For a moment, nopony said anything at all.

Twilight just looked at Aaron with embarrassment placed on her face, while the rest of the friends just stared at him with dilated pupils.

Sure they’ve come across creatures or monsters that had were much bigger than them before during their adventures with Twilight, so Aaron shouldn’t have been that intimidating. But as mentioned before, beings like Aaron didn’t exist anywhere in Equestria, and the entire face of Equis. His species were non-existent, until now that is. Of course, the tales never said anything about them being part machines.

Aaron noticed that his M395 and his helmet were being touched without his authorization; of course he should’ve blamed himself for being hasty and leaving his gear behind in the first place.

He noticed this as soon as he was in the area of Twilight’s bedroom which looked like a study area as well. No wonder why Twilight was highly intelligent.

He wrongly assumed that Twilight seemed reasonable enough to know better. He then started to hear raised voices, then a single bullet shot up from the floor and lodged itself in the ceiling. That’s when he knew that his gear was being messed with and ran down the stairs as quickly as he could to see what all the commotion was about.

After not receiving any kind of proper response, Aaron just sighed and carelessly walked over to Pinkie who still had his helmet partially over her face.

When he tried to get it off her, her body lifted up with it indicating that she was stuck. Thankfully though it only took a couple of firm shakes to make her plop down back on the floor flank first. She still stared at him with wide eyes not knowing what to do.

That seemed very odd of Pinkie though because when the friends first met, she showed them that the only way to face something scary was to laugh at it. Of course it was just trees with scary faces on them created by Nightmare Moon.

Aaron was nothing close to that, considering he was a living and breathing creature who knew clear Equestrian.

When he used that harsh language and tone with them, it truly gave her the message that he was definately no laughing matter.

When Aaron looked into the interior of his helmet, he noticed a few hairs from her mane had gotten into it.

He then plucked each one of the hairs out and examined them closely. They seemed like normal hairs to him because the fiber structure was designed the same way despite the unnatural color, but he was on a strange planet after all.

What truly stood out though was the aroma that the hairs gave off.

When he brought them closer to his nose for a proper scent pick-up, he noticed that the hairs smelled sweet and sugary like candy. Cotton candy seemed to be the direct term officially.

Just because he didn’t eat any sweets for years now doesn’t mean he forgot what they smelled or tasted like. The scent was truly unforgettable.

After not receiving any sort of response, he turned toward Twilight since so far she was the only one he became properly acquainted with.

“Twilight, do you care to explain why your friends are screwing around with my equipment?” he asked. “I know it was my error for accidently leaving it down here, but I figured that any of you would no better than to mess around with sensitive and dangerous gear!”

“Please understand Aaron, that me and Rarity were trying to take your device away from Pinkie before she could hurt herself or anypony,” Twilight pleaded, fearing that he might report her or any of her friends to any authoritative comrades that Aaron might’ve had with the UNSC, and have them taken in for questioning.

Seeing the sincerity in her eyes, Aaron could let this one slide so he wouldn’t have to turn her or any of her friends that were involved in this incident, but he still had his concern, especially toward that mare named Pinkie Pie.

That carefree and hyper personality she had could mean big trouble for her one day. It may even cost her her life if she isn’t careful enough. Messing around with his M395 set a  good example.

If she aimed it at herself or just at the right angle, she and any other pony who was struck with misfortune would get a ricocheting  M118 FMJ-AP type bullet with a caliber of seven point sixty-two times fifty-one millimeters through their body or any vital organ.

After a moment, Aaron just sighed.

“I understand Twilight, so I’ll let this pass.”

A look of relief came over Twilight’s face.

“But if anything like this ever happens again, I have the right to send in a report to UNSC personnel for questioning of anyone who was involved in the mishap. Understand?”

Twilight and her friends just nodded. They all feared what these aliens might do to them if they interloped with their gear or intentions.

“Good. Now I should say once I’ve settled a few issues here including my damaged COMM networks getting fixed, I plan on leaving this planet along with the rest of the UNSC. We have other important matters to attend to right now and don’t wish to stay longer than we should.”

“You mean you or the rest of your people don’t wish to learn more about our ways at all?” Twilight asked clearly disappointed.

“If we didn’t have our hands full right now, we could,” Aaron explained. “We will be able to return to this place if we have some downtime. I admit this planet will be quite the hotspot for research since our species speak the same language, even though for us it’s English.”

“I see,” Twilight sighed. “But how will you find us again? I mean you said that you lost consciousness when you entered our planet’s atmosphere?”

“Actually I was unconscious long before I entered atmosphere. The reason is classified obviously, but we shouldn’t focus on that right now. I’m going to head back to the cornfield alone and retrieve the COMM radio from the Pelican. I’ll be back so please just stay here. I believe you need some time to catch up with your friends. I have already put you through enough trouble as it is.” Aaron explained before walking out the door to Twilight’s home and closing it behind him. He believed he didn’t need Twilight’s escort as he trekked back through Ponyville. He also believed he could now handle the attention that the locals gave him-yet he was still a little leary about that unicorn named Lyra who tackled him moments ago.

