The Lost

by Immortan Joe

Rating: teen
Tags: Starlight Glimmer, Adventure, Twilight Sparkle, Profanity, Violence, Dark, Alternate Universe, Human, Main 6, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Spike, Comedy
Length: 7616

After a routine paratrooping sortie gone wrong over the Arizona desert. Freelance Journalist, Frank Hugh, and a company of soldiers find themselves stranded in Equestria with only their tools to survive and curious locals searching for them.

After an unexplainable storm consumes two Boeing C-17s during a routine sortie over the Arizona desert. Freelance Journalist, Frank Hugh, and a company of armed soldiers find themselves literally crash landing into Equestria. With no knowledge of survival or any combat training, Frank must find a way to cope and survive in a new world while trying to find any other survivors before the land's inhabitants take him.

Published 2018-04-27 15:00:06 UTC
Last updated 2018-04-27 15:00:06 UTC

Prologue

I was just a simple journalist, a freelancer who had happened to score a deal with the United States; contracted to report on the United States Air Force’s next paratrooping test. It was just supposed to be a routine test sortie over the Arizona Plains, two Boeing C-17s, each one filled to near full capacity. So much so that as we loaded onto each plane, I couldn’t even begin to count how many soldiers loaded onto each of the massive transports.

I remember being issued a partner in which I was supposed to jump tandemly with as I recorded the footage and was then ordered to dress into the standard jumpsuit and given some basic equipment in case we went off course. Most however was given to my lead jumper, the man I would cast off with, Sgt. Huey Ross. A large, stocky man who had not even a speck of hair on his head; so much so you’d need sunglasses to talk to him outside.

After boarding the planes each and everyone found their respective seats and sat down while I held my Canon camera out and recorded the footage I thought would go great for my report. I jotted down notes on the soldiers and transcribed brief interviews I had with some of the men as the planes shuddered and shook as they made their way down the runway. During take off my stomach lurched and churned and the boys around me laughed as I became the target of their playful harassment.

Taking the abuse in stride I continued recording what I could to pass the time just as the plane steadied and we began the first phase the operation. We flew for roughly ten minutes over the Arizona desert as the interior of the Boeing felt like that of a male’s locker room. The boys inside were relaxed and joking, most seeming excited for the jump as I heard it's been a good two weeks since most of the men here had skydived due to the reported weather phenomena.

“Freakish weather?” I asked as I lowered my camera to my lap, the lens angled upwards as it captured Cpl. Zeke Skews.

The young man, looking fresh out of High School, smiled as he scratched the stubble on his chin. “Yeah,” He said in a matching, young voice. “Crazy ass thunderstorms over the desert, going on for almost a week now. Could see it from base, almost looked like a hurricane.”

“Hurricane?” I cocked an eyebrow and took notes. “Sounds kinda odd for a place as dry as Arizona.” I chuckled.

“Right?” The lad smirked and fished into one of his dozen pockets to show me his phone screen. I blinked as I leaned forward and saw his locked screen contained a vast picture of a massive purplish, pink storm cloud flashing periodically with lightning. The captured image of lightning strikes splintering the air around them as they struck the ground made for a captivating image. “It also made for shit like this.”

With that I continued my talks with the nearby paratroopers about the aforementioned storm and interviews about each and everyone of their time on base. I talked with them about what it was like doing what they do, their reasonings and so forth. Time passed easily into another ten minutes before boeing’s intercom kicked in.

“Attention: desert storm sighted four kilos from jump sight. Mission aborted, repeat: mission aborted.”

Around me groans of disappointment filled around me, along with curses, and even a few comedic wines similar to that of a dog came to my ears. Admittedly when I heard this news I was honestly a bit relieved, the thought of jumping from ten thousand feet made my gut churn a little.

That is before the C-17 struck turbulence. I let of a sharp cry as many men around yelped before cheering humorously at the brief moment of excitement before suddenly killing said humor when the plane shook violently once more. Then it shook once more and once more.

“Jesus Christ!” My jump partner growled as he clutched his seat tightly. “What happened to the storm being a few kilos away?” I gripped my camera and my bag tightly to my chest.

I looked to the Sergeant. “Maybe we had to cut through it to turn around--ah!” I yelped and cried when the plane jerked horrifically and literally tilted sharply off balance. More startled yells from the troops around me made it quite obvious that this wasn’t natural, nor fun.

