The Shadow of a King
Pieces of the Puzzle (Part 1)
Author: Draconis187

Dante rubbed his temples. His previous job didn’t botch up like they tended to but he ended up causing so much property damage, it took almost all he got paid. Lady took a cut to pay for her involvement. Dante couldn’t get a moment’s rest by himself between Trish’s random comings and goings and his brother’s rather callous attitude were a pain.

But this was the straw that broke the camel’s back. He was having a nice nap by his desk as usual only to have the sweet bliss of silence broken by Vergil’s return. Then there was the news he brought with him.

“Run that past me again, Verg. I’m sure I didn’t hear that right,” Dante said as he used a finger to clean his ear.

Vergil sighed as he stood in front of Dante as his brother laid back on his chair with his feet on his desk, “You need to get your ears checked, dear brother. It may become chronic if you neglect it. I said: Fluttershy and her cottage have vanished from Equestria.”

“Well that’s a bummer. You sure she didn’t move the house?” Dante asked.

Vergil’s expression didn’t change, “Highly unlikely since the animal pens remained. She would not have left them behind. It would be out of character.”

Dante sighed and got up, grabbing his coat, “Alright then, Verg. You have my attention. Let’s go ask her friends, maybe they know what is going on.”

Vergil didn’t reply but he took his half of the Perfect Amulet off from around his neck and placed it in one outstretched hand as Dante did the same. The two halves floated towards each other and combined, a dull glow intensified as the incantations Discord had placed on them began to create a feedback loop upon themselves.

Electricity crackled and arced around them. Dante smiled broadly as the red glow of the Perfect Amulet began to grow in size and intensity. Vergil didn’t move a single muscle nor did his expression change as he stood in front of his brother, waiting for the Amulet to send the pair of them to Equestria.

**** **** **** ****

“Hm… this is nice tea,” Twilight complimented as the cup levitated off the table in her magic grip while Sven and Eve drank theirs.

“Thanks. Nice trick,” Sven said, looking at Twilight’s small magical display, “So let me get this straight: that little pony in the room is your adopted daughter from a parallel universe and is adopted by that universe’s version of you. You two fought monsters, demons and other creatures called ‘Changelings’? All within a matter of a few days?”

Twilight nodded her head, “Correct. That is basically the long and the short of it on my side.”

Eve remained silent throughout Twilight’s slightly lengthy explanation. She was fascinated by this world the two of them apparently came from. They were creatures she’s only read in books, believed to be nothing more than a mere myth and yet two breathing specimens were before the curious girl.

Sven took a sip of his tea, looking at Eve, “Any questions for the nice pony, Eve?”

She looked at Twilight, “What is that sword for?”

Twilight looked down at her cup before answering. She knew they were bound to redirect the subject back to Alastor. She feared they would throw them out if they knew so she kept deflecting by twisting their questions and giving answers that were vaguely related to their questions.

A cold sweat broke over Twilight as she took a deep breath, daring to not look into their eyes, “It’s a Devil Arm. In a sense it’s akin to a living weapon, complete with its own mind and personality.

That Devil Arm is known as Alastor,” She looked at Sven with a slightly disgusted look on her face, “Pinkie somehow gave it to Nyx on our way back to Canterlot. It’s almost as if it’s formed a symbiotic relationship with her and maybe that’s how a Devil Arm works.”

Sven raised an eyebrow but didn’t interrupt her. This was out of his depth. Sweepers take on criminals that the standard police force are unable to cope with for profit. Magic swords and talking ponies? Way beyond what he’s seen in his time as an agent for the International Bureau of Investigation and a Sweeper.

“So that’s why it wouldn’t let us take it?” Sven asked with a raised eyebrow.

“I believe so. Alastor knows the relationship Nyx and I have so it allows me to handle him. Even if it was to store him away after the battle,” Twilight responded with a deep sigh, “I just wish she didn’t get sucked into whatever brought us here. That filly has suffered enough.”

A few light hoofsteps approached the table, causing the three sat there to stop talking and look towards the source.

Nyx looked as if she should still be in bed with the way she swayed about groggily. Her eyes were half open and she gave a large yawn as Twilight smiled at her. Alastor was on her back once more, the odd bolt of lightning striking the blade at random intervals.

“Sleep alright, Nyx?” Twilight asked as she got down and hugged the filly.

Nyx returned the hug but her meagre smile began to frown, “Yes thank you, Twilight. Where are we? What happened to Golden Oaks?”

“I am afraid we seem to have ended up experiencing a form of involuntary cross-dimensional travel,” Twilight responded, “I’ve been considering several variables but none make any sense and no it wasn’t Discord. We would have heard his laugh if he was behind it. He wouldn’t have been able to resist laughing at us before we left Equestria.”

