Author's Notes:

Theme for this chapter:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GOfkq8f4dc

Thel 'Vadamee stood on the floor of the Control Room, the crew of the normally bustling nerve center gathered a short distance behind him in reverent silence. All eyes were upon him, but the tall Sangheili, clad in gold with a long lavender cloak trailing behind him, watched only the main screen of the Supercarrier's overhead display.

Before his eyes, a planet burned.

The work of his forces was apparent in the smoke rising into the green and blue planet's atmosphere, and he could see the smaller vessels, cruisers and frigates like insects adjacent the staggering mass of the ship of which he was in command, the Seeker of Truth, of his massive fleet as they finished their persecution of the planet's waning defense. Yet while the Seeker of Truth cumbersomely loomed over the doomed world's surface, 'Vadamee couldn't help but grow excited that the truth he and the others of his kind had sought thus far was soon to be found, the truth behind the Covenant Empire's power, their manifest destiny, their right to conquer in the name of the gods

"Beautiful, isn't it?"

The Supreme Commander turned towards the source of the new coming voice in the previously silent command bridge, a robed entity seated in a levitating chair hovering towards him from the Control Room's entrance. His crown was heavy and ornate, as were his clothes, garnishes seeming to try to hide his frail, gangly grey body.

"Noble Prophet of Penance," addressed 'Vadamee, greeting the Lesser Prophet with a bow, "The altar of our sacrifice is prepared. The ceremony is set to begin upon your word."

"Good, Commander," mused the San 'Shyuum, his three fingered hand coming up to stroke his jewel laden chin as his motorized seat came to a halt beside the Sangheili, "Very good. Tell me, with what degree of ardor have you carried out your task?"

The Elite turned again to face the main screen, continents blackened in smoke far below creating nothing less than an environment akin to hell for those still alive on the surface. Then again, such was as it was meant to be.

"Naught but a few transports have made it off the planet thus far, and even then, I have ships in pursuit of them now. Before long, every human who desecrated this holy site with their filth will be no more. My fathoms have eradicated their attempts at resistance with befitting persistence," Thel paused for a moment, a console extending up from the floor to his side, and his hand found its surface as he guided his ship, and the fleet that followed it, "They are now at the edge of annihilation. Our finishing blow also rests on the precipice, and my hand's falling upon your decree is all it will take to end this world, according to the gods' will."

The Prophet smiled, his grey eyes squinting in the low light, pierced by the glow of the Commander's console.

"Your faith is strong, Commander," he said in compliment, but the apparent mirth in his tone was absent in the stern expression of the Elite he addressed.

"I must ask," 'Vadamee began as he pressed a section of his console's screen and the ship lurched to a sudden stop, anchoring above the planet's smoldering surface, "was the unit you took into your command able to find the temple beneath the humans' military installation?"

In an instant, the Prophet's demeanor changed to a more hostile state, and he harshly spat back, "Matters of the clergy are of my concern, Commander. You are but an instrument of warfare, of force, force that when applied correctly," he placed his hands together, his fingers pressing against their opposites as he eagerly admired the scene on the screen, "makes the Great Journey so much closer."

The Prophet of Penance turned towards 'Vadamee

"Are all your lances in position?" he asked in his haggard voice.

"Yes Holy One," said the Commander affirmatively.

"And have you prayed for guidance in the face of this trial?" the Prophet continued.

Again, with conviction and unbridled zeal, the Elite answered affirmatively, nodding before growling, "Since I first laid eyes upon this place our enemy calls... Reach."

The Prophet smiled deviously, and he bowed his head in an expression of faithful humility before extending his hand to the assembled Elites in the command bridge.

"Then let us begin," he decreed, and the Elites knelt, 'Vadamee bending a knee as well directly before the seated San 'Shyuum.

The Prophet extended both hands out over the humbled shoulders of the Fleet of Particular Justice's leader, and he began a sermon.

"Let this cleansing be an example to all who witness our Covenant," he began, his scratchy, elderly voice ringing through the silence of the Control Room, "that with our gods at our side, none shall stand before us. But on the Great Journey, all shall stand behind us as we, the strong, the faithful, the chosen few, lead the way."

And as he paused, the deep voices of every Sangheili in the room answered in unison, each strong in fervor, but none stronger than warrior clad in gold and purple in the center of the cavernous room.

"And ever are we grateful," thundered the Elites in a homogenous growl.

