Prologue
Prologue
Company C has taken an enemy building in the middle east, the facility was believed be used to make explosives.
All of the Marines of “Charlie” Company (as the military phonetic alphabet goes) wanted this place destroyed.
Too many brothers in arms are slain due to improvised bombs, and the sight of one too many children missing limbs due to traps intended for them, the Marines, the American forces here token their toll on the minds of the troops here.
Sargent Cage nicknamed Silver Wrench by the infantrymen for his skills with mechanics is quietly investigating what appears to be a crudely built workshop. Truth is Cage is a motor T mechanic whose detached to a infantry company as they are need of one for their convoy. The area was thought to be explosives manufacturing facility. A electronic soldering station sits at the entrance to the room, the soldering iron has many hastily done repairs, old tape and fabric dotted the device's cord. Old and worn out tools cluttered the work area. A hydraulic press stood in the middle off the room, its many various coats of paint each a different color was through out the years shown though at various points making the machine look older than it should be. In many places exposed metal is coated in rust, only the hydraulic press’ cylinder arm was free from rust. Although a hydraulic press would be the last piece of equipment that would be used to make mines and other explosives Cage carefully inspects the device.
If this place was used to make explosives Cage should not be here, this was a job for EoD (explosive ordinance disposal) or maybe the MPs, not a motor T mechanic. Either way there is job that must be done and EoD is eight days away. Cage and the other Marines tread carefully as to not to set off any traps. It would be too easy to pull on a trip wire or to trigger some explosive.
Cage notices there a toggle switch on the machine, Cage figures it ether operates the press or provides power to the press. Here is where Cage earns his nick name as Silver Wrench, if a man can patch together a Humvee with balling wire, chewing gum and duct tape, there no telling what the guy can do with the proper tools and materials. The switch seems to be connected to the presses main power supply like he previously though. Confidant that the switch did not lead anywhere else Cage flips the switch with an audible click. Across the room Cage sees that there under a layer of dirt and filth is an old-fashioned digital read out, a set of old nixie tubes with the numbers counting down, Cage tried the switch again the numbers did not halt, from the look of thing there was maybe seconds left. Cage curses to himself how he could be so foolish, that is when Cage's logical side of his mind shuts off and he relies on instinct, he shoves his fellow marines out the door and he turns back at the clock. Then it happens, the room exploded!
Anyone tells you that the idea of time does not slow down when you are near death, they never had a real near death experience. Time did slow down to a crawl to James Cage’s mind, milliseconds passed by like they where years. James thought how he got here in this predicament, what he was doing in that room, about his family and friends back in the United States, to his home of Baltimore Maryland.
The ringing in his ears are deafening, the presser of the explosion not just knocks the air out you, it shakes your very core. James felt his skin burn, his extremities start to crisp and crumble away, next thing he notice his sight is gone.
James did not know if he blacked out or his eyes are burned away part of him does not care anymore, the other part is screaming for bloody mercy. Then he finally what felt like eons he hit the ground hard. James did not notice is squad mates attempting to run to his aid or the corpsmen trying desperately not to lose another man in the field.
Then what was not burning or in pain went numb; not the kind of numb where you sleep on your arm or when your hands get cold in winter this is like his body was not there, as if it was shutting down. Cage can feel his lungs collapsing, his heart slowing to a stop. The icy cold grip of death was nearly upon him. Then Cage felt nothing, not numbness, nothing. No pain, no physical sensation of any kind, James felt weightless in the black void that surrounded him.
They say the first sensation that returns is pain, and oh man does it hurt, James felt like his whole body was torn apart that reassembled on the atomic level. He struggles to feel his surroundings; James could not feel his fingers. The logical part of James' mind felt they must have gotten blown off in the accident, the emotional part was screaming bloody murder.
Next James notice the air smelled quite different, no longer did James smell dust and the heat of the desert air, he smells apples? The faint sent of apples linger in the air.
James opens his eyes, the bright light assaulting his retina. James though he must of be in some hospital somewhere, when right as his eyes focus he notices the place, way too bright , too cheerful it is almost like he was living in a cartoon.
It just registered in James’ mind that he is in an apple orchard.
James always been a fan of science fiction novels, especially books where people were transported unwillingly to strange unknown locations like A Princess of Mars or Wasp. Often, the more off beat the story, the more James liked it. So somehow James was more than willing to accept that this was that same kind of situation. He would never have told anyone, but he had always had a fantasy of something similar happening. The best he could figure was that there had been something in the machine that had caused this. All thoughts of how stopped when he looked down at his body. Instead of human arms and hands James saw a foreleg covered in purpleish blue fur ending in a hoof. James looked back and saw a sliver colored tail with blue streaks. Yes in some of Jame's science fiction books the protagonist gets changed to a new form when they get sent to a new world, but he never imagine this will happen to himself.
