Time to Hero Up!by Chaos Nightmare
Chapters
It strapped to his wrist with secrets that it did
It strapped to his wrist with secrets that it did
It was a wonderful day in Austin Texas. I was at RTX 2018 and I was excited to see what new stuff was coming up from Rooster Teeth animations. But for now, I was browsing the marketplace waiting for the ‘Just the Fights’ panel to start. As I was browsing I noticed a booth hidden away in the corner of the market, nobody seemed to notice it but it had some damaged goods so maybe it was a used collectible stand. Curious, I walked towards it.
At the booth, the person manning the establishment was a tall and lanky man to the point of looking malnourished. He was busy inspecting something else, I looked around not really planning on buying anything. When the man finally notices my presence, he turned around to look at me. “Ah hello there,” he said in a creepy voice creeping me out a little. “What can I help you with?”
“I’m just looking around,” I said politely. The man turned around after examining me for a few seconds and dug through a bag he keeps behind pulling out something.
“Maybe this will interest you?” The man said as he pulled out a red Omnitrix from Ben 10.
I thought about it for a second before asking him “How much for it?” as in did it interested me, I was actually looking for a birthday present for my nephew and this could be the perfect one for him.
The man looked really happy when I asked him. “25 dollars,” he answered with a smile.
I pulled out my wallet and gave him a twenty and a five dollar bill before he handed me the Omnitrix “Have a nice trip.” he said, confused about what he meant. But before I could ask anything the Omnitrix sprang to life and attached itself to my arm as everything went black.
As I was coming too, I heard voices. “Marshal what are we going to do with it?” the first voice asked.
The second voice then spoke. “I don’t know Sugar-snack, for now, we wait for it to wake up.” The voice was a heavy southern accent that even for a Texan was a bit corny. Also, what kind of name is Sugar-snack?
I began to open my eyes and the first thing I saw was some jail bars and behind them there were two small horses, one yellow and one orange. I looked around more carefully and when my vision was more clear I realize that the one behind bars was me.
I looked around trying to find where the voices were coming from. As I try to stand up, the Orange horse stared at me and spoke “Well looks like its up.” the creature said with the same tone of voice as the one I was trying to find which surprised me a lot.
“What the hell!” I shouted trying to figure out what was going on. The two horses looked at each other.
“The hecks your problem?” The yellow one asked.
“It's nothing...” I took a deep breath trying to think, remembering what happened but the last thing I remember was buying the...I paused and looked down at my arm and saw the Omnitrix and wondered if this is a dream?
The orange one, which I guessed was the Marshal, looked at the Yellow one before saying “Open the cell Sugar-snack.”
The yellow one looked surprised at the other. “Marshal are you sure?”
The marshal looked back at Sugar-snack.“Did I stutter?” She asked back.
Sugar-Snack looked at the Marshal one last time and hesitantly answered “No mam.” He opened the cell door allowing me to walked out taking a glance at the small horses and realized they only came up to my hips and while I wasn’t tall I was still 5,9 so they were small compared to regular horses.
Once being out of the cell I began to stretch my body, moving my arms and legs as my P.E. teacher thought me. Once I felt completely awake I decided to test my brain once again and look back at the ponies, I believe that is what they are call anyways, and seeing that in fact, they were there watching me and mumbling something between themselves.
Ok, this has to be a dream I thought. Finally accepting this fact I walk towards the Marshal and ask her: “So where am I?”
The Marshal looked at me weirdly before answering. “Yer in Appleloosa. A frontier town on the edge of both the Solar and Lunar Kingdom.” that raised more questions than answers. I expected the land of Ice cream and cookies like my usual dreams. “Anyway, there is a train coming in three days, your going to be on that train leaving our town.” The marshal said demanding, not asking.
“Okay, so where is the train heading?”
“Out of town,” she answered. I rolled my eyes at this.
“I have a feeling you don’t like me.”
“Liking you has nothing to do with it, the town is already on edge because of the changelings and you might be the spark that causes the town to go into chaos.” The Marshal explained
I sighed as I understood why she was doing this, She wanted to keep some order in her town... at least she wasn’t throwing me to the wolves so to speak. As we were walking out the jailhouse I suddenly froze as I stared at the sky, “What the hell!” I said shocked.
The marshal looked at me funny and asked “What?”
I stared at the sky and muttered “The sky...”
“What about it?” The Marshal asked.
“It's not supposed to be like that,” I said at a seeing a scene out of this world. The sun was covering half of the sky while the moon covered the other half with that side covered in stars and darkness “I mean I’ve caught the moon out during the day but their not supposed to be like that.”
“Well, that might be because of the two queens warring with each other, Queen Nightmare Moon to the west and Queen Daybreaker to the east. Nightmare Moon controls the Moon and Daybreaker controls the sun.”
I was stunned at hearing there were beings that control the sun and moon... but then again I was talking to a small talking horse product of my imagination so everything was possible. “Anyway, enough talking, let me take you to the saloon where you’ll be staying for the next few days.” The marshal said before the town's bell was rung frantically.
“What's going on?” I asked confused.
