How it all started

This is my first story and my attempt at fanfiction. Don't be too harsh but give me feedback on what can be improved. I got the inspiration from reading fics from Synesisbassist, pain17ification, Zamairiac, and SayianUltima. I would recommend everyone check out their fics as they do some pretty good stories.

The pairing for this story will probably wind up being a herd, however I will let you all guess who. They will be revealed as the story unfolds. Yes, this is a HiE fic as well.

I own nothing in this story. All characters are copyright of their respective owners.

Now on to the story!

Have you ever gone to bed with a feeling that something is going to happen? You know, that gut feeling that just never is wrong? Well that's what happened to me.

My name is Mike Bryant. I am 18 years old, stand at 5'7", weigh about 160 lbs and currently ranked as a PFC in the US Army. I know that for my age that is considered poor, but growing up in a trailer with my mom trying to support two kids is not easy. She worked herself every day and yet she was still able to put a roof over our heads and gave us food to eat. I played sports in my youth but after middle school I lost interest in sports and became more of a geek as people would say. I enjoy computers and learning about them, that's why I joined the Army and became an IT Specialist.

Normally you would read stories about some Special Forces guy or girl doing something heroic in the fight, but sometimes it's the people behind the scenes that enabled them to do that. I'm one of those people.

"INCOMING"

I was roused from my bunk by that one simple word. I'm not Infantry but every soldier knows that word and we know it well. All trace of sleep was gone from everyone as we grabbed our Kevlar Helmet, IBA chest piece, and our M16's. We still used those as we haven't received our M4's yet. The dinosaurs are going extinct but they still do the job.

I rushed out of the tent and found my squad leader trying to get us going where we needed to be. All around us I heard mortar fire and gunshots. The sounds of battle and the smell of gunpowder already pushed sleep out of my mind completely as I rushed to get our squad in fire team formation.

"Sergeant!" I yelled. "All squad members accounted for!"

"Fantastic Private." The Sergeant replied. "We are currently being engaged on three sides. We are ordered to head to the east line and defend it!"

"Yes Sergeant!" We all replied before running to our AO.

I was told by everyone that Afghanistan was the worst place to be deployed to and it was proving that. Almost every day we would have a small skirmish somewhere but tonight was different. The entire day was quiet with not one insurgent anywhere and we were all glad as today was our final day of deployment and high spirits were everywhere. Should've guessed it was too good to be true.

We reached our AO and immediately put our heads down as gunshots riddled the tents behind us with holes. As we began to give suppressive fire that bad feeling came back. I didn't know why, but it felt like it was giving me a warning.

"Was one of my battle buddies going to die?" I thought.

It didn't take long to find out.

Out of nowhere RPG's were being fired and in no time rockets were streaking towards us. Most of them missed completely, however a few lucky shots when into the camp and the tents started exploding. It would have been funny at how inaccurate they were if not for what happened next. One rocket that was fired after the first volley came straight at me and before I knew it I saw my life flash before me. Every memory and dream appeared and it was like time slowed down. My mother's smiling face. My sister's happy laughter. Everything just appeared as if it was a slide show.

"I'm sorry mom and sis. It looks like your little boy and brother won't be coming home." Were my final words that left my lips as a white flash appeared and the rocket detonated around me. As I closed my eyes I thought I heard a voice. It sounded like a whisper but I was unable to hear it anymore.

-Scene Break-

I came to a while later. I was in a soft bed that felt like a cloud with a nice warm blanket over me. I entertained the thought of waking up, but the softness of the bed, the warmth of the blanket, and the pleasant sound of birds got the better of me and I fell back into the world of sleep and dreams.

"How is our guest?" A voice asked the doctor as he checked the creature on the bed.

"Nothing seems to be wrong Princess. He is just resting at the moment. He will awake soon." The doctor replied with a hint of pride in his voice. After all it wasn't every day you get to take care of an unknown patient and at the Princesses request nonetheless.

"Very well, inform me or my sister when he is awake."

"Yes Princess."

Princess Celestia sighs as she walks out of the room. She was a white Alicorn with a mane and tail the colors of a rainbow that seemed like it waved in a gentle breeze and the mark of a sun on her flank. On her hooves were gold slippers, a necklace also made of gold with a purple gem went around her neck, and to complete the ensemble she wore a golden crown signifying her status as a ruler.

She would like to sleep in her bed but the unknown creature was laying in it and she didn't want to seem like an ungrateful host when he woke.

"How is he sister?" A voice broke her out of her thoughts.

"He is resting Luna, however he is fine. He should awaken soon." Celestia replied to her younger sister.

Luna simply nodded her head and nuzzled her sister. Luna was smaller than Celestia and dark purple. Her mane and tail were dark blue in color and like her sister swayed as if it was caught in the same breeze. A moon was on her flank and she wore silver colored slippers with a black chest piece that also had a moon on it. Like her sister she wore a crown but hers was black in color.

She was just as shocked as her sister when he came through the roof of the castle. It interrupted a boring meeting with some nobles and gave them some time to get away.

At first they both thought that he was dead until they found him breathing heavily. He was instantly taken to the nearest room which happened to be Celestia's though Luna for some reason secretly wished it was her room. The creature was a nice looker, even though he wore glasses, to her. His health though came first.

"I am saddened as to what happened in one of dreams though Luna." Celestia said.

"What happened in his dream?" Luna questioned with a curious look.

"I was at first confused why he was crying in his sleep. Though what he said after solved my confusion but it also made my heart break for him." Celestia looked down as she said this and let a few tears fall as she remembered what she did to her very sister 1000 years ago.

Luna nuzzled her sister and wrapped a wing around her in comfort. "What did he say sister? Why are you crying?"

Celestia nuzzled her sister back and lay down before replying in a low voice that brought more tears. "I'm sorry mom and sis. It looks like your little boy and brother won't be coming home. It made me think of what happened between us all those years ago."

Luna went wide-eyed before curling up with her sister and crying with her. It reminded her of their final confrontation before she was sent to the moon. Those heartbreaking words that echoed pain and loss. Now here was another creature that shared those words and was ripped away from his loved ones. This time though he would never return to them.

It was at that moment they both made a promise. They would help him fit into their world so they would never have to see him cry again. Before they could though, he had to wake up first. Celestia dried her eyes before paper and ink appeared and she began to magically write.

Dear Twilight

Luna and I have encountered something that we are unable to identify. We wish for your help to uncover what he is and where he came from. We will be coming for a visit soon and we will bring him along. During our visit, we ask that you and your friends make him feel welcome, as he is a stranger and is likely to be confused as to where he is. We wish you the best.

Your Mentor,

Princess Celestia

Celestia read the letter over twice before rolling it up and sending it off.

"Come sister" She began. "It is time for lunch. The cook is making apple fritters."

Luna instantly jumped up and said. "Let's go!" before rushing down the hallway but not before giving one final glance toward the room where the creature slept.

Celestia just sighed and smiled at her sister before giving a glance at her room before continuing to the dining hall. 'He will wake soon.' She thought. 'Then we can get to know you better but for now rest well.'