//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: A Stranger Arrives. // Story: My Little Pony: Flesh and Steel // by Gyvon //------------------------------// Chapter 1 A Stranger Arrives LOCATION: Ponyville TIME: Just before sundown. "Well, that was a nice, relaxing afternoon, but I gotta dash off." declared Rainbow Dash. "I still need to load up on carbs before the big race tomorrow. Don't wanna lose just because I'm low on energy." With a wave of her hoof, the blue pegasus flew at top speed to Sugarcube Corner to pick up an order for two dozen cupcakes that she had placed earlier in the day. After paying the bill for the day, Rarity and Twilight Sparkle walked out of the spa, feeling refreshed. "I can't thank you enough, Rarity. We should do this again sometime." said Twilight. Rarity elegantly gestured with her hoof, "Oh, it was simply fabulous today. You are more than welcome to join Fluttershy and I for our weekly sessions. However," she said, giving a sheepish grin, "you will have to pay for yourself. Hoity Toity and Sapphire Shores may pay a small fortune every time they order a line of clothes, but they don't place orders very often." Twilight laughed at this. "That's fine. A day at the spa every now and then is wonderful, but I don't think I could make a weekly ritual out of it." Twilight looked up, checking the angle of the sun. "I'd better head home. Spike's probably worried about me being gone this long." she said. "Would you mind if I walked with you?" Rarity inquired. "The Library is on the way to Fluttershy's and I must speak with her." Twilight nodded. "Of course. That way, if something falls out of the sky on one of us, the other can go get help." Rarity gave a puzzled look and asked "Do you really think that will happen? Pinkie Pie had that reaction hours ago. Whatever it was must've happened already." Twilight turned towards Rarity with a cheekish smile on her face. "Can't be too careful," she said. "Besides, I left my umbrella hat at home." Giggling, Rarity and Twilight Sparkle trotted towards the library that Twilight called home, taking care to avoid the town center where last minute preparations for tomorrow's race were still underway. They almost made it to the front door when Twilight stopped in her tracks. "What's wrong?" asked Rarity as she turned around. "I don't know," responded Twilight, "something just feels... off." Rarity looked around. "Now that you mention it, the air does feel strange. Almost greasy, as if a lightning storm is about to start." Twilight was confused. "But that's impossible," she said. "There isn't a storm of any kind scheduled for today. I checked before I left this morning." But as soon as she said it, free-floating lightning suddenly appeared above the glade of trees next to the schoolhouse. Twilight and Rarity looked on bewildered, when suddenly a flash of light forced them to look away. When they looked back, they noticed that the lightning had dissipated, and a lone figure was falling from the sky into the trees. Both of the unicorns stood there stunned. Twilight was the first to recover, and dashed off towards where the figure fell. "Come on! We have to check this out!" called Twilight. It took Rarity a few seconds to process what had happened, but she was right behind Twilight before too long. Upon entering the forest, Twilight cast a basic light spell to fend off the deepening shadows. Before long, Twilight found what she was looking for and gasped. Whatever it was, Twilight could tell that it was a living being. Large was this strange creature, about half again as tall as an average pony. "What is that thing?" Rarity asked, barely able to speak. "I don't know." responded Twilight. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say it was some form of hairless ape." Twilight took a few steps closer to the creature, getting a better look. "Whatever it is, it appears to be unconscious. We need Fluttershy to take a look at it. Run and get her, Rarity. I'll teleport this creature to the Library." Rarity looked puzzled. "Wouldn't it be better to teleport it directly to Fluttershy's cottage?" she asked. Twilight shook her head, "No, the Library has more space to work in. The three of us AND this creature would be tightly packed in Fluttershy's cottage." Rarity understood Twilights logic, turned, and quickly galloped to Fluttershy's. When Rarity had left, Twilight began to concentrate. Before long, both her and the creature were gone in a flash. Just as quickly, they appeared on the first floor of the Library. "Spike!" she called out. "Get the spare bed. We have a guest." There was a commotion from upstairs. He must have been doing something he shouldn't have, thought Twilight. "SPIKE!", she yelled. "Quit screwing around and get down here!" Spike came down the stairs. "Sorry Twilight. Owlowiscious made a bit