What if Commander Shepard didn't die on the Citadel?
What if Commander Shepard didn't die on the Citadel? Commander Shepard wakes up on an alien world of colorful pony's, how will the Commander cope with her new environment?
Standing there in my battle worn armour bleeding to death in fount of a small hologram of a child. With my pistol drawn I approached my choice. I pulled the trigger, with each shot I saw my life flashing before my eyes. Living on Earth as a child, coming home along after a raid witch almost cost me my life, defeating Saren, defeating the collectors and meeting my team.
I knew I wouldn’t make it, Garrus still owes me a drink when I see him I the next life. Firing shot after shot I wondered if it would hurt much, too late to think about it now. The explosion started to approach me, I closed my eyes and waited for it to be over. A wall of pain hit me like a tonne of bricks, I felt myself get ripped apart, bit by bit, molecule by molecule, atom by atom, I’m just surprised that I’m still not dead. Then it went all black.
The cold wind washed over me, I was lying on something soft. I slowly opened my eyes to see it was night, good, I won’t go blind from the sun. I looked around my surroundings, I was in a field. Okay now to see if I still have my body parts, legs, check, arms, check, hands, crap, I lost my hands but it doesn’t hurt, come to think of it nothing hurts much but one of my legs. I pulled out my arm to look at my Omi-tool to see the damage but to my shock I saw a think pink hoof like limb. My eyes went wide as dinner plates. Soon after I screamed, wow, Commander Shepard, hero of the galaxy screaming at what her arm looked like.
I sat up and looked at my legs, ok, they are the hoof like things too. I went to feel my face and when I was a couple of inches away from it I bumped into what I guess is my nose. I screamed again, ok, I need to look at my Omi-tool. I pulled out my arm and turned on my Omi-tool. Okay, it looks like I’m a horse like thing. I almost fainted there and then. I checked to see if my Omi-blade still works to which it did. I checked my biotics to which I was greeted by a soft purple glow around me, okay, it will work as this horse thing. I find out that some things didn't change like my eyes teeth and red hair, my what guess is my coat is the same color as my skin used to be. I opened up my Omi-tool and brought up a comm link.
"This Commander Shepard, is anyone out there?" I was just met with static.
Ok so I'm lost on a planet I don't know as a species I have no clue about, this is just great. Okay, I need to find a town or shelter soon or I might not last the night, I'll climb a tree to see. I look around and see a tree in the distance. Bingo, once I find shelter, I need to find a place with information about this world.
I climbed the tree and saw a city off in the far-off distance. Well better than nothing, I better head off now. I climbed down the tree and started walking in the direction of the city.
I soon arrived on the outskirts of the town with had a large sign. 'Manehatten' ok, that's an odd name.
I walked into the town; the moon floated overhead with a certain awe about it. Okay, I need to find a bar, they're the best places to get info.
I soon found a bar, 'The Old Goat', I thought the city's name was odd. I entered the bar and blushed when I saw everyone in the bar was naked, I was still warring my shredded N7 armor. Everyone looked at me when I entered, I little in-nerving when they we are naked. I started approaching the bar table but was stopped by and old looking geezer with gray hair and a brown coat.
"Hiya beautiful, how about we have a little fun" I could tell he was beyond drunk, that can't be healthy.
"No" I walked past him and felt slap agents my rear. "Oh, nice and firm that one is" he began to laugh.
I turned around, and did a good old 1,2 on him, he went flying out of the bar and landed on the street outside. I looked down and saw a small bag that jingled when I picked it up, okay now I had some money. "The alliance thanks you for your donation."
I went to the bar and sat on a stool. The bar tender very carefully approached me.
"M-may I help you?" He looked like he would piss himself if I wasn't careful.
"Give me the strongest thing you have" I need to relax a bit and when you've had Krogan ale nothing but the strongest works.
He came back with shot glass will with what looked like... Apple juice? "Here, it's on the house, sorry about Oldgeezer, he is a little drunk Is all" he passed over the shot glass, I smiled and when he saw my teeth he looked horrified. I took the shot and barely tasted the alcohol. "Can I get ten of these?" I need a lot if I was going to get any kick.
He came back with a mug filled with the substance to which I drunk down in a couple of gulps. "Woah, I've never seen anypony drink that much and still be standing." He horror replaced with awe.
"Anyhow do you know anywhere I can stay?"
"Huh, oh, there's a continental hotel across the street, it's quite cheep to."
I thanked him for the drinks and payee him. I walked across the road the the hotel. 'The Sleeping Mare' do they know how to come up with good names? I walked in.
"How much for a room?"
"10 bits per night"
I put ten coins on the table, and he passed over a key that had the number 12 on it. I walked up the stairs to my room, I went in and saw my bedroom and the other horses bed room. I took off my N7 armor with a far bit of trouble then climbed into bed. I wonder where I am or what I am, I'll have to wait till tomorrow to find out.
I wake before the sun rise’s very high, being in N7 you get used to getting up quite early. I was laying there thinking about what happened, the explosion that most likely cost me my life. I feel a light breeze between my legs, then it hit me, I’m spread out on the bed with all my legs spread out upon the whole bed. I quickly closed my legs together and used my fore hooves over my crotch, a heavy blush appeared on my face, I need to get my armor and I need to find out where I am. I put on my destroyed armor, just because they don’t wear cloths doesn't mean I won’t, after years of wearing my armor I've grown attached.
Wait, if they don’t have fingers how do they build things, write or pick stuff up? I should see if I can make breakfast, I don’t think this new body had any food in it at all when I came here.
I went into the kitchen and looked in the cupboard, okay so there’s oats and wait, hay and flowers? Aren't some flowers poisonous to horses? I won’t question it, I’m the one who’s been turned into an alien. How do I pick this up, I could use my hooves but how will I walk? I could use my mouth but I don’t know if that’s normal, screw it I’m using my mouth and if anyone looks at me funny I’ll just ignore them. How will I cook this, on the Normandy there were microwaves, but it seems here they don’t even have power or not that I can see anyway. I could try and boil it if that will work. I grabbed a saucepan with my mouth, the taste of metal entered my mouth, I’ll never get used to this. I put it under a sink and filled it with water, wait, if they don’t have power how do they have running water? I’m not going to question it, it’s too weird. I put the filled saucepan on the stove and poured in the oats. I saw some matches on a tabletop to the side, I turned on the gas and struck a match with help from my biotics, I small orange flame greeted me with its warm glow. So how long do I cook this for? I don’t know but as long as it isn't burnt, I’m happy. I wonder if the horse in the other room wants any. I’ll just cook a little more. This is taking a while; on the Normandy it took 5 seconds or less.
I just stood there watching the water start to boil, the smell started to fill the room. God how long is this going to cook, if it doesn't finish soon, I’m just going to eat it half raw. “What’s cooking?” I heard a voice behind me. I turned my head to see a cyan horse with multi-colored hair and she had… Wings? What, they have wings, why don’t I have wings? I guess she saw that I went wide eyed and gave me a questionable glance.
“Is something wrong?” She asked me. “Umm no, it’s just I haven’t seen hair that colorful before.” Please tell me she bought it.
“What my mane, yea it’s pretty awesome, and you still haven’t answered my question.” She was striking a pose, if she knew all the stuff, I’ve she’ll be lost for words. “Wha, oh, I’m just cooking oats” I put on a fake smile to try and sell it.
“You know you’re not meant to cook it, what, dose the guard do that?”
The guard, what is that meant to mean? “What do you mean?” Crap, I did not just say that. “Well, why would you be wearing that armor if you weren’t?” Oh, my armor, I almost forgot I was wearing this. “Oh yea, they do that in the guard” I put on the most convincing smile I could, please buy it, please buy it.
She just stared at me, I guess she was trying to see if I would break, if she knew I couldn’t without getting tortured she wouldn’t have tried. There was just an awkward silence for some time till she broke it.
“Ooooookkkkkkkk, would there be enough for me?” She asked looking at the saucepan.
“Yea, there’s plenty, just help yourself.” I really need to get some food in me, my stomach hurts.
I picked up a ladle with my mouth and took a scoop of the oats and pour it into a bowl. I carefully picked up the full bowl and took it over to a table. The oaks smelled done and looked tasty. I used both my fore hooves to pick up my spoon and started to eat. The rainbow haired horse sat across the table from me and used her wings to lift her spoon and started to eat. We ate for some time till she spoke up.
“What’s your name, mines Rainbow Dash.” Should I use my real name or make one up?
“The names Commander Shepard.” God, why did I just give her my name?
“Oh, so our a high ranking member of the guard.” She said resting her head on her hooves. Is she admiring me? “I’ve been in it for 14 years.” I’m going to be as badass as possible, it’s always nice to having fans.
“14 years, wow, you’ve been a guard a long time, I bet your really strong.” Is she hitting on me, does she know I’m not a lesbian? I should not come to conclusions; she might just be a sporty person.
“I punched down a wall once, my fi-hoof really hurt after it though.” I remember that I was drunk and made a bet with grunt, I lost.
“Wow really?” She looked at me with awe, wow, the last time that happened was when I saved a little kid on Earth. “Yea, I got a little wasted and got in a bet, I lost though.” I just kept eating my oats.
“What was the best?” I knew she was going to ask that. “A friend of mine made a bet that I couldn't beat him in a fight, I missed and punched a wall down, he called it off due to the fact I was bleeding like hell.” I can barely remember what happened being wasted and all.
“Whoa, you are strong, can you break this?” she took out a cinder block, wait what, where did she have that cinder block? “I guess, just stand back.” I hopped out of my chair and put the cinder block on the ground.
She did what I asked and moved to the side. I raised a hoof and slammed it down on the block, it broke into many pieces. I looked over to Rainbow and saw she was wide eyed. “Wow, umm, are you doing anything today?” she did not just ask me that, I think she is a lesbo.
“Umm, no.” Crap, why did I say that I need to find where I am and I’m not a lesbian.
“Cool, do you want to hang out?” She looked down like she was ashamed.
“Um, ok I guess.” If she pulls the moves on me, I’m walking in the other direction.
“Awesome, I know an awesome place we can go, if we leave now, we might be able to make it before lunch.” She walked to the door and turned her head to face me. “You coming?”
“Yea” I walked over to the door and followed her out the room.
I walked over to the door, but she stopped me by putting a hoof on my chest. "You might want to take off your armour." If she tries to kiss me, I'll throw her out through a window. "Why."
"Because it looks broken, you'll look weird with it on, and we are always naked, so it won't matter." She smiled at me. Does she know that I feel uncomfortable without my armor? But I guess if I don't fit in, I might get attacked.
I went to my room and took off my armor but left my dog tags on, I'll never take them off. I went back to the main room; Rainbow was standing in the door way with a cheesy grin on her face. She than looked at my rear and stared. If she going to say I have a nice ass I'll punch her in the face.
"What's your cutie mark meant to mean?" What's a Q.T. Mark? I looked at my rear and saw a tattoo of an Omi-blade. Gah, what do I say? I'll make something up and hopefully she'll buy it. "I don't know what it means, it just appeared." Please buy it. "Oh, okay, somepony's don't know what the mean too." I guess that was her way of reassuring me.
"Anyhow you said you wanted to show me somewhere?" "Oh yea, just follow me." And with that she was gone.
I followed her for some time, I was just looking at the sights while she was talking about these people called the Wonderbolts, we walked for about an hour and a half till we arrived at what looked like a bar. Really, it's like 11:30 in the morning, why get drinks at this time? "You know it's like 11 you know?"
"They do food as well, I thought we might get an early lunch." Wow for someone who brags about how awesome they are she sure dose look embarrassed.
"Fine with me." I walked in and was supposed to see it was a lot better than I thought it would be.
We got a table for 2, if she puts the moves I'll be mad. I opened the menu on the table, there were hay burgers, daisy sandwiches and hay fries. I ordered the burger and so did Rainbow.
"Soo, do you have a special somepony?" What's a special somepony?
"A what now?"
"You know, are you seeing somepony at the moment?" Really, I was trying to not think she was gay, but now she pretty much asks me out.
"Are you asking me out, you known we've only known each other for 4 hours." She blushed a lovely shade of red. We sat there for some time till she spoke up. "Soo, do you?" "No, I pretty much know no one." Crap, I hope she doesn't get any ideas.
Our meals soon arrived, and I quickly ate, I wanted to get out of this awkward moment as fast as I can.
"What do you mean you don't know anypony?" "Being in the al-guard you don't spend much time here." "So where did you live before joining the guard?" "I lived far away." Please don't ask any more questions. "Don't your parents miss you?" I hoped she wouldn't ask that. "*sigh* I'm an orphan, they died when I was 4." "Oh, I'm sorry, do you have any friends?"
"I don't think any of they are alive."
We just sat there in an awkward silence for some time. “Would you like me to be your special somepony?” what did she say?
“Pardon?” I have no clue what she said, if she mumbled it she must not want it to be heard by others. “I said would you like me to be your special somepony?” “I can’t answer you if I can’t hear you, speak up.” I started to take a sip of my drink.
“*Sigh* would you like me to be you special somepony?” I wish I wasn’t drinking at that moment, my water got sprayed across the table.
“What?” I started having a coughing fit. “I wanted to know if you want a special somepony.” She looked down I shame. What should I say?
"I guess, but I haven’t been in a relationship with a girl."
"Thank you." Before I can do anything she jumps on the table and pulls me into a hug.
“Ummm, you know you just stepped in my lunch?” my half-finished burger now has a hoof mark in it.
“Ops, sorry.” She sat back down in her seat.
“It’s okay, I wasn’t hungry anyway.” That was a lie, I was starved.
“Soooo, what do you want to do today?
“I was planning on going to a library, I need to find something’s then I might work out.” I need to keep up my fitness, just because I’m not in the alliance anymore doesn’t mean I’m not going to keep fit.
“Ooo, can I come?”
“Well, if you’re my new gi-mare friend then why not.”
After she finished her lunch we set off towards the library, she told me about how she lives in a town called Ponyville. Really, do all the names have to be pony puns? She also asked me if I wanted a place to stay till I go back to the guard, though I’m not in the guard I might as well go along with that.
At the library I got a few books about history and geography and read them. I was surprised by a lot of the history such as the fact that the princess’s move the sun and the moon, I thought that they moved by themselves with the use of gravity, there was also a story about how one of the princess’s turned even and tried to make an eternal night. There was also a god of chaos that got turned to stone. After reading about their history we left the library and headed to the park.
“Hey, do you want to make a bet?” I wonder what type of bet she’s talking about.
“Okay, what’s the bet?”
“We’ll have a push up contest, whoever does the most wins” she throws up her are to further her statement. “It can’t be a bet without… the bet.”
“Okay, if you win, I’ll take us out for dinner and if I win, I want a kiss” Really, that’s all?
“That’s all? Deal.” I got into my position, and she did the same in fount of me.
“Okay, we’ll keep going to one of us fails.” “Alright, on go. 1, 2, 3, go.” And we started. We kept up a rhythm in sync with each other. After about an hour of doing push-ups I started to feel the strain, she didn’t look any better than me. She had sweat pouring down her forehead.
“How *pant* many have we *pant* done?” she asked me between breaths.
“14,582, you are getting tired?” I asked with a smirk. “No *pant* you?” I can tell she was lying. “Kind of, you’re doing a good job by the way.” She blushed when I said that.
We kept it up for 10 minutes more till we started to slow. We both could barely stay awake from how tired we were. “I *pant* keep *pant* this *pant* up.” I knew she was starting to fail, though I wasn’t doing well as well. “You give up?” I was about to fall asleep if she didn’t fail soon. “No.”
We did it for another minute till we failed. We both fell at the same time and fell face first into the dirt. “I’m just *pant* going to take *pant* a nap now.” And with that she fell asleep.
“I think I might join you” And with that I fell asleep too.
The hard stone floor didn’t give me any comfort, I opened my eyes and stood up. I looked down and saw I was a human again but where am I? I looked around and realized that I was on Earth before the reaper attack. I saw a playground with little children running around it. I was watching the children play for about ten minutes. Wow, I thought that I would never see this again.
I suddenly heard a load screech and saw a reaper land about a kilometer away. I went wide eyed and tried to warn the children, but nothing came out, I tried running but I couldn’t move. The reaper turned to us and stood there looming over us. The fount of it opened up and the red glow began to grow. Before I could do anything, the reaper fired, all the children’s scream where silenced and the burning laser cut threw them all. Suddenly everything went black, after a few moments it all came back but as the Earth I left a few days ago, the burning building glowing under the ash covered sky. The smell of burnt flesh lingered through the air. I could move now, I looked around seeing all the bodies of the army I helped make to fight the reapers. I soon saw the Normandy broken in half crashed through a building.
As soon as I saw it I ran towards it. I entered through a hole in the hull, I looked around and saw members of my crew and squad laying around in pools of their own blood. I collapsed onto my knees in total horror. All my crew dead, my squad like that also.
I was just sitting there for some time, looking at my crew until I heard a voice.
“Shepard, why?” Grunts lifeless body just spoke. “Why?” Garrus, he was pinned to the wall with a chunk of the hull lodged into his chest.
“Why?” Tali, she was missing her whole lower half. All my crew and squad just kept on asking me, why. I was just sitting there in total horror.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” I covered my face and began to cry. I sat there for some time till I stopped crying, I looked down to see my modified M-6 Carnifex. I picked it up and held it in my hands, I put the barrel to my forehead.
I awoke in a cold sweat, wait, I only paid for 1 night. I looked around and I was in the hotel room I was in last night. I got out of bed and headed into the bathroom, I went over to the sink and turned it on. I got both my fore hooves and splashed my face with the cold stream of water, I looked at the mirror with shame. All I’ve done and I’ve been given a second chance, I got the council killed, I wasn't able to save more on Earth, I got half the galaxy killed in the fight ageist the reapers, I lost my first team in a Batarian raid, and I left my crew and now I have no way to help them. I just stared at the disapproving face in the mirror for a while till I punched it.
I hated that face; I don’t deserve a second chance at life. The broken pieces of the mirror cut up my hoof to the point it was covered in blood, I walked to the corner broke down and cried. How could I leave them, I was there for them but I’m not anymore?
