I never expected this to happen, I'm playing my favorite competitive sport when a mysterious storm dumps me into a hostile land full of multicolored horses.
Have you ever been forcefully put into a situation in which you are constantly on the run? I have, and it is not fun. I was enjoying myself out on the field then suddenly I am attacked in another world. Life couldn't possibly hate me as much as these horses, right? Right?
As I check my gear for the fifth time tonight, I think over the last few days of chaos. Running from the local inhabitants, getting assaulted by royalty. There probably isn't much I haven't gone through yet. I'm sorry, im getting ahead of myself. Let's start from the beginning, I was about to arrive at the playing field when suddenly...
<6 days ago>
My phone rang with startling volume, I quickly silenced the outburst by flipping the phone open (yes I have a flip phone, got a problem?)
"Hello?" I asked, using the age-old start of conversations.
"Hey Calvin," replied a male voice I've heard for over 7 years. "You coming or not?"
I chuckle inwardly as I remember my friend's signature impatience. "I'm almost there, Ezra, hold your horses."
"Way ahead of you."
"What?"
"Nothing," the reply was faster than necessary, causing me to believe Ezra was hiding something. "Just meet me at the range when you get here."
"Will do, bye."
"Bye," I hang up and resume driving on the busy streets of Atlanta. Even on the outskirts is as thick as syrup, runs like it too. I weave my way through the cars parked on the side of the road (will people ever learn to use their driveways?) I catch sight of a stylized flag flying a few hundred feet in the air and I smile. Before I move on in the story I should probably say that this is airsoft, one of the best competitive sports in the world, and yes it is a sport. I've been playing since I was a little kid, it has always interested me and I have spent well over $30,000 in my whole career on this game. Hope that cleared any bumps along the way.
As I approach, I make out many features, an olive green tent serving as the main building, wooden fences everywhere, multiple vans and trucks parked all willy nilly, and literally a metric shit ton of people standing about, all wearing military uniforms. I park my old pickup in the designated parking zone, one of the only people to do so, and head to the range, a simple settup of sandbags and archery targets down range. I spot a familiar short guy with long, black hair, standing in to open wearing a dark blue uniform.
"Ezra!" He jumps at the sound of my voice. However once he realizes it's me, he runs over carrying all his gear in various packs.
"It's about time you showed up, the match is about to begin."
"Yet you're not even ready," I pointed to the packs.
"Oh, this isn't for the match. Well, it kind of is. It's- you know what, I'll just show you." He put down one of the camo bags and opened it, making sure I didn't see inside. He rummaged around for a bit before his hands emerged, holding in each hand something that looked like a light blue crescent moon with wings.
"What is this?"
"The NLR," I gave him a blank look, "the New Lunar Republic. I made us an official squad. I even made matching uniforms," with that he pulled out a second uniform similar to the one he was wearing.
"Okay, I know you and I are best friends, and I respect everything you like, but what the fuck is the New Lunar Republic shit about, we never liked squads."
"Oh, I decided we could give it a try."
"And where did you come up with the name, definitely sounds original." Ezra cringed at this. Oh no, this is what he was hiding.
"Yeah," he started off slowly. "I got the name from a fandom."
I didn't know how to respond to this, first he goes against what we have been doing for many years, and now he's paying attention to fandoms?
"Are you a part of this fandom?"
"Yes," then he hesitates, bad sign. "They call themselves bronies."
"What the fuck is a brony?"
He pulls out his phone and pulls up a picture of a group of coloured cartoon horses, there was a cyan one with wings and a rainbow mane and tail, a pink one with a bouncy pink mane and tail, obviously very hyper, next was a purple unicorn with a dark blue mane and tail with a pink stripe running down the center...
"And that's Fluttershy, that's Rarity, and this one is Applejack."
"Okay, they are just a bunch of characters, I don't see the big deal."
Ezra seemed to relax a bit. "Oh, well you better get dressed, match begins in 15 minutes."
