I woke up in a white void, my body feeling lighter than air. I looked down at my hands and saw my entire body was made of light. "Wha... what happened?" I asked to no one.

"You died, that's what happened." I turned my head to see a young man, probably no older than nineteen, walking towards me. He wore a dark purple trench coat, a grey t-shirt underneath as well as purple jeans and grey boots. He had piercing purple eyes, his hair was long and grey, he also had a small buzz of a beard growing below his lower lip. "Hello Marcus."

"Who are you? How do you know my name?" I got to my feet, confused out of my mind.

"My name is Neo Rayliegh, but you may call me Symbol." He gave a respectful bow before standing straight. "As for how I know your name, that will take some explaining and I don't think you are in any mood to sit and listen while I talk."

Looking over my body I nodded, he was right about what he said. "You said I died, how?"

He sighed and turned away slightly. "While you were walking across a road a drunk driver hit you, killing you on impact. This place, is what your people call purgatory."

"So, you're here to judge whether I go to heaven or hell?" I asked, knowing where I would end up anyway.

"No. I am here to give you another chance at life."

I just raised a brow.

"I have the power to give you a whole new life, as a new being, in a new world." He smiled as he explained this to me.

"I'm sensing a catch to this."

He frowned and nodded. "There is indeed a catch my friend. You will not be brought back to life in your original body, I have to put you into a separate body of a character of fiction from your world."

I took a moment to think about what he said. Place me in the body of a character from fiction? There was no way that could be true, then again I was supposedly dead and talking to an inter-dimensional being that was telling me I could be brought back. "Do I get to choose who I'm brought back as?"

Symbol shrugged. "I guess, there isn't any rules saying I can't let you choose. Go ahead, think about it for a second."

There was always the chance I was just having a very surreal dream, so I might as well make the most of it. I decided on my favourite video game character of all time. "How about Spartan 117, Master Chief?"

Symbol scratched his chin in thought before nodding. "Alright, the Chief it is." I smiled and stood straight. "Prepare yourself, this might sting a little." He placed his hands together and created a ball of light. Floating in the air slightly he gently pushed the ball towards me, where is made its way into my chest with the slight sting I was warned about. My vision went black and I passed out. "Sweet dreams Marcus, enjoy your time in your new life. I'll be watching you in case you need assistance." Before I had completely blacked out I felt something being placed on my wrist.

Equestria: Before Nightmare Moons banishment

Princess Celestia and Luna both sat on their thrones, both harbouring the burden of the loses that the current war between Ponies and Griffins had brung. Luna sat in her armour, covered head to hoof in dark blue metal while holding her sword in her magic. Celestia also sat in her gold plated armour, a spear by her side. The two were ready to join the battle so that they could give Equestria a fighting chance against the naturally born warriors.

As they were about to step off of their respective thrones a metal capsule came crashing through the roof of the castle. "What is this, an enemy attack?" Celestia asked, reading her spear.

"We do not know dear sister, let us take caution." The two sisters slowly circled the green capsule. As they approached it some latches opened and a few puffs of steam escaped as the door to the large pod opened to reveal a bipedal creature. It wore a set of dark green armour with a black under layer. It's helmet had an orange visor with a line going across the middle but bent downwards once it reached the centre. On the left breast of the creatures armour the numbers '117' were painted in white. On its wrist there appeared to be a purple band with a small gem imbedded in it.

Beside the creature was a selection of weapons that the two sisters had never seen, although they recognised two of them as a sword and a war hammer.

"Do thy have any clue as to what this creature is sister?" Luna asked Celestia as she readied her sword.

"It is clearly too advanced to be of Griffin origin, it almost seems... Unworldly." Suddenly a note floated down to Celestia, catching it in her magic she smiled. "Luna, I think we just found our way to end this war."

Over 1000 years later, Canterlot Invasion

As Princess Celestia battled Queen Chrysalis, the two broke apart and fired beams of magic at each other. Eventually Chrysalis won the battle, causing Celestia to slide across the marble floor with her horn burnt and smoking slightly. Chrysalis looked to her hooves in shock, her lips curled into a smile. "Well, it seems feeding off of Shining Armours love has made me even stronger than Celestia!" Giving an evil laugh the Queen flew over to the balcony overlooking Canterlot as it was besieged by her changeling army.

