Delta Squad Record A-65by ZyggyChaptersContactMeeting PointThreat EstablishedShort Chapter 1: Ninja'dContactThis is what would have happened had Celestia not made Knifer a pony and sent him to Equestria. Or maybe it’s what happens after the ending of Knifer’s journey in Equestria. Or perhaps if the spell worked. Perhaps before? I looked to my left. There was one of my ‘brothers’ clad in Powered Energetic Deflection Armor. PEDA. He was usually called Unit D-02 by command, though we called him DOS. He has the explosives and tech expert on our team. I looked across from me. Not much was known about this guy, and he wore a lighter version of PEDA. Powered Energetic Travel Armor. PETA. I hate those guys. He was our sniper, and command called him D-03. We just say Doe. To my right was our commander, the only one called by name half the time. John. Command said he was D-01. Dol He was wearing the same armor as DOS. And I was the Heavy Weapons Specialist, requiring me to use what was called Supplemented Power and Augmented Elephant Mammoth Armor. SPaAEMA I was D-04. Doa. I was one of twenty people out of ten trillion that could literally push a mountain forty miles and have energy to spare. But that would kill me, so the suit also limited how much power I could use at once. The limit was 25,000 pounds. Twelve point five tons. Three and one eights fuck tons. My armor alone weighs a fuck ton. My Mini-gun weights half a fuck ton and my Electron Launcher another half a fuck ton. I was carrying two fuck tons most of the time. Sixteen thousand pounds. And yes, people of the past. A fuck ton has become a real measurement. Eight tons. I drifted back into thought. Alpha Squad was the first Death Squad, one hundred and twenty members. The most famous, the most powerful. But their power comes from numbers, nothing else. Beta was well known due to their companionship, and at a low ten members, they needed it. But they lacked in equipment. Gamma is full of freaks. Misanthropes. Criminals. They had some of the best gear of all time, salvaged, given, and stolen. But they didn’t care about each other. Fifty insane freaks. And here I am, in Delta Squad. Four of us. We do jobs meant for one person, and jobs meant for thousands. Four members. And we were going to meet a new intelligent species. “DOA! SNAP OUT OF IT!” The voice was harsh and Russian. Our commander’s I quickly looked up at our commander and saluted. “At ease. We’re almost here. Get ready.” “I can’t wait to be the first group to contact this foreign intelligence.” This one was more British, belonging to DOS. A figure came into existence next to Doe. It was Alpha’s 119th member, A-191, Aigi. He was wearing the most advanced armor ever made, Nicknamed “Jack” armor. He had different Modules that had different abilities to help him. Sprint, Armor, Power, Stealth, Flight, and a Short Ranged Teleport. This Teleport doesn’t actually teleport, but instead sends him at blinding speed to the location, with a range of twelve meters. He was soon to become D-05, but we would always call him Aigi. He spoke up, and his obviously Eastern American, Manhattan, voice came blaring into my coms. “Oh man this is gonna be SO COOL!” “CALM IT AIGI!” “Sorry commander, I’m just so excited! We are the first Trans-Universals EVER!” I spoke up for the first time in ten hours. “We’ve landed, sir.” My deep, rarely heard voice left a large impact on them, like always. They may be ordered by the commander, but I only speak when needed or spoken to, and I do so with though. “Got it Doa. Everyone, grab your gear and pile out onto the beach.” I simply reached up and pulled down my Mini-gun and Electron Launcher, then walked off the V-TOL. My change in weight caused it to not sink into the sand as much, and I found myself ankle deep in the small crystals that this sand was made of. I made my way to the dirt nearby and sat on a large rock as the rest of Delta left the V-TOL. Doe came first, then Dol, then DOS, and finally Aigi. Doe had his sniper rifle, a machete, and a .43 pistol, Dol had an Assault Rifle of .34 caliber, a combat knife, and an SMG, DOS had two .43 pistols, and Aigi came out with a Flechette shotgun and an SMG. The V-TOL took off and went into the east. “Aigi, go into the forest with Doe, stay silent, don’t want to let the continent know where we are too soon.” Those two quickly went into the forest. “Doa, follow them in thirty seconds, we’ll be right behind you. My HUD displayed a timer, and I stood up, put my Electron Launcher on my back, and got my Mini-gun ready for a walk. When it hit zero I walked into the forest, following the trail left by Doe’s machete. I found them observing a small equine of some sort, red in color, wearing a leather hat, with a blonde mane and tail, dark blue eyes and a bucket of apples tattooed on her flanks. She was resting under an apple tree. “Doa, this appears to be the intelligent life! I can’t wait to chat with them!” “Calm it Aigi, they may not speak our language, and may in fact be hostile.” I turned to Doe. “Has she done anything but ‘nap’ yet?” “No.” DOS and Dol came up from behind me and lied down on the ground. “Doe, go check around, Doa, you’re his guard.” I nodded and followed Doe around as he check the place out. We eventually came upon a cave, perfect for making camp. We made sure it was clear, and Doe went to get everyone else. I sat there by myself for a while until they got back. “Perfect place. Aigi, go get firewood. Doe, go hunt for food and water. Our supplies won’t last forever.” I continued to stay sitting, and locked my armor. I closed my eyes for rest, which I knew I would need. I opened my eyes in the morning and unlocked my armor, then removed my helmet, smelling the smoke of the fire we were around. “Doa, want some apples? We found a bunch out in the wilderness, away from that farm.” It was Aigi. I took one and took a bite out of it. It was the best apple I ever had. I continued to eat it as the rest of Delta woke up. When I finished the apple, rather than merely discard it, I tossed it in the fire and watched it burn. “I’m going out for a short walk.” I stood up, put on my helmet, and walked out of the cave. I stretched and walked about, getting my bearings as the sun rose. “WOAH. WHAT ARE YOU?” I quickly spun around. There was a dark blue Pegasus hovering in mid-air, her mane was colored like the rainbow, but the colors were inverted, her eyes were green, and her flanks had a tattoo that looked like light. I overwhelmed her with my strength and pulled her into the cave. “LET ME GO YOU DAMNED GOLEM!” Doe quickly bound her wings together, and then her legs. I set her on the ground. “WHAT ARE YOU ALL?” I stepped back and Dol came forwards. “Humans. We come in peace, as hard as it is to believe. We are staying hidden until we deem we can come out. Until then you are stuck here.” “Let me out or I WILL KILL YOU ALL!” Aigi came forwards, or more accurately “Teleported” in front of this Pegasus. “No. Name, occupation?” “Blitz, I clear the skies of Ponyville.” “Nearby settlement?” “Yes.” “I’m off.” Aigi quickly left the cave, closing a door which I did not know was there as he left. Doe untied Blitz, who then ran deeper into the cave, only to find it didn’t go very far. “Untie my wings.” “No, we won’t.” Blitz then charged me and bucked. I just stood still as her hooves landed harmlessly on my armor. “How did…” “This weighs eight tons. I think it’ll take more than a kick to dent.” -Changing Viewpoint to Aigi’s- I made my way silently through the town, invisibly. I went to what appeared to be a hollowed out tree, and went through an open window. I took cover behind a stack of books and left Stealth mode. I waited a minute for its charge to regenerate, and then went back into it just as I heard footsteps coming down the stairs. “Steve, is that you?” I looked at the source of the sound. A purple coated, dark purple mane and tail, black iris, fireball tattoo, unicorn female. “Hello?” I stayed silent. “Anypony there?” Her horn glowed, and she looked right at me in shock. “What ARE YOU?” I left Stealth mode and stood up, shotgun in hand and ready to fire if needed. “A human.” “A human…” “Yes.” “I need to tell Celestia.” “No.” “Why not?” “My squad and I are trying to keep secret until we decide to come out of hiding. We have been ordered to respond with lethal force if need be.” “Where are you from?” “Universe ED3N, Milky Way, Sol system, planet Earth.” “I just can’t understand how you would go from one universe to another…” “You rip a hole in the fabric at the edge of one.” “But the universe goes on forever.” “No it doesn’t, it does have an edge, which we can reach with ease.” There was a knocking on the door, to which I responded with Stealth. The door opened and a small reptile of some sort came in holding many books and scrolls. “Fable, I got you what you needed.” “Thank you Steve.” Everything levitated out of Steve’s grasp and up the stairs. Steve then walked past me. He was Dark blue, Cyan underbelly and back spikes, and dark red eyes. I waited until he went up the stairs, then turned to Fable. “What’s your name?” “Just call me Aigi.” “Why are you here?” “We detected intelligent life and came to find it. We didn’t expect quadrupeds.” “Why not?” “Because we humans don’t have magic, so we instead are bi-pedal and have thumbs.” “Why are you answering these questions?” “Because.” “That’s…” “Informative?” “No…” “Get used to it.” I stood up and “Teleported” behind her. “How did you… I thought…” “Not magic. Science. Say, how would you like to be part of our study on your kind? We already have a Pegasus.” “Who?” “Blitz.” Fable turned. “I don’t think Blitz is the kind to volunteer.” “She didn’t.” Fable backed up. “Let her go…” “We can’t for security reasons. You know too much now.” I “Teleported” behind her again and picked her up, then gagged her mouth with my arm. Her horn began to glow, so I put my SMG to her head. “One spell out of you and your skull will pour blood.” Her horn stopped glowing, and I rushed us out of town. -Switching to John’s viewpoint- “For the last time Blitz, you are NOT getting out there.” I had to fight not to put a bullet through her leg as she ran around in circles. “Want me to shut her up sir?” “No DOS, we need her to be able to speak when Aigi gets back from his AWOL moment.” There was a knocking on the door. “Speak of the devil. Doa, get it.” He stood up and quietly made his way to the door, then opened it. He stepped to the side and Aigi came in with a purple unicorn in his arms, using his hand as a gag. Doa closed the door, and Aigi set the unicorn down. “FABLE?” “BLITZ!” The two rushed to each other, Fable’s horn glowing. Aigi spoke up. “No spells ma’am.” “Fine…” Her horn stopped glowing. A deep voice came from our “golem” “Won’t the town know they’re missing?” “Only if you don’t hurry up whatever it is you’re doing! I need to get back to Steve.” I laughed silently under my helmet as I got a coms message from command. “Who would have thought the coms work trans-universally?” I stood up and headed to the back of the cave to take the call. The robotic voice was smooth, but digital sounding. “You read me Dol?” “Loud and clear sir. We have a Pegasus and a Unicorn here, and there have been signs of more ordinary equine life forms.” “Equines?” “Equines.” “This doesn’t even make sense.” “Normal ‘ponies’ along with pegasi and unicorns. With real magic.” “This is impossible.” “It’s a different universe sir, different rules.” “True… Continue your investigation for now, I’ll contact within twenty eight hours.” “Roger.” I turned around to look at everyone. The unicorn and Doa had begun a game of chess, The Pegasus was busy comparing speed with Aigi, DOS was programming something, and Doe was cleaning his sniper rifle. “Everyone, we need to do some investigations into our little friends here. Weight, height, and how the hell their vocal chords work. No dissections.” The unicorn stopped mid-move. “You will go about that how?” “Doa’s armor has a built in weight measurement device that seems to work just fine here, we can measure your height with one of DOS’s programs, and another of his programs can see the build of your bodies. Of course we’ll need the whole town for this to be accurate, but that can wait.” I watch as Doa quickly lifted the unicorn up and put her back on the ground, much to her chagrin. “Forty pounds sir.” “And what about our Pegasus friend here?” “NO WAY!” The Pegasus went to the back of the cave, and Doa slowly lumbered over to her. “NO!” She tried to go around him, but he was too fast for her, quickly weighing her and setting her on the ground in a few moments. “Thirty five pounds sir.” Aigi began to laugh. “Not so bad, huh?” Aigi tapped the side of his helmet, and I heard a violin start playing a soft, calming melody. “Hey, could you untie my wings now?” “No.” “It’s not like I could use them.” “Still, you aren’t getting them untied. And if you don’t shut up I’ll have Doe here do it for you. With a bullet in the jaw.” “You’ve gotta be kidding me sir, that would be no fun!” The unicorn slowly looked away from us and got back to her move as Doa lumbered back over. “Quick question…” I turned my attention to the speaker, DOS. “Who runs this country?” The unicorn didn’t even stop to think. “Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.” “Princesses, eh? My my, quite the odd government.” “They control the sun and the moon, respectively. “Magic?” “Yep.” “Unicorns?” “No, Alicorns.” I spoke up “Huh. I’m putting that in my report.” -Switching to Doa’s Viewpoint five hours later- I was asleep, talking to Fable telepathically. ‘So, let me get this straight, you have four others we might want to look into, yet one of them, a yellow Pegasus by the name of Klutzershy, commonly known as Shy, would probably be traumatized by being abducted.’ ‘Basically.’ ‘I love telepathy.’ ‘I do too.’ ‘Hello there Doa.’ ‘Who is this?’ ‘Princess Celestia. I have known about your being here for a while now, but didn’t think it was important enough for me to get involved until your friend Aigi abducted my student. My patience for such acts is limited.’ ‘Quick question, how much can you levitate?’ ‘Twenty tons, why?’ ‘I can carry twenty five tons.’ ‘You bastard.’ ‘Three and one eights fuck tons.’ ‘Wake up.’ ‘When I’m ready.’ ‘NOW.’ I suddenly snapped awake. “Time?” “Three forty nine P.M.” I didn’t respond, like usual. I check on our little ‘prisoners’ and found we had a new one, a Pegasus female, yellow, long pink tail and mane, green eyes, a butterfly mark, mostly likely Shy. She was asleep with her eyes open, most likely tranquilized. “We still need one of those earth ponies.” I then realized that was what the normal ponies were called. “Why do you hide so? Why not just contact the Princess now?” “Orders are orders miss, Command sends them to me, I tell my squad, and we carry them out.” “You let others order you? Why not take a note from me and live life the way you want to?” “Its part of the job, you batshit crazy Pegasus.” Most of us just ignored Aigi’s insult. “I am not crazy!” “That’s what they all say.” Shy stirred slightly, so we all became silent. She looked about, and slowly got up. She hadn’t even registered that we were there. -Changing viewpoint to Doe’s- I was perfectly still, sitting on my rock, my rifle in my lap. The yellow Pegasus came up to me, and I slowly brought my rifle down to the floor. She hopped into my lap and fell asleep again. A few minutes of silence passed until somebody spoke up. “Now what?” I simply sat there, still confused at what had happened. She, described as timid and aware, had just blindly walked into my lap and fell asleep. “I don’t know Aigi, why don’t you go AWOL?” “Alright then sir, I’ll look for an earth pony.” Aigi then disappeared, and I looked down at the pegasi, for the blue one had come up to the yellow one. Yes, I hate names. There was a long period of silence, and pretty soon I had two pegasi sleeping on me. “Hell to this, I’m napping.” I then laid down across my rock and fell asleep. I slowly opened my eyes as I felt a slight shift in weight on my legs, and looked down to see the yellow Pegasus looking at me, fear in her eyes. “Don’t worry Shy, they won’t hurt you.” I was still to stuck in my sleepy trance to know who said that, but it seemed to calm the Pegasus down enough to make her simply get off and hide behind her unicorn friend. The other Pegasus was still on me though, which I soon remedied by standing up, unceremoniously dropping her to the floor. “Time for height measurements, don’t you think?” “Already done Doe. All are around two foot five.” “Interior anatomy?” “Similar to ours, though with what appears to be a heart and a half, and their hooves and mouths seem to be perfectly build to use stuff, just like hands.” “Odd… Hold up, I got a message from the commander.” We all waited, the Pegasus finally getting up. “Good news: V-TOL is going to arrive to pick up data and get us supplies, possibly set up a proper camp right outside our cave.” “Wouldn’t it be easy to see?” “Ma’am, according to Doa, your Princess knows about us, we don’t need to worry.” “How many of your species will be here?” “Maybe half a dozen or so, why?” “Good, just checking. How long?” “Until they arrive? Three hours.” “Fable, what’s going on?” “Intelligent life Shy, intelligent life.” -Three hours after, in the view of DOS- I watched as the numbers, all the ones and zeros that the world is made of floated past. I watched the shades of blue make the outlines, add in detail, and colorize them. I’m an AI, this suit but a shell, a body for me. The most advanced AI in all of existence. At least, known to man. I understand time and space. It’s because of me we are here right now. I could see five minutes into the future. This universe had me stumped. It was the magic, it made everything blue. It had emotions. My eyes cringed in pain as the world changed to a yellow. Or, they would have, if I had any. I’m an AI. I use cameras. Eyes are useless. So are ears. The only ways I envy humans are their emotions, such a flavorful thing, which will soon be added to my programming anyways. The other, is taste. I will never get that, it’s impossible, for I do not physically exist. I left my sorrows, if one could put it like that, and went to reality again “So, DOS?” My voice recognition software found this to be Fable. “Yes?” My voice was fortunately that of a normal human, and not a robot. “What are you, if you aren’t human?” “I’m merely the most advanced AI ever made by humans.” “AI?” “Artificial Intelligence.” “So, you’re not real?” “I am, but I have no physical presence. Therefore I use this armor as my body.” “So you don’t need food or water?” “Or air.” “What if your armor is destroyed?” “I can ‘jump’ a long distance into another suit, or if needed a living being, then ‘jump’ back into a new container until new armor is made.” “So you can’t ‘die,’ can you?” “I can, it’s just hard.” I shook my head as the world went from yellow to green. “The magic, it’s interfering with my optical probes with its emotions, it’s envying me now.” The world turned pink for a moment before going back to green. “I think it blushed.” “Are you corrupt DOS?” “No sir. The magic these unicorns use, it’s interfering with my sensors.” “That must be why we can’t get a clear video feed.” “Wait, science and magic don’t mix?” “Only in small doses, I bet.” My vision took on a bland grey color, one that can be related to a lack of emotion. “How much DOS?” “How much what?” “Cash!” “This isn’t time for gambling Aigi!” “It’s ALWAYS time for gambling!” I brought my right hand up to my head, made a L shape with my thumb and pointer finger, put the tip of my pointer finger to my helmet, and faked recoil. “Why do you always do that DOS?” “The fake suicide? You.” “Do you humans always argue and fight?” “He’s hardly human.” “He’s a creation of your species and he has your intelligence. I think that makes him at least a person.” Doa shifted, so we all turned to him. “What makes a person a person, is emotions. Without joy when you accomplish something, sadness when you lose, fear when in danger, envy when you want something, you’re not a person. You’re merely an intelligent rock.” I made a soft whistling sound. “Thanks Doa.” “Thanks? I just dissed you.” “You said the truth. I am truth. Only truth.” “…” “Crazed contraption.” “I find that offensive Aigi!” “Yet ‘Fuckin’ batshit computer’ you’re fine with?” “I am batshit crazy and I am a computer!” “Are you showing emotion?” “This is me making a statement forcefully!” “Of course it is…” “FUCK OFF YOU DAFT BASTARD!” “…” “…” “…” “How can you humans stand each other?” “We’re social animals, solitude drives us crazy. We need company, but not a crowd. If you didn’t notice, this cave is getting too small.” “When is the blasted V-TOL?” “Next year.” “Fuck you Aigi.” “Want me to bend over?” “Yes ma’am.” “It. Is. On!” Before I could respond Aigi was on me, punching. I was feeling pain from each swing. I kicked out with my legs, hitting his gut, lifting him high into the air. “BOTH OF YOU STOP!” Aigi and I both stared at each other with more fear than anger for him, and my constant neutral expression for me. “Are you humans always so violent?” “No ma’am.” “Then why are you all fighting?” “It’s human nature… many of us will fight for our honor.” “But why?” “Like I said ma’am, human nature…” Meeting Point-changing to John’s viewpoint, five minute after- “The V-TOL is here, let’s head out. Bring the ponies.” “We are right here you know.” “Well then ma’am, you’re up here with me. Doa, you’re in back.” I walked out, Fable next to me the whole time. What happened next, I did not expect, and neither did anyone else. I swear I heard Aigi utter “Bastards.” The V-TOL was not a single bird. It was a wing. The commander jump out of the lead V-TOL before it hit the ground and approached me. “Good work Dol.” “I though you said only one bird.” “Change of plans. President wants a small base at the shore. Oh, you might like to know something: we made suits for the ponies, several dozen in fact. They let them stand up on their hind legs and it also gives them some fingers and thumb.” “Like us?” “Like us. Don’t worry; the testing has been done already on exact replicas, no danger.” Fable came up to the commander, to which he responded by kneeling down. “I’d like to try one of these suits sir.” “You really can talk. Very well. Bring out a unicorn suit!” I watched as a few soldier brought out what looked like a robotic unicorn on its hind legs from the V-TOL, and they set it down in front of Fable. She inhaled deeply and carefully stepped in, sliding her horn through a small hole in the head of the suit. It closed around her, metal coming up around the horn, and the visor became translucent, allowing us to see her face. She was about twice as tall now, and she took a few clumsy, but stable, steps forwards, getting used to the new method of walking she had to use. “This is…” “New, ma’am?” “Yes…” I saw her fingers flex individually. “Awesome! I want one!” “Well then, Blitz was it? Dreams can come true.” A suit that had wings came out and she did the same that Fable did; only sliding her wings into the appropriate slots instead. As the suit closed, I heard what one could describe as a ‘squee’ He visor became translucent as well, and Blitz took her ‘first’ steps with somewhat better balance. I turned to check on Fable, and found she was busy walking about, examining our equipment. “I might want to try… if…” I turned to see Shy, with Doa crouched down next to her. “It’s okay, you’ll get one too.” I turned to the commander, who was busy smoking a cigarette. “I thought smoking was forbidden on this mission.” “Not for me. Now let’s move out.” “Not so fast.” We all turned around to see a large, about our height, regal looking pony, white with a tinge of pink, large wings and a thin, long, sharp horn. She was wearing royal looking jewelry; her mane and tail were long, free flowing despite the lack of wind, and of the colors of cyan, turquoise, azure, and purple. She had beautiful magenta eyes. “Celestia!” Celestia laughed slightly. “Fable, what are you in?” Fable was at Celestia in an instant, almost eye level with her, hugging her around the neck. “This suit these humans made, it gives us bipedal capabilities and fingers!” “But at what cost?” “Nothing!” “She’s right ma’am, these first few dozen are free. Least we can do for making your universe an unexpected host of ambassadors of humanity.” Fable broke from the hug and went back to examining our equipment, and the commander approached Celestia, giving her a salute. “At ease, this is informal.” “A lack of guards.” “A goddess does not need protection.” “A goddess, really?” “This is a different universe.” “Different rules sir.” “Shush, Dol.” “Your kind can set up in a much better place than the beach. There is a nearby flatland that is rarely ever used, due south. I will alert my people of you.” “I just received orders from the President to come out of hiding, so this helps us. Than you, ma’am.” “My pleasure. One last question, what are you planning on doing?” “Mixing together the two species, living as one large nation.” “There are more than one species of intelligent life here. We have Dragons, Griffons, Zebra…” “We have zebra where we come from!” “Not intelligent, I bet.” “Hardly. Go on.” “These creatures I regret making known as Diamond Dogs, Sea Serpents…” “I think I get it now. Massive numbers of different intelligent species.” “Correct.” I motioned to the birds to head out to the field mentioned, and my squad followed suit. I turned to go, and saw that Shy had just gotten her own suit, and had quickly adapted, walking beside one of our biologists, chatting about the animal life, the biologist taking notes. “No longer scared?” “You seem to have good intentions…” I approached her. “That’s because the worst we might do is spread a new disease to your kind. However, that is very unlikely, given how we decontaminated ourselves thoroughly. We are in more danger.” I felt a blur go past me, and saw Aigi at the head of the group, his shotgun at the ready. “If one of those Diamond Dogs arrives, BOOMSTICK!” “At ease, I doubt they would come around here.” “Where did I put my jeep?” I turned my head and saw the commander looking about the boxes, then kept going. “Hey, not so fast Aigi!” “Blitz, get used to it.” “Make a friend?” “Not yet Princess.” I laughed as Blitz tripped over her own foot. It was then I noticed how they were walking. Rather than swinging their arms to balance themselves, they were walking wide legged, shifting their center of gravity directly over each foot, one at a time. I slowed down to let Fable catch up. “You know there is a better way? Walk like us instead.” Fable slowly adapted once I said this, and the other two did as well when they saw how she was walking. We picked up the pace and went into a jog, leaving most of the soldiers in the dust, only the ponies and a few others could keep up. Celestia just maintained a slightly faster walking pace, ending up beside me. “Be careful of what your species chose, one wrong move could end both nations.” “We all know that.” -6 hours after- I looked about at the now mostly set up camp, a few structures still digi-tizing, their quiet hum calming. “Think it’s ready for us Princess?” “If you’d like to wait another hour, go ahead. My people know of your kind now, just not what you are like, or where.” “Well troops, time for our nation’s anthem! TUSSRAEAA*!” *(Tuss-Ray-ah) The United Soviet States of Russia, America, Europe, Africa, and Australia. I sat down, my back against a jeep, and close my eyes, listening. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rbSfCfa2-M&feature=related “My… no… OUR nation’s anthem. It’s year 2142, the president has this very, very old game where this was its theme. Put two and two together.” “It sound like you had to fight for what you have, with many hardships and battles, well fought, but worth it, and you are proud of it.” “Yes ma’am, that’s the official story, and what really did happen, but more occurred. Most of our kind lost friends and family to not only unite us, but to hold us together. There are still three or four other nations, such as the Middle East, and most of Asia, along with most of Oceania. Australia is with us though.” “You killed to make order?” “Not order, peace. One must be willing to sacrifice for what they believe is right.” “Are you going to forcefully invade Equestria if we refuse allegiance?” “No. We will recognize your difference, and attempt to maintain relationships. We would fight however, if you attacked us.” I enjoyed to peace and quiet after our anthem ended. I also enjoyed the method of awakening. Rather than a normal, slow wake up, I was awoken with a prod from a small child. Only it wasn’t a child, as I found out when I opened my eyes. It was a pink Earth Pony, large, puffy, pink mane and tail, and a cupcake tattoo. Her eyes had large pupils and were also pink. “So… much… pink…” “Why are all you humans big things of metal?” “That’s our armor. So, who are you?” “Seka!” She jumped onto my helmet and held tight, even as I stood up. “Dol.” “Well then Dol, what are you here for? I fell asleep as the Princess was explaining!” “Peace, trade, spread of culture, research.” “Boring!” “What do you have in mind?” “A great big ‘Welcome to Equestria Humanity!’ party!” “I think we should just blend in to your people.” “We’re ponies.” I slowly brought the palm of my hand to my visor. “To humans, you’re people.” “Have you encountered aliens before?” “Yes, the Ensidians. Soon after there was a large war, they almost died off, we slowly bought them back. They’re large, bipedal, carnivores bugs with twelve, yellow glowing eyes, two fingers and a thumb. Major food supplies for them are horses, cattle, and during the war, humans.” “Horse?” “Think pony, but bigger.” She slowly slid off my helmet. “If you’re done terrorizing my friend with aliens…” “…Which we are Miss Fable.” “…then maybe we could get on with what we were going to do?” “Perhaps soon. Tell me, what was the town’s reaction?” “They slowly came in, one or two, sometimes as many as four at a time while you were asleep. Many grabbed some of those suits, and everyone who got one loves them.” “Great, in that case, when every one of you GODDAMN PONIES GETS ONE WE’LL FALL TO YOUR FUCKING CUTENESS!” I turned to see Aigi gently pinching the cheeks of Seka as she gently batted at his head. His helmet was off. “Aigi, what was with that outburst?” “They are so FUCKING ADORABLE!” He added a tossing of Seka into the sky to help add to his vulgarity, and caught her as he finished his sentence. “Would you explain to me what he means by ‘fucking’?” “A swear word, means many things. The act of sex, and it can be used as an adjective in many ways.” “…um…” “We humans have a ‘colorful’ vocabulary ma’am.” “…” I walked off to the town, waving a Free Roam pass as I did so. I soon found out only a small group of soldiers and a member of the Government run newspaper were in town, besides a now slightly lower than normal amount of ponies, the ones away all at our camp. Very few ponies were using suits, and those that were had an aide with them as they learned. I tapped the side of my helm, making my visor become completely transparent. This seemed to calm the locals a bit more, now that they could see my face. I had dealt with Xenophobia before, when I encountered my first Ensidian colony. They were frightened, cowering in fear. That I could stand. These ponies had another reaction though, one that scared me. They either ignored you, or worse. Tried to make friends with you. I had managed to avoid most of the ponies in my attempt to get to my goal. A center of learning. The town’s library. -switching to Aigi’s view- “Blitz, that’s awesome! Hit me with another!” I had taken off my armor and most of my clothes, leaving on only my Skin Mesh Weave: my replacement for most of my skin, and boxers. Blitz’s suit was nearby. I cringed as another cloud hit the ground beneath me, exploding into water droplets. “How can you do that?” “All Pegasi can.” “I still don’t understand how.” I bought my arms up and looked to the sky, slowly turning. “The great airs are your playground; there is little that can conquer you. We need machines for that, you just do it.” “But your machines are unlike any I’ve seen!” I laughed as she landed on my back, her front hooves going over my shoulders, her wings wrapped around me. “So, where are you from?” “You mean region, like city?” “Yeah.” “Manhattan.” “Manhattan? That sounds like Manehattan.” “What? Seriously? Let me guess, you are not from there?” “I’m from Cloudsdale.” “That could be similar to I dunno where. Watchout!” “Wait what?” I twirled about and made us both land in the lake next to us. “HEY!” When I brought my head above the surface of the water, I could swear that Blitz was blushing slightly. “You blush?” “What?” “You blushing?” “No!” “Sudden denial is great evidence for.” “Fuck that you bastard!” I wasn’t prepared for her to dunk my head under the water. When I did surface, I couldn’t see her anywhere. Or my armor. Or her suit. Or my weapons. “THE BITCH STOLE MY STUFF!” I quickly made my way to shore and ran, following the slightly wet trail that was obviously from Blitz’s escape attempt. Fortunatly, I was built for running in the overcrowded Manhattan district, quickly overtaking her, mostly because she was weighted down by my stuff. “GET BACK HERE!” “NO!” “WHY NOT?” “BECAUSE I DON’T FEEL LIKE IT!” I leapt, and tackled her out of the sky, tumbled, and ended up pinning her down, my stuff landing a short distance away. “How about now?” Her helmet opened up and revealed her head to me, fully. “Shut up.” I felt her forelegs break free of my grasp and grab the back of my head, then force my lips to hers. -switching to Doe’s view- “Gagh, cross species romance. Well, at least they aren’t effing each other up.” I was spying on the two. Given their odd behavior together, I decided to check it out. What I found hadn’t surprised me. They were both reckless, somewhat violent. Wild. Why wouldn’t they take the chance and go at it? Given the fact that only pegasi can stand on clouds, I had to believe they would find somewhere else to profess love. I was wrong. If I had wings, I would have had what the locals call a ‘wingboner’ But I don’t, so I didn’t. I instead continued to watch. They continued their kiss. -swap to Aigi- This was the best kiss I ever had. Even better than the one that this cute Japanese girl gave me in my senior year of college. I still do daresay that this one was better than the first time I scored a kill. Maybe even better than when I locked vision with her for the first time. I had my lips locked to her, both our eyes closed; in a tight hug in which both of us would need to give consent to get out of. I didn’t want out, but Blitz did, so I let go and slowly drew my head back. “That was…” She eyed me somewhat seductively. “Unexpected?” “Great…” I rolled off her and stared at the sky. “It’s beautiful. Almost like you.” “Don’t try to flatter me.” I laughed gently. “Alright, fine.” She stood up slowly. “You might want to get going, it’s almost night.” “What’s so bad about night?” “It’s not just the time, it’s the place. Near the Everfree Forest, it gets dangerous at night.” She took off and flew over to her cloud home, and I stood up, got in my armor, got my stuff, and went back to base. -Doe swap- I was at base by the time Aigi arrived. I wasn’t about to tell anyone his little secret. Yet. I retired to the mess hall, and found that a few ponies were there too. Apparently, with the consent of the Princess, they joined our military, primarily to learn to protect themselves, and to manufacture and use guns. They were all in suits, and had learned how to control their visors and make them rise. A few were Pegasi, one or two were Unicorns, but the vast majority were Earth Ponies. Most were complaining about the mush that we were giving them, until I explained that until we can scavenge or otherwise acquire supplies, the mush is the best we can work with. I also told them that it strengthens them, which was not a lie. This caused most to ask for seconds, to which almost everyone else laughed. After I had my mush, and vomited gel put in it as a joke, I took some of the Earth Ponies to the side and brought them to the target range. I gave them some BB guns to see how they did, and I did not expect them to be good shots. The commander came by, and silently recommended I give each of them an unloaded pistol. -John’s swap- I had arrived at the front door of the library at the same time as Fable. Rather than magic the door open, she used its handle with her new hands. “You like the suit?” “A lot. You hungry?” “Very.” “The come in, I’ll make some ramen.” “Ramen… I haven’t had that in two years…” I looked at the shelves as she cooked, checking for books on weaponry. They had none, as I soon found out from a simple check. “Nothing on weapons?” “Sticks, stones, knives, spears, that’s all we have.” “Then say hello to guns, high explosives, and lasers.” I checked for books on the government. This allowed me to find out it really was run like a monarchy, but with two leaders. “Do the people have a say?” “Both Luna and Celestia take into consideration their subjects wants and needs before deciding. If they cannot agree, then they call a vote.” I then looked out the window and saw the night was rising, over taking to land given by the sun. Most ponies were off the streets, and the other humans in town were leaving. There was a knock on the door, and I watched a Pegasus mare fly away before I could get a good look. I checked what was there. The Equestria Daily Newpaper. I grabbed it and brought it inside. “Mythology Turned Real: Human Contact, Military Force Encountered. Find out more on page A5.” “I hope it’s unbiased. They usually are, but sometimes they have a bad writer and a bad editor.” I turned to A5 and took it over to Fable, then set it on the table. “The Ramen is just about done; I can let it sit for a minute or two to cool down. Let’s see what they have to say…” She magic’d the paper into the air and began reading. “They said they came in peace, yet they performed kidnapping on three innocent ponies. These ponies later forgave, and they were pardoned by the Princesses themselves. They brought with them technology and weapons, ideas, new possibilities. They traveled from their universe to ours, all to meet us.” “True that.” Fable gave me an annoyed glance before going back to the paper. “They gave away several dozen suits, perfectly built for our kind, granting us hands and bipedal capabilities. Many ponies have begun to love their species, some have spoken out. No conflicts have arisen however. A full report shall be made in one week Equestrian Time, for you humans who may be reading.” I chuckled slightly. “I detect no bias.” “Same.” She got us both ramen, I enjoyed it, thanked her, and left. I slowly walked back to the camp. -Doa swap time- I was enjoying my R&R like no other R&R I ever had. I had just read a copy of the Equestria Daily, drank a cup of coffee, and enjoyed watching some recruit ponies duke it out in our unarmed arena over a minor dispute. Far better than a massage, at only $2.99 as well. I watched as the ponies were split up according to their skills, and sent to bunk rooms that way. Pretty soon it was just me, some night guard, and a few soldiers who were practicing their hand-to-hand in the unarmed arena. All in all, I had a pretty good break, and I was ready to turn in for the night. Threat Established-swap to Aigi’s view, 10 hours later- I came up to Blitz’s cloud home, and sat down under it. I wasn’t in my armor, though I did wear shorts and a t-shirt, and I also brought my SMG along with plenty of ammo, just in case. I watched her take off from her doorstep, do her job in what seemed to be ten seconds, and then land right in front of me, not wearing her suit. “So, you gonna tell me your name?” “I… lost it.” “You lost it?” “When I joined the Jack Project, I survived, unlike most others, but at a terrible price. I lost my memories of who I am. I was told everything but my name. My friends and family confirmed everything. I wasn’t allowed to ever hear it again. It’s impossible for me to see it, to hear it, to read it.” “I’m so sorry.” “If you’re really sorry for the unstoppable, then come here.” She jumped into my arms and we kissed again, this time, it was even better than the last. I held her, she held me. I could tell she wanted to act. I did too. We had no place to do so. She was too small anyways, it wouldn’t be possible. As we both drew away from it, I heard a soft breath leave her. “We’re of two different species, aliens to one another. I don’t see how this could work out.” “My species sometimes doesn’t let love stop, even when the vast expanse of space is between them. I’d have to say your species will end up like that too.” We both let out a chuckle as she embraced me again. -Doe- “Voice log 1-001” “I am now officially worried.” I began to pace back and forth. “Humans and Ponies are mixing far too quickly. It was estimated to take weeks for us to be