James : A Technicolour Story

Chapter One

I opened my eyes, realizing that another grueling day had begun. I looked to my right and noticed my wife'd already left for work. I called for my step-son, Dave to help me out of bed, and he came. "Alright, Jim, let's make this quick." I grunted in agreement, and he lifted me out of bed and helped me get dressed. That's how life is, as a quadriplegic. It's an embarrassing lifestyle, and if it weren't for the younger kids the life wouldn't be worth living. I knew how much I troubled Dave.

"I'm gonna head on outside for a while, I need some fresh air." Dave waved, dismissively, as if to say "Catch you later". If I knew that he'd never see me alive again, I never would've gone. Too bad. I headed on out towards the back and entered the garage, rolling down the first ramp, using my chair to shut the door behind me. I continued on and began to roll down the second ramp, and that's when it happened.

My ramp caught in between two of my tires, leaving me on a descending angle, forcing my neck to connect heavily with my seatbelt, choking me. How ironic. "Agh.." I jiggled the joystick control for my wheelchair, trying to get out of the suffocating deathtrap. This is the worst way to die for a quadriplegic. Suffocating and knowing you can't do anything about it. "Agh.. Dave.." I managed to whisper. My eyes shut.

"James? James can you hear me? James!" A kind voice seemed to be calling out for me. It was soothing. Must be God or something. Surprising, since I never really believed in that stuff. "H--hello?" I raised my arm to shield my eyes from the light that was all I could see. I raised my arm, and gasped, shocked that it could move. I fainted from shock.

"Hello? Hello, James? Wake up." That same kind voice was calling to me again, only now sounding much more commanding than kind. I braved the light and decided to force my eyes open. "Wha-what?" I managed to crack out of my dry throat, wondering why it was so bright and if I was alive.

"My name is Princess Celestia, though I am not your Princess, so formalities are not necessary." She'd taken extra time to emphasize the word 'your'. I nodded, and finally, as my eyes adjusted to the light, I realized what was standing before me.

Not a horse. Nor was it a pegasus or a unicorn. It was some hybrid of all three. "I am an Alicorn, James, and I have brought you here to give you two things. A better life and a second chance."

I was shocked. This 'Princess' could read my mind and decided to pull me right out from my own world just for this? Why couldn't she do this to just anyone?

"Why can't you save everyone's lives by bringing them here, then? Also, where is here?" I asked, a puzzled expression growing on my face. Celestia showing surprise at my ignorance to where I was.

"You're in Equestria, dear. Don't you have children? You should know this world better than many your age." She was right. The colour schemes and images of everything around me were familiar.

"Right. I'm beginning to pick up on it." I went to sit up, as I'd been lying on my back looking at her for the longest time. "I want to know if I can go home, though. You've made it clear you know I have chil--WHAT?!" I jumped up in shock, as when I'd sat up I realized what'd happened to my body. I looked the same as the characters on Kat's TV show. I was a pony.

"Oh, right. I should explain your situation. Basically, on your home world, you've passed away." She showed a sad expression, before continuing.

"I've been interested in your family's and, particularly your own, endeavors for the past while. I've taken you to this world to save your life and give you a second chance to live a life with limbs." She gestured towards my legs, arms, and wings.

"I've given you a younger body as well. I wish you the best, but you'll never be able to see your family again. I'm sorry, but if I were to send you back you'd have no living body there to return to and your existence would diminish." She frowned, and I began crying, silently. I wasn't one for emotions, but I just lost my entire family.

She put a hoof on my shoulder, consoling me in my weakest state.

When I'd finished my crying, Celestia stood, watching over me, waiting for my decision, to continue here, or to die at home. I chose the former.

"I'd.. I'd like to thank you for this opportunity, Princess. I'll make a life to be proud of here.. in Equestria.. as a pony." I looked up to her soothing eyes, confidently. "I'll do it." She smiled.

"Good. However, we need to make this clear. None can know you're a human. It would cause an uproar. Humans are only mythological creatures in our world." There was a serious and commanding tone in her voice, but at the same time it was soothing. I nodded, and she continued. "Secondly, we need two more things for you. A name and a talent." She said all of this very seriously and commandingly. It's clear she takes her role as Princess very seriously.

"A talent? What do you mean? Why would that matter?" She frowned, clearly realizing that I hadn't been watching much of my daughters television with her. "I need to know a talent of yours so I can give you an accurate cutie mark. Since your pegasus body is artificial, it will not develop a cutie mark on it's own. I have to design it. Think of it like a tattoo of something you're good at."

"A tattoo, eh? Hm.. I can play guitar.. but I'm not sure if I can do that with these hooves." I frowned, realizing I'd likely have to relearn guitar anyway, seeing as I haven't used my limbs for years. "A guitar, hm? Very well then." She closed her eyes, and her horn began to glow a baby blue. I looked at my flank, and noticed a guitar as well as two eighth notes had appeared. "Oh. That's cool. It's like a painless tattoo."

She chuckled. "Yes, a painless tattoo. Now all we need for you is a name and your.. belongings." I raised a brow. "My belongings?" Again, her horn began to glow baby blue and, again, something incredible happened. In front of me was an immaculate black classical-acoustic guitar. I had no idea of the make, considering I'm not from Equestria, but it's appearance was stunning. She magically placed it inside of yet another conjured item. A hard leather case, with a felt interior. Again, beautiful.

She refused to let me respond to this, blurting out "Okay your name from here on will be Soft Maple, unless you've a better idea?" She paused, waiting for a response. I shook my head to say 'no, I don't have a better idea.' She picked up on it and went on to chuckle. "Right then, Maple. Are you ready to jump into the world of Equestria and take on a whole new life? Your second chance?" She seemed to be getting excited for me. I'm glad someone was.

"Er, yes. I suppose. Thanks, Princess. For everything." She nodded, her horn began to glow, and, yet again I blacked out.

Waking up in a dark forest I was surprised I wasn't somewhere more.. welcoming. 'This isn't what I expected.' I thought to myself. I put down the guitar case and rested on it. 'Maybe I'll teach myself to fly and look around, figure out where exactly I am.'

I began by taking running starts, then jumping and trying to flap my wings, which was harder than expected. When your brain is used to no controllable limbs it's hard to control your base four, let alone your fifth and sixth. I plopped down onto my haunches, and sighed. "I have no idea which way to go. I should have asked..."

Just then, I saw a rainbow form high above the canopy of the forest.

Author's Note : Thanks for reading, guys. Feedback has been very helpful. Originally this was two different chapters, but it seems to make sense to put them both in one. Thanks.