Author's Note

Sorry if the chapter seems short. I kinda need an editor, and it's my first time posting a story to Fimfiction. I hope it's alright.

%1% The First Trip - Waking Up

Waking up definitely hurt. The feeling of cracked and splintered chitin digging into the soft flesh under it was more than just painful at the moment. He didn’t even want to think too much on the split hoof he sported from not only the landing but also the fact he had laid on it awkwardly in his time of being passed out… By the Ancients he could actually feel all of this for once, he could actually focus on all of this. A sort of blinding clarity hit him and he only managed to roll onto his belly before a an even more blinding bout of pain hit him, causing him to simply whimper and try not to tense up. Yep. That hurt. Lots of pain. Way to go 0651… Wait he could actually make a name for himself! Oh that realization had gotten him giddy again. He actually forced himself to get up with the boost of his own positive emotions towards himself and his newfound freedom, pain lacing seemingly every part of his being but he managed, and that’s all that mattered for now, besides the cracked chitin on his back.

He very carefully maneuvered around to inspect the damage, very very regretfully plopping himself down again onto his flank this time at least to do so, a strike of pain lacing his more internal spine that threatened to make him topple to the forest floor once more. Still, he held on strong at least, even when he turned his head to get a better look at the damage, hissing in a mixture of pain and disdain when he saw how it looked. And how it looked; well, it looked like someone had dented a sheet of metal inwards and had glass attached to that sheet and when they dented it the glass and metal stuck into each other and only broke bits of each other up even more, making it look like shredded tinfoil, and was then slathered in a green-ish red color, maybe if it was picture he could put it up in an art gallery and say this is how life is for the troubled and make a few thousand bits. How lovely, he thought to himself sarcastically. He snaked out the long forked tongue he had and started removing small pieces of his own chitin, he occasionally winced at this as he did it but over time the pain he had dulled slightly, and now what was shown was more like a green-ish red paint splatter on black paper rather than using the broken metal and glass tinfoil mix of an explanation.

Now he could focus, he felt cracks in his horn, okay so no magic until he got some food, both physical and emotional. He felt the shredded up wings on his back and was very glad that he was passed out earlier, he was pretty sure if he had been awake then his body wouldn’t have done any kind of healing. Okay, so besides the hole in his back, the split hoof, the cracked horn, and the shredded wings he was pretty okay, he counted himself as extremely lucky. As long as he avoided everything in his forest… Yeah. That’d be a good idea.

Okay. Time to get moving instead of letting yourself bleed out because you were too lazy to get off your flank. He thought to himself as he got up shakily and huffed out a strained breath, he had to use the split hoof to get up unfortunately. He hissed out once more, only more slowly this time, drawing it out as he got up, mind going into a more survivalist mode, the hiss was not just because of his pain but to warn away any prey in the area away from him so other predators would likely hunt them instead of him, he could have just given some a few easy meals in his action and so he would be left alone. At least he thought he would, he heard a kind of curious grunt from somewhere so his right, and he turned the right and walked. If it was what he thought was making the noises he would have a source of food, if not food then medical services, if not that then a swift end. Either way would work for him. He had some issues.

He eventually saw the forest thin and to his surprise he saw a lone zebra mare, he didn’t want to startle her too much so he made a show of limping out of the bushes, snapping her attention to him in a mixture of surprise and wariness. Sadly him making a show of his injuries had actually made them flare up in pain again and he ended up hissing in her direction before slipping and collapsing onto his side. Dammit, and he was doing so good before. He internally cursed, as well as cursed rather outwardly as he now simply let himself lay down before managing to speak, voice coming out as a bit of a mixture between gravely and smooth, pleasant despite his hurt state. “J-Just get on- Help if you can, please.” He paused halfway through, he wanted medical help, not this pony’s anger, he wisely chose to keep his tongue in check.

Zecora had caught the lapse in speech immediately and gave the changling a stern but still semi-kind look. “Mirth nor pity shall I feel for you, but one of harmless mischiefs can be a tool of use. You’re of changing faces but as of now you have but one, and for that I may be grateful for, for the ages.” She was happy he hadn’t come to her in disguise, she was also happy she kept his tongue in check from weary words that were about to be spoken. She moved to help him up, despite her words she chuckled at his noise of surprise. She was not keen on conversation however in his state.

He was certainly surprised by the turn of events, making a noise of surprise as she lifted him off his hooves and draped him over her back over top her saddlebags, well… At least he didn’t have to walk to wherever she was taking him, yeah. He should’ve thought better of this, but he was stuck now, and was pretty unwilling to move from the comfortable spot he had on her back. “Thank you.” He managed to murmur to her before he decided to close his eyes, if a pony was in this forest then he couldn’t be too far from a pony town or village, and that means no dangers too close by and so he slightly dozed during the ride to wherever he was going. Unknowingly making Zecora quite comfortable with him due to his admittedly lazy behavior.