I just sat there in the bathroom with a small pool of my blood and broken mirror everywhere until the door burst open. I didn’t bother to look up, I knew who it was.
“What’s happening?!” I still sat there with both my fore hooves covering my face, the blood slowing rolling down my arm.
I didn’t move nor answer. I heard her approach me and took me into a hug witch I returned, we sat there hugging for some time till I stopped crying.
“What’s wrong?” she broke the hug to try and look me in the eye to witch I was too ashamed to return. After a while of just sitting there I sighed and spoke up. “I don’t deserve you; we’ve only known each other for about 24 hours, and you don’t know how much I’ve been through.” I began to cry again.
I guess she didn’t know what to say because she went silent for a while.
“We need to bandage up you hoof; you’ll bleed out if we don’t.” She went over to the cupboard and pulled out a roll of gauze.
“I’ve had worse, can you just get me a glass of water and I’ll fix myself up.” She left the bathroom and then I was all along. I let out a sigh and began to fix my hoof up, I put some medi-gel on then wrapped it in the gorse. She came back in with a glass of water on her back, she then handed it to me with her wing.
“Are you going to tell me what happened?” “I punched the mirror.” I thought it was obvious. “No, I mean what happened to make you punch the mirror and by the way you’ll need to pay for that.”
I let out I slight chuckle. “I know and no I won’t tell you, I have no way to get that life back so I should just as well forget it.” I than began to drink the water.
“Also, I guess I should be thanking you for carrying me back here.” I wanted to change the subject.
“Yea, you’re heavy you know that it was like your full of rocks.” Well, my biotic amps weigh a lot.
I let out another small chuckle. “Yeeeea, I get that a lot.” I rubbed the back of my head to witch I was met with a sting, dam, wrong hoof.
“It’s weird because you're thinner than a normal mare.” She than began rubbing the bottom of her chin in concentration. “Are you a cyborg?” Really, that’s the question. “Yea, I’m a cyborg, I also am so advanced that they put emotions into my head.” I hope she knew I was being sarcastic.
“YOU ARE!?!?” Really, I was being sarcastic. “No, I was being sarcastic.” Her worry was replaced with annoyance.
“Hey, that’s not funny.” It sort of was. We just stood there, for some time until I spoke up. “Are there any paper towels in the kitchen?”
“Yea, let me get them, you grab the broom in the corner.” She pointed to the corner towards the broom witch was there. I picked up the broom with my mouth and began to sweep up the broken mirror. Rainbow soon came back with some paper towel in her mouth. We cleaned up the bathroom for some time till It looked the same as before minus the mirror.
“Also by the way you were asleep for 5 hours, it’s about 8 at clock at night.” Wow, that late already.
“Then I guess I’ll go back to bed.” I started to head to my room but I felt a tap on my rear shoulder.
“Alright, but don’t get too touchy, save it for the third date.” “I wasn’t planning on it, you just hurt yourself, and I don’t want to get covered in blood.” Wow, just wow.
I gave a concerned stair to which she giggled. “I was kidding but still.” And with that she headed into the bed room. I entered the bed room and I saw Rainbow lying on the bed pretending to sleep, I can tell. I climbed into the bed and when I did she rolled over and took me into a hug.
“You know that both of us won the bet, I’ll take you out for dinner tomorrow, but you still owe me a kiss.”
I rolled over in the bed to face her, I looked her in the eye and she started to approach me. Our muzzles touched, her warmth breath sent shivers down my spine. We just lay there muzzle to muzzle for a while till we both got closer, before I knew it our lips touched. I felt her tongue asking for entrance into my mouth to which I accepted. I felt her tongue rubbing ageist mine, our tongues wrestled for a bit till she suddenly pulled away with a yell.
“Ow, thor teeth are tharp.” She had her tongue sticking out and holding it in her hooves.
I lay there with a blush on my face, I guess she saw I was blushing, and her expression softened. “Oh, it didn’t hurt, it was just… unexpected.” I guess she was trying to find the right word.
“Can I see your teeth?” Ok, that was unexpected. I opened my mouth to show my teeth. “Wow, it looks like you a carnivore with those teeth, are you a carnivore?” dam, what should I say?
I sighed “I was for a while, but I’m not anymore if that helps.” She had a concerned expression.
“Oh wow, I didn’t expect that, but if you try and eat me, I’m dumping you and besides, I like living on the edge of danger.” She said while wiggling her eyebrows.
“Can we get some sleep now, this is getting rather awkward.” It is, I hope she agrees.
“Ok, good night.” She leaned forward gave me a kiss on the muzzle than rolled over.
I just lay there facing the roof thinking about what has happened to get me to this portion. I was at the Citadel being talked to by a creepy hologram child, I killed all the reapers but most likely died in the process, woke up as a different species, got sexually assaulted at a bar, got a girlfriend, hurt myself to the point of bleeding and hurt said girlfriend with my sharp teeth. Wow, I’ve been up to a lot. I closed my eyes, it’s time to get some sleep, we’re heading to this town that dash lives tomorrow.
I was back in the Normandy, in my room, was that all a dream? I don’t know nor care, I’m back, I can help my crew. I got out my armor and put it on. I checked my weapons and biotics to which I was happily greeted with them working perfectly.
I got in the elevator and headed down to the QEC, the lights are brighter than usual. I exited the elevator and when I did the light died down. I was back on earth, before the final charge which we lost a lot of men trying to do so. “Shepard, you ok?” I turned my head to see my crew standing behind me.
“Yea, it’s just, this is it, the final charge, we just need one of us to get to the Citadel and we’ve won the war.” I turned around to face my squad and the solders going to be in the attack. “Many of us won’t get through this, but that doesn’t mean we’re going to sit back and not bother, We ARE going to win this, We ARE going to kill the Reapers.” I turned back to the conduit.
“And if we don’t…. see you on the other side.”
“CHARGE!!” I knew Garrus would want to shout that.
I heard a load yell and I charged. The conduit was about a mile away, a reaper standing next to it. It opened its front, the red glow started to grow till the burning laser fired. Men and women all around we were falling. My squad right at my side during the charge. One of the burning red lasers shot past me, I looked to my side to see nothing, half my squads bodies far behind us, then one went on my other side, and on that side too there was nothing. I kept up my full sprint, I have to do this for them. When I looked around, I saw I was the only one left, I now had tears streaming down my face. Then I saw it, the burning laser heading right towards me. I just closed my eyes and prepared for the burning pain which will come with the laser.
“SHEPARD!” the voice was familiar, yet I didn’t know who it was. As the laser hit me, I felt a sharp sting on my cheek, the whole thing faded to black.
“SHEPARD WAKE UP!!” I opened my eyes to see Rainbow on top of me with tears swelling up in her eyes.
“*yawn* what is it Dash?” I started to rub my eyes. Before I could do anything, she took me into a hug. “You started glowing, I didn’t know what was happening, and I was worried.” She didn’t break the hug.
“Was it a purplely-blue?” If it was, I know what it was. “Yea, has it happened before?” Then I know what it is. “It’s just something that happens when I have nightmares or when I’m angry, it’s nothing to worry about.” She still didn’t break the hug.
“That’s happened before?!?” she looked worried. “Yea, it’s called a ‘Biotic Overload’, it happens whenever we feel extreme emotion.”
“Wait, what are biotics?” Oh crap, they don’t have biotics in their race.
“It’s nothing to worry about, it’s not bad.” I hope she won’t ask any more questions.
“But what are they?” Dam, I hope she doesn’t tell anyone. “If I show you promise that you won’t tell anyone, PROMISE.” “Cross my heart hope to fly stick a cupcake in my eye.” Wait, what?
“Wha?” I had never heard that before. “It’s a ‘Pinkie Promise’ a friend of mine made them up, anyway show me.” I let out a sigh and hopped out of the bed. “Just, don’t scream.”
I powered up my biotics and looked around, I saw a chair in the corner. I shot out a lift biotic charge and the chair shot up into the air. I looked over to Rainbow and saw she had her jaw hanging to the floor and her pupils dilated.
“Whoa, you are soooo totally awesome.” She dove at me and took me into a hug.
“So, you don’t think I’m weird?”
“I never said that but that was awesome.” Wow, that’s a good, backhanded compliment.
“But you can’t tell anyone, I don’t want word to get out.” I started spinning my hooves around each other. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell anypony, but we need to get to the train station, we’re heading to Ponyville today.” And with that we started packing out bags.
It was more like I help her packing, I just put on my armor and that’s all there was . and then we headed out to the train station.
We headed off to the train stations, she was talking about Ponyville, and I still can't get over the name. There was one Pony I should avoid, Pinkie Pie, apparently she's crazy about party's.
We got on the train and soon after it headed off, the ride was quite peaceful, and the view was awesome. "So, if you don't mind me asking, how did you get biotics?" Does she want them?
"If you're asking if you can get them, no, you get them from radiation when you’re in the womb."
"Wait, its radiation poisoning?"
"Sort of, it isn't deadly or anything, I won't grow another head over night." I wonder what it would be like having 2 heads. We sat there for some time in a awkward silence, the train engine making it noises, people chatting, it was all around fine.
We arrived at Ponyville after 4 hours of boredom on the train, it was larger than I expected, but still a lot smaller than any colony I’ve seen before. We hopped off the train and I saw all the different ponies milling around town, ponies getting on and off the train, ponies saying hello and goodbye to those arriving and those who are leaving. I looked around and I was a little shocked about how colorful the town was. I wonder how they get it so colorful, there’s no rubbish on the ground, no one yelling, this place seems too go to be true.
“We need to go to my friend Twilight, she can put a cloud walker spell on you.” Cloud walker? What’s that?
We walked through Ponyville, Dash was telling me all about the town and her friends, I also realized that most ponies are named after what they’re good at.
We arrived at a tree, there was a door on it? Ooooookkkkkkkk, how is the tree still alive? As I’ve said before I’m not going to question it, I don’t think this place follows physics from where I’m from.
I knocked on the door, after a little bit the door opened, there was no one there.
“Down here.” I looked down and I saw a little green and purple lizard.
“Hi Spike, is Twi home?” The little dragon was too busy eyeing me.
“I know I look good but doesn’t mean you can make this awkward.” Yea, I’m awesome like that. A faint blush entered his face, it was kind of hard to tell with the scales on his face.
“Sorry, it’s just most people get freaked out when they see me.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m a dragon, a lot of people think I’m dangerous.” “If it helps I was in the al-guard for 14 years, I’ve pretty much seen it all most of which you would have never heard of.” I’m not going tell him what they are.
“Ooooookkkkkkkk, we'll let me go get Twilight.” And with that he went into the tree.
Soon a lavender unicorn with a dark blue mane with 2 purple stripes in it.
“Hello Dash, who your friend?”
“My name is Shepard.” Wait, if I don’t say the commander part it makes it sound like I’m a shepherd.
“She’s my marefriend, we just need you to cast a cloud walker spell” Dash threw her arm over my shoulder.
“OOOOOOO, I need to make a party.” Wait who was that? I turned my head to see a pink pony with a cotton candy type mane on my back.
“Gah.” I fell over when I saw the mare.
Before I could say anything, the pink pony disappeared.
“That, was Pinkie Pie, she doesn't make sense so don’t try to understand any of it.” Rainbow leaned over into my field of view.
“Well, you’ll have to look out for her then, anyway, let me go get my spell book.”
I stood back up and dusted myself off.
“Ok, stand still.” Twilight’s horn began to glow.
I guess the spell was cast because her horn stopped glowing. “All done, by the way do you need some help finding a new job?” Alright, that was an odd Segway.
“Nah, she's a Commander in the guard, just look at her armor.” Crap, I hope she doesn't ask any questions. “OOOoooooo, do you know my brother?” Weeeeell, no but I should still go along with it.
“What’s his name?”
“Shining Armor.”
“I don’t know him; I was in a posted quite far away.” Please buy it.
“I didn't know there were any posts in other nations?” Crap, I hope her brother isn't that high in the chain of command. “May I ask what you brothers rank is?”
“He captain of the guard, I’m surprised that you haven’t heard of him.” She gave me a questionable glance. “As I said I was far away.” I hope she doesn’t ask where, I only know about 2 other nations.
“Where was your post?” Crap, am I just jinxing myself? “The griffin kingdom.” That’s pretty much the only other nation I know of.
“Oh, ok.” She just gave me a smile; she is planning something. “Ooooookkkkkkkk, anyway Shepard, let’s go, I want to show you, my house.”
“Dash can I talk with you for sec?” Yep, defiantly planning something.
“OK, Shep, just wait for me at the park.” She gave me smile.
I headed at to the park and started to do some sit ups to pass the time, I hear the flapping of wings behind me. “Sorry I took a while, she just wanted to talk to me about stuff.” She looked like she was lying. “I know what you were talking about.” “How?” she looked shocked.
“It’s rather obvious, she doesn't trust me does she?” I gave her a glare to try and get her to brake, she broke rather easy. “*sigh* she wanted to see what I knew about you.” She hung her head in shame.
“It’s totally fine, as long as you didn't tell her about my biotics I totally okay with it.” I got off the floor from doing my sit ups. “I didn’t tell her, I just told her about that you’re in the guard and how I met you and stuff like that.” She raised her head. “Anyway, where’s your house?” I’m trying to change the subject.
“Look up.” Is all she said. I looked up, I only see clouds. “I don’t see anything.” “You see that cloud over there?” she pointed her hoof at a cloud in the distance.
“Yea, what about it?” “That’s my house.” WHAT? Ok, ok need to play it cool. “How will I get up there?” “I’ll carry you up.”
Before I could say anything he picked me up and started to carry me towards the cloud. On closer inspection I saw that there was a rainbow waterfall on the side and the cloud was muddled up to look like a house.
We then landed on the porch. Wait I can’t walk on cloud. I felt her let go but I wouldn't.
“You can let go now.” She said nonchalantly. “WHAT!? ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL ME?!” why would she try and get me to stand on a cloud.
“Twi put a cloud walking spell on you, it will be like standing on a pillow.”
I slowly began to let go, the cloud was soft, the I can stand of them, clouds are just water vapor that has grouped together, they are just cold steam pretty much.
“You should have seen your face, priceless.” She began to laugh her ass off.
“Ha ha laugh it up, it won’t happen again.” I tried to make the most intimidating glare I could, it didn't work, it just make her laugh more.
She stopped laughing after a while. “Anyway, let go inside, I’ll show you where we’ll be sleeping.” And with that she headed inside.
We entered her cloud house, the inside was just like the outside, white a fluffy. We headed up stairs and we arrived in her bed room, the bed like everything else was made out of clouds. I looked around, there were posters of the Wonderbolts and on a bedside table there was a picture of her, Twilight, that pink pony and 3 others, an orange one with blond hair and a cowboy hat, a yellow Pegasus with pink are and finally there was one with a white coat and purple hair. I guess she saw I was looking at the picture because she started to talk about it.
“Those are my friends, you know Twilight and Pinkie, the orange on is Applejack, the yellow one is Fluttershy and the white one is Rarity.” She walked up to my side.
All my friends are most likely dead, if I was still with them they would be alive, how could I leave them? I let a stray tear roll down my face. “What’s wrong?” Dam, I hoped she didn’t see that. “*Sigh* Never take your friends for granted, because you don’t realized how much you need them till it’s too late.” I enjoyed the company of my crew, helping them with personal problems, I was always there for them.
“Don’t worry, I’m here.” She took me into a hug. I leaned my head back to look her in the eyes. We store into each other’s eyes, we just stood there for some time till we slowing began to approach our muzzles together. I closed my eyes, and tilted my head a little bit to the side. I opened my mouth and felt her lips touch mine. I opened my mouth a little bit more so I don’t hurt her like last time. I felt her tongue rub up ageist mine, the warmth of her breath sent chills down my spine. I slowly ran my hoof threw her hair, it was as soft as the cloud’s we’re standing on.
I felt a hoof on my chest. I broke the kiss and looked into her eyes. “Save it till tonight, I need to get to the weather station, I need to catch up on my work.” Weather station? I blushed a bit and stepped back.
“Don’t worry about me, what time will you be getting back?” I feel embarrassed for some reason. “I’ll be back by about 5, I’ll see you then.” She went down the stairs towards the door.
I just sat there reading some books I found on a shelf called ‘Daring Do’, it was an okay adventure novel, once you’ve lived it you don’t find it as impressive anymore. God, this is boring, I want to do something else, I could use my biotics to get down and I could then walk around town. Yea I’ll do that.
I hopped off the cloud couch and headed to the front door. I’ll just wait under the house till Dash comes back.
I got to the ledge of the house and jumped off. The air rushing through my mane, the sound of the wind through the air, it was perfect. The ground was rapidly approaching, okay I’ll use my charge attack to get to the ground, it’ll make a little crater but it won’t hurt me much.
I used my biotics when I was about 20 meters from the ground. The blur as everything went by was a little off putting. I opened my eyes and relied I wasn’t on the path, I was in a cart full of apples, what? I looked around as the smoke was clearing, I think I might need to apologize to someone.
“Ya’ll Okay?” I heard an accent, I really strong accent. “Yea, sorry, I’ll pay for the damage.” I started climbing out of the cart. “Just wha happened?” I climbed out and saw that orange pony from the picture.
“Oh, you’re Applejack, Dash told me about you.” I started dusting myself off.
“How ya’ll know Dash?” “I’m her marefriend.” I looked at her, she looked confused. “Ah didn’t know she had a marefriend.” “We met at Manehattan.” “Well that explains it, I haven’t seen her science she left….. Also why where ya’ll falling?” “I wanted to go to town.” I pointed to the cloud house above us. “Really? Couldn’t ya’ll get her to carry ya’ll down?” “She isn’t home.” “Oh, well Ah’ll see you later.” And with that she left with her what is now chunky apple juice.
That was awkward. I walked into town, all the ponies walking around doing what they normally do. Wow, this place is peaceful, I never saw this when I was a human. I was walking down the peaceful street until I heard what sounded like glass braking. I turned my head and saw a black pony with a ski beanie running away from a store vendor. “What happened?” I ran up to the vendor.
“HE STOLE MY MONEY!” She broke down into tears. “I’ll get it back, don’t worry.” Finally, some action. I started to run after the robber, wow, for someone who robbed a store he’s really unfit. He turned his head and looked at me, his eyes widened and he went faster. I was still faster, I was approaching him until he stopped where he was. I stopped soon after.
