Chapter 1: Lost in the woods
Large bright gold eyes stared back at me as I leaned further into the lake. Blink one eye and the young horse – foal? – does the same. I shook my head lightly; the little foal soon followed after, its curly (did horses ever have curly hair?) mess of orange and pink swayed with it. There were even little tufts in the ears.
No way. I leaned closer to the lake. Despite the slight darkness, the lake clearly reflects… me? A horse? That just felt wrong. I leaned closer not believing it until I saw something in… my reflection. A pair of slightly raised wings were attached to what should be my body.
Wings.
“Wha-?” in my disbelief, I turned too quickly and fell into the lake.
Water surrounded me as I frantically move my arms and legs. Somehow I managed to push myself above the waters; I coughed as my teary eyes frantically looked for land which was thankfully near. My hooves awkwardly fumbled on the ledge but I manage to hoist myself up and collapsed on the nice, very nice grass – well away from the lake – and took well-needed breaths.
The water might have been slightly warm but it did nothing to soothe the fear of drowning nor did it warm me enough from the cool winds that soon swept the area.
After a minute or two, I got up and shook myself dry.
I then look down on my sides. The wings I saw in the lake were still there though closed this time. I closed my eyes and tried feeling for them. I felt a twitch on my back and held on to that. The feeling got stronger and when I opened my eyes, the wings were open. I experimentally tried tugging something and then my wings began to move slightly. A stronger tug and then they slowly flapped like a bird’s.
It was strange. This felt all so new yet at the same time familiar. I really wish I remembered something. Anything at all.
“What the hell’s goin’ on?” a high pitched squeaky voice greeted my ears. My voice. I groaned. Every second I was awake in this forest was another second of questions and no answer.
My eyes slowly wandered to the forest around me and I felt my ears flopped on my head.
The trees were twisted and gnarled, with grooves on the bark forming twisted smiles as if they were alive for so long they went insane. Their branches were equally skewed, raised high, waiting for some unfortunate thing to walk into their embrace before they were never seen again. Even the wind carried the wails of unknown from within the woods.
The darkness of the night made it even more terrifying.
I felt the corner of eyes moisten before taking a large breath.
“I needed to find someone and I have a feeling staying here won’t,” I said aloud, the sound of my voice was both weird and a bit comforting amidst the woodland critters chatter. The soft crunch of grass beneath my hooves was another reminder that this really happening.
I lowered my head and sighed, “Here I go.”
I took another step into the shadows of the forest.
I gulped as I slowly moved and weaved around trees of the creepy forest. Somehow, the forest began to change in a matter of moments: the chatter of wildlife soon died down and now it was eerily quiet save for the faint ‘swoosh’ of the wind and trees. I felt my legs move faster.
‘I definitely hope I meet someone soon’ I thought, my eyes still darting from side to side, wary. If I’ve ever been hiking before, I sure hope it wasn’t in places like this. I keep going forward. It was too late to go back.
“eek!” A pair of black wings then fluttered over me.
“Ah!” I squeak before relaxing. “Hehehe” I laughed a bit in relief. My eyes caught sight of bats flying over the dark sky before settling on the bright full moon.
It was relaxing, seeing the moonlight shining my path a bit. Definitely better than wondering in complete darkness. Though, it was nice that I could see well in the darkness.
“Wait, what?” I squint my eyes as I tried to clearly see the strange pattern on the moon. I felt my eyes widen at the image: a pony-shaped shadow was plastered on the moon’s surface. Were the stars moving?
I shook my head, “Focus. Out first, night gazing later.” Find a nice warm and safe place. Then I can wonder about the moon.
“OOOOOOOOWWWWWWW”
‘That was definitely not a bat,’ I ran as fast as my little legs can go. In no way was that a bat.
As I began to take wild twists and turns an image of a ferocious beast popped into my head. More like a, my eyes shrank at the thought, ‘Wolf!’
One was definitely enough to finish me off but I can probably escape. More than that? I’m definitely dog food.
