One Ugly Grub

by Sgt GobSmacker

Chapters

To Gam3ercon We Go
Memory Hacks
The Survival Game
Hail to the Chief
Choice
Questioning the Grub
Paradoxial

To Gam3ercon We Go

*BEEP!*... *BEEP!*... *BEEP!*...

"Meh..."

*BEEP!*... *BEEP!*... *BEEP!*...

"Ehhhhh..."

*BEEP!*... *BEEP!*... *BEEP!*...

"Shut the fuck up!" I yelled, quickly sitting up in my bed, proceeding to smash my alarm clock to tiny pieces.

I breathed heavily in anger, because that alarm clock just ruined my beautifully perfect dream. Killing zombies.

I blinked to get the blurriness out of my vision, rubbing my eyes to get the sleep out, turning over on my bed to get up. I sat up on my mattress, as soon as I did that, a stinging sensation came along in my lovely right hand. I cast my gaze downward, my hand, my great drawing hand was now liberated by cuts, and blood oozed freely out of the wound.

'Well La-dee-fricking-da!'

I got up carefully, grunting in annoyance as my right hand was stinging like it was put into a patch of stinging nettles. I don't need those memories. (Fell in there once, and it was not pretty in the slightest. I lost my handsome face for a day). I walked out my room, silently closing the door from behind.

'Whats the point? I probably woke 'im with my little outburst.'

I slammed the door closed. It was pretty loud mind you. Right as I did that I heard a frghtened gasp in a room further down the hall. My brother, Mark, most likely made that gasp, or it was my conscious. I just walked noisely down to the bathroom. My feet slapping against the floor. It was cold. I looked down at myself before entering the bathroom.

'Well~ No shit, I only have my underpants on.'

I resumed my walk into the bathroom. Okay it was a lot colder in here than it was out there. I went over to the sink, turning the tap on. I let the water heat up first, while it was at that, I gazed upon my appearance in the mirror.

"I look like shit." I quietly mused to myself.

My hazel brown hair was sticking out like a duck's arse in every direction, my eyes were a faint form of bloodshot with bags underneath, making me look like I had run a marathon. My mouth felt dry, with dry skin on my lips. I looked down at the tap, hot water freely rushed out of it, the steam now fogging up the mirror. I cupped the water in my hands and splashed it on my face. I turned off the tap, and picked up a towel off to the side of the room. I dried my face, feeling that bit more livelier.

"First things first... Coffee. A number one must have in the early morning, or staying up late nights!" I formulated out-loud. "Wait... I feel like I'm forgetting something... oh yeah! A piss!"

*(Third-person: P.O.V.)*

The whistling of the teenage boy was heard, with the combination of a certain liquid echoing off the insides of a very unlucky toilet. A reliefed sigh was heard, and soon followed by a flush.
*(Moments earlier)*
Mark walked past the bathroom door, staring at it awkwardly. He sighed and shook his head, massaging his temples. He continued on into the kitchen.

*(Back to me!)*

I opened the bathroom door, and proceeded to walk out. Glad that my bladder was now drained.

"Now coffee!" I said in triumph, raising a victorious fist into the air.

I heard the cry of the kettle as I entered the kitchen. I saw my brother standing there, leaning on the counter. There was two mugs of soon-to-be coffee on the table. I had coffee a few days ago, ususally having tea to fill in the gaps.
"G'morning." My brother greeted, his voice sounded tired, probably stayed up later than I did.

"Morning... How'd you sleep?" I asked him, rubbing my eyes.

He let out a yawn. "I won't suger-coat it... I slept terribly."

"Well, this is karma for staying up late finishing off that costume." I told him.

"Says you. You did the same!" He playfully punched me in the arm.

I let out a small chuckle. "Yeah.. I know."

He looked down at my right hand. He had perplexed expression chiseled on his face.

"What happened to your hand bro?"

"Oh... I may have smashed that alarm clock we bought the other day." I said sheepishly.

"Why?" he asked with confusion.

"It ruined my dream." I stated. "You remember when you knocked me out of a dream that one time?"

"Uhhh... Yeah... you head-butted me. Sorest thing I recieved in a while."

"Mhmm." I nodded. "And don't you forget it."

The kettle stopped boiling, and clicked off automatically. Mark turned and opened the cupboard, taking out the coffee jar. I leaned against the counter next him, waiting for the lovely, hot, beverage. I waited for him to finish his method of making coffee, which took around a minute, but to me it felt like ten.
"Here." He handed me the coffee.

"Thanks man!" I snatched the coffee out of his grip, taking a sip out of the steaming brew. "Ahhh~" I released a relaxed sigh.
I gulped down the rest. Wiping my mouth with my arm, I let out a loud belch.

"Better out than in." Mark laughed.

I just looked at him. "Yeah... Enough with the Shrek references. I already have to deal with him on a daily basis."

He punched my arm again, albeit harder than last time. That was gonna bruise.

"And I have to deal with a donkey everyday, so get used to it."

"Ha, Ha, Ha." I sarcastically laughed.

We sat down on the stools by the nearby table, Mark happily sipping at his mug of coffee and reading the newspaper. I sat there thinking about my costume for Gam3rcon.

"So." I started. "The costume your taking to Gamercon? We kept 'em a secret from each other. So what is it?"

Mark set down his mug on the table. "I'll show ya now." He said getting up, he then turned to face me. "But you have to show me yours after a'ight?"

"Okay."

We walked out of the kitchen and back into the tunnel of a hallway, we turned right and made our way upstairs. When we made our way up the series of steps, he went left, myself in tow. He unlocked the guest bedroom door with the key he took off the doorframe. Mark opened the door and walked in. I stood there, my mouth agape in awe.

"Woah." I weezed out pointing at Mark's costume. "That is some awsome piece of work dude."

"Some?" He questioned, a brow raised.

"Yup." I said. "Master Chief's armor man, its very good. Really. Honest!" I raised my hands in defense. "But I'm not a very big fan of the Halo genre."

"I like to see what you got." He challenged.

"Oh you'll see..." I trailed on, walking out the room, and headed up to the attic. I pulled the rope holding the trap door down, the stairs formed after, making me a path up.

"The attic?" Mark raised an eyebrow.

"Uh... yeah. You must be very UN-observant not to know I was up there working." I was surprised he didn't know.

"Oh... right." He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Sorry must be my brain cells clicking off."

"Right~."

I walked up the newly-formed stairs and into the attic. Mark went up after me.

"Jesus, its dark." He thought aloud.

"Feast your eyes!" I shouted gleefully in his ear. Mark recoiled in fright.

I proceeded to turn on the light. The light-bulb flashed a few times before it remained lit. A monster of a costume was shown, the gauntlets had jagged spikes going along them, the same spikes went with the leg armor. A dark red robe with black highlights was draped upon the middle section and head. The costume's skin under the armor was grey with scar indentations placed in it. The head looked fearsome, sharp teeth(not litirally), and one ugly face. The helmet on the mask had an array of leather dreadlocks hanging off of it, with E.V.A foam spikes hanging off the ends.

"So... what d'ya think? I asked him, his jaw litirally hitting the floor.

He was left in that state for around... give or take a minute, but when he finally decided to anwser he was left a stuttering mess.

"I...I... I-"

"Shhhh... Let it all out." I mock cooed to him.

"How?" The only word he said... and it was how...

"How?" I offered him my best poker face. "The same way you made yours of course!" I raised my arms above my head. "EVA Foam? Ring any bells?" I knocked him three times on the head with my fist. "Helloooo?"

"Oh yeah." He had the look of someone zoning out of reality.

I facepalmed. "Sometimes I think you lost more braincells than I could count."

"I'm smarter than you." He replied in a deadpann expression. "Skorge. Nice choice, good variation."

"Thanks." Knowing that my costume was better.

"But mine's cooler." He stated. I just looked at with a face that said 'really?'. "Yeah really."

"Ughhhh..." I sighed out. "Fine." I raised my hands. "If you say so."

"I'd like to take a picture of you in it, show it to our parents back at home in Ireland." He formulated.

I nodded my head. "Good idea brotha." I praised him. "Lez do dis!"

He chuckled at my imitation. I walked over to my costume, taking off the armor, to put on the skin. That alone was around an inch thick. It was fiddely to put on. I managed, like half-an-hour later. I looked a hell of lot bigger, two inches taller, and a lot more intimidating.
My fingers felt snug inside the costume, they fit like a glove... litirally. I crouched down to put on the armor, it was a bloody struggle I'll tell you that.

The armor was finally on, another fifteen minutes of my life wasted.

"Jesus dude!" Mark exclaimed holding is iPhone. "You are one ugly grub!"

"I'll take that as a compliment." I replied looking back at him.

"Was it?" Mark asked, confusion plastered on his face.

I just sighed and metaphorically massaged my temples, don't want to cause an arguement.

"Ready?" he asked, I nodded my head, in my 'brilliant' pose. "Say cheese!"

I looked at him. "Really?" I dead-panned, getting out of my pose.

"Yes." He stated. "Now pose!"

I rolled my eyes, and posed for him. "Gorgonzola..." I managed to grunt out. The iPhone made that noise I know all too well, it was... the camera going off, and I got out of my pose.

"Your turn." I said to him

"Lets go back down to the guest room then."

We walked back down to the guest room, I was still in my Skorge costume. I didn't want to take it off seeing as it was hard enough putting it on. I banged my metaphorical fore-head off the door frame to the bedroom. I saw Mark putting on his Master Chief costume, it was amusing for me. Now I know how he must have felt.

I got bored and waited outside the bedroom door, leaning on the wall. How much time was it? Maybe an hour, an hour and a quarter. How it took him longer was well beyond me.

"I'm ready Cian!" I heard him call from the room.

"Oh Jesus God finally!"

I unlocked the door to the bedroom. I stopped at the door. We stood as still as statues. I looked at him. He looked at me. We stared at each other for a few minutes, before I finally broke the silence.

"I thought you'd be taller." I said, seeing as I was still an inch taller than him, and also making the bad reference.

"I thought you'd be uglier." He replied back instantly. I just stared at for the fourth time that day. Unamused.

"Yeah... so are we going to take the picture or not?" I asked him.

"Oh yeah." He shrugged and got into his Master Chief pose. I looked at my gloves, no way was I going to be able to touch the iPhone's screen with these.

"Hold on a second, I need to take the gloves off." I told him.

"Make it quick please." He said impatiently.

I took off the costume's gloves and placed them down on the bed. I picked up the iPhone off the night-stand. I turned it on and....

"Whats your password?"

"Ugghhh..." He sighed in annoyance. "0-0-7-3-6-9."

"Thank you." I proceeded to type in the password to his iPhone.

I tapped onto the camera app. My hand growing unsteady, his form on the screen, in that 'epic' pose of his.

"Say cheese!" He looked at me for a split second and... shrugged. I was expecting him to make a remark.