“I fucking doubt that,” The Sergeant gripped his seat tighter and glanced around, for even a higher rank compared to the men, I could see a faint of nervousness on his face. Though from the way he was looking at the boys around him, it was clear he was more nervous about them. So I hoped.

I another wave of turbulence struck the plane and creaking groan filled the cabin’s hull as suddenly, the plane began to tilt. Lights inside the hull dimmed before changing to red glow as a loud horn blared inside, my heart racing as the pilot came over the intercom.

“Jump! Everybody, fucking jump!”

Chapter 1: Crashlanding

Screeching metal, shouts of panic and commands, followed up by a pack being shoved onto me and being thrusted out a gaping door in the back of the plane was all I comprehended during those moments of sheer panic and shit filling pants moment. Freezing, rushing wind tore at my face and skin as I dropped from the sky at a hundred and twenty miles per hour. Heart racing, brain overloading as sheer panic and adrenaline made me want to scream in utter horror as I was literally staring into the heart of a storm.

Specks of ice and water stung my face as I plummeted through the churning, roaring storm, briefly I swore I could catch the other sights of soldiers who had leapt from the first Boeing and during my horrific free fall. The thought of the second C-17 came to mind, what happened to it? And as if on cue, my answer was granted as screaming, hulking metal came dropping past me in a literal roar of flame. The gust of hot air casting me in a spiraling fall and a second wave of screaming panic as I was spiraling in free fall.

My heart beated in my ears, and I swore I pissed myself as I attempted to correct my posture as I fell at break neck speed. Opening my arms and legs out, I attempted to catch the air with my jump suit and correct myself. After a few attempts at getting my arms out, my wish was granted as I straightened myself out and began to sob uncontrollably for exactly three seconds before breaking through the cloud barrier.

What I saw next drove my mind into sensory overload. My tears stopped and my panic temporarily subdued itself as what I saw then was not the Arizona desert. Temporal forests and mountains was all I could see for miles as I fell from the heavens, along with a beautiful sunrise in the distance which painted the sky in beautiful purples and reds. For the briefest moment, I was okay with dying at the sight of this.

But only for a brief moment. Remembering the pack that was forced onto me, I realized the soldiers had gifted me a parachute. Despite having suffered twenty minutes of harassment, they were kind enough to gift me a chance at life. A chance I would not pass up. Vaguely remembering the cord they told me to pull, I snatched it for dear life and yanked as hard as I could.

The back of the pack released the chute and cords rapidly, the air filling my saving grace. I cried out loudly as the parachute expanded and yanked me up right, back cracking as the sudden deceleration caused me to cry out sharply as I was saved from a plummeting death.

“G-God dammit!” I groaned as I grabbed the cords gently and allowed myself to drift towards the massive trees below me. Just then I noticed something in the distance, blinking I saw dozens, if not hundreds of chutes in the distance all around me and I smiled widely. Knowing that others were able to escape the planes as well--then a I heard it.

A distant boom below me and I swivel my head around to see the smoke coming from the tree tops miles away, past that, back up above. I a flaming ball of a fire could be seen death spiraling towards the earth before disappearing over a mountain top.

“By God...” I muttered softly as I watched the seen unfold. “I’m so fucked.”

__

The descend to the ground was a slow and pretty one at that. Despite the realization that I was alone, in an unknown environment, descending slowly to whatever hell laid beneath me. At least I knew I had a beautiful sight to take in. Not only that I could revel in the jealous of the soldiers I had so forcibly departed with. Those men had weapons, and other various tools to help them survive in such situations.

During my descent I was able to take into account that I had only had a backpack with three days of food, compass, a flashlight, and really that was it. The rest of the supplies was with the Sergeant I was supposed to jump in tandem with. Oh yeah, and I had my camera, laptop, and journal. But yeah, I can’t really use those to survive wherever the hell we are.

When I had disappeared below the tree line, my parachute had snagged the nearest branch and I yelped as I was bungee corded up before dangling helplessly about thirty feet above ground. I hung helplessly, screaming for help before quickly silencing myself when noticing it there was no point and crying. I kicked my legs madly, cursing and moaning before shifting my body weight and realizing something so magnificent.

Freaking physics.

As I thrusted my body weight, I noticed that I was swinging back and forth. My eyes widening briefly as this realization struck me like a kid in a candy store. With idea coming forth I began to pelvic thrust, as humiliating as it sounds, in the air, in the process to which it pushed me towards the tree I was stuck on.

