Didn’t heard shots, and rather than cold floor I felt a soft grass. Something was wrong.
I get up the fastest that I could with my gun above and checked all my around but I was alone. It was obvious that I wasn’t where I should be, it was a forest and not that damned school, definitely something was wrong. I tried to remember what happened but it was useless, only remembered the crossfire, the shouts and the darkness. I tried to recognize but there was something strange with that forest, looks like no one I had ever seen; I saw a big construction in the distance, apparently a castle. Without having any idea where I was I decided to head over there.
When I arrived I realized that it was destroyed. I walked down those halls that threatened to crumble with the rifle loaded and ready. Apparently the former occupants were very keen on horses, ponies specifically. Strange ponies with big, expressive eyes and morphology almost cartoonish.
I get in what seemed to be an altar in the highest area that I could find in that castle and get surprised with such sight because from there I could see the entire forest. Officially I get scared with the fact that wherever I looked I just saw green fields; whatever where I was it was very far away from where I should be. I saw light in the distance, maybe a village or a small town, whatever it was I will discovered tomorrow because it was already dark.
As I head to my destination I think about what happened, the inexplicable fact that I appeared in the middle of nowhere. I begin to give me explanations that sound weirder than the event itself and only get more scared, even considered the fact that it was dead.
At about noon I already reached what appeared to be a large village, "no, is not that" I said still thinking about the possibility that I was death and I headed to a farm that was about my. Reach far see the silhouette of what it looked like a horse but I gave no importance. I had left my bag with weapons near a horrible statue that stood in the forest of what appeared to be a cross between a Pegasus and a Unicorn with armor and terrifying jaws. Definitely people from here have a very active imagination.
I called but nobody answered me on that farm so I decided to return for my equipment, but when I was about to enter the clearing where was that ugly statue I get to cover: I heard voices. Slowly pull out my knife ready for anything.
12 hours before
Twilight Sparkle isn’t felt so excited since she was accepted into the Academy of magic. He had received a letter from the Princess Celestia directed exclusively for her informing her that a stellar event which had never happened before was going to happen that night and she assigned her the task of researching it. The simple fact to remember what the letter said gets her literally jumping of joy.
-Quiet Twilight, that I am back here - replied Spike, her dragon, while they headed to the little hill near Sweet Apple Acres where the event would be watched better.
-Sorry Spike, is that I am so excited… -
-Yes, I can notice it -
-…maybe they write about us in the history books... -
-Aja-
-I mean, the Princess said that the stars would move so strange tonight, this may not be repeated ever again-
They reached the observation point where her friends were already waiting.
Is for today Twilight! - Rainbow Dash said
-Good heaven, I was worried - commented Fluttershy
-Sorry girls, is that I had to bring some books and… -
-You mean that "I" had to bring certain books -
-Spike, there was no reason for you to stay in Ponyville-
-Ouuu, but today is the night where the Apple family sells its ** slurp ** delicious products in the Centre of the town -
-Will not be the same without Applejack - answer Pinkie Pie
-Well hurry, Appejack is not the only one with work tonight – Rarity declared
-by the way Rarity, Sweetie Belle didn’t want to come with you? -asked Spike
-No, she said something that she and Scootaloo will help me cleaning up, but knowing these fillies they aren’t planning anything good, so also urged me to return-.
A yellow red mane filly stop near the home of Twilight and after checking that nobody see her she whistle three times in the dark, which was answered with a:-kaatoo! kaatoo!-.
The next thing was that of a bush came two other fillies, one white and the other of an intense orange.
-Sweetie Belle, who told you that a rooster make that noise!? – Said the orange one what the white replied - well, it worked, isn’t it? -.
-shhhh - shut them up the yellow filly - we don’t have much time. Scootaloo-talking to the orange filly - you put the pulleys?
-Of course I put them!-
-Well then, let’s do it-
While they pulled a rope, that upload they in a small basket, the yellow filly wondered to the white one - got the book?-
-Of course Applebloom, here you have - said while she gave it to her.
-¡Hey, I need help! - The orange filly complains while she was trying with all her strength to hold the rope that the other two had released.
-Sorry! - said the two in unison, while they came back to pull.
They climbed on the viewpoint of the tree and once there they exclaimed in a whisper - ¡Cutie Mark Crusaders, astronomers!-.
