Later that evening, when the sun had set, all of the ponies that had attended the wedding were enjoying the party on the castles outdoor platforms. The guards had reported a few changeling stragglers that had most likely hit by walls when the magic wave struck. So to make sure none tried to ruin the party Celestia had put Chief in charge of security, also as a reason to get him to the party and to hopefully mingle with a few ponies.

Eris had asked Chief to leave her in the armoury to work on something. Not questioning his holographic friend he did as he was asked. He was sticking to the outskirts of the party, patrolling around the area ignoring the nobles stares and cringes. He never like nobles, and it seemed to him that these ones were worse than the ones before the fall of Nightmare Moon. Celestia just watched him as he slowly walked around with an assault rifle in his hands.

As he reached an area without ponies he sighed and reached for his helmet. Lifting it off it revealed a man in his early twenties with messy brown hair and blue eyes, a scar under his left eye. This was how Marcus looked before his displacement, Symbol didn't know what Master Chief really looked like so he just recycled Marcus' real appearance except changing aspects like his muscles and height to suit his armour.

"It's been awhile since I've seen you without your helmet on Marcus." The super soldier heard Eris say from behind him.

Turning around his eyes widened as he saw a mare with a light grey coat and messy white mane walk up to him with red eyes. "Eris?"

The mare smiled. "You didn't think I was just gonna stay down in the armoury and calculate stuff did you? You like it, managed to make it with some changeling dna and a little help from Symbol." She struck a pose and laughed.

Chief rolled his eyes and held his helmet in his hand. "I'm not even going to ask how that is possible." His voice however was the same a Chiefs.

Eris shrugged and walked to his side. "So, what are you doing over here and not back at that party?"

Chief looked to his friend and then to the sky. "I'm not one for socialising."

Eris groaned and began tapping his leg. "When are you gonna stop acting like this, you've been so antisocial ever since..."

"Go ahead, say it." Chief closed his eyes.

"... Ever since Sasha." Eris watched as her friends arms fell limp and he lowered his head in shame. "It wasn't your fault Marcus."

"I could have saved her."

"No Marcus, it was impossible for you to save her. You need to stop this, you don't socialise, you don't smile, you won't let our friends out of stasis and you crave action, this isn't doing your mentality and wonders Marcus." Eris stepped in front of him and glared.

Chief just looked at her, devoid of emotion. "I know." With that he put his helmet back on and looked to his mini-map, seeing a faint red dot behind him. Looking around he spotted two yellow circles in the darkness. "Eris, go to the party and make a request for some loud music."

"Why?"

Chief aimed his gun at the two circles. "I don't want anyone to hear the gunshots." Eris nodded and ran back towards the party. The creature in the darkness began to move to the side, circling Chief and analysing him as it moved around on all fours.

Chief continued to track its movements, keeping it in his crosshairs as it slowly prowled around him ready to pounce. Soon Chief could hear booming music, nodding in satisfaction he aimed at the creature and it pounced. He began firing at it in small bursts, trying to stay as accurate as possible resulting in every bullet finding a new home in the creatures flesh.

As it landed it grunted in pain and pushed the buckets out of its body. Chief now had a good view of it, it was made of a dark purple substance and its body was the shape of a young human male on all fours with claws for hands. It had four tendrils growing out of its back which freely swayed from side to side.

Not questioning it Chief replaced his empty magazine and began firing again. The Nightmare dodged and shot a tendril towards him, Chief barely evaded the attack with the tendril scrapping his energy shield.

Chief then returned to shooting the creature, missing a few shots as it dodged and weaved. Soon it stopped and stared at the assault rifle, looking to two of its tendrils they began to shift. The tips of the tendrils became gun barrels and were pointed towards the advancing Spartan.

Chief placed the gun on his back and reached to his side grabbing a handle-like object. Once he held it in his hand he pressed a button and a two bladed sword of blue energy appeared. Charging Chief was about to stab the Nightmare when it pointed its gun tendrils (we'll just call them gundrils) and began shooting out small bullets that were coated in the dark purple mist, leaving a trail in the air as they flew.

Chief dodged some of the fire but enough hits landed to break his energy shield. He ducked behind a stone wall while the Nightmare continued to shot in his direction. As his shield began to recharge he pulled out a small purple ball and press a button. He then got out of cover and threw the ball at his foe, it landed on one of the gundrils and stuck itself to it. It surrounded itself in blue fire before exploding, knocking the Nightmare off its feet and destroying its tender and gundrils.

As it tried to get to its feet it was impaled through the chest by Chiefs energy sword. It screeched in pain before bursting into a small cloud of mist which gathered to create a small purple orb. Chief put away his word and stared at the orb. Picking it up he began to inspect it, finding nothing particularly noticeable other than a soft purple glow outlining it.

He thought for a moment before looking to the purple band on his right wrist that had a blue sun gem. He pressed the gem and it glowed. "Symbol, are you there?"

"I'm here Marcus, what is it?" The voice of his displacer emitted from the glowing gem.

"I just took out a strange creature, it was made of a dark purple substance and left behind a purple orb, any idea s on what it was?"

The gem was silent for a moment. "I'm on my way Marcus, keep your eye on that orb, I'll be there in a second."

Chief did as instructed and waited for his displacer with the orb in his hand. A portal appeared and Symbol walked out with a serious expression on his face.

"Where is it?" Chief held out the orb and Symbol took it. "Thank you." As Symbol looked at the orb in his hand he effortlessly crushed it in his hand, the shards of it turning to dust and fading in the air.

"What was that thing?" Chief questioned in curiosity.

"That was a Nightmare Fuel, a parasite of the multiverse. I can't go anywhere without these things following me. If you ever find one kill it on sight and then deliver the orbs they leave behind to me as soon as possible so I can destroy them." Symbols voice was filled with anger and hatred.

"Shouldn't I just destroy the orbs myself?"

Symbol shook his head. "No, that would be impossible. You need a certain power to destroy these things completely and I was born with that ability, I'd give you the ability of I knew how. For now though just contact me if you see one." Chief nodded and Symbol walked back into his portal.

Chief just looked around the area, noticing all of the bullet holes and burn marks. "I don't know how I'm gonna explain this to Celestia." He shook his head and resumed his patrol.

Meanwhile Chrysalis, Nightmare and a Flood drone watches the battle and looked to each other. They nodded before disappearing into the night to plan their next move. This was just a test, they need to study their for further and then strike at the right moment.

Author's Notes:

Sorry for the shorter chapter, this is all I was able to do due to studies and homework.