The Helljumper *Objective Updated*by AddunexusChaptersPrologueChapter 1: ArrivalChapter 2: Three Young SoulsChapter 3: Bad First ImpressionsPrologue(On board the UNSC Pony Express) "Manny... MANNY, you there man, come on you gonna keep watch for me or what?" a voice woke me out of my zoned out gaze. "What? Oh yeah I got your back Sarge, don't worry I will let you know if anyone tries to come in," I said still not thinking straight. "I will use 3 knocks to signal someone is coming, just go get your little "session" over with." Sarge walked around the corner into the door which read: Infirmary Storage. This was were Sarge had his little ODST/Navy love affair he had been having with a doctor. I stood there waiting for him to finish with his little "session", I zoned out and leaned on the wall just staring at the opposite wall my mind wondered. I thought of my home, my old home, how it burned and how I could not stop it from being destroyed. Then I realized, I should have died there, died on Reach with the brave men and women who were ordered to stay behind as the civilians. One hour later I heard the door slide open and Sarge walked out with his fatigues looking like they were just issued to him. "Sarge it took you long enough, did you have trouble getting it it up since this is the third time you saw her this week?" I asked as I realized it was who I thought it was. "Hey Manny you know it is a long time to get every bit of enjoyment out of sex. You know if you ever need to get some "time off" I can ask her if she wants to help out, sound good?" he asked me bumping my shoulder as he walked past me. I declined the offer as we walked away, he noticed my gaze and demeanor were not as they once were a few weeks ago before the fall of Reach. He pulled me into the nearest open door and threw me into the wall and said that I should have seen a therapist about watching my home burn. As he looked at me I wasn't even looking at him, I saw the Navy crewmen in the room starring at us. Sarge yelled at me to look at him , but I literally just grabbed him and turned turned him around with him struggling until he saw the seventeen Navy crewmen (literally no females just a bunch of guys). "What the hell are you Jar-heads doing in our rec room? You two must have a ton of guts to walk in here." One closest to us said with a growl. "Alright sorry guys we didn't mean to intrude on the room we were just dealing with my friend here, he hasn't been right in the head since Reach." Sarge said trying to ease the tension without knocking the Navy man closest to him out. "Henry, shut the damn door, we are going to show these Jar-heads not to come into our rec room without our permission." the lead crewman said as I motioned to Sarge that we weren't avoiding a fight now. The man closest to us looked at me and smiled, a crooked, evil smile crossed his face. He advanced at me but Sarge got in the way, I walked around him and stared at the man who thought he could easily take me, especially since us ODSTs are MA5s with the safety clicked off. As I came close enough his fist flew from his side and up shot in the general direction of my head.... (EPIC FIGHT MUSIC COMMENCE) Time slowed as his hand flew at me and I could see it as if it was in 2x slow motion. It got closer and closer, once it was close enough I grabbed it and twisted my body around and brought his arm down over my shoulder snapping it at the elbow. The man reared back and screamed as he fell back from the kick that Sarge delivered to the man's chest. Three of the other men came rushing towards us, it was in the same slow motion as the body rolling on the floor. In the time it took them to close the distance to us I shot a look of questioning towards my friend behind me. He nodded and we jumped forward and took the three men rushing us head on as we did many times against the Covenant. My luck was getting the two larger men out of the group of three but the size didn't matter to me as they went down almost as fast as the first. These three didn't get taken down as the first, whom I stole a peak at after the second wave of assailants came forward. He was laying there still, but out cold from the pain of his broken arm as blood covered the front of his uniform and beginning to puddle on the floor. "MARINES! What the hell are you doing!" a female voice knowing but demanding came from behind us, a voice we knew all too well. "Ma'am!" we both fired out towards one of our best friends, we snapped off crisp salutes too the female officer who stood before us. "You Navy men get your friends to the infirmary now, I need to talk with these two." she said staring daggers towards the other soldiers save me and Sarge. The non Marines in the room gathered up the bodies on the floor, carefully picking up the ringleader of the group covered in blood. The officer stepped aside as the others scurried around the room to gather the hurt. She walked up to us and frowned towards the Navy boys fleeing the room in shock from the beating their buddies just got. The woman in the room put her hand on my shoulder and asked me if my head was getting better from the things we all witnessed the last few weeks. I knew what she was talking about, Reach.Before I could get a word out of my mouth Sarge interrupted me. "Jenn he still is acting all strange and distant h-" Sarge said as Jenn took his hand in hers and shoved it into his mouth as best she could. "Jenn, I have had the unfortunate event to watch my home planet burn. On top of that I had the memory of my parents trying to kill themselves along with me because of the damn Insurrection. But all in all I am feeling better after that little fight there." I said staring at her with a slight tinge of pain in my voice I almost missed. "Manny don't worry everything will be fine, we will be fine soon it wont be too bad hopefully we can-" Sarge was saying once he unstuck his hand from his word hole. An alarm blared as the ship's A.I. said over the comm "All hands man your stations , this is not a drill." We looked at each other and smiled, bolting out of the room towards the briefing room we knew all too well. Upon arriving we were briefed on what the alarm was for. The Covenant found Earth, we were going to be trying to take a carrier that was over Africa along with three other ships. We would all be dropping onto the hull of the ship and make our way towards the docking bays or any external hatch. Once the briefing was done we all ran to get our armor on and get our rifles. I grabbed my M6 and one of the many MA5Bs on the rack in the armory, Sarge picked up his BR55 rifle and SMG with suppressor and adjusted sight, then there was Jenn, The Lt. picked up her, signature SRS 99- S2 AM snipers rifle and a DMR. Once armed we grabbed four grenades each and turned to one another and smiled, there was going to be a fight and this time the alien menace would not burn Earth. We ran towards our pods two decks down from the armory waving at our fellow Jar- heads and making some cracks at them as we ran. Once we got down to the pods and found our places Jenn came up to me and Sarge and gave us all a reassuring slap on the ass for good luck. Once the pod doors closed and we spun to face towards