“Just hand over the money and no on-pony needs to get hurt.” I knew he wasn’t going to give up easily.
He pulled out a pocket knife and started to swing it around trying to scare me. Many civilians started to come to see what the commotion was.
I got into a fighting stance, and all he did was looked a little worried. “I don’t want to hurt you but if you don’t I won’t have a choice.” Wow, I can easily kick his ass.
“So be it.” And with that I charged. He went for a gut stab but I just stepped to the side letting his arm go past me, I grabbed his arm and threw it down. When his arm was on the ground I stepped on it and gave him a hard punch to the face. He went flying for about meter, he slowly got up and grabbed his knife. He went for another charge but this time he went for a overhead slash instead of a stab. I put up my arm for a block and my forearm met his. The knife dropped from his hoof and fell to the ground. As he was looking at the knife I gave him a punch to the side of the head. When he was on the ground I went up and pinned him to the ground by putting my hoof on the side of his head. I grabbed the bag of money from the robber and threw it toward the vendor it was stolen from. “Time to turn you in.”
I picked up the thief and started carrying him towards the guard station (I don’t think they have police), he was crying the whole way there, pathetic, he threatened to stab me and robbed a vendor and he’s crying like a baby. We arrived at the station, the guards looked at us in confusion.
“This one here tried to stab me and robbed a vendor, do what you want with him.” I threw him on the ground and left, yea, trying to be as badass as possible.
When I left the guard station, I saw the pony that got robbed. “Umm, I wanted to say thank you, if he got away, I would have to close down.” She looked nervous.
“It wasn’t a problem; it was my old job to help people.” If she asks more, I’ll just say I’m in the guard.
“I just wanted to thank you.” We stood there in an awkward silence for some time.
“Umm, would you like to come over for tea? It’s the least I can do.” “Ok, I would love to.” I need to be as nice as possible. When I said that her face lit up. “Awesome, let’s head to my house, by the way my name’s Bon Bon.”
“Mines Shepard, nice to meet you Bon Bon.” I gave her the friendliest smile I could.
I followed her back to a small house near the town center, it looked quite nice.
“Just be warned my roommate is a little crazy, but don’t mind her, she doesn’t mean anything bad about it.”
We entered her house, a smell of sugar hit me like a Krogan.
“Whoa, it smells sweet in here.”
“Yea, I make candy for a living.” That explains it.
“LYRA, WE HAVE A GUEST.” She yelled up some stairs.
“Coming.” I heard a reply.
“I’ll go make the tea now.”
She left me in the living room, I looked around and saw what you would normally see in a house, there was furniture, books, windows and now I’m going on a tangent. One book caught my eye. ‘101 about Humans’ there are humans here? If there are I could get back to my crew, it’s a long shot but worth a try. I take the book off a shelf and began to read it. Wow, so much of this is totally wrong. Like they say we have 2 hearts no liver and have 3 eye lids. I don’t know how they could be so wrong, if they know humans exist why is it so off?
“Hello, you must be a friend of Bon Bon, It’s nice to meet you, I’m Lyra Heartstrings.” A light green mare appeared in front of me holding out a hoof.
“I’m Shepard, it’s nice to meet you too.” I returned her hoof shake. “I see your reading the book I wrote.” She looked happy. “I’m just interested about humans.” Wait, if she wrote this that means she’s crazy about humans, what have I got myself into. “You like humans too?” She started bouncing up and down on the spot. “Yeeeea, they a cool species.” I need to get out of this. “Everyone says I’m crazy, I know they exist but no pony believes me.” She hung her head down.
“Well I can definitely tell you they’re real.” “Have you ever met one?”
“Once, but it was quite far away.” I hope she’ll believe me. “Tea’s ready, I see you’ve met Lyra.” Bon Bon walked into the room with a tray of tea on her back.
“Bon, Shepard has seen humans.” Lyra had the biggest grin on her face. “Really?” She looked like I was lying.
“I have, I was even named after one.” I have a back story all figured out, so if she asked I’m ready.
“What was his name?” Really, she thinks I’m named after a boy? “Her name was Commander Jane Shepard of the Normandy SR-2, she saved many lives from where I’m from, but she’s dead now.” I am sort of dead, I have a new life meaning my old one is dead. “Wow, how did you meet her?” Crap, that’s the one thing I didn’t think of.
“Umm, I met her when she saved my life.”
“How old were you?”
“A couple of days, I wasn’t named, so when my parents died I named myself after her.”
“I never heard of her, where did you live?”
“Pretty much on the other side of the globe.” She looked sad when I said that.
“So what happened after that?” I decided to tell my fake life story that I’ll need to remember or I’ll be called out later.
“Once I was old enough I left and went traveling, I travelled until I was 18 then I joined the guard, I was in the guard for 14 years and now I’m on leave.”
“How do I know you’re not lying about meeting a human?” She looked like she really wanted to know. What do I do? Oh right, I have my dog tags.
“She gave me her dog tags before she left.” I took them off and threw then towards her.
She went wide eyed and started floating it in front of her expecting it. “Wow, you really have seen humans.”
Bon Bon was just sitting on the coach looking at both of us talking about something she thought was stupid.
We continued talking about our lives and stuff like that, she played the harp, how does that work?
“Do you know the time?” I needed to get back by 5 if I wanted to get back to the house.
“It’s 4:30.” Bon Bon said looking at a clock behind me. “Thank you for the tea and company, but I need to go now.” I gave them both a smile while I was standing up. “It’s our pleasure, it’s always nice to make new friends.” Lyra returned my smile while they both stood up. We walked to the door and I walked out. “I’ll see you two later, it was nice to meet you.”
“It was fun, I’ll see you later too.” They both gave me a smile and closed the door while I walked off.
I sat in the park under Rainbow’s house for what felt like an hour, why is she taking so long? I hope she didn’t get in trouble at work, I’ll just take a small power nap while I wait for her.
I awoke to having my nose tickled, wait what? My eyes shot open and I sneezed. When I recovered I saw Rainbow’s wing dangling over my face. She started to laugh.
“How did you get down here?”
“I fell, isn’t it obvious?”
“No I mean how did you survive the fall?”
“I used my biotics, they can help with most stuff.” She face hoofed. “Also why did you take so long?”
“Twi wanted to have a talk with me and the rest of my friends.” I think I know what it was about.
“Speaking about your friends I bumped into Applejack, well it was more like I fell into her cart.” I let out a small laugh. “Yea, she talked about that.” She started rubbing the back of her head. “I knew it, why else would Twilight call all of you together, she still doesn’t trust me.” She looked shocked. “How did you know?”
“It’s pretty obvious, the amount of clues you gave me was also a giveaway.”
“Clues, what clues?”
“Well, you said Applejack brought it up when you all met up, why would she bring it up if it wasn’t about me? Also Twilight didn’t trust me when I first met her.” She had her jar hanging to the floor. “Also I was taking a chance, I didn’t know, I was just guessing.” I let out a small chuckle and she gave me an angry stair.
“Come on, I’ll give you a lift back to the house, before I change my mind.”
I hopped on her back and we flew back up to her house.
We landed onto the soft cloud porch almost an instant after taking off. I got off her back and headed to the door. “Soooo, what did you do today while I was out, besides falling of cause.”
“You’re never going to let me live that down, are you?” I gave her an annoyed look.
“Nope, it’s too funny.” She began to laugh. “I’m trying to think of something to say to make you annoyed……. But I don’t think there anything.” I let out a defeated sigh.
“So what did you do today?” She took off her saddlebags and hung them on a hook by the door.
“Well, I read some books then I fell from your house and landed in a pile of apples then I met your friend Applejack but you already know that then I went for a walk then I stopped a robbery then I took the robber to the guards then I had lunch at the person who got robbed house then I went to sleep on the bench under the house.” I said that all in one breath, wow, I did it to make it seem like it was an average day, I want to be as badass as possible.
“Wait what?” she tilted her head to the side. “Please don’t make me say that all again, it takes a lot of effort, but the outcome was still worth it.”
“SOOO you're saying that you stopped a robbery?” “Yea, what did you think I did before come here, well, come to think of it I’ve only stopped a few robberies.” I started tapping the bottom of my chin.
“You do this sort of thing on a regular basis?” She looked shocked.
“Yea.”
We stood in an awkward silence for some time. “Weeeeell, if we’re done here, I’m going to try and salvage all I can from my old armor.” And with that I walked away. I walked into the bedroom and looked around for my armor, just like I left it my armor was folded on a chair in the corner of the room. Okay, I need to see what I can get out of it, it’s useless at the moment so I’m going to see what I can salvage from it. I looked over the armor, checking the pockets and looking at the plate I found all the useable stuff. So, there’s 7 heat clips, a shoulder pad that isn’t totally destroyed witch had the N7 logo on it, and a small visor witch Garrus gave me when we had that time together on the presidium, I wonder if it still works. I put it on my brow. The small needles came out and punctured my skin, it connects into the nerves so it will help you with your aim. Suddenly the blue visor came down over my right eye. I can remember why I never use this, it hocks itself into your face so once it’s in it is very hard to get out. So now I have a chunk of metal stuck above my eye, I hope I can turn off the visor or it’ll draw a lot of attention to me. Crap, I forgot how these things work, I hope my Omi-tool has a guide in it. “DASH, PLEASE DON’T COME INTO THE BEDROOM!” I needed to make sure she didn’t come in when my Omi-tool was out, they had no idea about this type of technology.
“OKAAAAAY, JUST DON’T MAKE A MESS!”
I opened up my Omi-tool, the soft orange glow filled the room with its warm light. Okay so I need to let install some
operating software so it works better. Once the download was finished it made a ding noise, crap, I hope Dash didn’t hear that. I went through the tool and found what I was looking for, okay so if I want to turn it off I just need to tap a small button on the side, wow that was easy. I closed my Omi-tool and the visor, then walked to the door. Before I opened it I felt liquid rolling down my brow, dam, I’m bleeding, I hope Dash doesn’t ask.
I walked down the stairs into the living room, Dash was sitting on the couch reading one of the Daring Do books . “Do you have any tissues?” Dash looked up from her book and went wide eyed when she saw me.
“What’s that on your face?”
“A friend gave it to me, long story short it hurt more than I expected.”
“What’s it meant to do?”
“It doesn’t matter at the moment; just do you know where the tissues are?”
“Yea, they’re in the kitchen.”
I head off into the kitchen and looked around for some tissues, they were sitting on the bench. I went over and grabbed some, I started to clean up the blood on my face until I heard someone behind me.
“Are you okay?” I already knew who it was. “Yea I’m fine, I didn’t think it would be this messy, you can tell why I never used it before.” I shrugged it off with a laugh. “What does it do?”
“It helps me when I’m fighting.” Why did I even bother to put it on, because of their lack of technology I can’t really use it.
“How does it work?”
“To be honest I don’t really know, but one thing I do know is that it helps”
“Why did you put it in your head and not know how it works?” She sounded shocked.
“A good friend of mine gave it to me, he even has one, why would he try and kill me?” We stood there in silence for some time.
“I was wondering when you have to go back to the guard?” “They’ll call me when they need me, also do you know any place where I can get some carbon fiber fabric?” “What now?”
“What about Kevlar?” She still wore a confused look.
“What about fabric stores?”
“A friend of mine owns a clothing store, if that’ll help.”
“Will it still be opened?”
“Yea, even if it isn’t she’ll open the shop up for me.
“Well then, let’s go.”
We headed to the door and looked over the edge of the cloud. “Race you to the bottom?” I knew she couldn’t resist a chance at going in a race.
“Are you sure you want to lose?” “First one to the guard wins, on 3.” We got ready to leap off. “One, two, three.” We both jumped off the cloud.
She tucked her wings close to her body while I just lay back like I was on a couch.
“You know you’ll never beat me if you falling like that!” She yelled over the wind rushing around us.
“See you at the bottom.” I said that before using charge to get to the ground.
I waited on the ground for her. She soon hit the ground with a light thud. “That’s cheating, you can’t use your weird magic.” She wanted to find anyway to seem as if I cheated to win. “You use your wings, didn’t you?”
“Yea but that a part of me.”
“My biotics are a part of me too.”
She was trying to find something to say but nothing came out.
We walked through the town, the ponies wondering around doing what they do on an average day. Now that I think about it I never did that, for 18 years I lived in the slums and once I joined the Alliance I do anything when we were on shore leave, I had a couple of friends before I joined N7 but sadly most died during the Batarian raid many years ago. I can still remember some of their face’s, I was younger than, probably only around 20-ish, only about 2 years after I joined the Alliance. I can remember the team captain, he got on almost everyone’s nerves, and even though he acted like a total ass he took a shot for me, a shot that would sadly take his life. My whole team slowly got killed off, I was left alone until the reinforcements came. That’s how I caught the eye of N7, being the only survivor the team was disbanded. I went into a deep depression until I was forced to go into therapy if I wanted to join N7, I did it but I never got over the loss of my team.
I need to stop think like this, if I continue I’m going to go back into depression and that’s the last thing I need. I need to do something to take my mind off it.
“Hey, Dash?”
“Yea Shep?” I don’t know how I got that pet name. “Once I got what I need from your friend do you want to get an early dinner?”
“Sure, I do owe you one, what type of food do you like?” “You would never have heard of it.” I let out a slight chuckle. “Try me.”
“Fine than, if you can tell me where the closest Turian vendor is?” “What now?” She tilted her head in confusion. “My point exactly…….. Where does your friend work?” “She works at a shop not too far away from here, we’ll see it soon.” We continued to work for a little while longer until a white double story building came to view.
“That’s where she works, just to warn you, my friend is a little prissy.” We approached the door and Dash gave it a hard knock. “Coming.” Came an elegant voice with a sing-song tone. The door soon opened to reveal a white unicorn mare with purple curly hair.
“Hello Rainbow, and I presume you’re Shepard?” “You guessed right, Rainbow has told me about you.” “All good I hope, oh and come in.” She let a smile enter her face. “What can I help you girls with today?”
“I was wondering if you happened to sell a material called Kevlar.” “Kevlar did you say, I think I might have some in a closet somewhere.” She turned and started looking through closets. “Why do you need Kevlar? It’s an awful fabric to use for clothes.” “Let’s just say it could save my life if come to.” “Ah, I found it, how much do you need?”
“I need about 50 foot squared and I need some black cloth.” “A rather large amount.”
“Well, now that I think about it you’re right, it is a lot, anyway, how much do I owe you?”
“Oh don’t worry darling, just think of it as a welcome to Ponyville present.”
“Well thank you.”
“No problem.” She started putting the Kevlar and the black cloth in a take away bag.
Dash and I left the shop and started heading back to her house. “Shepard.” “Yea Dash?”
“Wha?” She turned her head to look at me.
“Didn’t you just say my name?”
“No.” she gave me a confused look.
“Huh, I must be hearing things.”
“Oh well, anyway why’d you need all that weird stuff?” “I’m going to answer your question with a question, what is the strongest metal you know of?” I didn’t want to bring something up that doesn’t exist yet.
“Ummm well, Iron.”
“Okay, well I know how to make to make this fabric about 10 times stronger than iron.”
“How?” she looked totally interested. “All I need is a lot of time, I can use my biotics to help, but I’m going make it in private, I don’t want anyone to know how to make it.” “Why not, it sounds really awesome.” She looked disappointed. “Because I can’t let any bad people get it, I can’t risk it even though you’re my gi-marefriend.”
“Awwwwwww, well once you’re done can I see it?” “Sure, but not while I’m making it, now are you going to give me a lift or am I going to have to sleep on the ground tonight?” Rainbow looked confused to which I just point a hoof at the cloud house flouting above us. Once she looked up she flew up and tucks her hooves around my chest and started to carry me up to the house. “How long will it take to make this stuff?”
“About 2 hours, why’d you ask?”
“Well you’ll have to wait until after dinner.” Dam, I almost forgot about that.
“Let me just put the stuff in the house.” Once we were in the house I went to the bed room and put down my stuff. “I still don’t see how you can make this stuff stronger than iron.” “Well hopefully I can, anyway let go get some grub.” We left the house and headed into the town. “What are we going to have?”
“I was thinking of some casual food and a few drinks.”
“So we’re going to a pub?” Wow, I used the word pub, I must have pick some things up when I was in the UK.
“Pretty much, I hope you don’t mind.”
“Not at all, as long as they have something strong I’m totally fine.” “So you like it strong do you?”
“If you’re trying to make that an innuendo I don’t get it.”
“Well that’s good, anyway come on, let’s get to the bar.”
We wondered through the street and soon arrived at a nice looking bar. “Here we are, let’s go find a seat.”
We walked into the bar, I was surprised that their weren’t as many people as she thought.
We found a seat over at the main bar table, the bartender approached us.
“What can I do you for?”
“Can I have the strongest thing you have?” I asked to which he nodded and we both turned to Rainbow.
“I’ll have that too.” The bartender nodded again and then walked off. “You know you don’t have to get the strongest drink as well, I’m used to strong stuff while I don’t know if you’ll be able to walk home let alone fly afterwards.”
“I can take it, you don’t have to worry.” “I just want to be able to get back to the house before you pass out drunk.”
“I can take more than you think, I‘m not a foal.” She looked annoyed. “No one ever said you were.”
The bartender soon came back with two shots of a clear liquid. “A toast.” I told grasped my glass and held it up.
We downed out liquor in a single gulp, the cold taste of vodka filled my mouth. “What drink do you think this is?” “I have no clue.”
“It tastes like a drink from where I’m from called Vodka, very heavy, I think their like 40 per cent.”
“40 per cent what?”
“40 per cent alcohol.” She went wide eyed.
“Really, that’s an awful lot.”
“That’s why I said not to have the same drink.”
“I’m not going to chicken out now, let’s get another round.” She furthered her statement by slamming her hoof on the table.
I’m starting to get woozy, I and Dash started having a drinking contest after the second shot. I was still not drunk while Dash on the other hand totally lost it, I was surprised that she was still awake. After about f shots people started placing bets about who will win, by the time we took our twentieth shot the whole bar was cheering whenever we took a shot. We have taken about 27 shots each and I was starting to feel the strain, Dash looked totally wasted. Her hair was a mess, her eye’s looked like they didn’t focus on anything and she was slurring all her words.
