~Unknown POV~
They think that it's all over, don't they?
They think they can stop this world-wide catastrophe--or tragedy, should I say?--with their stupid hope?
But it's not possible. Because despair will always rule.
The Future Foundation revived everyone. That's fine. But in the process, they didn't know that I've also been revived. That was the Future Foundation's fatal mistake that they could not take back.
Well, I've got a plan. And there won't be anything to stop me. Not even hope. Because by then... well, there won't be any hope left!
Hehehe... I can't wait to start.
I step through the portal.
~Makoto Naegi's POV~
...Where am I?
I don't recognize this place at all... it's all so unfamiliar to me...
And... why does... why do my hands--
Hooves.
I meant hooves.
Hooves?
Wait a minute. I'm a pony. A living, breathing pony. That can talk.
Or at least I think I can.
"Hello?"
Yup, I definitely can.
I stood up like a newborn colt would have. Standing on my hind hooves would not work, so I tried standing like an actual horse, on all fours. It was hard at first--it was pretty wobbly.
I looked around. Behind me was a vast, dark forest that seemed pretty dangerous to go through. In front of me was a town of some sort, and off in the distance loomed some mountains. Near the forest stood a single house, a cottage, maybe. The lights were on, so I supposed someone was inside.
I slowly made my way over to the house. When I reached it, I knocked.
"W-who is it?!" came a seemingly frightened voice.
"My name is Makoto Naegi," I replied. "I'm a bit lost, and I don't know my way around. Can I come in?"
The door opened slowly. A face peeked out--the face of a yellow pony with long, pink hair and turquoise eyes. "M-makoto... N-naegi?" she repeated slowly.
"Yeah, that's my name..."
"Oh..." the pony said.
"What's yours?"
"Oh, um..." said the pony. She had opened the door a tiny bit wider, so I managed to catch a glimpse of the pair of wings on her back. Unfortunately, I had no such wings. I was regular old me.
"Uh... did you say it?" I asked again.
"I'm... Fluttershy..."
"What was that?"
"I'm... Fluttersh..." she whispered even quieter.
"Did you say Fluttershy or nothing at all?"
"..."
I sighed. "Well, my name is Makoto Naegi, and I'm lost..." I said. "Can I stay here for the night? I don't know my way around..."
"S-sure," Fluttershy nodded. "I can probably make room for another pony... You can come in."
"So, where are you from, Makoto?" Fluttershy asked.
"I'm from Hope's Peak Academy," I said. "It's in Tokyo."
"I-I've never heard of it..." the pegasus (I think that's what it was) replied.
"Well, it's a school for talented students," I explained, "so you couldn't get in unless you had a superior talent."
"So... what are you good at?" Fluttershy asked, feeding her pet rabbit some salad (I don't get why she does that).
"Um..." I wasn't sure whether to explain my hope thing or not. Should I just say that I got into the school with pure luck? Because the hope story would take a very long time to explain...
"I got into the school with blind luck," I partially lied. "I'm actually just an ordinary per--uh, pony."
"Oh, I see," Fluttershy nodded. She glanced outside. "It's getting dark. Why don't you head off to sleep for a while?"
I nodded. "Thanks."
She led me to a guest room with a single bed, a nightstand, and a small closet to put clothes in. "You can sleep in here," Fluttershy said. "I-I'm sorry it's not much, but it'll have to do for now..."
"It's plenty," I thanked her. "Thank you."
"Y-you're welcome," Fluttershy nodded, backing out of the room. "I'll see you tomorrow morning!"
She closed the door, and I was alone.
The room wasn't that different from the ones at Hope's Peak; its only difference was that there was no bathroom.
I got into bed and tried to fall asleep, but questions and wonders kept flooding my mind. Where exactly am I? What am I doing here? Why is everyone a pony? Are there others like me here? Possibly the other members of the Future Foundation, like Kyoko or Byakuya?
With a sigh, I closed my eyes.
