> StoneHeart > by JT > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Anomaly. > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I stand at my spacecrafts window, taking in the sea of stars. I always did love space, so it's ironic that it will be my undoing. I fumble with my trench coat's buttons, my hands unknowingly polishing the steel. Here I am, at the edge of the universe, hurtling at F.T.L speeds through the cosmos. I was banished because of a fault in which I had no choice. At fifteen, I was kidnapped by a world power's government, I have no clue as to which. I was experimented on, augmented, and turned into a cybernetic killer. When other nations found out about the project, Stoneheart, They liquidated the program and released all assets to the World Court, including me. I was treated like an animal, or as they called me, an abomination. The court tried me and found me guilty of crimes against humanity. As punishment I was outcast into the stars. "Sucks to be me" I continue to contemplate my fate. Staring out the window until a synthesized voice comes out over the ship's loudspeakers. "Large anomaly detected. Course offset. Cause of anomaly analyzed. Black hole detected. Estimated time to center.....Ten....Nine.....Eight." I sigh as I turn and walk to my quarters. I sigh again as I sit in my chair. I sit there awaiting my own destruction. "Really sucks to be me." I close my eyes and take a deep breath, I can feel my blood start to be pulled against the walls of my veins, urging to get out.The voice continues counting, though my mind has gone blank. ".....Two......One." the ship rocks violently, and the sound of screeching metal reaches my ears. "Aft section destroyed, closing emergency bulkheads." My eyes feel heavy, I decide to close them. I did not want to see the inside of a black hole. The sound of screeching metal stings my ears again, and I feel a sharp pain shoot through my chest. I jolt my eyes open to see a large piece of steel has pierced my chest. A blue liquid dripping from the wound. The metal pierced my secondary helix, an extra organ I received during my augmentation. I grunt in pain as I wrap my hands around the metal. My entire torso screams in protest as I pull the shard out of my body. Eliciting a few spurts of blue liquid to shoot from my chest. The shard comes out with a sickening slurp, and lands with a clang as I toss it aside. Then it hits me, I'm not dead. Could life and reality be so cruel as to leave me inside a black hole? I grunt in pain again as I stand up, the bleeding of the wound slows to a trickle as my primary helix organ repairs and replaces the damaged cells. I open the door to my room, finding only a starch white hall, missing some few panels. The lights are still on, so the reactor hasn't been destroyed. I look to my left and see a steel colored door, a bulkhead. So I kissed the engines goodbye. I walk to the door, press a few buttons and with a hiss, the door slides open. Revealing...... A colorful landscape, dotted with trees, houses, stone,ponies. I stop myself. Ponies? I rub my eyes, and look again. There are still several dozen ponies all staring at me with shocked looks, and I'm sure I looked just as stupid. A few moments of silence passed. neiher side saying a word until a pink maned pony with wings flies straight up to me, her eyes wide in horror as she looks at my wound, which had stopped healing, hurt like hell, and was still trickling a blue liquid. She then proceeds to stick her hoof straight in my wound, causing me to jump back and yelp in pain. "Oh my, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to hurt you." My eyes widen, the pony just talked, in perfect english too. I mentally throw my arms up into the air and yell. 'Fuck it, this place beats the ship, so fuck it. If they talk they talk.' the thought runs through my mind. If this pony could talk, and I could understand it, maybe if I talked to it, maybe it could understand me too. "It's fine, I'm okay." "No you're not! You're bleeding!" "It's just some regenerative fluid, I'll b fine in a few days." "Oh-Okay. Well....um......What are you?" This question made me stop, mad my stomach sink, and made my mind reel with questions. What am I? Nothing anyone ever told me during the project ever said anything about what I was. I knew I was human, or at least a variation anyways. I replied with the only thing I knew about myself. "Nothing." Silence reigned for a few minutes, and I could see tears welling up in the pony's eyes. She looked like she was about to cry up a storm. This made my stomach sink even deeper. "B-But, you aren't nothing! You're right here! You live, so you have to be something. Do you even know who you are?" I look at my hands and sigh. "Not anymore." "Well...um.....I'm sure the princesses would like to know that a strange creature just crashed into the Ponyville tower. So....um.....can you stay here, while I go get Twilight and the rest of the girls?" "I shall remain here." The pony started to leave, but quickly turned around. "Oh...I'm...um.....Fluttershy." I smile as I hear the name. Fluttershy. I repeat it in my head several times, getting a feel for every syllable. "Call me HK48." With that, she turned to leave. I remained behind, still standing in the doorway of my vessel. Staring at the ponies who stared back. "Ummmmm....Hi?" --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Twilight had heard the boom, and seen the meteor crash, she had already sent off a letter detailing what had happened to the princesses. She had gathered the rest of the elements of harmony. they were all running down the road to the site. They were running as fast as they could, Twilight's heart pounded in her chest. She was so focused on the scientific value of the meteor that she didn't see Fluttershy before she ran right into her. "OOOOWWWW! Fluttershy! We need you to come with us! A meteor just landed and we need to study it!" Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and sighed. "Yeah come on Fluttershy.It's not like we can't study a rock everyday!" Twilight shot her a venomous stare, before returning her attention to fluttershy. "Oh...um...Twilight, it's not a meteor, and you won't have to study it, just ask it questions, you see, it's really nice and all, but I think if you scar-" "WHAT! WHAT DO YOU MEAN I CAN ASK IT QUESTIONS?" Her eyes widened as she discovered what the pegasus meant. "YOU MEAN SENTIENT EXTRA-EQUESTRIAL LIFE IS HERE ON EQUESTRIA!" Rainbow dash gave an inquisital look at Applejack. "What's she going on about?" > Befriended > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Twilight ran over the hill, and saw an amazing sight. Before a crowd was a tall hairless biped, with a long black coat that had one shoulder in red flowing about him, a small strip of hair ran the length of his head, he was tall, well muscled, and full of information. She couldn't help but get his attention. "Excuse me! Mr. Alien guy! Over here!" The lavender mare yelled at the top of her lungs, and waving her hooves frantically. The biped turned around, and Twilight saw something that made her jaw drop. On one side of the biped's face, were strange markings, upon closer inspection, Twilight found these to be akin to a tribal tattoo. The biped's tattoo was a line that came out from under his chin, up the right side of his face and around his eye. When Twilight got a better look at his eye's, she did assume it was a 'he' based on the physical stature. His eyes were different colors, one was a mud brown, while the other was blue, shiny, and had very strange circles set in a triangle formation in it. Twilight looked down to his body. From what she could see of his hands, she saw that they had bits of metal inset into the knuckles. The rest was covered up by his clothing. "Can I help you?" The biped