The Darkness Rising

by LoneShadow

Chapters

• Synopsis of When Worlds Collide
• A new adventure
• First meetings
• Fire team Specter
• Arrival
• Reinforcments
• Evac
• Cancellation notice

Synopsis of When Worlds Collide

A year ago, Equestria was as it always was: a peaceful place filled with peace and harmony. But, a mere few weeks after Twilight went to the human world for the second time, Princess Luna began to have terrible nightmares that not even she could stop. Celestia called for Twilight and the other Elements, hoping to cure Luna of her terrible nightmares.

As the looked into finding a way to help the lunar princess, Discord brought two groups of, for lack of a better word, heoroes to Equestria, though they would not arrive in Equestria for a year after Luna's nightmares began due to temporal displacement. Six months after they began, a stallion by the name of Lone Shadow, the leader of an ancient, secret group of ponies, changelings, and every other sapient race known as lone team that dated back twenty thousand years, discovered an ancient evil, the one that prompted the founding of lone team by his ancestor and namesake, was rising, and that he had caused the nightmares, though he was unable to do anything for six months, just before the aliens arrived.

When the aliens arrived, Celestia had sent members of the royal guard, some of which were members of lone team, to bring them to the Canterlot. Though they took some injuries, the guard, led by a disguised Lone Shadow, brought them to Canterlot, where they stayed for the next week until the followers of the evil, the Brotherhood of Plasma, attacked, causing the ponies and their new found allies to flee from the city.

They decided to strike back, all but Celestia, who did not wish to harm those who once worshiped her, and left the group, only to be caught by the Brotherhood in the Crystal Empire, where Lone and the others soon made their way.

They escaped with Celestia, and made their way to an ancient library, where Lone's long-thought brother, Unity, revealed himself to be Shadow Specter, a turncoat from the Brotherhood, and they discovered that cutie marks were simply a way for Plasma to control the populace, and some ponies, such as Lone and his brother, were immune to it, essentially making them blank flanks. The two discovered spell that would remove cutie marks, and cast it on those that were with them.

From there, the group made their way to the Brotherhood's main base, where Plasma revealed himself and corrupted Celestia, Luna, Applejack, and Metamorpha and Chtinia, formerly Twilight and Rarity, whose secret had been discovered shortly before they fled Canterlot, also discovering they were Chrysalis' daughters.

Plasma banished Lone, Shadow, and two of their allies to where he was imprisoned, and three months passed for Equis, with Canterlot being destroyed and Plasma attempting, and failing, to convert the others.

On the day of their execution, lone team and it's allies fully rebelled against Plasma, resulting in the largest battle in Equis history.

After an hour of fighting, to the surprise of all, the unlikeliest of reinforcements arrived for lone team, who was losing the battle. Shadow Specter, now anthro instead of full on pony, arrived, along with multiple packs of timberwolves, Nightmare Moon, also anthro, and an army of thestrals; and a member of lone team, Robin, and, flood forces that had been allied with lone team for centuries.

With their reinforcements, lone team had been able to resurge, and the fight became a deadlock. After ten hours of this fighting, Lone Shadow arrived with his own reinforcements, which was one huge ass fleet of UNSC, covenant, rebel, and Citadel ships, and, with their support, lone team had been able to make it to where just Plasma was left, but not before he attempted to kill Nightmare, Shadow, and those who had been corrupted. Lone Shadow got in the way of the blast, and his sacrifice revealed the seventh Element of Harmony, the Element of sacrifice. With it, lone team was able to kill Plasma, and the three universes that had fought against Plasma had united. We start our story three months after this fight.

A new adventure

Lone Shadow, hero of Equestria, was in the Nexus, a place he had spent the three months in exile in. The Nexus was a. . . unique place, as it is where those who were a large influence in their home universe went when they died. As a result, it was the most technologically advanced place Lone had seen. Though, it had a dark side. The Void.

This was, for lack of a better term, a prison for the more villainous individuals went. Assuming their deaths didn't completely destroy their brains. it was where Plasma, when he was first banished from Equis, went, though he had eventually escaped, and caused the events of the last year, including a revelation that ponies, and every quadruped being on Equis that could speak, for that matter, were once more similar to humans in their body structure, which was to say anthro.

Right now, he was sitting in a small office room in front of an desk, with the owner of said desk sitting behind it. The said owner was a mare with white skin wearing a gray, sleeveless dress. Her hair went down just past her shoulders, and had ten colors. Lavender, purple, cyan, orange, pink, ruby, emerald, gray, brick, and black. Seven of these colors represented the seven Elements of Harmony that had been found, the other three representing the ones not yet found. The mare was Harmony, the maker of the Elements.

Lone was wearing a red T-shirt and black jeans, both of which went with his skin color, as black as ink, with red as an accenting color. His hair and tail were the same. On his face, a single scar ran across the right, starting just above his eye, and ending just under his lip, and, amazingly, he hadn't lost sight in that eye. There were a few other things, though. One was the fact he had both a horn, and wings, the latter looking like a mix of pegasus wings from the base joint to the halfway point, and bat wings the rest of the way. The second was that his right arm from the shoulder down was a robotic prosthetic.

"You wanted to see me, harmony," he asked, crossing his arms.

"Indeed I did, Lone," Harmony said. "As we've become aware since your defeat over him, many of Plasma's plans have come to light, many of them having been stopped by the versions of lone team of those universes. We are currently monitoring one, while another has become drastic."

"What would that be?" Lone asked.

"That is best answered in another location," Harmony said, getting up from her seat. "Come, it is not far."

"Right," Lone said, nodding and following her.

Just as they left the building they were in, a small building with no visible windows and a single door, Harmony stopped. "Before we go, however, there is someone I'd like you to meet. He'll be recording everything you and the others do in terms of your adventures?"

"Who?"

Me.

"Okay, where'd that come from," Lone said, jumping in surprise.

"Your mind," Harmony said. "Remember how I told you of Pinkie Pie being able to speak with those of us in the Nexus when she wished? Well, she is not the only. Who you just heard has been in contact with both me and Pinkie, getting the last story of what had happened with Plasma recorded."

"Well, what's his name?"

The name's Josh. Pleasure, Lone.

"This is going to be a large headache, I just know it," Lone said. "So, what is it you do, exactly?"

Well, I mostly just record the stories and put them on a website. Readers think it's just a story. Nothing actually important is put in them, I assure you. Also, I'll be giving you guys information as to any other universes you'll be going to. Until then, I'll be silent. Well, I have some stuff to do, so I'll talk to you later."

"That was weird," Lone said, causing Harmony to chuckle.

"Yes, I can imagine so. Come, I still need to show you something."

Lone nodded, and followed Harmony as she began to make her way to the medical part of the Nexus, a place Lone knew well. When they entered, the guards, two humanoids in advanced armor, stood to the side and saluted them, but stayed silent.

They walked in, then turned left, going to the VIP section of the place. This instantly made Lone realize just how important it was, as only four people, himself, his brother, Shadow Specter, and two humans, Spartans named Maruco and John, or, as the latter was more famous for, Master Chief, had been in this part of the place in recent years.

"I warn you now, Lone, this may be confusing for you," Harmony said before the two stopped in front of a single set of doors.

"Whatever it is, I'm ready for it, Harmony," Lone said.