While inspecting the book Sweetie Belle ask Applebloom
-Applebloom, do you think that Twilight is going to be angry for taking her book?-
-It’s just a while, she’ll never notice-
-Why we don’t just follow them to the hill; we could have a better view -
-Because we won’t be the three together - Scootaloo clarified what Sweetie Belle simply nodded firmly.
-Oh no, oh no, OH NO! Did you search well!-Screamed a Twilight consumed by nerves.
-I searched above and below but is not here, I swear that it had brought it-answer Spike
-Oooooh, seems that it already started - said Pinkie Pie while she watched the sky dye red blood.
-And why you need that book?-wonder Rainbow Dash
-The illustrations in the book, I need it to compare them with the phenomenon - reply Twilight
-The Princess didn’t say that this was the first time that happened?-
-Even so, research and study includes comparisons-.
-Oh, it is true! I've got something here that maybe will help you dear - said Rarity as it showed something that she had pulled out of her bag.
-That is... a camera?-wonder Twilight as he contemplated the device.
-It just arrived from Canterlot, I was going to used it for the first time taking some pictures of my new dresses, but you need it more so....-
The next thing that felt the pony was a hug that almost felt like a tackle and almost throws her down.
-Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you! - told Twilight while she strongly kept hugging her.
-Oh is nothing really, go ahead, try it - Rarity told her.
The three fillies simply watched the event with fear, they saw that lights in the sky and in various parts of the Ever Free Forest some strange things that appeared.
After a while Sweetie Belle while she strongly hugged Scootaloo whispered - I am scared.
Twilight not could believe what they saw. It wasn’t the lights of various colors concentrated at certain points in the sky what surprised, was what appeared just below these lights in the forest what kept her astonished.
If she had to describe it in one word, that would be darkness. Seemed as if someone had switched off the lights in these areas or like black clouds of smoke.
She took as many photos as she could in the half an hour that take the event which had nothing of astronomy.
While this happened both Fluttershy as Pinkie Pie saw with concern that awful sky.
Pinkie felt a twinge in her knee.
In some other place, under the same sky
A young man ran scared in a death camp thinking about his beloved is reached by a mortar shell and ends irrigated by the field in pieces. A bloody battle was taking place.
The air of the night filled with smoke and that pink mist while supported rebel troops with the NATO mercenaries made their way supported by aircraft that looked coming out of a World War II movie.
On the other side of the stage were the cultists of "Truth Ultima" and their thugs to salary, those that were previously important lords of the crime now were simply gunmen who gave their lives in the front by the reason of always: the pay was better.
The aircraft made its own, crushing their defenses and allowing troops to enter that ancient university center, now base of the sectarians.
While the rebels take care of the gunmen, mercenary fighters cleaned the corridors of cultists.
A patch on the arm showed a black rectangle with a red cross, indicating that they were mercenaries and a code.
The mercenaries advanced evenly firing a continuous blast and ending with the sectarians than pointlessly defended the main hallway.
Met with the rebels at a square with dome surrounded by offices where sectarians made their last stand and in his despair energy cut electric becoming the shooting a show of lights.
The user of the patch with the code MERC7 was moving with cautious through the offices and halls while with his silenced weapon chose and killed isolated objectives to reduce drastically the number of enemies. The barrel of a weapon peered around the corner where he was and without allowing the user of that M4 pull the trigger he deflected the weapon, hit the face with his elbow and before that the subject be given he has already had pulled out his pistol and put two shots in the head. Although the sound of the gun alerts others of his presence were too late for them, they were surrounded.
Half an hour after the atmosphere of this place had changed so drastic; rebels laughed and ate around improvised bonfires while few prisoners were executed in the subsequent gardens.
He approached one of the bodies of the executed which kept a smile. Always that damn smile.
He took off everything of value while the thought isn’t looked at all like a cultist.
Before he wasn’t a corpse dressed in a white hood or like a monk, instead was dressed in a tactical vest, pants with knee pads and military boots.
-Hey big boy! - said a girl behind him.
-what’re you doin’ "MERC7"? robbing another warlock?... just joking Ghost- apologized remembering that he disliked being called so and seeing the look that he released, however he just limited to sigh. Ghost wasn’t his name, but the name that was given in his birth had stopped using it for a long time.
-Hello Iris, only checking anything useful I can take, after all he doesn’t need it.
