The Last Pack

Lionel, awaken.

Wha…What?Please awaken Lionel, you are in danger.Gah, my head. The last thing I remember-        I was abruptly cut off from my thoughts with the sound of rattling chains that were around my arms and legs.What in the world?        I tried to look around only to find my head fixated into place by a contraption to keep my head facing forward.Whats going on?!?! Where am I?!Lionel, please calm yourself. You won’t get anywhere if you don’t calm down.Where’s my wife?! Where’s Jazmine?! Where’s Vasquez?!LIONEL! PLEASE BE CALM! Jazmine is next to you, do not fret. Vasquez was transported elsewhere so I cannot be sure his location.You planned this didn’t you?!No I didn’t, it twas my sister, more commonly known as the Tyrant Queen.I knew it. I shouldn’t have trusted you, why should I listen to you at all?!Because I was banished by her, and I chose to rebel against her a thousand years ago.Oh great, another thousand year old being inside me. Isn’t that just perfect.I am not inside you as Azriel, I am still in the place I was banished, so you don’t have to fret over another being in your body.I let out a sigh of both relief and irritation.Well if you’re not in my body, and you know where I am, just exactly where are you?I am trapped in the moon of this fair world.So you mean to tell me that you are trapped in the moon that orbits Earth 238,855 miles above us? I’ve never heard something more idiotic in my entire life! No one would be able to live up there, let alone for a thousand years without food, drink, air, or warmth. Now why don’t you tell me the truth?You believe I doth lie, when I was the one to take in your ancestor as mine own and treat him as my son till the day I was banished? Also this tis not Earth, Lionel, no this is Equestria.Equestiwhat now? What do you mean?I believe you’re about to get your answer.        No sooner had the voice stopped talking did I hear a voice.        “He’s awake!” the voice yelled through the halls as I heard what sounded like hardened blocks hitting the ground repeatedly.        “Why does it sound like there’s a horse in here?” When I spoke I realized my voice was more hoarse and seemed to be laden with a European accent. That was weird.        “He’s awake? We must go alert the Queen at once!” I heard another voice say, then I heard the pair of what I could register as guards to this, “Tyrant Queen”, I’ve been hearing about the past month.        I started to feel sleepy, not a normal sleepy, one that was slowly taking me over, like a medicine or in this case, it may be a poison. Whatever it was, it took me into sleep rapidly.

        When I finally woke up, the shackles and chains were gone from what I could hear, and I was laying on a royal red carpet, gilded with golden thread. Where in the world was I?        “It seems you have finally awoken Solstice, you know it’s rude to keep your Queen waiting.” said a females voice laden with hatred.        I looked around and could find no one. Next to me laid a creature, no not a creature. It was a……Pony? What in the world?        “You look surprised to hear my voice.” said the voice once again. I looked up to see the carpet going up some stairs that led to a golden throne that shone brilliantly with the sun glistening off of it. What I saw sitting in the throne, couldn’t have of surprised me any more than finding out a dog could talk, and was actually an astrophysicist. Sitting there, where the voice had come from was a large unicorn with a pure white coat that looked as if it had never seen a speck of dirt in its entire life. Its mane was what really attracted my attention. The mane was flowing, even without any air. It seemed like it was an array of colors that flowed through the spectrum of a rainbow, yet it was missing quite a few to be considered as such and it seemed dimmed down as well. The tail was the same as well. Though something was weird, this unicorn had wings. Weren’t unicorns only supposed to have a horn?“Umm……Did you just talk?” I asked quizzically, not believing the image in front of me.“No, I’m just talking for the sheer joy of it, you ungrateful whelp.” she growled through her teeth. When she actually spoke, I fell backwards flailing my ha…..hooves?

and then the giant monkey frog summoned by the black wizard from compton said “OMG, i like duckies!”.(Random line by my friend when I was writing this in spreadsheet applications… Don’t ask what is wrong with him ._.)

