Rebecca in Equestria

Chapter Deux

“Ow,” I hissed as I put a hand to the back of my head.

“Miss?” the horse thing said. My eye grew wide and I immediately began to scoot back as fast as I could away from it, until my back hit the wall, then I flattened myself against it. It hesitated then took another step forwards.

“B-back off!” I shouted, my voice wavering. I was breathing heavily through my nose and I kept eye contact with it. Thankfully, the horse thing took a step back.

“Ma'am, I need you to calm down,” it slowly said in a calm and gentle voice.

“I am calm!” I hissed at it. It muttered something I couldn't hear.

“Please miss, I need you to calm down,” it said again. I think it's a he, what with his manly voice. “I'm not going to hurt you.”

“What the hell are you?!” I yelled at him.

“If you will calm down, I will answer your questions,” he said. I opened my mouth to tell him I was calm again, but my brain had finally caught up with me.

It reasoned that I should stop yelling as it would get me nowhere. It sucked that my brain was right sometimes. I took a few deep breaths to calm myself.

“O-ok. I am calm,” I said with my inside voice. My voice shook a little still, and I was still breathing heavily, and I was still flattened against the wall, but not as much as before.

“Good, now as for your question as to what I am,” he said, a kind smile on his face, “I am a pony.”

“...a what?” I asked, perplexed.

“A pony, now what are you?” he asked, tilting his head to the side, like a curious child.

A question for a question? Alright.

“A human. What's your name?” I asked, getting more and more curious now that I was not freaking out. He wasn't all that scary actually.

“My name is Cuddle Buddy.”

Yeah no he's not scary at all. I though as I started to giggle softly. This seemed to peeve him a little.

“Well? What is your name?” he asked.

“Sorry, um, Rebecca, Rebecca Marsh,” I said, clearing my throat.

“And I have the funny name,” Cuddle Buddy muttered, just loud enough that I barely heard him. I decided to ignore that.

“So, am I dead or something?” I asked. Cuddle took a step forwards. “No! You stay where you are!” I quickly said. Cuddle widened his eyes but still took a step back.

“Ok, well no you're not dead-”

“Then how are you talking?” I interrupted him. It was his turn to be confused.

“Huh? What are you talking about?” he asked, with a raised eyebrow.

“You're talking, aren't you?” I asked.

“Yes, just as I have for years. But what do you mean how am I talking?” he asked.

“You are an animal, you shouldn't be talking,” I stated.

“Hmm, well I think one of the princesses would be better at answering that,” he said. He looked around for a second and let out a breath and sat on the floor. Just sat down, not getting a chair or anything. Though I suppose he wouldn't need a chair. “Any more questions?”

“If I’m not dead, then where am I?” I asked.

“Equestria.”

“Equestria?” I asked with a raised eyebrow. I was having a little trouble understanding. I let out a breath and unpeeled myself from the wall. I still leaned on the wall, but at least now I wasn't flat on it.

“How are you feeling?”

“Huh?”

“Any nausea, headaches, vision loss, anything?” he asked, an unreadable look upon his face.

“What?” I could only ask.

“I'm your doctor,” he said. He pointed to a badge on his coat. “See? This means I’m a doctor.”

“Oh,” I said. I shook my head, “I know.”

“You know?” Cuddle asked.

“Yeah, the doctors where I’m from do the same thing,” I said, sliding my knees to my chest, and hugging them. It was something that I did when I was in a situation I didn't understand.

“Hmm. So, anything? I need to know,” he said, concern in his voice now. I wasn't sure if it was true concern or not.

“Oh, um, a slight headache.”

“Is that all?”

“Well, the back of my head hurts,” I said, putting a hand to the back of my head and wincing slightly.

Cuddle stood up. “May I look?” he asked, gently.

“Um, sure?”

Cuddle smiled and took a step forwards. I didn't freak out so he started to slowly walk towards me. He was next to me in a few steps and I slowly turned by back to him. I could hear him hum lightly and gently brush my hair to the side. I flinched lightly but let him continue. He was surprisingly gentle with hooves.

“Well, there's no blood, and it doesn't look bad,” Cuddle said, stepping back. I turned back towards him. “But you are going to have a nice goose egg, and I imagine it didn't do much for your headache,” he said with a smile.

I found myself lightly chuckling. “Yeah.”

“Is there anything you need? Are you hungry?” he asked.

“I'm really thirsty,” I said.

“How about I get you some water, and get something for your headache?” he asked.

“Uh, yeah.”

“Great, would you like to get back in bed? Or you could just stay on the ground, whichever you prefer,” Cuddle said.