The large, gnarly branches which jutted in every direction, showing that just maybe there was one I could grab and hoist myself on. I grunted and huffed as I continued to push myself forward, my abs burning as I finally thrusted far enough forward to grab a thick, hard branch and yank myself forward. Arms latching onto the hard, dark bark of the large tree. Feet finally finding purchase on an even larger branch beneath me.

At last. I finally began to cry. Weeping happily to have survived such a horrific experience, I sniffled and head butted the tree gently as the adrenaline in my body began to flush itself out and my emotions caught up. Taking the moment to sob like a child, to which thank God no soldier boy was around to see this. I finally manned myself back up and caught my breath.

Carefully I removed the parachute pack from my body, yelping slightly as gravity almost yanked me off the tree when the pack slid off my frame. I snatched the tree and clung on tightly as I now began to plan my next move. I looked down below, the forest beneath me still dark as the sun above was still rising slowly. I bit my lower lip, balancing options of wait in the tree, or immediately start my search for others.

During my free fall I had saw dozens, if not maybe even a hundred parachutes all around me; in every direction there could be soldiers. Men with training and weapons, as pathetic as it sounds, they were people who could protect me. It sucks knowing that I needed people to defend me, but now I wasn’t going to dwell on my own pride and ego. Actions have to be called for and what I ended up deciding on, was to wait.

__

Having nearly fallen three times as I positioned myself into a sitting position on the large tree, I rested my back against the hard bark waited for the sun to rise just a little higher in the sky. While this went on, I contemplated on what the hell had happened. Had we by chance passed through some form of scientific phenomena that transported us here? Was the routine sortie some kind of cover up for some kind of jump drive technology? Or maybe that freakish storm that Corporal told me about was the cause of this?

Why now, of all times? Like, seriously. This was bullshit. Yet again, it’s not like I had anything to lose. I had no special someone and I had only gotten lucky when I scored the deal to cover the news on the sortie, first job I had in months. I was running late on some bills and car so...maybe this was like a test or some kind?

Ah fuck that. That’s stupid.

Some cosmic entity is probably laughing its ass of right now. Fuck that thing.

When a glare blinded me and caused me to raise a hand up, I realized I had been sitting in the tree for about an hour now. For that the sun was now beating directly on me, the coolness from the shade now fading as the rays of light warmed my body. Shifting a bit I sighed as I glanced down at the forest floor and nearly shrieked and fell from the tree.

Below me at the forest floor were a series of wolves, scouring around the base of the tree. Yet upon closer inspection and the release of a horrified shudder, I noticed these were no ordinary wolves. These things were clearly not of this world, their bodies made of timber and moss, sap and leaves. Bits and pieces that would normally not make up anything mammalian, except...there they were. Their sap green eyes staring up at me as they stood there...menacingly.

Horrified by the fantastical creatures below I pull my gaze away and and whines as I rest against the tree.Though as moments past, a morbid curiosity hit me and I couldn’t help but glance back over. Did they want to eat me? Unlikely now that I think about it...if my basic knowledge of biology doesn’t fail me. Organic plants don’t normally eat things...normally, I thought as a venus flytrap came to mind. Perhaps they’re just territorial; and are only hostile to beings who pass through?

Nonetheless this was a problem that needed addressing. I had to escape. No way in hell I was going to die of dehydration in a friggin tree, or mayhaps slip and fall to my death. Though judging by this height, a fall, unless on my head, wouldn’t kill me. What would be is that my legs would either be broken and I’ll die of dehydration from being immobilized, or perhaps eaten alive by some filthy scavengers. Either way I’m screwed being here.

With that in mind I began glancing about my surroundings, wondering how I could at least get on a move. A way to get from maybe tree to tree so that I could escape my curious, and horrific, audience down below. I took a deep breath and concentrated on my search, for a minute I thought I was morbidly screwed until the thick vine hanging a meter or so to my left stuck out to me.

My eyes widening, I looked on with nervous, yet hopeful, glee at my potential escape route. Eager to get away and find the others, I shifted my footing and turned to move just as large insect like eyes came into my field of view.

“Holy f-fucking--!” I screamed at the top of my lungs as I recoiled back when the large, fist sized bug came into view and my feet slipped out from under me. Crying out for dear life, I felt a sense of weightlessness take over as I began to plummet down to earth. By body saved from a brutal mutilation by the various branches which, while painfully, broke my thirty foot fall.

A fall that would land me within the jaws of the plant like canines below.

