Rise of a Pony
I open my eyes to find myself floating in a dark void. “So this is the afterlife huh? Pretty dull if you ask me.” I look into the dark void and begin shouting. “Come on, can’t you give me anything more interesting than this?”
*birds chirping* I give a confused look. “Well that is different, but I was hoping for something a little more…interesting.” A bright light begins to appear on the horizon. “There we go, that’s what I’m talking about.”
The light begins to expand across the sky and the world turns from black to white. “Ok, that’s pretty cool. You can stop now though I don’t want everything to be white.” The light ignores me and continues to erase any trace of darkness.
“Well, fuck you to light.” I feel a tingling sensation on my foot. I look to see that my body is being enveloped by the light. “What!? Oh nononononononono, this shit is messed up. I already died once.” I shake my foot violently in an attempt to shake the light off. The light is unaffected and continues to consume me.
“Whelp, I had a good run in the afterlife. I floated in darkness, then in light. Now I am being eaten by light itself. Good times, good times.” The light makes its way to my head and I disappear into the rest of the world.
The blinding light did not disappear however and I open my eyes again to see a tree through the front glass of my drop ship. My head is pounding and I had drooled on myself.
“Oh come on, what am I five?” I bring up my hoof and wipe the drool away.
“…wait, hoof?” I looked to where my hand should be to discover that a hoof had in fact replaced my favorite appendage.
"Ok I have had weird hallucinations, but this one takes the cake. Well I probably just took a hard hit to the head during the crash. I’m sure my brain will sort this all out in a few minutes and we can laugh about this later."
I waited for 10 minutes but the hoof remained.
"Ok ok ok keep calm keeeeeeeep calm I have been in worse situations than this. Yeah this has nothing on facing a whole group of chimera hybrids. As long as I keep calm I will find my way out of this situation." I take a deep and calming breath.
Then I proceeded to freak out.
"HOLY SHIT! WHY IS MY HAND A HOOF?!!!" I look down. “What. The. Crap............WHAT IS THIS SHIT?!!"
I look at my body to discover that I have become some sort of horse. Well technically a pony but still a small horse.
"Ok time for training to kick in. Right, just remember what you have been taught Riley," I sat for about 10 seconds. "Training never covered becoming some sort of horse; well old man Migukin said something about becoming a horse. We all just thought he was crazy and ignored him." I thought back to the old man from my childhood. He sat on his porch with a bottle whiskey in one hand and a cigarette in the other. He called us lousy good for nothing kids and chased us off his property all the time. He said he would torment us for the rest of our lives.
He got eaten by a Howler. It was a good day.
I decided the next twenty minutes was a perfect amount of time to freak out over the sudden change of bodies. Most of the time was spent running around in circles screaming my lungs out, followed by the sound of my head pounding against the side of my ship, and ending with me in the fetal position in the corner telling myself that it’s going to be all right.
After my freak out, I knew I had to calm down. Just like in combat freaking out does not solve the problem it only makes the situation worse. I need to figure out a way to change back but I can't do that by just sitting around or losing my mind.
*sigh* "Well better do what humans do best and adapt. Now let’s take a look around and see what is salvageable," I stood up and started to walk toward the back of the ship. I was looking for my helmet that must have flown off my head during the crash.
I found the head gear by tripping over it. The cold hard ground met my soft and squishy muzzle.
"Ow, found it."
I pick the helmet and inspect it for any damage. To my surprise it is intact, not a scratch to speak of. One strange thing did stand out though, at the top the helmet has changed to allow room for my ears. Odd how that changed like that but if my body changed then so could my helmet I guess. The rest of my clothing changed very little with my new form. My shirt was designed to fit with whatever body shape decided to slip into it and the vest is adjustable so all I need to do is change it a little. The pants were uncomfortable but still manageable, if necessary. My boots and gloves however had fallen off and are waiting near the pilot seat.
Under my shirt I feel like there is a part of me being restrained. That doesn’t make any sense, what could be on my back. After removing my shirt and vest I found my answer.
“Wings, I have wings now. Well to bad for you wing, I already had my go insane time and have come to the conclusion that this is just some messed up shit. So now I have wings, why not just add a horn while you’re at it.”
The wings do freak me out just a bit but I always loved to fly around and now I get that chance again. I just have to figure out how to use them and I’m golden. I look back to the helmet in my hooves.
