For a moment, Apple Bloom just stared silently at Aaron with widened eyes and a wide, frightened frown. She never pictured an alien to be this intimidating, especially when it was expressionless.

Twilight took notice of Apple Bloom’s reaction and began to reassure her.

“It’s okay, Apple Bloom. Aaron is not going to hurt you. We just came here to get Applejack.”

Hearing her name called, and the sound of Twilight’s voice, Applejack went to the front door to investigate.

She was both surprised and glad to see her friends. Apparently, Rainbow and Fluttershy had just arrived at the door to join the group.

When she laid eyes on Aaron though--and the way her little sister was reacting to his presence, she became frightened for her little sister’s; and the rest of her family’s safety. Applejack somehow knew that Twilight would do something like this!

“Why did you bring that alien here, Twi?” Applejack demanded. “Are ya out of yer mind!”

“Applejack relax,” Twilight reassured. “Were just here to retrieve you.”

Applejack raised a brow.

“What? How come?”

“We successfully managed to contact Aaron’s ship,” Twilight replied. “The captain will meet us in the park when the area is clear.”

Applejack relaxed a bit, but was still tense from the current situation. She would be at full peace when the debt to her family’s crops were paid for, and that Aaron and his compatriots would hopefully leave Equis soon afterward.

“Okay, Ah’m comin’,” Applejack said. She then faced Apple Bloom, who looked worried.

“Stay here with granny and Big Mac, sis. Y’all be safe if ya stayed here.”

“But Ah wanna’ come too,” Apple Bloom insisted. Her curiosity was beginning to overtake her fear.

“Do what yer big sister says, Apple Bloom.” Granny Smith instructed firmly, giving her eldest granddaughter support. “She’s right. It’ll be best if ya stayed with Mac an’ me while yer sister and her friends take care of this matter.”

Apple Bloom really wanted to argue with her big sister and grandmother. She may have been intimidated at first about seeing what an alien actually looks like, but now she wanted to find out about where it came from--and how it lives its life. However, both Applejack and Granny Smith had authority and she didn’t. Big Mac had authority as well, despite not having leader material.

“Fine,” Apple Bloom sighed. “Ah’ll stay here with everypony else.”

“That a girl,” Applejack said with a small smile before facing Twilight and the others. “Okay, let’s get this over with.”

With that, Applejack left with Twilight and the others, leaving the Apple family to wonder what would become of their damaged property, and Applejack.

PONYVILLE PARK

4:52PM

When Aaron and the girls finally arrived at Ponyville Park, and got the designated LZ clear, he radioed in to the Express to give the green light for the captain to arrive. Aaron also sent the slipspace coordinates that will transport the corvette closer to Equis’s atmosphere to shorten the ETA.

While they all awaited Captain Kenwood’s arrival, Twilight and her friends were a little bit nervous about meeting Aaron’s comrades, but they knew this was the only way of setting the record straight with the damaged crop dilemma. Afterwards, Aaron may leave along with the rest of the UNSC to resume their duties. That way, life in Equestria and all of Equis can be normal once again--hopefully anyway.

The COMM radio suddenly buzzed to life as Captain Kenwood began to send his transmissions to Aaron.

“Jensen, we have exited slipspace and I have my Pelican prepped for launch. Ready to receive LZ coordinates,” Kenwood reported.

“Copy that sir,” Aaron said, and programmed in the coordinates of his current position to the captain before sending them. “Have you received them successfully?”

“Affirmative Jensen. ETA, five minutes,” Kenwood replied.

“Roger that sir. Awaiting your arrival now.”

The COMM radio then turned off as Kenwood signed out.

Aaron turned to face Applejack who looked worried, but quite expectant of what was to come of her family’s crops.

“Well, Miss. Applejack, I should tell you now that I can’t be sure of how the UNSC will help repay your family for the damage done to your farmland.” he suddenly confessed sadly. “It may not even be today or tomorrow, or ever, because we may have other more urgent matters to attend to for the moment.”

Applejack was both stunned and angry at Aaron’s last minute remark.

“What? Why did ya have tah wait till now to tell me that?” she demanded.

“Sorry. It’s just that it’s been a really hectic day for me, so I sort of forgot, alright?” Aaron excused.

“Heh. Sorry my flank,” she retorted harshly. “You are the most uncunning,untrustworthy, and most dishonest varmint that’s ever set hoof on this world!"

Twilight and the girls gasped in shock.

