Following Darkness by Lord Curly

Note: This is the sequel to Soldier of Harmony

Chapter 1: Home

Heaven
Completed missions: 12,855,784
Approximate time past: one thousand three hundred years

I sighed as I added two more dog tags to our wall of fallen heroes. I said a small prayer for Tex and Matoro, I honestly didn't think Matoro would be killed since he was a biomechanical robot but this time there just wasn't enough to put back together. I sighed again, we know that they aren't really gone but we wouldn't see them again until we moved on ourselves. I couldn't suppress a shudder as I looked at the wall. Three hundred sixty-four tags now hung on it, a painful reminder of how many we had lost and how few of us were left. We had all found it was comforting to look at the digital tally of kills after looking at the wall hence why we moved it from the main room to this one. Curently the tally was a little over fifty-three billion I walked down the hall to the main room. I paused at the door and remembered the first time I walked through it. Because of the backgrounds of some of the team members I had decided to address them in my human form. I don't remember the speech I gave but I knew none of them had a problem with me leading them. Over time I slowly revealed my alicorn form to the others and eventually I no longer had to be what I once was around them. Going inside I saw my team relaxing… the six of us are all that's left. Coryn was settled on his perch giving him a bird's eye view of the room. Coryn was probably the one that changed the most out of the squad. Because of his upbringing he was no stranger to death but he had very little combat experience during his time as king of Ga'Hoole. Our resident dragons, Spyro and Cynder, were laying in front of the fireplace. Having saved their own world the only things they got from this journey was friendship and more experience. Johnson and Anderson were playing cards, not sure what game. It hadn't taken too long for the two of them to bond with each other once I gathered the squad. Anderson had no problem with the others or even me since I showed them on day one that I was an alicorn. Johnson was a different story, because of his history with the covenant he was slow to trust anything that wasn't human but after a few missions he warmed up to us. Seeing that the others were occupied I went over to the bar and poured myself a rye and ginger. I drank about half of it before god walked in. He had decided to keep looking like Morgan Freeman whenever he wanted to talk to us, usually when he gave us missions. "I have a mission for you and if everything goes according to plan it will be your last one." This caused the others to whisper to each other. After so long we had given up hope of ever defeating Shade and resigned to keep the universes on their destined paths. "I have tracked Shade to a universe and effectively trapped him there. I have put, for lack of a better term, a shield around this universe which will keep him there and minimize his influence." That was good news to me. We had been caught off guard before and during our engagements with him he would summon legions of soldiers giving him time to get away. That was how we lost the first three members of our group. "Eventually he will break through the shield, it is up to you to stop him before that. Normally I would send you in with equipment and weapons from the universe, not this time. He has escaped too many time. This time I will send you in with everything I think will be useful." He passed each of us a data pad with information on the equipment we would be using.

The data was split into two folders, Standard and Specific. The standard file contained the information on the gear we would all have. Our armor has Titanium-A plates, environmentally reactive camouflage covering (Fighting in a city = urban camouflage, forest fighting = forest camouflage, etc.), and limited active camouflage. Our helmets have night vision and thermal imaging modes, a target acquisition mode (Halo: ODST visor), and a motion tracker. Moving on to the other file I found more on our armor, I would be the only one with a full body suit. Spyro, Cynder, Johnson, and Anderson would only have helmets, chest and back plates, and bracers/ grieves. The dragons would also get tail armor. Coryn was a special case, normally we would be given the appearance of the local population but this time Coryn will remain an owl. Because of his form he will only be getting a helmet and battle claws, how his active camouflage still works I have no idea. Being our scout Coryn would also have a variable zoom function, x-ray vision mode, and an enhanced radio made for long distances. Our radios will have a shorter range than his but we will still be able to hear him, we just can't talk back. Spyro's will have a tail blade plus his armor will somehow enhance his breath attacks making them stronger and last longer. He will also be carrying our spare parts, since he had been intrigued by 'engineering' and all the tech from the universes, he was our unofficial engineer. Cynder's armor will have a speed booster designed for short distances, an anti-noise emmiter to hide her footsteps, and an enhanced active camo device which will last longer than ours. Johnson will have extra plating, a darkened visor and a blowtorch along with a strength enhancement which is necessary for him to move in the extra plating. Normally I would recommend against extra plating but if he's going to be using a blowtorch I guess it's necessary. Anderson would be our designated medic and would be carrying our medical supplies which would be distributed among the ten pouches dotting his armor. He would also have a biometric scanner and a deployable, remote controlled, short range recon/ combat drone. I would be getting the most 'upgrades'. Wing blades, a magic amplifier, and a voice distorter. The first two hinted that the universe would contain magic and our bodies will be changed to allow us to fly, it led me to believe we were going back to the Dragon Realms. I wouldn't be the first time we had to go back to a universe. Although, needing a voice distorter is suspicious. The most confusing thing was the last on the list, something called Spark. Looking around I saw that the others had finished reading their data pads. "So, what's Spark?" He shook his head, "Not what, who." Passing me a data chip he explained, "That is Blinding Spark, an artificial intelligence. She will be joining you on your mission, providing assistance where needed." I nodded and slid the chip into my helmet which appeared next to me. "Now as per our usual operation procedures you all will be given time to adapt to your new forms and learn about the universe you're going to." He passed out briefing packets to everyone else but only three pages to me. "Uh, sir…?"

