Setting it all on the table
The portal is going live in T minus ten minutes. Everyone get to your stations.
"You heard the lady everyone to your stations. That goes double for you Al."
"Yes sir." I couldn't help it but I was so excited to be the first living being to cross the planet using this new and amazing technology that could open portals over vast distances in only seconds. I burst out of the conference room like a bat out of hell running towards the testing area where my drop pod was waiting. All the engineers, scientists, and security guards were all giving me thumbs up, salutes, and wishing me good luck which I returned in kind. After reaching the testing area I was stopped and went through a security check and was allowed in. Upon entering I was led to a side room where I dawned my suit. It was a skin tight suit made out of Newton resistant material which would harden on impact. After packing my things in a travel case I reentered the testing area and walked up to my drop pod and climbed inside and begun going over my safety checks when over the speakers when I heard the voice of the company's head dog.
"So how's it feel to be the first human to go though the portal son."
"Pretty exciting sir but I'll be honest I'm nervous as hell."
"Well don't be Alister I'm sure everything's going to be just fine. What do you plan to do after you make ground fall?"
"Depends before or after dealing with the press. Before I'm going to smoke one of the victory cigars or all of them then after I'm going to head home go to the bar and get completely shit faced."
" Well don't drink to much. Don't want the bar running completely out of beer after they welcome back there hometown hero. By the way did ya come up with some inspirational speech for this momentous occasion or are you just going to wing it?"
"You know me I can't make a speech to save my life even if I had a month to come up with one."
"Hahahahaha. Well your right on that one I'll just have to whip one up for the press."
T minus 3 minutes. Repeat T minus 3 minutes.
"Well you better strap in and do final checks."
"On it sir." And with that I laid back down inside the HADES (High Altitude Deployment and Entrance System) or as some of the engineers like to call it the coffin on account that if it fails to slow down in time and the safety precautions are not deployed it will literally bury you in the ground. It has been dropped hundreds of times from high altitude bombers and hasn't failed once ( there's a first time for any thing). After reaching four miles from the surface a retarder shoot deploys to slow the HADES down into more of a controllable speed. At one mile from the surface a series of thrusters mounted underneath will fire off for final approach. Once they fire the retarder will be ejected. If the thrusters fail to fire a manual over ride will allow the pilot to deploy a series of fins so he can preform a crash landing. If I'm lucky it won't come to that. After strapping in my luggage, putting on my helmet, and strapping myself in I press a series of buttons the hatch closes with a satisfying thunk.
Chk "How's it looking Al? Any problems?"
"I'm reading green across the board. We're still dropping at the old Air Force base in Rantoul Illinois correct?"
Chk"Good to hear and yes. Got anything you want to say?"
"It's been an honor working for you sir."
Chk"Like wise but seriously your killing the mood." We both got a good chuckle out of that.
T minus 1 minutes. T minus 30 seconds. T minus 10 seconds. I was breathing heavy. I grabbed my grandmothers ring that was hanging next to my Class Ring and prayed for good luck. T minus 5 4 3 2 1. The portal is now open. With that the display filled with an array of light then settling on white and the windows turned black from the amount if light the portal was giving off.
"All right everybody this is the moment we have all been waiting for. Let's hit it!" And with that the HADES rocketed through the portal and popped me out in high atmo above earth ~~or at least what I thought was earth at the time~~ the windows cleared up and I gazed out at the beauty of what I was seeing. The layers of clouds drifting by faster then I could keep track of. "If anybody is hearing this. This is the most amazing sight I have ever seen." The clouds continued to race by then I heard a bang followed quickly by a stomach churning deceleration as the retarder was deployed. I watched as the clouds began to slow down I turned on the downwards facing camera and watched as the ground began to approach and saw that there was no airstrips at all only what looked like a CASTLE. "Oh fuck!" I mumbled to myself as I switched on the emergency signal when out of no where lights started flashing Amber red.
"Thruster system is disabled prepare to go into manual override" announced the pods vi with a mono tone feminine voice which didn't help keep me calm.