I took a risk and looked back and gasped at the sight of a large monstrous shadow gaining on me. I looked forward and tried to run faster. The wings on my sides began to flap furiously in my panic, but I began to move faster and lighter than ever.
‘Come on, come on. Faster! Run faster!” I swerved around a particularly large tree, ignoring the witch-like face that just struck fear into me moments before. As I ran through the forest, my hooves soon left the grass and hit something more solid. I looked down. I was now running along a dusty old trail.
I glanced at my back and sighed in relief. The shadow was gone.
‘But who knows for how long?’ My paranoid thoughts fed my fear and I continued running, not slowing down a bit.
I kept my eyes peeled, wary of anything that can trip me when I saw a possible hideout.
I turned to my left and pounced into the sweet safety of a bush –
“OW” Thorns pricked my sides and, I winced, my wings as I plummet into their painful embrace. I quickly covered my mouth – snout? – with my hooves as I tried to calm my wheezes and gasps and dug deeper into the leaves and thorns. I endured the pain as quietly as I could.
I’m not sure how long I stayed in that bush but after a while, I peeked out from the bush. Enough to stay hidden and to look for possible danger.
I checked the area, my eyes scanned for anything that could possibly be the shadow that followed me. Nothing was out of place; Trees as gigantic as the last, some rocks and boulder, and an old bridge cross bridge to my left were all that I can see.
My ears stood at attention, hearing nothing but the wind and eerie silence from before. Not even the howl from before could be heard anymore.
“Whew,” I let out a quiet sound of relief. Wolves or shadows, nothing was following me anymore. I managed to throw them off my trail.
I started to move out of the bush when
“Ooowww,” I whined. Right. Thorns. Thornbush. Those hurt really bad.
I peeled myself slowly, flinching at each prick and nick of each thorn on my coat.
‘Okay, half of me out. Just a bit more aaaannndd’ I let out an “oopff” as I managed to snag my tail from the thorns and crashed onto the ground in front of me. I gingerly got up. I winced. Yup, still painful.
I took a moment to examine myself: there were a few cuts on my legs and body, I think I lost a few feathers to the bush, and my tail – and I’m guessing my mane – is messier than ever.
‘Not that bad,” I thought, a few scratches here and there aren’t too bad but I should get them clean soon.
I then to take a closer look at my surroundings, particularly on the two paths before me. The dusty old trail and the equally dusty old rope bridge.
The trail leads back to the forest and – I gulped – to whatever scared me before. But, the trail might lead me back to someone who can really help me out. Better yet, a village or town.
My eyes then trailed to the bridge as I stepped closer to it. The bridge was old and swayed with the wind but – I stepped a hoof on the first plank with a couple of taps – still sturdy. A quick check on the following boards told me that they look good as the first. Old but strong as when it was built which I’m hoping isn’t too long ago.
I stubbornly refused to acknowledge the possible drop and instead focused my gaze to the end of the bridge.
‘Oh? What’s that?’ Just over the side was… a tower? I can’t see it clearly here but it looks a bit old – a few cracks can be seen – with a tattered flag raised. It looked like it could be a part of a castle.
“Old trail into the forest where it can lead to nowhere or bridge to an equally empty castle?” Saying that out loud didn’t really help either of the choices more appealing.
I let out for what seemed like the hundredth sigh for the day before eyeing the bridge and stepping on.
“Uuh, nice bridge, easy bridge,” I gently coaxed the bridge, acting as if talking nicely to it can stop it swaying from side to side. I felt my ears flatten and eyes closed as I stood still when a particularly strong gust of wind came and caused the bridge to swing a bit more wildly.
“Stupid wings. I wish you could have flown me over instead,” I quietly muttered, continuing my slow pace as soon as the swaying stopped. As much as I tried flapping my wings, I only managed to fly for a few seconds before meeting the ground in another crash. After trying again and again only to crash once again, I bitterly accept the fact that I couldn’t fly all that well. For now.
I was almost on the middle when I noticed the castle again. It was a lot clearer here than way back at the start and I can make out a few large cracks on the tower and what I think are the castle walls.
