Ghillie in the mist

     "Grandma, what's that?" The young colt asked, pointing above the fireplace.

     Scootaloo looked to see a dusty journal, she smiled to herself "That was your great grandfather's journal. Where all his stories in Equestria are held."

     "Can you read it to me?" The little colt asked, jumping up and down.

     "Oh I think you're old enough, sure, come here." Scootaloo sat in her rocking chair with the book on her hooves. She motioned for the young pony to sit in her lap. She began reading.

     My name is Michael D. Johnson. I am what some call a hero. Others call a monster. It all depends on where they're standing. I am a Marine sniper. An assassin. I am writing this in a journal that I will someday pass to my daughter, who will pass it to her children, and so on, and so forth. This is my story.

     I joined the Marines right out of high school. My father was an alcoholic, and my mother lost her battle with breast cancer when I was very young. I had no friends, as I was considered by most to be a heartless asshole. I wouldn't care when Ms. Popular and Mr. Popular broke up, I didn't do any sports, but worked out by myself. School for me was a waste of time. I look back at it now, sitting in my chair with my  Barrett above the fireplace, realizing that my adventures didn't begin until I found that gem in the sand.

     It was my eighth year as a sniper, I was in Afghanistan, a solitary building in the middle of the desert. I was waiting for my target. He was around six foot tall, a black beard, a white robe. I was told that was to be killed quickly. A quick headshot. Doesn't sound hard, here's the problem. He was in an armored vehicle, in the middle of a desert, during a sandstorm. He was going to be out of his vehicle for about three seconds to get into a helicopter that was coming to pick him up. I had been in that shed for hours. The drop was supposed to be at five o'clock. It was five thirty. I was starring down the scope of my rifle, they were late. This wasn't like them.

     I heard a chopper in the distance, but couldn't see it. It was getting closer and closer to my position. I started to hear a land vehicle, sounded like a hummer. I saw a black vehicle stop aroun d three hundred yards from my position. Five people in it. The chopper started to descend into position, then stopped. A gust of sand and wind caused the helicopter to sway. "Come on you bastard, set yourself on the ground and get the goods" I said to myself. It got lonely on long missions.

     The helicopter started to leave, the vehicle turning around as well. Then they both stopped, turning back to the meeting place. The storm was letting up, it was now or never. The helicopter touched down, the target hoped out if the vehicle, the rifle rocked back into my shoulder. I always hated headshots, the chances of missing were too great, but with my Barrett, it tore the poor bastard in two at the waist. I immediately ran out of the back of the shed, the kill confirmed. I jumped onto the ATV I was provided, and sped into the direction of my ride back to base.

    I don't exactly remember what happened, all I know is one second, in speeding on my ATV, the next, I was on my knees, coughing up blood, my ATV upside down. It hurt so bad. Then I saw it. A shiny white gem buried in the sand. I reached down for it, my hand shaking. I don't know what was so fascinating about the gem, but it was like it drew me closer and closer. When I picked it up, it was ice cold. Inside, a wire horse with a horn and wings. It was beautiful. I was mystified, I didn't notice the ice crawling up my arms. I eventually lost all feeling in my arms, that's when I realized something was wrong. I looked down to see they were covered in ice crystals. I dropped the gem on the ground. I was unable to escape the ice that was now covering my torso and legs. It eventually covered my entire body, leaving me paralyzed.

     I could strangely breathe in the ice prison. I was unable to take deep breathes, but they were breathes. A bright flash almost blind me. Then I no longer felt the sand under me. I felt something solid, like a floor, or road. But I was still imprisoned. I lay still. Then realized I wouldn't anywhere just sitting there. When I moved my arms, the ice fell off, like I was just covered in snow. I started shaking my whole body until I was free from my prison. When I stood, I was in the middle of a dense forest. I had no idea where I was at, or what I was to do. My instincts took over me, I started to make a ghille suit. Ripping vines, leaves, and grass. I thought it looked pretty damn good. I began walking, I didn't know where, I just started walking. I walked for thirty minutes, eventually coming to something that looked like a small farm. A door leading into a tree, animals everywhere. The sun had set, so I had decided to climb into a tree nearby and get some shut eye. It wasn't the most comfortable thing in the world.