"Oh fuck me sideways." I cursed out as I grabbed the pilot controls as the fins deployed. I began scanning the ground looking for a safe spot to ~~crash~~ land. Upon closer inspection the castle had a large garden with a maze taking up the better part of it. "That looks as good as a place as any." I began steering the HADES towards the maze but I was still coming in to fast. I have to slow this thing down or else I'm not going to make it out of this. I'm going to keep the retarder on until I nearly hit the ground. The HADES began to shutter violently as it was pulling out of its nose dive. I watched as the hedges got closer and closer I needed to hit a couple hundred feet in order to slow down enough. I pulled the lever releasing the retarder and watched as death inched closer and closer and then BANG.
1 year 2 months later. Present day.
Bang bang bang. "Oh shit!" I yelled out as I fell backwards crashing to the floor with my chair to the side. I gave a deep grown as I heard the door open followed by 2 pairs of clacking hooves approaching my desk.
"Alister are you alright?"
"Yeah I'm fine Tia just got startled when you banged on the door." I look up to see both Celestia and Luna standing before me in their formal dresses from the meetings they attended earlier that day. They were both looking down at me with Tia showing the most worry on her pale white face. After being here for over a year I've gotten good at reading their pony faces. Their internal anatomy is very similar to that of normal humans. The main difference is physically is that they haves horns and/or wings, their entire body is covered in fur that comes in a manaserie of colors, instead of feet they have hooves compared to human legs makes them look like their standing on the tips of their toes, and finally their faces have a very round shape to them and a muzzle.
"Ma I'm fine. See no broken bones." I watched as her face quickly brightened up.
"See he's fine."
"I know but I'm just worried about him while he's in this weakened condition."
"He's fine Tia."
"You know what I really do like to have the attention of two beautiful mares. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside." I looked at them both as there cheeks began to blush profusely. Goooood they're cute when they look like that. "Also who are you talking about being in a weakened state? Just last week I was kicking both your flanks in the sparring match." Luna had a shit eating grin plastered all over her face as she looked a her big sister knowing she was right and Tia was wrong. Which Tia responded with sticking her tongue out. They act like children sometimes. "So what did you come here to talk about? Is Blueblood asking for more bits? And I swear if he asks to use my office for his dates again I might just punch him in the face."
"No nothing like that we just wanted to see if you'll be joining us for dinner tomorrow evening. Cadence and Shining armor are coming from the Crystal empire to visit as well as Twilight and her friends. Me and Luna would be very happy if you joined us." They both gazed at me with the biggest puppy dog eyes. God damn I swear those two could weaponize that and defeat whole damn armies that way.
"Is that an order or a request?"
"Depends on your answer."
"OK Fine I'll go I mean I could never say no to a face like that." I turn to Luna causing face blush hard.
"Th-then it's settled then. They'll be arriving here at 6. You best be off to bed it's going to be a long day tomorrow."
"OK let me just put this paper away and I'll go to bed."
"Oh what's it about."
"The changeling invasion during the wedding."
"Anything interesting?"
"How it sounds she had it planned out perfectly but near the end got to cocky for her own good. By the way where did all the changlings end up?
"We sent scouts out to locate them but they were unable to find any of them well aside from the one at Cranky and Matilda's wedding."
"That reminds me ma you forgot the wedding gift In the throne room." I turned to Luna to see her giving Tia a shit eating grin to which see just rolled her eyes.
"Anyway I'm going to head out now I guess." And with that we all left the war room or as it is now my own personal study. After Celestia went on her way I walked with Luna for a time through several of the castle corridors and ended up out in the gardens.
"It's beautiful out to night."
"Thank you Alister. Few ever appreciate the night and it's beauty." She said with a trace of sadness in her voice. It always pains me to see her sadden like this. I wanted her to always be happy and smiling. I wanted to let her know how much I appreciate her, how deeply I care for her. But when ever I tried to tell her I get so nervous I forget what I was going to say. Now might be as good a time as any.
"Luna I wanted to tell you something" she turned her head to me with a questioning look with a little excitement. "I wanted to tell you-to tell you that I" do it you pussy tell her how you feel. "I wanted to tell you that I that I I ah you know what never mind" " pussy" I cursed myself. She looked down a little disheartened and then perked up almost immediately and asked if we could keep walking but before I could answer she locked her arm with mine. Not that I'm complaining I just wasn't expecting it. "Um OK."
