1: Just like that one movie
{I am a just tanker Marine, I apologize for anything I get wrong.}
Strange Deployments
Chapter 1: Just like that one movie.
(Equestria, Canterlot. Royal Court.)
As we stood in the main court, those who gathered stood silent. Eight of us total, we had eleven. Three were lost in the events that transpired. “Marines, heroes from another world.” Princess Cadence spoke to us directly.
Anthropomorphic ponies. Who would of thought.
“The land of Equestria thanks you greatly for your service.” Luna, princess of the night, spread her arms out and bowed her head slightly. “You saved many lives when you intervened in a time of chaos. You still aided us after the loss of a brother.” She looked to her sister, Celelstia. Who stepped towards us.
“A tale will read of eleven heroes who came from an unknown land, who didn’t initially think to aid us. But, when we were in grave danger, you came forth with power and skill unseen by anyone. This tale will be told for generations to come. Thanks to you.”
Now, you may be wondering how we got here. Well, as cliché as it may be, let me tell you now.
(One year prior, Iraq. Unnamed province.)
The CH-53E Super Stallion was forced to land, the sandstorm now buffered her paint. We were thankfully inside.
“So, anyone think we can fly after this? La tormenta es una locura.” Rodriquez, the co-pilot, got dealt another card from the dealer.
“You know, this storm is rather calming.” Second Lieutenant Inu, our pilot who immigrated from japan, smiled as he dealt out cards. “It’s better than the constant fire on our F.O.B. from the insurgents.”
I smirked. “Sir, with all due respect. As the pilot, shouldn’t you be worried?”
“Corporal Wills, do understand, this is not my first time in a sandstorm. Why do you think the landing was somewhat smooth?”
I nodded. “Roger that Sir. I fold.” Why would they send one Stallion out with one nine-man group of Marines? Easy, recon. Matthews and Rodgers were two recon Marines added to a Seven-man Fireteam. Being sent out to assess ISIS progress in the region was odd, but, we don’t ask questions. Just color or eat our crayons. As for the seven others. They were either sleeping or making sure they’re gear was ready.
Our team consisted of Lance Corporal Acosta, Lance Corporal Springer, Lance Corporal Lewis, PFC Marks, PFC Stevens, Corporal Wilson, and me, Corporal Wills. The fireteam lead. We had Acosta with the M27 IAR, Lewis had the ammo, Springer had a Remington 870 and M4 Carbine and some C4 -Breaching stuff-, Marks with a DMR, Corporal Wilson had the AT4 and M4, and me with a standard issue M4 Carbine. The two pilots were Lieutenant Inu and Lieutenant Rodriquez. They had M9 Berettas and M4 Carbines. Clean shaves and maybe some sort of mustache all around. Also, very diversified.
Matthews stood up from his seat. A map in hand. “We shouldn’t be too far from the LZ. A few more klicks. Good call on the fold Wills. But here is what I find odd. The sandstorm just popped up. We would have known of this.”
Lt. Inu nodded. “We would. But I always expect the unexpected.” That’s when the helio started to shake. “The wind is getting heavy.”
“That’s not the wind. Look outside.” We all looked to the windows, waking others up.
I grabbed my Kevlar and secured it on my head. “That light, its low, but noticeable.” Binos are useless in this storm. I peered out a porthole. The shaking got a bit more intense.
“This shaking is getting worse.” Rodgers fixed his beard -damn tier one- and chuckled. “I’ve seen some shit, but this is new.”
“Those are not headlights. But it is getting closer.” Matthews grabbed his special spec-ops M4, fancy as hell if you ask me. “I don’t like it.”
I shrugged. “So…...what now?” The next thing was odd. We started to…. float. “Oh, hey now….” Not really a good thing. But at least I didn’t lose the card game.
Then the light got to us. Not much happened, then fell. Cards were everywhere. The sounds of crickets filled the air and a cool wind blew through the holes on the helio. We all groaned as we got up. Rodgers looked around. “Wait. A forest? What?”
I looked out the window and saw trees. “Trees? In the desert? Sir, did you maybe land in an oasis?”
Inu shook his head. “No. It was sandy. There’s even sand in here.” A layer of sand covered the deck.
The area was lit by moonlight and thankfully didn’t require our NVDs. (Night vision device). I went towards the read and checked the panel. “Shall we open the door? Sir?”
We gathered our weapons and checked them. “We’re all up.”
