Aboard the H.M.S. Achilles
"Where to my lad" asked the captain.
"Where are you going" Asked I.
"Well, I am heading to the Caribbean to pick up a shipment of sugarcane," Says he.
"That sounds quite lovely," I hand him the fee, board the ship and settle down.
Never would I have thought that by boarding this boat that I would never see my world again. My name was Riley Richardson and I am recorded "Lost with Ship" in the records of the year of our Lord 1867. I was the son of a prominent London merchant and was slated for inheriting the family business. Sounds nice huh? Wrong, included in that package was a life of never leaving home (Victorian Era London was the most dark, sick, and up right disgusting place on earth), Living a life on a strict schedule, and never doing anything fun. See my reason for running away yet? Anywho, I took my allowance and booked passage on the H.M.S. Achilles on a voyage to the new world. As London faded in the distance and the ship steamed down the Thames, I had no pre-recognition of any thing bad happening.
The H.M.S. Achilles was a 3-mast steam ship. I was given a decent room and board and ate well for the whole three days I was on-board. I was often in my cabin reading books or occasionally joining the captain for dinner and tea. The all changed on the third night of our voyage. At first it was just a dark wall in contrast to the sunset, but then the wind picked up and I heard the captain shout "She's pullin' us in boys, get ready fer a fight !" I rushed up to join the captain next to the helm.
"Can the engine make it?" I ask.
"This uns' a big un," the captain said in a weird accent, "this squall looks ta be a 'undred miles or so."
"Will we make it?"
"Can't say."
By the time the rain started the swells were cresting well above the deck and already one sailor was lost to the storm. As time passed, the rain pounded harder and the ship was barely able to ride to the crest. The A high pierced cry was heard over everything. I looked up and saw the look out staring towards the west (or I think it was west). I turned and looked, at first it was just as dark as the other directions, but then I heard it. The sound was like a roar and all I remember was the wet feeling I had in my pants before it felt like a wall of rock hit me and I knew no more.
I woke on a sandy beach looking up into the faces of bona-fide ponies. I heard noises coming from them. I stirred and they jumped from me and started to make louder noises. Then I realized that they were speaking words. At first I thought I was dead and hearing things, but I thought, "If I was dead, than why do I feel like I was tossed around in a sack?" I try to get up, to no avail. I look down into the water, at first I don't see it then I see it... my reflection.
I am staring at a green unicorn, wait a unicorn with wings? I try to tune out the talking ponies as I deal with what I am seeing, but fail.
"He's an Alicorn!" Says one.
"But only the Princesses are Alicorns and this is obviously a boy," Says another.
"Only four exist right?" remarks another.
"Somepony better get princess Twilight she'll know what to do."
"Will Someone please tell me where I am, or more importantly, what I am," I ask in a loud voice that seems to startle the crowd.
"You are in Equestria, a little south of Manehattan. What is your name?" asks a pony.
"Equestria? My name is Riley, what is going on?"
"I don't know but we've sent for a pony who will."
Several moments pass by as I strungle to sit up. When I manage it, I get a clear view of my surroundings. A pristine beach with a tree-line in the distance along with a jumble of REALLY tall buildings in the distance. After a long and awkward time of sitting there, I see a pony suddenly point up and he and the others stand up and bow as a purple unicorn with wings sets down in front of me.
"Will you all stop with this nonsense of bowing please," asks the apparently important pony, "What is your name Alicorn?"
Alicorn?"Riley Ma'am." I reply.
"Riley, will you be kind enough to follow me to my home?"
??? "Who are you?"
"I am Princess Twilight, ruler of these lands from Ponyville to Manehatten." She replied.
"Oh, I will come, but tell me... what is an Alicorn?"
"An Alicorn is a mix of a Unicorn and Pegasus, only four were known to exist, myself and the other three princesses. They are Celestia, Princess of the Sun and Day; Luna, the Princess of the Moon and night; and my sister-in-law, Princess Cadence, Princess of Love and ruler of the Crystal Empire."
"uh-huh... Great, I am dreaming. Someone slap me."
"Someone? Never mind, just please fly with me to my castle in Ponyville."
"Castle... ok. How do I fly?"
"Uh, just flap I guess?"
After a few failed attempts, I finally was able to stay airborne. After a few minutes of practice, the Alicorn said to follow her and she took off. I followed. After a while I noticed a wierd thing on her back.
"What is that?" I asked.
"I am a dragon thank you, I'm Twilight's assistant. Spike's the name." said the lump.
After a day like this, this new dragon didn't surprise me as much as I thought it would. We flew on in silence until we came to the foot of a great tree made of freakin crystal.
"Are these kind of trees normal?" I asked.
"Nope. This one was made for me and my friends." Replied Twilight.
We landed and entered the strange place. After a few turns in the hallways, we came to a large door, guarded by an orange pony in armor.
"Riley, meet Flash, the Captain of my Guard."
"Pleased" was all I said.
"Welcome stranger, if Twilight lets you in, then I welcome you as well." Replied the guard.
Then the door opened and I was greeted by a blast of light that knocked me unconscious.
