Out of the Frying Pan and Into the Fire

Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed...

Dwight D. Eisenhower

      War is not a pretty thing, that's obvious. It is a very touchy and sensitive subject for veterans of time as the war ravaged their friends and even family. When you are staring death in the face, you suck up your fear and spit in his face to laugh. When you do service, you are bound by death as you fight for your life in the midst of blood-shed. When you do, you leave no man behind. Lieutenant Simon "Ghost" Riley knew this damn well. When your closest friend was bleeding and dying in your grasp as you pull him down a large hill, your instincts kick in as your friend's blood stains your hands.

    "Hang on, Roach! We're almost there!" Ghost assured the dying man he was pulling. He heard no response, just the beats of his heart pounding against his chest. He picked up the pace and sped up, trying to get away from their attackers. Bullets flew by Ghost's head, blazing past so close to him. As he neared the LZ, a oh-so large familiar tan-colored helicopter landed. One person opened the door and walked out, General Shepherd.

   Ghost was ecstatic to see the General come for him after all this. The General lightly hunched over and shielded his face from the dust as Ghost stopped by the chopper and picked up the, same he was pulling, to him. Pulling his arm over his shoulder, Ghost limped forward with Roach in his grip.

"Did you get the DSM?" He asked.

"We got it, sir!" Ghost replied happily.

"Good... That's one less loose end." At that very moment, the General removed his 44. Magnum from it's holster and fired one round into Roach's stomach, sending him to the ground as Ghost removed his grip from him. Simon tried to retaliate by firing but Shepherd fired a round into his throat, puncturing the jugular, rendering Ghost useless as he bled out. Simon tried to make coherent words but all he did was garble up blood as he slowly closed his eyes to let Death take him away.

Simon felt cold then warmth. A blizzard then an inferno. A hurricane  then drizzling rain. He felt wind brush against him as he floated in eternal darkness. At that moment, he felt like wind was pushing him through something. It was soft but thick like a blanket. At last, he felt ground underneath him. Soft blades of grass brushed against him as bugs buzzed about, flying next to him like pests. Feeling the ground underneath him, he opened his eyes. As he did, the sun bright rays hit his eyes and he instantly closed them in shock and pain.

"Dammit." He groaned. This time, he cautiously opened his eyes, letting the sun slowly fill his vision. Seeing a bright blue sky way above him, he sat up. His body protested the quick movement but he did not care a single fucking bit. His head darted left and right, only seeing blades of grass for miles. Wearily, he stood completely up and his spine ached as did his neck. He cracked his back and ignored the stinging feeling on his neck. Looking around once more, he noticed a gray object laying in the grass about six feet away. Stepping over to it, it was his gun. ACR. A combat rifle and the last thing he was holding as he fought well. He picked it up to be surprised about the weight in the firearm.

   "I thought this thing was near empty when I met with Shepherd after helping... Roach." He began calling out for the man but found no reaction to his cries. "Roach! Roach. Dammit, Roach..." He sighed sadly and heaved the gun on his back. Looking around one more time, he looked for a sort of town. One thing. A village. Ignoring the fact that this was a real village, he began the short trek to it, somewhat eager to see what awaits him in this type of limbo. He also put on his glasses, as they were in his coat pocket somehow.

  He didn't rush or speed up at all during the trip. He simply walked and took in the sights as they passed him by. The air was crisp and clean unlike Earth's. There was not a single sight of human technology anywhere. All these bugs would be less exotic like flies but there is dragonflies around the ponds, love-bugs and beetles everywhere. Even the small thing of bees was there. It was like Heaven, as they say. He had never seen a more beautiful sight in his entire existence than... this.

  "Is this Heaven?" He asked to himself. "Why would I keep my guns if it was? That doesn't make any bloody sense. Also, why is it so god damn hot?" He looked up at the sky, visibly noticing the sun's... change. It was VERY bright, almost blinding Ghost if he hadn't been wearing the dark glasses, covering his eyes from the damage of the rays. "Fuck, this fire-proof jacket's coming off." Unzipping the thick, gray coat, he placed it on the thick tree stump he found. There was a downside to taking it off however, less protection around his arms. All he had a basic green guacamole shirt under that was protected by a black Ballistic Vest with the United Kingdom flag stitched around the breast area. "Whatever, fuck that sun." He kept walking, no longer sweating as much.

  The walk paid off as he arrived to town shortly. It smelled of hay, fresh produce and other scents. Funny thing was, Ghost, was starving. Maybe, he could get some food after he questioned how he got hungry in "heaven". Continuing in the town, he noticed one teeny, tiny fact about this place. It was filled lots of damn horses. Lots. All of them were a fucking color of the rainbow. And every single damn one had both their eyes on Ghost. Except one loopy-looking gray one that had wings. She had really derpy eyes.