“Well now that I found you, better make sure the rest of the gear is all right”
I moved to the gun racks in the back to make sure everything was still secured. I inspected every weapon thoroughly but found no damage from the impact. “Well that’s good; don’t really want an energy leak in here. None of the rockets looked damage and all the ammo is still in one piece.”
While I have many choices in weaponry I can't use them all. Not because I lack the training to the weapons but I lack the fingers the weapons were designed for. The trigger guard on human weapons will make it almost impossible for me to pull the trigger with hooves. I can still use the Folsom as a spear with its bayonet attachment. But if I need fire power I will have to rely on the Chimera weapons. The only human weapon without a trigger guard is the Marksman and I have to use the ammo sparingly until I can get my…hands…hooves…whichever on more.
*growl* My stomach decides to tell me that it’s time I found something to eat. The Chimera don’t have food on their ships and I certainly didn’t bring any with me. I thought about hunting something down but ponies don’t eat meat. Unfortunate, meat is really tasty. “Guess I got to find some edible plants.”
I don't know if there are any civilizations around so I need to keep my eyes out in case there are. I think about putting my pants back on but ponies are naked anyway so why would I need them. I look to my flank to make sure that there are no reasons to put the pants back on when I notice a mark on my flank that looks like a Chimera skull with two rifles crossed underneath it. I was curious to why such a mark was there and I try to see if it’s a stain on my fur. No matter how much I rubbed, the mark stays firmly on my flank. I need to figure out later why this mark is there.
Next order of business, opening the door to the outside world. The doors to Chimera drops ships use an encryption key that is comprised of random symbols. To open up a Chimeran drop ship it takes someone who knows how the encryption locks work and an understanding of the Chimera symbols. It is a complex process that can take several months just to get the simplest of understandings. I spent some time with Dr. Malikov and was able pick up a few tricks, although I still lack a complete understanding of all the combinations. So...
"So time to hit random buttons."
After a good 15 minutes of hitting buttons, which was enjoyable, I was greeted by the fresh air. The sun was shining high in the sky and if I had to guess I would say it was around noon. I can hear birds singing and the trees are full of leaves. “Where am I exactly? The Chimera were turning Earth into an ice ball last time I checked.”
Behind the ship I saw the scar it had left in the earth with its crash landing. Trees had been broken in half by the crash and the ground had a long skid mark leading up to the ship. It would be a miracle if no one saw that crash or heard it. The ship will have to be moved to a more secure location soon, maybe a nice cave or further into the forest.
I close the hatch to my ship and lock it so no prying eyes can see its deadly treasure. The search for food began when I made my way through some bushes to see if they contained any berries. No berries to speak of, but I did find a path that is far enough from my ship that no one will be able to see it. The path has several tracks on it so it is well used making it a perfect route to get out of here. With one final glance at the ship, I head down the path.
Not long after starting my walk a small town appeared in the distance. While I am happy to see some form of civilization, I need to be careful. I don’t really know who is in charge or if they have a taste for ponies. I will leave the road and come in from the fields instead. It will take a little longer to reach the town but I need to make sure it’s safe.
While moving through the fields, I did not see anything else except for a few rabbits and birds. I wonder what the inhabitants of this town look like. Could they be human or some other form of intelligent life? I reach the outskirts of town and I still haven’t seen any of its inhabitants. I choose a dark alleyway nearby as a perfect way to get close enough to see and what I see throws me for a loop.
"You have got to be kidding me."
Ponies. Ponies live in this town and they are all the colors of the frikin’ rainbow. Some have wings, others have horns, and some have neither. It was strange to say the least. You know scratch that, this is downright bizarre. I mean ponies, really? I mean look at this, they have food carts and stores.
“This is weird, I’m going to need a- what the fuck was that?”
I just saw one of the ponies with a horn lift an apple with their horn or something. The apple was surrounded in some kind of aura, and so was the horn. That’s not possible; then again the Chimera did some pretty freaky shit with their minds. *shudder* I never want to face the mental blast from an Angel.
The ones with wings could obviously fly but they pushed clouds out of the way. It looks like they can alter the weather to their liking. That is pretty scary, if they don’t like their neighbors maybe they just make a massive storm, and send it their neighbor’s way.
The ones that are earth bound and lack horns don’t have anything to interesting about them. Whoop, false alarm. Just saw one lift a huge crate on its own. Damn they are strong, and my guess is they are the strongest. Better get more information on my targets.
