The Scholars Attempt At Survival

by Pachi

Rating: teen
Tags: Human, Princess Luna, Gore, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Alternate Universe, Original Character, Science Fiction, Daring Do, Profanity, Adventure, Violence, Princess Celestia, Slice of Life, Death, Zecora
Length: 42967

Victor was having a normal day, coding for hours on end and not getting a lick of sleep. However after he creates a character for an RPG game he was sent, he finds himself buck naked in a forest... GAME START!

Victor is a peculiar fellow. For one, he actually liked school as a child. Rather than liking, he loved it. He loved to learn, to understand, to comprehend...

But after he gets a Discord Message from someone named "Faust", he finds himself as the character he had made. Naked. In the forest. Alone

With nothing but his wit and a system, can Victor, now Darwin, survive in such a bloodthirsty ecosystem? Potentially even... Thrive?

Inspired HEAVILY by "Equestria's Inventor" by Yormsky. Go check him out! Really cool guy

RGRE but it'll be a while till it shows because... Uh, well, he's stuck in the middle of a forest

FEATURED:

JANUARY 26 2025

I have no clue how that happened but WOHOOO! Even though it's the very bottom, I'm on the featured page! So cool! So sigma!

Published 2024-12-02 18:50:01 UTC
Last updated 2025-02-09 11:55:25 UTC

Chapter 0: Sleep Deprived

“Alright, Now it's your turn Victor. What do you wish to do when you grow up?” It was a normal question to ask a 7 year old in school

As well as probably one of the most asked questions of all time, right next to “What's your name?” and “What's your favourite colour?”

“I want to learn everything!” I shouted out, nearly getting out of my seat from the excitement

“So you want to be a teacher?” I guess I can understand why she thought that now. Kids are dumb after all, and their phrasing is even dumber

“No! I wanna learn everything! Learning is fun!” I heard a few kids snicker at the back of the class at my proclamation “I’m gonna learn everything there ever was!”

The teacher seemed a bit surprised by my stubbornness, and the meaning of my answer, before he chuckled slightly

“Well, that's a good dream to have, Victor”

Those words really ticked me off

I don't know why but I really hated those words

Despised, even

Sat in my chair, I lazely scrolled through a few thousand lines code, before hitting the run button

I was currently trying to program a discord bot I had been commissioned a few days ago

It took me a few all nighters but I managed to get it done quite fast

Before I could even get to doing some more bug fixing, I heard a ping ring out from my computer, and a red notification on the tab that had discord open

I moved my mouse over and opened discord groggily

I was way too sleep deprived for this…

Looking at the notification, I saw that… Someone I didn't know direct messaged me?

Apparently they were part of a coding server that I forgot I had owned

[Faust: Hey! I started coding recently, and I made a little RPG, would you mind testing it out for me?]

That's definitely a virus

Block…

…

Maybe it was my sleep deprived mind, or the fact that I was excruciatingly bored and needed something to do, I refrained from blocking and opened up the link

“My anti-virus is strong enough to just shut it down if it's malware anyway, so there's no harm in it…” I mumble my thoughts to myself, as I find myself in a small semi realistic RPG screen

“Legends of Equestria…?” I read aloud, before pressing the start button. Being greeted with a character customisation screen

It kind of reminded me of the Sims, but it had way too many customisation points

Now first decision, male or female…?

I mean, Male is cool and all but Female characters have smaller hitboxes…

Eh I'll just go with Male-

[WARNING: MALE CHARACTERS ARE DEBUFFED IN SOCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES DUE TO A MATRIARCHAL SOCIETY]

Huh, weird…

Well, I've already chosen this so I'll just double down

Pressing confirm, I go to the next subject

Race

I press on the race button and find myself being flooded with different options

Pegasus, Unicorn, Earth Pony, Alicorn, Thestral, Draconequus, Dragon, Umbrum, Changeling… And so many more

I scroll all the way down, before finding the option I found most interesting

Mostly because there was a giant warning label next to it

[WARNING: THERE ARE ZERO HUMANS IN EQUESTRIA. YOU WILL BE SPAWNED IN THE WILDERNESS DUE TO YOUR RACE NOT HAVING A CIVILISATION]

Well might as well, it could be better if I pick this since I get spawned in the wilderness instead of someplace with other beings, considering how the male gender has a social disadvantage in this world

Confirm~

Next is… Actually customising the character

It kind of put me on edge how realistic the model they used looked

I spent much more time customising my character than I would have liked to admit, but eventually settled on a quite handsome looking fellow

He was skinny and was pretty tall, standing at 6 Feet 2 Inches, with a tan, dark copper like complexion resembling my real life skin

Neck length curly black hair combined with various scars all across their body. Blade ones, whip ones, burn marks and even a pair of folded up angel wings tattooed on his back

If I were to describe his body in one word it would be…

Twink

That was the first stage of character creation done!

I press the next button and it goes from a Sims screen to something resembling a Google forum…

A questionnaire?

Uh, okay I guess?

The previous screen looked like it took a shit ton of time so I'm assuming this Is legit, and not just a virus

It's definitely not a trojan though, since I'm still on a website and haven't downloaded anything

What's weird is that there were only two questions on it…

[Question 1: What is your name?]

I began to type out my answer

I would never use my real name, no that would be silly

However I do have a pseudonym

One that I go by on literally everything

“Darwin” I type the letters as I speak

I scroll down a little to the next and final question

[Question 2: What do you want more than anything in the world?]

What I want more than anything in the world, huh?

Well…

Money? No, I don't really want that. Fame? Not that either…

Now that I think about it, it hasn't really changed much from when I was a kid…

“I want to learn everything”

I press the next button as my eyelids begin to flutter in a downwards path

Oh… I really am sleepy…

Maybe…

Maybe I can just rest for a bit before actually playing the game…

I close my eyes for the smallest of seconds before my head smashes right into the desk

When I awoke, I found myself in a pure white void

Destitute of anything but a simple silver screen in front of me

[Name: Darwin
Level: 1
Race: Human
Class: God of Knowledge - Followers = EXP

Stats

Strength: 1
Agility: 1
Dexterity: 1
Endurance: 1
Reflex: 1
Intelligence: 1
Comprehension: 1
Magical Precision: N/A
Magical Power: N/A
Divinity: 1

Skills

[UNIQUE - God Of Knowledge: Allows you to know everything and anything you want]]

What's this…?

Oh I get it, I'm dreaming of that RPG…

What's up with my Class? And that skill?

“Is this acceptable?” I hear a feminine voice resounded through my brain

Since I already figured it was a dream, I wasn't all that surprised

“No” I respond

“Uh, E-Excuse me?” the voice sounded both flustered and surprised, as if they weren't at all expecting this

“I said I wanted to LEARN everything, not know everything! Knowledge is cool and all, but I don't care for it. What I want is the euphoria of figuring something out, of disassembling something to see what makes it tick. That feeling where you rip apart your brain and put it back together again with brand new information, incorporating new concepts or knowledge into your mind bit by bit. Theorising about something, thinking about how it works to be proven either right or wrong…” I stop my tangent before I lose track of what I was thinking of “The point is, this would be inhibiting me from doing that! If I already know something, what's the point in learning it? And if I already know everything, I can't ever learn again! That's like putting me in hell ya know!”

“O-oh… I, uh, apologise for that, I'll revise your status…” The voice sounded so confused and startled by my rant that I heard a sense of urgency within the myriad of emotions “Is this acceptable?”

[Name: Darwin
Level: 1
Race: Human
Class: Scholar - Learning = EXP

-Stats

Strength: 1
Agility: 1
Dexterity: 1
Endurance: 1
Reflex: 1
Intelligence: 1
Comprehension: 1
Magical Precision: N/A
Magical Power: N/A

-Skills

[UNIQUE - Genius: 200% Learning Speed + EXP Gain]

[UNIQUE - Unforgettable: What was once learned cannot be unlearned]]

“I suppose so-”

The moment I uttered those words I felt… Nothing

Absolutely nothing

And then I existed?

It's hard to explain…

It was as if I was erased and then remade, the parts in between the two events I couldn't make out, however I could most definitely tell I was somewhere else

Like teleporting, but with something feeling so incredibly, fundamentally… Off

Either way I was now standing buck naked in the middle of a forest…

Author's Note

New story time~

Like I always say... I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM I SWEAR 😭

Chapter 8: I GOT ARRESTED?!?!?111 (NOT CLICKBAIT!)

This city was large and incredibly pony friendly.

Sadly, I was a human, not a pony.

The roads were clean, sure, but that didn't change the fact that it was still dirt. Stones sometimes protruded out the floor, sticks that fall from nearby foliage, small animal droppings find their way in front of me and sometimes under the soles of my feet. All things said, my walking appendages hurt like hell a few minutes into walking.

The same was to be said about the wilderness, but there's grass that works a bit like a cushions and the dirt is soft and maleable, not hard and compacted into a road like this.

As I walked I found there were fewer and fewer ponies trotting around, eventually there wasn't even a single one roaming the streets.

“That's… odd?” I thought aloud, scratching the back of my head as I stared out at empty road.

Where did they go?

*KA-CHINK KA-CHINK KA-CHINK KA-CHINK KA-CHINK*

My ears were attracted to the strange sound of metal against metal behind me, as I turned my head, a look of confusion plastered across my face.

In front of my eyes was a group of 12 ponies, each of varying race and colour's, all wearing sets of golden armour.

A selection of gold weapons accompanied them, in mouth, hooves or simply just floating nearby…

I quickly raise my hands in surrender.

Yeah, I'm not fighting.

I may have a had a MASSIVE Stat Boost, but I'm not some kind of physical god, nor do I even know the extent to how much stronger I got in reality, or if I'm up to the task of fighting…

Especially When I'm outnumbered, only barely trained and the enemy is armed with both armour and weapons. Not to mention the mobility advantage of wings and the fact there's a Unicorn among them, meaning magic.