the outside of the ship I saw every one of the explosions in the distance of space as rockets fired and exploded in the distance. Just as I saw the explosions then looked back at my screen in the pod I felt a *thud* and the pods on the ship cut loose and sent the Marine and all of his friends into the soundless abyss of space. "Alright Marines, we have a carrier to take", our CO said as we fell "once we get in there we have t-" He was cut off as my eyes shot towards the nose of the carrier (which sadly was were I was headed) where a Slipstream field began to open around the nose. "Jesus Christ, they are jumping in the atmosphere!" I shouted over the comm so everyone could hear. There were many shouts coming in over the comm as we fell towards the soon to be jumping space craft. As we got closer I radioed to Jenn and Sarge and told them my pod was going to go into the open portal. They shot back the standard no you wont it will be fine responses, but I knew that is where I was headed and nothing to fix it. Once our pods were close enough to the ship the carrier finally jumped into the portal and brought a wave of pressure pulling my pod into the portal. As the portal closed I heard static in my helmet ear piece, once that was realized my eyes slowly closed from the forces of the drop into the Slipstream, a second before my eyes closed I saw an "OBJECTIVE UPDATED" pop up on my HUD as the blackness of his eyelids took over my entire vision as I passed out. Chapter 1: ArrivalArrival Celestia's shining sun was high above in the sky setting the time around mid day, Ponyville a small town in the land of Equestria was using the very clear sunny day to have a market. But moments before the ponies could open their stands for the day there was a loud boom in the distance. (Sometime Later That Day) After returning from the Crystal Empire, the Elements of Harmony returned weary to Ponyville. Upon stepping off the train Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Spike were greeted by a distraught Mayor Mare. The six ponies and one dragon were shocked at how she was talking so fast, it was almost as fast as the pink mare standing in the group. "Mayor!" yelled Twilight, "calm down, you need to tell me in coherent speech what is exactly wrong. So once you take a breath to calm down meet me and the girls at the library and we will talk this over without worrying everypony." "Y-Y-y-you have a p-p-point Twilight," she stuttered, "let us take this inside for a more private matter." One hour later after the elements got settled in their respective homes they once again returned to Golden Oaks Library. Which for Twilight was already her home, so all she did was wait for her friends and the mayor to arrive. Upon the groups arrival Twilight had set out some small bits of food in case anyone of her friends was hungry for a small evening snack before they got to the serious issue. First to arrive was Rainbow Dash, she entered unlike anypony else, through the window which always made Twilight angry. Then was Rarity, she came in with Pinkie in tow because for the past few weeks they had been working on a dress for Pinkie's new party idea: Pinkie and Rarity's Big Fancy Tea Time with A Twist. Finally was Fluttershy, Applejack, and most importantly Mayor Mare. "So Mayor," Twilight asked, "what is this all about? Did Discord have some pranks to pull on us again?" The tan earth pony shook her head and told the six other mares what happened at noon. She told them of the boom, the smoke that was billowing form the Everfree, and the panic it caused during the market.Then she told the six mares before her that she sent Derpy with a letter to the Royal Guard in Canterlot to request a small detachment of Guards ponies be sent to keep the civilians of Ponyville safe. "Mayor, no offense but when has the princesses sent Guards to help us before. I mean it is always us six who end up fixing it in the end. And on that note I am going to check it out and see what is out there." Twilight said her voice slowly turning from criticizing to a determined voice as she volunteered to explore for the sake of calming everypony down. "Ah am goin too sugarcube." "If only I don't get my hooves too muddy." "I will check the animals." "I'll keep an eye in the air." "I will come too just so I know what I can throw a party for!" All eyes in the room shifted to Pinkie Pie at her comment, she smiled at all of them and began to bounce happily around the room. Due to the party pony's bubbly exposition her random comment and love for parties was brushed off. With the situation explained the six Elements of Harmony grabbed saddle bags and made way towards the edge of town. Once reaching the road that led to the Everfree Forest Fluttershy took the lead. The trail to the object that made the earth shattering boom was not that difficult to follow, since there was smoke drifting up into the sky from where the rockets on the bottom of the drop pod touched the trees ans set a few ablaze. "What in Celestia......." said Twilight, Applejack,and Rainbow Dash at the same time out of sheer shock. "Look at its color, it is hideous!" wailed Rarity suddenly fainting onto a couch that had appeared out of thin air. "I hope it didn't hurt any animals as it crashed." squeaked Fluttershy. "OOOOOOH!," said Pinkie as she bounced up towards the drop pod and began to tap at the glass. "Pinkie get away from that, we don't know what it is or what it does!" yelled Twilight. "Don't be a silly willie Twilight," the pink bouncing pony said, "I am 100 percent sure that HE wont hurt us at all." "Pinkie do y'all mind explaining what HE is?" questioned Applejack. "The Marine inside, DUH! Jeez AJ how could you not-" her voice was cut off by a hissing. _______________________ (Minutes after the pod hit the ground) I half opened my eyes before I realized I was alive. when that didn't effect me the only thing I could do was unhook my harness that help me to the pod. Once that was done I put my MA5B across my lap and then quickly and painlessly passed out again. When I came to I heard voices, when that hit me my eyes shot open like Archer missiles. The next thing I knew was I was leaning right up against the door of the pod just leaning against it. (In this time Pinkie pulled the emergency release handle on the side and then stuck her face against the glass.) *HSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS* "Woah!" I yelled as the pod door dropped open and hit the ground with a loud thud. "What in tarnation?" a voice with a very country accent said somewhere in front of me. I shakily rose to my feet and took in my surroundings, I was in a forest, but what really got me and I mean really got me was the six colorful ponies TALKING right in front of me. before I could do anything else I checked my HUD and found a new objective saying: *OBJECTIVE UPDATED* () EoH () PC () PL () PMC () SA () Get Ready I honestly had no godly idea it meant my thoughts were interrupted by the orange pony in front of me kicking my legs out from under me. My helmet clacked off of the rim of the door of the pod and slid off my head. When I lifted my head to look at the animal I saw two hooves ripping towards my face. I had no time to react