What is Titanfall? Is it a legend to be revered? Is it the name of a greater being in existence, protecting the innocent and bringing judgment upon the guilty? Is it just a reference to rather large mechanized weapons being sent to the surface from a greater orbit? Many have thought about this, and have come to their own conclusions. The opinions of these beings spread even more questions. As for… ‘us’… Titanfall is something much, much more personal.

You’re probably wondering about how ‘we’ got to Equestria and why ‘we’ are twenty foot tall metal golems with large guns and empty stomachs. Let ‘us’ introduce ‘ourselves’.

…<RUNNING RECALL.EXE>…
…<RETREIVING FILES>…
…<DECOMPILING FILES>…
…<CONVERTING FILES>…

My name is Timmothy Brodigan, or at least it was many moons ago. I had just graduated high school when I had joined the U.S. Marine Corps. The first three months of training were a big shock. Shortly afterwards I got together with my family and went home for my much needed leave. After some time to relax I went off to combat training and therefore spent another three months away from family.

Don’t get me wrong, I can handle being away from my family…it’s the disappearances that had me concerned. There were reports of cosplayers disappearing. Rumors have it that people going to comic cons end up being kidnapped or something like that. Some eye witnesses are considered psychologically unstable; saying that their close friend or loved one was vaporized or pulled through a portal that appeared out of nowhere.

I’ve been to a few comic cons with my family, so I know how crowded those events can be. I will admit, I even buy a couple of things from time to time at those things. I, myself am not big on dressing up in outlandish and probably very uncomfortable articles of clothing just so I can go and look badass for a couple of hours or so. The problem is that my younger brother and sister are big on that part, so I did what any good older brother would do…

…<EXECUTING SUBROUTINE>…
…<PLAYING BACK MEMORY FILE>…

“Oh come on Timmy, I’ll keep an eye out,” said my younger brother over the phone.
“No, Brendon.” I barked, “Neither of you are going to one of those comic cons.”
My sister pleaded on the other side of the line, “Please, big brother? We went through a whole lot o-”
“No, Chelsie! I don’t care how much trouble you went through to get your costumes prepped for the comic con! You know very well that there have been disappearances at those things and I’m not losing either of you!”
Chelsie voiced shock and disappointment, “B-but…I just…”

Oh great, my sister is going to start crying, “…Listen, I’m sorry for yelling at you…I’m just worried about you guys. You know we only have each other left. Mom and dad… they didn’t even get to see me graduate Boot Camp, let alone high school…tell you what.”
“What?” my sister croaked.
“After my training here, why don’t I take some time and go with you guys. At least you’ll be safer with me there.”
“You promise bro?” Brendon asked. I swear I know he had a smug little grin on his face.
“Yeah, I promise. I’ll let you know when my training is over and we can schedule for one of those events.”
“Pinkie Pie Promise?” my sister squeaked.

I hate it when she brings up Pinkie Pie Promises, mostly due to the fact that it comes from the girls’ TV show ‘My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic’. The show isn’t bad, I’ll admit. The thing is it’s not exactly a ‘macho thing to do’, as the guys in the barracks would say. I’m just glad that my sister understands that fact, and that Italian is our second language.
I reply in the only way I know I can without throwing myself to the wolves. “Attraversare il mio cuore, la speranza di volare, attaccare un cupcake nel mio occhio,” I repeated the Pinkie Pie promise in Italian.

It’s amazing how my little sister can go from almost bursting into tears to overly eccentric excitement as I hear her shout at the top of her lungs, “Yay!”
“…oww…” groaned Brendon. Chelsie must have been close to him for that to hurt that much, and he’s around her the most. I feel ya bro. Brendon continued, “Alright, but we got to get a costume together for you too now…”
Get me a costume? Yea, that’s not happening. “Nope, not going to dress up as any-“
Then Chelsie blurted out, “Ooh! I know, we can get him an IMC pilot suit with the jump kit! Just like the ones from Titanfall!”
…did she just say Titanfall…? Okay then, “…Go on...”

…<ERROR…MEMORY FILE CORUPT>…
…<BYPASSING>…
…<REVERTING TO ORIGIN FILE BATCH>…

I can safely say that the comic con event went off without any known disappearances and my little brother and sister were safe. My brother went as Cloud from the Final Fantasy Seven subseries. My sister went as Fluttershy…don’t ask me why. Brendon had actually gotten three figurines of each titan chassis; one IMC Atlas titan getting ready to put its pilot into its chest cavity, one Militia Ogre titan extracting an unfortunate IMC pilot from their rubble of a titan, and one Militia Stryder titan dashing out of the way of incoming fire while having a fellow pilot hitching a ride. But one thing that was off about them was that the platforms of the figurines didn’t have either the IMC or Militia logos on it. Instead, they had the core icon on all of the platforms. I don’t know if you would call bullshit on that but the placement of the icons were extremely evident and would have made perfect sense, if they were their respective organization logos.

