P.O.V. Twilight Sparkle.

“Hello Excalibur,” the Lotus said, warmly.

SHING!

Excalibur opened his claws before he said, "YOU!” like venom to the Lotus.

Excalibur stood in a defensive stance. He was ready to attack. I looked at him nervously while the Lotus lowered down to the ground from her throne, seat... thing. Excalibur breathed heavily while we waited for her to descend. Once she reached the bottom she stood up from the metal seat and started walking toward us. She didn’t seem fazed by the Tenno in front of her with six claws jutting from his hooves.

“Welcome my-”

WACK!

Once she was within arm’s reach Excalibur slapped her across the face with the back of his right hoof. She fell to the floor with a thud. She turned and looked at Excalibur with a slack jaw while holding her right hoof to her reddening right cheek.

Excalibur leaned over her, “You…” he reached down and grabbed her by the neck with his left hoof and held her up high. She wrapped her hooves around his fetlock, “I told you I’d find you!” he brought her down and looked at the Lotus shaped helmet, “You FUCKING FREAK!”

I looked back at Serenity, who just stood there frozen in shock, then to Celestia, who glared at him. She was conflicted. We all wanted to do something… but this wasn't our fight. I looked back at Excalibur, who was turning the Lotus’ head while she clenched her teeth out of fear. He closed the claws on his right hoof and the digits on it and brought his foreleg back as far as it would go.

As fast as he could he brought if forward. It connected with the side of her jaw with a loud smack. When he hit her he let go. The momentum of the hit forced her back and onto the floor. She laid a few feet away coughing and moaning.

“Excalibur, stop!” I pleaded.

He looked at me. Hatred… that’s all I saw in the lifeless helmet.

He chuckled lightly... then harder, and harder, until it was manic laughter while he let his head go limp. When the laughter started to die down he looked up at us, “You… will never know what this FREAK DID TO ME!!!”

Like what?

He looked at the cowering mare on the floor before walking over and standing in front of her, “Well Natah? Should I tell them… or you?”

‘Natah?’

I gulped while she looked between him and us a few times before looking at Excalibur and fearfully gulping once.

“Of course you wouldn’t” he said coldly before kicking her in the face with his back hoof, causing her to fall back onto the metal floor. He reached down and grabbed her by the neck again and he threw her at us, where she landed face down about a foot away. We looked at her bloody nose and bruised lower face with terror and shock. Excalibur’s footsteps filled the air while he walked up behind her, “Well…” he kicked her in the side, causing her to cough upon impact, “TELL THEM!” he screamed at her.

“Excalibur, stop this!” Serenity said before getting in between him the Lotus.

He grabbed her by the forelegs and pushed her to the side while saying, “Get off me!” Serenity stumbled for a second before regaining her footing. He turned and faced her.

“What did she do!?” Serenity begged, “All the Lotus has ever done is care for us and love us!”

“Bull…shit!” he said slowly, “That freak,” he pointed at Lotus, “That Sentient,” he said while looking at her momentarily, “Took everything from me!”

The word 'Sentient' struck a chord in Serenity. She just looked between Lotus and Excalibur in an attempt to comprehend everything.

“No,” Serenity said before shaking her head side to side rapidly, “No… nonono! You’re lying!”

“Am I!?”

“Yes!”

“All she has ever done is lie to us!” Retaliated Excalibur. He bent over and grabbed Lotus by the neck again and lifted her into the air. Once again she placed her hooves around his fetlock, “Tell them!” he yelled at her face while shaking her lightly. Next, he reached up with his right hoof and forcefully pulled the lotus shaped helmet off her head and let it fall to the floor, without the cover the Lotus’ long black mane fell down to her shoulders. He shoved her to the ground and turned her to face us while he held onto her long black mane.

Her eyes… they glowed bright blue and pulsed with fear while she held onto Excalibur’s hoof with hers.

“Tell them!” he demanded while shaking her lightly. “Tell them what you are!” he placed a hoof on top pf her head and forced the mares head to look at Serenity, “Tell her…”

The Lotus just nervously glanced between us and Serenity for a few seconds before letting her shoulders go limp and looking off to the side at the floor.

She let out a defeated sigh. “I am Natah… Daughter of Hunhow… Sentient Destroyer of Worlds…” she said with sadness.

Serenity just stood there while Excalibur shoved Lotus to the floor. She landed on her belly and started to prop herself up with her forelegs. Excalibur took a few steps and kicked her in the back of the head, causing her body to jerk violently and drop back onto the floor.

