After my impromptu meeting with Chloris, I had to go brief my friends on the fact that we were saving the Changeling race. Not a conversation I was looking forward to, but I gathered everyone in The Lab to tell them.
“If you’re wondering why we’re meeting here it's because Camden won't leave the lab.” I started. “And the other reason is because I kinda decided to save the changeling race by letting them make this island home. Meeting adjourned.” And with that I tried to quickly leave. But, as expected, I was stopped with questions.
“That's it?” Cody said. “Why did you need to get us all together to tell us that?”
“It’s kinda a big decision and I kinda did it without anyone's input so I thought I’d at least tell you all at the same time.” I said rubbing the back of my neck.
“Well that was a waste of time.” Nyjill said. “We don’t really care unless it affects us directly.”
“This does affect you. An entire race, hated by the rest of the world, is moving onto our island.” I said exasperated.
“Guess we just have faith in you.” Camden said never looking up from whatever he was working on. “You wouldn't agree if it put us or humanity in danger, so why worry about it.”
“Yah, you have a way of being...painfully honest sometimes, and if it jeopardized our plans you would have told them no straight up.” Matthew added.
“Ok, so at least my subjects have faith in their King.” I said smiling.
“Woah woah woah. Let's not let it go to his head now.” Nyjill interjected.
The rest of the group just chuckled or added their own playful insults. I officially dismissed the meeting and went back to the house hoping that Luna had not left yet. I had no idea when the Changelings would arrive. Unfortunately Luna had gone. And even more unfortunately I found dash in the conference room. She really didn't like that room so if she was there alone...this wouldn't be fun.
“Hello traitor.” Dash said sitting with her hooves steeped on the table.
“Sup Dash.” I greeted casually as I sat across from her, putting my feet up. “What beef you got with me?”
“First, eww. That is a nasty expression.” She said shuddering. “And second, you’re moving the changelings here!”
“First, sorry not sorry. Second, what I do with my country is my own damn business.” I was kinda mad that Dash was dissing Changelings so hard.
“What about all the help we provided?” She said angrily. “Are we just resources to you?”
“No, you guys are my friends, a title that can be revoked.” I said flat out mad at this point. “Maybe you should do some more research before you accuse Miss Brash. Celestia and Luna are the ones who suggested this move. Chrysalis is dead, gone, over. Now Chloris is ruler and she came to me personally with no protection to ask for my mercy and let what is left of their race live in peace.” Dash was looking slightly taken back by all this but I didn't let up. “Chrysalis was bad, I agree but she was bad to everyone. You spent a few days with her, her hive spent generations under her tyrannical rule. Now a new Queen has taken over and she doesn't even like to be called that because of how tainted that title is. There are only fifty Changelings left. Bet you didn't know that. So yah, I did say they can live here. Because I’m not a heartless bitch who can't think of the greater good.”
I was breathing heavy and looking down on Dash. I don't remember standing but she looked absolutely horrified. She shot out the door bumping into walls as she left crying. I felt a little bad...but only a little. She came back in before I could even calm down completely. She was still teary eyed but she looked determined.
“I’m sorry, I really needed that.” Dash said with hiccuping breaths. “What Chrysalis did to us was terrible, but me lumping every Changeling into that category is wrong. Will you please keep being my friend?”
“Of course Dash.” I said calmed by her show of bravery. “I’m sorry for yelling at you like that, my anger got the best of me. I value you and all your friends, as far as I’m concerned, you're one of us.”
She smiled and flew back out into the sky. Fastest pegasus indeed.
“I need to get myself in check.” I said to myself. “When a pony is the bigger man, you’ve got issues.”
My stomach growled and I figured I’d get a late lunch. “Pinkie will probably have something for me.” I said as I made my way over to the Caf as we called it. Imagine a school cafeteria building...run by a supersonic pink pony. That was the Caf. It was much larger of a building than we used because it was made for the influx of humans, we only used one station in it, but how one mare can keep fresh food on the buffet isle all day every day was amazing.
“Shawn!” I heard Cody yell. “It’s opening!”
“Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu.” I fuuuuuu-ed “Get the others, not the ponies. We need to explain shit first.”
“Got it.” Cody said running off as I went to the lab.
“Hey Camden.” I said strolling in the door looking nonchalant. “Wanna grab a bite to eat?”
“O haha.” He said unamused. “The old act nonplussed when in reality you’re nervous routine.”
“Yah, that one.” I said looking to the pulsing portal. “They only had a few weeks after we sent the message, isn’t this a little quick?”
“It is earlier than we expected.” Camden replied. “Charging the portal is much easier than we thought. I gave them some notes when I sent our instructions over, they seem to have streamlined the process.”
“But with that short a time they were either already gathering people or it’ll just be our friends from base.” I said hoping for the first.
“Regardless we have anywhere from a minute ago to an hour before people start coming through. Where is everyone?” Camden asked looking behind me out the door.
“Coming!” Cody shouted as he and the rest of the gang entered. “I had the ponies wait in the house/office. They’re only a call away.”