and roll out of the way or raise my rifle (which was pinned under me) before blackness overtook my vision and I yet again passed out. When I came to for the next time I was in my armor still (thank god) but where I was moved to surprised me. I was in a cellar of some kind and was able to over hear the voices above me yelling. I ignored them as long as it was needed for me to grab one of my last two Sweet Williams cigars and get it lit. As I took the first puff I thought to myself ok what happened: 1.) Obviously these ponies that were arguing above me were not going to kill me. 2.) There was no covenant near (thank god) 3.) I wasn't dead..... I WASN'T DEAD! The rest of my thoughts were derailed by a small voice from across the cellar. "H-h-h-hello, there.. um my n-n-name is Applebloom, and ah was wonderin what are you?" Chapter 2: Three Young SoulsChapter 2: Three Young Souls "H-h-h-hello, there.. um mah n-n-name is Applebloom, and ah was wonderin what are you?" My eyes snapped open and scanned the room looking for the person who said that. Searching I only found a small filly, she was so freaking adorable. She was so adorable I almost contracted an old disease called Diabetes. In my hesitation she opened her mouth, and when she did my jaw dropped letting my Sweet William fall onto the floor. "C-c-can you u-understand me? Ah won't hurt you Ah promise." she said with fear in her eyes. (note Private Barker does not have his helmet on) I stuttered, "A-a-applebloom right?" she nodded as I slipped into the training we used to resist interrogation, "Manwell, Barker, Private, serial number 15831-157889- Mike Bravo." "Wait, Ah thought thought you just said your name was Manwell Barker, not Mike Bravo?" I stopped and realized maybe they wont hurt me, so I decided to be less cold. I smiled and actually explained who I was to the little pony in front of me. Upon finishing I realized the loud voices from upstairs had stopped. Noticing the fact I looked up the one called Applebloom looked even more scared, and before I could ask what was wrong she was gone. Moments later I heard the sound of figures approaching the door to my left, I ran over to my pod finding my helmet and threw it on my head. Taking a position with my MA5B pointed at the door just as it burst open and and I saw her, the same orange pony from before, the one who kicked me. "APPLEBLOOM, WHAT DID AH TELL YA 'BOUT COMIN DOWN HERE WITH THAT, THING!" she roared as she began to search for the little pony who I had talked to moments ago. The orange one and a few others who I could tell were other colors began looking around the large room I was in. I saw a chance to get out of there, I took it I almost bowled over a yellow pony with wings. "Sorry excuse me." I apologized as I ran and jumped over her at full speed. Once out of the room and up the stairs I found myself in what looked to be a barn. Thankfully I grew up on a farm on Reach and new barns like the back of my hand. I saw the big front door to my left and a smaller door to my rear. When I spun I came face to face with a pink blur, a very very hyperactive pink blur. "OhmygoshhiIamPinkiePieWelcometoEquestriaManny!" the pink blur babbled. I rolled as she tried to pin me down, her entire weight on my chest. Free from the pile of pink I ran to the door and kicked it open, only to come face to face with a rather large red stallion, who looked really pissed off. I spared a glance behind him and saw a cylindrical pod dug into the ground thirty yards away among the remains of a cart. When I looked back at the wall of red in front of me I noticed he turned around and began to plant his front legs in the ground. I shouted a good few curses and before I could move and think I was across the barn and stuck into a pile of crates. Then I passed out yet again (common thing now huh?) from the force that was released upon my chest. (One hour later in the Library basement) "Big Mac, you really didn't have to buck him across the room you know?" said an annoyed Twilight Sparkle "Ms. Twilight, Ah was awfully mad at the fact that a big metal tube took down three of mah apple trees. Then hearin' AJ screaming for Applebloom from the inside of the barn. On top of that seeing this thing kick open mah side door to the barn, Ah was rightly mad." Big Mac replied quickly in his calm country accented voice. As the conversation went on the the figure laying in the floor in the room opened his eyes slowly and mumbling a few curses. "When I find that big red mother fucker I swear to whatever god he believes in he will wish for a drill instructors wrath the-" I was cut off by the view at the end of my boots. I saw a purple pony facing away from me, then the big red one whom I was ready to kill.Thankfully to whomever is watching over me that they didn't know how to take my helmet off. For the moment I was still thought out like a light. Taking a view of my surroundings I saw my MA5B sitting on my lap, my sidearm in its holster, and finally my HUD. It still said what it said earlier, much to my dismay I had no idea what that meant. Once I finished checking my objectives I looked back up at the ponies who were standing at my feet. Unfortunately to my dismay they moved out of my line of sight, as I was tempted to move I felt an object bump the outside of my helmet. It was enough force to make me have to move my head to fake being out cold. "I think it is still out." said the voice of the purple pony to my left. "Yep." replied the red wall to my right. As I sat there listening to the two talk, I had the feeling in my mind that wanted to tell them that they were annoying me and I was about to kill them both for treating me like a weird animal. But before I could do anything the two suddenly went upstairs and left me alone in the basement. As the two left they turned off the "lights" as they went upstairs, after they left me in total darkness I sat there for what seemed like five minutes but was really hours. I heard a small creak from the direction the two that had supposedly brought me here. Seconds later I saw three small shapes in the light on one wall of the room, as I stared the room lit up and the three shapes began to move down the wall and assumed stairs. "Sweetie we need to see this thing since Applebloom already talked to it and chickened out when her sister came running." the first shape said. "Scootaloo I don't want to be here, what if it is dangerous." the middle shape said "Girls, Ah talked to it earlier, it was weird and may have two names." a familiar voice floated down from the final shape. Quickly realizing the three shapes were young children the one known as Applebloom among them, I removed my helmet and set it on the floor along with my MA5B. Once everything was set down I waited for the three children to arrive at the bottom of the stairs. Once they reached the room I was in I saw Applebloom, then behind her was a small white filly with a purple and pink mane followed by an orange filly with a reddish purple mane. The light then flashed on in the room and my hand naturally snapped to my MA5 and was brought to my shoulder, aimed at the three fillies in the room. Realizing what I did, aimed a gun at children I threw it across my body and it