Chapter 2: Vision

"L...t go..."

"......t? A...re yo... Crazy?!"

The surrounding darkness suddenly gave way to a bright flash of light as Twilight struggled to regain her senses. Her hazy sight and her muffled hearing was suddenly flooded with bright colors and distinct, unidentifiable sounds. But the position the confused alicorn found herself however, just caused her to panic more. There she was, on an edge of a cliff with her back hooves flailing desperately to get back on land.

She tried to flap her wings, but realized that she couldn't feel them. Looking back, she saw the reason why: They were not there.

Panic seized her once more as she found herself in this helpless situation. It was only than she realized that there was somepony in front of her.

She was an orange coated mare with cream colored mane and tail. She had bright green eyes and wore a Stetson hat atop her head. On her flank was an image of three apples, one above the rest.

Twilight, upon seeing this mare, froze and wondered on why she looked so familiar. That orange coat... And those green eyes, I know I've seen her somewhere! But where exactly?! Why can't I remember?! Twilight's train of thoughts was broken as the mare began to speak.

"No Ah ain't. Ah promise you'll be safe." She said confidently in a strange, yet motherly country accent.

"That's not true." Twilight protested against her own will.

"Now, listen here," She said softly, her eyes displaying only confidence and sincerity. "What Ah'm sayin' to ya is the honest truth. Let go, and you'll be safe."

Twilight looked up at the mare. That look she was giving... It displayed certainty, and truth. Nothing else. Twilight right now, wanted nothing more than to believe her, but she was not certain if this mare was really telling the truth, or simply holding a fake mask. But she felt her hooves slipping.

She needed to think, and fast. Will I trust her?! Should I trust her?! Twilight thought frantically, her eyes wide with fear. But the words of the orange mare came back to her. 'Let go. Ah promise you'll be safe.'

Sighing inwardly in defeat, she closed her eyes and heeded the orange mare's words. She let go. And she regretted it.

What?! No! She thought in panic, flailing her hooves violently.

She screamed loudly in fear, her eyes screwed shut. And as quickly as it had begun, her descent stopped. Opening her eyes, she noticed two pegasi lifting her carefully, saving her from what could have been a horrible ending. But before she could get a good look at them, Their features began to shine in a bright white light, blinding her, as everything faded into darkness.

No, please! Twilight screamed in her mind, wanting to see what would happen next. I need to see more...! But her dream consciousness soon faded, leaving her once again in darkness.

"Hey, Hey! Look! Guys! I think she's waking up!" A high pitch voice squealed in delight, causing Twilight to flinch. What an unpleasant way to be woken up... She groaned, her ears ringing from the high pitched voice.

"Now back off. You don't want to startle her into attacking-- like what happened last time." Another voice commanded sternly, putting an emphasis on the last phrase.

Twilight swore she heard a soft whine of protest after that.

"yes, mister Stormfell." a chorus of voices said in sync before breaking of into random chatter.

Groaning, Twilight opened her eyes and scrambled weakly to her hooves. She frowned. Her vision was blurry, so she was unable to make out who, or rather what was in the room with her. She blinked a few times and smiled inwardly as her vision cleared.

Looking around, she realized she was in a cave, and was sitting on a hay bed. She frowned again. But why hay? Odd...

She than proceeded to the decors. A few plant pots were hanging in the walls, and six beds were scattered everywhere in the small space of the cave. Near the mouth of the cave there was a small stone fountain, and crates of what seemed to be berries beside it.

No door... Don't they worry about intruders or something? She thought to herself. She suddenly felt a jolt of pain in her wing, and turned to look at it. She winced. It was wrapped tightly in white cloth, (Not bandages. Those don't exist in this low-tech pokemon world.) and seemed to have been smeared with some sort of light bluish ointment. The feathers, some of which were not covered with cloth, were ruffled and still had traces of blood.

This feels... Stiff. Yet comfortable. Twilight thought to herself.

"Ow!" something yelped, and Twilight abruptly turned her head to face the pony, or rather, creature in this case. She had forgotten she wasn't alone.

"Cresceeent!" The same voice hissed warningly. "Stop poking for Arceus' sake!"

"Eh, what?" Twilight asked out loud, dumbfounded. Who in Celestia's name is Arceus? Twilight paused, becoming more confused. And who in this wide world is Celestia? Her attention was drawn back to the two arguing creatures.

"It's not my fault I'm bored, Avene." The other creature snorted. He was a brown, fox-like creature with long rabbit like ears and a furry cream-colored collar. His eyes were deep black, and he wore a blue bandana around his neck.

