Oceania Grande

We thought it was over.

The day the clocked stopped, the day that Gypsy Danger and Striker Eureka sealed off the Breach by detonating Gypsy’s nuclear core in the Anteverse was supposed to be the end. No more Kaiju, no more disasters, no more needless deaths. That was the idea.

Unfortunately, ideas rarely work out the way we expect them to. Seven months after we stopped the clock, another Breach opened up two miles off the Hawaiian Islands, near Pearl Harbor. Lamenting the lack of Jaegers to defend us, we nevertheless mobilized everything we had and surrounded the islands, ready to bring the hammer down on whatever inhuman son-of-a-bitch that dared poke its ugly head out from beneath the waves.

Despite everything we’d been through, what did emerge was almost as surprising as the monsters we’d defeated. When they appeared, for the first time in a long time, humanity breathed a sigh of relief. They were different through and through but unlike the Kaiju they succeeded, they came to us under a banner of peace and to our surprise, asked for our help.

Understandably, we were skeptical of our new guests; they stood like us, walked like us (although some soared about on angel-like wings), and even talked like us. They called themselves ‘ponies’, a subject of much debate considering their human-like appearance. Sure, they had some equine characteristics such as fur, and hooves, and the ultimately, we decided that if they wanted us to call them ‘ponies’, we were fine with that. It didn’t make any difference to us.

Regrettably, the promises of peace and cross-cultural exchanges sought by both our species came with terrible news. Due to unforeseen side-effects from detonating a nuclear device in an environment about which we knew very little, two more Breaches had opened; one linking their homeworld with ours, and another linking Equestria to the Anteverse.

I don’t think I have to tell you that the news didn’t go over well at the subsequent joint U.N-Equestrian conference. The ponies had prepared well and presented a damning case; using their limited supernatural abilities, they had detected an unusual energy signature at the site of the Breach, an energy signature that upon further study, turned out to be residual radiation from Gypsy’s reactor. The world listened as the Equestrian representatives told of their encounters with the monstrous Kaiju, tales which evoked painful and terrible memories in our hearts and minds. Sympathy turned into relatability, and relatability turned into full-on support for our new allies. Not everyone agreed on what to do about the situation but the general consensus was that nobody anywhere should have to go through what we did, especially when we were the catalysts.

They had every right to turn to us for assistance. The first Kaiju emerged from Oceana Grande a little over eight months prior, wrecking half of Manehatten before their rulers, Princess Celestia and her sister, Princess Luna, were able to bring it down…after two days. Barely a month later, the second tore a path clear through Baltimare and managed to get 75 miles inland before constant magical attacks from the monarchs finally took its toll. The third struck Fillydelphia soon after, only falling after a three-day battle between exhausted Princesses and over one-third of the Equestria guard, most of which perished under the claws and teeth of the monster.

Like us, that’s when they realized that it wasn’t gonna stop.

At first, it was hard to imagine their horror when their primary form of defense, ‘magic’, had so little effect on the Kaiju…until we looked back and saw our own terrified expressions mirrored by the desperate ponies of Equestria. Faced with a rapidly-dwindling military and magical fatigue, they had little choice but to seek us out. Fortunately, the Breach between our world and theirs wasn’t governed by the same rules as the Kaiju Breach, meaning that they could cross over at will with no special equipment, save for a simple submersible vehicle. In fact, it wasn’t long before a specialized industrial elevator called the Grande-Pacific Elevator was constructed through the Breach, allowing personnel and materials to be transported quickly and efficiently.

The Pearl Harbor Shatterdome came next. Constructed much the same as the one in Hong Kong, it seemed to literally grow from the ocean’s surface, the first Shatterdome to be built at sea. Doing so allowed the nearby naval base and harbor to function unobstructed while ensuring that Shatterdome operations remained unhindered as well, an extremely important detail where Jaegers were concerned.

Speaking of Jaegers…

Our saving grace was that, despite the program having been shut down in the waning months of the war, we had not yet dismantled many of the vital Jaeger production and assembly facilities. When the program was officially reopened by the U.N, the new Shatterdome bore witness to a slew of advancements and it soon became the largest and most sophisticated military facility in the world. We eagerly integrated the majority of the old facilities into the new one, gave them a face-lift, and began to build.

And build we did.

We began at the most logical juncture: the Mark V production line. Striker Eureka had proven itself time and time again; as such, we based the new Jaeger fleet on the Australian brawler’s winning attributes. The first was speed equals power; technique, finesse, and maneuverability were stressed above all else. Of course, the trick was to find the correct balance between armor and mobility; a Jaeger was useless if it only took one shot from a Kaiju to put it permanently out of commission. Thus, we experimented with avant-garde metallurgical techniques and came up with a few new alloys that cut weight without sacrificing tensile strength. Cutting back on weight allowed our engineers to squeeze a few extra engines onto each muscle strand, bringing up the total to 57 per strand.

It also allowed for the addition of a few new toys. Having watched the plasma caster liquefy Kaiju after Kaiju, engineers eagerly incorporated them as often as possible. Of course, it largely depended on the model in question but suffice it to say that the plasma caster wasn’t the only weapon at a new Jaeger’s disposal. Retractable blades, rocket-propelled limbs, electro-grapplers, and other close-range weapons made a comeback, making the new units just as deadly face-to-face as at a distance.

There was one problem, however. Even with all the advancements in Jaeger technology, we were stymied the second the first test unit was deployed in Equestria. Uncomfortable memories resurfaced as the pride and joy of human ingenuity stood lifeless and unmoving after one step in Horseshoe Bay, the designated base and staging area for Equestria Operations, or E-Ops for short. Both sides scrambled to figure out why nothing was working and it wasn’t until a particularly bright young unicorn realized that due to the residual magical energy that encapsulated the world, Earth-based nuclear fission wouldn’t work. The uranium fuel used by the reactors degraded too fast to be viable. The only reason they had detected any in the first place was due to the sheer scale of the explosion and the amount of nuclear fuel expended.

