Author's Note

A fun little bit of filler before the next real chap, also this chap is from the perspective of the displaced Im crossing with

Cross 2

It was a few days after the invasion from the fallen had ended that I had noticed something odd in front of snuffles pen, apparently, Snuffles found it and thought I’d like to see it.

“Snuffles, what’s up with this bag? I can fit stuff in it that honestly shouldn’t.”

Snuffles shrugged. “Bag smelled magic, thought daddy would like to see.”

I grabbed the bag and was immediately overtaken by a voice in my head. “If you have need of me, for friendship or power, call the name of the strongest one there is, and I'll be there in a surge of green,”

I shrugged and let the token fill me in on the name of the displaced, before Calling out “Mike.” and letting a portal open up right next to me. Out of the portal fell face first, a skinny young man with messy brown hair, a plain white T-shirt and some worn jeans with a pair of black sneakers.

“Ugh at least buy me dinner before you shove me into your hole,” He groaned as he got up.

I smirked. “First time visiting another displaced, I take it? You'll get over the dizziness soon.” I walked over to him and held out a hand to help him up. “The name is Simon, and I wager it’s a good thing I decided to alter my form to look less threatening today.”

“Hi names mike, and let me just tell you I'm glad to meet a new person who doesn't want to kill me,” Mike said shaking my hand.

I nodded sadly. “Ah, got a crappy Equestria huh? I can relate. Well, judging by the fact that you don’t have any visitors with you, I’ll wager the ponies are hostile?”

“All except for Flutters, real sweetheart that one, oh and Lyra,” He said dusting himself off a bit.

I nodded giving him a quick scan with my eyes to see what he was and noticed a certain excess of Gamma radiation. “So, displaced as Hulk, I’m guessing? You have way too much gamma radiation for anything else.”

Mike’s smile came crashing off his face, now gaining a very uncomfortable look,” Its...not as fun as it sounds, trust me, there’s nothing more terrifying than having your own body suddenly turn against you,”

I shrugged. “I dunno, being eaten alive by my own nanite swarm wasn’t too pleasant either. Oh, And I am a SIVA wraith.” I smiled and gestured to Snuffles behind him. “Raised that Graug pup from the dead with my SIVA.”

“Cool I played of destiny, just didn't have the time to really get into it that often,” Mike said shrugging ignoring the nanite comment as he obviously did not want to continue that thread of conversation.

I shrugged “So, you wanna check out my city? Comraich is basically the new capital of the major world powers.”

“Well seeing as I'm here why not, I haven’t been able to drink in the sights, cuz ya know on the run,” Mike said with another shrug as he looked around the room curiosity glistening in his eyes.

Snuffles waved to Mike. “Hi, new friend! Hope you come to play after the tour!”

Mike waved back nervously, “so that's the pup you were talking about?”

I nodded. “Yup, the big guy is our biggest defense against roaming Graug in the badlands, he is basically strong enough to fight them off whenever they come by.” I then gestured to the door out of Snuffles pen. “Let’s go and meet the rest of the fellas. Oh, and Chryssi, she’ll be cross if I forget to introduce her to you.”

“Does she like displaced or just new people in general?” Mike asked as he followed me.

I walked with him towards our first stop, the forge, where me and Grimgor come up with various new tools with my SIVA. “She likes new people, and Displaced is just icing on the cake, and speaking of people,” I opened the door and gestured to the prosthetic wearing Uuk” meet Grimgor, head of R&D here in Comraich, you need something tinkered with, he’s your guy”

“Research and development huh…”Mike muttered looking at Grimgor with an impressive look on his face, “Didn’t know orks could tinker,then again these aren’t the canon ork are they?”

I shook my head “Nope, all new people. Free from the hold of Darkness. As for My friend Grimgor here, I’ll let him introduce himself.”

Grimgor looked up from his work and smiled, goggles obscuring his eyes. “Aye, I head up most of the tinkering here, gotta tell the excited lads to ration the materials we got well, most of the bloody time.”

