* beep beep*
I groaned and rolled over, my hand smacking the side table next to my bed in search if my alarm. After a few misses, my palm found its mark and the beeping stopped. I lay there starring at the ceiling, a smile on my face. Finals had just ended, it was a Saturday, and to top it all off, I was turning twenty-one tomorrow. I pulled my self out of bed and made my way to the kitchen of my apartment. My three room-mates, and probably my best of friends, were out cold. I figured they'd been out on the town getting drunk and failing to pick up women. I shook my head at the thought as I pulled the milk from the fridge. Although the expiration date read some time last week, it didn't smell it. I poured my self a bowl of cereal and put some water in the boiler. While I waited for the water to heat up, I shuffled through the mail on the counter. It must have been brought in when the others had gotten home. Probably Jesse, as he would've been the most sober.
I didn't introduce my self did I? My name is Nathan, though most folks
call me Nate. I'm a sophomore in collage, hoping to major in art. I'm also what you might classify as a brony. I don't have a girl friend, but I was ok with that. Key phrase being WAS.
Anyway, I was shuffling through the mail when i came to a letter that wasn't a bill or junk mail. AND it was addressed to me. I was surprised, as I never got any mail. The water had just finished boiling, so I poured myself a cup of tea ( earl grey, extra sweet.) and turned on the small television we had in the kitchen. I changed the channel from the hallmark movie channel (the guys must've been REALLY drunk) to the hub, just in time to catch the beginning of the MLP theme. I moved my breakfast to the kitchen table and sat down. I opened my letter only half paying attention to the TV (it was running an ad, probably for Gak or something). Inside the envelope was a files slip of paper that read "what ever you want for your birthday will be granted you". I laughed and tucked the note back into its envelope. All I wanted was to go some where imaginary. I smiled and stared at the multicolored ponies that were on the tv screen. I could wish all I wanted, but I wouldn't get it.
Later that day, we celebrated my birthday. The other three guys were going to be busy with work, women and family on my birthday, so we had the party a day early. I knew a bartender in the area who didn't mind letting me have a drink or two, especially since I was one day away from being legally allowed to drink. The guys spent the majority of the time trying to hook me up with women or telling bad jokes. While Dante and Aaron were singing a bar song with some of the regulars, Jesse pulled me over to the counter.
"Two shots, something lite." The bartender nodded and turned to pour our drinks. Jesse turned to me. "You ok man? You look like you aren't enjoying yourself."
The bartender slid us our drinks.
I gave a half hearted grin. "Was it really that obvious?"
He laughed. "Yeah, it was. You seemed out of it and almost agreed to one of our outlandish date suggestions."
"Oh. Guess I'm just a bit out of it. I guess it's because I'm alone on my birthday. You guys have plans, my mom and brother are out of state, and I'm not exactly on speaking terms with my dad."
Jesse looked at me like I had called him the king of France. "You ALWAYS spend your birthday alone. Why is it bad that this year is different?"
"I feel like I'm missing something in my life, and being around people might help." I stared at my drink, not wanting to touch the thing.
"Maybe you can wish for something. People do that on their birthdays. Who knows you might even get what you want. Now," he stood up, "if you don't mind, I need to go bail Dante and Aaron out of their current predicament with those girls. Their boyfriends look like they wanna fight." He got up and moved to save our room mate's sorry butts.
Jesse had told me to make a wish. That was just what the paper I had gotten in the mail had said.
It had said anything I wished for would be granted me. I smiled and pulled the paper from my pocket. I knew exactly what to wish for.
I woke up with a splitting head ache and someone lying on top of me. I groaned. "One night in the bar and I'm up with a hangover."
"Sorry bout that" the person lying on me pulled them selves to their feet. The voice was distinctly feminine. What the heck had I done last night? "Me an mah friend were havin a race and weren't exactly watching where we were goin." Good. I didn't sleep with anyone. Oh wait... Dang.
