Chapter 1: Lost and Found
I remember... I got hit by a car, I should be dead right now, I don't know where I am; I haven't even opened my eyes yet but I definitely don't feel dead. All I really know right now is that the wind is blowing across my face and I feel uncomfortably dry, I feel like my skin could crack at any moment. I take my time opening my eyes, I'm almost afraid to; I don't want to deal with the world right now, I just want to rest, but I cant because I need to figure out what happened and where I am. Slowly my eyes open and I see something that confuses me.
The clouds, they're different; almost cartoon-like with thick swirls and curls, I really have no idea what to make of this but I can say with certainty that it isn't normal; what I consider normal at least. My thoughts are cut short by a sudden tiredness that washes over me; like when you stay up for the longest time and you reach the point where you just cant keep your eyes open any more, it's an irresistible urge to just sleep and I'm powerless against it, I fight it as hard as I can but slowly give in and fall unconscious again.
~~~~~~~
The bell signalling the end of the school day rang and a flood of fillies and colts swarmed through the door, as the crowd cleared three little ponies deep in conversation came walking out.
"I'm telling you girls, if we do this right we're sure to get our Cutie Marks." Scootaloo said with an enthusiastic grin on her face.
Applebloom frowned at this "Ah don't know Scootaloo, didn't we already do something similar last month?" she asked sceptically.
"Yeah," Sweetie Belle added "and you remember how well that turned out right?"
"I know, I know" Scootaloo sighed "but this time it'll be different, I promise." she called as began galloping down the road and gesturing for them to follow, all they could do was glance at each other and shrug before following their overly enthusiastic friend.
Later...
The Cutie Mark Crusaders made their way up a hill on the outskirts of Ponyville, Scootaloo stopped walking and looked back at her friends. "We're here!" she stated loudly.
"Where exactly is here?" Sweetie asked with a confused look on her face "all I see is an ordinary field."
"This isn't an ordinary field, this is..."
"What the hay is that?!" Applebloom cut in while pointing behind them, Scootaloo and Sweetie turned to look; only to see a lone tree.
"That's a tree you dummy!" Scootaloo giggled
"Not that, there's something under it." Applebloom replied.
The three approached the strange being laying under the tree. Once close enough they managed to get a good look at it, it looked like somepony had sown a bunch of sacks together, stuffed them full of hay and dressed it up. It was wearing dark green pants, a dull brown hat kinda like Applejack's only a little torn up and a scruffy navy blue jacket. The thing had bits of hay poking out all over the place and a stitched mouth, it's long legs each had five blunt claws on them and it's chest rose and fell slowly; indicating that it was alive.
"What do you think it is?" Sweetie asked nervously.
"Ah don't know but whatever it is, it's creepy." Applebloom visibly shivered
"I'm gonna poke it." Scootaloo said cheerfully.
"I don't think that's a good..." Sweetie Belle started but Scootaloo had already bounced up and onto it's chest and started poking it's face.
"Nothing to worry about; its not even awake." she turned to them and smiled.
"Uh Scoots, maybe you should get off of that thing now." Applebloom said seriously "It could wake up any minute."
"Whatever you guys are no fun." Scootaloo dismissed their concerns with the wave of a hoof. However when she turned around to start poking the thing again it's eyes were open; staring right at her. It's eyes were empty blackness aside from two small green dots that were completely focused on her, all she could manage was a tiny yelp.
~~~~~~~
'What the hell am I seeing?' I wake up to find a small orange animal sitting on my chest and its just staring at me, It doesn't make any attempt to move; just sits there with a look of pure terror on its face. I swear it was talking a second ago, maybe I can communicate with it. I attempt to say a simple hello but all that comes out is a muffled growl, I seem to have scared the little animal even more with this but that is the least of my concerns 'Why cant I talk?'. I attempt to move my arm; this makes the animal flinch, its a bit of a struggle but I eventually get it up to my face in order to feel my mouth.
Okay I definitely have a mouth I just cant use it, it feels as if my mouth has be sown shut. Another weird thing I notice it how rough my skin feels; like its made of cloth or something, I take a look at my hands and my eyes widen in shock they look like they were made from old potato sacks, I try to scream but quickly remember that I can't, now I want to scream even more dammit. I go into a state of internal panic; thoughts rushing through my head at a thousand miles per hour.
After shrugging off that little episode I finally decide that I'm probably dead, this is just the afterlife. Well whatever; cant be any more boring than my old life, I shudder at the thought of that boring; routine lifestyle. I'm dragged abruptly from my thoughts as I feel a prodding in my chest, I refocus on reality and see the creature from earlier is staring down on me; fear replaced with curiosity. Without the ability of speech I'd have to settle for the next best thing, I smile and wave.
