Author's Note: This is a non-profit fanfiction made for the sole purpose of doing something fun about one of my favorite characters in the Mass Effect series. Harbinger and Shepard belong to BioWare and My Little Pony belongs to Hasbro.

Chapter 9: Life is not a Picnic

Location: Equestria, Ponyville, Sweet Apple Acres

Time: Two weeks post Arrival

The Mane 6 were sitting around a table at Sweet Apple Acres, enjoying a delicious picnic of sorts. The table was filled with various treats like apple fritters, apple tarts, apple pie, apple juice, pie flavored pie etc. The Cutie Mark Crusaders were playing a game with Spike, which involved Spike running away, from the three fillies who were wearing horned watermelon helmets and also had shield made from tree bark, and a stick as a sword, all while shouting:

CMC: FUS RO DAH!

The volume of their voice actually made Spike stumble, and the Mane 6, minus Pinkie who was cheering then on, to cover their ears.

Dovah Belle: The dragon is incapacitated, quickly move to attack before it recovers!

Apple Born: Prepare another Shout, jus' in case!

Scootakiin: It will not hold him for long, move quicker!

After another nice shout, the three filly borns were able to reach and defeat the vile Dragon.

Spikeduin: Curse you dovahkiin, you may have defeated me this time, but I will have my revenge!

With that all four of them fell on the ground laughing. The Mane 6, giggled at them, before turning back to the conversation they had earlier.

Applejack: So where exactly did ya' say Ha'binger went tah?

Twilight: He said he had some 'important business' to attend to, something about investigating local flora and fauna.

Fluttershy: It's nice that he wanted to find more about animals, but why didn't he ask us for help?

Rainbow Dash: Who cares? Didn't come, his loss. *eats another piece of pie* Dis is sho gud.

Rarity: Have some manners Rainbow Dash, swallow before you speak.

Rainbow Dash: *waves hoof dismissively * Yeah, yeah. Let's just concentrate on more important matters like…pie.

Somewhere else in Equestria a certain blue haired stallion Wonderbolt's ears perked up, his partner a orange maned mare looked at him in confusion.

Spitfire: Somethin' wrong Soarin'?

Soarin': My Pie Sense just tingled.

The mare just dismissed it as just Soarin' being Soarin'. Back at Sweet Apple Acres a gray and blonde, cross eyed Pegasus carrying mail came to the group.

Rainbow Dash: Oh hey Derpy, watcha' doing here?

Derpy: I have some mail for Apple Acres and a special one for Twilight Sparkle.

Twilight: Me? From who?

Derpy: From that burning bug pony. I would stay here and talk but there's a lot of mail to deliver.

Pinkie: Aww, it's too bad that you can't stay with us, but you can have a muffin if you like.

Derpy:*excitedly* MUFFIN!

She took the muffin happily munching on it as she flew away. The ponies just shook their heads in amusement at her antics. Twilight then opened the letter which held the following contents:

[Image of a burning hoofprint]

Unico- Twilight Sparkle, this is Harbinger, earlier I told you that I would go to investigate the local flora and fauna, yet as I walked around, I heard rumors of the species that inhabit the place you refer to as Everfree Forest. From what I gathered the forest life is acting normally compared to the other tracts of land in Equestria. I do not know why I inform you of this but, I wish to investigate that place to see what things I may find in there. Also that forest might give me a place to take my mind of all of these Technicolor ponies. From what I hear the place may be very dangerous, so I advise you refrain from following me as it may put your life in peril. [Scribbled unreadable writing, T/L: Not that I have anything against your demise.]

Rarity: What does he mean by normal? Everfree Forest is by no means 'normal'.

Fluttershy: How can animals tend to themselves?

Rainbow Dash: Or the weather manage itself? That's just crazy.

Applejack: We 'ave tah save 'im before somethin' gets to 'im.

Twilight: Ok girls, let's go.

Pinkie Pie who stood a bit behind them, giggled.

Pinkie: *giggling* Oh girls, if only you knew.

With that the party pony bounced behind them, leaving three confused fillies and a baby dragon.

Spike: Poker, anypony?

CMC: NO!

