Chapter 1: the end of one thread and a new beginning of another
[Tartarus, Equestria: ???]
Deep within the depths of Tartarus three statues stand each on a pedestal and bound by chains. As the air in the caverns flowed, a noise was heard from one of the statues, a slight sound of stone rumbling as cracks started to form on the statue in the middle. Within minutes the stone burst and an ominous laughter could be heard echoing throughout the cavernous depths.
[Earth: 2023]
I sat on my folding lawn chair in my apartment drinking a soda while watching a youtube video on my laptop. It was both payday and rent paying day tomorrow and I was both not looking forward to it and kinda excited for tomorrow. My now former boss had let me go from my job due to him basically hating me. The official reason was that he couldn’t afford to keep me as and I quote ‘The store was underperforming and I was the weakest link in the store’ which was bullshit. The real reason was that he wasted a bunch of the company’s money on crypto and blamed it on me, even though I tried to warn him that it was both a bad idea and possibly illegal.
Since I was the only one who knew about it he believed firing me and ruining my reputation with the company was a good idea. I chuckled a bit thinking about this, he clearly didn’t know my sister was a lawyer for this company and she knew me well enough to pass the word along to upper management that He was full of shit, I even gave her proof that he didn’t know about.
I put my laptop down as I heard the doorbell ringing. The upstairs neighbors were out of town for the next few days going to the big city with their kid and since this was one of those split house apartments that meant I had to answer the doorbell for both me and them.
Outside was a delivery guy holding a package, which was a rare sight considering they just normally leave the package on the front porch and leave it to whomever gets to it first. “Umm hello?” I said confused , opening the door.
“Hi, I'm looking for Alice Tennyson?” the delivery asked as I nodded "Great sign here mam.” the delivery guy said before he handed me a clipboard with my name on it as the recipient. I looked at the forum just to be sure what I was signing, it was a standard receipt for a package, though I didn’t remember ordering anything. I just shrugged and signed it. “Thanks, have a good day” the delivery guy said right as he handed me the package and left.
I brought the package into my part of the house and placed it on my dining room table. Maybe it was a gift from my sister or Parents. I looked at the box while grabbing my package opening knife from my kitchen drawers. I unsealed the box but right as I was about to open it I heard someone open the front door. It was probably the upstairs tenants, though strangely they said they wouldn’t be back for another week. I went to check on them to see if everything was alright and to give back their keys.
As I went to greet them the door that split their apartment from mine slammed in my face and I fell onto the ground and slammed into my table knocking the box holding the package I had just gotten and the knife I used to open the package onto the ground. “Ow” I muttered before I looked up and saw two big thugs standing over me with guns. “Wha-?” I muttered as I backed up, before quickly grabbing the knife from the ground and held it in front of me while I tried to be brave.
One of the thugs looked at me insulted. “Why do they always try to be brave?” he muttered before stepping forward and glaring at me.
The other thug spoke. “Look you won’t be hurt if you tell us where you hid the hard drive, okay? Well, you won’t be hurt much.”
I looked confused as he said hard drive. “What are you talking about?” I asked confused as to what they were talking about.
“I’ll be quick and simple. Your boss Jake owes our boss a lot of money and he said you stole the hard drive with the payment. So hand it over and we’ll only rough you up a little as a lesson to not screw with people”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I said firmly but terrified. That bastard probably lied to whomever he owes money to so they would kill me.
“Yeah Jake said you were a lying snake. Though in all honesty, he also is one, so I am sorry about this but I still got a job to do.” the main thug said as he motioned to the big thug as he picked me up and slammed me onto the table. “Now tell us where the drive is.” I slumped down to the floor as the thugs looked at me before they saw the box. “Ah I get it you must have already sold the drive.”
I quickly grabbed the box to try and cover myself as the brute thug kicked me in the gut, and as I slumped over to the ground both thugs looked at me as I took my hand out of the box and slowly rose back up as a note fell out of the box and towards the thugs. The main thug took the note and chuckled. “W-what?” I muttered both angrily and terrified while leaning on the counter trying to stand up right as the thug was about to say something. A gunshot rang throughout my apartment. I fell down as I held my stomach as I started bleeding. A third thug stood at the entrance to the room and everything started to fade. I could barely hear anything over the ringing in my ears as my vision slowly faded to darkness. The last thing I noticed before falling unconscious was a purple flash, then everything went dark.
[???]
I awoke in a forest both confused and scared. “What happened?” I muttered to myself as I rose from the ground. As I looked around, memories flooded back to me like a title wave of pain. I quickly fell to my knees and grabbed my stomach where I had been shot... only to find my stomach fine. “Did those bastards leave me for dead in a forest?” I asked myself as I lifted my tank top to see there was no scar or bullet hole on my chest.