“I think I’ll get in bed,” I said with a small chuckle. I stood up and so did he. I moves to the bed and sat, while he went to the door.

“I'll be right back,” he said, flashing me a smile then he slipped out.

Then I was all alone again.

I didn't know what I was to do. I felt my phone through my pocket and dug it out. It had half battery life and... four bars? I quickly pulled up my contacts and hit a random contact to call and put it up to my ear.

“We're sorry. But the number you tried contacting-”

Out of habit I hung up.

Bullshit. She always has her phone activated. I thought to myself. I picked another contact but it said the same. I went through my whole contact list but it all said the same. I even tried the emergency numbers, but still nothing.

“Dammit!” I said, frustrated.

“Huh?” a voice asked making me jump. I looked over at where the voice came from and saw Cuddle was back, a trolly in front of him.

“Oh, uh, nothing,” I said, putting my phone back in my pocket. Cuddle rolled the trolly in front of me. It had a pitcher of water on it, next to a stethoscope and a paper cup with a pink round pill in it.

“Well, your water and painkiller,” Cuddle said. I grabbed the pitcher and refilled my cup that was on the nightstand. I picked up the pill but stopped, giving it a look.

“Don't worry, if we wanted to kill you, we could have when you were asleep,” Cuddle said, with a friendly smile, sensing my hesitation. Oddly enough it did ease my worry. I put the pill in my mouth and drank the water. Then I refilled my cup and drank another. Then another. And one more. Cuddle was watching me with an amused smile.

“Er, sorry,” I said, suddenly embarrassed.

“It's fine. May I?” he asked. I looked over and he held up the stethoscope. Well I guess the word would be held. It was just kinda stuck to his hoof, not falling off or anything.

“Uh, sure,” I said.

“Alright,” Cuddle put the ear pieces in his ears and put the other end on my back. “Breathe in,” I did, “and out,” again, I did. He did this in three other places and he was done. “Well, from what I can tell, you seem fine.”

“I feel fine, I guess,” I said.

“Well, I suppose now the princesses would want to meet with you,” he said, putting the stethoscope back on the trolly.

“What are they like?” I asked. I'm not sure why I asked this question first.

“Well, they both are a little taller than you, Princess Celestia is white with a diluted-”

“No no, I mean, like what are they like, personality wise?” I asked.

“Oh,” Cuddle said, a smile appearing on his face, “They are the kindest, most caring creatures this lovely planet could ask for.”

“Ah,” I said, a smile appearing on my own face. “Okay, I think meeting them would be a good idea.”

“Good, I will go get them,” Cuddle said, taking the handle in his mouth and turning to leave.

“Actually,” I spoke up, making him turn his head with an eyebrow raised, “could I come with you?”

“Of course,” he said. I stood up and walked towards him. I set my cup on the trolly and let out a breathe. “Nervous?”

“Uh, yeah,” I said, fiddling with my fingers.

“Don't be, nobody will hurt you,” Cuddle said with a smile. I smiled back and let out another deep breathe. “Could you get the door for me please?” I quickly opened the door and Cuddle went out and I followed.

The hall we walked into looked like normal hospital hallways. Clean, white tiles on the floor, clean, white walls with a few doors along them. Cuddle turned right and I followed. Even though I couldn't see any other ponies, I still walked kinda close to Cuddle. We walked a few feet and Cuddle stopped at a door, and scooted the trolly to the side.

“Come with me,” he said, walking further down the hall and I followed.

We took a left and I saw another pony. It was pink with a deep red mane that was pulled back into a ponytail, with a paper hat on its head that had a red cross on it, and a... horn on it's forehead? It was sitting behind a desk, reading something. It looked up when it heard our footsteps, and had the look of surprise on it's face.

“I'm taking Rebecca to see Princess Celestia, will you sign her out?” Cuddle asked, stopping at the desk.

The pony, I figure it's a she, snapped out of her dazed look and started to shuffle through the papers on her desk. She found a clipboard and her horn light up in a pinkish glow. A pen got engulfed in the pinkish glow and it lifted and started to scribble on the clipboard. I just kinda stared at it with wide eyes, not really believing in what I was seeing.

“Uh, I need you to sign here,” she said, the clipboard and pen floating in front of me. I silently grabbed it, my eyes still wide. I looked at the paper and saw an 'x' with a long line next to it. With a shaking hand I placed the pen in the line and wrote my signature. I handed it back to the pony and looked at Cuddle, who looked like he was holding back laughter.

