Sempiternal

I woke up alone on the couch still wrapped up in the blanket. It was still daylight and the fire still burned brightly in the stone fireplace. Sitting up I see no sign of Fluttershy in the eerily quiet reading room. My clothes were dry and folded neatly on a coffee table beside the couch.

I scan the room again before getting up and hastily getting dressed. The pendulum clock at the corner of the room read a little after three. It seemed so weird that most of their technology was based on ours only it was slightly retro like Victorian era tech. I sit back down on the couch again in silence watching the fire before the sure sound of footsteps on the hardwood floor grabbed my attention.

I turn to see Fluttershy in the middle of the room grinning from ear to ear. She trots over to the couch next to me and asks sweetly. "Feeling better?" I smile and nod at her before standing back up to stretch out my arms. She then asks if I would follow her into the dining room to meet her friends. I try to hide my nervousness from her with a smile and followed behind as she trotted back to the dining room.

Now I wasn't much for being very social and was quite awkward and shy around groups. But took a deep breath through my nose and out my mouth and helped to settle my anxiety somewhat. it couldn't be so bad I thought. As we walk through the library even more I am still intrigued of how they managed to fit all of the furniture and the entire space itself in this moderately sized tree.

She stops at a stained Oak door and gently nudges it open before we entered. Once inside I was in awe at the elegant decor of the room. A Crystal chandelier hung sparkling with the light of the sun giving it a angelic glow that reflected off the ceiling. It overhang a massive wooden round table with twelve matching chairs. All the china was stored in a elaborately decorated Cherry wood cabinet on display with the two toned wallpaper of White and Regal Purple topping off the accent of the room.

I look at the ponies sitting at the table staring back at me with complete silence in Twilight's dining room. I could feel their intrigue their wonder and their fear as if they wore it like a bad cologne. I only recognized the Orange and Blonde one from earlier as I took a seat at the other end of the table opposite them by my lonesome not even taking my eyes off them for a second.

Twilight introduced the others as Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Applejack. They all looked worlds apart in terms of colors and personality as I would find out later. I introduced myself to them before Twilight laid the awful truth on me.

"Koba is it" she said "Where exactly did you come from?" I tap my hand nervously on the table before my response. "Russia" My home country is Russia." She squints her eyes at me before she said back in a matter a factual manner. " Thats what Fluttershy said but I looked all over the map and even asked our Princess Celestia if such a land existed. She has never heard of such a place either."

I ask politely for the map when she nods and levitated it over to me when I looked it over I almost passed out from shock. It wasn't just an island in the middle of nowhere as I had thought earlier. They knew of the Earths continents and named them. Some looked a little distorted and misshapened but North and South America were still clearly visible. In fact the only thing different was that Africa had moved up to join Europe.

I ask Twilight were we were on the map and she levitated a quill and pointed at were France would be. Now I was even more confused than ever and couldn't help myself but ask. "Are you sure any of you have never seen more like me?" They all shake their heads no and it left me in a self induced stupor as I became lost in thought.

I just sit staring at the map blankly like I was a zombie. I hear one of them clear their throat before I looked back up at them. Twilight looked even more confused now than ever and she asked. "How did you get here? In Equestria I mean?"

I figured they would find out sooner our later so I sighed deeply and made my explanation very clear to all of them. "I was on my way to court martial and public execution in Moscow our capital city for the killing of my superior officers. On the way there we were shot down by the Americans whom we are at war with at the time. When the plane crashes in the middle of a forest they must have took me prisoner and I woke up in a laboratory of some kind in the mountain range of the forest that Fluttershy found me in months after. I almost ate her after she fell into a trap I built due to the fact that all the bushes and trees had lost the food I depended on when winter came. I let her go and she was nice enough to let me stay at her house just a day ago.

All their eyes got huge and had tiny dialated pupils. As if they choreographed it together they all turned their heads to Fluttershy who wished then she could turn invisible by cringing in her chair. Twilight's voice got really soft and explains to her.

"Fluttershy I know your the element of kindness and you would bend over backwards to help somepony in need. But what are you doing bringing a dangerous creature like him to our town? Did you know about this, about what he has done?" Fluttershy nervously shakes her head yes and Twilight tries to reason with her.

"He was probably left for dead in the forest by his kind wherever they came from as punishment. You have to send him back he's too much of a risk to everyponies safety." It was all quiet for only but second before Fluttershy starts bawling and crying and hid her face in her forelegs in the table.

