//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: The Crackle of a Flare // by LunarLife //------------------------------// Zachary quickly switched on the thrusters on the boots of the skin tight body suit. The thrust pushed him past the flaming canisters, which quickly exploded, leaving no way back to the bridge of the ship. "Dammit!" Zach yelled through the helmet on which was embedded a lick of fire. He couldn't go back now. "Mission Command do you copy?" Zach asked through the communications settings in his helmet. No response. He decided to keep moving towards the front of the ship, where he could maybe get a better signal. Zach spotted an M916 pistol floating towards him. It was somewhat of an older model, but a weapon nonetheless. Realizing that he was the last survivor after going through the barracks, he came to a hole that was blasted through the front of the ship. What he saw could only make him stare in horror. "Aaaaaaand, that's a wrap!" shouted the director as the stage lights came on and the microphones were raised up. Zach eased a bit and took off the helmet of the costume, glad that he was finally able to take it off. He slowly slid down the platform as the stagehands came over to pick up the props. "Looks like we finally finished that scene eh Zach?" The director asked as he walked up to shake Zach's hand. "Yeah, I'm happy that I don't have to wear that suit anymore, It was starting to get annoying." They both shared a short laugh. "Well Zach, it looks like you've finally finished your part in this movie, and let me tell you it was a pleasure to have you be in it!" The director exclaimed, shaking his hand still. "Yeah, well i'm planning to kick back for a while now, and thanks for asking me to play the part, It was a pleaure working with you Kevin!" Zach said back jokingly. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- After quickly getting his things and packing them into the back of his Comaro. Zach was happy that he could now rest for a while. He was planning to do so much stuff. For one, he had always wanted to go to Europe, and now he had finally booked a first class plane ticket straight there. He smiled at all the things he wanted to do and could now do. Zach drove at a casual pace towards his apartment in Miami, only stopping to get a drink at a local bar that he liked to go to after hours. Luckily for him, not many people there recognized him. Most people loved the overwhelming fans, but Zach found it a curse. He swiftly paid for his drink and got back in his car. After reaching his apartment, he tiredly walked towards the elevator and went up to the 18th floor, which opened up into a hallway with a couple of other rooms, but mainly his suite. Zach twisted the key into the lock and opened it up into his living room, locking it back behind him. The refridgerator door opened lazily to reveal not really much, "Mental note: need to go shopping." his hand made it's way to a styrofoam box on the top shelf that had TGI Fridays on it. He wanted to make something for himself, but leftovers would suffice enough. He sat and ate the leftover steak in silence before he realized just how tired the shoot made him. He twisted the cap off of a bottle and chugged down the rest of the refreshing water. He dimmed the lights and went change into something more comfortable. Zach grabbed a pillow and threw a blanket onto the sofa, laying down and letting his eyelids droop closed. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Twilight casually trotted downstairs towards her kitchen, careful not to wake the sleeping dragon. She groggily levitated a piece of bread into the toaster, which was still new to Equestria. She lazily filled a glass with water before gulping down the entire thing. Last night had really taken a beating on Twilight. Pinkie had insisted that they come over to a party just to cheer everyone up. Nopony knew why she suddenly wanted to throw a party, but, it was Pinkie. Ding! The toast popped out of the toaster, more golden than before. Twilight lightly spread some butter across the bread and took a small bite into it, smiling a bit at the taste. She perked up once she remembered that new books had arrived at the library. She was eager to start reading them, as she loved to read. She glanced over towards the pile of books neatly placed by the last bookshelf. She had been way too tired to read them last night. When she finished her breakfast, she walked over to the stack and picked up the first one she saw: The Effects of Time. She flipped to the table of contents and noticed one chapter that caught her eye, Time and the Elements. Twilight began reading the chapter, interested in how time affected one of Equestria's most important defenses. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Zachary slowly opened his eyes to a blinding whiteness. He jolted upwards and realized he wasn't in his apartment. There was nothing around him as far as he could see. As he looked down, it seemed like he was floating and it felt weightless. "I must be dreaming..." he told himself, standing up. He walked around his dream for a couple minutes, but it was just nothing. He tried to pinch himself awake, but nothing happened. "That's weird..." he muttered. As far as he could remember, that always woke him up from dreams. Suddenly, a loud voice rang throughout his 'dream', "Zachary," it spoke loudly, "I have been observing you for a while now, and this is the only way I can communicate with you, through a rift." "This world needs you, and so does this universal dimension." "Wait, what?!" Zach called out, but nothing answered him back. He was all too confused, "I'll just wake up and realize this is a dream." But that was too good to be true.