After a brief moment of silence, Rainbow spoke up.

“Okay Twilight, now would really be a good time to explain what the hay is going on here? Why is that alien here, and why were you trying to hide him from us?”

Twilight just sighed knowing she couldn’t talk her way out of the situation.

“First off he’s here because I figured he wouldn’t have anywhere else to go for shelter or food. Second, I didn’t know how you girls would react to him being in my home in the first place. I feared that you wouldn’t trust him like Applejack,” Twilight explained.

“Well I believe she has the right to not trust him,” Rarity huffed. “He’s obviously a ruffian. I mean did you see what he was wearing? Ugh! Steel plating has no style whatsoever.”

“He was a real meanie too,” Pinkie added with lowered ears. “He didn’t even ask me nicely for his helmet back. He treated me as if I was baking dough or something.”

“I’m sure he didn’t mean to Pinkie,” Twilight reassured. “He seems to have a very serious personality, and you Pinkie, you’re….”

Twilight stopped herself because she didn’t want to say anything to hurt Pinkie’s feelings or sound cruel. Pinkie however already knew what Twilight was going to say because her ears went down some more, and her mane lost a little bit of its poof.

“Not serious,” Pinkie finished. “It’s okay, Twilight. I understand completely.”

“I wasn’t going to say that was a bad thing,” Twilight said trying to sound comforting. “We’re all glad that you like to joke around and throw parties for everypony. You always know how to make the best out of bad situations. It’s what we all like about you, and all of Ponyville.”

Pinkie’s mane retained its puffiness as a relieved smile came over Pinkie’s face.

“Look, I know that none of you are willing to offer your allegiance to Aaron because he hasn’t really made a good impression on you because of the way he acted back there--but that was because he was trying to protect you from injuring yourselves. He’s a good guy believe me. Plus he’s already made it clear that he wants to go home. As soon as he gets the help he needs, he’ll be out of our hair,” Twilight explained.

The girls still gave Twilight skeptical and unsure looks, but she made a valid point. Who knows what would've happened if Aaron’s M395 was aimed the right way to hurt or kill somepony.

“What I want to know is what issue’s this Aaron guy has that he needs to attend to?” Rainbow asked, clearly suspicious.

Twilight took a quick moment to think.

“He said something about wanting to see Princess Luna, I believe.” she said.

This made the girls gasp.

“You d-don’t think that he’ll h-hurt her? R-right?” Fluttershy whimpered.

“I’m not taking any chances! Let’s get him!” Rainbow exclaimed and got ready to fly off before Twilight seized her by her tail with her magic so she couldn’t move.

“Girls please relax!” Twilight pleaded. “I’m sure he has no intention of doing such a thing!”

“How do you know Twilight?” Rarity demanded. “Did he at least specifically mention why he wanted to see her?”

“Well...no. He didn’t,” Twilight replied. “All I did was mention Luna’s dilemma to him--and then he asks for my permission to see her, even if I have to notify Celestia first. I know it doesn’t make sense, but it’s true.”

“Well we should probably ask him then,” Rarity suggested. “He better be willing to talk, though.”

“And if he doesn’t, I’ll force the words out of him,” Rainbow threatened.

This unnerved Fluttershy because she didn’t think violence was the answer, even if it was on a strange being that seemed terrifying.

“Um...Rainbow. Don’t you think that’s a little...harsh?” she asked.

“Yes of course it is,” Rainbow stated officially. “I mean what else could it be?”

“I just thought it would be better if we asked him politely like Rarity said.”

“Oh please, there’s no way in Tartarus that asking him would be a strong suit.”

Fluttershy just shrunk back not knowing what else to say.

“C’mon girls, we should go now. He can’t be far so catching up with him will be easy,” Twilight said.

The mares nodded in agreement and all took off after Aaron to wonder why he was interested in one of their princesses.

As Aaron headed back to the site of his crashed Pelican, he was mostly thinking about how himself, and the rest of the UNSC would be able to donate a large sum of money to help repair the crop damage.

Sure Aaron knew that the UNSC would be generous enough to be willing to do so, but the problem that Aaron was mostly concerned about was the money system itself.

He remembered Twilight saying that the money system on her planet consisted of golden coins called bits instead of dollars or regular coins that were used by humans. Who knows if these equines would accept this new kind of alien money. The answer could be no.

It’s then that Aaron realized that he was once a corn farmer, and that he may have an idea how to make this right. The consequence was that he would have to temporarily have to put his service in the UNSC on hold for a while.