Needless to say, we had our work cut out for us. Fortunately, our luck changed as the joint science teams unveiled their greatest innovation yet: the EMTECH Dynamo, a blend of technology and magic that allowed a Jaeger to operate using two power sources working in tandem. A magically-shielded nuclear reactor ensured a steady power supply while magical energy (EMergy) intake vents would draw in residual magical energy, send it to a special conversion unit, and store it. When enough EMergy was built up, it could be flushed through the entire Jaeger system, granting it a substantial power boost to engines, weapons, and thrusters, if only for a limited time. We called it “EMergence”. To us, it represented the spirit of unity and cooperation that our species’ enjoyed.

They were truly a new breed of Kaiju killer.

My parents had been proudest of all. After all, how often do you see your pet project administering brutal justice in the face of a monster? I could only imagine how pleased they were; not only designing the technology but using it, too. Yeah, that’s right; under their watchful eyes and fighting skills, six Kaiju fell bloodied and beaten to a pulp off the shores of Baltimare and Seaddle. They were heroes, patriots, rock stars, whatever you wanna call ‘em. And I was right in the middle of it. Being the only child of parents who were famous on two worlds had its perks. Sure, we were well-off in every sense of the term but most importantly, we were happy. Life was dangerous but we still hung on, never giving up no matter how hectic things got. With every fight, we grew closer, with every victory, we evolved. My parents loved me deeply and everything they did was a testament to their dedication.

It’s funny how quickly everything you hold dear can be wrenched away from you.

***

A gentle guitar riff permeated the morning air, eliciting a faint, fatigued groan from the bed’s occupant.

“Well, I won’t back down…no, I won’t back down.”

Another faint groan, slightly louder.

“You can stand me up at the gates of Hell but I…won’t back down.”

Slightly louder again, accompanied by the barest hint of movement.

“No, I stand my ground, won’t be…turned around.”

I sat up slowly and rubbed my eyes, fumbling about for my phone, also known as my alarm clock.

“And I’ll keep this world from draggin’ me down, gonna…stand my ground.”

Screw it, I thought as several seconds of awkward fumbling yielded nothing. It wasn’t really a bad thing, not finding my phone in my fatigue-addled state. Waking up to the sensational stylings of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers wasn’t the worst way to start the day. After sitting up and clearing the rest of the gunk from my eyes, I finally located my phone, and turned up the volume before shuffling to the bathroom for my morning ablutions, of which a hot shower was first.

“He-ey baby, there ain't no easy way out,” I burst forth in rapturous melody, suddenly transforming my shampoo bottle into a microphone. “Heeee-eey, I will stand my ground. And I won't back down.”

“Well, I know what’s right, I got…just one life.” I continued, letting the shower grace my tired body with a warm hug. “In a world that keeps on pushin’ me around but I…sta-and my ground.” It was true what they said; no matter how awful of a singer you might be, you can find some solace in one of the few universal constants; showers have great acoustics. It made my offensive attempt at harmonizing just a little easier to bear.

I allowed Mr. Petty to finish the song unaccompanied as I finished my shower and rustled around my closet in search for something decent for work. One of the few perks of my job was the fact that the manager honestly and truly didn’t give two shits about uniforms, so long as we wore our nametags and acted somewhat professionally. As with Mr. Petty, it made waking up in the morning a little bit easier.

I settled on yesterday’s still-clean ensemble and grabbed whatever I needed for the day before heading downstairs for what was sure to be another breakfast of Eggos & fresh strawberries topped with a spurt of aerosol whipped topping, and hot chocolate (for those who loathe coffee as much as I do). Ah, the breakfast of champions…or at least to slaves of electronics retailers. Being comprised of convenience foods, it afforded me a few precious minutes to sleep in, not to mention how awesome fresh strawberries are. Even after years of living by my lonesome, the only profound realization I ever came to was that breakfast truly was the greatest and most important meal of the day.

I threw the few used dishes into the dishwasher, slipped on a hoodie, and headed out. I broke into a brisk stroll towards the bus stop that, while reasonably close-by, still required the grand majority of my morning effort. It was either that or walk the two miles to work.

Some people did a lot of their daily thinking during their morning commute. Sitting on a bus as it weaved through the city of Manehatten was not my favorite place to do so. Not that I had much time in the first place; 15 minutes wasn’t exactly a long enough stretch in which to contemplate the meaning of life. The only thinking I did was how lucky we were to have access to such advanced (for Equestria, anyway) transportation.

Equestria Electronics Emporium, or E3, stood out amongst the other retailers in the Manehatten Galleria in no small part because of what we sold. Electronics were still a relatively novel commodity in Equestria, meaning that we were effectively the only retailer of its kind in the city. CDs, DVDs, laptop computers, cell phones, TVs, and sound systems constituted most of our sales and yes, I am aware of the irony behind the name on account of our rather extensive video game section.

I was one of three human employees in the store, five if you count our managers. Not the only ones in the city for damn sure but definitely the only ones in retail. Everyone else was either employed by the city, serving at the bayside Shatterdome, or taking a vacation from Earth. I guess since we hadn’t seen a Kaiju in 12 years, a happy go-lucky trip to the ocean was a much less risky proposal than before. Even so, the Shatterdome kept busy…just in case.

After all, Kaiju don’t just ‘disappear’. We’d learned that the hard way.

“Hey there, hot stuff!” an effeminate, playful voice called as the door chime announced my arrival. I approached the front counter just in time to see a rather toned skinny jean-clad behind in the center of my vision as the subject in question looked up from tying their shoe.

“Do you greet everyone who walks through the door like that or just me?” I asked, rolling my eyes.