I begin to inch my way through alleyways to better listen in on their conversations. As I got closer I was able to understand what they were saying to one another. It was just like any other conversation two people would have with each other. It was like any small talk you hear from humans all the time like hello, how are you doing, and oh my god a Chimera just ate my leg. Well not the last one, but I made my point.
"This is great opportunity; maybe I can blend in and begin to learn more about this pla-"
"MONSTER!" a voice screamed.
I turn to the noise to see one of the ponies pointing a hoof in my direction. I look all around me for any sign of what she was calling a monster but I don’t see anything resembling a monster. More hooves began to point in my direction and I am getting a little annoyed that don’t see this monster everyone is talking about. Before I voice my outrage at not being able to see the monster I remember one very important thing.
“Oh crap, I still have my helmet on.” Time to run away.
How can I be such an idiot to forget my helmet was on? My helmet has a mask that was designed to keep anything from getting into my lungs during combat. It does look pretty creepy so these ponies have mistaken me for a monster from their nightmares. Ironic they think I’m weird when they are strange to me. Oh well, better focus on getting back to the ship.
"HOLD IT RIGHT THERE MONSTER!" A voice shouted at me.
I look back and see none of the ponies following me. Strange, I thought I heard a voice. I thought I was crazy until a shadow on the ground made me look up and see one of the flying ponies has given chase. She has a blue coat and what look like rainbow hair. You could probably spot here form a mile away. She even had a rainbow blur trail following her; talk about flashy. She is fast and is covering the distance between at an incredible rate. I started using the trees in the forest to hide my movements and try to lose her.
"Bob and weave, bob and weave. I have to find a place I can get out of sight."
I made it back to the forest my ship is hiding in but my pursuer hasn’t given up just yet. I can’t lead her to my ship so I will have to run in deeper. As I made my way into a deeper part of the forest I found a good spot to hide from my unwanted fan. The small hole in the ground will hopefully provide enough cover. I jump inside and pull a nearby bush closer to cover myself just a little more. My heart was pounding in my chest from the chase and my breathing was heavy after such a long run. Listening and waiting is all I can do right now.
“So now we play the waiting game.”
It wasn’t long before the flier had reached the air above my hiding spot and began her search for me. I could hear her frustration in her shouts as she was calling me a coward for running away. Her insults aren’t that big of a deal, back in the sentinels we challenged each other all the time. I never took anyone up on their challenge unless they had a big ego that I needed to deflate. This pony has a big ego, and I look forward to the day I am able to fight her in combat and prove her wrong.
For what seems like hours the pony searches the area for me but she comes up empty. After she departs I let out a breath I didn’t even know I was holding. “That was too close.”
*groooooooowl* "Aw crap I need to find something to eat."
With a little exploring I came across some bushes that were full of berries. They were red and looked delicious. Now what was it my granddad use to say to me? Red and sweet are good to eat but I swear by the sonnet green will make you vomit. Well these were very red so good to eat so I took a few. They were indeed very sweet but I had this feeling like I have made a huge mistake.
20 minutes later...
"Oh my stomach........it hurts."
I was back in my ship regretting ever eating those berries. My stomach felt like it was tightening and my body started to ache in several different areas. “I need help; those berries could have poisonous for all I know.”
I removed my helmet and took a look at the mask. “Is my mask really that scary? Would they even understand the reason behind it? Probably not, well I better get going before this gets any worse.”
I opted to keep my tactical vest on for comfort reasons. I believe my helmet is what scared them the most so they should not recognize my vest.
"Ooooooooh I better get some medical attention, and fast." Exiting my ship I turned towards the town that not even an hour ago I was accused of being a monster. They shouldn’t recognize me but just in case I brought the Folsom along for protection. I can't fire it but with its bayonet it will make a great spear. In my weakened state I could use all the help I can get.
"AAAAAAAAAAHHH HELP US!" I heard several voices scream.
"Ah, the universal cry of trouble," I say as I rush to the screams. So here I am going to help who knows what. The thoughts of a fight go through my mind and I wonder if I would be any help at all. If I go and get help it may be too late to save whoever is in trouble. I touch the rifle on my back to reassure myself that I help those in need.
I came to a clearing to see three little fillies surrounded by what looked like a pack of dogs standing on their hind legs. The dogs themselves are about my height with a couple just a bit taller. Their claws looked like they had been chipped away and not maintained. If they made contact with my skin it would leave a nasty cut. What caught my eye is that some had crudely made weapons such as spears and swords.
