Behind Blue Eyes in Equestria - Part 4

>The crowd is stunned.

>Fuck.

>You stood in silence once again.

>Their reaction here was critical.

>The silence deafens you.

>Not a soul knows what to say to your introduction.

>You decide it would be best to leave the crowd on that note.

>They weren't terrified into a panic, but you sensed they would need time to process your arrival.

>So you leave town without another word.

>You trudge past the crowd, who looks to each other wordlessly.

>You didn't want to interfere with their lives: you had merely done your duty.

>The crowd has dispersed by the time you step beyond the town's limits.

>Applejack catches up to your lumbering form as you head back to the farm.

 

 

>"Anon, w-what'cha did..."

>You trudge in silence.

>"T'was amazin', Anon, y'all should be proud."

"Pride seeds overconfidence. I did my duty."

>"Y'all didn't have to help, though. Y'remember sayin' to be all secret and stuff, ya didn' need anyp0ny knowin' you was here."

"Circumstances change."

>"What changed?"

"If I am to be a permanent resident, I cannot hide forever."

>You didn't mention that hiding was also very cowardly.

>Applejack trots next to you with a smile on her face.

>"So y'all are thinkin' about stayin' in Ponyville?"

"I have nowhere else to go."

>"An' WANTIN' to stay in Ponyville?"

"It will be acceptable."

>"That ain't no answer, Anon."

"I arrived only a few days ago, my opinion on this place is not yet solidified."

>"We'll win ya over," she boasts.

>You stomp forward in silence.

>You realized this place wasn't as bad as you originally suspected, but you were wary.

>It was too serene.

>They had also imprisoned you.

 

 

>The rest of the journey is uneventful, and you arrive back at the farm in time to finish an afternoon's work.

>"Wait jus' a second there Anon, you gonna work after all that this mornin?"

"I am fit for duty, is there a problem?"

>"Well... yeah... a darn house fell on ya!"

"I am undamaged, and I will be functional for our tasks."

>You could admit to a bit of fatigue, but you would perform just fine.

>"Can't let ya do that, Anon."

>Applejack stops you as you pass by the barn.

>"Y'all are gonna take a rest today. Ah'll let'cha know when to come git some food."

>She wouldn't take no for an answer, so you lumber through the barn doors.

>You set your suit down in a corner.

>It did feel good to sit down.

>You still didn't feel safe taking your suit off, however. There were still too many unknowns.

>You find yourself thinking about the crowd this morning.

>Their stunned faces.

>You hoped, somewhere, that they would not be afraid.

>*"They will come around, Anonymous."

"We shall see."

>You shut your eyes.

>Maybe Applejack was right.

>Maybe you should give Ponyville more thought for a permanent residence.

 

 

>SLAM!

>ACCESS LANDING SUCCESSFUL: DEPLOYING PAYLOAD

>Your suit is disgorged from your pod onto the ship's deck.

>A pair of marines level rifles at your suit.

>The bullets ping and ricochet off of the thick combat armor.

"Link with units on this level."

>Green phantoms appear on your HUD, showing where your brothers had entered the ship.

>These two were cut off by another suit that had entered the corridor behind them.

>They finally realized their situation, going back-to-back.

>You lumbered forward, your boots clanking on the deck.

>The two men muttered to each other, you couldn't make it out over the sounds of screaming.

>KA-THUUUUUUUUM

>A hull breach on another level, thirty-one crew dead.

>Your arm-blades slide forward.

>You're scant meters from the pair of marines.

>Your cloned brother stands back.

>"I just want to go home..."

>"Make it quick, clone."

>You stomp forward and crush the first marine's legs under your boot.

>The next one spins around, but you catch him in your gauntlet.

>His partner in on the deck, screaming as the bones pierces his flesh.

>Your flamer roasts your captive's extremities, and you toss his flash-burned but still alive body next to the other.

>The extremities freeze and snap.

>They're both screaming in agony.

>You loosen a camera from your belt, and slam in onto the opposite wall.

>The feed from the camera is directed to the ship's bridge.