---

Location: Equestria, Ponyville, Everfree Forest

Time: Earlier

We find our resident Reaper-Pony walking around the forest checking various flowers and animals that he finds during his walk. The trip through the forest for most ponies would be a trip of nightmares, yet for Harbinger it was just a walk in the park, of course if you were an ancient machine capable of destroying entire civilizations, you would be brave too. Using knowledge gained from reading a book, which took him less than seconds, he documented new discoveries that he found about current species, as well as species never before investigated. His thoughts drifted to a certain thing he heard from the ponies.

Harbinger:*thinking* Hmm, from what the ponies tell me this place is extremely dangerous and no one dares to enter this place under normal circumstances, yet there seems to be a certain pony, no, zebra that resides within this forest. *out loud* Perhaps, I should pay her a visit, I heard she has a vast knowledge on local herbs.

The train of thought was interrupted by a roar coming from the distance, as well as a scream that seemed to belong to somepony.

Harbinger: Speak of the devil.

The Reaper took of and flew as fast as he could to the source of the noise. Arriving there he saw a hybrid of a lion, with bat wings and a scorpion tail, chasing a zebra.

Harbinger: That seems to be the zebra everyone keeps talking about, and a species that I have yet to experiment on. *cracks neck* Perhaps I should contain that creature, it would save the zebra in the process.

Zecora kept running for her dear life, being chased by a manticore wasn't something she was prepared for, especially since it never happened. It felt almost like it happened on purpose, just for some alien to save her and gain her gratitude. That didn't matter for now, all that she could do was run. She ran for what seemed like miles, when she suddenly came to a tall cliff, which somehow everypony missed while walking through the forest. The manticore walked up to her, droll dripping from it's muzzle, it let out a victory roar, which caused the zebra's heart to skip a beat.

Zecora: In moments like these it would be nice to find, that alien savior that comes to my mind.

As if on cue, a loud rumble was heard at their left, or right in the manticore's case. Both of them turned towards the noise and saw… a colum of fire speeding towards the manticore at a very high speed. The beast tried to dodge, but failed and the fire rammed into it at full force. The manticore was sent flying into a tree, while the fire turned back into a familiar insectoid-pony.

Harbinger: *matter-of-factly* Decent reflexes, quite resilient.

The manticore who just stood up, looked up at the Reaper with a face mixed with anger and confusion.

Harbinger: Seems to possess a certain amount of sentience.

The manticore let out a roar, readying itself for an attack.

Harbinger: Aggressive when hungry, must document behavior in other cases.

The chimera charged at the Reaper launching it's tail, Harbinger just brought a hoof up and caught it right at the tip.

Harbinger: Possess a very potent poison, testing required for precise analysis.

Both the manticore and zebra were watching the Reaper with expressions of shock, Zecora was also very amazed. The manticore flew into the air as high as possible.

Harbinger: Interesting, it is also capable of flight, despite the small size of it's wings. Must test that as well.

The beast then came down at a high speed, bringing down it's massive paw upon the Reaper, raising dust from the force of the impact. Zecora gasped in shock, believing her savior to be dead. The dust started to clear, and in the middle of a crater stood Harbinger, who hadn't moved an inch despite the strong hit.

Harbinger: Considerable strength, will document everything after testing, but now I must capture it.

The jaws of both chimera and zebra hit the floor, how could anypony survive such an attack. Harbinger's flames started burning with a stronger intensity and with a swipe of his hoof he sent a burning ball of energy at the manticore. The beast just side-stepped, yet the projectile changed it's trajectory and hit it head on. It felt almost like every molecule in it's body was being Warped, which to say was very painful, especially combined with flames. Yet the beast stood it's ground.

Harbinger: I take it back, very resilient.

The manticore had enough of this so it decided to finish the job quickly. It pawed at the ground, blowing steam from it's nostrils. With a mighty push of it's legs, the chimera ran at Harbinger at lightning speed, the Reaper didn't move, which confused the beast greatly. Time seemed to slow down for everyone there.

Harbinger: Tell me, what is the opposite word for Pull. *manticore looks at him weirdly* The answer is…THROW!

It all lasted only a few second, yet when it was all over, the manticore was lying on the ground hundred of feet and many trees broken away, unconscious. The Reaper stood there watching and analyzing. After a few moments of hesitation, Zecora walked up to him, looking at him with a mix of amazement and fear.

Zecora: I do not know if you are friend or foe, but that you saved my life is what I know. So tell me strange creature what is your name, for to not know the name of my savior, it would be a shame.

