Arrival

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Guess I should start from the beginning. I'm a huge Destiny fan. I'm not a huge lore guy, that belongs to another friend. Still, when I heard there was a costume store selling parts of Destiny armor, and there was a convention near where I lived, you can bet I wanted to go.

Fortunately, I had saved enough money for the pieces to my outfit. I got a model Nighthawk helmet, the red eclipse cloak, the sanction six gauntlets, and the kell hunter leg and chest armor, all with the lunar elegy shader going. I got lucky enough that my favorite primary, the abyss defiant, was there too. So, a few days after I got that stuff, me and my friend, the lore guy, Patrick,, who's own outfit was hunter with the same helmet, a ghost angel cloak, and the Trials chest, arm, and leg armor with Aaru's Passage went to the convention. We had been there for a few hours when I saw the most hated guy in Destiny.

"Hey, uh, Patrick, is it me, or is that guy dressed like Xur?" Okay, second, next to Rahool.

"Yeah, he does," Patrick said. "I'm surprised he came up dressed like that."

"Yeah, me too." It was then I saw my absolute favorite secondary, and my first exotic weapon, the Invective, on a table next to the guy. "And I am going to get that Invective," I said.

Now, I'm also a brony, and I've read my share of displaced fics, but I figured that it couldn't happen. Why must you hate me, universe. So, I walked up to the guy and said, "How much for the Invective," I asked.

In a voice similar to Xur's, which was weird in and of itself, the guy said, "I do not decide the cost, but the outcome."

"So, forty bucks?"

The guy just nodded, and I handed him the forty dollars, and grabbed my new model weapon.

"And just why did you get that piece of shit," Patrick asked.

"Call me sentimental," I said as I looked down the gun's sights, and damn if it wasn't exactly like the game. "It is my first exotic weapon after all. Try and honestly say you aren't, in some way, attached to your equivalent of it."

Patrick just sighed. "Yeah, I guess so. Still a piece of crap, though."

"Which one of us has a shotgun, again?" I asked, pointing the Invective in his direction. It was then it began to glow.

"Uh, Josh, is it just me, or is it glowing?"

I had only a few seconds to react, and I did what most in my position with my knowledge would do. I flicked off the universe. It was then a portal opened up beneath me. I fell through, and began tumbling. Well, this is going to be fun, I thought to myself as I took up a reclining position while falling through the black portal. Too bad Displaced stories never say how long the transit is, was my last thought as I blacked out.

When I opened my eyes, I was in a forest. Normal, as far as this goes. I was in my Hunter armor. Could be worse, I could be a guy without anything on. Two other people resembling my other guardians. That's ne- wait, what?

Yeah. Turns out the transit had split me into my three different guardians. My Titan persona, who I'll call Rhino-13, had what my Titan had on, which is the entire spearhead armor set, also with the lunar elegy shader going, a Hard Light next to him. My warlock, who I'll call Cybis (Si-bis) had the unity clade armor, also with lunar elegy shader, and the conflagration bond going. Next to him was the Bad Juju.

"Well, this is going to be interesting," I said to myself. "All we need now are three ghosts."

"You sure," I heard a voice that sounded like Nolan North's come from behind me. I turned and saw three ghosts, all with the generalist shell.

"Hey, Nolandroid," I said.

"We're ghosts," the center one, the one who spoke before me, said.

"I know, your voice just reminds me of someone, and I need a way to separate you three.

"You know, he's right," the one on the left, who sounded like Tara strong, said. Great. Twilight as Ghost.

"Thank you, Tara, and yes, that's what I'm calling you."

"Then what are you going to call me?" the last said.

"Dinklebot."

"Okay, why is it they get word play names, and I don't," Tara Ghost said.

"Don't have a lot to work with in terms of your name. Plus, you sound a lot like a voice actor from where I'm from," I said.

"And do you happen to know where we all are?" Nolandroid asked.

I shrugged. "Best guess? Alternate universe that resembles a T.V. show I watch."

"So, what do we do now?" Tara asked.

"Wait for the others to wake up, I guess." I shrugged. "Maybe a while."

"We can wait," Nolandroid said. "If you don't mind-"

"If you're going to ask if you can become my ghost, sure," I said, already knowing what he was going to say.

"Alright, then," Nolandroid said. "Which means you guys are going to be their Ghosts," he said. "Who knows, might bring them around quicker."

"Maybe," Tara Ghost said, going over to Rhino and doing what ever the Ghost did in the first mission of the game. This mad Rhino groan.

"Oh, my head," he said, getting up. Now, he was an Exo, if his name didn't already give it away, and he sounded like player Exo males. "What happened?"

"That's would best be answered when our comrade wakes up," I said as Dinklebot floated over to Cybis and did the same as Tara Ghost, with the same results.

"Well, now that everyone's awake, I guess I can explain," I said as Nolandroid phased, or lack of a better word, in me. "Basically, we are probably in Equestria."

"Great, a displaced fic," Rhino said. "Well, what should we do," he said, grabbing his Hard Light. "Do we decide to become pseudo-villains, or heroes to the populace?"

"Too cliched," Cybis said. "Let's wait until we know when we are before deciding what we're going to do." Guess I should point out now Cybis rounds out the races by being an awoken.

"Agreed," I said, my Invective in my hands. "So, Nolandroid, we got any other weapons?"

"Surprisingly, yes," he replied, still in me. God that sounds weird.

"Okay, give me Abyss Defiant and Saw-tooth Oscillator," I said, and both weapons appeared in front of me. "okay, make that just Abyss, otherwise, I won't be able to carry them all."

"Right," Nolandroid said as my Abyss disappeared and reappeared on my back, and the machine gun just disappeared.

"Guess I'll take the split shifter pro," Rhino said as the fusion rifle appeared on his back.

"I'll take the Chosen," Cybis said, and the future war cult sniper appeared on his back. What can I say, I'm an FWC guy. "So, where to?" he asked just as we heard screams.

"That way," I said. "Sparrows?" I asked the three Ghosts, and in response, three Tumbler Sparrows appeared in a triangle formation. I hopped on the lead one, with Rhino and Cybis getting on the left and right ones, respectively.

"Let's go," I said, doing the emote when you press up on the d-pad while riding a Sparrow on the ground. The three of us activated the boosts, and we flew through the forest.

A few minutes later, we arrived at the edge of the forest, and saw Ponyville. Well, sometime after Luna's banishment, I said over the mental link the three of us discovered we had, most likely due to us once being a single person.

Agreed, Cybis replied. Question is when specifically?

As the three of us arrived at the edge of the town and got off our rides, Rhino replied, "We can ask that of Celestia later. Now, we save some ponies."

"Ooh-rah," I said, and the three of us ran into the town, only to be met with the sight of timberwolves and, just because, I imagine, a damned Ursa Minor. "Oh, you've got to be kidding me."

The wolves and huge star bear heard us, and turned, growling. It was here we saw three ponies, one stallion, one mare, and one newborn, each earth ponies. "Okay, let's get this over with quickly," I said, making sure mt Invective had rounds in it and my Golden Gun was charged. It wasn't.

The first ten wolves charged. When they got close, I unleashed point blank Invective shots in four of their faces, Cybis used his melee, which had the tint of void light, and the wolf exploded, killing all but the last, which Rhino punched hard enough with his storm grip the disintegrating dog was sent flying. I reloaded my shotgun, and put it on my back, pulling out my auto rifle. "Anyone else," I said as the two older ponies grabbed their baby and ran and the wolves encircled us.

I looked at the others and nodded, and they did so. We then unleashed hell. All the weapons we were using had some semblance of automatic fire, and each were, as far as I could tell, fully upgraded. Needless to say, we mowed the wolves down quickly, which just left the huge ass bear.

"Super is ready," Nolandroid said.

"Not yet," I said. "Only as last resort."

"Do you not see the size of that thing?!"

"What are the pressure points of a bear," Cybis asked, and I knew what he was going to try.

"I'm no expert, but I'd say there's one at the base of the neck," Rhino said.

"Cover me, then," Cybis said as he put a fresh mag in his pulse rifle.

I knelt down and began to fire on the Ursa minor, not going for anything vital, and I noticed the shots came out at a slower frequency. Rhino took up standing position behind me and did the same with Hard Light, distracting the bear for the Warlock as he used glide to get on the roofs of a nearby building. Just as I reloaded, he jumped off of it and glided to the bear, landing on the neck.

"Sat goodnight, bitch," he said, delivering a palm strike to the base of the neck. The bear's eyes widened, then drooped. "Make Way!" Cybis yelled, jumping off the back. As it fell, with nopony in the way, just buildings, I saw a group of what I assumed were royal guards approaching.

"'Bout damn time," Rhino said. "If it hadn't been for us, who knows how many might have been killed."

"Agreed, but let's not say that to their faces," I said. "They're crap, yes, but even ponies need faith in something."

"I'd say they'll want to talk to us," Cybis said.

"Then let's go meet them," I said, and the three of us began to walk on a path to be able to signal the pegasai quickly.

Before we got far, though, I felt something tug on my cloak and turned around to see the mare, who had a red coat and a golden mane and tail with what looked like an apple tree for her cutie mark, and the stallion, with a bright green coat and a red mane and tail with a brown stetson hat and an ace with speed blurs behind it, who I assumed was her husband who was holding the filly, who had her mother's coat, mane, and tail colors and her fathers green eyes.

"And what is it you two want," I said as Nolandroid removed my helmet, revealing the brownish tanned skin with similarly colored hair and a scar over my right eye, and a greenish-blue prosthetic, the look I chose for my Hunter when I created him, and I knelt down.

"We just wanted to say thank you," the mare said. Her eyes widened. "Oh, sorry, my name's Golden Harvest and this is my husband, Swift Ace."

I smiled. "Nice to meet you, Ms. Harvest," I said. "Who's the bundle of joy?"

"Our daughter, Applejack," Ace said, which made my eyes widen slightly in surprise.

"Josh, those guards are going to get here soon," Rhino said, urgency in his voice.

I looked back at him and nodded, saying, "Right." I turned back to face the three ponies, with filly Applejack reaching out to me with a large smile. "It's been a pleasure to meet you both, but my friends and I need to meet with the guards. They'll want to talk with us."

Harvest smiled. "Of course," she said. "If any of you ever find yourselves back in Ponyville, you're welcome to stay at Sweet Apple Acres."

Cybis nodded. "We'll see. Oh, and my Name is Cybis," he said, bowing.

"And I'm Rhino-13," Rhino said.

"Well, it's been nice meeting you three," Ace said, and the two ponies walked off, the stallion holding their daughter.

As they walked off, Cybis said what we were all thinking. "Did we just change history somewhat by saving Applejack's parents?"

"Probably," I said, getting back up. "Nolandroid, leave my helmet off. I want the guards to see they're dealing with something alive."

"Right, he replied.

As we set off again, Cybis asked, "Should I take my helmet off, too?"

"Wouldn't hurt," I said.

With that, Dinklebot removed Cybis' helmet, revealing his light blue face and wild, green hair and eyes. "Better," he said. "What about you, Rhino?"

"May as well," he said as his helmet disappeared, revealing his shell, which was cyan and orange, with a horn accessory materializing, and a face plate in front of his optics and where his nose would be if he was organic. "Something tells me the reaction is going to be funny," he said, his mouth lighting up red as he spoke.

I chuckled. "Definitely," I said just as we stopped because of three guards landing in front of us.

"Who are you three, and what are you," the lead on asked.

"Well," Cybis said, "I am called Cybis, and these are my friends, Josh and Rhino."

"As for what we are," Rhino said, shrugging. "Well-"

"We're Guardians," the three of us said. Just because, I added, "Take us to your leader. And we just wish to speak with her."

The guard raised an eyebrow. "In that case, it'll be a while, as we did not bring a chariot with us."

"No problem," Rhino said. "Tara?"

"Jumpjets are coming down now," she said.

A few seconds later, three jumpjets, an Extinction Event, a Scorpio Miracle, and a Ketch me if you can, came down from orbit. How the weapons and ships I had were here, I had no idea, but I wasn't going to question it. "We already know where to go," I said. "Want a ride?"

"You'll need us to see the Princess, so yes, we will be riding with you."

"Good, because you wouldn't be able to keep up otherwise," Rhino said as the six of us, one guardian and one royal guard per ship, were transmatted on board our ships. I was on the double E, as I call the extinction event, and yes, I am aware of how that sounds, and I don't really care; Rhino on the SM, and Cybis on the Ketch me.

With that, we flew off to Canterlot to meet Celestia, as the guards dialogue indicated Luna hadn't returned yet. Fun, I thought sarcastically. At least it's about seventeen years until Nightmare's return, and I have a few ideas for that.

Royal Meetings

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As my Titan, Warlock, and my Hunter persona's made their way, I began to think.

Now, as far as I could tell, they were all individuals, but there was still some semblance of the pre-portal me in each. I was thinking as to what would happen when Tirek was freed. I know some might consider light, as in Traveler light, magic, which begged the question: Because Guardians were basically light, would my three persona's die if Tirek got them?

Fortunately for my sanity, the three jumpjets made it to Canterlot pretty damn fast, so I didn't think on it that much, and the face of the three guards helped. As I got out of the Extinction, as I preferred to be active in my Hunter's mind, I began to think on just how we had changed the timeline by saving Applejack's parents. I'll admit now, I wasn't one to think the two had died in a huge-ass animal attack on the town. Now that I think about it, though, probably for the best we stopped that, as who knew how young ponies were when they started to remember stuff. Didn't want to risk an Element to be emotionally broken, am I right?

Anyway, once Rhino and Cybis got out of their ships, as well as the guards, who had looks like fear on their faces, I asked the one thta had ridden with me, "So, when can we meet your Princess?"

"Right now, if you wish," he said, a little nervous. Can't say I blame him.

"If that is alright, yes," Cybis said, apparently getting the inherent politeness I imagined awoken warlocks having.

"Then please, follow me," the guard said, and he and his two comrades led us into the castle.

So, do you guys think we should ask about Nightmare, or not? Rhino asked over the link.

I'd rather not, Cybis said. That may bring something down on us we don;t need, or even want.

Agreed, I thought. Let's play it safe for now.

With that, the six of us, ponies in the lead, made our way to the what I assumed was the throne room. "Wait here," the lead one said as he entered the room once we reached a pair of large doors.

We waited for a few minutes before he came back out and said, "You may enter."

Rhino, Cybis, and I entered the throne room.

The first thing we saw upon entering was Celestia, her mane and tail, which resembles the northern lights, and not a rainbow as most describe it, waving in a windless air sitting on her golden throne. Now, before I go further, I'll admit of all the princesses, she is my least favorite. She's top ten, but still.

Regardless, one thing I have to give her credit for is how well she has led the ponies, and I give respect where it's due.

As we approached the throne, the guard said, "These are the strange beings, your highness. The ones who call themselves 'Guardians'."

"They are strange, yes, Sergeant, but you must remember that if it wasn't for them, who knows how many ponies may have lost their lives," Celestia said. She turned to face us. "Now, if I may ask, why are you three here?"

"That is complicated, your highness," Cybis said as we all knelt. "We do not even fully understand it ourselves. What we do know is that we probably came here to help you and the ponies."

"Well, if the fact you saved all of the ponies of Ponyville is any indication, then you will be a great help to protect my little ponies," she said. "And the three of you may call me Celestia, if you wish. You may also rise."

"Thank you, Celestia," I said as the three of us got back up on our feet. "And there are three others I think you should meet, and it would be best if only you met them, for now."

"Oh?" Celestia said, considering, if I had to guess.

Eventually, she said, "Guards, leave us." The guards looked a little concerned, but did as she asked.

Once the last guard left, she said, "Now, who are these other three?"

"Us," Nolandroid said as he and the other two materialized. "We're their Ghosts. Basically, we're their assistants."

"We also help them in combat by reviving them, should they fall in combat," Tara said, making Celestia's eyes widen.

I instantly added, "It is not dark magic, your highness. It is, in basic terms, using energy to construct a new body, with all of our memories and equipment coming along with it."

"Saved our lives as a team a few times, too," Rhino said.

"Which reminds me," Dinklebot said, turning to face us. "What do you guys want to call yourselves, in terms of a fire team?"

The three of us looked at each other, and even without the link, we knew what we wanted to call ourselves.

"Fire team lone," we said at the same time.

"And Celestia, if I may make a request," Cybis said, "we would like to be stationed in Ponyville. It is close to the Everfree forest, after all, and who knows what may happen next with the animals from it."

Celestia put a hoof to her chin, thinking it over. Ten seconds later, she said, "I will allow that. Do the three of you have any place to stay?"

"As a matter of fact, yes," Rhino said. "The two ponies we rescued allowed us to stay at what we assume is their home and workplace, Sweet Apple Acres."

"The apple family," she asked.

"Apparently, yes, Celestia," I said. "Why?" As if I need that. I still remember the family appreciation day episode.

"Because I gave them the land their farm is on, and I have been curious as to how they've been doing over the years."

"Well, I don't know how the other two will be about this, or the Ghots, even, but if you wish, Celestia," Cybis said, "I am willing to give you a ride in my ship so you can see how they are doing in pony."

If a Ghost could roll it's eye, Dinklebot would have done so. He turned to face Cybis and said, "Cybis, the jumpjet doesn't have enough space for you and the Princess. None of them do."

"It is quite alright," Celestia said as she got off the throne. "I will simply teleport there."

"If that's the case, Celestia," I said, "we'll come with you. We can remotely summon our ships, anyway."

"Are you certain," Celestia asked. "Teleportation can be disorienting the first time."

"We'll be fine," Cybis said. Now, those of you who have been bladedancers(for the win!!) and voidwalkers, you know of blink, and that it is described as a short range teleport. "Not so sure for Rhino, though."

"Of course," Celestia said. "Before we go, however, I'd like to know more about your species. You three are unlike any I know of."

A silent conversation went through our minds, and we agreed it best if we tell little. Didn't want to risk relations this early, after all. I went first.

"Of course, Celestia," I said. "My species is what we call 'human'. Currently, we, as well as the races of Cybis and Rhino, are engaged in a fight just to exist. And before you offer help, you are far less prepared for the fight, and your soldiers would get slaughtered. Specifically, humans were the natives of our home planet, earth. Eventually a being of power arrived, and great changed happened. Long story short, it's enemy arrived, and humanity and it's allies have been fighting them ever since."

"Well, I hope that you three find a way back home to help your friends, but, Cybis, just what are you. You look like a human, but you look different as well," Celestia said.

"Well, I am what would be called an awoken. I do not know why we are called that, but we were once humans that fled earth, but failed to escape the asteroid belt in the middle distance between the inner four planets of our system and the outer seven, outer four, if you count the planet Pluto as one, but some say it is just an asteroid. Regardless, some of us, once we became awoken, returned to earth, including me. I became a Warlock, a scholar, I suppose you could say. Josh was already a Guardian, and is a Hunter, which are the explorers."(1)

"And what are you, Rhino? You don't even look alive."

"I'm an Exo, a machine built by Josh's race after the power, the first one, arrived, and we've been helping humanity and the awoken in their fight. I'm also what is called a Titan. We, as an order, built the wall for our greatest city, as well as defended it from attacks. I suppose we're knights, in a way."

"And you already met the Ghosts," I said. "Like mine said, they're our assistants, and are a mix of advanced machinery and the energy we use." Obviously, we had removed the more, for lack of a better word, interesting details, including the fact Guardians were recruited from the long dead, which would have earned us a huge blast of magic to annihilate our asses, due to it possibly being considered dark magic.

"That's about it," Cybis said as our Ghosts disappeared, physically speaking. "So, I don't know about you guys, but I'm ready."

"Same here," Rhino said, and i just nodded.

"Then I believe it is time for us to depart," Celestia said, her horn lighting up, and the four of us disappeared.

We reappeared at the edge of what I recognized as Sweet Apple Acres, and none of us looked disoriented.

"Well, here we are," celestia said. "I must admit, I never thought the Apple family would have become so successful."

"Well, you'd be surprised what can happen when people, or ponies, in this case, have determination," Rhino said.

"I hear that," I said with a smile, remembering when I had soloed Ta'aruc. Ironically with my solar devastation loadout, which had my Abyss Defiant, a solar Amplified Geo-D6 with outlaw and shoot to loot, and a Gallarjhorn, it was easy Then again, it was a solar burn week. First Nightfall solo. Good times.

"I do suppose that is true," Celestia said. "Shall we go meet them?"

"Indeed," Cybis said, and the four of us went to the house.

When we got there, I knocked on the door. "Now, jus' who's there? There ain't s'posse ta be any visitors taday," we heard a voice I recognized as Granny Smith yell.

"Mom, just sit down," we heard Golden say. "I'll see who it is. Just rest."

"Now, Harvest, Ah'm alright!"

"No, you aren't mom. Your hip is still healing, and the doctors said to put as little pressure on it as possible."

"Ah, fine," Granny said, her tone obviously pissed.

With that, hoofsteps made their way to the door, and Golden from the other side said, "Who is it?"

"Just some people you met earlier," I said, and the door flew open.

"Josh?" Golden said, her eyes wide in surprise.

"What, do you not see us," Cybis said.

"Cybis? Rhino? What are you guys doing here? I figured you'd be in Canterlot."

"That would be because we asked Celestia if we could stay here."

"And I also wished to see how the Apple family was doing since I gave your grandfather the land," Celestia said.

Golden bowed and said, "Princess Celestia. It's an honor."

"As it is for me," Celestia said. "May we come in?"

"O-of course," Golden said, moving aside. With that, we walked in, and she followed us as the door closed.

As we reached the kitchen, we heard Granny Smith say, "Naw, Golden, how many times must ah tell ya: Don't let ponies in tha house."

She was sitting in one of the chairs in the kitchen. She eyed Cybis, Rhino, and I with suspicion, but her eyes widened in what I can guess is surprise upon seeing Celestia. "P-princess?"

"Hello, Granny Smith," Celestia said. "I am glad to know your family is doing well since I gave your father the land."

Smith just stared in awe. Then we heard her snore. "Seriously?" Rhino said. "And I thought we had bad manners!"

"She is elderly, Rhino," Cybis said.

Golden came in, and began to apologize for her mother. "I'm so sorry. Ever since she had her operation on her hip, she's been falling asleep a lot."

"It is okay, Golden," Celestia said. "It can not be helped."

"I guess."

"Hey, uh, Harvest," I said, "where's Swift?"

"Oh. He, Big Macintosh, our son, and Applejack are in town selling apples. I stayed behind to make sure Granny doesn't hurt herself. Princess, if I may ask, why are you here?"

"I simply wished to see how this family was doing, as well as see Josh and the other two get settled in, as they asked to be stationed here in Ponyville, and said you offered them all room."

"Yes, we did, but I figured they'd want to stay in Canterlot."

"I guess we just don't like large cities," I said. "So? Can we stay?"

"Yeah, but I'll need help explaining this to Granny, and she'll want you three to help around."

Before we could respond, Celestia said, "Well, it seems everything is alright. If you will excuse me, I must return to Canterlot."

I nodded. "Of course. And just let us know if you want a demonstration of our powers," I said.

"I will," Celestia said before disappearing.

"I swear, alicorns use teleportation way to much," Cybis said.

"Regardless," I said, giving him a small glare before turning to face Golden. "We'll do what we can. I'm a good cook."

"I could always help with harvesting," Rhino said.

"And I'm good with numbers, so I could be the guy who keeps the expenses in check."

Golden smiled. "I think that'll do it for her," she said. "Now come on, I want to show you three where you're going to be sleeping for a few days."

Years in passing

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So, Golden showed us to the barn, saying, "This is where you guys will be staying until we get a room for you. Sorry."

Cybis replied with, "It is no issue, Golden. We understand. If I may ask, where is Ace and Applejack?"

"They're back in town with our son, Big Macintosh, selling apples. I came back here to look after my mom," she said. "They're supposed to get back in an hour."

"Well, we hope to meet your son, as well as see Ace and Applejack again," I said with a smile. "I even think Applejack's already a little fond of us," I added, recalling the smile she had looking at us and reached for us before we had left for Canterlot.

"I'm sure they'd be happy to see you three again, too," Golden said. "You can come back to the house, by the way. I'm sure Granny Smith would like to actually meet you three."

"And we'd be grateful to meet her," Rhino said. "And have her actually be awake."

With that, the four of us made our way from the barn to the house, where Granny Smith was awake. When she saw the three of us, she tried to, I don't know, kill us with a pan, I don't know. Golden calmed her down, and then introduced us to her, as well as told her of what had happened in Ponyville. Needless to say, like every other pony, upon hearing we did something good, she warmed up to us, and offered us an apple pie, which I happily took, as did Cybis, as we hadn't eaten anything at all, or at least not if the last meal I had before coming to Equestria was also split up. Dimensional travel and being spit into three different personalities sure is confusing.

Any way, the two of us each ate a slice of our apple pies with the knife from my gauntlets being used to cut the slices, and we waited for Ace and the others to get back, discussing what the three of us would be doing around the farm to help, and, to my surprise, Granny Smith went with it. Oh, I can't wait for Cybis to get involved when Flim and Flam get here. That is gonna be good.

But getting back to the present, it was an hour before Ace got back, and boy was he surprised to see us. Big Mac, understandably, was a little frightened. I should point out he was the same size as the CMC, and didn't have his cutie mark. Applejack simply squealed in happiness and smiled, reaching out to the three of us.

"Hey, Ace," I said. "Surprised to see us?"

"Uh, yeah," he said. "We thought you'd be in Canterlot."

"They asked to be stationed here," Golden said as she took Applejack in her hooves.

"Uh, pa, who are they?" Big Mac asked, and both Ace and Golden told him of earlier, as had had been here during that time. After that, the shine in his eyes showed he saw us as heroes, which I guess we were.

From there, we asked if we could help with anything, and they replied that applebucking season was in a few weeks, so there wasn't a lot we could do.

About two weeks after that, a week before applebucking season, we got a letter.

I was in the barn, as we had decided to sleep there so we didn't take up any rooms should any of their family visit, setting space aside for apple storage. I held my hand in front of my face and put my fingers into that movie screen thing, picturing the space on the back wall, when I heard Ace yell, "JOSH! LETTER FOR YA!!"

"Be right there!" I replied, and left the barn. I saw Ace, Cybis, and Rhino standing at the entrance to the place, a letter in Rhino's hands. I recognized Celestia's seal, her cutie mark, on the top of it. "What's it say," I asked.

"In short," Rhino said, "Celestia wants to meet the three of us in the area between Ponyville and Canterlot so she and a few high ranking members of the guard can see our powers, and offer us a place in the guard."

"Nolandroid, how's Project: Convergence coming along?" I asked my Ghost, who materialized.

"Good," he said. "Really, we just need a building of our own, and we get it going, much as I don't like it."

I just rolled my eyes. "Look, if we want to make sure Equestria's safe, we need it," I said. "We have protocols in place."

"What are you guys talking about?" Ace said.

"Long story," Cybis said. "So, should we get our jumpjets?"

"Go for it," Rhino said, not to Cybis, but our Ghosts, who called the jumpjets, which we had put in a clearing of the orchard so they were nearby.

They arrived in the air a minute later, and he three of us transmatted into them, then flew off to the field. "So," I said over the radio, "should we go with what we have going now, or go for out other light abilities?"

"I'd say our current ones," Cybis said. "Simply because those we know the best."

Before I could respond, we heard Rhino say, "Oh-how the heck did you get in here?!" His wordage told us somepony young had snuck on board, somehow.

"What is it," Rhino," Nolandroid asked.

"Applejack's on my ship! How'd she even get on!?"

"No idea," Cybis said.

"Agreed," Dinklebot said, "and we're already in view of Celestia and the others, so we can't take her back."

"So she stays with us while we're using our deadliest abilities?" Rhino asked.

"Much as I hate to say it," Tara Ghost said, "they're right. Besides, I'm certain Celestia or the guards will make sure she doesn't get in the way."

"Ace and Golden are going to be so pissed off," Cybis said.

"Oh yeah," I said as we arrived over the area and transmatted down. "Hello, Celestia."

"Hello, Josh," Celestia replied before she saw Applejack. "Why did you three bring a filly with you."

"Yeah, um, she somehow got on my ship, and we didn't find out until we got here," Rhino said. "We were honestly hoping you or one of the guards could make sure she doesn't get hurt during the demonstration."

Celestia smiled. "Of course," she said, nodding to a nearby guard, who took a hold of the young filly. "So, which one of you will demonstrate their abilities first?"

"I guess I'll go first," Cybis said, raising his hand as Dinklebot transmatted his helmet on. "I'll need some target dummies first, though."

"I can handle that," Celestia said, using her magic to summon what I could only guess were holo-projections of timberwolves. "Are those what you need?"

"They'll do," Cybis said as he cracked his knuckles. He backed away a good twenty, large paces, got into a ready stance, and ran at the projections, with them doing the same. Just as they were about to hit one another, Cybis jumped, crossed his arms, and then quickly thrust them straight, and blinked behind the projections. He turned to face them, brought his left hand, clenched into a fist, across his chest, then brought it back around, releasing the fist and three Nova bombs being released. They hit in the center of the projections, and, with bloom, pretty much took them all out. Now, I'm not a huge Warlock guy, but it's moves like shatter bomb that is useful in most situations. Not to mention damn fun.

"That was impressive," Celestia said. "If I may ask, what was it?"

"That was a nova bomb," Cybis said. "It's a concentration Warlocks can generate from the energy around us, and can also split into three projectiles, just like you saw."

"I'm next," Rhino said as his helmet was transmatted on, this, instead of the spearhead helmet, was the Helm of inmost light. "And summon more of those things."

Celestia did so, and Rhino took a few steps back, and used his lift to get in the air, then activated his super, and took a superman like pose as he crashed into the ground, destroying most of the projections, and the shock wave taking care of the rest. "Ah, I missed using that. And 'that' was a little something I call the fist of havoc-"

"And we call it the fist of panic," I added.

"Yeah, regardless," Rhino said, "I use the kinetic energy from my fall to create a huge pressure wave that dispels quickly. I just inject some of my energy into it, and we get the lightning."

"Alright, I'm next," I said, my Celestial Nighthawk helmet coming on. "Give me something that would take a few dozen guards to take down."

Celestia, the guards, and even filly Applejack looked concerned, but the alicorn did so, summoning an-ugly-as fuck Ursa Major. "I was thinking a dragon, but okay," I said as I reached up into the air, a loud crack resounding as my golden gun was brought into existence. "I aimed it, standing with my side facing it, a single arm holding my flaming pistol. "Boom," I said as I fired my Celestial gun, which was so powerful, it looked like some of the power went to Celestia, causing her to wince as the projection exploded from the combustion effect.

"Before you ask," I said, my gun disappearing, "all Hunters can do that, which is to say, we can summon a gun that can make the targets explode upon death, and the helmet I'm wearing, it does even more damage."

"Well, I must admit," Celestia said, "that was impressive."

"Well, thank you, Celestia," Cybis said, bowing "but those are only half of our abilities, and we won't be able to show you the others for some time."

"I understand," Celestia said, "and, with knowing just what you three can do, I'd like to ask you to join the guard."

I looked at Rhino and Cybis, then said, "Let us talk about it first," I said, and we huddled. "I say no," I whispered. "I don't want any of our plans stopped because of her."

"Yeah, but if we do decide to beome royal guards, shitty as they are," Rhino said, "we'd get the land we need for Convergence."

"Please, we both know sun-ass won't go with anything that has even a chance of harming her subjects unless she's certain they'll be alright," I retorted.

"How about this," Cybis said before leaving the huddle and walking to Celestia.

"I have a different proposal, Princess," Cybis said. "Instead of us becoming part of your guard, we start our own, recruiting from both the guard already existing and civilians who wish to be a part of the guard. We don't have any authority over your guard, and you have none over ours. We will, in essence, become our own little country that shares land with Equestria. This will allow both parties to accomplish tier own goals with out the other unnecessarily getting in the way." Okay, even I can tell he's using Celestia's inherent trust of others, and I say it's going to work.

"Hm," Celestia said. "How can I be certain you won't do something incredibly rash?"

"Because we fight smart, as a team, and plan everything out," Rhino said, coming into the conversation.

"Alright, then," Celestia said, "but you three do realize you will become princes, right?"

"We prefer the term, 'Vanguard'," I said.

"Then what would your insignia be?"

I smirked under my helmet. "Nolandroid?"

Said Ghost appeared, and projected a hologram every Destiny fan knew.

"And we decide what our castle looks like," I said, "which will be in Ponyville, and, becasue of how our tech was made, we'll need a few mages from Canterlot, preferably the best ones, to make a spell to help with that issue."

"So long as it doesn't harm any of those that are my subjects, that is agreeable," Celestia said.

"Don't worry," I said as I picked Applejack up and put her on my shoulder, which made her squeal in happiness. "It won't."

With that, our jumpjets arrived, and we transmatted up. We left a micro-probe there, though, that attache to Celestia so we could hear any of her conversations. Can't be too careful.

We made our way back to the farm, where Applejack's family was searching for her. We transmatted down, and explained everything to Golden, who was the first to spot us. After that, and after everything had been told as to what had transpired, we told them of the fact the three of us would soon be, simply so they'd know what we were basically, princes, and we told them that, since they had let us stay, they didn't have to do any special formalities with us.

The rest of the week passed by without event, except for the mages from Cantrlot arriving, who Cybis greeted and brought to the farm. Construction on our castle, a mix of the Tower, Twilight gap, and The Anomaly, also began, and it wouldn't be done for a few months. Applebucking season passed by, and, with us helping, it had been done in record time. It was the conclusion of gathering the apples that, as a surprise, Granny Smith, Ace, and Golden had, unanimously, decided to make us honorary family members. Out of all of us, I think Applejack was the happiest.

Two years passed by, and Cybis, Rhino, and I were in our castle. The project we had begun working on before we even got the castle was done, and the spell the mages had made, was ready, and, fortunately, we had our first graduate recruits. First, though, we'd need to test Convergence, which, really, just needed testing.

A part of the castle that wasn't on the design plans was what we had used to house Convergence, a single Vex warp gate constructed using Ghost data and a bit of unicorn magic. "So, there's a few ways this could end," I said, looking over the gate.

"Let's just hope it's a good way that will end," Rhino said, standing at the activation console.

"Not for everyone," Cybis said, doing the last calculations. "Remember the multiple worlds theory?"(1)

"Yeah, but I meant for us," Rhino retorted.

"Guys, that's enough," I said. "Are the calculations done, Cybis?"

"Just finished," he said, handing the clipboard he had somehow done all of his work on, to Rhino, who keyed in the dimensional coordinates, as well as the item name.

Now, before you go and say, "This is a bad idea," we are aware of the Vex possibly finding out about this gate, which was why we would keep it active for as long as needed, then shut it off. Plus, we were staring simple, weapons and armor, as well as armor materials.

"Hit it," I said, and the gate activated. Through it, six pieces of Guardian armor, three Titan, one Hunter, and two Warlock armor sets appeared. Along with them, a dozen of every weapon type from Destiny came in, as well as what I guessed were a hundred units of each armor material. Rhino shut the gate off, and the light from the gate faded quickly.

"So, I guess now would be a good time to finalize the graduates graduation," I said as Nolandroid transmatted the Hunter armor, Tara Ghost did the same for the Titan armor, and Dinklebot did the same for the Warlock robes.

"Wait, what about Ghosts?" Cybis said.

"That, I handled with Celestia," I said. "She should be sending them over any time now."

Just as I said that, a flash of light appeared, and, from it, six Ghosts, all with the generalist shell, appeared. "Uh, are we in the right place," one said with a distinctly female voice.

"Yeah, you are," Nolandroid said. "I'm Josh's Ghost, Nolandroid. You six were created for the six new Guardians we trained, and they'll be the ones to name you. All you need to do is follow us."

"Well, let's go, then," the same Ghost said, and the six of them followed us out of the Convergence room, and up to what was our equivalent to the Hall of Vanguard, where the six new Guardians, which had broke even with two of each race.

"GUARDIANS," I yelled, which caused the six of them to turn and face us, standing at attention. "Today, you graduate to the full rank of Guardian. With it will be changes to how you live. Nothing major, but it may effect how others see you. We understand that, with this information, you don't want to be Guardians anymore, which is why we give each of you the chance to walk away."

"Sir," a gray earth pony mare said, "if that were the case, we would have remained citizens of Equestria."

Guess I should point out that, right now, all of the pony Guardians were citizens of Equestria that had become a part of our pseudo-nation. Some of those who hadn't passed the last test, which was to create a super, still became our subjects, and the change for those that became Guardians would go to them as well.

I smiled, then nodded to the two mages, who lit their horns, and blue and golden streams of magic surrounded the six ponies. When they faded ten seconds later, the ponies were still there, but, for one, they had their Guardian armor on, the mare who spoke up being the one Hunter in the Jackknife armor set. The two Warlocks, one a unicorn, the other a pegasus, had Unity Clade and the Iron Regalia armor sets, and the Titans had the Commando, Knight, and Molina(one of the Dark below armors). The second change was the one brought on by the spell, and that it was they were anthro. This was because of the necessity of it. We had no way to change the armor build, but we had a spell to do the same with ponies, leaving no harm, and we went with it.

"And these are your Ghosts," I said. "You'll be the one to name them." With that, the six of them floated to those that they chose while They changed, the female Ghost joining with the mare.

"And you, Steel Forge," I said to the mare, "will be the fireteam leader, unless the rest of you have another idea." None spoke up. "In that case, it is the Fire team's leader who decides what the Fire team will be called. Any ideas, Forge?"

"Fire team Disciple," she said immediately.

"In that case, take your pick of weapons, Fire team Disciple," I said as Nolandroid transmatted he weapons from the portals, and the six went to choose. Forge was the first to get her loadout, which consisted of a weapon I myself am fond of, the Another Nitc, an LDR 5001, and a One Way Ticket.

After the others had chosen their load outs, which wer all over the board, I said, "Now, until there are other Guardians, you six will be in Canterlot. One of the mages will join you on your trip there, and this," I said, pulling out a small letter, "is to be taken to Princes Celestia, for her to read only. Is that clear?" Now, the letter basically said that the six of them were going there to help her should anything happen in Canterlot, as well as take care of anything the guard can't.

"Sir," the unicorn Warlock, who, under the Iron Regalia helmet, had a bright green skin or coat, I don't know the terminology for that right now, and whose name was Emerald Forest, said, taking the letter. "We'll get it to her."

"Good," Rhino said. "Now, get a move on. The next train to Canterlot leaves in an hour, and we still don't have Sparrows or Jumpets for you." Yet.

They saluted, Forge saying, "Sir, yes sir," and the six of them, their Ghosts, and the one mage, a mare with a pink coat and bright blue mane and tail, left.

The other mage, who had decided to become a citizen of the Vanguard, stayed behind. "What about me, sir?"

"Right now, do something fun," I said. "We'll need to wait until we have actual clothes for you all before we roll the spell to everypony."

He nodded. "Sir," he said, and left. As he did so, Ace, Golden, and CMC sized Applejack walked in.

"Hey guys," Cybis said. "Your lucky. We just finished the induction of our first recruits."

"So they're the ones we saw in the hall?" Golden asked. "I thought they were ponies."

"A spell the Canterlot mages created so that they could use our equipment," Rhino said.

"Hey, uncle Rhino," Applejack said, a happy smile on her face.

Rhino laughed as he picked Applejack up and put her on her favorite spot, which was his shoulder. "Hey there, Applejack. How have you been?"

"Just fine," she said. "Hey there, Uncle Cybis, Uncle Josh."

"Hey, AJ," Cybis said, petting her head. "Sorry we couldn't come to your birthday yesterday. We got caught up in something."

"Yeah, but we'll make it ti the next one," I said.

"That should be an easy one," Ace said. "She did just get her cutie mark, after all."

"She did," Rhino said, picking Applejack up and looking at her cutie mark. I can now safely say we changed more in the time line then just her parents being alive. Instead of the apple trio, which should have come in yesterday, as we saw the Rainboom, there was the Vanguard honor symbol. Well, could be worse. Huh, I wonder how Twilight's day had been. Guess we'll find out when we go Canterlot in a week.

'I'm gonna be a Guardian," Applejack said happily, and just how she said it helped to make me see this is actually better then the show's time line.

"Not so fast, Applejack," I said as Rhino set her on the floor. "Given how old you are, you'd still need to go through schooling, which we can provide, but it means giving up your citizenship as an Equestrian, which means you won't be able to help out around the farm as much."

"Oh, don't worry about that, Josh," Ace said. "We hired a lot of farm hooves, something granny didn't want, but with Golden being the farm owner, it was her decision to make. If it's what Applejack wants, we'll support her."

"Okay then, but if you guys really want to do this, whenever we went to Canterlot, she'd be coming with us," Cybis said.

"We do still have letters, you know," Ace said, which got a small laugh from us.

"I guess so," I said. "But still, are you sure, Applejack?" I asked, squatting down to look her in the eye.

"More sure then anything in my life," she said.

"In that case, it'll be a while before it's finalized, given your age, AJ, but seeing as how we're going to Canterlot in a week, we should be able to speed it up," Cybis said.

"We're fine with it," Golden said, a small tear of happiness coming from her eyes. "I'm just glad our little apple's going to do what she wants."

"Yay!" Applejack shouted, and we all laughed.

A week later, Rhino, Cybis, Applejack, riding with Cybis in the Ketch me, and I made our way to Canterlot. Applejack, her parents, Big Mac, and Granny Smith had a heartfelt goodbye, but it wasn't final, and she'd be seeing them when she got back. "So, Applejack, looking foreward to Canterlot?" I asked over the radio

"Yep," she replied. "I always wanted to see the city."

"Well, you won't be disappointed," Tara Ghost said. And i just thought of how she and Twilight are going to react to each other. This is going to be good.

We got to Canterlot about twenty minutes after we left Ponyville, and transmatted to the gardens, where, Celestia was sitting on a bench, a familiar lavender filly with a book next to her. She looked up upon hearing the sound of transmat and saw the four of us. "Ah, hello Josh," she said. "Twilight, don't be rude," she said to the filly, who was still reading her book. "Say hi."

I can only guess that Twilight rolled her eyes, being careful to not let Celestia see it, and looked up at us. Then she shut the book and her eyes widened. "Oh my Celestia, you're the Guardians," she said excitedly. "Princess Celestia's told me a lot about you, including what you told her of your world. "How'd you get here? Do you have a way to get back home? Why'd you decide to become royalty?"

"Twilight, I don't think they want to die from questioning," a voice that sounded like Spike's said, but he'd still be a baby, ut that thought was dashed when a purple and green Ghost materialized next to the lavender filly.

I looked to Celestia. "You tried to make a Ghost, failed, and made it be the one for your Kobyshi Maru style test, with you using the knowledge from the failure to make the other six, am I right? And Twilight some how activated it, and it's now her's?

"You'd be right in all of those cases," Celestia said. "I suppose i should introduce you to her. This is Twilight Sparkle, my personal student. I believe she already knows of you." It was here I guess she saw Applejack. "And, if I may ask, what is Applejack doing here?"

"AJ," Cybis said, and Applejack nodded and turned to present her cutie mark. "She's our personal student," he said.

"I gonna be a Guardian," she said for the umpteenth time, hopping around.

"Before you ask, Celestia, her family is okay with it," Rhino said.

"We were actually hoping that while we were here, you could actually help speed up the process from the Equestrian side."

"I'd be happy to," Celestia said. "Come, it's time we discussed what I asked for you thee to come. Twilight, I want you to stay with Applejack. Make friend aside from Spike and Smarty pants."

"Okay, Princess," Twilight said. With that, Celestia and the three of us left he two fillies. Applejack was a responsible pony for her age, and i knew she'd make sure she and Twilight stayed out of trouble.

As we entered the castle, Celestia spoke up. "I must admit, I'm surprised at what you three have done, what with creating a nation and helping to create a spell that gave ponies certain traits of your races."

"It was needed," I said, shrugging, before I explained the tests we did with our own armor to see if we could change their shape, and how they all failed.

"I understand," Celestia said. "At least none of them were harmed. But that is not the reason I asked for you."

"Then what is it?" Cybis asked, though we had a good idea thanks to that probe.

We walked a few more steps before Celestia spoke up. "Two weeks ago, a old friend on mine, who took the place of oracle a year before you all arrived, delivered a prophecy, and I believe you are a part of it."

"What did it say," I asked.

"'When darkness falls over Equestria, and an ancient evil arises to exterminate all life in it's name, three champions of light will stand against it, with the light at their sides. It will be their actions that decide whether or not we all fall, or rise,'" Celestia said. "I believe that you three are those champions, with your fellow Guardians being the light at your sides."

"Why tell us this?" I asked.

Celestia sighed. "It is because I am afraid the darkness refers to my sister, who, much to my shame, I let be forgotten. She will return in twelve years, and I ma afraid that you'll kill her to protect Equestria."

"We won't Celestia," Cybis said. "If anything, we'll make sure that whatever caused her to want to take over Equestria," and not the world, I's point out, "is taken care of. With out her dying."

Celestia visibly relaxed. "I thank you," she said.

"Of course," I said. "And how are Forge and the others doing?"

"Quite well, actually," Celestia said. "In fact, some of the best tailors in Canterlot offered to make them everyday outfits, as news of that particular part of your culture spread here quickly. In fact, I think I even overheard Fleur De Lis, a model and tailor from time to time, say she'd absolutely love to make outfits for the three of you."

"Well, if she's willing to come to Ponyville, she's welcome to," I said. "With us being Applejack's teachers, as well as being the ones to train each Guardian so far, we have to stay there."

"We'll send her an invite when we get back," Cybis said.

"I imagine she'll be happy about it," Celestia said. "If I may ask, what did that spell do, aside from the physical changes?"

Rhino shrugged. "It changed their subconscious, the part that controls movement, to more like ours, so they already knew how to use them."

"Smart," Celestia said. "And may I ask as to the armor they had?"

"No," the three of us said at the same time. "That is a national secret, and you, Celestia, are not a part of our nation, so you don't have clearance," Cybis added.

"I could easily declare war," Celestia said.

"Do you not remember what we're capable of," Rhino said. "We can easily wipe the floor with your guards, and the three of us, I'm sure, can kick your plot."

Plus we all know we could easily kill or hold ponies hostage, I added mentally, but Celestia cooled down.

"I suppose you could," Celestia said, "but I hope it won't come to it."

"As do we," I said, "but the fact remains it's a secret only the three of us, our Ghosts, and those two mages, who have been sworn to secrecy."

"Of course," Celestia replied. "It's been a pleasure to see the three of you again."

"Same here," I said. "Now, we should get back to Ponyville."

"Agreed," Cybis said.

With that, the four of us made our way back to the gardens, where we saw Twilight and Applejack playing with Spike the Ghost.

We didn't want to stop them, so we decided to sit on a nearby bench and watch. "Looks like they're having fun," Rhino said.

"Indeed they are," Celestia said. "Perhaps, given what Forge told me of the training, as little as it was, Twilight could visit Applejack occasionally."

"Maybe," I said. "But just her and her Ghost. No guards, and sure as tartarus not you. Don't want our secrets revealed." I chuckled. "I'm sure you have secrets, after all, that you haven't told any."

"In that, Josh, you are correct." Celestia sighed. "If there is any who truly know all of my secrets, it is my father, who vanished thousands of years ago."

"Well, I'm sure he was as kind a ruler as you," Cybis said.

"I'm sure he was, Cybis," Celestia said. "I was still just a filly when he vanished, the only clue being a single word. 'Thraska'tae'co'na'. Wordy yes, but it is in ancient Equish. The closest translation to have come is from me, and it would say 'The taken'. I have no idea what he meant by it, though."

My eye began to twitch. All powerful. Ancient. Vanished. The taken.

Fuck. Me. Cybis and Rhino were thinking along the same lines, and we didn't like it. Fortunately, though, we were able to hide our signs of unease.

Before any of us could say another word, Applejack and Twilight came over, large smiles on their faces. "Is it true that you're Applejack's uncles," Twilight asked us.

"Yeah, we are," Cybis said. "Come on, AJ. Much as we hate to break you and Twilight up, it's time to head back home."

"Awww, but Uncle Cybis-" she said before I cut her off.

"No 'buts' Applejack," I said sternly. "Do you still want to be a Guardian?"

"Yeah."

"Then we are going back home so we can get your education started. Is that clear?"

"Yes, sir," she said, giving an adorable salute, causing me and the others to chuckle.

With that, after telling Twilight that she could visit Applejack whenever she wanted, we were transmatted back to our jumpjets, and returned to Ponyville to get started on Applejack's formal education, and the easier parts of Guardian training.

Five years later

It had been an active five years for us. One of the major things was related to what we had learned in Canterlot five years ago. We couldn't tell anypony as to our theory about Celestia and Luna's father, but we got new protocols in place with the Guardians, which now had groups in all of Equestria's major cities. Some of those protocols included having around the clock surveillance in and around the cities, which was possible, now that we began bringing jumpjets through the Vex portal we had made, as well as Sparrows.

Applejack's education had gone by quickly, too. in less then a year, she had practically graduated Elementary and half of middle school, which, for me, was sixth, seventh, and eighth grade, so she was halfway through her seventh grade education. I don't know why, but I have a feeling Granny Smith thinking anything beyond elementary education had something to do with it, as, with her parents around, Applejack was nearly as smart as Twilight, in terms of material, and not specifically magic.

Twilight actually came to visit often, and on the days she had a break, either Cybis, Rhino, or I would take Applejack to Canterlot to see Twilight. One thing I know I saw is that, most of the time, the two wanted to be alone, and I myself sometimes caught the two of them snuggling.

In fact, I had just done so while invisible. Before you say creepy, wouldn't you look after your favorite niece at all times if she was a kid. Just saying.

Okay, really I had been walking past Applejack's room, going to the next training session for the next group of potential Guardians, when I saw that it was ajar, with whispers being heard.

"And what about them?" I heard a voice that sounded like Twilight's say. "What about your family?"

"I don't care what they think," I heard Applejack say, her time with us removing her drawl. The accent was there, yeah, but not the drawl. "Besides, it's not them I'm staying with. The real question is your family."

I decided to go invisible. Fortunately, due to the next class being on on stealth, I had Kephri's Sting on. I just sent a mental signal to it, and I was invisible. I got as close to the door as possible with out opening it, and saw Twilight and Applejack laying next to one another, an admittedly cute scene.

"I already talked with them about it, actually," Twilight said, "and they're good with it, as long as I'm happy." She nuzzled Applejack. "And I know I'm happy when I'm you, Jackie."

"Me too, Twi. Me too."

i smiled to myself and shook my head. Looks like we had a huge impact on a lot more than I thought.

Unfortunately, Rhino was walking by as well, and heard the same conversation, and I missed him as he opened the door, only to make the two ponies scramble to come up with an excuse. I saved them by decloaking and pulling Rhino aside. "Sorry, girls," I said while, somehow, pulling Rhino away. "but out of the three of us, Rhino's the most protective. But I know I say we're happy for ya, AJ."

"You are?" she asked.

"Yep," I said, still dragging Rhino away. "Just don't hurt her, Twilight, or else I won't be able to hold Rhino back."

"I won't," Twilight said sheepishly, blushing.

I nodded. "Good. See ya later," I said.

With that, I left, but left the door open, as I didn't trust her that much. "Rhino, calm the fuck down!"

"Why? What if something happens?"

"Then we'll just have a Ghost revive her. You know that."

Rhino calmed down here. "Yeah, I know," he said as I released him. "But it's Applejack. She's practically our daughter, given she spends most of her time here with one of us."

"Then we just have her take an extended break, and let Golden and Ace have some time with her," I said. "Simple."

"Why didn't I think of that," Rhino said, face palming.

"I'm going with you not getting the common sense from when we were still one person," Is aid. "Now come on, the new ponies are waiting on us."

"Fine," Rhino said, and we made our way to the training room, which took most of it's influence from Twilight Gap.

We got there, and the six ponies there, all pegasai, waiting for us.

I got to work with them, and, an hour of pegasi getting drop kicked because they knew shit about stealth later, they left, sores on all of their bodies. "Well, that was fun," I said, stretching.

"That's because you weren't hit once, Josh," Rhino said. "They were hit more then ten times each. So it's safe to say they aren't bladedancers."

"Agreed."

With that, the two of us left the room, and made our way to where Fleur, who had decided to join our little nation after we sent her an invite to be our personal tailors.

That had been an interesting week, let me tell you, but that is it's own story, so maybe later.

Three and a half years later

"You sure about this?"

"Nope."

"Well, this isn't the craziest plan you've come up with, Josh."

"I know, Nolandroid," I said, sitting in my jumpjet in low orbit. "Is everyone ready?"

"Yeah, they're ready, and Appleseed's still helping Applejack, but she's doing well."

Ah, yes, Applejack. She'd become a full Guardian, and the youngest, a few months ago when she went on a mission with Forge and Fire team Disciple. The mission was supposed to be a simple dragon containment mission, but, instead of a baby dragon, it was a fully grown one, and it was pissed off at the seven of them trying to move it. The nearest Fire team, Fire Team Obsidian, which was assigned to Applossa, had been an hour away, even with jumpjet. They were the six pegasai whose plots I had thoroughly kicked the day I had found out Twilight and Applejack were in a relationship, and each were Titans.

The dragon had tried to cook Forge and the others alive, but they had been able to dodge it, but Forge had been hit by the dragons claws. Applejack had seen it getting ready to take a bite out of her, and got between the two. She put her hooves in an eagle style, and a ward of dawn appeared, stopping the dragon, and giving the Titans of the Fire team the chance to knock it out. Upon returning back to the castle, Applejack was given her Titan armor, which was the VoG raid armor with, appropriately, Atheon's Epilouge as her primary, Found Verdict as her special, and Corrective measure as her heavy, her Ghost having the Frontier shell, and she had named it Appleseed, or just Seed, for short.

"Then get me a transmission to each jumpjet," I said.

"On it," Nolandroid said. A few seconds later, he said, "You're clear."

I nodded, then cleared my throat. "Guardians," I started. "I know most of you are wondering why we're here in upper orbit." I paused. "Well, it's because we're undergoing a rescue mission. The magic detectors in orbit we launched a year ago have picked up something on the moon, something we believe to be a pony.

"Our mission is simple: Find the pony, and bring them home." Don't worry, Luna, I thought. We're bringing you home.

Consumed by darkness

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"Okay," I said over the radio, "we all know the drill: Transmat down to the moon, and find out what caused that magic flare, and, if it's a live pony, bring them home. Until Cybis, Rhino, or I say otherwise, you are to tell none about this mission if they weren't a part of it."

After confirmation signals came in from the twenty-two Guardians on the mission, which included myself, Cybis, Rhino, and Applejack, I said, "Then let's go." I pushed the throttle stick forward, and my jumpjet leaped forward, and the others behind me shortly after.

Canterlot-Celestia 3rd person

Celestia walked along the hallway that led to where Twilight stayed. She was late to her lesson, and she hadn't been seen in the library. Celestia wasn't worried, thinking she was just caught up in reading a new book.

"Twilight, are you there?" she asked when she made it to her student's door, only to get no response, which simply made her worry. She knocked, saying, "Twilight, this isn't funny," in a worried voice.

Still no response, so she decided to open the door, even though she didn't want to disturb Twilight. If she was there, that is.

When Celestia opened the door, she was horrified to not see any hint of the lavender unicorn, nor her Ghost. The room was as it had been the previous night, when Celestia had finished giving Twilight a lesson. The books were in their proper locations, the bed had been made. That ruled out she had been foalnapped, but simply made the one of what happened.

As the solar alicorn thought on this, she got a message from a spell she had cast years ago, one to alert her if some magic other then her's, was active on the moon. It had been made as a precaution if Nightmare should be released sooner then she had planned for, as the Elements were still three and a half years from being able to bond with new ponies, and they were the only things that could cure Luna of her insanity. She cast a second spell, one designed to create a guardian out of her sister's own magic, which would make her attacks barely effective, ensuring she wouldn't return before it was time.

Cybis' pov

As Josh, Rhino, myself, and the other Guardians made our way to the moon, Dinklebot lit up. "We have a magic spike."

"Where is it?" I asked.

"Center of the eye of the 'Mare in the moon'. Signature is a mix of Celestia's and another pony's," he said in a worried tone. Didn't think that was possible. "Might be Nightmare's, if we're thinking the same thing."

"If you mean Celestia used her own magic to use Nightmare's to make something to prevent her from returning, then yes, we are thinking the same thing," I said. "I'll let Josh and Rhino know."

Already done, Josh said through our mental connection. And Nolandroid alerted the others as to the spike.

"Which reminds me," Nolandroid said, as he, Dinklebot, and Tara Ghost were in the connection as well, "I picked up an extra Ghost, but don't recognize the signature."

"Any idea where it is?" Rhino asked.

"Applejack's ship, but I can't get through to her."

"Then we'll talk to her when we land," I said as we came up on the rim of the eye.

Once we were close, we transmatted down to the lunar surface. "So, any idea where that spike was?" I asked, referring to the first one.

"Negative," Dinklebot said. "Just in the general center, which is about ten kilometers wide."

"Great," Josh said sarcastically. For this mission, he wore Knucklehead radar, and had his Bladedancer active.

"I never did like searching over a large area," Rhino, wearing the Feedback fence and having Defender going, said.

I had purifier robes on, and, obviously, was going Sunsigner. "So what should we do?"

"Maybe have the Jumpjet's do a close in scan," Tara said. "I mean, they have the capability."

"True," Josh said as the other Guardians arrived, with Forge and Applejack in front. Just as they transmatted down, I thought I saw a shimmer behind our adoptive niece.

"So, what's the plan," Forge asked.

"Have the jumpjet's do a more close in scan of the target area so we know where to go," I said, Dinklebot having already tasked the Ketch me on that, and I assumed Tara and Nolandroid had done so as well. "Until then," I said, sitting, "we wait."

Well, as Josh said when that portal opened up, why must you hat me, universe? As soon as I said that, my tracker lit up with red all along the edges.

"CONTACTS!" Rhino yelled, getting his Suros Regime ready. "LOTS OF 'EM!!"

"Okay, seriously, why does this happen to us," Josh said, pulling out his Loner.Rebel, which had explosive rounds on it. "I mean, seriously?"

"I guess the universe just wants to make us hate our lives," I said as I got my Coiled Hiss 1919 out.

The others got their assorted weapons, ranging from Auto rifles to Hand cannons, out and got into the classic infantry square. "Where are they?" Josh asked, as our trackers showed they were in visible range. Then I noticed the shading. The red was dark.

I looked up. "Heads up, Guardians!" I yelled as I fired a burst up, hitting a dark, bat winged thing. I know it wasn't a thestral, but it looked more like a damned Ahamkara.

Which was to say a fucking dragon.

"Take 'em down!" Rhino yelled as he and the others all aimed up. As if it wasn't already bad, Dinkle came over the radio to report.

"The Extinction just picked something up."

"You guys, go," Josh yelled. "I'll buy you as much time as I can."

"But Uncle Josh," Applejack started before he cut her off.

"No, Applejack. You are going there, all of you. I'll stay here, make sure you all get there." He stopped firing, and stepped out of the square. "You forget," he said, and I was certain there was a smile on his face. "I'm a motherfuckin' Hunter," He said before a Ghallarhorn appeared in front of him. He grabbed it out of midair, and fired two rockets up at the dark horde. "COME AND GET ME!!" he yelled as his Sparrow, a legendary one from the emerald coil, appeared and he got on and boosted to maximum speed in the opposite direction, with the Ahamkara ghosts following him. I saw a few less in the group. Not much, but a few.

"We need to help him," Applejack said.

"We can't," Forge said. "He wants us to go on ahead, regardless of what happens to him. We all knew the risks, but came here anyway."

"She's right, much as I wish she wasn't," Rhino said, his voice somber, if it was possible for an exo. "Come on, we need to go before more of those things get here," he said as his Tumbler appeared. He got on as Forge, myself, and the others, all silent in honor of Josh, brought our Sparrows down. We got on them, and rushed off to the center of the eye.

Josh

As my Sparrow raced south, with the shadow dragons behind me, Nolandroid appeared next to me. "You know we won't last long, right?" he asked.

"Yeah, I do," I replied. "I'm still going to give 'em hell, though."

"Figured you would," Nolandroide said. "So, what's the plan?"

"Just keep going away from the eye, and bring as many of these things along with us, hopefully giving the others time," I said as a fog clouded my vision.

"Damn, we just passed into a darkness zone," Nolandroid said as an orb of dark fire nearly hit me. "And they somehow know it. If they hit us-"

"We're dead, yeah, I know," I said as I stopped my Sparrow, turning it to the side as it slowed. As I got off it, the dragons landed, though some were in the air above me, all circling.

"Music?" Nolandroid said.

"Something a little, I don't know, starry."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZp3Mtn-YsI

Ah, Starset. One of my favorite bands. It has begun, too. Perfect for this.

"Arc devastation," I said to Nolandroid, and my helmet was switched with Mask of the third man, my Abyss swapped for Fang, and my Gallarhorn for my Sawtooth. "Who's first?" I asked.

None responded, so I decided to make the first move. I put my Fang on my back, drew my knife, flipped it to where it was in a reverse grip, and sent Arc energy to it. "I'll go first, then," I said as I ran forward. The shadows fired their black flame orbs, but, I seemed to be protected by something, as those that should have been a direct hit and would have taken down my shields did nothing.

As I neared a shadow, I jumped, using my extra height double jump to get onto the things neck. It thrashed around, trying to get me off. I held on to a spine growing out of it's neck with my left, yelling, "YIPPE-KI-FUCKING YAY, ASSHOLE!!!," as I drove my arc blade down through it's neck. It didn't kill it, so I sent a surge of arc energy through it, and the thing stopped, then began to collapse. As it dd so, I jumped off and blinked to the next one, me facing it's open mouth. I landed in it's mouth, and the jaws snapped shut, only for them to open wide open as I did showstopper, followed by an upwards stab. "Eat it," I said as I delivered a surge of energy directly into what constituted its brain, killing it. This time, I just jumped out of the thing, landing in the middle of a large circle, my arc blade having faded as I landed.

"Solar," I said and me helmet went to Nighthawk, my Abyss appearing in place of the Fang, and Gallarhorn in place of Sawtooth.

I raised my Gallarhorn and fired off two shots, with the impact on their targets, which were in the air, killing them, the pressure wave doing the same with three each on their flanks, and the wolf pack rounds killing another five total. I didn't have time to reload it as those on the ground charged me, so I threw it on the ground and rolled out of the way, drawing my Abyss as I did so. When I came up in a kneeling position, I aimed for the closest shadow, and fired off an entire clip at it's head, which killed it. I had just enough time to get a new magazine in before I had to jump over a claw, firing at the one who had tried to hit me. As my last shot exited the rifle, I landed, and was forced to throw my auto rifle down on the ground. "Thorn," I said, and the PvP nightmare known as Thorn appeared in my hand. I fired two shots at each shadow, the devouerer killing them shortly after the second shot hit. I fired until it was empty, reloaded, and repeated until I had truly ran out of ammo for it, as I was able to easily reload it while rolling.

"Primary, Loner," I said, and Nolandroid popped a primary synthesis and my Thorn swapped for my Loner.Rebel. I brought it up and fired off head shots, the explosive rounds doing bonus damage. Just as I emptied the second clip, I was hit in the back by one of the shadows, making me drop my hand cannon. I flew from the impact, and actually heard a few ribs crack.