“Leave the packs in here for now. Let’s go.” I pulled a lever and the ramp went slowly down, the hydraulics holding slowing letting it go with no power. “Hey, recon, you want to…. you know, take point and do recon stuff?”
“Good idea. Let the guys who train for shit like this take point.” Matthews and Rodgers went out first and we followed, setting up three-sixty security. “Looks clear,” He checked his compass. Which spun around. “No compass. Not good. No connection to ‘Boss.’ Looks like we’re flying blind.”
I checked my radio and only got nothing. “Damn, not even static. Just…. nothing.” I looked around. “Hey, Stevens, these trees look familiar?”
“Corporal, I studied ecology. But, nothing with trees.” He fixed his glasses looked around himself. “But, I did study some forest eco systems. This one seems too well balanced, but also random.”
I stared at him. “The fuck does that mean?”
“Corporal, the temperature and even the humidity levels are- “
“Stevens…...just shut up.” I shook my head. “Let’s get moving. By guessing that our map is basically useless, we head north. How’s that sound?”
Lieutenant Inu nodded in agreement. “Sounds good Corporal. Matthews, Rodgers, and you will take point.”
“Aye Sir. Acosta, Lewis, and Springer will take the left flank. Marks, Stevens, and Wilson will take the right flank. Sirs, stay in the middle. Let’s move.” As we moved through the trees, the trees got denser and the sounds of the creatures stopped.
I noted light ahead of us, I looked like the edge of the forest. “Don’t break the tree line. Hold up ahead.” We stopped and hid in the tree line. I used my Binos to see what was there, looked like a renaissance fair. “We got a town, maybe a fair? I see people, locals maybe. Look a tad strange though.”
Matthews kneeled to my left. “What does ‘Strange’ mean?”
“Not Middle Eastern. No Burkas or whatever else they have. No sand. A whole lot of green. We are NOT in Iraq anymore.” I turned my attention to the sky and saw…. no. “Does Docs drugs have side effects? Like, seeing shit?”
Rodgers kneeled on the right. “Only if he gave you his special dosage. But, if you mean those things flying in the sky, then, you are not tripping on docs’ special order.” He back up a bit. “Shit, get down, one of ‘ems coming here.”
We all backed up and got on our stomachs. “Be quiet. Don’t move a muscle.” The thing that landed just outside the tree line was a sight of the oddest of sorts. Five-three in height and fucking wings. Can’t tell much else from it being night, but seriously what the fuck?
“Huh, could ‘a swore I saw something.” It was female. She’s getting closer. “Maybe Twi should know…..” She was getting closer.
“If she gets close. Grab her.” She’s…..blue? “What the fuck?”
“Huh?” Shit. She stepped towards my bush and was looking right into it. “What’s…..”
Matthews jumped out and tackled her. “Don’t fucking move!” She struggled, I jumped out and grabbed her too. We managed to drag her into the bushes and trees.
It was a horse…. person…. thing…. waring running shorts and a work-out tank top. “What the hell is this thing?”
Rodgers looked over. “Bro, didn’t Halloween end a long time ago?”
She stopped struggling, after we retained her hands and wings. Matthews got a gag rag on her as well. Didn’t stop her glare. “Hey. Get security set up. Matthews, Rodgers, and I will handle her.” The others took their spots while we kneeled by the tree that our captive sat against. “So. Guess I’ll remove the gag.” I took it off.
“WHO DO YOU THINK- “Gag back on.
“Never mind. Hey, listen, stop trying to talk. We’re not going to hurt you. Okay, calm down.” I think she wants to kill me. Still glaring at me, but, she’s calming down. “Let’s try this again.” Those wings are distracting…..
I removed the gag and she took a deep breath. “Who. Are. You?” Still angry.
“Well. We’re Marines. Who are you?” I was rather relaxed to be honest.
“Why should I tell you anything?” I sighed.
“You are the captive. Simple.” Must I explain everything?
She sighed. “Rainbow Dash. Wonderbolt and head of the weather team of Ponyville…..” She was annoyed, for sure annoyed.
“May I assume the town right over there is ‘Ponyville.’ Am I right?”
“Yeah. Hey, can I ask something?” She sounded worried.
“Go ahead.” The others stayed on their areas, trying their best to stay hidden in the green while wearing desert camo gear.
“Are you here to hurt anyone?” She’s calm, but very worried.
“We won’t hurt anyone, unless we have to. You have my word. We just have some questions. We’re not…...from around here.”
