I felt like I had been walking for days. For all I knew, I had been. Maybe in this place, time changed without any visible sign that it had. Maybe I had been walking for a week already while what little light there was stayed never-changing. But who cared? I was weary, hot, irritated, hungry and thirsty. I wanted a rest, preferably someplace with comfy chairs, plenty of sustenance to be had, and also with a working shower.

I looked down at my outfit. Dust and dirt coated my clothing, and of course my skin, wherever there was skin visible. I reached down and whacked the side of my leg experimentally, and was unsuprised at the mushroom cloud of dust that puffed up from my jeans.

"I hate dust." I grumbled in a bitter tone."Gets everywhere. I need a shower. Maybe two. Gonna take a week to get all this off me. Stupid dirt. Stupid dark clouds. Stupid walking. Stupid...wait. Hold on. What's that?"

I stopped short, my complaining forgotten, and peered ahead of me. I could make out outlines and shadows of what appeared to be buildings. Buildings meant people. People meant food and water. Finally! I let out an happy shout. Well, almost a shout. My mouth was too dry and my throat too dust coated to manage more than a hoarse exclaimation.

I started walking again, picking up my pace now that I knew I was finally closing in on some civilization. I was grinning in excitement and anticipation. As I drew nearer, and things became more and more easily visible, my grin started to fade and I could feel my face twisting into an expression of shock. Right at the edge of what I could now see with certainty was a town, I stopped dead in my tracks and stared.

"What in tarnation?" Was all I could say.

There were inhabitants there. But they were not what I was expecting. I was not looking at people, but at ponies.

"I knew it. I've gone insane." I muttered to myself."I'm seeing ponies now. What the hell did I do, get thrown into the world of My Little Pony or something??"

'In a matter of speaking, yes.' My unseen bodyguard again.

"What?" I said, nearly in a hiss."You're kidding me, right?"

'I assure you, I am not.'

"Wonderful. Why?"

'As I said before, all will be told to you in due time. Just focus on your journey for now.'

"Oh, very helpful." I sighed."Fine. So I'm in the MLP universe then?"

'Yes, and no.'

I huffed. "Could you be a little less non-specific?"

'You are indeed in the MLP universe. However, it is not the universe you are thinking it is.'

"OK, could you just maybe not talk in riddles and tell me where the hell I am?!"

'You are in an alternate version of Equestria. One vastly different from the one you are familiar with.'

"And I am here in this alternate Equestria...why, exactly?"

A whisper of a chuckle. 'That, my dear Liz, is part of your adventure. To discover why you are here. And do not worry. You will discover it, in time.'

I groaned. "Fine. But now what? Where to from here?"

No sooner had I asked, than a book materialized in the air in front of me, bound in a dark blue leather. I blinked in suprise before tentatively putting out a hand to grab it.

'This is your guidebook for this universe. Follow it, and I will be here if I am needed. For now, go, find food and drink. You need it.'

I rolled my eyes. "Thanks for that oh-so-brilliant observation, Captain Obvious."

A chuckle. 'You amuse me. Now go on.'

Something told me my bodyguard was done talking. I sighed, and made my way cautiously into the town, alert for any danger. The ponies I encountered gave me sober looks, mixed with some curiosity, but none seemed hostile. Maybe I could make some friends. That might help. Friendship was important in Equestria, right? So maybe-

"Hold it right there, you!!"

The strong, rather angry male voice made me stop walking, and I slowly turned around, looking for the owner of said voice. A dark brown stallion with equally dark brown, almost black, eyes, stood still and stared intensely at me. His expression was one of complete mistrust and caution.

Ok. Maybe I was wrong on the whole, none of the ponies being hostile thought, then.

"Uh. Me?" I said, pointing a finger at my own chest, then mentally slapped myself for the stupidity of the question.

He was staring at me, so obviously yes, I was the one he was addressing. The intensity of his gaze increased, as he warily and almost coldly scrutinized me from head to foot. I felt like I was being X-rayed, like he could see right into my soul, and it was creepy. I held his gaze and shivered slightly.

"You." He spoke again, sternly."What manner of creature are you? Never seen your kind before. Talk fast, or I'm gonna assume you're with the enemy." His eyes narrowed.

"I'm not with any enemy!" I exclaimed, indignantly.

"Exactly what someone who was with the enemy would say." He glared at me coldly.

"Dude, you just asked, and I answered." I said irritably."I'm a human. From Earth. And I'm here in Equestria for some yet to be discovered reason. I'm not an enemy."

He studied me, frowning. "Human, eh? Never heard of it. Your kind must no longer exist. They all get killed off or something?"

I rolled my eyes. "No, they haven't."I said drily."Though it sure as hell isn't from lack of trying on thier part."

I meant, of course, all the violence in my world, people constantly trying to annihilate each other. But of course, the ponies here wouldn't know about that. I stared back at the stallion.

"Anything else you wanna ask?" I enquired."I'm hot, and I'm hungry, and I need water too. And a long bath followed by an equally long nap."

As if to prove my words were true, my stomach growled, and at the same time, I yawned. My interrogator's expression changed.

"Oh. Yeah, of course." He said."There's an inn with an eating place right down there." He jabbed a hoof in the direction of said inn.

"Thanks."I said gratefully.

"Name's Dusk Shadow. I'm acting sheriff in this here town." He eyed me. "You got a name?"

I sighed. "Liz." Was all I said.

"I'm gonna be watching you." Dusk informed me sternly."If I find out you're an enemy, you'll go right to jail!"

"Noted and understood." I replied, making a mental note to avoid doing anything to make me look like enemy material.

