To say that the pony looked surprised would be an understatement as I slowly pulled myself to my feet. For being their "Princess" Twilight was kind of short, only coming up to my chest.  The fact that a pair of spears leveled at me as I stood barely registered.  It is a strange thing to see a pony speaking and hear the odd noises but not know what it means.  Thankfully the translation program filtered it into my mind a moment later with a cool sensation and a soft, albeit bookish feminine voice.

"So you'll help us just like that?"

###Activate Armor sound systems

"It's not just like that, Twilight.  Yes, I know your name along with the majority of those in your party.  Now, I don't understand what happened here and where my people went, but I intend to find out.  You clearly have me outnumbered and self preservation is key to finding my answers.  That said, you are looking for something too, and you are going to tell me why.  I won't let you ransack the tombs of my friends and family without explanation."

Her eyes widened as she looked up at me.

"Your friends and...family?  So that is why you reacted like that?  We need to get you to the Princess."

"...Yes... wait, what?  I thought you were the Princess?"

The rest of the thought was quickly forgotten as swirling energy began to wrap itself around her horn, flowing and whipping wildly.

***WARNING!  LETHAL LEVELS OF RADIATION DETECTED!

My armor scraped against the wall as I shoved myself away from her, hoping the thick plating did its job.   A look of shock slamming into her face as the soft snap of my rifle safety slipping to fire echoed around the room.  The swirling streams of energy faded into nothing as she looked at my expressionless faceplate.

"STOP RIGHT THERE!"

"What?! What are you doing?!"

***Radiation Levels dropping rapidly.

***Analyzing...

"You were trying to kill me with whatever that was," was forced through the translator as I gestured towards her horn with my rifle.

"Kill you?  I was trying to teleport us!  How would that kill you?!"

Sighing softly, my rifle lowered just a hair so it aimed at the floor instead of her head.  The tingling sensation of a data upload danced across my mind as I raised a finger to try to hold the conversation for a moment.

###New Upload to Neural Drive

###Assembly and Arming of units Bravo 1 to Bravo 7 are complete.

###Assembly of Primary Control 83 percent complete.  ETA: 9 minutes

###Translation Paused

"Seven, when Control is prepped, send the units we have up.  We're going to need to find some clear skies for Control.  Upload anything else to my drive."

###Translation Resumed

"Sorry about that Twilight.  I had to fix the translator real quick.  Whatever you were doing could have killed me.  If you want me to meet another Princess, we'll have to walk.  BUT, I'll be watching.  Until we get back, I don't want any funny business down here.  If this is a trap, you won't like the results."

I just really hoped she didn't have some freaky power to see the grin on my armored face.  If they tried anything there would be a big surprise in store for the ponies.  It really is strange to watch a mini horse shake her head and do what I'm guessing is a sigh of frustration.

"This ISN'T a trap.  We need your help and apparently you need ours.  This wasn't supposed to get out of hoof like this.  Everything we had found out said this was an abandoned tomb.  We had no idea you or any of your kind were down here.  By the way,what are you?"

With the rifle slack against my chest, but with a ready hand on the grip, I followed the pony out and down the dimly lit hallway.  With more light, it really was looking worse for wear especially after my latest rampage.  Small chunks of gravel crunched underfoot as the group turned and headed out toward what turned out to be the tunnel I had collapsed earlier.

"I...forgot about that.  You might want to step back a little bit."

Seriously, what was with the human gestures these things kept doing.  Insanity aside, I could swear the purple thing had a sheepish smile on her face as she turned toward the pile of rubble.

***Radiation levels rising.  Non lethal at this distance.  Compensating armor systems.

***Analyzing...

With little more than a bow of her head, a spear of purple energy shot out of Twilight's horn, searing through tons of rock, concrete, earth, and rubble, only leaving the winged unicorn breathing slightly hard.  Impressive really.  Moreso when the tempest dissipated and I could see the flickering of torches on the other side of the dim.  Instinctively, I gripped my rifle harder.

***Are you certain of this path of action?  

***At best speed, drones can only reach you well after your calculated death.  ETA: 11 minutes

"Yes, I'm sure Seven.  If we get allies out of this, good.  If not, we are kind of fucked anyhow."

The entire mass of ponies stopped as one, heads swiveling to face me, along with a wide assortment of weapons.  Other than the so called Princess, one gave me pause.  The thing was MASSIVE and covered head to...hoof in black plate armor. The only thing that gave the pony under it away was a hay stalk poking out from under the helmet. Trained soldier or not, that thing gave me the willies.  

***You forgot to turn off the armor speaker systems, Sergeant.

I didn't expect the synthesized voice to come from my armor, nearly making me raise my rifle by reflex.  Bad idea.

"You may call me Seven.  I am the translator system built into the Sergeant's armor.  He is speaking the truth.  Without your help, we are in no position to find out the answers we seek."

###Good Save, Seven.  I forgot those were even on.  I just hope they bought it.

###Just in case, store the drones in my vault when they are ready.  Keep the sentry powered too.

I could see Twilight's lips moving, but whatever was slithering through the translation was interrupted by a massive explosion in the distance.  Shards of light spearing into the darkness of the cavern beyond and casting harsh shadows behind tents and ponies alike.  The translator flared to life with screams and yells as nearly all of the ponies flooded through the tunnel to their encampment.  Sounds of conflict found their way to my ears again after so many years, along with faint puffing noises.

"Seven..."

###Speaker system offline.

"Seven, bring the drones up.  I don't have any idea what is going on and I don't like it."

***Control online in under one minute.  Will transfer control directly.

***ETA of reinforcements 9 minutes.

"Once more into the abyss, eh Seven?"

###Combat systems engaged.

With that brief thought, the inbuilt lights on my armor died and the dull grey color of the armored plates faded to a mottled black. Time to see what the hell is going on.