"And never will we, the zealous children of the divine," continued the Prophet, a trancelike state overcoming his hazy eyes, "allow our lords' legacy to become stained by the filth of heathens' hedonistic ways! For those who creep in the dark shall be dragged into the light of salvation, and quelled by our wrath!"

"We shall grind them into dust."

An explosion outside the ship rattled through the hull, hinting at the few humans left on the world's futile resistance.

"And while the smoke of this planet is to be left in our wake, we shall bring the blessings yielded unto us from the bosom of this world ever onward in our quest for transcendence."

"We go faithfully onward."

The Prophet closed his eyes, listening to the symphony of faith and destruction he conducted.

"Until the day our devotion is rewarded, and we inherit Paradise."

And with that, he bent down, and placed his hand on the hunched shoulder of Thel 'Vadamee.

"You may begin, Fleet Master."

Slowly, he rose, his amber eyes meeting the smiling Prophet's.

He then turned to his crew gathered behind him as they too stood, and after looking each of them in the eye as well, he cast his fist into the air, yelling, "Witness, my brothers, that you may bear testament to the glory of this day!"

The Elites bellowed out a roar of excited passion, some of them clapping their fists loudly over their chests in salute and others throwing their arms into the air. As the Sangheili's bellows reverberated through the cavernous hold of the command bridge, 'Vadamee turned back to the front of the room, his cloak billowing behind him like a lavender sail, and with thundering steps, he strode to the helm.

He placed his hand inches from the screen, and with the other, he snapped up a balled fist, and the commotion from his comrades turned to instant silence.

"Speak, my Prophet," 'Vadamee clamored through the hushed air over his shoulder, "and let the word destroy those who stand in the way of the Great Journey."

The Prophet of Penance smiled, and looked down before answering.

"Wrath," he said simply, one word deciding the fate of an entire world, "Destroy them with wrath."

'Vadamee breathed, his breath controlled and deliberate, and as he exhaled, one hand met the interface of the helm at his side.

The hum of the supercarrier's energy projector rumbled through the hull, and the Supreme Commander's free hand found a large flashing symbol on the console.

And for a moment, the system stood still. All was quiet, and calm. But only for a moment.

The blue line of plasma, visible on the main screen, erupted from the Seeker of Truth's hull, tearing down through the atmosphere and punishing the surface of the world below. Shockwaves like ripples blew across the terrestrial surface, decimating everything around the point of impact. And then, with 'Vadamee's hand guiding the cutting plasma beam, the destructive force began to write.

A single glyph was carved across the span of a continent, plasma bombardment the utensil and the planet the media, leaving nothing but molten rock behind. And when the circular glyph, the Covenant's symbol for wrath, was finished in a state of liquid stone, 'Vadamee once again knelt. The plasma beam retracted, the ship came to a stop, and the world below was granted a brief respite.

And again, the galaxy seemed silent as a grave. Nothing moved. Nothing breathed, as if death had gripped more than only those caught in the way of Supreme Commander Thel 'Vadamee's wrath.

Only one word broke the quiet.

"Perfect," reflected the Prophet of Penance, looking to the circular symbol of melted rock on the planet below.

'Vadamee stood, and exhaled again, his barreled chest heaving as he too admired his work, and the Prophet spoke again.

"Absolutely perfect."

The bridge was struck dumb in awe. None noticed the sensor console beeping, indicating an incoming hostile ship. 'Vadamee turned once again to look to his crew, but something strange met his eye. Between himself and the others of his race, stood a stranger. Tall, dark, an evanescent mane flowing behind her. Her eyes seemed sad, containing an expression of pity, and the longer 'Vadamee looked to her, the more he felt the same.

He looked back to the screen, and realized what he'd done, how many thousands he had just killed, and how many thousands more were being erased from the planet now as the rest of his fleet now finished the work he started. He heard their screams, the screams of men, women and children as they were consumed by fire, and while he tried to lift his hands to cover his ears, he could not move. And the more he looked, the more petrified he became. His hearts thundered, and he tried to reach out to stop them, but his arms still wouldn't budge.

It was as if he was trapped in the quicksand of his own horror, his own regret.

"This is not who I am," he said without speaking, "This is not the way. These actions are not my own. Let them be taken from me!"

But he knew what he had done, fully now as opposed to the numb obedience he'd had before. He looked back to the wrath he'd inflicted on the once rich, life giving world below, and when he tried to turn away he saw only the Prophet, drumming his fingers together in pride.

'Vadamee, in desperation, turned back to the stranger, and suddenly realized who she was.

"Princess Luna?"

