//------------------------------//
// FIRST BLOOD -revised 
// Story: Iris Rising: Dreamfall (retcon planned) 
// by hujan86 
//------------------------------//

Everfree Forest, Equestria – Three Months Earlier
Somewhere in Everfree Forest lies a wide field of blue flowers. The surroundings were dark and creepy, due to the sunlight inability to pierce through the dense foliage. A faint female weep could be heard from somewhere in the field. The reason for it is unknown but a pony was hiding amongst the flowery plants.
A dark purple-cloaked figure, whose face is obscured under her hood, approached the spot where the weeping sound originates. 
“Oh you poor little thing...” the figure spoke up coldly, apparently a female.
The sobbing immediately stopped. 
“W-who are you?” the unknown pony asked in distress. “What do you want from me?” 
Without the answering the question, the figured said, “She did it, didn’t she? She crippled you, robbed you of your best friend. So you could die here all alone.”
Sniffling, the pony asked bitterly, “Are you here to make fun of me too?”  
“Oh, no,” said the figure, with subtle hints of sarcasm. “It’s nothing like that. After seeing your condition, I wish to help you.”
“How?” the pony eagerly asked.
Excellent, the figure thought. Looks like this one can easily be manipulated. “Do you not feel hatred building up inside you?”
“I do!” the pony’s voice was almost screaming. “I want to kill her!”
Satisfied, the cloaked figure went on to tempt the unknown pony. “Oh, no, no, no. That’s way too easy. That harsh, selfish, inconsiderate pony sinned against you by taking your friend’s life. Why not condemn her, like the way she condemned you here? “
“That’s true,” the pony agreed. “Yes, I should torture her first!”
“And should you stop there? Why not go after Equestria as well? Hmm? What was that you said about others making fun of you?”
“Yeah! They are nothing but bullies! All the time they tried to take her away from me! They all too must pay!”
The cloaked figure smirked devilishly, for the mentally unstable pony was now in her grasp. “As they should be, for the world is full of wrongdoers who don’t deserve happiness.” 
She produced the Alicorn Amulet from under her robe. Embedded on it is a red round jewel with black impressions of electronic circuitry. “I will give you power, and this power will give an army for you to command.”
A mysterious object of enormous proportion rose from the ground behind the cloaked figure. The semi-solid, shapeless mass spread around, trying to gain its true form, whatever that may be.
“They are coming to life thanks to the fiery rage in your heart,” the figure proclaimed to the pony. “Your anger will give you the strength you need. Let it drive you in your quest for vengeance.”
She raised the amulet forth so that the pony hiding in the field could see it clearly. “Wear this and they will be fully devoted to you. They will help you wreak your vengeance and do your every bidding without questioning.”
“Why?” the pony asked suspiciously, because the offer is definitely tempting, yet it also sounded too good to be true “Why would you help me?”
For a while, the figure did not say anything.
“You and I are so alike,” she said finally, pain from long distant memories hinted in her words. “Where I come from, a certain someone powerful wronged me, so I suffered. The rest look the other way. While they’re happy living their lives, I continue to suffer. From that experience, I learned how to mend my hurt feelings through my anger.”
The pony understood it immediately- vengeance.
After a long pause, she declared her decision, “I accept your offer. Celestia will be mine. I will take everything from her, just as she took everything from me. Then I shall rule over all those bullies, punishing them severely as I see fit.”
“Excellent!” The pleased unknown figure placed the amulet on the ground next to the flower field. “I’m putting this down here so whenever you’re ready to come out, you can just take it.”
“By the way,” she said, curiosity prevented her from leaving immediately, “you do realize the plants your hiding in are Poison Joke, don’t you?”
“Err… Mmmmmaybe- No.”
The cloaked figure shook her head. Typical.
“Hey, before you go,” said the pony hurriedly, “can I ask you something?” 
“Yes?”

***

Canterlot, Equestria - Current Day
Currently occurring in the night sky is a strange phenomenon unknowingly called the Void. A haloed pitch-black sphere, slightly larger than human-size and surrounded by moving webs of bright violet energy has materialized in midair. Then out of it fell an armored female figure who then landed hard in the backyard of a boutique cum jewelry store. All this went unnoticed by the sleeping inhabitants of Canterlot.

