Warframe - A Mission Never to Forgetby Silver Octave
Chapters
I
I never liked the void. Traveling through it left a sour taste in my mouth, and I never liked tasting sour things. Through all of the void, most of it was empty, barren of any life, or life that was once there, destroyed by the Grineer. Some worlds were destroyed by their own suns, others were blown apart in the war.
The War...I do not remember much about it. There were lies...secrets...Who was the Lotus before? My memories are scattered like the shattered planets.
"Operator?" I nod to Ordis, allowing him to speak. I am thankful that he broke me from my thoughts. Often, I am trapped within them and wait for Ordis to snap me out of it. The -THE BITCH- Lotus has a mission for you.
I walked over to the coms of my ship. I enter in my Tenno ID and open the channel.
"Tenno, there is a wormhole that opened two sectors out of our zone. I would like for you to check it out. Further information includes that this wormhole is unstable, but it do beware Tenno that if you cross over, we will not know where you end up. You might not also be able to return."
I frown behind my armor. This sounded dangerous, but as a Tenno, I must follow the Lotus's orders. Whatever may lay beyond might benefit the rest of the Tenno. And...Because I am only one, the masses matter more. My life yes is important, but the future will never come if sacrifices must be made. My life could lead humans to a new age, a new renaissance of cultural understanding.
It was quiet, Ordis hasn't said anything for a few moments. It was worrying to see my ship is damaged from my sleep. How long have I slept? How long have other Tenno have slept, it is a very hard question to answer. All of our ships had something wrong with the AI or the ship itself. I heard another Tenno awoke on Eris, and his ship blew up as he took off. What happened that had caused us to sleep for so long? Like...something was wrong.
"Operator? I do not think that this will be a good idea. Data indicates that -BURN IN HELL!- Lotus isn't sure what will happen. Are you sure you will accept this." I nod to my AI. As I saw the ship turn, I heard him say. "Please equip your Scout set operator. -THIS COULD GET BLOODY C- A very unpleasant experience."
Ordis activates the jump to hyperspace. It'll only take two minutes to reach the wormhole with the new warp systems I have installed. I had already spent most of my time in the void searching for parts, I can only hope my new armor will be finished before something goes wrong with this wormhole.
I travel down to the lower deck, a small space filled with all sorts of cool things. I had a Foundry where I could create weapons, armor, or utilities such as ammo packs. To my left, there was a Modification Station, where I could upgrade my current modifications with old useless mods or Fusion Cores. In the back I had my still broken incubator, but who said anything came good out of an egg? Besides, what was all the way in the back, sitting center with the wall was my Armory. I owned three specialized sets with different armors I found my favorites. I understood other Tenno disliked my tastes, but I quite enjoyed walking around on Jupiter with basic armor. One would might say, I don't dress to impress, but for convenience. Besides, Nyx, Oberon, and Chroma are amazing suits.
My Scout set, the set Ordis had recommended was my Nyx armor with high shields and low health to save room for stamina, and I had added an upgrade for my shield regeneration. Oberon was used when I was working with other players to assist when on Defense or Survival missions. Chroma was for general purposes, like gathering materials or Tenno Duels.
Nyx was equipped with a Heat Sword, Dues Exfuris, and a Lunnux. The Heat Sword was modified like my other weapons with the ability to cause blast attacks and lighting. Dues Exfuris had ammo upgrades and impact upgrades while the Lunnux was still new , and had only damage upgrades and a single ammo drum to increase my clip sizes.
I equipped my Nyx armor and see Ordis pulling from hyperspace, and then I hear the amazing thump of the ship blasting compressed atoms harmlessly out into space. I enjoy the feeling of exiting hyperspace, it is truly exhilarating. I step up to the window, and view a massive swirling vortex of many different colors. I've also modified it so I could wear it as the original design was left to the female Tenno, I liked how it gave me a lot more maneuverability during stealth missions and scouting areas.
We have arrived sir. And might I say it is truly a pleasure working with you. I couldn't do anything other than just nod in agreement. While Ordis was broken like most other AI, he had this war driven personality I enjoyed. The occasional glitches that I could fix are well still there, and I do not think Ordis would want me to fix him. He knows he can also fix it at anytime, but chooses not to. Operator...before we go in...I would like to shut down for a long time. If something happens to me after we exit the other side...I do not want to risk hurting you." I tear up behind my helmet, I could tell Ordis knew I was crying.
This was a mission that I might not survive. The Lotus has entrusted me to be the first to cross over, and...I am just another. I walk over and set down on my legs. Then, I closed my eyes, I feel the ship move forward.
"Shutting down all core functions...Good bye, -SILVER-. I begin to shed tears as I stand up and move to the back of the ship. All the systems are shutting down now. I raise the hatch to the lower bay and walk over to the Armory and hope that it'll protect me while I am in the shields. I set my shields to kinetic damage and hope I survive whatever may come.
As a great human had once said..."One small step me...One giant leap for Mankind...". The ship exits, instantly the whole ship starts to rock, and I begin to cry more. As a Tenno, I am trained for anything...but I was never trained, nor remember training for anything like this. A few painful minutes pass by, and all I remember is crashing.
Silver Draos Octave Presents: Warframe - A Mission Never to Forget
At the northern parts of Equestria, a new nation sat in a frozen desert. However, this nation was protected with a very powerful artifact known as the Crystal Heart, and it protected the ponies made of living crystals. They were ruled by two very wonderful Equestrians who showed these troubled ponies that they could be helped. And so they did, and so much more. They were leading the renewed empire to another golden age.
As their princess, Princess Cadence as she preferred to be called by all, walked down the halls of her tall crystal castle, she felt a strange feeling deep in her stomach. It wasn't the foal on the way, that she knew, she could feel when her foal kicked or moved, but this was different, so...strange. She followed the feeling all the way out to her balcony. There was something stirring in the air, it felt so off, it wasn't good.
"Feeling alright honey?" Cadence turned to see her smiling husband, Shining Armor. His white coat was matched with two tone blue mane.
Cadence shook her head, and turned it back to where her gut was telling her to look. "Something doesn't feel right. The wind is running wild, the skies are trembling, and there's a feeling in my gut that I can't ignore."
Shining Armor took a few steps closer to his wife with a concerned look. "Something wrong with the baby?" He gently touched Cadence's stomach.
"No....it's just so...off."
-WWWOOOOOOMMMPPPPPFFFFFF!!!!!!!-
Over head a massive red and black dot rocketed overhead. Shining summoned a shield over them in instinct to protect his wife, and to-be foal. It didn't penetrate the shield the Crystal Heart protected the kingdom, but there was still a blast that shook the castle. Inside crystals shattered as they broke off of the main structure.
"WHAT WAS THAT!?" Shining screamed. Lowing the shield he looked out and followed the trail of black clouds fly deep into the frozen wastes.
"Can you go get that checked out?" Cadence asked after checking on herself.
"You bet! We'll be out before you know it!" Be ran off, but quickly returned to give Cadence and his foal a kiss. He looked into Cadence's eyes and nuzzled her gently. "I'll be careful."
"Come back safe, that's all I care about."
"I love you sweetie..."
"And I love you too Shiny."
Shining Armor began to bark out orders like lightning. He rang alarms throughout the castle and outer regions of the empire. Guards came by masses, ponies were told to stay inside their homes. While fear began to rise in the pits of his stomach, Shining Armor swore he would keep his wife, and the rest of the empire safe. Until his last breath, he would keep this oath.
With a squad of thirteen earth ponies, six pegasi, and four unicorns, Shining led on. After they had met at the shield Shining had stopped them. He spoke about the empire with such passion, using his silver toung to help break their fears of the unknown. "I'll lead us." He said over and over, followed by; "There is nothing to fear." As his words hit home to his squad, his own fear began to rise. One would think while he took away their fear, it all went to him.
His mission could end his life if things go bad, not only this, but other's as well. It was dangerous, the time it took to get them ready for action took longer than he needed, but with the flashes of protection spells from the mages and himself, they ran out into the frozen fields. Their hooves hit the ground at the same time, and with the same step, they ran as fast as they were trained. Rage, and other emotions were keeping the prince of the Crystal Empire on his metaphorical toes. Worry was also there, worry for the future of all, not just the empire.
The trail of black smoke from the object was still fresh and a pillar was starting to act like a beacon to where it had crashed. Heat from the strange metal object had melted a path, leaving a river of water as a trail. With a combination of the fresh water and dark smoke helped give them a path to follow, making the trip all the quicker.
After a full ten minutes of constant running, they found what they were looking for. The snow around it had completely melted and the dead grass around it had turned into black ash. Some of the ground was super-heated and was still burning. A quick look showed the metal thing they were looking at was still intact, but it was burned from the entry. Shining Armor looked to his companions, some had worried looks on their faces, while the unicorns looked rather interested in it. One had taken a step forward, but Shining Armor had shook his head and held him back.
"I'll go first, I want the pegasi to scout around, two earth ponies and another unicorn to come with." He was answered with either nods or 'Yes Sir's.' He walked around it a few times, wondering what he was looking at. A quick scan had showed there was only one life form inside.
"What do you think it is sir? I haven't seen anything like it!"
"Stay calm Blue Light, this could be dangerous."
Blue nodded as he narrowed his eyes. "Understood sir, but we should try to figure out what this is before we try to find out where this creature may be at."