first encountered, and months for us to truly meet them in society. Years before we reach a state we are at.” I leaned against the far wall. “Something about this place, it speeds up events, speeds up healing. I can’t explain it. All I can say is, one of the recruits broke their leg, and soon after it was set and in a cast, they were behaving almost like they never got hurt.” “End log.” -view of John- I didn’t like what was in front of me. I had just met some soldiers of both species, all male, drunk and in bliss, all of them using each other for balance. We hadn’t brought Alcohol, the commander hadn’t brought any. “Those ponies have strong booze?” “HELLS YEAH!” I walked away as they were talking about battles, war, and women. I wasn’t paying attention, and somehow ended up nearly smacking face-first into the library’s door. I rapped the door five times, and it opened on its own accord. The place was dark, so I turned on my night vision. What I found shocked me, to say the least. Fable was drunk, almost unconscious on the floor. I entered, turned on the lights somehow, despite no electricity, and kneeled down next to her. “What happ…” I slowly took her out of the suit and set it aside. “You’re drunk. How much did you drink?” “Twelve bottles…” “Twelve.” “Twelve…” “I can identify at a simple smell that you should call yourself lucky, that was the incredibly light stuff. You almost killed your liver.” “Quiet you.” “Ma’am, be careful around what we’re bringing, you don’t know what it is, you could get hurt.” “Alright…” She passed out. “She’ll be safe in here, mainly because it’s her house.” I slowly stood up and left, closing the door behind me, walking away. I came upon a tree, and sat down under it, intent on resting more. I didn’t react when I suddenly felt a pony standing on my helmet. “Hey there!” “Hey…” “What’s wrong?” “I’m tired.” “Try some sugar!” “I’d rather just rest, sleep under this tree.” I was about to close my eyes when Aigi and Blitz walked by. I wasn’t worried about how Blitz was hanging on Aigi’s back, her fore legs hooked on his shoulders. I was worried because he wasn’t wearing his armor. “Aigi?” “What, Dol?” “What are you doing out of your armor?” “It’s effective R&R sir!” He stumbled towards me, Blitz clearly keeping him off balance. “Hey, be more stable!” “I can’t when you keep swinging!” “That’s because you’re swinging yourself!” “Stop bickering like a couple!” They both got oddly silent after that, but I didn’t care. I just dozed off. -Doe time- I watched Aigi and Blitz walk off, and I followed from the shrubbery. I had to find out what foolish thing they would do next. I hoped they wouldn’t start acting like high school children. They didn’t. Instead, they entered town and acted perfectly normally. Not a single pony of human gave them a glance. I popped the scope off my rifle, brought it to my eyes, and zoomed in on them carefully. I followed them, and they entered a café. I waited for them to leave, and when they did they went back to the lake they were at earlier. I double timed it over. I arrived in time to watch Aigi sitting down at the shore of the lake, Blitz across his lap. They were chatting about something, but I was too far to hear. I moved closer, silently going behind them and into more shrubbery. They weren’t talking. I waited for at least a half an hour, before I finally heard a sound “We could just leave and start a new life.” “Blitz, as much as I would like to do so, I have a job as a soldier, and you have your friends here. We can’t abandon those.” “Don’t you have friends?” “I learned to push them after my duty, after one too many died in front of me.” “Your friends…” “Died. Most of them did so the rest might live.” “Just how violent are you?” “Very. But that doesn’t make me bad; it just means I’m violent.” “Shut up.” “What’s wrong?” She brought her head up and kissed Aigi on the cheek. Just a light one, but still, she did it. Then they went full on, and I left. I couldn’t take much more of their filthy cross species romance. The Ensidians were close enough to people that is was okay, but ponies was too far. I was just glad they could draw the line somewhere, stopping at the romance, not hitting the icky part. Just thinking about it made me want to vomit on them. I just headed back to camp, slowly putting the scope on my rifle. -swap to Doa- I thought about this world and its physics, its laws. It reminded me of a children’s show far, far too much. I took off my helmet and spat the tree across from me. The shot impossibly flew straight ahead, and hit the tree, covering the side of it. I watched from the hill I was at, observing the ponies at play. They didn’t work during the weekends, unlike us humans. We only got holidays off, due to our ever rising power. “I tell you this is FUCKING INSANITY!” “Calm down Private!” “They’ll steal our jobs, then our homes, then our LIVES!” I glared at the Private, a human. “Shut. UP! They will NOT steal anything of ours!” “You can’t prove that!” “Time can you moron.” “If a member of Delta squad called you a moron, then you are.” I laughed along with most of the nearby soldiers as the Private gave up and stormed off. “He always this crazy?” “Yeah.” I walked off to see the sights of the town. I came across two ponies, both drunk, most likely bat shit crazy. They were fighting about whether humans would be blight to the ponies or their savior. I just shook my head as I passed. I made my way to a small café. Humans and ponies. They were everywhere. Chatting, ignoring each other, doing business. I swear I saw more than one group performing cross species romance. It’s not illegal. But not legal either. I set my helmet on the table and sat down on a chair meant specifically for me, then ordered a simple sandwich with water. I checked my cash and looked at how humans and ponies were exchanging cash. It looked like the exchange rate was $3.50=1 Bit. The sandwich was 6 bits. I took out $18, and then 3$ $21 total. Nice enough. I thoroughly enjoyed the local cuisine. -Swap to Aigi- I fell into the lake again, much to the chagrin of Blitz. “Careful!” “NO!” “Bastard.” “Some humans would call you my bitch.” “And? I love you!” “That won’t stop them. Humans are so varied that-” “Yawn, I’m falling asleep already.” “…” She smiled at me. I didn’t notice her hooves behind my head until it was too late, and she had forced my head forwards, her lips to mine again. She wrapped her lower legs around my waist, and her wings slowly unfurled, sticking straight out. I wrapped my arms around her, and slowly brought us back to shore. I sat down under a tree as she broke away, then fell asleep. “Sweet dreams.” -John- I opened my eyes, and was alone. So I looked about and found out they stole my helmet. “Great.” I looked about some more and saw Aigi napping with Blitz in his arms. Then I saw the tell tale sign of a sniper scope in the nearby forest. “AIGI DUCK AND COVER FUCK!” Fortunately he was still awake, and ducked just in time, stopping himself from getting his brains all over Blitz. This sudden movement sent Blitz into the air. “I’LL GET HELP!” “ZIG-ZAG!” I sighed for a moment as she began a random zig-zag pattern to base. I quickly ran to the hostile’s left and Aigi to their right. “WHO THE HELL IS SHOOTING US?” I heard multiple gunshots from the hostiles, and I saw Aigi pull out his SMG. “If only I were armed.” I thought for a moment. “Stupid, stupid, stupid!” I turned the corner in the trees and tackled the nearest hostile, then ripped their own arm out of its socket. Blood got everywhere, fast. Aigi quickly got the rest with a spray of bullets. “Who were these?” I checked their dog tags. “Dammit… Terrorists from Oceania.” “WHAT.” “Oceania based terrorists again.” “No…” “They chased us.” “Dammit…” “Let’s run!” I took off into a full on sprint, only to have Aigi race ahead. I didn’t pay attention. We both arrived at camp at about the same time, Aigi slightly ahead of me. “Damn commander, you getting lazy? I had enough time to tell them!” “Aigi, we all know you are one of the fastest people alive.” I entered the camp and stopped at the huge force that was gathered. “We have found that, due to the design and location of Ponyville, that these terrorists will want to capture it and stage all operations from there. We must defend it at all costs. Every pony soldier, I want you to go to Ponyville, and get your family out of there and to here. We contacted Celestia via radio, the fastest way that exists.” The commander was speaking. “Every human soldier, establish and maintain a perimeter around Ponyville. He turned to me. “Delta Squad, you will send Aigi and Doe to find where the enemy is, and exterminate them. John, you’ll stay here. Dos and Doa will head to Ponyville if they aren’t already.” “Yes sir.” The commander turned to leave, but turned a moment later. “Oh, and men? Blow every son a bitch to smithereens.” “TUSSRAEAA!” Everyone but Delta Squad, the commander, and a few choice soldiers marched out in staggered formation. I approached the commander. “The ponies know how to wield guns?” He smiled like a child would on their birthday. “Dol, I do daresay that a child actually earned their cutie mark for it. She’s an excellent sniper.” “Damn sir!” “Aigi, hush your mouth. In fact, go find Doe. Sir, my helmet was stolen.” “We found it.” He reached into his jeep and tossed me my helmet, which I snatch out of the air and put on. “Dol?” “Yes sir?” “If you find who is in charge of this bitch of an operation, give him a message, will ya’?” “What kind?” “Blow his brain up, leave the jaw and below.” I laughed. “Yes sir.” I turned and found Fable right behind me. “Did you just laugh about death?” “Takes the edge off ma’am.” -Swap to Aigi’s more unique perspective of the world an hour later- “For the last time Blitz, I don’t care how much you care about me; you do not know how to use weapons! Stay in the camp!” “I can use the weather!” “How would that help?” “I can strike them with lightning and soak in front of them.” “FINE.” I ran from Blitz with anger and sadness in my eyes and went straight to Doe, who was waiting patently at the edge of the Everfree. “Took you long enough. I scouted out some of the forest and found they’re on the far side. It’s dangerous, plenty of mythical beings, but we have something they don’t.” I pulled out my shotgun and pumped it. “Boom.” “Precisely my simple minded friend.” I took no offense to that. I followed Doe as he made his way through the forest, carefully avoiding making sound. The whole way not a single hostile was encountered, though we encountered strange blue flowers. Doe took samples. We reached what was obviously the camp, and I went in, going from building to building and making a map of the place. I left as soon as I entered and got back to Doe, putting the map in a nearby tree. Short Chapter 1: Ninja'd“Let’s move.” “My pleasure, my simple minded friend.” We entered silently, and Doe snuck up behind one of the few guards with his machete. The last thing the guard saw was a hand, a blade, and blood everywhere. Doe allowed the corpse to silently hit the ground. I went on ahead and got my shotgun ready. A sorry bastard turned the corner, and next thing I saw of his head were small ribbons of flesh and hair. The base went on alert. -Swap to Doa- Almost all who were able were at Ponyville, and most were on the side with the Everfree Forest. Shy was forced to abandon her cottage, and fortunately she managed to get all her animals out of there. I was setting up my mini-gun for standard use, on a barricade made of metal, when several humans came out of the forest. I identified their armor instantly. The baggy, metal pated, blue and red colored uniform of Oceania base Terrorists. They all had weapons, and they were out, ready to shoot at us. “I need more time!” The bullets flew in both directions, the blasts from the firing echoing. I was nearly hit twice, but managed to set up the gun and it instantly had a soldier on it. I rushed over into a small house and grabbed my Electron Launcher. I charged it up and left through the door again, then fired. The damage was immense, frying everything in a straight, two feet wide line. Then a bullet impacted with my helmet, and everything went dark. -DOS- The world’s magic was going insane, blinding me in a flurry of colors. Fortunately I was able to take cover behind a large fallen chimney. “WOULD YOU STOP?” The color shifts calmed down only slightly. Still too much. I was effectively out for the fight. -Doe- My machete was in the skull of a hostile ten yards away, and I had already my pistol out and two hostiles down with one shot. Aigi was behind me with his ‘Flying Fists of Fury’, his weapons having been shot out of his hands. I didn’t even need to look to know blood was everywhere. Six more shots, ten hostiles down. Reload. Eight shots, five hostiles. Reload. Eight shots, twelve down. Reload. One shot. Ten down. “BOOM MOTHERFUCKERS!” One shot. Both of us were down. One blast of lighting. We were up and every one of those bastards died. We checked our wounds as Blitz slowly glided down from the sky. “Thanks for the assist.” “Don’t mention it Doe.” Her attention turned to Aigi’s more serious wounds. “I’m fine… Just…” He fell over and passed out from the pain. Blitz and I shared his weight as we carried him back to Ponyville. -warning- -unknown view change detected- -warning- -change not part of Delta Squad- -warning- I sat at my table, wearing the pony suit I got. I painted it with pink decals, and changed the visor color to pink. My .44 magnum was in my hand, bullets in my belt. My hacksaw was at my side, ready to be drawn for a melee. It was time. “Matthew Davis, please guide me for what I will do, in your name I go to fight. In your name I go with your blessing.” I was then gone from there.
