My eyes slowly fluttered open, a bright light filtering through the curtains. I rolled over to find my bedfellow had left, and sat up. There was slight chill on the air, so I wrapped one of the blankets around my... shoulders and walked over to the window. Throwing open the curtains revealed nothing but whiteness. I turned around and spotted some clothing on a chair with a piece of paper on top.

I don't know why I picked up something I couldn't read, but I looked down at it and smiled. Alec had drawn me a stick figure with the clothes, arrows pointing to where they went. I quickly followed the instructions, glad that the garments were thick and comfortable. I made my way down the hall, checking each room to try and find him.

The upper level proved to be empty, and my search of the lower floor got me confused when I found myself all alone. I went to the front door and cracked it open, coming face to face with a small wall of snow. I slammed it shut, running back up the stairs to a window, finding that the entire house was surrounded. The storm of the previous night had abated, the sun coming over the horizon to reveal white for miles around.

But not too far away was a dark shape moving towards the cabin. It took ages to get close, but I recognised it as one of the humans. They must have been freezing out there, and I wished I could help. I got slightly worried as it kept heading towards me. I saw a small wooden object being dragged behind it, and it stopped within fifty metres of the window.

They turned around and picked up a wooden crate, walking the last bit of the distance and disappearing from my view. I heard noise from a room below me, slowly making my way towards it. I entered just as another door to the outside was shut by the human wrapped in thick clothing. They brushed the snow off of themselves, and then turned around, pulling the hood down and removing the mask they had on, revealing the pink cheeked face of my host. “Morning, you hungry?”

“Where have you been? You look freezing!” He shrugged out of the thick coat and out of his boots, then picked up the crate and walked past me, making me follow as he went down to the kitchen, starting to unpack his goods. “Alec... you left me alone in a world I do not know.”

“Yeah, sorry about that. I had to go out and get some stuff. There's a farm a few miles away that I'm friends with, so got some fresh produce.” I could only stare at him in shock at his comment, and before I knew it, I had pushed him out of the way and took over the unpacking. “Hey, you're my guest.”

“You trekked through the snow for me...”

“No, I walked through the snow to get some much needed supplies. Now go down into the cellar and look through the cupboards until you find some candles, then bring up as many as you can.”

“You dare command me? I am the raiser of the moon, princess of...”

“Princess of nothing. Right now we need to work together to survive. If you didn't have that freaky ability of yours, you'd still be locked up. So... candles, now.” I just glared at him, before turning around and walking up the stairs to the room where he had sequestered me, slamming the door shut. I don't know why it made me angry to be talked to in such a way, but he was right. I was about to head down and apologise when I saw something large in the sky. It was making a loud noise and then disappeared over us. It soon came into view again, and I worked out it was circling the cabin. I ran back to the door and threw it open.

I just gave a sigh as a door slammed shut, picking the crate up and shoving it in the larder. I didn't mean to be so terse with her, but I'm not exactly the best with interpersonal skills. As she had gone upstairs it was left to me to collect the candles. I was a little surprised to find that I was running dangerously low, a mere twenty remaining. I picked up the box and headed back to the ground floor, setting them on the kitchen table. I took a deep breath and prepared to go apologise, but Luna ran into me when I walked out the doorway. “Monsters, in the sky!”

She dragged me into the lounge and over to the window, where I saw nothing. I then caught a droning noise on the air, and the 'monsters' appeared in a wide arc. I quickly ran to my boots and coat, slipping into them as fast as possible, turning back to Luna. “That's not a monster, stay in the house.”

I didn't wait for a reply, moving as fast as I could through the snow and waving my arms over my head. The Lynxes turned towards me, and I felt relief flow throw my body. She would get the help she needed, and I could now get back to training. I began to walk back to my cabin, but a burst of snow blocked my path. I turned around in shock as I saw the door gunner aiming at me whilst another helicopter landed, several armed people jumping down to the snow.