Shining nodded back to Blue. The unicorn was at the top of his classes, and had passed with honors. He rapidly rose through the ranks, and was the top of the guard. The only thing keeping him from being captain was his attitude, but that was slowly getting better. "I wonder where it had came from." Shining had stopped to inspect the burnt glass, it was all still intact, but there were some damages to the front as to be expected. He wiped some of the ash off the glass and saw an entire room inside.
"There's more to it?" Asked Blue as the earth ponies began to rear up.
"What would you like us to do sir?" Cold Steel had asked with a static expression. It was like he wasn't even fazed by the strange thing.
"Can you break a small section of the glass? Big enough for two ponies by width?"
Cold Steel smiled. "One moment." He placed his hooves on the glass and hummed. Shining Armor knew what the stallion was doing. Cold was testing the glass with subsonic waves to find it's exact thickness down to the atom. "The glass is six inches thick, blown...seven times...no! Eight times."
"You sure?"
"Yes sir!"
"Can you break it?"
Cold gave an evil smile Shining had loved to see. "Of course! Shield Breaker!"
"Right!" Shield stood next to Cold.
"On three!" Shining called. The stallions stood on their forelegs and cocked their hooves while they focused their strength to their hooves. "THREE!"
"YA!" The earth ponies shouted and their back legs hit the glass so hard it didn't even crack when the space for two ponies had fallen inside of the thing. Shining had felt a drop of air pressure around them and teleported the earth ponies far enough back so they weren't hit by a wave of steam. It had seemed the room was super-heated, but it was empty.
With a protection spell that protected him from the heat, he jumped inside. Quickly Blue followed in and started casting spells to scan for the life form. Blue pointed to a thinner section of the room where the prince saw a rectangle outline. He walked over to it, and knocked on the metal. He received hollow echos.
"It has another room. Can we get an earth pony?" Blue asked.
"I do not think that will be wise, nor do we need them." Answered Shining with a smirk. He used his magic to make the thing drop. And so it did into a ramp where they saw the creature.
There it was, laying on the ground with a blade that seemed to give off heat. It was in some strange armor that with a quick scan showed it was attached to his body at different points. There were also two odd looking boomerangs on his sides, and a metal rod on his back next to the sword. He also seemed to give off heat which was coming from the armor itself.
"What do you think it is?" Blue asked in a hushed tone.
Shining Armor scanned it and found it to be gravely injured, but it was lucky to be alive. "We need to take it to the empire. Tell the pegasi to set a flare for a med team." Shining saw Blue salute and exit the compartment. It was dark except from the light coming off the sword, and his horn. A few questions best left to be answered by the creature itself. What was it, where had it came from, and why was it here?" The only weapons he saw was a sword and his other equipment.
Something began to glow around the creature from its legs to its head. "What the..."
It struggled to move its arms, and Shining heard it cough a few times. Slowly it stood up over Shining Armor, standing nearly seven feet high. It looked down and tilted its head. It slowly pulled out a small rectangular cube and gave it to Shining. He grabbed it with his magic and examined it. Slowly his eyes widened, what he held was a badge, or what looked like a badge. He looked up at the weird creature and saw there was a strange marking on his shoulder that was similar to the 'badge'.
"Can you understand me?" It nodded to him after a moment. "What are you?" It pointed to its throat and made an 'X' with his long spidery claws. "C-can you not speak?" Again another nod came from it. "Well, if you can't speak, then how can I know what you are?" It stepped around him and walked up the ramp to the room. It paused to look at the hole in the glass and shook its head a little slowly before it knelt down to a small metal circle in the floor. A picture made of light appered which slightly startled Shining Armor.
"Operator?" There was a heavy sigh behind the mask of the creature. "OPERATOR! Oh thank the programmers! We have survived! It nodded in agreement, and looked to Shining Armor. "Oh! It is a new creature!A whole new alien species! Should I start introductions?
Shining Armor stepped forward to the light. "Can you tell me what you are...or where you are? How come I hear a voice and I see no body?"
"Starting Introduction: Hello sentient being! We are glad that we are able to come to an understanding and speak in peace! Shining mouthed the word 'peace' and sighed in relief. My name is Ordis, and I am an Artificial Intelligence. The being that you have either have discovered, captured, or might have already killed is known as a Tenno. They are skilled fighters and serve the Lotus to protect planets from hostile invasions or take-overs.
Shining Armor rubbed his chin while Blue had stepped back in. "WHAO! When did it wake up!?"
"A few minutes ago Blue...And it seems this whole squad was out for nothing..."
"On the contrary sentient! Tenno agents cannot wake up after they have gone into stasis until another finds them. It is at this point I should contact the Lotus and inform her of our survival. One moment please...."
"Who is the Lotus?" Shining asked.
"The Lotus is the commander of our peace corp. Whenever a planet or moon that is inhabited and is attacked by hostiles, the Lotus informs and sends the Tenno out."
"What are the Tenno?"
"Operator?" The Tenno nodded. "There are over six million Tenno agents recorded that have woken up, and only half have been converted to other hostile forces."
"This will be my last two questions...Ordis... How come this Tenno or other Tenno can't speak? And are you the side of good or evil?"
"Right to the point. Operator, I do like these creatures already. To answer your question sentient, Tenno are not allowed to speak, but can. They are sworn to silence after taking the oath of Order that the Lotus announces. After that, they are no longer allowed to speak even when it is required. Only when the ship, which is I -Ordis- is no longer functional can the Tenno talk as this is a sign that they can no longer uphold the oath. This Tenno, -SILVER- has been found by forces of evil, but was able to defect with the Lotus's assistance."
Again Shining Armor sighed in relief. "Alright. Can you and this Tenno come with me?"
"We can, but it is requested that all other sentients in the area enter me to avoid disintegration." Shining gulped and nodded to Blue. Almost instantly the ponies began to crowd inside the ship, and the Tenno was seen in a very confused state. "LETS GET READY TO RUMB-! Lift off in five....four....three....two....one...."
The whole ship lit up with red lights as the systems began to turn back on. All the ponies around the Tenno had scared looks on their faces, and all he could do is smile at how these creatures were reacting to everything. Shining Armor was giving him a light glare, as the stallion had not expected this at all. The ship hummed to life, systems beeped, booped, and blooped. The engines began to hum and whirl.
Tenno lowed his hand and pointed to the hole in the glass where the equines had broken into his ship. "Welcome aboard sentients I am your -DEATH- ride for the evening. Please make sure that you are secured and we'll arrive at the nearest city."
"Mr. Ordis, the Crystal Empire is four miles north of here." Shining had stated.
"Oh that helps so -MUCH YOU FAG- much sentient."
Ordis moved the ship along at a slow pace, much slower than he had liked to normally travel, but when the Tenno had pointed out the hole, he slowed down so they weren't blasted back by the sheer speed. While the Tenno could withstand the force, Ordis had heeded the warning he made. It only took a little under four minutes.
When the Tenno saw the Empire, Shining Armor watched the bendable metal in his helmet go down here his chin was. "I wonder if you can take that mask off so I could see that face." He said smugly. The Tenno only shook his head slowly, and closed his mouth shut. "Darn...I thought I could see what you are." Tenno only shrugged and tilted his head. "I'll take that as a maybe?" A nod. "Cool, can I know you by something. I can't stop thinking you as just something." He tapped his chest at the silver painted symbol on it. "Silver? OH! Is that your name!?" Silver nodded. "Well...damn. You have a last one?"
He shook his head, and Shining shrugged. Ordis began his approach...
II
I am rather intrigued by these strange creatures that are around me. I was only a little afraid of what other damages that they caused to Ordis while he was offline and I back in stasis. They had little knobs or wings on their bodies while others just had none. However, I have learned just because one has none, doesn't really mean they don't have anything else. I learned that while on a mission with a fellow Tenno. He ran out of ammo and started to use a small dagger. Beware of the blast damage in that little thing, and it had the reach of a long sword.
Funny, I don't even know who woke me up. I mean, I know what woke me up, but I didn't know his name. I am sure he is male because of his voice. I wonder what they thought of me when they saw me. I look around as the little creatures walk out of the whole they made. Some had armor on that hardly covered their bodies. They also carried simple metal tools unlike my Biosteel armor and my Nanotoid weapons.
I frown as I see the records of the crash my armor's systems show me. I had zero shield levels, and I barely survived with only ten health left in my life support systems. I know that my armor is numbing my pains, I am thankful that those still work. It was frightening to crash like that because I could have died, nearly did too.
"Mr. Silver?" I hear the voice of my Waker and I look over to him. "Would you come with me? My wife would need to see you?" I began to step, but pause and tilt my head. I show him my badge again, hoping he would get my gesture. "What? Why are you showing me that again?"
"The Operator is wondering who your wife is. Is she of vital importance, your leader, or other ranking?" I nod, thanking Ordis for helping me.
"She's the princess of the Crystal Empire. You crashed near us, but she would like to see you who are." I look at my weapons and frown behind my helm. I decide to keep them on, but if I would to be asked about them, I would put them down. I would like to ensure that all know I am peaceful. "Lets get going Silver, we got a few things to ask of you."
I nod and follow him. He jumps through the hole and I crawl through the small space. As I exit my ship, I hope that Ordis is able to keep contact with me. I am still unsure about these creatures, and what they are. I do sense a positive energy coming from them, but it could just be a facade.
