//------------------------------// // First Contact // Story: The Light Behind the Veil // by Gunner59524 //------------------------------// Equestria, Equis. February 16th, 1230 Hours "AAAAHHHHH!" Rotten luck, that's what was going through Twilight's head right now: 'We have just rotten luck!' Not one, not two, but THREE territorial manticores were attacking the group. Twilight was holding up a shield with the help of Rarity. Celestia and Luna were bogged down by one particularly BURLY manticore, and the Royal Guard squad were pinned down in combat with the third. She flinched again as the manticore attacking her and her friends struck the shield once more. These beasts were strong. Fluttershy's attempts to cull their rage had even failed. If she wasn't so busy trying to keep that manticore away from her friends she'd be wondering how these things became so feral. No way a simple meteor could make a beast this senseless and bloodthirsty. "They didn't even listen....." Fluttershy whimpered, "No response.... it's like they aren't even alive...." If that didn't unnerve anypony, Twilight didn't know what would. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sparks and I stared from the bushes in disbelief as soon as we arrived. In seconds we came to one conclusion: "Impossible....." "We have to help.... they're sentient! Look at their armor!" Sparks exclaimed, though only I could hear it since he was in my armor so to speak, talking to me through the speakers in my sealed helmet. He was right of course, I couldn't deny it. These beasts..... their eyes..... something was horribly wrong. I made my decision and prepared to strike. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Blinding light.... that's the last thing anypony saw in the next moment. The manticores had stopped attacking though, roaring frantically as they covered their eyes, attempting to block out the light and pain. What happened next though, as soon as the light faded, surprised every living being in the clearing. A loud BANG was heard and a small projectile streaked THROUGH one of the smaller manticore's heads, killing it instantly. The other manticores looked to the source.... an armored biped with a weapon of some kind, smoking at the barrel, and his floating little companion. The manticores roared in rage and charged.... only to receive a shock and alot of pain from a fierce area of effect groundpound attack. Cry Havoc. One manticore wound up VAPORIZED. The other though, the largest one, didn't go down that easily. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I stared in disbelief. This massive beast was still alive after a Fist of Havoc. Only the worst servants of Darkness could achieve such a feat..... Omnigul made an unwanted appearance at the forefront of my mind for the briefest moment..... "How that thing is still alive is beyond me...." Sparks muttered. "Thank you for repeating my thoughts out loud. Lemme focus." I switched to my shotgun and prepared for the worst. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Every single pony, princess or not, stared in disbelief. Who or what is this being? "Wh-what is that!?" was all Fluttershy or anypony could manage. Twilight could only stare in shock and awe. The power and strength this being had just displayed in a matter of seconds alone was enough to make her freeze in place from fear alone. Celestia and Luna were equally as shocked. The Royal Guard of course, were in no different state. Eventually they all backed away as the bipedal being and the manticore circled one another slowly. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Locals are backed off for now. This guy is all yours," Sparks informed. I couldn't help smirking. Just the way I like it. I charged forward and hit him with my Storm Fist right in the snout before leaping back. The beast didn't even have time to recoil in pain before shotgun rounds, charged with furious lightning, impacted its back. The beast growled and roared in rage and agony. "Why do I feel like I'm only pissing it off?" I asked no one in particular. "Several bones shattered, primarily ribs, skull fractured, possibly concussed. Keep hitting it, you're doing damage," Sparks reassured. I nodded and looked up at the beast once more... and just in time to jump out of the way of a furious swipe of its claws. I noticed in my hud that the grenade was recharged. Good. I tossed it down between the beast's legs, earning a confused look from beast and onlooker alike.... until the grenade detonated a second later, blowing the beast's legs off and sending it flying before it fell limp and lifeless. Once again, I stood victorious. "Textbook," came the comment of my faithful companion. "Not exactly, still easier than killing a Hallowed Knight though." "Shall I record that battle for future reference?" "Please do." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The ponies could only gawk as the creature stood to full height while the manticores lay dead or disintegrated. The being looked upon them suddenly. Some flinched away in fear, others remained still out of shock and awe. What happened next was about as much of a shock to them as the bullet that killed the first manticore. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Can any of you understand me?" I asked. All I got in response were confused or shocked expressions. "Thaaat would be a no," Sparks snarked. "How bout shutting up and trying to translate anything they end up saying huh?" "Testy aren't we? Ready to translate. Try to get em talkin." I sighed and tried again. "Hello? Can any of you understand me?" Of course not.... but what else could I try saying while they didn't know? One of them spoke up in a language I could not understand. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Twilight had been the first to speak up. "Um... h-hello? Th-thank you for saving us." When she didn't get a response other than a confused tilt of the head, she tried again. "C-can you understand us? Um.... w-why are you here?" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Managing to pick up some key sounds," Sparks notified as the purple one kept trying to communicate. "Repetitive phrases..... some conjugations..... Some of this actually bears vague resemblance to Pre-Golden Age languages. I think I have something, stand by." A rough translation started bleeding through the speakers. "Hello? ...you understand...? "Can you clean this up?" I asked. "Almost there, give me a sec." "Um.... th-thank you for saving us," the purple one said. "PHEW translation works!" Ah oops, I guess I spooked em cause some jumped from shock. "Oh uh heh.... s-sorry. Um.... you're welcome by the way. Oh this feels awkward." "You think that's awkward, try this," Sparks said out loud. "Oh shit..." Sparks materialized in front of me, further surprising and shocking the ponies. "Hello." "SPARKS! Could have been at least a little more subtle." "HAHAHAHAHAHA!" All I could do was facepalm. Though I did manage a smile when some of the creatures managed laughs and giggles, especially that garishly pink one. The two larger ones with wings and horns also managed to smile at each other. Maybe this is going better than I thought.