Harmony's Guardian

While looking out the window an alarm sounds off as everyone goes silent as the cabin turns dark.

"Hey Tristian the mission brief is about to begin." Dominic says getting my attention.

I look forward towards the large monitor in the cabin as the mission brief begins. A man with a five o clock shadow, Short hair and a dark blue suit is seen on the screen.

"As you all know we are here to explore and colonize on the planet below and make way for the rest of the human race to arrive. Our mission is simple. Guard the landing site, Secure the base off operations. If any life form gets close kill it on site no questions. Also we have very special cargo to help us. They are in cryosleep and will be unless they are needed. Only under extreme situations are you to awaken them. Once they are awake they won't stop until sedated by a handler who are marked by the patch on their left shoulder. We will start orbital drops in fifteen minutes. So prepare yourselves in the meantime. You are doing this world a great service." The voice on the speakers says before a click is heard and the monitor goes black.

The dream from cryosleep is still running through my mind along with the questions I've had through out it. A schedule of who is going to be dropped first is shown on the display screen from earlier as I look I see I'm one of the first to be dropped. I get up from my seat and make my way to the back of the cabin and go to the solider by the door. I show him the schedule and my identification. He looks at both and lets me through. My surroundings change from the cozy look of the cabin as the walls are now industrial as I make my way to get into my armor in the locker room on the side near the drop pods. I take my armor out as I start to put it on. I notice the armor is fitted with compartments for extra ammo which are already filled and a knife on my left leg it is bulky in appearance though feels light and durable in a camouflage black and grey as I lift the chest piece and attach it to my uniform before sliding on the gauntlets and leg armor. It feels snug as I get up to put my boots on. After putting on my armor I look at my helmet and in the vizor I see myself knowing that I'll be on the other side of the visor it sends chills down my spine as if I'm looking at myself. More questions fill my head the deeper I look into the vizor. Am I a hollow shell? Or just trapped in a cell where I don't belong? I snap out of it and put the helmet on before exit the locker room and make my way to the drop pod. The questions keep piling up. Between the questions from my dream while I was in cryosleep and the ones I have now I do my best to keep my composure and not show what I feel is a mental breakdown. I enter the drop pod and strap myself in as I see what is around me I see my rifle is on my right and med kit is on my left. My breathing starts to go heavy and becomes frequent as my nerves set in. The pod front is closing as I hear the static of communications link starting up.

"Testing, Testing can everyone hear me?" Says the commanding officer dropping with us.

"I can hear you sir." I respond as everyone else in the pods respond at the same time.

"Good. We're about to start orbital drop. When we land spread out for the rest of the troops to land." Our Commanding officer says as the pod door is sealed and the chamber is evacuated as the air lock is unlocked.

I feel my pod move outward as it starts to shake. I suddenly feel like I did with the launch with the force of the drop pulling me up as my restraints hold me down. I look out the pod window and see the flames from the friction of reentry into the planet's atmosphere. I suddenly the sounds of screaming fills my ears. But none are from the other soldiers. It's the screams of men, women and children all in pain and suffering. My breathing picks up pace and I feel that fear I did earlier though this time it's multiplied. I hear screaming all around me not knowing where it's coming from. I suddenly hear a woman's scream loud and clear.

"Don't take my babies!" She screams as I hear a baby cry followed with the soft crackling of fire and a woman's fading weeping.

I'm lost in the sounds around me before my commanding officer calls in and snaps me out of it.

"Cadet Orose activate your chute now!" He shouts as I snap out of it and release the chute with the lever above me as I feel the pod jolt upwards and wave side to side as our decent continues.

We land in a clear field as our pods bust open and we spread out. All seems quiet as I scan the area. The green grass and the blue sky look like as if I'm in heaven. I can hear the sound of a river near by. Just as I start to take in the peacefulness of the area the sound of gunfire is heard in the distance. I thought nothing of it until I hear a shrill scream just before another gunshot is heard. That brought me back to the screams earlier. Just what the hell is going on? I hear a soldier's voice through the communications receiver in my helmet.

"I need back up now. I encountered life forms and they are bringing more and fighting back." He says.

I rush over following his gps location to the front of a small village. I see a few bodies of what I figure are the inhabitants of this planet. They look like the ponies back on earth though with random colors and some had horns or wings. But they have been covered in their own blood. I look at a small body of a light blue pony with a horn on its head. Most of its fur covered in blood. I suddenly get pulled down by someone. I see that it's my commanding officer.