I slowly got back up and sighed. “Great,” I muttered in disbelief. I’m in god knows where in a tank top and booty shorts. I sighed as today was supposed to be a day to relax before all the stress that was supposed to happen tomorrow.
I looked at my wrist and noticed a purple watch on my wrist, that I was sure wasn’t there when I got shot. “I know this watch.'' I muttered “Well sorta.” I mused. Isn’t it supposed to be Green, Black and White? Not Purple, Black and White? Coloring aside I knew this as the watch from Ben 10, Alien force to be specific, if I remembered correctly. I chuckled a bit remembering something from my childhood.
Me and my older sister were fans of Ben 10 as kids. And while she grew out of it around the time Omniverse started I remember sticking till the reboot started. That show’s first season was a mixed bag for me. It clearly wasn’t for me, though I did keep an eye on it and watched from time to time when there was an episode concept that interested me.
Anyway I remembered that my sister mentioned she had gotten a big bonus at her job and said she was sending me a little something for old time sakes. I guess this watch was it. As I do vaguely remember pulling it out of the box when I was attacked. Now only if it worked like in the show, I could just fly to civilization or have beaten those jerks who attacked me. Alas this was the real world and such ideas were silly.
I heard a wolf’s howl in the distance and I quickly came to the realization I shouldn’t just stand around and wait for something to get me. ‘Okay the howl came from that direction’ I said pointing towards what I assumed was the north, so I should head in any other direction than that. I looked up at the sky to see where the sun was. “Okay the sun is above me so it should be high noon, I probably have a few hours before nightfall.” plenty of time to find civilization, and hopefully figure out where I am.
I started my walk going where I assumed was the south, it was at least the opposite direction then where the wolf howls came from, so my chances of running into a wolf was probably lower then going north.
Time passed as I wandered the woods looking for any signs of a nature trail or a road. Unfortunately I couldn’t find anything. I stopped as I smelled something horrible “Ugg what's that smell?” I muttered as I froze and saw what looked like a large cat in the distance. It looked weird though as it clearly wasn’t a cougar or something that looked like it would be native to North America, it looked like a lion, but even that description was wrong as it had what looked like bat wings and a scorpion tail, was that a manticore? ‘Okay, mythical monster or not, I gotta go.’ I thought to myself as I took a few steps back before stepping on a small bone that made a loud crack noise. “Aw crap.” I muttered as I saw the manticore’s ears perk up and it move towards my direction.
I started running as I had no clue what to do in this situation. Though as I did I heard the manticore roar and start to give chase. “Okay not dying here.” I screamed as I looked at the watch on my wrist, well considering I was being chased by a creature from Greek myth the watch being the real thing wasn’t the craziest idea. I looked down and mimicked Ben’s movements with the watch as I muttered ‘Please work’ over and over again.
The watch’s center opened and a hologram of Blitzwolfer showed up. “Okay who else I got?” I said as I turned the dial. I saw Greymatter and Rath. “Good enough.” I said stopping and turning around right as I pressed down on the dial and transformed into.
“RATH!” I shouted and roared at the manticore. “LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING MANTICORE! YOU AINT EATING RATH!" I shouted as I punched the manticore in the face, specifically the nose. It froze for a second, taking a good look at Rath and ran. “THAT'S RIGHT YOU DON’T MESS WITH RATH!” I boasted before changing back.
I burst out laughing as I took a moment to breathe, when that moment passed I asked myself “Okay I got two og series aliens and Rath, what else I got on here?” before I reactivated the watch. I had Fasttrack, Pesky Dust, and Jetray. “Okay now we’re talking.” I said as I transformed into Jetray. And took off into the sky. I saw a town in the distance as well which looked like a city with a castle on the side of a mountain. I clearly wasn’t in British Columbia anymore, I don't think I was even on earth anymore considering I just saw a manticore, this was a problem I would have to deal with when I landed, but for now I flew towards the town.
As I landed on the outskirts of the town and transformed back into me before quickly I tidied myself up and walked the path towards the town of... Ponyville? Huh it was a weird name. If I had to guess they are farmers or something judging from that orchard I saw on the edge of town, or the inhabitance could be magical ponies, considering I just saw a manticore and transformed into two fictional aliens anything was possible.
The town was barren as I heard the sound of slamming doors and window shutters, and as I walked into the center of town I caught a glimpse of one of the locals who looked like a pink furred anthro pony. ‘Huh they really are ponies.’ I thought to myself.