Harbinger: My name is Harbinger and you must be the Equus Quagga, I mean zebra, that the townfolk spoke about.

Zecora: I am Zecora and it seems I am quite popular, but it was not always the same, for I can guess that because we are different, we have not the best kind of fame.

Harbinger: Yes, ponies from what I gathered can be quite racist, even if they do not realize it.

Zecora: *chuckles* That may be true, but they are good to have around, but what would bring you to this dangerous tract of ground?

Harbinger: I have been studying the various species around this forest, I also obtained I live specimen, *points to Manticore* as you can see.

Zecora looked at him strangely then looked at his Cutie Mark.

Harbinger: Is there something on my flank. From what I know, staring at a flank is quite a perverted action to perform.

Zecora: *laughs* In normal conditions that would be true, but it is quite customary for anypony who is new.

Harbinger: *curiously* I do not think I quite understand.

Zecora: In pony tradition it is normal to take a look at the flank, to find whether it has a Cutie Mark, or if it is blank. The image you have tell of what talent you possess, it may seem naughty, but it is a common process.

Both Zecora and Harbinger took one glance at where the Reaper's Cutie Mark should be, there was an image of a metallic double helix – a DNA. Zecora looked at it with great confusion. Harbinger, noticed she was baffled.

Harbinger: It is called a DNA.

---

[Later…]

The Mane Six were trotting through the forest. It took a lot of convincing to bring Fluttershy here again, yet in the end they succeded. They heard a roar coming from the distance, Fluttershy recognized it as an animal in pain, so she rushed ahead of everypony.

Applejack: Fluttershy, where in the blazes are ya goin'?

Fluttershy: I can't stand here when there is an animal in pain, I have to help it.

The other ponies quickly followed behind and after a minute of running they came to a clearing, or better say a area where the trees were collapsed. In the middle stood Zecora and Harbinger, laying comfortably on the… belly of an unconscious Manticore. They zebra and Reaper noticed the new arrival and they turned to greet them.

Zecora: Well would you look at that, who do I see, Twilight Sparkle and friends have come to me.

Harbinger just nodded as a greeting. The Mane Six, except Pinkie who was oblivious to everything, were staring at the manticore on the ground.

Fluttershy: I-is it de-dea-

The manticore started to stir, startling everypony except Harbinger and Zecora. The Reaper picked up a nearby rock with his biotics and smashed it against the chimera's head, effectively knocking it out.

Applejack who regained her composure asked.

Applejack: Uh, what in tarnation happened 'ere?

Harbinger: Biotics *snort snort*

---

[Next Morning…]

The previous day was so eventful that nopony noticed the fact that Harbinger picked up a certain blue flower until it was to late…

Harbinger: YEEEEHAAAWWW, Asoomin' Direct Control!

Transmission Terminated

Logging Off

*New Codex Entry Available*

Codex: Princess Celestia

Princess Celestia is a Pegasus unicorn or alicorn, who is the co-ruler of Equestria along with her sister Princess Luna. She is responsible for raising and lowering the sun over the land. Highly regarded and feared for her power, it is said that she is the most powerful pony in Equestria. Being over a thousand years old, Celestia witnessed various events such as Discord, The Spirit of Chaos' first and second defeat, the former at her and Luna's hoofs and the later at the hands of the Mane Six. The transformation of her sister into Nightmare Moon is what forced her to seal Luna in the moon for a thousand years and only recently being released. Some say that before she became Equestria's ruler she and Luna may have been friends with Discord and a currently unknown fourth pony…

Author's Note: #1: I'm pretty sure you wonder why it took me so long, but there is an explanation. First of all Driving School, Practical Driving and a conflict of ideas for this chapter.

#2: In case you are wondering about what ideas I had, then there was the idea of a Harbinger under Poison Joke chapter, this idea and a Truth or Dare chapter. It took me quite a lot to choose, so in the end I chose this one. There is also a reference to the Poison Joke chapter in the end.

#3: You may have noticed a subtle reference to an unknown pony in the Codex. I may begin to write another story centering upon that character, although that will be for a later time. All I can say is that he/she will make a cameo and possible appearance in this story.

Fun Fact: The person who first said that gathering raspberries is fun should get a boot up their butt. Raspberry bushes have freakin' small thorns, try and walk through them in your underwear and you'll get the gig.

-LittleMisterBlack out-