Harmony's Guardianby FlufferNuttersChaptersDeparture and DreamsQuestions and AnswersRecovery and Self DiscoveryDeparture and DreamsIt's near 7:30 in the morning earth time as I sit in one of the seats in the passenger cabin of the shuttle at a window seat thankfully as we finish loading up the other intergalactic ships before take off. My name is Tristan Orose I'm 23 and I'm part of the United World Military in the newly formed Intergalactic division. What do I look like? Well I have brown hair, A solid build of a body, White skin and believe it or not yellow eyes. The reason why they are yellow is because of a genetic flaw that is extremely rare apparently I never think much about it though. I can't remember much about my family since I was in and out of foster homes since I was five. I was drafted into the military after they announced the new division and needed members most are probably expendable myself included most likely. Some are volunteering others like myself are drafted from many orphanages since there has been an overflow of orphans over the past few years due to how much of the world is uninhabitable.Due to the last world war and the battle of 2150 the sky has stayed a light shade of orange due to the radioactive contamination and the attempts to purify it during the day and pure black at night. No stars at all in the sky and the moon very dim. Even though that happen years before I was born. It feels like it was only yesterday though. We live in domes as air and water is filtered and purified. So according to the higher -ups Earth is on its last legs and we have to look somewhere else to live. All I was told is that we are to settle on a distant planet they claim to be habitable for humans. We were told that there is life there though we were never told what it is at all just to kill anything that moved. I look out the window at the sky for the last time before take off though it's not for a feeling of missing home more of a goodbye to something I didn't want to see again. I never felt like I was at home. Maybe it is due to all the moving around I've done though I just leave it at that. I look down to see what looked like cryo chambers with people already inside them. I wonder who they are. Eleven of them are occupied and one is empty as they are loading them onto the ship next to me. Just as I watch them load the empty chamber in I hear the speakers came on from the crackle of the speakers with the high leader of the United World Federation. "Alright everyone you're about to launch humanity into its newest chapter in a few minutes. After lift off you are to be put into cryogenic sleep once you are in the clear. In the meantime stay in your seats we will warp jump you all once you cleared the asteroid belt and are in cryosleep. You will be briefed on the mission when we are near the planet. On behalf of the United World Federation we thank you for your service. May our race survive." The speaker then cuts off. As I look out the window and see the fuel trucks filling up the fuel tanks the shuttle is on as everyone finishes getting seated and locked in. Soon a yellow light with a head looking forward comes on as we all straighten our heads as supports hold out heads straight during take off due to the force the launch brings. I feel a sudden shaking motion as the cargo carriers are placed into the shuttle. I'm quite nervous at all this. I can hear a few conversations in the background as I await the count down. I feel another shaking jolt a couple of minutes later as we start to go vertical. My breathing starts to pick up and my palms are starting to sweat as I can hear and feel the starting of the rockets on the sides of the shuttle. Each passing second it gets stronger and stronger until a sudden force of energy presses me into the seat by the force of the shuttle lifting off. My skin feels like it wants to leave my body as it pulls back from the lift off as my chest feels like it's tightening up making it hard for me to breathe as the ship continues to break through the atmosphere. I start feeling sick as my stomach starts to feel like it's flipping around as I get the feeling to vomit. But can't due to lack of contents inside of it. After about five minutes we slow down as the restraints to the side of our heads retract and we can move our heads again. I look outside and see the earth and it looks like a giant orange. However I notice something there are a few clear spots on the planet they are green and blue the same colors as it was from the history books before the war and are noticeable from space. Though everyone is too busy to notice before panels on the windows go up and an image of a fully orange earth is seen instead. I can't see anything or show anyone to prove what I just saw. A solider next to me puts his hand on my shoulder. I look at him with a curious look raising an eyebrow.. "Don't worry about seeing anything. It's just a big orange. Besides we'll have a new world to explore soon." He says with a calm reassuring sound to his voice. "Yeah. You're right. Hopefully things will get better when we do get there." I say with a soft smile and a bit of hope. Though a nagging feeling in the back of my mind is saying otherwise though I put it off as my nerves getting the better of me. "So what's your name?" He asks with a bit of a smirk on his face. He's more muscular than I am, Has black hair with a scar on his left cheek, has hazel eyes and brown skin. "My name is Tristan Orose. What's yours?" I respond holding out my hand. "Dominic Jones. Nice to meet you Tristan," Dominic says as he shakes my hand and takes out a pair of headphones and a mp3 player that looks very recent if not up to date. "So what do you have for the trip?" Dominic asks as he plays around with his mp3 player. I pull out my own mp3 player. Though it's older than the one Dominic has. It used to be my father's before I was placed in the orphanage after him and my mother went missing it may have a few scratches on it. But it still works. I even kept the music that he left on it. "I got my own music with me." I say as I put on my headphones and scroll through the music. Trying to calm my nerves in hopes that they will go away before I'm put into cryosleep. Dominic looks at my mp3 player with an amazed look on his face at how old it is. "Wow you must have taken really good care of that for it to still be able to play." Dominic says with an amazed tone in his voice. I find the song that I wanted and looked at Dominic with a reminiscent smile. "Yeah I have. It was my father's before my parents went missing and I was put up for adoption." I say with a bit of sentiment in my voice. "Ah so you're one of the drafted orphans. Do you feel like you're leaving home?" Dominic asks out of curiosity as I give him a confused look. Because honestly I can't really answer that. I've been to so many houses with all kinds of families and never felt like I was at home. Some of them were nice. One family was very nice to me when I was about seven. I was content though truly happy is something that I never felt no matter how hard I tried or felt. But it was pretty close I guess. I can remember going to the park on afternoons and getting ice cream in the summer and going to the amusement park a couple of times. It was nice until they were caught selling drugs and I was sent back to the orphanage. "I can't really say. I never felt like anyplace was home," I say in response to his question in a depressed tone in my voice as I feel less hopeful and more alone if anything. Just then a light comes on signaling us that stage one of cryosleep will happen which is sleeping gas and the timer gave us five minutes to prepare. "Well see you when we wake up." I say as I turn on my favorite song and lay back in my seat and try to relax. "Yeah. You too." Dominic says as he does the same. Hopefully the dream realm will be more forgiving to me. I've had a dream that has haunted me for my whole life so far. I can't really remember much outside of the screaming and the red of flames that I saw. I always woke up in a cold sweat after I get taken away by some creatures with large metallic looking eyes and sounds of heavy breathing coming from their faces. I also remember voices that sound so familiar and yet I don't know who they are or where they come from. I can feel myself get sleepy as the gas fills up the chamber and kicks in I slowly close my eyes and feel myself drifting away to sleep. I open my eyes and find myself on a grassy hill under a night sky. The star lit sky always makes me smile since I've never been a day person. Though what makes the night nice for me is the shining moon above me. The moon is not as bright as the sun but it feels warmer for some reason. I lean up from the soft grass and I look down and see a small village near by lit up as if some sort of festival is going on. I decide to go there and look around as I get on my feet and walk the village. I look around and the first thing I notice is that there is no one here. I can hear the sounds of people laughing and cheering as they win prizes and have fun. But can't see anyone. The lights are all different colors from red and blue to pink and yellow and even orange. I then hear a conversation not too far from me as I follow the voices to an open field with a tree and sit under the tree listening to the voices. "I'm so happy for you. Have you picked out a name yet?" Says a high -pitched cheerful voice. "No not yet. I haven't even told my husband that I'm pregnant yet." Said another voice this time it's much softer that before. "Hopefully it doesn't end up with his personality. The last thing we need is a miniature version of him running around." One more voice says with a high -class tone. "I doubt that. I think he'll be very happy that he'll be getting a family of his own though. He's come a long way since when we first met him." Another voice says this one sounding more educated than the rest. I smile a bit hearing the conversation. A new life being brought into the world always made my heart warm from the happiness people get. "I think this is a great thing for y'all both. I know I'm about due soon I know our oldest will be happy. Though he's always been like his uncle." One more voice says with a southern twang to her voice. "At least it'll have a few playmates to play with. My baby belly is only just starting to show. I've had to make a maternity line for myself for when it happened. Though it wouldn't be bad for business to have a high end line." Says the high -class voice. "I just started to get the cravings. Does anyone have any carrots and chocolate ice cream by chance?" Says the educated voice. I chuckle at the question. "I've been having those myself its pickles and vanilla pudding with me though. