Ghillie in the mist

     "Alright, man. What's up?" The bartender asked.

     I looked up from the open Bud. "I don't understand?"

     "Don't try that bullshit with me man. You've been coming in here every day for a week now. Sitting in that same spot. Ordering the same drink. Only to open it, stare at it for hours, then throw it away. I'll ask again. What's up?"

     I sighed. "I don't drink, alcohol is a depressant. It would only make things worse. So I come here, trying to hold on to all the memories. All the things we did. I'm also trying to find a way back." I laughed a little. "And I don't think it's right to just sit in here for free."

     "So, what happened?" He slumped over the counter.

     I sighed. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

     He laughed a little. "Buddy, I've owned this bar for almost thirty years. I've heard all kinds of stories. Yours couldn't possibly be any different than theirs."

     "You'd be surprised." I shook my head.

     "Alright, so what happened?"

     I sighed. "I was in Afghanistan. I had just taken doen a target with my Barratt fifty caliber rifle. I hopped on my ATV to head towards a place where my ride back to base was."

     "Alright, you're a Marine. Sniper. Continue." He leaned in more.

     "Well, I don't know how, but my ATV crashed, and I was laying on the ground coughing up blood."

     He waved his hand at me. "Skip to the good part man."

     "I proposed to a moon goddess. Got named a prince of death. And sister of moon hated me being there."

     He put his hands up. "Okay, I said skip, not summarize! Now, what?"

     I laughed. "I fell in love. Only thing is, she raised and lowered the moon every morning and night."

     "Alright, what drugs were you on?"

     I shook my head. "I don't fucking need this." I went to get up when a hand grabbed my shirt.

     "Wait.... you were serious?"

     I gave him a glare. "You want to know the story, or are you going to try and call bullshit again?"

     "Alright, I'm sorry." He said. I sighed as I took my seat.

     "So one night after a play, we had a couple shots of moonshine. Good stuff. Only alcohol I've ever drank. But anyway, we had a night on the town. I ended up proposing."

     "So a drunk night led to marriage?"

     I put up my hand. "Not quite. I found out what happened as I was on my way back home. So I turned my happy ass around to have a talk with her."

     "Alright, continue."

     "So I got back, now I forgot to tell you, I still have NO memory of that night. I got back and had a talk with her. We had a couple problems though."

     "What kind of problems?"

     "Well.... she wasn't exactly human."

     "Oooooh.... alien romance!" He said with sarcasm.

     I stood up. "Fuck you. I'm gone." I said as I made my way towards tge door.

     "Come on, it was a joke!" He yelled after me. I didn't stop. I walked out the doors, grabbing the keys to my 2008 Chevy Malibu.IIt's not a massive vehicle, it gets me from point A to point B.

     Almost immediately after pulling out of the parking lot, I was being tailed by a white vehicle. I cursed myself as my surroundings were surrounded with red and blue flashing lights. I wasn't in the mood. I pulled my car into a parking lot nearby.

     The officer strolled up to my window. "License and registration."

     "Is there a reason you're pulling me over?" I asked.

     "Just give me your license and registration."

     "No."

     He looked down at me. "Excuse me?"

     "No, until you give me reason as to why you pulled me over, I am not required by law to give you my information."

     "Sir, have you been drinking tonight."

     "No sir."

     "Would you like to submit to a breathalyzer test?"

     I sighed. "Officer, you were tailing me from the bar, I understand your assumption. However, you also followed me for seven turns. I could get your badge number, and report you for harassment. But I'll strike a deal with ya. I have not been drinking. I have done nothing wrong, we both know this. So, if you let me go, I won't ask for your badge number."

     He was in deep thought. Finally, he made a decision. "Have a good day, sir."

     "Likewise, officer."

Two weeks after wedding.

     "Hello, welcome to the University of Oklahoma's public library. How may I help you today?" The older lady asked as I walked through the doors.

     "I need some books on mythology."

     "Okay, any in particular?"

     "Pegasus, unicorn, dragons, hydra, your basic fairytale characters."

     "Okay, would you like to share why?"

     "I'm interested in writing some myself, and I want to make them as realistic and accurate to the actual myths as possible." I said. I had been preparing for that question for a while.

     She stood up. "Follow me"

     "Yes'm"

  .  We went up the stairs, around the computers, to see lines of book shelves. "All these are dealing with mythical creatures and places. Would you like to check a few out?"

     I already had three in my arms. "What? Oh, no thanks. I'll be reading and taking notes here."

     "Okay, be sure to put them up when you are done."

     "Yes ma'am." I said as I grabbed two more, making my way towards a table just a few feet away from the computers. Thankfully, it wasn't finals week. Not many kids here. I opened the first book, it dealt with the anatomy of dragons. Where they came from, all that good stuff. I was vigorously writing things down, comparing everything I knew about Spike to the book.