Twilight Sparkle and her friends rushed over to Celestia to make sure she was alright. Celestia opened her eyes and placed a hoof on Twilights shoulder. "Twilight... I need you to go to the basement of the castle, you'll find a green pod with a creature inside. Press the big red button on the side of the pod and tell the creature 'Canterlot is under attack.' Can you do that for me?"

"What about the Elements of Harmony?" Asked Rainbow Dash.

"The changelings have more than likely set up a small swarm to protect the Elements. Go, while you still have a chance."

Looking to her teacher unsure Twilight ran towards the door of the wedding hall along with her friends. As they rand down the halls Twilight blasted the occasional changeling that got in her way while Rainbow flew ahead to deal with a few others and Pinke used her party cannon to clear a path.

They eventually reached a stairwell leading to the basement of the castle. Looking back at the oncoming swarm of changelings Twilight set up a magical barrier to buy them some time.

Quickly trotting down the stone steps the group walked into a room with dormant machinery with a glowing green pod in the middle of the room. While the others looked about the room and barricaded the door with a few pieces of furniture, Twilight walked up to the pod and did as her teacher had instructed.

Pressing the button on the side, the glass casing on the pod released steam and slowly opened. As Twilight was about to walk closer she heard a deep voice come from the pod. "What's the situation?"

Remembering what Celestia had told her Twilight cleared her throat. "Canterlot is under attack."

A hand reached out of the pod and gripped the open casing. Pulling himself out the warrior in green armour rose from his thousand year sleep and looked around at the mares who stared at him in awe. "I'm sorry but introductions will have to be exchanged later, right now I have a city to save." He stepped out and approached one of the dormant machines. Typing in a code on a keypad the machine opened to reveal a selection of firearms and explosives. "What is attacking the city?"

"Uh, changelings sir." Twilight responded shakily.

"Right." He looked around his weapons and took two out. An assault rifle, a rapid fire rifle with a magazine containing 32 bullets, good for close courters combat but not so good for ranged. He also picked a DMR, a semi-automatic rifle with a magazine size of 15. It had a 2x zoom scope and was great for long ranged battles. "You ready to go Eris?"

On a small podium a blue light created a hologram of a blue female Draconequus. "As ready as I'll ever be." Walking over to the podium the creature pulled out a chip and the hologram disappeared. He slid the chip into the back of his helmet and the voice of the hologram could be heard by only him.

"Excuse me, sir?" He turned around and saw Twilight looking at him in fascination. "Before we go out there to fight the changelings, what do we call you?"

He turned around and walked towards the door. "Call me Chief." He kicked the door open and aimed his assault rifle at the oncoming swarm that had died down thanks to Twilights spell tiring them out. "Show time."

Chief opened fire at the swarm and steadily started to mow them down, each going down in just one bullet. After the magazine ran dry he switched to his DMR to pick off the last few. Aiming carefully he blew each ones head off with the rifle, spreading green goo on the walls of the staircase. As his magazine ran dry on that rifle he used his inhanced strength to crush his opponents with a single punch.

Once the path was cleared he looked back to the mares that were looking at him in shock. "Come with me if you want to live." He reloaded his guns and sprinted up the steps, the mares following his lead. As they reached the hallway Chief looked down the hall and spotted a lone squad of changelings surrounding a group of guards. Aiming his DMR he managed to pick them all off without using the full magazine.

Running down the corridor he placed his back against the wall and leaned around the corner. The wedding hall was just up ahead, but was guarded by quite a few changeling drones.

'You got a plan for this Marcus?' Eris asked, knowing the answer.

"I do." He put away his guns and pulled out two frag grenades, pulling the pins off them. "Wing it." He tossed the explosives towards the swarm and they landed in the centre of the crowd, a few seconds later the grenades exploded and only left a few drones that were picked off with a few shots from the assault rifle as Chief ran up the hallway.

"You are really violent you know that?" Twilight stated while running alongside him.

"I get that a lot." As they reached the giant gold doors that were smeared with changeling blood Chief kicked the door open, surprising the current occupants.

"What in Tartarus are you?" Demanded Chrysalis as she buzzed down to the floor. "Where are my guards?"

"There's a bit of them here, a bit over there and a bit on my boots." Chief walked forward and put his guns away while holding up his fists, "and there's gonna be a bit of you on my gloves when this is over."

Author's Notes:

The beginning of my latest displaced story. Hope you enjoy this is much as I do.

The griffin war will be covered more in flashbacks, and don't worry, he's not going to be calm when he finds himself in Equestria, it's gonna be bumpy