Two months later

Miiora
NAC Fortres world Sandalphon
Zegema Beach

Standing here with my suiter as the sun sets the beauty of this planet I feel at peace, happy. Then Fallon let's me go and something heavy hits me in the back of the head. As the darkness takes me I hear my suiter begin yelling with someone as I feel hands begin dragging me.

“Hey what the fuck!” Was all I heard from my suitor to was struck and fell on the ground before me.

“Settle down Riese you get your chance at him. We’re doing this one by the book.”

When she woke up she was in a kind of canyon. In Front of me my suitors assailant stands with two other humans one of them, to my horror was my assist and drill instructor sergeant Harris. The big black man asked in a sarcastic tone.

“would you mind going over there and standing with the rest of the candidates?”

I hissed at him and glared before I see fallon walking up to the group of sergeants. I Couldn't move her claws and talons were like they had been frozen in concrete. Images ran through my head thought and revulsion that I had trusted, loved this human before me. Then he spoke like he had rehearsed this speech or was trying to remember.

“As you all know the crucible was designed to weed out the weak and feeble. Each of you here has passed the trials of the crucible and have been purified. But now each of you will delve into the fires of battle, and into the anvil of war.” Now I get it this was another one of the crucible trials. That would explain why she was knocked out and why Avery Fallon was as well.

Walking over to the other group if bewildered faces. I look from one face to the next in the Starlight. Three of them I recognized one was none other than Durge, the next was Trombley, and finally the last was helghast but his scent marked him as the one from Fallon and here’s date.

Beside them was a short stocky woman built like a fireplug she was from the SRA, the next was a tall female Tymerian with green scales named Tolpa. She is from from another squad in the ninth. Beside her a human male stood with white BDUs. Marking him as a member of the New Svalbard PDF.

Next were two dark skinned men wearing the uniforms of UAF soldiers. One of them had a tattoo of a bone white skull on his shoulder and the other a tattoo of a Siafu mech. And finally standing by herself and where I was walking was my friend Charlotte the NE fighter pilot.

“Here's the deal” Harris said. Beside him Fallon and Grayson stood together with another human, who's tape read Sargon.

“All of you have been Advanced to candidacy but only one of you will be giving the promotion. As the existing Veterans of fourth unit its our job to watch and judge this contest. Your boundaries are the walls of this canyon, do not exit the boundaries. To do so will result in immediate disqualification…” As he spoke she began a low guttural hiss. It was dawning on her that this was some kind of arena combat scenario.

The other candidates are already eyeing each other and spacing out. I take this time to examine my surroundings more closely. We are on a beach that is only about ten meters wide. The cannon was circular and about a hundred meters across the walls were quite forbidding they will share and vertical.

The only easy pass out of the canyon was the foot Trail behind and off to the right of the Veterans and sergeants. I wound its way up along the walls and under a waterfall at the far end of times and the small cool deep lake the form with the center of the canyon.

I’ve gone swimming down here a number of times in the small warm deal lake that formed in the center of the canyon. Then the voice of my suiter chilled me.

“Tonight any existing relationships between us or any of you does not stand. The last man or woman alive in this canyon tonight is a veteran. That's it no more rules.. Go.”

The fireplug woman moved first she caught trombley by one foot and pulled backwards. He went down on his face growling. Tolpa joined her, and together they dragged Trombley out into the water.

I was about to help him but something hit me, knocking me back into the water. A dark figure loomed over me outlined by the stars, and the planet above. He has a big rock in his hands and a snarl across his face. I managed to get my hands up to protect my face but it was pointless. He brought the rock down hard and there was a burst of pain as he brought the rock up again.

From behind the man another figure appeared and hit him in the side of the head, he went down. The veterans were cheering, they called out encouragement and slammed there hands together in applause.

Dazed I swam away towards the center of the lake. The male with the rock didn't follow when he got up.

The SRA woman with her Tymerian companion managed to drown Trombley. There was nothing I could and it made me angry. They had teamed up and that seemed unfair. She wonders if they had known ahead of time how this trial was going to go.

“Well played, well played!” Avery fallon calls our to the SRA woman and Tolpa.

