//------------------------------//
// Chapter 2: Rocky Start 
// Story: Max Payne: Pony Pioneer 
// by Acclamations 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 2: Rocky Start
        
        Max went into limbo as his body was transported to Canterlot. Twilight was frantic in the ordeal and sent a letter to Princess Celestia, detailing what events had just recently transpired, none of them good. Princess Celestia replied by sending a few guards and a carriage to take the “innocent” creature and Twilight to Canterlot for closer inspection. The ride to Canterlot made Twilight nervous, the blood on her face and horn were wiped clean, but it left a small layer of red on her coat. Max was next to her on a stretcher, not moving at all. His clothes were left intact, they didn’t want to disturb the already presumed deceased creature.
        “It’s already dead, why are we taking this to Canterlot again?” A guard asked his fellow crew.
        “By royal order, now shut up and keep moving. Princess Celestia is expecting this to come quickly.” A older voice growled at them, keeping the carriage moving. Twilight ignored the comment, focusing on Max’s body. Thoughts were racing through her head, telling her to get ready for magic kindergarten. Eventually, they arrived at the Royal Canterlot Airstrip, the castle’s personal airway for carriages. Twilight got off, along with the few pegasi carrying Max’s body. Max was then transferred, checked in and put into the operation room while Twilight sat outside in the waiting room, twiddling her hooves.
        In the west side of New York, I was born and raised, As a cop spending most of my days... Max thought. That Fresh Prince of Bel-Air song was stuck and he couldn’t do jack about it. Max sighed. Inside his mind. Shit was happening and he didn’t know what was going on. His muscles didn’t respond to him, his brain was basically dead, inactive, all he could do is think. And think.
        This must be what Hell is like. Or purgatory, who knows. I don’t, that’s for sure. In real time, the surgeon ponies were patching him up, pumping blood into him to keep him alive. Turns out the pony blood and human blood are almost the same, just a difference in color. Beep. Beep. Beep. went the machines. The surgeon ponies, a handful of them unicorns, used a healing spell to revert the damage and soon enough, the hole had sealed itself. A convenient bottle of painkillers were on the side table, and was put into Max’s pockets. One doctor noticed that there were already several inside Max’s pockets, but didn’t say anything, ignoring it. The clock that hung from the wall ticked ever so slowly, and eventually, the operation was finished. Twilight was giddy from waiting for Max, sitting outside for the whole four hours waiting for them to finish. When they came out, she rushed over to Max but was stopped by a doctor.
“He’s in a severe condition. We can’t judge on how he did in the operation but it would be best if he wasn’t touched for now. Any interference can reopen the wound.” Twilight sighed.
“Can I at least stay with him?” Twilight asked. The doctor smiled slightly. 
“Alright. But don’t touch the wound.” The doctor trotted away, tending to another patient. A few assistants pushed the small stretcher and was going to one of the administered rooms when another doctor stopped them.
        “Is this the creature?” The nurse noted. The doctors nodded, trying to wheel pass the nurse when she stopped it. “He’s to be put into one of the higher rooms.” The doctors shrugged and got onto the elevator, going all the way up. Reaching the 98th floor, the assistants got out and went to the designated room, 9807. They pushed it open and Max was transferred into the bed, still hooked up to the various chems and liquids that kept him alive.
        Being the dark was a common thing for Max Payne. Most notably, the duration of time after being knocked unconscious so many times, his head got used to it. Max started to wake up, his eyes slowly opened until a flash of light shone in his eyes, blinding him temporarily. Max grunted and heard a shuffling noise, followed by a hard smack to the ground. 
        “Ow...” The voice said. It sounded female, and a soft rubbing came afterwards. Max was really curious now. Who would put Max Payne into a hospital? Max forcefully opened his eyes, ignoring the light and everything came to view. It was a carpet room, with white walls and a nice window for the skylight. A small nightstand next to the bed that was conveniently perched into the corner of the room and some paintings on the walls. It was a one person room, but provided the regular necessities. It looked a lot like home. Max looked down at the floor and stopped slightly, but stared at the purple unicorn from earlier. Twilight can feel a pair of eyes look at her and stopped moving. All together, it looked like a picture. 
        Well, this is interesting, to say the least. I’m in a room with a purple unicorn, I guess. Max thought. Twilight turned around and smiled sheepishly.
        “H-h-hello.” She sputtered. Max’s eyes widened slightly, but stayed quiet. “I’m sorry for... what I did earlier...” She looked down at the carpet pattern, ashamed. “I just wanted to study you. You weren’t in any of the textbooks I saw and I was curious.”         
        Hmm, should I say anything or should I just let this play out? Max thought, again. Judging by her appearance, the unicorn was genuinely sorry and Max sighed. This caught Twilight’s attention but Max didn’t take his eyes off the unicorn. Twilight shrunk a bit. His eyes intimidated Twilight, but she pressed on.
        “I’m sorry.” She said again. She laughed a little. “Look at me, I’m talking to a creature who probably doesn’t understand what I’m saying.” 