"You three ponies going to dig up lots of pretty gems. So many pretty gems for us." The leader of the pack said. He was not as big as some of the others but I’m sure he didn’t get where he is by being weak. He makes a move to grab one of the fillies and I take this chance to make my presence known.
"HEY!" I shouted.
They all turned to look at me with a bit of shock. They weren’t expecting another pony to around, especially an adult. I notice that I am out numbered 6 to 1. That’s a little unfair; perhaps I should tie a hoof behind my back. "Look another pony for us to use to find gems." They all had a smug look on their faces knowing that the odds were in their favor. Oh these bastards are in for a very rude awakening. I have killed hundreds of Chimera, what are a few stray dogs gonna do?
The three fillies looked to me with pleading eyes that just asked me to help them. I will not disappoint them.
As a side note, damn we have huge eyes.
I drew the Folsom from my back and said, "I will not allow you to take these fillies.” I pull the bolt of my rifle back, the sound of the metal slamming together causes the dogs to flinch. While I cannot fire the rifle the sound of a fresh round entering the chamber does have a physiological effect on me. It gets my blood pumping and I can feel my adrenaline flowing through my veins. "This is your only warning leave now," I said.
One of the larger dogs made a move to knock away my rifle and this is wear my training kicks in. Years of fighting the Chimera made these guys look as if they are moving in slow motion. I was easily able to dodge his attack and counter with the Folsom butt stock to the side of his head knocking him out cold. The sound produced by the impact was a satisfying crunch. The Folsom has the nickname "the paddle” because you use it to "spank" the enemy. He’s body slumps to the ground and his friends just stare with their mouths hanging open. A huge grin appears on my face.
“All right, who’s next?”
My words riled up the others and one came in to try his hand against me. Another attack from the front which I easily countered again but I was a stupid to think them unable to coordinate a solid attack. A second had hidden his attack when his comrade charged me and brought a crudely made sword to my unprotected side. The cut was deep and I could feel the sword tear rather than cut my flesh. The blood flowed from the wound like a small river. I needed to get him away before he could cause more damage. I cracked him across the face with the butt stock but I delivered a sharp stab to his right shoulder. I twist the blade to tear more flesh from bone and my opponent howled in pain. Each twist caused more blood to pour out of his body and turn the green grass red.
I was unaware the first attacker was back on his feet and was looking for a little revenge of his own. He closed the distance between us and delivered a punch straight to my gut and threw me back several feet. The punch knocked the wind out of me and forced more blood out of my wound.
“This isn’t good.” I was losing too much blood I needed to finish this quickly before I passed out.
“Oh dear, looks like someone needs my help.” A voice in my head said.
I was startled by the voice but felt a familiar connection with it. “Who are you?” I whispered quietly.
“Another time perhaps, right now you need to focus. Here, let me help you.”
*Ba-bump* My heart began to pound in my chest. Each thump was causing my whole body to shake. It was not just the adrenaline anymore, it was something completely different was moving through my blood. I could feel it beginning to make its way through my body and to my wounds. The wound was closing at an extreme rate, leaving little behind to show I was ever hurt to begin with.
I dashed forward too quickly for these dogs to react. I went for the one who wounded me; I was looking for some payback of my own. I took the bayonet of my Folsom and slashed across his body opening a wound in his gut making him howl in pain. The blood gushed like a fountain covering him and a few other dogs in blood. He rolled over on the ground clutching his wound and trying to keep his insides where they belonged. Another dog tried to surprise me from behind but I spun on my hooves delivering a strike to his guts. This one stumbled several feet back before his lunch decide to leave him in a very quick fashion. The remaining dogs took this as their cue to retreat for today. They gathered their fallen with great care as to not harm them anymore than they already were.
“We’ll be back pony. Next time we bring whole pack to deal with you.”
I spun my rifle and slammed the butt stock to the ground. “Bring it on mutt; I’ll be waiting for you and your dogs to bring me a challenge.”
They gave no response other than a glare before heading back to their homes.
After I was sure they had left I turned my attention back to the three fillies before me. They didn't look hurt but I approached them just to make sure. They began to shake with fear as I approached and I stopped before I got to close.
“Sorry you three had to see that, no one as young as you three should have seen that. I only fought to protect you and me.”
Before I could continue my body suddenly froze up. The combination of berry poisoning and the virus using a lot of energy to close the wound has finally caught up to me. The three fillies had concerned looks on their faces as they saw me shake a little. I give them a reassuring smile. “So, are you three hurt?”
They shook their heads.
I nod at them. "Good, I'm gonna pass out now."
So I did.