Another Casting of the Cards

Chapters

Chapter 1: A Brave New World
Chapter 2: A New Pony
Chapter 3: Not Jail
Chapter 4: Chell is Gone
Chapter 5: Into Canterlot
Chapter 6: Blast to the Past
Chapter 7: A Whisper Through the Dark
Chapter 8: So It Goes
Chapter 9: The Story of Wilhelm Tell
Chapter 10: Mr. Dark
Chapter 11: The Sirens of Titan
Chapter 12: Some Nights
Chapter 13: The Life We Live

Chapter 1: A Brave New World

Like a hammer from god, or a strike from Thor, Thomas felt the impact of the bullet on his Kevlar and ceramic body armor. Letting out a pained grunt, he stumbles into the doorway, turning around to make sure his squad mates were following, as well as to pick off the sniper on a rooftop about two hundred and fifty yards out. The bullet flew true, strike the jihadi in the forehead and exiting the back of his head.

"Pink mist," he calmly muttered, finishing the turn and sprinting into the doorway.

o.O.o

The building was far from what one would've expected, given it was in the center of radical Muslim-held territory. As it would turn out, it was a research and development facility, not unlike one of those he had frequented before… coming here. Thomas turned into what was obviously a control room, breath catching as he saw beyond the glass partition.

It could only be described as hell. There were bodies everywhere- enough bodies to infuriate the American super soldier, yelling at his squad mates to come here. Bad tactics, he knew, to bunch them up, but he let his buck sergeant in the room. They all stood agape, for they had not endured what he had. He was different: a spook, a spy, a hacker. A lover, not a fighter, though he was fighting for what he loved. The rest of his team was, appearance-wise, a lot like him: under the age of eighteen, varying with ethnicities and skin colors, as well as different shades of hair and eye color. They were different though, in that none of them had the enhancements he did- ceramic bones, electronic mind, reflexes at nearly the speed of light. Not that he used them much- still have to look human.

They were still staring at the carnage when there was a squeak from a corner and a terrified man, in a headscarf and holding his hands up, looked at them. "Do you work here?," asked Thomas, not unkindly. "Y-Yes, I do w-w-work here," the man stuttered out. Thomas crouched behind the man, asking as he did so, "What happened here? Why are there so many bodies? And we aren't going to kill you, at least if you tell us what I'm asking." The Iraqi fellow visibly relaxed, having been told he would live to see another sandy sunrise. "I work the- the controls for this, um, device. It is a, ah, um, a, dimensional transporter. And those bodies are he people that we were trying to transport. I didn't force them to do anything, I just worked he controls!," he rapidly spilled out, clearly not willing to martyr himself. Thomas blinked in surprise, as did he rest of special ops team. "Who were you trying to transport to… another dimension, and why?," the scarred teen asked the engineer. The guy responded by saying," those are the bodies of prisoners, and in the walls of the containment facility are guards who volunteered after a few tests went right."

"Where were you transporting these people?" Thomas asked. "Paradise," simply spoke the man.

It was at his point that Thomas simply broke. Many might say that the human mind doesn't just "snap" but snap his mind did. He had seen too many deaths, too much misery, too much abuse, not enough love, and was aching for release. I don't fear death, because I'm already dead inside, he thought grimly to himself. He ordered the rest of his team outside the room, outside the building. He was going to blow this place up. However, he held the shoulder of the technician. "Send me there. Send me to paradise," he requested. The fellow backed up, a questioning look in his eyes. "Do it! NOW!," he bellowed at him. When he still didn't touch the control board, Thomas calmly said, in a tone that was somehow both calm and as awful as a pitch black run to the bathroom in the middle of the night, " I shouldn't scare you because I'm faster than you, or because I'm smarter than you. I should scare you because I'm better than you. Now, please, when I go into that testing facility, I want you to open that portal. I don't care if it kills me, and you shouldn't either. When I'm gone, you will gather all the data you can from here and get back to my team. Tell them that Thomas Sanders sent you. That'll convince them." He turned and strode out of the room, into the much larger testing facility.

He stepped into the center of the gore- and blood-covered room. It wasn't the worst he had ever seen, far from it, but it wasn't a place he'd want the honor of cleaning, seeing as much of it was dark brown already and probably soaked into the walls.

The broken young man looked up and saw the Iraqi's scared face staring down at him, then he disappeared as he sat down to work the control board. He felt a strange sensation, almost like tear gas, but not irritating. He looked around and saw a flashing coming from around him. It was the last thing he saw before a glowing blue portal opened on he wall in front of him. The surface of it was watery, but it was upright. He heard the technicians thickly accented voice telling him, "All you need do is step through the portal and you will be taken to… paradise." He nodded, and jumped in. There was an odd noise, like nails on a blackboard, and he passed what looked like a set of glowing blue circles.

o.O.o

He glanced around, wondering why he wasn't wearing anything. He looked sharply at his torso, then gasped: his skin, no, fur, was a dark blue, almost black. He shook his head, and felt a thick clump of fur around the back of his head.he whacked himself on the forehead, and to his utter surprise, felt a horn of odd, organic material.

Ignoring the apparent horn for the moment, he looked around, noting as he did so that he lacked all the cybernetics of his previous body. A good thing, I think; they likely led me to try to kill myself. Just as he was getting to his feet, er, hooves, he felt a rather distinct pain in his, well, everywhere. "I think I fell from somewhere. Ouch," the now pony muttered.

"Hey Fluttershy, I think I found it," a uniquely feminine voice called out, just as a rather purple pony walked out, with darker purple…mane? … and tail. Like me, this one had a horn, and some sort of mark on its flank. I just stared in shock. It then smiled as a noise came from behind me.

Whirling around, I saw another pony had stepped out of the brush. This one was yellow-furred, with a light pink mane and another, but different mark on its flank, as well as what looked like wings folded along her flanks.

"Oh. Hello. How are you folks today? Haha, I'm sorry to, ah, drop in like this…" I said, glancing around at the depression I had made in the ground from dropping down from fifteen feet in the air into the moderately soft soil.

"Whoa, that's cool! You found a pony in the forest? And you were just looking for an explosion! Awesome," came from somewhere above me.

Ruling the two on the ground as not a threat, I craned my head up to see a blue Pegasus floating above me. It was at this point that I decided to take a nap, not wanting to wake up from this dream I had fallen into. Because this is a weird paradise.

o.O.o

Chapter 2: A New Pony

"Hey. Pony. Wake up! We just found you and don't need you to die so would you kindly wake up now," spoke a brassy voice. I blinked awake, only to continue staring as the form of a blue pegasus stared at him. A certain lavender unicorn spoke up, saying, "Calm down, rainbow, he's awake, we can talk to him, then bring him back to Ponyville."

The new pony muttered unsteadily, " well then, twilight, lets get going to Ponyville. I ain't gonna answer too many questions sitting in the dirt, and I want to meet your friends. Plus I'm sure you want to hear my story." The group stared in shock, not realizing that the stunt I had pulled with the nap was just that- a stunt. I hadn't been asleep at all.

I jumped up and started trotting towards the one called rainbow dash, who was shifting towards shock from impatience. The purple one grinned at me, slowly trotting ahead as I promptly fell on my face. "Ouch," I grunted. This was gonna hurt.

o.O.o

We finally made our way into town, after introductions had been made: the purple one was Twilight Sparkle, the timid yellow pegasus was Fluttershy, and the loud flyer was Rainbow Dash.

The little group headed into town, meeting various ponies on the way. Twilight had said that they were going to the secure containment, which struck me as being odd- "Um, why are we headed to secure containment? Moreover, why does a place like this even have secure containment?" I asked, my natural paranoia setting in.

Twilight responded, looking sharply over at me, apparently at my suddenly worried tone, "well, it's for everypony's protection. Recently, other things have come here the same way you did. None of them were ponies, nor could any of it talk. So, we're taking you to Princess Celestia for answers, both for you and for her. And until then, I don't want you to be with us. It's not a trust thing, it's just so that everyone involved is safe. Plus, you're a unicorn and we don't know if you'll have magical discharges or not. Until we know if its safe for both us and you, you'll stay in containment."

Dejectedly I muttered, with a half-grin on my muzzle, "this isn't too far from what I expected. I come to paradise and I'm put in jail."

The timid yellow one spoke up at this, saying, "Oh, um, no, we'd never put a pony in jail if we first saw them. It's just, you're unexpected and we don't want anything bad to happen to any pony."

Twilight inquired further, "yes, Thomas, what were you expecting?"

I had opened my mouth to reply, when a pink ball of fur hit me. I collapsed onto my side, wondering how cotton candy could weigh this much. My question was answered however, when it began talking, at a rate I could never I could never hope to match. "Ooh, hey there, what's your name? I haven't seen you before, so that must mean you're new here! I'm pinkie pie, by the way, what's you're name?"

I finally managed to edge in, "I'm Thomas, but you can call me Tom or Sam if you want."

At this point, Twilight manage to head the hyperactive pink pony off by saying, " why don't you plan a welcoming party for… Sam?" The energetic mare ran off, singing something that sounded like a funeral dirge, only at high enough pitch and speed that it sounded totally nonsensical.

"Sorry about that, Thomas," muttered Rainbow. "She gets a little hyper."

Understatement of the day, I thought, as we reached what looked like a low brick shelter.

Chapter 3: Not Jail

"Well this is nice," I said, as I looked around. "We will go to Canterlot tomorrow, so you can have a talk with Princess Celestia." I nodded, not trusting myself to say anything. I felt suddenly tired, even though it was only midday. "Do you mind if we talk for a moment, Twilight? I have a few questions."

The purple unicorn nodded, and I inquired cautiously, "Why am I in secure containment? Moreover, what's been coming out of the sky that scared you into this? I thought you ponies lived in paradise."

She recoiled slightly at my tone, then quietly said, "What I said earlier remains true, this isn't jail. And we only built this to study and contain what came earlier. And what makes you think this is paradise?"

I frowned slightly, not sure why they would build a lockdown facility for whatever it is the jihadis had been sending through. Please, oh please tell me they hadn't sent weapons through? "Was anypony hurt because of what was sent through? Please tell me that you are all safe," I rushed out, looking around the small room, which still contained Twilight, Rainbow, and Fluttershy. "Oh, and to answer your question, I thought this was paradise because, well," at this point I swallowed, not really sure what to do. Lie, or be honest? Knowing them all too well, I understood the consequences of potentially lying. I continued by saying, "I was told that it was a portal to paradise. Thank you, Twilight, for answering my questions, now are there any I can answer for you?"