It was now dawn. A second armored figure was sprinting across the dark woods. He cleared over a gulley, landing faraway on the other side and afterwards made it out into a golden brown meadow. He came to a full stop to catch his breath. Through his opaque visor, he spotted his destination over the distance. Atop the plateau, stands the city of Canterlot.  
The visor retracted back, revealing the figure as a blue anthromorphic cat. His name is Zachary Logan Watterson, an Operative-ranked Battlecaster Godslayer. The sophisticated and rugged bodysuit-like armor he is wearing is known as the Arcanist SHADE. Aside from the Godslayer crest, the armor also sports a Bronze Star insignia.
The Godslayer glanced back to make certain that he is not being followed. Not wasting anymore time, he strode towards Canterlot Plateau instead of running to conserve his stamina.  

Watterson was wrong however. Deep in the woods, three figures had raced all the way from the Southern Kingdom in pursuit of the Godslayer.
Manbearpig, or MBP for short, is a savage beast that, as implied by its name, might be an unholy offspring of a human, a bear and a pig. Its red, bulging right eye appears to be prosthetic.
White Bunneh is a child-sized ‘female’ humanoid with white hair, wearing a featureless chrome mask with red ornamentation on its forehead and a metallic hairband with ‘rabbit ears’. The outfit consists of a tight white bodysuit with large black boots and gloves.  
Lastly, the ‘female’ humanoid feline dressed in jungle warrior outfit is called Mithra. A band with a flower-shaped ornament is worn on one arm.
Yet these three are not living beings. They are advanced robotic constructs whose existence in this world is meant not to be. Having only partial free-will and no emotions, they serve only to carry out the orders of their leader. One of which is killing Godslayer Watterson so as to finish the job back in Appleloosa.

Dash woke up. She found herself lying on a bed in an unfamiliar bedroom. She slowly sat up. Trying to remember where she is, she waited a few seconds before slowly pulling the covers back and getting to her feet. She is wobbly and unsteady. Her movement is heavy, as if she has not walk for days.
She looked down at her clothes, puzzled. She was wearing a turquoise-colored jacket over a white tank top and brown cargo pants. It is not the same clothes she remembered last wearing. She slowly moved over to the window and looked out. 
It is past dawn outside. The colorful, vintage-designed buildings all looked strange to her. The trees lining the cobblestoned streets has turned golden brown. Dry leaves littered the sidewalks.
“Is it fall already?” she wondered.
She rubbed her eyes then retreated back to the bed. “Ugh, I’m seeing things. How much did I drink last night?”
The door opened. Dash turned her head back to see a strange-looking pony entering the bedroom. It has a magenta coat and wore a headband on its wavy violet and white mane.
Dash snapped back to reality as soon as the pony started talking. 
Having never seen a human being before, the cautious Diamond Tiara tried to sound friendly. “Hi, err... Good morning. I’m glad to see you’re now up.”
“T-t-t-t-”
Dash’s reaction alarmed the Earth pony. “You feeling all right? Should I get you anything? Herbal tea? You do drink tea, right?”
“A TALKING HORSE!?”
Dash jumped and in doing so, tripped herself by accident. 
“Aw geez,” she muttered to herself on the floor, “this can’t be happening. I’m not crazy. I am NOT crazy. This is just a dream. I was having an emotional breakdown last night then I had too much cider and now I'm lying naked on the floor, hallucinating about talking horses.”
Dash proceeded to smack her head with her own hands. “Wake up, wake up, WAKE UP!!!”
As soon as she sat up, her face fell- she is still in the same bedroom, with the talking Earth pony. “Aw, come on…!”
Dash backed away until her back touched the wall. They stared at each other warily.
“Please stay calm,” Diamond Tiara tried to reassure the delirious Dash. “I mean you no harm, if that’s what you’re thinking.” 
“Okay, okay. Relax. Stay cool, Dash. Try to act rational. Think of what Twilight would do in this kinda situation.” Dash took a deep breath, then… “WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU!?”