I rolled when I landed, stopping face up. I looked up at the sky, and saw the brilliant stars. You know, It just occurred to me: What if one of those stars was home. I know we've been here for just about ten and a half years, but still, nothing like being on the edge of death to make you think. The shadows closed in around me, but stopped, circling me, seeing if I would get back up.

I'm sorry, guys, I thought, not just to Cybis and Rhino, but Applejack, Golden, Ace, and even Applebloom, who had been born a few years back, but even my friends from before this all started, even if they'd never hear, or see, me again. I closed my eyes, waiting for them to close in and kill me, when I heard a loud crack in the air, and three bangs, followed by three explosions, and a few bodies falling down.

Before I could open my eyes, though, I felt a cold come over me, as if I had been dropped into cold water. And I heard a single, deep voice.

So, you are the Guardian of this world, it said. It matters not. My daughter Celestia may have made these to begin with, but I control them, and had them go after you and your allies. You think, just by reuniting two sisters, that you can defeat me. You truly are ignorant of the greater picture, and what it entails. At this, my eyes opened, but all I saw was pure black, like from an ink pen. And you will be MINE!

I cried out in pain as tendrils of shadow reached out from my surroundings and leeched onto me. I felt a perverse feeling come over me, wanting to murder everyone. I clenched my teeth, fighting the sickness, the disease, the darkness. It was then I realized: to fight shadows, true shadows, well.

You need to become one.

I stopped fighting, much to the voice's surprise. What? It shouldn't be possible, a Guardian allowing darkness to enter their mind and body!

"I'm not just a Guardian, jackass," I said as I stood up, my eyes glowing purple, my hands clenched. "I'm not something you can corrupt for the hell of it. I am Joshua Miller, Hunter Vanguard, and I say," I said as a purple bow appeared in my left hand, and I held it up as if I was firing an arrow from it, placed my right hand where the string ought to be, and pulled back, a single arrow appearing. "Go back to the darkness from which you came," I said, releasing the arrow, which flew ahead, vanishing. A purple light took up my vision, and I shielded my eyes and looked away.

When the light faded, I stood where I had once laid. I no longer felt the pain of cracked ribs, and a quick check using my armor systems said that they were whole, as if they were never broken.

I looked around, only to be met with an impressively scary sight. Strewn all around the area were the charred and rapidly materializing, they were made of magic, after all, bodies of the shadow dragons. But, out of all of that, the thing that got my attention was the one who had used Golden Gun.

"So, Twilight," I said, crossing my arms in a way that said "I am very pissed off, and you'd better give me a good explanation". "Care to tell me how you're here, and how you did a super?"

The lavender unicorn, a small bubble around her body, tried to shrink, but failed, and my gaze didn't let up, and she could tell this, even with my helmet on. "I'm waiting."

"I kinda snuck on Applejack's ship and asked if I could come along," Twilight said. "In her defense, she didn't know what was going on."

"And the super?"

"I asked AJ to train me, so that when I got older, I could try to get into a team with her," Twilight said with a sheepish smile, which only made me shake my head. "I guess it paid off, huh?"

"Twilight, what you did was dangerous, reckless, and, above all," I said with a pissed off look under my helmet befor eit turned into a smile, "exactly like the Hunter you apparently are."

I knelt down to her level. "But once we're done here, we are going to talk about this with Celestia, including you skipping your classes."

"Actually, I had Spike leave a note saying I didn't want to be her student anymore."

"No," Spike said, materializing. "You didn't. I thought you were going to."

"Oh, for the love of," I said with a facepalm. "Now she thinks you were foalnapped or something. I swear, what is the world coming to." I faced her. "And just what were you going to do when you do actually tell her that?"

"I was going to apply to Guardian training. I checked the documents, and there isn't an age minimum."

If there was a desk, I would have tried oh so hard to break it. With my face, no helmet.

"Nolandroid, remind me to fix that when we get back."

"Right."

"In the meantime," I said. "Twilight, stay back from the fighting, and let us take care of it," I said while my Sparrow was brought down. "Got it?"

Twilight nodded. "Then let's go," I said as I got on my Sparrow, Twilight getting on behind me. "Hold on," I said as I practically gunned the throttle.

Rhino

As I led the other Titans, as Cybis had come up with the idea for the three classes to split up, with him leading the Warlocks, Forge the Hunters(I see a pun in there), and me leading the Titans, we came across an odd village. Blaze, the leader of Fire team Obsidian and my second in command who wore the raid gear from Crota and having the load out of Word of Crota and having Swordbreaker, was the first to comment on it.

"Weird. How can a village be up here on the moon?" he asked.

"No idea," I said, "but stay alert. No telling if there's anything alive, let alone if it's hostile."

Blaze nodded. "Right." With that, the ten of us, consisting of me, all of Obsidian, the two from Disciple, and Applejack, moved in on foot.

The village seemed to be a more, how do I put it, Gothic look, and I don't mean the whole bleak and emo thing, I mean ancient Gothic, like Notre Dame. Gargoyles, that kind of shit.

So, anyway, we walked into the village, our weapons, mostly Auto rifles with some Pulse rifles and Hand cannons mixed in, at the ready. Our trackers were dark, showing no activity near us. Not sure if that's a good or bad thing, as it could also mean cloaked enemies, as advanced invisibility spells would work similar to Fallen cloaking.

"Hold up, I got something," Blaze said. "Something at my twelve, far range. Visual."

I nodded. "Right. Far Sight," I said to the sniper, a pegasus mare with the holdfast armor who had a Revelator hand cannon and a void Amplified Geo-D6, "Take a look."

"Sir," she said, and looked down her sniper scope. "Sir, I'll say this bluntly. I'm seeing two bat ponies with a build similar to ours, but wearing the old, crappy armor worn by Celestia's guards."

Okay, if I was organic, I'd try hitting on her. The reason: she is blunt with everything, right to the point, just like Josh, Cybis, and I were when we were one. That, plus she's intelligent and funny when the occasion calls for it. "Well then, what do you think we should do?"

"Well, sir, if my Equestrian history is right, those are thestrals, a sub race of ponies that were loyal exclusively to Princess Luna." We would keep the fact she was Nightmare secret from the Equestrian's and our civilians, not our Guardians. "If I remember correctly, they went missing shortly after her banishment, but remained loyal to her."

"Well, looks like we found 'em," Blaze said, "What do we do?"

"Easy," I said, walking towards the two thestrals in plain view.

"You there, halt," one yelled, pointing a sword(ha!) at me. "What are you, and what do you want?"

"Well, I'm a Guardian, and as for what I want, I want to bring Nightmare Moon back to Equestria." This got a surprised look on both their faces.

"And why would you want that," the one pointing the pointless(figuratively speaking) sword at me said.

"Because she was wronged by her sister, or however she and all of you see Celestia, and the ponies of that time, but times have changed, and ponies actually like the night, some even working during it. Or they would, if Celestia had tried to stop the lies about her," I said. "But my comrades and I, rulers of our own kingdom, as well as those that follow us, have been told the truth, and would be willing to give her chance where Celestia's ponies wouldn't."

"How do we know you aren't lying?"

"Because he isn't the only one up here," Blaze said as he walked next to me, followed by Far Sight and Applejack. "All of us are here because we want to see that wrong righted."

The guard with the sword looked at us, me especially, with a look of suspicion, before putting his sword away and saying, "Alright, but if you so much as try to harm our princess when you free her, we will kill you."

Yeah, good fucking luck with that. "We won't," I said. "Come on, guys, we need to get to where Nightmare's being held."

"Do we even know where that is," Sight said.

"Not a clue," I said. "Just that it's somewhere in the eye, and that we still don't have recon scans for the area."

"Didn't your Ghost say the center of the eye," Blaze said as we started walking.

"I guess, but who knows if the scans were being thrown off or not."

"Fair enough," Applejack said.

Just as we left the village behind, I saw a small speck on the horizon. Sight must have, too, as she looked through her sniper scope. "Looks like a castle," she said. "Probably where we need to go."

I nodded. "Agreed," I said. "Guardians, mount up," I said as I summoned my Sparrow, and Tara sent a message to Dinkle, telling him, and Cybis by extension, where we were going.

With that, the others summoned their Sparrows, and we set off.

Forge-3rd

As Forge and the other Hunters made their way to the castle Rhino just spotted, they themselves seeing it a few minutes prior, they rode past a barren landscape in silence for their fellow Hunter, not knowing Josh was alive. As the castle got closer and the message from Dinklebot came in over the radio about the castle, the Hunters heard a large roar, and stopped.

Just short of the castle, they looked and saw a large behemoth with ashen gray skin, no eyes, and where they should have been, bumpy, irritated skin, chains around it's wrists.

"What is that?" Forge said.

"No idea," one of her fellow Hunter said, "but I think it best to get away from it now!"

"Agreed," Forge said, and they boosted away from the Ogre as it slammed the ground and roared.

Cybis-1st

"Oh, fuck me," I said, recognizing that roar anywhere. Phogoth, the untamed. How in the actual hell did he get here? I mean, seriously, I doubt Celestia knows dimensional teleportation spells. On the other hand, it would explain her knowing to only send Twilight through the portal in EQG.

Cybis, you hear that? Rhino asked over them mental link.

Yeah. We need to move, now. That's where Forge and the Hunters are.

Then let's go.

With that, the Titans and Warlocks made our way to the castle, just as we neared, more Ogres appeared, and slammed the ground, causing us all to fall off our Sparrows. "Damn it," I said as I hit the ground. "How the hell are they here?"

"No idea," Rhino, who had landed next to me, said. "Current theory is Celestia ripped them from Destiny and brought them here without knowing what they are. It'd explain why they always fade when they're killed."

"Well, there's no way we can handle all of them," I said. "There's, what, a hundred of them? I didn't even know there were that many being killed at once."

"Same here, but we can still give them hell," Rhino said, getting up and firing his Suros. "After all, we Guardians don't flee."

"We fight," I said, getting up and firing my Hiss at Phogoth's stomach, his weak spot. It didn't look like it did anything, even after ten whole clips.

All of us had been forced into a square, and we were running low on ammo. I'm not kidding, I was down to half a magazine. Just as I fired off my last burst, I heard a voice over the radio I didn't think I'd hear again.

"All Defenders, pop the bubbles. Air support's coming in hot," Josh said. I didn't know what he meant by air support, but, really, I'd take it. I nodded to Rhino, and he made sure the Defenders did so. Every Guardian was under a bubble in the next second, just before a large wave of missiles streaked in from the south, with every jumpjet we had coming in behind them, with jumpjets with a design similar to Extinction or Vintage Russian Soul dropping what I could only guess were bombs on the Ogres.

Just as the dust cleared, a ship we all knew flew over and stopped between us and the Ogres, now reduced to just Phogoth and ten of his younger brothers. A shimmer indicating transmat happened, and there on the lunar surface, his Another Nit, which, if I'm right had Luck in the chamber and third eye, drawn and ready, his Invective on his back, and he also had his old Jackknife set on, the first he had ever completed, with our shader going. "So, you started the party with out me," he said. "I'm hurt."

I just chuckled as Rhino and I exited our ward of dawn to stand next to Josh. "Only because you were late," I said.

"I had to lose some assholes, sue me," Josh replied. Even in the face of death, we could still joke around.

"So, what music?" Rhino asked. Both Josh and I looked at him.

"I think you can guess," I said.

(music removed from youtube or otherwise unavailable. Song was Immigrant song by Led Zeppelin.)

As the song started, the three of us charged, the others rushing behind us. Phogoth roared, and his younger brothers fired their eye blasts at us. I jumped up and activated glide, then unleashed a shatter Nova bomb, killing three Ogres, landing in a kneeling position, while Rhino shoulder charged another, then fist of panicked the thing, killing it and those next to it. Josh summoned his Golden Gun, and fired three shots, killing one Ogre with two shots, and a second with the third, leaving three, not including Phogoth. The normal ones were taken care of quickly, and we then focused fire on Phogoth, but his eye beam kept us from being able to get a shot off on his weak point.

"You want to play hard to get," Josh said. "I can oblige," he said, charging straight towards the giant Ogre. He jumped up and brought his knees up, as if he was crouching, and brought his hands up as if he was firing a bow, only for one, with an arrow, to appear in his hands. He released the arrow, and it was sent flying towards Phogoth, and it hit its target, with a tether of void light anchring him to the ground, and preventing him from firing. Josh had his Shadow Shot. "Take him down, Guardians!" he yelled, and we all brought out our heavy weapons, myself bringing out a Thunderlord, and fired on Phogoth, and the air thundered with explosions and bullet fire. This time, he fell, and fell for good.

"So, care to explain how you got Shadow shot," Rhino asked as we walked up to Josh.

"Later. Right now," he said, looking up at the castle, "we get Nightmare out of here."

"Right," Rhino said.

"But before that, though," Josh said, turning to face Applejack. "Got something to tell us, Applejack? And don't bother lying, I already know."

"What are you talking about, Josh," Rhino said, but Josh just crossed his arms and stared at Applejack, who was acting a little jumpy, now that I look at her in a calm moment.

"Well?"

Applejack looked around, I imagine for a distraction, then let her head down and sighed. "Fine. I kinda snuck Twilight here."

"WHAT?!" Rhino and I yelled, getting the attention of the others.

"I didn't know this was gonna happen. I f I did, I wasn't going to bring her, I swear. Wait a minute, where is she," she asked in a panic, but Josh saved from a panic attack.

"Up in the Extinction. She decided to come with me when I led those shadow dragons away from you all, and pulled off a Golden Gun, and actually saved me from those things. But both you and her are going to get punished, AJ, once we get back. Got it?"

"Yeah," Applejack said, holding her head down.

"The let's go," Josh said. "Forge, Blaze, Azure, take one other Guardian and make sure nothing but us leaves or enters this place." Azure, full name being Azure Moon, was a Warlock earth pony with the Viper Spine armor set on and had the Chatterwhite shade on, with an Allfate as her primary and the Vestian dynasty as her special weapon.

"You got it," Forge said.

"The rest of you, aside from Applejack, are to go back to the Tower and make sure there are no holes in security. Nightmare's going to be weak, and we can't have somepony trying to kill her because of the legend."

Those that would be going back to the planet's surface nodded, and disappeared in transmat, while Forge, Blaze, and Aura, along with those staying behind with them, summoned their Sparrows, and set out on a patrol route.

"Twilight, you too. You're with us," he said. "Yes, I'm serious. . . Look, if you don't come down now, it'll be even worse for you. Besides, it'll be close quarters, and we'll make sure you're in the center."

I assume Twilight went with it, as she soon transmatted down, the shrunk under Rhino's gaze and mine.

"Okay, people, let's go," Josh said. "Twilight in the center."

Rhino, Applejack, and I nodded, and we made our way into the castle, Twilight in the center of our formation, looking to bring a princess back.

Night time discussions

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As Applejack, Rhino, Cybis, Twilight, who had put a spell field around herself so she could breath on the moon that had proven to not be needed by the thestrals, and I entered the castle, I asked Rhino, "So why do you think those thestrals were anthro?"

"No idea," Rhino asked. "We should probably ask Nightmare when we find her."

"Uh, who's Nightmare," Twilight asked.

We hesitated to answer, but Cybis was the one to answer. "Nightmare's Celestia's sister, Twilight."

At Twilight's wide mouth of shock prompted an explanation. "You've heard of the Mare in the Moon?" I asked, to which she nodded. "Well, the legend's true. The Mare in the Moon is Nightmare Moon, Celestia's sister." Guess I should point out that I am one of the few bronies who believe that Nightmare is the actual personality, with Luna being one for the public, with Celestia wanting to rewrite the personality. Breaking news: Celestia's an idiot. Nolandroid, remind me to sweep kick and drop kick Celestia after I ask her why.

Right.

"Celestia banished her after she tried to cause eternal night," I added before Nolandroid came into the conversation.

"Which, by the way, wouldn't have caused mass death," he said, appearing while floating alongside us. "I analyzed the lunar composition, and, somehow, the moon would focus the solar rays, maybe even enhance them. The only change would be the fact that the planet would be in constant solar eclipse."

"Well, that makes sense," Spike said as he too appeared. "I actually remember reading something about that in the book Celestia recommenced to Twilight that was about the solar system. It was dated a few years before the mare in the moon story originated."

"Which means Celestia probably knew about it," Rhino said. "Yeah, she'll be lucky if I don't put a whole Hard Light clip in her face."

"We don't need war, Rhino," Cybis said. "Even if we wanted one, that wouldn't be good for anyone, even if war does lead to technological advancement."

"Yeah, I know, but still."

"Guys, that's enough," I said. "We can discuss that on the way back to the Tower."

"I'm just saying," Rhino said. "So, any idea as to how we find her?"

"Simple," a female voice asked, one Cybis, Rhino, and I recognized instantly. The five of us looked up, and saw a certain midnight black alicorn. "All you have to do is come and ask for me," Nightmare said. I'll say it now: I thought we were going to have to fight her. I had the perfect song to. Actually, fuck it, here it is.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8u1xIuI-Lg

We founding Vanguard members and our Ghosts, who materialized next to us, bowed, the Ghosts lowering and tilting their bodies, and I said, "Princess Nightmare." This made Applejack, Twilight, and their Ghosts scramble to do the same.

"You know who I am," Nightmare asked, I assume with a raised eyebrow.

"We do," Cybis said. "I imagine you're curious as to who we are?"

"Only the actual pony," Nightmare said. "The rest of you, I have seen in the few dreams I have witnessed in the past few years, which is how I know the spell that made your subjects what they are now."

Explains the thestrals, Rhino said.

"Now, why are the five of you here?"

"To bring you back to Equis, your highness," I said, which I heard a gasp as the response.

"I know that voice," she said in a whisper, but the helmet was able to pick it up. "You, take off your helmet," she said in a more audible voice. I did so, taking off my helmet, which was the Jackknife, as I hadn't switched out back to my usual one. I knew I wouldn't suffocate, as the thestrals could, and they had no fields around them. "Rise, and show me your face."

I did so, and looked her in the eye. She gasped. "Lone," she whispered. "Is that you?"

"What," I said, a little surprised, as that was the name of my OC. "How do you know that name?"

She reached up with an armored hoof and touched my cheek, not giving any indication she heard me, to which I slightly recoiled. "It is you," she said. "I had thought you were killed, all those years ago."

"What do you mean," I asked.

"You don't remember, do you?"

"No," I said. "This is the first time in memory of me talking with you."

She closed her eyes, and I thought I saw a single tear fall from her eye. "It's me," she said, opening her eyes, and, for a moment, I saw her eyes change. Not in color, but in shape. The pupils were still snake-like, but the white's became, well, white. She gave a small smile, looking at me. "It's not important," she finally said, but that didn't mean it left my mind. "Why did you come for me, because my sister asked you too?"

Cybis answered. "No. We came to return you because we wished to give you the position you deserve, as yourself."

"To make you a fellow ruler of our country," Rhino added. "Should you wish to, that is."

Nightmare glanced at me, I doubt the others noticed, hell, I barely noticed, then looked at the others. "So long as I am given the respect I deserve."

"That we can take care of with our subjects, at least," Cybis said. "As for those under Celestia's rule, we can't guarantee anything."

"I guess that will have to suffice," she said.

"Yeah, and you'll need to use that spell, as everyone who's under our rule is in that form," Rhino said.

"I shall do that when we get to the planet," Nightmare said. "But how shall we get there?"

"Already taken care of, your highness," Nolandroid said as we heard the roar of engines outside. "Assuming you are okay with shrinking yourself for a while, that is."

"I do not know a spell for that," Nightmare said. "I will need to be in one of your ships for that."

"Maybe not," I said. "We've been working on a project meant for transport a a group of ponies that don't have our tech, and we've tested it. We'd have to wait a while, though. An hour or two, max."

"As long as that is it," Nightmare said. "I do not wish to be here longer then is needed."

I nodded my head. "Of course, your highness," I said as I got on my feet. Now, the project I was talking about is that ship in the lower part of the tower hanger, where Xur sometimes spawns, the one with that music thing and the Hunter symbol on the side, near dead orbit.

"I'll get it here," Nolandroid said before he and the other three Ghosts vanished.

Celestia-3rd

Celestia, a calm look on her face, sat on her throne, worried for her student and what was happening on the moon, as she had lost the connection to the Guardians. She did not wish to send Forge and her team, or ask Josh to investigate personally, as she was afraid of what would happen if they found out the truth.

She was in the middle of listening to her nephew drone on about having all the shrubbery in the royal gardens and the public parks in Canterlot trimmed to his likeness so "the masses may gaze upon my glory, and know what a true prince looks like, unlike those creatures called 'Guardians'." She had learned to tune him out, but that didn't mean it got easy listening to him.

Mercifully, a guard rushed in and said, "Your highness, activity in Ponyville."

"Oh, leave those uncultured slobs be," Blueblood said. "Whatever's going on, I 'm sure they deserve it."

"I wasn't talking to you," the guard said. It was common for any guard to ignore Blueblood, as they knew he'd simply complain to Celestia, who would let them go while saying to Blueblood it was handled. "Princess," he said, bowing. "Our far seers report a ship leaving the Tower, and it's trajectory points it to the planet's atmosphere. What should we do?"

Ccelestia's eyes widened for a second, but she hid it and replied, "Have all the guards put on alert, and have a contingent sent to Ponyville. I'm certain Josh and the others will appreciate help."

"Yes, your highness," the guard said. "And also, our seers have news as to your student. They report, well, they report she's on the moon, but they can not see her surroundings."

"Prepare all guards for a powerful magic user then," Celestia said, steel in her voice. "And make sure all of them are protected from dark magic." She rose from her throne. "I'm sorry, nephew, but we must reschedule this. I have something else I must attend to." Before her nephew could respond, Celestia lit her horn and teleported, and the guard went to pass along the orders.

Celestia reappeared in a ruined castle she knew well. It was the last place she had seen Luna before she had fallen. The room, once a noble, regal throne room with two seats, was in ruin of her fight with Nightmare Moon. The pedestal that held the Elements, though, was still there, the five Elements of Loyalty, Kindness, Generosity, Laughter, and Honesty still there, and she could feel the power of Magic around the five. She lit her horn, and took the five physical ones in her grasp, her power brining the Element of Magic into the physical realm from the ether.

"Do not worry, sister," she said. "I will free you." Just before she lit her horn to teleport, a great Darkness came over her, and she fainted.

When Celestia opened her eyes, she saw nothing but a void blacker then the night sky without the moon or stars. "Wh-where am I?" she asked, only for the reply to come from a regal sounding voice.

"Hello, my daughter," the voice said, causing Celestia to widen her eyes in surprise.

"Father? Is that really you?"

"Indeed it is," the voice said. "I have seen your plight, and wish to help."

"But how," Celestia asked.

"By giving you a power. Two, in fact," her father said, his figure not visible at all. "The first is the ability to reach into other dimensions and bring it's denizens here, to yours. Before you say anything, there are three who could help you, and they come from the same as those Guardians.

"The second is the ability to take away one's fears, and give them a new power to use based on those fears that counteract those fears, as well as give them new shape. The only downside, though, is that they simply become one of a greater force, with their will being yours. True harmony. However, I would not recommend having those you use the former technique on in visible sight of the Guardian's, nor would I try it on those you take from the other dimension."

"But Father, why would I do any of that," Celestia said.

"Wouldn't you do so to protect your subjects, as well as your sister?"

Celestia was speechless. It was true, she would do anything to protect her little ponies, as well as her sister. "Yes, I would," she eventually said. "Please, Father, help me."

"I will, my daughter. I will." With that, Celestia lost what little sight she had, only for her vision to return and for her to see the old throne room. One new thing, though, was something pressing down on her mind, which she assumed were the spells her Father offered her.

She picked up the Elements from where they fell, not noticing a new white and black accent to her yellow magic, and hid them with a simple spell, and teleported back to Canterlot.

Josh-1st

It's been near an hour since the ship was sent for, and I was alone with Nightmare in the throne room oh her lunar castle, and I decidd to adress something. I walke dup to her as she looked out a window and said, "So, if I may ask, who is Lone?"

She sighed. "Not 'is', 'was'," she said. "He was the one pony who saw me as an actual pony before I was banished. In fact, he was once my husband, but a group of ponies who were radicals who wished for my death found out about him and saw him as a traitor. During one of my night courts, they snuck into his chambers, and killed him while he slept." A tear came to her eye. "I thought you were him, Josh, because of your voice and how you carried yourself, and that you were him in a new form. The ironic thing about what happened to him: he was a part of Celestia's guards."

"Why wasn't he a part of yours?"

"Because back then, one could not change which part of the guard they were in, and he was a unicorn, and only pegasai could join my guard, a law by the unicorn nobles to ensure my guard did not become too powerful. It was because of what happened to him that was part of the reason I tried to overthrow my sister, so that I could make a memorial for him." She began to sob. "I only wish I could see him once more and say goodbye" she said between sobs.

I put my hand on her shoulder, or what ever the pony equivalent was. "I'm sure he was a good stallion," I said, "and that, wherever he is, he's watching over you, Nightmare, wanting to speak to you once more."

"I'm sure he is," Nightmare said, "but I still wish to speak to him once again."

It was here the two of us heard a voice behind us, which made me bring up my Loner.Rebel, poised to shoot. "Me too, Moony," the voice said.

There, partly see through, was a pony I knew well, as he was my OC. He had a black coat wiht his hooves being red, his mane and tail being the same black as his coat, with accents of red and orange, giving them a firey look to them. He was as tall as Luna from season two onward, and his horn had a sharp point to it.

"Lone," Nightmare whispered. "I-is that really you?" she asked, reaching out a hoof as I put my hand cannon away.

"Yeah, it's me," Lone said, smiling. He walked up to Nightmare, and, as much as he could, placed a hoof on her cheek. "I missed you. I wanted to speak with you earlier, but I couldn't."

"Why?" Nightmare asked.

"I was making sure Celestia didn't mess up Equestria, but I failed," Lone said. "For all but a story, an old mare's tale, she let you be forgotten, and erased all but peaceful times from history, including Discord and the Empire."

"She let ponies forget of Discord," Nightmare asked. "Why?"

"Because, if I had to guess, it was so ponies wouldn't believe that there can be a force as evil."

"Even if Chaos is essential to Harmony," I said, which made Lone chuckle.

"I've watched you, Josh, as well as your allies," he said. "And I have to admit, I was a little surprised when I saw you in action. In fact, the three of you use both light and dark magic in your abilities, resulting in harmony magic, which Celestia believes to be pure, light magic. In fact, the elements aren't even a means of Harmony," Lone said, making Nightmare gasp in surprise. "They're a weapon made to control ponies by completely rewriting their minds, encasing them in stone, or, in your case, Moony, banishment."

Huh. I'll be damned. I was right. Damn. Wish I had made a bet with the others right now. Oh well, too late now.

"But still," Lone said to Nightmare. "Moony, please. I love you, and I don't want to see you upset. It's okay to grieve, but don't use me as a reason to overthrow Celestia. Please, move on, for me."

"But Lone," she said. "If I do, then I'd be abandoning you."

"No, you wouldn't," Lone said. "I'll always be with you. Don't worry about making me mad or upset. Please, make yourself happy. As long as you are, I am, and I'm sure there are a few stallions that are a part of Josh's nation that would be interested in a mare such as you." Lone began to fade away. "Please, for me."

Nightmare reached for Lone's hoof, but her hoof passed through it, and I saw a tear roll down her face. "I will," she said. "I don't want to, but for you, Lone, I will."

"Thank you," Lone said, almost entirely gone. "I'll always be watching over you, Moony," he said, and he completely faded away. In his honor, I gave him an Exo salute.

I then told Nightmare, putting a hand on her shoulder, "We'll make a memorial to him."

"Why," Nightmare asked, lookiing at me with tears in her eyes.

"Because he must have done something important to get your eye," I said with a small smile.

"He did," Nightmare said, looking out the window. "He treated me like an actual pony."

Before I could reply, Nolandroid appeared. "Ship's almost here," he said. "Oh, and Forge delivered the letter to Celestia." Ah, right. Cybis, Rhino, and I decided to have a public coronation ceremony for Nightmare, with her consent, and have Celestia there, along with some of our other allies, which included the Griffons, whom we helped rebuild Griffonstone, the Saddle Arabians(damn puns.), and, I'll admit, a little surprising to me as well, the dragons, though only a small amount. As a saftey precaution on the Celestia side of things, Fire team Disciple, Twilight, whom the three of us had agreed to make a Guardian, though under probation, which meant she'd get rare and uncommon grade gear until we decided otherwise, and Applejack would be standing guard.

"Right," I said before stepping back and offering a hand to Nightmare. Hey, never hurts to be chivalrous. For those who don't know, that means, basically, being kind and honorable, like opening a door for a woman, or mare, in this case. "Shall we," I asked.

"Hm," Nightmare said with a slightly raised eyebrow. "Well, it seems chivalry is still alive," she said as she took my hand. "Let's." With that, Ghost transmatted my helmet to the ship, and the two of us made out way to where the ship was going to land.

The new bearers/To break a sun

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Nightmare and I left the castle she had been staying in since her banishment, the ship waiting with its bay door down, Rhino, Applejack, Cybis, and Twilight inside. "Are you certain your subjects will accept me," Nightmare asked me.

"Yeah," I said. "Though, to be fair, it would be a surprise for them, as they don't know of you, or at least that we came here to get you, princess."

"There is no need for that, Josh," Nightmare said. "You are royalty too, after all."

"Yeah, but, hey, I was always polite to my friends," I said, shrugging. "And besides, you deserve to be shown some amount of kindness, given what happened to you." Her face took on a somber look. "Sorry," I said.

"No, it is alright," she said. "Lone was right. It's time I moved on from the past, and looked towards the future."

"Well, if it's any consolation," I said, "in my opinion, the future looks bright." With that, we arrived at the ship.

"About time," Rhino said. "We thought you wanted to stay up here, maybe have a date or two."

I had put my helmet back on on they way to the ship, so they couldn't see my cheeks flare up, but, regardless, I raised my middle finger, getting a, if I may say, somewhat weird, but not creepy, laugh from Rhino, chuckles from Twilight and Applejack, and a laugh from Cybis and the Ghosts. I don't know if Nightmare blushed, but I imagine she did.

"Rhino, shut it," I said. "Ghosts, get the ship ready, and Nolandroid, make sure Celestia and the others are there, with Fire team Disciple as guards."

"Roger," the Ghosts said as they transmatted into the ship, closing the main door and starting the engines. "Everyone else," I said as Nolandroid transmatted my solar devastation armor, the same I had worn when I arrived, on. "Get ready to fight a goddess," I said, the Nighthawk eyes glowing.

An hour later-Celestia

Celestia stood in the grounds outside the Tower, along with the Griffon, Dragon, Minotaur, and Saddle Arabian ambassadors to the Guardians. She had gotten a letter from Forge's fire team, who were present for guard duty, that told her something of great importance was going to happen here, and they wanted her to be there.

She had been waiting for thirty minutes when she heard the roar of what she recognized as engines from above, and looked up. What she saw was a red ship with the Hunter sub-emblem coming down for a landing inside the tower. At least I'll soon find out what happened up there, she thought, the Elements still held by her magic.

Josh

"Okay, people," I said. "Get ready. Nolandroid, get Nexus, tell him to get the spell ready, and have the dress Fleur made at the hanger yesterday. Tara, Mangala armor with Sahara and Pompeii. Dinklebot, make sure Celestia's here. Applejack, once we land, get with Forge and the others. Rhino, Cybis, helmets off but supers at the ready. Twilight, once you get hit by the spell, with Applejack." As they nodded, I turned to Nightmare. "And Nightmare, you'll be coming with me, get introduced, and then the spell will affect you, which will cause a flash, which is when your new dress will be put on by Fleur, a friend of ours and a tailor. The dress is because of a taboo in our culture that basically makes nudity illegal by anything with a human shape."

"Fine, but only because I do not wish to break any laws," Nightmare said.

I nodded. "Hey, I can't help what my kind call taboo," I said, my arms spread. "Besides, Fleur made a dress just for this, and is one of the only citizens under us that know of what we were doing. For the rest of them, it's a surprise, and we want you at your best, right?"

"I suppose," Nightmare said as the ship landed and the door opened. I guess Forge had told Fleur and Nexus, the mage that had stayed with us, that we would need them.

"Okay, to your positions, people," I said. "Twilight, stay here."

They nodded and left the ship, with Fleur and Nexus coming board. "Hey guys," I said.

"Hello, Josh," Nexus said before bowing to Nightmare. "It is an honor, your majesty."

Fleur bowed as well. "As it is with me as well, your highness."(1)

Nexus wore robes that went with his position of mage rather well, and Fleur wore a knee length, sleeveless white dress. "Nightmare, this is Nexus and Fleur, the two who'll be helping with everything."

She examined the two with a raised eyebrow before saying. "It is a pleasure to meet the two of you as well."

Well, could have bee- no, not saying it. I will not invoke Murphy's law right now, not when everything's going well.

"Thank you, your highness," Nexus said.

It was here that Nolandroid came back. Thank god Ghosts can pseudo-teleport. "Got the armor," he said, transmatting the Mangala armor with the Cloak of the Cosmonaut with the Bandit Mk. 36 Hand Cannon, the Nox Cantor III fusion rifle, the lights on the side indicating it did arc damage, and a Breaker SA/3 launcher. "Also, thought I'd let you guys know, the others spread the word, and the civilians are gathering with the delegates."

"I had hoped for that," I said before turning to look at Nexus. "Nexus, spell on Twilight. Nolandroid, get the armor on her just as it's finished."

"Uh, did you forget about me?" Spike asked, appearing. I still find it weird that the Spike I know is a Ghost and not a dragon, even years after meeting him.

"You don't know how to transmat stuff," Nolandroid said. "We don't want to risk anything."

"I guess," Spike said.

I nodded. "Right. Hit it, Nexus." He nodded, and lit his horn with an amber like aura, the same color surrounding Twilight, who was then consumed in a bright light. Just as it faded, Nolandroid transmatted the uncommons. When the light faded, Twilight, now an anthro, stood there in her armor.

"Huh. Nice look," Spike said.

"Thanks, Spike," Twilight said. "So, uh, where's AJ?"

"Nolandroid?"

"On it," he said. "Just follow me, Twilight." With that, Nolandroid left, Spike and Twilight following him.

"And for the rest of us, let's go," I said, and the four of us made our way to the balcony the announcement would be made from. As we made our way there, Nolandroid returned. "Guards are in place, and Titans with suppression grenades are ready, and bladedancers are cloaked." Never hurts to be prepared.

"Right," I said. "Rhino and Cybis?"

"Waiting for you and Nightmare," he replied.

"Good."

With that, we made it to the balcony. "Nightmare, stay here for now. Let us introduce you."

"Fine," she said.

"Thanks," I said, and headed out.

When I stepped out into the sunlight, I saw all of the ponies that were under the rule of the Vanguard, the various delegates to us from other countries, and even some of Celestia's ponies, including Applejack's family. And, much as I had expected and obviously planned for, Celestia herself. I let a grin come to my face. Let the shit storm commence, I say!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yT23-z7m3Jc

As our ponies got a sight of me, they began to cheer, but I quickly held up my hand, which quickly quieted the mass. "First off," I said with a voice that matched the RCV, given my location, "I want to thank everyone who's here for coming, and apologize if you were in the middle of something important," one-oh, me beating Celestia, "and I want to welcome our friends from other countries, as what is happening will impact all of us." I let a slightly devilish grin come to my face. "But first, in order to understand what it is, you must know of a betrayal from a thousand years ago." Even at this distance, I saw Celestia's eye widen. I took a deep breath, and began. "For those of you who don't know simply because of cultural differences, the ponies of both Equestria and the Vaguard have a holiday, Nightmare Night, which celebrates the defeat of the mythical," me call bull, "Nightmare Moon. What no one knows, is this: She was a real pony, not some kind of corrupted version of another, like the stories go. Now, a week ago, we picked up something on the moon, and we investigated today, on the day before that same holiday, and what we found has made me and my friends and co-rulers rethink everything." Not a lie, just sensitively phrased is all. "What we found was the truth, one lost to both history, and the lies of the victor." I saw Celestia become panicked. Time for the kill. "What, or, more accurately, who we found was none other then Nightmare Moon, alicorn of the night, former co-ruler of Equestria, now one of the Vanguard co-rulers," Nightmare walked out here. "And, most damning, sister to the alicorn of the sun and princess of Equestria-" I stopped here as the light of the transformation spell appeared, and a small flash of teleportation, with anthro Nightmare, in a regal, navy blue dress that went to the floor with no sleeves. "Princess Celestia!"

A loud gasp was heard, and I saw ponies, Griffons, the one Dragon, and Saddle Arabians that were close to her move away, the ponies being both ours, and hers.

"I did not betray my sister!" she yelled, though we both knew it was a lie, assuming she hadn't deluded herself to thinking that was the truth. To my surprise, she brought out the Elements.

Knew we should have gone after them before this, I thought.

"And I am sorry to say you three have been controlled be her," she said as she rose up, flying equal with where the balcony was, "And it would seem I must banish the four of you."

"Nightmare, get out of here," I said as the helmets of Rhino, Cybis, and I appeared, my Nighthawk eyes glowing. I summoned my void bow and pointed it at Celestia, Cybis created a nova bomb in his hands, but contained it, while void energy surrounded Rhino's hands. "We'll cover you."

Nightmare nodded, but Celestia said, "You will not get away to harm any of my little ponies, Nightmare!" just as I saw a charge building up in the Elements.

She fired a Harmony beam, and I saw a light blue and orange blur streak by me. The next thing i saw was Rhino, using his lift to stay airborne, and a defender dome around him. "Rhino, get out of there!" Cybis yelled.

"No way," Rhino said, his gaze locked ahead as the beam struck. "You guys go. I'll make sure you get away."

"Damn it," I said. "Titans, knock her abilities out!" I yelled, and I saw numerous suppression grenades fly up, but Celestia caught them in her magic, and kept them in the air, not letting them fall. Have to give her credit, at least she doesn't harm those she knows are innocent.

Before I myself could try something, I saw the beam completely destroy Rhino's bubble, and he was consumed. "No!" Cybis and I yelled. "You'll pay for that, Celestia," I said as I fired my arrow. Even with it's slight tracking, she avoided it, and I saw her charge another shot.

"Oh no you don't," I heard a familiar voice say as a flaming hammer made it's way to Celestia. It didn't hit her, but she did lose concentration, and the surprise made her stop flapping, which had her fall. She stopped herself just before she hit the ground. I looked to Cybis and we both nodded, and jumped off the balcony, landing beside Rhino, who's armor wasn't harmed at all.

"Hammer of Sol," Cybis asked.

"Yep," Rhino said. "No idea how, though."

"I say we ask Celestia," I said as the three of us and the other Guardians made our way to where Celestia had landed. What I saw was Celestia on her hooves, but I guess she was weak from that first shot, and had barely been able to charge the second.

"So, you have been corrupted," she said.

I shook my head as Nightmare flew down beside us. "No, we aren't," I said. "We did this of our own will, Celestia. You're lucky we won't declare war on you. If we did, we both know who would win."

"You'd never win," she said. "Light overcomes darkness every time."

"But what about when one uses both," I said. "All of our abilities use both light and dark magic, thus creating true harmony magic, not what you think it is. And besides, we wouldn't rewrite another pony's mind just so we can have a perfect sibling."

"I was trying to save Luna."

"Who is but a fake personality of mine, sister," Nightmare said. "It is because of that you used the Elements on me, not to stop eternal night. Both of us knew then that a lunar eclipse with our moon would do no harm."

"Celestia if you want to avoid war," Cybis said, "you'll leave now, and leave the Elements here."

"Only if you tell me what you did with my Twilight!"

"I'm not your's, princess," Twilight said as she and Applejack strode up the the rest of us. "They didn't do anything to me. I snuck away on one of their ships when they went to the moon, and I decided to become a Guardian of my own will. If anything, they just opened my eyes." As much as I don't like Celestia, not even I would have been that blunt.

"Okay, what's going on," I heard Applejack say, which made me look around, and my eyes fell upon the Elements, which were glowing brightly.

"No idea," I said as the six of us stepped back in one direction, and Celestia in the other. At least she wasn't causing this, Not sure if that's good or bad. "Run, now," I said, but before we could, the Elements flew towards us. I don't know what happened to the others, but I was surrounded by a pink orb, and I felt intense heat on my back. When the orb faded, I looked back, and, to my surprise, I saw a pink cloak. Before I go further, I should point out that, unlike many guys, I see nothing girly about pink. Hell, pink was once considered a manly color, it starting to be considered girly because of advertisements. I shit you not. The design was of the Hunter symbol, and it was a hot pink. "Celestia, I think it's time you leave," I said, but I guess she already left, as I didn't hear anything, nor did I see her when I looked to where I last saw her. I looked at the others, and Twilight's cloak was now violet with pink high lights, a starburst in the center.

Cybis' bond now had a purple, holographic Warlock symbol coming from it, as well as purple lining on the very outside of the bond itself.

Rhino's mark was now ruby red, and had the Titan symbol, with white where any other color would normally be, on it. Applejack's was now orange, and looked like it was made of cloth, or whatever was used in Titan marks, instead of that hologram shit that made up the VoG mark, and had a white and black Vanguard honor symbol there.

It was Nightmare who changed the most, though. She wore the robes of a Warlock, more accurately, the Bindcaster armor from TTK, and her bond was a cyan blue, the symbol being a crescent moon.

The realization hit me like a Phalanx shield. We were the bearers of the Elements, now.

Infestation

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Rhino, Cybis, Twilight, now wearing Infinite lines armor with the Vanity as her primary(both TTK FWC), Applejack, and Nightmare sat around a round table in the Tower. We were still trying to come to terms that we were the bearers of the Elements. I mean, I knew Twilight and Applejack would be, but still. On the way here from outside, Rhino, Cybis, our Ghosts and I had decided over our mental link to make Fire team lone a six-person team, and not a three-man one. Needless to say, Nexus, Fleur, and our Ghosts were currently working on how to make shaders, Fleur becoming our equivalent to Eva Levante.

"Okay, look," I said, my right hand on my forehead, "we have to live with this, so we can't just ignore it. Which is why I propose that we use the Elements only as a last resort, when not even our supers, what ever yours is, Nightmare, can do any thing. Can we at least agree on that?"

"I can agree with that," Cybis said.

"Same here," Rhino added.

"I don't know," Twilight said. "I mean, what about what you said about them on the moon?"

"That's why they said last resort, Twilight," Nightmare said. "Besides, there are a few beings who deserve to be turned to stone, like a certain old enemy of Celestia's and mine."

"We already have a plan for that," Cybis said.

"I still want to know how uncle Rhino got that hammer," Applejack said, her arms crossed.

"What, this," Rhino said as he swung his right hand, the Hammer of Sol appearing. "If I had to guess, I'd say it was the Element of Loyalty."

This got off topic quickly, I thought. "Look, we can talk about that later. Right now, we need to think about what we're going to do next, cause I'm certain we pissed off Celestia."

"That's an understatement," Cybis said. "But I agree: we need to plan for what she'll do next."

"I might have an idea as to that," Nightmare said, getting all of our attention. "She will most likely send out a plea for aid to her allies, as well as something a little more drastic."

"And what's that?" Rhino asked.

"A little over a thousand years ago, there was a kingdom in the north, the Crystal Empire. It was being ruled by a tyrant king. He was defeated, but not before he was able to somehow banish all of the Empire, his punishment being sealed in ice, Celestia hoping him being alone would rehabilitate him." I face palmed.

"So you think she might try to bring him back, and he might try to bring the Empire back, which will mean both Celestia and us will be fighting a second enemy?"

"Yes, and the king, Sombra, will most likely try to drain the Crystal Heart, an ancient artifact, of its love, which power the Empire."

I was about to speak up when an idea came to mind, and I grinned. Nolandroid, I said over our link, have those magic signature detectors in orbit directed to large cities with Guardians in them, and have it tuned to any thing nonpony, and locations include here.

Right, he replied before Twilight commented on my smile.

"Uh, Josh, why are you smiling? This is bad news."

I chuckled. "No, it isn't," I said. "Tell me, Twilight, Apllejack, Nightmare: Ever heard of changelings?"

Celestia say on her throne, no one on the room but her, with a hoof on her forehead, worry on her face. She had lost the Elements to those she believed to be corrupted by Nightmare, as well as her sister, and it was a safe bet they were preparing for war. It was then she remembered what her father had said about three others from Josh's world. As much as she didn't want to rip them from their world, she had no choice if Equestria was going to survive a war.

She sighed, and lit her horn, a dimensional rift opening with it.

A minute later, three beings, each in similar build to Josh and the others. One who had one what she recognized as Hunter armor had their armor colored red with stripes of white on the right shoulder. The chest looked as if it had leaves and a net on it, while the left bracer had three feathers on it. Its cloak was red and white. (Helmet: Skyburners annex. Chest: Vermillion stripe. Arms: Bog wild. Legs: Kallipolis boots. Cloak: Cloak of the rising. Shader: Themisto.)

The Warlock's robes were an electric blue. Its helmet was. . . odd, to say the least, with small spikes from the top, one on the right, two smaller ones on the left. Its forearms had a slight, purplish arua, much like the color of Cybis' Nova bombs. The robes had some small studs on both sides of the upper torso, with a small badge above those on the left. The left boot had blue fabric wrapped around it, the color being the same as the robes. (Helmet: Kellbreaker's mind. Chest: Kellhunter's cloak. Arms: Nothing manacles. Legs: Kellbreaker's path. Shader: Glowhoo. Bond: "The unconquerable".)

The Titan's helmet looked like a window had been wrapped around the front of the helmet, with two metal plates infront of the forehead. The chest, arms, and legs all had a bony appearance, which did set Celestia off slightly. The mark was split into three gray parts, the middle being the longest. (Helmet: Ithacan type 1. Chest, arms, and legs: Willbreaker set. Mark: Ithacan mark. Shader: Glowhoo.)

The three lay sprawled on the floor, no weapons next to them. Celestia used her magic to check them over, see if there was anything wrong, and the were simply unconscious.

She cast a spell that would safely wake them, the Hunter being the first to awaken. "Ugh, what happened?" he asked in a voice similar to Josh's but not exactly like it. He then saw Celestia. "Oh, you have got to be kidding me."

"I do not know why someone would try to kid with you," Celestia said. "I am princess Celestia, and I have brought you and your comrades here to help with a problem I believe only you can solve."

"What do you mean 'comrades'," he asked before looking to the Warlock and Titan. "The fuck? How did that happen?"

"What do you mean," Celestia asked.

"Those two shouldn't be real," the Hunter said. "They're just characters I made for a game." He looked down. "Same with my gear."

"How can those two not exist?"

"Because, they're just characters I made for a game," the Hunter said, before he looked back at his armor. "Guess this explains what happened to Josh."

Celestia went on guard. "How do you know Josh?"

"Because he's my friend, and he just vanished about an hour ago.(1)" He shook his head. "My name's Patrick, and I, well, I was wondering where he went."

Negotiations

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As I looked the the others expressions of surprise, I couldn’t help but chuckle. “What?” I asked. “Having a race that feeds on love, what makes the Empire so safe, and giving it to them is a two fold thing: They get food, and we get an ally. Seriously, am I the only one to think about this?”

“Well,” Twilight asked, “how are we going to find them?”

“That, I already have a plan on,” I replied, getting up. “Follow me.”

With that, I led the others to the portal room. “Be prepared to shield your eyes,” I said as I sent a message to Nolandroid. Now.

With that, the portal began to open. I held up three fingers, and lowered one per second. When the last fell, there was a bright flash, and a being in a light blue armor with a Halo 4 sniper in his hands appeared.

“Really?! Not even the decency to warn me? I just finished upgrading a covenant class assault carrier. At least I didn’t end up here in that strange pelican. That thing reminds me way too much of the TARDIS.” The being looks at me and facepalms.

“Well, we nedd help,” I said. “Twilight, Applejack, Nightmare, this is a fellow displaced, what we are, who was sent to a different Equestria, Church.”

“You know about me? Then you know that I’m not alive.”

“Which is why we need your help,” Cybis said. “We need an AI to help run our magic detection satellites to find a changeling hive

“Ok, but if we’re doing it that way I’m getting help.” Church pulls out a strange looking book and says nothing for a few seconds before an Elite General and a few other spartans that look like Lopez fall out.”

“Really? We were tracking down a separatist.” The elite says in annoyance.

“Odio cuando haces eso.” (I hate when you do that.) The spartans say.

“Did they just speak maneish?” Twilight asked, getting a chuckle from us Guardians and Church.

“Nope,” I said. “Spanish, from our world.”

“Wow, alguien nos entiende sin embargo, ni siquiera obtener el derecho de idioma.” (Wow, someone understands us yet they don't even get the language right.) Church and the elite facepalm.

“Si, yo pudeo,” I said, which means, “Yes, I can.”

“Thank god you didn’t use high school spanish. Or pretend to understand them. I don’t want a coup de grâce this early.” One of the spartans flips off Church.

“Guess we might as well show you guys where you’ll physically be,” Rhino said. “Come on.”

The group of five look at Rhino and nod.

With that, Rhino led us out, as we had built a room in our Tower for AI interface. Thank god for being able to prepare for shit.

“Delta. Did you establish connection with the rest of the Project?” Church asks himself, making everyone stare at him except the Lopez bots and Virgil. A green AI hologram appears next to Church.

“Negative. Wrong frequency.” He disappears.

As the rest gave him looks, I said, “Church is actually an AI, designate Epsilon, who contains multiple AI fragments by memory,” I said to the three mares. “Delta’s the logical one out of them.”

Allison or Tex or Beta, whatever you want to call her appears and asks, “Are you saying I’m not logical?”

“No, just a little headstrong,” I said, “Allison, seeing as how reckless you can be, not taking help from the other freelancers.” At the looks of the mare, I added, “Secret project.”

“Uh, buddy. I wouldn’t piss her off if I were you. She can still leave my suit. I really don’t want a repeat of the Grif incident.” Virgil couldn’t hold it in any longer and starts laughing her ass off at this.

“Which one of us has to deal with a pissed off godess who’s the daughter of something I’d rather not say, for fear of invoking Murphy’s law, that can destroy entire armies with little effort.”

Church flinched a little. “Don’t even mention that law! A displaced asked what could possibly insert rest of words here and a starship the size of a dwarf star appeared out of a portal and then was ripped in half by a black hole in front of my eyes.”

“Then let’s continue before we invoke it,” Cybis said, and we continued, fortunately with a short walk.

“I can’t believe you actually let him do that.” Virgil scoffs. “I would have ejected him out of the pelican for doing that.”

Church shrugs, “I kinda forgot about that function.”

“And we aren’t in space, which, by the way,” Rhino said, “we can survive in for a while.”

“Yeah? I can use a dimension of insanity as a pocket dimension or a banishment portal.”

“Can we stop arguing,” Cybis asked. “We’re here, any way.” The room in which we stood was pure white, and had slots for various bodies, which were meant for frames, but could hold Spartans.

“I have a bad feeling about this.” Gamma said in Church’s Helmet.

“You’re not the only one. So, what are we even here for anyways”

“To help us find Chrysalis,” I said, “using the satellites to trace her magic.”

“That’s… actually pretty easy. Relatively speaking.”

“Then plug in,” Rhino said. “I speak from experience when I say it’s easy.”

“Uh. You realize we aren’t like normal Smart AIs right? We don’t come with a chip.” Church says as he leaves his armor which went into armor lock. He somehow picks up the gravity hammer, energy sword, and sniper rifle and attaches them to himself.

“Slots are there to dock,” Rhino said.

Church shrugs and finds the slot and disappears. “Holy shit! I feel like a fucking god! Ok now I think I see something. Wait no. Wait… uh… Is it a greenish looking structure?”

“Bingo!” I yelled. “The rest of you, help him out. I want to make sure its really her hive.”

“Wait no! I’m getting jammed. Are you sure there isn’t anyone else here with your technology? Because I tried to copy the coordinates but it’s not working. Oh nevermind the signal refreshed. Uh, hmm. Yeah I still can’t receive.” Church says in confusion.

“Damn,” I said. “Nolandroid, getting anything?”

“Not a lot,” my Ghost replied. “but I am getting something from Canterlot. I’ll have Disciple check it out.”

Suddenly Church screams. “This system does not like me!”

“Rhino,” I said, to which Rhino nodded and took off his helmet, and plugged in next to Church. “Anything?”

Church was completely silent now and the others were starting to get worried.

“Definitely got something in the badlands,” Rhino said. “Chruch is alright, but that signature in Canterlot: I got Guardian light and, oh come on, we didn’t even say it!”

My eyes go wide as Church is sent flying out of the slot, “If I was human, I’m pretty sure I’d be hospitalized! That machine is like an electric chair!”

“You sure,” I asked. “Rhino seems alright.”

“Eh… oh really now?! Delta?! What did I tell you about screwing around with my matrices?”

Delta appears next to Church and says, “What? We could have-”

“Protocol override. Don’t mess with my matrices.” Delta disappears. “Seems he doesn’t like not knowing what things are. Did you guys get anything?”

“Changelings in the badlands, and that particular force in Canterlot,” Rhino said as he disengaged. “Joy.”

“Wait a minute. Are you talking about…” Church appeared next to Rhino and whispered, “The wedding?”

“Yes for the first thing, and I wish for the second,” Rhino replied, with me being able to hear him thanks to our link.

“Oh great, now I’m getting a bloodlust. You’d hate to have an AI fragment who gets furious just because you said hi if you were me as well. Whatever, so you found them then. The badlands. Now what? Friend or foe? Or what?”

“We reach a peace agreement with them,” I said. “And you guys can go now, by the way. Thanks.”

“Like, go go? Or as in wait until you need us again? Because to be honest, I’ve seen displaced try a peace agreement with changelings and sometimes… It doesn’t even matter how much firepower you have.”

“With them, no,” Cybis said. “Later, though, no idea.”

“That’s extremely vague.” Virgil says.

“We know.”

“Well, if you don’t need us then. We’ll just be in the void.”

With that, they went back to the portal room, and left the rest of us in the room.

An energy sword drops on my head with a note that says, “If you ever need me again, well, you know just talk into this sword and I’ll be there. It’s fully functional and has infinite charge as well!”

“Right,” I said, nodding, as they walked away.

“That was interesting,” Nightmare said.

Celestia and the three Guardians she had summoned, Patrick, the Hunter, Mage-5, the Warlock, and Varren Nakesh, the Titan, and an awoken, sat in the dinning hall.

Patrick looked almost exactly like Josh, only he had both eyes, and not a prosthetic. Mage had a gray shell with red eyes (think an Exo terminator), and Varren had gray skin with glowing, blue irises.

"Okay, let me get this straight," Mage said. "You brought the three of us from our home dimension, one where we are a single person, in order to defeat a, as you see them, rouge group of Guardians that have been corrupted by dark magic, right?"

"Yes," Celestia said, nodding.

"And the leaders of this group are, essentially, given what happened to us, collectively our friend, Josh?" Varren said.

"If what happened to you three happened to him, yes," Celestia said.

"Do you have any proof that they were corrupted?" Patrick asked.

"They brought Nightmare Moon back from the moon, and made her one of their co-leaders."

"What does that prove," Mage said. "Especially if the Elements chose them."

"Even the Elements can be corrupted if some one with enough dark magic in their system touches them."

"I'm seeing Josh's point about Celestia being worst princess," Patrick mumbled.

"And just what do you think could defeat them, anyway," Mage asked. "I mean, of what you've told us, Josh has the Shadow Shot, wich negates any special abilities while someone's tethered to it, and Rhino has the Hammer of Sol, which is essentially a flaming wrecking ball. The Elements probably enhance those abilities, too."

"That's why I summoned you three here," Celestia said. "You know how to counter their abilities. Will you please just consider it?"

"We'll think about it," Varren said.

Unknown to the four of them, Forge, invisible in the rafters, was watching all of this. "Steel, send a message to Josh. Tell him what's going on."

"Right," Steel, who now had the dread explorer shell on, said as she sent a video message to Josh.

Rhino, Cybis, the others and I were in the hanger, getting our jumpjets ready. Twilight had the "Road Unravled", the Taken King FWC ship, and Nightmare had "The fangs of Nyx." Her own choice, we had no influence over it, I swear. The satellites, after Church and his group left, had picked up magical fluctuations in the north, which could only mean The Empire was back. Fire team Obsidian and Fire team Distant death, of which Blaze and Far Sight were a part of, had been sent there to ensure pony Sauron didn't take the place over again while the six of us went to the bad lands to get negotiations under way with Chrysalis. And, unlike other Displaced, I have something I know she'll want, which will be the Empire.

"Josh," Nolandroid said as I was doing the last preflight checks for Extinction. "Steel just sent me a video of what we picked up in Canterlot. You won't believe what it is."

"What?" I asked.

"This," Nolandroid said before he played the video message.

My eye began to twitch like I had just drank enough caffeine to give ten water buffaloes a heart attack. "You have got to be kidding me," I said. "Once we're done with the Empire and the negotiations with Chrysalis are over, we're taking a trip to Canterlot."

"Right," Nolandroid said.

"And let just Cybis and Rhino know of this. This doesn't involve the others."

"I kinda guessed that was what you were going to say, Josh, and it's already done."

"Right."

A few minutes later, all six jumpjets were ready. The hanger doors opened, and once that was done, we took off, me in the lead.

"Radio channel alpha, Nolandroid."

"Right."

Nolandroid got the channel, one used exclusively by us, and the others were already in. "So, we all know what the mission is, so I won't recap it, but we need to finish it soon, or we may have some issues later on down the road." Including, quite possibly, too much land for us to secure should we go to war.

"We know, Uncle Josh," Applejack said. "We were there."

I chuckled, and with that, we made our way to the badlands.

A few hours later, we had what I guessed was Chrysalis' castle in the distance, and it got bigger with the second.

"Got heat signatures on the ground," Cybis said. "Probably changelings."

"Right," I said. "Nolandroid, care to deliver the message?" On the way here, I had recorded a message for Chrysalis, and tasked Nolandroid with delivering it.

"On it," he said, and transmatted out of the ship and into the castle.

I guess he got lucky because a few minutes later, he came on over the radio, saying, "She's agreed to meet you guys, but it has to be in her castle. Some of her guards will meet you at the front gate."

"Right," Rhino said. His was the first of the jets to descend, with the rest of us following. Once we were close to the ground, the six of us transmatted down. Now, Nightmare was the only one of us not to have a Ghost, simply because we didn't know how to make our own.

I was the one to notice four changelings in armor that resembled the Royal Guard's, but I had no idea what it was made up of, so I couldn't judge it. To their credit, they didn't react to us appearing. "You six are to follow us," the lead one, whose armor was red colored, said. We nodded, and followed.

As we walked through the changeling castle, I have to admit, it definitely looked more majestic then Canterlot, and that's saying something. The walls curved into the ceiling, and the corners were smooth, rounded. On the walls, pictures of who I guessed were previous rulers of the hive. Damn, they look regal.

Anyway, we made it to what I assumed was the throne room with no one having spoke on the way. I guessed right, because when the guards opened the doors, there was Chrysalis, smaller holes in her legs then from season two. Next to her head was Nolandroid, and the two were having a conversation.

"So," Chrysalis said to him, not noticing the rest of us, "your friends are able to easily piss off Celestia and live?"

"Yeah, we can," I said with my arms crossed. "Hello, Queen Chrysalis."

The two of them looked at us. "So," Chrysalis said, "you're the famous Guardians."

I nodded. "That we are," I said.

"So, what is it you have to offer me for an alliance," Chrysalis said.

"Something we're in the process of getting," Cybis said, nodding to Dinklebot. He floated to in front of Chrysalis and showed a live feed from fire team Distant Death, revealing to us as well that Sombra brought an army, though both fire teams were holding out.

"The Crystal Empire is what we offer you," Rhino said. "That is, under the condition that you won't attack us or Canterlot unless it is in self defense for your hive. Fair enough?"

"And why do you think I would want the Empire?"

"Nightmare," I said, looking to the lunar alicorn, who nodded.

"Because of the fact the Empire is powered by love," Nightmare said, which got the changeling queen's eyes to widen, "and we all know your kind feed on it, and I speak from personal experience when I say that more then enough love is generated, enough for your kind to feed with out harming the ponies there."

"And if any of my changelings wish to join you?"

"That will depend on if they meet the basics," I.E: creating a super. "So, what do you say, your highness?"

Chrysalis brought a hoof to her chin, thinking on the terms. "And the six of you are independent of Celestia?"

"Indeed we are," I said.

"In that case," she said.

"I accept."

"Thank you," I said.

"Just go get the Empire, and our alliance is secured."

"Right," I said, turning around fast enough to where my cloak did that whole flair thing that looks just badass. "Bitch," I whisper just as the others follow and we made our way to the ships.

"Oh, and Chrysalis," I said. "You can get the combat training too, if you want." With that, the six of us left to kill a king.

Canterlot-Patrick 3rd

Patrick and the others, Celestia included, sat at the table where Celestia had told them of why she brought them to Equis when a guard rushed. "Your highness, I bring news from Northern Equestria."

"What?" Celestia asked in a calm voice.

"It has returned."

"Talk about vague," Patrick said. "Though, let me guess: The Crystal Empire?"

Celestia looked dumbfounded. "Yes. How did you know?"

"Lucky guess," Mage said. "And, much as we don't want to be here, we'll help take care of Sombra."

"But how will you get there?"

Varren pointed to his forehead, which made Celestia blush in embarrassment.

"Of course," she said, lighting her horn. "Be careful. Sombra will do anything to ensure he obtains victory, even killing you." With that, she teleported the three to the north, not realizing until after she did so that she forgot something important.

"I forgot to give them weapons."

How to be a badass-winter edition

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"Nolandroid, wolves," I said as Nightmare, the others, and myself made our way to the Empire.

"Right," he said, and my cloak was swapped out with the Wolf cloak from Variks, and my shader was now arctic proxy.

"So, any news about whats going on there?"

"Yeah," Tara said over the radio. "Blaze just sent a message saying three other guardians, with body structure being the exact same as yours, but with no weapons and different colored armor, appeared. Even with out weapons, though, they're still kicking ass thanks to their supers, melee, and grenades."

"Huh," I said. "Well, guess it could be worse. Aaaaannnnd fuck me."

"Detecting, okay, seriously, Crystal dragons inbound," Dinklebot said.

I sighed. "Blank console?" Nolandroid asked.

"Blank console." With that, a key pad that had no function for the ship what so ever appeared, and I banged my head against it. Once I was done a few seconds later, I said, "You guys go on ahead, I'll draw them away. This is my fault, after all."

"You sure, Josh?" Rhino asked.

"Yeah, I'm sure," I said. "Nolandroid, combat mode."

"Right."

"Okay, people, pyramid formation. Once I engage, keep going and help Forge. I'll give these dragons hell."

"You better come back, Josh," Nightmare said, and I could have sworn I heard a little more then concern in her voice.

"I will," I said as the jumpjets got into formation and the dragons came into extreme visual range.

"Nolandroid, music please.

"Right."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51iquRYKPbs

"Nolandroid, get a message to Obsidian and Distant Death: Have them make sure those three Guardians aren't killed. I want to have a talk with them."

"Right," he said. "Message sent. Please tell me you have a plan of attack."

"Avengers," is all I say in response.

"Ah. Fair enough, I guess."

"Just let me know when they're in range," I say. "Want to give the others as much time as possible."

"I was going to do that anyway."

I chuckled. "Just making sure, is all," I say.

"You sure about this, Josh," Cybis asked one final time.

