Tales of the Forgotten: Eternity

August 13th, 2027 5:00 A.M.

Serenity Hill, Equestria

The three days of waiting had come and passed and yet sleep had never occurred to me as I watched the dark clouds at the edge of the world rage on in a never ending storm. Even against the night sky you could see the omen they sought to bring to these peaceful lands and the creatures it sought to consume in a rage brought upon by its ruler, Grimoire Dusk. Although the calm world of the green grassland around me was peaceful it also presented itself to me with uncertainty of what was to come. Today I will meet people who have likely heard my story as it was an oddity in a world without magic and yet these days I would wave it off as nothing but that, magic.

My biggest concern was that those who were coming weren’t your average human, they were the ones who answered to a higher calling for the love of their country, to defend its people and their rights to live free. What would they think of a bounty hunter, someone who took the lives of creatures without second thought because it was their way of living. Would they look down on me for doing so? Or would they simply not care?

Either way, I need them to trust me and what I tell them or we may lose some great allies in this coming war. The other uncertainty was the fourteen year old child that would be accompanying their arrival, she is a child and nothing more. Will she be ready to do what she needs to do to survive or will she retract into herself and try to push us away. If she does agree to fight then that is another head we will have to worry about, not only because she will be a comrade but because as a child she is inexperienced and being in the midst of a war. Being on the frontlines with soldiers that are ready to die...I don’t know how she will react and what seeing all the death around her will do to her mind.

All I know for certain is that when this war does come to an end, or if it does, that these newcomers will either do as I did and leave to find the truth, or believe the truth as it is told to them when they arrive. Whether they will like the truth or not, they deserve the right to know so they don’t waste years trying to find a truth already given to them.

I heard the beating of wings off in the distance and recognized who was coming instantly but I didn’t budge, not caring about formalities with the doubts present in my mind. I laid my back on the ground and stared up at the starry sky that was starting to be grazed by the early morning sun's rays. The stars started fading one by one as the sun rose higher and higher into the sky until they were all gone and the moon had faded from view. Not soon after did several hooves and a pair of feet hit the ground behind me, I rolled my head back and saw the four princesses standing tall behind me but something threw me off as I stared at them. Their torcs seemed...different.

Each torc was more intricate than they had been since I had last saw them and their gemstones seemed to give off a light glow, although it raised questions in me I decided it would be best to not ask as I would likely not understand. “Robert, give me your ring.” Faelan ordered with a flat tone as I looked to her now wondering why she was ordering me to. Her face was stern and her body language showed she meant business. I didn’t question her as I took it out of my hair and tossed it to her, leaving my hair flowing limp onto the ground around me creating a puddle of golden around my head. Faelan turned and left as soon as I did so, flying off at a speed I’ve never seen her fly at before.

“Good morning princesses, why are you here?” I was to the point with them as Celestia stepped over me and leaned her head in close to mine, touching her horn to my forehead. A shock went through my body as her magic circulated through me. “And that was for?”

“Good morning Robert, we are here to meet the new humans. And that was a restoration spell, Faelan told us that you had stayed out here all three days and nights, waiting and never once sleeping. You hardly ate anything as well from what it sounds like.” She informed me as I smiled and looked back to the now crystal clear blue sky above us.

“She’d be right in all of those aspects, thank you for that. But I don’t suppose she told you what really ails me Princesses, but I can almost guarantee it is something you feel every time you have a diplomatic mission in another country, am I correct?”

“Are you talking about the uncertainty if the species will see you as equal or even listen to your words before dismissing as nothing but the equivalent of a foal?” Luna interjected.

“Not exactly but yes it is part of my worry Princess, the real worry is whether or not they will aid us in the coming war. The worry about the child being on the frontlines with us, she will be more prone to becoming mentally unstable because no matter who you are death will affect you. I, as a bounty hunter, know that very well.” I heard the two youngest alicorns gasp.

“A b-bounty hunter?!” Twilight exclaimed, “Y-you mean you take others l-”

“Don’t finish that sentence Princess. Whether you like it or not, whether you believe it or not, it won’t change that truth. Bounty hunters aren’t only there to take the lives of others, they also help others out and take on even small odd jobs.” I informed her.

She took a hesitant step forward, “So y-you haven’t taken anyponies life?” She asked with a hint of hope, I closed my eyes and my brow furrowed in displeasure. She got her answer, “B-but...you’re such a...how...how could you?” I could hear her on the verge of tears, I looked up at Celestia who was already at Twilight to comfort her. Luna looked at me not with shame or hatred, but with one of understanding.