hit the wall with a loud bang. Next thing I knew I saw a purple flash of light and the purple mare from earlier somehow appeared right in front of the children. My eyes widened noticing the horn on her head. She however did not notice that my face was out of pure shock. She turned around and took notice of the girls and simply made them vanish. My face went to that of anger, what had she done with those kids. my sidearm flew from its holster and took aim at her. She heard the click of the safety and spun and her horn that somehow was on her head started to glow. "Where did those kids go?" I asked with anger dripping from my voice. "Wait, you can talk?" the purple pony said shocked. "Yes I can, what of it?" "I didn't expect you to talk in our language." I was about to reply but i saw my MA5B float up beside her, barrel pointed at me. I next heard to my dismay the loud snap of the bolt cycling and loading a round. The already loaded round flew out of the side of the rifle and hit the floor with a loud clang. My eyes widened and hers narrowed, my sidearm slid into its holster a long minute later my hands rose empty into the air showing I was unarmed. "Ok, take it easy, put the MA5 down and we can talk about this like civilized beings." I said calmly, "I don't want to hurt you, and you don't want to try to hurt me." "You are right, I don't want to hurt you, but we talk like this so you don't try anything funny." she said keeping eye contact with me. I was about to reply to her but I was interrupted by three voices from the stairs. I looked over the purple pony in front of me and saw the three fillies behind her. "TWILIGHT DON'T HURT IT!" the three screamed at the top of their lungs. She turned to face the three, and I took my chance. I dove forward and grabbed the MA5B and pulled it out of whatever force was holding it. Hearing my movement the purple one applied pressure to the rear of the rifle as I grabbed it and there was a loud bang, the bang of a gunshot. She shot me, thankfully my armor took the most of the impact but the force was still there. I was unfortunately not braced for the impact, so I flew back a good two feet and fell off my feet and hit the ground, hard. Luckily for me my rifle came with me on my all expense paid trip to the floor. Chapter 3: Bad First ImpressionsWhy the fuck did I have stupid ideas. Grabbing my MA5 was stupid, it was really stupid but it was not the part of getting MY rifle away from something that had no idea of what it did. The only thing that made me regret my decision was the fact the barrel was pointed at me. "SWEET ZOMBIE JESUS ON A POGO STICK!" I yelled at the top of my lungs as I clutched my stomach, "I HAVE NOT FELT THAT TYPE OF PAIN FOR ALMOST 25 FREAKING YEARS!" The ponies in the room just stared at me, the purple one with the horn stared with shock that I was still talking and moving. The other three were worried for my safety, but before they could be stopped they were at my side trying to make sure I was alright. Taking notice of the three fillies I slowly regained my senses, but the pain still there and the dent in my abdomen plate. "Are y'all okay mister, why did you do that?" the small one named Applebloom asked, "And this time you are telling my your actual name." "Girls, we need to be careful, we d-" the purple one said but I interrupted her. "I am Helljumper or Private, it is up to you on which to call me." "That is not what ya said earlier." What did he say earlier?" asked the purple, unicorn I guess I could call it. "He said Man some'n Barker." The group looked at me and an uneasily silence settled in over us in the room. Then a loud bang sounded from upstairs and I heard two voices from earlier that I was sure I didn't want to hear. Once another loud bang from the door at the top of the stairs I grabbed my helmet and rifle and shot up to my feet in one motion. As the two normal ponies rounded the bottom of the stairs I had my rifle up to my shoulder aimed at the orange mare and red stallion. They froze in their tracks. "Twi, what the hay is that thing doing near mah sister?" the orange one asked. the red stallion looked at me with anger, mainly he was looking at the rifle in my hands. Literally he moved almost as fast a spartan, pushing the orange one out of the way and across of the room. he then charged past the purple "unicorn" and picked up the three fillies in front of me and sent them along side the orange one. Sadly his attention was now directed at me, he began to charge me as I went into a crouched state ready for combat this time. My hand shifted from the handle of the rifle and gripped on the body set for a melee swing. The red stallion was almost upon me and he reared up and tried to kick me in the head with his front hooves. I saw the flaw in his plan and side stepped and brought the rifle up into his chest and managed to knock him back from me. "Calm the fuck down," I shouted at him "I swear to god if you knock me out again I will not hesitate to shoot you." He recovered and instantly stopped and stared wide eyed at me as the orange one who was with him stood up and tared copying his expression. "He can talk?" they both said at the same time. "Yes I can, now that is out of the way.... Where the hell am I?" The purple one looked at me and deadpanned, "You are in Equestria, to narrow it down Ponyville." "Alright, what star cluster?" "What do you mean?" "Star cluster, like Epsilon Eridani or Epsilon Eridnus." "Wait what are y'all talking about?" "I am trying to figure out where the hell I am." I stared at everyone in the room with a face of shock. How could any sentient being not know what star cluster they lived in. It had to have a name that they gave it. :"Okay one more question what do you call your universe?" Just as she was about to respond there was a flash of white light, blinding white light. I dove to the right screaming flash bang at the top of my lungs. When I got back up I saw another stallion in armor in front of three taller ponies, one was pink, another was pure white, and lastly one was a dark navy blue. As soon as I stood up and saw them the stallion in the lead noticed me and instantly fired a bolt of plasma towards me. "Oh Christ not again with the plasma," I shouted as I dove out of the way "I dealt with this enough with the damn Covenant!" I was about to return fire when the tall white pony spoke. "Hello, I am Princess Celestia, this is my sister and Co- ruler of Equestria, Princess Luna, and finally our niece Princess Cadence and her husband Captain Shining Armor." she stated. I stared at the group, instantly recognizing a superior officer even though he was a different species entirely. "Sir!" I snapped off with a quick salute. "Um, at ease?" he questioned. I relaxed as they all stared at me. The one known as Celestia spoke to the purple unicorn, "Twilight, why is he in the basement, and further why is there the smell of powder in the air?" "Oh, um I put him down here when Big Mac knocked him out after he woke up from Applejack doing so, then I kinda used his metal thing he is holding by accident a-" Cutting her off the blue one, Luna turned to me and said. "I am sorry for any mistreatment you may have received, it was all one big misunderstanding." "Yeah very bad first impressions." I said back to her.
