This day started off so well, I went into work finished all of my paperwork before the deadlines and left early. With that free time I figured I would go shooting. That was the best part about living so far away from the city, my backyard was a range. I put on my tactical vest loaded it full of mags and went out the back door. The M4 hasn't been used in a while so I went with that.

But there wasn't a single time I went shooting without my absolute favorite piece, a five hundred magnum. The speed loaders were in a few pockets along with my knife. Never knew when you would need a good knife. Part of the way to my makeshift range there was a burning on my chest. When it started to get bad I panicked a bit. I was to young to have a fucking heart attack.

That thought didn't stop the burning, it eventually got to the point where I couldn't even move anymore. My skin under the vest was smoking but not catching fire. Suffice it to say, it didn't tickle. When I collapsed a god damn circle with little runes burned into the ground. I had no idea what to think of that.

Suddenly the whole thing flashed and blinded me. The feeling my body went through is pretty hard to describe but I'll try anyway. The best comparison would be having your body squeezed through an extremely narrow tube that had a lot of twists and turns. By the time the light started to fade I could hear two women arguing.

“Luna! What kind of summon is that?! I thought you said this would be a powerful creature that could take down the minotaur champion!”

“I thought it would be! It was supposed to be a powerful demon!”

“Really! A demon! You know how risky that is Luna!”

“This summon is very binding Celestia, the creature risks extreme anguish if a command is disobeyed.”

That is when I found myself looking at two armored horses. Their manes flowed and they could fucking talk... cool I guess? I stood on my shaking feet when the blue one spoke at me.

“Creature what are your combat capabilities?”

She looked at me, probably expecting me to say something. After taking too long to answer she lit up her horn. “I said speak beast!”

The burning was back, it brought me to my knees while I screamed in agony. When it finally subsided I was gasping for breath.

“If you fail to answer me again I will not hesitate to banish the summons and trust me creature that would not end well for you.”

Fucking bitch! Ripped me from my home and now expects me to fight for them. Some bullshit if I've ever heard it. Still I like existing so best to answer her.

“I uh, can kill stuff pretty good?” Elegant as ever.

She stared at me with the most blank look I've ever seen. Probably wondered why her 'demon' sounded like a confused idiot.

“That is... good.” She turned to the other horse. “Sister do you think we should risk it or try again?”

The other one started to look me over, scanning me from head to toe. “Creature what are you and your weapons able to do against an opponent immune to magic and resistant to physical damage?”

“Uhm, well the magic thing won't be an issue but how resistant to physical damage?”

“He is a large minotaur with thick steel armor and wields an axe with fire runes carved into it.”

“That should be pretty easy, I guess. So if I do this do I get to leave?”

The blue one butted back into the conversation.

“We shall see about releasing you from your contract once you have completed this task.”

She along with her sister led the way out of the tent we were currently in. Upon leaving the stench of death immediately hit me. Corpses littered the battlefield both horse and minotaur. Looking at the two armies standing only a few hundred feet from one another this looked grim. We marched up to the horses side and stood in the center. Across the way there where two minotaur that stood out. One looked to be in decorative armor while the other was obviously my opponent since the giant flaming axe gave that away.

“So why aren't these two armies clashing right now?”

The white one spoke up. “We made a deal, if our champion emerges victorious then they surrender. If their champion wins we surrender.”

“Well don't worry this should be over quickly.”

With that I marched toward the center. The opponent started to come my way.

“Ha! This is the best these ponies had to offer! Some scrawny hairless ape! This won't even be fun.”

“Wouldn't bet on it since you'll be the one dying today, you fuckin cow.”

“Insolent ape! Your death will be a painful one!” He stopped walking and flashed an maniac grin. He was around twenty feet away.

“Here I'll even let you have the first hit! A weak being such as you won't even be able to put a scratch on me.”

He swung his arms out wide like he was ready to be crucified, how fitting. His armor was just a breastplate with runes in it. Those are probably what made him immune to magic. His arms, legs, and head were bare. He said he was going to make this painful for me, only fair to return the favor. I slung my rifle and got the magnum.

“How do you expect to do any damage with such a pathetic weapon? It is small and doesn't even have a blade!”

I couldn't help but smile as I took aim at his right kneecap. With a simple twitch of the finger a crack tore into the sky. The beast wailed as he fell to one knee. He looked at me with absolute rage and I let the second shot go. It ripped through his left thigh, another scream and he was sprawled out on the ground. He had dropped his axe and it was out of his reach.