"What happened?" I ask in a bit of a panic.

"One of the natives attacked us. We opened fire and not too long after we are in a fire fight with some kind of weapons. We can't advance nor over run them." He says.

"What do we do?" I ask.

"We are pinned down. I repeat we are pinned down. Drop one of those experiments now!" Says our commanding officer into his microphone in his helmet.

I hear a loud crash nearby a few minutes later followed by a roar. I see what made that roar when I look behind me. He stands tall as he roars again. He looks almost human though more muscle bound and bulky than the average man. I hear him come towards me as my helmet falls of my head after it came loose from being pulled down earlier and I look up staring back at him. He observes my face and my eyes as me picks up my helmet and gives it back to me and rubs my head. I sit in confusion as to what just happened.

"Thank You." Is all I manage to say as he starts charging towards the others.

I put my helmet back on and I see the person that helped me charge at the attacking ponies. In the distance I can see a castle of white with purple rooftops and a cloud of white and gold getting bigger. I then use the binocular feature on my visor and see that they are all ponies in gold armor

"Watch out guys there's more coming and they are armed." Says another soldier.

"I never thought we'd be over run this fast. Bring in the rest of the experiments now!" The commanding officer says as he pushes a button on his armor.

More crashing sounds like the one earlier are heard. As well as more roars and a few shrieks. A deep rumble is heard as more of them show up. I turn my head back towards the village and see a purple dome covering it and a loud booming voice is heard.

"Who dares attack my subjects?" Shouts the voice with authority and rage.

How can I understand them? Or do they speak English like us? I brush off these questions as the army of white ponies with wings land and are carrying spears while wearing gold armor as I look behind me and see an army of ponies with bat wings and black armor carrying spears as well. I hear more fighting as the rest of my squad attack the ponies with bat wings and I see one charging at me. In instinct I pull out my knife and try to deflect the spear with my knife. It missed must of my head. But it hit my helmet and sends it flying out of sight. I looked at my attacker as I see he has yellow eyes like mine. I look deeper into his eyes for that split second and see anger and loyalty in his eyes. But also fear. I get a look at the pony leading them. A tall dark blue pony with wings and a horn. Her mane and tail flows and looks like the night sky. I manage to grab part of the spear and break off the blade from the wooden staff as I pin my attacker down and my blade raised in the air. I suddenly freeze as I look into his eyes again. I don't see the anger and loyalty in his eyes anymore. I see pure terror and fear. My heart races. I realize that I can't do it. I can't kill a living creature with such ease as the others. I throw down my knife and grab the broken spear and run into the near by forest. Before I enter the forest I turn my head and see the bodies of my comrades with smoke coming out of their chests as for the ones that we called for while they are in the distance I can see they have been captured. I focus on getting away from the forces that are now after me. I push away branches and make sure the ponies behind me don't get any closer I have to lose my armor to gain distance. But I need to give them the slip before I can. Thinking fast I go left and made my way to a valley and take a shot that I can use the broken spear to pole volt to the other side. However it isn't enough as I fall into the roaring river below. My fall while fast feels like and eternity. Is this the end for me? What will happen now? I hit the water and feel a sharp pain on the back of my head as everything goes dark in an instant. The last thing I hear are the voices of the ponies that were following me.

"There's no way he could have survived that. Let's go and report back to the princesses." One of the ponies say as I can feel myself floating away before completely passing out.

I lay in the empty darkness again silent, Cold and alone. Until I hear what sounds like an old man's chuckle.

"Hehehe. It seems you're lost. I've been waiting a long time for this opportunity. Come let us talk the others. They have been waiting to start our little party for a while. But I told them they had to wait until you came." The voice says as I see a patch of light in front of me.

I'm curious as well as scared. Unsure of what is going on and what will happen. My whole body shakes as I muster up the courage to speak.

"Who are you? What are you?" I ask to see if the voice says anything with a nervous pitch in my voice.

"Well aren't you the curious one? Well to answer your questions I go by many names and forms. But you may know me from old legends of knights and dragons. More specifically the legend of king Arthur. I am Merlin though here I'm known as Star swirl the bearded. Quite an amusing name if you ask me. Now hurry along I don't want to drink cold tea." Star swirl says.