     I remember waking to a shrill scream. I opened my eyes to a squirrel on my chest, screaming at the top of its lungs. It had a legit look of f ear on his face. I didn't know what to do. I panicked. I reached around the creature's head, and squeezed. The screaming stopped, blood started to ooze down the body. I threw it into the woods, nothing else I could do. I looked over to the house to see something coming out of the door. I rolled out of the tree, hitting the ground with a loud thud.

     "Hello?" A soft voice came, I would later learn her name was Fluttershy. I lay in the grass, inching my way towards some bushes in order to hide myself. "Mr. Squirrel?" The voice came again.

     I was scared, I didn't know what I should do, I slowly peaked around the bush, I rubbed my eyes, they had to be lying to me. A yellow horse with wings at its side, looking around for where the scream came from. It was breath taking. Such a beautiful creature. Then, another scream. Right beside my ear. I turned to see another squirrel screaming, this time a safe distance from me, pointing at t he mound on the ground. Me.

     "Mr. Squirrel, what is it?" She said, running towards me. I panicked, my Barrett would surely kill her, I had to run. When I stood, fear fell upon her face. She was staring down a monster she had never seen before. Standing twice as tall as her, covered in grass, leaves, and mud. She just stood there as if I had T-Rex vision. I had to find out where I was, and she didn't seem like a threat. I went to set down my gun, that must've startled her, her eyes rolled into the back of her head. She fainted.

     "Shit..." I said to myself. If something was to come by anytime soon, it would not look good. A giant monster standing over an unconscious pony? No good.

     I decided it would be best if I stuck to the tree line, find anything that looked official. Instead, a small shed made itself known about a mile or two away from the little yellow pony's house. "This'll work for now." I said to myself. This would be my shelter, for as long as I stayed in this odd place. I wasn't sure if it was even the same planet anymore. I found later, that I was on a completely different planet. And that little shed, that is where my house is now.

     As I approached the shed, the door was tiny, almost having to crawl to get in. Once in, I realized a problem. The shed was being lived in! I saw orange feathers everywhere, purple hair, a brush, some old food, and a couple blankets. "Whatever lives here must be miserable" I said to myself. I went to crawl out when I heard a voice nearing the shed. Of course, there was no where to hide. I looked up, there was a space that I could position myself, for a short time. I climbed up into the ceiling, positioning myself and my rifle so it was semi comfortable. What I saw enter the room almost brought tears to my eyes, it still does when I think about it.

     A small, orange, malnourished pony entered the tiny shed. She sat on the mound of blankets, she started talking to herself about what I assumed to be today's events "Sweetie Belle and Applebloom want a day without me. A day to themselves. Why? Do they hate me?" She sat on the blankets, I heard a soft sobbing. "They have sisters and brothers and cousins and aunts and uncles... What do I have?" I couldn't control myself, I don't know what happened, but I felt a tear forming in my eyes. Why did I care about the thing? I tried as hard as I could, but a tear eventually fell from my eyes, landing in the purple mane.

     "Shit..." I mumble to myself, that came out of my mouth a lot that day. The little pony looked around in confusion, then up, staring at the monster in her ceiling. She dug herself under the blankets, I remember that age. The blankets would protect you from any monster that tried to get you. I fell to the floor, being sure not to land on the thing.

     "It's okay, I'm not gonna hurt ya." I said, rubbing all the leaves and mud off my face. I eventually had most of it off, where she could see my face.

    "Nononononononononononono." She screamed from under the blankets.

     "What's you name? I don't wanna hurt you?" I persisted, I was insure why I wanted to know so bad.

     "Help!" She screamed.

     "No, I just wan..." I was tackled from behind, pink hooves wrapping around my neck.

     "Scootaloo! I though you were in trouble, then you screamed, I came in, I have to monster! Run!" The thing on my back yelled. Pinkie later apologized for it, and I give her hell every time I see her.

     I looked over to see Scootaloo run through the door. Then it hit me, I couldn't breathe! The hooves were holding me tight. I stood, hitting my head on the ceiling, then throwing myself back, destroying one of the shed walls, and crushing the pink pony. When I turned, I saw her with a canon pointing right at me, and I still wonder to this day how she managed to get a canon.