Nyx nodded her head in understanding and turned her head to Alastor, “Sorry about taking Alastor out from the wall, Twilight.”

Twilight shook her head, “As much as you having a deadly weapon does make me a little uncomfortable, I’m afraid we’ll both have to compromise. We don’t know this world or what dangers are in it. At least you can defend yourself if push comes to shove.”

Nyx nodded once more, “May I have some tea please?”

Sven smiled as he got up, “Sure thing, kid. Eve, introduce yourself while I go get another cup and boil the kettle again for Nyx here?”

Eve nodded her head and got up from her chair. She walked up to Nyx with her usual flat expression and knelt down onto her knees.

“Hello,” Eve said flatly to a nervous Nyx, reaching out with her hand.

Nyx couldn’t place it but she could feel there was something off about the way the girl in front of her acted. The man with the eye patch seemed a lot friendlier than the blonde girl. Eve felt like an emotionless void to Nyx.

“H-hi…” Nyx replied, eyeing Eve’s hand with slight fear.

“It’s alright, Nyx. Eve may not seem it but she is actually very nice,” Twilight said, easing Nyx’s mind somewhat.

Eve began to pull her hand away from Nyx as she felt rejected by the young Alicorn. She was scaring the filly without intending to do so, bringing back her time with Rudman which was still fresh in her mind. Eve began to get up and return to her seat when she felt a small tug on her dress.

She looked down and saw Nyx giving her a small smile and reaching out to her with her hoof. Eve’s face curled ever so slightly with a smile as she knelt back down and held Nyx’s hoof by her fetlock. Nyx’s fur felt similar to velvet, an unusual feeling as Eve expected it to be much coarser.

“Sorry…” Nyx apologised. Eve’s smile grew a little more noticeable.

“Here we go,” Sven said as he returned with hot water and another cup with a tea bag inside. He looked at Eve’s smile and grinned, “Getting acquainted with Nyx, Eve?”

Eve nodded her head, “Yes.”

**** **** **** ****

Rainbow couldn’t sleep. Her augmentations were annoying her and her shoulder itched at the base almost constantly. She would’ve been in pain if it weren’t for the strong painkillers all of them were given. She felt it would have been better to have not had the entire foreleg if it meant reprieve from the annoyance.

She sat by Jensen’s window, staring out into Detroit. People walked along the streets below, not caring about the homeless man they passed. Women were offering themselves to men in the alleyways only for the ‘clients’ to get jumped and mugged.

Dash felt sick as she observed. She wanted to help, she wanted to get out and pummel the attackers until all the life was extinguished from their bodies. She shook her head at the thought, confused.

“Why did I just think that?” She murmured, “I don’t want to kill them, just make them stop.”

‘Is it really? Don’t you want revenge for Nevan? It wouldn’t be too hard. You still have power…’ A cruel voice in her head thought.

“N-no…” Dash replied audibly to the voice, “It’s not me. I’d be no better than them…”

‘They’d never hear you coming. Your wings are stronger and silent. You could take them out in an instant and they wouldn’t have the time to scream for help.’ The voice replied.

“No. No!” She shouted the last part, rousing Gilda from the couch as she turned and crashed onto the floor.

“Shards, what in Tartarus is going on?!” Gilda snapped. She got up onto her feet and saw Dash’s expression.

Dash was crying. Her mind felt like a puzzle but none of the pieces connected at all. It was fractured and holding on by fragile threads. She wanted it to stop. The pain, the itching… the living, she wanted it to just end.

She felt as if her entire world had finally caved in around her. She had lost most of her friends except for Gilda and the pair of them had almost died from Dash’s brash attack against the man that broke Nevan in half like it was a twig.

That echoing cry pierced her psyche like her Sonic Rainboom pierced the sky. She still battled to believe a Devil Arm could have been torn so easily, especially her Devil Arm. Her body was no longer her own as the words ‘Sarif Industries’ was painted in small yellow letters on her leg and wings, constantly reminding her.

“Dash… Dash!” Gilda shouted as she held her friend as she sobbed, tears falling down onto Gilda’s rebuilt arms.

The Griffon didn’t know what to do. Dash was always the strongest in terms of will between the two of them and yet Dash was crying like a filly that just had her Wonderbolts doll taken away and broken before her eyes. Gilda fidgeted, her wings making a few odd noises as she held onto Dash and held her close to her body.

Dash felt odd as her senses tried to tell her she was being held, being comforted. Her pride and ego screamed out to get out of the grip but another, stronger voice told them to shut the buck up. She felt odd as parts of Gilda’s cold, metal augmentations touched her fur.

