Chapter 47: Horizons

Chris pulled the van to a stop, and the passenger window rolled down. Emmy peered out, her ARHUD darkening into sunglasses against the blazing morning light. "What's up?"

"Waiting on the bus. What kept you guys?" McAllister replied.

"Dr. Hardy wanted to feed Fluffy in the jungle. He wanted Chris and I around just in case he ended up becoming the meal."

The van rocked slightly as McAllister, Sanchez, and Hamilton got in, followed by Marky. "The panther?" Marky asked. "How did that go?"

Emmy poked her glasses. "Yup. The creature has continued to behave in a docile fashion since Fluttershy went home. Dr. Hardy is fascinated by that."

"Doesn't surprise me one bit," Sanchez said, buckling his seat belt. "The yellow girl is magic."

Emmy chuckled. "Oh, there's a little bit of magic in all of us. By the way, Rena said hi, Marky."

"Oh, yes, erm, that's great," Marky stuttered.

Emmy leaned back and twisted her head towards her shoulder, catching Hamilton from the corner of her eye. "How''s the arm?"

Hamilton held it out in front of him while the van started moving, exposing a long almost-healed scar. "Doc sprayed it with instant skin graft. Said I'd be fine by the end of the week. I feel fine already, though. It hurt more yesterday when I went to visit Fluttershy and Discord."

"I heard he made a full recovery at almost the same time we completed our mission," Chris said without taking his eyes off the road.

"Yeah, well, he's been sitting in bed at Fluttershy's cottage ever since he got out of the hospital. I honestly think he's shamming because she keeps stuffing him with tea and biscuits."

Chris chuckled. "Do you really blame him?"

Hamilton grinned. "Can't say that I do. Those biscuits are awesome." He smacked his lips in remembrance. "So, does anypony know why the boss called us in?"

"Not exactly. I've got some ideas, though."

"Maybe he wants to give us all a raise," McAllister suggested.

"Like you'd know what to do with more money anyway," Sanchez scoffed. "If you stuff any more MLP crap into your quarters, you'll not be able to get in the door."

"Hey you weren't supposed to see that," McAllister protested. "It's just a few things!"

"Yeah and you've even got pony bed sheets."

"I do not!"

"Liar!"

"Guys, knock it off," Chris laughed. "He can have damn pony bed sheets if he wants to. I may get some myself."

Emmy rolled her eyes. "Like you even need that."

"I'll have you know I am a highly impressionable consumer," Chris said. "Recently, I have little to no control over my impulsive spending when it comes to pony merchandise."

"You and the rest of the world," Hamilton added. "Apparently Celestia's and Pinkie Pie's web pages have instigated some kind of pony frenzy. People are buying so much stuff the shelves are bare. Which is great!"

Sanchez nudged him. "What's the big deal?"

Hamilton grinned. "I dumped a bunch of money into HAS ticker stocks. They've risen incredibly even in the past few days thanks to the following Celestia has gathered. Several of her videos have gone viral. And did you know Pinkie Pie has been recording video ads?"

"I had no idea," Sanchez mused. "But it doesn't surprise me in the least. She's a cute little show-boater."

The van pulled up outside the lodging building, and the occupants slid out and headed for the door.

When they entered Jeff's office, they were surprised to see Princess Celestia in attendance as well as Dr. Hardy.

"We have a problem of some magnitude," Jeff said, wasting no time getting to the point. "Celestia and myself just got off an encrypted video conference call with the President of the United States." He quickly held up his hand at the gasps and shocked looks. "No, it's not what you think. There have been increasing incursions. Unexplained events. Disappearances. Sightings of bizarre creatures."

"What the hell is going on?" Marky asked.

"Apparently, during the time Gate 2 was jammed, rifts began opening up on Earth as well as Equestria. Only here, nobody noticed them or sealed them. There were only two located in the United States, and the Army contained them under top-secret conditions."

"How were they even aware of what we had going on?" Chris said.

Jeff sighed. "Because I was sending the Department of Defense live footage of our entire assault on Isla del Lamento. Someone had to know what was going on. If we failed, humanity would have no chance unless I let them see what we were up against."

Hamilton's eyes widened. "Surely you didn't pass on how to create the magical weapons. That would put the Equestrians in danger!"

Jeff nodded. "I am well aware of that. I had prepared a file with all our information for transmission to the Department of Defense and the White House in the event of our deaths."