The marshal looked worried along the panicking town people “Well,It looks like you might be getting out of town sooner.” she said before running away. I Look at her going before deciding it was best to follow her where most of the townsfolk were already gathering.
“You stay here while I get the town calmed and organized,” she said as she ran off. I stood at a wall at the end of the gathering room and waited at the townsfolk entered.
Some of the townsfolk were muttering to themselves wondering what was going to happen “Alright Everypony!” the Marshal shouted from a balcony. “We need volunteers to help defend the town,” she said as the townsfolk looked at each other before a few of the stallions stood up.
I shook my head and muttered ‘What have I gotten myself into’ before I stepped forward and said “I’ll volunteer too.” as most of the townsfolk looked either shocked or confused the marshal was among those confused but probably for a different reason.
After the meeting, all the volunteers were brought to the Saloon where we met a small pony named Heavy Drinker and were given weird looking guns “What's the matter never hold a gun before?” One of the volunteers asked.
It took a second for me to realized the pony was talking to me “Oh...yeah I was a soldier back home it's just I never seen something like this.” I said inspecting the gun.
“You? A soldier?” Heavy Drinker asked.
“Well I was a soldier, I turned down a second tour to head to college,” I explained thought that was a little inaccurate while I was supposed to start College next year but I guess this changed things.
“I never would have taken you as a soldier.” Heavy drinker said.
“Anyway, how do I hold this?” I asked trying to properly hold it.
“Hold on a second.” Heavy Drinker said while he went to the back of the Saloon. “I think we have a Minotaur rifle in the back,” he said as the sound of ruffling before he came back with a rifle that looked normal. “Will this work?”
As I held it It felt more natural. “Thanks,” I said.
The Marshal came onto the Saloon and said: “Get to the wall the changelings are starting to move.”
Battle for Appleloosa
Battle for Appleloosa
(In the Changeling Hive)
Queen Chrysalis was entering a Tower on the edge of her hive as she heard screams of pain coming from the top of the tower that became more and quieter for each step she took. “Shame I would have hoped this one would have survived.” A voice said indifferently,
“Ah, Dr. Animo, how are you’re latest experiments coming along?” Queen Chrysalis asked reaching the top of the tower.
“Oh, Queen Chrysalis.” a cloaked creature said looking at the corpse of his recent experiment “Not good unfortunately, but enough about my personal projects your next batch of Wolflings are in the final phase of completion, and I’ve begun the starting phase of the Chamilionling’s and the Scorpionling’s” Dr. Animo said as Queen Chrysalis smiled at this.
“Good.” she grins maniacally while staring at the horizon seeing a little town that was about to turn into rubble.
I stood at the wall of the town barely able to see what was going on due to being a little too short. Cold sweat runs through my face as the feeling of dread infest me.
What kind of dream is this? I thought while cleaning my face. “What exactly are we fighting anyway?” I asked turning to see the pony beside me.
The Pony took a glance at me, examining me for a second from top to bottom and back. “Changelings, they’re shapeshifters that can take the form of almost anything,” he responded indifferently turning his gaze back at the battlefield.
“Okay then” I was a little more worried than before and a little resentful from the way he talked to me. Before I could do anything the towns bell started to ring frantically, the army was approaching.
I stood on the edge of the wall, the first line of defense for the town, with nerves high trying to find any sign of movement. In the horizon, a swarm of Changelings approached at high speed, At least that is what I think they were. Their appearance was that like of an equine just with features that make them resemble that of a bug. A horse-bug you could say.
I look around to see my comrades in battle, those who will be with me to defend the town. Those who I will trust my life right now.
“How this thing works again?” It was the last thing I saw him say before that pony blows his brains out at trying to figure out which way the bullets go and which way the bullets go in.
“Everypony for themselves!!”
“I can’t do this, I can’t do this”
All ponies who volunteer where either crouched full of fear or aiming and shooting at nothing or straight up running away for their lives. “Oh, I’m going to die here!!”
The hoard of bug ponies approached tearing up the first line of defense with almost no effort. The few who were at somewhat of a help, and by that I mean me and Heavy Drinker, got no other choice but to run towards the second line of defense.
“Cmon Yall!!” The Marshal advice us to hurry up putting down a rope ladder for us to climb up the wall.
I take the opportunity to take a last pick back while I was climbing the ladder to see the chaos. Guards and normal townsfolk were easily defeated by the enemy. They were either stab by the Changelings with armor or their neck were bitten off by a special kind of Changelings, ones wearing no armor but with a larger snout mimicking that of a dog or a wolf with similar fangs and with little sprouts of fur all around his skin.
“Haaa, Get off. Get off” Heavy Drinker who was under me climbing the rope shouted while struggling with a wolf-puny-bug who was batting his back leg. He tried to kick him off him but with no fruits.
“Sorry, I don't know who you are, or even what you are but…” he said just before pulling one of my legs down. The sweat in my hands and the surprise of the pulling in general make me lose the grip of the ladder very easy dragging the Changeling who was attacking him down along with me.