“I’m sorry Twilight, but if you want to know the horrible truth, I will tell it to you. Princess Luna and Princess Celestia know that truth as well. In due time, you will as well both you and Princess Cadence. Whether you want to or not, bounty hunters are necessary in this world in fact I’m surprised that you don’t know it but there is a bounty board in Ponyville.”

“What's worse Twilight, I’m willing to kill for the ones I love and care for including you. Not just in your name as a princess but in your name as my extended family. In this coming war, many creatures blood will be on my hands, and many of your subjects hooves, claws, hands, or whatever they may have to defend their country and you.” I punctuated the last part to make the point clear as I stood up and glared at her, she looked at me in shock and on the verge of tears and Princess Cadence wasn’t faring too well either.

“That’s enough Robert.” Luna stated just loud enough for me to hear as she stepped in closer to me and hugged me with a wing. At first I didn’t understand but then I felt my tears starting to fall down my cheeks as I realized why I was getting so angry, it wasn’t because of her ignorance to that fact but because I didn’t want to lose her, or anyone else for that matter. In war I knew that it was highly possible that I could lose them, or any of the ones I loved and cared for. This wasn’t some bounty I would be taking on where it was me and my target, it was a war, a war against a creature that destroyed the civilization that came before.

We stood quietly for a while as we regained our composure, all of us except for Twilight was able to as she tried to come to terms with the new reality presented to her. Cadence excused herself and walked with Twilight before teleporting to only who knows where. “I’m sorry.” I said solemnly. “I didn’t mean to shock her like that.”

“Robert, it's okay because it is true, she would have had to learn the truth eventually and it was this way or the hard way. She will come around from its shock. We all do.” Celestia pointed out. “But I do have a question, or several if you’re willing Robert.”

I bowed slightly to Celestia recognizing her title out of respect, “Whatever questions you have Princess, I will answer fully and to the best of my ability.”

She raised an eyebrow at this, “What’s with the formality all of a sudden?”

“This wasn’t originally supposed to be informal, you are introducing new humans into your world and more importantly into your country Princess. What more gave it away was that you’re not wearing your normal torcs, these ones are more regal in appearance and they seem to carry magic properties. I can only take it as something formal, so treating it as such is my duty, despite what just occurred princess.” I explained as she smiled and nodded in agreement.

“You catch on quick Robert, but these torcs aren’t just for more formal occasions they’re used as a means of defense.”

“If it’s used as a means of defense then I won’t ask because I know I won’t understand. Never have and never will understand magic, let alone the fact I don’t have the brainpower it would take to control it. So let's move on from that Princess.”

“Agreed. As a bounty hunter you said you’ve taken the lives of other creatures, correct?” I nodded to her assumption. “And with each bounty did you receive the reward promised or more?” I nodded again. “Then that brings me to my final question, how many have you killed that are sentient and non-sentient?”

Her question struck deep as I looked at her with a calm visage thinking about the blood on my hands, “I’ve killed at least one sentient creature of each species. Only one of them would have been an equestrian citizen, her name was Cloudwalker it was my third bounty in Lybastor of Mirador. She was a traveling merchant who had been scamming minotaurs out of their money, the last one she sold a faulty product to had enough but didn’t want the blood on his hands especially that of a citizen of a peaceful kingdom. When I confronted her she attacked me so it made it easier to take her life, and yet I felt nothing but shame when I stood over her lifeless corpse. Knowing that the ponies of Equestria are peaceful and most wouldn’t think of harming another species, more so the fact that you all, the princesses, took me in after my loss. I took the bounty despite knowing it would bring me shame because I knew it would help the citizens of Mirador from getting scammed out of their hard earned money.”

“Before you even ask Princess, I would do it again in a heartbeat. Every creature's blood that are on my hands, every single drop, I would kill them again if it meant the same outcomes for the towns and villages that it helped. I will not give an exact amount, out of respect for the dead as one day I will be joining them either at the hands of old age or the cold grasp of death itself.” The warm air that had once been flowing over Serenity Hill had stopped and been replaced with one of anticipation, waiting for a response from the princess of this country.

She walked passed me and looked at the dark clouds as she thought of a response to this news before she turned back to me with a stern look on her face. “Then as a bounty hunter, I give you a new Bounty and from here out Robert I am your client until this bounty is complete.” I crossed my arms and scowled, already not liking what she was saying.

