PONY EXPRESS MEDICAL BAY

1318 HOURS

The dark void that Shining Armor spent in for who knows how long began to show signs of gradually becoming lighter. Not only that, but muffled and slightly incoherent voices that he didn’t recognize became apparent.

As the light got brighter, the voices became clearer to him.

“He’s coming to.”

“Give room. Don’t crowd him.”

“Sir. Can you hear us?”

Shining emitted groans as the light began to show what environment he was in, but it was all the blur for the moment.

To try and clear away the blur, Shining opened and closed his eyes constantly while gently moving his head side to side. It was working because everything became more detailed with each blink and movement of the head.

When his sight was fully clear, he discovered that he was in some sort of infirmary or hospital room that he didn’t even recognize. What was most shocking to him was the company that was surrounding him were not ponies, but the same beings that saved him from another alien species that attacked him and Cadence.

Remembering his wife, Shining immediately shot up from his bed, but he was greeted with a nearly immobilizing pain that stopped him immediately.

“Argh!” Shining screamed and partially collapsed back onto the bed. A few of the apparent non-hostile aliens then held him gently.

“Take it easy, sir. Your plasma injuries are quite severe. You need to relax. We can give you some more morphine if you wish,” one of the aliens said. Since he was wearing a red cross on his uniform, Shining knew that it was a doctor.

“W-what happened? Where am I?” Shining asked, still a bit terrified.

“You’re in the infirmary section aboard the UNSC corvette, Pony Express,” the doctor replied. “You have been recovered by Marine Squad Eagle from a Covenant assault on your kingdom.”

“So, is that what those things were that wiped out most of my men? I don’t understand. What’s happening, and where’s my wife?”

“We’re afraid we haven’t heard any reports regarding your spouse. If you care to give us a description, we will be able to send out a search priority to all available units,” one of the medic marines replied.

“She’s an alicorn princess with a light pink coat and light purple eyes. Her mane and tail are the hues of plum purple, dark pink, and light yellow,” Shining explained the best way he could.

“Okay. Thank you, sir,” said the marine, who was taking notes of Shining’s description.

“You still haven’t answered my question of why we’re being attacked by this….Covenant, right?”

“As far as we know about Covie intentions, they are always seeking to either capture the planet, or search for any Forerunner artifacts that are hidden around--or underneath it,” replied another unnamed marine.

Shining was at a loss of words now. Sure these beings weren't hesitant to answer his questions, but it was suspicious to him that they knew quite a lot about their enemy.

“You didn’t happen to bring them here on purpose; have you?” Shining asked, now sounding perturbed.

“Of course not, sir. But the captain had suspicions that they would come here eventually.”

“Then why didn’t you let me and my men know when you first came to our planet? If you did, we would’ve been properly prepared, and Cadence would still be here at my side!”

Shining was practically fuming right now. He lost a majority of his men to an enemy that was unknown--and more powerful and dangerous than the standard armies of Equis.

“Please, sir. You must stay calm. Your treatments will be ineffective if you let your stress levels rise,” the doctor stated while keeping a moderate composure.

Shining wanted to continue arguing. He just couldn’t believe that he wasn’t informed when these humans first made landfall. He knew that the Crystal Empire was isolated, but it wasn’t very hard to reach. It’s as if the UNSC were picking favorites.

Before wanting to protest another word, Shining reluctantly agreed to calm down: but it didn’t mean he was going to give in to trusting humans so easily. He suspected they were up to no good, even if they did appear to be allies. He needed some way to test them. He then remembered his other most prized family member--his younger sister.

“Well. If you have nothing on my wife yet, then what has become of Twilight?”

“You mean, Princess Twilight?” the doctor asked, raising a brow in curiosity.

“Yes,” Shining dragged indifferently.

“Last time we heard, she was on board the ship,” one marine stated. “And that was quite recently.”

“If what you say is true, then I insist on seeing her this moment.”

“You’re not well enough for any visitors yet, sir,” the doctor protested. “You should probably get some rest. I’m sure by then we can allow her to see you.”