"Yeah, good idea." I pick up the spare uniform and head to the restrooms.
<a few minutes later>
We stand in the middle of a wooded area with a few dilapidated buildings in front of us. Ezra and I are wearing the matching uniforms with the moon emblem ironed on to our right shoulder. We both hold M4A1 standard issue assault rifle with a few attachments mounted on. We don't look badasses, but we sure as hell feel like ones.
A loud blast of a siren signaled the start of the match. Everyone heads out in different directions. Ezra and I sprint out into the open, seeking cover on the front lines. We dive into cover just as the BB's start flying, catching a few unprepared players out in the open. Some where hit, calling out medic and putting their arm in the air.
"Newbies," I chuckle to my self. I risk a peek over the brick wall we are hiding behind and I see an enemy squad flanking us. I pull up my weapon and let loose some poorly aimed shots, scattering the group. Ezra however, didn't notice this, instead he was staring up at the sky.
"Those clouds are moving overhead fast."
"Focus Ezra," I say as I slide in a new clip. "We still have a job to do."
"Yessir."
We get up and run towards a building which hasn't fallen down from the elements yet, and set up a line of fire towards the general direction of the enemy base.
"You see anything?"
"Nothing. Let's advance," Ezra goes to get up when I pull him down just as a round flies where his chest was a second ago. "Horey shit, how did you know he was there?"
"I didn't." A distant shout signaled someone was out of the game, having already been healed once.
"Ready?" I ask. Ezra nods, gripping his M4 hard. "Let's go." We run off in separate directions, zigzag-ing between cover, moving closer to the sniper, who tries to take care of us both, only to be taken out by a burst from Ezra's gun. We meet back up and sprint out in the open field, a killzone for anyone.
<Enemy player, 3rd person>
Ramel couldn't help but keep looking at the clouds, he noticed they were different that normal storm clouds, faster, darker, and lower. He tried to focus on the game but his vision kept slipping skywards. Luckily he never ran into an enemy.
Ramel looked out into the field he was overseeing, he drummed his fingers on his bolt-action rifle, waiting for some unlucky soul to charge out into the open, where many of his fellow teammates were aiming, creating a deathzone.
His wish came true as he spotted two players in dark blue uniforms charging his position. Ramel lined up his scope to take a shot at the two idiots when something unexpected happened.
The air became thick and warm, almost like someone turned on a huge conventional oven in a small room. Next, Ramel's hair stood on end and his skin began to tingle. Finally in an overdramatic conclusion, a huge lighting bolt flashed across to sky, hitting the two people down in the clearing. The bolt was bright enough that everyone watching the two were momentarily blinded. Ramel recovered before anyone else and was met with a sight that frightened him.
The two players were gone, and in their place was a giant crater, flaming in spots. Ramel cried out, in a voice louder that anyone else's the entire game. "Cancel the match!" Which no one has ever said out loud on this field, causing an uproar from the officials.
<Calvin 1st person>
I awaken to a splitting headache and a cold hard floor. I try to get up but find my limbs too weak to use. I'm able to turn my head and look to my side, finding Ezra sprawled out on the floor as well.
"Ezra, you okay?" I get a groan as a reply. I turn my head back and think about what just happened. Last thing I remember is me and Ezra charging across an open field, bright flash, then numbness.
As I try to wrap my head around these events, I am greeted by an angry feminine voice. "Why art thou on the floor?" A pause. "And why must thou carry deadly weapons!" I feel myself leaving the floor at an alarming rate (as if floating off the floor was normal) and turned around. I am face to- err... muzzle with a dark blue horse with a horn and a pair of wings. Most interesting of all was her hair, which looked like it contained all the stars in the night sky, and moved on its own, in a gentle flowing motion. Next I was thrown backward, hitting the wall behind me, and got knocked unconscious.
I awaken to the sounds of high pitched voices around me. I try to sit up but find I can't move even the slightest. Probably due to the fact that a heavy weight was pressing down on my chest.