All the others in the room turned to her, and she answered by saying, "yes, if I can some more information about you and where you came from?"

I nodded, asking as I did so, "Where shall we start? If you want to start at the beginning, well, I will warn you, it's a little odd." The three present all acquired questioning looks at this point, clearly wondering what I had to say. "This is going to sound weird," I began, in my best story telling voice, "but this is my story.

When I was a human- a thing that walks on two legs, hairless, has fingers- I was a loner. Always was. Until the day I signed up for an experiment. It was supposed to convert people into soldiers, to make them better than soldiers. To make us the Hammer Of Gods. Also known as simply SPECIALS. I was a good soldier, but I never really wanted to be a soldier- I wasn't clever, I didn't know what I wanted, I let other people walk over me. I had no proper fierceness. But I did what I always wanted to do- protect from friends from those who would threaten them. From those who would bring harm to them. I suppose, once I joined the army, I finally found my purpose. After all, there's a saying in my culture, that goes something along the lines of: if you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything. I guess I can say I had finally found something I could stand for- my friends. Anyway, I was investigating a disturbance, and my team found what could effictively amount to a portal here. Unfortunately, I don't know the specifics of it. And there are more details that Princess Celestia and Princess Luna need to know. I'm sure you and your friends need to know, Twilight, but I'm afraid that they'll have to wait until we meet with your rulers. Anything else I can clear up?" They all shook their heads, and I inquired to Twilight, "where am I going to stay after I've been moved out of this secure containment? I'm not too keen on being homeless."

"Oh, you can stay with me; I keep an extra room just in case something like this happens." I nodded and smiled my thanks.

o.O.o

Twilight

"We'll thanks for cooperating with the questioning," Twilight said. He nodded again, still smiling.

"if you don't have anything else, I hope you don't mind if we leave for a few hours? If you need anything, just give a holler and one of the guards will come," she continued, in a business like tone. He nodded for a third time. "Well girls, lets get going. I personally need to inform Princess Celestia, and I think Rainbow has her weather duties-" "indeed I do!" "-and Fluttershy needs to take care of her animals." A timid nod, came from the kindred spirit.

As the little group floated towards the door, Rainbow Dash looked behind her and gave him an approving nod, "it's good to see such loyalty in ponies nowadays!"

Twilight herself turned too, saying as she did so, you're taking it remarkably well- I wouldn't have expected it of someone transported from your dimension."

He grinned and shook his head, saying as he did so, "oh, you're too kind. Personally I think I'm already gonna like it here."

o.O.o

Later…

"Spike, I don't know what's wrong, I'm just getting a sense that there's something we… aren't getting from him. Of course, he did say that there's something he's going to tell us in front of the princesses, but I don't know if that's it," worried Twilight as she paced in the library.

She stopped and sighed. "You sent-" her assistant, a smallish purple and green dragon, spoke up, "the letter? Yeah Twilight. You need to stop worrying." Just as he said that, someone knocked on the door. He quickly opened it up, revealing, to the horror of Twilight, a guard from the containment center.

Chapter 4: Chell is Gone

The guard started talking as soon as the door opened, sounding rather worried, "Miss Sparkle, I have to report that the subject is gone. Thomas is missing."

o.O.o

Thomas

Good grief, if I keep doing this to myself, this isn't going to be a pleasant stay," I thought to myself, as the dreams started again. I had just fallen asleep. And was now dreaming of what I had been. And given the place I was from, they weren't particularly good ones. Only… this one seemed different somehow. And it was. I was standing before the town library? Why on earth would I be here? Regardless of my subconscious motives for torturing myself, I gave in and looked around. It was truly horrific. Buildings were burning fiercely, and the sky appeared like nothing so much as a lake of blood. There was ash everywhere, and I felt a strong urge to find the people responsible and kill them with my own bare hooves- who would do such a thing to so peaceful a nation? I looked at the library and entered, if only to get away from what was starting to look horrifying familiar to my eyes.

As soon as I entered the library, I stopped in surprise. I was standing right there. My other pony self was looking at me with concern etched on its -my- face.

I slowly questioned, "okay, what's this? Why am I talking to myself?"

He answered, saying calmly, "you've just time traveled. This is what might happen if you don't bond with the elements of harmony. It's also what happens if you don't develop your magic enough. You are a special pony. This world will need you. Now, they should be arriving in your lockdown cell soon. You should be there by then. Oh, and if you don't succeed? They die. Everyone. Even you. Even John dies in the end."

As he spoke this, I felt the air shift around me, and my vision suddenly shifted, accompanied by the feeling of falling off a cliff. Oh well, I guess that's just the price of time travel.

Twilight and crew rounded the corner just as I recovered from the falling sensation, crashing forward against the magically warded bars of the cell. They all jumped back, and Twilight immediately turned around to the guard.

We opened our mouths at the same time, but I beat her to the punch, asking, "how common is time travel for a pony to be good at?"

She shook her head, looking confused. "Not very often, that's for sure. As far as I know, that Doctor Whooves is the only- please don't tell me you've been flying around time. Please don't, I don't want an accident like the last time."

I nodded grimly, "it won't happen again though." I fell into my cot, not caring about the light tap I received to my head from the wall. "It was something awful. Everything was on fire and... Everpony was dead!" I started wailing hysterically. The bookish unicorn looked rather taken aback by this sudden display of emotion. "You were dead, and it said- it being a future version, a possible version of me- that that's what would happen if I didn't develop my magic fast enough. And more besides," I added darkly.

Apparently, I need to form a bond with the Elements of Harmony. I wasn't sure that they needed to know that yet.

She teleported inside the cell, looking sympathetic. "With any luck, we can train you up so that that doesn't happen."

I buried my face in my hooves, saying as I did so, "I don't want to kill again. I changed when I snapped. I'm not him. I'm not Thomas anymore. Please don't use that name. I'm not him. I was him. Now, I am Sam Phoenix." Having concluded my speech, I extended both hooves, in the universal gesture for 'wants hugs.' Twilight moved forward to embrace me, and I noted a small purple dragon that had been behind her?

Well, first that awful dream, and now dragons. Well, the day certainly was looking up: a girl was giving me a hug. That had happened so rarely in my past life it wasn't funny.

I held for a moment more, then let go. "Thanks Twilight. I'll try to keep the time jumping to a minimum, ok?"

She gently responded, "Thanks. Oh, and I don't believe you've met my friend and assistant Spike?" We waved to each other, and I said,"hey. I'm Sam. Nice to meet you Spike."

She teleported out of the cell, saying as she did so, "you should get some rest, we are seeing Princess Celestia in the morning."

I nodded, falling back to the bed.

Chapter 5: Into Canterlot

The next day…

Sam and the othes sat in a train, headed to Canterlot, with my head in Rainbow Dash's lap as I told her about our airplanes. "…and they can even break the sound barrier," I informed her, privately wondering how a discussion with Rarity about my dark coat colour and reddish-blondeish-ginger had shifted to one about airplanes. I sank into a daydream as I finished the sentence. That reminded me: "actually, Rainbow, I'm not Thomas anymore. I left that name, that…person behind and I'd like to try a new start, a fresh leaf, another scroll, a second life, another casting of the cards."

Twilight only smiled in support, leaving me to continue, "I request that I be known as Billy Phoenix from now on. I want to try and be better than I was. Having finally met Applejack and Rarity, I realize that I wasn't mistaken- this really is paradise, and I hope to one day call you my friends."

Applejack stated in her distinctive drawl, "ya know we are already yer friends?" I started, not really sure what to make of this. Where he had come from, a friend was sometimes referred to as a 'space heater'. Not that that was gonna matter here. Nor would that term be in use by me.

I had a new found respect for friends, suddenly. Never again would they be referred to as space heaters.

I suddenly informed Twilight, "oh, and we don't have magic where I was from."

She sputtered, clearly confused, "what?! How did you do anything then?"

"We didn't," I replied, "at least, not well."

o.O.o

Later…

"Okay, but what are you doing here, Rainbow?" I asked as the aforementioned adventurer trotted sedately with the rest of us.

"Well, I need to check in on the Rainbow Factory. Normally I do have to check in once or twice a year, but now seems ideal too." I glanced at Pinkie Pie, Applejack and Rarity, knowing they all had long-term contracts with various Canterlot vendors- Pinkie for pastries, AJ for apple products, and Rarity for dresses. Fluttershy was here because, well, I wasn't really sure why Fluttershy was here. And Twilight was here with me on my first trip to the ruling junta! On second thought, maybe I shouldn't use that phrase again when here. Or maybe it was my natural and deep seated paranoia rearing its head again, though I had no idea why it would want to bring up my paranoia.

Either way, I had to get something out. On that note, I glanced around, paying attention to roofs, windows and alleys, saying as I did so, "Twilight, you mind if I tell you something?"

Turning to me, she had a smile on her face as she answered, "not at all. What's up?"

I began, nervous at first, but getting stronger with every word, "there are two things I never liked, and I still don't, but not so much. Anyway, I never liked opulence and sleeping. I never liked opulence because it invariably hid something. And I don't like sleeping because I always had nightmares, and I don't need it either." Having finished this outburst, I lapsed into silence, deciding that I would be as quiet as possible for the next three hours. Unless someone asked me something. Then they'd hear me roar, all right.

I remembered something someone had told me -- no, not me. I wasn't Thomas anymore-- a long time ago: If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything. I pondered this as we approached the magnificence of the castle and trotted past the guards, impressive-looking stallions in burnished gold armor. As we went, I noted dispassionately that the castle was a well-built, solidly designed fortress, no doubt magically strengthened and protected as well.

An indeterminate amount of time later, I awoke from my daydreams to see that we were standing before an imposing door. It was huge. Apparently this is the final door till the throne room. I was about as nervous as a debutante at her first cotillion, and not just because I was meeting with the ruler of an entire kingdom.

I looked over at Twilight, and she smiled at me, saying, "it's ok, you little shit. They're just going to sentence you, then execute you. Fine, right?" Her voice seemed to shift as she said it, not that I noticed, too busy processing her words to notice.