“How rude!” said offended Diamond Tiara. “I found you passed out in the backyard few days ago then brought you up here! You could’ve at least showed a bit of gratitude!” 
Only then the Earth pony cringed inwardly, having regretted for abruptly raising her voice.
Leaning against wall, Dash rose to her feet.
“W-where am I?” she asked whilst edging around the room towards the door.
Diamond Tiara’s gaze followed her. “This is my boutique.”
That is not the answer Dash was looking for. “No! I mean, where is this place!?”
“You’re in Canterlot,” the Earth pony stated. “Look, I don’t know where you came from but you’re obviously traumatized-”
Having reached the door at last, Dash uttered a sharp goodbye then fled out of the room.

Silver Spoon co-owns the store with Diamond Tiara. Her size is relatively small compared to her friends due to her being the youngest in the group. And because she has severe vision problem, the grey Earth pony has to wear glasses all the time.
Over at the jewelry counter display case, she is met by Trixie Lulamoon. The unicorn wore a simple barrette at the side her long, pale blue and white mane.
“Trixie! Hi!” Silver Spoon greeted her friend excitedly. She cannot wait to tell Trixie about what she and Diamond Tiara have in their bedroom upstairs.
“Morning, Spoony,” Trixie greeted back cheerfully. “Just want to return this before going back to work.”  
After placing the book titled 1000 Card Tricks on the counter, she with an appreciative smile said, “Thanks. It’s quite a good read.”
“That’s great!” Silver Spoon was happy to hear that. “I’ve several more similar books like that. You can borrow them anytime you like.”
“I sure will,” Trixie promised before glancing around. “Where’s Tiara?”
“Upstairs. You will not believe what we just found in our backyard!”
It was then that a crashing sound was heard coming from upstairs. They turned to see a human being tumbling down the stairs. 
Dash immediately got back on her feet. Her eyes widened in shock upon seeing Trixie and Silver Spoon. “Aw geez! Not more of them!”
Shortly, Diamond Tiara had made her way down the stairs. “Please wait! At least let me get a doctor to check up on you!”
But Dash instead rushed past several pony mannequins, each fitted with its own dress, fashion jewelries and other accessories, and out to the front entrance. The three ponies watched as Dash jumped over the low fence, strangely a mere few feet away from the opened gate.
The dumbstruck Trixie looked at Diamond Tiara, then at Silver Spoon. “What was that?”
“That’ll be it.”

Dash ran as fast as she could, without knowing exactly where to go. Upon arriving at a cliff, only then she realized the city was actually built on high ground. She marveled at the panoramic view of the plain. From the west, forested mountain range (known as Unicorn Range) overlook vast meadows to the east, of which it is divided by a wide icy blue river flowing from Canterlot and coming from the south is the main road with a cable bridge linking Canterlot and Ponyville across the river.    
Dash backtracked and ran to another direction. Had she waited longer, Dash would have noticed a mechanical object streaking across the sky, making it way towards Canterlot. Its angular design and sharp edges suggests it did not originate from this world.  
The still-confused Dash went through several empty alleys. Along the way, she kept on running into some empty barrels and tripping herself by accident. After exiting the alley, the exhausted young woman immediately stopped to catch her breath. After she recovered, what Dash saw next shocked her. She gaped at the surrounding environment. By now, it was now clear to her that the entire city is inhabited by horses- ponies, unicorns and pegasus of various colors and strange ‘marks’ on their flanks.
The ponies became wary as soon as Dash’s presence was made known to them.  
“Is that a talking monkey?” one pony asked his companion who in turn replied, “I think so.”
“Yeah, I believe they’re called ‘humans’!” said another. “But I thought they’re just a myth made up by the Star Swirl the Crazy.”
More came to join the muttered conversation. Others only stared in silence, uncertain on how to react.  
Dash felt weak in the knees in response. “Aw, I think I’m gonna pass out…”
All of a sudden, panicked screams emitted all around her.
“Faust Almighty!” shouted one pony as he pointed up his hoof. “Incoming!”
A figure was hurtling through the air over a building. Panicked ponies galloped for cover as soon as the figure impacted on the ground, just a few feet away from Dash. She stepped away in alarm because the figure’s armor was flaring as if it is emitting electricity. Once the flaring stopped, a band of electricity flowed up over the armor. 
