I opened my eyes and groaned in pain. Everything hurts. And then it hits me. I shouldn't be feeling pain or waking up at all. I quickly looked down at my chest and found... A scar. It had apparently healed. I sat there for several minutes not able to process what was going on. I wasn't half buried in rubble or lying on the streets of Canterlot. In fact... I don't know where I am. I see plains and a forest and a mountain in the distance. I squint and it takes me a while to recognize it because of how destroyed it was... But I could never forget what Canterlot looked like. It was my home all my life and I had never been outside of it. I don't even know how I got here.

I have read a lot of survival books and I like to think that I am good at it. Disregarding what happened with King Sombra as there was nothing I could have done there to spare my life. Anyway, that's why my cutie mark is of a survival kit. And I know the first rule of Equestrian survival when finding yourself disoriented and someplace unfamiliar and wounded is to do cognitive tests. It was in the book: "Daring Do's Guide to Surviving an Adventure."

My name is Med Kit. I'm 11 years old. I lived with my dad in Canterlot. I am a Colt. ummm... What else... oh and I'm mute. I should be dead. I had my heart ripped out of my chest by King Sombra. That's probably important. I do see the irony of me dying, but I had no control over my situation.

It seems I don't have any cognitive problems. I am just scared and confused. I think back on all the survival books I read and realize I had three options. I could look for a nearby town or city, set up basic survival measures now, or head directly toward the familiar which was Canterlot.

I don't have tools with me... And I don't know if this is the Everfree forest or not so trying to set up would probably be impossible for a colt like me who has a broken horn. As much as I want to go back to Canterlot... It is a long way away and there is no way I'm making it before nightfall and it will take many days. So... That leaves me with only one answer. I have to look for a town or settlement nearby.

And so I walked. I didn't know how long I was walking for, only that it felt like hours. I kept walking even though I wanted to give up knowing that once you make a decision you have to commit. And so after what felt like forever... I found a town. It was called "Ponyville". I could tell at a glance that it was overcrowded. It made me smile seeing that the ponies were doing their best to accommodate the refugees. I walked in and looked around. I saw a few familiar faces, but for the most part, I didn't know anypony. I wanted to talk to somepony, but being mute just made me one of thousands of refugees. I felt more alone now than when I woke up.

"Everypony! Please stop what you are doing for just a moment. I have something to say," Starlight Glimmer shouted. I turned startled by her voice. She continues, "I know you are all scared that King Sombra will attack us. But from Luna's surviving Batpony Royal Guards who did reconnaissance for us, we know he is greatly weakened from all the fighting and resurrecting so often. It will take him a long time before he can regain his strength and by then I would have countermeasures in place."

"What about his monster?! That thing wiped out half of Canterlot by itself! What do we do if he decides to order it to attack us now?!" said a random frightened pony from Canterlot.

"Monster? What monster? That makes no sense... Sombra couldn't have summoned and maintained control over such a powerful being in a weakened state... And I saw no monster before he came back..." I thought to myself.

"Everypony please calm down.... I know you are all scared... But remember what Twilight taught us. We are strong as long as we stick together. Our bonds of friendship will be all the strength we need. Plus my magic. We have scouts. There is no way any monster could sneak by us and I would deal with it." Starlight says trying to calm them down.

Starlight had a way with words. I didn't know there was a monster, but knowing that the unicorn that once held her own against THE Twilight Sparkle who was the Element bearer of Magic was on our side I felt safe. I can see why she was able to run an entire town. I was interested in this monster so I listened carefully knowing that some of the adults might still have doubts.

"Do you think she could handle that massive horned crocodile? It looks like it could swallow three houses with a single bite!" whispered a doubtful refugee.

"It was more like a hound from Tartarus. I don't think crocodiles have fur. And she better. I don't think my heart can take any more of this..." responds another refugee.

"Hound? Crocodile? What are you all talking about? I saw its face while hiding in a large basket! It was some sort of spider or something with many eyes!" whispers another.

"Maybe... There is more than one massive monster... Or maybe it is a powerful changeling... Like Chrysalis...." gulped another.

Maybe it wasn't a good idea to listen for more information... Something about their descriptions bothered me... I knew it couldn't be Chrysalis because she wouldn't follow orders from a tyrant like King Sombra and she isn't that flashy. I start to remember that I didn't wake up in Canterlot where I was supposed to have died. The only thing I can think of was... That I was reanimated by King Sombra. And I just walked into a town of unsuspecting ponies... Oh no... I feel sick to my stomach... I didn't want this. I knew that without a doubt I had a part in all of this. I quickly ran and grabbed some thrown-away fabric from an empty shop called Carousel Boutique to make a bag for myself and I quickly stole some apples from a food booth. I did get caught by a filly with a red mane and yellow coat but I just ran.

"Hey! Ya can't take all of those! Ya can't be that selfish! I'll catch ya!" shouts Applebloom. As much as I hate to admit it, she wasn't wrong. She was stronger and faster than I had and she was gaining on me.

I was mute and I doubt she knew hoof language so I knew that I wouldn't be able to explain my situation. I couldn't afford to be caught. Every moment I stayed here was another moment I was putting them in danger. But I was running out of breath and she had cornered me....

"I got ya! Give them apples over! Ya should be ashamed of yaself for stealing!" Applebloom shouts.

I was stuck in more ways than one. My dread only grew as my thoughts kept looping. I had to get out. No way out. I can't get caught. I was caught. I had to get out. No way out... I started to tear up and scrunched my eyes shut trying to block out and reject the reality of the situation. I didn't care how... I needed to... get out of here. I fueled magic into my horn in some random desperation. I heard her scream. Then I screamed... I heard a roar followed by a vision. I saw a claw swipe at Applebloom and it crushed her hind leg and batted her away... Flinging her far away into the center of Ponyvilee. I could hear the screams after the distant thud. I was too late. I hesitantly and slowly opened my eyes and saw that in place of where Applebloom had cornered me was now just a blood smear. My horn hurts and my vision readjusted from the vision. Had I seen through the eyes of the monster? Had it been my imagination of what I thought might have occurred? I do not know.

I threw up black icor. I felt drained but I crawled my way out of the dead end and fled Ponyville without looking back. I had a new goal. Go back to Canterlot. If I had been a pawn in King Sombra's game then I might as well make it as inconvenient as possible. I was not going to play his games anymore. Better to die along the way or by his hooves than to lead more innocent ponies to their doom. Nopony should have to deal with this. I have a mouth and I want to scream.

Author's Note

Feedback or comments of any kind are welcomed. Redone.