"I had figured you would be," the white alicorn said before opening the doors, revealing three anthro ponies laying down on three hospital beds. What surprised Lone was that they all looked familiar.

In the bed closest to the door was a lavender mare wearing a white shirt and blue jeans, her hair, with a stripe of purple, going to her shoulders. The bed directly across from her contained a mare with hair that contained alternating stripes of purple and white, and wore what would be the stereotypical librarian outfit. The weirdest one, though, was a single bed next to the one that resembled Metamorph, Chrysalis' daughter, when she was in her Twilight form. In that bed was a very familiar black and red stallion, with just a horn, no scar, and wore a short sleeved shirt and jeans, both colored blue.

"Uh, Harmony, care to explain why there's a second me here, as well as a second Twilight and her mother?"

"The specifics are best answered by them when they awaken, but I brought them here, as the universe they came from is the one that is affected by Plasma, and they are the only ones who stand a chance of removing his influence. As for why you're here, they have no combat training, something they'll need to remove the influence, and I was hoping you would be the one to train them."

Lone, the one next to Harmony, thought on this, then said, "If they're willing to fight, then I will. If not, then I'll go in my self."

"I expected nothing less," Harmony said with a smile.

"So, how long until they wake up?"

"The doctors say a week or two, due to the strain from their first inter-dimensional transport. But I am not the only one who wishes to speak with you, Lone."

"Who else wants to," Lone asked.

"That is best discussed with five others," Harmony said. "I will give you time to decide on that before returning."

Lone nodded. "Right," he said, and he then disappeared in a flash of light.

Lone reappeared in the castle that also functioned as the headquarters for the Equis lone team. It, and the surrounding city, had been built two weeks after Plasma was defeated and was named New Canterlot, the original having been destroyed during Plasma's three month reign.

The room he had appeared in was the throne room. He stood in front of his throne, made out of onyx. There were ten thrones, one each for the rulers, Lone, his brother, Fear and Chaos, their respective dark sides that had been split from them during the battle, Chrysalis, Cadence, who, collectively, ruled over the Empire and changelings, Luna, who was also Lone's beloved, Celestia, Shaodw's beloved, and Nightmare Moon and Solar Flare, the dark sides of Luna and Celestia, both of which were romantically involved with Fear and Chaos, respectively.

Lone was the only one present, as Metamorpha, formerly Twilight Sparkle, and her lover, John, were taking a vacation to the human counter part of Eqius.(1) Going with them was one of John's oldest, and probably the only friend, Cortana.(2)

"This is going to be fun," Lone said as he went to the portal room, which contained the mirror portal.

It was a short walk, and he made it there just before Metamorpha, John, and Cortana were about to go through.

"Lone, you made it," Metamorpha said as he walked in, Luna walking up to him and kissing him on the cheek.

"What, you thought I wasn't going to say goodbye to you guys before you left?" Lone said with a smile. "What kind of friend would I be if I did that?"

"Fair enough," Metamorpha said. She wore a green shirt with purple highlights, and on a pair of knee length shorts. John wore standard UNSC casual, nothing surprising there. Cortana wore a light blue t-shirt and blue jeans. Metamorpha put her backpack, which was colored purple and had Twilight's cutie mark on it, and put it on. "Well, guess we'll see you guys in a week."

"See ya, Metamorpha," Applejack said. "See ya later too, John."

"See you in a week," John said, and the three of them walked through the portal.

"Well, I hope they have a good time," Shadow said. He had on a brown, sleeveless shirt and camo, knee length shorts. Celestia, wearing blue jeans and a white shirt, one of the many changes from Plasma being royalty now dress like the average pony.

"I think we all do," Lone said. "But something's come up, guys."

"What," Nightengale said. He also wore UNSC standard casual, due to the fact he was once a soldier for the UNSC.(3)

"I don't know," Lone said. "Harmony said it would be best discussed with only five, not including myself, her, or the one who will be explaining it present."

"Then who's going with you?" Octavia, Nightengale's marefriend and a member of lone team, wearing a purple shirt with a gray, button-up over coat and a beige skirt.

"No idea," Lone said.

"Well, I'm going with you, Lone," Luna said.

"Me too," Nightengale said.

"If Nightengale's going, so am I," Octavia said.

Lone smiled. "Thanks guys, but who else is coming, because if Harmony says we need six, then we'll need six."

"Well, I've been wanting to go on an adventure recently," Chitinia, formerly Rarity, said. She wore a designer outfit that went with her chitin, and still had the elegance she did from before her secret was revealed. "So count me in."

"Ah, shoot, me too," Applejack, wearing a short sleeved white shirt and denim jeans.

"You sure, AJ? What about Applebloom and the rest of your family," Nightengale asked.

"Yeah. Applebucking season ain't for a few months," Applejack said.

"Then I guess it's time to go," Lone said.

"Good luck," Shadow said. "Make sure you don't lose another limb this time, Lone."

"Go to hell," Lone said as he lit his horn, and the six going on the new mission disappeared.

First meetings

The trip through the mirror portal was the same for Metamorpha, with the only exceptions being her hooves became feet, her muzzle shortened, and her wings and horn vanished. The clothes she was wearing when she went through the portal, a lavender shirt and black colored jeans, changed little, really only accommodating the changed to her body, with a pair of  boots that went just above her ankles appearing. On her back was a backpack, which carried spare clothes and, much as she didn't want to, but decided to play it safe, given her destination, her Element, which, for some reason changed from a gem stone to what she recognized as a kind of class ring, with the Element being in the gem at the center, with her cutie mark from before her secret was revealed on one side, and the symbol of Chrysalis, her mother's, hive, a green shield with a bee over it, on the other.

As the end of the portal began to brighten up, she looked at her two companions. The first was John, her boyfriend, even if he still rarely showed his emotions to where any not close to him thought he was an emotionless robot, and Cortana. She definitely had a complicated story, as she was once an AI, but the Nexus, and her presence there eventually allowed her to go between her data form and her physical form.

One thing Metamorpha noticed just before they exited was that her skin color was the same as her lavender chitin, only slightly darker, and her hair now had a streak of green in it along with the usual stripe of fuchsia.

Just before the three of them exited the other end, Metamorpha braced, in case she had to roll upon exit.

It was a good thing she did, too, as that was exactly the case. When she came out of the portal, she came out headfirst, and, with that, her combat training from the time when she, regrettably, had been controlled by Plasma and the three months since then for the upcoming tournament in the Nexus, which, if she remembered right, the first round was in a year.

She tucked in as her arms hit the ground in front of her into a ball, and, when her momentum stopped, she twisted her body, and stuck her right leg out in her path, stopping her slide.

"Whoa, Twilight, is that you," she heard her friend, Sunset Shimmer say.

Metamorpha got up and stood, stretching, and said, "Hey, girls. Sorry I couldn't visit sooner, stuff was happening." She looked at her friends from Canterlot high, and was surprised to see six other girls standing there, including herself.(1)

One had silver hair that was in long pig tails, orange glasses over her purple eyes, black heeled shoes, dark purple stocks and pants, with a dark red, almost maroon like shirt, a black bow tie, and a skirt with slight checkerboard designs.

The second one had a similar outfit, but she reminded Metamorpha of Lightning Dust. She had sporting goggles on, just above her forehead, her socks slightly loose, with her just having a skirt on, in contrast to the first, but it went down further.