…<EXECUTING SUBROUTINE>…
…<PLAYING BACK MEMORY FILE>…

I asked Brendon on the way back home, “What’s up with those figurines Brendon?”

“What are you talking about? They’re awesome! What’s not to like about them?” my brother asked nonchalantly.

“Big bro is probably just jelly because you got two Militia titans and one of them is in the process of schooling a fellow pilot of the IMC,” my sister added in a monotone type of voice. I saw a smug little grin on her face through the rear view mirror.

“Now-now, we wouldn’t want me to have to sick my titan on you would we?” I retort sternly. All of us shared a couple of laughs, and the rest of the ride was spent in silence for the rest of the way home. Don’t blame me for being in character; it was too good to pass up. Don’t ask how they got me into that IMC pilot uniform…at least I had a small amount of comfort, aside from being sweaty as hell in it.

…<MEMORY FILE COMPLETE>…
…<REVERTING TO ORIGIN FILE BATCH>…

You’re probably wondering why I was so focused on the details of the Titanfall figurines. Let’s just say I was a big fan of Titanfall and all that jazz. I wouldn’t deny that the figurines were awesome; I just made a few notes about how the artists could have done a better job on attention to detail on them.

Well, for the first few days after the comic con, nothing really happened to my relief. I was cleaning the house up a little bit, seeing as I was a reservist. Yeah, yeah, scoff at me all you want. So what! I was a reservist grunt. I still had two siblings to look after. It’s hard enough that I have to look after them after mom and dad… Sorry, I guess I got off track… Anyways, I was dusting off the figurines when I saw the core icons glowing. Not just ‘glow in the dark’ glowing, I mean ‘bright as hell LED’ glowing. That was when my mind ground to a halt.
I mustered all the words I could manage,“…What the fuu-?…”

I did a double take, as if that would solve the problem. And, sure enough, the glowing was still there. I started looking around for any other possible source of light to explain this little issue.

So much for trying to find another logical source of light…figures. With no other viable option, I did the one thing no one is ever supposed to do: NEVER TOUCH THE WIERD GLOWY THINGY. As I was reaching out to touch the figurines, the glow started to become brighter. Whelp, no turning back now. As I touched the figurines, I felt the glow envelop me. Then there was the all too familiar sound of a ‘massive payload’. If you don’t know what that sounds like, imagine a low humming sound increasing in pitch at a rapid pace. But this wasn’t right because the sound seemed as if it was coming… from me… I looked down to see that I was indeed glowing. If you thought that seeing your life flash before your eyes is bad, try having your body be disintegrated right in front of you. Yeah…not fun. The next moment I realized that I was free falling through ‘God knows what’ and shortly thereafter blacked out…

When I came to I felt that something was off…very off. First, something similar to a rifle was in my left hand. Second, I couldn’t feel my pinkie, either of them for that matter. Third, I was seeing shit out of the corners of my eyes. Fourth, “WHY THE HELL IS THE GROUND SO FAR AWAY!? WHAT THE HELL IS WITH MY VOICE!? SCRATCH THAT, WHERE THE HELL IS MY HEAD AND HOW THE HELL AM I TALKING!?”

Sorry to interrupt your panic attack Atlas, but you’ve got a few things on your ‘plate’ besides your new body.

Okay. First off, WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU!? WHAT DO YOU MEAN ‘BESIDES MY NEW BODY’!? WHAT HAPPENED TO MY ‘OLD BODY’!? AND MY NAME IS TIMMOTHY!

To answer your questions chronologically; I am your conscience, or AI known as Bladesong. I can also connect you to your other ‘personalities’ or chassis’. You are on an alien planet and are about to have first contact, try to make a good impression. Your body has been replaced by Titanfall. That was your prior universe name, I will concur, but seeing as you are currently an Atlas titan, you will be referenced as such till a later date.

…Okay then… three questions; One, you said that you can connect me to my other ‘personalities’, what do you mean by that? Two, if I am on an alien planet, why am I here in the first place? Three, what do you mean ‘prior universe’, and what do you mean by later date?

I will inform you after first contact.

...Fine, let’s get this over with.

…<SYSTEM INTERUPTION>…
…<USER INTERVENTION>…
…<TERMINATING RECALL.EXE>…
…<INITIATING RESPONSE PROTOCOL>…

Yes, Princess Celestia? What is it?

The alabaster ruler looks up to the memorial statue with her stoic expression, a hint of sadness betraying her ever-present bearing. “I apologize for waking you, but I am in need of your service once more, Bladesong.”

I am always awake princess, but your apology is accepted. What is it you need operation of Titanfall?

The solar monarch slowly recollects her composure and hesitates. A hesitant princess, this can’t be good. “Atlas…Night Terror is returning.”

…Understood

“Atlas C. Titan, responding to request…Initiating Titanfall.”