//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: A Soldier and Anthro Ponies // Story: The Devil's Due // by The Outcast of Sanity //------------------------------// Red stirred on the ground with a group of eight ponies around him all with various emotions except for one that everypony was feeling. They were all happy...happy that he wasn't dead and also happy that he was here. But the three alicorns were worrying as well. After all how would Red react when he woke up? They could only hope that he was as nice as he was in the show... For Red however confusion was the main emotion flowing through him currently. He began to wake from his impromptu nap and held his head with a hand as he groaned. He just had the weirdest dream that there were girls with wings, horns, and fur standing around him. But he was mostly confused as to why he wasn't dead currently. After all he did remember the explosions...but he wasn't dead somehow...Well whatever source let him live he would personally thank no matter what it took... ***Red's Perspective*** I awoke to a feeling of soreness but other than that I felt fine. No searing pain, blood, broken bones, etc...I didn't know where I was but I was confused and thankful that I wasn't dead somehow. It was then and there that I decided I would thank whoever or whatever kept me alive. With a groan and a shake of my head I propped myself up and opened my eyes... Just to see that the multicolored girls with horns and wings weren't part of a dream... I just stared at them all before slowly moving into a kneeling position and looking each of them over. I realized my mask wasn't on and saw it laying on the floor in between me and the blue one with wings and a horn. I leaned forward to pick it up but a blue furred hand darted forward and offered it to me. I looked up into the eyes of the owner of the blue hand and took my mask with what I hoped was a kind, disarming smile. In which she responded with a slight blush... I was surprised to see that she was blushing...may-haps she had a fever or was just shy, eh? But judging from all the other looks of wonder that were pointed towards me, I guessed that may not be the case. I was about to stand up whenever I was tackled back to the ground by a light blue blur that blotted out everything else around me. Apparently one of them decided to...hug me? What...? Why was I being hugged and why di- "This is soooo awesome!" Said my makeshift light blue blindfold and current air source as she was all I could see, taste, and smell with her clinging to me. She tasted and smelled like...skittles. Oh man I hope they had skittles here those were awesome... "He's here! He's actually here! Ohmygosh Ohmygosh Ohmygosh!" I chuckled softly to myself trying not to freak out with being in an apparently different country if not world or universe... So far I was winning that battle quite nicely. I gently pried my furred attack hug suspect from my face with a soft smile. She looked up at me with a sheepish smile and a light blush dusting her cheeks before I turned her around and hugged her with my chest to her back. She 'eep'ed and smiled at the group as I cleared my throat and spoke to them. " 'Ello? Where am I and what am I doing here? And would you happen to know?" And with that I was tackled to the ground in a pile of hugs and snuggles. I laughed and lay there before untangling myself from them and sitting up with my back to the wall. And after they saw me sitting there they began to explain how I was here, how they knew me...and how I was not dead... ***One explanation and set of introductions later*** I now knew the names and occupations of the assembled girls in front of me. Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie. And I also knew that names of the three that brought me here...Twilight Sparkle, Celestia, and Luna. I think they were scared that I would be mad that I was here. I wasn't though. In fact I was overjoyed that I was here and not dead in my world. So, I walked up to them and oddly enough I wasn't as tall as I was back home. Or rather, these 'ponies' averaged about seven feet tall. So Celestia and Luna were the tallest at 8"6' and 8"3' and the others ranged about 7" maybe 7"3' or 7"5' but it made me happy that I at least wasn't as much of a sore thumb now. I smiled kindly at the three that seemed to be almost scared of me...before I dropped to a knee in front of them with my hand over my heart. "I owe you my life for saving me...thank you my friends. Should there be anything that you want or need me for then you've just to ask me." They were immediately relieved that I wasn't mad and hugged me...with my face being chest level due to me being on one knee. So needless to say I was engulfed in a valley of pony cleavage. Of course by the time I was encased my cheeks were a bright red as I tapped their shoulders. From how fast they launched off of me I guess they realized that while being suffocated by chest pillows isn't a horrible way to go it would be embarrassing if it was you that did the suffocating. So with a hearty chuckle I stood back up stretched