Chapter 5: Fragmented Reality
Sea Breeze was shifting in her seat a bit, she had never liked trains for some reason. She had been pondering why as the train was filling up with ponies and people alike. Right before the train began to move a group of four humans got on the train; finding no other empty seats they took the seat next to her. She looked at each member of the group for a few seconds. The eldest one seemed quite energetic. She had a few wrinkles in her face and her long chestnut hair was starting to show streaks of grey, but she was almost radiating joy from her warm smile. Sea Breeze liked her smile - it took her mind away from the train ride. The one sitting next to her in the aisle seat was much younger than her and was wearing similar clothing to what Gus was wearing when she had first met him and had longer brown hair very similar to the woman he was sitting next to, she inferred they were related. He had his head and arms on the table as if he were extremely tired, Sea Breeze found the situation very relate-able since the prior night she had stayed up to pack.
Then see noticed that the two others seemed to be pestering him about something she couldn't quite hear. One was another boy who had much darker brown hair almost to the point of being black that was quite short in comparison, he seemed broader and taller as well as having forest green eyes. The other was a girl with a similar hair coloured to the first boy with lighter brown eyes.
After a bit, Sea Breeze managed to hear, “Come on Draco you lost a bet.” followed by Draco, she presumed, pulling a brown piece of plastic that had a bunch of designs on it. The boy chuckled again, “Oh no, you're not copping out of this one, what do you think Shontia?”
“Yeah I think Draco should have to go make a new friend, think that would be appropriate Mrs. Havlar?” Shontia said and Mrs. Havlar just chuckled and nodded.
Muttering something under his breath Draco raised his head and saw the only empty booth was the one Sea Breeze was in. after a long sigh, Draco scooted over to the booth.
“So you lost a bet?” Sea Breeze said as Draco began to open his mouth.
“Heard that did ya...?” Draco said.
“Yeah these are good for something,” she responded as she wiggled her ears electing a sight chuckle from the seat across from her, “So what was the bet? If you don't mind me asking?”
“Well when your continent decided to just show up, my friend Roman over there asked me how long till we'd be able to visit. Me being a tad bit annoyed at the time said something like, never in a thousand years, and now. Well you know what happened now.” Draco explained. Sea Breeze nodded and saw as Draco's sleeve rolled up slightly some odd black lines. “And now I'm on my way to your capital, probably to help my grandfather the great invention that will connect our two races in a perfect harmony. Then I'll be forced to go back home and work on my next story with no time to see this interesting new part of the world.” after a brief pause Draco extended his arm towards Sea Breeze, “My name is Draco by the way, Draco Havlar.”
“Nice to meet you Draco, I'm Sea Breeze,” She responded as she shook his hand with her hoof electing a few surprised gasps from Draco's friends. “So, you said something about being a writer of some kind?”
“Well kind of,” He replied with a chuckle, “I design the stories for video games as well as program them.” After a moment of a confused look from Sea Breeze Draco chuckled a bit more before, “A video game is kinda like an interactive novel...”
“Oh I know what they are, I am just confused by your eyes.”
“Are you hitting on me?” Draco asked with a worried tone.
“No, no, no. It's not that, it's just what colour are they?” she explained as she pointed at his face, “I can't tell if they are brown or silver.”
Draco gave her a confused look for a moment before responding, “last time I checked they were brown, and I'm pretty sure humans can't have silver eyes. The light must be mucking with what you are seeing.”
“I guess so,” She sighed, “So what's your take on all of this?” as she gestured her hoof around the cabin.
“Well if you are talking about your country's sudden appearing act,” Draco said leaning back, “Honestly for the next week or so, there will be some chaos as laws get figured out. But the next few months, there will be a ton of innovations in technology and scientific theories. After that though things should smooth out and we can get back to our normal lives.”
“You really think so?” She asked with a hint of hope in her voice.
“I really hope so.”
After a few moments of silence Sea breeze spoke up, “Hey I know this might be a bit of a weird question but could I get an address to write to you at?”
“Well... sure, why not.” He replied as Sea Breeze pulled out a piece of parchment and a pencil. After writing down his address Draco returned to his seat where he was teased by his two friends. Sea Breeze felt just how tired she actually was and laid her head to rest on the table, letting the soft “clickity clack” of the train lull her to sleep.
*************
“Hey Grandpa, where can I plug in my laptop so we can get to work?” Draco asked as he entered the small workshop right next to the armoury where Nevaro could be heard barking orders, “Sheesh... sounds like a war zone over there.” He remarked as he point to the armoury with his thumb.
“Indeed it does, and I'm sorry to say it but we have no usable outlets in here Draco.” Vega said as Draco looked at the cord that his grandfathers computer was plugged into. He saw a tall suit of armour fitted with more weapons than was necessary.
Draco whistled, “That the prototype Ranger power armour?”