“Thank you Tulip,” Cuddle said, walking away. I quickly followed him. We turned another corner and found a set of white double doors. He pushed one open and I quickly walked ahead of him, but stopped when I was suddenly greeted with grey stone walls, big windows letting in light, and a few wooden doors leading other places.

“Whats wrong?” Cuddle asked, suddenly by my side.

“Huh? Oh, nothing. I just wasn't expecting...this,” I said, raising my hand.

“Oh, well we keep the hospital cleaner than the rest of the castle,” Cuddle said.

Castle?

We continued to walk down the corridor and I could help but look out the windows. It looked like a big city out there.

“So, why did you freeze up?” Cuddle asked, suddenly.

“Huh?” I asked.

“You froze up when looking at Tulip,” Cuddle said.

“Oh, I just wasn't expecting... whatever that was,” I said.

“Magic?” he asked, looking up at me with a raised eyebrow.

“That was... magic?” I asked. It was my turn to raise an eyebrow.

“It was a basic levitating spell, yes,” Cuddle said.

“How?”

“How what?”

“How can she do magic?” I asked.

“Well, she's a unicorn.”

“A...unicorn?” I asked, hesitantly.

“Well yeah. Wait, do you know what a unicorn is?” Cuddle asked, stopping and looking up at me.

“Well, kinda,” I said with a shrug.

“Kinda?”

“Well, where I’m from, unicorns are mythical beasts,” I said, “and so are talking ponies! To be honest, I don't even know if I'm all right in the head right now!” Cuddle just gave me a puzzled look.

“What do you mean?” he asked.

“W-well, all this?” I asked, my voice shaking again, I raise a hand and gesture to all around us. “All this can only happen in a fairy tale!”

“Well, I can assure you that this is no fairy tail,” Cuddle said, sitting down.

“That's exactly what something from a fairy tail would say!” I argued. “This whole situation is completely ridiculous!”

“How so?”

“Well, where I am from this doesn't happen!”

“It doesn't happen here either.”

“Yeah but you have magic.”

“So?”

“So you can blame it on magic!”

“True,” Cuddle said, putting a hoof to his chin.

“See? You have that excuse. I don't.”

“You don't?”

“No. There is no magic where I'm from,” I said, letting out my breathe. I could feel my face getting red from my rant.

“Are you ok?” Cuddle asked, upon seeing my red face.

“Yeah I’m fine,” I said, taking a few deep breaths, trying to fan myself with my hand. “I get over heated really easily.” Cuddle just nodded. I took one last deep breath and straightened myself out.

“Ok, let's go meet the princesses,” I said.

“Just like that?” Cuddle asked.

“Yeah, just like that,” I said. Cuddle shrugged and stood and together we started to walk some more.

“So what else can I expect?” I ask after a few steps.

“Well there are three main races, earth ponies, like myself, unicorns, like Tulip, and pegasi, like this guard up here,” I looked forwards and saw a white pony in golden armor. I also saw white wings folded at his sides, and he was staring forwards. “Then we have other races like Griffons, dragons, alicorns-”

“Alicorns? Like the horn of a unicorn?” I asked, confused.

“No, an alicorn is a pony with both wings and a horn. They are very powerful beings and very rare. The Princesses are both alicorns and they have been here for thousands of years,” Cuddle said, shaking his head lightly. “I would tell you more, but I think that it would be best if the Princesses were to tell you themselves.”

“Right,” I said. “So what can you tell me of where I am?”

“Well you're in Equestria, city of Canterlot, Royal Castle, South wing,” Cuddle said said.

“Smartass,” I muttered. Cuddle heard and smiled. “How much further?”

“Not much further,” Cuddle said.

We walked for a little bit longer until we went through came upon a door that was elegantly designed. The door lead to a grand foyer of sorts, it was huge, with just as elegantly styled doors leading to more places, and a big set of wooden doors stood open to the outside, and across from it on the other side of the room was another set of big wooden doors that were closed. Two guards, each white in golden armor, stood at each door, as still as statues.

“Come on, just through these doors,” Cuddle said, walking to the big set of wooden doors that were closed. He stopped just before them and nodded to the guard on the left. The guard turned and cracked open the door and slipped inside for a few seconds before returning. He nodded once and returned to his post. Cuddle turned towards me and flashed me a smile. “Come on.”

Cuddle pushed open the door and walked in and I walked in after him. I was taken back at how amazing it looked. The walls were a pinkish purple with painted glass windows. The floor looked like a milky mirror, reflecting everything in a sort of distorted way. There were plain wooden doors on the wall to the left, and pillars along the walls. In the middle of the floor was a red carpet leading up to a throne.