"I approved it," Celestia added. "It was the only choice that made sense."

"Fortunately," Jeff continued, "We succeeded, and the file was never sent. You did not know it, but during our engagement, a nuclear-armed U.S. Air Force B-21 bomber was en route to the island. If we were eliminated, they would have bombarded it with enough nuclear weapons to eradicate a small country."

Chris put his hand to his head. "This just keeps getting better and better."

Jeff nodded. "Tough times call for tough decisions. I didn't think such an approach would work, but it was the best they could come up with."

Chris sighed. "I understand. But what now?"

"No government in the world is equipped to deal with the creeping threat on our doorstep," Jeff explained. "Not America, and certainly not anybody else. Due to our special alliance with the Equestrians, we have access to new technology that gives us an edge shared by none else."

"But," Emmy said, "what is going to happen? What about the Gate?"

"The Gate will remain open," Celestia replied. "We have discussed it at length, and although we could seal the portal and cut off our worlds, neither of us is willing to do so."

Emmy's eyes grew wide. "You mean..."

"We Equestrians will continue forward with humanity into the future."

"Is that a good idea?" Concern was evident in Hamilton's voice. "Humans can be dangerous. ProteC is a controlled environment. Not everyone is like us out there."

"Which is why we will be careful visiting your world," Celestia said evenly.

"And why we will keep our side of the gate, and this facility, heavily guarded at all times," Jeff added.

"Our side as well." Celestia promised.

"This brings me to a question," Jeff said, looking at Chris's team. "The United States Department of Homeland Security has requested our assistance in dealing with the unique problems that have cropped up in the wake of our science experiment. The President, while not overtly holding ProteC responsible for the situation, has reminded us in no uncertain terms that we are the only ones who can control it."

"What are you getting at?" Chris asked, folding his arms.

"We need field agents to go out, assess situations, and deal with them as necessary. Your team is the obvious first choice. I know I had initially offered you the job of security head here, but, as you can see, the situation has changed. I can find another person to manage this place. I need someone who is good at putting down monsters, in fact, I need whole squads of people who are good at it."

Chris looked at his team, and a series of nods told him all he needed to know. "We're in. I never did much care for being a managerial type anyway. But, what about Emmy and Marky?"

"Marky would be welcome to come live in Equestria," Celestia offered. "Jeff has something he wishes to ask you, though."

"That's right. I wish to extend a job offer to both of you guys," Jeff said, looking at the two ponies. "You would be official ProteC employees, assigned to the special task force under Chris. Earth needs your help."

Marky grinned. "You don't have to ask me twice, boss. Princess Celestia, I like Equestria very much, and I appreciate your gracious offer, but I feel I belong on this side of the fence. It would be really hard for me to get a burger or a taco over there, no offense."

"None taken," Celestia said, smiling widely. Her smile faded as she saw the suddenly sad expression on Emmy's face. "Is something wrong?" she asked.

"Princess Celestia," Emmy began. She hesitated, unsure how to proceed. Celestia waited patiently until she spoke again. "I, uh, I know you gave me this job. I feel I owe you. I don't feel... I mean, I don't think it would be right for me to ask..." she trailed off, then continued. "I have my duty to Equestria, after all."

"You want to stay here, don't you?"

Emmy nodded, the words stuck in her throat.

Celestia smiled again. "By working for ProteC, you would provide an important opportunity for Equestrians and humans to come together..." She was momentarily distracted by McAllister, who had made an odd, strangled giggling noise, then abruptly clamped his hand over his mouth and was apparently trying to play it off as a cough. "...I, ah, believe this would be a huge asset to us all," she finished.

Emmy looked up, her eyes growing bigger. "You WANT me to stay here?"

"Yes, if you so desire."

"Oh thank you!" Emmy said, bowing. "Thank you so much!"

"I take it you accept my offer, then?" Jeff chuckled.

"Yes, yes!" Emmy trilled. "Thank you!"

"Excellent! Chris? One more thing. I want to add a member to your team."

Chris's eyes narrowed. "What for?"

"Well, you have more than enough ass-kicking capability, and you have Emmy for magic science. I want you to have a human science and technology specialist as well."

"Who did you have in mind?"

Jeff nodded at Dr. Hardy. "One of his assistants."

"My best!" Dr. Hardy added, then he spoke into his ARHUD. A few moments later, Rena Hendricks entered the room, wearing black fitted ProteC Security cargo pants and polo shirt. She glanced and smiled at Marky as she walked to Chris. "Reporting for duty, sir."