The third had on an outfit almost exactly like the second, but her socks were pulled up as far as possible. She had long, green hair, and red headphones resting on her shoulders.

The fourth had short, light purple hair, very light blue skin, and an outfit just like the last girl's.

.

The last had a more, well, human skin tone, like the second, and had three, light purple freckles on her cheeks, with light purple hair with a dash of cyan to accent it.

"So," she said, "what have you guys been up to?"

"That's all you have to say?" Sunset asked. "What we've been up to since last time?"

"Sunset, do calm down," Rarity said. "It's clear Me- I mean, Twilight's been up to a lot since the last time we saw her. After all, look at her outfit, as well as her hair."

"What are we, chopped liver?" Cortana asked, as she and John walked over.

"Oh, right. Sorry," Metamorpha said. "Girls, this is Cortana," she said as Cortana nodded, "and my boyfriend, John."

As the mouths of the others dropped, Metamorpha chuckled.

"You got a boyfriend?" the human Twilight asked.

"Yep," Metamorpha said, nodding. "So, who're the new girls?"

"That's a lng, story, Twilight," Sunset said. "We were actually about to go to sugercube corner. If you guys want to come with us, we can explain it there."

Metamorpha nodded. "Sure."

Lone and the others appeared in a small flash if light that Lone recognized as one of the various briefing room for any soldier of the Nexus before they went on missions. "Might as well take a seat," he said, and the six of them sat down.

"So, what do you think's going on," Nightengale asked, Octavia sitting next to him.

"No idea," Lone said. "All I know is that Harmony said it would be best explained with six total, and here we are."

"Well, whatever it is," Chitinia said, "I'm sure we can handle it."

"Agreed," Applejack said just Harmony, accompanied by one of the few other Nexus soldiers Lone knew, Scout-16, which caused him to sit straight.

"Scout," he said, giving her a nod before saying to Harmony, "So, what's up?"

"Hello to all of you," Harmony said, ignoring Lone. "And there is still one more needed to answer your question, Lone."

Fortunately for timing, at this moment, a second door opened, and a woman with blue skin, glowing, blue irises. Her hair stopped just above her shoulders. Her outfit was, well, interesting and hard to describe, so here's a picture.

"Everyone," Harmony said, "This is one of the Nexus' most recent arrivals, Mara Sov, Queen of the Awoken."

"Greetings," Mara said.

"And to you too," Luna said with a head bow of respect to a fellow ruler.

"Now, to answer your question, Lone," Harmony said, "I asked both Scout and Mara to help me explain."

"Okay, just what's going on," Lone asked, to which Scout answered.

"An ancient being from our universe arrived in our solar system," she said, with a holo-projection of the Sol system, which is the one you and I live in, if you didn't know. "He's come seeking vengeance."

"For what," Nightengale asked.

"Two reasons," Scout said before she turned to face Mara. "Your highness?"

"One is revenge."

"Why?" Octavia asked. Mara glared at her, but answered.

"His son was killed by six individuals, a team of Guardians, as they are called. He has come to get revenge on them. That is how I was killed. I gave my life to give them a chance of getting to him and killing him," she said. "They succeeded, but only in rebuking him from our world to one of his own making."

"Now, he's trying again, but not just there," Scout said. "According to Nexus sensors, he's taken individuals from the human version of Equis."

"But why that?" Chitinia said.

"Because," Harmony said, "Lone killed his brother."

Fire team Specter

"You're kidding, right?" Lone asked Harmony. "There's no way Plasma had a brother. Even if he did, he probably killed him, right?"

"I wish I was, Lone," Harmony said, "but Plasma indeed had a brother. The reason why he was never mentioned was because the two of them went their separate ways and went to different universes, most likely to escape the Nexus' eye. Plasma went to Equis, and his brother, Oryx, went to an alternate version of Earth, or at least, its dimension. He did not have our attention until now."

"And just what got him to get your attention?" Luna asked.

"Because these six," Scout said as a projection of six different people appeared. Three had a similar color scheme, with that scheme being white, red, purple, and yellow(FWC year 2 gear.), while other three had a red and white color scheme(new monarchy.), "killed his son, and he's come for revenge against them. That in and of itself wouldn't have gotten our attention."

"What did," Harmony said, "is the fact he's ripping individuals from this universe to make his own army." She sighed. "We sent Legion in to a collective much like the geth to gather what he could, but we lost contact with him soon after."

"What we do know, for the most part has come from the Queen," Scout said, gesturing towards Mara, "as well as another of our allies there, and has chosen to remain there to assist these six against Oryx."

"Then where do we come in?" Nightengale asked. "Why involve us. Don't get me wrong, we want to help, but what had Oryx done that's an immediate threat to us?"

"Because, just recently," Harmony said, "he has begun sending his forces to where Metamorpha, John, and Cortana currently are. They will be able to handle themselves for a time, but, if they are to be safe, as well as the UDG, Oryx must be stopped where he is now. "That is another reason I asked Scout here: to help the six of you in your fight there, as well as introduce you to the six that killed Oryx's son."

"Okay," Lone said, "but one more question: Do you know what happened to Green Mist?" Ah, that. Green Mist had last been seen before Plasma joined in the fight that was his last. No body had been found, and anti-disguise and illusion spells ha been cast, and he hadn't been found.

"We still have no clue what happened to him," Harmony said, "but we are still hunting him down, and I made sure you all would be the first to know."

"Well, I know I want to kill him for what he did to me and Metamorpha," Chitinia said.

"In due time," Harmony said. "Now, if that's all the questions, Scout, show them to the armory, then, well, you know."

"Right," the female exo said. "Follow me." With that, everyone got up and made their way to the door, Mara away from the others.

"Lone, a moment," Harmony said just before the aforementioned thestralicorn left.

"Go on ahead, guys," he said. "I'll catch up." He closed the door, and turned to face Harmony.

"You haven't told them?" she asked, to which Lone shook his head.

"No," he said. "I want to, but, well, I don't want them to make a bad decision. If Chrysalis, their mother, didn't tell them, I won't."

Harmony chuckled. "That, Lone, is why I was personally surprised you don't bear kindness as well. But if you don't want to tell them, I won't pressure you. You can go now."

"Thanks," Lone said before he left.

"Oh, and I had a special armor made for you. Its waiting with the other armors."

"Thanks, Harmony," Lone said before he left to join the others.

Bang

As a single sniper shot echoed across the cavernous space it was in, felling a tall being in gray, almost bone like armor, the owner said, "Move up, Monarchy. You're clear." The owner of the sniper rifle, a Hereafter, wore the most recent future war cult hunter armor. His name was Josh, and he was the leader of Fire team Specter. "Move fast, though. Something tells me the Hive are gonna be on our asses soon."

"Right," Patrick, the second in command of Specter, who wore the most recent New Monarchy Hunter armor, said. "Where are the others?"

"Covering our six," Josh replied as he looked down his scope. The location of Fire team Specter was the Dreadnaught, Oryx's fortress in the skies above Saturn. "Good thing they got their own swords, huh?"

"Yep," Patrick said. "So, what are we doing again?"

"Infiltrating one of the various libraries on the ship and seeing what we can get before pissing off the Hive to the point we need to run," Josh said. "Oh, and doing a mission for Zavala that involves, fortunately for us, killing the guard of the library we are raiding. But, you know, the first ones actually just because, even if it does help us out."

