After some time of flying, Raptor looked up from observing the forest below to see a large cloud formation in the sky in front of them. Rows and rows of cloud homes lined in a nice grid creating suburbs around the center of the cloud city. The center being more like the commercial district having large monolithic like buildings. Raptor noticed a strange resemblance to Greek architecture in many of the cloud formations. A massive coliseum could be seen to the far west of the cloud city.
Orion and Scootaloo drew close to the streets below, but didn’t land. Raptor watched the pegasus ponies milling about with their every day lives. “There it is Scoots!” he exclaimed over the wind and pointed down a near by street. The small cloud building was minute in comparison to the large downtown skyscrapers surrounding it. On the edge of the roof in big florescent lighting read Sky Cloud’s Breakfast. Orion touched down in front of the entry way allowing Raptor to hop off. He landed on the clouds in a puff, but did not fall. he stuck his arms out as if to maintain his balance and then took a step. Scootaloo landed on his other side of him to watch. As soon as his weight transferred to his other foot, it slipped from under him and he landed on his back in a cloud of mist. Both the pegasi laughed as he sat up with a grunt.
“Dammit all why can’t I-” he looked at the ponies near him and noticed that their bare hooves were touching the clouds. With an idea, he reached down and undid his military boots. As he slipped them off he cupped his thumbs around his socks the become completely bare footed. Raptor sat the boots aside and put his feet under him. He stood up real fast and waited for the loss of friction again. However, this time the pads of his feet gripped the wet squishy surface and he was able to stand normally. He reached down and picked up his boots and shoved them into his backpack. “It would seem that the shoes’ artificial surface was incompatible with Twilight’s spell, preventing total friction on the clouds surface.” The two Pegasi looked at him disinterested.
“Good to see that you can walk around, now let’s eat!” exclaimed Scootaloo as she darted into the building.
“Yeah, mister scientist, I’m hungry!” Orion jested as he walked into the quant diner.
Raptor looked around for a moment and noticed what few passers by that were in this area were stopping to stare at him. He sighed and entered the restaurant. As soon as the door shut behind him he could tell every pony in the building had stopped what they were doing to see who this strange creature was. He spotted Scootaloo and Orion at the counter sharing a cup of chocolate milk. He meandered awkwardly to them and sat next to Scootaloo. The feeling of unrest kept crawling up his back as Raptor couldn’t stop feeling every eye on him.
“YES! He’s a Human, now stop yer gawkin’ and geht back tuh eatin’!” shouted the bar tender. He walked up to Raptor and leaned against the counter. “Name’s Sky Joe. Sorry ‘bout all d’em. They ain’t never seen a Human before.” Raptor looked up at him in befuddlement.
“And you have?” he asked.
“Shooooot naw. I just know the stories of yer kind bein’ ‘er before.”
“Before? So that’s how y’all know I’m a Human.” Raptor sat up, his uneasy feelings being replaced by curiosity.
“Yeas sir, been a couple thousand years ‘er so, but Princess Celestia her self has brought ‘em ‘ier every time.” the bar tender pulled out a glass and started wiping it down with a cloth he had pulled from his shoulder.
“So…that’s why my world has depictions of unicorns and pegasi…”
“Well, I guess so.” he plopped the empty glass down on the cloud counter and gave Raptor a smug grin. “What’cha be havin’, Human?”
“Well…I guess I’ll get some pancakes and a glass of chocolate milk.”
“Comin’ right up” Sky Joe disappeared into the back through some double doors. Raptor took the opportunity to break Scootaloo and Orion from their gaze into one another’s eyes.
“Hey you two…” he said.
“Yeah?” Orion asked as he spun around on his stool.
“Why didn’t y’all tell me about Humans being here before?”
“We didn’t think it was important.” Scootaloo said as she leaned over the counter.
“I guess it isn’t really…but at least now I have one less question for Celestia when I get back to Canterlot.”
“Questions?” Joe asked as he walked out from the back with cartons of milk on his back being held by his wings. He turned next to the counter and used his wings to place the two little cartons there. He then used his snout to bite a hole in the tops. After spitting out the cardboard he then dumped the contents of each container into the cup in front of Raptor. He smiled at the familiar drink set in front of him.
