Chapters The Beginning of the End
As usual, "HE," got all the credit. Always casting a shadow too long and wide to overlook. In the military, you had to respect that. But as brothers, it was rather annoying. It all started when we were children. It was decided that we'd be given the same foster parents, since we were brothers, and splitting up wasn't even an option we considered. He was only 2 years older than I, and we were very close. He was a very fast learner, but i, always took a slower, more "direct" approach, if you will. i learned more thoroughly. Meaning that he would always look better at the beginning, and i would never get recognition. i was the sniper in our 2-man team. Yeah, 2 man team. Most of or superiors don't even understand how a star and someone "incompetent" as me could ever work as effectively as we do. Only our Major understands my abilities. and thankfully, my brother too, but he isn't humble enough to admit that i'm as good as i am. Can't have everything, right?
Back to the mission, i'm 18 hundred meters from the target. The plan is that we take out a corrupt African bureaucrat, who's bribing the government. All was going well, until the alarm sounded. "Shit, get out of there!" i yelled into the com.
"I'm trying!" he yelled back, a note of panic in his usually calm, composed voice that made others believe in him so. i ran ahead, sprinting fast as i could while simultaneously asking, "should i request some support?"
"No, i'm doing just fine! i just need a little more time for this to play out." That's when i hear the sound of some vans approaching. 'They know...' was all i could get out, before sniper fire was hailing in on me, seeming to know my exact location.
"Shit!" was all i could manage, before i had to throw my com, and move to the side, hoping desperately they didn't have thermal on my or my brother. I continued crawling towards them, trying to make myself as unpredictable as possible, when i heard an explosion. Rage boiled up in me when i figured out what happened. with strength and speed that wasn't possible for me to manage normally, I charged right at them. Now, in movies, people always seem to exaggerate Kevlar's effectiveness, but at this instant, i realized that it was not the Kevlar, but a burning mixture of love for my brother, and rage at those meaning to harm him. with the speed and strength of a thousand men, i barged into the metal door on the outside, my brain working stealthily while my body wouldn't comply.
"Come here you bastards!" i shouted, and started firing off rounds with my pistol at record speed and precision, that it seems my learning curve was made for. within seconds 12 men were down, and i knew my brother was safe. Another explosion snapped me out of it. walking over to where he lay, i shouted, "Come on! we need to get the fuck outta here!"
"Nah," he smiled. "I don't think there's much chance of that." his smile turned blood red and in horror, i saw several holes in not only his chest, but mine as well. knowing that our time had come at last, i knew that i had to make one final move. turning around, i picked up my brother's AR-15, and firing it randomly, killing a surprising amount of men, and not noticing that i was recieving an equal amount of oncoming bullets from them. My vision faded, but my smile didn't, knowing that my brother would be proud of me, and knowing that i proved my worth to my fellow officers.
First Impressions
My smile still on my lips, i opened my eyes, confused. Where the fuck am I? i look down, and i almost roll my eyes. my shirts mostly missing, showing off my well toned body. but enough of that, i need to find out why i'm alive, after being pounded so heavily with bullets that i lost the majority of my shirt. Then i remembered what happened to my brother. 'Yeah, i'll kill those bastards,' i thought with a mixture of sad remembrance, and glee. Well, is it too much to hope for that my guns are still working? i stand up, and look around. "Apparently not, i say, and soon afterwards regret it, because i hear an odd growl and a rustle of bushes. I figured it was just forest ambiance, but then i heard what sounded like muffled voices. i was worried; no matter how dense the forest is or the discomfort, you never wanna be caught in a clearing. i quickly scrambled up and ran, only to be met by what appeared to be an invisible wall.
"What the hell is this?" i asked aloud, no longer caring about my "location." seeing as i wasn't where i seemed, i went into full alert mode. i walked until i found the edge of what appeared to be my containment, when i heard more muffled voices. apparently i was being spectated by something, they were watching my every move. so, instead of playing their game, i went and sat down in the middle, cleared my throat, and said, "Whoever is observing me, i wish strongly for you to release me. i am no more harm to you than you me." That's what we were told to say, because of the dual meaning that came with it. if they were nice, i would be nice. if they tried to kill me, i wouldn't give em the chance. My surroundings cleared away, seemingly dissolving. Uh oh, illusional surrounding? i looked around more closely, but there was no wall that thy could have been projected on. before another thought could leave my lips, i was met with the odd sight of 6 talking equines.
"YO!" i shouted, backing away, and drawing my combat knife. "Who in the hell are you? Why am i here, and why the fuck are you ponies." Then, they looked at me inquisitively, with the response, More importantly, why AREN'T you a horse?" Looking at them, sizing them up, my concentration was broken when i noticed certain... appendages, protruding from their back and forehead. The prple one, it seemed, was their leader, and i didn't like the looks of her. she seemed to be the type that's quiet and only ever does whats written. Never has her own thoughts, that's the one. After judging them for a solid ten minutes, all previous accusations were blown away, when they did what i never expected. they asked me what my intentions were. Kay, sarcasm stayed with me after my first death. "I'll ask again, why the fuck am i here?"
"Because, i was doing research on your... species." she said hesitantly, as if worried that her words had offended. She hadn't. "mind giving a quick briefing for the clueless? like, why am i here?" i asked, more persistently.
