Author's Notes:

And we're back for yet another lengthy installment after several weeks of dormancy, whoooh! We hope you enjoy, chapter eight is already around eighty-five percent written!

Politics, Elevators, and Invites Galore
Equis, Elysia Station, Parliament Chamber
Thursday, 24th June 2551 CE Celestial Standard Calendar

The Prophetess’ declaration once again reignited the commotion amongst the GSC Parliament that Admiral Hood and Empress Celestia had just so recently quelled.

Despite the constant chaotic volume, a small number of distinct voices were able to emerge audible from the rancor amongst the Parliamentary booths. The vast majority of those voices were directed at one another; throwing around every topic from disbelief of Obligation’s claims, to a budding suspicion of the Prophetess being a grand-scale spy or a trap set to spring, to strong confusion over her usage of the word ‘alicorn’.

During the debating, which was becoming increasingly fervent and impassioned, Leman Russ, Bjorn, and the whole Wolf Guard had actually been able to enter attendance in Parliament without much notice from the delegates and heads of state. The main figure to notice was the Master Chief, whom Russ took position next to after exchanging respectful nods.

“Impossible … and yet all those sites …” Cadance murmured to herself beside Luna.

Luna was focused intently on the proceedings between Obligation, her sister, and Celestia’s other three nearest colleagues. Although, she did temporarily divert her attention to check on the Covenant datapad that for the moment housed Cortana, who was still processing the unknown data therein.

Besides Twilight and Trixie, who were engaged in a conversation over magic, recent events, and the findings of the Ministry of Technology expedition, in an effort to drown out the squabbling Parliament, the rest of Luna’s companions were reticent. Russ and the Master Chief both silently observed the chaos around them.

Both warriors felt much out of place. Bjorn meanwhile, watched the more rowdy functionaries and leaders present like a spectator would to a troupe of circus clowns. Politicians and politics remained almost unchanged despite the contextual era or the governments involved.

“Princess Mi Amore Cadenza?” Luna murmured back to the other alicorn with a strong note of awe both in her voice and her expression as both of them leaned closer to each other and swiveled their ears automatically to compensate for the raucous volume around them.

With the vast amount of things to process from recent events as well as being in the presence of something of a nature as the Parliament of the Grand Solarian Concordat, Luna had had scarcely the moment to register that she was in fact in the presence of another, yet unfamiliar Equestrian Princess.

“Princess Luna!” The vastly younger Princess adopted Luna’s expression as her own as it registered in her mind that she had just spontaneously entered her first conversation with someone who was both officially and for all intents and purposes, a long-lost family member.

The light azure-maned alicorn was smaller than Cadence had expected, but even despite that, Luna seemed larger than life to her.

“‘Tis I!” Luna answered back with a warm smile. “I apologise for our first interaction being in such less than ideal circumstance.”

“It’s not a problem at all, Aunt Luna! Please, call me Cadence,” Cadance replied with an incredulous chuckle. “I apologise for the rowdiness of the Parliament … . Auntie Tia says the war has made them this way, and from what I have seen in the past decade and a half, I can scarcely blame them.”

Luna let out a chuckle of her own, briefer than her niece’s before saying, “No blame was ever necessary, war affects us all in ways each different from the last.”

“I can wholeheartedly agree.”

Despite her wanting to ask Cadance about her reaction to Obligation’s statement, Luna deemed the moment inappropriate to do so, and gestured a hoof at a well groomed and attired unicorn stallion also in the front row in the adjacent section. “It would seem not all of this Parliament gathered here is so easily thrown into ill disposition in these trying times.”

Princess Cadence’s stupification had worn off to be replaced by serene musing. It allowed her to smile warmly when her eyes followed Luna’s pointing hoof.

“Inheritors of what, exactly? What is there to be reclaimed, Madame Obligation?” Fancy Pants, Celestia’s Imperial Prime Minister, finally decided to ask Obligation with a raised and carefully tone adjusted voice as he stood serene and dignified, contrasting sharply with the more dazed and arguing high officials and heads of state around him.

Obligation positioned herself in her chair in preparation to respond but was stymied by the continued uproar in the chamber. Shock, skepticism, and an a majority confusion clung to the air like an invisible miasma. It was in that moment that Luna took it upon herself to intervene, rather than simply observe as she and her companions had in the minutes prior.

“Silence!” Luna demanded in her Royal Voice, causing the very chamber itself to shake just enough to be noticeable. All rancor ceased instantly, allowing Obligation to regain the verbal floor.

Luna was given the same San’Shyuum gesture of thanks that Celestia and Hood had received, before Obligation turned back to Fancy Pants and the two shared earnest gazes.

“There is a vast array of functional technological relics, materials and technical knowledge, worlds and installations, so on and so forth scattered across this galaxy that await to be reclaimed for usage towards noble and exalted endeavours,” Obligation explained. “We Prophets have long speculated in the Covenant that a central repository may exist even, something that could allow for it to all be located at once for a swift reclamation!”

“She’s not lying, Wattinree stumbled upon greater than even we could have probably anticipated. Those findings across the galaxy are largely connected … I am seeing the dots link again and again, but without context! I’m making great progress, Luna!” Cortana interposed in the Luna’s mind.

“Magnificent, Cortana. Keep at it!”

“We have made findings over the past several decades, findings that we cannot describe in detail without a full vote of the Concordat’s Parliament to enact or to not enact an official diplomatic disclosure,” Emperor Arcadius stated flatly before a note of desire began to creep into his voice. “But if such a repository exists … the boon it would provide us in not just this war, but all wars that would threaten the stability of our colonies and the galaxy, and more …”

“What of the other races?” Queen Gladys interjected. “Why only a single species and a group of closely related ones? Any such technology recovered by GSC officials is by our laws the rightful property of all Concordat races, such reciprocity is at the very foundation of this alliance and is a vital component of the harmony amongst our nations!”

“Reciprocity and truth will reform the Covenant to something greater that could stand with your Concordat, not blind faith in deceptions and forced obedience. And as for the Ancients and why the Reclaimers are who they are…” Obligation paused as she was once again reminded of times in days past, when she had attempted to fathom what she had learned of beings she had been brought up from birth believing to be divine and harbingers of a quest for transcendence of mortality.”

“Your proposal that the Covenant can be ‘reformed’ is something I am highly skeptical about,” Hood told the Prophet, “but I cannot help but agree with the power that the former has compared to the latter. Empress Celestia, your thoughts?”

“Whether the Covenant Empire is something that can be reformed or not, only time will tell, I fear,” Celestia stated, making her expression clearly readable for the first time during the inquiry.

“Such is the reality,” Obligation agreed, unreadable as Celestia had been before her face look took on a readily visible conviction. “But be aware, besides collaborating to see the Usurpers’ threat removed once and for all, and the Covenant pacified, it is the only goal towards which I am imbued with self-purpose in the absence of my previous rulership. The other two of my lost triumvirate, they share my view as well as my knowledge and can be our greatest agents within the corrupt Covenant.”

“Be that as it may, if we must destroy your people’s empire as well as its theocracy to ensure the lasting peace and harmony of a whole galaxy, Obligation, we will not hesitate to do so, ‘reclamation’ or not,” Arcadius declared firmly. “Its client races in that event whom have not already joined the Concordat may be granted tentative admittance as the GSC navigates into a post-war era.

“I will admit that your ability to acknowledge two important harmonious traits does fill me with a glimmer of hope,” Celestia followed up with a wave of her hoof.

“While this is all well and admirable, my question to Obligation still stands!” Gladys pressed unto the others, growing from surprise to becoming mildly livid.

“I cannot even begin to fathom the reasoning of so ancient of a civilization as the Alicorns or even those who served them,” Obligation responded apologetically, meeting the Griffon Queen’s gaze directly. “As you may be able to gather from my elaboration, the few records and texts the Covenant found throughout the various ages of our history have gleaned us only pebbles from the great mountain range that was their lore and their nature.”

“If this so-called Oracle and indeed your very word is to be believed, just what is ultimately at stake here with the mastery of what the ‘Alicorns’ have left behind? These Halos that can supposedly turn mortals into ...” Hood paused to chuckle dryly as he marveled at the stance of absurdity he placed upon the words he was speaking. “Turn mortals into gods?”

Celestia peered at Lord Terrence Hood for only a second before shifting her focus back to Obligation. She privately commended the admiral for doing as she has done, maintaining the front of the GSC possessing little knowledge of the Covenant’s society and ideology, which would imply an even yet further advanced level of intelligence on the Covenant that the Concordat did in fact possess.

Despite that fact, Celestia also noted the sole truth in their relatively simple political machination. Even with the advanced level of intelligence the GSC’s member powers and intelligentsia possessed, very specific things such as ‘Halo’ remained obscure or otherwise entirely unknown.

Obligation moved to interact with the control pad on her throne, activating her holo-projector. A ring-shaped object appeared and the Prophetess increased the projection’s size for all four of the front leaders to see with ease.

“The Sacred Rings, yes, for nothing of greater significance left by the Ancients is known to us. The Path dictates that the masters of Halo hold court over the fate of the universe itself,” Obligation said with an edge of reverence for the mysterious objects unintentionally creeping into her voice. “Apologies. Such a reaction to objects of a nature as Halo is inborn for such an individual as I.”

Russ once again regarded the ring with careful scrutiny. Even Luna felt a hint of another episode of deja vu mustering, but to her confusion, it did not manifest and this time vanished back into her subconscious as rapidly as it had come.

“Do you still hold belief in the power of these Halos as they’re called?” Gladys inquired, well aware of the obvious answer.

“I do. It is one of the few elements of the Covenant faith I still share in common with my usurpers, their declaration of Inquisition against your races and the spark of this expansive war is the obvious rift.”

“If they’re that powerful, then finding them before the Covenant can may just be our highest priority behind neutralizing the enemy itself,” Hood remarked. “That, and finding out what the Prophet of Regret knows.”

“I encourage you to wield whatever tactic you must to extract his knowledge. In an echo of what I said to one of your AI’s aboard Imperial Admiral Wattinree’s flagship, consider everything applicable as a token of our mutual goodwill, that the Concordat lives lost in the recent battle in your home system were not in vain.”

A minority of officials present in the stands wanted to outcry with fury that no lives should have ever been lost to the Covenant since the war began. However, none wished to risk inciting a fierce rebuke from either of the four Concordat heads of state leading the inquiry nor Luna herself, who stood sentinel and ready to maintain verbal order in the room.

“Thank you,” Celestia took the lead in the inquiry once more. “We shall debate amongst this Parliament your loyalists’ admittance into the Concordat as well as disclosure of information pertinent to our shared goals with you tentatively, Prophetess. I appreciate your patience and understanding.”

“My appreciation eclipses your own at present, Empress Celestia, for you have all so graciously granted me this forum even despite the inevitable controversy I have sparked in the heart of your alliance today.”

“I believe this is a sufficient stopping point for our inquiry, Prophetess of Obligation,” Gladys said with finality. “With this unforseen battle so recent in our minds as well as in the debris fields in the orbit of this very planet, I think we’ve all earned ourselves some time to rest and regroup.”

“I agree, we have much to do in the weeks and months ahead,” Celestia chimed in. “Admiral Hood, Emperor Arcadius, are you both in agreement?”

As soon as the other two had voiced their agreement without hesitation, Celestia ignited her horn and gazed upwards, with many other sets of eyes following hers. The illuminated symbol of the GSC flickered off, signalling the conclusion of the current session of Parliament.

In sharp contrast from their earlier bouts of rancor, the various officials exited the room in orderly fashions from each row with the furthest back exiting first until only the frontmost officials along with Luna’s group and the four leaders remained to round out Obligation’s remaining company.

With Celestia now locked in conversation with both Obligation and her three colleagues, she paused momentarily to give her sister a friendly wave as Luna and the others began to take their own leave, joined by the remaining Equestrian leaders: Princess Cadance, Fancy Pants, and Fleur De Lis, Fancy Pants’ wife and the Vice Minister of Culture.

The company of the imposing Capricorns meant that both parties were at an awkward silence for most of their thankfully brief and sights-laden walk, which was complete with everything from the vibrant and colourful bustle of the station to the numerous galleries of monuments to heroes, statesmen, and innovators. They lead themselves to the nearest orbital elevator, and Cadance was the mare who broke the ice first.

“Auntie, you certainly keep some amazing company,” the younger alicorn remarked with a giggle as she looked from the Chief, to Russ and Bjorn and the Wolf Guard, and then to Trixie and Twilight as they all stepped inside the cavernous elevator car.

A suave, feminine digitized voice greeted them with, “The Grand Solarian Concordat thanks you for visiting Elysia Station. Descending to: Elysia Ground Terminus, Imperial. Please enjoy the ride.”

“Aye … ‘tis a long story,” Luna replied sheepishly with her ears swiveling about as Russ, Chief, and Bjorn gave little visible response whilst some of the Wolf Guard, Trixie, and Twilight chuckled. “One that is only just beginning.”

Fleur interjected with a slight but noticeable hint of a Prench accent in her speech, “There are times for great epics to be told, including this war, as barbaric as it might be. My husband and I are surely looking forward to hearing of your exploits to come across the galaxy.”

“Great Celestia, dear Fleur here stole the words right out of my mouth, I must say,” Fancy Pants affirmed with a warm twinkle in his eye.

With a distinct but almost silent whirring, the large magnetic levitation elevator sprang into motion and descended through its airlock and down along the Concordat station’s immense orbital tether that kept it anchored. The sprawling expanse of predominant greens, golden browns, and whites that was Equestria became visible along with the curvature of Equis’ planetary limb as the elevator ride began in earnest.

While a number of eyes that had not beheld such a sight in a long time turned to admire and appraise it, Cadance found hers lingering on one of the most visually outstanding of Luna’s company present with hers.