“I don’t like that Princess, you don’t strike me as one to hire this type of service. Let alone the service of someone who has already killed one of your subjects.”

She shook her head, “This way its easier to explain why you’re on the frontlines to my subjects, and perhaps a way to ease my mind that you are as well. Besides you aren’t the first bounty hunter I’ve hired as a mercenary and you will not be the last. I guarantee you already know who your target is, don’t you?” her words were sweet as honey and yet her deadly gaze betrayed her tone.

I nodded and gave a smirk, “I’ll have his head on a platter for you to display to the world but I won’t be able to do it alone and a team of nine aren’t going to cut it. I’ll need supplies and good soldiers that will follow my word to the point and without question.” Princess Luna stepped in.

“I shall lend you a squad of my best if I can ask a favor of you.” She suddenly became deathly serious, “You had better bring yourself back to us alive, if you die I will never forgive you.” she stomped her hoof as she was now mere inches away from my face. I knelt down and held my hand over my heart.

“I swear my soul and my blood to the devil who counts my days in this world.” I slightly unsheathed my sword and cut my hand on it, using the blood to draw a star on my clothes over my heart. Celestia flinched at the sight and Luna looked at me in shock. They were about to speak again when the star started to glow and I could feel a shock going through my body. The star had set itself on fire and burned into my skin and left a pure black mark where it was, it was a spell that any creature could perform even without magic because it wasn’t really magic. It was a pact, something akin to a blood oath.

I felt a hoof strike my head as luna looked at me with tears starting to well up in her eyes while I smiled at her and stood up rubbing my head. “I suppose you know what this is then Princess.”

“I DO! HOW COULD YOU USE THAT!?” She screamed at me fighting back her tears.

“Luna…” I started, “ this isn’t my first time using this oath. I have used this oath three times a year in the past six years because others doubted my word and if I find the cause worthy enough or I want them to trust my word I use this. Undoubtedly you know the strengths and the weaknesses that come with this.” I pointed out.

“THAT'S BECAUSE MY GUARD USES IT!” She was starting to cry now, “They use it to grow stronger, to officially show their loyalty to me.” she looked away in shame and sat down continuing to cry. “And if they go back on their loyalty or it falters for a moment…” she started sobbing as I hugged her close.

“Luna…” I couldn’t think of what to say so I just said what was on my mind. “ no matter what happens, my oath has never failed me in the past and it will not fail me now. The reason I’ve been able to grow as strong as I am now, past the normal limits of a human is because of this. ‘To give one's life in the service of others out of love is the greatest service of all.’ I live by this Luna, it is why I am a Bounty Hunter. I put my life and my soul on the line because I want to give my daughter a good life, to improve the lives of those around me. This oath doesn’t just affect me but the one I promised it to. It is called the oath of the saint, yet how one invokes it and to whom they swear themselves to is different.”

“You are one of my closest friends and that will never change, besides if you think about it Luna if I’m already dead this oath is redundant. The agreement of the oath is that if I die, I will have gone back on my word to you that I would come back to all of you alive after every mission. There are loopholes to this oath I know that others don’t because each time it is invoked, I have to redo it.”

“From my knowledge the oath is usually made out of ink or a paste, resulting in a weaker bond making the effects drastically weaker than when using your own blood. The upside to using ink or paste is that when the oath is fulfilled, is that the effects gradually increase over time. Using blood the effects increase greatly with each one fulfilled but once it is complete the effects fade until the next oath is created. So let me use my power in the name of not only Equestria but the entirety of Equus, let me use the strength I’ve gathered to defend those I love and those that I call friends. I lost so much those thirteen years ago Luna, I can’t defend any of them back on earth from here so let me defend the ones I can.”

“You’re afraid of losing someone who knows loss like you do because I’m the only one who can relate to you in this world right now. A thousand years ago you were banished to the moon and lived in exile, the loneliness and anger you felt towards yourself for not being loved by the ones you thought should love your night as they did your sisters day. A thousand years later you are home and all the ponies in Equestria and the creatures around the world love your night and see the beauty in it now. You are no longer alone and thirteen years ago I appeared here, at first you did not like me and didn’t care for me at all. When you came into that dream, my first one of many you saw what no one else can or ever will see, you saw my family and you saw my friends from my world. You heard something that came from my heart, you heard the final words I left to my family Luna and how much I cared for them. You saw how broken it left me, all of you did.”

