Welcome to Hotel Nebula

Hotel Nebula Command Room

Commodore Legs rapidly tapped buttons on his computer, a display of various words and images flashing on a screen before the two of us. He claimed to have a hunch on where we were and what monster had just tried to make a meal out of Yigvar and I. For several long minutes, Legs continued to search for answers while I kept an eye out for more of those things out there. Much to my dismay, where there was but one giant naked human, there were now seven, each an incredible height and bearing fixed smiles. Some had bulging bellies while others seemed anatomically disproportionate, but they all made way towards the Hotel at a slow, lumbering pace. Luckily, all the guests were safe in their rooms and the guards on alert. As an added protection, Fix-It engaged a shield that prevented any hostiles from so much as touching the Hotel. I prayed to Celestia that we would get out of this horrid place soon.

"Très bon!" Legs proclaimed, having found a file under the 'T' section. "I've discovered what zose nudist cannibals are!" Trotting away from the telescope and to the computer, I saw that Legs had pulled up an image of one of those tall monsters, several statistics graphs and numeric code around it.

"Well, what are they and were are we?" I asked, nervous and anxious for an answer.

"Zese are Titans," Legs explained. "A fairly recently discovered race of massive monsters zat exist solely in zis and parallel universes. Zeir exterior appearance is similar to humans, but are much more beast-like. Zey appear to be immortal, and have an appetite for consuming," He paused for a gulp. "Humans. According to historical data, Titans nearly 100 years ago nearly drove humanity to extinction, forcing zem within a massive city protected by three tall walls. Zey have been stranded there ever since."

"And they've come here because...." I began, realizing the danger most of the guests were in. "Oh, dear sweet Luna, we're in horrible danger."

"Apparently, ze IDA has only been in zis world once before," Legs continued. "Only to capture several Titans for experimentation, and aiding in the reclamation of a human district. Data shows Titans have a single weak spot at ze nape of zere neck, a relatively difficult spot to hit." Legs sighed, putting his pipe back in in his mouth and taking a long puff. "Looks like we'll have to batten down ze hatches until we can make anozzer jump."

"How long will that take?" I asked.

"Three days." Oh, we're doomed. I paced back and forth, sweat dribbling down my brow as I tried to comprehend the situation at hand. This was not how I expected this job to be. It was supposed to be flying across worlds, meeting exotic guests and having fun with friends, not hiding from giant monsters with creepy smiles. Then, a small, if possibly futile, idea popped into my head.

"Why don't we try getting to that wall over there?" I suggested, pointing at the aforementioned eyesore.

"No good," Legs said. "Even if we had ze reserve power to hover over zere without drawing ze Titans to us, standard IDA protocol states zat we refrain from interacting with non-dimension traveling universes, lest zey acquire dangerous technology or damage be one. I'm sorry, monsieur."

"So... we're sitting ducks." I said, breathing heavily. Then another idea, wow I'm on a roll. "I'll contact Guardian! He'll know how to get out of here!" Fishing around my pockets, I pulled at the transportation stone... Y'know what? I'm just going to start calling it the Warp Rock from now on. Anyway, I retrieved the Warp Rock, and with a quick tap, I left Commodore Legs in a flash of light.

Unknown Perspective

The Open Fields

I bounced off my horse's back as she galloped across the grassy plains that once were part of Wall Maria, now just more hunting grounds to the Titans. I honestly couldn't believe the report I was given, but with all the insane information we've been getting right now, I'm not willing to doubt anything. Yet here I am, with a squad of fifteen men and women, heading towards a giant floating building on horseback, with no clue what the hell it is and if there's anything or anyone inside it. We rode for miles until coming to the remains of a fallen stone building, no Titans in sight. I'm still trying to remember why I signed up for this crap.

"Captain Joseph, sir," Said one of my fellow Scouting Legion soldiers, a young girl with messy brown hair and square glasses strapped to her head. "The target is in sight, but surrounded by five 15-meter class and two 10-meter class Titans." Great, just great. Now we've got those bastards to deal with. Absolutely perfect. "Orders, sir?"

"Simple, we divert their attention, then take those freaks down." I said. Most likely, it wouldn't work and there'd be a lot less of us returning to Headquarters, but we told Commander Erwin that we'd gather as much information as possible... Even if it means at the cost of our own lives. "On my mark, we get into standard formation and draw the Titans out. Whoever's closest will aim for the nape. Understood?"