The figure is none other than Godslayer Watterson. He rose to his feet with a groan before noticing Dash’s presence. After his visor retracted, the Godslayer looked at her strangely.  
“Huh? This can’t be right…”
Aw great, now a talking cat, Dash thought. What next?
Godslayer Watterson mistook Dash as a fellow Godslayer, after seeing the crest embedded on her jacket. “What are you doing here? You’re not from my lance.”
The feline’s words baffled Dash. “Urk! ‘Scuse me!? Do we know each other!?
“Of course not.” He then introduced himself as Watterson.
Dash’s brows furrowed upon hearing the name. “Zach? Zach Watterson?”
Genuine surprise came over the Godslayer. “Yeah. How did you know?”
Apart from his teammates, he himself does not know all the thousands members of the Godslayer Corps let alone their full names.
“I…I dunno why I said that.” Dash was confused as he is.
“You’re not making sense, comrade!” The Godslayer came close to her with a sharp stare. “Why were you sent here!?”
But then, he noticed something highly familiar regarding the young brunet, though he is unable to put his put my finger on it. “Weird, I think I’ve seen you before…” 
“No,” Dash said immediately. “I don’t think so.”
More screams emitted. Ponies backed away into the surrounding shops upon the sudden appearance of MBP. 
“We’ll talk later,” Godslayer Watterson said, “after we deal with these Nanite construct.” 
Huh? I don’t get this dream, Dash thought.
The deafening sound of an engine roared in the distance. Godslayer Watterson, having realized the sound was approaching from their rear, shoved Dash out of the way. A bronze winged tank armed with twin cannons, known as the Dalek, swooped low above ground level, passed dangerously close to Dash and slammed hard into Godslayer Watterson. She stared bafflingly as the tank flew off with the Godslayer. Upon hearings a menacing growl behind her, Dash turned around. The MBP now stood towering over her.
MBP started scanning Dash with its vision. After the analysis on her clothes was completed, the construct recognized the human as a potential threat. Sharp claws protracted on its right paw. It tried to lash at Dash but she managed to dodge the attack. Still, the MBP managed to catch Dash in her attempt to flee with its left human hand. With one mighty throw, she hurtled across the street.
Fearing for her life, Dash clenched her eyes tightly and braced for impact. Over the course of this event, a glow was flowing over her clothes. It began to change color and distort, moments before she crashed through the wall.
Wincing in pain yet unscathed, Dash got up to her feet. Bits of wood and broken stones trickled off her shoulders. 
‘kay, not a dream after all, she thought.
Surprised at how she somehow managed to survive the crash, Dash looked down to examine herself. “Hey, what happened to my clothes!?”
She was now clad in the Fleet variant of the SHADE. The bodysuit portion had similarities to Zach’s armor. The protective armor plates, forming the shoulder pads, breastplates, arm guards and leggings, appear to be made from carbon fiber-like materials. All of these gave her a futuristic soldier-look. However, unlike Zach, her armor only sports the Godslayer crest without an insignia.
The blue-silver armor flared briefly until its energy shielding was fully recharged. She moved her arms and body. The SHADE’s non-bulky design, from the bodysuit’s flexibility to the spread of the plates, enabled her to freely move around. It also bears no weight at all, like cloth. Looking closely, the fabric of the bodysuit appears to be made out of a mesh composed of tiny hexagonal crystallines, and the plates consist of multiple layers of interconnected pieces, anchored to it.
Godslayer Dash looked around and saw that she is in an empty bowling alley. Littered all over the floor are debris from the broken wall, furniture and bowling balls. Just then, MBP seized Godslayer Dash from behind and hauled her up. 
“No, get away from me! You freak-”
Struggling to free herself from its strong grip, she made a few accidental but very powerful punches and kicks, causing MBP to release her. She dropped to the floor as the beast staggered behind. 
Godslayer Dash got up, feeling astonished at her inhumane strength. “Whoa, did I just…” 
Before she could say more, the recovered MBP came at her. Acting on instincts, she started grabbing the bowling balls on the floor. 