They all raised their weapons and pointed them at me, slowly spreading into a wide arc and creeping closer, the two helicopters moving to circle the house once more. There was no insignia on either the people or the vehicles. I glanced over my shoulder at the open door, for some unknown reason fearing for Luna’s safety. I don’t know why, but my body followed and I attempted to run through the snow. “STAND STILL!” I kept moving. “STAND STILL OR WE WILL OPEN FIRE!”

I didn’t do as instructed. There was a sudden pain in my shoulder and I fell to the ground.

I watched as he calmly approached them, his arms waving above his head. The two things turned towards him and lowered to the ground. He turned and began to walk back, but the ground exploded by some unforeseen force, and I looked up to see a human on the side of one of the black things. The other was almost out of the air, a panel on the side opening and several more men jumping out.

They began to surround Alec, whilst the two what must have been vehicles of some sort returned to the air, circling the building. I saw him glance around at me, and then he turned and began to run towards the house. “STAND STILL!” He kept moving. “STAND STILL OR WE WILL OPEN FIRE!” I gasped in shock as there was a loud bang and he fell to the snow, red liquid pouring out onto the white ground. I shot forward in an attempt to get to him, but two of them had approached the house from the other side, grabbing me as I left its safety.

“NO! Let me go! I must help him!” I could do nothing but struggle helplessly as my hands were restrained, one of the vehicles landing in front of us. I was forced into it and moved to the window, my gaze on the one still lying on the ground. Soon we were too high to see, and I could do nothing to stop the tears from rolling down my cheek.

I do not know how long we were in the air, nor where we were going, but eventually we made landfall once more. I was numb by this point, not even glancing at my captors as I was removed from my seat. We were on top of a large building in a massive city, and my eyes passively roaming over it. I was then pulled towards a door on the roof, but my ‘escorts’ stopped as the other vehicle landed.

I felt relief flood my being when the door opened and Alec was helped down, a bandage around his chest, but his hands were restrained like mine. He looked around and met my gaze, then ran towards me. He slammed into one of the pair by me, but his escorts were not far behind, and he was roughly slammed to the floor, more blood now flowing from his nose as he lifted his eyes to me. “Luna, do as they tell you, and you won’t be hurt. I’ll see you soon, okay?”

He was then pulled away from me and taken to another door, giving me a sorrowful look before he disappeared. The one he had knocked over got to his feet with a grunt, and then I was forced through the entry. We entered a small metal box and I felt my stomach rise, but it did not seem to affect the pair, a few lights above the door displaying strange figures changing, until the movement stopped and the doors opened with a beep.

There was a small beep and the doors slid open once more, revealing a long hallway. I was pushed along it to an open door at the end and then stood still in the centre. My restraints were removed, and I turned to confront my captors, but they were at the door already, which slid shut and I heard a few clicks. There was no handle, meaning I was trapped.

I glanced around the room to see an uncomfortable looking bed and a toilet; that was it. Three of the walls were bare, and the fourth had half a mirror above waist height. I met my reflection and reeled in both horror and amazement at how I now looked. My mane colour remained the same and so did my eyes, but my face and body had changed completely.

My inspection was interrupted and I moved to the door as I heard shouting, placing my ear near the gap. It was still muffled, but I knew whoever it was wasn’t happy, and I stepped back as a shadow appeared on the opposite side of the slightly transparent glass. It was too thick for me to break, I noticed. “...is she? You fucking cunts, tell me what you did with Luna!”

The group pushed on amidst much protest, and I wished I could be out there, to show Alec I was unharmed. A few moments later a door was slammed shut, and I heard loud banging through the walls. “Motherfuckers! When I get out of here, I'm going to stab you in the guts and strangle you with your own intestines!” I moved to the corner and slowly raised my hand, then banged on the wall. The clamour soon stopped and I heard my tap returned. “Luna? Is that you?”

“Yes!”

“Thank god! Are you hurt?”

“No, I am fine. How can I hear you?”