I also begin to see hundreds more of these creatures. They all seemed to shine and glow, but...they are unlike the creature that is leading me to his wife. If his wife is a princess, that makes him a prince. Why aren't they King and Queen? I wish I could ask that question. All the creatures are looking at me just like the ones that flew in my ship. Some where scared, I could understand where they are coming from. I am an alien, and could potentially kill them all. I could if I wished, but it is against my code. Not only is it against my code, I respect all life as it is, so precious. Also, some of them were looking at me with curiosity. I knew I was tall, taller than most Tenno, and I also had a flaming Heat Sword resting on my back. I was loaded with weapons, and I am also skilled in hand-to-hand combat.
I am happy to say that my life support is also returning to my suit. The Nanites are doing wonders to my BioSteel armor, and my shields have completely been repaired and have recovered. I stand proud knowing that I have survived. I didn't know if I was going to, and I was afraid that I was going to die. But luck this day was on my side, and there could be nothing better than that.
"As Prince of the Crystal Empire, I welcome you in peace." I nod in agreement. "And I am glad that you have also came in peace."
"As am I." I see a pink creature walk up to me. She is unlike all the others as she has both a horn and a set of beautiful wings. Such interesting creatures, it is amazing what the nature of the universe gives to life. I watch as what looks like she is bowing to me. "Shining gave me a brief understanding of what exactly he found out there." I watch as she laughs. "I must say you look so amazing." I blush behind my armor. I am glad no others see this, but I hear Ordis humming.
"This is my wife, Princess Cadence." I begin to sense something so wonderful between them. I touch my chest and tap it a few times to make sure it isn't just adrenaline finally running out of my blood. However, I begin to sense it again and see that her stomach is slightly farther out than the rest of her.
Slowly I take a few steps forward towards Cadence and kneel down. I point to her stomach and tilt my head as I also begin to tap my left hand with my right. "Y-you want to feel her?" Shining asked.
Cadence seemed to get where I was getting at. "You wish to feel my stomach?" I nod.
"The Operator enjoys life. He often studied many different biologies of creatures he has encountered." I hear the speakers of my armor project outward so Ordis may communicate for me.
"And who are you?" Cadence asked.
"My name is Ordis, and I serve the Operator."
"Well, welcome both of you." She looks to me and nods. "Go ahead, it's okay to feel. Just be careful."
I nod and move to her side. Slowly and carefully I place my hand on her stomach. I feel this new life, and my eyes widen. She was a mother. I instantly begin scans to feel for the baby. It is coming quite nicely, and I wish I could tell them that they're going to have a healthy child. I pull my hand away and bow deeply. I know the gender of the child as well, so I point to her stomach again, and point to Shining Armor.
"Yes he's the father." Cadence nods, but I shake my head. "What? What are you trying to say. Speak please."
"He can't." Shining said. "It's part of some oath he took when he became that."
"How noble, but what are you trying to say."
I make out a few hand gestures, going over and over to the baby and Shining. "Is the foal a...colt?" I can only hope that means it's a boy, and I nod.
"How do you know?"
I hold my hand out and orange energy begins to rise from my palm. "You can use magic?!" Shining asked me, shocked.
"It is not magic, but merely his own energy he naturally creates. Through years of meditation and practice, Tenno can turn their energy into a physical state. From healing, to what the Operator just did, that is normal for Tenno." I nod.
"So it'll be a colt?" I nodded again. Cadence smiled. "Well I guess Skylar is a suitable name then."
Shining rolled his eyes. "Anyways, why don't we go inside. Are you hungry Silver?"
Was I hungry? I cannot remember the last time I actually ate something as my life support kept me sustained. I also didn't want to look like I was rude or anything.
"Silver?" I jump slightly at Cadence's voice. "Will you dine with us." I nod my head slowly, and she smiles at me. "Great, come with me, and Shiny can tell the chefs." I laugh out loud at the nickname. "Looks like he can laugh."
Shining looked at me with a glare, I shrugged and followed his wife along. "I'm going to be sending my aunt a letter, I hope that's alright?"
"Is she a princess as well? I would like to fill in as much data as possible."
Cadence nodded. "I'll explain everything. I'm sure you have dozens of more questions." I nod back to her and she smiles. "Alright...So our kind is just one of many....."
It's night time now, and I set back in my bed. I couldn't help but frown at how my feelings have brought a strange being. During dinner, he just sat there, looking that the fresh food the chefs made. Was he not able to eat it? In fact, he didn't even take off his armor. I sensed that there was a body inside the armor, which helped prove that it wasn't just a golum. It was living, hurt, scared.
I look out the window and see the creature's craft float still in the sky on windless day. I could hear a hum coming from the weird thing, and the hole the stallions who made it was gone.
Silver, as I knew from Shining was what the creature's name was, was very quiet, but I could tell he was very curious. What lay behind that mask was something now I had wanted to see. What kind of being who swears himself to silence and protects worlds under the orders of some mare called the Lotus? Even he had only met her once face-to-face, but he didn't know anything else about her.
I watch as Shining enters the room. "Hey Sweetie." He said in a tired voice.
"Hey, you sound exhausted." I watched him nod tiredly. "Why?"
"It's that thing...Silver..."
"I wrote a letter to Celestia and I sent a report to Twilight. We'll get our answers by tomorrow."
Shining sits down on the bed and sighs. "That's not it Cadie..."
"Then what's wrong?"
"What is armor used for?"
"To protect the user." I answer him with a soft smile.
"What if...what if he is not all there? What if there's something inside of that armor that isn't just all there?"
I think about his words for a few minutes while he lays over behind me. He slowly wraps his hooves around my and he breaths down my back. "Well, maybe that'll be a question to ask him tomorrow."
-knock, knock, knock-
"I'll get it, you stay here." I say to Shining. He sighs as I escape his grasp.
I walk over and open the door to our chambers. "Yes? OH!" I look up and see Silver standing at the door. He opens the door more and walks in. He takes something off his belt, it looked like a small needle. I jump to stop him, but he throws the needle into Shining.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" I scream, tears began to fall down my face.
He holds out a cube and I see him take the needle out of Shining. The flask he holds is red and he puts it in the cube. "TELL ME!"
The cube lights up and begins to spin. "Shining has a deadly disease. The Operator must cleanse him."
"W-what?"
"Pax-12, he contracted it as soon as he stepped near the ship. The ice that melted when we crashed uncovered it. Not to worry, we have already visited the other ponies and cured them."
The cube stops spinning, and Silver takes a purple looking fluid and injects it into Shining. I run over to him and feel his head. He had a temperature, but it was lowering, quickly. Silver bows and begins to walk away.
I use my magic to shut the door, and he faces me. "Don't leave!" I shout, Shining looks absolutely dizzy. "Are you sure he's going to be fine." I get a nod from him. "Silver....Thank you..."
Silver walks over to me and puts his claws on my head. Your world is safe while I am here. I have a new mission, my last the Lotus has given me.... I begin to feel my eyes close on their own or by some other will. I start to see Silver, but soon I see that his helmet is slowly collapsing into his chest plate.
I cover my mouth as I stare into a burned looking face. His amber eyes that showed many emotions; Sadness, life, death, anger, hate, love, and so many more. His mane is gray, void of color or life. Soon the rest of his armor begins, to fade and I see more scares. I am flooded with horror.
This is who I am, and what I have been through. I rely on my armor to keep me alive. His mouth does not move, but I hear a sad old voice. I cannot age, I cannot eat, drink, or even go to the rest room. My blood is filtered, my heart is always going to pump fresh oxygen to the rest of my body.
"What happened to you!?"
His eyes looked so tired as he frowned. War Cadence. War that would destroy your mind farther than my body ever would. I have seen planets getting ripped apart, planets getting vaporized by their own suns as they explode into violent supernovas.
"Why are you showing me this?" I ask as I point to his burned and scared body. "Tell me Silver!"
A Tenno must serve who wakes them. While I was only asleep for nearly an hour, he still woke me up. He still showed me peace, and... He lifted up another cube and it floated towards me.
"Tenno, Defend wherever you end up. We'll look as hard as we can to find you."
I studied the skies, along with Ordis. We are no where near the Solar System. We could be across the galaxy or across the universe. I will adapt, I will serve you and whomever shares your features and rank.
Silver pulls his hand off of my head and he gives a deep bow. I am left alone with husband for the remainder of the night wondering why he showed himself to me. I had glad that he knew about Shining, but did he need to act so quickly. Now that I think about it, his voice didn't at all sound like that it even belonged to him. It was like he was speaking with another voice. It wasn't that Ordis thing, but something else that gave me a chill down my spine.
I lay back down and get back between Shining's embrace. I do a quick scan and still sense that Silver is behind the door, standing like a guard at attention. I hope he sleeps, because if he cannot sleep because of what he's been through then I might as well wipe his memories of it. Or...Perhaps it is the scars that keep him awake, maybe he just speaks of a war he only remembers with physical scars rather than mental scars. Then again, he is a whole new race of creatures like I am to him. We could think so differently.
I go to sleep, hoping that my aunt and my sister-in-law will answer my calls. I need to be responsible and inform them of any major developments that are in the Crystal Empire. Although, now that I think about it, I don't think it was a good idea to tell Twilight. Aunty knows what she would do the moment she saw him....I messed up.
"And so, if this bill is passed princess Luna, we will be able to cut taxes for us up here in Canterlot."
I frowned angrily at Hoof Print. "You clearly do not see the greed behind your 'bill' Lord Hoof. In signing your bill, taxes would be raised in the surrounding towns such as Ponyville, Cloudsdale and Maneisota. I cannot allow this bill to be passed with a good mind. You are dismissed."
