There comes a time in every pony’s life when they are simply… happy. A simple yet powerful emotion which many strive to earn. Sometimes it would come as the result of a great accomplishment, such as achieving victory in sports, or a scientific discovery. Other times, it came as a result of simpler, yet more intimate moments such as when embracing a lover, or one’s newborn child. Yet for every pony, there would always be a time in which they would be happy.

For Lance Corporal Rumble, along with the rest of his squad, this was not such a time. Being on the receiving end of a bright, purple beam of magic instead tended to be quite terrifying, especially when it left you and your friends spasming on the ground like rats after biting an electrical cable while the caster ran past you and right out the door.

“GET THEM! DON’T LET THEM ESCAPE!”

The cry of wailing claxons filled the halls of ZOCOM HQ, all civilian and research personnel rushing towards the secured shelters as per procedure. Meanwhile the facility’s military detachment scoured the halls, chasing the escaped prisoners and rogue princess down the ponymade metal labyrinth.

“Not to be ungrateful or anything, Twilight” said Rarity, running as fast as her legs could take her “but are you sure this was a good idea?!”

“No, but I wasn’t about to let you both rot in there either.” answered Twilight, trying to get her bearing as they approached a corner. It was then that three more soldiers appeared, blocking their way.

“STOP RIGHT THE- AGH!” cried the armored pegasus as his face was struck by a purple bolt, collapsing and spasming on the ground. Surprised by that sudden outcome, his two companions were unable to stop the three mares from crashing right through them.

“Sarge is down, what do we do?!” asked one of them.

“Do we shoot them?” suggested his partner.

"I don't know! We're only allowed to shoot changelings, not princesses!"

“What about tackling them?”

“Do YOU want to be the one to tackle royalty?!”

“... no.”

“Then let’s keep chasing them! There isn’t a rule about tackling, right?”
_______________________

“Looks like our services weren’t really needed, after all.” stated a silhouette, covered in shadow and invisible to the eye.

“You can say that again. For a princess, she can handle herself quite well even with luggage.” stated another of the unseen observers

“Should we.. y’know… do something besides just watch, ma’am?” a third asked. The only reply he got was a shrug that only their trained eyes could see and he got the message surprisingly loud and clear.

“We’re here just in case, not to get in the way if Princess Twilight can handle herself. We follow and observe, intervene only if necessary.”

“How about now?” the third Shadow asked, nodding in the direction of two ponies still chasing after the trio of mares. Lieutenant Pallette pumped two stun rounds into each of them as her personal targeting computer lined up the pistols on her saddle with the reticle on her HUD. Both fell to the ground as if they’d been struck too hard on the head and thrashed a little as electricity coursed through their bodies.

“Happy?” the earth pony mare replied, looking back at her team. “Yes? Then let’s move.”
_______________________

Usually when one gets chased by military police, you are supposed to go quietly in order to encourage them to detain you gently. Princess Twilight had the opposite on her mind as she and Rarity ran and Pinkie Pie bounced through more hallways. Any guard that got too close either received a magical shock from the alicorn or ended up crashing into their buddy in a vain attempt to tackle the bouncing pink party pony hopping past.

“These ponies really stink at playing tag, Twilight!”

“They’re not playing tag, Pinkie, they’re trying to arrest you!” Twilight told her as she let off another stun blast.

“But what did I do this time!?”

“Nothing! You weren’t supposed to be here in the first place! That’s why I’m breaking you out!”

“So they are playing tag, but if I lose I go back in the glass box?”

“N… yes Pinkie. This is a big game of tag and they can not under any circumstances catch you. Ok?”

“Okie Doki Lokie!” Pinkie sang back with a sly smile. Two more tried to take her down and they found themselves tied up with streamers. Where Pinkie got them from, Twilight didn’t even want to think about.

“Rarity, can you use your magic at all?” Twilight asked, looking over to her beleaguered friend as they continued their desperate race to freedom.

“Still nothing, darling. My horn is as useless as sapphires on casual afternoon wear!”

“Then stay closer on my tail, we should be getting close to the pickup point.”