        I screamed, “HOW ARE YOU TALKING?!?! YOU’RE A FREAKING HORSE! WHY DO I HAVE HOOVES?!?! WHAT IS GOING ON?!?!”, with this outburst I went into full on panic mode. I felt my heart beat increase ten fold. It felt like it was beating out of my chest. I fell onto my back again, but this time I felt something on my back, it felt like there were two long appendages sticking out of it.        “What in blazes are you doing? What do you mean how am I talking? Everypony knows we can talk. You have hooves because you’re a pony.” said the pony sitting on the throne with both an amused and annoyed tone.        “No no no, ponies should not be able to talk. I am not a pony, there has to be a logical explanation to this…” I said worriedly. There just HAS to be an explanation. Was this just a dream? Yeah it was a dream, and I would wake up anytime now.“Yeah this is just all a dream, you're not real, none of this is!” I exclaimed as if coming to a revelation. When I said this, I heard the pony on the throne start to laugh.“A dream? You doth think this is but a dream? Oh you are severely mistaken Solstice, this is not a dream, but the reality you live in now. This is Equestria, not the place you once called home.” she said between her maniacal laughing.“This can’t be real…This is Earth, I’m at home sleeping with my wife, holding her in my arms after getting her back from the commander…” I whispered quietly, then it struck me. This really wasn’t a dream. That yellow ooze we were thrown into… that served as the gateway between this world, and ours. I felt as tears started to fall from my eyes, then I heard a pained moan from something behind me. I turned around to find that the pony I had been brought in here with had finally awoken.“It seems our other guest has awoken. Now the party can begin.” I turned to see the queens horn growing a bright yellow. What was she doing? No sooner had I asked that, had I been given my answer. I looked to the main doors to see them being slammed shut, the windows blocked out leaving only a dim light to light the room. Spheres of light started springing up through the floor forming a circle around the three of us.“Gah, my head…wait a minute…why don’t I feel any pains?” I heard the pony say, who was examining her sides only to be stop and look at the appendage that was feeling for the scars and cuts that were supposed to be present. “What the…” I could hear her say quietly as she examined her hoof.“Jaz...Jazmine?” I asked quietly to the pony who responded by shooting me a glare.“Who are you? and Why are you a pony, further more how are you talking and how am I a pony?” She asked hastily. I could sense she was starting to worry. I moved in and hugged her with hoof as best I could, only to be pushed back. I forgot I was a pony as well.“Jazmine, it’s me, Lionel. As to why we’re ponies and why we’re able to talk I have no clue.” I said to her. She looked at me as if she had just seen a monster.“Sorry to break this oh so touching reunion short but I believe that you deserve some sort of explanation as to what is going on, even if you will be dead in a few hours.” said the queen getting our attention. As she said this I couldn’t help but notice Jazmine go pure white when she heard it. She had just gotten done being a prisoner of war, that was the last straw for anyone, or in this case pony.“Listen to me right now, you threaten that we will be dead again, you will find a rude awakening as to what I can do. I won’t tolerate any threats made towards her again, I just got her back and I’m not willing to lose her again.” I said feeling the anger boil within me.She started to laugh, “You honestly think I care for your Lupine Form? Oh yes I know about it, I know about it very well. You may have died a thousand years ago and are back now, but it seems you forgot a great deal of things. Let me be the first to say, you wouldn’t last a minute against me.” She said now in a more formal tone, one that rung out with the tone you would expect from a queen.“I’ll take my chances if need be.” I growled through my teeth at her. I looked back to see Jazmine cowering behind me. “Jazmine” I said, “Don’t be scared, I will always be here with you, so you need not be afraid.” I tried to comfort her. It seemed it kind of worked because she looked up to me with her tear soaked eyes and fur.“Please Lionel, don’t let her hurt me. I don’t want to be hurt anymore.” she cried into my shoulder as she said this.“If you don’t mind, I would like to explain.” I heard the queen sigh with irritation.“Sorry, but may I ask your name at least, if you’re to be my enemy I would at least like to know your name so it is not forgotten.” I said returning to my formalities. I turned to face her, with Jazmine standing by my side.“Hmm, I think that would be appropriate. My name is Queen Celestia, ruler of Equestria.” She said bowing her head slightly.“My name is Lionel Varellian, Captain of Alpha Squad of the United States Marine Corps. This is my wife Jazmine Lynn, Major of Alpha Squad of the United States Marine Corps.” I said with a flat tone that gave off formality.“That is the name you go by? Why?” Celestia asked. With hearing this I felt irritance within me, yet I forget this is a new place to me and I knew not what one would call themselves. “A thousand years ago, you were Lost Solstice were you not?” she asked.“Lost Solstice? Why do you and Azriel call me that? I was born to Zachary Varellian and Beatrice Varellian. They chose the name for me, and to this day I keep it close to me as it is the identity that is the true me.” I said keeping my formality.“That’s because you are in fact, your ancestor, reincarnated. You are Lost Solstice.” she replied. I felt something surge through my back as she said this, it made me look directly into her eyes despite my best efforts. “Now I know that you are. That very same glare he had given me that day. Not only do you share his attitude, but you share his voice, his body, his wings, and most importantly, his spirit.” she said suppressing a giggle as she said this.