I instantly began to panic. "You really didn't just say what I thought you did, because you just said that…" as she took a step closer, I rapidly shifted into panic mode, shying away, then simply running forward. At this point, as I threw myself to what I realized was the immovable door, I simply flew through the air, catapulted by my own momentum. I half-closed my eyes as-- I fell through the door. Twisting around, I caught a view of myself turning to Twilight as I fell, talking to her with a smile on my face.

Chapter 6: Blast to the Past

I was starting to enjoy the weightless sensation that accompanied falling. It ended all too quickly though, when I hit the dust. I rapidly opened my eyes, wondering what fresh horror awaited me. Yeah, this is it. My high school, where I had lived and loved, won and lost, hated and more, for four long years. Only… something was off. I saw that it was almost dead quiet, and I used my dark coat color to simply fade away, against a low wall. Moments after I finished, an electronic bell rang out, annoying and loud, and children, my children, my friends, no, his friends, drifted past, either not seeing or ignoring the pony-shaped mass in a corner. I knew what was happening, and shadowed Thomas he followed his friend to a parking lot.

There was a surprising amount of action, and I realized, as did Thomas, that it must be the end of school, though Thomas had undoubtedly figured this out before I did. Cars were moving out, and older kids, well, older than Thomas, at any rate, were climbing into the cars.

The pair of humans moved to a far corner of the lot, and I followed, once again using my dark coat to blend in with the shadows. I delightedly watched as Thomas put his back to the wall, ostensible to watch for any threats. I grinned wolfishly as I slipped directly behind him. Oh goody, second row seating! We both frowned as we watched the boy dig in a pile of leaves.

Thomas nervously looked around, asking as he did so, "Um, Matthew, what are you looking for?"

The other, apparently named Matt, didn't bother to look up, choosing to continue pawing at the leaves. "I know you don't believe me, but you have a certain skill set. I need you with me, and for that, I'll show you the beacon." I shrugged, knowing what he spoke as being true, though I, Sam, had a rather different skill set than Thomas.

As I mentally chuckled, I saw Matt's movements uncover a sleek metal box, about ten centimeters to a side, and four centimeters wide. It was, as I knew, what would call the mother ship. For Matthew was an undercover agent, and in every culture, one of the things that convinces those spies to do what they do is the knowledge that if they are captured, killed, or compromised, the wrath of their supporting body will be absolute and uncompromising. And this is what would let that happen, for him at least. Though I knew that this wasn't the best thing, it was the only device his race could make that small that was capable of sending the unique subspace signal needed to call those massive ships into position.

At this point, he had it fully uncovered, and had extended a spiny, matte-black antenna from one face. It was a thing of ugly beauty, for him and his team, heck, his very civilization, had been waging a war against the Solarians, ever since his race emerged from the waters of their home planet, countless generations ago.

I knew that his race lived on one island, and much of their technology depended on whether an individual had the proper genetic code to activate it. About forty percent of the population lacked the code, and so were driven off the planet, for theirs was a competitive society; the weak and dumb died, the strong and smart lived. The Solarians were that forty percent, and their sole advantage was in numbers, for they had moved among the stars long before the Razani --mother race-- had.

As I watched, feeling slightly cynical, and Thomas gazed on, looking rather foalishly awestruck, the Razani spy pressed both hands to opposite faces of the box. A faint blue glow appeared where he had pressed his hands, and then a column of blue light shot up, along the antenna, only to continue on, until bursting in a blue and red starburst, a far ways up.

He muttered to Thomas, finally turning to look at him, "I programmed it so our sensors receive it as a test burst, something used to ensure the signal machine works."

Thomas had obviously changed by this point. "I certainly believe you at this point. You could have just given me a HUD implant, and I would've believed you." I knew what he was talking about- the HUD was something that all Razani received. Basically, it was a neural interface device, and it had uses that were varied and endless.

I heard Matt responding with a sigh, as though they had already discussed this, "look, you know you can't get one because one, you don't have the C gene, and two, you haven't gotten the needed clearance." As he turned back to the box, I saw Thomas's hand dart out towards his pocket, then put the same hand behind his back. The Razani spy crouched back at the leaf pile, absently patting his pocket. The one Thomas had just picked.

When he was almost done with it, he turned to look at his watch, Thomas again darting his hand out, a predatory grin on his face.

Matthew looked at his watch in surprise. "Wow, I hadn't realized we had been here for half an hour, I should get going." Apparently realizing that something was missing, as a result of his pocket pat minutes ago, he leapt to his feet, glaring at Thomas with righteous indignation apparent on his face.

Before he could utter a syllable, however, Thomas spoke up, saying, "first, you have no evidence I took it. Second, when I did, I put it back. Third, your sensors are worthless. Are you sure you got the commanders edition, or did they hand you the field grade one?"

I chuckled to myself, this being an excellent example of Matt's inability to contain certain emotions, as well as Thomas's own ability to manipulate him.

Knowing that the rest of the conversation would be worthless fluff, I turned inward, contemplating how to get back home. As I thought that, I realized that I wanted to consider equastria home, despite having been there only a day and a half. On that note, I figured that it would be best to concentrate fiercely on that moment- right before I traveled, to when I saw myself smiling and turning to talk to twilight.

I concentrated fiercely, expecting a portal to appear, and, to my utter surprise, a ululating portal appeared behind me. I didn't know what it looked like, not that I cared, as I backed into it, happily grinning.

o.O.o

Mentally preparing myself, I watched my frantic tail disappear into the door, then turned to twilight, who had an expression of shock to match the guards'. "What- I thought you promised- why- augh!" She exclaimed.

"Apologies, my friend, I had no intention of scaring you. I was panicked and I went into my past. I'll explain soon enough," I apologized, as the great doors opened.

I admonished the guards, "tell nopony about this. Am I clear?" They both nodded, and twilight proceeded, still slightly shocked, with me trailing behind her.

Chapter 7: A Whisper Through the Dark

We sedately trotted into the throne room. Normally, I would be rather the last to care about art, but this was amazing. The ceiling, as I craned my head back, was truly astounding. My mouth quirked in a small smile as I recognized the elements of harmony, battling various demons and such. One looked like a chimera, and another looked like … nightmare moon?

"If it helps you sleep, I promise to only use my magic now if the princess wants me to. I shall restrain from using, even if I get really panicked," I furthered. She looked over at me, an amused expression on her purple muzzle.

We reached the end of the hall, and I looked up on what could only be described as a truly regal mare. Twilight snapped out of her bioshock in time to look up at the white mare, with her flowing pastel mane, then now before her. I refused to follow suit, for Thomas had bent his knee too many times. "Rise, Twilight Sparkle, my most faithful student. I see you have the one of whom you spoke." Twilight rose, and I nodded; Twilight would've written to her mentor as soon as she heard about me. I was a potential danger, and something new. Who wouldn't?

As I was thinking this, Princess Celestia was saying, "it's good to see you Twilight. And may I inquire as to who this young stallion is?" I sat back on my haunches, considering how to respond. That had been a major fault of mine, I remember; not thinking before talking and acting was always a bad idea, and that would be even more important since I was talking to a princess.

I finally settled for the slightly florid but still true answer, "in all honesty, Princess, I have used many names, but that was then, and I am no longer the same as I was. If you don't mind, Princess, I would prefer the name Sam."

She nodded, her multi-colored mane drifting in a wind that I could not feel. "Sam, where are you from?" she asked gently, as though a great deal rested on my response. I shuddered, not happy about what I had to say.

I finally gathered my breath to say, "I'm from a place that was known as Earth, or more commonly Terra. And Twilight," I added, glancing over at the aforementioned unicorn, "remember when I said that there was something I said that I would save for later?"

She nodded, a carefully maintained neutral expression on her muzzle. "This is the part where you should be listening more closely than usual." She nodded, a frown temporarily distorting her expression of studied blankness.

I shuddered, not wanting bring this crashing down on these wonderful ponies. "I'm afraid to say, Princess, that most of the other humans, and Razani, and Sylorians, are not like me. In fact, I found it ironic that the only reason I'm here is because I'm not like them. The humans aren't bad, but we should still remove the link, while we can count the Razani as friends and the Sylorians as enemies." The princess frowned, and began, "I'm assuming the humans are what you used to be?" I nodded unhappily, suddenly a little unhappy of what I had been. "I'm assuming these… Razani and… Sylorians are enemies?"

I nodded, still unhappy. "Well, we know the obvious course. Kill this spy, and ensure it happens painfully." I blinked, panic starting to flood in, but I refused to step out of time, for I wasn't about to break my promise to Twilight. I still cast a nervous glance around, and danced a step back, before asking her to repeat it.

She raised an eyebrow, and responded, "I said, is there anything else you feel we need to know?" I sagged with relief, happy that I hadn't been ordered to be executed. I realized that when she spoke that wrong sentence, her voice had shifted to something… colder, and slightly more sinister. Away from her normal, gentle demeanor.

"My apologies, Princess Celestia. I believe that as there is no active portal open, and the facility where I got here was destroyed, I don't believe they will be here for a while. My money is on the Razani getting here first, which is what I'd hope. Anyway, I'm not sure how much of a shock this is, but apparently I can do temporal magic."

Apparently this was more of a shock than I had anticipated, since she put a hoof to her muzzle, with a faint expression of disbelief on her muzzle. I raised an eyebrow at her, asking a question I was unwilling to voice. The extremely empathic princess realized what I meant, and put her hoof down, saying as she did, "it's not as bad as you think. I mean, provided you don't alter history or anything. Which you don't do, or more accurately, you haven't done." I grinned at the ruler, impressed with her understanding of time travel.

"It's not that hard to do, I mean, I just concentrate on a time. And interestingly, do any prophecies mention anything like a dark shadow?" I asked, glancing at my wraith-like fur for emphasis. I saw Celestia blanch, and Twilight audibly gasped.

I turned, expecting something prophetic, hearing as I turned, "well, Sam, there's a prophecy that says a wraith will emerge from time s to save the soul of one who has been taken before her time, and thereafter he shall save the lands from… evil falling from a hiccup in the fabric of space? I think that's how it goes."

I nodded, taking it in. It likely meant I would resurrect a mare, and then go on to remove the presence of evil that was coming from a hole in the space/time fabric. Or, more whimsically, a hiccup in time.