“Pickup? You have friends coming to get us?”

“How else did you expect me to get you off of the airship floating thousands of meters above Canterlot, Rarity?” the purple mare replied with a tinge of annoyance. As they continued onwards, it became clear that they were now running straight towards a dead end.

“Twilight, wait! We’re trapped here!” noted Rarity, earning a grin from the Friendship Princess.

“Don’t worry, I've got a plan. But I’m gonna need you to jump as soon as I tell you to!” Twilight replied, determination prevailing in her face.

“Stop right there, criminal sc-AGH!” another guard barked, only to be cut off mid-order as a small dart found its way into his neck. Electricity coursed through his body as he and the other two that had been with him kept kicking around on the ground and four more ponies appeared out of thin air in front of the three Element Bearers.

They did not wear anything resembling a GDI uniform or piece of armor. Instead they were covered from head to hoof, muzzle to tail, in a black jumpsuit that clashed heavily with the sterile gunmetal-grey of their surroundings. Of course, given the fact that they were invisible just a second ago, concerns regarding traditional camouflage were simply nonexistent.

“Princess Twilight?” the lead pony asked as two pistols on her side folded back into the saddle.

“Yes…?”

“Lieutenant Pallette, Shadow Strike Squad Gamma. We’re your escort, your highness.”

“Your timing is perfect, Ms. Pallette. I believe you have something for me though?” replied Twilight, expectant.

“Of course your highness.” Lieutenant Pallette replied, recalling the message she had just received and was to deliver. “230 meters northwest, altitude 16 meters underneath epicenter.”

“Alright. Everypony, gather close.” said Twilight, those gathered obeying her command as she focused on her magic.

“HALT! YOU ARE VIOLATING THE LAW!” cried out yet another GDI officer, leading the charge of what appeared to be at least two squads of soldiers against the trapped ponies. However, before they could be tackled, the group was gone in a purple flash.

As far as everyone was concerned, they were floating. Not flying, or hovering rather, like a pegasus could. They were literally just standing on air.

“This is… unusual” commented Rarity, tapping the apparent solid air they were standing on, getting a metallic sound as a result.

Lieutenant Pallette wasted no time in locating something though, informing everyone just before jumping down and disappearing into the aether. Only through Twilight’s example did the other two Element Bearers do the same thing.

“We are glad you could join us.” Luna said, smiling as Twilight, her friends, and the Shadow Team dropped down from the roof hatch.

“Twilight!” Spike exclaimed, running over and hugging her, “I’m so glad you three are all safe.”

“Thank you Spike, we’re fine. Nothing to worry about.” Twilight replied, nuzzling his cheek a little.

“I know, I know…” he muttered, wiping off his cheek before looking over at Rarity as she tried to find a corner to disappear in. “Rarity…?”

“Um… hello, Spike. I hope you’re doing well.”

“I’m good, but what about you?” the young drake asked, the worry plain on his face as he walked over to her. “I didn’t get to see you after you were hurt.”

“I’m fine, Spike. Please don’t come any closer.” Rarity requested, backing away a little more as he kept walking forward. Before she could find anywhere else to run though, Rarity found herself backed against one of the seats aboard with Spike blocking all means of escape.

“Twilight already told me about… about the scars.” he whispered to her. “It’s ok if you don’t want to show me, but you don’t have to run away. I’m still the same.”

“I know, Spike, I…. I know.” the fashionista murmured, sitting on her knees as she looked around. With a sign and a small flick of her head, she whipped her mane back to show him the curving web of tiberium lines barely thicker than a hair that covered her once flawless face and neck. “It’s horrible, isn’t it?”

“Only if I were blind, m’lady.” Spike replied with a friendly smile. Rarity returned it with a small grin of her own as she moved her mane back down to cover the lines of tiberium. She had been treated like a criminal and a freak ever since Twilight saved their lives and Spike had been the first male of any species to stare out of admiration, not spite, fear, or freakish curiosity.