I began to worry a bit. What if it’s a really old castle – like centuries old – and there won’t be anyone in it? I mean, it looks a bit ruin-y so there could be some explorers, right? Or archaeologists that are studying and preserving what could be important pieces of history. ‘Just someone who can help me out,’ I pleaded, ‘Someone who can point me to civilization.’
Halfway there and I stopped for a bit. I was still stubbornly not looking down – doing that would only make things much worse – and kept my gaze up on the castle, sky – anything that kept my interest, when I noticed something strange; the pony shadow on the moon was gone.
I felt my pony-brows crinkle in confusion. Wasn’t there…? Didn’t.
I shook my doubt from my mind. I was probably imagining it. Instead I focused my eyes on the stars walking all the while.
I felt a smile grace my face; they were beautiful, even if the moonlight was outshining them. The stars didn’t care at all, they kept doing their thing and just twinkle on, filling the sky with gently shimmering lights. I felt myself relax and the tension released.
Feeling a lot better, I focused back on my trek and let out a whoop as I saw I was just a few trots away from the end of the bridge.
I threw caution to the wind that just passed by and ran to the other side laughing all the while, not caring once as it swayed again from my galloping.
‘A few more aaannnddd’
“WOOHOO, I MADE IT!” I cheered as my hooves left the boards and smacked the ground in a loud clop. In my happiness, I hugged the ground. I may be a pegasus but the ground is where I feel safe. Not even wings can change that.
After basking in the moment a bit more and calming down, I brought my gaze back to the castle and ‘Oh’ Seeing the castle closer than ever, old was stretching it.
It wasn’t ruin-y; it’s a true ancient ruin. The tower, apart from its large cracks, had some sort of plant growing on the side. Same with the castle wall. There were also dark spots all around like it was set on fire long ago. The stones also really worn down.
The flag on top didn’t look any better either. Its dark blue colours now faded to a greyish blue and the fabric had holes in it – eaten by insects is my bet. Even the once beautiful insignia – A crescent moon overlapping the sun – looked ugly and faded due to the passage of time.
Despite the obvious signs, I tried holding on to hope. Ruins are history. History has been recorded with not just the myths and written account but with physical evidence of its existence.
Somebody has to be there studying this obvious subject of history. Excavating, digging – all those things.
I sat on my bum with my ears alert as ever, hoping to hear any signs of anyone, and my eyes focused, determined not miss a single glance especially in the dark.
…
A few moments passed before I gave up.
No one was currently here. Or at least out here.
Hope was still alight in my chest as I made my way to the castle.
It’s still night time, so maybe they’re in that castle sleeping?
I paused. I shook my head once again and continued on.
“Time is really slow when you’re lost. If I didn’t know any better, I thought things would have been a lot lighter now.”
Author's Note
First chapter of a hopefully long series. Also the first story of hopefully more!
Any insights, comments and criticism will be welcome.
Thank ya kindly for taking the time to this little thing
The inside of the castle looked as aged as its walls; most of the décor still in one piece, littered with dust, but some paintings were tattered or artefacts were smashed. A couple of suits of armour were neatly lined near the building’s wooden gate.
“I don’t look too bad,” I eyed my messy and scratchy appearance on a discarded shield. My mane looked sillier with little thorns poking out of it and a couple of scratches and cuts were found on my light spring green coat but those didn’t hurt too much. The metal might have stained and dirty but it was a pretty good mirror.
I turned my gaze back to the interior of the castle. You know, for something so old, it didn’t look too bad. The outside walls might have been a bit cracked and mouldy but inside was just really dusty. It didn’t look ransacked; it still had a lot of fancy paintings and cool looking artefacts, like the line of suits of armour that guarded the giant wooden doors.
I stepped away from the shield and continued inspecting the main hall.
I had a frown on my snout as I looked down on the dusty floor. Only a small set of prints could be seen and no one else’s.
‘And the abandoned castle is truly abandoned,’ I thought dejected. No sign of any archaeological equipment nor a whisper of voices talking about the history of this place. ‘Just great.’
Then again, this place looks pretty big, having a giant door in the middle of the room and two long passages on either side of the room. I could just be in one unknown area and some other – ponies? – beings could be on the other.