     "Listen, I don't want to hurt you." I said, putting my hands in the air.

     "What were you gonna do with Scootaloo?" She said, canon ready.

     "I wasn't gonna do nothin', I swear, I was trying to hide from... I was trying to... I don't know what I was trying to do, I just ran into this shed and was about to ask her what her name was."

     "Why don't I believe you?" She said, somehow on the end of her canon, without it leaning forward any, or her falling from gravity.

     "I'm afraid there's only my word."

     "Hmmm... I have a test that can determine if I can trust you or not." She said, leaning back on the canon.

     "And how's that?" I asked, I wasn't exactly wanting to do anything but get home.

    "Follow me!" She started jumping in the air, going towards a town he hadn't noticed before. She was staying up more than should be physically possible.

     I didn't trust her at first, but then realized I had no other choice. But something gnawed at the back of my mind, I didn't really know what. I finally realized what it was when we were halfway to "Ponyville."

    "What was her name?" I asked Pinkie.

     "Who's name?" She asked, still bounding.

     I had to resist my urge to be an asshole, I wouldn't get a good response if I was "The little orange pony."

     "Oh her, that was Scootaloo!"

     "Who does she live with?" I asked, looking back at the small shed.

     The pony stopped bo unding for a second to think "You know, I really don't know. Oh well!" She said, bouncing off again. I suddenly felt something, not physical, but, mental. I stated at the shed for what seemed to be days, but in reality, was only thirty seconds. How could they just let a child live like that? I started to walk towards the shed again, this time, I was stopped by a purple aura that covered my whole body.

     "No no no, you're not walking away from us." A female voice said, Twilight still blushes if I bring it up.

     "Then let me see Scootaloo again." I said, trying to resist the thing that had imprisoned him.

     She turned me to face her, her horn was glowing bright, a light humming coming from it "Why?"

     I paused for a second, why did I want to see the orange pony again? "I don't know." I replied.

     "What is that?" Pinkie said, reaching for my sniper. I tried to jerk away, there was no way I could let her touch, but the purple aura kept me in place. I cringed when she looked down the barrel.

     "Put that away, it's dangerous!" I said, trying to reach for the sniper.

     "No it's not!" She said, starting to twirl it like a baton.

     "I'm telling you, that thing is really dangerous! Don't play with it!" I struggled more and more, Twilight must've seen my struggle, and took the rifle from her.

     "Pinkie, I'm not sure what this is, but this... thing seems pretty determined to keep it away from you. I suggest I hold onto it until I can figure out what it does." She said, letting me go, but still levitating the Barrett. I didn't like a magical horse holding my gun, but I had no choice.

     "You never told us your name!" Pinkie said, bounding up and down around me again.

     "I don't think you need to know my name, I don't plan on being here much longer." I said, I hoped I wouldn't be here longer, but I enjoy this place now, it's home.

     "Come on!" She stuck out her bottom lip, pouting in my face.

     I sighed "My name is Michael D. Johnson." I hadn't heard my full name in a long time, even if it was coming out of my own mouth, it still gave me chills.

     "Ooooh! What do you do?" She said, I guess I could tell her, what would she do? Put my name and picture up for Taliban? They already wanted me dead, they just didn't know who I was.

     "I ah..." I paused, how would I explain what I do to the innocent creature in font of me? "I... I am a... I have different classifications... If that makes sense? The same job, different names."

     "And what job is that?" Twilight turned, confusion in her eyes "What is one of the job's names."

     "Hero." I said.

     "Really? That's awesome! What's another?"

     "Monster." I said under my breath.

     Twilight stopped, turning to me "What did you say?"

     "Monster." I replied. My heart started racing. Confusion in both of their eyes.

     "How can you be a hero and a monster at the same time?" Pinkie asked.

     "With that." I pointed at the gun.

     "What is it? You said it was dangerous, but how?" Twilight said, moving it closer to her for investigation.

     "A tool. A tool used for destruction."

     "I can see how it would make you a monster, but how does it make you a hero?" She asked, looking down the scope, impressed that she could see the veins in Rainbow Dash's eyes.

