Chapter 1 - This Is Not My World
Author's Note
This is my first serious attempt at fan-fiction writing and is my submission for Scribbler’s BronyCon2018 writing contest. Trouble was, there was a limit of just 4000 words so I had to make it super fast paced (not my usual style such as my stuff on DA). Although I had to remove a LOT of detail to trim this down, a tremendous amount of hard work still went into this so comments on how I did with this new style would be appreciated. :D Brohooves all around, Comrades, and Enjoy!
Chapter 1 - This Is Not My World
How many times in your life have you woken up and asked “Am I still dreaming?”
That was exactly the question I pondered, as I sat on the wall, thinking about my place in this world, of my time here and how it came to be that a human ended up in such a strange place.
After waking up in a hospital bed, tied to the frame and my system drugged with god-knows what, I opened my blurry eyes to see several colourful equine faces peering down at me. “I must be dreaming… or hallucinating.” I thought. Unlike a dream or hallucination however, it never ended. After several months it became apparent it was unlikely I would ever get home, and so I had no choice but to scrape together what I could of a ‘normal’ life. As normal as one could get when surrounded by magic and colourful talking ponies anyway. And so here I was, a soldier in the Royal Guard, under Princess Celestia’s request.
“Watch where you’re going, Vampire!”
I was pulled from my thoughts by an angry voice spitting venom nearby. I looked over and could make out 2 equine figures. My shift was almost over, the burning braziers along the wall illuminating the figures enough to make out the left was a day guard, and the other, a female bat-pony night guard.
“You walked into me! You prissy Sunflowers need to open your bucking eyes!“
“Watch your mouth, you disgusting Blood-Sucker! Pack of savages!” The older stallion spat.
“What the hell is your problem with us?! You Canterlot-types have it out for us!”
“We don’t like monsters like you hanging around the princesses!” Reluctantly, I hopped down from the ledge and made my way over. “It’s only a matter of time before Celestia sees you for the murderous blood-suckers you really are! Why don’t you save us the trouble and scutter back to the Hollow where you belong?!”
“Come on, Sir.” I said as I approached, trying to sound reasonable. “She doesn’t deserve that.” In the dim flickering light, I could make out his face; Obsidian Broadsword.
“This doesn’t concern you, Rookie!” He snarled. “Do you have any idea what this thing is?! It’s a meat-eater! A blood-sucker! They’re probably just waiting to sink their fangs into the Princess!” I knew he out-ranked me but decided to stick to my guns, regardless.
“Meat-eater or no, she’s no more a threat than you or I, or shall we take this to the Princesses, see what they think?”
“Shut. Your. Mouth, Soldier!” Growled Obsidian. “Remember your place!” I folded my arms stubbornly, signalling I wasn’t going anywhere. He huffed angrily. “Figures the ape would be a bat-pony sympathiser.” Obsidian looked around for approval, forgetting we were alone up here. “What’s become of our ranks? It’s disgusting!” He stormed off in the opposite direction.
After he was gone I turned to look at the stunned bat-pony mare beside me.
“You ok?” She hesitated for a second before her predatory eyes narrowed.
“What the buck is your problem?! You think I’m some damsel in distress or something?! I don’t need help from the likes of you, Day-Dweller!” My mouth fell open, completely taken aback by her malice.
“I’m sorry… I just… I just wanted-”
“Yeah well don’t! Just… just mind your business, ok?!” With that she shot off into the night, her dark coat masking her almost perfectly against the starry sky. Sighing in defeat, I gloomily made my way back to my quarters.
“Morning shift for the Throne Room will be Iron Gates and Flaming Shield. Aqua Aurora, you and Dayspear are afternoon shift.” Captain Firebloom read from his clipboard. “Thunder Spark, Cinnamon Dawn, you’re south wall.” Then he turned to me. “Oh, and I have a special assignment for you, Probie.” I suddenly gave him my full attention and I noticed a number of other guards now had their ears pricked.
“Sir?” I asked, leaning forward.
“Until further notice, you will be on, ‘Spud Duty’.” This prompted a snicker from some of the other guards. “You’ll be assisting the cooks down in the kitchens.”
“What?! What for?” I protested. “That’s grunt work!”
“Insubordination!” He snapped, checking his clipboard. “‘Disrespecting a superior officer’, ’Failure to comply with orders’, ’Absent from your post without reason’, I think you know the rap-sheet.” Then it clicked; Obsidian. That racist old stallion.
“Sir, I can explain, I-”
“Shut it, Soldier!” Firebloom barked. “I know you’re new, Rookie, but here we follow the chain of command. You have your assignment, get to it!” Sighing in defeat, I saluted.
“Yes, Sir.”
I allowed the ambient sound of chatter and cutlery of the mess hall to fade into the background as I tucked into my salad. Silver Bullet sat next to me; one of my closest friends. I noticed out of the corner of my eye, a group of officers muttering amongst themselves and pointing in our direction. One split from the group, and to my rising disgust, I saw it was Obsidian Broadsword.
“Evening, Lads.” He spoke loud enough for the other officers to hear.
“Evening, Sir.” I said in unison with Bullet but with building disdain.
“Enjoying your new duties, Private?” He asked me, a wry smile on his face. I just smiled at him.
“Feeding the force is a very important job, Sir. I can’t help but enjoy it!” I said with absolute conviction, ensuring I kept my face as level as possible. It clearly wasn’t the response the sergeant was after.
“You being funny with me, Grunt?!” A number of others around us had looked up toward the raised voices.