Chris reached out his hand to shake hers. "If Dr. Hardy recommends you, I have no further questions. Welcome to the team."

"Thank you," Rena beamed. "I can't wait to start."

***

The following morning, Jeff, Chris and the team stood on the tarmac outside the jet that would bring them to Texas.

Celestia and the Mane Six had come to see them off. Starlight Glimmer and Princess Luna had come as well, not wanting to miss the opportunity to see the humans and ponies before they left for Texas.

"It's a shame you have to leave so soon," Celestia said to Jeff as she gave him a farewell embrace.

"I'm sorry. We have to deal with this before more innocent people get hurt."

Celestia sighed. "I know. Please let me know if there's any way I can help. And don't forget to message me!" She held up her bracelet. "Since your people fixed the slow data issues and installed those relays in Canterlot and Ponyville, we can talk any time."

Jeff smiled. "That's why I wanted to give you that network. Because I'm going to miss you, Princess. You're the woman I admire most in this world or any other."

Celestia blushed, at a loss for words.

A few feet away, Starlight Glimmer was talking to Chris and the other humans. "Thank you for not killing my friends." She put a hoof to her face. "I mean, thank you for not letting them die... Er, thank you for bringing everypony home safe!" She smiled. "Yes, that's what I meant to say."

"More like they kept us from getting killed," Chris said. "I don't think any of us would be alive right now if not for your friends, Starlight."

"You can say that again," Hamilton added. "Oh, and by the way Fluttershy, I think Fluffy would love to see you."

Fluttershy nodded. "Afterwards." She leaned forward and gave him a peck on the cheek. "Be careful out there."

Hamilton nodded, his face on fire.

"Cargo load is finished," Marky said, glancing at the back of the plane where the crew was sealing the door. "It's about time, guys."

McAllister bumped Rainbow Dash's hoof. "Keep in touch, girl. Gotta go."

"Ya'll keep out of trouble now!" Applejack shouted at them as they walked away.

"Sorry AJ, but we got other plans," Marky replied with a wink and a nod. "Trouble is exactly what we're looking for. Now we're gonna go find it."

"I do hope they know what they're doing," Rarity said, watching the ProteC team head into the plane.

"I'm sure they have little to no clue," Twilight replied with a shrug. "But that hasn't stopped us yet, has it?"

"You're sure right about that," Rarity agreed.

***

Jeff leaned back in his seat as the jet prepared for takeoff. It had been a hell of trip, from the combat with aliens to the memorial service for the ProteC employees who had died under his command on Isla del Lamento. Losing a man never sat well with Jeff, although the defense of Earth was possibly the most worthy cause anyone had ever given their life for.

He nudged the thought from his mind. There was work to do yet, and he had no doubt it would be just as dangerous as anything they had done here in Ecuador. The creatures from the nether worlds would not make it easy on them. He glanced around the plane, looking at the humans and Equestrians who would be on the forefront of this new war against the powers of evil.

Rena was poking Marky in the ear and laughing at the way it twitched.

"Hey! Stop!" he growled.

She poked him again, giggling.

McAllister was telling some vulgar joke to Hamilton and Sanchez. "-and then the last guy started crying! He'd picked watermelons!"

Sanchez laughed heartily, slapping his knee.

"That's disgusting!" Hamilton said.

"Don't be a party-pooper," McAllister chuckled.

Chris was showing Emmy something on his phone again. "Shrek is love. Shrek is life." Jeff heard from the speaker.

"What the hay was that!?" Emmy asked, half shocked and half laughing.

"No one knows," Chris said. "The Internet is full of things like that."

Jeff cleared his throat, and they all turned to look at him. "I feel like I should say something momentous, but I can't think of anything. So anyone else got anything?"

"Yeah I got something," McAllister said, grinning mischievously. "It's good. You'll like it."

"I'm almost afraid to ask," Jeff said.

"You really shouldn't," Chris warned him.

"But since nobody else is volunteering, I'm going to have to go with him."

The plane engines spun up, preparing for takeoff as the morning sun breached the horizon, sending golden light across the world.

McAllister beamed, trying hard not to laugh as he prepared to speak, surrounded by the increasingly apprehensive faces of his friends.

Oh yes, life was good.

THE END

Don't forget to check out Equestrian Alliance: Menagerie, the ongoing spinoff sequel!