As well as that, their formation leads me to believe they're from military origin, or perhaps a police force, maybe both.

All in all, this fight is unwinnable at the moment.

“I surrender!” I shout out, in case the raising of arms has a different interpretation in this world, which considering the fact its's filled with quadrapeds, it probably does.

I was met with looks of confusion and questioning.

Though it seemed less questioning me and more questioning of themselves.

One of the seemingly more professional ponies slowly walked forward to meet me, a soft chocolate brown Unicorn mare of a recognizabley older age with small thin grays in her pink mane. If I were to equate her age to humans, she looked to be in her early fourties.

”We had reports of a bipedal monster within town,” Her voice solidified her perceived age, having a sort of motherly twinge, being light yet deep and smooth, ”But considering how you seem to be quite… Nonviolent, I assume that was a mistake…”

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding, as the gold tipped spear beside her floated down, the armored ponies behind her doing the same with theirs.

“So… am I free to go?” I question slightly, lowering my arms and glancing back at her spear every now and then. Not out of fear mind you, more out of curiosity.

Gold is a shiny metal, one that symbolizes wealth and power, yet as an armour set, gold is much too malleable and soft to be efficient and too heavy to even be usable. Which means either this isn't gold, it's an alloy, or it's gold plated.

Now that I look at it, all these weapons are quite short, the spear seems to be the same length as her torso… I see, there isn't a need for that much of a handle because the range advantage of the spear isn't dependent on it! Because they can magically float them closer and farther, it's better to reduce the weight by removing some of the handle, yet still keep some to block or incapacitate someone non-lethally, and to counter balance the spearhead…

Interesting!

”You are, as long as you can provide us with proof of citizenship or a visa,” Ew, Bureaucracy.

Also FUCK! I don't got shit!

“I- uh, I don't have any…” The pony raises her brows and stares at me with her milky blue eyes.

”I’m afraid in that case we're going to need you to come with us,” Ah shit am I getting deported? Kidding, would be glad if they did though, assuming they actually send me back to my world and don't just lock me in jail for the rest of my life. As i under the fact that I may just be doomed to a cell she sighs.

“Er, I'm not in trouble am I?” Her eyes meet mine once again as she smiles softly.

”No, we just need to get you to the nearest town hall so we can get you visa,” She said, waving her hoof out at the notion of trouble as she slides the spear onto a holster by her side.

“Is it that easy to get visa?” I ask, as the Unicorn begins to trot forwards and I follow her, the rest of the armored ponies doing the same with their weapons away.

As I look, the rest of the ponies seem to also be females, though a lot younger than this one. Maybe she’s training them?

”Well there are a few tests you have to go through firstly, but other than them, I’d consider it quite easy,” She says, before adding on, ”As long as you aren't a criminal, that is.”

I sigh a bit in relief, taking the opportunity to perhaps learn a bit more.

“Miss, if you don't mind me asking, what do those tests include?” I ask as she chuckles a bit to herself.

”Oh there's nothing much, just a Thaumaturgical Examination, Species Listing and Equestrian Habitation Questionnaire,” She says as she continues to try and keep her stride with mine, which was suitably a little slower than hers, ”The EHQ is just a simple form you fill out to see if are any special needs that we have to adhere to or know about, but it's quite simple.”

It wasn't all that long till we arrived at the town hall.

”There aren't many people who register in a relatively small town like Ponyville so it'll only be a short wait as we get everything ready,” She says with a smile, turning to the other ponies beside her, ”You can continue your patrols independently.”

The ponies did a quick salute and left as we entered the town hall. Inside was a small reception area, a stallion wearing a dark green tie around his neck, a lighter shade of the same colour coat and a mane of seaweed green.

I was quiet as the two ponies began talking, as I made my way to a nearby waiting chair. I kinda felt like a kid at a doctors appointment, just not knowing what the fuck was going on and simply just vibing in my own world.

The police pony and the secretary had nodded to each other, before the police pony turned and nodded at me as well. I nod back and she trots over to me.

”If you could just follow me sir,” I pick myself up and just follow her into a rather solitary room with a scroll in the centre of a table, a chair on each side.

It looked a bit like an interrogation room.

I take a seat as the police pony does the same.

“Ah, I don't think I've gotten your name yet, Ma'am,” I say as she takes off the helmet, revealing chocolate eyes and little custard yellow highlights in her hair. Her mane was quite short, styled into what I can only describe as a bob-cut with texture, a small part on the right side with a few strands of hair standing up at the start of the parting like an ahoge.

”Strawberry, Strawberry Sundae. And you?” She replies. Now that I could see more of her face, she looks younger?

No, it's like seeing a well aged person, someone you know is quite old but still seems to look a few decades younger. Hard to explain but you know what I mean, I think.

What was most surprising to me were the fact she had freckles spotting her face, somehow. It was like spots of a light orange against her brown coat.

“Victor, Victor De La Cruz” I reply and she raises an eyebrow inquisitively.

”Sponyish?” Spony? Is that supposed to be this world’s Spain? That's a pretty lazy name… well I get it, Ponyville, Spony, Equestria. All of them have Equine themes, so it makes sense it would keep the same motif throughout.

“Mexican, actually,” She frowns a bit before sighing and picking up the paper in front of her.

”Well, Victor De La Cruz,” She says my full government name for some reason, weird… ”May you please place your paw… claws? On the circle for me?”

“Hand, and just Victor is fine” I say, following her order and putting my hand on the scroll, more specifically on the circle in the bottom right of it.

She does the same on the one on the top left, the circle perfectly encompassing her hoof, before she closed her eyes and I felt the paper heat up a bit.

She furrows her brows even further in concentration before opening her eyes and reading the parchment with a confused expression.

”Say, Victor, do you mind pricking your finger with this and trying again?” She pulls out a small needle and I nod. I contemplated using Pragmatism but decided against it, before I take my right hand and prick my index finger, placing it on the circle again.

The paper heats up even more and Sundae seemed a bit more strained than last time, a drop of sweat running down her forehead.

Before she stops and smoke starts coming out of her horn.

She waves away the smoke with her hoof and looks through the parchment scroll. A confused expression on her face.

“If you don't mind me asking, what are you trying to do?” I say as she keeps looking over at the scroll’s contents.

”This test was supposed to list your criminal record using your thaumaturgical system…" She said, removing her hoof and looking to see if there was any damage to the scroll that would keep it from working, ”But for some reason it refuses to do so… I initially thought it was due to low mana, which is quite common in non-harmonic races, which is why I had asked for some blood but…”

“Oh that makes sense. It doesn't work because I don't have a Thaumaturgical System,” She looked at me like I said I didn't have a heart, utterly baffled.

”Now is not the time for jokes, the inability to provide working equipment for a visa is a major blunder and could possibly result in a huge fine towards the ones responsible,” I simply sigh and reiterate.

“I'm not joking, I don't have a Thaumaturgical System and am unable to use magic of any kind because of it. You can as many tests as you want, it just won't work…” She seemed absolutely gobsmacked, as if she'd just been hit across the head with a squirrel.

”If that's the case, then…” She falters for a moment, before sighing, ”I apologize, Victor, this is the first time something like this has happened, I'm not quite sure what to do…”

“Oh no it's fine, Miss Sundae, How about we just move on?” I tried to change the topic quickly, if beings in this world NEED a thaumaturgical system to survive, and I had none, I would instantly become one of the most interesting multi cellular organism on the planet, and the prime target to a shit ton of dissection. I mean I would do the same if I found a mammal that had evolved without a heart, no matter if it was sentient or not.

Hmm? Why would I consider sentience? Weird…

Whatever.

”Well… if it can't be helped, I'll report this to my superiors and just have you continue. Since it isn't a fault of your own, I'll use my own authority to issue a temporary visa,” She concluded before continuing, ”I apologize for the inconvenience”

“Oh no, it's fine,” I reassure her as she picks up a piece of modern paper from a table drawer, before handing it to me. The letters were… wait a second? Accents? It was unrecognisable of course, but the accents I could see lined up with my native tongue, Spanish, “I apologise for the inconvenience, but I can't read this…”

”Are you sure? I swear i picked out the Sponish texts…” She says, magically floating the paper back to her and reading through it a bit, more just the text at the top right that was written in regular Ponish.

“Oh, no I can’t read Sponish, nor Ponish. I know how to read and write. It's just that my… Dialect, is quite rare so I doubt you have it” She frowned but simply seemed to accept it. My hands were laying on the paper, and it seemed quite warm…

”I see… that will prove rather difficult… you do seem to be able to speak Ponish quite fluently, so why don't I read out and write for you?” I nod at her proposition as she floats the form to herself and begins to float a quill to herself and writes down some things. That being what I assume to be my name.

”Question One: What is Your Species?” She reads it out in a clear voice as I respond.

“Human, Scientific genus and species are Homo and Sapien” I say as she writes it down, she seems to be quite slow, considering how to write it a bit.

”I must admit, I've never heard of such a species before… Second Question: What is Your Cutie Mark… We can skip this one since you're a non-pony,” She says, before I stop her.

“Cutie Mark?” I ask and she looks at me weird for the umpteenth time.

”A kind of magical mark on a Pony's rear that displays and amplifies their talents. Third Question: What is Your Occupation?” Shes’s avoiding the question? No it doesn't seem that way, it's more like she can't provide a better explanation. That does explain the markings on everybody's Flanks… Everypony?

Now, occupation… What is my occupation? Lumberjack? Inventor? Redneck Engineer? Programmer?

“Uh… Wandering Scholar might be the best description…” I say a bit more hesitantly than I would like to admit,

”Question Four: What is your Home Country?” She just seemed to gloss over it without much questioning… lucky me I guess.

“Los Angeles,” Now that I think about it, should I really be giving out honest answers? Well, it's not like me being from another world is a secret… Wait doesn't this contradict my changing the subject about my Thaumaturgical System? Or lack thereof? Home Country? Ah shit I thought she said home county!