     "The bullets, they contain both physical and nonphysical elements. When it decides that it is ready, the physical part finds its mark, ripping whatever's on the other end in two, that's how I become a monster. However, the part that has no connections with the physical world, the emotions that follow Slightly behind, are what make me a hero.

     "The emotions, anger, fear, pain, and happiness all follow. As long as the physical hits the physical, then the nonphysical takes its place." I explained, another pony, Rainbow Dash, had joined the group to listen.

     "So... this thing, can make people happy and sad at the same time?" Twilight asked.

     I nodded "As long as it doesn't miss. If it missed, the nonphysical elements don't have anywhere to go, so they switch places. If someone would have been happy if the shot it, would be sad, and someone that would've been sad, would be happy."

    "You never explained to us what you actually do." Pinkie said. I remember sweating, another pony and Spike had joined the group.

     "I am... I'm a sniper, my job is to... silence."

     "Silence?" Twilight had a strange look on her face.

     "I kill. I am an assassin." I said, watching their faces drop. They slowly backed away, except Spike and Pinkie, confusion still in their eyes.

     "What's an assassin?" They asked in unison.

     "My job is to... end lives. I am the reason many people rejoice, and many people grieve."

     "Does this have anything to do with your occupation?" Spike ran forward, reaching for my sleeve. He rolled it up, I had a quote tattooed on my arm "I am immortal until proven otherwise." He recited to the group.

     "What does that mean?" Rainbow Dash asked, looking at the strange text.

     "It means until something can prove it wrong, I am immortal." I said, rolling my sleeve back down.

     "We need to alert Celestia of your arrival, Spike!" Twilight looked over to Spike, who ran off to the library to get some paper and ink.

     I laid back, leaning against one of the buildings, picking leaves and grass off my clothes. Twilight had sent a letter to Celestia explaining what they discovered. I convinced Twilight to give me my sniper back, it was a part of me. My mind was reeling, I eventually decided it would be best to go for a walk. I stood up, and started walking on a trail that lead away from the town, I would be back eventually.

     About ten minutes into my walk, I felt eyes pressing on the back of my head. I didn't know who, or what, but something was following me. I turned to see nothing, just the trail. I walked some more, eyes still drilling into my skull. I stopped, turned again. Nothing. I kinda laughed to myself, paranoia was a bitch. I started walking again, but this time, my suspicions were correct. I had walked slower and I heard voices. Not loud enough to make out what they were saying, but I knew they were there. I turned to see that I had been an idiot this whole time.

     "Jokes up, y'all can come out now." I said, of course nothing happened. I walked over to the bush that had been following me, damn I was an idiot.

     I stood there in silence, then I heard a whisper "Is he moving yet? I can't see!"

     "I don't know, I don't see him anymore, did he run off?"

     "Scoot, you were leading us, where'd he go?"

     "I don't know!" The bush lifted, three little ponies emerged. A white one, a yellow one, and Scootaloo. I was just standing behind them, arms crossed.

     "How did we lose a giant alien?" The white one, Sweetie Belle, said.

     "Hey, calm down! He couldn't have gotten far!" Scootaloo said "Applebloom, you look that way, see if he's over there."

     "Think he went into the forest?" Applebloom said, not wanting to look for the alien alone.

     "We can look." Scootaloo said to her friends, still not turning around.

     "Let's go then!" Applebloom said "Maybe our cutie marks are for alien hunting!" They took off for the forest. I laughed at them. At the time, I was unaware of the dangers in the forest.

     After five minutes in the forest, I had set up a safe distance from them, close enough to hear them, but far enough they couldn't hear me moving. I heard Scootaloo finally say "Shh! You hear that?"

     My heart stopped, she heard me? I looked down the scope, watching the youn g ponies look around for whatever their orange friend heard. "Scootaloo... I think we're lost!" Applebloom said.

     "Shhh! Listen!" She said again. My ears strained as well. Then I heard it, a low roar, getting closer and closer. Whatever it was, I still don't know, it was getting close. I looked around, and found a pair of two red dots. It suddenly jumped out of the trees, right in front of the girls. Their screams were countered by a menacing roar. Then, an explosion.