        “Actually, I can understand every word that came out of your mouth.” Max said, cooly. Twilight was caught surprised and fell on her flank, crab walking backwards like you would do in 2nd grade gym class.
        “Y-YOU C-CAN T-T-TALK!?” Twilight exclaimed.
        “Yes yes, now get your ass up. You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Max retorted, crossing his arms. Twilight continued to sit there, which much to her dismay, made Max angry.
        “For God’s sake, get up!” Max mowed down Twilight’s train of thought and got up, laughing nervously.
        “S-sorry. Kinda got sidetracked...” She sat back down on the chair next to Max, who calmed down a bit.
        “So. Where am I?” Max said sternly. 
        Twilight was confused. “We’re obviously in Equestria, er...”        
        “Max Payne. And you?”
        “Twilight Sparkle. What kind of name is Max Payne?”
        “It’s a name that’s not from Equestria, smart one.” Max scoffed. Twilight ignored the comment.
        “So you’re not from Equestria? Then how’d you get here!” Twilight threw her hooves in the air. Every pony had to have heard of Equestria, there was no way he was telling the truth. Twilight chuckled. “Stop telling jokes, Max. Every pony heard of Equestria!” Max looked at her with a deep look. As if he’s staring into her soul.
        “I, for one, am not a pony, and two, I am not joking. Where the hell am I, Twilight. Sparkle?” Max jabbed a finger at Twilight’s belly, making her cough a little.
        “Princess Celestia?”
        “Who’s that.”
        “Elements of Harmony?”
        “What’s that.”
        “Nightmare Moon!?” Twilight was starting to panic.
“That’s what you call the moon?” Max sighed. Twilight was panicking, spacing out again. What if he’s a changeling? What if it’s an intruder out to harm the Princesses? How easily did he get here? Twilight, obviously over thinking things, jumped back and lowered her body into a fighting stance. Sort of how a dog gets aggravated and wants to defend its master or something.
        “How’d you get here and what do you plan to do with our Princesses?” Twilight said cautiously.        
“I fell out of the sky, if that makes sense.” Max replied. He can see the danger that was coming if he gave the wrong answer. Luckily, he was wearing his suit with 4 bottle of painkillers and his trusty pistol.
        Twilight didn’t buy it. “If you fell out of the sky, why haven’t you... you know... went splat?”
        “The hell if I know, I’m just here.” Max said. Max reached into his pocket and took out a bottle of painkillers and swallowed two pills before stuffing it back into his pocket. Max felt a tingling sensation, followed by numbness and then... nothing. Twilight cocked her head to a side, confused.
        “What was that?”
        “Medications.” Max lied. Max was on a Painkiller addiction, it was amazing how he’s still alive. Max got up and took off the tubes and finger clip, standing fully erect. Twilight was startled by his height, now getting a full view on Max. He was bigger than the Princess! Twilight’s animal instincts went into play and lunged at Max. Max turned around and saw a peculiar purple horn coming at him and grabbed it. Instantly, Twilight relaxed her muscles and moaned. Max raised an eyebrow.
        “You okay, Sparks?” Twilight didn’t say anything, her tongue hanging out of her mouth. Max smirked. He gripped a little tighter and Twilight moaned louder. Really erotically. 
        The fuck? Max thought. Max bent down, eye level to Twilight’s eyes which were now shaking. Twilight tried to speak but her words were slurred.
        “Sht-Sh-Shtop e-et” Twilight said. Her eyes were dilating. “Plu-Pluease.” Max chuckled before releasing the horn. Twilight’s head smacked the carpet with a comical thump and gathered herself, glaring at Max with wells of tears in her eyes.
        “Don’t ever do that again!” Twilight pouted and Max sighed.
        “Why not?” Max said, sarcastically.
        “The horn is the focal point of sensation to a unicorn.” Twilight explained. Max scratched his head.
        “So it’s a pleasure organ? I only thought females only had one.” Max chuckled. Twilight became flustered and blushed.
        “Well, that’s your fault for wanting to kill me... again.” Max sighed and opened the door, only to be rudely greeted by 5 other ponies. An orange, pink, white, blue and yellow mix of ponies stood at the door. The ponies gasped as they saw how tall Max was. Max just stared down at them and smirked.
        “Are you the purple unicorn’s friends?” Max said. His manly voice startled the ponies, the yellow one especially and cowered behind the orange and blue ponies. Twilight crawled out underneath Max and chuckled nervously. The orange one whispered something and the other ponies nodded in agreement.
        “Hehe, um, hey girls. This is Max. Max, these are my friends.” Twilight stuck her hoof out and pointed to them in order.
        “Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy.” Fluttershy meeped behind Applejack, and continued to hide. None of the ponies moved, which made Twilight a bit more nervous. It was until the orange one broke the silence.
        “Er, nice ta meet you, uh, Max.” Applejack stuck out her hoof and smiled sheepishly. Max bent down and shook Applejack’s hoof, scratching his head.
        “These ponies are like a box of crayons.” Max said.