"Blue!" He yelled out happily. That was good enough for me. I took the picture. His 'epic' form plastered on the screen. I didn't want to say this to him, but it looked retarded. He was air-humping... AIR-HUMPING!

I looked at the clock on the wall to my left, it was half-past twelve.

"Oh no." I said quickly. Mark glanced over at me.

"What is it Cian?" I could see the concern through that orange visor of his.

"We're gonna be late for Gamercon!" I yelled running ( I least trying to) out of the room... I ran back in. "Forgot my gloves..." I equipped them and fast walked out again.

"Oh shit..." Mark trailed on. "Wait for me!" He ran as he heard the rattle of keys, the opening of the front door and the start of a car engine...

*(1:00 PM, at Gam3rcon Convention)*

"Well that was close." I stated.

"You said it." Mark replied, shifting his gaze around the area.

"The biggest queue of people I've ever laid my eyes on."

"Yep."

I turned my head to him. "Good thing we were in front huh?"

"Damn right!" he yelled gleefully. Averting some people's attention towards him.

I looked around, my vision that of a hawk. So many people were here, looking around, cosplaying, shopping or all the above. My gaze settled on a small little shop. But thats not what caught my attention. I saw it, the very same Chainsaw staff Skorge used in Gears of War 2, displaying on the store window. I squee'd so much inside my head, it hurt.

"Mark!" I turned to him, he was looking at some cute cosplayers. I rolled my eyes underneath my mask.

"Yeah?" he asked not even risking a glance in my direction. I walked over to him and grabbed his head and twisted it to the left, a crack was heard.(Not the crack you hear when a bone is breaking... eh you know what I mean.)

"Look..." I said dreamily and pointed in the direction of the store.

It took him around three minutes before he noticed. I would facepalm if my arm wasn't so tired.

"It's a shop." He stated bluntly.

I sighed in frustration. I dragged him over, litirally. His plea's to stop were unheard as I dragged him across the tiled floor. People were looking at me oddly. I picked him up by the head and slammed his helmeted face/visor on the glass. It didn't crack, only that annoying noise you hear when someone is banging on your window for attention.

"It's the staff Skorge uses!" I practically yelled in his face/visor/helmet. A look of realization was cast upon his being. I could feel it!

"Oh..." He looked down. "Wanna see if we can buy it?" he asked me.

"Hell-FUCKING-Yes!"

Mark got up onto his feet, stretching his legs out. The cracks of joints were heard along with a relaxed sigh. We walked into the shop looking like we owned the place.

"Mark you can check out the rest shop if you want." I offered him.

"I'll see if they have anything relating to Halo." He said walking off.

I walked up to the counter. Looking at the items behind the seller. The man was an old looking Chinese man with an eye-patch on his left eye, light grey hair, a bald patch, and a few moles.

"Can I help you?" He asked in an old, brittle, asian voice.

"Yes, I was wondering how much the Chainsaw staff is?" I asked him.

"Hmmm..." He typed down the item name on the computer to his right. "$100"

"Let me check my funds." I took out my wallet, exactly $100 in there. Convienent. "This should be enough."

He yelled out. "That is exactly $100! No change for you." Talk about being a cheapskate. "Thank you." He proceeded to hand me the Staff.

I gave the money to him, my eyes laden with joy when I cast my gaze upon the staff. Real metal. It was made of real metal, making it all the more better. I thanked him and turned to walk off.

"Wait." He called out.

"Yes?" I asked.

"This also comes with it." He handed me a strange amulet thingy, with some horse on it.

"Whats this for?" If he could see my face it would be mass confusion.

"Oh you'll see." He stated in a sinister voice.

I stared at him oddly. "Your shifty... I like that." I went to walk out of the store, but before I forget...

"Yo Mark I got the staff!" I called out, my voice echoing off the walls of the shop.

"Okay!" He called back. "I'll investigate this place some more!"

"A'ight!"

I resumed my way out the front entrance... Only to be confronted by some wierd guy, with a rainbow hoodie. He stared at the medallion thingy in my hands.

"Uh... Hi?" I waved at him nervously

"Hello..." He replied a minute later. I was really starting to get nervous. "Hey guys! This guy has an Alicorn amulet!"

"Oh god..." A look of terror was put upon my face... "the bronies they're here!" I began to sweat as nine more guys with various My Little Pony shirts and products headed towards me. And also... an Ali- what now?

"Mark! He-!" I tried to shout out, but the amulet in my grip was starting to glow a dark red colour. "The fu-!" I was cut off as I was being lifted into the air, heading towards a bright light that was blinding everyone in the viscinity.

"OH FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU-!"

*(Location: Unkown)*

"-UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU-" *DING!* *CRACK!* "YEEEE-OWW!" Oh Jesus god that hurt!
I rolled on the ground in pain, my eyes closed, my spinal cord was in agony, trying to put pressure on the area of extreme discomfort. It hurt like a bitch.
I opened my eyes. I was somehow placed on a grassy field in the middle of nowhere. Looking up I saw a crystal blue sky, with the whitest and fluffiest clouds I've seen in my life. Even the air smelt clean!

"Where am-." My heart stopped dead. My voice was different, drastically different. It sounded like gravel mixed with nails scraping across a chalkboard.

My body felt different too, it felt bulkier, stronger. My hands moved more freely, I tapped my armor, the feeling of my fingers was located in my now-not-a-costume, the sound emanating off it was the echo of metal, thick metal plating. I got up slowly, being careful not to damage my spine even more. I grunted in pain as I stood up. I looked around my enviroment, there was a lake to the west, and what looked like a castle of sorts to the north.

"Better get to civilisation." I mused to myself, still not used to my very scratchy voice. "Wait a minute... where's my staff?"
I looked around the area, in the grass, under rocks, a lone tree, until finally seeing a glint from where I had landed. I made my way over to my 'drop' off location (hehe). There it was my staff. And that also explains why my back was in pain.

It was probably one of the most heavenly things I've seen since I came here a few minutes ago, being the only item I've seen since mysteriously teleporting here.

"Curse you! You Shifty Chinese Merchant!" I roared into the heavens, shaking my fist angrily at the sky.

I proceeded to pick up my staff, there was handle on it now, with what looked like a generously sized trigger in it. It was incredibly light to lift. The length of the staff was around 3 and a half meters.

'This could be dangerous if used in the wrong han-... Wait why am I saying that!'

I turned around, looking at the castle in the distance. It looked generously sized (like with all castle tendencies to be.), and there was one of the strangest forests I ever laid my curious gaze on, from my distance, the forest was like the mind of a crazed lunatic, always moving around aimlessly, the clouds shifted uncontrollably, spouting random shots of weather, whilst the water vapour compression above myself did absolutely nothing, not even move with the wind!

"Big castle in the middle of a crazy-screwed-up forest!" I pointed out. "Well its the only form of human creation around for miles." I looked around, a black dot was coming out of the castle. "Strange..." I trailed on. With my senses kicking in I advanced on my trek towards the stone contruct.

"Somewhere in Japan most likely, I know how random they can be, especially with their commercials." I thought aloud, shuddering at my theory.

I climbed up the hill in front of the forest, keeping my gaze locked on the castle far off. As soon as I got up there however, a shadow was quickly casted over me. I looked up, nothing was there. I shook my head, and walked onwards.

"Down there!" I heard a voice call out. My hearing was a hell of lot more sensitive. I looked up, and saw a rectangular shape, looming down on me, getting bigger with each passing second. I rolled out of the way as a gush of wind rushed past me. A carriage was where a was standing not only moments ago. I looked to the left of it. I could not believe my eyes, four ponies, four-fucking-ponies in my field of vision. They looked exactly like the ones from My Little Pony. I saw those memes! They gazed at me with horror and confusion, possibly my 'handsome' face.

The carriage door opened and there popped out a few more ponies in golden armor glaring at me, ... for some unknown reason. They didn't look threatening at all to me. They were having trouble keeping a vexed face, I could see the fear in their eyes, I was doing my best not to snort out in amusement. The weapons on their sides were engulfed in a golden aura and next pointed their swords and spears at me.

'Talk about cynical. I should just try scare 'em off.'

"Halt Beast! In the name her Majes-" I cut the sorry basterd off.

"RAAAHISSS!" I got into my combat stance, my staff in hand, the trigger activated, the chainsaws at both ends grinding to life. But I didn't want to kill them, I'm not that bad. I had the strangest feeling of being watched from afar.
The guards advanced towards me, taking my hiss as a threat to attack them. Wish I didn't do that.

*(Third-Person P.O.V.)*

Princess Celestia and Princess Luna watched this from afar, eyeing the violent spectacle before them. The guards they had sent to investigate the anomaly were being ferociously attacked by a horrible looking creature, being knocked out cold in the end, with cuts, broken bones and bruises.

"We should act now sister, deal with it before it causes harm upon our subjects." Luna told her sister, looking at her in the eye.

Celestia nodded. "Indeed let us deal with it before it gets out of hoof."

They flared their wings, ready to take off, unknowingly setting off a spark to sadness, conflict and bloodshed.

Author's Note

Also, an alternate ending to the Lion King...

Memory Hacks

*(A Few Minutes Earlier.)*

The guards advanced towards me, now eyeing my every move. I waited for them to make the first blow. They circled me like wolves, 12 of them in total. Their weapons raised above their head level using their magic, the pegasi being an exception as they were using their hooves. They were pretty small, seeing how I was now an eight-foot tall Locust General, they managed to reach just above my knees.

"Kicking them like footballs is the best course of action!" I whispered to myself, loud enough so they couldn't hear.

I slid the staff down the holster on my back, I got into my combat stance. My arms didn't need raising to block, the quadruped basterds were too small, but those Peggies would be a problem. I raised my arms up to protect my oh-so 'beautiful' face.

The pegasi freed their wings and floated up in the air, hovering a few metres away from my current position. The unicorns looked at eachother and nodded, a plan formulated. How I admired their stupidity and naivety, there tactic was to try and knock me onto the ground by giving a few bucks to my 'hind-legs', as they put it, and try to subdue me with a sword at my throat and a spear aimed at my cranium. Why does God do this to them? Just why? Subduing an 8-ft tall man/beast... Doctor get them to a mental institution!

"Attack!" The squadron leader yelled. How I know he was in leadership of the group was because of that centurion like helmet. (I went to my history classes!)

They're serious about this tactic, tough looking guards with the minds boggled like a six year old. I brought my leg back, getting ready for the kick of the lifetime as the squad leader charged at me. Getting closer every time, ten feet, five feet, two feet...

*SMACK!*

I admired how strong I was... or how lightweight they were. I just soccer-kicked that sorry sod of shit fifty meters away. The guards attention was focused on the falling unicorn, their gazes following his plummet, until I could hear a faint thud in the distance.