Godslayer Dash declared, “Dodgeball!” and proceeded to batter the beast with bowling ball salvos. 
The MBP froze. Its body began to erode away and finally disintegrated into glowing particles, or dusts…whatever. 
Godslayer Dash scratched on her helmet, puzzled by the phenomenon. She walked out of the building through the gap in wall. She looked to her side then broke into a run in the opposite direction, with a grenade launcher-wielding White Bunneh in pursuit.
Godslayer Dash screamed in panic as she ran as fast as she could from the explosions behind her. “WHY THE HECK IS THIS HAPPENING TO ME!?”
Unbeknownst to herself, she was sprinting at an amazing, almost superhuman speed. Up ahead, a cart was blocking her path. The passengers got off as soon as they saw her. She easily cleared over it in one big leap. As she ran away, the cart exploded behind her.
Soon, a big wagon carrying barrels came out of a junction to inadvertently block her path. She vaulted over it and after making a perfect landing on the other side, she continued to run. Like the cart before it, the wagon was blasted into pieces by White Bunneh.

Discord Goodguy Jr, the captain of the Equestrian Royal Guards exited the shop with a bag of candy popcorn in his hands. 
“Another beautiful day in Canterlot,” he said pleasantly. “No chaos happening around. Just me and my pop- WHAT THE FAUST!?”

Almost colliding with the draconequss, Godslayer Dash leaped in the last moment. She performed a horse vault over the captain’s helmet, in doing so caused the popcorn to spill on the ground. Godslayer Dash landed on behind him and managed to say sorry before running away.
A short moment later, the winged tank was back. At high speed, it hit Godslayer Dash from her side then dragged her up high above the city rooftops. The tank appeared to be damaged, as it was sparking and leaking gas all over. Godslayer Dash scrambled over the tank. After which, she lost her grip and fell off.
The ground seemed to rush up to meet her. Suddenly, the thrusters on the armor’s rear breastplate and leggings fired powerful streams of jet. It barely stabilized her but did manage to slow down her fall. Barely had any control over the thrusters, she zigzagged across the sky above the park, screaming in panic.

Godslayer Watterson watched this happening from a rooftop. “Oh gosh, don’t tell they sent a newbie!”
He slid down the roof to head towards where Dash is.

Godslayer Dash landed on top of a canopy tent then bounced off. The pony manning the tent ducked under the counter then escaped as soon as the Godslayer hit the ground. After shaking off her pain, Godslayer Dash was on her feet again. Suddenly a blow missed her by an inch. She looked at her current opponent. It was Mithra, wielding a club. She swiftly dodged and parried Mithra’s strikes using Jujutsu moves learned from her time with the royal air force.
Concurrently, the winged tank touched down nearby. Sections of the tank retracted and stacked over each other, transforming it into a hulking one-eyed mech, with disproportionately oversized fists and tracked feet. The turret became its shoulder cannons drawn into its back. A red disc is engraved on its chest.
Godslayer Watterson darted right in front of Mecha-Dalek. He conjured an arrow made out of solid-state energy with a fiery aura around it on his tek-bow. He successfully acquired a headshot, whereupon the mech broke apart into glowing particles. 
“Hey!” Godslayer Watterson angrily called out to Godslayer Dash whom is the midst of fending off Mithra’s attacks. “What is wrong with you!? Use your Ethereal weapon!”
“A wha-!?”
He expressed his extreme surprise by gesturing erratically. “What do you mean ‘WHAT’!? Conjure it!!!”
In trying to understand understand that really meant, Godslayer Dash was caught off her guard, allowing Mithra to land a hit. Enraged by the pain inflicted on her, she lunged at Mithra. She parried another strike and proceeded to disarm Mithra. After acquiring the club, Godslayer Dash swung it across Mithra’s legs, causing the construct to fall. She then wasted no time in beating it up mercilessly.
Huh, whichever works... Godslayer Watterson thought.
He spun around upon when White Bunneh showed up from behind and firing grenades at him.
Resist Shield! 
A huge Ethereal shield materialized right before him, appearing as a ‘magic circle’ surrounded by mystical markings and with a flame symbol in the middle. The shield blocked all the shots with ease.
