Chapter 1: This Life of Mine
“Uggh,” I muttered as the light from the window splashed on my face, waking me from my sleep. I took a deep yawn , and looked over at my clock. The time was 12:00, at night. Damn thing must be broken, it’s probably around 1 in the afternoon. I thought to myself. I proceeded to open my drawers and rummage through them with my hooves, trying to find a nice hoodie to bar the winter chills. I finally found what I was searching for (my white, Vynl scratch hoodie that I wore almost every day) and headed out of my bedroom, down the stairs, and to the foyer. It had been a good thirty minutes of sitting down at the table, reading yesterday’s newspaper and drinking the rest of my coffee, before I realized that the sunlight was still pouring in like it had been all morning. Celestia must be really tired if she can’t even remember to move the sun through the sky… I thought quizzically. “But I don’t think work was cancelled, soo…” I mumbled in a very bored tone. The newspaper had been put on the table, the cup , rinsed out and left in the sink, and I was out the door.
“What the hell? Where is everypony?” I questioned myself. To my amazement and utter confusion, there was nopony around, not anywhere to be found! The fact that it was the afternoon added to this, because usually this is the busiest time of day in Ponyville. The streets are usually bustling and full of ponies, but now they were barren, and the houses shuddered like empty shells, a strong winter chill swept through the town and wrapped the town in sheer solitude, loneliness. But the odd thing was, the ponies’ possessions lingered. like memories left behind to freeze and rot. “Hello!!?” I shouted at the top of my lungs, the question echoed through the empty town. “Where is everypony?!” I added. I felt myself compelled by curiosity, and started to move forward into the town. The town that once held my best friends, now felt like a shadow of it’s former self, I gaze to the sky for a moment and see that there isn’t anypony up there either. The weatherponies atleast , should be tending to the clouds or just be flying by, but no, the sky was as barren and empty as the streets I walked.
The sound I hear every day, strange how it could be so chilling. I pondered. The clopping of hooves fills the air with an ominous ambience. I had been walking around the whole of ponyville for the better part of an hour, and still I found nothing, not even a single hoofprint. My spirits started to fade, and the deep dark feeling of loneliness crept into my heart. A chilling breeze brushed by, sending shivers down my spine and made me feel even worse, if that was even possible. I could care less about most of the ponies in this town, but They’re better than nopony at all. The person I would miss the most of all, the one mare that I cared for, and cherished each and every day; Mira Glimmer, my sweet love.
Another gust of wind swept my mane, blue and scruffy with a white streak running through it, (my mane, that is). I gazed up to the clouds , and a terrible reminder shot through me like a bullet. My wing.
About two months ago, I was working up in Cloudsdale. A small job in the Weather Department, mainly consisting of busting clouds, and keeping weather patterns in shape around the Baltimare area. It was just like any other day, flying around, observing the clouds and making sure they kept in shape and followed their patterns… Then she came. That damned griffon.
“Hey! What’s goin’ on? Get out of the way!” she shouted
“Umm sorry miss, I…” I stumbled on my words
Her feathers looked ruffled , she had bags under her eyes, her scowl twitched. I could tell that something bad had happened to her.
“Miss, are you ,okay?”
“UUGGGHH!!” She bellowed. “You pegasi think you can do whatever you want, whenever!, just because you friggin,.. Clear the skies or some bull like that!”
”…I, I but ummm…” I muttered, nearly speechless at this seemingly random outburst.
“look, as I think you can tell, I’m not in a very good mood today” She scoffed at her own words and folded her arms in disapproval of my being. “and I just want to get home and get hammered so that I can forget this ENTIRE day. But you Pegasus assholes us ARE BLOCKING THE FRICKIN’ WAY!!!” She screamed in pure rage.
“I’m sorry miss, but the sky is scheduled for some cloud maintenance and…” I slowly explained, as her expression grew colder. Then she finally burst.
“AND YOU’RE SCHEDULED FOR A FRICKIN BEATIN’!!!”