Whatever, I'm in too deep to back out now, for both the country and my honesty… I truly am an idiot though….

The questions continued for the entirety of an hour and a half,

”Last one, Question Twenty Five: Age?” Why is this the last question? Whatever. How old am I again…? This body, from what I can tell is in its late teens to very early adult stage, which is only a few years younger than my original, so I'll just go with that… an estimate would be maybe around-

“Seventeen Years Old,” She looks at me with a massive frown, before leaving it alone for the bazillionth time.

”Alright, all done, now we just need a blood sample and you’ll have your temporary visa,” She said with a smile, before asking, ”Where is your current place of residency?”

“Ah, just follow the river leading from Ponyville into the Everfree Forest until you find a cabin,” I don't have a proper address… also shouldn't this have been on the EHQ? Why didn't they ask that as a question? “Am I free to leave?”

Sundae nods her head and I'm allowed to leave the interrogation room. I ended up burning a whole lot of daylight, so if I start making my way home now, I'll be able to reach just before nightfall. Perfect!

I then begin my arduous trek towards my home.

{DAY 31}

*KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK*

“Ugh… five more minutes…” I was gently jolted awake by the sounds of knocking at my door… at first it was quiet, and I had slowly lifted back to sleep because it was so quiet, but at the precipice of slumber-

*KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

I fell off the indoor retted-vine hammock I had been calling a bed and faceplanted straight into the floor with a deafening thud.

With half awake eyes, I picked myself up and walked towards the door of my home, taking off the large stick I had been using as a lock and opening it up.

In front of me stood a relatively tall unicorn mare with a cold purple coat and fiery red highlighted-vanilla yellow mane, wearing a flamboyant yet practical and non frilly dress, a scroll opened out in front of her as she coughs into her hoof.

“No solicitors,” I say, slamming the door closed, before she put her hoof out in front of the door to keep it open.

”AHEM!” She coughs rather loudly into her hoof yet again, a tick mark on her forehead showcasing her apparent rage from my actions, before she opens up the scroll rolled up by her side and begins reading, ”By the order of the great Diarch of Equestria and holder of the Crown, Princess Celestia, You, Victor De La Cruz the Wandering Human Scholar, are to be given a formal summoning to meet her majesty at approximately 5 p.m today. All arrangements have been already created and managed under her majesty’s orders.”

I stood there absolutely dumbstruck. What the fuck was she talking about? Whatever, I'll just politely refuse and-

”Refusal of this offer will be seen as an offense to the nation and your request for a Visa will be permanently suspended,” She must've realised what I was thinking from my face as she quickly added that on at the end, a smug smile on her face.

…

“De toda la gente en el mundo, ¿por qué yo?”

Author's Note

SORRY FOR NO UPDATES LAST WEEK!!!

I was busy with irl stuff and hyper burnt out from writing, I managed to finish the chap but wasn't able to continue it so I just started again and went into a different direction entirely

¡Adiós mis hermosos fans! ¡Nos vemos la próxima semana!

(Also I lied the chapter is clickbait)

Chapter 1: It Ain't Much, But It's Honest Work

{DAY 1}

After a quick panic attack and early mid-life crisis, I found that I was, in fact, in the body of that RPG I started…

I would've made myself more buff or hotter if I knew this was going to happen… Well I'm already far above average looking in this body anyway. Well as far as my memory and the river I'm looking into was telling me

“Alright, first order of business, survive. Rule of three, three minutes without air, three hours without shelter, three days without water and three weeks without food…” I think to myself, bringing together all the survival knowledge I had collected during my pre-RPG era “Air is breathable so check that off the list, and three hours without shelter is only for extreme conditions like the tundra or desert…”

“Which means I need to find a source of water first. Obvious enough.”

I look towards the river… admiring my features slightly. Humans are inheritly social creatures, a lack of other beings will definitely have adverse effects. But I can minimise it... “By talking to myself.”

“River water is bad. Don't drink it, only as a last result” I noted to myself, before turning around and heading upstream “But it's safe when I have a fire to purify it. I don't have a container nor a filter though so that's out of the question... My best bet is to try and drink from the beginning of the stream”

At least that four hour Bear Grylls documentary I watched a few years back is finally coming in handy now

I need to think of this scientifically… How in this situation can I survive…?

I need clean water, food, clothes and shelter before I can even think of doing anything else…

Four things, most important are water and shelter, then food, then clothes

“Fucking hell...” I curse to myself "This seems more like a survival game than RPG...”

I should've picked anything other than human, spawning in a civilisation would be so much better than this…

Whatever, it's fine. I can survive

Rather, I know how to survive... in theory...

Apart from basic fauna like grass and leaves, most of these plants are completely unrecognisable…

Key word: Most

For example, that one growing at the base of that tree over there is Armillaria Mellea, commonly known as the Honey Fungus. Found mid-summer to late autumn. Grows on stumps and at the base of beech, willow, poplar and mulberry trees

It was a pale honey-yellow colour, with a long, 20cm tall stem connected to a flat cap, dipping down towards the middle

Honey Funguses are edible, so whilst it may not be a balanced diet, I do have a source of food

I look towards the forest. It was dense. Stupidly so. It was near pitch black in there, which means that I shouldn't venture too far in, or I'll lose my way and get lost. At least without a fire

It reminded me a bit of a jungle despite the fact that the climate wasn't remotely the same. Vines were growing pretty much everywhere, thick branches, twigs and dead trees were just as common

After god knows how long, I finally ended up at the beginning of the river...

Or as close as I could get

My legs were so physically tired that I probably couldn't take another step forwards even if I wanted to...

“Fucking hell…” I murmur to myself, collapsing onto the ground in exhaustion as my gaze wanders towards the water

Right now this is the safest water source I have, and even then it's filthy as all hell

I'll set up base here. If I rip apart some vines and collect a few thick branches, I'll be able to make a small basic tent to somewhat protect myself from the elements

Since I can, I'll try to refrain from drinking water for two days before succumbing on the third

I need to minimise water consumption because this water may just kill me if I'm unlucky

Or make me sick, which is just as bad

After a bit of rest, I manuevered my exhausted body towards the outer edges of the forest...

The banks of the river were completely devoid of trees. Which makes sense if you think about it, trees don't just spawn in out of nowhere, the seeds that find themselves near the banks probably get washed into the river everytime it rains

I collected all that I could

Vines, branches, Twigs, anything and everything

I made a few trips, doing what humans do best and destroying nature for our own personal gain

By the end of it I had a pile of rudimentary materials I could use to build both a fire and a base, whilst still having a bit of excess

It was midday when I woke up, and now it seems to be around evening

So judging from the sun's position... I've been here for about maybe 4 or 5 hours...?

I'm losing daylight. I need to get a fire going and give myself some light before it gets too dark to build shelter

I also don't know how cold the nights could get here, so it's best to stay warm

First I need string...

Taking a two rocks, I begin smashing them together

And as expected, it broke

"Fuck" I take another stone, laying it on the floor and hitting it with another stone. And yet again, it broke

I tried it a few more times... With no changes

I had tried a few different techniques, hitting it at an angle, using more force, using less, but it still broke

Think! Why is this happening?

"The energy isn't being dispersed, so the force travels through the entire stone, breaking it!" I come to a conclusion. Theres an easy solve to this. Holding a stone in the air, I smash it with another stone... And it worked!

Instead of being broken, it chipped!

If I continue to chip it I can get...

"Stone Tools Acquired!" I shout to myself. If this was gonna act like a Survival Game, then I'll treat it like one!

Its not sharp. Nope, not at all. But it'll work

Taking a vine, I begin to strip it, using the knife to cut along the grain, it's fibers being separated into a few thousand thin lines of thread "Reminds me of string cheese..."

Taking the fibers, I began to spin them in my palms, combining them together into a simple rope

Now I can get started on the fire...

Laying a few smaller sticks on top of eachother, I add some dry leaves. I tried to make it a small distance away from the river so it couldn't accidentally be extinguished, but also far enough from the forest to not cause a fire

Smokey the Bear would be proud...

I take some of the rope I made and wrapped them around both ends of a stick, creating a small bow, using my finger to pull on it's string

*THWING*

"Not enough to play Beethoven, but it'll do" I muse to myself before taking another stick, wrapping it in the bow's string. I take a rock and use it to push the twig into the leaves a bit, keeping it upright as I begin moving the bow left and right, causing the twig to rotate

I begin using all the power in my arms to move the bow, spinning the twig as fast as I could

"The gases released by the cellulose as it oxidised produces heat..."

My eyes glanced downwards to see the kindling lighting up slightly

"In other words..."

Bending down, I cover the fire from any harsh winds before blowing on it lightly to try and strengthen the flame

My efforts were not in vain, as soon after it went from a light red glow to a full on blazing fire

“Combustion!” I yell out as I jump up and pump my fist with vigour

Finally…

Now that I've got fire I can work into the night...

"Yay..." I let out a dejected cheer as I suddenly get reminded of the countless all-nighters I've pulled whilst coding

Thankfully the making of the shelter didn't take as long as I thought it would, so I managed to do so an hour or so after the sun actually set

It wasn't much, only a few thicker logs tied together with vine in a cone shape

But I was god damn proud of it

Wiping the sweat from my brows with my nonexistent sleeves, I hear a small-

*DING*

The sound makes me flinch backwards as I almost trip over straight into the fire, before regaining my balance and keeping myself upright

My eyes wander to the source of the noise as I look over to see a silvery screen, much like the one in my memory

[Level Up! 1 —> 2]

Wait, I have a status…?

Well I guess it makes enough sense considering that this IS supposed to be an RPG, no matter how much of a survival game it feels like

“Uh… Status?”

