Rise

A story by somedude726

RISE

Chapter 8: A Last Stand

"OVERLORD! This is Echo-Four, we need CASEVAC now! We have wounded, over!"

"That's a negative Echo-Four, you absolutely need to get to that nuke, under any circumstances. Over."

"O-Overlord! Are you not seeing this!? The mission is a failure! We LOST! Get the birds in the air now, over!"

The once peaceful area was torn apart and made into a warzone. Lightning took down the walls of the large warehouse, and fog made vision unclear. The noon sun helped somewhat, but was hidden behind the clouds for the most part. The last of the five squads moved in for this mission sat behind the little cover of a fallen table. Only six of the Echo Team survived the fight, and even their attempt to move in with stealth tactics failed. Mounted MG's ripped apart Bravo's helicopters, Charlie's members, and even took down Delta's vehicles. Half of Alpha completely disappeared, and the rest couldn't fight. They were some of the first to get shot, and only barely surviving, sitting alongside the final Echo members. Opposing forces held RPG-7's, and took no hesitation in firing at their enemies and their birds. They were so close, but Echo knew they couldn't win. They now made an attempt at covering behind a table they had kicked over in the warehouse, but the table couldn't hold the rounds being fired on and around it. The bomb was just in front of them, but they only had around fifty seconds to get around the barrage of .50 calibers and defuse it. It was over.

"I said, that's a negative! CASEVAC request denied! Defuse that bomb, over and out, Echo-Four!"

Overlord was no help. The U.S. Marines base couldn't send reinforcements, an evac, nor could they get close air support. The weather was at its peak, winds hitting minus forty Celsius no problem. Fog had been thrown in the mix, causing the need for infrared scopes. Helicopters and or jets could not take to the air for reinforcements, it was too dangerous, and even for an operation like this, it was too risky.

Thirty seconds, and the bomb would detonate, if Echo didn't move their ass.

"Well, everyone, it's been a goddamn honor serving with you guys. You were all like brothers to me, and I couldn't ask for more. Now, I got a stupid idea. But, keep in mind that if I make it back, we're going for drinks. Got that, Echo?" one soldier spoke.

Twenty-five seconds.

"Heh, you got a stupid idea? Well, it's an idea. Quick, lay it on us."

Twenty-one seconds.

"Can't. No time. Adios!"

Eighteen seconds, and the soldier started executing his, 'stupid idea'.

***

"Hey! I see something, Sarge." Lieutenant Carver spoke from his seat upon the tree. He had spotted something, after about twenty-five minutes of everyone just staring around. Except for Sarge, he had been keeping himself busy attempting to radio for Alpha, opening it up and fixing it back together.

"Eh? What do ya see, Carver?" Sarge stood up and put the half-assembled radio on the ground, before walking over.

"I see a hut. A damn small one at that. Some weird mask things are around it, and uh-- wh-what in the fuck." Carver replied, adjusting his binoculars suddenly.

"Huh? What is it?" Sarge asked, raising a brow.

"It's, um, well I'm just gonna be blunt about it. I'm not lying here, there is a fucking zebra in the hut, Sarge. Not like one of ours. It's small, and it's got these huge eyes, and its face looks like, well sort of how our faces would. There's also some sorta mark on its ass. Dude. Either I'm high on everything in the universe, or we need to haul ass and see where in the world we are." Carver responded, looking worriedly at Sarge. By now, the rest of the fighters had looked over and listened to Carver.

"Carver, the fuck? You been drinking again?" Johnson chuckled, looking up to the tree.

"Johnny. I can see it through the window. There is, a goddamn zebra, in the hut. And there's some sort of pot in front of it. It's stirring something inside of it. Sooort of how a witch would, actually. I can't really see it from here, but it's, oh god, I think it's green!" Carver exclaimed, starting to climb back down the tree.

"So, you seen, a witch zebra with a human face, stirring up some sorta potion, inside a hut." Kendrick facepalmed, and continued to scan the area.

"Yeah, well, don't believe me? Climb up that tree. Or just come with me. No, like, really, do one of the two, I need to know I'm not insane." Carver answered, jumping off the tree halfway through, and almost tripping over.

"Fuck it. I don't know what's up with you, but let's go. Alpha, move out!" Sarge declared, before asking where exactly the hut was. After Carver gave him the direction, he took the lead, and Alpha started moving to the zebra's hut.

***

It was deep into the night, around two hours after Jason had went to his own room. All ponies would be asleep, and perhaps all humans. Luna, however, being the princess of the night, was awake. She had set preparations for Jason's arrival in Canterlot the day after already. She put a little bag in Jason's room with sixty bits, complete with a written note about it. It used a lot of magic, but, Luna had used a spell to find out what the human's language was, and translated her words to it. She had done it before, with ponies that spoke different languages, or even different species. It was fairly easy to do with the human. The princess was currently writing a letter to send to everypony in Canterlot, now. It'd be sent through magic, and a copy for everypony would be in front of their doorstep. After a few moments, she had deemed the letter good for the ponies. Although they were more of the, high-class ponies, the letter had to suffice. There simply wasn't enough time for a warmer welcome.

