Chapters Author's Note
This is one of the first stories i have ever written so sorry if its bad.
If i had done anything wrong or if you see any grammatical errors please let me know below.
Anyways here is chapter 1. Enjoy.
Chapter 1
My eyes slowly open as I begin to wake up. I take a long look at the surroundings and realize that I am no longer in the small gray apartment that I was supposed to be in. 'Well one thing's for sure.. I am definitely not in the the city anymore.' I said to myself as I look into the open blue sky. At my sides we're a few hills, green as ever, and in front of me was a dense forest, that as far as I could see was.. pretty wide. What the heck happened after the flash? Why can't I remember anything?! Where am I and how did I get here? There we're far too many questions running through my mind, dying to be answered. As I begin to regain my footing I notice that there was something sticky attached to my rear end. I reached down and try to examine the item. It was clear and reddish and quite jiggly I might add. It appears to resemble a Strawberry jello.. I bent down and took a lick at my hoof and sure enough it was Strawberry jello!
"Wait a minute! A hoof?!" I yelled. "Just what the hell is going on?" I stood up, finally. I continued to examine myself and and found out that not only did I have hoofs but I've also sprouted a tail. I tried to raise my hand, or a hoof as it is now, and sure enough there we're furry ears. I begin to panic, unsure of what's happening. My heart begins to race and my breathing gets faster and faster. Then that was when I heard her. I turn around and found myself facing an orange and golden yellow mare trotting towards me.
"Hey! You squished my Jello tower!" She yelled and before I knew it she was leaping at me. Left? Right? I didn't know where to go. Oh shit, it's too late I was already pinned to the ground. Great. Just great. A pony jumps on me and pins me to the ground. This, is gonna be one hell of a day.I look up at the figure now sitting on my chest, or so it seems, mumbling something incoherent. I was very much confused at the moment. I just laid there frozen, unsure whether or not I should move or stay still.
"That took me forever to set up, you know!" The angry mare said.
Unsure of how to respond with her retort, all I said was one word, "Oops?"
"Oops? What do you mean 'oops'?! That's all you have to say for yourself after you destroyed my super awesome Jello tower?!" I gulped.
"Well sorry miss. I didn't mean to.."
"You know, I 'ought to bite you for that." She said. And with a 'nom' she bit down onto my forearm. It doesn't really hurt, I guess.. But seriously. What is happening to me? I stare at my 'oh-so-dangerous-attacker'. All I really wanted to do was get up and flee into the forest but I need answers. How to get back to my apartment? If this was actually just another wild dream and if so, how can I wake up? I laid there for a good 5 minutes or so just thinking and asking myself questions that I couldn't answer. I snap out of my thoughts and realize the mare was still biting me. I guess she must have had enough and grown tired when she rolled off of me and said "You sure are one tough cookie! Being able to survive my mighty bites." Ha! She called that a bite? I stared at her and the longer I did, the more I realize how serious she was with her statement. So it was supposed to hurt?
"Nevertheless, you still have to pay me back, you know? That's 20 bits right there. Jello doesn't grow on trees, you know."
"Don't you have some bits in your saddle pack there?" She asked holding out her hoof which I assume was supposed to be pointing at something. Saddle pack? What what saddlepack? I looked at the direction she was pointing at and saw a strangely familiar pack. It was light brown in color and is made up of what I think is canvas. I trotted over were the bag was located and took a look at what's inside. In the bag was a canteen pillow, a blanket, a box of matches, a sack and a short sword? The sack conatained more than a hundred gold coins which I assume we're 'bits'. I guess this is what she wants. The mare looked at me and nodded rapidly. Well that answered my question, these are infact bits. I quickly counted out 20 of the golden coins and pass it over to the mare.
"Hey miss, I'm really sorry for squishing yer' tower thing.." I say trying to apologize.
"No problem. You paid me back and I can always make another." She said. 'Wow' I thought, the mood sure did change quickly.
"Sundrop, but everyone calls me Sunny." She said raising her hoof up. I reach out and shake it. I tried to introduce myself but I just couldn't remember what my name is.
"Um.. I kind of forgotten my name." I chuckled nervously.
"What the hay? How do you forget your own name? Even I remember mine. Did you really fall that hard?"
"Well.. I guess I did fall pretty hard?"
"Well I'm just gonna call you 'Flashlight' then." She let out a sigh.
"What? Why?" I couldn't help but ask.
"Because your cutie mark is a flashlight, you dummy!" She giggled.
Cutie mark? I follow her line of sight to what led to one of my flanks. On it was indeed a flashlight. Do I seriously have a butt tattoo?
Sunny and I chatted until the sun began to set. I say my goodbye to her and turn to walk into the forest but before I could, I was abruptly stopped by a hoof on my shoulder.