asked, his voice tinged with humor. "Ummm...Yes, I would like to ask some questions please?" "By all means." The biped shrugged. "What are you?" "Nothing." Twilight frowned, this could be a turning point in Equestrian history, and the Alien says he is nothing. "How did you get here?" "Got banished from my planet, lost in space, met a blackhole, went through, then I crashed." "Wait- Did you say you were banished from your home Planet?" "Yes." "Why?" "Because, my race thought me perfect for a program called the Project, I was kidnapped, tortured, experimented on, and forced to kill to live. They wiped my memory, my family, my birthday, my age, even my own damn name. Gone. When they found out about the program, I was put on trial for being a crime against nature, found guilty, and banished." A pink mare was already sobbing when she heard that he had forgotten his own birthday. Twilight felt saddened by this news. Banished for being tortured? This was unheard of. "Well, none of that was your fault. And I wish to be the first to welcome you to Equestria!" --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I was paying attention to none of this, something was off, in the air, and in the dirt, I took a sniff of the air, my augmented sense of smell analysing every strand. Sweat-Either a pony hared at work, or a pony that is afraid. Adrenaline-Combat pheremones, somebody wants to fight me. Saliva- Panting, heavy load. Heavy metallic scent- Heavy armor Tempered steel- Blades, weapons. Scorched air- Hot weapons, likely an energy burst. Then I felt the air around me start to shift, sensors in my skin exploding with information. Expanding air- Something moving it. Increase in electro-static pulses, high energy origin. Analysis- Hostile. Reaction- preemptive strike. Negative- Pony's obviously civilians. Re-analysis- soldiers teleporting in. Reaction-Subdue, non-lethal approach. By the time I had finished my analysis of the situation, two armor clad unicorns appeared right beside me. They wielded spears, and their horns glowed. I reacted immediately, grabbing both their horns, lifting them off the ground, and slamming them together. Leaving two pony's with destroyed horns, and fractured skulls. I felt another surge behind me, and in response, I lashed out with a powerful sidewinder kick. Leaving a guard with two fractured legs, and a few powdered ribs. I felt another burst behind me and felt hooves clasp my neck, I dropped to the ground, reached back and threw the pony off. More hooves came at me. I swatted them away like they were flies. A pony with wings came down at me at blinding speeds, I side stepped and stuck my arm out, the pony smashing into my reenforced flesh and falling to the ground in a daze. A spear pierced my shoulder and knocked me back. I spun with the energy and delivered a powerful backhand to the offending pony. This time I felt a sword blade tip to my neck, forcing me to stop. This pony wore silver and purple armor, the mark of a shield surrounded by stars on his flank. He wore a grin of triumph as e pressed the blade closer. "You don't want to die do you?" He asked me, the grin on his face growing wider. "You tell me asshole." I brought my fingers up and pushed the blade away, once it was within safe distance, I clasped both of my hands on it. I twisted around behind him, and pulled him close to me, I brought the blade to his neck and pulled so that at the slightes movement it would kill him. "ENOUGH!" I looked around as I saw every pony bowing down, I looked to the object in question. It was a white pony with a mane that flowed like water the color of a pale rainbow. She had a horn and massive wings, and judging by the crown, she was a ruler. "Put my Captain down beast!" She roared at me, this only made me harden my gaze and bring the sword closer. "Now Listen here, queenie, I am in the position to negotiate and that is exactly what I'm going to do. Now you call off you're metal heads and I'll let go of Captain Failure here. Do we have a deal?" "Deal" "Good" I drop the pony I was holding as the rest of the guards were teleported away from me. "And I'm not a beast, my operational designation is HK48 Bitch." With that I turned and ran, still holding on to the sword. > Crash and burn. > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I crash through the woods, the sounds of my armored pursuers close behind me. I slam my fist into another tree branch, utterly destroying it. I keep running even as I feel the damp soil underneath me change to cold stone beneath my boots. I see a gorge up ahead of me. Its space opening up like a great hungry fat man preying on a helpless cheeseburger. I continue running through the forest, changing pace only to run through a branch or vault over a stone. "HALT! STOP IN THE NAME OF THE PRINCESS!" I hear a very agitated voice, belonging to the 'Captain.' That I humiliated earlier. "FUCK YOU AND YOUR PRINCESS, YOU WHALE SCROTUM!" I holler back, putting most of my energy reserves into my leg augments. I pick up speed as I sail over the gorge, the ground below me dropping several hundred feet. I hate heights. I look up and notice the ground dropping much too fast, and before I know it, well above my sight. The cliff wall soars above me as I fall, taunting me with my closeness. "Well.....Fuck." Were my last words before I hit the ground, my vision blacked as I struck.. I shake my head groggily as I try to sit up. The world around me spinning in a fast haze. I can feel little tingles in my brain, each one telling me which parts were damaged or not. Soon, a voice sounded in my thoughts, annoying me with it's message. "Left cyclic rotor. Status....Damaged." "Right adrenaline assembler. Status......Damaged." "Lower ocular enhancer. Status....Damaged." "Lower kinetic dampener plate. Status......Damaged." "Warning, Warning.....both Shoulder back plate's are damaged beyond repair. Ejection eminent." My eyes shoot open as I 'Hear' this. "Oh no." I scream as my plates shoot out of my back, both nothing more than sharpened blades. Both of them impaling the wall behind me with a dull thunk. I keep screaming as the blood and regenerative fluid shoot out of my back, both making an attempt to seal the wound. My screams die down as the wounds are shut and small nanites rush to the wound to assemble as my new flesh. I grimace as I try to stand up, it takes me a few minutes but I make it. I look at the wall behind me to see my handiwork. What used to be a simple grey stone wall with a coarse surface, is now a bloody nightmare with two sharpened pieces of metal sticking out of it. I stare as my life blood drips off the wall and onto the floor. I tread through the mush and lay my hands on the metal pieces. With one quick tug they come free with a sickening pop. I hold my new blades close to my face, examining every inch. The steel at one end is sharpened angles, like a regular combat blade, but the main length of the blade is as smooth and sharp as a razor. The ends on which I hold them are shaped a little to my grip, the metal coarse to give me a grip. I smile as I realize my trusty Nanites are still looking out for me. "Warning! Warning! Un-Augmented space is available, Caretaker input Required for New Augmetics." I look around and finally notice the room I am in. The walls are a dull Grey with stones set in them, there are rather thin iron bars lining one side of the cell, and a small bucket in another corner. "Weird, no bed." "That's because we didn't know whether or not you usually sleep on the floor." I snap my head in the direction of the voice, my eyes narrowing as I see who it is. "Well, if it isn't Sun-Ass herself. The fuck you want?" Across the bars was a tall white horse, a picture of a rising sun on her flank, her horn was easily a foot and a half, while her wings were smaller than needed. She stared at me with uncaring eyes and a slight smile. I had to admit, her eyes were pretty. "Well, first of all, my student, Twilight Sparkle, informed me of your predicament, and I just want to tell you it is okay to be afraid, your lost and don't know where you are, not to mention well.....that." She pointed a hoof over to the bloody wall. Her eyes somewhat looking away and her complexion turning slightly green. "Do you need to see a doctor?" "Lady, your doctors don't have the tech to fix all the stuff I broke, besides, I'll be back to, well, forty percent functionality in a few hours. Speaking of which." She jumped back as a blue light burst out of my good eye and scanned over one of her wings, cascading in every detail. "Warning! Chosen Augment will require a massive diet of nutrients and minerals." I smile at the voice in my head. "Yeah, yeah, just get it done." The mare stared at me with a very horrified look on her face. "W-W-What did you just do?" I look at her with a slight smile. "I'm just pimping my ride." > Chapter 4 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I lay asleep in my cell, tossing and turning as my dream took a turn for the worse. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I'm so sorry, Jack." I whispered as my friend died beneath me, my hands still gripping his heart. His eyes teared up as he brought me close to him. His brown hair was flaked with his own blood, his life running out of his body. "I understand, keep safe." I cried as his eyes rolled into the back of his head, a final breath leaving his lungs. I slowly put my head on his chest, the still warm skin making me feel sickeningly guilty. "I'm so, so sorry." I closed his eyes before I stood, tears still flowing down my cheeks as I observed the battle around me. All around, my 'Brothers and Sisters' fought like wild animals, fists flying, blades clashing and guts spilling on the floor. The world seemed to go wrong as it turned a bloody red color, then I charged into the fray. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I bolted upright with a start, grabbing my blades as I did. My breathing became ragged and labored as i struggled to calm myself down. I threw my legs off of the hay pile, my hands rubbing my temples in an effort to calm the growing headache. A scuff against the stone of my cell brought me back to my attentive stat and away from regret. My eyes met the face of a pony mare, her eyes a gentle brown, her mane and tale were a rosey red. On her flank was the picture of a quill. Her wings were folded up into her sides, and her horn shone with grace. She watched me with an air of curiosity and desire, her eyes sparking as she crept closer. Her lips quivered as she placed a hoof onto my chest, rubbing it into the muscle and machinery below the skin. When she spoke, her voice was as sweet as honey, and more alluring than a siren's. "Through all my years have I longed for someone to share them with. I couldn't with my ponies as they are all like my children." She brought her face down closer to mine as she stared deep into my eyes, fire sparking within them. Her breath was hot on my neck and chest, and blew with the delicacy of a gentle wind. "But you, are no pony, and you are here, and you are a beautiful creature, life so alive with emotion and adventurousness.You have caught my attention since you came here, and many a night were filled with thoughts of you. Long have I searched for a lover." My breath was taken away as she placed her lips on mine, savoring the kiss. When she pulled away, her eyes were alive with lust and passion. She leaned down and whispered into my ear. "And you are that lover." The sounds of hooves sounded off down the hall, slowly getting closer. She planted one last kiss on my lips, before whispering back in my ear. "Remember, even when the light is gone, I will be there to guide you." She stepped away and teleported away, the energy casting a golden blue glow on the cell walls. Soon, a white pony with a blonde mane came into view, along with a group of guards behind him. He unlocked my cell door and stepped inside, the guards following him as well. He stared at me with his eyes, arrogance filling them. "So you are the barbarian that hospitalized some guards? Oh when I get done with you, those peasants will fall down at my hooves and worship me! So prepare yourself fiends, these walls will be painted in your blood!" He pulled a small dagger out of....Somewhere, the guards snickering at my apparent 'Misfortune' He screamed a rather ladylike warcry and charged, the dagger raised high above his head. Whenever he closed the gap, I acted. I swung my arm low and caught him by his throat. He dropped the dagger in surprise as I lifted him above my head, my hand still clasped around his neck. I spat on him and snarled. "Big words for one so small. Maybe I'll kill you, and the peasants will worship me. Maybe I'll bleed you slowly and write journals in your blood. Maybe I'll make you my bitch?" The pony visibly gulped and whimpered, his eyes growing large with fear. I was about to snap his neck whenever I felt a blade touch my own neck. I looked over to see a guard holding a longsword against my throat. His eyes held a confidence that screamed newbie. I stared him down with all the hatred I could muster. "And what about you, newblood, maybe I'll kill you and cut you up and sew you to this one and make him walk around?" The guard blew air out of his nose and chuckled. "You kill me? HA! I'd like to see you try." I leaned down closer to him, his blade bringing a trickle of blood. "Buddy, I've killed before and I'll do it again. I was made to kill, to maim, and to murder. Have you ever stopped someone's still beating heart by crushing it to a bloody mass? Have you ever killed someone to survive? Have you ever killed something by biting into it's neck, filling your mouth with blood? I have. And I'll do it again." The guard paled and backed away. The pony in my hands let out a choked cry and I let him go, he collapsed on the floor, choking and wheezing. I kicked him in his ass, sending him flying into his fellows. "Go and fetch your Princess. I would have words with her." > Chapter 5 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Of course, you'll have to obey the laws. While upholding them." I shifted my weight from one leg to the other, crossing my arms as I hoped she wouldn't say a certain something. "You must treat ponies with respect." "Of course. You have my word." Celestia blinked away a soft stare as a devilish smile crawled on her face. "And you'll have to share any and all technology with us, and reveal how you regenerate." She waved her hoof in the air to emphasize her point. Her smile had turned into a full on grin as she thought she had me beat. I groaned as I brought my hand to my face. Of course she had to ask that question. That damn question. "No, Celestia, I won't put that on your ponies." "Good, now you hubbawha?!" She fumbled with her words, her face one of shock. This expression quickly morphed into one of anger. She planted her face right into mine as she poked my chest with a hoof. "AND WHY NOT? THAT COULD SAVE THOUSANDS OF PONIES AND YOU WON'T SHARE IT? WHY SHOULDN'T I LEAVE YOU LOCKED IN HERE FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE?" That was the last straw, blown away by her raging winds. I swatted her hoof away as I connected our foreheads together and began to powerhouse my way to the door, backing her up with me. "BECAUSE CELESTIA, THAT 'TRICK' WOULD NOT SAVE YOUR PONIES, IT WOULD DAMN THEM! THERE WERE THOUSANDS OF US! ALL PERFECT CANDIDATES FOR THE RE-GENESIS PROGRAM! TEN THOUSAND OF US! IT WAS WEEKS OF PAIN, IT WAS SO BAD THAT MANY OF US KILLED OURSELVES BECAUSE OF IT! TEN THOUSAND OF US CELESTIA! TEN THOUSAND! DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY OF US ACTUALLY SURVIVED THE PROCEDURE?" She had been backed into a corner, her face contorted in fear as tears rolled down her cheeks. "H-H-How M-M-Many?" "FIVE OF US! JUST FIVE! IT WAS JACKELYNN, ANNA, ROSE, NATASHA, JACK, AND ME! JUST FIVE OF US CELESTIA! JUST FIVE!" I began to back away into the adjacent wall, tears began sliding down my face as I sank to my knee's. My hands covered my face as I wept. Muffled sobs escaping my mouth. Celestia blinked her tears away as she crept closer to me, laying her hoof on my shoulder. "And now I'm the only one left....I'm so sorry Jack, I'm so, so, sorry. I'm so sorry Jack. I'm so sorry..." --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GUARDS P.O.V Steelhoof escorted the blubbering creature down the hall, and into the banquet room. Celestia had decreed that this thing was no longer a threat to us, and was now a fully fledged citizen. He felt a pang of sadness as he kept hearing the creature mutter the same phrase. "I'm so sorry, Jack, I'm so sorry. You were my only friend Jack, the only one. The others just saw me as a mate, someone to help breed the next generation. You were the only one, you helped me through thick and thin, you were always there for me." Steelhoof felt a tear escape out of his eye, the warm fluid streaking down his cheek. "And they made me kill you." He couldn't take anymore as he burst into the banquet hall, he finally had enough as he burst into tears. His heart pinging with sadness for this creature. After a few minutes, they had both calmed down. The creature slowly gnawing on an apple. The look of sadness was in its eyes. They shone with a brilliance that said they had seen too much. His hands were scarred and calloused, saying they too had done too much. Steelhoof finally noticed the small tubes of metal that rose out of its skin like a worm before returning inside. Its head was shaved, a thin mohawk adorning it. Tribal tattoos covered one hand, he assumed they covered its arm as well. The creature turned the orange, showing him its wrist. A strange tattoo, made of simple lines, thickening and thinning made it up. He wore a long black coat, and what seemed to be a shirt made up of a strange material, ribbed in metal. When it spoke, it's voice was mildly deep, but full of anger and hatred "I'm so sorry Jack, I should have ripped out my heart instead." --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I gnawed on an apple, my tongue testing it for any toxins. the scene of Jack's death replayed in my head. Me grabbing his heart, stopping it, then ripping it out of him. I should have died that day. Me. I didn't deserve to live. I played around in my head, shutting off the organs that made me regenerate, and gathering all of my nanites to my brain. I dropped the apple, hearing it clunk against the floor. I stood up and and walked towards a balcony, the sun was just rising over the horizon, and I could see Princess Celestia up in a tower, when she looked at me, a smile adorned her face. I walked to the edge of the balcony, looking down, I noticed it was a long way down. At least a thousand feet. I smiled, this height would surely kill me. I spread my arms wide as Celestia's smile slowly turned into a frown. I yelled my final words as I prepared to jump. "I'M SO SORRY JACK!" Then I jumped. > Chapter 6 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I hit the ground, feeling pretty much all of my bones shatter, and my organs rupture. Blood spewed out of my mouth and nose, ejecting like a bullet. My Nanites were going insane, saxons blaring in my head as damage reports flooded in. I could feel myself slipping, nearly over the cliff and into the black abyss. I smiled as I knew this was my final time. I felt a gust of wind over me, followed by something else hitting the ground, I opened my eyes barely, to see a crying Celestia and another crying Alicorn. Her mane was filled with the stars and flowed in an unnatural wind. She was a dark blue, her face in tears as they stared at me. "W-W-Why? Why would you do this?" Celestia stammered out the question. Crying a bit more before turning to the other. "Come sister, we must fetch the hospital staff, maybe they can still save him." Two more gusts of wind, and they left. They wouldn't get here in time. I cringed as I felt a sharp pain in ,y head, followed by a new presence. 'External and Internal damage excessive. Initiating Pheonix Protocol.' I felt myself begin to move, pain roared through my limbs. I cried out and tried to stop, but i couldn't. I could see a small cave, barely big enough to fit through it. i could feel myself moving towards the cave, then with one final push, I fell in. I hit the ground with a thud, adding to my already insane pain. I felt myself stand and lean against a wall. My arms spread out, and my legs straightened, I tried to move but I couldn't. 'Distributing stasis-cell sedatives. Repairs and adaptations complete in: Three months and twenty three hours.' the last thing I saw was my Nanites leaving my body. Then, nothing. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Three months later. Daring Doo chipped away at the cave, just underneath Canterlot. There had been reports of strange insects going into the cave. Strange metallic insects. She was a tan mare, and a black mane, with a vest on and a safari hat. She loved getting rich, and diving into dungeons. if the rumors were true, then this place was filled with alien technology, and the corpse of an alien. She practically drooled at the prospect of how much cash that would bring her. With one final swing, she opened the hole wide enough for her to fit through. She slid down the wall, then lighting the lantern she brought with her, she scanned the room. On the floor was a massive bloodstain, leading off into a wall. She gulped as she saw this, but gasped when she saw the wall. The wall was covered in a strange glass like substance, Covering the creature within its confines. Inside the glass was a swirling mix of fluids, neon green in color. Along the wall was an assortment of weapons, ranging from a powerful looking bow, constructed out of a metal entirely foreign to her. She laid her eyes on a massive claymore, the blade as thick as her hoof, and jet black. The base of the blade was colored in gold, and the pommel was a simple round sphere. Next to the sword was a strange looking metallic, box, thing. She tried to pick it up, but it was so heavy that she could only get it an inch off the wall. She was distracted from this object as she heard rocks skitter down the hole she came in. Her eyes widened as she heard a familiar voice. "So, Daring Doo. It seems you have discovered the Creature's Tomb. So sad that I'll be taking its treasures." She turned and stared at the offending beast. "Ahuizotl.." "The one and only." The creature before her was a strange one. It looked feline in origin, covered in blue colored fur. The tail ended in a paw. His stare was filled with greed. "Yeah? You and what army?" "This one." --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HK48's P.O.V 'Repairs complete. Weapons Complete. Adaptations Complete. Skeletal Reinforcement Complete. Dermal shell Complete. All systems green. Ejecting....' I felt the fluids around me jet and begin to evaporate. The wall in front of me shattered and I was thrown forward, onto the cold floor. I coughed up some phlegm and chemicals. I could feel hoses sticking into me, and after a few tugs, they came off. I shakily stood up, and immediately felt something on my face. I reached up and felt something metal covering my face. From running my fingers over it, I felt that it was a skull, modeled after my own, it connected to another part of metal, and judging from the motorized hinges, it retracted into my back. I opened my eyes, to see my hands covered in some sort of