of a mess up there and WOAH, WHAT THE HECK IS THAT?!" asked Spike, having just seen Twilight Sparkle's guest. "I don't know," replied Twilight, "but whatever it is, it's injured. Fluttershy's on her way, but I need the spare bed." Having had time to process the strange guest, Spike hurried to the closet and rolled out the bed. This creature will never fit into that bed. thought Twilight. It was a simple fix, however. With her magic, Twilight enlarged the bed, and lifted the creature onto the bed. It was then that she noticed the strange clothing the creature wore. It was in a camouflage pattern that would blend into a forest landscape from a distance. There were pockets on the chest area. Above each pocket were words sewn into the fabric. On the right side of the creature was the word "LT Gyvon", whatever that meant. On the other side, she could see "U.S. Navy" sewn into the fabric Above that, on the lapel, was a gold-plated badge of an eagle perched on an anchor, clutching a trident and a strangely shaped club in it's talons. On each arm, there was another logo. A winged bull's skull surrounded by an inverted triangle. What could these symbols and words mean? wondered Twilight. There was a soft knock at the door. Shocked from her mental reverie, Twilight dashed off and opened the door to see Fluttershy. The yellow pegasus had a rare determined look about her. "Where's the patient?" she asked softly. Twilight showed her where the creature was lying. "Oh, he's a big one." said Fluttershy, a hint of excitement to her voice. "Are you sure it's male?" asked Twilight. She hadn't figured out the thing's gender yet. "Of course." replied Fluttershy. "So, you know what he is?" asked Twilight. Fluttershy shook her head. "No, I've never seen anything like him. He appear to be an ape of some sort." Twilight chuckled. "That's what I thought as well. Can you tell if there's anything wrong with him. He hasn't stirred since Rarity and I found him." Fluttershy reached out with her hoof and felt around the back of the creature's head. "There's a bump back here. He must've been knocked cold." Fluttershy leaned in closer. "There is something... strange about him. I can't quite make it out, but there is something different about him. Something different from any other living creature I have examined." She looked up to her friend. "Whatever it is, he should be fine though. He just needs a good night's sleep, and he's already on his way." Twilight was puzzled. "What do you mean?" Fluttershy pointed to the creature's head. "See how his eye's move beneath their lids? He's dreaming." Twilight got a closer look and, indeed, the creature's eyes were moving rapidly. "Well, thanks for your help, Fluttershy. I'm sorry to drag you away from Angel." Fluttershy held up a negating hoof "No need for apologies. Angel has gotten much better. I was only glad to come over." she said. "But I must be heading home. It's almost bed time." Twilight nodded. "In that case, see you tomorrow. Pleasant dreams." And with that, Fluttershy flew home, waving goodbye. Twilight approached her guest, and light ly kissed him on the cheek. "Pleasant dreams to you too." And with that, she went up to her room, intent on writing Princess Celestia about this turn of events. As she put quill to parchment, downstairs, the creature dreamed. LOCATION: ????????? TIME: ??????? He fell. All around Gyvon was a pure white light. Images flashed before his eyes. Images from his past. September 11, 2001, watching on a monitor in ninth grade English as the towers burned. Another imag came into view, this one from years later. An image from the day he received the letter accepting him into the Annapolis Naval Acadamy. Another flash, and he was standing among the Acadamy graduates, looking out towards the assembled crowd. That image was soon replaced with another. One of the first day of Hell Week, Gyvon slogging through the mud with other would-be SEAL's. With a flash, that was replaced with the image of him receiving his first order as a SEAL, assigning him to a unit called NEST. That was soon replaced with another. This image of the bombed out cityscape of Chicago. where Gyvon fought alongside the Autobots to defeat the Decepticons that had the audacity to attack his home. Another flash, and Gyvon was surrounded. On all sides of the platoon he led were Decepticons, demanding his surrender. He had no choice but to comply. Soon, that image was replaced with the holding cell. His platoon had been transported to Mars. He was the only one left now. His soldiers had been dragged off one by one. Try as he might, Gyvon couldn't shut out the screams. Suddenly, a monstrous figure stood before him. Standing more than thirty feet tall, Galvatron gave a cruel smile, opened the cell, and slowly reached in. Before Galvatron could grab Gyvon, he startled awake.