Leman Russ arched a brow in silent question at the grinning alicorn in front of him.

“Leman Russ? Spartan Avery Johnson returned from the expedition to where you were awoken with tales of a ‘badass power-armoured Viking wolf-man’,” Cadance playfully made air quotes with her hooves, “I believe it obviously safe to assume you are that wolf-man, and that for the first time in many moons, Avery was not being outlandish?”

“It is a rather apt description, that I quite like,” Russ said with a grin and chuckle. “I must say, I don’t remember you; someone so … pink would stand out in my memory.”

“Eh, heh, heh … well, I am not nearly as old as Luna here … erm, no offense Auntie!” Cadance replied, having stolen Luna’s sheepish manner for her own while the latter had resumed her default serene gaze.

“None taken, fairest Cadance,” Luna assured her, before sporting a small smile that quickly blossomed into a grin.

Cadance giggled again, shaking off most of the sheepishness before resuming her own usual smile. “So Leman, if acts of war and war preparations do not require your full and undivided attention, my husband Shining Armor and myself, Princess Cadance, would be absolutely delighted to have you, Auntie, Twilight, and the others over for dinner! We always adore new company and friends, and it is a surefire way to have us stand out in anyone’s memory.”

The younger Princesses’ latter sentence was punctuated by an ever so slight twitch of the brow that Luna, Russ, Chief, and anyone else with augmented senses picked up without hesitation, but to the vast amusement of some amongst that number, the subtle gesture was entirely lost on both Trixie and Twilight.

“That would be positively delightful!” Twilight remarked, beaming before turning back to look at Equestria below, resuming her lecture to Trixie about the orbital applications of Equestrian magitech while the latter seemed more preoccupied with staring at the approaching geography and clouds.

Before Russ could speak up as to what he thought of the idea, one of his Guard, specifically Solvi pipped up. “You’re not going to turn her down are you, Lord? I mean, how can you resist such a tempting offer! I know I’d take it in a heartbeat!”

If any of the others had been on the neural comms channel that the Guard and Russ used, they would have heard a lot of snickering and sighing. Instead all they saw was stone faces looking at the wide grinning Solvi.

“We understand if you decline, my good stallion,” Fancy Pants said. “We desk denizens are blessed with the kind of luxury that no theater of war can ever provide, but all the more honoured we would be if you could join us at a later date by some stroke of good fortune.”

“If there is time, but rarely has there been such a reprieve. When war is what you know, it becomes your closest of kin and your daily ritual. It finds you even when you are guzzling mjord. We’ll see if there is time before our next move, for their surely won’t be time after,” Russ spoke, a grin still on his face.

“Wonderful, I’m sure you will enjoy the outing should you be able to attend,” Cadance replied, beaming.

Cadance caught glimpse of a wink from Solvi that caused her grin to grow just slightly more as the elevator finally broke through a cloud barrier of Equis’ atmosphere.

The elevator-goers observed a vast horizon of blue crowned by the rapidly retreating star-speckled black of space as the descent passed its halfway mark.

Everyone carried on with their sightseeing, verbal and neural-based conversations, as well as more subtly exchanged gestures between certain parties as Luna found herself once again in awe at what she was seeing.

Mt. Canterhorn’s slopes became visible beneath the noontide clouds, surrounded by its graceful forests of both actual trees and the skyscrapers that greatly dwarfed them. Small shapes denoting cargo freighters and ferries could even be seen on Saddle Lake, as well as their aerial counterparts in both dirigibles, aircraft, and spacecraft alike. The closer Canterlot became, the more the ancient and diverse city seemed to be reaching up in a welcoming embrace.

Luna suspected that the visuals may have been one of the less practical amongst many diverse reasons that Equestria, the GSC, or likely both had decided to build such a marvelous construction where they did.

“We could re-ride the each of the six elevators five times each, or we could just take a vid capture and make it last longer,” Trixie remarked to Twilight in the middle of their latest conversation as she levitated her Praetorian armoured bracers off her legs and placed them in her saddlebag.

“Hey, Trixie! Put my chatter back!” Twilight protested.

“Trixie shall only do so when she is done recording this splendid vista!” Trixie countered as she brandished the small, flat rectangular communication device in her aura, holding it steady and close to the window. “Be thankful it is not your datapad Trixie chose instead.”

“You’re part of the Empire’s special forces, just buy your own!” Twilight retorted, glowing red with annoyance.

“Hmm … maybe soon, maybe later,” Trixie answered in a deliberately sweetened tone as Twilight groaned.

Luna chuckled at the two’s antics before another Equestrian caught her attention.

“Beautiful, isn’t it? It might be mundane to most who ride it, but I still marvel at it every time, since my first ride as a filly,” Fleur said to Luna, appearing beside her as the others carried on with their various activities.

“Most definitely,” Luna replied without hesitation. Her memory hearkened back to the GSC poster depicting the five homeworlds she had seen in the city below during her first hoofsteps on the modern streets. “Seeing one’s home from such a celestial angle would be most influential on one’s outlook.”

Fleur’s eyes twinkled much like her husbands often did as she stepped closer to Luna, just close enough to maintain a respectful distance but also to whisper as if imparting a secret, “Trixie Lulamoon’s statement may have seemed random, but she was in fact making a vague reference to myself. I have a habit of spending my days off when Princess Cadance is in full charge of the Ministry of Harmony, riding up and down the elevators of Elysia’s tether, several times in a row on a given day! The sights give me much inspiration for composing the songs I give to our Legions in hopes of making them feel at home no matter where they are in this troubled galaxy.”

Luna gave the slender unicorn mare a warm smile. “Word of deeds of my new friends as well as myself will inevitably find their way back home, here. I hope during our many battles ahead, perhaps some of your songs may yet grace our ears, Lady Fleur.”

Rent-a-Copaclypse
Equestria, Mount Canterhorn, Elysia Tether Ground Terminus

“No electronics usage in the checkpoints areas, sir. By the Empress, it is literally posted everywhere,” a stern-faced unicorn security guard of the Equestrian Ministry of Harmony, Office of Transport and Commerce declared to an approaching chatter-equipped earth pony stallion in business attire who seemed to have his foreleg and communication device glued to the side of his head.

“Now you listen hear, ‘daddy-o’, you guys better keep those hipster and Neo-Beatnik acts on your own time where it belongs and away from the shareholders meeting. Phoenix Aerospace has no time for it, and if I see even a single trilby or fedora, I will freaking lose it,” the earth pony continued his conversation with apparent obliviousness to the demands of the guard.

“Sir, in the name of the Empress!” the unicorn tried once more to get the errant commuter’s attention, raising his voice.

The earth pony, much to the guard’s disbelief, remained unresponsive as he continued to approach, drawing the unamused dirty looks of other members of the crowd he stormed passed. His conversation appeared to be growing more heated as his ears flattened and he seemed to grind his teeth from what he was hearing.

With the earth pony now actually passing through the booths of the guard’s checkpoint itself, it was then that the guard decided he would really give the business stallion something to grind his teeth about.

“Stop right there, disrespectful commuter scum!” the security guard growled, materializing right in front of the business stallion and stopping him in his tracks as he assumed a pose from which he could easily spring a tackle if need be. “Nopony and absolutely nobody breaks Ministry of Harmony regulations on my watch!”

Said regulations were known to be very strict in some places of mass transit throughout the Concordat on account of the war, and it was due to this fact that the business stallion assumed a look of horror as he realised his predicament. The unicorn was joined in addition by three of his colleagues towards the back of the booth all clad in similar form-fitting blue uniforms with the symbol of their ministry: a towering Capricorn mare and a stocky male Minotaur, as well as a female Kig-Yar, and none of them seemed pleased. He quickly lowered the phone from his ear and placed it in his briefcase with a shaking foreleg, his pupils shrunk to the size of pinpricks.

“Oh, crap … I am so sorry! It’s my chatter, it is like the thing is enchanted with a malevolent spirit that requires usage from its host to continue existing,” the stallion stammered while the security guard just shook his head.

“Just keep that damn chatter in your case or out of sight when you see the signs, commuter, now pass through the scanners. You’re holding everyone up, and I don’t have time for …” the security pony’s voice trailed off completely as his own eyes retreated to tiny pinpricks as well, followed immediately by those of his colleagues.

Dumbfounded, the business stallion’s eyes followed the guards’ combined gaze to whatever it was behind him that was such an eye-catching event, only to feel his jaw completely drop.

The nearest elevator landing that this particular checkpoint of Elysia’s terminal presided over had opened to admit its latest group of people coming and going into the bustling concourse, except it was not the usual kind of commuters seen in the facility.

Stepping past the threshold of the massive sliding doors were two alicorns accompanied by a sizeable group of heavily armed and armoured towering beings and four unicorns whose confident gaits seemed to convey the sentiment that the sight was the most mundane thing in the whole facility, adding to the complete shock of the crowds now in front of them.

The whole group with Luna at its lead came to a halt as they noticed that well over three quarters of the concourse were staring at them silently, most with awe, but some with completely gormless expressions like fish heads on a plate. The awkward silence hung in the air as if a colossal yet invisible smoke bomb had been set off. That was, of course, until someone amongst the civilians in the room finally spoke up.
“Too … much … glory! Can’t take it!” an Unggoy traveller shouted in terror, breaking off into an awkward run towards the nearest exit after recognizing some of the members of Luna’s party, including the alicorn herself.

Unfortunately, while the declaration did obliterate the silence and get a good majority of the concourse to begin either murmuring excitedly or continuing on their way, from their vantage point the unicorn security guard and his fellows had yet fully register the identities of the newcomers. They had keyed in on the unexpected appearance of armour and weapons instead, and were springing into action as a triggered silent alarm system caused additional personnel to emerge from the nearby security offices in large numbers one could consider unusual for such small rooms.

While the growing crowd of security guards slowly replaced the number of civilians in the room, Luna and the others were left standing completely dumbfounded as an orderly echelon of newcomers emerged from the main terminal entrance and began following the Equestrian security towards the elevator entrance.

The newcomers were actually Imperial legionaries, and the Centurion and frontmost ranks of the responding company looked increasingly confused as they approached the ‘unidentified intruders.’

“By order of the Imperial Legion and Concordat Allied Command, I demand you to identify yourselves and relinquish your weapons at once!” the presiding pegasus Centurion barked, his faced a confused grimace as he quickly began to recognize the supposed intruders and a rising tide of annoyance for security forces began to take hold within his helmeted head.

“Seriously, do they not recognise us?” Cortana said, askance with bewilderment. “Were I not so preoccupied with this digital pandemonia of untold antiquity, I’d make them all feel even more ridiculous than they are about to be. Equestrian ministry security personnel of this type are notoriously inept.”

“We shall ... see where this nigh comical ineptitude goes…” was all Luna could reply with as she remained stupefied.

A whole three seconds passed before one of the Wolf Guard, Ylva spoke up. “Drop our weapons? I do not understand the statement. We’re supposed to let go of that which makes killing easier? Lord, is he speaking in tongues?”

A few snickers let loose from the rest of the Fangs, but the best reaction came from Russ who started laughing as though he was going to bust a gut. His deep bellowing laugh flattening more than a few ears but it gave smiles to the Wolf Guard and probably Bjorn if he could show such emotion.

“Your Highnesses and … uh … oh gods damn you rent-a-cops!” the Centurion groaned as he turned from Luna’s group to face his soldiers and the checkpoint. The whole of the legionary company knelt and bowed along with most others as the officer had begun his response. “Alright, which one of you blue-garbed babies afraid of their own shadows triggered the alarm for a hostile breach by unidentified parties, thereby causing an inadvertent impeding of two of our royalty and their companions?”

“Please be at ease, it matters not,” Princess Luna responded as she and her companions approached the checkpoint. “Such sudden misidentification and a swift response are to be expected in times like these, let us be thankful that none were harmed due to a misunderstanding.”

“Someone up top on Elysia should have notified us that so many VIP’s would be coming down one elevator, because I saw the strange armour first and acted on, erm … reflex …” the only Minotaur security guard stammered in the middle of an impromptu bow before his Capricorn colleague held up a hand to pause him while she remained in a kneel towards Russ, Bjorn, and the gathering of the Wolf Guard.

“I’m apologise for the trespass, min jarls. Forgive those who know not of the Vlka Fenryka, for they have no knowledge of the gamle måter,” the capricorn mare said, her gaze never leaving the floor. Many around her were confused at the interjection of the words, not to mention for the fact that she was kneeling to the capricorns alone.

Russ looked down at her for a second as if contemplating something. Then he spoke quickly in the native language of Fenris, his words going over the head of all but the capricorns in the room. It was a quick burst of words but yet it carried much weight as the capricorn mare stood quickly and finally looked Russ in the eye. Her muzzle changed to that of great awe before she bowed her head and muttered a rather faint reply in return.

The capricorn mare’s body language seemed to help quell the tension in the other security personnel, and the remnant tension in the room shifted from previously unknown ‘intruders’ to instead the piercing, wilting glare that the Imperial Legion pegasus was giving to all but a few of the security guards.

“As commander of the military garrison here in the terminal, I hereby declare all sources of donuts and confectionary to be exclusively accessible to civilians and military personnel for a duration of three weeks for this, if any security touches one it will mean your badge … if that is with the permission of Her Highness, Princess Cadance?”

The centurion turned to regard the alicorn in question with a deferential bow of his head, waiting for her response.

Cadance pursed her lips in bemusement before replying, “Centurion Zephyr, I think its time we transfer you from command here to someplace more your speed, your stress levels trouble me. I am going to petition Lord General Svelte to transfer you to Ponyville’s garrison, I’m sure you’ll prefer the more familiar surroundings.”