“At my lowest point you were able to listen to me without judging because you knew exactly how I felt and you knew why I was so broken at that point in my life. I don’t ever want that to happen again Luna, that’s why I can do this oath without a second thought because those words I left apply now to my new family, to all of you. So stop your tears Luna.” I lifted her face so I could look in her eyes, they were red from crying but she had let it die down to sniffling.

I gave her another tight hug as I felt the hair all over my body stand on edge. “You might want to step back Princess.” I warned as she looked up behind me. Her eyes went wide and slowly stepped away from me, I stood straight up and half turned to face the source of the disturbance. Above us a bright blue orb had appeared and at the center of it was a pitch black hole but this one was expanding and fast. It started off at the size of a baseball but within a minute it had grown to ten times its original size and yet it was still growing. Me and the princesses had all retreated to the bottom of the hill as the sphere started to engulf the ground at the top.

The orb was finally at its full size and casting out flames from it what made it more odd was that debris from where it may have been tethered to earth was coming through. The area around the hill had started to become littered with pieces of broken buildings, one thing in particular made me flinch as I got down on my stomach, motioning the princesses to do the same. The sound of bullets being fired range out through the air and bullets hit the ground around the hill, “GET BEHIND ME!” I heard a voice yell. We laid there on the ground for a minute, waiting to see if anything else would be shot out of the orb but nothing came.

We stood up cautiously and I drew my sword approaching the orb and once I got close a large crack echoed through the air as a shock wave threw me down the hill. Celestia and Luna caught themselves more gracefully as the snapped their wings out, holding against the force while I toppled head over heels until I was finally able to stop myself and anchor myself to the ground using my sword. The shock waves kept on coming one after the other making it impossible for us to hear each other but I could tell the two sisters were trying to talk, if you could call it that, to each other.

The blue orb turned yellow and the shock waves stopped and were replaced by the sounds of a bustling cityscape. The sounds of horns going off and the sounds of people walking to and fro speaking to each other, this time though we could see into the other side. My heart skipped a beat as I saw the portal was in the middle of an alley and there was a teenager standing in front of it, a girl with long black hair and her clothes were smeared with all kinds of filth. The left sleeve was torn off completely and her right sleeve was rolled up to her elbow, but one thing that attracted my attention the most was her eyes they were abnormal even with the yellow hue given to them by the portal they seemed to be golden.

There were three larger people behind her that were staring at her hungrily. “Well well well, looks like she’s a keeper!” I heard one of them say as they pulled out a knife and grabbed her. I ripped my sword out of the ground and charged past Celestia and Luna as they were about to jump to her defense but I got to the orb first as my anger surged. Without thinking I jumped through and appeared on the other side seamlessly. They were taken by surprise but didn’t move fast enough as I brought my sword down on the arm holding her, I heard the bone crack under the blow as I ripped through his arm. I felt his blood splatter onto my legs as I brought my sword up again in a swipe and cut his head in half. The two other males stared in horror as they watched their friend fall to the ground in a bloody mass, they looked at each other before making eye contact with me.

Blood lust, that’s what my eyes conveyed as I zoned in on them before speaking, “Begone you bloody assholes, lest you fall to my sword as well.” my words scorching their minds as they turned tail screaming as they ran away. I calmed down before looking at the young teenage girl, she looked at the body below us in hatred. I put a hand on her shoulder and smiled at her, “Will you come?” I asked calmly as I gestured to the orb behind her. She didn’t say anything as she looked up at me, her eyes were a beautiful golden color that radiated like the sun. She nodded.

I grabbed her hand and ran back through to the other side, this time feeling the horrible shock go through my body as the adrenaline faded. I landed on the other side on my back but the girl fainted as she passed through and rolled slightly down the hill but was stopped by some of the debris from the previous portal. I got to my feet slowly as we all watched the portals separate into two separate orbs that proceeded to shrink to the size of baseballs before slamming into one another sending one last powerful shockwave out this time it knocked both the princesses into the air but I had already anchored myself so it was my turn to laugh at them.

When the residual magic finally faded and the hairs on my body fell flat, I stood up and replaced my sword into its scabbard before walking up to where Celestia and Luna were. “You just killed one of your own Robert. Why?” I heard Celestia ask sternly.