Laying there in the soft grass on that relatively cool morning James did not notice a certain orange and blond pony approach him. “You all righ’?” spoke the orange pony in her southern accent.
Author's Note
A Special thanks for Lieutenant Bubbles Bubbles allowing me to co-author Seven Ponies, Seven Trials, Seven Loves.
For co-authoring his story with me, and being able to translate my "moon-speak" into actual English.
Chapter 1 Welcome to the rest of your life
Chapter 1, Welcome to the rest of your life.
The Flim Flam brothers where just send out of town, banished from one hundred miles from Ponyville. The scene was almost comical as the now damage the Super Speedy Cider-Squeezy 6000 ™ is leaking oil, and various parts fall lose from the machine.
The Mane Six, Spike, the rest of the Apple Family, Silver Wrench, Phantom Mask, and Princess Luna and her guards watched as the Super Speedy Cider-Squeezy sputtered to the horizon at the edge of Sweet Apple Acers.
Its been several days since James or rather now Sliver Wrench was in Equestria. In that time Apple Jack and her family agreed to let him stay at Sweet Apple Acers as long as he contributed. Since Big Macintosh was out with a leg injury that means helping Apple Jack help with the harvest. During that time Silver made odd but reliable friends, who just helped run some con-ponies out of town.
“Silver what were you thinking when you were digging in their machine” said an annoyed Twilight Sparkle.
Rainbow Dash looked at Silver Wrench, interrupted Twilight and spoke “What is you name “?
“Oh, mine it is Sliver Wrench”.
Rainbow Dash burst out into laughter.
Apple Jack and Fluttershy nervously looked at each other, as the two mares knew Silver longer than the other ponies of the mane six. Apparently nether Apple Jack or Fluttershy had the heart to tell Silver.
“What is so funny?” spoke Silver.
“Umm darling, the name Silver as well as names that are ether precious metals or gems is usually girl names. One of the Cantalot nobles Lady Silver Lining is an example, Famous lawyer in Cantalot Sliver Tongue is a mare, and one of Sweetie Belle’s class mates is names Silver Spoon is a filly” spoke Rarity.
Flabbergasted Silver looked at Apple Jack, and Apple Jacked look at him with a look of regret.
“Well sugar cube, you were so gosh darn mixed up when I first meet you that I did not have the heart to tell you that Silver was a mostly Filly name. You almost did not know what a unicorn was”.
To Apple Jack's defense Silver Wrench did not know he was a pony at first, it was half a day before he even knew he is a unicorn pony. Where Silver was from, ponies just happen to be a breed of horse, here in Equestria Ponies are the 'people' of this land.
Princess Luna interrupted “my how times have changed, back one thousand years ago Silver was a Stallion’s name. I still remember the valiant knight Sir Silver Knight who held a position in Princess Platinum’s court as a Military advisor as well as often functioning as Sargent-at-arms during court”.
Just about this time did Rainbow Dash actually stopped chuckling.
Twilight started to speak as to educate her fellow ponies “there was also Sliver Pale the famous archeologist, Silver Shovel the farmer who helped found the city of Batimare, and my great uncle and one time Captain of the Royal Guard Silver Armor who Shining Armor my brother is named after.
Silver Wrench is kind of relieved, so he ended up picking a name that is gender neutral. So what if its more common for girls that it is for boys. A name does not define who you are taught Silver, it is what you do and how you react to the world around you. Anyways it is too late to take the name back now; he introduced himself to too many ponies as Silver Wrench out in Ponyville.
Twilight Spoke again, sill somewhat annoyed “but that still does not excuse you from violating the cider machine”.
Silver replied “I couldn’t help it; I wanted to see how that cider machine works. From what I understood machines like that did not exist in Equestria or are very rare. It was not like they were going to just show me”.
Honestly Twilight was also curious how the Flim Flam brother machine actually worked. Twilight already knew most of the spells required for the machine, but the actual mechanics escape her. Still she have to let academic curiosity take a back-seat to proper conduct, which for this purple unicorn is uncommon.
“Aw sucks Twilight, although it was not right for Silver to barge in that do-hicky, it serves them right for tryin to buy the farm from under of ma family” said Apple Jack.
Rainbow Dash, excited with the recent events said “I would have broke that thing and send them packing too, I had to admit seeing Silver and that royal guard whoop their flanks was cool”.
Silver Wrench sighed and said “well I knew going in their without permission was wrong, but my curiosity got in the way. I really think I can reverse engineer that machine without having it magic powered”.
All of the main six look at Silver as if he just grew a second head, the idea of making a modern machine without the magic to support it is not heard off. The only pony who felt Silver could do such a feat was Phantom Mask as he was also formerly from the human world.