“I don’t care about how well I am!” Shining protested, growing impatient and angry once more. “I want to make sure that she’s okay--and I don’t want to hear any reassurance from you! I need to know it face to face. I will not rest until I get the truth.”

The doctor was hesitant at first because he knew the medical protocols; but he also knew that Shining was a captain of the military since he received Shining’s personal records. He felt foolish though that he might have missed his family relations.

After a few more brief moments, the doctor sighed and said, “I’ll give word to the captain to send an escort for the princess to make your attendance.”

“Thank you,” Shining said, now calm and relaxed like the doctor requested.

“It’s my honor, sir,” the doctor said one final time and went over to one of the ship’s intercom transponders to relay his request to the bridge.

No sooner than he was catching up with Zeke and AJ and having nice to questionable conversations, Aaron found himself backtracking through the Express’s interior toward the cabins where he left Twilight and her friends who hopefully got settled in okay. He was still concerned about how Twilight acted earlier during lunchtime in the mess hall. He knew she had something painful on her mind, and lashed out when trying to be assured that it was okay to speak about what was troubling her.

Aaron thought it had to do with her brother since he heard that he was in the medic bay. Hopefully if that’s the case, Twilight can be rest assured; of course his current condition might prove to be a problem. If he was fully alive however, that was good news to everybody.

As Aaron entered the section that contained the mare’s cabins, he was surprised to find all five of Twilight’s friends standing outside the door with all looks of angst painted on their faces. They all had their ears pressed up against the door as if they were listening in or something.

“What’s going on?” he only managed to ask.

“Twilight is crying. That’s what’s going on,” Rainbow stated sarcastically.

“Poor dear has been at this for nearly half an hour,” Rarity added, but was sympathetic.

“Why?” Aaron cluelessly asked. “Does she suffer from homesickness or something like that?”

“No, brainless! She’s worried about her brother and Princess Cadance!” Rainbow snapped harshly.

Aaron was taken aback for the moment, but quickly remembered what his task was.

“I’ll have you know I was sent down here to let Twilight know that her brother is here on the ship, and alive, too.”

The friends fell silent for a brief moment because they weren't sure what to make of this sudden news. Frankly, they didn’t know if it was true or not.

“You're not sure if yer jus’ sayin’ that, right?” Applejack asked, making sure Aaron wasn’t making this all up in order to make everything seem better. She didn’t want to be suspicious or distrustful of him again since he proved to her, and the rest of them that he could be worthy of being their friend. Of course, friendship and trust is constantly tested.

“I’m telling the truth,” Aaron assured while maintaining patience the best way he could.

“Oh, yeah right!” Rainbow scoffed. “That excuse is older than…...oh I can’t even think of anything!”

“Older than the version of you that was into fashion like Rarity?” Pinkie asked randomly.

Both Rainbow and Rarity gazed at Pinkie dumbfounded and confused at the statement.

“Uh..sure. Whatever,” Rainbow said, shaking off her bewilderment.

Just then, the door to Twilight’s cabin hissed and began opening, which made Fluttershy jump and squeek before she dove for cover behind Rainbow.

When the door was fully opened, Twilight stepped out with red and puffy eyes along with a minorly messy mane, coat, and tail. This sight nearly made Rarity jump out of her skin as well.

“Girls. What in Equestria is all this commotion about?” she asked sounding tired and unlively. She then noticed Aaron was back.

“Oh hello, Aaron. Is there something you need?” she asked while wiping her eyes and sniffing a bit.

“I’ve been sent by Kenwood to retrieve you, Twilight. There’s somepony here that wishes to see you.”

“Who is it?” Twilight asked. It concerned her that Aaron didn’t give out a name.

“It’s your brother, Twilight,” Aaron replied without hesitation. “He’s on board the ship.”

“What?! Where?!” Twilight asked with a strong hint of excitement in her tone. Her demeanor had changed completely once again.

“He’s in the infirmary. He’s been severely wounded, but I heard that he’s strongly clinging on to life.”

Twilight’s depression and anxiety took hold of her again. That was news she didn’t need to hear, and it made Aaron wish he wouldn't’ have said it.