"Makes sense, in a way. My guess, least ways from the start of the prophecy, is that I'll raise someone from the land of the dead, and then I'll mend a hole in the space/time continuum."

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Celestia close her eyes, looking sad. She then opened her eyes and spoke. "Sam, if I may, would you please give a demonstration of your temporal powers? This is one I haven't seen in a long time," she added sardonically. I asked her if I should bring Twilight, and he alicorn sun princess responded positively.

I hesitated, however, "are you sure? It's… unique." The regal ruler simply smiled and nodded. I shrugged as well as I could, given my front hooves were still planted on the ground, and I basically had to move my entire upper body down, then up.

"Could you please move closer? It's a fairly localized thing, and it lasts until I step through," I spoke up. The others obligingly moved to within about a meter of me, and I began to concentrate on a crucial moment of my life. It was one that was rather pivotal, and had led to me doubting my sanity for the rest of my life.

I opened my eyes, and grinned. Right then, a swirling vortex opened up beneath the three of us, one that was, for some reason, bright pink.

We landed with a soft bump on a wooden floor, and I watched the mares as they cracked open their eyes. We were perched in a small, slightly cramped room, one that had the evidence of a life lived spread around it. There were posters all around it, as well as all the usual detritus of any life- books stacked, papers spread, and a pair of shoes stacked untidily by the door, as well as a paintball gun hanging on a hook and a Guy Fawkes mask on the desk. I chuckled at a piece of paper taped to a wall; it read simply 'friendship is magic' in an untidy scrawl-- it rather looked like the author had never held a pen before.

I motioned at Twilight and Celestia to remain quiet, and I murmured to them, "watch this." I quietly trotted the five feet to the bed, upon which my fourteen year old form lay sprawled. I shifted into my best 'underground monster' voice, one that apparently sounded distinctly Gollum. Or a cat with a hairball.

I spoke, shifting my voice back to normal midway between the sentence, "hello, Thomas." As Thomas flickered his eyelids open, obviously not comprehending what he saw, I smiled, and concentrated on the moment right after the three of us left the throne room. As we vanished into the portal, I threw a jaunty wave to myself. I caught him sitting up, a wide-eyed expression on his face. Now he was comprehending.

With that simple set of actions, I had just determined the course of the rest of my life.

Chapter 8: So It Goes

While Celestia looked like she wanted to scold me, Twilight simply looked confused. I grinned, looking between the two. Celestia was the first to speak, finally saying in a wondering tone, " I've heard of Time Lords before, but never one who could do it with such ease, nor one who could shift across universes." I responded uneasily, not wanting to correct her, but feeling it best she have the most accurate information, "actually, uh, princess, we didn't travel across dimensions, we simply moved around within the my own personal time stream. I'll admit, it's not as tiring as moving around outside of it, let alone outside this universe. Well, I've successfully fulfilled one part of my life that makes me what I am." I tilted my head to the right, then giggled happily.

I was expecting twilight, or the princess, for that matter, to be mad, but neither seemed angry. "Twilight sparkle, do you still want me to hold to my promise of not doing time magic? I'm working off the assumption that because I haven't done anything, except for that prophecy, which I will do, rather than mucking about in time streams. It's all very interesting. Oh, I guess we could see the beginning of history, anyone up for seeing… star-swirl the bearded? No, we can't visit him, might change too much."

A flicker of confusion passed across Celestia's face, and I realized that a great deal of time rested within those magenta pools. She slowly asked, "And all you do to initiate the portal is concentrate?" I nodded eagerly, happily, expounding on what she had said by saying, "I just need to concentrate, on say, this throne room. I'm sure I'll be moderately tired tommorow." I added, slightly curious now, "you said I'm a time lord. Does that apply to me as a title?" Celestia nodded, a neutral look on her regal face.

I got to my hooves, if a tad unsteadily-- that had taken a lot out of me. Suddenly happy, I spun and somersaulted away from the throne. I reversed again, to face the crown, and archaically said to Celestia, "might there not be anything else thy humble pony can help thee with, mine princess?" She stared for a moment, looking rather surprised at my sudden change in tone and speech, but she answered in kind, "no, Sam, there be nothing that thine can help thee with. Go now, friend, and I wish thee well, as thou doth what thy will." I grinned, and trotted over to twilight, "shall we go, then, friend?" She nodded, looking as though she had many questions to ask, likely about my newfound abilities.

o.O.o

Later…

I chuckled, listening to Rainbow as she talked about saving a group of foals from falling into a vat of rainbows. I wasn't about to question that, though it was an interesting concept. She concluded, "and that's how I, Rainbow Dash, saved a new group of foals from certain death! Or rainbow-ization, I s'pose. But they were never in danger, cause I'm the awesomest flier in all of Equestria!" I chuckled, earning a glare from her. "And what's so funny, big guy? Got something to add? Ever saved a foal from certain death?"

I grinned, seeing as I was currently standing on my head, leaning against a wall of the train. "Well, I merely find your style of egotism amusing- I've met people with egos so massive, they would pop if you so much as gave them a compliment. In comparison, you are positively boring. I believe that answers your first and second questions. And in answer to your final question, I've never saved a foal from a certain death, but I did save a child from certain death. Actually, she wasn't a child, she was a friend who got caught in an icy arctic ravine. She didn't know how to get out, so threw down a belay set and told her what to do. Good enough?" I asked, not adding that the friend in question was later found in a basement, brutalized in a surgical operation that left her unable to move her entire body, with the exception of her eyes. I glanced up, with varying degrees of surprise on everyone's face.

"I'm sorry, Dash, I didn't mean to be rude. I simply responded as best as I could." She nodded, seemingly understanding the sentiment, and I saw Applejack smile approvingly-- I thought the Element of Honesty would appreciate a truthful account.

I looked at Twilight, and she seemed to be looking at at Rainbow Dash oddly-- I had less than no experience with females, but it was an odd look. I mentally shrugged. "Twilight," I softly called her name, and she jerked awake, looking slightly guilty. Was she really? "Huh? Yeah, what's up, Sam?" She responded, recovering quickly. "Why aren't you able to do time magic?" I asked, quietly. She sighed, looking at her forehooves. "I don't know. Maybe it's because it's outside the normal sphere of magic." I nodded, accepting the answer. I stopped, though, as a thought struck me.

"Time is the same as space, right?" Twilight nodded, confusion clearly etched onto her features. I flopped onto the floor, suddenly tired. All that time travel was hitting hard. "Then, can't I… move through space, as well as time?" Twilight nodded again, still wondering what I was up to. I grinned, and stopped thinking. I wasn't going to break my poor, overworked brain.

As it was still midday, I couldn't go to sleep, so instead I decided to make conversation. "So, Rarity, wherever do you get your inspiration for your clothing? If you don't mind me asking, that is." She chuckled, saying, "ah, a gentlecolt, I see. No, I don't mind you asking, though I thank you nevertheless for being polite about it. I'm not really sure where I get my inspiration, it just pops into my head. Does that make sense, dear?"

I nodded, understanding. Apparently Thomas had been a poet. He knew what it was like to have inspiration hit you like a sack of wet potatoes.

The train finally began to slow as it approached the station, and I spoke up, saying, "and I assume that the … cutie mark crusaders are the small fillies waiting on the platform?" Applejack nodded, looking a little surprised that I could make anything out at that distance- nearly a hundred and fifty yards. I exhaled, happily.

"Can't wait to meet the children. I expect I'll be coerced into helping them get their cutie marks?" This time, Rarity nodded, looking a little apprehensive at my suddenly slightly cynical tone. I said, quietly, "lets meet the children." We filed off the train, and I saw the little fillies rush to greet their relations. It was truly an endearing sight. I knew I always liked children, but this was simply another level of adorableness. As I was the last off the train, I was content to watch them greet one another. From the chatter I could catch, they had recently tried parasailing? I wondered why, until I realized that they had no cutie mark. They must be trying to get their cutie marks.

It was only a moment, however, before they noticed my phantom presence. I tried to shrink back against the train, but the white of the train didn't match too well with my coat. On second thought, maybe this isn't too useful. An off-grey would be better. Maybe rarity could help?

As soon as I started this line of thought, I found myself surrounded by the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Dante apparently forgot to write about this.

Finally, I got on eye level with them, and Apple Bloom said quietly, "Mister, where's yer cutie mark?"

I responded gently, "I don't have one, but maybe we can help each other get ours?" The one who idolized Rainbow, Scootaloo, gave me a funny look , as though wondering how I did that, but I ignored it.

Sweetie Belle gasped, apparently having spoken for her. I was confirmed when she stuttered, "How'd you know that?"

I smiled and responded truthfully, "Years of experience. Plus, it's not hard to imagine that you'd want me to join your club, since none of us has our cutie marks. I'm sure we can remedy that soon enough, though!" I added, grinning. The others looked momentarily surprised, then they all burst into giggles. I smiled, enjoying it as much as they surely were.

"Good with foals, I see, Sam?" Spoke the cultured voice of Rarity. I started, having dropped to my haunches to interact with the foals better, unbeknownst to me. I shrugged.

"I rather get the sense that I was never particularly good with anything, unlike you mares," I muttered sadly, gesturing at the ponies gathered around me.

"Still, if that's what you consider mediocre, I'd like to see you do something else," offered Rainbow. She furthered, saying, "I know you can't fly, but maybe you can run?"

Rarity smiled, saying politely, "Well, dear, if you ever need some extra bits, I'm sure you'd make a wonderful foslsitter." I thanked her, still not entirely sure how to respond. I was not accustomed to having my work complimented.

I snickered, and thought of something. If she was like Rainbow, then I had something for her; to test the waters, so to say. At the least, it was a part of my personal life, and I might make friends with one of the younger ponies. What could go wrong? "Hey, Scootaloo, can you keep a secret?" I asked, leaning in close to her. She nodded, confusion slowly seeping into her small face.

"You know what a secret agent is, right?" She nodded again, this time with a faint tinge of paranoia creeping in.

"Then you might be interested to know that I was a secret agent for a few months," I intoned this last with a deadpan expression. This was technically true, because I had been attached as a non-official cover in Colombia. This basically meant I was a full spy, with no embassy support. Hard, dangerous, and very risky. I suddenly had a new appreciation for the peace these ponies enjoy.

I also had the feeling that it was going to be a long day.