conjuring a few pops and cracks from my bones and joints. I nodded at them all with a friendly smile and waved at them with a chuckle. "Well you have befriended me and almost suffocated me in chest flesh. While I wouldn't mind going that way I think I'd rather live for a bit longer, eh?" And with that I made all of those present blush and I laughed a hearty laugh. So now that I was acquainted with my new friends...I yawned and I looked outside to see it was pitch black. I sat down leaning against the wall behind me and closed my eyes with a soft smile as the group conversed about me most likely. If I was stuck here forever...Then maybe just maybe the universe decreed that I deserved a break...After all the Devil is due what he's earned... And so began my first adventure in the brightly colored world of 'Equestria'... ***3rd person*** With a start the group of ponies squee-ed with joy that their favorite character was here and that he was taking the whole 'you're in a new world' thing so well so far. The three princesses were relieved more than anything as well considering that Red was kind. So that was one thing that they didn't have to worry about. However Luna and Rainbow Dash were both doing a happy dance. One because Luna had gotten to look into the eyes of Red and Dash because not only did she hug him...he hugged her back! But the group then calmed down as they came across a problem. Where would he stay and how would they introduce him to the public? Well they would figure that out sooner or later for now they looked at the resting behemoth of a man with smiles and even a few blushes. Even the princesses weren't exempt from such expressions. The silence was eventually broken by a certain skittle themed pegasus. "So where are we sleeping for the night Twi?" "Well...there are enough rooms in the palace..." So with that being said each pony present decided to pick a room, even the princesses were spending the night at the purple alicorn's palace. But before anything else could be arranged a scream that sent shivers down everyone's back rang out. Red awoke with a startled grunt and looked around before remembering where he was. And if one were to look closely they would see his muscles tense as he stood up. The assembled group all looked at one another and then towards where they heard the sound from...the Everfree Forest. "What was that and where did it come from?" Said the now tense and battle ready Red. He cracked his neck in one smooth motion and began walking towards the door to the outside. "I-I think it came f-from the um...E-everfree Forest." The meek and timid butter yellow pegasus girl answered while pointing in the direction of the forest. With a nod and a face set in determination Red began his journey towards the designated area. But before he got out of the door of the palace he put his mask on and then began leading the group to the outskirts of the forest. After about a minute of sprinting to the location Red saw yet another pegasus girl. But this time she was in trouble. What looked like wooden wolves were clawing at the tree she was hiding in. Red could only guess that the reason she hadn't flown away was that she had an injury. So with a roar of rage and the intent to protect said girl he charged into battle...right into one of the wolves with a thunderous crash. The wolf was decimated by the momentum and weight behind Red's charge... Red's perspective With a roar I threw the pile of splinters that were the remains of the wooden wolf to the ground and turned to face the remaining mutts. They growled at me and began to advance on me, the pegasus now forgotten by them. So with a growl of my own, I lowered my stance and waited for them to make the first move...which never came...Needless to say I was confused with the wolves not attacking. But they simply backed away into the forest never letting their eyes off of me. After I saw the last one disappear into the foliage I stood up and looked up into the tree that housed the injured mare. I offered her my hand and after she had taken it and hugged me fiercely I carried her towards the group that had followed me here. "What's your name, lass? Are you okay?" "I-I'm fine just shocked I suppose...and my name is Spitfire." She smiled sheepishly and rubbed the back of her neck as one wing fluttered lightly while her right wing was held close to her body. "I...uh...managed to sprain my wing while practicing...during the night...and the Timber Wolves caught wind of me before I could make it to the town..." ` "Well Spitfire...Its nice to meet you without any wolves clawing at a tree to get you. I'm Red Bandit but feel free to call me Red." Her eyes went wide and she looked me up and down with an open jaw. "Y-you're the R-Red?" And after a nod from me she squee-ed in excitement and promptly latched her arms around my neck as she hugged me. For what was probably the third time that day I was lost in a furred body and I laughed heartily as I hugged her in return. What is it with ponies and hugging me on sight? Not that I'm complaining...after all they were quite cuddly...