“Will he live? The doctors can heal him right?” Twilight asked with a pleadful tone. She was very close to breaking down once again.

“I’m afraid that is not my call,” Aaron replied, shaking his head sorrowfully. “But we must go at once. It’ll be best if your friends stay in their cabins to. The doctor said he would only allow only one visitor, which is you, Twilight.”

“Now see here….” Rainbow began, but was cut off when Twilight defensively raised her hoof.

“No, Rainbow. Aaron is correct. I’m sure soon enough we may all see him; but for this moment, it needs to be only me. I trust him,” Twilight said, now sounding grim and determined. Twilight’s friends were seeing a whole different her, and it severely concerned them. It even took Rainbow aback.

“Well. If that’s what ya think is best, Twi. Then we’ll do it,” Applejack assured with a forced smile. “Ah know yer brother we’ll be happy tah see ya, and that he’ll get well soon.”

Applejack then faced the rest of the friends.

“C’mon y’all. Let’s jus’ tend to our cabins and settle down fer a bit. All this fussin’ is wearing me out.”

As much as they were worried, they knew Applejack was right. Rainbow still wanted to protest, but always knew she wouldn’t get anywhere fast with the cowpony’s stubborn personality.

“Fine. We’ll remain here,” Rainbow grunted with disdain. “But don’t count on holding us back after this.”

Rainbow then turned around and went into her cabin alone before sealing the door behind her without even saying anything.

The remaining friends didn't know what to make of the situation, but thought it was best if they retired to their cabins as well--but not before glancing at Twilight and Aaron one last time to give reassuring nods before their doors closed.

As Aaron led Twilight through the corridors, he noticed that she was staring straight ahead without even looking around to observe every interior detail as she normally would have. This meant she had her mind focused on one thing only, and that was her brother.

When they finally reached the door leading into the infirmary, Aaron turned to Twilight and asked, “Are you ready?”

Twilight just wordlessly nodded.

“Alright then,” Aaron said and tapped the door’s keypad to unlock and open it.

When the door was fully opened, it revealed the waiting company, and an awake Shining Armor that immediately made eye-contact with Twilight. When she saw him, she immediately trotted as fast as she could to his side. When she saw how truly bad he looked, she started to sob once again.

“There there, Twiley,” Shining said gently with a small smile while using his somewhat good hoof to reach over and touch her shoulder in comfort. “I know I look pretty messed up, but I’ll pull through.”

“B--but your h-horn,” Twilight choked, indicating to the bandaged and gauss stubble where his horn once was.

“It will grow back in good time,” he assured while pulling Twilight closer. She gently hugged him so she wouldn’t hurt him by accident. “To tell the truth, I was way more concerned about you then my horn.”

Twilight smiled and chuckled, but it was mixed with another sob.

“I was so worried about you as well,” she managed to say. “When I heard that the Covenant was heading for the Crystal Empire I...I,”

Twilight couldn’t even finish her sentence as she hid her face on his shoulder to suppress more despairful wails.

“I know, Twiley. Before I blacked out from my injuries, my thoughts went to you, and the rest of our family. I was wishing that you didn’t have to go through what I did.”

“But what happened to you? How did you get like this, and where’s Cadance?”

It was now Shining’s turn to began shedding tears of his own.

“I was trying to save her from the hostile creatures,” he sniffed. “But I failed. They attacked the palace, killed my men, then captured her. It just happened all so fast. I can hardly remember any details.”

Twilight then turned toward Aaron with a plea-filled look on her face.

“Please tell me, Aaron, that you and your fellow soldiers can find and rescue Cadence.”

“We could,” Aaron assured. “But we haven’t received any intel on where they possibly have taken her.

“Actually,” one of the marines interjected while pulling out in DATAPAD. “Eagle’s recon scouts spotted and tracked a Covenant Lich from a portion of the Crystal Palace, to where the supercarrier is said to be located. Not really surprising since the flagship is always the point of main interest.”

