Ars Nelli Gerendis

My body tingled all over as I finally woke up. I opened my eyes and tried to get used to the sun light. It was always such a pain when I entered a new body to adjust to the world because it was the first time this body ever did anything so it was always over sensitive to outside stimulants. After a few minutes my eyes finally adjusted and I was able to take in my surroundings.

I seemed to be on the side of a long country road near a forest. A warm summer breeze blew from the south and the sun beat down from a clear sky. All in all it was a very nice day for my first day in this world. Much better than other worlds I’d shown up on.

I relaxed for a bit and enjoyed the songs of the birds. Before I finally decided to figure out where I was. I tried to stand but had some trouble doing so. That’s when I realized that I was no longer bipedal. It didn’t really surprise me after all it wasn’t the first time I had been turned into a quadruped.

I did my best to stand and walk around just to get used to having four legs instead of two. It took some time but I was able to walk for the most part without falling flat on my face. By the time I was able to make my way to the road the sun was already setting.

I traveled north along the road hoping to find someone or something to lead me to civilization but I had no such luck. Soon the sun had set and the night was ushered forth. A multitude of stars filled the sky as the soft glow of the moon covered the land. I sighed to myself as I looked at those stars. The sky was beautiful but at the same time it reminded me of what I have done. Many of the stars that shined so brightly above my head where once suns that I had fought under. Soon sleep came over me and I rested near the side of the road.

The screeching of birds woke me up in the morning and I started my journey once more. Today was much like yesterday, clear skies as far as the eye could see and warm breezes blowing from the south. As I walked I tried to narrow down the planet I was on based of of the flora I observed, but with little success.

My observation of the plants ended when I realized how thirsty I was. Crap I thought, I hadn’t drank anything in the last day or so and I had no water supplies on me. The situation turned from one of relaxing to one of need. If I had gone on like this for another day or so in this weather it would have ended badly.

So I decided to enter the forest and search for a source of water. I spent hours weeding my way through the tangle of trees and roots. Trying to find even a puddle of water. Finally I came heard the noise of water rushing. Following that I found a small stream filled with crystal clear water. I was hesitant to drink since in one of my previous lives I had gotten a very nasty bug from drinking from a stream, but I had little choice in this matter and began to drink.

The water was cool and delicious. It had been a long time since I had drank something so pure. When I had finished drinking I pulled back my head and looked at my reflection in the clear water of the stream. I seemed to be a small horse like creature. My coat was bay and I had black markings running up my legs. My mane and tail were also black. It was when I was looking at my tail that I noticed a mark on both sides of my flank.The mark was of a knight chess piece in front of two crossed swords. One of the swords was a knight’s arming sword the other was a officer’s saber . When I saw the mark I immediately knew what world I was in.

In all the places I had ever fought there was only one where pony like creatures had markings on their flanks. I was on Equs the planet of harmony. It had been almost two hundred thousand years since I fought here. I wonder of those two sisters were able to create the country they had always wanted. I had died in the last battle against chaos so I didn’t know if they survived or not. Though it doesn't matter because I could have been sent here centuries before that happens or centuries after.

Well if I’m right and this is Equs and those two sisters are still alive it might do me some good to find them. If I remember correctly they are quite benevolent, and if they are the rulers it might be a good idea to ask for citizenship. When I made my way back to the road I say another pony walking north.

He had a green coat and a yellow mane he was wearing a straw hat that looked like it had seen some use and was chewing on a piece of straw. the marking on his flank was a bunch of green apples. When he say me he shouted out a greeting.

“Well howdy thair straynger, where ya headed awn this faahn summer's day?”

“I wast making mine way to Canterlot but I hath seemed to hath lost mine way, would thee mind pointing me in the right direction”

“Well don't that lick all ah'm headin' t' canterlot maah self. Hooaah don't ya wawk with me straynger?”

“Many thanks good stallion, I believeth that to beest a splendid idea.”

I walked up to the stallion and we began to trek northwards. Along the way he started to ask questions to pass the time.

“Ya don't mahnd me askin' but what do thay cahwl ya where yo-wr from?”

“Not at all, thou mayest refer to me as Miles Ars Belli and I am from Bohemia. Might I knoweth what thy title is?”

“Huh so ya aren't from aroun' hair guess that explains thuh funny way ya tawk. Thuh nuh-ames Ginger Gold, ah'm pahrt awf thuh Apple Clan.”

“Tis a pleasure to maketh thy acquaintance Ginger Gold.” I say as I extend my hoof for hoof shake.

Ginger Gold grips my hoof firmly somehow. I will never understand how you can grip things with hooves. We continued on in silence until Ginger Gold started to whistle a tune as we walked. This went on for some time, we just walked as Ginger Gold whistled until the sun began to set.

“Well ah guess this is as daisy a spot as any t' may-uk camp. We'll be in Canterlot by tamarr.”

We both laid under the shade of a tree and watched the sun set. We had already eaten our fill of grass on the walk so there was no need to cook any food. As we sat Ginger Gold brought out the guitar that was strapped to his pack and began to strum it.

“Hey Miles ifin' ya don't mahnd me askin' what you goin' t' Canterlot for?”

“I suppose I'll beest looking for a job or something along those lines. Maybe a lodging to settle down.What about thee what art doth thee plain to doth in Canterlot?”

“Me, well ya see ah've bee-yn wanderin' aroun' for a while now an ah gawt this notion that it was finally taahm for me ta settle down an guh-row maah roots. So ah'm headin' t' thuh Canterlot Train Station t' meet maah cusion eend gitty-up t' thuh Apple Ranch.”

“That sounds nice.”

“It is, i got another question for ya, ifin' ya don't mahnd me askin'. What does yo-wr mark mean. Ah mean maahns obvious but yourn is a bit straynge. Where ya a guard or sumthing?”

“No I wast not a guard but twas something along those lines. I wast a soldier for sometime, but that is behind me for now and I would to start a new as a teacher.”

"Ifin' thats thuh case ah wish ya luck.”

“Thank you and I wish you luck with your endeavor.”

“Good night Miles.”

“Good night Mr. Gold.” I say as Ginger Gold put his guitar down and we both drifted off into sleep.