“Please…” Lotus pleaded, “Excalibur… I… I’m sorry…”

“Sorry won’t cut it,” he said darkly. He grabbed her by the mane and picked her up. She let out a painful gasp while being lifted into the air by her mane. He adjusted her so her face looked at his helmet. She wore a face of fear while her lower jaw quivered slightly, “I want your blood.”

He leaned back and threw her with all his strength. She flew through the air rapidly and crashed into one of the many bright boxes. It cracked the glass and sparked brightly upon impact while her body convulsed around it. She fell to the floor in a beaten heap. Excalibur walked up to her again and looked down on her.

“Excalibur… I-I’m sorry,” she looked up at him with tears in her eyes, “I’ve changed!”

He kicked her right in the face, causing her to yelp and make a complete arch and fall backwards, landing on her back. At this point I couldn’t take it! I had seen enough death and suffering the weeks prior. I... I had to stop it! I ran up to Serenity -who hadn’t moved since the Lotus’ admission- as fast as i could.

“Serenity, you have to stop this!” I pleaded.

“Why?”

“Because this isn’t right!” I yelled at her.

“So?”

I looked over my shoulder to see Excalibur holding the Lotus up by her neck again.

I looked back at Serenity, “She said she was sorry!”

“Your point?”

It was like she wasn’t even there. She just sat there and watched everything! There had to be a thousand-yard stare under that broken helmet. She was a lost cause at this point. I turned and looked back at Excalibur and Lotus. She was backed against the wall with her hooves up in front of her face and her back legs to her chest. Her eyes were shut tight and her head turned to the side while she pleaded for her life.

“Excalibur, please!” she looked past her hooves with tears in her eyes, “How do I have to make it up to you!?”

SHING!

His claws opened, “With your death!” he yelled angrily while lifting up his left hoof next to the right side of his head.

I had to stop this. There was only one way to do that. Immediately I teleported in between the two. I held up my hooves and pleaded for him to stop.

“Excalibur-”

SMACK!

He hit me.

Before I could even stop him, he brought his hoof down and slapped me across the face with the back of it. The thick metal guards of the claws instantly caused my check to sting. Thankfully he closed the claws before they cut my face open. My head recoiled against the hit while Excalibur let out a shocked and shuddered gasp. Immediately I grabbed my left cheek with my hoof while tears started to fill me eyes.

I looked up at him while he looked at me. After a second he turned to his left slightly and looked at my friends, his movement ultimately caused me to look past him at my friends. They all held a hoof to their mouths in shock, except Celestia, who stood there with an open mouth. He turned back and looked at his left hoof, which was bent 90 degrees in front of him.

He tightened his hoof before lifting it over his lowered head and throwing it downward at his side. He sighed and looked up at Lotus. She winced in response and curled up tighter behind me. He slowly stepped past me and up to the Lotus. Watching him, I honestly expected him to hit her again. Instead he bent over and picked her up by the shoulders and placed her on her feet.

Lotus just stood there with her hooves at her chest while he gently wiped her down. I just sat there while he adjusted her purple dress. He pulled her sleeves straight and the extra pieces of cloth on the dress. After adjusting one last piece of cloth on her left shoulder he reached back and pulled one of those healing devices from his hip.

He grabbed her right foreleg and held it out while pushing her sleeve up. He tapped her bare foreleg for a second before putting the device to her arm. She closed her eyes and winced while the medication did its work. He let go of her arm and dropped the empty case to the floor.

He just stood there and looked at the purple dressed mare while she studied that expressionless helmet. After a couple of seconds, he took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He looked around momentarily and ended up focusing on her helmet before walking over and picking it up. He examined it a second before turning it in his hooves and looking at the front. He then walked back over to the Lotus while not taking his site off of the flower shaped helmet.

When he reached her he stopped and held it out to her while looking at her still bloody face. She looked at it for a second before grabbing both sides and taking it slowly from him and placing it on her head. Once it was on her head she looked at him with a sad frown. Excalibur than reached down and grabbed her right hoof and took it in his left yet again. He then grabbed his sword from his back and placed the handle in her hoof. He wrapped the digits of her hoof around the handle with his while grabbing her other hoof and bringing it up to the backside of the blade and wrapping them around the weapon.