“If we are all finished with the pleasantries, we must get down to the matter at hoof.” Luna interrupted, “Rarity, Pinkie Pie, we have just broken you out of the most ‘secure’ facility in Equestria. You both have a choice to make now that you are free. If you desire, we will drop you off in Ponyville and you can alert the authorities that you both were kidnapped from prison against your will, where you will be arrested again and ‘quarantined’ until a cure for tiberium is found. If not, we will either take you with us to my facility in Changeling Territory, or you can wander the fringes of Equestria and hope to survive.”

“What happens if we join up?” Rarity inquired, standing up once more and walking back to the group, currently clustered around Princess Luna.

“Then you join our research division and swear fealty to Us, not our sister. You will be granted asylum from GDI and if necessary, we will even pick up your sister at a later date.”

“Can I throw a We-Just-Got-Out-Of-Prison-And-Won-A-Big-Game-Of-Tag Party once we land?” Pinkie asked, still bouncing in place.

“Of course, Laughter. Though I do hope you realize that unless ponies that you know get recruited into my division, you cannot speak with them for quite some time.”

Pinkie Pie mulled this over for a few moments, rubbing her chin thoughtfully. Twilight could practically see the wheels turning in her head before the pink mare nodded resolutely and gave the Lunar Princess a semi-serious salute.

“Count me in, Princess! I can’t throw parties in a cell so it’s my only real choice, ain’t it?”

“I will join as well, your majesty. I can’t go back. Even if I wasn’t a monster, I’m now a wanted criminal.” Rarity added.

“Rarity, you’re not a monster. I’ve been one, remember?” Spike quipped, keeping up a smug grin at the memory of his Greed Growth incident.

“And you already know that I’m in this all the way, Luna. If we’re going to save the world, we need to think outside the box. Just like we always do.”

“Perfect.” Luna stated, smiling at the four of them. “Friends, we have taken the first step in a path that will allow us to save the world.”
_______________________

The carryall flew for what felt like days to the exhausted mares, though the fact that the sun was barely setting when they arrived spoke only of hours. As it approached Luna’s facility in Changeling territory, the pilots deactivated its cloaking device and radioed in at the appropriate distances, slowing down only when ordered to. During the first deceleration, a flight of thestrals boarded and scanned everpony aboard. During the second, the shadow team all gave respectful salutes and leaped out the back as their gliders unfurled.

“They aren’t coming with us?” Spike asked.

“They are heading back to their barracks. They had a long journey and don’t need to go to the lab.” Luna replied with a small smile.

Once the scans were complete and the pilots were granted the proper flight path, the bulky aircraft started slowing down again. Everyone inside could feel their stomachs drop a little as the carryall did the same. Just a few more minutes of waiting saw them all safely on the ground, walking along a helipad with guards lining the railing. As they walked along the pathway, Twilight swore she could see SAM sites mounted along the walls of the research facility and even a few bunkers. She was unable to get a full view though before she was hurried inside with the others by a guard who was a little overzealous to get everypony inside and away from prying eyes.

“Girls, Spike, stay on our flank for the remainder of this trip, at least until we say so. Should you get lost inside it would be extremely problematic. Clear?” Luna ordered. Everypony nodded their replies and their trek into the depths of Luna’s workshop began.

Twilight, Rarity, and Pinkie continued down the dark hallway, trailing Princess Luna as she trotted through the passage underneath the landing pad. For nearly 20 minutes, they descended deeper and deeper through countless security checkpoints into the tunnels underneath Luna’s “Research and Development” center for Tiberium. After Luna cast a spell in passing, a doorway appeared on one of the stone walls and the three Element Bearers were hurried into another small security room by the lunar monarch.

“Princess, will you please just tell me where we are go….ing….” Twilight muttered, her request dying on her lips as Luna’s horn glowed bright once more and the walls to her left revealed themselves to be large windows. On the other side of them, Twilight, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity could see a massive chamber filled to the brim with Tiberium, laboratory equipment, and every race on the planet working together underneath blood-red banners with an odd emblem of a stylized triangle with a curled scorpion tail inside of it sewn in.

“Welcome, my friends, to the true face of the Tiberium R&D Division…. the Brotherhood of Nod.” Luna announced, gesturing grandly with her wings to the display before her.