"Are you crazy!? That's the Everfree forest! You can't go in there!"
"Huh?"
"Huh? What do you mean 'huh'?! You really aren't from around here, huh." She says.
"Calm down. It's just a forest and I'm not afraid of the dark." I say trying to reassure her.
"You know there are timberwolves in there, right? You know, the wooden beasts that tear apart ponies." She said with a mocking tone.
"Oh um.. err.. Yeah. I knew that hehe." I say, trying to recover my pride. I may be a pony now, and she may be a pony but this is really a dangerous world. What did I get myself into? I turn to the opposite direction and spot a park bench a few yards away. I point over to it and say, "Well that spot's not taken, right?"
"What? A park bench? I saw how much bits you had. You could just rent a hotel room."
Seeing as there is no portal back to Earth, I'm going to have to prepare myself for the worst. I might be stuck in this pony world and who knows how long I'll be here.
"Well I'm trying to save my money, what's the worst that could happen?" I say and as if on cue the rain came pouring down.
We arrive a few minutes later at a two floor cottage. In the distance, I was able to see a large village. One that I figured was Ponyville, a place of kindness and fun? At least that's what Sunny told me..
Sunny opens the door to reveal a small living room that was made up of: a small couch and coffee table that was placed infront of a fireplace.
"Well I guess you could stay here for a couple nights, but you're gonna have to sleep on the couch alright?"
"I really don't have to stay you know. I'm sure that I'll be alright." I try to reason,
"Yeah, sure, and freeze out there? It's gonna be winter in a couple of weeks." i really didn't want to stay. Not because the place was bad, heck this place is better than my apartment, but because it just didn't feel right having a stranger help you out in such a big way.
"Are you okay letting a stranger in your home?" I ask curiously.
"Nope. But you seem like a nice guy. Besides I'll be taking this." She says grabbing my short sword.
"Hey!" I yell.
"And I also have this." She says before placing a collar around me.
"Hey! What the heck is this!?" I shout as I try to shake it off.
"Don't worry it's just a safety precaution. You're a stranger remember? Besides even though I locked the leash to the stair rail you would still be able to reach te bathroom." She giggles. What kind of sick joke is this? Before I could say anything more, she ran along upstairs. I let out a long sigh as I tuck in my tail and fell asleep.
I wake up to the smell of freshly cooked pancakes. Ah, I haven't had pancakes in a long time. But before I could even move, a thick glob of sugary sweet syrup pours falls on my face. I try to wipe it off as much as I could but it only ended up spreading it more. I look back up again..
"Who the hell staples pancakes to the ceiling?" I say.
"Well they were really hot so I stapled them up there to cool." Sunny replies as she floats up a stapler and another buttery disk. I think it was then that I really noticed her horn. I guess the situation kinda made more sense now seeing as how unicorns should have magic right? but still.
'What the actual heck?' I thought. But then again it's not my house and I don't want to get kicked out so why question it. I spent my breakfast taking off pancakes from the ceiling and eating whatever I could salvage from them. After that, I head to the bathroom and got washed up. It took longer than a normal shower to get the sugary sweetness out of my coat. It's really weird going in and out of a shower without worrying about your clothes.
"Hey, when can I get this darn thing off?" I ask, raising up the collar and leash.
"Er.. I guess if you wanna go outside? I was going to build a rocketship today. You wanna come?" Sunny says.
Really? A rocket ship? So ponies ride rocketships now? Ah what the heck do I got to lose? We walk a bit down the road 'till we hit a trail that lead into the Everfree Forest. "Hey, I thought you said we weren't supposed to come here." I say a bit nervously.
"Don't worry this trail is laced with magic that repels timberwolves. You still want to be on the lookout though. It may repel them but it doesn't protect you." She says.
The trail then led to a great grass opening with a small lake nearby. Off the side was a large treehouse. "Cool treehouse, but I thought we were gonna make a rocketship?" I say as I was led up the ladder.
Sunny just replied with "Yeah, Yeah, I know. The toasters are up here though. What toasters? Before I could reach the top, a giant mass of shining appliances rained upon me. "There we got our ship parts! Let's.. Get.. BUILDING!!" She says dramatically.
How inthe world do you make a ship out of toasters? I begin to think that Sunny may really have more than just a few loose screws. It was really cute though, watching Sunny roll around the grass trying to bite toasters to death. How do you even get this many toasters? I imagine her holding other some pony and mugging them of their toasters. I climb to the inside of the tree house, this time to see what's inside. There was a telescope, a mini fridge, a microwave and a few sheets of paper with some pencils. How did you even get electricity here? However by the corner of the tree house was a ladder that led straight down into the tree trunk.
