Chapter One: Like A Dream Come True

The old world was a seedier place than ponies liked to think. The majority of industrial cities were plagued with political corruption and, at the very least, the Yakuza, the Marefia, the Celestian Intelligence Agency and even the Knighthood of Bear Government I knew because I was there, deep in the heart of Tokyo. Tokyo was the capital of the island the English speakers called 'Japony.'

Japony was exceptionally comfy when it could afford to be. We struck a truce with the ponies of the west after Zebraca rose to power.

That didn't even count Yakyakistan and their boasts about WMDs. They were hollering about nuclear football and the Zebras were all about their megaspells. With major cities like Canterlot and Appleloosa all tied up, it was up to the allies to offer intelligence and even fire support sometimes.

I hardly called my job professional. I still don't. But I did my best to serve my country and our friends in the west.

The day was December 17th. It happened on a thursday. I'd already left my home to be stationed over at Canterlot. When that happened, I found it stuffy and conservative. One of the worst combinations in a while, I'd noted, leaving the airport and finding my commanding officer.

His name was Solid Diamond. He was accompanied by a group of soldiers in mark one combat armor. I spell it 'mark one' and not 'MK I' because sometimes, people who weren't native to the west didn't know what it meant. It was one of the many things I learned in the west.

The noise of cluttered chatter drowned everything out. I could vaguely articulate the masses of ponies around me. They were all entering their fighter chariots and power armor suits. As little as I saw, I knew the Canterlot Equestrians were meeting for deployment.

I gently slid my way past the crowd, aware of how busy we were. One of them had bleach blonde hair and emerald eyes, trotting past my right with a large power armored stallion. He murmured deep below the commotion, rumbling words behind my sternum.

"I'm sure about this, Applejack. I am."

"A-applesnack, ya thick-headed workhorse... what'll I do if I lose you? What then?"

I met the captain with a salute, standing in his shadow. Solid Diamond was a big pony. His chest was barrel-thick even without any armor on. And his biceps, I could see even with his coat on, were shoved painfully against his coat sleeves. My C.O escorted me from the rendezvous point and into a more secure setting: a very cramped and isolated bus stop bench...

As we walked away, I heard the voices of the lovebirds fade to nothing.

"The real question is: what'll I do without you...?"

"Oh, Applesnack... just when I'm ashore, you keep me happy. I love you. When all this is over, we can talk about what to name the baby. How about Cracker Jack?"

The captain found us a roofed bus stop. The front also had two doors for some reason. I didn't know why the thing had doors or why it suddenly felt so quiet.But Solid Diamond had a harsh grimace over his lips.

I could see his expression fitting all of Canterlot. They were all in transit that day. Even through the muddled walls of the bust stop, I felt the heart of Canterlot pulsing frantically. Numerous chariots and pedicabs swept the rainwater from the gutters and kicked them up to make water serpents. We savored the hush of petrichor filling our nostrils.

Finally, he pushed out a sigh, presenting a folder he'd been keeping in his officer's coat. I honestly had no idea of what to think, since he didn't even glance at it. Solid Diamond, a good colt in a good position, briefed me on several possibilities.

"Cleaner Glass, you've been expected to fulfill these orders. And since they're for your eyes only, I can't imagine what the hell they are. So do me favor and stay clear of two things: griffons and any shady unicorns. We heard the lot of them in Canterlot are actually spies for the zebras."

Solid Diamond took a few to find and light a cigar for himself.

"Old Director Rarity understood that herself. If you see any unicorns in power armor, I also suggest you engage carefully. Understood?"

I nodded softly and gazed out at the drops against the glass.

"Aye aye, Captain."

"Excellent. You knock them dead. And maybe literally if that's what you do. Let's hope we can all make it home tonight, Glass."

I left without another word. Figured Captain Diamond had better things to do than chat with a cleaner like myself. I didn't know much about true military types, but at that time, I didn't trust them. All the major commanding officers I had prior weren't the best of people. It didn't come with race, or pride or money, I found. Power corrupted everyone.