I sit under a tree and think, the animal from earlier seems to have two friends and they're huddled together; speaking in hushed tones. I pay little attention to the creatures and instead admire my surroundings, this place is so surreal, almost like it came right of a picture book. Everything is really colourful here but I don't mind, it makes a nice contrast to the dull greys of London.
I try thinking back to my past, maybe I could make sense of how I got here but I everything is so difficult to piece together. My name is Mark, I don't use any other names; just Mark. I'm a twenty-one year old university student who lives alone in an empty apartment in London, and I died to save my young niece from some retard who doesn't know how to drive. Everything just goes black after that and I wake up here, that's all I can remember.
I come back to reality to find that nothing has changed, the small animals are still talking with one another and a cool breeze causes the tail on my jacket to flutter around, one of the small creatures; the white one with violet and pink hair glances at me and shivers, its adorable and I can't keep myself from smiling at the little things.
~~~~~~~
"Can you believe this? We literally discovered a new creature," Scootaloo whispered excitedly while bouncing up and down on her hooves "and it waved at me!" she finished with a giddy expression on her face.
"Yeah, can you imagine how impressed everypony'll be?" Sweetie squeaked with slightly less enthusiasm.
Applebloom shook her head "I don't know if we can trust it, what if it hurts somepony? she glanced at her friends with a worried look.
Sweetie Belle lost all of her excitement at the thought "What if you're right, then it'd be our faults." she turned to look at the creature and it smiled back at her, she shivered at the thought of it causing harm.
"Aw c'mon it doesn't look that tough, I bet Rainbow Dash could take it in a fight any-" Scootaloo suddenly went silent and stared behind her friends, as they followed her gaze and were shocked to see the creature standing at its full height.
The creature was huge and was looking around at the countryside, It was at least seven feet tall and it's bulky upper body and broad shoulders gave it an intimidating aura. The three fillies stared up at it with awed and almost fearful expressions, even all of their heights added together would only reach it's torso given that they where all around one and a half feet tall.
"Maybe we should talk to it?" Sweetie Belle suggested nervously, the others nodded reluctantly and began to approach the creature.
The creature was still staring into the distance when the Crusaders approached, Scootaloo was the one to speak up "Uhm, h-hello Mr. creature?" It turned and looked down at them "well um we were wondering who or what are you, because we haven't ever seen anything like you before in Equestria." she mumbled nervously.
It smiled at her and crouched down in front of them; causing the crusaders to flinch slightly, it put a hand on the ground and started drawing crude letters. When it was finished there was one word, 'Gareth'.
"That supposed to be a name?" Scootaloo asked sceptically, she got a nod in reply.
Gareth then pointed at the three fillies and tilted his head in a questioning manner.
Applebloom stepped forward "Well I'm Applebloom, an this here is Scootaloo, and that's Sweetie Belle." she listed; pointing to each crusader in turn.
Gareth smiled and chuckled, Scootaloo seemed to take offence to this and stomped up to him "Something funny, big guy?" she growled. Gareth shook his head and backed away, his body language showing mock fear. The others giggled but Scootaloo thought it was genuine and turned away, "good".
~~~~~~~
'They have weird names.' I think to myself before realizing that the one called Scootaloo has already marched off and her friends are running to catch up with her. I don't really know what else to do so I decide to follow in the hopes of getting more information about this place, maybe I can find a mirror and get a better look at my body, I can tell its not the same one I used to have but it is similar. As I walk I begin listing the differences between my previous body and this one, for one my skin is a lot rougher now, my mouth is stitched shut, and I think I'm taller by about a foot, for now that's all I can think of.
Later...
I walk with my eyes on the ground, deep in thought. I feel so different from how I used to my senses all work differently now, my hearing is a little worse than it used to be but everything else is better, for instance my eyes now let me see things in much better detail regardless of distance and I can feel even the slightest breeze on my skin. All I can say is that it takes some adjusting. I look up to find myself lagging behind, the three fillies are walking into a small wood. Not wanting to get lost I pick up the pace and soon find myself shaded by branches, beams of light shine through the gaps in the leaves and small dust particles swirl around and I instantly find myself distracted by the beautiful sight.
I hear a splash and look down to find myself ankle deep in cold fresh stream water, the three fillies can't be that far away so I crouch down and dip my hands in and scoop up the water. As I peer into the liquid I see my reflection and after a moment it hits me, I'm a scarecrow.