"Yessir!" The soldiers said in unison. Taking one last glance at my men, we prepared ourselves and began the charge. For the Walls! For the Legions! For Humanity!

Back to the Ever So Handsome Narrator

Guardian's Office

"You can't?!" I exclaimed. After leaving the Hotel, I immediately directed the issue to Guardian, hoping that he would help us out of our predicament. He waited a few seconds, then outright told me he couldn't. Also, he was wrestling a big, muscular human, with no shirt, and wore a Neighpo- Japanese Samurai helmet with a skull covering his upper face (I will learn to separate pony vocabulary from other world terms eventually, I swear!), and was winning.

"Yes, I can't." Guardian said as he grabbed the arm of his opponent and pinned it to his back. "I'm sorry, but urget matters have me preoccupied before helping the Hotel get out of an unmarked universe." He lifted the man up. "I mean, this is the third time this month Shao Khan here has attempted to beat me in battle so to take my throne. And clearly hasn't learned his lesson."

"I will not submit to a man smaller than I!" The man, Shao Khan, bellowed, trying to break free. "Outworld will consume all, and I will be it's new king!" Guardian flipped him over, smashing his head on the ground, leaving my employer to place a black shoe on Shao Khan's chest.

"Give up, Khan." Guardian ordered, before looking up at me. "Sorry, but he's just so unbearable some times."

"But this universe isn't unmarked!" I protested. "Records say your organization has been to this world once before."

"Yes, once and only once," Guardian said, forcing his foot into Khan's stomach, causing the massive man to gasp in pain. "It was a relatively early point in the IDA, and it was when a former ally of mine showed his true colors." He picked up Khan by the leather straps across his chest and repeatedly punched him in the face, not once breaking eye-contact or changing his tone. "The best you can do is keep shields up to ward off the Titans, have the Big Daddies attack any that get too close, and wait until the reserves recharge." Once Khan was so punch-drunk he couldn't even see straight, Guardian tossed him aside, and bowed before me. I, of course, applauded politely, still unnerved by Guardian's unwillingness to help.

"But we'll be there for three days!" I exclaimed. "I don't want the guests to panic. And what if the humans that live beyond the wall, what if they investigate?" Guardian paused for a moment, neither of us aware of Shao Khan steadily getting up, a large hammer materializing in his hands.

"Treat them as you would any guest." He stated. "Just don't let them tick off the Daddies." Shao Khan started to roar, charging at Guardian with a fiery hate. Without even looking, Guardian summoned an even larger green hammer in his hand, and slammed it into the Outworlder's head. The force of the hit was so strong, it created a Rift and shot Shao Khan right through it. "Never learns." Without another word, Guardian sat down at his desk, pouring over some papers with deep interest. Knowing there was no more coaxing him, I decided to take my leave, retrieving my Warp Rock, and vanishing in a burst of light.

Back at the Hotel....

Upon arrival, I found myself in the Hotel Lobby, and surrounded by armed Skritt. The little rodent creatures were prepared for battle, each carrying a different armament. Many had short, slightly chipped swords, others carried long wooden pipes (guns, I am told they're called), while some just held sacks filled with bottles and small marked rocks and others had boxes with bits of machinery in them. At the center of it all stood Twitchy, standing tall amongst her kin, who quickly took notice of me and dove at my hooves, bowing her head.

"Mister Tab Keeper!" Twitchy cried out. "We're so sorry for being so careless! We thought the sheild would keep them away, but they went right through it! Please don't punish us!" The other Skritt bowed in unison, each begging for his or her life. I was confused at first, but then I realized that we were in trouble. I stamped my hoof on the ground, silencing the Skritt.

"Calm down!" I ordered. "Can any of you explain what is going on in a clear and concise matter?" Twitchy rose from her bow, sheathing her sword.

"Well, the other worlders," Twitchy explained. "The Metal Giants held them off for a while, but they wouldn't stop."

"Woah, the Titans broke through?" I asked, worried about the issues.

"No, the big naked men left awhile ago," Twitchy said, waving her paw dismissively. "But the others got as far as the floating ground."

"Others?" I wondered. "What others?"