"Score one for me sucka!" I cherished that foot-work of mine, doing my best Franklin Clinton voice with it, just to fail at the impersonation miserably.

The guards attention was swiftly reverted back to me just as I said that. The pupils in their eyes the shape of pinpricks. I do not know what scared them the most, the fact that I could talk or my horribly scratchy voice. Well another score for me as they now found out that I was sentient, not some mindless beast.

Probably being all the more reason to attack me as I was a half-insane, sentient beast. They glared at me with their best death stare, which was very amusing watching them try not quake in fear. I laughed at the irony of their situation, coming in all strong willed and confident, now reduced to trying to keep their demeanor, and close to pissing themselves as my gleeful (psychotic to them.) laughing filled the area, my laughs were sharp and throaty, piercing their ear drums.

They charged at me as soon as they cleaned up their act. When I say 'they' I mean seven charged, three pegasi and four unicorns. Swords at the ready. At the back of the little party of ponies was the other three unicorns, two of which preparing a spell to attack me with, whilst the pegasus brought back their now crippled captain, with the unicorn waiting patiently to heal him.

I picked up a unicorn by the neck, lifing him up to my eye level. I could feel his sharp inhales and exhales of oxygen, his eyes were wide with fear. I made a hiss into his face, he was now terrified, an unknown creature attacking them for reasons they did not know of... Well there was a reason. They threatened me, and their was an 'I will arrest you' sort of tone to the captains voice so that is a good enough reason as to why I attacked them. No one likes being brought to authority, that's much for certain.

"Lights out." I menacingly spat into his face. At that moment, time seemed to have slowed down around me. My abdomen area was getting warmer. I looked down... I was shocked.
...
...
...
'He pissed on me!'
I shook my head in disapproval. He had just wiped out whatever pride he had left for himself. I cast my gaze into his eyes, staring into his very soul. I sighed inwardly, brought my head back and headbutted him, minding the horn. I must have heard a slight crack as I did this. He was now hanging limply in my hand, I looked at him again and growled, he desecrated my muscular midsection! I dropped him on the ground like a sack of potatoes from an eight-foot height, that wasn't going to bode well with him.

I felt the bucks of the other unicorns on my lower legs, two of them stabbing and slicing with their swords . I looked down at their petty attempts to subdue me, their kicks and stabs felt like they weren't trying at all. I was about to face palm when I felt something impact my neck and throat at the same time.

I weezed for a breath of air as a bolt of magic hit me dead-on my wind pipe, my throat now felt numb. A ringing sensation came upon my ears as something impacted into my helmet. I turned, still gasping for oxygen as the pegasus, that presumably hit me on the noggin, was getting ready for another dive into my skull with his companion.

I turned the other way to see both unicorns from earlier prepping another blast of aural energies to assail me with. An idea crashed into my mind.

Both pegasi dove. The unicorns fired. I dodged out of the way as the pegasi loomed over me as the spells slipped through the air at high speeds into the direction of the 'buzzards'. My side ways barrel-roll rammed into three of the four unicorns, I'm pretty sure I heard the sound of breaking bones from the three. All I know is they were left unmoving as I ran into the direction of the spell casters. Their paralysis spells hit their pegasus comrades, knocking them out of the sky and launching into the ground head first.

I sidestepped a shot of energy as it whizzed past me and jumped over another one as it bolted underneath my legs, inches from my groin. Thank god my life wasn't ruined. As soon as I touched the ground I proceeded to roundhouse kick these fools in the head. Chuck Norris style.

They landed on the ground, in a few hours of forced sleep with purple and black bruises carved into their faces. I walked menacingly into the way of the squad leader, but before I do that. The third pegasus from earlier was speeding at me with unquenchable fury in her eyes. I sighed and stuck my arm out in front of me, my hand balled into a fist. Her eyes went wide, trying to slow down. Ms. Face, meet, Mr Fist.

*WHAM!*

Her head met precisely with my fist. Rendering her unconscious. The unicorn I left next to the body pile of his sleeping comrades was having a hard time comprehending what just happened. All his squad mates were knocked into the recesses of their own minds in a matter of seconds.

I casually walked up to him, until I was standing right behind his figure. I crouched down to his level, his ears were splayed back. Accepting the fate of knockout. I raised my hand... and flicked the back of his dome. A cut appeared from my flick mark, seeping out a droplet of blood. He collapsed onto the grass below his hooves.

A gust of wind sped past my being. I got up from my crouch and turned around, to be confronted with two taller beings. One was white with a pink, blue and green multicoloured wavy mane and tail, she had horn and a pair of wings, with a sun mark on her ass, her height was up to my abdomen. The one standing next to her was smaller, reaching up to my waist. She was a dark blue color with a translucent, midnight, wavy mane and tail, with stars glistening within, there was a crescent moon splotch on her hind-quarters, she also had a horn and a pair of wings. They both had tiaras and, some type of horse-shoe.

They glared up at me with daggers made of molten lava. I was unphased, as I was used to getting stares like this by teachers and my parents when I was a child and in my early teens when I did something bad or my brother Mark accused me of something. Also the fact they were tiny compared to me.

"So..." Their eyes widened when I spoke. "Who are ye supposed to be?"

"We-" The white one began, but I cut her off.

"Wait, wait, wait... don't tell me." My horribly gravelly voice must have been off-putting. "Ye're princesses."

The blue one looked at me with anger, while whitey looked at me with some form of amusement, a small smile on her face. I stood there for what seemed like hours, which in reality was only a few seconds. The air was tense, so tense that a nearby bird crash landing in a tree didn't even break the feeling in the air. Whitey finally decided to speak, glancing at the blue one every so often, I'm presuming their sisters... or something else...

"I am Princess Celestia, and this is mine sister Princess Luna. We are the rulers of Equestria, the land ye art currently in."

'I'm dealing with Shakespearians... great...'

"-May I ask how you got here?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "I don't know how I got here." I wanted to leave it vague, you never know what might happen.

"Thou don't know?" She had a bemused expression on her face.

"Don't know..." I trailed on. We were now standing awkardly in silence. Luna spoke up.

"Wherefore did thou attack our scouts?" She was a bit demanding.

"They threatened me-"

"How?" She butted in.

"With arrest... No one likes being taken to authority."

"How can thou act so easy talking to us?!" I've met people with complex's before but this was the icing on the cake.

"Luna, please." Celestia spoke. "It-"

"He." I cut her off, she looked up, over at me for a second.

"He, is a guest in our lands now, he doesn't hast to bewray us formalities."

Luna 'hphmed' in frustration, and looked at the ground. Celestia trotted over to me.

"What is thy name, far lander?" She asked, with curiousity.

"My name..." I wanted to go in character. "Skorge."

She nodded happily. "Anon to make sure thou won't cause harm upon our subjects like thou did with our scout team here." She looked over at the squad leader with a stern gaze. He shrunk down at it. "We will have to see thou'st memories and what you did before you came here. To see if thou can be trusted."

I thought over this, my life's memories being invaded by a minature talking horse. How was she going to react, to pictures of her ponies in memes and shit. I don't think it will end well.

"I have no choice... Do I?" I asked.

"No." She said simply.

"... Very well then." I let her go on with the spell.

"Thank you."

Her horn sparked and shimmered, electric pulses emanating off of it. She stood on her hind-legs, using her fore-legs for balance on my shoulders. She touched her horn off my forehead.

Images of death and murder appeared in my vision, myself slaughtering soldiers and civilians alike, feeling no remorse for them nor pity. Using the staff to split people in half, and lop off heads. This was the Coalition of Ordered Governments I was fighting, or C.O.G for short. No memories of my real life came up. Only sinking cities, and a me riding the Hydra, a reaver like beast Skorge rode. This was not right at all!

Celestia gasped and backed away in fear, horror and rage. "How could you?" She asked quietly, tears brimming in her eyes.

"They are not my memories, and how DARE you accuse me of such things!" I roared at her trying desperately to reason, she wouldn't take any of it.

"Memories do not show lies!" She shouted, tears sliding down her face after seeing those horrible fake images.

"What is it sister?!" Luna asked, concern extremely evident in her voice.

"I cannot explain..."

"Show me what you saw." Luna demanded of her.

"At your own peril..." Celestia trailed on.

Both their horns sparked and pulsated as I could only watch in anger and sadness. Luna had a the same reaction as Celly's, albeit more rage involved.

"Thou massacering mongrel!" She screamed with all the might she could muster.

"They are not MY MEMORIES!" My rant to defend myself only fell on deaf ears.

I had no intention of being captured. I'll either have to run and hide from them for the remainder of lifetime, or for how long was going to be in Horsey-land. Or I could stand up and fight against two majorly pissed off princesses.

"We should imprison this monster before he can harm our little ponies." Luna told Celestia, she spat the word 'monster' venomously. I clenched my fists in abominable anger, my nails digging into my palm.

"Indeed." She agreed, her tone turned to sadness. "But I felt something else in his memories and being, something that wanted be set free..."

I perked up a small bit this, only a small bit. "If this is how you see me as..." I looked down. "... so be it."

I'm NOT going to be imprisoned. I have a life to live and home to go back to... and a brother to be back with.
I chose the best option. Run and hide, and formulate a plan to get home away from this screwed up land. And also Celestia sounded regretful agreeing with her sister, for some reason I cannot explain.

I turned and sprinted for the forest. I'll tell you this I was very fast in my new form, that I depised already. I was furious, thanks to something placing the memories of Skorge in my mind, I was now a wanted alien, for some atrocity I didn't and will never commit. Also furious being a major understatement.

I ran and I ran, until I had reached the density of trees, the sisters hot on my metaphorical tail. Celestia had sensed something. But what?

Author's Note

Memories of Skorge's doings, that is very bad.
Cian has now booked his ticket for a ride through hell, and hopefully back out.
Celestia sensed a tiny spark of his real memories. Even though she can't tell which is real between his and Skorge's, they both have the same signatures of magic placed.

The Survival Game

I tore through the foilage and trees, bolting away from two horse princesses right on my heels. One hell bent on imprisoning and or executing me for the massacre of men, women and children from fake memories something placed in my mind, and one feeling sympathy towards me, maybe she knows of my actual memories but couldn't place it? But enough rambling! Back to running!

I'll say this again, I was extremely quick on my feet (presuming their called feet anymore to begin with) and swift with my thoughts. Every step in front of the other, not stopping for anything. The squish of wet leaves and cracks of fallen branches underneath my now burning legs, looking ahead for any obstacles that would obstruct my path. I sidestepped trees and vaulted over fallen logs, minding myself not to trip up on the many roots above the ground.

I continued to run, jumping over a large boulder, raising my arms up to latch onto the impeding branch above my head. I swung, using all my strength. I fell through the air before landing with a roll on the ground, my staff digging up mud and grime, also upturning some roots. I summoned all my will power to continue with my sprint. I ducked under branches and weaved through trees. My chest was on fire and my throat was icy cold.