[Name: Darwin
Level: 2
Race: Human
Class: Scholar - Learning = EXP

-Stats*

Strength: 1 —> 4*
Agility: 1*
Dexterity: 1 —> 2*
Endurance: 1 —> 4*
Reflex: 1*
Intelligence: 1 —> 6*
Comprehension: 1 —> 7*
Magical Precision: N/A
Magical Power: N/A

Bonus Points: 1

-Skills

[UNIQUE - Genius: 200% Learning Speed + EXP Gain]

[UNIQUE - Unforgettable: What was once learned cannot be unlearned]

Skill Points: 1*]

Oh wow…

Some of these have apostrophes next to them, I wonder if I can…

Raising my finger, I click on the first star, next to the “Stats”, as a pop up window appears

[STATS

You have a variety of stats, all of them with a unique affect on your body or mind. Every time you level up you gain 1 Bonus Point that you can allocate towards any of your stats at will, with the exception of N/A Stats. You can also gain stats naturally through exercising the aspects which the stats encompass, however these naturally gained Stat points only get applied once you level up]

Oh… so if I understand this right, if I do a shit ton of weight training to increase my strength Stat, nothing will happen, however once I level up all the Stat points that I WOULD’VE gained get given all at once?

Does that mean it's impossible to physically strengthen myself without the help of levelling up...?

I swipe the pop up away before tapping on each of the individual stats

[STRENGTH

Encompassing the total amount of power your muscles can output]

Short and simple, just how I like it. Pretty self explanatory anyway

[AGILITY

Encompassing the explosive power of your muscles, your ability to go from 0 to 60, as well as your speed]

[DEXTERITY

Encompassing movements that require finesse or control of the physical body, as well as flexibility. Crucial to the art of crafting]

[ENDURANCE

Encompassing the density of your muscles, your ability to take a hit, as well as your stamina]

[REFLEX

Encompassing your ability to react to the external world, as well as your ability to detect danger]

[INTELLIGENCE

Encompassing your knowledge of the world around you as well as the speed at which you can perform mental tasks]

[COMPREHENSION

Encompassing your ability to grasp new concepts]

I know I said I like the descriptions short and simple, but that last one is WAY too vague…

Either way all of these seem incredibly useful… But considering my current situation Endurance is the most important thing I can raise. The more damage I can take the bigger the chance I can survive the wilderness

I raise my Endurance from 4 to 5… and don't feel any noticeable difference

Alright, the last one I've got is Skill Points…

[SKILL POINTS

Skill Points are used to either enhance your existing skills or gain new ones. The skills available for you to gain are related to your actions, personality and stats

Available Skills: Craftsmanship, Survivalism, Observation]

Alright… judging from the names, every single one of these could be incredibly useful to the situation...

Craftsmanship is most probably a skill to help me build things

Observation seems helpful, and may allow me to find out if some of this unknown foliage is edible and such

Survivalism however… I'm not sure, the name gives too little information to invest in it...

Right now the most useful to me is Craftsmanship

With it, I can create a variety of objects that will help my survival…

A bit sad that there aren't any combat abilities but that makes sense, after all I haven't fought anything since I came here

Ugh… I'm tired

My legs feel like they're about to give out any moment now, and my arms feel like spaghetti

Tapping on Craftsmanship, I look over the contents of my new skill

[Craftsmanship: Allows the user to speed up the creation of items and structures they have already made by 200%]

Okay, so I'm twice as fast at building things… I've already built!?

Fucking hell, there's no way I just picked up a trash skill…

If it sped up creation all around, I would've been okay, but only for things I've already done, it's just useless!

What's the point of building a thousand more shitty shelters like this one if it's only mildly faster!?

Calm down Victor, it's fine… I'll have plenty more opportunities to gain more skills later on…

“I need to sleep…” I mumble to myself, before entering my tiny shelter. I should've made my character shorter, it's an incredibly tight fit inside of this shitty tent…

I had to curl myself up in a ball like a cat to even attempt to keep my entire body inside

I close my eyes and shiver slightly, as a light breeze manages to squirm itself into my shelter

It's barely even working… But at least nobody will be able to see my naked ass hanging out with it here…

The fire crackled with a rhythmic intensity that helped both warm me up and lull me to sleep

Author's Note

Second chapter, or first REAL chapter. It's gonna be a while before he meets any other species so please be patient 😭

Chapter 2: Pottery 101 With Victor

{DAY 2}

It was cold

Really cold

And uncomfortable as well

The sounds of sticks hitting each other had awoken me from my slumber

I immediately tried to stretch my body out, before my foot came in contact with my makeshift shelter and I came to realise that I was still stuck in this shitty Survival-RPG

The fire was beginning to die out as I crawled myself out of the shelter and stood up, now fully limbering up

Putting on… Well, nothing since I don't have any clothes, I walked over to the river and washed my face with it, trying my absolute hardest not to allow any liquid to enter my parched mouth

“Two days till I die of dehydration” I think out loud, and my stomach grumbled in response

I'm hungry, but I can endure this for a much longer period than thirst

“My best bet at the moment is to try and learn and build stuff in order to level up and get a skill that's actually useful…” If I make a few more shelters, I could edge out a level up…

Though I’m not entirely sure, after all my class was Scholar. Which means “Learning = EXP”

I'm assuming that means I get Experience points for learning new information, which means I need to find information, comprehend that information and use it

“I guess it's about time to address the Water issue…” I say, staring at the river and grinning “Which means it's time to try my hand at pottery!”

I've always wanted to try working with clay!

Well properly, the only experience I've ever had with it was when I was a kid and we made clay bowls in school

I mean, I did buy some clay when I first moved out, but I've was so preoccupied with work that I never got the chance to use it, and it was dried out by the time I did have time

Taking a few twigs from the pile, I chucked it into the flame to keep it from burning out

I take a deep breath, before I walk forwards, bend over at the river yet again, using my fingers to press on the sides of the bank

I kept pressing on it, till I found something different from the typical mud feeling

It had a kind of texture similar to plastic but I knew what it was

“Clay is a natural material that's surprisingly easy to find. There are two main types but the one I've got is called Secondary Clay. Composed mostly of Feldspar, a mineral that makes up nearly 60% of the planet” I think aloud, before correcting myself “Or rather, 60% of Earth… I’m half assuming I'm in another world. I mean it would be dumb to think I'm still on Earth when the RPG had fantasy creatures as part of its race list. If I'm my RPG character, then it's not a stretch to think I'm in the RPG world as well”

Scooping up some clay, I find a relatively flat rock nearby and place it there

I take a few more scoops till I had a relatively big mound of clay

“The first thing to do is remove anything that's been mixed in” I say, spreading out the clay as thinly as I could on the slab. Picking out the small pebbles and stones that soon showed themself

After the tedious process, I was left with much less Clay than I began with…

“Time to do that a hundred more times…” I groan and repeat the process a few more times. Eventually getting a sizable amount of clay, a little more than i had without removing the stones

“And your done! Clay is pretty easy to make… Well if you're lucky. Which I was. It's hard to find naturally processed clay, and initially I was just looking for some clay stones I could process myself. There are two ways to process clay, the dry way and the wet way. But we don't need to worry about that since I seemed to be pretty blessed…” I say, stretching my arms as I hear a few cracks

“Now it's time for the shaping. It's gonna be pretty hard to time crunch and learn how to work clay in two days…” I murmured, before smiling to myself “Or it would be if not for the fact that my frequent Internet deep dives have taught me most of the basic theory… Combined with the [Genius] Skill, it may be a little more than plausible”

I take a deep breath, cracking my knuckles as I prepare for the gruelling work of using clay

Making the pots isn't the hard part, after all I don't give a damn how it looks, as long as it can hold water so I can purify it, it's fine

But the kilning process… Doing it over an open fire in these conditions is going to be damn near impossible

Which means I need to give myself as many attempts as possible

Once I figure out the trick to it, I can simply repeat it on a bigger scale

I've got a limited amount of clay, but I can always make more if I run out. So the best thing to do is this!

I had quickly finished making a small crude bowl out of clay

Again, I go through the tedious process of repeating myself. Making as many small bowls as fast as I could

To reduce the chances of cracks whilst putting it over the fire, they need to be completely dry and without air bubbles

If I make it about a quarter inch thick then it'll have an even lower chance of cracking

After about an hour, I had managed to create 10 bowls, with some leftover clay to spare

I had also made it much faster than initially expected…

Oh! Craftsmanship?!

I might actually survive! I completely misjudged how useful this ability really is!

Maybe it's not a trash skill after all!

My hands were completely muddy, but I couldn't care less at the moment

Gently dropping one of the bowls into the fire, I wait

“Sadly, most of the process is just waiting for the bowls to actually fully harden…” I say to myself, taking a stick and balancing it on the top of my lip

“Might as well forage some food…” Picking myself up, I walk over to the river and wash my hands, before taking a rather thick branch and wrapping vines around it's top, drenching my hand and the bottom of the stick with water before bringing it up to the flame

The vines will act as a conduit to make a very rudimentary torch, and the “handle” being drenched means the flame wouldn't spread, avoiding a nasty burn mark

Or another nasty burn mark, the character spawned in with a shit ton of them to begin with

Now I've got a torch though, I can walk and forage inside of the forest easier!

Holding it out in front of me, I meander my way over to the forest

I made sure not to go too deep before I crouch down and begin picking up every mushroom I could

It's hard to differentiate them in the dark, even with the torch. Plus fire is a dangerous thing, if I bring it too close to the mushroom, something could catch on fire and I'd burn to death

After a few minutes, I had an armful of different fungi

Dropping them onto the ground, I sat with my legs crossed and began to separate the mushrooms between edible and poisonous

“Boletus Edulis, Edible. Pleurocybella porrigens, Poisonous. Amanita pantherina, Poisonous. Galerina marginata, Poisonous. Auricularia Judae, Edible. Clitocybe rivulosa, Poisonous. Agrocybe Cylindrica, Edible. Unknown, not gonna risk it. Pholiota Mutabilis, Edible. Agaricus Bisporus, Edible. Conocybe filaris, Poisonous. Amanita virosa, Poisonous. Amanita phalloides, Poisonous. Cortinarius rubellus, Poisonous. Agaricus Campestris, Edible…”

I continued this process, leaving the edible ones alone whilst throwing the bad ones off somewhere behind me

Whilst humans CAN spend three entire weeks without food, at the end of those three weeks that human isn't even gonna be able to lift a pencil. Let alone try working towards their own survival, or run away from a dangerous beast if need be

“It's only logical to keep myself fed…” As I say those words, my stomach rumbles loudly “... Yep, logic, no other reason…”

Picking up the pace, I take the edible mushrooms and wash them in the river, before skewering them on a stick

“Mushroom Kebab Acquired!” I say, before jumping up and holding the kebab above my head like Link after obtaining the Master Sword “Do do do dooo~!”

