"The production of too many useful things results in too many useless people."- Karl Marx

Twilight breathed heavily as she flew past the once beautiful city. In a matter of an hour, the settlement had turned into a barren wasteland. Every building had more or less collapsed and everypony was slumped on the ground, with a hole in their body leaking blood or the mark of a knife.

Twilight dashed as fast as she could would her wings, cursing herself all the while for not practicing flying. Teleportation was out of the question since a pulse grenade had disabled her magic.

She didn't know whether to thank Celestia for surviving or to wish to have been spared from such a horrible burden. The princess needed to find help straight away before the rest of Ponykind was destroyed.

Just when she thought she was in the clear-

BANG!

All of a sudden, the sound of a railgun deafened the purple mare, followed by a bullet ripping through one of her wings and nearly dismembering the other.

The loss of her wings sent the Alicorn crashing down. Thankfully, she had not flown high enough for the crash to have killed her. However, the impact pained worse than inserting a hot needle through an eye.

After coughing some blood, Twilight readied herself up. All of a sudden, she stumbled forward as she realized her right fore hoof had been broken. Twilight limped across the ruins of the city, hoping to get out alive. But who was she kidding, nothing could escape the wrath of them.

After trotting a few meters, the mare felt a sharp pain in her mind. They were getting closer. The princess moved further and further, but the pain was getting worse. All the while, Twilight was trying to keep the sight of those dead ponies out of her mind.

Twilight was about to make a turn when she saw an ominous message painted with a pony's blood:

Why do you run?

The former element of magic knew this was just an attempt to break her spirit. It wasn't going to work. She moved further and further out of the city.

Then another blood written message appeared on a door step.

Your attempts to outclass us are laughable at best.

Before she burst into tears, the alicorn noted that the message may not have been intended for her. The blood was just too dry and would have had to have been written at least 45 minutes ago. When everypony else was alive.

The Alicorn limped further and further.

All of a sudden, there was the sound of hoof steps. Scratch that, foot steps. One of them was right next to her.

Twilight felt her sanity slip further and further away. What was the point in going on? All of her friends were dead and there was nothing ponykind to do to stop them. They were brilliant and indomitable.

Followed by a disturbing silence. He appeared. A black bi-pedal blur.

Twilight lost it the moment she laid eyes on him. His form, his dress, his superiority sapped her life force and mentality.

Then, he grabbed the alicorn with his gloved hand and elevated her up. Twilight resisted the urge to stare into his blank and soulless visor.

He drew a knife and traced it around the frightened mare's body. With a sadistic chuckle he spoke:

"I am going to enjoy every moment skinning your fur off your body."

"NO!"

Twilight felt her magic reappear and used her feeble stamina to teleport away from his grip. As she reappeared, Twilight drew her energy to fire a magical bolt at him, only for the blast bounce off his barrier harmlessly.

"Your weakness disgusts me." he growled. He drew his rifle and fired.

-----------------
Everypony in Ponyville had a similar dream to what Twilight envisioned. There was always the destroyed city, there was always the death of loved ones and the dreams ended the same, with the dreamer's own death at the hands of Shadow.

But what sense would it make that everypony had the same dream? For they merely shrugged it off as stress from meeting aliens.
-----------------

Scarecrow woke up and gave a small yawn. After sinking in the animated appearance of the room he was in, the commando was ready for another day.

Slowly tilting his head, the still masked soldier noticed a purple mare, curled into a ball sleeping on the far side of the bed. Twilight had her wings tucked in and she purred lightly as she slept. It was the cutest thing Scarecrow had seen, even more precious than his cat back on Pewter City.

Scarecrow put on his gloves and flipped on his hood to cover his blond hair. He could have sworn remembering Twilight wanting to sleep on the couch, only to get distracted by the comfort of the royal bed and fall asleep instantly.

Scarecrow equipped his magnetic gloves and turned on his wrist computer, allowing the kinetic barrier to shield his body. Scarecrow checked the time: 9:15 am by the local star system.

The commando softly tapped on the Alicorns head to wake her up. They had a busy day after all.

The alicorn got on her 4 hooves, gave a horse like whinny and grunt and thoughtlessly nuzzled Scarecrow's arm. Suddenly, Twilight's eyes shot open.

"Did I just do that?"

Scarecrow raised an eyebrow. "Elaborate with the class."

Twilight started panicking. "I just grunted like a wild animal. nuzzled you the same way a cat nuzzles its master."

"That's how horses are supposed to show affection." noted Scarecrow.

