Operating is Magic

He was the last one left. The chitinous black monsters had killed his entire team. Connor tried to keep his weapon towards where he thought they had gone as he shook Sam again. Nothing. Sam had died, eyes open, clutching a picture of his wife and children. Connor gently brushed his eyes shut, then focused back at the dark shadows circling. He had no loved ones back home, his only true friends lay dead on the ground around him. A darkness enveloped his heart.

Connor felt the reassuring weight of his M14 EBR, then tightening the strap, swung it to his back. It would do no good here. He pulled out his knife from the sheath clipped to the front of his plate carrier then breathed out and faded into the shadows. Quietly he circled back, stepping quickly from heel to toe. There were two of the evil things, chittering at one another, green eyes glowing like a cheap children’s toy. Creeping out from cover, he grabbed the nearest one from behind by the chin and stabbed it multiple times in the chest. The other screeched and lunged at him. Pivoting, he shifted his weight, grabbed the dying monster behind the head, and threw it at its comrade. Both monsters hit the ground, and Connor kneeled down and placed his knee on the live one’s neck. It let out a long warbling cry, and he heard the sounds of many paws or feet hitting the ground, coming to his direction. He snapped its neck, then pulled a rounded rectangular object from his pack. He carefully but quickly stuck the 3 stakes into the ground, making sure the “this side toward enemy” was indeed the other way. He retreated away, taking the small controller with him.

From behind his cover, he saw a large group of them running. As they came within range, Connor lit off the claymore. He would forever remember the shocked expression as the tiny steel balls tore them apart at nearly 4,000fps. Suddenly, he heard a noise from the side.

These things are freaking pack hunters! He cursed at himself for not paying attention.

He quickly drew his M&P9 just as the shiny black creature bowled him over. It scratched and screamed at him, slobber dripping off its crazed mouth. Connor grabbed its throat with his right hand and squeezed, lifting it up as he brought his pistol to its soft underbelly. He fired 3 shots. The creature stilled and Connor threw it to the side. He holstered his pistol with a satisfying click and looked around. There was some chittering, then suddenly a large glowing vortex appeared. The remaining monsters all bolted for it.

Connor had a decision to make, but it wasn’t hard. There was nothing left for him here. All that was left was hate and vengeance. He sprinted with all his strength for the portal. The beasts beat him to it, and it started to close. Screaming, he pumped his legs harder and dove through just as it closed.

He crashed through into a sort of HR Geiger inspired throne room. He heard shouts and explosions nearby. Creeping out to the courtyard, Connor saw a giant flying bug thing. Reasoning it out, he realized it must be the queen of these alien things. An energy blast shot from its horn as it fired at a tiny purple horse. A tiny purple horse with wings. A tiny purple horse with wings and a horn. A tiny purple horse with wings and a horn, who easily deflected the energy blast with a glowing magical shield that quickly faded away.

“You won’t beat me in power this time Chrysalis!” the pink unicorn like thing cried out.

Cried… out. Cried out. Holy crap, these things can talk!

“That’s what you think Twilight! My changelings have found another world to collect love from, and when they return I will be more powerful than ever before!” Chrysalis laughed, launching another energy bolt to be batted away.

Connor looked around. There were more tiny colorful horses fighting against the black monsters. The monsters that killed all his friends.

“That’s not gonna happen queen bitch! I killed most of your little lackeys back on that god forsaken mountain!” Connor yelled, as he pressed the trigger on his M14 EBR. The shot rang out, slightly muffled by the suppressor fixed to the barrel.

Chrysalis froze in midair. Everyone stopped in shock at the noise, ponies and changelings alike. A small red dot formed on her chest, just to the rear of her shoulder blade. Time moved slowly forward as the spot trickled, then foamed. It was a clean lung shot. Time restarted again, quickly. The noises came back, the shouts. Connor re-slung his rifle to his back and stood there.

Chrysalis struggled to stay aloft. Coughing, she tumbled to the ground like a broken butterfly. She crashed to the courtyard in a heap of limbs and wings.

“What… what magic is this?!” she cried, blood flecks covering her lips as she coughed.

“Springfield Armory, I suppose,” said Connor as he walked up to the downed Queen of the Changelings. He looked around with satisfaction as he saw the other changelings fall to the ground as well. “I can end your pain if you want.”

“I don’t want to die! My drones, they will all die without a psychic link to their queen!” she cried, tears pouring from her eyes.

“That’s your choice, but I’m gonna stand here and make sure you do die.”

“Whyyyy…” Chrysalis mouthed, more than said.

“Your little cronies killed all my friends. I’m here to settle accounts.”

The colorful ponies moved closer and surrounded Connor. The purple one spoke up.

“Killed? Changelings don’t kill. They feed on all the love the host has, leaving the victim in a near comatose state. They do recover.”

Comatose? Oh crap. OOOOOOH CRAP. Connor never checked for a pulse. He was too busy killing all the monsters.

“SHITSHITSHITSHIT,” Connor cried out, as he tore away his blow out bag from his waist. He quickly knelt beside the fallen queen. Applying direct pressure using a clean bandage, he fished out a large tubular plastic syringe. Taking off the cap, he injected the wound with hundreds of tiny circular sponges. The XStat syringe works by quickly filling the cavity of a bullet wound, stopping hemorrhaging and bleeding in seconds. He took out another tube, snapped the cap off, and sprinkled the top of the wound with pixie dust. Finally, he ripped off the top of a Mylar bag and took out a quick clot battle dressing and sealed the wound. The changeling queen’s breathing seemed to even out.

“Do you guys have hospitals?” he asked the tiny horses. He stroked her side, sick with worry over what he had done, concern for the queen pouring out of him.

“I don’t think we are gonna need one, look.”

Chrysalis looked calm now, at ease. It almost looked like she was breathing normally. Her eyes were closed, but a large smile was spread across her face.

“It’s all right. Changelings feed on love. Your care and concern were enough to stabilize her,” said Twilight, smiling. “Everyone, gather in a close circle around Chrysalis! We’re going home!”

The horses gathered around Connor and the queen. HIS queen, a tiny voice whispered in the back of his mind. He continued to rub her side softly, feelings pouring off him. There was a large spark of energy on the tip of Twilight’s horn, and then a sudden feeling of nothingness.