     My rifle rocked back into my shoulder. Leaves dispersed in all different directions around the barrel of the gun. The bullet hit its target, sending brain matter all over the three girls. Their screams stopped, only because they were frozen in fear. The beast fell over. I ran forward, scooping the three girls in my arms, and running back to the town. Their screamed started again, hurting my ears, making them ring for days. Now that I'm writing this, the Barrett probably had something to do with it too.  I heard another beast following me, but I knew if I turned around, it would catch up, so I just kept a forward pace. When o the tree line, six ponies were all charging the woods, their faces with confusion when I broke through. I threw all the ponies in the air at once, hoping one of them would catch them, then turned around, getting on one knee. The beast burst through the trees, it's red eyes glowing. I brought a bead onto its head, and pulled the trigger. The shot echoed for miles it seemed, the beast falling to the ground felt like an earthquake. It wasn't a headshot, but it was missing a good hunk of meat from its body.

     "Idontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadieidontwannadie." Was the only noise that could be heard. I stood up, turning to see all the ponies, their expressions, save Scootaloo's, was the exact same.

     I remember walking over to the small orange pony, just laying on the ground, repeating the same sentence, eyes watering. "It's okay, nothin's gonna hurt ya." I said, crouching beside her.

     "I... You... That... You.... Killed... I... Died..." She tried to get between sobs.

     "Shh... I won't let anything hurt you." I said, as I reached my hands under her, picking her up in my arms. "I promise." At that moment, I knew exactly why I cried for the pony earlier. Applebloom was clinging onto Applejack, and Rarity was wiping the tears from Sweetie Belle's eyes. No one had come over to help the poor orange pony. She was just like me. No one to go to. Sure my father lived, but with as much as he drank, he was lucky to be alive.

     I remember her shaking violently as I drew her close to me, I could t tell if she was just still shaken because of what just happened, or that an alien was trying to show sympathy. "Scootaloo, I won't hurt you. I promise." I felt her stop shaking, but still sobbing. Her head buried in my chest. Then, pain overwhelmed my body. Scootaloo fell from my arms as I was lifted in the air by a black aura of light. Blood started to trickle out of the corner of my mouth. I heard voices screaming, but the pain didn't stop. I remember being turned to see a black pony with both a horn and wings. Eyes glowing white. Then I blacked out.

     When I woke, I was in a cold room made of stones. A single wooden door. I was in a prison cell. I was in only my pants. No shirt, no shoes, nothing else. I went to stand, only to hit my head. It was stupid. I remember hearing voices, guards it sounded like, then I heard one coming toward my cell.

     "You awake in there?" The voice came.

     "Yeah, I'm up." I replied. "Got a headache."

     "I'm going to escort you to the main chamber for interrogation. Don't try anything!" He said.

     "Don't worry." I replied. The door swing open, a blue pony in gold armor. A unicorn. He led me to a giant room, glass paintings all over. A single table, a single chair, perfect for me. "Sit there" he said. I did just that, and then he left.

     I sat for ten minutes in the giant room, started singing "You're gonna go far, kid", greatest song I knew. I could still sing the whole thing right now. I was at the chorus when a soft laughter silenced me. I turned to see the black pony that had knocked me out earlier, and a white pony, as tall as me, with a horn and wings. Just like the gem I found in the desert. Not a word was said until they were sitting across from me.

     "What is your name?" Celestia asked me.

     "My name is Michael D. Johnson. What is your name?" I replied, no reason to fight, they could kill me quicker than I could get to my feet.

      "I am Celestia, and this is my sister Luna."

     "I am terribly sorry for how I treated thou." Luna said, a bit of annoyance in her voice.

     "I don't understand why you did it?" I said.

     "I heard explosions, when I found where they came from I saw ponies crying, a dead beast, and Scootaloo in your arms. I thought you were hurting them."

     "I can see where you're coming from, apology accepted."

     "How did you get here? Where did you come from?" Celestia asked, she almost sounded like Pinkie.

     "I'm from... the United States. I found a gem in the sand after my ATV crashed in the sand, I was going to get picked up. It had something in it that looked like you. I was frozen, a loud pop, then I was in a forest."

