"Well, well, hello everyone… Thought I'd let you all in on a special fandom I've been a part of since I was such a wee little thing. Figured I would give some glory to my biggest heroes, ever since I was young. Many say they aren't heroes, but what they represented made me into who I am today." Silver Star hopped up, a wide grin on her face. "Daddy makes these guy out to be so cool! I can't wait to actually meet the one he created! I hope you all love him, much as I do!" The Black Knight gave a hearty laugh, as the filly giggled. He lifted his hand up, a remote appearing and being placed into his palm. "Enjoy everyone, oh and to be clear? The MLP Characters are Anthro! … I don't own anything, but the character created in this fanfiction. Also? Shadow2777 helped with parts of this new story!"
Chapter One
The ship shook and roared, as another blast broke its haul. The Sangheili Stealth Operation Warrior looked around, as his armored foot pressed down on to the dead Jiralhanae. Moments before, hi squad ambushed these boarders, who were heading towards the ship's core reactor. He didn't know why the Brutes were attacking their ship, but even he knew the mighty warship won't last much longer. He needed to get out of here, find a Phantom or Banshee, and escape. There was only one problem.
The Sangheili turned around, and looked back at his decimated squad. Both Sangheili and Unggoy of the Stealth Operation Core within the Covenant, each a brave warrior. He had served alongside many of them for years, and was proud to call them his comrades, his brothers. There was a total of twelve, not counting himself. Twelve graves he'll have to dig, if h survive this that is.
"I am sorry…" He muttered, before placing the Needle Rifle on to his back, and sprinting towards the nearest hanger bay.
The corrido started to explode, flames bursting from vents and walls. The Sangheili continued to sprint, fast as he could, and nimbly dodged exploding vents and bursting walls. He couldn't stop, not even slow down for a second, or else he was dead. The Sangheili didn't want to survive this for himself, such a thing would be dishonorable. No, he was going to survive this for his fallen comrades, all of them, and get the vengeance they deserved.
An Unggoy was screaming down the halls, as the explosions chased him. The Sangheili saw this, and sprinted even faster towards him. No one else is going to die, on his watch. "I don't want to die!" The Unggoy yelled, trying to escape, as the fires got even closer. Before they could reach him, a four fingered hand reached down and grabbed said Unggoy! Pulling into an adjacent hallway. "Wha-? Huh?" The Unggoy looked up, seeingthe Stealth Sangheili towering bbove him. "S-Stealth Leader Aythai'Vadam?"
"No time for awe, Grunt. We need to abandon ship!" Aythai'Vadamn ordered, before continuing his sprint towards the launch bay, the Unggoy right behind him.
"S-Sir, do you know what's going on? Why are the Brutes attacking us?" The Unggoy asked, as they rushed down the exploding corridor.
"I don't know." Aythai'Vadam answered, as the doors to the launch bay opened. "But what I do know, is that we have been betrayed." There was only one Phantom left, the others destroyed. It was guarded by a Lek'Golo pair, three Sangheili Minors, and five Unggoys. "Get that Phantom running! We are getting out of here!"
One of the Sangheili Minors nodded, and growled at one of the nearby Unggoys. That caused the whole group to board said Phantom, the engines roaring to life. Aythai'Vadam and the Unggoy quickly boarding it, and the landing ramps closing behind them. "They're on board, get us out of here!" The Minor yelled.
"I don't know how to work this thing!" The Unggoy, at the pilot seat, yelled while he tried to get the Phantom to lift off.
"Move!" Aythai'Vadam yelled, pulling the Unggoy from the pilot's seat. He quickly pressed the command sequence required for launch, and slammed the helm forward. This caused the Phantom to explode out into the void of space, just before the launch bay exploded. But, outside of the ship, was no better with hostile Phantoms and Banshees all around them. "Someone get on that turret, or this escape is going to be short lived!"