I started down the mellow streets of Canterlot, finding the air colder than usual. Japony wasn't an oven like Californeigh or Las Pegasus. But it was much warmer. It wasn't a foul heat. It didn't burn anyone. Japony, the land of the rising sun, it's climate welcomed you. I missed the cries of cicadas. With every step I took, it seemed the streets grew darker. And by the time I realized how dark it was, I found my destination.

Just a simple bar. Nothing too elaborate or decadent.

I made my way inside to find an overload of odors. And over those odors were virulent sounds scraping against my ears. A crowd of rambunctious bikers and hoodlums spent their night drinking and insulting each other. Well. At least it wasn't too different from the corps.

Under the noise, I heard some stallions chatting away. As they spoke, I tiptoed my way to the bartender. Her counter was smooth, polished with work and sweat.

"That's not a good show."

"What do you mean it's not a good show? You haven't even watched it yet. All you did was pussyfoot your way to through the second episode."

"Shut up- You know I don't like yaoi!"

"It's not yaoi, you idiot- it's yuri. And what, you don't like anime because you think it's porn?"

"Yeah I think it's porn. How could you draw all those bikinis and jiggling tits without making porn?"

I approached the bartender, aware of her 9mm resting at the end of her necklace. At any time, she could rip it away and open fire. I took in her cyan eyes and even more striking blood-hued mane. There were streaks of gold lining her mane. I examined her body. She wore a silver sports jacket with the letters CHS over the torso region.

"Hey, beautiful. Looking for a drink or a bite to eat?" She started, curling her lips.

"I bet you say that to all the colts." I replied, showing my crooked smile.

A hard orange spread over her yellow cheeks. It spilled over her nose bridge and told me what I already knew. People usually mistook me for a mare, yeah. It just so happened that my hips matched the profile and so did everything else.

"O-oh, well, you're just so gosh darn pretty... I had no idea. So- uh, how about that drink?" The barkeep stammered, pursing her lips and looking away.

"Just get me a sparkle cola with ice. I can't drink much on the job."

My barkeep gave a soft, buzzing laugh between her lips. She gave me a questioning glance, before arching her brow and grinning.

"You sure you belong here, fella? You could get a soda from outside. There's a vending machine by the back, you know."

"You're here, aren't you? That's all I need."

The mare started chortling. She arched her back and threw her head the same way. I watched her lips broaden. The bartender replied by batting her lashes, pouring soda on the rocks. We enjoyed each other's company, me sipping pop and her leaning against her forehoof.

"You from around here, slick?" She asked, tilting her head to the side.

What could I say except 'no.'

"No, I'm from Tokyo. I'm just stationed here for now."

"Japony, huh? Knew there was something different about you. You know, besides the whole you being a deer thing. Why come to Canterlot, though? You know how everyone here is. Especially around non-ponies."

I took a sip of my drink and closed my eyes, deep in thought. The moment was beautiful. I felt like a person. No one was discriminating me. Or telling me I was nothing but trouble. It felt like home. Just like heaven.

"I go where I'm needed. And right now, that's Canterlot. What about you? You're a lot brighter than most Canterlot types."

"Heh, I'm not from around here. I was raised in Appleloosa, you know. But, I guess I never did get the accent down. Canterlot ponies don't try to be xenophobic. They're all just jumpy about the zebras. I'm willing to bet anyone you run into tonight is enlisted, too. Me? I'm just a girl trying to live life one step at a time."

I'd long since finished my glass. I wanted to stay. But fate had other plans in store.

Wasn't long before the distant chatter died down. The sharp silence struck my ears and I glanced over my shoulder. Standing behind me was an older stallion, in uniform, too. I slid my empty glass toward the barkeep and paid for it. The extra five dollars was tip for good company. Was it much. No. But it meant something.