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. How about we go get some food." The soft voice says as I can hear movement the voices fade away slowly deep in conversation. I stay at the tree thinking about the conversation that I just heard. I feel some sort of familiarity with the soft voice. But can't put my finger where. I then feel a sudden shake run underneath me as the village shakes violently as I hear cracking and rumbling. I can see pieces of the town crumbling and falling. I look out and only see darkness under the town. I start running scared and soon enough I fall into the darkness feeling as if I'm falling and floating in nothing fearing what awaits me as I scream to be saved by someone or anyone for that matter. Just then I hear something odd in the darkness. A woman's voice. The soft one from earlier. "Did you have a bad dream?" She asks with concern in her voice. Not knowing the correct response I just nod my head not knowing what will happen. "It'll be ok. I got something to make you feel better." She says before humming a tune to me.* A soothing melody is felt and heard all around me as I feel my fear drift away slowly as her humming continues. I feel this feeling of Deja vu as well as if I have heard this melody before from some where but where? I close my eyes as the melody has me drifting off peacefully. "That's a good boy." The voice says as she continues humming. I open my eyes again and find myself back on the grassy hill I was on earlier with the moon still shining on me. Why is that voice so familiar and yet I don't know it. It's not my mother's voice and yet it feels like it was her. What is going on? I mean I've heard this voice before. But only in whispers and it usually was just a word or two. Never this clear and never this long. Suddenly everything fades away as I find myself back in darkness and I open my eyes to see myself back on the ship with Dominic looking at me. "About time you got up. We're here. Look outside." Dominic says as he gets me up and points out the window. Looking out the window I see a planet green and blue with large land masses and large oceans as clouds cover parts of it. We have arrived. However I feel as if terrible things are about to happen. Author's Note * For those that want to know what it was here it is. Thank you all for reading this. I've had this idea in my head for a while. Please let me know what you think. Constructive criticism is welcomed. Questions and AnswersWhile looking out the window an alarm sounds off as everyone goes silent as the cabin turns dark. "Hey Tristian the mission brief is about to begin." Dominic says getting my attention. I look forward towards the large monitor in the cabin as the mission brief begins. A man with a five o clock shadow, Short hair and a dark blue suit is seen on the screen. "As you all know we are here to explore and colonize on the planet below and make way for the rest of the human race to arrive. Our mission is simple. Guard the landing site, Secure the base off operations. If any life form gets close kill it on site no questions. Also we have very special cargo to help us. They are in cryosleep and will be unless they are needed. Only under extreme situations are you to awaken them. Once they are awake they won't stop until sedated by a handler who are marked by the patch on their left shoulder. We will start orbital drops in fifteen minutes. So prepare yourselves in the meantime. You are doing this world a great service." The voice on the speakers says before a click is heard and the monitor goes black. The dream from cryosleep is still running through my mind along with the questions I've had through out it. A schedule of who is going to be dropped first is shown on the display screen from earlier as I look I see I'm one of the first to be dropped. I get up from my seat and make my way to the back of the cabin and go to the solider by the door. I show him the schedule and my identification. He looks at both and lets me through. My surroundings change from the cozy look of the cabin as the walls are now industrial as I make my way to get into my armor in the locker room on the side near the drop pods. I take my armor out as I start to put it on. I notice the armor is fitted with compartments for extra ammo which are already filled and a knife on my left leg it is bulky in appearance though feels light and durable in a camouflage black and grey as I lift the chest piece and attach it to my uniform before sliding on the gauntlets and leg armor. It feels snug as I get up to put my boots on. After putting on my armor I look at my helmet and in the vizor I see myself knowing that I'll be on the other side of the visor it sends chills down my spine as if I'm looking at myself. More questions fill my head the deeper I look into the vizor. Am I a hollow shell? Or just trapped in a cell where I don't belong? I snap out of it and put the helmet on before exit the locker room and make my way to the drop pod. The questions keep piling up. Between the questions from my dream while I was in cryosleep and the ones I have now I do my best to keep my composure and not show what I feel is a mental breakdown. I enter the drop pod and strap myself in as I see what is around me I see my rifle is on my right and med kit is on my left. My breathing starts to go heavy and becomes frequent as my nerves set in. The pod front is closing as I hear the static of communications link starting up. "Testing, Testing can everyone hear me?" Says the commanding officer dropping with us. "I can hear you sir." I respond as everyone else in the pods respond at the same time. "Good. We're about to start orbital drop. When we land spread out for the rest of the troops to land." Our Commanding officer says as the pod door is sealed and the chamber is evacuated as the air lock is unlocked. I feel my pod move outward as it starts to shake. I suddenly feel like I did with the launch with the force of the drop pulling me up as my restraints hold me down. I look out the pod window and see the flames from the friction of reentry into the planet's atmosphere. I suddenly the sounds of screaming fills my ears. But none are from the other soldiers. It's the screams of men, women and children all in pain and suffering. My breathing picks up pace and I feel that fear I did earlier though this time it's multiplied. I hear screaming all around me not knowing where it's coming from. I suddenly hear a woman's scream loud and clear. "Don't take my babies!" She screams as I hear a baby cry followed with the soft crackling of fire and a woman's fading weeping. I'm lost in the sounds around me before my commanding officer calls in and snaps me out of it. "Cadet Orose activate your chute now!" He shouts as I snap out of it and release the chute with the lever above me as I feel the pod jolt upwards and wave side to side as our decent continues. We land in a clear field as our pods bust open and we spread out. All seems quiet as I scan the area. The green grass and the blue sky look like as if I'm in heaven. I can hear the sound of a river near by. Just as I start to take in the peacefulness of the area the sound of gunfire is heard in the distance. I thought nothing of it until I hear a shrill scream just before another gunshot is heard. That brought me back to the screams earlier. Just what the hell is going on? I hear a soldier's voice through the communications receiver in my helmet. "I need back up now. I encountered life forms and they are bringing more and fighting back." He says. I rush over following his gps location to the front of a small village. I see a few bodies of what I figure are the inhabitants of this planet. They look like the ponies back on earth though with random colors and some had horns or wings. But they have been covered in their own blood. I look at a small body of a light blue pony with a horn on its head. Most of its fur covered in blood. I suddenly get pulled down by someone. I see that it's my commanding officer. "What happened?" I ask in a bit of a panic. "One of the natives attacked us. We opened fire and not too long after we are in a fire fight with some kind of weapons. We can't advance nor over run them." He says. "What do we do?" I ask. "We are pinned down. I repeat we are pinned down. Drop one of those experiments now!" Says our commanding officer into his microphone in his helmet. I hear a loud crash nearby a few minutes later followed by a roar. I see what made that roar when I look behind me. He stands tall as he roars again. He looks almost human though more muscle bound and bulky than the average man. I hear him come towards me as my helmet falls of my head after it came loose from being pulled down earlier and I look up staring back at him. He observes my face and my eyes as me picks up my helmet and gives it back to me and rubs my head. I sit in confusion as to what just happened. "Thank You." Is all I manage to say as he starts charging towards the others. I put my helmet back on and I see the person that helped me charge at the attacking ponies. In the distance I can see a castle of white with purple rooftops and a cloud of white and gold getting bigger. I then use the binocular feature on my visor and see that they are all ponies in gold armor "Watch out guys there's more coming and they are armed." Says another soldier. "I never thought we'd be over run this fast. Bring in the rest of the experiments now!" The commanding officer says as he pushes a button on his armor. More crashing sounds like the one earlier are heard. As well as more roars and a few shrieks. A deep rumble is heard as more of them