Chapter 2: Fear

I cried loudly as my back slammed into the hard, matted ground beneath me, my body luckily only landing centimeters away from a jagged tree root jutting from the ground. I breathed heavily into the ground, kicking up the various dirt and grime around my face as pain flared throughout my entire body. It felt as if hot needles were pricking me from all angles, driving beneath my skin and scratching at my very bones.

I cursed and moaned as I planted my palm into the black dirt and pushed myself up into the very snout of a wooden canine monster. I stared into the sap green eyes on the best before me, the fantasy creatures snorting fresh air into my face. My body froze, bladder clenching heavily as fear petrified my very being, I could feel a cold sweat forming on my brow and I dared not move a muscle.

Behind the creature in my face I could see movement as two more wooden monsters began to pace around me. If these things were like wolves back home in Michigan, they were preparing for an attack, or maybe a duel. I had no clue, but what I did know was, pardon my French, I was morally fucked.

I survived a plane crash, parachuted ten thousand feet, and was now about to be eaten alive by planks of walking wood. Fucking great.

Admittedly, I began to weep. Slowly closing my eyes, tears began to flow as I slumped down and began to cry, the wolf like creature snarling as I quietly begged and prayed as the creature knelt down and sniffed at my carbon dioxide I released between sobs of fear. My body slowly losing control as I begged for any god to spare me and feared even more that I was going to soil myself like a coward. Ah fuck it, I was being a total coward as it was.

Yet as I lay there wallowing in pathetic despair, my predators surrounding my repulsive existence. A beastial roar bellowed not too far off in the distance; like something out of a Godzilla film howling aggressively over the treetops, shook me to my very core and cried loudly as even my soon to be killers whined loudly and fled.

As the distant howling faded and my flesh eaters now gone. I whimpered and lifted my head and was filled with relief as it seemed my pathetic begging had spared me my life. Yet I knew deep down that would not work next time. Though I wouldn’t take this moment for granted, not wasting any time, I whined and groaned as my aching body pushed itself to its feet and I glanced around my wooded surroundings.

I was in a small clearing, around me was thick underbrush and an uncountable amount of massive tree trunks spanning meters in width and diameter. Past the brush, the forest around me was nearly pitch black despite it being mid morning. Hopefully, if anything here was similar to Earth, than that met the sun rose in the east and would presumably set in the west. Or so I hoped. If not, I’m more screwed than I thought.

So I proceeded on foot in the direction away from the massive beast I could hear howling in the distance. From what I guessed, I thought I was heading south, because water, from what I read, normally traveled downward and the key to surviving was water. The pack I had came with my camera, had also had a canteen and if rationed correctly, I could maybe make it last a good while. Maybe even the day or so. Yet knowing me, it would maybe last a couple hours.

As I walked through the humid forest underbrush, I was halted when I heard the sound of small arm gunfire. Rapid shots in quick succession followed by another beastial roar which shook my very core alerted me to nearby survivors. I had only been walking for roughly thirty minutes and at about a good five mile per hour walk. Though that wasn’t taking into account the amount of underbrush I had to clear. From what I could tell the shots and howls were coming from the east, maybe even south east.

The gun shots sounded like M16s and the monster I heard sounded awfully familiar to that Godzilla bastard who unintentionally saved my hide. I sat and waited, listening to the shots and I could distinctly make out the possible that there were two defenders, at least...I hoped these bastards were defending themselves. Though I hadn’t seen it, whatever was making those horrific screams sounded like nothing I wanted to take on. Then again, I wasn’t a U.S. paratrooper. Some of these bastards were crazy.

The monster howled again and I gritted my teeth. I wouldn’t be much help to any soldier, I had no weapon, yet...I couldn’t survive out here alone. Facing my fear of death, I bit my lip and pushed off the tree and began to rush towards the direction of combat. If I’d die, I’d rather die around another human being.

___

It was massive and fucking hideous.

Whatever the heck it was it stood at nearly half the size of the forest’s trees, maybe fifteen meters with three snake like heads. Its jaws filled with angler like teeth and it walked on two massive legs with two tails which thrashed about which bashed into trees and ripped up nearby underbrush. Each head howled madly as the sound of small arms fire sounded off and miniscule bullets tore into its scaley form, shredding its natural armor yet only enough to sting its flesh.

I ducked into the bushes as the monster howed in anger and I could hear the soldiers shout in surprise as one of its massive tails crashed into the nearby tree line. I heard one man scream in horror as a massive evergreen came smashing into the ground and the other yelling for him to run. With horrified curiosity I poked my head out from the bush and saw two desert camouflage paratroopers bolting from the tree line and sprinting over a nearby stream. To my left, about ten meters away, was the massive hydra like monster that howled once more upon seeing the men, which I then nearly shat myself, as it suddenly began to drag itself towards them at ludicrous speed!