"You sound a lot like Cayde, you know, right?"

"If that were the case, I'd be making more wisecracks," Josh said. "Like this: Shut up before I put a bullet message in your body that says, 'Monarchy sucks'."

"More an insult, and not a good one," Patrick said.

"Now you know why I don't do them that often."

"Would you two please shut up?" Josh's Ghost, who had a female voice and a customized shell with a crescent moon on the inside surfaces and the main color being navy blue.

"Sorry, Luna," Josh said, his Ghost being named for the old scientific name of the Earth's moon, as he rubbed a green survival bracelet that campers sometimes wore on his right wrist, the last thing from his life before he became a Hunter. "But still, I thought the Hive would have had more assholes guarding the place."

"Yeah," Patrick's ghost, who he had named after his little sister from before he had become a Hunter, said. "Kinda weird."

"Guys, this is Cybis," their team mate, an awoken warlock who had the warlock future war cult armor on, said, "we got something interesting going on."

"Define 'interesting'," Josh said.

"We got Cabal inbound, waving, I shit you four not, a white flag, and our Ghosts are picking up transmissions from them calling for a truce."

"Why?"

"Large ass Taken force inbound."

Josh rolled his eyes. "Patrick?"

"Already enroute with Catherine going to get what she can. She'll meet us when she's done."

"Right," Josh said, nodding. "Cybis, tell the Cabal that once we repel the assault, truce is over and both sides give the other time to get back. Us to the tower, them to the Dantallion Exodus VI."

"Right," Cybis said before he cut the comms.

"This is going to be interesting," Josh said before looking at Luna. "Super?"

"Charged and ready."

Under his helmet, Josh smiled. "Then let's get going," he said as he jumped off his post, a ruined Hive pillar from an earlier Cabal assault, as he put his Hereafter on his back and drew his Vanity, a future war cult hand cannon, from his thigh. This particular variant had what many called "Zen moment", though what it did, if it actually did something, Josh never noticed, and a choice between "Outlaw", which allowed the weapons AI and Luna to more effectively increase his reload speed with the weapon when ever he capped someone's head, or "Surrounded," which caused the weapon's AI to increase the caliber of the ammo just slightly to increase damage when three or more enemies were in close proximity.(1) "Oh, and Luna, get some music cued."

"Already done," she said. With that, Josh made his way to where the other had holed up. The first he saw was Rhino-13, or just Rhino. He was the last of the future war cult triumvirate of Specter, and, if the name didn't make it obvious, he was an Exo. He had one of the newer Suros weapons, a refurbished Regime, actually.

"About time you got here," he said.

"Oh shut it, Rhino," Josh said. "What's going on with the Cabal?"

"That's just it," Rhino said as the two made their way to where Cybis, the others, and the Cabal were. "Once we gave their leader the terms, a Primus Tha'ron, he said the truce wasn't just for now, it was for until the Taken are utterly and totally defeated. Turns out the Cabal with him are considered rogue by the Empire. He and those following him actually want peace with the city."

Josh chuckled. "Vanguard's gonna be pissed at that, Zavala especially."

"Do you really think we care?" Rhino asked.

"I guess not," Josh said with an amused smile on under his helmet. "So, do Vanguard files have any thing on Tha'ron?"

"Just that he's been in and out of the Cabal equivalent of the news for the past century, more often then not trying to have a peace thing set up between the Cabal and the City. One of the few Cabal with the rank to even have it get in the chain to begin with."

"Well, I wouldn't say cooperation's impossible," Josh said. "Remember Cayde's story of when he met that Fallen Baroness on the moon?"

"Yeah, I remember," Rhino said. "I can not wait to see the reaction of Cayde, especially. That's going to be funny in some way, I just know it."

"Same here," Josh chuckled. "Now come on. We need to get there soon.

Arrival

"So, Twilight," Sunset asked Metamorpha, "what's been going on back in Equestria?"

The fifteen of them, the hu-mane six, the shadowbolts, and Metamorpha and her companions, had arrived at Sugarcube corner. Well, it's human world equivalent, at any rate. Metamorpha and the others had been introduced to Sugar Coat, Lemon Zest, Indigo Zap, who had reminded Metamorpha of Lightning Dust, Sour Sweet, and Sunny Flare. It had been interesting to learn that, despite the school name beling similar to the Crystal Empire's, it was more like Canterlot. In retrospect for Metamorpha, it made some kind of sense, as Canterlot high was more like Ponyville. As for why Celestia and Luna in this world were there and not Crystal prep was anyone's guess.

"A lot, actually," Metamorpha replied. "Most of it's extremely complicated. And I do mean complicated."

"Well, can you tell us some of the simple stuff," Rainbow asked.

"Yeah," Indigo added. "Preferably something cool."

Metamorpha chuckled. Even if she wasn't Lightning Dust, Indigo sure acted like her. "Well, my friends back home in I did kill a god."

"You did what?" Twilight said, the jaws of the others who weren't there, or named Pinkie Pie, open. "How?"

Metamorpha shrugged. "That would be making it extremely complicated," she said. "But it did involve this," she said as she pulled the ring that held the Element of magic off her finger and showed it off.

"Uh, Twi, I don't see how a ring could help," Applejack said.

Sunset, though, squinted. "Actually, I think that's the Element of Magic," she said. "But how. It was a tiara last time I saw it."

"Well, turns out the Elements can change their shape," Metamorpha said. With that, she did a small demonstration, turning the Element into a necklace, which she put on. "See?"

"Wow," Sunset said. "That's impressive."

"And a beautiful necklace," Rarity added.

"Thanks, Rarity," Metamorpha said. "So, what's been going on here, aside from the friend ship games?"

It was here that the others all stiffened. "Well, you see. . .," Rainbow said.

"Over the last month, there's been sightings of, and even attacks by, weird, well, things," Sunset said. "I don't recognize them from my studies in Equestria."

"What do they look like?" Cortana asked.

"Well, there isn't that much they have in common to begin with," Sunny asked.

"Indeed," Rarity said. "The one thing all of those things have in common is the fact they are black and white with flames seeming to come off of them."

"Don't forget that government group, guys," Indigo said. "The one that's actually able to do something against those things. What was it called again?"

"i have no idea, darling," Rarity said quickly.

"Yeah, same here," Twilight said, which made Metamorpha and John share a glance.

"I think it was something like 'Isolated Squad', or something," Rainbow said.

"Nah, I think it was lone team," Applejack said. "Wonder why they called it that?"

"Maybe an old legend," Metamorpha said, looking slightly at Twilight, who didn't notice.

"Yeah, I think so," Pinkie said as Twilight and Rarity's eyes widened.

"Um, Twilight, can I speak with you," Rarity asked. "Both of you? In private?"

"Sure," Metamorpha said as she, Rarity, and Twilight got up. The two of them followed Rarity, who led the, for some reason, to the bathroom, where they were the only ones. "So, what's going on," Metamorpha asked, which got a slightly hostile glare from the other two.

"What do you think?" Rarity asked. "How is it you seem to know how lone team came to be?"

"Because it exists in Equestria, too," Metamorpha said. "I'm even a member of it, and so are John and Cortana. "And how is it you two know about it?" she asked with a slight grin.

"We'll tell you," Twilight said, removing her glasses, "if you tell us why you look different then me. You are supposed to be another version of me, after all."