The bar tender came back with two more shots in is magical grasp and put it on the bar in front of us. We each took the shot into out hooves, Dash had to try a couple of times to put her hooves on either side of the glass. I drank my shot and put it back on the bar table while Dash lingered a bit before doing the same. All the people in the bar cheered again. The bartender brought another pair of shots back over.
I drank my down a few moments after receiving it while Dash just held it in front of her. I can tell she’s about to get knocked out from alcohol overdose. I know a few trick’s about drinking and one of which is how to minimize the hang over which is just to drink some water, It flush’s out some of the alcohol. While I think Dash will just fall over any second.
I ordered a glass of water as Dash was holding her shot in front of her face swaying slightly. My water came not long after and I downed it all, Dash was just staring at the shot glass while swaying side to side. She finally took the shot, she put the shot on the table and looked proud of herself. After a few moments she started slowly to fall backwards. As she fell back wards a massive up roar came from the crowd watching, most came over and congratulated me by patting me on the back or giving me money.
I paid for our drinks and went over to Dash, She was passed out on the bar floor with her tongue lolling out. What to do with you, I won’t be able to wake her up due to being totally wasted. I pick her up and put her on my back and left the bar. When I exited I saw how dark it was, huh, it seems that we were in there for some time. I looked at the sleeping mare on my back, what to do with you. I could just sleep at the park but I don’t want her to get hypothermia, I could take her to one of her friend’s house, yea, I’ll do that. So which friend should I take her to? I guess Twilight because she’s the only one where I know where she lives, I hope she’s awake. I walk over to the library, the large house tree greeted me with its towering size. I’ve seen bigger things, namely reaper. I really hope she’s awake, if she isn’t it will be really awkward. I knocked on the door, I heard footsteps approach the door and the door swung open “Sorry but the library is closed please come back to- oh hi Shepard, what can I do for you?” She sounded awful chipper for someone who doesn’t trust me.
“Hi Twilight, I was just wondering if you can let Dash sleep here for the night?” I said turning, showing Twilight Dash. “What happened to Dash?”
“I warned her not to get into a drinking game with me, as you can see she didn’t listen.” She seemed to know what I was saying. “Dash was somepony who never stepped down from a challenge, and sure, you guys can stay the night.” “Thank you Twilight.” I said with a slight head bow. “No problem but may I ask what is that thing on your face? I didn’t see it last time you visited.”
“You may ask by all I’ll say is an old friend gave me it, I decided to put it on today when I was going through my things.” “May I ask what branch of the guard you were in?” “If you wanted twenty questions can we do it once Dash is off my back?” “Of cause, I’ll get an extra blanket.” And with that she left and went to a cupboard and came back with two blankets. “Just lay her down on the coach over there.” I turned my head and saw a coach.
I walked over and put Dash on the coach then put the blanket over her. “So where are we going to sit for the questions?” “We can go over and sit at the table, I’ll get some drinks.” “Nothing alcoholic I hope, I’ve had enough for tonight.” She let out a small giggle and went to the kitchen, I walked over and took a seat at the table. Twilight soon came back with two glasses of what I hoped was water. She passed me one of the glasses and took a seat across the table from me.
“So, what questions do you have?” I put my forehooves behind my head.
“How old are you?” “Out of all the question you could have asked you asked that one, well I’m 31.”
“You’re quite young to be a commander.” “It took a while but yea, I am quite young, how old are you?” “26.”
“I guess Dash is around that age to?” “You would be guessing right, next question. How did you get to be commander so young?”
“I used to be in an old squad, we were on a patrol but we got attack, 75 hours of non-stop fighting, I was the only survivor, the word got around about what happened and I was recruited by a spec ops task force called N7.”
“I never heard of it.”
“I wouldn’t blame you, not many retire.”
“Why not?”
“Because most of us get killed in action.” She looked a little shocked when I said that.
“Okay next question, why did you leave?”
“I didn’t I got lost, I don’t know where they are.”
“What do you mean that you got lost?”
“One minute I was bleeding to death and then I woke up in a field on the outskirts in Manehatten.”
“Next question, where are you from?”
“Up north, I can’t remember the name because I haven’t been there for 14 years, now my turn, why do you want to know so much about me? You know I already have a marefriend.” She blushed a bit.
“You can never be too careful, I just don’t want anything to happen to my friends.”
“And nothing will, also this may sound weird but does Equestria have any form of space centre?”
“I don’t think so, why do you ask?”
“Just curios, where I’m from there’s not enough bits to do anything like that, anyhow I’m going to hit the hay.”
I awoke to the smell of cooking, for a moment I thought it was bacon but then I remembered that I can’t eat meat here, it’s frowned down upon. I opened my eyes and looked around, it still looked rather early, I wonder if I should wake Dash up? Nah, she need’s her rest after how wasted she was yesterday. I slowly began to get up when I felt a sharp stabbing pain in my head, dam, I hate hangovers. I began to massage my temples as I stood up, I need to get some water and maybe offer some help in the kitchen. I walked over to the door and open it just enough to see inside. I see Spike over by the stove cooking something, I could try and give him a scare, yea, I’ll do that. I quietly opened the door and snuck up to a wall behind him. I tried doing the most badass pose I could leaning on the wall about five meters behind him. “What’s cooking?” He froze in place when he heard me.
He quickly turned around with a look in horror in his eyes, once he saw who it was his shocked softened.
“Oh, it’s just you Shepard.”
“What, aren’t I scary?” I gestured to myself. “Are you meant to be?”
“Ha, ha, anyway what’s for breakfast?” “Egg’s and bacon for me and I’m going to make you girls some sandwiches.” Wait, they have bacon.
“This may sound weird but can I have some eggs and bacon too?” “I don’t know, I didn’t know ponies like meat.” “I’m an omnivore, I eat meat and plants.” “Really?”
“Yea, I’ve been like that since I was born.”
“How will you eat it, don’t you need sharp teeth?” “I have them.” I opened my mouth giving him a good look at my teeth. “Wow, I’ve never seen that before, anyway yea, you can have some bacon. Do you eat jewels too?”
“Umm, no.”
“Oh well, breakfast will be ready soon, can you wake to girls up?” “Sure.”
I went into the main room and prepared to wake them up, how should I do this, I could use the megaphone option on my Omi-tool or I could yell or I can walk up and poke them. I’m going to be as nice as possible, I don’t want to come off as a bad house guest. I walked over to Dash who is still sleeping on the coach, she looks so peaceful , I can’t wait to wake her up.
“Shepard.” “Yea.” I turn my head to see who said my name. No one there. Huh, I guess I’m just hearing things. I grab Dash’s wing lightly and began to tickle her nose with her feathers.
“Mmmmmm, five more minutes.” “Oh, I just wanted to tell you that the Wonderbolts are in town at the moment but if you prefer to slee-“ “NO, I’m up, where are th-ah, my head.” She quickly jumped off the coach and then fell over rubbing her temples. “I’m sorry to say but they aren’t here, also how’s the hangover?” “Dam you, my head hurts a lot.”
“Wouldn’t blame you, anyway just go to kitchen, Spike’s cooking breakfast .”
“Wait Spike, where are we?”
“We are at Twilight’s you were so wasted you fell asleep and with you knocked out we couldn’t get back to your house so I went to the only place I know of. Also can you please wake up Twilight?”
“Yea whatever.” She looked tired.
I walked back into the kitchen while Dash heads up stairs . When I entered I was greeted with Spike making the sandwiches. “Hi Shep, the girls up yet?”
“I hope so, I asked Dash to wake Twilight due to the fact I don’t know where she sleeps.”
I sat at the table waiting for the others to come in. “Good morning everypony.” “Morning Twi.”
“Good morning to you too Twilight.” I gave her a smile as she came into the room.
Dash and Twilight sat at the table, Dash was next to me while Twi was across from me. We sat there for some time in an awkward silence. “Breakfast is ready.” Spike came over with four plates. “Ah, I haven’t had this for ages.” Can’t wait to have some actual bacon for years.
Spike put the plates in front of us, when Spike put my plate in front of me I quickly began to eat. With a mouthful of food I looked up from my plate to see Dash and Twilight with their jaws hanging to the floor. I swallowed my food.
“What?” Did I just kill a puppy or something? “Why are you eating meat!?” Twilight was totally shocked while Dash less so.
“Because I’m hungry and I haven’t had bacon for years.” “How are you even able to chew it? We don’t have sharp teeth.” “Well that’s not entirely true.” I guess Dash wanted to join the conversation.
“Yea, Shep has teeth like mine.” And there’s Spike. “Really, can I see?”
I open my mouth to show Twilight my teeth and she gasps. “What did you do to your teeth?”
“Nothing, I was born with them like this.”
“How, I’ve never seen that before.”
“Well I think you can tell by now that I’m not your average per-pony.” “And that’s what I love about you.” Dash threw her wing around my back.
“Anyhow let’s finish breakfast.” We continued having breakfast for some time till we all finished, Spike took all the plates into the kitchen. Dash and I headed to the door and set out.
The walk back to the house wasn’t that long but with the hangover and the coldness in the air made it go by so slowly. Not many people are out at this time, mainly people that run stalls and stores. As we were walking down the street something caught my eye, it was a stall asking for recruits for the royal guard. Huh, my whole life I’ve been in the Alliance so why not join the army here?
“Dash you go ahead, I’ll be back at the house in a bit.” “Okay Shep, don’t take too long though.” Dash began to walk off. When I was sure she was long gone I walked over to the stall. A guard was stood behind the stall in his armor.
“Good day ma’am, do you want to join the royal guard?” He looked total board.
“That’s why I’m here.” He seemed to perk up when I said that. “I just need to ask you some questions before I can let you sign up.” “Shoot.”
“Okay question 1: How old are you?” “31.”
“Question 2: Are you an only parent?” “No, but I do have a marefriend though.” “Okay question 3: do you have any combat experience?” “Yes, 14 years.”
“Wow, you have more than me by far, come to think of it where you here yesterday?”
“Yea, I guess you saw the robbery.” “You kidding, that was awesome, I don’t know why you aren’t in the guard already, anyhow, question 3: are you a convicted criminal?” “No.”
“Question 4: are you able to meet the equipment requirement?” “And that is?”
“Weapons and armor.” “Yes.”
“Okay and last question, are you sure you want to join the Royal Guard?” “Yes.”
“Okay, you check out, you’ll need to get to the train station by 1500 hours.”
“Okay, see you later.” I gave him a wave and then left to Dash’s house. I really need to get ready for later today.
I arrive under the cloud house hovering above me, the shadow still cold as before.
“DASH!” I shout up towards the house. I stand there for a few moments until I see a cyan and rainbow blur shot out of the house towards the ground. Rainbow soon landed in front of me with a light thud. “Hi Shep, what I lift?” “Of cause.”
Dash fly’s up and bit and wraps her front hooves around my torso and began to carry me towards the house. We soon arrive on the porch and enter her house.
“Dash I think I need to talk with you.” I need to tell her I’m going to the guard.
“I’m all ears.”
“I have to head back to the guard at 3 today.” I let my head hang down.
“Oh, I didn’t know you’d have to leave so soon, but we can spend the rest of the day together right?”
“Sadly not, I need to make my armor, if you want you can help.”
“I thought you said I can’t watch.”
“I did but as they say ‘screw it’”
We headed into the bedroom where my Kevlar fabric is, it was over by what I salvaged from my armor. I headed over to the black silk that Rarity gave me when I got the Kevlar and picked it up.
“I’m happy you’re here, I need to measure some things and it’s hard to do it on yourself.”
“So you like to do it with other ponies?”
“Really?”
“Hey, you said it.”
“Any how you need to be my mannequin with my armor.”
“Really, I hate standing still.”
“Well you’re the one making the innuendo.”
“I did it as a joke.”
“And here’s my payback for how bad it was now stand still.”
I began to measure out and cut up the black silk to fit around Dash, I make it two layered and have it hollow on the inside. Once I did that I began to fold up the Kevlar.
“I thought you needed that to make the armor?”
“I do.”
“Then why are you packing it up?” “I’m not, I’m folding it up. I just need to fold it up and compress it down as much as I can then I’ll use my Biotics to compress it down more.”
“OOOOOOOoooooooo.”
I finished up with the silk vest. It covered the whole back and most of the chest, I made bracers for all the shins and with the front legs it was the whole thing and the back of the legs where half done, I also made part to cover the whole back of the neck and the side, there was no helmet. So now all I have is a silk vest and leg guards. “Okay here’s the hard part, can you start to fold up the Kevlar and I’ll use my Biotics to press it even more.”
She began to fold up the Kevlar to the size’s I needed and then I used my Biotics to compress it even more. From being four inch’s to half an inch we compressed the Kevlar. After each peace was compressed I put it into the silk vest.
After about 6 hours we fully made the armor. The Kevlar was put into the vest and stitched up to sides. The one shoulder pad that was left from my old armor was put on the right front shoulder, the black of the silk went well with the black and red of my old shoulder plate. “So is this stronger than iron?”
“Yea, just give it a good punch.” I held the finished armor in front of me. Dash gave it a punch. “Ow, that’s really is hard, how did you know how to make this?”
“It’s a used to be used where I’m from, we ended up finding something a couple hundred times stronger this.”
“There’s stuff that’s stronger than this, why didn’t you make it out of that?”
“Because not even I know how to produce it, I need someone who can make it.”
“What does it look like?” “It’s the same thing that my old armor is made out of.” “Oh, wait, that means whatever that was that destroyed you old armor was MASSIVE!”
“A couple hundred feet tall.” “WHAT? How did you stop it?” “The crucible.” “The what now?” “It was made to stop them, I think it worked but I don’t know for sure, anyway let me put this new armor on.” We began to put the armor on to me and just like I hoped it fit almost perfectly. I look like a total badass in this, and I wonder what weapon I’ll use, I could use my Omi-blade or I could try and buy a sword or a bow. I’ll use my Omi-blade as a knife and I’ll try to get a bow or crossbow, I do have this visor that Garrus gave me.
“Wow, you look so awesome.”
“I know, just image me patrolling a town or something at night, no one would dare try and break the law when they see me, also do you want to see me with all my equipment?”
“Sure.”
“Okay but don’t tell Twilight, she’ll bombard me with questions on how they work and I’m not going to say.”
“Okay, so spill the beans.”
“Okay so my weapon of choice for now is like what the Q.T. on me and what this hunk of metal on my face does.”
“Come on show me already.” I push the button on the side of my visor turning it on and then I flipped out my Omi-blade, I took the most badass pose I could and help it. Rainbow just had her jaw hanging by the floor. “I’m not going to ask because it’ll take too long to answer.”
“Anyway I have to go now, want to walk me to the train station?” “What type of marefriend would I be if I didn’t walk you out?” “A crappy one.” I said turning my visor and Omi-blade off.
We walked over to the front porch and looked over the edge. “Do you want a lift over to the train station?”
“I don’t know you’ll be able to carry me and the armor.” “So race you to the bottom?”
“No, I’ll need you to carry me down, I’ll probably kill myself if I tried what I normally did.”
“Fine, I’ll carry you down.” “What, you prefer me falling to my death?” “I didn’t mean that, it’s just your heavy.” “Are you chickening out on me?” “I’m not.”
“Then carry me down.” “Fine.”
She picked flew up and wrapped her hooves around my torso and then we flew to the ground. Once we were on the path we started to head out to the train station.
“I’ll be right back, do leave without me.” “Where you going?”
“I’m going to get my friends to say bye.” Before I could objected she flew off.
“Shepard” “Yea.” I look around but don’t see anyone. “Dam it, there’s that voice again.” I let out a sigh and continue on
I soon arrive at the train station and I see a small group of ponies near some guards, I guess they’re joining the guard too. I looked around for Dash and saw she was in a small group with what I guess were her friends, I walked up to her.
“Hello girls, here to see me off?” “Why of cause darling, it would be rude of us to not to.” “Well I’m happy to see you all here but sadly I don’t know all of you.” “Well um I’m umm Fluttershy.”
“A pleasure to meet you Fluttershy.” “And I’m Pinkie Pie.”
“Hello, wait, were you the person who snuck up on me when I met Twilight?” All eye’s turned to the pink pony.
“That’s just Pinkie being Pinkie.” Dash said.
“Anyhow I would love to know what your armor is made of, I’ve never seen anything like that before.” I knew Twilight will have some questions.
“I got it from Rarity’s.” And now all eyes turned to Rarity. “Who me? I only gave you some silk and old material that I wasn’t going to use.”
“What do you think I made it out of?” “Wait, that’s made out of Kevlar?” “I told you I could make armor out of it.” “Wait, you made it out of a fabric?” Huh, Twilight knows what Kevlar is. “Yea and no, I’m not going to show you how.” “What about that shoulder pad?” “It’s from my old armor, it’s made from carbon fiber.” “Wait, how do you have carbon fiber, our top minds still haven’t made it yet.”
“Oh look at the time, gottogobye.” And with that I ran off towards the recruits, and when I was a little bit away I stopped and turned to them. “I’LL WRITE!”
I almost got in so much trouble, I need to get out of here quite fast. When I went over to the group of recruits a pair of guards stopped me. “Name.” The one on the left asked. “Shepard.”
“Proceed.” They both stepped to the side letting me pass. I got to the group of recruits and saw all the different armor and weapons. Some iron, some copper and others looked gold. Gold is one of the worst metal’s to use as weapons and armor. “All aboard for train to Canterlot!”
When the conductor yelled that everyone hopped on the train, the recruits were taken to a privet cabin and once we were in we headed off to Canterlot.
Shepard’s train headed out towards Canterlot, it seems she was in a group of ponies that were also wearing different types of armor, they all looked more like recruits than actual guards.
“Twilight, she seems nice.” We all turned our heads to face Fluttershy. “What do ya’ll mean sugarcube?”
“It’s just you said that she was hiding something but she seemed rather nice.”
“She did seem rather polite.” Rarity joined in on the conversation. “You should have seen what she had for breakfast.”
