Chapters The life of a Spriggan Fairy.
I log in to the sound of crickets chirping. I sit up and begin wiping the "sleep" from your eyes. I slowly wings flex with anticipation as look around my surroundings trying to find out where I was at. Gazing out, I see nothing but forest in every direction. The sky overhead is not visible through the thick forest canopy. What little light that did hit the forest floor directly and unfiltered was off in the distant clearing to your east.
Standing up, I strap my sword to my side and grab the pack beside me. I try to walk to the clearing, only to trip on something shortly thereafter. Gazing down at my legs, I see a small quadruped laying at in a heap at my feet. Worried, I inspect the little creature. Its breathing, so I know its alive. Upon further inspection, I take note that it is in fact a little pony with an emerald-green coat and golden hair. I shortly identify a small saddlebag that lays over her flanks. I guess that it is female due to the body structure of the pony. She has a horn growing from the top of her head as well. She seems to be exhausted, taking short laboured breaths in her sleep.
Reaching out carefully, I give the pony a gentle tap on her left side. She twitches but gives no other reaction. Not wanting to leave the filly (for that is what I now knew about her) to face any possible harm alone in the forest, I slowly and gently lift her onto my shoulder and begin to make for the clearing to the east. The distance is covered swiftly, but i am careful as to avoid waking the filly.
Laying the filly down on the soft grass, I begin rummaging through my backpack. Taking inventory of what i have in the pack, I find that I have: my longsword, my scale mail armor set, my cloak of darkness, two fire-steel strikers, a small metal tin filled with tinder, my Leatherman multitool, a camp hatchet, one canvas tarp, a canteen, one full spool of wax-coated twine, three-hundred feet of rope in a double daisy-chain, and one full mess-kit.
I sigh miserably, noting the lack of food in the kit. Wanting something to take my mind off the growing hunger that i was feeling, I began building a small shelter for myself and the filly. Using fifty feet of the rope, the tarp, and a few poles that were fashioned from tree branches, I make a small tent. Setting the filly under the makeshift shelter, I begin looking for some edible plants for the filly, while also finding fruit for the both of us.
My efforts are successful, having gathered more than I thought I would. I found a large patch of spearmint growing nearby, along with a few blackberry brambles growing along the edges of the clearing with a small stream for fishing. Two tea trees are situated nearby as well, something I find rather odd seeing tea trees in a forest such as this. A small apple tree grove lies south of the clearing, along with wild wheats and grains. Looking back on all that you find, some would consider this clearing a smaller version of Eden.
"Why am I here?" I mutter to myself, staring at the beauty of the forest around me.
Getting hungry, I decide to decide to fix up a small salad for the filly, and set it on your backpack for her to see it if she wakes up, and then I begin to nibble on one of the apples that I picked while waiting for the filly to finally wake up. While eating my apple, I examined my sword.
The hilt was crystalline metal with a gold trim around the guard that spiralled down the handle. The pommel was inlaid with a green diamond and silver/gold wire was inlaid around in a combination of runes that you barely recognise. The rune gave the sword a healing enchantment along with several other enchantments for lightness, fire damage, paralysis, and the strength to rend another person's armour clean in half. The blade was also made of crystalline metal. The sword's name was written in the runic language that decorated the hilt; spelling out Dark Liberator's Repulser in gold-wire.
"The Dark Liberator's Repulser? Why don't I remember having made or bought this?" to yourself.
A small yawn breaks my concentration. Looking over my shoulder, I see the filly begin to rub the sleep from her eyes. She looks at me with drowsiness still in her eyes and then blinks a few times. She stares at you for a few seconds before fear sets into her eyes. She looks at Dark Repulser and back at me, scared beyond reasoning. I slowly sheath the blade and crouch down near the tent entrance. Extending my arm, I reach out to the filly, who flinches back a few inches.
"I'm not going to hurt you. You don't need to be afraid little one; your safe here." I say, trying to as sound warm and friendly as possible.
The filly inches toward me, curiosity in her eyes. She stops mere inches from my outstretched, calloused hand and inspects it. She taps it withe her hoof and pulls it back quickly, somewhat like a timid kitten, but then nuzzles it. She comes out of the tent and sits down on the grass beside me. I bring the salad that I made for her over and place it before her. She looks at it with caution and then nibbles a few of the vegetables, only to begin eating the salad with enthusiasm. I walk over to the creek and fill the canteen with some of the crystal clear water. I set a wooden cup that I had whittled down next to her and wait while she finishes her meal.
When she is done you sit back on the grass and gaze up at the sky, its light blues and fluffy clouds mesmerizing me. I feel the filly lay down next to me and I turn to face her.
"Thank you for the food mister," the little filly says in a soft timid voice.
"Think nothing of it," you reply.
"...what are you exactly?" She asks, her voice becoming softer with each word.
"I'm a Spriggan," I reply bluntly, hoping she doesn't ask anything about Spriggans.
"What... whats your name?"
"John, what might your name be, little one?"
"Emerald... Emerald Star, Mr. John, sir." She replied meekly.
"Nice to meet you Emerald. Now what is a little filly like you doing out in this forest alone?"
She remains silent for a while. Off in the distance you can hear the noise of battle. Looking at Emerald, I wonder how an NPC like her could have gotten out here alone without the help of another NPC or player. Emerald's sigh breaks your train of thought and refocusses my attention.
"A big fight broke out between the ponies and the changelings. My mommy found this blue/black wispy-thingy and told me to follow its flame and it would guide me to a safe place. She said that if I kept it safe, a friend would come to help us. Are you the pony my mommy talked about?"
I stare in confusion at the pony before you. What was a changeling? Where was the wisp that she had followed. Most importantly where are am I? What game is this and how was it connected to Alfhiem? Thousands of questions swam in the miasma of my mind.
"Mr. John sir, is something wrong?" Emerald asked, worry in her voice.
"No, I'm fine. Just confused thats all." I reply with a sigh. "Emerald, where are we exactly?"
"We're in the the Everfree Forest."
"Where is the wisp that you followed here?"
"It vanished after we got near the clearing. I tripped and I don't know what happened to it after that. When I woke up I was in the tent"
"Emerald, where is the nearest town located."
"Well, Ponyville is just a five day trot from here. Why?"
"Well, I need to take you home, and I need to find out how I could help."
With beaming eyes she looks at me and begins to tear up. She tries to stand but begins to fall over immediately afterwards. I instantly catch her and pull her close. Silent tears fall run down Emerald's muzzle.
"So you'll help us Mr. John?" She whispers softly.
"If it is within my power to do so, but for now its getting late, you need to rest. I'll wake you in the morning."
As I carry the filly to the tent, my enhanced hearing picks up a rustling in the undergrowth. Not wanting to give Emerald any reason to fret, I put her in the tent. Walking back out of the tent I notice dozens of sets of glowing green eyes. Whispering, I begin to cast an illusion spell over the clearing. The once lush and vibrant colors and plants were changed to a dull swampy mire. The mire extended for about half a mile in ever direction, making the place blend in easily.
