Being different isn't so bad
Chapter 1: The Arrival
I smile at my little Em as she walks down the driveway to her bus. It was a nice morning today. The air was nice and crisp. That means fall is coming. The horizon was a nice scarlet color with a little touch of purple. The trees were swaying back and forth in the morning wind. All in all it was a morning for the history books.
I shift my gaze from the sky to watch Em’s bus drive down our street and off to school. We live on a dead end street about halfway out of town, but still close enough were Em can still go to school with her friends. I walk back to our one story house. It has a faded peach color on the outside, which is starting to peel.
I need to paint the outside again.
I sigh knowing this is going to be a long day, but hey, the house isn’t going to paint itself.
I walk to the side of the house heading to my workshop. My workshop was a small garage with a standard white paint. Only this wasn’t a normal garage. Oh no, a normal garage has tools, cars, etc. Mine on the other hand is a small space filled with canvases and sketch boards, on one side of the room. Thats right, I am an artist. That’s how I make a living…. Ok you got me. Art is just my second hobby. On the other side of the room is filled with training equipment and punching bags. My real profession is Mix Martial Arts. I was hard to tell Em why daddy would come home one night with bruises and cuts all over my face. She learned to accept it, and in turn became my personal medic.
I place the ladder down and climb up with the painting supplies in a utility belt. With precision stokes I start from the top of the house to the bottom. This kind of activity was very soothing for a single father. The nice easy push and pull of the brush. The background noise of the suburbs, and last of all the sound of the ice cream truck. Hearing the sound brought up a memory of the past.
It was her 12th birthday when I let her come to my match that night. It wasn’t a very important fight for me, but for her it was everything. Just hearing her squeal ‘Go daddy’ was all the motivation I needed. I put my all into that fight, just for her. When the match was over and the other man declared winner I walked off that ring with a smile because I knew my little angel was waiting for me. Since I knew it was hard to see her father get beat up like that I took her out for some ice cream. When she got her ice cream she smiled so brightly it lit up my world. I completely forgot about the fight as I sat there and joked around with my daughter.
I wiped my arm across my forehead wiping off some sweat. I pack up my supplies and head back for the shed.
“Wow that took longer than I thought.” After I finish packing up the supplies I head inside and glance at the clock.
*2:36*
“Em will be home in an hour.” I sigh. Undressing has always been a problem with me. I have a large scar on my side from a frag grenade when I was in Iraq. That’s where I meet Trinity. It always hurt to think about her, but better to be hurt than ignorant. While thinking I began to hear a slight buzzing noise. Similar to static but not quite. It was something you hear when your brain tries to make sounds if there is none.
“That’s strange, Usually it dies down by now.” Just as I said it the static recedes, but still doesn’t leave. It left a feeling in my mind that something is either happening or is going to happen, and I don’t like it one bit.
I shake the thoughts away as I step into the shower. The warm water providing relaxation to my skin. While I scrub my body my mind wanders to the night I meet Trin.
It was a star filled night in the desert. There were a few rock formations but far enough away that nobody could surprise us. I was standing patrol on the eastern side of the base with a woman to my left who would later become my wife. It was awkward for me since I was very shy back then, and you’re not supposed to talk that much while on patrol. But some part of me keep making me look at the woman.
“If you keep staring I’m going to shove my gun down your throat.” She said without looking at me. I could feel the heat rush to my face as I look away.
“Sorry…..”
You idiot! Is that all you can come up with? You are an idiot.
“Names Trinity Johansen, Private first class. What about you?”
“Austin Drake, Corporal….. Nice night isn’t it?” I continue to beat myself up mentally.
“Really? That’s the best you can come up with? I can see why you joined the marines. But to answer your question, yes it is a nice night. Just look at all of that sand! *Gasp* There might even be cacti out there!” She mockingly said. My cheeks start to heat up in embarrassment.
“I meant the stars. I grew up in the city so I never got to see that many stars. I think there is nothing better than a star filled night. Especially if there is a full moon.” If you look into my eyes you could see nothing but admiration for the night sky. Not long after I could hear chuckling to my left.
“That has to be the most childish thing I have ever heard from a marine. *chuckles* I’m sorry, but I keep thinking of a big bad marine looking up into the night sky and cry. That’s just funny to me.” I resisted the urge to stab myself with my knife. It’s not funny to make fun of something that some people have admired all their lives.
“Your lucky I don’t hit woman. You would be eating sand by now.”