"Yeah, I am," I replied again. "No matter how many times you say that, I won't change my mind."

"I know," Cybis said. "But what kind of friend, and technical brother, would I if I didn't do anything?"

I chuckled. "Fair point," I said. Damn, this shit is getting slow, even with crystal dragons inbound. How sad is that?

Fortunately for that little bit of slowness, Nolandroid said, "They're in range."

"Fire," I said, as Nolandroid controlled the weapon systems. Before you say plot hole because of the moon, the AI in the ship to begin with can do so, it's just not able to improvise.

The six rockets in those frontal pods fired. The group of dragons had about ten, but the fact they were crystal, somehow, made them resistant to damage.

As we flew past them, I used the reverse thrusters to kill my momentum a little and turn around. "Eat it," I sad as the machine guns I had added on fired. These had armor piercing rounds, and mowed down a few of the dragons. They had started with ten, the missiles had taken one down, and the guns took down another two. Jeez, what kind of crystal are these things made of?

Any way, the dragons turned around and tried to ram me, but I was able to roll out of the way of each of them. I had to take them down quickly, so I steered the ship towards the mountains, hoping the speed they were following me at would be their death. "Nolandroid, take the controls!"

"Right!" he said as I took my hands off the control sticks and he started flying the jet.

We made it to the mountain range, with only some carbon scorching from the fire breath of the dragons, and almost as soon as we entered, three more crashed into a mountain, and, due to kinetic energy, they shattered on impact, but the remaining ones were able to veer around the mountain and stay on my ass, burning it with their flames.

"Hull integrity-seventy five percent!" Nolandroid said in panic. Oh, fuck what I'm about to try.

"Give me the controls," I said as i took a hold of the controls, and yanked the pitch control up, throwing me back in my seat as the ship went completely vertical and my helmet was transmatted on and kept me awake. Just for the extra style, I decided to spin the thing.

"You sure this'll work?"

"In the words of the Medic from Team Fortress two: I have no idea!!" I said as I pushed the throttle further, but these dragons must have taken wing steroids, as they kept up with me. "Yeah, that's right, assholes," I said. "Follow the leader."

We climbed higher and higher until we were at the point you could see the stars without the twinkle, which is where my thrusters cut out from stall. Just what I wanted.

As the Extinction began to fall, I turned it around and began to fire my guns on the dragons, who ran, or flew, as the case may be, right into the path of the bullets. Unfortunately, I hit one with the edge of my ship as it came down, to which Nolandroid said, "Lost all response in the left engine. We're going to crash!"

"Damn it," I said as I looked the map of the area where Sombra and the others were, and I grinned. "Nolandroid, two questions. One: Do my boots have some kind of magnetic feature?"

"Yeah," he answered slowly, trying to guess what I was planning. "What's the second?"

"Can my solar light be channled into my hands and can it be used to weld?"

"Yeah to both," he replied. "Why?"

"You see this mountain," I asked as I pointed to what made me smile. "Get the ship on a course that has it coming close enough to transmat me on it. Oh, and get me on the out side of this ship."

"What?"

"Just do it," I said as I pulled out the hilt for the sword Church gave me. "Time to grab a board."

Cybis-1st

"I wonder what Josh is planning," I said over the comms as we got closer to the combat area.

"No idea," Rhino replied. "Probably something crazy, though."

"Does he usually do stuff like this?" Nightmare asked. Talk about having an interesting week with her.

"In recent time, yep," Applejack replied. "But uncle Josh always survives it, somehow. Not sure how, but he does."

"Which most likely means he'll survive this time," Twilight finished just as the others came in sight, and holy shit was there a lot a bodies.

Fire teams Obsidian and Distant death, along with the other three Guardians, who we suspected were Patrick and his Guardians that Celestia had dragged here to stop us, were trying to hold Sombra back. "Lets help 'em out," I said, and our ships dived down. Once we were close, we were transmatted down close to where Blaze was, our weapons, Nightmare having the Revelator hand cannon for primary and the Susanoo for the secondary.

"Blaze, what's the status," I asked as we saw Sombra. He wasn't a cloud like in season three, but he was surrounded by crystals that were eerily similar to Crota's soul crystal in color.

"Messed up," he said, firing his auto rifle. "Sombra absorbed his troops, which gave him the amount of power he has right now." We dodged out of the way of a magic blast. "And that Crystal seems to be protecting him, and we can't take it out. Any idea, Cybis?"

"Nope." I say as I fire off a burst from my Coiled Hiss. "Where are the three that just appeared out of no where?"

"Over there," Blaze pointed to his right, and I saw who I assumed was Patrick and his other personas.

I nodded. "Right. Rhino, with me. We're going to see our new friends."

"Copy," Rhino said as we made our way to where the new arrivals were. Just before we reached them, though, we saw a huge, green crystal flying towards them from behind.

"Fuck! Rhino!"

"On it," he said as he jumped up and summoned his Hammer of Sol before flinging it towards the crystal. The crystal wasn't destroyed, but it was knocked off course, and got the attention of Patrick's personas.

"Josh," the Hunter, Patrick, as that was the one he spent most of his Destiny time on, said, "is that you?"

"Yes and no," I replied, firing off a burst at Sombra. "We were split on the way to Equis. I am now called Cybis, and the other one's Rhino. Josh is buying us a little time. So, how's the world been since we left nine years ago?"

"What do you mean nine years?" Patrick said. "Its only been an hour."

"Time displacement. Duly noted," I say as I dodge a small crystal. "Okay, now he's getting annoying. Tara, where the hell is Josh!?"

Tara appeared alongside me, and she now had the Amethyst shell on. "The Extinction's inbound, but Nolandroid's saying its badly damaged."

"How badly," Rhino said as he fired off an ineffective burst at Sombra.

"An entire engine's offline."

It was then that Patrick's Titan persona pointed into the sky and said, "That it?"

We looked up, and I mean all of us, even pony Sauron, who had a demonic grin on his face and said, "It looks as if you are about to lose one of your own."

Indeed, it looked as if that were the case, as, even at his distance, I saw it come close to the mountain next to the battle area, and, eventually, crash.

"You'll pay for that, Sombra," I heard Nightmare growl before I turned and saw arcs of energy flowing across her body. Huh. Given the fact Josh and Rhino were the new subclasses, I can say we thought the trend would be me next, but, in all honesty, I'm kinda happy not, as I didn't get the star wars fan part of our old personality. Though I'll probably get stormcaller at some point simply because magic.

"You will pay. Dearly," she growled before she raised a hand and unleashed a bolt of lightning at Sombra, and this seemed to hurt him, but, at the same time, rebound off him and hit me before I could react, and I could feel the lightning in my system, waiting for my command, but he only laughed as the burn on his coat was repaired from the crystal.

"You can not harm me," he said. "I have the power of a god at my beck and call." Just as he finished that sentence, two rockets came flying from the mountain face and burst apart into wolfpack rounds.

Once the smoke had cleared, bullets came flying at Sombra, and, over the radio we heard, "Then I say its time to banish the both of you." Just as he said that, we could see Josh coming down the mountain. On s snowboard that, when I looked at it from my rifle's scope, looked as if it was made of those two pieces at the front of his jumpjet, and he was firing off shots. The fact he had the Wolves' cloak on and was wearing arctic proxy added to the simple badass factor the entrance had. "Take him down, Guardians," he said. "Use your supers on him, and avoid hitting those crystals."

I smiled and looked at the rest of our team, as well as Fire teams Obsidian and Distant Death. "You heard him. Nuke his ass!"

God killer

View Online

How Sombra survived, I got no idea. Nightmare, myself, Rhino, and the others, still waiting for Josh to get down from the mountain, even with him firing off golden gun shots, and even shadowshots, somehow, unleashed our supers on him, thinking we had just vaporized his ass.

We would have been lucky if that were the case. Instead, those crystals seemed to absorb the supers, even the projectiles from the golden gun shots Josh, Twilight, and Patrick fired off, and even the hammers from Rhino's hammer of Sol. The scary part is that they seemed to glow with a familiar green aura.

"Rhino, we need to take him down, now," I said as the last of the super energies were absorbed.

"I know, Cybis," Rhino replied, "those crystals-"

"Not Crystals," I said as a realization dawned on me. The green aura, the color, the fact it drains light. "Crystal," I said in a tone that just screamed a dark revelation was made. "And not just any crystal. Tara?"

"Yeah?" she asked as she appeared.

"Tell the others to get out of here. And update the three of us with year two armor."

"Why-"

"Just do it," I said in a firm tone. I then activated the radio. "Josh, we got a problem here. And it rhymes with soma."

"Please tell me you're kidding, Cybis," Josh said.

"Wish I was," I said. "Rhino, I have an idea."

"What?"

"Fill those crystal fragments up with everything we got."

"Cybis, are you crazy?"

"Probably," I said as my year one armor was replaced with the year two future war cult armor, my Coiled hiss traded for the Tlaloc, my secondary becoming a Susanoo, and my heavy? Arc edge.

Rhino's armor was switched to the year two future war cult armor as well, his auto rifle becoming the new Regime, his secondary becoming the Vacancy, an Omolon made future war cult fusion rifle, and his heavy was the Sleeper Simulant.

And, as if the universe couldn't have picked a better time, Josh, riding his custom board, came to a stop just in front of us. He had the hunter armor for FWC year two. His weapons were, for the primary, a weapon a few considered year two fate bringer, the Vanity, an Omolon made hand cannon. His secondary was the vortex, the other FWC fusion rifle, and his heavy was dark-drinker. All of us had the Ninevah 8611 shader equipped. "Nolandroid, give Patrick and his other personas year two monarchy," he said as he did that little motion the hunter from the 'law of the jungle' commercial did at the end when he and his team were facing down a colossus.

"Right," Nolandroid said before Patrick, Varren, and Mage, them having told us the names they chose while the smoke cleared from the super barrage, were clad in year two new monarchy armor. Patrick had the ace of spades as his primary, the burden of proof XI for secondary, and dark-drinker for heavy as well. Varren had the Righteous VII for primary, the conviction II sidearm, and Objection IV. Mage had the Appellant III hand cannon, the Antinomy XVI sniper, and year two Truth.

Josh turned to Nightmare and the others, who refused to leave. "Go, you guys. This is something only we can take care off." He turned back to face Sombra solar energy gathering in his left hand. "Pissing off a god is one thing, but killing one?" He chuckled. "That's another story."

"Uh, Josh, what do you mean?" Patrick asked.

"Abyss."

"Oh shit. How?"

"What are you talking about," Nghtmare nearly yelled.

"Something we went up against before we came here," Rhino said. "Something only we can beat."

"Go," I said. "If none of us come back, make sure Celestia knows that she lost three Elements today." As I said that, I saw a faint shimmer around myself, Rhino, and Josh, and our class items changed slightly. Josh's cloak took on a stripe of pink, Rhino's mark had ruby red at the edges. and my bond had a faint, purple light. Noticeable, yes, but barely.

"Wait, you guys are the Elements?" Varren asked. "When?"

"For us, earlier today," Josh said. "Now, Nightmare, get out of here. That goes for the rest of you. I'll make it an order if I have to."

"Fine," Nightmare said, obviously not wanting to leave. "Just. . . come back."

I could imagine Josh smiling under his helmet as he said, "I will." With that, Nightmare and the others left, transmatted up to their ships. I hold no illusion they're nearby, but Josh never said to gt a certain distance away, probably hoping they would. Can't say I blame him.

"So, Cybis, you said we need to feed the crystals?" he asked as he got his Vanity in a firing position.

"Basically," I replied, putting my scout rifle to my shoulder. "Remember what the Chalice was meant to be for him."

"Good point," Josh said. "In that case, time for an all he can eat buffet," he said as he summoned his golden gun, then, somehow, infused it into his vanity, and fired off eight shots that were on par with a single golden gun shot, each getting absorbed by the crystals, which seemed to grow brighter.

"What do you think that'll do?" Sombra asked. "You can not harm me!"

"Who said I was trying to harm you," Josh said. "Guys, NOW!"

With that, I unleashed a shatter bomb, Rhino went Thor on his ass, Mage activated Radiance and unleashed a hail of solar grenades, Varren unleashed a fist of Havoc, and Patrick did Razor's edge attacks.

Just as the dust cleared, we saw that the crystals were now entirely green. "You see?" Sombra said. "Nothing can-" he was abruptly cut off when the crystal shards, exploded in size, forming something I had never hoped to see again.

Crota's summoning crystal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYKUeZQbMF0

The crystal began to glow, and we got our weapons ready. Sombra, somehow still alive, was floated out in front of us. To our surprise, he said, in a weak voice, "H-help me," before he was destroyed by a portal opening from inside him, one that seemed to grow larger, until it was as high as a two story house. We stepped back as a large Hive knight, with a green flame around his body stepped out, sword in hand.

Crota, son of Oryx, had arrived.

"Not picking up shields," Tara said.

"Doesn't mean it's gonna be easy," Rhino said.

"No," Josh said, "but we've beaten him before, and we can do it again," he said as he put Vanity on his thigh and drew dark drinker. He gripped it in two hands, and held it like a samurai would hold his blade. "Let's dance."

Ah, revengeance lines. Any way with that, the six of us charged at Crota, firing our weapons.

Josh-1st

As we charged at Crota, he raised his left hand and fired darkness blasts at us. The others dodged, while i simply used the guard of the sword, which is when I noticed Patrick next to me, his own dark-drinker out and blocking. "Well, I 'd say its time to test something out," I said.

"What's that?" Patrick asked.

"If Crota can be harmed by a semi-ascendant sword," I say as Crota focuses his fire on Cybis. "Lets go," I said, and the two of us lowered our swords. Just before we made it, we saw a group of thrall spawn close to Crota. I simply used the dark-drinkers attack to clear them out, as did Patrick, and we continued on our way. Just as we made it, I jumped up, using extra height double jump, into Crota's face, getting his attention ."Hello, asshole," I said as I delivered a slash to his face. I kicked off from his face, doing a flip in the process, while Patrick delivered a three hit slash combo to the Hive god's chest. I saw both scars, and neither were healing. Perfect.

"This is easier then the raid," Patrick said.

"Same here," I replied. "Cybis, Rhino, flame storm!!"

A combo I had once thought of, it's essentially a stormcaller throwing down a storm grenade and either a gunslinger or sunbreaker throwing an incendiary grenade. They did so, and I could see the burn marks on his armor. Ah, you have to love it when a plan comes together.

Crota roared in anger, and, somehow, Knights spawned. "How?" Patrick said.

"Questions later," I said. "Slicing ass in half now.

"Right," Patrick said, and we charged yet again. Well, as the song The Chosen Ones, by Dream Evil, says: riding through thunder and lightning.

"Sword charge?" I asked Nolandroid.

"Ninety percent for both," he replied.

"Good," I said as I initiated another vortex spin, stopping in that last frame of it where you have the sword in one hand, as Patrick leapt over and delivered an airborne heavy slice at the last knight to have survived the vortex. Crota then charged us, bringing his sword down with one hand as he closed in. I held my sword in my right hand, the blade in my left, and held it up, channeling my light into it to reinforce the guard feature. It hit, Patrick having dived out of the way, and I knelt a little. Well, I'd say its time to go a little Revengeance on his ass.

I stood up, pushing his sword up a little, even if he only brought it back down, which is what I wanted. I mentally switched my sword from Drinker to Void edge and placed in on the blade edge of Crota's sword, my free hand going on the flat end. I channeled as much strength my light and armor gave me, and it was enough to get the job done.

I lifted Crota off the ground, and threw him in the air, redirecting the strength to my legs, which I then used to jump onto his sword, changing back to drinker, and began running down his swords length, slicing as I went, doing so until I reached his shoulder, which is when I jumped up, sword raised, and looked down at the ground. I used my light to increase my gravity, making me fall faster then Crota. Just as I reached the joint that connected his arm to the rest of the body, I sliced, separating the two. I looked like this:

But I had a hunter cloak behind me, which I personally think added to the badassery. Hey, i just killed a god, I should be able to use nonsense words for a while. Okay, severely injured a god. Point still remains. i landed in a kneeling position, my sword held out to the right, Crota and the numerous pieces of his sword and arm fell down behind me.(1)

With that, I did a little flair with the sword, twirling it before putting it on my back and drawing my hand cannon, and walking up to where Crota lie.

The others fell in behind me, Patrick saying, "Just like Reveangeance. How!"

Cybis' response was, "Magic."

The others laughed I I stepped in front of Crota's face and pointed my hand cannon at him. "Actually, Rhino, Sleeper."

"Right," he said before he tossed me the Sleeper, which I caught as i put my Vanity away, and pointed it at Crota.

"Any last words?" I asked. T o my surprise, he responded.

In a gravelly voice, he said, "I am but the harbinger of my father, who already has someone here, wretched light. You can not stop the darkness. It will always exist in you. To remove it would be to kill your self."

"Maybe," I said, "but there's nothing saying we can't use the darkness." Just to prove my point, I use my light to summon an orb of light. I then put darkness into it, making it turn a bright white with black in there, the color of the Taken. I then shoved it in Crota's face, burning him. "And besides," I added, finger on the trigger and charging it, "the brightest lights always have a little bit of darkness in them." A single laser left the Simulant, and it tore through Crota's head, destroying the hive equivalent of a brain. As a safety precaution, as that went through his middle eye, I put another laser each trough his tow other eyes.

And with that, Crota, son of Oryx, the Taken King, died a second time, but it brought a question: how the hell did he make it here?

"So," Patrick said, "where are we going to, and how are we going to get there?"

Celestia sat in her personal chambers, hoping that Patrick, Varren, and Mage had been able to stop Sombra. It was a rare day, one in which Day court had few petitiners, leaving Celestia with free time, an unusual thing. She had been reading one of her favorite bboks, which in unimportant to the story, I Pinkie Promise, when her vision was suddenly filled by black. Strangely enough, she did not panic, as one would have. Rather, she felt calm, at home.

"Hello, my daughter," her father's voice rang out. "I trust you fare well?"

"Indeed, I do, Father," she replied. "But I am worried. Sombra, an old enemy of mine, resurfaced, and I had to send the three Guardians I summoned, and I have not heard anything from them."

Her father was silent for a time before saying, "I am certain the outcome was favorable."

"Yes ,I imagine so," Celestia said. "Father, may I see you, and know your name?"

"Of course," he said before a shape appeared. It was bipedal, with great, leathery wings on his back. I t had deep red robes that looked as if they were made of blood. On his head was a crown that more resembled a set of horns, and he had three eyes, two in the same general place of Josh and the others, the third being just above and between them.

"My name, Sekana, my daughter, is Oryx, The Taken King."

Missing Sun

View Online

Patrick, Varren, Mage, Rhino, Cybis, and myself were in the Hunter ship, as I had Nolandroid call for it during my sledding moment. We were on the way to the Empire, mostly so we could get an official peace agreement with Chrysalis, who was on her way there.

"So, Josh," Patrick asked, "what have you guys been up to?" Both of us had our helmets off, as did the others. I shrugged in response.

"Well, we freed Nightmare Moon from her banishment. Fun fact, in this version of Equestria, Nightmare is the main personality. We've gotten our own group of Guardians, two fire teams of which you guys met, saved Applejack's Parents, actually became members of her family, and we also reached an agreement with Chrysalis that would at least decrease the chances of her attacking."

"In fact, we're heading to the Empire now to finalize that agreement," Nolandroid said.

Patrick shook his head. "I still don't know how you guys got Ghosts, and we didn't."

"Well, Cybis thinks it might be because of how we got here."

"Either way, I want to head home," Patrick said. "You may like being here, but I don't even like the show." Guess i should point out that Patrick never was a brony. Hell, he only knows of the show because of his little sister.

"Well, it's a good thing then that we made a Vex portal," I said, gettig an alarmed look from Patrick.

"You did what?"

"We have precautions in place to prevent the Vex from coming here," I said. "And if they do, Cybis and Rhino have a plan for that."

"Okay, but why haven't you come home, yet? I mean, when she finds out, your mom's gonna be worried."

"I have a plan for that, actually," I said before nodding to Nolandroid, who floated by my head. I held my hand up, and a flash drive appeared. I handed it to Patrick, saying, "This is a record of everything I've been up to since I left, and even has the time displacement in there. As for why I, or, we, haven't left yet?" I shrugged. "It's because, here, even with the others, Nightmare and Twilight to name two, this world still needs us. I won't bore you with the details, Patrick, those are on the flash drive, as well as database shit so my mom knows just what I mean. Unfortunately, even with Celestia helping us before we pissed her off, we still couldn't find a way to remove the time issue. It also has a message for our former clan mates and Christian, as to why I won't be online, for a while at the least, forever at the most.

"We won't leave this world, Patrick. Not while Equis needs us. Hell, even after, we would stay here. For us, it's been nine and a half years, over half of our life before hand, and a third of it now. We have more friends here. We aren't in this for the glory." I sighed. "Yeah, I wish I could see the others again, but this if this is my, no pun intended, destiny, I'll take it. Then find the asshole who gave it to me and shoot his kneecaps." We both laughed at this.

"You sure, Josh," Patrick asked.

"Yeah, I am," I said. "So are Rhino and Cybis. Just give this to my mom, and then show it to Christian. Hell, show it to any one you want. I don't care."

Patrick looked down at the flash drive before he closed his fist around it. "I will," he said. "Guess we're stuck here until we get back to where you guys have that Vex gate at, huh?"

"Yeah," I said just as a beeping noise started. "We're close," I say as I stand up. "Nolandroid, have the others land close to us."

"Right."

"Josh," Tara said, floating over. "I just got a message from Forge."

"What?"

"She says Celestia's gone missing."

"How?" I ask.

"No idea, both for the guard, Disciple, and us," she says. "But we Steel did pick up signatures i recognize as Taken."

"Fuck!" I yell, getting the attention of the others. "Cybis, Rhino, we're in contingency Tango-Omega. Ramp training up, and get the Crucible up. We need the others ready, and we could use some training too."

"Right," Cybis said, abandoning his conversation with Mage.

"Dinklebot, I want you, Nexus, Nightmare, and Twilight to find a way to make Ghosts. We're gonna need a lot of new Guardians." I turned to Tara. "Tara, I want our own displaced tokens ready to be sent out through the multiverse. We're going to need as much help as possible." I turned to face Nolandroid. "Nolandroid, once we get back, get the gate open. Leave it open."

He was silent for a while before saying, in a serious tone, "Right."

"Josh, what's going on," Patrick asked.

"Celestia just went missing, and the Taken energy there suggests Oryx had a part," I said, "but that isn't the worst part."

"Then what is?" Varren asked.

"That Oryx just reunited with, and has begun training, his daughter."

"What?" Patrick said. "Celestia can't be his daughter."

"In this universe," Rhino said, his arms spread, "she is. And we hate it."

"We had contingency plans since we found out years ago," Cybis said. "Hell, that's part of the reason we tried to have Chrysalis as an ally: Oryx and Celestia will fuck our shit up, even with an army at our side."

"You sure you don't want us to stay then," Mage asked.

"Yes," Cybis, Rhino, and I said at the same time.

"You guys need to get back home," Rhino said. "If you were meant to be here, you would have come here first, not us."

"Besides," Cybis said, "we've been here longer, and know the land a little better. We know what we have at our disposal."

"I'm sure that if you guys are meant to be there at the final battle," I said, "the universe will find a way."

After a second, Patrick said, "Fine, but if we do, we're kicking your ass when it's over with."

"Good luck," I said as the ship landed and the main door opened. As we stepped out, I said to the Ghosts, "Make sure every one knows what happened, guys. I don't want any one caught by surprise when the shit hits the fan."

"Right," Nolandroid said as Nightmare, Applejack, and Twilight walked up to us.

Applejack pulled Rhino, Cybis, and I into a hug, one which Twilight joined in.

"I thought you all were gonna die," Applejack said, tears in her eyes.

"Why?" Rhino asked. "Did you forget what kinds of badass your uncles are?" This got laughs out of us before I looked to Nightmare, who stood at the edge of the group.

"Nightmare, get over here," I said. "You're a part of the fire team, too, after all."

I could see Nightmare smile just a little as I said those words, and I even saw a small blush. She walked over to us and joined in the hug and I noticed the look of happiness on her face, and just seeing it made me feel proud, for some reason.

It was Rhino who broke the hug saying, "Looks like she's arrived."

The six of us looked skyward, and I saw a black speck getting closer. "Yeah, that's her," I said. "Remember, cover is that she defeated Sombra, not us."

"We know," Cybis said. "Now, come on. We need to get to Canterlot as soon as we're done with this."

Rhino and I nodded. "Right. With that, all of us, Fire teams Obsidian and Distant Death, us, Nightmare, Applejack, Twilight, Patrick, Mage, and Varren made our way to the Crystal Palace, where we saw Chrysalis heading to.

After a middle length walk, we arrived. To my surprise, the same changeling, the one in red armor, from her old palace was waiting for us. "She was wondering when you'd arrive," he said. "She''l see only those she saw in her castle, with me being the escort."

I smiled. Have to give Chrysalis credit, she does play it safe. "Of course," I said. "Come on, guys."

With that, the six of us that were at her castle earlier entered the palace, the others staying outside.

"So, what's your name?" I asked the changeling.

"Shade," he replied. "And just about every changeling knows your name, Josh. We've had agents in Ponyville for a few years. One was even in the crowd when you six became the Element bearers."

"What do you do?" Cybis asked.

"I'm in the Queen's personal guard," Shade said, and I saw a small blush. "Have been for ten years, and I'm one of the few of her subjects who gets to know her as herself, not a visiage."

"So, you're a friend of hers as well," Cybis asked, and I saw the blush slightly intensify.

"Yeah, but, in all honesty, I'd rather be more, but she's a queen, and I'm just a drone." Cybis chuckled, getting a death glare from Shade. "What's so funny," he growled.

"The fact that you're one of her personal guard, and came here with her when I see no other changeling, or pony that could be one. I think that says that, even if it's in her subconscious, she has feelings for you too. You just need to get the courage to ask her out," Cybis said. "Trust me."

"Why should I?"

"Because if you do, you'll know where she stands. After all, the worst she can say is no."

"I guess," Shade said. "But that really doesn't matter right now," he added with a sigh.

I looked to Cybis with a You thinking what I'm thinking look, to which he nodded with a small smile that went unnoticed by the others.

Any way, we made it to the throne room. Should have guessed that's where she'd be at. Shade opened the door, and, to my surprise, as well as the others, we didn't see Chrysalis on the throne. Instead, we saw a smaller changeling, about pony sized, with white chitin and a purple mane and tail. I mentally face palmed. Okay, so we have, A: Nightmare being the actual personality; B: Celestia being a controlling perfectionist; and C: Rarity is most likely a changeling. I feel like this version of Equestria is made up ideas of mine, given all those.

"Ah, I wondered when you would arrive," Chrysalis said as she turned to face us. She raised a hoof to the smaller changeling. "This is my daughter, Chitinia-"

Even the name!

"-And I imagine you're wondering why she is on the throne and not me?"

"Uh, yeah," Rhino said, to which both Chrysalis and Chitinia chuckled.

"Well, you see," Chitinia said in Rarity's voice. Why must that be here? "My mother, once you all had left, decided that I should be given my own kingdom to rule."

"Actually, Chitinia," Chrysalis said, "there's more to it then that." This got a bit of a surprised look from the white changeling.

"What do you mean, Mother?"

"You see, Chitinia, even before Josh and the others arrived, I had been thinking of leaving the throne and giving it to you," Chrysalis said. "Only, there was nothing I could think of to take the place in my time until now."

"Oh, you've got to be kidding me," I heard Cybis mumble to himself.

Agreed, Rhino and I said over our link.

"So, let me guess," I said as I pinched the base of my nose between my eyes, right elbow in left hand. "You want Guardian training?"

Chrysalis nodded. "Yes, I do."

"But Mother," Chitinia said before Chrysalis stopped her.

"Chitinia, being a queen is a difficult job, one I could barely do. But you, you're wise and have proven yourself to be a capable leader whenever I was unable to lead."

The room was silent for a while before Chitinia said, "Well, if you want training for being a Guardian, mother, then so do I."

"But then the hive won't have a leader."

"Actually," Cybis said, "we offered Chrysalis the training so that she could be a more efficient protector of her hive. We never said that a country's leader couldn't be a Guardian at the same time. So the both of you can get the training, and Chitinia could still lead."

"We do have a hive mind," Shade agreed. "It might work."

Speaking of things that might work, I thought before I pushed Shade, who stood next ot me, forward and said, "Which reminds me: Shade here has something to ask you, Chrysalis."

Shade shot me a death glare, not that I could care, and began to try to look Chrysalis in the eye as he fidgeted around.

"What is it, Shade," Chrysalis asked.

"Um, well, you see," Shade said, "I was, actually, you see-"

"Get on with it," I said in a dead pan, getting another death glare. from Shade before he turned back to face Chrysalis.

"You see, your Highness-"

"Just Chrysalis, Shade."

"Right, sorry. "You see, Chrysalis, I was hoping that you'd, well, go out with me?"

The room was silent, with Chitinia looking between Shade and her mother before the former queen said, "Yes, I will."

"Really," Shade asked in disbelief, to which Chrysalis replied by walking over to him and giving him a small kiss at the tip of his muzzle.

"Yes, really," she said before looking at us. "So, how is it we will get to where you train your new recruits?"

"Follow us," I said. "Same with you, Chitinia, if you still want Guardian training."

"I don't see why not," she said as she got up from her throne. "I can have my aides run in my place while I'm there."

"Then let's go," I said before we made our way out of the palace, which is when Applejack, Twilight, and Nightmare split off from us to go to their jumpjets and Patrick's personas rejoined us. We made our way to the Hunter ship. Our first stop would be the Tower to return Patrick, Mage, and Varren back to our world, as well as get Chrysalis and Chitinia a place to stay. Shade too, as I'm certain he'd want to stay with Chrysalis.

it took about an hour before we got there, and, after the three changelings got settled and Patrick and the others left, hopefully having been combined back into one person still with the flash drive, Rhino, Cybis, and I initiated our plans.

The first part was to send our own displaced tokens, which are multiple Khvostovs (first weapon) sent throughout the multiverse to other displaced. Hey, when you go against what are practically two gods, you need as much help as possible. The second is essentially removing the protocols regarding to the gate, which meant it was to be left open. We hoped to attract the Vex, and use logic to have them, at least, agree not to attack us, and help when you know who came. Nolandroid and Tara would be watching over the satellites to look for Vex signatures, and send any Vex a message asking for a truce between us and them. An example of the logic is that, while the Vex can react quicker, their platforms have set limits, while organics are able to push past our limits, and adapt. Plus, unlike the Vex, we can't be Taken. That, or Oryx just won't take us.

Once that was done, we made our way to Canterlot, using the Hunter ship, to see just who would take over as Celestia's successor.

We were going over her personal files, and boy did we find something.

An hour into the search, three after the Empire became a part of Chitinia's hive, we found something in one of Celestia's journals.

"Hey, uh, guys," I said, "take a look at this."

"What is it," Cybis asked as he and Rhino came over.

"This," I said before I cleared my throat. "In the event of my inability to perform my duties, my personal student shall act in my stead until such time as I am able to resume my duties.'

"Well, that doesn't help us," Rhino said. "Twilight did resign from her position as Celestia's student."

"Actually, there's something else," I said. "Earlier, I was going over the various profiles of her students, she's had a lot over the past thousand years, and found that officially, one of her students is still officially her student."

"Who?" Cybis asked.

"Take a random fucking guess," I said. "It's Sunset Shimmer."

Just as I said that, a portal appeared in front of each of us. "Well, I'd say some one just summoned us," I said as our helmets were transmatted on. "Shall we?"

"Let's," Rhino said, and we stepped through.

Some guarding help

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"So, where do you think we're heading?" Rhino asked as we traveled through the portal, which was actually as black as night, not white, though there were other pinpricks of light, which we assumed were other universes.

"No idea," I said. "But get everything ready, we're probably going to be coming hot."

"Yeah, we kinda guessed that, Josh," Cybis said as he brought his Tlalock.

"Then the question is what we're going to be facing," Rhino said.

"Well, I'd say that's soon," I said as a particular point of light became brighter. "I'd also say that's where we're going."

"Agreed," Cybis said just as the light blinded us.

When the light faded, we saw we were frozen just above an anthro version of Ponyville, our feet pointed toward the ground. We were just above and in front of a group of three. One was a changeling in armor that looked like it belonged in a trash heap. Another of the three was a female griffon that looked somewhat like Gilda, though only because of the head. The third, though, was in Spartan-IV armor. He had the Raider helmet, air assault shoulder piece on his right, scout on his left, soldier for the chest, and bulk greaves and arms. I looked at the others, and we got into the familiar position Guardians are in when they transmat into a Crucible match, and time seemed to resume.

We touched down on the ground and I said, "So, who summoned us?"

"That'd be me," the Spartan, who, now that I think about it, had the same armor configuration and color scheme, cyan and brick, as the avatar I used back before Rhino, Cybis, and I were split, said as he picked the weapons of his off the ground.

"Josh, is it just me," Rhino asked, "or does he look like the Spartan we made in Halo 4 before we were split like this?"

"That's funny, you three look like my guardians," the Spartan said. "Let me guess, you bought something from a merchant and were sent to some version of Equis, and were split into three people, with the identity you had before being a single person, with his name also being the Hunter's, as well as mine?"

"I guess," Cybis said. "Cybis, by the way."

"Rhino," Rhino said.

"Well, we know each other's names," the other Josh said as he drew his halo 4 model battle rifle. "Disabling shots."

"Right," I say as I bring up my Vanity, Rhino brings up his Answering Chord, which, by the way, is a Suros made Vanguard auto rifle, for those who don't know.

"Mist, Quick, same goes for you two. Lone, Onyx," Josh said, "get a spell ready to get us out of here."

"Right," they said. "Come on, guys," Quick, the griffon, said. "But we are going to talk about this later, Josh."

"I know," he said as Quick took who I guessed was Onyx, a black crystal stallion, in her hands and flew up, with Mist, the changeling, taking this universe's Lone, who wore guard armor like Quick, and flew to a more secluded part of the town. "So, Guardians, time to have some fun."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqBNw4WSBQU

Josh fired off a burst from his rifle as the three of us charged forward, firing at arms and legs. I myself aimed for knees and elbows. Hey, he said disabling shots, he didn't say anything about permanently crippling shots. Rhino was, mostly, just knocking guards out. Should point out that those we were going against wore royal guard armor. I sense a story there.

Once i ran out of ammo in my current clip, I just saved time and went with Drinker, slicing off hands and the lower third of legs. Cybis was using Tlaloc, with his super charged, and firing near ponies hooves, while Rhino just went all out hand to hand. I turned to look at Josh, and saw him engaged in a sword battle with who I guessed was the leader of these guards. And he was getting his ass handed to him. Guys, he needs help, I said over the link, and the three of us rushed towards him.

Just as we reached him, the leader brought his sword down, but Rhino was able to catch it in his hand. "Nice Knife," he said before he broke it. Those who've played Revengeance knows what that looks like.

"Now, how about you run back to Canterlot," Cybis said, pointing his Tlaloc at the guy, "before we kill you."

The guy chuckled. "That isn't going to happen," he said just as a lavender blast of magic impacted and exploded next to us.

We jumped back and looked up, and saw this universe's Elements coming down towards us. "Shit," Josh said. "Uh, Lone, how's it coming?" he asked over his radio. "Elements. . . So, you guys ready to run?"

"Yep," Rhino said. "Now?"

"Now," he confirmed, and the four of us stowed our weapons and made a mad dash in the direction we saw Lone and the others go off to. "So, what do you guys have to deal with?"

"Well," I said, "we pissed off our worlds Celestia, who just happens to be Oryx's daughter, make peace with changelings, and kicked Crota's ass like he was a Ray."

"Nice," Josh said. "So, how do I send you guys back?"

"Just say we can co back," Rhino said.

"Right," Josh said. "And if you need help with you know who, I'm in."

"Thanks," Cybis said.

"No problem. You can go home now."

As soon as he said that, our surroundings changed. We now stood in the Canterlot gardens, just in front of the Discord statue. I looked at it. "You know, while we're here," I said. "Might as well take care of this issue. Nolandroid, tell Forge to find that mirror portal, as well as the book Celestia used that would allow her to talk with Sunset, and have both brought to the Tower."

Nolandroid transmatted next to us. "Right," he said. "Should I get the ship prepped?"

"Please, we'll need it."

Half an hour later, the three of us stood in the portal room at the tower with Discord in statue form, a simple note attached to his head. It read, "Discord, you may not know us, it's hard to tell because, well, you, but we know you, and thus, just to make Celestia mad, my friends and I have decided to send you to a version of Equestria that has no force that can stop you. All we ask is that, should you come back here, you do only small bits of chaos, or help us, depending on the situation. Do what ever the fuck you want in your new home, though. Welcome to G3."

"Portal coordinates locked," Cybis said.

"Right," I said, nodding. "Rhino, care to do the honors?"

"Right," he said just before he backed up, then ran at the statue. Just before he hit it, he shoulder charged it, which had enough kinetic energy to move the statue into the portal.

"So, how long do you think until some one else summons us," Cybis said. "Which reminds me, the other Josh didn't give us his token."

"Yeah, that might be a problem," I said. "Lock the portal on to his Equestria, and have Dinklebot go through to get a token so we can summon him if it's needed. Or, rather, when."

"On it," Dinklebot said before he appeared and went through the portal.

"Probably going to be a while," Cybis said. "Think we should start working wiht Twi on making that transfer thing."

"Yeah, let's get started on it," I said, and we made our way to the laboratory that we had set aside for this little project.

A new world

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"Progress," I asked Twilight as to the status of the mirror portal.

"Almost done," she said. "Really, the only problem we have is chronological, by which I mean they seem to have a slower time rate than us, and we haven't had any success in getting a time frame close to us."

Looks like we need the Vex, Cybis said over the link.

Agreed, but we still don't have any contact with them, Rhino replied.

Yeah, that's about to change, Nolandroid said.

What do you mean, I asked, just as a familiar cloud with small lightning formed. Nevermind. "Don't fire," I say to the other Guardians, which were Nightmare, Twilight, Applejack, Far Sight, Rhino had invited her, I imagine hoping for a date, and Forge, who Cybis had invited. Well, if they want to call it a date or something, I can't stop them. "If you do, you'll wish you weren't born." As a shape came out of the cloud, they had their weapons up, but didn't fire. Good.

What came out of the cloud was a Vex Goblin. "Nolandroid, go," I said, and Nolandroid appeared and floated in front of the Vex, beeping occasionally with the Goblin doing the same, so I imagine they were communicating.

After a few seconds, a lifetime for an AI, by the way, Nolandroid said, "They're willing to talk."

I nodded, and, with my hands behind my back, walked up to where the Goblin was in arm's reach. It's red optic turned a little as it regarded me. "You are Hunter Josh, correct," it asked in a voice similar to Legion's from Mass Effect.

"Yes I am," I replied. "I thank you for at least hearing me out.

"It was logical to do so, the Goblin replied. "The collective picked up gate signatures from here, but had no data on this dimension, and so, they asked us to investigate. Query: why did you wish for an alliance with us when we have killed other Guardians?"

I saw the pony Guardians tense up, but they still didn't fire. "Because there is a threat that can only be defeated if we look past our past transgressions against one another, and I, we, were hoping the Vex would agree with us. I assume that my Ghost gave you the information."

"Assumption correct," the Goblin replied. "And we see the logic in your request. The collective has been watching, and the minds are debating." A few seconds later, it said, "The minds also see the logic, both in what you said, and what your Ghost relayed. You have an alliance with the Collective now. We are to be what you call an ambassador."

I smiled. "Thank you. And what should we designate you so that we may distinguish you from other Vex?"

"No designation to the programs on this platform have been give."

"Do I have the permission of the Collective to do so, to make things easier on our side of future interactions?" Ah, I thank Mass Effect and the Geth for helping me with knowing this kind of speech.

"Affirmative," the Goblin said.

Oh, a fucking no brainer for me. "Then the new designation for the collective mind of the programs in the platform in front of me will be Legion."

"Designation accepted," Legion said.

"Stand down, Guardians," I finally said. "Legion, if the Collective wishes, they may send other Vex here, so that they and the Guardians here can start training and coming up with tactics for the threat, as well as ones for construction."

"Understood," Legion said. "Done," he said. "Do you require assistance at this moment?"

"Actually, yes," I said. "Twilight?"

"You see, we're trying to make a machine that will allow this," she said, pointing to toe mirror, "to let us travel to an alternate version of this world, but there's a chronological problem, and we can't fix it."

"The solution is simple," Legion said. "Combine your technology with the portal that brought Vex attention here. It will automatically fix your problem."

Why didn't we think of that? I said over the link.

"But we don't know how to do that," Twilight said.

Oh, right.

"Allow us to help," Legion said as another cloud came into existence, causing the others to jump back, and, joy, a Vex Minotaur and three other Goblins appeared.

"I'll lead you to it," Nolandroid said.

Keep an eye on them, I said over the link.

Right.

So, with that, Nolandroid led the Vex to the portal room. "Uh, what were those," Far asked.

"A race of machines from where we came from," Rhino said. "They mastered travel through time, and maybe space. They have something akin to a hive mind, and have existed for eons."

So, we explained what we knew of the Vex to the others, our battles with them, and even the Vault of Glass. Damn, that was hell.

Regardless, a few hours, Nolandroid, over the radio, said, "Guys, bring the portal down."

"Right," I say. "Let's go." As we made our way, with the mirror, I said over the link, So, what do you guys think will happen when we go through the portal?

No idea, Cybis said. Hopefully, we retain our powers.

Doubtful, Rhino said. Remember the films? Both Twilight and Spike lost their ability to use any sort of magic. Yeah, Spike talked, but I think we can chock that up to his sapience.

Guess we'll find out soon enough.

We arrived at the room a few minutes later, and saw a changed Vex portal. It was, for the most part, the same, but it had small plugs, I think, from the left side. Applejack, who was carrying the mirror, put it next to those, and the plugs extended and connected with the mirror, which began to glow.

"Chronology error resolved," Legion said. "You may proceed."

i nodded. "Let's go, Guardians," I say, and we walked into the portal, and the human variant of this world.

Heir finding

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Really, for me, Cybis, and Rhino, the portal wasn't all that bad, but that might have been because we were already humans, technically speaking, as the Awoken are humans who had tried to escape the collapse, and Exos were built in humanity's likeness. I wasn't sure about the others, though. I imagine few changes happened because obvious reasons, but still. Which reminds me.

Okay, so, according to the Fall of Sunset Shimmer comic book, Luna, or Nightmare, who the hell knows with the human world was Vice principal before Sunset's arrival, so Nightmare won't be able to be at the school to help, same with AJ. Twilight, maybe, I don't know. Forge and Sight, depends on their ages upon exiting the portal, though I imagine it would be the same as in Equestria, thanks to the Vex. There's a sentence I didn't expect to say in goodwill. Also, it was a Saturday back in Equestria, so most likely the same in the human world. Good, assuming it's, well, you know, like the American School system. Let's hope the government isn't the same, am I right?

Anyway, the last part of the trip was accompanied by a flash of light, and i felt something happen to my body, but I wasn't certain what it was. When it faded, I lay on my chest in front of Canterlot high. "Everyone okay?" I asked.

"Good," I heard five female voices say at once, but a lack of two male voices. Oh, come on! Before I get to far ahead, here's my train of thought: We were one person before this, before going through a portal. We just went through a portal. A magic portal. See where I'm going?

"Uh, where's Rhino and Cybis," I heard Forge ask.

"Right here," I say as I sat up.

"But. . . how," I heard Nightmare say. "It's just you, Josh."

"Knew I should have said something before," I mumbled before standing up. The first thing I noticed was that I was as tall as I was before this all started. Somewhere in the middle of height charts.. I looked down and was I was wearing a black t-shirt with a triangle of the class symbols with a tricorn, the main Destiny symbol, in the middle of the triangle, with a small circle of red, purple, and pink around the symbols. I'll give ya three guesses as to how the colors are arranged. I also wore blue, denim jeans and a black jacket that looked as if it was made by north face. Thin, so even in room temperature, I could be comfortable. On my right wrist was an olive green, same color as my eyes, I assume right now, bracelet campers use that can be unraveled for string, or something. On my left was a watch, which currently said eleven o'nine, with three Ghosts in a triangle, one of which was blinking. "Not exactly," I say, turning around to see the others.

Nightmare had on an outfit somewhat similar to Vice-principal Luna's. Made sense, really. Her skin, though, was the same as her form back in Equestria, as well as her hair. But wow, was she attractive now. The outfit, as akin to the professional one for this world's counter-part, was a little more, ahem, skin tight. I thank what ever controls the portal that it gave her a bra, or I assume so, as I didn't see any small bumps from her rather sizable chest. On her right ring finger, I saw a ring with her cutie mark on it in Laughter cyan.

Forge was just slightly taller than me, and wore a white t-shirt with denim jeans. She had well muscled arms, and a well built frame. Her face was well framed, and seemed to be made of metal. Made sense, I guess. Her hair went to to her shoulders. Okay, either it's because Rhino and I are one again, or just hormones, but now I see what Cybis sees in her.

Sight was just a little shorter than me, and was built like a runner. Again, makes sense. She wore a sleeveless tee and knee length shorts. Her hair, a blonde color to go with her white skin, went to her neck line. Same with her as with Forge, in the fact I now saw what my other two personalities saw in their respective crushes.

Applejack? Guess. The only difference was that her hat seemed to have an orange lining to it on the rim.

Twilight, actually, was a little different than I had guessed. Instead of that school outfit shirt, which I honestly found, though fitting, a little boring was replaced with a pair of knee length shorts that were colored black, no idea why, a light yellow, sleeveless workout shirt, it actually went better with her skin tone than you'd think, and her hair was shoulder length. All of us had on backpacks.

"You see, before Rhino, Cybis, and I came to Equis, we were one person before."

"Wha- bu-" Twilight said.

"Long story," I say, holding up my hand. "Basically, what got us here somehow split us, and I'd say that," I say gesturing to this end of the portal, "recombined us into, well, me before the whole thing happened."

Obviously.

"And it seems they still have an actual presence in my mind. Would you mind being quite while I'm talking, Rhino?"

Just saying.

"Ugh, I'm gonna go mad here," I say, rubbing the base of my nose. "I just know it." I sighed. "We all know what the mission is, right?"

"To find Sunset Shimmer, Celestia's student before me," Twilight says, "and bring her back to Equestria, seeing as how she's still technically Celestia's student, and Celestia made it to where her student would take over, albeit with advisers."

"Yep," I say. "One other thing, though. The reason why she left is because of one of Celestia's wiser moments, as Sunset looke dinto a mirror that showed her some variant version of the future where she was an alicorn, and she didn't have the patience to wait for it, and left, coming here. She decided to bide her time tormenting the people here," I say, gesturing to the school, "and wait until an Element was found so she can take one and use it to brainwash slash zombify the people here for an army to take over Equestria."

"Which wouldn't work," Forge said. "I mean, there's Celestia, if she hadn't left. She's be able to take them."

"Yeah, no," I say. "You see, that's a school, and the Principal is this world's Celestia, and going through the portal would result in Celestia vs Celestia, and the same for Nightmare and this world's version of her. The Guard couldn't do shit. Really, if the Vanguard wasn't in Equestria, it would work."(1)

"Fair point," Sight said, hand on chin. "Oh, and I also managed to nab Celestia's journal while I was in Canterlot," she said, pulling a book out of her backpack. "Found quite a bit of stuff. Including that she heard her father before she used the Elements on you guys."

"Fuck," I said. "Damn our luck," I nearly yell. "No offense, Nightmare."

"None taken," she said. "Celestia is my sister by adoption, anyway."

Okay, then. Did not see that coming. "Huh. Wouldn't have guessed," I say. "Anyway, we have until our Monday to find someplace to act as a base of operations."

"So, where to," Forge asked.

"No idea," I say, shrugging. "Though If I'm right, there should be some kind of hotel nearby, or at least in town."

"And what about paying for it?" Twilight asked.

I reached behind me and took of my pack and unzipped the front pocket and pulled out a bag. I opened it, gold coins inside. "I kinda guessed we'd need money, so I brought bits, and if this place is anything like where Rhino, Cybis, and I came from, we can exchange them for cash." I smiled. "A lot of cash."

"If only we knew a place for that," Forge said, crossing her arms before a voice we didn't expect to hear spoke up.

"You know, we could help," Steel said as she and the other Ghosts, minus Dinkle for obvious reasons, appeared. "We can go invisible to find a place like that."

"Do it," I say. With that, the Ghosts went invisible, except Nolandroid and Tara. "What?" I ask.

"Well, while you guys were talking, we got a small ping from Dinklebot," Nolandroid said. "He says he's got the token, and is heading back to the tower. We let him know where we are, and where the portal is now, so he should be here soon."

"Then it looks like we're staying here for a while," I say as I walk to the front door. "Lock pick, Nolandroid," I say once I get there.

He floated over, and a blue stream came out of his eye and made contact with the lock. "Done," he said after a few seconds, and I pushed the door in. What? They have terrible security, and as long as we got out before Monday, they wouldn't know.

"Okay, until the others find something, we'll be here," i say as I walk in, but the other didn't follow.

"But that's illegal," I heard Twilight say.

I looked back with a small smile. "Only if they can prove we broke in," I say. "There's a library here, too."

Twilight's eyes widened. Too. Fucking. Easy. "Where!?"

"I'll show you, assuming I can find it."

"Guess we might as well see what we can find out about this place," Forge said, hands behind her head as if her head was on pillow.

"Agreed," Sight said. "What about you two," she asked Nightmare and Applejack.

"May as well," Nightmare said. "I doubt we'd be able to stop you."

"Then come on," I say. 'We got books to find." Hard to make that sound cool.

"Nolandroid, Tara, try to find Sunset," I say as we make our way into the empty school. "We need to know where she is, and when she's close to the school. Once Dinklebot gets back, tell him he's to watch the portal to let us know if she tries to go through, or someone comes through."

"Right," Tara said before she and Nolandroid flew off, going invisible, and I saw now all thee Ghost symbols on my watch were slowly blinking. That could be useful, I guess.

Nolandroid POV-1st

I was flying over the residential part of this version of Equestria, using my scanners to look for the signature that, so far, was unique to beings from Equis, as Josh, both now and when he was split, lacked it, along with that other Displaced, while Nightmare and the other ponies, anthro and full on pony, even now, had it.

Tara was on the other side of town, as we had teleported to our areas to look for Sunset. So far, we hadn't had any luck, not that we had been at it long, but still, our sensors were at maximum range.

You know, I wonder why Tara and I, well, why something didn't happen to us. Weird.

My sensors went wild just as I was almost at the end of this block, which, given my range, was on the next two blocks, the last, most likely. I narrowed sensor range, and made my way to that block. I went down the street, just above the roofs of the cars in the streets. The signal became strongest just as I hit the end on the left, which had a small apartment block, top floor.

Guys, I think I found her, I say over the link I had with Tara and Josh. I made my way to the window that was connected to the room I felt the signature-Oh fuck. Guys, we have a problem.

What? Josh replied, panic in the word.

What I saw was Sunset getting Taken. Yes, that "t" is upper case, no typo. The scary part? The Darkness energy, or whatever it was, had a yellow tint to it.

Yeah, I'd say that's a problem. Like going against the fucking Winged Dragon of Ra form Yu-gi-oh with Prime Material Dragon on that thing's side!(2)

What do we do? Tara asked.

Just as she asked this, a Darkness orb began to grow. When it finally exploded, there stood Sunset Shimmer, albeit. . . different, and not alone.

She was as tall as before, but now her hair seemed to defy gravity, and looked like burning, black and white flames, two, glowing eyes where you'd think, a jagged horn from her forehead, her nose and mouth now more a muzzle, demonic wings on her back, and a dress reminiscent of a Hive Wizard, which are inaccurately named, as Wizard is male, but they're all female, and fingers ending in sharpened talons. Her skin was, well. . . she's Taken, guess. But the worst part was her entourage.

Four Hive Knights, which had signatures of Arc shields, and an equal amount of Taken Knights, with Solar shields stood around her. The Hive Knights had on the blue colored, chitin like armor that indicated they were part of the Silent Brood, encountered only on the Dreadnaught, their role most likely as Guards, and had swords, while the Taken version had Void Boomers.

I think it's obvious, Josh said. We stay and make sure she can't harm the people of this world. Nolandroid, get the Ghosts back here, and make sure the follow you here. They're most likely here for us, and I'll give it to them.

You sure?

No idea, just do it.

Josh

"We have a problem," I say, stopping in the hall before turning around and making my way back to the front of the school. "They found Sunset, but she's been corrupted by what I faced before I came to Equestria and was split," I say, not technically lying, just. . . telling a certain way of looking at it.

"What?" Forge said.

"Celestia's father," I say. "An force so evil, he controls the shadows himself." Now, before I go further, I would like to point something out. I think Oryx is good, and the Traveler can go to hell. Here be why, keeping in mind this is for the game. You see, the reason why Oryx and the Hive do what they do is so they survive. You see, a long time ago, Oryx and his sisters made a pact with their gods, which led to some kind of worm choosing the Hive as hosts, and they need to feed it, often with blood, so they can survive, or the worm will feed on them, and they made that pact to get revenge for their father's death at the hands of a traitor.

As for why he chases the Traveler, it is because of the Traveler that the Hive home world, called The Fundament, was destroyed by a great tidal wave caused by the moons of the planet aligning due to the Traveler's arrival, and it didn't even bother trying to save them, instead letting them die on the planet, which made them chase it to stop it from doing the same to others, and for a bit of revenge. Think. Why did Oryx himself come to the System? Because we killed his son, and we kill because things aren't with the Traveler. The Fallen, for instance, are what could happen to us, because we fight for the Traveler because we just assume Light is good. It isn't, in this case. Think about the legends card for the Black Garden. We are an army of the dead, everything else have only had one life.

Now, at this point, impossible to fix things, but still, in game, I would choose to fight for Oryx to set things right, if that option existed. That, and Oryx right now probably wants to fuck my shit.

As I made my way to the front of the school, I could feel my shirt becoming hotter where the symbols were. Once I was outside, not having heard the others follow, I walked in front of the statue, facing the road. I heard something behind me, and heard a voice. "They already filled me in, Josh," Dinklebot said. "Got the token. It's his fracture pistol."

"Keep it stored," I say, seeing six other lights, the other Ghosts, coming closer. "Spike, Seed, Steel, Robin," I say, Robin being Sight's Ghost, "they're inside. Tara, Nolandroid, stay here."

The four Ghosts that weren't connected to me continued moving, while Tara and Nolandroid stopped next to me and Dinklebot.

"What do you plan on doing," Tara asked. "You don't have even a hint of the powers of when you're split."

"Just being brave enough to do this is a power," I say. "I am going against impossible odds, after all."

"But not alone," I heard Nightmare say behind me. I looked behind me, and saw the others walking up.

"You guys don't need to do this, you know."

"Yeah," Applejack said. "But we are Guardians. I thought it was our job to fight impossible odds." Oh, I definitely like this AJ better than the canon one.

"Fair enough," I say. "Too bad we don't have our abilities. Then we'd have a shot."

"We do have the Elements, though," Forge said as the others stopped next to me.

"True," I say before I thought of something. I closed my eyes, and focused on the Elements I had, channeling what energy I could into them, and I began to feel a burning sensation on my chest. Eventually, things got bright, bright enough to where even with my eyes closed, it was white. I felt myself growing a little, and felt something appear on me. When the light faded, I opened my eyes, and looked at myself. I had on the Peregrine Greaves for the Titan, the Nothing manacles for the Warlock, and a chest piece that resembled the Hunter Crest of Alpha Lupi, but, instead of a wolf head, it had a horse head with a horn on the forehead, and wing patterns on the sides. "Nolandroid, what are Helmet and cloak?"

"Celestial Nighthawk foe helmet, and, somehow, all three flayer cloaks. In left to right, Arc, Void, Solar."

"Okay, then," I say, looking at the others, who, somehow, got their armor too, but looked even more confused than me. "I'm going to say magic and the Elements," I say just a a roar could be heard, and my attention snapped to the road. "They're here."

Indeed, at the end of the road, causing mayhem in the only ways possible with their weapons, were the Taken Sunset and her guards. "Music."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRkBJY1mua0

I began to walk toward them as I said to the others, "Make sure as many civilians get out of here as possible. That's an order."

They nodded, and they fanned out as I continued my walk, the cloak, or cloaks, I don't know, flapping in the air. As I walked, three colors appeared on the chest piece, which I shall dub the Crest of Equum Alatum, or Crest of Winged Horse, in Latin, each color matching an Element I had in Equis.

I stopped halfway down the street, as did my opponents a few feet in front of me, and the tension could be cut with a knife. "You first," I say.

Taken Sunset raised her hand, and a bolt of Arc Darkness erupted from her hand, faster than I could dodge, and hit me in the chest.

I fell to my knees as I stumbled back. "Josh!" I heard Nightmare cry. I raised my hand to where the bolt had struck, on the left wing of the design of my chest piece, and, to my surprise, felt no pain. I drew my hand away, and saw no blood. Instead, I saw black and white flames. It was trying to consume me, corrupt me. Well, like I told Oryx on the moon, I'm not something he can corrupt for the hell of it. I infused my hand with Light, removing the Darkness flame, and put it over the impact area, cleansing it as well. Well, not all of it.

I stood back up, and I saw the Hive Knights back away slightly. They didn't expect me to get back on my feet then. Then they sure as hell won't expect what I'm about to do next.

I thrust my left hand across my chest, resting it above mt right shoulder, palm open and facing back before I turned it upwards, and created an orb of light. "Time for some shade," I say before I pull my hand to in front of my chest, palm and orb facing right before I thrust my right hand, which had some of the Darkness flame on it I had kept for this, into it, causing he orb to darken to a gray color, with some white and black flames, but not much, swirling inside before I did what Oryx did when he was first defeated. I pointed it toward the sky, and thrust it down on my chest.

I gasped before my vision began to dim. I was not vanishing. My body was simply. . .adjusting. My vision lightened almost as soon as it dimmed. I rose a hand, palm facing skyward, elbow bent, and made an orb of light I did the same with the opposite hand, but, instead, got an orb of darkness. Good.

I collapsed both as I began to laugh. "Oryx thinks he can send his forces against me!" I yell as I began to walk again, all of them backing up. It seems self-preservation is still there. Good. Something from before they were Taken. "Someone who was able to resist him when I was split! When I was weaker than now! Before I was an Element! He has a lot to learn!" One of the Hive Knights, either brave or suicidal, charged me, his blade raised. I simply pointed a palm at him and shot an orb of light at him. It didn't kill him, but it did what I wanted. He stopped in his tracks, and, from his chest, a worm like those on the Dreadnought, came out like a chest-buster, and the wound on the Knight was healed.

The worm flew to my hand. I grabbed it as I stopped moving. I then flung it to the ground, and stomped it with my boot, killing it. The Knight seemed to shrink, as did it's armor, and it eventually collapsed, it's body still intact.

"The Darkness is not just a tool of destruction!" I sent an orb of said material at a Taken Knight, reverting him to a normal Knight with an Arc Boomer, and the energy killed his worm. "And the Light is not just a tool of creation!" I yell, shooting an orb of Light at an under construction building, making it fall.

"AND BOTH CAN BE USED," I yell as I generated an orb of light in my left hand, and orb of Darkness in the other, "TO CLEANSE!" I slammed both orbs together, creating a shock wave akin to what is made when a Dreadnaught fires it's main weapon. The wave hit the remaining seven enemies, and, for the Knights, what happened to the other two happened to them. As for Sunset, her skin took on it's more human like skin tone, and her fingernails shortened. The dress she was wearing became much more. . .regal. In fact, she looked like an anthro version of how she looked as super sayain in EQG 3.

"Tell the others we're heading back, now," I say to my Ghosts. "With Sunset and these Knights."

"You sure?" Tara asked.

"Yeah," I said.

"LIGHT!"

"Fuck my life," I sighed before looking up to see that projection of Oryx.

"YOU WILL PAY!"

I smirked under my helmet as gave him the bird. "Go to hell!" I say. "I know I'll see you soon, Oryx. Until then, tell your Daughter we'll be waiting!" I heard a growl, and the faded away. I walked over to where Sunset, unconscious, lay, and put her in a fireman hold, as well as picked up one of the Knights. Why I was doing this, you might ask. Well, I had destroyed their worms, what kept them linked to the Hive, which meant, now, they could choose what to do instead of being forced to for survival. "Let's go," I say as I walk past the others. "And get those others. Don't want these people to kill them, now do we."

I didn't wait for their response, and instead made my way to the portal, and stepped through.

Author's Notes:

1: Another thing people cite for it not working is Discord. God. Of. Chaos. He'd let it happen for shits and giggles. For Cadence, it would need her to get the citizens to use it, and we all know ponies lack common sense to teleport, and Sunset would be able to stop her. For the Elements, she would have Magic, removing that threat. All in all, it was a pretty smart plan when you actually look at it from a certain point of view.
2: Here's why that is bad: For those who haven't played Yu-gi-oh, the Winged Dragon is one of three God cards, one of the most powerful cards in the game history. Ra is the most powerful, in my opinion, as you can give up to all but one hundred life points, think HP, which is converted to it's attack points, think the damage it can do, basically. But this takes away life points. Prime Material Dragon, however, counter it. You see, Material's effect makes any life points lost by effect, like Ra's, is rather gained, and Ra's summon, or him being played, can not be countered. And with Ra, you can give all but one thousand points to destroy another card, one for each thousand, keeping in mind you start with 8000 life points. Imagine doing that with Material. Now imagine if you had to deal with that combo. You'd be pretty hard pressed to stop it.

Breather

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As I went through the portal back to Equis, I felt my body split, I imagine back into my three personalities, and the armor change to Infinite Lines. When we exited the portal, myself, Rhino, and Cybis, landed on our feet, this time in front of the Vex part of the portal.

"That was interesting," Cybis said, and I saw he had Sunset in a fireman's hold, which, given that I had no extra weight, meant that Rhino had the Knight.

"You think," Rhino said. "Josh, why did you decide to bring the Hive here?"

"You should know, Rhino," I say, taking my helmet off. "You were in my head after all. We destroyed their worms, and gave them full free will. The loss of their worms also took away their abilities. And the Tower does have holding cells."

"Still think it's a bad idea," he mumbled.

"Just get him," I say, gesturing to the Knight over his shoulder, "to the cells. We can see which side he wants to be a part of later."

"Fine," Rhino said before the room.

"And what about her?" Cybis said, gesturing with his head to a currently unconscious Sunset.

"Does she still have the Darkness in her?" I asked.

"I definitely sense some," Nolandroid said. "Not much, but enough to where she can use it."

"Then we wait for her to wake up, and ask her a few questions to see what she plans on doing now," I say. "I doubt she can defeat the three of us, let alone the rest of the team. Especially since we can use the Darkness."

"When we're one person, yeah," Cybis said. "But we don't know if we can in our current state."

"You forget," I say, brandishing the sword from Church, as well as the fracture Plasma Pistol Dinkle got from Spartan Josh, "we got help."

"Yeah, but they aren't Guardians."

"So," I say, shrugging. "The Stranger isn't one, either, and she can still harm the Vex."

"Fair enough," Cybis says. "I'll get her to medical." With that, he left and made his way to medical just as the others came through, Forge carrying two of the Knights.