“It’s… research, but not for the destruction of the crystal?” Rarity murmured, her tone betraying just how confused she still was.

“Of course. We differ in opinion with our sister on what to do with this substance.” Luna replied as they started working their way through even more security stations, “Where she sees an incurable cancer, We have found a means to adapt. Tiberium is already proving advantageous in magical research as well as weather control. Technology is advancing faster than ever before in the history of Equestria, but only if we harness Tiberium to its full potential, instead of hypocritically harvesting and eradicating it like our misguided sister, can we hope to save ourselves.”

“But I thought you and Celestia both hated Tiberium, Princess.” Spike stated.

“In public, yes. A divided royal family is a divided country, and for now, We need to maintain appearances… however, We cannot stand idly by and just let her bury this crystal and its impact on our society in the history books.”

“So you took control and started recruiting... No wonder there are still extremists running around out there.” Twilight muttered.

“Those cells have their uses. They keep the Defense Initiative on their toes which leads to delays, they have to spring extra resources on security as opposed to research which is where we will have the advantage.” Luna continued, getting to the last doorway.

“All while still answering to you.” Twilight retorted with a genuinely impressed, if concerned, expression, “I can’t say I’m exactly comfortable with the idea, Princess, but I can’t deny I’m impressed.”

“Your flattery is not necessary, but appreciated, my dear student.” Luna replied with a small smile as the door opened. When it did, Twilight was immediately assaulted by the familiar scents and sights of a laboratory. She felt like she was home as Luna continued her tour, running her through various research areas until finally coming to one more door at the far end of the lab. Unlike the others, this one was painted the same red as the banners with an even more embellished scorpion tail and triangle emblem centered on it.

“Magic, Generosity, Laughter.” Luna said, looking at the three mares before her, “We brought you here for two reasons. One was of course, to show you the true face of our division… the second is that We wish you to see a momentous occasion, one that will resonate throughout history as a turning point in the Tiberium Conflict.”

“I’m honored, Princess.” Twilight replied with a slight bow that Pinkie, Rarity, and Spike all matched. Luna replied by willing the door open with her magic and stepping inside with the others close on her heels once more.

Inside, Twilight immediately noticed that the light was low, red, and gave the room a surreal, almost ethereal atmosphere. Consoles lined the walls, monitors showing surveillance from all over Equestria walled the ceiling, and in the very center of the room was a giant, holographic globe that glowed a familiar red hue all over except for certain portions where green was dominant.

“Welcome, your majesties. I had no idea you were stopping by.” a smooth voice cut across the room, making Twilight jump a little. Its owner was a dark grey earth pony with no mane or tail but with plenty of scruff along his chin and around his muzzle. His eyes were dark brown, almost black and his emerald cutie mark seemed as if it was glowing in the low light.

“Girls, this is Professor Crystal Theory, lead Tiberium researcher and my most loyal follower.”

“You flatter me, your highness.” Theory responded with a bow.

“We do more than that.” Luna said, “Theory, you’ve been the head of this entire operation since before We took over. You have made strides that even We never would have thought possible, and you have done nothing less than perfect work in every field.”

“Majesty, I’m just doing my job for the good of Equestria.”

“And you’ve not let anything get in your way in the process… it is for this reason that you have been selected.” Luna stated, her stance shifting a bit as she made herself a hair taller. “Professor, it is time for our division to be more active in the world. The cells already hitting GDI are not enough to delay Celestia’s efforts on their own. We believe it’s time we move to stage 2.”

“Stage 2…?” Rarity asked, cocking her visible eyebrow.

“Where the Brotherhood goes public under a single figurehead to challenge GDI openly. The intent is to prove the… inability, of GDI to protect the world from Tiberium and thus cause more ponies to flock to our cause. Violence will be necessary, but the ends will justify the means with which we conduct this war.” Theory replied.

“War!?” the three mares screeched.

“Yes, war.” Luna told them firmly, “For a year now We have tried to reason with Celestia, tried to convince her that a more ‘cavalier’ attitude was necessary for the survival of our world, but she has refused to give it even a thought. You both witnessed this firsthoof when she incarcerated you for having the gall to survive a tiberium infestation. It is the only way, but We cannot be the one to lead Nod. At least not openly, not yet.”