“I don’t deserve this blade…”

He turned and looked down at me while I looked up at him, shocked. He grabbed another healing device, opened it, and adjusted it before kneeling down, wrapping his left hoof around me, resting my head on his shoulder and poking me in the right flank. I winced at the feeling of the needle and cold medication but let him do it anyway. Once he was done he tossed the empty canister over his shoulder and rubbed the injected area lightly.

He leaned back and placed his hoof on my head, “I’m sorry,” he said apologetically.

He stood up with his head hung low and walked toward the door. While he walked his Soma fell from his back, then his Lex from his leg, and finally his claws from his hooves. Before he reached my friends and the princess he took off his helmet and held it at his side with his right hoof.

Time slowed as we all watched the helmet drop to the floor.

Once he reached the girls they all stepped to the side and just watched him.

Before he walked through them Celestia put a hoof on his shoulder, “Excalibur?” she asked with a soft, worried tone.

He stopped at the feeling of her hoof, “Leave me alone… I don’t deserve this suit.”

He continued walking out of the room and out of sight while Celestia placed her hoof back on the ground. In unison we all turned and looked at the Lotus. She just stood there with her head hung low while she continued to look at the sword in her hooves. I slowly walked up and stood in front of her.

“Lotus?” I asked quietly. The sound of my voice caused her to adjust her head slightly and look at me, “Are you okay?”

“I am,” she replied, saddened, “And you?”

“I’m fine.”

My friends walked up and stood nearby.

Celestia walked up, “Lotus?” she asked softly.

“Yes?” she asked while lower her forelegs to her sides while the sword in her right hoof dangled idly.

“My name is Princess Celestia, co-ruler of Equestria,” she said while holding a hoof to her chest. She looked at me and pointed her hoof at me, “This is our newest princess, Princess Twilight Sparkle,” then she looked at my friends, “And her friends, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Spike,” she said while pointing at each of them. She lowered her hoof and looked at the Lotus, “I know this is not my place, but I have to ask… what happened between you two?”

Lotus sighed, “Follow me.”

She turned and walked over to her metallic seat and sat down placing the sword on the floor. It turned 180 degrees to face the many screens that populated the room. In front of her one of the many screens we'd seen before in the List appeared. She played with it for a second while she spoke.

“Like I said my real name is Natah, daughter of Hunhow, the Sentient Destroyer of Worlds. One-thousand years ago my species wanted nothing more than to exterminate all life in the universe,” she looked up while we watched as the screens changed from Tenno fighting to just a black one, “Standing by my father’s side we went from planet to planet, eliminating all life we came across… until we stumbled on a little planet in a place called the Origin System. We came in like a plaque and eliminated all life,” she paused, “But… they were stubborn. They fought back. Even in their darkest hour they kept fighting until none of them were left… Eventually they gained a massive foot hold.”

Watching the screen, it changed to Excalibur sitting on one knee shooting his Soma with a mare with a massive orange flame on her head standing next to him while shooting a different, smaller weapon made of white, gold and what looked like a large handle. Lotus messed with her screen which caused the others to then change to a massive stallion with large gauntlets punching these stick creatures while a doubled horned one shot with two somewhat large pistols in his hooves.

“In retaliation the Tenno were created. Harnessing the powers of the Void they began to push us back.”

The screen changed to the massive horned stallion grabbing one of those stick creatures. He spun 360 degrees and threw it with a grunt and all its strength. The creature flew through the air before it was impaled on Excalibur’s Skana.

“In a final act of defiance they pushed us back,” the screen changed to Excalibur standing in front of a door surrounded by ice. Inside, small glowing orbs of what I presumed were eyes and other ones below them shown brightly, “They locked us away in a tomb and threw away the key.” The massive door slowly rumbled closed before hissing and locking. Excalibur turned and walked toward the screen. “But little did they know that they left one survivor.”

“Who?” I asked.

Lotus looked at me, “Me,” she looked at the screen, “Before the war was halfway over I defied my father’s orders and betrayed him. When I saw the damage the Tenno could do, fear over took me and I begged my father to give up and go home!” she sighed, “But he refused… so I left.”

The screen changed again to Excalibur and many other Tenno standing on a stage shaking a rather militaristic looking stallions hand while hooves were raised in celebration from the large crowd in the foreground.

“When the Tenno won they were hailed as hero’s by those they saved.”

It then changed them standing in the flames with the ends of their weapons on fire while Kubrows snarled, their teeth red with blood.

“But they were seen as monsters by the ones that created them… So they took to the stars and eventually… The Void.”