“Applejack, don't talk to Aaron like that,” Twilight scolded.

“Hey it’s her opinion, she can live with it if she wants to,” Aaron said shrugging off Applejack’s brutality as if it was nothing.

Twilight was confused now.

“What do you mean by that, Aaron?” she asked. “How can you dismiss that? She should apologize to you.”

“Well since Applejack is considering me an adversary instead of an acquaintance, she has the right to say what she wants about me. Sure I’ve tried making amends and ends meet already by a simple apology, but it seems to me that they’re not going to connect anytime soon. That being said, everyone cannot be made into a friend or ally. Enemies are meant to hate one another until some kind of consolation is made, and believe me when I say that’s rare word to use when you're at war, or anywhere else that sees fit,” Aaron explained.

Upon hearing this bizarre information, Twilight became even more confused and flustered.

Her eyes became dilated and shifted constantly from side to side while her breathing increased and became short. Her mane became a bit frazzled as well.

Seeing her friend in high distress, Rarity took Twilight by one of her hooves and reminded her to take it slow and take in heavy breaths, which Twilight obliged to. Rarity then glared at Aaron.

“You should be ashamed of yourself for telling her such a thing! That’s not the way things work around here!” she scolded.

“Well maybe not here on this planet,” Aaron stated calmly. “I was referring to where I and the rest of humanity come from. Sometimes it isn’t really peaceful or harmonized like your world is. From the looks of it, it doesn’t look like its known any sort of chaos at all.”

“Actually it has," Twilight explained now calm and collected. "When Discord first broke free of his stone prison, he threatened to thrust Equestria into eternal chaos--and the harmony that binded everypony together as friends. What you just said to me about how not everyone can be made into friends, that’s what I was forced to see and believe for the rest of my life. Thankfully, Celestia saved me from that point of view by reminding me that there was no reason that friendship can’t be worth fighting for.”

“And I agree with you, but some fights just can’t be won, alright? Look, we can’t argue about this for the rest of the evening. The main point is that sure, our intelligence is similar, but our worlds are far too diverse from each other. Since you're one of this country's leaders, Twilight, along with your astounding brilliance, you should've already known that.”

“Technically, I’m not a princess who rules Equestria,” Twilight explained a bit sheepishly. “Celestia and Luna are the main rulers here. My sister-in-law, Cadence rules her own kingdom to the far North. I’m just the princess of friendship.”

“Well in that case then, I believe it will be better if the captain conversed with Celestia and Luna instead. Then hopefully we can reach some sort of compromise for the damaged crops, and hopefully peace between our species,” Aaron suggested. “I probably should’ve set the vector to wherever your princesses live.”

“Well I don’t think you have to worry about doing that,” Pinkie said surprisingly happy.

“How come?” Aaron asked curiously.

“Because she’s on her way now,” Pinkie replied gazing up and pointing a hoof at the sky.

Aaron and everypony looked up to where Pinkie was indicating.

Sure enough, a white chariot with golden decor being pulled by two white pegasus guards was en route to where Aaron and the others were currently holding their position.

To everypony’s surprise, Luna was accompanying her older sister, looking well rested and healthy once again.

When the two royal sisters stepped out of the chariot after it touched down on the ground, everypony except Twilight and Aaron bowed down. The reason being since Twilight was now a part of royalty, she could act as if Celestia, or any other princess was a normal pony.

For Aaron though, he at first didn’t know what to make of what he was seeing.

Celestia was very close to the same height as him, while Luna was half the size of her own sister. However, he knew that these two beings were something of strong importance. So instead of bowing, he saluted them as if they were commanders or captains.

Twilight looked at Celestia and Luna with a relieved, yet confused look on her face.

“Celestia? Luna? What’s going on? What are you doing here? Most importantly, how did you know that we would be here?” she asked.

“Relax, Twilight,” Celestia reassured with a smile. “Nothing bad is going on at all. Spike sent me a letter telling me that he was worried about you and that you’ve been gone for so long. Plus, he’s mentioned your new friend here.”

She indicated to Aaron who was still saluting.

She gently strode over to him and said, “At ease, soldier.”

With that statement, Aaron stopped saluting and put both of his hands behind his waist  to still express respect, even if this being wasn’t associated with the UNSC. But it was clear to Aaron, that she had the equivalent amount of authority as to any commanding officer.

“So you must be Aaron, if I’m not mistaken?” she asked.

“Yes, ma’am,” Aaron confirmed, nodding. “Or should I refer to you as, ‘your majesty’?”