“Enthusiasm is good, keeps the work goin,” Mike said with a smile.

Gimgor nodded with a grin. “I like this lad, Simon, good-natured. And as fer tha’ comment, I gotta say that while enthusiasm is good, it has tae be tempered with restraint. Ye have no bloody clue how many times I’ve had tae stop Fritz from blowing up something with her explosives cause she wanted to test the blast power.”

Mike chuckled nervously seemingly having a flashback of sorts, “Anyways what are you working right now?”

Grimgor smirked. “It’s supposed to be a suit of sorts, just doing the rig overlay fer it, then we’ll be able tae have power armored troops tae help defend the city. Nothing like a metal fist tae the face to make an invader think twice!”

Mike forced a smile his eyes turning green for a second before seemed to be having an argument with himself, “No shut up it's not what you think ya damn idiot,”

Grimgor frowned. “Ye got somethin hitchin a ride on ye, don’t ya? I could see it in yer eyes. Reminds me of the Uruks I saw that got possessed, poor blighters. Well, I’ll let ye know that I have no intent on harming yer passenger as long as he behaves and doesn’t hurt any civvies.”

“You're wiser than most,” Mike muttered.

I smirked. “You want to let hulk out a bit? I have a place where we can just chat, maybe teach Hulk a few moves? I am in the business of keeping my friends alive.”

“I honestly do-” Mike suddenly tensed holding his head as his eye glowed green, “HULK WANT OUT!!!” A deep voice coming from Mike’s own mouth said as his skin began to turn green, and he began to grow until he towered over both of us, a green goliath with a look of curiosity mixed with rage.

“What want with Hulk?” Hulk asked.

I smiled. “Nothing bad, I just wanted to help you and Mike out, I’m a friend, I won’t let anything bad happen, okay?”

“Hulk friend?” He asked innocently cocking his head to the side.

I nodded “Yes, big guy, we are friends, now, let’s head towards the Olog’s exit, as you are too big to exit the way you came in, okay? Don’t worry, the doors are pushed open.”

Hulk walked over to the doors, looked at them and pushed….way too hard... knocking them off their hinges.

“Oops,” Hulk said looking at the doors that we’re flying several feet in the air.

I shrugged and grabbed them in a cloud of my SIVA, repairing them and refastening them behind us. “No one was hurt, so we are fine, just gotta be a careful, okay big guy? Except for the Olog’s, Me, and maybe Snuffles, most of us can’t take more than a mild shove from you.”

“Hulk be gentle, like fluttershy,” Hulk nodded seemingly getting it.

I nodded “Good, now let’s head to the training yard, I want to have Az-Barko teach you a few moves.” I smiled. “Oh, and just a heads up, Az-barko has a kid, who likes to meet those his dad trains, Al- Maloch is the squirts name, little fluff ball would probably try to make you some food, he loves cooking with his family.”

I walked us towards the arena to find that Az-Barko was working with Al-Maloch, teaching him how to use a mace. “There go, son. Good job, practice on a training dummy, will check on form later!”

“Funny looking stick,” Hulk commented looking at the mace with child-like interest.

Az-barko smiled. “You mean this? It mace. Made to help smash.”

Hulks eyes went wide with wonder, “STICK SMASH? HULK LOVE SMASH! SMASH IS HULK’S FAVORITE THING!”

Az-Barko nodded with a grin. “Smash good, very good stress relief.” He brought in what looked like a big slab made of SIVA.

“Hulk no like red stuff, smells bad,” Hulk said eyeing it suspiciously.

Az-Barko nodded. “Smell bad but make good things. Best maces made from red stuff. This big rock can smash forever.”

“HULK WANT ROCK!” Hulk yelled running up and making a grab for the rock.

Az-Barko held it up out of Hulk’s reach like a parent keeping a candy from a child. “What magic word? Have to say please, or else is rude. Besides, more fun with mace, want to try?”