        “Oh boy, a new friend! I better invite the ponies back in Ponyville for a party for our new friend oh what kind of cake should I make Chocolate Posie, Turquoise Lemon, Strawberry Rainbow, oh I should get streamers and confetti and punch and pin the tail on the pony and-” Pinkie Pie was rambling on and on whilst the others just tuned her out.
        “Er, while Pinkie Pie is deciding on a smashing party, I’m Rarity, clothes designer and fashionista.” The white one said. Max shook her hoof too.
        “Nice to meet you too... ” Max said. 
        Max stood up and so did Rainbow Dash, looking eye to eye at Max. Fluttershy whimpered as she lost her cover. 
        “Look buster, I don’t know what you are, but I’m watching you.” Rainbow Dash eyed him suspiciously and Max smirked. Twilight saw the tension and came in between.
        “Uh, ignore her Max, she’s just being Rainbow Dash. Running her mouth off.” Twilight said. Max laughed.
        “And what can a winged pony do to me, fly around me until I’m dizzy?” Max laughed loudly, which angered her.
        “I’ll show you what I can do!” She spread out her wings and Max stepped back into the room, getting ready for the assault. She spun around, giving herself extra momentum while Max relaxed his body. His eyes dilated and his breathing calmed. Rainbow Dash charged at Max, heading for his chest when Max’s Bullet Time kicked in. Time slowed dramatically for Max as the fast moving Rainbow Dash now became as slow as a child. Max turned his body and put one hand under her belly and one on her flank. Max started to guide her into the wall, Rainbow Dash being too late to turn. Time sped up as Max exited Bullet Time and successfully threw her against the wall, smashing her snout against a flower painting, knocking her out.
        “And that’s what you get.” Max said proudly. The other ponies were dumbstruck as what transpired.
        “He jus’ caught Rainbow like that..” The farm pony said. 
        “And threw her against the wall...” Rarity followed up. Fluttershy was overcome with fear and dove into Pinkie’s mane, her body being completely swallowed. Only her eyes were visible. Max turned around at the group of ponies.
        “Now you know first hand not to bother me.” Max tried to leave again when Rainbow Dash woke up from being knocked unconscious. “You have a hard head, don’t you?” Max scoffed.
        “Wow! That was so cool! How’d you do something like that!” Rainbow Dash started to circle around Max, shooting questions at him. “It was so fast! Faster than me, maybe!” Max sighed.
        “I need to get back to my hometown, where magical talking ponies don’t exist.” Max rubbed his eyebrows and proceeded to walk down the hallway when a purple construct blocked his path.
        “C’mon Twilight, stop bothering me.” Twilight didn’t move.
        “You just shoved Rainbow Dash into a wall!” She said it like it was the most unbelievable thing she ever saw, which at the time, it was.
        “She deserved it.” Max simple said.
        “Hey!” Rainbow Dash retorted. 
        “Let’s see what Princess Celestia has to say about this.” Twilight charged up her horn and fired a teleportation spell at Max, but Max dodged it and pulled out his pistol.
        “I’m going to give you a warning.” Max said bluntly. He cocked his pistol and aimed at Twilight’s head. Twilight fired the spell again, but Max dodged it easily. Twilight growled.
        “You never learn, do you.” Max aimed a bit up and fired repeatedly at Twilight. Bullets whizzed passed her face, locking her in position. The velocity and the shear wind force of a small metal bullet was enough for Twilight to drop the spell. Max put his pistol back into a hidden pocket in his suit and shook his head, disapprovingly.
        “Now, do we have an understanding? I’ll kill you if you get in my way. Which in essence, is what you tried to do.” Max said. Those words hit her hard and she shrunk. Max turned around and went to call the elevator. It finally beeped up to the 98th floor and Max got on. As the door closed, Max saw the ponies were scared, but he could see the sense that something bad was going to happen. In that case, he might as well prepare. The door closed with a shut, and the elevator went down. The ponies turned around and saw a wall full of holes, shaped like Twilight’s silhouette. 
        “Now, what should we do Twilight? Should we tell Princess Celestia?” Rarity asked. 
        “Of course, he’s too dangerous to keep unobserved.” Twilight responded. She charged her horn, once again, and teleported a certain purple dragon. “Spike, take a letter!” Twilight commanded. 
        “Twilight, I was in the bathroom.” Spike said.
        “And doing what? This is an emergency, Spike. There’s a threat to Equestria!” Spike sighed.
        “Let me get some toilet paper then, give me a minute. Spike went inside the bathroom and the girls heard a flush soon afterward.
        “Finally, my stomach feels much better!” Spike happily said. 


        Dear Princess Celestia,
        As you may have heard, we have encountered a mysterious upon Equestria and he was wounded when I... impaled him with my horn. We admitted him into a hospital with the utmost care and he has proven to be a major threat. He stopped my spell with an odd metallic device that fired metal cylinders at me, and are on our way to stop him now. 

        From your loyal student,
        Twilight Sparkle

        The group of girls proceeded to go down the stairs to catch up to Max, who strolled freely into the sunset.