Rainbow Dash was high up in the air, looking around for something. When she spotted that something I saw her wave and start to fly back down to me. It was strange; I swore I could hear a jet engine as she came down.
“They’re just over there, not much farther now!” she said.
“They?” I asked.
“My friends! The ones that are going to prove whether or not you’re actually trustworthy. Well, mostly AJ will do that but I’m sure Twi can help too…”
“So that’s their names, eh? Good to know.”
She didn’t quite like the way I said that, “Good to know, huh? Why’s that?”
I decided this was the perfect opportunity for some teasing. “Because now I can relay back to my SECRET HEADQUARTERS so they can begin their evil plan! Mwah ha ha ha!” I tried to hold the most obviously-not-at-all-evil look for as long as possible, I lasted about five seconds before I burst out laughing! Rainbow had the most bewildered look on her face too; I guessed she wasn’t a fan of my wild sense of humor. “I’m only joking!”
Rainbow rolled her eyes and smirked. “Very funny. You know I’d love to bounce jokes around with you–”
“Oh, we’re on joking terms? I thought you didn’t trust me.”
“I still don’t, well not totally.”
“What?”
“I still don’t know who or what you eve are, and with the weird time thingy going on I’d better be on the safe side.”
“Time thingy?” I actually became a bit worried, “She has to mean me. But how would a creature like her…?”
“Twilight can explain it better and definitely for longer than I can. She said it was a… um…dis-… disruption of… no that’s not it.” Dash knocked her hoof on her head trying to remember the words of her friend, but after a moment her expression brightened as she said, “Oh yeah! “A ‘distortion of time’ in the Everfree forest, whatever that is.”
I tensed up at the mentioning of time, I was almost sure that she was talking about me, and despite how nice she was for saving my life, I suddenly didn’t feel quite as safe. Whenever someone tracks my powers over time it’s usually because they want to find and do who knows what to me. Rainbow Dash sure didn’t look like any Talon creation, but I still found my hand instinctively resting on the holster for a pulse pistol. I wasn’t going to go on the offensive, but I know not to take any chances.
“That sounds… odd.” I said. I wanted to keep my cool.
“Yeah, it is. But she said it wasn’t anything major, just something she thought would be cool to check out.” She chuckled “I actually thought it was going to be boring here, like we’d just find some glowing dust or crystal or something, instead I found you.”
“Well it’s nice to know I’m a little more interesting than some glowing dust.” I joked.
“Way more interesting.” She joked back.
While we were laughing, the bushes beside us rustled grabbing our attention. I drew my pistols and Rainbow’s wings flared. I flinched when I saw the head of a horned pony pop up and say, “There you are Rainbow Dash! I thought–” The new pony’s eyes shot open when it saw me. “What… is that?!” It gasped.
Rainbow spoke first, “Hey Twilight! Where’s Applejack?” And, as if on cue anther pony’s head popped up, this one wearing a brown Stetson hat.
“I’m right here." It said, and then it spotted me too.
“So these are the friends you were talking about.” I said as I holstered my pistols.
“Girls, this is Tracer. She’s the reason I flew off.” Dash said “A pack of Timberwolves got the jump on her and if it wasn’t for little old me she’d be a goner.”
“That’s just like you Rainbow, flyin’ off to save the day and brag ‘bout it later.” Applejack said. She had a thick southern drawl like those Americans had, which made me wonder if I was in the somewhere States with some secret pony project going on.
“It’s only bragging unless you can back it up” Rainbow retorted. “But you totally should have seen it. I swooped in and POW! Knocked one in the teeth. And Tracer got these cool blasting things and was like BABABABABA! And then we were surrounded but I got them to pile on each other and it and she teleported and threw a bomb and BOOM! No more timber wolves!” Rainbow motioned each action as she said it. “It was awesome! ...But, that wasn’t too far from here so we might still be in their turf.”
“Then that means we gotta go. You might have handled yourselves then but I’d really not want to handle a whole pack of those monsters.” Applejack proclaimed. “C’mon Twi, you just gonna stand there?”
Twilight was still in a shock induced trance, I noticed that she hadn’t taken her eyes off me the entire time we talked; she probably didn’t blink either. “Uh… yeah. Let’s go.”
“Somethin’ wrong sugarcube?” Applejack asked. “Well other than… ya know.”
“I’ll… tell you once we’re out of the forest and back in $!@TY#@*.” Twilight said. They both finally walked out of the bush they were in and I finally got a good look at them.
Twilight was brilliant violet with a darker tinted and straight mane; she also had a horn on her head, Applejack was sunset orange and had a blonde mane that rested under her brown Stetson; she looked more like a regular horse without wings or a horn. “If Rainbow Dash is a pegasus, I’d wager Twilight is a unicorn. But what would that make Applejack? A ‘normal pony’? I hope there’s no caste system in place…” I thought.
“Oh hey! Before we go...” Rainbow said, she flew over to Applejack’s ear and whispered something. Her face became stern and she nodded.
Applejack walked up to me and looked me dead in the eyes, like she was an interrogator and I was the suspect. “State your name and business.”
I knew a situation like this would happen so I was mentally prepared. “My name is Tracer, and I work for the recently reinstated Overwatch organization.”
After a moment her eyebrow rose, “Tracer’s not your real name is it?”
I flinched “How’d she figure that one out?!” I thought.
“I need you to be honest with me sugarcube.” Applejack said
“No, it’s not… but I’m obligated not to mention my real name outside of fellow members of who already know of my name for the safety of myself and other Overwatch operatives.” I said confidently.