The moment I never expected... and tumbling down a steep hill was one of them at the moment. I rolled down the hillside, crashing through rocks and dead branches. A tree was obstructing my path as I rolled down the slope, with a sharp looking branch embedded in the trunk.

'This is going to hurt' I thought as I toppled my way closer and closer to the antagonizing tree. I proceeded to scrunch my face and close my eyes, getting ready for the incoming pain.

I crashed into the tree, the branch tore into my shoulder, snapping it in the process.

I let out a silent scream as the stick impaled itself more into my shoulder as I was still tumbling down the slope, I could feel it come out the other end. The wound felt like a railroad spike made of lava striking through the shoulder, every roll going down the hill felt like salt going into the wound, hammering the branch into my now split shoulder. Blood squirted out of limp veins, the red liquid seeping out of blood vessels barely hanging by a thread. The wound was now a small waterfall of blood on both ends of my body.

I noticed that my tumble came to a halt as I was now on flat ground, laden with leaves and mud. It was good that I had armor equipped or my lower legs would have been ripped to shreds by my staff, it definitely wouldn't have been a pretty sight to see nor feel.
And also... I think I lost pony princess one and two.
I breathed of sigh of relief, letting out a few chuckles.
I got up from the foilage riddled earth and cast my vision upon the hill, my trail now unrecognizable amongst the falling leaves hiding it from view.
I grabbed the stick embedded in my shoulder, I gasped in pain. I tugged at the timber, grunting in agony as I did that. It had to be removed.
It was going to hurt. Anything describing it would be an understatement...

*(Celestia's P.O.V)*

I flew after Luna, trying to calm her down. We were too quick to assumptions of Skorge, there was a serious, honest truth ringing with his words. He could have easily killed us and the guards then and there. But chose not to. An unwise move if he tried to. I will have to find and talk with him without anypony knowing, especially Luna, she's in a bad enough state as it is.

Luna has been acting very strange recently, she had a series of mood swings throughout the day when I talked or greeted her, she is not herself that much is for certain.

"Luna!" My voice breaking through the winds. She chose to ignore me completely, continuing her search to hunt Skorge. It was futile, he was too fast. He sped through those trees and undergrowth far faster than I've seen of any animal, he had disappeared in the dense foilage of the Everfree forest, the opposite direction of the castle. If Discord hadn't tampered with his magic, this forest would be easier to navigate.

"Luna!" I used the voice this time. Luna came to halt, turning around swiftly, facing my direction. Her eyes were peculiar, a light green with reptilian slits. They vanished when she stared at me. I shook my head, thinking I was seeing things.

I flew over to her. "There's no point in looking for Skorge now, he is too deep in the Everfree and it is too dangerous." I reasoned with her, hoping to shine some light upon the situation. She stared at me with a desperate look.

"Thou art insane! A murderous creature in our land, and your letting it go!" Luna narrowed her eyes at me.

I needed a excuse to take her mind off of it. "He's too deep in the forest now, he will most likely get lost." Her hardened gaze softened a bit. "The creatures that deep in the forest would most likely kill him, and your in a frazzeled enough state as it is."

Luna looked down sheepishly. "Fine... but we still need to search for him."

"Indeed, but at a later date. For now, let us make our way back to the castle. It is nearing your time raise the moon." Luna nodded, proceeding to fly back to the castle. I hovered there, contemplating with the events that transpired. I cast my vision to the path Skorge had taken.

I placed a miniscule of my magic in him, so that I could detect him and myself only. I could find where he was in the Everfree.

"We will speak another time... Skorge..." I turned away slowly and made my way to the castle.

*(Cian's/Skorge's P. O. V)*

I broke off the end of the branch sticking (no pun intended) out of my back. Blood still gushing out of my left shoulder. Using all my willpower, I gripped the front end, now in a desperate attempt to remove it. Each tug of the branch felt like fire, I could feel every nerve and vein dragging off the timber. It was almost out.

I breathed in heavily, and gained all the courage I could muster. In one, swift movement, tearing out the branch. The red liquid was now dripping heavily out the wound. I stared at it for a few seconds.

"Well..." I mused in relief, the stick finally gone. "... It could be worse."

I got up carefully, cautious not to cause anymore unneeded damage to my shoulder. I took in my surroundings for the first time since fleeing into the forest. The ground was littered with leaves and sloppy mud, rotting branches that cast a woodland smell into the air. Rays of the days last light peeked through the gathering of leaves and timber a top the trees, creating a picture of shadows amongst the wet ground. Insects buzzed and flew by, latching onto anything organic to feed. Birds chirped and flew over head, perching on the many trees this forest had to offer. A lonely grey, rabbit hopped along, nibbling at the wide arrange of flowers in store for it. Knots of tree roots were spread across the ground, creating a viable tripping hazard if I wasn't careful. Moss and vines grew upwards along the trunks of the timber, coloring some of the bark a nice shade of green.

My stomach growled in hunger as I set my eyes on the rabbit. My teeth were as sharp as the most flawless of knifes, slicing into flesh with to little or no effort at all. I had no more molars from what I could feel, I was now a carnivore. Now presuming I could eat meat without it cooked was joy in and itself, for the lazy person that was me.

I tried moving my left arm, as I stretched out my appendage, a stinging sensation crept into my wound. It was just sore enough for me to ignore, but I had to cover it, incase of infection. Presuming it now had an infection. Taking this into thought, I ripped a piece of cloth from the front draping of my robe to use as a makeshift banndage, it won't be enough but it will do for now. I encircled the impaled area with the cloth, tying a knot at the end so it would stay in place. I looked at my handiwork. It looked more like a shoelace knot than anything else. It would do in the meantime.

I got into a pouncing stance, my small eyes locked onto the morsel I came to know as a rabbit. It ate, oblivious to the creature ready to kill it. It hopped along to the next flower, twenty feet in front of me. Exactly where I wanted it.

I jumped at the rabbit, its ears splayed back and prepared to run as fast as its legs could carry it. I was too quick, my clawed fingers pierced through its mid section. I could hear the snap of the spine as my fingers dug into the rabbit, a sickening noise, but I was too busy trying to silence the rabbit.

I used my left hand to dig my finger into its throat, I could hear the spray of blood as I tore along. Sickening indeed. The morsel stopped squirming immediatley after my actions. Its lifeless body on the ground between my hands which were covered in the creatures life liquid. I brought the dead rabbit up to my face, ready to consume it.

I tore into the lifeless rabbit, my mouth managing to swallow half of the creature. I dug my teeth into it, ripping apart the skin and splitting bones. The top half was now in my mouth, happily chewing away. It tasted good, almost like it was cooked. It was slightly warm due to its body heat. I chewed away for a around a minute. I looked down at the rest.

My left eye twitched, my throat getting warmer with stomach fluids travelling up my oesophagus. In my hands was the remains of the rabbit, its entrails hanging limply outside the body, half of its spinal cord remained. Blood dripping down its once silky coat of fur.

I dropped the remains, balling my hand into a fist and bringing it up to my mouth. I gagged for what seemed like minutes at a time. It passed after a good few minutes. I cast my gaze around the area, trying to forget about the event that had just transpired.

The forest was silent, deathily so. The birds were no longer chirping, the insects were no longer communicating. The night had fallen, and with it, the nocturnal creatures of the woods. A low, threatening growl had gained my attention from the bushes no more than thirty feet to my right. I turned quickly into that direction, unsheathing my staff, getting ready for a possible threat.

The head of a lion popped out of the bush, glaring at me with a hungry look in its eyes. The head of a goat appeared along side it, making me wonder why it wasn't attacking the goat. A head of a snake slithered out above, inbetween them. It stepped out of the foilage, their murderous gazes tranfixed with my being.

My blood ran cold, and my heart skipped a few beats. If my Greek mythology was right I was facing off a... Chimera... A fucking Chimera. Supposedly very dangerous creatures. I heard it growl threateningly, snapping me out of my daze.

The creature got into a pouncing state, ready to kill me like I had done with the rabbit earlier. I got into my combat stance, activating the trigger on my staff, the chainsaws at both ends grinding to life. Apparantley the noise of the machination only made it angrier. It pounced.

Time seemed to have moved in slow motion as it did this. It was only a few meters away now. I barrel rolled to the side as it landed where I had been a few milliseconds ago. I swung my staff a full 180 degrees into its side, leaving a long, grueling scar. It howled in pain as I was now preparing to decapitate one of its heads.

The chimera saw this coming and jumped backwards, leaving me cutting nothing but air. The creature rushed me in my oblivious state, catching me by surprise. It was now lashing at me with a flurry of attacks, cuts and scrapes were laden across my body as ducked, dodged, weaved and blocked. I blocked an impeding attack from the snake head with my staff, it latched onto my staff holding onto my weapon with an iron grip, this was now a game of tug of war whilst dodging assailments from a goat and a lion.

I pulled and I heaved, but to no avail, its grip was too strong. It held onto my weapon, refusing to let go. I tugged at it harder this time, I was sure I heard the sound of ripping flesh. I looked up at the snake, its face was that of utmost pain, it was straining itself past the limit. Using this newfound oppurtunity, I prised with tremendous effort. The tearing of skin was heard along with the wet sounds of blood impacting the leaves, making a hollow noise off of them.

The snake tail was ripped away from the hybrid, its teeth shattered as I pulled the staff away from its grip. It lay motionless on the ground, blood seeping out of its decapitation point. The Chimera roared in absolute agony, it grunted and whimpered in pain as it stared with fury in its eyes, not backing down.

We encircled eachother. The both us not giving up. It let off threatening swipes in my direction. I didn't even flinch. It jumped at me when I was pretended to be turned the other way. I raised my staff to angle in its direction, its eyes going wide with fear. It impacted the chainsaw, letting off roars of utmost agony, the pain of a thousand suns flared in its chest. I grinded away upwards, tearing vital organs and splitting its ribcage apart. Blood splattered on every inch of my body, turning my front end into a new color. Deep red.

I continued tranversing the staff upwards, now reaching the line between the lion head and the goat head. The last pieces of skin holding it together snapped, gushing out more blood into my face. The chimera's upper body was now split down the middle. I was now standing in an acute angle of its body. Its insides and entrails now free to look at. The creature was as lifeless as a car with no engine.

I looked around the area, my heart beating a hundred miles a second. I was pretty sure it would have exploded. The howls and roars of sinsiter animals were now heard, most likely sniffed out the blood from the corpse. I needed to leave the area. I ran north of my current position.

One thing I didn't notice whilst facing off the chimera was that I could see in the dark. It was bloody helpful, I'll tell you that. I ducked under branches and eluded trees. It continued like this for another five minutes, I was now a long way away from chimeran territory. I stopped and gazed around the viscinity for the fifth time that day, I was in a clearing. I spotted something perfect that I could sleep the night away in, a hollow log. It was the only thing that would most likely keep me safe for the night.

