"Look out!" The female's voice screeched from overhead.
He hadn't time to dodge; At the moment of impact, his world was extinguished.
First, I wake up in an alien world. Then, I discover my physiology has been changed to match the aliens. And now, I'm already in conflict with them.
Luthor swam in the limbo of sleep and consciousness, struggling to grasp the voices around him.
"Rainbow! You should seriously watch where you're going!" One scolded.
"It wasn't my fault! I swear! It was like he just came out of nowhere!" Another defended.
Brilliant sunlight slowly overtook the void, and Luthor sat up.
"Oh, thank goodness you're alright!" The first voice exclaimed. It belonged to a lavender mare.
"What?" Luthor's voice was sloppy. "Where am I?"
He faced the lavender mare. "What happened?" His voice once more straightened out.
"Um... I might've accidentally... flown into you..?" The second mare informed. Her notable features were a cyan coat and a rainbow-streaked mane.
His expression of discombobulation molded into a glower.
"So I see." He turned directly to the cyan mare.
"Heh heh..." She rubbed the back of her head with a hoof. She wore a sheepish grin.
He once again turned to face the lavender mare. Continuing to glower, he spoke once again.
"Despite your companion's idiocy, I do still believe we may come to an understanding."
"Hey! I'm not-" The idiot was silenced by an angered glance from her companion.
"Do you even know who you're talking to?" The idiot questioned.
"I can think of quite a few words that tell me everything about who I'm talking to."
A small smirk crept on Luthor's face.
"Anyway, I'm sorry about my friend here." The lavender mare gestured toward the hovering simpleton whose tongue now pointed at Luthor.
"It looks like we got off on the wrong hoof. My name is Twilight Sparkle." Her horn lit up, and a field of lavender light dragged the cyan mare next to her. She slid a foreleg around her friend's shoulders. "And this is my friend Rainbow Dash."
Luthor's smirk returned. "I feel as though Rainbow Crash would suit you better." The line was smooth.
The cyan mare's face twisted into shock, and then anger. She groaned tremendously.
"Gah! Why does everypony say that?!"
"Calm down, Rainbow." Twilight soothed the mare. She then turned toward Luthor, whose foreleg scraped the mud off his form.
The stallion wore the most complex suit of armor she had ever seen. Its metallic hide was primarily emerald in color, with the legs pigmented a bright purple. An emblazoned emblem in the shape of an "L" rested in the center of the chest.
Twilight had to scratch her head at its most peculiar and almost laughable feature: the suit lacked a helmet.
"Now, if you don't mind me asking, what's your name?" Twilight Sparkle asked.
"Damn! There's no power-" He suddenly relaxed once the emblem developed a backlight. The previously dull L was now a radiant violet.
"Um..." Twilight raised an eyebrow.
"Good. It's done." He straightened himself. Beneath his hooves, a force began to propel him upward. His hooves projected a stream of fire as he found himself hovering in the air. The pair of mares watched in fascination, before the cyan one snapped and pestered once more.
"Um, hello? Who are you?"
He dodged the question. "Sorry, but I haven't time for this. I cannot be bothered with such simple-minded nonsense-"
He crumpled to the earth abruptly; the durable oak he'd rammed hadn't even bothered to rattle. He lay before Twilight and Rainbow, the emblem of his having lost its luster.
The brash mare's cackle was ever prevalent in the area.
"Come on, Luthor. We'll get this all sorted out in town."" Twilight extended a hoof toward the fallen figure. She'd managed to coax his name from him after his rude return to earth.
Twilight wasn't exactly sure how to restore the "power" for his suit, nor did she understand his resentful tirade against whatever a "superman" was.
"No matter!" She dismissed her thought with a grin, earning a raised eyebrow from her two companions.
Luthor climbed to his four limbs. Twilight stifled a giggle at the way he walked, although Rainbow did not share the same courtesy. He wobbled like a newborn foal on his legs, which was partially understandable; Rainbow had struck him, after all.
But now, it was transitioning into ridiculous territory.
She decided to fish him out of the awkward position.
"So, Luthor. Where are you from?"
Luthor himself sought a decent explanation. Revealing anything about his own world would be out of the question; if these beings had their own interdimensional travel method, they'd easily have the potential to stage world conquest. Already rewinding toward Crime Syndicate flashbacks, he did the best he could with his answer.
"I'm from a large city. Life there is bustling, never a moment's rest."
"You mean Manehattan, right?" The cyan simpleton asked him.
"Yes, of course." He dismissed.
"Oh, it's a great place." Twilight said. Brightening up, she said, "Oh, look! We're back!"
As Luthor looked on at the town that was their life and soul, he was unimpressed.
If this is the best their kind can do, I've no chance of finding what I need.
A larger thought occurred to him.
If I do find power for the suit, where would I go from there? I could seek help in returning home. Their kind appears harmless compared to others I've met. But if I am to even attempt to return home, I may not be able to do it alone.
Running a hoof over his head, he discovered with dismay that his head was smooth (and hairless). Without wings or a horn, he couldn't accomplish much on his own.
He ignored the other nagging possibility that crept in the back of his mind.
What if I'm stuck here?
"Oh look! We're just in time for Celestia's visit!" Twilight smiled as she saw the golden chariot descend and touch the ground.
"Fantastic." Luthor deadpanned to himself.
The royal fanfare reached them. Twilight and Rainbow sped off to the source. He followed.
How will I go about gaining their trust?
He approached the crowd around the chariot. Its passenger appeared regal: she was braced in gold and a pristine white coat.
So, this is their royalty.
She stood up.
I expected her taller.