“Erm, of course. Thank you, Your Highness,” Zephyr replied with poorly concealed shock as he bowed his head once more, having taken himself off the ground and into a nervous hover. “Alright you lot, back to your posts, false alarm and all that. Signifer Hamilcar, have my Avery Johnson action figure prepared for transport ASAP.”

Luna’s swiveling ears caught the murmured tail-end of Zephyr’s words as he had turned from Cadance and everyone to give command gestures and whisper to a colossal and warlike male minotaur legionary bearing a legion flag to his right.

“The Spartan or non-Spartan one, my Centurion?” Hamilcar replied with a suave tone.

“Umm … both!”

“As wondrous as it is, this era is also a bizarre one, is it not?” Luna said as she watched Zephyr and the Equestrian soldiers depart, head tilted slightly towards her party to indicate her intended audience.

Within a few seconds, Luna turned about to face everyone. Chief simply shrugged and Russ emitted a musing hum for both himself and Bjorn, all while the Wolf Guard and the others exchanged remarks verbally and mentally with one another as they observed passersby.

“Bizarre is one word Trixie would use,” Trixie remarked with a smirk.

“Too many words to describe this era, and not all of them are positive I’m afraid,” Cadance said with a brief chewing on her lip. “But today, I imagine you are here to see more of the positives now that you have had a fill of their counterparts.”

“Verily!” Luna replied with a smile. “Let us be off, my companions, and fair tidings to you, Cadance and my newest friends, no doubt you have official business to attend to as do I! First I wish to meet with sister when she returns to the palace, no doubt she arrived ahead of us and would be pleased to speak with me in person once more. Then, we shall give this current age’s Canterlot the exploration it deserves.”

With that declared, Luna’s party and Cadance’s party separated and departed for their respective destinations with both stoic and amicable partings.

After-Action Report
Canterlot Palace

“Three Covenant capital ships, including the invasion’s flagship, in the possession of the Fangs of Fenris and other Concordat powers. Three hundred and forty-nine Covenant vessels estimated destroyed or damaged, and High Charity’s slipspace signature is now permanently logged into our databases, Your Majesty,” Lord Admiral Fairweather reported to Celestia, a holo-projector visualising the recent battle’s statistics and available imagery as they both stood in the throne room.

“Our losses?”

“Fifty-one GSC warships and support vessels destroyed, two hundred and ninety-six damaged. One hundred and twenty fighters and bombers destroyed, five hundred and thirty-three damaged.” the Admiral ran a hoof through his mane in thought. “Our Home Fleets are still battle capable, but at only half strength we would currently be in dire straits in terms of local defenses against another full scale Covenant invasion were it not for reinforcements from the UNSC and Equestrian inner colonies arriving as we speak.”

”I imagine we would be worse than half strength were it not for the intervention of Luna’s newfound allies,” Celestia commented. “That sudden appearance of the Covenant’s capitol station would have broken our stalemate to be sure, as much as a gamble it would have been for the Covenant. Without the Fangs, the battle would have been a very close victory, or a very painfully close defeat. As it stands, Admiral Stanforth spoke true, and I know you are of the same mind. High Charity may yet be within our grasp, and Obligation is now one of our greatest assets in that objective.”

“You speak true as well, in Our opinion anyhow,” a familiar voice interjected, prompting Celestia to shift her attention immediately.

“Ah, Luna, there you are!” Celestia greeted with a modest smile. “You have been involved in so many events over the past few days since your return, how are you faring?”

Luna had entered the sparsely populated Imperial throne room on her own. Her companions and the Wolf Guard had elected to wander about the palace’s grand foyer and ballroom while Luna met with her sister. Russ and his Wolf Guard removed their armour in the palace’s armoury to be placed under the custodianship of the Royal Guard and their minotaur blacksmith, Ruman, prior to beginning their quite audible explorations.

Even the Master Chief had unequipped his armour for the time being as well, choosing to remain in the black jumpsuit commonly worn beneath human and Equisian power armour users.

Cortana, meanwhile remained reticent in her work to crack the ancient data, a situation of which her alicorn bearer was beginning to grow concerned about on top of her pre-existing curiosity.

“None the worse for wear. ‘Tis much to Our own surprise, We will divulge. Admiral Fairweather, was it? ‘Tis a pleasure to see thee once more,” Luna replied.

The younger alicorn’s muzzle was neutral, but her eyes conveyed her happiness to see her sibling once again.

Fairweather snapped to attention and bowed his head, greeting smartly, “Your Highness, likewise. Empress Celestia, with my report delivered is there any additional immediate way I can offer my assistance to the crown before I depart?”

“That is all. Thank you, Admiral.” Celestia smiled warmly to Fairweather and the old pegasus inclined his head again with a swift, well-practiced motion before taking his leave through the main entrance to the throne room. “Now Luna, how has the battle been for you, would you like a seat?”

Celestia’s solemn reservations from recent events were now letting up a bit thanks to the presence of her sister.

“But of course,” Luna replied, prompting Celestia to immediately acquire a large pillow from one of the upholstery that flanked the right foot of the dias where members of the Imperial Court could take breaks or wait for their appointments and audiences.

Celestia placed the pillow beside her throne with her telekinesis, and Luna joined her as a group of pony and human attendants already set about providing the royal siblings the usual refreshments that Celestia frequented: hot tea, freshly brewed coffee, and assorted pastries of dubious nutritional value.

“War … to say that it has changed would be a vast understatement in the face of what I have encountered thus far in the modern era,” Luna enthused as recollection of recent events imbued her with a newfound sense of amazement that caused her eyes to take on a certain glow.

“While you know I have always been a mare of peace and diplomacy save for the most unique of circumstances, even I can admit that I am curious as to your thoughts on the magics, weaponry, and manners in which war is waged today,” Celestia said before sipping a cup of tea.

“The power at which an individual can now fight when given the proper implements, training, and means to access that weaponry astound me,” Luna began, politely declining any offer of a drink or cake.

“A small group of well-equipped soldiers can now accomplish what once took entire armies in the past?” Celestia offered.

“Verily. An entire rank of bow and arquebus-wielding Equestrians from my era of warfare can be made up for by two to three Equestrians today with rapid-firetype firearms.” Luna paused in momentary reflection of past wars she had fought in for the Kingdom of Equestria. “The most basic spells of battlemages of the past are now accomplishable through technology by the common footsoldier … while the battlemage of today now has this technology in lieu with spells at their disposal of unprecedented power and casting efficiency that would would make their forebears green with envy. Truly astonishing.”

“I can only imagine the impression that space and aerial combat must have left on you,” Celestia commented with another sip of tea.

Luna chuckled. “My thoughts and observations could span days, my sister, well longer than the few days I have spent experiencing it all. Such a technical conquest of the voids between planets, comets, and stars throttles the imagination. The closest I could venture to explain it to any a pony or person more anachronistic than me is that a strange marriage had been struck between the concepts of pegasi aerial infantry and ocean-going warships.”

As the next several minutes went on, Luna described her battle experiences as well as some of her most noteworthy interactions with her new companions and finally caved in to the repeated offering of sugary sweets.

Through crumbs of cake and a muzzle partially covered in stray frosting, Luna recounted everything from the initial struggle against the Master Chief and others whilst still under the control of Nightmare Moon, her skirmishes with the strange alien machines guarding Leman Russ’ warrior keep on Fenris, observations of the recent naval engagement in orbit, and culminating in her part in the bloody capturing of the Covenant Sublime Transcendence where she first took on directly for the first time what was considered to be her home nation’s greatest foes.

Just as Luna finished wiping her muzzle clean of cake and their line of discussion was nearing its end, Celestia felt an important thought emerge in her mind.

“Certainly impressive,” Celestia stated, “and I seemed to only have caught you during the quiet stretches of time between these engagements. I feel obligated to ask, Luna, but how do you think the combat may be affecting you as a person, especially so soon after having been freed from something as mind and soul-wounding as a Nightmare entity, a being of dark magic?”

As the Empress had expected, there was a moment of contemplative quiet from Luna before she replied with a stalwart expression, “Beyond striking me with a resounding note of awe? Nothing malignant, not after my decades of war leadership in service to Equestria that surpassed a century, and most certainly not after a millennia of combating an entity of pure darkness for control of my own body.”

Both Celestia’s smile and her eyes relayed her sense of relief at Luna’s words. “Thank you, Luna. You know that my conscience …”

“Made your inquiry compulsory, aye,” Luna finished the half question, half statement for her with a drawn-out wink.

The two siblings shared warm smiles for a few more moments before Luna wordlessly announced her imminent departure by slowly getting up from the cushion. “I imagine many of my friends must be growing laden with anxiousness to get out and into the city; if true, then I echo their sentiment.”

Celestia finished the last of her tea, her smile turning to that of a mildly saddened one. “I’m sure you will enjoy yourself in experiencing what our capital has to offer. But I enjoy our talks and look forward to more very soon whenever possible, Luna.”

Luna and Celestia both were caught by surprise as Cortana appeared before them, seeming apologetic as she spoke. “Sorry for eavesdropping, Your Majesty, but I just wanted to say that if I had an organic heart, it would definitely be warmed right now.”

Cortana was granted relief and smiled as Celestia obliterated her apprehension away with light and feathery laughter. “That … that is quite alright, Cortana. We knew you were with us, it’s not like you had any choice in the matter.

“Cortana! How are you faring?” Luna responded.

There was a vaguely mischievous smile from Cortana as her avatar adopted a warm glow. “Same as I’ve always been since my activation: exceptional, and completely devoid of any superiority complex towards any other sapient being … I’m well, thanks for asking, Luna.”

“You are most definitely a part of Doctor Catherine Halsey’s soul,” Celestia remarked as her sense of humour was tickled, her grin full. “I mean that in the most respectful way possible.”

“Perhaps the better part, Your Majesty” Cortana quipped. “Sorry for the change in topic, but this data is still putting up a hell of a fight. Thus far I’ve been able to create a few transcripts from the raw data, but only just. It is rendered in the creators’ languages … or perhaps derivations of a singular language.”

“Intriguing, yet frustrating, at least for my part, but we should be grateful still for even this development you have provided us. Any other notes of interest you wish to share?” Luna weighed in.

“I hope to establish some glimmer of comprehension within the next twelve hours … Sorry, I can make no promises though, Luna, Your Majesty.”

“No need for apologies. As stated we should be most grateful for your efforts.” Luna and Cortana shared a smile before the former turned to her sister once more. “Tia dear, how is your schedule looking for the rest of today?”

With an arched brow, Celestia replied in a light chuckle, “More open than usual, as chance would have it. Kibitz has learned to relax when it comes to a ruler like me, micro-managing actually makes things less efficient and with my full control re-established I was able to rearrange a lot of low priority duties to the weekend. Do you … want me to accompany you?”

“No, Celestia, I want you to assume the form of a massive chocolate cake and make merry with a great vat of frosting,” Luna said before erupting into laughter. “Of course I am requesting your attendance!”

“Well, it has been a few weeks since my last trek into the public eye that was not a speech or some kind of high profile ceremony, and it’s not like my public presence so soon after a battle in this very system will spook our citizens.” Celestia chuckled at her own hesitation. “Sure, I don’t see why not. What’s a little royal trip on the capital?”

“This should be interesting,” Cortana remarked before her avatar winked from view on Luna’s shoulder and back into the Covenant reading device still in her satchel bag. Her voice was still audible via enabled telepathic communication to both Luna as well as Celestia. “I’ll be listening during my continued ministrations, don’t worry.”

“Given my companions of late, I shall be struck with the most unfathomable of shock should our galavant prove merely mundane,” Luna laughed back.

Kapri-Kanterfest
Canterlot, Old Town District

Citizens and random officials that happened to be near the foremost gates of Canterlot’s Imperial Palace were greeted by a most motley sight. To many of them, the more extreme instance of their mixed reactions were justified by a day already bizarre day in its own right.

In no more span of time than two hours, a large-scale orbital battle had occurred and a literal enemy capital had become distantly visible in their sky for several minutes. News abounded about a powerful new leader emerging on a neighboring planet, and rumours were already running rampant that the stalemate that has so long beleaguered Equestria and its closest allies may now at last be broken.

Combined with the newcomers both familiar and strange, there was little room left for casual reactions as the now much slower-moving crowds began murmuring with excitement.

“By Celestia, it’s Empress Celestia, and … could it be?” a pegasus stallion said with enthusiastic awe.

“Did you really just form a sentence like that?” the pegasus’ earth pony friend replied with a deadpan.

“Look, the video feeds from Fenris on the Waypoint were real. More super soldiers besides Spartans, with even bigger physiques! I knew it! The Covenant are so screwed, and I have yet another idea for our Concordat Heroes! Toyline …” a dark-skinned human woman clad in business attire and glasses pointed out before murmuring the latter half of her words to herself.

“Where are their armours? All I’m seeing are a lot of fancy fur pelts over even more fur,” a zebra stallion wondered as he scratched at his two-toned mane.

“Hey Benjamin? Yeah, its Petra, you are not going to believe who just appeared outside Canterlot Palace,” a human woman clad in a very well-traveled rucksack spoke into her chatter.

“Universe, why must you keep reminding me how small I am compared to our betters?” an Unggoy merchant whined to herself as she debated retreating to the shade of her nearby knick-knacks stand.

Luna heard many distinct voices amongst the civilians’ chatter, some more outlandish than others and all interested her in their own ways as she and Celestia lead their group of friends, colleagues, and comrades into the city.

The entry plaza of the palace, past its drawbridge and lush courtyard that formed the gateway to the grand foyer, was a massive and ornate expanse of fountains and statues that many high profile shops, museums, eateries and other venues, and government offices surrounded.

Several grand streets branched off from the plaza, including Empire Boulevard that Luna had travelled days earlier, as well as the central avenue leading from the palace and straight towards Old Town’s main gate to the Canterhorn portions of the capital and beyond.