I make my way to the fire

“I should probably disclose how most pieces of pottery take up to 12 hours for basic firing…” I reveal, poking the clay bowl with my skewer “This might take around 4-5 hours because it's so small… I spent about 2 and half hours foraging and separating, so we're about halfway there…”

My eyes widen in surprise as the bowl clinked

Quickly, I use the kebab to lift up and roll the bowl out of the flame

My eyebrows furrowed in confusion, as I saw the bowl's colour…

“It's done…?” I mumble before my eyes light up “CRAFTSMANSHIP!?”

I was reminded of that time when I was a kid in art class, where we were tasked with making clay bowls…

“It encompasses Pre-RPG items…?” There was a stupid grin across my face as a sweat droplet ran down my forehead

I quickly remember that I was cooking my dinner when the aroma of cooked mushroom assaulted me

I raise my skewer, turning it as I continue to let both sides cook properly

It didn't take long for it to finish, as I bit into it, I ended up doing the “Hashashash” thing when somethings too hot for you

I patted my near full stomach as I lay on my back on the grassy floor

I let out a small burp, before sitting up

Enough time has passed for the bowl to finish cooling off

I walk over to it, picking it up gingerly, testing to see if it would burn my skin

“So the cooling process is also sped up…? How does that even work?”

Picking up the bowl, I toss the next clay bowl into the fire and fill this one with water

Making my way over to the fire, I build a small contraption to hold the bowl over the fire

I was still a bit peckish, so I took some leftover mushrooms that didn't fit on the skewer into the bowl, making a kind of shitty soup

It's more like just water and mushroom than soup to be honest

And after the small stew finished boiling and cooled down enough for me to eat, that's exactly what it tasted like

“Blegh” I took a bite of a mushroom. It's texture was half decent but it just tasted a bit weird whilst soggy

Thankfully I was hungry enough to just stomach it and eat

“Water and Food… I no longer have a time limit on my actions…” I muse to myself “Which means I can start on long term projects like clothes and a proper home…”

“Right now there are two ways I can make clothing. Either leather or Vines. I'll set up some basic traps to get an animal I can skin, and I'll make some vine clothing whilst I'm waiting…” I sip some of the water from the bowl “It would be easier if I had cotton…”

I stop drinking as I begin to think

“I should also start on making the tools for Iron…” I wipe my mouth and look up at the sky. It was just around about mid evening “More than anything I need to level up as much as possible…”

“Speaking of, why haven't I yet? I mean I guess it's because I haven't really learnt anything, I've just been utilising information I already had…” I yawn and stretch out my back a bit “Either way I’m gonna get started on the traps before going to bed… I'm stupidly tired…”

Quickly finishing the rest of my “soup” I head over to my stash of materials, taking up my sharpened stone and making more rope

I made as much as I could, since it was basically just a better version of vines that I could make at basically no expense

It took a while, but I had managed to turn all my vines into its basic threads. Only turning about half into rope, leaving the rest as threads

The first thing I do with all this rope is tie some of it around my waist. Placing the stone knife in it. I tied quite a few ropes around my waist in case I was ever in an emergency that required it

After all, rope is probably the most versatile object I have at my disposal. With it I can make a bow drill to start a fire, set traps to catch food, use it to climb trees and escape danger. And it's also the easiest to carry, as well as making some other small objects easier to carry…

All in all, it's just something that's handy to carry at all times

Taking the other half, I wrap it around a stick before submerging it in the river

“If we let a plant stay submerged for long periods, the cellulose within it breaks down, making it softer and more pliable. This is called retting, and I'd say it'd finish in… A few days? Maybe less since it's under constant flowing water” Taking the rope, my homemade torch, and the last of the mushroom, I make my way into the dense canopy of the forest

After making my way through a decent chunk of the forest, I stab my torch into the ground and set the trap

It was a pretty simple tension trap, that would hopefully wrap around the leg of whatever animal gets caught in there and lifting them into the air for me to either kill, or befriend if sentient

It was now early into the night. Meaning that i should probably go to bed

I manage to find my way back rather easily

Feeding a few sticks to the flame and rescuing my second dirt bowl, I squish myself into the tent and let myself drift away into sleep

Author's Note

I'm gonna be honest with you, some of the shit about clay is just plain bullshit

Just it would be physically impossible for him to find clay, let it dry, process it, shape it, put it over an open fire, watch it cook for 12 straight hours to make sure it doesn't crack and then finally wait for the water to boil and drink it, well not physically impossible, but impossible for him to do accurately, so instead he found "Naturally Processed Clay"

I also made it work on the first try, but in reality he would have to go through ten to even a hundred different variations before getting something usuable

And, again, keeping it a hundred with all yall, I am NOT a good enough writer to yap about that and make it not boring 😭

I still hope you find this chapter enjoyable, even if there is some misinformation sprinkled within it

PS: To the four people who disliked this story. I hope you all find happiness and love within your life. I hope you get a promotion at work. I hope that everything works out for you. I have no enemies (except for Hasbro. Hate them mfs. All my homies hate Hasbro)

Chapter 3: A Visit from the Local Predator

{DAY 3}

“I looked her up and down and said ‘Girl you looking fine’~” I sang to myself in order to stave off any sense of boredom as I worked on a big pot made of clay “And then she went and pulled out a penis twice the size of mine~”

“I think that's finished…” Murmuring to myself, I stop humming, wiping away some sweat before standing up and admiring it from afar “Not too shabby if I do say so myself!”

It looked atrocious

But it also looked like it worked, so there's that

I had a huge pile of sticks next to it, a new pile I had gathered earlier this morning with the express purpose of burning to fire up my new pot

This one's gonna take a while…

The big pot was a little above my knees in height, so it could hold a lot

“Once I finish this, Craftsmanship will come in clutch and speed up any more of these…” Taking my torch, I light up the pile as it burns with an intensity much greater than my other fire

The fire was powerful, rising up to around my belly button easily, though it'll probably take a lot of wood to continue burning…

This one I had placed a little closer to the river, just in case I even needed to put it out in an emergency

I feel a shiver run down my back when the sound of a low, prolonged growl pierced my ears

I turn my head to the origin of the sound, to see two green orbs in the shadows, hidden from direct view

I could vaguely make out the shape of a wolf, but it seemed more angular…?

I held the torch out in my hand as the heat of the blazing fire behind me causes sweat to run down my back

If it pounces me, then I doubt I could hold onto my torch for a counter attack…

The thought made me a little more than scared, as I pull one of the few emergency ropes I had tied around my waist and wrap it around both my hand and the branch to stop it from escaping my grip

The wolf had made a few steps forwards and snarled at me, now devoid of any shade, I could make out exactly what the creature was

It was a wolf, I knew that, but it looked to be… Made of sticks?

How does that work…? Is it camouflage of some kind?

Whatever, I've got an advantage here

All beings have an instinctive fear of fire, and I can use this to ward away the canine

Holding the torch out in front of me was kind of tiring, especially right after I just finished moving around a shit ton of clay in order to build that pot

I can't drop it though

The moment I do, I’m dead

Waving the torch in front of me, I take a few small steps forwards

Showing your not scared will make them think you're also a predator, and considering how this one seems to be alone, they wouldn't risk fighting me

Thank god I made myself tall, the size difference between us definitely helped.

Though if it was as strong as an Earth wolf then it would absolutely demolish me. It was probably about my height if it were on its hindlegs, but I only looked bigger simply because I'm bipedal

No matter what, this is a wild animal, abuse the instincts that are instilled in its head to your own advantage

The wolf got lower to the ground, and seemed to be preparing a pounce

I took a deep breath and reflexively moved my foot back, before I was reminded by the presence of the fire with a small scathing burn

I grit my teeth at my idiocy and immediately flinch a bit, though I try to keep a level head as my foot returns to its original position faster than I could even register

Surprisingly, even though it burned, it didn't feel as if I just stepped a bit too close to an open flame, more like I accidentally put my foot on a radiator for too long

Is that the Endurance or the adrenaline?

Maybe a mix of both if I'm honest

But I just thought of an idea…

if I can get the wolf to accidentally jump straight into the fire I could quite possibly kill them

Maybe I should've put that Bonus Point in reflex…

The entirety of my being was thinking one word

“Survive”

I could run away, but the second I do it would easily outpace me, the only option I can think of right now is to stand my ground

I saw a small twitch in its leg as I preemptively jump to the side, as the wooden creature lands straight onto the fire

Surprisingly enough, the creature was caught ablaze… It's not camouflage, it's LITERALLY made of wood…

Why did it catch fire so fast? Unless it was covered in lighter fluid, it should've taken a little longer than instantaneously

Even more, the heat of the flame seemed to increase ten times over. It felt as it I was even in the proximity of it, my skin would melt off into a drippy goo

I mean I get the fire was hot, but it wasn't THAT hot

And what's more, the fire wasn't normal…

It glowed a bright, blazing green

Copper sulfate maybe…?

Whatever, no time to think!

The wolf howls in pain in the flame as it tries to make its way to the water, however I dash forwards and swing the branch as hard as I could at its muzzle, keeping it away from the river

The beast seemed to be quite fragile, as its jaw flies off, still on fire

I need to take care of that soon so as not to cause a forest fire…

Wait what? The second the wolf’s jaw was removed it began acting like a regular fire, Heck, it died down at a surprisingly fast rate

Come on Victor! Later! Think about it later when you're not in danger!

