Sunrise

Sunrise

The Darkness Within

Chapter Five

The cafeteria was busier than I expected, the vampire ponies were having their meals, some of which surprisingly consisted of meat, at least now I won’t be getting weird looks, we walked in and the thestrals all turned to look at me, I got looks of awe and confusion, it was honestly getting old.

I walked over to the stallion that was serving the other guards and waited for the line to clear, once it did I walked over.

“What can I do ya for?” The stallion said.

“I need a hard drink, but not too much of it, you know where I could get some?” He looked a bit bewildered by my question but answered anyways.

“Yeah, we serve, but at a price, and I doubt you have any bits, sorry.”

I groaned a quick ‘Thanks.’ before I turned and started walking away when one of my escorts spoke up.

“You know we could pay for it, right?” The stallion said.

“Yeah, but I don’t mooch off of others, I’m not that kind of person, anyways where’s the gym?”

“Follow us.” The both of them got in front of me and I followed silently, after walking for a bit I decided to strike up a conversation.

“So how long have you two been in the military?” I asked while looking out the passing windows.

“I’ve been in the Night Guard for as long as I can remember, us thestrals aren’t exactly accepted into the ponies’ society.” The mare said with suppressed anger.

“Is it racism, or is it a cultural thing?” I said with slight confusion.

“It’s racism, the bat wings, yellow eyes and sharp fangs intimidate the ponies, or something like that, so we mostly keep to ourselves.” The stallion said calmly.

“That’s bullshit, you guys look fuckin’ sick, especially in that armor, personally I hate racism, someone can’t help what pigment their skin is or how they look, I fo- wish for the freedom of the innocent, not the race.” If they noticed my slip, they didn’t show it.

The burly stallion laughed. “Yeah, ain’t that right, and thanks for the compliment, sweet Luna if only more people were as open minded as you.” The stallion said with mirth.

“Yeah, an alien is smarter than most ponies, would you believe it?”

We just laughed at that, I just kept talking to them about different subjects, they really relaxed after talking to me and they were both fun to hang out with, I found out that the mare’s name was Ember Night and the stallion’s was Dusk Hunter but they primarily use their first names, they both came from Hollow Shades, a town not too far from Canterlot, but it was different as it was in a dark forest like the one I survived in, except the forest was basically harmless, the town was inhabited pretty much solely by bat ponies.

They also gave me some backstory on Luna as well, about Nightmare Moon, her banishment, and her recent return and reformation, honestly I felt bad for her, the ponies she ruled and cared for shunned her.

We came upon a set of double doors, the thestrals guarding the door opened them and I saw the training grounds of the castle, there were many bat ponies doing physicals and training as the drill instructors barked orders.

“Here we are, sorry that it’s outside, it’s cooler at night and feels better than being crammed into a room, especially for us flyers.” Dusk said as he trotted onto the field with Ember and I following.

“You guys got a punching bag?”

Both thestrals turned around and met my gaze. “You mean a Bucking Bag? Why would you want one? We use our hind legs to kick it, and I don’t see any way you could kick with a lot of force.” Ember said while looking me up and down.

I laughed softly. “Just wait and see, little mare.” Ember scoffed at my statement.

“‘Little mare’, yeah, ok.” Dusk just laughed softly next to her.

They both turned and walked over to a rack that held the bags, I got a stand and the bag before Dusk or Ember could grab one, it wasn’t that heavy anyways, I just nodded to them and made them follow me, as soon as I walked out the nearest guards gave looks of confusion before turning back to drinking water or using a towel to dry their sweat.

I went to an empty spot on the field away from everyone and set down the metal stand as Dusk and Ember watched, I then hooked the bag with the stand, it was a normal sized punching bag filled with sand, I gave it a light kick and it swung back and forth but held strong.

I took my shirt off and got on the ground and started to stretch with both Ember and Dusk staring.

“So...what are you doing?” Ember asked as I was on the ground in front of them doing stretches.

“Stretching.” She just hummed in confirmation as Dusk went to go do weights.

After stretching I got up and faced the bag, I went into my fighting stance, right foot back, left foot forward, hands uncurled and eye-level out in front of me, I struck and hit hard, the bag still stood so at least I knew it could take a beating.

An hour and a half later I had my shirt off and was grabbing a towel that Ember brought over and was wiping the sweat off my face, my arms and legs were tired from the non stop workout, I was debating working my torso to keep fit.

I turned to find Dusk walking back over to us. “It’s only six in the morning and you’ve already made a name for yourself, come on, let’s go to the cafeteria and just relax, it’s almost time for the Day Guard to wake up anyways.” I just nodded and put my shirt on before fallingl in step beside him as Ember moved to my left.

“I’ve seen veterans do a quarter as much work out there before stopping.” Dusk said as the guards opened the door for us to enter.

