Maverick: Coming Home

by The Drifting Bard

Chapter 1: Nightmares

get up put on the light, dreading the oncoming night
Scared to fall asleep and dream the dream again

---

The screaming, the constant screaming. i walked through the dark corridors with several other soldiers.
the beeping of the motion tracker sounded off as my eyes darted around, searching for a hint of light reflecting off the beastial creature's pitch black skin. it was as if the demon was simply toying with us. I looked around only to watch as one of the damned things jumped and tore Rodrigez's throat out. I took aim with a shotgun, but was soon forced to reconsider as i was pulled away from the corridor. We were out of that hellish place. as we sat in the VTOL awaiting lift off, i couldn't help but look back. there was nothing i could do. i looked around only to be face to face with a Xenomorph, saliva dripping from its mouth.
with one fell swoop, i drew the pistol to its chin.

too late. everything went black.

I awoke in a cold sweat, Twilight had a look of worry written on her face.
"I heard screaming, is... is everything alright?" she asked...
I simply sat on the bed, shaking like a leaf. "J-just a nightmare"
"want to talk about it?" she asked again.
"not really" i sighed, as i got back into the makeshift sofa-bed.
"okay, well try and get some sleep okay?" i nodded in agreement.
but i soon felt compelled to read something to take my mind off things.
I grabbed the first book i could find, soon i fell asleep with the book on my face.

Once again i found myself in dark corridors, the sounds of metal footsteps clanking across the floor. the stench of certain death was in the air. as the cybernetic beings turned the corner the red lightbeam had found its way directly on my forehead. cyborg raised its arm forwards as it grabbed a crewman "Resistance is futile" i watched as two proboscis plunged into the neck of the poor crewman, i raised the photon rifle and shot him in the head. "we are the borg, Resistance is futile".
they had modulated, now i was rendered powerless. so i ran, being the only one left on board.
i fought my way to engineering with a battle'th, told the crew to get to safety.
i took one look at the warp core, turned off the shields and fired.

everything went black.

I soon felt water hit me. "Spike, why did you do that!" Twilight smacked the small dragon on the back of the head.
looking at the two, i noted that they acted like siblings. "Its alright, Twilight," i sighed "i was having another nightmare" i stated glumly.
Spike raised an eyebrow "you still have nightmares at your age?"
"believe me kid... you don't want to see mine"
Twilight was about to say something.
"what were these dreams about?" she asked.
I sighed as a towel was draped over my shoulders, "Things that would send cold chills down your spine, and wake you up in the middle of the night. No, it is better you do not know."
I dried myself off and got into the shower.

needless to say, i stank.
the water cascaded over me as i remembered other events i had lived through.
the constant fighting i've done. i helped take down a skrull invasion force, just by being drunk.
needless to say, you can blame Tony Stark for that.
it took me ages to wash the blood off the suit i was wearing at the time.

but now, there was nothing. i wasn't prepared to take a step back into normality, that was until i saw my clothes being levitated in by Twilight. yeah, levitated. suddenly i heard a squeak as the clothes hit the floor.
i was covered in scars, acid burns, cuts and bruises. she abruptly left the bathroom.

---

Getting dressed, i took a deep breath. i was preparing myself for more questions.
"i found your books" Twilight shot me an apologetic look.
"stay away from the one titled... Alien," i took said book away from here.
she watched as i shivered upon saying the word.
"okay, but... how about i use a memory spell?"
i again denied her curiosity. "too dangerous, you'll end up like me... or worse"

She looked at me in confusion, "perhaps Celestia could do it instead"
I shrugged my shoulders as I picked up the scroll and read it.

To the dimension jumper,

we have reason to believe that your arrival may be an omen of great importance.
there shall be a chariot waiting for you outside the library at noon.
Twilight and the other elements of harmony will be joining you.

Princesses Celestia and Luna.

"oh great, so now i have to meet royalty and the elements of harmony" i huffed.
she looked at me for a moment, then smiled. "well, you've met two elements so far" she giggled.
I raised an eyebrow. "let me guess, You and miss Rarity?"
she nodded.

she walked to the door, i looked at the time. eleven o' clock.
"We've got one hour to gather the elements, hah, i've completed missions in less time" i muttered.
stepping out of the library, i scanned the area. noticing people going about thier daily. I was, however soon brought back into the world upon hearing "look out below". A mass of cyan was headed towards me, i dug my feet into the ground.
upon catching the young flying woman, i fell backwards. "ohmygosh, I'm sorry dude" she started flustering, i got up off the ground, "it's okay, not the first time i've had to stop someone from crashing" i chuckled. I then noticed the wings.
"ohhhhkay, i've seen some crazy shit in my 200 years of life but...never have i seen a person with wings"

"Rainbow dash, could you go find Fluttershy? tell her to get to the library for twelve" Twilight relayed information to her.
Rainbow dash gave a mock salute and flew off. Twilight turned to me, "so what did you mean by 200 years of life? are you an immortal?"
I sighed, "sadly no, i've died so many times... the nightmares are just me reliving the more....horrific moments"
"and the books?" she asked.
"you can read them, but not before these princesses do" i chuckled.
"no...what are they about?"
"each book is basically like a diary, written as a novel, however... Alien... is basically nightmare fuel,"
i sighed, "after my departure from... people...they..." Twilight pulled me into a comforting hug.
"hey, Sugarcube, what's up with him?" a southern voice sounded off softly.
"I'm remembering things i don't want to" i stated glumly.
"well, that sucks" the southern woman sighed.

Rarity walked across, looking at the small crowd gathering around me.
"whats going on?" rainbow dash and Fluttershy arrived, both looking slightly worried.
i blacked out.

"get out of here!" i shouted over the roars and crunches of cars being thrown.
"but what about you! we leave together or not at all!" a young woman, in her thirties shouted back.
i pulled the shotgun off my back, "tough shit!" i shouted "GET OUTTA HERE!" I ran towards the ungodly massive wall of flesh and muscle that was a Tank. It roared once more, sending a car my way. i slid below it and began firing round after round of shotgun shells. it picked up gas tank, i fired. shrapnel tore the creature apart, i watched as a piece flew towards me, embedding itself in my chest.

everything went black.