There was a knock on the door.

The three women looked at each other, two with some trepidation; the third only betraying anxiety by taking their hands in her own. After a consensual nod, one of them spoke up.

"Come in!"

The door slid open, revealing the man they had come to know as "Central" on their way back from New Appaloosa. He had debriefed teams "Dragon" and "Menace" on the way, barely introducing himself to them, other than acknowledging their presence with a brief nod when informed they were on the plane.

"Are we done?" Scootaloo asked. "Can we go now? We're not in Appaloosa anymore, what do you gain by keeping us your prisoners?"

Central raised an eyebrow. "You're not prisoners, Miss Scootaloo," he said, "We're going to be discussing what to do with you now, and thought you might want a say in it."

Scootaloo pressed her lips together, but Sweetie was already on her feet, as well as Apple Bloom. "Ah think that's a good idea."

"Excellent, if you would follow me…"

The trio did just that, walking after Central and taking in the sites. Sweetie studied her companions.

Both being engineers, they were taking in every detail of their current location, drinking up the information, and Sweetie could tell, enjoying it. Even though it was harder to see it in Apple Bloom, now that she had a metal mask for a face, her interest was obvious to someone who had known her for a long time.

Scootaloo had completely lost her frown once they walked by the engine room. They had paused there as she had rushed to the rail and gasped, her eyes widening as she took in what she was seeing.

Central had given her and Apple Bloom some time to admire the ship before motioning for them to keep following. They eventually had made their way up some stairs and emerged onto the command room, where all three had gawked at the world hologram before being ushered into the Commander's Quarters.

Once they were in, the doors hissed closed behind them, leaving them in a room with several people.

"Principal Luna? R-rainbow Dash?" Sweetie asked.

"Hey kid."

"Hello girls."

On the table, as small hologram projected and another familiar face appeared. "Oh my, girls!"

"Fluttershy!?" Scootaloo gasped, shocked enough to sit down on the sofa.

"Sunset." Apple Bloom nodded. "Shen."

The pair from XCOM smiled and waved.

"Welcome, Crusaders," a voice said, making them all turn to face the tall, long-haired woman that smirked at them.

"Commander," Apple Bloom said, "it's nice to meet you in person."

Chrysalis chuckled, which put Sweetie and Scootaloo on guard. "The pleasure is mine. Please, join Scootaloo, we have much to discuss."

"But how?" Scootaloo asked, looking at the trio from her past. "Why didn't any of you—"

"I'm sorry, kiddo," Rainbow Dash said first, hand coming up to her chin, no doubt remembering the punch Scootaloo had given her. "For the longest time we thought you were also dead… and when Rarity appeared right next to the speaker—"

"That's something that will be discussed later," Chrysalis spoke up. "Due to the secrecy needed for XCOM to survive, everyone here has made plenty of sacrifices… some at very high cost to their personal lives."

"And in the meantime, we were forgotten," Scootaloo said.

"Scootaloo!"

"It's true!" Scootaloo insisted. "If Rarity hadn't been with the Speaker, we wouldn't have anyone! She's the only one that made an effort to talk to all of us, not just Sweetie."

"She was always ready to give as much of herself as she could," Fluttershy said sadly. "I'm sorry, Scootaloo. I'm not part of XCOM or I would be there for you right now."

"For whatever that's worth," Scootaloo said, crossing her arms.

"Yes," Fluttershy said before anyone could speak, "For all that that's worth. I'm far away, very far… and I barely made it alive before I started over again here."

"So why are you here now?" Scootaloo asked.

"Because you have options now," Chrysalis said. "We are going to decide what you three will be doing now, and you are part of the discussion."

"Imagine that," Sweetie said with a smile. "It only took twenty years."

"Duly noted," Chrysalis said.

Fluttershy smiled kindly, and gave a firm nod. "I will talk to you girls soon, whatever your decision, now that you're outside of ADVENT, I'm always just one call away."

"Thank you, Fluttershy."

The smiling woman nodded and the image disappeared.

"Before we begin, we'll do quick introductions," Chrysalis said, "You already know Captain Shimmer, Counselor Luna and First Lieutenant Rainbow Dash. You've also met, briefly, Chief Engineer Lily Shen."

The trio nodded.

"Also briefly, you met Central Officer Bradford, who escorted you here. This man here is Dr. Tygan, and I am Commander Chrysalis."