Suddenly, Godslayer Dash sprinted past him. Using the club in her hands, Godslayer Dash delivered a blow that hurled White Bunneh backwards. 
“That’s for trying to blow me up to smithereens, you freak!” she said triumphantly. 
As soon as the Ethereal shield dematerialized, Godslayer Watterson finished off White Bunneh with a head shot. With that, the battle was now over. Godslayer Dash’s visor retracted. She was breathing heavily and a little shaken. 
Still holding onto his tek-bow, Godslayer Watterson carefully approached her from behind. “Hey, what kind of a Godslayer are you!?”
Godslayer Dash turned around, then spoke in a shaky voice, “Look, I-I dunno what’s going on but I don’t belong here! A-and I’m not who you think I am!”
The revelation shocked Godslayer Watterson. “What the what!?”
Godslayer Dash gestured at the Fleet SHADE that she is wearing. “I dunno how this- this thing got on me. You’ve gotta believe me. All I know is I was having a drink last night. A-and the next thing I know…I woke up in this wacky ponyland!”
But Godslayer Watterson was unconvinced. “Man, that is the most ridiculous excuse I have ever heard in my life!”
“Gimme a break! I’m telling the truth! All this is so weird to me I’d rather go back to my old boring life!”
Godslayer Watterson was still uncertain whether to trust the woman before him or not. “Gee, I don’t know… GOSH DARN IT!!!”
Shock came over Godslayer Dash as Godslayer Watterson abruptly bore his tek-bow at her. “Wait, no, no, no, no!” 
Taking a step back, she tried to shield herself with her forearms. “Don’t kill me!”
MagNet!
An Ethereal ‘magic circle’ (it has the exact same appearance as the Resist Shield) materialized under Godslayer Dash’s feet. Her body movement was paralyzed by the glow projected by the ‘magic circle’. 
Godslayer Watterson released the Fiery-Ethereal arrow. It shot past Godslayer Dash’s neck and hit Mithra instead, which happened to be trapped in the ‘magic circle’ too. In its hand was a dagger. It was trying to backstab Godslayer Dash. 
After Mithra disintegrated, a quick thought crossed Godslayer Watterson’s mind. STAT, Access the armor’s log files. Scan for the ident of the owner. Enter credentials. Name: Zachary Logan Watterson. User ID: 458524. Password: Old Marshal Winter.
Underneath the visor, Watterson’s expression fell at the data pulling up on his HUD. He recognized the real owner of the Fleet SHADE.
Download all the data logs to my armor then encrypt the originals, he instructed the SHADE’s software engine. Is it possible to shut down her armor?
The HUD flickered red: negative. Godslayer Dash’s armor belonged to someone of higher rank.
Godslayer Dash fell to her knees once the ‘magic circle’ disappeared. She glared furiously at Zach. “You shoulda warned me first!!!”
Godslayer Watterson’s tek-bow also dematerialized in the same fashion, thus revealing the weapon is also Ethereal-based. He took a step closer to Godslayer Dash and scolded her. “You idiot! Why the heck didn’t you finish it off when you had the chance!?”
“She wasn’t moving! I thought-”
Godslayer Watterson cut her off, “It’s NOT a she! Sheesh, what a noob!”
“Hey!” Godslayer Dash exclaimed in irritation at the name call.
After the visor retracted, Godslayer Watterson cast a sharp and calculating glare at her. “Can’t say I totally believe everything you just said, but I’ll take it anyway. From this moment on, you’re with me but I’m keeping an eye you. If you try anything funny,-” 
He then spoke in a scary voice which sounded comedic rather than intimidating, “Well, let’s just say I got some skills, scary skills, which I’ve acquired over a long career as a Godslayer. And you really don’t wanna know what those skills are.”
Godslayer Dash rose to her feet, shooting a defiant glare with arms akimbo. “Hey, I don’t take kindly to threats, y’know!”
Godslayer Watterson reverted to his normal voice. “I’m being cautious since I don’t know you. Now, pay attention. If you’re anything but the bad guys, then you’ll do as I say and you can’t go anywhere without my permission. As long as you don’t interfere with my job, I’ll help you sort out this mess, deal?”