An Unggoy quickly jumped on to the controls, for the Phantom's external plasma turret. Before long, it opened fired on perusing Phantoms and Banshees. Aythai'Vadam steered the Phantom around on coming debris and trying to get clear shots on any hostile aircraft. When a fuel rod round struck the starboard engine, alerts flared around the console.
The alerts caused Aythai'Vadam to curse in Sangheili. "Starboard engine has gone offline! Get those hostiles off our back, now!" He ordered.
"Trying! They're everywhere!" The Unggoy yelled, trying to destroy the Banshees behind them. "Each one I take out; another takes its place!" When he destroyed a Banshee, another had flown in and continued pursuit.
Aythai'Vadam scanned through the Phantom's onboard map, trying to find some way to escape their pursuit. An uncharted world came up; one they were passing because scans showed that there were no Forerunner Relics on it. Scans did show that the planet had life forms, which means it can sustain life. "Hang on to something! I'm going to try and land on that nearby world!" Those onboard, in the troop bay, all nodded and grabbed hold of something. "Try to keep them off of us."
"Trying!" The Unggoy repeated, firing even more bursts, which destroyed two Banshees and a Phantom. Unfortunately, one of the Banshees fired a fuel rod round, and the turret couldn't take it out. "Boss, incoming! I can't-!" The round slammed into the portside engine, the explosion causing a backlash within the Phantom and killed the Unggoy.
The PhaNtom spun out of control, both engines completely destroyed, and became a giant fireball coming down from the sky. Aythai'Vadam was trying everything he possibly could, to regain control of the Phantom, but without the engines to help keep the transport stable… All he could do, was keep the Phantom's nose up. Alerts started to sound all around the Sangheili, alerting him that the ground was approaching fast. Without those primary engines, there was no possible way for them to escape the transport's fate.
Aythai'Vadam pressed the intercom button. "Brace for impact! It is about to get rough!" There was no response, that made him think the others were dead… That explosion hit hard, and he felt the Phantom rupture. Such a thing angered him, so many lives were thrown away for this. If there was a slim chance that they were alive, the Phantom's landing had to keep it intact. "Come on, you flying piece of junk." He growled, the bow's cameras revealing he was heading straight for a dense forest. "Don't break up on me!"
Before he knew it, the Covenant Transport crashed through the trees, and started to slide through it. Pieces of the Phantom's haul and insides started to be ripped off, the plasma turret being buried into the ground from the initial crash landing. Just before the crashing Phantom could come to a halt, Aythai'Vadam was jerked forward and slammed his head against the onboard controls… Causing the Sangheili Stealth Operative to black out.
-Ponyvilee, Moments Before-
No pony could take their eyes of the night sky. Bright lights and large objects could be see within the stars, one big one being attacked by smaller ones. Some thought it was amazing, thinking they were seeing some sort of Space Battle. While others were terrified, unsure what to think about the display up in the starry sky.
"Twilight!" Rainbow Dash yelled out, flying up in her signature training outfit, her cutiemark on her jacket's back, and landed right next to her alicorn friend. "What in Equestria is going on up there?"
The alicorn kept her eye within her telescope, wearing her normal tank top and jeans outfit but was wearing a black jacket to keep warm, watching what was transpiring in space. "From what I can tell?" Twilight pulled away, looking back at the daredevil. "There is a giant battle going on up there." When a thunderous boom echoed over their head, forcing the two to look back up. "And that big one is losing!"
The largest vessel split in two, before exploding into smaller parts, and then into more parts. Everypony had to shield their eyes, when the larger ship suddenly exploded completely, sending debris falling down towards their world! This allowed them to know the battle had ended, even as the smaller ships started to leave. "Well, I guess that means-?" When another boom of thunder echoed around them, both mares looked up.
Up in the sky was some kind of ship, being attacked by three others. It was trailing smoke and fire, obviously damaged, but it still fought back. Twilight went back to her telescope, just in time to see the ship destroy its three pursuers… But got hit by some green glow, and turned into a giant ball of fire. From what she could tell, the ship was now flying out of control, and is going to crash!