When she said Void the screen changed again. The background was gold much like the ship we were in now, except there more trees and thick vines all over the walls. The place was taken by time, the elegant glow of the room was mostly faded and the metal panels were separating from the walls. High above the floor a gold pod like the one Serenity was is sat with a lone Tenno in it.

It was Excalibur.

A lonely pod sat 20 plus feet off the floor. Its golden elegance glistened in the light. On the far side a massive ring started to hum. It started to spin faster and faster until the center glowed brightly and moved like water as a picture of a beaten hallway that was in no better shape than the void room. In the windowed pod a dark figure with crossed arms lay dormant.

With a hiss, the doors of the pod shot open while the limp body fell to the floor with a thud. It bounced on the floor twice before finally laying still. With a moan the figure slowly lifted an arm and propped himself up on his elbows.

“Awww… I think I’m going to hurl!” he moaned while trying not to vomit in his helmet.

“Hello, Tenno,” a female voice said.

The frame looked up at the portal, “Hello… can I help you miss?”

“I am the Lotus. I will be your guide,” the soft feminine voice said rather bluntly.

“How so?” he question while moving to a kneeling position and placing one arm on one knee.

The portal on the far end of the room started to hum louder and spin faster. Causing the frame to narrow his eyes under his helmet.

“I will explain on the way. Right now the Grineer are on their way! You must move now Tenno.”

“The who?”

“Seeds have burst from the ruin you left. The Grineer, they hunt for the one thing that can destroy them,” She said ominously, “You!”

The frame stood up and grabbed his massive machine gun off his back. He held it low and grabbed the charging handle and pulled it back forcefully, thus chambering a round in the gun.

“Let’s go!” he said confidently before running full sprint toward the spinning portal.

Before he ran through he jumped forward, barrel rolling through the air and into the portal. Coming out on the other side he shouldered the gun and opened fire while the mass of Grineer troops panicked and started to raise their crude guns.

“That was the day I met him,” Lotus said. She played with the holographic screen while the other screens went dark. When she was ready she looked up, “And this was the day I lost him.”

“What the hell did that mean Lotus?” Excalibur asked angrily.

“I…” she started to panic, “I have to go. Stay safe Tenno!”

The screen Excalibur looked at went black while him and the rest of his team watched in disbelief.

A dark figure resembling the Lotus came up on the screen. But instead of her regal purple, the Sentient burned like a dying fire while ash would flake off and up into the air.

“Tenno,” a deep voice said.

“Hunhow,” Excalibur said with hatred in his voice.

“I see you have taken a liking to my daughter.”

They all narrowed their eyes under their helmets, “What are you talking about Hunhow?” he asked.

“The last of my womb,” answered the Sentient, “She betrayed me… yet you follow her. Excalibur, it may have taken 1000 years… but you finally did it… you fell... to a Sentient.”

Every Tenno froze as a chill ran up their spines. Everything they did, every mission, every kill, everything! Was at the hands and the will of a Sentient. They just sat in horror while the Sentient chuckled darkly.

“I will see you soon, Tenno.”

The screen went dark. Excalibur looked to his right at Ember. She tensed up angrily and punched the console with all her might, which caused the screen to crack and shatter upon imppact. She then stormed off in a fit of rage, her frame glowing brightly as heat radiated through the suit. He turned and faced the rest of the Tenno. They just looked at him in horror. Slowly... they all lowered their heads in disbeleif before dissipating in their own directions.

Excalibur fell to his knees and screamed at the top of his lungs, “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!”

She would go on to show us many different videos of times before he left her. Many where he fought the Grineer and those Corpus robot things and the Infested. One where he stood next to a pod where the fire frame from earlier laid. He examined it before he opened it and helped her to her hooves. Once she was up and cognitive they embraced each other in a massive hug. She then showed us one where the taller frame and Excalibur bumped hooves and a third where he slapped the dual horned one on the back of the head while the other two and Excalibur shared a hearty laugh. After many more videos, Lotus turned off the screens, lowered her head and started to sob.

“I’m so sorry,” she quietly said between sobs, “I… I’ve changed Excalibur.”

I placed a hoof on her leg. She looked up at me with soaked cheeks.

“Lotus, I’m sorry for what has happened,” I said softly.

She looked at the floor and sighed. “Even though I never met him in person until this very day… we only truly wanted one thing in life.”

I placed my hoof on the floor, “And that would be?”