Twilight glared at him. "You said horses on Earth are unintelligent! I'm a pony, I'm sapient and I especially can't act like that considering I'm a princess."

Scarecrow rolled his eyes under his shades. "Digressing, were you able to get enough sleep last night?"

"Of course." nodded Twilight. "Why?"

"Because your brainwaves suggest nightmares and I heard your grunting the names of me and my friends in your sleep." panned the masked commando.

Twilight tried to explain herself but Scarecrow cut her off.

"Don't worry, this isn't the first time someone couldn't sleep in night because of the 23rd." he assured.

Twilight collected herself. She constantly tried to reassure herself that Shadow wasn't planning on murdering her. Suddenly, a little dragon crept into the room.

"Glad to see you two are awake." cheered Spike. "Oh and Twilight, I made you breakfast."

The alicorns stomach growled in response she flew down to the kitchen to feast. Shadow's abrupt arrival had damaged her eating pattern.

Spike looked guilty "Sorry Scarecrow, I don't know what humans eat so-"

"It doesn't matter. I'm augmented to go days without food." shrugged Scarecrow.

The hooded 23rd member equipped his LMG and placed his shotgun on his back. Scarecrow and Spike crept down the gilded staircase to meet the alicorn.

Despite her earlier statement on royal etiquette, Twilight was pigging out with her food. Spike went on to enjoy some gems he ate from a bucket. Scarecrow took notes on the dragons appetite.

"Excuse me Scarecrow, do you know what day it is?" moaned Twilight, mouth full of cereal.

"Well let's see, I arrived on Epona on June 15, met you on the 16th and arrived at Ponyville on the 17th. So that leaves us at June 18 2530." he chanted.

"Oh thats today? Are you ready for your pre solstice meeting with the other princesses today? asked Spike.

Twilight spat out her cereal and milk at Scarecrow. Luckily for the human, the cereal reflected off of his kinetic barriers and harmlessly slid down. Scarecrow on the other hand was less than pleased.

"Oh my gosh! I can't believe I forgot about the most important princess meeting ever!" shrieked Twilight. "Ever since you and your human friends decided to show you, my schedule has been totally messed up."

"Well excuse me for solving the curiosity of the UTF." growled Scarecrow. "What may I ask makes this meeting so special to others?"

Twilight calmed her self with Cadance's technique. "This is the meeting me and the three other princesses finalize what the country is going to do for the summer sun celebration on June 23rd. That is the most important festival of Equestria since it marks-"

"It marks the summer solstice?"

Twilight paused. "How did you-"

"My Virtual Intelligence informed me that based on the effects that planet and star have on space time, the summer solstice will always be at this time. I further deduced that it will always be the 23rd of June because solar motion is controlled and not natural." explained Shadow's commander.

Twilight stared at Scarecrow before shaking her head. "I'm wasting time. I haven't even mentioned to the princesses that there are aliens in Equestria! Your arrival changes everything."

"How so? Can't you merely go through the event as if we weren't here in the first place?" asked the masked soldier.

"Don't you get it? Huge event. Magic and religion is a theme. A social gathering. You're here." beamed Twilight.

Suddenly there was a knock at the door. Twilight flew to the entrance and used telekinesis to open the handle.

Outside, Twilight's 5 friends stood, followed by the rest of Shadow who uncloaked.

"Oh hey everypony and everybody." greeted Twilight.

"Mornin' Twi." replied Applejack. The orange mare gave a chuckle. "Ya know, ah da weirdest dream last night. Scorch somehow killed all ma cows."

"Really? I had a strange dream myself this night." nervously said Twilight.

X-ray, Overwatch and Scorch ignored the conversation and nonchalantly brushed past Twilight and the other ponies and approached Scarecrow. All 4 humans were thinking the same thing. In unison they said:

"We have a shit ton to discuss."

X-ray took the lead. "I don't know about you guys, but Equestria is definitely the capital of anachronisms. When I went to Rarity's home, I found dresses from the reinsurance, suits from the industrial revolution and furniture from the 20th century."

Scorch folded his arms. "Applejack and her family are a fully fledged copy of southern folk of the Unites States. From accents, farming techniques, economic and social beliefs to downright slavery of cows."

"Fucking confederates." spat Scarecrow in his New Yorker/Michigan ways.

Overwatch spoke coldly. "Not only that, but the logic in which pony's evolve make no sense, they have techno, but no rock or metal, that comes out record players."

"Speaking of record players," pointed Scorch. "Haven't you noticed they have technology that makes no sense for them to have in the first place?"