I go with my gut as I start to run towards the light before my mind can stop me. I don't know what to expect though there is one way to find out. I walk through the light as I start to feel a warm breeze as I notice that everything is bigger. I look over myself and notice that I have turned into a pony. I first notice my dark tan fur. I look to my sides and notice my wings are bat like and I have a white tail. I feel the top of my head and notice two hard bumps. After checking myself out of this new form I try to walk. However I trip over myself and fall to the ground with a thud. I feel myself being lifted up by a pair of hooves immediately after and being taken over to a large table where there are other ponies.

"Wha is goin on hewre?" I say before putting what now are hooves to my mouth in shock at how I sound.

"We'll get to that in a bit. We are waiting on a couple more guests. Just relax and enjoy some tea." A light grey pony with a horn and long beard in a wizards outfit says.

I look down at the cup of tea with a confused look on my face trying to figure out how to drink it without looking rude. I look around the table and see the other ponies around me. There are many that look related to each other and have smiles on their face. Three of them are different shades of orange or red with brown or dirty blonde manes and tails. Two are light blue pegasai with red and navy blue manes and tails though one has a slightly darker shade of blue on their coat. A light orange pegasus with a purple mane. Two others have bouncy manes and tails though that's the only thing that they look similar with. One has a pink coat with brown mane and tail while another has a brown coat and has more of a dirty blonde color in his mane. The last pair seen are a pair of white unicorn ponies that look high class with relatively the same vibrant blue manes and tails as if they were identical twins. I look down feeling sadness take over as tears start to well up at the bottom my eyes. I don't know who I am anymore or what is going on. My tears start to fall down as I finally break down and lose myself in my emotions. I feel so lost so afraid and so alone. I hear a voice right next to me as two arms pull me in for a hug.

"What's wrong baby brother?" Asks a female voice.

I look and see a white pegasus with a tan mane and tail with orange eyes.

"Wh-Who awre you?" I ask still crying.

She looks sad as she holds me closer.

"They did much worse to you than we thought. I'm your big sister Snow Blossom." Snow Blossom says.

My eyes are closed as she places me under her before getting in the chair and has a cup of her tea. The feeling of being under her made me feel safe. I don't know why. Though I still don't understand what is going on.

"He's such a shy one isn't he?" Asks Star Swirl while refilling his cup.

"Well he's only a foal so I can see why. He probably wants to see mom and dad and he will in due time." Snow Blossom responds.

"Indeed. Do you know where you are being held?" Asks Star Swirl.

"Probably in the caverns under Canterlot for both their safety and ours. As for little Moon Twister here we don't know." Snow Blossom says as she looks down at me.

"That's a shame. However since everypony is here we can begin. The reason why you are here is because this land of Equestria is your home. Though this isn't the first time humans have came to Equestria. The last time they came here they foalnapped you twelve and took you to their world for experiments. They used you as weapons for their interests and now they are here to take over and end the peace that has been here for quite sometime. Minus a few hiccups of course. We need Moon Twister's help since he was the only one who got away." Star Swirl says looking at me.

I still try to process what was just said along with this new information. First I find out I'm not even human and then I just find out I have to save this whole planet and country? I gain a headache and rub the sides of my head whimpering softly from the pain. Snow Blossom notices this and rubs my head with her muzzle.

"This is something only you can do baby brother. We would do it ourselves if it wasn't for the situation we're in already." Says Snow Blossom.

"There is a cave in the everfree that I hid away the grand mage's armor, cloak and staff. The magic in those should adjust to your body." Says Star Swirl.

"To learn how to use the magic is something you have to learn on your own since it's dad's magic after all. It's completely unpredictable." Snow Blossom says.

I hear a door open and look over at it.

"Looks like it's time to go. Sorry for this being so short. But time is of the essence. Also a bit of a warning to you about the cave. That cave is called the Cave of Truths. It's a trial to most. However for you it may just open your eyes to what happened to you. Now go on little one." Star Swirl says motioning me to go towards the door.

"We'll always be with you and when this is all over I'll make sure we'll play with the bunnies at the cottage with mom like we used to." Snow Blossom says as she motioned me to go as well.

I get down from the chair and reach the door. I look back and see them all. I have the weight of a whole world and it's inhabitants on my shoulders. I feel that I'm not sure if I can do it. But I have to at least try for their sake. I turn back and walk through the door. I'm not in darkness for long as my eyes shoot wide open and wake up on a bed in a hut somewhere. Drenched in cold sweat and hyperventilating I notice my armor is gone and I see a zebra pouring liquid in a caldron. She puts the bottle down and looks at me.

"I see the man in the lake is finally awake." She says speaking in rhyme.