-This work was too easy, isn’t it? Do you think that they have something prepared for us?
-I hope not, but it wouldn’t be the first time-.
A message on the radio informs that had been found a gate underground and they will proceed to open it.
When she listen the message, Iris looked Ghost with his eyes wide open, he didn’t understood until he saw once more that smiling carcass. A nest.
-! NO, DON’T OPEN...!-hasten to say in his radio but it was late, they heard shouts by the transmitter and shoots inside.
When they enter encountered a scene similar to the months of madness. Creatures barely distinguishable were moving quickly in the darkness and attacking anyone who was close enough. The lightings continued falling on that building, apparently closer.
Quickly those who were there formed a circle in the centre watching their backs, but it was useless, they were too many.
In the midst of chaos Ghost reached to see how one of these silhouettes was preparing to rush against Iris so he get between the beast and her pointing his weapon but when he pulled the trigger while that thing threw against of he and listened to the unmistakable click that meant his gun was empty, he knew he had lost.
It was then that all lit up in a blinding white light, then everything was dark.
This place is not where I should be
- I don't know if we should be here- said a blonde unicorn filly.
-Dinky, if you want to be a Cutie Mark Crusadier you have to join us in our adventures- Scootaloo said.
-By the way Applebloom, did you get caught? - Sweetie Belle asked.
-Nope, arrived just in time though I think Applejack suspected- she answered
-Is that what you told me that happened last night ...- Dinky nervously said and Applebloom calmed her- No problem Dinky, I know the way and we are not far from the house of Zecora. We’re goin’ to be okay-.
Dinky wasn’t the only one who felt that this was a bad idea. Sweetie Belle saw with fear the way which led to the statue of Nightmare Moon, last night was one of the areas where it appeared that lightning and the strange smoke, but decided to stop thinking that because she was forgotten something.
-Right Dinky, here is your official coat- she said and proceeded to give it to her and to put it on.
-Wow, thanks girls! - She answered while they did a group hug, then they shouted together- ! Cutie Mark Crusaders, unusual events investigators!-.
They reached the clearing where is the statue but to the surprise of the four fillies they didn’t see anything unusual.
-But...But…it was here isn’t it? - Scootaloo asked to Applebloom which she replied- Of course it was here!-.
Sweetie Belle sighed in relief but then Dinky shout- ! Hey girls, come see!-.
-Wow ... but what is this?-asked Sweetie Belle.
-I think ... that is a simple bag- Appleboom said.
-I know it’s a simple bag- Dinky said exasperated -Look what is inside-.
Dinky opened the zipper and take out a long, heavy object.
The four fillies were amazed to see that artifact. Applebloom touched it and shivered when she felt the cold metal. They looked inside the bag; there were more objects like that.
-What do you think are these things? - Asked Dinky.
-I don’t know- answered Scootaloo while Applebloom pull out one of them.
-Maybe they are crutches- Applebloom said as she gets the most comfortable side o f the object under her arm.
-It don`t looks too much like a crutch- Sweetie Belle said.
The four fillies began to empty the bag, marveling at the many strange objects which it contained. What they didn't know was that they were not alone.
I opened my knife and slowly approach the place where the voices were coming but I stopped when I listen that they were voices of girls.
I sighed and smiled, listen to these girls for a while giving me the tought to be far enough away that they didn’t know what was a rifle. But for some reason they speak English. I listen them marveling at the weapons that I know were unloaded. I sat down, put on my headphones and closed my eyes for a while. For a moment I forget everything: war, the people I knew, that I was in an unknown location.
Only hope that they don’t do anything stupid like eating the bullets.
-Look, this seems made of plastic-listen to one of the girls.
I left my Glock loaded.
"Damn" I muttered as I stood to take away my things to these girls.
-Okay girls stop playing, that's my stuff and- and then I stopped.
In front of my there were four strange equine creatures, a little smaller than the statues of that castle. They had some very bright colors in both their manes and fur and also big and beautiful eyes.
They launched a fear-filled looks, almost human. Slowly they began to approach me and stopped
When I said - now I'm hearing voices? great, I`ve lost my mind-.
"Did they understand that?" I was thinking when a blue filly with blonde mane came to me.
As she examined me with those big eyes and I stretched my arm to touch her I gently asked - yes? What do you want?-.
-Hi...umm...what are you? - I recieved as answer from the filly.