I stood up, and rubbed my head. " 's fine. I think I had a bit to much to drink last night. Mind telling me where I am?"
"Sure. Yer right out side of everfree forest."
WHAT.
"Did... Did you say everfree?" I turned to look at the person I was talking to. She was hot in my opinion, and I reserved that term for when I meant it. She had an orange complexion and strawberry blonde hair. She wore a brown cowboy hat pulled firmly down on her head, blue jeans, and a plaid red button down shirt with the top few buttons undone to reveal a white under shirt.
"Yeah, I did. Are ya alright? Yer a bit pale." She looked at me, and I could see concern in her eyes.
"Totally fine. I just..." I scrambled for an idea. Obviously the alcohol hadn't left my system entirely, because I blurted out the first excuse I could think of. "I just think you're pretty!" Real smooth man. Like she's gonna buy that.
She blushed and gave a small embarrassed smile. "Ah.. Uh.. Thanks." She giggled and twirled a lock of hair in her fingers. "Ya don't look to bad yer self." I sat there, stunned. Not only had she bought my reason, but she seemed to be flustered by it. I had really meant it, she did look pretty, but I hadn't really... What had I gotten myself into...
I rubbed the back of my head and gave a weak smile. Your name. Give the lady your name.
"Where are my manners. My name is..." I paused before deciding, to hell with it "Sketch. Quick sketch. Nice to meet you miss...?"
"Applejack. Nice ta make yer aquantiance Mr. Sketch. Like ah said, ah'm sorry ah ran inta you. Ah was havin a race with one of mah friends." As she finished, an athletic girl ran up from down the road.
"I totally beat you AJ. You can't deny it." The girl smirked at applejack. I could tell they were good friends by the way applejack shook her head and chuckled. The other girl had a blue complexion and rainbow hair. She wore a simple dark blue zip up sweatshirt and white basketball shorts that fell below her knees. The way the held herself, it was obvious she was extremely cocky.
"Ah don't think it's fair that you win, as there was some interference." She gestured in my direction. The other girl looked over at me, noticing my presence for the first time.
"Thanks for the assist." She grinned and winked at me. She held out her hand. "I'm rainbow dash."
She had a firm grip. "Quick sketch. Nice to meet you."
"So, what were you doing lying in the road?" Rainbow dash asked grinning. "What'd you do, get in a fight? To much cider last night?"
I shrugged. "I did have something to drink last night, but not enough to make me drunk. I also broke up a bar fight," at this I realised my jaw was a bit sore, "but I don't think I was the one who went down. I actually went to sleep in my bed last night, so I have no idea how I got here. Everything is still a bit hazy."
Applejack raised an eyebrow "so you have no idea how you got here? None at all?"
"Nope. I'm not really from around here." I scratched my head. "You mentioned everfree. What's the nearest town?"
"It's ponyville. Say are you ok? You look a little queasy." Rainbow dash reached out a hoof.
"No." My world started to tilt. "I'm fine." I barely got the words out before my vision faded to black.
In my unconsciousness, my brain pulled me through a crazy vortex of dream. Jesse was just getting up to stop Aaron and dante from getting their asses kicked. I felt a tap on my shoulder. Turning, I was met with the sight of stunning woman. She could have movie star. She had dark hair and was wearing a dark blue shirtsleeved shirt and jeans. The shirt had a crescent moon centred on it. She motioned to the seat next to me.
"Is this seat taken?"
I shook my head. "It's yours if you need it."
She smiled. "Thank you." She turned to the bar tender. "Something light."
Once she had her drink she turned to me. "Your wish is quite the interesting one."
I looked at her with shock. "Have we met?"
She took a sip of her drink and smiled. "Not really, but I think you may get to know me."
"I am very confused how to answer that."
Her smile faded. "I'm sorry for this."
"What?" I had barely managed to finish speaking before she slugged me hard across the face.
As I fell from consciousness, I internally groaned. What did I do to deserve this?