>Fear was your final and most potent weapon. Cameras all over the ship were hacking into the screens on the bridge and personnel quarters.

>Every screen would hold images of fellow ship-mates dying in agony.

>TERROR LEVEL: 67.

>Good enough.

 

 

>The bridge is your next target.

>Of course, the blast doors are closed.

>A small group of your clone brothers stand behind you and you slam and tear at the door.

>A specialist behind you had cutters, but this sort of door could be broken down.

>Your suit produced a feed from inside.

>The bridge crew were cowered against the far wall, trying to be as far away as possible.

>SLAM.

>They cried and begged: every monitor was filled with images of horror and pain.

>SLAM.

>They knew what was coming.

>SLAM.

>They knew they would be next.

>SLAM.

>You buckled the door, it began to give.

>Your gauntlet reached into the parting of the door and pulled.

>The metal tore and screeched.

>You heard pleading from inside.

>"Please..."

>"J-Just..."

>"Anon..."

>What?

>"Wake up..."

 

 

>Your eyes open quickly.

>Staring directly at you is a pair of meadowy eyes.

>You strain to avoid jumping back or crushing the intruder.

>Clink clink.

>Taps on your helmet.

>"Uh-um, Mister Anon, sir?"

"I am awake."

>The yellow p0ny jumps back in surprise and hides behind her pink mane.

>You sit in silence.

>She would not have woken you without purpose.

>"I-I'm sorry, I should have just waited..." she trails off. "I just wanted to know...” she mumbles. Your suit can't make it out.

>You blink your optics at her.

"What is it?"

>Your inhuman voice causes the young mare to recoil.

>Intimidation leaks from her frame.

>You resist the urge to rise, and instead wait patiently.

>"Uh-um..." she seemed to be on the verge of tears.

>A pink dot flashes in encouragement.

>You hesitate for a moment.

"What... what is your name?"

>You felt out of place.

>"I'm... I'm Flutt..." she trails off again, stooping low to the ground.

>You shift your weight, trying to emulate tilting your head to the side.

>"...Fluttershy......"

"Fluttershy," you hold out one mighty gauntlet. "...a pleasure to meet you."

>She is very intimidated.

>Pearl guesses that this p0ny's namesake may suggest a timid personality.

>You felt disarmed.

 

 

>After a few moments, you lower your gauntlet.

>This new p0ny, Fluttershy, takes a step forward.

>"I-I've never seen a creature like you before..."

"I could say the same for you p0nies."

>"Oh..."

"Was there something you wanted?"

>You had been sleeping after all.

>"I-I just wanted to see you... everyp0ny saw you this morning but I didn't..."

>You sit patiently.

>"I just... wanted to meet you..."

>You stand up - as slowly as you can manage - to avoid frightening your guest.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Fluttershy."

>You tower over the hapless p0ny.

>She edges closer and inspects you.

>Clink clink.

>"I-I didn't know that animals could have metal for skin..."

"My suit is made of metal, while underneath I am flesh and blood."

>You recount the same explanation of humans that you told Spike.

>"Oh... so you aren't a big, scary, metal-skinned, sword-holding, boot-stomping, five-times-as-big-as-anyp0ny, awful meanie...?"

>You pause for a moment.

>You had never heard of a TX-7 Terror Suit being described so eloquently.

"That is an accurate description of my suit."

>"W-W-Wha--"

"I myself am its resident, however, and, sadly, much less intimidating."

>"Oh... well... m-maybe you can show me what you look like?"

>Your lip complains as you bite down on it.

"Not today."

>"Oh... okay..." she looks a bit disappointed, and begins to slowly walk off. "Um... I need to get back... m-maybe I'll see you again?"

>You nod your suit.

>Fluttershy disappears through the door.

>You felt like you handled that rather well.

 

 

>"Ysee!? I TOL' you he was here!" a tinny voice exclaims from behind.

>"He's bigger than you said!" another squeaks.

>"THIS is what you brought us here to see?"

>THUMPH, THUMPH.

>You turn to see three tiny p0nies staring, wide-eyed at you.

>...Oh no.