There was one pony sitting on the throne, it's coat was as white as snow, her mane was long and billowing in the nonexistent wind, colored a diluted rainbow. It had golden things on her hooves and a golden collar around her neck. It also had a very kind smile on it's face. I could tell it was female, no male anything would look like that.

“Please rise,” she said in a motherly voice. I was slightly confused but then I looked over at Cuddle who was previously bowing.

“Princess Celestia, I'm sure you know why I am here,” Cuddle said, walking up to Celestia. I hesitantly followed. “Rebecca here has finally woken up.”

“Thank you, Doctor Cuddle,” Celestia said to Cuddle with a nod of her head. We stopped at the foot of her throne. Celestia turned her head to look at me and nodded her head at me. “It is a pleasure to finally get a chance to talk with you, my name is Celestia.”

“U-um, yeah! It's, uh, nice to meet you, Princess Celestia, my name is um, Rebecca, Rebecca Marsh,” I said, my voice shaking and my breath was heavy again. Clumsily bowed my head.

“Please, don't be so nervous,” Celestia said, her motherly voice and caring smile, calming me down some. I took a few deep breathes to help me calm down even more.

“Sorry, I just wasn't expecting...well any of this,” I said, my voice still wavering a little.

“Hmm?” Celestia hummed with an eyebrow raised slightly, prompting me to go into detail.

“Well, you know, waking up in a world that can't exist,” I said.

“Can't exist? I'm afraid I don't understand,” Celestia said, with a curious expression on her face.

“Well, where I’m from, somebody can't just be teleported or whatever it was that happened, to another world or dimension, or wherever the hell this place is. We don't have magic to blame it on. So this has to be a dream, but you can't feel pain in a dream, so this must be a hallucination, making this place nonexistent,” I said, my face heating up again.

“That could be true,” Celestia said with a nod of her head.

“...Huh?” I asked, perplexed.

“What you say could be true. You could be hallucinating all of this and I could just be a figment of your imagination,” Celestia said, a smile on her face.

“But are you?” I asked.

“Do you think I am?”

“I-I'm not sure.”

“Hmm,” she stood up and walked down from her throne, stopping in front of me. “Would you like to go for a walk with me?”

“Um, sure?”

Celestia just smiled and nodded her head.

“Princess?” Cuddle spoke up.

“Yes?”

“Am I excused?” he asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Of course,” Celestia said with a nod of her head. Cuddle gave me one last smile and he turned to leave. Celestia started to walk to the side of the room with the doors on them and I followed. She chose the door that was on the very end and opened it up with her magic. She smiled and swept her hoof, indicating that she wanted me to go first and I did. The hall looked much like the hall outside of the hospital and I just waited for Celestia. She walked through the door and started to walk to the right, and I quickly followed.

“So, how are you feeling?” she asked.

“Um, fine I guess,” I said. We walked a few more steps in silence.

“You seem to be handling this rather well,” Celestia said, taking a moment to look at me.

“Oh, well,” I could feel my cheeks turning red, “you might not say that if you were there when I woke up.”

“Oh?” Celestia asked, her smile turning into a smile of amusement.

“I may have screamed,” I mumbled, looking everywhere but at Celestia as my cheeks heated up. I heard Celestia giggle softly.

“Well, I imagine that I myself would scream if woke up in a world completely different from my own,” Celestia said, looking forwards again. We turned left.

“Is that what you think?” I asked.

“Hmm?”

“That this is a whole different world?”

“I thought that I was just a figment of your imagination?”

“Well, my mind is screaming at me to say that you are not real, but everything else is telling me that you are,” I said, shaking my head. “If you aren't real then I’ve gone crazy.”

“Well they say that the craziest are the most sane.”

“Who says that?” I asked.

“The crazy ponies,” Celestia said, chuckling.

“Oh,” I said. We walked for a few more seconds in silence. “So, do you know a way I could get back?”

“Hm?” Celestia hummed, turning towards me.

“Back home?”

“Oh,” Celestia said, her smile leaving her. She took a deep breath. “No.”

“...oh,” I said, my breath catching in my throat. Celestia stopped and turned towards me, putting a hoof on my shoulder.

“I am terribly sorry. Even if we were able to make a spell that would be able to take you back, we have no idea where your world is located at.”

“Oh,” I said again, a heavy weight settling in my stomach.

“But that doesn't mean that we won't look,” Celestia said with a smile. I smiled back but that's all I could do. Celestia took her hoof back and stood. “Come, I would like to show you were we found you, it's not far.”

I nodded and together we continued to walk.