He wasn’t sure how Captain Thomas Lasky of Infinity, or the rest of the UNSC fleet would feel about this. Sure Equis seemed like a real interesting planet to study and research, but the priority of locating Halsey and ‘Mdama was still at large.

Who knows what the Covenant would be capable of with a brilliant ONI scientist on their side who possibly knew UNSC war tactics and strategies, along with highly classified ONI secrets. Time was of the essence.

As Aaron was nearing the edge of Ponyville, he suddenly heard the sounds of hooves galloping behind him along with the voice of Twilight calling after him.

“Aaron, wait!” she said.

Aaron turned to see Twilight and the rest of her friends coming towards him with a look of desperation and determination on their faces.

Aaron was confused, but slightly irritated that Twilight didn’t do what she was told.

“What are all of you doing here? I thought I said to stay put until I got back,” Aaron said clearly expressing his annoyance.

“Not until we know why you're interested in one of the princesses,” Rainbow protested with clear anger and demand.

“Easy Rainbow, let me handle this, okay?” Twilight assured raising one of her hooves. “I got this.”

Rainbow just huffed and crossed her forehooves as she continued to hover in the air by flapping her wings. Rainbow was known for barely keeping her hooves on the ground; and always being reckless and bull-headed.

Twilight then turned to Aaron. Her expression and tone were calm, but it still indicated that it meant business.

“Like Rainbow said, why are you all of the sudden interested in Princess Luna when you haven’t even met her yet?” she asked.

Aaron knew that his personal interest with the princess of the night wasn’t classified because it seemed too ridiculous to fall into that category. Plus it had nothing to do with the UNSC.

“I’m not particularly interested in your princess,” Aaron explained. “What intrigues me is the dreams she’s been having. You said that they were recurring, and that they have been happening for a few weeks right?”

“Yeah,” Twilight replied unsure of what Aaron was getting at.

“Well it just so happens that I have been having a similar experience myself before I arrived here.”

Twilight and the others raised a brow in suspicion. They couldn’t tell if Aaron was being truthful or not. Everypony knew that reply could easily be taken as a lie. He needed to be more specific.

“Well what about then? You just can’t say something like that without proof or credible details,” Twilight stated. “You could be easily lying to us.”

Aaron understood what Twilight was getting at, but what he was about to say fell into top secret classification of UNSC affairs with their enemy.

He had to be vague, but still convincing.

“All I can say is that there’s a war going on between two different sides with civilians involved,” Aaron began. “I seem to be helping out with evacuation procedures by escorting people onto an evac ship. After a while of ascension, the ship gets shot down into a body of water killing me, and the rest of the hands onboard.”

Twilight and the others felt a heavy lump form in their stomachs. This was sort of similar to what Luna told them--but what Aaron was going to say next made their skin crawl and the hairs on their coats, manes, and tails stand up on end.

“This may sound weird, but theres a girl that is on board has the same southern drawl as your friend, Applejack.”

The jaws of Twilight and the others hung wide open as they gasped in shock. Rainbow’s rage then kicked into full gear.

“So YOU'RE the one who’s responsible for AJ’s death?!” she seethed. “I’ll show you  to not to mess with one of my friends!”

She was about to fly at Aaron full force, but was stopped once again when Twilight grabbed her by her tail with her magic. This time, Rainbow didn’t let up because she flailed her body and hooves constantly to be free of Twilight’s restraint. She knew that Twilight’s magic couldn’t hold her forever.

Sensing that Rainbow may eventually break free, Aaron had no choice but to ready his MA5D to use on her.

Like before, he had an intention on wounding Rainbow instead of killing her. She was in the perfect range to fire at one of her wings first. If that didn’t stop her, he knew that a short two-round burst in one of the kneecaps would successfully cripple her.

He knew whichever method he chose, it would not go over well with Twilight, or the others. Hell, even all of Equestria.

“Rainbow, that’s enough!” Twilight shouted. “It’s not his fault alright. If he’s having the same experience as Luna, then that means he wants to intervene, but he can’t.”

It all became clear to Twilight and the others that there was a connection to Luna’s dreams and Aaron, who was a human like Luna visualized.

“Will you stop defending him, Twilight!” Rainbow shot back. “He can’t be trusted! It’s obviously his fault for what happens to Applejack, and possibly the rest of our world since it’s possibly being attacked by who knows what!”

Twilight focused her attention back on Aaron.

“What are these things that your species are fighting?” she asked with a now firm tone. “Who cares if you don’t have the authorization to say. It’s clear to me that you're trying to save us from your enemy; but what are they exactly? Who knows if your and Luna’s dreams are some kind of warning about an actual event. Luna may not know what they are, but I’m sure you do. So let me ask you again. What are these things that are attacking? Judging from what Luna told us, they're probably not equivalent to what your race is.”

Aaron knew that Twilight had a point. They may have not been humans, but they had intelligences similar to them.