“From my observations and Cortana’s occasional bits of trivia, I understand this is an age of high security,” Luna said to her sister. “While I am obviously beyond pleased that you are going with us … I am also with more than a modicum of shock that we are not in the company of an entire Equestrian legion.”

“Remember that the Royal Guard is not for my protection, but rather that of the capital and all of my appointed and elected officials,” Celestia pointed out quietly with the hint of a smirk on her regal muzzle as they proceeded down the main avenue of the palace while the Fangs in particular scanned their surroundings with interest and scrutiny.

“Likewise with the Royal Army … I mean, Imperial Legion?” Luna inquired. “Apologies, the name of the old force as I knew it comes forth in the mind almost like muscular memory.”

“The same fact applies to the military, yes,” Celestia explained. “By now word would have already been circulated throughout the whole of imperial that we are spending leisure in the city and, while there will be members of the Guard here and there, they are mostly deployed for the purpose of their standard law enforcement, and informing our citizens that it is unnecessary for entire city blocks to bow should they happen to encounter us without warning.”

“My sole trepidation for our outing today has been entirely vanquished with that, I must say. Monumentally excessive mass-decorum from an entire city is, even to me, borderline unseemly,” Luna answered back with a grin that triggered a light giggle from Celestia.

“You’re quite welcome, little sister.”

“Excessive adoration is not, Trixie contends!” the azure mare immediately behind Luna chimed in.

“You say that now, but if the limelight ever does hit you, kiss your privacy goodbye,” Twilight interjected with a deadpan. “The way the crowds are looking at us all is only a taste of what a public figure could have to face down. The only one I know of who can tolerate it with a legitimate smile is my friend Pinkie Pie … and she hosts a wildly popular variety show … amongst other things.”

“Privacy?” Trixie giggled incisively. “True privacy is a myth that is now only real to yokels living on farm worlds on the fringes.”

“And to those who know how the grids work,” Twilight growled with annoyance.

“Your Majesty, Luna, do we have any destination in mind?” the Master Chief asked the alicorn sisters, debating over removing his helmet once again to take in the fresh air of the city as they continued down the bustling avenue.

Luna turned and grinned sheepishly before replying, “admittedly, I in particular do not. At present, everyone, everything, and everywhere is a curiosity to me of some degree, even the old and familiar structures this side of Canterlot. Sister, do you have destinations in mind?”

Celestia’s apologetic smile already answered the question, but nevertheless she replied, “I have plenty of time in my schedule so I was perfectly content to let you all take the lead.”

“We shall find a destination we can all agree upon as our first stop very soon, Trixie is sure of it, Your Majesty!” Trixie said to which Celestia awarded her a trademark radiant smile, before Trixie then turned asides to Twilight to point out something odd she noticed behind them.

“What is it?” Twilight inquired in a mostly irritated whisper before Trixie could begin, having already read her body language with near-perfect accuracy as the alicorns faced forward again as they carried on like most of the others.

“Leman Russ has had his eyes closed for most of our walk away from the palace. Do Capricorns … or ancient Capricorns, whatever ... have a secret allergy to digital photography from civilians that Trixie is not aware of?” Trixie whispered back quickly.

“I do not need sight to see Canterlot. If one relies on sight, it dulls the other senses,” Russ interjected, not even bothering to open his eyes. “I am learning the details of this place and the people through a far more telling way, pup.”

“Another telling way to better understand a people or place is by what is eaten and passed for drink, there,” Luna stated as an idea popped into her mind. Russ’ eyes shot open as a large smile graced his muzzle at Luna’s words. “We shall visit a place of the culinary arts as our first destination, any place of the culinary arts!”

“Hmm … how about that cafe over there near the Ministry of Information headquarters?” Twilight proposed. “If we’re quick, we may be able to acquire anything we like before the legions of pensioners and salarymen can ransack it. The Celestial Bureaucracy tends to have most of its lunch breaks around this very time of day.”

Trixie happened to glance backwards just in time to notice Erik pantomiming holding a coffee cup with two fingers, sticking his pinkie finger out, and silently saying the word ‘cafe.’ The rest of the Wolf Guard almost burst out into laughter at the little show, with Trixie also barely maintaining laughter.

“Pfftt … that is … Trixie cannot disagree with this idea more strongly, Twilight!” Trixie said with feigned disgust before pointing a hoof towards something further down towards the very distant end of the avenue just before the nearest city gate. “Behold! Why not the ‘humble’ gathering of food carts and stands towards the main gate out of Old Town?”

“Ahh food carts, one of the staples for cuisine of the venerable common folk,” Luna remarked with a thoughtful smile. “We are in an entire city of places such as that cafe, but such establishments as those carts can long evade us should we be foolish enough to pass up our first opportunity to determine their culinary prowess. Come, let us hope they have the supply for so large a gathering as we!”

The decision was met with absolutely no disagreement and even some amount of chuckling as the entire party made their way through the still excited crowds to the unsuspecting food carts ahead.

To Luna’s delight, the food carts were a visually vibrant affair. With many roughly the size of some of the main battle tanks Luna had recently seen, the closest one to them was draped with several colourful banners, and possessed a central workspace covered by an equally colourful and almost circus-like canvas pavilion.

Occupying the space was an energetically working donkey mare and an earth pony stallion that Luna noted to have a particularly curly and prominent moustache. They called out to garner interest from the crowds even as they diligently worked on orders from patrons that were already congregating in front of them.

“Burronesian tapas, come get the finest Burronesian cuisine this side of the Celestial Sea!” the mare declared in a distinct accent Luna could tell immediately had no native origins anywhere in Equestria.

“Topfenstrudel, just as it is made in Florienburg by the finest Teutohuven culinary masters!” the stallion called out alongside his partner towards his side of the cart.

Like the mare, the earth pony’s accent was clearly foreign, but Luna recognised them both as having origin in other equine nations to the east, in the continent of Equina.

“Greetings fairest proprietors of this fine food cart,” Luna greeted the duo warmly as the group entered earshot, the crowd having already parted for the most part to avoid being in the way of such a high profile gathering.

Both the donkey and the earth pony paused regarded Luna, Celestia, and the other newcomers with instant visages of pure nervousness, their eyes complete pinpricks as they already began to feel the precursors to sweat.

“Your Highness and Majesty … what a erm … humbling surprise …” the mare all but squeaked out.

“W-warmest greetings to you as well, honoured crowns. How erm, can we serve the Kaiserin of Equestria, her sister, and their friends this fine summer day?” the earth pony replied with only a miniscule more composure in his voice than his colleague, although he was visibly more wobbly than her.

Celestia looked between the chefs and her sister with an awkward expression.

“We would like to peruse thy … We mean your menu, please …” Luna’s voice trailed off as a thought entered her mind from looking at her sister, prompting her to turn around to regard the others thoughtfully before turning to the chefs again with a sheepish grin. “Our, ahem, my sincerest apologies, you must be greatly intimidated by our sudden approach. Friends, bid you spread out to sample all that these carts have to offer, we must not selfishly hoard this duo’s flourishing business today. Dear citizens, do please pardon my sudden interjection.”

With mostly nonchalant nods, Trixie and Twilight set off in one direction for a trio of carts and stands hawking Equestrian and Unicornian fare, while Russ and the Fangs found themselves collectively drawn to the familiar aromas coming from a Fenrisian stand some paces away.

The former were much like the donkey and earth pony’s carts, but decorated in Equestrian and old Unicornian clan crests and the like. Meanwhile, the latter consisted of a large hand-built fire with an immense rotisserie that stood closer to the center of the small rainbow-like plaza of food carts and stands, complemented by a pavilioned counter that served as a kind of outdoor tavern, flanked in the rear as it was by very sizeable kegs.

Judging by Celestia and the Master Chief’s staying put, Luna inferred that she would be one of a trio to be the patrons of the first cart.

With a brow arched curiously, the princess inquired, “Chief, do you not have any particular type of cuisine you frequent? Something of human origin, perhaps?”

“I wouldn’t even know where to begin,” the Chief stated frankly, fingers tapping lightly on the helmet at his side as he frowned. “For Spartans, it’s a calorie and vitamins game normally but, we all have to start somewhere. Then we can mix things up a little.”

Luna beamed back at him before training what she hoped was a reassuring smile of equivalent radiance on the now massively sweating Burronesian and Teutohuven chefs. “We would like whatever it is on your menu that you recommend the most!”

“Our pleasure,” both of the chefs squeaked in unison before resuming their energetic pace, although this time with an even more intense caution over every little step they took in the creation of their dishes.

Within minutes, the Spartan and the alicorn sisters found themselves enjoying a plethora of carefully made but delectable dishes each offered with slightly less shaky hoof while the activity at the nearby Capricorn stall raised in volume enough to rival the general murmuring of the city gate plaza.

Said rivalry reached its peak when some new sounds came from the direction of the gate.

A procession of Equestrian and GSC sailors had appeared, crew from any number of warships that had participated in the recent battle now celebrating the capture of a Covenant prophet, amongst other victories both close and decisive. Their uniforms formed an odd assortment of colour as the Imperial white and gold clashed with Roaman silver and red and UNSC white and grey along with at least a dozen other varieties.

They were mostly occupied with waving their caps or bottles and singing naval songs or throwing ticker tape and confetti at each other and passersby, but more than a few were also attempting to put on at least a modicum of decorum despite being on shore leave.

Luna watched with amused fascination and the Chief seemed indifferent while Celestia meanwhile seemed to grow flustered as her mind shocked herself with a budding interest in debating over whether or not to possibly join the procession. The Empress was already convinced that the looks on the stallions, men, women, and mares’ faces at such an occurrence would have been beyond priceless.

The sailors appeared to mostly be heading towards an open air tavern established by a group of Equestrian and Teutohuven brewmasters. Watching them go was what prompted yet another new idea to materialise in Luna’s mind. Looking at the Master Chief and her sister, she said with a wink, “Shall we mayhaps ‘mix things up a little’?”

Master Chief’s expression indicated he was not opposed to the notion, but it also prompted a question in turn from Celestia to the Spartan himself.

“I am game, but first, Master Chief? This reminds me of something I have long wondered about,” the Empress mused. “Have you ever seen any of your comrades drink?”

“Most of us can drink our armour’s weight before getting tipsy, but only out of armour, Your Majesty. Armour filtration systems mean that we would be cheating at almost any drinking contest,” the Chief explained with a slight hint of playfulness.

Celestia chuckled before a familiar voice interposed with, “I think I’ve eaten my body’s weight in cake, ugh.”

Twilight groaned as she and Trixie approached the three with the type of expressions worn by those whose eyes typically proved far vaster than their stomachs.

Trixie let out a long burp, much to the other unicorn’s embarrassment. ““Trixie thinks it best that we move on and avoid food … anything … for quite some time as we consider a new destination.”

“Perhaps we should return to the castle?” Twilight proposed with another groan and an unrestful growling from her stomach.

“Princess, may I say something,” Viveka spoke up, her tone more serious than usual. The group turned to see that the entirety of Russ’ group had made their way back.

“But of course, go ahead,” Luna replied curiously, both her and Celestia’s brows arched and their ears perked as they registered the tone change.

“Well you see, your highness, while we Fangs do not require much to eat because of our armour, we do unfortunately require regular consumption of alcohol, in very high concentration. So our best course of action would be to stay here with the ever increasing feast,” Viveka explained, almost seemingly copying Emil’s way of speak.

“You mean to convince Trixie that massive warriors clad in ancient armour and ancient tech far beyond our own is powered for combat and regular operation solely by fermented liquid? Bah! By that logic then Trixie should be the mightiest Equestrian soldier that ever lived, an indestructible juggernaut that would dwarf even Avery Johnson, by sheer virtue of the glory that is her ego! Leman Russ, surely you can refute this nonsense?’

The entire group looked to Russ who simply shook his head. “Viveka is right, mjord and such is a very crucial part of being a Fang.”

Master Chief’s earlier had words had proven quasi-prophetic, as the Concordat sailors and other off duty military personnel and civilians attending the tavern soon found themselves, much to their shock and awe, joined by the likes of the Fangs as well as Luna, Chief, and the others.

Luna and Celestia’s presence in particular on the tavern ground triggered a rather comical reaction as civilians tried their best to bow or convey their respects while virtually every Equestrian sailor present stood at attention and put their hooves and hands to their hearts with almost panicked speeds. Some of the latter ended up putting their tankards and flagons to their chest instead in their haste, causing spills in a few places.

The alicorns smiled at everyone and ordered drinks for themselves, prompting the rest of the tavern to return to its previous cheerful demeanor in what must have felt like to many a mere heartbeat.

It was not long before the various liquors began flowing in increasing amounts as the open air tavern was quickly joined first by their Capricorn compatriots nearby with the massive kegs of mjord, and then bit by bit all the other stalls of diverse backgrounds that had been serving similar drinks, as well as drinks here and there from their own distinct backgrounds.

Fist and hoof fights as well as competitions of strength soon began to break out amongst the sailors whilst several bards and other attending musicians broke into song with varying levels of slurring to their speech.

One of the biggest and central points of rowdy and boisterous commotion, of no surprise to Luna by now, came from where most of the Capricorns had gathered as rhythmic thumping on the wooden tabletops began spreading merrily from table to table as half the tavern joined in to cheer on Capricorn and non-Capricorn alike that stood atop the Fang’s table to drink from horns filled to the brim with mjord. Bellowing, thunderous laughter issued out at those whose systems agreed with the heavy Fenrisian drink far less than that of a native would have.

Some of the revelling denizens were already beginning to pass out, their compatriots carrying them out as a rather festivity-killing new sight made its presence known in the form of a squad of clearly on duty Equestrian police and Royal Guard that appeared with stoic expressions.