I sheathed my staff, and proceeded to crawl down into the hollow trunk. It was a miracle that it fit my size. I tossed and turned, trying to get comfortable, in which I couldn't, not with the staff digging into my back.

Instead of sleeping, I contemplated the next best thing. Zoning out. I proceeded to go into my La-La land and also divising something that could get me back home, in Ireland, and back with my brother and off of this rock.

My zoning out got the better of me as I was now cast in the embrace of sleep.

*(Third-person P.O.V)*

Celestia was standing on the balcony in her chambers, unable to get to sleep as Skorge's magical signature was only a mile out of the castle. Luna would surely detect him from the dreamscape. Celestia was getting anxious.

"I need to warn him." She spoke quietly to herself.

The Princess of the Sun flared her wings, taking off into the sky with undefined elegance. She hovered along, just below the cloud level. Only a few hundred meters out now. She prepared to lower at an angle, descending the last couple of hundred meters. She was nearing the tree line. She flared her wings out and came to a halt just above the leaves. She detected Skorge's signature in a clearing to her right.

Celestia landed with care, now next to the toppled trunk Skorge was sleeping in. She peeked into the hollow log, seeing Skorge's face. She jumped at the sight of it. Celestia knocked the image away from her mind and gathered up her bravery, prepared to wake him.

She was interrupted by the sound of steps emanating behind her. She was getting worried. She turned around to face the assailant, only to be greeted with light in her eyes and a bipedal being, in olive green armor.

Author's Note

Well what do you know!

Celestia feels pity for him, luna will still try to imprison and or kill skorge. And a new being. I'll do it from Marks P.O.V in next chapter to show how he stumbled across Celly, he still doesn't know skorge is in the log.

Hail to the Chief

*(Mark's P.O.V)*
*(Earlier that day)*

"They see me rollin'. They hatin-... Ohh what have we here?" I stared at a little Halo figurine on the shelf, inspecting it. The funny thing was that the armor was a purple color with hot pink highlights going across the plating, with one of the strangest emblems I have ever laid my eyes on, emblazoned on the left shoulder pad. Behind the figure was the color pink...

I looked around in the aisle that I was currently in. I stomped my foot in embarressment and anger.

"Aw goddamnit! This is the girly shit section!" I whispered in annoyance under my breath.

"Yo Mark I got the staff!" I heard the voice of my brother echo off the walls of the shop.

"Okay!" I called back. "I'll investigate this place some more!"

"A'ight!"

I sighed and glanced off down the lane, prepared to rummage around the next aisle.

'Hopefully something a little le-'

My thoughts were cut short as an old, brittle looking Chinese man came into my field of vision. He stood there, rubbing his chin in thought, marveling me from a distance as if I was some piece of art. The feeling of being creeped out was an understatement.

He looked at me with a shit-eating grin plastered on his face, apparently he found something amusing that I didn't quite latch onto very well. The man started to chuckle, raising a what looked like an accusing finger pointed at me. His laughing grew into hysterical fits that would make the Joker proud.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?!" I questioned him, half-yelling, spittle spraying over my visor.

His laughing died down to weak chuckles. "Heh, heh... brothers it detects, this is very interesting indeed..." As soon as the words left his mouth my eyes were assaulted by a bright light emanating from the front of the store, making the man appear as some sort of angel. (Not the good type mind you.)

"OH FUUUUUUUUUUUUU-!" That sounded like Cian's voice.

"Cian!" I tried running to the front of the store, but no movement came from my limbs. The Chinese man snapped his fingers and in that moment in time, the stores shutters grinded down on the front entrance, bringing the shop to a close.

The sensation of pins and needles spread across my body like a wildfire. It felt like I was a statue, trying my best to move. This lasted for over a minute and during that time, the light compared to that of a thousand suns ceased to exist. I was sweating profusely, letting out shallow breaths of fatigue.

I looked up at the man, glaring at him down the aisle with a stare that would make Superman cower in fear, if he could see it past my visor that is. My eyes stung as sweat dripped down my face, I blinked to get the salty liquid away from my vision. As I opened up my eyes, my gaze was greeted by the face of sadistic mirth. I shuddered in fright.

He inspected me for a few seconds, looking like he was admiring the work I put into my Master Chief cosplay, before snapping his fingers.

"That will do..." That was the most sinister thing I heard in a very long time. He brought his hand up to his eye-patch, slipping it right above his eye. Seeing the eye itself made my skin crawl.

His eye was glowing a deep, navy blue, a tint of green, added to the hue. (Hey! That rhymed!) Swirling in an anti-clockwise direction, comparable to that of a vortex.

"See you later." His eye began to glow a rich cyan color, blinding my vision. I felt myself being slowly lifted into the air, an icy grip wrapped around my neck like a coil of rope.

I felt myself becoming one with the atmosphere, my atoms and molecules splitting apart. Until I could feel nothing no more.
_____
*(Location: Unknown)*

"Mark!"

"Wake up!"

My senses returned. My body whole. I could hear the rush of air fly past my being. I opened my eyes, to be met with the sight of black storm clouds. I gazed around my surroundings quickly enough to comprehend what was going on.

I was falling.

I have ever told you that I have a fear of heights?

I started to scream in terror (in a manly manner), but that was cut short as my voice sounded croaky and gruff. I started breathing heavily in fear, this was all too much to take in at once.

I fell down into the clouds, lightning whizzing past my being and thunder echoing off of my ear drums. The vapour compression fogged up my outer visor, I couldn't see a thing. This lasted for a few minutes before the cloud started to fade away a little. That was defintily one of my top ten scariest moments of all time, coming in at number two. Number one being Cian chasing me around the house with a hatchet intent on harming me for waking him up... Good times...

The earth came into view. My eyes going wider with each passing second. I started to scr-

"Chief! Use your jet pack!" Who the hell was that? Was that Cortana?!

"Jetpack?!" I panicked. But as the words sped past my lips, the aviators dream of a machine roared to life. I felt myself beginning to slow down a notch, the air rushing past me quickly faded to nothing but a mild wind. The jetpack slowed me down a great deal, saving me from inevitable death.

As I neared the earth, I could see tree's littering the landscape for miles. I glanced to my left to see a large castle in view a few miles to the west. I cast my gaze back up to the cumulonimbus a few hundred meters above my head. Only to see it was gone.

"Strange..." I thought aloud, a spark of curiousity in my new, wooden voice.

I could hear the rumbling and shifting of the jetpack, it sounded like it was about to die.

"We're going to faaaal-!" Cortana was trailing on as we fell for the second time in a matter of minutes.

The canopy was getting closer with every millisecond that passed. Air whizzed past my body, cold winds going up through the helmets filters, this carried on for a few seconds until I had crashed through the bushel of leaves, hitting branches and snapping twigs. The ground was rushing in at speeds comparable to that of a motorized scooter, slow was a good statement.

I whacked and smacked against branches of variable sizes for a good minute. My armor's shields flaring an orange glow, the bar in my helmet flashing a slight red.

I collided with the ground, an audible thud was heard along with it. I layed there, splayed on the leaf ridden earth. I let out a heavy breath before getting up groggily. My breathing was becoming sharper and quicker with each intake of oxygen.

"Are you okay?"

"Agh!" I let out a frightened gasp, before realizing that was Cortana. "...I'm good..." I was very skeptical of the fact that I was now a Sci-Fi video game character, with an A.I companion, but after the Merchant fiasco I was willing to believe anything at this moment.

I let out an exasperated sigh. "Cortana?"

"Yes?" She replied.

'Now I know she was actually Cortana... Come to think of it, I don't remember putting in an E.V.A foam chip into the back of my helmet...'

"Did you see that castle to the west?"

"I did, human construct possibly. Though I am not entirely sure... I managed do a scan whilst we were falling... scans show there are no human lifeforms within a two mile radius, though there is something close to resembling a homo-sapien within the area."

"Should we investigate the castle?" I asked, not willing to go tango with an unknown creature.

She contemplated about my idea. "It seems like our best bet." She paused for a second. "Marking a waypoint on your H.U.D."

I cast my gaze to the left, my waypoint marker showing an approximent distance of three miles. This was going to be a long walk. Especially through a dense forest, it was going to take a while.

My armor's shields flashed back to life as a yellow glow was cast on my being. The bar in my H.U.D sped back to its original blue color.

"Alright, we're good to go." Cortana said, pleased with the fact.

I chose not to reply, but instead nod my head. I raised my foot, prepared to take my first steps in an unknown world, my armored appendage landed on the ground, with the soft squish of mud and leaves following after. I did the same with my right foot, the same noises following behind.

I felt the sense of accomplishment.

'Now I know how Neil Armstrong must have felt on the moon.'

*(Third-Person P.O.V.)*

A thought suddenly landed in Luna's mind, blocking all sense of hunting the being known as Skorge.

'A pony on the moon? That is preposterous!' The thought departed...

(And we all know you'll be the first one there!)

*(Mark's P.O.V.)*

I trudged through the forest, my boots veiled in mud, leaves, and a few twigs. I clambered over logs and slided inbetween trees, the waypoint getting closer ever so slowly. The woodland was hard enough to tranverse as it was, and from what Cortana had told me, approximentely an hour had past since we had begun the trek.

I kept my eyes locked with the marker, my gaze unfaltered. I ducked under low hanging branches, and went cautious around knots of tree roots, prone to trip on them at least once in your lifetime. Happened to me a few years ago, cracked my skull on a rock. It was not pretty in the slightest.

"Chief I detect movement." Cortana said with a hint of angst in her voice.

"Which dir-"

*"BU-GOCK!"*

I turned around, in a dramatically slow manner. What I saw turned my mind into a cloud vaporized of farts and farts alone. The head of a chicken... noticed how I said 'the' head of chicken, yes? The head of a chicken with the body of a dragon, barely reaching my knee. This was crazy in and itself.

It cast an unholy gaze into my visor, like it was trying to sever my mind in half.

'How the fuck does it know where my eyes are?'

"Cortana?" I asked quietly. "Do you know what that thing is?"

"From what I've gathered, it's a cockatrice from the look of it. A creature of ancient Greek legend, turns people into stone just by looking into its eyes."

An idea had popped itself into my head after a moment of thinking. "I have an idea."

"What is it?"

"You'll see."

*(Third-Person P.O.V)*

Mark walked cautiously up to the cockatrice, gazing down at the animal. The lizard hybrid just looked at him with a bewildered expression, contemplating why its bitter glare was not working on the bipedal being.

Mark kneeled down in front of it, his arm rested on his left leg, while his right hand was splayed on the ground. Mark stared right into its eyes, the visor covering his face. The cockatrice focused its eyesight on his visor, only to see its own reflection looking back at it. The mutated chicken could only stare off in horror as it felt its feet going numb with cold and its lower half rapidly being turned to stone.