“Yeah, I’ve been wondering a lot of things. Like, for instance, how is it we all speak the same language?” he reached down to his now full cup and took a good swallow of cold milk. He sat the half full drink back on the counter and wiped away the remnants off his mustache.
“That’s a really good question, Human.” said a voice from behind him.
“Now Velocity, what’d I say ’bout you an’ yer coppers bein’ in my diner. You scare away all meh business when yer here.” Joe said in a gruff at the pegasus behind Raptor.
“Don’t you worry, Sky Joe, we’ll be out of your way a soon as we take this Human in for some questions.”
“Anything you wanna ask me you can do it right here.” Raptor snorted without turning around.
The pegasus grabbed the Human by the shoulder and spun him around on the stool. Raptor was now face to face with a tall dark hared pony. His coat was a deep orange and he possessed a Cutie Mark in the form of three stars arched over two crossed swords.
“I’m Velocity, new Chancellor to Canterlot. I was the captain of the police force here, but I got promoted.”
“Congradu-freaking-lations…why the hell should I care?” Raptor asked with a flat, uncaring expression.
“Well, because I can still lock you up, for whatever the fuck I want.”
“Velocity, get out of my restaurant if yer gonna be usin’ dat kinda language.”
“Shut it gramps.” Velocity sneered and then returned his attention to his Human adversary. “Come with us, you’re not allowed into the Coliseum.” Velocity took a step back, allowing two white pegasi in golden armor step forward. Their armor resembled Celestia’s guardsmen, but a different crest resided on their chests. It was of three towers behind a cloud with wings on each side. A lighting bolt came from the bottom of the cloud and a large circle resided behind the whole emblem.
“What makes you think I’m going to the coliseum?” Raptor asked.
“Your with two students from the flight academy. It doesn‘t take a genius to figure out where your going. Now, don‘t move, I wouldn’t try anything if I were you.” Velocity said through a grin.
Raptor lowered his head, and closed his eyes. Using his spirit energy he sent out subtle pulses to try and identify his surroundings. In a short moment he noticed that all three pegasi barred him from the door. To his right, and their lefts was the rest of the diner, with at least a couple dozen civilians lounging in booths or at tables. He opened his eyes, he was ready.
“I’d recommend moving. Celestia ordered me to not kill any of you, and I‘d like to obey those orders.” Raptor said in a flat, careless tone. Orion and Scootaloo were completely enthralled in this event unfolding in front of them, neither were able to breath with the tension in the air mounting.
“You’re coming with us, Human.”
“No, I’m not.”
“Fine.” Velocity turned to step outside. He stopped at the door and looked back over his shoulder at them. “Take him.” he ordered.
Before anyone could breath another breath, Raptor slowed his perception of time. With his hunger, this was a very difficult task. Everything around him slowed as the two pegasi in front of him just barely were able to move into a step forward. In one quick movement he pulled both swords from their hilts and dashed in between the two guards. He folded his arms to where the swords were pointing out opposite sides perpendicular to him. He then jabbed outward, sliding both blades hilt deep just behind the two stallions fore legs. This was, if you were a hunter, the spot you would fire your arrow at should you be hunting wild game with a bow. Raptor figured this would also be the money shot on ponies.
With the blades still buried in the chests of both guards he released his hold on his perception. To all the bystanders in the room, Raptor had became a blur of movement that in one solid motion was between the two pegasi. The little momentum they had built carried them behind Raptor as he released his swords so that the two equines could slam into the cloud floor, lifeless. Loud gasps were heard as Velocity stood staring at the bloody scene in shock. Raptor was breathing heavily as it took most of his spirit energy reserves to not only “scan” the room, but to slow “time”.
He leaned forward, propping himself up on his knees, taking in deep breaths as sweat began to bead on his forehead. Velocity turned to face the Human and slowly backed away. Raptor went to reach for his swords but they weren’t where they were supposed to be. The two pegasi guards were beginning to sink through the cloud floor. Apparently it would seem whatever magic binds the pegasi to the weather, dies with them. Quickly he lunged backwards to catch the last parts of the swords just before they fell through the cloud floor. They slid out of the sides of the dead bodies and he was able to pull them from falling a couple thousand meters to the planet surface. He swished the two blades through the air, flinging blood onto the floor nearby. After ensuring they were clean enough, he slid them into their sheaths. A humming could be heard as the two sheaths for his swords came to life, cleaning the blades where they sat.