Following Evening
Several minutes till 6
I've been standing in the dining hall for the last hour with Luna and Celestia. Tia was wearing tight fitting tan pants, a purple top that reminds me of a one piece swimsuit, a belt of the same color as her mane with her cutie mark on the buckle, and her gold necklace with a purple gem in it that she rarely takes off. Luna was wearing a long light blue dress with a black belt and necklace with her cutie mark on it. Cadance and Shinning Armor have been here for the last thirty minutes talking with the older princesses but Shining Armor took an interested in me in my black armor. When ever he asked about the large guard in black and gold trimmed armor carrying a two long swords with a tinted visor to which Celestia responded that all will be revealed when Twilight arrives. As I watched I noticed Cadance kept her hands close to her belly I had a sense of protectiveness towards her a feeling I've only felt once before. About ten minuets later the door shot open and in entered six ponies entered two earth, two pegisi, a unicorn, and finally a purple alicorn obviously Twilight. "Cadance" the young alicorn blurted out, ran up to her and started doing what appeared to be a school children game similar to patty cake. I watched in interest what they were doing it was at that point they said "clap your hooves and do a little shake" to which they shook their derrieres at each other. As soon as they did that I lost my shit and started laughing hysterically. Once I calmed down from my laughing fit I look up to see everyone in the room looking at me with questioning stares.
"Are you done yet?" Celestia chastised me.
"Yeah I think I'm good but there seems to be a problem."
"Oh and whats that?"
"There's someone else here feels like a unicorn, female, shes nervous, anxious, directed towards you, threat level low."
"Now who would be nervous of me?"
"Oh right I nearly forgot. She wanted to come and ask you something. Please don't be mad at her." The younger alicorn replied.
I started thinking who could Tia possibly be mad at? My question was answered right away when the doors swung open to reveal a light orange unicorn with a mane of red and yellow and eyes the same as Luna's. She walked straight for Tia. "Ma who is this" I turned to look at her to see her mumble out "Sunset." She tried to steel herself but I could see she was ready to breakdown and cry. This Sunset mare stopped three foot short of Celestia and start fumbling with her hands as if trying to find something to say. She didn't look up from shame she finally said "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry for what I've done and the way I acted. I I don't expect you to forgive me but I just wanted to tell you that I" she was cut off when Celestia gently took her by the chin and looked her directly in the tear filled eyes and said "I forgive you." It was in that moment they both started crying and locked each other in a tight hug. Everyone else in the room was all misty eyed including me. Celestia and Sunset stood there for a while still hugging each other until Tia finally broke the hug to wipe the tears from her eyes to finally state that she is glade to have all four of her students here with her which caused some general confusion.
"Wait? Four students! I know Sunset and I were your students. So who are the other two?"
"Well one would be me." Cadance answered.
"And I am the forth." I boomed out which once again got their heads to turn towards me.
"Twilight. I wanted you here to give him some information that might put his mind at ease. But sense Sunset is here she will more then likely will have the answers for which he seeks."
Twilight looked at Tia and stated that there is only one thing that Sunset could have more information about and that is the other world. At that moment I remove my hands from the pommels of my blades at sides and raise my arms to remove my helmet to which Twilight and Sunset gasped.
"Your a your a."
"A human." I looked at them mouths agape with shock and fascination written across their faces. Twilight was the first to speak.
"Princess why didn't you tell me that there was a human here?" But before Celestia could respond I cut in.
"She didn't tell you because I asked her not to. There's no reason to get excited about little ole me but first I believe introductions are in order. My name is Alister Sanders and I'm a member of honor guard. I am a human or titan which ever you prefer. Second nicest guy you'll ever meet, second to everyone else." The first to approach me was the two younger alicorns and Shining Armor. "Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, Princess Twilight Sparkle, Prince Shining Armor" I bowed to them and called them by their formal titles as a way to show respect "it is a pleasure to finally meet you face to face."
"Please just call me Cadance." She replied and extended her hand to mine and gave it a gental shake i started getting that protective feeling again. I'll have to confront her in private in order to certify my suspicions. She was wearing a light blue dress that ran down past her knees which seemed perfectly fine for the informal gathering like this.
"You can call me Shining Armor Captain of the guard." He snapped off a crisp salute which I returned in kind followed by shaking hands. He wore a red jacket with his cutie mark embroidered on it. Underneath he wore a black shirt. "I thought the honor guards were disbanded eight hundred years ago."