"I think you already know," Metamorpha said. "Just before we came here, Rarity nearly said another name. That name wouldn't happen to be 'Metamorpha', would it, 'Chitinia'?"

Both the human Chitinia and the human Metamorpha, who will be designated as H Metamorpha for simplicity, sighed. "Looks like she knows too, sis," H Metamorpha said.

"That she does," Chitinia said. "So, how did you find out?"

"Basically," Metamorpha said, "an old enemy of my mother used me and my sister for leverage so he wouldn't get attacked, and let it slip to make her hesitate, though it did fail, obviously. What about you two?"

"We were out last week, and we lost track of time," H Metamorpha said. "The sun had set, and we were heading to Pinkie's, we were having a sleep over there, when two guys in robes pulled us into a black alley. It wasn't just them, but two of those things, who seemed to obey them. That said something about 'Converting us' when we heard four gunshots, and the two men in the cloaks fell to the ground and the other two things just vanished, as if they were sucked in by a black hole."

"At the entrance to the alley  were two people, a man and a woman, both with hand guns," Chitinia said. "The man asked us if we were alright, and we nodded. He asked us our name, and when we didn't answer, he showed us the badge lone team uses, and we told him our names."

"Once we did, the woman seemed to freeze, and asked us to repeat them," H Metamorpha continued. "We did, and she and the man walked out a little, and, when they came back, they asked us if we were adopted, which we answered yes."

"Well, there's one difference between both worlds," Metamorpha said. "We didn't know that. But still, what happened next?"

"Well, they kept asking us questions, I guess to make we were who we were, as there have been quite a few duplicates that have been arrested in the last month. When they were done, the last thing they asked for was a blood test. We did find it weird," H Metamorpha said, "but did it anyway, and, when they were done, as it seemed they had a portable blood tester, and said they had done a test between the two of us and the woman, and they said that they matched."

"We didn't believe it, but the evidence was there," Chitinia said. "The two of them escorted us to Pinkie's neighborhood, during which the woman, our mom, obviously, and the man, who is actually a friend of hers, and is actually the team's leader."

"Lone Shadow," Metamorpha said. "I know, I was with him when we killed that god. Actually, he and my universe's Luna are together."

"Really?" Chitinia said. "Actually, I can see that."

Before either Metamorpha could reply to that, they heard Rainbow say, "Guys, we need to get out of here! Now!"

The three looked at each other, and left the room. "Why," Chitinia asked.

"Those things are here!" Rainbow said in a panic just as the doors burst open.

"So, what does my new armor do," Lone asked a technician. Lone was in the armory of the main complex in the Nexus that deployed it's soldiers. It was a crowded room, with workshop benches and tables on the side with various tools on the walls. Lone's armor was, in shape, the exact same as his old one.

"It's not really that different from your old armor, sir," the tech replied. "The changes do allow you to operate longer in a vacuum should you be too preoccupied to use your magic. It also has a slot you can use to plug in your Element to give the armor a power boost. But the most important change, according to Harmony, is what we did with the helmet," he said, handing the helmet to Lone, who then put it on.

"What's it do?"

Allows easy communication with me.

"Oh, hey, Josh. I'm guessing Harmony wants you to give us intel on what's going on?"

Bingo. Oh, and you might want to hurry up, the others are waiting on you. Don't worry, their armor has he same feature, but they think I'm in the Nexus.

"On it," Lone said, and he made his way to where the others were.

This room, in contrast to the armory, was mostly bare, the only features being a single console connected to a large, round portal that was colored brown and was embedded in the wall.

"Hey guys," he said, walking in, seeing that the others had armor that, in form, was the same as their old ones, and saw Scout with her signature rifle. "How much longer until we go in?"

"A few minutes," Scout replied.

"Hey, Lone," Luna said as she walked to Lone and embraced him. "What took you so long?"

"Armor," he said, tapping his helmet a few times. "Mine just took longer to check."

"Ah," Luna said. She looked to Scout. "So, where exactly are we going?"

"A version of Earth that's been under siege by four different races. Recently, though, a fifth one, which is a mix of the other four races but with their souls ripped away, has begun attacking," Scout said. "The six I showed you earlier are the ones who have done the most, with half of them wanting to make peace with three of the original races, especially with the new threat. We'll be going to the Tower, their home. I'm a fable there, and their leaders will want to speak with us."

"How can you be sure?" Nightengale asked.

"Our third ally, who resides in the tower, and helped the leaders during the first stage of the war against Oryx, who is the leader of the fifth army and one of the original four. Though she will probably creep you out a little to begin with."

"Right," Applejack said just as the portal opened.

"You're clear!" a tech shouted from behind the wall, which was actually had the main controls for the portal.

"Right," Scout said. "Let's go." With that, the seven of them stepped through the portal, which closed behind them.

Dreadnaught

Josh, Rhino, and Patrick made their way to where the rest of their Fire team and the apparent renegade Cabal were preparing for the coming onslaught.

"What do we got?" Josh asked Rhino.

"We got, collectively, sixty heavy synths, hundred and twenty special synths, and twice that primary. The Cabal have slug rifles and projection rifles. Far as we can tell, fifty former, ten latter. They also have two heavy slug throwers."

"So two of the big guys?" Patrick asked.

"Bingo," Rhino said. "Cybis and Tha'ron are working on a battle line."

"Varren and Mage?" Josh asked. Varren was the last Titan of the group, and was the last Awoken in the group, while Mage was the Warlock and Exo that rounded out the group.

"Over watch positions," Rhino said. "They'll be providing covering fire."

"Right," Josh said as Luna (Ghost), appeared.

"Guys, I got a transmission from the Vanguard. They want to see us now."

"Tell them to meet us here," Josh said. "We won't be able to leave until we repel the Hive."

"Figured that," she said. "Surprisingly, they said yes, and, apparently, Eris is coming with them."

"Then let's make sure they have a landing zone," Josh said as they emerged into a space that contained the rogue Cabal and the rest of Specter. Josh smiled under his helmet, and brought out his Vanity. "Time to kick some ass, Specter. Get into positions."

Reinforcments

Both Metamorpha's, Chitinia, and Rainbow, still unaware of the secret the three shared, ran into the main room of the human version of Sugarcube corner to see four armed creatures that had black flames coming off their black and slightly white bodies. They had a single, glowing eye at the center of their head.

The others were in a corner, the things keeping them there, with John in front, Cortana nowhere to be seen. Behind the things keeping the others in the corner stood a larger creature with four arms, but two blades in its hands.

"What are we going to do," Rainbow said, to which Metamorpha smirked.

"Easy," she said, grabbing the Element of Magic in her right hand and bringing it to her side. "I get them out of here, and we make our way to the nearest safe building."

"Uh, Twi," Rainbow said, "how do you plan on doing that?"

"By beating the shit out of those things," Metamorpha said as she sent a mental command to her Element, transforming it into a bo-staff, this one with a purple blade at the tip.

"Whoa," Rainbow said. "That's cool."

"Just wait, Rainbow," Metamorpha said with a smirk before her expression turned serious. "HEY, ASSHOLES!" she screamed t the creatures, which got them to turn around. "Wanna have some fun," she asked, getting into a combat stance just as one of the things roared. "Thought so," she said just as they rushed her. When one got close, she jabbed forward, hitting one in the head, and it seemed to vanish into a blackhole that came from its head. She then pulled it back and twirled her staff over her head before slicing it through the necks of three more of the smaller creatures, causing them to disappear in a similar manner to the first, leaving only one of the more human sized ones, and the other one.