Raptor looked at the exit to see Velocity no longer there. Instead two more silhouettes approached. He could only imagine more resistance. He balled up his fists, putting his right up near his head and his left across in front of him in a position to block any incoming attacks.
“Sky Joe, you got those pancakes?” Raptor said, sweat running down his face.
“Uh…yeh…why?” the pegasus responded confused.
“I’m gonna need’em to go please.”
“Of course, lemme get’em wrapped up fer yah” he disappeared into the back again.
Raptor panted in anticipation as the two shadows on the door just stayed there. They seemed to be looking at one another and fidgeting, almost as if the two ponies didn’t want to enter. He chanced a look at Scootaloo and Orion. Both of them were just sitting there, barely breathing, their eyes wide with surprise at the scene unfolding in front of them. Maybe they had forgotten he was a killer. It is his job, to kill. The doors opening behind Raptor made him jump as Sky Joe came back with a bag full of pancakes. Raptor stepped back, still facing the entryway, and grabbed the bag. Using his spirit energy he opened his backpack’s zipper and then reached over his shoulder to slip them inside. He closed his pack and then returned to his ready position.
“JUST GET THE FUCK IN THERE!” Velocity’s voice could easily be heard. The two pegasi slowly opened the door and one began to step in. Raptor looked at his two companions.
“I’ll see y’all at the stadium. Don’t worry, I’ll be watching.” the two young pegasi nodded, indicating they understood his statement. He grinned and looked at the Pegasus that now had his head poking inside. He was looking nervously at the Human. Raptor grinned menacingly and then dashed at the door. He didn’t use any spirit energy, all he used was his own physical stamina. He slammed shoulder first into the two way door, discharging the pegasus there out into the street. The impact made Raptor spin in mid air and he had to correct. The mid air twist made him land down on one knee just a few meters from the pegasus he had thrown.
He looked up to see Velocity standing in the middle of the street, two pegasus ponies hovering near him. The other pony that had been at the door charged Raptor from behind. He heard the snorting of the incoming pony and spun around to face him. The pegasus lifted up and reared back a fore hoof to bring it onto a punch. Raptor moved from his knee-down position to right under the incoming pegasus, dodging the attack. As the pegasus passed by, Raptor balled up a fist and slammed it repeatedly into the Pony’s chest, each slam accompanied by a spirit energy impact. The pegasus’s back arced up further with each hit. After the third punch, Raptor ducked the remainder of the pegasus’s body and watched him slam into the clouds, coughing up blood. Raptor stood, his breathing erratic. His constant use of spirit energy was depleting what little energy he had left in general. The warmth form the pancakes in his backpack was beginning to seep through and it made his stomach rumble.
Raptor needed a moment to recuperate, and began to assess the situation he was in. There were at least three ponies left for him to fight, Velocity and his two guards. However, there was no way he could even think of hurting them without spirit energy and he didn’t want to resort to his gun. On the other had his gun could possibly be a decent deterrent so he reached over his shoulder and pulled the weapon from his back. Shouldering the rifle he did his best to steady the G36 to get a clear shot on Velocity. The pony had no idea what Raptor had, but he was sure it was harmful.
Raptor just stood there, not saying anything, his body swaying with each breath as he tried to rest a little bit and regain some spirit energy. He dared a glance down the road and saw the coliseum. It was a straight run to it. Looking back at Velocity, he put the gun away and grinned. With that, he broke into a flat sprint, again not using spirit energy to enhance his movements. The two guards around the orange equine went to follow, but he stopped them, raising a hoof up.