“Look up.” I did as asked, seeing a small grate in the ceiling. It was too high for me to reach, but I wouldn't’t be able to fit through anyway. “It’s an air supply. We’re so far underground it needs to be pumped in. They’re going to leave us in here for awhile, so you may want to rest for a bit.” I moved over to the bed and sat down on it, springs sending a horrible creak echoing around the room. “Luna? I’m sorry I made this happen.”

“How di…”

“Last night. I told a friend where I was. If I hadn’t have done that, they wouldn’t have found you.”

“Please, do not blame yourself. I knew the risks when I left my world, so none of it is your fault.” I lay down, pulling the thin, rough blanket over me. “I… I want you in here with me, I trust you.”

“Whatever they do, I’m going to be right there with you. Count on it. Now get some rest… you’re going to need it.” Even though he couldn’t see me, I still nodded an acknowledgement, laying my head upon the flat pillow.

I don’t know how long I waited, but I was getting even more lonely. They had come for Alec hours ago, and he still resisted, but they won. I didn’t want to think anything bad had happened to him, but there was still a nagging doubt that I would see him again. So uninterested in anything such as I was, it wasn’t until my hands were once more restrained that I even noticed I was no longer alone.

I was then made to walk the long corridor, in the opposite direction from earlier I might add, and we entered a room not unlike the first I had seen. Once more there was a bed with restraints upon it, and I gave no resistance as I was placed on it. My escorts secured both my arms and legs, then left the room, and I could hear others talking around me. “So, what’s so special about her again?”

“She appeared out of a wall down some alley, apparently. I dunno, boss just said she’s something to do with those weird readings. Oh well, let’s get to it.” Another human appeared in my vision, but this one was wearing all white with a mask over their face. In their hand was a needle, and their gaze met mine as they stepped closer. “Uh, isn’t she supposed to be sedated?”

I turned the other way to see another one, dressed the same, and they just shrugged. “She’s not resisting, so what’s the problem?” If there was one, they didn’t say anything as the needle pierced the skin on my left arm, dark red blood emptying into the vial. To my surprise, I was then left alone until my escorts came back, and the bed began to move.

I was wheeled past both my cell and Alec’s, into a dark room. I heard clicking and the mattress was bent up, pushing me into a sitting position, and a light snapped on. I blinked a few times as my eyes got used to it, and I spotted another human standing in the shadows, light reflecting from the rim of their glasses. “I’m going to make this simple; who are you and what do you want?”

I just turned my head away, hearing them giving a deep sigh. They moved closer, and I glanced around to see a man now next to me, his face impassive. I blanched slightly at a rather disgusting scent as he breathed, and then he stepped back with a chuckle. “So, you don’t like smokers, huh? Hmm, maybe I should light up. Would you like that?”

Still, I refused to talk to him, and he stepped behind the bed, where I could just about hear the sound of a hushed conversation just before everything fell silent. There was a muted click and another light drew my attention, some form of magic showing another room. The sound of grunting came forth before Alec appeared.

His hands were still restrained, and he spat blood to the flood, a stern gaze being directed where he came from. Another man followed, placing a chair in the centre and pointing to it. Alec refused, and he was struck in the stomach. Even from here I could tell it was harder than necessary. “You can stop it. The power is yours.”

As much as I just wanted to forget this world and go home… I couldn’t let this continue. “Please… don’t harm him.”

“Finally, something intelligent. Tell them to stop.” The door opened and one of them left, the screen quickly showing the beating had stopped. Alec was pulled from the wall he was pinned against and away from the device that was showing me the room, the man speaking to me entering my vision once more. “Now you seem more cooperative, let us start again. Name?”

“Luna.”

“Is that it?”

“Yes.”

“Why are you here?”

“My own jealousy and stupidity.”

“Hmm, it’s not much, but it’s a start. You’ve been here for a while, I think it’s time you ate something.” My arms and legs were released, and I waited patiently for my hands to be placed behind my back again, looking around confused. “I don’t think these will be necessary anymore, do you?”

I looked to his hand to see the restraints they used, metal reflecting the lights. It would do me no good in an escape attempt, so I just nodded at him. He moved from the doorway and motioned for me to leave, where two more awaited to perform their escort duties.