“Never, Sarge. Soldiering is a very serious business, Sir; for true professionals; like yourself, Sir.” Despite struggling to keep my voice level, I couldn’t help but let a small grin appear.
“You trying to be clever?”
“Not ‘trying’. No Sir. Unlike you, I don’t have to try.”
“LISTEN TO ME, SUNSHINE! You had better-” There was a loud slam of cutlery as my fists hit the table. I stood bolt upright, towering over him.
“I’d better WHAT?” I realised my mistake and brought my voice down so only the sergeant could hear me. “Better piss off back home with the other apes? Go back to where I belong? No, you listen to me. Little bit of news, Sir, I can’t go back home! This is my home now and my job here, for as long as I draw breath is to prove to you how unbreakable my resolve is. No matter what you say to me, no matter what power you think you wield against me, I will never change nor move! My purpose now is to plant myself like a tree. Those tired old bones of yours will give out before I do. So bring it on, Grandpa! I have nothing to lose.” The sergeant was just left stammering.
“You-you‘re nothing! Y-you’re-”
“Just a primitive Ape? Just a lowly Private? My species has done things on our world you couldn’t even begin to imagine. And one thing I understand from all that, is your ‘big wheel’ will not turn without our ‘little wheels’ driving you.” I gestured around me. “Without us ‘grunts’ you officers are just left barking orders at thin air while you destroy yourselves. Without us, you are nothing!” His ears were pinned back and he was practically cowering now as I loomed over him.
“Is there a problem here?” A familiar voice pulled me back and I turned to see Firebloom. My spine bolted upright once more, my point made.
“No, Sir.” I quickly said. “The sergeant was just helping me understand my place in this world. Right, Sarge?” The darker pony stammered, reaching to find an answer in his moment of unadulterated shock.
“Oh… uh- yes… carry on, Private.” I watched as Obsidian made his way back to the group of snickering officers, his plan to embarrass me in tatters. I sat down for the first time with my back to him and couldn’t help the supernova smile planted firmly on my face.
“Holy moon! That was awesome, Bro! I’ve never seen the Sarge so freaked out.” Bullet exclaimed as we climbed the stairs. I just smiled, actually quite pleased with myself.
“Yeah, felt good finally putting the old codger in his place, but kind of worried about the fallout, though. Don’t think I’ll get away with ‘spud duty’ this time.”
“He’s got nothing on you, man! Everypony saw it. Besides, whatever he throws at you, it’s worth it. Who knows, maybe he might even start respecting you.” Our conversation was interrupted by Dayspeer, my roommate, who was running down the hallway to meet us.
“Thank Celestia! Dude, there’s a bat-pony mare in our room!” My eyes narrowed.
“What? Who? What does she want?”
“I dunno, man, but she sounds pissed as hell. Keeps saying she wants you. I dunno what you did to her, man, but she looks about ready to tear your throat out!”
“I got your back, Bro.” Bullet said straightening his armour. Dayspear nodded in agreement. I looked upon the heavy wooden door but waved my friends off.
“I got this.”
As I entered the room, my eyes fell upon Azure, pacing up and down the room.
“There you are!” She spat.
“What?!” I protested. Her face raced through a plethora of emotions from hesitation, to pain, softness, thoughtfulness, finally settling on anger.
“Look, I don’t need you, ok! You aren’t one of us! You’ll never be one of us! And creatures like you and me, we’re just too different.” Calmly, I walked over to the cabinet, poured myself a glass of whisky, sat on the bed and let her rant. “We lived alone for a thousand years, banished by all the other races! But we survived. We didn’t need your help then and we don’t need it- HEY! Are you even listing to me?!” She snapped as I casually sipped the fiery liquid.
“I’m listening. I’m just waiting for the bit you actually want to say to me.” Her predatory eyes softened, before she growled in frustration.
“AGHH!! Why do you have to be so… so… UGGGHH!!!!” Her eyes glanced over my glass. “Buck, give me some of that, would you?” Chuckling, I got up and poured her a glass. She took an impressively large gulp and hissed in relief. To my astonishment, she swiftly proceeded to down the rest with barely a shudder. Her posture slowly relaxed as the words came to her. “Look, I’m no good at this stuff. What you did the other night… thank you. Nopony’s ever stood up for me like that.” I smiled warmly.
“You’re welcome, Azure.” I could almost spot her blushing.
“You know, Human, you’re actually pretty cool. I guess I shouldn’t be so quick to judge, just because you’re a day guard.” I refilled her glass.
“Well I think you’d be proud of me, Azure. You know that old guard from the other night? Today he started on me again and I gave it back to him, both barrels!” I laughed and Azure joined me. “He cowered like a trembling foal! Embarrassed him in front of the whole battalion! You should have seen his face when his little plan backfired!”
“Oh, Luna! I wish I could have seen that!” Azure giggled. Another issue popped into my head, and it seemed the right time to mention it.
“By the way, can I ask you something? Princess Luna has offered me a position with the night guard, so theoretically, if I took it, would you be opposed to us spending some more time together?” A sly smirk appeared on her muzzle.
“Thinking of joining the other side, ah? We’ll have to see how you hunt first! You up for it, Human?” I smirked back at her.
“A hunting trip, ah? Sure, I’m up for that.” Our glasses clinked and for the first time in months, I felt like I was home.
Author's Note
Many thanks for all the wonderful likes, faves, and comments. :) I have begun work on a sequel. What will happen to our protagonist? Will he take the job under Princess Luna?
Win or lose, I had a ton of fun writing this and special thanks to Scribbler for running the brilliant workshop at BronyCon2018.
Brohoofs all around, Comrades! /)