“G-G?” Dash sniffed as she looked at Gilda’s mismatched eyes, “Not one word…”

Gilda grinned, “I never said a thing, Dash.”

A grumbling Adam Jensen entered the room, rubbing his one eye slightly. He didn’t look very happy as he looked at his two roommates.

“What is going on? It’s two in the morning,” He said harshly, “Don’t you sleep at all?”

Dash and almost threw herself out of Gilda’s grip, trying to make it seem that they were never hugging at all. Adam merely shook his head.

“Look, just get some damned sleep,” Jensen said as he turned around and walked back into his room.

**** **** **** ****

Someone began to knock on the door of Sven’s hideout, prompting the two ponies to hide in the spare room Nyx had slept in. Sven stalled at the door while Eve got rid of the two extra teacups, placing them inside the sink.

Twilight’s horn charged up and four magenta, translucent swords manifested. Nyx placed a hoof on Alastor’s handle as the Devil Arm arced lightning excitedly, ready for battle.

“Hello? Who’s there?” Sven asked at the door.

“It’s me. Sven, open the damned door,” A young voice replied.

“Oh, it’s just Train. Eve, go get our guests will ya? False alarm,” Sven called out as he unbolted his door.

Eve walked up to the ponies’ room and called them out while Sven remade tea for them. Twilight and Nyx came out of their room, weapons put away – much to Alastor’s disappointment – and came face to face with the new human.

He looked like a teenager. His brown hair was medium length and spiked in all directions but none draped over his face. He wore a black trenchcoat and kept his hands in his pockets. The most striking things to Twilight and Nyx were his cat slit eyes, the small yellow bell tied around his neck via a red ribbon and the Roman numeral ‘XIII’ branded in black on his collarbone to the left.

The young man regarded the ponies with curiosity before turning to Sven, “Since when did you get Eve pets? Think she can take care of two disfigured horses?”

Sven stayed quite as Twilight approached the rude younger man, “Excuse me. We are not disfigured, we are perfectly normal and healthy. Furthermore we are nopony’s pets and I suggest you stop regarding us as such right now.”

The young man’s jaw dropped as he stared at Twilight for a few seconds before leaping back in fear and shock, “What the hell?!! It can talk?!”

Twilight gave an exasperated sigh, “I’ve said before: I am not an ‘it’, I am Twilight Sparkle and this is Nyx.”

“Train get over it and sit down,” Sven deadpanned, “There’s a little story Twilight and I need to tell you.”

Train was not about to let the subject go though, “How can you be so damn calm, Sven?! You have two oddly coloured, talking horses that look like they were some madman’s experiment!”

Eve had taken a book out and was engrossed in it enough to not raise her head as she responded flatly, “He almost crashed the car when Twilight spoke. Trust me, he was not calm at that point.”

Sven sighed as he returned with fresh cups and more tea on a tray, “She’s right. Hell, I’m still having a hard time looking at them without questioning my own sanity.”

Twilight looked offended, “Just what is that supposed to mean?!”

Sven sat down at the table with the tray in the middle, “Sorry, Twilight. I’ve never seen anything like you before and neither has Train over there. How would you have reacted if you came face to face with something that shouldn’t be able to do what it does and yet it is doing so right before you?”

Twilight hung her head. There were a few things that questioned her perception on the world and her own sanity. Pinkie’s Pinkie Sense, Fluttershy rescuing her and the rest of her friends and wielding weapons like a warmonger and the other events that occurred during Equestria’s war with the Changelings and Mundus’ machinations.

The days during and the months after those events made her question almost everything. She was still afraid whenever a Changeling would visit Ponyville on its way to somewhere else or to thank them for saving them from total extinction by their hooves and the demons. Rebel and Legion only came back every so often and the knowledge that Bon Bon was a Changeling all along didn’t sit too well with the town until Twilight and the her friends stood by Bon Bon’s side.

“I… see your point,” Twilight said, defeated as she sat back at the table, “Well, I guess I had better start from the beginning once more.”

**** **** **** ****

“This is boring,” Gilda commented as she finished reading the current news, the Picus Daily Standard.

The news was sent wirelessly to an incredibly thin little device. One scrolled through it by using their finger to touch the surface of the device and swipe it upwards. Same worked in reverse in order to scroll upwards. In order to get more info on a topic, one just had to tap it and the subject would load almost instantly.

“I’m afraid Sarif was incredibly specific, Gilda,” Adam replied with irritation, “It’s been a week since the operation and our bodies are still on meds. Then there’s the check up for glial tissue build-up and getting a dose of Neuropozyne.”