[Ponyville, Equestria]
[Back at the scene of the crime]
“Damn it Finn, why the hell did you shoot her!” Alex said as he looked at Mendez “Mendez keep her stable!” Alex ordered the bricked up thug who just a minute earlier was beating the poor girl. “Finn, this was supposed to be a simple rough up job! We needed her alive! If she dies you’re taking the fall for this. Both from the feds and the Boss”
Finn looked at the gun for a minute and said “I-I thought we were supposed to kill her, that's what Jake said at least.” And at that moment everything clicked for Alex
“Do we work for Jake, no, you idiot! I swear he must have set us up to get rid of her. Especially considering the letter I just read incriminates Jake for a bunch of shit.” Alex said pacing around. “Mendez load her up into the truck and keep her stable.” Alex said, pulling out a cell and speed dialing a number. “Pick up, pick up, pick up.” he muttered repeatedly to himself as he tried to phone the back alley doctor.
“Ummm-” Finn said, noticing something on the girl.
“SHUT UP FINN!” Alex shouted angrily.
Finn ignored the order and spoke anyway “Why is she glowing?”
“What?” Alex asked as he looked at the girl as the watch she pulled out of the box started glowing a bright purple. “The hell!” he said as the girl vanished in a flash. He looked dumbfounded till the sound of the phone snapped him out of it. “Boss we have a problem, a big one.”
Chapter 2: A Hex in Ponyville
[Ponyville, Equestria]
As I wandered the town of Ponyville I felt a weird sense of dread as I glanced around the corner of the Gingerbread house looking building. To my strange relief there was nothing there. Though it did beg the question where was everyone, I know I saw a pink anthropomorphic pony hop around here somewhere. I would soon have that answer. I was suddenly bear hugged from behind “New blood” . A voice that was a mixture of creepy and very happy spoke from behind me as pink arms held me in place.
“Hey! What the?” I asked as I was forcefully bashed against a wall by my strange captor.
“New blood, capture.” the voice said in a trance.
“Let me go!” I said as I struggled to move my arms, unable to get to the dial on the watch. I threw my head back and attempted to backwards headbutt whomever was grabbing me. But it was fruitless.
“New Blood for Master Hex!” the voice said before a thud was heard and they let go. I struggled a little bit in confusion, and from being bashed into a wall. Before my head cleared I saw a lavender unicorn that was around my height holding her hands out with some pink energy dissipating from the air.
“We don’t have much time, grab my hand.” the Lavender unicorn said frantically.
“Wha-? Wait, how do I know this isn’t a tra-” I said, stammering out some words as the Unicorn quickly took my hand and had her horn glow. In a flash of light I was in a new place. It looked like a town hall but boarded up.
“My name is Twilight Sparkle and If we were with them I wouldn’t have helped you.”
“Oh right.” I said sheepishly. “So I assume this town isn’t normally like this?”
“No.” Twilight said sternly.
“Okay, oh right before I forget my name is Alice Tennyson.” I introduced myself. “Also I noticed you said we but it seems to be just you here?”
“Well apart from me there is both Big Macintosh and Zecora.” Twilight said as a zebra and a Big red pony walked in from another room. They looked at each other in confusion.
“Uhhh?” The red pony asked
“Big Mac, this is Alice, she was about to be taken by one of Hex’s thralls before I saved her.” Twilight introduced me to Big mac. “And the Zebra is Zecora. She can’t speak anymore since Hex attacked her.” Zecora waved meekly.
“So who’s Hex and what's going on?” I asked.
Twilight sighed before she started to explain what had happened. “It started a week ago, it was a few days after me and my friends had befriended Zecora when Hex came to town. At first the town was nervous considering they had spent years being afraid of Zecora due to her being a Zebra, I calmed the town reminding them not to judge a book by its cover, though unfortunately this book was the same as its cover as within a few days He had most of the town under his spell. Only a few remained and that number quickly shrank from almost twenty to just the three of us under a week. And the only reason he hasn’t left is I put a barrier around the town that only I can break.”
“So he’s looking for you?”
“Kinda. He also wants something else but I don’t know what.”
“So how can I help?” I asked.
“What?” Twilight asked, seemingly confused.
“Well, do you have a plan to stop him?” I asked.
Twilight looked at Big Mac and Zecora and shook her head “Well not really. We’re trying to figure out what he wants first but I can’t get close to him without risking the barrier's integrity and I need to stay in the town to keep it up. Although It already has flashes where it briefly stops containment, we’re just lucky they’re small enough that he can’t act on them.” Twilight said as she yawned.
“Well that explains how I got in.” I muttered to myself. “Okay, so where is he based?” I asked.
“We don’t- Huh” Twilight said, hearing some voices outside.
“Sparkle! It was only a matter of time before you made an error and we found you.” A booming voice spoke from outside.
“Hex.” Twilight said afraid.