I saw a guard step up to me and whispered my sister had wished to speak to me. It was a Class-Z 1621 request. There must have been something wrong in the north around the Crystal Empire. I nod and close the court for the night. Tia must be worried if she sent one of her guards to get me. This one who sent me the message was one of the ones near her room.
"I'll take my leave now. Court has ended." I walk out and head towards my sister's room.
While I walk I do a quick check on three little fillies who live in Ponyville. It seemed Apple Bloom and the other crusaders are doing just fine. They had only just began to realize what they liked doing all along would help them. They needed to expand on their dreams and realize that their hobbies are more than just that.
I gaze at the moon through the stained windows of the castle. It is a lovely night, one of my best I have constructed in a few months. It was nearing the Fall Equinox, so I wanted to begin a little early with the night skies showing a little more beauty at least. I pause, it's been six years today I was saved. I should write to Twilight and her friends, thanking them once again for saving me. I should also write about what I've learned to Zecora, as the helpful zebra is aiding me in my long recovery of dark magiks.
After a few minutes I walk on and soon arrive at my sister's chambers. I love that the castle is enchanted to aid ponies who wish to go somewhere in the castle and they were lost, the castle would help them either shortening their trip or guiding them. It was like the whole castle was alive, in a sense, it was.
I knock a few times and I hear the muffled sounds of my sister telling me to come in. As I walk in, I see her walk around the room. There are a couple sets of dresses she has laid out on her bed.
"Tia, what in terra has you like this?"
"Cadence just sent me a report about a alien that crashed outside the empire. It came in peace, but there are more interesting things she wrote about it."
"Such as?" I asked her with a raise of a brow.
"It doesn't speak, it can, but won't. Another affect it has, it has some sort of armor that protects it unlike normal armor. She describes it as being 'alive'. It also has a talking, flying, carriage named Ordis."
I rubbed my chin in thought. "Is it peaceful?"
"She dined with it, but it didn't eat the food. It didn't even take of it's armor. They found it armed to the head. Enchanted Fire sword, Enchanted Boomerangs, and other equipment that no pony can explain."
"So why are you packing dresses, you never dress up to meet another race."
"Luna, as goddesses of the sun and moon, it is our duty to speak to this alien as to represent the entire world. Twilight reported that the elements and spike will be joining in on the meeting as they are just as important as we are." I nodded.
"Then I shall find something to wear then. When are we leaving?"
"Tomorrow afternoon so we can arrive at the empire by the next morning." She answered quickly.
"If that is all, I shall go finish my duties and prepare myself." I gave her a quick hug and walked to my studies. It is strange, I didn't feel something around the stars, or not yet anyways.
Now, what should I wear and what should I bring as an offering?
III
It has been nearly a full cycle of the day since I have first arrived on this planet. Ordis informs me that there are no more ponies infected with Pax-12 in the area, and I dump the data. It didn't take long to find the cure for it, medication is good in the twenty-sixth century. Perhaps I should share my medical knowledge to these beings in hopes they will use it for peace like I and fellow Tenno have.
I stand guard near Shining Armor as he is eating. I do not think I belong at the dining table as I do not eat, nor remember even eating. Are my teeth even still good enough to eat solid foods? What could I eat? As I remember, humans are omnivores, so does that mean I eat meat as well. If I do, then I wouldn't eat these ponies.
"Silver?" I hear Cadence's voice and turn to her. "I received a notice from the others, they are going to be here tomorrow. If you could...find something nice to wear other than your armor, that would be nice. Show that you are willing to show yourself to them, and that you truly do mean you are here for peace."
I can't take off my BioSteel on my back or the trail that goes up my spine. I would look out of place, and she had already seen my face as it was. However, I have noticed something. My Oberon armor is like a stag, and I'm sure it is truly based off of the body of a deer or some other equine bipedal creature.
"I'm sure he will look his best Princess." Ordis said for me. I thank him by sending signals to him through my brain's armor input.
"So Silver, you have any family?" I shook my head. "No mothers or fathers? Sisters? Brothers?" I shook my head more and she seemed to sigh sadly. "So, you are alone then?" I nod slowly. "That's sad...Well....you're always welcome here!"
I know she cannot see it, but I smile behind my armor. However, she still seems to sense it, I have questions about these ponies. More than I had when I got here. What was this magic that she spoke of? Apparently I had it as well, but I've always known that it was my own energy.
"Cadence, we need to work on fixing that loophole in the bill today. If we don't the nobles are going to jump on that right away." I hate holes through plans or laws. Many people get away with things because they know how to bend the law.
Cadence nods and sighs. It was very apparent she didn't like how the laws are. "I bet Silver can solve this issue." I walk over to her and nod. "Do you know of a way to stop loopholes?" I shrugged and waved my hand in a so-so manner. Honestly I do not think I should mess with their justice system or laws. I take a step back from her. "That's fine, sometimes these old laws are just strange. Like, they made it illegal to make a stallion to ask a mare out! Only the mare could invite, place reservations, and be on top. For a King to rule a kingdom, he made these laws for mares, and left the stallions in the dust."
"Don't I know it..." Shining sighed. "Silver, lets find you something to wear for tomorrow."
I shook my head and pointed to Ordis, who was floating just outside next to the balcony. Shining looked over and raised a brow. "What? You already have something?" With a nod, he followed me to the balcony where I jumped inside the ship. I wasn't used to entering my ship like this, but I was glad Ordis could raise and lower the glass shield.
Shining Armor looked around like he had when he entered Ordis the first time. This time however, he looked around the upper deck while I lowered the ramp for the lower deck. He mumbled a few words under his breath, I shrugged in response and turned on the Armory. I scrolled through and found the Oberon. In nearly a flash, I was reequipped with it along with my weapons.
The Oberon was a support armor. In battle, it was used for healing teammates. With higher defense and lower shields, I fixed this with mods. Like the Nyx armor, it had higher shields to make it up, and I had improved armor. I also had a healing aura equipped for passive regeneration. It was primary gold with a dark blue undertone, the energy was a deep red. Other colors were first yellow and then orange.
I exited the Armory and found Shining looking at messages from the Lotus. I knock on the metal and he looks over at me.
"Whoah!" His eyes widen as he gazes upon me in Oberon. "W...I...I cannot...even...Wow...." I don't know if I should be flattered that he is wordless at my appearance. "Noble....that is the only word I can describe you as. You look very noble." I stand strait and smile behind my armor. "Cadence will want to see this."
"Operator, if I must say, that Warframe, suits you. HA-HA..." I chuckle while Shining hits his face.
"Great, it has the knowledge of puns...we're doomed."
"Imma gonna sing the doom song now!" I pick up Shining and throw him out the window onto the balcony and jump out.
"What was that for!?" I shook my head slowly and sent Ordis to scout the area for a while while he sung. I sighed at stood up pointing to Ordis has he flew off. "Oh, does he do that a lot?" I nod. "Alright, let's go."
I walked behind Shining as he lead me back into the castle. Cadence looked at me in Oberon and her eyes widened. I also saw a smile that I don't think I shall ever forget. She then gave me many complements on my looks, and that there was a pony who enjoyed fashion that would die when she saw me. I wasn't trying to go for vanity, but if I look good, then I look good.
After that, I was told by Shining that since I looked more like another old human myth called a Satyr, I would be more welcomed by the citizens of the empire. While they were used to the weird and 'unnatural', I was too different. Shining gave me something that would allow me to get anything I thought would help my 'research' of their culture. "In other words, with this, you get everything for free." He told me before assigning a guard called Flash Sentry to assist me with a tour of their districts.
I was glad that the Oberon Warframe is allowing me to give myself some more free room to work with. Flash was shocked at first when he saw me, but I guessed after a few moments, I had turned into another creature of this world, just covered in armor. While I walked, I had this feeling deep down in my chest. I had felt it so much, I saw my life support flicker only a little, and made me stop. What had happened?
"You comin' big guy? Or is it gal?" I walked on, ignoring his question. "Hey!" Flash ran up to me and just began to stare up at me. I was well over three feet higher than them, so looking around their city was a breeze. I...I believe I had just made a pun, I am not sure.
I had to stop at a rough looking place not too far from the castle, but it did take a few minutes of randomly walking around for me to get here. The name took a moment for my systems to translate, luckily that they had a twenty-six letter alphabet and ten primal digits, so it went quickly. The name of it was Barnyard Bargens, and looked actually newer than the rest of the city which seemed to be made of a crystal like structures. Actually, they were all made of crystals. If I look good to them, then at least I know that their appeals were higher than I had thought. If everything was made of crystal, the only reason I looked good was that I looked different. Despite my armor, I was still out of the ordinary, but then again...so do these ponies to me.
I stepped inside and heard a little jingle of a bell. I smiled at the accent of the place which had seemed to put me in a rather laid back mood. I actually noticed that I hadn't fought for more than a day now. This was the longest I have ever had between battles and events. Around the store had a few items on sale by the looks of it. Something in the far back seemed to catch my attention however. As I walked towards it, Flash had stepped in my way and shook his head.
"No man...you don't want to touch that." I tilted my head at his statement. If it is dangerous to these ponies, I should destroy it swiftly. I drew my sword and stepped over him. "NO! Don't!" I heard two voices, one was Flash's.
I picked it up and felt nothing. I laughed behind my suit so loudly it hurt. "Why are you laughing! You're going to die!" I turned around to see an old stallion, most likely the store owner. "Don't you know what that is!?"