“No way!” Godslayer Dash protested. “You ain’t the boss of me!”
“Good luck, then.” Godslayer Watterson turned and casually walked away from her.
“Wait, where’re you goin’!?” Godslayer Dash immediately chased after him. “Urgh! Okay, it’s a deal! Geez!”
A momentary sly smile formed on Godslayer Watterson’s face before turning around.
“I dunno where to go to in this wacky place anyway,” Godslayer Dash conceded and offered a handshake. “Let’s shake on it.”
“Hmm, you might wanna do better than that.”
Godslayer Dash extended a closed fist. “Fist bump!?”
Godslayer Watterson shook his head. “No.”
“Aw, c’mon!” Godslayer Dash thought for another way. “‘Kay, fine! This might look childish, but here goes!”
Godslayer Watterson watched in wonder Godslayer Dash made the Pinkie Pie Promise. 
The latter gestured mimicking her phrase, “Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.”
“It’s supposed to be a sign of an irrevocable bow not to break a promise,” she said afterwards. “A friend taught me that. You happy now?”
Although still fraught with uncertainty, Godslayer Watterson nodded. “Now, change back to your normal clothes.”
“How do I do that?” Godslayer Dash asked.
“How’d you get into armor mode in the first place!?” the feline asked back in surprise.
“I dunno! Honest!”
“Fine,” Godslayer Watterson sighed. “Say “SHADE Armor, time out”.”
Godslayer Dash repeated the words. The helmet separated. The protective plates detached from the bodysuit. They hovered in a circular motion around her, like magic as the bodysuit transformed into her previous clothes. Each piece separated further, changed color and reshaped into thinner, more flexible sheets. They embed themselves onto her boots and clothes. Once the process was completed, the transformed pieces did indeed appeare as if they are part of the attire.
“That was aww-some!” Dash said in amazement while looking down at herself.
Godslayer Watterson’s Arcanist SHADE followed suit, transforming into grey trousers and a brown-tan sweater. The Godslayer crest is embedded on the sweater the same way as Dash’s jacket.
“Hey, how’d you do that without the phrase?” Dash asked in surprise.
“By using the power of my mind,” Zach said, without bothering to offer a detailed explanation. “Say, what’s your full name?”
“I’m Iris. Iris Dashiell. Dash for short.”
“Why didn’t you use your first name?”
“B’cuz it doesn’t sound as cool and awesome.”
Zach shrugged his shoulders. “Whatever.”
Shortly, Captain Discord, whose armor suit was smoldering after getting hit by White Bunneh’s grenade earlier, showed up and was advancing on the two. 
“Halt in the name of the Royal Sisters!” he proclaimed whilst waving his staff-mace threateningly.  “Surrender now or suffer the wrath of my Exquisite Ban Hammer!”
Prince Umbra, a handsome grey unicorn with and green eyes and stylish black and blue-streaked mane. He is apparently of royal descent as seen through his opulent red robe. 
“It’s all right, captain,” he said. “The blue feline is with me. As for this, err…” 
The prince regarded Dash with fascination as he set his eyes on a human being for the first time in his life. “-stranger, she’s a hero, for I saw the whole fight with my own eyes.”
“Really?” Discord was rather uncertain about Zach and Dash, whom he considered as outright strange. “You mean she’s not on the same side with that gun-toting white bunny-monkey thingy?” 
Nonetheless, the captain eased up and lowered his weapon. “Very well.”
He then eyed Dash quizzically. “What creature are you supposed to be?”
Zach dropped to one knee in deference to Prince Umbra. “Your Highness.”
At the same time, Discord looked over at Dash then to Zach. “That’s strange. I clearly remembered you had different clothes on.”
“Stand, Lord Watterson,” Umbra ordered. “I am so relieved you that you finally made it here from your scouting mission in Appleloosa.” 
He then turned to speak to Dash. “Oh, where are my manners? I am Prince Umbra of the Southern Kingdom. What is your name, newcomer?”
“Just…call me Dash.”
“Splendid, Miss Dash! You two are comrades, yes?”