The stone travelled up its neck, the beast now knowing how its prey must have felt when being turned. The cockatrice let a tear slide down its cheek before the stone finally over took the entirety of its body, leaving only a husk of its former self.

*(Marks P.O.V)*

"That was easy." I turned back around, continuing my saunter to the castle.

"That was anti-climatic." Cortana stated.

"With me around, everything is anti-climatic." (Think about that sentence in Chiefs terms)

"I can't help but agree with you for some reason..."

I didn't reply as I was now too focused on the task at hand. The waypoint was only a mile and a half away. That was at least another hour on the clock, and it was getting darker every minute, with the sun dimming from the sky.

I walked through bramble and briars, my armor obtaining extremely small slits with it. The chittering of insects and squawks of birds were heard overhead, I was cautious of another beast, or that 'thing' Cortana mentioned a couple of hours ago, having no weapons sucks major ba-.

The forest suddenly became silent, deathily so. A faint noise could be heard in the background, but soon turned into sounds that chilled me to my very core.

Howls of pain were heard from what sounded like the roar of a lion, combined with the shredding effect of a chainsaw. It ended as soon as it started. I stood there in fear, my heart going into overdrive.

"Movement to the east!" My A.I voiced out hastily.

A yellow dot had appeared on my motion tracker, and it was coming in fast.

With my senses kicking in, I shrouded myself behind a nearby tree, not willing to go on a date with death and craziness. I had enough of that today, thank you very much.

The snapping of twigs and heavy, scratchy breathing assailed my eardrums as the creature sprinted past my location. I took a peek over the right side of the tree. Nothing was there, only paw, claw like prints were engraved in the mud, in the direction of the castle.

"Damnit." I cursed under my breath. I stayed quiet for a full five seconds before sighing out. "What was that?"

Cortana was contemplating my question. "From what I know of, it was the sapient being I mentioned earlier... It was marked as a friendly on your tracker, so it might be a possible ally."

"Will it be worth while trying to talk to it?" I was unsure of it.

"There is no harm in trying, we might be able to."

I could only nod my head in understanding, having no words to say.

I had one foot in front of the other, keeping a decent pace into the direction, of the castle and a likely ally. I gazed around my surroundings, with darkness creeping in, the forest was giving off a sinister vibe. Birds flying out of trees and animals scurrying out of bushes gave me a few decent frights. I turned on the flashlights on each side of helmet, giving off an even more ominous feeling to my surroundings. (You don't know what its like having a headlight in the dark... it's creepy as hell.)

I kept my ears on high alert, listening in on any noises that sounded out of balance. It was just as well that I had done that as I heard the flaps of wings just up ahead, big wings. I turned off my lights.

"Clearing up ahead." Cortana whispered.

I walked cautiously into the assumed clearing of woodland, hearing the affirmed beats of hooves on the grass. I activated my lights to see what I was dealing with.

My brain needed some bleach at that moment. You would too after seeing a god-damn horse with a bloody horn and a pair of wings stare at you with fear and confusion!

In fact this one looked familier, that white coat, that multicolored hair dye, that wavy mane and tail, that gem encrusted tiara.

I knew exactly who I was dealing with...
...
...
...
"Princess Molestia..." My voice trailing on under the wind.

Author's Note

This was extremely hard to write thanks to good 'ol writers block! Right now my thoughts are revolting against there blocky hybrids. Patriots assemble!

Choice

Celestia could only stare at this being in shock, anger and a hint of embarressment. It had not only insulted her openly, but had also said it in a manner of awe and fear. She felt her eye twitch. Celestia opened her mouth to correct him, assuming it was a he. It cut her off before she had got the chance.

"Wait! If your here?!" He gasped, his voice wooden and gravelly. "Your here to punish me aren't you!" He collapsed onto his knees. "Please! I have a life!" (Think of Master Chief saying those lines...)

Celestia could feel her mind snap in the sheer randomness of her situation. She could only stare at him incredulously, staying this way for a minute, not a single word escaped past her lips. Skorge was still snuggled up in the collasped tree trunk.

The green armored being snapped out of his terror driven rant. "Your not going to molest me are you?" He asked with a lace of boredome.

Celestia was taken aback by this sudden question. "What?! No!"

"Thank God!" He went up to his full height, dwarfing the Sun Princess with ease. Celestia only reaching his chest.

She opened her mouth to speak to him, only to be cut off a second time as the creature began to talk to itself. Celestia rolled her eyes.

"What do you mean that was immature?"
...
"What do you mean that's not Molestia?" The sun princess grumbled to herself when he spoke that name.
...
"Then who is it?"
...
"You don't know?"
...
"Introduce myself?! After that stunt I pulled?"
...
"Fine..."

The being walked over, gazing down at her, no emotion escaping past his helmet and visor. Celestia looked up at him, an unamused expression on her face.

"Sorry for that. Just a few bad memories you know." He cast his gaze downward, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. 'Better get into character' he thought. "Anyways, I'm Mark Sierra 117, nice to meet you, albeit the circumstances." The being known as Mark reached out halfway for a shake. Celestia eyed it for a second before relunctantly taking it.

"It is alright, Mark. I am Princess Celestia, although what thou called me was insulting, thou'st execution will be postponed for a week." Celestia let out light chuckle, a mischievous glint in her eyes. Mark stopped shaking immediately.

"Really?" He asked nervously.

"Yes." she stated.

Mark zoned out of reality.

*(A Few Days Later)*

"You can't do this!" Mark yelled at the executioner. His hands tied together with a very strong knot, due to past escapes.

"I get paid for it..." He replied, the axe looming in over my neck at a rapid pace.

"Noooo-!" His vision darkened.

*(Present)*

"Mark?" Celestia asked with concern.

"...uh..." Mark stood as still as a statue.

"Thou know'st I was only joking." She waved off a hoof of dismiss.

Mark's stature returned as soon she had said those words. "I knew that!" He pointed a finger up in the air. Celestia giggled at his antics, turning around to proceed waking Skorge up.

"Troll..." he muttered under his breath, bringing his arm back down.

"What was that?" The sun monarch had a small smirk splayed on her lips.

"Nothing!" He replied quickly.

*(Mark's P.O.V)*

What is she doing? I eyed Celestia suspiciously. Wait? Why am I suspicious? She's just going over to a collaped tree trunk...

I walked up beside her, looking between her and the trunk she was staring off into. Confusion spreading across my mind.

"What are you doing?" I asked skeptically.

Celestia looked up at me. "That is none of thou'st concerns."

I rolled my eyes. Activating my helmets lights. "I'm looking in there." I declared, pushing her out of the way. She stumbled for a moment before looking up at me with a fiery look in her eyes, her gaze boring into my visor.

"Meh..." I shrugged, unphased by her glare. I crouched down and cast my vision into the collapsed trunk, my light illuminating the inside. Did I ever tell you I have a fear of bugs? Big ones at that?

"Ahhhh! Bug!" I screamed (manly) fearfully, kicking the log into a nearby boulder ahead of it, splitting the log in half, down the middle. I looked back at Celestia, who was staring at the scene before her in shock and disbelief.

"Eh, heh, heh." I chuckled nevously. "Oops-" My half-hearted apology was interrupted by the sounds of grunts and hisses emanating from the crash course.

*(Cian's P.O.V)*

Jesus Christ! What the fuck?! I let out hisses of pain, with innuendo curses muffled under my breath.

I felt a warm liquid flow off my side, my shoulder felt like it was drizzled with molten lava. I fixed my gaze on the area of pain.

'It's reopened... fucking great...'

Using my right arm for balance, I stood up slowly, wincing slightly at the burning sensation in my shoulder. I clutched the wound, putting pressure on it, and relieving a little bit of the pain within. I looked down at my 'sleeping arrangements', the trunk split down the center.

I gripped my staff, unsheathing it from my back. I gazed onward, seeing something, or preferbly, someone I didn't want to see at this moment.

"Celestia..." I growled under my breath.

...KiLl...

I chose to ignore whatever had said that. Had I lost my mind already?

I locked my eyes with hers, my sockets leaking pent up rage and frustration. Her eyes fixed with mine, giving back my glare. Only hers held... sympathy? Regret?! What the heck was with the change of heart?!

"What do you want?" I snarled dangerlously, my staff shaking with the rhythmic beats of the chainsaw.

"To warn thou..." She cast her gaze downward. "And to apologise, for our rash actions..."

"I don't need your apology..." I hissed, trying to to ignore the pain in my shoulder. "For all I know, ye could have placed those memories with that spell!"

"We did no such thing!" Celestia looked aghast.

I began to chuckle sadistically. "Now you know how I FEEL! When such accusations were made against me!" I spat.

"I couldn't comprehend it at the time..." She looked down again.

"Maybe-!"

"Hey!" A new voice butted in. "As much as I would like to get popcorn and watch this get violent-" That voice was familier. "-but just shut the HELL up both of you! You'll attract unwanted attention."

I looked for the source of the voice. Only to see the Jolly Green Giant himself, standing next to Celestia. How the hell did I not notice?!
But... wait...

'I know that pansy-ass armor anywhere...' I slowly took a step towards him.

"...Mark?..." I asked . He froze on the spot, gazing at me.

"...Cian?..."

Celestia's expression turned into confusement at the mention of my name.

To say that I was happy was understatement. I was brimming with joy. I wasn't alone in this world at least, my brother was here. That's all I ask could for at this moment.

"Yes man. Yes." I stated, a smile forming on my gnarly lips.

Mark sprinted up to me, and... punched me in the face. He had a hard it, I'll tell you that.

I was flabbergasted. "Good to see you too..." I softly touched zone of impact.

"That punch was for scaring me, you know I have a fear of bugs." He glared at me through his helmet... before giving me a bone crushing bear hug... well... what I thought was one...

"I'm glad your safe..." He said with relief. 'Hell if you knew the shit I went through after being taken here, you would return that at once!'

It stayed this way for a few seconds. I looked down at Celestia whom was a few meters away from the two of us, staring at the spectacle with emotions varied from touched, thoughtful and confused. She had a hoof up to her chin in thought.

I hesitated, my senses screaming at me not to return the hug. I wasn't into the mushy crap because it's why I find mom crying after reading some certain books...

I kicked all other thoughts out of my cranium, and went full force in wrapping my arms around my brother, lifting him up into the air. I heard him give off shouts of disapproval, smashing his hands against my right shoulder (Thank God!) like a rage kid on a keyboard. I ignored his futile attempts of subduing me. I was simply relieved to see a face I recognize, in this case a helmet, but you know what I mean.

"I'll punch you!" Mark threatened, his fist aimed at my nose.

'Hell no!' I immediatley dropped him on his arse, leaves and sticks being pulverized under the shear weight of the Spartan.