The two paratroopers cried out in fear as they glanced over their shoulders and saw the beast charging them, raising their weapons they pathetically fired and ran. Yet that action would cost them greatly as the trooper on the left slipped on a wet rock in the stream and twisted his ankle! Screaming out loud, the man toppled over, his gun trapped beneath his own body weight, the man shifted over and tried to raise his weapon.

Now I don’t know if I was stupid, or brave, or even both. Hell it could have been anything, maybe I was suicidal or something. Or maybe I just didn’t want to see that poor bastard out in the stream being eaten alive. Yet what I did was maybe the stupidest idea anyone or anything could have ever had. This King Kong sized mother F’er was about to eat a man and I had no weapons, not even a stick or a rock. No. However, what I did have was my Canon camera, with a very, very bright flash on it.

What my idea, if you could call it one. Was that I was going to sprint as fast as I could towards the monster, which was only about a dozen meters ahead, its side facing me, and take the best profile picture I could of its ugly fricken face. I didn’t put any thought into it, no variables had been accounted for, threats or even longistics. None of that bullshit. Fuck I didn’t even think of how the thing would react, or even the soldiers for that matter.

What I thought was simple.

Fuck it.

I snatched my camera from its protective bag and immediately dove from the underbrush, my clothes snagging and tearing on the thorns and branches. Yet the adrenaline pumping through me didn’t care, and I sprinted for that massive lizard friggin thing. Waving my arms and screaming like a freaking banshee, I nearly pissed myself when its furthest right nasty looking face turned to look at me. Stupid enough, I even slowed as the monster itself began to lose speed and stop before the man on the ground.

I bit my lip and shouted at the stupid thing. “Hey, Lizzy!” Its right head cocked slightly as I raised the camera, its flash on its highest setting. “Smile!” I snapped the picture and the white light of my camera flashed brightly in the dim forest. The hydra head yelped and jerked back, its whole body shifting to one side, buying the one healthy trooper to pull his buddy with the sprained ankle to his feet.

And at that one moment I learned something. Something that everyone in their life has may be experienced at least one time, y’know. Like the moment after you had finished looking something up online on your computer and you decide to let your buddy search something up and he or she types the letter “P” into the computer and all that browser history appears? Oh c’mon, it's that kinda feeling.

What I realized was that I just fucked up.

Like royally fucked up. FUBAR.

Yeah I may have just helped those soldiers, but what I didn’t take into consideration was that I had just pissed off a multiton, three headed, fantastical abomination. I realized this when all three of its head and all six of its eyes trained right on me. That’s when I wet myself and began to run faster than I ever had since my high school track career.

Its roars would haunt my nightmares till the day I died.

Chapter 3: The Fallen Chunk

“Good, good!” Twilight beamed as Starlight flopped back on her haunches, in the open field outside of Ponyville, panting heavily and wiping the sweat off her forehead with a levitated napkin. She had just finished transmogrifying an entire house into a tree house very similar to that of Twilight’s original home before it had been so rudely destroyed. “I must say, Starlight, your magical abilities still impress me.” The Alicorn mentor hummed as she examined her apprentices work. “Even a few years back I alone had a few kinks to hammer out, yet you--”

Starlight, who was blushing heavily under her coat, silenced Twilight with a raised hoof. “Thank you, Twilight, I understand,” she said softly as she pushed herself onto her hooves exhausted. “Do you mind if I take a break for a bit? I think Pinky’s magic surprise party decorations can wait a bit...” she let off a low, yet long yawn.

Twilight smiled warmly and gave Starlight a small nod. “Of course, Starlight, take as much time as you need.” She hummed and glanced up at the sky, enjoying the morning sun as it began to rise in the distance, the two of them had been up nearly all night preparing for Pinky’s magic surprise party for the Cutie Mark Crusaders and their, yet another, success at helping another foal gain their mark. As Twilight looked up at the pink and purple clouds above the Alicorn wiped her own tiredness from her eyes with the tip of her wing. “I might retire for a couple hours myself, if you need me I’ll...Be...” Twilight trailed off, her eyes widening.

Starlight blinked. “Twilight?” The unicorn smirked and shook her head. “You better not be--watch out!” With a burst of magic the unicorn teleported both her and her mentor away as a massive unidentified object crashed into the field they stood practicing in. An eruption of fire and debris flung outwards as a massive shock wave would send the two ponies, who had thought were safe, back and rolling.