“What did she have for breakfast Spike? Was it cupcakes, or was it chocolate or was it- MmmMmm.” Pinkie was silenced by Applejack putting a hoof into her mouth.
“Let Spike finish his story sugarcube.” Applejack withdrew her hoof from Pinkie’s mouth. “Okay, so what did she have for breakfast?
“You won’t believe me when I tell you this but she had meat for breakfast.”
“WHAT!” Whoa, that was loader than I expected. “Yea, she’s an Omnivore like me.” Spike gestured to himself. “Twi you were right to be suspect something was wrong.” “I did have a talk with her last night when she came over with Dash.” “Why did she come over with Dash?”
“I may have gotten wasted last night.” All heads turned to Dash who finally spoke up.
Everypony face hoofed at Dash’s statement. “What? We went out for a drink I sort of got carried away.”
“*sigh* Sugarcube, ya’ll know that drinking that much a’nt healthy.” “As I said I got carried away.”
“Anyway Darling what did you talk about when she came over?” “I asked questions about her, she’s been through a lot.” “What ya’ll mean by that?”
“Well she’s lost everypony close to her.” “By lose I hope you don’t mean what I think you mean.” “Dash, has she ever talked to you about this?” She lowered her head. “Yes, when I first met her she cut herself with a broken mirror.”
“*gasp* why would anypony do that?” “As Twilight said she’s been through a lot, I guess that’s why she’s staying in the guard.”
“But did she tell you she was never in the guard?” “Wait what? Then why has she gone off to the guard? And why does she have armor?”
“She said she was in something called N7, from what she told me it was a special operations task force.”
“Do you think she’s a bad guy?”
“No, why would she stop a robbery if she was.”
“What do you mean?”
“Somepony tried to rob Lyra and Bon Bon but Shepard stopped them.” “Wow, she must be good because I saw not even a scratch on her but she does have that thing on her face, do you know what it is Dash.” “No.” She started looking around.
“You do don’t you, come on tell us.”
“I don’t know what it is.” She continued eyeing around.
“Do you know what it does?”
“No.”
“Come on Dash, tell us.”
“She told me not to.”
“Ah ha, I knew you were hiding something.”
“It’s just she told me not to tell anypony and I don’t want to brake her trust.”
Pinkie slowly started to approach dash and eyeing her. The glare looked like it was looking into Dash’s very soul. “Tell us.”
Dash looked nervously around, sweat starting to roll down her brow. She just stood there while we all started to slowly approach her. Once we were rather close she jumped up and flew away as fast as she could. “Were we a little forceful?”
“Girls, we need to subtlety get her to spill the beans as they say.” “Ah think ya’ll right sugarcube, we can’t be so forceful.”
The recruit train cart wasn't that big, it was about as big as a couple of shipping containers. When I looked around I saw the other recruits, all of which were male and quite young, no more than 20, dam, I’m the old fart here. As I walked through the cart I got a better look at the other people with me, most of which seemed to know each other, I understand why, them all being from a small town and all. I saw most of them were wearing armor which looked rather old, I guess they all have guard member in the family. As I look around I see most have helmets, should I make one? I have some left over Kevlar and silk but I was going to use it for any repairs that I may need. I’ll get more if I need it, where should I go to make this? Ah ha, there’s a clear area over in the corner of the cart, I may need to borrow someone’s sword, my Omi-blade will most likely burn the fabric before I cut it. Who should I ask? Mmmmmm, would anyone want to lend me one? And also how will I compress the Kevlar? Dam, I’m going to need to get a unicorn to help me.
I walked over to the corner and set down my things, all I had were my old dog tags, my new armor, my eye peace and the old thermal clips which I have no use for, I didn’t want to leave anything. The remains’ of my old armor and locked up somewhere where no one will find it. Anyway I need to try and find someone to help. I look around to try and find a unicorn with a sword or a dagger. Dam, I don’t really know who to ask for help, I’m going to try and do as much as I can do and maybe once we get to Canterlot I’ll get a knife.
I take out the Kevlar and began to fold it to the sizes I wanted. Due to using Kevlar I’m going to segment it, It’s going to be able to cover my whole head including my face, I’ll leave a two holes where the eyes are and add something like sunglass lenses in them, I want to be as badass as possible. As I fold it I put as much force behind my forehooves compressing it down, I’m never going to be able to do this here, if I want to use my biotics I need to be in privet.
I continue to put as much force as I can onto the first piece of Kevlar trying to compress it into one of the segments of the armor, God, this is so annoying. I stop compressing, close my eyes and start massaging my temples to try and calm myself.
“Umm, Miss, do you need any help?”
I open my eyes and turn to the voice. It was an orange unicorn stallion with a yellow and red mane, he had a tattoo of three playing card one on top of the other.
“Yes please, thanks.” “No problem, miss?”
“Shepard, just Shepard.”
“Hello Shepard, I’m Blackjack, anyway what do you need help with?” “Can you please compress this fabric as much as you can?” “What for?”
“I’m making a helmet.”
“With fabric?” “What, it’s several time’s stronger than iron.”
“How, this stuff looks like I can rip it apart with my bare hooves.”
“You see the armor I’m currently wearing?”
“It’s made out of that?”
“What else would it be?
“I have no clue, anyway what part do you want me to compress?” “All of them, just compress them as I put them into the cover.” He began to compress the Kevlar segments and when he did that I would take it and put it into the cover. We continued to make my helmet for some time, it was mostly spent in an awkward silence until. “Soooo, why are you joining the guard.” He asked.
I turned my head to face him. “I’ve been doing something like this all my life and I wanted to continue, I still have my old dog tags if you want to see.”
“Sure, why not?” I reached both my forehooves down onto my chest and took off my dog tags and throw them over to him. “Commander Jane Shepard, Normandy SR-2, Spector, N7 operative, wow, half of these I have no clue about.” He said throwing the dog tags back.
“Would you believe me if I said I did all that and more in 14 years?” “14 years, wow, my old man was in the guard for 40 years and he only got up to 2nd Lieutenant.”
“Well, I’ve probably seen more action than him.” “I surprised by that, we haven’t been at war for over 1000 years.” “I came from far up north, I’ve only been in Equestria for a couple of days.”
“Ah, that’ll explain it, and I hope you don’t mind me asking but what is that on your face?”
“It was a gift from a friend, sadly I think he’s not alive anymore, but I don’t know for sure.”
“Also I couldn’t help but notice you didn’t have a weapon, where is it?” “The reason you don’t see it is because it would burn everything the blade touches, and besides, I’m going to try and get a cross bow or a bow to use.”
“So you prefer to use a bow, I like using a short sword.” “Well not everyone has to like the same things.” We finished up the Kevlar helmet, it looked totally bad as, I tried to base it off my old helmet from when I was still in N7.
After finishing the helmet Blackjack went back to his friends while I stayed in the corner to think about things. I have so many questions, why am I a pony? How did I get here? Why aren’t I dead? So many questions and no answers, this is so annoying.
I wonder how many people will be trying to join the guard. And I hope I’m not the only girl there, if I am I’m never going to hear the end of it.
I wonder how long it takes to actually get into the guard. In the Alliance it took 6 months to pass training.
I think I’m going to try and catch a few z’s before we get to Canterlot. I go over to the war which I sit down and lean ageist the wall and close my eyes.
“Umm, excuse me?”
I open my eyes and tilt my head up, it was a normal pony with a white coat and a light blue mane and his cutie mark was a couple of icicles.
“Yea.” I still have my helmet on and the rest of my armour as well.
“I just wanted to ask were you the pony that stopped the robber the other day?”
“Huh, I’m surprised that you know who I am when you can’t see my face.”
“I recognised you from your cutie mark, what is it?”
“So you just admitted that you were staring at my flank?”
He blushed a bright shade of red. “Anyway, about your question it’s an Omi-blade, a very deadly weapon and if you don’t want to be on the other end of it I recommend you leave.” He swallowed nervously and walked off.
I leaned my head back down and closed my eyes again, I need to get some rest, I’ve done training for an army before and you need as much rest as you can get. And soon after closing my eyes I fell asleep.
I soon woke to the feeling of the jerk of the train stopping, I guess we’re at Canterlot now. I stand up and look around the train cart, everyone is getting off. We all wondered out onto the platform, I was staring at the castle, how did that thing even support its own weight?
“RECRUITS, FRONT AND CENTER!” I turned my head to face the voice.
It was a white unicorn with a multi-coloured mane. I guess he ether a drill instructor, captain or something like that. We all quickly ran towards the unicorn and made rows of five in front of him.
“OKAY RECRUITS, WE ARE GOING TO GO GET YOU TO THE REST OF YOU MAGGOTS!” Wow, this guys is much nicer that the drill instructors in the Alliance.
“SINGLE FILE!”
We all made a single file line in front of him, I was seventh from the front, and I was behind that creep white pervert. I wonder how many other recruits there are.
We followed the guard for some time till we reached to castle, I’m happy I had my helmet on to hide my jaw which would be agape and eyes wide. The castle was so awesome I had trouble to keep up with the rest of the group, the style reminded me of old timey Europe back on earth, I never saw many the museums while on earth so seeing stuff like this really stuck me in a state of awe.
We enter through the main gate and started to head to the far off side of the castle, I guess the guard barracks are on the castle grounds.
We continued walking through the castle grounds till we reached a large open field. It seemed that there were many other ponies in said field and half of which were a dark shade of gray. I want to get a better look, wait, I could use the zoom function on my visor, yea, I have my helmet on so no one will really notice. With a quick push of a button the visor turned on. All of the HUD entered my vision, I look at all the different icons in it. My barrier is down, I have no gun and the clock is blinking 12, so most of this is useless unless I get the time and power up my barrier which I have no use for at the moment. Ok, I'm getting side tracked, on to the task at hand, hoof, whatever. I allow my visor to zoom in onto the crowd in front of me, they’re a lot stallions here than mares, it seems to be about 20 to 1, I guess I'll be the only chick in my squad it seems. I also see as I'm looking through the crowd that most of the black ponies seem to look a bit like bats, Bat Ponies? You learn something new every day. They seem to have dagger like irises and webbed wings instead of feathered ones, they also had fangs, and if they try to drink my blood I’m shoving my blade right through their abdomen. Once I see all there is to see I un-zoom my visor going back to my normal vision, god, I need to use this thing more often, it seems so useful and all I now need is the time.
“Anyone got the time?” I asked looking behind me.
“Yea, it’s 5:27.” Great, I’ll put it into my visor and Omi-tool.
“Thanks.”
I hold my hoof up to my mouth to use the voice function on my Omi-tool, I don’t want them to see it.
“5:27.” I whispered into my arm.
The clock on my visor turned off then turned back on with the time instead of just blinking 12.
We soon got to the field where all the other ponies were, there are a lot more than I thought, around eleven hundred at best.
“ATTENION!” We all turned to face the front of the group where a small stage was set up.
“OKAY, RECRUITS THOSE WHO WANT TO JOIN THE NIGHT GUARD WALK TO THE LEFT AND EVERYPONY ELSE GO TO THE RIGHT!” Huh, so there’s a different faction of guard for night and day. I wonder if I should join night or day, if I join day I don’t think they’ll let me keep my armour, I’ll go night.
I walked off to the left with most of the bat ponies and a few normal ones like me. I turned my head to get a better look at the other recruits with me, I only see 7 other non-bat ponies here, I guess if their like bat’s they can see in the dark better. I have my night vision and heat vision on my visor to help with that.
We all went to the left of the field where we were told to go, there was another small stage which was a little larger than the one in the centre of the field.
We all lined up in front of the stage waiting for what will happen next. We stood there for a few moments until a bat-pony walked on stage, he was wearing what I guessed was the night guard armour.
“ALL RIGHT MAGGOTS, LET ME GET ONE THING STRAIT, MOST OF YOU ARE NOT WORTHY TO JOIN THE NIGHT GUARD!” She pursed for a moment to let it sink in.
“WE ONLY LET THE BEST OF THE BEST TO JOIN THE NIGHT GUARD SO IF YOU THINK YOU DON”T HAVE THE GUTS GO JOIN THOSE DAY GUARD WIMPS!” Wow, subtle.
To my surprise quite a few of the ponies in the group left to join the day guard, even some of the bat-ponies.
“OKAY, WE ARE GOING TO BRAKE UP INTO SMALLER GROUPS, AND THE WAY US NIGHT GUARDS CHOSE WHO GOING TO BE LEADING THE GROUP IS DECIED IN BATTLE!” I heard many a gulp behind me.
“ANYPONY WANTING TO LEAD A SQUAD STEP UP ON STAGE!”
I stepped up and got on the stage, about 20 other people hopped up as well.
“ALRIGHT MAGGOTS, BRAKE OFF INTO PAIRS!” Did he still have to yell?
I looked around to find a partner, I saw one, and he was a bat-pony who stood there looking around with a smirk on his face. I walked up to him to which he gave a chuckle. “You should just forfeit now, I’ll crush you like a bug.”
I want to seem as badass as possible so I won’t talk.
“ALRIGHT, NOW ON THE COUNT OF THREE, START FIGHTING TILL THE OTHER ONE FORFEIT’S OR GETS KNOCKED OUT!” Huh, this seems to be a lot nicer than the Alliance boot camp.
And so the fight begins. We began circling each other trying to spike the other off, I can tell it isn’t working for ether one of us. He was showing off his fangs while I trying to seek out weak spots.
My visor started scanning my opponent for weak spots or anything else that’ll give me an edge. He seems that his front right knee is one such weak spot along with nose and back of the neck. Hmmmm, so how will I go about this? I could go for his knee and when he on the ground I get up and hit him in the back of the neck, yea, that sounds like a plan. I’m going to start off on the defensive, once I got his knee I’m going to go on the offensive. I stop circling and take up a stance, if he tries and punch at me I’ll easily be able to defend. He lets off a slight chuckle and stops walking as well. The other fights were in full swing, I lot of yelps of pain and load smacks is all that can be heard besides the cheering on the fights. He store at each other for a few moments until he charged.
He was in my face before I could even registered what happen. I can tell you he didn't hold back because almost as soon as he got there I was flung back a few feet. I felt a sharp stinging pain shoot through my jaw, I think he may have chipped a tooth. I stood there in total shock clashing to the side of my jaw. "Buck up already, you can't seriously be out of it already?" Is he still trying to seem badass? I've had worse from husks and they hit like wimps,
Hmmm, I have an idea, I just really hope it works. I collapse onto my knees and start clutching my jaw with both my fore hooves. A fanged smile appeared on his face as he slowly approached me.
If I didn't have my helmet on he would have seen my ear-to-ear smile, hook, line and sinker, this is too easy. He was now a foot or two away from me, I looked up to really sell the whole helpless act. His smile only grew bigger as I look up to him. "Why did a Non-bat pony ever think he could join the night guard? You're all weak and helpless." Oh how I wanted to brake his neck, to bad I'll go to prison if I do, I'll just have to go with really badly hurting him.
He slowly brought back one of his fore hooves preparing for a punch. "Better lunch next time." He said before swinging his hoof around for a powerful blow.
When his hoof was about to connected to my already hurt face I quickly hopped onto my feet and side stepped. His face which once bore a grin of delight now wore a mask of shock.
I took now time to start my assault, with his hoof still stretched out I branded his arm with both my fore hooves. With his arm in my hooves I threw him over my head never letting go of the shocked bat in my grasp. I slammed his black body onto the hard wooden platform that we were currently on. He cringed when his back made contacted with the stage and I think it winded him as well. With his arm still in my iron grasp I stomped one of my back hooves onto his neck cutting all air flow threw his body, with my fore hooves I began to pull on the arm in my hold further cutting of air flow. I heard I cheer from the crowd once he was starting to suffocate, I guess watching other people's pain is a pass time for them. I looked down at the pony that had my hoof shoved into his throat, his was flailing all his free hooves to try and get me off but he was failing, soon the flailing became slight waves until it stopped all together. I knew now he was asleep so I took my hoof off his neck and stepped to the side letting medic go to the sleeping recruit, he'll have a nice headache in the morning, good, he was a bit of an ass hole.
I stood there watching the other fights continue, my jaw hurt like hell but I'll live.
Once all the fights were done there were only about ten of us left, we all where a little happy that we'll be able to lead our own squad. "SO IT SEEMS YOU MAGGOTS MADE IT, YOU'LL ALL BE SQUAD LEADERS IN TRAINING, BUT..." Does he ever stop yelling? He stepped in front of me making me stand straight in attention. "YOU, EARTH PONY, WHAT MAKES YOU THINK YOU ARE GOOD ENOUGH TO JOIN THE NIGHT GUARD?" I just stood still in attention, I didn't know what to say and also I want to keep up my badassness (Trademark Sleepyted 2013). "HUH, YOU THINK YOUR TOO GOOD FOR THIS? LET'S SEE HOW YOU ACT AFTER ONE MORE FIGHT I HAVE PLANNED FOR YOU!" I heard whispers in the crowd behind the drill instructor, I don't like the sound of this. "DEEP CUT, FRONT AND CENTER!" Huh, it seems that I'm going to be fighting someone who is already in the guard, this should be fun.
After a few moments a bat pony wearing the same armor the drill instructor is wear flew on stage. "Yes sir?" Deep Cut look pretty much like all the other bat pones, is it wrong to think that? "Deep, we are going to see what this pony is made of, grab two swords from the rack over there." Many thing popped into my head, why is Deep cut so special? Why are we using weapons? And also the fact that the asshole isn't yelling anymore. Deep Cut went to the rack and picked up two long swords, I just remembered something, they don't have steel so the weapons are going to be rather flimsy. Deep Cut pass over a sword to me, it's rather lighter than I expected. "OKAY THIS IS HOW IT'S GOING TO WORK, THE FIRST PONY TO DRAW BLOOD WINS!" And there's the asshole back.
The sword wasn't that heavy but I can still tell it was good quality for an iron sword even though I’ve only seen them in picture books and such, I never thought I would be using one in an old fashioned fencing match. First time for everything I guess.
My visor starts scanning Deep Cut for any weak points, huh, it seems he only has one weak spot and that is his muzzle. Hmmmmm, how am I going to go about this? He seems to be like the other bat pony I fought with, quick and nimble, he'll go for fast hits, trying to get out as many as he can before I can attack. I have to make sure I'm not open for attack, I also should protect my muzzle due to the injury in the previous match.