As soon as I started off, the nameless soldier yanked me back by my tail. I could feel the fur being pulled against my skin. And that deepened my breathing.

"Where are you going all of a sudden? Can't have a good bar without any friends. I was hoping you and me could share a drink, jap."

Oh boy.

"Come on, don't be that way. I got a nice drink for ya, right here. I call it the Canterlot Special-!"

I felt his hoof rushing toward me. I ducked and bucked him away, slamming him into the jukebox. He spat out some of his teeth and charged me again, winding up another haymaker. I crouched low, touching my chest to the floor. I spun my back to him and launched my hindleg into his chin. Before he could recover, I grabbed him by the collar, slammed him into the pool table and stomped on his stomach with my forelegs.

The shock sprung his eyes open. And that was when he reached for the pool cue. The swing struck me across the neck. From what I could tell, it didn't hurt my vertebrae. I staggered to my left and crouched lower. My enemy struck me again on the side of the head. He must've been surprised when the pool cue bounced off my skull. The blood streamed cozily down my temple.

When he swung again, I caught the pool cue in my antlers. I jerked my head to the left, tossing his weapon aside. I knocked the wind out of him mid-swing, goring him and sending him skyward. My enemy was down, hacking and bleeding against the floor. When the others tried to intervene, I pulled a knife from my belt, fending them off.

"Barkeep." I called, drawing her attention.

"I had fun. Sorry I couldn't stick around longer. Do me a favor and keep a spare cola for me. I'll be back tomorrow."

The patrons stayed in the bar, even as I put my knife away trotting out. The night was over and I had a job to do. But, just as I made my way down the block, someone called me. I flipped my cell open and found the name worrying. It was Captain Diamond.

"Yes, sir."

"Glass. You've got to get somewhere safe. We're-! We're being bombed right now!"

"Wait, what? Whaddyou mean you're being 'bombed'?"

"Look-! The Zebras are doing it! They're throwing megaspells right now! Get to safety in the Mane Street vault! It'll be right by the airport, go!"

Damn it. I didn't have time to thank him. Already, I could see bright flashes erupting from behind me. The blinding iridescence struck me dumb. I galloped as far away as I could, finding a crowd of ponies, griffons and even zebras by the platform of a vault elevator. There were guards in power armor by the entrance, toting miniguns and combat shotguns. Before they could shoo me away from the entrance, I presented my combat knife.

"Marine affiliation, huh? Well. I can't say no to a wardog. Head on in, First Sargeant."

I did. I joined the last few boarding the elevator as the flashes grew closer. Overhead, the shield over the city began to crumble.

A younger soldier started barking orders, waving his forelegs frantically toward the elevator. One of his brothers brought in a baby, barely a foal and filling the air with panic. They raced around as ants and busy mosquitoes, rushing to fill the platform. The one manning the hoist erupted in panic.

"Go, go! We have to get as many people as we can!"

His commanding officer, the pony that watched the entrance, protested.

"Damn it private, we can't put them all on!"

"Sir! Who the fuck do you think I am?! I was born to serve my country! I'm sorry, sir, but you can take my badge when everypony is in the vault!"

The blasts were tearing through the last layer of the protection spell. I tore my eyes away and let my mouth open. The shockwave traces raced through me and knocked me to my knees. I saw the others losing consciousness. I shut my mouth so the dust couldn't get in. The amassed survivors shoved onto the elevator, till I could barely wiggle my legs. Up above, a horde of megaspells raced toward us.

The elevator finally sprung to life and lowered us away.

I gazed up and watched the barrier shatter to pieces, engulfed in the age of atom.

Author's Note

Level Up!

New perk added!

Rush Recklessly (Req. 5 STR)

Rush into danger! You can now tackle enemies as you sprint toward them, flinging them backwards. The higher your strength, the farther they fly. Enemies with higher strength or endurance than your own are only staggered.