Silver said with confidence “I know it can be done, as machines are what I am good at, and it is what I used to work on before I came to Equestria”.
Not to mention the fact Silver cutie mark is a double sided crescent wrench.
“That machine sounded like a cross between the high pitched whine of a television, the sound of a ship’s engines suddenly reversing direction, and an opera singer trying to hit a high note that was just a little bit out of their range”.
From the looks of almost everypony, Silver have seem to confuse them.
Apple Jack looks over and say”umm… Silver I know what an opera singer is but what in tarnation is a telev-whachama-call-it and that other stuff you said”.
From the looks of every pony, even Luna has no clue on what is a ‘television´ is.
Phantom quietly spoke out “I know what a television is”.
Luna replied “son please tell us what is this device that Silver Wrench speaks off”.
Phantom seems to almost shrink into his shell, not want to be in the spot light, Fluttershy gently nudged his side to encourage him to continue.
“I-it is like a radio, it receives broadcast with mmmoving pictures like a film projector, but instead of f-f-film the pictures come in electronically”
Last time anypony seen a radio in Ponyville, was the headsets that Iron Will and his staff wore when he did his seminar on ‘Being assertive’. The idea that ‘film’ can be sent by radio was a wholly new idea in Equestria.
Completely forgetting why she was mad at Silver and burning for knowledge Twilight asks “so if your home lacked magic what did your kind used”?
Silver spoke as if it should be common knowledge “electronics mostly, there is some mechanical… er clockwork or hydraulic machinery as well. There are a great number of items that would be confused for being magical is actually runs on electronics”.
Twilight was confused, here in Equestria electrical appliances run on magic. Setting and even programing for devices where held in various enchanted gems, rune stones and crystals.
“But how?” asked Twilight.
“Electrical semiconductors, resistors, diodes, coils, transformers, capacitors, transistors, integrated components in the form of ‘chips’ including microcomputers ether though electrical modulation or a digital output of on/off states all powered by electricity without any magical energy”.
“Finally an egg head that can out egg head you Twilight” shouted Rainbow Dash.
At this point the conversation lost everyone pony here. Only Phantom barely grasped the technobabble Silver spoke.
Apple Jack spoke “well I have no idea what any of that was but I think Sliver speakin the truth, anyways Phantom here confirms what Silver said is true” .
Princess Luna is now reminded like her adopted son Phantom Mask, Silver Wrench is not originally from Equestria. From letters Twilight sent to Princess Celestia, Silver was some kind of soldier called a Marine in his world. From the descriptions on the report Silver was a soldier who fought in a war because some tyrants who use fear and hatred to push their agenda, attacked and kill countless innocents and strike fear in their own countrymen. The most disturbing piece of information Luna learned is that Silver claimed to be mortally wounded before being sent here. Even if it was possible to send Silver Wrench back, it could be sending him into a dead and broken body. That sending Sliver back home could kill him.
Luna cannot simply adopt Sliver like she did with Phantom. The fact that Silver helped out Apple Jack the best he could with the farm, and when the farm was in danger of being lost Silver took action to try to save Sweet Apple Acers. Such actions reminded Luna of a noble knight she knew long before her descent to Nightmare Moon, when other ponies where in trouble the knight would take action, regardless of his own well being or even having an idea what to do.
When Silver found out the Flim Flam brothers was trying to buy out the farm, he sprung to action as well. Although he had no idea where or what to do, Silver understood well enough that Apple Jack’s friends would be willing to help and might know what to do. Silver with the aid of Twilight Sparkle and Spike tried to raise money to pay off the farm before the Flim Flam brothers tried to take over.
Princess Luna cleared her throat as if she going to make an announcement.
“Everypony, we consulted with our sister, and it is our wish to let Silver Wrench remain in Equestria. Silver Wrench has demonstrated to be trustworthy and noble in exposing the Film Flam brothers’ dishonesty, his willingness to assist others and proven in times of trouble to take action for others regardless of consequences to himself. Silver for the future we feel thy should avoid destruction of property and physical assault if all possible”.
The last statement has gotten everypony to chuckle.
“We ask everypony here to keep the origins of both Phantom Mask and Silver Wrench secret as word of beings form other worlds might scare the common ponies of the land”.
Everyone swore to keep the new comers secret, almost every pony spoke the little rhyme of the "Pinkie Swear" which sounded a bit like the cross your heart saying on human earth but less morbid.
“Silver we wish to have a few words with you” Luna said.
Sliver would have looked as if he did something wrong if he was not using every bit of military tact he has to keep his composure. Although Silver never been around actual royalty before, his military training has though him how to act around world leaders. There was a few times Silver had to meet high ranking brass and politicians before, but compared to a U.S. senator a Alicorn Princess is much more imposing of a figure.
“Do not threat Silver we only wish to talk” Luna said as even with his military tact, Luna saw the nervousness in Silver's eyes.