Dozens of sets of glowing yellow eyes glare at you from all sides of the mire. A thick fog flowed freely across the clearing, giving the area a foreboding atmosphere. The howls of wolves filled the clearing echoing throughout the woods. I notice a creaking noise becoming louder and louder coming from all sides.
I reequip my armor as I catch a glimpse of the silhouettes of about fifteen wolves surrounding your camp. The black and gold trimmed scale mail allowing me decent mobility while protecting me against most low to mid level elemental spells and weapons. I put on my cloak and blend into the shadows of the trees.
Staring out into the clearing, I watch curiously as a few wolves emerge from their hiding places. I notice that instead of flesh and fur, the wolves appear to be made of wood and tree bark. They stared menacingly about the clearing, seemingly unaffected by the illusion spell. They silently moved closer to the tent, their breathing sounding like leaves rustling in a gentle breeze.
As the wolves continue their slow advance on the tent, I slowly walk behind the closest of the wolves in the pack. Sword in hand, I throw up a barrier to keep the tent sound proof. Quickly in one single swipe, I cleave the first wolf in half from snout to tail. A deep amber fluid sprays out and coats the nearest wolves and seeps into the ground quickly. The wolves jump back and turn to face you, growling and sniffing the air. I quickly move forward on to the nearest wolf in an attempt to dispatch it as well. The blade slide through its skull like it was nothing but paper. No amber fluid gushes from it, but I give that little heed as I continue dispatching the remaining wolves.
The fight is finished in under five minutes. Twelve wooden wolves lay dead at your feet and the woods are quiet once more. I take off my cloak and begin walking to the tent to rest easy after my small encounter with the wolves.
Something large knocks me off my feet and grips me in its fangs. I try to look around but see nothing but a large blurry star scape that clouded your vision. The little that is not blurred or star filled was obstructed by a bipedal creature that sorta reminded me of a chimera.
"Now now, Lupus, that is not how we treat our friends. I didn't bring this Spriggan to the Everfree just so you could eat him." Said the creature, his yellow and red eyes never leaving me.
The thing, which you now knew was called Lupus, dropped me. I landed with a loud thud and the clang of your sword landing on your greaves. Looking up, I see that Lupus is a large wolf made up of a small cluster of stars. Curious about it, I slide my left arm though the wolf's right foreleg, watching it pass through the leg. The wolf growls and nips at my face, causing me to pull back quickly. A series of coughs brought my attention back to the chimera.
"Are you finished violating the wolf I brought yet? Oh and just so you know, I'm a Draconequus, not a chimera." said the Draconequus in annoyance.
"What do you want?" I ask, having been in this situation countless times prior to this experience. There is always a person who wants something from me, be that 'borrowed' goods that I have no intention of returning, or as a sell-sword.
"Well well well, right to the point as always, typical of humans. If you must know, there is currently a war going on between the changelings and the ponies of Equestria. That said, there is so much chaos that could be spread, the problem is there aren't enough gods of chaos the spread it. That is where you come in. I've seen how your race lives, always fighting with one another, causing chaos and destruction where ever you go. But you always manage to progress though those events an keep advancing." The Draconequus leaned closer to you. "But between you and me, I still can't believe that your race has put colonies on Mars and your planet's moon. That wasn't even suppose to happen until the year 2060, but you did it in 2034."
He pulled back and a glass of chocolate milk appeared in his talon. You watch dumbfounded as he drinks the glass and throws the milk behind him, which explodes shortly thereafter.
"So let me get this straight; you want me to help you spread Chaos?" I say with a slight grin on my face." Whats the catch?"
"Well, since you asked, the terms and conditions are," the Draconequus snaps and a small piece of parchment appears and he hands it to me.
"Your powers will be limited to your imagination, anything goes. But; You are never to, under ANY circumstance, use your powers to kill. Your failure to follow this will result in your own self destruction. Your powers will be dormant for a period of anywhere from forty-eight to seventy-two hours. Do not use your powers while under the influence of alcohol, prescription medications, or potions; side effects will vary. If you begin to feel any change in mood or diet please contact your doctor, this may be an early sign of 'burn out.' Nausea, uncontrollable vomiting, and fevers that last for more than three weeks are common signs that 'burn out' has begun. Please contact me if any of these occur." The Draconequus pause shortly. "Finally; you will not remember anything from this meeting except that you now have these powers."
I stand there just looking at him. "I that it? No blood pacts, no oaths of honor to uphold, just that I can't kill with the powers, and that I won't remember meeting you? That sounds almost to good to be true; but again why me?"
"You are a different race; there has never been one of your kind in Equestria, so it wouldn't seem out of the ordinary that you have strange and almost omnipotent powers; just keeps me from having to deal with any repercussions that may result if you go to far."
"I think we have a deal." I say as I extend my arm to shake his claw.
"Excellent, let's get started." The Draconequus says as he shakes my hand.
I instantly am rewarded with a sharp pain that courses throughout my entire body. It almost feels... real, like someone had stabbed me in real life. Why does it feel like my body is here in the virtual world but at the same time it wasn't?
"What was your name? I never thought to ask," I say through clenched teeth.
"To answer both your questions, I am Discord, lord of chaos; and your not in a virtual world, these ponies and other races that exist here are real, not npc's. Your body that was on Earth was fused together with your virtual avatar's body when I corrupted the nerve gear you were wearing. Well, the pleasure was all mine I'm sure," and with a snap of his talon, Discord disappeared, thankfully he took Lupus with him.
As I walk back to the the tent where Emerald slept soundly, I feel a strange force at work in my mind, like a leech siphoning knowledge of recent events. Making it three feet from the tent flap, I collapsed in the grass. My vision began to blur and darken. The last thing I see is the tent flap open and Emerald peering out into the darkness.
The life of a Spriggan Fairy.
Waking up, I am greeted by the sounds of crickets chirping inside the tent. As I rub the sleep from my eyes, I hear a soft yawn from Emerald. Looking over, I see the small filly curled up like a cat beside me. She yawns again and uses her fore legs to wipe sleep from her eyes. All she really needed now was a hoodie, then I'd probably die from too much adorableness. As Emerald opened her eyes, she looked around the tent. Her eyes eventually settled on me. She smiled and sat up. Sitting up, I returned the smile, careful not to show my canines with the help of an illusion spell (God alone knows what her reaction would be if she knew i could eat meat.)
"Good morning." Emerald says, a small hint of drowsiness remaining in her voice.
"Good morning Emerald. Did you sleep well?" I asked, still waiting to ask how she got me into the tent last night.
"Sorta, I woke up in the middle of the night though. I thought I heard timberwolves outside. When i didn't see you in the tent I got worried and tried to look outside but the tent flap wouldn't open. After a few minutes, the sounds of the timberwolves were replaced by a Lupus. I hid under the blankets for a while. After the Lupus was gone, I rushed over to the tent flap to see if i could find you. The tent flap opened that time and I saw you laying on the ground unconscious. I dragged you into the tent by your cloak and fell asleep." She replied, tearing up close to the end.