'I'm not really sure if I should be going down here but..' I think. At the bottom of the tree trunk was an amazing sight. An entire underground cave made of different crystals from rubies to emeralds. Round the room were random metal objects too and many tools. I guessed that this was Sunny's work shop. Just then Sunny jumped down here too.
"Pretty neat place huh?"
"Yeah, pretty neat."
"But you gotta promise not to tell anypony! Alright?"
I can probably see where she was coming from. This hidden place is probably her 'happy spot'. Everyone has one, right? A place to just wind down and relax. In fact mine used to be at my local coffee shop.
"Alright, alright. I won't tell." I say.
"Great!" Was the last thing I heard before coming in contact with another toaster to the head.
Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter. A cold wind blew on my back as Sunny and I exited the treeline. The place was quiet aside from the crunching of snow as the two of us trotted towards town.
"So ummm... didn't you say it wasn't going to snow for a few weeks?" I say as I try to start a conversation.
"Well potato tomato. They're all the same!" she answers back.
"Um no... no they're not actually."
"Well they're both foods right?"
"... ... ... Your missing the point," I try to reason. "anyways... I was just surprised that it happened so fast."
The two of us continue march on into town as we chatted.
"Well the weather ponies are prone to doing that." She suddenly pipes up. "It's all about being top secret or something like that."
I nod my head pretending to understand even though I had no idea of what she was talking about. I mean weather ponies? This place has weather ponies... I was just starting to ponder how these things would even work? Sunny must have trailed off behind me because the next thing I knew. *Thwack!* The freezing cold slush mixture of water ice slapped slowly slipped off my neck. I gave out a small shiver before spinning around. *Thwack* Only in time to be hit with another snowball. I took a hoof and wiped off what was left of it. My eyes scanned around looking for the mare. Then I heard giggles. I looked around but there was no pony to be seen only a single tree...Ah ha! I scooped up a hoof full of snow my self and quietly crept my way over to the tree. I could here the small laughs a bit louder now and I was sure she was just right behind it. I ponced to the side of the icy tree and quickly lobed my snowball into thin air? Just then the tree shook and the thick snow a top it fell upon me.
"Ahhhhh!," I shriek out, " cold cold cold."
Behind me a burst of laughter came out. I turn around and face Sunny who was laughing tears by now. I jog in-place trying to warm myself back up as she laughed.
"Hahaha! I gotcha good didn't I?" she said as she tried to get to get a breath of air.
I glared at her red with embarrassment. I wanted to get upset with her but I realized she really did get me. I facehoof myself as I began to see how I was duped so easily. I myself broke out a little smile as I kicked some snow at her. She gave out a small shudder as the snow covered her.
"Well enough fooling around I really I want to see this town!" I say excitedly.
Sunny lifted a hoof and brushed off a clump of snow off her muzzle. "Fine fine" she says in a sort of defeated way.
The two of us were on our way again marching through the snow. The scarf around me had grown a bit damp and I longed for some place warm. Sunny on the other hoof, continued to roll around the snow as we trotted on. Not long after we came to a small dirt path that cut into the beginnings of the town. It seemed like the snow had been scooped of along it which I was thankful for. Now my hoofs were out of the freezing slush. We passed the first few cottages and soon I began to saw other ponies! 'So Sunny and I weren't the only ponies after all' I thought. A few glanced over and gave a few waves, others a few "good mornings." The towns people seemed nice enough to make this town likable. Just then a thought came to me.
"So um... Sunny. What exactly are we doing here? Were not exactly gonna go sightseeing are we? Not that I don't mind of course."
"Haha! Well yes and no. I would really like to show you around the town and stuff but we're also here to pick up some groceries. I also thought I would let you air out a bit" She said that last part teasingly.
"Oh ok then. So what's out first stop?"
"Well I figured why not head over to bakery right quick. Their first daily loaves should have just about finished." Sunny said gleefully.
I nodded and proceeded to follow her. As we trotted down the road a massive building came into view. However it was nothing like any building I've seen before, instead it was shaped like a giant gingerbread house! Gumdrops and all! I began to pick up my pace curious of this strange idea in my head. I passed by sunny and headed over to one of it's candy cane looking poles. I took a look to my left and another to my right. For now there was nopony in the streets aside from Sunny. I took a lick and quickly regretted it. It was just some ordinary painted wooden pole. What was I thinking? Just then Sunny had caught up to my trying hard to hold back a snicker. She passed me and said
"Welcome to Sugar Cube Corner!" She exclaimed.
Oh jeez what am I getting myself into?
"That was delicious!" I sigh to Sunny as I wipe a glob of frosting off my muzzle. I gaze contentedly at the barren table that had once been covered with all sorts of fantastic pastries, thanks to the nice bakery ponies Sunny introduced me to. I try to recall their names, though it is difficult with the thought of food still running through my head. After a moment I finally remember the names of these wonderful ponies: Mr. and Mrs. Cake. They had offered us at least one of almost everything on their impressively expansive menu. It took Sunny and I nearly two hours to finish, and was quite easily the most amazing spread of pastries I’d had in my entire life. Admittedly, I had probably eaten far too much. I was just about ready to drop to the floor.