Chapter 9: The Story of Wilhelm Tell

I flopped onto the guest bed, staring at the ceiling. Now came the part of every day that I invariably hated. I didn’t mind before bed- eating dinner, helping Spike do the dishes. No, I relished that-- work helps the mind ease its burdens. In my case, it kept my demons at bay.

I knew my previous body could survive on a four to five hours of sleep daily, but I wasn’t sure if I should try that here. Two reasons I slept so little were that one, I felt like it was a waste of time, time otherwise used for useful purposes, like finding out where an enemy was hiding, or reading a book, or writing poetry. The second reason was that I had consistently had nightmares, in some form or another, since that scene with Princess Celestia, Twilight, and me in Thomas’s room. It wasn’t scary in and of itself, it just... initiated some evil fears. And more, and varied.

Finally accepting that there was nothing I could do, I closed my eyes, and curled up into a tighter ball.

o.O.o

I awoke to find myself standing on the balcony of a mountain chalet, overlooking a valley, and a small town, as well as a dirt road running parallel to said balcony. I knew what was going to happen, but I also was hoping for a special visitor. As I watched, a small procession proceeded to appear at a three o’clock in my vision, and moved slowly towards the town, a ten o’clock in my vision. The people looked a a third of an inch tall, and one in particular seemed to be holding something of great importance in his hands. I knew by now that it was a hat.

I felt a presence in the room beside me, and I spoke, not bothering to turn, “Greetings, I am known as Sam Phoenix. To whom doth I have the honor of addressing?”

I felt a twitch from beside me, and then I heard chuckling, a sort of melodious laughter. I knew it, and I realized it sounded like Princess Celestia. But this obviously wasn’t the princess.

“Well met, Sam Phoenix. Are we true in believing that you are the stranger in Ponyville, the stranger with a strange story?” I nodded, and exhaled, wondering what she would be doing here.

“Just to be sure, I’m addressing Princess Luna, correct? Wouldn’t want to be talking to myself again.” I had to ask, seeing as the answer was almost certainly positive. Nevertheless, it’s an awful feeling to discover you’ve managed to make yourself think there’s someone standing next to you. And holding a conversation with you. And arguing with you. And winning. And then to find not a soul? I wasn’t going to let me do this again.

I heard the swish of air that indicated a nod, and I turned to look at the princess in question. I hadn’t known she could appear in dreams, but I guess that’s just another aspect of the night? I suddenly had conflicted feelings a this whole thing.

“So what can I do for you, Luna? I’m assuming you want to talk a me, likely find out if I’m a threat?” I was normally dead-on, but I wasn’t sure this time.

I was surprised, however, when she chuckled, seemingly in affirmation.

“Tis few who can predict our whims, Phoenix. We come here, now to deliver a warning, and to deliver a message, and a request.”

“Speak loud, old friend, and be heard, for thy voice be heard through the halls of the heavens and the gates of hell, and the souls of mortals doth stir in time to the beat of the drums. So it goes,” I responded, getting a little carried away in the sudden attack of poetic license. I heard a giggle from the princess, and I softly asked, “Luna, I don’t mean to be rude, but two things. One, can we please drop the archaic speech, and two, take a look into that town.” I heard another chuckle, seemingly in affirmation.

“Sure, Sam. I still have to deliver the message, warning, and request before I leave, but what is it in this town that I should be looking at?” I was a bit surprised at how quickly she gave in, but it was a question set for another day. I responded, a bit sadly, and told her what was happening in the valley.

“Down below there are humans, my former race. That hat there is a symbol of the royal duke of the Habsburgs. Do you see how the people are bowing down to it?” As I narrated, things began to fall into place. Everyone in the town was bowing, as soon as they saw the hat. There were fairly narrow streets, but lots of people, even in the early twelve hundreds as it was. Not everyone was going to be bowing at the same time. I continued.

“So, these people are what, in a little less than a thousand years, are going to be known as the Swiss. Do you see that guy, over in the back? Big guy, with a crossbow in his hand?” Luna nodded, obviously not understanding, or knowing, where this was going. “His name is Wilhelm Tell. Watch, because he doesn’t bow to the hat. In this day and age, this is basically high treason. And see how he is still refusing to bow? That was his last chance... Now they’re going to take him into the field right, a, now and they have his son. The bailiff or sheriff is going to put an apple-- yes, I understand that Applejack is an apple farmer, no need to remind me-- on William’s son’s head. The sheriff is going to force Tell to step back, like so, and have him shoot the apfel off his son’s head.” I could feel her understanding flood through her, and she gasped, sounding shocked.

“I-- or Celestia-- would never make anypony bow to a hat! And if a pony didn’t bow to us, they wouldn’t be forced to shoot an apple off their son’s head!” she breathlessly thundered, clearly outraged.

I muttered, “I’ll explain later. For now, just watch.” The sheriff and Tell had been arguing while we talked, but it was resolved, and Tell backed up a a hundred and twenty yards and raised his crossbow. I continued narrating, “With tears in his eyes, Wilhelm desperately searches for a way out. He knows that he can make the shot, but will he accept this insult? It’s one thing to make a public scene a not bowing to a hat, but quite another to force you to shoot an apple off his son’s head. He decides that, for now, he will simply make the shot, and deal with the sheriff later. He raises his crossbow, aims, and fires. It thuds into the apple, and his terrified son flinches, but is unharmed, much to the cheers of the townsfolk, and to the annoyance of the sheriff. A few seconds later, another crossbow bolt thuds into the sheriff’s head. This is the simple action that sparked the Swiss war with the Habsburgs. It ended, several bloody decades of fighting later, in the liberation of Switzerland -- or, as it is called in its charter, the Confederatio Helvetica-- from German rule.” As I fell silent, I saw fighting break out between the retinue of the sheriff, and the townsfolk. The townspeople won. I looked at Luna, and she had an unabashedly horrified expression on her face.

“I’m sorry you had to see this, princess, I truly am. It is my belief you never really meant anyone harm,” I apologized meekly. I led her inside the mountain chalet, and was only a little surprised to find tea brewed. I personally preferred coffee, but royalty loves tea, and hates coffee. I thought that was a universal constant. I poured some into a cup, and gave it to the night-black mare. I was a little surprised to find that she was crying. I took a deep breath, wondering how to explain it. I chose the path I felt best- straight up truth. seemed to work reasonably well with these ponies.

“I’m not like that, Princess. I would rather die than let harm come to my pony friends. That out there, is why I hate this place. These people. This culture. Well, personally, I think the Swiss were pretty good a the whole thing, I mean...” I trailed off, not sure how to say it. I decided to just sit next to her. If she wanted someone to talk to a what she just saw, I would be there. If not, whatever.

“Well, I would like to deliver a warning, though after that declaration, it might seem a tad futile.” I resisted quoting the infamous Borg catchphrase, instead gesturing for her to go on. “I was going to say that if you purposely bring harm to them, I can-- and will-- make you regret it. The message is from Tia, sister of mine. She didn’t want to wake up Spike in the middle of the night. She says that there has been a... disturbance, of sorts, over in the ruins. She said Twilight will know what to do.” I nodded, and thought for a bit.

“I’m assuming Celestia wants us to investigate? It shouldn't be a difficult leap of logic. Though I do have a question for you, Princess, if you don’t mind?” I hazarded. She looked up, a little suprised at my sudden topic change. She nodded nevertheless.

“How did you... deal with it, Luna? I mean, I’ve enjoyed isolation before, but never a thousand years of it. At least, not yet,” I inquired cautiously. Luna looked over sharply at the last two words, but she made no comment. it was a while before she said anything, much of the time spent with her staring at her forehooves.

“Sam, to be honest, I’m not sure how I coped, but coped I did. But I do think I changed, when I was there. But, I wasn’t angry, I mean, I understand why she did it, it’s just I was so sad, because we both thought that she had banished me for life. But she didn’t. Though I’m not sure what it’s worth being back down here,” at this point, I was surprised by the sheer amount of venom in her voice, but she was on a roll, no stopping her, nope, none at all, so she continued, unabated, “I mean, everypony is nice, but I think-- no, I know!-- that they are afraid of me. They don’t like me. They hate me.” This was always the tricky part --weren’t they always the tricky parts?-- of socializing. In this case, I suppose I just had to tell the truth. Seemed to be working out nicely.

“I know how you feel, Luna. But it’s ok, not everypony hates you. There are more than a few who appreciate you just as much as your sister.” She stopped in her self-pity to look at me, an indecipherable expression adorning her regal features. It was my turn to go on a roll, though. “Did you know that when I was a human I would look up at the sky and think of all the things out there? I... I saw a multitude, a sea of light, in our incomble ocean. Said I to my friends, ‘out there, out there is our destiny.’ I never did go into the stars, but I still think they’re pretty awesome.” I hesitated, then smiled and patted her withers, if not a little awkwardly. “I know how you feel, Princess. I was a loner too, and I hated it. I thought that everyone hated me, and that... I know how you feel. But you are wrong. Aye, there are ponies out there who are afraid of you, indeed. But nopony hates you. Your little ponies are too gentle for that.”

She looked a little surprised by my speech, but then she smiled. Suddenly realizing something, I quietly asked her, “and Luna? Can you do me a favor?”

I saw her raise her eyebrows, clearly wondering what I was up to. Luna finally nodded, saying, “if it is reasonable, I see no reason not to. What is your wish?”

“Luna, could you please... do this more often?” I tried to explain. Sensing her incomprehension, I pressed forward, feeling more and more like I had lost the battle before I started talking, but why not try, right? “Could you... visit me in my dreams more? This is the first time-- in a long time-- that battle hasn’t bothered me when I watched it. And, it’s kind of nice to just, be able to talk to someone. Even if that someone is an all-powerful ruler of the pony nation that I’m currently living in,” I ended on a grin. But there was more to it, wasn’t there? The voices in my head, the demons. They wanted information. They always do. But at least they could let me feed them, instead of being whiny and demanding and manipulative a it.

“I will say, the story of that Wilhelm Tell was quite moving,” She complimented slowly. I really wasn’t sure if Luna was complimenting my storytelling, or the story itself. I didn’t have the heart to tell her that the story of Wilhelm Tell was almost certainly false. Though the actual story is quite interesting, and makes for a bit of ironic twist. But I digress.

“Thank you, Princess Luna. Though I am afraid we must part, we leave on friendly terms.”