Hulk pouted for a second, “Please,” he said grumpily.

Az-Barko set down the car-sized rock and handed Hulk a steel mace the perfect size for his hand. “Have fun, will watch and see how the fighting form is. Give advice.”

Hulk took the mace and began hammering at the rock, like a child with a large toy mallet. The ground cracking under the force. And the rock having to regenerate almost from nothing.

Az-Barko looked for a moment, letting him get a few swings in, then called for Hulks attention. “Swing this way, smash up, then down, use the weight of enemy to help smash.”

Hulk nodded returned to smashing this time with near perfect form. Swinging the rock up into the air, before jumping up and smashing it down to the ground, creating a large crater in the ground below.

“Hulk smash good?” Hulk asked innocently.

Az-Barko nodded “Very good, learn fast! Er… how say… You want eat? Me and son roast some meat. Big sand fish.”

Hulk thought for a moment, “Puny Mike still mad hulk broke out, will stay out for a while, so yes hulk eat with new friends,”

I frowned, seeing Hulk’s distaste for Mike. “Hey, Hulk, I know that you and Mike aren’t on the best terms, but you two kind of need each other, you keep him safe when he has to fight, and he keeps you safe when you have to hide, I know your the strongest there is, but what if you fought someone who was so fast that you couldn’t hit them? You’d need Mike to hide until you both could figure out how to slow them down, right? I’m just saying, maybe talking with each other might be a good idea?I’m not saying that you did anything wrong, I just… I know what it’s like to be hunted like an animal, everyone here does. We know that any friend you can make during times like that is good to have. So… maybe you two could be that? Friends I mean?”

Hulk thought about for a second, “Hulk will try to work with Mike, no make promises,”

I nodded. “That’s all I can ask, I’ll talk to Mike too if you want, whenever he comes out again.”

“Mike still mad at Hulk, but Hulk do want to know if magic red rock can make magic clothes so Mike no have to change all the time,” Hulk said.

I nodded. “The red rock can make literally anything. Let me see… Hulk, I could make it so that when Mike turns into you… er… you come out, that the clothes become armor for you. That way, it will be harder for anyone to hurt you. I can also make you a mace that will turn into a knife for Mike.”

“Hulk like that idea, now hulk hungry we get food now?” Hulk asked hopefully.

Az-Barko then came back with his son, and Al-maru, his wife, and set down a spread of fish, veggies, and some bloodroot salad. Turns out that bloodroot is tasty with salad dressing, and a great source of pretty much every vitamin the growing body needs. “We can get more if Hulk still hungry after, make lots!” Al-maloch said, as he walked up and gave Hulk a hug. “Hope green man likes food, made special to help get even stronger!”

“Hulk not picky about food, food is food, no complain when given food for free,” Hulk said as he sat down to eat.

Al-Maloch smiled. “Still, hope Hulk likes it! Worked hard! Used hard to get spices and things got for birthday! And draw picture for Hulk!” He pulled out a drawing of him and Hulk playing together, it seemed Al-maloch was having fun playing hide and seek in the picture.

Hulk actually smiled and said, “Remind hulk of banners past, good memories, sometimes,”

Al-Maloch beamed. “Yay! Make Hulk smile! Hope hulk have lots of good memories here too!”

I then finished the mace and the armor, having made it also add a bit of extra oomph to his arsenal by acting as a sort of conduit for his Gamma radiation, allowing Hulk to irradiate anything he smashes with it. “Here you go Hulk, try it on when you are done eating.”

Hulk looked and got up to grab before suddenly beginning to shrink back to Mike.

“Heh that’s the first time I've done that without passing out,” Mike chuckled as he put the armor on, it shrinking to match his casual wear, “Welp I'm full for the first time in a month, so what's next on the to-do list?”

Al-Maloch looked confused. “How Hulk and little man same person? Is magic?”
Al-Maloch gasped in wonder. “Is Hulk magician?!”