“Whatever you feel comfortable with,” Celestia reassured with a small grin. “Can I just ask that you please remove your helmet so I can see the face of whom I’m conversing with?”

Like most Spartans, Aaron felt uneasy about removing his helmet even though it was the second time, but this was an order given.

Aaron gently removed his helmet and held it at his side to let Celestia examine his features.

“Hmm. Something tells me you’ve haven’t been serving long,” she said.

“Seven years to be exact,” Aaron confirmed. “But I can tell you those seven years were hellish when you're at war.”

“That’s exactly why we came here to discuss with you.”

Aaron raised a brow.

“You have? Well as I told your fellow royal highness and her friends, I don’t have the authorization to share classified intel. My captain is on his way now in hopes of settling any dilemmas here,” he explained.

“Well, is it okay to ask as to why my sister is dreaming about your race fighting a bizarre enemy that nopony has seen before?” Celestia asked, giving a bit of a suspicious indication to Luna.

Aaron peered over to where Luna was standing. She looked rather uncomfortable, and a bit scared.

“I really have no idea, ma’am, and I’m as confused as the rest of you. Look, if it’s some kind of premonition for what is to come in the future, then I think it’s best to trust me and the rest of the UNSC to offer our allegiance to you and your subjects. We’ll do what we can to help you,” Aaron explained.

“In that case then, when your captain arrives here, we wish to discuss this matter with him and you further. If there truly is a great threat coming to Equestria and the rest of Equis, we’re all going to need your help. But for the moment, our trust to you isn’t as high. We need credible reasons to fully offer our alliance and reason of peace,” Celestia stated. “When is your captain arriving, anyway?”

“Would that be him?” Twilight asked as she pointed a hoof toward the sky.

Everyone looked in the indicated direction in time to see an operable Pelican steadily approaching them.

To Twilight and everypony, a operational Pelican was more intimidating than a broken one like Aaron’s.

Fluttershy whimpered and cowered behind Rainbow who was just staring at it in amazement. She thought about how awesome it would be to race against something like that. She just hoped it was more faster than the current speed it was traveling at.

The Pelican then rotated itself to face the back hatch to Aaron and everypony as it neared the ground. This action kicked up a strong wind, and bits of dirt that were blown onto everyone when the Pelican finally touched down.

“Aah! My hair!” Rarity cried angrily. “How uncouth!”

“Sorry about that, miss. But a Pelican is going to need all the boost it can to lift off the ground,” Aaron explained with a slight chuckle.

“Well would they mind landing farther away next time? Don’t you know how long it takes for me to style this mane just right?” she demanded as she tried to return her mane to its beautiful curly style.

“Next time, I’m sure I can put word in for you to do so alright?” Aaron offered.

“You better,” she huffed in dignity.

The back hatch to the Pelican then opened up to reveal Captain Kenwood along with a few Marines wielding MA5D’s. Not only that, but AJ and Zeke were also present.

“Sir,” Aaron said and saluted Kenwood.

“At ease, Spartan. Glad to see you alive and well,” Kenwood replied with a return salute, then he focused on the strange equine creatures that were staring back at him with utmost curiosity. “Are these the friendly contacts you told me about earlier?”

“Yes sir, Celestia and Luna are the head monarchs of this country. I believe they called it, Equestria; and that the planet we’re on is called, Equis,” Aaron replied.

“Thanks for that intel, Jensen. Let me converse with the two monarchs. Why don’t you take a little time to catch up with Harrison and Fredrickson. They’ve missed you, if you haven’t already guessed.”

“I already believe I had, sir,” Aaron replied with a smile and walked over to his fellow Spartan friends.

“Did you guys really miss me?” Aaron asked with a smug smile.

“Well everyone onboard the ship thought you were actually dead, so in a way--yes,” AJ replied, shrugging his shoulders. “Fredrickson here was also driving me crazy with all his crazy ideas for your afterlife.”

“Hey, they could happen.” Zeke excused. “Plus, what if the Aaron were talking too right now is just a ghost?”

“If I was a ghost, could I do this?” Aaron asked and flicked Zeke hard on the nose. Since he wasn’t wearing his helmet, Zeke’s face was exposed to all sorts of harm.

Zeke held his nose with both of his hands and groaned in pain.

“Okay, you’re definitely not a ghost,” Zeke fessed in a nasally and muffled voice. “Just please don’t do that again.”