gauntlet that ended in a sharpened claw. I could see the rest of my body was covered in some sort of armor that followed the contours of my chest and body. I looked over to the wall beside me, and saw a beautiful assortment of weapons. A claymore, nearly as tall as I was, I picked it up off of the wall. Next was a bow, simple in design, but the same size as the claymore. Next to it was a quiver of arrows, I took them both. What I saw next surprised me, it was a pistol, modeled after the Desert Eagle. I picked it up and turned it over, finding no magazine port. I simply stuck it to my leg. Then I realized what I did, I looked down to the weapon, to see it attached to the metal on my leg. Magnets, fuck yeah. I was brought to look at a pony wearing a vest and a safari hat. She looked at me with wide, rose colored eyes. Above it, standing in a hole near the ceiling, was some sort of feline. "Oh, well, you're no good to me alive. So KILL HIM!" > Steel and Doom > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I climbed out of the hole as fast as I could, a few arrows hit me, but bounced off my armor. When I reached the top, I was greeted with a sight of strange bird and lion creatures. The front half was a bird, while the back half was an eagle. A few had crossbows, and most had some sort of blade with them. I brought my claymore to bear as i blocked a downward strike from a flying griffin, our blades meeting in a cascade of sparks. I swung the locked blades to the side and landed a vicious hold on the griffin's head with my other hand. the griffin dropped the sword and clutched at my hand, desperately trying to get it off. "The thing about working for the wrong people." My hand slowly started crushing the griffin's head, I could feel his skull flexing inward. "You're EXPENDABLE!" The griffin gave one last cry before his head splattered into a bloody pulp in my hand. Grey matter leaking from my fingertips. I turned my gaze back to the army, only to see them cowering in fear and shock. I guessed their numbers at about a hundred or so. I brought my claymore to bear again, staring directly into the crowd. All at once they charged, their numbers bringing their full weight. I swung my blade, cleaving a griffin in half, then i brought it down into the head of another. I whipped around and caught an incoming blade, snapping it and tossing the rest into the crowd. I dropped low and delivered a sweep kick to those around me, sending several bodies to the ground. I used this opening to jump straight into the crowd, blood and gore covering me as I screamed in fury, and swung my blade. I delivered a deadly kick to the face of a griffin, the bone crunching on impact. My fist plowed through the skull of another, brain matter exploding out the back. Their numbers began to falter, I had slain about thirty or so already, and I planned to kill more. I yelled in primal rage as I put even more force into the slaughter, my blade cleaving into my foes with a vicious hunger. I killed so many, their cries of terror and pleads for mercy brought bliss to me. Blood and brains and guts covered me like a second skin, underneath it all, I smiled. Finally, the last griffin fell to my blade, his cries for mercy falling on deaf ears as I split his skull down the middle. I gazed upon the feline creature, it's eyes wide in fear, he began begging for mercy and throwing small golden coins at my feet. I simply stared at him, his eyes lost their fear and regained a glimmer of hope. I saw through the reflection in his eyes, a wounded griffin sneak up behind me, raising it's blade high for a sneaky backstab. Those same eyes lost all hope when I grabbed the griffin's throat and squeezed until it's eyes burst in a shower of gore. He spoke something, his voice quivering in fear. "What are you?" I looked at him with all the fury I could muster. "I am the End, the Destruction, the Fire, the Hate, The Rage!" He began cowering back, his paws scooting himself back as he tried to escape my fury. "I AM DEATH!" He cried, turned and ran into the forest, tears and bubbling madness disappearing with him into the forest. I watched him run off, before turning back to the pegasus behind me, all I saw was a quivering safari hat on top of a bush. As I made my way towards the bush, the quivering stopped, and a bag of gold was thrown out, followed by a scared voice. "P-P-Please! I didn't want to hurt you! J-J-Just take the money and go! Please!" I kneeled down to the quivering bush, my hand reaching out to the bag and grasping it. "Tell any who pass by you, HK48 is back." The bush jolted as i caught sight of the pony flying straight up into the air, screaming like a madman. I walked back to where the feline was, gathered the gold, and set off. I made a plan as I set off in the direction to what I could see was a small little town. I continued walking as I set up my plan. Step 1: Find crashed ship. Step 2: Fix crashed ship to fly. Step 3: Buy some booze. Step 4: Hire a fucking hooker, I ain't been laid in fucking forever. Step 5: Inform Princesses of return. Step 6: Buy even more booze. Step 8: Explore crashed ship for useful items. Step 9: Have a fucking party, I'm feeling good. Step 10: Get fucked up at said party. I smiled as I completed my plan, I folded my armor back into my spine, feeling the plates shift under each other until they aligned to my spine. I Pulled up the pistol I had, and examined it again. It was a dark gray, almost silver. It had no magazine port, but the trigger was still there. I thought 'What the hell' And brought it to bear against a nearby tree. The gun retorted with a loud bang and in a flash, the tree was burned away, a deep gash was left smoking where the bark and tree meat was before. I was about to question the weapon until a familiar voice sounded in my head. 'Weapon uses the planet's magnetic field to agitate a small amount of metal sheared off the block of metal where the magazine port would normally be. When block is depleted, replace block with another block of metal. Metals usable and classifications are as follows. Steel-Full metal jacket. Brass-Shrapnel ammunition. Copper-High explosive. Tungsten-Armor piercing. Gold-Electric, non lethal ammunition. Shooting crystals will have an unknown effect.' "Well, what do you know." I continued waling into the woods, never changing course so I would arrive at the town. Soon though, I began to detect flapping, lots of flapping. A scent I recognized met my scent glands. Soon, in a spray of dirt and rocks, and one hell of a hug. Was Princess Celestia, the other Alicorn, and a contingency of royal guards. When Celestia parted the hug, she had tears flowing down her eyes. "By Faust, I thought you dead!" > Chapter 8 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I thought you dead!" Princess Celestia wrapped me in a hug, tears flowing down her face, she coughed up some more strange words, before finally letting go. I simply stared at her, unsure of how to proceed. "Please, tell us what happened to you?" I sat on the ground and leaned against a tree, the bark feeling hard against my skin. "Well, after I fell, hit the ground. I honestly don't know." Well, it is no matter. You live!" She turned to her guards, who were sending me some rather hateful looks. "Guards, meet us back at Canterlot, I myself will teleport us there." The guards nodded and within a few seconds, started flying away. She turned to me and I noticed her horn emitting a golden glow. In a flash, our scenery changed from a dark forest, to a lit hall. I fell down to my knees and dry heaved. My stomach trying to enter my throat. After a few heaves, I stood up, realizing how tired I was. I turned back to Celestia, noticing the faint look of understanding guilt. "Don't worry about it, but I do need some sleep." "Oh yes, um, there is a room that is currently