show up. I turn my head back towards the village and see a purple dome covering it and a loud booming voice is heard. "Who dares attack my subjects?" Shouts the voice with authority and rage. How can I understand them? Or do they speak English like us? I brush off these questions as the army of white ponies with wings land and are carrying spears while wearing gold armor as I look behind me and see an army of ponies with bat wings and black armor carrying spears as well. I hear more fighting as the rest of my squad attack the ponies with bat wings and I see one charging at me. In instinct I pull out my knife and try to deflect the spear with my knife. It missed must of my head. But it hit my helmet and sends it flying out of sight. I looked at my attacker as I see he has yellow eyes like mine. I look deeper into his eyes for that split second and see anger and loyalty in his eyes. But also fear. I get a look at the pony leading them. A tall dark blue pony with wings and a horn. Her mane and tail flows and looks like the night sky. I manage to grab part of the spear and break off the blade from the wooden staff as I pin my attacker down and my blade raised in the air. I suddenly freeze as I look into his eyes again. I don't see the anger and loyalty in his eyes anymore. I see pure terror and fear. My heart races. I realize that I can't do it. I can't kill a living creature with such ease as the others. I throw down my knife and grab the broken spear and run into the near by forest. Before I enter the forest I turn my head and see the bodies of my comrades with smoke coming out of their chests as for the ones that we called for while they are in the distance I can see they have been captured. I focus on getting away from the forces that are now after me. I push away branches and make sure the ponies behind me don't get any closer I have to lose my armor to gain distance. But I need to give them the slip before I can. Thinking fast I go left and made my way to a valley and take a shot that I can use the broken spear to pole volt to the other side. However it isn't enough as I fall into the roaring river below. My fall while fast feels like and eternity. Is this the end for me? What will happen now? I hit the water and feel a sharp pain on the back of my head as everything goes dark in an instant. The last thing I hear are the voices of the ponies that were following me. "There's no way he could have survived that. Let's go and report back to the princesses." One of the ponies say as I can feel myself floating away before completely passing out. I lay in the empty darkness again silent, Cold and alone. Until I hear what sounds like an old man's chuckle. "Hehehe. It seems you're lost. I've been waiting a long time for this opportunity. Come let us talk the others. They have been waiting to start our little party for a while. But I told them they had to wait until you came." The voice says as I see a patch of light in front of me. I'm curious as well as scared. Unsure of what is going on and what will happen. My whole body shakes as I muster up the courage to speak. "Who are you? What are you?" I ask to see if the voice says anything with a nervous pitch in my voice. "Well aren't you the curious one? Well to answer your questions I go by many names and forms. But you may know me from old legends of knights and dragons. More specifically the legend of king Arthur. I am Merlin though here I'm known as Star swirl the bearded. Quite an amusing name if you ask me. Now hurry along I don't want to drink cold tea." Star swirl says. I go with my gut as I start to run towards the light before my mind can stop me. I don't know what to expect though there is one way to find out. I walk through the light as I start to feel a warm breeze as I notice that everything is bigger. I look over myself and notice that I have turned into a pony. I first notice my dark tan fur. I look to my sides and notice my wings are bat like and I have a white tail. I feel the top of my head and notice two hard bumps. After checking myself out of this new form I try to walk. However I trip over myself and fall to the ground with a thud. I feel myself being lifted up by a pair of hooves immediately after and being taken over to a large table where there are other ponies. "Wha is goin on hewre?" I say before putting what now are hooves to my mouth in shock at how I sound. "We'll get to that in a bit. We are waiting on a couple more guests. Just relax and enjoy some tea." A light grey pony with a horn and long beard in a wizards outfit says. I look down at the cup of tea with a confused look on my face trying to figure out how to drink it without looking rude. I look around the table and see the other ponies around me. There are many that look related to each other and have smiles on their face. Three of them are different shades of orange or red with brown or dirty blonde manes and tails. Two are light blue pegasai with red and navy blue manes and tails though one has a slightly darker shade of blue on their coat. A light orange pegasus with a purple mane. Two others have bouncy manes and tails though that's the only thing that they look similar with. One has a pink coat with brown mane and tail while another has a brown coat and has more of a dirty blonde color in his mane. The last pair seen are a pair of white unicorn ponies that look high class with relatively the same vibrant blue manes and tails as if they were identical twins. I look down feeling sadness take over as tears start to well up at the bottom my eyes. I don't know who I am anymore or what is going on. My tears start to fall down as I finally break down and lose myself in my emotions. I feel so lost so afraid and so alone. I hear a voice right next to me as two arms pull me in for a hug. "What's wrong baby brother?" Asks a female voice. I look and see a white pegasus with a tan mane and tail with orange eyes. "Wh-Who awre you?" I ask still crying. She looks sad as she holds me closer. "They did much worse to you than we thought. I'm your big sister Snow Blossom." Snow Blossom says. My eyes are closed as she places me under her before getting in the chair and has a cup of her tea. The feeling of being under her made me feel safe. I don't know why. Though I still don't understand what is going on. "He's such a shy one isn't he?" Asks Star Swirl while refilling his cup. "Well he's only a foal so I can see why. He probably wants to see mom and dad and he will in due time." Snow Blossom responds. "Indeed. Do you know where you are being held?" Asks Star Swirl. "Probably in the caverns under Canterlot for both their safety and ours. As for little Moon Twister here we don't know." Snow Blossom says as she looks down at me. "That's a shame. However since everypony is here we can begin. The reason why you are here is because this land of Equestria is your home. Though this isn't the first time humans have came to Equestria. The last time they came here they foalnapped you twelve and took you to their world for experiments. They used you as weapons for their interests and now they are here to take over and end the peace that has been here for quite sometime. Minus a few hiccups of course. We need Moon Twister's help since he was the only one who got away." Star Swirl says looking at me. I still try to process what was just said along with this new information. First I find out I'm not even human and then I just find out I have to save this whole planet and country? I gain a headache and rub the sides of my head whimpering softly from the pain. Snow Blossom notices this and rubs my head with her muzzle. "This is something only you can do baby brother. We would do it ourselves if it wasn't for the situation we're in already." Says Snow Blossom. "There is a cave in the everfree that I hid away the grand mage's armor, cloak and staff. The magic in those should adjust to your body." Says Star Swirl. "To learn how to use the magic is something you have to learn on your own since it's dad's magic after all. It's completely unpredictable." Snow Blossom says. I hear a door open and look over at it. "Looks like it's time to go. Sorry for this being so short. But time is of the essence. Also a bit of a warning to you about the cave. That cave is called the Cave of Truths. It's a trial to most. However for you it may just open your eyes to what happened to you. Now go on little one." Star Swirl says motioning me to go towards the door. "We'll always be with you and when this is all over I'll make sure we'll play with the bunnies at the cottage with mom like we used to." Snow Blossom says as she motioned me to go as well. I get down from the chair and reach the door. I look back and see them all. I have the weight of a whole world and it's inhabitants on my shoulders. I feel that I'm not sure if I can do it. But I have to at least try for their sake. I turn back and walk through the door. I'm not in darkness for long as my eyes shoot wide open and wake up on a bed in a hut somewhere. Drenched in cold sweat and hyperventilating I notice my armor is gone and I see a zebra pouring liquid in a caldron. She puts the bottle down and looks at me. "I see the man in the lake is finally awake." She says speaking in rhyme. Recovery and Self DiscoveryMy head is still fuzzy from the time I was knocked out. I lean up and look around the hut noticing the tribal decorations around. "So what is your name?" I ask. "I am Zecora my friend. May I ask the name of who I pulled out at the river's end?" Zecora asks me. "I..... I don't know at this point. I'm called Tristian Orose. But after passing out like that I was called Moon Twister." I say with a depressed tone as I lay back down. "A spiritual journey is what you have taken. One you have not finished if I'm not mistaken." Zecora says while mixing something with her hoof. "Well thank you for saving me. But I need to get going." I say as I get on my feet and get up only to be met with a sharp pain in my left leg before sitting back down. "While I welcome the thank you. Your body needs to renew. Due to the rapids you did take caused your leg to break. This is a fact that you cannot shake." She says before taking a ladle full of the