I try and ask where I am but all that comes out is a soft groan.
"I think it's waking up." I open my eyes to a high ceiling decorated with tinted glass and gold insets. I rotate my head to get a better view of what is on my chest and come face to face with the horse from before.
"What the-" I was caught unaware as her horn glowed and my speech got muted. Wow what a way to treat someone.
The equine continued to stare at me until she looked at a nearby door. "Ah, Twilight, you came."
"Of course princess, I wouldn't dare to miss this opportunity."
"Do you have the elements?"
"Yes, they're in my saddlebags." I heard some fabric rustling and the horse on my chest nodded.
"Good, we might need them."
"Um, princess? What is that you're standing on?"
"It is the reason I called you here, I thought you could handle these two."
"Well get off it, that's no way to treat somepony."
The princess, I assume that's who is on me, steps off me. I sit up now being able to move, and look at my surroundings. The walls were in the same design as the ceiling. Around me were two dark gray bat-like creatures clad in blue armor. Near the door were a group of 6 horses, who I could of sworn I have seen before, staring at me. I look over to the princess and nod my head in the direction of the newcomers. Her horn lighted up in a blue aura again and faded, finally she nodded. I look back over to the group again.
"Uhh, hi?" With that, a purple unicorn started trotting towards me.
"Hello, my name is Twilight Sparkle, what's your name?"
Suddenly I dawned on me why these creatures looked so familiar. I remember Ezra talking about them before the airsoft match. I look over to Ezra, who hasn't moved from his position since we arrived.
"My name is Calvin."
"Glad to meet you!" She noticed the way I was looking at my friend. "Go ahead and check on him."
I stood up, which surprised a few of them considering I was a full foot higher than the tallest of them, and walked over to Ezra. I crouched next to him and shook him gently.
"Ezra? Wake up buddy." He groaned just like I did when I first woke up. I shook him harder. Finally he sat straight up quickly.
"Ahh! Huh? Where are we? Oh it's you, Calvin."
"Of course it's me. Now come on, we have company."
"What?" Ezra looked around the room and his eyes settled on the ponies scattered around us. His eyes widened considerably. "What the fuck? Are we in equestria?"
Twilight spoke up. "Yes, but how you do you know of us? Nopony on Equis has seen anything like you."
Ezra looked blank for a moment before he said, "I must be dreaming. I'm dreaming, right?" He was awarded with me shaking my head.
"I assure you this is very real."
Ezra stands up, not quite towering over the colourful ponies. He looks around him, still uncertain about his predicament. Suddenly he punches himself in the gut, doubling over at the sudden pain. "Yep," he groaned. "This is real."
The princess rolled her eyes. "Was there ever any doubt? Alright Twilight you can go, they seem to be of no harm."
"Yes princess." She made to exit the corridor with her friends.
I look to the princess, "What are you going to do with us?"
"Put you in confinement until I am absolutely sure you won't harm anypony here with your weapons."
Oh hell no. They aren't locking me up, even if they are friendly. I notice our guns lying nearby ,so I decide to take matters into my own hands.
I wisper to Ezra, "Follow my lead," he grunts lightly. I face the princess.
"I'm sorry but I can't do that."
She frowns. "Why not?"
The next thing I do surprises everyone, including me. I bring back my arm, and throw it full force into her face. She wobbles a bit, and falls flat on the floor, unconscious. Ezra and the two guards stare at me in shock. The guards take notice of what I did and charge for me. I side step them and pick up my weapon, aim at them, and squeeze, finding it hard to pull. Damn it, safety. I flick a switch on the side of the handle with my thumb and squeeze again, sending a few rounds into the vulnerable flesh of the two bat-like ponies. They recoil slightly, but stop where they are. I take this opportunity to run up to them and use my gun as a club. Lets just say that it will be hard to remove those dents in their helmets. I walk back to Ezra, picking up his gun on the way, and give it to him.
"Come on, let's get out of here." He continued to stare at me in disbelief.
"Do you realize what you have just done?"