“Just the cute ones,” he replied with a wink. Oh brother, I thought as I made my way to the small staff room near the back.

“I’ll take that as a compliment, Barry.” I replied before disappearing into the staff room. I stuffed my hoodie into my locker and donned my nametag. After several months of long shifts and trips in and out of my pocket, the ink on the tag had begun to wear off. I grabbed a nearby permanent marker and re-wrote “Shawn” on the tag.

“That’s how I mean it,” he replied in a sing-song voice. “You want sound systems or TVs this morning?”

“Um…what about games?”

“Sorry hun, Eli already called dibs.”

“What? How? Yesterday was his day off?” Compared to the other parts of the store, the games section was summer camp.

“He texted me,” Barry replied as if it was obvious.

“I thought we weren’t allowed to claim sections like that!” I argued. I didn’t really care but I wanted to see how my underhanded fellow employee had done it…for future reference, of course.

“Well, he did pay for my martinis last night, remember?”

“So that’s what he was up to!” I exclaimed dramatically. “I just thought you’d finally worn him down.”

“Oh, please,” Barry replied, rolling his eyes. “It takes more than just one drink to get a piece of this.” he finished, touching his thigh with a hissing sound. I gave him a flat look.

“No it doesn’t.”

“Oh, you!” Barry exclaimed, tossing me a half-wave. I smiled and shook my head and focused on helping him get the store ready for the day. I liked Barry, I really did. I mean, sure he was more flamboyant than Elton John riding a rainbow at a Pride parade but that didn’t matter. Well, at least not to me or really anyone else we knew. That’s why he had emigrated to Equestria in the first place; to escape the hypocrisy, prejudice, and other assorted bullshit plaguing society back on Earth. Why suffer the slings and arrows if you don’t have to, right? Needless to say, working and hanging out with the guy could be very…interesting. If his eccentric mannerisms weren’t enough of a clue as to the type of fare he preferred, then the stylin’ goatee and glorious spiky white hair and orange frosted tips should’ve done the trick. It made an otherwise monotonous job a little better.

Well, maybe ‘monotonous’ isn’t the right word. I mean, we were literally one of three places in Equestria that sold electronics to a very excited and curious population of bipedal ‘ponies’ so it wasn’t too bad. Cell phones were easily the majority of our sales, followed by audio equipment (iPods and the like), and in third place, thanks to Princess Luna, video games. I glanced at my watch; 20 minutes ‘til opening time. I made one last sweep around the store while Barry made sure the cash float was sufficient.

“Oh, Shawn,” Barry called.

“Yeah?”

“Be a dear and run to the back and grab a few “20% Off” signs, would you? Boss-man’s bringing in some of those new Xperias, and that means it’s time for these Galaxy S3s to go ‘bye-bye’.”

“Comin’ right up,” I replied, disappearing into the storage room. I re-emerged shortly after and made a few sales tags for the display counter before glancing at my watch once more.

10:00. Go time.

***

Meanwhile, across the city…

A gentle guitar riff permeated the morning air, eliciting a faint fatigued groan from the bed’s occupant.

“Well, I won’t back down…no, I won’t back down.”

Another faint groan, slightly louder.

“You can stand me up at the gates of Hell but I…won’t back down.”

Slightly louder again, accompanied by the barest hint of movement.

“No, I stand my ground, won’t be…turned around.”

The lily-white mare sat up slowly and rubbed her eyes, fumbling about for her phone, also known as her alarm clock. She pushed her unruly pink mane out of her field of vision and groaned at the time. 10:00 truly was an outrageous time to be woken up.

“And I’ll keep this world from draggin’ me down, gonna…stand my ground.”

Having said that, waking up to the sensational stylings of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers wasn’t the worst way to start the day. After sitting up and clearing the rest of the she turned the volume up before shuffling to the bathroom for her morning ablutions.

“He-ey baby, there ain't no easy way out,” she sang, suddenly transforming her shampoo bottle into a microphone. “Heeee-eey, I will stand my ground. And I won't back down.”

“Well, I know what’s right, I got…just one life.” she continued, letting the shower grace her tired body with the warm embrace that only a luxury unit could provide. “In a world that keeps on pushin’ me around but I…stand my ground.” It was true what they said: you can find some solace in one of the few universal constants; showers have great acoustics. It made her reasonable attempt at harmonizing that much more enjoyable.

The mare allowed Mr. Petty to finish the song unaccompanied as she finished her shower and grabbed her towel, an exquisitely soft, pink piece of material festooned with a stylized white fleur de lis on each corner. Humming contently, she strolled over to the admittedly cavernous closet and began her daily hunt for something to wear, preferably something that, like her, exuded sophistication and class. One of the few perks of her job was the fact that the uniforms, if one could refer to such beautiful attire as mere ‘uniforms’, were more often than not, a delight to wear. Along with Mr. Petty, the thought of looking perpetually fabulous made waking up in the morning a little bit easier.

She settled on a blue skirt and blouse combination, grabbed her phones, tossed it into a small purse, and headed downstairs for what was sure to be another fantastic breakfast that only Emile could provide. As strange as the humans could be at times, they certainly knew how to cook. She emerged from the stairs and wandered into the kitchen to find Emile already at work, humming as he performed his own brand of magic over the kitchen’s range.

“Good morning, Emile,” the mare sang as she entered the kitchen, her mouth watering over the intoxicating scent of fresh waffles and what she hoped was strawberry compote.

“Morning, Miss Fleur,” he replied as he carefully scooped strawberry compote (Yes!) and homemade whipped cream on top of two perfectly golden, crispy waffles. She sniffed the air and smiled as she sat down at the large counter, her preferred place at which to nom, nom, nom. “How did you sleep?” he asked, setting the plate down before her along with her usual morning cappuccino.