     I stayed for hours, focusing on just dragons. Almost filling an entire notebook full of information. I put the books back in their proper places. As I made my way out, the lady caught my arm. "Did you find everything alright?"

     "I did, actually. Yes. I will be coming back tomorrow. That's fine, right?"

     "Of course!" She said.

     "Thanks. I appreciate it." I turned a little quicker than normal and ran directly into a smaller college kid, sending his books and notes everywhere. "Ah shit, sorry man, let me help ya."

     As I bent down to grab his notes, I saw something. I could of swore it was Rainbow Dash's cutie mark. I pushed it out of my head though. I was just imagining things. "Thank you." He said as he began to pick up his notes as well.

     "No problem, it was my fault." I looked down at some of the notes. "What is all of this?"

     "Physics. We're busy testing some of Newton's laws."

     "Haven't they already done that?" I went to grab the last folder, but he reached down rather quick and violent.

     "Don't touch that one! It has.... personal stuff in it. But yeah, they tested them. But we students have to test them. It's our assignment."

     I put my hands up.. kinda, I still had his notes. "Whatever man." I handed him the notes. "I've seen a lot of physics broken recently." I said under my breath.

     "What was that?" He eyed me cautiously

     "Nothing, just thinking out loud." I said, cursing myself on the inside.

     "Alright, see ya later man."

     "You know what he had dammit! Why didn't you ask him about it?" Sub rang through as we watched the scene replay on a big screen.

     "I wasn't sure, alright? And what am I supposed to ask? Oh hey, is that the cutie mark of a mythological flying rainbow horse?"

     "Better than nothing! Look!" The scene stopped as I went to bend over. "There it is! On his fucking keychain!"

     "How do I know you're not playing games with me?"

     "You've given me more control. I want control. Playing games would only take that away."

     I sighed. "Alright, so it is her cutie mark. What now?"

     "We figure out how the hell he knows about her! If it is a common item in stores, it might be a well known myth."

     "A well known myth comes with extremists who think it's real."

     "And the fact that you know it's real may cause some problems."

     "Exactly. I have to find out exactly what he knows. Should I act stupid, or know most of my shit?"

     "If you act like you know your shit, there's a good chance you may say something that isn't a part of the myth. Bring up some unwanted attention."

     "Agreed. Act dumb, find the kid, figure out what he knows."

     "And what makes you think he will tell you?"

     "I gotta make friends with him first, then I'll show him the burn. If he has any info on Lu, he'll recognize the moon."

     "You think this is a good idea?"

     "Sub, you know that I think it's a horrible idea! But if he can find a way to get me back to Luna amd Scootaloo, you know damn well I will try everything possible."

     "That's what I'm worried about. I fear you will have the poor hid on the end of a gun, demanding information."

     I shrugged. "If that's what it takes."

     "Dammit, Michael! That's illegal!"

     "I was ripped away from my loved ones by a bitch that thinks she's billy bad ass because she can send me home. I'll show her I am a mucher bigger force to be reckoned with."

     "I understand what you're saying, but you can't threaten the kid."

     I pulled a .44 up to my head. "Try me." And pulled the trigger.

     I walked into the library, immediately greeted again by the lady up front. "Hello, welcome back!"

     "Thanks. Hey, can I ask a quick question?"

     "Of course!" She said with a smile.

     "How often does that kid come in here? The one that I ran into yesterday."

     "Well he comes in here almost every day. He is very concerned with his studies and school."

     I nodded. "Do you think you could grab me when he comes in? I got a couple questions I want to ask him."

     She let out a gasp. "Do you work for the government?"

     I laughed a little bit. "Yes and no. I do work for the government technically, but I'm not like the CIA or FBI."

     She let out a sigh of relief. "Okay, I thought he was in trouble. He's such a nice boy."

     "No no no, he's not in any trouble. I just want to talk to him."

     "Sure thing." She said. I smiled as I went back to the mythology section. I grabbed books on unicorns. I got weird looks, I don't give a fuck. I was trying to get home. Whatever it took. I started writing things I knew about them compared to the book in a seperate notebook. Which wasn't much. I knew theg used magic, but these books made it seem completely different. I continued to write for about an hour, when I felt a soft hand on my shoulder.

     "He just walked in." She said.

     I smiled as I closed the two books. "Thank you. Where is he?"

     "Over on one of the computers."

     "Thanks." I made my way to the computer section, but first, putting all the books up. I then started walking behind the computers. Looking for the kid I ran over. All the computers had the same thing pulled up. Microsoft Word and Google. But when I came around the other side, my jaw almost hit the floor. He had up YouTube. But not for video games, or science lessons, oh no. He had his earphones in. And on the screan? Bright multi-colored ponies. He saw me out of the corner of his eye. He quickly pressed escape, then held the control, the alternate, and tab button. Sending him to his Aol account.