ContactThis is what would have happened had Celestia not made Knifer a pony and sent him to Equestria. Or maybe it’s what happens after the ending of Knifer’s journey in Equestria. Or perhaps if the spell worked. Perhaps before? I looked to my left. There was one of my ‘brothers’ clad in Powered Energetic Deflection Armor. PEDA. He was usually called Unit D-02 by command, though we called him DOS. He has the explosives and tech expert on our team. I looked across from me. Not much was known about this guy, and he wore a lighter version of PEDA. Powered Energetic Travel Armor. PETA. I hate those guys. He was our sniper, and command called him D-03. We just say Doe. To my right was our commander, the only one called by name half the time. John. Command said he was D-01. Dol He was wearing the same armor as DOS. And I was the Heavy Weapons Specialist, requiring me to use what was called Supplemented Power and Augmented Elephant Mammoth Armor. SPaAEMA I was D-04. Doa. I was one of twenty people out of ten trillion that could literally push a mountain forty miles and have energy to spare. But that would kill me, so the suit also limited how much power I could use at once. The limit was 25,000 pounds. Twelve point five tons. Three and one eights fuck tons. My armor alone weighs a fuck ton. My Mini-gun weights half a fuck ton and my Electron Launcher another half a fuck ton. I was carrying two fuck tons most of the time. Sixteen thousand pounds. And yes, people of the past. A fuck ton has become a real measurement. Eight tons. I drifted back into thought. Alpha Squad was the first Death Squad, one hundred and twenty members. The most famous, the most powerful. But their power comes from numbers, nothing else. Beta was well known due to their companionship, and at a low ten members, they needed it. But they lacked in equipment. Gamma is full of freaks. Misanthropes. Criminals. They had some of the best gear of all time, salvaged, given, and stolen. But they didn’t care about each other. Fifty insane freaks. And here I am, in Delta Squad. Four of us. We do jobs meant for one person, and jobs meant for thousands. Four members. And we were going to meet a new intelligent species. “DOA! SNAP OUT OF IT!” The voice was harsh and Russian. Our commander’s I quickly looked up at our commander and saluted. “At ease. We’re almost here. Get ready.” “I can’t wait to be the first group to contact this foreign intelligence.” This one was more British, belonging to DOS. A figure came into existence next to Doe. It was Alpha’s 119th member, A-191, Aigi. He was wearing the most advanced armor ever made, Nicknamed “Jack” armor. He had different Modules that had different abilities to help him. Sprint, Armor, Power, Stealth, Flight, and a Short Ranged Teleport. This Teleport doesn’t actually teleport, but instead sends him at blinding speed to the location, with a range of twelve meters. He was soon to become D-05, but we would always call him Aigi. He spoke up, and his obviously Eastern American, Manhattan, voice came blaring into my coms. “Oh man this is gonna be SO COOL!” “CALM IT AIGI!” “Sorry commander, I’m just so excited! We are the first Trans-Universals EVER!” I spoke up for the first time in ten hours. “We’ve landed, sir.” My deep, rarely heard voice left a large impact on them, like always. They may be ordered by the commander, but I only speak when needed or spoken to, and I do so with though. “Got it Doa. Everyone, grab your gear and pile out onto the beach.” I simply reached up and pulled down my Mini-gun and Electron Launcher, then walked off the V-TOL. My change in weight caused it to not sink into the sand as much, and I found myself ankle deep in the small crystals that this sand was made of. I made my way to the dirt nearby and sat on a large rock as the rest of Delta left the V-TOL. Doe came first, then Dol, then DOS, and finally Aigi. Doe had his sniper rifle, a machete, and a .43 pistol, Dol had an Assault Rifle of .34 caliber, a combat knife, and an SMG, DOS had two .43 pistols, and Aigi came out with a Flechette shotgun and an SMG. The V-TOL took off and went into the east. “Aigi, go into the forest with Doe, stay silent, don’t want to let the continent know where we are too soon.” Those two quickly went into the forest. “Doa, follow them in thirty seconds, we’ll be right behind you. My HUD displayed a timer, and I stood up, put my Electron Launcher on my back, and got my Mini-gun ready for a walk. When it hit zero I walked into the forest, following the trail left by Doe’s machete. I found them observing a small equine of some sort, red in color, wearing a leather hat, with a blonde mane and tail, dark blue eyes and a bucket of apples tattooed on her flanks. She was resting under an apple tree. “Doa, this appears to be the intelligent life! I can’t wait to chat with them!” “Calm it Aigi, they may not speak our language, and may in fact be hostile.” I turned to Doe. “Has she done anything but ‘nap’ yet?” “No.” DOS and Dol came up from behind me and lied down on the ground. “Doe, go check around, Doa, you’re his guard.” I nodded and followed Doe around as he check the place out. We eventually came upon a cave, perfect for making camp. We made sure it was clear, and Doe went to get everyone else. I sat there by myself for a while until they got back. “Perfect place. Aigi, go get firewood. Doe, go hunt for food and water. Our supplies won’t last forever.” I continued to stay sitting, and locked my armor. I closed my eyes for rest, which I knew I would need. I opened my eyes in the morning and unlocked my armor, then removed my helmet, smelling the smoke of the fire we were around. “Doa, want some apples? We found a bunch out in the wilderness, away from that farm.” It was Aigi. I took one and took a bite out of it. It was the best apple I ever had. I continued to eat it as the rest of Delta woke up. When I finished the apple, rather than merely discard it, I tossed it in the fire and watched it burn. “I’m going out for a short walk.” I stood up, put on my helmet, and walked out of the cave. I stretched and walked about, getting my bearings as the sun rose. “WOAH. WHAT ARE YOU?” I quickly spun around. There was a dark blue Pegasus hovering in mid-air, her mane was colored like the rainbow, but the colors were inverted, her eyes were green, and her flanks had a tattoo that looked like light. I overwhelmed her with my strength and pulled her into the cave. “LET ME GO YOU DAMNED GOLEM!” Doe quickly bound her wings together, and then her legs. I set her on the ground. “WHAT ARE YOU ALL?” I stepped back and Dol came forwards. “Humans. We come in peace, as hard as it is to believe. We are staying hidden until we deem we can come out. Until then you are stuck here.” “Let me out or I WILL KILL YOU ALL!” Aigi came forwards, or more accurately “Teleported” in front of this Pegasus. “No. Name, occupation?” “Blitz, I clear the skies of Ponyville.” “Nearby settlement?” “Yes.” “I’m off.” Aigi quickly left the cave, closing a door which I did not know was there as he left. Doe untied Blitz, who then ran deeper into the cave, only to find it didn’t go very far. “Untie my wings.” “No, we won’t.” Blitz then charged me and bucked. I just stood still as her hooves landed harmlessly on my armor. “How did…” “This weighs eight tons. I think it’ll take more than a kick to dent.” -Changing Viewpoint to Aigi’s- I made my way silently through the town, invisibly. I went to what appeared to be a hollowed out tree, and went through an open window. I took cover behind a stack of books and left Stealth mode. I waited a minute for its charge to regenerate, and then went back into it just as I heard footsteps coming down the stairs. “Steve, is that you?” I looked at the source of the sound. A purple coated, dark purple mane and tail, black iris, fireball tattoo, unicorn female. “Hello?” I stayed silent. “Anypony there?” Her horn glowed, and she looked right at me in shock. “What ARE YOU?” I left Stealth mode and stood up, shotgun in hand and ready to fire if needed. “A human.” “A human…” “Yes.” “I need to tell Celestia.” “No.” “Why not?” “My squad and I are trying to keep secret until we decide to come out of hiding. We have been ordered to respond with lethal force if need be.” “Where are you from?” “Universe ED3N, Milky Way, Sol system, planet Earth.” “I just can’t understand how you would go from one universe to another…” “You rip a hole in the fabric at the edge of one.” “But the universe goes on forever.” “No it doesn’t, it does have an edge, which we can reach with ease.” There was a knocking on the door, to which I responded with Stealth. The door opened and a small reptile of some sort came in holding many books and scrolls. “Fable, I got you what you needed.” “Thank you Steve.” Everything levitated out of Steve’s grasp and up the stairs. Steve then walked past me. He was Dark blue, Cyan underbelly and back spikes, and dark red eyes. I waited until he went up the stairs, then turned to Fable. “What’s your name?” “Just call me Aigi.” “Why are you here?” “We detected intelligent life and came to find it. We didn’t expect quadrupeds.” “Why not?” “Because we humans don’t have magic, so we instead are bi-pedal and have thumbs.” “Why are you answering these questions?” “Because.” “That’s…” “Informative?” “No…” “Get used to it.” I stood up and “Teleported” behind her. “How did you… I thought…” “Not magic. Science. Say, how would you like to be part of our study on your kind? We already have a Pegasus.” “Who?” “Blitz.” Fable turned. “I don’t think Blitz is the kind to volunteer.” “She didn’t.” Fable backed up. “Let her go…” “We can’t for security reasons. You know too much now.” I “Teleported” behind her again and picked her up, then gagged her mouth with my arm. Her horn began to glow, so I put my SMG to her head. “One spell out of you and your skull will pour blood.” Her horn stopped glowing, and I rushed us out of town. -Switching to John’s viewpoint- “For the last time Blitz, you are NOT getting out there.” I had to fight not to put a bullet through her leg as she ran around in circles. “Want me to shut her up sir?” “No DOS, we need her to be able to speak when Aigi gets back from his AWOL moment.” There was a knocking on the door. “Speak of the devil. Doa, get it.” He stood up and quietly made his way to the door, then opened it. He stepped to the side and Aigi came in with a purple unicorn in his arms, using his hand as a gag. Doa closed the door, and Aigi set the unicorn down. “FABLE?” “BLITZ!” The two rushed to each other, Fable’s horn glowing. Aigi spoke up. “No spells ma’am.” “Fine…” Her horn stopped glowing. A deep voice came from our “golem” “Won’t the town know they’re missing?” “Only if you don’t hurry up whatever it is you’re doing! I need to get back to Steve.” I laughed silently under my helmet as I got a coms message from command. “Who would have thought the coms work trans-universally?” I stood up and headed to the back of the cave to take the call. The robotic voice was smooth, but digital sounding. “You read me Dol?” “Loud and clear sir. We have a Pegasus and a Unicorn here, and there have been signs of more ordinary equine life forms.” “Equines?” “Equines.” “This doesn’t even make sense.” “Normal ‘ponies’ along with pegasi and unicorns. With real magic.” “This is impossible.” “It’s a different universe sir, different rules.” “True… Continue your investigation for now, I’ll contact within twenty eight hours.” “Roger.” I turned around to look at everyone. The unicorn and Doa had begun a game of chess, The Pegasus was busy comparing speed with Aigi, DOS was programming something, and Doe was cleaning his sniper rifle. “Everyone, we need to do some investigations into our little friends here. Weight, height, and how the hell their vocal chords work. No dissections.” The unicorn stopped mid-move. “You will go about that how?” “Doa’s armor has a built in weight measurement device that seems to work just fine here, we can measure your height with one of DOS’s programs, and another of his programs can see the build of your bodies. Of course we’ll need the whole town for this to be accurate, but that can wait.” I watch as Doa quickly lifted the unicorn up and put her back on the ground, much to her chagrin. “Forty pounds sir.” “And what about our Pegasus friend here?” “NO WAY!” The Pegasus went to the back of the cave, and Doa slowly lumbered over to her. “NO!” She tried to go around him, but he was too fast for her, quickly weighing her and setting her on the ground in a few moments. “Thirty five pounds sir.” Aigi began to laugh. “Not so bad, huh?” Aigi tapped the side of his helmet, and I heard a violin start playing a soft, calming melody. “Hey, could you untie my wings now?” “No.” “It’s not like I could use them.” “Still, you aren’t getting them untied. And if you don’t shut up I’ll have Doe here do it for you. With a bullet in the jaw.” “You’ve gotta be kidding me sir, that would be no fun!” The unicorn slowly looked away from us and got back to her move as Doa lumbered back over. “Quick question…” I turned my attention to the speaker, DOS. “Who runs this country?” The unicorn didn’t even stop to think. “Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.” “Princesses, eh? My my, quite the odd government.” “They control the sun and the moon, respectively. “Magic?” “Yep.” “Unicorns?” “No, Alicorns.” I spoke up “Huh. I’m putting that in my report.” -Switching to Doa’s Viewpoint five hours later- I was asleep, talking to Fable telepathically. ‘So, let me get this straight, you have four others we might want to look into, yet one of them, a yellow Pegasus by the name of Klutzershy, commonly known as Shy, would probably be traumatized by being abducted.’ ‘Basically.’ ‘I love telepathy.’ ‘I do too.’ ‘Hello there Doa.’ ‘Who is this?’ ‘Princess Celestia. I have known about your being here for a while now, but didn’t think it was important enough for me to get involved until your friend Aigi abducted my student. My patience for such acts is limited.’ ‘Quick question, how much can you levitate?’ ‘Twenty tons, why?’ ‘I can carry twenty five tons.’ ‘You bastard.’ ‘Three and one eights fuck tons.’ ‘Wake up.’ ‘When I’m ready.’ ‘NOW.’ I suddenly snapped awake. “Time?” “Three forty nine P.M.” I didn’t respond, like usual. I check on our little ‘prisoners’ and found we had a new one, a Pegasus female, yellow, long pink tail and mane, green eyes, a butterfly mark, mostly likely Shy. She was asleep with her eyes open, most likely tranquilized. “We still need one of those earth ponies.” I then realized that was what the normal ponies were called. “Why do you hide so? Why not just contact the Princess now?” “Orders are orders miss, Command sends them to me, I tell my squad, and we carry them out.” “You let others order you? Why not take a note from me and live life the way you want to?” “Its part of the job, you batshit crazy Pegasus.” Most of us just ignored Aigi’s insult. “I am not crazy!” “That’s what they all say.” Shy stirred slightly, so we all became silent. She looked about, and slowly got up. She hadn’t even registered that we were there. -Changing viewpoint to Doe’s- I was perfectly still, sitting on my rock, my rifle in my lap. The yellow Pegasus came up to me, and I slowly brought my rifle down to the floor. She hopped into my lap and fell asleep again. A few minutes of silence passed until somebody spoke up. “Now what?” I simply sat there, still confused at what had happened. She, described as timid and aware, had just blindly walked into my lap and fell asleep. “I don’t know Aigi, why don’t you go AWOL?” “Alright then sir, I’ll look for an earth pony.” Aigi then disappeared, and I looked down at the pegasi, for the blue one had come up to the yellow one. Yes, I hate names. There was a long period of silence, and pretty soon I had two pegasi sleeping on me. “Hell to this, I’m napping.” I then laid down across my rock and fell asleep. I slowly opened my eyes as I felt a slight shift in weight on my legs, and looked down to see the yellow Pegasus looking at me, fear in her eyes. “Don’t worry Shy, they won’t hurt you.” I was still to stuck in my sleepy trance to know who said that, but it seemed to calm the Pegasus down enough to make her simply get off and hide behind her unicorn friend. The other Pegasus was still on me though, which I soon remedied by standing up, unceremoniously dropping her to the floor. “Time for height measurements, don’t you think?” “Already done Doe. All are around two foot five.” “Interior anatomy?” “Similar to ours, though with what appears to be a heart and a half, and their hooves and mouths seem to be perfectly build to use stuff, just like hands.” “Odd… Hold up, I got a message from the commander.” We all waited, the Pegasus finally getting up. “Good news: V-TOL is going to arrive to pick up data and get us supplies, possibly set up a proper camp right outside our cave.” “Wouldn’t it be easy to see?” “Ma’am, according to Doa, your Princess knows about us, we don’t need to worry.” “How many of your species will be here?” “Maybe half a dozen or so, why?” “Good, just checking. How long?” “Until they arrive? Three hours.” “Fable, what’s going on?” “Intelligent life Shy, intelligent life.” -Three hours after, in the view of DOS- I watched as the numbers, all the ones and zeros that the world is made of floated past. I watched the shades of blue make the outlines, add in detail, and colorize them. I’m an AI, this suit but a shell, a body for me. The most advanced AI in all of existence. At least, known to man. I understand time and space. It’s because of me we are here right now. I could see five minutes into the future. This universe had me stumped. It was the magic, it made everything blue. It had emotions. My eyes cringed in pain as the world changed to a yellow. Or, they would have, if I had any. I’m an AI. I use cameras. Eyes are useless. So are ears. The only ways I envy humans are their emotions, such a flavorful thing, which will soon be added to my programming anyways. The other, is taste. I will never get that, it’s impossible, for I do not physically exist. I left my sorrows, if one could put it like that, and went to reality again “So, DOS?” My voice recognition software found this to be Fable. “Yes?” My voice was fortunately that of a normal human, and not a robot. “What are you, if you aren’t human?” “I’m merely the most advanced AI ever made by humans.” “AI?” “Artificial Intelligence.” “So, you’re not real?” “I am, but I have no physical presence. Therefore I use this armor as my body.” “So you don’t need food or water?” “Or air.” “What if your armor is destroyed?” “I can ‘jump’ a long distance into another suit, or if needed a living being, then ‘jump’ back into a new container until new armor is made.” “So you can’t ‘die,’ can you?” “I can, it’s just hard.” I shook my head as the world went from yellow to green. “The magic, it’s interfering with my optical probes with its emotions, it’s envying me now.” The world turned pink for a moment before going back to green. “I think it blushed.” “Are you corrupt DOS?” “No sir. The magic these unicorns use, it’s interfering with my sensors.” “That must be why we can’t get a clear video feed.” “Wait, science and magic don’t mix?” “Only in small doses, I bet.” My vision took on a bland grey color, one that can be related to a lack of emotion. “How much DOS?” “How much what?” “Cash!” “This isn’t time for gambling Aigi!” “It’s ALWAYS time for gambling!” I brought my right hand up to my head, made a L shape with my thumb and pointer finger, put the tip of my pointer finger to my helmet, and faked recoil. “Why do you always do that DOS?” “The fake suicide? You.” “Do you humans always argue and fight?” “He’s hardly human.” “He’s a creation of your species and he has your intelligence. I think that makes him at least a person.” Doa shifted, so we all turned to him. “What makes a person a person, is emotions. Without joy when you accomplish something, sadness when you lose, fear when in danger, envy when you want something, you’re not a person. You’re merely an intelligent rock.” I made a soft whistling sound. “Thanks Doa.” “Thanks? I just dissed you.” “You said the truth. I am truth. Only truth.” “…” “Crazed contraption.” “I find that offensive Aigi!” “Yet ‘Fuckin’ batshit computer’ you’re fine with?” “I am batshit crazy and I am a computer!” “Are you showing emotion?” “This is me making a statement forcefully!” “Of course it is…” “FUCK OFF YOU DAFT BASTARD!” “…” “…” “…” “How can you humans stand each other?” “We’re social animals, solitude drives us crazy. We need company, but not a crowd. If you didn’t notice, this cave is getting too small.” “When is the blasted V-TOL?” “Next year.” “Fuck you Aigi.” “Want me to bend over?” “Yes ma’am.” “It. Is. On!” Before I could respond Aigi was on me, punching. I was feeling pain from each swing. I kicked out with my legs, hitting his gut, lifting him high into the air. “BOTH OF YOU STOP!” Aigi and I both stared at each other with more fear than anger for him, and my constant neutral expression for me. “Are you humans always so violent?” “No ma’am.” “Then why are you all fighting?” “It’s human nature… many of us will fight for our honor.” “But why?” “Like I said ma’am, human nature…”
Meeting Point-changing to John’s viewpoint, five minute after- “The V-TOL is here, let’s head out. Bring the ponies.” “We are right here you know.” “Well then ma’am, you’re up here with me. Doa, you’re in back.” I walked out, Fable next to me the whole time. What happened next, I did not expect, and neither did anyone else. I swear I heard Aigi utter “Bastards.” The V-TOL was not a single bird. It was a wing. The commander jump out of the lead V-TOL before it hit the ground and approached me. “Good work Dol.” “I though you said only one bird.” “Change of plans. President wants a small base at the shore. Oh, you might like to know something: we made suits for the ponies, several dozen in fact. They let them stand up on their hind legs and it also gives them some fingers and thumb.” “Like us?” “Like us. Don’t worry; the testing has been done already on exact replicas, no danger.” Fable came up to the commander, to which he responded by kneeling down. “I’d like to try one of these suits sir.” “You really can talk. Very well. Bring out a unicorn suit!” I watched as a few soldier brought out what looked like a robotic unicorn on its hind legs from the V-TOL, and they set it down in front of Fable. She inhaled deeply and carefully stepped in, sliding her horn through a small hole in the head of the suit. It closed around her, metal coming up around the horn, and the visor became translucent, allowing us to see her face. She was about twice as tall now, and she took a few clumsy, but stable, steps forwards, getting used to the new method of walking she had to use. “This is…” “New, ma’am?” “Yes…” I saw her fingers flex individually. “Awesome! I want one!” “Well then, Blitz was it? Dreams can come true.” A suit that had wings came out and she did the same that Fable did; only sliding her wings into the appropriate slots instead. As the suit closed, I heard what one could describe as a ‘squee’ He visor became translucent as well, and Blitz took her ‘first’ steps with somewhat better balance. I turned to check on Fable, and found she was busy walking about, examining our equipment. “I might want to try… if…” I turned to see Shy, with Doa crouched down next to her. “It’s okay, you’ll get one too.” I turned to the commander, who was busy smoking a cigarette. “I thought smoking was forbidden on this mission.” “Not for me. Now let’s move out.” “Not so fast.” We all turned around to see a large, about our height, regal looking pony, white with a tinge of pink, large wings and a thin, long, sharp horn. She was wearing royal looking jewelry; her mane and tail were long, free flowing despite the lack of wind, and of the colors of cyan, turquoise, azure, and purple. She had beautiful magenta eyes. “Celestia!” Celestia laughed slightly. “Fable, what are you in?” Fable was at Celestia in an instant, almost eye level with her, hugging her around the neck. “This suit these humans made, it gives us bipedal capabilities and fingers!” “But at what cost?” “Nothing!” “She’s right ma’am, these first few dozen are free. Least we can do for making your universe an unexpected host of ambassadors of humanity.” Fable broke from the hug and went back to examining our equipment, and the commander approached Celestia, giving her a salute. “At ease, this is informal.” “A lack of guards.” “A goddess does not need protection.” “A goddess, really?” “This is a different universe.” “Different rules sir.” “Shush, Dol.” “Your kind can set up in a much better place than the beach. There is a nearby flatland that is rarely ever used, due south. I will alert my people of you.” “I just received orders from the President to come out of hiding, so this helps us. Than you, ma’am.” “My pleasure. One last question, what are you planning on doing?” “Mixing together the two species, living as one large nation.” “There are more than one species of intelligent life here. We have Dragons, Griffons, Zebra…” “We have zebra where we come from!” “Not intelligent, I bet.” “Hardly. Go on.” “These creatures I regret making known as Diamond Dogs, Sea Serpents…” “I think I get it now. Massive numbers of different intelligent species.” “Correct.” I motioned to the birds to head out to the field mentioned, and my squad followed suit. I turned to go, and saw that Shy had just gotten her own suit, and had quickly adapted, walking beside one of our biologists, chatting about the animal life, the biologist taking notes. “No longer scared?” “You seem to have good intentions…” I approached her. “That’s because the worst we might do is spread a new disease to your kind. However, that is very unlikely, given how we decontaminated ourselves thoroughly. We are in more danger.” I felt a blur go past me, and saw Aigi at the head of the group, his shotgun at the ready. “If one of those Diamond Dogs arrives, BOOMSTICK!” “At ease, I doubt they would come around here.” “Where did I put my jeep?” I turned my head and saw the commander looking about the boxes, then kept going. “Hey, not so fast Aigi!” “Blitz, get used to it.” “Make a friend?” “Not yet Princess.” I laughed as Blitz tripped over her own foot. It was then I noticed how they were walking. Rather than swinging their arms to balance themselves, they were walking wide legged, shifting their center of gravity directly over each foot, one at a time. I slowed down to let Fable catch up. “You know there is a better way? Walk like us instead.” Fable slowly adapted once I said this, and the other two did as well when they saw how she was walking. We picked up the pace and went into a jog, leaving most of the soldiers in the dust, only the ponies and a few others could keep up. Celestia just maintained a slightly faster walking pace, ending up beside me. “Be careful of what your species chose, one wrong move could end both nations.” “We all know that.” -6 hours after- I looked about at the now mostly set up camp, a few structures still digi-tizing, their quiet hum calming. “Think it’s ready for us Princess?” “If you’d like to wait another hour, go ahead. My people know of your kind now, just not what you are like, or where.” “Well troops, time for our nation’s anthem! TUSSRAEAA*!” *(Tuss-Ray-ah) The United Soviet States of Russia, America, Europe, Africa, and Australia. I sat down, my back against a jeep, and close my eyes, listening. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rbSfCfa2-M&feature=related “My… no… OUR nation’s anthem. It’s year 2142, the president has this very, very old game where this was its theme. Put two and two together.” “It sound like you had to fight for what you have, with many hardships and battles, well fought, but worth it, and you are proud of it.” “Yes ma’am, that’s the official story, and what really did happen, but more occurred. Most of our kind lost friends and family to not only unite us, but to hold us together. There are still three or four other nations, such as the Middle East, and most of Asia, along with most of Oceania. Australia is with us though.” “You killed to make order?” “Not order, peace. One must be willing to sacrifice for what they believe is right.” “Are you going to forcefully invade Equestria if we refuse allegiance?” “No. We will recognize your difference, and attempt to maintain relationships. We would fight however, if you attacked us.” I enjoyed to peace and quiet after our anthem ended. I also enjoyed the method of awakening. Rather than a normal, slow wake up, I was awoken with a prod from a small child. Only it wasn’t a child, as I found out when I opened my eyes. It was a pink Earth Pony, large, puffy, pink mane and tail, and a cupcake tattoo. Her eyes had large pupils and were also pink. “So… much… pink…” “Why are all you humans big things of metal?” “That’s our armor. So, who are you?” “Seka!” She jumped onto my helmet and held tight, even as I stood up. “Dol.” “Well then Dol, what are you here for? I fell asleep as the Princess was explaining!” “Peace, trade, spread of culture, research.” “Boring!” “What do you have in mind?” “A great big ‘Welcome to Equestria Humanity!’ party!” “I think we should just blend in to your people.” “We’re ponies.” I slowly brought the palm of my hand to my visor. “To humans, you’re people.” “Have you encountered aliens before?” “Yes, the Ensidians. Soon after there was a large war, they almost died off, we slowly bought them back. They’re large, bipedal, carnivores bugs with twelve, yellow glowing eyes, two fingers and a thumb. Major food supplies for them are horses, cattle, and during the war, humans.” “Horse?” “Think pony, but bigger.” She slowly slid off my helmet. “If you’re done terrorizing my friend with aliens…” “…Which we are Miss Fable.” “…then maybe we could get on with what we were going to do?” “Perhaps soon. Tell me, what was the town’s reaction?” “They slowly came in, one or two, sometimes as many as four at a time while you were asleep. Many grabbed some of those suits, and everyone who got one loves them.” “Great, in that case, when every one of you GODDAMN PONIES GETS ONE WE’LL FALL TO YOUR FUCKING CUTENESS!” I turned to see Aigi gently pinching the cheeks of Seka as she gently batted at his head. His helmet was off. “Aigi, what was with that outburst?” “They are so FUCKING ADORABLE!” He added a tossing of Seka into the sky to help add to his vulgarity, and caught her as he finished his sentence. “Would you explain to me what he means by ‘fucking’?” “A swear word, means many things. The act of sex, and it can be used as an adjective in many ways.” “…um…” “We humans have a ‘colorful’ vocabulary ma’am.” “…” I walked off to the town, waving a Free Roam pass as I did so. I soon found out only a small group of soldiers and a member of the Government run newspaper were in town, besides a now slightly lower than normal amount of ponies, the ones away all at our camp. Very few ponies were using suits, and those that were had an aide with them as they learned. I tapped the side of my helm, making my visor become completely transparent. This seemed to calm the locals a bit more, now that they could see my face. I had dealt with Xenophobia before, when I encountered my first Ensidian colony. They were frightened, cowering in fear. That I could stand. These ponies had another reaction though, one that scared me. They either ignored you, or worse. Tried to make friends with you. I had managed to avoid most of the ponies in my attempt to get to my goal. A center of learning. The town’s library. -switching to Aigi’s view- “Blitz, that’s awesome! Hit me with another!” I had taken off my armor and most of my clothes, leaving on only my Skin Mesh Weave: my replacement for most of my skin, and boxers. Blitz’s suit was nearby. I cringed as another cloud hit the ground beneath me, exploding into water droplets. “How can you do that?” “All Pegasi can.” “I still don’t understand how.” I bought my arms up and looked to the sky, slowly turning. “The great airs are your playground; there is little that can conquer you. We need machines for that, you just do it.” “But your machines are unlike any I’ve seen!” I laughed as she landed on my back, her front hooves going over my shoulders, her wings wrapped around me. “So, where are you from?” “You mean region, like city?” “Yeah.” “Manhattan.” “Manhattan? That sounds like Manehattan.” “What? Seriously? Let me guess, you are not from there?” “I’m from Cloudsdale.” “That could be similar to I dunno where. Watchout!” “Wait what?” I twirled about and made us both land in the lake next to us. “HEY!” When I brought my head above the surface of the water, I could swear that Blitz was blushing slightly. “You blush?” “What?” “You blushing?” “No!” “Sudden denial is great evidence for.” “Fuck that you bastard!” I wasn’t prepared for her to dunk my head under the water. When I did surface, I couldn’t see her anywhere. Or my armor. Or her suit. Or my weapons. “THE BITCH STOLE MY STUFF!” I quickly made my way to shore and ran, following the slightly wet trail that was obviously from Blitz’s escape attempt. Fortunatly, I was built for running in the overcrowded Manhattan district, quickly overtaking her, mostly because she was weighted down by my stuff. “GET BACK HERE!” “NO!” “WHY NOT?” “BECAUSE I DON’T FEEL LIKE IT!” I leapt, and tackled her out of the sky, tumbled, and ended up pinning her down, my stuff landing a short distance away. “How about now?” Her helmet opened up and revealed her head to me, fully. “Shut up.” I felt her forelegs break free of my grasp and grab the back of my head, then force my lips to hers. -switching to Doe’s view- “Gagh, cross species romance. Well, at least they aren’t effing each other up.” I was spying on the two. Given their odd behavior together, I decided to check it out. What I found hadn’t surprised me. They were both reckless, somewhat violent. Wild. Why wouldn’t they take the chance and go at it? Given the fact that only pegasi can stand on clouds, I had to believe they would find somewhere else to profess love. I was wrong. If I had wings, I would have had what the locals call a ‘wingboner’ But I don’t, so I didn’t. I instead continued to watch. They continued their kiss. -swap to Aigi- This was the best kiss I ever had. Even better than the one that this cute Japanese girl gave me in my senior year of college. I still do daresay that this one was better than the first time I scored a kill. Maybe even better than when I locked vision with her for the first time. I had my lips locked to her, both our eyes closed; in a tight hug in which both of us would need to give consent to get out of. I didn’t want out, but Blitz did, so I let go and slowly drew my head back. “That was…” She eyed me somewhat seductively. “Unexpected?” “Great…” I rolled off her and stared at the sky. “It’s beautiful. Almost like you.” “Don’t try to flatter me.” I laughed gently. “Alright, fine.” She stood up slowly. “You might want to get going, it’s almost night.” “What’s so bad about night?” “It’s not just the time, it’s the place. Near the Everfree Forest, it gets dangerous at night.” She took off and flew over to her cloud home, and I stood up, got in my armor, got my stuff, and went back to base. -Doe swap- I was at base by the time Aigi arrived. I wasn’t about to tell anyone his little secret. Yet. I retired to the mess hall, and found that a few ponies were there too. Apparently, with the consent of the Princess, they joined our military, primarily to learn to protect themselves, and to manufacture and use guns. They were all in suits, and had learned how to control their visors and make them rise. A few were Pegasi, one or two were Unicorns, but the vast majority were Earth Ponies. Most were complaining about the mush that we were giving them, until I explained that until we can scavenge or otherwise acquire supplies, the mush is the best we can work with. I also told them that it strengthens them, which was not a lie. This caused most to ask for seconds, to which almost everyone else laughed. After I had my mush, and vomited gel put in it as a joke, I took some of the Earth Ponies to the side and brought them to the target range. I gave them some BB guns to see how they did, and I did not expect them to be good shots. The commander came by, and silently recommended I give each of them an unloaded pistol. -John’s swap- I had arrived at the front door of the library at the same time as Fable. Rather than magic the door open, she used its handle with her new hands. “You like the suit?” “A lot. You hungry?” “Very.” “The come in, I’ll make some ramen.” “Ramen… I haven’t had that in two years…” I looked at the shelves as she cooked, checking for books on weaponry. They had none, as I soon found out from a simple check. “Nothing on weapons?” “Sticks, stones, knives, spears, that’s all we have.” “Then say hello to guns, high explosives, and lasers.” I checked for books on the government. This allowed me to find out it really was run like a monarchy, but with two leaders. “Do the people have a say?” “Both Luna and Celestia take into consideration their subjects wants and needs before deciding. If they cannot agree, then they call a vote.” I then looked out the window and saw the night was rising, over taking to land given by the sun. Most ponies were off the streets, and the other humans in town were leaving. There was a knock on the door, and I watched a Pegasus mare fly away before I could get a good look. I checked what was there. The Equestria Daily Newpaper. I grabbed it and brought it inside. “Mythology Turned Real: Human Contact, Military Force Encountered. Find out more on page A5.” “I hope it’s unbiased. They usually are, but sometimes they have a bad writer and a bad editor.” I turned to A5 and took it over to Fable, then set it on the table. “The Ramen is just about done; I can let it sit for a minute or two to cool down. Let’s see what they have to say…” She magic’d the paper into the air and began reading. “They said they came in peace, yet they performed kidnapping on three innocent ponies. These ponies later forgave, and they were pardoned by the Princesses themselves. They brought with them technology and weapons, ideas, new possibilities. They traveled from their universe to ours, all to meet us.” “True that.” Fable gave me an annoyed glance before going back to the paper. “They gave away several dozen suits, perfectly built for our kind, granting us hands and bipedal capabilities. Many ponies have begun to love their species, some have spoken out. No conflicts have arisen however. A full report shall be made in one week Equestrian Time, for you humans who may be reading.” I chuckled slightly. “I detect no bias.” “Same.” She got us both ramen, I enjoyed it, thanked her, and left. I slowly walked back to the camp. -Doa swap time- I was enjoying my R&R like no other R&R I ever had. I had just read a copy of the Equestria Daily, drank a cup of coffee, and enjoyed watching some recruit ponies duke it out in our unarmed arena over a minor dispute. Far better than a massage, at only $2.99 as well. I watched as the ponies were split up according to their skills, and sent to bunk rooms that way. Pretty soon it was just me, some night guard, and a few soldiers who were practicing their hand-to-hand in the unarmed arena. All in all, I had a pretty good break, and I was ready to turn in for the night.