empty, but it's reserved for my niece Princess Cadence for her wedding tomorrow." I let a disappointed groan escape my lips. I would have to sleep in the cell again. Damn, I hated that damn floor. So stony and bricky. "But I cannot let that happen, so, you'll have my bed tonight and I'll have my sisters while she has her nightcourt." She turned and led me down through the castle, the velvety floor contrasting with the stone walls. We continued noiselessly until we came to a massive door, with the sun emblazoned upon it. She opened the door and before me was revealed a masterpiece. The room was covered in a white carpet, and the walls lined with marble. The bed was a queen size with columns on each end, paintings hung depicting graceful ponies and some beautiful landscapes. I heard the door shut behind me. I removed my gear and placed them beside the bed, but I kept the pistol with me, locked on to my thigh. Crawling into the softest bed I had ever known. It wasn't long before I fell asleep. The world around me shifted as I flew through the air, an artillery round exploding right next to me. "Move, move, move!" I landed hard on the ground as I flopped over. I burst open my eyes to reveal a hellish landscape. Fire burned in the skies, while the screams of wounded assaulted my ears. Bodies lay shattered about the earth, some in pieces, and others riddled with holes. I shakily tried to stand to my feet, and utterly failed to do so. I looked down to my legs, to find I only had one. Right below the knee, covered in bloody fatigues, was a stump of a limb, the bone sticking out and the muscle shredded. Blood pored out of it like a waterhose. "We have a wounded man down! Get him up and take him back!" I felt strong arms pick me up and drag me over the field. Soon I felt wind buffeting my face as a helicopter came into view. I felt myself get hauled into it, and a needle stick into my arm. "You're going to be fine, don't you worry, you'll be just fine." Over me, was a small blonde girl, she was wearing a police uniform, and had a set of blue eyes that sucked me into them. Too bad they weren't red, I'd have asked her to marry me right then and there. She labored over me, struggling to bandage my leg. "I'm sorry, it's just that I wasn't ready for this, not at all." she started to tear up, her hands frantically trying to stop the bleeding. She stopped when she felt my hand land on her arm. "Hey, you're doing great, I was shaky too when I first went into combat, hell, I might've joined the military if we weren't at war right now." She smiled and gave me a light kiss on the cheek, she wiped away her tears as she resumed fixing my leg. "So, what's your name?" I laid my head back and groaned in pain as i felt something stab into my gut. I smiled as I felt the morphine rush into me. "I'm Jakob, the best damned militia sniper you'll ever meet." I awoke with a start, sweat pouring down my face, I swung my legs off the bed and cupped my head in my hands. This dream was a first. Who the hell was that? Militia sniper? What. The. Fuck. "I need some air." I got off the bed and walked to the balcony, my feet silenced by the carpet. Opening the doors, I found sweet relief as cool night air washed over me. I walked closer to the balcony and peered down. I could see some guards walking about every few minutes. The security in this place was terrible. The drop was about twenty feet and I could see a bar down the street. Time to get smashed and hire a hooker. Just like I planned. I turned back into the room and gathered my things, I took only my pistol, but stashed my other items in the bed. A little obvious, but all I had. Grabbing the bag of coins, I headed to the bar. The bartender's face was contorted in fear as I asked for another drink. He filled a small glass full of a strange kind of amber fluid, it was weak, but in plentiful supply. Grabbing the shot, I downed it and slammed it back on the table. "Another." "I-I-I think you've had enough." I sighed as I brought my hand up, brushing my mohawk. "Look here pony, I woke up this morning covered in god knows what, then some weird blue monkey cat thing tried to kill me, so I killed his men, then came here. All I want is to drink today down the drain. I can't even get drunk okay? So chill, man, It's cool." "No, it is not cool, criminal scum!" The voice came from behind me, obviously belonging to a guard. I turned and saw a few pony's in a dark blue armor, their eyes were yellow and slitted, their wings were the color of night and leathery like a bat's. Their fur was simply a dark grey. I shattered the glass in my hand, the shards exploding outwards. Some of the other bar patron's gasped and shimmied away in fear. "Foul monster! You are under arrest for terrorizing the good citizen's of Canterlot! You will be punished in the dungeon for your crimes!" "All I did was order some drinks." The guard pony's charged, the first one bring his head to bear for a rib shattering ram. I moved out of his way, and kicked him across the room, sending him flying into some tables. The second guard flew high and dove. I sidestepped and put my hand at the base of his wing and neck, and twisted the wing violently to the right. He cried out in pain and dropped to the ground, clutching his wing. The last guard started backing up, before grabbing a bottle and smashing it on a table. Threatening me with the jagged remains. I pulled out my pistol and shot the bottle, sending it's remainder all over the ground. The guard shit himself and fainted. I turned around, plopped a bag of coins on the counter, grabbed a bottle of booze, and walked out. Singing a song as i went. "Oh, we'll tear out your guts and bludgeon your eyes." "We'll fight on til all of you dies" "We're the best of mankind." "The turning tide." We'll take up our guns and you'll keep on coming." "We'll fire like mad and you'll start running." "Shootin' every son of a bitch we see." "We'll shoot you dead and capture your family." "We're the best of mankind." "We're the turning tide." "Shoot first, ask questions later." "Death to the heretic, death to the hater." "We'll blow out your guts and cut out your heart." "We're meaner than a snake and eviler than hitler." "Oh yes, look out, we're the Hunter Killers." > Message. > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The carriage around me jostled and bumped around as turbulence struck its small frame. I was surrounded by guards, all armed with spears. After my small outburst at the Canterlot bar, I was to be shipped down to Ponyville, where i would learn the magic of Friendship from the Princess's own protege. 'I should get a protege.'The thought was interrupted as we struck ground, the carriage slowly coming to a halt. When the door opened and light poured through, I was assaulted by a tidal wave of questions and flashes from news reporters. I tried to shield my eyes from the blinding bulbs, but I was swiftly moved forward. I couldn't see where we were, but I could smell my ship, the scent of burnt steel wasn't hard to miss. Once we reached the front, the door opened and I was shoved through. I opened my eyes to get used to the light, only to see a purple veil over me. Peering beyond the veil, I could see a group of six mares. That Twilight Sparkle was in front, eyeing me with curiosity as her horn glowed. 