//------------------------------// // Chapter Six: New faces and old enemies // Story: The Conversion Bureau: The Land Downunder // by Da Bunnana King //------------------------------// The Conversion Bureau: The Land Downunder By Da Bunnana King Chapter Six: New faces and old enemies ===         I walked into the room taking in the fresh air and also all that there was to see. It didn’t look like any form of classroom I have ever seen. It looked like an small auditorium that I would have a lecture in when I was in school... heck it looked exactly like the one at school, it even had the seats that look like they came out of the 80’s. But the room was also populated too, in the first few rows was a family of three happy talking amongst themselves about what their new lives would be like in hooves. Two rows back was a lone man who looked like he came straight out of a war; he wore a dark grey shirt like mine and grey digital camo pants that were like mine but had a more black undertone to them, yet he gave of a feeling that he has seen the worst of humanity and he had done some of it with his own hands.         “Ummm, sir aren’t you going to take a seat?” said a small girl who must of been with the family.         “Yes, I was just looking for one. So what are you doing away from your parents?” I said to her as the family began to look around for her. “You might want to get back to them.”         “Okay mister.” she happily said walking back to her family,         ‘Well that was completely random... then again I’m in a room about to be educated in how to live as a pony, this makes so much sense.’ I thought to myself as I walked to a seat behind the ex-soldier.         “Fillies and gentlecolts, may I be the first to welcome you to the Ripply Conversion Bureau - you have made your way here to start a new life in Equestria as a pony. Many have gone before you, and still many more will go after you. Most of you will be converted in the first three days, but during your time here you will have classes teaching you about being a pony and what it will be like on the other side of the barrier. The classes are after each meal so you shouldn’t have any trouble remembering. I would like you to meet the the staff that help me run this bureau, but I am must apologize since some could not make it to this orientation today. Here we have Sky Dancer, who is our resident flight instructor, our Earthpony instructor Green Stalks and Glimmer Sightlines, our unicorn and magic instructor. We also have our lovely cafeteria staff, our ponification doctors and also our chief of security, and I am Star Dancer, the head of this humble Bureau. If there are any questions I would be happy to answer them but I would also like to speak with a Mr. Linstrom after this, thank you.” said Star Dancer, who then backed away from the podium she was standing behind. So after waiting for a bit as the small family had went up and asked her a few questions I went up to see what I was needed for. “Ummm,” I said awkwardly, “You needed to see me ma’am?” “Aahh, Mr. Linstrom. I needed to speak with you because of your background.” she said, “Look I was ordered to kill all those men back then alright.” I said, feeling the guilt beginning to build up once again in my chest. “I’m not concerned about that, what I am concerned about is how you have a bounty on your head from the HLF and how you also brought a live firearm into the Bureau. That is what I wanted to talk about.” “Okay then, well the bounty I just found out about it  now and the firearm was for personal defense. But I would be happy to relinquish it with Bruce.” “Your firearm has already been taken care of, it just the HLF bounty we need to solve.” she said in a frustrated tone. Instinctively, I slid my hand down to my holster only to find the Colt 1911 that I cherished the most to be missing and along with the spare clip along with it too. “Sneaky bastard.” I muttered under my breath, “That is also another thing, you will also have to refrain yourself from saying swear words during your stay at the bureau, not only is it against policy but it also makes you sound very uncivilized.” “Sorry ma’am but it’s been a habit that I have been trying to kick. To be honest most of the time it isn’t me doing it because of the aggression chip I have implanted inside my skull.” I said nonchalantly, but her coat turned a shade lighter. “You have what in your skull?” she stuttered out, “A Class C tracking and aggression/sympathy suppressor chip located somewhere in the rear of my skull... I think its in the temporal lobe on the right hemisphere.” “Okay then, well I also have a solution to everything. If you want to hear it.” she said sheepishly, “Go ahead, I got nothing better to do besides go to the classes, eat and sleep.” “Well we could ponifiy you right now before dinner, which would get rid of all the tumors and diseases you have. The HLF can’t track you anymore and that chip will be out in no time.” she said happily, “... Ummm... okay... could I sleep on it or at least give it a think over at dinner?” I asked, as her words hit me like a semi-trailer truck going at 200 km per hour. “Well it would be better if you could make a decision before dinner.” “I’ll... I’ll try.” I said, as I began to wonder if this was a the right choice in the first place. ===         I milled around the relaxation area which was mostly chairs built for both species and a large TV that I had turned off why I gathered my thoughts.         ‘Do I throw away my humanity now or later Alex?’ My inner voice said,         ‘Who the fuck are you and how did you get this number.’ My thoughts retorted back,         ‘I am your conscious Al. Remember me?’ It said,         ‘Seems legit... Well I can’t tell if you are my conscious, or if the tumors have spread and your a manifestation of my particular problem right now... but  you may as well stick around and help me figure this out. I mean you are a me... aren’t you?’                  ‘More or less.’         ‘Well that’s reassuring, but if I start hearing ‘Paint the walls with their blood,’ I’m checking myself into a crazy house in Equestria.’         ‘Noted, but back to the problem at hand, or hoof. Do you think you're ready for a change like this?’         ‘I... I think I’m but its happening so quickly, heck its even more scarier than the bus ride to boot camp all those years ago.’         ‘It should and shouldn’t be. On one hand, if you don’t ponify you are risking your life for a few more months of humanity which by the way sucks now since our parents are gone, you have no job, no home to go to and also your friends are leaving to go to Equestria at the end of the week. While on the other hand or should I say hoof, you are throwing away your whole being to start anew in the Garden of Eden. You’ll have everything that you would need and you would also see our mother again... that and there is a 35% chance of coming out as a pegasus so you could be able to fly.’         ‘So I might become a bird. Big whoop, I still think that unicorn would be way more cool. I mean come on! Getting to use magic, heck I bet it would be better than the hands I have.’         ‘So are you going to take the plunge?’          ‘Why not. I got nothing to lose except for my... BOOM “The hell was that?” I said aloud, as I could feel the shock wave and the whole building shake.         “All converties please report to your rooms we have a security breach, please remain calm.” Said Star Dancer of the intercom.         “Shit... It’s probably the HLF wanting me dead.” I said out loud as adrenaline began pumping through my body.         ‘Who else would it be... the mailman?’ The voice in my head said again,         “Shut up you.” I said, out loud as I began moving to the entrance of the Bureau as it probably the main point of entry.         I move to the door and waited for someone to pass. I heard footsteps advancing towards me and the other rooms, they were probably going to come in here to find me to drag me outside for an execution. I moved more away from the door frame waiting for one to come find me. I got lucky and a man wearing clothes similar to mine and a balaclava came into the room by himself without any back up. Feeling lucky and being the idiot I was, I walked up behind him and tapped his shoulder to get him to turn around where, I delivered a haymaker to the face knocking him out cold. I bent over and picked up his submachine gun which was a UMP .45 with a holographic sight on the tactical railing.         “Thanks for the gun mate... and I like your masks too.” I said sarcastically taking off the balaclava and placing it on my head. To my surprise the balaclava wasn’t made out of wool dyed black but a mesh of nano-weave and kevlar that formed a tactical mask and also gave the user a HUD while being worn. I looked down at the man to see that it was the man that was sitting in front of me for the orientation.         “Groovy. Now let’s see where were all out shall we.” I muttered to myself, I cocked the rifle and a round flew out of the breach telling me I had just wasted a round, “Of course it would be.”         I could see that the main force of the HLF were gathering in the cafeteria, so I casually walked into the cafeteria with the rifle hanging in front of me. I strolled up to a small circle of them surrounding some ponies... they were some of the staff and my friends.         “TELL ME WHERE HE IS!!!” Screamed one of them.         “I don’t know where he is and even if I did I wouldn’t tell you anyway.” weakly responded Louis, spitting out a bit of blood.         “Tell me or Gary will have some fun with you.” he said, putting his face close to my friend who was lying on the ground in pain.         “Buck you.”         “Gary, have some fun with this beast.” he said, snapping his fingers, “Gary I said you can have your fun now get to it.” He said once again turning towards me; his cold blue eyes felt as if they were penetrating my mask making me feel as if he had seen through my disguise.         I nodded understanding that I had taken Gary’s place in the group, I pushed past the circle and grabbed Louis by his tail, dragging him screaming out to the lobby.         