I was led to a dining chamber of sorts, but it was not the prospect of dulling my hunger that made my heart jump, it was who entered from the opposite side of the hall. Before either mine or his escorts could react, I ran forward and wrapped my arms around Alec’s neck, but he could not return the embrace. “Alright, that’s enough.”

We were pulled apart and taken to separate tables, where I was given a tray of food. I saw Alec get the attention of one of his guards, who looked over towards me. He then came over and took the meal away, heading to a large open hatchway, where I could see others working. I easily worked out that they were the cooks here.

My tray was exchanged for another, Alec giving me a nod. The only thing I could think of was that the meal I was first given was a meat based one, and he remembered that I was not an omnivore. As soon as I was done with the meal, along with several glasses of water, I was led back to my cell. The lighting inside was turned down low, and the day had caught up with me, so I made my way over to the hard mattress of my bed and lay upon it, waiting for sleep to claim me.

I watched Luna go as I continued eating, the cut on the inside of my mouth stinging as some salt was consumed. I had no idea where we were, who these people were, or what they wanted. So far I had just been left to stew in a dark room, then moved and beaten for no apparent reason. Whatever part of the government these guys belonged to… they had just fucked up.

Even with no restraints, I didn’t have the strength to try and escape, but I wouldn’t do that unless I knew I’d be able to take her with me. Having not eaten since the morning, I devoured the food, even if it had no taste. I don’t know where they took her, but I was taken the other way, being sat in a chair inside a cramped office. “Okay, what is going on?”

I refused to meet the gaze of the one sitting opposite me, instead choosing to look out a window that showed almost an office type layout, but to me it looked more like an R&D lab. A large digital map caught my attention, as it was zoomed in over Birmingham, a strange set of readings next to a large circle. “You noticed that, huh? Yes, the centre is over the area where you found your friend. Why don’t you tell us about her?”

I looked to the desk and saw a smaller print out of the map, plus others that had similar highlighted bits. If I got my chance… I looked up and finally met his gaze, not one hint of emotion on his face as he studied me. “She just wants to go home.”

“And where is her home?” I shrugged and he gave a sigh waving to the guards. “We will continue in the morning, for now you may rest.”

“If I could make one request?”

“Go ahead.”

“Allow us the same cell. She’s alone here, and needs our help.” He gave me a nod, and I was marched down the dreary white corridor, stopping once we had passed my cell, I think. It was hard to tell when all doors looked the same. Anyway, the one we were stood in front of slid open and I was pushed inside, my cuffs being removed a moment later.

I rubbed my wrists, which were red and inflamed slightly, then looked to the bed. Creating a lump under the covers was Luna, and I moved closer, placing a hand on her shoulder gently. She rolled over and her tired eyes met mine, her arms instantly around my neck once more. This time I could return the embrace, and she tried to hold tighter as I pulled away. “I’m here now. Come on, let’s go to sleep.”

Heeding my words, she moved over and lifted the blanket, so I slipped in next to her. She rolled over so that her back was pressed against my chest, and I wrapped my arms around her, holding her close just as the lights shut off. “Why are they doing this?” Her question was followed by sniffles, and I lifted a hand up to wipe her cheek, my fingers coming away wet with tears.

“Because they don’t understand. Humanity is scared of things it can’t control or understand, but I… think I know what we need to look for to get you home. We just need to get out of here with it.”

“And how long will that take?”

“...I don’t know, but I’m not leaving without you.” I felt her give a nod and then her head settled under my chin. Two days… two days and I was already planning a jailbreak with this woman, who wasn’t even human, but a pony. My hand moved to her hair and I began to gently run my fingers through, Luna giving a small sigh as her body relaxed and slumber claimed her.

I wonder if there’s some magic at work getting me to help her? Screw it, I’ll ask in the morning.

Author's Note

And it's back. Been awhile, huh? So yeah, the shit hit the fan much earlier than usual.

So how is she going to get home now the government have her?

This is also shorter than I planned, but at least it's here, right?