“Very well, thank you.” She took another appreciative sniff. “Is that…”

“Real maple syrup?” Emile answered with a smile. “It sure is. Imported all the way from Nova Scotia from a little place called Sugar Moon Farm. They’ve got some of the best maple products you’ll ever taste.”

“Mmm, I believe it,” Fleur replied as she sampled a bite. “As usual, you have outdone yourself. Everything is absolutely perfect.”

Ah, the breakfast of champions…or at least to purveyors of fine fashions. It truly was the greatest and most important meal of the day.

“So, Emile,” Fleur continued after a sip form her cappuccino. “Has Albert started school yet?”

“Yes ma’am, he starts kindergarten today, 11:00 sharp.”

“Oh, that’s wonderful!” Fleur exclaimed, earning a proud smile from the chef as he began to load the dishwasher. “You and Samantha must be so proud!”

“We sure are,” Emile agreed. “It’s not every day your child starts school.”

“That’s for sure. I would love a picture, if you wouldn’t mind.” Emile nodded.

“Not at all. Sam was going to take one of us in front of the school anyway. Besides, I’m sure Albert won’t mind standing still for his Auntie Fleur.”

“Oh, is that what he calls me?” the mare asked with a giggle. “I feel so…old!” They shared a laugh as Emile finished clearing the dishes.

“If it’s any consolation, ma’am, you don’t look a day over 21.”

“That’s because I’m not,” Fleur replied with a grin. “But thank you anyway.” She finished her cappuccino and stretched one last time, sighing in relief as a couple small kinks melted away. “Well, Emile, it has been wonderful talking to you but I think we both should get going. I would hate for you to miss anything this morning.”

“Thank you, ma’am,” Emile replied as Fleur rose and headed for the closet by the front door. “I left a Caesar salad in the fridge for your lunch or dinner or whenever you get hungry,” he called from the back as the mare donned her jacket.

“Thank you!” she called. “I’m sure it’ll be amazing as usual. Have a wonderful day and say ‘hi’ to Sam and Albert for me!”

“Will do! Have a good one!” With that, they went their separate ways, Fleur heading for the white Mercedes gracing the large bungalow’s sizeable driveway. She heard a car horn honk at her and waved to Emile as he disappeared down the driveway.

“Good morning, ma’am,” the gentle, accented tone of her driver greeted as he opened the rear passenger side door.

“Good morning to you, Bertram,” Fleur replied with a smile. “And how are you this fine day?”

“Just as fine as can be, ma’am.” he assured her, carefully closing the door behind her before getting into the driver’s seat. “I trust Emile has informed you of this morning’s events?”

“He certainly has,” Fleur replied. “It’s exciting, isn’t it? Watching your child walk into school for the first time must be exciting and nerve-wracking. Do you remember when your kids started school?” she asked as they slowly pulled out of the driveway.

“Like it was yesterday, ma’am,” Bertram replied thoughtfully. “There’s no feeling quite like it.”

“I’ll bet. Speaking of family, how is Martha feeling? Any better?” she asked hopefully.

“That is most kind of you to ask, Miss Fleur. The doctors said she’s started eating again and appears to be much more lucid when she’s awake so hopefully, she’ll be able to check out of the hospital soon.”

“I’m really glad to hear that,” Fleur replied warmly, making the older man smile appreciatively. “If you ever want some time off to go and be with her, you can ask. I can always take the bus or something if I need to.”

“I appreciate the offer, Miss Fleur, and should I find myself needing some personal time, I shall alert you. But for now, she is doing much better and if I may be candid, providing a lady such as yourself with transportation has kept my chin up as of late. Our conversations, although brief, are quite uplifting.” Fleur blushed and smiled.

“That’s good! I’m glad I haven’t been driving you too crazy. I don’t know what I’d do without you and Emile!”

“Ma’am, if you don’t mind me saying so, I’ve known you since before you could walk. I’ve seen you grow into a strong, intelligent, and wonderful young woman. I’ve no doubt that you could accomplish anything you put your mind to.” Bertram replied. Fleur could feel the sincerity in his voice and couldn’t help but grin.

“Your father always told me how much he loved your smile,” he continued as they turned onto the main highway. Built specifically for vehicles accessing the Shatterdome from Manehatten, it was, like her Mercedes, another gift from their human comrades-in-arms. As such, it was quite likely the busiest route in all of Equestria, fortunately one that Bertram could handle with ease despite his advanced years. “And from the moment I laid eyes on you, I agreed with him. He would be ever so proud of you.”

While most young people from either world would’ve grown tired of the daily sentimental rhetoric, Fleur appreciated the sentiment far too much to ever say otherwise. It made the absence in her heart that much easier to bear.

They exchanged small talk all the way to the aptly-named La Monde, the capital of Manehatten’s fashion scene. Like its employees, creations, and patrons, the building represented a firm adherence to esthetics, two principles reflected by the building’s design. Tall, slim, and covered in a breathtaking combination of glass panels and stainless steel, it stood out among its work-a-day brethren as one of the premiere locales in Manehatten. Pony and otherwise, everyone recognized the gentle helical shape and like the Shatterdome, was known as a center of human and pony cooperation. Of course, the exclusive rotating five-star restaurant at the top didn’t hurt either.

“Well, I believe this is your stop,” Bertram announced as he pulled up in front of the entrance. “Shall I pick you up for lunch as usual?”

“Yes, that would be great,” Fleur replied as he phone vibrated. She stepped out of the car, digging about in her purse for the offending device, finally locating it. Distracted momentarily, she failed to properly judge her next step and before she knew it, the device had slipped from her grasp and fallen with a clatter to the ground. “Damnit,” she cursed quietly as Bertram rushed around to help her up.

“Are you alright, ma’am?” he asked, brushing her off as gently as he could.

“I’m fine, don’t worry,” Fleur assured him, taking a moment to pick up her phone. She sighed as she checked it over. Needless to say, it was broken beyond repair and in need of immediate replacement.

