//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: Sniper of Equestria // by craz3br0ny //------------------------------// Date: October 7, 2563 Time: 1010 Hours Location: Everfree Forest, Equestria The mares had arrived at the scene. There were so much debris it almost covered the entire Forest. Twilight noticed a sniper rifle on the ground and a hand next to it. “What is that?” Twilight wondered. Getting close to it. The hand stirs, and tightens, making the mares hide. There are numerous man-sized shards of debris covering the man’s chest. He shoves them off and looks around. It was Josh. Twilight was satisfied by him, she can't stop looking at him. He then sits up and grabs his rifle. "Where are we?" He asked Jesabel. Jesabel answered, "Checking coordinate impact data…" But before she could do that, she was acting weird. Saying stuff like, "We have asked you to give up your family, your childhood, your future…" While sounding distorted. Josh shakes his head in confusion, and pulls out the data crystal chip containing her out of his helmet. Jesabel's avatar appears on it. Twilight noticed it, and she became more interested. “What in tarnation is that thing?” Applejack asked quietly. “I think it's a human.” Twilight answered. “And judging by the armor, I say, he is a Spartan.” Starlight agrees with Twilight. “What the hay is a Spartan?” Rainbow asked. Twilight shushes the mares, as she wants to listen to what the Spartan and his a.i companion are saying. "Jesabel…" He said, sounding worried for Jesabel. She apologized. "I'm sorry. It's the crash. I'm fine." Josh doesn’t buy it. "Something was wrong before we left the Eclipse." Jesabel tries to make him comfortable, but she sounds distorted making him concerned. "Josh, really, I'm fine." He stands up. Then stares at her to make her tell the truth. "Jesabel." She looks down to the ground. Then, she tells him the truth. "I was put into service eight years ago." He looks away, pondering. "Eight years…" "AIs deteriorate after Seven, Josh." He looks back at Jesabel. He won't accept the fact that she will die soon. Making him alone again. Then he remembered someone. "Potter." Jesabel tried to save his breath. "Josh…" "We need to find Potter." "Josh, please." She said depressingly. "She and my mother made you. She could fix you." She tries to cheer her up, but she has already accepted the fact that she will die eventually. "I won't recover from rampancy, Josh." She told him. He was determined to let her live longer. "If we could just get back to Earth, and find Potter, she could fix this." She then tells him, "Don't make a girl a promise you can't keep." The duo stops and looks up as they hear Covenant aircraft fly over them. A Phantom, escorted by two Banshees, fly over them at high speed. The mares did thee puts her same. Jesabel then tells him, "We need to move." She then disappears and he puts her back inside his neural implants. Starlight noticed that Twilight can't stop looking at him. “Twilight?” Then she moves without hesitation. “Twilight!” The mares quietly shouted. She wants to talk to him. Hoping that they'll be friends. As soon as she got close she clears her throat, then expected a sniper barrel looking at her. He was aimed straight on her head. Not moving a muscle. Waiting for her to attack. But all she did was greet herself. “Um… Hello sir.” Twilight announced. Making him lower his weapon. “You… can talk?” He asked her. She sighed in relief that she didn't get her brains blown out. “Yes I can, sir. My name is Twilight Sparkle. What's your name?” Josh was silent, confused by what he just encountered. Then he looked over to see her friends. “Are they with you?” He asked her. “Yes, girls! You can come out!” The mares slowly walks out. Nervous on what he will do. “I'm guessing they're civilians on this planet.” Jesabel spoke from his helmet. “Is that your little hologram person you were talking to earlier?!” Twilight blurted. Making both the Spartan and AI feel confused. “Y'all have to excuse the princess here.” Applejack told them. “Princess huh?” Josh said. “Well, are there any other humans here?” Starlight gladly answered his question. “Nope. You're pretty much the only human here. The rest of us are just ponies.” Then she asked him, “Are you a Spartan?” “I am.” He answered her. “Spartan 452. Lieutenant Josh Klarke, of the UNSC Eternity.” Twilight was so amazed by him, she just kept on asking him questions. “What's your home like? Do you have any friends? Are the rest of the humans Spartans like you? I have SO many questions!” “It'll have to wait. Right now, I need to track those ships so that I can find a way home.” He said to the ponies. But before he could leave, Twilight asked him, “Would you like a guide? You are technically new to Equestria. So it'll be the least I could do.” Then Josh did remember the covenant ships flew in that direction, making him worried that the ponies here are in danger of getting killed. And as just he was about to acknowledge, they heard explosions in the distance. “No…” The ponies, including the Spartan ran to the sounds. Looks like Josh is about to get his sniper dirty.