"Well than, go poke someone else!" Avene snapped rudely, jabbing him with a wing. She was a purple bat with gray fur on her body and legs, and two black claws on each wing. She had large ears and had golden, intimidating eyes, and wore a blue scarf with a strange badge pinned on it around her neck. She also carried a small pouch tied around her waist, but only Celestia knows what is inside that thing.

There it is again... That name... Twilight thought, her frustration rising. Who in the wide, wide world is Celestia anyway?! But her name sounds familiar... Twilight thought, surfing her memories. None seemed to be useful, though, because her mind was bare except for her recent memories. Where were the first days of her life???

"Always me! Why always me?" Avene grumbled loudly, folding her wings.

"Because you're the easiest to annoy." Crescent, pointed out. "That, and you happen to be right beside me." This comment caused a few of the other creatures present to snicker softly.

"Why you...!" Avene growled, preparing to pounce at Crescent. "You better run now, or else!" She threatened, tightening the knot of the pouch tied around her waist.

"Nah. I'm no coward." Crescent said nonchalantly. "Bring it on, AV." He sneered, putting up a stance. Twilight watched with interest. The fox's body was lowered, his left front paw was outstretched, in front of his body, while his right front paw was beside his body, bent. His head was lowered, and his ears were halfly lowered behind his head. His back paws were separated from each other, which Twilight guessed was for maintaining his balance.

But before the two creatures can break into a fight, another creature interrupted.

"Now, now, Making a scene right in front of our guest, huh?" He said in a disapproving tone. "Well than, go take your petty squabbles someplace else! You're gonna scare the living souls out of our new friend here."

"Sorry." Crescent said half-heartedly.

"Sorry." Avene said more sincerely, but scowled at Crescent.

The new creature gave Crescent a penetrating stare, and shook it's head disapprovingly. He was a large, falcon-like creature, with orange feathers on his head and wings, but gray feathers on the rest of his body. Orange dots decorated his gray feathers, giving him a fiery look. He had a single long horn protruding out of the back of his head, and his talons were yellow. His tail feathers were black with yellow stripes, and his yellow eyes looked alertly and cautiously at everything around him.

Crescent flinched under the pressure of the stare, and whined softly in apology. The falcon averted its gaze to Twilight and stared at her in interest.

Twilight gulped, and glanced quickly at the cave's mouth in case she needed to make a run for it.

But eventually, the falcon got bored.

"Alright, kids. I'm done here. Got some things to do, so watch over her while I'm gone." He said hurriedly before scurrying awkwardly over to the cave's mouth and taking flight.

"What?! No! But we don't know a thing about medics and first aid!" Another creature in the room frantically called out after the falcon, but he had already gone. He was a small, yellow furred, fuzzy spider, with surprisingly, only four legs. He had bright blue eyes, and had a blue cloth tied around his left front leg. A strange looking badge was pinned to it.

"He groaned. "Guys, what now? Stormfell just left us, Eniga and Shriker are out berry picking, and we don't know a thing about caring for a sick pokemon!"

"I'm not sick." Twilight protested, catching the attention of the spider. "I'm injured."

"Same thing, right?" He asked, confused.

"No it isn't." Avene said, groaning. "Did you even go to school?"

"Nope."

"No wonder. And why is Eniga and Shrike out berry picking a problem?"

"Because it's been three hours and they aren't back yet, and Eniga probably knows a few stuff on first aid."

"No she doesn't."

"I said probably."

Twilight ignored the two creatures and stood up, stretching her legs and good wing. They felt stiff, and Twilight found herself longing to go outside for some exercise.

"Oh, shut it, you two. Your lame argument is driving me crazy." Crescent moaned, flatting his ears against his skull.

"Says the guy who likes arguing with AV." the fuzzy spider teased.

"Shut up, Voltrex." Crescent growled. Twilight found herself disliking this fox.

"Um, I would like to go out for some fresh air if you... Guys don't mind." Twilight said hastily and briskly trotted out of the cave.

"Wait!" Voltrex called after her.

"yes..?" Twilight asked, unsure on why she is even talking to this creature. I'll have to ask for answers later on. She silently thought.

"Stormfell asked us to watch over you, soo..." he said nervously, scratching the dirt lightly. Twilight gave him a just-spit-it-out look and Voltrex shied away.

"Mistrylle, can you just go with her, please?" He called into the cave.

"Sure, Trex!" a new voice said timidly, floating out of the cave. Her form was indescribable, being a small floating blue-green creature with small red spheres around her neck. Her short, wavy, hair was pink at the tips, and her eyes were red. She had no accessories, unlike the rest of the team.

Oh, great. He's even assigning a bodyguard. Twilight thought, moaning inwardly at the thought. This is gonna be a looong and strange day....