“Canterlot Police Department! We’ve been getting noise complaints from some of the establishments across the streets” the sergeant of the assembled police, a rather severe-looking unicorn mare, stated.

One of the Royal Guards beside her chimed in, “We’re going to have you ask you all to tone down the volume a bit or else we’ll have to shut this party … oh my stars! Empress Celestia, Your Majesty! Apologies but your presence surprises us!”

The police and Royal Guards present bowed as first Celestia herself and then Luna approached them, and the police sergeant followed up with, “we apologise for the interruption!”

“No need to apologise, you are simply doing your jobs,” the Empress replied with a pleasant laugh before drinking from a tankard she held in her telekinesis with a bit more finesse and etiquette than the vessel had been designed for.

The police were left to watch with amazement and shock as Celestia followed up on her first drink by taking a massive swill of what still remained in it much in the very same manner as many of the warriors and sailors present.

“Right, Your Majesty, thank you,” the police sergeant replied, finding herself growing flush and bursting out into laughter for the first time in what Luna guessed must have guessed many months if the mare’s conspicuous lack of newer laugh lines were any indication. “Would it be fair for us to respond to the complaints with an ‘official statement’ that Imperial-sanctioned cultural events are being undertaken that we legally cannot disperse since no laws are actually being broken?”

Celestia gestured to the various people currently standing on tabletops attempting to gulp mjord from the Fenrisian drinking horns, and the police ponies’ eyes were sure to follow. “Beyond fair, for you see, we are currently in the middle of some very … groundbreaking … cultural exchanges that bring us all closer together. That massive warrior at the head of the table there, their King Leman Russ? He can attest to this if you’re interested.”

“Soon I think, Your Majesty,” the police sergeant replied with an incline of her head. “First we have that statement to issue to the whin … I mean concerned citizenry.”

Luna found herself breaking into a giggle as Celestia replied, “I’ll follow up and issue an edict that declares this impromptu gathering to be an official annual event. Kapri-Kanterfest as a way to pay homage to both Teutohoven and Capricorn involvement in its formation! They cannot see it now no doubt, but the benefits on commerce in this part of the city from it will see their profits rise.”

Sensing from her pause that the Empress was done, the police sergeant bowed again before leading her colleagues and Royal Guard companions back out onto the avenue.

As the law enforcement ponies left, Celestia turned to Luna said with a smirk, “No doubt the ‘concerned citizens’ was likely a single or group of the same nobility submitting the same complaint thrice over under several alternate names to the same pony. They’ve attempted as much before in their efforts to alter the decor of my throne room through their ‘petitions’ to the Imperial court.”

“You should give ‘em bright rifles and toss them at the Covies,” Twilight slurred from a table nearby, having grown incredibly tipsy from only a single experimental half tankard of a Teutohuven beer.

As passing conversation reached the ears of the group. Two sailors sitting at a close table, their voices somehow getting through all the noise. A minotaur and a human specifically, the minotaur being the most vocal one. “I’ve done it before and I will prove it tonight. I can out drink any capricorn! They say they are the heaviest drinkers in the galaxy but it’s all just a lie, trying to be tough on their ice world.”

“Really, now,” the human said before leaning over and pointing a finger at the giant form of Russ who was currently chugging mjord straight from his own personal keg. “Think you could beat him?”

The minotaur paled for a moment as Russ finished the keg before squishing the metal barrel into a flat disk as though it was nothing but a piece of paper. “He doesn’t count!”

Luna and Celestia couldn’t help but chuckle at the exchange.

After an hour had passed, even Luna, Celestia, Trixie, and the Chief had already seemed to reach their limit after a combination of the Fenrisians’ mjord and equivalent-sized droughts of at least a half dozen other types of liquor began to overtax their systems, but the Capricorns and some of the most heartiest of sailors and other revelers were still going even stronger than when they had started and would likely carry on for hours to come, although the odds of endurance were clearly in the favour of the former rather than the latter for the vast majority.

“Goodness, I haven’t smashed like this in at least a century,” Celestia remarked in a complete flustered manner as her normally perfectly measured, graceful steps had been temporarily replaced by a somewhat unsteady gait.

“I think you drank the most out of the three of us, Your Majesty,” Chief replied in astonishment as he supported her on one shoulder while Luna supported her on the other, groaning a bit.

“Lay off the desserts mayhaps, sister.”

“They make me happy! Almost as much as friendship and harmony between my subjects,” Celestia retorted simply, “Amongst other things.”

“I’m telling you, I saw it! A Fenris ship or some such sort came down and dropped more kegs! I don’t know who approved and cleared the airspace for it but they deployed actual fucking kegs into the plaza!” a staggering reveler blurted out to another as the group passed them.

“Luna, we need to conduct another field op soon,” Chief said upon hearing the declaration from the side, “I am curious what effect alcohol must have on Spartan II augmentations in combat … probably would be used as a propaganda piece by any number of GSC shadow organisations to show the public that we’re human and not just machine under all this armour.”

“While I would not recommend it openly to any combatant … some of the most renowned warriors on this world a thousand years ago were frequently reported to be at least partially inebriated during more demanding battles where only brute force was required to win the day,” Luna replied as Celestia adjusted herself frequently between leaning more onto Chief’s side and more onto Luna’s side.

“Sergeant John Forge during the Harvest Reclamation. Fleet Admiral Preston Cole probably during the entirety of this war before he retired to Reach,” John replied before recollecting that Cole in particular was one of mankind’s greatest war heroes, which caused his eyes to narrow a bit. “That is … Cole being an exception to your rule … alcohol only made his strategic and tactical cunning all the more outstanding by some miracle of neurology.”

“Master Chief, you sure do become much more talkative when you’re like this,” Celestia remarked.

“It’s a side of myself that I and others seldom get to see, Your Majesty,” the Chief replied in a thoughtful tone.

“You know, I should probably just cast a restoration spell on us,” Celestia mused with further laughter. “Inebriation amongst such people as us is … not the wisest thing, especially whilst touring the capital. Publicity … I cannot begin to imagine the chaotic interplay that would be caused between the press and the myriad of propaganda organisations.

“We should probably get ourselves back to the castle now that I think about it,” Trixie muttered sleepily as she meanwhile carried a completely wiped out Twilight draped over her back.

“A wise of course of action, I should think,” Luna agreed, her speech still clear but coming relatively slowly as the Chief’s seemed to as well.

“Let’s stop for the moment whilst I channel magic for the spell,” Celestia instructed.

Luna and the Chief stepped away from the Empress for the moment and surveyed their surroundings while Celestia began to ignite her horn. The taller alicorn actually had her tongue out as she mustered concentration for her spell that was soon to be cast.

As they both looked around, Luna and the Chief were a bit relieved to see that virtually nobody was nearby. The reveler and their audience had already wandered out into the rest of the Old Town, and the vast majority of the plaza had already packed up for the day and headed home or was concentrating around the tavern in its center.

The only sapient beings within sight to speak of were the Royal Guards and the cops from earlier, who patrolled about the plaza while their sergeant gave the five a conspiratorial wink.

Celestia’s horn had reached full ignition now and the chime of magic was audible as particles became increasingly active and excited. “Alright, the alcohol should be purged from our system in three … two …”

Trixie gulped as she noticed that something seemed rather … goofy about Celestia’s normally radiant gold aura as the spell was cast.

“One!”

The Empress’ magic enveloped a three meter-wide circular area around everyone, leaving a golden aura prominently tinged with silver as it began to fade back into aether. Celestia’s aura was not alone however, as a large number of newly-materialised tankards began raining down on the ground around them, forming a cluttered mess at their hooves and feet and leaving everyone but the caster to gawk at the display around them.

“Whoops … “ Celestia giggled. “My apologies everyone, that was alteration … not restoration. Oh what Star Swirl would have to say to me about this one. Ahem … restoration, there we go!”

Celestia ignited her horn again, and this time without a countdown, cast a new spell that all but the Master Chief could tell had a more accurate signature for a spell of the Restoration School of magic.

As the magic swept through the same exact radius, the phantasmal tankards vanished. Twilight meanwhile found herself knocked off Trixie’s back with a yelp, completely sober and bewildered by the sudden movement as Trixie had accidentally shunted her off as she instinctively reached for her horn due to the itchy and sometimes ticklish feeling that many restoration spells triggered.

“Goodness, I have not felt the effects of a restoration spell of such magnitude since the last war Equestria fought before my banishment!” Luna exclaimed before chuckling as she attempted to ignore the crawling sensation around her coat, “the Elements of Harmony’s effect on me does not count … too powerful … in a classification all its own. Oh gods this infernal itching!”

“I’ll trade it over the supersoldier equivalent of a hangover,” the Chief replied as he resisted the urge to scratch behind his ears.

“Speaking of which … I shudder over the thought of what Leman and the Fangs are likely to feel like after that is all said and done,” Twilight said as she glanced over unsurely back towards the now revelry-steeped and ever-rowdy plaza.

“I’m sure it is something they are accustomed to and can more than handle without issue,” Celestia assured her former pupil with a smile. “They’ll be alright. Shall we be off to the castle now? We can resume our touring tomorrow, I think. There are more after-action reports and familiar peaked caps demanding my attention late tonight before bed.”

All remaining itchiness subsided as Celestia was met with agreement and the five began making their way back home.

The remainder of the evening for Celestia, Luna, and their companions was spent in the Canterlot Palace as the capital and indeed the rest of the planet moved on from the recent battle in their various ways.

Despite being occasional annoyances to one another, Trixie and Twilight actually spent several hours perusing the castle’s library together while the Master Chief attempted his best to further acquaint Luna with such things as Waypoint and Canterlot Palace’s other modern amenities.

As she had alluded to, Celestia meanwhile busied herself with further reports of the battle as Admirals Fairweather, Stanforth, and Hood along with General Svelte and a number of other high ranking GSC commanders who gave their reports to her.

On Waypoint, Luna and the Chief were among the first in the palace to hear word of what the public at large was now calling the recent battle. ‘Battle of Solaris’, ‘The Great Turning Point?’ and similar names were now plastered across the headlines of nearly every major news network anchored by ponies, humans, gryphons, and beyond.

“Chief, you’ve seen this war firsthoof since its inception; do you see this battle as a potential turning point?” Luna inquired. “For my part with such preliminary information I possess, I am cautious in my optimism.”

The Chief watched the headlines crawl by on the screen in Luna’s quarters, quiet for several moments before he responded with a neutral gaze. “We have powerful new allies with which we can achieve the near-impossible, but just as they are an example of it, this war has proven to have a habit of throwing unexpected developments our way. For my part? I say things are simply beginning to get interesting.”

Absentees
Canterlot Palace, Dining Room
Friday, 25th June 2551 CE Celestial Standard Calendar

“Very odd,” Trixie mused as Luna, Celestia, Twilight and herself sat down to breakfast at the dining room’s nearly continent-sized central rectangular table. “Even with the heavy drinking last night, Trixie was almost certain they would have returned to the castle by now.”

As conversation was had, servers and even a few Imperial chefs busily went about the room, carrying around the various courses for a group of four and soon likely to be more.

Mithril and ceramic plates, platters, and bowls populating the table were full of everything from stacks of pancakes and honeyed waffles, to omelets, pastries, virtually every kind of edible fruit available on the continent, and more. There was even such delights as bacon, ham, and sausages prepared for non-vegetarian ponies, humans, and other meat-eating members of the court that were potentially soon to arrive.

“I have received no complaints or reports of Fenrisian soldiers being found asleep or wandering about the streets of the city, only a large number of sailors here and in parts of Downtown,” Celestia said, filling a chalice with orange juice from an ornate pitcher on the table in front of her, “so at least that worry is not present. Perhaps they decided to resume without us? Or perhaps they have a method or ritual of clearing their minds as we did.”

“I would wager bits on the former, but it is hard to say,” Luna weighed in, prompting Celestia to nod before the Empress peered around to see if any aristocrats were present before taking a massive drought of her orange juice with an immodest flourish.

“Johnson and Ruman informed me that their armour is still presently under the watch of the Royal Guard,” Master Chief informed everyone as he joined them, taking the empty seat beside Luna that she offered.

“No doubt like hens with their eggs,” Twilight joked as Trixie was currently digging into an omelet with a side of hay fries and hashbrowns.

“But then what would be the proverbial feed that could lure them away?” Trixie asked the other unicorn, taking advantage of what Twilight had unwittingly set herself up for.

Twilight frowned and her lips pursed on her muzzle, ears flattening. “Erm, uh … an invasion of the palace by Covenant or Insurrectionists? Wouldn’t we have heard of such a thing happening though?”

“Of course we would have, Sparkle! Nothing can distract a Royal Guard, except for maybe your older brother,” Trixie quipped. “Oh don’t be so stern-like, Trixie is just poking fun at your joke.”

Twilight, with an utter deadpan, promptly swatted Trixie on the back of her head with a rolled up newspaper she had happened to be reading.

“Remind me to be dull and humourless when you’re around just to spite you from now on,” Twilight retorted before breaking into a smirk as Trixie glared back at her.

“Ohhh no, Sparkle. Trixie will always find a way to annoy you, playing the disinterested scholarly type is impossible for the likes of you, Trixie is skeptical you can pull it off.”

“We’ll see about that!”

While Celestia focused on her orange juice, Luna and the Chief watched the pair’s exchange with bemusement as the Spartan began politely loading his plate with the most carbohydrate-heavy options available in a subconscious effort to compete with Luna’s already massive appropriation of pancakes, waffles, syrup, toast, all oddly topped with slices of oranges and apples with bacon, oats, and yogurt off to the side.

Internally, Trixie was now fighting with all her willpower not to fall out of her chair in rib-cracking laughter, yet externally she remained glaring. Twilight’s defiant expression indicated that her efforts soon to come when around the former showpony were likely to provide Trixie with material to work with that was beyond golden to her.