"I allowed us to escape."
"You attacked Princess Luna and her guard, probably invoked the wrath of her sister, and made us public enemy number one. What has gotten into you?"
I ignore the question. "Come on, before they wake up." I start walking to the door when a mighty voice shook the walls.
"Halt!"
I look behind me and see a majestic white pony with wings and a horn. Her rainbow mane flowing in invisible wind. She was looking straight at me and scowling.
"Let's go!" I open the door and run out, Ezra following close behind me. Blasts of energy shoot out around us. We turn a few corners and spot the group from before.
"I can't believe see called us up here just for that."
"Don't worry dear, the princess just wanted to make sure those weird creatures were harmless."
We run right by the group, startling all of them.
"Where are you going?" Asked Twilight.
"Fuck you, that's where."
One of them scoffed, "Ugh, how rude."
Suddenly a sparkle sounded behind us.
"Stop them! They attacked Luna!"
I heard one of them flap their wings and fly towards us. I waited until the pegasus was right behind me, turned around and swung the butt of the gun into a cyan pony with rainbow hair. She instantly fell to the ground, tumbling into the wall. I turned back around and continued to run. Desperate to get out of this building. I catch up with Ezra and head towards a large set of open metal doors. We run out of the building, leaving the guards standing by the opening in a blur. As we head out into an intricate city, I hear yelling from behind.
I take a look around me as we exit through the doors. A group of dapper-looking ponies were staring at us as we ran, a few guards in golden armour were chasing us, and Ezra was looking frightened and confused, both emotions struggling to take over the other.
"Come on! Let's get out of here." I yelled behind me. We run by a group of ponies in dresses and they all shout out at us, calling us monsters. I turn down an alleyway and hit a dead end. I hear Ezra behind me, panting from running so hard.
"Look for a way out." He called out.
I began looking around, a few trashcans were tipped over, litter was thrown around the small space, and a grate on the ground was uncovered, inviting me to open it. I take a closer look and find it latched to the pavement. I pick up a nearby hammer, strange how often convenient tools just pop up, and start banging on the rusty latch, trying to pry it open. Obviously enough, the hammering created a lot of noise, and the golden armoured ponies showed up at the entrance to the alley.
"Hurry up, Calvin! The guards are here!"
I look back over my shoulder and begin hitting the latch with renewed vigor. The latch was starting to come up, ever so slightly.
"Calvin, they got guns!" Another look over my shoulder confirms that the guards have what appears to be long, scope-less rifles attached to their sides. A pale, blue light was emitting from deep in the barrels, and from holes on the side of the weapon.
Oh fuck. This won't end well. Finally the latch gives way and bends, but in the wrong direction! I quickly hammer it around and pull up the latch.
"It's open, come on!"
Ezra turns and lowers himself down into the hole. I get up to follow when a single word sounds out behind me, chilling me to my bones.
"Fire!"
A sound not unlike an air compressor going off followed rays of light from the rifles. Most of them miss, then again it must be hard to aim as a pony, hitting the brick behind me. However, a sudden, searing heat ignites in my upper right arm, causing me to cry out in pain. I waste no time and start crawling toward the hole in the ground. The guards start running towards me, eager to get me before I escape. Right before they get to me, a ray of red energy shoots towards the golden armoured ponys, stopping them in their tracks. I look up with them to the rooftops, spotting two ponies, each wearing a long flowing cloak, making it impossible to tell who they are with the sun behind them.
"Don't just sit there," shouted a feminine voice. "Go down there!"
I push myself into the hole and ease myself in, as im about to let go, I fell something poke my head, hard. I look up into the barrel on one of those rifles, slime, and let go. As I fall, I hear the gun discharge.
After what seems like forever, which I understand may be about two seconds, I hit the ground. I look around, I seem to be doing a lot of that lately, and find myself in what looks like a sewer, but is much cleaner than one. I see Ezra to my side, talking to me. No sound reaches my ears, however, and I black out from loss of blood.
