The two parties stood staring at each other for a few awkward minutes. In that time, Zak had brought his Combine mask out of his pack, and set it on his head, so it was resting on the top of his head. This drew questioning looks from the ponies. Collin, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy were all casting suspicious and worried looks. Troy stood, wishing he had a smoke (which were extremely hard to come by as it was, let alone in a world filled with talking ponies) and Allison was eyeballing the three royal guards.

“You three.” Allison said, nodding her head towards Captain spearhead and Privates Sword and Shield. “You had ranks, are you soldiers?” She asked suspiciously. After all, her only knowledge of soldiers, was that they liked to kill people, and that Earth's had all been eliminated in under seven hours. Neither of those gave soldiers a good reputation in Allison's mind.

“We are enlisted in the royal guard of Equestria. We are not “soldiers”. Captain Spearhead said, trying out the foreign word.

Allison picked up on this and asked, “Do you know what a soldier is?” She asked, raising an eyebrow. At this point, everyone was listening to this conversation.

“No, we have never heard of a soldier, please, enlighten us.” Spearhead said.

“Yes please do. There is so much we can learn.” Twilight said, inching closer to the group, who at this point, had still kept their distance from one another.

Troy and Allison glanced at each other. If these things had never heard of soldiers, then there must be no war. Or at least no major wars. Guess it was time to shatter some innocence.

“A soldier is someone who, well... kills for a living.” Troy said, trying to recall what he had heard of soldiers before the Combine, and pairing that with what the Combine soldiers did.

The expressions of the ponies were shocked to say the least. Rainbow's confidence nearly plummeted at the thought of fighting things that could casually kill another person, or pony. Even the guards stood dumbfounded. Pinkie Pie's Abnormally fluffy pink mane, deflated as she started to tear up.

“Great, now you've scared them. Look at this one, she's fucking petrified!” Zak said, indicating Fluttershy, who looked about ready to pass out.

Twilight stumbled over thoughts in her head. “B-but how could somepony just kill? I-I mean it's just...” She was at a loss for words. The Princess had mentioned war, but she had said that the other world could have been different. Maybe it wasn't just equestira's humans, maybe all humans are violent.

The guard's looks went from shocked to insulted. “No, we are not killers, we are royal guards.” Spearhead said, saying “killers” with disgust.

“Look at their armor dude.” Zak whispered to Troy. “It's gold. Gold! And it's a pretty shitty design too. The Combine would decimate these things.” Troy nodded solemnly

“So you have no war?” Collin asked with shock. The thought of a world with no war was foreign to him, and the other rebels, as they had grown up fighting to survive under the oppression of the Combine.

Twilight stood, remembering how humans had wiped themselves out in Equestria's history. Apparently, the Princess was right when she had assumed the humans from the other world were the same way. I just hope Lyra's okay. Twilight thought to herself, “No, Equestria has never had wars of any kind.” Twilight answered sternly, as if to warn the humans not to start one.

Troy chuckled grimly, “No war? Man, this day just gets weirder and weirder.” He said dryly.

The ponies picked up on this, but that didn't change the fact that, apparently, war; was a common occurrence for them. Troy, Zak, and Collin didn't notice it, but all the ponies scooted back just a few centimeters away from the humans.

Allison saw it though. “Ha! You are scared of us? Just wait until you hear about the Combine!” She said, leaning onto one foot.

Twilight shook slightly at the thought of something worse than a soldier. “C-Combine?” She asked.

That was when Collin spoke up, “Uh, yeah speaking of, the Combine can't follow us... right?” He asked the group, but mostly directing the question towards Allison.

She shook her head, causing her golden hair to wave back and forth. “No, I deleted the coordinates before I went through.” She said, trying to reassure him... and herself. She hadn't even thought of the Combine being able to follow them. Damn talking unicorns, making me lose my focus. Allison's extreme attention to detail, was what made her so good with the sniper rifle, which was slung across her back , her hood resting against it. The ponies tried, and failed, to follow along with what she was saying, but all the terms meant nothing to them; aside from coordinates.

“What're these, Com-Bine?” Applejack asked suspiciously. As far as she was concerned, all the humans were bad news, and these Combine, sounded like the worst news.

“Do you want the long version, or the short?” Troy asked, crossing his arms.

“Long.” Twilight said immediately.

“Now hold on here sugarcube, Ah don't think we should be standing in this here field all day.” Applejack said, indicating their surroundings.

Twilight blushed, and sheepishly replied, “O-oh yeah, sorry. Short version.”

The rebels exchanged looks and turned to Troy.

“Oh god-dammit, fine. The Combine are essentially, aliens. But not from space, they're from another universe altogether. Is that right?” Troy asked, turning to Allison, who nodded. “Right, so, they came about 15? 16 years ago? Something like that. Anyway, They started channeling shock troops into our world and decimating almost everything that moved. They wiped out the entire planet's soldiers in under seven hours.” The ponies were horrified.

“B-But how can you kill something that can kill so casually?” Twilight asked.

“By being a better killer.” Zak replied, and while the other ponies didn't pick up on it, Spearhead couldn't help but think Zak was, in some way, referring to himself.