"Hey, look at me; I'm perfectly fine. Those wolves were like slimes. Even if they had attacked me, I would have been able to hold my own against at least three dozen at once."
"You could?" Emerald said, in mix of fear and awe at my boast.
I was about to reply, but at that very moment both of our stomachs demanded food.
"Well then, I suppose that the first order of business is getting breakfast. What sounds most appealing to you, Emerald? Apples, raspberries, or oatmeal? A mix of all three?" I ask, trying to force back a yawn, and failing.
"Oatmeal sounds nice." Emerald replies, having caught the yawn.
As I begin harvesting most of the oats from the small grains patch, Emerald starts looking for the bowls I had carved yesterday evening. Taking the oats that i gathered, I begin to chop them with my multitool. Placing the oats into the bowls that Emerald found, i split the oats in "half," giving Emerald the larger portion( since I still was unsure of how much she normally ate.)
Trying some of the now halved oats, I spit them out in disgust. Never before had I been so thankful for those instant oatmeal packets before; this raw stuff tasted awful. Emerald just sits down and begins to eat the raw oats. Rushing over to the stream, I fill my canteen with some of the crystal clear water. Pouring som of the water into the bowl of raw oats, I suspend it over the coals of my fire from yesterday. Dicing an apple, I place the cubes into the slowly cooking oats.
By the time my oats have finished cooking over the coals, Emerald had finished her oats and was now nibbling happily on a few apples. Sitting down in the soft grass, I began eating my cooked meal. Well, I've had better, but it beats raw oats.
After we were both finished, I cleaned the bowls and put them into my inventory, startling the little pony.
"H-h-how did you do that?" She asked, scared senseless by my action.
"You mean this?" I ask, opening my command interface, selecting my inventory, and pulling both bowls out of it; seemingly from nowhere. "Thats just the inventory feature on my command interface. I can store various items, weapons, and tools in it, as long as I have the space in the storage system. "
"What happens to the things you put in storage? Is it like a pocket dimension that the unicorn mages use? Or do the items just shrink and end up in your satchel? And what's a command interface?"
"Umm, think of it like a window with a few buttons on it. When you tap a certain button, another window opens that has certain properties, like my inventory, my equipment page, or my skills interface. All of those things can be accessed through the main menu, or command interface as I called it."
I swear that the crickets in this forest seemed to get louder after I said that. I know players don't really need to explain such things, but I've never had an NPC ask me about the command interfaces. Normally they never mentioned it, as NPCs normally had their own simplified versions of the interfaces. But this little filly seemed less like the NPCs in Alfheim Online, and more like those of us living in the real world.
"Well, Emerald, which direction is Ponyville?" I asked, wanting to break the awkward silence.
Emerald points her hoof in a northwesterly manner, still visibly nervous about the command interface.
"Ok, thanks. After I pack up camp, I'll try to scout out our surroundings from the air."
"Your just going to leave me alone on the forest floor? How are you even going to scout or surroundings from the air; its not like you have wings..."
Before she could say anymore, I activated my wings. A pair of black wings glinted in the light that passed through to the forest floor. They shined like they were made from fine crystal in the light of sun. A small blue aura radiated out from them. Letting them hang down at my sides, I grin at the dumbfounded filly as she just stares at my wings, opening her mouth to speak with no words coming out.
Tearing down the tent, I carefully fold my canvas tarp and place the item back in my inventory, along with the ropes that had been used. I collect all of the tent pegs and burn them with a simple fire spell. My reasoning was simple: IF I can get us to town before nightfall I could get Emerald home, and rent a room at an inn (if they have one.)
After packing up the small campsite, I cast an illusion spell over the place where I had placed our campfire. Instead of a circle of rocks with charred ground in the center, someone would now see a little shrub surrounded by mushrooms. Gathering a few apples from the trees closest to the open clearing, I placed them in my inventory, while also putting some in Emerald's saddlebag. Not knowing when I'd find tea again, I gathered roughly four pounds of the tea leaf, as well as a pound of mint to go with it; I just hope it dries while in storage.
"Alright, are you ready to go?" I ask Emerald, wondering how she was doing after having learned I had wings.
"Yep!" She replied, seeming to have forgotten her fear (having replaced it with giddiness instead.)
"Alright, just come here so I can tie a bowline around you so you don't fall if I accidentally drop you."
She quickly shoots to my side and allows me to tie the bowline around her, which I then tie around my waist.
"Ok, here we go." I say as I pick Emerald up with care. Surprisingly she is very light, or maybe it was my STR. buff since it was maxed. Regardless, I lifted off the ground and quickly left the confines of the forest canopy.
Checking my passenger, I see she is clinging steadfastly to my left arm. I chuckle to myself; must be her first time in the air. Well, I'll just be sure to make her first time "flying" a good experience.
As I'm lost in that thought, Emerald lets out a shriek. I push all other thoughts out of my mind and begin to slow my flight speed. Looking around, I spy a few black pony-like creatures. They had small black horns on their heads and green wings. Unlike Emerald, these creatures had the normal NPC life gauges, level bars, and one even showed its equipped items.
"Hmm. Changelings, level five, all five of them have around fifty life points each. Well shoot, and here I was hoping for a slight challenge. Well might as well give them a chance to flee or pursue." I mumble to myself, still holding the shaking form of Emerald.
As I flew in the direction that Emerald had said Ponyville was, I noted that the changeling had begun to pursue us. Stopping in mid air, I waited for the group to catch up to me. As they drew closer, I noted their blue bug-like eyes that seemed to peer straight through me and focus on Emerald. Emerald, God bless the poor thing, was shivering with her head to my chest, scared beyond reasoning. With her reaction to the creatures, I began to wonder if I would be able to avoid a fight.
As the lead changeling gets within ten yards from us, it lets out a series of angry hisses and chirps. The four behind him return these with chirps and hisses of their own. The lead changeling motioned a hoof towards me, and the others began to advance on me, slowly but cautious of how I might react.
"Listen to me and listen to me well, changelings. If you leave now, you might just live to see tomorrow. If you follow through with whatever suicidal plan you've just concocted; I will personally destroy all five of you." I yell, loud enough for whatever was in the forest below to hear me as well.
The four who had been advancing halted abruptly, looking back at their leader who just shrugged. Moving closer, the lead changeling eyed me suspiciously, then proceeded to speak.
"What are you creature? We have never in all our time seen a creature of your likeness."
"Your question is irrelevant and of no interest to me, instead let me ask one of my own: Why do you pursue us? My passenger and I have not given you any cause to wish ill upon us. If there be one justifiable reason by which I should stay my sword, let me hear it." I retort venomously, drawing my blade.
The changelings cower in fear, falling prostrate in midair because of the glowing blade before them. To be completely honest I felt sorry for them. Giving the blade a twirl, I sent it back to its sheath.
"Well? What reason have you of pursuit? And also, please stand; I am no king, nor do I wish that others bow before me." I ask again, this time in a gentler tone.