'Bitch be castin spells on me.' There was an orange one with a blonde mane, an earth pony, who looked like she wanted to stomp the shit out of me. A cyan pegasus, sporting the same look. Looking over I was greeted with the sight of a marshmallow coated in a deep purple. I saw Fluttershy, the only one here who gave me a sympathetic look. "Oi, you gonna let me out, or do I have to break out?" This seemed to snap them out of their stupor, and Twilight lowered the shield. "Okay, but you best be careful. Or I'll have you thrown in the dungeon." "I'd be out in, like, two hours." She growled in agitation, causing the others to step forward. Menacingly. I calmly drew my pistol and pointed it at the orange blonde. "Cute, what are you gonna do, hit me with it?" I aimed beside her head and fired, the bullet kicking up sparks next to her, causing her to jump in shock, and let out a yelp. "Now, keep your distance, and if you want to see what's left of the ship, follow me." I locked the pistol onto my thigh and walked through the ship, passing steel corridors and overturned wiring coming out of the floor, while everything else was the same thing, grey. 'I really need to spruce this place up.' I continued walking, passing several storage rooms, one room with food, the other with clothes and armor, one with a blinking message monitor...'Wait, what was that.' I turned and walked back down the hall, turning into the room. On one side was a rather large monitor screen, with a big plaque saying 'Communications.' Hanging above it, with a red light blinking light. There was paper and pens on a nearby desk, but not much else. I walked straight up to the monitor and switched it on, a blue screen appeared and a notification bar read in bold print. 'One new message.' I heard the girls behind me walk in the room, their hooves making small rings echo throughout the hall. I clicked play on the message and was utterly shocked at what I saw. Sitting there, with a bundle in her arms, was a pink-haired woman, wearing a simple black jumpsuit. Her blue eyes sparkled against the dull grey of the tubes looping around her neck, before feeding in around the back of her shoulders. "Hi, Jakob, it's me, and I really just wanted to tell you, I miss you, and I love you.....So much.....So very much." I felt a tear run down my cheek as I placed my hand on the monitor, begging to whoever that this was real, and I could see her again. "Rosa..." The woman began to tear up as well, her sobs racking her shoulders, and jostling the bundle in her arms. The bundle began to stir, and soon a crying could be heard. She looked up from her sobs and placed her hands near the top of the bundle, shushing it softly. "The government that made us this way, the monsters that....that.....corrupted us. It-It caught up with me, and the're here, right now just past that door. But before I say my final goodbye, I wanted to show you this." Slowly, she unwrapped the bundle, and I could see pale skin and soon, a small face. A baby, She had a baby. She stroked it's head softly, a smile on her face. "This, this, Jakob, is Kellik, my........... our son." Tears burst down my face, as I smiled again. They were alive, I could see them, we could be together, and live together. Again. That smile soon faded as She lifted up a small black box with a red button on top. "Goodbye, Jakob, I love you." She pressed the button, and I saw the explosions, I saw them splatter across the screen before it all went black. And once again, I cried. I screamed, I yelled, I punched the walls, I bashed the floor. And finally, I slumped against the far wall, sobbing. > Day to day > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I don't know how long I cried, or when I fell asleep. But I could still feel the sadness, the despair, but most of all, I could feel myself beginning to not care. I awoke with a start, the grey walls and floor greeting me. I slowly got up. I checked myself for any tampering, and any other malfunctions. I was good, nobody messed with me, so I'm okay. I slowly got up, I stretched and moaned as some of my joints popped and stretched. I was still in the communications room, and I still felt a little bad about Rosa. "Don't Think about that HK. They're gone and you're still here, so you're top priority!" The words hurt, but I was right, I couldn't help them. I decided to take full stock of my gear. I was still wearing my Trench coat, but the matte black cloth was absolutely destroyed. Rips lined the cloth and it had more holes in it than a bad plot-line. My pants were in little better condition, stains dotted them, along with some holes and rips. Their original grey color had turned into a light black and brown. My boots were hardly even there, just leather scraps held on by a few strings. I surmised that I probably stunk as all hell, and, I lifted my arm and sniffed my own pit. I immediately recoiled and soon, tears were streaking down my face. It felt like I had just gotten punched in the nose by Thomas the Tank Engine! "Well, time for a bath and some new clothes." I decided to run a check over my weapons as well. I reached down and plucked my pistol from my thigh, the magnetic locks disengaging as I did so. I brought my hand up and placed the gun on a nearby table, soon followed by my claymore. Both weapons looked in decent shape........but they could be better. The pistol, despite having seen limited use, had small bits of tarnish on the metal. The sword, was pretty dull, I would have to fix that. I mentally smacked myself as I forgot the knives I had. So, with a quick draw, I had them on the table as well. They were in excellent condition, the mono-molecular edge was stupendously sharp, and the grips were still tough. I turned my attention back to the pistol. I liked it, I really did, but it wasn't my style. So I decided to get me some new 'Home-made' gear. I started off by cycling through the schematics of the thousands of firearms I had stored in my memory. I kept 'scrolling' through, passing different models and makes, until I had found one I wanted. The Python model 44.Magnum, a powerful handgun that both demanded fear and respect. I selected the model and ran it into my AI chip. (Which I still needed to name.) Once the digital being received the file, I ordered it to be made, once I confirmed that materials around me could be used, the process would take about five minutes for the gun itself and about three hours for the ammunition dump for it, to be made. I busied myself with cycling through some more models, this time for a Hunting rifle. I pulled up the schematics for the guns and cycled through once more. I skipped some other models, such as the Winchester 30-30 and the Remington 30-06. I kept scrolling until I found a model I rather liked and set it to be made. The Mosin-Nagant 49. Model was a big rifle, and bolt action, I added on a 10-30 times zoom telescopic sight on it, and after all this, I would have to wait around a day for everything to be made for it. "Okay, now that that's done, let's go take a bath!" Grabbing my bag of riches, I set for the door. The town was nice, really nice. I still had some occasional glances every now and then, but the Ponies didn't really hate me. Just kind of dealt with my presence. I patted the money bag I had tied on to me, and its reassuring jingle and weight told me I had enough to spare. First things first was to find a tailor and commission some new clothes, then find a bathhouse, and use its services. I continued to walk through the town, noticing some shops such as 'Golden Ray's flowers!' and 'Strong steel's construction Company!' I passed other stores and, it wasn't very long, until I was lost. I kept taking corner after corner, and road after road and street after street, but to no avail. So I swallowed my pride and asked for directions. I looked around for some immobile ponies, and, just as luck would have it, there she was. I puffed up my chest and walked across the road to the Unicorn. Passing by some other equines. I had reached said pony, who was currently lounging on a bench with a can labeled 'Pony-Cola' balanced on her stomach. I walked on up to her and tapped her shoulder. "Excuse me ma'am, my designation is HK48, and I am currently lost, do you think you could point me in the direction of a Tailor?" The pony I asked was mint green, with a white mane