The three Crusaders looked at each other, before each spoke.

"I'm Sweetie Belle."

"Apple Bloom."

"Scootaloo."

"Good," Chrysalis said. "Now, I won't mince words. Currently, the only one of you three we have any confidence in letting loose wherever she wants to be is Scootaloo."

Scootaloo blinked. "Me?"

"You." Chrysalis nodded. "Sweetie Belle is internationally famous. All it would take is one ADVENT spy seeing her and her freedom would be gone, as well as possibly her life and her sister's."

She turned to look at Apple Bloom.

"Y'all don't need to say nothin'," Apple Bloom said, "Ah intend to stay and help. Ah know what ADVENT is up to, and Ah have no intention of lettin' my sister's efforts be in vain."

Chrysalis nodded, lips pursed. "Thank you. Needless to say, we're ready to offer you a place here. Scootaloo, you are an expert and insightful engineer that specializes in an area we're sorely lacking. Your help to the Avenger would be immeasurable, and Apple Bloom is also an expert in a field we are decades behind—we could use help with the MECs."

"Besides," Sweetie sighed, "Where could we go anyway? Like you said… we'd be discovered immediately."

"That's why I'm here," Sunset said. "There is a place where you could be safe… it's a bit of a doozy but you'd be able to stay there for as long as you need and there is no chance of ADVENT finding you there."

The Crusaders exchanged wary glances before Scootaloo's eyes went wide. "Your world?!"

Chrysalis closed her eyes and counted silently before slowly releasing a sigh. "Captain Shimmer, remind me, do the words "highly confidential" mean anything to you?"

Sunset chuckled nervously. "Um. Oops?"

Chrysalis gave her a withering glare, but it was obvious to everyone that Central's disappointed frown was more effective.

"We found out by accident," Apple Bloom spoke up. "But it does present an intriguing prospect."

"So what's the catch?" Scootaloo asked.

"Unfortunately, the downside to that we don't know exactly when we'll have the ability to travel again," Sunset said, "but we can make do in the meantime until the… method is secure."

"Well done," Chrysalis said. "See? You can be discreet."

"I'd like to stay," Sweetie said, "I know I'm not an Engineer like Bloom and Scoots, but I'd like to continue with my radio and news show."

There was some uncomfortable shuffling.

"Sweetie," Apple Bloom finally said, "You don't work for ADVENT anymore. Remember?"

Sweetie blinked. "Oh, I know that. I meant my real show." Her eyes opened wide and she grinned. "Oh! And I can be international now!"

"I think I'm missing something," Rainbow Dash said. "What show?"

Sweetie puffed up, grinning. "Unpleasant Truths!"

There was a moment of silence.

"Wait," Sunset said, "I know that show. It's the West Coast show that we sometimes get at the bar. The one that shares wavelength with Resistance Radio."

The group stared at Sweetie.

"You're Pleasant Chime," Sunset said.

Sweetie smiled and waved. "Always nice to meet a fan."

Sunset slowly sank onto the sofa and stared. "You really don't look like I imagined."

Sweetie nodded sagely. "I'm sorry about that. You must have imagined me a lot to be so disappointed."

"Oh, you have no ideaaaaandthat's really not important." Sunset cleared her throat. "What's important is that you want to help me."

"You?" Chrysalis asked, amusement barely concealed.

"Us. XCOM."

"Better."

"You had a resistance radio show?" Scootaloo asked, her voice low. "Why? How?"

"Because I couldn't live with myself if all I did was lie to people on camera," Sweetie said. "I had to do something. A little… anything to make up for being weak."

"What if you had been caught?" Scootaloo asked.

Sweetie bit her lip. "I did what I had to do. And I was careful."

"Well, in that case," Chrysalis smiled, "We would love to have you broadcast from our safe spots whenever we are able to hook up into the Resistance Radio signals. Part of our projects include setting up antennas to further the reach of the programming, it'll be nice to have a journalist assigned to the ship." She turned to Apple Bloom, "And of course you will be a great asset to the team. I do believe that Shen has an offer for you as well."

"We're quite the group," Tygan spoke up. "Interdimensional warriors, unshackled AIs, Cyborgs, aliens, a returned-from-the-dead Commander, unnecessary amount of flirting at all levels of command, and our own spaceship."

Bradford massaged his forehead. "It's the Normandy, all over again."

Luna gave him an amused smirk. "Nerd."