“Awwwww. Did I hurt the big bad marines feelings?” I look at her trying to set her on fire with my mind.
“Just shut up. I was just trying to be nice.” I adjusted my position so she was still in eyesight but far enough where I would have to turn to look at her fully.
We stood there for the next hour before saying something to each other.
“Could I ask something of you without you snapping back at me?”
Sure, shoot.”
“What’s with that pin? You know it’s against regulation.” She quickly covers up a cute little pink pin in her hair. She glares at me like I killed her cat or something.
“It has nothing to do with you so leave it alone.” She huffs as she turns away from me.
“I just wanted to say it was cute, but now I know that anything I say will piss you off.” I could feel a glare on me but softer than last time.
“I’m sorry, it’s just very personal.”
“I can tell. If it makes you feel better I have something similar.”
“You have a hair pin?” I glare at her as she smiles. I never noticed how much I wanted to punch her.
“No, I have a pocket watch.” I pull out a round silver watch with a pentagram on the front of it. On top of the pentagram is a little dragon. On the inside was a date etched into the metal.
“My dad gave this to me. He said it was something from a show he loved when he was a teenager.” I hold out the watch out so she can get a good look at it.
“It’s pretty. Is it made of silver?”
“I don’t know. I never asked. All I know is that the date was very important to him. If I asked him he would just say that to gain something you must give up something of equal value. Then he would ramble about some girl and a dog. I never payed attention at that part.” I put the watch back into my pocket.
“By his rules I just gave you personal information. Now you tell me about your pin to balance out the exchange.” I smile believing my logic would work. There was never a time I loved my dad more than now. It was worth him explaining the something exchange.
“Fine you got me.”
Wow, did that actually work?
“This pin was given to me by my mother before she past away.”
“I am so sorry. I didn’t mean to bring back any bad memories.”
“It’s fine, I’m just glad I have somebody to talk about this now. I also wanted to apologize for how I acted earlier. I thought you just wanted to get into my pants. And to think that it almost worked.” I chuckle at her childish behavior. I look back up at the stars and moon taking in all of the sights. That also included Trinity.
“So…. beautiful night.” We both chuckle while I look to my new found friend who later would become my wife.
3:00
I sigh as I step out of the shower. The steam just starting to fog up the mirror. I pick up my watch but find it fogged up. After wiping the fog away the time is revealed.
3:04
“I better get dressed. Em will be home soon.” As I was putting on my shirt I began to hear the ringing sound again. Except this time it was much sharper. I sounded like something you would hear from a dog whistle, but lower in pitch. I cover my ears when the sound becomes a little to sharp for my taste. I look around hoping to find the reason for the noise but find nothing.
That’s strange. Could it be a leak?
I lift my hands to find the noise gone. Only to replaced with a eerie silence. Truth be told, I was a little afraid. More for Em than me. It could be a gas leak or an opening where animals can enter.
“I’ll go up to the hardware store and ask if anybody knows what to do.” I finish getting dressed when I hear the whine of the bus outside. I subconsciously smile knowing Em will be walking in any second.
“Dad, you home?” I walk out from the kitchen to greet my daughter. My little Em was so beautiful. Her hair looks just like her mother’s with its chestnut locks. If you looked real closely you could tell she has my eyes, which are hazel. She lost a tooth a few weeks ago so there is a gap between her two front teeth. I always tease her about it. Today was her gym test at school so she decided to wear something that she could change out of very quickly.
“Welcome home baby girl.” I open my arms waiting for her to walk in and complete the hug.
“Dad, I asked you before. Please stop calling me baby girl. I’m not 8 anymore.” My heart sank a little bit, but what father could not hold himself together when he knows his little girl is growing up.
“And I always tell you. No matter what you will always be my baby girl. Now come on. Let’s start on dinner. I heard a little somebody wanted pizza tonight.” Em’s face lights up at my mentioning of pizza. It is her favorite food after all.
“I even heard that an amazing dad even went to the store and bought ingredients.” If my heart could explode it would just by the look on her face. You see even though Em loves pizza. She loves something even more than that…. Cooking. She….she started with Trin and ever since she loved it. When she was 9 she would make me breakfast in bed when I got sick. Then I would find out that she was late for school, so I would call the neighbor if I was too sick to drive her.
“Come on, let’s go make us a pizza.”
7:26
It took us 4 hour to cook that damn thing. I’m glad that Ems cooked it so many times that she knows how to make it by heart, or else it would be a black brick by now.