A smaller changeling, a female from the looks of it, steps forward and ties to speak a few times, yet no sound comes from her mouth. I look care fully at her, trying to see what the problem is. Her vocal cords seemed fine, and from the looks of it she has no possible condition to make her a mute. There is a slight hint of magic though, carefully hidden within her mouth. The magic, while foreign and unknown to me, must be the cause of her inability to speak. Call it a weakness of mine if you will, but even in the Virtual World, I can't stand to see such a thing placed upon a creature of any kind; be it friend or foe. My mind decided, I was determined to see what i could do to dispel the magic.
The changeling, still trying to speak, didn't notice that I had brought my arm to its forehead until I was mere inches from her. She flinched and tried to back away, but I caught her in iron grip. The other changelings hissed and began to advance with the intent to save their comrade from me. A glare from me sent them cowering in fear.
My attention returned to the small female changeling before me. I gently probed her mind with a few spells to determine how I should proceed. Well what better way to find out than by asking her? Using a special spell,(I'm not giving the name because you don't need to look it up in any spellbook) I allowed a telepathic link to form between our minds.
As soon as the link was active thousands of thoughts flooded my mind. If there has ever been a better defense against mind spells than this, well I haven't seen it. A jumbled mind is always the hardest to navigate.
It almost seemed like this changeling, no pony, was familiar with mind spells. Dear Lord, this changeling was once a pony, a unicorn at that. This technically made her a p.o.w, but at the same time she was not. This pony had been assimilated into the changeling army, had her native language taken from her, had been forced to hurt her family and friends, but she still held on to one glimmer of hope: her daughter Emerald Star.
I broke the link between myself and the former mother of Emerald. Never before in my life had I seen such an horrible crime committed, even by pkers. The changelings were using their prisoners as a means to create even more soldiers for the hive. I felt an uncontrollable rage, the likes of which none in this world had seen, nor would see ever again in their lifetimes, save for the lunar and celestial princesses. My wrath burned greatly against the hive. Later I learned from Emerald's mother that my eyes had changed from blue to blood red, a sign of a terrible skill belonging only to Spriggians: Death's Touch.
Dispelling the magic on the ponyling in my rage, I whispered to her to remain quiet temporarily.
Turning to the remaining changelings, I easily identified the second ponyling, a male that I presumed to be Emerald's pegasus father. I removed his curse as well, pushing him aside after finishing. Then I turned to the true changelings in the group. Passing an unconscious Emerald star to her parents, I drew my blade faster than the group could blink. One changeling body fell to the forest canopy below and a second followed before the leader knew what was happening. Slicing his horn off, I laughed at his screams.
"Whats wrong? To much for you? Maybe your kind should have a refresher course in pain?" I laugh as I begin to crush part of his chitin armor and fragile exoskeleton with my bare hands. "I should kill you here and now; the only thing stopping me is my need of a messenger to the Hive. Now take this message to your queen: If the war does not end within the next seven days, and the changelings do not release all of the prisoners that they have taken back to their families; Then I myself shall go to the very center of the changeling hive and eradicate them all. I SHALL NOT TAKE PRISONERS!"
To prove a point, I snapped off the first seven inches of his right leg. Not wanting to allow the wound to bleed, I cauterize it with fire from my hand, purposefully making a sloppy job of it. Oh, his screams were probably heard all the way to Ponyville and the Hive; and I just laughed. Tying the leg to his back, I tried to make it as uncomfortable as possible. The rope was made of dried flax that was frayed and the fibers itched like hell.
After I finished, I admired my handiwork. The changeling looked like he had just came back from a fight with an ork: he was bleeding from innumerable cuts, his chitin armor was all but destroyed: only a few meager scraps of a breastplate and helm remained, hanging by loose threads of leather, he was covered in bruises from muzzle to what remained of his tail, and his right leg was beyond any form of medical assistance.
"Well you best be off before I decide to do anymore than I already have," I whisper to the changeling, getting a quick nod from him. He flew away faster than I could blink. "You know, I've never seen an injured creature move so fast." I mumble to myself, turning my gaze to Emerald's family.
The family of three all stood there in midair ( Emerald of course was on her mother's back) with a look of righteous fear; they had just seen me kick kill two creatures, and then send another off in a worse condition than the dead.
The realization of what I had just done set in after seeing their looks of absolute terror. I felt a sickening feeling rising in my stomach, and then just like that I vomited blood that was black in color. Again according to Emerald's mom, my eyes changed; this time from blood red to their normal blue. That was when my wings failed me and I fell like a rock. Thankfully Emerald's mother and father both caught me in a magic grip before I could hit the forest canopy.
My conscious began to fade and my vision blurred as we traveled. The last thing I remembered seeing was a few buildings just pass the forest's edge. After that sight I surrendered to the darkness and slept.
The life of a Spriggan Fairy.
"Do you think he's ok?" Asked an unfamiliar voice, female from the sound of it.
"Yeah, the Lord Spriggan is fine. He just overexerted himself, nothing that surprises me though. You can't harm him at all. Trust me when I say this; you could throw a bomb at him and he wouldn't even feel the explosion, I've seen it happen to him." Came a voice all too familiar to me: my pixie, Kahlan. A very nice pixie, almost like a sister to me,(which would make sense if you compare us side by side: the game-codes made us seem like twins; similar height, when she actually is in her native state, same hair and eye color, heck we even share the same date of birth.) but she was a little headstrong and annoying at first, kept yelling "Hey Listen!"
"That's impossible! No creature can survive and explosion, not even armored minotaurs." Came the voice of a third female.
"I just want to know what he was doing in the Everfree in the first place." Came a fourth voice.
"Honestly,I don't even know why were there in the first place. The Lord Spriggian was in the process of logging into Alfheim when we got redirected to this server. Then before we knew it, we were in the Everfree. He met Emerald Star and was in the process of bringing her home when he encountered the three changelings and Emerald's parents."
I sit up in the bed, tired of being ignored, and maybe a little more than ticked off at Kahlan for bringing up that memory of the bomb. How was I supposed to know that the box contained a hazardous explosive? I mean come on, it was labeled wrong and got shipped to me instead. It may not have hurt my avatar, but it sure hurt my pride.
All the eyes in the room focused on me as I sat there in the bed, well, all eyes except Kahlan's, she just jumped onto my chest in a hug. To add insult to injury, she wasn't in her pixie form; she was native form. But despite feeling as weak as I did, I hugged her back.
While I hugged Kahlan, I examined the rest of the room. It was your typical hospital room, nothing notable about it, but it was nearly filled to maximum capacity. There were six ponies I didn't know, Emerald and her parents, a small green and purple lizard, and Kahlan. Simply put, it was crowded in here, that said, I honestly didn't care.
"Kahlan, how long have I been out?" I ask, turning to my guide/helper/sister.
"About five hours. The ponies here found Emerald Star and her parents, with you unconscious. They tested us with a spell to see if we were changelings, and then brought us here to the hospital."
"Thank you Kahlan." I say through a yawn. "Alright then, may the pony that is in charge please step forward."
A purple pony with wings and a horn steps forward.