<Princess Celestia, 3rd person>
Celestia was waiting impatiently for the results of the squad she sent out to chase the two bipedal creatures. As she was pacing around the throne room, a few thoughts went trough her head.
Why did they attack Luna?.... Are they always going to be this hostile?.... Can they be caught and reformed if so?....
Obviously, nopony knew the answers to these questions. She continued pacing as the great doors opened and a familiar white unicorn with golden armour appeared.
"Ahh, Shining Armor. Do you have the field report?"
"Yes your highness, the enemy has escaped underground." A slightly worried look flashed across Celestia's face.
"However," continued Shining Armor. "We also received reports of two unknown ponies wearing dark cloaks, who aided in their escape by attacking the guard."
This caught Celestia's attention.
"How did they attack the soldiers?"
"I believe one of them shot out a red beam. Why, do you know them?"
Celestia walked over to the only window that wasn't made into a display of stained glass, and looked out onto the roofs of the buildings of Canterlot.
"Yes," she answered after a pause. "I'm all too familiar with them."
I awaken to a blurry, white light in my face. I can vaguely felt someone slapping my face, I try and get away from it, desperate to go back to sleep. What I get in return is an even harder slap, persuading me to get up. My vision starts to focus and I can make out the blurry outline of a very hairy head.
"You okay?" Asked a distorted voice, I didn't pay it any more attention other than to respond.
"Yeah," I groan. "That was quite a fall huh?" The figure looked up.
"About 30 feet." 30 feet? Doesn't feel like it.
"Well we should get going." I try to stand up but get a stab of pain in my right shoulder.
"You should really stay off that, oh what is it called," said a new voice. "Arm?"
"Yeah, no shit." I say through clenched teeth. I look at my shoulder and see a still blurry image of something white wrapped around my arm. I lay back down, waiting for my vision to clear. The figure walks over to my injured side and starts prodding my arm.
"Ahhh! What the fuck are you doing?"
"Just making sure it's healing."
"Surely there is a better way than poking the damn thing."
"True, but we don't want you to bleed out everywhere." Wait a second....
"We?"
"Just wait for your vision." And so I waited, both begging to know who is talking, and fearing what I will find. As my vision steadily increases in clarity, I am now aware of another form to my left, hunched over in a sitting position, and breathing hard.
"Ezra?"
"Yeah?" He sounds a bit hoarse, get it? Anyone? Aw you're no fun. Anyways it sounds, and looks as if he took a bigger hit than me when he landed.
"Where are we?"
"You're in the underground tunnels of Canterlot." It wasn't Ezra who said this but the figure to my right. I look over to him and focus on him. Eventually, my vision clears enough to see a 4-legged creature with a black garment covering it.
"Who are you?" I asked.
"My name," he pulls back the hood covering his head. "Is Silver Shadow."
I am greeted with a very dark gray unicorn, with a dull white and black stripped mane. Most interesting of all were his eyes. One was a regular gold, while the other was red, and purple. One color forming a half circle before switching to the other color.
I screamed out loud, not wanting to be around any kind of pony because of recent events. Shadow hurried to close my mouth with his hoof.
"Quiet," he hissed. "Do you want the guards to find us?" I shook my head. "Then stay quiet and I will explain everything." I nodded and be took his hoof away from my mouth.
"So, why haven't you attacked us," I point to Ezra, who put his head up at the scream.
"Why would I want to?"
"Because I attacked one of your leaders!" Then, unexpectedly, Silver started to laugh.
"You think I give," he said between between breaths. "A damn about the princesses or their subjects?" This put me off a bit.
"Wha-?"
"After all," he stopped laughing. "They were the ones who did this to me." He pointed his hoof at his bicolored eye.
"What is that exactly?" I asked, my curiosity peaked.