"Oh Celestia! If my calculations are correct, that thing is going to land in the Everfree Forest!" Twilight yelled, watching the object fly right over Ponyville, the blue-white flames lighting up the small town. "We need to get the others together, and figure out if those onboard survived." The two watched, as the ship crashed inside the Everfree Forest, some parts flying off from the main body. "Right away."
"Got it!" Rainbow Dash saluted, before flying off to get the others.
Twilight adjusted her jacket a bit, it was cold tonight. "Something tells me… It is going to be a long night." She signed, heading back to the Friendship Castle, with her telescope, for some supplies they may need.
-Everfree Forest, Sometime Later-
The Elements made their way through the forest, careful to keep an eye out for any of the dangerous creatures. However, it seems that the ship's crash had scared away all of the local animals, too scared to find out what it was. Luckily for the mares, following the ship's trial was very easy. After all, it left behind a dug out trail, and torn off debris, in the direction said ship went.
Rainbow Dash walked up to one of the broken pieces, that looked like a piece of the ship's haul. She placed a hand on to the purple metal, getting a surprise. "It's so smooth, and surprisingly cold." She said, looking back at Twilight.
"But… That's impossible? At the rate it was going, that ship would have taken ours to cool off." Twilight noted, confused by the information.
Rarity, dressed in a proper cold night outfit, walked over and tried not to get her outfit dirty. "How about we find this 'ship' and leave quickly, I need my beauty sleep." The fashionista complained, avoiding a low bearing branch. "Plus, this spooky place is doing a number on poor Fluttershy's nerves!"
She proved her point by motioning to Fluttershy, wo was being carried by Applejack. "If ya are havin' a problem with this, Rari, then ya can take Fluttershy here back." The farm mare smirked, motioning to the shy pegasus. "But remember, we're here ta make sure what fell isn't a threat ta Equestria."
Rarity rolled her eyes, her longtime friend just had to bring that up. Before the fashionista could reply, Pinkie Pie suddenly chirped in. "Yeah! And we could meet a UFO, and have a 'Welcome to our World' Party! And become the best of friends, and see the galaxy!"
The group rolled their eyes, ignoring their hyper active friend, who clearly missed how this ship escaped a battle. "Regardless, the safety of Equestria is our top priority, and checking out this ship is part of that." Twilight said, as she moved a branch out of the way, revealing the crash site… All six mares freezing.
The ship was torn apart, parts of it scattered throughout the trail and guts hanging out of its belly. There were even blue-white flames at certain points f the ship, but Twilight figured they weren't going to be a threat. But what really caught their attention, was the blast damage and four strange creatures hanging out, or laying around, the ship's belly.
Twilight and Rainbow Dah walked up to one of the largest ones, covered in shiny blue armor and had stringy orange flesh. "Whoa, I'd hate to see one of these big guys alive." The daredevil said, eyeing the creature's shield and weapon, as Applejack put Fluttershy down and walked over to a different corpse.
The farm mare knelt down next to the blue armored creature, eyeing the obvious warrior. Its face was strange, the lower part of the mouth was open and only had four, fang filled, mandibles. She placed her hand into its, strangely formed, four fingered one. "Ah hate to see one of these guys alive…" Applejack stated, earning the group's attention. "That big fella seems strong, but also slow… This fella seems strong and fast."
Rarity walked over, with Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie, just as a short and stubby creature fell out and rolled over to the three. When its mask fell off, revealing a deformed face, this caused all three mares to scream. "Ew! Ew! Eeeeeewwwww! That thing looks disgusting!" The fashionista yelled, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy instantly covering her mouth when coughing was heard nearby.
Applejack quickly noticed one of the blue armored creatures, like the one she was kneeling next to, slighting moving and suddenly cough up purple-blue blood. In seconds, she was at the creature's side, placing a hand on to the creature's chest and lifting its head up. "You're gonna be alright, pardner, ah got ya. Don't ya worry, we'll gt ya some help." The farm mare comforted, smiling at the slowly glazing eyes.