"They were but I'll explain more once we all sit down." He nodded his head in agreement.
"Call me Twilight Sparkle, or Twilight, or Twi, or T.." I cut her off with a simple hand gesture. "Sorry. Twilight will be fine. I just got a little excited. Seeing a human here in Equestria and I have so many questions to ask about humans and your culture and well everything." She wore a purple plaid skirt, a dark v neck sweater with a plain white one underneath.
"It's alright Twilight. Getting a little excited even happens to the best of us. Alright whose up next?" everyone else I haven't met yet started forming a line.
Next up was a orange earth pony. "Howdy there partner. Names Applejack. I run sweat apple acres." "Finally one of my people." AJ sported the typical farm girl attire. White tank top, red pearl snaps, Daisy Duke cut off jeans, and to top it off a tan stetson cowboy hat. I held out my hand and we shook except she was squeezing my hand hard (~~some farmers do this to see how much you work you do with your hands and how strong you are~~) I started squeezing her hand but not so much to hurt her.
Next in line was a white unicorn with a purple mane. Her dress was purple with gold trim and elbow length white gloves. The whole outfit just screamed overkill. "Hello darling my name is Rarity it is a pleasure too make your aquatints." Holding out her hand instead of shaking it I gave it a light kiss. "The pleasure is all mine."
"Oh such a Gentlecolt."
I started looking around for the pink mare that was right behind Rarity and couldn't see her. Out of no where I couldn't breath I look down to see the pink mare giving me a death grip bear hug she looks up and says "HiImPinkiePieandwe'regoingtobesuperduperextraloopersuperbestfriendsokiedokieloki." I look at the hyperactive pink mare her mane and tail remind me of cotton candy, she wore a bright yellow shirt, a frilly blue short skirt, and knee high white and pink striped socks. "Uh Pinkie....cant..breath." she let go of her vice like grip backed away and started saying she was sorry all the while her mane lost its volume and everything about her turned a shade darker. I start feeling a tightness in my chest and a buzz in the back of my head "Oh sweet baby Jesus don't make her sad. Shes crazy." "Its OK Pinkie I just wasn't expecting to get such a strong hug." I open my arms so she can hug me again. Her mane instantly springs back with volume and color to everything she bolted up and gave each other a tight hug.
"The names Rainbow Dash, faster flier in all of Equestria." The light blue Pegasus mare said. She was wearing a blue tank top, a light blue jacket, and tight shorts. What caught my attention about her wasn't the rainbow colored mane but she had been floating in air the entire time. Instead of shaking hand we fist bumped
."Ah Rainbow Dash I've heard a lot about you from Spitfire. Shes told me your in the reserves."
"You know Spitfire?"
"Yeah its kind of hard to forget the mare that saved my life but I'll explain that when we're all sitting down."
Next up was the smallest mare in the room. She wore a green long sleeve sweater dress, her mane long and light pink, and her fur a very light yellow almost like cream. "I'm Fluttershy."
"I'm sorry could you say that again a little louder I couldn't quite hear you."
"I'm Fluttershy." She was so scared of me probably because I was well over a foot taller then her. I bent my knees and brought myself to eye level with her. "It's OK there's no reason to be scared of me."
"Oh um. OK. Um my name is Fluttershy and its nice to meet you."
"Its nice to me you to Fluttershy." Finally it was time to meet the last pony. Sunset. She wore a light blue sundress, blue yoga pants or at least that's what they looked like, boots and a leather jacket. I'm not even going to try and explain to the ponies what they're made of. "I guess I'm last up. I'm Sunset Shimmer. I've lived on earth for several years. I do have one question. I know your Celestia's most resent student but what all has she taught you.
"Well Sunset that is a good question first off I'm not just Celestia's student I'm also Luna's. But to answer your question they taught me about pony society, history, and can everybody take a step back?" Everyone did as asked and took a step back. "They also taught me this." I clap my hands together and when I brought them away from each other lightning danced across my finger tips.
"You have magic?"
"Yep. But like I said I'll explain and answer any questions once we're all sitting down." With that I released some magic to pull the chairs out from the table and asked everyone to take a seat. Once they all were seated I pushed the chairs in and looked around to realize that their were no empty chairs left for me. Perfect. "Oh darn there appears to be no chairs left for me. Oh well I guess I'll be leaving. If anyone needs me I'll be in my office." I started making my way to the door. Before I reached it I see a flash of light out of the corner of my eye and turn to see one of my office chairs floating in air surrounded in a golden glow. "Tia did you really just pull that out of my office."