"You don't need the full packet since you already have extensive knowledge of this universe. Now for your new forms." He glowed slightly and I closed my eyes, I had kept them open once and I took me nearly seven hours to get me vision back to normal. Opening them I saw that not only had Coryn been unaffected, not surprising, but Spyro, Cynder, and I were unaffected too. Johnson and Anderson were the only ones affected. Johnson was now an olive green unicorn with a grey mane and the UNSC symbol as his cutie mark. Anderson was a pegasus with a navy blue coat and a yellow-gold mane, his cutie mark was the SSV Normandy with the Alliance symbol behind it. "Get used to your forms and read the briefing packets. You have three hours before you journey to Equestria." This was it… I'm going home.

Canterlot Castle
Local time: 1420
Five years, seven months, nine days since Steel's death

Another dream, another morning filled with regret and longing. Looking at the empty half of my bed only served as another reminder. It's strange, at first I had these dreams every time I slept but as time passed they became less frequent but just as painful. Even after four years I haven't gotten over losing him. It always pains me when my daughter asks about him. Since she was born nearly nine months after his death she never met him. I walked over to my dresser and got ready for the day but I couldn't keep my eyes away from the picture of him I kept on the wall next to it. "I miss you Steel… we all do. I wish you were here, here to see our daughter grow up. To be with me." After I finished getting ready I teleported to Ponyville to pick up my… our daughter from school. I sent her to Ponyville's school because of the attitude most Canterlot ponies have, while my sister can tolerate it I think their attitude is insufferable. The bell rang signaling the end of the school day and the start of the weekend. All the fillies and colts ran out of the building to enjoy the weekend, all of them except Silver. She was staring at the ground and Mrs. Cheerilee was walking next to her. Looking at my daughter I was reminded of him again. She had his deep blue eyes, her mane is cobalt with a silver streak in it, and her coat was grey, slightly lighter than Steel's coat was. "Hello princess, I'm afraid I have some bad news. Silver got into a fight today."

"Silver Lining, you know better!" I took some calming breaths, she could be punished later. "What happened silver?" She didn't look at me, "Diamond Tiara was bullying me again. Usually I just ignore her but she said some things about dad." I narrowed my eyes, "And what did she say about your father?" Cheerilee was slightly worried by my dark tone. Silver shook her head, "I don't remember. I remember that I got real and then she was on the ground, I don't even remember hitting her." Silver was starting to cry so I pulled her close and gently stroked her mane. "Cheerilee, tell Diamond Tiara's parents that if their daughter makes anymore comments about Silvers father there will be consequences. You might want to talk to them about her bullying problem too." She nodded in agreement, "*sigh* I know, I had hoped that Diamond Tiara would realize that what she was doing is wrong and stop but it's starting to get out of hoof." We said goodbye and started walking to the restaurant we were meeting Vinyl and Octavia at for lunch. On the way we stopped and I got Silver some ice cream which improved her mood. When we got to the restaurant Vinyl and Octavia were already at a table. "Hi Luna, hi Silver." We said hello and Silver went back to eating her ice cream. "You do know that will ruin her apatite." Octavia whispered. I told them about what happened. Octavia was concerned while Vinyl muttered to herself something about teaching Diamond Tiara a lesson. While we were placing our orders I noticed a bracelet on Octavia's foreleg, it was gold and had an intricate design. Once the waiter left I decided to ask her about it. "Where did you get that bracelet Octavia, it looks great."

Vinyl put her leg around Octavia, "Vinyl got it for me." She raised her leg so I could get a better look at it. Who ever made it put a lot of effort into it, each part of the design had to be hoof carved and the design took up the entirety of the bracelet. Despite not having any gems like most of the jewelry it was one of the best bracelets I've ever seen. Then I remember something, I had seen a bracelet with a similar design. It was the one Shining Armor gave my niece Cadence when… "Oh my, is this what I think it is? Are you two getting mar-" They both cut me off and moved closer to me. "Yes, we're getting married." Octavia whispered, Vinyl nodded. "Vinyl proposed last night, we haven't told anypony yet."

"That's wonderful, congratulations. I'm sure everypony will be pleased to hear this. We all knew it was only a matter of time, the two of you have been dating for almost three and a half years. If you want I'm sure my sister will be more than happy to let you have the wedding at the castle." We talked some more and they said they planned on telling everypony soon. After lunch we said our goodbye to Vinyl and Octavia. Silver went off to play with her friends, the cutie mark crusaders (now disbanded). Despite having found their cutie marks and no longer using the club name, having passed it on to other ponies who have yet to get their cutie marks, Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo remained best friends. They have known Silver since she was born and are practically her aunts like their sisters but Silver considers them her best friends. Briefly I wonder if Sweetie Belle is still dating Button Mash but I push the thought aside as I teleport back to the castle. As I walked to the throne room I mentally prepared myself for the many tedious and boring duties I had to perform. I promised Tia I would help with some of her duties, her work has increased tenfold in the past few weeks. The increase should be temporary but even the two of us need time for ourselves. When I took over for my sister I told her about Vinyl and Octavia. She agreed to let them have the wedding here if they want and went to write them a letter before relaxing. Personally I'm a little worried about her, she's been acting differently lately. More than once I had caught her in bed with random stallions, one time it was with one of her guards. Two hours latter Twilight stopped by and brought Silver back. Silver was barely awake so I put her to bed and stayed with her until I had to start my own princess duties.

Authors Note: This won't be a multi-crossover story, only the members of Steel's team will be in the story, no aspects of their various homes will be involved in the story and they will be staying in Equestria for the entirety of the story. Also I won't start working on this again until sometime during the summer. If you have any questions or are just boare enough to look for anyone to talk to either PM me or look for me on twitter, thelordcurly.