Luna responded in kind, and I jerked awake. from the moonlight streaming in, I estimated it to be around two in the morning. See, I told myself, only a four or five hours a day. I wondered how long I had to wait before the rest of the household was awake. Deciding against wasting time, I decided to go out for a walk.

Chapter 10: Mr. Dark

I looked around as I walked through the town. It was totally deserted. All the doors were closed, and lights were off. I chuckled to myself- it was a beautiful night, and only I was here to see it. Too many sleep through what could be a very interesting part of the day.

I halted that train of thought before it could get off the ground, and instead remembered.

I sleepily looked around again, wondering why I was where I was. It was almost like… I wasn't in control.

Almost.

I knew I was in control, it's not like some heavenly being rules our actions, but still, I somehow felt… wrong. I'm not sure, but whatever. It was still a beautiful night.

Many ponies would find this sort of night too cold, but I simply shrugged it off and continued gazing into the stars, looking for those that I had grown up with. I found none.

After a few minutes of mindless movement, I noticed that I had drawn a star in the dirt. It was an odd thing, though. There was a circle around it, and some weird characters around the edges- enough of them to make it look rather complicated. I chuckled to myself, not really sure what to make of it. It looked almost like an alchemical symbol, something I sincerely hoped wasn't the case, though I suspected it might well be an alchemical symbol.

I mean, if they had magic, then shouldn't they have alchemy? In most forms of it, alchemy is a form of magic. As I thought about it, I heard a nagging voice in my head, seemingly suggesting that it, indeed, could be used for alchemy. I shuddered, but decided to commit it to memory nevertheless. As I did so, the voice in my head seemed to suggest that it was… merely a general focusing symbol, for achieving the effect the user concentrates on.

Then I erased the pentagram completely, scuffing over the dirt with a hoof so that nopony else could find it, or use it, moreover.

Then I headed back to the library, grateful to head back to the known, and personally? I didn't care much for alchemy, though I knew it would come in handy at some point.

o.O.o

It was about an half an hour after dawn before I made myself known, shuffling around and making breakfast. I found eggs in the fridge, and decided to make some hard boiled eggs. Who knew you could burn water? Deciding to just not care, I waited for the eggs to boil.

I knew myself well enough to say that if I tried anything more complicated, say, like pancakes or anything, I might wind up cutting up a hoof and adding it to the meal. Somehow.

I continued my work until a sleepy Spike stumped down the stairs, still looking rather bleary-eyes. The little drake immediately looked quite a bit more awake all of a sudden. Wonder why.

"Hey, Sam, how's it going?" Asked Spike, clearly wondering. I smiled happily at him.

"It's just going fine, like dandelion wine, quite fine, but no rind." I poetically expressed. The little dragon raised an eyebrow before seeing my smile and chuckling.

"You sound like Zecora, but your rhyming is a little sloppier, no offense," he explained. I was confused. Zecora rhymes? Well I guess Shakespearean sonnets aren't too old-fashioned for some ponies.

o.O.o

A gentle hoofbeat sounded on the stairs, and I snapped my head up, unlike my cooking companion, who hummed to himself and put the finishing touches on breakfast.

"Hello, Twilight, sleep well?" I rushed out. I was a little surprised to find her at the top of the stairs. She started, and looked a little surprised I had detected her.

Her sudden movement at the top of the stairs mightn't have been the best choice, however, and she tumbled off the landing. Spike turned too, and he saw Twilight fall, and didn't even bat an eye when she teleported herself neatly onto the couch. I blinked, utterly nonplussed at this sudden display of magic.

"Oh, hello Sam, wonderful morning, isn't it?" Twilight spoke, the incident I just saw obviously being rather common here.

"Well, Spike and I were cooking breakfast, and it was a nice thing indeed, until you decided to fall off the stairs. Usually dangerous, but apparently not. Jolly good show, old friend," I laughed, and they both blinked, apparently a little confused by my display of what Thomas knew as a British affectation.

"Never mind, it was just a cultural display from, um, somewhere else. Don't mind me," I added, off their suddenly blank looks. They shook their heads, seemingly coming back to life, and Spike grinned.

"That's pretty wicked, dude, how you can change voices like that," he complimented, sounding rather impressed. I shrugged awkwardly, not really knowing what to say, nor caring for the compliment. If they knew about Great Britain and its history, they wouldn't be so happy.

"That's actually really cool, Sam. Can you do any other voices?" Twilight requested, sounding rather curious. I gave up, and decided to simply accept magic as being totally normal. I grinned in response, and started talking.

The accents were something I had picked up as an NOC- non- official cover. I went in, and didn't have any embassy help. It was a unique job wherein you had to get of know people and blend in. The accents definitely helped then, as many of the places I was stationed were the sort that used spies as slave labor. And they rarely gave you a judge and jury- it was more done on the basis of "if we suspect you, you must be guilty."

o.O.o

"So, Sam, if you don't mind, I'd like to take you and Spike with me to the crater where you were found to get some readings." Twilight requested, myself and Spike having finally finished cleaning up after breakfast. The little dragon was sitting on my back, in the space in front of my shoulder blades, but behind my neck. It wasn't that uncomfortable, and he really didn't weigh much, so I could care less.

"Sure. I wouldn't mind, and I wouldn't mind seeing how I got here in the first place," I acquiesced, not that I was going to not help her.

The pair still seemed a little surprised after my Terran accent display, but they, all in all, appeared to be pleased. I had enjoyed the ability to demonstrate my showmanship, and Twilight enjoyed the culture jamming.

So that was the start of our journey into the Everfree forest. It wasn't too unpleasant- walking through town was nice, and I vaguely remembered Thomas enjoying the somewhat odd hobby of people-watching. Though I was sure a great deal of it stemmed from his deep-seated paranoia, it certainly was an interesting thing.

As the three of us slowly trotted down the street, I marveled at the sheer number and colors of the ponies here.

I snapped out of my day dream when we reached the edge of the Everfree, and Spike seemed to shrink down just a bit farther. He was still on my back, not that I minded, of course. He really was quite light, not that I would refuse him- I was sure a little weight training would do me good.

It was only when we actually got to the Everfree, however, that it started to get unnerving.

Although we had all been here before, it was still a creepy place. Admittedly, I had been in a medium-sized crater, and been found almost immediately, so I hadn't had to enjoy the loveliness of the wonderfully enchanting Everfree.

Fortunately for me, we found the hole in the ground fairly soon, and Twilight and Spike got to work. They pulled out a device that looked somewhat like a camera, but rather uniquely more odder. It had numerous knobs and buttons, and for some strange reason, a door on one side. As Twilight explained, as she pulled it out of the saddlebags I hadn't noticed her wearing, there was a tiny little demon in here who took readings and wrote them down and put the papers out another slot.

"… and the readings come out here!" Twilight finished, gesturing with a hoof to another part of the device.

I simply nodded, choosing to stretch out in the meadow and take a nap while the other two worked. After about ten minutes, I felt Spike lay down beside me, and we both fell asleep.

o.O.o

The reprieve didn't last long, though, as I was woken up to an odd sound-- jumping to my hooves, I realized that Twight had poked me in the temple. She reeled back, surprised by my reaction, but I quickly shook Spike awake.

After the five seconds all this took, I finally looked around to where Twilight was pointing with a forehoof.

"Sam, that is one of the worst things the Everfree has to offer. It's a monstrous thing, called Plagas, or alsus," Twilight muttered to me and Spike, sounding rather nervous, gesturing with a hoof to he hung that had shambled out of the Everfree's trees.

It was surprisingly humanoid, but rather obviously not a human. It reminded me strongly of what Thomas knew as a zombie, though no moan escaped from its lips, and, oddly enough, I felt a strange tingling sensation on my darkly furred skin, as well as on my off-white and green mane and tail. Furthermore, I felt the unique sensation of wha felt like worms under my skin.

I glanced at Twilight, who now had Spike on her withers, throwing her a questioning look as the alsus tripped over the far edge of the crater and tumbled down it.

"It… oh no…" Twilight murmured, getting me worried, as the things mouth opened and shut. It was now maybe fifty yards away from us, and another one emerged from the bush, at the same spot as the first alsus. It looked exactly the same- monkeyish, certainly humanoid, bipedal, grey skin. Spike whimpered and looked almost as ashen as he creatures that approached.

"They… they kill ponies, and… they eat them," he whispered, his normally sturdy voice sounding rather feeble.

"I'm assuming that odd sensation I'm feeling is some sort of magical blocking?" I asked, feeling apprehensive.

"Yes, but we've never had a chance to capture one. They're the substance of legends," Twilight breathed, sounding ecstatic that she could study one.

"Twilight, can you do me a favor, please?" I turned, and she nodded. The alsus had closed to twenty yards, and the other was at about seventy-five yards, having closed the twenty-five from he edge of the meadow. The first one was climbing the edge of the crater, and was increasing in speed.

"Okay, I want you and Spike to take your magical readings box and go. Go back to Ponyville. I can fight these, Twilight- I don't need my magic, and if I don't deal with these, they might do some worse damage. I really don't want any of you to get hurt, and I don't want these to hue anyone else, and I--" I was suddenly cut off when the first one shot forward and attacked.

I whacked it's legs out with a forehoof, and Twilight gave a little shriek and turned.

"I'll see you soon!" I hollered after her, as I began to kick in the alsus's head. It took awhile, and by the end of it, my back hooves were covered in gore and blood, up to my knees.

Just as I was catching my breath after it had run into the corner, the second alsus came up, howling.

Chapter 11: The Sirens of Titan

I reared up, and punched the thing in the throat with a forehoof, silencing it.

Continuing on the attack, I disabled it by strategically dismembering it. I would kick it half a dozen times on a shoulder or thigh joint and then it would fall off, slowly demobilizing the alsus.

Finally, I tied it to my back, with it's head by my tail, and facing up, so it couldn't bite me. I used some vines, and lashed it across my scrawny chest.

o.O.o

I staggered into the secure containment center, startling both the guard, and Twilight, who had apparently anticipated, or hoped for, what I had done.

I nodded to the guard, who nodded dumbly back, and viciously bucked the alsus into a cell, to the surprise of everyone present, except for myself. As the thing hit the wall, it left a bloody spatter on the wall, of chunky blood and congealed bodily fluids. I avoided thinking a out what liquids had likely seeped onto my back from it.