Without warning, the creature grabbed hold of Applejack's jacket collar, and pulled her closer. "N-No time… I-I am done. Ship's pilot… Could still be a-alive." The creature strained the last word, before it fell limp in Applejack's arms.
"Pardner? Hey, pardner, ya gotta stay with me here." Applejack tried to get the creature to respond, shaking it a bit, but the creature didn't say another word and remained limp. The others had their own responses to the creature's death, while Applejack simply reached up and tilted her hat towards it. "Alright, then…" She sat its head back down, and quickly stood up, her gaze going straight to the ship.
"AJ, you aren't seriously thinking about going in there, are you?" Rainbow Dash asked, looking between her and the ship.
"And what if ah am?" She asked, walking towards the ship's opened belly.
Twilight quickly got in her way, stopping the taller mare. "Need I remind you that we don't know how stable that ship is, nor what is inside of it?" She looked at the dead creature, before returning to her friend. "And that thing could be lying to you, and lure us into a trap."
Applejack just looked down at her, and crossed both arms over her breast, which seemed to be between a C or D cup. "And need ah remind ya, ah am the Element of Honesty?" She looked back at the recently deceased creature, frowning. "That guy wasn't lyin', their pilot might still be alive." Applejack quickly shook her head, a confident look reappearing on her face. "And a life is a life, pony or not. The Apple Family always helps those in need."
The others looked at one another, Applejack had them there. None of them were ones to leave anypony in danger. Twilight moved out of her way, before she and Rainbow Dash fooled the farm mare into the ship "Rarity? You, Pinkie, and Futtershy; stay out her while we check on the pilot… Warn us if anything comes." Twilight asked, the three nodding as she went in.
The ship's inside didn't look any better, than the outside. The lights were faded, showing that there was barley any power left. Sparks caused them to look up, and see that there were hanging wires. Some of them had been cut, which caused the sparks, and there were copses around them. This lead the three to believe, that the pilot may be the sole survivor of this unfortunate crash… Such information didn't sit very well with them.
"I-Is it bad that, if we find this guy alive, I am starting to feel bad for them?" Rainbo Dash asked, noticing one of the stubby ones in a chair. The controls were blown up, and it had scorch marks all over its front. "Bleh, talk about well done." The daredevil stuck out her tongue, in disgust.
The other two rolled their eyes, at their friend's disregard for the dead. "Show some respect, fer the dead, Rainbow." Applejack scolded, before noticing an open door to the ship's front. "Ah think ah found the cockpit." The other two looked towards the door, and followed her inside.
They were greeted by what looked like the creature who told Applejack about it. The difference being that this one's armor was a light shade of black, with red markings, and the creature's helmet was closed, along with curved. The eyes seemed blue, but were dully lit. Its armor seemed more high tech and designed for some elite warrior. There were even strange objects on both sides of the creature's hips, which looked like the hilts of some strange blade, and a long barreled weapon on its back.
"U-Uh… Pardner? Ya alright?" Applejack asked, looking up at the strange helmet. "Come on, big guy, are ya alive in there?" The farm mare lifted a hand up, and shook the creature's shoulder. The reaction was a pained groan, and said creature leaning a bit more forward. Her eyes went wide. "H-He's alive!" Her mind yelled, Applejack looking to Twilight. 'Twi! We need ta get this guy ta a hospital!"
The alicorn nodded, before she looked at Rainbow Dash. 'Dash, tell the others. I' going t teleport AJ, the creature, an myself; to the Ponyville Hospital… Afterwards, I'll send a message to Princess Celestia to have some guards sent to help watch him."
"On it!" Rainbow Dash sprinted out of the cockpit.
Twilight went to the creature's left side, while Applejack stayed on its right. "Alright, AJ, hold on to his arm, and I'll teleport us right away." She nodded, grabbing hold of the creature's arm. The alicorn's horn lit up, as she grabbed the creature's left arm. Twilight channeled the magic through them, all three gaining a lavender glow. Within seconds, thy vanished in a flash of light.