She looked at me, “A family.”

All the screens changed to a lone picture. It was Excalibur... without his armor. He was holding the blond mares hand from his dream. She stood behind him with one hoof in his and another over her belly while she wore a worried look on her face. To her right Excalibur stood in a defensive stance with a different, black looking rifle to his right shoulder and a look of protection and hatred. He was protecting her. But that hoof though. I've seen ponies do it before... Mrs. Cake did it quiet often when she would sit in the park. That's when i knew it...

She was pregnant.

“Who is that?” Fluttershy asked.

“Excalibur,” replied Lotus. “And his wife… before he left her.”

I gulped and felt a ping of jealousy and remorse shoot through me.

“Why?” I asked nervously. Lotus looked at me curiously, “Why did he leave her?”

“Ta save her life Twi,” I looked back at Applejack with a confusing look and a raised brow, “He left her and his unborn child ta save them,” Everyone looked at Applejack with interest and shock. None of us knew how she knew this! “Oh, right!” she said in realization, “Uh, he kinda told Pinkie an’ I on the train from tha Crystal Empire… it was tha toughest decision of his life.”

Celestia stepped forward, “Lotus, why do you want a family?”

Lotus sighed, “During the jump through the rift to the Origin system left me sterile.”

'Oh!'

“I always wanted a child. And... after my betrayal… I purged my past from my body and took on a more familiar shape,” she gestured to herself, “I wanted someone to love,” she looked up at the picture, “… and I did.”

“Lotus?” Celestia softly asked, causing the purple mare to look at the Princess, “Go to him.”

Everypony walked out of the portal and back to the familiar streets of Ponyville. I was so happy to be home, safe and sound. We all stopped and shared exhausted looks before continuing forward. We immediately went to find Excalibur. Thankfully he didn’t go far. The low sounds of sobbing filled the quiet night air. Looking to the noise, we could see Excalibur sitting on the top of his ship, curled up in a ball with his fore-hooves on of his head and his back-legs to his chest. Next to him sat a small blue cube.

Excalibur sniffled, “I don’t know what to do Ordis! I… I hit her!” he said while lifting his head slightly before placing it back into his knees. “I wish my sister was here!”

“Hmmm,” the small cube said in thought, “Perhaps it would be best to *BZZT* SEND HER TO HER GRAVE! *BZZT* apologize. Miss Sparkle is very forgiving.”

He moved his hooves and looked to the sky. “I don’t know Ordis… I broke her heart once,” he looked at the cube, “What if I do it again? I care about her too much,” he looked to the sky and sighed, “I can’t stay forever,” he paused, “God... she’s reminds me too much of Melanie.”

“Well…” Ordis started, “Excalibur?”

“I know.”

“Excalibur,” Celestia said softly, “May we speak to you?”

He let out a defeated sigh, grabbed Ordis and jumped down from the top of his ship and stood in front of Celestia with his head hung low.

“Celestia I-”

“I don’t want excuses Excalibur,” she firmly interrupted.

“Yes your majesty.”

She sighed “Excalibur… I know the last few weeks have been rough, today being no exception. It was not smart of us to follow you into a situation that we were not capable of handling ourselves… could you please look me in the eyes?” she asked softly yet sternly. He looked up with his puffy red eyes, “Thank you. Excalibur, everypony is at fault here. Our curiosity got the best of us today,” she stepped back and stood next to all of us, “And… were sorry.”

His blinked his eyes before they widened in surprise, “You cannot… be serious!?”

“We are,” Celestia answered firmly

“I… bu… what?” Excalibur said in an attempt to form a serious sentence. “Celestia, for fuck sake I hit Twilight!” he held a hoof out at me, “You should be dragging me away in chains!”

“Excalibur, it's technically her fault for getting in the way.”

“Fuck it!” he said while throwing his arms in the air in defeat, “You,” he pointed at Celestia, “Are way too nice!”

Celestia giggled, “I do my best… Now, I believe someone want to talk to you.”

She turned back to see Lotus standing nearby. She stood there with her hooves in front of her chest while she occasionally glanced at Excalibur nervously. Celestia waved her over with a hoof. Reluctantly the purple dress mare walked over and stood in front of Excalibur. He looked down on her while she looked at the ground.

“Excalibur-”

“Don’t.”

‘Oh no.’

She looked up at him with shock, “Lotus… you have changed. I know that now, I just wasn’t willing to accept it. I let my past sins take hold and I followed my hatred instead of listening and accepting your apology.”