I shook my head trying to clear my vision. All around I just hear screams and a loud buzzing of insects. When I finally snap out of it I notice the weird texture of the ground under me. Scaly with furry parts.
I quickly stood up staring at the Changeling fainted on the floor. I look up seeing Heavy Drinker just reaching the top of the wall. He just stares at me and saluted me with a faint smile before taking a sip from his bottle. I was about to shout something to him until I saw a pair of those wolf bugs creeping behind him before bating and taking a good chunk off his neck and torso. I was paralyzed at the sight. I tried to look at other parts but everything was the same. Changelings had already taken control of the second and last line of defense the town had.
Sounds of gunshots could be heard at the top making me look up once again. The Marshal was at the top shooting the two who bite Heavy Drinker trying to save him.
“St-ugh- pid Mare. Why did you take this lo-longh?” Heavy Drinker tried to say but his gargling blood mouth didn't let him. The Marshal was about to treat the injuries but she soon realizes that she was surrounded by those abominations.
Changelings were in front and behind her, staring deeply into them. That is when the Marshal realizes that stare, it was the stare of a hungry beast.
The Marshal, with her earth pony strength, rise Heavy Drinker above her head not concerning for the blood oozing down on her head. “Sorry Heavy, but to be completely honest with you, I never really like ya”
“Wha…,” it was the only thing he was able to say before she tossing him down in the other side of the wall where I was. The swarm of Changelings that were surrounding her follow the body of Heavy with wide open mouths ready to devour him. She could only see limbs and intestines ripping off as the wolf-changelings devour them.
Whizzz!!!! The sound of train echoes all around the town but I was unable to see where it had come from.
That must be the train the Marshall talked about before. I thought looking up at the orange pony. It seems she heard it too as she was concentrated in something in the distance.
“Watch out!!” The orange pony and I shouted at the same time while another hoard of armor wearing Changelings was about to catch her. I lower my head trying to reload my rifle but when I look up again to aim at the creatures I saw the Marshal had already jumped off in my direction.
Wait? Is she expecting me to catch her? I thought while trying to lower my gun but the sling of the rifle get stuck around my hips. Before I knew it, she was already on the ground using the Changeling that I thought was unconscious as a cushion and shooting him in the back of its neck in cold blood.
‘
“Keep your eyes open kid. Do you want to end up as that Drunk, good for nothing, fella of Heavy Drinker?” she said reloading her shotgun and cleaning the bluish and gooey blood of the changeling off her face. “We need to hurry up. The train is leaving without us.”
“But the…” I said, still a little shocked while looking the town around and its chaos.
“The town is doomed, You can do whatever you want but Ah’m leaving.” As I stared at the back of the Marshal, I decided it was best to follow her. Killing as many Changelings along the way as I could, I finally arrived at the train station but sadly it was heavy attacked by the Changelings but lucky for us they were only the ones with armor and spears.
“Kill everypony in sight, Our queen needs no prisoners today,” a commander Changeling shouted with its uncanny voice as the others stood in formation ready to fly to follow the train that just left the train station.
I turn to see The Marshall fighting with the army alongside some others ponies trying their best in stopping them and reach the train.
Enemies were approaching the Marshal and her group from left to right and even from above, some didn’t even notice the Marshal and her group as they decided that the train and its occupants were better opponents than the town ponies trying to stop them.
The strugglers didn't let this opportunity to slip away. They used all of their guns to shoot many of them off from the sky but they are easily outnumbered. One by one, the ponies were stabled and kill until only one was left.
I was watching from a safe spot under a cart how the Marshal was slowly surrounded by the army as her ammunition have been depleted judging by the way she was using the shotgun as just a club.
I look at my rifle only to find out I was without ammunition too. Even if I go and try to help her I will only end up killing myself. ‘What I am supposed to do?’, I asked myself putting my hands on my face trying to think clearly. When I did I felt the plastic toy that was still attached to my arm.
“Oh, yea. What I am so nervous about?” I said smiling as I toyed around the giant watch in my wrist, “This is still just a dream. If I really want to, I could become a dragon and eat them all. If I’m not mistaken…” I started pushing the Omnitrix around as I personally didn't know how it worked but I have seen a few episodes with my nephew to know that this thing is supposed to transform you into aliens.
I put my fingers around the red watch were I think I saw the protagonist of the show pushed to rise up the cylinder that makes you change into aliens, just at both sides of the watch. And sure enough, the cylinder pup up and the silhouette of a dragon appears in form of a hologram.
“Great, exactly what I needed. A dragon” I said just before slamming the hologram of the dragon down activating the device.
The last thing I saw in my human form was a red flashing light that surrounded my body. I expected to feel my bones stretching and my organs deforming and forming into new ones as the transformation goes on but it turn out to be quick and painless. Before I knew it i already had wings, a tail and… metallic talons?
I wanted to expect my body more closely but I had no time, the Marshal was already stabbed in the arm and a bunch of other spears was on there way to approaching into her skin.
“Changelings, lower your weapons or else” I shouted just before I letting out a booming roar that make them paralyzed of fear.