“Neuro-whatsing?” Gilda said in confusion.

Dash was in the bathroom, taking a shower while Jensen mentioned about the incompatibility of augmentations on living tissue. The warm water ran over her mane and body, trying to soothe her pain. She soon got out of the water and shook herself dry, her augmentations whirring as she did so.

“I never asked for this…” She muttered to herself as she saw her fractured reflection in Jensen’s broken mirror.

The mirror looked like a spider’s web, Dash only saw fragments of herself but the augments were more prominent in her subconscious. She wanted to tear them off just to spite Sarif but a part of her knew if she tried she either wouldn’t succeed or would die from the resulting blood loss.

Meanwhile inside Sarif Industries, David Sarif was stood inside a small room with a team of scientists. The room was filled with pieces of equipment taking reading after reading that no normal person would be close to deciphering. In between the scientists and David, sat on a table was Nevan.

The broken Devil Arm was shattered in two, cleanly broken in half as if it were cut by a high powered laser. David had a hand resting on his chin as he thought.

“Can you do it?” David asked the lead scientist.

“Mr. Sarif… I’m not sure. We’ve never seen this kind of thing before. Sure it has the general shape of an electric guitar but the readings we’re getting are just baffling,” The man replied as he checked one of the monitors, “This thing is a mystery in and of itself.”

“Look I don’t give a rat’s ass about how unusual it is. What I need is for you to find a way to repair it or incorporate it into that mare’s augs,” David replied irritably, “There’s something between her and this thing and I want to find out what. The only way I see that I can get my answer is if we fix this thing or find an effective work around. I suggest you find it or I will find someone who can. Take what readings you can tonight. We’re moving this project out to Milwaukee under the name Project Excelion.”

**** **** **** ****

Celestia was sat at a table eating a dandelion sandwich. She took small bites as she absentmindedly ate the sandwich. Her mind was worrying about the missing Elements and she had received a message from Spike stating that the Bearers had vanished as well.

She placed a hoof on her head. She hadn’t slept since Spike sent the message at close to midnight. She could tell that both disappearances were not coincidental and it ate at her mind. A familiar white flash appeared in front of her and a certain Draconequus materialised out of nowhere as usual.

“Discord… please, I am not in the mood,” Celestia said with a sigh.

Discord walked up to Celestia and broke a piece of her sandwich off before eating it with a grin on his face, “So then Celly… what’s gotten your mane in a twist?”

“Discord, the Elements and the girls have vanished. How do you think I should be feeling?!” Celestia snapped. She stopped herself and sighed in exasperation, “Sorry, Discord. These two events can not be mere coincidence. I fear there is something else at work here.”

“Oh don’t worry, Celly. If I know them, they’ll find a way out of whatever trouble found them this time,” Discord reassured.

Luna came in through the doorway, looking tired as the bags under her eyes indicated. She smiled as she too took a piece of Celestia’s sandwich with her magic and took a bite.

“Good day to you all,” Luna said with a yawn, “Any new developments, Tia?”

Celestia shook her head, “No, none regarding the Elements and the Bearers. I was just informing Discord that this situation has a rather uncomfortable air around itself.”

“I agree. Something here is just not right,” Luna replied thoughtfully, “Any thoughts as to what the cause may be?”

Celestia shook her head, “I am stumped but I plan on informing the Griffon Kingdom and Broken Skies of the Changelings. Hopefully they can lend us some support. Without our most powerful form of defence, we are vulnerable.”

Discord scoffed, “Aw, come on, Celly. Two Alicorns that can move the sun and moon like toys not to mention a powerful and handsome Draconequus can surely handle any army?”

“Discord, you know how much I detest violence,” Celestia replied sadly, “The Crystal Empire’s liberation from Mundus was an exception.”

“Oh, I don’t think you’d have to worry too much, my dear Celestia,” A voice said as the doors opened once more, “You three don’t need to worry about the ponies for much longer. You’ll be too busy worrying about yourselves.”

A cloaked figure stood in the doorway, staring at the three of them. Discord chuckled, “And who – pray tell – are you?”

The figure reached of the hood with a hoof, gripping it tightly, “I do believe the sisters know of me. They’ve seen me perform a few times.”

The figure pulled his hood off, revealing Soarin underneath it with a smug grin on his face, “Remember me, dear Princesses?”

Celestia looked shocked, “You were on the train that was on its way to the Crystal Empire. It was the one Spitfire and the rest of the Wonderbolts were on. We thought she was the only one who had survived the attack. The others… were declared dead.”

Soarin nodded his head, “Oh, I did die but how I still stand here before you is another matter. Enjoying your sandwich? I see the three of you took a bite… that’s all it takes. Negates the necessity to attempt it again.”