Threat Established-swap to Aigi’s view, 10 hours later- I came up to Blitz’s cloud home, and sat down under it. I wasn’t in my armor, though I did wear shorts and a t-shirt, and I also brought my SMG along with plenty of ammo, just in case. I watched her take off from her doorstep, do her job in what seemed to be ten seconds, and then land right in front of me, not wearing her suit. “So, you gonna tell me your name?” “I… lost it.” “You lost it?” “When I joined the Jack Project, I survived, unlike most others, but at a terrible price. I lost my memories of who I am. I was told everything but my name. My friends and family confirmed everything. I wasn’t allowed to ever hear it again. It’s impossible for me to see it, to hear it, to read it.” “I’m so sorry.” “If you’re really sorry for the unstoppable, then come here.” She jumped into my arms and we kissed again, this time, it was even better than the last. I held her, she held me. I could tell she wanted to act. I did too. We had no place to do so. She was too small anyways, it wouldn’t be possible. As we both drew away from it, I heard a soft breath leave her. “We’re of two different species, aliens to one another. I don’t see how this could work out.” “My species sometimes doesn’t let love stop, even when the vast expanse of space is between them. I’d have to say your species will end up like that too.” We both let out a chuckle as she embraced me again. -Doe- “Voice log 1-001” “I am now officially worried.” I began to pace back and forth. “Humans and Ponies are mixing far too quickly. It was estimated to take weeks for us to be first encountered, and months for us to truly meet them in society. Years before we reach a state we are at.” I leaned against the far wall. “Something about this place, it speeds up events, speeds up healing. I can’t explain it. All I can say is, one of the recruits broke their leg, and soon after it was set and in a cast, they were behaving almost like they never got hurt.” “End log.” -view of John- I didn’t like what was in front of me. I had just met some soldiers of both species, all male, drunk and in bliss, all of them using each other for balance. We hadn’t brought Alcohol, the commander hadn’t brought any. “Those ponies have strong booze?” “HELLS YEAH!” I walked away as they were talking about battles, war, and women. I wasn’t paying attention, and somehow ended up nearly smacking face-first into the library’s door. I rapped the door five times, and it opened on its own accord. The place was dark, so I turned on my night vision. What I found shocked me, to say the least. Fable was drunk, almost unconscious on the floor. I entered, turned on the lights somehow, despite no electricity, and kneeled down next to her. “What happ…” I slowly took her out of the suit and set it aside. “You’re drunk. How much did you drink?” “Twelve bottles…” “Twelve.” “Twelve…” “I can identify at a simple smell that you should call yourself lucky, that was the incredibly light stuff. You almost killed your liver.” “Quiet you.” “Ma’am, be careful around what we’re bringing, you don’t know what it is, you could get hurt.” “Alright…” She passed out. “She’ll be safe in here, mainly because it’s her house.” I slowly stood up and left, closing the door behind me, walking away. I came upon a tree, and sat down under it, intent on resting more. I didn’t react when I suddenly felt a pony standing on my helmet. “Hey there!” “Hey…” “What’s wrong?” “I’m tired.” “Try some sugar!” “I’d rather just rest, sleep under this tree.” I was about to close my eyes when Aigi and Blitz walked by. I wasn’t worried about how Blitz was hanging on Aigi’s back, her fore legs hooked on his shoulders. I was worried because he wasn’t wearing his armor. “Aigi?” “What, Dol?” “What are you doing out of your armor?” “It’s effective R&R sir!” He stumbled towards me, Blitz clearly keeping him off balance. “Hey, be more stable!” “I can’t when you keep swinging!” “That’s because you’re swinging yourself!” “Stop bickering like a couple!” They both got oddly silent after that, but I didn’t care. I just dozed off. -Doe time- I watched Aigi and Blitz walk off, and I followed from the shrubbery. I had to find out what foolish thing they would do next. I hoped they wouldn’t start acting like high school children. They didn’t. Instead, they entered town and acted perfectly normally. Not a single pony of human gave them a glance. I popped the scope off my rifle, brought it to my eyes, and zoomed in on them carefully. I followed them, and they entered a café. I waited for them to leave, and when they did they went back to the lake they were at earlier. I double timed it over. I arrived in time to watch Aigi sitting down at the shore of the lake, Blitz across his lap. They were chatting about something, but I was too far to hear. I moved closer, silently going behind them and into more shrubbery. They weren’t talking. I waited for at least a half an hour, before I finally heard a sound “We could just leave and start a new life.” “Blitz, as much as I would like to do so, I have a job as a soldier, and you have your friends here. We can’t abandon those.” “Don’t you have friends?” “I learned to push them after my duty, after one too many died in front of me.” “Your friends…” “Died. Most of them did so the rest might live.” “Just how violent are you?” “Very. But that doesn’t make me bad; it just means I’m violent.” “Shut up.” “What’s wrong?” She brought her head up and kissed Aigi on the cheek. Just a light one, but still, she did it. Then they went full on, and I left. I couldn’t take much more of their filthy cross species romance. The Ensidians were close enough to people that is was okay, but ponies was too far. I was just glad they could draw the line somewhere, stopping at the romance, not hitting the icky part. Just thinking about it made me want to vomit on them. I just headed back to camp, slowly putting the scope on my rifle. -swap to Doa- I thought about this world and its physics, its laws. It reminded me of a children’s show far, far too much. I took off my helmet and spat the tree across from me. The shot impossibly flew straight ahead, and hit the tree, covering the side of it. I watched from the hill I was at, observing the ponies at play. They didn’t work during the weekends, unlike us humans. We only got holidays off, due to our ever rising power. “I tell you this is FUCKING INSANITY!” “Calm down Private!” “They’ll steal our jobs, then our homes, then our LIVES!” I glared at the Private, a human. “Shut. UP! They will NOT steal anything of ours!” “You can’t prove that!” “Time can you moron.” “If a member of Delta squad called you a moron, then you are.” I laughed along with most of the nearby soldiers as the Private gave up and stormed off. “He always this crazy?” “Yeah.” I walked off to see the sights of the town. I came across two ponies, both drunk, most likely bat shit crazy. They were fighting about whether humans would be blight to the ponies or their savior. I just shook my head as I passed. I made my way to a small café. Humans and ponies. They were everywhere. Chatting, ignoring each other, doing business. I swear I saw more than one group performing cross species romance. It’s not illegal. But not legal either. I set my helmet on the table and sat down on a chair meant specifically for me, then ordered a simple sandwich with water. I checked my cash and looked at how humans and ponies were exchanging cash. It looked like the exchange rate was $3.50=1 Bit. The sandwich was 6 bits. I took out $18, and then 3$ $21 total. Nice enough. I thoroughly enjoyed the local cuisine. -Swap to Aigi- I fell into the lake again, much to the chagrin of Blitz. “Careful!” “NO!” “Bastard.” “Some humans would call you my bitch.” “And? I love you!” “That won’t stop them. Humans are so varied that-” “Yawn, I’m falling asleep already.” “…” She smiled at me. I didn’t notice her hooves behind my head until it was too late, and she had forced my head forwards, her lips to mine again. She wrapped her lower legs around my waist, and her wings slowly unfurled, sticking straight out. I wrapped my arms around her, and slowly brought us back to shore. I sat down under a tree as she broke away, then fell asleep. “Sweet dreams.” -John- I opened my eyes, and was alone. So I looked about and found out they stole my helmet. “Great.” I looked about some more and saw Aigi napping with Blitz in his arms. Then I saw the tell tale sign of a sniper scope in the nearby forest. “AIGI DUCK AND COVER FUCK!” Fortunately he was still awake, and ducked just in time, stopping himself from getting his brains all over Blitz. This sudden movement sent Blitz into the air. “I’LL GET HELP!” “ZIG-ZAG!” I sighed for a moment as she began a random zig-zag pattern to base. I quickly ran to the hostile’s left and Aigi to their right. “WHO THE HELL IS SHOOTING US?” I heard multiple gunshots from the hostiles, and I saw Aigi pull out his SMG. “If only I were armed.” I thought for a moment. “Stupid, stupid, stupid!” I turned the corner in the trees and tackled the nearest hostile, then ripped their own arm out of its socket. Blood got everywhere, fast. Aigi quickly got the rest with a spray of bullets. “Who were these?” I checked their dog tags. “Dammit… Terrorists from Oceania.” “WHAT.” “Oceania based terrorists again.” “No…” “They chased us.” “Dammit…” “Let’s run!” I took off into a full on sprint, only to have Aigi race ahead. I didn’t pay attention. We both arrived at camp at about the same time, Aigi slightly ahead of me. “Damn commander, you getting lazy? I had enough time to tell them!” “Aigi, we all know you are one of the fastest people alive.” I entered the camp and stopped at the huge force that was gathered. “We have found that, due to the design and location of Ponyville, that these terrorists will want to capture it and stage all operations from there. We must defend it at all costs. Every pony soldier, I want you to go to Ponyville, and get your family out of there and to here. We contacted Celestia via radio, the fastest way that exists.” The commander was speaking. “Every human soldier, establish and maintain a perimeter around Ponyville. He turned to me. “Delta Squad, you will send Aigi and Doe to find where the enemy is, and exterminate them. John, you’ll stay here. Dos and Doa will head to Ponyville if they aren’t already.” “Yes sir.” The commander turned to leave, but turned a moment later. “Oh, and men? Blow every son a bitch to smithereens.” “TUSSRAEAA!” Everyone but Delta Squad, the commander, and a few choice soldiers marched out in staggered formation. I approached the commander. “The ponies know how to wield guns?” He smiled like a child would on their birthday. “Dol, I do daresay that a child actually earned their cutie mark for it. She’s an excellent sniper.” “Damn sir!” “Aigi, hush your mouth. In fact, go find Doe. Sir, my helmet was stolen.” “We found it.” He reached into his jeep and tossed me my helmet, which I snatch out of the air and put on. “Dol?” “Yes sir?” “If you find who is in charge of this bitch of an operation, give him a message, will ya’?” “What kind?” “Blow his brain up, leave the jaw and below.” I laughed. “Yes sir.” I turned and found Fable right behind me. “Did you just laugh about death?” “Takes the edge off ma’am.” -Swap to Aigi’s more unique perspective of the world an hour later- “For the last time Blitz, I don’t care how much you care about me; you do not know how to use weapons! Stay in the camp!” “I can use the weather!” “How would that help?” “I can strike them with lightning and soak in front of them.” “FINE.” I ran from Blitz with anger and sadness in my eyes and went straight to Doe, who was waiting patently at the edge of the Everfree. “Took you long enough. I scouted out some of the forest and found they’re on the far side. It’s dangerous, plenty of mythical beings, but we have something they don’t.” I pulled out my shotgun and pumped it. “Boom.” “Precisely my simple minded friend.” I took no offense to that. I followed Doe as he made his way through the forest, carefully avoiding making sound. The whole way not a single hostile was encountered, though we encountered strange blue flowers. Doe took samples. We reached what was obviously the camp, and I went in, going from building to building and making a map of the place. I left as soon as I entered and got back to Doe, putting the map in a nearby tree.
Short Chapter 1: Ninja'd“Let’s move.” “My pleasure, my simple minded friend.” We entered silently, and Doe snuck up behind one of the few guards with his machete. The last thing the guard saw was a hand, a blade, and blood everywhere. Doe allowed the corpse to silently hit the ground. I went on ahead and got my shotgun ready. A sorry bastard turned the corner, and next thing I saw of his head were small ribbons of flesh and hair. The base went on alert. -Swap to Doa- Almost all who were able were at Ponyville, and most were on the side with the Everfree Forest. Shy was forced to abandon her cottage, and fortunately she managed to get all her animals out of there. I was setting up my mini-gun for standard use, on a barricade made of metal, when several humans came out of the forest. I identified their armor instantly. The baggy, metal pated, blue and red colored uniform of Oceania base Terrorists. They all had weapons, and they were out, ready to shoot at us. “I need more time!” The bullets flew in both directions, the blasts from the firing echoing. I was nearly hit twice, but managed to set up the gun and it instantly had a soldier on it. I rushed over into a small house and grabbed my Electron Launcher. I charged it up and left through the door again, then fired. The damage was immense, frying everything in a straight, two feet wide line. Then a bullet impacted with my helmet, and everything went dark. -DOS- The world’s magic was going insane, blinding me in a flurry of colors. Fortunately I was able to take cover behind a large fallen chimney. “WOULD YOU STOP?” The color shifts calmed down only slightly. Still too much. I was effectively out for the fight. -Doe- My machete was in the skull of a hostile ten yards away, and I had already my pistol out and two hostiles down with one shot. Aigi was behind me with his ‘Flying Fists of Fury’, his weapons having been shot out of his hands. I didn’t even need to look to know blood was everywhere. Six more shots, ten hostiles down. Reload. Eight shots, five hostiles. Reload. Eight shots, twelve down. Reload. One shot. Ten down. “BOOM MOTHERFUCKERS!” One shot. Both of us were down. One blast of lighting. We were up and every one of those bastards died. We checked our wounds as Blitz slowly glided down from the sky. “Thanks for the assist.” “Don’t mention it Doe.” Her attention turned to Aigi’s more serious wounds. “I’m fine… Just…” He fell over and passed out from the pain. Blitz and I shared his weight as we carried him back to Ponyville. -warning- -unknown view change detected- -warning- -change not part of Delta Squad- -warning- I sat at my table, wearing the pony suit I got. I painted it with pink decals, and changed the visor color to pink. My .44 magnum was in my hand, bullets in my belt. My hacksaw was at my side, ready to be drawn for a melee. It was time. “Matthew Davis, please guide me for what I will do, in your name I go to fight. In your name I go with your blessing.” I was then gone from there.