Twilight landed on her stomach, limbs sprawled out and head spinning. Chunks of debris and metallic material sprinkled the ground around the alicorn and the occasional cinder burned her dirtied coat. With ringing ears and blurred vision, the mare shook her head and blinked as her eyes burned from the smoke and heat. She squinted her eyes and looked on ahead before gasping, though she wouldn’t hear herself doing so.

Starlight Glimmer, who had landed on her side, rolled over and looked up at Twilight. Having also gone deaf, she didn’t bother asking what her mentor was gawking at, turning her head to see what her teacher was awestruck by the unicorn’s stomach dropped and all thought was lost as she saw the massive Globemasters burning hull and smoldering cockpit.

Both mare’s slowly pushed themselves to their hooves and swayed gently as they watched the piece of alien machinery burn and spark, various pieces in the distance falling and slamming down around them. “What in Celestia’s name...is that?” Both mare’s thought to themselves as their adrenaline coursed through their bodies.

___

The town of Ponyville was thrown into a mass of confusion and curiosity shortly after the unidentified object struck the open field a quarter mile away from town. Starlight and Twilight quickly went to work on putting out the nearby flames before stopping when they noticed the distance plumes of smoke of what could only be remnants of the object that had broken off. Luckily the plumes were coming deep within the Everfree and proved no immediate danger to anypony, though the fear of a forest fire did not bode well with the two mares.

As Twilight literally dropped a massive bubble of water over the clear wreckage, a wave of superheated steam hissed violently and pushed out in all directions. Coughing and shielding their eyes, the two mares blinked and watched with awe as the simmering twisted sheets of metal and other various bits revealed themselves to the girls.

Starlight stepped forward. “This isn’t right,” She said softly before glancing at Twilight. “This isn’t anything natural, like look at it.” The mare quickly kicked the heated metal and hissed before blushing as Twilight shook her head.

“I agree,” The alicorn said with a slight nod. “Despite how damaged this appears, it looks too artificial to have formed, even within Luna’s realm above.” She gestures to the sky with a flick of her head. Twilight then frowned and said, “Even then...this also doesn’t seem to be anything pony-made either.” She glanced back at Starlight who frowned.

“What do you mean?” The unicorn asked as she moved closer to the wreckage, behind the girls over a nearby hill leading into town, local residents began to appear and investigate. Amongst them came the farm pony Applejack who galloped towards the initial mares.

“What in tarnation is going on?!” The farm mare called out to the girls before stopping a few hoof steps away, panting heavily she gestures with her hoof towards the intensely thinking mares. “What is this?”

Twilight wouldn’t answer Applejack immediately as she said to Starlight, “Well look at what it’s made of.” Twilight placed a heat protection spell over her hoof and kicked the metal which let off a low ring. “Even our pedal-copters are only made of wood and iron, nothing of that magnitude would survive, even in pieces, a crash like we saw.” Twilight kicked the metal again. “Whatever this material is...its tough; dense.”

Applejack blinked. “So...this is is that loud bang we heard?” The Earth Pony asked and finally both other mares looked at her.

“Oh, hey, AJ,” They both said simultaneously and glanced at each other before giggling.

“Yes.” Twilight nodded her head. “We have...no idea where it came from,” Twilight said seriously as she glanced back at the wreckage of the charred C-17 hull and cockpit. “It just fell from the sky and well,” she pointed with a wing towards the distant smoke from the Everfree. “I don’t think we have the whole thing.”

AJ cocked an eyebrow and glanced at the smoke and then the wreckage for a few moments. “Alright...what the hay are we waitin’ for then?” She said and looked at Starlight. “Y’all should be goin and gettin the others and searchin for the rest of...” She circled her hoof at the broken thing in front of her. “This!”

Both girls blinked and then smiled. Twilight nodded her head. “Applejack, you’re right.” She then looked to Starlight. “I’m afraid out rest is going to have to wait, Starlight...” She then paused. “Well if you want--” Twilight was halted by Starlight shaking her head and smiling, which in turn made Twilight beam happily. “Alright, in that case, I want you to round up the rest of the girls while I prepare for an expedition!” The Alicorn leaped up and down, excitement filling her at the possibility of adventure and discovery.

Twilight’s enthusiasm seemed to be contagious as within moments Starlight herself was hopping on her hooves. “Alright! I’ll be back in thirty minutes with whoever I can find.” She then looked to Applejack. “AJ, have you seen the others around here?”