“I guess humans are just more resilient.” I said only half-jokingly.

After that I just walked in silence, Ember and Dusk striking up conversation with each other in front of me, I gave this time of peace to evaluate my situation, I had to work for the farm pony Applejack and her family, I hope her brother is okay, I’d hate for him to suffer over my mistake, I wonder where they are now?

“Hey, Ryder, what did you do back on your world?” I snapped out of my daze to see both thestrals looking at me with anticipation.

I chose my next words very carefully, I wanted them to know what my world was, and gave them an honest answer.

“I was in the military for 10 years, I served under my nation's flag over seas in a desert filled with people wanting to kill us, they attacked our country and killed a lot of innocent people, so we took the fight to them, we suspected that they had WMDs, Weapons of Mass Destruction, bombs that could level entire states, countries even, and the radiation after the bomb detonated would slowly kill anyone that got enough of it.” I looked down to find the ponies wide eyed and looked concerned.

“Did you defeat them?” Dusk asked after working his jaw.

“Thankfully, yes, but I’ve lost too many friends to count, not to mention the number of civilians caught in the crossfire.”

They stopped looking at me and just continued to walk ahead in awkward silence.

“And my real name is Jason, Ryder is just a nickname.”

They both looked up to me, but I was staring straight ahead.

“How did you do it? Survive, I mean, after what you’ve said how do you keep going?”

It took a moment for me to make a response,

“I honestly don’t know, I usually just don’t dwell on it, shit happens and I can’t change it, I can only live with it.”

The rest of the walk was in complete silence.

=== === ===

The cafeteria was packed full of vamponies, as I’ve started calling them, it seemed that they were going back to their respective barracks and calling it a night, most of them were just chatting with their buddies as I walked in and sat down with Ember and Dusk, both of them told me that they’d be right back, probably to get food.

I looked around the room and got a few stares, but were quickly redirected when my resting bitch face found its way into their vision, some were obviously talking about me while others just shrugged and went on with their life.

A tap on my shoulder brought me out of my musings as I turned to find a well decorated thestral giving me a calculating stare.

“I am Blaze, Captain of the Lunar Guard and Princess Luna’s tactical advisor, it is a pleasure meeting you.” He stuck a dark burly hoof torward me and gave a neutral smile, his gaze was calm and professional, I grabbed his hoof and shook firmly.

“It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, the name’s Jason.” I gave him a small smile in return.

He lowered his hoof before giving me a quizzical stare. “Jason? I thought your name was Ryder.”

“It’s just a nickname my buddies gave me.”

He hummed in confirmation before Dusk and Ember got back, they both saluted and uttered a respectful ‘Sir.’

“At ease soldiers, are you two escorting Jason here?”

Ember and Dusk looked at each other quickly before saying ‘Yes.’

“Good, both of you are good guards, Dusk Hunter, how’s your father?”

Dusk chuckled lightly before replying, “He’s good sir, tougher than an oak tree, as stubborn as one too.”

Blaze smiled at that, “I’d imagine, he isn’t exactly one to mess with now is he? Give him my regards.”

“Will do, sir.”

“Enough of that ‘Sir’ crap, I’m not anywhere important right now, I’ve known you since you were born, now, I need to borrow Jason here for a bit.”

The ponies in question looked worried, Ember spoke up, “What for, if I may ask.”

“Well Ms. Night, I need to ask our guest here a few harmless questions.”

“As long as he comes back before the Day Guard wake up.” Dusk said.

He smiled, “I think I can do that, thank you for your time.” He turned to me before asking if I would follow him, knowing I didn’t have a choice I got up and followed in step behind him.

=== === ===

I sat down in the oak chair before looking to find Blaze giving me a serious look, “Now, you may be wondering why you’re here, I am just going to ask some questions, answer truthfully and we can get this over with.”

I just shrugged and got comfortable, after all, these Guards do seem to love paperwork, if the stack of papers and the filing cabinet filled to the brim were any indication.

“Lets begin, how did you get here?”

I laughed, “You may think I’m bullshiting, but I don’t have a clue, one moment I’m in my house drinking, the next I’m in magical pony land.” Blaze just nodded slowly.

“Are you here to hurt or kill anypony?”

That escalated quickly, “No, I just want to go home.”

“What did you do on your world?”

“I did bad things to bad people.”

His eyes widened a fraction, “Explain.”

I sighed “Bad people attacked my country, I spent most of my life fighting them off, I was in the military until recently, before I was sent here.”

He gave a slight nod before getting ink and paper, he wrote something down but I couldn't see what.

After he was done he continued, “Did anything else come through with you?”

I hummed in thought, “Not that I saw, but something may have.”

He quickly wrote something down before looking at me.

