William sprinted down a dark alleyway in the dead of night. His typical black armor glinted moonlight off it as he scrambled over a pair of discarded flower carts. He dropped an empty magazine onto the ground, and simultaneously, slammed a fresh one into the chamber, triggering the bolt catch release as he did. He turned, and ran though the center of town. As he his boot's thumped hard against the ground, he waved his rifle back and sprayed burst's of 5.56 back at... Something. He wasn't sure just what it was, except for the prospect that it had given him an innate sense of dread. He kicked open the doors of town hall, and rushed inside. Ducking behind a table as he reloaded once more. This time however, he fixed a bayonet to the underside of his rifle.
"Hey! Mother####er!" He jumped out, his gloved hand catching himself as he dove over the table. It was then when he came face to face with what had been pressuring him, it wasn't quite like anything he had ever seen before. There was really no other way to describe it, it both felt and looked like the very physical manifestation of fear and dread itself. And he was about to, at least try. To horribly gore it to death. He raised his bayonet, and charged right for it's center. As he did, the whole scene suddenly blinked away. Replaced by his bedroom.
"Yep, my life is hell." He murmured to himself, patting the sides of his fatigues. he looked over to the far side of his room, knowing full well he was still in a dream/ nightmare. "Oh, look. There's something wrong with the picture. I wonder what this could be?" The sarcasm in his voice was quite apparent. Slowly, he approached the only picture frame in his bedroom. What had once been a wonderful silhouette photo was now a blurry outline. As he stepped closer to it, something familiar began to take shape within it's frame. He raised his gun. " I'm you're going to jumpscare me, save your breath." Oddly enough the figure in the mirror didn't move. As he inched closer and closer, the creature in the frame began to get clearer. He stopped about 2 feet from it, and squinted.
"Wait, it's you?" The figure in the mirror was a pony. One he recognized, it was him. Only, unlike the original image hanging on the wall, this one was staring back at him. The 2 stared back at one another for a moment, at last, the pony in the mirror spoke, "Hello there William. Yes, I know what you're thinking, why am I talking to you?" The creature in the painting blinked. And William nodded, taking a step back. "Well, I think you already know why, after all. You created me." William chuckled. "Well, I suppose I did." It's him sure enough.
"Then I suppose that you also know that I am you, in their world. You also know that I happen to care for myself more than...Them, or, is that we? Regardless, we are one and the same." They both laughed, William was concerned. But he also knew that this was still just a dream, however odd it may be.
"So, what do you want with me?" William asked with suspicion, rapping his hand against a nearby shelf. The creature rolls onto it's side, "What, can't an alter-ego get a break every once an a while?" William groaned, and rubbed his forehead. Oddly, his patience hadn't yet faded. It felt as though he was talking to himself, because. In a way, he was. " Well, this ends our time. You best be getting up now. And, quick head's up. That friendship map things calling for you." In flash, the painting was back to normal. And William shot up out of bed, for real this time.
"Ah damnit, what is that itch?" he reached for his gun, and noticed it sparking green. "The hell?" He remembered what that... Thing in his dream had told him. But at the same time, his hatred for the spirit of harmony flared up. He still remembered all to well how that ghostly being had tried to kill him. Key word being tried. He had fought his way out of those tunnels the hard way. But still, this phenomenon intrigued him. So, with his usual amount of bravado. He threw on his usual gear, threw on some nice country-rock on his laptop. And walked downstairs, grabbing himself a mug of ice cold black coffee. He swigged it in one go, and swiveled around with unusual speed for this time of day. He downed an apple as he tied the laces of his combat boots.
He pulled open his front door, stepped out onto the street. And head for Twilight's castle. Going at his own pace. His rifle rocking back and forth as he jogged down the familiar cobblestone streets. Drawing the usual amount of attention as he moved though the town. At last, he made it to her doorstep. Winded as usual. He went to pound on the door, but instead, just shoved them aside. "Hey, I'm here! What do you want?" He yelled out. William could hear talking from down the hall. Coming from the map room, with his pace slowing to a stroll, he entered. As soon as he had, all eyes in the room were laid on him.
"My gun started glowing, explain." He demanded. His eyes drifted to the map, Twilight spoke up, "Well, the map called you. Along with Fluttershy and Applejack. " He scratched his head, That's an... Odd pairing. But ok, where are we going? " Twilight's expression darkened, "You'll be going to the peaks of peril." He stopped, looked around the room. And burst out laughing, everypony recoiled at his booming laughter. " And what, pray tell, is at these... Peaks of peril have in store that could warrant my rage and spare time?" Fluttershy felt near the exact opposite of him, stuttering as she spoke.
"Rockhoof told me about it, back in his day. Nopony knew much about the peaks of peril, except for the legend on this ancient shield." She levitated a shield up for them all to see, emblazoned on it, were creatures he recognized. "Kirin and Nirik." He responded, they all turned to him in surprise, "How do you know that?" Joey questioned.
" Are you- None of you noticed the root-like horn on my head while I was a pony? None of you?" They all shrugged, or just stared at in with confusion. "Well, I did have it. Hey, you got me sold on this trip. I've already got everything I could need. My weapons, my ego, and... And..." He tapped his foot, and paced around the map, "You know what? That's all I need. We go to southern Equestria!" He spun around. Snapped his fingers, and marched out of the room. Leaving the assortment of ponies staring wide eyed in bewilderment. "I'm not even going to ask." Twilight murmured, trotting off in the opposite direction. Her final orders, before saying goodbye to Applejack and Fluttershy were, "Don't let William get to carried away. But if he does, don't get in his way." They agreed without question. And followed close behind.
"Y'alll better not ruin this for me." He said with a flat tone. Grinding his teeth as he stepped on the train.