“That wasn’t one of my own Princess, those three were attempting to use that girl for other than pleasant purposes. You know it happens to mares in your cities and towns princess, humanity is just the same.” I looked back at her with a disappointed look while she looked away in shame before standing. “You may try to turn a blind eye princess, but even you can’t run from the truth.”

I motioned for them to follow me up the hill, picking up the young teenage girl on the way up trying not to what little contents I had in my stomach. She smelled as if she had just gone for a swim in the local sewer. Despite the smell, I still carried her over my shoulder. The things I do for others, oi. As we climbed I looked around at the destruction the two orbs had caused to Serenity Hill, the green grass was now covered with a thin cover of dust and ash. A smell I distinctly recognized as burning flesh and hair reached me, causing me to gag as a reflex to it. I quickly made my way to where the smell was coming from but quickly wished I hadn’t, trapped under the edge of a debris pile was a burnt corpse everything on their body had already been turned into ash and all that remained was their charred body. A couple feet away was a broken gun that I recognized as an AK-47, it was broken in half but some of it was salvageable so I made a mental note to come back later for it.

“Over here!” I heard Luna call from further up the hill. Celestia and I hastily made our way to her.

I was about to ask what she called us over for but I was silenced quickly as I watched a person in a military uniform struggle to stand up. His eyes were wide open but it seemed like he couldn’t see or hear anything. “What the fuck happened, why can’t I see anything?! Why can’t I hear my own voice?! What the fuck is going on?!” he yelled as he frantically moved around before falling onto the ground with a thud.

“Princesses, go find the others I will take care of him.” I instructed Celestia and Luna, they didn’t question me as they sprinted away from us. I knelt down to the crying man and put a hand on his arm, he retracted his arm away from me as he sat up trying to look for me.

“What the? Who’s there?!” he demanded to know, when I didn’t answer he reached for me and touched my face. “Who, who is this?” He asked quietly as his eyes started to concentrate on me, showing his vision had started to return.

“Can you hear me?” I asked loudly, he held his hand to his ear. Good it seems like his senses are returning to him as quick as mine did. “Can you hear me?” I asked louder before he dropped his hand from his ear and stared at me, concentrating in on my face not one part in particular but just my face in general.

“I can, faintly. What happened to me?” he asked a lot calmer now as he rubbed his eyes before looking at me again. He was about to say something before he plugged his nose by pinching his nostrils closed, “What in the world is that smell?!”

I chuckled before replying, “That smell sir is this child, she came through after you all did.” he was able to see clearly now as he looked all around us.

“Came through what exactly?”

“That’s a long story, I’d rather all six of you be conscious and have all your shit together before I explain that. I do have one question, you and your squad, where are you from and what branch of service?” I prodded as he looked me over, giving me an odd look as he saw my leather armor and my hair draped over my shoulders.

“I’m from the United States of America, I am a Marine. What’s with the leather armor? You look like a fucking renaissance geek in that shit.” he pointed out as I laughed.

“To be honest, you’ll find out pretty quickly that you’re the one who looks stupid. This leather armor was made in Mirador by a minotaur named Griamor, it cost me around 1000 bits to have it custom made.” he looked at me as if I had lost my mind when I said minotaur.

“Mirador? Minotaur? What in the fuck are you talking about kid?”

“Actually I am thirty one years old, and this isn’t Earth.” he gave me a death stare.

“Enough fucking games, I -”

“You what? Don’t believe me? Trust me, thirteen years ago I came to this fucking world almost exactly like you did, and I guaran-fuckin-tee there was a news story about my ass. Maybe this name will ring a bell to you, Robert Kenneth Rucker. Ever hear it?” I spoke through clenched teeth as he looked at me in surprise.

“I do know that name, everyone does, he died a couple of years ago to an…..” he looked at me with realization. “you’ve gotta be shittin me. YOU’RE him?” I gave him a smug smirk.

“Time is distorted majorly from Earth to Equus, hence why its been thirteen years for me vice Earths two years.”

“Bullshit.” he exclaimed as he shot up.

I stood up as well, watching as he picked up his m16 assault rifle. “Follow me and I’ll show you, your squad is waiting at the top of the hill with the princesses.” I informed him as he looked back at me with an unamused expression.

“And I can use magic.” he deadpanned.

“Actually, I am the first of our species to exist here in Equus. It was quickly determined that magic has an adverse effect on humans because on Earth magic does not exist natural, or artificial. This child on the other hand, may be one of the very few exceptions.” he was silent the rest of the way up the hill. Until he saw the princesses standing at the top, he grabbed my shoulder and I heard his safety click. “You even think about shooting them, and they won’t have a chance to see you be beheaded.” My sword was at his throat already and the girl I was carrying was on the ground. He was shocked to say the least that I would do something like that.