“Figured that.” She shrugged, her wings
Matthews looked at the wings. “Are these things real? Or is this some sort of costume?”
“A costume? I’m a Pegasus, my wings are a hundred and twenty percent real.”
Rodgers puts his goggles up on his helmet. “Wait, so you are a horse- “
“Pony.” She interjected, correcting him.
I stopped Rodgers before he said anything else. “Alright. So. Wings, ears, tail, mane, a coat, and I bet magic.”
“Well. Nothing like Unicorns, its Pegasus magic.”
“Alright. So, if we let you go. You won’t take off and warn every one of the scary creatures with strange gear?” I tapped my rifle.
“Yeah. You got it.” Well, best to make good with the locals. She smiled at that, she’s planning something.
“Matthews, untie her.”
“Alright, let’s…. mhm, a bit tricky.” Matthews struggled with it.
“Let me see.” I grabbed the zip ties on her wrists. “Damn, the hell is this- “She grabbed my hands as I messed with the zip ties and spread her unrestrained wings. “Don’t- “
“You’re coming with me!” She gave a powerful flap and took off with me in tow.
“Oh shit! Ah, fuck!” A bush and branch or two to the face before I was brought out of the trees. Note, retrain the hands behind the back and keep wings retrained as well. “Put me down damnit!”
“Sure!” She turned upwards sharp and let go of me, letting me hit the ground and roll. A crowd had gathered. “That’ll teach you to capture THE Rainbow Dash.”
I got up and brought my rifle level. “I made a promise, but, I can break that promise. Very easily.” The crowd was similar to the ‘Pegasus,’ but were different colors and hand no wings or no wings and a horn. Well, one had both and was purple. “You look important.” The crowd whispered amongst themselves.
She glared at me. “I am Princess Twilight Sparkle, Princess of friendship.” She wore what a stereotypical Liberian would ware. A sweater vest, plaid skirt, long sleeve shirt, and all with a purple theme to it. “Who are you and why have you come to Ponyville. Oh, more importantly, why did you attack Rainbow Dash!?”
I flicked the selector to burst and aimed at the ‘Princess.’ “She dragged me from the forest. She betrayed the promise of not pulling some shit. For right now, you have a very high chance of being hostile.” I lifted my left hand and waved it above me in a circle motion. “My chances of winning, are pretty high.” The rest of the group ran from the trees and across the open field, taking kneeling positions as they got closer, sighting in on the crowd. “Now, this can go one of two ways. We all relax and talk or this escalates and the chances of you or the folks here dying goes up. Make the decision now, and I should warn you not to do anything magical. Miss Dash explained at least that much.”
The air grew tense and the crowd went quiet. “Why should I trust you?” Question of the day. “How will I know that you won’t hurt anypony here?”
“Easy.” I lowered my weapon and put it on safe. “Stand down.” The others stood up -hesitantly- and did the same. Slowly and carefully coming over to me. “That’s how. We’ve stood down. Now, we can talk?”
Princess Sparkle -what a name- seemed to relax. “Alright. We’re fine, but the other Princesses might not take well to- “
“WHO DARES THREATEN OUR SUBJECTS!?” I heard a booming voice echo over the area.
“The hell?” I scanned the area.
“WE WILL HAVE YOU-“
“Sister. Please.” Another voice, less, angry, motherlier, caring, and somewhat imposing.
Twilight turned as the crowd separated. What looked like guards in gold armor and blue armor. “Make way for the Princesses!” The guards made their way around us and their spears pointed at us, with shields up. As if those would work against five-five-six rounds.
I looked at the spilt in the formation and what I saw was just plain odd. Two tall ‘Princesses’ were walking towards us, a regal style to it. One was blue and the other white. The blue one had a mane that was like the night and the white one had a strange rainbow mane. Kind of like that Rainbow Dash, but, more impressive. The white one took the lead and looked to me. “I am Princess Celelstia, princess of the sun and co-ruler of Equestria. This is my sister, Princess Luna. Princess of the moon, night, and dreams.” Their outfits were something out of roman mythology. Toga or robes or something like that. “Why have you come to our land and act in violence?”
“Well. We were in a warzone before being tossed into-“
The blue one- Luna. Stepped forward, glaring what felt like the physical representation of hell into me. “HOW DARE YOU SPEAK-“
“Luna! Please,” She took her by the shoulder. “Calm down.” She had her sister back up before continuing. “I apologize for this. There was a spell.”
“A spell!?” The Twilight one, exclaimed in surprise, quickly appearing at Celelstia’s side.