"Affirmative." answered Scarecrow. "They have door knobs, pencils and kitchen equipment that's clearly meant for fingers. I have yet to see something that was designed for hoof specifically in mind."

"That only solidifies our theory further." added X-ray. "If ponies were evolving naturally, than surely they would have been force to create hoof operated tools to adapt. In this scenario, it seems as if ponies were compelled to replicate human technology as an odd instinct."

"I still say the strange thing about it all is the fact that ponies claim each of these commodities was brought to public attention around the same time." noted Scarecrow.

"But what strikes me most is that nothing we've seen exceeds the 20th century and that's in furniture." remarked Scorch. "And if what the ponies say about being created to start off in an ancient greek like period is true, than surely they should have been a space faring race by now."

Suddenly Pinkie Pie bounced to the masked humans excitedly.

"Good news everybody, we got the full tour planned. Everpony is just super duper excited to meet you all!"

"They're really nervous, but at the same time really excited to check you out." exclaimed Rainbow Dash.

"And while you 4 go on your tour, I'll be in Canterlot for the day discussing what we're going to be doing about the 4 of you being in Equestria and the Summer Sun celebration." said Twilight.

"Yeah, about that. Would you kindly cancel the tour." muttered Scarecrow.

"Beg your pardon?" questioned Applejack.

"There's been a change of plans." sighed X-ray.

"But everypony is getting exhilarated just to meet you. The 4 of you can't possibly cancel the tour." shook Rarity.

"Watch us." growled Overwatch.

"Why would you want to cancel the tour?" whimpered Fluttershy. "I mean it's fine if-"

"Look, you ponies might possess the rationality to comprehend this, but our theory about pony's evolving to become like humans or having a human influence is ripening." explained Scarecrow. "The 4 of us need to get to the bottom of this situation ASAP."

"Yeesh. You're canceling a fully fledged tour just because of a few coincidences." scowled Rainbow Dash.

X-ray gritted his teeth. "One! As if we need to tour a group of facilities that we humans already have on our colonies in better conditions. Two, for the sake of pony mental health and innocence, I don't think a 23rd member should be around them for too long. since all of our confrontations end in misery Third, a lot of the content we're going to be asked is going to be classified anyway. Fourth, universe shaking discoveries beet banal tours."

"Awww, but the town is just so nervouscited to meet you 4!" chocked Pinkie Pie.

"Well, why not make ponykind useful and help provide us information to further our research?" questioned Overwatch.

"No offense darling, but human works of science stretches beyond the limits of Ponykind. Besides, it would be such a stressful distraction from our day to day lives and wouldn't help us one bit." stated Rarity.

Scorch unfolded his arms. "While Rome burns, Ponies care about silly day to day activities and meaningless fun."

"Ah hate ta brake it ta ya partner. But this is Ponyville, and it ain't burning." pointed Applejack.

"It isn't burning.....yet." smirked Scorch.

Scarecrow got back on track. "This doesn't change the fact that my squad is on the verge of a breakthrough, let the real first contact team pacify the needs of your citizens. After all, what human is crazy enough to disregard a species being exactly like his?"

Twilight stomped her hoof. "Scarecrow, this is the chance for you and your friends to make or brake the human relationship with Ponykind. Besides, on the tour you could collect vital information to our cause."

X-ray exhaled. "She has a point. With any luck, we'll run into sources that would help us with our theory. Besides, how could we say no to such cute and cuddly creatures?"

"See, X-ray has the right idea." insisted Rainbow Dash.

Scarecrow gave a sigh of annoyance. "Fine, but we will disregard any questions that we're not allowed to answer, get to call quits anytime we want and spend no more than an hour in each section. Understand?"

The ponies gave remarks of validation.

"We've already semi violated a protocol by revealing our selves to the public." pointed Scorch. "The last thing we need is for ponies to know about our lives since birth."

"Don't worry, all you need to tell them that it's classified information and everypony will think it's like some cool spy thing and lay off the questioning." cheered Pinkie Pie.

"Besides, isn't mystique and fear of the unknown traits of the 23rd?" asked Rainbow Dash.

"It is. But fear of the unknown starts without actually knowing we exist." countered X-ray. "That's why we we're so successful in combat and keeping people in line. Through a threat they don't know exists."

"Right now, we're a blinking New Vegas casino in the Marshall Desert." gritted Overwatch.

"But one, you're not in combat with anypony and two, you don't need to use fear to keep ponies in line." pointed Rarity.