"Please give me your name, status, military rank if you have one, and if your knowledgeable on such things; level." I demanded, not really knowing where this would go.
"My name is Twilight Sparkle, a princess of Equestria. I don't have anything to do with the Equestrian military." She replies, "But I don't understand what you mean by level."
"Level, as in level of experience. You get experience from skill training, as quest reward, as monster drops." I say, getting a confused look from everyone but Kahlan. "Wait, you all seriously don't know about these things?"
"What do you think this is, a video game? Last I checked, every single pony in this room was a living creature that wasn't made from digital code, but from organic tissue; flesh and blood." Replied the purple pony, anger lacing through her voice. Sheesh, whats got her in a mood?
"Uh Twi, what's a video game?" Asked an orange pony with a hat that had a county accent.
"I'll tell you later, Applejack, but right now we have more pressing matters. This Spriggan, or whatever he is, just appeared out of nowhere, killed three changelings and Celestia knows what else, and now has the mindset that this is all a game!"
She then proceeded to rant. At that point I just tuned her out. You know, I'm really beginning to hate this purple unipegacorn, or whatever the hell she's called. Twilight's just an NPC, and yet she is talking like she is more than that, almost comparing herself to a person in the real world. I couldn't give two cents about whatever titles she may hold; Princess Twilight will just need to learn her place. What better way than a duel? Well that will have to wait because I had urgent business to tend to in the Hive. I had places to go, changelings to fight, a war to end.
Moving to get the bed, I find myself caught in a glowing purple aura. Alright she wants to play that way? It may or may not be a challenge, but I'll take this as an insult to my honor. It may sound cheesy, but I share that dwarf mentality of don't pick me up. Looks like I really can have that duel.
"As Lord of the Spriggans, I demand a duel for this insult to my honor!" I yell, knowing that this could go south pretty quickly.
"What has she done to insult your honor? She just levitated you!" Protested a rainbow-maned pegasus.
"SILENCE!" I bellow, narrowing my eyes at the mare, who looked at me defiantly.
Twilight released me and just stared at me for a moment.
"Name the time and place," Twilight retorted nervously.
"As soon as the sun peeps over the horizon. And as the one challenged, you have the right to choose the weapons used."
"Magic." Came her quick reply.
Turning to the others, I looked to see the five other ponies who came with Twilight looking confidently at their friend. Emerald and her parents stood with Kahlan, all four grinning, knowing full well the outcome of this duel.
"Just remember not to hurt her," whispered Kahlan.
"Don't worry, I'm just going to humiliate her, and probably make her fear chickens for the rest of her life." I replied with a huge grin.
"You wouldn't," Kahlan exclaimed. "Your joking right?"
"No, I'm dead serious."
Kahlan just sighed and shrunk back to the size of a pixie, and the flew to sit on my shoulder. I walked to the hospital door and left the room. Walking down a few hallways, I came to the front desk and signed myself out. I then left the hospital.
I walked down the road from the hospital hoping to find an inn or someplace to lodge for the night. Finding none, flew over and began walking down a well traveled dirt path. As I walked, I thought about the castle back in Alfhiem. I really missed that place.
"Well no use dwelling on what you had in one game that you don't have in another." I say to myself as I snap my fingers.
Taking another step, I run into a fence and fall over it. Looking out I see an apple orchard that dwarfs any that could be found in Alfheim. The orchard covered the landscape before me. From one hill to the next apple trees could be seen. The dirt road that passed between the trees continued to a cluster of barns and a farmhouse.
I continue down the dirt path and walk into the heart of the farm. Thinking it wise, I make my way to the front door of the main house. Knocking twice, I stand and wait.
"Hang on, ah'm coming." Says a familiar voice from within the house.
As the door swings open, the orange mare from the hospital steps out of the house. I can't seem to remember her name though. Well, maybe I'll remember it after a while.
The mare looks at me with a questioning look before the sudden realisation hits her; I was standing at the door of her house. Her green eyes grew wider and she paled slightly. Now I understand that do to her, I may look like the angel of death. But, I mean come on, just because I wear black armor, have a black cloak (when it's not invisible), Have black wings, and I have a slightly pale complexion does nit make me a reaper. But in all seriousness, she shouldn't be as terrified as she was.
"C-c-can ah h-help you?" She stuttered, barely able to get the words out.
"I was wondering if I could stay here for the night. Not at the house but at the farm, with your permission of course." I said with a sigh, this was going to be a rough, awkward night.
"Well, ah suppose it wouldn't hurt if you stayed in the barn. But if ya don't mind me askin, why do ya want to stay here?" The mare asked, color returning to her face.
Honestly there were two reasons. One, there were no rooms at any inn in town, and two, this place would be perfect for the duel; the chicken house and fenced in enclosure was the ideal space for my plan during the duel. But she only needed to know the former.
"I would have bought a room at the inn in Ponyville, but the rooms were all in use." I answered swiftly. "How much will you charge a night?"
"Uh, just as long as ya are willing to help around the farm, ah suppose ya can stay for as long as ya want."
"Oh and one more thing, I was wondering if the duel between Princess Twilight and myself could take place here." I ask, getting a strange look from the mare. "Look, I know it's a lot to ask of you, but I'd be willing to pay for and possible damages, or work to pay it off. I'm only asking this because I'll need to borrow your chickens, and that twenty-by-twenty foot fenced in enclosure."
Again, my statement earns me a confused look from Applejack. (There we go, knew I'd remember her name. That cluster of three apples on her flank really helped though.)
"What do ya need the chickens for? It's not like they can just up and swarm Twi during the duel." Applejack says, still not understanding where I'm going with this. Honestly, Applejack was close to guessing what would occur, but I suppose I could tell her a little more about my little plan.
"Well, Applejack, I suppose I could tell you more about this little plan of mine, if you promise not to tell anyone." I whisper to her, getting her full attention.
"Well, just hold on a sec, ah'm gonna get some cider, then ya can tell all about this little plan."
Applejack turned and went inside the house. While I stood on the porch, I saw a few chairs and a barrel. Walking over, I sat down and waited for Applejack. The wait wasn't long, and when she sat down opposite to myself, I told her all about my plan for the duel tomorrow.
By the time I finished speaking, Applejack was laughing so hard, she couldn't walk. I sat up, thanked the farmpony for letting me stay the night, and hit the hay.
The life of a Spriggan Fairy.
I woke up to the sound of a cucco near my bedding. Yawning, I rise out of the straw and brushed myself off. Looking over, I see Kahlan sleeping in my hat that I had hung on a nail next to the barn's main door. I gently remove the hat from the nail and place the hat on my head, careful not to wake her up as it was very early and the sun was still not past the horizon yet. After ensuring that my little pixie was safe, I open the door to the barn and take a few steps out.
As I walk out of the barn, I am greeted by a small cyan missile that nails me in the stomach. While doubling over, I grip the pony that ran into me like a vice. She lets out an adorable squeak when she realises what is happening. She squirms and tries with all her might to free herself, but my grip was like crystallite. A few more minutes pass and the pony sighs in defeat, just hanging limp in my arms. I release her and she falls over onto the grass with a yelp of surprise.