“What movie should we watch tonight?” I prided myself on how many movies I have collected over the years. Although most of them came from my dad.
“How about that one with the girl who was a maid than she found out that she was a princess.” Ah, Jupiter Ascending. Not the movie I would pick, but still a good choice. I walk over to the wall and look in the J’s. Coming across some movies I would watch rather than the one I was looking for. I found the movie out of place for some reason. It was in the K’s instead of the J’s. That was very odd. Almost everyday I check all of the rows, so why is this one out of place.
“Ok, I found it. You ready?” I ask as I place the movie into the DVD player.
“Yep, I love this movie.” I smile as I sit down making her bounce once from the impact.
“Well my lady, your movie awaits.”
9:00
Half way through the movie Em fell asleep with half a piece left on her plate. Her soft snores signaled her escape to the realm of dreams. I decided it was time for bed as well. Picking her up I head towards her room. Our house is only a one story so her room was the last one on the left in our hallway. Mine was the last one on the right. When she decided to start sleeping alone she still wanted to be close to me if she had nightmares.
I gently lay her down and with ninja like stealth I make my way through her messy room to the door. Once there I look back to my little angel.
“Night Em, daddy loves you.” I slip past the door into my room ready for the pleasure of sleep. Painting the while outside of a house it can really take a lot out of you. As I was undressing the damn ringing came back worse than ever. I fell to my knees in pain from the sound. I felt something warm coming out my ears. I dared to take my hand away from to see it coated in blood. With my hand away from my ear the pain increased ten fold.
“Arrrggghhh.” I scream in pain while holding my head. I could feel some type of rumbling coming from under the house. I payed no mind because pain kinda does that to you. I felt hands on my shoulders at one point, but again I payed no mind. So it felt as if my whole world was shaking.
“Dad…… Daddy…. are… ok…..” I could hear Em but not enough to pull the pain away. As suddenly as it came the sound stopped. I sit there for a second just trying to figure out what just happened.
“Dad are you alright?” I look behind me to see Em with tears in her eyes. I look back to my hands to see them covered in blood. Once my hearing became bearable I heard something outside. It sounded almost like someone talking. I hope I didn’t wake up the neighbors.
“Dad please talk to me.” I shift my attention back to Em. Her eyes were bloodshot from crying.
“I’m fine, I’m fine.” I said to try and reassure me more than her. A thud could be heard from the front of the house.
“Em go to your room and lock it. Don’t open it unless you know it’s me.” She nods and runs to her room. I walk towards the door to see lights shining through the windows. Did the neighbors call the cops? I approach the front door and open it to find horses, wait no ponies, covered in yellow armor looking at me. Once they saw me both ponies lower their spears and try to stab me. I grab the right one’s spear and knock him out with it as the other one grazes my leg. I whip around to knock the other one out when suddenly I was thrown against the wall by an unknown force. I could see a glow coming from the second pony. I wait a second for him to get close to me and I spit in his eye making the force disappear. While he’s distracted I bash him across the face with the spear, knocking him out.
“Daddy!” I could hear Em shouting my name. I rush to her door and shoulder bash it.
Damn door! I slammed into again and again until it breaks, all the while I could hear Em screaming inside. Once I slam through the door I see Em dragged out of her window by a pony. Without hesitating I rush forward and try to grab her, but I was a second too late. I squeeze my way through the window and give chase to Em’s kidnappers. Right at that moment more of the armored ponies started showing up.
“I am so done with you guys!” They all paused as if they thought I couldn’t talk. I jump up and run across the sea of heads. The adrenaline in me telling me to run harder and faster. I turn the corner to see a pony, who dwarfs the others, holding Em upside down. Not caring about the pony I rush forward and throw the spear at her. As I let the spear leave my hand I reach out to Em. I hear a pained grunt as I grab Em and slide across the floor with her in my arms. I lift my head to see the spear held in mid air with a glow around it. The white pony looks at me with compassion.
“You will answer for your crimes!” I could hear a littler pony yell as he jump forward thrusting his spear at my daughter. Without thinking I twist my body to take the hit for her. Not even a second after white hot pain shoots up my back as I feel the spear go through my side.
“Private stop!” I could hear someone screaming as I fell to my knees. I move forward, limping. I could feel Em holding her head against me and crying. I tried to whisper to her as I keep limping not caring about the ponies in my way. As I walked I could feel the bottom of my shirt and the right side of my pants become heavy from my blood. While I shuffled down the hall I saw a dark door further down. I could still feel the eyes of the ponies behind me, but I couldn’t care less. I looked down at Em to see the she passed out from crying.