I ran to the boarded up window and took a peek outside. Floating above was a Zebra in a trenchcoat who was clearly Hex and about 7 ponies. “Okay, quick plan time Big mac keep Twilight and Zecora safe I’ll get Hex and stop this.”
“What? That’s crazy you couldn’t handle one pony alone. Now you want to take on not only Hex but what looks like seven of Ponyville's strongest ponies.”
“If he gets you then everything you’ve done would be for nothing. Now go, I’ll keep them occupied” I said looking at the watch.
Twilight sighed and Looked at Big Mac and Zecora. Big Mac looked at Twilight and said “Nope” while shaking his head. It seems that he was done running and going to fight. Twilight nodded silently and grabbed Zecora’s hand and teleported away to another safe area she had.
I looked at Big Mac and smiled, “I know we just met but thanks for having my back.” I looked through the watch and saw Humungousaur’s hologram on the watch and smiled “You might want to stand back however.” He looked at me confused but trusted me as he took a few steps back.
I pressed down on the dial and shouted “Humungousaur!” as I transformed. And as I burst through the wall and shocked Hex as he probably didn’t expect this.
“I must say I wasn’t expecting another dragon but you’ll fall just as easily as the other.”
“Yeah, yeah. So tell me why take this town hostage, what's your end goal?”
“You’ll figure it out soon enough once you help me capture- Ugg!” Hex’s monologued right before I smacked him with my tail knocking him to the ground.
“Yeah, Right, and for the record I'm not a dragon, I'm Humungousaur.” I said quickly, stepping up to him and getting ready to send him to smackdown town, population him. As I began trying to punch him he erected a small barrier and magically blocked my blows. “How are you doing Big Mac?” I asked, glancing at the red Stallion as he punched a few mind controlled ponies before I smacked a few ponies away from him with my tail.
“Give up fool. You won’t be able to get through my shield-” Hex started boasting though he stopped right as I began to grow in size and punched harder “Oh crud.” he said realizing he was about to be punched hard. As the punch connected with Hex his control of the townsfolk broke.
“Where are we?” One of the mind controlled ponies started to break free of the control right before Big mac smacked her in the face. “OW! Big Mac!”
“Grrr.” Hex muttered before teleporting out of the small crater I had punched him in. “I retreat for now but you haven’t seen the last of me.” and like that he was gone.
As I stared in disbelief at the fact I let him escape I heard a familiar beeping and in a red flash I returned to normal. “Okay so he just escaped, and the barrier seems to still up which means he could have escaped at any time. What was he after?” I muttered trying to figure out what happened. I turned to Big Mac who seemed to be being scolded by an orange pony in a cowboy hat and a swollen red cheek. “Everything good Big Mac?” I asked cautiously.
“Big Mac, whose this?” the orange cowpony asked.
“Hi I’m Alice, just saved your town from Hex.”
“Hex? Huh you mean that Zebra that came to town a day ago?”
“Okay, I guess the mind control also wiped your memory. Just got here myself but according to Twilight he took over the town and mind controlled most of it.” I said while musing to myself about what happened.
“That stupid, I would never be mind controlled, I'm too awesome!” A blue pegasus said flying above me.
“Big Mac back me up please.” I asked.
“She’s right.” Big Mac said.
“HUH!” Both the blue and Orange pony said shocked.
“Alice!” Twilight teleported in and shouted. “I uh, you beat Hex!”
I looked to the ground in half defeat. “He got away, it seems he was able to get out of your barrier anytime he wanted.”
“Still, you freed the town. I gotta find Spike and send a warning to the Princesses and- and.” Twilight said before collapsing onto the ground unconscious I checked to see if she was fine, luckily she just collapsed and probably just needed some time in the hospital.
“Can one of you take her to the hospital?” I asked.
“Sure.” The blue pony said.
“I’ll find Spike, and the mayor.” the Orange Pony said. Before turning to me “Look we’ll let Twilight tell us what happened, but if what you and Big Mac say is true then thanks.”
[Canterlot a few minutes later]
A guard burst into the throne room with urgent news. “Princess the barrier around Ponyville has disappeared, for good it seems.” A guard reported to Princess Celestia.
“Thank you Saber.” Celestia said cautiously she had tried to get information for a week from Twilight about what was going on, but every letter she sent was rebound back to her. She knew what the Barrier was, as it was a spell she taught to Twilight a few years ago for emergencies only. If she had used it there then she must have had a good reason. “Get Captain Shining Armor and a few guards ready. I want to be in Ponyville in less than half an hour.”
Author's Note
For anyone wondering, Zecora being injured and unable to speak is because I can't rhyme.
Alien List:
Humungousaur
Rath
Pesky Dust
Blitzwolfer
Greymatter
Fasttrack
Jetray