Silver relived with what he just heard, as his expression was obvious with everypony.
“For the other please continue with thy activates, I believe the Bearer of the Element of Laughter wished to plan for festivities”.
Pinkie was already ahead of the princess already planing the party in her head.
“Apple Jack, considering all what happen I think we should throw the party in your Barn as were celebrating the farm being saved, oh and I haven’t thrown Silver Wrench a Welcome to Ponyville party yet”.
Pinkie keep on rambling on about party plans, its not that no pony cares, it that no pony can follow Pinkies speech when she talks that fast. "Bye bye I got to go get ready" And with that Pinkie rushed off with the manner and speed appropriate for a cartoon character and not a living being.
“Silver can we have a word with you alone” Luna asked.
Silver just nodded as the two ponies headed away from the main group to a distance just out of hearing range.
“So is Silver Wrench thy’s actual name” Luna Asked.
“Well Silver Wrench is what I decided to be called here in this world, but the name my parents gave me at birth was James Cage”.
“How did thy come up with the name Silver Wrench”?
“I was called that by the infantry unit I was attached to due to my mechanical skills”.
“Attached to?” Luna asked quizzically.
Silver said “My normally assigned unit, 2nd Maintenance Battalion did major repairs for the whole second Marine Logistics Group and by that extend the second Marine Expeditionary Forces.
“I was temporarily reassigned to a combat unit as they needed someone on hand that capable of repairs” Silver said as he still slips into his old human speech patterns.
Silver’s terms would normally bother a pony, but since such Silver responds almost automatically Luna remembered Phantom once had the same habit.
Silver Wrench and Princess Luna discussed more about his military past, they discus about the US Marine Corps and the United States where Sargent James Cage or rather Sliver Wrench came from.
Luna spoke as she comes to a vague understanding of the individual Silver Wrench was before he entered Equestria.
Luna being a princess of Equestria is familiar with military concepts as Luna does have command of part of the royal guard and her Night guard as well. As Silver goes over the United Sates Marine Corps, Silver notices Luna was able to follow.
“Interesting but We and our sister will discuss more of the topic at a later time, at the moment We need to settle more mediate affairs. First We are unable to send you back, and if what you told the Bearers of the Elements of Honesty and Magic is true sending you back would end your mortal coil”.
Silver has no clue what Luna meant by the Bearers of the Elements of Honesty and Magic is, but he did get the point that the attempt to send him home could be lethal. So Silver was right, he did die back there in the middle east. The gravity of the situation finally sunk in, Silver Wrench is stranded here in Equestria, no way to get home, become human or see his family again.
Luna watches as sadness and defeat washes over Silvers face. In actuality this is almost the reverse situation Phantom Mask had. Phantom Mask had no family or friends before he appeared in Equestria and crash into Fluttershy's chicken coop. Silver Wrench had family, friends, comrades in the Corps he felt as close to them as if they were his brothers and sisters are all gone.
Luna worried for the welfare of the pony before her spoke "Silver Wrench are you alright you appear to be in distress".
With a sigh Silver summoned the will to speak "I just realize the gravity of my situation here, and I realize I never see my family and friends again, but at least I have a second chance at life. What ever sent me here saved me from death".
"I know the lost must be heart breaking but you are not completely alone" the Princess stop at look over at the small group of the other ponies, Luna sees the worried and caring look Apple Jack has for Silver. "You do have ponies that care and will be your friend if you let them".
Sliver Looked back, and to see Apple Jack and he smiled. He never meet anyone as honest, supporting or have such a golden heart. It did not hurt ether that Silver felt since the first time he meet Apple Jack that she was beautiful. Yeah she is a pony but so is he now. Thinking back to old Star Trek episodes when Captain Kirk makes out with some sexy alien woman, what guy wouldn't want the opportunity to make out with the alien slave girl or alien princess. Then Sliver realize it he falling for Apple Jack.
Silver looked back at Luna and said sounding a bit more optimistic "I think I can manage, I will adapt and overcome".
Luna remember he sister telling her several times to have faith in the Bearers of the Elements, and she seen what these six mares are capable off before.
Luna Spoke “We asked that your cover is that you been away outside of Equestria performing military duties and that We and my sister is keeping the details of your work a state secret. Tell nothing to other ponies about your origins, outside of this group here, you always was a pony”.
Silver though that was a reasonable cover story, he did not have to lie to anypony; he just has to refuse to elaborate because the princesses ordered any information secret. It kind of makes Silver sound like some bad ass Special Forces pony.
“I understand and can comply, your highness” Silver spoke.
Author's Note
This part of the story take place after Seven Ponies, Seven Trials, Seven Loves, Chapter Fifteen: Trial of Honesty.
It will continue to continue down Silver Wrench's view of events.