Please, don’t let there be any of those things in here. I thought as I opened the door, It was then that the world decided to turn upside down on me. I held Em closer to me as I fell to my knees coughing up blood. I slowly make my ways to a wall barely keeping my footing as I went. I turn to slam my shoulder into the wall and slowly twist to my back as I slide down the wall, no doubt leaving a blood trail on the wall. I could feel my head nodding off as I tried to stay awake, but I feel so tired. Em should be ok if I took a little nap. That was my last thought before I passed out from the blood loss.
Celestia watched in horror as the alien passed out in her sister’s bedroom. It was a good thing she was in Ponyville for Nightmare Night. Celestia would have feared for the alien's safety if she was hear. Celestia moved aside so the guards were allowed access to the room. After the incident Celestia made the major detain the idiot private until he receives his punishment.
The first thing this alien received from us was nothing but hate and pain. If this turns out to be a bigger problem later the private will pay for more than just assault.
“Guards! Bring a medic and bring these to the infirmary.” Celestia almost forgot that the alien had what appeared to be a child. This saddened her greatly.
No child should have to witness their parents bleeding out in front of them. She moved as a medic rushed past her to the two leaning against the wall. Celestia decided that her presence was not needed she turned to leave, but she was stopped by a gasp.
“Princess, The bigger one is barely breathing! He’ll die at this rate, and my magic is not working!” Celestia rushes past the medic to see the alien paler than it was when they first met. Celestia charged her horn for a basic healing spell, but it disappeared as soon it made contact with the alien, it simply disappeared.
I will* not *let this creature die. Celestia’s face became hardened by determination.
“Major evacuate the room, now!” Celestia did not wait for a confirmation as she charged her horn. She stood there with her horn resting just above the alien’s head. She pushed more and more magic into her horn determined to fulfill her promise. She opened her eyes reveling pure orbs of energy as she touched her horn against the alien’s head. She could feel the magic working, but even at this level it was slow.
Soon after the healing was complete Celestia started to lessen the power in her horn, but something was wrong….. She couldn’t stop her power! Celestia and the alien started to scream in pain. Celestia could feel every ounce of magic leaving her and transferring to the alien.
“Major, help!” Celestia screamed hoping the major could hear her. The next few seconds were the longest in her long life. Though the pain stopped suddenly as it had came. Celestia opened her eyes to see the ceiling. The next sense that came back was touch and she could feel a weight on her barrel. Celestia looked down to see the major slowly getting off of her.
“I’m sorry Princess, but that was the only way to get you away from that thing. Don’t worry we will throw it into the dungeons.” The major said as he turned and marched towards the alien.
“No major. It was an accident on my part. I put too much magic into the spell. Continue on my last orders and bring them to infirmary. I just need to rest, and I want you to cancel day court tomorrow.” The major saluted as he screamed for some privates to take the aliens to the infirmary.
I must discuss this with Luna later. Celestia thought as she slowly walked to her room. She opened her doors to see a raven waiting on her balcony.
Great, no doubt the other deities felt the magic the alien stole from me. Celestia readied her poker face as she walked up to the bird.
“What is it you want, Nyxous?” The raven turned to face her and cawed.
“Ah Celestia so good to see you again. I just sent this little guy to see how my little ‘experiment’ is doing.” The raven began to caw like it was laughing. Celestia hardened her glare.
“So you’re responsible for this? Why would you bring an alien to our world?” Celestia moved closer to the raven. Nyxous may have been a friend of Luna’s but he was by no means one of Celestia’s.
“Why to challenge the gods of course.” He said as it was as simple as a child asking their parent if Celestia raised the sun. Celestia stood there wide eyed at the raven as if it would explode, but she shook it off. It was not unusual for Nyxous to pull pranks similar to this.
“Right, well I am quite tired so if you would leave that would be appreciated.” Celestia turned towards her room, but she was stopped by a chuckle from the raven.
“Very well Celestia, but remember this. The father is my key not his daughter, but I’m sure you don’t care either way. Until next time Celestia.” The raven then flew off into the night. Celestia sighed as she laid down on the bed. As she laid her head down and let sleep take her she had one last thought that would move the first piece of the game that would determine the future of the world.
What if it isn’t a pranked? How will the gods react to this threat?