"A mark that signifies that you have been banished from the nation." I didn't know what to say, luckily he kept going. "Of course I didn't leave, they couldn't get me to unless the princesses themselves came to me. Which, is highly unlikely, all they do is stay up in that big castle of theirs, letting lesser ponies do all the dirty work for them." Shadow was shaking his head slowly, as though he wants to forget something, but doesn't want to let it go.
"Anyway, why did you attack the princesses?" He looked up at me with those weird eyes, as I looked into them, I noticed that the left one, the red and purple one, has switched position of the colors.
"I'd rather not say."
"Hmm. Fair enough." He looked over to Ezra. "Looks like your friend finished recovering from the fall."
I look over to Ezra and find him standing, err leaning, on the side of the tunnel. He's looking between me and Silver, a look of shock cast upon his face. He silently mouthed something, looked around, then looked back at me.
"Umm, Calvin?"
"Yes?"
"Is that a pony?"
"Yes."
"I thought you didn't like them."
"Exceptions can be made."
Ezra looked as if he were in a foreign land. Yes I know we are already in another world... just... SHUT UP! You know what the fuck I ment.
He continued to look between me and Silver when eventually he just shrugged his shoulders.
"Oh well," he picked up his gun. "Guess people can change."
"What is that? It looks similar to the pulse rifles that the guard uses?" Shadow trotted towards Ezra and looked at the gun, obviously interested.
"It's my airsoft rifle, it shoots non-lethal bullets at your target." Shadow moved his jaw to the side.
"We may need to get you better guns, those things won't even go through the cloth armour of the old days."
"Shall we get going? We've waited here long enough." I asked with hint of frustration in my voice.
"Yes," agreed Silver. "Before the guards arrive."
He starts walking and we follow after they help me onto my feet.
As we walk down the tunnel, I hear thundering from above.
"Sounds like they are looking for me." Sighed Shadow.
"So, why are you helping us?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Shook my head. "No? Well then, I want to get back at Celestia and overthrow the throne. What better way to do that then get help from someone who hates here as much as I do?"
"I don't know, maybe use someone in her inner circle?"
"Nah, won't work. Everypony loves Celestia. Plus, nopony would talk to me since my eye is like this."
"So are we the only ones on your side?"
"No, there's 2 more ponies that hate her. They were banished at the same time I was. Ever since then, we stuck together and fought for each other."
"So, you going to introduce us?"
"When we get back to our base."
"Base?" Ezra finally decided to join the conversation. "What do you mean 'base?'"
"You'll see." With that we keep walking.
<Celestia, 3rd person>
Celestia watched as the courtyard filled up with armour clad ponies, eagerly awaiting her orders. As the last one stepped into formation, Celestia began.
"I have called you all here to make you aware of a new threat." A few of the ponies shuffled on their hooves. Celestia uncovered a drawing of a dark gray unicorn. "He is considered extremely dangerous and highly skilled in offensive magic. If you see him, go after him in a large group. If you catch him, which will be unlikely, bring him to me." Celestia looked over the crowd, finding determined faces on everypony.
They have no idea what they're up against, thought Celestia.
"You're dismissed." The soldiers walked away in small groups.
<Ezra, 1st person>
I couldn't believe Calvin. After what happened at the castle, I was sure he would distrust every pony we came across.
"How much longer?" Calvin asked.
"Just a bit longer," replied the unicorn. "Believe me, you'll know when we have arrived."
Calvin didnt look pleased. I could tell that he definitely wanted to get things rolling. As we walked along, the tunnel startex to gradually turn into some type of metal. A little ways down we come across a narrow hole in the wall, opening up to a shroud of darkness. Shadow went up to it and knocked 3 times, then 2, then 5.
"Coming." Calls out a feminine voice.
Calvin and I looked at each other. Shortly, a section of the wall opens up, Shadow walks in, and motions us to follow. We reluctantly obey, and walk through the opening. I am instantly greeted by a poke on the back of my head.
"And who might you be?"
"Lower the weapon," said Shadow. "They're no threat."
The pressure on my head went away. I turn around and find a gryphon. She was staring at me with a mixture of hatred and curiosity.