"Dear ponies of Canterlot,

Good morning to all, it is I, Princess Luna. I hope you are having a great day so far. This is a mass letter, being sent to everypony of Canterlot. Due to unknown happenings, a creature that claims to be a 'human' has been sent to Equestria. The human isn't from around here. It is a he, and he is a bipedal creature with forelegs on his upper area, much like a minotaur. He wears clothes at all times, I can only assume it's traditional for his kind. He is much like an Earth pony, being without a horn or wings, and seemingly strong and ready for physical labor. Other than teleporting. Don't teleport him, he doesn't like that and will vomit on your floor. The human is not hostile, in fact, he is a great friend. His name is Jason, and he will be walking around Canterlot today. Do not be alarmed, he will not hurt anypony. I can say that for sure. Why, it seems he's much more keen on helping us ponies than any sort of pain. Please, do treat him nicely, he can speak and will greatly appreciate it if you do. I can sense that he has been through bad times, perhaps it's from where he's from, or something else. I also wish you do not ask too many questions about where he is from, if you talk to him. I believe that he cannot read our language, while he can speak it however. He may need help with this. So yes, keep this in mind, a creature named Jason will be in the town of Canterlot. Thank you for reading everypony, and to all a good day.

Sincerely,

Princess Luna"

Smiling at her work, she rolled the letter up, and added the royal seal onto it. Using a spell she doesn't use very much as Celestia usually handled these, her horn lit up as the letter was teleported to everypony's doorstep in an instant, leaving her with her own single copy. And with that, Luna went out to her balcony, which looked over the town of Canterlot.

"I believe things will become interesting, for a while."

***

"Hello, gentlemen. I trust you all are having a great day?"

Five military combatants sat tied to different chair in a small, pitch black room. They had only recently woke up, and they did so in this room. With next to no prior memory of what happened to them, they could only wonder what could've happened. They remembered a fellow squad going in to the enemy's warehouse, but, not much after that.

"Huh. Taking us hostage, huh?" one member of the five spoke up.

"Oh, I guess if you wanna put it that way, go ahead. I just want to talk." a voice responded. It was unfamiliar to them, and the accent didn't seem like the one of their enemies. Perhaps it was another ally to them, they started to think.

"Well okay then, fucker. Alpha? Echo? Who's here?" another talked, gritting his teeth.

"Alpha-Two here." the first soldier responded

"Alpha-Three."

"Alpha-Four."

"Alpha-Five reporting."

...

...

"No one else?" the first member of Alpha asked.

"Y-You fuck! Where's the rest of our squad!?" Alpha-Two yelled, struggling to rip himself out from the ropes, tying him down.

"Ooh boy. It seems we're getting off to a bad start. Please, let me introduce myself, my name is Discord, friends..."

The Next Day

"Buh I dun like ponies... nooo, stop it.. waddafuck are you doing with my pan... wh-- what?"

I slowly opened my eyes, to be greeted by, thankfully, not a light. Well that was a weird dream. Things happened. I ended up in a world being inhabited by small horses, went looking for six superhero horses, went to sleep in a castle, and ended up with a wh--

My thoughts were interrupted as I realized that I was actually still in the castle. That WASN'T a dream!? I'm still in a different world!? Oh god, I should probably apologize to that mare. How'd I find her, anyway? I went to sleep in the guest room and then found myself with her-- oh whatever. Let's get up now, why don't we.

The bed was actually pretty big. Bigger than mine back home. I guess they do that for guests or whatever, maybe for those princesses. I threw my legs over the side of the bed, and got up on my feet... only to fall back down on the bed. I never was a morning person.. alright, let's try this again. Up and at 'em.

Throwing my legs over once again, I put my hand on the bed, and threw myself away from it. And falling flat on my face. I attempted to swear, but, well, my face was kind of being muffled by the carpet. Alright, once again, let's go.

I put my arms out in front of me, and tried to pick myself up enough so I can get my knees out. Pretty much doing a push-up, I got my knees under my chest, and got up. Slowly. I wobbled a bit, but kept my balance. Fuck yeah.

The room was pretty goddamn big. Yet still it was only like half of Luna's room. The bed was in the middle at the back wall, and to the left of it was a little nightstand, seemingly with a bag and note. Huh. I'll take a look at that soon. The other side of the bed was another nightstand, and near that was a big shelf was a mirror above it, taking over the right wall. The door was parallel to the nightstand, and in front of the bed was.. well, it was just a wall with another shelf. A rug lay in the middle of the room, with a design of a sun and moon on it. The floor around it was a really nice grey carpet.

Deciding to read the note, I took it from the nightstand and unfolded it before reading it.

"Dear Jason,

Hello little human, it is Princess Luna writing. I am about to send a mass letter to Canterlot informing them of your arrival, including for them to treat you nicely and not ask too much about where you're from. I have decided against saying you are from another world, it may cause trouble. If ponies ask where you're from, say I personally said for you to keep that a secret. They'll understand. In the bag, I have given you sixty bits, of which is our economy. You will need this in order to buy yourself food, or anything else you may need. Try not to spend it all in once place. Return to your quarters after you find yourself supper to eat, and once I wake I will come meet you, and we shall continue the search for the elements. Have a good day, Jason.

Sincerely,

Princess Luna"

Oh, wow. It really sounds like I'm serious business here. Wait, no shit. I'm from a different world. Folding the note back up, I looked inside the bag, and sure enough, there were indeed things in there. Coins. No, not just any coins. Gold coins. If these are 'bits', then I just hit the goddamn jackpot. Or, wait, hold on. Oh, dammit nevermind. After giving one some examination, it actually wasn't gold. Still, it was sorta shiny, and it looked pretty cool. I think I might keep one as a souvenir or something. I left the letter on the nightstand, picked up the bag, and went over things I had to do. Okay.. I could go-- clothes. Clothes. I. Fucking. Need. Clothes. I probably stink like a skunk. That had a bath. At the dump. While rotting or something. I wonder how long it'll take for a pony to make me clothes?