The rudimentary landscape of the Equestrian interior had long been replaced with the crumbling mountains of the East Coast. As the train chugged steadily along thick black smoke bellowed from the smoke stack into the white haze of fog and snow, like ink pouring and swirling across a blank piece of paper. From Todd's view out of the train car's frozen window, the hazed shrouded the rugged gray walls of these mountains. They appeared ghostly, the remaining supports and broken pillars of a city of long dead gods and giants. Looking on at the human with great curiosity, Twilight Sparkle sat uncomfortably silent on her bed. She was unsure whether or not she should inquire about his thoughts that he seemed so lost in. Just as Twilight had resolved to remain silent the human spoke.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" He took another silent pause, "It reminds me a bit of home."

"Were there mountains where you're from?"

"Yeah, but they were a lot bigger than these. Bit harsher too." All the time, Todd had yet to turn his gaze from the window. In his reflection Twilight could see a smile drawn across his face. It was not his normal smile, there was no intent behind it, and there was certainly no malice. No, this smile seemed gentle, and innocent. "When I was a kid I used to have to spend a lot of time living with my grandparents. When there was a good downfall of snow my grandfather would take me up with him to the mountains to go sledding. He'd pack hot chocolate and kindling for a small fire. But that was a long time ago."

"Would you like to do it again?" her remark elicited Todd's full attention. He turned from the window, his face returning to a puzzled expression.

"Do what?"

"W-well, you know, go to the mountains, sled, the hot chocolate and the fire, and all of that."

"Twilight, my grandfather is dead and I'm in another world. So, I'm not sure how that one would work out."

"No, no, I mean like with friends. During the winter time Rainbow Dash takes us all on trips like that. I'm sure the girls would enjoy you tagging along."Well, maybe enjoy is a strong word.

"I'll pass on that offer, I'm not really sure I'd enjoy their company." With that the human took repose on his bunk with his fingers interlaced beneath his head and stared at the ceiling. "Besides, isn't Rainbow dash the one that dumped a whole cloud of snow on me?"

"It's not fair to hold that against her for this long, that was a complete accident."

"I remind you I still have staples and string holding me together."

Well, he's got a point there. "If you give her a chance she'll grow on you--"

"Like cancer."

It was not long after the train had reached it's destination. Balkham was not a large city, but it was not particularly small either. The buildings were mostly brick and held a somewhat colonial charm. Ponies went about with their day, unknowing of what rising darkness welled withing the local asylum. For that matter, neither was Twilight Sparkle. Only the outlander to this world had the vaguest sense of what evil they were to encounter. As before, this situation bore an uncanny resemblance to those old tales he had read long before.

"Todd, I'm beginning to become concerned."

"About?" Todd's strides were brisk and confident. His heavy boots moved swiftly and silently making only a soft clod against the walkway. He paid no mind to the Balkhamites staring on from window, street booths, and passing carriages.

"Well, it just seems that you know what we're trotting into. Like with the wendigo. You knew what it was before anyone else, and on top of that it was your world's wendigo too, not ours. Now that we're in Balkham you seem to know the city, and you seem to know where to go. Do you know what we're going up against?"

"Arkham is a fictional city in the fictional city from the mind of the late horror writer H.P. Lovecraft. He used it a lot in his work."

It seems his world's legends reference Equestria quite a bit. It's almost like his world was made up by ponies to teach some kind of moral lesson. "So, how did this Love Craft's work describe this 'bat man' anyway? How do we defeat it?"

"I'm not going to lie," Todd's tone was bone chillingly serious and dire, "it won't be easy. First, we'll have to find some kryptonite."

"Kryptonite?" I've never heard of that before.

"Bat Man is allied with Superman, not to mention the rest of the Justice League. If we're fighting Superman and Batman, we're going to need kryptonite." She walked right into that one.

"And what is the Justice League comprised of? Are they dangerous?"

Oh you're killing me here. "Yes, and the only reason they haven't enslaved the world is the mighty legion of doom, not to mention the fact that everything I've said has been complete crap. Huh, you don't seem to find this as funny as I do." Her appearance was one of absolute non-amusement.

Does he seriously think this is funny? Ponies lives are at stake and he's not even willing to act like anything is happening. Does he not care? It was a valid question. Todd had not shown anything but amusement and frustration since his arrival in Ponyville. Perhaps he was unable, or maybe just unwilling to show his feelings. That is, if there were any to express. "Maybe we should just go get this over with."

Oh damn it. Well, not the first time you've disappointed a woman. Usually it's in the bedroom... and really drunk.

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Harsh sand and wind bit at every exposed area of his skin. Were it not for his goggles and the thick shemagh the storm would have near flayed the skin from the soldier's face. To Todd's left and right were the dark shapes of his comrades. His rifle swept in tightly controlled patterns across the sandy plains. The hot polymer could be felt through his weathered gloves. The straps of Todd's web gear dug deep into his broad shoulders.The weight of his own body became slowly more intolerable to move as lactic acid and bodily heat welled in his muscles. It was also becoming much harder to keep pace with his fellow warriors. While he could not see them through the dense haze, he could feel that he was falling behind.

Quickly Todd was losing his bearings. In the depths of the storm he had lost his way. It was evident that he was far separated from his unit. Through the unearthly haze and the demonic howls of these foreign land's wind a series of distinct pops rang out. Every soldier can tell, its that clear and defining sound of enemy fire. Snapping retorts rang out from M16 rifles as yellow flares faded in and out like fireflies on a foggy day. In an act of desperation Todd raised his rifle and began indistinctly firing in the direction he assumed was the enemy. Through the ear piercing thunder ringing out from the rifle's muzzle Todd could hear pained shrieks, terrible shrieks, familiar shrieks. And then came silence.

"Prescott!"

"Mitchell!"

"Parker!"

"Anyone!?" When none responded a feeling of absolute loneliness overtook the young man. As fear grew instinct took over his body. Todd slung his rifle across his forearms and began to jog weakly through the desert. In what direction he was heading, or whether or not he was running toward or away from a fight he was unsure. "Prescott!" the sand mopped away the soldiers energy, "Mitchell!" the pain in his appendages grew, "Parker!"

"T-todd?" The croaking voice stopped his pathetic attempts to run. Looking to the bloody mound that was once Corporal Michael Prescott, Todd moved down slowly and trembling to his knees, speechless.It was not fear that Todd felt. No, fear and terror are entirely different concepts. Fear inspires action, terror stalls the body and the mind, killing logic and preventing the most remedial of action. It had rendered Todd inoperable, he knew now what he had done.

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Author's Note

Well, it's been a long while since I posted anything. Life's been a bit hectic lately and FimFic has been kinda pushed to the side for the last little bit here, but I'm back now. Hope you enjoy the new chapter and don't forget to comment on whatcha like, and if you feel like it describe how you see Todd. Thanks!