I awoke to unbearable cold. My hand laid steady across from me, bruised from who knows what. In fact, this was all still a blur. I knew nothing of what had happened the previous day.I tried my best to remember but if was no use. That was all I could recall, nothing else.
My body was resting, laying on the floor, my back curved. I began to bend up but as I did my back creaked in distress. I must have been like this for a long time because that was the loudest crackle I have ever heard. I stood up but barely, where ever I was, there was hardly any room. I had to keep my back slightly bended witch was painful. It was dark and quiet. I felt the walls around me. They were bars, steel bars. The first thought that went through my head was that I was in jail. The rest of my thoughts tried to uncover an explanation for this.
"Was I drunk?" I thought to myself. I hardly ever got drunk and when I did it was usually with friends or during almost every new years eve party. If I was that could explain my memory loss and the jailing. I walked up to the door of my enclosure. It was locked shut. I sighed as I crawled back to my previous position. The cell was desolate. Their didn't lay a single piece of deserted trash or random things like that.
"My friends better bail me out cause I'm pretty sure they got me into this mess." A smile beamed across my face, thinking of all the fun I probably had yesterday. I tilted my head up, but as i did i noticed the cage was shaped strangely. I rocketed up to my feet finding that this jail wasn't as it seemed. The roof curved in like a bird cage. At this time I felt like an abused animal, being thrown into a cage and being left with no food or water. It was still dark but I could make out my position in the cage. It was sitting on the floor. I though for a bit and figured out an escape plan. Okay, not exactly the 'escape' plan more or less the 'get out of cage' plan. The cage door its self felt pretty weak. I felt my way to one side of the cage, and then rammed the other. The cage rocked to one side but only to be counteracted by my weight on the other. The sound that was emitted echoed through the room signaling I had little time left. Again I rammed the cage but this time I acted quick and struck the opposing side as the other neared the ground. I was thrown down and then started to roll around in the cage. It took what felt like an eternity for it to stop rolling but when it did I saw my chance. I tried feeling out the cage door and found it right above me. I bent down legs up and aimed for the door. I sprang up, my legs penetrated the door as its loose hinges fell to the floor causing more noise. The door was gone lost in the darkness forever. I emerged from the cage. It felt much better to stand up straight. I had wanted to stay a bit to stretch out and relive the tension on my body but before I could even think to bend down, the doors behind me thrust open and light illuminated the room. I took no time to think but only to act. There was another door in front of me. I began running, as fast as I could. I had made it to the door, I reached to push them open and as they did so I heard a voice behind me.
"Don't let it escape!" The voice was obviously female but there was a great tone of anger and distress. I pushed the thought to the back of my head and focused of getting out. As I continued running I noticed nothing around me but only the direction of the maze like corridors. "
A dead end!" I said to myself as I took a turn, the wall taunted me revealing nothing but a blank wall. I turned back and entered the hallway I had previously gone from. As I continued improvising my escape route I found myself surrounded in the hallway on both sides. I took no time in finding a way out as a door was right in front of me. I burst through the door and continued running. The room was wide and tall, stained glass windows covered both sides of the room and a throne sat kingless in the back. I realized there was only one door in this room and at was guarded but I again took no time to examine the guards. Going towards the door would be a mistake as I would surely be caught. The only other option was the windows which led to either escape or immanent death. I was ready to take my chances. I ran towards the window in the middle and braced for impact. All I heard were the sounds of glass shattering as time seemed to slow down. I could feel myself gaining speed. I thought that is was the end. I closed my eyes and prepared for whatever life threw at me next. One second I was in the air, the next I was submerged in water. Dazed and confused, the impact from the water bruised my ribs. I tried my best to swim to the surface. As my lungs could barley hold on any longer, I reached the surface. As I continued floating, my body aching from pain, I noticed I was in a river. The river was going at a steady pace. I tried to stay awake despite the pain and the fall but it was no use. I blacked out.
I awoke from my deep sleep. My body had stopped floating down the river and was caught in a riverbank. I stood up slowly, the pain from my bruised ribs slowed my accent. The rest of my body was full of cuts and bruises. It was morning, early morning. I was glad I haven't been found by any search party. I continued up the river bank. the pain from my ribs began going away but it was still unbearable. As I reached the the end of riverbank, I was greeted by the face of a forest. I looked around for anyone who could possibly help me. There was nothing but the intimidating forest and grass plains. I wasn't going to risk getting caught in the open so I decided to go through the forest and hopefully find out where I am. I staggered deep into the forest. It seemed like there were endless rows of trees. I have been traveling for a while until my stomach started growling.