“That’s probably where their keeping her imprisoned then,” Aaron stated. “Yet, what do they seek with this Cadance? Last time as I recalled, the shipmaster of the fleet had a main interest in Celestia and Luna.”

“No, it was every alicorn on Equis,” Twilight corrected, now sounding glum. “Our magic is what the shipmaster wants to use.”

“So? The Covies wish to have magical powers or something? I wouldn’t see how that could be possible,” another marine dumbly stated.

“I wouldn’t say so,” Twilight replied shaking her head. “Our magic is way more powerful than a unicorn can muster. As tempting as it would be for them to take away our magic for themselves, I have a theory they plan on exploiting us in their efforts to find Forerunner artifacts--or worse.”

The room fell silent for a bit. They weren't really sure of what to make of Twilight’s jumped-to conclusion, but it did seem logical. The Covenant did exploit a few humans in the past in order to interact with Forerunner technology, after all.

“Well if they already have Princess Cadance, does that mean they already have a way of locating every Forerunner artifact in the galaxy? Scratch that--the universe?” Aaron asked, raising a brow.

“Not yet,” Twilight assured. “Each alicorn’s magic is different in someway, and is harmless if used individually.”

“So what happens if more than one of your forces are combined?” Aaron asked.

Twilight gave Aaron an unsettling look.

“You don’t want to know,” she only said.

Aaron and the rest of the UNSC personnel fell silent again in hesitation as they thought over what Twilight just told them. Sure they didn’t know about the way actual magic worked, but they knew it could be apocalyptic if that was even the correct word for it. No matter what the cause, only one priority came to mind: find and secure Cadence before she comes to any more harm.

“I’ll report to Kenwood about your theory, Twilight,” Aaron finally said. “You and your friends must remain here and help look after Shining Armor. What needs to be done is a high risk mission that only highly trained Spartans like me can handle.”

“But, Aaron I..” Twilight protested but he cut her off.

“No, Twilight. There’s no way in hell I’m involving you in this sort of situation. You’ve seen how dangerous the Covenant is already just by what they did to your brother, but boarding one of their ships is an even greater cost--especially the flagship. Before, I’ve let you and your friends get the best of me--well not this time. You and the rest of your friends will be throwing your lives away or at their mercy if I give in to anymore of your protests. You must put your faith in us alone to bring Cadance back alive.”

“And what if you can’t?” Twilight argued. She wanted to help, no matter what the cost. She was surprised at herself that she was willing to be sacrificial, but she didn’t let it get to her. It’s as if there was a soldier that she didn’t even know was inside her, was beginning to emerge out of her. It had to be the same desire that made Shining Armor want to join the Royal Guard.

“An apt question if there was somewhere else to place your hope. There is not, I’m afraid,” Aaron shrugged.

“But…”

“He’s right, Twiley,” Shining interjected. “His species obviously know more about these hostile aliens then we do. As much as it pains me to say, I trust them to this for us; yet I strongly expect success.”

“But, Shining,”

“No more buts,” Shining insisted. “I don’t wish to fight with you, Twilight. We’ll just be wasting time doing so. We don’t have the same military hardware or training as they do. We both should know this already.”

Twilight was now at a loss of words. It got on her nerves sometimes when her brother outsmarted her own wits, but that was because most of her studies consisted around learning new spells, not military practices--of course she would make an exception to read about them.

Giving up, Twilight sighed.

“Fine. But if they fail, then we do it my way,” Twilight warned.

“I expect we are agreed then,” Aaron said and faced two of the marines who appeared to be in need of a task.

“Will you gentlemen please escort Twilight back to Barrack Block E where her friends are awaiting?”

“Will do, sir,” one marine nodded and began to escort Twilight out along with his partner.

Aaron then faced Shining and said, “I know that your faith in us isn’t in full, but we have our ways of making sure our rescue operations are not a fluke.”

“Do whatever you must, but make sure my wife isn’t harmed in the process,” Shining stated firmly, but it was addressed as a strict order.

Aaron’s only reply was a confirmed nod before he walked out of the room and toward the bridge.

As they went their separate ways, Aaron and Twilight had the same thought: this fight needed to be over with, and fast.