Luna gave Soarin a seething look, “What in Equestria are you talking about?”

“There’s a lovely little flower, similar to a dandelion in terms of its colours and shape. Hard to distinguish really unless one looked at the centre,” Soarin replied, taking a few steps closer, “It’s rather nasty though. I do believe its name is the Mors Rubrum Minusculus or Pony Red Death. Fatal to normal ponies and acts as a powerful paralysing and anti-magic agent against more… immortal creatures. I should thank Silver Platter for his help.”

“Wh-where are the Elements?!” Celestia tried to shout. Her tongue was beginning to feel numb as the flower’s attributes began to take effect.

“Oh, they’re somewhere very far away. Let’s just say that they and the Bearers are taking a little vacation while Equestria falls under new management,” Soarin deadpanned as he watched the sisters and Discord begin to lose all motor functions.

“The same kind of vacation you will be taking,” Soarin said as his horn began to light up.

Three black cracks appeared above the three paralyzed immortals. In moments they all shattered like glass as the fabric of time/space tore apart. Soarin began to laugh as he watched the look of pure helplessness on Celestia’s face as she, Luna and Discord were pulled into them.

As the openings closed up, Soarin donned his rather shaky disguise and looked out the window, “One last loose end I need to tie up…”

**** **** **** ****

“Pinkie, please get out of the vents. How on Earth did you even get in them?” Sheppard asked as he looked at Pinkie’s grinning face as it stared at him from a vent in the ceiling of the main deck of the Normandy.

“Simple: I walked and wiggled like a worm, silly!” Pinkie replied happily.

Sheppard facepalmed and shifted his gaze to the Normandy’s pilot, “Joker, please tell me we’re near the Citadel. I don’t know how much more of this pink creature’s antics I can take.”

“It’s rude to talk about somepony when they are standing right in front of you,” Pinkie said as she stood next to Sheppard.

“Aw, I think it’s kind of cute the way she just seems to break every law of physics they taught us in school,” Jeff ‘Joker’ Moreau replied with a cocky grin.

“Thanks, Joker. At least somepony enjoys my attempts at cheering everypony up,” Pinkie stated, sticking her tongue out at Sheppard playfully.

“We’ve entered Citadel space, Commander,” Joker said as the Normandy entered a nebula.

Pinkie squashed her face up against the cockpit’s viewscreen as she made various noises while the Normandy navigated the nebula to the centre of space-faring culture and power: the Citadel.

Pinkie’s jaw dropped as if it wasn’t even attached to her jaw any longer. The giant space station consisted of a single large ring holding five long, wide arms lined with buildings facing inside while the opposite side of the curving arms were relatively smooth. The station was covered in a multitude of lights, varying in colour and size with ships flying yo and from it.

Pinkie looked around in awe as she saw ships larger and smaller than the Normandy pass by in space’s silent vacuum. They passed cargo ships, diplomatic vessels and military ships from all corners of Citadel Space.

“Oohh…” Pinkie said as she looked up, a colossal Asari dreadnought looming overhead.

“The Destiny Ascension,” Williams stated with awe, “The flagship of the Citadel Fleet.”

“Size isn’t everything,” Joker remarked.

The Normandy soon flew into the giant space station and inertial dampening pads locked the ship in place as it docked. The ground crew from Eden Prime including Pinkie left with Captain Anderson as they made for the Human Embassy in the Presidium.

**** **** **** ****

The clash of steel on steel rang through a once peaceful meadow as Siegfried and an aging man fought. The man wore robes of green and cream hues while wielding a katana. The man lunged for Siegfried but Requiem kept the man a decent distance away.

“You will pay for what you have done!” The man shouted.

“Please… stop this,” Siegfried implored as he parried the man’s katana and punched the man in the side, his gauntlet causing injury as his attack went through the robes’ protective padding underneath.

“You’d like that wouldn’t you?!” He spat with rage.

Rarity would’ve helped but she and Joystick were preoccupied with the partners the man had come with, his sons. The three of them carried a greatsword that paled in comparison to Requiem, a pair of wave swords and a sword and shield.

“Can’t we talk about this?” Joystick asked as he cocked Blue Rose and fired it, grazing the one son’s shoulder.

His target clutched at his shoulder, dropping his round shield before he slashed at Joystick with anger. Joystick could have shot him in the head and have been done with it but Siegfried seemed to frown on killing another person if his demeanour after the first fight they had together was any indication.

“I don’t think these ruffians will listen to reason, my dear. Best stop them before they injure themselves… or us for that matter,” Rarity replied as she dodged a sweeping attack from the greatsword wielding son.