"That works too..." He grumbled, getting back onto his feet. I looked back Celestia, her expression was that of amusement, concern and annoyance. I opened my mouth to speak but was silenced as the horse's voice reigned over mine.

"Skorge, thou can't stay near the castle." 'I'm close to the castle? That's the place I didn't want to be near in the first place.' "Luna most likely would have detected thou'st dreamscape-" 'That loud-mouthed bitch can go into dreams?! She wouldn't like to see what I dream about.' "-and proceed to hunt thou once more."

I went pale at the mention of Nighty going after me again, and not in the attraction sense. "Can't you talk to her?"

"I am planning to do that but at the moment she believes thou to be a creature of genocidal intent." She shook her sadly. "But from what I have seen now, this is obviously not the case." She smiled in relief up at me.

I smiled back... well, my version of a smile at least. A thought struck me, and my smile completely vanished.

"How do I know this isn't some attempt to restrain me, your sister could be on her way right now." I stated accusingly, getting ready for a sprint. Celestia looked at me with disbelief and annoyance.

"I would never do such a thing to-" Fate seemed to love pulling coincidences on people.

"SISTER!" I knew that voice. I knew it all too well, and it wasn't too far from our location.

I pointed to Celestia. "I'll deal with you later." I growled threateningly before turning to Mark. "Let's get out of here." I sprinted off into the forest, once again.

*(Mark's P.O.V.)*

I couldn't comprehend the information I was hearing, they hunted my brother, my big brother. 'But for what reason? Did Cian do something? ' I gazed down at the ground. My thoughts turning into a whirlpool of mixed emotions.

My thinking got the better of me as I didn't even acknowledge Cian running off into the woods. I cast my vision to Celestia, who had an extremely perplexed expression on her face, staring off into the direction Cian went off to. I wanted to get away with Cian but the rational part of my brain was holding me back. One half of me wanted to get on these ponies good sides and persuade them not to hunt Cian, while the other half wanted me to go off with my brother. I couldn't decide, all I know is that it would be life changing.

Either way.

Author's Note

Readers! I'm granting you a choice... which side will Mark go off with?
I will go with majority vote.

Good Luck!

Questioning the Grub

I gazed down and shook my head, my hands clenched into fists.

'I can't abandon Cian... Not in his time of need.'

I glanced over to Celestia, who had a saddened look on her face.

"Celestia." She looked over at me. "We'll meet again." She seemed to perk up a bit a this. "But right now... My brother needs me."

The Sun Monarch stared up into my visor, a caring smile shining through that somber expression. "Doth what thou think is right."

I nodded, and proceeded to walk into the direction of which my brother had gone, noticable by the prints he had left in the mud. I activated my helmets lights as soon as I felt that I was a good enough distance from the clearing. I glanced to bottom left corner of my hud, but nothing was appearing on my motion tracker. I have feeling I'll to use Cortana for great deal of situations in the future... Curse me and my lazy ass...

"Cortana?" I asked.

"Chief."

"Do you have readings on my brother?"

"Mhmm, his moving quite quickly through a forest with foilage as dense as this... and... he's stopped moving, estimated 200 meters or so, dead ahead."

"Thanks..."

I turned my walk into a light jog, moving quickly through the muddy terrain. Shadows danced in my vision as my flashlights were cast over the foilage in front of me. Small, nocturnal animals scurried underneath my feet, some being turned into pulps by the sheer weight of my armor, letting off tiny squeaks before they were turned to mince meat. I found it oddly amusing.

I continued walking for a few minutes. The moon was halfway through the sky, the light emanating off of it shining down through the forest's canopy. I looked down to watch my own feet going in rhythm with each step forward, my movements going automatic as I was soon lost in thought.

'What has Cian done to make these ponies hostile towards him? Why was Celestia apologising? And who is that pony that Cian seemed to pale at? He must have done something bad.... Why is Ghengis Khan -?

"Mark..." Cortana broke me out of my train of thought. "We're here."

I chose to stay silent as I looked up from the ground, and stared up at Cian, whos back was turned to me. He was giving off a bad vibe standing still the way he was.

"Cian?.." I asked hesitantly, cautiously going over to him.

He turned around slowly, looking down at me with those extremely beady eyes. "Mark?" He said quickly. "Thank God! I was starting to think you weren't coming at all."

"I'm here now." I replied. "You don't break the Bro code. You were always there for me, I was always there for you, I'll be damned if I break it now." I put my arm out for a spud.

"Damn straight!" He returned the gesture, his very gravelly voice was piercing my ears, even with the helmet on.

I let out a few chuckles. He's a good guy... most of the time.... Right now I needed to ask a few questions concerning todays events.

"Cian, what happened today? Why was Whitey trying to apologiz-?"

"Save it until morning." He cut me off. "For now, we need to get as far away from the castle as possible and a safe place to rest up."

I considered it, seeing as it was the safest option, I gazed all over my surroundings until I saw the silohouette of a lone mountain, north of the castle. "How about we set up a temporary camp at that mountain, past the castle?" I pointed out, looking in it's general direction.

Cian followed my gaze, and thought about this for a moment. Looking between the castle and the mountain. "Hmmm... It's a good idea but there is no way were getting there without rest. C'mon we'll head east of here and find a place to sleep." I nodded in agreement.

Cian turned eastward, using the full moon to help guide him in the right direction. I followed behind him.

*(Earlier)*

"Doth what thou think is right." Celestia replied thoughtfully.

Mark agreed in silence, nodding his head. He turned to walk off in Skorge's direction. Celestia sighed sadly, her mind lost in thought.

'He's fun to have around. I still need to talk to Skorge or ( or has Mark had said) Cian... that's if he doesn't try to kill me first...' She thought grimly.

Celestia's perked her ears up to hear the flapping of wings behind her. She turned to see Luna landing on the ground. As soon as she had touched down, Luna stormed up to her.

"There ye art! I've been looking for thou all over the castle!" She said angrily. "Then I detected thy's magical signature here! Why were thou out here?"

Celestia sighed. It wasn't in her nature to lie, but Luna would throw a tantrum if she knew she was talking to Skorge. "I was simply out for a stroll. To relax my mind."

Luna stared at her questioningly. "Why were thou in the Everfree forest? Thou'st knows it is dangerous, especially during the night."

"I know it is dangerous, sister." She replied. "I wanted to be alone and take my mind off of things."

"What sort of things?" Luna looked below Celestia's eyes to see bags forming. "Tia, thou look exasperated! Luna asked, her tone one of concern.

"I am fine Lulu."

"No thou are not!" Luna was having none of it.

Celestia just wanted this conversation to end, and what better way to end it than a coincedental yawn.

Celestia yawned. "Alright I'll go back to bed. I hast to raise the sun in the morning anyways." Luna let out an inaudible growl at the mention of the sun.

"Very well. We shall accompany thou back to the castle!" Luna forced a smile. "Thou can tell us what is troubling thou in the morning."

'Damn it.' Celestia thought. She would have to tell Luna the truth during breakfast.

*(Third-Person: Mark and Cian)*

"How much further?..." Mark whined, clearly tired of walking as he was drooping himsefl along the woodland.

"Another two minutes should be enough." Cian said with annoyance. Mark was treading on some fairly thin ice now due to his constant complaining. Which started twenty minutes ago. The trek felt longer due to it.

"Uggghh...!" Mark disgruntled.

Cian massaged his temples, trying his best to hold back a snarky remark. He chose just to sigh inwardly.

...

The silence was killing Mark. He was not used to being quiet for so long, he HAD to speak. Voice his complaints. Anything! But what better to do than have a presumed mental, conversation with Cortana.

*(Mark's P.O.V.)*

"Cortana?" I heard Cian sigh in defeat.

"Yes?"

"You bored?"

"Hard to say I'm not." Time to ask her the question of a lifetime! "Why?"

"I have a question."

"Shoot."

"What is the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow?" I asked with as much innocence I could muster.

"Hmmm... hard to say." I sure as hell hope I confused her! "Though this is what I could gather." Goddamnit...
"Although a definitive answer would of course require further measurements, published species-wide averages of wing length and body mass, initial Strouhal estimates based on those averages and cross-species comparisons, the Lund wind tunnel study of birds flying at a range of speeds, and revised Strouhal numbers based on that study all lead me to estimate that the average cruising airspeed velocity of an unladen European Swallow is roughly 11 meters per second, or 24 miles an hour. An African swallow is difficult to answer, so I won't go into further detail."

She noticed my extremely bemused expression. "Chief? You alright?"

My eye twitched. "...Yeah... just dandy..." Your mind would go haywire and commence immediate evac too if you absorbed science-y shit like that!

Third Person P.O.V.

Cian had heard Mark's baffled reply in his conversation with Cortana. "You had to ask her that question, didn't you?"

Mark stayed silent for a moment and slowed his walk down. "....Yeah... "

"And she confuzzled you." Cian concluded, slapping his hand together.

Mark put his hand under the chin area of his helmet in thought. "I think you would too." He formulated accusingly.

"I don't think I would. I would ask her that." Cian stated. Mark stayed silent, walking up alongside his brother.

"Ask her now then." Cian stumbled, he could feel the smugness emanating off of him.

The Locust General stared at the Jolly Green Midgit for a moment before regaining his composure. "Alright! I will!" Cian said in a challenging manner.

"Cortana?" Mark asked.
...
"Can you speak outside of my helmet?"
...
"Okay."

Cian asked. "So, can she-?"

"Hello Cian." A voice chirped up.

Cian flinched in fright at the sudden pop up, but quickly recomposed himself. "Hello..." He trailed on.

...

"You wanted to ask me something?" Cortana said.

Cian's mind exploded into an industrial age of thought process. "...Oh yeah." He paused. "What is the air speed velocity of unladen swallow?"

*(One Explanation Later)*

"I think this should be a good enough place to rest." Mark formulated, letting go of a three toed appendage out of his grasp. "Don't you think so Skorgy?" He asked Cian, who was currently on the ground twitching.

"..." Mark stared blankly at the twitching Locust. "Cortana, I think you may have broken him."

"I think so too..." She answered.

"... You..." Cian wheezed, pointing at his fellow spartan.. "...Just turned... my... name... into... a... sex joke...." 'Skorgy' slowly closed his eyes and fell into a temporary slumber.

"Did I?" Mark asked dumbly.

"According to him you did." Cortana answered.

Mark stared down at his brother, his mind filling with concern. "Is Cian going to be alright?"

"He's breathing normally, so I would say so."

"That's good..." Mark said with relief.

The duo rested in a small clearing, it was relatively dry with a few stones and pepples scattered around. Ferns and vines surrounded the patch of woodland, making it difficult to know what they were going to be stepping on when travelling in the morning. The foilage around it also made a nice to home to the infamous bloodsuckers of Ireland. Midges.