“Twilight. I apologize for not informing you, but- “
I was kind of angry now. I removed my goggles and pulled down the baklava mask. My brown eyes and white skin -dirty from the days of being outside the wire- contorted in anger. “You fucking did some spell!? You’re the reason we’re here!?”
She gave a worried expression. “Now, I know you’re angry. But listen, I had- “
“No! Fuck you! Seriously, we were in the middle of a mission! We were sent ahead to recon ISIS positions, so people don’t die! You possibly just got a number of people killed!”
She kept calm -or tried to- and continued to try and explain. “Sir, please. We needed someone to help us. We-“
“No. Hell no. Sorry lady, you messed this one up. Helping you is off the table.” I turned around and started to walk away.
“Halt creature!” A guard blocked my path.
“I will kill you.”
The guard smirked. “You have no way of- “My rifle leveled to his face. “W-What is that thing?”
“A M4 Carbine rifle, standard issue rifle of Marines. Your armor seems like it’s designed to stop maybe swords or spears. Right?”
“Y-Yes….” He was getting nervous.
“Yeah. It can kill you.”
“Please, Sir.” Celelstia stepped forward. “I didn’t mean for the spell to lead to the deaths of anyone you know. We just needed help. The age of it made the results unknown. I we’ll let you stay in town as an act of kindness. Princess Twilight will be responsible of you while you’re here. Just until we figure this out. There is no need for fighting.”
I looked to Lt. Inu. “Sir?”
“Wills, she didn’t mean for this to happen. We’re here now and this is our best bet for anything. I say we grab what we can from the Seaking, bring it here, and take what we can get.” Inu removed his kevlar. “You’re the leader Corporal.”
I lowered my rifle and removed my kevlar. My shaved head was covered in sweat. “Alright,” I looked at Celestia. “We need to get what we left from where we came from. Then a place to stay, big enough to hold us.”
Twilight stepped forward. “My castle, you can stay there. There are plenty of rooms.”
“Alright. We’ll be back.” I clipped my kevlar to my vest and went past the guards. “Come on. Let’s get our gear.”
Acosta came up to me. “Hey, are you sure this is a good idea?” He removed his kevlar and baklava mask. Standing at five-ten, his dark Mexian/Filipino skin, dark green eyes, and messy short hair. “Man, like bro, this is some sort of magic land of…. well, something. They said they needed our help.” The American accent would throw a lot of foreigners off.
“I know Acosta. But she still took us from our home. Our families. Everything.” We all headed back towards the forest to the CH-53E. “We’ll grab our things, set up in the castle, and then talk about it.”
“Alright man. You know what you’re doing, but come on, we’re Marines. We help people.”
“I know. I know.” We headed into the forest and to the Super Stallion and got our gear. We gathered ammo, extra MREs, and whatever we could get. We locked the aircraft and headed back. Hauling a bunch of gear is normal for us. Even if it’s a pain in the ass.
As we arrived back to the town, the guard had shrunk to a handful and the two Princess had left. The only one left was Princess Twilight Sparkle. “Ah, you’re back. Do you want us to help- “
“No.”
“My magic can- “
“Touch it and I can’t be held accountable for what I do.” I glared at her.
“Alright.” She retreated a bit. “I got rooms set up, beds ready, and even had food prepared if you want to eat.”
“Thanks, but we have food.” MREs aren’t ‘food’ really, but we’ll avoid that argument.
“Alright…. follow me.” She led us through the town, the locals peering from their homes in worry or curiosity. The ‘castle’ she led us to looked like it was made of crystal. “All rooms are on the first floor. All next to one another, and have bathrooms attached.”
Lewis -tall ass at six-two – walked on my left. “A bath would be nice. Oh, can we clean our clothes. They smell really bad.”
I glared at him. “Really Lewis?!”
Twilight smiled. “Of course. I’m happy somepony is happy about this.”
We got to the castle and to our rooms. I shared a room with Wilson. We set our gear down and gathered in the hall -happy to be out of our gear- and stayed quiet. I looked around the hall. “A crystal castle in some magical world of anthropomorphic ponies. What the hell….” We’re going to need to figure out what we’re going to do. This whole situation is FUBAR.
Author's Note
Alright. This idea has been in my had for 6 months. And now I post it. Hope you all like it. If not, tell me. Constructive is the best. But, any who, this is my third story. I will update the others. Just had to get this done. Enjoy, and I hope to see you all next time.