Mike chuckled a bit, “Naw kid, I got this stuff called gamma radiation, it like a really bad poison that comes from the sun and other stuff, but it doesn't hurt me just turns me into the big guy,”

Al-maloch nodded. “Hear stories of mean sun lady, not surprised sun can hurt.”

I smiled, “Well, we can go see Chryssi now, as Orvok and Roxie are out on a mission.”

I waved goodbye to Az-Barko and his family before walking off to the castle with Mike in tow. “Okay, so, before we meet Chryssi, I gotta ask, did you hear what I talked to Hulk about?”

Mike nodded, “I can still hear and see what's going on, but it's like being chained to a wall and forced to watch as the world goes on without you,”

I frowned. “Maybe it’s a manner of perception? I mean, you might be able to, in time, replace the chains and wall with, like, a comfy chair and TV?”

“By the fact that I could feel the presence of others in my head in the same position, probably not, but ill give it try next time, got nothing to lose,” Mike said shrugging, “Now who is this Chrissie I’ve heard so much about,”

I blushed. “She’s kinda my wife, and the future mother of my kids.” I sighed. “She’s beautiful, beyond freaking description man.”

There was a lighthearted chuckle as we were greeted by Chryssie, who was wearing a light green dress and had been busy decorating the babies room, judging by the paint cans she was nonchalantly teleporting away. “Sure, I'm beautiful, and you don’t just love me for my sense of humor.”

I chuckled. “Well, that is quite the plus, but still, gotta say, you are the prettiest are I ever did see.”

Mike was looking on in amusement, “Lucky bastard,” he said with a playful grin.

I smirked. “And don’t I know it? Anyway, Chryssie, this is Mike, Mike, this is Chryssie, and Hulk if you can hear me, I am not excluding you, I just have no idea how to introduce someone without a physical presence at the moment.

“Hulk says she smells like magic,” Mike said shrugging.

Chryssie nodded “Well, that makes sense, I do use quite a bit of magic to keep things afloat around here, the changelings need food after all, and only I can convert bloodroot into synthetic love.”

Mike shrugged, “Cool, but Hulk doesn't like bugs or things that resemble bugs… so fair warning don’t sneak up on him,”

She raised her hands in mock surrender. “Hey, not my fault I was cursed into looking this way, used to be I was just an Alicorn, but anyway, let’s see… You don’t happen to have a crush on anypony, do you? I can smell the love coming off of you, but it’ not originating from you.”

“Wha- n-no, that's ridiculous wh-why would you say something like that,” Mike said getting nervous.

She shrugged. “Nah, just wanted to give some advice, If you like someone that way, let them know immediately. Better to tell them and see where it goes, than to lose the chance at happiness with them altogether.”

“In most cases, I would agree, but with the possibility of giving gamma poisoning to my love I’m not going to risk it,” Mike said shaking his hand defensively in front of himself.

Chryssi shrugged. “Welp, I gave my two cents, now I’ll go and see about some craving satisfaction, I’m thinking fish with mustard…” She shuddered. “What has pregnancy done to me…”

Mike chuckles a bit, “Good luck with the mustard and fish... wait that actually sounds kinda good, what the fuck has the Hulk done to me? Yes I know you didn’t do anything shut up” Mike said taking a break at the end to yell at Hulk.

I chuckled. “Y’know, It’s hard not to laugh, when you're around man, you and hulk are like a comedy act.”

Mike blinked and chuckled a bit, “yeah I guess,” he said scratching the back of his head, “So why did you call me in the first place?”

I shrugged. “To see if you were friendly and try to become allies with you, friends are precious here.”

Mike nodded and said, “Guess that makes sense,”

I smiled and held out a hand “Good luck, man, call us if you need to lay low. Either of you.”

“Sure thing dude, good luck in whatever you guys are trying to achieve,” Mike said with a first genuine smile he had shown today.

I nodded. “Indeed, and the same to you too,”