“Let him run, it’s not like he can fly, and we know where he’s going.” he said in a stern tone. He glanced up at one of the gold plated ponies. “Follow him, and alert second squad to his position as soon as he reaches the edge. I need to go to Canterlot to make sure Celestia hears the real reason that fucker died.” The guard nodded and began to fly after the Human. Velocity opened his wings and lifted off. He looked at the two ponies that Raptor had knocked unconscious with great malice. “Damn you Celestia for bringing him here” he mumbled as he flew away.
Raptor ran as fast as he could. His breathing became heavy, as did the backpack. It bouncing side to side with his strides started making it hard for him to keep his balance with each step. Every time the backpack switched sides he had to compensate in order to not face plant into the cloud surface. His legs burned as he looked up to see how much further he had to run and could see the desired building approaching quickly. He glanced over his shoulder and saw only the one pegasus trailing him. When he looked forward again he had to jump over a pegasus that had hit the clouds thinking he was going to be run over by the Human. He landed, stumbled and rolled.
Once Raptor stopped moving he found himself at the edge of the clouds. He looked over the edge to see the ground many, many meters below. He looked up to see there being a large gap between the city proper and the coliseum. The pegasus that had been following him landed nearby. “You can’t run anymore, Human.” he spat. Raptor sat up, looking the pony in the eyes.
“No, but I sure as hell can jump.” he hopped up onto his feet and looked at the pegasus that was slowly walking to him. Raptor looked at the gap, then back into the city, ignoring the distracting pony soldier. He breathed out, then back in as a plan formulated in his mind. Twisting his shoulder, he felt the weight of the backpack. It had to go, but he needed it too. He looked back at the gap and slid the backpack off, leaving only the swords strapped around his shoulders. He reeled back and launched the backpack across the expanse. He watched it, mathematical assumptions running through his mind. Noticing that it’s arc was to short, he let out a small burst of spirit energy from his palm. The blast struck the backpack, making it bounce and land on the other side. It rolled to a stop, after throwing his rifle a ways from it. He slipped off the swords and tossed them as well, but harder. He watched as they landed safely on the other side. The pegasus scoffed at his actions.
“Are you stupid? What are you going to do now that you’re defenseless?” the pegasus laughed.
“Never assume your opponent is defenseless” Raptor said through a few huffs. The pegasus grinned and then lowered his head. He stamped the ground, indicating a charge. Raptor readied himself, holding out his arms like a baseball catcher.
“Don’t” Raptor warned. The stubborn soldier didn’t listen as he galloped straight for him. Raptor shook his head as he crouched low, getting eye level with the pony. Just as the pegasus reached Raptor, he opened his wings and lifted up, allowing his fore hooves to be free to attack. He swung and Raptor ducked. He then reached up and grabbed the pony‘s rear leg and pulled. Instead of being jerked downward the pegasus hauled Raptor up, countering with the heavy flapping of his wings. This lifted Raptor out over the expanse, with only his grip on the pegasus’s arm keeping him airborne. Raptor glanced down to see if there was a safe landing and sneered at the lack of one.
“Get the tartarus off me!” the pegasus shouted as he started shaking his arm. Raptor felt his grip slipping. He noticed that the pegasus was gliding towards the coliseum and that they were high up enough that if they fell he would land on the edge of the platform. He reared back with a balled up fist and concentrated as hard as he could. His left hand slipped, making him hurry his concentration on what he was doing. With his balled up fist he began to focus his spirit energy on his palm. A small ball formed and spread over his hand. With the energy orb completed, he stretched out his hand and blasted the pegasus in the face with it. The attack shot the pony’s head backwards with a loud snap as the force of the blast separated his skull from his neck.
This was not what Raptor had intended to do. He was just trying to knock the equine out. The now limp body closed up as the air forced the limp limbs into a small ball. He rolled over and began to fall. Raptor’s momentum arced separately from the corpse as he tried to extend himself out at the platform. With his arms stretch out as far as they could go all he could do now was watch and see the platform go past him or for him to beable to latch to something. He closed his eyes, not wanting to know the answer. His hands were open palmed as they slammed into the cloud surface. Raptor’s mind went into action as he closed his fingers into the clouds. The sudden stop at his wrists brought him into the clouds, hard. He bounced off them and his fingers almost slipped out, but he managed to keep clawed in as he kept sliding down. He stuck his bare feet into the cloud wall hoping to stop faster, but they soon slipped out as he went past the bottom.