Zach tried to answer on Dash’s behalf but Dash cut him off with a clear “no”, prompting the prince to regard her quizzically. 
“Sorry, uh, your-royal highness…sir. By all seriousness, I dunno where to start.”
“Then you can tell us along the way. Come, Miss Dash.”
“I shall prepare the transport at once!” Discord said.
“Where’re we headin’?” Dash asked.
“Oh, I almost forgot!” The captain hastily handed her a small piece of paper.
“What’s this?”
“It’s a ticket, for ruining my candy popcorn.”
“Say WHAT!?”
As Dash went after Captain Discord to complain about the fine, Zach walked off slowly, his arms folded, thinking. “Iris Dashiell…Dash…”
Realization hit him. Her nickname, her facial appearance, the Pinkie Pie Promise… “Rainbow Dash…?”

Inside the carriage, Zach was sitting next to Umbra and warily looked on Dash while listening to their conversation.
“So you say you come from a world called Earth?” the prince asked.
Dash gave an affirmative nod.
“Fascinating! I have no knowledge of it as human beings are supposedly mere legends crafted by the Star Swirl the Crazy. And judging from your clothing, I could’ve easily mistaken that you and Zach were from the same place. But how did you come to be here?”
“That’s the problem. The last thing I remembered was me chatting with a guy that I don’t know over the table in a diner. That was yesterday… Or at least I think it was… I can’t even remember what the conversation is about. After that, everything’s suddenly becomes total blank.”
Umbra seemed to understand the predicament Dash is going through. “Ah, you’re suffering from a memory loss, I see. Perhaps Princess Celestia can assist you, as the story goes she is quite knowledgeable in advanced magic.”
“Wut? There’s magic here?”
“Yes. All unicorns, including myself, can perform magic but the skills vary considerably from pony to pony.”
“What kinda magic?”
“Oh, basic ones- levitation, shielding, create bonfires. Nothing overly complicated. However, I have every confidence that advanced magic such as a memory spell shouldn’t pose a problem for a pony of Princess Celestia’s stature. Isn’t that right, Lord Watterson?”
“Huh?” Startled, Zach snapped out of his thoughts and faced his master. “Oh- Oh, yeah. Sure, Your Highness.”
“You are unusually quiet,” the prince commented, looking at his bodyguard with concern. “Is something bothering you?”
“Me? Nothing. Nothing’s wrong, Your Highness. I’m totally fine.”
It was then that Dash decided to find out more the place. “Princess Celestia, she’s in charge here, right?”
“That is correct,” Umbra answered. “She is the benevolent ruler of Equestria, this very land you found yourself in.”
Dash frowned upon hearing the name Equestria. “That’s weird.”
The country where she is from is also named Equestria.
“Anything wrong?” the prince asked her.
“No, it’s nothin’,” she said dismissively.
“Anyway, truth be told, I never met the princess before. But I have heard of the tales. By wielding Elements of Harmony, she had once defeated her sister who attempted to usurp the throne after said to be possessed by a malevolent supernatural entity called Nightmare Moon.” 
Of course, having come from a different world means Dash did not understand some of the terms. “The Elements of Harmony? What’s that?”
“It is a mysterious magic artifact said to hold unimaginable power,” Umbra explained. “You see, the evil creatures you just fought were a part of an army that had recently invaded my kingdom. If it weren’t for Lord Watterson here, I couldn’t have made it out of there alive. In return for his help, I knighted him as my personal bodyguard. We are heading to the princess’ castle as we speak to seek her assistance.”
Dash suddenly remembered the strange term used for the aforementioned creatures. “Hey Zach. You mentioned something about ‘Nanite constructs’, right?”.
Zach laughed nervously, when he realized his stupid mistake. “What? Did I really say that? I have no idea what that means. Nope, you heard me wrong. I meant those monsters got me ‘knickers in a twist’ for following me all the way here.” 
Dash leaned back to the couch in disappointment at Zach’s response.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness,” Zach said. “I should’ve been more careful.”
“It’s all right. I’m sure you’ve done the best you could.”
“Is that it?” Dash was glancing out the window. 
Came into her view are the many turrets and spired towers of a magnificent castle.