Holding the torch with both hands, I swing yet again, taking advantage of its weakness and taking it apart, piece by piece. Strike by strike

After an unspecified amount of time, I stopped swinging

My chest heaved with every breath, as my grip loosened from the branch, it still stuck to my hand because of the rope

I fell back onto my ass. Right now I felt a thousand times more tired than I was any of the past two nights combined…

I was still hyper aware of the location of the wolf's pieces. I watched as they lay still…

NOT!

Soon after it had been disassembled, and entirely stopped being on fire, the pieces began to rustle, before being dragged together

The eyes of the creature began to shine a dim green yet again

My own eyes widen as I bite down on the rope keeping my hand to the torch and throw it into the fire

This creature has already proven to be supernatural in essence with how it's moving despite all the pieces just loosely being stuck together

And the existence of magic is already confirmed through the “Magical Precision” and “Magical Power” Stats!

If the pieces are trying to come back together, that only means that it's trying to revive itself somehow!

With both hands free, I scrambled forwards and picked up as many pieces as I could, deliberately leaving around about half on the ground

Ripping another one of the plentiful ropes off my waist, I tie the sticks to the tree

With my back to the sticks, I scour the ground, seeing as the other pieces begin to mysteriously slide their way over to the rest, and the ones stuck to the tree try to break through their holds

I pick up any of the pieces that scuttle their way over, before getting all of them, tieing them to another tree a good distance away

I watch as the dismembered wooden wolf tries to recombine in vain

“I can't believe I just did that…”

*DING*

[Level Up! 2 —> 6]

Wait, why did I level up…?

Can I also gain EXP from fighting? That makes sense…

Wait a second it might just be from me learning though…

Within this encounter, I learned about a predator within the forest, that the predator was made of a type of magic wood that burned green, and that said predator could quite possibly rebuild themselves after being torn apart…

Fighting is learning… good to know

I mean I was gonna do this anyway, but this gives me an even bigger reason to dissect this beast…

How does this reassembling thing work anyway?

Magic would be the easy answer, but it may be a little deeper than that

And my gut is telling me it's related to its eyes

After all, they started glowing again when it started to reform…

Walking over to the tree with the top half of the wolf’s head, I reach inside the eye socket, searching for… Something. I'm not quite sure at the moment

My hands feel something squishy and spherical

I pluck it out and observe it, a small amount of resistance stopping me from doing so

I frown and pull a little harder, hearing a quiet snap before I pulled it out into my palm

From the looks of it, it was a gemstone…?

It shone and was transparent like one…

No, it's squishy so it's organic… But it also had a texture akin to wooden planks…

Interesting

“I'm assuming it's an eye but, how did it manage to glow?” I murmur to myself, before taking out my stone knife from my waist-ropes

It sliced through it like jelly, which is surprising considering this knife is barely even considered sharp

The insides didn't show anything new

I did however hear a quiet howl from the tree as the sticks began to shudder, still attempting to escape but now very obviously much weaker

“So this is its…? I guess heart would be the best word…” I thought aloud, walking back and reaching in the other socket, pulling out the other green orb

I cut into this one too, as the pieces stop moving entirely

[Level Up! 6 —> 8]

So I DO get levels for killing things

Okay, so either I need to learn a shit ton more, or kill a shit ton more

I mean I'm fine with killing but only if they attack me first

Or aren't sentient

Right now learning is the only thing I can do

And hey, I'm already Level 8

Which means I should probably check my stats and such

[Name: Darwin
Level: 8
Race: Human
Class: Scholar - Learning = EXP

-Stats

Strength: 4 —> 6
Agility: 1 —> 4
Dexterity: 2 —> 9
Endurance: 5 —> 10
Reflex: 1 —> 3
Intelligence: 6 —> 13
Comprehension: 7 —> 14
Magical Precision: N/A
Magical Power: N/A

Bonus Points: 6

-Skills

[UNIQUE - Genius: 200% Learning Speed + EXP Gain]

[UNIQUE - Unforgettable: What was once learned cannot be unlearned]

[Craftsmanship: Allows the user to speed up the creation of items and structures they have already made by 200%]

Skill Points: 6*]

First I should probably even out my stats a bit

Normally I go for all in builds when I play RPGs, but it's way too risky when I can't just save scum…

I raise both Reflex and Agility up to 7

Now skills…

I wonder what's available after such eventful days

[Available Skills: Observation, Survivalism, Enhanced Senses, Pragmatism, Danger Detection, Spatial Awareness, Mark Territory]

Okay…

7 Skills, 6 Skill Points…

First of all, I'm going to invest a Skill Point into Craftsmanship, after all it's been a much better skill than I initially presumed

[Craftsmanship: Allows the user to speed up the creation of items and structures they have already made by 200%. All items you've previously made have a 100% success rate of being crafted]

Now THAT’S what I’m talking about!

Now for my new skills…

Observation is a must have

Survivalism is still vague, but I've got points to spare so might as well get it

Danger Detection or Enhanced Senses…

I think Danger Detection has more use at the moment

Pragmatism sounds promising

And my last skill will be…

Mark Territory?

Maybe… But if it's a skill that forces me to piss where I want to claim I'm going to kill myself

Whilst this IS an RPG, it seems more like a clusterfuck of a bunch of different genres

There's a chance it may contain civilisation simulator elements as well, and this could the beginnings of it. Also, you normally get bonuses when within your own territory, right? Home field advantage and all that

Plus, again, I've got points to spare

Not really but whatever

I took the skills and looked through their effects

[Observation: Gives you a short description of anything you want by using your own knowledge]

Eh…?

So I basically don't get any new information…?

Isn't that really shitty?

Stop. You've done this before, it's probably going to be unexpectedly useful, like Craftsmanship

[Survivalism: 200% Crafting speed for items if you use tools you've made yourself]

I probably should've picked this one with my first level up

Because in my shoes, this is basically just a plain 200% increase in everything's crafting speed

It's fine, what's done is done. If it stacks with Craftsmanship, then would my crafting speed be 400% faster…?

[Danger Detection: Gives you a subtle instinctual warning whenever your life is threatened]

Amazing. Yes please. Why can't every skill be like this?

The fact that it says subtle makes me doubt it a bit, but as long as I stay vigilant, it'll be alright

[Pragmatism: Removes all pain and emotions once a day for 1 minute, allowing you to think clearly without distractions]

Good! Great, even. Pain and emotions can be a horrible inhibitor in combat scenarios

I know that from the wolf I killed. If it launched itself at me instead of the water I would've most definitely died

Also, thrice in the fight I got distracted by questions due to my curiosity. If I was facing a more competent enemy, they would've taken advantage of those moments when I lost focus in order to end my life…

[Mark Territory: Select a small area as your “Territory”. Animals with territorial instinct such as wolves, will avoid entering this area. You will always know where your territory is]

Nice~

I don't know what to say other than… Nice~

Let's start with Mark Territory

Now… How do I activate skills?

“Mark Territory…?”

[Set Starting Coordinates]

Okay, that actually worked…

I moved myself a little into the forest, near the edges of where I would consider my home base

“Here?”

[Set End Coordinates]

I walked myself over to the other end

I looked behind me to see a green square behind me, it's top right corner located where I was previously standing mere moments ago, it's bottom left corner where I was currently

I keep walking. After a few more steps, the square turned red

So this is the size limit of my territory?

I moved back to where I was before, and the square turned green yet again

The territory only spanned from the start of the forest to the river, but I made sure it encompassed my fire, house and resource pools

“Here”

I was fine with it.

If I level up the skill I could probably make it bigger, but I'm fine with just this

Because the second effect of the skill was more important to me

It's now physically impossible for me to get lost from home base… Hooray!

Now I can venture deeper into the forest without fear

Which is an incredible development, since more than anything I need to search for a certain type of rock

Rather, a certain metal with a certain property

One that's imperative to the creation of Iron

That being… Magnets!

“Now that I can find my way back, I can safely search for anything I need. And if I'm really lucky, I'll find a friendly civilization that'll accept me…” I sit myself down, my legs crossed beneath me as I bite my thumb and frown. My eyes seemed to drift towards the remnants of the previously living magic wood wolf

Eventually my curiosity gets the best of me

But first I should finish what I was doing before before I was interrupted

That being putting this big ass pot over a fire to finish it off!

I take a deep breath, before heading to the pot and lifting

I strained as hard as I could

But it seems I didn't need to, I only had to use around half of my full power to pick it up off the ground

I guess that's what a strength increase does to you…

Right now I assume my physical stats are about the same as an adult male who semi-frequently visits the gym

I place it above the flame

“This one's gonna take about 12 hours… but thanks to Survivalism, those 12 hours are split into 6!” still a long time, but more bearable

I was making this as a sort of backpack anyway. If there's one thing I'm lacking, it's materials

If I find some sea water I can get seashells and create Calcium Carbonate, which will lead to soap and mortar. Both incredibly useful and one of them needed for iron making

But…

Now for something I'm actually excited for!

I have a completely new species right in front of me

And even more than that, it’s also magic!

I wonder how its insides look…

Is it made entirely of wood? Or is it just an exoskeleton of some kind?

Picking up a piece, from what I could tell something akin to a femur

I've got a few pieces so I can afford to be rough

Using my knee, I snap the stick in half

Or I would've

“¡JODER!” I swear, falling backwards and holding onto my lower thigh

The stick was much harder than I initially expected

It felt like a solid piece of iron

The throbbing begins to weaken slightly as I take a breath. Taking a nearby heavy looking rock, I lift it up and smash it into the centre of the stick

There was no damage

Taking a few more breaths, I begin doing as cavemen do, and smashed

It took me a few minutes before even something akin to a crack appeared

A small chunk flew off

Instantly, the smell of rotting meat caused me to gag and lurch over

It hasn't been dead long enough for it to rot this bad…

Which means this meat inside has been dead WAY before I killed the beast...