I received an answer from a filly.
After two seconds that felt like an eternity I screamed and fell on my back but when I realized that was't a fantasy; I just leaned against a tree with a lost gaze thinking how far I am of home.
For half an hour I was sitting there and these fillies staring at me the whole time. They looked at me, looked at my bag and then looked at me again.
Sweetie Belle came closer to that strange creature and asked him - excuse me but, is that your stuff? - But she didn't recieve answer.
Suddenly he talked -unicorn- he said pointing to Sweetie Belle and Dinky, then he pointed to Scootaloo and said- pegasus- which she answered- Right!-.
Then he pointed to Applebloom and asked- and you're....? - Which she replied enthusiastically saying -! Earth pony! - Then he started to laugh, then started to cry.
I violently stuck my knife into the tree feeling a few tears of frustration. If I was in another dimension, another planet or whatever had abandoned my companions.
You don't know what you have until you lose it. Iris.
One of the fillies, a yellow one, asked me- Are you okay?-.
"Well" I think "It's difficult to leave behind an entire life but isn't like I could come back".
I smiled at her and said- I'm fine, kid-. I took a deep breath and got up.
-So, what are you? - An orange filly with purple mane asked me.
-I won't hurt you, if that is what you're concerned- I answered.
-What are these things? - said a white filly pointing at the weapons.
- First things first, what are your names? - I decided to start talking with them. Maybe I had lost my mind, maybe I was dead or in other planet; either way I had nothing to loose.
The orange filly started:
- My name is Scootaloo!-.
-I'm Dinky Doo! - said the blue filly.
-Sweetie Belle! - said the white one.
And I'm Applebloom...what's so funny? - The yellow filly asked.
- Nothing, I just remembered a joke - I was definitely far away from home.
Sweetie Belle realized that I was laughing at their names because she asked me very serious
- So, what is your name?-.
-Ghost - answered. I thought about saying my real name but...
-Wow, that's a nice name- Applebloom said
-So now...what are these things? - asked Scootaloo.
-Something very dangerous if is used by someone other than me- answered.
Was then that I saw that footprints. Wasn't from the fillies nor mine. And I know them very well.
but I get defocused when I saw that gray winged figure approaching to where we were and that voice from the trees behind me.
-Applebloom!!, you little trouble of a filly, I know you had somethin' in mind!-.
-Oh no- Appebloom said - it's Applejack -.
-Who? - I asked.
-My sister-.
An orange pony with blonde mane and like a cowboy hat appeared between the trees, but when she saw me stopped.
"What in the name of Equestria is that!?" Applejack thought while she was staring at that strange creature but then realized that she also said it in a shout. Everybody hear her, even Derpy (a gray mare with blonde mane) that had just arrived. Her face took the color of a tomato.
-- Said Dinky after an akward minute of silence.
Applejack was then the one who talked.
-Well....then...sorry for....I.....¡I..I'm Applejack!- said the mare with her face still coloured.
Though her eyes didn't showed it (she was cross-eyed) Derpy was watching every movement of the creature, ready to jump into action if he tried to hurt her daughter or any of the other fillies. The creature noticed it and show his ¿hooves? and said
-It's ok, I'm just lost- and then turned to Applejack and said - I'm Ghost, it's a pleasure to meet you, both of you-.
-I'm Derpy- she said and stop watching him.
Applejack looked suspiciously Ghost's bag on their way to Sweet Apple Acres but smiled when she realized that he was watching her.
- So...- she started -...you lost? -
- Sort of -
- May I ask what 're you?-
- Human -
- Sorry, hu...what? -
- Hu...man -
- 'kay human, I get it -
- Applejack, can I ask you something? -
- Yes, what is it? -
- That you could't say "human", I guess that there's anyone like me isn't it? -
Applejack said watching the long fingers of Ghost
- You got right -
- Then you understand the conmotion that I could cause-
- Yeah -
- You don't have a place to stay -said Derpy
- I could handle it -
- No, you can stay in the barn -said Applejack
- It's ok, I just..-
- Please...-
I don`t know if that was courtesy or they only want to keep me watched. Derpy promised to shop around to see that I don't missing anything. Applejack also asked me if she could present me one of her friends, she said she's like a librarian or something. I layed on the straw bales and watched the roof. I've decided let myself go, after all it can't get worse.
Or it can?.
