//------------------------------// // Rain and a meeting (EDITED) // Story: The Guardian // by NYChris824 //------------------------------// Changes: Mane 6 find where Dan lives and conversation with CMC and ending changed Day Three Nothing much happened, worked a little more on my camp. I roped off an area to cut wood and cleaned up some of the dead trees around the camp. I didn't lose too much of the forest canopy, so it was still just as hard to see me from above. I mostly just fiddled with the tank, learning how to use the turret, I still haven't fired the cannon. I've haven't had to eat the MREs much, mainly thanks to fishing and wild berries I found. In the early afternoon, I heard three voices from the path nearby. I was far enough in, that it was difficult to see me, but close enough to help anyone who walked by. They were the same voices from yesterday. I sat there listening to the conversation. "Ah'm telling ya, Zecora has to know The Guardian, they both live in the Everfree" one said, I've never seen a house out here, then again I've been here for only for a couple of days. "How do you know? He could live underground for all we know. If he's avoiding everypony in town, why would he be friendly to her?" Another pointed out. "It kinda makes sense they both live in the Everfree" another, slightly higher pitched voice said. "Yea, if he ran after killing those timberwolves, I doubt he would talk to Zecora" the second voice said. That was the last I heard as they kept walking to wherever this Zecora person lives. That was the last major event of the day, so I fell asleep in the driver's seat again that night Day Four I kept cleaning the underbrush, I found some blue plants on the western and northwestern edge, so I'm staying far from there. Fuck this planet and its Avatar shit. I heard several pairs of feet walking through the forest nearby. I froze up. Whoever it was was walking towards me, I scrambled up the nearest tree and hid in there. The six ponies with the princess yesterday walked in. "Hello?!" The purple one called "Anypony home?" "This isn't a home dear. Not even a wall!" The white one said "She's got a point there Twi." The cowgirl said "Not why we're here, but still." "But Mr. Bluejay said this is where he is." The yellow one said "Maybe he's in this thing!" The blue one said and flew over to my tank. She lifted a hatch and stuck her out in. "Hello! Anypony home?" She stuck her head back out, "It's empty." "Where could he be?" The purple one groaned "Maybe Zecora has seen him, c'mon girl!" She said and I watched them leave. I let out a deep sigh and climbed down. Day Five I woke up to a near pitch black sky, I don't know how it works here, but that usually means a flood fit for an ark launch. I (foolishly) went and explored the forest more for most of the day. I found more bushes with wild berries, I left them on the bushes because I didn't have a way to carry them back. I returned home sometime in the evening, I lit a fire to serve as some sort of light in the forest. I just hope I don't attract any unwelcome guests. I heard the leaves on the trees rustle, I tuned it out thinking it was the wind. I was wrong. The rain came in sideways and heavy, I grabbed my stuff and ran for the tank. I was in there for several hours waiting for it end or pause, it slowly began to die off. I fired up Devil Dog, and turned the lights on to survey the damage, a lot of new fire kindling was on the ground. "Look girls, there's somepony ahead! We're saved!" I heard a familiar voice say. I knew I would have to come out eventually and it looks like now is the time. I saw lights coming from the far side of the clearing, I saw the same three ponies(?) come out. They looked at me and were confused about who I was and why I don't look like them. "Who are you?" Asked the orange pegasus "Im Dan. " they seemed awe-struck by me, which would make sense, considering I'm not from here. "Thought I would look more like you three?" I asked them, they blush out of embarrassment. "We didn't know what you were mister" said the white one. "Don't worry about, what are your names, by the way" "Ah'm AppleBloom" said the yellow normal one "I'm Scootaloo" said the orange pegasus "And I'm Sweetie Belle" said the white unicorn And we're the..." They started to say "Oh wait that right we have our cutie marks" said Scootaloo as they blushed. "What's a cutie mark?" "YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT CUTIE MARKS ARE!!" they yelled at me "Yeah, different planet and stuff" They chuckled sheepishly and rubbed their necks. Sweetie Belle explained "A cutie mark is a symbol that represents a ponies special talent" "So how do you get them? And so whatever it is is what you do for the rest of your life?" "They magically appear on a pony's shoulder and hips" she continued, rolling up her sleeve to show me hers. She has a purple music note with a shield like background. AppleBloom has a purple apple with the same background and Scootaloo has a purple lightning bolt and the same shield. "Are they all purple and have that background, and what do they mean?" I asked them "No, we got ours at the same time, mine is for speeeed" Scootaloo explained, dragging out speed "I have a good singing voice" "And Ah'm gonna work on mah family's apple farm." I nodded "You seem to have a good idea of your futures. Better than I ever did." "What do ya mean by that?" Apple Bllom asked "Humans don't have magic or fly naturally, we can fly with the help of machines though. You girls know the way out? I'll help get you all home real quick. I said 25 minutes later "So they can move the sun and moon!? How is that possible?" I half shouted, the girls were explaining the world to me. I was right about them being ponies, there were unicorns, pegasus and earth ponies, where are normal ones. "Yea, humans can't?" AppleBloom asked "Remember when I said humans don't have horns or wings and cannot do magic nor control the weather?" "Right" I kept driving in silence, paying attention to the path. I was still waiting for questions about the tank, but none came yet. I arrived at the edge of the forest, stopped and killed the engine. "You all ready to head home?" I asked They just nodded. We climbed out and walked to the forest edge. Walking towards us was the same six girls from yesterday and a man with red fur and built like a steroids user. I looked at them and they looked at me. "Reckon you're all here for them?" I asked, pointing at the girls. "You bet." Betty-Sue replied "Thank ya kindly for watching them." "No problem, it's my job, kind of, to help civilians." "You're a Guard?" The purple one, Twilight I think, questioned. "No, Marine. Think Army, but with training for landing on beaches." "You ever fight?" Big Red grunted. "Two combat deployments to Kandahar Province. What about you?" I looked him up and down, he could handle the SAW like a pistol. "Army would love a man your size." He shook his head no, unless their head gestures were different. I have to get out and soon, didn't want the locals reporting me to their own army. "It's been nice talking but I've got to go. I have some stuff to handle." "Like what?" Possibly Twilight asked. I ignored her and climbed back into my tank.