     "H-hey man! What's up?" He said. Acting like he was busy.

     I grabbed the keychain from his pocket. The cloud and rainbow lightning hanging from it. "Where did you get this?"

     He started to bite his nails. "Ahhh.... online.... this isn't what it looks like! I swear! I just..."

     "How did you find Dash's cutie mark online? For sale!" I asked, whispering.

     "Wait... how did you know..."

     "We need to talk."

     His eyes lit up. "Another brony! Yes!"

     "What the fuck are you talking about? Go back to YouTube."

     "Umm.... you recognized RD's cutie mark. You're obviously a brony!" He then clicked the tab. It switched back to YouTube.

     "What the fuck is My Little Pony?" I looked down at the kid. "You gay, son?"

     "No! It's a good show! Look..." he started pounding on the keyboard.

      "It's a show...." Was Sub just fucking with me the whole time? No, that's not possible. I never heard of it before, so it's impossible for him to make it up. I pulled my shirt out a little, comforted by the black moon on my chest.

     "Yeah, you see..." he hit enter, and sure enough, there were the elements. With descriptions underneath. "This is T..."

     "Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, Dash, Pinkie, and Fluttershy. I know who they are. What is there about Lu?"

     "Lu? You mean Luna?"

     I cringed at my mistake. "Yes. What's there on Luna?"

     He looked up at me. "I thought you said you weren't a brony?"

     "I don't even know what a brony is! Now what is there on Luna?"

     "What do you mean you don't know what a brony is? You know the mane six and Princess Luna!"

     "Noneya. Now, what is there on Luna."

     He looked up at me. "You want info, I have it. However, I want to know how you know about MLP."

     I started to grind my teeth. "Later. Come by my apartment. I have some stuff you may want to see."

     "No. Tell me now."

     I was starting to get angry. "Look, kid. If you really want to know, we can go right now. But, you have to show me everything on Luna!"

     "Deal." He said, pounding on the keyboard. A new screen popped up. "There."

     I looked on the screen. "That's not Luna." I pointed at her hair. "Her hair is black with stars. Not light blue. Find me Luna."

     He stared at the screen. "That was her in season one. Season two is when her hair is changed." He looked at me. "How did you notice that?"

     I pointed at her actual body. "She's also too short. She's bigger than that."

     "Okay, we are going to your apartment, and you're going to explain youself."

     "One more question." He nodded as he shut down the computer. "Who is Twilight's brother?"

     "Shining Armor?" He grabbed his bag, standing up.

     I cursed myself in my head. "Alright, let's go."

Three weeks, six days after wedding.

     Alex, the kid, sat on the couch behind a laptop while I paced back and forth. He munched on a bag of Doritos, reading fan fic after fan fic after fan fic. "So, most of these involve the human getting hit with lightning, or Celestia seeing the human in danger, and saving him."

     I laughed. "No way in hell she would save me."

     He closed his laptop. "You never told me what happened. At the wedding."

     "Tia! I hate you! I hate you, Tia!" rang through my head. I pushed it out.

     I sighed. "Really want to know?"

     He nodded. "I think it would help."

     "Alright. I opened the doors. Guards grabbed me, but I was able to take one of them down. Scoots and Luna and Allen were all held behind a shield, similar to the one that surrounds Canterlot. Celestia saw me as a threat, sending me back to Earth, in the middle of that God forsaken desert."

     "So you two aren't exactly on speaking terms." He laughed.

     "Not quite. I promised I would put a bullet in her." I brought up the SKS with a sight for long distance sniping. "In all reality, I am planning on putting about four in her. Bought this bad boy at the gun show!"

     "They're letting you buy that? Even after the shooting?"

     I placed the rifle on the table. "I'm a Marine sniper in a gun show, gun shows don't need background checks, and little I.D."

     He shook his head. "Stupid."

     "It was a pistol anyway! Politics are a bunch of dumbasses."

     He laughed. But when he opened his computer, he let out a little cry. "Nonononono!" He started pressing different buttons.

     "What?"

     "Blue screen!" He slapped the computer. "I don't understand! I just bought this thing!"

     "I know how to fix it!" I walked over picking up the computer.

     "You can't fix a blue screen."

     "Bullshit, watch!" I removed the battery, and put it back in. Pressed the power button. "Fixed."

     Windows popped up on the computer. "Well, I guess that works."

     I flipped on the TV. "So a new episode, tomorrow right?"

     "Yeah, Discord is supposed to get out of his stone prison."

     I nodded. Then it hit me. "Wait, did you say, Discord?"