"I suppose I could take a breather" I said to myself. I sat down in front of a tree on the cool grass. I took a minute to look at the various cuts and bruises my skin showed. None of them were to severe except for one on my right palm. It cut across my hand like a valley. It stung like the dickens whenever I tried to close my palm. Besides that, I finally have time to think about what is going on here. I had no idea where I was except that I was not home. We don't have any forest like this back home for days. I began to remember about the times I've had back home with friends and family. Something inside me fired up, rekindled. I wanted to find my way home more than ever, to see my family again. I sprung up onto my feet. That was a bad idea. The pain from my chest was excruciating, I nearly feel to my knees. I continued into the forest until the trees numbers started to dwindle. The trees gave birth to rolling hills. I gazed out into the horizon. I saw the hills planted with fertile apple trees. My stomach growled once again as I hurried towards the orchard. It seemed like forever until the last time I ate. As I drew closer I realized that the orchard must be on private property. I didn't want to steal but it was just going to be one apple, what harm could it do? I walked up to the first tree where I looked for an apple.
"Nothing, there all too small." I continued searching for a nice and shiny apple. I eventually found myself deep in the orchard.
"That's the one!" I looked up over at the biggest apple in my life. I was just tall enough to reach it. My hand reached out and despite the pain pulled the apple from its branch. I was anxious to take a bite. My mouth reached the face of the apple. I took a bite. In a mere couple of seconds the juiciest, most sweetest apple had been devoured. "Wow that was the most delicious apple I have ever had!" The apple core fell to the ground. Just another one couldn't hurt I thought to myself. I continued eating apples until I heard a thump. I waited a bit,
"probably just my imagination" I said to my self. But then it continued. "Oh no!" I knew if I was caught stealing I would surely be sent back the people that tried imprisoning me, or worse... death. I cautiously looked around for anyone. The thumping grew louder. I quickly hid behind a tree hoping not to be spotted. I tried conforming to the shape of the tree but it was no use. I held my breath. Soon the sound was only a couple trees ahead of me. The sound eventually reached my position. It wasn't a human making the sound. It looked like a horse but much too small in size. It was a pony, a red pony. I let out a breath of relief. It was probably a stray farm animal, but I had no idea why it was red. It stared at me, puzzled, more or less angry. I saw its eyes, move from me to the apple cores laying next to me. I was just about to pick up and go when someone blurted out
" Now who do you think you are eating these here apples!" The voice was obliviously male and it sounded country like. I stopped in my tracks, turning my back slowly to see who it was. There was no one, although the pony now gave me an icy stare. I paused for a moment and then found out who had said it.
"Well, what do you have to say for yourself?"
"I--it talks?!" I blurted out. I stared at his green eyes thinking to myself how in the world this pony could talk. He obviously didn't know I was an escaped fugitive as he just treated me as a petty thief. Just then a another voice rang out behind him. This time it was female but with the same accent.
"Now what in Equestria is all this yelling bout Big Mac?" She came into view right behind 'Big Mac' and revealed herself as another pony but orange with a little brown hat. She looked around not noticing me until she was a couple feet in front of me. She turned and saw me.
" Um, hello?" I said. I heard nothing but a slight scream of distress and found myself unconscious.
I regained consciousness but saw nothing but darkness. I felt sore around my entire face. My legs and arms tried moving but they were tied down. I could tell I was concealed by some sort of sack. I could barely breathe. I began to hyperventilate until the bag was raised. In front of me I saw another pony, a lavender one. In fact I counted six in all each one different than the other including the orange one from earlier. They all looked at me mildly frightened.
"Who are you" the purple one asked. I hastily looked around the room I was in. It seemed this place was some sort of library. I stared back in front of me where the purple pony stood glaring at me.
"I'm not telling you anything until you tell me where the heck I am!" Every one of them back up a bit in surprise to my response.
"You don't know where you are?" She asked. I took a long guess.
" uh... somewhere on earth?" I said hoping but somehow knowing that wasn't the answer.
" N--no this is Equestria." I didn't know who to trust. Myself thinking I'm still on earth despite the talking ponies, or this purple unicorn telling me I'm in some place called Equestria. Just then the orange pony said,
" Now Twilight, ain't ya forgetting why I borough him here? Me and Big Mackintosh found him eating our apples!"
"Yes Applejack but .. we still need to find out who, how and why he is here." Suddenly it grew silent as attention grew more toward me.