“Are you a spy?”
“No, I’m not.”
“Then what are you and what‘s this ‘Overwatch’ thing?”
That irked me, “Seriously have none of you heard of Overwatch?” All the ponies shook their heads. “Even sentient ponies should know something right? They must have at least seen the logo…” An idea popped in my head. “Hang on…” I said as I reached for my old Overwatch badge, lucky for me I still had it. “Ever see this logo before?” I asked hoping to jog some memories.
“Nope.” Applejack said. The others had similar responses. “What does it mean?”
I could not believe what I was hearing! “Not even the logo? If this really is some kind of government project to create genetically enhanced animals, they at least should have seen Overwatch’s logo. Even Winston knew when he was little, and he was in SPACE most of his childhood! Either these are the most secluded genetically altered ponies ever, or I’m…” My thoughts became grim.
“Ya’ll still didn’t answer my questions.” Applejack said, regaining my attention.
“Oh, sorry. This is the logo of Overwatch; we are an elite group of soldiers, scientists, doctors and more dedicated to protecting others in their time of need. I’m one of their top operatives, adventurer and former experimental pilot.”
“So you’re a soldier?”
“More like a peacekeeper of sorts.”
“And ya’ll don’t hurt anypony?”
“NoPONY, nor anyone or anything else unless it’s trying to hurt someone else.”
Applejack got in my face, leering into my eyes and not saying a word. She was sizing me up; I kept my returning stare solid as a rock. After a momentary eternity, she backed off and said, “Okay, I trust her.”
“Seriously?” I asked.
“Eeyup.” She responded.
“Awesome, then that means she’s cool to come with us?” Rainbow asked.
“Any objections Twi?” Applejack asked.
Twilight was looking at me the same way a new intern looks at the fancy computers at HQ. “None at all! Not as long as I can find out more about this ‘Overwatch’ and their scientists!” Her smile was scarily wide.
“Sure you can ask as many questions as you like, but I might not have all the answers since I’m no scientist.” I said.
I didn’t think I’d ever see childish glee as terrifying until I saw Twilight’s face after I responded. Rainbow even chuckled, “You shouldn’t have said that.”
The sound of a distant howl grabbed our attention; we all took a moment to look at each other before Applejack spoke up, “Well alright then, let’s get out of this forest before somethin’ finds us!”
We all nodded and hastily made our way out of the woods, meanwhile Twilight bombarded me with all kinds of questions, some I couldn’t answer because for security reasons, others I didn’t even understand because they used fancy scientist lingo I couldn’t wrap my head around. At one point she even asked me a question about magic, which led to a small debate about the existence of magic. “Are they serious?! The only thing I consider magic is Dr. Ziegler’s ability to revive people and even she has science to back her up!” She even demonstrated by floating a rock with her horn and teleporting around. Levitation isn’t anything new to me and I even blinked AND recalled just to show her up; it resulted in even more questions these about what I could do. Now don’t get the wrong idea, Twilight’s really nice and answering her questions isn’t a bother… there were just SO MANY.
After I while I asked my own question, “So where are we going?”
Applejack responded, “$!@TY#@*, friendliest town in all of Equestria.” My translator was still bugging.
“Where?” I asked again
“$!@TY#@*.” Rainbow Dash repeated. “Hey, you guys don’t think everypony’s going to freak out when they see Tracer do you? I mean they can be pretty jumpy.”
“If she walks into town with us they might not feel like she’s a threat. Um… no offense Tracer but nopony’s ever seen a creature like you before.”
I realized something: strange creatures, no knowledge of Overwatch or what a human looks like, this ‘Equestria’ they keep mentioning… I had a sinking feeling I was not where I first thought I was.
"You keep mentioning ‘Equestria’… what exactly is Equestria?” I asked.
All three of the stopped to look at me. “Huh?!” They asked simultaneously.
“Equestria is the kingdom we’re currently in! How could you not know that?” Twilight said.
“Kingdom? There haven’t been any kingdoms in centuries!” I said.
“What are you talking about?! What about Equestria, or Zebrica, or Saddle Arabia?” Rainbow yelled.
“No…” I said, not liking where this conversation was heading. “Have any of you ever heard of the country of Russia?” All three of them shook their heads. “What about France? The United States? England?!” All responses were negative. “This… can’t be…”
“He look we’re out!” Applejack announced. The trees finally gave way to an apple orchard a large red barn was not far from where we exited the forest. In the distance I could see a small village reminiscent of something from a medieval fantasy novel. Even further was a mountain with a large castle built on the side! “None of this should even exist!” I thought “How can there be a mountain with a castle on its side? There’s no record of that ever existing on… Earth…” The realization hit me like a bullet from Widowmaker’s rifle. “Oh my lord…” I muttered.
“Welcome to Ponyville Tracer!” Applejack announced, she then noticed my distraught face. “Something wrong sugarcube?”
Recalling allows me to travel through time and space, if only briefly, but what I experienced was more than a typical recall. My chronal accelerator malfunctioned, sending me hurtling through the fabric of the universe; I just then realized how far I went. I assumed I was in a different country, at worst on some secret government testing facility, or some maniac’s genetic playground. But once outside of the cover of the forest I could see the unfamiliar sky and landmarks that shouldn’t exist. I wasn’t on another country…
“Oh sweet lord...I’m ON ANOTHER PLANET!”