Prologue(On board the UNSC Pony Express) "Manny... MANNY, you there man, come on you gonna keep watch for me or what?" a voice woke me out of my zoned out gaze. "What? Oh yeah I got your back Sarge, don't worry I will let you know if anyone tries to come in," I said still not thinking straight. "I will use 3 knocks to signal someone is coming, just go get your little "session" over with." Sarge walked around the corner into the door which read: Infirmary Storage. This was were Sarge had his little ODST/Navy love affair he had been having with a doctor. I stood there waiting for him to finish with his little "session", I zoned out and leaned on the wall just staring at the opposite wall my mind wondered. I thought of my home, my old home, how it burned and how I could not stop it from being destroyed. Then I realized, I should have died there, died on Reach with the brave men and women who were ordered to stay behind as the civilians. One hour later I heard the door slide open and Sarge walked out with his fatigues looking like they were just issued to him. "Sarge it took you long enough, did you have trouble getting it it up since this is the third time you saw her this week?" I asked as I realized it was who I thought it was. "Hey Manny you know it is a long time to get every bit of enjoyment out of sex. You know if you ever need to get some "time off" I can ask her if she wants to help out, sound good?" he asked me bumping my shoulder as he walked past me. I declined the offer as we walked away, he noticed my gaze and demeanor were not as they once were a few weeks ago before the fall of Reach. He pulled me into the nearest open door and threw me into the wall and said that I should have seen a therapist about watching my home burn. As he looked at me I wasn't even looking at him, I saw the Navy crewmen in the room starring at us. Sarge yelled at me to look at him , but I literally just grabbed him and turned turned him around with him struggling until he saw the seventeen Navy crewmen (literally no females just a bunch of guys). "What the hell are you Jar-heads doing in our rec room? You two must have a ton of guts to walk in here." One closest to us said with a growl. "Alright sorry guys we didn't mean to intrude on the room we were just dealing with my friend here, he hasn't been right in the head since Reach." Sarge said trying to ease the tension without knocking the Navy man closest to him out. "Henry, shut the damn door, we are going to show these Jar-heads not to come into our rec room without our permission." the lead crewman said as I motioned to Sarge that we weren't avoiding a fight now. The man closest to us looked at me and smiled, a crooked, evil smile crossed his face. He advanced at me but Sarge got in the way, I walked around him and stared at the man who thought he could easily take me, especially since us ODSTs are MA5s with the safety clicked off. As I came close enough his fist flew from his side and up shot in the general direction of my head.... (EPIC FIGHT MUSIC COMMENCE) Time slowed as his hand flew at me and I could see it as if it was in 2x slow motion. It got closer and closer, once it was close enough I grabbed it and twisted my body around and brought his arm down over my shoulder snapping it at the elbow. The man reared back and screamed as he fell back from the kick that Sarge delivered to the man's chest. Three of the other men came rushing towards us, it was in the same slow motion as the body rolling on the floor. In the time it took them to close the distance to us I shot a look of questioning towards my friend behind me. He nodded and we jumped forward and took the three men rushing us head on as we did many times against the Covenant. My luck was getting the two larger men out of the group of three but the size didn't matter to me as they went down almost as fast as the first. These three didn't get taken down as the first, whom I stole a peak at after the second wave of assailants came forward. He was laying there still, but out cold from the pain of his broken arm as blood covered the front of his uniform and beginning to puddle on the floor. "MARINES! What the hell are you doing!" a female voice knowing but demanding came from behind us, a voice we knew all too well. "Ma'am!" we both fired out towards one of our best friends, we snapped off crisp salutes too the female officer who stood before us. "You Navy men get your friends to the infirmary now, I need to talk with these two." she said staring daggers towards the other soldiers save me and Sarge. The non Marines in the room gathered up the bodies on the floor, carefully picking up the ringleader of the group covered in blood. The officer stepped aside as the others scurried around the room to gather the hurt. She walked up to us and frowned towards the Navy boys fleeing the room in shock from the beating their buddies just got. The woman in the room put her hand on my shoulder and asked me if my head was getting better from the things we all witnessed the last few weeks. I knew what she was talking about, Reach.Before I could get a word out of my mouth Sarge interrupted me. "Jenn he still is acting all strange and distant h-" Sarge said as Jenn took his hand in hers and shoved it into his mouth as best she could. "Jenn, I have had the unfortunate event to watch my home planet burn. On top of that I had the memory of my parents trying to kill themselves along with me because of the damn Insurrection. But all in all I am feeling better after that little fight there." I said staring at her with a slight tinge of pain in my voice I almost missed. "Manny don't worry everything will be fine, we will be fine soon it wont be too bad hopefully we can-" Sarge was saying once he unstuck his hand from his word hole. An alarm blared as the ship's A.I. said over the comm "All hands man your stations , this is not a drill." We looked at each other and smiled, bolting out of the room towards the briefing room we knew all too well. Upon arriving we were briefed on what the alarm was for. The Covenant found Earth, we were going to be trying to take a carrier that was over Africa along with three other ships. We would all be dropping onto the hull of the ship and make our way towards the docking bays or any external hatch. Once the briefing was done we all ran to get our armor on and get our rifles. I grabbed my M6 and one of the many MA5Bs on the rack in the armory, Sarge picked up his BR55 rifle and SMG with suppressor and adjusted sight, then there was Jenn, The Lt. picked up her, signature SRS 99- S2 AM snipers rifle and a DMR. Once armed we grabbed four grenades each and turned to one another and smiled, there was going to be a fight and this time the alien menace would not burn Earth. We ran towards our pods two decks down from the armory waving at our fellow Jar- heads and making some cracks at them as we ran. Once we got down to the pods and found our places Jenn came up to me and Sarge and gave us all a reassuring slap on the ass for good luck. Once the pod doors closed and we spun to face towards the outside of the ship I saw every one of the explosions in the distance