"Don't you think you should watch how he fights first?" I snap my head around to look behind me to see who's talking to me but to my suppose no one was there. Huh, I must be hearing thing, but the voice has a point, I shouldn't judge him just on how he looks, I need to see how he moves and attacks.
"We'll of cause I have a point, why wouldn't I?" Dan it there's that voice again, I going on meds once this is over, I probably on the verge of breaking down as it is and the last thing I need is a voice to annoy the crap out of me. I wonder where I can get meds fro-.
I was cut from my thinking as Deep Cuts blade went straight towards me, I had little time to block but I managed it. That's what I get for not paying attention.
He swings again this time diagonally downwards, I quickly brought up my sword to block and when I did it made a massive clank noise, if that were to hit me I wouldn't have a head anymore, I really hope the blades aren't too sharp other wise someone might get killed. I now try my go at the offensive by going for an upwards swing but he blocks it with ease. He slams his sword on top on mine holding it in place. I stood there dazed with my sword in the stage trying from the recoil from the block, I looked down to my sword and saw almost half the blade buried into the think wood. I look back up to him but only see a fast approaching black object, I closed my eyes waiting for the pain I'm about to feel. A sharp sting was felt along my cheek, I'm supprised that he didn't go for my muzzle but who am I to complain? The force of the hit sent me spalling back about 7 feet. There goes my theory about him being fast but soft, he hits like a brick wall and I know how much they hurt.
How am I going to beat this guy, it seems as if when ever I go for an attack he's ready for it.
"Try using your biotics." and there's the voice back. I can't use my biotics or I might become some lab rat, I don't want to spend my life on a table, I already did that for two years. "Technically you didn't spend much of your life on a table, do you remember the fact that you were dead most of the time?" Deep Cut starts to advance over to me, I just need to hold out till I find a weak spot.
"You know if you don't at least put up your barrier you will be in a lot of pain?"
I'm still not using my biotics, I can't risk it in the slightest. Also who the hell are you?
"All in good time my friend, all in good time." Okay back to the fight, I'm on the ground with what mostly is going to be a black eye and a brushed back, my weapon in the stage and my opponent approaching me ready to attack. Come on think, I could try and use my armor as a shield but it will hurt like hell, Kevlar is made to protect against small impacts, to big the impact as the armor will protect me but all the pain will get through, I do have upgrades to my skin and bone to make the stronger, if I use my arms as a make soft shield it will hurt but nothing too bad will happen especially with the Kevlar armor on.
Deep Cut approaches me, I get ready to defend a attack but to my surprise he just holds out a hoof. "Need a hoof?" I reluctantly grab his hoof and he pull me to my feet.
" it not a fair fight if you can't fight back, just grab your sword when your ready to start again." Huh, he seems like a nice guy, unlike all the other bat ponies I've seen.
Once I've got stable footing a give him a nod, I still didn't want to talk, I want to be the badass who doesn't say anything. I walk over to my sword which is still imbedded into the stage and give it a good hard pull. It takes a few try's but I manage to free it in little to no time. I walk over to the other side of the stage to Deep Cut and get into a fighting stance. I have my whole body, I need to use it, I distracted him with a hoof and when he's trying to block that I go for the swing of the blade. We stand there for a few moments before we both rush at each other. He goes for a head hight swing to which I duck down, with my head by his feat he brings one of his fire hooves back ready to kick me in the face. I hold one of my fore hooves over my face to protected it from the heavy blow that would have left me concussed. I hear a load thud as his shin connects with my armor hoof, I can tell that hurt a fare bit for him because it did for me. As he retreats his leg back I bring my head up and go for a swing to the legs, he saw this and jumped over my blade before bringing his down on top of my head. On reflex I dropped my sword and brought my forehooves over my head to block to blow. A sudden sharp stinging shot through both my arms to where they meet my body, it was so painful, it felt like I broke both my arms but I know that didn't happen. I heard the whole crowd gasp and I block a sharpened blade with my bare hooves, if I didn't have to Kevlar it would have cut me with little trouble. I look up to Deep Cut who is wide eyed shocked about what just happened. Before anyone could reacted I yanked the sword from Deep Cuts grasp and bring it around for another swing.
The blade goes straight for his face, his closed his to prepare for the pain he would be feeling, when the sword was just about to hit him I stopped it. It took a few moments for Deep Cut to open his eye but when he did he was greeted with the shine of a sword hovering just next to his muzzle, know that I had to draw blood to win I gave a quick flick of my wrist giving him a small cut on his cheek. As the single drop of blood rolled down his face and dripped to the floor the crowd cheered, the load whistling and yelling made it all the the more satisfying to have won. The sword which is still held out next to Deep Cut's face is lowerd, I move my hoof down the blade so I was gripping it by the hand guard. I held out the sword towards Deep Cut to which he gave me a smile a took the blade.
I walked over to the sword which I used during the fight and picked it up, when I leaned up with the blade in hand, hoof, what ever, I saw the drill instructor staining at me with a frown. "SO, YOU WERE ABLE TO WIN, DIDN'T EXPECT YOU TO, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO MAKE A NIGHT GUARD OF YOU YET!" Does this asshole ever stop yelling?
"I don't think so." God dam it, I almost forgot about you, can you just leave me alone? "You can't get rid of me that easily." Worth a try at least.
"RECRUITS, ALL OF YOU HEAD TO THE BARRACKS AND GET SETTLED IN, DISMISSED!"
I wonder what room I'm in, I hope at least one other girl is there, I've been the only girl in a team before and boy does it suck. Lets just hope it's not the case here.
I have to say when you finish a fight it hurts more than during it, when you're in the fight adrenalin rushed through your vaunts numbing down the pain but once that rages, you're left with every bit of damage done to you, I've gotten used to it by now but it still hurt like hell. Even the people like me who feel pain on a daily bases can still feel pain and can get affected by it, like on the charge for the conduit, if I got a medic, I would have been able to survive it but I could barely stand let alone keep up much of a fight, I was lucky with the husks and that one marauder. I need to stop thinking about the past, it's not healthy, I guess that's why I can hear that annoying as hell voice in my head. "You know that what you're saying is that your mind made me up, you're the reason I'm annoying." And if you don't stop I'll put a chunk of lead in my head. "I know you won't do that, and also there are no guns anywhere around here." You know what? Screw you, I'm getting meds once I get time. "So you want me to go, even though I helped you in that fight?" Fine, you can stay on a couple of conditions, one, you need to answer my questions once we're in privet, two, when I tell you to shut up you don't make a noise and finally only talk when I need help. "I can agree with two of them, the last one I can't promise that'll keep it" Fine, just don't get too annoying, otherwise I'll start to annoy you. "I would like to see you try." I let out a sigh and continued following the crowd of recruits. It seemed that the day guard recruits are finishing up their pet talk as well, I don't think it was like ours though.
We were all lead towards a large three-story building, it was made out of marble and polished to a shine, it had pullers decorating the outside, looked like the old Roman temples back on Earth. The guard leading us walked into the building and we all soon followed. There was a long, narrow corridor going along for about a 200 foot, at the far end of the hall I could see a stair case, I guess that's how we get to the higher levels. "Pick a room and set your stuff up, dinner will be served at 1900 hours." The guard then turned and walked off.
Most of the recruits were going into the nearest room to settle in while I just wanted to go to the top floor. I walked up to the third floor and , shock horror, looks the exact same as the other two floors. I rolled my eyes and went to the farthest room. I hope there's enough room in the other rooms, I didn't exactly come here to make friends, I came here to do what I do best, killing shit.
I walked into the room and saw four bunk beds, a table and what I guess was a bath room. I walked over to the nearest bed and put my stuff down. Dash lent me one of her back packs, all I brought was extra silk and Kevlar, a bottle of apple juice the Dash gave me and paper and a quill, I did say I would write.
I put my bag into a foot locker at the end of the bed, it was rather big, bigger than the ones in the Alliance by far. Once my stuff was put away I took off my armor. It wasn't that hard but trying to take this stuff off with hooves was annoying, I couldn't grip anything that well. Once all my armor was off I put it in the foot lock and took out the quill and paper then headed to the table. I'm just going to write a letter saying about all the stuff that happened today. I sat by the table and started to write.
"Dear Rainbow Dash
One thing I want to say before I begin is that I may have lied a tincy little bit. I was never in the guard but I was in an army for 14 years, I didn't lie about that. I just wanted to say I was sorry, I did it because everything was new to me so the first thing my body did was dig me into a hole I'm trying to get out of. Anyway.
At the moment I am at boot camp for the night guard, the drill instructor is a push over to what I'm used to. He was using words like 'maggot' and 'wimps', where I'm from they had a much more colorful vocabulary. I bet this guy would be pissing himself in front of the guy I got trained by. Anyway I ended up getting into a jousting match with one of the actual night guards, I won of cause. You should have seen his face, priceless. Once that was all over, we got sent to the barracks to unpack and that's where I am now. Other than that, nothing has happened except someone staring at my ass. I'll be writing again tomorrow, also I don't know your address so Twilight will probably give this to you.
Till next time Recruit Jane Shepard, Specter, N7 operative, Hero of the Skillein blitz, Commander of the Normandy SV-2. I love all the titles I've earned; it makes it fun to sign off letters.
I put the finished letter into a envelope and had it addressed to the library due to the fact I never saw any indexation of Rainbow's address. I'll post this when I get the chance. I walked over to my bunk and flopped into it, I've done a lot today, I wonder if it'll get any easier? Probably not.
Once I finished my letter, I started to write another one to Twilight.
"Dear Twilight Sparkle
I would like it if you could give the other letter to Dash, I don't know her address.
From Shepard"
Once I finish writing the letter I let out a sigh. I return to chilling on my bed for some time, after a long day of not doing much can be tiring.
"What about me? I've done a lot too and I'm barely tired, grow some balls and stop being so lazy."
There are a few things wrong with that statement, firstly I'm a woman, or a mare as these ponies say so if I start growing balls I should find help, secondly there's nothing to do so I'm chilling. Also you said you'll tell me your name.
"Having balls isn't all bad, there's so many things good about them. Also you can just call me Night Springs."
Huh, odd name and as much as I would love to have a nice long talk about reproductive organs I want to relax, not talk with a voice in my head.
"We'll I hope you enjoy the few seconds you have of chillaxing because we have company."
The door in the far side of the room burst open and a couple on ponies walked in, all of who were guys. My brain was to busy thinking about the voice, how did it know they were coming, was it a coincidence, and is chillaxing a word? While a was thinking about how confusing the voice is that I barely heard what they were talking about.
"That fight was awesome, I can't believe he didn't get hurt from that blow." A smaller than average bat pony said as he was walking into the room. He had dark blues and a purple mane with tints of gold in it.
"We know Moon, we were there too." Said a deeper voice walking into the room. He was taller than me by about half a head, he had a think build and green eyes and his mane was just a plain dark purple.
"Yea Brick, but you have to admit that that was pretty cool, did you see the way he blocked that blow?" If the tall pony's name is Brick Wall I'm going to face palm, hoof, what ever.
The knew pony walked in, he was about the same height as me and had gray eyes and a normal dark purple like his friend.
"Oh hay look, we got a room mate." The small one who's name I think is called Moon said pointing a hoof at me.
"Hello to you too short stack." I said looking at Moon.
"Oh where are our manners, I'm Starry Night, this is Clay Brick and the little one's Dark Moon." The medium sized pony pointed at a pony as he was saying a name.
"Hi, I'm Jane, but my friends call me Shepard." I said hopping off my bed and walking over to the group who just entered.
"We'll it's nice to meet you, say, I didn't see you in the group of recruits, are you in the day guard? Because they stay on the other side of the hall." Brink said tilting his head to the side.
"Nah, I'm trying to get in the night guard, I'm surprised you didn't see me." I said with a dismissing hoof gesture.
“Should we have?” Dark said with a raised eye brow.
“I suppose not, I was covered up after all.” I said with a small shrug.
After a few moments of an awkward silence I took a look around at the room and saw a clock in the side of the room, it read 6:50.
“Crap, it’s almost time for dinner, let’s start to head over.” I said walking past them and out the door.
“Oh you’re right, let’s go.” Starry said following after me.
“Before we go can I ask a question?” I asked turning my head to look at them.
“Shoot.”
“Is chillaxing a word?”
We walked through the building trying to find the cafeteria with little luck.
”You can just ask someone.”
We’ll find where we need to go soon enough, it won’t take much longer.
”Suuuuuuuuure.” he said with sarcasm in his tone.
Well then who am I going to ask then?
”*sigh* Take the next left, head down the corridor and take the third right and it will be on the right.”
How do you know that? I’ve never been here so how do you know where it is? And how were you able to sigh in my head?
I didn’t get a reply. “*sigh*, Come on guys, I know the way.” I said taking the left and following down the hall.
“Why didn’t you say anything earlier?” Dark said with annoyance in his tone.
“Because Night Springs told me.”
“Who?” Dark said.
“Just someone I recently met.”
We soon reached the cafeteria exactly where Night said it’ll be. Okay next time Night talks to me there’s going to be a lot of questions.
”Who ever said I left?”
Really? Now that I’m about to eat you talk again?
”What? Aren’t I aloud to have a break too?”
Fine, once I get my food we can have a NICE long ta
In the alliance it was just an area where we ate tinny amounts of crap food ever seven hours. We used to sit around eating processed ‘food’ that tasted like cardboard, wait, cardboard would be tastier. There were only two times when I had REAL food was when I bought provisions from the citadel or when I was court-martialled. When we entered the cafeteria it was as if I was hit with a freight train of smell. It was so powerful I think I might have actually recoiled. The sight around me made my mouth water, there was food stalls all around the room, and each had a delicious goody in it. Some had fruits and vegetables while others had cooked food.
“Jane, what’s wrong?” I was startled out of my daze by Dark. I whipped a small bit of drool from the side of my mouth and looked at him. “Huh, oh I’m fine, also just call me Shepard.” I said with a smile.
As I looked around I saw a mailbox by the door, huh, handy. I walked over and put in my letters, there was a small florescent yellow sign above the box which read.
”WARNING DO NOT PLACE HOOVES INTO BOX.”
Well guess what the first thing I wanted to do was? Although I wanted to put a hand in I didn’t want to see the repercussion of my curiosity. I put in my letters and walked off to the stalls, okay let’s see. Pasta, Macaroni and cheese, Sandwich-. ”WAIT, GO BACK!” Gah, how the hell can you be so loud? I think I can hear a ringing. ”Shut up Shepard, just go back a few stalls.” I walked backwards a few steps looking at the stalls. ”STOP!” I was currently standing in front of the Macaroni and cheese stall. You want this? ”Just get it before I annoy you until you go insane.” Doesn’t you being in my head already mean I’m insane?
Silence
I let out a sigh and walked up to the stall. The smell of cheese was now all I smelt, never really liked cheese. I grabbed a small bowl of the steaming meal and walked over to an empty table and sat down. ” Now eat it.” Since when has my mind controlled me? ”I wouldn’t be surprised if that were true but sadly that’s not the case, your brain controls you and your mind controls your brain.” I don’t think it works like that. ”But I know you don’t know that.” Ughhhh, you’re too confusing, I’ll eat your food if you give me some answers. ”*sigh* Fine, what do you want to know.”
Sitting in the locked-up library is an odd experience to say the least. We were all (except Rainbow Dash) in the library, sitting in a circle. "Alright girls, you all probably all already know why I called you here?" I said looking at my friends. "I presume this is about Shepard?" Rarity said with a smile. "Yes, it is, there's something wrong, but I can't tell what." I said rubbing my chin.
"Shep seems like a good pony to me." Pinkie said with her massive smile, I'll never know how that's possible. "Oh yes Twilight, she seemed nice." Fluttershy whispered. "Well ah hav'ta agree with Twi, that mare seems to be hiding somethin." We'll at least Applejack agrees with me. "Dash did say she's been through a lot, remember Dash told us, not Shepard, she might think we don't know." Rarity pointed out. “But I feel like that’s not the only thing she’s hiding. Did you see the way she tried to avoid talking about her armour.” I said rubbing the bottom of my chin.
“Um Twilight, she did say she wasn’t from around here, maybe where she’s from has that sort of stuff.” Fluttershy said. “But that’s the thing, there’s nothing up north, it’s just a large ocean.” “Huh, then she’s definitely hiding something then.” Rarity said. “That’s not all, with the way she talked about this ‘N7’ thing, it seems that it was currently in battle with something, and I don’t know anywhere where ponies are fighting each other.” “Why not ask the princess? She’ll know something about this.” Applejack said.
“I’ll bring it up with her when I know more. I don’t want to jump to conclusions.”
“She might be an alien from outer-space and his here to control our minds!” Pinkie yelled pulling out a tin foil hat from inside a book, how did that get there?
“I don’t think she’s an alien Pinkie, she’s a pony.” Rarity said trying to calm her down.
“Or maybe she’s a zombie here to eat our braaaaains!” Pinkie yelled leaning over us with her fore-hooves stretched out. “That’s ever-sillier Pinkie.” Applejack said. “Or maybe she’s a zombie alien!”
“Calm down Pinkie, you're scaring Fluttershy.” We all looked over to Fluttershy who was curled up in a ball trying to hide. “Sorry, Fluttershy, I didn’t mean to scare you.” Pinkie’s mane seemed to deflate and head hung low.
We all sat there in an awkward silence.
KNOCK KNOCK NNOCK
Pinkie’s mane inflated itself back to its poufy state and a wide smile appeared on her face. “I’ll get it.” She said as she bounced over to the door. “Who do you think it is?” Fluttershy said uncurling herself from her ball. “I’m not expecting anypony at the moment.” I said looking towards the door to see it closed and Pinkie bouncing back. “MmmMmm Mmmmmm.” She said through a mouth full of letters. “What now?” Applejack said raising an eyebrow. Pinkie dropped the letters in front of me. “Dah, I said it was Derpy with some letters for Twilight and Dash.” “Why is Dash’s mail coming here?” I asked. “How would I know?” she said with a shrug and sat back down. We sat there for a few moments looking at the envelopes in front of me. “Well, aren’t you going to open it? I levitated the letter up that had why named on it in really bad writing, guess it might be a foal? But why would a foal send me a letter? “Whoever sent this has very bad mouth writing.” I said tearing open the top and pulling out the note.
