Stronghold: New Beginnings.

Chapter 1:

The Big Bang Theory Backfires...HARD!

I remember my last days on Earth like it was yesterday, and not two years ago, like it had been. For some reason, I fight well with that memory. But that's not the point. My story starts two years before I became a hero. Before the 'glitz and glamour' of Equestria. Before any of this happened. I was 15 at the time, and since my mom thought I was responsible enough to have a girlfriend, I did. Her name was Alisa, and the reason we got along so much is because we had a problem.

Meaning, we had a disease called cancer. No one else knew.

That is, until Reggie found out and told us his secret. Apparently, he had a problem as well. He was once accidentally dropped in a bin of toxic waste. He was lucky he survived. Then, when he was three, he had an incident with a wood chipper. His dad, being a scientist and all, made him a special arm that moved when he sent signals through his brain to the arm, allowing him to have total control.

We were the closest friends. And the best pranksters. Sometimes, we'd pull pranks on the High School Football Team in the hallway, like hiding behind corners with a thin wire to trip the quarterback. But one day, everything changed by the tip of a hat.

I got tripped by the High School Football Wide Receiver, Jake Abercrombie. Reggie tried to save me from a beating, and Jake pushed him against the wall. I got so mad, I broke my promise to Reggie, which was that I wouldn't get violent

And when I get violent, I was like a psycho who pleaded innocent of murder charges.

I punched Jake in the face, grabbed his backpack full of heavy books, dropped it on his bleeding nose, kicked him in the stomach until he coughed up blood, and kicked him down the stairs. I got expelled, and Reggie said I was no longer his friend.

A few days passed, and on the first day of Winter Break, I woke up to screaming, fires burning people alive. I got dressed in my Great-great-great...however many greats, grandpa's old leather duster from his time in WWII, a black muscle-T, black skinny jeans (which, by the way, look great on me), my bead necklace my father made for me, my Italian leather belt, and my fresh, new Jordan's I bought yesterday.

(My dad was a magician. We became rich, but I'm not spoiled. Oh, the irony.) Then I went outside, and Alisa was on the ground, her leg bleeding from puncture wounds. Her last words before she died were “Reggie...wants you dead. He's discovered he has powers...silly, huh? And...and he's...using them to blow up the sun......I-I loved you Max, and always will.”

And just like that, she closed her eyes for one last time.

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“why the heck aren't you running to your bunker, you idiot? You'll get killed!” yelled Jake. For once, he actually cared. How 'sweet.' “I need to know what's going on first! Then I'll leave, Jake! And since you care oh so much, you're going with me to the bunker!” And I ran off towards the woods, where Reggie was trying to age the sun.

“What are you, NUTS!?! If you do this, you'll never make it out!” “Max, of course I will. I have powers that you never will. All you have is a disease that you'll die from...And no, I'm not nuts. I'm Reggie Phillips, Destroyer of Earth. AND I'VE DECIDED, THAT NO ONE ON THIS PLANET, DESERVES TO LIVE!!!” “Well then, here's a gift from me to you, Destroyer of Earth.” And I punched his nose so hard, it bent down like Professor Snape from Harry Potter.

“YOU DAMN HUSSY!!! I'LL KILL YOU!!!” and he charged.

But it seems he's forgotten that I'm a very good climber.

Before he could grab me, I said, “You're gonna have to catch me first.” and I climbed a tree, swung from branch to branch, grabbed Jake, and swung from branch to branch until we reached my bunker. The government gave us these in case such an event happened.

We got inside, I closed the door on Reggie's face, and then Jake asked “Why are you saving me? I tried to beat you up a few days ago.” “sometimes, people need just a little forgiveness!” And I pressed the launch button, which made our bunker fly into space. And just in time, too. Because as soon as lift-off happened, the sun blew up, and with it, the entire solar system, asteroid belts included. “Jake?” “Yeah?” “Looks like home isn't an option, anymore.”