"Scared," Metamorpha asked, getting no response. "Wow, you don't talk much, do you," she said before thrusting again at the last of the smaller ones, but it avoided it, only to hit the other end of the staff and being knocked to the floor. "Or that bright," she said as she spun her staff around and brought the blade down through the things head, making it disappear.

Just as she brought her staff up, she was knocked aside by the last creature. She flew through the air, hitting the wall and sliding down to the floor. "Okay, that hurt a little," she said as she clutched her side. "I think it broke a rib."

She saw the others trying to get to her, and even saw another thing, this one much larger with a weird shield keeping John from getting to her. But what took up most of her vision was the four armed creature, which had to have been the leader of the group, now that she thought about it, due to its size. It stopped as it stood over her, observing her with its single eye.

As it raised its two swords, Metamorpha thought, So this is how I go out, just before a beam of energy struck the thing in the chest, making it break apart, and another hitting the thing with the shield just after. "Just hold on," she heard a voice say before the pain in her side faded, and she saw a purple hand with light, almost fuchsia colored gloves on. She also saw the others looking in her general direction with a bit of fear in their eyes. "What happened," she asked as she looked up, and saw what she could only think of as herself as a hot badass.

H Metamorpha had gotten taller, the whites of her eyes now a light cyan, with some kind flame aura around each. She also had a horn, the same color as her eyes, from her forehead. Her outfit resembled something some female nobles would wear back in Equestria, the skirt stopping just above the knees, with some kind of over skirt  that left a triangle of the other skirt revealed, with a portion of the equivalent of a cutie mark showing. She had on some form of leggings that went to just under her knee, with heels the same color of the flame.

"Long story," she said. "Short version is I used some magic I had left in my system from when I went crazy to change into this form again and save you and the others."

"Well, it definitely looks intimidating," Metamorpha said as she got up and picked up the Element of Magic, which had reverted to its gem form when it was knocked from her hand. "So, did anyone come up with a name for that form?"

"I've heard 'Midnight Sparkle' a few times."

"Then lets go for that until you turn back," Metamorpha said as she looked at the others. "What," she asked, as they all had looks of surprise on their faces, as well as the fear still.

"She tried to destroy two worlds, one of which was yours, and you didn't even care, and now you're complimenting her on it," Sugarcoat said in her monotone, which, for some reason, Metamorpha found funny.

"Uh, I tried to destroy my world too," Metamorpha said, getitng looks from the others. "Right, we skipped over that," she said, turning to John. "Where's Cortana anyway?"

"She just vanished," Fluttershy said.

"She went to get some help," John said.

"How?" Rainbow asked. "Wait, let me guess: long story?"

"More like complicated," Metamorpha said as she looked out the window, only to see a shit ton of the things that had tried to kill her and the others, most likely, anyway, in the streets, a swell as others with the same coloring. "We need to get out of here," she said. "Wish I could still teleport."

"Well, couldn't we just, I don't know, run for it?" Indigo said.

"We'd probably get killed," John said, looking out the window. "There's a lot of hostiles outside, and we didn't bring any weapons. Aside from the Element of Magic, that is."

Metamorpha's eyes widened. "That's it," she said. "We use the Element to get out of here!"

"How," Midnight said.

"Use you magic to charge it," Metamorpha said, tossing her Element to her counterpart, who barely caught it.

"But how am I actually going to get us anywhere?"

"Just think of a location," Metamorpha said. "Inside Canterlot high, maybe?"

"Right. I'll try," Midnight said, closing her eyes and focusing on the gym for Canterlot high.

Outside, Metamorpha saw some of the things getting closer. "John, if we survive, I say we bring Magnums on our next vacation."

"Agreed," John said.

"Uh, Twilight," Rainbow said, "when did you become so, I don't know, calm with violence? Last time you were here, you nearly broke down because we argued."

"Lot a stuff," Metamorpha said. "Mostly a large change in the norm back home. I'll tell you later when we're safe."

"Assuming we get to a safe area," Sour Sweet mumbled.

Just as the door began to open, prompting Sunset and the others to put as much of their weight on it as possible. "Uh, Twi, any second now," Sunset cried to Midnight.

The Element glowed as Midnight replied, "Almost. . . got it."

A few seconds later, just as Sunset and the others lost their leverage on the door and the creatures flowed in, there was a bright flash, and they were all in the Canterlot high gym. Sunset and the others fell over due to the lack of counter force, and Midnight fell to her knees in exhaustion, while Metamorpha and John looked out the doors. "Looks like we're good for now," Metamorpha said, turning to the others. "Everyone alright?"

"Much as we can be," Lemon Zest said, crawling out of the pile made by her and the others. "What about you?"

"Same," Metamorpha said just as a weird energy wave, one the same color as Harmony's hair, made its way through the school, wasinh over all of them, but only affecting Metamorpha and Sunset. Their feet turned into hooves, their mouths and noses became muzzles, both grew a horn, Metamorpha's being sharper and resembling a changeling's, with Metamorpha's wings coming out. "Though this new," she said, crossing her eyes as a familiar voice made it into her head.

Metamorpha, are you okay, Chrysalis asked her daughter over their link.

Yeah, Metamorpha replied. What are you doing here?

Cortana appeared and said you were in trouble, so me and some of the others came over through a portal Maruco made. Where are you?

The gym, Metamorpha replied, showing her mom the way there.

Right. We'll be there soon. With that, the contact ceased, but, like always, Metamorpha could feel it in the back of her head.

A knock could be heard on the door, and Metamorpha turned around to see this worlds Celestia and Luna, as well as a few other students, including this world's Vinyl and Octavia. She opened the door, letting them in. Once they were all in, she closed the door, and turned around to see Principal Celestia and Vice-Principal Luna.

"Twilight?" Celestia asked. "When did you get here? And why do you look like that?"

"Earlier today, and no idea, honestly. Is this everyone?"

"That was in the school, yes," Luna said. "This is the only part of the school that has only one entrance."

As sounds that wouldn't sound out of place in a horror movie began to be heard, Metamorpha said, "I don't think that'll matter, soon. There any other exit?"

"No," Celestia said, the sounds getting closer.

'"Well, that's stupid," Metamorpha said. She walked over to where Midnight was. "You okay?"

"Yeah," Midnight replied. "Just a little exhausted."

Metamorpha chuckled. "Yeah, it was that way with me too, my first time," she said as she grabbed her Element off the floor. She looked at Sunset, who was still a little wierded out, with good reason, and said, "Think you can get the others back stage?"

"I think so," she said, still examining herself.

"Then do what you can," Metamorpha said as she summoned her bo-staff, walking to in front of the door, John next to her. "Let's hope we can hold out until the others get here."

"Agreed," John said, bringing his fists up.

The first of the things was seen just as the last of the students got back stage, and it ran towards the doors, only to jerk sideways as a beam of green energy hit it in the head before it disappeared, with streaks the two recognized as Tracer rounds began to fill the hallway.

"They're here," Metamorpha said. A few seconds later, the ones firing the tracer rounds came into view. Five of them, each in Mjolnir armor, peeled off from the group and turned into the gym, and each of them were recognized, though three were unexpected. Those three were John's old team, Blue team. The other two had Prefect armor on. One's armor was colored black and green, the other white and pink.