“Oh dear,” Bertram mused, taking a look at the shattered device. “Well, I guess that’s it for that, hmm”

“That’s for sure,” Fleur agreed. “Bertram, would you mind taking me to an electronics store during my lunch break? You know how they freak out when they can’t get ahold of me.”

“Miss, it would be my pleasure.”

“Awe, thanks, Bert. You sure know how to make a girl feel special. Martha’s a lucky woman.”

“Indeed. Take care now, Miss Fleur. I shall see you at noon.”

“Thanks, Bertram,” Fleur replied, waving to him as he got back in the car. “See you later!” With that, she stuffed the remnants of her phone into her purse, and with a confident smile, entered the building.

***

“Whew!” my manager exclaimed, joining me at the break room table. “Hell of a morning, huh?”

“Yep,” I replied, momentarily looking up from my pizza. Ah yes, delicious pizza. One of the few dishes I could enjoy that didn’t have meat, a subject of much debate (still). In the interest of not aggravating our new colleagues, the only meat available was strictly limited to employees of the Shatterdome and of course, government representatives. Still, free pizza was free pizza. Adam, our high & mighty manager, believed that a well-fed worker was a productive worker, hence the eats pour gratuit. I had long since realized why that little kid from Home Alone was so obsessed with regular ole’ cheese pizza. It was freaking awesome.

“How many phones did we sell so far? Six, seven?”

“Eight phones, three Blu-Ray players, and you’ll have to ask Barry about the rest.” I replied just as the gentleman-in-question walked in.

“Ah! Barry! How’re we doing so far?” Adam asked.

“I’d have to do a print-out but it’s gonna be an early Christmas fo sho,” he replied, grabbing a piece of pizza. “Little Shawn-ey here’s been doing a simply fabulous job in Audio. Maybe we should just keep him there from now on, hmm?” I rolled my eyes.

“Actually, I’d like him to get a few phone sales under his belt this afternoon,” Adam announced. “You feel like tackling a few phones today?” he asked. “Since we’re trying to clear out old inventory, you get an additional 10 percent commission for each one on the clearance list you sell on top of your regular commission. Sound good?”

“Sounds great!” I could hardly withhold my enthusiasm. Not only was selling phones easy but 20 percent total commission? That was the icing on top of the icing on the cake. “Thanks, Jake! I’ll get rid of those Galaxy S3s for sure.”

“That’s the spirit!” Adam exclaimed, cuffing my shoulder. “Oh, I think that’s the door chime. Get out there and sell, sell, sell!”

“You got it,” I replied, eager and confidence in my ability to make my employer proud. I hurried out into the store and headed for the counter, ready for anything.

Or so I thought.

Never had I thought that, of all the women that would strike me as remarkable, it would be someone from another world. And yet, there she stood, plain as day, her bright-pink mane straight but with a slight curl, bouncing ever so gently as she slowly walked about the store. Her brilliant white fur drew my gaze to her, as did her stylish & sexy skirt-blouse combination, and I felt my heart begin to race as my eyes helplessly took her in. She was tall, slender, and spellbindingly beautiful, and in lieu of vanity, she exuded an air of sophistication and class. Even the horn atop her head lent a certain elegance to her appearance; I couldn’t figure out why but something told me that this was one special pony.

I sincerely hoped it was my nametag and not my rather blatant starring that prompted her to approach me.

“Hi,” she began, offering me a smile. “It’s Shawn, right?” Phew, I thought. Saved by the nametag.

“Hi,” I replied hesitantly. “Uh, my name’s Shawn…but I guess you already knew that, huh?” To my surprise, she giggled.

“Well, I can read,” she answered, giving me a grin. “Do you…do you work here?”

“Uh yeah, I do,” I replied, nodding my head. “Are you…looking for something in particular?” Okay, Shawn, breathe. This your world, not hers. You got this. Now go out there and get that sale!

“Yes, actually. My phone broke on my way to work this morning and I really need a new one as soon as possible.” she explained, producing a battered phone from her purse. She handed it to me and I gave it a once-over, trying to make it look like I knew what I was doing.

“Okay…looks like an old Galaxy S.”

“Do you still have any?” I shook my head.

“No, we stopped selling these about two years ago.” Her eyes widened in surprise. “However…” I motioned for her to follow me to the cell phone displays. “…we have a bunch of S3s on sale. They’re not quite as new as some of the ones coming in but at least they’re similar to your old one, right? Less stuff to learn or whatever.”

“That’s true,” she mused, studying each one rather intently before her gaze finally settled on an S3. “Can you show me one?”

“Sure thing,” I replied, fishing out my keys and opening the case. I retrieved one of the units, turned it on, and handed it to her.

“Cool,” she said with a small nod as the screen lit up and did its thing before going to the home screen. “So, Shawn, what can you tell me about it?”

I realized something rather interesting as I explained the ins and outs of the device to her; instead of staying nervous and awkward, I became more and more comfortable around her. Ridiculous? Totally. Clichéd? Undoubtedly. Pure, unadulterated, beautiful truth? Gloriously so. There was something about this mare that made me feel at ease despite her striking exterior. She was funny, intelligent, sensible, and to my immense surprise, approachable. She didn’t possess that aggravating air of superiority or exclusiveness that I had long since stopped tolerating. In short, she was a breath of fresh air and by the end of our ‘conversation’, the knowledge that in a few short minutes she would walk out and forget about me left me slightly melancholic. Still, I had a job to so, which meant sucking it up and earning my keep.

“So…what do you think? You wanna go with this one or would you rather take a look at some of the others?” I asked, hoping she’d want to look at enough phones to thoroughly occupy the rest of my shift.