“I feel compelled to reward success.” That said he produced his combat knife and threw it between the two women. Both Tolpa and the human woman looked at it for a half second before she and her partner lunged for the knife.

“What's this!?” The Fallon creature chuckled. Says as the two females struggled for the blade

“Treachery? So soon!?” the fireplug landed on the knife first with Tolpa clawing at her back a second later. They rolled grunting, blood spurting this way and that. But in the end Tolpa had her throat slashed and the human was disemboweled.

More applause and shouts as the two UAF soldiers worked together to bring the Zaltule down. One of them saw the knife and lunged for it before stabbing Durge in the back with the blade repeatedly. Durge failed to notice and tore his partner's head from his shoulders with one massive hand, before the edge of the knife sank into one of his multifaceted eyes.

“Come on Miiora! Quit hiding out there in the lake!” Grayson shouted at me. I turn and swim for the waterfall.

“Well now, that's just plain cowards Miiora!” the Fallon creature called out.

Fallon drew his sidearm, and removed the magazine, leaving only one round in the chamber. He then threw the weapon at the male who hit me with the rock.

“Here catch.” Then it hit me they had no intentions of letting anyone win this contest. In fact it looked like they were going to cheat if they have to.

Seeing that there was a gun in play Charlotte ran off around the lake to the far side. Grinning the African with Avery Fallon’s gun circled the other way. I could tell he wasn't interested in taking his single shot at long range.

I came up under the waterfall silently. There are two figures approaching through the mist one from either direction. This gave me an idea, if they can cheat why can't I? I dove swimming deep into the warm water. Taking long sweeping strokes I took a breath feeling water pass through my gills.

Then a weight slammed into me. Looking down I can see the glowing orange lenses of the helghast rebreather. He wrapped his hands around my neck attempting to choke me. He is stronger and larger than she but shifting my joints I manage to pry get him loose.

But not for long he grabs her tail and yanks down hard. The pain was immense like having an entire limb in a vice, and flayed. Rage that someone had just pulled on her tail fills her
And with a flick of my wrist and a flash of movement my claws travel up his body and slice him open like a fish.

Each motion of my arms legs and tail took me back to the shoreline where this had started. When I surfaced it was just in time to hear a shot cough in the air. The veterans and sergeants whooped they were standing knee deep in the lake around me.

Rising up out of the water I snake my way forward silently. The pale skinned Veteran nearest me wasn't prepared for me and I open my maw and extended my fangs, before biting into his neck.

He shook violently as I injected my venom into his body. The smell of the necrosis became overpowering as I pulled the dying mans sidearm out of his holster. I managed to shoot chief Burbonjack who had just turned in our direction to see what was happening. My supposed target went down on his face with a surprised splash. The back of his skull was gone.

My suitor then slammed into me a moment later. He landed powerful blows with both his bionic and natural fists. The pistol flew out of my grasp as we rolled into what would usually be a very compromising position.

But these are unusual times. The game the stalk might be over I am getting tired and my head injury from the male with the rock was throbbing like he had snapped off a horn. Miiora would be lucky to beat Avery Fallon one on one when she was fresh.

Over the last few days I’ve found myself listening more and more to Father Leary. It is strange to listen to him speak about this being they worship. As I listen I realize that not all is as I expect or hope. I’ve become stronger, my body adjusting, and somehow I’ve created a small utopia in the courtyard. Yet, it is here in this room that I look at Father Leary who is in a heated discussion with the one that would be mine new commander. Despite everything I am a soldier. A proud daughter of Germaney, and I will do all that I can to restore her to her former glory.

“You’ve got to be kidding. She’s barely recovered, and you’re talking about putting her into action?!”

The one over the command I most likely will be placed into grunts, looks at me, and then looks back at the Father.

“I’m talking about putting her through the paces in a collection of wargames. The office of Morale needs the publicity, and to be honest without my office much of what you’re able to offer wouldn’t be here. I’ve already spoken to the General of Medicine, and now I’m talking to you. She has a chance to step into the role of a soldier, and to prove loyalty while also helping to assure that thousands of soldiers won’t blow their brains out overnight.”