The UNSC had a job to save innocent lives from hostile forces like Innies, or Covenant  that threatened them. That meant that Twilight and the rest of her race had the same rights. However, some information about their enemies still had to remain classified whatever the condition.

“All I can say is that I believe that if these dreams that me, and one of your political leaders are experiencing are actually premonitions of a future event; then I have to assume that your planet may be invaded by a genocidal and merciless diverse alien race sometime in the future. When? I’m afraid that neither one of us will know,” Aaron replied. “Which is why I need to attempt contact with the rest of the UNSC fleet asap. All of us can save you from this calamic fate if you’re willing to trust me and the rest of us. If you don’t, they will likely try to convert you to join them, or kill all of you. It’s your choice.”

There was a brief moment of silence. Fluttershy however was emitting frightened whines while hiding behind her mane trembling.

Twilight was now put in a decisive crossroad here.

Either have her race side with the unknown diverse alien collective to spare the many deaths of her world; or believe and side with Aaron and his race, which would likely cause the opposite effect. It was a tough decision because she didn’t know which side was fighting for the greater good.

“I don’t know what to believe, Aaron,” Twilight firmly said. “How can we trust humans like you if we only heard one side of the story. Surely these adversaries of yours have a good reason of why they want to get rid of you, just like you want to get rid of them.”

Aaron couldn’t believe what he was hearing! Was Twilight actually considering to make her and her race join the Covenant in exchange for her, and their lives? It was mutiny! He had to convince her to stay on his side. Who knows what the Covies would be capable off then, especially with that magical force that Twilight possessed.

“Look Miss. Sparkle, these aliens have no good intention for fighting us. Here’s the deal, if I can contact the Express, I’m sure Captain Kenwood would be willing to give you more information about our enemy--if he gets a green light from Lasky that is,” Aaron explained the best he could. “You can’t make a smart decision until you get the full intel if possible.”

Twilight kept her brow raised as she stared at the ground with a hoof under her chin as she took a moment to think. It was hard for her because Aaron was right about not receiving the full information before reaching a verdict.

When she finally made her decision, she was worried she may regret it.

“Fine, I’ll do what I can to help you make contact with your home ship. But if they won’t give us the proper information we need, I’m going to have to ask you and the rest of your race to leave Equis and never return. Alright?” Twilight said.

She may have been excited at first about making contact with an actual human; but after learning what his presence on Equis may cause in the future--she thought it was best if he was gone before it was too late. She figured that Applejack’s family crop would eventually recover on its own, or that they can easily replant it when the season was right. Of course his Pelican would have to be extracted first.

“You have yourself a deal, Twilight,” Aaron said.

“Pinkie Promise?” Pinkie suddenly cut in.

Aaron assumed that she was referring to a classic promising method by two people linking their pinkie thumbs together when making an agreement. Since Twilight’s species lacked fingers, he was confused as to how he was going to do this.

Yes I do,” Aaron replied by just awkwardly sticking his pinkie finger in mid-air.

“No, you cross your heart and hope to fly, then stick a cupcake in your eye,”  Pinkie said.

Aaron was really confused now, but he couldn’t help but chuckle at her statement. This mare couldn’t be taken seriously.

Seeing that Aaron was laughing for the wrong reason, Pinkie kept a stern expression on her face as she reached into her mane and pulled out a blue frosted cupcake that miraculously didn’t seem to have a single hair on it, and that their wasn’t a hint of frosting left behind on her mane.

Aaron immediately stopped laughing and gazed at the cupcake. He was once again baffled.

“Where did you get that?” he asked pointing at it.

Instead of answering his question, Pinkie reached over to him and placed the cupcake in his pointing hand. She also made sure to adjust his fingers so he had a proper grip on it.

“Do it, and make sure you remove that helmet of yours as well, or we won’t believe you,” Pinkie ordered.

Aaron couldn’t believe the predicament that he’s gotten himself into, but seeing that he wasn’t going to escape so easily, he reluctantly removed his helmet, but not before placing his M395 on the ground.

He sighed and said the proper words bemusedly.

“I cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake.….in my eye.”

Aaron then shut his eyes tight before he brought the cupcake up and splattered it against his left eye. He groaned a bit when the frosting covered part of his face. He prayed through that none of it got into his suit and fried the circuits.

Pinkie smiled contently now.

“See, that wasn’t so bad!” she gleamed.

“Yeah, it wasn’t at all,” he muttered sarcastically as he wiped his eye and face clear to the best of his ability.

When his eye was finally clear, he said, “C’mon, lets get a move on. We’ve wasted enough time as it is.”

He then picked up his helmet and put it back on before placing his M395 back in his hands.

Aaron then began leading Twilight and her friends back to the crashed Pelican.

On the way, he thought to himself the sooner he can get off this crazy planet, the better. He didn’t know how much mischief he could take before he lost his marbles.