The changelings along with the Marshal looked at me with unbelieving expressions. “D-dragon, we have no business with you. Step aside, your kind isn’t related to this battle.” The Changeling commander buzz as the rest of them change the directions of there spears towards me. I turn my head in confusion
Wow, I even dream about a whole dragon race in this world. “That orange pony, I owe her and is not part of my code not returning a favor.”
“What in tarnation?!!” the marshal shouted out loud.
The commander looked for a few seconds at the pony and then back at me. “If that is what you wish, troop, CHARGE!!!” he commanded as every Changeling surrounded me in just a second, even the ones after the train. Spear after spear try to slash through my metallic skin but the only thing they accomplished was to fracture their weapons.
I only stood there watching the fruitless actions of the Changeling army felling nothing as sparks appeared when their weapons made contact with my skin. I was making time so the Marshal could escape easily. But it seems I underestimated something
“Oh no,” I said to myself as I saw the pony laying down on the ground in a puddle of her own blood. I didn't know her injuries were this bad. “Damit!!”
I extended my wings ready to fly and ready to grab the injured mare for the surprise of the Changelings. But just as I extend one of my arms, I stop. I look into my claws more carefully, they were way too sharp. I have any experience controlling this body, I can’t grab her with my claws just like that.
I wish I had normal hands. And just as before, my wishes were answered as a strange feeling surrounded my body. Appendages where twisted and split into pieces inside my own body changing my metallic dragon form into one more akin to a human. “What… I AM A TRANSFORMER?” I shouted aloud, with no time to waste. I used the more familiar hands to carefully grab the mare.
I make a jump trying to fly but the wings I once had had somehow disappeared from my back. “Of course,” I said just before running towards the train.
The train was a long distance away but thanks to this form I was able to catch up to him in just a few seconds all while looking back at times making sure no Changelings were too close but at a certain point, somehow, they stop following us.
“Wait up” I scream in my new deeper voice trying to make the train to just slow down enough for her to ride on. But just as I was able to touch and grab the train, my transformation stopped forcing me to go back to my small, human form. Luckily I made it inside one of the train’s cabins. I placed The Marshal on one of the train seats as I continued throughout the train cars to find someone, anyone who can help her.
As I made it through three empty train cars I found a barricade wall with a few guns pointed at me “Halt!” a voice I recognized as Sugar-snack screamed at my direction.
“Oh thank god Sugar-snack right? I got the Marshal in a few cars d-” I said as a shot was fired at my foot and I began to run towards the Marshal.
“After it, you colts” Sugar-snack ordered. I ran at hearing a few gunshots whizz past me before I ducked behind a seat and waited for a pony to come so I could grab them.
“Where is it?” one of the pony’s asked before I grabbed it “HELP!” the pony shouted as I started to back up into the Car with the Marshal. The second pony took aim and shot me in the leg forcing me to drop the first pony I was holding.
“AH SON OF A!” I shouted releasing either this wasn’t a dream or a have a very vivid one. I dropped the pony while limping towards the car with the Marshal... ‘Oh crap this is real.’ I panicky thought to myself as I fell to the ground just a few seats away from the marshal.
I began to crawl my way to her as I felt something on the back of my head “Time to die Changeling.” the pony said while I struggled to get closer to the Marshal
“Hey Applesnack there probably another one on that seat over there kill it before it gets away.” the pony that held a gun to my head said.
Applesnack went to look while I closed my eyes but as felt like the pony was about to pull the trigger Applesnack shouted: “It's the Marshal and she’s bleeding badly.”
The pony stopped and said “It's probably a changeling put a-” but stopped when Applesnack put his hoof on the wound and had blood on said hoof.
“Its real” Applesnack said.
“Go get Sugar-snack.” The pony said before something hit me in the back of the head..
When I woke up I found the Marshal laying next to me on a bench. “What happened?” I asked. I didn’t hear an engine running so I assumed we aren't moving.
“Oh, your up.” The Marshal said somberly.
“Yeah, where are we?” I asked.
“No clue, some point in the Lunar kingdom maybe,” she said before standing up in all four with difficulties allowing me to see the bandages around her hind leg and torso. “Thanks for getting me out of there in one piece... I never got your name.”
“Its James Roland and I never got yours,” I said examining her wounds noticing she got more than I previously saw..
“My name is Applejack nice to meetcha.” A awkward silence surrounded the room. Not really wanting to say anything to the creatures that knock me down and tied me up. After several minutes she brakes the silence “So... how’d yah turn into that dragon thing?”
I sighed and looked at the Omnitrix. “To make a long story short. This is called the Omnitrix, I don’t know much about it other then it was made by an alien named Azmuth and it can transform me into various aliens.”
She looked both unbelieving and confused at the same time “Hold up Aliens? Like, out of space, aliens, Aliens?” she asked.
“Look don’t ask me. I barely know anything myself, I’m lucky I know the name of the creator,” I explained.
Before we could talk more I heard noises coming from outside and a pony rushing into the car “Marshal you up?” the pony said worriedly.
“What’s going on outside?” I asked.