“So it's not a beast…” My eyes light up and look inside, seeing a thin, bony leg. Wolf leg. Regular wolf

There was grey fur, thin and sparse like the head of an old man

Taking a smaller, regular stick, I poke the skin and the smell grows even stronger

*COUGH COUGH*

I quickly pinch my nose, trying to impede the pungent stench as best I could

That small poke was enough to absolutely shred the skin

My mind races through hundreds of ideas and theories as to why this was the case, before I landed on a single one

“A parasite…?” I mumble, my voice a bit nasally from me defending my olfactory senses

“My current theory is that this is some sort of magic parasite that encases wolves in some sort of magically enhanced or petrified wood before using the corpse as a host…” It was a barebones theory

Really barebones, it didn't explain why the torso was made of a collection of sticks and not just one big piece of wood, but, again, it was my best theory

Whatever. I wish I had a microscope or a few more tools… or a few hundred more samples…

Or I could watch how one of these creatures are born, or whatever the equivalent would be for such a being…

I stare at the corpse for a few moments. My nose had finally acclimated to the smell and I felt my eyes soften a bit

Digging a small hole, just big enough for the rotting flesh stick, I place it in there and bury it

Getting on my knees and face the carcass, putting my palms together, closing my eyes

“Paz a su alma… ” I put my hands together for a short prayer upon its soul

At least the manners my abuela drilled into me haven't eroded since I came here

*DING*

[Level Up! 8 —> 9]

I ignore the notification, before getting up and ordering my thoughts

I've got a few hours of daylight left, maybe 5 or 6? By the time I go to bed the big ass pot should be ready for me to use

Next thing to do is check my trap!

And maybe set up a few more deeper in the forest

Now that I don't have to be worried about getting lost, I'm much more free

“Now that I think about it, I'm just as swamped in work as I was back on Earth…” I speak absentmindedly, shivering slightly from a rather cold breeze “... I miss L.A…”

Taking my arm and stretching it across my chest

“Huh…?” I realise that my arm was stupidly flexible

Reaching down, I managed to touch my toes, and even further. My entire palm was place on the ground with my legs completely straight before I felt even the slightest bit strained

I didn't realise a Dexterity boost would make me this flexible…

This is good though! It's stupidly easy to roll your ankle and incapacitate your walking ability, this'll help fight against that from happening!

After completing the stretch, Ilifted myself up and let out a breath

It was as if decades of pain and stiffness were released in an instant

If I was any less of a manly man, I would've moaned

WHICH I DEFINITELY DIDN'T AND IF ANYBODY TOLD YOU I DID, THEY'RE LYING

I begin my trip over to the trap. I had semi-memorised where I had put it

Took me a bit of searching, and almost accidentally triggering it a few times, to find where I put it though

I didn't really expect anything to be caught in it

And, yep, nothing

This time I ventured a little deeper into the forest

The mushrooms hadn't been touched so that's a good sign that my trap isn't ineffective

It took a few hours but I sporadically placed down more tension traps, each with a few mushrooms

But as I was walking back, a certain mushroom caught my eye

It was a mushroom looking mushroom. Like, if I had told you to imagine a mushroom, this is what you would think of

A pointed orangish cap that turned brown the lower you got, and a thick white stem

“Psilocybe Semilanceata…” I stood up and began walking away “Edible but most definitely NOT useful…”

Maybe after I had a house, a stable source of food, and somebody to try it with, I would be the tiniest bit inclined but at the moment I'm not even gonna touch it…

I stop walking and turn back, plucking it from the ground

“But then again… Who says I have to be the one to ingest it…?” One thing I realised from my encounter with the wood parasite, is that a variety of unknown, magical species lived in this forest. And I probably look like a tasty snack for all them

Humans weren't born with claws or sharp teeth

What we did have, however, is ingenuity

And I’m pretty sure I could coat some weapons in this to give me an edge during a fight. But I'll have to concentrate it's juices, because right now it would take about 30ish minutes for the plant to kick in, and that's a stupidly unreasonable amount of time whilst fighting

Either way, it's probably gonna come in handy

Walking out of the forest, I find that I still had daylight to burn

“There isn't really anything to do…” I say, looking back at the collection of dead parasite

I should probably put that away for when I can do some in depth research

I looked down next to the fire, where I had placed one of the green hemispheres

I an instant, a tingling sensation scattered across my back, as the hairs on my nape raised themselves to the sky

I didn't quite realise it at first, but as I stepped away from the camp to put away the Psilocybe Semilanceata I had gathered, I felt it physically weaken, which alerted me of it's presence

I took a few more steps, dropping the mushrooms, before backtracking

Playing a game of hot and cold, I managed to pinpoint where exactly the feeling was coming from

“Huh…?” The closer I walked, the more intense the feeling was, but it’s peak was only as strong as a small nagging feeling

I picked up the eyeballs, the origin of the feeling, and then it left. Like a mirage

“What the…” My eyes widened, “Danger Detection?”

I brought the orbs closer to the fire and feeling came back

Well now that I think about it, the parasite died after having its eyes removed and cut

Is it possible that it's some kind of battery? I mean that's what would make the most sense

If that's the truth, that'd also explain the green fire

If I’m right then that means the energy within these balls flowed through the body of the creature. If we consider how the fire got put out when the pieces were removed, maybe the sticks are naturally inflammable, but the energy from these eyes are what made it catch on fire

If it caught on fire so fast just from the energy being flowed through, I can only imagine what would've happened if the source of the energy was put in fire

Probably a life threatening explosion judging from how my Danger Sense reacted…

So I've basically got a can full of butane in the palms of my hand

It might be weaker though considering how it's cut in half, I'm assuming the energy is leaking out from it at the moment…

“This… could be amazing…” My brain starts to swirl with ideas

Charcoal, at best, can only burn at around 700 degrees, but iron needs a minimum of 1500 degrees to melt. However if I use this, I may be able to artificially increase the heat of the flame to get myself some iron tools…

I place both halves of the eyeballs in my tent carefully

Trying not to startle them and somehow give myself an early death

“Status”

I won't bore you with information you already know, but the level up had turned my Intelligence from 13 to 16, and my Comprehension from 14 to 17

My stats were starting to look quite nice…

I'll add another Stat to Endurance because, well, you can never go wrong with more Endurance

I watched as the number rose from 10 to 11

“First time in a while that I've had… Free time…” I look over the forest and roll up my imaginary sleeves “Might as well stock up on food and materials”

And so I did just that

Wood, mushrooms, vines and my greatest discovery, BERRIES!

“Rubus chamaemorus” I say, washing one of them and raising them up to my eye “Also known as Cloudberries”

It was a sunset like fruit, with a yellow-to-orange gradient and a resemblance to raspberries, which made sense considering they’re both from the same genus (that being Rubus)

I plopped one of them into my mouth. It was soft, juicy, and fairly tart. It's taste is best described as a mix between raspberries and red currants, with a hint of floral sweetness

All in all, yummers

And good for you too!

“Cloudberries are high in vitamin C, providing 176% of your daily needs in 3.5 ounces, or 100 grams for those who don't use freedom units. They’re also high in ellagitannins, which are powerful antioxidants that can help protect your cells from free radical damage” I said, placing another one in my mouth, relishing the sweetness. It was softer than a raspberry, and fitted my taste more “What’s more, according to animal and test-tube studies, ellagitannins may have anticancer effects, boost your immune system, and fight inflammation”

I had finished up with all my time

It's night, and that pot should be done by now

I only had a handful of Cloudberries, so I just decided to enjoy it, savouring each one until I was done

I wasn't really all that hungry, but a hearty mushroom meal will help me sleep easier

Taking a bowl of river water, I poured it over the fire with the pot, now letting it cool

I filled it with more water, placing it above the fire to boil, taking a skewer, cooking it and scarfing it down

Afterwards, I lay inside my shelter and fall asleep

Author's Note

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEXTRA long chapter to make up for the fact I didn't post for a few days

ALSO SOUTH KOREA ENTERED MARTIAL LAW!? AND THEN EXITED IT!? FIVE HOURS AFTER!?

Bro this is wild 😭

By the way Y'all wanna know what's wild? The headteacher of a school in my city was revealed to a be a disciple of Diddy. And that same day my old English teacher was caught by a student smoking weed with his goth girlfriend out in city centre. Bro December is only 7 days long and it's still one of the craziest months this year...

2025 will be my year fr

Chapter 4: Exploration!

{DAY 4}

My hand was out in front of me, reaching out for the roof of the shelter.

Water streaming down to my ears.

My breathing was much faster than it had ever been before.

Slowly, my hand descended to my face, rubbing my eyes.

Slowly, with a few breaths, I managed to go back to normal.

“First dream in years…” I sighed, “And it Had to be a nightmare?”

I couldn't even remember what it was about, which was probably the most fucked up part.

Wiping away the tears, I groaned. I stayed laying down for a bit before I was ready to leave.

Getting up, I exited the shelter and stretched out my weary body.

It seems I've been doing that a lot more recently, probably because sleeping on the floor is NOT good for your body.

My eyes squinted as I looked up at the morning sun rising just above the horizon. The sky was painted a beautiful shade of gold, pink and orange.

First time in a while that I've woken up this early…

“Well whatever, today's supposed to be an exciting day,” I wake over to the river, freshening up a bit by splashing water on my face, before slapping myself awake, “It's time for me to start exploring after all!”

Heading over to the big pot, my fingers caressed it to check the heat.

“It's done cooling down…” Taking a deep breath, I flipped it over before laying it onto the ground.

Making a few ropes, I wrapped it all around the pot, covering every inch of it.

“That’ll make it a bit more resistant to impacts…” The rope will act as a minor cushion to protect it from any small impacts that would otherwise chip or crack it.

Taking another rope, I began to wrap it around it in an X shape, leaving a bit of slack so I could put my arms around it.

