It was early evening and I was on my bed, looking up at the ceiling and bored to death.
"What the fuck can I do?" I said to myself. I absentmindedly ran my hand over my chest, feeling my four-pack. 'why not go for a run?' I thought. I rolled off the bed and went down the stairs. Twilight's castle looked massive, but the guest rooms were a straight shot from the main foyer area and the dining room was right off from there, Twilight was sitting in the foyer with a book in her magic.
"I'm going for a short run. How wide is Ponyville?" I asked her
".7437 mile radius." She shot off "Be careful out there."
"Wilco."'I replied and walked out, not hearing if Twilight had asked anything else.
I stood there for a moment like an idiot, thinking out a route I could take, except for the thunder that rumbled off in the distance. I couldn't help but jump a little, both from surprise and instinct from RPGs in Afghanistan.
"What the matter Dan? Afwaid of a wittle thunder." Dash asked, landing next to me.
"No, more like a reaction from having people trying to kill me with a weapon that sounds similar." I said casually
"Really? What's it like? To fight in a war?" She asked, leaning closer like I'm about to tell her who I have a crush on or something. I was never good at answering that question, how can I explain how it feels to take another life. I just loudly exhaled through my nose.
"I've never been good at answering that question." I said, looking towards the dark gray skies in the distance.
"C'mon Dan." She said bumping her shoulder against mine.
"It's horrible," I spat out "knowing that who you killed has friends, family possibly even a lover. The this I've seen will stay with me forever, broken bodies. The glazed over look the eyes have when someone dies."
"M-My bad..." She said, standing there awkwardly before flying off again. I figured my plan for a run was ruined thanks to the people who plan the weather. I turned around and walked back inside.
"It's gonna rain real soon. Hope you got the windows closed." I said to Twilight and went to my room. It was about eight, summer leading to the sun slowly falling behind the horizon. I turned on "I Was Only 19", an Aussie folk song about someone serving in Vietnam. It reminded of me in Afghanistan, young and fresh from basic and praying to god you would go home alive.
****
I woke up, sunlight attempting to get through the blinds. I rolled over onto my back and sat up, rubbing my eyes and let out of moan of pleasure. I heard a dull roar from somewhere, kinda like at a restaurant and you can't pick out any one voice.
"Must be some sort of fair or something." I said as I climbed out of bed. I opened the curtains and was blinded by light; not from the sun, but rather camera flashes. I ducked against the wall and listened to the roar of the crowd increase. I was able to pick out some voices yelling questions at me.
"Is it true that you called the Equestria military quote 'weak and outdated'?
"Is it true you are a military advisor to Equestria?"
"What is your comment on the Griffons demanding your death?"
Wait, WHAT? I can't say I'm both concerned and intrigued by that last one. I ran out and room and down the halls. I ducked a little near the windows to be a little harder to see. I successfully snuck into the kitchen and roar of from the crowd outside went back to its lull.
"What the hell is happening?" I asked went I ran in
"Some soldier mouthed off to someone in the media industry and they all came here." Michael explained
"I wrote Princess Celestia for some Royal Guards. She sent a dozen and said she'll host a press conference in Canterlot for you. Her plan was to reveal you eventually, but the schedule is in chaos because of all these." Twilight said "Luna also was wondering if you made up your minds." She asked both of us. I gave a shrug and Michael gave a big fat "Nein"
"This sucks" Michael said, chin resting on a hand "I couldn't have my morning cigarette." Twilight and I both looked at him. "You've been smoking inside my castle?!" She asked him
"You came here with smokes?" I asked at the same time. I occasionally smoke, but I was surprised he had some. I thought whatever caused us to come here would give us the same shit.
"Nein, no!" He said, waving his hands to backpedal. "I smoke, but I always smoke on the balcony."
"Can we worry about the mob of paparazzi about to break down the door first. We can worry about the cigarettes afterwards." I said. Several footsteps were coming down the hall.
"Dear God they broke in!" I said "And we don't even have any weapons!" I ran into the kitchen and grabbed several steak knives and gave some to Michael and I had the rest.
"What are you two planning?" Twilight asked, fear and concern evident in her voice.
"They're trespassing and we're protecting a ruler of the country." Michael said, through the door came the rest of Twilight's friends.
"Girls?" Twilight said, confused to Pluto and back. "How did you get in?"
"Pinkie Pie, dear. She has trapdoors everywhere." Rarity explained
"I think the better question is why is Dan holding that knife." Dash said, I looked down. I still had the knife pointing at them all.
"We heard footsteps and thought it was paparazzi. Although I could've used my MCMAP training for this whole thing too," I said "Then again, I only did go to the gray belt."
"What is MCMAP?" AJ asked
"Marine Corps Martial Arts Program. It's basically unarmed combat things like hand to hand, bayonets things like that. I was never good at it, so I only got to the second belt. A knock from the door cut our conversation short and Fluterrshh hid behind her hair. I silently walked to the foyer, knife hidden behind my back.
I grabbed the door knob and turned it, only to remember the paparazzi who no doubt knocked. It was quiet outside, though. They know someone is at the door and that someone is me.
The man in front isn't wearing a suit and a hat with a piece of paper with 'Press' written on it. He, instead, wore golden armor.
"How may I help you, sir?" I asked, palms sweating due to the knife I had and the dozen soldiers at the door. It was never good to hold a weapon and answer the door to the police or military at the same time.
"May we come in?" He asked "We have to make sure Princess Sparkle is safe."
"Of course." I said, opening the door "Hope you don't mind, but I thought some got in and went overboard." I revealed the knife to them. "Our line of work tends to do that." The guards walked in, I noticed the NCOs all had similar patches as the U.S. has, only etched into the side of the helmet. The officer had three suns with a solid yellow line connecting the three of them. AN: I'm using the modern Chinese army's badges for the officers, I replaced the stars with moons.
"Of course. Thank you for protecting Princess Sparkle."
"No problem, sir. I'm assuming you're an officer since everyone else has a stripe and I've never seen your rank."
"Captain Beam, Royal Guard" He said as he offered his hand.
"Corporal Allen, United States Marine Corps." I said as we shook hands. I led them to the dining room where Captain Beam and another soldier while the rest swept for paparazzi. They cleared the mob outside first, then came inside to clear any who somehow got in, the castle of deemed clear and the guards left to do whatever. Hopefully get something better than golden armor.
"Okay, the world know of Michael and I exist and the Griffons want us dead, for some reason."
"What?! Why?!" Dash asked
I shrugged "Beats me. I just heard some reporter shout that earlier." I rubbed my chin in thought.
"Lyra does know about humans, could there be a connection?" Applejack asked
"Maybe." Twilight said "I'll have to write Princess Celestia about this. Maybe there's something in the Canterlot Archives. I'll do that later, she's holding day court."
"Now what?" Michael asked
"Well dear, we were hoping we could all go to Ponyville Lake for some fun. But that plan is ruined." Rarity said
"Awwww, what am I going to do with this picnic basket?" Pinkie asked, pulling a wicker basket from her hair.
"Maybe it ain't sugahcube. We could still go." Applejack said
"Let's do it anyway." Dash said "We're not gonna let some stupid photographers stop us." We all agreed and left to have some fun.
AN: Part 2 Blah blah blah excuse this time is college I'm going to start rewriting the previous chapters now, I'll add a 'EDITED' to it and add any changes to the Author's Note. Author's Note decided not to work with me.