liquid from the caldron into a bowl and placing it next to me. "How did you find me?" I ask looking at the purple liquid Zecora gave me. "I was looking for some snail goo when I found you. I saw your blood in the lake and could tell your leg did break. But what has my interest at it's peak is that you know our speak." She responds motioning me subtly to drink the liquid. I take the edge of the bowl to my lips and drink the liquid. It has a thick syrupy texture to it. Though it surprisingly tastes something similar to grapes and pears though the look of it resembles moss from a swamp. I finish drinking the liquid before answering. "Honestly at this point I have no idea. I just assumed you spoke like us to begin with. But now that you mentioned that I can understand you I'm not entirely sure. Though truthfully I'm not sure who I am." I say with a distant tone of voice. "I see that this is quite the mystery. Though now get some rest for healing that is what's best." Zecora says as I lay back down. I'm still tired and after about a half hour by my guess I fall back asleep. I find myself floating in the darkness again. Probably from how I've been feeling since I went in the river. I just don't know anymore. Who am I? What am I? I'm so damn confused as I can feel tears form at the bottom of my eyes and fall down my cheeks. "Somebody......... Any-Anybody help me." I say through the tears not being able to hold my pain in anymore and closing my eyes. Just then I feel something warm and soft wrapped around me as the humming I heard in the dream I had while I was in cryosleep come back. I feel a rocking motion as I attempt to open my eyes and fail to do so. "Looks like you had another bad dream again. Don't worry mama will make it all better." The soft voice says before humming again. Is she really my mom? I don't understand. But at the same time I feel at peace. I feel like I can truly rest. I start to smile as the tears slowly dry up. "How is our new abomina- I mean bundle of joy? Did he have another nightmare? Or is he just hungry?" A new voice says in a very humble yet curious tone. "If he was hungry he'd still be fussy. Only a week home and he's been an angel outside of what a normal foal does. Besides having bad dreams every once in a while." My mother says. The rocking motion stops as I am placed next to something warm. "Maybe sleeping with us will help him." My mother says. "He's just like his sister. Though he has more of your shy personality than her. But at least he has most of my looks." The man's voice says. "True. But let's get back to sleep. He has a playdate tomorrow with his new friends and him being fussy is the last thing I want him to be." Mom says. Is this what motherly love feels like? If it does I don't want it to end. I feel so warm, So loved and safe. I don't need to see to feel what I'm feeling right now. "So you really are one of the "Lost Twelve" we've heard about." A voice says. I turn around able to open my eyes again. It was that winged and horned pony that attacked me and my unit earlier. I get into a defensive fighting stance ready for a fight. "What are you doing here and how did you get in my dreams?" I ask. "Don't worry I'm not here to fight. Just to talk. As for how I am in your dreams that is due to my magic. I'm allowed to enter dreams and deal with nightmares if need be. My name is Luna. Though I am known as Princess Luna to my subjects." Luna replies calmly. "Why are you here?" I ask. "I sensed an anomaly in the dream scape and decided to check on what or whom was causing it. Never did I think that it would be you let alone the other foals of "The Lost Twelve". If you are worrying about the others there is no need to worry. They are safe. My sister and I noticed something very odd with them." Luna says. "What would that be?" I ask still being defensive. "They looked as if they were being controlled. Though my sister is doing further study with the best minds we have." Luna says. I let down my guard though it's against my better judgement as I start to calm down and sit down with my legs crossed after seeing that she isn't doing anything besides standing in front of me. "Can you explain to me what is going on? Like how we got to be these humans and what we really are?" I ask. With a sigh Luna gets into a sitting position. "Years ago Twelve foals went missing after a large fire consumed a village of ours. At first we thought it was just an accident that got out of hoof. That was until we heard reports of a loud explosion like sound in the everfree forest and creatures appearing in the town near by that started to burn it. What they described to us they looked like what you are. We didn't know why until now. My sister and I believe that it was to make you and the others." Luna replies. "But how do you know we are those foals?" I ask. "Between dreams of the others and their memories we figured it out." Luna says. "What of the battle happening now?" I ask. "It's over. We wiped them out soon after we lost you and the troops that followed you returned. Though they probably have more to send down. But for now at least it is quiet as we take advantage of this to tend to the wounded and relocate civilians. I having a feeling that this isn't the end though. They've settled a lot of land since the calm has started. They have a base of operations near Ponyville which is where you landed." Luna says. I look down at the nothingness below still processing what Luna has been saying. I don't know if I should help them. I was given a mission. But at the same time this isn't the right way to do things. I'm so confused. I take a deep breath. "I have a request for you once this is all over." I say with my eyes looking down. "What would that be?" Luna asks. "If it's possible to change us all back to before we became this," I say gesturing to my human body. "Age and everything. Also if it's not too much to ask....... Tell my parents what's going on too if that isn't too much to ask that is." I say as a tear falls from my face crying again. I feel something push my head up gently. I open my eyes and see it's Luna's hoof. "The first part of your request I'll have our top minds of magic look into it since I am unsure. As for the second part they already know. When we found out that the missing foals have returned we sent a letter out to them." Luna says before fading away. She might be gone. But I feel something else is with me as well. I hear what sounds like footsteps in the darkness. I try to look for the source. But I see nothing. "Who's there? Show yourself!" I say into the darkness. "Looks like there's no use in hiding anymore." A voice says. I see a human in a white cloak. But he's a lot taller than I am and I realize why. I turned back into a pony. The human sits down so we are eye level. "So you were the one that was put into my body. Well I can say that you are cute that's for sure." He says. "Who awe you?" I ask. "Just call me your guardian angel. Though since you asked I'm the real Tristan Orose." He says. "Wha do you mean?" I ask. "Your soul and part of your DNA were placed inside of me when I was only an infant. I didn't say much since I didn't know what was going on either. But recently you've been putting my body at risk I've had to step in. Which is why I'm here now. Look the point is we have to work together if we are to stop them from destroying your home." He says before gently petting my head gently. While I feel a bit degraded it actually feels nice. I close my eyes and smile while the petting continues. I calm down a few minutes later. "Feeling better?" Tristian asks. I nod. He continues petting me as the darkness turns into a night sky and to the village that was from the dream I had when I was in cryosleep. This time it's full of ponies as Tristian picks me up and goes to the hill I was on earlier. However those voices now have faces. The shy soft voice is a yellow pony with wings and a pink mane and tail. The high class voice was a white pony with a purple mane, Tail and a horn. The intelligent voice is a purple pony with a horn and wings and the hyper voice is a pink pony with bouncy a curly mane. The same conversation from earlier is happening though now it's different in the sense that I thought these were people talking and not ponies. But the question remains on how I went from being here to being human on earth sharing a body with another being. Just then a light starts to surround us and grow brighter. "It's time to wake up. You know what needs to be done. Now go do it." Tristian says before vanishing into the light. I open my eyes quickly and sit up in a state of panic as well as a state of revelation. I look around to figure out where I am. I see the tribal masks and markings around me which means I'm still in Zecora's hut. I look at her as she tends to plants in her hut. "How long have I been asleep?" I ask. "You have been asleep for a weeks time. Much has happened near this hut of mine." Zecora says. I pull the blanket that covers the lower half of my body off and swivel the lower half my body to set my legs on the floor. "It didn't feel like that. Though my dreams or what I thought were dreams showed me many things. Though closure is no where in sight for me." I say with a hint of a depressed tone in my voice. "Closure will come this is true. Though you have a long journey ahead of you." Zecora says. I get up slowly and to my surprise I don't feel any pain. "How did my leg heal so fast?" I ask. "The potion you that you drink does a lot more than you think. My potion mended the break the more you take. It should be fully healed though I warn against rigorous activity in the field." Zecora says. I take a couple steps and stretch before I head to the door and look back at Zecora. "Thank you Zecora for finding me and bringing me back to health." I say with sincerity in my voice. "You are quite welcome traveler hope you will find what you are after." Zecora says. "Before I go do you know where the cave of truths is?" I ask. "The cave of truths lies just east though it is a half days trip at least." Zecora says. "Thank you Zecora." I say before opening the door only to see the yellow winged pony from my dreams, A snake like creature with many parts of different animals and Princess Luna.