Suddenly, the Seeker of Truth lurched.

The Arbiter jolted awake, his eyes wide as his hand instinctively went to his hip and the other pried for stability from his surroundings. But when he found the ivory wall at his side to be stable, his breath held. Where he expected to see contoured walls of purple, he instead saw walls of white. Rather than glowing power nodes and consoles he saw glimmering trinkets and bits of lavish furniture. And when he looked up, waiting to see the image of Reach cindering beneath the punishment of plasma bombardment on the main screen of the Control Room, he saw only an expansive window, the only thing ablaze beyond its crystalline plane the dawning sun.

The Arbiter sighed, his hand leaving his sword hilt to cradle his aching head.

"Just a dream," he said to himself.

His hearts were still racing; the mere memory of his greatest triumph was enough to cause him to break into chills, chills that now racked his armored body. He rose, slowly pulling himself to his feet from his previously dormant position in the corner of his quarters. He stood uneasily; his back ached, and his arms felt heavy.

He trudged to the lavatory, and after fumbling with the faucet of the sink, produced a stream of water. He stooped, and cupping one hand beneath the flow, he drank thirstily. He looked up to see his reflection in the mirror, but he didn't see himself. He was not the Sangheili that had once stood at the head of fathoms of the faithful. He was no longer the one that had led the campaigns of his people against the enemies of the Covenant. In many ways, that was a good thing. But, the memories of what he'd done when he had been Thel 'Vadamee still plagued him. Nightmares seemed more normal than typical dreams as of late, and the redness in his eyes alluded to his lack of restful sleep.

The Arbiter strode back into the chamber's central room. It was too early for morning formation yet, but too late to go back to sleep. He was contemplating the effectiveness of a weapons check when he heard a sound out his window, and upon looking, saw a congregation of Equestrians far below.

There was a procession of them, the Royal Sisters alongside a collection of Royal Guards, and a few civilians in their midst. Yet, the centerpiece of the promenade seemed to be a casket of sorts. They were headed for Canterlot's rear gate, and as the doors began to swing open, the Arbiter hummed to himself, and turned from the window.

"Detail! Ten-hut!"

The authoritative voice of Captain Shining Armor boomed over the quiet of the morning, and the sound of eight sets of hooves clacking together pierced the air like a sharp clap of distant thunder. The stallions, standing four abreast in two parallel lines facing each other, their Captain at attention on one end, all bore the same symbol on the shoulder of their navy blue dress uniforms, the very same symbol engraved in the coffin opposite Shining Armor: a serrated arrowhead against the background of a blazing sun.

Shining, his head erect and his expression stoic, despite the redness in his eyes and the lurching complaints of his stomach, looked to the coffin bearers on the far end of the alley made of muscle and uniform, the lead bearer, a unicorn stallion, wearing the signature navy blue uniform and crimson beret of the Special Forces unit, the same unit Chevron had been a part of, as was tradition. Three other unicorns, two stallions and a mare from the Equestrian Honor Guard, flanked the coffin.

Shining inhaled a deep breath.

"Present... Arms!"

As he spoke, the eight Special Forces stallions drew their swords in synchronization, and held them out, even the unicorns holding the blades in the clefts of their hooves. The funeral procession came forward, the coffin held in the magic of the unicorns, and as they passed each pair of Special Forces stallions, they raised their sabers to their muzzles, the tips pointing straight up while their eyes remained locked forward.

In a dozen strides they reached an open hole in the ground, in perfect line with matching tombstones all around, and they paused. Shining's eyes found a few ponies outside the Equestrian formation; a few foals, old stallions and a tear wet mare, all draped in black.

Princess Celestia, flanked closely by her sister, stepped up to where Shining had stood while the Captain stepped back to make way for the princesses, and the white alicorn began to speak, her voice strong, but obviously solemn.

"For gallantry in action," she began slowly, her voice not quavering but off from tis normal tone, "and dedication to service above and beyond the call of duty, Sergeant Ford Chevron is hereby posthumously awarded the Equestrian Medal of Courage."

As she said the words, Shining strode to the sergeant's next of kin, and presented the mare with a golden medallion strung on a purple ribbon. She took it with a sob, and the Captain turned stoically, and marched back to his place in the formation with a lump in his throat.

"While we bestow this highest honor on behalf of a grateful nation, however sorrowful," Celestia continued, "we hope it brings consolation to those Sergeant Chevron held dear outside of his service in knowing that he died a hero. And while we will cherish his memory, we will mourn his loss."