Father Leary shakes his head, and then looks at me, “Aryanne, verstehst du bitte, was gesagt wird?”

“Ja, natürlich tue ich das, aber wenn ich auf die Bühne gehen soll, möchte ich auch meinen früheren Rang einsetzen.”

The other looks at me and gives a nod, “Das kann arrangiert werden.”

I salute my superior officer, watching as he leaves, and then Father Leary walks toward me. The older human motions for me to follow him, and I do as he opens the door to his private study. It is there that he sets out two glasses, and suddenly I smell something that I did not realize that I have missed.

It smells strong, it’s lingering, and wonderful fragrance seems to kiss my nostrils, and I breathe in the heavenly scent for several seconds before watching the golden liquid poured into a glass and shared with me. I lift it up, study the glass, and a wonderful sigh leaves my lips as I take the first real drink that I’ve had. The fullness of it, the smooth texture, and the richness of it makes it stand out as something from back home.

“Aryanne, Ich kann Sie nicht bitten, es noch einmal zu überdenken, aber ich bitte Sie, vorsichtig zu sein.”

His words are touching, “Father, I shall do my best.”

He nods to me, and then I watch as he drinks his own glass. The two of us share the drink silently for a few seconds before he leans back in his chair, a thoughtful expression across his face.

“I am sticking my neck out for you here, and you don't seem that bad. So I'll give you this advice. You be good to my old unit, and they’ll be good to you. The Two-six RTI is a good unit, and they are known for getting into the worst kind of scrapes.” He paused to take another wrong from his glass.

“You want to prove your loyalty? They’re the ones to do it with.” he says before swiveling on his chair and turning on a screen.

Miiora

NAC Fortres world Sandalphon
Zegema pass

My dear one made a choking sound bef9re he could bring down another fist. I saw Charlotte sneak up behind Avery and slammed a knife home. One of the veterans must have given it to her after killing the man who had tried to shoot her.

Not to be taken out so easily my suitor turned, ripped the knife out of his own back, and chased down Charlotte with it. I follow at a safe distance to watch what happens out of morbid curiosity.

Avery cut Charlotte to ribbons with the knife. All the while he bleed profusely oil and lubricant from his prosthetic mixing with blood. And released a string of strong profanity.

Another shape moved on him, the man from the New Svalbard PDF. He was intercepted by Harris, and Grayson. The latter then pitched forward the broken piece of my horn jutting from his back.

It was blood loss that I think that ended Amps life. But now facing two MOTH’s I began to worry, but then the last remaining candidate stood beside me, fallon’s knife in a tight grip.

We squared off, the last two candidates against the last two surviving Veterans. Fallon and I acted first slamming into one another. I was like a liquid graceful and smooth, and he a truck obstinate and angry.

As we tangled a hand wrapped itself around my neck. Cold metallic fingers dug into my scales as my claws dug into his stomach as we both fell into the mud. Then a sharp cold throb, and looking down between our tangled body's, I can see Fallon’s other hand holding a knife. Its blade deep in my chest under my right breast.

He slumped over on top of me his innards, blood and gore covering her as darkness took me. I feel a quick pressure on the side of my face and see that The Fallon creature had kissed her, before with the last of his strength withdrew the knife and held it to the side for veteran Harris to take before he died.

Sgt. Avery Fallon

NAC Fortres world Sandalphon
The Spire. Level 253
5 lightyears, 1 node from sol. 2168AD/105AC

I wake up as the sim-pod opens, rolling over and I fall to the floor on my hands and knees. I throw up on the grated floor as the pod in front of me peels open with a hiss.

A cold sweat breaks out as I place a hand to my stomach. My intestines were still where they belong. Then it came, it had been quiet almost subsonic. But now the keening returns so loud and painful that I fail to notice the other pod’s occupant step out.

“Aaaagh!” Looking frantically around I can see the BourbonJack, Bender, and Big Dog and a few others all with their hands on their ears screaming. Closing my eyes trying focus, to block out the keening.

God what is this! It feels like someone is ramming red hot icepicks into my brain. It claws, it scratches, it bites, it reaches out, it reaches out, it reaches out.