It was unlikely but not possible.
“It is because of hope that you continue to move beneath the trials you face.”
I have no idea where those words came from but hearing it said was comforting.
I stood straighter than ever and started trotting to the left wing’s entrance. If I can’t find someone, then I’ll find a clue on where am I and how to get a move on from this place as much as my stubby little legs can go.
After peeking into a dozen rooms in the west wing, I can conclude a couple of things:
- This was a castle. If there was doubt in me before then it withered away when I lied eyes on a small pile of gold and gems in a large jewelled vault.
From the size of the vault, it looked like it can contain more than a few mountains the pile it had, so someone must’ve transferred those before the
place was abandoned.
- Horses lived here before. Or ponies, judging from the fact that not one painting lacked some sort of multicoloured miniature equine in it and some
them look too small to be a horse. I think horses are a lot bigger than that. And do they usually wear that fancy clothes?
- I was definitely alone. Not a step in the dust but mine and some rodents and even them I couldn’t see.
And lastly, there were a heck lot of rooms in this place. I wonder how royalty can live in a place so big? I mean I guess they’d have to have servants and all but won’t a much smaller castle – better yet a cottage – be better than this?
Anyways, a lot of the rooms found in the west wing were bedrooms, some in better condition than others; an unfortunately empty kitchen – not like I can eat anything even if it had something – and near to it was a small dining room; the vault, I may have nicked a gold coin or three plus a nice looking gem – for future finance purposes; and a ye old bathroom at the far end. I felt myself shiver and turned green at the memory of the smell that still lingered even after all these years; never in my short life did I ever thought a couple of pots would terrify me.
“Alright, focus” I shook my head wildly only to stop and yawn instead.
I wiped the tears from my eyes and looked at the door in front of me. The first of many in the east wing.
‘Maybe it’ll be another bedroom,’ I thought. I walked and ran – galloped – for a long while now and some sleep would be really nice right now. The thought of a nice warm bed sounds so good right now.
I forced my sluggish body to push the old squeaky door and my droopy eyes immediately widened at the sight of rows upon rows of shelves and books.
“Jackpot!”
It wasn’t a bedroom but it was a place that could tell me more about the world I’m in.
I rushed to the nearest shelf – leaving the door wide open – and grabbed the first book I could lay my hooves on. I pulled hard and the book fell to the floor. I blew the dust off the cover and started flipping through the pages.
Only to find weird symbols instead of letters.
“What is this?” I cocked a brow and continued to browse the book only to find the similarly squiggly lines filling each ‘paragraph’.
I pushed to the book aside and quickly chose a couple more, this time from different shelves.
No change in the writing or alphabet used.
“Stupid books, you can’t even do the one thing you’re supposed to do!” I kicked the pile stacked in front of me and sat down watching in frustration as they tumbled onto the marbled floor.
I felt the corners of my eyes moisten and quickly lift a hoof to rub them.
“Uuwaah,” Tears of frustration soon turned into tears of drowsiness as I let out another yawn.
‘Of course the books have to be written in some sort of ancient language,’ I thought tiredly. I should try looking again after I get some sleep. ‘Yeah, that sound soo nice right now.’
I got up, not once glancing at the pile of scattered books around me. The books that are probably more than centuries old – of course it was probably written in the tongues of that time – and presently useless.
I sighed and began to make my way out of the library, carefully avoiding stepping on anything. My eyes flinched and I grimaced when I saw a couple of books had missing pages, a more than a few leaves of paper strewn about them; I shouldn’t have taken my anger on precious pieces of history.
‘No use cryin’ over spilt milk now,' I chided myself as I head to one of the better bedrooms in the west wing. ‘Hopefully, those books weren’t too important.’ I tried looking at the brighter side, I mean, how important could a few books be in a place filled with them?
‘Who am I kidding. Those books were probably had no other copies in that place and held one of the most important records of that time and I –
A blue aura began to surround the books I’ve used – abused – and missing the pages started to bind themselves to their respective tomes.