"Also, we demand that we be allowed to strip Ponies of anything we deem a threat to humanity or anything that we can use to further our research." ordered Scorch.

"You can't just take anything you want without permission." beamed Twilight.

"You're right, the human law says we need to address a warrant." remembered X-ray.

"But failure to comply to that warrant is a federal offense and will result in detention." warned Scarecrow.

"If that's the case, than I don't think anypony is going to give up their stuff so easily. Even if it is for science." glared Rainbow Dash.

"I swear, ponies are counterproductive when it comes to any field of knowledge." cursed X-ray.

Twilight gathered a set of things she had pre packed for a royal summit and brought them to her with telekinesis. "I'd love to stay and chat, but I have a summit to get to."

"No problem Twilight. Something tells me you want to get away from the attention in the first place. Besides, the sooner the princesses know, the better." encouraged X-ray. The masked human crouched down and to the ignorance of the ponies in the room, slapped on a nano recorder that transmitted voice recordings directly to their storage.

Shadow used neural controls to log into the device.

"Don't be late Twilight. I mean, if that's okay with you." whispered Fluttershy.

Twilight headed out the door. "Well I'm off to the train station!"

"Are you kidding me?" groaned Scorch.

Twilight turned around. "What do you mean?"

"Why would you waste time with taking a train?"

Twilight flapped her wings. "Oh, I see! I'll just fly there."

"Ahem." Scorch pointed to Twilight's horn.

The purple mare blushed. "Oh of course. Teleportation, why didn't I think of that?"

Twilight's horn lie up and the alicorn vanished from the vicinity.

"Alright, let's get this tour over with." growled Scarecrow.

Rainbow Dash got excited. "So we're going to start with the school. It's not too far-"

"Um, girls. I don't think it's a very good idea for a human to be interviewed by a classroom, especially if they work for the 23rd." spoke up X-ray.

"Why not?" glared Applejack.

Scarecrow dropped his mouth under his mask. He pointed his fingers to his mask. "Let's see, we're very aggressive, anti social, cynical, can't resist the urge to point out flaws, give ponies mind attacks every time they look at us and above all, our job requires us to kill!"

"Plus, I don't know how, but we're going to end up insulting them all and leaving them crying if we don't make a death threat first." finalized Scorch. "The 23rd operates on fear."

"Do you really want fillies or colts to be near us?" added X-ray.

"Come now, these fillies and colts haven't seen anything exciting since the great cutie mark mix up. Not to mention, you did a good job restraining yourself in front of Sweetie Bell." noted Rarity.

"If that doesn't float your boat, you could always go to to the Rainbow Factory in Cloudsdale." offered Rainbow Dash.

".............."

After the pause, X-ray burst. "First off, the last time humans went to a city in the clouds, it didn't work out. Badly. Second, how do you have, no wait, why the fuck do you have a Rainbow Factory?"

The two pegasai looked nervous.

"You do realize a Rainbow is just refracted light right?" questioned Scarecrow. The masked human took off his shades, quickly placing a palm to over his eyes as well.

Impressively, the leader of Shadow motioned his shades to the window. Suddenly, a non animated Rainbow emitted from the light rays the optics were refracting.

Scarecrow put on his shades in a fifth of a second. Much to the equine's dismay, they couldn't catch a glimpse of the human's eyes. If he had any.

The non pegasai were beginning to realize something fishy was going on.

Applejack scowled at Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash. "Is there something you two are hiding about the factory?"

"No." defended Fluttershy.

"Liar." muttered X-ray. He held his wrist computer that glowed red.

"If that's how Rainbows are really formed, than what did we see in Cloudsdale?" asked Rarity.

"Either they're fake or Pegasai have found a way to solidify light.....which is fucking impressive." noted Scorch.

A wild idea formed in Pinkie's head. "I bet it's a conspiracy to get rid of foals-"

Rainbow Dash couldn't take it. "Alright, it's an old town secret. The factory doesn't make Rainbows, it's just a sham to get the city money. If word got out, the city would be bankrupt."

After a 5 minutes of arguing over the morality of such a fraud and Shadow going into another rant of why capitalism sucked for another 10 minutes, the humans and ponies decided to get back on the situation of the tour.

"Like we said before we got hastily interrupted, I don't think it's a good idea for people with such a controversial profession to be speaking to young ones." said Scarecrow.

"Yeah, you don't even have to go into the really mature stuff. Just tell them you're super heroes that defeat bad guys and they'll be happy!" insisted Pinkie Pie.