“So...” she lowered her arms to her sides, “Does that mean?”

“I’m sorry Lotus.”

A smile slowly crept across her face before she lunged forward and wrapped him up in a big hug. He slowly wrapped his arms around her while she sobbed into his chest.

“Thank you… my child.”

He chuckled, “Hehe… don’t push it.”

“Sorry.”

They let go and looked at each other.

“So… does that mean…?”

“No… Lotus. I may have forgiven you, but my team is another subject. I won’t try to convince them. This is not my apology to make.”

She looked at the ground, “I understand.”

Celestia walked up with a wrapped up piece of cloth, “Excalibur,” he looked at her while she unraveled it to show his weapons, “I believe these are yours.”

He slowly reached out and grabbed his Skana and looked at it before putting it on his back. His other weapons follow close behind. After that he apologized to me again and we all talked for what seemed like hours. But eventually the Lotus had to prepare to get back to her duties to the other Tenno.

“Excalibur?” she asked.

He stopped talking to Celestia and walked over to her.

“Yes?”

“Here,” she held her hoof out. In her palm his helmet materialized. Hesitantly, he reached out and grabbed it. He looked at it momentarily before looked back at her.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” she smiled brightly. “So… what of your teammates?”

Ember sat at her desk with her head on the table and her arms in front of her face. She let out a sad sigh while she idly started at a holographic photo of her and her brother. The picture itself was of her and him standing together without their helmets. She had just jumped into his arms after a major victory back on Earth. He had his arms wrapped around her lower back with a huge smile on his face while he looked up at her. She had her right arm high in the air while her left rested on his shoulder.

It had been months and there was no sign of her older brother. Yes, he was her adopted brother, but he was family nonetheless. The Syndicates, spies, and allies of the Tenno had been looking high and low for him. Every alert that was deemed important was taken on by the Primes. But every data file, capture target, survival or interception mission came up blank.

He was just gone.

The door to Embers room shot open while Loki stood in the doorway with a hand placed in the frame. She looked up at him with anger. All she wanted to do the last few days was stay in her room and sulk. She was about to scream at him for not following orders, but he cut her off.

“Ember! It’s the Lotus. She said she found him!”

Her eyes went wide. She kicked her chair out from under herself and immediately headed for the door. Both Loki and her ran as fast as they could down the hallways of the dojo. Once they reached the elevator Ember couldn’t stop thinking about the situation. After the Sentient situation she never trusted the Lotus, but when has she ever lied to them?

That ride in itself felt like an eternity. Once the doors opened they headed straight for the War room. The doors to the room opened up as both frames came running in. Inside every frame watched the screen while the Lotus sat there silently.

“Were here!” Loki quickly said.

Rhino looked at the screen, “What did you find Lotus?” he asked with a hint of distrust.

“This,” she replied before the screen changed.

On the screen Excalibur stood with his helmet off. The sky was dark indicating it was night. Behind him sat a large tree with a door at the base of the trunk and a grassy field behind him. Immediately the video started playing.

“Greetings Tenno,” he greeted, “As you already know I have been missing for some time now. So I am just going to jump right to it. I am healthy and well, no one has been holding me hostage and is forcing me to do this. Now, a few months ago after completing a recovery mission my ship was hit by a round from Grineer Galleon. It my attempt to escape toward the Orcus Relay the damaged portal generator sent me to an unknown planet.”

“After landing here I made contact with the natives. They have taken me in with open arms and have become our latest allies. They allowed me to stay and repair my ship in exchange for protection. I would come to find out that the portal generator, cloak, communicator, hyper-drive, and one engine have been pretty much destroyed.”

“I have done what I can but complications arose,” he paused and glared to the side for a second before looking back at the screen, “I am very behind on my repairs. Now, I know you wonder why I don’t just repair the communicator and send you my coordinates. Well… the thing is I have no idea where I am. This galaxy has not been mapped by any of us and with the lack of basic technology everything I can do is limited.”

“But I promise you that when everything is repaired I will be making a Void jump straight for the dojo. As of right now I will be here for the time being.” He turned his head slightly and it was as though he knew where Ember was going to be standing, “Ember, you are in charge. So, please, keep a cool head. We all know how much Loki can be an ass.”

Everyone chuckled.

“Yeah, yeah, laugh it up,” Loki deadpanned over the laughter with a roll of his eyes.