"Others as in humans." Yigvar said, stepping from the crowd and brandishing a massive warhammer with the head of a beer barrel. "Armed humans, with machines on their hips that shot wires and flew them up to the front door. They had swords in their hands, so the watery constructs registered them as threats." Before I could ask how they were dealt with, one Big Daddy passed by, its drill suspiciously caked in a red substance. I realized that this was violating Guardian's orders, and quickly ran to the front door. Outside on the narrow space of land were about ten humans. Each human was wearing what appeared to be a military uniform, wearing short brown over shirts, tannish undershirts, skin-tight white pants, and had these strange metal boxes resting on their hips. Several of the humans were brandishing sharp swords, clashing with the Big Daddies and loosing to the machine's massive strength. One human with short-cropped brown hair and a five 'o-clock shadow was running for his life, screaming his head off, while a Big Daddy, armed with a device I am told is a flame-thrower in place of a drill, blasted gouts of flame at him. This madness was just too much, and I knew I had to bring it to an end.

"HAAAAAAAAALT!" I shouted at the top of my lungs. Immediately, all fighting factions ceased their combat, even the humans. The Big Daddies reverted to a stand-by position, while the humans looked at me with confusion and awe. "Now, which among you is in charge of this outfit?" The unexpected visitors pointed to the man I saw running like a scared little filly before, as he steadily walked towards me.

"You're... You're a talking horse." He said, breathlessly.

"Actually, I'm a pony." I said, slightly annoyed at being mistaken for a primitive form of Equestrian life. "And I would like to know who you are why you people decided to assault my building." At first, the man seemed flustered, unable to form a coherent sentence for a while. Finally, he stood upright, formed a fist in his right hand, crossed his left arm behind his back and placed his right arm across his chest.

"C-c-Captain Joseph Sterling of the 104th Scouting Legion, representatives of the Wall Maria," The man said in a soldierly fashion. "We were sent here on reconnaissance to investigate the floating building within Titan territory."

"And so you did," I said, glancing at the soldiers who eyed the Big Daddies with both anger and fear. "And you provoked our guards." Captain Sterling dropped his stance and bowed his head.

"We lost five good men and women to the Titans surrounding this place." He solemnly said. "Zondale, Grant, McKormick, Jones, and Maggey. They helped drive off the Titans, and when we rappelled up to this building, those metal monsters and the rats just attacked us." I shot an irritated look at Twitchy, who wilted under my gaze and bowed before me again.

"I'm sorry! We thought they were bad people!" Twitchy bawled. "They had swords and scary faces! No hurt, PLEASE!" Sighing, I placed a hoof to Twitchy's head and caressed it gently, trying to calm the upset Skritt.

"It's alright, it was just an accident." I consoled. "Nopo- nobody got really hurt."

"One of those things ripped my arm off!" Shouted a soldier who was missing an arm.

"Your fault for making the drill armed robots mad." Yigvar said, handing his hammer to some Skritt. After I was done comforting Twitchy, I resumed business persona and talked to Captain Sterling once more.

"Anyway, we apologize for the harming of your allies," I said. "But this intrusion is unacceptable. As penance, we would like assistance." The soldiers looked at me, baffled of my remark. Sterling stepped forward, looking down upon me.

"Assistance? Why would you need our help?" He asked. "You've got plenty of guards to keep the Titans away, and they only attack humans, so you should be safe."

"Yes, we're well protected," I explained. "But that's not our problem. We weren't supposed to be here, and now we're stranded for another three days. We can find a way out of here with the required materials, so I would like to request that you return to your superiors and explain our situation to them." They stood silent for a moment, shifting looks between each other and ourselves. Eventually, the human captain turned to face his troops and planted himself in that salute again.

"Soldiers! Rally and mount up!" He shouted at the top of his lungs. "We're moving back to headquarters to relay this information! Is that understood?!"

"Sir, yes sir!" The soldiers responded, dropping into salute. One by one, they hopped off the Hotel's ground, using those devices to shoot wires that propelled them to the surface. As the Skritt and Big Daddies returned to their posts, Yigvar stood beside me as I watched the humans vanish from sight.

"Something tells me we might be in trouble for this...." Yigvar murmured, hoisting his barrel hammer over his shoulder. "Well, I know just the cure-all for stress."

"No drinking." I abruptly said, causing the Nord to groan. "We may be stranded, but you're still on duty." As the bartender left, possibly complaining to himself about how I never let him have any fun, I thought to myself on the situation. Thinking that things might be a bit rough at the start, things may end up just fine. I had no idea how wrong I was going to be.