She landed a fist right on my face, and I fell down unto a soft cloud. She raced after me . So I bolted away as fast as I could, but That still wasn’t enough, and she caught up to me and snatched my right wing with her claws, cutting my wings. I was pulled to the nearest hiding spot behind a nearby building, and… she beat me to a pulp. As she wailed on me, I tried to defend, but she was much larger and stronger than me. I could tell that the traffic stop was not the real cause of this, she hurt inside… deep inside I could see the pain inside of her, and she used this as fuel for her unrelenting fists against my beaten and broken body. I swear, she broke almost every bone In my body. When she was done, I couldn’t even move. She got up, brushed herself off, and started to fly away. In my last moments of consciousness I saw her look back. I might have even seen a bit of regret, but I don’t know. I woke up in a white room, an IV in my foreleg, and bandages all over my body. The doctors were somber and rarely spoke to me throughout my visit, but I could see it in their eyes,pity and despair. They put on a smile whenever they went near me, but I could tell that it was just a masquerade. The same smile worn every day in the presence of death, tends to get worn out.
A few days passed, and the doctor finally got up and told me, “Son, I hate to be the bringer of bad news, but…”
“what?” I scowled at his reluctance to strait up tell me what was so blatantly wrong. He picked up my file on the clipboard at the end of the bed, and started to flip through.
“that assaulter nearly killed you, I’m surprised to see you alive, but whoever it was put you in a very critical condition, and there’s only so much we can do…” He pleads to me.
“What, Happened?” I said sternly, anger rising in my voice.
“There was extensive damage to most of your body, but , the most damage took place …” He hesitated, his face grew somber.
“DAMMIT, TELL ME!!” I shouted, the sheer anger consuming me, making my blood boil.
“Severe fractures in your right and left wings, torn feathers,… damage at the base. “ He took a long pause, trying his best to keep eye contact.
“ I’m very , very sorry sir, but there was nothing we could do. You may never be able to fly again.”
Then and there, I forsook all.
I hated the room, the curtains, the other patients, the nurses, but most of all, the doctor(for he could not save or help me, no matter what ) and life itself. So cruel, so unfair. Why would life give me this gift and then take it away? I was flooded by a tidalwave of emotion. Sadness, depression, frustration and of course, hatred… I was becoming the person that did this to me. A week later, I’m released. I decide to get as far away from that Celestia-forsaken city. I found out about Ponyville, a small town, friendly people. I moved in.
I saw her for the first time at a coffee shop. She was sitting all alone, and so was I, so she decided to give me some company. She came over and scooted a chair to the other side of my table. I was surprised, and confused Why would anyone want to be near me?
“Hi, my name, is Mira. Nice too meet you. What’s your name?” She asked cheerfully
“Umm, I’m … “ I squirmed in my chair. “I’m …Indigo.”
Her voice was soft and comforting, like a melody that sung in my head, it danced like a gust of summer wind, filling my atmosphere with a sweet, warm harmony.
“Indigo, huh? I like it, nice and simple.” She sat there, and examined me, as I examined her. She was a warm vanilla color, her long, beautiful, soft- cut brown mane refracted the sunlight from the windows of the shop. A pleasant smile, flanked by freckles, adorned her face. A small, green bow lay atop her head.
“ You were all alone, so I decided to come over and give you some company.” She paused. By that time I could tell that her eyes had reached my wing. Well, no more a wing than a memory, a stub of happiness. The other wing left on my back as a cold reminder of my disabilities, and how useless it was.
“Poor thing, what happened to you? “ She asked, the worry plain on her face. The despair plain on mine.
“...I , “ I really didn’t want to talk about it. She could tell that she struck a nerve, and quickly changed the subject.
“So, what do you do for fun?” she asked, cheerfully.
“I don’t do much for fun, just sit around, and go to work. That’s all really.” I said plainly.
“Well that’s just sad! You need to meet some friends and get out more! What you do is ,.. unhealthy.” She said disapprovingly, as if disgusted by the fact.
“I guess, I mean, it’s been a while since I’ve done anything enjoyable in my life lately.” I mumbled
“Well then why don’t we go have fun?” She said, enthusiastically , the happiness coming from her was Superfluous.
Mira took hold of my arm and led me out of the coffee shop. As she ran with me a smile etched across her face the summer sun gleamed off of her features like a fresh rainbow. We hustled down the street as she took me around the town square to wander through various shops and parks before finally leading me out to the hill near the edge of town, which peered over the apple family orchard. As the sun had begun to set, the orange, red and yellow glow reflected off of every apple in the Apple Acres fields orchard, the sight was one of the most beautiful I had ever seen, but not as beautiful as her. The reds and oranges and yellows of the sunset painted her vanilla coat like a canvas, and her coffee brown hair was illuminated by the brightest yellows. She turned her head in my direction. The most tender and loving stare emanated from her amber eyes as she closed in on me, her head tilted slightly to the right. I closed my eyes, and truly felt that I had something to live for again. Her muzzle was soft, and the kiss was,… the most perfect thing I had ever known. It gave me a purpose. True love.