The one carrying the wave swords turned the curved blades in his hands so the points faced forwards like the fangs of a snake as he brought them down on Rarity. She pulled out two more blades from Lucifer and blocked the attack, the tips of the wave swords almost touching her mane.

“Rarity!” Joystick shouted as Blue Rose changed targets and fired off a pair of bullets to Rarity’s attacker.

The rounds collided with one of the wave blades, causing him to release his grip somewhat and the second slug took the wave blade straight out of his hand.

Rarity took her opportunity and slammed her hoof into the man’s face. The connecting force was enough to make him drop the other sword and fall to the floor with a thump. He lay there unconscious, his weapons nearby as the greatsword wielding man brought his weapon down with force, planning on cleaving Rarity in half.

Requiem and the old man’s katana sliced through the air once more, clashing between their owners as Siegfried continued to talk the man out of the fight. Siegfried didn’t want to fight this pointless battle as the package on his back continuously trying to convince him otherwise… to remove the thorn in its body so it can be free again. Siegfried shook his head and swung his blade in a wide arc, the flat side of which colliding with the man’s side.

“I can not stop here!” Siegfried shouted to the man with conviction, “I must finish my duty!”

As the man got up, Siegfried swung his bade down once more. Requiem shattered the katana as the aging man tried to block the attack. The amount of force Siegfried had placed behind his attack also caused the man to stumble and fall to the ground once more. The man looked up at him as Requiem’s tip met his chin.

“Finish me then… be done with it,” The man said, his breaths pained from the fight.

“You could… never understand,” Siegfried stated as Requiem was removed and placed on Siegfried’s back.

Several gunshots rang out once more through the meadow as Joystick tried to bring the young shortsword wielding man down. He jumped backwards and lowered his head, his opponent’s blade missing his mane by mere millimetres.

“Don’t you ever give up?” He asked as Blue Rose was pointed to the ground before he pulled the trigger.

The resulting two rounds ricocheted off the ground and collided with the man’s leg. He cried out in pain as he stumbled onto the ground, dropping his weapon.

“Sorry but you didn’t give any other options,” Joystick apologised, “Good news is you’ll live though but you may want to lay off the leg for a bit.”

Four explosions made Joystick jump and turn to Rarity. The mare tossed several more blades from Lucifer at her opponent. He parried them with ease and charged for her.

“Alright, darling… sorry about this,” Rarity stated as she pulled out eight blades and tossed them at the man like daggers.

The man hefted his sword and blocked the attack. He grinned at Rarity as he was about to bring his weapon up in an attack stance. He faltered slightly as Rarity merely smiled at him.

“Again… sorry,” Rarity said with a small hint of sadness in her voice.

The man looked to his greatsword and saw all eight blades had impaled it, fully imbedded in the metal. They detonated as one in an instant, sending the man flying backwards and onto the ground with a dull thud.

Rarity carefully placed her ear on the man’s chest and sighed when she heard the slow heartbeat in his chest, “At least he’s alive.”

Siegfried’s clanging armour announced his return and the two ponies smiled at him, “Let’s get going before they get up.”

“No arguments there,” Joystick said, “Where we heading to now?”

“The port. The far east has some information I need regarding a slightly personal matter,” Siegfried deadpanned.

“It has something to do with that thing on your back, doesn’t it?” Joystick replied with a curious look.

“Drop it,” Siegfried said curtly.

**** **** **** ****

Pinkie looked around everywhere she could from the balcony in the Human Embassy as the group got berated by an irate Ambassador Udina. She paid the tan, aging and balding man no mind as she watched hover cars fly by and saw a multitude of new species, from the Volus to Asari and many in between.

“I see you brought half the ship with you, Captain. And what is that pink monster you brought as well? I thought Eden Prime was a farming community, not a science lab,” Udina said callously, looking at Pinkie with disdain.

“I just brought the ground team and Miss Pie just in case the Council had any questions,” Anderson replied flatly.

“I already have the reports. I assume they are accurate?” Udina replied curtly.

“Yup yup!” Pinkie said with a cheery grin.

“Did you manage to get an audience with the Council?” Anderson asked.

“Yes I did. They didn’t like us calling their best Spectre a traitor,” Udina replied.

“They can get used to it because it’s the truth,” Sheppard replied.

“That attitude can get you into a lot of trouble, Sheppard. Best keep those comments to yourself,” Udina warned, “I need to get this creature you brought with into the system. She can’t wander around without any identification. C-Sec has strict laws about animals. Especially talking ones.”

Anderson shook his head, “Can’t we speed this up, Udina?”