Now Luna stepped forward.

"As a soldier, Sergeant Chevron stood in defense of our homeland. A Royal Guard of Equestria is called to keep the kingdom, and all who reside within it, safe. He fulfilled that obligation in accordance of his oath of duty. Let his sacrifice echo among the great deeds of those that have gone before, and continue to inspire those that will follow in his steps."

The coffin was placed slowly in the grave as the Princess of the Night concluded, and all the Equestrian guards present spoke in unison when their comrade had been laid to rest.

"And now his guard is lowered."

A moment of quiet signified the reverence of the ceremony, and once the marble headstones had stood quietly for long enough, Shining Armor once again made himself heard.

"Detail!"

Every Royal Guard snapped to attention, and the civilians, the family of the departed, whimpered softly again.

"About... Face!"

In unison, the guards turned to face the way they'd come, their sabers sliding into their sheaths with synchronized metallic clang. Shining Armor drew in a deep breath, and as he prepared to announce more orders, something caught his eye.

He looked up, and distant from the congregation, amidst the shrubbery bordering the cemetery, stood a tall argentine figure. He watched, his head bent in the reverence so obvious in the Equestrians, as if he had joined them. Yet, he kept his distance as if he weren't welcome, but the Arbiter's vigil persisted for as long as the Equestrians'.

"Forward... March!"

It had been a long walk back to Canterlot's walls, even though the Royal Guard's traditional military cemetery, was less than a mile outside the palace's exterior. It wasn't the distance that took its toll on Princess Celestia.

A life ending before its time had a tendency to do that to those that lived on, and the alicorn's heart beat heavier than it had in a long time. She wasn't alone in that matter.

Nevertheless, her hoof falls resonated through the quit halls of her home as she returned to her office, three left turns, up one staircase and two more turns to the right once she passed the dining hall.

She opened the door to her study while the armored guards, on either side of the gilded oaken threshold, snapped a salute. She found the lavish office already occupied, and as the door hit the stopper, Luna turned towards her from the window. She gave a reassuring nod and a comforting smile, and Celestia closed the door behind her, locking the outside world away.

Celestia sat down at her desk without a word, and Luna came to lean against it. Her expression was soft, the opposite of Celestia, and her eyes, despite being the younger, had a maternal comfort to them. Luna opened her mouth to offer some words of consolation, but as she breathed in, there was a knock at the door.

"You may enter," Celestia said to the closed door, and Captain Shining Armor came through, his dress uniform still on from the morning and a folded document under his forelimb.

"Princess," addressed the stallion, his eyes focused but far from fearful, "Have you seen today's paper?"

The sisters looked at each other.

"No," responded Celestia while Luna cocked her brow, "Why would I have?"

The Captain took the paper in his magic's aura, and as he unfolded it, explained, "After the funeral I went to the Dining Hall for a coffee, and there were a few copies of these lying around," the raised eyebrows of the alicorn seated before him made it clear he was to get to the point, "It's the headline. For a paper the size of the Canterlot Chronicles, this is some pretty important stuff."

He set the newspaper down on the princess' desk, and she turned it with her hoof to read what it said in large bold letters across the page.

"Equestria's Angels?" she read aloud.

"It's about the Elites," he explained, gesturing to the small font spread out below the headline, "Apparently, one of the citizens we pulled out of Trottingham writes for the paper. She claims to have been one of the only ones to actually address the Arbiter back in the town hall. Apparently, they heard me call the Shipmaster 'guardian angel' after he saved our rumps from the Remnant when we were taking fire from the town hall's second floor, and the name stuck. The whole front page is devoted to the story."

Luna and Celestia shared a bewildered expression, and the darker of the two asked, "How far does the Canterlot Chronicle reach?"

"It's printed all across Equestria, despite its lack of popularity," answered her sister, "The only newspapers to rival it in size dwarf it in reception. The Las Pegasus Post, maybe the Baltimare Bugle."

For some reason, as Celestia finished, Luna smiled, saying jokingly in an attempt to dispatch Celestia's grimace, "Why do all these establishments of the press employ some element of alliteration in their names?"

"That's hardly the point, sister," came the stern response as Celestia unfolded the paper, her interest devoted into its contents, "By the end of the day, Equestria will know about the aliens. By tomorrow, the whole world very well may know."

Shining Armor shrugged, saying quietly, "The secret is out."

"How accurate is the story?" asked Luna, her smile slowly fading.