"Before you ask, we are separate again," I say, already sensing their question. "Rhino's on his way to the cells with the one we carried, and Cybis is on the way to medical with Sunset."

"We were going to ask what we're going to do next," Forge said. "But thanks for that."

I chuckled as I turned to the others, and saw them wearing their armor. "No idea as to what's next," I say. "But I think some r and r is in order, given we've been doing a lot for the past, what, day?"

Forge and Sight chuckled. "Yeah, that's about right," Sight said. "Well, I'll see ya guys later," she said before leaving to head to the cells to dump her Knight, then, I imagine, find Rhino.

"Yeah, same here," Forge said, doing the same for Cybis.

"What about you three?" I ask Twilight, Applejack, and Nightmare.

"Probably going to drop these things off," Applejack said, bumping her shoulder and the Knight up, "then Twi and I are probably going to find something to do."

"Well, have fun," I say as Twilight and Applejack left. "What about you, Nightmare?"

"I don't know," she said. "A lot has changed since I left, and I don't really know what ponies do for fun these days."

"Well, I'd be happy to show you around Ponyville," I say, holding out my arm. "If you'd like to, that is."

"I'd be thankful," she said. "Once I get this to the cells, that is."

"Allow me to escort you, your highness," I say with a small, joking smile on my face, which got a small chuckle from her.

"Thank you," she said, "but I can walk myself."

"Then I'll let you escort me," I say with a laugh.

"Or we could just go," Nightmare said. "This thing's starting to get heavy."

"Then let's go," I say, and the two of us left the room to make our way to the cells.

"So, what did you do for fun before, well, you got a vacation house on the moon?"

She sighed. "Nothing with others," she said. "Celestia was always doing official business, and the castle staff never stuck around when I was nearby. Thus, I never did anything fun with others."

"The we'll have to fix that," I say. "Nolandroid, get the others, and see if you can have Ace and Harvest come over. Fleur too. It's about time we have a party for everything we've accomplished. Actually, every Fire team. They've earned it."

"I'll see what I can do," he said.

"So, your first attempt to give me a taste of what ponies today consider fun is a party?" Nightmare asked.

"Yeah. Oh, and tell them all that Rhino, Cybis, and I are in charge of the playlist, Nolandroid."

"Right."

Oh, I am going to enjoy this.

A few minutes later, we were at the cells, Rhino and Sight no where to be seen. Go figure. "Open cell right here," I say, going to a nearby cell and opening it. Nightmare walked into it, and set it down before walking out.

"The other Fire teams are coming," Nolandroid said as we left the cells. Thank you Ghost radio.(1) "Just need to see about Harvest and Ace."

"Get on it," I say before he appears then vanishes.

"I imagine it will be sometime before I get my own Ghost," Nightmare asked.

"We've already got ponies working on it," I say. "Celestia was the one who made them before, well, you know, and we're trying to replicate her spell work on that area."

She sighed. "Of course," she said.

I chuckled. "You know, you can take your helmet off now, Nightmare," I say. "You've had it on the entire time since earlier, and I don't count the other side of the portal."

"I don't know how to," she said, making me face palm.

"Go fucking figure," I mumble. "Then we need to visit Nexus and the others, who are working on replicating the spell, as helmets can be taken off by Ghosts."

"Then lets go," she says before the two of us, me in the lead, make our way to the R and D area of the Tower.

It was awkward silence for most of the walk there, and it was broken by, of all beings, Ace and Harvest, who were still full ponies, in the main hall. "What are you guys doing here?" I ask. "I figured you'd be on the farm."

"Nolandroid told us about that party you're throwing and that we were invited," Ace said. "And believe me, we need a chance to unwind."

"So, Josh," Harvest asked. "How are you doing?"

"Fine," I say. "And guys, this would be-"

"Nightmare Moon, Celestia's sister," Ace said. "We were at that, well, what ever it was earlier."

"A pleasure to meet you, your highness," Harvest said as she and Ace bowed.

"I am surprised you see me as royalty," Nightmare said. "Given what happened earlier with my sister."

"Well, though my mother," Harvest said, "is too stubborn to admit that Celestia attacked first, we saw it clearly, seeing as how we were close to where she stood before it started."

"Well, good to know some saw it clearly," I say. "How are you two doing, anyway?"

"Good," Harvest said. "How's AJ?"

"She's doing good," I say. "She and Twilight are going to be at a party we're throwing later. Which reminds me: Do you guys wanna come?"

"Sure," Ace said. "We need something exciting, seeing as how Bucking season finished a few weeks ago."

"Who else is going to be there," Harvest asked.

"A few friends of ours," I say. "Tonight is when it starts."

"We'll be there," Ace said. "Right now, though, we need to get back home and make sure Applebloom doesn't get the cows in a panic."

"Have fun," I say as they head towards the doors and Nolandroid shows up.

"Josh-"

"They're in," I say. "Now come on, we're heading to R and D."

"Yeah, um, I'm going. . . somewhere else," he said in a hesitant tone before speeding off to follow Ace and Harvest. "Hey, guys, wait up!"

Both Nightmare and I just looked at the direction he went before looking at each other. "That was. . ."

"Weird," Nightmare offered.

"Yep," I say. "I'm suddenly a little worried about going there."

"Agreed, but I still need a Ghost," Nightmare said.

"Then let's get this over with," I say, and we continue on our way.

We made it to the R and D lab a few minutes later, and I opened the door. Something I regret to this day.

"HOLY-" I yell before slamming the door closed. "THIS IS THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ROOM, NOT THE RODS AND DEEPTHROATS ROOM! YOU SICK FUCKERS, NO PUN INTENDED!" I yell, kicking on the door at the end for emphasis. "Sorry you had to see that, Nightmare."

"It is alright, Josh," Nightmare said. "Before I was banished, orgies were commonplace, even for Celestia and I."

"TMI, Nightmare," I say. "T. M. I."

"You know I have no idea what that means, right?"

"Yep."

"Well, then I'll go in and see their progress," she said, earning her a look of disbelief from me. "Don't worry, I won't get involved."

"Right," I say before she walks in. You know, now that I think on it, I wonder why the researchers decided to have a love- I know who it is.

I walked away from the door, and made my way to where Chrysalis, Chitinia, and Shade were staying.

I got there quickly, anger evident in my steps, and stopped right in front of Chrysalis' door, and I heard snickering. I knocked on the door.

The snickering stopped. "Who's there?" I heard Chrysalis say.

"Chrysalis, I know you had something to do with the R and D room orgy going on, and if you don't tell me what, I will personally bust this door down, find the deepest pit that has sharks and a kraken in it, and throw you into it." Ah, how I love threats others know I can keep, if not make it possible.

She didn't last long. "Me and Shade did it because we needed love to eat."

I sighed. "This is why ponies fear the changelings, Chrysalis. Now, stop the orgy, and apologize, and then start working with them on a way that'll allow you to feed without doing. . . that!"

"On it," Shade yelled before I walked away.

Thank god tonight's the party, or I might lose my mind. Well, time to invite Church and Spartan Josh.

Party time

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I made my way to the unused, I'm not kidding, Rhino, Cybis, and I had never used it, throne room, with the Fracture pistol in one hand and the energy sword in another. Upon reaching it, I opened the door, and walked in before closing it.

"Okay, guys, I hope you like parties," I say to the two tokens, and the same amount of portals opening, one on my left, one on my right. On my left, Church came out, along with a guest that really surprised me. Church had his armor on, with his trademark sniper rifle on his back. His guest was, I shit you not, Cadence, albeit with an alabaster coat and longer mane. "What the fuck?"

"Oh, hey," Church said. "What's going on, Josh?"

"Um, why do you have Cadence with you," was all I could say.

"Oh, you mean Amor," he asked. "My adoptive daughter from a different displaced universe." Over a radio frequency I can only assume his A.I. mind made in the second before saying, "Also reverse aged and mind wiped."

". . .Fair enough," I say. "Hello, Amor. My name's Josh. I'm a friend of your dad's."

"Hi, Josh," Amor said, and the voice was most definitely Cadence's. "What are you?"

"Me," I asked. "I'm just a badass Guardian. So, what have you been up to, Church?"

"Meh, not much," he said, shrugging. "You?"

"Well," I say, putting a hand on my chin. "Since we last saw you, made an alliance with the changelings, or at least Chrysalis' hive, discovered that this universe's Rarity is said queen's daughter, killed a god, not our Celestia, brought Sunset Shimmer here form the human version of it after fighting off Celestia's father's forces, and gave Chrysalis, Rarity, whose changeling name in Chitinia, and Chrysalis' new stallionfriend, Shade, positions as Guardians in training, as well as going to another displaced, who should be arriving in three, two one."

"Talk about busy," Church said as Spartan Josh came through the right one, which caused both portals to close. Spartan, just to avoid confusion between me and Josh when the others take their turn with telling the story, also had a few guests. One was-and it's his worlds version of Lone. Oh, this is going to be awkward for Nightmare, I just know it. He wore a black tux, which made sense, seeing as how the mare holding his hand, who was, I shit ye all not, Starlight Glimmer, who wore a bridal gown minus the trail and veil, so I guess the two were recently wed. Hello interesting. The other guest was one that surprised me, and held Josh's hand. Well, much as it was possible with him being a Spartan. The guest was his world's Luna wearing silver armor that had her cutie mark on the portion of the armor that covered that part of her. Hey, this thing has a gore tag, not a sex tag.

"Hey, Josh," I say.

"Hey, Josh," he replied. Oh, the looks are hilarious.

"You guys can just call me Hunter when we're in close proximity," I say. "That is my Guardian class, after all."

"Guess that'll do," Josh said. "Oh ,this would be Lone and Starlight. Yes, they are a couple recently married. And yes, it surprised me too."

I shrugged. "Not the weirdest thing I've seen," I say. "A pleasure to meet the both of you. And you, Princess Luna."

"Aren't you one of the guys from Ponyville," Lone asked.

"Yeah, I am," I say. "Don't worry, we'll get a chance to get to know one another later."

"Why," Church asked.

"Simple," I reply. "It's party time in a few hours. Now, if you'll excuse me," I say, heading to the door, "I need to find a particular pony."

Ponyville-a few minutes later

I walked through the town, and I definitely had mixed looks. Some were of hate, gee, I wonder why, some were neutral, expected, and some, were, well, I have no way to describe it, but it was something that said, You need help, I'll be there. Though those last ones were the rarest. Anyway, I was walking, when I encountered a familiar white unicorn. I accidentally tripped over her, and she fell to her side. "Sorry," I say. "Wasn't watching where I was going."

"Oh, no, it's alright," the unicorn said, and my eyes widened. I turned around, and, lo and behold, was Rarity.

"Josh," Chitinia said. "What are you doing here?"

"Looking for one of the ponies here. I could ask the same of you," I say.

"I run a fashion shop here in Ponyville," she replied. "Who are you looking for?"

"Party planner. Party tonight."

"Oh," Chitinia said. "I think I know who you want."

"Then show me the way."

"Of course," Chitinia said with a small smile as we got up. "Follow me."

"Copy that," I say, and she lead the way to Sugarcube corner.

"Just. . . wait here a bit, Josh," the disguised changeling said. "Even before the. . . incident earlier today, most of the customers here never liked you and the others."

"Right," I say before going over beside the door, and sitting down on the ground. "But first, what's your name in that form?" Just so it isn't odd if i need to call her later on while she's inside.

"Rarity, darling," she said. "I won't take long." And with that, she stepped inside. After a few minutes of her inside, I looked up-oh, come on!

One, no, two royal carriages with the only pegasai guards that could fight escorting, heading towards the Tower.

"Guys," I say over the radio, "Guests inbound. I'd say our Cadence, and probably a few actually competent guards. Keep 'em busy, try to get them away if you can."

"Copy that, Josh," Rhino replied. "And we just met up with the others. Yeah, you should have seen Nightmare's reaction to both Luna and Lone. Hilarious."

"Just make sure if it is Cadence, prevent them from doing anything. I have a feeling this has to do with earlier."

"Still can't believe all that shit happened in just one day," Cybis said.

"Same," I say. "I'll get Chitinia." I stood up. "Rarity, we need to go!"

"Coming," I heard her say from inside before she came running out, along with a familiar pink pony. "What's going on?"

"Possibly Cadence," I say. "Also, hello, Pinkie."

"Hi, Josh," Pinkie said waving. "Don't worry, I'll help with the party."

"Thank you," I say. "Now come on, let's go before shit hits the fan at the Tower."

"Right," Chitinia said, and both of us rushed off to the Tower. Pinkie, fourth wall break?

Just that the readers should comment more.

. . . Not what I had thought, but it'll do. Thanks, by the way, Pinks.

"You got it, Josh."

Yeah, fourth wall breaks can be helpful sometimes, am I right? Anyway, we got to the Tower, and saw Rhino and Cybis arguing with Cadence(called it. Unfortunately.) and Shining.

"I told the both of you already," Rhino said, "we didn't kidnap Celestia. We were up north when that happened."

"You're the only ones who could beat her," Shining retorted.

"Her," Cybis said. "Please, she's a moron, and that's coming from me. She didn't plan for that Empire to come back, apparently, she attacked us first-"

"Because you brought back Nightmare Moon," Cadence yelled.

"Who is her sister," Rhino said. "And before you say anything, shut it and listen, heart-ass. Put yourself in Nightmare's position. You do most of the work, raising the moon and creating the constellations, but your elder sister, who is so self centered she thinks a simple apology form her fixes everything, takes all the praise, not even trying to direct any of it to you. Wouldn't you go crazy trying to get the attention you deserved?"

"No, I wouldn't," Cadence said. "That's why we're here. To arrest all of you, and find out where my aunt is."

"Good fucking luck," Rhino said. "You may be a pretty pink princess, but we're the Elements, and if you attack, we can claim self-defense. Besides, do you really want to arrest Twilight?"

"Arrest, no," Shining said, "Take her back to Canterlot and free her form what ever it is you used to indoctrinate her!"

"Wow," I say, getting the attention of everyone. "You ponies sure are perfectionists, aren't you? I mean, the first thing that goes against your view of a perfect world is dark magic, even if it's an overall good thing. Us, for instance. I mean, we killed a king who used actual dark magic, saved an entire Empire, and gave it to a race that we know would do well with it, and sent a chaos god to a place that's already pretty fucked up."

"Great," Shining said. "You. The Warlock and Titan, I can stand. They at least take things seriously. You don't." Is he seriously going this way? Okay, let's see, how much bullshit is in that statement. There's the fact I came up with the plan to bring Nightmare back, the one who led those dragon things away, the one to deliver the kill shot to Crota. Oh, and there's the fact we Guardians actually are fully competent because of us three. Then there's him, who barely does shit, and does so while being in a relationship with the Princess of love. Hey, uh, Noland, do the Nobles know of this?

No. Why?

Just a little leverage. "Look," I say to them, "we're throwing a party later tonight, simply to unwind. You two, and only you two, are invited. I swear on my honor as a Hunter that no brainwashing or assassination attempts will occur for either of you. So, want to come?"

"No. Way," Shining said, though Cadence seemed to consider it. "Right, your Highness?"

"I don't know, Captain," Cadence said. "Seeing as how I'm a princess, I ma required to meet other leaders, and these three are leaders."

"WHAT?!"

"You heard me, Shining," Cadence said. "I may not like them anymore the you, but still, it's required with the title."

"Then I guess we'll see you tonight, Princess," I say. "Oh, and, word of warning," I said as Rhino, Cybis, and I made our way inside. "We have a few non-dimensional, meaning they aren't from this universe, visiting, including an alternate you, so don't be surprised."

With that, and the look on Cadence's face in my memory, the three of us entered, and decided to get ready.

That night

"Right. . . there, perfect," I say to two guardians as they got the table set up. "Hit it, Pinks."

BOOM!!

"Nice one," I say as Pinkie's party cannon put a table cloth on the rectangular table, as well as plenty of snacks, and even a punch bowl. "Were you able to get a DJ, Pinkie?"

"You know it," the party pony said with her usual smile.

"Right," I reply. "So, Pinkie, which song do you think we should do first," I ask, bringing up a holographic list of the songs I had picked out for the party.

"Hmm, the first one," she said.

"You're the party expert," I say, the hologram collapsing. "God, we need this party."

"That's why I decided to bring some help," Pinkie said with her usual smile.

"Who," I asked cautiously.

"The me from Josh's universe." Damn it! Two Pinkie's. No contingency for that.

In fact, as soon as she said that, an anthro version of her in, I swear to god I am not joking, a pirate outfit with ridiculously oversized flint locks. "Hey, Josh," she said, and yes, that will be so you guys can tell which one's speaking. My world's will be the normal black, while Josh's will be that color.

"Hey, Pinkie," I say, sighing. "How did you get here?"

"I have my own portal to other worlds, she said.

"Yeah, for some reason, that isn't very surprising," I say before my fellow displaced came in. "Hey guys," I say to them.

"Hey, Josh," Cybis said. "Almost ready?"

"Nearly," I say. "And yes, Josh, that's your worlds Pinkie here."

"Meh," he said, shrugging. "With Pinkie, it's hard to be surprised with some of her stuff. So, need anything else?"

"Yeah," I say. "A stage. Got something planned."

"A stage," he said. "Simple." He was quiet fo ra few seconds, and a stage appeared behind me.

"What the fuck," Church exclaimed, getting a glare from Amor.

"In my world, there's a magic called 'dream mastery', which includes thinking physical shit up, and, with enough concentration, the larger the object, the more concentration and time I need."

"So, could you make the Infinity," Rhino asked.

"With enough time, yeah," he said. "Of course, wouldn't be the exact game version. It'd have a few differences, seeing as how I would probably, and have to, add some stuff from my imagination."

"Makes sense," I say. "So, still need this," I ask as Nolandroid transmats the Fracture pistol into my hand.

"Probably not," he said. "Can always make a new one. Which means," he said before a Didact's Signet (one thing I had done with the portal in off time is watch youtube videos for Halo 5.), appeared in his hands. "You know the drill. You need help, or just want to talk, summon me. If you're a new displaced, just speak to this thing, and if you need this thing, it works, and has a bottomless clip." With that, the weapon vanished. "And there's my token."

"Then let's get this shit started," I say. "Ghosts, you know what to do."

"On it," Nolandroid said as he, Dinkle, and Tara appeared. "Be back as soon as possible."

One hour later

Rhino, Cybis, and I were backstage, believe me, the fact in Josh's world there was a magic where you cold essentially think up an intelligent nuke that would harm only your enemies, even if your allies were in range, still freaked me out, and the three of us were getting ready.

"So, is Cadence here," Cybis asked.

"Yep," Dinklebot said in response, the three Ghosts hovering next to us. "Right now, party's just waiting for you guys to start it."

"I'll take care of that," I say before walking to the front of the stage, parting curtains that had hidden us, and the few conversations that had been going on slowly stopped.

"First off, I want to thank each of you, Guardian, civilian close to us, royal, or extra-dimensional visitor," that one got a few chuckles, "for coming to the party. This is simply meant to help each of us relax. My team especially, seeing as how we've done a shit load of stuff in literally a day, needs it, but each of you have most likely earned. So, as such, I say that, for the duration of the party, no ranks or titles. All equals. And now, Vinyl, track one!"

Said white and blue unicorn nodded, before getting the song going.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFRlenhzOqw

"Let the party start!" And with that, shit got fun. Some of those started dancing, others continued to mingle while some watched from the sidelines. Hell, even the Ghosts were getting involved.

Rhino, Cybis, and I stepped off the stage, and went to have some fun.

I walked over to where Josh and Church were, near the table with the punch bowl on it, which was near the door. "So, what do you guys plan on doing when you get back?"

"Well, I got a war to stop," Josh said.

"And I plan on just doing stuff as it comes," Church said.

"Well, regardless, good luck. Now, though, let's have fun," I say before we split up.

Spartan 1st person

As Church and the other Josh and I went our separate ways, I made my way to where Guardian-verse, to help distinguish our worlds with events like this, Twilight was talking with my world's, which I'll call the Spartan-verse, Starlight.

"Wait," Twilight said, "so in your universe, you made an entire town based on everypony having no talent?"

"Yeah, I kinda ashamed of it now," Starlight said, rubbing the back of her neck. "Funny thing is is that you had a part in that. Well, the one from home, anyway."

"Then it must be little awkward for you right now, isn't, Starlight?"

"A little, yeah, she said/

"Hey, look on the bright side," I say, getting their attention. "New first impressions."

"Yeah, I guess," she said. "I didn't think you had friends from other versions of Equis, Josh."

"Comes with being a displaced," I say, shrugging. "Just be glad I haven't met any one psychotic enough I haven't met anyone who can destroy the world with a thought, which I'm sure there are a few."

Both mares chuckled. "Fair enough," Twilight said. "So, Starlight's been telling me about what you guys have done. Is it true that the Cadence for you guys is with Sombra and his allies?"

"Yep," I say, crossing my arms. "I was surprised too."

"Even Crystals that acted like Ghosts?"

"If you mean they had their own intelligence, yes," I sa-helllllllooooooo, idea. Wonder how long that would take, and if it would work.

"Josh, you got the 'maniacal grin' that says you're planning something," Starlight said.

"There's a look?"

"More a body stance," Starlight said. "You have your helmet on, after all."

"Noted, and yes, I'm planning something." Something along the lines of space fungus satan. Those who have seen Fiery Joker's youtube video will know what I mean. I will have fun when I get back.

"You got the stance again."

"Sorry. Well, see ya guys later," I say, before letting the two talk to each other again, and going to another interesting group.

Both lunar alicorns, Warlock Nightmare and Spartan-verse Luna, my marefriend, were looking ta each other, arms crossed, and looking at one another. Oh boy. I hope Josh has a bunker. I mean, yes, my Luna combined minds with our version of Nightmare, long story, but this is not that Nightmare.

"Please don't tell me I need to knock the both of you out before you kill the world trying to kill each other," I say, and I was being serious.

"Not at all," Luna said.

"Then why do you two look like you're about to murder one another?"

"We are simply trying to see what the differences between us are," Nightmare said. "I imagine Luna did not tell you, but there is an old magic one could use to judge a pony's personality by looking them in the eye. So far, we are mostly similar. The only notable difference so far is that I am the actual one here while in your's, Luna is the main one."

"That, and this world has no dream masters," Luna said.

"Well, can you two do this later," I ask. "I mean, come on, this is supposed to be a party, not a psychoanalysis get-together."

"I suppose," both of them said. "Just what are you, anyway," Nightmare asked. "You're human, I can tell that much, but you seem. . . different."

"That would be because I'm a Spartan. Think a Titan."

"Ah. So, Luna told me that your fighting a war, leading a third faction against both her Celestia and the Elements, along with Sombra, Chrysalis, and Cadence."

"Bingo," I say. "That, and I technically committed genocide by killing the last three of a patriarchal race that wanted to turn mares, and women in general, into sex objects."

"That is probably the one thing the others would thank you for, Josh," Luna said. "Nopony wanted them alive, not even Celestia."

"That bad," Nightmare said in surprise. "Not even my Celestia would do that. At worst, she'd, and I'm quoting my Josh, 'hit them with the friendship cannon of death'."

I chuckled at that. "That brings back memories. So, how are you two liking the party?"

"Good," Luna said. "Though I am surprised the Hunter isn't here asking that."

"He's probably talking with the other Guardians," I say. "Of what he told me earlier, this is the first time every Guardian is here, and he's probably catching up with them."

"He is correct," Nightmare said. "Only recently was he in contact with two other Guardian teams, and that was early today."

"Fair enough, then, I guess," Luna replied. "And as much as I like the party, I'd rather be somewhere a little more. . . private with you, Josh."

"I may be able to help with that," Nightmare said with a smirk. I'm not sure whether or not I should be somewhat scared, or something else. "Just go out the main door, turn to the left, and it'll be the third double door set on the right. All the privacy you'll need."

"Thanks, Nightmare," Luna said before taking my hand. Oh boy.

Church-1st

I made my way to where my adoptive daughter, Amor was. I had expected her to be talking with a few others. I did not expect her to be talking with this world's Shining and Cadence. Fuck.

"So you were raised by another one of those, what did i hear that Titan say earlier," Cadence said, "displaced?"

"Yeah," Amor replied. "Even my uncles are."

"And what exactly do they do," Shining asked.

"Dad said not to say anything about that."

"Why do I not like that," Shining said.

"Shining, just let it go," Cadence said. "I remember a lesson that Auntie Celestia gave me about different worlds. She said that, occasionally, she does get weird feelings in her horn, like when The first Guardians arrived here, so it probably meant others like them in other worlds, and that if they wanted to do us harm, they probably could have."

"She isn't wrong," I said. "I've met a lot of Displaced, and there are even a few I can meet but haven't yet, and most of them can destroy this planet." I then looked at Amor. "Hey, Amor."

"Hey, dad. Have you actually talked with anyone?"

"Both Joshs."

She rolled her eyes. "I guess that'll have to do for now." She then looked at Shining and Cadence. "So, how long have you two been together?"

The looks on both their faces were those of shock, and it was hilarious. "H-how did you guess," Shining asked, shocked.

"She's an alternate version of Cadence," I say through chuckles. "Take a fucking guess."

"Oh," he said in embarrassment. "Right. Well, that's our business."

"I guess that's fair enough. So, Cadence, why is it your full name's Mi Amor Cadenza, anyway? Even for a pony name, that's a mouthful."

"I honestly don't know," Cadence said. "I guess my mom was Prench or something."

"Makes sense, I guess," Amore said. "So, what's the guard like here?"

"They're the best," Shining said as one of the Ghosts hovered over.

"Have they actually done anything to help Equestria," it asked.

"They protect the Princess!"

"Who went missing under your watch. The Guardians, at least, have the excuse that they were busy with stopping a shadow tyrant."

"He isn't wrong," Chrysalis said as she walked up.

"Huh. So they were able to reach agreement with you," I say.

"And just what is a changeling doing here," Shining asked in a growl.

"I'm a Guardian in training, Captain," Chrysalis said. "I just started today. As such, I'm allowed to be here, and I was invited to be here."

"Why would they ally themselves with animals like you?"

"You had better watch what you say, Captain," Chrysalis said with a smirk. "My daughter is on the throne of the Crystal Empire, and I still lead my own hive, and I'm sure that the Guardian's would help us."

"And the other displaced they've met," Amor said. "Most likely, anyway."

"In other words," I said, "you guys would be fucked. Ow!" That last part was Amor hitting me in the leg.

"Dad, how many times do I have to tell you not to cuss?"

"You're not in charge of me," I snap. "So, Amor, Cadence, how are you two getting along?"

"Well, actually," Cadence said. "I guess the fact we're just different versions of each other has to do with it."

"That's still weird," Shining said. "Shouldn't there be, I don't know, some kind of world-wide implosion?"

"Only with time travel," another Ghost said as she passed over.

"Of course," Shining said in an annoyed tone. "I can't wait to get back to Canterlot."

"Just need to hold out, Shiny," Cadence said. "Oh, Church, do you know where Twilight is?"

"Yeah, I think I saw her talking with Spartan earlier."

"Guess we probably won't see you later then, Church," Cadence said as she and Shining walked away.

"That went better that I had expected."

"Yeah, I guess," Amor said. "So, dad, want to get some punch?"

"Sure," I say, and we made our way to get some punch.

Cybis-1st

I, along with my new marefriend, Forge, were talking with the other Guardians. Right now, the two of us were talking with Chitinia and Shade. "So, how are you two liking the Tower so far?"

"Good," Shade said. "So, Cybis, what's that thing you guys are going to do later?"

"Yeah, I'm a little curious to that, too, Cybis," Forge said.

"You guys'll see," I reply. "So, Chitinia, Josh, our Josh, tells me that you gave a shop in Ponyville?"

She nodded. "Indeed I do, Cybis. 'Carousal Boutique'. It's a fashion shop."

"Well, a good thing one of the best models is with us, huh. That way, you can make model dresses for anthro-ponies."

"Really," she asked, surprised.

"Yeah," I say. "I'm surprised you didn't know that."

"I had heard about it," she said, "but that was when I was just starting the shop, and i was too busy yo pay attention to that stuff then."

"Fair enough, I guess," I say. "So, after the party, want to meet Fleur De Lis?"

"Fleru De Lis?!" Chitinia gasped. "Oh my word, yes, I would love to meet her."

"Then tomorrow, or when ever the day after the party ends, it is," I say. "So, Shade, are you and Chrysalis considering this as a date?"

"Yeah, actually," he said. "Oh, and did you guys get any of the Sweet Apple Acres Cider? In my mind, can't have a party without alcohol."

"Dude, we're uncles to one of the apples, and adoptive family to them. Of course we got the cider, even if the three of us aren't, or in Rhino's case, can't drink any of it."

"Well, where is it?"

"Shade, how many times do my mother and I have to tell you at parties: Don't let your first drink be alcoholic."

Forge chuckled. "That's why they want to wait an hour before bringing it in," she said. "Most of Sight's team got drunk to celebrate getting their armor, and that pretty made it to where, unless they're in the Tower, and if a party has gone on longer than an hour, they can't have actual alcohol. Their Ghosts enforce that rule quite well, actually."

"I take it you speak from experience," Chitinia asked.

"Yeah. Birthday party, and that's all I'm gonna say."

It was here the next song began to play.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SihoKQ-uLqE

"Finally," I say. "I swear, Josh, Rhino, and I argued over the order of the playlist earlier before deciding on random, which is to say letting Vinyl decide the order, and I did not think this would be the second one."

"I take it you like this song," Forge asked.

"Yep," I say. "There's one band that the three of us like, but they're more an action band, so they wouldn't be here in the party playlist."

"Must be an interesting group," Shade said.

"They are," I say. "Hell, we agreed we'd only use their songs when the fate of the world is at stake."

"So what would be happening in a few years, then," Chitinia asked. We had made it a point to be honest with every Guardian, and those in training after returning with Sunset, who was still out cold, as well as those Knights Josh decided to bring back. Seriously, I know we had one mind then, but why would he do something so stupid?

"Just about, yeah," I say. "Though, in all honesty, we are hoping that doesn't happen."

"I wonder why," Shade said sarcastically.

"Yeah, we know, " I replied. "But hopefully, we'll get enough Guardians and others to help us out, as well as come up with some new tactics."

"I suppose that's fair enough," Chitinia said.

"Which reminds me, I need to look over the files for the ones that'll be joining you in a Fire team."

"Well, I can't wait to meet them once you decide," Chitinia said.

"I imagine so," I say. Hey, Dinkle, isn't one of them Skittles?

I think so, yeah. Why?

Just checking. "I think you're gonna like them."

"So, after the party is when that'll happen," Shade asked.

"Yep. The reason they aren't here is because they aren't technically Guardians in training yet."

"I would've invited them," Chitinia said.

"Yeah, and I was tempted to do so under his nose," Forge said, "but then I figured it was for a reason, even if I didn't know it."

"I didn't have a reason," I said. "I just felt like doing that."

"That's a first," Forge said. "You doing something just because."

I shrugged. "Well, there's a first for everything," I say. "Now come on, time for some fun."

Rhino-1st

Sight and I were in charge of security for the party, in this case, making sure the morons who think they could take us that wanted revenge for us attacking Celestia, didn't get in. Really, it was just us and Vex Minotaurs, with every other Guardian inside. But, really, so long as I was with Sight, I didn't give a shit.

"Too bad we aren't inside, huh," Sight said, her sniper in hand while I held my Suros.

"At least it isn't freezing out here," I reply. "And if it was, and I know what I'm about to say could be considered cheesy, I could warm you up."

She chuckled. "You're right, that is cheesy," she said. "But appreciated. Thanks, Rhino."

"No problem, Sight," I say. "Thanks, by the way."

"For what?"

"For accepting to be my marefriend," I say. "What else?"

"Being on this boring patrol with you," she said, and I could hear the smirk. "I'm kidding, by the way. No problem, Rhino. Just don't merge with Josh and Cybis, that would get confusing for Forge, Nightmare, and me."

"We'll try not to," I reply. "Couldn't really be helped there. First time with that portal and all."

"Well, if you can, avoid it," She said. "I never was one for a herd."

"Noted," I say. "Well, this is a little awkward, isn't it?"

"A little, yeah." There was a few minutes of awkward silence as we walked around the edge of the Tower, easier then you'd think, by the way, until we got sight of Ponyville.

"Talk about cliche," I said. "Patrol group Bravo, this is group Alpha, we have an approaching mob from the town. Can you see what they have on them?"

"Affirmative," one of the Minotaurs replied over the radio. "Approaching group wields torches, swords, and makeshift spears. Do you wish to send them back."

"Yes," I replied. "Nothing lethal, though."

"Understood."

"Anything bad," Sight asked.

"Not really," I said. "At least, nothing hard to handle."

"That's good, I guess," she said. "So, for our next date, what do you want to do?"

"I'll tell you something I don't want to do: patrol the perimeter of the Tower while the others are having a party. Even if we volunteered."

"Oh-rah to that," Sight said. "Though don't you and the others have something planned for later tonight?"

"Yeah, but that isn't until after midnight."

"Well, I con't wait to see it," Sight said.

"Believe me," I say. "You're going to like it."

"Well, I can't wait to see it," Sight said. "Can I get a hint?"

"Just that it's something awesome."

"That all I'm going to get from you?"

"Yep."

Spartan-1st

"Lulu, what do you want," I asked as we reached the door Nightmare had pointed out. "Because if it's what I think it is, I'd rather it be back in our universe."

"i wish to give you something, Josh," Luna said as we stopped in front of the door. "And I needed silence for that." Before I could ask, she closed her eyes as she held my hands. Near a minute passed before I felt something pressing against my palm. She pulled back her left hand, which was closed, and opened her eyes, holding her hand to where the closed palm faced upwards. "I wish to give you this," she said, opening her hand, revealing a necklace, the thread being of a black material, the amulet part of it being silver, crescent moon that shone in the light. "It is something I would give to those who had, in some way or another, gained my favor before my banishment, but this particular one is special."

"How," I asked.

"Because, though I used it using my dream abilities," Luna said, "it is infused with a portion of my magic, meant to shield you from harm, so long as it is on you. But it does have limits. It can only take so much, and if I stop sending portions of my magic into it for some reason, it will be just a normal necklace."

"I'll keep that in mind," I say. "Thanks, Lulu," I say, taking the necklace and putting it on.

"Of course, Josh," she said. "It may also help you find my daughters. I put a charm that would indicate when you are near one with similar genetics to me, but not mine exactly, as that is how their genetics should be. It will see past even the best illusion magic."

"So does my Promethean vision, to an extent," I say. "Doesn't mean it's going to work." I quickly add, "But if it does, you'll be there to know at the same time as me."

She smiled. "Thank you, Josh," she said.

"Anything for you, Lulu," I say, reaching up with my right hand and removing my helmet before kissing Luna. "Besides, they are technically my family, too, or will be, at any rate."

"Yes, I imagine so," the lunar alicorn, my lunar alicorn, in a manner of speaking, said. "So, do you wish to head back to the party?"

"If you want to," I said.

"Then let's go," she said.

Hunter-1st- A few hours later.

"Everything ready," I asked Cybis and Rhino, the latter of whom had come in an hour ago.

"Yeah," Cybis said. "Nolandroid, Tara, and Dinklebot are standing by the project it, and projection screen just needs to be lowered."

"And the Vex security patrols outside are keeping any potential party crashers away," Rhino said.

"Then let's get this shit started."

With that, I stepped up onto the stage, the lights dimming, both to get attention, and because we were showing a video. "I'll skip the boring stuff," I say. "But needless to say, thanks for all of you for coming, yada yada, and the last thing we have planned is something just for the fun of it, and something the three of us find, in all honesty, pretty fucking awesome. So, with out further ado, here's the thing we want to how you guys. Ghosts, hit it."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yeHt0uHElI

Yeah, we decided to show them the Lex Luthor-Iron Man death battle. It's our favorite one, sue us. Anyway, most of them had no idea who they were, the only ones being Spartan and Church for obvious reasons. When it got to the part where it went into the battle, I nodded to the Ghosts, who paused the video. "Okay, those who think Luthor will win, on my right of the room. For Iron Man, the left!" Of what I could see, it was half and half for the most part. "Also, bets are being taken by the Ghosts." Now, myself, Rhibo, Cybis, Church, and the other Josh were not allowed to bet for obvious reasons.

It was a few minutes before things settled down, most of those in the room that could getting in on the betting. (I suggest watching the battle part of this at least, mostly as the next paragraph can only be understood that way.)

When it was over, the losing half, take a guess as to who, groaned, and the money they had bet was split among the winners, and I even saw a few on the winning side hand money to each other, so I assume their were some side bets. When all the movement I could see was done with, I said, "Yep, that was it. I literally have nothing to add, aside from another thanks, and that you guys can go home when you want, and that it was a pleasure to see everyone here, and I promise, there will be one next year." This was met with cheers from the other Guardians. "Which, sadly, means the party is over with right now."

"Here, maybe," one of the Hunters in the crowd said before groups began to leave, chuckling as they did so. Eventually, the only ones left were Rhino, Cybis, myself, Church, Amor, Luna, Lone, Starlight, and Spartan.

"So, did you guys enjoy the party," Cybis asked.

"Yeah, we did," Spartan said. "So, what do you guys plan on doing next?"

"Play it by ear," I say. "You guys can go back home, by the way." At that, the portals opened. "See ya next time."

"See ya," Spartan said before he walked into his portal, followed by Luna, Lone, and Starlight.

"Yeah, same," Church said before going through his portal, followed by Amor, which was then followed by the two portals closing.

"Let's just hope we have more than one day of relaxation," Rhino said, to which Cybis and I could only agree to.

Opposite day (or week)

View Online

It's been a week since the party for us, and, thankfully, it was an uneventful one, unfortunately meaning Sunset Shimmer had yet to awaken, as well as those Knights. Well, relatively speaking, that is. Chrysalis, Chitinia, and Shade had fully begun their training, as well as met their team mates. One was a familiar rainbow pegasus, my least favorite of the mane six, by the way, and two unicorns, one being forest green with a brown mane and tail named Shadow Specter, the other one being a dark blue unicorn with a black mane names Azure Shadow.

It was thee days, about eight days after the party, into the training when things got interesting. I was with Chitinia and Rainbow, the two with the most Hunter potential, the others having Warlock, and were with Cybis, in the training room, looking to see how agile the two were in the air and be able to adapt, and both actually had a good flight agility. Noland, record that.

Done.

Right. So, yeah, the two were almost finished when Nolandroid appeared.

"What's up," I ask. "Normally if you have something to tell me, you don't show up."

"Something Legion found," Nolandroid said. "Inside the Everfree, close to you know what. There's a small group of Vex there as well as half of Disciple to make sure nothing happens."

"What did they find," I ask.

"A portal to the mirrorverse next to the Tree, even draining some of its energy."

"What," I ask in surprise. "Okay, reschedule everything, this takes priority for me."

"Right," he said, bobbing. Rhino and Cybis were informed too, and plan on leaving in an hour."

"Right," I said, nodding. "Okay, Rainbow Dash, Chitinia, that's enough for now! Something just came up, and it needs my attention."

"If you say so," Chitinia said, hovering in the air. "If you don't mind, we're going to practice a little more."

"If you guys want to," I said, shrugging. "And Rainbow, that means no showboating, got it?"

"Yeah, yeah," Rainbow said. "Do what you need to do."

"Right," I said, turning to leave the training area. "Nolandroid, tell Nightmare she and the others are in charge for now until Rhino, Cybis, and I get back. I have a feeling the three of us are going to go through hell."

"Right," Nolandroid said. "By the way, Rhino and Cybis are out in Ponyville at Sugarcube with Chrysalis and the others. Something about down time and a reward."

"Hey, fooling around is the Hunter way, not Warlock or Titan," I said. "Tell Cybis I'll shoot him if he does this again."

"You could do so yourself when we get there, you know," he said.

"Yeah, I know," I said. "Tell them to meet me at the edge of the forest in ten minutes. Whatever's going on, I want to see it first hand, and as soon as possible."

"On it," he said.

Ten minutes later- Everfree edge

I was at the trail into the Everfree, checking over my gear, just in case we were attacked by anything, when Rhino and Cybis, carrying their respective weapons, showed up. "You guys ready," I ask.

"Yeah, we are," Cybis said. "Have to admit, I'm eager to see the mirrorverse."

"Yeah, same," Rhino said.

"Then let's get a move on," I said. "And Cybis," I say once we start walking to our destination, "the goofing off and relaxation when we're supposed to be doing work is a Hunter thing, not a Warlock."

"So," Cybis said. "Not like we're normal Guardians."

"Touche," I said. We walked through the forest with out any incident, surprising, I know, eventually coming to a familiar chasm, where we encountered Legion.

"Guardians," he said. "We were anticipating your arrival."

"Noted, Legion," I said. "Anything happen since you informed the Ghosts?"

"Affirmative," Legion replied. "One organic came through the dimensional rift approximately five minutes after Ghost Designate: Nolandroid informed us of your arrival. He has not spoken except to request an audience with the leaders of this nation. As pony designate: Celestia is missing and her replacement has yet to to wake, that technically makes you three the leaders."

"Great," Rhino said. "Politics." He then sighed. "Take us to him."

"Affirmative. Follow us," Legion said before it turned around, and went down the steps. I looked at my fellows, and shrugged before stepping off the cliffside, and using my blink to land safely. Yeah, you can survive a fall using blink. Helped save my ass a few times before coming here. Rhino hovered down to my left, Cybis to my right. Legion walked down soon after, and made no comment.

"So, where's the guy who came through," I asked.

"Near the Tree," Legion replied. With that, we followed. Once we got to the cave mouth, Legion informed us, "He has surrendered every weapon we could detect. However, we recommend caution."

"We always are," I say. "Come on, guys," I said, and the three of us went into the cave. I still get a sense of surprise at what I saw, I'm not kidding.

At the base of the Tree, in a meditation position was a normal, much as possible, human sized Crota, I shit thee not. His back was turned to us, and, out of instinct, I raised my weapon, as did the others, clicking sounds being heard, but we didn't fire. If the reports were right, after all, then he was from the mirrorverse, and you don't need me to explain my train of thought here. "What are you doing here," I ask. Doesn't hurt to play it safe.

"So," this Crota said in a deep, but not gravelly, voice, one would think of with a warrior prince that wasn't Prince Charming. Okay, that's not a good one. Okay, look, his voice showed he was an experienced warrior, and was knowledgeable. "You three are the leaders of this Equestria?"

"Right now, yeah," I said, keeping my Vanity on him. "Why do you want to know?"

"Because my mother and sister, as well as the Equestria we rule, need help," he said. Note, given the fact we're dealing with Oryx here, I know who Crota is talking about.

A little Hive history for you guys. But first, anyone reading who does not like trangender people, you won't like this. Don't say I didn't warn you. Okay, so, you all know how evil Oryx is, right. Well, and this was a mind fuck for me too, don't get me wrong, Oryx was once known as Auryx, and, I swear I'm not kidding, was a girl. Basically, it goes back to the whole Traveler thing, where, as he was known then, Auryx and her sisters, you heard that right, made a pact with their gods, which made their people into the Hive. Along the way to now Auryx became Oryx. Apparently in the Mirrorverse, that did not happen. Don't believe me about the Oryx/Auryx thing, go to planet destiny on youtube, and watch their books of sorrow videos, if not go read them yourself if you have all the book pieces. Anyway, back to the story.

"And why is that," I ask.

"Because my mother's old enemy has arrived," Crota said.

"And why should we help you," Rhino asked.

"Because we know, from the Traveler's own admission, that it will come here if and when if finishes with us, and take this world as well. The only chance you have is to stop him and his daughter while they are in my world, when they have not yet gained all the power they can."

"And why is the portal you came through draining power from the Tree of Harmony," Cybis asked.

"Quite simple," Crota said, standing up, making the three of us tense up. "It is trying to keep our Traveler's light at bay." With that, he turned around, and, well, he didn't look like a Hive. Yeah, he had the armor, but that was it. His face was much more human, and he had two eyes. Glowing, sure, but two.

"And how do we know we can trust you," I ask.

"Because," Crota said. "My mother is willing to give her support when this world's version of us arrive. Seeing as how we are well loved by our subjects and the Equestrian's, it stands to reason the opposite is true here."

"Will be," I say. "This world's version of Auryx has yet to arrive, and this world's version of Celestia is well loved. For now, that is."

"Celestia," Crota said in confusion. "Oh, you must mean Sekana. My sister did not know of her true nature until a week ago, as with the name, but she has adapted well to it. So, will you help us?"

I looked at Rhino and Cybis, not that I needed to. I say yes, they both said after a few seconds, and I could see their reasoning, both because of our link, as well as because, well, I knew he was being truthful simply because he's from the mirrorverse. I looked back at him.

"Sure," I said. "Give us a few minutes, though."

"Of course," Crota said with a slight head nod. "I will wait."

"Thanks," I said, putting my hand cannon on my waist. "If you don't mind, would you wait outside?"

"If that is what you wish," he replied before making his way out of the cave.

"What are you planning, Josh," Cybis asked as he lowered his weapon.

"You know," I said, making my way to the Tree. "I doubt it'll work, though," I said before placing my hand on the trunk of the Tree.

So, it said in a feminine voice. Looks like I was right. Yay. You are the new Element of Kindness?

Hello, Harmony, I replied in my head, using the name i had come up with for the entity in the Tree. Yes, I am the new Element of Kindness.

I had thought so, she replied. Why do you wish to talk with me?

Because I figured you should know me and the Elements of Loyalty and Generosity will be going to the mirror universe of this world, ad I do not know what might happen.

If you fear for hurting me, do not worry, Guardian. Ye,s I know who you are, Josh, as well as your past. That's why I chose you three to be three of the Elements. Regardless, unlike most, I do not feel what happens to the me in the mirror universe, as she and I are the same, one being split among many universes. In fact, it was I who convinced Auryx to seek your help, and the one who opened the portal. You need this, Guardian. There is a trial in your future, one this will help you face. You are more important than you think. You are not the chosen one, but important.

I'll keep that in mind, I thought. Still, I'll see ya later, I guess, huh?

Indeed you will, Guardian. Indeed you will. With that, I removed my hand from the trunk of the Tree.

"Well, Cybis said, "that was interesting."

"Oh yeah," Rhino said. "So, should we let him know we're ready?"

"Nolandroid, do that."

"On it," he said before appearing, and heading to the mouth of the cave.

"Josh, you do know that the only way for us to help them," Cybis said, "is to kill ourselves, if not imprison us, right?"

"Yeah," I said. "I also know none of us care if it means keeping everyone here safe. We're Guardians. It's our job to give our lives if it means protecting our home."

Rhino sighed, much as an Exo could. "Yeah, I guess you got a point there, Josh." It was here that Crota came back into the cave, Nolandroid hovering by his head.

"Your Ghost says you three are ready?"

"Yeah, we are," I said. "So, where's the portal you came through at?"

"On the other side of this Tree," he replied. "Come, I do not know how much time we have before they find out."

"Who," Cybis asked.

"Is it not obvious," Crota asked. "The Traveler's dogs, the Raiders. They're led by my world's version of Nightmare."

"And what about us," I asked. "The us from your world?"

"Oddly enough, they are with us already," he said. "I do not understand why when you three are as well."

"Might be because we don't exactly stand for justice," I say. "Justice and doing what's right aren't always the same. If doing what's right means stopping justice, we will do so. The three of us don't just fight for the Light here, nor the Darkness. We use both, and simply fight to protect innocents. If I had to guess, I'd say the reason we fight is gray enough to not be changed."

"I suppose that makes sense," Crota said.

"Aren't you going to get your sword," Rhino asked.

"Your robotic ally gave it to me before I returned here," Crota said. "If you three are ready, we must go."

"Lead the way, your highness," I said, which, I am not kidding, got a chuckle out of this Crota.

"You need not call me that," he said. "We practically have the same role if you are the leaders of your Equestria."

"Fair enough," I said, and with that, we made our way to the back of the Tree, where there was a small, swirling portal, which we stepped through, Crota being the first, Cybis the last. Really, for the four of us, Nolandroid having merged back into my body, still sounds weird, before going through the portal, the portal was the same as the Displaced void, each view being that of another universe. I wonder how many of those have displaced.

Anyway, we came out of the portal outside the mirrorverse version of the castle of the sisters. "Something is not right," Crota said, drawing his blade from a different dimension. Cool. "The escorts my mother sent with me should be here."

"Maybe they're in the tree line," Cybis said as we scanned the area, weapons drawn, and I saw something that caught my eye. Something red. Something like a snipeeeeer's. . . shit.

"GET DOWN!" Each of us ducked as a bang was heard, and an orange trail passed over Crota's head.

"The Raiders," Croat growled as we got back up. "They're already here."

"Indeed we are, Crota," a voice said from behind us, and we each turned to see this world's version of Forge. She wore the same armor style in basic, but it looked much more, well, nightmareish, and the colors resembled blood. "We did not think you would actually go to the weak universe to gather more allies." As she spoke, I heard hoofsteps around us. Clever little ashholes, they got us surrounded. "Still, I suppose I should thank you," Forge said. "But, then again, she would rather do so herself."

"Luna," Crota growled before another voice, coming from above the castle spoke.

"Indeed," Luna said, making each of us look up to see a female Warlock in the King's fall raid armor with the Vena Cava shader before she flew down, landing beside Forge. "You made not only our job of killing you easier, but of conquering the other world as well by brining its leader here."

"Yeah, well, guess what, bitch," I said, pointing my Vanity to this Luna, whatever you throw at us, we will take, as well as our home. And before you try to guilt trip us that attacking you would also injure our friends, if they knew we were here, they would gladly give their lives. And any upstanding citizen here is probably an ass back home for us."

"So, the other world's protectors are that version of the renegades, then," Luna said. "Perfect. That means two birds, one stone. You see, every Raider is here. We knew you would go to that world, and decided to lay a trap. After killing your escorts, that is."

"Yeah, well," Cybis said, his armband glowing. "It's not going to work."

"Oh? And why is that?"

"Ever heard of the Elements of Harmony," I said before throwing a smoke grenade down, rendering each of us invisible before we ran off, weaving through the crowd before reaching the forest. "Where do we go," I asked Crota.

"Canterlot," he replied. "Not even the Raiders are strong enough to attack there yet."

"Then let's beat feet, people," I said. "But Crota, just who is the Traveler's daughter?"

"You do not know," he said as we ran through the forest. "It is Luna."

Royal meetings 2.0

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We exited the forest about ten minutes of straight running. I looked back, and saw no pursuers or Sniper glare. "That could have gone better," I said.

"Indeed it could have," Crota said. "Come. We are near one of the towns still loyal to my family. We can get. to Canterlot from there."

"Right," I said, nodding. "Lead the way, Crota."

"Of course. Follow me," he said, his blade in his hand, and we began to make our way to this world's Ponyville. This one was uneventful, though we did keep our eyes open for anything. When we saw the town, it looked similar to ours, only a lot more. . . bleak is the word I'm looking for here.

The ponies were nowhere near as friendly, hell I'd say they were outright hostile if we didn't have our weapons out, but I can't really blame them, now can I. "You must forgive them," Crota said. "They are weary of newcomers, especially those in armor resembling that of the Raiders."

"I guess that makes sense," I said. "After all, here, they are the bad guys."

"Yes, that does have a factor in it, but so does the fact that they tyrant Luna is even more powerful now than before."

"What do you mean," Cybis asked.

"Before we and the Traveler arrived, Sekana, or Celestia, as she was called at that time, and Luna, or Nightmare then, were powerful already, and were on opposite sides as they are now. My sister trying to subjugate the ponies, Nightmare trying to protect them. But, upon learning who their birth families were, they changed. Nightmare became Luna, and became just as powerful as Sekana would be with the Elements of Chaos. And those were lost some time ago, even before this all started."

"Well, looks like we have an advantage, then," Rhino said. "You got three of the Elements of Harmony."

"Ah, I had heard of those. Your world's version of the Elements of Chaos, if I am not mistaken," Crota said. "Oddly enough, the Tree your Elements came from exists here as well. It seems both worlds do have some in common."

"Other then the ponies names or the amount," Cybis said before an explosion rang out.

"The Raiders," Crota growled. "If there is one thing I can say about them, it is they are determined. I must contact my sister and have her get us out of here."

"Go," Rhino said. "We'll buy you the time you need."

"Are you certain?"

"Dude, we pissed off our world's Celestia when she had the Elements, and are still here. Fucking their shit is child's play for us, especially with our tricks," I say. "Cybis, sniper position with Tlalock on top of town hall. Keep 'em in cover. Rhino. . . well, do what you do best. I'll do the same."

"And what about the others from back home," Cybis asked.

"If you are worried about paradoxes where when you injure someone in this world," Crota said, "you injure those in yours, you need not worry. My mother was able to fix that issue before I met you without the Raiders knowing. You can harm them without harming your allies."

"They have Ghosts?"

"Phantoms, and yes."

"Okay. Cybis, switch from suppression to kill."

"On it," he said before making a break for town hall.

"Good thing both of them know dimensional shit, huh," Rhino asked me as Crota went into a nearby building.

"Yeah, I guess," I reply. "Come on, we need to get set up." Over Ghost Radio, trademark because Bungie doesn't call it that far as I know, I told Cybis, "Cybis, once you get up there, let us know which side they're coming in from."

"I was going to do that anyway."

"Just making sure," I said. "Come on, Rhino."

"Right," he said, and we both moved to the center of the town, as it would allow us easy access to everywhere else in this Ponyville.

"Nolandroid, tell me we got our weapons please."

"Yeah, we do," he replied, not materializing. "Stored in the Void."

"Hell yeah," I said. "Time to go BA. Last Word with year two Vanguard sidearm and year two Dragon."

"You sure?"

"Positive," I say.

"Okay, then," he said, my load out changing. Yes, I know two exotics, but I give no shits right now.

"And get some songs cued up. I'm thinking Sparks and Change."

"Thousand Foot Krutch? Did not expect that," he said. "Cued."

"Good. What you going with, Rhino?"

"What else," he said. "Suros, Conspiracy Theory, and Variable, along with Sunbreaker. Your sub?"

"What else," I say, echoing him. "Gunslinger with double throwing knife and headcharge." By headcharge, I meant I would get a knife back for each headshot kill throw. Hey, when you get the Last Word and You're a Hunter, badass rules state you must be a Gunslinger. I am going to have a lot of fun.

Anyway, as we got close to the actual center of town, a few streets away from Town hall, Cybis came over the radio, saying, "I got them on scope. Each cardinal direction. And I'm using PaT, so they can't see the glare right now. Waiting for your mark, Josh."

"Copy," I said as Rhino and I snuck into two separate alleys, our weapons waiting. "When I give the mark, unleash hell, Guardians. Need to buy Crota time, and there's something I didn't expect to say."

"Same," my counterparts said. A few minutes later, Cybis said, "They just met up. Far as I can tell, it's this world's version of Disciple and Obsidian, nopony else- scratch that, we have an issue. I just saw a Tracker, what I'm calling this world's Hunters, go invisible. Might be looking for us, probably more."

"Copy," I whispered. "Rhino, you get that?"

"Crystal clear," he replied. "Cyb, they got blue shimmer?"

"As usual for us."

"The we know what to look for," he said. "So, what are going to do about Luna?"

"Take her out f needed," I say. "She isn't linked to Nightmare anymore, and she isn't Nightmare. She's also a threat right now. We try to bring her back to, for lack of better terminology, the Darkness here. That fails, we kill her, much as I don't want to."

"And her dad?"

"Kill, no question."

"Ooh-rah."

"And Cybis, if they leave your sight, come to where we are."

"Copy."

A few minutes later, Rhino and I heard hoofsteps on the roofs above us. Stealth makes you invisible, but it doesn't silence you, something I make sure to tell any Hunters. A message appeared on my HUD, a feature we had put in every Guardian helmet to act like Metal Gear Solid's Codex, silent comms, and had tested it again and again until not even magic could get through it, and our Ghosts were currently seeing if the Raiders had something similar.

Should we attack?

I replied with just a thought. Negative. Wait until they come down or attack. If it's the former, Melee. Noland's got the comm silencer up, so they won't be able to call for help.

Copy. A few more seconds passed before a blue smear dropped to the ground, and a cloud of dust popped up.

I got it, I said, putting my hand cannon on my thigh before drawing me melee knife, and sneaking up on the blur, which was slowly moving. When I reached its back, I said, "Guess who," before reaching around and digging my knife into the Trapper's throat, which made it become visible, showing off Crota Raid armor with the same shader as this world's Luna. I brought my knife out, a spurt of blood following it before the stallion in the armor fell to the ground.

"Guys, something's up," Cybis said over the radio as soon as the body fell. He had panic in his voice. It took a lot for that to happen.

"What is it," Rhino asked.

"Luna, with this world's AJ and Twilight, en route to town center, as well as every other Raider! I'm en route now."

"Copy," I said. "We'll hold out as long as possible. Should be fun."

"For us, perhaps," Luna said as she landed behind me. "It's funny. My father told me to beware of you, but I paid no heed. Now you have not only found Crota, but killed my best Trapper." Oh the irony.

"Yeah, well," I said, "Trappers aren't Hunters." With that, I flicked my hand up and caught my knife blade first before throwing it at this world's Twilight's face. Good thing our's isn't here, seeing as how she fell then and there, which made Applejack charge me, but her tail was caught by Rhino, who dragged her back, and hit her in the back of the head. "Plus, we Guardians know how to adapt."

"And yet, we have the numbers," Luna said, and juts like that, the two Raider teams came into view. Rhino used his lift ability to get past Luna and land next to me, facing the new arrivals, just as Cybis jumped down from the rooftops to do the same on my opposite side.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eddPREyhnM

"So, what do you guys think," I asked. "Time to go badass?"

"Hell yeah," they said, and we dropped our weapons to draw our swords, me having Dark drinker, Rhino having Raze lighter, and Cybis having Bolt caster.

(00:16)"Then let's go," I said, and we charged into the group, swords raised high. I don't know about the others, but I went after Luna, Applejack, and a revived Twilight, who each had their own swords. I brought my blade down to attack Luna, but was blocked by the other two before Luna tried an upwards slice, which I jumped back from, with a backflip for extra style points as I brought out Void edge. Upon me landing, I crossed them like i was Darth Malgus from the intro cinematic for SWKOTOR. The next three attacks were well timed, too.

(00:33)Twilight and Applejack attacked with horizontal slices, which I blocked with my two swords.

(00:35)Luna was next, trying to get in through the opening, but I was able to side step it.

(00:37)The three of them attacked at the same time, Twilight from the left, Applejack from the right, and Luna from the middle. I blocked the one from Twilight with Void edge, and used Dark drinker's length to block the other two. Now for retribution.

(1:05) It took a while to get the leverage I needed, but once I did, I backed away, which made my opponents swords fall to the ground because they kept trying to brute force me. I used the opening to cut off the arms of this Twilight and Applejack before initiating what I like to call the "Tornado of death" on Luna, which is the Dark drinker special, though with a second sword added in, making it impossible to block. This beheaded Twilight and Applejack while pushing Luna back. When I was done spinning, I flipped the swords into a reverse grip, and the two of us looked like Starkiller and Darth Vader from the Fore Unleashed two trailer where they face each other on a snowy field. Some one take a picture, because that is badass incarnate. I stole a quick glance at the others. Cybis was going full on Sith Lord on this world's Obsidian team, lightning and all, Rhino using both his blade and hammer to push Disciple back. I then looked back at Luna, and attacked, but not before dropping my swords, and jumping at her. It was here I went full on badass.

I activated my super, Arc Blade, and rolled on landing, putting me in Luna's sword range, which she then swung, but I blocked with my knife before pushing up and out of her hand, and moving in close, delivering quick slashes that didn't do that much except draw blood, that wasn't what I was doing. I spun to her right side and grabbed it, putting it over my back as I crouched, and proceeded to deliver two quick stabs with my blade, one in the stomach, one in the chest beside the heart, keeping the knife in the second time as I delivered an electrical shock to Luna, then spinning out as she swayed from side to side before grabbing her sword as it fell, performing a slight flair with it, spinning it, before spinning myself, and cutting her head off. Here, I saw this version of our friend had a Ghost, or Phantom, here, and it quickly raised a shield to prevent me from destroying it, and I knew she would be back soon.

I looked at the others, and saw them finishing with their groups. "Guys, we need to get out of here to a better position!"

"That's not going to happen, Josh," Nolandroid said. "Look behind you."

I did so, and saw every other Raider in this world behind us. Fuck my life.

"You won't be able to stop us," a newly, and quickly, I may add, revived Luna said behind me. "We are much more numerous, and we know how to destroy Phantoms, and I am quite certain your 'Ghosts' are the same. You three won't be able to stop us." It was here that Rhino and Cybis were forced back to where I stood.

"Nolandroid, stop the music," I said, and the music stopped. I then looked at Luna, and said, "Yeah, the three of us can't defeat you. Not while we're separate." God damnit, I hope this works. "After all," I said, creating an orb of light and darkness in my left hand, "sometimes, one is as powerful as an army." I then turned and the three of us, Rhino and Cybis having seen where I was going, thrust out shade orbs, that's what I'm calling them, together, and a flash of light occurred, causing those not at the center to avert their eyes to avoid being blinded.

When the light faded, they all looked at where I stood. What they saw, instead of three Guardians of the three classes, was a single Guardian of each. I had on a cloak that seemed to be made from large bird feathers, my Equum Alatum chest piece, and boots and guantlets that were flowing, as if made from water, but were sturdy as well, with the claws from the sealed Ahamkara gauntlets at the end of the fingers. Guys, what does helmet look like?

Fotus, Tara replied. Well, it looks as if being here made the three of us become a technical alicorn when fused, or our training gave us that much power together. Time for some fun.

"So," I said. "Who wants to die next?"

Before any of them could reply, I heard the familiar sound of a Hive tombship, and Luna snarled. "You are lucky today, Guardian," she said. "But rest assured that when we next meet, you will die." With that, she and the other Raiders began to run, but before they could get far, I drew my void bow, and fired a shadow shot arrow at Twilight's legs, not killing her, but allowing me to walk over and knock her out before I decided to separate again.

"That was interesting," Rhino said as he picked Twilight up.

"Definitely," Cybis said as Crota walked up.

"It is good to see that the three of you are alive," he said.

"It'll take a lot to kill us," I said. "By the way, we captured a Raider for interrogation."

"I can see that," he said. "And it is Twilight Sparkle. Sekana will be pleased to see her former student again."

"She was her student here, too," Rhino asked, surprised. "Sure, why the fuck not?"

"So, when are we going to head to Canterlot," Cybis asked.

"Actually," Crota said, "when I informed my mother of what had happened, she and Sekana decided to come here as soon as possible."

"Explains that," Cybis said, looking at a Tombship that settled just above our current location.

"This is going to be interesting," I said just as that orange glow came from the bottom, and ten figures, eight resembling the Knights we had back home currently, appeared.

Crota walked over to the other two, both female and wearing actually very elegant gowns with armor over them. "Hello, mother, sister," he said.

"Hello, my son," the taller of the two, who had dark red skin with three fingers, it seems that pact didn't change that, and a gown resembling, color wise, Omnigul's. "It is good to see you are alive and unharmed."

"Yeah, or you'd get no end of it from me," the other, I presume Sekana from the voice and simple common sense, said.

The three chuckled before Crota said, "Yes, well, for that, those three are to thank." He gestured back to us, and Cybis and I gave a light bow, Rhino being unable for obvious reasons.

"Highnesses," we said. "A pleasure and honor to meet you."