“Um…I think I’ll take that one,” she replied, pointing to the S3 in my hand. Drat! I sighed and forced myself to look supportive of her decision. Don’t get me wrong, I was pleased that she’d be getting a newer, better phone but I couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed.

“Good choice,” I assured her with a small smile. “It’ll be just like your old one, just newer.” I’m not sure if was my hormones or inner salesman that prompted my next question. “Would you like me to, um…” Oh Lord, she’s pretty. “Um, would you like me to program your contacts into your new phone?” Anything to keep her there just a little bit longer.

“Sure, if you wouldn’t mind. It’s pretty broken, though.” There was just the barest hint of playful skepticism in the mare’s voice, galvanizing me to prove my abilities.

“No problem. As long as your SIM card is intact, it shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Whew, thank goodness!” It was impossible to miss the look of relief on her face. “I’ve got some really important contacts that I’d rather not lose.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure that they…holy crap!” The mare looked up at me, almost as surprised as I was.

“What is it?”

“Nothing! It’s just that…wow, that’s a lot of contacts.” It was true; whoever this mare was, it looked like I was right in my first assessment. This mare was someone important. For a fleeting moment, I felt like I recognized her from somewhere but couldn’t quite figure out why or from where. “You must be pretty important.” I added without thinking.

“Well, I don’t know about that but thanks,” she replied, the faintest hint of a blush appearing on her cheeks. I offered a small smile as I added her contacts to her new phone.

“There. All done. Now, just give me a minute to finish up and you’ll be good to go.” With that, I used her information on the provider’s database to configure her account for her new device. As often as her name came up, I still couldn’t place it and as much as I wanted to take my time, we were starting to get busy again and I couldn’t let Barry take all the commissions. That was my excuse and I was sticking with it.

“That should do it,” I exclaimed. “I kept pretty much everything the same and your contact list is safe and sound.” I motioned to hand it to her…but paused. “Um…just give me one second…alright, here you go.” With that, I placed it in her hand and finished processing her payment. I couldn’t think of too many stores in Equestria that weren’t grateful for the importation of the debit machine. Carrying all those bits around everywhere must’ve been a huge pain in the ass.

“Thanks!” she replied, clearly pleased with how everything had worked out. Her facial expression changed slightly as she regarded the screen. “Um, this might sound strange but whose number is that?” she asked, holding it up to me.

“Oh, that’s, uh…that’s my number.” There was a pause.

“Oh!” the mare exclaimed, clearly surprised. “Well, um…”

“I…I thought that if you ever needed some, like, technical help with it or whatever…”

“No, no, I get it…”

“Y’know, these things can be really complicated and it can help to know someone who…”

“May I see your phone?” Her question was so unexpected that for a moment, my over-compensative rambling continued.

“…knows a thing or two about…stuff.” I finished before realizing what she’d asked. “Um, sure,” I finally replied, producing my relatively new Xperia Z from my pocket. Smiling, she took it and after a few moments of tapping and switching screens, handed it back. Instinctively, I checked it out.

“There! Now if I need to reach you, you won’t think it’s some crazy pony who randomly got your number.”

She wasn’t lying. There, right in the middle of my admittedly-smaller contacts list, was her name and phone number. Fleur. Fleur de Lis. Now where have I heard that name before?

“Um…okay! Sweet! So, I guess I’ll…text you sometime?” I said a little hesitantly.

“Sure! Thanks for all your help.” she replied, turning to leave.

“H-have a good one,” I called as she left. She paused and threw a small wave my way before disappearing out the door. I could naught but stand and consider what had just transpired until I felt a hand cuff my shoulder, making me jump. I spun around and practically came face-to-face with Barry and Adam, both wearing incredulous smirks. “Man, don’t you guys have anything better to do than spy one me while I’m working?”

“What makes you think we were spying on you?” Barry asked slightly. I gave him a blank look.

“Well, you sure as Hell weren’t starring at her.” I retorted.

“Hey, just ‘cause I don’t swing that way doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate beauty,” Barry replied haughtily.

“Whatever. Something I can help you guys with?”

“You do realize who that was, right?” Adam asked.

“Sorry, must’ve missed the memo,” I replied, heading to the back to grab a few more CD players. Barry followed with Adam close behind. I grabbed a couple of boxes before I realized that they were standing behind me once more. “Um, guys, if we’re all back here, then who’s minding the store until Eli gets here?” Adam gave Barry an expectant look; the latter rolled his eyes and returned to the front. “Fine; who was that?”

“Okay, have you ever heard of La Monde?”

“Who hasn’t?” I asked with a shrug. “That’s that really big modelling agency, right? The only one that…”

“…hires humans. Exactly.”

“You wanna cut to the chase and help me with these?”

“Alright, you asked for it. That mare who came in, you know, the one you fawned over for half a Goddamn hour? Her name is Fleur de Lis.”

I remember almost falling off the ladder in genuine surprise. Fortunately, an alert Adam steadied it before I could fall and take 5,000 bits worth of merchandise down with me.

“Alright, steady now, take it easy,” he said as I shakily climbed down.

“Y-you mean t-that was…”

“…Fleur de Lis, the famous model?” Adam replied with a grin. “Sounds like something out of a bad fanfic, I know, but that doesn’t change the fact that she came to this store and you, my friend, were the lucky son-of-a-bitch who got to her first.”

“Yeah, I guess I did,” I murmured as his words sunk in. “Heh, how ‘bout that? I met my first Equestrian celebrity!” Judging by how pathetic many of the celebrities were on Earth, I never thought I’d be the one to get excited over something like this. I guess that just goes to show that there’s a first time for everything.