"What was that for?" The rainbow maned pegasus demands.
"Well, I only thought it was fair of me to hold onto you after you nearly destroyed my midsection." I retorted.
"Sorry..." The mare says with a sheepish grin.
"Nah it's fine, I've had worse. My name is John, what's your name?"
"My name's Rainbow Dash, fastest flier in Equestria." She replies proudly.
"Wait a second, weren't you at the hospital when I was there yesterday?" I inquire.
Rainbow Dash just nods her head and swallows nervously. Was she scared of me? I mean, I could understand Applejack's reaction, I mean come on; I randomly showed up at her house and asked if i could spend the night at her farm. But this, I hadn't done anything to Rainbow Dash and she was nervous. Had word of my brutal decimation of that group of changelings spread like wildfire? Would every single one of these multicoloured equines fear me?
My train of thought is derailed by a second pegasus that appears next to Dash. She had a yellow coat and a pink mane. She took one look at me and just stared. Dear Lord almighty, it seemed like she was gazing into my soul. To be honest, I was probably more afraid of this little pony, than she was of me. Only God knows why though.
"H-hello," I stammered,"who might you be?"
The pegasus lowered her eyes, and while I saw her mouth move, I didn't hear what she said.
"Could you repeat that please, I didn't hear you." I asked in a soft, reassuring voice. Ok maybe I was wrong, maybe she is more afraid of me than I imagined. How fast had word of my little changeling encounter spread anyway?
"F-f-fluttershy." She whispered as she began to shake.
"Well, nice to meet you Fluttershy. My name is John." I say, trying to sound like as gentle and warm as possible; hey if this works, maybe we could be on friendly terms.
"What kind of creature are you? I've never seen anything like you before."
"Technically I'm a human, but right now I'm in the form of my spriggian avatar from Alfheim online." I replied, trying to answer Fluttershy's question. "So what brings you two here?"
Rainbow Dash opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted by a pink pony that bounced into existence. (personally I think she hopped out of the bucket next to the barn, but who knows for sure)
"We all heard that you were holding the duel here at Applejack's farm because you needed to borrow her cuccos because you were going to cast a very powerful illusion spell on twilight that will make her think she doesn't have wings or magic and then you were going to stick her inside the fence and see how long she would remain there before she realized it was all an illusion, while sending the cuccos at her while she has to dodge them." The pink pony said, all of it in one breath. Dear gods, how is such a thing physically possible.
'Its not, just learn to cope with it,' replied a strange otherworldly voice that seemed to be speaking to me inside my head. Thats Odd, I don't really remember having an AI.
That aside, why did Applejack spill the beans on that? Or did that pink pony know more about it than she was letting on? Was she an omnipotent being that knew all things? Or was it just an odd coincidence that was
'Again, don't try to understand Pinkie Pie, some people and ponies have tried and lost their sanity, just go with it; your life will be simpler and you will not have to worry about Pinkie breaking the fourth wall.
"Ok , but what the hell do you mean by fourth wall? Are you the system admin, or are you more like an AI unit that is stuck in my head?
'I guess you could consider me the author of your actually I'm sitting here writing this story about you and these ponies, and I was just trying to help you cope with Pinkie's ability to break the fourth wall. Crap, you didn't need to know any of that, ugh... look, just forget you ever heard me say any of this to you. I'll just make up another scenario that can explain to you why you shouldn't question Pinkie...'
I found myself laying flat on the ground after a short while.
"Are you ok?" Came Fluttershy's concerned voice.
"Yeah, just feel like I got hit by a truck." I replied, staring at the three ponies in front of me. That said, I feel as if there is something I've forgotten...
"Anyway, I need to set up everything for the duel, want to help?" I ask the trio, getting a few eager nods from Pinkie and Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy also nodded, a little less enthusiastic as the other two, but then again it was the thought that counted.
The four of us made our way over to the cucco pen. The a few of the cuccos eyed me as we came closer. As we came to a stop in front of the pen, three cuccos literally flew at me. They landed, two on my shoulders and one on my hat, and just sat there. Pinkie and Rainbow Dash broke out into a fit of laughter. Fluttershy even cracked a smile as she saw how the birds just sat there using my shoulders, and my hat, as a perch.
"Well, never thought I would end up as a perch, but at least I found the three super cuccos." I stated with a laugh.
"What do you mean by super cucco?" Fluttershy asked with a look of confusion.
"Well, if you look at the right wing, you'll see a grouping of three black spots three centimeters from the top of the wing. All super cuccos have this."
"I never knew there were more than one kind of cucco." Fluttershy whispered.
"Well, there are more than the normal and super cuccos. There are blue cuccos, golden cuccos, and even an evil cucco, but those are rare." I replied with a smile. I played to much Zelda back in the real world.
"Well what we need to do now is get the cuccos over to the pen," I state cheerfully, "but be careful not to harm, anger, or generally do anything to tick off the cuccos."
"What could a cucco possibly do us?" Rainbow Dash says with a laugh.
"I hope you never find out." I reply ominously.
The four of us (seven if you count my super cuccos) began to gather the rest of the normal cuccos. There were thirty-seven of these smart birds. Each of us tried to catch eight cuccos, Fluttershy deciding to catch the last one.
Catching my eight cuccos, I quickly take them to the small fenced inclosure, careful not to do anything to provoke them. One of the super cuccos remained perched on the fence while the other two accompanied me back to the cucco coup. On the way back I heard the cry of a cucco ring out across the farm. I instantly hit he ground, scared for my life. I knew all too well what these birds were capable of. A rainbow streaked past me, followed by twenty-nine angry cuccos. Well, I guess Rainbow Dash does too.
The cuccos chased Dash for a good ten minutes before we were able to herd them to the pen. Rainbow Dash had small cuts and bruises by then, but she was ok for the most part. What worried me most was how badly her pride had been hurt. While I may not know her very well, I could still see that while this experience may not have hurt her too badly physically, she was left with a mental scar. I honestly felt bad for asking for their help now.
"Fluttershy, Pinkie; could you two take Rainbow Dash to the farm-house, I can handle it from here but Rainbow Dash will need some time to recover from her recent experience." I say, wondering if I should erase this from Dash's memory. It would be a mercy, but at the same time it would be risky. That said, the risks outweighs the benefits.
"Okie dokie lokie." Pinkie replied cheerfully, bouncing up and down in place. She then began bouncing over to where Dash lay shivering in the dirt.
Fluttershy just nodded and went with Pinkie. She seemed too stunned to say anything after seeing her friend attacked by the cuccos.
As soon as the three ponies were gone I began to set up a warp point. The process, while long and absolutely boring as pking noobs, was quite easy. After setting up the warp point, I tested it. The warp worked but left me covered in black dust, and it hurt quite a bit.
"Well, I feel like I came out of a furnace, but at least I know what went wrong." I mumble to myself, readjusting the angles on the symbols in the circle.