"Super Hero isn't the best way to describe us honestly." shook Scarecrow. "We've had to take down a few people who ha good intentions due to them violating the constitution."

"Anti hero still works. They're too young to comprehend stuff like that." shrugged Rainbow Dash.

"And really, do ya really want those adorable Fillies and Colts to be hurt?" smirked Applejack.

Scarecrow folded his arms. "Alright, we'll go. But we'll back out the first sign things get tense. Is that valid?"

"Yes." snapped the the Mane 5.

"Alright let's move. We're wasting time here." yawned Scorch.

"Oh boy! This tour is going to be super great! I'm so nervouscited!" shrieked Pinkie Pie.

Applejack frowned at the Pink Mare. "You do realize dat's not a word right?"

"Just think, we're going to get even more famous after this as the first Ponies to make contact with humans." chanted Rarity.

"Yay." whispered Fluttershy.

X-ray cursed in Armenian.

Shadow was less than enthusiastic, even Overwatch was more apathetic than usual. The 4 of them were beginning to regret revealing themselves.

Meanwhile on the BlackJack, Orbiting Epona.

The entire frigate was in a state of anxiety and inquiry. All crew and science personnel on the ship were analyzing the content retrieved from Shadow's data banks immediately.

While the ship's surveillance devices managed to breach the disruption barrier that surrounded Epona, any attempts at extracting information outside of Equestria proved inconclusive.

Commander Sarah McFarlane nervously walked through the halls of the ship, her data tablet was overloading with mail sent to her by the various scientists and crew members.

The CO of the Blackjack had just left the conference room where a number of scientists were pitching in their theories about why the planet appeared animated and how it may have had something to do with ponies receiving mental trauma after looking at humans for too long.

To her right, an entire room had a hologram lit up of a timberwolf, with scientists debating the nature of the creature. One thing was for certain, these wolves were not animals, nor were they plants as well.

As for plants, the commander had just been to the botany room. A group of botanists had attempted to recreate the soil on Epona, and by universe they did. The soil even appeared animated as well.

The rest of the rooms were being used up to determine the nature of each pony type. A hundred or so functions formulas and possibilities for various unicorn, earth pony, pegasai and alicorn 'spell's had been devised. A good number of the crew was focusing on the creation of weapons using the anomalies, but alas, a heavy frigate did not have the industrial equipment of a carrier.

The 3 philosophers stained aboard the ship were debating the reasoning of Epona being so Earth like as well.

The ponies had become celebrities for the personnel on the ship. When the crew was on break, they would often draw Pony OCs, create pony jokes and even debate who was the best pony. Pinkie Pie was in the lead so far followed by Applejack. Sarah herself liked the Mayor.

As Sarah walked across the halls, a Spanish crew member by the name of Rojas approached her and saluted. "Ma'am you're expected in section gamma, the scientists there have uncovered information on 3 more pony inhabited cities."

"I'll be there." replied the commander without worry.

As Rojas ran off, an Ensign of Jordanian descent by the name of Alia took his place.

"Commander Sarah McFarlane, I strongly urge you to contact Shadow immediately." she urged.

The commander gave a sigh. "Shadow is doing fine, I'm surprised they haven't gunned down the village. A normal human would have lost their sanity after meeting english speaking equines."

"But they have broken numerous protocols such as the revelation of the 23rd and insulting of a leader." countered Alia.

"I'm aware of that, but First Contact protocols dictate that any human from any group should reveal themselves to Xeno society shall it be deemed necessary. Besides, Shadow is 23rd. Pretentiousness is inevitable."

"Can't we at least inform them that we are watching in order for them not to act out of line?"

"I'm afraid contacting them will interrupt they're train of thought and the 4 of them will call for immediate evac off the planet. Besides, they've gone public, that calls for them to collect themselves. Even if Shadow does go section 8, we can attack them from orbit with precision weapons."

"Has the Bureau of Terran Intelligence been informed of this predicament?" nervously asked Alia.

"We're streaming them information from Shadow's HUD." answered Sarah. "I count one day until the president himself is informed of this."

So, should I do the tour guide next, or Twilight visiting the princesses? You decide in the comment section below. Terran117 out

Author's Notes:

See if you can guess the irony of the summer solstice being on the 23rd of June.

BTW, due to political correctness, the Summer Sun celebration is no longer about the defeat of NightMare Moon in order not to offend Luna.

"After all, what human is crazy enough to disregard a species being exactly like his?" to answer your question Scarecrow, every random passive 18 year old going to Equestria.