“Alright, you’re free to go, and don’t take this personally, but I’m watching you, even though you seem like a good guy I have to be cautious, understand?”

I gave a curt nod, “Understood.”

He smiled thinly, “Good, see you around Jason.”

I got up and walked out the door, only when it clicked shut did I realise I made a grave error.

I didn’t know where I was.

“Fuck.”

=== === ===

After stumbling around the castle like an idiot I finally found my way back to the cafeteria, it was the Day Guard mixed in with the Lunar Guard so it was harder to see who was who, I scanned the room for my escorts before I spotted Ember waving me over, Dusk and her were sitting at a table full of other Lunar Guards.

When I got over I attracted the attention of the guards at the table, they all looked at me cautiously.

Dusk spoke first, “Speak of the devil, Captain give you a hard time?”

“Hardly, he just asked simple questions, seems like a hard ass though.”

Dusk laughed, “He is, but he’s a good guy once you get to know him.”

I nodded, “So, who are these guys?” I said while gesturing to the group at the table.

Ember pointed to a smaller thestral, “That one there is Light Streak, we just call him Stocky.” Said pony gave Ember an evil eye, “The other two are Moonlight and Thunder.”

She pointed to a mare and a stallion, both waved and seemed pretty friendly, “And lastly, Onyx Storm.” She gestured to a stallion that was almost as big as Dusk, but looked more experienced.

“‘Sup, as you already know my name’s Jason, it’s a pleasure to meet you all.” I said while sitting next to Dusk.

They all smiled, the mare named Moonlight spoke first. “It’s a pleasure to meet you too, honestly I expected something uglier, like an alien with four mandibles and small eyes, who stands seven and a half feet tall with three fingers and-”

Thunder put his hand over Moonlight’s mouth and chuckled, “Sorry, she gets excited, she reads too many comic books.”

Moonlight got herself free, “Hey! Daring Do is a good series and everyone knows it, you’re just jealous.” She crossed her arms and gave a shit eating grin to him.

I chuckled at their antics, “So Dusk, why did you want me back so soon?”

Dusk looked to me and gave a small grin, “Well, I wanted to have a drinking game with you and I felt this was a good time to do so.”

A bell rang and the Lunar Guards all started filing out of the room.

Dusk’s smile fell.

“I guess not.”

Ember patted him on the back and said, “Hey big guy, you’ll get your chance next time.” Before following the rest of the guards out.

“I guess I’ll be seeing you guys later, it’s been fun.” The group at the table all waved goodbye and left, I waited until I was alone at the table to get up and leave.

I decided to go back to my room and sleep for a bit, I got up and exited the cafeteria with a couple of stares from the early Day Guards, choosing to ignore them I left without a word.

=== === ===

I awoke to the sound of knocking on my door, I rolled further into my sheets and put my pillow over my head hoping that they would just go away, they wouldn’t stop.

 “I’M UP FOR FUCK’S SAKE!”

I got up and stumbled to the door before opening it, the escort from yesterday was there.

“I was sent by Princess Celestia to come and get you.”

I rubbed my eyes to try and get the drowsiness out of them, it didn’t work.

“Just open my door or something next time, I about punted you out the window,  fucks sake you knock loud, I’ll be out shortly.”

Without waiting for an answer I shut the door and headed for the shower, once I got in I made sure to brush my teeth and wash myself, I was starting to smell.

After about ten minutes I was cleaned and dressed, I shaved just in case, my blade nicked me slightly but it would heal, I grabbed my wallet, lighter, and smokes, I opened the door to find Swift looking out the hallway window with a bored expression, the scenery was beautiful since the sun just rose.

I closed the door and quietly stepped over to her, “The sun’s beautiful at this time of day.” I put my hands behind my back.

She looked at me for a couple of seconds before turning back to the sunrise, “What would you know about beauty.”

I laughed, “I’ll admit I haven’t seen some pretty shit, but this? This is what I wake up to every morning, it’s something I learned to appreciate, because that sunrise, it could be the last one I ever see.”

She looked slightly shocked at what I was implying, “But don’t think of it negatively, it will make you realise that today could be your last,” I looked to her and met her gaze, “That mindset will let you live life to it’s fullest, make you do things that you didn’t think you had the courage to do.”

I turned back to the sunset one last time before motioning to her, “Come on, I have a Princess to meet.”

She nodded and lead me toward the throne room.

=== === ===

The guards at the throne room doors nodded to Swift before opening the doors and allowing us to enter, I put my hands in pockets and nodded to Celestia and the six mares that first met me.

Celestia was the first to speak up, “Private Glider, you are free to go.” Swift nodded before exiting the room, when the doors closed she turned her attention to me.

“Good morning Jason, how did you sleep?”

I put on a poker face, “Just fine, thank you for asking.”