“I know not of who this Lost Solstice is, you, the voice, and Azriel all keep saying it yet I have not even the slightest idea of who it is, or the history you all share together. You may think I lie, but I do not. All I know is my life from the day I was born, to this day.” I stomped my hoof as I finished my statement.“Hmm, you have no memory of those thousand years ago? Yet you appear in this world looking exactly like him, sounding like him, having his spirit, and more importantly even the cutie mark he had? You expect me to believe you?” She said angrily.“No.” I said hanging my head. “No, I don’t expect you to believe me. You seem to have a grudge beset on this pers- ponies head. I truly do not know why, but if you believe I am the one who has angered you so, do to me as you will, but I do request you at least send Jazmine home to our world. If you don’t accept at least this, then I fear we will have nothing further to speak of.” I calmly said, I lifted my head up to reveal that my eyes had changed to the slits of Azriels.“Then I guess you shall die here and now. GUARDS!” She yelled the magic curtains, lights and hold on the door all disappeared. No sooner had this happened did a swarm of guards start swarming into the room pointing spears and swords at me and Jazmine and swarming around the queen to form a protective barrier.“This isn’t a fair fight…” I said lowering my head so that my mane was covering my eyes. I felt Jazmine cowering under me.“Oh yes, you’re quite right Solstice. I promise it will be quick.” I heard Celestia say above the silence.“I was meaning this isn’t a fair fight for you or your guards Celestia.” I said lifting my head up to reveal a look that made the guards take a step back. I was feeling good. “Jazmine, this time they won’t hurt you. We will escape.” I said looking down to her where all I got was a slight nod.I felt the surge of power run up my spine, and through my wings, and down my legs. This was quite different from what I normally felt. Instead of pure anger and hatred, I felt a warmth that ran between each and every bone in my body, encompassing my organs and felt my throat start to burn. No sooner had I realized this, did I feel my body start to change. This time it was completely different from Azriel, no, it was a new creature entirely.The pain was immense as I felt my bones grow lighter more spread out but harder. The appendages I had before, grew immensely and I realized that they were leathered wings and that which held them were scales. My tail, it felt bare, but at the same time it had felt as if it were ten fold stronger. I felt as my legs grew larger and grew talons on them instead of the normal claws I was used to. My head felt heavier and made of stronger bone, yet I felt light as a feather. My eyesight changed drastically from what they usually were when I turned, this time I could see everything clear as day, yet I could see for miles beyond the horizon. It felt great, but at the same time I was terrified as to what I had become. No sooner had it finished did I hear the guards start charging me, both from fear, and from the order given by Celestia. With one swipe of my right claw, 4 ponies fell their armor being torn in half and the uppermost parts of their bodies being flung clear across the room.For 30 minutes I fought barely wasting any energy the waves of guards, some I severely wounded most I had killed. Celestia just sat upon her throne watching as her guards fell before her with but a smirk. It enraged me. I finally had enough of this senseless slaughter, so I picked up Jazmine in one arm and flew towards the door.“STOP HIM BEFORE HE REACHES THE COURTYARD!” I heard Celestia yell. This time it sounded as if she had actually been terrified. I looked back to see her starting to chase me, with an expression that brought me joy. Her face was laden with fear and anger.“I’d see you dead if I didn’t enjoy that look.” I said with a cocky demeanor, when I spoke it sounded as if thunder had boomed in the sky above and felt like it as well from what I could tell. Beneath me a great many ponies tripped from being thrown off balance. I couldn’t help but laugh.“You won’t escape!” I heard Celestia yell again. Quickly she had caught up to me and was almost to me, ahead mere meters away I saw the sunlight. With one last great flap of my wings I surged through the small doorway and out into the sky. I was followed by from what I could tell were Pegasi, and celestia herself. Along with very few unicorns who were using something to fly themselves up towards me. They wielded spears, swords, flails, and an array of weaponry I had never seen before.“Crap, if this keeps up I’ll run out of power before they stop. I guess it’s time to put these wings to good use.” I thought to myself as I looked upwards to see Celestia appear above me, wielding a great many spears, dropping down towards me. As I saw this I dodged to the side as the first spear was thrown, I was lured into a volley of arrows from below, luckily the arrows did little to nothing but scratch my scales. I then decided to drop down like a bullet keeping Jazmine tucked safely in my arms. Before I hit the ground I let out my wings to slow a little and I felt the ground meet my feet. I then pointed my head towards the sky and let out a strong stream of fire that burned the oncoming spears and arrows to ash, along with a few of the pegasus and unicorn that foolishly chose to follow me. As I stopped I could see the entire army that had swarmed inside the castle up in the air above me blocking out the sun and casting a shadow upon me. They were going for one final assault, placing their chances in a single strike. How foolish.“Stop now Celestia before there is more un-needed bloodshed!” I roared at the army.“Once you die, I shall surrender my arms!” I heard her yell back down to me. “Guards! ATTACK!” I heard her yell once more. As she said this, the army started to drop like a bomb towards me. I felt something start to encompass my body. It was a field of translucent cyan substance, then my whole world flashed away in a single instant.