“Ahem, so is it true, what that one inebriated pony reveler blurted out? About the Fangs military aircraft descending down and actually deploying kegs? Sorry, but I am skeptical of that,” Twilight asked as she shifted focus from Trixie back to the breakfast.

“Actually, Twilight,” Celestia finished the rest of her orange juice, trying not to guffaw at the mounting food contest between the Spartan and the younger alicorn, “during the drinking I may have also authorised some ‘special’ air missions into the capital’s airspace. I needed supplies airdropped into the courtyard for the Grand Galloping Gala soon as well and … it was convenient.”

Recruitment
Canterlot, Lakeview District

The early morning streets of Canterlot’s lakeside district was more akin to the empty fields of Fenris, as there was no life to be found at all. The only ones enjoying the dead sight was the group of towering Capricorns that had been on course for the Lakeview District. Despite their massive forms, their movements made no sounds except for the small jingle of weapons and ornaments brushing against their bodies.

At the head of the group was Leman Russ, his face still, devoid of any true emotion as his mind raced as to what needed to be done. It is said amongst ponies that only alicorns can comprehend the level at which their minds work, Russ’ mind worked in a similar way.

Yet the rest of his group kept themselves busy with speculation and recanting. Their words flowed with their native tongue of Juvjk.

“So, remind me again why we needed to stop drinking?” Viveka asked, her voice showing no signs of the busy party they had partaken in, yet her rosy cheeks showed that she was still a little tipsy.

“Because we don’t need another liquor drought,” Erik replied quickly before dodging a swat from Viveka.

“There’s a batch of aspirants that are supposed to leave within the hour and Lord Russ wants to inspect them,” Dagmar stated with a small yawn. If anything, she was the most affected by alcohol but even that was barely anything compared to a normal being.

“There must be something special about the batch that has caught his attention, perhaps a figure of notability?” Emil noted, trying to draw a word out of his Great Wolf. Yet Russ was still quiet, though his ears indicated he had heard them.

“Bah, until they prove themselves amongst us, they are nothing,” Krom grumbled, holding his natural scowl upon his muzzle.

“Oh, lighten up. You were having fun last night! Where’s that Krom?” Solvi said as she jabbed him in the ribs, earning a low growl of annoyance from the Morkai. “Calm down, big boy.”

While his Guard chatted and bickered amongst themselves, minus Ran who hadn’t said a word since the festivities back on Fenris, Russ kept silent as they neared their destination. A rather inconspicuous warehouse for the most part, aside from the fact that there was four Grey Hunters stationed outside the building, talking quietly amongst themselves.

Russ didn’t even need to be in sight of the warehouse to know this, his senses were that highly attuned. He knew their smell as members of Onn, his pack. So when he rounded the corner he was glad to see that despite their talkative nature, they were prepared for the sight of their Great Wolf. Hands held over their chests, heads bowed as he neared.

“Jarl Russ, it is an honour,” one of the Grey hunters said, a capricorn mare with a dark black mane yet pale fur. “Wolf Priest Heinrik Open-Handed is inside, my Jarl.”

“Thank you,” Russ spoke before opening the heavy metal doors, specifically old doors that required manual operation instead of the modern tech that opened automatically. Fangs, despite wielding advanced weaponry and armour, were traditionalists when it came to other tech.

The initial room after the door was an open area that had minimal seating, and was a generally cold area. Inside there was another Grey Hunter who had his head bowed before nodding to his left, indicating the door Russ would take to speak to Heinrik. The Great Wolf led his guard through the door and up and set of completely enclosed stairs before finally coming to a halt on a second floor platform that overlooked an extremely empty warehouse. Empty save for roughly fifty normal capricorns that were in varying forms of relaxation.

The empty floor of the warehouse offered little to them but even to a capricorn, cold concrete is more warming than the ice fields of Fenris.

Watching out the windows of the viewing platform was Wolf Priest Heinrik Open-Handed, his pitch black armour and wolf skull helmet obscuring his features but nevertheless, there was a compassion that radiated from the Priest. He turned to face the group that had arrived on the viewing platform.

“Jarl Russ, an honour to see you again.” Heinrik gestured towards the assembly of Capricorns with a gauntleted hand. “The Capricorns gathered in this humble shed today have been chosen to attempt ascension into the ranks of our packs, and await the time for their mettle to be tested to its very limits.”

“Hmm,” Russ spoke as he walked to the window and gazed down on those on the floor. His eyes quickly passed over them, making little notes of which he expected to see fail and those he saw as worthy in his eyes alone. Every once and awhile his eyes would stop on a certain capricorn longer than others before moving on. “And what of those in this group. How many do you see as fit for our ranks? Do not put them up higher than they are capable of.”

“All gathered have the skill, but less than half are likely-bound to possess the willpower. A further half of that reduced number may yet succeed but not before their every limit and beyond is tested.”

“Indeed,” Russ muttered, the room silent aside from the two as the Wolf Guard knew it wasn’t their place to talk at the moment. As disruptive as they were, they were also smart enough to not earn the ire of their Great Wolf. “I wish to see them myself.”

“Of course, they await you,” Heinrik replied with a small smile. Heinrik proceeded to walk towards a door on the other side of the viewing platform, Russ following right behind him, the Wolf Priest descending down another set of stairs that led to the ground floor.

Russ took slightly longer to allow Heinrik to reel in the young capricorns, and prepare them for their first sight of their Wolf King. Thankfully the protected stairs hindered all that wished to view those walking down it.

“Quiet! You will greet your future Jarl not as rabble, but warriors that know when discipline is necessary over roudiness,” Heinrik barked.

The gathered warriors hustled quickly to form a line five capricorns deep by ten across, all of them standing neatly in a line. Their eyes were wide as they saw the one that had been told about in legends stride onto the concrete floor. It was a tough feat for many of them to not bow or show their awe at Russ. The threat of the Wolf Priest kept them orderly enough as Russ paced up and down the ranks of the group while his Wolf Guard stood watch over them.

One thing that came to many of their minds was just how tall he was compared to the rest of the Fangs in the room. Even in armor, Heinrik only came up to his shoulders.

“Warriors to be, the tests and trials that will lay ahead of you will be beyond your current imagining,” Heinrik began. “I could continue to tell you that you will be tested to your limits, that you will discover capabilities you did not know you as a being possessed, unlocked in full by the seeds that make all of us Fangs what we are and will forever be.”

As Heinrik spoke, Russ continued to pace up and down the rows of aspirants, his face never losing it’s judging look and his eyes burrowing deep into each capricorn as he inspected them, looking for the slightest hints of anything that would be a weakness.

“But I will not. Those lot would be honeyed words that would rig you for self-destruction. You will be pushed beyond your current capability, and for some their journey will end there on a somber note. It is not just what you are now, how you will prepare, and to what magnitude. but the cost of what you must become. Are you willing to shoulder that cost, my fellow Capricorns?”

Heinrik's words were met with an affirmative roar from the eager assembly

“Good, but know this. No amount of willpower will be able to cover the immense cost for some of you. Debt in this surely means death.”

Russ’ pacing stopped in front of one particular capricorn mare as the Great Wolf detected something, at the moment, vaguely different and yet familiar about her compared to her brethren.

The mare’s white fur seemed to have an almost turquoise aura to it the longer Russ focused on her which could have easily been played off as a mere trick of the light. She met his gaze with a set of fiercely intelligent cyan eyes that seem to hint at a kind of wisdom that none of the capricorns assembled should feasibly yet be in possession of. Her face and muzzle were beautifully angular, but in a way just short of seeming entirely Capricorn-like, framed by a deep silver mane that flowed around her horns elegantly.

As the two Capricorns made eye contact, Russ parted his lips to directly address her but instead he closed them immediately after, a smirk coming to his face instead. He looked upon her with the first hint of a smile he had given all day, before shaking his head and walking back towards his Wolf Guard.

The action caused more than a few Capricorn’s to shift their eyes at the capricorn that got Russ to smile, but other than that they did nothing but continue standing. Russ moved to address Heinrik, the smirk still upon his muzzle.

“Thank you, Heinrik, this has been … rather enlightening,” he spoke out loud, loud enough for his guard and the rest to hear but then he closed the distance before whispering into the ear of the Wolf Priest, the hushed sound inaudible to all but the two, “I want the name of that mare.”

Heinrik did not reply vocally but instead just bowed his head as Russ backed away. The Great Wolf nodded before leaving through an adjoining door, his visit done and his direction aimed back at the great mountain that dominated the capital’s heart.

Akasha and Zarabel
Canterlot, Canterhorn District

“Sightseeing the lake, you say? Haha, Trixie knows better than to fall for that hasty explanation!” Trixie stated with a mischievous giggle, head turned to Russ as everyone made their way down the pedestrian causeway of one of the many carefully engineered roads that criss-crossed Mount Canterhorn’s slopes.

“Even with warrior blood flowing through us, it is nice to see a body of water that doesn’t contain kraken among other things,” Russ stated with a grin, chuckles from the Wolf Guard following behind him.

“I bet you were hitting up more taverns down on the lake shore, this time ones with waterborne crews rather than space sailors! Trixie bets you were all throwing swearing contests as well as playing Who-can-get-shit-faced-first.”

Trixie’s efforts at gleaning a straightforward answer only merited chuckles from the Great Wolf as their party found themselves coming within a few hundred meters of the Downtown district.

The winding, multi-laned mountain road possessed causeways for foot and hoof traffic on either shoulder, and the road itself neatly connected to a large square and the expansive network of city streets by a bridge that spanned a stretch of trees and a natural stream that carried rain and snowmelt down from the mountain’s peak to assist in watering gardens and parks, one of over a dozen that spanned the city.

Being the main mountain road that lead down from Canterlot’s Old Town, Luna, Celestia, and the others were greeted by the impressive sight of a tall bronze statue, only half-aged to a weathered green that depicted a human man in a suit and tie joined by the sitting form of Celestia herself. The man’s hair was depicted as neatly trimmed, and his hairless face was prominent and stout yet kindly-like.

Both figures were cheerful in demeanor yet stately and professional. The two were of roughly equivalent height, with Celestia on her haunches as the both of them amiably shook hoof and hand in a gesture of friendship and diplomacy.

The statue welcomed those coming down from the mountain to the vibrant skyline that dominated the horizon. It seemed to stand between three parts of the city considerably different from one another like a milestone of history, reminding onlookers of the accomplishments of the past as well as the accomplishments of the present as they paved the way for vast potential still ahead.

While Celestia paused to gaze upon the statue in immediate and fond recognition, Twilight could already see the curious inquiry in Luna’s eyes before it was even uttered. “That’s the renowned Statue of Friendship, Luna!”

“Between equinity and humanity, I assume?” Luna ventured.

“Correct!” Twilight responded with a grin, holding off on a history lesson she was preparing to bestow as she saw that her mentor’s body language indicated Celestia had something to say.

Celestia did not remove her eyes from the statue as she said, “The Statue of Friendship commemorates the first meeting between myself, when I was still Princess of Equestria at the time, and a human civilian leader in July of 2495 … not just any civilian leader, either. The President of Earth and its colonies. Lance O'Donnell was his name.”

“Impressive, and where is this president now?” Luna asked as they all entered Downtown, the sounds of people, carts and cars, and aircraft greeting them as audibly as the sights did visually.

Luna noted the subtle shift in Celestia’s features as the question was asked. The Empress’ features remained no less bright and cheerful, but her eyes seemed to glimmer with an acute sadness.

“He was one of the most renowned humans to hold that office, but the entire United Earth Government has been temporarily suspended of its governing powers for the vast majority of the war with the UNSC in emergency control of its worlds,” Cortana said with a contemplative frown, surprising Twilight as well as Trixie by her sudden appearance, although Luna had already sensed her intent to appear on her hoof once more, whilst Celestia as well as the sole human and group of Fenrisian super soldiers anticipated it with almost supernatural perception.

”And we actually have no confirmed data on his current whereabouts,” Twilight followed up as she chewed on her lip, taking a cue from Luna’s gaze at Celestia and registering what the Princess must have been detecting.

“There are many claims of what happened after Lance’s office was made defunct for the duration of the war, each more ridiculous as the last,” Celestia stated cryptically, her expression falling into neutrality.

“Almost as ridiculous as the theory that he vanished while secretly attending that expedition with Admiral Cole to an ancient alien construct a Covenant fleet were amassing at. He disappeared from the public eye and probably retired to some remote colony on the Perseus side of the GSC,” Trixie chimed in before turning pale beneath her fur as her ears flattened, “Trixie apologizes, Your Majesty, if that came off as rather … brusque.”

Celestia’s newfound smile of reassurance quickly lifted Trixie’s spirits in seconds as Luna and the others observed the exchanges of body language with mixed amounts of curious analysis. “Lance was a great man. Wherever he ventured off to, I’m sure it was not without some kind of noble objective. I will say this now: he always had such child-like fascination and enthusiasm with the xeno-archaeological findings the GSC continues to make to this very day.”

“Every statue, every inscription, such rich history behind each, even those of contemporary origin,” Luna said with wonder, filing her observations of her sister’s reaction for later and continuing to appraise the statue with approval.

“A story for everything, indeed,” Cortana agreed with a smirk. “Back to work for me, but I’m far enough along now that I can maintain my avatar whilst still running my necessary subroutines to the task.”

While Luna and Cortana conversed, it was noticed by Celestia that Russ and the Fangs had since seen their fill of their current location in particular, and could all but smell the precursory signs of a mounting anticipation to forge ahead.

“Speaking of contemporary, is everyone ready to see the Downtown?” Celestia chuckled. “Well, for some of us, see again.”

“As always, Your Majesty,” Chief replied which merited a knowing smirk from Celestia.

“Trixie wishes to go and see her posters in the city streets again with the propaganda, they are a … morale boost.”