“Right, so anyway, they wiped out our military, which is who the soldiers worked for, and started slaughtering innocent people.” Once again, the ponies shared appalled looks. The guards eyed each other out of the corner of their eyes, and prepared for any trouble. “After they stopped randomly killing everything, they started to... occupy? Dominate? I don't know, they just took over. Now everyone lives in oppressed cities controlled by them. Some of us work in the mines, which is where Zak worked.” Troy explained, pointing at Zak with his thumb. “And we... we are the Resistance.” Troy said with a large amount of pride.

“The resistance?” Rainbow Dash asked curiously.

“The Resistance. We're the ones who fight back. We use old pre-occupation technology, paired with Combine tech. We're fighting a loosing battle though. Words been circulating that Freeman, some scientist, has been helping the Resistance movement in... Europe I think it was called? Yeah, anyway, from what I've heard, he's REALLY making a difference over there” Troy answered. “I just wish WE had someone like that.” He then muttered to himself.

“But, your so young, how can you fight?” Twilight asked.

“Because no one else in our city will.” Zak said darkly. “They all just sit around while the Combine look for reasons to kill more people.”

Fluttershy heard this and spoke up, “W-w-well, may-maybe the P-P-P-Princess c-could help?” She stammered in a frightened voice, not even liking the thought of these humans meeting the Pricnesses.

“Princess?” Troy asked in an amused tone, raising an eyebrow.

“Yes, the Princesses of Equestria, the ones who raise the sun and the moon, and you would do well to respect them.”

Zak laughed out loud before saying “Bullshit.” Dragging out the “bull”. “They raise the sun and moon? That's such a load of crap.” He followed up.

“Hey! Who do you think you are?” Rainbow Dash shouted angrily. “You can't talk about the Princesses like that!”

“Hmph, you ruffians need to be taught some manners and proper edict.” Rarity said, looking at Zak in particular. “And your outfits are simply atrocious.” She added.

Zak looked himself over, seeing his makeshift armor resting on his black hoodie. “I think we look pretty good, and our armor's better than Sergeant Suck Up's over here.” He said, pointing to Spearhead.

“I suggest you seal that attitude before you meet the Princesses.” Spearhead growled angrily.

“What are two princesses gonna do that the Combine haven't done already? Kill us? Man, we've been dead since we started this fight. Oh, maybe they could lock us up, because, you know, we've never been locked up before!” Zak retorted, saying the last part with sarcasm seeping out of every pore.

Just when Spearhead was about to make a comeback, another voice cut him off. “Not on the moon you haven't.” The voice had come from the right of the two groups. As one, they all turned and gasped. Well, the ponies did, and they bowed too, Zak simply asked, “Who the hell are these?” Indicating the two regal ponies in front of him.

One was ivory white, with a billowing multicolored mane swaying the the non-existent breeze, while the other one was a deep shade of purple with a billowing blue and black mane.

“You may rise my little ponies.” The white one said warmly. The ponies nodded and rose.

“Princess Celestia! How long were you there?” Twilight asked in an anxious tone. She didn't want her mentor to see her fail at first contact with an alien life form. Or, cross universe life form.

“Long enough.” She answered warmly, but her eyes said something else as she looked at the four human teenagers. “State your business in our world humans.” Her voice authoritative, which, looking back, might not have been the best choice of tone with teenagers who've been fighting authority their entire lives.

“Business? We were running for our lives, and activated a teleporter, not that you know what that is, and it brought us here! State your business, who are you really?” Zak shouted, before anyone else, mainly Allison, could stop him.

“Uh oh.” Collin whispered as he saw all the ponies grow EXTREMELY angry.

“That's it! Spearhead, Sword, Shield, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack shouted at the same time, before marching up to the humans.

“What in the hay gives you the right to mock our princesses and our land?” Spearhead shouted, his years of training crumbling down.

Zak threw his hand in the air, then flicked his head forward, making the mask fall over his face.

“Bring it horse boy, bring it! C'mon let's see what you got!” Zak shouted from behind his mask, the glowing blue eyes, giving him an extremely intimidating look.

“You dare mock our land?!” Spearhead shouted and was just about ready to fly straight at him, when The humans, and the ponies who had marched forward, were blown off their feet, and hooves, by a loud megaphone like voice, courtesey of Princess Luna, which screamed, “ENOUGH!”

“Gah! Shit!” Troy shouted as he toppled over.

Twilight, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy all winced as the mass of bodies were all blown into a massive pile.

“What the fuck!?”

“GET THESE THINGS OFF ME!”

“Goddamn stupid armor sucks!”

“Hey, who touched my ass?”

“Ally, we got to stop meeting up like this.”

“What in tarnation?”

“Get your royal ASS off of me!”

The insults and shouts suddenly ceased as the ponies and humans were enveloped in a pink and blue light, respectively.

“Uh, what?” Collin asked in a confused voice as he looked over his body, which glowed pink.

“Why does this shit always gotta happen to me?” Troy muttered as he floated upside down over the ground.

“The fuck?” Zak shouted, squirming and fighting the invisible bonds which held him.

“Incredible, some kind of telekinesis!” Allison exclaimed as she studied her invisible prison.