I watched gaping astonishment as the other books began to glow all the same; a strong gust then swept through the library as each book floats in the air before shortly going back to their respective place. As the last book was stacked, the gust left with a shimmer of stars.
‘Woah, what. Huh, magic? A magic library?’ was all I could think off. Most of the books still look dusty but, it was if I’ve never touched them at all. ‘Either that, or I’m already dreaming.’
Clop, clop, clop.
Wait, what was that? The sound of steps soon distracted me from the magical performance.
I stood as straight as my sluggish body can allow and started listening for the sound.
“Come on girls, spread out. We have to find…”
Voices! Even better.
‘Someone’s out there! I’m not alone!’ And it sounds like they’re not too far off! They probably just arrived at the main entrance.
I felt determination pulse through me and pushed back sleeping deep into my mind and quickly raced towards the steps and sounds. Whoever they are can definitely help me out! Heck, they might know me!
I felt my wings began to beat in rhythm as I ran through the hall before seeing a glimpse of something… pink?
“Is that a pink… pony?”
“Yes sirrriie, and a super duper pink party pony to boot!”
“AAAHHH!” I screamed as I jumped in the air and crashed next to the pink party pony right by my… side?
“Hi there! My name’s Pinkie Pie! And You bet your cupcakes I'm a pink pony! And ooh! Do you think I can be a purple pony? I mean, like Twilight – she's my friend! Then again a lot of unicorns are my friends but then – Oh wait," She pushed my gaping mouth closed and continued talking, "there we go! Don't wanna let flies get in there ya know?" and sent me a wink?
‘When did she get here?!’ I stared wide eyed as she bounced around me still chattering. ‘She, I, but, from afar and how did she – Wah?’
" – and I've never seen you before! You know what that means? You're a new pony! ‘Cause you can't be from Ponyville since I know everypony in Ponyville and – heeeeyyy wait a minute." Pinkie Pie stopped her chatter and leant closer, her bright blue eyes staring deep in my eyes while a hoof placed on her chin in a thinking position. It's unsettling how her eyes looked at me unblinkingly, it's like she can see into through my soul.
“What’s a little filly like you doing alone in this castle?” She questioned me, from the frown on her snout and the furrow in her brows. She was serious, so different from how chirpy and happy she was a while ago.
“I’m lost,” I told her truthfully. “I kinda woke up without any memories and I just kinda stumbled my way through a forest and found myself here.” It was better to get straight to the point. I’m a lost kid and I’m just thankful I finally found someone.
“Lost? WITHOUT ANY MEMORIES?!” And just like a switch in her flipped as her irises shrank and she jumped into the air and…
‘Wait. How is she staying that long in the air without any wings?’ It was looking at a picture, the way the pink pony – Pinkie, I correct myself – just froze there for a moment or two.
Time resumed for her and she quickly held my head in her hooves. “What about all the parties you had? All your friends and family?!”
I felt my ears flopped on my head as I frowned. I tried searching for any memories or feelings only to draw a blank.
I shook my head.
Pinkie then suddenly had her forelegs around me as she gave me a hug that both covered me and lifts me off the ground.
“Mwwfff et gwwa o’ mi,” My voice was muffled as I struggled to be free. All I saw was pink and it was a bit horrifying, to be honest.” As much as I’m thankful for someone, I didn’t want someone suffocating me with hugs. Despite how nice it felt.
"Pinkie Pie! There you are, sugarcube," Another voice soon joined us. "We were mighty worried about you when you disappeared at the drop of a hat.” Her voice had a bit of a southern twang.
Pinkie’s grip loosened and I turned and quickly gulped in air. Finally, I can breathe!
I looked towards the accented voice as another pony came into view. It was another regular pony. An orange mare with one of those western hats sitting on top of her blonde mane.
“I sure hope ya’ll didn’t get too distracted…” The mare trailed off when she saw her companion – friend, if I had to guess – had company. “What in the hay is a little filly doing in the Everfree woods?”
The mare had a more surprised look on her face when she saw me.
‘Then again, who won’t?’ I thought.