of space as rockets fired and exploded in the distance. Just as I saw the explosions then looked back at my screen in the pod I felt a *thud* and the pods on the ship cut loose and sent the Marine and all of his friends into the soundless abyss of space. "Alright Marines, we have a carrier to take", our CO said as we fell "once we get in there we have t-" He was cut off as my eyes shot towards the nose of the carrier (which sadly was were I was headed) where a Slipstream field began to open around the nose. "Jesus Christ, they are jumping in the atmosphere!" I shouted over the comm so everyone could hear. There were many shouts coming in over the comm as we fell towards the soon to be jumping space craft. As we got closer I radioed to Jenn and Sarge and told them my pod was going to go into the open portal. They shot back the standard no you wont it will be fine responses, but I knew that is where I was headed and nothing to fix it. Once our pods were close enough to the ship the carrier finally jumped into the portal and brought a wave of pressure pulling my pod into the portal. As the portal closed I heard static in my helmet ear piece, once that was realized my eyes slowly closed from the forces of the drop into the Slipstream, a second before my eyes closed I saw an "OBJECTIVE UPDATED" pop up on my HUD as the blackness of his eyelids took over my entire vision as I passed out.
Chapter 1: ArrivalArrival Celestia's shining sun was high above in the sky setting the time around mid day, Ponyville a small town in the land of Equestria was using the very clear sunny day to have a market. But moments before the ponies could open their stands for the day there was a loud boom in the distance. (Sometime Later That Day) After returning from the Crystal Empire, the Elements of Harmony returned weary to Ponyville. Upon stepping off the train Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Spike were greeted by a distraught Mayor Mare. The six ponies and one dragon were shocked at how she was talking so fast, it was almost as fast as the pink mare standing in the group. "Mayor!" yelled Twilight, "calm down, you need to tell me in coherent speech what is exactly wrong. So once you take a breath to calm down meet me and the girls at the library and we will talk this over without worrying everypony." "Y-Y-y-you have a p-p-point Twilight," she stuttered, "let us take this inside for a more private matter." One hour later after the elements got settled in their respective homes they once again returned to Golden Oaks Library. Which for Twilight was already her home, so all she did was wait for her friends and the mayor to arrive. Upon the groups arrival Twilight had set out some small bits of food in case anyone of her friends was hungry for a small evening snack before they got to the serious issue. First to arrive was Rainbow Dash, she entered unlike anypony else, through the window which always made Twilight angry. Then was Rarity, she came in with Pinkie in tow because for the past few weeks they had been working on a dress for Pinkie's new party idea: Pinkie and Rarity's Big Fancy Tea Time with A Twist. Finally was Fluttershy, Applejack, and most importantly Mayor Mare. "So Mayor," Twilight asked, "what is this all about? Did Discord have some pranks to pull on us again?" The tan earth pony shook her head and told the six other mares what happened at noon. She told them of the boom, the smoke that was billowing form the Everfree, and the panic it caused during the market.Then she told the six mares before her that she sent Derpy with a letter to the Royal Guard in Canterlot to request a small detachment of Guards ponies be sent to keep the civilians of Ponyville safe. "Mayor, no offense but when has the princesses sent Guards to help us before. I mean it is always us six who end up fixing it in the end. And on that note I am going to check it out and see what is out there." Twilight said her voice slowly turning from criticizing to a determined voice as she volunteered to explore for the sake of calming everypony down. "Ah am goin too sugarcube." "If only I don't get my hooves too muddy." "I will check the animals." "I'll keep an eye in the air." "I will come too just so I know what I can throw a party for!" All eyes in the room shifted to Pinkie Pie at her comment, she smiled at all of them and began to bounce happily around the room. Due to the party pony's bubbly exposition her random comment and love for parties was brushed off. With the situation explained the six Elements of Harmony grabbed saddle bags and made way towards the edge of town. Once reaching the road that led to the Everfree Forest Fluttershy took the lead. The trail to the object that made the earth shattering boom was not that difficult to follow, since there was smoke drifting up into the sky from where the rockets on the bottom of the drop pod touched the trees ans set a few ablaze. "What in Celestia......." said Twilight, Applejack,and Rainbow Dash at the same time out of sheer shock. "Look at its color, it is hideous!" wailed Rarity suddenly fainting onto a couch that had appeared out of thin air. "I hope it didn't hurt any animals as it crashed." squeaked Fluttershy. "OOOOOOH!," said Pinkie as she bounced up towards the drop pod and began to tap at the glass. "Pinkie get away from that, we don't know what it is or what it does!" yelled Twilight. "Don't be a silly willie Twilight," the pink bouncing pony said, "I am 100 percent sure that HE wont hurt us at all." "Pinkie do y'all mind explaining what HE is?" questioned Applejack. "The Marine inside, DUH! Jeez AJ how could you not-" her voice was cut off by a hissing. _______________________ (Minutes after the pod hit the ground) I half opened my eyes before I realized I was alive. when that didn't effect me the only thing I could do was unhook my harness that help me to the pod. Once that was done I put my MA5B across my lap and then quickly and painlessly passed out again. When I came to I heard voices, when that hit me my eyes shot open like Archer missiles. The next thing I knew was I was leaning right up against the door of the pod just leaning against it. (In this time Pinkie pulled the emergency release handle on the side and then stuck her face against the glass.) *HSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS* "Woah!" I yelled as the pod door dropped open and hit the ground with a loud thud. "What in tarnation?" a voice with a very country accent said somewhere in front of me. I shakily rose to my feet and took in my surroundings, I was in a forest, but what really got me and I mean really got me was the six colorful ponies TALKING right in front of me. before I could do anything else I checked my HUD and found a new objective saying: *OBJECTIVE UPDATED* () EoH () PC () PL () PMC () SA () Get Ready I honestly had no godly idea it meant my thoughts were interrupted by the orange pony in front of me kicking my legs out from under me. My helmet clacked off of the rim of the door of the pod and slid off my head. When I lifted my head to look at the animal I saw two hooves ripping towards my face. I had no time to react and roll out of the way or raise my rifle (which was pinned under me) before blackness overtook my vision and I yet again passed out. When I came to for the next time I was in my armor still (thank god) but where I was moved to surprised me. I was in a cellar of some kind and was able to over hear the voices above me yelling. I ignored them as long as it was needed for me to grab one of my last two Sweet Williams cigars and get it lit. As I took the first puff I thought to myself ok what happened: 1.) Obviously these ponies that were arguing above me were not going to kill me. 2.) There was no covenant near (thank god) 3.) I wasn't dead..... I WASN'T DEAD! The rest of my thoughts were derailed by a small voice from across the cellar. "H-h-h-hello, there.. um my n-n-name is Applebloom, and ah was wonderin what are you?"
