"Bodyguards? What do you mean, Fury?" asked Steve. "Are you saying we are personally going to put our lives on the line for the Princesses?"

"There is an entire realm to also look after as well," added Sam. "I mean…think of it…if half the universe could suffer from a finger snap, then why could a land of talking ponies be any different?"

Fury didn't seem to care for what Sam had to say and instead focused on the task at hand.

"Perhaps you haven't found the time to educate yourselves on why the princesses of Equestria are such high targets," remarked Fury, getting up from his chair and going towards an office window. "They are alicorns, ponies with horns and wings that possess great magic. So far, only two known creatures have ever gotten their claws on them: Tirek and the Storm King."

"Okay, so?" wondered Wanda.

"So, S.M.I.L.E. was also given the purpose of providing a group of bodyguards that are willing to put their lives on the line for the personal protection of our sovereign leaders."

Fury turned and looked intently at Steve and his faction. There was no doubt in any of their minds that he had plans for the Avengers, very big plans.

"You mean to tell us that we were pulled out of fighting two of Equestria's most dangerous just so we…" Sam started to say, only to be interrupted when the sounds of footfalls came towards the office.

Opening the door, Fury looked out and saw Tempest Shadow and Dr. Strange being helped by a man wearing torn clothes along with Chancellor Neighsay.

"Get him to medical," ordered Fury as several agents took Dr. Strange to be checked out. "Thank you for assisting them, Dr. Banner."

"Well, we needed to blow some steam anyway," chuckled Dr. Banner. "But, I do have bad news. They got the Storm King's casket."

Sighing heavily, Fury had no choice but to admit this kind of defeat.

"Very well, then in that case, we are now facing the possibility of the Storm King coming back to life. Has the Hippogriffs been notified?"

"Not yet, sir," said Natasha as she Lyra and Sweetie Drops came into the command center. Lyra sharply gasped and froze upon seeing Tempest Shadow standing in front of her.

"What…what is she doing here?!" cried Lyra.

"Agent Heartstrings, at ease!" shouted Fury Swipes. "Tempest is working on redeeming herself, correct?"

"Yes. What…what is this place?" she asked, taking a look around the facility.

"It's S.M.I.L.E.," answered Fury Swipes. "Formed in the wake of the Storm King's attack on Canterlot to monitor dangerous threats against Equestria."

Tempest couldn't help but feel slightly guilty upon hearing this, for it was partly because of her that this organization was founded and not for the best of reasons.

"It doesn't excuse the actions you made against us," Lyra snapped at Tempest. "I was put in chains because of you, Tempest Shadow!"

"Lyra, please!" cried Sweetie Drops, trying to restrain her best friend back with help from Natasha.

"No Bon-Bon, she shouldn't even be here! She should be in a jail cell in Tartarus!"

"Agent Heartstrings, enough!" ordered Fury Swipes in a loud voice, causing Lyra to stop struggling. "Agent Sweetie Drops, take her out now."

Lyra's glare continued to be locked onto Tempest as she was being led out.

"Can't really blame her," whispered Sam to Steve, who then turned his attention back to Fury Swipes.

"What do you want us to do now?" asked Steve.

"I'm sending you and your team to Canterlot and you are to all begin your duties immediately," answered Fury Swipes. "In fact, where is the rest of your faction, Captain Rogers? Clint Barton and Scott Lang?"

"They have been under house arrest since the Sokovian Accords incident. It's been tough on their families."

"Then, I want you to pay a visit to the US Embassy and make a request that they come here to Canterlot," ordered Fury Swipes. "We need all the help we can get."

A few moments later, Dr. Strange made his way back into the command center wearing several bandages to cover his wounds.

"I trust that you have been tended to, Doctor," remarked Fury Swipes.

"You can say that," replied Dr. Strange. "I also trust you spoke about us becoming bodyguards for the alicorn princesses."

A sense of confusion fell amongst Steve and his faction upon hearing this.

"How…how does he know that?" asked Steve.

"Never underestimate a master of the mystical arts, Captain. I have the power to look into the future."

Beckoning Tempest and Chancellor Neighsay forward, Dr. Strange created his portal that brought them all inside, sending them away. Once they were gone, Fury turned his attention back to the rest of the Avengers.

"In the meantime," he said. "I suggest you all prepare yourselves to head for Canterlot as soon as possible. Dr. Banner."

"Yeah?"

"I need you to be in Ponyville aiding in the protection of Princess Twilight Sparkle along with Dr. Strange."

Bruce felt dumbstruck by this order and turned his attention over to Natasha, now standing over with Steve's faction.

"Do you object to this order?"

Bruce wanted to say something, but Natasha motioned for him to not speak and accept whatever was being given to him.

"No, sir."

"And don't worry about being out of the lab," continued Fury Swipes. "If we need you, we'll call you. Is that clear?"

"Yes."

"Good."

With those words said, Fury Swipes returned to his office as Bruce and the faction of Avengers led by Steve Rogers prepared to do what they were told to do.

…

However, at that very moment as the night began to fall on Canterlot, Tony Stark returned to his company's building in Canterlot where he was soon met by a pair of guardsponies of Luna's command standing right outside the doors.

"Um, what's going on here?" Tony asked, immediately powering down his nanotech armor. "Can I get in my own establishment?"

"Sorry for the inconvenience, Mr. Stark," said one of the guards. "But, you and your faction of Avengers are to be summoned to the Royal Palace."

"When?"

"Immediately."

"At this time of night?"

"Yes, Mr. Stark."

At that moment, the sounds of rockets were heard and Tony looked back to see a man in silver armor, almost identical to his own.

"Tony, we'd better get going," a voice from inside the armor was heard as the figure removed his helmet revealing the head of a dark skinned male underneath. "There's no time to waste and you know how these royal leaders are if they are impatient."

"Uh, yeah, of course, Rhody," Tony stammered. "What about Julia?"

"Julia's gonna meet us there. She actually had a couple of meetings to go to, you know how it is. Being a Chief Operating Officer and all."

"We can wait here for Miss Carpenter," the guards said as Tony once again activated his armor and followed his friend towards the palace.

Little did he know that he and Steve Rogers were about to cross paths once again…