“If you want to deal with the shitstorm that will come from an unregistered sentient species be my guest. Sheppard, I’ll make sure you and your group have relevant clearance to enter the Citadel Tower once you get there,” Udina said as he sat down at his desk, “Uh, Miss Pie. Would you please sit down so we may begin?”

Pinkie bounced onto the chair with a huge grin on her face, “I’ll catch up later, Sheppard. Whatcha wanna know?”

**** **** **** ****

The port city Siegfried and the two Unicorns walked into was bustling with trade. People flogging treasures and other oddities from across the seas. Rarity looked at a large man with an elephant on his head inside a cage. The two Unicorns kept their manes over their horns as much as possible so none would realise they were Unicorns.

“Keep to yourselves, stay close to me and do not talk,” Siegfried warned in a low voice as he walked up to a man, “Are you the captain of this vessel?”

The man Siegfried was talking to was a typical seafarer. Wearing a dark blue coat and sporting leather boots that reached the top of his shins. He had a full face beard and slightly tanned skin. The man looked at Siegfried with a hearty grin.

“You the captain of this vessel?” Siegfried asked again, slightly annoyed from being ignored the first time.

“Aye, I be the captain of the Adrian. How can I help ye?” The man replied, “Name’s Stern Cave.”

“Alright Mr. Cave, I wish to procure your ship and crew to ferry us to the Far East,” Siegfried said.

“Do you have enough scratch fer that, me boy?” Stern said.

“I do,” Siegfried replied as he pulled out a large number of gold coins.

“That’ll do lad. Just give us a holler when yer good an’ ready,” Stern said with a grin as he walked off with Siegfried’s gold, counting it as he went.

“That’s transport dealt with. If anyone asks me, I’m going to tell them I’m selling you over the sea,” Siegfried warned.

“What? Selling us like some common animal?” Rarity hissed in a hushed voice to Siegfried.

“Rarity, keep your voice low please. We don’t want to draw attention to ourselves,” Joystick whispered.

“Sorry dear. I just don’t like the prospect of being considered a common beast of burden,” Rarity whispered back irritably.

**** **** **** ****

“We have contacted Saren as he should be present during these proceedings,” The Asari Councillor said to Sheppard, Williams, Udina, Anderson, Alenko and Pinkie.

“Quite frankly this is a waste of my time, Councillors,” A large holographic model of Saren spoke from their right.

“Was attacking Eden Prime a waste of time as well?” Anderson accused.

“Ah, Captain Anderson. Why is it you’re involved whenever humanity tries to slander me?” Saren deadpanned.

“We’ll get you for what you did, Saren,” Sheppard said.

“How? You hardly have compelling evidence. A traumatised dock worker is hardly able to give a definitive testimony,” Saren replied.

“I’m afraid I’d have to agree. In light of insufficient evidence against Saren, we’re going to have to drop the case,” The Asari Councillor said to the group.

“B-but that isn't fair!” Pinkie shouted.

“I am glad to see justice is served,” Saren said.

“We shall get to the matter about that… genetics experiment later,” The Salarian Councillor said, looking at Pinkie with fascination.

“I’m not some genetics experiment! I’m Pinkie Pie! Sheppard, tell them about that vision you had,” Pinkie suggested.

“Really? We’re allowing dreams into evidence now? However could I defend myself against that?” Saren mocked.

“This meeting is over,” The Turian Councillor said curtly, “I suggest putting a muzzle on that creature until such time we can determine what to do with it.”

Pinkie glared at them as she turned around and left, the rest of the group following suit. Udina looked furious.

“I knew bringing you along was a bad idea Anderson! You and Saren have too much bad history!” He spat.

In a fast, fluid movement, Kalina Ann came out of nowhere as the bayonet was placed near Udina’s throat. Everyone looked at Pinkie who had lost her cheerful smile, her mane and tail still had its ridiculous curls but she looked at Udina with a stern gaze before lowering the rocket launcher.

“It’s not Anderson’s fault and you know it,” Pinkie said as Kalina Ann retreated into Pinkie’s mane, disappearing from sight.

Udina looked at Pinkie for a moment, flustered and afraid of what had just occurred, “Fine. We need to find concrete evidence against Saren if we are to discredit him and revoke his Spectre status.”

Anderson nodded his head, “How about the Turian arguing with the Executor earlier? Garrus wasn’t it?”

“Any idea where to find him, sir?” Sheppard asked.

“Find Harkin in Chora’s Den. He’s usually there drinking himself into another stupor. If you have the time, talk to Barla Von, a Volus in the Presidium. I heard he has ties to the Shadow Broker. The Shadow Broker may even have something,” Anderson replied.

“Oki doki loki, we have our quest everypony!” Pinkie cried out as she bounced down the hallway.