“But who will lead us then?” Theory asked.

“You.” Luna nearly deadpanned, “You have been the most important member of this entire division, Our right hoof in spreading our counter-measures and researching this crystal… it is for that reason that you will ascend to control what we have created, second only to Us and Princess Twilight. You, our dearest ally, shall lead the Brotherhood as their Messiah. You will lead them from the shadows and strike GDI whenever and wherever possible. Celestia’s little ‘initiative’ will be cut down bit by bit, methodically, with surgical precision.”

“It will be done, your highness.”

“From this day forth, you are Cry-”

“If I may, Princess. But I wish to leave that name behind me. If I am to publically lead the Brotherhood where you cannot, then I believe I should choose a new name that will inspire respect in our troops and fear in GDI.”

“You… have a valid point, Theory. Your given name is not exactly the most fearsome of titles.” Luna mused. “Very well, do you have a name you wish to be called, Supreme Leader?”

“As a matter of fact, majesty, I do.”
__________________________

Five gryphons adorned in black armor laid in wait in a hollowed out cloud. Below them was a GDI harvester convoy returning from a tiberium field, and above them was a dragon with two emblems magically stencilled into his shoulders. His right shoulder was bearing Nod’s signature scorpion tail, while his left was showing a dragon’s hand with the claws extended outward but with the ring and middle digit held together.

On the ground along the road, pony and changeling militia members were hiding in every imaginable place the gryphons could think of. The largest gryphon, a black-feathered fellow whose armor was also decorated with a blood red cape, scowled at the convoy below his floating lookout with disdain. GDI harvesters were slow and their escorts usually light, even this far into a yellow zone.

Over the past few months since Professor Theory had taken direct control of the Brotherhood, he had branched out to every race that GDI had excluded and given them an invitation. To the gryphons he offered a way to save their species from extinction, to the Changelings he had offered a more stable and equal partnership. To the Diamond Dogs, he had given them a chance to avoid extinction or at least go out fighting. To the Dragons he had offered a chance for their adolescents to prove themselves in the glory of combat, and to anypony that wanted to defect away from a stagnant and incapable organization, he had offered freedom. The results had been staggering as earth ponies had flocked by the thousands to Nod’s banner and the Gryphons pledged their complete military support. With these alliances solidified, all five races vowed to work publically under one banner, one vision, one purpose, and one Messiah.

“Once the signal is given, we swoop in on the harvesters. Militia will keep the guards-ponies busy long enough for us to eliminate the drivers and then we focus on the officers. Leave one or two low-ranking survivors.” he whispered into his mouthpiece once he put his three-eyed helmet on.

Nearly five more minutes passed before the lead gryphon nodded to his wingman, who in turn used a small mirror to reflect light right into the biggest nest of militia ponies. In response, three missiles and a blast of magical energy lanced out at the lead and rear vehicles of the convoy before small arms fire enveloped the confused GDI troops.

“For the Messiah, For Sister Pie, For the honor of the Black Hand. May He bless our charge, and protect those under our command.” the lead gryphon chanted.

His wingmen said the same before bumping their helmets together at the forehead for good luck. With the official and unofficial rituals complete, the gryphons and their dragon dove right into the skirmish with laser and flamethrower rifles blazing. Two flanked off to the left and two flanked off to the right, pouncing on any guardspony that got in their way. Talons slashed out as many times as laser fire did, felling any pony they could find wearing GDI garb. The dragon landed on one of the APCs, tearing the roof off and flooding the inside with flames until the sides melted.

The lead gryphon on the other hand landed on the pilot’s hatch of the forward harvester. With as much strength as he could muster, he popped the hatch, and filled the inside with flames. Once he was sure that he had burnt the cockpit enough, he stood up on top of the flaming harvester, hefted his rifle into the air, and let out a warcry that would haunt every member of the Global Defense Initiative for the rest of time.

“IN THE NAME OF KANE!”