Behind Blue Eyes in Equestria - Part 3

>You wake up to the sound of Applejack rummaging through the barn.

>It’s not quite morning yet.

>"Ugh, I knew I put that rope in 'ere someplace!"

>You turn, noticing the rope sitting near you.

>You produce the rope to her, and she takes it quickly.

>"There's a fire up in P0nyville! We gotta go help!"

"Are you certain that's wise?"

>"It don't matter! If you ain't comin' I'm goin' raight now!"

>Applejack charges out of the barn.

>You shift your weight.

>This was an opportunity to help, and introduce yourself in a positive way.

>On the flip side, you were not supposed to initiate contact with alien races.

>You shift your weight back.

>The Union's prime tenet was protecting the innocent from harm.

>You hesitated for a moment.

>You were a soldier, and you were supposed to be an example of the Union. Perfect in every way.

>You were not supposed to poison primitive societies with your actions.

>They could take care of themselves.

>But you couldn't sit idly while they were in trouble.

>You felt compelled to act.

>You move to the door and look outside.

>A column of smoke rises from the town.

"Plot course."

 

 

>Your suit lumbers down the dirt road from Sweet Apple Acres.

>It felt painfully slow.

>You knew how fires could surge out of control, as they often overtook ships and voided them of oxygen.

>A primal fear of flame and its destructive power flashed through your mind.

>You try to hurry, but your suit's massive weight limits your speed.

>You see the trees begin to thin.

>P0nyville lies in front of you as you stomp towards it.

>THUMPH.

>THUMPH.

>The p0nies see you and run away.

>It was to be expected.

>Two buildings are on fire.

>A crowd has gathered, looking on as other p0nies try desperately to extinguish the flames with magic and water.

>Their action will work, eventually.

>"She's trapped!"

>"You have to do something!"

>"I-It’s too dangerous!"

>The crowd then notices you.

>They panic.

>You pay them no heed; your computer has detected the p0ny they referred to.

>Life signs weak.

 

 

>You knew what had to be done.

>You stomp past the wavering rescuers and demolish the front door to gain entry.

>Smoke and ash choke the air, and your optics can barely distinguish the walls for you.

>CRASH.

>Your helmet knocks down a light fixture.

>CRUNCH.

>You crush a table under a boot.

>You check your sensors: your target is in the next room.

>You shoulder past the door, its frame screams and cracks before coming loose.

>Debris falls all around you.

>You see the p0ny curled up in a ball in the center of the room.

>Flames reach out to her.

>She's terrified, hitching and laughing to herself.

>You'd seen the laugh-cry before.

>When a person is trapped with no chance of escape, and can clearly see their demise closing in.

>In that moment of terror, the mind grasps desperately at positive thoughts.

>GROAN.

>The building was beginning to tear itself apart.

>The p0ny looks and sees you standing in the inky black smoke.

>A pair of shining blue eyes pierces the veil.

>CRACK.

>The supports were beginning to buckle.

>There was no time to escape.

>You rush across the distance between you and the p0ny, and pin her to the ground.

>You hunker overtop of her.

>She stares - terrified - into your optics.

>The house comes down all around you.

 

 

>You blink your eyes.

>Your suit strains against the weight, but its holding.

>The p0ny below you is stunned, she is in shock.

>She's dishevelled and covered in soot.

>Your suit detects no wounds, other than a bit of smoke inhalation.

>Shouldering the weight, you make sure that the small area below your hunkered form is safe.

>Your suit emanates coldness to offset the heated debris around you.

>She seems to be able to breathe, for now.

>Your optics illuminate the otherwise complete darkness in your burial chamber.

>You loosen a mask out of your belt.

>It was designed for prisoners and VIPs, usually it was never used.

>Your free hand straps the mask on, giving the p0ny fresh air to breathe.

>The rescuers outside appeared frantic on your sensors, their blips moved furiously across your detector trying to extinguish the remaining fire.

>You wait in silence, only broken by the low wheeze of oxygen coming from the ill-fitted mask.

 

 

>Four hours later, you hear the debris around you begin to be moved.

>You move one massive boot into a kneel.

>You push upwards.

>The debris loosens slightly.

>You push again.

>It gives a little more.

>Your back presses upwards, and gives you dozen centimeters to work with.

>Your attention turns to the blackened p0ny beneath you.

"Stay between my feet."

>The p0ny obediently shuffles down between your legs.

>You move down close to the p0ny, and smash upwards with all of your strength.

>You break free of the pile, seeing daylight.

>Smoldering ruins surround your tiny enclosure.

>More debris drops from the air, the unicorns holding them were completely shocked.

>"It-It's alive?"

>You bend downwards and remove the mask from the ash-sodden p0ny below you.

>You move your gauntlet to grab her, but then you remember something.

>An image of an apple being reduced to mush floats across your mind.

>The gauntlet moves to the side of the hole, then the p0ny climbs over it and tumbles out.

>A cheer erupts from the crowd as medical personnel converge on her to take her away.

>As she is taken away, the cheers subside.

>You climb out of the hollow, and debris is crushed beneath your suit's colossal form.

>You're met with a crowd of p0nies.

 

 

>You stand in complete silence.

>Your suit is covered in soot; the only adornment to your dusky form is a pair of blue optics.

>"What is THAT?"

>"Why did it--"

>"Where did it come from?"

>"What's it doing here?"

>Hundreds of questions cascade through the crowd.

>All eyes are on you.

>You feel very exposed.

>Unconsciously, your stance widens.

>P0nies of every colour and stripe back away from you.

>Intimidation.

>"Anon!"

>You see Twilight push through the crowd to the front.

>"What are you doing here?"

>Your voice rumbles:

"There was a fire."

>"But why did you--, I thought--"

"There was a fire."

>"I thought you didn't want other p0nies to see you."

>You shift your weight.

>She was correct.

>Your answer remains the same.

"There was a fire."

>"Wait, Twilight, you KNEW about this... this..."

>"-- this thing!?"

>"He's not a THING, he's--"

>"And you didn't tell us?"

>"He said--"

>"He could have hurt somep0ny!"

>"Why didn't you tell us?"

"ENOUGH."

 

 

>Silence descends upon the crowd.

"Your questions may be directed at me," you say, as you shift down off of the pile of rubble.

>The questions begin again, and your computer helpfully catalogues them.

>Once the p0nies' questions die down, you take your chance to speak. Pearl gives you suggestions along the way.

>You stand for a moment.

"I am stranded in Equestria, and I do not know if my people - humans - will ever find me. I mean no harm to you or your neighbours, but I hope that my actions, as well as my participation in the battle in the capital, will assuage your concerns. Twilight agreed to watch over me, as part of an invitation to Equestria from the Princess."

>You pause.

"I was concerned that my presence would provoke fear in Ponyville, and my estimation was correct. That is why I wished to remain a secret: I did not want to cause fear."

>It wasn't a complete lie, you weren't supposed to initiate contact with aliens either.

"My name is Anonymous."

>Pearl's light blinks furiously.

"...it is a pleasure to meet you."