“And I’ll see if I can’t pull a few strings at the armoury for her. I have a feeling she’s going to be in this for the long haul,” Anderson said as he and Udina left for the Human Embassy.

**** **** **** ****

The Wonderbolts Academy was closed down to new recruits as the current recruits were given leave to attend to family matters. This gave the Wonderbolts themselves a full run of the base without interruptions or annoyances from overzealous recruits wanting to prove themselves.

Spitfire was in the mare’s bathroom, taking a shower before heading for a nap. She winced as she washed her body, old wounds from the train attack to the Crystal Empire still making themselves known.

As she got out, she heard the clopping of hooves on the tiled shower floor but she thought nothing of it. She suspected it to be High Winds or Fleetfoot as the sound grew fainter. She draped three towels over her mane, tail and body before making her way to the barracks.

As she passed the stallions’ locker rooms, she found the door ajar which was rather curious as all doors are to be shut when in use and with regards to the locker rooms and bathrooms, even when not in use.

“Alright, which bri-” She opened the door with slight irritation and her voice failed her instantly.

Standing in front of her were Wave Chill, Lightning Streak and Rapidfire, thoroughly encased in crystal. Lightning Streak was facing away from them, his expression of pure ignorance as if he never had the chance to even see what was going on.

Wave Chill was near the locker, his one forehoof outstretched to his locker. He seemed to have spotted the attacker and made for one of the Abyss Scythes the Wonderbolts commandeered a while back.

Spitfire looked at Rapidfire with a saddening face. He looked like he tried to avert his gaze from the attacker but he ended up sharing the same fate as the others.

Spitfire’s sadness quickly turned to rage and fear as she turned tail, bolting for the mares’ locker room. She had to warn High Winds and Fleetfoot as quickly as possible, as well as inform Canterlot of what had just occurred.

She almost caved the door in as she flung herself into it to open it, not wishing to waste time. Her shoulder hurt from her brash decision as she picked herself up off the floor and stopped dead as she looked inside.

Fleetfoot and High Winds had suffered the same fate. It made her heart sink as she saw the scared expression on Fleetfoot’s face, as if she saw her darkest fear come to life before her. High Winds was looking in the direction of the door she just came through, scythe in hoof and ready to attack.

“What happened here?” She said aloud as she walked up to Fleetfoot and placed a hoof on the crystal.

“Oh, I could tell you. Been some time, Spitfire,” A voice said from behind her as the owner walked up to her, a cocky grin on his face that she was far too familiar with.

“S-Soarin?” She gasped, Soarin merely nodded his head.

“How nice of you to remember me,” He deadpanned, a scowl beginning to form, “Leaving my battered body in the middle of nowhere while you recovered in a comfy Canterlot bed.”

“Soarin… We sent out a search party, several parties but they never found you or the others,” Spitfire said as she hung her head.

“It was long since too late, Spitfire…” He replied.

“What happened here, Soarin?” She asked, “What happened to you?”

“Simple, I’m tying up loose ends and paving the way for a hostile takeover of Canterlot,” He said as his horn lit up.

Dark crystals began to encase Spitfire’s hooves, stopping her from moving and as they were still attached to the ground below, they prevented her from flying. Her eyes were wide as she looked down at her bonds and Soarin’s horn.

“What happened to you?” She asked.

“Now isn’t the time for my life story, Spitfire. You and the rest of these traitors are going to suffer as I had suffered as you all watch your precious nation fall around you!” He spat as he walked up to her, “I could spare you though. It would be like old times.”

Spitfire brought her head forward quickly and slammed it against his face, “I’d rather date Blueblood than be with you. You’re not the Soarin I know.”

Soarin chuckled as he wiped a small bit of blood coming from his nose, “Oh, well. I tried. Now then, because of our history I’ll spare you the trauma of being encased, helpless in stasis.”

Spitfire’s heart began to sink as he placed his head near her ear, “You are going on a trip somewhere far away, where you will never see the light of Celestia’s sun ever again. You will never see Equestria or another pony again for that matter.”

Soarin stepped back and his horn began to glow once more. The area above Spitfire shattered and she began to feel something pulling her into a vortex that appeared from the broken hole in space/time.

“You will never win, Soarin… and you know it,” Spitfire warned as her bonds broke, allowing the vortex to claim her.

As the hole repaired itself, Soarin looked out the door as a small tear fell to the ground from his face, unnoticed.

“We shall see,” Soarin muttered as he left.

Author's Notes:

Alright, Part 1!! Sorry, it seemed like the chapters were going to reach the 10k mark without editing and my word cound always increases when I edit. I will do Part 2 before updating another story.