"The 4:15 to: Sector 12, Residential Zone is now arriving at: Platform Two. Report terrorist behavior to any law enforcement personnel. Please have a nice day." the public address system boomed. Beneath the speaker, a grey Earth Pony began to wake up.
"Oh...my head...what did I do last night?" Octavia asked herself. She looked around the platform. "Where am I?"
Octavia stood up and looked around again. "Uhh...Hello?"
"Hello?" a male voice replied.
"Who is that?" Octavia said back, effecting a polite tone.
"Are you in need of assistance, Miss-" the male stopped as he saw Octavia. He stood six foot tall, and he walked on two, blue-trousered legs. He was wearing a blue uniform shirt, with silver epulettes, and various insignias on his arm. His golden badge shined under the blinding white lights. Octavia looked at him, stunned.
"W-w-what are you?!" she stuttered, edging away from the strange bipedal being.
The alien being produced a small device from a pocket on his chest. "Central control. Require back-up, over."
The device crackled into life. "State emergency, over."
"I don't know how to describe it...Control, I'm looking at a talking horse." the being said, slowly. Octavia recoiled, slightly offended, but too afraid to correct his mistake.
"...Come again?"
"I'm telling you now. Control, I am looking at a talking horse." the being replied, now with hesitation in his voice.
"...Is this a prank, Private?"
"No, Control! I am telling the God-honest truth, over." the alien said, loudly.
"Affirmative. We have located your signal. We're sending another officer. If this is a joke Private, you can expect termination."
The being put away the device and drew another device. He pointed it at Octavia.
"Under the Prohibitation of Immigration Act 2030, you are under arrest for unauthorised entry to the United States. Please lie on the ground." the being said, threateningly pointing his weapon at Octavia. She complied, and looked at the being, frightened stiff. "What are you?!"
"I am an private in the New York Military Police. You have the right to remain silent."
"So, what the hell is it, Fenton?" the second officer said, bundling Octavia into the police car.
"I don't know. She looks like a horse. She hasn't talked since I arrested her." Private Fenton replied, getting into the car and putting his seat belt on.
"So how do I know you aren't being stupid?" the second officer said, putting his seat belt on.
The driver turned around. "Miss, please say something."
Octavia looked up at the two officers. "You said I had the right to remain silent."
The second officer looked incredulously at Octavia. "What the fuck?"
"See, Johnson, I told you." Fenton replied, with a hint of smugness in his voice.
"...Just get this thing down to the station." Johnson replied, defeated.
The car rolled into life. Johnson grabbed the radio console. "Control, we are bringing the suspect in. Female, age unknown, name unknown...She hasn't got any personal possessions or ID. Body markings: Two musical notes on her back legs, pink. Over."
As the car accelerated through the streets, Octavia looked out the back seat window. The street was filled with more bipedals. All of them seemed to be wrapped in clothing. Some wore a badge on their arms showing a strange symbol. It appeared to be a flag, with red and white stripes, and in the top-left corner, a ring of stars on a blue square.
"Shit, there's SOW's here." Fenton said, looking cautiously at the bipedals.
"Should we call in anything?" Johnson asked. "CT team?"
"Doesn't look like they're doing much. Eh, leave 'em."
Octavia shuddered. What place has she come to? Why did they speak the same language as her?
"I've clearly gone mad." Octavia said to herself, quietly.
"What was that?" Fenton replied, turning the steering wheel.
"You're not real, this can't be real!" Octavia cried.
"Ma'am, please calm down. We're just bringing you into the station." Johnson said, in a forceful manner.
"What are you going to do to me!?" Octavia shouted, starting to tear up.
"We're just going to ask you some questions. We're not here to hurt you." Fenton said, adjusting his beret.
"Okay..." Octavia said, trying to calm herself down.
"What's your name, ma'am?" Johnson asked, turning around to look at Octavia.
"...Octavia."
"Uh huh. I'm Private Johnson. The ugly-as-sin guy with the huge nose-"
"Fuck you, Johnson." Fenton chuckled, suspiciously checking out another bipedal.
"-Is Private Fenton. We're police officers. So, how can you talk?"
"What do you mean?" Octavia replied, confused.
"I mean, horses don't talk."
"I'm not a horse, I'm a pony."
"I don't see the difference." Johnson replied.
"Well, I can talk, so there's one."
"...We'll work that out in the station." Johnson said. He turned around to face forward.
Octavia curled up on the seat. She wondered if she'd ever see home again...
A dim light hung from the ceiling. Octavia looked up at the two police officers. They remained silent as a third officer entered. She wore a different uniform, a white shirt instead of the blue, and she wasn't carrying as much equipment as the males. Fenton and Johnson flanked the third as she sat down opposite Octavia.
"My name is Sergeant Grimsby." the woman said. "Now, we're in a sticky situation here, aren't we?"
Octavia remained silent.
"Now, from what I have gathered, your name is Octavia, correct?"
"...Yes." Octavia replied. "Octavia Melody."
"What is your age?"
Octavia looked up. "I'm twenty four."
"Okay." Grimsby said, writing on a piece of paper. "Now, you are clearly not human."
"Is that what you are?" Octavia interrupted.
"So we need to know what you are." Sergeant Grimsby continued, disregarding Octavia.
"I'm a pony."
"Interesting. You seem to be of human-level intelligence. How did that happen?" Grimsby said, leaning onto the desk.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, on Earth, animals don't talk."
"I am not an animal!" Octavia said angrily.
"Okay, I will join you in your weird world." Grimsby moved a blonde lock of hair from her face and returned to her paper. "Where do you come from?"
"Canterlot." Octavia replied. She saw the two male police officers give her a strange look.
"And where is that?"
"Equestria."
"Describe Equestria. What are the native lifeforms?"
"Other ponies...Earth Ponies, Pegasi, and Unicorns."
"So you seem to come from a fantasy realm." Grimsby reclined on her chair. "This is insane. Take her to Room 23 for termination. I'm not paid enough for this bullshit."
The two privates looked uncomfortable with the order. "But Ma'am-"
"Orders are orders. Do your damn jobs." Grimsby said.
Octavia looked fearfully at the officers. She jumped off the chair and began to back away.
"Miss, please remain still and come with us." Fenton said. "Do not require us to use force."
As the two privates advanced past the seated sergeant, the building shook.
"What the fuck was that?!" Grimsby shouted. She stood up and walked outside the room, before there were multiple bangs. Octavia retreated from the door. The room was bathed in red light.
"Warning: Terrorist activity in this area. All units move to engage." an overhead speaker boomed. Fenton and Johnson looked at Octavia, before taking cover by the door and drawing their weapons. Octavia ran at them, attracting the attention of both officers.
"What are you doin-" Fenton shouted, before being cut off by Octavia's back leg to the face. Johnson jumped back, before Octavia punched him in the gut.
"You...could've asked!" Johnson gasped, writhing on the floor. holding his abdomen. Octavia's heart pounded. She needed to escape. And fast.