"Um, as you can see, he isn't from around here. He came in the big thing that shook the whole empire." Flash noted.
"That's the King's Crystal! It brings dark energy to the holder and kills them after three days!"
After doing a quick scan on the crystal, it seemed to have the same modification structure as my sword. In fact...It was an Argon Crystal! I smiled so wide, the fact that one was over here made me smile ear to ear and surprised me in a very good way. I showed him the ticket and walked out the store. I guess this planet is full of these crystals. I immediately sent the crystal to Ordis and told him to start scanning for more materials. Maybe I could get the Nami sooner than I had thought. Argon crystals were rare, hard to find in the void where they are more common.
I begin to wander more with Flash. He looks at me like I am still a dead man, but if that stallion was selling a crystal that would kill, then why was it for sale and not locked away or destroyed? Still, I am happy to find the Argon Crystal as it is a vital ingredient in many weapons and armors. I can see that the skies are void of weather, it must be the Crystal Heart keeping everything up. Cadence had informed me of everything I needed to know. We spent hours talking, and while I had entered her mind I had learned more.
Questions of their biological forms have risen. Like how the pegasi can fly with wings much too small for them or how unicorns can cast 'spells' from their horns. Perhaps I should find some test subjects, one of each type of pony. There are also other mythical creatures from Old Earth here. I am rather confused at this as well, but I'm sure when I see the other rulers of their world, I shall be able to-
"HELP!!" Instantly I lock into battle mode. I draw my sword and look around.
I see a unicorn running down the street with a large bag on its back. Followed behind the unicorn was an earth pony. She had tears in her eyes and the unicorn had a look of evil on his face. Soon, I scan through the situation. It is time to act. I jump over to the unicorn and throw him back.
"Why you stupid thing!" He glares at me, and I sense his internal energy rising. It seemed as though these ponies have abilities to charge their own energy up. He fired a bolt of electric energy, but he found out it soon failed. "How are you not dead!?"
He only took down six points of my shield. I flash blue and my shields are fully repaired. I begin to focus my energy, drawing in as much as I could into my left hand. I raise it with the unicorn in mind. I watch him being lifted into the air. Reckoning! I throw my fist towards the ground and the unicorn screams in pain as he hits the ground with enough force to crack a few of his bones and leaving a sizable hole in the ground.
I walk over to him, frowning behind my armor. I pick him up by his neck and throw him off to the side. "SILVER! THAT IS ENOUGH!" Flash shouted, I however ignored him and threw the unicorn into a building. He was bleeding from his ears and blood was flowing out of his mouth. His teeth were scattered everywhere.
Soon I figured he had enough and picked him up again. I showed everyone this evil stallion who had made another cry, who had emotionally hurt another pony, a female no less. I put him on the ground, his life slowly leaving. Renewal... The last of my energy leaves me as I give him his life back. His blood reenters his body, his bones slowly heal, but he is still hurt badly. I throw him to a cluster of guards and walk away. I picked up the bag he had stolen and saw the mare a few yards away.
I take slow steps towards her with her bag in my hands. She looks at me with intense fear in her eyes, and is crying rivers of sadness. I kneel down and pet her head while I show her the bag. She quickly takes the bag and escapes, and I watch as she runs away from me in fear while she leaves a trail of tears behind her. I am...saddened, but I still stand up.
"Take him to the hospital under close watch." I hear Flash say. "I'll take this one to the castle. I'm sure their majesties would want to hear this."
A round of yes sirs echos as they take the stallion into their custody. Flash tries to push me forward, but I am too much for him to move alone. "Come on, lets get back." I only nod, a bit slowly.
I looked down at Silver with sadness. He is a few yards away from me, guards surrounding him. "Silver..." I saw him look up at me. "I am not mad at you. You did what you were meant to do, what you are trained to do, and while that stallion is still living, he did not deserve what came to him." He nods. "I wish you would speak Silver. As I see it, you might not ever see your Lotus again. I am sorry, but unless you speak in your defense, you will be placed under castle arrest."
I step down as he kneels. "I want all your weapons, and your armor stripped until tomorrow." He looks up at me and I smile. "Guards, take him to the medical wing, get the best unicorns and whomever you can get to help him. After that, take him to get cleaned up, no doubt he smells like leathery burnt bacon." I hear him chuckle along with a couple guards. "Silver, you are not in trouble."
He stands up and presses a button on the back of his head. Slowly the helm begins to open up and I see his war torn face again. I however, see a smile so wide across his face, it brings a tear to my eyes. He rests his hand on my head again. Give me time. I nod, understanding his words with their truest meaning.
I hope he finds his voice soon.
IV
I hear that the surgery on Silver's face is going well. Our unicorn doctors are the best in the world. I had also aided in his recovery too. I watched as his face began to look less shredded and broken. I had to step away and let the professionals work more. It was apparent that his vocal cords are so weak, they were afraid that he was going to be mute the rest of his life. Another strange thing we found, we scanned his biological clock and found that he was over two hundred years old, but he didn't look a day over twenty.
What kind of war puts their stallions this young to fight. Ordis had explained to me that Silver had spent years trying to focus his energy. This must mean he must have been only about ten when he began his training or even younger... I shed a few tears. In all his life, Silver was born to fight. I had punished him, and he was only doing what he knew... He had protected that mare's goods. He had only done what he thought it was right...and I punished him.
"Oh Aunty...." I sobbed. I cannot believe I had just punished a child. "I'm so horrible...."
"Why do you say that?" I heard Celestia's voice behind me.
I jumped around and saw my aunts and Twilight with her friends. Next to them was Shining Armor. "I'd explained to them what was going on." Shining said, walking up to me, he nuzzled me gently, and kissed Skylar. "Now why are you crying."
"I punished a child..." I said, wiping away a few of my tears from my eyes and face.
"What doth thou mean young Cadence?" Luna asked. "Do you speak about the creature you house?"
I nodded. "I had punished him for doing the only thing he knew... He was born during a time called the Great War, the first decades of it. His mother left him at a military base as soon as he was old enough to eat solid food. After that..." My ears sprayed back. "He was trained to fight. His carriage named Ordis told me everything."
"Truly you jest?!" Luna laughed. "Carriages do not speak."
"Actually, it does, and it knows puns and knows how to sing." Shining added his two bits.
"How is he doing by the way Cady?"
"He's still sleeping. Doctors said that he hadn't slept in years out side of some frozen stasis."
"Cryostasis?" Twilight's ears perked up. "I need to know how his kind had found the solution to ice crystals forming in the cells! Such a feat would catapault Equestria to a new age!!! EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!"
I giggled. "Perhaps you haven't changed at all Twilight...." She blushed and looked away.
"May we see him?" Celestia asked me softly.
"He's on the other side of this door." I replied. "Go ahead, but I don't think he-" The door opened wide and I saw Silver stretch his arms out and yawned. "The medication shouldn't have worn off by now! What are you doing up?" I saw him shrug and looked over to the others.
I saw him drop faster than a fat fly on Taco Tuesday onto his knee. He rested his right arm on his knee while his left fist touched the floor. There was a strange black thing on his back that we weren't able to remove without killing him, it only seemed to bend along with his back. He kept his head down as Celestia, Luna, and Twilight walked up to him.
"What is your name?" Silver remained quiet, his vocal cords are still too weak, but with constant upkeep on him with regenerative spells, he should be fine within two months.
"He can't speak your highness." Shining said. "At first it was a vow that he would not speak until he was no longer able to uphold the oath his kind's warriors made, but now it seems that since he hasn't spoken for so long, his vocal cords are too weak to make sounds beyond laughs or grunts." Silver nodded. "And his name is Silver, his kind are called Humans, and his title is shared with other Human warriors called Tenno."
Celestia rubbed her chin slowly. "That's most interesting. Silver? You may stand." And so he did. It had even seemed that he was taller than Celestia. Her eyes widened as she found herself a foot shorter than he was. "My you are tall..."
Luna walked around him, examining the strange black think on his back. "The metal on his back seems to be partially organic by nature, yet also metallic. It is fused with his body." Silver nodded, confirming her judgments. "How advanced is your kind?" Silver only remained still as he looked down at Celestia.
Their eyes seemed to be locked together. As princess of not only love by emotions, I felt a rainbow of emotions. Rage and hate mixed with hope and comfort. It was so strange to see her locked in a battle so quiet. I swear even now that it looked like they could cut open the earth with their gazes. His amber eyes met her magenta eyes in a heated battle.
"Many of my own ponies would not gaze into my eyes Silver." Celestia said with a deep frown, and all Silver seemed to do was have a smile on his face. He held out his hand as he took a step back, his smile still there. Celestia set her hoof on his hand and all of time had seemed to freeze.
State your purpose as to why you made me do this creature.
I mean no harm, only peace.
Say that to the stallion you almost killed.
I could have killed him. Theft is wrong, and he emotionally assaulted a young mare. Do not get me wrong...Celestia...Everfree...
Silver, you should not be in my head.
We are in a plane where our minds mix. Should you feel to see my war torn life, feel free. I am merely trying to collect data on your kind. It seems that I am going to be here for some time while I await the Lotus to find me.
Celestia frowned at the mental image of Silver. -Still...You should not be in-
Why do you hate me? His question seemed to echo in Celestia's mind. I have done nothing wrong, nor have I violated Equestrian law. I made a citizen's arrest after assessing the situation. I have been nothing but respectful to you, and all you give me is hate. Why? For a being as powerful as you, why would you waste your immortal life on hate?