The warp point set, I turn my undivided attention to the forty cuccos in the pen. I let a grin fill my face as I look over the birds that will play a critical role in the events for today. While I knew that Princess Twilight would not likely use combat magic, I wanted my illusion to work perfectly. I'd play around with her for a little while, transforming things like a tree into an Iron Knuckle, or a squirrel into a warg hound. Who knows, maybe I could change the battlefields after a certain point, like from the farm here to the castle up there on the mountain. Thanks to Twilight my odds of winning were ensured. A malicious laugh escaped my mouth, the force of it shaking the trees nearest me. All the cuccos looked back at me, an expression of nervousness showing in their eyes.
Suddenly a door flew open and an older looking mare stepped out. She looked over at me and narrowed her eyes.
"Do ya mind, some of us are still tryin' ta sleep." She hollered across the farm.
"Sorry ma'am" I called back.
After that, the mare went back inside, leaving me to watch the sun rise over the hills.
The life of a Spriggan Fairy.
Twilight and the rest of her friends, along with that lizard she had, arrived about half an hour after I was rebuked by the old mare, who I now knew as Granny Smith. There were also about twelve ponies in some kind of gold armor, they must have been guards or something. If it was honestly gold, it must be just for show, that stuff wouldn't take a single hit from my sword. To me those guys were just cannon fodder.
"Well, glad you could make it, Twilight Sparkle; I was beginning to wonder if you would show up." I taunted.
"I had to send a letter to Princess Celestia letting her know about the duel, and she sent an armed escort with me." She said with a sigh.
"So are your guards just for show, or do you think that they could overpower me? If I can slay dragons with little effort, what makes you think that a few guards would even have a chance against me?" I say, noticing that the small lizard was now looking at me with eyes the size of saucers. Was it something I said?
"Y-y-you slay d-dragons?" The small lizard stutters.
"Don't worry, I don't even think your a..." I stop mid sentence as I watch the little guy burped out a scroll, and some green flames.
"Dragon" I finish, earning a bemused look from Twilight. " I can't help but wonder why that baby dragon is so small, though." I mutter angrily.
Shaking my head in defeat over the baby dragon, I think about how to start out the duel. I look over to Twilight and her friends, only to see that they are all in states of nervousness. They were all surrounding the baby dragon and the scroll he had belched up. Was the scroll really that disturbing to hear? They paled as he kept reading, looking back towards me occasionally.
After the dragon had finished reading, the girls began to pull out a golden object from their saddlebags. Twilight's was a crown with a purple star, and the others all had necklaces that had a gem that matched the mark on their flanks.
So, was this what real friends were like? Sharing each other's problems and trying to help each other overcome them? Unlike the players in Alfhiem, who only tried to be my friend due to my social status, a false friend; these were real friends standing before me.
They grimaced as they all stood before me, Pinkie was actually crying. Applejack put her hoof around her, trying to comfort her. Fluttershy was in the same state as Pinkie, Rainbow Dash was glaring at me, Rarity was just standing there with a look of discomfort, while Twilight looked dumbfounded. What was going on? Why were they sad, angry and confused? Was it the duel? I could cancel it if it was. There was no way in hell I was going to be responsible for the destruction of a friendship, or the harming of a group of friends.
I saw their mouths moving, speaking to one another, but I couldn't hear them. Why couldn't I hear what they were saying? They kept pointing at me, arguing amongst themselves.
"Twilight, whats going on?" I yell, trying to get her attention. If she heard me, she was doing a good job of ignoring me.
The group of six ponies formed a semicircle around me, each avoiding eye contact with me. Using a telekinesis spell, I grabbed the scroll from the baby dragon. I hear them begin to protest, but I tune them out completely as I begin reading the scroll. The first words were 'Don't trust the human.' The next sentence was 'Use the Elements of Harmony on the human to vanquish him.'
I finished the scroll and felt my legs give out on me. I land in a heap on the ground before the six ponies that stood there in shame. My six little executioners, sent by their princesses. What grave thing had I done to deserve this punishment? Was it me, or was it humanity as a whole? How did Celestia and Luna know about mankind, and what gave them this attitude over us? But if it is their wish, so be it.
Standing up slowly, using my sword for support, I walk over to a barrel of water and look at the reflective surface. I see at first the face of a spriggan, rounded features facial features, jet-black hair, and angular ears, looking back at me. I blink and the reflection changes. Looking back at me was a my real self; angular clean-shaven face, dirty-blond hair that rarely ever stayed down, a long scar that begun at the base of my hairline that ended halfway down my forehead, and deep blue eyes that other people thought disturbing to look at. I looked at my true self; a human being, stolen from my home by some otherworldly force, about to be executed.
"This never was a game, was it?" I asked, watching them shake their heads.
"Then I'll go willingly." I say bowing my head.
I remove my hat and place the still sleeping Kahlan in it and walk over to Fluttershy.
"Please take good care of her for me." I whisper to her, my voice cracking when I see her begin crying.
Taking my sword, I slide my hand over the razor-edge drawing a small line of blood on my palm, feeling the cold sting of the metal's icy surface, possibly for the last time.
My lifeblood, the lifeblood of a human, not that of a Spriggan Lord, flowed down the blade and ran into the runes at the cross-guard, enchanting it with my spirit. I turn to Twilight and hand her the sword, wrapping it in my cloak.
"Take care of this weapon, Twilight Sparkle. Its blade is not of this world. The sword holds my own lifeblood within its runes, making it part of me; I give this to you ." The mare took the Dark Liberator's Repulser and put it into the dragon's claws, just looking at the ground the entire time.
I then took my armor off and piled it next to Rarity, who just broke down crying before I could speak. Why should I trouble her more?
I stand before six mares that were to carry out an execution; my execution. They had most of my physical possessions, all of which all had been given as parting gifts to make up for not having been able to get to know them. All of them cried, not for me, but for the act that they were about to preform.
"The only thing I regret would be not having enough time to help end your war, make friends with the six of you. I am ready"
The six hesitantly reformed their semi-circle. Their gems on their jewelry glowed weakly, gradually growing in strength until a beam of rainbow colored light arced high above us. The beam then drove toward me, surrounding me in the multicolored light. When it hit, I didn't feel pain, it was more like a slight pull on my soul. I felt like something was being driven from me, something that shouldn't have been there.
When the light vanished, I stood before the six ponies. They had turned away from me, talking amongst one another. I decided to take that moment to try and walk away.
Turning to leave, I noticed a figure clothed on black laying sprawled. He had black wings, black hair, sharp angular ears, and pale skin. This was my Spriggan avatar, only at the same time it wasn't. This creature had an evil aura about it; hatred seemed to radiate from it.
"This isn't possible, there was no way that you were the byproduct of that light; that should have killed me, not create you." I whispered venomously to the Spriggan, which opens his eyes, red in color, suddenly after hearing my voice.
The Spriggan sits up, and looks at me curiously, tilting his head slightly. After about a minute he grins and lifts his left hand. A red magic blast blows me back causing me to land a few feet from the girls. They jumped and turned back to me and the Spriggan, looks of horror on their faces. They rushed over to me, eyeing the Spriggan cautiously.