"It's rubbish, completely contrived," Celestia answered, her eyes glued to the page as she read on, "It reads like a science fiction novel with hardly a shred of truth, aside from the fact that aliens blew up the town hall while trying to kill each other."

Shining Armor, who had undoubtedly already read the article, nodded agreement, adding onto the princess' statement, saying, "Alien invasion, War of the Worlds type crap."

"But the basic message is quite clear," came Celestia again, putting down the paper, "The news of the Arbiter's war coming to Equesria is not so far from the truth."

The trio was quiet for a moment, thought filling the break in conversation as all the factors of the situation were weighed respectively.

"Is there anything else in there we should be aware of?" asked Luna, standing up straight with a degree of command in her tone.

"Apart from the funnies?" clarified Shining humorously; his joke went unappreciated, and was responded to with a brief unamused glance from Celestia.

"They're saying something about how yesterday was much shorter than it should have been, a bit about a dog show in Canterbury, a story on weight loss, and a bit about meteor showers a few days ago in the astrology section," explained Celestia as she scanned through the rest of the paper, "We know two of those things are relevant."

There was a pause in the conversation, and the lull was drawn to an end when Luna drew a sigh.

"Well... then," she began slowly, "Perhaps we should take the announcement of our guests upon ourselves, so that none of the facts are swayed and no unnecessary misconceptions are allowed to brew. Wouldn't want fear or confusion to set in. Be sure to focus on the ability of our allies rather than the strength of our foes."

Shining and Celestia looked to each other with similar acceptance, nodding a bit as Luna looked to them expectantly for their response.

"I'll get going on a speech," Celestia said in answer to her sister, "Should you deliver it, or shall I?"

"Why don't you," responded Luna, "Equestria is still getting used to having me back, as I am getting used to being back myself. They may respond better to you."

"In the meantime, I'll approach the Arbiter," chimed Shining, "Maybe I'll ask him to make an appearance when we give this speech."

"I will also tell the Shipmaster our... decision," Luna said as she made eye contact with Celestia, the two nodding mutual understanding.

Celestia sniffed, and took the nearest quill and parchment in her magic's grasp.

"Well then," she said, "it seems we have some work to do."

Luna and the Captain turned to go about their tasks, and as they neared the door, Celestia called them back.

"You realize that if we go through with this," she began, "there will be no turning back."

Luna took a step nearer her sibling's desk.

"Are you not sure we should commit?" she asked, her eyes with the look of concern.

"Hesitancy is a precaution," came the answer.

"Lack of action is a mistake," Luna rebutted calmly, turning her head to one side.

There was a quiet as the two siblings shared a stare, a stare that spoke volumes in its silence, when the stallion in their presence made himself heard.

"I had a thought the other day," he began, an element of fondness in his voice, "The Elements of Harmony only work on beings that would subjugate others as a means to an end. Sombra, Discord, others of the like. It only works on the evil. And it worked on the Remnant."

He looked up before he continued.

"I don't know if the Arbiter is as benevolent as the Elements of Harmony, but the Remnant is here for evil reasons. We know that. I might have doubted that before, but now I know. And that's all the cause I need to fight them off. And if the Arbiter will help us, then I for one, welcome him without any reservations."

The alicorns again shared a precarious glance, and Shining Armor took his leave after a short silence, saying, "But hey, the call's not mine to make."

As the door shut behind him, the sisters once again looked to one another.

"See to it that the citizens are notified of the address," Celestia began, "and that couriers are sent to the cities too far to receive the message today. By the sun's setting, the world will have changed forever."

The Arbiter breathed. He felt his sword at his side, its weight comfortable and balanced. His body moved beneath his gleaming shell, adopting a stance to counter any incoming strike. He held his blade out before his barreled chest, bracing his elbow with his free hand, and with predatory eyes, he watched his ivory armored opponent circle him.

Suddenly, his foe rushed in, and the Arbiter's blade swung into action. The sound of heavy footfalls on the grass and of swords meeting in air clamored through the courtyard alongside grunts of effort as the first blow was parried and countered, only to be blocked in turn. A few seconds of violence suddenly disbanded as space was once again put between the two adversaries with a kick from a white boot.

Staggering back, the Arbiter once again readied himself, and braced against the oncoming wall of metal, muscle and weaponry that was Shipmaster Rtas 'Vadum. The Arbiter ducked a massive, cleaving blow, and responded with a slash of his own, which was also dodged. Again, the two struck at one another simultaneously, opposite blades froze just at opposite combatants' necks, and all the Elites watching the duel grinned: a draw.