It was Auryx who walked towards us first, Sekana following. "No, it is all mine for meeting you three," she said."I have talked with the spirit in the Tree, and she has told me of your deeds. You have my thanks, as well, for protecting this town from the Raiders."

"Hey, it's our job to do so," I said with a slight chuckle. "And Sekana, Crota said you may like what we have. Rhino?"

"Right here," he said, laying Twilight on the ground.

"Twilight," Sekana asked in a gasp. "I thought she had died."

"Regardless," I say, "she's here, and, with your permission, we'd like to try something. You all use Darkness, right?"

"Yes to both," Sekana said. "Why?"

"To bring her to your side."

Ice fighting: how to for badasses

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The seven of us, myeself, Cybis, Rhino, Crota, Auryx, Sekana, and a still out cold Raider Twilight, were in Mirror Canterlot. Right now, we were in one of the more secured areas of the castle, with the me and my counterparts trying to bring Twilight into the shadows. Right now, the three of us had found a I have no idea what to call it, so I'm just going to call it the Light Virus. Is it just me, or does it sound like Dr Light from Megaman went evil and egotistical before making a virus akin to Sigma from Megaman X?

Okay, anyway, we'd been in this version of Canterlot for about three hours, and the three of us hadn't seen Sombra. I asked Sekana about it an hour ago, and she replied with, "He's in the north, leading the Crystal Republic,"- I'll admit, that does sound better than Empire when it comes to peace- "He's our only other ally, and the Dreadnought mother arrived in is holding place over it to protect it." Well, I guess that makes sense.

"Have you found a way to remove the Traveler's taint," Auryx asked us upon the end of the tenth session in the three hours.

"Not yet," Cybis said. "In all honesty, I'm surprised we found that. It was hidden damn well."

"Why are you having issues," Sekana asked.

"Because like every Guardian from where we come from," Rhino said, "and I don't mean the Equestria we're from, every Guardian but a few are the long dead. With what you told us, Sekana, Twilight may not be 'long' dead, but she was dead enough for it to work."

"The virus, what we're calling it," I said, "is in the very core of her being right now. Her Phantom is holding it there, and we don't know how to destroy them. For now, we can only keep her out cold."

"Is there anyway to save her," Sekana asked, concern in her voice.

"Maybe," Cybis replied. "Two maybes, actually. One is the Elements of Chaos. Here's the logic: using those to free Twilight would help to cause chaos within the Raider ranks. The other is the Elements of Harmony, of which the three of us are bearers, which would help bring harmony to this Equestria."

"Neither are viable, though," Rhino added. "The Chaos Elements because they're missing, and the Harmony Elements because we may blow this universe to hell by using them here."

"In short," I said, "this is the most we can do right now."

She sighed. "I suppose I will have to live with that for now," she said.

"Yeah," I said. "Hey, mind if I ask you something?"

"What?"

"Where did you find the Elements of Chaos the first time around? Because the first time Harmony Elements were found, they were under the castle of the sisters."

She chuckled. "Near there for us as well," she said. "But, if we're talking specifics, I would say it was deeper in the Everfree, actually close to the center of it."

"I imagine you and your sister had to fight through a lot of creatures," Rhino said.

"Indeed we did," Sekana said. "Nightmare enjoyed it, and so did I. Though I doubt I would now. She, however, has become bloodthirsty, and would do it simply for the fun of it. So, what am I like in your Equestria?"

"Honestly," I said, "she disappeared a week ago, we have a pretty good guess as to where, but she was a lot like you before then. Though less joking and a little more. . . you know what, I'm going to say it, she was a buzzkill."

"Yeah, that definitly isn't like me now," Sekana said. Before she could say anything else, though, a Knight rushed into the room we were in, flinging the doors open, and knelt in front of Sekana.

"Princess," he said, "there is an incident!"

"Where," the three of us asked, we three Guardians, getting our weapons out.

"The Crystal Republic," the Knight said. "The Raiders are attacking it."

"What," Sekana said, shocked. "Impossible. The ship protects it from the Light."

"That is just it, Princess," he said. "It is not the Raiders themselves, but twisted amalgamations of our kind that have no soul!"

"The Taken," I said. "Damn it. Sekana, teleport the three of us there, now, then get your military there. We can buy you time."

"Are you certain?"

"Yep."

"Then good luck," she said before her hands- did I forget to mention she didn't have a horn anymore?- lit up, and, for the three of us found ourselves in a crystal street, the buildings ablaze, dead bodies all around.

"Where do you think they are," Cybis asked.

"No idea," Rhino said before a scream was heard near the palace, which was, on the outside, unchanged from the one back home. "Though I'd say that's a good place to start."

"You think," I said before the three of us ran towards the palace. When we got there, we saw crystal ponies being slaughtered by Taken Knights, Acolytes, Thrall, and Wizards. Looks like Oryx is trying to remove any potential allies for us. "Well, time to go to work," I said before summoning my Golden Gun, and, like with our world's Sombra, channeled its energy into my Vanity, and fired , causing eight explosions due to combustion, which caused a lot of damage to the Taken ranks. With that, I brought out my sword, did a little twirl with it, and I mean spinning the sword around my hand. "You guys cover me?"

"You know it," Rhino said. "Let's kick some ass."

With that, I charged as Rhino and Cybis gave me covering fire. Upon hitting the group of Taken, I began to slice and dice them, the covering fire taking the shields out on the Wizards and the occasional Knight. The last to fall was an Acolyte Eye via the last charge in my Dark Drinker, the blade and crystal vanishing as the hilt rested in my hand close to the ground.

"HALT," the crystal guards said. "Lay your weapons down, and come with us!"

"Stop," we heard a voice say before we could give a smartass reply. "Princess Sekana and Queen Auryx sent us a message about three beings helping them. Now, let me through."

"Yes, your highness," the guards said before parting, revealing this world's Sombra walking towards us, and he was wearing some pretty damned ornate, and yet effective, if the Ghosts' scans were accurate as to the materials.

"I imagine you three are either the Renegades or the Guardians Queen Auryx told me about earlier?"

"Indeed we are, your highness," i said with a slight bow. "More accurately, the latter group."

"Then can you tell me how your world's Celestia is," he asked. Ah, this I had anticipated, but hoped wouldn't happen.

"I am sorry to say," Cybis said, "but, as far as we can tell, she has been reunited with our world's version of Auryx, and has embraced that part of herself as much as Sekana has."

"Oh," he said, sadness evident in his voice.

To avoid any kind of backlash about where we actually came from, I added, "She told us of her relationship with you before, though. We are sorry."

"Why?"

"Because, intentional or not, and believe me, it was unintentional, she thinks we were corrupted by dark magic when we freed our world's Nightmare, and she attempted use of the Elements, but it kinda backfired on her," Rhino said, revealing his mark. "They chose us instead."

He sighed. "At least we have three Elements with us," he said. "Come inside. There are some things you must know if you are to help us."

"If you say so," Rhino said before we placed our weapons on our backs, and followed Sombra inside. Once inside the Palace, which looked the same as the one back home, albeit without changelings, I wonder what they're like here, Rhino said, "Auryx told us her ship was parked above, but we didn't see it."

"That is because we cloaked it," Sombra replied. "If the Raiders knew were it was and could see it, they would be able to shoot it out of the sky, which would leave the Republic vulnerable, and that is not even counting the loss of life from it being destroyed."

"Makes sense, I guess," Cybis said. "Mind if we take our helmets off? Been wearing them since we got here."

"Not at all," Sombra replied as he took his own helmet off, revealing the face of the stallion Celestia had fallen in love with. You know, I am now slightly terrified. Here's why: Mirror Celestia, and Canon Sombra together. Good thing I had a bunker built to withstand angry alicorns after Celestia. "In fact, I was about to ask if you were hungry."

"Yes, yes, no," Rhino replied, pointing to Cybis, me, and him in that order as his helmet was taken off. "I'm not organic, so I can't get hungry."

"He's not wrong," I said. "With me, at least. Haven't eaten anything in about five hours."

"But first," Cybis said, his own helmet coming off, "what can you tell us about those things from earlier?" Just to see what they know.

"Nothing," Sombra replied with a shake of his head. "This was our first encounter with them. Do you know anything about them?"

"Yes, but that's best saved until after we get something to eat," I said. "So, where's the mess?"

"This way," the unicorn king replied with a chuckle, and we followed him to a dining room that would not be out of place at the Gala back home, albeit it had actual ponies here, and not moronic, greedy nobles who would throw Celestia away if it meant another ruler that would give them a better status. I'm not kidding. Been a week, and no nobles have tried to break our doors down. Not that they can, but you get the point. They think we're morons simply because we aren't ponies and could get a higher status. I swear, you guys should be glad you didn't see what happened at the first Gala we were at, which we livened up, by the way, but still.

. . . I went off topic, didn't I? Heh, sorry, that happens when it comes to stuff I like or hate past a certain degree. Pony stupidity being part of the latter.

Anyway, Cybis and I got some food from a central table, which had meat, thank god, and the four of us sat at a nearby table. "So, what did you want to tell us," Rhino asked.

"That scouts of mine have reported four Raiders near the glacier, and they seem to be looking for something. The Elements of Chaos, I imagine," Sombra replied. "But, if our world's Elements are like yours, they choose their bearer, not the other way around."

"Yeah, well, plenty's opposite here to where here, the bearer chooses," Cybis said. "Pessimistic, I know, but some one needs to be right now."

"He isn't wrong," Rhino said. "I mean, where we come from, Nightmare is Luna, and her personality is the opposite. Celestia's probably an evil Sekana now, the Raiders are the dead here, but Guardians aren't back home, and, to top it off this world's version of us are with you guys. That last one shouldn't be possible!"

"Not really," Cybis said. "Do you not remember our stance with the Taken King and the Wanderer," he said, using terms Sombra wouldn't be familiar with to refer to Oryx and the Traveler. "Gray enough to where it could have gone any way here."

"Still."

"Regardless," Cybis said, "either remains a possibility, I'm simply stating what everyone here forgot."

"Nothing wrong there," I said before we began to eat.

To spare you all the boring details, I'll skip ahead to where we left the room, about to tell Sombra a little about the Taken, when a crystal pony guard came running up to us. "My king, the Raiders, the scouts report they found something!"

"What," Sombra asked.

"The Elements of Chaos!" Well.

Shit. Nolandroid, we got our Sparrows?

Yeah.

"Where," I asked the guard.

"Ten miles north, at the glacier."

"Wish us luck then," I said. "Rhino, Cyb, come on. Got to make sure they don't get the Elements."

"Right," they said, nodding before their helmets came on and we made our way to the outside, but not before Sombra asked a question.

"What are you three going to do?"

"Simple," I said, turning around, yes, I was running backwards, and spread my arms. "Be fucking badasses!" I turned aback around, and, once we made it outside, we brought out our Sparrows, each now being that year one veteran exclusive, and gunned it towards the north.

After exiting the city, we formed up into a triangle, me at the lead. "So," Rhino asked over the radio, "think we should go Tex on their asses?"

"You know it," I say. "Cyb, think we should get season eight soundtrack going?"

"Only at the appropriate moment," he agreed.

"Hell yeah," I said, the three of us racing across the frozen wasteland, nothing obstructing our way to the destination, which really helped us make it to said destination.

After near an hour, we made it to a large glacier, our sparrows stopping. "No one say it," I said as a ring of orange lights came on before a beep was heard, and the tripmine grenades exploded, which would have killed us if we hadn't seen it coming and jumped to the survival area of the explosion.

"Damn it," we heard a voice say, and four bodies came into view. It was Luna, Applejack, Forge, and I imagine this world's version of Sight.

"Forge, you must admit," Luna said, "they are not ponies, and they have the same equipment as us. They would expect that."

"Yeah, well, Applejack still wants to rip them apart for what they did to Twilight."

"Then she can do that," Luna said, four gemstones coming to hover near their faces. "Once we turn them to stone that is." Fuck my luck.

"SCATTER!" I yelled that just as beams fired form the four gems. Looks like these don't need to be in one place to be used, which means Cybis, Rhino, and I are outmatched. Still, we have our own advantage. "META!"

Copy, they replied using silent comms, and we continued to avoid the gem blasts as we slowly made our way to each other. Thank you, codenames. Any way, after having dodged ten beams each, I think Luna caught on.

"Stop them from getting together," she yelled, but to no avail, as it was but a second after that that the three of us created Shade orbs, which we slammed together to merge, which was the form that landed, only now the helmet looked like Unity Clade instead of the Halo Fotus helmet. I landed in a crouch, but quickly stood up and faced the four Raiders.

I slammed my right hand, a fist, into my left palm and cracked a few vertebrae before saying, "You have no idea what kind of trouble you are in." Ah, Tex, such a badass. Honestly, I'm surprised no one's dressed up as her and been displaced. Oh well. Can't do anything there.(1)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6H-cRZ_58w

"Get him," Luna yelled, and, as they ran towards me, they fired their gems, but I easily dodged each one of them, side stepping, ducking, right before the first one, Applejack reached me, I side stepped as I punched her in the back of the head, knocking her to the ground before doing a back roll to avoid a punch from Sight. Upon coming back up, I gripped the knife that was sheathed on my left wrist in a normal grip before spinning it around to grab its edge in between my thumb and pointer and middle, which I then threw into the middle of her back, but not before she threw a flashbang grenade at me, which I slapped aside to where it didn't harm anyone.

The next one was Forge, who got mt into a knife fight, her having said knife, while i just had my hands. Heh. Be Penny from RWBY and you may just stand a chance. Anyway, she tried to stab me in either the heart, or the head, if not slice an artery. The second time she tried to slice, aiming for my throat, I grabbed her arm, the elbow pointing out, so I decided to bring mine down on it using my Titan strength, resulting is a resounding crack as her arm bent at an unnatural angle. I then grabbed her knife, and sliced at her throat. She fell to the snow covered ground, and coated the snow in her blood, staining it red.

That left Luna, who had been watching the whole time. Impressive," she said. "But I am my father's avatar, and no darkness may hide from me." With that, she charged at me, teleporting just before she got in my range behind me, which resulted in me trying to do an elbow spin on her face, but she caught my arm, and forced it down before delivering a punch to my helmet, which sent me spinning, even with me using the momentum to cover myself as I brought out my Vanity and fired the whole clip at her, but she was able to dodge the shots as she came in close enough to send my hand cannon out of my hand to the snowy ground. She then tried to hit my face with her forearm, like Locke from when he fought the Chief in Halo 5, but i grabbed her arm, and pulled her into a spin before throwing her towards the glacier.

I then brought out Rhino's hammer, which I threw at her, but she was able to avoid it at the last second, resulting in, you guessed it, an avalanche. Damn, the universe loves my ideas right now, doesn't it? Anyway, the alicorn ran towards me, but I decided to just punch her in the cheek before making a run for it, as I was in the avalanche zone too. Which resulted in an almost blatant ripoff of the season eight fight from Red vs Blue between Tex, Wash, and Meta, though only one v one. I ran up a large piece of ice that had crashed down in front of me just before a bolt of black, and I mean the color here, hit where I was a moment before. Great. Crazy alicorn is firing magic at me. Any way, after reaching the top of the ice shard, I turn around in the air, and punch some of it in Luna's direction once the main portion of my body passed it. I hit the ground again, and turned to run. Only to reach the edge of a cliff a few seconds later.

I turned around to see four very pissed off Raiders. "Looks like your cornered," Luna said.

"Ha, nope," I say before jumping up and, thinking it wouldn't work, put every ounce of void energy into my left hand, and then doing the Nova Bomb motions, which, with all the energy, resulted in nine full power Nova hitting the ice behind them. Which caused our small chunk to begin to fall off. "Hope you losers have a ship," I said before charging them, which wasn't my goal, killing them. What I was doing was, as I call it, pulling a Meta. I jumped past them, using each jump ability to get to the wall of ice at a high speed, which allowed me to embed my Sealed Ahamkara Gauntlet like gloves into the ice. I pulled the left one out, and turned to look at the others, who were falling quickly. "If so, then I hope you can swim," I say before embedding the left claws in the ice, and climbing my way up the wall to the top. Once I make it to the top, I walk away from the edge, and then collapse as I spin around to look at the sky, which is when I split.

"I think we just beat Tex in arctic badass points," Rhino said.

"Ooh-rah to that," Cybis said.

"Still, we have a lot to be worried about," I said. "They have at least four of the Elements of Chaos.

"Not exactly," the three of us heard a voice say. I bent my head to look to where my head was pointing, and saw an apparition of a mare with a flowing rainbow hair, not an aurora hair like Celestia, two different things, and a gray coat and tail and mane, the last two having black accents. Funny, that's how I imagined- wait a minute.

"Harmony?" She chuckled at that.

"Indeed, Guardian," the mare said. "And no, i I am not really here. This is simply me using the three Elements you have to give you a message."

"And what the hell is that," Rhino asked.

"That if you wish to defeat this world's Traveler, you are on the right track, but not quite there yet." With that, she vanished. Cryptic as hell. Don't you find that annoying? But if there is a bright side, it's that prophecies are cryptic, and if you are the one in there, then you get an epic song. The Chosen Ones, by Dream Evil.

"So, think we should make our way back to the palace," Cybis asked. He wasn't shrugging it off, my thoughts are simply one of the things all three of us agree on.

"Actually, I just want to lay here for a while," Rhino said. "Might be the only breather we get while we're here."

"Agreed," I said, and the three of us lay there for near an hour, simply resting, until Sombra came into my view after a brief pop of teleportation.

"Resting?"

Alliance and betrayal

View Online

"Come on, come on," Cybis yelled at the guards. It had been a day since our arrival here, and he had come up with an idea on the Twilight angle he was keeping hidden from even Rhino and I through our link. He always did have that ability. Right now, he was having the guards, pony and proto-hive, yes that's the actual term there for Hive before the Traveler incident, far as we know, or at least what we're calling them, to get a table with magically strengthened leather straps naile dot the floor in Canterlot, Raider Twilight being strapped in. Right now, it was me and him. Rhino had gone back ot get some help, as even we knew our fusion trick would stop working at some point. Who he was getting, I had no idea.

"Cybis, seriously," I said, my helmet off, as well as his, "what the hell are you planning?"

"Avatar, and I don't mean the James Cameron movie, I mean the show," was all he said, even when I pressed him on it. Seriously, he must have gotten the knowledge of the show because, even though it was one of our favorites before getting split, I remember little of it. "If you want to help, though," he said, "make sure the Raiders or Taken don't get here. I'll need time to take care of this."

"Fine," I said, holding my hands up. "I'll be with Sekana and the others." And with that, I left the room, the three proto-hive rulers outside the room. "Before you ask, I have no idea what he plans on doing."

"We figured you wouldn't get anything," Crota said. "I haven't been able to even get a hint of it from his body language. And I am quite good at reading body language."

"Noted," I said. "Any word on Luna and the others?"

"None," Auryx replied. "We are lucky. With just one of the Elements of Chaos, they could strike us here in Canterlot. Four? Wipe us from existence. I wonder why they haven't."

"I think we know," a familiar voice said, causing me to turn around. Why was it familiar? Because it was fucking me. "It's because they want to kill you, us, and the other us in person." This version of me wore the same armor I wore when I first arrived in Equestria, same for the other Rhino and Cybis, only the color matched the Raiders."

"I'm guessing you three are the mirror version of us," I asked.

"More like you're the mirror version of us," the mirror Cybis, who shall be designated M Cybis, as well as M Rhino and M Josh, said. 'But, basically, yeah."

"It is good to see you three are alright," Sekana said. "But where were you three?"

"Just a little recon," M Josh said. Now, seeing as how he was me, I knew his tells for lying. He was lying. Question is now what is the truth? "And I'd introduce myself to you," he said, turning to face me," but we already know each other, don't we?"

"Yeah," I said in an emotionless voice, my own tell for when I'm trying to hide something. Though it's also my normal tone, so maybe it isn't obvious I was hiding something. "We do."

"So, what did you three find," Crota asked.

"That the Traveler plans on using all the Elements he can get, Harmony or Chaos, to annihilate all against him," M Rhino said. I just realized it sounds like M. Bison. "Only reason he's holding back is because Luna wants to kill you," he said, pointing to me, "personally for embarrassing her twice."

"What can I say," I said. "If I had a cutie mark, it'd be mine." Either that, or screwing shit up for our enemies. You know, related to the Tex displaced thing I mentioned yesterday, I wonder if there's been a group displacement fr the Reds and Blues. Church doesn't count, he just became one.

Anyway, we didn't shake hands, not that we needed to, and the three of them went off to, in their own words, "make sure everything was ready if an attack were to occur." I don't know about you guys, but I don't trust myself.

"It's funny," Auryx commented. "He seems mor elike the' gruff exterior, heart of gold' type Sekana described from various books here.

And my Felix alarm is going off. If you watched RvB season twelve, you know what I'm talking about. "Yeah, I guess there are some differences," I said, eyeing the three mirror versions of us.

"So, what is Rhino doing," Crota asked.

"He said going back to our universe to get some help, and no, I do not know who he's going to get, but a few ideas are present."

"Then we had best hope he returns before the next Raider attack comes," Sekana said.

"Yeah," I said. "In the meantime, I'm going on patrol around the city. You know how to reach me if you need me." With that, Nolandroid transmatted my helmet on, and I left the castle. Once I left the grounds, he gave me the year two version of my old friend, Invective. Really, the Nobles of this Canterlot went with how one would think of Nobles. Brave, loyal, and giving to those in lesser status then them. I haven't met him, but something tells me, I'd like this world's Blueblood, and a few Nobles even waved to me in greeting as I passed them, word of our feats from yesterday having spread here quickly.

Anyway, I was an hour into my patrol when a message from Rhino appeared. I'm back, and en route to Canterlot with the help now. Has Cybis finished what he was up to?

No idea, I replied. See ya soon, though. And here is where I think the universe loves to make my life an action movie, as an explosion, the fireball reaching over building and being near as tall as the castle, occurred two streets over, and i heard a very familiar roar.

That of a Taken Ogre.

Fuck my life right now.

So, with that, I used my Hunter jumps to get on top of building, also mantling when needed, and jumped down on the street the Taken, a single Ogre with four Knights, forty Acolytes, and Two Wizards, each of the Taken variety, were shooting at the civilians. Only these fuckers had a yellow tint to them. Damn you, Celestia. Guys, whatever the fuck you're doing, hurry up, I say over the link to Cybis and Rhino.

Almost done, Cybis said.

Same here, Rhino replied. Just keep them there.

Oh, joy. Okay, no idea what a Taken Ogre can do, but the major threat is between the Acolytes or Wizards. Wizards are shielded and can summon shadow thrall, but only at a specific rate, and one at a time, but also have homing shots, while the Acolytes are not shielded, but are able to summon rapid fire turret things, but only one per Acolyte, and those are easy to kill. On the other hand, there is forty of the fuckers.

Yeah, going with the Acolytes.

With that decision, I stowed my shotgun, and brought out year two Super good advice, and just unloaded on them, the ammo fabricator essentially allowing me to fire over a hundred shots, regenerating a 'miss' shot, which is to say it didn't hit the guy in center of the reticule, which quickly mowed the Acolytes down, which left the heavy hitters. I dropped my HMG, which transmatted to who knows where, and reached on my back, Nolandroid knowing what I wanted, and transmatting my Dark Drinker into my hand. "Let's dance," I said, before going after the two Wizards, using shadow step to avoid their homing hots and dual wielding my Vanity hand cannon to shoot the Shadow Thrall, which allowed me to get close to the Wizards, and go to town on them, quickly destroying the shields, and then using the tornado of death to finish them off. Then I allowed the blade to transmat away, and grabbed my knife and getting into a ready stance. Nolandroid, music, if you please.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQXe22auYOw

Damn you, Roosterteeth. Why must you come up with excellent songs?

Anyway, I charged my blade with lightning, and then went after the Knights, each with a Void Boomer, whose shields were resilient, but each fell eventually, which allowed me to go in for the killing strikes, which were stabs to their brains, slitting their throats, or the showstopper move. That left the major challenge, the unknown variable, the Ogre. No way in hell I can take it on myself.

Before I go further, though, I should describe it. It was as large, if not slightly taller than Phogoth, and had the usual color and flames as usual Taken, but like those I had just slain, there were traces of yellow in the white.

Okay, the absence of the Renegades definitely has to do here, and I call bull shit if they say 'They knew I could handle it'. They are me, me is they, they know my best, I know their best. One on one, no fuse, this is not in my abilities. I hate my life right now.

The Taken Ogre roared at me with enough force to send me sliding back a bit. Looks like this will be a distraction game. That, I can do. "Come on, fucker," I muttered before I fired off an entire Vanity clip at the guy, which did shit against him aside from probably pissing him off. Assuming he still could get pissed off, that is.

I saw him charging his eye beam, which meant it would be much more powerful, joy, and dodged out of the way as a large orb of Arc energy hit where I had been standing, and only a single blast. Okay, one blast, but much more powerful, and requires a charge time. I can work with that.

To keep him focused on me, I did my Golden Channel, as I call my ability to infuse my Golden gun into one of my other weapons, with the Vanity, and fired to keep his attention, but also trying to kill him, the former working, the latter failing in the extreme. Damn it, guys, where are you? The answer came in two instances.

The first was the easily identifiable sound of jump jets inbound, as well as missiles firing, followed by the usual impact explosions. As the clouds dissipated, I looked up, and saw four familiar jets, the Scorpio Miracle, Fangs of Nyx, Road Unraveled, and Aspect of Glass. Looks like the whole Fire team's here now.

Took you long enough, I told Rhino over the link.

Shut it, Rhino said as he and the others transmatted down. "Don't worry, I filled them in."

"You all just keep getting roped into stuff, don't you," Nightmare asked.

"You have no idea," Applejack replied.

"So, where's Cybis," Twilight asked.

"Castle," I replied. "And I have no idea what he's doing."

"Well, whatever it is, he'd better finish it soon," Rhino said as the Taken Ogre turned, as we were at its back, and roared. "Otherwise, we're going to be Ogre feed."

"Then let's scatter," I said just as the thing charged its eye blast again, with all of us getting out of the way just in time. "The blast is more powerful than those from before," I yelled so that the other three who faced Ogres before could hear. "But it takes time to charge!"

"Got it," they yelled in reply just as Rhino summoned his hammer, and began to Thor beat the thing's head.

"Over here, fucker," he yelled, getting the attention of the beast.

Really, we were just trying to keep it in one place, using our supers being the only way to do so and to harm him without Rhino, Cybis, and I being fused, and keep property damage and civilian casualties to a minimum, seeing as how a few died in the initial explosion., and, fortunately it worked, and I saw some of Auryx's forces keeping the street ends empty, preventing other civilians from getting in.

Cybis, where the fuck are you, Rhino asked over the link. We can't fuse without you down here, damn it.

Almost done!

DEFINE 'ALMOST'!

Three, two, one- done. Just hold for a while, guys. One last thing.

You said you were almost done!

Five more minutes, max!

You'd better fucking hope so!

"Enough, Rhino," I said, the two of us being close enough to where I could speak to him. "If Cybis says five minutes, he means five minutes."

"I know," he said as the Ogre fired another blast, this one aimed for a flying Nightmare, "but I don't want to die here because he was doing something we don't even know. I swear, it'd be nice if he balanced how cryptic he is in situations like this, with honesty."

"Two things," I said. "One, he's Generosity. Two, I think you just gave me the answer to what he's doing. Avatar show, and balance."

"That clever fucker," he said before firing a burst from Suros and the both of us moved.

And that's how it was for the next three minutes, the five of us distracting the Ogre. It was the three minute mark that a shatter bomb came into our view, hitting it in the face, followed by a Golden gun. Why did I note that? Because I was facing the back of the thing, and Twilight was to my left, and we were the only Hunters. Looks like Cybis' plan worked.

'Bout time, I said over the link.

Hey, it worked, Cybis replied as he, firing shots form his Tlaloc, and Trapper Twilight, firing from my old friend, Abyss Defiant, came into view, firing at the Ogre side by side.

Okay, before I go further, here's what Cybis' plan was, as he told us later. Basically, it was implant enough Darkness in Twilight to balance the Light, because, as it turns out, too much of one makes you go bat shit insane. He figured she would want to atone for what she did. He was right, as well as he found out during his research session into the Light Seed that it was connected right to the world's Traveler, which was controlling her and, quite possibly, the other Raiders. So by balancing it out, which, for those who don't know, goes with what the main characters of the show were doing. Bringing balance. And the plan quite obviously worked. Back to story.

Well, you guys think its time to fuse, Rhino asked.

Hell yeah, we both replied.

We waited until all seven of us, including the mirror Twilight, were surrounding and evading him. We arranged ourselves to where we would be able to fuse with the next dodge, creating the Shade Orbs just before we did so, Rhino being in the center this time. The usual shit happened, and the three of us now fused, and this is not because we can but because it's the only way to kill this Ogre, I swear, stood facing the Ogre. Hm. I have the abilities of each class when fused. Perhaps Striker plus Sunsinger and Golden gun.

I looked down at my hands, and tightened them into fists, flames appearing around them as I did so. One part is true. Now the next part. I looked at the Ogre, who did the same, before pulling my fist back, and then shooting it forward, an orb of energy travelling pretty quickly coming from my fist and exploding when it hit the Ogre.

Whether because the universe agrees this is cool, because I want it to happen, or just because, I don't give a shit. Right now, well. . . hit it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9mQTmXxU8E

I am going to have fun, here.

The Taken roared at me as I got into a ready stance before it tried to crush me with one of its huge hands, which I dodged while firing off my replica Ember Cilica shots at his face.

Quick explanation: I was using the Golden Gun to coat my fists in flames, Sunsinger to contain the Fist of Havoc energies, which were released on impact and firing, which is why I brace for every punch. In short, I had a pure flame version of Yang's weapon from RWBY. So much fun for me.

Anyway, when I landed, I slid a little, but continued to fire at the face and currently open maw of the Taken, my cloak being sent back by the pressure from the firing.

Just as I pulled my fist back for another punch, the twentieth one, I think, something odd happened. Before I could deliver another shot, the Ogre disappeared. "I told Oryx and Sekana we wanted to kill you ourselves," my voice said, and the mirror versions of my three personas came into view, having been hidden by a smoke grenade effect. "Not that we wanted you pounded into paste."

"I knew something was wrong with you," I said, splitting back into three. "You are me, after all."

M Josh chuckled. "Yeah, I guess I should have just said it in a certain way. Oh well, doesn't matter now. And to avoid the cliche even we find annoying, we're with Oryx because, though we are similar to you three, we have the difference of wanting more power and ruling over this Equestria."

"As for how we found him," M Cybis said. "We were with the Darkness to begin with. We just found the largest concentration of it."

"And his terms for us," M Rhino said. "Kill you to clear his way in his universe. We just wanted to do so in person."

"So you're with the Raiders," I asked.

"No, we aren't," M Josh said. "They want to remove everything that is ruled by Auryx and her kids. We just want to kill them and you three. Nothing personal. Just me, or is it weird saying that to myself?"

"A little," I agreed. At the look from Nightmare and the others, I said, "What? He may want to kill me, but that doesn't mean we can't have a conversation when he isn't trying."

"Because you two are essentially mortal enemies now," Nightmare said.

"Doesn't mean they can't be civil about it," M Cybis said. "Or 'we', now that I think on it."

"Anyway, before you ask if I know, yes, these Taken were your world's Sekana," M Rhino said.

"We kinda figured that from the yellow tint in the white there," Rhino replied. "So, are we going to fight now, potentially killing a shit load of innocent, or wait until the inevitable and cliched moment when every group is in one place?"

"Let's go for the next time all six of us are in the same place," M Josh said. "Oh, and Nightmare?"

"What!?"

"Your sister says hi and hopes she'll join you, even if you're, quote unquote, 'corrupted by your father and his Light', See ya." And with that, they disappeared.

"I take it my father is trying to destroy Equestria in this world," Nightmare asked.

"He's also this world and our current world's version of the being who gives Guardians our abilities where we come from, which makes you, quite literally, the daughter of the Light," I said. "Also, glad to meet you under friendlier circumstances, this world's Twilight."

"Same," M Twilight said. "Also, thanks, Cybis."

"No problem," he said, shrugging. "Come on, time Auryx meets all of you."

A moment of peace

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A few hours had passed since the Renegades had shown their true alliances, which, now that I think on it, makes sense they'd ally with Oryx as we allied with Auryx.

Sekana, upon seeing M Twilight, nearly crushed said Raider in a hug. As the two reunited, Rhino and I talked with Cybis.

"Okay," Rhino said, "just how did you make this work?"

He shrugged. "I just added some darkness into her, which removed the Traveler's control over her."

"And the Phantom," I asked.

"Had to destroy it," he replied. "Only way to fully remove his control over her."

"And how'd you do that," Rhino asked.

"Her magic and my Nova plus Sith Lord, and even then, it took a lot of energy."

"Was that the last step before you two were able to help," Rhino asked.

"Yeah, it was," Cybis replied. "Now, seeing as how Nightmare is our Traveler's daughter, I'm going to talk with her and see if she can make Ghosts. Otherwise, we can't make any new Guardians to defend against Oryx when he arrives."

"You know, we seem to ignore Celestia a lot," Rhino commented.

"Because we know we can beat her," I said. "What with our fusion and the fact all six of the Elements are Guardians, she would be hard pressed to beat us."

"That doesn't mean she can't win," Cybis said, to which I pulled out the tokens we had. "Fair point."

"That reminds me, have we gotten any other tokens," Rhino asked.

"Not since we came here," I said. "Honestly, though, I do expect to either be summoned or to have a new token when we get back."

"So long as we don't become one of those crossover nexus stories," Cybis said. "The ones that basically have a cross over every chapter or so, I mean."

"Agreed," both Rhino and I said.

"Well, wish me luck with Nightmare and the Ghost situation, anyways," Cybis said before he made his way to the guest quarters, where we all slept, even if, technically, Nightmare was able to sleep in one of the royal rooms.

"And what are you going to do, Rhino," I asked.

"No idea," he said, shrugging. "May go see how this army trains and practices. You?"

"I'm going to play it by ear," I said. "Talk with Sekana and M Twilight, Crota, and Auryx simply to talk."

"You do that," he said, and he walked out and to the training fields.

So, with me being the only Guardian left near where the reunion was going on, I made my way to the throne room, literally right next to where the three of us were talking, and where M Twilight was telling the Proto-hive rulers what she knew about the Raiders. When I opened the doors, I heard the tail end of a question Crota asked. ". . . their plans with the Elements?"

"No, your Highness," she said. "I don't know what their plans are with the Elements of Chaos. I just know that as long as all six of the other world's Elements are here, they would need all six to defeat them. If I knew what their plan was, I would have said so at the start."

"Wondering what the Raiders are planning," I asked, causing M Twilight, her helmet off to reveal a slightly scarred face with short cut hair and an eye like mine, which is to say a prosthetic.

"We have been since they found the Chaos Elements," Auryx said. "If I may ask, what brings you here, Guardian?"

"I can't just have a conversation with you all," I asked, to which Sekana chuckled.

"He is right, mother," she said. "And, to be honest, I see nothing wrong with just talking. Besides, I do think we've asked Twilight enough questions for now. Plus, I am a little hungry."

"As am I," Crota said.

"Then I suppose it is time for a meal," Auryx said as she stood up from her throne, Sekana in hers to the left, Crota to the right. "Come, everyone. I'll have a message sent to the cooks to prepare lunch for us."

"Long as there's steak and a Ceaser salad," I muttered. With that, the five of us left the throne room, and made our way to the small dining room that the royals and only the guests on which they were on a first name basis with, or someone close to them like M Twilight with Sekana, went to.

It was halfway between the throne room and the main dining area, and smaller than both, but it was still comfortable, with a round table for us to sit around. On said table was a practical buffet of food, both meat and fruit and veggies. Now, I am more of a meat person, just cook it to medium well and season it properly, and I'll probably have it, but there are only a few things I'll eat that are pure fruit or vegetable, one of which was the aforementioned salad. Which, thankfully, was on the table, along with who knows what kinds of meats.

"Take a seat, everyone," Auryx said as she sat down at the chair opposite the door. "And Twilight, in here, there are no formalities."

"Don't waste your breath, Auryx," I said as I took the seat at the nine o'clock position on the table. "If this Twilight is the same as others I know of, she is unable to easily drop the formalities."

"He isn't wrong," Sekana said, taking the seat at her mother's left. "When she was my student, I could not get her to stop calling me 'Princess', no matter how many times I tried."

"I don't see a problem there," Crota said, sitting on the opposite side of Auryx as his sister. "If she wishes to keep the formalities, I think she should be able to."

"So do I," I said. "I'm just saying her brain's hardwired to add 'Highness' or the like to a ruler that considers her a friend."

As M Twilight sat down opposite me, she crossed her arms and said, "I'll have you know that, unlike your world's version of me, I have no problem with dropping formalities when wished."

"Hey, I'm just saying," I said, holding my hands up. "No need to get hostile, Twilight."

"Yeah, I know," she said. "I've gotten better at reading people that have the same body structure as me since I joined the Raiders, much as I wish I hadn't."

"Yeah, I've been wondering," I said. "Why did you join the Raiders?"

"I didn't," she said. "Not willingly, anyway. I was kidnapped when they re-surged with Luna at the front of it and taken into the Everfree. It was there that they gave me this," she said, pointing to her scar and prosthetic eye, "which is why I assume Sekana thought I was dead."

"It was more the large amount of blood there with it," Sekana said as she shivered a little. "But now isn't the place for that."

"Agreed," I said before reaching for a piece of steak with a fork that had steam curling off of it, and it was medium sized. I put it on the plate in front of me, and cut a little portion of it off, and it did have a bit of pink in the middle. Exactly how I liked it. Weird how they got that. Anyway, I popped the small piece into my mouth, which nearly exploded from the taste. In a good way, I mean. It must have showe,d too, as the other four chuckled.

"I take it that the chefs cooked it to how you like," Auryx asked.

"Yep," I said. "But I would like to know as to how."

"Cooking, obviously," Sekana said. "Along with a simple spell that allows it to change depending on the taste of the one who's eating it."

"Well, keep doing that," I said. "But back with Twilight, what happened next?"

"Well, they took me to a cave of some sort, I don't remember where it is, and even if I did, they covered my one eye so I couldn't see. The next thing I remember, I was with my new body, a prosthetic eye, and I was following the Raiders. From there, well, I was in most of the Raider Ops, including Manehattan."

"You were in Manehattan," Crota asked. "I had heard how brutal it was there."

"Yeah, it was bad," M Twilight said. "Because of me, mostly. I was the Demon of Manehattan."

"Someone mind filling me in, here?"

"Manehattan was the bloodiest fight with the Raiders," Sekana said, and I heard sorrow in her voice. "Nopony living or stationed there survived, and most of the dead were, with what you and Twilight told us, turned into Raiders. And Twilight was apparently the one who had slaughtered most of them."

"If I could, I'd go back to fix it," M Twilight said.

"Which is to say they have a small army," Crota said. "One our guards will be unable to stop without heavy casualties."

"Looks like we may need the help of the rest of your allies," Auryx said.

"I'll see what I can do," I said. "But for now, I want to finish my meal."

Rhino

I made my way to the training area, coming across a few guards, pony and Proto-Hive, on my way there. Once I made it outside, I saw that the Proto-Hive and ponies were in separate areas. I am going to say that even with Sekana retaining her role as princess, there's tension here. I also saw a lot of glares directed at me.

"Great," I heard a pony said. "One of them."

"I still don't see why the princess and her family requested their help. Those Renegades betrayed us. Who's to say those 'Guardians' won't?"

"I know, right. I barely even trust those three after what the Renegades pulled. I honestly don't know who's worse: them, or the princess' family."

"Hey," a Proto-Hive yelled at the ponies. "You disrespect the queen and prince?" Oh, god, here we go.

"Yeah, I do," the pony, a unicorn stallion with a dark red coat and a mane and tail colored black with stripes of green. "Equestria would be a whole lot better if and your kind just left. Maybe then, that 'Traveler' will leave, and we can go back to not having to worry about getting killed by something we don't know."

"That is not likely to happen," I said, walking up.

"And what's it to you, freak," the pony asked. He is lucky I have a long fuse.

"You think that Auryx leaving will cause the Traveler to do so. I can see the reasoning, but it is flawed," I said. "The Traveler thinks it is doing good, bringing its power to this place, even if innocents suffer. Even if Auryx were to leave, it would stay, and you would have no defenses against it. Auryx and her family and forces are the only reason you're here to complain about it."

"Doubtful," the pony said. Jeez, this guy is stubborn. "If Auryx hadn't come here, we wouldn't need to deal with her kind, and be left in peace."

"And if Celestia hadn't come to your side," I asked, crossing my arms. "What then? You would need to deal with the Raiders and two alicorns, as well as who knows what else. Nothing would be powerful enough to stop them then, and you, your friends, and your family would. Be. Dead."

"Please, I'm the best spell caster in the guard," he said.

"Oh," I said. "Then show me a little demonstration of your power."

The pony grinned. "If you say so," he said before a charged a spell in his horn, and fired it at me. I blocked it by directing void energy to my left palm, which I raised, and directed to form a shield, on which, the spell dissipated, and the look on his face was one of surprise.

"You see," I said. "You, as in ponies, are helpless against the Raiders, who have our abilities. If you've had any victories, it is because of luck, Auryx and her forces, or them toying with you. But if you are willing to bury your damned pride, as in you and your pony comrades, I would be willing to teach all of you how to face them. After all, their training, with what Twilight Sparkle has told us, is similar to ours, or at least how they fight." Let the fun begin.

Cybis

I made my way to the astronomy tower. Nightmare enjoyed spending whatever free time back home she could in either the Tower astronomy, or Canterlot's observatory, so I reasoned she'd be there too.

I was right, as I saw Nightmare in the projection room, where a unicorn or alicorn would use a spell to project a cluster of stars, her horn lit, and multiple constellations shown. "Hello, Cybis," she said, her helmet off. Her face resembled her pony form head, but her muzzle, like everypony else's, was short, but still obviously a muzzle, her eyes their distinctive teal with vertical slits for pupils. Her mane was short, to her shoulders, really, and, from her few toothy smiles and laughs, her teeth, unlike the others, who's teeth still resembled a full pony's, were more like Josh's and mine, which is to say omnivorous. "How is this world's Twilight doing?"

"Good," I replied. "What about you? I know you and Celestia didn't see eye to eye, and I know that's an understatement, but it still must be hard to learn she's the daughter of a being who can control darkness, and is following in his steps."

She chuckled. "It's easier than you think, Cybis," she said before sighing. "I suppose it helps that I nearly fell on that path myself, doesn't it?"

"I wouldn't know," I said. "If you're feeling alright, I wanted to talk with you about something."

"Me being able to create Ghosts," she asked. "Dinklebot beat you here and told me why you were coming. Besides, I had something to show you."

"What's that," I asked, crossing my arms.

"A gift to this world's Twilight," she said before a purple and green Ghost came into view from behind her. "I had a suspicion since the human world about my heritage, as well as a few memories from my childhood for my father. All I had to do was think of their look, and, well, they come into being."

"They have a personality," I asked. "Or a name, for that matter?"

"No," she replied. "The names, I'll let their partner decide. As for the personality, that is on a delay thing, and will come to light with time so that their partner can slowly get used to them. The exception, though, is mine," she said before a black Ghost with purple accents transmatted into existence. "Night Shade, say hello."

"I was going to, Nightmare," Night Shade said before she hovered over to me. "Hello, Cybis. Nightmare told me about you and your comrades, and I'm sure you heard what my name is."

"Yeah, I did," I said. "Pleasure to meet you, Night Shade."

"Same here," the Ghost replied.

"So," Nightmare said, deactivating the spell she had going, which made the room go dark, "should we go give this world's Twilight a Ghost?"

"I don't see why not," I replied. "Oh, and we're adding 'M' to the front of everyone's names here to avoid confusion."

"I'll keep that in mind," she said, and the four of us, myself, Nightmare, Night Shade, and the unnamed Ghost, left to find M Twilight. Which wasn't an issue, as Josh came on over our, meaning mine, Josh's, and Rhino's, link.

Guys, we have an issue.

What is it, Rhino asked, and from what else I heard, I'd say he was doing something in the training area.

Message from Sombra to Auryx. He says that the Empire's encircled, and said factions are also fighting one another. This may be the final fight here, guys.

Why do you say that, I asked, knowing the answer already.

Because M us and M Traveler, as well as a whole fucking army of Raiders and an army of Taken, are those fighting.

Final mirror battle Pt1-Guardian Vs. Raider

View Online

Me, Rhino, Cybis, Nightmare, Twilight, M Twilight, and Applejack looked out over the northern plains, where the Raiders, over a hundred strong, and the Taken as strong as Oryx allows with the mirror versions of me, Cybis, and Rhino leading them. Sekana had teleported us here just after we had gotten word of this.

"Well," Rhino said, "I can think of one song for this."

"Not yet," I said, my arms crossed. "Who should we go after first?"

"The Raiders have our abilities, and know how to counter them, but the Taken have M us as their leaders," Cybis said. "I'd say the greater threat first."

"Or we could split up," Twilight said. "We could probably hold one of them off for you three to finish one off."

"But then who would you guys distract?" Rhino asked. "Because, either way, the leaders of one of the sides would be out of your league."

"Well, we have been training with you three for a week," Nightmare said. "We do know some of your techniques, so we can counter them. I'd say those Taken."

"You sure?" I asked.

She nodded, as did the others. "Yeah, we are," M Twilight said. "Besides, I'd rather face my group again after you guys help them anyway."

Cybis nodded. "We'll see what we can do."

"Then let's go, and buy time for Auryx and the others to get here," I said, and we split up, me and my other personas given form going to the Raiders, Nightmare and our team mates going to the Taken.

As we walked, the snow crunching under our feet, I saw that M Luna, M Sight, and M Forge were at the head of the Raider army. "Swords out people," I said, and the three of us drew our exotic grade blades, the energy from them enough to melt the snow near the blades.

"This is going to be fun," Rhino said.

"Hell yeah," I said just as shots began to be fired from the Raiders, and we blocked the shots with our swords as we began to run towards them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwJj2EpC8vg

The amount of shots made it to where the swords were nearly out of charge when we were only halfway there, so we did what we did best: we improvised. I drew a smoke grenade, and threw it in front of us. As it went off, we went invisible, and the shots stopped. Though, as it was a modified grenade, the three of us could still see each other. Cybis, I said over our link, what's the plan?

Get in the center of the group, and do the same thing I did to M Twilight, but starting with the Phantoms this time. Good thing Nightmare helped me with a warlock spell to take care of that. But for that, I'd leave myself open, and we would leave ourselves open if we fused to do that.

Copy that, Rhino said. Time to clear the front lines!

Agreed, I replied as we became uncloaked, and fired off our Supers. I fired off triple Shadow shot, Cybis his Shatter bomb, and Rhino his Fist of havoc. The three supers together annihilated the front lines, including their leaders, and the three of us kept running through their ranks, slicing with our swords until they were out of charge, then swapping to the legendary version, and continued to slice through them. When those ran out, we went to our other weapons, me dual wielding hand cannons and not being able to reload because of that and going to another pair until I got to two handed weapons. Eventually, the three of us met in the center, Raiders in front of us, and revived Raiders behind.

"Well," Rhino said, "that was easier than I had expected."

"A little too easy," I said as M Luna and her companions, now including M Applejack, walked up, the other Raiders parting for them.

"That is because we wanted you here so we could kill you with ease," M Luna said as her Element of Chaos appeared, and it looked the same shape as the Elements when Celestia used them on Nightmare, and was colored blood red, which then fired off a pulse of energy. "That is meant to disable any of your abilities. You won't be able to survive this."

It was here I felt, I don't know, something, and, as if on instinct, I held my arms as if I was holding a sword that was pointing behind me and was in both my hands. To my surprise, I felt the weight of a sword in my hand. I looked at it, and saw that the crystal was pink. I also looked at Rhino and Cybis, and saw them with swords, the crystals matching their Elements, Cybis holding his in a one handed style, the blade pointing to the ground and angled side ways, while Rhino held his in the usual way, a two handed stance, blade pointing slightly up and angled towards his front, and I heard a voice.

My gift to you, Harmony said, which made me chuckle.

"You may have the Elements of Chaos, but we have their opposite," I said, standing and doing a little spin flair with it. "And I imagine that they can easily negate your abilities."

"I would like to see you try," M Luna said before her Element morphed into a completely blood red blade with a black hilt. "And if you three don't mind," she said before the other three Elements of Chaos appear, and are absorbed into the other blade, "I'll be taking those."

"But Princess, your father said-" M Applejack said before she was cut off

"To Tartarus with him right now," M Luna said. "I wish to kill these three for the insult they are to the Raiders. And if you try to stop me in anyway, Golem Applejack, you will be next."

"Of course, Princess," M Applejack growled.

"All of you, clear the area," M Luna said. "I wish to have plenty of room to gut these three like the pigs they are."

The Raiders, every single one of them, backed away to create a large circle around the four of us, roughly the same size as the final boss area of MGR. Huh. Talk about coincidence. "I will easily kill you three," M Luna gloated. "After all, I have my abilities, you do not."

"Maybe not," Cybis said.

"But there is one thing we still have that you don't," Rhino continued.

"And that thing would be team work," I finished. "Besides, we've fought without powers before."

"Then it looks as if I'm finally going to have some fun, then," M Luna said before she unfurled her wings, and flew at us. I was the one she attacked first, and I raised my blade to block her strike, but my arm was jolted down by her earth pony strength, and it hit the ground, which is when she hit my head with the butt of the sword hilt, and sent me staggering back.

Her next strike was towards Cybis, who was able to block the strike by deflection, but she used her magic to grab his cloak, and trip him before sending him sliding across the ground, and at my legs.

"Fuck!" I yelled as I fell on my face, and I heard a few chuckles from the Raiders. Yeah, yeah, laugh it up. I got up onto my knees in a kneeling stance to see that Rhino was the only one of us to block M Luna's strikes, and that the two blades were currently locked.

It didn't last for long, though, as M Luna pulled back, which is when Rhino tried to slice at her, but missed, and went past her, which gave the Witch, what we and everyone else call the Raider version of Warlocks, though it is a bit of an insult right now, an opening to use her magic to throw him back at us. I managed to roll out of the way, but Cybis knocked back down as Rhino hit him. "SHIT!" he yelled as the two slid across the ground, coming to a stop a few feet from the watching Raiders.

I ran over to them as M Luna said, "It seems I did not even need to absorb the other Elements of Chaos. Still, when I think I kill you, I'll absorb your Elements as well, then kill your allies before we take your world."

I just ignored her as I knelt down to my Warlock and Titan comrades, sword in hand. "You guys alright?"

"Nah, I'm good," Rhino said. "Armor, remember?"

"Yeah, and I recover faster than either of you," Cybis said from under the Titan. "And Rhino, get off me."

"Sorry," Rhino said as he got up, and I helped Cybis up.

"What are we going to do?" Cybis asked. "Without our supers or ability to combine, we're going to die, as they know how to destroy Ghosts."

"Wait, you said you still recovered quickly, right?" I asked him, to which he nodded, before looking at Rhino. "And you still have a lot of armor?"

"Yeah," Rhino said. "Why?"

"She may have taken our supers and other abilities, but we still have the inherent traits," I said. "I have Hunter agility, Rhino's got Titan durability, and Cybis has Warlock recovery. I say we fucking use them." Plus, we still have our link.

I see where you're going, Josh, Cybis replied as the three of us turned to face M Luna.

Your plan, your lead, Rhino said.

Right, I said. Let's go. Rhino, up front. We began to run to M Luna, and Rhino took up the lead position. Cybis, behind me.

Copy, he replied.

"So, it seems the fools still want to die," the Witch said. "I'll be happy to oblige you, then."

Yeah, I don't think so. Rhino, now!

Rhino raised his sword, and swung at M Luna, who dodged it by side stepping to the left, which is where I delivered a punch to her helmet, followed by Cybis sweeping her legs out from under her, just as I had planned.

"A lucky attempt," M Luna said as she got back up. It won't happen again.

Yeah, because that wasn't the only thing I had planned. Again with the start, guys.

Right. We charged again, in the same formation, and this time, when Rhino swung, M Luna blocked it, which allowed me to roll to her right, and deliver a gash along her stomach as I jumped to the left, which is when Rhino rolled out of the way, which let Cybis roundhouse kick her in the chest, which sent her flying into her Raider allies, who collapsed under her hitting them.

"Regretting your choice to take away our abilities?" I asked. "Because I'm pretty sure this is more humiliating to you than losing to us before."

As she got up, supported by only two Raiders she crashed into, M Luna growled and said, "I do not know how you were able to wound me-" she got up, her injury already healed, and pointed her sword at us as we assumed what I like to call 'The Hero Pose', which is when you face someone, a single shoulder pointed in their direction, or where you're at least at an angle, and your facing them, "-but you will deeply regret it."

"Then come and get us," Rhino said, and she did just that, charging at us, making it look as if she was going after Rhino, but, at the last second, she changed her target. Me.

I deflected her strike toward the ground, but she used the momentum against me, spinning to cut my arm, blood flowing down from my bicep and wetting the hilt of my sword, loosening my grip on it, before doing the same with my left leg, forcing me down on my right knee, when she swung downward, and I was just barely able to deflect it.

"JOSH!" Rhino yelled as he and Cybis swung their swords, but were flung back by M Luna's magic. She then used her magic to send my flying back. Upon landing, there was a loud crack as an unknown amount of my ribs broke.

"AGHHH!"

"Much to easy," M Luna said as she strode over to where I lay. "And here I thought, what with how much my father did to ensure you weren't a threat, you are nothing more than a worm."

"Even a worm can destroy a plan," I said before I coughed up blood, which splattered on my HUD.

"I know," she said. "Which is why I will torture you. You see, I am aware of the special link you share with your companions. And I ma curious as to what'll happen when this happens," she said, lighting her horn just before Cybis began screaming in pain, followed by Rhino and me as I felt my blood literally boil and my bones break. "So," M Luna said after ten seconds, stopping what ever had caused it, "it seems you share pain as well. I will most definitely have fun torturing you in front of your Equestria." She then turned her back to me. "All of you, get ready! Now it's time we kill the traitor, the rest of these so called 'Guardians', and then kill all who stand in our way, starting with those abominations of darkness!"

The Raiders cheered as Cybis, his voice weak, came on over the link. We need. . . to stop them.

What can we do? Rhino asked, his voice only slightly stronger.

"Easy," I said as I began force myself up, using my sword for support for my left side. "We keep fighting."

M Luna turned back around. "So, the little Hunter still has some fight left in him, hm?"

"You're damned right I do, bitch," I replied, coughing up blood at the end. "As long as one of us remains, we'll fight. That's what a Guardian does, after all: they fight, no matter the circumstances, to protect their home, friends, everything they know. Like you used to."

"Who says I haven't stopped?" the alicorn asked me. "I am still protecting Equestria, just from different groups."

"And do the civilians seem to enjoy your form of protection?" I said before nearly falling over due to blood loss.

"Does it seem as if I care about what they think?"

"The you being controlled by the Traveler, no," I replied. "But the part of you that has to be buried in you from before then? I am certain she does, and wishes to make amends for what you have done in her stead and in your father's name."

She growled. "Silence, or I shall remove your tongue!"

"You want it?" I asked, assuming what fighting stance I could in my condition. "Then come. And. Take it."

"Gladly," she said before she ran towards me, and time seemed to slow, and I did the only thing I could think of to bring peace to my mind.

I sang.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScNNfyq3d_w

(1:30) "Take me down to the river bend. Take me down to the fighting end. Wash the poison from off my skin. Show me how to be whole again. Fly me up on a silver wing, past the black where the Sirens sing. Warm me up in a Nova's glow, and drop me down to the dream below."

She reached me, and swung her sword, which is when I felt a surge of energy, and I raised my left arm, the one with the sword, and blocked her strike. (2:05) "'Cause I'm only a crack in this castle of glass; hardly anything there for you to see.

"For you to see."

(2:24) I no longer felt blood on my sword hilt, or the gash in my leg as I spun around, putting her on the defense for once, slicing with my blade as if it was slicing through paper to keep her moving backwards. The few times she did attack, her attacks were deflected with ease. Just as we reached the edge of the circle she had made for our fight, we locked blades.

"How?" she asked. "How are you doing this?"

"Honestly," I said, "I have no idea." I then released my part of the blade lock, causing her to stumble forward, which allowed me to kick her into the air, which gave me time to draw my Vanity, and fire at the Raiders holding Rhino, which allowed him to get free, and then looked over at the direction of those holding Cybis, whose right arm was twisted at unnatural angles, and blinked to where they stood, causing them to jump back in fear before I sliced their heads off, caught Cybis as he fell, and blinked back to the center of the circle, where Rhino already was. "Time to fuse," I said.

"But Josh, we can't," Rhino exclaimed.

"Maybe not with the shade orbs," I said, "but we have have these." I held my sword up just as M Luna landed. "They could allow us to fuse."

"Are you sure," Cybis asked as he held his sword in his left hand.

"Nope," I said. "But what's life without a little risk." I then turned around, and placed my sword blade in the middle of the three of us, the flat facing up and down. "So, what do you guys say?"

"Ah, why the fuck not," Rhino said before placing his blade above mine in the same way, and the crystals on both began to glow.

"If this works, remind me to send Harmony a thank you card," Cybis said, placing his blade on top of Rhino's, and, far as I could tell, an orb of white light enveloped us.

"No need, Cybis," we heard Harmony say. "Now, do what you three do best, and, as you would say, kick some ass."

"Hell yeah," I said.

"Good. But first, a gift for the three of you as one. . .

Outside the orb of light

"What is this," M Luna said.

"I don't know," her phantom, Night Lock, said as he appeared. His shell was colored a dark purple with black, his eye blood red. "But whatever it is, it is a mix of Light and Darkness." He looked at M Luna, who looked uneasy. "You know what your father would want."

"Yes," M Luna said. "But still, what about what my sister has done. She is corrupted by the darkness, but she seems to act like me before father arrived."

"Do you want to remove dark magic from Equestria?" Night Lock said.

"Yes. . . but-"

"But nothing," Night Lock said before he sent a pulse through the link the two of them shared, electrocuting her slightly. "Your father wants to remove anything related to the Darkness. Do you want to disappoint him. . . like before?"

"No," M Luna said, the doubt gone from her voice. "I will carry out my fathers will. All Raiders, fire and kill the Guardians!"

The Raiders, each drew their weapons, and fired at the orb, a large cloud being kicked up from all the fire, and under her helmet, M Luna grinned. That grin instantly turned into a frown at what she saw as the cloud dissipated.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srggFS3TwKQ

What she saw was a single Guardian that had the helmet of the Warlock, a cloak that seemed to be made of feathers, arm and leg armor that was as flowing as water, conveying quiet strength, and a chest piece that had the head of a pony alicorn at the center, wing detailing curving upward, with three different colored orbs in between the wing tips. In the Guardian's hands was a single blade, the tip on the ground, his hands on the butt of the hilt, the edge facing M Luna, the crystal an emerald green, and coursing with power of both Light and Dark, Harmony and Chaos. "You'll need to try harder than that," he said.

M Luna growled. "Kill him!" Every Raider capable fired off shots at Josh, who simply stood there as the green crystal glowed brighter, and every shot, magical or otherwise, disintegrated before they could reach the wielder of the sword. "H-how," M Luna asked, surprised.

"Simple," Josh said, not moving. "Me as three separate beings wield the Elements Generosity, Kindness, and Loyalty. And though we haven't done much, we have shown what we are willing to give to protect Equestria and her allies: our lives. As such, Harmony, creator of the Elements from our side, gave us the seventh Element she had kept for one who had proven the most worthy of it.

"Sacrifice. Throughout every trial myself, Rhino, and Cybis have faced, we have always given ourselves to help the others. Of course, Sacrifice is just one Element, and, as such, we can only use it when combined, as we are now. In gamer terms, we're OP as OP can be times infinity right now. For instance-" he said before a pulse of energy came out of the sword, which, upon hitting Raiders, caused their Phantoms to appear, "we can permanently separate the link between Guardian and Ghost. Or, in this case, Raider and Phantom, which then allows me to do this." A second pulse, followed by a third, came out of the sword. The second one, as it hit, cleared M Luna's head, and, for the first time in a week, she had her own thoughts, not those her father wanted her to have. The third one, as it hit, caused the Phantoms to explode in a shower of sparks and flames that, fortunately, did not harm those nearby.

"Though a down side of doing shit like that," Josh said before a smaller flash of light appeared, "is that we separate when it's over." As the last syllable was uttered, the light died down, and M Luna saw the three Guardians, standing there, as if what she had done to them had never happened, their blades across their shoulders, the sharp edge pointing skyward. "But we are back at full strength after."

It was here that screaming could be heard before four bodies came flying into the circle.

"APPLEJACK/TWILIGHT/NIGHTMARE!" were the three yells as the Guardians and M Applejack rushed over to where the four had landed, and the one responsible hovered into view.

"I'll admit," M Josh, this one a fusion of the mirror versions, "they gave us more trouble than I thought they would. Oh well." He then looked at the split version of himself, which is to say Josh, Rhino, and Cybis. "I believe the time for our fight is here," he said.

The three Guardians, each kneeling near their comrades, looked at each other, and nodded before getting up. Josh drew a hand cannon with his right arm, snapping the chamber shut as he brought it up. Cybis made an orb of Void energy in his hands, and Rhino cocked Super Good Advice, and it was clear, even to the newly freed M Luna and the Raiders, it was best to not be near, as the rage of the three had just been unleashed.

Final mirror battle Pt2-Guardian Vs. Renegade

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"SHIIIIIIIIIT!" I yelled as I was thrown across the frozen tundra by our fusion mirror self. Okay, let me catch you guys up. After FM, Fusion Mirror, Josh had beaten the shit out of Nightmare and the others, Rhino, Cybis, and myself attacked him as the Raiders vegan to run away. Probably a good move to survive. Almost instantly after, the three of us had our asses kicked and flung through the snow. For the past ten minutes.

I was just back handed after trying to blink strike him, and sent ten feet flying. Once I had finished skidding in the snow, I got up onto my knees, Vanity in hand, as I saw Rhino and Cybis not faring better than me, as Rhino was curb stomped into the ground while Cybis was getting 'puny god'ed. Jeez, I knew our fused form was powerful, but I didn't think it was this powerful.

"Fucking perfect," I muttered as I got on my feet, and fired off an entire clip at him, but he pulled a Cinder Fall by blocking the shots with his hand.

"Do you seriously think you can stop me?" he asked. "You may have the numbers, but I'm the three of you combined. Nothing you can do will harm me, or, at least, stop me."

"And you think we'll give up?" I asked. "You're a mirror version of us. You should know we won't give up."

"Yeah, I know," M Josh replied. before cracking his knuckles. "More fun for me."

"Then I guess this will be an eternal battle, then," I said. "Ghosts, and all."

"Yeah, but you forget one thing," he said. "I'm working with Oryx, so I can destroy your Ghosts when I want."

"Oh. Right."

"But, since I know what you're like," he said, snapping his fingers, creating a small portal, "I'll give you a choice. Since we're the same, I know that you, and Cybis and Rhino by extension, wish to return home, even if you don't act like that. Oryx simply wants to ensure you aren't a threat, so he won't care what happens, so long as you don't stop him. This portal will take you back to your home. Leave, and you'll be able to see your friends and family, and you can live."