The ponies were set back onto the ground with their group, and three of the humans back on the ground, meanwhile, Celestia turned Zak so he was upright and facing the two the other group of ponies. “Apologize.” She said sternly.

“You're fucking joking right?” He deadpanned

Celestia's eyes narrowed. “Apologize.” She said even more sternly, which, Troy didn't even think was possible.

Zak groaned and said, “I'm sorry that your armor sucks, and that you believe in stupid things.”

For a long time, everything was quiet.

“A-poll-i-gize.” Celestia said, in an almost deathly tone.

Troy busted out laughing. “HA! Making friends over there Zak?” He asked.

“Blow me.” Zak muttered. After he didn't apologize, He felt himself being lifted higher in the air... and Zak HATES heights. “Wait, wait, wait, fine.” He sighed. “I apologize.” He deadpanned once more.

“There see that wasn't so hard was it?” Celestia asked, her voice welcoming and comforting once more. But Zak could see right through it. He merely grunted in response.

Celestia lowered him to the ground, but stopped, a few inches about the ground, and released Zak, who was expecting her to lower him to the ground itself.

“Woah!” He shouted, before he fell flat on his ass.

The humans and ponies alike giggled, as his picked himself off the ground, and walked back over to his group, mumbling to himself.

“Who are you?” Troy asked the Princesses.

“I am Princess Celestia, and this is my sister, Princess Luna, together we rule Equestria.”

“Equestria huh?” Troy asked, before looking around.

“How do you use telekinesis? Is it artificial, or is it natural?” Allison questioned in an eager tone.

Celestia smiled warmly, and indicated for Twilight to explain.

“Well you see, all unicorns and alicorns, such as the Princesses, have the natural born ability to use magic.”

Allison didn't say anything she, and the others, simply started laughing. Once they, or at least Allison, had collected themselves, Allison said, “M-Magic? Magic isn't real, it's a form of telekinesis, and psychic abilities, if anything. And raising the sun and moon? C'mon, do you honestly believe that? The earth spins on an axis, causing the sun to rise and set.”

While the other ponies were growing angry, including Princess Luna, Celestia merely held a bemused look. “What if I could prove it?” She asked the girl.

Allison spread her arms, “Go ahead.”

Celestia's horn glowed pink before there was a loud whoosh sound and a bright light. The humans and ponies alike squeezed their eyes closed. After a few seconds, nothing happened. Troy was the first one to crack his eyes open. “Oh shit.” He said in wonder. He was in some kind of round wooden house. Books lined the shelves. They were in Twilight's library.

“Teleportation, not bad, but still not magic.” Allison said approvingly.

“Wait, what happened?” Zak asked, whipping his head back and forth at his new surroundings.

“We're in my library.” Twilight said, and there stood all the ponies and humans.

“We call it magic, you can call it whatever you want, all that matters is that it works.” Celestia said, indicating their new surroundings. “And please keep the volume down, it is night after all.”

“Okay.”

“Whatever.”

“Sure.”

“Is this a tree?”

Troy, Zak, and Collin all turned and stared at Allison, who failed to notice them as she was observing the structure.

“Allison, can we focus for more than five seconds, without egg-heading the mood right out of the room?” Troy said jokingly.

Twilight suppressed a grin at Troy's choice name. “Yes Allison, this is a tree.” Twilight answered, then giggled at her reaction.

“fascinating.”

It was then that Spike descended from the upper floor, yawning and rubbing his eyes. “Twilight? What are you doing still up? Did you find-” He halted as he opened his eyes and saw the four humans standing in the library. “H-H-H-Humans!” He stammered.

“Damn we're famous.” Zak remarked, seeing the baby dragon's expression.

Luckily, Twilight was able to calm Spike down before he panicked. “It's okay Spike, they're friendly, right?” She asked, turning the question into a threat.

The humans all vigorously nodded, well, all except Zak, who simply shrugged.

This didn't calm Spike down much, but it did keep him from panicking.

“I suggest we all get some sleep, and we can continue this conversation tomorrow. The humans will stay here for now. Twilight I believe you have some spare blankets and pillows?” Celestia asked her prodigy, who nodded. “Good, humans, I must ask you to not exit the library, for I believe the ponies outside won't take to kindly to four strange beings showing up out of nowhere.” She said kindly, but the warning was in there.

“Sounds like fun.” Zak chuckled before walking up the stairs, and exploring the library.

Spearhead, you, Sword, and Shield are to guard the library, and make sure the humans do not cause any trouble.”

“Yes your highness.” They chorused.

“And Twilight?” Celestia beckoned her over. “Good luck.” She whispered in her ear, before her, and Luna teleported away.

Twilight stood for a few seconds, staring at the spot where her mentor had stood, and missing her already, before turning to the humans.

“So... bed?” She asked like a babysitter.

And like kids being babysat, even if they didn't mean to, they tried to make her life as miserable as possible.

“I'm hungry, where's the food?”

“I think I need to read every book here.”

“If anyone needs me, I'll be cleaning my gun.”

“Could be worse. Could be better too, but still, it could be worse.”

Twilight sighed. This was going to be a long night.