He put his m16 to my chest and gave a cocky smirk back, “I’d put that sword down unless you want to die.” he stated as if he had won. I pushed my sword enough into his chin to make him start to bleed.

“The thing about me you see, I’m not afraid to die. I’ve killed dragons as big as buildings with nothing but a sword and a staff, if you think taking a bullet to my chest scares me, you are very sadly mistaken. Pull that trigger, see who dies first Marine.” I growled as I could see a faint flash of fear flash streak across his eyes. I brought my sword down on the muzzle of his m16, forcing it into the ground as I continued to glare at him. “And whether you believe it or not, the only way you’re going to survive these next few months at least is by trusting me.”

He shook his head, “And why is that?”

I didn’t answer as I picked up the teenager again before walking up the hill again, ignoring his impatience towards me. His impatience was quickly silenced as Celestia and Luna came into full view, they were putting the others from the marines squad against the rubble in a sitting position. “What in the fuck…”

I was about to answer him but he quickly pushed past me and skidded onto his knees next to the closest guy. “PFC Riley!” he exclaimed as he tried to shake the guy awake. PFC Riley was a short stocky guy, with absolutely no hair on his head not even eyebrows. His left ear was scarred severely from a past injury it looked like, almost as if that side of his head should have been disfigured by a fire.

“Robert!” I heard Luna call, “Come quick!” I heard her exclaim worriedly. I laid the teenager down next to PFC Riley and the older marine before running over to her, hoping for the best but getting something very unexpected. Laying there was a dog, a german shepard to be exact.

I got down on all fours and felt its body for a pulse and found one almost instantly. It was steady and the dog was warm with no visible injuries to it, but its fur was caked with dust. “This is...unexpected.”

“Is...is it alive?” she asked hesitantly.

I nodded my head as I picked the dog up, it opened its eyes as I did so and looked at me. As I wrapped my arms under him and cradled him in my arms I could see his senses coming back to him. Despite not knowing me he just let me carry him, he was completely quiet as we walked back up to the group at the top of the hill. The marines that were there were now awake but still lacking most of their senses.

The one I had met earlier was trying to help each of them as best he could while Celestia watched over the teenager. He looked up at me with a sad expression, “So you were telling the truth, that we’re not on Earth anymore.” he said as he stood up.

“I don’t have any reason to lie to any of you, you’re the only other humans except for Michael in this world. I lost everything thirteen years ago mate, and now you all have lost everything as well.” I reasoned as I set the dog down next to the teenager, he quickly curled up in a ball next to her but kept on watching me. “So tell me, what’s your name?” I asked.

“My name is Sergeant Gryphon.” he stated.

“Not your rank mate, your full name.”

“Why do you need to know?”

“To get better acquainted, I can’t just call you marine all the time Sergeant Gryphon. Calling you by your rank and last name won’t work either, I’m not one of your marines as far as you should be concerned though I am a civilian.”

“Fine, my name is Luis Gryphon. Anything else you want to know, you pest?” he sighed as he reluctantly gave his name.

“Pest? I’d prefer you not call me that, my name is Robert Rucker.” I responded.

“Uughh, my head.” I heard a voice come from my left I looked down at the teengare and she was sitting up now rubbing her head. It seemed like all her senses were intact but the portal still left her with the headache we all will have for the next few hours. She stopped rubbing after a minute and opened her eyes, staring off at the distance. “Where am I?”

“Serenity Hill, Equestria.” I answered causing her to jump and turn right towards me in surprise. “How’re you feeling?” I asked as I knelt down to her height.

“You’re that guy that helped me in the alleyway, aren’t you?” she asked, I nodded in confirmation. “Thanks, I guess.” she muttered while averting her eyes to the ground. I patted her on the head and sat down next to her motioning Celestia to come closer so that she could see her.

“Chin up kid, we’re not going to hurt you. You’re one of the few humans in this world so be happy, if anything would happen to you there’d be a headhunt to find out who did what to you.” I tried cheering her up as she looked at me with a smile, her smile dropped to an awed expression as she looked above me to Celestia.

“She seems surprised to see me.” she chuckled as the child looked even more surprised. Celestia lowered her head so she could get a better look at the child, “What is your name?” she asked.