"What are you guys doing here?" Metamorpha asked Fred, John's second in command.

He shrugged. "We were on shore leave coming to see John when Cortana showed up and told us you guys needed help, so we suited up, and here we are."

"Well, it's good to see you guys again," Metamorpha said as she hugged the black armored figure. "Hey, mom."

"Hey, sweetie," Chrysalis said, returning the hug. "You alright?"

"Yeah," Metamorpha said before facing the other mare in armor. "Hey, Celestia."

"Hello, Meta," Celestia said. "Any one else besides you two?"

"Behind the stage," John said as the doors burst open again.

"SHIT!" Maruco said as he and the others came in, firing out into the hall. "Get in here, NOW!" He, Ken, and lily, the members of the UNSC side of lone team that had been part of first contact, gave off covering fire as Shadow, Chaos, Solar, Cadence, and, to Metamorpha's surprise, Lightning Spear, her cousin, Spike, Nova, Spike's adoptive brother, both dragons in their dragon forms, Fluttershy, Rainbow, Blue Thunder, Rainbow's sister who had been discovered when lone team for Equis was revealed, and Pinkie.

"What's everyone doing here?" Metamorpha asked.

"To help you out," Kelly said. "We brought both of your armors, by the way."

"Thanks, Kelly," John said.

"Well, what are we waiting for?" Metamorpha asked John. "Let's get suited."

"Shit, shit, shit," Josh said, firing off his Vanity at incoming Hive as he stood beside two Cabal Legionaries. He, the rogue Cabal, and the rest of Fire team Specter had been fighting the Hive for half an hour. "Luna, where's the Vanguard?!"

"Inbound, but still a few minutes out," Luna said. "But they so have someone who can get here to help us last until then."

"Who would that be, then?" Cybis asked over the radio.

"No idea," Luna said as a familiar pulse rifle report was heard, and a Hive soldier fell, followed by more reports, each resulting the a Hive death.

Josh looked back, and saw the Exo Stranger, her pulse rifle in hand. "Guardian," she said. "Good to see your still alive."

"What are you doing here," Josh asked.

The Stranger gestured with her chin forward. "Helping," she said as Josh turned, and saw six figures wearing armor that resembled Titan armor going to town on the Hive.

"What the?" Josh said.

"Friends of mine," The Stranger said. "You needed the help."

"Yeah, but what the hell?" Josh said. "How'd they get here?"

"I'll explain later," The Stranger said. "Now, we just need to hold out until the Vanguard get here."

"So long as you actually explain this time," Josh said as he began to fire into the Hive forces again.

"I will," the Exo said. "And my name's Scout, by the way."

Josh rolled his eyes, remembering something from his time before being a Guardian. Long as she doesn't start acting like a braggart. he thought to himself. "So, who are your friends, anyway?"

If an Exo could grin, Josh was certain Scout would have, given her tone. "Individuals you and Fire team Specter would along with," she said. "Right now, you can call them 'lone team'."

Evac

Metamorpha, wearing her Scanner armor that Ken and the others had brought, walked to where Ken, Maruco, Lily, John, Celestia, and Shadow were, as well as Fear, Nightmare, Chaos, and Solar, were discussing how to get out of the school. They all stood in the gym, along with the others that had come, Midnight and her friends

"I still don't see how we can get out of here," Ken said. "Those things have the entire place surrounded. We''l get slaughtered if we try to leave."

"We could try to teleport out of here," Shadow said.

"Remember what we saw when we got here?" Maruco asked. "They have a literal army out there, and not even your levitation magic worked while we were near those things."

"He's right, unfortunately," Lily said. "Hell, our shields had to go to backup because of. . . whatever it is those things are emitting."

"So we don't have any way to get the noncombatants out of here? Metamorpha asked.

"Not right now," Fear said.

"Maybe not," John said. "Didn't the others here say that this world's version of lone team was a government group?"

"No way to contact them," Metamorpha said. "I already talked with Chitinia and Midnight. Their phones don't have any signal."

"Still, they had to have heard about this," Solar said. "Any military, even the royal guard when it was still pathetic, would have at least started getting forces moving in. Especially with civilians."

"Well, let's hope that they are on their way, or we are epicly fucked," Ken said.

"Oh yeah," Maruco said. He then snapped his fingers. "Wait a minute. Isn't the Vinyl back in Equis a tech genius?"

"Yes," Nightmare said. "Why?"

"Well, if she is here, she might be able to jury rig something that can cut through the interference for Chitinia or Midnight so that they can contact this world's Chrysalis."

"That could work," Ken said. "Where is she, anyway?"

"Last I saw, she was in the computer lab," Metamorpha said. "I'll bring Chitinia and Midnight with me." Metamorpha turned, and made her way to where the human version of herself and her friends were. "Hey, girls," she said, taking her helmet off. "You all okay?"

"Just about," Rainbow said, crossing her arms. The whole thing had caused I guess you could say a sort of rift between the group when it came to the subject of Metamorpha's secret. Rainbow, Applejack, Indigo, and Sugar Coat were on the side of the group that didn't trust Metamorpha anymore. Sunset, in anthro now, as the opening of the portal Maruco, as a soldier of the Nexus, opened, which brought a large amount of Equis magic to the world and causing her to transform to her new native form from Equis, and most of the Shadow bolts were in the middle, not yet certain as to their stance on the matter, while the others still fully trusted her. "What do you want?"

"I just want to talk with Chitinia and Midnight," she said.

"What about," Chitinia asked.

"I'll tell you on the way to the computer lab," Metamorpha said.

"Why are we going there?" Midnight asked as she, her sister, and her alternate began to make their way to the lab.

"Well, Maruco, one of the ones who came in earlier, thinks that since the Vinyl back in my world is a genius with tech, then the one here will be to, and wants to see if she can make something that'll allow you two to get in touch with your mom and try to get help here."

"Is he sure," Midnight asked.

"No idea, but his plans do work," Metamorpha said, shrugging as the three exited the gym.

"So, out of curiosity, has your mom done anything newsworthy that got in the news?" Metamorpha asked.

"Not really, no," Chitinia said. "Nothing we know of, at least."

"Yeah, I never watched the news, and I'm sure Chitinia just watched celebrity gossip shows," Midnight said.

Chitinia crossed her arms. "No, I don't," she says. "I also watch contest shows."

"Probably so you can see, and I quote," Midnight said, ""Strong, young, handsome men that could sweep me off my feet"."

"Definitely sounds like her personality," Metamorpha said with a chuckle. "My Chitinia's gotten into the same thing since three months ago for us."

Both versions of Metamorpha shared a laugh there. The three of them, with Chitinia a bit sour, then arrived at the computer lab, and walked in. Vinyl, wearing her usual outfit, was at the far end of the lab. But she wasn't the only one in there when the three walked in.

She had set up a micro sound studio, complete with mic, and had her own mix table out, along with her laptop, her headphones hanging across her neck. The other three, though, wore outfits that could very well be considered sexual, and both Chitinia and Metamorpha's eyes glared at the three former sirens.

"What are you three doing here?" Chitina asked with a near snarl.

"Just working on recording songs, Rares," Vinyl said, not taking her attention off the laptop as the sirens jumped a little from, well, two of the individuals that took away their powers being in the same room as them. "No need to get magically violent."