You are dangerous.
I could say the same thing to all of your kind, Celestia Everfree. You can fly, obtainable energy from the environment around you that you can turn into a weapon.
Magic is not used for combat unless a unicorn is trained.
This explain the stallion who tried to hurt me Celestia Everfree! He shouted across the plane, his teeth bared slightly. If you won't accept the fact that I had arrested that stallion, then take it as self defence! AND YOU YOU STILL WON'T TAKE THAT-THEN YOU ARE DUMBER THAN I HAD THOUGHT FOR AN IMMORTAL! His voice tore the plane, weakening the link between them. Consider this, if I were one of my enemies, one attack would all it would take to start a war...I will say this one more time. I come in peace, I will defend your kind and all others should the need arise.
I watched Celestia glare up at me. "This is not over." I nod as she walks away.
"What happened?" Asked the purple alicorn. I think her name is Twilight Sparkle. I read the memories of Celestia. Her friends are Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Apple Jack, Rarity Belle, and Fluttershy. Celestia's thoughts were mostly around Twilight, but I was unable to look into more. She didn't like that I had slipped into her mind like I had.
"I have yet to make a decision." Celestia narrowed her eyes at me. "But it seems that no matter what I can do, it is up to Cadence now." I watched as Celestia trotted off.
Shining whistled. "You made her angry. Not a smart idea, but damn."
Luna smirked over to me. "We are going to keep an eye on you warrior. Perhaps we should spar sometime...For now, I should go speak to our sister." Now Luna had left.
Twilight looked over to me, a small frown on her face. "I don't think she's right for disliking you Silver, I'm sorry she doesn't like you. We should get to talk sometime without many distractions. I would love to learn what I can, and your kind seems interesting." She bowed to me, making me a little confused. "Welcome to Terra, Silver. I am Princess Twilight Sparkle, but you can just know me as Twilight." She held out a hoof. I had to get on one knee again and I shook her hoof with a gentle smile.
I saw the mare Fluttershy step closer to me while the entire conversation with Twilight. I looked to her and saw her step back. "Do your scars hurt?" She asked quietly. I figured that she was a shy one, which was implied in her name. I shook my head. "Did they hurt?" I reached over and rested my hand on her head. My soft touch seemed to make her nuzzle.
Of course... She hugged me tightly and sniffed. Do not cry for me little one. I am fine now. Once I get in my Warframe again, all will be well. I'm sure that you'll enjoy it.
I looked over to Shining Armor while the other mares seemed to gaze at me with shock written straight across their faces. I motioned to my BioSteel back cover and he nodded. "They're in your room. Ladies, I should take him to get his things."
"Why does he require his armor?" Asked Twilight.
"So he can eat dinner with us. He doesn't have anything else to cover him."
"W-well...h...he doesn't have f-fur...so h-he must have cl-clothes on at all times...Or...he might freeze."
"Sweet Celestia, doesn't that chafe?" Rarity asked, and I shook my head to her. "Then perhaps you should visit Ponyville sometime, I might be able to help you get out of that armor." If she saw me in it, I don't think she'll want me out.
"Alright, well see you all later. Come on Silver, you need to get dressed for dinner." I waved goodbye to the mares with a smile, and Fluttershy was the only mare there other than Cadence to return it.
Twilight scratched her chin slowly. "I don't get it, why would princess Celestia hate him?"
Rainbow Dash shrugged. "Heck if I know. He looked pretty cool with all those scars. AND that thing on his back, that looked cool too!"
"Princess Luna seemed tah like'm." Apple Jack said. "And ah don't feel funny when ah saw him."
"You girls have points, but Celesita never hated a pony before." Twilight looked around. "Then again, he isn't a pony."
"Well, he is different." Fluttershy said once again shocking everypony. "He looks so hurt, I don't think he wants to hurt us."
"Ya been mighty vocal to that hoo-man." Apple Jack noted.
"I must agree with AJ darling. You never act like that to new ponies." Rarity added her two bits.
Fluttershy smiled. "He's like one of my hurt animals." Everypony's eyes widened. "What?"
"We should try to find his carriage. I think I saw it parked flying over by the dining wing. I'll go check out who this Ordis is. Perhaps he can tell us more about Silver." The girls nodded. "The rest of you can either come with me and learn until dinner comes, or do whatever you like."
"I think I shall visit the spa." Rarity said. "It's been quite some time since I've been here."
"Ah wanna see if this place gotta bar yet, what about you Rainbow?"
"Oh I'm in!"
"Please don't get too wasted girls."
"Ain't no harm in a couple'o drinks now Twi. Don't worry. Pinkie Promise that we'll only have two at the most." The athletes went through the motions.
"I think I'm going to make some of these grumpy guards smile." Pinkie said walking over to a guard who looked like he was ready to bolt.
"Fluttershy?"
"I-I'd like to go with you. I wan-want to learn more about h-Silver."
"Alright be back at the castle by four everypony. Dinner will be ready by five." Everypony who wasn't going with Twilight nodded, and AJ and Rainbow dashed out to go find a bar. It was already two, so they had to move quick. "Come on Shy, we got learning to do."
"Sister, we do not understand. Why must you hate him? You do not know what he has been through that made him who he is. And our dear niece has explained he was raised only to know how to fight." Luna said, a hint of sadness deep in her voice.
"He is dangerous to Equestria, and since he's Cadence's issue now, I can't do a thing to stop her. This is her land, and her laws."
"What if he had to be sent to Equestria Tia?"
"Then he'll be put somewhere I can keep an eye on him. He is too dangerous to be around normal ponies."
"We still do not understand. He has done nothing wrong to make note of. He committed no crimes here nor Equestria. What you are doing is raciest and unjust. We are most surprised by your actions."
"But what if Luna!?" Celestia barked. "I saw his mind!"
"Did you really look into him?" Luna asked. She had made herself sound angry, and by all rights she was. She was upset that her sister would just act like this over a new being. His first impression of her sister was not a good one. "Did you really see what he is, what his code of honor is?! You may be a goddess Tia, but should you truly hate a creature of the universe who just happen to do the only thing he knows how to do!?"
"Luna w-"
"NO 'WHAT IF'S' TIA!" Luna shouted. "He has done nothing wrong! He acted with the intent to defend not only the victim, but he was acting in self-defense! Say you where him and he was you! What then!? What if he decided that you were too 'dangerous' to be allowed on his world and wanted to kill you!? What you are doing is unjust and not even remotely right. He isn't like the changelings who have tried to defect into Equestrian life. You gave them a chance, our own enemies a chance! WHAT THE BUCK!?"
Celestia stared at her sister for a few quiet minutes. "Leave me be..."
Luna snorted. "So be it, I shall speak to him myself. I don't think you have the right to decide what happens to him. You aren't even willing to give him a chance...." Luna walked out of the room and before she closed the door she looked once more at her sister. "At least I am willing to give him a chance...Who is the better now? Think about that sister...."
Celestia looked down at her hooves and closed her eyes. She saw flashes of total destruction and planets being wiped from existence. "I have...."
V
I looked at the Warframe, Oberon with hope rather than hate. I disliked war, and the only reason why I had partaken in it was to stop it. Now, Oberon was my chance to make things right.
I pressed my back against it and it began to bend around me. BioSteel was almost like the metal was living. I worked itself around my body, attaching parts in their designated areas. Shining watched in awe as it began to close, and completely covered my face. I took a step and began sequences. My shields were building up, my life support was maxed out. I was almost ready. I reached for my weapons and equipped them; however, I kept my sword held in my hand.
"That's still quite the sword you got there buddy. I'm glad you are on the right side." Which was the right side? Was I on the wrong side, I do not think so, but I knew what I had to do: Protect. I nodded in agreement though. I believe I was on the right side and still am. Celestia still does not trust me, with my Heat Blade, I'm sure I can. "Lets get go'n!"
I walked on, following Shining Armor down the long halls and up a couple flights of stairs. I was about to dine with the key divines of this world. I do not want anyone to hate me any more, especially Celestia. She does not trust me, and I can tell that she doesn't just think about one thing, she thinks about the future of the entire world. I must prove myself like I had to prove that I was worthy to wield the Warframes.
Shining told me to hold on while he entered. I heard him announce me in and I walked on in. "Sweet Celestia!" Rarity swooned. Did she swoon? I'm not sure, but she looked awed at my appearance, as did the rest of them. She ran up to me with wide eyes. "You look absolutely amazing! What do you call that!?"
I set my hand on her head and said. It is called Oberon, Miss Rarity.
"O-ber-on..."
"Oberon?" Luna asked. "What an interesting name..."
I walked pass Rarity, my eyes are locked on Celestia. I grip my sword tighter as I approach her. "I assure you that if you stri-" I slammed the blade into the ground where it was stuck upright. I kneel down and pulled it out and offered her my sword. I couldn't see her reaction or any one else. I stared at the ground as I felt the blade leave my hands.
"See Tia, he holds his blade out for you." Luna growled angrily. It was like she spat the words out of her mouth with such rage. Did she truly hate how her sister was treating me? I am but a stranger in a strange land, why?
I feel the blade on my shoulder and watch my shields slowly drain. I had well over eight hundred points, so it was going to take a while. "Why does it not pass through?"
"I know!" Twilight said. "Ordis explained to me what and why he wears those armors! There's a blue light where your trying to cut him right?"
"Yes, there is."
"Those are his armor's shields! Once those run out, he has internal life supports in his armor that can heal most of his fatal wounds. That's the Oberon so it has a ton of shields and a little less life support."