“We’re under attack by lunar guards.” the pony shouted before I heard glass breaking behind me and something hit me causing me to be knocked out again.
It was a wonderful day in Austin Texas. I was at RTX 2018 and I was excited to see what new stuff was coming up from Rooster Teeth animations. But for now, I was browsing the marketplace waiting for the ‘Just the Fights’ panel to start. As I was browsing I noticed a booth hidden away in the corner of the market, nobody seemed to notice it but it had some damaged goods so maybe it was a used collectible stand. Curious, I walked towards it.
At the booth, the person manning the establishment was a tall and lanky man to the point of looking malnourished. He was busy inspecting something else, I looked around not really planning on buying anything. When the man finally notices my presence, he turned around to look at me. “Ah hello there,” he said in a creepy voice creeping me out a little. “What can I help you with?”
“I’m just looking around,” I said politely. The man turned around after examining me for a few seconds and dug through a bag he keeps behind pulling out something.
“Maybe this will interest you?” The man said as he pulled out a red Omnitrix from Ben 10.
I thought about it for a second before asking him “How much for it?” as in did it interested me, I was actually looking for a birthday present for my nephew and this could be the perfect one for him.
The man looked really happy when I asked him. “25 dollars,” he answered with a smile.
I pulled out my wallet and gave him a twenty and a five dollar bill before he handed me the Omnitrix “Have a nice trip.” he said, confused about what he meant. But before I could ask anything the Omnitrix sprang to life and attached itself to my arm as everything went black.
As I was coming too, I heard voices. “Marshal what are we going to do with it?” the first voice asked.
The second voice then spoke. “I don’t know Sugar-snack, for now, we wait for it to wake up.” The voice was a heavy southern accent that even for a Texan was a bit corny. Also, what kind of name is Sugar-snack?
I began to open my eyes and the first thing I saw was some jail bars and behind them there were two small horses, one yellow and one orange. I looked around more carefully and when my vision was more clear I realize that the one behind bars was me.
I looked around trying to find where the voices were coming from. As I try to stand up, the Orange horse stared at me and spoke “Well looks like its up.” the creature said with the same tone of voice as the one I was trying to find which surprised me a lot.
“What the hell!” I shouted trying to figure out what was going on. The two horses looked at each other.
“The hecks your problem?” The yellow one asked.
“It's nothing...” I took a deep breath trying to think, remembering what happened but the last thing I remember was buying the...I paused and looked down at my arm and saw the Omnitrix and wondered if this is a dream?
The orange one, which I guessed was the Marshal, looked at the Yellow one before saying “Open the cell Sugar-snack.”
The yellow one looked surprised at the other. “Marshal are you sure?”
The marshal looked back at Sugar-snack.“Did I stutter?” She asked back.
Sugar-Snack looked at the Marshal one last time and hesitantly answered “No mam.” He opened the cell door allowing me to walked out taking a glance at the small horses and realized they only came up to my hips and while I wasn’t tall I was still 5,9 so they were small compared to regular horses.
Once being out of the cell I began to stretch my body, moving my arms and legs as my P.E. teacher thought me. Once I felt completely awake I decided to test my brain once again and look back at the ponies, I believe that is what they are call anyways, and seeing that in fact, they were there watching me and mumbling something between themselves.
Ok, this has to be a dream I thought. Finally accepting this fact I walk towards the Marshal and ask her: “So where am I?”
The Marshal looked at me weirdly before answering. “Yer in Appleloosa. A frontier town on the edge of both the Solar and Lunar Kingdom.” that raised more questions than answers. I expected the land of Ice cream and cookies like my usual dreams. “Anyway, there is a train coming in three days, your going to be on that train leaving our town.” The marshal said demanding, not asking.
“Okay, so where is the train heading?”
“Out of town,” she answered. I rolled my eyes at this.
“I have a feeling you don’t like me.”
“Liking you has nothing to do with it, the town is already on edge because of the changelings and you might be the spark that causes the town to go into chaos.” The Marshal explained
I sighed as I understood why she was doing this, She wanted to keep some order in her town... at least she wasn’t throwing me to the wolves so to speak. As we were walking out the jailhouse I suddenly froze as I stared at the sky, “What the hell!” I said shocked.
The marshal looked at me funny and asked “What?”
I stared at the sky and muttered “The sky...”
“What about it?” The Marshal asked.
“It's not supposed to be like that,” I said at a seeing a scene out of this world. The sun was covering half of the sky while the moon covered the other half with that side covered in stars and darkness “I mean I’ve caught the moon out during the day but their not supposed to be like that.”
“Well, that might be because of the two queens warring with each other, Queen Nightmare Moon to the west and Queen Daybreaker to the east. Nightmare Moon controls the Moon and Daybreaker controls the sun.”
I was stunned at hearing there were beings that control the sun and moon... but then again I was talking to a small talking horse product of my imagination so everything was possible. “Anyway, enough talking, let me take you to the saloon where you’ll be staying for the next few days.” The marshal said before the town's bell was rung frantically.
“What's going on?” I asked confused.