Departure and DreamsIt's near 7:30 in the morning earth time as I sit in one of the seats in the passenger cabin of the shuttle at a window seat thankfully as we finish loading up the other intergalactic ships before take off. My name is Tristan Orose I'm 23 and I'm part of the United World Military in the newly formed Intergalactic division. What do I look like? Well I have brown hair, A solid build of a body, White skin and believe it or not yellow eyes. The reason why they are yellow is because of a genetic flaw that is extremely rare apparently I never think much about it though. I can't remember much about my family since I was in and out of foster homes since I was five. I was drafted into the military after they announced the new division and needed members most are probably expendable myself included most likely. Some are volunteering others like myself are drafted from many orphanages since there has been an overflow of orphans over the past few years due to how much of the world is uninhabitable.Due to the last world war and the battle of 2150 the sky has stayed a light shade of orange due to the radioactive contamination and the attempts to purify it during the day and pure black at night. No stars at all in the sky and the moon very dim. Even though that happen years before I was born. It feels like it was only yesterday though. We live in domes as air and water is filtered and purified. So according to the higher -ups Earth is on its last legs and we have to look somewhere else to live. All I was told is that we are to settle on a distant planet they claim to be habitable for humans. We were told that there is life there though we were never told what it is at all just to kill anything that moved. I look out the window at the sky for the last time before take off though it's not for a feeling of missing home more of a goodbye to something I didn't want to see again. I never felt like I was at home. Maybe it is due to all the moving around I've done though I just leave it at that. I look down to see what looked like cryo chambers with people already inside them. I wonder who they are. Eleven of them are occupied and one is empty as they are loading them onto the ship next to me. Just as I watch them load the empty chamber in I hear the speakers came on from the crackle of the speakers with the high leader of the United World Federation. "Alright everyone you're about to launch humanity into its newest chapter in a few minutes. After lift off you are to be put into cryogenic sleep once you are in the clear. In the meantime stay in your seats we will warp jump you all once you cleared the asteroid belt and are in cryosleep. You will be briefed on the mission when we are near the planet. On behalf of the United World Federation we thank you for your service. May our race survive." The speaker then cuts off. As I look out the window and see the fuel trucks filling up the fuel tanks the shuttle is on as everyone finishes getting seated and locked in. Soon a yellow light with a head looking forward comes on as we all straighten our heads as supports hold out heads straight during take off due to the force the launch brings. I feel a sudden shaking motion as the cargo carriers are placed into the shuttle. I'm quite nervous at all this. I can hear a few conversations in the background as I await the count down. I feel another shaking jolt a couple of minutes later as we start to go vertical. My breathing starts to pick up and my palms are starting to sweat as I can hear and feel the starting of the rockets on the sides of the shuttle. Each passing second it gets stronger and stronger until a sudden force of energy presses me into the seat by the force of the shuttle lifting off. My skin feels like it wants to leave my body as it pulls back from the lift off as my chest feels like it's tightening up making it hard for me to breathe as the ship continues to break through the atmosphere. I start feeling sick as my stomach starts to feel like it's flipping around as I get the feeling to vomit. But can't due to lack of contents inside of it. After about five minutes we slow down as the restraints to the side of our heads retract and we can move our heads again. I look outside and see the earth and it looks like a giant orange. However I notice something there are a few clear spots on the planet they are green and blue the same colors as it was from the history books before the war and are noticeable from space. Though everyone is too busy to notice before panels on the windows go up and an image of a fully orange earth is seen instead. I can't see anything or show anyone to prove what I just saw. A solider next to me puts his hand on my shoulder. I look at him with a curious look raising an eyebrow.. "Don't worry about seeing anything. It's just a big orange. Besides we'll have a new world to explore soon." He says with a calm reassuring sound to his voice. "Yeah. You're right. Hopefully things will get better when we do get there." I say with a soft smile and a bit of hope. Though a nagging feeling in the back of my mind is saying otherwise though I put it off as my nerves getting the better of me. "So what's your name?" He asks with a bit of a smirk on his face. He's more muscular than I am, Has black hair with a scar on his left cheek, has hazel eyes and brown skin. "My name is Tristan Orose. What's yours?" I respond holding out my hand. "Dominic Jones. Nice to meet you Tristan," Dominic says as he shakes my hand and takes out a pair of headphones and a mp3 player that looks very recent if not up to date. "So what do you have for the trip?" Dominic asks as he plays around with his mp3 player. I pull out my own mp3 player. Though it's older than the one Dominic has. It used to be my father's before I was placed in the orphanage after him and my mother went missing it may have a few scratches on it. But it still works. I even kept the music that he left on it. "I got my own music with me." I say as I put on my headphones and scroll through the music. Trying to calm my nerves in hopes that they will go away before I'm put into cryosleep. Dominic looks at my mp3 player with an amazed look on his face at how old it is. "Wow you must have taken really good care of that for it to still be able to play." Dominic says with an amazed tone in his voice. I find the song that I wanted and looked at Dominic with a reminiscent smile. "Yeah I have. It was my father's before my parents went missing and I was put up for adoption." I say with a bit of sentiment in my voice. "Ah so you're one of the drafted orphans. Do you feel like you're leaving home?" Dominic asks out of curiosity as I give him a confused look. Because honestly I can't really answer that. I've been to so many houses with all kinds of families and never felt like I was at home. Some of them were nice. One family was very nice to me when I was about seven. I was content though truly happy is something that I never felt no matter how hard I tried or felt. But it was pretty close I guess. I can remember going to the park on afternoons and getting ice cream in the summer and going to the amusement park a couple of times. It was nice until they were caught selling drugs and I was sent back to the orphanage. "I can't really say. I never felt like anyplace was home," I say in response to his question in a depressed tone in my voice as I feel less hopeful and more alone if anything. Just then a light comes on signaling us that stage one of cryosleep will happen which is sleeping gas and the timer gave us five minutes to prepare. "Well see you when we wake up." I say as I turn on my favorite song and lay back in my seat and try to relax. "Yeah. You too." Dominic says as he does the same. Hopefully the dream realm will be more forgiving to me. I've had a dream that has haunted me for my whole life so far. I can't really remember much outside of the screaming and the red of flames that I saw. I always woke up in a cold sweat after I get taken away by some creatures with large metallic looking eyes and sounds of heavy breathing coming from their faces. I also remember voices that sound so familiar and yet I don't know who they are or where they come from. I can feel myself get sleepy as the gas fills up the chamber and kicks in I slowly close my eyes and feel myself drifting away to sleep. I open my eyes and find myself on a grassy hill under a night sky. The star lit sky always makes me smile since I've never been a day person. Though what makes the night nice for me is the shining moon above me. The moon is not as bright as the sun but it feels warmer for some reason. I lean up from the soft grass and I look down and see a small village near by lit up as if some sort of festival is going on. I decide to go there and look around as I get on my feet and walk the village. I look around and the first thing I notice is that there is no one here. I can hear the sounds of people laughing and cheering as they win prizes and have fun. But can't see anyone. The lights are all different colors from red and blue to pink and yellow and even orange. I then hear a conversation not too far from me as I follow the voices to an open field with a tree and sit under the tree listening to the voices. "I'm so happy for you. Have you picked out a name yet?" Says a high -pitched cheerful voice. "No not yet. I haven't even told my husband that I'm pregnant yet." Said another voice this time it's much softer that before. "Hopefully it doesn't end up with his personality. The last thing we need is a miniature version of him running around." One more voice says with a high -class tone. "I doubt that. I think he'll be very happy that he'll be getting a family of his own though. He's come a long way since when we first met him." Another voice says this one sounding more educated than the rest. I smile a bit hearing the conversation. A new life being brought into the world always made my heart warm from the happiness people get. "I think this is a great thing for y'all both. I know I'm about due soon I know our oldest will be happy. Though he's always been like his uncle." One more voice says with a southern twang to her voice. "At least it'll have a few playmates to play with. My baby belly is only just starting to show. I've had to make a maternity line for myself for when it happened. Though it wouldn't be bad for business to have a high end line." Says the high -class voice. "I just started to get the cravings. Does anyone have any carrots and chocolate ice cream by chance?" Says the educated voice. I chuckle at the question. "I've been having those myself its pickles and vanilla pudding with me though. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. How about we go get some food." The soft voice says as I can hear movement the voices fade away slowly deep in conversation. I stay at the tree thinking about the conversation that I just heard. I feel some sort of familiarity with the soft voice. But can't put my finger where. I then feel a sudden shake run underneath me as the village shakes violently as I hear cracking and rumbling. I can see pieces of the town crumbling and falling. I look out and only see darkness under the town. I start running scared and soon enough I fall into the darkness feeling as if I'm falling and floating in nothing fearing what awaits me as I scream to be saved by someone or anyone for that matter. Just then I hear something odd in the darkness. A woman's voice. The soft one from earlier. "Did you have a bad dream?" She asks with concern in her voice. Not knowing the correct response I just nod my head not knowing what will happen. "It'll be ok. I got something to make you feel better." She says before humming a tune to me.* A soothing melody is felt and heard all around me as I feel my fear drift away slowly as her humming continues. I feel this feeling of Deja vu as well as if I have heard this melody before from some where but where? I close my eyes as the melody has me drifting off peacefully. "That's a good boy." The voice says as she continues humming. I open my eyes again and find myself back on the grassy hill I was on earlier with the moon still shining on me. Why is that voice so familiar and yet I don't know it. It's not my mother's voice and yet it feels like it was her. What is going on? I mean I've heard this voice before. But only in whispers and it usually was just a word or two. Never this clear and never this long. Suddenly everything fades away as I find myself back in darkness and I open my eyes to see myself back on the ship with Dominic looking at me. "About time you got up. We're here. Look outside." Dominic says as he gets me up and points out the window. Looking out the window I see a planet green and blue with large land masses and large oceans as clouds cover parts of it. We have arrived. However I feel as if terrible things are about to happen. Author's Note * For those that want to know what it was here it is. Thank you all for reading this. I've had this idea in my head for a while. Please let me know what you think. Constructive criticism is welcomed.
Questions and AnswersWhile looking out the window an alarm sounds off as everyone goes silent as the cabin turns dark. "Hey Tristian the mission brief is about to begin." Dominic says getting my attention. I look forward towards the large monitor in the cabin as the mission brief begins. A man with a five o clock shadow, Short hair and a dark blue suit is seen on the screen. "As you all know we are here to explore and colonize on the planet below and make way for the rest of the human race to arrive. Our mission is simple. Guard the landing site, Secure the base off operations. If any life form gets close kill it on site no questions. Also we have very special cargo to help us. They are in cryosleep and will be unless they are needed. Only under extreme situations are you to awaken them. Once they are awake they won't stop until sedated by a handler who are marked by the patch on their left shoulder. We will start orbital drops in fifteen minutes. So prepare yourselves in the meantime. You are doing this world a great service." The voice on the speakers says before a click is heard and the monitor goes black. The dream from cryosleep is still running through my mind along with the questions I've had through out it. A schedule of who is going to be dropped first is shown on the display screen from earlier as I look I see I'm one of the first to be dropped. I get up from my seat and make my way to the back of the cabin and go to the solider by the door. I show him the schedule and my identification. He looks at both and lets me through. My surroundings change from the cozy look of the cabin as the walls are now industrial as I make my way to get into my armor in the locker room on the side near the drop pods. I take my armor out as I start to put it on. I notice the armor is fitted with compartments for extra ammo which are already filled and a knife on my left leg it is bulky in appearance though feels light and durable in a camouflage black and grey as I lift the chest piece and attach it to my uniform before sliding on the gauntlets and leg armor. It feels snug as I get up to put my boots on. After putting on my armor I look at my helmet and in the vizor I see myself knowing that I'll be on the other side of the visor it sends chills down my spine as if I'm looking at myself. More questions fill my head the deeper I look into the vizor. Am I a hollow shell? Or just trapped in a cell where I don't belong? I snap out of it and put the helmet on before exit the locker room and make my way to the drop pod. The questions keep piling up. Between the questions from my dream while I was in cryosleep and the ones I have now I do my best to keep my composure and not show what I feel is a mental breakdown. I enter the drop pod and strap myself in as I see what is around me I see my rifle is on my right and med kit is on my left. My breathing starts to go heavy and becomes frequent as my nerves set in. The pod front is closing as I hear the static of communications link starting up. "Testing, Testing can everyone hear me?" Says the commanding officer dropping with us. "I can hear you sir." I respond as everyone else in the pods respond at the same time. "Good. We're about to start orbital drop. When we land spread out for the rest of the troops to land." Our Commanding officer says as the pod door is sealed and the chamber is evacuated as the air lock is unlocked. I feel my pod move outward as it starts to shake. I suddenly feel like I did with the launch with the force of the drop pulling me up as my restraints hold me down. I look out the pod window and see the flames from the friction of reentry into the planet's atmosphere. I suddenly the sounds of screaming fills my ears. But none are from the other soldiers. It's the screams of men, women and children all in pain and suffering. My breathing picks up pace and I feel that fear I did earlier though this time it's multiplied. I hear screaming all around me not knowing where it's coming from. I suddenly hear a woman's scream loud and clear. "Don't take my babies!" She screams as I hear a baby cry followed with the soft crackling of fire and a woman's fading weeping. I'm lost in the sounds around me before my commanding officer calls in and snaps me out of it. "Cadet Orose activate your chute now!" He shouts as I snap out of it and release the chute with the lever above me as I feel the pod jolt upwards and wave side to side as our decent continues. We land in a clear field as our pods bust open and we spread out. All seems quiet as I scan the area. The green grass and the blue sky look like as if I'm in heaven. I can hear the sound of a river near by. Just as I start to take in the peacefulness of the area the sound of gunfire is heard in the distance. I thought nothing of it until I hear a shrill scream just before another gunshot is heard. That brought me back to the screams earlier. Just what the hell is going on? I hear a soldier's voice through the communications receiver in my helmet. "I need back up now. I encountered life forms and they are bringing more and fighting back." He says. I rush over following his gps location to the front of a small village. I see a few bodies of what I figure are the inhabitants of this planet. They look like the ponies back on earth though with random colors and some had horns or wings. But they have been covered in their own blood. I look at a small body of a light blue pony with a horn on its head. Most of its fur covered in blood. I suddenly get pulled down by someone. I see that it's my commanding officer. "What happened?" I ask in a bit of a panic. "One of the natives attacked us. We opened fire and not too long after we are in a fire fight with some kind of weapons. We can't advance nor over run them." He says. "What do we do?" I ask. "We are pinned down. I repeat we are pinned down. Drop one of those experiments now!" Says our commanding officer into his microphone in his helmet. I hear a loud crash nearby a few minutes later followed by a roar. I see what made that roar when I look behind me. He stands tall as he roars again. He looks almost human though more muscle bound and bulky than the average man. I hear him come towards me as my helmet falls of my head after it came loose from being pulled down earlier and I look up staring back at him. He observes my face and my eyes as me picks up my helmet and gives it back to me and rubs my head. I sit in confusion as to what just happened. "Thank You." Is all I manage to say as he starts charging towards the others. I put my helmet back on and I see the person that helped me charge at the attacking ponies. In the distance I can see a castle of white with purple rooftops and a cloud of white and gold getting bigger. I then use the binocular feature on my visor and see that they are all ponies in gold armor "Watch out guys there's more coming and they are armed." Says another soldier. "I never thought we'd be over run this fast. Bring in the rest of the experiments now!" The commanding officer says as he pushes a button on his armor. More crashing sounds like the one earlier are heard. As well as more roars and a few shrieks. A deep rumble is heard as more of them show up. I turn my head back towards the village and