"Dear Twilight Sparkle
I would like it if you could give the other letter to Dash, I don't know her address.
From Shepard"
“It’s from Shepard, she doesn’t know Dash’s address, so she asked me to give her this other letter.” I said lifting up the other letter.
“Well, are you going to open it? Pinkie said bouncing up and down.
“We can’t pry into her mail, it’s un-ladylike.” Rarity said putting a hoof to her chest and sticking her muzzle up in the air. “Go on open it.” She added.
“But what if Dash finds out that we opened it though?” I said looking at the closed letter.
“We can put it in a new envelope once we’re done, no harm done.” Pinkie said with a shrug.
“Fine, but make sure Dash never finds out, we don’t want to lose her trust.” I said opening the second letter.
“Okay let’s see. She says she lied about being in the guard, that of which I expected. She joined the night guard, she won a small jousting match, she also talked about how ‘soft’ her drill instructor is compared to her old one. She also listed her titles with her name, Huh, her first name isn’t Shepard, its Jane, also have any of you girls heard of something called ‘The Skillein blitz’?” I said looking at all the others.
They all shook their heads.
“Oh well, I guess we have to seal this back up and give it to Dash.”
Why don’t they trust her? So yea she may have not told them much, she may be a bit mysterious sure, she does have that weird magic as well and have weird teeth but why don’t they trust her.
I’m lying on my bed in my cloud house staring up at the roof, thinking about my friends and Shepard.
I know my friends are just worried about me but don’t they know I can handle myself.
Also Shepard is in the Royal Guard, she wouldn't do anything bad if she could help it. She did help Bon Bon with that robber and asked nothing in return.
But I can't tell them about the weird stuff, then they definitely won't trust her.
The egghead in me wants to know how she can use magic or biotics as she called it without a horn. I want to ask Twi if that's even possible. I think she said it had something to do with radiation before she was born. Isn't radiation deadly if you get enough of it? And why haven't I ever heard about something like this before? Ugh, all this thinking is making my brain hurt. I'm going to get some fresh air.
I got off of my bed and headed outside. Looking down towards Ponyville always made me feel better. Getting to admire everything from a distance.
I jumped off my front porch and started to plummet towards the dirt road below me. Wings firmly strapped to my sides as I deconned made my heartbeat furiously in my ears. The feeling of adenine rushing through my blood made me feel..... Excited is the best thing I can describe it as.
As I was about to hit the ground, I unfolded my wings and pulled up. Wind rushing through my mane as all the G's were applied to my body.
I flew for a good hour before I heard somepony yelling my name. "DASH! WHERE ARE YOU?" I heard Twilight yell from below me.
I made my way down to my friend and landed with a soft thud in front of her. "Hay Twi, what's up?" I asked flicking some mane from my eyes.
"Oh, there you are. I got a letter from Shepard." Twilight said pulling out a letter from her saddle bag.
That puzzled me. "Really, it's not even been a day yet, what happened? Please tell me nothing bad happened." I said starting to panic. What if she's hurt? I've only had a mare friend for a few day and then she goes and gets herself hurt. I need to get to her if sh-
"She just sent me a letter asking me to give this to you, I think it might be her saying she's O.K." Twilight reassured me with a small smile. That quickly brought me back to the ground.
Twilight floated the letter over to me. I held out my hoof and the letter felling into my grasp. I starred at for a few moment until I opened it to which it read.
"Dear Rainbow Dash
One thing I want to say before I begin is that I may have lied a tincy little bit. I was never in the guard but I was in an army for 14 years, I didn't lie about that. I just wanted to say I was sorry, I did it because everything was new to me so the first thing my body did was dig me into a hole I'm trying to get out of. Anyway.
At the moment I am at boot camp for the night guard, the drill instructor is a push over to what I'm used to. He was using words like 'maggot' and 'wimps', where I'm from they had a much more colorful vocabulary. I bet this guy would be pissing himself in front of the guy I got trained by.
Anyway I ended up getting into a jousting match with one of the actual night guards, I won of cause. You should have seen his face, priceless.
Once that was all over we got sent to the barracks to unpack and that's where I am now. Other than that nothing has happens except some one staring at my ass. I'll be writing again tomorrow, also I don't know your address so Twilight will probably give this to you.
Till next time Recruit Jane Shepard, Specter, N7 operative, Hero of the Skillein blitz, Commander of the Normandy SV-2. I love all the titles I've earned; it makes it fun to sign off letters."
Firstly. Why didn't she tell me she wasn't in the guard? I wouldn't think any less of her if she wasn't in the guard. But it still seems like she was in some type of army then.
Secondly. Woah, that's a lot of titles, what are mine? There's winning the 'Best Young Flyers Competition'. Fasted flyer in Equestria. Most awesome pony in Ponyville. If I have more time I could think of hundreds.
Also, I didn't know her name was Jane, I just presumed it was just Shepard. She must prefer being called that if that's how she introduces herself. Come to think of it my friends do call me Dash and it IS my last name.
Also, she seems to be doing quite well with how she wrote her letter.
But a few things seemed a little odd, and I may need a egghead to help answer it.
"Twi? Have you ever heard of something called 'The Skillein Blitz'?" I asked tilting my head to the side a bit.
"Never heard of it, you might have to ask her next time we see her." Twilight answered with a reassuring smile.
"Also I hate to say this but you were right. Shepard wasn't in the guard." I said lowering my head.
"Oh? What do you mean?" She asked looking confused, I didn't blame her.
"She said that she was never in the guard but still says she was apart of this 'N7' thing." I said looking back up.
"Don't worry Dash, I'm sure she had her reasons on why she didn't tell you at first. She is rather mysterious after all."
"Yea, I hope your right, but right now I'm heading back home, my wings are killing me." I said stretching out my wings.
"Than I'll be on my way, bye." She said walking off with a smile.
"Bye Twi, thanks for delivering the letter for me." I said with a wave.
Once Twilight was out of sight I flew back home, to write a letter of my own.
Being the commander of one of the most advance ships ever made meant that we didn’t have much shore leave. And in turn we missed out on quite a lot that other ship’s crew get, such as getting to see their friends and family, getting to relax and one of the biggest, good food.
Because the Normandy would be out almost years at a time meant that most of the food we had was almost entirely made out of fake ingredients.
Only about once a month did we get REAL food on ours travels and that would be fruits and meats we found on planets and bought on stations and most of which was still fake.
I must have sat there for at least ten minutes staring wide eyed at the bowl of macaroni and cheese. I’m surprised that my brain hasn’t melted from the flavor of the dish. Just one mouth full of it was enough to put me in a comatose state. I can’t tell if I’m getting looks or not because I’m just sitting there, jaw hanging open, looking at a bowl of food.
“Dude, you okay?” I was knocked out of my trance by Starry nudging me on the shoulder.
“Huh, oh yea, I’m fine.” I said blinking a couple of times.
“Are you sure, you look a little out of it.” He said raising an eye brow.
“It’s nothing to get worried about.” I said with a small chuckle.
“Still doesn’t mean it’s nothing.” Moon said narrowing his eyes and leaning towards me a bit.
“It’s the food.” I said with a confused expression.
“What, we know it’s bad but that’s no need to go all comatose about it.” Moon said leaning back to the position he was in before.
“BAD?” I was quite taken aback by this. “This is some of the best food I’ve had.” I said digging back into my meal.
“Wha? If this is what you call good than I don’t want to know what you’ve been eating before.” Moon said with a surprised expression.
“When you’re on a ship for near years on end you don’t have a large choice of foods.” I said reminiscing about the old rations on the Normandy.
“What did you eat then?” Starry said looking curious.
“I had it good. I had officer previsions while my crew had even crappier rations.” I said with a roll of my eyes.
“That still doesn’t answer the question.” Moon said narrowing his eyes again.
“I had what is called Saith which is made of processed proteins, vitamins and minerals with a tiny amount of artificial flavors but not enough to make the food go off too soon and my crew got what was called Cachu and it was like what I got but with no flavors at all making it taste like cardboard. But after a while of crappy food I ended up using my own salary to buy high grade previsions, it cost a few thousand but it helped boost morale.” I said getting another spoon full of my meal.
“Wow, now I can sort of understand where you’re coming from.” Starry said going back to his meal.
“Officer previsions? Wait, you’re an officer?” Moon said looking around uneasily.
“I was a Commander in the Navy and among other things.” I said nonchalantly continuing my dish.
They all dropped their cutlery and went wide eyed, and all stared at me.
“Are you telling us we’ve been with an officer the whole time?” Brick said finally speaking up.
“I was a Commander of a different Army, I have no command here.” I said.
“Oh, Ummm, this is awkward.” Moon said rubbing the back of his neck.
“What army were you apart of?” Brick asked.
“The Systems Alliance.”
“Sorry if I may seem rude but I’ve never heard of it.” Brick said.
“Don’t blame you, probably no one here has, We’re located far up north.” This macaroni and cheese is amazing.
"You also said among others, what does that mean?" Starry asked raising an eye brow.
"I was a part of a group called N7 which only the best of the best get into, I was also part of a group called Spectres which means Special Tactics and Reconnaissance, and that's even harder to get into, the perks of which are once you're a Spectre you are conceded above the law meaning back where I'm from I can go around burning down houses and blowing up buildings if I had reason that would be for the greater good." I said.
"How do you become a Spectre?" Moon asked looking intrested.
"There's a saying 'Spectres are not trained, but chosen. Individuals forged in the fire of service and battle—those whose actions elevate them above the rank and file'. Unlike N7 where they train you, Spectres get chosen by our counsil. I was the first of my species to get chosen."
"If you where the first pony to get picked does that mean this council is made out of Griffins and stuff?" Moon said.
"Nope, totally different species altogether, there was the Asari, the Salarians and the Turians, and after a tonne of work from me hopefully another race called the Krogan will join them."
They looked at me with confused expressions. I mentally face palmed. They don't know anything about the Counsil, I might not even be in the Milky Way anymore.
"If you're with a lady such as myself and have no idea what they're talking about just nod up and down to at least seem like you understand." I said in a deadpan tone.
And like a bunch of knuckle heads they all slowly nodded their heads up and down.
Soon my face became friend with the table in front of me. Luckily my food was to the side when the happened otherwise I would have a face full of cheesy pasta. I stayed like for a few moments until I pulled my head up.
We ate in an awkword silence for the rest of our meals until I finished.
"Whelp, I'm going to burn some calories, I'll see you guys later." I said getting up from my seat.
"Why? It was only a small meal." Moon said eyeing me curiously.
"How do you think I got so ripped?" I said lifting up up an arm and tencing my mussels and let out a small chuckle.
Moon looked at his own arm for a second before he looked back up to me. "Ok, see you later Shepard." He said with a small wave.
The fresh, cold air of night felt relaxing against my week old face.
I had my eyes closed facing up towards to starry sky, a small smile on my face. To think that not long ago I was up there, racing through the infinite expanse of space. I can still remember just sitting in the Normandy, looking off into the dark abyss. The seamlessly peace expanses of the stars twinkling in the distance.
I let out a sigh and tilt my head down to face the ground. I need to forget about being Commander Shepard the Human and start anew as Shepard the Pony. Most would say that’s a step down and I would have to agree with them. I was Commander Shepard, first Human Spectre and savor of the galaxy thrice and now I am a pony, a simple pony sort of like the ones that used to live on Earth. But I think the worst thing is the fact I don't know if everything I did payee off.
Did the Crucible? Did everyone make it? Did my friends survive?
All I hope is that if they did that they're not grieving over me. They all deserve to be happy. I couldn't have done anything without them, I'm as much of a hero as they are.
I let out another drawn out sigh and opened my eyes to once again look up into the inky blackness of space. The night sky as never looked more amazing. Before I never got the chance to just sit back and watch.
The last time was my final moments with Anderson.
I felt a tear roll down my cheek as I reminisced about my old friend. Without him I would have been executed for all I did.
I was soon cut off from my daydreaming by a sound of hooves clopping on the stone path in the garden I sat in. "Is anypony here?" I heard a voice, I couldn’t quite place it but it seemed to make me feel a little better.
"Y-yea." I said in a weak voice, sniffling my nose and wiping my years away.
I turned and was met with an odd sight. There standing behind me was a deep blue pony with hair that looked like the night sky, little light twinkling like the stars above. She was also a good three feet taller than me but the thing that stood out the most was that she had both a horn and wings. I haven't seen something like this before.
"H-hi." Is all I managed to get out before I sighed and looked back into the night sky.
"Shouldn't you be inside? It's awfully late to be out, you could just wait till morning." She said starting to approach me.
"There are no stars in the day." I replied.
She seemed taken aback. I heard her drop dead in her tracks before she said "y-you like the stars?"
"Yea, one of my favorite things."
She walked right up next to me. "Do you mind if I join you?" She asked.
"Not at all." I spoke.
She sat down next to me and looked up into the night sky. "Not many watch the night anymore, it's sad really." I could sense some sadness in her words.
I let out an 'MMMmmm' in response.
We sat there for some time just looking up into the cold night sky. The stars twinkling up above, seeming to have a life of their own.
“Why were you crying?” my companion asked turning her head to look at me.
“You saw that did you?” I replied looking down with a faint smile.
“Yes.”
“It’s nothing to worry about.” I said trying to shrug it off.
“But the best way to help is to tell somepony.” She said continuing pushing.
“*sigh* I’m just thinking about an old friend.” I said closing my eyes.
“What happened to them?” She asked.
“He died.” I said letting a tear fall from my eye.
“Oh, what happened?” She asked before saying. “That’s if you want to.”
“W-we were trying to help everyone from where I live, we were at where we were meant to be, but nothing is that easy.” I said letting out a sigh.
“Waiting for us was once someone I followed orders from, I don’t know what he did, but he somehow controlled me. I was made to point my weapon at my friend and made to fire it. *swallow* but it wasn’t quick, it wasn’t painless. He lasted minutes before his injuries caught up with him. We sat there looking up to the stars like we are now. I think he would have wanted it that way.” By now my cheeks were drenched by my tears.
We sat there in a long, drawn-out silence while she let me cry my heart out about a good friend. “I know what it’s like to lose a friend, it’s not something you get used to.” She said looking to the ground as well.
“But it doesn’t mean it’s the end of the world, there are many more ponies out there who will be your friends. You just need to know the right place to look.” She said looking back up to the sky.
I returned my focus back up to the sky to see a shooting star fly past. “Thank you.” I managed to get out in a low voice.
We sat there looking up into the sky. It felt like a massive weight has been lifted from my chest. “What’s your name?” I quietly asked tuning to her.
“You don’t know who I am?” she asked raising an eyebrow.
“I’m sorry if it’s rude but I don’t I only got to Equestria about a week ago, I barely know anyone.
“No, it’s fine. My name is Luna. What’s your?” Luna asked.
“My name is Shepard.”
We sat there for a good hour after that just looking for peace up into the cold abyss of the night sky.
“It’s been a nice night, but I have to get to sleep if I want any energy for training tomorrow.” I said getting up.
“You’re training for the guard?”
“Yea, I’m trying to join the night guard.” I said with a slight chuckle.
“Why are you training for the royal guard?” she asked.
“I was once a Commander in a different army, I guess it’s just in my nature to want to help people.”
“You were a Commander?” she asked.
“For several years. Had my own ship and everything.”
“Well good night to you Shepard, I hope we can see each other again sometime.”
“Thank you for the company, Luna.” I said with a smile.
And with that I headed back to my room to rest up for the night.
My eyes slowly cracked open to the feel of warm sunlight hitting against my eye lids.
I let out a groan as I fight with my fatigue to get up. Today is the first day of boot camp. We got told to get up at 0600 hours and get back to the field that we first arrived at with all our gear.
I clicked on my visor and checked the time, 5:13 Am. Well I guess this is a good time to get up, get ready and get breakfast.
As I get out of bed I see the other three are fast asleep and one thing popped into my head.
What is the most annoying way I can wake them?
I’ll just do the most common one I know, I’ll bang on the door as hard as I can when I’m ready. I put on all my armor including the half assed helmet.
I look out the door to see none of the doors open or have any sign of anyone being up. I step out the door and get ready for what I’m going to do.
I suck in a deep breath and bring my arm back for a hard knock on the door. A small smile spreads on my face under my mask.
‘KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK’ “Wake up girls, you have to get up!” My voice gets muffled a bit by my mask.
I heard groan come from my roommates and see lumps on their beds move around in discomfort. I let out a small chuckle as I see Dark fall out from under one of the covers.
“But muuuum, it’s not time for school yet.” He mumbled on the floor.
I walked up to him, lightly grabbed his wing and tickled his nose with it.
He let out a massive sneeze and lurched up. “What was that for?” He asked rubbing his eyes.
“If here’s like anything like where I’m from you would want to get up early for some hot food.” I said leaning back a bit.
“Shepard? What even is the time?” he said getting up.
“Around five thirty-ish.” I said with a shrug.
He continued rubbing his eyes as he stood up. “It’s too early, wake me up lat-“ He stopped when he saw me and did the closest thing to dropping your jaw on the floor.
“What are you doing here?” He asked with a shocked expression.
“Waking you up, what does it look like?” I said with a raised brow but he probably didn’t see it due to the helmet.
“Shepard? Was that you yesterday?” He asked going wide eyed.
“Oh cause, did you really think I was lying about being trained?” I asked. He just stared at me in total amazement.
I let out a frustrated sigh. “Once you’ve done admiring me can you wake up the other the girls?”
That seemed to kick him out of whatever state he was in.
“U-um sure.” He said with a small forced smile.
And with that I left him to wake up the others. I wondered down the hallway, not hearing any noises beside the occasional snore coming from a room or two. If this place is like the Alliance boot camp they will all be chewed out if they turn up late for training, I know from firsthand experience.
I soon arrived at the cafeteria and when I entered, GASP, no one was there. Besides the lack of life I also noticed the mouth watering smell. Seems like it’s always like this. Well, I hope so anyway.
I got my meal and sat at a table in the corner of the room, not that I was a loner or anything, because what’s the point of sitting in the middle of the room?