He gave a nod and strode away, and I turned and headed for the inn, tired out and ready for food and sleep. Almost to the door, I froze.

"Uh oh. I don't have currency for here."

'Check your right pocket.'

I followed instructions, withdrawing a small bag of coins. I blinked.

"I, uh, what? But how...?"

'Don't question it. Think of it as, unexplainable. There is enough bits in that pouch for food and lodging here, plus more will be supplied as you need it.'

"As unexplainable as Pinkie Pie's logic?" I quipped.

'Precisely. It just is what it is. Now go eat, and get some sleep. You will need it.'

"Appreciate the concern, Cap. It's heartwarming." There was a note of sarcasm in my tone.

'Cap?' There was amusement and curiosity in the question.

"Short for Captain Obvious. Or Captain whatever. You're guiding me, like a captain would, so, Captain works for me." I snickered. "Better than calling you 'the voice'. Which sounds like the T.V. show."

'So instead you refer to me as an accessory you wear on your head?' Again, amusement.

"Eh. What works, works." I replied. Then I tensed.

Nearby a couple of ponies had stopped and were eyeing me curiously. Probably wondering why I was talking to myself.

'Undoubtedly they are wondering..'

I smiled at them slightly, and they moved on, not looking back. I then realized what my invisible companion had said.

"Wait, you can read my thoughts??"

'Of course I can. Why?'

"And you couldn't have told me that back when I first talked to you? I look like an idiot to ponies now, and it could have been avoided!"

'Fair enough. My apologies. Unless you want to speak aloud, simply think what you want to say to me. I will hear you.'

I suddenly smirked. Oh really? It was time to test that and see for sure. Concentrating, I thought to myself,"'You are an irritating presence right now.'"

'So I have been told before. And while at the moment I find you amusing, keep up the insults and I may find you just as irritating as you do me.'

"Fine. I'll try to be less me and more, I don't know, nice? Like Pinkie or Fluttershy or somepony from MLP." I said.

'Be you, Liz. Always be you. Never try to be someone else. That is thier job.'

"Wow, Cap. Words of wisdom. Nice. I like it." I was being serious.

'I try. Now stop talking and go eat, then rest.'

I walked into the inn, probably looking as tired as I felt, and collapsed at a table in the dining area. A sky blue pony with a slightly darker blue mane and tail trotted over to me.

"You must be new. I have never seen you before. And I've seen everypony for miles around! Everycreature too! But you are not a pony. What creature are you? Huh?? Are you some strange, magical, non-existant creature of old? Was your kind wiped out, all but you?? Oh you poor creature!"

And here she threw her forelegs around me in a massive, warm hug. I blinked rapidly, completely caught off guard. This was definitely not a shy and suspicious pony. She was open, accepting, and apparently felt compassion and care for all creatures. I hugged her back, carefully, not sure what else to do. She pulled back after a moment and smiled at me.

"You need food! And water! I'll get you some of the best food we have! Oh, and do you like desserts?? We have yummy ones!"

"'Oh lord.'" I thought."'Is this the alternate version of Pinkie Pie??'"

The young mare happily bounded off to see to a meal for me, and I shook my head as I leaned back in my seat, using another chair to rest my aching legs and feet on.

'She is definitely not Pinkie Pie.'

"'She could be a twin.'"

'No. She is just your average pony. A bit more excited and cheerful than most, but still. You would do well to make friends with her, Liz. She will be a good ally on your adventures here.'

I merely shrugged as the mare returned and placed a plate heaping with food in front of me. I studied it. Mashed potatoes and gravy, peas, carrots, and what looked like a large hamburger patty. Wait, what??

'That would be a hayburger there, Liz.' I heard the amusement.

"'But that would kill me! I'm no horse!'"

'Did I not tell you I would not let any fatal harm come to you? Trust me. I have already altered both your taste and your digestion to accommodate the vegetarian way you'll eat for now.'

I wasn't even going to ask. I was too hungry to care anyway. I rapidly devoured everything on my plate, washing it down with plenty of water. I was supplied with a piece of chocolate cake afterwards, which I ate with gusto.

"Wow, you were hungry!" My grinning new friend observed."By the way, I'm Bluebell!"

"Like the ice cream?" I said.

"Huh?"

"Never mind. Its nice to meet you, Bluebell. I'm Liz."

I was hugged ecstatically, then released. I yawned without intending to, earning a giggle.

"Come on, sleepy creature. Let's show you to a room."

I willingly let her lead me up to the floor where the rooms were located, and offered a grateful smile as she let me into one.

"Thanks, Bluebell."

"Absolutely!!! Go on and sleep! Sweet dreams!" And she was gone.

I shut the door and turned the lock, then went and collapsed on the bed. My aching body welcomed the soft and comfortable mattress, and I sighed in weary contentment.

"Cap?" I said aloud, yawning."I still think I need to know some stuff about this world."

'In the morning.' Was the response.'For now, sleep.'

Too tired to argue, I let my eyes close and yawned once more.

"Night..." I murmured, slowly drifting off towards a deep and peaceful slumber.

'Goodnight, Liz.' was the last thing I heard before all grew quiet, and I slept.

Author's Note

Hope you guys are enjoying this tale so far!

To be honest, I started writing this mix of stuff down in an effort to unblock my creative side. Then I thought, "Why not try making this into something others can enjoy?"

I don't have any idea where this story is going, anymore than you guys do. Its going somewhere, that's all I can tell ya. XD

So you could say that we're on an epic adventure together. 😉

As always, lemme know what you think of this, and feel free to suggest chapter ideas or stuff you would like to see happen in the story.