I really wouldn't have minded at that point if they sent me back to the forest. Being stuck in a world with talking ponies just seemed too much for me and if I had to die I would want to be alone anyway. Twilight tries to comfort Fluttershy when she looked up and pleaded with her. "Please Twilight don't do this please. You saw how he saved Sweetie Belle' s life today. He at the very least should be given a chance to live among us. There is no evil in him and I can prove it to you if you just give me some time."

She resumes her sobbing and Twilight looked back at the other four mares for their opinion on the matter. They showed hesitation but they all nodded in agreement before Twilight made the final decision. She looks at me with a death glare and announced. "As the elements of harmony of Equestria we have all decided that you shall be allowed to stay with us but be aware. Any infraction of our laws major or minor will be punishable by exile. I trust for Fluttershy' s sake and yours too that your really not evil and charge her with the task to show you proper pony behavior."

Fluttershy shot her head up and still sobbing she wrapped her front legs around her friend and repeated to her over and over again. "Thank you Twilight thank you. I wont let you down." I was honestly surprised that this little creature stood up for me and spared me certain death back in the forest. She really didnt owe me anything. Twilight looks back at me and asks. "This "lab" you spoke of earlier. Could you perhaps find your way back and show us all? It could help us find out what you are and how you came to be here."

I nod and just cut to the chase "Of course when do you want to go?" She tells me we will leave in the morning and will meet us at Fluttershy' s cottage. I really didnt want to go back to that cavern but they was offering to help me so I agreed. It was starting to get dark but before we left I had a meet and greet with the other four of their friends. They were quite nervous around me but it didn't stop them from asking general questions and killed a few minutes of time they talked mostly about my physical features and looked down when I felt a nudge at my side. It was the White unicorn mare I knew as Rarity. Her midnight Blue eyes looked up at me and sparkled in the dim light of the room almost hypnotizing me when she asks. "Could you maybe get down to eye level with me? I would love to see your face a little better."

I couldn't see the harm in it and kneeled down to her height on the tile floor. Her head was inches from mine and I can feel her warm breath on my face before she caught me completely by surprise when she wraps her forelegs around my neck and pressed her head and soft wet lips up to mine. I didn't blink even once as it seemed to last almost forever before she released me and pressed the side of her head against mine as she whispered in my ear. "Thank you so much darling for saving my Sweetie Belle she means everything to me. If you need anything, anything at all don't hesitate to ask."

My face had turned seven shades of red and sweat started to bead down my forehead. Applejack and Rainbow Dash wolf whistled as loud as possible echoing throughout the room making the moment even more uncomfortable for me. She sets her self down and just gives me the most devious smile to top it off. I could have just read what she was thinking but figured is was best to keep out maybe I don't want to know what was behind that grin. As a matter of fact the only one I couldn't link with in the room was Fluttershy for some reason. It was a good thing I can choose when to read minds but can sense what their feeling at the moment because it would drive me insane to have everyones thoughts constantly pop into my mind.

Fluttershy's timing couldn't have been more perfect when she asked if I was ready to go back to her house to get some rest. I look at her with urgency printed all over my face and nodded. We then walk back to the reading room and I grab the thick black plates of armor by the fireplace and hastily strap them on in a matter of a few seconds.

They talked about the plan for tomorrow in the reading room as I stood quietly by the door. When Fluttershy made her way back to me and was ready to go I pick up the rifle I left at the doorway and follow her out as she walked outside to a very dreary and cold outside.

It was just about dark with the orange sun barely visible to the west and the snow was gently falling in a flurry over a peaceful landscape of small houses and shops with warm low light from lanterns burning in the windows . The trees were covered in a thick sheet of ice giving them a beautiful luster. It was just us two walking on the main street with only our footsteps making sound.

Fluttershy finally broke the silence between us and said before she started to giggle "I see you made yourself a new friend." I looked down at her with a blank and serious expression and replied "It's not funny." She could see my irritability and confusion and tried to explain Rarity's situation. " After her parents died in a balloon crash when Sweetie Belle was only two years old she's the only family Rarity has left now. It broke her heart when they died but she found the strength to carry on and raise Sweetie Belle by herself and care for her like any parent would. She was just thanking you for saving her that's all I dont think she didn't meant to embarrass you like that."