"Well," I said, "it looks like you got the stupidity i can have," I said. "Did you not hear what I said when Cybis, Rhino, and I were fused about the Element of Sacrifice?"

He shrugged. "Meh, it was worth a shot." With that, he created a golden gun, and fired in my direction. He hit me in the leg, which, well. . . you know.

That could have gone better, I said as Noland went about reconstructing my body.

You think, Cybis and Rhino said as they revived next to where Nolandroid was.

I was revived a second later with Rhino sending Light into Noland to speed it up. "We are so screwed," Rhino said.

"Yeah, we are," Cybis said. "But we can destroy their Phantoms as well once we take them down."

"Assuming we can," I said.

"So, what's the plan?" Rhino asked.

"It doesn't matter what plan you three come up with," M Josh said. "I know how you think, so I can easily think of a way to counter them."

"You're right," I said. "So, you guys feeling a little random?"

"Yep," Cybis said.

"Then geronimo!"

M Luna-3rd

M Luna and the other Raiders, along with M Twilight and the three unconscious Guardians, were all far enough away to not be caught in the fight, but close enough to see it. "Doesn't look like those Guardians are doing so well," M Applejack said as she walked next to M Luna. "Really, I think the Renegades are just toying with them."

"Indeed they are, Applejack," the alicorn replied as she slumped down and sat on the snowy ground. "This is all my fault. If I hadn't joined with my father when he arrived, and brought all of you into this, then this 'Oryx' wouldn't have had our version of the Guardians try to conquer us."

"You couldn't have known that, Luna," the Earth pony turned Raider said as she sat down next to the dark blue skinned Witch. "And besides, most of us followed you because we wanted to help you. The only ones forced into it, well, they do enjoy it."

"Simply because they were manipulated to do so because of the Phantoms," M Luna said. "Even I was slightly manipulated by them."

"Then I guess it's a good thing they knew how to destroy them, huh," M Applejack said, chuckling a little at the end. "Too bad we can't repay them."

"FUUUUUUUUUCCCCCKK!" was what was heard by the two just as M Applejack finished speaking, causing each Raider to look in the direction of the three on one fight.

"I think that's where you're wrong, Applejack," M Luna said before she got up and, using her magic, brought out her weapon, which resembled the Doom of Chelchis, the Oryx raid normal mode scout rifle, and into her hands. "As much as I do not wish to use this weapon," she said as she looked down at the bone white and muscle red weapon, "if it means protecting my home, I will."

"Same," M Applejack said as she stood up and brought her hand cannon, which resembled Zaouli's Bane, Oryx raid normal hand cannon, from her thigh holster, and into her hand. She then looked back, as did M Luna. "And I don't think I'm the only one who agrees with you." Indeed, every Raider who wasn't tending to the four injured individuals had their weapons, a vast array, mind you, out.

Under her helmet, M Luna smiled. "Then I say we go help protect our home," she said. "Mother knows my sister won't be able to."

Josh-1st

I raised my sword up to strike at M Josh, but when I brought it down, with as much force as I could muster, he simply grabbed it in his hand, then yanked it, and me, closer before kicking me in the chest, resulting in me letting go of the sword, which he then used to behead Rhino and Cybis, who revived five seconds later.

"Honestly?" he asked. "I know you sometimes go guns blazing, but still. I have Titan durability and Warlock regen. I can tank your shots as if I was an actu-" he was cut off by a sniper shot.

"Uh, guys," Rhino said. "That you?"

"Nope," Cybis and I said. "Which leaves two possibilities," Cybis added before we looked back.

"Did not see that one coming," I said as we saw the Raiders charging to where we were, firing at M Josh.

"If we make it out of here, remind me to thank them," Rhino said.

"We will," Cybis said as he brought out his Tlaloc, Rhino his Suros, and me, my Invective.

"In the mean time, I say we help kick ass. Nolandroid, music, if you please."

On it, he said.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngEAoWr12kY

As the song began to play, I brought out my sword, this one being Void edge, as if I was igniting an Energy sword, then brought out Church's Energy Sword token. "Let's go."

"Right," Rhino and Cybis said as they brought out their Legendary grade swords as well, and we charged, and I had my two swords down at my side.

M Josh then brought his right hand across his chest, and unleashed a shatter bomb at us, but, to our surprise, the Elements in our class items began to glow, and made shields in front of us that blocked the bombs, allowing us to get close to M Josh, as he still had his attention divided between us and the Raiders. We were able to get some slices off, but he quickly recovered, even with all the fire power being focused on him.

"And now even more fun for me," he said before holding his hand out in a grasping form, which somehow stopped all of the Raiders. "Mostly because more to kill." He then used his other hand to, basically, force grasp the three of us, preventing us from taking any sort of advantage of his attention. "Once I'm done with them," he said, facing us, "I'll enjoy making sure I'm the only one of us to live."

He then made a "come here" gesture with the hand that held the Raiders in place, and M Luna shot forward. "As for you, though, Luna," he said to her, "I'll let you live, as I always fancied you. And as an alicorn of the night and darkness, Oryx would let you live. All you have to do is agree to be my wife."

"What makes you think I will?" M Luna asked. "If I did, I would practically be violating my oath, as violated as it is now, to protect Equestria. So you can go to Tartarus."

M Josh shook his head. "So be it, then," he said before he summoned his own sword, and ran it through M Luna's chest. "Such a shame. I always did enjoy looking at your nights." He the pulled the sword out, and went to behead M Luna. Since she had no Ghost or Phantom, she was truly dead. "Well, I guess some one will need to take your place now." With that, he let this world's lunar alicorn's lifeless body fall to the ground.

A mix of emotions ran through me, the first being horror, followed by shock and, finally, anger. "You'll pay for that," I said in a neutral tone, but one that oozed with danger.

"And what makes you think you can stop me?" he asked. "If I am to be killed before today is over with, than let a god strike me do-" a bolt of lightning appeared from a suddenly cloudy sky, the color being pure and blinding white, and struck M Josh where he stood with enough force that resulted in him dropping the three of us and the Raiders.

When the bolt finally vanished, ten seconds after the whole thing hit, well, for those who have seen the original Transformers move, think Starscream death for what happened here. For those who haven't, here's how it happened: after getting hit, the body was utterly and completely ash, and began to fall apart until nothing was left, and that's what happened here. It was the head that fell apart first, and it went down from there, until there was but a pile.

Once the last particle had settled, there was a smaller flash of light, which, upon fading, revealed, well, The Speaker, with the white robes, black gloves, and the mask. "What pitiful tools the darkness uses," he said, and I knew who it was then and there, given his appearance, his look, and what happened to M Josh. He then looked at Rhino, Cybis, and I as we stood up. "But you three are the most insulting tool of the Darkness," The Traveler said. "Beings of Darkness who believe they can use the Light."

"We aren't beings of Darkness," Rhino said.

"Regardless, you use the Darkness, and must be exterminated," he said before snapping, creating a large dome that encircled the four of us, and cut the Raiders off before M Luna's body was teleported. "It has been sometime since I personally took part in combat, but regardless, I am much more powerful that you think."

"What do you guys say we test his theory?" Cybis asked before he created a shade orb, which was followed by Rhino and I before we put them together.

"Hell yeah," I said after we fused, and I also noticed my color scheme: black with hints of red, white, and our element colors, the sword with the Element of Sacrifice as its crystal in my right hand, and Vanity in my left as the Traveler and I stared each other down, knowing only one of us would walk away from this alive.

Final mirror battle Pt3- Shade vs Light

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So, there I was, imprisoned, for lack of a better term, in a giant dome, with only the mirror version of the Traveler in there with me, both of us ready to fight. My Vanity had a full clip, my supers were charged, and my sword, the one with Sacrifice as its crystal, ready. "Do you really think you can defeat me?" the Traveler, still looking like the Speaker, said in the same voice.

"Honestly," I said, "yeah, I do. I mean, yeah, you control basically all the Light in this universe, but I don't just use Light, nor do I entirely use Darkness. I use both in equal measure. After all, if you want harmony, you need good and bad, Light and Darkness. I wouldn't be a good Element bearer if I didn't understand that concept, now would I?"

"You are an Element of Harmony?" Traveler asked.

"More accurately, four," I said. "Kindness, Generosity, Loyalty, and the aforementioned Sacrifice. Though, only the last when I am as I am now, which is fused. The other three, I can use when ever, though. In short, I'm kinda OP."

Traveler shook his head. "It doesn't matter," he said before generating an orb of light. "You will fall all the same." The orb then turned purple. Void purple. He then threw it at me as if he was throwing a Nova bomb, which he was. As I jumped out of the way, a Void explosion came from where we were standing a few seconds before. Looks like he may have each super. This is going to be fun.

"Nolandroid, music."

Right.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IkwwngK2Ls

I got up and fired off the entire clip of the Vanity, but the Traveler simply used his hands to block them by placing his hand in front of him, which essentially meant I did nothing. Looks like this is going to be like Raiden vs Armstrong. Fun.

I spun my sword in my hand, then charged the Traveler, sword edge just above the ground. Just before I reached him, I dropped and slid, slicing as I did so, before using my left hand to flip to a standing position, where i spun around and attempted to slice the white robed being, but he spun around quickly, and knocked my sword out of my hand with his left arm, and grabbing my throat with his right. "You think a simple sword will be able to defeat me?"

"No," I said as a weapon transmatted into my hand, which I pointed to his gut. "Just needed to get close." Bang. I pulled the trigger on my Invective, causing a faint shimmer to appear around the Traveler and make him stagger back, which had me drop to the ground, and summon another sword, this one being Raze Lighter. I got up, and did the sword spin again.

"Impossible," he said as he got up, a burn mark on his robes. "No body can break my shield."

"Then come here and meet nobody, asshole!" I yelled, spreading my arms.

"Very well, then." With that, there was a small flash, and, where the Speaker once stood, there was now a warrior clad in white armor reminiscent of the Trials of Osiris armor, which is to say Egyptian mythology. "Prepare to meet your doom as your other self did." With that, he himself charged, solar light around his fists, and proceeded to try and knock my lights out, but I deflected them with my sword, angling them away towards the ground, the sky, or to the side. After three seconds of that, it was extremely fast, and i did nearly get hit due to his speed, I was able to retaliate, and begin slicing at his armor and creating gashes in the armor that healed themselves. After I delivered a particularly bad gash across his chest and went into slice off his right arm, he grabbed the blade with that hand, and broke the blade before he grabbed my arm, and punched me in the face with enough force to send me to the side of the dome, and keep in mind that we were in the middle of the arena.

I hit the edge of the dome with enough force to snap my had back. I fell to the ground, where I landed in a kneeling position. I opened my eyes, and saw that my visor was cracked. "Tara, remove my helmet," I said as I stood up.

"But Josh-"

"Do it!"

There was no reply, but my helmet vanished, and I put the hood of the cloak back as Dinkle transmatted Bolt Caster into my hands.

"This is what bested my disgrace of a daughter?!" he asked, shocked. "A deformed Earth pony?"

"No, dipshit," I said. "I'm what's called a human. And this human is going to kick your ass."

"Unlikely," the Traveler said before he brought his fist up into the air, and brought it down, sending Solar light into the ground, resulting in pseudo-magma exploding from the ground. Fortunately, I was in a safe spot between the spouts. Unfortunately, he charged at me, his right fist enveloped in Solar light.

Just before his punch landed, I raised my sword to block it, putting my left hand on the back of the blade a few inches above the hilt. I fought his push, but he was able to send the blade flying. I looked, and saw it embed itself in the dome. Fuck. I looked back at him, and saw him throwing another punch, which I caught by his elbow with my elbow and, using my enhanced Titan strength, proceeded to smash his ribs with punches of my own before pushing his arm aside with the one that caught it, and then delivering an arm strike to his face, sending him reeling. He staggered back a little, shook his head, and gathered Solar light around his right fist before trying one last punch, with me doing the same, though with Arc light. I was just barely able to move my head out of the way as our arms slid past one another, avoiding his punch, as he took mine face first, and was sent flying a few feet.

He stopped as he landed on his back. He got up a she said, "You think just because you can land a punch means you have a chance? I can easily heal whatever you do to me." With that, a green orb appeared over his head, a cylinder appearing around him, and he knelt just as I heard screams from outside, causing me to spin. What I saw was each Raider, collapsed on the ground and yelling in agony.

The fucker's draining their life force, Rhino said. What do we do, because I'm willing to bet the field will prevent us form hitting him?

Maybe not, Cybis said. What if we focus the Element power into a single Golden gun shot?

"Would that even work?"

No idea, Cybis replied before the Traveler spoke again.

"Try what you will, but you Elements of Harmony won't be able to break my shield. The traitors will die, and I will purge Equestria of Darkness and Chaos."

It was then an idea came to my mind. "Chaos," I whispered. "For every light, there is a dark. For every harmony, there is a chaos, and for every positive, there is a negative." I then stood up, and held out my right hand towards the Raiders.

Josh, what are you thinking? Cybis said. This is crazy!

"So is everything else we've done," I said. "Besides, there is no other option besides this."

Unfortunately, he's right Cybis. It's crazy, and who knows what might happen, but it's the only chance we have.

"Quiet, both of you," I said as I felt a pull.

"What do you plan on doing?" Traveler asked from where he was healing himself. "Nothing can breach my shield but chaos, and Harmony and Chaos can not be intertwined!"

I looked at the Traveler as I still held my right hand out. "A black and white view, as most," I said in a deadpan voice, if it wasn't a little dark and deep. "Then again, what was to be expected from a god of light? Someone who is noble, and understands that what they represent, and what they try to destroy, must co-exist. One can not survive with out the other, much like life and death, night and day-" I paused as I felt the pull become stronger, and heard four objects flying towards, and a near quiet zip as they penetrated the field. "Harmony and Chaos." With that, I closed my eyes and my hand, feeling the hilt of a sword in my grasp as i closed my hand. I brought that hand in front of me, and set my left hand lower on that hilt.

When I opened my eyes, an elegant blade greeted my eyes. It was a single edged sword, with inscriptions in some old, lost language on the side of the flat, and a red crystal at the sword base, lightning and flames swirling around inside the crystal. "You said Harmony couldn't harm you," I said. "What about Chaos"

"You shouldn't be able to wield those," the Traveler said. "It makes no sense for bearers of the Elements of Harmony to wield their counterparts!"

"Please," I said. "Where's the fun in making sense?" With that, I launched myself at him, blade raised, and sliced at the orb over him, cutting through the protective field as if it wasn't there as the blade glowed with an energy that I could not place. As I hit the ground, I slid on the snow as I spun around, using my left hand to slow down. "And besides, you want this world, as well as our," I said. "You'll need to go through us." With that, I decided to split, as it would allow us to strike form three directions at once, and Rhino and Cybis agreed, resulting in three guardians, a Hunter, Titan, and Warlock, each with a sword with a blood red crystal. "After all, the brightest lights can be just as deadly as the blackest darkness."

"Ghosts," Rhino said. "Music."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNzclKJWfI0

With that, we attacked. Cybis used his own Solar light to burn the area around the Traveler and create a large cloud of steam, obscuring his vision, and I used my Void to do the same, Rhino using his Arc, which allowed the three of us to deliver a mega combo. It started with me getting close to leg sweep him with my sword blade, which allowed Rhino to send him flying with a Solar infused punch, creating an explosion and melting some of the armor as Cybis jumped over his back and fired a Lance Bomb, which is a Nova with the range increase. As he fired that, I spun, putting the sword on my back as I stopped in a kneeling position, my Void bow drawn, three Void arrows nocked and the bow sideways. I let the three fly loose and hit the dome above the Traveler, resulting in three tethers on him, which prevented him from moving as Rhino unleashed his hammer on him with sunspots kicking up where they landed, resulting in more steam, and even more armor melting.

Just as the last sunspot faded, he stood up, parts of skin exposed and burnt, with parts of the armor melted to his skin, only to be hit with lightning at his feet as Cybis went Sith lord and pumped as much Arc light into the snow.(1) The reason why we were safe is because of our boots being leather.

When he was done being cooked, the Traveler fell to the ground on his hands and knees, smoke curling off of him. "I suppose I should thank you three," he said, much to our surprise. "I had forgotten the joy of combat." Aw, shit. I hate it when a villain says that line. You know, other than it being a cliche.

He looked at us before he charged us, more specifically at Cybis, grabbed his sword out from his hands, and then proceeded to do the same with Rhino and I, quick enough to where we couldn't do anything, before going back to where he was after being cooked. "Now, to remove these," he said before throwing the swords to the snowy ground, which is when he raised his foot, and brought it down with enough force to, somehow, smash the crystals. "And, as you said, for every one, there is an opposite, so let us see what Elements are lost, shall we?" As soon as he said that, there was a small crack sound. Three, to be precise, and one came from the each of us. We stepped back, and saw the shattered parts of Loyalty, Generosity, and Kindness on the snowy ground.

"Now, to remove you three, and purge this world of those that are tainted with Darkness, followed by yours," the Traveler said. "And I have the perfect way to do so." Here, I felt a hand grasp me around the chest, and lift me up, and I saw the same happen to Rhino and Cybis. "After all, I ma a god. And gods can erase from existence. I simply didn't earlier so my forces could prove themselves. Now, though," he said before chuckling. "Now, I think you three shall be the first."

A few seconds of nothing passed before he spoke up again. "What? You three should be gone by now! Only another god can stop me from erasing you."

"What about two?" The four of us turned to his left to see Harmony standing there. "You see, Traveler, they are here at Auryx's request, and she knew you has that ability, as all gods do, and protected them from that. But they are also among my champions for a coming fight, and I will not see them erased before that can happen. And if you think taking away their weapons will do anything," she said as Cybis, Rhino, and I fell to the ground, "then perhaps you shouldn't have tried to take over this world. After all, Guardians are quite good at using everything they have available. So, Guardians, how about you show him why I made you three Elements?"

"Hell yes," I said as the three of us stood up, no weapons but our minds, grenades, and abilities.

"Then I suppose one final gift is in order," Harmony said before the three of us were enveloped in a rainbow glow, which faded a second later. "Now, finish this fight." And with that she just vanished. There one second, gone the next.

"Well, I'd hate to disappoint a lady," I said, cracking my knuckles.

"So, what do you guys think our new power is?" Cybis asked.

"I say we find out," Rhino said before he began to run towards the Traveler.

"Fool," he said before unleashing a bolt of Arc from his right hand that arched towards Rhino, who ducked forward to dodge it, when, as a surprise to I'm certain all of us, he vanished in a cloud of purple smoke.

"Uh, did that just happen?" Cybis said as Rhino reappeared, not having noticed he had shadestepped as he continued to run.

"I think so," I said. "So, wanna try to hammer the Traveler's head into the ground?"

"May as well try," Cybis replied before we followed Rhino towards the Traveler, who kept trying to stop us, but we were able to avoid each of his attacks.

Rhino was the first to reach him and, just as he avoided another Solar infused fist, he built up an Arc charge in his fist, and delivered a left hook to the deity, stunning him long enough for me to strike. As for what I did? Well, I raised my hands and brought them together, as if I was going to use both in the same strike, but didn't. Instead, I focused every ounce of Solar energy in my body into the Hammer of Sol, which, amazingly for the first time, worked, and I brought it down full force on his face just before Cybis jumped over me and did a one eighty back flip as I jumped back, and he unleashed a shatter bomb on the Traveler.

"I'm guessing Harmony gave us the ability to share powers," Rhino said.

"Same," I said. "Or at least ones that can be used by the others, so it's probably still just me who can go dancer."

"Right," Rhino said as he built up Arc energy. "You go close, I zap 'em?"

"You know it," I said before going bladedancer, and moving in close. Once I reached him, I ducked down as he tried to punch me, and sliced his side before getting up, grabbing his shoulder, and using it as the center point of my next spin, which allowed me to drive my blade into the center of his chest, next to where his heart would be, if he had one, and unleashed as much Arc energy through it, electrocuting him.

"GAHHH!" he yelled as the electricity coursed through him before I jumped back, the knife still in his chest as Rhino and Cybis began to pour lightning into it through the hilt, making him spasm from all the electricity. Once we had poured all the Arc into him we could, he collapsed onto his hands and knees. "How?" he asked. "How can you three defeat a god?"

"No idea," I replied before drawing a Vestian Dynasty and, in a first time move, infused darkness into a single shot. "Then again, there's one difference between us mortals and you gods?"

"And what might that be?"

"We mortals know we have limits," Cybis said. "We know we can't take everything thrown at us."

"But you gods," Rhino said. "You have longevity, and think you are immortal. As such, you become reckless, and thought you'd be able to take everything we threw at you. But here's the thing-"

"Nothing can last forever but the Void," I said before firing the Darkness infused bullet into the Traveler, essentially infusing him with Darkness, and causing his body to tear itself apart. I can say I did not expect that. I thought it would just kill him, not tear him apart. Then again, like with the Elements of Chaos thing from earlier, stuff can just happen. Really, nothing we had done today against him was planned. After we Guardians are masters at improvising.

As his body finally dissolved and the last of his screams of pain faded away, the dome lifted and we saw that, while we had been fighting the Traveler, Auryx and her allies, including M Sombra, had arrived, and Auryx, Sombra, and Crota were walking towards us. "We knew you three were capable if Harmony told us of you," Auryx said. "But we did not anticipate you being able to stop a god by yourselves."

"We had some help," I said. "But even then, it wasn't without loss. Three of the Elements of Chaos were destroyed, as well as our Elements. And-"

"We know of Luna's fate," Crota said. "One of her team mates informed us upon our arrival. My sister has not taken it well."

"Not that she can be blamed," Sombra said. "And, also, your comrades are back on their hooves. Nightmare wants to meet you three."

"Where?" Cybis asked.

"She's with Sekana, as well as the others," Sombra said. "I'll lead you to them." With that, he turned around, and we followed as one of Auryx's Lieutenants came up to her.

"My queen, Harmony has a message," he said, but we didn't hear anymore as we neared where the Raiders, the Equestrian Army, and the Crystal Army were at, with doctors looking over the Raiders. As we passed them, they each looked at us, and gave small nods. Eventually, though, we reached a small circle, from which we heard sobs, and saw our team, as well as M AJ, M Twilight, M Sight, M Forge, and Sekana, the one sobbing, downfallen at the sight of M Luna's dead body.

"I'm not sure whether I should thank you three," Sekana said, her hand over the body's left, tears falling onto the chest, "or kill you three. If you hadn't come, then Luna would still be alive, and I'd rather have her as an enemy and see her alive than see her body."

"We know," Rhino said. "And whatever you wish to do, we will take without issue."

"But Uncle Rhino-" Applejack began before being cut off.

"No, Applejack," I said. "We will take the blame. But I do think there is something we should give Sekana to begin that process."

"And what would that be?" she growled, looking at the three of us with red eyes.

"Nightmare? How long would it take to make a Ghost?"

A new branch

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The fourteen of us, which is to say all of Fire team Lone, Auryx and her children, Sombra, and M Luna's teammates, which are M Twilight, M Applejack, M Sight, and M Forge, were in Canterlot, with M Luna's body hidden by a shroud. "You sure this'll work?" Cybis asked me in a whisper?

"Ghosts were meant to revive the fallen," I replied. "I'm more worried about the memory aspect of it."

"Agreed," Rhino said as Nightmare stepped up, and took knelt next to the alternate version of her as she began to concentrate. "If she doesn't have her memories, Sekana will kill us, regardless if we can bring her back."

"Not what I meant," I said. "If she acts on her memories, M Luna will try to destroy her Ghost. The only it didn't happen with M Twilight is because she was alive when she got her Ghost."

"Does it matter if that happens?" Cybis asked. "I mean, she'll be alive and with her memories."

"Can you three please shut up?" Nightmare asked. "I'm trying to concentrate."

"Sorry," Rhino said. How did she hear us?

Who the hell knows? I replied. Probably her hearing is upped.

Let's ask later, Cybis said. With that, the three of us fell silent from conversation, physically and mentally, as Nightmare began to create a Ghost. As far as we could tell from her explanation, she had been able to make Night and M Twilight's Ghost because she knew what she wanted in her Ghost, and could guess from Twilight and Spike. For M Luna, it was harder, as, though in our world, Luna was the opposite, here, it was the main one, and that led to differences in the mind, which meant it was harder to guess what M Luna would like.

While that was going on, I looked around, and saw Sekana glaring at the three of us. Not that we could blame her. In way, we were responsible for her death, even if it was our mirror versions that did the deed. She mouthed, "You'd better hope this works."

Other than that, nothing happened in the room for near five minutes, until a spark of light, following the in-game model of one, came from Nightmare's chest, and particles of dust, a lot in this room as it hadn't been used much, came from the walls. At this time, the door to the room opened slowly and, as our Ghosts were on surveillance duty outside the room, the fire team and M Twilight got a feed of what they saw, which was a lot of pony guards and Raiders, looking to see what was going on. Can't really blame them.

For near a thousand years, M Luna was the protector of the ponies, and, though for a week, the Raider's leader, making her the only leader they had. Must have really liked her.

Anyway, it wasn't until ten minutes after the whole thing began that a small flash happened from where the mote was, and a Ghost with a dark blue shell with light blue highlights. With that, Nightmare looked at the Ghost before M Luna's shrouded body. "Ghost, she is to be your partner. Can you revive her from death?" Nightmare asked.

In a blank voice, meaning no personality or gender in it whatsoever, it replied, "I believe so," before going to scan the body under the shroud, with small beeps coming from it.

An hour later

Auryx and I stood in the castle, just outside the main balcony, where multiple individuals, ponies, Raiders, and proto-hive, were waiting for news on M Luna. Rhino and the others were outside, working on security.

"You think they're ready for the news?" I asked Auryx, who nodded.

"Yes," she said. "My subjects, pony or no, will be shocked at first, any would be, but they are strong, and will be able to take it. If not?" She chuckled. "Well, there's not much they can do, now can they?"

I chuckled in response. "You, Auryx, are a queen I'd like to follow. Good thing we're going to be seeing one another a lot, huh?"

"Indeed, Guardian. And again, my thanks for helping us."

"No problem," I said with a polite head bow. "It's what Guardians do, after all."

"Well, I suppose we had finish here, then," Auryx said. "So that you and your allies can return to your Equestria and defend it."

I nodded. "Agreed." With that, the two of us stepped onto the balcony. No cheers, as everyone wanted to hear the news. "My thanks to you all for coming," Auryx began. "I am sure you all have heard of the rumors of what happened in the north, and of what happened to my daughter's sister. . . . . I regret to inform you that the rumors are true."

There was a lot of gasping, and this is where I came in. "Please, everyone. There is more," I said. "I am a Guardian, from an alternate version of your world. We came to help Queen Auryx remove the threat to you all, and we did. Through it, we learned a comrade of ours, our version of Luna, could create our version of Phantoms, called Ghosts, who can revive the dead. Upon our return, we attempted to revive Luna, but the damage was to great. . . . . . So we made her a new body."

With that line, M Luna, wearing a set of Warlock armor Cybis and Nightmare, with the help of their Ghosts, had made with a custom shader, one dubbed "Night Blade",steppe donto the balcony, eliciting cheers from most down there.

Auryx whispered to me, "You wanted to do that, didn't you?"

"Yep," I replied.

My former subjects," M Luna began, causing the cheers to stop, "and those that followed me. To each of you, I apologize for the hardships I have caused. I know I can not erase what I-we, the Raiders- did." She paused. "But we can make up for it. After talking with my second in commands, as well as the first Raider the Guardians freed, we have decided that, in order to help repair the damages we have caused, we will be under the command of the Guardians, with me being the branch leader here. I gave up my title of princess when I betrayed you all, and, as such," she said before drawing an old fashioned sword and turning around before kneeling, "I swear my loyalty to Queen Auryx and her family. Whatever they command, I will follow."

Auryx and I looked at each other, both of us a little surprised. I shrugged, stumped at what to do, so, as the queen she is, Auryx improvised.

First she chuckled. "My thanks for pledging your loyalty to Equestria," she said. "But there is no need. After all, as a princess, you already have." Before M Luna could say anything, she elaborated, loud enough for the crowd to hear. "My daughter, who many of you know as Celestia, came to me on the day we discovered you to have joined your father, begging me to spare you should it come to us defeating you in battle. I told her that I would do one better, as some today would say.

"I told her I would adopt you, should we win. Which we have."

That's a little surprising, Cybis said. I could not help but agree.

Playing along with Auryx, and after a quick mental conversation with Rhino and Cybis, I said, "And you'll have full command over those here." I then closed my right hand, and put it over my heart. "You have earned that much, Princess."

M Luna, for lack of a better term, was shocked. "B-but-"

"Our decision is final," Auryx said sternly before, in a softer tone, saying, "And besides, we need to finish this up so that you can see Sekana and your new brother."

"And we need to go," I said, with Noland sending a signal for the jumpjets. "But before that, I think we should announce the other thing."

Auryx nodded. "Agreed," she said. "Another thing that the Guardians and I have agreed on," she said to the crowd, "is that our two worlds will become allies. If one of our Equestria's were to be attacked, the other is to help it. After all, they are us, in a way."

I nodded. "And should any Guardian go rogue, we'll take care of them," I said as the jumpjets, which had been parked on the other side of the mountain, came around. I then turned to Auryx and, with a two fingered salute, said, "See ya in a week, Auryx," before being transmatted into Nightmare's jumpjet, as she had offered me a ride back home. To my embarrassment at the time, I landed in her lap. "Sorry," I said.

"It isn't a problem, Josh," she said, though with a hint of embarrassment in her voice as well. "Now stop talking so I can concentrate on flying this thing." And with that, the five ships took off from Mirror Canterlot, and to the Everfree forest, and back home, with Rhino, Cybis, and me wondering what the multiverse would throw at us next.

Just a week of nothing (mostly)

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So, yeah. A week's passed since the mirrorverse, and a day since Auryx and her family, including an adopted Luna, had visited. Sunset had still yet to wake up, even with Nightmare doing what she could in the dream world. Really, the most interesting thing of the week was what I'm about to tell you guys.

Rhino, Cybis, and I were in the main room, the others being in Ponyville for a well deserved break, and in contact with the branch in our variant of the Crystal Empire. Why? Well, let's just say stuff in the canon has happened sooner than thought, namely Sombra's return, and we're simply playing it safe in case a certain fandom even began. Namely one that would destroy Equestria.

"Vex patrols still got nothing," Cybis said. "We even sure they exist in this version of Equestria?"

"Better safe than sorry," I said. "It may be written in an anthro universe version of Equestria, but the multiple worlds theory would allow for them to exist in an equine one."

"Fair point," Rhino said. "Still, couldn't we use jumpjets for recon to see if they exist?"

"Story never specified where they were, relative to Equestria. It's just implies it's in the north and on another continent," I said. "You guys know that."

"Shame the magic detector satellites don't have actual visuals," Cybis said. "Then we could use one of those."

"And even so, they didn't appear in that one until after Twilight became a princess," Rhino said. "That's still years away."

"Then I guess it's a good thing the Vex began patrols there without us having to ask," I said. "Think they plan on building a new vault?"

"Maybe, who knows?" I replied. "Still, best to be prepared in cas-" and here, an alert came on over our HUDs, as we had our helmets on.

"Guardians, Vex unit three three eight reporting. Unknown race sighted near border of Equestria and Yakyakastan-" how funny is it to hear a Vex say that?- "and are unaware of our presence. What do you order?"

"Do you have any optical camouflage?" Rhino asked.

"Affirmative," the Vex unit replied.

The three of us looked at each other, and nodded. "Go invisible and recon the area, with as little traces as possible. Hold for our arrival."

"Understood."

"Well, guys," I said as we began our walk to the hanger, "time to save Equestria again."

An hour later

The three of us were in jumpjets, me having attained a replacement in the week, and were on our way north. With them, we had been able to attain visuals from the Vex, and we saw what we had been looking for. The Caribou.

Now, for those that don't know, the Caribou first made their debut in the fandom with the Fall of Equestria tumblr. In basic, they are a vile, patriarchal race who took Equestria over because of the female leadership. I won't go into much detail, as 'vile' and 'patriarchal' should be doing that for me. If not, then they degraded any and every mare, including Luna and Celestia, into nothing more than property to be used for sex, and used a form of mind control to turn many stallions to their side. For those wondering, only Applejack and Rainbow were unwilling among the mane six, with Luna being the only princess to be unwilling. And the first place in Equestria taken by the Caribou was the Empire. Not on our watch.

"Okay, guys, you know what to do," I said over our radios. "Commit genocide to make sure these guys don't take Equestria. Don't need two kings after our ass, so Dainn's a priority." Dainn was the Caribou king and, quote unquote, "The pinnacle of male superiority". Pinnacle of male superiority my ass, more like pinnacle of sexism. Along with everything else about their race.

"You know, I'm not one for genocide," Cybis said, "but it's the Caribou, so I think we can agree this is for the best."

"Odd, saying genocide's the best thing," Rhino said.

"Yeah, I know," Cybis said. "Just imagine how i felt. Need to wash my mouth out now. Only way those two should be in the same sentence is if 'isn't' is between them."

"Can't fix it now," I said as we got Vex signatures on radar. "Set down so that the Caribou don't see us, and get out. Need to be on the ground for this."

"Right," they both replied.

"Super's ready," Rhino said. "Going hammer."

"Copy," I replied as we began to go down and land. "Going blade."

"Same," Cybis replied. "Going Shatter."

"Then get weapons, ready, people," I replied as I transmatted out of my ship, which is now The Climb a year one FWC ship. Rhino and Cybis transmatted down soon after.

For this mission, we had the arctic proxy shader on, as well as Iron Banner year two gear. For weapons, I had my old year one friend, Another Nitc with Invective and the year two rocket launcher The Vertigo the FWC year two launcher. Cybis had his Tlaloc and Susano, along with Bolt caster. Rhino had year two Suros, the Conspiracy theory, and a year two Super good Advice, because fuck the one exotic at a time rule.

"This is going to be bloody," Rhino said as a Vex Hobgoblin walked up to us.

"Guardians, recon reveals guards in groups ranging from three to six patrolling the perimeter of the area, each lightly armored given conditions. Interior has heavier defenses, with the most protected area being a tent in the center. We believe that is where the leader is."

I nodded. "Right. Rhino, Cybis, you hit 'em from the outside with the Vex. I'll go in and make sure Dainn and his officers are dead." I then looked at the Hobgoblin. "Designation?"

"Two three four dash A," the Vex replied.

"Right. Two three four, tell whatever Vex units in the camp to remain cloaked until the alarm is raised. Once it is, they are to begin attacking, with the other Vex units assisting my comrades on the outside."

"Understood," it replied.

"Guess I'll see you guys after the fireworks," I said as I went invisible. You guys there?

Yeah, Cybis replied. We can hear you.

Then let operation: Aegis commence. With that, I made my way to the interior of the camp. On my way, I saw what was to be expected, which is to say the Caribou males fucking their females. I swear, the only reason I don't kill them is because it would blow my cover. Besides, they'll die soon enough.

I slowly made my way to the tent in the center, where there were multiple Caribou guards. Only I'd get in without attention is if one of them walked in, or someone, preferably the literal fucker king, walked out so I could kill him quickly.

Unfortunately, that was a no go. Time for plan B. Rhino, Cybis, engage.

Right!

A few seconds later, there were explosions at the perimeter of the camp, which got the attention of the guards outside. This allowed me to step behind them and drive a blade through their necks.

Now, this version of the Caribou are quadrupeds, like the ponies. The males were, at the smallest I saw, as big as Big Mac, while i imagine the largest, probably Dainn, was as tall, if not more so, than Celestia. They were muscular, overtly so, and the readings on my HUD showed that their armor and weapons, somehow, had a magic negating signature. Explains how they took Equestria over so easily in the Fall of Equestria canon.

Anyway, as the guards outside, two of them, fell to the ground, dead, I made my way into the tent as I became visible and drew Invective.

As soon as I was in, ten spears were pointed at my neck by Caribou guards in barely protective armor, and one that was sitting on a throne, Dainn, I imagine, and he was as tall as me, by the way, just looked at me.

"So this is one of those Guardians," he said. "Tell me, why would a fellow male attack us, instead of letting us show you how to treat your mares?"

You see? A dick in more ways than one. "Because unlike you," I said, "we aren't sexist morons with an inferiority complex." With that, I fire doff a full Invective clip, killing four guards, before unleashing an Arc bolt grenade, zapping another four, then blink striking the ninth. The last, I just shanked in the neck. "And we kinda hate rapists like your entire race."

"If you believe in equality, then why is it only you are here?" Dainn asked. "If you truly believed in so called equality, then the pathetic female guardians would be here as well."

"Simple," I said, drawing my scout rifle. "We let them have the day off." I then fired my scout rifle, but, as expected, a field stopped the shot, and Dainn chuckled.

"Oh, it's amusing to think you can stop us from bringing the truth to Equestria." And with that, he used his horns, a curving mess, to fire a spell-yes, Caribou use their horns for magic- at me, which I dodged before drawing my Invective, which, with a little mod the R and D team came up with , had auto reloaded itself, and I don't mean generated the clip I had fired. I brought it to level, and fired all four shells at the Caribou king, but the same field stopped the spread, or the pellets just missed entirely. "Useless," Dainn said before he decided to bring out his weapon, a huge ass war hammer, and tried to bash my head in with it, but I was able to get out of its path, and fire off a few shots with my scout rifle, now in my hands, which still did nothing, but this time, I saw it was a blue shimmer, which, if I'm right, meant Arc shield. Hell yes.

Rhino, Cybis, go Arc and meet me in the center! Time to fry this bitch like we're sith!

Right, they both replied.

"Come and get me, bitch!" I yelled. One thing to note is calling any Caribou a term for a female makes 'em go bat shit, and it worked here, as I ran out of the tent, Dainn behind me, swinging his hammer at me the whole time, and missing every time. Once outside, I stopped, and spun around. "You know, I wonder how you even became king! If you can't even hit me with that hammer, how can you hit a female up?"

His eye began to twitch. "I will enjoy switching you and making you my toy." Now, for those who don't know, switch is rule sixty three, or whichever is the gender swap one.

"You'll need to catch me, first," I said. "And Hunters are the most agile Guardians, so good luck with that one." Under my helmet. "And besides, you are a moron for all the Caribou propaganda saying you're the perfect male."

"What's that supposed to mean?" he asked, enraged.

"It means you walked into our trap," Rhino said as he threw a flash bang, and I averted my eyes just as it went off.

"Fry his ass, Guardians!" I yelled as I initiated blade dancer, and Cybis Storm trance. He put every ounce of lightning he could on Dainn while i made lightning quick strikes against him as Rhino lifted higher and higher. Just as I delivered my last strike, I saw the field around Dainn break. "Rhino, superman him!"

His reply, we did not hear, but Cybis and i backed away as a mass of armor and lightning hit the ground just in front of Dainn, sending him flying, and Cybis and I unloaded our scout rifles into him. "Noland, the Wolfpack."

"Right," he said as he transmatted Ghallarhorn into my hands, and i fired off a single rocket at the king, with the rocket and wolfpack rounds tearing him to shreds.

"That was satisfying," Rhino said.

"Agreed," Cybis said. "Now let's clean up and get out of here."

And in less than an hour, every Caribou male was dead, the Vex had taken the females to the Empire, and we were on our way back home.

Paradox arc-Beginnings

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"So, Auryx, you thinking of making a vacation home in our dimension?" I asked our ally from the mirrorverse, who, along with Sekana and M Luna, were visiting us right now. It had been a few months since we had met, and the only reason ponies hadn't begun transitioning between the two would be, well, confusion as to who was who. Can't say I disagree.

"Perhaps, Josh," she replied. "It is less. . .bleak than our Equestria, for lack of a better term. Even with Luna and those who follow her, we still have our own problems. Empress Cadence and her followers are growing and preparing to wage war, the zebras massing on our borders." She sighed. "You know, this version has it lucky: it doesn't have as much evil to deal with."

"That's debatable," I said. "We still get evil, just in larger amounts from a single output. Like our version of you, for instance. No offense, by the way."

"None taken," Auryx said with a chuckle. "Though, if I ma to be honest, I do look forward to that fight, as I wish to test myself against the only one at my exact skill level, and that would be me. After all, the only difference would be that, well, I'm still my birth gender."

"Yeah, far as we know on that front," Cybis said behind, causing us to turn around.

"And what are you implying, Cybis?" Auryx asked with a slight joking tone. "That I'm not what you would call a mare?"

Cybis sighed. "Walked into that one," he muttered. "No, I mean that Oryx, the you for us, is. . .well, let's just say he's taken entire planets-he said that himself when the three of us faced him on his ship before we came here."

"And I have liberated multiple worlds from the Traveler's light," Auryx shot back. "I am certain they were the same planets."

"Fair enough," the warlock said. "But that isn't the reason I came for you guys. Josh, Legion wants to talk with us in the portal room. Something important, and he didn't exlain beyond 'Bring Hunter Josh and Titan Rhino here as soon as possible.' Which reminds me, where's Nolandroid?"

"Right here," Noland said as he materialized. "Sorry, I was processing lot of stuff we had downloaded from the portal a few hours ago. Kinda made me have to disable a few systems finish it as possible."

"And what did you download?" Cybis asked with a quizzically raised eyebrow.

I shrugged. "Just some music, a few more death battles-including the season three premiere, apparently-and news that the game back home's getting an update. New weapons and all."

"That all?"

"All I know of," I said. "Honestly, I don't care what Noland downloads for himself, long as he makes sure to keep that stuff separate from mine."

"Right," Cybis said slowly and a little unsure. "Anyway, Auryx, if you want to join us, you're welcome to. Sekana and Luna re there and hoping to learn a little about Vex Tech."

"I'd rather continue walking and seeing the sights," she replied. "I hide it well, but I do not like enclosed spaces."

"Explains a lot about Hive architecture," I muttered before going to a normal voice. "Guess we'll see ya later, then, Auryx."

"And I you, Guardians," she said, and we went on our separate ways. Cybis, Noland, and I made our way to the Vex time gate room, Auryx going who knows where.

"So, no idea why that wanted to see us?" I asked, referring to the multiple Vex minds that we had designated as Legion.

"None," Cybis replied. "Rhino should be there with them, though, so he may be able to fill us in. Assuming, you know, if they aren't waiting for each of us."

"Wouldn't surprise me," I muttered.

Yeah, so, anyway, it was a few more minutes until we reached our destination. In the gate room was Rhino, Legion, and two other Vex Goblins. Rhino was looking over the console that allowed us to control the portal, while Legion and the others were at the portal itself. "So, what's going on?" Cybis asked as we walked up next to Rhino.

"In layman's terms," Rhino replied, not taking a glance off the console, "Legion says that there's some kind of anomaly, and the portal's being affected by it. He wants our help to try and prevent some kind of meltdown so that time lines don't interconnect. Well, more than they have, anyway, given our alliance with mirror Equestria."

"And where's Luna and Sekana?"

"Legion sent them away," Rhino replied. "Our armor is protecting us from the portal radiation-normally safe, but the anomaly sent that to hell-as well as the Element of Sacrifice. Well, barely on that last one, but still. Point is that just the three of us and the Vex can handle this."

"So, anything we can do?" I asked.

"Yeah. Cybis, can you handle a few calculations?"

"With Dinkle, yeah."

The Exo nodded. "Right. Josh, talk with Legion. He may have something for you."

"Right," I said. With that, I made my way to Legion as Cybis was given calculations for who knows what. "Legion?"

"Hello, Hunter," Legion said, not taking his optic off the portal. "Are you here to assist with the portal?"

"Yeah. Need anything?"

"At this moment in time, no," Legion replied. "We most likely will within a minute, however."

"Right," I said before sitting down on the ground. "Just let me know when."

"Affirmative."

And a minute later, he said, "Hunter, we require you to hold the electrical conduit in place. It is currently inactive, but scans detect a crack, and we can not proceed further until it is fixed."

"You'll need to walk me through it, then," I said as I got up, and to the left side of the portal, which is where Rhino, Cybis, and I had placed the power conduit when we first made the thing. I saw the conduit, a medium sized cylinder of copper, and saw the crack.

"Our scans show that the conduit reacts to Arc energy," Legion said. "And the small jolt we sent through confirms, as the crack shrunk. However, we do not have an affinity for Arc energy, nor do we have Arc weapons. The closest we posses are Arc shields for Harpy Chassis, but there is not sufficient charge for it to be a permanent solution."

"Just had to tell me to send electricity through it," I muttered before I grasped the copper cylinder, and sent Arc energy through it, the crack, which split it in two, shrinking before disappearing.

"That is sufficient," Legion said. "You may remove your appendages and step away."

"Right," I said before trying to pull my hands away, but failing, and with Arc energy being attracted from me, and into the thing. "Yeah, uh, can I get some help, here? I'm stuck!"

"On it," I heard Rhino said before he put his arms around my chest from behind and pulled, to no avail. "CYBIS!"

"Figures something would happen," I heard the warlock say. "Been a few months since the last thing happened. What do we do?"

"Pull me off the fucker!" I yelled as more and more Arc energy poured into the portal.

"Warning: time gate on overload," Legion said. "Temporal rift detected, uncontrollable. Guardians, it is focusing around you."

"Great," Rhino said as he bent down, grabbed my ankles, and tried to pull me away the old fashioned way.

"I said get me off this thing, not rip me in two!"

"And that means what?" Cybis asked Legion.

"It means Titan Rhino is using enough force to rip-"

"Not what I meant!"

"It means that temporal energies are building around you three, which will result in you three vanishing into the past to an unknown date in a minute."

All three of us had the same thought. "Fuck." Rhino then added, "Will you be able to find us?"

"Vex scout party has been sent to earliest known history point of intelligent species on this planet," Legion replied.

"That's not going to work," I said, my body still horizontal. "Our presence in history will change the time line, which, assuming no paradoxes can happen, will result in alternate timelines. I.E.: alternate universes. So, yeah, we'll see what we can do."

"You are positive?"

"We're Guardians," I said as the world began to ripple. "We'll find a way, even if it means conquering Equestria itself." And as the last syllable left my mouth, the world vanished in a flash of white light

Past meetings

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So, yeah. Time travel. That's a bitch, am I right? So, anyway, the light had blinded me for what felt like a minute for me, Rhino, and Cybis until it faded, and we saw we were on our backs and in the Everfree. "Can someone say Deja vu?" I heard Cybis say. "So, anyone got an idea for when we are?"

"Nope," Rhino and I replied as the three of us got up. "Okay, so, time travel, what logic do we know?" Rhino asked.

"Well, just be being here now, we created a whole different time stream, and, by extension, another universe where things diverge at this point in time," I said.

"In other words, no world ending paradoxes," I said. "And personally, i hope we arrived before Nightmare. . .well, you know, so we can prevent not just that, but also Lone's murder."

Rhino scoffed. "Too bad we don't have a way of knowing when we are that doesn't involve scaring the shit out of the ponies. I'd rather not do that during our first time travel escapade."

"Agreed," I replied as I looked down at my hands, seeing that the inside of my gauntlets were melted. Explains how I got stuck to the conduit. "Hey, Noland, Tara, Dinkle, you guys here with us?"

"Yeah, we are," Noland said as he and the others appeared. "What do you guys need?"

"What do we have access to in terms of weapons and such?" Cybis asked. "May need to defend ourselves."

"Not much, far as we can tell," Tara said. "You guys only have your melee abilities, grenades, and supers, as well as the other abilities your classes usually have. Weapons and ships are back in our time line."

"Fun," Rhino said, sarcasm in his voice.

"Uh, guys," Dinkle said, worry in his robotic voice. "I got a teleportation signature nearby. Strength and distance indicate two ponies. If I had to guess, I'd say it's this timeline's princesses."

"Hey, what do you know," Rhino said. "Celestia actually brought Luna to help with some shit. More than she did in the show."

"Rhino, don't talk about the show while while we're here," Cybis said. "You know, just to be safe."

"Fine," he said. "So, what do we tell 'em?"

"What do you think?" I asked. "The truth." Albeit, a heavily censored version of it. We say we were sent back in time by an accident, and that we do not mean harm. We leave out a lot of our abilities-if not what we are entirely- and we most definitely leave out the revival function of the Ghosts.

Makes sense, I suppose, Cybis replied. Rhino agreed with that as well.

Anyway, we eventually heard rustling behind us. I turned to face it, and was met with a blast of blue magic to the face, which drained half my shields. "Are you kidding me!?" I yelled. "I, or any of us, haven't done anything but talk, and you want to blast us into stone!? Love and tolerance my ass!"

"Not a good idea to piss off an alicorn, Josh," Rhino said.

"Shut it, and get the bubble ready, Rhino," I replied. "I don't think any of us want to be turned into stone."

"He isn't wrong," Cybis said as I saw him charging a Nova bomb. "But let's try some diplomacy first. And besides, if we attack, it'll be in self defense."

"Yeah, that helps," I said. "So, princesses or whoever you are, want to say something to us?" There were a few seconds of silence before there was another rustling sound from the area in front of us, and, from it, emerged two familiar alicorn princesses, both wearing nothing but their regalia. it was Celestia who spoke first

"H-how did thou know it was us?" she asked.

"Them," I replied, hooking a thumb to the still visible Ghosts. "And before you ask, that spell did do something, it just didn't turn me ot stone as it hit my shields."

"We wondered what magic we felt around thee three," Luna said before bowing her head. "Thou hast our apologies. We were simply afraid for our subjects."

"That's understandable," Cybis said. "But next time, try to see if they actually wish harm before doing something you may regret later. So, introductions?"

"Ah. Of course," Celestia said. "We are-"

"Princess Celestia regent of the sun or whatever," Rhino said. "We know who you are."

Hoping for a little more tact with Luna, I said to her, "And you must be Princess Luna, regent of the night and the controller of dreams, or something akin to that. It is a great honor to be in your presence, and, may I say, thou art as beautiful as the night which you craft. We find it a shame so few appreciate it."

"Thou-thou appreciate the night?" Luna asked.

"Indeed we do, princess," Cybis replied. "We may be creatures awake during the day, but we always preferred the night to it."

"We thank thee for the compliment," Luna said.

"And since thou seem to know who we are, perhaps you'd care to introduce yourselves?" Celestia said.

"Ah, right. Sorry," Cybis said. "My name is Cybis, your Highnesses."

"Rhino," Rhino said with a small nod of his head.

"And I'm Josh, your majesties," I finished. "Before you ask as to how we know of you, we were sent back in time through a mishap we had wile repairing some of our technology, and we are friends with the two of you from that future."

"Thou means that you came from what is now the future of an alternate timeline?" Luna asked with an eyebrow."

"Yes, actually," Josh said. "Or, at least, far as I know. We first arrived then near a thousand years in the future. So, um, I the to ask since we just met, but is there any place we can stay? We gave a few allies who can travel through time, and this is the furthest back we've gone so far. We need someplace for them to find us, after all."

"We suppose thou could stay within our castle," Celestia said. "There is ample room for three guests."

"We thank you for that," Cybis said. "So, when can we go there?"

"Right now," Celestia said before she lit her horn, and we vanished in a flash of light.

So, it's been a few weeks since we first arrived in this time stream, and, for the most part, we have changed it a little from ours. To be specific, we took a page from one of my favorite authors stories, and had any petitioners with similar requests grouped, so as to only deal with it once instead of multiple times. We had also met Lone, and not the phantom form of him, and, if we didn't know he was in a relationship with Luna/Nightmare, we wouldn't have been able to tell.

Yeah, with what we knew, we had placed Noland, Tara, and Dinkle on over watch for them. Tara following Luna, Noland following Lone, and Dinkle watching their bedroom door. All stealthed, before you ask. As for, Celestia? Well, I was actually talking to her now.

It was night time, and Luna's stars were out, casting a beautiful light across the area, and the two of us, Celestia and I, were walking around the gardens. "Josh, I know you were hoping of news as to how to travel back to your time stream," Celestia said, the three of us and the princesses on friendly enough terms for them drop that royal bullshit when talking to us in private, "but Starswirl still doesn't have a way to move you three forward in time."

I shrugged. "It's okay," I said. "We Guardians can live for quite some time, and I'm sure that, with you and your sister's help, we'd be able to work on some kind of cryogenic spell to allow us to live until then, when it'd be easier for them to find us."

"That is an alternative we are looking into," Celestia said. "Don't worry, we are still looking into the time travel to propel you thee to the future and to your home time stream."

"Thanks, Celestia," I said.

"Of course, Josh," she said. "But you still haven't said why you wished to talk to me."

I shrugged. "A few things, one being your sister," I said. "I won't say much, but I will say that she feels neglected and deserted by your subjects, as they don't exactly appreciate her night. There are a few, though," I said. "One, at least, is actually in your guard."

"You are speaking of Lone Shadow?" She asked. "They may be good at hiding it from my other subjects, but they do forget I am capable at reading a pony's body language. I admit, I am happy for Luna having found somepony."

"And that brings me to point two, also about Luna," I said. "You see, in my time line, a few of your more. . .zealous, for lack of a better word, followers snuck into Luna and Lone's room while she was away, and killed him. Why, I have no idea, but best guess would be that they see Luna and her night as something impure and evil, and want only you and your day to remain. They probably saw, or, rather, see any who follow Luna and her night as a heretic, again, for lack of a better term."

"But my subjects would never do such a thing," Celestia yelled.

I was about to reply when Dinkle came on over my radio. "Guys, I got a bunch of ponies coming this way, and each have knives, and Luna isn't here. I can project a field over the door for a while, but you need to hurry if you can. Most of them are unicorns, and the field won't last long."

"Copy that," I said. "Celestia, you say your subjects would do that? How about I show you wrong?" Without waiting for an answer, I began making my way to where Dinkle was at, and heard a pair of hoofsteps behind me as I left the gardens.

It took us only ten minutes to reach our destination where we saw a mob of ponies trying to break open the door, with one shouting, "Get that door open! We can't have a single follower of the damnable night alive if our sun is to rule us as she should."

"See what I was talking about," I said. "Now, if you can calm them down. If not, I'll handle it in my own way," I whispered to her.

"As long as you don't kill any of them," Celestia whispered back before approaching the mob.

"And what dost thee think thou art doing!?" she yelled at the group, slipping back into Shakespearean English, making them stop.

"Princess," the one I assumed the leader of the group, a yellow unicorn with black mane and tail, said. "We are trying to remove a threat to you."

"And you believe my sister's lover is a threat to me?" Celestia asked. "We know not what hast polluted your minds, but we are certain you are wrong, regardless. Now, if thou do not wish to spend the rest of your life in the dungeons, cease this at once!"

"I'm sorry, princess, but we can't until-" he was cut off by a throwing knife to the leg, and he began screaming in pain.

"You know, I never liked individuals like you," I said as I walked up. "Now, the princess here doesn't wish you dead. I couldn't care less, but am holding back at her request. So, how about you leave and keep your lives with no charges, or keep trying to do what you're doing, and either die, or be imprisoned. Which do you want?"

Quickly, one shouted. "Kill the night lover and free the princess of their control!"

"And they just signed their death warrants," I muttered as I drew another knife and put it in a back handed grip. "Celestia, I suggest you get back, things are about to get messy, and maybe smell like ozone." She simply nodded, and back away as half the ponies charged me, the other continuing to try and break down the door. "Morons," I said as I put Arc energy into my blade, and pulled off Razor's edge, sending a wave of energy across the ground, which, upon hitting them, caused the ponies charging me to disintegrate in a storm of lighting, making the others stop and stare in horror.

"Look behind you," I said just as one of them was hit by a shoulder charge from Rhino, and the rest zapped into either death or unconsciousness by Cybis. "Tara, where's Luna?" I asked the female Ghost over the radio

"We're on the way now. Had to reveal myself and tell her about the mob. How'd it go?"

"They're dead or out, and Lone's safe," I said just before a yelp of pain was heard inside the room. "Put that last one on hold for now," I said. "Dinkle, open the door!"

"On it," he said, and there was a shimmer, indicating the field was down just as Rhino hit it with his fists, breaking the door open, revealing a pegasus rolling on the ground, blood coming from a wound on his shoulder that had a knife embedded in it.

"That's why you don't try to ambush a guard alone, moron," Lone said. "'Specially when he's awake."

"Tara, this is Josh. Lone's alive," I said over the radio before turning around. "Celestia, I think it best to have the night guard active to look for more would be assassins."

She nodded. "Agreed," she said before turning to leave.

"And see if you can get in touch with your father," I added, getting looks from Rhino and Cybis. "We're going to need help if this turns into a revolt." Yeah. I just went there. But I'm not done yet. "And if you do get him, let me talk to him."

Touch of Darkness

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Only a few hours have passed since the attempted assassination on Lone, and Cybis, Rhino, and I were standing guard outside his and Luna's room, the Ghosts being inside. Celestia was still gone, trying to contact this time line's Oryx. "Already, shit's hit the fan," Rhino said. "Just our luck, right?"

"Rhino, now's not the time," Cybis said. "Especially since we're outside their door."

"Just trying to lighten the mood," he replied back. "Let's just hope he doesn't try to kill us."

"Yeah," Rhino said. "One god trying to kill us is enough right now."

"That, I agree with," Cybis said as we heard hoofsteps coming from down the hall. I turned to face it, and saw Celestia, with a squad of guards, making their way here.

"I was able to contact my father," she said, and her tone was. . .well, let's just say it made me uneasy. "He wishes to speak with whichever one of you is the leader."

We're so screwed, Rhino said.

"That would be me, Princess," I said.

"Then follow," she said quickly before turning around, and walking off, the guards following.

Tell Noland to get resurrection ready, I told Rhino and Cybis over the mental link. From there I followed Celestia, the only sounds being the hoofsteps of her and her guards, as well as my footsteps. We walked for about an hour until we came to a room, where she told the guards to wait outside, and the two of us walked inside.

Once inside, she said, "Before I let you speak to my father, I must know: are you and your comrades here to kill us simply because you are of the Light, and we are of the Darkness?"

"No," I said quickly. "At least not as long as you don't try to kill us. We have no issue with your family whatsoever. And besides," I said, raising my left hand and creating an orb of Darkness. "one of our adventures kinda gave the power to tap into the Darkness."

She judged me with a critical eye. "Just because you can use the Darkness doesn't mean father will trust you," she said.

"I'm aware," I said.

"Then I hope you don't throw up," she said before her horn lit up in white and black, and there was a flash of light. As it faded, and I could see, there was only one word that came to mind.

"Shit." Where we were was in the final room of the Oryx raid. And there were quite a few Knights and Wizards, including the sisters, Crota, Alak-Hul, who was Oryx's foster son, according to the Grimoire, two wizards wearing Hive fashioned Regalia who I assumed were Savathun and Xivu Arath-Oryx's sisters-and a large knight that resembled Alak-Hul without the helmet, and, at the edge of the walkway, facing us-facing me-was Oryx himself as he appeared in the game when you first face him on the Dreadnaught. I'm so fucking screwed. And that's not counting the horde of Acolytes and Thrall. Yay.

"So, this is the mote of light you spoke of, sister?" Crota said as he tightened the grip on his sword hilt.

"Yes, brother," Celestia said.

"Yeah, before your family decides to slice me into bits and then possibly just erase said bits," I said nervously, "can I just say you're taking this well, considering the you from my timeline didn't know. . .any of this," I said, gesturing to the Exalted Hive, "before I arrived, and only found out because of something with Luna and her being a control freak. After trying to turn us to stone for no reason, I'd like to point out!"

"Memory spell," Celestia said in a deadpan to me.

". . .Fair enough."

"Silence," Oryx said in the voice from the first cinematic, the one where we flee from Phobos. "You are lucky we do not kill you where you are, Light soldier. The only reason I have not allowed it is simply because you assisted Sekana, even knowing what she was. I allowed your audience here because I wished to know why. If your answer is satisfactory, you can leave."

"Right," I said. "And really, the reason I did was because, even if the one from my timeline did something to make me mad, only an idiot would hold a grudge against a past version of the latter, especially when I come from a thousand years later. Though I should warn you all, when this timeline's version me arrives, don't be surprised if they shoot first. Long story. Look, I didn't ask to be sent back in time, it was all an accident with tech, magic, and Arc energy. But before you decide to kill me for being a 'mote of light', I would like to point out that there is a potential civil war brewing on Equestria, and the other two there won't be able to hold out forever."

"Yes, my niece told us of this," one of Oryx's sisters said. "Though we would be happy to help her, why would we assist four beings of Light?"

I simply looked at her. "Look Savathum, Xivu Arath, whoever you are, did you know one of said beings is technically your niece too, as she is sister to Celestia? And me and the other Guardians have access to Darkness." To prove that last point, I created an orb of Darkness, and simply flicked it in the direction of a cluster of Thrall, which, by pure accident, made them Taken. "Yeah, um," I said as I looked at them, "the end result you see was not what I was going for." As silence pervaded. "I''m. . . just gonna jump over the edge now to save you all time."

"No," Oryx said, making everyone look at him.

"Did he just tell a being of Light to not kill himself?" I asked. "Because if I'm the only one who heard that, I think I've finally lost it."

"No, I heard him too," Celestia said. "He said no."

"Then I'm not crazy," I said. "Why?"

"Because for all the planets I have seen that have had the Traveler there, none have so much as attempted to use the Darkness, let alone enough to create Taken," Oryx said. "Even if it's accidental. That alone is worth at least knowing why."

"Because you can't have one without the other," I said. "Kind of simple, really. "Everything Light has Darkness in it, and vice versa. I mean, most would just assume the Darkness is about destruction, but the fact the Hive essentially thrives in it shows it just isn't. And besides, if it wasn't, how do you explain your daughter controlling the most powerful source of light in her solar system?" I shrugged. "If you want my honest answer, though, it's because the way I see it, you guys are just called the Darkness because you opposed the Traveler, who, quote unquote, brought Light to various civilizations. They needed something blame for their downfall, and didn't want to blame themselves for accepting the Traveler, which, when you look back, caused more destruction than you all did. Your home world, for instance."

"A scholar, then, if he knows of our home world, sister, brother," the other sister of Oryx said. "I will admit, I am impressed."

"Can we get to why I asked for an audience with you all, even knowing what you all think of the Light?" I asked.

"Sekana already told us," Alak said. "The reason why father allowed an audience with you-"

"Do not speak for me, Alak," Oryx said. "The reason why I granted his request was to see if he could be trusted. As far as I am able to tell, he is," He then looked at me. "That does not mean I will not be watching you, Guardian."

I was about to reply when a stabbing pain hit me in the head, and I clutched it. Josh, if you can hear this, we have a huge ass riot outside about us killing those assholes from earlier for protecting Lone! Even a few guards are in that riot! Only reason they aren't inside is because of a spell on the gates for the castle! Cybis yelled over the link.

"What, is there not enough Light here for you?" one of Crota's sisters hissed.

"No," I managed to get out. "Celestia. there's a riot going on outside the castle, with guards in the riot group, trying to get inside. Even if you hate me, do you really want to see Luna lose her love?"

"He's right, father, much as I wish he wasn't," Celestia said. "Even if she is the Traveler's daughter, she is also my sister, and I will stand by Luna."

Oryx was silent for a few seconds before he said, "If that is your decision, daughter, then I will stand with you on it. Your family is our family, after all." He then looked at Crota and Alak. "You two, accompany your sister and help her however she deems fit."

"Father, you can not be suggesting helping the Light!" the other sister of Crota said, getting a glare from Oryx.

"We are not helping the Light, we are helping Sekana," Oryx said. "Light, I wish to speak with you. In private." Yay. A personal audience with the King of Darkness. Even considering what just happened and what I said earlier, I'm still terrified. "Now." Even more so.