"OK... I'll tell you everything, why I'm here, who I am...." then Applejack interrupted with
"and why you ate them apples?" With a smug face. "... yes that too...." I shrugged as that wasn't the problem at hand. "Look, I have no idea why I'm here. I found myself trapped in a cage until I bust myself out. However, I was then chased by.... by..." I took a moment to remember but I never did look at my pursuers "Well, spit it out" Applejack said. The others kept quiet. "I--- I don't know who chased me. All I know it that I was in some sort of castle." I immediately remembered about the throne I saw during my short time there. Each one of them turned to each other in surprise. I continued, " then I jumped out a window. Found myself on a shore, delved into a forest and eventually found myself here." I paused for a second. "with a sore on my face!" I drove an icy stare into Applejack. "Well, that still doesn't explain why you ate them apples!" "My God! Why do you care so much about those stupid apples!" Applejack hit her hoove hard on the wood floor and yelled " Well, Them 'Apples' are the only thing supportin my family!" "Well, its not my fault I was close to starving!" Just then Twilight yelled, "Quit it! Both of you. Now... who are you?" I hesitated for a bit but I eventually spilled it. " I'm a human, you know, from earth. I mean absolutely no harm to anyone here. Now I just need you to send me home and forget this ever happened." Just then out of the corner of my eye I saw a small purple and green figure walking down the stairs to my left with some sort of scroll in his palm. Halfway down he said 'TWILIGHT! I have an urgent letter from---." The small lizard like creature stopped in his stubby little tracks. "Wh..who is that?" He asked as he turned his attention from Twilight to me. He continued staring at me but all of a sudden, the scroll in his hand started to glow with a purple aura as it levitated up away from Spike and towards Twilight. I looked at her and saw something I had not noticed before, she had a horn. "Your a... unicorn?" She glared at me with an obvious look. "This place just keeps getting weirder and weirder" I said hiding it under my breath. Twilight unrolled the scroll, removing the ridicule little red bow on top. Her face dug into the letter. Moments later she froze. "W--what's wrong?" I said hoping that letter didn't say what I thought it said. "Girls! Meet me in the other room please." Twilight's tone gave me an idea that this was bad news. She turned to me. " you, stay right there." I watched as Twilight, Applejack and the other 4 ponies walked 'and flew' into the other room. I sat alone for a second. I was trying to make out what the others were saying but it was no use. I continued sitting with little hope of escaping. I scanned the room around me until they came back looking rather upset. "So... what's the news?" I said trying to keep calm and innocent. "You know the news." Twilight said. "I've already told you everything! I didn't come here to harm anyone." "Don't lie to me. The princess knows you've come here looking to steal the elements of harmony!" The elements of what now?" "No time for explaining, were taking you to the princess right now. The six huddled up together as they discussed something. They then dispersed with Applejack leading the way. "Applejack if you'd please." Twilight said with a inconsiderate tone. "It'll be my pleasure Twi." Applejack reared up and prepared to buck me for the second time. "NOT THE FACE!"
I awoke to a quiet rumble and another sore on my face. I looked around and to my surprise, Twilight sitting was to my right and Applejack, to my left, the others scattered around talking. " Again with the bucking!" I looked a Applejack angrily. She didn't say anything. "Where are we?" "Were on a train to Canterlot to bring you to the princess." "You mean Camelot right?" "No, I'm pretty sure its Canterlot." Considering the word play at hand I had low hopes. She mentioned a train. Now at least I know know there is a bit of modern technology in this world. I turned to Twilight, "Whatever, but why are you taking me there I mean I've already told you I mean no harm to any thing here." Just then, Applejack butted in. " You can just quit yer act. We already know why your here." I had to accept my fate. These stubborn ponies listened to none of my reason and were now returning to the people or more likely the ponies that tried to imprison me. "You guys don't know who I am do you...?" It grew quiet and I began to think they were ignoring me. I turned to Applejack who had a sour look on her face. If I wanted to get out of this predicament, I had to show them I wasn't here to harm anyone, and that means warming up to them. I shuddered at the thought. " If... it means anything to you... I'll be glad to repay you... I mean eating your apples and all, I could help you on your orchards." The sentence made me vomit on the inside considering she Falcon Kicked my face twice. I could tell she was still mad when she said " You ain't gonna help no pony when Princess Celestia is done with you." Just then, a loud screech impaled our ears, then the train stopped in its tracks. "We're here." Twilight said. Everyone got up and then Applejack once again reared up to buck me for the third time today. "Wait! There's no need for that Applejack. What harm can he do when he's tied up like that." Applejack took a quick look at where I sat. "Your right Twi, I should loosen up a bit. I reckon when then princess is done with him, we can forget this ever happened." I then felt the chair I sat in move with the same color aura that lifted the scroll back at the library. I was dragged off the train, hands still bound. All the ponies surround me trying to hide my presence. My view was obscured. After waiting