     "Interesting." Celestia said, she was lost in thought.

     "Who watches after Scootaloo?" I asked.

     Luna and Celestia looked at each other in confusion. "We ahh.... We don't know?"

     "When can I go back?" I asked.

     "Back where? To Ponyville?" Celestia asked.

     "I guess, Scootaloo needs someone to watch her, even if it’s just for a few minutes."

     "We will send you back in two days, but first, what is this?" Celestia's horn started glowing, then my Barrett appeared on the table.

     "That is my tool." I replied.

     "What does it do?" They asked in unison.

     I gave the same definition to them as I had the other ponies, the bullet was made of both the physical and nonphysical parts. They asked the occasional question, but nothing really important. I showed them how it worked though, the way the bullets chambered, how it fired, and all that good stuff.

     "I think I understand. I will now show you to your room for the next two days. You are to stay there in case there are any other questions we want to ask you." Celestia said, standing. I stood as well, following her to the room I would be in. She let me keep my sniper, trusting that I wouldn't do any damage. She left. The sun started to set, and the moon rise. I guess I needed some shut eye.

     My dreams were filled with nightmarish images. The faces of every victim that I hit going through my head. Them, exploding into a pink mist. I woke drenched in sweat. It was the first time in weeks I had dreamed like that. I remember looking around the room, and seeing my Barrett on the floor. There was also some clothes that looked kinda big for me, but would work. Surprisingly enough, there was a shower too. I knew I smelled like straight up shit, so I hopped in.

    The shower was just barely big enough for me, but it worked. I dressed myself and began walking around the castle. Guards gave me looks, but let me go, and there were some places that I couldn't go at all. I found my way to rows of rooms, and heard voices coming out of one. I snuck over to listen.

     "Well of course he's dangerous Scoot!" I'm pretty sure Twilight said.

     "He did save you three's life." Rarity chimed in.

     "I know that! But why does he want to watch after me?" Scootaloo said.

     "We don't know, maybe he feels bad for you?" Twilight said.

     "Why?" She asked.

     "Well, I don't know. That's something you'll have to ask him." There was a pause. "He's here in the castle. I could take you to where he's at?"

     I started to run back in the direction of my room when I he ard a sigh then a slightly annoyed, but at the same time, eager "Sure."

     Sure I ran, but the problem was that I had no idea where I was going. When I finally found my way back, I heard theme gem down the hallway.

     "What do I say to him?" Scootaloo asked.

     "Just ask him what you think, why does he want to watch after you?" Twilight replied.

     "I won't have to go alone will I?"

     "No, I'll be right beside you."

     I was in my room now, I heard them getting closer to the door. I put my Barrett under the bed. I didn't want it to scare her any more. I saw their shadows and heard whispers, but couldn't hear what they were saying. I heard them finally knock on my door. "Come in, it's open." I said.

     The purple and orange pony walked through the door, side by side. Twilight looked at Scootaloo "Scootaloo, you had something you wanted to ask?" Twilight said, looking at the little orange pony. She took a step back and lowered her head.

     I got down on a knee, and stuck out my hand "You can ask me anything."

     "Well... I just..." She stopped, hiding behind Twilight's legs.

     "Come here, I think I can make you trust me just a bit more." I pulled the Barrett out from under the bed and walked towards the balcony. I pulled the legs out from under it, and positioned it to look out towards Ponyville. I made sure it wasn't loaded, I didn't want any casualties.

     "I don't understand, what are you doing?" Twilight whispered in my ear as I adjusted the scope.

     "Just trust me." I whispered back. I looked over to Scootaloo "Want to see the world from my view? Maybe you'll understand me just a little better."

     "Umm..." She looked at Twilight, who nodded that it was okay. "Sure."

     "Alright, jump up here, and put your eye level with the scope. Don't put your eye right on it though."

     "Is that Ponyville?" She asked, a smile on her face.

     "Sure is, can you see anything else?"

     "Well... I see some ponies walking around, but can't make out who they are."

     "Most of the time you can't, you have to rely on one article of clothing sometimes." I stepped back and watched as she moved the sniper around, viewing the beauties of her home so close, but so far. "Are you ready to ask me your question?"