"Fucking horses. Fucking horses?" He questioned this reality internally. Inhaling deeply and exhaling, he contained his sanity. For now. He began walking through the town, ignoring the tiny colorful horses. Walking up to one, he bent down and stared it in the eyes. The horse just shuddered and dared to stare back at what it thought was a monster. Or demon from Tartaurus. The whole skull mask thing was actually terrifying to them. "Boo." Gone. The horse was gone. It went so fast that a cloud shaped like it stood there. Then, the cloud ran away. Ghost then began to question his existence as he took off his glasses dramatically.

"WHAT THE FUCK?" He screamed to the sky. Then, he was blinded. Growling as he rubbed his eyes, he put them back on and looked towards the sun again. "Another thing, FUCK YOU SUN!" Gasps. Gasps everywhere. "The fuck? Did you all just gasp? How the FUCK do horses gasp?" Something blue flew right in his face and stared.

"Who you callin' horses, ya monkey?" It was blue, pissed off and talking. Fucking fantastic.

"Monkey? Toots, kiss your ass goodbye, because I'm about to fucking end you." Ghost hissed.

"You think you're scary, big guy?" She replied.

"I don't fucking need to be." Ghost headbutted the horse who was flying, sending her backwards. "I can you fight you without fear, bitch!" He reared his arm back and then nailed her in the jaw and then kicked her away, sending her to the ground.

"Lucky shot." She retorted. Slam! The pony rammed into him, most likely cracking a few bones of his ribcage. He almost fell over as he coughed up blood.

"Fuck, you can hit hard." He exclaimed.

"You're not bad yourself. But, I'm faster." She flew up to turn around and try and buck him. He, however, dodged and grabber her tail. She clenched up at touch as he swung her around and threw her, hitting a vegetable cart, knocking over the produce, banging her up a tad.

"Bitch! I'll fucking destroy you! I've been in the military for four years! I know every fucking trick in the book! I'll rip your skull through your fucking nostrils!" He roared, cracking his neck. "Get back up! I'm not done with you!" As he yelled, she came flying at the soldier, hoof ready to swing. She swung forward but Simon simply grabbed it, ignoring the force that came after contact. And he didn't fucking let go of that hoof as his grip tightened, straining the muscle of the appendage. She swung her left but he caught that one and they were locked in a clutch. "I. Will. End. You." Pulling her body forward, he headbutted her again and punched her in the jaw, again, and finally, kicked her in the chest, damaging her right wing. Or her good one, to say. He exhaled deeply as stepped back as she tried to pull herself up but failed.

He began to walk away but was stopped as he heard hoofsteps behind him and lots of gasps, following shortly. "Back for more?"

"Oh no, my dear. I just overheard your insult to my beautiful star." Confused, he turned around and saw something quite scary. A tall bright white pony with the craziest fucking hair. Bright blue and indigo flames were her hair. Her brilliant magenta eyes with her snake-like pupil just oozed hate and... power.   Or it could be the roman golden armor, covering her body. "I must say, beating up a Element of Harmony is a feat itself but actually beating up the most resilient is even better. Human are just absolutely lovely creatures, aren't they?" Just staring at her made her Ghost a little on edge. She began slowly circling the man and observing him, looking up and down.

"Who the hell are you?"

"My my, aren't we the feisty one? I once went by Princess Celestia but you can just call me Corona." She chuckled lightly at her name.

"Well, Corona, thanks for compliment but all I'm looking for is home. But then, that fucking blue horse attacked me so I took care of her. Wait, how do you know about humans? I have yet to see a single one."

"My knowledge extends past the stars... actually, I never got your name."

"Ghost."

"Mysterious... I like it. As I said, I know much more than one pony can imagine. One big brain with so much power at her hooves. It's a sensational feeling, Ghost. All it takes is one order and a pony is exiled or... killed." She simply chuckled at the thought. "I've seen your world for thousands of years. Your race is so destructive, so... evil. It fills me with joy, knowing that, somewhere, there is creatures out there, like that. Now, I'm staring at one who utterly crushed the might of an Element." She exclaimed.

"Well, it wasn't too hard. Just a few punches and kicks. Tell me, is there a way for me to get home?" Ghost asked.

"Of course, sending you back would perfect if it weren't for the blockade on my magic, disallowing me to use it for spells. That is where you come in, Ghost, help me. If you do, I'll send you home and you can forget about this world. What do you say?"

GOOD: Don't help her?

OR...

*EVIL: Help her.*