see a purple dome covering it and a loud booming voice is heard. "Who dares attack my subjects?" Shouts the voice with authority and rage. How can I understand them? Or do they speak English like us? I brush off these questions as the army of white ponies with wings land and are carrying spears while wearing gold armor as I look behind me and see an army of ponies with bat wings and black armor carrying spears as well. I hear more fighting as the rest of my squad attack the ponies with bat wings and I see one charging at me. In instinct I pull out my knife and try to deflect the spear with my knife. It missed must of my head. But it hit my helmet and sends it flying out of sight. I looked at my attacker as I see he has yellow eyes like mine. I look deeper into his eyes for that split second and see anger and loyalty in his eyes. But also fear. I get a look at the pony leading them. A tall dark blue pony with wings and a horn. Her mane and tail flows and looks like the night sky. I manage to grab part of the spear and break off the blade from the wooden staff as I pin my attacker down and my blade raised in the air. I suddenly freeze as I look into his eyes again. I don't see the anger and loyalty in his eyes anymore. I see pure terror and fear. My heart races. I realize that I can't do it. I can't kill a living creature with such ease as the others. I throw down my knife and grab the broken spear and run into the near by forest. Before I enter the forest I turn my head and see the bodies of my comrades with smoke coming out of their chests as for the ones that we called for while they are in the distance I can see they have been captured. I focus on getting away from the forces that are now after me. I push away branches and make sure the ponies behind me don't get any closer I have to lose my armor to gain distance. But I need to give them the slip before I can. Thinking fast I go left and made my way to a valley and take a shot that I can use the broken spear to pole volt to the other side. However it isn't enough as I fall into the roaring river below. My fall while fast feels like and eternity. Is this the end for me? What will happen now? I hit the water and feel a sharp pain on the back of my head as everything goes dark in an instant. The last thing I hear are the voices of the ponies that were following me. "There's no way he could have survived that. Let's go and report back to the princesses." One of the ponies say as I can feel myself floating away before completely passing out. I lay in the empty darkness again silent, Cold and alone. Until I hear what sounds like an old man's chuckle. "Hehehe. It seems you're lost. I've been waiting a long time for this opportunity. Come let us talk the others. They have been waiting to start our little party for a while. But I told them they had to wait until you came." The voice says as I see a patch of light in front of me. I'm curious as well as scared. Unsure of what is going on and what will happen. My whole body shakes as I muster up the courage to speak. "Who are you? What are you?" I ask to see if the voice says anything with a nervous pitch in my voice. "Well aren't you the curious one? Well to answer your questions I go by many names and forms. But you may know me from old legends of knights and dragons. More specifically the legend of king Arthur. I am Merlin though here I'm known as Star swirl the bearded. Quite an amusing name if you ask me. Now hurry along I don't want to drink cold tea." Star swirl says. I go with my gut as I start to run towards the light before my mind can stop me. I don't know what to expect though there is one way to find out. I walk through the light as I start to feel a warm breeze as I notice that everything is bigger. I look over myself and notice that I have turned into a pony. I first notice my dark tan fur. I look to my sides and notice my wings are bat like and I have a white tail. I feel the top of my head and notice two hard bumps. After checking myself out of this new form I try to walk. However I trip over myself and fall to the ground with a thud. I feel myself being lifted up by a pair of hooves immediately after and being taken over to a large table where there are other ponies. "Wha is goin on hewre?" I say before putting what now are hooves to my mouth in shock at how I sound. "We'll get to that in a bit. We are waiting on a couple more guests. Just relax and enjoy some tea." A light grey pony with a horn and long beard in a wizards outfit says. I look down at the cup of tea with a confused look on my face trying to figure out how to drink it without looking rude. I look around the table and see the other ponies around me. There are many that look related to each other and have smiles on their face. Three of them are different shades of orange or red with brown or dirty blonde manes and tails. Two are light blue pegasai with red and navy blue manes and tails though one has a slightly darker shade of blue on their coat. A light orange pegasus with a purple mane. Two others have bouncy manes and tails though that's the only thing that they look similar with. One has a pink coat with brown mane and tail while another has a brown coat and has more of a dirty blonde color in his mane. The last pair seen are a pair of white unicorn ponies that look high class with relatively the same vibrant blue manes and tails as if they were identical twins. I look down feeling sadness take over as tears start to well up at the bottom my eyes. I don't know who I am anymore or what is going on. My tears start to fall down as I finally break down and lose myself in my emotions. I feel so lost so afraid and so alone. I hear a voice right next to me as two arms pull me in for a hug. "What's wrong baby brother?" Asks a female voice. I look and see a white pegasus with a tan mane and tail with orange eyes. "Wh-Who awre you?" I ask still crying. She looks sad as she holds me closer. "They did much worse to you than we thought. I'm your big sister Snow Blossom." Snow Blossom says. My eyes are closed as she places me under her before getting in the chair and has a cup of her tea. The feeling of being under her made me feel safe. I don't know why. Though I still don't understand what is going on. "He's such a shy one isn't he?" Asks Star Swirl while refilling his cup. "Well he's only a foal so I can see why. He probably wants to see mom and dad and he will in due time." Snow Blossom responds. "Indeed. Do you know where you are being held?" Asks Star Swirl. "Probably in the caverns under Canterlot for both their safety and ours. As for little Moon Twister here we don't know." Snow Blossom says as she looks down at me. "That's a shame. However since everypony is here we can begin. The reason why you are here is because this land of Equestria is your home. Though this isn't the first time humans have came to Equestria. The last time they came here they foalnapped you twelve and took you to their world for experiments. They used you as weapons for their interests and now they are here to take over and end the peace that has been here for quite sometime. Minus a few hiccups of course. We need Moon Twister's help since he was the only one who got away." Star Swirl says looking at me. I still try to process what was just said along with this new information. First I find out I'm not even human and then I just find out I have to save this whole planet and country? I gain a headache and rub the sides of my head whimpering softly from the pain. Snow Blossom notices this and rubs my head with her muzzle. "This is something only you can do baby brother. We would do it ourselves if it wasn't for the situation we're in already." Says Snow Blossom. "There is a cave in the everfree that I hid away the grand mage's armor, cloak and staff. The magic in those should adjust to your body." Says Star Swirl. "To learn how to use the magic is something you have to learn on your own since it's dad's magic after all. It's completely unpredictable." Snow Blossom says. I hear a door open and look over at it. "Looks like it's time to go. Sorry for this being so short. But time is of the essence. Also a bit of a warning to you about the cave. That cave is called the Cave of Truths. It's a trial to most. However for you it may just open your eyes to what happened to you. Now go on little one." Star Swirl says motioning me to go towards the door. "We'll always be with you and when this is all over I'll make sure we'll play with the bunnies at the cottage with mom like we used to." Snow Blossom says as she motioned me to go as well. I get down from the chair and reach the door. I look back and see them all. I have the weight of a whole world and it's inhabitants on my shoulders. I feel that I'm not sure if I can do it. But I have to at least try for their sake. I turn back and walk through the door. I'm not in darkness for long as my eyes shoot wide open and wake up on a bed in a hut somewhere. Drenched in cold sweat and hyperventilating I notice my armor is gone and I see a zebra pouring liquid in a caldron. She puts the bottle down and looks at me. "I see the man in the lake is finally awake." She says speaking in rhyme.