The meal I chose was a salad, yea I know. I felt really tempted by the steaming hot plate of what I think were pancakes but just because I can eat food I wouldn’t normally eat doesn’t mean I fatten up on them, I still need to keep my body fit and healthy. I already feel myself growing a muffin top.
I take off my mask and dig in. The salad I chose had a lot of greens such as lettuce, spinach and rocket but sometimes there were stuff lie carrots and tomatoes. And to top it off, literary, it had a salad dressing which I had no idea of what is was. I was about half way through my meal before I heard the main door to the cafeteria open. I looked over to see my room mates enter, two of which looked half asleep. I waved from my seat to show where I was. I seemed to get their attention because I saw Brick lazily wave back.
Once they got their means they came over to me. Night let out I load yawn. “Why did you have moon wake us up this early in the morning? I don’t even think Celestia is up yet.”
“This early? At this rate we’ll have like five minutes of spare time before training starts.” I said scooping up another mouth full of salad.
“What time is it anyway?” He asked.
They sat down at the table, Brick next to me and Moon and Night on the other side of it.
“It’s around 5:35-ish.” I said with a shrug.
“And what time are we due?” Brick spoke up.
“At six.”
I finished my meal about five minutes later.
“Whelp, I’m done, I’ll see you guys later then.” I said putting on my mask.
I saw Brick’s and Night’s eyes go wide as I got up. “THAT WAS YOU YESTERDAY?!” I Night near yelled.
“I thought you saw my armour when you got here?” I said with a raised eye brow.
“Momma always said to look a mare in the eyes, more polite that way.” Brick said going back to his meal.
“Flattery is nice but it won’t get you anywhere.” I said smiling.
His cheeks turned a faint shade of red which cause a small chuckle from the others at the table.
“We are due at the field that we first arrived at yesterday in about twenty minutes, see you then.”
The outside air is fresh, crisp and smells moist. Did it rain while we went to sleep? The grass was a radiant green to the point it almost looked like it was glowing. The sky was a clear and beautiful with only a few fluffy clouds floating off in the distance.
Trees were scattered all around the castle, the enormous flora towering above all with only multi story buildings being higher.
It’s sort of weird seeing all this, it reminds me of sixteenth century buildings back on Earth, hell, and even trees on Earth are rare.
I've seen trees on my travels mind you but on planets home planets of species there’s little to no trees, well except for Sur’Kesh which had whole forests.
I can see the field I needed to head to only a little bit ahead of where I am. I tap the on button on the side of my visor turning it on. Half my vision suddenly had a slight blue tint to it and a start up screen greeted me.
Once the loading was done I was on the field. There were only around twenty other people there before me. Good, I didn’t want to train with a WHOLE group of slackers.
I looked up into the right and saw it was 5:55, five more minutes I guess.
For the next five minutes most of the other recruits came out running trying to not be late.
By the time the five minutes were up I was standing next to Brick, Dark and Night.
We were standing there, in the group of recruits. Only about two thirds of the recruits were here, I guess I should get comfortable. There will be a MASSIVE scold to all those who came late.
The drill instructor from the previous day came out into the field, flanked by two other guards who wore what I presumed was the uniform for the night guard.
It was a dark blue, almost purple, with light purple highlights. The chest plate looked like two wings out stretched across their chest and in the center there was a blue gem with a black slit going down through the middle making it look like an eye of a snake. The helmet covered the hole back of the head and segments when it starts to go down the neck. On the back of the helmet is a frill like most old fashioned but this one looked more closely to one of the bat ponies wings. On the back was an armored, segmented back plate. Over that was a dark blue saddle with light blue highlights on the edges. And to finish it all off they had boots which went a third of the way up their shins.
But one thing that stood out for me was that they both looked exactly the same. And I mean EXACTLY the same, height, build and all, even eye color.
The drill instructor and his flanking guards walked to the front of us all.
All three of them had blank expressions. The drill instructor steps forward from the two guards and took a deep inhale.
“ATTENTION!” he yelled out.
All who were talking stopped and quickly turned to look at the instructor.
The instructor still kept his blank, expressionless state as he looked over out group.
“WHERE ARE THE REST OF YOU MAGGOTS?!” he yelled out to us.
I just stood there in the crowd, at attention waiting for the next thing to happen.
The drill instructor looked over us, he hung his head a bit and let out a sighed.
He muttered something under his breath then looked back up to us. “ALRIGHT, I GUESS WE HAVE TO START WITHOUT HALF YOU SLACKERS!” He yelled to us . “YOU WILL BRAKE UP INTO GROUPS OF FIVE, GET TO IT!” HE yelled throwing his arm out towards us.
Everyone started to run around trying to get into groups while Brick, Dark, Night and I just stood there looking around as everyone else ran around like headless Pyjaks.
I looked over my shoulder to look at them. “I don’t suppose you guys want to team up?” I asked tilting my head to the side.
“Really? You want to go with us?” Night asked looking at the friend's either side of him.
"Sure, unless you're secret serial killers." I said with a shrug.
"No, it's just that, uhh, we aren't really that good." He said rubbing the back of his neck with a force smile on his face. "So?" I said simply.
"Don't you want to be with the better ponies?" Dark stepped in.
"The people who think their better than everyone else tend to be cockier making them more prone to accidents while people who aren't as good tend to be more careful because they don't think about showing off." I know there's probably a flaw in my logic but unless someone point it out, I'm fine.
We stood there in a silence for a little while. "So do you want to group up or what?" I said with a sigh.
"S-sure." Night said walking over to me.
"Hell yea." Dark said hopping over to me.
"Ok" is all brick said.
"Awesome, but there's one problem, we need five but we just have four." I said looking around.
"Ok, we could always look for one more?" Night suggested.
"Ok, I'll look around for a final member, you guys stay here." I said walking off.
As Shepard walked off into the crowd I turned and looked towards my friends. “Did that really just happen?” I asked slightly tilting my head.
“Do you mean the fact that we are in a team with probably the best pony here and that she’s a good looking mare? Yea that just happened.” I felt a blush hit my face as Dark said that.
“I recommend not saying that to her face.” Brick said.
“I know, but you can’t deny that she’s a looker.” He said with a cheesy smile.
“Keep your perverted mind to yourself while she’s here or you might get a hard buck to the face.” I said feeling my blush lesion.
“*sigh*Let’s just hope she’s single.” He said suppression a chuckle.
I quickly gave him a swift kick to the side just where his armor didn’t cover.
“W-worth it.” He painfully said clutching his side.
We all let out a collective laugh as Dark recovered.
“Excuse me.” I heard coming from behind us.
We turned my head looking behind us.
Standing there was a bat pony mare. She had a dark gray coat with a light purple mane, her mane was style so that it was spiked down covering one of her eyes. Her eyes were a soft gold colour with deep black irises. And to top it all off she was wearing an old set of night guard armour.
“Yes.” I heard Brick say from beside me.
I felt a slight jab to the side. I turned to look at Dark who was wiggling his right eye brown at me. I let out a sigh, slightly shook my head and turned back to the mare.
“I haven’t been able to find a group and seeing as you have three members I was wondering if I can join you?” She said fluttering her one visible eyelid.
“S-sure, but we’re a group of four, our last member is trying to look for the last, Brick, can you go get her?” I said.
He gave a single nod and then went into the crowd.
“Well the name’s Raven.” She said sticking her hoof out.
I stuck out my hoof to meet hers and shook it. “My name is Starry Night, this is Dark Moon and the one who just left was Clay Brick.” I said letting go of her hoof.
“Who’s the last one?” she asked.
“I think it will be better if I let her to introduce herself.” If her reaction was anything like ours I need to hold in the laughter.
“Found her.” I heard brick say from behind us.
We turned our heads to look over to Brick and trailing close behind him was Shepard.
“I heard you guys found the last member before me.” She said letting out a slight chuckle.
“Wait, HE’S your last member?” Raven asked pointing a hoof at Shepard and her eyes growing to the size of dinner plates.
“It’s SHE I should have you know.” She said.
“Wait, you’re a mare?” Raven asked Shepard.
“Do you think any of the block heads around us could be as good as any woman here?” She said sticking out a hoof.
Raven let out a chuckle and returned the brohoof. “I hear you sister.”
“Shepard.”
“Raven.”
“Well Raven I guess you’re stuck with us.” Shepard let out a slight chuckle.
So our group of five stood there in the middle of the crowd waiting for everyone else to find their own. I looked to the corner for the time and saw that we’ve been here for almost ten minutes already.
“What’s taking them so long?” Dark said from my right.
I turned my head to face him. “Just wait, do you really want to be shouted at sooner?” I asked with a faint smirk.
“*Sigh* I’m just board out of my mi-”
“ALRIGHT! THAT’S LONG ENOUGH, IF YOU AREN’T IN A GROUP ALREADY THAN YOU BETTER HURRY UP!” The drill instructor cut in.
“Speak of the devil.” I commented.
There was a little bit of quick shuffling but that soon faded away along with any talking.
“THERE SHOULD BE THIRTY-SIX GROUPS OF YOU!” He shouted out.
“THIS IS YOUR GROUP FOR THE REST OF TRAINING; I RECOMMEND THAT YOU LEARN TO GET ALONG!” That’s one thing that I’ve never heard from a drill instructor before.
“NOW, TODAY WE’LL BE WORKING ON FITNESS, LET’S START WITH FIFTY LAPS AROUND THE FIELD!”
“MOVE OUT!!” He shouted to us throwing his arm out.
And with that the flood gates opened. Many of the recruits sprinted for all their worth while others like me kept a steady pace. Dark and Night were one of those people who just ran off till they saw that the others and I were a little behind them.
“What’s with all the slowness?” Dark said tilting his head.
“How many people do you think can keep up a non-stop sprint for what looks like around fifty miles?” I said.
I could see the gears working in his head till his eyes widened. “ooooOOOOO, I get it, we’re pacing.” He said as Starry and he as they slowed down to match our own speed.
“Also, he never said it was a race so there’s no need to rush.” I said keeping up a good pace.
We were jogging around seeing other groups start to show signs of fatigue but only a few, not everyone would tire already. Everyone had done at least twenty or so laps by now.
“Shepard? *Pant*” I heard Dark ask.
“Yea?” I asked not turning to look at him.
“You said *Pant* that you’ve *Pant* done something like this *Pant* before, right?” He asked sounding exhausted.
“Winded already?” I asked with a slight chuckle.
“Shut up *Pant*”
“Well yea, I’ve done this before, and don’t worry, after about a month you get used to it.”
“Only a month?” He panted out sarcastically.
“Would you prefer to do a couple a hundred laps instead?”
"But what's the *Pant* best thing to *Pant* do?" He asked.
"Pretty much what we're doing now, you need to keep up a steady pace so you don't get exhausted." I replyed.
We kept running laps around the field, even though I've done this sort of thing before does not mean I have to enjoy it. At least in the Alliance we ran around a ship deck so we could see different stars and planets each week or so. “Soooo, how long have you guys known each other?” Raven asked.
“Well, Brick, Night and I have known each *Pant* other since high school while we meet Shepard barely *Pant* twenty four hours ago.” Dark said.
“What about you Raven? Do you have any friends here?” Night spoke up, sounding like fatigue is starting to affect him.
“There are some ponies I know here but none of them I would call friends.”
“Bummer, do you have any friends or family back home?” Night asked.
“Yea, my parents are the reason I’m training for the guard. There’s also my younger sister, I also have a ton of friends.”
We continued doing laps, by now I wanted to hit my head against a wall. Even though I was amazed by all the greens around me before, now it’s starting to get repetitive.
“Really now? Don’t you like the beauty of this place?”
Oh great, your back, I thought you might have gone and died in a hole by now.
“Oh please, even with the amount of empty space in here it’s still hard to do anything like that when you’re in a mind.”
Go jump off a cliff.
“I don’t think you’ve relished by now, but I don’t have legs to go and do that unless you want to help.”
I would think my Schizophrenic personality wouldn’t want to encourage suicide.
“But I know you won’t do it to prove a point.”
*Sigh* Just go away for a few hours, I don’t want a headache today.
“Fine, but if you need me, I won’t be there.”
Like there ever is a time I need to talk to a voice in my head.
“Sheeeeepard? You there?” I was brought out of my internal talk when Dark bumped my side.
“Huh, what?” I asked turning to him.
“We just asked you if you had any friend or family” He asked.
“I don’t have any family and currently only have a few friends.” I answered off handedly.
“You don’t have a family? What does that mean?” He asked.
I gave him a deadpan expression which he probably couldn’t see with my mask being on. “It means that I’m an orphan and unless you want a broken noise, I would drop the issue.” I recommended.
I guess he got the message because he didn’t bring it up through the rest of the run.
We weren’t the first group to finish but far from the last. Once we finished, we had to wait for all the other people from the other groups to finish the run.
By the time the last of the people made it most of the first arrivals had caught their breath and were ready for anything that the drill instructor had for them. I was glad my group was one of them.
“OKAY, NOW THAT WE’VE FINISHED THAT WARMUP LET’S GET TO THE NEXT DRILL!” The instructor yelled.
We were taken to ‘Cracked Hoof Cause’ by the drill instructor. In front of us was an obstacle cause which looked like it was pulled right out of the N7 training program.
At the start was a climbing wall which went around twenty-five feet up with only a few ropes dangling on it. Next was a tight rope walk which went for about fifty feet at the top of the wall to a platform built in a tree. Next was a rope swing which had four different ropes which I presume that you have to swing from one to another with a ten foot gap between them, all of the high up parts had a deep looking mud pit which would hopefully stop any serious injuries if you fell. After that is leap of faith from the fifty feet into a small artificial lake at the bottom. Next it looks like you swim about seventy feet till you reach a platform which you climb onto. Next you hop from small platform to small platform which are held above the water by wooden poles. Next you jump back onto dry land and crawl under a wire net suspended about twenty inches high with mud under it. Next is just a mud pit which I guess you have to run through. And to finish it all off there’s a hundred metre run to the end.
A sense of nostalgia hit me, reminding me of my time as a greeny, training to fight for my race. I felt a small smile cross my face.
“Is he really going to make us do that?” I heard Dark whisper from behind me.
I turn to look at him. “Why else would he bring us here?” I whispered back.
“THE PONY FROM YESTERDAY WITH THE STUPID ARMOR COME FORWARD!” The instructor yelled into the crowd.
“I think he means you Shepard.” Night said nudging me in the side.
I walked forward so that I was in front of the crowd and stood at attention and put hoof to my forehead in a salute like I used to do while I was in N7.
The instructor looked infuriated by this. “I WANT YOU TO GO AND SHOW EVERYPONY HOW NOT TO DO THIS! ONLY COME BACK ONCE YOU’RE DONE!” He yelled into my face.
“Sir yes sir.” I said running off to the start.
I took my position at a line painted into the ground.
“READY!”
I took a deep breath.
“SET!”
I lowered down my upper half.
“GO!”
And with that I took off to the climbing wall.
When I arrived the first thing that was in my head was how will I get up the wall? When I was a human I could just grab the rope and climb up but now that I don’t have hands that’s going to be near impossible now. Then an idea hit me.
I made my front hoofs into hook shapes then slipped the rope into my hooves. And once I knew I had a good grip I put my back hooves up ageist the wooden climbing wall and started to walk and pull myself up. After about twenty seconds I was finally at the top.
Now it’s time for the tight rope. The wire was made from metal twisted up like rope. I had a sinking feeling in my stomach when I looked down. If I were to fall, I wouldn’t be able to use Biotic Charge without breaking most of my limbs with all the armor on. I start to cross it carefully by putting one hoof in front of the other. Once I was about a third of the way across a gust of wind blew past and made the wire wobble making my slip and fall chest first into the wire. But just before I fell into the mud below, I hooked my front hooves catching me. I hear a few gasps from behind me as I hang there, daggling by a wire. I start to move my hooves down the wire, it won’t be as fast as walking across it but it’s better than falling all the way down. Once I was at the platform I climbed up.
The rope swing was made out of a thick rope with knots at the bottom. I took a small run up and jumped off the platform with my front hooves hooked. When I hit the rope, I made sure that my bottom hooves land on the knot while my front ones hook onto the rope. I swing forward from the momentum of the jump, but I wait until I swing back over before I jump to know that I was ready. I jump off the rope when it came back from the swing and land the same way I did with the other rope on this one. Once I land on the last rope, I start swinging up higher for the final jump into the water. I need to get as much air as I can unless I want to land in the mud and not the water. On one final swing I jump off the rope and sail off in the air towards the water.
I land in the water with one large splash. I open my eyes once I land in the water to see the surface was a fair bit up. I start pushing downwards in the water, propelling me up. With my now water clogged armor it was a fair bit difficult. Once I break the surface, I take a deep breath of fresh air. Once I got my bearings, I started swimming to the platform.
I swim up to the side of the platform to see a small ladder. I climb up the ladder and that’s when I start to feel the burn of all of today’s training.
Once I’m upon the platform I look at the small platforms suspended by wooden poles and the thing that struck me about them was that they looked bigger up closely.
I take a few deep breaths and then took a run up. With a large bound I jump onto the first platform. I land with all my hooves on the platform and with the momentum I already have I jumped to the next one, and then the next one, then the next one and before I knew it, I landed on solid ground.
With the momentum I have I dive forwards and land on my stomach just in front of the next and slid about five feet. I start to commando crawl under the net and through the mud as fast as I could. Once I finished the net crawl my entire front was covered in me. I stood up and started to run my way through the mud after the net, but it was about as fast as the crawl with how deep the mud was. It came up to my neck.
Before I could wipe any mud off myself, I started the hundred-meter sprint. Along the way a lot of the mud fell off, but it didn’t do anything for my speed.
I cross the finish line to see an infuriated drill instructor. By this point I was breathing quite heavily. I look to the rest of the recruits to see most of them look either scared of what was to come or jealous of what I was able to do.
“NOW YOU SHALL STAY HERE UNTIL EVERYPONY ELSE HAS FINISHED!” He yelled right into my face.
I walk back over to my team and stand next to them.
“How hard was it?” I looked over to Night.
“The instructor was right about the run being a warmup.” I said heaving.
And now I get to see all the others try and do the obstacle course.