From what I could tell, Oryx's children, sisters, and everyone else left, leaving me and the Taken King alone. "So, why?" I asked.

"Because you said you are from a different time line," Oryx said. "I've encountered beings who can travel through time. I wished to know if you are one of them."

"The Vex?" I asked. "No," I said as I reached up and took my helmet off. "I'm fully organic."

"I can see that," Oryx said. "I wonder how it is you are able to use both Light and Darkness without being killed," he said. "It should be impossible for vast amounts of both to exist, and I can sense a great potential for both in you, but you have not yet fully reached it, yet you are powerful enough to create Taken."

"Well, it might be the fact my two comrades and I can fuse into one Guardian with all the traits of our three classes," I replied. "Which, if I'm right, boosts our Light and Darkness capability."

"I will have to see that, then," Oryx said. "Light, as much as I shouldn't, I wish to reward you for assisting my daughter, even knowing who and what she is. Sekana told me you and your comrades arrived with no weapons, something every warrior should have. As such, I give you these," he said, and three swords of Taken color with void energy around the blade appeared.(1) "All I ask in return is that you do not let any harm, physical or emotional, come to Sekana."

"I'll do what I can," I replied as I put my helmet back on, and took the swords. "My thanks, Majesty."

"As I said, simply ensure no harm comes to my daughter," he said before a rupture opened behind me. "That will take you to where Sekana is. I suggest you hurry, Light, if you wish to keep your word."

"Right," I said before running through the Rupture, and straight into hell itself.

Light in the Darkness

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I came out of the rupture in the courtyard of the Everfree castle, with Celestia-unless she gets a Hive form, I will not call her Sekana-Crota, and Alak looking out onto the main streets, from which I heard yelling. I imagine from crazy or angry ponies, if not both.

Guys, I'm in the courtyard, I said over the link.

Copy, we're on our way. Luna and Lone, too. Wanted to help if this turned to bloodshed, Rhino said.

Right. Just. . .don't over react. I then cut off the link, and made my way to where the three Hive royals stood. Though I was also getting ready to run. I'm not stupid. "So, if I may ask, how bad does it look?" I asked.

Crota regarded me with a glare, as did Alak, while it was Celestia who replied, first with a sigh. "It seems more of our subjects fit that description of those few from earlier than both of us thought," she said.

"Perhaps it is because this mote murdered your subjects, sister," Alak said, his voice-which was that calm, soothing baritone one would think was part of a prince archetype-even.

"No, I made sure word didn't leak of that," Celestia said. " And he killed them to defend my, and by extension, your sister.It must be the morons."

"Care to specify which? I ask. "Because I'm sure all of those ponies are morons currently."

"A cult I've only heard whispers of," Celestia said. Also, hello cliche, just how overused are you, exactly? "The guards haven't encountered them very much, but I know that worship me as if I was the creator, and think any other alicorn is a demon."

"Then they're gonna hate it when Cybis, Rhino, and I fuse," I muttered.

"Sister, just what are those demons standing next to you?" Palm, meet face. And I thought the first appearance of season two Luna was tactless.

"And here we go," I muttered.

"Yeah, um, I'll handle this," I said before turning back and seeing Luna, Lone, Cybis, and Rhino walking up, with Luna looking at Crota and Alak, backs turned but heads turned to look at her, suspicion in her eyes.

"Josh, can you explain what the hell is going on?" Cybis asked.

"Short version is that Oryx is helping us protect Luna because we're helping Celestia protect her, and had Crota and Alak come with her to help for now," I said. "Also, Taken swords," I added before bringing the three swords out from behind my cloak, and holding two out to Cybis and Rhino.

"So, I'm guessing those two," Lone said, gesturing to Crota and Alak, "are the two you mentioned?"

"Yeah," I said as Rhino and Cybis took the swords, though they did so cautiously. "Also, just so you know, Luna, Oryx is Celestia's father, and Crota and Alak are her brothers on that side of the family. Also, in a twist of fate, Luna, you're actually a being of the Light, as Rhino, Cybis, and I were to begin with, and Celestia's side are of Darkness."

"That makes this entire situation somewhat ironic," Lone muttered.

"Yep," Rhino said as he examined the sword. "So, what's the plan, Josh?"

"If possible, avoid killing them," I said. "Make 'em flee or knock them out."

Lone scoffed. "If any of them are from that cult, they won't give up. They'll need to be killed."

"And we'll be able to tell them from normal ponies how?" Cybis asked.

"Probably a lot of sun related stuff, including yellow robes," Lone said. "I don't know, to be honest. I just know we have a fight on our hooves."

"And the other guards?" I asked.

"I sent them home," Luna replied. "No need for their blood to be split if it can be avoided."

I was about to reply before there was a loud roar, and Lone paled. "Oh, buck," he said before we made our way to the wall, only to see a few Ursa Minors, though they all had some kind of sun shaped mark on their forehead, not that starburst mark, along with yellow colored Timber wolves. "They were able to tame the bears and wolves."

"Yeah, we can see that," Cybis said. "I'd like to know how."

"That does not matter now," Celestia said as she and her brothers walked up beside us. "If the cult has tamed the Ursas, they do not wish for any in this castle to survive."

"Any way to kill them?" Cybis asked. "We only knocked one out before. Well, for our personal time line anyway."

"I've heard concentrated blasts of light can do that," Luna said. "But if what Josh said is true, Celestia, it won't work."

"Then we can only flee," Celestia said as me and my Guardian allies looked at one another.

Want to try something else crazy? Rhino asked.

You know it, Cybis and I replied. "You all may want to step back," I said out loud as we created shade orbs. There was one difference, though, and that was that, as they formed, the three of us expelled the Darkness energies in them before combining them, which, per usual, resulted in a flash of light.

When it faded, I stood there in my usual fuse armor, only now it was pure white with some gray accents, and it seemed to pulse with energy. "Can't believe that worked," I said, looking at my arms. Another roar brought my gaze up at the five bears that were approaching. "Let's just hope it's got some abilities."

With that, I stepped off the castle wall, and fell down to the ground, using glide to soften my fall as I neared the hard ground. Upon landing, I was met with twenty ponies-five earth, ten unicorn, five pegasai-wearing yellow robes, and each holding swords at me. Calmly, I simply waved my hand, and the weapons vanished in a small flash of purple, red, and blue, and the eyes of the idiots turned pure white before they fell to the ground, not moving and with smiles on their faces. "Insignificant," I said, my voice a perfect mix of my separate personalities individual voices and regal sounding. Ten more ponies, all earth ponies, charged me with spears. Just before they reached me, I blinked past them, and they fell to the ground, out cold but alive, my stride unbroken. From there, most of the ponies avoided me, the few that tried to attack me being sent into unconsciousness.

Eventually, I stopped in front of the wolves and astral bears, one of who roared at me. When it was I done, I simply looked at it. "Is that is?" I asked. "I have faced gods and a major without being at the power level I am now," I said as I charged a blast of Light in my palm. "And I was still quite strong then." With that, I turned my palm to face the bear, releasing a large beam of Light that disintegrated the beast and, far as i could tell, put the others all to sleep.

As the last of the energy left me, I fell to my knees and felt myself being split into three once more, the two organics of us panting, while Rhino did whatever the Exo equivalent is. "Didn't see that one coming," Cybis said.

"Agreed," I said before looking at the ponies crowding around us. "Really wish it hadn't given out when we needed it, though."

"You and me both," Rhino said as we tried to get back up, only to stumble back to our knees.

"Kill the shadow lovers," a pony said, clearly demonstrating the collective I.Q. of a cinder block in this mob.

"But sir, only something that was a being of pure light could have destroyed an Ursa," one pony said. Huh. So not all of them are stupid.

"Then you can die with the rest of the night lovers. Throw him in." Morons. I swear, this is why I hate absolute, word for word religious zealots. Not religious people in general, just the idiots who think the world will end just because gay marriage is legal. Yeah, I'll believe that when the lazy guy actually does something personally without relying on angels and prophets, and he actually shows it was him. Also known as not at all.

Anyway, there was a small struggle before a unicorn stallion with a gray coat and black mane and tail was thrown next to us. "Kill them. Then find the heretics family, and do the same."

"No!" the unicorn yelled. "You said they wouldn't get involved in this!"

"That was befor-" he was quickly cut off by a lance of yellow magic through his head, creating a hole the size of a dime in his forehead, and he fell to the ground, dead.

"If the rest of thee wish to live," Luna said as she, Celestia, Alak, and Crota walked up from the back of the group. "Flee. Now."

"This isn't the last time, night whorse," the presumed leader said before there was a flash of light, and, when it passed, they were all gone, leaving just the royals, Hive and Pony, the unicorn stallion, and us. But there was also a faint whispering in the winds. "And next time, nothing will save you."

Author's Notes:

A little explanation before the actual end: the fusion form of the three Guardians, along with a half and half form, has a pure Light and pure Darkness form, each with unique powers. Light allows him to pacify any enemies into a temporary-twelve hour-coma that's filled with happy memories, hence the smiles on the ponies he essentially force mind tricked into not fighting. Darkness allows him to turn a certain number of enemies into essentially mind slaves with no personality, and that's permanent. The middle ground allows him to create and fire orbs of Light and Darkness. All three allow for a beam of energy, one of pure Light, one of pure Darkness, one of both, to be fired. To balance it out, they can't swap between the three at will, and each has a cool down time after they split, and all three of the Guardians have to agree on which form to use.

Planning

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"So, do we have any idea or even hint as to where their main location is?" I asked the two alicorns and one guard. It had been a few hours since Rhino, Cybis, and I had fused, the sun having risen since then. The four of us had been planning for the next, inevitable offensive from that damned cult while Rhino and Cybis escorted that guard that had been sentenced to die with us to his family, and escort them back here to the castle. They had yet to return.

"No," Luna replied. "We don't even know the name of this group." She looked at Lone. "I told you we should have kept that guard for questioning, Lone. I'm sure he would have been willing to help us."

"Only if he knew his family was safe," Lone shot back. "This way, we get to protect a mare and who knows how many foals, and get the knowledge we need."

"And if that fails," Celestia added, "I could always ask my father to take one of those traitors and probe their mind."

"And why not have that done now?" I ask, looking at her. "I mean, it'd save time, and give them less time to plan an attack and more time for us to prepare."

"Because whatever you did to them while you and your comrades were fused still has them in a coma," Celestia explained. "As far as we can tell, it's just making them relive their happy memories."

"That's it," Lone suddenly said, stomping his hoof on the ground. "What if we looked for a happy memory concerning their base. A victory, a party, anything. We may get lucky there."

I looked at him, then the two alicorns. "Why didn't we think of that?"

"No idea," Luna and Celestia replied.

"Well, can one of you guys do it?" I asked. "Or a guard that's still here for some reason?"

Luna shook her head. "Not I. Searching a mind that is catatonicic different than doing so for one that is sleeping."

"And I never learned that branch of spells," Celestia replied.

"And most guards see it as unethical."

"Oh, jeez," I muttered as I face palmed. "Is there any way we can do that? Because right now, I couldn't care less if they wake up. They try to kill me, they throw my mercy into space." At their looks, I added. "What, like you wouldn't want to get payback?" I pointed at Celestia. "You right now, especially, as they tried to kill you and those close to you."

"Fair enough," I heard Luna say under her breath. It was here that something. . .unexpected occurred.

Said something was the six Element gems, in their actual gem form, came floating into the room arranged in a pentagon formation, with Magic in the center of the other five. "I believe I can help with that," Harmony said from the six gems.

"Of course she can do this," I muttered. "She's a fucking goddess. Why not?"

"Ignoring your comment, Guardian," Harmony said before Loyalty, the gem closest to me, seemed to wink, "I will be able to help you all in your endeavor to find the lair of the cult so that you can remove it."

Luna, Lone, and Celestia bowed. "We thank you for that, Harmony," Luna replied.

"No need," the goddess said. "Guardian, I would like a word with you." And suddenly, there was a flash of light, and I was standing in that astral pane in which Twilight was transformed into an alicorn, with Harmony, in her mare form, standing in front of me. Able to see more clearly, I could see she was as tall as Celestia and had rainbow colored hair similar to Rainbow's that wasn't wavy like Luna and Celestia's, and went to the pony equivalent of shoulders.

"So," I began. "Why?"

"Because I feel I need to explain why you shouldn't mess with the me-forsaken time stream!" Harmony yelled. "And before you ask, I'm a multi-dimensional goddess. As long as there's a Tree, I function pretty much like the Vex!"

"Noted," I said. "And this isn't intentional. Besides, we're just creating another time line that's separate from our own," I replied. "Long as the whole multi-verse doesn't blow up, I don't see an issue!"

"That's just it!" Harmony screeched. "Shit like this, what you're doing, tends to attract attention on the same power scale as me, and not all of them are benevolent! I'd rather not risk my greatest enemy come here because three morons were reckless!"

I laughed. "Reckless?! Please, you want reckless, try when I rush into a mob of Guardians with just a non-rapid fire shotty with the delusion of destroying them!"

"And. This. Is. Worse! How many times do I need to I need to bucking say that?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Harmony, seeing as how our actions are in a past, it would stand to reason that whatever evil this is, they would have arrived by now, probably before we arrived, and we'd be fighting them right now. The fact that hasn't happened says that they either don't, or that it'll happen later on, which we can now prepare for."

". . .I hate it when my champions are right," Harmony muttered before sighing. "Still, once you three are done now, I'll need you to go back in time again and to a different universe, which has its own Displaced, and help them, as a war is starting with them, and they'll need as much help as possible."

"Right," I replied. "After that, you think you can try to send us back home? To our Equestria, I mean?"

"Yes," she nodded. "And by the way, what ranged weapons do you three want? Keep in mind it'll have to be within the time period here."

"Bow and arrow," I said. "For Rhino and Cybis, no idea. Ask them."

"I will," she said. "I'll see you next time, Guardian." And with that, there was a flash of light, and I was back in the war room.

"So, what's next?" I asked.

Final battle in the past Pt1

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"All teams, check in," I said over the radio.

"Breach team, ready," Rhino replied.

"Illusion team, ready," Cybis said.

"As are we," I heard Luna say, speaking through Nolandroid's radio. "Even if my adoptive brothers aren't happy about it."

"Yeah, well tell them I said to deal with it," I said as I made sure my bow and arrow-the bow made of a special metal with gold trimming at the edge, the string not really there, but rather a magnetic force- were ready for combat, along with the Taken sword. "Everyone ready?"

It's been a few days since Celestia, Luna, Lone, and myself had discussed what we were going to do and Harmony giving her help. With it, we had found the base of the damned cult- actually where Ponyville would be in a thousand years. We had put together a plan of attack along with this timeline's Oryx, and myself, Luna, Celestia, Rhino, Cybis, and Lone were in groups with Hive Boomer Acolytes and Knights, along with blade Knights.

The funny thing? Yesterday, as Rhino, Cybis, and I were going over the final portions of the plan, Oryx, sized to his physical, non-ascendant realm (see: how he appears in cut scenes) form. Needless to say, this made the three of us jump. "The hell?" Rhino nearly yelled before instinctively reaching for a shotty.

Oryx glared at him before speaking. "If I came here to kill you three, I would have done so already, and much more subtly to make it look as if those cultists killed you."

"So, why are you here?" I asked him. "I doubt it's something to help us. I figure those swords are the only things you're willing to give."

"Under other circumstances, you would be correct, mote," the Taken King replied. "But I sensed an abomination within the area you plan to attack, something I am not familiar with."

"And why tell us this?" Cybis asked.

"Because the only part of it I am able to recognize is the Light, and it is on the scale of you three."

"And why tell us that?" I asked.

"Because I also sense the same amount of Darkness around it as what Crota described when three fused yesterday." Short version is cultist incursion; Rhino, Cybis, and I were tired and we wanted sleep, so we just decided to nuke 'em with Darkness energy.

This made me look at the others. "You think-"

"Hey, he's working for our version of Oryx," Rhino said. "'Least, he was. Still, wouldn't surprise me."

"Agreed," Cybis said.

"I assume you have an idea as to this?" Oryx asked.

"Yeah," I replied, "but we aren't entirely certain."

Oryx scoffed. "Still, I expect you will keep my blood safe?"

"If we have anything to say about it," i replied with a head bow.

"Good." And with that, he vanished, but, as he did, I felt, well, I don't know, something in me, close to where I often felt the Light when activating my abilities.

Anyway, back to present. "Dinkle, Tara, what's it look like in there?"

"Guards with spears and swords augmented with lightning," Tara replied.

"So nothing too difficult?"

"Not to begin with," Dinklebot replied.

"Then let's get started," I muttered. "All teams, move in." I then looked back at the small group of Acolytes and Knights behind me. "You all want to become Ascendant?! Then come on!" I yelled at them, making them roar at the prospect of becoming Ascendant-thank you Toland's journal and Books of Sorrow that Xivu gave me for that little bit of Hive knowledge- as I lead them toward the main target, a building that looked like a three story store-house that most likely had underground rooms. Really wish I had Invective right now.

Aw well. Anyway, when we reached there, I threw a specially made grenade filled with a special type of acid that ate through the walls of the place, and allowed my group entry into it, and I saw the other groups follow suite. Though Rhino just shoulder charged through the wall. Sure, why not?

Upon entering, I strung an arrow, took aim, drew back, and fired at the first yellow robed pony I saw, nailing him to the wall with an arrow in his head. I then took the knife on my left gauntlet in my right hand, flipped it to where I was holding the tip, and impaled another pony in the head with it. "Hunters for the win," I said to Rhino and Cybis over comms.

"Bullshit," they both said. "Titans have the most armor. We're the damned reason you all have any chance in the field!"

"Which class has the ability to self res, again?" Cybis retorted as i heard a Nova bomb from the other side of the store-house. "Oh, right, Warlocks!"

"Yeah, because you have the last armor!" I yelled back as i drew another arrow, and knee capped a mare running at me. "You need a crutch there. Hunters are the most agile out of all of you, and, in-game-" another arrow drawn, another dead pony- "they found a shit load of Golden age relics before most others."

"Can you argue later!?" Nolandroid shouted. "We're kind of in the middle of a battle right now!"

"Against morons who can't even touch us, I should point out," Rhino shot back as I heard the sound of crushing bones over his radio, and screams of pain without.

"Do you forget what Oryx told you guys, and the conclusion you jumped to?" Tara asked. "Without evidence, albeit, but still jumped to!" she yelled as I heard Hive Knight roar before hearing a yell of pain

"She's not wrong, guys," Dinkle greed. "And if if she was, you guys are doing this like you're invincible, which you're not! What if Oryx, whether form this time line or ours, were to come here right now, and attack you?! Or something worse? Like the Hive God Akka?"(1)

"He's dead, guys," I deadpanned as I brought out a second knife and slashed at a pony's throats before flipping it into a reverse , and sliced off a unicorn's horn.

"Still, our point's valid."

"And just what are the fucking odds of that?" I asked out loud as I drew another arrow, ready to fire, before my body stopped, and Noland told me the same had happened to the others. "How?"

"Well, Josh," a voice I recognized replied, "it's simple." Of course I'd recognize it, why wouldn't I? "Oryx gave the power of blights." Here, a figure literally stepped out of the shadows. One I also recognized as it entered the light. "We just modified it." Why wouldn't I recognize him? He was me, after all. "I hope you're ready to die," he said as he summoned from the shadows a more human scaled version of Willbreaker, but still one filled with the Darkness, the edge giving off white flames. "Call it revenge for the mirror world."

Final battle in the past Pt2

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As I stood frozen and looking at my presumed-to-be-dead-but-apparently-not mirror version, I heard hoofsteps, and was just barely able to turn my eyes to see the others being carried over here with a combination of magic and mirror Rhino and Cybis. "Now, I imagine you're wondering how we survived the asshole blowing us up?" my mirror version said. "Well, as it turns out, your Oryx was keeping an eye on that dimension ever since you set foot in it, and, when he sensed the Traveler's presence, he was able to teleport us out at the last second."

I tired to ask a question, but my mouth was frozen, so it simply came out as incoherent. Still, as it was myself I was talking to, he understood. "Why does Oryx care if we live? Seriously? Which one of us killed Crota again? Oh, yeah, you. Now, I'll admit, your Celestia may have had a part in the entire thing, but something tells me-by something I mean Oryx- that Crota was there simply to see if she was right," he said. "Now, I admit, that was a stupid move, and I did say that to his face, so he decided to Take Sunset, and use her as an agent to see if you three really were just destructive light. And we both know how that turned out, don't we?"

Cybis, Rhino, you guys there?

Yeah, Cybis replied. Be nice if they'd let us talk so we could ask. Or at least shut them up.

I hear that, Rhino said.

"And seeing as how i have no idea what other questions you may have," mirror me said before he snapped his fingers. "Now you can ask."

"In that case," I growled, "how in the ever loving hell did you come here?"

"Well, if you mean this time line, as well as when, then, well, remember that, like Harmony, Oryx is aware of multiple dimensions. You being here created an alternate timeline, which we were sent to. We then found a Vex gate, and used it to warp back here." A hand then went to his chin. "Though things were mostly the same as back in your Equestria, meaning we most likely failed or something."

"And just why are you doing this?" I asked, and Mirror Rhino replied.

"Well, for starters, for fun," he said. "Seriously, who doesn't like watching stuff explode?"

"And secondly," Mirror Cybis said a she looked at his comrade-they had helmets on so I couldn't see their expressions, though annoyance was in the voice- "because, well, lets just say Harmony has enemies too, and they would love to see you and your allies dead. Preferably you being helpless."

"Of course, though," Mirror me said, "we each know our codes won't go for it. Rhino, get a bubble up. Cyb, get them to where the others won't be in it. Can't let them get caught in this, now do we?"

"Right," he said, nodding, before the three of us were dragged to a large part of the store-house before a void bubble was put up.

"Now, before you get any heroic, idiotic ideas," Mirror Rhino said, "the bubble negates revival. We'll have a three v three deathwatch. First team to lose, well, dies. Whatever we got is available for use, including our fuse abilities."

As he said that, Mirror me snapped his fingers, and the three of us fell to the floor. "I hope you three are ready for a fight," he said as we stood up.

"Well, you are us," Cybis grunted as we stood up, Dreadfangs in our hands.

"So you tell us," Rhino said as he grabbed the hilt of his in both hands and held it out front.

"En guarde," I finished, and we clashed.

Final past battle Pt3- Here we go again

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As my sword clashed with the bone sword of my mirror counterpart, I tuned everything but my link with Rhino and Cybis and my focus on my opponent out. As our swords locked, I was able to feel the Darkness and Light coming off of Mirror me in equal measure, while our swords radiated pure Darkness. "You know, even considering what happened back in our Equestria," Mirror me said, "I'm surprised you're using a Taken weapon. What, did you trick this Oryx into giving it to you, because I doubt he'd do so otherwise."

"Yet you have a willbreaker," I pointed out.

"Yeah, well, we contacted him before he sent Crota there to see if his daughter was or was not just a control freak," he said before he kneed me in the gut, and kicked me away. "The fact we made him think Sombra was an ally of hers just as you went to fight him just helped."

As I got on my knee from the kick, I looked at him. "You're manipulating him? Why?"

"Because we were told to, simple as that," he replied before trying to slice my head off, which I barely avoided with a normal roll. Odd, as I was trying to do a shadestep. For now, going to chock it up to. . .yeah, I don't know, trouble focusing on my subclass. A first, I know. "You honestly think that Discord, Harmony, and Oryx are the only beings-organic ones, I mean-who can freely travel between dimensions? The merchants come from the birth place of the first two, for christ's sake! How else do you think they can teleport other people to Equestria?"

"So, a merchant put you up to this?" I asked as I got back on my feet, trying to reach my Golden gun super, but I couldn't feel it where it would be.

"No, they're too low on that place's hierarchy to order us Displaced to kill each other and change a universe to their whims," he answered. "Only beings with power levels around or higher then Harmony's can do that, and she's in the top tier. Oryx isn't even in the top ten."

"So, who ordered you, then?"

"You seriously think I'll tell you?" he asked. "You'd have better luck with a rock in bed," he said before shade stepping close to me, and spinning around, trying to cut me in half before I jumped back to avoid it. "Though I will give you a hint," he said as he stopped spinning, and our blades locked again. "Matter," was all he said. "Try to figure it out before we are ordered to kill you. 'Cause right now, they just said to have fun with you a-holes."

"You guys are dicks."

He shrugged. "Been called worse," he replied before he blinked behind me, and I felt something stab me. I looked down, and saw Willbreaker pointing out of my stomach.

"I thought you said you weren't ordered to kill me," I growled as my vision went dark.

"Yeah, I was told to have fun," he whispered in my ear. "But we're gamers who once played shooters. For us, killing our opponents is fun."

With that, he pulled his blade out of me, and I fell to the ground. The last thing I saw was him kneeling down next to me. "By the way, we made it to where Nightmare and the others are watching this. Hope you said you're goodbyes," he said before he got up, and I felt a cold hit my neck for a split second before nothing but darkness.

Rhino

I felt a stab in my head as I blocked one of the fists from my counterpart, and he blocked one of mine. You guys alright? I asked over the link.

Yeah, but i don't think Josh is? You see him?

Busy not getting my lights literally punched out, I replied. Let's just hope he's able to hold out.

Agreed, Cybis replied before we cut the link to focus on the current fight.

"You know, you're as strong as I thought you'd be," Mirror me said as our heads were nearly touching one another.

"You too," I replied. "Shame we're fighting to the death, then, huh?"

"A little," he answered. "But where one of you dies, another survives. Hopefully, ones that will become our allies."

"Same to you," I answered before rearing my head back in an attempt to headbutt him as he did the same. Our heads met with enough force to crack the casing of our metallic skulls, revealing a little of the wiring and letting a small red glow escape. "So, a stalemate?" I asked.

"Ordinarily, yes," he said. "Josh, care to show him why this isn't ordinary?"

"On it," I heard him say before I felt my arms get ripped in half with an expert cut to where the mirror me wasn't harmed in anyway. I was then punched back, and fell on my back.

"Before you ask," Mirror Josh said, "the reason I was able to overpower your Josh easily is because I have a little help from our boss, and only one of us needed a boost." Before I could say anything, Mirror me drew his Willbreaker from the void, and stabbed me in the chest, right where my power source was.

Still, thanks for the fight," he said just before the world began to flicker, and eventually went dark.

Cybis

And there's that pain again, only this time, it's in my chest. Guys? asked over the link, only to get silence. Oh, please just let it be they're to focused on their fights.

Mine was nothing special. You know, if you consider two people trying to crush the other to a pulp using force waves as ordinary, that is.

"Just like Morinth and Samara from Mass Effect, isn't it?" I asked.

"Yep," Mirror me replied as our energy waves were stuck in the middle between us. Of course, we had to yell to be heard. "So, who'd you guys save!?"

"Samara!" I relied. "You?!"

"Morinth! Which, by the way, is how this is going to end!"

"What, the one who saved Morinth dying!?"

"Nope!" he yelled back as I was kicked in my side, breaking my concentration and hitting me with enough force to send me crashing into the dome's wall, a few ribs breaking as I hit it. "Us surviving, and Samara dying."

"Damn it," I muttered as I held a hand to my left side, where I felt the most ribs broken. I looked up, and saw all three Mirror versions of ourselves, their own Willbreakers in hand, smirks on the faces of the organic ones.

"You know, for guys who were able to beat one embodiment of the Traveler," Mirror Josh said, "I thought they'd be tougher. AT least to the point it would be believable the only way we'd get out of this alive is by killing them?"

"That why you gave his Josh a hint?" Mirror Rhino asked.

"Yep," the Hunter replied. "Guess it doesn't matter now, though."

"So, going to kill me next?" I asked with a snarl as i tried to get up, only to fall to my knees and cough up blood.

"Assuming you don't die before that," Mirror me said as he walked beside me. "You know, I figured you'd fight better than this," he said in a whisper. "After all, once we're done here, we're going to your world, and we're going to burn it to the ground. Hell, may even keep your loves as our pets. After all, our versions kinda wanted to kill us." He then raised his blade, and spoke up to where the other two could hear it, along with, quite possibly, those outside the bubble. "If you're smart, stay dead."

I didn't listen though, my mind focused on what he said he and his allies would do to the others. Twilight, Nightmare, Applejack. They may be Guardians, but, against an army? Well, look at Twilight Gap and the effort to retake the Moon in game. Still nothing I could- or can- do about it. I had tried to access my Arc abilities to supercharge me attacks earlier, just as the fight was starting, but failed to even connect to it. Same with Solar. I had been about to try Void before this. Doubt it'd work.

Never hurts to try, I heard a voice- Harmony, I think- say in my head. After all, Guardians have done the impossible before, have they not?

I weakly chuckled. Yeah, I guess. With that, I tapped into my Void abilities, but it felt. . different. Still, I can feel it, which is better than the other two.

As I tapped it, I could feel my wounds heal, and myself teleport away just as the blade struck where I had been, with myself now standing up.

"You asshats want a fight?" I asked in a growl as a new instinct emerged, and I felt two things grow in my hand. "Then you got it."

With that, I threw the two things- which I saw were glaives colored purple with black and white accents- at what I thought were random places before I saw two orbs of blue at them. Tara and Noland, waiting for Guardian Light to revive Josh and Rhino. I guess the Darkness, as that's what I'm sure the Glaives were made of, will have to do.

The Glaives hit, and, in the usual flash of revival, Josh and Rhino-my Josh and Rhino- were alive once more.

"The fuck?" I heard the Mirror versions exclaim and my allies say over the mind link in confusion.

"So, Darkness abilities, then," I muttered as I looked at my hands before an evil grin crossed my face. "Me like." I then looked at my allies. "Darkness abilities, far as I can tell guys! Alternate of one of our types!"

"What?" Mirror Josh said. "You shouldn't have those!"

"Why not?" I asked, my tone going to that of a serial killer. "We have both the Light and Darkness. Why not have subclasses for both." I looked at my allies. "I'll buy you guys time while you figure it out!" I yelled before I charged at our mirror versions.

As I reached them, I ducked under their blades with the grace of a Hunter in Arc blade before meleeing the Hunter, who promptly hit me with his knife in my chest.

"Gah, what the hell!" he exclaimed as a wound appeared where he had hit me, only on him.

"Oh, an ability that causes you assholes to take whatever melee damage you dish out," I said, a Joker like grin on my face. "I'm going to enjoy this."

Josh

"I'm not sure what's more terrifying," I whispered to Rhino. "The fact we actually died and then came back when we shouldn't have, or Cybis right now."

"I'm leaning towards Cybis," Rhino said. "Willing to risk those Darkness abilities?"

"If it'll help protect Nightmare and the others," I said before reaching to my Arc abilities, the only ones I could feel now. I tapped those that felt more. . . dark, for lack of a better term, and felt lightning gather around my right hand. I looked, and saw a spear made of electricity. "Impressive," I commented. "Means you're probably solar, Rhino," I said. Now, let's test this baby out. i raised my right hand next to my head, and drew back as I brought my left hand up, my thump pointing upwards. As I aimed, I saw Cybis dancing around the blades of our mirror selves with little effort, or, after hitting one of them, let them retaliate, only for them to stagger back as if hit instead. I then threw the spear.

It hit just behind where Cybis was, his back turned to its impact zone, and created a storm cloud that created lightning bolts that arched to the mirror Guardians.

Cybis looked back at us. I gave him a thumbs up, which he mirrored in response.

"Coming through!" Rhino yelled as he charged at where our enemies were still recovering. He then jumped up before landing in the middle of the four, and smashed the ground, creating a storm colored red and black, bolts of similarly colored lightning arching out and striking our enemies.

Three seconds it faded, and Mirror me, Mirror Cybis, and Mirror Rhino were smoking from the electricity they had taken.

"Well, that was interesting," Mirror me said. "Can't wait to see what happens next. Don't mistake this for cowardice, though. We know when we're screwed." With that, he and the other two vanished in a flash of light, and the Void bubble collapsed, allowing us to see that some timely reinforcements had arrived while we were stuck in there to help Celestia and the others. Said reinforcements Taken versions of Hive and base Hive, along with Malok and Oryx's sisters, though they had shrunken down to be able to fit in here.

"So, it seems you three were able to triumph," we heard Celestia behind us. We turned, and, to our somewhat surprise, we saw her in her Hive form, which was really just the same as Sekana from our mirrorverse, What really surprised us, though, was Luna wasn't there. Nightmare, though was. "It seems those gifts father gave you helped. And I do not mean the swords."

What?" the three of us asked. "Also, Nightmare, we're surprised you revealed your true form."

She shrugged. "Needed a power boost, and the illusion spell to keep Luna up took more than one would think."

Sekana- she's got a Hive form, so I use her Hive name- then answered us.

"Yes.. Those new abilities you three have were placed in you when father gave you those swords."

"But why?" Rhino asked.

"Because I asked him to," we heard Harmony say as we saw the Element gems hover in. "You three forget, I can see the future, and, as your mirror duplicates told you, Oryx, or at least most interpretations of him, are aware of where I live, and many of them are allied with me. The one here included. That's why Oryx spared you, Josh. He sensed my energies in you. After Sekana's meeting with him and before yours, I talked with him in private-I can talk to anyone in their mind if they allow me to- and told him of what would happen here."

"So we have you to thank for our new abilities?" Cybis asked.

"Yes, I-" Harmony began before Rhino punched Magic.

"That's for not telling us so we could use them before we got killed in there," he said.

"You're lucky that was justified," Harmony said, "or I'd vaporize you here and now." We heard a sigh. "Still, I am glad everyone is safe, relatively speaking. There are a few wounds and missing limbs, but nothing life threatning."

"Yeah, I guess that's good," I said. "So, were they really showing what was going on to the others back home?"

"Yes," Harmony said. "They saw everything, including your deaths, Rhino, Josh, and your new abilities."

"Okay, then," Cybis said. "So, since we should get home soon as possible, do you still have that thing you need help with?"

"Yes," Harmony said. "I've been able to arrange it to where some of my allies will be able to get your weapons there just after you all."

"Good," Cybis said. "Then get us there already."

"A little more hostile, Cybis?" Sekana asked.

"Residual overflow from his first Darkness activation," Harmony said. "Josh isn't affected because his psyche is the main one in their fusion, and Rhino because he's a machine."

"Yeah, yeah, just get us there."

"Since your so impatient, then," Harmony said, annoyance in her voice before a portal opened up under Cybis' legs, and he fell through.

"FUUUUUUUUUUU-" was all we heard before he got out of ear shot.

"Well," I said, "thanks, you two, for letting us stay here. You especially, Sekana, considering."

"We should be the ones thanking you, Josh," she said, holding a three fingered hand up. "If you hadn't arrived, then who knows what might have happened."

"Us," Rhino said before I slapped him upside the head. "What? It's true!"

"Regardless," I said, glaring at him. "If we can, and if you're willing, we'll visit you guys later on in this time line. Maybe around a thousand years from now. Time travel, and all that bullshit."

"Yes, well," Nightmare said with a chuckle. "my family and I will welcome you."

"Yes, father and I have talked," Sekana said, "and, since you helped us and are able to use the Darkness, he said you three are welcome whenever you wish. So long as you don't bring war."

I chuckled. "We won't," I said before doing a two fingered salute. "See you later, then." With that, Rhino and I jumped down the hole to where ever it was Harmony wanted us.

The Void

Three figures knelt in front of a large shadow whose features could not be identified. "You say Harmony's soldiers now have even more of the Darkness at their disposal?" it asked the three.

"Yes," the middle, who was Mirror Josh, replied. "To be honest, sir, it wasn't expected."

"I know," the shadow replied. "That's why you three are still alive. . . . Return to the Oryx you are allied with, and continue the subterfuge. Harmony' soldiers can not be allowed to fully come together."

"Yes, my lord," the three Mirror Guardians said before vanishing, and the shadow chuckled.

"And so our little game continues, Harmony," it said. "Your move, whether you know it or not. Use it well."

Author's Notes:

New abilities are those shown in this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0_kBFwPZBo

To balance it out, they will have only the Light and Dark version of those types. In other words, Cybis will only have access to Void, Rhino to Solar, and Josh to Arc.
Now, for story related stuff: the next few chapters-exact number not decided-will be crossovers with one or two of my stories. Maybe three if I get my new one to the point I need it by then. Regardless, I hope you all liked the Paradox arc, and I hope you like the introduction of a new faction in all this. Now, if you've been one of my first followers or read my first story, you already know the name of the new villain. If so, don't say so. No spoilers, as he won't fully be revealed until phase two of my Displaced stories are done. Until next time.

The war begins

View Online

Oryx

"Have the reinforcements from Zulu arrived, along with the prisoners?" I asked Didact, who had his helmet on. It's been a month since we decimated that Griffon scouting group, and both of us were in the war room, with a table between both of us, a magical hologram of the Ecumene and surrounding countries shown on it. The prisoners i was referring to were Changeling prisoners Zulu sent, along with pegasai, unicorn, and earth pony prisoners with no hope of redemption.

"Yes, not an hour ago," Didact replied. "The prisoners are in the dungeons under the keep waiting for your hand."

I nodded. "Excellent. And that signature the mages picked up five minutes ago?"

"Still not identified," he said. "Entirely, anyways. They can tell, however, that the dimensional energies are not those of this world."

"Great," I sarcastically said. "Have a pegasai scout group go and check it out. If there's no indications of it being hostile, have them escort or bring whatever it is here if possible."

"Minute ago," Didact said. "One of the mages transferred to the military, and gave me the full run down, and he issued the order. Was able to jury rig a radio with his magic and a few non-critical pieces of my armor-I would know if it's critical or not considering- and they'll be there in five minutes."

I nodded. "Excellent. "What do our scouts in Griffonia say?"

"Armies massing at multiple points across the border, total size being something we can only take down with a miracle, a space fleet, or your army if it consists of fifty percent of their troops."

"None of which are possible now," I said. "I'm still trying to understand everything of Oryx's abilities, seeing as how I did not gain them the way the in-game version did."

"Yeah, I can imagine they're harder to learn than my abilities," Didact said in a cocky tone. "So, how's Sekana?"

"Well," I replied. "Clover and Platinum usually take care of her whenever I can't. Balance?"

"Hurricane and Pansy seem to enjoy looking after her," he replied. "Let's hope we can end this war quick, so that we can see them grow."

"Yes, that we agree on," I lamented before Didact spoke into his radio.

"Go, Lieutenant. . . . Well, what do they look like? . . . Seriously, that's the best you can come up with? I thought you were good at describing things. (sigh) Look, if they aren't hostile, contact them, and lead them here so we can meet them, got it? . . . Good. I'll see you when you get back or never."

"Your scouts?" I asked.

"Yeah, they made contact. Visual, at least," he said. "Said they looked like smaller versions of us in basic appearance, meaning no muzzle and such, and wore different armor styles, one having mostly robes."

"That sounds familiar," I mused.

"Yeah, same here," he replied. "They said they'll be here in two minutes."

"How?" I asked.

"No idea, they just said the contacts had some sort of vehicle that was extremely quick," he said. "Honestly, I hope whatever they are, they're willing to help us. We'll need it with this war."

"Yes, that is a given," I shot back. "I simply hope they have weapons that are useful."

"That too."

So, from there, two minutes passed before one of Didact's pegasai scouts came into the room "We've brought them here, sirs," he said.

Didact nodded. "Bring them in, but make sure they aren't armed."

"Sir," he said, saluting, before exiting the room as I edged my hand closer to Willbreaker, which was leaning on the table. After a few seconds, the doors opened again.

"Shit," I heard Didact mutter before the new arrivals spoke up.

"You know what, I'm not even surprised anymore, what given the mirror-verse and the last timeline we were in," one said.

"Yeah, can't argue there," a second, more robotic sounding voice said, making turn around, and thus confirming a guess of mine.

Standing there were three Guardians- a Hunter clad in blue with his right sleeve being yellow, with a white, red, and purple cloak on his back, with a blue glow from the helmet and other main armor parts, meaning he was wearing the Spektar FWC armor with their exotic cloak. On his right was a Warlock wearing the Warlock variation of the armor with the same shader. Same with the Titan.

"So, then, I assume you three are Displaced as well?" I asked.

"Okay, that's new," the Hunter said. "A Displaced Oryx and Displaced Didact. All we need now is Spartan Josh and a Displaced Crota, and we got a party."

"I'll take that as a yes," I muttered. "So, then, what are your names?"

"Cybis," the Warlock said as he bowed slightly.

"Rhino-13," the Titan said.

"Josh," the Hunter said as he raised his hand.

"Odd," I said. "I had a brother who had that name."

"Yeah, well, I'm not him," Josh said. "Didn't have one before this, and Rhino and Cybis are my brothers now."

"How so?" Didact asked.

"When we were Displaced," Cybis said, "we were one person, Josh being the main personality there. Upon arriving in our Equestria, we were split into the forms we see now. Though trust me, we aren't your ordinary Guardians, as we're willing and able to use the Darkness."

"Well, that's useful," I said. "You see, if the pegasai didn't inform you, we're in the sights of the Griffons, and they are massing a large army that would steamroll over the Ecumene-"

"What?" Josh asked.

"What we decided to call our nation," I answered. "Anyways, the size of the army would steamroll us, as I still am learning to use my abilities to their best, and we have but a small army."

"Yeah, sounds like you guys'll need help," Rhino said. "Harmony, care to get us our weapons?"

At first, I thought he was speaking to the air, but then, nine weapons-two swords, one having an arc core and the other solar, one rocket launcher that looked as if it was made of blackened bone and red muscle, three shotguns, two auto rifles and one pulse rifle, appeared on the guardians, the primary weapons in their hands. "So, when's the war start?" Josh asked as I smiled.

"Soon," I said, turning back to the table as I saw a portion of the border light up, indicating Griffons had passed it. "Very soon."

A new ally arrives

View Online

A few months have passed since me and the other two Guardians arrived in this universe, and, currently, I was on a ridge overlooking a Griffon forward base, the Hereafter sniper rifle in hand. "What's it look like, Josh?" Rhino asked me over the radio.

"We got at least fifty griffons on the outside for patrol at a time, another fifty inside, thirty of which are guarding the objective, and from what I can tell, they're the elite ones." The three of us had been dispatched by Oryx to come here as a few hours ago, the unicorn mages picked up a signature similar to the one we had made upon arrival, and he wanted us to check it out should it be a new displaced, and make sure they wouldn't be helping the Griffons. "You got the surprise ready for 'em?"

"In place," Cybis replied. "Just needs to be activated."

"Copy, we start on my mark. I'll provide sniper support."

"Roger that. Cybis, make sure to stay close to me in case they got something explosive."

"You know I was going to do that anyway, Rhino. But don't expect me to run off if I have a clear shot at the objective."

"I expected that," Rhino shot back.

"Okay people, enough chatter, let's get ready," I said as I aimed my sniper at the wall closest to me, where I saw a small package, and set my crosshairs on it. "On the signal."

"Understood," the Titan and Warlock said.

With that, I slowed my breathing, and looked at my target. "Boom," I whispered before pulling the trigger, firing the bullet, causing the gun to kick into my shoulder as the bullet hit it's mark, causing a large explosion to serve as the distraction. "Move in."

Rhino

"Move in."

"You heard him," I said to Cybis as I grabbed my Auto rifle, which was An answering chord, the Vanguard suros auto rifle, the abilities being the same as the one you get from the quests after defeating Oryx in game, while Cybis was using the Paleocontact auto rifle, the Dead orbit one. "Let's go."

I was also currently wearing the Vanguard armor set. The one that had the final stand of First Pillar titans, I forget the name currently, while Cybis was wearing the Bindcaster armor, the one with the quotes from Toland in the flavor text. "Right," Cybis said, nodding before we moved into the Griffon base using a hole I had made with my solar charged fist, the sound covered by the explosion. Cybis and I moved quickly, our weapons raised and at the shoulder, an eye on our tracker, one eye in front of us. I was up front, Cybis behind me and keeping an eye on our sides.

"Guys, I have three Griffons in front of you, twelve 'o clock, backs turned," Josh reported over the radio.

"Copy that, we'll avoid and reroute."

"Not possible, they've set up groups at major points. You'll encounter ones regardless, and those in front are the ones that seem to be those least prepared."

"Understood," I said, and we continued to move forward, the griffons now in tracker range. Once we were close, I aimed my rifle and pulled the trigger twice, delivering a two shot burst into two of the Griffons as Cybis followed up on the one that didn't fall with his own shots.

"Clear," Cybis said as we passed over the bodies, and continued on our way.

"Two intersections up, turn left," Josh said. "Two griffons at the first intersection past there, so drop 'em quick, then turn right there. From there, a straight shot to the objective. I'll work on clearing the way further up."

"Copy that," I said as the two of us followed his directions, quickly dropping those two Griffons he pointed out, and made our way to the objective, passing Griffons who had holes in their heads, most likely from Josh's sniper, which meant we only had to deal with those elite guards, who were still alive as we hid form their sight behind a tent.

"Super ready?" Cybis asked me.

"Yeah, you?"

"Ready to shatter," he replied.

"Then let's do this," I said as I stepped out of cover and took aim before firing at one of the guard's heads, only for the helmet to deflect the bullet, and allow them to open fire with old rifles, as in 1700 era rifles. Still, they packed a punch, and quickly depleted my shields. Fortunately, they had one shot while I had twenty seven before having to reload, which allowed me to empty an entire clip into one of them before I put the rifle on my back, and summoned my Hammer of Sol, coating my body in flames just as Cybis jumped above me, and unleashed his Shatter bomb, which killed two of the guards with impact, the final one jumping out of the way, but he was soon killed by my hammer.

"Hostiles inbound to your position, guys!" Josh yelled over the radio.

"Copy that. Cybis, get in there, and get them out. I'll hold off the morons."

He nodded. "On it," he said before entering the tent the four had been guarding just as five Griffons rounded the corner.

"Hello, idiots," I said before throwing a hammer in there direction and summoning another one. "Goodbye, idiots." Soon as I said that, more came in. "Well, let the fun commence," I muttered before I threw down a thermite grenade, creating a path of pulsing flames that killed those the flames hit as I used my hammer to clean up. Once my hammer vanished, I brought up my Super Good Advice machine gun, and opened fire from the hip, completely mowing through them.

"Coming out!" Cybis yelled over the radio.

"Copy, bringing the ships as well as the extraction team," Josh replied. "ETA, three minutes."

"We'll be good, then," I replied as the shooting reached a lull, and I looked back at Cybis and the target. He was being helped by Cybis. He wore a blue jacket that seemed to be made out of shiny blue rectangles with a large, silver-as well as metal- half circle thing around his neck, and had black markings on his face. "Hey, Josh, you remember that third guy Oryx and Didact were with before Displacement?"

"Yeah, what about it?"

"I think we found him."

"Really? Well, that was unexpected. Still, we at least know who we're getting out of here. Also, I'm relocating as the fuckers got to my location, Last i saw, none are en route to your location."

"Got it," I said as i made my way to where Cybis held the Displaced. "You guys okay?"

"Yes, I am," the Displaced said with a robotic echo to his voice. "My name is Alad V. I assume this is your Equestria?"

"Nope, just helping some people out," I replied. "You got any weapons?"

"One, technically," he said before turning to look at Cybis and told him, "Please do stand back. I can carry myself."

"Sorry," he said as he let go of Alad and stepped back.

"Now, let's just hope this works," I heard Alad muttered before the collar thing snapped into a full circle, and some kind of visor went over his eyes, and a sort of robotic howl could be heard. "Seems it does. Excellent," he said as some kind of blue dog thing came out of the tent. It had two black shoulder pods and was close to the ground like a lizard-even had three fingers and toes as well as a somewhat elongated face.

"And that is what now?" Cybis asked.

"Zanuka, a robot using Warframe parts. . . . Do you two even know what Warframe is?"

"Nope," I replied.

"Basics are that you are a space ninja who has access to special, mentally controlled exosuits called Warframes, and Zanuka uses parts from one. I'm also a villain in that universe."

"Considering who we're working with, makes sense," Cybis said as the sound of jet engines could be heard closing in. We looked up and there I saw my new ship, Little Light and Cybis' Ketch me if you can. Riding on them were pegasai soldiers and unicorn mages. The pegasai as protection for the mages, and the mages to teleport Alad to the castle. Yeah, another thing is that Oryx and Didact began work on a castle just for them. They jumped off the ships with the leader of the group, a pegasai soldier walking up to me.

"Target secured," I told him. "Tell the mages to start charging the spell, and have your troops begin gathering the Griffon weapons for reverse engineering."

"Yes, General," he said, saluting, before he relayed orders to the others.

I then turned back to face Alad. "We'll see you back at the castle," I said before Cybis and I were transmatted into our ship. "Josh, where you at?"

"On my way, had to use vanish to escape," he replied. Now, when we got here, Harmony gave him the Road unraveled ship, the same one Twilight had, so that we all had ships, as well as places to store the weapons we weren't currently using. Anyways, we arrived at the castle ten minutes later and transmatted out on a balcony on the second floor. You'd be amazed at how quick structures can be built when the Darkness and magic are involved together. Waiting for us were Oryx, Didact, and Alad.

"You three have my thanks," Alad said. "If you hadn't come, those animals would have most certainly made me make weapons for them."

"And from us as well," Oryx said. "Alad had been Displaced seconds after us, and we were uncertain as to where he was.

"No problem," Josh said. "Still, I'm surprised to see three beings form different games in the same world. Usually it's all from a single universe."

"You and me both, Guardian," Alad muttered.

"Regardless," Didact said, "this strike should unbalance them for a time, giving us time to prepare and for Oryx to Take more of them. As well as down time so that Oryx and I may spend time with our daughters. Who you still need to meet, Alad."

"They why wait?" he said.

"You guys do that," I said. "We'll make sure everyone here is ready should the griffons have infiltrators in the city."

Oryx nodded. "Then we will see you three tonight at the war council." And with that, we went our separate ways.

Hail to the king

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Oryx

A year has passed since the Guardians helped free Alad-or Salad as Sekana calls him, often eliciting chuckles from most of us at the memory of his reaction when she first called him that- and we were now in full out war. Our alliance-consisting of the Ecumene, Zulu's Hive, a few Saddle Arabian houses and some Minotaur houses as they were organized similar to the Eliksni- or the Fallen, if you do not know Destiny races and their history- which is to say various houses that fall under their own leadership as well as one for the race, and the Guardians- and the Griffons-who had subjugated other Saddle Arabian houses and hired Dragon mercenaries along with crystal ponies up north- were in a stalemate that has lasted for three months.

That would change today.

Myself; an elite strike force of equal parts pegasai, unicorns, earth ponies, and changelings; and the Hunter-who had changed his armor color to that of the arctic proxy shader and changed the chroma color from blue to white, making it ice white with the cloak for the fallen House of Wolves, were in the north. The Crystal Empire, as it turns out, is a research site where the Griffon Empire is working on a new weapon of some sort meant to destroy us in one fell swoop. We were here to destroy it and the notes for it, kill the minds that worked on it, and either free the crystal ponies, subjugate them, or raze their home to the snowy ground.

Before you ask, Didact, Alad, and the other two Guardians were leading the front lines in the Saddle Arabian deserts south of the Ecumene with Platinum, Hurricane, and Puddinghead handling the domestic issues while we were gone.

"So, what are the defenses?" I asked the Hunter, as it was us and one of the other races in this group that stood in the command tent for this operation, a rough map of the Empire on a table in front of us.

"Elite troops numbering near fifty just outside," he reported. "We also have to dela with giant crossbows and crystal guards."

"What do you want done with the last group, sir?" the pegasai officer- a mare with chocalate brown skin and black hair and til- asked.

"Capture if possible, kill if not," I replied. "What's the facility layout?" I asked the unicorn officer.

"Underground, for one," he replied. "Other than that, haven't been able to get much."

I nodded. "I will handle that much. Hvae you pinpointed someone high up from the facility?"

"I have, sir," the changeling officer said. "Name's Obsidian Strength, and he's the captain of their defenses. If the crystal ponies are being subjugated, he's a willing helper, so he'll need to die anyway."

"Planning on adding another to the army?" Josh asked, his arms crossed.

"At the very least, gathering intelligence," I replied. "But most likely, yes," I added.

"Then I'll get my weapons ready," he said before going to leave the tent. If there's one thing I have learned about him personally over the year, it is that he does not enjoy stuff like this, and tries to leave them whenever he can.

"It is best you all do the same as well," I told the officers. "Your troops as well. Once I have the intel, we will need to move as soon as possible. This will not be subtle."

"Sir," they said before saluting.

"Dismissed." With that, they left. "And so thus the fun begins," I said before a green portal opened in front of me, and i stepped through it and into my ascendant realm.

It had taken me time to master my abilities enough to be able to enter it, but now that I had access, I was able to change it however I liked it, and it now resembled the room from the end of King's Fall, though in place of the platforms were, from top left going clockwise to opposite, a play area for Sekana-who was often now looked after Platinum's Taken brother when here- a planning are for any attacks on enemy territory, a table on which any important individuals were to be Taken, and a Rupture base, which is what I call those things the rupture portals have to be connected to on one end.

Currently, Sekana was in the castle in the other realm. A good thing, as I did want to teach her any of my abilities until she was older. Nothing more terrifying than a toddler who can Take one's will. Anyways, I made my way to the area where unfortunate bastards would lose their will. Once there, I closed my eyes, and focused my power in the other plane to find Obsidian Strength. Now, for some reason, even when I didn't know what they looked like, my power always brought me the right target.

A few seconds later, there was a scream as a pony was deposited on the table. I opened my eyes, and saw a see through stallion colored gray with black hair wearing silver armor strapped to the table. "What the buck's going on!? he yelled before seeing me and his visage turned to one of anger and fear. "You," he growled. "I should have known the Demon King would come after me."

"Twenty two, and what did you expect? I need to know what you do," I said. "Mainly the defenses and layout of the research center."

"Please, you'll never get it," he said confidently.

"Fifty, and bitch, I was able to turn Princess platinum's stubborn ass brother into a soulless husk. You are nothing to that," I growled before raising my palm, Darkness travelling down my arm to the palm, and I recited, "You are filled with anger and malice. I name you Obsidian Strength, servant of the Griffons. I see unending loyalty and a willingness to die. But you are afraid of being betrayed.

You are Taken

There is a knife. It is shaped like Deception. Take the knife. Defend yourself by making your enemies think you are something else.

As I said this, his armor and skin began to change colors to resemble black speckled with white, and his eyes began to glow as he struggled and screamed in pain as his very being- his will- was stolen from him, along with the memories from him I needed, everything else being discarded.

You are a servant of Oryx, unafraid of death and willing to kill those you once called friend to follow his will, that which is the only one that matters. You are Taken, and you find glory in it. As I finished this version of the "Taken Speech" as I called it, Obsidian stopped screaming, and only moved vi the usual twitch that accompanied being Taken. Using the Darkness, I teleported him off the table and in front of me.

"Now, show me your ability," I commanded.

He did so, and changed instantly into his former guise. Though he did have specks of black and white on his skin, and his eyes still had a slight glow. He then changed into the Hunter. Intel reports, I assume. Regardless, he then went back to his Taken form. Curious, I used my abilities to give him some semblance of a will, just enough to speak. "Speak."

Roughly, he said, "I am a. . .servant of Oryx, the Taken, King." I added a little more, carefully monitoring how much will he had, and kept telling him to speak until he spoke effortlessly. Looks as if I have an infiltrator now. Perfect.

"Follow," I ordered him, and he did so as I went to the Rupture, and used my Hive Magic to pen the portal before stepping through, the new Taken in tow. I stepped out next to the the Guardian, which is what I wanted.

"Got the intel?" he asked as he examined his weapon, the Year two Suros Regime rifle.

"Along with an Infiltrator," I replied before turning my head to face him out of the corner of my eye. "Assume your previous form, and return to the Empire, and head towards the southern gate. As soon as I signal, open it."

"Yes, my king," he said before returning to his previous form and teleporting to I assume his house..

"That's a little weird," Josh said. "I'm used to Taken not talking." A second of silence. "Rhino and Cybis agree with me, by the way."

"And I'll never get used to you three having a mental link," I shot back, referencing the ability those three had to telepathically communicate, regardless of distance. I swear, if all three of them are machines, it'll be like Vex with personalities.

"Fair enough," he replied. "So, got a plan?"

"Indeed I do," I replied. "Get the group leaders, and finish your preparations, Guardian. The Empire falls by the week's end."

A day later-Josh

I ran through the snowy landscape, the scout for the attack group looking for patrolling guards and taking any out with an Arc Ironwreath side arm, the light type being because it would blend in with the enviornment. So far, I had encountered only two groups of four each, and took them out with ease, a mix of bullets and throwing knives to the skulls taking them out quickly and silently. Another advantage I had was the blizzard, as it reduced enemy sights. True, it reduced mine as well, but my Tracker made up for it with three-sixty detection.

Now, before you ask, Alad and the Didact had been working to make advanced combat suits for the Ecumene soldiers, something akin to a mix of Spartan MJOLNIR and Warframe's warframes-which I still don't know what they really are- that would allow their troops to operate in conditions like this as if it was a sunny day with no wind. So far, prototypes were in the field-which the assault group were using- but nothing in terms of mass production. Weapons? Some kind of mix between Hardlight-which is what Forerunner weapons used if not some kind of particle based weaponry- and a few of the weapons Cybis, Rhino, and I brought, mainly liquid ammo and energy based weapons, as well as Ammo transmat like what the Super Good Advice does with the rounds it fires. Yeah, that last one was currently only being used in prototype tanks-I am not kidding- and LMGs. Oh boy.

Anyway, back to now and here. My path had me heading toward the southern gate. After that was open and the group was in, my job was assassination of the research heads here, acquisition of any and all position intel on enemy forces, and maybe-as if not really, just do- plant a bomb of concentrated Darkness in the city that would either turn all in it into basic Taken or kill them, as well as escort any civilians I could out of the blast radius.

Ten minutes had passed of my killing the second patrol squad when I reached the gates. "Route clear," I whispered. "Move in."

"Understood," Oryx replied over the radio. Well, not really radio, more Darkness echos. Yeah, I don't know, it's whatever the Hive use to communicate in game. The contact then cut off before I initiated another channel.

"Noland, initiate music protocol designate badass royal."

"On it."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DelhLppPSxY

The perfect song to kick ass to if you're a king. Anyways, that was the signal-or Oryx has telepathy with the Taken- as the gate opened. I stepped through, and instantly had my rifle transmatted out for Dreadfang, and sliced two Griffons in half. "Gate's open," I reported. "Moving towards target."

I did not hear his reply, as I instantly had to kill three other guards-two Griffons and one crystal pony- by slicing their heads off before running towards my objective. I then had it swapped back out for Suros, and began moving.

"Josh, I'm picking up some odd frequencies," Noland reported. "Subsonic-but not fatal- mixed with some ultraviolet and infrared light. Don't worry, your armor's protecting you, but from what I can get from here and the Empire back home, the frequencies hit a resonance with Crystal ponies. They may be under mind control. Don;t worry, I told Oryx and the assault group."

"Then let's just hope Obsidian didn't have a family and was a prick without mind control," I muttered before speaking up. "You got the source?"

"Destination area, sub-level six. Ironically enough, what Oryx got from Obsidian shows that's where the main research project is, code named: Heart. . . . You thinking what I am?"

"This is fucking medieval Equis, I wouldn't be surprised!" I shouted as I fired my rifle at a large mob of ponies, aiming for their legs to cripple them before reloading and continuing. For the most part, hostile guards were Griffons-killed with headshots or shanked in the brain- but there were a few ponies, each of which got a crippling but non-lethal bullet somewhere in their bodies. Eventually, I reached the center of the Empire as screams of pain were heard in the distance. Turning, I saw an entire area of the Empire up in flames. Black and white flames, that is.

"Looks like he's having fun," Noland said as he appeared next to me. "Sure you can handle taking the entire facility by yourself?"

"Noland, let me ask you a question," I said. "What do badasses wear?" I asked as I pulled out a breaching charge which utilized very volatile light for the explosive.

"Uh. . .shades?"

"Yes, but they also wear cloaks. And what do all Hunters wear?"

"Cloaks."

"So, if we follow that logic," I said. "Hunters are badasses. And we Hunters are god race."

"And yet Warlocks can self rez," he countered.

"True, and that makes them master race," I retorted as I stuck the explosive to the door of the facility in front of me, a simple square building on the surface. "But I said Hunters are god race, and a master is below a god. And gods can not die," i said before jumping back and blowing the door. "Now, if you'll allow me, I must do the one tradition of gamers everywhere." I cleared my throat before yelling at the top of my lungs, "LEEERRROYYY JENKIIIINSSS!" and running into the building with bladedancer and the spear active.

"Oh boy," I vaguely heard Noland say as I began to kill the Griffons in the building left and right. I slashed with the blade and stabbed with the spear, spinning as if I was an electric tornado of death, making my way to the stairs and down towards sub-level six. Once there, my Arc weapons vanished, and i once again took hold of my Suros, which had been on my back the entire time. Thank you advanced magnetic locks.

"Don't ever do that again," Noland said as he caught up with me.

"Dude, Titans are the one to plan, not Hunters," I said as I entered the first room on this sub-level. "Why do you think most Hunters in the canon are Lone wolves?" I asked before blind shooting a griffon in the head to my front.

"They still plan, dumbass."

"Hey, I'll give you to Alad."

"You're the one who started this argument."

"You brought the subject up."

"No, that as you with the comment on planning. You do realize I'm the reason you can't die, right?"

"Eeyup," I said before ducking under a sword swung at me from the right of my body and then shooting him in the head. "Damned morons. Even if you got past my shield, my clothes are made of a material you're swords can't cut through, pretty much hard as steel!"

"You do realize the griffons don't give a shit, right?" Noland asked.

"Yep, but you know how I am when it comes to stupidity," I replied as we arrived at a door.

"Frequency seems to be coming from the other side of the door," Noland said as he turned to face it. "Please tell me you at least have a plan to handle this." In reply, I held up G-horn. "And if it doesn't work?"

"Then maybe Oryx can do something," I said. "Can you open it?"

"It's a door made of steel and wood," he replied. "Of course I can," he said before emitting a blue energy stream into the lock. "Just need to turn the lock this way and. . . . gotcha." There was a small click as the door became ajar. "What would you do without me?" he asked.

"Bust the thing down," I replied in a smartass tone before opening the door, revealing a large, circular room with metal walls-I can only imagine that was a pain in the ass to shape- with a large, glass cylinder in the center, and with a familiar, heart shaped crystal in the center. "Looks like we were right," I said. "That good or bad?"

"Bad," Noland replied. "The heart, if I'm right, is bound to have multiple protection spells on it, and is most likely to cause a large explosion if it's destroyed."

"So, Ascendant?"

"Ascendant. I'll get Oryx."

Oryx

As I cleaved a griffon soldier in two with Willbreaker, Josh's Ghost contacted me. "Oryx, we found the Heart, but my scans say it's got enough magic built up in it to nuke the Entire Empire and some of the Ecumene of it's destroyed. Can you move the thing to the Ascendant realm where it can be more easily controlled?"

"I'll have to be there, but yes," I replied before turning to face the unicorn leader of the assault group. "Lieutenant, you have command over the group. The Guardian requires my aid."

