Towards the emergency transporters, creatures of various sizes, ages, and species were running as hell itself was onto their tails.

And it nearly was.

The enemy came from the Jump Gate. Over fifty ships arrived, an invasion force sent to take over the planet. The meager defense force was destroyed by overwhelming force, outnumbered nearly ten to one. The fledgling colony had only just established its most basic defenses, and had yet to receive a proper defense force. The local population was quick to learn a very hard fact;

Shanxi was burning.

Overhead, large forms flew past, casting shadows upon the troops below. The creatures breathed heavily, for both fire and muscle to be brought against the invaders. Flying by their sides, smaller creatures zipped about, protecting the behemoths from whatever they could. One leviathan banked towards a descending vessel, and attempted to bring its terrifyingly sharp claws upon the hull. The invading craft adjusted slightly, before firing a devastating blast from its main gun. The large beast stiffened, glancing towards its chest to see a bloody, gaping hole. A cry of agony filled the air as it began to plummet, its flight group following close behind, determined not to let the majestic beast die on its own.

In the center of town, a large glowing column was being filled with citizens.

"ITS ALMOST FILLED!" Shouted one of soldiers.

"ALRIGHT MEN! YOU KNOW THE DRILL! WE STAND TO THE LAST! CODE 0!" The leader roared.

Without any delay, all the soldiers nodded as one, turning towards the nearest non-human soldier, grabbing them roughly and throwing them into the column.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!" One of the winged creatures yelled in shock. It attempted to rush back out, to return to the fight, but a thick blast shield crashed into place, locking the non-humans in.

"Saving you." The soldier said calmly.

"Marcus! Let us out! We can help!"

"I know you can, Feathers." The soldier stated, turning his head, showing the rough face of his species. A smile adorned his face, a grim smile that showed all those inside that he knew exactly what he was doing. "But we, humanity, have been waiting for this moment for a thousand years. Its time for us to repay our debt to you...to all of you."

"What...?"

Marcus turned his head back towards the battlefield. He spoke up, "Ever since we arrived on your world, your leaders welcomed us with open arms...or legs, I suppose." He chuckled, almost unnoticed. "Your people opened your hearts to us. You allowed us to become a part of your world...We...Humanity... decided that we become something more than what we once were..."

He looked up to see several fighters rush by. "We decided to become your defenders...your shields...and also your swords. We will be the front line and the last. So your people, the ponies, the griffons, the dragons, and everyone else, would not suffer the same fate as ours."

He turned back, seeing the griffon soldier he threw in, along with several ponies, baby dragons, and several human children staring at him with tears in their eyes. He gave them another smile, this one filled with confidence. "We stand here, and keep you from them. To keep you away from the darkness. To be the light that shines. To be the armor that keeps you safe...I will gladly give up my life, even if I just save one of you. All of us will." He gestured around him, all the human soldiers nodded their heads. Silence echoed out, to all of those inside the transporter. They were watching heroes being born, and they were watching heroes die.

"NO! COME WITH US!" a small pony ran up to the shield, trying to break through. "You can still come with us."

"Can't little one. Someone needs to set the coordinates and the power her up. Need's to be done out here..."

"CONTACT!" the world exploded in fury. The enemy soldiers found themselves fighting a battle that would forever burn in their minds. Screams and shouts from inside the shield roared out, crying out in horror as the human soldiers gave their lives to ensure that others made it out alive.

A single man stood up from cover, taking fire, all the while returning it with equal force. Blood poured from his wounds, but he kept on fighting. Another screamed out in agony, his arm missing from the shoulder down, he gritted his teeth, simply picked up his weapon with his other arm and kept firing with it.

"ALMOST DONE! POWER AT 95 PERCENT AND CLIM-" The human manning the transport controls slumped to the ground, a hole in his head. Marcus turned his head, a growl rumbled out, before running towards the controls.

"MARCUS!" Feyleya, Feathers by all of her companions, screamed as he ran, taking hits, but kept on running. Marcus reached the machine, groaning in agony as several shots pierced his armor. He leaned out of cover to returned fire as best as he could.

"MARCUS! MARCUS NO! LET US OUT! PLEASE!" Feather cried out, slamming her claws against the shield. He turned tiredly towards them, gave them a grin before turning back around.

"TRANSPORTER READY!" he shouted, pushing the button. The machine gave a hum before bolts of energy began to gather at the top of the dome.

Time slowed down at that point of time for Feathers.

A human woman stood up to return fire, being pelleted from fire in all directions. She kept firing, even as she fell to her knees. The damage too much for her, she fell to rest on the ground.

Another ran towards her, hoping to somehow help, but a single round slammed through his neck. He stumbled, his back slamming against the shield. He weakly raised his rifle, but a hail of bullets pressed into him. He slowly slipped towards the ground.

Another burst of gunfire rained upon Marcus, knocking him to the ground.

"MARCUS!" Marcus turned his head, seeing Feather desperately trying to bash her way out. She wasn't alone, various others were trying to do the same. All of them watching as the brave humans died before their eyes. They all felt helpless and wished to help, but the emergency blast shield held strong. Marcus watched as darkness tint the edges of his view. He saw Feather screaming and crying, her slamming becoming weaker and weaker. She fell to her knees, desperately trying to reach him...to save him. He brought his right arm up, and gave a small thumbs up to them.

The transporter glowed, finally ready. Feather looked up, she then looked back at her fallen friend. The glow began to cover them.

"No...no...nonononononono MARCUS!" Feather and everyone else vanished from inside the shield. Marcus gave a sigh. His job was done. Darkness began to cover his eyes, but he was smiling when he died.

'Its only the beginning. Soon, Humanity will finally pay back its debt to all of you. Thank you...for giving us a place to call home...to...protect.'

---

When I left for Manehatten. I never figured that my friends and I would witness the beginning of a new future.

The beginning of a new race that will come to shape the future of Equestria itself.

They called themselves Humans

And that they were the last of their kind...

Written from the diary of Governor of Magic & Technology Twilight Sparkle.