"What happened? The elements weren't supposed to create another human! What will Princess Celestia say when she sees that we only made the problem worse!" She said as she half-yelled at me.
"Well don't get onto me about it! All I can tell you is that I'm myself again, and that we now have to deal with Spriggan that apparently is evil, and the only thing standing between him and your world happens to be those elements that you have." I snap back.
The mares again form a line and activate their elements. They fire it at the Spriggan. The light surrounds him and stays there for a moment, only to be sent back at the six of them, knocking them off their hooves. I remained standing and grabbed the sword, rushing the Spriggan. My blade hit a barrier and blasts me back, behind the six ponies. I felt my left leg bend at an awkward angle and both my arms snapped.
The Spriggan walks over to the mares and holds out his hand, dark energy forming at his fingertips. He laughs and begins to speak, using my own voice.
"Foolish little ponies, did you think your pathetic Elements would vanquish me; John, Lord of the Spriggans, and soon to be ruler of this world. I curse you now, first of many, to live in a body that is foreign to you. You shall walk on two hooves and have hands like humans. Your lives will be like they were before, but the Elements of Harmony shall be made useless on their own, and will require a seventh element: that of an unbreakable spirit." With that he hit the six of them with the dark energies.
The girls began to slowly change. Their rear legs began to grow in length and their forelegs began to shrink in size and length. The girls' front-hooves changed into hands. Their bodies changed as well, becoming like a woman's body, with a tail and wings( at least for Twilight, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy.) Their faces shrunk and again resembled that of young woman, with a small muzzle and pony ears. The Spriggan turned them Into anthropomorphic ponies.
The six remained on the ground, not moving. John looked over to me, his piercing red eyes gazed through me. He walked over to my broken form, bending down to my ear.
"I have many things to thank you for; my life, my mind, my wrath, my hate, my lust for power, my magic; all of these things I owe to you, John. Honestly, I hate to do this to you, but it is the only way my plan will work. I curse you, John of humanity, to live in a body like that of the six. Your spirit shall be unbreakable and shall not yield to any creature beneath the sky. During times of sorrow, you'll long for death time and time again, but it shall not be granted to you, o seventh element. You mind shall be warped and molded to that of an inhabitant of this land, but my one mercy to you shall be that your memories of your home shall not be lost, but lay dormant. All these are but a few of your gifts and curses I have laid upon you, my father, brother, and greatest foe."
With those words, John Spriggan blasted me with his dark magic. I went through a transformation similar to Twilight and her friends, but instead of becoming more human, like they did, I gained horselike characteristics. My feet became hooves, my ears moved, being higher on my head; I grew a tail, and fur covered my entire body. A pair of wings grew out of my back and hung limply at my sides. Finally my face distorted; a shortened muzzle and larger eyes warped my facial features into a more equine appearance. Most of my teeth changed to those of a pony, however, my canines remained.
I crawled over to a barrel to look into the reflective surface. A dark blue, almost black, anthropomorphic stallion looked back at me. The mane was dirty-blond with a light cyan streak running down the left-most part of it. It was an absolute nightmare for me.
"What do you hope to gain from this?" I demanded, my voice cracking as I sliding down to the ground with my back against the barrel.
"Well, since you asked, I'll tell you. Nothing ever done by us has been worth anything to us unless we had a challenge to go with it." John said with a small grin. "You should know that just as much as I do. So I took the liberty to create my own challenge to make things more interesting for me. I start with you and the Elements, and after I send you guys seven years into the past, I'm going to change everyone in the world."
"Why are you just making this into a game? Isn't that why we ended up here to begin with? And wasn't that why we both had the false pretense that this entire world was just a large RPG? Your actually from a game, so that might not matter to you; but this is a real world, and your messing with people's lives!"
"So what, I'm not the only one who did that, am I? You yourself messed with the lives those six ponies laying on the ground over there. What makes you any different from me?"
"I was too stupid to realize that this wasn't a video game. And now, because of my stupidity, these ponies now have to worry about you."
"Don't fret, its not your fault that I'm here, you can blame Celestia for that. She was the one who ordered Twilight and her friends to hit us with the Elements of Harmony. But sorry to chat and run, but there are so many ponies to change, and little time to do it in. Good luck, see you in seven years!" John said cheerfully, enveloping me in a thick cloud of dark energy.
The last thing I remember seeing was Twilight and her friends, watching me helplessly, and Kahlan, who had just woke up flying into the energy vortex with me, then I felt pain. As the pain got stronger, I slipped in and out of unconsciousness. I remember hearing Kahlan saying my name, then I felt nothing at all.
I woke from a dreamlike state and looked around, finding myself on the Apple family farm, but it looked different. It felt larger, almost like I had become smaller. My sword lay on the ground beside me, and when I picked it up it felt heavier. Looking around, I found one of the farms water barrels and walked over to it. Looking over the edge of the barrel, an eleven year old colt looked back at me in the water's surface.
While I still stared at my reflection, frozen in fear, a hard object made contact with the one of my wings with an audible thump. Holding my hand to the spot that I had been hit at, I looked down to see a hard green apple.
I quickly turned around to face whatever it had been that had thrown the apple at me. A filly was standing next to an apple cart, about seven meters away. She didn't look happy at all, in fact she seemed furious. She grabbed another on if the green apples and chucked it at me.
"I thought I already told ya ta get out of here!" She yelled as the apple got closer to me.
Swinging the now heavy sword, I barely sliced the apple before it made contact with my face. After the halves fell, I looked back to see the filly walking toward me with a scowl. She had an orange coat, with nice golden hair. She wore a cowboy hat, and had a red cotton button-up shirt and had a dusty pair of jeans. She honestly didn't look half bad.
"Who the hay are ya, and what do you want?" She asked
"My name is... is...what is my name?" I say, getting panicked at the end. "I don't even remember my name!"
"Woah there, sugarcube, take a few breaths and try ta think about the last thing ya remember." Said the filly, going from looking mad to concerned.
"Well, there was a creature that had black wings and hit me with some sort of black ball of energy, then I felt nothing but pain. Then I heard a voice saying something, maybe a name, it started with a J. After that the pain vanished I was here on your farm." I say, all the while confusing myself even more than I had been. "Look, if I'm being bothersome I could just leave."
"Nope, come on, maybe Grandpa Apple can help ya. My name's Applejack by the way." She said, grabbing my hand and dragging me off to the main Farmhouse.
About five minutes later I was sitting at a table in the family's dining room. Grandpa Apple sat across from me, eyeing me, almost like he was sizing me up. After a while longer, the old stallion looked me in the eye and grinned.
"Son, would ya like to be an adopted member of the Apple family?"
"Yes sir." I replied meekly.
"We'll call ya Jonathan,if ya think the name suits ya," he pauses while I nod my head in agreement. "Ha, Jonathan Apple, always told Gran we'd have a cold named Jonathan. Well son, go get some rest, you have bright future ahead of ya."
Somehow I knew he meant that in more ways that one.