“You’ve gotta be kidding me, there’s no way I made the gap just to slip off anyway!” Raptor yelled in his head. He just closed his eyes, awaiting the inevitable. As his face slipped past the edge of the clouds he felt his momentum slow, and then stop. He opened his eyes to see his arms at his elbows still above the clouds. For a moment he sighed in relief. However, his hands were beginning to fatigue as they were the only thing supporting his 160 pounds. He tried to pull up, but his arms didn’t have the strength to haul him upwards. He looked out across the bottom of the platform pondering what to do. He obviously had been given another chance to make it out of this predicament alive.
He looked down to see the pegasus’s corpse falling back first towards the ground still. Its wings folded upward as the wind pushed them around him. Raptor returned his gaze at the platform’s underside, planning anything out. He thought up something and figured it was the only thing he could go on. He slung his legs backwards, making his entire body hinge on his fingers. He grimaced as they tried to pull out of the clouds, but he wasn’t about to let go. His body swung forward, sending his legs upwards towards the underside of the platform. With all his might he smashed his toes into the clouds and pushed. At the same time he pulled with his arms and managed to drag himself upwards a little bit.
Using his knee pressed against the wall’s surface as leverage, he picked his free leg up and dug his toes into the cloud wall. He then pulled himself completely up, both feet and hands clinging to the wall. There he sat, leaning against the wall with his entire body, breathing heavily as he tried to catch his breath. His fingers hurt, so he pulled them from the wall and just leaned there, regaining any strength he could.
With a chanced look up, he saw that it was about ten meters of an upward climb to get back to the surface. He drove his fingers back into the clouds and began to climb now that he felt better. Each step upwards was a feat in itself, but he had to keep pushing. If he stopped his fingers would give out and he would plummet to certain death. Half way up he stopped to take catch his breath, but he heard voices from over the top of the platform that indicated to him, or at least made him worry, that there was a pony or two messing with his stuff. This caused him to hastily climb the remainder of the wall and peek his head over. Upon viewing his backpack he saw a grey pegasus with a yellow mane mulling over his stuff. She spoke to an armored pony behind her. Raptor quickly noticed her eyes weren’t aligned.
“C’mon Ditzy Doo, leave that Human’s stuff alone. Velocity will want to take a look at it.” he snorted at her curiosity.
“I dunno Commander…what if he survived dah fall?” she responded as she looked at the camo covered pack.
“I doubt it, that’s a good few thousand meters to the ground.” his statement didn’t break her curiosity, making him sigh in irritation. “DERPY!” this caught her attention as she turned to glare at him. “Let’s go, the test is about to start and I don’t want to miss it.”
“Ugh, fine.” she walked away, joining the stallion as they meandered to the coliseum.
Raptor took this opportunity to pull himself up onto the platform and roll over onto his back. There he held his hands in front of him to see the damage. They were red, and swollen, but he could still move them. With that he stood and jogged to his backpack. He grabbed it by the handle on top and searched for his swords. They were a few meters closer to the building. He grabbed them and threw them onto his back, followed by the backpack. He looked around for his gun, but the fluffy clouds made finding it seem almost impossible. He remembered watching where it had landed and began to search around there. Moments later he found it partially covered by some mist. He reached down and slung it over his back, letting it come to rest on the backpack again.
Now that he was geared back up, Raptor went to move towards the massive structure when he noticed that there were guards at each entrance. He knelt down to make sure they didn’t spot him. He watched as a pegasus mother hugged her daughter and then went inside. The daughter flew to the other side and joined the other foals there. Raptor looked at the building and determined that it would be easy to climb it the same way as he did the outer rim of the platform. Belly crawling to the wall, he poked his head up out of the mist to ensure neither of the guards had spotted him. Confident his presence was still secret, he began to climb the wall. He hugged close to it in an attempt to keep the Ponies from seeing him. Half way up his hands began to ach again. He stopped for a moment to try and relive the pain in his fingers, but a loud horn began to blow, indicating the start of the test. With that Raptor forewent any pains and began climbing as fast as he could.