The marshal looked worried along the panicking town people “Well,It looks like you might be getting out of town sooner.” she said before running away. I Look at her going before deciding it was best to follow her where most of the townsfolk were already gathering.
“You stay here while I get the town calmed and organized,” she said as she ran off. I stood at a wall at the end of the gathering room and waited at the townsfolk entered.
Some of the townsfolk were muttering to themselves wondering what was going to happen “Alright Everypony!” the Marshal shouted from a balcony. “We need volunteers to help defend the town,” she said as the townsfolk looked at each other before a few of the stallions stood up.
I shook my head and muttered ‘What have I gotten myself into’ before I stepped forward and said “I’ll volunteer too.” as most of the townsfolk looked either shocked or confused the marshal was among those confused but probably for a different reason.
After the meeting, all the volunteers were brought to the Saloon where we met a small pony named Heavy Drinker and were given weird looking guns “What's the matter never hold a gun before?” One of the volunteers asked.
It took a second for me to realized the pony was talking to me “Oh...yeah I was a soldier back home it's just I never seen something like this.” I said inspecting the gun.
“You? A soldier?” Heavy Drinker asked.
“Well I was a soldier, I turned down a second tour to head to college,” I explained thought that was a little inaccurate while I was supposed to start College next year but I guess this changed things.
“I never would have taken you as a soldier.” Heavy drinker said.
“Anyway, how do I hold this?” I asked trying to properly hold it.
“Hold on a second.” Heavy Drinker said while he went to the back of the Saloon. “I think we have a Minotaur rifle in the back,” he said as the sound of ruffling before he came back with a rifle that looked normal. “Will this work?”
As I held it It felt more natural. “Thanks,” I said.
The Marshal came onto the Saloon and said: “Get to the wall the changelings are starting to move.”
(In the Changeling Hive)
Queen Chrysalis was entering a Tower on the edge of her hive as she heard screams of pain coming from the top of the tower that became more and quieter for each step she took. “Shame I would have hoped this one would have survived.” A voice said indifferently,
“Ah, Dr. Animo, how are you’re latest experiments coming along?” Queen Chrysalis asked reaching the top of the tower.
“Oh, Queen Chrysalis.” a cloaked creature said looking at the corpse of his recent experiment “Not good unfortunately, but enough about my personal projects your next batch of Wolflings are in the final phase of completion, and I’ve begun the starting phase of the Chamilionling’s and the Scorpionling’s” Dr. Animo said as Queen Chrysalis smiled at this.
“Good.” she grins maniacally while staring at the horizon seeing a little town that was about to turn into rubble.
I stood at the wall of the town barely able to see what was going on due to being a little too short. Cold sweat runs through my face as the feeling of dread infest me.
What kind of dream is this? I thought while cleaning my face. “What exactly are we fighting anyway?” I asked turning to see the pony beside me.
The Pony took a glance at me, examining me for a second from top to bottom and back. “Changelings, they’re shapeshifters that can take the form of almost anything,” he responded indifferently turning his gaze back at the battlefield.
“Okay then” I was a little more worried than before and a little resentful from the way he talked to me. Before I could do anything the towns bell started to ring frantically, the army was approaching.
I stood on the edge of the wall, the first line of defense for the town, with nerves high trying to find any sign of movement. In the horizon, a swarm of Changelings approached at high speed, At least that is what I think they were. Their appearance was that like of an equine just with features that make them resemble that of a bug. A horse-bug you could say.
I look around to see my comrades in battle, those who will be with me to defend the town. Those who I will trust my life right now.
“How this thing works again?” It was the last thing I saw him say before that pony blows his brains out at trying to figure out which way the bullets go and which way the bullets go in.
“Everypony for themselves!!”
“I can’t do this, I can’t do this”
All ponies who volunteer where either crouched full of fear or aiming and shooting at nothing or straight up running away for their lives. “Oh, I’m going to die here!!”
The hoard of bug ponies approached tearing up the first line of defense with almost no effort. The few who were at somewhat of a help, and by that I mean me and Heavy Drinker, got no other choice but to run towards the second line of defense.
“Cmon Yall!!” The Marshal advice us to hurry up putting down a rope ladder for us to climb up the wall.
I take the opportunity to take a last pick back while I was climbing the ladder to see the chaos. Guards and normal townsfolk were easily defeated by the enemy. They were either stab by the Changelings with armor or their neck were bitten off by a special kind of Changelings, ones wearing no armor but with a larger snout mimicking that of a dog or a wolf with similar fangs and with little sprouts of fur all around his skin.
“Haaa, Get off. Get off” Heavy Drinker who was under me climbing the rope shouted while struggling with a wolf-puny-bug who was batting his back leg. He tried to kick him off him but with no fruits.
“Sorry, I don't know who you are, or even what you are but…” he said just before pulling one of my legs down. The sweat in my hands and the surprise of the pulling in general make me lose the grip of the ladder very easy dragging the Changeling who was attacking him down along with me.
I shook my head trying to clear my vision. All around I just hear screams and a loud buzzing of insects. When I finally snap out of it I notice the weird texture of the ground under me. Scaly with furry parts.
