//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 - Contact // Story: Iron Eyes // by Dramaro //------------------------------// Looking into the sky, I could feel the wind brush against my light brown skin. My blonde hair was kept in a bun while the rest of it was let down, covering the back of my neck in doing so. The sound of birds  was inviting and I stared at the sky, wondering where my home was.         I had been called to take a business trip to Earth, the planet I was born on. Now calling a terraformed Mars my home, I found it strange that my family lived on a different planet. Looking down I looked at my phone for a moment. Today’s schedule was mostly empty. Just meetings with other officers and whatnot. I had been called as a consulting detective to help the city's police department.         The trees around me were thin and well adapted to the desert heat. Looking down, I could see well maintained flowers blooming, flanking the cobblestone path I was walking through. I closed my eyes to allow the scent of the desert flowers to fill my lungs. The smell reminded me of my childhood, even though my home country was many miles away up north. Looking around, I saw normal people moving to and fro with some local women were wearing the traditional headscarf called a "hijab." Many were decorated with beautiful hand woven designs like flowers and swirls. I was out of place per say by not wearing one, but to them, I probably looked like a foreigner with my western styled clothing. The park was well kept and was like an oasis against the desert biome in the distance. From time to time, I'd notice a bird or two flying from a branch.         “Roya?” said a female voice in English.         I turned around wondering who said my name. Nobody seemed to be paying attention to me, which was strange. The voice was feminine, calm like how I spoke to my children. Deciding I was only hearing things, I looked back at my phone and pulled open a picture of my two daughters. Their cherub like smiles warmed my heart and behind them stood my husband. I already could feel their warm love against my chest. With a smile, I returned the phone to my pocket and began walking back to the hotel. Maybe a stop for some Middle Eastern Tea wouldn't hurt.         Walking, I noticed that the sun’s glare had made seeing anything of bright colors hard. The white facade of most buildings would reflect the sunlight and straight into my eyes. It was to the point that I had to use my hand as shade just to even see anything in front of me.         Suddenly, the sunlight got brighter and I became blinded. How ironic, considering my condition. It was the last thing I remembered before closing my eyes and somehow entering a deep sleep. --- A weak moan painful sound came out of my mouth while my mind began waking up. I opened my eyes only to force them shut by painful direct sunlight. Strangely, the wind was cool instead of caring a sort of warmness that I had remembered. The cobblestone that had been beneath me had been switched to just plain old dirt. The sound of leaves, many of them, caught my attention. I slowly sat up and looked around. Trees, too many of them were encircling my clearing. They were different, being trees from the north. Thick and barky, they were tall and created a thick canopy.         “How... How did I get to the Americas?” I asked myself. It was a strange sight, turning from thin Arabian trees to thick North American woods. Some of them had their own symphony of flowers and their scents were a bit overwhelming to my nose.         I checked my phone only to notice that I had no signal. It was the most jarring thing I knew. Pretty much almost every single inch of land on Earth was within the range of some cell tower, that or satellites would have connected. Bringing myself back onto my two feet, i dusted myself off and checked that I had everything. I was wearing a pale white blouse under a dark green jacket. I was a Lieutenant of a police department back on Mars and my badge was still clipped to my waist. Whatever happened, I was unscathed. My skirt was only slightly ruffled but otherwise, I was fine.         Making sure no one had robbed me, I checked to see that I still had my pistol in my hip holster under my skirt. I was authorized to carry one due to my occupation. With a sigh of relief, I quickly took out a pocket mirror to see that I still had my makeup on. Thick green mascara and dark midnight blue lipstick were on my face. I always tried to be presentable, it’s important in any business to give off a positive professional image.         Putting the mirror away, I began my walk through these woods. It didn’t take long to find a well beaten dirt path and I knew that it would lead to somewhere. Following it, I found myself entering into some sort of orchard. Trees filled with white and pink apple blossoms were kept in orderly rows. I noticed that they were being tended by butterflies and bees. Eventually, I noticed a horse in the distance. Hoping that it meant a farmhand was nearby, I began running towards it.         “Hello? Can someone help me?” I shouted in English. I tried again, this time in Arabic.         I apparently spooked the thing because it looked at me before jetting off. I found myself trying to catch my breath. Next to me was a cart of some kind, filled with farming equipment. I was curious for a moment until I noticed... a rainbow streak flying through the sky. It was quite strange and I thought that maybe someone was making a love message or something. Americans sure do love being open about their thoughts.         The sun wasn’t as hot as before, something that would be normal for the climate of America. Looking back down, I began walking forward until something pushed me. Whatever it was, it was strong and I flew a good few meters before landing. Being attacked only made me do what I was trained. Within a blink of an eye, I had pulled out my pistol, turned the safety off and aimed it, but what I was aiming at confused me.         