"I… Probably should not have eaten that much. Heh." I look at Sunny and give her a nervous chuckle.
Full as I am, though, I am still quite interested in what else we can and will do in this town today.
"So, uh, what's next?"
Sunny turns to me with a mischievous grin and a smug look in her eyes.
"Well, now that we have our bread and some leftovers," she said, her muzzle holding up a bag, " all that’s left for you to do is pay."
The mare quickly trots out the door, the bell at its top ringing.
"Well, of course, but I mean, like, after-... Wait what?" I am able to do little else than watch her go as the realization that I’ve been played slowly falls over me. I allow a small sigh as I dig into my little coin bag, putting a hoof-full of bits on the table. Not knowing the prices in this place, I look at Mrs. Cake, who nods, confirming that the money I’ve set out is appropriate payment. I take a look once more into my bag, trying to count the coins. I sigh once more as I see I’ve been left with nothing more than 50 bits. I give a polite wave and a “Thank you” to the Cakes before exiting the shop and heading back outside.
I once again feel the nip of the chilling air on my hooves. Where I came from, it never snowed. It may have rained nearly every other day, but it never snowed. Now, standing out in the snow, I miss that place.
"Hey," I say, excited and smiling. "I remembered something! Hey, Sunny! I-"
I look all around, but the golden mare was nowhere to be seen. I stop myself from sighing again, thinking I’ve done it far too much in the past five minutes. How did I manage to lose her? She was there just seconds before I came out. I shake my head and continue to shuffle through the snow. As I walk, I hear a fair giggle that I can't deny is Sunny's and follow it a few blocks down. I hear some laughter and conversation and peek around the corner of a building. As I thought, she is there, but there is somepony else with her. Another mare, it seems. This one is a light sandy color, and has a forest green mane. Not wanting to interrupt their discussion, I turn to head back home, but the crunching of the snow under my hooves catches Sunny’s attention, and she calls out to me.
Great.
"Flashy," she gleefully calls out as begins to trot over, a large smile on her face. "There’s somepony I want you to meet!”.
She comes to a stop right in front of me. It was certainly far too close for anypony else's comfort, but after being with her for this short while I suppose I'm just getting used to it. In the time it took me to think of that little sentiment, Sunny waved over the other pony, who was now standing next to her.
"Flashlight, meet Sweet Tooth. Sweet Tooth, Flashlight."
The green-maned mare raises a hoof for a han- a hoofshake, to which I raise mine as well. I stand there, hoof up but… How does this work? No hands. I move my hoof under hers and try to move it up and down, but I can't. I just push hers upwards. The mare looks at me, amused at my behaviour.
"I shake this, right?" I ask, slightly nervous.
"Yes," comes the reply, an eyebrow raising.
I look at our hooves, and then back at her.
"I don't understand."
Sweet Tooth rolls her eyes and grasps my hoof with hers. I watch as they lock and how she begins to make an actual, proper shake. I stand there, still confused as to how that worked.
Sunny came in and gave us both a slap on the back. "Alrighty then! Now that you two are introduced, Flashlight here has a new friend!" she says with a giggle.
Sweet Tooth gives her hoof an odd look
The two mares hug and I give a small wave before we go our separate ways. As we trot on, I look over to Sunny.
"So what exactly are we gonna do now?” I ask her.
Sunny stops and looks at the back of her forehoof. I take a quick glance over as well, only to notice… well, nothing. Her wrist was bare aside from some little blue smudge.
"Uh… Sunny? What in Equestria's name are you looking at?"
"My watch, silly," she says, still looking at her forehoof.
"Sunny, there's nothing there."
"I just told you I'm looking at my watch. Calm down, it'll only take a second. It's just," she moves her head closer, “hard to read sometimes."
"Oh, is that the case? Let me take a look."
Sunny moves her head up and quickly raises her forehoof to my face. Of course, being Sunny, she moves it far too close, and I push it away a few inches so that I can actually see it. I stare at her blue smudge for a moment before sighing heavily.
"Are you serious?"
"Just tell me the time," she replies sternly.
I take one more glance before replying. “It says that it’s twelve thirty.”
The golden mare goes wide-eyed. “Twelve thirty? We’re late!”
"Sunny, it’s a digital watch. How can you not read a digital watch."
"Hey! Don't make me feel bad because I couldn't read my own watch!"
"Sunny, it..."
"What?"
"It’s not even a real watch. It was drawn on. With marker."
"Of course it is, silly. Saves money!"
"You are absolutely unbelievable."