I quickly stood up staring at the Changeling fainted on the floor. I look up seeing Heavy Drinker just reaching the top of the wall. He just stares at me and saluted me with a faint smile before taking a sip from his bottle. I was about to shout something to him until I saw a pair of those wolf bugs creeping behind him before bating and taking a good chunk off his neck and torso. I was paralyzed at the sight. I tried to look at other parts but everything was the same. Changelings had already taken control of the second and last line of defense the town had.
Sounds of gunshots could be heard at the top making me look up once again. The Marshal was at the top shooting the two who bite Heavy Drinker trying to save him.
“St-ugh- pid Mare. Why did you take this lo-longh?” Heavy Drinker tried to say but his gargling blood mouth didn't let him. The Marshal was about to treat the injuries but she soon realizes that she was surrounded by those abominations.
Changelings were in front and behind her, staring deeply into them. That is when the Marshal realizes that stare, it was the stare of a hungry beast.
The Marshal, with her earth pony strength, rise Heavy Drinker above her head not concerning for the blood oozing down on her head. “Sorry Heavy, but to be completely honest with you, I never really like ya”
“Wha…,” it was the only thing he was able to say before she tossing him down in the other side of the wall where I was. The swarm of Changelings that were surrounding her follow the body of Heavy with wide open mouths ready to devour him. She could only see limbs and intestines ripping off as the wolf-changelings devour them.
Whizzz!!!! The sound of train echoes all around the town but I was unable to see where it had come from.
That must be the train the Marshall talked about before. I thought looking up at the orange pony. It seems she heard it too as she was concentrated in something in the distance.
“Watch out!!” The orange pony and I shouted at the same time while another hoard of armor wearing Changelings was about to catch her. I lower my head trying to reload my rifle but when I look up again to aim at the creatures I saw the Marshal had already jumped off in my direction.
Wait? Is she expecting me to catch her? I thought while trying to lower my gun but the sling of the rifle get stuck around my hips. Before I knew it, she was already on the ground using the Changeling that I thought was unconscious as a cushion and shooting him in the back of its neck in cold blood.
‘
“Keep your eyes open kid. Do you want to end up as that Drunk, good for nothing, fella of Heavy Drinker?” she said reloading her shotgun and cleaning the bluish and gooey blood of the changeling off her face. “We need to hurry up. The train is leaving without us.”
“But the…” I said, still a little shocked while looking the town around and its chaos.
“The town is doomed, You can do whatever you want but Ah’m leaving.” As I stared at the back of the Marshal, I decided it was best to follow her. Killing as many Changelings along the way as I could, I finally arrived at the train station but sadly it was heavy attacked by the Changelings but lucky for us they were only the ones with armor and spears.
“Kill everypony in sight, Our queen needs no prisoners today,” a commander Changeling shouted with its uncanny voice as the others stood in formation ready to fly to follow the train that just left the train station.
I turn to see The Marshall fighting with the army alongside some others ponies trying their best in stopping them and reach the train.
Enemies were approaching the Marshal and her group from left to right and even from above, some didn’t even notice the Marshal and her group as they decided that the train and its occupants were better opponents than the town ponies trying to stop them.
The strugglers didn't let this opportunity to slip away. They used all of their guns to shoot many of them off from the sky but they are easily outnumbered. One by one, the ponies were stabled and kill until only one was left.
I was watching from a safe spot under a cart how the Marshal was slowly surrounded by the army as her ammunition have been depleted judging by the way she was using the shotgun as just a club.
I look at my rifle only to find out I was without ammunition too. Even if I go and try to help her I will only end up killing myself. ‘What I am supposed to do?’, I asked myself putting my hands on my face trying to think clearly. When I did I felt the plastic toy that was still attached to my arm.
“Oh, yea. What I am so nervous about?” I said smiling as I toyed around the giant watch in my wrist, “This is still just a dream. If I really want to, I could become a dragon and eat them all. If I’m not mistaken…” I started pushing the Omnitrix around as I personally didn't know how it worked but I have seen a few episodes with my nephew to know that this thing is supposed to transform you into aliens.
I put my fingers around the red watch were I think I saw the protagonist of the show pushed to rise up the cylinder that makes you change into aliens, just at both sides of the watch. And sure enough, the cylinder pup up and the silhouette of a dragon appears in form of a hologram.
“Great, exactly what I needed. A dragon” I said just before slamming the hologram of the dragon down activating the device.
The last thing I saw in my human form was a red flashing light that surrounded my body. I expected to feel my bones stretching and my organs deforming and forming into new ones as the transformation goes on but it turn out to be quick and painless. Before I knew it i already had wings, a tail and… metallic talons?
I wanted to expect my body more closely but I had no time, the Marshal was already stabbed in the arm and a bunch of other spears was on there way to approaching into her skin.
“Changelings, lower your weapons or else” I shouted just before I letting out a booming roar that make them paralyzed of fear.