I turned towards him and kneeling down so I was staring in his face, “Louis would you shut up for a bit. Now look I don’t have much time but run to see if you can find Bruce while I deal with the rest of them. Now go, that’s an order.”         “We’re not in the ADF anymore, but yes Staff Sergeant.” he said, steadily getting to his hooves and limping to find Bruce.         “Right. Now the rest of them... Fuck.” ===         I walked back into the room causing the whole group to turn their heads towards me.         “Well that was quick or did you stick him in the back so we can have some fun with him back at HQ.” said, the leader of the group.         “I don’t know, I thought we were saving that for Alex?” I said, altering my voice to be lower and more Queenslander.         “Well there is room in there for all these ponies if we wanted to, but I know how much you like torturing pegasi,” he said turning his head back to the group and drawing his knife, “Now tell me where he is or this lovely mare will receive free cosmetic surgery from me.” he said, picking up a golden coated mare with and equally dark color of gold mane. I could feel my anger being push to much and it being reinforced by the chip in my skull I felt both rage and adrenaline course through my body.         “How about you go burn in Hell with the rest of your comrades.” I said, raising my rifle up to the rest of the group and squeezing the trigger. They never expected it, then again they never expected me being incognito with the group.         “AHH ALEX IT’S BEEN TOO LONG!” he shouted, crash tackling me into a wall.         “I DON’T CARE! JUST DIE!” I shouted back attempting to break his concentration while I gave a swing with the butt of the rifle. He dodged it only to land a fist in my face and then a knee in the stomach.         “Come on Alex, I thought you would remember the man you killed all those months ago!” he yelled in my face.         “I’ve killed a lot of you asshats in the last few months! Refresh my memory!” I yelled, back at him as he brought the rifle I held to my neck in an attempt to suffocate me.         “I thought you would remember your first patrol better.”         “How the... you’re the one whose eyes I closed... but I thought you were dead.” I spat out, as he began to press the rifle into my neck slowly depriving me of oxygen.         “Yes and now it comes full circle. You killed me and now I kill you and your pony loving friends. Then when I find your mother I will make sure to introduce her to myself again.” he said, as he put more pressure on the rifle.         “Then... burn... in... hell... with me.” I muttered, out as I felt for the pin on his grenade. I found something and tugged on it.         “What the...” he said before I was blinded by a white light and all I could hear was a loud ringing in my ears. But it didn’t stop him as I felt the rifle butt hit my face.         “You bloody bastard! Get away from my friends!” yelled Judes voice, he was brawling with the leader but was losing as he was a trained killer. Kicking him in the chest sending him flying backwards landing him on one of the various lunchroom tables that were bolted to the floor. He raised the rifle up directly to him, I also spotted his knife that was just within my reach.         “This is what  you deserve for being a pony fag. Now burn in hell with your friends.” he said as he let of three rounds in to Judes chest.         “NOOOOOO!!!” I yelled, as I picked up the knife and throw it at him landing right in above his heart. It wouldn’t of killed him but it was enough to make him flee. I ignored him and ran over to my dying friend.         “Dammit Jude, why did you have to go get shot?” I said, as tears began to form.         “I... wasn’t going to stand by as... you were getting your ass handed to you.” he said, as his breaths became more laboured with each one.         “What did I tell you about doing the crap I do?”         “If you’re ever going to fight someone make sure to hit them in the balls?” he said, as he coughed blood onto my shirt.         “Yeah that’s right mate... that right.” I said, wiping tears from my face.         “Alex get out of the way if you want your friend to live.” said Doctor Spicheimin, putting a hand on me.         “What?” I replied back, wiping more tears away to see him holding a cup that emanated a purple light.         “I need to ponifiy him before it’s too late, you should get cleaned up because Bruce wants to see you... that and I don’t think you want to see the process of ponification.”         “Right, well see ya Judas and tell me how the new shoes will feel when I get back.” I said walking away from him as he drank the contents of the cup and passed out. === Author's Notes: Well its been too long since this has been updated but I have had the shiny distracting object that is Mass Effect 3. So comment or I will get real sad and stuff. Oh and also Midnight Shadow also has found a way to clop to this... I am now afraid. I am now escaping this planet. BUNNNANA AWWWAAAAYYY!!! -Bunnana King