"Who are they," Midnight asked.

"Old foes," Metamorpha said.

"And just why are you here?" Adagio said.

"To talk with Vinyl," Metamorpha said.

"'Bout what?" Vinyl asked.

"To see if you can make something," Chitina said.

"What?"

"Something that can get through a certain interference," Midnight said.

"You mean those things outside," Vinyl asked.  "Already did that yesterday for the lone team. You see, I was brought into one of their tech programs because of my skill, and, once I'm old enough, I become a full member of the team."

"Really?" Metamorpha asked.

"Yep," Vinyl said. "Just let me get my laptop configured for that signal."

With that, Vinyl set her mix table down, and began working on her laptop as the former sirens walked to the group. "You look different," Aria said to Metamorpha. "I like it."

"Thanks," Metamorpha said. "So, what have you three been up to?"

"Since you made us human?" Adagio asked in a mocking tone. "We've been trying to get our voices back and get a record. Without using magic."

"Well, at least you're alive," Chitinia said.

"Aw, thanks," Sonata said with one of the dumbest happy smiles she'd ever made.

"So who's she," Aria asked, gesturing to Midnight.

"I'm, well, the human version of her," Midnight said nervously.

"Looks like you were consumed by magic," Adagio noted before Vinyl spoke up.

"They're already on their way," she said, getting up and folding her laptop. "About ten minutes. They say everyone had better be in the gym."

"Then let's go," Metamorpha said, and the four of them began to leave, but not before Chitinia turned and saw that the former sirens were standing still.

"Well, are you three coming or not?"

'I don't see any reason not to," Adagio said with a roll of her eyes as she crossed her arms. "Let's go, girls."

With that, they left the computer lab, and made their way to the gym.

Dreadnaught

"So, who are they," Josh asked Scout.

"Just some friends of mine," she replied as she fired off a burst of her rifle. "I see you made some, too," she added, gesturing to the Cabal.

"Yeah, well, they approached us, and we needed the help," Rhino said. "But seriously, mind giving us a little info?"

"When we're on the way back to the Tower."

"It's a wonder no one's shot you yet," Cybis said.

"I don't usually give them enough time to," Scout said.

"Probably because you warp out, or what ever the fuck that is," Josh mumbled as he fired off a precision kill on a Taken Acolyte.

"I heard that," Scout said. "Lone, on your left," she said to her ally, who used his weapon, a single curved hilt with two beams of energy coming from it, to cut a Knight in half.

"Okay, what kind of weapon is that?" Rhino asked, unloading an entire Suros Regime clip into an Ogre before a rocket from Mage finished it as he spoke.

"I'll let him explain that," Scout said.

"You're making me want to put a bullet through your head," Josh warned.

"Then stop asking questions I can't or won't answer," Scout said. "Oh, and the Vanguard will be here in about a minute."

"Thank fucking god," Josh said.

"I hear that," Rhino said. "So, what are they bringing?"

"That Hunter ship to get you six out of here, but it'll have enough room for the rest of us," Scout said. "As for the Cabal, they have Harvesters inbound on remote."

"I just know Zavala will want to shoot those down," Cybis said before he unleashed a Nova bomb on a group of Hive and Taken Thrall.

"Most likely," Josh said before he threw a flux grenade at a Wizard, which promptly died from the ensuing Arc explosion.

Fifty seconds of explosions, gun reports, and various screaming and whatnot, Josh said, "There," pointing at an approaching ship, the same that was usually in the Tower near Dead Orbit.

"Where are the Harvesters?" Rhino asked.

"There," Cybis said, pointing in the opposite direction as Josh, and a small fleet of Harvesters could be seen.

"Luna, tell Cayde and the others about the Cabal here," Josh said to his Ghost.

"Did that in the initial report," she replied. "And you were right, Zavala went mad."

"Looks like I owe you fifty Glimmer, Josh," Rhino said.

"When we get to the Tower," Josh said just as the ship began to come down in nearby clear area. "Evac's here, Specter!" he yelled. "Move it!"

With that, Fire team Specter, as well as Scout and her allies, made their way to the ship, with the main door coming down as they approached. The first one they saw was Cayde-6. "Get in here!" he yelled, making a faster gesture.

As soon as the last, one of Scout's allies, got in, the ramp began to rise, as well as the ship.

"Guess it's time for some explanations," Scout said as she put her weapon across her back.

Canterlot high-gym

Metamorpha and the others were in the gym, with the non-combatants on the stage, waiting for this world's lone team to get there. They had been waiting for five minutes, weapons ready, when explosions and gunfire could be heard from the opposite side of the wall opposite the stage. Which was to say outside.

"Damn, they must have some heavy shit," Maruco said.

"Yep," Ken said. "Think they got tanks?"

"Maybe," Lily said. "But it does not sound good out there."

"Let's hope for those things," Chrysalis said.

"Agreed," Pony Rainbow said.

A few seconds later, a large boom was heard, and a large dust cloud was kicked up as part of the wall exploded.

"Go, go, go," they heard, and a large group of people in black body armor rushed in, weapons raised. "Where are the civilians," the leader of the group, whose voice was familiar but couldn't be placed, said.

"Stage," Maruco said. "Unharmed."

The leader gestured with his left hand for half of the group to go and get them, keeping his weapon on Metamorpha and the others. "And just who are you?" he asked.

"Just some allies," Ken said.

"Then put your weapons down."

"Oh, let it go, Fog," a female voice said. "If they meant us any harm, the would have done so, anyway."

One of the individuals, a woman, in the black armor stepped forward, her weapon down but in hand. "Forgive him, he's not that trusting."

"He wouldn't be the first person we've met like that," Ken said. "Name's Ken."

"Pleasure," the woman said as the civilians were led out, including Chitinia and H Metamorpha, who had gone back to her normal form before she and the others had gotten back to the gym, who made their way to the group and threw their arms around the woman.

"Hey, Mom," Chitinia said.

"Hey, girls," Human Chrysalis said as she returned the hug as Fog came up.

"Hey, girls," he said. "How are you two doing?"

"Just fine," H Metamorpha said.

"Whose he?" Ken asked.

"Our uncle," Chitinia said. "Green Mist."

Cancellation notice

As much as this pains me, I regret to inform all of the readers of this story that it, and the sequel to my other story, "The Ultimate Evil", is cancelled, not due to interest, but simply because I can not think of what to do with the story. For all my skill, I doubt I can write myself out of this corner. I won't torment you all, htough, and say what I had planned: Green Mist would be the Speaker in disguise, and working with Oryx, and would be defeated. The Elements of Determination and Acceptance would be found to be Nightengale and Sunset Shimmer, and Oryx killed once and for all. As for the sequel to Ultimate Evil, Lone team would be chasing Mist, find him in that universe, and eventually free his mind slaves, capture him, and put him on trial, only for Lone to set him free, as Mist had gone to the Brotherhood to get revenge on his world's Chrysalis, who had an unintentional part in his marefriend's death, and for Mist to feel sorry for what he did, with "Ultimate Evil"'s Celestia, Cadence, and Rarity, to go with him.

Again, I am sad to cancel both stories, but if there's one thing i have learned, it's that if you don't know what to do with a story, kill it. To all who were reading this because of it being a sequel to WWC or to know what would happen in Ultimate Evil's sequel, I am sorry.

-LoneShadow.