“I am!” Twilight all but cheered. “Every trip down the mountain to the big city is always as exciting as the last, always something new to see. It nearly gives Manehatten a run for its money.”

“And our Capricorn friends?” Celestia asked with a widened smile and a raised brow.

Celestia was met with a round of grunts that were passed off as answers. Even Russ hardly answered, showing obvious signs of boredom yet was at least committed to staying in the group for the time being.

“Lead on, my sister!” Luna gestured forward with her right hoof now that Cortana had flickered out of it and into a semi-hover on Luna’s withers.

Without further ado, the group began moving once again across the elevated causeway – which formed a square arcade around the Statue of Friendship’s square – that took them past the entrance to the district and deeper into the city.

While the road traffic was bustling, it was still slow-moving enough for many drivers and passengers of their vehicles to stare out at the group with surprise and wonder, while several pony and human pedestrians could not help but incline their heads or bow despite the encouragement of Imperial officials to respond to the presence of such powerful individuals with modest deference.

“Luna, before I forget … I’ve cracked the data, whatever guarding it is some kind of … ancient AI, barely functional and very off kilter; it’s probably rampant,” Cortana said as they walked. “And the data itself is, for the moment, rather confusing.”

“In what manner?”

“Most of it is in those unidentified languages but sometimes the remains of a translation program appear to try and kick in, and I see the words ‘reclaimer’, ‘keys,’ and ‘exigent’ appear quite often.”

“Reclaimer? This is most verily information of great worth. Please store what intelligible information you can at your discretion,” Luna instructed.

“With pleasure,” Cortana replied with a nod before snapping her fingers and adopting a playful smirk. “Oh, and this might interest everyone in case they haven’t been listening to the civilian networks as of late.”

Cortana remotely activated the radio on Twilight’s datapad within her satchel, turning the device to full volume and tuning to a station as Twilight let out a squeak and Luna began looking around for the source of the noise with her muzzle forming a surprised ‘O’.

Luna soon discovered Twilight to be the source while some of the others broke out into a laugh, and began listening as a mare’s voice was heard playing over the airwaves. Twilight glared at Cortana for several moments until her mild annoyance gave way to a curious focus on what was being broadcasted, causing Cortana’s smirk to broaden.

“You’re listening to DJ PON3 on IE-43.9 Ponyville and this your host Vinyl Scratch, bringing you the finest melodies and the most breaking news this side of of the galaxy! One story here on the newswire … word is from GSC Allied Command that the holier-than-thou Covies have been pushed back and their invasion fleet blown to bits by the navies. Not only that though my dear listeners, ohhhh nope. Thanks to the direct actions of Capricorn soldiers, the Prophet of Regret himself is now rotting in a GSC cell, waiting to be drilled of his fellow bad guys’ dirty secrets and the Covenant Prophets’ dirty laundry. Gods must it stink, phew!”

“Huh,” was the only thing stated by the Wolf Guard, specifically Calder. The rest were looking between each other as if having conversations without words. Even Russ didn’t speak a word about the mention.

“To our Capricorn siblings, your brothers and sisters here on Equis offer our humble gratitude, what you did was beyond awesome. Word also is that our boys and girls in uniform up there took a real beating though while sending them Covies right to Hades … or Tartarus, if they’re still in their mortal coils.”

“She’s my favourite, I always tune in when Catherine would leave me to watch over the lab,” Cortana remarked to Luna quickly.

“If you see a sailor, a trooper, pilot, a legionary, or a marine, give ‘em a hug, give ‘em a cold one on the house, just give em’ your love. And now onto our next track on the playlist, this was was actually submitted by the Capricorn King himself uh … frak, can’t pronounce the name of it. Umm … Joomalten Kau … cow? Something about punks … ?”

Vinyl paused as her laughter filled the airwaves. The laughter continued for a few seconds before the DJ got a grip on it and continued. Trixie found herself joining in on the laughter, but it mostly remained contained to her – as well as a decent number of Vinyl’s millions of other listeners.

“Two hats in an oven. And something something Burronesian maybe, whatever, however you pronounce that! Alright, basically the guitar play is just amazing, even though beats and bass are my thing! Listen and be enlightened.”

“Interesting, news breaks fast as expected with such technology,” Luna remarked as Cortana went to tune out and return control of Twilight’s datapad to her, but Russ stopped her from doing so.

“I wish to listen to the music of my people,” Russ spoke, swiping the datapad with surprising deftness and precision.

“Hey!” Twilight protested, before realising that between a supersoldier and a UNSC Smart AI, she had temporarily lost all control of her device. “Fine, I got another one in there anyways. Good thing they’re a bit a dozen,” she muttered.

Trixie giggled at Twilight’s expense, meriting her a swatting.

They continued on their way, all the while listening to the song which got progressively harder as it went on. Oddly enough, Russ’ eyes were focused on the datapad and the music entirely, his face looked closer to a frown more than anything.

“Are you not fond of these curious musical arrangements?” Luna inquired with a raised brow. “I find myself appraising it fairly and thus far, I am finding enjoyment.”

“No … it is perfect music for a capricorn. The lyrics for this song just …” Russ said, trailing off as he stared at the datapad with a glassy look to him. “Hmph, It’s nothing to worry about.”

The song came to a close with a descending melody of flutes as Vinyl Scratch’s voice returned, enthusing about the song and preparing for the next track she had in sequence. As she did so, the actual language title of the song appeared on the device’s screen, accompanying DJ Pon3’s musical note logo above it on the radio stream interface: Jumalten Kaupunki/Tuhatvuotinen Perintö.

As they began to wander the streets, Luna found the Downtown up close to be unlike anything she had ever seen before. The modern city was almost like a linear network of glass and metal canyons, but the buildings were well-spaced apart, leaving the streets, parks, and plazas frequently bathed with just the right amount of sunlight.

Twilight described the skyscrapers themselves to Luna as being what was effectively standing art, as they appeared to accent the cityscape rather than simply cast some areas in shadow with their mass. It was a notion Luna was quick to accept with only brief hesitation as she continued to recover from her awe.

Balconies and sky bridges formed hanging gardens, and the glasswork of windows changed their colouration in specific parts of buildings at will to display everything from advertisements to art and official city information postings.

Luna found herself dumbfounded for a time as everyone witnessed one of the rectangular sections of a spire change from a Canterlot City Commission PSA regarding the misuse of public displays for street art to something new with spontaneity.

The mugshot-like depiction of the adorable insectoid menaces was replaced by a cartoonish depiction of the Prophet of Regret.

Regret’s eyes formed into the shape of an ‘X’ and his tongue was lolling out of his mouth. The robed San’Shyuum was in chains as a stylized Capricorn in full power armour and the ENV Divinity respectively fired bolter rounds and deployed fighters and boarding torpedoes at him, repeatedly dinging against his battered crown.

“News travels with such haste, it impresses me ever so,” Luna mused as she appraised the illustration.

“I would suggest seeing if there is anything your codex can tell you about superluminal communications,” Cortana responded. “Before it, ships had to deliver messages manually between systems which often could take months.”

“A striking analogue to the oceangoing ships of yesteryear Equestria! I shall research both and more when time allows.”

It was not long before everyone's sightseeing took a new turn as a large storefront in the nearest building drew Luna’s eye. “Sister, Chief, Russ, everyone cast your gaze upon this! ‘Tis a most interesting looking shop of curiosities.”

Occupying the corner of a large commercial highrise at a prominent intersection was a store with towering windows flanked evenly by marble columns that reached to the roof. The building looked to most of the group like a bank, but its signage said otherwise.

A sign decorated with stars and stylized cratered moons that hung above the main group of entry doors proclaimed: ‘Akasha and Zarabel’s Emporium of Interstellar Curiosities.

“I wonder just how curious of curiosities we’re talking, here,” Cortana wondered.

“Shall we survey their wares?” Luna inquired hopefully to the others.

The question was met with the usual nods of agreement, all save for Russ, who had spied something further down the street from the emporium. A trio of on-duty Royal Guards, a stallion, a mare, and a human woman, were patrolling the sidewalk with their default expressionless demeanor. They likely were on the watch for rowdy sailors still as well as practicing their marching with the Empress and her sister nearby.

Russ looked from the guards to the emporium and back again, an idea glimmering in his eyes. He silently motioned to his Wolf Guard to follow before turning around and heading back towards the castle. His shift in movement was instantly caught by the others.

“Have something to attend to elsewhere, Leman Russ?” Celestia inquired curiously.

“I wish to see your guard, perhaps give them pointers, we’ll see,” Russ said with a smirk and what looked to be mischief in his eyes.

Celestia winked and flickered her right ear. “I must admit, even though your background is ancient and technologically adept, I am still surprised at how quickly your warriors and yourself are becoming accustomed to our world. Do have fun, now!”

The smirk on Russ’ face only grew as the entire group split into two, the Capricorns now going their own way and scouting for the quickest route back to Old Town and the palace while the rest watched them or appraised the self-proclaimed Emporium of Interstellar Oddities.

“Sweet merciful Gods be kind to the souls of whatever guards the Fangs run into,” Trixie remarked.

With a light smile, Celestia turned to Luna, who wore a mildly sheepish grin as the former’s turned to a full on smirk that rivaled that of Russ. “I quite like the newest of your friends, they have a tendency to … speak their minds freely. Perhaps that is one reason why they adapt to our world so well.”

“Mayhaps,” Luna stifled a chuckle, “Now, let us visit this most fascinating establishment.”

Everyone made their way into the emporium, immediately greeted by an exotic scent of incense and flowers, mingling with the mustiness of antiquity. The interior proved as spacious as the exterior, and was host to all manner of different artifacts, art, antiques, and outlandish collectibles from a variety of different cultures both native and offworld as the signage had indicated.

All were neatly arranged in their various display cases, on plinths, tables, transparent crystal vessels, and some hidden from view beneath embroidered silk shrouds towards the back of the emporium. Luna marveled at the vast array of visuals. Even the red and orange-tiled floors were draped in elaborate rugs that appeared vaguely Saddle Arabian. The walls were a mixture of stucco, alien frescos that stood floor to ceiling, and marble pillars much smaller than those outside.

“Ahh, most distinguished customers arrive in our midst! Welcome,” a feminine, thickly-accented voice all but purred in greeting from behind the large rectangular counter space that dominated the heart of the emporium.

The group turned to see two, vibrantly-coloured bipedal people clad in light white and blue tasseled robes waiting patiently at the front counter. By their overall forms compared to other bipedal species, it was clear to Luna that they were female. They each had one elbow up on the counter, hand cupping their chin thoughtfully in a manner that mirrored their counterpart to the left and right respectively,

One had skin that was a prominent crimson that faded to lighter shades of red in many places, including her angular face, framed by flowing white hair and eyes with glowing yellow irises.

The second female’s skin looked like the surface of a main sequence star: a brilliant fusion of yellows and reds dappled by darker oranges. Her eyes glowed orange. Hair, shoulder length, topped her head in silver locks.

Luna’s impression was immediate that like the Covenant and certain Concordat citizens she had seen thus far, the duo was very much not of Equisian origin by any means.

“Thank thee for thy kindly welcome,” Luna greeted back to the alien duo. “We were drawn to your establishment by curiosity of course, and seek only to browse your exotic wares for the purposes of …”

“We’re just window shopping, thank you,” Celestia interjected, causing Luna to scrunch her nuzzle before sticking her tongue out as she realised the subtle teasing jab at her verbosity.

“Before we do so, might I have the privilege of learning your names?” Luna ventured with a smile.

“Of course, Your Highness,” the crimson alien replied as she continued to hold her chin up luxuriantly. “I am Zarabel.”

“And I am Akasha, honoured alicorns!” the yellow-orange of the pair followed up, standing fully and smiling with regal fashion like the alicorns in front of her, but also youthful enthusiasm.

“I can tell by your eyes, Princess Luna – yes, we know of you – you are curious of our people?” Zarabel inferred with a bat of her eyelashes.

“You would not be incorrect,” Luna replied as she broke her regality and pulled her muzzle into a cheeky smile.

Twilight reinforced Luna’s smile as she displayed her own glee at the prospect despite already possessing a solid academic understanding of the aliens’’’ race.

“We are sisters of the Samek, Your Highness, though the two of us here are sisters by birth as well as by culture and race,” Akasha introduced. “We hail from Planet Samek, in the distant Algol system. We are the largest trading partners of the GSC outside of it, and it would seem one of the few alien civilizations it knows of that is not the … eugh, Covenant.”

“Do we wish to really get into that?” Zarabel asked quietly with a sigh as she watched Luna’s group, the Master Chief and Celestia especially, grow serious – the former even more serious than usual.

Akasha continued, seemingly oblivious to her sister for the moment. “They’d be a mere bore to us were it not for the fact that they are a great power that could dismantle our entire civilisation alone in a mere decade if they did not have the GSC to fight.”

“Sister.”

“Hmm?”

“Do we wish to bury them in a torrent of our species’ lore, or do we wish to show them around as they came in here to do?” Zarabel questioned with a raised brow.

“A little bit of both, but I’m not complaining either way,” Cortana said privately to Luna.

“Welcome knowledge that is the harbinger of wisdom. If thou fails to digest ere it fades from memory, then so shall they in turn be digested into dessert by it, Stari Swirl once said,” Luna replied mentally with an inward chuckle.

“Ehrm ahem … sorry, sister,” Akasha apologised as she coughed into her right fist. “Right, would like us to show you around?”

“Lead the way, thank you,” Celestia said with a newfound smile as Luna gave a friendly wave of her foreleg that said the same.

Twilight seemed to visibly deflate, while Trixie and the Chief gave little reaction as they found themselves engrossed in studying the emporium’s diverse collection of valuable miscellany.