I started to slowly walk towards him with a grin still plastered on my face. His rage had quickly turned to terror as he started to crawl away. Not wanting him to get far I ran and got onto his back. I somehow closed the distance in the blink of an eye. My legs had a strange tingling feeling about them, this place was getting cooler by the second.

The minotaur looked up at me with fear in his eyes. “What the hell are you?!”

I saw the perfect opportunity to strike fear into the hearts of all the creatures here. I slowly looked up at each side of the battlefield. The minotaur side was staring at me in abject horror. With the ponies (not horses) looking on with awe. I raised the hand with the magnum and screamed as loud as I could.

“I have been called many things throughout the eons! Bringer of ruin, monster, abomination!” I let out the best maniac laugh I could.

“But my favorite! Is The Grim! Now bear witness how easily your champion falls before me!”

I leveled my magnum at the minotaurs head. He was actually crying in fear. I smiled one last time. “I'll be seeing you in hell little one.”

“NO! No! Please!”

The third and final shot echoed across the battlefield. After taking in the sight of what was left of the champions head I looked up to address the general.

“Best to run now child before my masters decide to let me off of my leash.”

For the general of an army he didn't have much composure. Looked about ready to piss himself, wait... I think he did, a few others too. He turned and barked some orders and the troops bid a hasty retreat. After they were well on their way I turned to go back to the ponies. Holstering my magnum as I went.

The two leader ponies tensed up when I approached, I stopped a good five feet in front of them. Looking now, they seem to be a bit taller than the other ponies. They also had wings and horns, while the rest of the ponies had one, the other, or neither.

“So I don't think we ever got pleasantries out of the way, as you heard I am The Grim. Grim for short, now what are your names?”

Both still looked apprehensive and glanced at one another. The blue one was the first to speak up.

“I am Princess of the Night, Luna.” She looked over to her sister.

“I am Princess of the Sun Celestia.”

“Well Luna, my first question will go to you. How and why the fuck did you summon me of all people to this hellhole?”

She looked shocked for a moment before anger flashed in her eyes. Celestia put a hoof on her shoulder and she calmed down.

“To answer your questions creature, I used a magic circle to summon you and we needed a powerful champion to best the minotaurs. As our magic would not work on him, the runes in that armor are extremely ancient, and would have cancelled out any magic.”

“Well thank you for that, now would you kindly send me back home?”

“I'm afraid I won't be able to do that. The circle I used is special. It brings a random demon into this world and the only options from that point are to dispel the demon, break the contract and let the demon roam, or continue the contract. There is no way to send you back unless there is someone in your world with the ability to summon and has your exact circle.”

I looked at the Princess in front of me. She just said there was no way back for me. No way home... I couldn't help but laugh. I would never see my brothers again, fuck. I couldn't help but keep laughing. Just keep it up, laugh the pain away, if it's a joke it won't hurt. No matter how cruel the joke it can only be that right? I'm fuckin tripping that's it! Yeah! I must have taken acid or something. No way I was trapped in a talking pony world, without anyone else, alone...

I realized that the Princesses were looking at me weird, was that, pity? While studying them I finally noticed the tears, how long had they been flowing? Luna stepped forward, steeling her gaze as she did so. Right can't be weak now have to stay strong. There will be time for anguish later.

“Grim, I can't in my right mind release the contract now. If you wish to earn your freedom you can come with us. Prove yourself trustworthy and you will be rid of the mark that binds you.”

Celestia stepped up next to her sister concern etched across her features. “Sister are you sure this is wise? If you are not there to control him he could become extremely dangerous.”

“Do not worry sister I will be sure to keep an eye on him.”

“Yeah Celestia don't worry, I promise I'll behave.” She narrowed her eyes at that one. I couldn't help but smile at that.

“I suggest against angering my sister and I Grim. Remember we still hold your fate in our hooves.”

“Sorry, meant nothing by it. Just trying to assure you both I'll be on my best behavior.”

“Good then lets be off to the chariots. The troops will see to the clean up.”

As the two started to trot off I followed quickly behind. As we walked on a question came to the forefront of my mind.

“So where exactly are we going?”

“To our Everfree Castle.” Luna answered again, Celestia must not like me or something since she hasn't said more than a few words.

As we approached a very ornate black and silver chariot I got a look at who was pulling it. There were two ponies with dark fur and bat wings. When they looked at us one smiled and I could swear he had fangs. So a chariot pulled by vampire ponies... that's awesome.

Author's Note

I wanted to try my hand at something newish. I haven't posted anything that isn't second person so I wanted to try first person, see how it turns out. I'm liking it so far, hope you do too.