and a picture of a harp as a CutieMark. She never even looked at me as she pointed a hoof down the street, towards some sort of carousel-like house. "That's the place you want, but hey don't mind me, just that crazy Human obsessed mare telling you." That struck me as odd. I could tell her I was human, or I could just say thanks. I decided on the latter. "Okay well thank you, and you're not crazy." I turned and headed towards the building she pointed to. My boots made soft crunching noises against the dirt. Once I reached the building, I opened the door and stepped inside, ringing the service bell as I entered. "Just a minute Darling!" A sing song voice echoed from upstairs. I waited for a little while and took in my surroundings. Pony shaped mannequins lined the wall and dresses of every color sat on racks. A few mirrors here and there, along with a raised dais for which I presumed were for taking measurements. A few seconds later I heard hoofsteps hit the floor I was currently on. "Hello and welcome to carousel Boutique! Where everything is Shique and Uniqu-!" The white pony I had met the earlier day, stood there with a nervous look on her face, her eyes darting back and forth. "Oh! um, I wasn't expecting you here! My, uh, Deepest condolences Mr....?" I waved a off her condolences and settled in with a smile. "Thanks, and it's HK48, or just HK for short." She returned the smile, which dropped when she saw my clothes. "OH MY GOSH! WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR ATTIRE!?" After I had regained my hearing, I stood back up from my protective crouch. Regarding her with a more suspicious look. "Alot of things, self-defense, and being impaled at the top of them." She gasped, but quickly regained her posture. "Oh.....well.....How can I be of service?" "I'm just here to get some new threads is all. Can you help me?" "Of course! Can you pay for it?" I patted the bag by my side, a fat jingle escaping from it. "Probably." She motioned to the dais in the middle of the floor and asked me to remove my clothes. I stepped behind a privacy curtain and set to stripping down. Peeling off my coat, next came my boots, pants, and finally my shirt and boxers. So there I stood, stark naked, in the middle of a seamstresses house. "Eh, I've had weirder." I stepped past the Privacy curtain and into the middle of the dais, my junk hanging in the wind for all to see. I looked over to Rarity, to see her walking towards me with a measuring tape. Immediately, she set to work, measuring my arms and biceps, neckline, chest, ass, and other parts of my body. I shivered as I felt the cold metal touch my sack, and nearly fell over when she lifted my scrotum up with a hoof, and measured all the way around. She hummed in contemplation. "six and a half inch scrotum circumference, I can work that into any leggings." "Well, I was built to be as potent as possible." She blushed and let go of my jewels, Before snapping the tape back and stepping aside. "All finished, do you have any ideas?" So, I quickly told her of my wishes and paid her the due amount. Once she finished counting the money, she asked me to turn her sign over to 'Closed' "Why, it's the middle of the day?" "Well, you see, I have a spa day with Fluttershy to go to." "What's a spa?" --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Oh sweet Roses, this feels good." I sighed contently as delicate hooves rubbed out the knots and muscle ties in my back, slowly spreading a luke-warm oil over my skin. "I'm coming back here. Every.Fucking.Day!" > Envoy > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I lay in a blissful sleep, my muscles practically rolling off of me like a warm pudding. I snore very loudly, disturbing the rest of the patrons in the room with me. Soon, I feel a soft hoof attempt to nudge me from my dream and my precious family of Tanks. I attempt to roll over and mumble some small threats, but, it is to no avail. I am roused from my sleep by a very accented voice. "Pleaze, Mizzer Hk! Ju haf to go!" I grumble as I sit up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. I yawn as I swing myself over the table and onto the floor. I walk towards a changing room and enter inside. Donning my clothes before I pay the amount due and leave the establishment. I continue walking, having no idea where to go. 'I wonder if my weapons are done yet? Or the clothes for that matter? I need to find some work, maybe I'll become a Mercenary? I do like to shoot things, and with my current state, I'd be a pretty costly one.' I considered the idea for a while longer, thinking of where I would find a group that would accept me. 'Then again, I am pretty sick of killing for no reason. So, maybe a Military job? Get paid, have a squad, obtain high ranks, be renowned as a hero. Then again, I don't get paid that much, but all I have to support is me. Yet there is that one pony who comes around every so often, and if she wants this meat, then she better put a fucking ring on my finger.' My thoughts are interrupted when a certain pegasus flies down next to me. "Hey! You're that guy who held Twilight's Brother hostage!" "Yeah, I am, what of it Rainbow?" "Well, why aren't you in the dungeons?" "Official pardon. Now go crawl in a box or something." The mare took on a sour face, likely trying to believe such a statement. Before she suddenly remembered what she came here to do. "Oh yeah, Twilight said to be at the library later, something about you being selected for something by the Princess." I rolled my eyes at my luck, here I was, considering a military profession, and WHAM! I get selected for something. "Thanks for the info, Prism-dick, now fuck off." She glared at me, her face turning beet red at the insult. She crossed her hooves and hovered near me. "Why are you such a flank-hole all the time? Why do you always treat ponies with such contempt?" I continued walking, passing by shops and houses, a few foals dotted the road, playing tag, and other such games. I smiled at seeing them play. I always did like kids, they were completely innocent, and guilt free, and total angels. "Oh, look it it's 'Scootaloser!" "And Crapplebloom!" "And Sweetiewhale!" 'Most of the time' Over by the side of the road, were a collection of foals. Two stood by a building and were throwing insults at the other three, who looked like they were already close to breaking down. 'Better intervene before those three become psychopaths' "HEY! What in the hell is going on here?" The two insult throwing foals quickly snappped their heads to me, staring in wide eyed wonder, that is until the pink one grew a mischevious grin and turned her tongue on me. "Oh no! It's the angry monkey come to punish us!" She snorted in disgust. "What's a moron like you doing here?" 'Oh, hell no. I am not putting up with this shit. Gods of Child scarring, heed my call and lend me your strength!' "Oh, it's you, I've been looking everywhere for you, your dad is dead, crushed by some machinery down by the mine." She cut her laughter and stared at me in horror. "Da-Da-Da-Daddy's dead?" "Yep, got pulled into a grinder, heard him scream something fierce, then I saw him, he was sticking halfway out of it, his top half was screaming while his bottom half was all gibblet's and blood, seriously it was all like, 'pbbbbhhhht', and 'squish', and even some 'squamp'" Once I finished my description of her father's grisly death, which was complete with hand manuever's. The filly was in tears, before she could bolt, I stared into her eyes, making sure she could see straight into mine. "And I threw him in there because you were acting like a bitch." She bolted down the road, tears streaming down her eyes and screaming. "Daddy, I'm coming." I turned to the remaining three fillies. "So, who wants icecream!" -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------