The changelings along with the Marshal looked at me with unbelieving expressions. “D-dragon, we have no business with you. Step aside, your kind isn’t related to this battle.” The Changeling commander buzz as the rest of them change the directions of there spears towards me. I turn my head in confusion
Wow, I even dream about a whole dragon race in this world. “That orange pony, I owe her and is not part of my code not returning a favor.”
“What in tarnation?!!” the marshal shouted out loud.
The commander looked for a few seconds at the pony and then back at me. “If that is what you wish, troop, CHARGE!!!” he commanded as every Changeling surrounded me in just a second, even the ones after the train. Spear after spear try to slash through my metallic skin but the only thing they accomplished was to fracture their weapons.
I only stood there watching the fruitless actions of the Changeling army felling nothing as sparks appeared when their weapons made contact with my skin. I was making time so the Marshal could escape easily. But it seems I underestimated something
“Oh no,” I said to myself as I saw the pony laying down on the ground in a puddle of her own blood. I didn't know her injuries were this bad. “Damit!!”
I extended my wings ready to fly and ready to grab the injured mare for the surprise of the Changelings. But just as I extend one of my arms, I stop. I look into my claws more carefully, they were way too sharp. I have any experience controlling this body, I can’t grab her with my claws just like that.
I wish I had normal hands. And just as before, my wishes were answered as a strange feeling surrounded my body. Appendages where twisted and split into pieces inside my own body changing my metallic dragon form into one more akin to a human. “What… I AM A TRANSFORMER?” I shouted aloud, with no time to waste. I used the more familiar hands to carefully grab the mare.
I make a jump trying to fly but the wings I once had had somehow disappeared from my back. “Of course,” I said just before running towards the train.
The train was a long distance away but thanks to this form I was able to catch up to him in just a few seconds all while looking back at times making sure no Changelings were too close but at a certain point, somehow, they stop following us.
“Wait up” I scream in my new deeper voice trying to make the train to just slow down enough for her to ride on. But just as I was able to touch and grab the train, my transformation stopped forcing me to go back to my small, human form. Luckily I made it inside one of the train’s cabins. I placed The Marshal on one of the train seats as I continued throughout the train cars to find someone, anyone who can help her.
As I made it through three empty train cars I found a barricade wall with a few guns pointed at me “Halt!” a voice I recognized as Sugar-snack screamed at my direction.
“Oh thank god Sugar-snack right? I got the Marshal in a few cars d-” I said as a shot was fired at my foot and I began to run towards the Marshal.
“After it, you colts” Sugar-snack ordered. I ran at hearing a few gunshots whizz past me before I ducked behind a seat and waited for a pony to come so I could grab them.
“Where is it?” one of the pony’s asked before I grabbed it “HELP!” the pony shouted as I started to back up into the Car with the Marshal. The second pony took aim and shot me in the leg forcing me to drop the first pony I was holding.
“AH SON OF A!” I shouted releasing either this wasn’t a dream or a have a very vivid one. I dropped the pony while limping towards the car with the Marshal... ‘Oh crap this is real.’ I panicky thought to myself as I fell to the ground just a few seats away from the marshal.
I began to crawl my way to her as I felt something on the back of my head “Time to die Changeling.” the pony said while I struggled to get closer to the Marshal
“Hey Applesnack there probably another one on that seat over there kill it before it gets away.” the pony that held a gun to my head said.
Applesnack went to look while I closed my eyes but as felt like the pony was about to pull the trigger Applesnack shouted: “It's the Marshal and she’s bleeding badly.”
The pony stopped and said “It's probably a changeling put a-” but stopped when Applesnack put his hoof on the wound and had blood on said hoof.
“Its real” Applesnack said.
“Go get Sugar-snack.” The pony said before something hit me in the back of the head..
When I woke up I found the Marshal laying next to me on a bench. “What happened?” I asked. I didn’t hear an engine running so I assumed we aren't moving.
“Oh, your up.” The Marshal said somberly.
“Yeah, where are we?” I asked.
“No clue, some point in the Lunar kingdom maybe,” she said before standing up in all four with difficulties allowing me to see the bandages around her hind leg and torso. “Thanks for getting me out of there in one piece... I never got your name.”
“Its James Roland and I never got yours,” I said examining her wounds noticing she got more than I previously saw..
“My name is Applejack nice to meetcha.” A awkward silence surrounded the room. Not really wanting to say anything to the creatures that knock me down and tied me up. After several minutes she brakes the silence “So... how’d yah turn into that dragon thing?”
I sighed and looked at the Omnitrix. “To make a long story short. This is called the Omnitrix, I don’t know much about it other then it was made by an alien named Azmuth and it can transform me into various aliens.”
She looked both unbelieving and confused at the same time “Hold up Aliens? Like, out of space, aliens, Aliens?” she asked.
“Look don’t ask me. I barely know anything myself, I’m lucky I know the name of the creator,” I explained.
Before we could talk more I heard noises coming from outside and a pony rushing into the car “Marshal you up?” the pony said worriedly.
“What’s going on outside?” I asked.
“We’re under attack by lunar guards.” the pony shouted before I heard glass breaking behind me and something hit me causing me to be knocked out again.