The child tried backing away but I put an arm behind her so she couldn’t, “Its alright kid, this is Princess Celestia. She is a good friend of mine and will not hurt you, just tell us your name so we can start to help you get on your feet, alright?” I explained to her with a calm voice, but she didn’t listen as she grabbed my cloak and hid herself from Celestia. I gave a defeated sigh as I shrugged towards Celestia.

An idea popped into my head, “Princess, lay down please.” I instructed her as she looked at me as if I had lost my mind. “Its nothing weird, I promise just lay down in front of me not on your side but as if you laying on a pillow or something.”

“This is a strange request Robert, what are you attempting?” She inquired while laying down in front of us. I gave her a warm smile and extended my hand putting it on her neck, at first she recoiled away from the touch but when she saw the child's eyes peering out from underneath my cloak she realized what I was doing.

“Princess, as you know back in our world horses and ponies do exist and I realized she displayed the same reaction most children give to first seeing a creature that is a lot bigger than they are. You have to remember, me and the rest of the humans that came here are a lot more mature than she is and we lived with other people as a family while she lived on the streets with no parents or siblings. She doesn’t have the education we have, she never had the opportunity to get it. Everything she knows is how to survive. Humans by nature are weak so when we confront other creatures until we know what they are and how they will react to us, we observe it from afar. By this small gesture of me placing a hand on you, it helps show her that you are a friendly creature, establishing a trust between her and your kind in a way.”

The child slowly started reaching for Celestia from under my robe, coming out slightly to reach for her. “See?” I pointed out with a smile. When the child touched Celestia's coat she retracted her hand slightly fearing the worst but then placed her hand fully on Celestia.

Celestia chuckled as she lowered her head to get a better look at the child using her magic to lift my cloak off of her. “What is your name child?” she asked softly. This time instead of trying to retreat into my cloak she grabbed onto it before muttering something that we could not make out. “I’m sorry child but I couldn’t hear you, what was it?”

This time she spoke in a whisper but loud enough for us to hear it, “I don’t have a name.” she turned red as she spoke and looked up at me before looking straight down, “I’m sorry.” she stated as she did so. I chuckled and put a hand on her head looking at Celestia.

“Then I guess we’ll have to figure out a name for her Princess. In the meantime, stay here with her while I help with the marines over there I’m sure they’ll want an explanation of where they are and what the situation is when they wake up.” I went to stand up but stopped when I felt her grab onto my leg.

“Don’t go!” she exclaimed, holding onto my leg for dear life. I laughed and took off my cloak fully revealing my weapons and armor, I placed it around her as I knelt down and patted her head.

“Don’t worry, I won’t be leaving you anytime soon. I’ll just be over there, besides the princess here will be right here next to you the-”

“But I want to be with you!”

I shook my head at her, “I’m sorry but what I am discussing with them, I can only have them hear. Not even the princesses who are the leaders of this country can not listen to this.” I explained to her as she let go of me. Celestia stepped over and laid down next to the child, letting her lean on her.

“Go ahead Robert, I’ll stay here with the child.” she nodded her head towards the group of marines.

Without a word I got up and walked over to them, they had all come to their senses now and were sitting in a circle with their rifles placed down next to them on top of their flak jackets. Luis stood up as I approached and crossed his arms and glared at me. “You had better f-”

“That’s what I’m over here to do Luis, so stop acting like an ass to me.” I cut him off causing him to deepen his glare. I ignored him as I started to address all of them. “I’m here to help you, all of you. Before I can even ask what I want to ask of you I need you to understand your situation and adapt to your new surroundings and reality. So let me be blunt with the very first thing, this isn’t earth and there is no way to go back to earth. I spent the last thirteen years trying to find something to get me back, so don’t waste your years trying. Your old life is gone, everyone you loved, everything you ever loved, everything you ever knew.”

“My name is Robert Kenneth Rucker, thirteen years ago, my time, I came to this world after my supposed death after touching a strange orb that appeared on a highway in my hometown. Although for all of you, it was only two years ago.”

“Hold the fuck up, you mean to tell me you’re that master sergeants brat who died on that highway near Camp Lejeune two years ago?” one of the marines interrupted. It was a female no older than twenty years old, her hair was cut short and pitch black. She was about 5’6” and had a thin build but she was far from scrawny.