"Maybe."
"Damn it." I took the chair and scotched in between Luna and Sunset. At the head of the table sat Celestia to her right and down the line sat Cadance, Shining Armor, Twilight, Dash, and Pinkie. To her left sat Luna, me, Sunset, Rarity, AJ, and finally Fluttershy. "So who wants to ask first? Twilight."
"First question how long have you been here in Equestria?"
"What day is today?"
"Saturday."
"I've been here for fourteen months."
"Over a year! Why didn't you ask for my help in getting home ?"
"Well you see I was going to but a certain giant black and red horned centaur put a hole in my gut when I tried to fight him on my own. Who then proceeded to throw me out a window and hit the side of a mountain."
"Wait! Wait. Hold up. Your telling us that you went up and fought Tirek by yourself with no backup are you crazy?" Shining questioned.
"We humans have a saying one part brave and three parts fool. Also I drank a half bottle of liquid courage and you can do about anything. Celestia had me and Blueblood assigned two guards to protect us and had us put in a vault. But he got all nervous and ordered to have someone take out that monster which I happily excepted."
"The only time you followed an order from him." Luna teased.
"Yeah. So anyway I pull out my blades and proceed to attack him. Once he got fed up he grabbed me in his magic, suck the magic out of me, gored me on his horn, and throw me out the window."
"That had to be painful and what's with your swords they look different then the normal ones."
"Yeah that was painful as hell and the swords are actually spell blades. They allow me to channel my magic through then. Most specifically for lightning based attacks. Cadence your next."
"I see you have those rings around your neck are they from your significant other back home?" Of course the princess of love would ask that kind of question.
"No. I never had a girlfriend. The larger ring is just my class ring it wont fit on my finger easily anymore. The other is my grandmother's wedding ring. She gave it to me just before she pasted."
"Never had a girlfriend. Not packing big enough equipment?"
"Oh my god. Did you really just ask that question?"
"I have to agree. Rainbow that was completely uncalled for. A lady never asks what a stallion is "packing"."
"Yeah right like you all weren't thinking the same thing."
"Well I certainly wasn't and I'm pretty sure everyone down here weren't. Sunset! Please for the love of god ask me a question, any question just to get off this topic."
"Oh ah ok um. Two questions what was your job back on earth and why did you refer to yourself as a Titan?"
"Ah! I was wondering when one of you picked up on that. I'll try telling the short and sweet version. The Sanders family has been military for generations all males have joined the service. When I turned 18 I went to join the Army and became a cavalry scout. Cav scouts seek out and locate enemy positions for the main body to attack. During tour my hip took a round and shattered really bad and was medically discharged and couldn't rejoin. Then Johnathan Ambrose offered me a job at 20 as part of a private military company."
"You were a what?"
"A mercenary, a soldier of fortune, a gun for hire, a merc. And Shining Armor before you launch yourself across this table there is no one in this room that's in danger from me. As for why I call myself a Titan its because I went through a solider enhancement program called Titan. It turned normal humans into what some might call meta-humans. The program would make the subjects stronger, faster, enhance mental capacities, resistant to shock, near unbreakable bones, and enhanced eye sight."
"It all sounds to good there has to be a catch."
"Oh there sure as shit is. Lets see there's neural degeneration, uncontrollable muscle spasms, bowed bones, blindness, the body being left in a vegetative state, and enough pain to drive a person into madness. Some even went feral."
Upon saying his final works he froze up slowly closed his eyes and raised his arms holding them there for several seconds only to ask a question. "Do you smell that? Smells like chocolate milk and cotton candy?" His eyes narrow and flashes a toothy grin. "Oh this will be fun." His right arm comes down at full speed stopping inches above the table while it bangs as though being hit. His right arm reaching around as if to itch his side while the left reaches under his shirt and retrieves a piece of metal and points it towards the ring created by his right arm.
"Do you mind telling me what your doing here Discord?" The lord of chaos as if summoned materializes out of thin air. "Oh poo it appears as though I've been caught."
Author's Note
I'll admit I'm not that good.
