching out for the first memory she could find.

Phasmidia blinked, taken aback by the scene in front of her. She was standing in the middle of a rocky desert, surrounded by the ancient ruins of some kind of temple. A few dry tussocks grew in the cracks between the stones, their dry blades ruffled by the gentle breeze blowing across the plain, while the call of some unknown animal echoed in the distance. The scene was oddly peaceful and almost reminded her of one of the abandoned settlements built in the Badlands before the region became too inhospitable for ponies, were it not for the two setting suns in the red-orange sky.

She was on another planet. Well, technically speaking her body had never moved from Asgard and she was just experiencing all the various sensory feelings that the Sangheili associated to this memory, but it still felt like she was actually there. It was a strange experience to say the least. The air felt different, the warmth of the sunrays felt different, even the gravity was not what she was used to. It was the first time she experienced something like this and for a brief moment she felt overwhelmed by the multitude of new stimuli reaching her brain. However, just as she was starting to get used to these feelings, the memory around her suddenly dissolved like a fog bank blown away by a powerful wind, leaving in its place only a dark empty void. In the silence of this limbo between their minds she could see globes of light floating in the distance like bioluminescent jellyfishes in the depth of the sea, each one representing a different memory of the Sangheili.

‘Did he actually just push me back?’ Rather than feeling annoyance and irritation, she was actually thrilled by the revelation. ‘I love when they fight back,’ she thought, eagerly diving deeper into his mind. It had been a while since she had a good challenge.

While she fought against the consciousness of the Sangheili, she saw glimpses of his memories flash all around her: night skies filled with unknown constellations, worlds covered by unfamiliar land masses, vast forests full of strange animals and exotic plants, odd curved debris orbiting around a giant orange planet, a strange metal structure built on the steep side of a snowy mountain, a highly advanced city built under a colossal dome with a huge metal structure that vaguely resembled the Crystal Empire Castle …

As countless memories flashed and vanished in front of her, too fast to really appreciate any detail, her attention was suddenly caught by one in particular due to the particularly intense emotions associated to it. Focusing her power, she followed the trail until it lead her to a cluster of memories. The moment she reached out with her consciousness for one of them, a new image blinked to reality in front of her. It was an alien world seen from space, a place that according from the snippets of memories she could read was called Tribute.

She had barely the time to take in the beauty of the scene in front of her, when the surface of the planet suddenly changed. For a moment, she thought she was looking at a completely different world, but she quickly realized with shock that the shape of the continents was exactly the same. Aside for that detail, the previously lush world was now completely unrecognizable. Vast portions of the planet were now covered by a desolate wasteland of scorched ground crossed by dark lines that resembled huge scars. Immense fires were still burning in the areas previously occupied by cities and forests, filling the atmosphere with huge clouds of dark smoke, while the previously blue oceans were now brown and grey.

The level of destruction she was witnessing was simply astonishing and Phasmidia couldn’t help but wonder what could have caused it. A catastrophic natural event, like a massive volcanic eruption or an asteroid, were the most likely causes, and yet the more she observed the planet’s surface, the more she noticed how the destruction seemed to be far too precise for a natural phenomenon, which didn’t make any sense. After all, no weapon could cause such level of destruction. Right?

Driven by a sense of dark curiosity, she gathered as much power as she could and pushed deeper, aiming for the source of all his negative emotions.

As soon as she reached out for the new memory, a new scene blinked to existence around her. The Changeling was now standing in the middle of a square in a city, surrounded by more futuristic versions of the skyscrapers she would find in a city like Manehattan. The place had obviously been the theater for some kind of conflict, as shown by the bombed out buildings and the ground all her littered with rubbles, trash, and the burned wrecks of cars.