"It seems time has yet to slow us," Rtas chortled as the two comrades lowered their blades.

"Hmm," grunted the Arbiter as he rubbed a shoulder, "Not time, but age perhaps."

The Elites assembled around the makeshift dueling ring in the palace courtyard once again horseshoed around their leaders, smiles on their haggard faces. The Arbiter knew why; in a strange land, something such as a marshal yard were familiar. Canterlot suddenly felt all the more like home.

As the Arbiter opened his mouth to speak, he saw an equine figure approaching from behind his comrades.

"Shipmaster, continue dueling matches," he began as he started to step away from the group, "Do not allow your sword arms to weaken."

"As you command," came the response, and he pointed to two other warriors, "Zamamai, Wattinr, in the ring."

The Arbiter split the distance with the approaching unicorn, Shining Armor, and gave him a friendly bow.

"How did you sleep?" he asked in greeting.

The Captain smiled to himself, seeing the misguided attempt at adopting the Equestrian custom of greeting, and returned the bow. He looked past the sterling alien to the members of his kin crossing swords as they once again stood erect, and his eyebrows cocked.

"Hey, um...," began the stallion, rubbing the back of his neck as he hesitated, "I saw you at Chevron's funeral."

The Arbiter's expression grew a bit harder as he returned the Captain's stare.

"Why didn't you join us?"

The Arbiter's boot pawed a bit at the ground.

"I thought it ill timed," he confessed, his eyes not straying from the Captain's, "I would be naïve to think some members of his family would not blame those like me for his death. I hope it does not offend your customs that I paid my respects to him from a distance."

Shining Armor raised an eyebrow to the taller alien.

"Respects?" he asked, surprised by his counterpart's diction; the Sangheili was quick to explain.

"If you think it odd for me to honor the death of a soldier not of my own race, consider that I have spent my life fighting alongside warriors to whom I owe my life, Sangheili and otherwise. A coalition such as the one you and I find ourselves in is not so foreign to me."

The prince nodded comprehension, and after a pause in the conversation, looked past the Arbiter to the other Elites sparring in the grass of the courtyard before their neatly arranged stolen array of vehicles and equipment.

"Still not tired of fighting yet, huh?" Shining murmured as one of the combatants threw his opponent over his shoulder in a grappling move, a quickly drawn energy dagger harmlessly albeit deliberately pointed to the grounded warrior's neck.

"This is but a dueling ring," explained the Arbiter, looking back, "A setting of practice to train the eye and the arm so that real fights are shorter."

He paused before he gestured to the circle, adding, "Would you care to try?"

"I don't doubt I will soon, along with the rest of the Equestrian military," Shining answered, chortling slightly.

The Arbiter looked eagerly down to the Equestrian as he waited for his alluded to point to be driven.

"I came to you today with some news," he began, "Princess Celestia and Princess Luna have made the executive decision of allowing the Shipmaster and yourself to train and, if you deem appropriate, equip Equestria's Royal Army to fight the Covenant. In turn, Equestria will apply what you teach us to train the militaries of the rest of the coming coalition."

The Arbiter looked confused, he surprised, he asked, "The rest of the coalition?"

"That brings me to my next point," the Captain responded, "The princesses have also deemed it best to announce our current situation to the rest of the world. Upon calling for aide, we know the Crystal Empire will join us, and we expect at least Tarragonia, Griffondale, Minoa, Saddle Arabia and the Shetland Isles to join us as well. Together, we just may have the size and the infrastructure to take on the Covenant."

The Arbiter nodded comprehension; this was good news.

"The princess will be making a speech later, and letters have already been sent to the leaders of the world. You will be making an appearance at this speech, unless you feel strongly against such a thing. The sight of you will add tangibility to this whole thing."

Shining finished, and he looked up at the Arbiter with a bit of pride about his uniformed demeanor. The Arbiter's eyes were down and to the left, his mind working the situation over before he spoke in a low, hushed tone.

"The world will know we are here," he mused, before going on, looking his company in the eye and nodding with, "I will inform the others. We will get to work immediately."

"And one more thing," the prince said as the Arbiter began to turn back to his kinsmen, "You've been granted access to Equestria's archives. The library may be a good place to focus your efforts. That's where just about every form of knowledge is kept. You need clues, pieces of a puzzle for finding this artifact or just something to read, that'll be your best bet."

The Arbiter again nodded understanding, his mandibles curling into a smile at everything's finally falling into place.

"Has that console been lighting up at all?" Shining asked suddenly.