“Good, don’t want people freaking out over the world we found...although I think they’ll take colorful ponies and magic over zombies.” I said.
“We have an ETA?” Nyjill asked.
“Two minutes ago to an hour from now if I had to guess.” Camden listed off.
“That's helpful.” Matthew said.
“Fuck.” I exclaimed looking at Matthew...the Griffin. “Yah...Matthew, can you wait with the ponies? You’re kinda not a human.”
“I was thinking that but figured I’d bring him anyhow.” Cody said rubbing the back of his head.
“Yah, I can do that.” Matthew said turning to the door. “Just explain quickly so the rest of us can help.”
“Also, can yo radio Celestia and tell her our people are coming?” I asked as he left. He gave a quick salute of acknowledgement and turned the corner, out of my sight.
“Think he’s mad?” Nyjill asked.
“Ehh, maybe.” Cody replied. “But he is a mythical creature claiming to be one of the people sent over here...so that may be hard for people to take as soon as they jump realities.”
“Here comes someone.” Camden said getting our attention.
On cue the first of many stepped foot onto Equis. He looked at us, smiled, and stepped out of the way motioning us to do the same. A few moments later a man pulling a cart much like ours came through, and another, and another, and another. We told them to take them outside to save room in the lab. Ten carts and thirtyish people later someone came through a little more panicked than the others.
“There are raiders at the front doors!” He said panicked. “They blew through the first few lines of defence and attracted all sorts of zombies.”
A girl came through. “They blasted the last door and left. They’re going to let the zombies do us in.”
Another guy. “About half the people we found have come through so far, but we need to hurry The zombies are coming, and there are a lot of them.”
People were coming through much quicker and more panicked now. Cody, Nyjill, and I had weapons, ready to kill and Camden sat with his hand on the switch to shut down the portal.
A woman. “There's only the security group and the head scientist left. Security is holding off the hoard and the head scientist is keeping the portal open.”
Suddenly a group of battered men and women came crashing through along with a man in a lab coat.
“Shut it down now!” The Head Scientist yelled. “We set it up to detonate but with the time difference who knows what might come through.”
Camden flipped the switch but it was too late. Zombies were already in the tunnel and they had to come out somewhere. People fled the Lab, it was up to our group and the battered Security team to dispose of the zombies that made it through. At first it was only one or two at a time, but then it got worse. We had at least a zombie staggering out every second. I made up my mind, we needed assistance.
“Twilight, Rarity, Matthew!” I yelled. “We need help kicking zombie ass!”
Not a second later there was a bright flash behind us followed by blasts of magic. Matthew grabbed an AK-47 and started lighting them up as well. At first we tried crossbows to conserve the Lab...but this was life and death now. Camden had some strange laser rifle he had made, Cody had an automatic crossbow, Matthew had his AK, Nyjill had an AA-12, and I turned Changeling to fire magic bolts. The security team all had their own weapons too. Credit where credit is due, no one freaked out over the ponies or Matthew or the shapeshifting monster.
We held our ground throughout the hoards assault, the portal really bottlenecked them. We had an impressive pile of bodies before the portal finally went dark. It was over, we won.
“Well, let's hope there’s no round two.” I said sitting down. “Because mana isn't as easy to reload as a clip.”
“Is it over?” Twilight asked, panting.
“That was positively dreadful.” Rarity said, missing most of her usual dramatics. It was the tone of someone who was now scarred for life.
“It’s over.” I said walking over to the two. “I’m sorry we put you through that, but we couldn't have done it without you.”
“Uhh, Shawn?” A woman said from behind me. “Is that you?”
“Yah, sorry, we wanted to explain some stuff before this but…” I said turning to see my second in command security officer Jayna. “Shit happens.”
“Can I be excused.” Rarity said looking squeamish. “I need to go.”
“I'll take us back to the others.” Twilight said half to Rarity and half to me.
“Good idea, I’ll address the humans.” I said shifting back to my human form. The people that were watching (everyone in the Lab atm) were very confused to see me change. Everyone seemed focused on the zombies before.
“Security, hate to do this to you but can you take care of the bodies?” I asked the group. “I know you know how, and that's a load off my back.”
“Can do sir.” Jayna said without hesitation.
“Let's go guys, we have to fill humanity in on where they are.” I said gathering my group up. “And what to expect.”
We walked out to see a group of a little more than a hundred people. It was sad that this is what was left of our once globally dominating race but glad it wasn't just my group anymore...cuz we’re all guys.
“Greetings everyone!” I said over the hushed whispers, gaining everyone's attention. “My name is Shawn for those of you that don't remember, recognise, or know me. This is Camden, Cody, Nyjill, and Matthew. We were the people sent through the portal first to get ready for the arrival of the rest of you. And we are proud to say, we successfully bartered with the locals to get our own island, our own Country! So it is my honor to welcome you to Paulo Fragmen Terra on the planet Equis.” People applauded. “Now, about the locals..”