“I’m here!” Pinkie Pie exploded out from behind the wreckage of the object, charred patches and a few scrapes covering her coat, mane frazzled and clearly burnt in a few spots. The pink pony’s sudden appearance elucidating a startled screech from the three ponies. “And I think I seen Dash sleeping outside her house...which honestly doesn’t make any sense because like her house is only like twenty feet away where she has like a bed and blankets but like--” Starlight muted Pinkie Pie with a spell which the pink earth pony wouldn’t even notice and would continue to ramble.

“Well alright,” The unicorn smiled and looked back at the others who were giving her stern looks. “Be back in thirty minutes?”

Chapter 4: On the Run

For the love of Christ I had never ran so far and fast in my entire life since my high school track meet. I can’t even imagine how many hurdles I had leapt over legs and foliage I knew I couldn’t just run through, not only that I frickin wet myself shortly after that thing looked at me and thought. Y’know, this small bite sized human that wouldn’t even put a dent in my hunger looks rather tasty. Like seriously?! All I did is flash a frickin camera in its face and now it it wants to eat me, like...damn. Why did I have to be the freaking hero! At least those soldiers were shooting guns at it! Like real friggin’ guns, that did damage! All I did is maybe make it see a floater or two.

To make matters worse it was like I was experiencing one of those nightmares where you’re like runnin’ down a corridor? Y’know like the dream where the hallway gets longer and longer, and you’re being chased by a Barney with a knife that wants to eat you? No? Huh, maybe it's just me. But y’know you probably experienced that hallway part, c’mon we all have. Not to mention it was even worse when I had that old recurring nightmare with Tinky-Winky...

Anyhow, it just seemed like no matter how far I ran I just couldn’t get away from this God-damn hydra thing which just. Wouldn't’t. Fuck. Off! Like honestly, I’m happy I’m not that tall for a man and that I always made sure to keep up on my cardio and stretches. Because holy shit I was like a freakin’ spider monkey, like I was never good at parkour, hell I never tried it. Yet when your life's on the verge of being ingested by a multi hundred ton monster, you’d start doing some daring fucking shit to get away.

As mentioned I was sprinting, leaping and even climbing rapidly over anything that came in my way. So much so I think I broke my middle finger when trying to monkey vault over a low hanging branch. Though with that big bastard chasing me, I had no time to check or even think about the pain that was coming from the throbbing joint as it howled and bashed its way around trees and hanging vegetation.

It was at that moment I realized I couldn’t keep up with running, I had to hide, and I had to find a spot real freaking fast. Without realizing at the last second though, my foot caught on some thick mud on a hill and I screamed out loud as I felt my weight shift forward and my vision was suddenly spinning. Quickly I took notice I was falling just as my back slammed first into the ground and my sight was right side up yet quickly I found myself sliding down the slippery slope towards a raging river!

I began to unleash a wave of curse words too vulgar I can’t list them because of my mother and began to paw at anything I could get my hands on. Finding no purchase, I screamed in abject horror as I tumbled right into the roaring river! My vision went black as I plunged into the freezing river, the sound around me muffling as the screaming waves rushed around me and I was pushed with great speed downstream. My body twisted and turned as I was whipped about, thankfully not hitting any rocks, I finally found my way above surface and I broke through gasping for air.

Gulping down as much air as I could while treading water, I noticed the sound of screaming water becoming louder. Turning my head I nearly shat myself when I saw I was encroaching on a bustling waterfall. “You gotta be kidding me!” I forced out as I frantically began stroking my way diagonally to the water bank. Cursing with every stroke I felt the water tugging at my legs as I grew ever closer to the cascading edge, yet at the same time I was only meters away from my own salvation.

Panting heavily, muscles I never knew I had burned and screamed as I continued paddling. Openly sobbing as the ever growing fear of death lingered above head, yet as if by some miracle. I felt my feet touch ground, with this hope grew and I cried out in triumph as I pushed off the ground and threw myself towards the shallow end of the river and I clambered with chattering teeth towards land. I laughed joyfully as I threw myself onto my back onto the mud and threw my arms in the air before bringing them down and outwards away from me.

Then I heard the thing snort and the ground shifted slightly as its paw landed a meter beside my head. My already freezing body stiffened and my heart leapt into my throat as its shadow loomed over me. I gulped and whimpered as I glanced over and saw the head of a lion sniffing towards me, yet I then saw large, leathery wings and an insect like tail. The creature sniffed and bared its teeth and I whimpered more but remained still.