for a bit I saw, out of the corner of my eye, a castle with a broken window to the left. My heart sunk. I heard doors open, and then close behind me. It grew silent except for the sound of galloping hooves and the chair I sat in being dragged. The ponies dispersed around me. Behind me to my left was a shattered stained glass window. In front of me stood a tall and valiant figure. "I suppose this is the one. The one that escaped and that tried to steal the Elements of Harmony?" My face soured at the presence of her lie. "First of all, I have no idea what the hell your talking about. Second, Why did you bring me here? I've already told these ponies my story so I'd be damned if I waste anymore time talking to you!" Then behind me, with such a elegant voice, a white, purple maned pony said, "How dare you speak to the princess with such a tone!" I tried to ignore her nagging. "Don't play dumb with me, we all know why your here. You wanted to steal the---" " I have no idea what these, Elements of Harmony are or why I am here, HONEST!" The tall, white alicorn looked at me quite puzzled. I could tell she still had doubts about my presence. "Oh yeah, and why did you had me thrown in the cage... why? I asked. "Cause... your a human." She said with sadness in her voice. "We had not wanted to make the same mistake that happened long ago." Oh great, in going to have to listen to a sob story, but at least I'll get some answers. "My parents had told me this story only once, but that is all that was needed for it st stay in my mind forever. The first human ever to walk these walls was... Greneth or Mr. Greneth as he liked to be called. He too had suffered the same fate as you and was lost forever in a world to strange to call his own. He was quite a quiet and secluded man. He lived a room in this castle which is now sealed away. One day he began questioning their disability to take him home. He told them how much he wanted to see others of his same race again. Oh how he pleaded. They told him that there was only one pony who could help him......... Star Swirl the Bearded." Behind me I heard the 'aw's' and 'oos' of the six and especially Twilight who was now took notes on the story. Celestia continued," After meeting with the magical prodigy himself, Greneth had high hopes for the future, until after months of research, the results for Star Swirl's inter dimensional portal... failed. Greneth was engaged. He blamed my family for the years of seclusion he faced. After that he stormed out of the castle never to be heard from again. He is presumed dead and around the same time, Star swirl had also disappeared." Applejack hoped up and blurted out, " Don't ya see? Them... humans are nothing but trouble!" Twilight stood next to her in near tears. "No you see. That day Equestria lost a legend. And I... lost a friend." I remained in the chair quite and forgiving. "But that was long ago... right, now you know how to take me home..." Celestia looked down to the floor in sadness and I could tell she felt sorry, for I may suffer the same fate. "All of Star Swirls, research disappeared with him." Her words made my heart sink. I would never return home. I would turn out like this, 'Mr. Greneth' guy. It grew quiet in the room. I felt like the center of attention. I looked at Celestia waiting for something. Just then a smile began to slowly stretch across the queen's white face. "Is there something I'm missing here?" I said as I wondered why she was joyous. "There is still hope..." I too began to smile once she said this. "Woah! You mean you can take me home?" Her smile shrunk. "To take you home at a future date is highly unlikely, but I was considering, maybe..." She stopped cold in her words. "Yeah, spit it out..." becoming mildly impatient. She turned to Twilight and said, "Twilight Sparkle, my most faithful student, I ask a favor from you..." Twilight put down the paper full of notes she was studying and looked toward Celestia admiring the alicorn queen. "Twilight, I want you to house the human... Celestia looked toward me expectingly. I didn't say anything. "Your name is?" Celestia bellowed. "Oh, yeah right. My name is Nathan, Nathan Valkyne." "Twilight, I want you to house Nathan and teach him about Friendship. I know this is sudden but I understand if you refuse." I wondered why friendship was important. Celestia waited for an answer and got one. "I'll be glad to house Nathan and teach him about friendship" Twilight said with pint smile on her face. " thank you" Celestia said. Celestia pointed her horn down at me and untied the binds quite easily. "Heh... I loosened them up for you." The room exploded into small and friendly laughter. Applejack, who I presumed hated me, laughed along side her friends. Even the princess herself burst into elegant laughter. After the laughter died down, Celestia handed me, well.... more like magically levitated me a quill and some scroll paper. "You'll need these she said. I hope they guide you along the right path. Write about your experiences and Twilight will take care of the rest." The other ponies said bye to her but I trailed behind as they exited the room. I stopped in my tracks and turned to Celestia. "Celestia..." I said."what?" She replied. "Thanks... thank you for finding hope when their was none to find." I put my hand in my pockets as I felt sorry for not returning home. I was halfway to the exit when Celestia said with the tone of a goddess, "There is always hope if you look in the right places." She pointed to the six ponies who now stood in way of the towering doors waiting for me. I followed them until I reached the door. The last pony exited the building as I just stood there wanting to follow. Opening those doors means living another life... and I was just going to have to make the best of it.