Akasha and Zarabel were beaming now as they both exited from the purchasing counter and began leading their guests around.

During the tour, Luna was introduced to a variety of new cultures as well as reminded of old ones that were newly-arisen and storied alike in her previous time based on specific artifacts alone. They all saw everything from tablets and scrolls from ancient Anugypt, Human coins from Earth, Samekian paintings of both their own and GSC historical figures, Jiralhanae tribal carvings, a suit of Kig-Yar gladiator armour perfectly preserved, assorted treasures from kingdoms and republics all up and down the Equisian continents of Equina and Mu, and much more.

One corner of the store was even dedicated to uncharged Covenant ordnance as well as armour and miscellany, including confiscated plasma rifles, blamite needler shards that were pinker than classic chewing bubblegum, and even the crown of a Lesser Prophet.

“Who? And better question, how?” came the Master Chief’s taciturn question as he regarded the crown.

Zarabel chuckled at the Spartan’s stoic demeanor, the luminosity of her eyes increasing noticeably from her mirth. “One of our most prized bits of merchandise. We know it to be the property of the Covenant’s Minister of Fortitude, appointed by the Hierarch Truth herself, so claims Chol Von. Yes, the Chol Von. She is both one of our greatest contributors as well as our finest patrons.”

“Wait … you mean this crown was retrieved in the Battle of Eayn?” Twilight tasked as her ears perked up.

“By Chol Von as she cut down the Minister himself personally in Tilu City as Admiral Clara Cutter smashed his fleet in orbit,” Akasha enthused. “Were you to grip the helmet to see the interior, that will cost you a hundred thousand bits, you can even see the faint traces of the San’Shyuum’s treacherous blood!”

“Most … curious,” Luna remarked with an awkward smile that caused Akasha to laugh as they resumed the tour of the emporium.

“And here, for the low price of just fifty thousand bits,” Akasha gestured enticingly at a gold-wrought throne embellished with carved figures of Unicornian royalty, “the one and only one-time seat of power of none other than Oscura the Great, founder of the second incarnation of the Nimbian Empire, over a millennium ago!”

“Trixie wonders how you acquired such things. She also wonders how you acquired that Alicorn Amulet that you ended up selling to the Ministry of Intelligence so it could be put in containment!”

Akasha just smiled, while Zarabel rubbed her hands together. “Trade ‘secrets.’ Literally, trade. Only the Kig-Yar rival us in trade and … ship ‘liberation’ on this half of the galaxy. Besides trade, diplomacy is our truly favoured form of interspecies interaction, and is another great avenue for the acquisition of such relics and treasures.”

“The internment of that amulet was of the utmost urgency, I might add,” Celestia said.

“Eh-heh-heh, indeed it was,” Twilight giggled sheepishly. Luna’s questioning glance made her add, “I found it in another curio shop up in Canterlot Old Town about a year ago, the proprietor said he had found it in a lake years back. One thing lead to another and I … almost wrecked half of Ponyville with it after putting it on … thankfully my friends were able to help get it off along with the help of a local zebra, and … sorry, I tend to ramble.”

Celestia patted Twilight reassuringly on the withers while Luna just quirked her brow in slight amusement. Trixie blew a raspberry while the Chief scratched at his hair as he recalled news stories about the incident on Waypoint from the time.

They then proceeded to finish the rest of the tour, ultimately exiting the establishment but not before doing so empty hoofed and handed.

The Master Chief surprised Luna by being the first to have purchased something: a Human quarter coin and a quarter bit coin from the time of the Kingdom of Equestria for a mere twenty UEG credits that amounted to twenty three Imperial bits.

Twilight purchased a volume of Roaman magical theory texts, Trixie got a magic kit that once belonged to a renowned Maresnayan mystic, and finally, Luna convinced Celestia to buy an ornate, claw-footed and opalescent Aztlan coat rack to serve as a perch upon the latter’s mentioning of having a pet phoenix Luna had yet to see, while the Princess herself found her purchase in two flags.

The first flag was the blue of the Kingdom of Equestria, the Stars and Alicorns as it was also called, and along with it was an older example of the red Imperial sun banner, which Celestia identified before both Zarabel and Akasha as having been one of the first ever sewn and woven. Luna planned to put them in pride of place in her apartments back at the palace.

Akasha and Zarabel sent them all on their way with a warm bevy of gratitude, which was met with a reply from Luna that she would, for her part, be sure to visit again soon,

Soon after exiting the emporium, the group was met with an rather peculiar sight as one of the skyscrapers nearest them encountered a technical error of some kind and had a large section of windows change and the anthem of the Equestrian Empire began playing.

An combined advert for Sunburst Soda along with a PSA posting regarding private VTOL and airship flight around the Elysia space tether was replaced by a stylistic depiction of Princess Luna in her usual equine form but rendered in Imperial Legion armour, standing triumphant and mighty atop the limp form of the Prophet of Regret, whose tongue was out and eyes comically shut with double X’s. To Luna’s right was what was perhaps the first ever, though somewhat inaccurate, visual depiction of Leman Russ, wielding his sword poised to strike at a charging Elite, while to Luna’s left stood the Master Chief in full armour like the others, firing his assault rifle at enemies unseen.

It was clearly not official wartime propaganda as a company of police officers at a nearby donut establishment began shouting in protest at the sudden change, crying out about ‘rogue street artists’ until they finally took stock of the art’s content.

Not noticing a grinning Luna or the others in the vastly busy square as the incident occurred, the Canterlot cops promptly whooped and cheered at the art as some of them tossed their badged caps into the air.

After the advertisement change, the latter quarter of Luna’s day consisted of further exploration, including several more such stores as the Emporium of Interstellar Curiosities, a few of Canterlot’s many parks, taking in the vistas of the surrounding countryside for hundreds of miles on the slopes of Canterhorn, and a brief walk through Lakeview’s famous fish and lake kelp market as well as taking a glimpse of its factories, repurposed warehouses, and myriad examples of both rustic and urban art.

By the start of the evening, Luna was near the point of passing out despite her robust metabolism and seemingly bottomless enthusiasm for all sights, smells, and sounds that were both new and old.

Celestia took notice immediately and managed to convince her sister that it was time that everyone should retire to the palace for the night. Those that did not already have quarters in the palace from prior business with Celestia’s court or the Royal Guard were encouraged to choose their own rooms from the dozens available.

To the surprise of some Imperial stewards and palace servants, some of their guests chose to reside in the Royal Guard barracks for the night to interact with the night shift guardsmen and guardsponies, after donning their power armour once more. Russ and his warriors were soon joined there by the likes of Trixie, who initiated the futile challenge of staying up with them until the crack of dawn when the Empress would routinely cast her magic upon Equis itself to adjust its normally sluggish rotation and raise the sun over most of the Equestrian continent.

While Trixie set herself up for an invetiably humiliating defeat that would no doubt earn the jeering of not just the Fangs, the guards, and two of the four captains present but also of a familiar Spartan III.

Avery Johnson’s laughter joined by a chorus of others rang down the halls as one of the signals that the palace was settling for the night. Whilst much of Canterlot’s Old Town followed suit, the rest of the city both above and below the district never slept, and for them the night was simply just beginning.

Nightmare, Dream, Repose
Canterlot Palace

Luna let out a contented sigh as she collapsed bodily onto the sheets of her bed as the sheer weight of the past five days beared down on her, only to pass right through and melt into the bed below. Her only action prior to doing so had been tiredly marching into the bedchambers and leaving her Equestrian flags, bag, moon scarf, and crown atop the dresser.

Cortana had already beat Luna to the punch, and had entered into a brief, hour-long hibernation period as she processed data she had picked up over the past day.

To her knowledge and experience, while her kind were clearly susceptible to exhaustion, sleep was not compulsory and simple conscious relaxation for a long enough time was sufficient to not only replenish the body’s metabolism in full but also to facilitate the recharging and reconcentration of an alicorn’s magic.

In essence, sleep was a practical luxury, but a luxury that Luna nevertheless chose to indulge in for this particular occasion.

While her equine body fell into sleep, her mind remained perfectly conscious as it always did when she did not immediately engage in a dream of her own, or more commonly, entered into the Dreamspace itself.

This time around, one of the first such slumbers in just over a millennium, Luna immediately chose to partake in her subconscious. She aimed to see what variety of dreams it could conjure up for her scrutiny and exploration.

What she encountered was a rather troubling and mysterious affair to the point of some being full-fledged nightmares and scenes of utter nonsensical surreality, though the stream of dreams were not without some of true joy and bright tidings that served as paradise islands hosting lighthouses in her own mind.

One was the image of a city of multi-hued crystalline majesty sprawled out in geometric fashion to form the six pointed star that so much resembled that of Twilight Sparkle’s mark from Luna’s contemporary recollection, as well as those of the mysterious sigils and other more familiar locations such a variety of star shape had been found. The city was a sea of spires quite akin to Canterlot’s downtown but of seemingly even greater sophistication in design and exotic in nature.

Despite the chaotic and surreal dream-induced vision of the city, Luna could still recognise the region. It was a place where once, over a thousand years ago, the king known as Sombra ruled for the briefest of reigns as its final monarch. It was the Crystal Empire.

Luna was standing on a remote mountain as old emotions surged to the front of her mind, viewing down upon the metropolis as its very image flickered and morphed between different states from different time periods. She knew of it as the capital of the lost crystal pony empire as its buildings assumed familiar decoration and shorter height from engineering techniques of differing eras, yet something in her mind told her she knew further still but could not yet grasp it as even the high crystal towers garnered some kind of recognition whenever they winked back into being.

After some point in time—Luna attempted many times to chart it in Dreamspace, but to no avail—the towering version of the city vanished with finality, to be replaced by the Crystal Empire she knew.

An ominous phantasm of the fallen king flashed before her. Rageful teeth gnashed and corrupted crimson eyes burned with seething dark magic in violets and sickly greens. Luna reeled back on her mountain perch in shock as another ambivalent wave of emotion cascaded over her.

As her mind responded to the sensations, the city vanished with finality, leaving no trace of itself as the verdant green valley it had once populated was met with the immediate embrace of the Equisian Arctic’s snow-laden wrath. It billowed in over the mountains without the shielding of the city to hold it at bay. A few blinks of the eye and snowdrifts were rapidly overtaking what had once been well kept farms and chromatic meadows.

Just before the snow could fully conceal the remaining stretches of green and any indication of warmth, Luna was beset by another vision, another nightmare.

Luna was in the same valley, but the towering version of the city returned as snow overtook it. There was a radiating pulse of cobalt light spreading across the horizon from the depths of space itself in a great all-sweeping arc that crossed everything in sight, even blotting out the stars it passed for a few moments before vanishing beyond the mountains behind Luna.

Whatever it was, it had been passing across the entire planet, and it made Luna’s very body and mind feel as if it were being burned from the inside out as the energy wave passed through her. Her mind was hot, searing agony as the snow advanced further and everything turned a blinding white, paving the way for the next in sequence.

All was but a view of star-laden deep space awash with the luminescent glow of a nebula in every possible direction, yet Luna felt solid ground beneath her. A second, more intensive glance revealed that there was indeed something solid present, just now becoming visible.

A variant of tangible solid light, a field of blues and purples, formed the sprawling platform upon which she stood.

One look behind Luna yielded nothing but a dense fog and a billowing, weathered flag of the Kingdom of Equestria that was misplaced outside of a planet's atmosphere, causing her to face forward again. Luna immediately beheld with much apprehension that the shattered remains of Nightmare Moon’s armour now lay before her. As she advanced to investigate, the remains vanished to give way to that of three alicorn figures standing expectantly, one equine, one bipedal, and the third a curious combination both as all were cloaked in white light that obscured all features other than that of their general androgynous profiles.

First, was the equine who held a foreleg out, wings flared open as it levitated an alien symbol or sigil in its hoof. It appeared to Luna like a powerful centaur wizard's horns disembodied and turned upside down, an abstract orb of magic readying to be casted in the very center of the rough oval the horns formed. Alongside the sigil was another unfamiliar symbol: a mithril shield crossed by two ornate swords, the humanoid skull of an alicorn imposed atop them in the middle.

Second was the bipedal alicorn who had an arm outstretched, levitating the harmonic symbol of the two alicorns and their sun and moon from Equestria's flag above its palm alongside a familiar-looking book, its wings also fully out and open.

Third, was the alicorn that stood in between them and possessed the head of an equine looking to its left and the humanoid head of an alicorn looking to its right. Both heads were horned.

This most bizarre member of the trio did not have its wings open, and in one hand hovered a miniature phoenix gripping a key in its talons, whilst the other hand levitated a circular seal bearing the same geometric glyph Luna had seen before alongside the star and phoenix insignia that was becoming a recurring sight. The sigil of the mysterious civilisation was crowned by a stylised hourglass that hovered just above it.

Luna ventured forward to address them, but the figures moved further back in a hypnotic gliding fashion whose speed was nearly dazing. Every hoofstep forward caused the hardlight platform to warp, forming abstractly-shaped obstacles she had to navigate, and nonsensical creatures the likes of a Draconequus would spawn that she had to strike down with her magic, all the while the other alicorns drew ever closer as their retreat from her slowed and slowed.

In time, Luna was nearly upon them. When they became what could not have been more than two meters away from being touched, a sense of triumph overcame her.

As the triumph lingered, the trio of figures coalesced into a single sphere of light in front of which the esoteric objects they had presided over levitated, waiting for her approval. When they each were collected in Luna’s magical aura, the phoenix letting out a welcoming screech, the Princess had only seconds to appraise each before the next dream came.

Some of Luna’s remaining dreams during her sleep were fraught with even greater peril than those before them, but they came with tender moments that bridged into pleasant dreams, and each and every dream’s conclusion was as bright as the sun shining through her window when she awoke the next morning.