He nodded. "Understood, sir," he said. Now, as Josh said, the assault group was using prototype armor. The armor itself was shaped to resemble Forerunner armor according to how it was described in Halo novels, with small, floating parts above the shoulders and lights that changed to show emotions. It also was able to assemble and disassemble at the wearer's will, but this required a neural interface. Something tricky enough when dealing with one race, but four races is a challenge especially. As for weapons, they were using auto rifles using liquid ammo. Eat it, Omolon!

With that out of the way , back to the story. I made my way to the research complex, killing Griffons whenever they charged and cutting the legs off of ponies when they charged. Eventually, I reached my destination, and saw that there were many a body that looked as if it had been electrified. The stairwell was too small for me, so I simply teleported down to Sub-level six.

"Why not?" I heard Josh ask his Ghost as I arrived.

"Because if you did, she'd kill you after castrating you," the Ghost replied. "She's the Goddess of the fucking moon, for Christ's sake!"

"So? Rhino's a robot, and he's got a marefriend. Even Cybis, and he's the blandest out of the three of us. Not to say he is bland, he simply acts like Spock."

"I'm certain I do not wish to know," I commented as they came into my view, as well as the room. "Is that the Crystal Heart?"

"Yep," Josh replied. "You ever heard of Fall of Equestria?"

"No, but I have a feeling you'll explain," I replied.

"Yeah. So, in that world, a race known as Caribou-who are sexist, misogynist, patriarchal-"

"To the degree feminists think all men back home are," the Ghost added.

"Yay," I sarcastically commented.

"Back to it, they're also Mary Sues who only have control of Equestria because the guy who made it is probably a closet sexist who thinks the only role for women is on their knees, but in universe it's because they mind raped who ever they came across to see their ideals, but leave females out of it, only using that control to target males, but this-what we're dealing with right now- is working because it actually hits all of them instead of a single gender, and it fully works. Only difference- the griffons aren't using this to literally and figuratively rape a country."

"Well, i know what I'm going to do to them should I encounter them," I replied. "So, what do you have in mind to eliminate this artifact?"

"Either send it to the Ascendant realm so it doesn't affect the ponies here, or counter it's ability," Ghost said.

"I'll send it to the Ascendant realm, then," I said before raising my hand towards the artifact as black and white flames began to lick at it. A few seconds later, it vanished. "I will handle the rest after this battle," I told them. "Come. Time to finish this battle."

A few hours later-Ascendant realm

I arrived in my throne room in a burst of concentrated Darkness. Still, none were present but me. Of course, there was something new in the very middle, and that was the Crystal Heart. I made my way to it, and examined. It looked much like how I remembered it from that forced marathon, only it was being contained in a stasis field.

Now, since I captured it, an idea had come to my mind on how to use it. I ran it by Alad thanks to our personal communication devices, and though he said it may backfire, it was also possible. Time to see if so.

With a wave of my hand, I released the stasis field before filling the Heart with pure Darkness, making it turn from the crystal blue to black and white in mere seconds. Step one complete. Now fro what I know I'll regret should it fail.

I sent a single message to Platinum's brother to come here with something. A second later, he appeared. "You called, my. . .king?" he asked. The little incident with Obsidian led me to experiment a little with this asshat, which led to me learning putting enough of one's will back into them allows them to speak, but little else. In his hands was a sleeping Sekana.

"Indeed I did," I replied. "Set Sekana down next to the Heart, then return."

"Yes. . .my king," he said with a bow before doing so. Once he was gone, I breathed in a troubled breath and released a troubled sigh.

"May this work," I whispered as I rose my hand again, taking direct control over a small portion of Darkness in the Heart before doing so with my mind on what little magic there was in my daughter. I then made the amounts equal in power-leading to less Darkness than magic if it could be quantitative- and began to transfer the two, the magic to the Heart to be corrupted, the Darkness to Sekana so that she can begin training in it as soon as possible while still being herself, and not a monster. Not a minute later, the transfer was done, and I went to pick up Sekana.

She awakened once I had finished and looked up at me. "Daddy," she cooed with a smile, making me release a breath I knew not I was holding. Here eyes now had specks of white and black flame in the iris, and, for a second, her horn flared, releasing black and white light. Other than that, no changes I could so far perceive.

Of course, I was not a doctor, so I'll have to have Alad analyze her upon my return. Still, I released a small smile at seeing Sekana was-currently, at least- safe. "Once you are able, daughter, we will begin your training," I told her. She was old enough to understand, trust me. She just enjoyed acting like this. "Simply ensure you do not put training ahead of your cousin, will you? We are the only immortals in this universe, after all."

And with that, I teleported to the main castle from which Alad, Didact, and I ruled. Alad hadn't left the castle for combat. Instead, he used Zanuka to fight as his Proxy. He was in his lab, which is where I teleported to, waiting for me.

"Ah, Oryx," the scientist said upon my arrival. "Judging from Sekana being in your arms, I trust she is well."

"As far as I can tell, Alad," I replied.

"But you need me to scan her organs to ensure her physiology hasn't changed?" he asked. "A fair an legitimate concern, given what happened. May I?"

"Of course," I said as he walked over and I handed Sekana over to him.

"Uncle Salad!" she exclaimed in joy, and instantly began to play with the ring on his neck.

"Sekana, stop, that isn't a toy," he said. "Now, I need to do a little check up on you. It won't be long, I promise."

"Okay, Uncle Salad," she said with a smile.

"Good, good," he said before putting her on one of the seats. "Before I start, Oryx, there is something you should know."

"What?" I asked.

"My Zanuka picked up dimensional reading just before you got here, one indicative of transport. I had it investigate," he told me.

"What did it find?" I asked.

"A very peculiar thing," Alad said. "It found a warframe. An Excalibur, to be precise.

Blade brothers

View Online

I came to slowly from the blackout Harmony had induced on me, rubbing my head as I did so and I opened my eyes, which showed the scenery to be some kind of sci-fi dungeon, as it had stone walls, but a lot of advanced instruments that looked straight out of a science fiction game, and trust me, I would know. That was my genre before being sent to Equestria.

Anyway, I sat up. "Oh, my head," I muttered before hearing a somewhat robotic voice.

"Ah, Tenno. Good, you're awake. And you aren't just a mind drone." Oh no, I recognize that voice, and it made me jump from the table I was on and summon my Exalted blade, and pointed it at Alad V- the mad scientist from the Warframe universe who would cut open Warframes for research purposes.

"Just where the fuck am I?!" I yelled at him. "And don't think of getting close to me, because I will skewer you."

"I suppose I should have seen that coming," Alad, dressed in the in-game outfit he usually has. "I can understand your reaction, Tenno, but I have no interest in dissecting you. And even if I did, I'm too busy using Griffon physiology against them. And not because I'm the villain, it's because I'm the scientist of the Displaced trio that rules here and is currently at war with the Griffons."

". . .Somehow, I'm not surprised by that," I said as I deactivated my power. "So, you're a Displaced too?"

"Indeed I am," he replied. "My Zanuka- which arrived with me here, by the way- found you and brought you to our castle, where you've been out for near month since we found you."

"A month!?" I yelled in surprise.

"Yes," Alad said before the collar. . .thing around his neck which also allowed him to control Zanuka beeped. "Ah, it seems as if Oryx is on his way here."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait a minute. Oryx? As in Oryx the Taken King? As in a boss who is incredibly fucking terrifying in the Rain given his health and the mechanics?"

"And in this universe, adoptive father to Celestia, believe it or not," he said. "Yeah, as a brony, I was surprised to and nearly freaked at that little fact."

I shrugged. "Dude, I just got done killing a mirror version of Luna, Celestia, and Cadence who were in Nightmare form dressed as warlocks from Destiny alongside the Shadow Stalker. When it comes to Displaced shit, I've learned to not question stuff like that."

"I suppose that make sense," Alad said. "So, what's your Equestria like?"

"Anthro with twenty plus ponies in Warframes, as these frames are special liquid metal mixed with magic," I replied. "Half of which are allied with Celestia trying to stone my ass, while the other half, including Twilight and Luna, are with me. And just call me by the frame designation. I've gotten used to it."

"Noted, Excalibur," he said as we heard heavy footsteps, making me turn around and see the Taken king approaching us.

"Ah, Oryx. I imagine you can tell our guest is awake?"

"And his name," Oryx replied as he stopped and eyes me. "Hm. Odd. Your colors resemble that my brother preferred on his online avatars."

"Really?" I asked before what Harmony told me hit me in the head. "Hey, uh, quick question."

"Yes?" Oryx asked.

"What do the Gamertags 'Brother Saber' and 'Brother Katana' mean to you?"(1)

"Those were my and my brother's gamertags," Oryx replied. "Why do you ask?"

"'By the light of our blades and the shadows of the cut, all our enemies shall fall'," I replied, making Oryx mouth open slightly.

"Josh? Is that you?"

"Yeah. I'm guessing that's you, Mark?"

"Indeed it is," he replied. "It is good to see you again, brother, but I'm curious as to how you're here given your death."

"A goddess gave me a second life," I replied. "You getting here?"

"Some ass at comicon that gave me wings, Alad his robotic dog, and Didact, the last of our trio, his scattershot."

"So the usual Displaced shit then, huh?"

"Apparently."

"And how's it feel being stuck here?" I asked, knowing he absolutely hated this show.

"Since I am in the leadership and currently changing it to more of my liking, quite well," he said. "If your curious as to where your weapons are, they're in the guest room. If you want, I can show it to you."

"Please," I said. "I've had weapons long enough to where I don't feel right without at least a sword. An actual sword, not my Exalted Blade."

"Then come one," he said. "Then you get to meet your new niece."

"Oh yay," I muttered. With that, Oryx led the way to my room-something which was an average room without anything fancy- where I put the weapons in their respective places. That is to say Silva and Aegis on my left wrist, the Soma across my back, and the Aksomati on the thighs. From there, he led me to the nursery room where Celestia-or Sekana as she's called here- was playing.

"Adopted her a little over a year ago when she was already three," Oryx said.

"Explains why she's already playing with toy swords," I muttered. "Guessing you put a little capital d Darkness in her too?"

"Just before Zanuka found you," he replied as Sekana came over to us.

"Daddy, who is this?" she asked, a wooden sword in her hand.

"This, Sekana is your uncle Excalibur. He only recently arrived."

"Hello, Sekana."

"Hi uncle Sword," she said with a smile. "Are you going to help Daddy beat the Griffons?"

I chuckled before replying. "Yes, Sekana, I am," I said before kneeling down and picking her up. "And if you want to, if I'm able to and when you're old enough, I can show you how to use a sword."

"I don't see why not," Oryx said.

"Yay!" Sekana cheered.

This was unfortunately cut off as a Taken pony-no, I'm not kidding- appeared and bowed.

"Hi, uncle betrayer," Sekana said and I looked at Oryx.

"A traitor to the Griffons who now serves as one of Sekana's caretakers and, eventually, one of her hands," he told me before addressing the Taken. "What is it?"

"My liege, the Guardians and Didact are under attack by a new war machine of the Griffons, and require assistance."

Before i could look at Oryx, he said, "A happy accident I've decided to roll out to all Taken," before addressing the Taken again.

"I and Excalibur-who will have the same authority over you and the others as Sekana and I- will handle it. Take care of my daughter until I return."

Before a reply was heard, I felt my world go upside down and my insides turned inside out before they were righted, and I saw that Oryx and I now stood on a grassy hill overlooking four figures running from a huge tank that was currently firing from a primitive machine gun towards them with a small force of Griffons around it.

"Muskets mixed with world war one era machine guns," I commented. "That's new, not to mention the huge ass tank."

"Indeed," Oryx said. "Alad will want that mostly intact to study." He then looked at me, and I at him. "So, want to show 'em why we were called the Blade Brothers back home on Live?"

Under my helmet, I grinned as I drew Silva. "I'll go in, clear out a path to the tank, then move in and kill it's crew."

"We'll need something fitting for the sword play," Oryx commented.

"Revengeance?" I asked.

"Please," he said, and I could hear the grin in his voice as I turned back to face the battle ground.

"Then let's do this shit."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCWuJlJgsSQ

Cybis' perspective

"Come on, we need to outrun these fuckers!" I heard Josh yell just before I jump back and throw a scatter grenade at the pursuing Griffons, though it did little, as these guys had special armor that was somehow resistant to my grenades.

"No fucking shit, Josh!" Rino yelled back before jumping into the air and using light before turning in the air to face them and fire off a G-horn shot against the new tank- a three story thing with high velocity shells and old machine guns, as in our world's world war one era machine guns for the secondary weapons-, though the armor plating on it was thick.

Now, I know what you're thinking-why not hijack the thing? Because, quite simply, those machine guns, though primitive, could melt through our shields, and Didact can't jump up high enough to reach it.

"Where's the nearest base?!" I yelled as we avoided shots from the foot soldiers. If there's one good thing abou thte tank, it's that is has one slow ass reload time.

"Three kilometers away!" Didact replied.

"Shiiiiiiiit!" Josh yelled at that just before we heard music.

"Okay, who the fuck's playing something from Revengeance!?" Rhino yelled before our radios came on.

"Guardians, Didact, this is Oryx. I am inbound with a new ally to capture the tank. We're already in the area."

"How close?" Didact asked.

"Close enough," was the reply before we heard the air behind us crackling and screams of pain, making us turn our heads and see orbs of Darkness coming into existence over the Griffon footsoldiers before coming down and infecting many of them with Darkness, enough to become Taken, apparently. Literally a second after that, a blue and green blur began to slice those that hadn't been converted on the tank's left side into pieces. It then jumped partway up the tank, and-I'm not kidding here- ran up the side of the tank to the top, flipping up and out of our view.

"The hell?" Josh asked before Oryx teleported next to us.

"I have told you all of my life before coming here, correct?" he asked.

"Yeah," Rhino replied. "Why?"

"Turns out, that blur is another Displaced who just so happens to be my brother," Oryx replied. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to prove I'm still worthy of my nick name from before coming here." With that, he flew to where the remaining Griffons were, and began to strike at them with his sword.

"Okay, seriously," Josh said, "how is it we have the Taken King;someone who wants to eliminate humanity; a mad scientist; and now a once thought dead man as our allies!?" None of us had a reply.

Knights of shadow

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Josh

Two more years have passed since Oryx's pre-displacement brother, Excalibur, appeared, and, somehow, the griffons tech level has rocketed to where they now have weapons equal to world war two tech minus the nukes. Alad had created an intelligence network, and they were currently looking into that. As for territory the two sides controlled, it was now half of the known civilizations on our side, the other half with the griffons.

Funnily enough, those on our side that were more military minded-something close to a mix of the Cabal and Sangheili in culture- had met with Didact, and decided to make him a leader, meaning he now had his own country, which led to a renaming of the Ecumene to the Fundament. Cybis had commented that was more appropriate give Oryx was born on the Hive homeworld-long since destroyed in Destiny lore- which was called the Fundament. The reason being it was renamed is because the three thought it better for Didact's nation to be known as Ecumene.

Anyways, in the two years since Excalibur's arrival and entrance into this war, him, myself, Rhino, and Cybis had started to be called the knights of the shadows, as we are often the spec ops strike force. Right now, the four of us were in griffon allied Minotaur lands-south of the Fundament- on an assassination-espionage mission. The goal was to kill a Minotaur house leader to make way for his second in command to take control, as he was an ally of ours so we would gain this house as an ally, and we were also to see what we can get as to the sudden tech boom the Griffons went through.

Right now, I was on a cliff as the moon hung above me, a one k stare rifle in my hands and my eye looking down the scope. "Sword, where are you?"

"Approaching the main tent," Excalibur said. "What's it look like there?"

"Dead," Rhino said. "Quick and quiet. None know unless they can sense life forces. You got that dagger ready?" Excalibur was currently using a stolen griffon made dagger to make it look like the griffons had betrayed them. Hey, this is war, deception is a part of the game.

"Yep," Excalibur said.

"Be careful," Cybis said. He filled the role of nerd of the team. "Main squads just north of here report seeing small groups of ponies moving quickly in the night. May be griffon agents."

"Cyb, do you know who you're talking to?" Rhino asked. "Each of us are badassess with superhuman-or robot in my case- abilities that can destroy a small army by ourselves."

"Hubris, Rhino," Cybis said. "We're going to be able to come back from the dead a song as we have ghosts, and what happens if we-namely you or Josh- jump headfirst into a fight and lose them. I'm certain I need not remind you of what happened the two times we've died before."

"He's got you there, Rhino," Excalibur said. "Now, quiet while I slip in the knife."

I was about to shoot a smartass reply at him when I saw a flicker of movement next to the tent. "Make it quick, I just saw something move next to the thing. Too quick to see what it was."

"Saw it too," Rhino said. "Hope they're ready to take buckshot to the face."

"Just make sure that if it's something new, there's enough left of it to analyze and see if it resembles any of the legends in this world," Cybis said.

"If I can," Rhino replied. "Josh, keep an ey eout."

"No shit, what else would I do with a sniper at this range?" I said. "Noland, get the ships ready. May need a quick exit."

"They're already waiting," my Ghost replied. "Warning: unknown contact at six o'clock. Ten meters and closing."

"Copy that," I muttered as I adjusted my body to quickly jump up should I need to. "Get that weapon Ex gave me ready."

"Got it ready, Guardian," Nolandroid said. "And I've alerted the others already."

"Thanks for that," I whispered as I heard footsteps behind me. Glancing into a mirror I placed on the ground next to me while activating my helmet's night vision, and saw nothing, though I saw the grass be depressed. "Ghost, tell 'em it's looking like the Twilight protocol."

"On it."

"Also, new weapon on three."

"Copy that."

"One," I said as I moved my left hand to the corresponding leg and making it look as it I was taking care of an itch. "Two." I made closed my hand to where it looked as if I was holding a gun. "Three." With that, I released the grip on my sniper rifle and rolled onto my back as Noland transmatted the gift weapon into my hands.

The weapon is what Excalibur called a Viper, a fully automatic pistol that had been modified to increase damage against unarmored targets. As I finished rolling, I saw that the one approaching me was a pony wearing a black, hooded cloak that covered most of their body, a dagger in their hand and pointed back. "'Sup," I said before unloading the entire clip-increased from the default to twenty five- into the individual before drawing my Vanity Hand cannon and placing one shot in the heart, and another in the head. "Guys, we need to get out of here. Twilight protocolis confirmed."

"We figured," Rhino said with a grunt over the radio. Just finished caving in a vampony's skull with my rifle. Ex finished with the job, and is on the way to extraction. Same with me and Cyb."

"I'll be waiting," I replied as I went to the body, and began to inspect it.

"No blood," was my first observation. "Or or little enough to not be noticed." I moved one of my hands to open the eye lids. "Pupils are reptile like." I closed the eye lid, and moved the armored hand to the mouth and opened the lips. "Teeth are as expected with sharpened canine teeth." I pulled the hand back, and looked at the hands of the corpse. "Somewhat sharpened finger nails though not enough to be noticeable." I channeled some solar light into my left hand, and held it above an exposed patch of skin on the hand, resulting in some slight burns.

"I'm picking up carbon monoxide levels, Josh," Noland said. "Higher than normal, too. Want me to take a scan of what they're made of?"

"Do it," I said as the skin began to bubble, making me stop the experiment. "You recorded everything?"

"What do you take me for, a computer?" Noland asked as he materialized. "Of course I did. I and the other Ghosts are meant to be the field cameras after all."

"Fair enough," I said as I heard the roar of engines. "Can you contact Forge, see if he can digitize the body?" I asked, referring to the A.I. in Excalibur's ship.

"Yes I can, Guardian," Forge replied over the radio as Excalibur's ship-a horseshoe crab shaped ship called the Liset that was mainly blue with red, purple, and yellow accents with green colored engines, the colors matching Excaibur's Warframe and weapon coloration- came into view and stopped above me before an orange beam came out of the bottom of the ship and hit the dead body, causing it to breakdown into orange cubes which were then absorbed into the ship. "I can also run an analysis of recent memories, should it be needed."

"Right," I said with an unnecessary nod just as Excalibur came up over the cliff face-as a Tenno, he's able to wall jump infinitely and is a space ninja- with his weapons stowed.

"Saw a few on my way up here," he said. "Looked like they had taken some griffon bodies away for something."

"Guess we can have Oryx 'ask' one later, then," I said as my ship-along with Rhino and Cybis'- arrived, followed by Rhino and Cybis soon after.

Once we all got into our ships, we made our way back to the Fundament's capital with the new intel, as well as knowing the new threat.

Revelation

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Excalibur

I walked in the halls of Oryx's castle. Only a few hours had passed since apparently vamponies became real, and Alad was currently analyzing the results of what the Guardians brought back. I wasn't involved mainly because, well, even if it ha been two years for me since, what mirror Celestia said before I offed her still has me thinking. Harmony, far as I know, has existed for as long as Equis, maybe the fucking multiverse, who knows. That's definitely enough time to master manipulation, and, now that I look at some stuff, It's made me doubt.

First was the fact she kept the truth hidden from the average pony in my Equestria, and I just went with it. So what if it caused chaos, she's the fucking goddess of Hamrony. I.E.: Balance, she should know chaos is needed. Yeah, that whole threat thing may be true, but there's who knows how many OP displaced out there who'd be willing to help. Plus her own power.

Then there's the fact the mirror versions were renegade when my world's weren't. Either the exact same or opposite has to happen. There was a drastic change in the mirror-the three alicorns becoming renegade and being outcast by Harmony- but none in mine when Cadence, Luna, and Celestia would have either gotten a huge ass power boost or gone renegade too.

And, personally, who knows, I may have been able to survive that car crash that Harmony used to get me here, and may have just blacked out from the pain.

Finally, the whole controlling magic thing. I've trained for two years, have put my self in the middle of a blade for Oryx and the others, but still nothing. This made me think back to something I read in the library of the mirror world. Magical constructs, regardless of who ever made them, are very limited. If they are made for combat, they can do nothing else. I they are meant to be a swordsman, nothing else. Though true they can branch out an use other skills, they can never do so effectively, and even then, it has to be under their creator's orders.

Though, there have been two cases of a construct breaking free of it's creator's will and mastering something else, including the crystal army used by Sombra to defeat Celestia many centuries ago. Though they remained loyal to him, many left the army to become craftsponies and such.

This made me look down at my left hand as I opened it. I then clenched it and sighing. "Looks like I'll need to open that door," I said before making my way to the training grounds. Now, you're probably asking why I'm heading there. Well, it doubled as the army training grounds and the landing site for my Liset and the Guardians' ships. "Forge?"

"Yes, Operator?" the Cephalon asked.

"Can you open the rear door in the Liset?"

"Not entirely," he replied. "Release the magnetic locks, yes, but you would still need to pry them open, and you are not a Rhino or Atlas."

"Do it regardless, and ensure Harmony doesn't know about it. I need to see something."

"Of course, Operator."

As I made my way to the grounds, the various castle staff and soldiers I passed saluted me, though my mind was too focused on a single question. If I'm supposed to be a pre-Update eighteen- or which ever one brought in the change to the Orbiter- Tenno, why is that door there?

After reaching the grounds, I made my way under my ship, the deployment tube opening up before it enveloped me in a gravity field, and lifted me up and inserted me in the slot before it rotated, and I was now laying down on the floor. I got out of the tube, and made my way to the back hall of the Orbiter, where I saw the Somatic Link room.

"The Magnetic locks are offline, Operator," Forge said. "However, when they were, a magical field flared up, and, as far as I can tell, it is still there."

I smiled under my helmet. "Then it is something important, then, Harmony," I muttered. Then, out loud, I said, "Check the Codex databank, look for something called a 'Nullifier Crewman'. I have an idea. Then get me a plasma sword."

"Done," he said. He did have an immense operating power similar to Halo A.I.s, so it makes sense. "Entry found, and weapon waiting in the arsenal."

"Right," I said, making my way to the arsenal. When I got there, I just walked by as I put my right hand into it, and the plasma sword materialized in it, then made the way back to the door. "Project the bubble the Nullifier uses on the door. If I'm right, this will remove the field."

"Understood," he said, and a large, blue bubble popped into existence around the door, and a shimmer was seen inside. "Field down."

"Make sure it stays down," I said before rushing into the bubble, and stabbing the plasma sword into the door on the right side, and, once it was hilt deep, began to carve a circle out of it.

Excalibur, what are you doing!? Harmony said in my head in a near growl.

"Just seeing if my hypothesis is right," I said as I continued. "I'm not really me, am I? I'm just something in a warframe being controlled. Or am I me controlling the something?"

Harmony was silent for a time before replying. "You do realize I could easily have the others hound you."

"Yeah," I said, turning my head to look behind me and see Harmony standing there. "But they'll need to try their damnedest to make it work, and I won't make it easy on them," I said before pulling an Aksomati and shooting her in the head making the body vanish, and I chuckled. "Looks like you won, Celestia," I muttered. I then holstered the automatic pistol, and sighed before returning to my task. When I completed the circle, two semi circles and two crescents fell, making a hole large enough for me to enter.

What I saw surprised me. I saw, in Cryopods, Excalibur Prime and the Ashen Gray and gold Excalibur Umbra. These were to the left and right of the Somatic link, at the very back of the room. "Forge."

"Yes, Operator?"

"Can you open the link pod?"

"Yes."

"Do it."

"Understood, Operator," he said, and, as I walked to the pod, it opened a sit did in game, and, in there, I saw a figure wearing a jumpsuit of similar coloration to this warframe, but it was the face which got my attention. It had brown hair, glowing green eyes, was pale, and had a few freckles on it's face. Just like mine. Exactly like mine.

"Oh my," Forge said. "Operator, I didn't know."

"No need to apologize, Forge. Can you sever the link?"

"Yes, but I'm not-"

"Do it, then have the Hunter get here."

". . .As you wish, Operator," Forge said before I blacked out, and heard my body hit the floor.

Waking from the dream

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"Will he be okay?" I asked Alad as my brother, who looked as he did as a teenager, lay on a cot with a blue and red jumpsuit with an odd helmet that peeled away from his head, the lining colored yellow.

"He's alive, Oryx," Alad said. "He simply needs time to wake up. What concerns me, however, are the other three Tenno."

"So there were actually four people?" Cybis asked.

"Yes," The Corpus scientist replied. "However, Excalibur; who is the one we've come to physically know, Prime; the gold one, and Umbra; the one with the scarf are all clones of Josh, who, if we are using some variation of Warframe lore, is still a conduit for the Void, which grants a Tenno their power. A warframe simply focuses it. That is why an Excalibur can not create flames like an Ember can or a Chroma with red or reddish orange colors for energy."

Rhino rubbed the equivalent of his forehead, just under the horn. "So Harmony created three clones of Josh in his adult form, then reverse aged him and put him to sleep after switching him with Excalibur?"

"Yes."

"Someone get me a damned anti-magical nuke."

"Not even sure that would work," Rhino," Josh-the Hunter- said. "Still, I think we should do what we can to destroy the Element of Sacrifice and remove the Darkness abilities in us. I don't know about you guys, but I con't use anything Harmony gave us knowing this."

"I'm more interested about the Excalibur Josh arrived," Didact said. "I'm thinking that was actually him, but when Harmony changed the color, she swapped 'em out, and put Josh into the Second Dream. That's what it's called, right?"

"Bingo," Alad said.

"Right. Given the flash he said occurred when that happened, along with when he first went Prime which led to the switch between Excalibur and Prime," Didact said, "it stands to reason that the same thing has happened with the other Tenno in his Equestria, but that are not aware of it."

"And they're all ponies who are annoyingly loyal to Harmony," The Hunter said. "Well, that and a single changeling, far as we know." He sighed. "Christ, this is going to be a shitstorm, I just know it."

"Fortunately, I've sent messages into the void using some magic and bit of tech," Alad said. "It's keyed to Harmony's magic from the sample you three gave, and will go to any who have been directly touched by it. It'll warn them to not trust her, and even a bit of an invitation to something Oryx and I have been planning."

"What's that?" Cybis asked.

"A Displaced Brotherhood," Alad said. "Not a faction for war. The Brotherhood's supposed to be an alliance of Displaced in positions of power such as all of us who are currently conscious and in this room that will allow them to send an army to support an ally or request our help. Of course, with this, most will probably need to be able to take on an actual goddess."

"Like I said: shitstorm."

"Anyway," I said, ignoring the Hunter, "what have you done with the other three Tenno?"

"In containment bubbles in my lab meant to cut off the flow of magic and, by extension, void energy, making them powerless. No telling what they'll do upon waking up," Alad said. "And they will wake up. My sensors picked up Rapid Eye Movement, an indicator of dreams. Unfortunately, Didact won't allow Balance to see what it is they're dreaming about."

"She may be this Equestia's Luna, but she still hasn't had much training in that magic, and it's a Tenno," Didact said. "True, one that has essentially been asleep for its whole life, but still. I will not risk my daughter's well being on something like that unless the odds are very much in her favor. By which I mean ninety nine point nine percent in her favor."

"Just saying," Alad said as he held his hands up before one of his assistants rushed into the room.

"Your majesties and sirs, it's the three Tenno," He said in a panicked voice. "They're awake and trying to break out!"

"Called it," Alad said. "Follow me everyone," He said as the collar he used to control Zanuka activated. "Zankua, keep them contained."

With that, the three Guardians, Didact, and Alad left the room. I, however, stayed behind to watch over my brother, hoping if he woke oon, he could help keep the three Tenno contained.

Alad-ten minutes later

"FUCK!" Rhino shouted as he was embedded in the wall by a punch from Excalibur. That is to say the one who Josh had been controlling for the most part of his time as a Displaced.

"Someone get him out of the wall!" Didact shouted before he ducked under the slice wave of an Exalted Blade. He then straightened and fired off a few shots from his Scattershot at Prime, who had his Exalted blade out.

"Kinda busy!" Cybis shouted back as he fired a Lance Nova bomb at Umbra, who sliced it in half with a Nikana Prime, and then used Slash Dash to avoid a Razor's edge slice by Josh.

"That's right, bitch! Run from your god!" he yelled before chasing Umbra through my lab. Zankua was now trying to get Rhino out of the wall as I was analyzing the data to see just how the three of them broke out.

"Damn it, those containers were able to hold Oryx's taken, how did they get out?" I muttered as I looked over the recordings using my visor from outside the room. I was looking at the footage for a tenth time when a frame caught my interest. "Hello," I said. "Pause, rewind five seconds, speed at twenty five percent, enhance and zoom next to left most occupied pod." The footage did so, and what I saw was a gray mare in a white dress with rainbow hair and tail with an orb of rainbow magic in her hand. "Play," I said. "Keep at current speed."

The recording played, and I saw Harmony look at the camera and wag a finger to it before releasing her magic, shattering the containers, and ten teleporting. "That bitch!" I then activated my radio. "Guys, Harmony freed them!"

"Okay, we need to to start planning on how to kill the bitch," Rhino yelled. "Shit!" he yelled as he fell out of the wall.

"Kinda hard to since she's multi-dimensional being!" Cybis replied.

"Working on something right now," I said. "More of a side effect of that Displaced Brotherhood thing, but still, I'll put more focus on it."

"Do it," Oryx said beside me, making me jump as my visor went up. "No need to inform me of the situation, Alad, I know enough to know Harmony has declared war on us."

"Yes, well," I said, "we're still having an issue containing the three Tenno, to the point where they may destroy us more than the other two factions we're facing."

"Then let me try something," I heard another voice say from behind Oryx before Josh walked out from behind him. "Open the door. This is my fight, my problem to fix. Don't try to stop me."

"But how-"

"By being a motherfucking Tenno, that's how," Josh said as the hood of his suit, which looked like a mutated face with two lidless eyes combined over his head, showing he was wearing the full Zariman suit that in game Operators wore by default.

"I hope you know what you're doing," I said as I opened the door, through which he entered the micro war in the lab.

Operator Josh

I walked into the lab to see that it was pretty much in ruin, the three Excaliburs having utterly destroyed their containers and forcing the others into a literal corner. Once I walked into the room everything seemed to stop, and the three Excaliburs looked at me, causing the others to as well. I stood at the entrance with my arms crossed behind my back. "Well," I said. "You want revenge on me for controlling you, right. Here I am. I won't stop you."

"W-why?" Umbra growled out, him being the only one I hadn't controlled.

"Because I'm a Tenno, and a Tenno must pay for his mistakes," I told them. "If you must kill me, so be it, but the others are simply allies of mine, and had nothing to do with this." Here, Excalibur slash dashed over to me, and placed the blade of a Skana at the side of my neck.

"What about our brothers and sisters?"

"Still alive, far as I know," I said. "I can't guarantee, however, that you'll be welcomed back. Harmony, if this is any indication, will do anything to prevent the unfiltered truth from coming out." I then inhaled, then exhaled. "You may kill me if you wish, but if you do, ask yourself this: who made me control you, and what did I do upon finding out? I know you know it, Excalibur. You were the one I was controlling upon finding out."

This made him pull his blade back a little. "Because of her, I unknowingly controlled you for the better part of two years, Prime for not even a day, and Umbra is the only one who hasn't been controlled," I continued. "If you want my head, you can have it, but think about how many others are being controlled by her or will be. Now, what do you consider yourself?"

"Tenno. What else could we be?" Prime said as he pointed a Lato Prime at me.

"Then are you going to kill another Tenno for something he fixed as best he could as soon as possible, or the one manipulating him and you to prevent it from happening again?" I asked before another voice-one I knew well, spoke up from behind me.

"I knew I should have killed you before you opened the door," Harmony said before Oryx and Alad were teleported into the room, and Excalibur and I jumped further into the room, and I saw Harmony at the entrance. "Oh well. Better late than never." With that she unleashed a beam of magic focused on me, but I simply held up my hand, and it stopped as green void energy coursed along my arm.

"I thought you'd know," I said. "As a Tenno, I am a conduit of the void, and have access to every Warframe ability at reduced strength unless specifically focused on it. Right now, I'm using a localized snow globe to stop it." I then snapped my fingers, and a small explosion radiated from me as the world around me became dull and subdued in color, and the snow globe piece vanished, and the beam hit me, only to do nothing. "Rift walk." I then teleported in a cloud of smoke in front of her and left the rift plane, creating a set of green claws on my right hand as I did so before stabbing her in the stomach. "Teleport plus hysteria," I said to her shocked face as I saw blood course down my hand. "So you're just another one, then," I said. "Farce is up," I said before making a green Skana in my left hand. "Gods can't bleed, after all," I said before stabbing the Exalted blade into her head and sending a bolt of lightning into it, frying the brain.

As the body fell to the ground, Oryx walked next to me. "I assume given this you think Harmony is just a pony who found out how to access other dimensions at will, found some sort of longevity potion or the like, and took up the position of Goddess as a power trip when she is just as vulnerable to blade and gun as us?"

"Bingo," I said. "Also, it stands to reason that there is some sort of center point in the Multiverse where all the variations of a person exist, and that's how each Harmony is aware of the others plans in nearly an instant. Two are dead, but more live. Only way to kill 'em all is there."

"I'll get to work on finding a way there one I send the beacons out," Alad said.

I nodded. "Thanks. Also, once this is all over, think you can get a portal to the human variation of my Equestria."

He nodded back. "I'll see what I can do."

I then looked at the three Excaliburs who walked out next. "What about you three? If you don't want a part in this, you won't be forced to."

"She manipulated the four of us and many others," Prime said. "And besides, Excalibur and I do have your memories. Our actions were in a blind rage and perhaps her controlling us."

"If she wants a war," Excalibur said. "She'll get one from the new Tenno order."

"And I know bits and pieces," Umbra said. "Enough to know the four of us are genetic clones, making us brothers. I'd personally be ashamed if I didn't stand next to my brothers."

"I can work on getting you a warframe, Josh," Alad said, to which I shook my head.

"Nah. Right now, I'm good having access to the abilities." I then created an orb of green flame in my left hand, and an Exalted blade in the right. "So then, who's gonna be the first faction we decimate so we can start planning on how to kill the bitch?"

The purge part 1

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Tenno Josh

Ten years. That's how long it took us-with the support of three Guardians, the Shadow Kings and their army, and myself and the Excaliburs- to fight our way to the griffon capitol city-which was located in a desert, and protected by magic nullification wards and glyphs- destroying any city we came across that fought back even if we didn't pass through. As a result, the only griffon population left was in the capital city, and Fundament and Ecumene loyalists who had left their home nation between seven and five years ago.

Why did it take so long? The damned Vamponies harassed us at every step, every corner, and right now, Alad and the science division of the Shadow Kings' forces were going to their lair to kill their king or queen to ensure they didn't hinder any more of my brother's efforts. After learning why they decided to fight us, of course.

Sekana and Balance were now of the age to hold their own in combat with their defensive spells and a compliment of guards for each.

Currently, the three Excaliburs were the advanced party for our forces, with me being the link between them and Oryx, as my time controlling Excalibur had led to a sort of telepathy with him.

I had Alad make modifications to my transference suit to make it look more likethe Koppra suit opposed to the Zariman suit, simply because if I was going to be a part in combat without a warframe-which Alad and I were currently working on a solution for-then I wanted to look good while doing it.

"What's the status of our forces?" Oryx asked me as we stood on a hill, looking over the target city.

"Nearly ready," I replied. "Eager, too, considering the massacre a few weeks back."

"Ah, yes. That sealed the fate of the griffons and vampires," Oryx said with a growl. "They are fortunate Excalibur stopped them before Sekana or Balance were harmed."

"Amen to that one, bro," I muttered. "So, you got your agents in place?"

"Must you ask?" He replied. "Once I give the signal, they will burn the capitol building to the ground, and, at the request of some of the men I gave control over them, bring the females."

"Please-"

"You need not worry about them being enslaved," The Taken King told me. "And I gave explicit instruction any prisoners are to be treated with respect, or the offender will pay with their will."

"Brutal, but hey, if it works," I said. "So, where are the Excalibur's and I going?"

"South entrance, as that is the area with the hidden escape route for the king," Oryx said. "A detachment of Didact's troops will be with you four. . . .Are you sure you don't want to wear armor. You aren't well protected in just robes."

"Oryx, like i told you before: I have access to the Void, which is the basis for all warframe powers, including Inaros' health based abilities and Rhino's Iron skin. Combine with Valkyr's hysteria and what I like to call the universal fuck you move-" Radial Blind plus Exalted blade- "bitch's gonna die tonight."

Oryx chuckled. "Just don't go overboard. We need some parts of their culture not utterly and entirely fucked up."

"I make no promises!" I exclaimed. "I'll be too busy pressing the universal fuck you button!" And with that, I made my way to where the Excalibur's were, laughing like a maniac the entire way, only to have to cough as I reached them. "Fucking desert air," I muttered. "How the hell do desert based villain cackle in this weather?"

"Probably adapted to it," Excalibur said as he examined his Some rifle.

"Plus I can't think of any who do cackle," Umbra said, sharpening his Nikana prime's edge as he spoke. "Maybe just you, and you aren't technically a villain."

"Yeah, yeah, ruin the fun," I said. "You guys ready for this?"

"Yep, just waiting for the signal to leave the camp and move in," Prime said as he floated above the ground in a meditative pose. "What of you?"

"Same. We'll be hitting the south gate with some of Didact's forces to prevent the leaders escaping from the others."

"Well, then, this should be fun," Prime said. "Especially when the four of us unleash hell upon the Griffons."

"Ooh rah to that," I said.

"Brother, move in now," Oryx said over the radio in my ear. "Provide a distraction in the south so I can teleport my Taken in to lower the north gate."

I nodded. "Got it. We're going in, people," I replied and told the others.

"Let's have some fun, then," Umbra said

The purge pt2

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"All units, press the attack!" I shouted before summoning my Golden Gun and firing off three combustion shots at a small group of Griffons. "Don't let them regroup!"

"Heads up!" Cybis yelled from behind me before he jumped up above me, and unleashed a lance Nova bomb on the rest of the group I had attacked, killing the rest.

"Where're Oryx and the others!?"

"The Tenno are pushing in from the south," he replied," Oryx and Didact from the west, and Rhino from the east. Right now, they're still working to get here. Those lanes were much more heavily defended than ours." Cybis' head jerked to the side, and he pulled out a side arm and delivered a three round burst into a griffon that had been approaching from his left. "Best guess is they'll be at their positions in ten minutes at best, thirty at worst. No idea how Alad's doing with the vampires."

"Then we can just hope he's kicking their asses," I said before turning to the ponies that Didact had put under us, each one wearing ponified Forerunner armor. "Set up breaching positions, then get into defensive formation. We need to be ready as soon as the other groups are!"

Oryx

I sliced a Griffon knight in half as my Taken forces overwhelmed the knight's squad in front of me. "Damn these fools," I muttered as i summoned more Taken Griffons. "I should I expected some of their best remaining on these roads instead of hoping Josh got them all off of us." I looked at the highest ranked Taken in the group. "Take a detachment of troops and recon the palace. We must find where their leader is so that a path may be carved to his position." The Taken Changeling-formerly a convict in Zeta's Hive- bowed before it and a few Taken ponies vanished. "The rest of you: form up, and prepare for further engagement. There will be more enemies before we reach our objective, and they will fight to the last!"

The Taken released a large roar, and assumed a protective formation around me, not that I needed against such primitive weapons. "Forward! Leave none alive!"

Didact

"Contact! Three o'clock high!" one of my soldiers yelled before the sound of a Suppressor being fired was heard, followed closely by a body hitting the ground. "Bastards are relentless."

"What did you expect, Captain?" I asked. "For them to bend over for us? This is their last major city and it's under attack by an army that has not been seen before. They will fight to the last to even have a chance at stopping us."

"Not that it'll help," another soldier said, his armor stained with blood. "They're still using spears while our armor's able to take a few hits from the Titan, and considering he's a robot and being a Titan enhanced his strength?"

"They'll be dying with honor, at least. As much as possible, given the circumstances, that is," one of Zeta's changeling's said.

"Group Alpha, this is Cloud overwatch. I got three Griffon flights on their way to you. Permission to engage?"

"Granted," I replied. "Kill those you can."

"Understood, sir."

"All right, each of you!" I shouted at the rest of Alpha. "Stop talking, and march forward. The rest of the Ecumene forces are waiting for us to move up before they secure the area."

"Sir!" they replied before saluting. I rolled my eyes.

"Not in a combat zone, dumbasses. Now, move up!"

Rhino

"Come on, fuckers!" I yelled as I delivered another shotgun blast to the chest of a Griffon skirmisher, killing him, then taking the corpse and throwing it at a Griffon Knight, who was then stuck with a magnetic grenade. "I expected a challenge!"

"Oh Rah to that!" one of Oryx's non-Taken enforces shouted by my side before he grabbed a charging Griffon by the throat and threw it back at its comrades. I was surprised when Oryx had beserkers, but hey, at least I don't have to speed up like I do when Josh gets involved with combat. Still, at least he and Cybis brought variety to our fights other than the generic "rip out opponents throat/punch until dead mentality" these guys head. Oh well.

One Griffon was able to land a sword strike on my armor, but it glanced off, allowing me to grab the Griffon's arm. "Come here, bitch!" I yelled before throwing him through a wall. "All units, stop focusing and charge through them! We need to get to our breach point!"

"But sir-" a beserker as sge crushed a Griffon's skull.

"Move it! If you want to keep killing them, save it for the castle! That's where the royal guards will be!"

The beserkers grinned at that. "Sir!" they shouted, and charged headlong into the enemy.

"Suicidal morons," I muttered before summoning my hammer, and following them.

Tenno Josh

"Dumbasses," I said as I unleashed a Void beam at a small group of Griffons. "Prime, how far away are we?"

"Five minutes," the white and gold Excalibur said as he reloaded his Soma Prime rifle. "And that's if they send more after us. Considering the fact we can just universal fuck you each of them, we're blowing through them."(1)

I nodded. "Good. Umbra, what's Alad's status?"

"He is preparing to strike the vampires," the grey and gold Excalibur said as he cut a Griffon in half with his Nikana Prime. "His science group is with him to assist, and the plan has him breaching their home the same time we get to the Griffon castle."

"Then let's get moving!" Excalibur said as he blocked a sword strike with Aegis, and retaliated with Silva, turning the Griffon skirmisher that attacked him into chicken legs and a legless torso. He brought the flaming sword down on the Griffon's head, killing it.

"Agreed," I said before snapping my fingers and activating a less powerful Hall of Mirrors, creating four copies of myself. "Move out, Tenno. No theatrics."

Alad

I let out a sigh as my group-consisting of myself and five combat scientists in a variant of the armor Didact's forces wore with collars not unlike my own- looked over the the cave entrance that led to the vampony home. "Is everything ready?" I asked.

"Yes, sir," one of the scientists-a mare- said. "Simply waiting on your word and the signal from the other Shadow Kings."

I nodded. "Good. Get your units ready," I ordered before my collar jutted out to make a complete circle and a visor came down on my eyes. "Zanuka," I said, my robot activating and my mind taking control of it, "kill!"

The four legged robot unleashed a metallic howl, which was followed by five more, and it rushed into the cave, followed by five other Zanukas, which were manufactured with the Tenno's help. For the most part, the five additional Zanukas were the same as the original, the only deviation being color.

The first vamponies the six came across were armored but quickly mowed down by the rockets fired by one of the trailing Zanukas, and they continued running through the tunnel, killing any in armor while leaving those in civilian clothing alive, keeping on their objective as they did so.

The objective of the Zanukas were to find and kill the leader of the vampires while releasing a special chemical I developed into their air and water supply that was tested on two vampires, both of whom now were a part of my group.

"Sir, the others have breached the Griffon castle and proceeding," a pony said to my right. "Should we assist once we're done here?"

"We aren't close enough to get there quickly," I replied. "At most, we can ensure if they fail, there will be only a single retaliatory strike."

"Of course, sir," was the reply as my visor showed the Zanukas slowing in front of a large, ornate door housed in an alcove carved from the cave walls.

"That it?" I asked one of the vampires that was in my group.

"Yes sir," Dusk Stone-the female vampire- replied. "That is the entrance to the royal chambers, which would include the royal concubine room."

"So his wife?"

"And child, yes."

"Stun those two if they become an issue, kill the king." With that, I mentally ordered my Zanuka to blast the doors open. An energy orb was released from its back and fired at the doors, blowing them off the hinges and allowing the Zanukas to charge into the room. There were five vampires-three vamponies, one Griffon vampire, and one Minotaur vampire. "Kill all five of them."

Rockets released from the shoulder pods on each Zanuke and streaked toward the vampires. The Griffon one tried to dodge them by going airborne, but was tracked by a salvo and died in an explosion leaving little more than a bloody mist, while the Minotaur was hit in the chest by another salvo, leaving a blood colored stain on the floor.

The three ponies (each being a thestral), split to try to divide the attention of our robots and the missiles, but they failed, and became bloody mists. "Deploy chemical three eight six-A," I ordered, and pods attached to the legs of the Zanuka group opened up, and a pink mist began to flow out as the six began to return to our location, the speed allowing the chemical to hit all of the cave system between the throne room and the entrance.

In all, it took only ten minutes from the Zanukas activating. "All right, pack up and return to Oryx's castle!" I shouted as my collar retracted and the visor went up, putting Zanuka in a non-combat state. "We need to get power to the portal!"

Guardian Josh-Griffon throne room, thirty minutes later

"Damn it," I said as I brought up a ward of dawn, causing a beam of magic to spray uselessly against it. "How come we didn't have intel on this!?"

"He must have recently retrieved it!" Didact shouted from behind a pillar. "Lord knows the Griffon's are good at getting what they want!" He ducked as a golden beam hit the pillar.

Before I go further, we had found the Griffon king, but he had an old artifact that A: gave him a shield that was damned near impossible to get through, and B: had utterly devastating attack capabilities in the form of a golden beam of magic and a huge orb of explosive magic.

"Perhaps this will teach you to think your military has a chance against mine," the Griffon king said before another beam struck my Ward of Dawn, shattering it and going through me. I revived in a small explosion of fire as Excalibur charged in under the cover of his shield. I didn't see the result as I had to dive behind a pillar myself, but I heard something crack, so I assumed he had been backhanded into a wall.

"Where the hell is Oryx!?" Umbra asked from an adjacent pillar.

"Working on taking care of that thing from his personal space!" Didact shouted back before firing a few shots from his Scattershot. " just hope he hurries the hell up," he said as he ducked back behind the pillar.

"We may not need him," Tenno Josh said from beside me, nearly making me jump.

"Dude, don't do that," I told him.

"Well it's not like I have the agility of a Warframe clad Tenno to get here, so I kinda have to go invisible," he replied. "Not the point, though. I'm thinking if I use rift walk plus the Tenno void walk ability, I may be able to get that artifact from him so you can kill him."

"That worth the risk?" Prime asked before blind firing a Some Prime burst, and betting fully into cover as a golden beam struck where the arm had been. "Try again!"

"Either we do it, or we wait for this guy to get bored and just walk out to vaporize us," the Tenno said. "Guardian, whichever form of yours gives you the greatest fire power, go for it. Excalibros, get the blades ready. Didact, call in an air strike on my mark. We only have one chance here."

"Roger," each of us said as I shifted to my Darkness form and peered in front of the pillar.

The Griffon king, wearing steel plate armor over chain mail with an ornate helmet, stood in front of his throne, the artifact, a golden orb not unlike the Apple of Eden from Assassin's Creed, in his right paw. He looked at me, and I ducked behind the pillar and crouched as he fired a beam at my cover. "You're simply delaying the inevitable, you know," he said. "I could bring this whole castle down on top of us, and I would be unharmed thanks to the artifact creating that shield around me."

"And what about when the shield comes down?!" Umbra asked. "Either you leave it up for as long as you can, or you release it and get crushed. You'll die here, just not the way we hope!"

"Either way, you'll be dead, and the Griffons will return to our place as the country with the strongest military!"

I rolled my eyes. "Christ he's annoying. Josh, you in position?" I whispered over the radio.

"On three," was the reply. I grinned, and created an orb of Darkness in each hand with lightning crackling in each.

"Copy," Didact said as he made sure his gun had a full clip, or whatever the shotgun equivalent is as the Excaliburs not in the wall created their Exalted blades.

"One," Josh said, which had a beam of golden energy hit my cover, causing me to duck. "Two." Followed by a light whose origin were out of my sight. "Three!" Josh yelled, causing me to turn just in time to see the Tenno phase out of the Griffon King's chest, the artifact in hand. Once he landed, Josh vanished from sight, and the Excaliburs-Prime and Umbra with their ults, base using his Soma- Didact with his Scattershot, and I with my Darkness infused lightning attacked the Griffon King. After a second, a green beam of energy joined in the barrage, and I saw Josh in the edge of my vision attacking with a beam of Void energy from his right hand, the artifact in his off hand. After five seconds, we ceased, and didn't even see a pile of ashes.

"A touch excessive, don't ya think?" Umbra asked.

"Still fun," Prime countered. "But yeah, a second of that was probably overkill as it was."

"Hey, he's dead, and given how thoroughly we destroyed their military the Griffons aren't an issue anymore," Excalibur said. "And if Alad was successful, the vampires will be friendly in a few weeks."

"Not that the latter effects us right now," I said. "I mean, I'm going back to my Equestria, and you three plus Josh are going to the human world of your Equestria. I mean, we'll be ready to help, but unless it's needed, we aren't getting involved with this war again."

"Except perhaps the fallout of the incident with Harmony," Didact said. "Oryx is the dimensional walker of the three of us, and. . .well, he's made his own pocket dimensions, and he's said that while he's doing it, he gets glimpses into other worlds, some of which involve Harmony riling up armies. She may be preparing an army not yet seen to take us out."

"Can we discuss this later?" Tenno Josh asked. "Preferably back at the castle?"

"Agreed," Umbra said. "So, who are going to leave to take command of our forces?"

I'll remain," Didact said. "You all should return to your worlds. Or in the Tenno's case, the human version of their Equestria."

Josh nodded. "Thanks."

"Of course. If you see a version of Harmony, put a bullet in her knee caps for me," Didact replied. "I hope to see you all again under better circumstances."

"Agreed," Prime said. "So, do we contact our ships, or wait for Oryx?"

"Ships are already on their way," Nolandroid said as he appeared. "Should be here in an hour, and Alad's on his way back to the castle to get the teleporter online."

"Right," I said. "Guess this is it for now."

"And hopefully, the next time we meet won't be during a war," Didact said.

So, with that, the four Tenno and myself left the Didact to his own devices, and left to wait for our ships, which arrived five minutes ahead of schedule. We got in them, and made our way back to Oryx's castle. When we arrived, Alad had the portal device up and running for me. The portal was large enough for a jumpjet to get through, fortunately, and before I left, he gave me a communicator that would allow me to talk with him, the other shadow kings, and the Tenno. Installed in them were portal generators that would allow us to travel to dimensions we'd been in previously with them. With that, I left that Equestria, and returned to mine. Only it seemed to be in flames. In response, I said the only thing I could think of.

"The fuck happened while I was gone, and why the hell am I not a month later than when I left?"

Return

View Online

As I looked at the burning landscape from the view of my ship, I had only one thought: who did this?

Isn't it obvious? Cybis asked in my thoughts. Either some pyromaniac, or he's here and decided to torch a lace to send a message.

"Ghosts, where are we?" I asked, and the three Ghosts appeared.

"The place that's burning is the Everfree," Nolandroid replied. "I doubt it's Oryx; I still have access to those positioning satellites we had launched, and he'd probably destroy them. Still, I'm also getting readings of a non-Guardian ship that resembles the profile of the Dreadnaught."

I sighed. "Tower still there?"

"No, but I am picking up a signal from it's location. Might be a bunker. Ponyville's still there too."

"Then it looks like we're heading there," I said before I had the ship make sit's way to where the Tower used to be, transmatting onto the green where the Tower used to be, then splitting back to three.

Cybis knelt down, and Dinklebot did a scan of the area. "This grass is three years old, so I'd say maybe to ten years we've been gone, given the lack of noticeable debris," the Ghost replied.

"I'm picking up a strong amount of Darkness in Canterlot," Tara said. "Actually, all around here. This and Ponyville are the only places with Light that's at the point where it's worth mentioning."

"Well, where else is there Light here?" Rhino asked.

"If I said, then this and Ponyville wouldn't be the only places worth mentioning," Tara replied, getting an amused eyeroll from me.

"There a bunker beneath here?" I asked.

"Deep scans suggest so," Noland replied. "It'd explain why there's such a strong presence of Light, especially if I'm right about the bunker's contents."

"Anyway we can access it from out here?" Cybis asked before his head turned to the right towards Canterlot. "Soon, preferably."

I looked in the direction he was looking, and saw the tell tale green of a Hive portal. "I'm working on mapping what I can. The bunker under us is just one in an apparent system, but the entrance isn't here."

"Damn it," Rhino muttered. "What's our ammo look like, then?"

"Not good," Cybis replied. "We were planning on having some downtime when we got back. We have thirty primary blocks, fifteen secondary, and three heavy."

I sighed. "Okay, we divide by three then," I said. "Stick to one weapon, and cover Noland while he's mapping the tunnels. Use heavy only if you have to, and Supers after that."

The other two Guardians nodded. "Right," they said.

"Tara, Dinkle, see what com frequencies are still around. If any of the Guardian ones are still there, broadcast a distress signal."

"Roger," the two said as they vanished in a small flash of light for each.

"Any idea on the amount of tombships?" I asked.

"Does it matter?" Cybis asked. "They can deploy as many as they want from it. The only limit is how many it can deploy at a time."

"I'm seeing ten," Rhino said, looking through a sniper rifle. "In short, we're screwed if they pump out everything they can per second. . .Even if we use pulse rifles like Bad Juju."

"Shit," I said. "We'll hold out as long as we can. "Anything that regenerates ammo out of Light or makes it own is what we use."

"Figured as much," Cybis said as a Bad Juju materialized in his hands, and an Invective on his back.

"May as well go out with a damned bang," Rhino said as what I recognized from Displaced Oryx's description as the year three Raid scout rifle appeared in the Titan's hands, Ice breaker across his back.

"I hear that," I said, and my old friend, Another Nitc with luck in the chamber, firefly, and as it was modified to have a third attribute, double tab, appeared in my hand, Invective on my back. "Let's show these fuckers who they're messing with."

"OOHRAH!" the two shouted.

"Ghosts: shader change to Lunar elegy. If we're dying, it'll be in our colors."

All ends. . .

View Online

The sound of an Ice Breaker shot rang out across the grass plain the three of us stood on, and I barely saw the telltale of the sniper rifle's explosion.

"This doesn't make sense," Cybis said. "They're deploying from a distance, knowing we have snipers when they can do so close under cover."

"Agreed," I said. "Distraction?"

"That's what I'm thinking," the Warlock replied. "Question is, though: for what?"

"Whatever it is, I doubt we'll be able to handle it," I said. "Noland?"

"Still working on the tunnels," he reported. "They've got a coat of something that's slowing down my scans. If we couldn't sense Light, we'd have no idea they were here."

This had me and Cybis share a glance. "Think this might be the trap?" I asked.

"It wouldn't surprise me," he said. "But for now, we can't do anything about it."

i sighed. "Damn it," I said. "Tara, any progress on Guardian signals?"

"There, but other than our message, no traffic," she said. "Though there are active access points that I'm detecting, most in Canterlot. I'm trying to get a visual from them, but nothing so far."

"I'm liking this less and less, Josh," Cybis said as another Ice breaker shot rang out. "We made access points for our radio channels easy for the Ghosts to get in. If they can't but are reading them-"

"I know, I know," I said. "This is looking worse and-" I was cut off by the crack of a sniper rifle.

"Guardian down!" Tara said as Rhino fell to the ground.

"The hell?" I said as I scanned the area with my Scout rifle. "Anyone got a bead on the sniper!?"

"We've got bigger issues," Cybis said a she looked at the horde of Hive. "Without a sniper right now, they'll move on us with ease. Even with Rhino sniping them, we'd be overrun in the hour. Now, I'll be amazed if we last half that long."

"And taking as many of them with us is useless," I said. "They'd just retreat to their respective Ascendant realms, and be able to come back later."

"We're screwed, then," Dinkle said. "Make a name for yourselves?" he asked.

I was about to reply before the sound of someone being taken was heard, and I heard Cybis yell, "SHIT!" before I turned to him, and saw black and white energies around him before he was pulled into a black point, and a similar sound brought my attention to Rhino and the Ghosts, who also vanished.

"The fuck?" I asked before I felt a tug on my body and, before I could react, I could see only black and felt weightless for a second before I heard a voice.

"Hello, Guardian," Celestia-or rather Sekana- said, my vision still black. "I didn't expect you to return, given you abandoned my home."

Another voice spoke up. "Sister, you know what Father said about this."

"It was him and the other two that cost me everything before father found me, brother," Sekana barked. "The sword logic dictates we must take, correct. So now I'll take my revenge on the Guardians."

"But she manipulated them just like us."

"They were the ones who did the action, and we can not yet touch the Deceiver," Sekana replied. "This way, we gain three soldiers loyal to us who are on our power level, giving us a better chance. She chose them for a reason. She will fear us with them under our grasp."

"Sekana, if you do not stop this, I will tell father. Do you really wish to be on the receiving end of his anger?"

A few seconds of silence passed before Sekana replied. "Fine. I will go to father with this personally. But he will see the logic, as it is they who killed Crota, and he will wish to see them dead as well."

"At least release them. They are no threat to us while under the guard of their former allies. I will ensure they remain in the cells until Father orders otherwise."

There was no reply, but I was suddenly able to see again, and I saw I was alone in a cell in what I assume to be Canterlot with two ponies standing outside. The weird thing was that they stood on two le-. . . . .

Shit.

"It seems you are awake," the second voice said, and I saw a form materialize out from the shadows, and it was a form I recognized.

"Alak-Hul," I said.

"Even from you, that is annoying," he said. "Must you say my name dramatically? That is the one thing of pony culture I find annoying."

"It's just a thing, sir," one of the former Guardians- a Warlock- said. "People just love being dramatic sometimes."

"I hadn't noticed," Alak-Hul said before speaking to me. "I am aware you have questions, Mote," he said. "For now, you will have to be content with Father wished to speak with you should you return, and Sekana let her anger cloud judgement. Your comrades are alive but in other cells. As for what Father wished to speak with you about, I know not. Still, consider yourself lucky. The others who continue to fight us are often killed or Taken."

In response, I said the only thing I could. "Aren't you supposed to be a prisoner on Oryx's ship?"

"Before Sekana arrived, yes," he replied, and gave no other answer.

A few minutes of bring silence later, I heard the sound of a Hive rupture opening as well as a green light to the left side of my cell, and saw the two Guardians and Alak-Hul kneel. Oh double shit.

And from the rupture and into my view walked Oryx, Sekana behind him, looking as embarrassed as a Hive wizard/pony hybrid could look. Oryx spared only a glance at me before speaking to Sekana. "You did well to bring them here, daughter, but for disobeying me, you are confined to-"

"Father, you know I would be content with anything."

Yeah, I couldn't resist. "How about shoveling shit!? While having a spell active that enhances you sense of smell!"

Oryx looked at me again while the two Guardians chuckled. "I think that will be it, actually," he said, making an obvious look of horror appear on his daughter's face. "Leave us. Each of you." Without a word, Alak-Hul vanished into the shadows, the Two guardians walked away, and Sekana teleported. This time, he fully turned to face me before speaking. Only I beat him to it.

"So why am I not here and still alive?" I asked.

"Because," he said, "I wish to make an alliance with you to kill the one you call Harmony."

And that floored my expectation of the meeting. "Uh, what?" I asked.

"I know Harmony manipulated you, even if you do not know the instances," Oryx said. "As an example, when you were in what Sekana calls the mirror world. There was no threat to this world from it, and yet Harmony gave you the power to finish a fight not even yours," he said. "She has manipulated the Hive as well, believing it would end in a way she wished."

"And that leads to an alliance because?"

"Because she has found a way to take the Taken from my control," Oryx said. "Eventually, she will be able to overwhelm my forces. You, I have been made aware of, have allies in other universes. I was hoping they would be able to help."

"And what's in it for us?" I asked.

"Being able to live in peace here," he said. "I have no qualms with yo for what happened to Crota. He still lives in his Ascendant plane, and enjoyed having fought something that actually harmed him."

I was silent for a few seconds. "What happened while we were gone?" I finally said.

"In short," Oryx said, "Harmony arrived and told your comrades you abandoned them. The Hive and I arrived two years later, and approached with Sekana at the head of negotiations. It was bloodless, and the Guardians retained their positions as peacekeepers. The Knights you fought with Sunset Shimmer had to be killed, and Sunset Shimmer awoke, and is now learning Hive Arcana. Only a few Guardians do not follow us, and they are branded as rebels, as well as Harmony's forces. Sekana's sister-the one you know as Nightmare Moon- is among them. We have no idea where they are, so do not ask to see her."

"And the civilians?"

"Content," Oryx answered. "Do you accept my offer?"

"Only if you swear that if you capture Nightmare and the others, you inform us so we can talk to them," I said.

"I can not promise they will go quietly," he replied, "but if they are captured, I will inform you."

"Then I accept," I said. "The others?"

"Informed and said they would wait on your decision," Oryx replied. "You'll be able to leave in a days time."

"Good," I said. "Now, can I get the hell out of here?"

The Void

Harmony looked at the scene folding out before her as she watched the Hunter and Oryx strike an alliance. "Oh well," she said before smiling. "They aren't the only on-" she began before her whole body shuddered, and her eyes widened in surprise. "No," she whispered. "That can't be an echo point." She closed her mind, and looked in all the universes similar to the one she was watching, even the gender bent ones, and they showed the same thing: that world's Oryx and Guardians allying to fight her. "Damn it," she muttered. "Need to move the time table up."