----ooOOoo----
Author's Note
This is the first chapter of a (Hopefully long and/or prosperous) fantasy/adventure story. But I really need some coverart, and an editor.
This is also the first story I have ever written. Ever. Enjoy, and as always... Have Fun!
Edit: Don't forget to leave a comment! I LOVE LOVE LOVE Feedback!
Chapter 2: Welcome To The Jungle
Chapter 2:Welcome to the jungle
I snapped back to reality. The cold wind blew harshly against my skin. At that moment I realized how lonely I really was. It was terrifying.
The sheer thought of being alone for Who knows how long made me tremble in my hooves. I needed to see somepony, anypony. Or just her, Mira. I began to walk down west street, towards the town square. It kept getting colder, as if the absence of ponies made the world freeze. Like as there was no love in the world, thus it filled with ice and snow.
I finally began to grow tired, and plopped myself on a bench in the town square. It was hard and uncomfortable, but that was the least of my worries. I had so many things on my mind. The thoughts spun around in my head like angry bees. That was when my day got interesting. “Hey, what the?” My bones began to tremble, my head spun and ached, I felt as if my body was being melted. “AAGGGHH!!” I screamed. “WHATS HAPPENING??!!” I writhed in pain and agony. And then I couldn’t feel…. Or hear. But I saw. I watched as I was pulled through some kind of vortex like soda through a straw. Every fiber of my being was transforming. My fur pulled into my skin, my limbs outstretched, my wing grew, my forelegs grew digits, my tail disappeared, my muzzle flattened out, my ears shortened to the sides of my head, and my cutie mark (a sword with a wing on each side) suddenly appeared on my right shoulder. All of this and more at what seemed like 1000 miles per hour.
My new, …hands felt the ground. It was cold, damp, and grassy. The sky was covered in leaves. A forest?Ah, but it wasn't like any normal forest, I knew this was not a normal place, Like the air was thick with mysticism. Am I in… the Everfree? I glanced down at my newly reformed body. “ What Happened to me?” I questioned out loud. My torso was stranger than my forelegs. It was liked somepony skinned me and flattened me out.
“Ah, there you are, my pony friend, come along with me, and a bed and food you will see.” Rhymed a voice out of the blue.
“Who are you? Where am I? What happened to me!?” I stammered at the mysterious figure, and examined her closely.
She looked like I do now, human, but her skin was brown, with white stripes all over her body, her hair was done up in a large, black and white Mohawk. On her wrists, ankles, and ears, she wore golden rings. She wore a brown, leather cloak, bound by twine. Many a potion and satchel hung around her shoulder, stretching down to her waste, where she wore baggy, rough leather pants. she also adorned herself with bead necklaces, and such. She was leaning on a tall, wooden staff, that looked like it had been pulled straight out of a tree. Looking over her, she seemed like quite the imtimidating mare, but again, she was no pony.
“So what do you say? …I’m not going to stand here all day.” The words rolled off her tongue rhythmically, and she raised an eyebrow.
I got up off the wet forest floor, the only thing protecting me from the elements was my white hoodie, how it stayed on through all that had just happened, I had no idea. As we walked through the forest, I constantly wobbled and staggered , trying to walk with these new legs like the person in front of me did so easily.
“I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but… ugh … I’ve never used … ow! These things before” I stammered. The new legs ached relentlessly, probably from being stretched and morphed like clay. “And not to mention the raging headache… ow!”
She looked back at me. “Do not worry, my friend, they’ll be your best allies in the end”, “All you need for your aching head, is a nice sleep in a warm bed.” The woman smiled.
Sure.. I thought. I didn’t trust this strange woman. Not enough, at least.