Turning her gaze on her left she saw what appeared to be a subway entrance just a few meters from her, with the staircase leading underground topped by a futuristic rain shelter made of metal and glass. Fancy, but hardly something that would have caught her attention… at least until she noticed the growing sense unease coming from the Sangheili. Intrigued, she slowly walked toward the metro entrance until she was standing on top of the stairway. The Changeling stared down at the pitch black void at the end of the stairs, quickly realizing that it wasn’t just the result of a lack of illumination, but a mental projection of the alien’s emotions associated with this place: anger, hatred, self-loathe, disgust, regret, … and fear. That last one quickly caught her interest.

‘Oh? Is the big bad alien too afraid to face his inner demons?’ Phasmidia thought tauntingly, just as she felt the conscience of the Sangheili trying to pull her out of the memory. ‘I’ll take it as a yes.’ Whatever had happened in the subway, his increasing level of distress imade quite obvious that the Sangheili had no desire to relive those moments, which only encouraged her to push deeper in order to investigate. The more she learned about his past actions and fears, the more easily she could manipulate him and break his will. ‘Let’s see what are you hiding, big guy.’

What happened next however took Phasmidia completely unprepared. Just as she was about to push deeper inside his consciousness, a powerful force slammed against her, throwing her away from the entrance to the subway station.

‘GET OUT OF MY MIND!’ the voice of the Commando roared as the world around her collapsed in a violent whirlwind of light and darkness.

Phasmidia snapped open her eyes with a startled gasp as the mental link was abruptly cut down. The high-caste Changeling briefly staggered on her hooves and was forced to lean against a nearby wall, but after a few moments the sense of vertigo vanished and she regained her balance.

Phasmidia stared at the Sangheili in surprise and emitted a low whistle. “Well, color me impressed. That was quite a singular experience. Sure, the ride was a bit bumpy, but I can’t wait to do it again.” She still felt a bit lightheaded, but she managed to keep a cocky relaxed facade. “I expected you to slow me down at best, but to be able to break the mental link through sheer willpower? That’s something I’ve rarely seen.”

Zhar ignored her comment and kept staring silently at the floor.

“Aww, what’s wrong big guy?” Phasmidia asked with a sickly sweet tone, feigning concern. “Did I hurt your feelings? Do you feel violated and vulnerable? I hope so.”

The Commando finally reacted. He slowly lifted his head and glared intensely at her with his slit eyes. “I’ve changed my mind,” he coldly declared. “When I get out of here, I’ll rip you apart while you’re still alive.”

It took Phasmidia a couple of heartbeats to realized she had unconsciously backed off a few steps. Realizing her little display of weakness, she quickly recomposed herself and scowled at the Sangheili. “We’ll see if you’ll still be so confident once I’m done with you,” she said with newfound confidence. “Soon your mind will be mine.”

“Then I hope you’re ready for a lifetime supply of nightmare material. That is, if you don’t die of brain hemorrhage first.”

The Changeling blinked in confusion, wondering what he meant, when she noticed that something wet and warm was dripping down from one of her nostrils. Curious, she brought a hand to her muzzle, only to stare in shock at the green blood on her fingers.

Phasmidia silently cursed and glared at the alien staring blankly at her. His impassive gaze proved to be far more irritating than an amused one, almost like she was below him and not even worth a laugh. She was very tempted to put him back in place, but a sudden wave of nausea made her change idea. There would be plenty of time for making him pay and restore her wounded pride. Right now she needed to take care of her growing headache with a healing potion.

“I’ll be back soon. Don’t go anywhere,” she mockingly said before leaving the room with haste, slamming the door behind her.

Zhar growled in disdain, grateful that the obnoxious overgrown bug was finally gone. Now that he was alone, he could collect his thoughts and plan his next move. He had no idea how the situation had evolved after the colossal failure that was their attempt to infiltrate the castle, but he had no doubt that his presence was needed, either to justify his actions to the locals or to assist his comrades in battle if the crisis had degenerated in a full scale conflict. And, as if they had not enough problems, they still needed to complete their original mission if they wanted to leave this backwater ball of mud and return home.