“Yes Draco, and civilians aren't allowed to see it.”
“See what? I haven't seen anything.” Draco remarked as continued to look it over, “What are you using as a power source?”
“Five portable super conductors to power a magnetic reflector and five more to power the suit itself,” Vega said in a stressed tone as he looked over to Draco, “Now if you wouldn't mind we have to figure out how non unicorns will be able to use guns for protection purposes, design better armour for them, and make hoof friendly devices such as phones and keyboards”
“Well if it's any help I already have a solution to the first problem,” Draco said as he placed his laptop on a table set up for him to work at. “We just make something called a battle saddle.”
*************
“Gus!” Gus looked over to see a familiar sea-blue pegasus trotting over to him carrying a large duffel bag, a quick flap of her wings and she propelled herself to where he was standing and nuzzling up against his leg, “I missed you, how's it going, how are you liking...”
“Dad, who is that?” a girl beside him said.
“Don't worry Julia, she a friend of mine,” Gus consoled his daughter then turned back to Sea Breeze, “I'm doing quite well Sea Breeze and I'd like to introduced you to my daughter, Julia.”
She extended her hoof and said, “Nice to meet you Julia I'm Sea Breeze.” while her smile was warm and welcoming, Julia wasn't very impressed. She wasn't smiling and reluctantly shook Sea Breeze's hoof.
“So we were just about to go get something to eat, would you like to tag along?” Gus asked.
“Absolutely, I'm starving.”
*******************
“Are you sure this is going to work?” Shining Armour asked as Draco fitted a prototype battle saddle on him.
“Well the worst thing that will happen is that you'll be knocked onto your ass like I did first time I shot a gun.” Draco said as he tightened a few remaining straps.
“Alright then Mr. Armour, let me explain what we need you to do,” Vega announced as he scanned the clipboard he had, “First, I need you to roll your shoulders.”
Upon doing so the holstered rifle on the device moved to where he could aim down the sights of it and a trigger also revealed itself right below his mouth.
“Secondly, look down the sights and aim for the target at the end of the armoury,” Shinning looked down to the target and stared at it through the rifles sights. “Now when you are ready bite the trigger to fire,” Not even a moment later they heard the weapon fire and saw Shinning Amour fall on his rump. “Hmm. Never thought that would happen.”
“I told you Grandpa, the kick will knock an untrained person on their ass,” Draco said as he helped Shinning up, “Congratulations Mr. Armour, you're the first pony to fire a gun.”
***************
“Daddy I have to go to the bathroom.” Julia said. Gus, Sea Breeze, and her were all sitting at a table within a Canterlot restaurant. The restaurant was quite fancy with expensive paintings and velvet curtains. There was a number of ponies in fancy clothing with the their noses figuratively in the air.
Gus looked up from his menu to Sea Breeze and asked, “Could you show her where it is?”
“Sure thing,” She said as she got off her chair, smiled at Julia, and waved her left wing, “This way,” As they made their to the restrooms Julia began to look at Sea Breeze with despise. “Alright Julia...” She didn't have time to finish what she was saying before Julia dragged Sea Breeze into the bathroom and threw her to the ground.
As Julia entered the room and closed the door she said, “I know what you are trying to do and know this, my dad could never love a beast like you.”
“What are you talking...” Sea Breeze began as Julia slapped her across the muzzle.
“Shut up you stupid horse! You won't take my dad away from me like my mom did!” She half yelled. Sea Breeze looked to her face and saw tears welling up within Julia's eyes.
“Julia, is someone hurting you?” Sea Breeze asked.
“Yes... No, I mean...” She stuttered as her eyes darted every which way, “I... I... SHUT UP YOU STUPID HORSE!” she began to pound on Sea Breeze who crumpled up as best she could and cowered from the oncoming onslaught. After what seemed like ages of strike after strike Sea Breeze went limp, once Julia saw what she had done her face went pale. Tears began to welled up within her eyes as she lifted one of Sea Breeze's legs and fell lifelessly as she let it go. “Sea Breeze?” An eerie silence plagued the restroom until as fast as she could, Julia burst out the door crying at the top of her lungs, “SOMEONE PLEASE HELP!”
Everyone froze and turned their undivided attention to her as Gus ran up to her, “Julia what's...”
“We need a doctor now!” she said through her tears, “I... I...” As she pointed into the bathroom and completely broke down into a mess of sobs. As Gus went into the restroom a red and white unicorn with a cross cutie mark trotted in beside him telling him that she was a doctor. However, Gus didn't hear anything, his eyes were drawn to the sea green hooves lying lifelessly on the ground. The was a nothing that could snap him out of the shock he was hit with, even as the doctor pony magically moved him aside his gaze stayed on Sea Breeze. It was only when Julia tugged on his arm that his focus shifted, “Dad, I'm so sorry.”