It is old, something, before, something I don't have a name for screams. It's screech audible despite the keening then it’s gone. A presence, a something. A weight against the side of my body makes me snap my eyes open.

Miiora is beside me her maw moving but failing to pierce the keening. At the edge of my vision I can see something, like red inky smoke. Miiora she says something again but I still can't hear her, but something around her neck catches my eye. The necklace I have her gleams in the light as she moves and puts her hands on my shoulders to look directly at me. Then as she shakes me the keening gets louder.

Miiora

NAC Fortres world Sandalphon
The Spire. Level 253
5 lightyears, 1 node from sol. 2168AD/105AC

“My love, what's happening? what's wrong?” Why is my suiter screaming? Why are some of the others coming out of their pods screaming and others aren't? Fear raw and primal runs through her like Ishka blade.

“MAKE IT STOP!!” he cries out. What keening i don't hear any keening. But he is obviously in pain, so what should I do? Maybe a dove of venom, just enough to knock him out, no it might kill him.

Then the door to the chamber flew open. Two humans in full suits of grey battle armor carrying M66’s run into the chamber securing the entrance.

Behind them another human enters. He is young maybe just starting his second decade of life. He appears to be out of breath and dressed in a uniform with no identification of any kind. He scans the room before squeezing his eyes shut in concentration. A strange feeling washes over the room and my suiter begins shaking violently in my hands.

“SLEEP!” the word was powerful and resonant, echoing throughout the room.

With a single command the room falls silent as the men and women that were screaming immediately and unanimously fall asleep. My Suiter slumped onto my shoulder.

Over the exceptionally many years of my life I’ve learned more than a few things. I’ve learned that even the most noble will abandon their ideals and become something wicked, the most corrupted can be redeemed, and that harmony is a bad joke by a cosmic being that could give two shits less about what ponies that once taught friendship is doing. Of course I’ve learned the value of taking a consort. Feeling the warm body behind me I can’t help but smile. Slowly I move away from his warm body, rise, and look at human in my bed.

I would never do to him what the Ponies did to those humans they found… exceptional. Such a thing would betray even my strained moral code, but I have no problem with attempting to mix our bloodlines. I feel the warmth of his love, need, and lust hanging heavy in the air, and of course mixed with my own inside my womb. I can’t help but grin. He has the advantage of youth, I have the advantage of tens of thousands of years worth of knowledge concerning how to please and pleasure my mate. It is perhaps a bit sad that his imagination is so restricted, but then again he’s barely a hatchling by my standards.

“Your majesty, we’ve received a report.”

I look toward the door. There would be no staying here, waiting for him to rouse, taking him again, and enjoying all that he has to give. Instead I gently kiss his cheek, “Sleep well David, tonight we’ll explore more of your fantasies.”

Walking out I decided to ignore my normal regalia, and instead I wore a simple silk robe. My changelings that have been with me long enough know what it means, what it symbolizes, and that they are to keep their chittering about my escapades to a minimum. I near the command center, and there I saw two individuals. The first was a soldier that has been working with us since we openly allied ourselves with the humans. He’s handsome, in a rugged way, and the scar that runs down the left side of his face, the one that took his original eye, only seemed to bring out rugged and dangerous allure he has.

I couldn’t help but notice that one of my changelings has taken quite a shine to him. She is young, not even at a century mark yet, and perhaps it would do her some good to take a lover. Silently I wished her well.

“Report,” my voice commanded.

“Your majesty, One of the scout ships believe they found the UEC’s reserve base. While it isn’t a main base it does present an opportunity to bloody their nose. Not to mention it could possibly improve morale.”

Our human guest is correct. Dealing a blow, even a small one, would certainly raise the spirits of my changelings, and it would be taking away some of Celestia’s toys.

“Inform the scout ship to study the base, watch the coming and goings, and if it looks obtainable we shall send reinforcements to overthrow it.”

“Your majesty?”

I could easily see that wasn’t the answer he expected.

“Raising our morale is important, deflating theirs is just as so. If we take their base, even if for nothing else than to destroy it later, then we give their morale a much needed drop.”

Author's Notes:

We have officially come to the one year mark since this story started. Thank you so much to everyone who has stuck with this story since the beginning.