“Anyway,” everyone stopped their laughter and looked back at the screen, “Ember, I know you can do it,” he smiled lightly which caused Ember to smile in return while tears started to well up in her eyes, “You’re all probably wondering who our new allies are… well… let’s just say they have 'colorful personalities'.”

Everyone turned and looked at each other while many eyebrows were raised.

A tall, regal looking horse with wings and a horn walked into view to the right of the screen while a smaller, purple one walked into view on the left hand side. They each stood to Excalibur respective sides. The taller white one wore what looked like a tiara, a necklace, and gold shoes. She stood at about five feet and her multicolored mane flowed like water in an invisible wind. The smaller one stood at about three feet in height and her multi colored purple mane just sat straight. She smiled sheepishly at the screen while the taller one wore a neutral expression.

“Well,” Loki said, breaking the awkward silence, “He’s lost it.”

Saryn –who happened to be standing behind him- promptly slapped Loki upside the head.

“Everyone,” Excalibur held his right hand up to the taller horse, “This is Princess Celestia, co-ruler of Equestria,” he gestured to the smaller one with his left hand, “And this is the newest princess or Equestria, Princess Twilight Sparkle,” he lowered his hand, “And no they are not horses, they’re ponies. They couldn’t be more clear on that,” he looked at the taller “pony”. “Celestia?”

Everyone was a little surprised when she started talking. The primes may have seen many strange things in their long lives, but talking horses was not one of them.

She stepped forward “Hello everypony," everyones eyes widened in shock when she started talking, "As Excalibur previously mentioned, he is in good hooves. We have, by no means, treated him poorly. He is a national hero and we thank him for his acts. I would also like to personally thank you all for what you do,” she stepped back to her original position.

“I’m sorry for worrying all of you,” Excalibur said, “But I promise you that I will be back in the next few months. For now, stay safe, shoot straight and keep your blades sharp Tenno.”

The screen changed back to the image of the image of the Lotus.

“I’ve done my part Tenno. Good luck.”

The screen went black while everyone in the room started to look around at each other.

“Well…” Rhino started, “He’s alive.”

It was Saturday, or almost a week since Celestia made me an alicorn. Today was my coronation. I was wearing a purple dress that covered my flanks while a piece of white fabric hung low off of that and a yellow addition that wrapped around my neck and hung half way down my back legs. Excalibur stood by with a set of gold and white shoulder, chest and fetlock guards and a thing on his back that looked like wings. He also had his Nikana Prime sword. He said it was a ‘ceremonial sword’. Serenity stood nearby with a set of pointed armor and a back thing that looked like a simple piece of metal and a regular Nikana at her side. Behind me stood four grey guards with white tails and four white flag bearers with blond manes and red and while speckled dresses.

“You ready Twilight?” Excalibur asked me.

I gulped, “I… I guess so…” I answered nervously.

“Alright.”

He moved and stood at my right while Serenity stood to my left. They grabbed the sheaths of their swords with their left hoof and the handle by the right. They stood up straight. In a bright flash and a roar, both the things on their backs burst into flames. Serenity’s glowed bright orange while Excalibur’s glowed a bright light blue.

They pushed the massive doors open. The room was filled with countless ponies dressed up for the occasion. At the far end under an arch of flowers, stood Celestia in an intricate purple and yellow dress and a taller, more ceremonial tiara. Opposite of her stood Luna, in a darker purple dress with yellow accents. Next to her stood Spike in a cute looking suit and red bowtie. Next to Celestia, Cadence stood in a light blue dress with purple accents and a tall golden crown. She had her hair up too. Finally, off to my left –stage right- my friends stood in their dresses. Which were most likely Rarity’s doing.

“♫ The Princess Twilight commeth! Behold, behold! ♫”

The flag bearers sang the entire way up to the stage. Once my escorts and I reached the stage, the flag bearers and stallion guards stopped at its base while Excalibur and Serenity stood off to the sides. In unison they stuck one hoof back and spun 360 degrees before snapping to attention. Then Spike walked up with my Element of Harmony on a pillow before Celestia took it in her magic and placed it on my head. Once she released the crown I glanced at my friends, who smiled widely at me.

Finally, I turned to face the crowd and opened my wings.

Thankfully Celestia already addressed everything before the doors opened, so things would go quickly. After that we headed out onto the balcony, where I had to address Equestria as their newest princess. All of Equestria had to have been there! Because the entire main street of Canterlot was filled to the brim with cheering ponies. I did my best to act brave, but I was so nervous that I just smile and waved awkwardly.