"No idea," said a rainbow one. The one with that hat followed it up with, "We don't know who or what ya are, sugar-cube, but we wanna offer hospitality, and be real nice hosts." she said, with such a genuine smile i almost thought she was serious, until a certain pink one said, "And we wanna cut you up and experiment on your various body parts!" she said with a smile, and enough glee in her voice to make me wanna smile too. that is, until the realization, mixed with the facial expressions of the others overwhelmed me. "He-he, i'm not gonna let that happen, sorry." and with that, i left them all speechless, other than the white one, who was quietly chastising pink about offending guests. in unison they shouted "Wait!" i turned around, and quickly aimed my sniper rifle at the wall next to their heads, and fired off a single round, letting off a noise life a cannon, and shattering the concrete that the wall seemed to be made of. All of them coughing, i made my breakaway, and vowed that i would come back and avenge my brother, and that i would not let anything, even magical talking ponies get in my way.
Royalty and Remembrance
Still running, i felt a huge surge of heat brush past my face. Was this going to turn into my first firefight in this world? I turned around to see no one. 'how odd' i thought to myself, only in time to turn around and see a purple pony in front of me. "Shit," i practically gave up. guess they are magical, after all. then a thought struck me. what if she can teleport me back to my planet. I shrugged the thought away. it was late, and i was tired. so tired in fact, i wasn't even aware of the pony before me trying to communicate, as i collapsed into the dirt. if they dissect me now, i couldn't stop it if i tried, so i went all in on the bet that the pink one was crazy. safe bet, as i soon found out.
Waking up in a sterile smelling white room, i was aware of other presences around me. Curiously, i utilized my new sense, and could see them without opening my eyes. i felt what i assumed was purple, and also maybe white, but they were nothing compared to the blinding flash of light in front of me. i opened my eyes, and saw a white, regal looking white unicorn-pegasus combo standing in front of me, an amused expression in her eyes. without opening her mouth, she spoke directly to me. 'So, your learning how to use it.'
'sure, i guess, why are you in my head?'
'so that's what this is, its really interesting you know.' she said, harmlessly. it was as if every mind in the world was hers to read. God i hate royalty. Speaking to the group this time, which seemingly did not notice that i was awake, i spoke. "Good morning, nice to see that i still am in one piece." Jumping at the sudden breach of silence, they looked at me with surprise. Uh oh, that's never good. I've been assigned enough missions to know that that look means bad shit went down. "Your awake! you were out for 3 days!" Apparently they've never been sleep deprived, and shot multiple times in the chest, along with watching your most loved get shot in front of your eyes, all in the same day. While waking up in an alternate dimension. yeah, i guess not a lot of people can say that though. "Okay, that's cool and everything but who is she?" i said, pointing a finger at her. They all just stopped and stared at my outstretched digit, seeming to be entranced. They snapped out of it, and thn looked in horror as they realized that i was addressing 'her' in such a common way. "Oh shit, ya'll better put down that thing before it gets taken off," said what i can only assume is the dumb country one of the group. everyone has one of them, and they're all equally dumb. i looked at the others and was surprised to see the feeling was mutual. "Er, what is your name?" i asked.
"I am referred to by my subjects as Princess Celestia." To clarify, i looked at her but tattoo, don't ask me how i knew to do that, but sure enough it was the sun. "So, your like these ponies' god-princess? Lemme guess, you rule this whole land, and your immortal, and people consider you as their savior." She looked at me, and seemed disappointed that she didn't get a lengthy exposition. "Yep, that about sums it up-" but i interrupted her
"Do you do any undercover dealings, or team with the mafia like the last 20 of your kind I've seen?" i said with obvious distaste. Not even looking surprised, she answered me, not even annoyance in her tone. i don't know what its like in your world, so i will forgive your ignorance as to my position." she replied, choosing her words carefully."I and my sister alike, rule this land with harmony and peace." You gotta be shittin me, there's peace here? Alrighty, i can work with this. Yeah, lets see what i can do with this.
(Later That Night)
My brother and i were at the shooting range, practicing and honing our aim. He wanted to do it with me alone, for reasons he would not divulge to me. i assumed it was his pride;getting beaten by a younger brother can't be good for your pride. as im dreaming though, the scene switches, and i'm at my last mission. i look in horror as i re-watch my brother die, over and over again. Screaming in agonizing pain, i hear a voice behind me. "I see that your dreams are unsettling." she seemingly "turns off" my dream, and summons chairs for us to sit in.
"Who are you?" i ask.
"no, my faithful subject, who, are you." she says, revealing countless memories of murder, missions, watching my friends die, watching my parents... it was to painful to go on. i close my eyes in wordless sobs, and she goes over to comfort me. "Remember, you cannot hide from this forever, you cannot keep these stowed away. it will be hard, but you need to learn to accept it and move on." She seemed to think these words had the right effect on me, but it didn't. it steeled my resolve, and suddenly i put up a mental barrier keeping her out of my head. "NO, i will NEVER forget!" i screamed, in anguish sorrow, and something else, even deeper. "I will avenge EVERYONE! My brother, my friends, my parents, EVERYONE!" And a power that i still had no control over coursed through me, and i pushed her the rest of the way out of my head. No more will my life be dictated by others. no longer will my memories haunt me so. i will get revenge. i just need a little time.