Chapter 2: Three Young SoulsChapter 2: Three Young Souls "H-h-h-hello, there.. um mah n-n-name is Applebloom, and ah was wonderin what are you?" My eyes snapped open and scanned the room looking for the person who said that. Searching I only found a small filly, she was so freaking adorable. She was so adorable I almost contracted an old disease called Diabetes. In my hesitation she opened her mouth, and when she did my jaw dropped letting my Sweet William fall onto the floor. "C-c-can you u-understand me? Ah won't hurt you Ah promise." she said with fear in her eyes. (note Private Barker does not have his helmet on) I stuttered, "A-a-applebloom right?" she nodded as I slipped into the training we used to resist interrogation, "Manwell, Barker, Private, serial number 15831-157889- Mike Bravo." "Wait, Ah thought thought you just said your name was Manwell Barker, not Mike Bravo?" I stopped and realized maybe they wont hurt me, so I decided to be less cold. I smiled and actually explained who I was to the little pony in front of me. Upon finishing I realized the loud voices from upstairs had stopped. Noticing the fact I looked up the one called Applebloom looked even more scared, and before I could ask what was wrong she was gone. Moments later I heard the sound of figures approaching the door to my left, I ran over to my pod finding my helmet and threw it on my head. Taking a position with my MA5B pointed at the door just as it burst open and and I saw her, the same orange pony from before, the one who kicked me. "APPLEBLOOM, WHAT DID AH TELL YA 'BOUT COMIN DOWN HERE WITH THAT, THING!" she roared as she began to search for the little pony who I had talked to moments ago. The orange one and a few others who I could tell were other colors began looking around the large room I was in. I saw a chance to get out of there, I took it I almost bowled over a yellow pony with wings. "Sorry excuse me." I apologized as I ran and jumped over her at full speed. Once out of the room and up the stairs I found myself in what looked to be a barn. Thankfully I grew up on a farm on Reach and new barns like the back of my hand. I saw the big front door to my left and a smaller door to my rear. When I spun I came face to face with a pink blur, a very very hyperactive pink blur. "OhmygoshhiIamPinkiePieWelcometoEquestriaManny!" the pink blur babbled. I rolled as she tried to pin me down, her entire weight on my chest. Free from the pile of pink I ran to the door and kicked it open, only to come face to face with a rather large red stallion, who looked really pissed off. I spared a glance behind him and saw a cylindrical pod dug into the ground thirty yards away among the remains of a cart. When I looked back at the wall of red in front of me I noticed he turned around and began to plant his front legs in the ground. I shouted a good few curses and before I could move and think I was across the barn and stuck into a pile of crates. Then I passed out yet again (common thing now huh?) from the force that was released upon my chest. (One hour later in the Library basement) "Big Mac, you really didn't have to buck him across the room you know?" said an annoyed Twilight Sparkle "Ms. Twilight, Ah was awfully mad at the fact that a big metal tube took down three of mah apple trees. Then hearin' AJ screaming for Applebloom from the inside of the barn. On top of that seeing this thing kick open mah side door to the barn, Ah was rightly mad." Big Mac replied quickly in his calm country accented voice. As the conversation went on the the figure laying in the floor in the room opened his eyes slowly and mumbling a few curses. "When I find that big red mother fucker I swear to whatever god he believes in he will wish for a drill instructors wrath the-" I was cut off by the view at the end of my boots. I saw a purple pony facing away from me, then the big red one whom I was ready to kill.Thankfully to whomever is watching over me that they didn't know how to take my helmet off. For the moment I was still thought out like a light. Taking a view of my surroundings I saw my MA5B sitting on my lap, my sidearm in its holster, and finally my HUD. It still said what it said earlier, much to my dismay I had no idea what that meant. Once I finished checking my objectives I looked back up at the ponies who were standing at my feet. Unfortunately to my dismay they moved out of my line of sight, as I was tempted to move I felt an object bump the outside of my helmet. It was enough force to make me have to move my head to fake being out cold. "I think it is still out." said the voice of the purple pony to my left. "Yep." replied the red wall to my right. As I sat there listening to the two talk, I had the feeling in my mind that wanted to tell them that they were annoying me and I was about to kill them both for treating me like a weird animal. But before I could do anything the two suddenly went upstairs and left me alone in the basement. As the two left they turned off the "lights" as they went upstairs, after they left me in total darkness I sat there for what seemed like five minutes but was really hours. I heard a small creak from the direction the two that had supposedly brought me here. Seconds later I saw three small shapes in the light on one wall of the room, as I stared the room lit up and the three shapes began to move down the wall and assumed stairs. "Sweetie we need to see this thing since Applebloom already talked to it and chickened out when her sister came running." the first shape said. "Scootaloo I don't want to be here, what if it is dangerous." the middle shape said "Girls, Ah talked to it earlier, it was weird and may have two names." a familiar voice floated down from the final shape. Quickly realizing the three shapes were young children the one known as Applebloom among them, I removed my helmet and set it on the floor along with my MA5B. Once everything was set down I waited for the three children to arrive at the bottom of the stairs. Once they reached the room I was in I saw Applebloom, then behind her was a small white filly with a purple and pink mane followed by an orange filly with a reddish purple mane. The light then flashed on in the room and my hand naturally snapped to my MA5 and was brought to my shoulder, aimed at the three fillies in the room. Realizing what I did, aimed a gun at children I threw it across my body and it hit the wall with a loud bang. Next thing I knew I saw a purple flash