“Say something Princess,” Celestia said into my ear while placing a hoof on my shoulder.

“Oh… um…” I responded quietly before clearing my throat, “A little while ago, my teacher and mentor Princess Celestia” I looked back and pointed at her briefly, “sent me to live in Ponyville. She sent me to study friendship… which is something I didn’t really care much about,” I said while looking back at my friends in the doorway. “But now… on a day like today,” I turned to face them and waved them over with a hoof, “I can honestly say…” my friends started walking over while Serenity and Excalibur stood near the doorway, “I wouldn’t be standing here if it weren’t for the friendships I made with all of you! Each one of you taught me something about friendship. And for that… I will always be grateful,” I held a hoof to my chest, closed my eyes and gave them a light bow before turning back and facing the crowd, “Today, I consider myself the luckiest pony in Equestria! Thank you friends, “I looked to my sides at them, “Thank you everypony!”

The crowd cheered loudly in honor. Many waved hooves in the air, others threw confetti or hats.

We turned back and headed back inside.

Shining and Cadence came up and congratulated me. He was so proud and even shed some ‘liquid pride’ as he called it. It just made me laugh. My friends continued to congratulate me long after the initial ceremony. My parents expressed their praises. I just wish they would have not glared so angrily at Excalibur. I forgave him, why cant they! Once it was all said and done I had one more thing I wanted to do.

I took my place on the stage once again, “Excalibur!? Serenity!? Could you please come to the stage!” I called over all the loud room. Both of them turned to look at me, which also caused the room to go silent and focus on me.

They both shared a confusing glance before walking up to the stage.

“Yes your majesty?” they asked in unison.

“Please, take a knee?” I asked politely.

They hesitated and looked at each other for a moment before kneeling down and placing a fetlock on one knee.

I cleared my throat, “Excalibur Prime and Serenity of the Tenno Guardians!” I used my magic to make a purple sword with a lotus flower on the handle appear, “As a Princess of Equestria, I hereby dub you two, Knights of Equestria!” I said proudly. Okay... I may have made up that speech before lowing the sword on each of their shoulders. Okay I know that’s not how it’s supposed to go, but I wanted it to be a surprise, “Now… please rise, Knight Excalibur and Knight Serenity!"

They both rose to their feet while the whole congregation cheered!

They looked at each other.

“I’ve never been a knight before!” Serenity said, excitedly.

“This is like my… twelfth or thirteenth I believe,” Excalibur replied before looking at me, “Hey? Where did you get a Dakra?”

“Huh?” I looked at the blade, “Oh! Uh… the Lotus gave it to me,” I concentrated my magic into my horn. Making another identical blade, two pistols and a rifle appear. “The Lotus wanted me to give these to you Excalibur.” I levitated them over to him.

He took the rifle in his hooves and placed it up to his shoulder before examining it.

“This is a Sybaris build,” he lowered the gun, “But that’s not what it is.”

“The Lotus called them the ‘Dex set’. That’s the Dex Sybaris, the Dex Furis, and the Dex Dakra,” I said while pointing at each weapon.

Excalibur placed the rifle on his back and took the pistols and looked at them before he looked at Serenity.

“Here,” he tossed them to her, which she caught in her hooves, “Better than what you’ve got.”

She looked at them, held them up, and examined them before placing them on her legs. He then took the swords from my magical grasp. Taking one he spun it in his hoof and offered it to Serenity while placing the other on his back. She took it, examined it and did the same thing.

They both looked at me.

“Congratulations Twilight,” Excalibur said happily.

“Yeah. Congratulations Twilight!” Serenity said next with a little bit more enthusiasm.

“Thank you,” I said happily before looking at my friends, brother and Cadence, and the princesses, “Thank you everypony.”

It was a wonderful day!

Author's Notes:

So thats the last half of Twlight's ascension to princess status. Bet you didn't see that Lotus thing coming? I mainly did that because she is very essential to the Warframe universe. I wanted to address the primes and end their worry, don't worry we will see them again. Finally finish it off with Twilight's ceremony. So the basic thing is I'm now moving onto the next season of the show. I don't know how I want to go at it yet. But I know that episodes that don't directly involve Ponyville or the mane six will not be in it. So like the episode where Sweetie Belle has the whole nightmare thing, yeah why would I do that?