"You actually captured one? Oh my goodness, Sam! Thank you!" Twilight exclaimed, sounding unnecessarily gleeful.

I glared at her, lifting a foreleg up, letting some blood drip off, and a slightly maniacal smile creep onto my face.

"Twilight Sparkle, I have a present for you," I gestured with a still slightly bloody hoof. The alsus growled as he guard bravely secured the door of the cell. I continued speaking, carefully watching the earth pony as he secured the now limbless, grey alsus.

"Twilight, I'm sorry I rushed you out like that. It's just that I didn't want you getting hurt. Plus, you're my friend and I didn't want you to see what happened." I shuddered, not happy about my destruction of the unthinking beast.

"You have to completely elimanate the head to stop it?" she asked softly, suddenly sounding a little nervous over her scientific demeanor. I chuckled, and nodded, again raising a hoof with the now drying blood.

"I'll need Spike to send a letter to the Princess, and then more guards need to be posted at the center and around town." She began prioritizing, as we headed out of the center.

We started walking towards the library, and I almost totally zoned out as Twilight continued to talk- about the alsus, mainly.

Idly I wondered why these creatures were appearing out of now- we had been at the edge of the Everfree, after all, and they had apparently not been seen for long enough to become a legend.

Though I suspected that many a pony had been unaware of he alsus' magic-blocking ability, and unaware of their tastes for ponies, which was likely why they hadn't been reported for a long time.

"And we're here!" Twilight's voice broke into my thoughts as we stepped into the library. Suddenly feeling bone tired after all that skull-kicking, I sleepily nodded night to Twilight, and Spike, who was looking a lot healthier after the zombie-monkies had been dealt with.

As I crashed into the guest bed, I vaguely wondered what fresh hell I would dream about tonight, and if Luna would join me.

o.O.o

I came to in a small, windowed room, with a variety of technological equipment.

I didn't recognize the room itself, but I knew what it was-- the control room of a Rhino-class starship.

With two of these bays, it could launch a huge number of vessels, and the ship itself had a primary cannon that was so big, it could almost fit the Terran moon down it's barrel. It was equipped with a population of approximately four billion, as well as a drive that allowed it to slingshot around stars to enter subspace. This particular tub was called the Sky Phoenix, and it wasn't a planet ship, though it could colonize, and was more than enough to darken a planet, race, or civilizations doorstep.

This ship was the site of a massive battle, or rather, countless skirmeshes that never ended and were pretty much all interconnected, between the Razani and the Sylorians, and though the Razani outnumbered the Sylorians, there was still total loss of about a half billion souls.

Every single Sylorian combatant was killed in combat, because the only way you would see the back of a Razani, or Sylorian, for that matter, was if they were dead. Every noncombatant was imprisoned and put to work repairing damage dealt to the ship.

I, however, was about to witness the event that sparked the battle-- a Sylorian had developed a heart and defect to the Razani. Normally, I wouldn't care any more or less about the war, but this was personal. To Thomas of course, but that was me when I had these nightmares, so what was the difference?

I felt Luna appear next to me, and at the same time, someone appeared in a doorway, and started sprinting towards he one plane residing within the cavernous hangar.

"You see the girl that just popped out of that door? Her name is Bayleigh, and she is the first Sylorian who got the C gene. She's decided to defect to the Razani. She was the head of… certain operations, and has a lot of information, the Razani could use. She was planted as a spy on his ship, but received an experimental treatment to artificially get the C gene. Everyone else who got the treatment died," I explained rapidly. As I was talking, a contingent of black-armored soldiers marched out, singing a war song. They fell into a long-legged step behind her, as she raced to he ship.

"She's being sent to the Razani High Command. See these guys in white armor that just popped out of that door? They are the Sylorian combatants, fully armed and armored. They are going to start fighting… right… about… now," I continued and they began fighting right when I had predicted. Most weapons were pulse rifles, with the Razani rounds a cyan that reminded me of the slightly arrogant but incredibly loyal Rainbow Dash, and the Sylorian shots were an angry red, like a two-day old bruise.

I must admit, it was an odd and slightly surreal sight, seein the multicolored balls of pure electrical energy zipping past.

This was the first time that the Razani had outnumbered the Sylorians in battle, and it showed-- their shots were more precise, and they had better armor and weapons than the worse off and rather more panicked Sylorian forces.

I turned to see Luna's eyes flicker, trying to follow the battle and it's progress. I could tell however, that she wasn't merely following the battle, she was following someone.

"Where is she? That… Bayleigh. Are they all fighting over her?" she asked, rather quietly.

I gestured with an equine hoof, as the plane lifted, excruciatingly slowly, with a whine of high-tech engines.

One of the Razani broke off, her face shield folding itself away as she ran towards the plane, not quite a dead sprint, but close enough.

I grunted to myself, whirling around and slowly paced around the room, the same way I did every time I had this particular dream. Just as I reached the window again, I caught Luna's questioning glance.

"She never really liked me and she never realized I knew she was a Razani. She was an awful spy-- might have fooled everyone else, but I knew. And obviously, no one believed me. I'm sorry, I'll continue the narration," as I finished, I shuddered as another of the black-clad Razani detached himself from the fray, Dodging rounds as he chased Beth.

He finally caught up to her, and I knew what he was saying, for he had related it to me at a later point, plus I had seen the mission logs.

"No, Beth, you can't go after her! You're my friend and comrade, don- don't do it! They'll kill you if you interfere, she'll kill you! I know what you're feeling, just don't try--" my repetition was cut short when Beth violently threw him off her, and removed her sidearm, and pointed it at Matthew.

As she cleared leather, however, the space-plane completed its takeoff procedures and rotated around to face the Sylorian company that was slowly getting whittled down.

With vengeance clear on her face, Bayleigh shoved the plane on top of the Sylorians and activated the atmospheric thrusters.

Flames danced under the vehicle as they cooked the Sylorians. With screams in the air, they finally died.

The Razani battalion erupted into cheers. Bayleigh turned off the atmospheric thrusters, and once again turned, this time to face the pod bay doors.

The ship paused, with the pilot onviously surveying her woek with prode. There was a click, and then a voice came on.

"I am a leaf on the wind. Watch how I soar," spoke Bayleigh as the plane soared into the fatal beauty of space.

"Any questions, princess?" I laconically inquired. I knew she would lose her inevitable pursuers in a corner of this solar system, then stay there. Only after reporting to Razani HighComm, obviously. I knew she would occasionally be called in as a consultant.

The scene faded to black as the princess shook her head no.

o.O.o

Chapter 12: Some Nights

I awoke with a jerk as I heard a pounding on the door. It seemingly increased in intensity, so I opened the door, still feeling a little drowsy. To my surprise, it revealed a twilit dawn and a slightly scared-looking Applejack and Big Mac.

"Whoa, Applejack, what's up?" I asked her, getting a little paranoid myself. If something scared Applejack, and Big Mac, to boot, it had to be more than a little unnerving.

Big Mac danced around, looking just as nervous as his younger sister. I frowned, silently wondering what was wrong. Applejack apparently picked up on my slightly flattened ears.

"Lyra 'n' Bon Bon said they were attacked, by ah big creature. Ah guess they were jus' roughed up ah bit, 'cause they're ok, only a little bruised and scared. Big Mac found 'em when he went ta harness up. They said they'd been chased through th' forest, an' inta Sweet Apple Acres. It stopped when it saw th' farm, an' then they hid in th' barn. Oh, an' Twi?" the farm mare finally paused for breath. I resisted the strong temptation to roll my eyes at what they were doing-- they had left Bon Bon and Lyra, who were both likely injured, alone, in the woods, with help, with a hostile being running around.

Twilight finally arrived to interrupt my internal monolgue, and answered AJ's frantic question.

"Yes, Applejack, what's up?"

"Twilight, they said it came down in a beam of light, like a pillar of dawn. They went in an' investigated in case anypony needed help, an' they saw... it. they started screaming an' hollering, an' then they got knocked around a bit, an' then they just ran," finally concluded the farm mare. I looked past her and stared at the imposing figure of Big Mac.

"Are they still there? Big Mac, did you leave those two in that barn?" I asked him, manic worry edging my voice.

"Eeyup," the big stallion responded, his simple response tinged with curiosity.I sagged against the doorjamb, wondering why I had to do this. Finally, I hauled myself upright.

"Okay, Goonies, lets go. We're going to meet the new folks."

Fifteen minutes later, we had reached the barn and I had spent an awkward ten minutes debriefing the unfortunate couple. It was then the work of a five minute journey to place ourselves two hundred yards from where the, now obviously a general purpose shuttle, ship had landed.

"Okay, Twilight, I'm sorry to do this to you, but i want you to stay here and watch. I'm expendable, and none of you are. Just, if I'm hurt, hit 'em hard, eh?" I saw Twilight object at the use of 'expendable' but I ignored her. They all nodded grudgingly, nevertheless, at my last sentence. With that, I left them there and continued on to the ship. I hadn't gone fifty yards before I, shaking my head, pulled Twilight and company out of the cover.

"I want y'all to watch this." I requested, placing everypony about seventy-five yards from the ship. I saw Twilight smile and nod, apparently happy to have a better view, but Applejack and Big Mac merely looked rather apprehensive, a feeling I understood quite well.

I cautiously crept towards the tub, and was about twenty yards from it when the rear hatch opened. I stiffened, knowing the forest and my coat would hide me, but still fearing-- wondering-- about what resided within. I guess it was like Christmas, or what Thomas knew as Christmas anyway-- waiting and wondering about what was in the gift-wrapped box.

A female figure stepped out-- female, insofar as I could te in her heavy black armor-- and scanned the forest with a large rifle. I recognized it as a pulse rifle-- ideal for long range shots, with high accuracy, and very little attenuation of the actual energy contained. I smiled wickedly. I knew Thomas hadn't had the C gene, so it was highly unlikely Sam did. That being said, I was happy it was a Sylorian model-- I would be able to use it, in the unlikely situation it might be needed. I hoped to everything I knew that it wouldn't be necessary, seeing as how I really did not want these ponies to know war.

Once she saw the perimeter was clear, she stepped into the forest, painfully clearly trying to simply vanish.

It was mere foals play for me to find her, standing as statue-like as she was. Her pillar imitation notwithstanding, I almost missed her, something tha was only exasperated by the black armor the mysterious pilot wore.