of light and the purple mare from earlier somehow appeared right in front of the children. My eyes widened noticing the horn on her head. She however did not notice that my face was out of pure shock. She turned around and took notice of the girls and simply made them vanish. My face went to that of anger, what had she done with those kids. my sidearm flew from its holster and took aim at her. She heard the click of the safety and spun and her horn that somehow was on her head started to glow. "Where did those kids go?" I asked with anger dripping from my voice. "Wait, you can talk?" the purple pony said shocked. "Yes I can, what of it?" "I didn't expect you to talk in our language." I was about to reply but i saw my MA5B float up beside her, barrel pointed at me. I next heard to my dismay the loud snap of the bolt cycling and loading a round. The already loaded round flew out of the side of the rifle and hit the floor with a loud clang. My eyes widened and hers narrowed, my sidearm slid into its holster a long minute later my hands rose empty into the air showing I was unarmed. "Ok, take it easy, put the MA5 down and we can talk about this like civilized beings." I said calmly, "I don't want to hurt you, and you don't want to try to hurt me." "You are right, I don't want to hurt you, but we talk like this so you don't try anything funny." she said keeping eye contact with me. I was about to reply to her but I was interrupted by three voices from the stairs. I looked over the purple pony in front of me and saw the three fillies behind her. "TWILIGHT DON'T HURT IT!" the three screamed at the top of their lungs. She turned to face the three, and I took my chance. I dove forward and grabbed the MA5B and pulled it out of whatever force was holding it. Hearing my movement the purple one applied pressure to the rear of the rifle as I grabbed it and there was a loud bang, the bang of a gunshot. She shot me, thankfully my armor took the most of the impact but the force was still there. I was unfortunately not braced for the impact, so I flew back a good two feet and fell off my feet and hit the ground, hard. Luckily for me my rifle came with me on my all expense paid trip to the floor.
Chapter 3: Bad First ImpressionsWhy the fuck did I have stupid ideas. Grabbing my MA5 was stupid, it was really stupid but it was not the part of getting MY rifle away from something that had no idea of what it did. The only thing that made me regret my decision was the fact the barrel was pointed at me. "SWEET ZOMBIE JESUS ON A POGO STICK!" I yelled at the top of my lungs as I clutched my stomach, "I HAVE NOT FELT THAT TYPE OF PAIN FOR ALMOST 25 FREAKING YEARS!" The ponies in the room just stared at me, the purple one with the horn stared with shock that I was still talking and moving. The other three were worried for my safety, but before they could be stopped they were at my side trying to make sure I was alright. Taking notice of the three fillies I slowly regained my senses, but the pain still there and the dent in my abdomen plate. "Are y'all okay mister, why did you do that?" the small one named Applebloom asked, "And this time you are telling my your actual name." "Girls, we need to be careful, we d-" the purple one said but I interrupted her. "I am Helljumper or Private, it is up to you on which to call me." "That is not what ya said earlier." What did he say earlier?" asked the purple, unicorn I guess I could call it. "He said Man some'n Barker." The group looked at me and an uneasily silence settled in over us in the room. Then a loud bang sounded from upstairs and I heard two voices from earlier that I was sure I didn't want to hear. Once another loud bang from the door at the top of the stairs I grabbed my helmet and rifle and shot up to my feet in one motion. As the two normal ponies rounded the bottom of the stairs I had my rifle up to my shoulder aimed at the orange mare and red stallion. They froze in their tracks. "Twi, what the hay is that thing doing near mah sister?" the orange one asked. the red stallion looked at me with anger, mainly he was looking at the rifle in my hands. Literally he moved almost as fast a spartan, pushing the orange one out of the way and across of the room. he then charged past the purple "unicorn" and picked up the three fillies in front of me and sent them along side the orange one. Sadly his attention was now directed at me, he began to charge me as I went into a crouched state ready for combat this time. My hand shifted from the handle of the rifle and gripped on the body set for a melee swing. The red stallion was almost upon me and he reared up and tried to kick me in the head with his front hooves. I saw the flaw in his plan and side stepped and brought the rifle up into his chest and managed to knock him back from me. "Calm the fuck down," I shouted at him "I swear to god if you knock me out again I will not hesitate to shoot you." He recovered and instantly stopped and stared wide eyed at me as the orange one who was with him stood up and tared copying his expression. "He can talk?" they both said at the same time. "Yes I can, now that is out of the way.... Where the hell am I?" The purple one looked at me and deadpanned, "You are in Equestria, to narrow it down Ponyville." "Alright, what star cluster?" "What do you mean?" "Star cluster, like Epsilon Eridani or Epsilon Eridnus." "Wait what are y'all talking about?" "I am trying to figure out where the hell I am." I stared at everyone in the room with a face of shock. How could any sentient being not know what star cluster they lived in. It had to have a name that they gave it. :"Okay one more question what do you call your universe?" Just as she was about to respond there was a flash of white light, blinding white light. I dove to the right screaming flash bang at the top of my lungs. When I got back up I saw another stallion in armor in front of three taller ponies, one was pink, another was pure white, and lastly one was a dark navy blue. As soon as I stood up and saw them the stallion in the lead noticed me and instantly fired a bolt of plasma towards me. "Oh Christ not again with the plasma," I shouted as I dove out of the way "I dealt with this enough with the damn Covenant!" I was about to return fire when the tall white pony spoke. "Hello, I am Princess Celestia, this is my sister and Co- ruler of Equestria, Princess Luna, and finally our niece Princess Cadence and her husband Captain Shining Armor." she stated. I stared at the group, instantly recognizing a superior officer even though he was a different species entirely. "Sir!" I snapped off with a quick salute. "Um, at ease?" he questioned. I relaxed as they all stared at me. The one known as Celestia spoke to the purple unicorn, "Twilight, why is he in the basement, and further why is there the smell of powder in the air?" "Oh, um I put him down here when Big Mac knocked him out after he woke up from Applejack doing so, then I kinda used his metal thing he is holding by accident a-" Cutting her off the blue one, Luna turned to me and said. "I am sorry for any mistreatment you may have received, it was all one big misunderstanding." "Yeah very bad first impressions." I said back to her.