My shields were now one fourth down, I had to stop this. I looked up at Celestia and grabbed my sword from her. I wrapped my hand around the blade and held onto it tightly. I watched as my shields protected me from getting my fingers cut off. I pulled it out of her grasp and walked over to a guard. I had to prove myself to her.
I grabbed the guard's sword and walked back to Celestia. I threw it in front of her and she eyeballed me. "Tia, I think he wishes for a duel." I nodded in confirmation.
Celestia narrowed her eyes at me. "If you think this is how you can prove something to me, that isn't how you can do it." I slammed my fist on the table. I wasn't going to take no as an answer. I yelled loudly behind my helm in rage as my shields finished their self repair. My helm retracted and I looked at her, hate burning in my eyes and I bared my teeth. "You look like a monster...Perhaps you should die like one."
"AAAAAGGGG!!!!!!!!!!" I roared in her face and she coughed. My helm formed up and I took a few steps back, entering the Iron Phoenix Stance.
Shining smiled despite the situation. "Hundred bits on Silver."
"SHINING!" Cadence and Twilight yelled at him.
"Ah bet two hundred on the princess." Apple Jack smirked.
"Oh you're on!" Rainbow Dash smirked. "I bet that if Celestia wins, then I'll wear the frilliest piece Rarity has to offer, and if Silver wins, then you got to wear it."
I am not sure what is going on, but Celestia seemed to stand, the sword floating up next to her in her telekinetic grasp. "Well then Silver, if I win, you will be banished from Equestria, if you win, then I will have no choice to let you in." Luna narrowed her eyes and snorted. "Do we have a deal?"
With only a nod, we started the battle. I saw the world turn around and we were in a massive stadium. That's when I realized fighting in Oberon was an awful idea. Celestia had four different advantages over me. One, she has magic. Two, she can fly. Three, she is stronger than me. Four, she has a sword, I gave her that sword.
I was blasted back with a wave of energy. I saw my shields drop one-hundred points and grunted. I watched as they quickly recharged with my fast defection module. Grunting I got up in time for her to hit me harder, and my shields were down to half of their max. I groaned in pain, the ground we were on wasn't like standing in a ship where everything has a solid metal surface, not earthen dirt. I quickly got up and was able to deflect another blast. I did a quick scan, like her sister and the other alicorns, she had a massive pool of stored energy. She had no shields or physical defense, but she could easily make that up with magic.
I went into a hyper focus mode. I scanned her body with my eyes, she was in a basic stance with her legs spread out. Her belly was exposed, and surely if I was able to disable her wings. I would be able to ground her. Driving my heat blade forward, I sped towards her. She was able to jump out of my way, but I was able to bring my sword out and clipped her wings. I was happy once again. Not only were my shields back to working order, I saw her fall on the ground.
I heard gasps and saw ponies around the entire stadium. This became even more dangerous. Hundreds were there, and more were joining to see the fight. Back where the stands were I saw the ponies I was supposed to be dining with right now. Twilight looked like she was going to have a heart attack. Before I was able to notice it, Celestia hit my shields with another blast of magic, knocking my shields down to ten. I realized that she was increasing her magical amplitude for stronger effects. I had to make up for the loss.
As I stood up I entered a defensive stance and was able to block a wave of magical missiles. They bounced off my blade and one hit her in her left wing. She screamed as her own magic burned away most of the feathers in her wing. Some of the skin under it looked like it was going to blister later. I smiled knowing her worst weakness, but she knew my own. I still had to prove myself. If I had to battle her in Oberon to win, then so be it. I've beaten captain Vor of the Grineer in this armor when I found I hadn't killed him the first time. Or his kind had extra DNA and was able to clone him. Either way, I killed him without hesitation.
Celestia's eyes flashed red, and I felt her magic spike. Soon that red turned white. Her energy readings were off the charts, they were well over nine thousand percent. The sun over head flashed and a beam of pure energy was pillaring down towards me. I raised my sword a little late, but was able to block most of the attack. It still did its damage though.
My shields were down, so was I. My ears were ringing and my life support was a ten. I struggled to get up as my shields began to recharge.
"Why do you try you crude creation?" Celestia asked as she hit me with a blast that took my shields back down. "You've already lost the battle, can you see that?"
I stood up weakly. I panted, and was clearly out of breath. I nearing my limit, I have never faced a foe such as her. Her voice is all but a whisper behind the ringing. I nearly lost my footing under my weakness, I wasn't going to end like this, yet I ha no choice. I threw my sword off to the side and dropped my weapons.
Kneeling down I lowered my head and my helm opened up so she could see my face. I surrender... I thought.
Everything seemed to slow down as she stepped closer to me. She had a stern expression written across her face like one of the greatest books that has ever been written. Aside from her injuries, she seemed to walk so proudly. She is truly a goddess like the myths and what legends have made her out to be. She had used the power of the sun to her advantage, and such intelligence was so grand. With only a peak inside her mind, I saw things I didn't believe was true.
Celestia was a physical manifestation of light, and had taken the form of a mythical creature. Her sister Luna was the physical manifestation of darkness or void. And Twilight and Cadence were manifestations of Magic and Love. I see it now...
"S...e...it..." I croaked.
"So you do speak. Tell me, what do you see?" She lowers her head down to hear my words.
"M..mag...ik...light..." I coughed up a bit of blood onto the ground. My eyes widened at the sight.
"What is your purpose in this world Silver? In fact what was your purpose before you came here?"
"P..ro...tect...."
Celestia moved her head back and I looked up at her. "Cadence. I will take him to Equestria. There have been troubles arising."
With a flash, Cadence teleported to us. She looked around dizzily before she was able to focus on us. "What's wrong?"
"There's been sightings of dangerous animals not even Fluttershy can tame getting closer to small towns like Ponyville and Appleloosa." Celestia looked to me. "I have looked inside your mind Tenno. L-O-T-U-S Command Order: Indigo-Alpha-Mike-Lima-Oscar-Tango-Uniform-Sierra. Do you recognize me as such?" I slowly nodded as she spoke those words. I was captured, a new commander I had hoped would use me for good.
I stood up and bowed deeply. "Y..or...s..." I summon Ordis.
Celestia gawks as Ordis comes as soon as he hears my command. Operator? You called? I nodded and pointed to Celestia as I gave him a replay of the command. I see...Does that mean -NO!- you lost? Again I nodded. Recognized command of Tenno Operative: Silver, Class S, Rank - I pointed to Celestia.
"Knight of the Celestial Order."
-WHAT A STUPID NAME- Rank reconized. Leader name-
"Celestia Everfree, may I add additional commands?"
You may.
"Additional commands are in ranking order, I am the highest. Luna Everfree, Twilight Sparkle, Mi Amore Cadenza also known as Cadence. Do you recognize?"
Commanders recognized. I am -YOUR FUTURE OVERLORD- Ordis new commander. It is a -NIGHTMARE- pleasure to meet you. I hope that you will use us for peace as our former commanders have tried to use us to kill.
Celestia nodded. "That is what I intend to do Ordis." She looked over to me and smiled. "You are worthy. You hurt me, not many ponies or other creations have. I am light, surely you see that hurting me is enough to notice that you are not only skilled, but it would be a waste for you not to do what you do best. Tenno, you have a new mission." I nodded with a small faint smile.
"Can we eat now? I have to eat for two here...." It almost sounded like Cadence was wining. I chuckled and Celestia nodded. It was a short walk back to the castle.
I lay in my bed with Shining by my side. I am glad aunty had a reason to fight him. She wasn't sure if he was truly who he said he was. She spoke of being inside of his mind, but I do not understand. I was unable to see deeper than what he showed me. What was it that she was shown that he was worthy?
Shining kissed me on my neck and a giggled. "Light's out?"
"That would be nice." He chuckled as I turned off the lights. It was quiet for a few moments before he spoke again. "Cady?"
"Yes Shiny?"
"Do you know what's going to happen to him?"
"No, I don't. What about you?"
"I've known Celestia since I was little. She trained me how to be the best guard out there. Teaching me all the defensive spells I could master. I don't know...what she'll do with him. If there's danger near Ponyville and in other cities in Equestria, what does that mean for us?"
"You know the crystal heart can protect us again anything that threatens us. Have no fear."
"I hope so..." When we heard a crack of thunder and heard Luna shouting at her sister, we didn't want to even get close. We were sure that the guard didn't even want to get close to whatever was going on. All we hoped was that they wouldn't destroy the castle.
I was more done with this than anypony could even imagine. I stomped through the halls of the crystalline castle to my sister's room. How could she put him through that!? I knew what was going on in his head the moment he gave her his sword. He had already offered to defend all of Terra, and I cannot believe that she made me fight for that. I makes the inner warrior yearn towards the creature. His amber eyes only showed pain when he heard that code that made him leave his old commander.
Before my fall, I was the best warrior Equestria had to offer. I trained all of my guard and all of my sister's to be the best anywhere. Extreme training programs, hard rations, with those I turned those small colts into grown stallions. They worked so hard to defend the peace, to keep our ponies in line, and protect Equestria. I understood well when I saw how he stood, how much of a noble warrior he was. Then when my sister had made that useless bet with him, he lost either way, but in my heart, he won a prize that no other could have. He won my respect.