Finding a filly in an abandoned castle in the middle of a spooky forest was like finding a diamond in a haystack on a farm. Is it possible? Highly unlikely, but yes, but heck why would something – someone, in my case – be there in the first place?
Then again, it might be because Pinkie was still holding said filly within her arms.
“Applejack! Thank goodness you’re here,” Pinkie started, still hugging me close. “We got a lost filly here and she can’t remember anything!” Her grip tightened as I was once again smooshed back into her chest. “not her friends, her family, and probably not a cake.”
“Uuh Pinkie,” Applejack began.
Pinkie gasps loudly, her eyes widened as she thought of something more disastrous than not remembering the taste of cake. “OR ANY PARTIES AT ALL! THAT’S HORRIBLE! HOW CAN ANYPONY GO ON NOT THINKING OF PARTIES?!” Her grip was starting to really block off any air.
“Pinkie,” Applejack spoke again, this time with a firmer tone in her voice.
‘It may be because of the amnesia, but I have a feeling I’m not all that into parties,’ My ear twitched and then flattened in irritation as her booming voice echoed in my head. ‘If parties are full of noises and voices as loud as hers then I’m going to skip those'. I had a sinking feeling that's not gonna happen. Her grip tightened even more and – oh? I think I’m turning blue.
“PINKIE!” Applejack finally shouts. “THE FILLY’S NEEDS TA BREATHE!”
I think that must have startled Pinkie too as I felt her arms finally let go and I unceremoniously dropped on the castle ground.
‘I said again and I’ll say it before,’ My thoughts were mixed up as I stared at the ceiling. ‘I love the ground.’
…
I had a shaky feeling this was going to be a thing with the ground.
I heard a few hoofsteps go around me before a soft – muzzle? – push me to sit up.
“You alright there, sugarcube?” Applejack’s voiced piped up from behind before greeting me with a concerned look. I still might have been a bit woozy but her eyes are really green. A really nice green.
Pinkie gave me a sheepish grin. “Oopsie, sorry ‘bout that little filly.”
“Ah, yeah. I am, Ma’am,” I answered Applejack. Taking one another deep breath, I got back on my hooves and turned to Pinkie with a smile. “And it’s fine. I’m just so happy I finally found someone.” The hug didn’t hurt too much and it did make feel better, so nothing lost and something gained, right?
“Good,” Applejack nodded with satisfaction. She bent over me, probably to make sure I’m okay and – Hey, what’s she doing?!
“H-hey, what are you doing?” I felt something bit me on the skin of my neck before lifting me up. “PUT ME DOWN.” Come on! I just got back on the ground!
Applejack grunted and place me on her back. “Sorry li’l fella but we gotta meet with the rest of the girls soon.” She gave the walls around us an uneasy glance. “The sooner the better. Ah don’t want to be around here too long.”
“I can walk on my own,” I protested. They may be bigger than me, but I can take care of myself! I’ve done a great job so far. It was weird, being carried by someone else as we walked.
“Silly filly, with your legs you can’t keep with us for too long,” Pinkie said, bouncing with every step we take. I’m slightly glad, she wasn’t the one carrying me. Just looking at her bouncing is already making me dizzy.
“And to not mentioned we have to find the Elements of Harmony soon so we can beat Black Snooty and –”
“Pinkie, hush,” Applejack interrupted Pinkie’s chatter. She sent her friend a frown before turning to me. There was an uncertain look on her face but she quickly replaced it with a small frown. “Nothin’ to worry your little head over sugarcube. Let’s just focus on finding our friends.”
“Okay,” From the look on her face it was clear that she wasn’t going to talk any further about the subject nor answer any of my questions. I quietly agreed but began to wonder.
‘Elements of Harmony? Black Snooty?’ My thoughts were still stuck on what Pinkie said. It almost sounds like one of those adventure stories. Where heroes go on and defeat an old evil with some sort of ancient and forgotten relic. The way Applejack was acting was also worrisome. It’s like she expecting something to grow out of the walls and jump us.
‘Why are they in the castle and what is with us?’
I had a feeling I was going to find out soon.