"Sporadically," came the answer, "Vol's fleet is anchored over a different continent at the moment, and there are no more plans of terrestrial operations for some time to come. They are continuing with their scans, and undoubtedly studying the documents they made off with from the municipality they attacked yesterday. That is all we know, but I will have it monitored continuously."

There was a break before the Arbiter returned to the subject if before, asking, "When will this speech be made, and where?"

"There will be attendants seeing to you once the speech commences to keep the choreography of the presentation in check. They'll be meeting you in the Dining Hall in three hours."

The Arbiter clicked his mandibles, his amber eyes lighting up a bit with satisfaction.

"Will there be anything else?" Shining asked after his counterpart's silence, and upon receiving no answer, the stallion snapped to attention, and gave a salute; the Arbiter mimicked the gesture with his own kind's acknowledgement, placing his fist over his heart and bowing his head.

"I look forward to working with you," Shining said in compliment, and with that, he turned, and strode back inside the palace, leaving the Arbiter in a far gladder state than he had found him in.

Canterlot Palace's Medical Wing was quiet, painfully so. It was the kind of quiet that seems loud, that rings in the ears until some sort of subtle noise graces the silence with stimulation. The room Dash had been stitched up in was no better; a book page's occasional turning, or a hushed yawn was all that was audible as four friends sat inside, waiting for the day to progress into something. Twilight, Fluttershy, A.J. and a very groggy Rainbow Dash were the quarter's only occupants.

"You think they'll move us to a real room any time soon?" Dash asked as she looked up from the wall she'd previously been staring at.

"Probably," Twilight responded, her eyes still glued to the book she'd had the foresight to grab from the library, "I hope so. There's not a lot of comfortable space in here."

A glance around proved she was right; most of them were seated on the floor or in chairs not meant for sustained use. Cushions sounded like a blessing.

"It also seems weird to be in a hospital when we're all fine," Fluttershy admitted quietly.

"How is everyone feeling?" Twilight asked once Fluttershy had finished.

"Bored," responded Dash quickly, her voice dry.

"But as opposed to yesterday?"

"Mm," Applejack said without looking up from underneath her downturned hat in her adopted armchair, her dormant figure suddenly awake again, "Better... I guess."

"I just miss Angel," Fluttershy whimpered.

"It almost feels like it never happened," Dash began, "In real life I mean. Like... a dream?"

"Nightmare," corrected Applejack, sitting up and readjusting her Stetson, "But that's just a part of being a hero... I guess. Wonder if the princesses feel that way."

"I wonder how the others are faring," Twilight speculated aloud.

"Rarity, Spike and Pinkie been gone awhile," Applejack observed aloud, stretching as her back audibly popped, "How long does it take to get snacks?"

"We did give them quite a list," Twilight hummed, quietly going over the assorted snacks they'd ordered from their friends on the errand, "Apples, carrots, hay fries... what else? Coffee cakes?"

Suddenly, the door to the small room erupted inwards, their friends in question bursting in short of breath and the half-finished shopping list they'd gathered spilling from their paper bags.

"Guys, something's up!", Spike shouted excitedly as his friends found their hooves, standing up amidst the commotion.

Pinkie picked up where Spike had left off, "There's a bazillion ponies outside, guards everywhere, and some really big banners and stuff!"

"They're gathering around the palace entryway," Rarity went on, trying to breathe slowly so as to sound eloquent despite her lack of air; they'd obviously come very far very urgently, "and there's some sort of a stage or something set up. Reporters are lined up at the steps. I think there's a Royal Address to be made."

"Well let's check it out!" Dash said, making her mind up for the others, and they all followed her quickly as she hurried out the door.

Following a prism of light through the halls, the group found their way out of the Medical Wing and onto the Canterlot's entry way. True to the promises of before, there were myriad others already gathered before the palace steps in a massive crowd. Royal Guards, stoic in their traditional armor, separated the steps from the excited rabble, and banners hung from their erected ceremonial spear shafts, billowing in the light spring breeze. It was a sunny day, the same as most Equestrian springs. The pegasi had cleared the skies of clouds, but some thunderheads were building over the Unicorn Range to the west. As the sun glinted off of the ivory exterior of the massive palace towers looming over the crowd of thousands, the Elements of Harmony, as well as Spike, slyly intermingled with the crowd and migrated towards the front of the masses. Here, where they could see much more, Spike jumped up to Twilight's back, craning his head above those at his sides, and looked back at the mob they had traversed.

