The Conversion Bureau : Landfall

by Feefers

Tuesday morning

Falling, plummeting.
Someone watching.
“Was I pushed?”
“Did you push me?”
His arms reaching out, grasping, grabbing.
"Help." A pitiful cry. He just watches.
No emotion.
No reaction.
Staring with his bright blue eyes
Ground rising.
Impact.

Smith woke up with a gasp, grasping desperately at the thin sheet covering his body.
Another nightmare, it was the only thing he could recall from sleep.
Nightmares.
Usually he'd be falling, which he always found odd.
He had never been afraid of heights and still wasn't.
"Lights..." He groaned sliding out of bed as it vanished slowly into the wall, an overhead light flickering into life lighting up the tiny room.
He had to remind himself, he was lucky.
Unlike so many he had a job, a place to stay and even three square a day.
He stretched as far as the small confines of his room would let him, pressing up against a wall as it became a transparent window, the busy throng of the city just outside.
"Good morning." The AI finally beeped as a small table and pop up chair slid out of the wall with a plate and cup.
"W... Is it my birthday?" Smith asked confused sitting at the table looking over the plate, there was a large bowl of cereal, two boiled eggs and an entire slice of toast smothered in melting butter and a thick layer of jam.
It was a feast the likes of which he had never seen.
"Negative." The automated voice replied, "This meal is sponsored in whole or part by Conversion bureau, Virginia Beach, bringing the delights of Equestria to a table near you. The sponsor message reads, please enjoy the benefits of Equestria and come join us soon."

Smith smiled a little sniffing curiously at the cup, finding hot fresh coffee inside with just a splash of milk.
He had thought about becoming a pony, few hadn't now that for the first time the barrier was visible, advancing still towards the coastline.
The panic which had been caused was notable, even the human liberation front had gone quieter with less protests and attacks.
Getting around the sprawl had become easier; there were simply less people, either gone for conversion or left the city, heading inland.
But for him, Smith Johnson, he had a job.
It wasn't a great job, it wasn't even that important a job but he had a drive to see it to completion.

He finished the amazing breakfast quickly gulping down the hot coffee, he then pulled on his uniform and shuffled out towards the door as it beeped and slid open a small lift platform appearing.
An droning voice announced, "Please ensure all limbs are inside the transport, in 3...in 2... in 1."
There was a sudden rushing feeling that Smith always loved feeling the world sinking around him as he emerged at street level.

It was a unusually cool morning, misty smog still hanging thick on the ground.
Smith stopped in the building airlock musing at some of the posters, a few were faded and old, "Come join us in Equestria" they boldly announced, pictures of humans lining up becoming slowly more ponyish along the line.
In neat writing mimicking that of the poster someone had scribbled in thick red ink, "OR DIE"
"Announcement" A quiet computerised voice said, "Due to building occupancy this building will be altered at 11 AM this morning, please do not be alarmed."
Smith nodded, the building had been getting slowly smaller, every day another floor vanishing here or there, the remaining occupied houses reassembled and the spare matter used elsewhere.
There was a loud click as the main door swung outwards as Smith left walking down the road.

The walk was rather pleasant, the sun starting to burn off the misty smog and it had the makings of a rather warm day.
The journey was a little under a mile, mostly downhill as Smith stopped briefly looking across the street to an already large line of anxiously queuing people, two automated sentry bots keeping watch over them for signs of trouble.
Smith nodded pleasantly to them but continued to walk onwards as the security bots tracked him silently scanning him for hidden devices, a soft blue flash from the drone confirming he was safe.

Smith felt suddenly dizzy, struggling to breath as he slumped to his knees his heart pounding and hammering loudly.
That blue.
He'd seen it before.
In his nightmares.
The one that pushed him.
He had those coloured eyes.

Smith staggered to his knees as he felt a soft warmth helping him.
"You okay there mister?" A sweet quiet voice asked as Smith looked across to a soft creamy yellow unicorn.
"You maybe shouldn't quite stand yet." The unicorn girl said quietly as he felt the warmth ebbing away an aura of magical energy fading from him.
"Th..thank you." Smith gurgled out, wiping blood from his face as his strength flooded back.
The unicorn girl blushed as Smith started to dust himself off, looking up at her as she smiled politely back down at him.
"You ... from here?" Smith asked trying to make conversation as he found the strength in his legs was still not quite there.
She shook her head softly, "Lyra, Lyra Heartstrings of Equestria."
Smith nodded offering her a hand to shake, "Smith Johnson of Earth."
Lyra looked to the hand extending her hoof likewise smiling widely.
"Do you think you can move?" Lyra asked looking over Smith.
He felt his sides and nodded carefully struggling up onto his feet, steadying himself against the wall.
"Well hope to see you soon Smith..." Lyra nodded.
Smith watched her for a moment as she trotted back to the building smiling and chatting to people in line.
When he felt the strength in his legs recovered and the shock gone from his body he started to walk onwards.