     He looked up from the computer. "Yeah, why?"

     I stood up. "He kept saying he would make a deal with me. Maybe he still will."

     Alex laughed. "Please, how do you expect to get ahold of him?"

     I sat back down. "I don't know, it sounded good." As I said that, the TV went black. "Hey, asshole, turn it back on!"

     "Wasn't me."

     I looked at the TV, just as I saw two white dots pop up. Red dots inside the white dots. "I heard my name being discussed by one I know." The speakers sounded.

     "Alex, cut this shit out! It isn't funny!"

     He ran over, pulling the plug from the wall. "Okay, TV's off."

     "Humerous. Now, I heard I was being discussed. I still have a bluff on Celestia, but that won't hold my absence long." I saw a figure form on the TV screen.

     I looked at the screen. "Discord?"

     "Ding ding ding ding! We have a winner!"

     Alex looked at the creature now on the TV. "What the fu..."

     "Hush, human. I wish to talk with Michael." He looked over at me. "Now, by my understanding, you wish to strike a deal."

     I grabbed the SKS from the table. "Maybe, what are the terms."

     "Oh I think you already set them! I may be free from my stone prison, reformed they call it. Bah! It's disgusting! But, anyway. You hate Celestia! I hate Celestia! And you want to find a way back to Equestria!" He started laughing. "It's too perfect!"

     Alex looked over at me. "You going to accept this? The guards will surely kill you!"

     "Maybe." I looked over at the screen. "Give me until tomorrow to think about it."

     "Fine, I will be right here, same time!" The screen flickered, leaving it blank. Alex plugged in the TV back in. Football filled the screen.

     "So... you going?"

     I sighed. "Do I have a choice? My fiance and daughter are there." I raised the SKS. "And I have to put a couple holes in that bitch."

     He eyed me cautiously. "I can't stop you, but just saying, after the first shot, guards are going to be all over you."

     I waved my hand at him. "I have a silenced AR back at my house. If I can grab it, using the SKS for the Everfree only, then I should be able to pump a good amount of ammo into her."

     He rubbed the nubs on his chin. "What about your dreams and thoughts? Wouldn't they be able to enter them?"

     "I have no plans on making a connection to Celestia until half a second before I pull the trigger. And it's going to be a very calm and quiet...

     "Then I'm going to pull the trigger 'til I hear the clicks!"

     "Okay, now what about your dreams?"

     I sat down. "I have to be fast. I have to arrive in Equestria, and take the shot within forty-eight hours. That's how long I can survive on five hour energy before I crash into a three day sleep." I shook my head with a smile. "No crash my ass."

     "So you will be bringing four five hour energies, and your gun. What else?"

     "Lunchbox with food and ammo. Anything else will just slow me down."

     He kinda smiled to himself. "I can't believe it. This is actually happening! I am helping to send a human to a fictional world where he will kill a god."

     I made my way towards my room. "Better believe it, 'cause it's real."

     "So, once you kill her, what about the guards?" Sub rang through the air.

     "I surrender. Nothing else to do. I can't run or hide. They'll find me eventually. My best bet would be to put my hands up and wait for them."

     "You're an idiot."

     "Got a better plan? Hundreds of guards, limited ammo."

     "At least fight!"

     "And risk losing my life? No thank you. I want to see Luna and Scootaloo still. Even if it is behind bars."

     "Take another weapon?"

     "No time. I have to go with what I have. SKS, I'll try and grab the AR, some meal bars, and the five hour energies. Nothing more."

     "You're idiotic."

     I laughed as I put the .44 to my head. "We. We're idiotic."

One month after wedding.

     I looked at Alex. "Well, I guess this is it. He'll be here any second, and I'll be gone."

     He nodded. "It's been fun."

     I looked around the apartment. "The odds of me coming back are slim to none. Everything here, is now yours."

     "Wow, thanks man!"

     I heard the TV come to life. "Michael! You ready?"

     I picked up my gun and box. "Let's go. I'm ready."

     "Alright. Now, I know you're not a big fan of teleportation. But... that's the only way I know to get you here!"

     My mouth hit the floor. "Wait! Wa..." my pleads were cut off by a snap of his fingers, and a loud pop, with a bright light.

     My body felt like it was ripped into pieces. I started to violently vomit onto the cold forest floor. Forest... I made it back to Equestria! I looked downn to be met with a horrible sight. EVERY scar on my body, was now an open wound. My chest was bleeding in multiple places, mainly the burn. It was considered a scar. I looked up, to see a blue unicorn, a trailer of some sort behind her, and she wore a cape or something. She had a look of fear and disgust on her face. I lifted my hand slightly as my world started to black out around me.

     "H-help..... m-me...." was all I could say as the world around me turned black.