I nodded my head, “Time here, it's a lot different than back on Earth. I can’t explain it and won’t try to explain it I arrived here in Equus months after I had actually touched that orb but what was weird wasn’t the month but the year. It was the same year here as it was on Earth, so there is no definite explanation for the time here.”

“Well shit.” she said as she looked up disappointed with my answer.

“It gets worse.”

“How much worse?” she asked.

“We’re on the precipice of a war that could end all life on Equus. You see that storm over in the distance? Its being held out of Equestrian lands by a massive shield conjured by hundreds of royal solar and lunar guards, each being changed out every hour on the hour. Even so, they’re being pushed back and the strain is becoming too great, the shifts are becoming more and more erratic as unicorns expend their magical energy to the point that we are seeing actual casualties from it. This was a couple weeks ago I heard about this, so I guarantee the situation is worse now.”

“That’s why I need you all to understand the situation fast, because whether you like it or not you’re going to have to fight.” This struck their nerves as they glared at me while Gryphon walked in front of me.

“You are not our commander. You’re a civilian so what in the hell would you know about war, let alone leading us?! We couldn’t give a FUCK if your world is in danger, they-”

“Tone it down Gryphon and let me explain.”

“No I’m done with your explan-”

“Then what’s your plan oh great leader? Do you have any experience fighting magical creatures? Do you have any experience fighting the undead? The mythical? Demons? Do you have ANY experience fighting supernatural phenomenon?” He stayed silent as he backed up a little. “Do you have any idea what I have faced, what I have killed, what I have seen or what I know? You can’t because you haven’t been here before, you don’t know how this world works. But that’s also my situation to yours, I don’t know what you all have been through, what you’ve done, what you’ve seen. But I do know this, about me and about all of you that we will give our lives to protect the ones we love.”

I raised my left hand and showed them the wrapped up appendage, “Three days ago I killed a shadow of Grimoire Dusk’s for that very reason and now my left hand is burnt to hell. This is only one of many scars I have.” I unbuckled my pauldrons, vambraces,  and my cuirass, letting it drop to the ground with a loud thud proceeding to take off the chainmail shirt underneath then the silk shirt revealing my upper body. Their eyes went wide when they saw how scared my body was, “Each of these scars, every single one was from me taking on bounties, contracts, and odd jobs to help others or provide for me, my companions, and more importantly my daughter. But again, tell me how I’m your ordinary civilian, tell me I wouldn’t know about pain, tell me I don’t know how to lead, tell me I don’t know about war. Tell me what each and every one of these scars are from and how I got them.” I pointed to the black star over my heart, “This black star, it isn’t some tattoo. This is my oath to Princess Luna that at the end of this war, with or without you six, that I will come back to all of them alive. The princesses will be directly in control of where me, my daughter, my best friend who I consider a brother, and a few others go on the battlefield.”

I placed my hand on Gryphon’s shoulder and looked him in the eyes, “If you want to stand by in this war that is fine, it's not your war in the first place. If you’re willing to fight though, your efforts will be rewarded. You don’t have to make the decision now, but Equestria needs all the horse, man, dragon, or whatever power it can get. Discuss it amongst yourselves, you have a day to decide.” I put all my clothing and armor back on as the sergeant looked down at his feet in contemplation.

“A day? To decide on something like this? You can’t expect us to be able to make that decision so quickly let alone think of a way to contact our chain of command on-” I looked at him solemnly as he realized what he was saying. “ right, that… look Robert.”

“If you’re going to apologize, don’t. I understand all of your attitudes towards me, I understand your mindset right now and nothing on Earth could have prepared you for a situation like this. Although consider yourselves lucky, you aren’t children and you have each other to cope with, I had no one. The reason you all have a day to decide is because the day after tomorrow, that shield is coming down and operation Shadow Hunt begins.”

I left them with that last message and to their own party to head to the young girl and Celestia who had been joined by Luna. The child was fast asleep against Celestia who was covering her with one of her wings. I smiled at the sight as I approached. Both Celestia and Luna looked at me expecting something but I just knelt down and laid my hand on the young girl's head. The dog that had been nearby came over and sat down next to me, sniffing my arm as I touched her.

“She’s taken a liking to you Celestia, have you thought of any names yet?” I asked.

“I have not, Luna?” she looked up to her sister expectantly. “What do you think her name should be?” She was surprised that she had asked her opinion on this matter but she shook her head in response. A name clicked in my mind as I recalled the name of an old friend from three years ago.

“How about Gwen?”