As soon as I arrived at her room, I bucked the door down. I picked her up and threw her into a wall. "HOW COULD THEE!?" I shouted at her, rage burning in my eyes. "HE OFFERED HIS SWORD TO US! TO YOU!!!! AND WHAT DID YOU DO!?" I threw her down onto the ground. "ANSWER US!"
"Luna calm down!" Celestia shouted.
"YOU ARE LUCKY WE DO NOT KILL YOU!" I shouted back at her, rage burning brighter than her sun. The nightmare inside of me fuels my rage, but does not take hold, she does not dare any longer. "ALL HE WANTED WAS TO DO WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS RIGHT! ALL YOU DID WAS PUT HIM THROUGH USELESS PAIN! WHAT IF HE WERE ONE OF US!? WOULD YOU DO THE SAME TO HIM!? WOULD YOU!?!!?
"Of course not!"
"THEN WHY TIA!?! Why did you put him through the pain of never being able to do his job!? Without his shields he wouldn't survive your solar beam. He would be a pile of ash...And you put him...through all that pain..." I started to tear up. "Who are you Tia? What happened to the mare who was even willing to let Discord turn good...? I do not think I will speak to you for some time. Not until you find out what you've done to the poor thing..." I threw her out of my way, crying.
I heard somepony cough lightly to get my attention. I look over and I see Silver standing in his armor, sword drawn. "Did you hear me?" He nodded and his helm retracted to show his face. "Do you hate my sister?" He shook his head. "What then?" He shrugged and dropped his sword. He walked over to me, and wrapped his arms around my neck. I smiled and returned the favor. "Thank you..."
"...k...u...av...e..." I felt him wince as he tried to speak. He placed his hand on my head. You dislike her because she does not understand our form of honor. Thank you for defending me, but I wish that you speak to her in more of a friendly manner tomorrow.
"But she hurt you only to put you in the same place you were before!"
It's fine Luna. Go sleep now, I will keep guard. I do not need rest.
I nodded and smiled at him. "If it wasn't for how you express emotions, I would think you were a gallum." He chuckled as I walked away. Such an interesting creature.
Interlude - Words From the Tenno
One Man Remains
And the skies seem to change
The universe is dark tonight.
We are the brave
the ones that fight
the ones that die
for what?
To protect
I am a Tenno
but my humanity is all that remains.
I am not like the others...
I was sent on a mission
that had no clear end
and I fought a goddess
who now controls me.
I was freed
but shackled again
I hope...
I hope....
I hope.....
I hope......
I will bring peace
to myself
and to others.
In hope...
I hope...
I will be free
from my servitude.
I only hope...
I hope...
I hope...
I hope that
I will live
to see the day
the day
when it comes
I will be free
with no more fighting
no more crying
no more sadness
anger
hate
sorrow
love
happiness
just
...
...
...
...
...
Freedom...
VI
When I woke up, I walked down the long halls of my castle. I enjoyed taking walks through these empty halls as most often it cleared my mind. However this time, I could not sleep.
My aunt has angered me, and Luna as well. I slept last night, thinking about how Silver might be taking this. Behind his helm, nopony could see any emotion. I could sense his emotions, but it took some work. Right now, I couldn't even feel his presence in the castle, yet his flying carriage was still parked near the dining hall.
The poor creature...he has been through so much pain, only I and Fluttershy seem to feel his pain. It is hard knowing that I have the power to say what I'd like, but I would not dare to speak to my aunt about this. At least not yet, she has yet to show us what she has in store for him. I suppose I should ask her about it, but all around I think I should also give her some time. As we heard last night, Luna had some choice words. I too have some choice words for my aunt, but the wills forbid that I get on her bad side.
There was that feeling again. There was some sort of energy that pulsed and drew energy towards it. My horn sparked to life as I made the magic visible. It left a trail going down the main entrance. This time the feeling left me feeling odd a little. Since I was connected to the crystal heart, and the heart was or felt like it was beating. As I exited the castle, I saw Silver floating in air, suspended by nothing.
There was energy circling around both him and the heart. His energy came out of his back and went into the heart, while the energy of the heart went into him. I watched in awe as he unfolded his legs and stood as though he weren't floating before. He bowed before the heart, and I felt a small boost in the heart's magical output.
"What'd you do?" I asked him as I neared him.
Resting his hand on my head and retracting his helm. I wanted to leave a gift before I left. Since I do not sleep, I took time to study your culture. This is the Crystal Heart, it protects your land from the cold and evil forces. I gave my own energy to it, as a sign of peace.
I smiled up at his scarred face. "Thank you for that."
"Silver." Celestia approached from behind. "We must get going. Gather whatever you own and that carriage you have. We shall being taking it back to Equestria."
He put his hand on her head and everything went quite for a few moments. Celestia blinked and nodded. "As you wish, just tell me when we are ready for take off." Silver nodded and waved goodbye.
Celestia watched him with narrow eyes as he ran into the castle. I was saddened that Celestia hadn't began being nice to him. She never liked things that were wildcards. Silver was truly a card that ran its own way. Nopony knew what or why he would do something, so it put him in a dangerous spot under the eyes of my aunt. She even had to put thought that Discord could remain out of stone after betraying the elements.
To her, Celestia thought that Silver had a huge hole in his ability to communicate above the kinetic-telepathic level, so because of that, she didn't know what he was going to do. Because he thought more than spoke, his mental ward is as strong as hers. He hadn't spoken since he was a small child, he must have a masterful mind. It must explain why he can float off the ground slightly! Oh geezzz....I sound like Twilight.
"Cadence, why do you put trust in him?" Celestia's voice snapped me out of my world. "He is a danger."
"You're judging a book by it's cover aunty....I don't think he wants to hurt us. He's made it clear that he wants to hear, Twilight and everypony else trusts him. He hasn't don't anything yet!"
"That just it Cadence...Yet....We never know..."
I stomped my hoof. "Celestia......I let him touch me right where my own child rests. I felt his emotions. He is in pain, he doesn't know what's going on, and he's scared! WHY!" I shouted at her. "I'm the princess of emotions, especially love! What I see-I see a lonely child who's fighting a war he doesn't think will ever end. When he saw us, he saw new life! He looked so inspired to see us, and the first thing he said....aunty...." I couldn't keep speaking, I felt like I was going to cry. I walked away from her, tears falling off my face and hit the ground.
"Cad-"
"NO!" I said closing the castle doors behind me. Silver stood right there in front of me and shook his head. I stared up at him and he retracted his helm. "What'd I do?" He gave me this sad look. I watched as a tear rolled down his eyes and then he walked away. Without giving me another look, he walked on with his head hanging low.
I could not believe why these ponies were trying to defend me. I am dangerous, I could kill them all with my Heat Blade or my other guns. I could do it all in a heart beat. No...I wouldn't do that to these wonderful creatures. They are so beautiful, so...peaceful. They worked to defend be, but I know it is for not.
I know that Celestia will hate me and not trust me until the day I prove I am as peaceful. I was known among the Tenno as The Protectorate and I would die if I cannot keep such a high title. I was the one who maintained the peace, I was the one who helped...Because....I...I was never helped............
I shake my head. No, I am a Tenno. I should be facing threats, not moping like a sad kubrow. My fists clench together as my armor locks down. I feel my biosteel reacting to the magic in the air. Their magic is just energy, when they use it, the energy is given back to the world and absorbed again. Now, I had to figure out a way to do the same, absorb more power, and earn my freedom.
This Ponyville I am hearing about from the other ponies. It sounds like it is a good place to train. It is a small town, full of their kind's females, and I've also heard of three little ones who are looking for their destiny. Yes....perhaps I am not going to be the only Tenno.
Who are the Cutie Mark Crusaders that are in Rarity's memories? With that idea set in place I begin to continue my walk to Ordis. I do not believe that he will be pleased to be used as a taxi to someone much like Celestia is. He had a general distaste for her, something I was unaware that an AI such as himself could produce. Perhaps, I should run a repair on him. He is damaged, if he can no longer keep his shape up, he'll die.
It is funny how I think of Ordis as a person rather than a robot. Most of the time, I completely forget it. Once when I got my Ordana, he tried to argue that it wasn't ready for use, but it was either he does or I would die in the hard vacuum of space. Many memories were made with him before and after the old war and my new missions began. However, when I first woke, it was because of the Corpus.
I fell from my cryopod onto my hands and knees. My vision was blurred, and I had no contact with anyone. It left me to wonder, who woke me up?
"Get up slave!" I looked up at who had to appear as a Corpus commander. He woke me up. "Can you not hear me!? STAND FOOL!"
I slowly stood up. My bones felt weak, my armor was cracked and damaged. My shields were offline and my life support was only at one hundred. I tried contacting Ordis, but there came no reply.
"We are the Corpus! We control you now! Do you under-ssstaaanndd?" His voice slurred as he mocked me. I was only allowed to nod, as my vows prevented me from speaking and acting out against the ones who woke me. "G-gooooddd....hehehe....Come Tenno, we have work to do. There's an army of Grineer to fight, and you're going to help us win this war."
It was depressing to hear that I was going to be used as a weapon again. I frowned behind my Ember Warframe. They gave me a Bolto and a standard blaster-pistol. "Goooo, fight the..Grineer!"
I walked on, acting out my orders. I noticed that he had attached a devise to my chest. I pressed my hand on it, and felt a dark power thrum inside. I was a slave, once again.
Those memories kept me moving. I was a slave when I woke up the first time, and I am a slave again. I can only hope that princess Celestia will use me for good rather than evil like the Corpus had done to me. I slightly shiver in my armor. I do hope that does not come.