Recovery and Self DiscoveryMy head is still fuzzy from the time I was knocked out. I lean up and look around the hut noticing the tribal decorations around. "So what is your name?" I ask. "I am Zecora my friend. May I ask the name of who I pulled out at the river's end?" Zecora asks me. "I..... I don't know at this point. I'm called Tristian Orose. But after passing out like that I was called Moon Twister." I say with a depressed tone as I lay back down. "A spiritual journey is what you have taken. One you have not finished if I'm not mistaken." Zecora says while mixing something with her hoof. "Well thank you for saving me. But I need to get going." I say as I get on my feet and get up only to be met with a sharp pain in my left leg before sitting back down. "While I welcome the thank you. Your body needs to renew. Due to the rapids you did take caused your leg to break. This is a fact that you cannot shake." She says before taking a ladle full of the liquid from the caldron into a bowl and placing it next to me. "How did you find me?" I ask looking at the purple liquid Zecora gave me. "I was looking for some snail goo when I found you. I saw your blood in the lake and could tell your leg did break. But what has my interest at it's peak is that you know our speak." She responds motioning me subtly to drink the liquid. I take the edge of the bowl to my lips and drink the liquid. It has a thick syrupy texture to it. Though it surprisingly tastes something similar to grapes and pears though the look of it resembles moss from a swamp. I finish drinking the liquid before answering. "Honestly at this point I have no idea. I just assumed you spoke like us to begin with. But now that you mentioned that I can understand you I'm not entirely sure. Though truthfully I'm not sure who I am." I say with a distant tone of voice. "I see that this is quite the mystery. Though now get some rest for healing that is what's best." Zecora says as I lay back down. I'm still tired and after about a half hour by my guess I fall back asleep. I find myself floating in the darkness again. Probably from how I've been feeling since I went in the river. I just don't know anymore. Who am I? What am I? I'm so damn confused as I can feel tears form at the bottom of my eyes and fall down my cheeks. "Somebody......... Any-Anybody help me." I say through the tears not being able to hold my pain in anymore and closing my eyes. Just then I feel something warm and soft wrapped around me as the humming I heard in the dream I had while I was in cryosleep come back. I feel a rocking motion as I attempt to open my eyes and fail to do so. "Looks like you had another bad dream again. Don't worry mama will make it all better." The soft voice says before humming again. Is she really my mom? I don't understand. But at the same time I feel at peace. I feel like I can truly rest. I start to smile as the tears slowly dry up. "How is our new abomina- I mean bundle of joy? Did he have another nightmare? Or is he just hungry?" A new voice says in a very humble yet curious tone. "If he was hungry he'd still be fussy. Only a week home and he's been an angel outside of what a normal foal does. Besides having bad dreams every once in a while." My mother says. The rocking motion stops as I am placed next to something warm. "Maybe sleeping with us will help him." My mother says. "He's just like his sister. Though he has more of your shy personality than her. But at least he has most of my looks." The man's voice says. "True. But let's get back to sleep. He has a playdate tomorrow with his new friends and him being fussy is the last thing I want him to be." Mom says. Is this what motherly love feels like? If it does I don't want it to end. I feel so warm, So loved and safe. I don't need to see to feel what I'm feeling right now. "So you really are one of the "Lost Twelve" we've heard about." A voice says. I turn around able to open my eyes again. It was that winged and horned pony that attacked me and my unit earlier. I get into a defensive fighting stance ready for a fight. "What are you doing here and how did you get in my dreams?" I ask. "Don't worry I'm not here to fight. Just to talk. As for how I am in your dreams that is due to my magic. I'm allowed to enter dreams and deal with nightmares if need be. My name is Luna. Though I am known as Princess Luna to my subjects." Luna replies calmly. "Why are you here?" I ask. "I sensed an anomaly in the dream scape and decided to check on what or whom was causing it. Never did I think that it would be you let alone the other foals of "The Lost Twelve". If you are worrying about the others there is no need to worry. They are safe. My sister and I noticed something very odd with them." Luna says. "What would that be?" I ask still being defensive. "They looked as if they were being controlled. Though my sister is doing further study with the best minds we have." Luna says. I let down my guard though it's against my better judgement as I start to calm down and sit down with my legs crossed after seeing that she isn't doing anything besides standing in front of me. "Can you explain to me what is going on? Like how we got to be these humans and what we really are?" I ask. With a sigh Luna gets into a sitting position. "Years ago Twelve foals went missing after a large fire consumed a village of ours. At first we thought it was just an accident that got out of hoof. That was until we heard reports of a loud explosion like sound in the everfree forest and creatures appearing in the town near by that started to burn it. What they described to us they looked like what you are. We didn't know why until now. My sister and I believe that it was to make you and the others." Luna replies. "But how do you know we are those foals?" I ask. "Between dreams of the others and their memories we figured it out." Luna says. "What of the battle happening now?" I ask. "It's over. We wiped them out soon after we lost you and the troops that followed you returned. Though they probably have more to send down. But for now at least it is quiet as we take advantage of this to tend to the wounded and relocate civilians. I having a feeling that this isn't the end though. They've settled a lot of land since the calm has started. They have a base of operations near Ponyville which is where you landed." Luna says. I look down at the nothingness below still processing what Luna has been saying. I don't know if I should help them. I was given a mission. But at the same time this isn't the right way to do things. I'm so confused. I take a deep breath. "I have a request for you once this is all over." I say with my eyes looking down. "What would that be?" Luna asks. "If it's possible to change us all back to before we became this," I say gesturing to my human body. "Age and everything. Also if it's not too much to ask....... Tell my parents what's going on too if that isn't too much to ask that is." I say as a tear falls from my face crying again. I feel something push my head up gently. I open my eyes and see it's Luna's hoof. "The first part of your request I'll have our top minds of magic look into it since I am unsure. As for the second part they already know. When we found out that the missing foals have returned we sent a letter out to them." Luna says before fading away. She might be gone. But I feel something else is with me as well. I hear what sounds like footsteps in the darkness. I try to look for the source. But I see nothing. "Who's there? Show yourself!" I say into the darkness. "Looks like there's no use in hiding anymore." A voice says. I see a human in a white cloak. But he's a lot taller than I am and I realize why. I turned back into a pony. The human sits down so we are eye level. "So you were the one that was put into my body. Well I can say that you are cute that's for sure." He says. "Who awe you?" I ask. "Just call me your guardian angel. Though since you asked I'm the real Tristan Orose." He says. "Wha do you mean?" I ask. "Your soul and part of your DNA were placed inside of me when I was only an infant. I didn't say much since I didn't know what was going on either. But recently you've been putting my body at risk I've had to step in. Which is why I'm here now. Look the point is we have to work together if we are to stop them from destroying your home." He says before gently petting my head gently. While I feel a bit degraded it actually feels nice. I close my eyes and smile while the petting continues. I calm down a few minutes later. "Feeling better?" Tristian asks. I nod. He continues petting me as the darkness turns into a night sky and to the village that was from the dream I had when I was in cryosleep. This time it's full of ponies as Tristian picks me up and goes to the hill I was on earlier. However those voices now have faces. The shy soft voice is a yellow pony with wings and a pink mane and tail. The high class voice was a white pony with a purple mane, Tail and a horn. The intelligent voice is a purple pony with a horn and wings and the hyper voice is a pink pony with bouncy a curly mane. The same conversation from earlier is happening though now it's different in the sense that I thought these were people talking and not ponies. But the question remains on how I went from being here to being human on earth sharing a body with another being. Just then a light starts to surround us and grow brighter. "It's time to wake up. You know what needs to be done. Now go do it." Tristian says before vanishing into the light. I open my eyes quickly and sit up in a state of panic as well as a state of revelation. I look around to figure out where I am. I see the tribal masks and markings around me which means I'm still in Zecora's hut. I look at her as she tends to plants in her hut. "How long have I been asleep?" I ask. "You have been asleep for a weeks time. Much has happened near this hut of mine." Zecora says. I pull the blanket that covers the lower half of my body off and swivel the lower half my body to set my legs on the floor. "It didn't feel like that. Though my dreams or what I thought were dreams showed me many things. Though closure is no where in sight for me." I say with a hint of a depressed tone in my voice. "Closure will come this is true. Though you have a long journey ahead of you." Zecora says. I get up slowly and to my surprise I don't feel any pain. "How did my leg heal so fast?" I ask. "The potion you that you drink does a lot more than you think. My potion mended the break the more you take. It should be fully healed though I warn against rigorous activity in the field." Zecora says. I take a couple steps and stretch before I head to the door and look back at Zecora. "Thank you Zecora for finding me and bringing me back to health." I say with sincerity in my voice. "You are quite welcome traveler hope you will find what you are after." Zecora says. "Before I go do you know where the cave of truths is?" I ask. "The cave of truths lies just east though it is a half days trip at least." Zecora says. "Thank you Zecora." I say before opening the door only to see the yellow winged pony from my dreams, A snake like creature with many parts of different animals and Princess Luna.