The damp forest seemed more like a jungle, due to the strange plants, soggy ground, and huge trees in nearly every direction. With every step a Squash was heard, as we trekked under the canopy. After neary twenty minutes, we finally arrived at our destination. A tree. Ah, but this tree was different from all the others. Window panes flanked the large wooden door at the base, allowing light to pour out onto the doorstep. Along the sides of the house strange masks, chimes, and trinkets. It felt strangely homely in the middle of a gigantic, dark, forest such as the Everfree. She walked up to the door, and rummaged around in her pockets before producing a large, intricate key. The key slid klunkily in the lock, and with a ominous creak, she opened the door. The inside of her house was more or less stranger than the outside, with even more strange objects about the place, a cauldron in the main foyer, a kitchen with racks of spices and ingredients, potions and poisons all of them, some strange color. The sound of footsteps could be heard from the stairs.
“Zecora! Yer’ back!” A young girl, cried in excitement. Her hair was bright red, and atop her head, a huge red bow. She wore a pair of loose fitting jeans, a white and pink button-down plaid shirt, and a smile. She spoke in an extreme country accent, which was quite earsplitting the first time I heard it. Her smile faded, and was replaced with a look of Who the hell is this guy?
“Who’s this?” She finally asked.
The woman that escorted me turned to the girl with a look of surprise “Go up to your room Applebloom!” she shouted. The girl (Who’s name was probably Applebloom) took a glance at me, blushed furiously, then ran up the stairs. The woman (Presumably Zecora, from Applebloom’s greeting) led me to a table in the foyer.
“Can you Please tell me where I am, and what in Equestria is going on!?” I commanded, my voice stern, anger rising in it.
She turned around, and spoke with a wise voice, as she rhymed the prophecy that would forever haunt my life here.
“I have summoned you for a daunting task. You are the hero for which we ask. This land is falling into despair. So you must rescue it from evil’s snare!”
“What!!” I exclaimed, barely any of that made sense to me. Does she think I’m a hero or something?
Suddenly a voice, the voice of Applebloom spoke from the stairs.
“My friend Zecora, summoned the Hero. He’s supposed to save the people of Equestris in it’s time of darkness. The Hero is you.” She tried to avert her eyes as she chucked a pair of jeans at me.
“And put these on! Nobody wants to see your junk!” She scolded me, her blush quickly returning. I slid them on, quickly figuring out how to button and zip them.
“Oh Applebloom, you've grown up so soon…”
"I'm sorry, you must be very mistaken. I'm no hero."
"But you've got the mark! You just have to be!" Applebloom said.
I rolled up my sleeve to reveal my cutiemark. The winged sword. I was never sure when I attained this strange cutiemark, or what it even meant. I shook the thought off.
"So what? It still doesn't mean i'm some great hero!" I said. I still couldn't handle the idea of the prophecy.
"But it's the mark of the Hero!" Applebloom replied.
"Yes, her words are true. A hero's destiny is emblazoned upon you." Zecora spoke.
I finally took a seat and put my head in my hands. Oh, Indigo, what have you gotten yourself into? So much had happened in the last few minutes, I found it hard to gain a hold of reality. So many thoughts, so little time. Frustrated, I stood up, stormed upstairs, found the nearest room, shut and locked the door, and sat down on the bed. At the back of the room, a small window opened out to a view of the forest, but all I could really see were leaves. Around the picture were dozens of pictures tacked up to the wall, pictures of what I assumed to be relatives. They usually included an old woman, a younger woman that was older than Applebloom wearing a cowboy hat, jeans, cowboy boots, and a button down, and a large, muscular gold haired man who wore overalls and was usually seen holding something heavy.
This girl sure loves her family. I thought to myself. A few of the pictures fell off.
Knock! Knock! Someone knocked on the door before I could pick the pictures up
"Iv'e got yer' soup." Applebloom said plainly from the hallway. I walked over and opened the door for her. She was standing in the doorway, holding a wooden bowl full of steaming hot soup, her eyebrows furrowed.
"Now what was that fer' mister?" she scolded me, and walked in, placing the soup on a bedside table.
"Oh, and stay outta mah' room please."
"Sorry..." I replied, looking at the floorboards in embarrassment. Applebloom looked over at the pictures on the ground, and went over to pick them up
"You really shouldn't be lookin' in other people's things. It's rude." She scolded me again.
A few seconds passed as I watched her place the pictures back up on the wall.
"You're a long way from home." I said.
"Yeah..." She added. Applebloom walked over and sat on the bed.
"So are you."
Author's Note
No romance between Indigo and Applebloom. Just want to make that clear...