I mentally smirked and shook my head; she was being a little blunt in her efforts to try to set up a trap, but I wondered, why? Why set a trap, ex post facto she's already roughed up two local citizens, who know doubt already-- but that was it, this new player in the game had abandoned the chase, the trail, the two hapless ponies at the barn, assuming the Apple family building to be abandoned. With a snort, I came to the realization that the space-woman must have figured that those two would raise a ruckus and bring backup. Or they'd be found, and bring me. Same thing either way, as was the trap she thought whoever was next would otherwise be walking into.

She wasn't doing a particularly good job, though, of setting up an ambush, so it was no trouble for me for me to position my horn right next to her neck. I knew it was an impractical weapon, but it would do. If I wanted to, I could end her, and all she stood for.

I chose against-- she was a Sylorian who had changed sides, who could have helped the Sylorians. But she didn't. She had made a choice, and a good one too. Normally, I look down on traitors, but I knew how hard it was to go against your country, let alone your very species, but Thomas told me that he wasn't fond of what his country had become. He had entertained thoughts that would have made Big Brother very angry, but he knew it took a lot to do the right thing. In this war, I suppose there aren't really any things that are good or bad, but still, it takes a great deal of courage to make a choice, and moreover, to stand by that choice.

So instead of testing my horn against her armor, I instead concentrated on stopping time, at least within this area, this person. My horn glowed an odd, shifting, crackling white-blue color that I somehow had managed to miss earlier.

Looking around, I saw the Everfree was operating as normally as this place could ever get, so I delivered a silent kick to the side of the alien's head, praying that I delivered enough force to stun her but not enough to cause a head wounds. Those are one of the worst types of wounds, bleeding all over the place.

I calmly ended the localized time halting spell, and kicked the pulse rifle towards the ship. With a faint flash of anger towards myself, I realized I must have kicked too hard, seeing as blood was gently pouring out a small temple wound. With a start, I frowned to myself, wondering why she wasn't wearing a helmet.

I shrugged at the lack of helmet and resulting but inconsequential skullbucket leaking, and gathered my breath, not that I had lost it in the first place.

"Oh Twilight, oh Applejack, oh Big Mac, come out, come out, wherever you are! Where are you?" I called in a sing-song voice, and they climbed out of the cover, looking a little surprised at what had happened.

As they neared, I was cuffing the unconscious figure with the flexicuffs I found in an pouch on her armor. I smiled as they approached; you have to love miracle fishing.

"Hey, Big Mac, would you mind hauling this deadweight for the hike back to camp? I'd do it myself, but I know I'm not as strong as you," I requested, a little sheepishly. He nodded, and I helped get her slung over him, looking for all the world like he had a large, black, sack of potatoes across his withers.

"I'llead the way!" Twilight exclaimed, grinning and bouncing with enough joy and enthusiasm to rival Pinkie Pie. I nodded, happy to dust up. I knew I would have to retrieve the ship, but it… had disappeared?

As everyone stared slack jawed, I threw a disapproving glance at the unconscious Razani draped across the farm stallion's back.

"Really Lee? You shielded this tub?" I asked, not caring that I wouldn't get a response.

"Ah pillar of dawn Ah'd believe, but vanishin' boats? What's up, Sam?" Applejack joked, sounding worried.

In response, I merely smiled and shook my head as I headed to where the ship had been. With a thud and a lightning buck that would have made Rainbow Dash proud, I slammed my back hooves into the ship. With an electromagnetic fizz, it came back. I tossed a laconic smirk at Twilight, who glared at me, instead choosing to look at the ship with an odd expression on her muzzle.

"You know, Twi, you stare any harder, your eyes are gonna fall out!" I playfully chuckled.

In response, she merely twitched, but grinned and carried on looking through the open hatch.

It was only a few feet later, however, that when Twilight brought her forehoof down, it resulted in a click that my friend Thomas knew all too well. With a whoosh, the mine popped open, and a small tan orb hovered up. It lazily drifted to humanoid head height, which activated the blinking of a on the side. This was an animal trap, meant for large animals like a bear, but it would be more than lethal to all of us.

Racing towards it, I focused all my willpower into one thought process-- stop everything.

Blinking, I awaited the agony that would mark the detonation of the bashful bear -- known to Terran civilians as the Bouncing Betty, known to Terran combatants as the dinner dish of death-- mine. It would release a hail of steel ball bearings in every direction. In a word, lethal.

There was nothing. Not a click, not a boom, not a beep, not a peep, not so much as a single bird chirping. I opened my eyes and sighed a heartfelt expletive.

There was the small orb of the bashful bear hanging in the air, looking like it was glaring at me with its one dry, tan colored eyeball, rather akin to Sauron's eye.

Figures. I had managed to stop time. Smirking, I kicked the little ball of death over the horizon.

It was with great difficulty that I prevented Thomas from rearing his hideous head. Though I concurred with him in his desire for vengeance, I knew it wasn't time, not yet, though I chuckled to myself when I realized the term "running out of time" held no meaning for me anymore.

Deciding to get rid of the other mines, i stamped around the perimeter of the area, my hooves ringing out every time they struck one of the dinner dishes of death.

I had finally finished the de-mining after what I knew wasn't much more than about forty-five minutes, but to the others was literally no time at all.

I ended the spell, a sudden slightly childish thought interrupted my work-- why don't I join the Cutie Mark Crusaders? It would be a good way to spend time, when not running around investigating pillars of light, I could help them find their cutie marks, and I could keep them out of harms way. Smiling now that I had some sort of thing to do rather than enjoy the strange things the Everfree seemed to summon, I retook my place at the end of the line, and killed the spell.

"What the hay was that?" Twilight asked, apparently confused about the click, as well as why the mine her hoof had been on had been replaced with a dinner plate sized hole.

"And... what are those craters in the ground?" she continued, in reference to the other mines, now living a happy life with their families somewhere over the horizon.

"An' why in tarnation are you so happy, Sam?" asked Applejack.

"Those, my friend, are called either bashful bear mines, bouncing betty mines, or dinner plate of death, depending on who or what you are, and Applejack, I'm happy 'cause I've decided to join the Cutie Mark Crusaders!" Twilight gave me a look, almost like she wanted to question me, but instead I bounced over to the front of the line, and motioned with a hoof for the others to follow.

"Uhm, Phoenix, that's the wrong way, unless of course, you're heading to Zecora," the unicorn's voice rang out, dry enough to dehydrate a pineapple.

"Right, right. Jolly good show old bean. My apologies."

o.O.o

Celestia was engrossed in the parchment, but her attention was diverted when her sister trotted in.

"Hello, Luna, what's wrong?" asked the alicorn Princess of the Sun.

"I was just wondering why you weren't at breakfast, Tia. It's just not like you, to miss something like that. We all knowl know you raised the sun normally, but you... got a letter?" concluded Luna, glancing at the letter held in Celestia's telekinetic grasp as Luna sat down opposite her sister.

"Very astute, Luna, I did indeed get a letter. It's from Twilight, and is actually a report on that new pony, Sam Phoenix, I believe? I think you've visited his dreams, and have seen what they're like." At this, Luna shivered almost imperceptibly, recalling Wilhelm Tell and the fighting aboard the starship. It didn't escape Celestia's notice, who offered a sympathetic smile, and offered the report to Luna, who accepted it with a word of thanks. She began reading, not sure what to expect.

Chapter 13: The Life We Live

Citizen Report Number 00984

Conducted by: Twilight Sparkle

Name: Sam Phoenix

Cutie mark: none

Age: 25

Mane: dark green with grey streak

Coat: black

Race: unicorn

date of birth: unknown

Talent: temporal/spatial manipulation

NOTES

Sam claims to have been a human soldier, when he was transported to Equestria. He is very knowledgable, and willing to talk about almost anything. Though he seems fairly happy, he has a surprising amount of cynicism, as well as a seeming indifference to his former race. He reports an unusual amount of knowledge about two races he had heard of (and in one or two instances, encountered and even befriended), which he refers to as being Razani and Sylorians. When asked why he know about these, he merely replies that it's his job to know things.

His lack if a cutie mark is understandable, given that he has been living in Equestria for less than a week. However, it is apparent that he has particular skills with temporal manipulation, and to a certain degree, spatial manipulation.

When first found in Equestria, he appeared to suffer from panic attacks of an undisclosed nature, but appeared to overcome them with a surprising rapidity.

Interestingly, when questioned about his adoption of the name "Sam Phoenix" versus his Terran name, "Thomas Sanders" he claims that Thomas isn't him-- that he is Sam, "though we share our memories, we are most certainly different. He is darker, less caring, I wouldn't say evil, but he most certainly wouldn't fit in here."

He reports an almost childish enthusiasm about joining the Cutie Mark Crusaders; when asked why, he explained, saying "I don't want them to get hurt, and I don't have my cutie mark. Why not? I'd rather not have Scootaloo convince the others to try sky-diving, after all, or timberwolf trapping, or studying alsus'."

He reports Thomas having been a spy for two years, having joined at age eighteen, then being "drummed out at twenty." He refused to elaborate, saying only that, "what I did was the right thing to do, but Big Brother didn't see that." He explains that six months after joining, he received certain "cybernetic implants," which he again refused to elaborate on. Thomas then operated as a soldier, and was assisting in the attack of an enemy-held transporter, which he once again refused to talk further about.

Furthermore, he appears to have an almost encyclopedic knowledge of certain things, while being almost totally clueless about others. For example, he has an extensive grasp of chemistry and structural engineering, as well as bio-genetics, but claims no knowledge of such things as how the weather is made; he, however, claims that where is from, the weather is just allowed to run rampant.

On another note, Princess Celestia, we've found what Sam calls a Razani. She, as described by Thomas, was a Sylorian but somehow changed sides. She has been placed in containment, pending interrogation, something Sam says he can -- and will -- handle.

On a less professional note, I'm thankful that he's opened up so much. I would've thought that he wouldn't be very talkative, and on some subjects he isn't, but for the most part, he's given me a lot of data, not just on himself but on Terran culture itself. It's truly quite astounding! Further, he enjoys books and can read at an astounding pace- not something I begrudge, but he reads even faster than I do, and enjoys every type of book we have, though he's started out with our reference section. And is almost finished with it.

Your faithful student,

Twilight Sparkle