     She pulled away from the scope and looked at me. "Why were you crying?" She asked.

     Twilight had a puzzled look on her face, she didn't know I had shed a tear, but in reality, that's what first introduced me to the orange pony. "You cried?" She asked.

     "Yes. I when I looked down on you from the ceiling, I didn't see an orange pony, I saw myself." I could see something in her eyes. Understanding.

     "Yourself?" Twilight had confusion on her voice.

     "My mother died from a disease called breast cancer, my father's an alcoholic. I didn't have anyone. No friends. No family. She at least has friends. I feel as though if I would have just had someone to walk me to school in the mornings, I wouldn't be where I am today."

      The next two weeks were very, very uneventful. I had built a small shelter not too far away from Scootaloo. I was even appointed a job as a lookout in Ponyville. If any citizen's life was threatened, I was to eliminate the threat.  Every day I would do the same routine. Wake, eat, get my gear, walk over to Scootaloo's (which I fixed up and was actually decent to live in) and walk her to school. Sometimes she would talk to me, other times she wouldn't. Didn't matter. I was there. After I dropped her off I would go get myself a cup of coffee, then sit on the balcony of Twilight's library. It was a real advantage high up, I could see the schoolyard, and I could talk to Spike. He would ask me to let him shoot my Barrett, but there was no way in hell I was going to let a baby touch it.

     He tried once to ask me what it was like to kill. Bad timing on his part, Twilight had just got back from her daily errands. I tried as hard as I could to keep a straight face, I just looked down my sights at the schoolyard as their conversation unfolded.

     "Spike! What kind of question is that?"

     "What? I just wanted to know!"

     "You're just a baby! You shouldn't even be thinking about killing!"

     "Good point Twi, just put an alien assassin on our balcony and keep me from thinking about killing." I couldn't help myself then, I snickered a little.

     "He's not here for your enjoyment Spike, he came here on accident, and while he is here, he is helping watch for anything that doesn't belong."

     I decided I should stop the argument then, I leaned away from my scope "By the way, how's your research going?"

     "Not too good to be completely honest. I haven't found a single thing concerning your kind's existence."

     "Awesome." I said with sarcasm in my voice.

     "Don't worry, I'm working hard." She said. She left the library, I watched her until she went into a restaurant.

     "So what is it like?" Spike said, obviously ignoring what Twilight said.

     "It's not fun." I said, looking at the dragon. "While you are making people happy and people sad, you are also leaving a crimson stain on your soul."

     "If you don't like it, why do you do it?"

     "I don't know anything else." I said, I looked back down the scope, hoping that would tell the dragon his time was up. He didn't take the hint.

     "What does it sound like? The gun."

     "An explosion." I turned the sniper to see something shady. I saw a female walking into an alley, being followed by a colt with something under his wing, not even three-hundred yards away.

     Spike kept talking, I was busy lining up the shot if anything happened. I watched as the colt drew the knife, getting closer and closer to the female.

     "What kind of explosion!" Spike screamed, he was annoyed that I had not answered him. The colt held the knife to the female's throat. I pulled the trigger. The rifle rocked back into my arm, the colt was split in two, the female looking at the deceased pony, and Spike on the ground holding his ears.

     Ponies from all over ran outside, to see what the noise was. Even some of the school children looked around for the source of the noise. Twilight teleported behind me. "What was that!?" She screamed.

     "Look for yourself." I moved out of the way for Twilight, her jaw hit the floor. "He held a knife to her throat. My job is civilian protection."

     That was my first kill in Equestria. I felt bad for Spike afterwards, poor guy's ears rang for days. At least he got to hear what it sounded like. But that wasn't the craziest thing that happened that week. The number one thing happened two days later.

     "Scootaloo, you in there? It's time for school." I knocked on the door. No reply. I grabbed the handle and opened the door. I saw her laying on the bed I had made her. She was sound asleep. "Scootaloo, it's time for school"

     What was said by the orange pony affected me for years. It still affects me as I write this. It literally changed my life. After what was said, I immediately told Twilight to stop all research on a way to get me back. I had an occupation much more important here. Who knew just one word, could change your life?

     "Daddy?"

Proofread by Akkura