“I won’t. I just had to do something to be convincing,” Aaron said chuckling. “You’re not very easy to convince after all.”

“So true,” Zeke shrugged still rubbing his sore nose with one hand.

Twilight and her friends were intrigued, but a little confused about the bond that Aaron had with his two friends. Sure they were glad that Aaron actually did have friends, but the affectionate rough-housing threw everypony off, especially Twilight. She just figured though that humans had a different way of friendly interaction--even if it didn’t appear friendly.

She wanted to meet Aaron’s compatriots, so she walked over to them with the rest of her friends nervously in tow.

“Um..hello there,” Twilight said to them.

AJ and Zeke turned to Twilight in amazement.

“Whoa! A talking horse!" Zeke stated. "Quite adorable as well."

“First of all, we’re ponies!” Rainbow snorted. “Second, I’m awesome, and not adorable!”

“And apparently full of sass as well,” Zeke unwisely added.

“I dare you to repeat that!” she threatened, knocking her forehooves together.

“Stop it, Rainbow. You’re not helping to make peaceful contact in anyway if you’re just going to keep making threats,” Twilight warned.

“Didn’t you hear what he said to me?”

“Hey, I didn’t mean it alright.” Zeke said, surrendering his hands. “Just thought I’d point out the obvious. Plus it wasn't directly pointed at you.”

“Argh! Fine. But you’d better watch yourself next time, because you do not want to make me angrier than you already have now,” Rainbow warned.

“She has a very short temper...um...no offense,” Fluttershy said sheepishly toward her closest friend.

“None taken. They should know not to mess with somepony like me,” Rainbow stated proudly.

Fluttershy flew over to Zeke.

“Are you okay, sir? Do you need a bandage or anything, because I can get you one if it really hurts,” she offered him.

“I’ll live, miss,” Zeke said smiling confidently. “It’s just a bruise. Just give it some time and it will fade on its own without the need for medical attention. Thanks anyway, though.”

“Um..okay then--and you're welcome,” Fluttershy said and smiled nervously before rejoining her friends, where she felt more secure.

“So, how long have you known Aaron?” Twilight asked AJ.

“Well, we’ve only met when he first set foot on the Express which was a few weeks ago,” AJ explained. “I know that doesn’t seem long, but we clicked fast. We are all soldiers after all.”

“So your friendship was instantaneous then?” she asked growing ever more intrigued.

“You could say that, yeah.”

“Wow. You have to tell me more about how humans like you bond in your military. I just wish I had a quill and paper to take notes on.”

Unfortunately, Twilight didn’t get to because Celestia had to interrupt.

“Twilight,” Celestia said as she approached with Luna and Kenwood.

“Yes?” Twilight replied looking at Celestia with curious eyes.

“Captain Kenwood and I have decided to discuss important matters with us in private. We will be doing this back in Canterlot.” she explained with an unnerving, serious look on her face.

“Can my friends come to?” Twilight asked.

Celestia shook her head sadly. “No, what we have to discuss cannot be shared with your friends, or anypony else without the authority.”

Twilight and the girls were shocked by this, because whatever Twilight was informed with, she normally had the right to share it with her friends. It was one of the things making their friendship strong. Who knows how it will affect them if a secret had to be kept.

“But, Celestia, I..” Twilight was cut off when Celestia raised her hoof.

“No buts, Twilight. I know this is hurting you and your friends--but the decision is official.”

“But don’t I have the right in the decision making?” Twilight asked, becoming slightly irritated. “I do have the same kind of authority as you and Luna, right?”

“I’m afraid the answer is no, Twilight. Not until you have developed your own kingdom to rule. Now please, we can’t afford to waste anymore time. If our world is possibly in trouble, we need the help of the UNSC military to back is up; and the only way they're going to give their allegiance is if we discuss their classified matters out of earshot of everypony else.”

Twilight could not believe what she was hearing!

It’s never been this way for as long as she could remember. She would never leave her friends out of any information that could be used to save Equestria, or all of Equis.

She wanted to argue, but she knew that it would only make matters worse for her, and everypony. Celestia did know best after all, so Twilight knew she could never win an argument with the great monarch.

She just hoped she could make it up to her friends somehow.

“Okay, I’ll go,” she sighed, defeated, before turning back to her friends, who looked equally disappointed. “I’m so sorry, girls.”

“Oh you don’t have to be darling. The princess knows what she’s talking about,” Rarity reassured with a comforting smile. “Don’t worry about us, okay? We’ll stay here in town when you get back.”