Mark had leaned up against the base of a nearby tree, his right leg was arched up as his hand rested upon it, while the opposite leg was splayed down on the ground. He was having trouble sleeping, considering todays events. They were in a new world, Cian was being hunted for reasons unknown to him, and he was having trouble accepting all of this. Deep inside, Mark was hoping he was hallucinating, sniffing some Marujuana a guy gave you for free on the street can only do so much.

'Perhaps it was sugar...' He mused in thought. 'And why do these damn midges perch on my visor!' Mark's visor was basked in the blood and various limbs of the little flies, black smudges dragged along his visor, giving it a dark tinge. It was also getting harder and harder for him to look out of it.

"This is going to be a long night..." He whispered under his breath.

*(The Next Morning)*

The sun rose into the sky, giving the forest a peaceful vibe. A lone Swallow perched on a nearby rock, squawking like it just ate every sugary confection it could lay its beak on, it lay there ruffling its feathers, it's eyes scanning the enviroment.

However, it was unaware to a shadow slowly looming over it. The bird looked up, and let out a confused squeak...
...
...
Before it was brutally squashed by a freakishly pale green hand, turning the once obnoxious and loud Swallow ,into a now, very much dead, red smear on the rock.

"...Fucking alarm clocks..." Skorge muttered annoyingly, shifting positions to get comfortable on the cold ground, trying to at least get a few more minutes of sleep.

"Dude..." Mark dead-panned, he didn't have a wink of sleep during the night. Not one.

Cian was getting irritated. "...What." He whispered tiredly.

"You do realize you crushed a bird, right?" Mark said, pointing at the new shade of red splattered on the rock.

At this, Cian's eyes snapped open. He got up quickly, looking at his hand to see feathers and red goop plastered on it. Cian turned to look at his 'artwork', feeling nauseous at the sight. Guts were smeared on the rock, the birds head was unrecognizable, and a huge crack was splayed on the stone. Cian stared at the remains in shock before sighing aloud, he lied down on the ground once again and looked up into the sky.

"...I thought I was having some sick form of a lucid dream..." Cian muttered, sadness creeping into his voice. Mark could sympathize with him.

"Hell... I thought I was having marajuana hallucinations..." He said. "... It would have worn off by now... so us, dreaming, is apparently not the case."

Cian sat up, and leaned up against a nearby tree. He stared at Mark with a dead-pann expression on his face. "You sniffed sugar off of a pop tart... and yet, you thought it was marujuana?" He asked skeptically.

"Hey... you can never be sure what they sell you on the streets in Colorado!" He defended himself, pointing a finger up in the air. "They don't sell pop tarts back home in Kildare!"

Cian's eye twitched in annoyance and groaned, head-banging the tree. Leaving an identation of his helmet within. "First! Why would they put marujuana on-!" He stopped mid-sentence. "Actually, nevermind about that. What we need to focus on now is food and how you're going to cook it."

Mark stood up, raising his hands in a defensive manner. "Woah, woah... woah! What do you mean I'm gonna cook it?"

Cian bared his teeth, all of which were basically fangs. "See my teeth." Mark nodded. Cian clicked his tongue. "No molars." He said knowingly.

"No molars." Mark repeated.

"None."

"So your a carnivore then?" Mark asked slowly.

"I am. Get used to me eating raw meals, cause you'll see it a lot." Cian turned to what remeained of the bird.His stomach growled. "Better not let this go to waste." Mark stared at him abject horror. The Spartan II went to stop him, but was cut off as Skorge began his 'meal'. Mark wanted throw up, so very badly. But who's going to clean up those vomit stains from the inside of his helmet?

Mark backed away slowly, incoherent thoughts racing through his mind. 'How did Cian get brought down to this level of savagery?!'
He stumbled upon his own feet, falling on his backside, hitting his head off a branch. 'Good thing I have a helmet...'

Cian turned around quickly, obviously noticing the sound of metal meeting the ground. Thin trickles of blood were lined across lips, and tiny pieces of flesh and feathers were stuck between his teeth. "Mark, you alright?" Cian walked over to him quickly, reaching a hand out to help his brother back up.

Mark flinched at the movement, hestitantly grasping Cian's hand. The Locust General proceeded to lift the Spartan up onto his feet. Mark dusted himself off.

"Mark?" Cian asked. "You okay brotha?"

"He's fine..." Cortana answered for him. "...Just a bit shocked, we both were."

Mark gagged a little. "Why... " He breathed in quick flows of air, trying to calm down. "...are you shocked... 'Tana?" Mark asked the A.I.

"I was shocked because I haven't seen anything like that in front of us since what the Brutes did to those marines..." She replied, sad at the thought.

'The Brutes?' Mark thought... Just before he let out a scream of absolute agony. His mind felt like it was on fire and his eyes felt like they were dripping from their sockets. It was the most pain he had suffered in his life, Mark clutched his head and fell to his knees.
Cian quickly kneeled down to try and get Mark to stop screaming, it was futile.

Mark collapsed to his side, writhing in pain. "Mark!... Mark!" Cian shouted. "Stay with me brother!"

Mark's brain was being flooded with memory after memory. The Halo's, the Covenant, the Flood. Everything the Master Chief had gone through, in one fell swoop.

He screams of pain began to reduce to mere groans and grunts, he was breathing haphazardly.

"Mark!" Cian and Cortana shouted in unison. "Are going to be alright man?" Cian asked, grabbing Mark under the arms and lifted him back up.

The Spartan took a few seconds to recompose himself. "Yeah... I'll be alright..." He answered quietly, a slight quiver in his voice.

"No. I don't think your going to be alright, judging from the sound of your voice." Cian said sternly, his new voice making come out as a harsh whisper. "You should lay down and rest, for a few hours." Mark wanted to object, but Cian raised a hand to cut him off. "Don't object, It's for your own good."

"But-!" Mark's voice was still quivering a bit.

"Chief." Cortana said softly. "He's right." Mark let out a sigh of frustration, and walked over to the tree he was resting alongside the night before.

"Mark..." The spartan looked up at him from his sitting position. "I'll try get some food for you, and start a fir-" Marl shook his head.

"No need." He answered firmly. "I lost my appetite." He nodded towards to the feathery remains of the bird carcass.

Cian looked down. "Sorry about that." Mark stayed silent.

*(Cian's P.O.V.)*

'This definitely isn't Mark. He's never had this attitude with me before, even when he was mad at me in the past.'

"Mark?" I asked him, he didn't look up. "What happened when you started screaming?"

He didn't answer for a few seconds. I was starting to look around nervously, trying to figure out what to say. "Mark, what's-?"

"Memories..." He left it blunt.

'Memories?... Oh shit...' "What happened during those mem-?" He cut me off.

"I think I should be the one asking you the questions Cian." He stated firmly. "What happened with Celestia?" That question came out as a near shout.

I sighed softly, and sat down, opposite him. "When I was taken here, I was confronted by some guards..."

"Proceed."

"And I may have beaten the crap out of every single one." Mark jerked his head towards my direction and looked at me straight in the eyes.

"You attacked them?!" He shouted in frustration.

"Let me finish!" I snapped at him.

Mark let out a frustrated growl, a backed off. A sign for me to continue. "The sisters came along, we chatted for a good minute. Before Celly says, and I quote." I lifted both my hands into the air and made quotation symbols with my fingers. " 'We will check thy memories of past events to see if thou can be trusted.' She checked my memories, nothing of my life came up. Only..." I trailed on

"Yes?"

"Only Skorge's memories appeared..." I sighed sadly.

. "How did they react...?" That came out as a whisper.

"They were varied... to say the least... Celestia ended up feeling pity for me, that came out of nowhere. I don't know if she detected my real memories or not... it's confusing."

"And the other one?"

"She was... she was full blown furious. Actually scratch that, furious is an understatement. An extreme understatement. She tried to chase me down before I could 'harm their subjects'." I then whispered. "Fucking loud bitch..."

"What did Celestia's sister look like...?"

"Why do you want to know?" I asked in confusion. He didn't answer. I sighed. "Alright then, she was dark blue with a midnight mane and a moon splotch on her ass."

Mark froze. He sighed and shook his head. "Fucking Woona..."

Author's Note

Next chapter is gonna be released next week!
Lets see what happened at Celestia and Luna's little talk.

Paradoxial

"What?" I asked, incredulous at the fact that he called Luna, 'Woona'

"Isn't that what she's called?" Mark deadpanned, like he was trying to hide something from me.

"Uh...no. It's Luna. Princess Luna." I stated. A devious thought graced itself in my mind's eye. "Are you a brony, Mark?..." I trailed on, smiling, prepared to use this against him in the future. If I could see within his helmet, I bet his current emotion was shock.

"What?! N-no!" He shouted in defiance. I sighed happily. 'Denial, the first sign.'

"Then had do you kn-" Mark got up in a flash. I could feel his eyes pentrating that visor of his and giving me 'Luigi's death glare'.

"I need to be alone for a while." He took a chip out of the back of his helmet. "Take Cortana, I'll be back shortly." Mark proceeded to throw me the chip of which his A.I. Cortana was trapped within. I caught it with lightning speed, cupping my hands over it. Mark walked further into the forest.

"What's got his jimmies rustled?" I mumbled softly to myself, exposing the chip I had in my hand.

"He's confused." I screamed in fright, shuffling backwards. Cortana had to pop out at the most unexpected of times didn't she?! I quickly regained my composure.

"What do you mean?" I asked heatedly, mad at the fact Cortana had to scare the living daylights out of me.

"He's going through different phases of two lives." She looked up at me, a somber expression on her face.

"Explain."

Cortana sighed. "He's going through what is called 'Paradoxial Rift', Mark is trying to cope with his sudden surge of John's memories. The Merchant wants him to go crazy. Mark won't be able to control all this pressure that has been placed on his mind. I might be able to re-route those memories into my database. Only then will he be safe."

"What about me?" The A.I looked up at me expectantly. "I have the memories of Skorge and I'm getting along fine."

"How did you recieve them?"

I huffed out some air. "That Princess 'Celestia' checked my memories to see if I could be 'trusted'." I mimicked Celestia's voice, only to fail horribly.

"She went through them?" I nodded. "That explains it then." Cortana concluded.

"It does." I was surprised to hear it.

"Yes. There was the two of you together going through them, you both got half of each, that way your mind will be able to handle the sudden appearance of these memories."

I nodded slowly, pouting out my lower lip. "That's good to hear. Hard to say though... she actually did me a favor." A curious expression was plastered on her face.

"Why's that?"

"Because I would have become a rampaging beast." We both chuckled at the thought. "Seriously though." My expression turned dead serious. "I would have."

Silence reigned over the duo once more.

Author's Note

Holy shit. I am VERY sorry for the extremely short chapter and very long wait. I'm not allowed to do my writing until Christmas, my parents want me to study for the exams.
Christ!