***

The rest of my shift passed uneventfully, although based on what had occurred at noon, the fact that the rest of the day was average was very much a moot point. In honor of my so-called ‘good fortune’ (and for snagging her number), Barry had suggested that we all go out for dinner after. While I didn’t really think a ‘celebration’ was necessary, it felt good to know that my efforts were appreciated. As we were all starving after our busy day, we quickly agreed. We headed out to one of our favorite places, 'Jaeger Meisters', the city’s most popular human pub. Frequented by Jaeger pilots, technicians, and other assorted Pan Pacific personnel, it provided an exciting atmosphere, great food, and best of all, meat. Needless to say, it didn’t see a lot of pony patronage.

“You’re joking,” Eli exclaimed, his tone laden with skepticism, and rightly so. Had I not been there, I wouldn’t have believed it either. “So, lemme get this straight. Fleur de Lis walked into the store looking for a cell phone and not only did this SOB sell her one, he scored her number!? Dude, that’s like something out of a bad fanfic.”

“Believe me, I’m aware,” I replied, taking a sip of my Coke. “It’s just that…what do I do now? I mean, should I even do anything?”

“Well, that depends,” Barry stated after a sip of his apple-tini. “Do you wanna bang her?” I nearly choked on my drink.

“N-no!” The others looked at me with great suspicion. “I mean, no, that’s not the only reason. Sure, she’s gorgeous but…I can’t really explain it. She just seemed really nice and cool and stuff and I’d like to get to know her better.”

“Inside and out, right?” Barry added with a wink.

“Just drink your girly shit.”

“Y’know what, dude,” Eli began, momentarily ignoring Barry and I. “That’s exactly what you should be doing.”

“For once, I agree with the underling,” Adam agreed. “She’s not just any girl.” I opened my mouth but closed it as Adam continued. “Yes, she’s a different species but if you think about it, we’re not all that different.” As a collective, we nodded sagely in agreement.

“Still…when I pictured someone like her, I just…I dunno, wasn’t picturing an Equestrian, that’s all.” said I to the collective.

“Is that a bad thing?” Eli asked.

“No! At least, I don’t think so.”

“If I may interject for a moment,” Barry piped up. “You are putting way too much thought into this.”

“I am?” I asked, genuinely surprised.

“Totes! Take it from me,” Barry replied, motioning dramatically to himself. “She’s Equestrian, right?” I nodded. “But she’s also a girl, right?” We nodded. “Believe me, all we want is a good guy who’s not afraid to be honest, expressive, and most importantly, himself. You pickin’ up what I’m throwin’ down?”

“Not bad, Barry,” Eli complimented. “Sometimes, I actually forget you’re a dude.”

“Awe, aren’t you a sweetie-pie,” Barry replied, batting his eyelashes, earning a collective laugh.

“But that doesn’t really answer my question,” I continued. “What do I do next?”

“Well, if I was sweet on some cute lil’ thang, we’d hang out a couple times and see how things go.” Barry answered with a wink.

“Yeah but all your dates are with guys.” Eli pointed out.

“Oh, pish posh! Guys, girls, it doesn’t matter. I mean, don’t we all just want someone who’ll treat us right and make us feel special?”

“Yeah, that sounds right.” I agreed, as did Eli and Adam by way of slow nods.

“Well then, that’s your answer. Try hanging out with her and if you both feel like there’s some potential…” Barry wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. “Just be a gentleman and you’ll be fine.”

“I agree with the Human Torch here,” Adam replied. “I mean, he is our resident guy expert.”

“Guil-ty!” Barry exclaimed with another pseudo-wave.

“You know what?” I stated, feeling emboldened by the votes of confidence. “You’re right. There’s no reason we can’t at least hang out.”

“That’s the spirit!” Eli agreed, raising his glass. “Gentlemen…and Barry; a toast to our friend here who, thanks to his half-assed sales experience, has become acquainted with a true lady of society. Cheers!”

“Cheers!” we exclaimed, clinking our glasses together before indulging in their contents.

“So…” I asked after we’d finished. “When should I text her?” The response came in the form of several sighs and a face-palm.

It was gonna be a long night.

***

Fleur smiled as she placed the last of her dishes into the dishwasher. Emile had been correct as usual; the Caesar salad he’d left in the fridge for her had been just what she needed after a long day of dressing, undressing, and photo-shoots. She loved her job but it could certainly get demanding at times; it was such times that she appreciated the occasional quiet night at home. She always had the option of going dancing or out in general with coworkers or friends but on certain days, like this one, a night in was just what the doctor ordered.

Besides, she had a new toy to play with.

The screen came to life as she held the device and experimented with finger swipes, apps, and features before a sudden vibration caught her off-guard. After a couple of tries, she opened her messages and read the text, smiling.

Hows the new phone?

Its great thanks for asking

Glad to hear it. If you have questions you know who to call.

I will.

Cool. Have a good night.

Fleur had to hold back a giggle. There they were, texting as if they hadn’t just met that day. It felt good to communicate with someone outside of her usual circle, someone who knew her outside of the limelight and flash of the camera. Fleur was in the rare and fortunate position of not wanting for anything; her parents (wherever they were) saw to that. Still, maybe adding someone else to her social life couldn’t hurt. After all, she didn’t know too many humans on a personal level and a new friend never hurt, a fact that Twilight could attest to. If it was good enough for Equestria’s savior…then it was good enough for her.

**Thanks you too!

Satisfied, she turned it off and reached for her book, eagerly looking forward to immersing herself in the world of Katniss Everdeen.

***

“There, you guys happy now?” I asked, putting my phone away.

“Yep!” Eli and Adam exclaimed in unison.

“Hey, every little bit counts,” Barry replied. “At least she responded. That’s a good sign.”

“Definitely,” I agreed with a nod, glancing up at one of the many TVs. “That’s strange, why are they showing the…news…” I suddenly went silent as an incredible scene played out in front of me.

“What’s going…on?” Adam asked. I motioned to the TV. “Hey, barkeep! You mind turning that up?” he shouted. The man nodded and momentarily, the evening news blared over the rapidly-quieting pub.