“Are you sure?” Twilight asked, still unsure.

“Positive. Now, you must be on your way. If Equestria truly is in danger, then you must go at once.” Rarity now urged. “Trust us.”

“I’ll throw a big party for you when you get back!” Pinkie said enthusiastically as usual.

Twilight wanted to say something more, but decided not to do so. She trusted her friends with all her heart. If they were sure about this, so was she.

She then turned to Celestia. “Okay, lets go.”

Celestia smiled a bit. “Then hop in the chariot. Kenwood and the rest will follow in their Pelican.” she explained.

Twilight nodded and did what she was told. Aaron and the rest of the UNSC boarded the Pelican.

Before either one could take off, Applejack trotted over to Celestia and spoke up.

“Wait. Have you an’ that captain discussed what yer goin’ ta do about mah family’s crops?”

Celestia expressed a sad look. Not a good sign.

“Well, we have discussed it, and they're going to remove the wreckage from your field--but they need the credits to pay your family for other matters. Besides, our barter system is too different from theirs. I’m sorry, Applejack.”

Applejack has heard enough of all these worthless apologies! This was torture to her, and the rest of her family. Just then, something inside her mind and heart went black and cold. She was no longer thinking clearly about what she was saying, or doing.

Her face turned redder than an apple while her pupils shrunk and eyes squinted to express her rapidly growing rage. Her Stetson apparently appeared to begin smoking as if it was about to catch on fire!

“NO!!” Applejack screamed at the top of her lungs, startling everypony, and making Fluttershy yelp and hide. “No more of these damn “I’m sorry’s”! Ah can’t take it anymore! These good fer nothin’ humans are nothin’ but trouble! Ah’d rather have our world attacked than tah support these Celestia-damn motherbuckers!”

Celestia and the other ponies gasped in shock. They couldn’t believe, even Celestia herself that her name was being cursed at by an Element of Harmony. Applejack was likely to get banished for performing such a reckless deed!

“Applejack, please!” Fluttershy begged desperately, while cautiously approaching the enraged mare.

Applejack shot her a look of menacing hate that made Fluttershy jump back. What Applejack was about to say would do the utmost damage to the sensitive pegasus.

“SHUT UP, FLUTTERSHY!! NOPONY ASKED YA TA SPEAK!”

A wave of tears began to flood Fluttershy’s heartbroken eyes as she tried to say something, but nothing came out but sad whines that quickly escalated into sobs as she quickly flew away.

“How could you, Applejack?!” Rainbow demanded before flying off after her distressed friend.

Applejack was then shocked by her own demeanor, but she was still very upset to express regret. She then began to back away.

“Leave me alone! All of you! Just leave me alone, and don’t bother tryin’ ta find me! Ah don’t need anypony, okay?!”

With that statement, Applejack galloped away as fast as she could.

She was fully aware of what she has done, and is not proud of it. She had a minor eruption with her little sister, but the one that happened now was possibly the worst one yet! Who knew of what would become of Fluttershy after this--the same could be said for herself. The only thing she could think of now was to find a place to hide away and wallow in deep self-pity and regret. She may have just severely damaged the friendship she had with the girls.

As the sight of Applejack faded away, everypony wanted to go after her to calm her down, but of course they already knew it would make matters worse. Plus, other things needed to be attended to right now. Hopefully by then Applejack would be alright, and she could apologize to Fluttershy, Celestia, and everyone else she has wronged.

Aaron wanted to be the one to chase after Applejack alone because he knew this was his doing after all, and he needed to make it right. But how could he after what just happened? He felt like he needed to apologize to every single one of the mares, even Celestia--but this was possibly just a phase. When everything was alright, then the apologies could come.

What really mattered now was the topic at hand.

If all of Equis was really in danger, then they needed to prepare any way they could. But it seemed ridiculous that it was all based on a dream.

Surely sometimes the imagination is just a tool for ideas that may not seem possible, like one day pigs would be able to fly or something silly like that. However, sometimes the imagination can bring ideas into a reality which is where inventions come into focus. As for a recurring nightmare or a dream, that’s a conflicting subject right there.

One thing that is crucial and that Twilight or Aaron didn’t know about, is that when Twilight used her magic on Aaron’s COMM radio; not only did she enhance the signal to reach far into the deep depths of space, she made the channel unsecure which allowed all available ears to listen and trace.

She might have have just unwittingly and unknowingly started a countdown to a doomsday clock.