"Is everypony okay?"

The Everfree Forest-once, Twilight would've never entered this place at night; the one time she did, she was promptly attacked by a cockatrice, and only Fluttershy's skill at handling animals prevented her from staying that way. But, in a twist of fate and accident, it was the safest place this side of Canterlot.

Soon after Pinkie hit the ground, Twilight Sparkle had called upon the skills and information she learned during the Great Changeling Invasion, casting a shield around Pinkie while throwing a few bolts of magic at the invaders.

Invaders! She hadn't thought about it at the time, but that's almost certainly what these new creatures were.

The invaders reacted to Twilight's blind shots fairly badly; it was clear that they weren't used to magic. Soon after she got to Pinkie Pie, however, the shock wore off, and they opened fire. Bits of metal slammed into Twilight's shield, almost throwing her off-balance-Holy Nightmare Moon, those things hurt-as she picked the party pony up.

"What happened...? I'm, am I bleeding?"

She's going into shock, Twilight thought. I need to find a doctor.

A few more hours of rushing around, and Twilight had learned much more about the mysterious invaders. She had also saved a few of Ponyville's citizens, including-thank Celestia-all of her friends.

She had also saved any others she could get to in time-a unicorn named Diamond Mint, Doctor Stable from the local hospital, a fencing expert named Lance, a visitor from Canterlot by the name of Neon Lights, a pegasus named Blue October...the list went on (she had Spike make a list). After everypony had checked in, she trotted toward the clearing where Fluttershy was assisting Dr. Stable in treating the wounded.

"I have never seen anything like this," he said worriedly, as Twilight approached. "How ironic! This time it's Dr. Horse on the operating table, and I'm the one who has no idea what I'm doing!" He laughed, but did not smile.

The earth pony lying in front of Stable coughed, a line of red liquid running down his cheek. "I...I do know what I was doing, Stable, you old fool...I was protecting the fillies." He coughed several more times, tears mingling with the blood. "It's a shame, really. I couldn't do anything but waste a few seconds of their time."

Off in the distance, voices could be heard-

"Where's Dinky? Where's my little muffin?"

"Pipsqueak? Where's Pipsqueak?!"

"I can't find High Score! Somepony help me find him, please!"

Meanwhile, Fluttershy rushed around the clearing, checking bandages and asking meekly if anypony needed anything.

Twilight walked to the damp, stained grass where Pinkie was lying.

"Twi?" she asked, barely aware of what was happening. "It hurts, Twi. Why does it hurt...? I just wanted to be friends-it didn't even let me finish the song."

Twilight Sparkle sighed, her own eyes wet with tears. "I don't know, Pinkie. I just don't know anything right now."

"Good thing I'm here, then."

Another of the strange bipedal creatures walked out of the bushes-but this one wore different armor, and his head was uncovered. He held one of the oddly-shaped metal things in his hand, but his finger was away from the lever, and he was pointing it deliberately at the ground, away from everypony. "My name's Gordon Freeman."

"Freeman?" Pinkie asked, weakly. "Sounds like your special talent is helping others."

Freeman chuckled. "I guess you could say that, if you really think about it."

Some of the other ponies reared away from Gordon, panicked. The ones who weren't injured were facing him, wings ready for flight and horns charged with magical energy.

He dropped the metal thing, and raised his hands over his head.

"Do with me what you will."