"The stats are online, yes?"
"Yes. The platform is charged at 100%. Is the test subject ready?"
"He is in the changing room." Two men dressed in teal lab coats went into the dressing room and asked for me to come into the room of transport. I was just a kid looking for some money. I have a little college under my belt, but since I dropped out, I haven't been able to find a job. My friend graduated in an aerospace major and hooked me up with a job as a test subject. I sigh and I walk out into the transport room. About ten to fifteen scientists were setting the controls, and then I looked around and saw one face that stood out from the rest.
An orange haired man who looked more like a friggin' linebacker came up to me, face scarred and rugged with a 5 o'clock shadow. "Alright kid. We have ten locations we want you to explore: One consists of a large jungle with weird elemental animals, the second integrates many alien species in a similar planet like ours, third one has animals that walk and talk, the fourth-"
I immediately cut him off with "Whoa whoa whoa!! Are you telling me... that I'm gonna go out there ALONE, with no one else to help me out, AND I risk not coming back?!"
The man shrugged a bit and said, "You're getting paid a couple hundred thousand for this, and you forgot to think about the fact that you'll be equipped with two weapons and the basic necessities in your backpack." I better get paid more for this crap! I just nodded and said, "Whatever," and went about my way to the platform. The man grabbed my shoulder and handed me some weird looking watch. "Here. We can keep in contact of you in case you have no way of coming back. Think of it as the watch nobody else will have." I mumbled, keeping quiet to myself on how stupid that sounds.
I continued to the platform and stood on a metal disc. The scientist on the far left explained, "You will feel a slight pinch. Look at your watch and scroll down to where the location will say EQ. This will take up most of the transport's energy and it will take at least two weeks to charge it. So keep a log on what you have seen. Anything that happens to you and your body should be taken down as notes. Document EVERYTHING. There should be a guide to survival if you don't happen upon some sort of civilized area." As I nod dutifully, I did as he said, grabbing my backpack and weapons on the left. What I got was a small glowing wakizashi and an extra long pole, black with red decorative vines cascading down the length. I tied the small sword around my belt and held the pole in one hand, slinging my backpack with the other. "Alright... beam me up Scotty."
Without hesitation, they counted down the seconds. I groaned and my hands tingled with nervousness, gripping my blunt weapon with slight regret. "10... 9... 8... 7..." I shivered, feeling a tingling sensation run down my spine. "6... 5... 4..." Iooked down and saw the platform glow and sizzle with blue and white sparks. "3... 2... 1... commence transport." After that, I saw eyes of doubt for that last second, and everything turned to black.
I woke up in a forest, scents of wild flowers and slight animalistic musks clogged my nose, not to mention I was feeling weird from my shins down. As far as I knew, I still felt the same everywhere else. I put my hands on the platform to get myself up. I looked at them and saw they were dark. What the... I thought they turned color, but I snickered and thought that to be crazy. I walked further and further into the forest and I saw a... hut... in a tree? Yeah... a hut. I looked around to see if anything else wandered around the place, and I strolled to the door. With three loud knocks someone responded: "This annoying pony that loves to wander, may I ask why you disturb my slumber?"
I kinda shivered at the voice. It was definitely feminine and exotic, but it exuded a sort of... ancient power, or I'm scared shitless. I said, "I am but a lone man looking for a place to stay. Do you know where I can find a hotel or an inn of some sort around... here?" The door knob wriggled and it slowly pulled away, a cloaked head poked through. I saw dark eyes peep from the hood and she said, "To end your search, Ponyville is the place you seek, but you can slumber here, if you are not meek." I tried to look into her hood more but she pulled away. Guess she didn't like strangers all that much. She left the door open and I walked inside. So weird... but I can't turn away since it seems it's night fall.
I looked around the tree trunk-like place, a cauldron in the midst of it all, strange wooden decor hanging on the walls, and various books and bottles. The cloaked figure went upstairs and came back with a pillow and two blankets. She set the sleeping place by the small bookcase. I tilted my head at her as she told me, "What is this man you speak, nothing but pony is what I see." I gave her a confused look. "Look down at your hooves, and you will know. Now if you will excuse me, to my bed I must go." As she walked away, I saw a tail swish back and forth. I was even more scared as I looked down and beneath my jeans, and saw hooves, and my hair was... well, growing from my neck as well. Life, as I knew it, was going to change and hopefully for the better. These eggheads better know what the hell they are doing or else I'll NEVER get out of here!
... to be continued...