She smiled before turning to Twilight, “Twilight, I know that you want to ask Jason questions, but I think that we need breakfast first, shall we?” She motioned to the doors and the group of six smiled to the Princess.

Twilight smiled before grabbing her paper and inkwell, “That would be much appreciated, Celestia.”

A walk to the royal dining room later and we were all sitting down, the mares were talking to each other, I was sitting next to Celestia at the side end of the table while she was at the front.

A servant walked in with a professional smile, she walked up to Celestia and asked for orders.

“I’d like the usual, Jason?”

I gave a thoughtful expression, “I would like eggs, scrambled, with a side of meat, if that isn’t too much to ask.” The mare nodded and continued taking orders.

I sat and waited, absorbing the atmosphere and counting the tiles on the ceiling and observing the rug that the table was on.

A different servant came into the room with everyone's orders floating in his magic, he set down my order first, it was a plate of scrambled eggs and ham.

“We had extra ham from the Gryphon Ambassador's last visit, I hope it is to your liking.”

I nodded and grabbed a fork off the plate and dug in, the ham and eggs were delicious, probably the best I’ve ever had, when I ate the ham I got weird looks from five mares, a butter yellow pegasus with long pink hair gave me a reassuring smile.

As soon as I finished Rainbow Dash spoke up.

“So what do you do?”

I wiped my face with a napkin before responding, “What do you mean by that?”

“Like do you do any sports, hobbies?”

I gave her a puzzled look, “I like to workout, I guess, I used to play baseball when I was a kid, that’s pretty much it.”

“Do you run?”

I gave her a grin, “I was built for it, why, are you challenging me?”

She gave a grin of her own, “Maybe, as soon as you’re done working for AJ here we could have a little race.”

I gave her a toothy smile, “Try and keep up.”

The one named Pinkie Pie spoke up, “Then we could have a ‘Welcome to Ponyville Thanks for Not Being a Meanie and Eating Us’ party! Oh it’s going to be so great we’llhavecupcakesandcakeandchocolateandcandyand-”

Applejack stuck an orange hoof in Pinkie Pie’s mouth, “Sorry, she gets a lil’ bit excited ‘bout newcomers.”

After that escapade we all finished our food and left, Celestia asked me if I would follow Twilight, I knew what was coming as I followed her into a room with a table and two comfortable chairs across from each other, mentally preparing myself I sat down.

“So I’ve realised that you don’t know anything about our world, I’m here to tell you about it, and maybe you could tell me about yours.”

I sighed, “Let’s just get this over with.”

Two hours later she finished explaining everything to me, she made sure not to leave out a single detail, ‘Elements of Harmony’ sounds like some bullshit superhero group, Discord sounds like an asshole, and the three pony tribes sounded like bullishit, but I had to believe it, there was no way anyone could make up something this detailed and not be proven wrong for so long.

I told her about my world too, our wars, our countries, our buildings that scraped the sky, she was astonished by our population and was baffled by the mention of war and paled at the thought of so much death, I didn’t mention to her that I fought in our most recent war because of that, I also told her about things that humanity did right, how we saved lives and protected them, how we touched the stars and united to defeat an evil that wished to control the world.

It was at that time that Celestia came into the room, “It seems that you two are having an in-depth conversation, no?” She grinned.

Twilight blushed, “Sorry Celestia, he was just telling me about his world, it’s so amazing!”

She giggled, “I can tell, but Jason has somewhere to be.”

I nodded to her, “I just need to grab a few things.”

I got up and exited the room, the walk back was unsurprisingly uneventful, I entered the room and grabbed my dark brown jacket and gray hoodie, I put both on over my t-shirt before grabbing my wallet, when I put it in my back pocket it hit something.

Pulling my wallet and whatever was in my pocket out, I felt chained metal and a rubber casing, I pulled both out to see what they were.

It was my phone and my dogtags.

How the fuck did I miss these?

I activated the button on my phone and the screen lit up, it was at 89%, I turned off my phone and looked at my dogtags.

I shrugged and put my dogtags on, I tucked them under my shirt collar, I pulled out my phone and checked the time, it said 9:13, I shut it off and put it in my pocket before putting my wallet in my back pocket.

Making sure I still had my knife with me I left the room.

=== === ===

When I found my way outside I saw that Celestia had issued a chariot for me, when I asked her who else was riding with me she said that the Elements need to stay for something important, she’s sending a detachment of guards with me on the chariot, “It’s for your own safety.” she said.

I got in the chariot, sitting between two Day Guards we took off.

“If it isn’t any different to you guys I’m gonna catch some z’s.” I only received grunts in response.

Colorful characters we have.

I pulled my hood up and laid back, it took awhile to get comfortable, we were far away from Canterlot, as soon as I was about to nod off I heard a guard yell.

“INCOMI-”

My world went black.