Standing there was a small bright blue horse with wings, at least, I thought it was a horse. It was not tall and gangly and the word pony was more appropriate. With big emotional eyes, that were glaring at me like daggers, I could tell the thing was intelligent, yet my mind was having a hard time accepting that fact.         “Who in the hay are you?” it yelled in American English. Its voice was feminine, though very rash. Having a rainbow spectral hair, it was kept in a tomboy style.         “Don’t move or I will shoot! You got some death wish attacking an armed officer!” I yelled. Whatever she was, she didn’t respond to my gun. Mostly, she ignored it, not caring that I had a deadly weapon in my hands. I kept my trigger finger against the trigger guard, hoping I wouldn’t need to actually use it.         “Officer? You’re not even a pony! What are you? Some sort of hairless monkey?”         How rude? It didn’t seem to understand the idea of respect but I digress. I couldn’t just keep this at a standoff and the pony wasn’t armed, not like she could even shoot a gun if she had one. Slowly putting my gun back in its holster and turning the safety on, I kept my left hand out with my fingers splayed. “I’m sorry but I didn’t mean to scare anyone. I’m... I’m lost, ok? Where am I?”         “Why should I tell you? I should just buck you straight back to where you came from!”         “Because. It’s obvious this is a misunderstanding. Look, I’m quite afraid and worried how I moved all the way from Dubai to America within an instant and more confused that you’re a talking.... pony of all things.”         “What? You’ve never seen a pony before?”         I shook my head. “Where I come from. Humans are the only things that can talk...well, that and parrots but the latter are just trained. I guess... I’m not in America, are I?”         The rainbow pony nodded. “You’re in Equestria.”         “Equestria? Like... Equestrian? That’s a rather punned name. Wait, have you never seen a human before?”         The pony shook her head. “So... that’s what you are, huh? A human?”         I nodded. “I just want to get home.”         “Rainbow Dash!” a voice called out. Suddenly, I noticed a strand of rope entering my vision and in an instant, the rope tightened around my arms and chest, pulling me back to the ground. Felling onto my side, I looked back to see an orange pony with long blonde hair kept in elastic bands standing over me. The end of the rope was in her mouth and clenched in her teeth.         “Let me go! I didn’t mean to harm anyone!” I yelled while struggling. She was quite good as the rope was taunt.         “Why should ah?” she asked. Her voice was in a Southern American accent, some that I rarely heard. Fittingly, a deep brown stetson, complete with a few stains of hard work and labor, was sitting on her head, unhindered by her ears.         “A pony wearing a cowboy hat... Well I’ll be damned..” I gave a weak smile.         “You can let her go, Applejack. She’s harmless.” said the pegasus called Rainbow Dash.         This Applejack mare did what Dash said and I quickly dusted myself off after getting the rope out of the way. “I’m sorry for this misunderstanding. I’m just confused right now. Being plucked from my own country, and possibly, my own universe can do that.” I straightened myself and hoped that everyone was calming down.         “What in the hay are you, anyways?”         “Homo Sapian, better known as a human. My name is Lieutenant Roya Sayid.”         “Roy-ya Sai-yid? That’s a strange name.” Her accent really got in the way of properly pronouncing my last name, with a heavy stress on the y. It was given since they probably have never heard of Arabic names before.         “Excuse me but, where am I specifically in Equestria?”         The question had out a smile on the cowmare’s face and she quickly pointed, in a way a pony could, to the trees. “This here is Sweet Apple Acres! Ah’m Applejack! Ahm mighty sorry ‘bout ropin’ you and all. Got a bit worried you were some creature from the Everfree Forest or somethin’.”         “Don’t worry, I understand your rationale. I’d probably do much worse than tie up some monster if one ever attacked me or my family.”         “Heh! Yeah... Maybe Twi might be able t’ help your predicament. She knows a lot about magic.”         I looked at the mare in curiosity to this magic. Did she mean like... fairy tale magic? Incantations and wishing? For a moment, it started to sound like some of story that a little girl would die for. Maybe this is punishment for not buying my eldest daughter that pony she asked for when she was six.“Uhh sure... May I ask, who is this “Twi” girl?”         Applejack gave a hearty smile and began walking. I began following her as did Rainbow Dash. “Twilight’s one of my best friends and Princess Celestia’s student! She’s really good at magic, it’s her special talent!”         While Applejack spoke, I noticed that on her flanks were a trio of apples. Looking behind, Rainbow Dash had a stylized cloud with a rainbow lightning bolt coming from it. The marks caught my curiosity but I was afraid that it might be a rude topic to ask. “I presume Princess Celestia is the daughter of your land’s ruler?”         Applejack gave a hearty laugh. “Nah, Princess Celestia rules Equestria with her sister, Princess Luna. You really must be from some far off place! Can I ask, why are ya wearin’ clothes? Goin’ to some fancy party or somethin’?”         I looked down at my attire for a moment before shaking my head. “Well no. I was on a trip for business. Besides, we humans always wear clothes. We find the lack of it to be indecent and rather embarrassing.”         “Really? Ah bet Rarity would love ya’ll! She’s a friend a mine and runs a fashion shop or boutique or whatever the hay she likes to call it. Makes fancy clothes for ponies, especially the elite in Canterlot.”         “I guess clothing is an optional thing here, huh? Where I’m from, clothing has unique connotations. For example: Unlike most women, I don’t wear the traditional hijab, a head scarf. You’d be surprised how many more conservatives people tend to look at me weirdly for it.”         “Why would anypony be bothered by what ya wear?”         “Religion is a part of our culture and it calls for women to be modestly dressed. More so than what many foreigners think is appropriate by their standards. Those who adhere to older, more orthodox ways, see the lack of the hijab to be indecent and an offense. It’s not a bother to me, really. I haven’t had anymore bother me about it.”         “That just sounds strange and ah don’t get it. Who in the hay cares what the pony down the street is doing? As long as they aren’t botherin’ me, ah don’t mind.”         I simply nodded and allowed Applejack to think for a moment.         “Can I ask you something? Um... Ah noticed that yer eyes... they’re mighty unusual.”         I understood what she meant. Applejack was trying not to be insultive and, with a smile, I answered her. “I don’t have natural eyes. When I was little, I went blind due to a genetic condition. After years of being blind, I was eventually able to get cybernetic implants. Now, I can see with them.”         “So that’s why they were glowin’ green n stuff. That’s... kinda futuristic, like one of em’ sci-fi books Big Mac sometime reads.”         “Really? Where I’m from, it’s quite common. Actually, there is this one girl who had lost her arm in an accident. She now has a cybernetic one.”         “A cybernetic foreleg? Hey, Roya, can you see like x-ray vision or something?” asked Dash.         “No, Dash, I cannot. I can see as well as any normal person.”         Noticing the two stop for a moment, I looked around before noticing a town in the distance. The houses were classical yet colorful thatched roof homes. Many of them contained multiple floors, usually up to three. Very few houses I had ever seen looked like these. It gave a sort of rustic feeling, like if I was dropped back a century or two in time. Looking carefully, I could see more ponies, all ranging across the whole color spectrum in coat and mane.         “Where does Twilight live?” I asked.         Appejack pointed to a tree that stood out amongst the buildings. I quickly noticed that the tree contained windows and balconies, telling me that it was hollowed out into a home. “Is there a problem?”         “Yeah... We can’t have ya seen through town. Let’s jsut say... Ponyville isn’t used to strange things,” said Applejack.         Dash blew a raspberry. “That’s the understatement of the century! If we go into town with her, nothing against you, I bet everypony’s gonna attack her or something. We already had changelings to deal with!”         “Yeah, you’re right... Ah got an idea! Can you carry Mrs. Roya here to Twi’s?”         “What? You want me to carry her through the sky?”         I smiled weakly, hoping that it wouldn’t come to that. The two bickered a bit more until they decided that it was the only course of action. The library was in the middle of town, meaning there was no way they could simply walk around town. “I really don’t think flying is my thing...” I said weakly.         Dash sighed. “Just hop on or I’ll pull you. Whichever it comes to.”         I hesitated for a moment. This wasn’t safe in any way, shape, or form but it was the only way I could reach this Twilight girl and maybe get home.With trepidation, I slowly swung my leg over Dash’s back, making sure to not hit her wings. Even for a pony, they were big enough that my feet wouldn’t touch the ground if I kept them up a bit.         “Grab my mane... just don’t pull too hard.” Dash ordered.         Seeing that it was the only thing to keep me from falling, I grabbed some of Dash’s mane. I was surprised to find how soft it was. I had never ridden a horse before so this was a strange way of trying it out.         “Ready... Hold on!” Closing my eyes, I felt Dash jump up into the air. The wind picked up instantly and my heart began to race. Slowly, the wind died down until it wasn’t hard enough to warrant forcing my eyes shut. I looked around to see clouds around me. It was... strange yet beautiful! Looking to my sides, I noticed that Rainbow’s wings shouldn’t be able to lift her, given their size. Unfortunately, looking at her wings only allowed me to see how far up we were. Ponyville was not unrecognizable dots on the ground. In fear, I wrapped my arms around Dash’s neck and held on with a vice like grip. She didn’t seem to mind. “Dash... How long will this be?”         “We’ll be landing right now! Let’s do this!”         Her verbos way of telling me about the descent wasn’t a good sign. Suddenly, we began to drop and I found that Dash was flying towards the ground! Her wings were held to her sides, giving her a more aerodynamic profile. With my heart beating fast enough to make an engine cry, I closed my eyes and held my head against Dash’s mane, screaming at the top of my lungs in doing so.         “Shut up! Are you trying to get everypony’s attention?” Dash yelled.         I stopped and opened one eye to see that we were on the ground again. Applejack had already got to the library before we did and was confused to see me shaking there holding myself in fear. Slowly, I unwrapped my arms and shaked a bit more before getting off. “That... was... scary.”         “What are you so afraid of? That wasn’t even at high speed.” Dash commented.         “Let’s just go inside please. I rather not think about that...”