>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.