Hearing that really made me bummed out. I could relate to her because I know what its like to have your parents ripped away so suddenly. With no sympathy I had answered back "I wasn't embarrassed I was just surprised thats all."

We past the town gates and into the woods that the trail cut through. It really looked creepy with the leafless trees making odd shapes in the mooonlight. All we heard was the crunching of snow from each other before I asked her a question that was burning me since this morning. "Fluttershy" I said she then looks up at me and smiles and said in her usual quiet tone. "Yes" I squint my eyes a bit and asked. "I didn't say anything strange in my sleep last night did I?"

She shakes her head no and said back. "Not really I only heard bits and pieces but it sounded like you were having an awful nightmare." I nod my head and we continued down the trail past Applejack's farm and finally made it back to her cottage.

We get inside the warm inviting and I take off the excess gear and set it off to the side by the door when Fluttershy says to me. " I'm going to take a bath before I make us something to eat you must be starving after today. Please just make yourself at home."

She goes upstairs and I took it upon myself to prepare the food. It couldn't be so hard I thought. I walk into the kitchen when I saw the small beady eyed white furball that Fluttershy named Angel. He flees at the very sight of me and left me alone in the kitchen thinking what a strange little creature he was.

The kitchen was setup like any other. It had a sink a wood stove and an Ice box. I set out the white porcelain plates from the cabinet on the table. I then grabbed some of the food from the fridge and began to slice it on an cutting board and set it on a serving tray.

It took no time at all to have it all finished and to clean everything up before Fluttershy walked inside the kitchen and gasped excitedly. "Oh my! You didnt have to do that!" I looked at her smiled and said. "I just wanted to say thanks for what you did today. Nobody sorry I mean nopony has ever stood up for me like that before."

Even through her butter Yellow coat I can see her face blush as she tries to hide it with her long Pink mane. "It wasn't a problem at all" she said softly and took a seat opposite me at the table. Her plain looking kitchen was silent for a few minutes before she gulped and asked me in the middle of eating. "I was just wondering do you have to eat meat to live?"

I choked on my food a little bit but answered her question with full honesty." Ive seen so much blood and death of my own people that even the thought of eating meat makes me sick to my stomach. If it is not necessary to my survival I won't kill any living to eat."

Her eyes got huge and dilated but she tries to hide her disgust from me and nods before she said "You don't have to worry. As long as your here with me I'll make sure your well fed and healthy." I couldn't help but gleefully smile at the tiny Yellow and Pink Pegasus that saved my life. I've only known her a few days but never in all my life have I experienced such unbreakable kindness from any living being Human or Pony. She was trying so hard to understand me and really appreciated her concern.

We both finish eating and I assist in helping to clean up and wash the dirty plates and put them away before we both head back to the living area of the cottage to relax for awhile for dinner settle in our stomachs. I sat on the velvet couch next to her while she read a book. The living area had a nice cozy feeling and was so warm and calming I couldn't help myself but yawn rudely while stretching out my arms.

She looks up at me with a smile away from her book and smiled "You read my mind." She said I couldn't help but chuckle a bit when she said that. When she asks whats so funny I just brush it off. "It's nothing nothing at all." She gets off the couch and puts her book away on the shelf.

She looks back at me and said "You can find your way back to your room can't you?" I cracked a smile and nodded back at her. "We got a big day ahead of us tomorrow. Please try to get some sleep " she said blinking her eyes rapidly.

I follow her up the stairs and to the hallway that led to our rooms. She follows me to the door leading to mine in the dark and nudges it open for me." Here you are Koba you have a good night sweetheart." I walk into the plain plain and sparsely decorated room and shut the door behind me. It was way too warm for clothes in her house so I peeled them all off and set them on a night stand before I slipped naked under the blanket on the soft and plush mattress.

Sleep was almost impossible to avoid even after my nap earlier this afternoon. I tried to count backwards from 100 and only made it to 83 before sleep had taken hold of me. It put me in a state of bliss before the nightmares started to surface again.

They would start blurry and faded before they went full spectrum and vivid almost as if I was reliving all the most terrible moments of my life unfold again. The dreams were perpetual and would just keep coming becoming more and more intense when I thought they was over. My body wouldn't allow me to wake up from this misery that was my own mind and left me lay there on the bed tossing and turning.