Chapter 6: A Walk in the Woods

Chris and his squad crashed through the underbrush and crunched onto the gravel. As they entered the road, Chris saw another horse-like creature waiting for them impatiently.

He stopped to stare. The being in front of him was about four feet tall. It was mostly black, with extremely large blue eyes and a mane with blue and purple streaks in it. It had what appeared to be a tactical vest on, but the overall most prominent feature was the black horn sticking out from its forehead.

"Unicorn," Chris said, stupidly.

Hamilton spoke up, sounding oddly cheerful, given the circumstances. "Uh, actually, I think he has wings."

The creature shook his head and spoke. "Uh, yeah I do."

Two large black wings unfolded from his side, then refolded neatly, becoming almost invisible again.

"Alicorn," Hamilton said, almost reverently.

"Yes, I'm an Alicorn. If you don't mind my asking, what are you?"

Chris brushed his hand through his hair. "Um, we are, ah, people. Humans. Oh, and was that you who threw the grenade? Thank you, you saved our butts."

The Alicorn looked a little embarrassed. "Yeah, no problem. But it won't happen again. Not because I don't wanna help, just, that was my last grenade and all..."

He paused, for a long moment, then both Chris and the Alicorn spoke unison. "Can you tell me where I am?"

There was a brief awkward silence, then Zecora answered their mutual question.

"This road on which we stand,
Runs through Everfree Forest lands."
She waved a hoof forward along the road, pointing ahead.
"Going that direction for a short way,
We will reach Ponyville and the light of day."

A rustling sound came from the bushes at the edge of the road behind Zecora.

"Incoming!"

Several gunshots rang out, and a squeal from one of the things back in the clearing registered a hit.

Chris looked to see who had fired, and the Alicorn had what looked like two Glock handguns suspended in the air in front of him, held by fields of blue energy. His horn was glowing in the same color, surrounded by rippling magic. He continued to watch the bushes nervously.

"I think it might be a good idea if we went to whatever place the lady was just talking about, or like, anywhere but here. I don't want to wait around and see what comes out of the bushes next."

"I couldn't agree more. Lets get out of here." Chris waved at the others and they walked down the road, he and the Alicorn side by side in the lead.

McAllister waved his hand for Zecora to pass him. "After you ma'am, I will cover the rear."

Zecora nodded her thanks and fell into the group ahead of McAllister. As they followed the road, Chris called the Gate crew on his headset and warned them about the creatures in the forest, suggesting they bring through additional defense resources and keep an eye on the treeline.

"We have encountered friendlies as well. Don't shoot anything that looks like a horse. Got it?" He listened to the reply, then he spoke to the Alicorn again.

"So, I'm Chris. What's your name?"

"I'm Marky. If you don't mind my asking, where are you guys from? I've never seen anything like you before, outside of a zoo." He shook his head. "I'm sorry that came out all wrong. I mean, you look like... primates..." He closed his eyes briefly, put a hoof to his head and sighed. "Sorry again, I'm really on a roll right now aren't I?"

Chris chuckled. "Don't worry about it. After what you did for us back there, you can call me a tree-swinging ape and I won't take offense."

Marky grimaced. "Uh, I think I just did. Twice."

They both laughed.

Behind them, Hamilton was excitedly talking at Zecora. "You said Ponyville! Really? Ponyville?"

Zecora opened her mouth to answer, but Hamilton kept right on asking more questions, his excitement growing by the second.

"You're really Zecora aren't you? Are you real? Is any of this real? I think I may have lost my mind and this is all just a hallucination!"

He popped himself on the head with his hand a few times. Before he could begin babbling again, McAllister cut in. "Excuse me ma'am, but, where did you come from? I appreciate your saving us and all, but I am wondering how you found us."

Zecora tossed her head at him.

"A trip to Ponyville I began to make,
I saw the light flicker from the Gate.
I entered the woods on the far side of the clearing,
I saw you just as you were leaving."

"You followed us?"

Zecora nodded.
"Four strange armed creatures stalking the woods,
I used as much caution as I possibly could.
I did not know what you came here seeking,
So I listened to your conversation while I was sneaking."

McAllister nodded. "I see. A wise tactical move. And thank you again for saving us. I thought we were all going to die horribly, and you came in and changed all that. I won't forget it."

Hamilton, who had seemingly calmed down enough to actually listen, joined in. "I won't forget it either. You are every bit as amazing as I always imagined you would be."

Zecora looked at him curiously.

"You seem familiar with this world and I,
Yet how can this be?
Surely I've never before laid eye,
On a creature of your kind.
Pray tell me, why?"

McAllister joined in. "Yeah seriously dude, what the hell is up with that?"

Hamilton blinked. "Oh, my bad. Yeah, I can see how that would be a bit, well... Creepy."

He looked thoughtful. "Uh, where I come from... you are, kind of famous."

Zecora and McAllister just stared at him.

"Uh, heard of My Little Pony?"

Zecora shook her head.

"Well, I'm a fan of it and-"

McAllister interrupted him with a crude laugh. "You're a damn Brony aren't you? Ha! That little-girl rainbow pony crap? What are you, six?"

Hamilton flushed. "Hey man, look around you, it's paying off isn't it?"

It was McAllister's turn to look thoughtful. "Touche."

"And you see how bad-ass they are. If it wasn't for that 'little girl pony crap' we'd all be gargling some screwed-up monster's stomach acid right now."

"You're right. I'm sorry I said that."

Hamilton kept right on going. "In fact, these exos did nothing to save us, but these ponies did!"

McAllister spread his hands. "Dude, I said I was sorry. Calm down."

Zecora, who had been listening to the exchange with evident interest, interjected.

"This My Little Pony of which you speak,
My curiosity I can scarce contain.
Greater knowledge I seek,
But our composure we must maintain!

Sanchez gestured at them. "Chill out guys, we literally aren't out of the woods yet, and we don't need to be distracted by pointless bickering. Zecora, My Little Pony is a TV show where we come from. I don't know too much about it myself, but you do look like something I've seen from it on the shelf at Wal-Mart."

Zecora looked confused, and Sanchez quickly spoke again. "Wal-Mart is a store. We buy things there."

Zecora nodded hesitantly.

Hamilton nodded and chimed in again, speaking more slowly. “Okay, I think I can explain this better if I start from the beginning. On Earth, we have this thing called television..."

The conversation continued for some time as they walked through the dark forest. McAllister scanned the trees suspiciously, looking behind often for anything lurking in the shadows. The minutes dropped behind, with Hamilton droning on and Zecora nodding at intervals.

"So you see," Hamilton said, "Hasbro has been making popular shows and toys for, oh, I don't even know how many years..."

He was interrupted by Chris calling out from the front.

"Town up ahead!"