"Where'd they all come from?" he asked aloud, distraught as he shielded his eyes from the sun.

"Everywhere?" suggested Rarity, nearly shouting over the ambient noise of all the ponies gathered around, "I can hear accents from Stalliongrad to Baltimare, and there's press badges from Las Pegasus and Dodge Junction."

"This is big, y'all" Applejack said, stating the obvious in the midst of their mutual confusion, "What do ya reckon it could be about?"

"We'll find out soon enough," Twilight answered as her eyes elevated to the opening palace gates, a pair of alicorns coming through, "There's the princesses."

In an instant the crowd went silent, and Celestia took her place at the stand in the exact middle of the palace steps with Luna at her side. She took a few moments of silence to allow the anticipation to build as she simply looked down at the masses before her, each stallion and mare in turn looking back in a state of fascination. The majesty of the princesses alongside the mystery of the day's subject commanded the very setting. Eventually, the Princess of the Sun opened her mouth to speak.

"Citizens of Equestria," she began, her maternal, authoritative voice seizing those that listened, "As I speak now, events within the kingdom are transpiring that will shake the entire world."

The princess paused again, her words and their implications ringing through the now quiet air. As she finished, the Elements looked to one another; they knew what was coming.

"Long have we looked to the stars in wonder," continued Celestia, her regal mane flowing in the wind like the banners of the guards flanking her stand, "imagining what else lies beyond the threshold of our starlit night sky. We no longer have to imagine."

The breeze picked up as she looked down at the podium she stood before and paused, and the only sound in the entirety of thousands was the flapping of the flags and banners. She looked back up, and somehow, her eyes found Twilight's, and like a dream, the words the princess had spoken to her a day before echoed through her mind.

"Trust me."

The princess' eyes elevated once more, and her chest expanded as she took a deep breath in.

"Two days ago, Equestria made contact with a civilization not of this world."

As soon as she finished, a hushed, excited albeit fearful commotion rose among the crowd. But, when the palace gates opened once more, and a tall figure clad in silver strode through, the commotion turned to cries of tumultuous fear. Yet, when he stood at the side of the princesses, adjacent them in stature, honor and regality, they gave him a friendly nod. The simple gesture calmed the masses enough for the princess' commanding voice to reach over them, and the Elite's amber eyes gazed out to those gathered before him.

"To my right is one member of said civilization, The Arbiter as he is known. He has proven himself a friend to us, as have his allies. Yet not all the news I give you today is of such glad nature," Celestia said.

The Arbiter's fists tensed, the weapons on his back and hips giving no false allusions as to his martial status. Yet, the Equestrians gathered beneath him already knew he was no foe.

"Along with the Arbiter came others whom would see us subjugated," continued Celestia, "An alien coalition called the Covenant has proven itself hostile against the inhabitants of our world. Already one settlement, Trottingham, has been attacked, as was told of in the Canterlot Post this day. Yet, with the Arbiter's aide, the attack was repelled, and many Equestrian lives saved."

Twilight gave her friends at her side a reassuring look, but the tension in their expressions explained how each member of the crowd must have been feeling.

"But we are not clear of the hardships ahead. Equestria has surmounted many trials in the past, and we shall do so again, but there is no need to do it alone. With Equestria's Angels at our side, we will overcome."

"Equestria's Angels?" Spike said from Twilight's back, his small fangs forming a smile, "I like that."

"But, I must also take this time to make something abundantly clear," Celestia went on, "The Covenant is an enemy to all who share this world. Which is why I must call for the unity of the military forces of the free nations across the globe. Equestria will host union meetings promptly, and while the leaders of the world convene, we must not forget what is at stake. Our homes, our families, our lives."

"Equestria was built on the foundation of love and tolerance. And while these are honorable traits and must never be abandoned, there sometimes comes a circumstance where one must accept that peace is not an option," she paused before sternly going on, "This is one of those times. And so we will fight."

The anticipation rang through the air as the future of millions hung on Celestia's words.

"Equestria is declaring a state of war against the forces of the Covenant Empire, an extraterrestrial organization of military nature. Today, at the sun's highest point in the sky, the bells across the kingdom will ring, and they shall not ring again until victory has been achieved. As a nation, as a family, we will fight to see that day come. All of us will sacrifice in some way, but we will do so together, and we will see our home made safe once again. Trust in me as I will trust in you, and we will emerge from the heat and pressure of conflict tempered, strong, and unbroken. Long live Equestria."

And from the princess' side, the Arbiter muttered, "May our swords light our way."