“Ladies and gentlemen, mars and stallions, we interrupt your regular scheduled programming to bring you this breaking news. Only minutes ago, an explosion of unknown origin severely damaged the Grande-Pacific Elevator.” We gasped as another explosion rocked the facility and stared helplessly as it lit up the water with orange flames, burning and consuming everything in their path. “At this time, it is unknown if there are any survivors but at the moment, it doesn’t look good for the men and women trapped on the platform.”

“Jesus…” Adam muttered as dozens of rescue vehicles from both species converged on the scene along with…

“Hey! Is that…Titan Zeal?” Eli asked as the camera panned around just in time to catch a gigantic shape as it lumbered towards the site of the disaster.

“Whoa! They brought in a Jaeger?” I exclaimed. I could scarcely believe it; no one had seen a Jaeger deployed for almost five years and yet, here one was, and one of the most advanced at that. We watched transfixed as the sleek black and silver Jaeger reached down and carefully scooped part of the burning facility away, revealing upon closer inspection dozens of survivors trapped underneath. The whole place erupted into cheers (us included) as each person was liberated from the flaming wreck either by the massive hands of Titan Zeal or the combined efforts of several search & rescue crews.

“We now go live to Pan Pacific Defense Corps Marshal Thiago for a statement.” The view changed from a burning installation to a tall man dressed in a long back coat with silver buttons that matched his naval hat. Even his long, silver goatee matched the rest of his ensemble and he possessed a confident, commanding air about him. Even as reporters from both species milled around him in the impromptu media scrum, he seemed incapable of losing his calm, cool demeanor. Even through the screen, his bright blue eyes seemed to stare right through the bar patrons as he seemingly calculated and assessed the world around him.

“Marshal Thiago,” one reporter began, sticking her microphone in his face. “Is there any word on who perpetrated this attack and how it was carried out?” There was a pause.

“As of now, we have not pursued any leads. As such, we have placed the recovery of our personnel and the safety of everyone involved as our highest priority.” His tone was measured and collected, almost understated; yet, he nevertheless managed to effortlessly capture the attention of everyone around him.

“How many survivors have been recovered?”

“Through the valiant efforts of both our rescue teams and our Equestrian allies, we have managed to recover over half of the installation’s personnel and I’m sure that number will increase as the operation continues.”

“Marshal, could you explain to everyone watching at home why you decided to deploy Titan Zeal to a rescue operation? Aren’t Jaegers designed for battle?” Thiago cleared his throat.

“To me, the Jaeger is much more than a simple cudgel to be wielded at a whim. We have developed the new units in hopes that they can be used as more than Kaiju killers. I personally believe that the Jaeger represents the pinnacle of human ingenuity and thanks to our Equestrian allies, I believe that we will be able to reach our goal, lofty as it may be. Besides, you saw what Titan Zeal did back there. Jaegers are more than capable of performing rescue operations.”

“Sir, do you think the Kaiju will return?” another reporter asked.

“Absolutely,” the marshal replied without a moment’s hesitation. “You all remember what this is like; the Kaiju are not gone. The best we can do at this time is speculate. We know that they’re designed from the ground up much like our Jaegers. If I had to hazard a guess, I’d say that they’re working on something new to counter our own advancements.” He paused and allowed his chilling message to sink in. “However, I can assure each and every one of you that should that day come, we will be ready, and we will repel them once…” An alert from the communicator on his jacket’s collar interrupted him as he ducked into the rear passenger seat of a waiting car. Just as he was about to close the door, one particularly enthusiastic reporter ran forward and tripped over the myriad number of feet separating him from his target, causing him to fall and his microphone to land right in the marshal’s lap. There was silence as two words sent chills down our backs.

“Breach…movement!”

With that, the pub exploded into a panic.

All around them, off-duty Shatterdome personnel grabbed their coats and took off into waiting cars and jeeps. Civilians headed for the emergency bunker hidden ten stories underneath the pub. All buildings in Manehatten had one just in case people and ponies couldn’t be evacuated in time.

“Come on! Let’s go!” Eli exclaimed, tugging my arm as everyone save for myself leaped to their feet. Instead, I stared at the television in awe as Titan Zeal fearlessly raced out towards the disturbance and brought the two canons on its back to bear, ready to send whatever dared show its ugly face back to the foul pit from whence it crawled. Alas, I was forced to tear myself away from the screen as Eli and the others dragged me (only for a short time, mind you) towards the bunker.

After racing down several flights of stairs, we sat huddled together on long benches while we waited for the crisis to abate, our hearts racing as we imagined what was going on. I tried to keep my own speculation to a minimum and hoped that Titan Zeal was as tough as it looked. We sat in silence for roughly 20 minutes before, much to our relief, we were allowed to return to the surface. As we made our way back up, the first thing we heard were the relieved cries of victory. Upon seeing the dead hulk of a Kaiju as Titan Zeal watched over the cleanup and dissection crews, we joined them, cheering loudly and thanking the brave pilot who had stepped up once again.

Rarely were we afforded the luxury of a quick fight ending in our favor but I suppose that it was our lucky night.

Crisis mercifully averted but still a little shaken, we said our goodbyes and I headed for the bus stop amid heavy traffic, no doubt a by-product of the attack. I wondered if Fleur had heard the news and for a moment, caught myself worrying about her even though the monster hadn’t made it 300 feet before Titan Zeal had put it down.

I finally arrived home about an hour later and proceeded to collapse onto my bed the instant I entered my room. As I laid there, staring up at my ceiling, my mind swirled with what had happened. Fleur, the Kaiju attack…the marshal’s words of warning. It all came flooding back in a near-overwhelming sensation that made me glad I was already lying down. I groaned and rubbed my temples, trying to focus on the most important developments.

Fleur de Lis.

Kaiju.

Life was about to get even more interesting.