For heaven’s sake, everything was out to kill me. I was gonna die, this thing was gonna eat me. I swear to Christ if I didn’t die here I am very much likely to leave a bad review on Trip Advisor when I get home. The monster snarled once again and turned away to my relief, it sniffed the air and then moved towards the water and began to drink.

Seeing this as an opportunity to leave, I shifted slowly and carefully got to my feet. “Now, Now...” I muttered as the creature’s massive head lifted and looked to me, water dripping from its jowls as their eyes narrowed on me. I lifted two hands up and began to back away slowly. “Go back to drinking now, please,” I whimpered once more and shifted my shoulder to adjust the bag which carried my camera. Subconsciously praying that the water tight bag I bought served its freakin’ purpose.

The lion creature began to snarl as I moved, causing me to stop in place as it shifted its body to face me. Its growling turning into a deep hiss, a sound which was soon halted by a light, yet loud whistle broke the through the tree line. A noise which made both the lion and me turn our gazes to the tree line along the bank. Followed by a flock of multicolored birds which flew out in every direction, a small, yellow horse like creature with wings and a pink mane stepped out into the scene.

“What the actual...fuck,” I muttered softly, now feeling as if I had seen everything the universe had to offer. That is if I was in my own universe at this point. Yet as I had thought that, I ate my own freaking words as the actual horse thing began to speak.

At least.

I thought it was speaking. I couldn’t understand its light and semi squeaky voice as it projected noise towards the lion creature, which softened its demeanor and turned to face the small creature. Which I then flinched as the small horse thing looked to me with a slightly perplexed expression, which changed quickly as it smiled and began to speak towards me. Again, I thought it was speaking. For all I knew it was like a dog or cat begging for attention or food, or maybe it was requesting for me to mate I dunno.

Like the lion, I raised my two hands and shook my head in an effort of thinking that this thing was intelligent. Maybe it understood bipedal body language? Maybe not...or most likely. I had not a friggin’ clue.

“I uh...no speak your language!” I said loud a slowly to the alien creature, because remember kids: foreigners are stupid, so you have to speak slow and super condescending to get them to understand you. I gestured to my neck, specifically vocal cords. “I don’t know what you’re saying!” I spoke to the thing as if it was a child, or could even catch a glimpse of what I was saying.

Yet when it tilted its head confused and muttered something, I got the hint that everything I was saying was flying over her head at mach 20. The lion creature looked to me and snarled softly under its breath and flinched, even shrieked a little like a wuss and stepped back. The horse thing barked sharply at the lion monster and it as well jerked back.

At that mark, I turned and bolted into the tree line as fast as I could. Though my limbs and muscles were screaming for a break, I did not heed their pleas as I continued moving with great vigor away from that thing. Which I could hear calling in the distance behind me, and possibly giving chase. A chase I would indeed give it as I continued running for my life.

Then I felt something hit me. Fast and hard, I I swore I felt my back crack in three places. Yet surprisingly, it was like that good kinda a crack, y’know when you go to a chiropractor and they just give ya that one good push? Yeah it was that kinda feeling. It was y’know...amazing.

Until I hit the tree however. Pain flooded my system in multiple areas along my right side and groaned heavily as I slumped down, thankfully regaining consciousness as my vision swam over and over.

“What the...fuck?” I asked for the umpteenth time that day, and I was answered by a brash, squeaky voice of something I just assumed was gibberish. Then I heard another sound, a familiar squeaky tone that was rather hush sounding, yet stern. I shook my head and closed my eyes before reopening them and seeing a yellow winged horse arguing with a blue one that had rainbow hair.

That was weird.

Yet I thought they were arguing, their voices sounded harsh. But who knows, maybe they’re like the Germans, or Russians. Those people always sounded pissed off. I rubbed my eyes and looked over the two creatures which seemed, or were, bickering with each other. The blue one stood on its hind legs and held up its hooves while maybe gesturing height, or possibly challenging the other to a duel? Before falling down and pointing a single hoof at me, the yellow one side and rolled its creepily large eyes before glancing at me. It then started to step towards me, to which I whined and quickly kicked back with my legs and pushed myself away.

“Be gone! Git! Git I say!” I barked at them and waved my hands frantically like a fool. “Shoo! Go!” The two horse things cocked their heads, and then to my mounting confusion, they began laughing gleefully.

And at that very moment, I realized with utter horror.

I had truly...fucked up.