‘There’s much to do, but as the Yermo (1) proverb said, the velithra (2) can only walk the path one at a time (3).’ First, he had to escape from this glorified bug nest. Unfortunately, the Changelings had somehow managed to disable his armor while he was unconscious and with his arms tied up he was unable to reach the manual command to reboot the systems and use his wrist-blades to free himself.

It was an unfortunate setback, but it didn’t really matter. Patience was the key. His captors would eventually make a mistake and when it happened, he would seize the opportunity and show them the real meaning of fear.

The young Changeling queen opened violently the door to her quarters and marched toward a large ornate desk covered in parchments and alchemical equipment.

Grabbing a small bottle filled with an unappealing blue potion, she uncorked it and downed the fluid in a single gulp, grimacing at the bitter taste. “Urgh, I hate this crap,” she lamented, wishing she could just heal herself with the lifeforce of a pony. Unfortunately it had been weeks since they had captured a traveller wandering too deep in the forest, and despite the recent harvest, her base wasn’t deemed important enough to deserve a shipment of prisoners. Putting those depressing thought aside, she slumped heavily in the large armchair located in front of the fireplace and brought a hand to her face, massaging the bridge of her muzzle. Just as she started to feel the potion alleviating the pain coming from her head, the communication disk located in the middle of the room started to hum and glow intermittently. Forgetting about her headache, Phasmidia jumped back on her hooves and hurriedly performed the spell to activate the device. As soon as she finished, she was greeted by the annoyed scowl of Queen Chrysalis.

“M-mother!” she nervously stuttered. “I didn’t expect your call so-”

“Stop wasting my time and give me a report,” the older queen brusquely ordered with the tone of someone having something better to do.

Keeping a straight face, Phasmidia discreetly clenched her fists at Chrysalis’ words. A waste of time. That’s what she was in the eyes of her mother since their failed invasion, all because a stupid single mistake, the same reason why she was now struck in this stupid outpost in the middle of of a forest.

“The prisoner has just recently awoken, mother, thus I have just started interrogating him. He has a strong willpower with a mind completely different from anything we’ve met before and as Lamia said, his kind is almost completely immune to magic.”

“Can you do what you’ve been tasked to do?” Chrysalis curtly demanded.

Phasmidia shifted nervously under the intense gaze of her mother, even if it was just a magical projection. “It will take time mother, but-”

“Time is something we don’t have, Phasmidia. With each moment we waste, our enemies may come closer to interfere with my plans, so I highly suggest you to give me some concrete result within tomorrow or I won’t be as generous with you as I was the last time you failed me. Am I clear?”

“Yes, mother. I won’t delude you again,” Phasmidia fearfully replied.

“We’ll see about that. I’m sending one of your sisters to help you.”

Anger began to grow inside Phasmidia, but she managed to keep it hidden, although barely. “Who?” She asked, trying to sound as natural as possible.

“Mirage. She’ll arrive at midnight at the dry well clearing with the group of drones tasked to help our rebel allies. ”

“I see. I’ll make sure to greet her once she arrives,” Phasmidia neutrally said despite her desire to yell in outrage at the obvious lack of trust from her mother.

“Whatever. I don’t care who breaks the freak’s mind, just give me results,” Chrysalis dismissively said before she abruptly broke the contact.

As soon as the image of her mother disappeared, Phasmidia broke her facade and released a loud scream of frustration before firing several blasts of magic in random directions, one beam hitting her alchemy set, shattering several pieces of lab glassware and spilling their different contents on the desk.

Alarmed by the noises, the two drones guarding the room from the outside peered through the open door. “Mistress, is everything alright?” one of her drones cautiously asked.

Faster than a snake, Phasmidia reached inside her leather vest and pulled out a dagger, throwing it at the drone’s chest with a snarl. The lowly creature could only emit a pathetic whine as the blade penetrated all the way to the handle before collapsing on the ground.

“Clean this mess,” she ordered to the remaining drone as she stormed out of the room toward the cell block, ignoring the corpse lying in a pool of its own green blood.