After I was done, I wrapped some rope around my torso to secure it a bit more

“Backpack Acquired!” I hopped up and down a bit, the heft of the pot making me stumble backwards, but I caught myself swiftly.

It stuck to me pretty well, I made this pot a bit thicker than the rest in order to make it the slightest bit more durable.

“Though I'm probably gonna get rope burns if I wear it for too long…” Whatever, it's fine. Now it's time to begin exploring.

I didn't take anything with me apart from my clay bowl, after all I could always just forage for more food or make more rope.

I sighed to myself. I didn't really have much and this showed it.

I stared at the green eyeballs, before taking one of them with me in case of emergencies. I could always just use the explosion from it as a distraction of some kind…

There are a few directions I could head, like downstream or further upstream… I could head in the direction the wolf parasite came from…

It's a high risk high reward situation, if I go there I may find some more wolves, but I'll almost definitely find whatever the wolves were feeding on…

Or I could take the safer route and move out in the opposite direction… Right now I don't have the luxury to take risks, so that's where I'll head.

I began my trek, taking a few steps into the forest.

I felt my palms begin to sweat, and my heartbeat increase. Well that's natural, I'm heading straight into unknown territory.

But really… That dream must've fucked me up more than I initially thought…

Kind of funny though. I don't even know what happened...

My teeth ground against each other as I steeled my nerves and began my venture.

I was still scared though, so I used the only technique I knew… Singing.

“When the lights shut off~” I whispered the lyrics under my breath “And it's my turn to settle down~”

This song was chock full of memories.

“My main concern~” After all it was the first song he introduced me to, from the first album we both listened to, “Promise that you will sing about me~”

“Promise that you will sing about me~” The instrumental ran through the back of my mind, as the memories of me and David singing the lyrics together upstairs in our room instead of studying like we should've cursed through me like a raging river “I said when the lights shut off~”

“And it's my turn to settle down~” Even though I had just begun the song, I felt the fear exit my body just as quickly as it came.

Taking a breath, I stopped. My mind cleared and I looked behind me, the light coming in from the clearing near the river had long since gone.

My confidence had returned enough for me to continue silently, yet the instrumental still echoed through me.

My thoughts began to drift towards what exactly I should be looking for.

“Preferably I should head over toward a mountain of some kind. If I can find one even the slightest bit taller than the tree line, I should be able to find some magnets…” I said with a cautious step, avoiding some poison ivy laced across the floor, “Mountains are also a natural treasure chest of materials and metals, so I should gather as much as I can…”

I was moving at a steady pace, I don't know how far away the mountain was, or if I'm even moving in the correct direction, but I'll head back by mid-day if I don't find anything.

Now that I think about it, spawning near a river was a stupidly amazing spawn location. If I had found myself in the middle of the forest, I would've died of dehydration before my first level up.

“Once I get to a mountain, I can use the high vantage point to try and locate a large body of water, or if I'm lucky, a village…” I muse to myself.

My legs felt like lead, this pot was stupid heavy, and carrying it was just plain annoying.

“If I find water I could also try fishing to add some meat to my diet…” The thought of meat caused a bit of saliva storm in my mouth, which I gulped down quickly.

“Maybe I should head back early and try exploring the other way…” It seemed like a good idea, after all I had been walking for a few hours now, judging from the location of the sun in the sky… though I had little vision of it due to the intense density of the canopy.

Though I did spot something…

I felt a smile grow on my face, as I began to run directly to my left. It wasn't long before I saw it.

A tall, bald faced mountain.

I heaved a bit, wiping the sweat from my brow before I began climbing.

Its surface wasn't exactly sheer, but it was still steep so it took me a good amount of time before I reached the top.

The view was immaculate. Simply superb, and if I squinted my eyes I could see the sun reflect against my river a few miles away.

In the distance, I saw a larger, taller mountain. It was fucking massive, the peak of it was reaching up above the clouds, a few smaller mountains surrounding it.

There was also a rather large lake in the direction of the wolves, which means… I've got all the materials for iron smithing in reach!

“It doesn't feel like I walked that far…” Mentally at least, physically my entire body was cussing me out for what I put it through.

Now that I’m here, I don’t have time to dilly dally.

What I'm looking for is Magnetite or Pyrrhotite.

Both can be found in igneous and metamorphic rocks, such as basalt, gabbro, and iron-rich sedimentary rocks.

“What I'm currently looking for are sedimentary rocks, a type of rock that covers 75% of Earth's exposed surface. Iron rich ones are more commonly found within mountain tops…” I spoke in between heaving breaths, “Like this one.”

Untying the rope around my body keeping my “Backpack” in place and leaving it on the ground beneath me, I began to search

Finding it however will be a monumental task… Which is why I’m going to be relying on the system.

Or more specifically, the Observe skill.

I haven't really used it, like at all, but from its description… It may quite possibly be the most powerful skill I have at the moment.

Combat wise? Not at all. It is, frankly, quite useless…

[Observation: Gives you a short description of anything you want by using your own knowledge]

The description may be vague, but there is one key part…

“Using your own knowledge…” I spoke aloud. My own knowledge, not the information I have.

You may be thinking, “What's the difference?”

Well it's quite minor, but the effect is crucial for me to do this.

My own knowledge means it uses knowledge within my head to identify the object, my information means that it uses the knowledge I had gleaned from the object to identify it.

The difference is minor, but if I'm right, this phrasing means…

I look to a nearby rock.

“Observe”

[Sandstone

A Rock found on the top of a bald mountain in the forest. Comprised of quartz, feldspar, lithic fragments, micas, olivine, pyroxene and corundum]

“FUCK YES!” I pump my fist in excitement, a smile beginning to grow on my face.

There isn't any Magnetite within its description… Which means I have to keep searching…

The only thing I could equate the search to was… Like looking for a needle in a haystack.

I used Observe on every rock I found, and yet not a single one of them was what I was looking for.

“Fuck…” The situation was quickly looking quite drab.

If I was doing this manually it would've taken a few trips to check all of these stones, but thankfully I was saved from the hassle with Observe.

I had a single stone, one about a bit bigger than the palm of my hand, in front of me. It was of black colour, the parts reflected in the sun having a grey with brownish tint to them. The stone was opaque and with metallic lustre…

“Observe” I mumbled the words absentmindedly.

[Magnetite

A small naturally magnetic material that can be found all over the world. Used by ancient civilisations to test the purity of gold as well as within compasses to provide navigation]

My eyes widen and a grin spreads across my face as I look over at the stone…

I placed the stone in the pot and picked it up.

Or I would've, if not for the fact that it was now three times its weight…

I checked inside, to see that I had completely filled it to the brim with different exposed minerals I had found laying within ore deposits…

One thing I’ve learned about this world is that it's chock full of resources. Stupidly so. I had expected this from the fact that fungi that only grow in the colder months, and fungi that only grow in the warmer months, are literally one tree apart.

I'm not sure why, whether it's just that the places near my spawn are forced to be like this in order to ensure player survival, or some other mechanism I do not understand, but I plan to take full advantage of it.

I put my arms through the backpack ropes and take a deep breath.

“Okay, come on, lift with your legs…”

One…

Two…

Three…!

On three, I used all the strength within my body to lift up the pot the best I could, managing to get it off the ground a few feet. Leaning forwards a bit I managed to slide it up my back slightly, and eventually, I was standing…

“Now how to get back down…?” I mean I could always just use my emergency ropes to rappel down… No It's not long enough…

I could just climb down myself…

“Hah… Well if I have to…” Taking my backpack off, I dump out the contents, putting a manageable amount of weight in before climbing down.

When I reach the bottom, I pour out the contents yet again, climbing up and scooping up more…

I continued the process till I had managed to get down with all my materials, which took about 2-ish hours.

My breaths were slow and heavy, and yet again, my entire body was screaming at me.

Doesn't matter though, I’m gonna be the one screaming if I don't manage to get back by sunset.

Picking up the now full backpack/pot, I begin to stumble forwards.

By the time that I reached the river, I was damn near dragging my half dead body across towards camp.

“...Finally…home…” I stop myself.

Home? Is this really a home…?

I stared at my makeshift shelter, which was now beginning to fall apart from me rustling in my sleep…

“First order of business when gaining Iron tools, making a proper home.”

Once I gain Iron, I can make a proper axe, and I can make it reasonably sharp using a stone slab. Once I've got an axe, I can cut down trees and make a cabin…

I could also use leather to make pillows and sheets…

Ugh, I'm craving a proper bed so bad!

Putting down the pot, my stomach growls loudly and I sigh

I make a simple mushroom skewer, pouring out the contents of the pot to retrieve my clay bowl, filling it with river water before placing it above the fire.

I also decided to feed the fire a bit to strengthen it since it was close to burning out at the moment.

I stick the kebab into the ground, the mushroom part over the fire to cook as I fall back and lay on the ground, every single muscle in my body burning out with lactic acid.

“I’m so fucking thirsty…” I just need to wait for the water to finish…

The sun was close to setting, and it was as beautiful as the sunrise.

The lake didn't seem all that far, which means I can probably head there when I wake up, gain the final materials and start making iron the next day…

The vines should also finish retting by then thanks to Survivalism, which means I need to start on making clothes…

If I can make a big piece of fabric, that'll be best, since it would be very flexible. I could wrap it around my waist for some actual covering, use it as a blanket when I need to sleep or cut it up and use it as an emergency bandage and still have some left over to protect my dignity…

So much to do… Such little time…

First, I'll check up on the traps… Actually I'll just do that tomorrow…

I doubt I'll catch anything though…

It took a while but the food managed to finally cook, as well as the water purify.

I devoured the mushrooms like a caveman, fitting as much in my mouth as I could at a time…

“I'm craving meat…” I mumble to myself…

My mind wanders to the traps yet again…

“The chance IS slim, but maybe I did manage to catch something, like a deer…” I sighed, the water finally cooled down enough for me to drink up, “I know I said I was gonna do it tomorrow, but now's a good enough time as ever…”

Finishing my meal, I stood up and began to crack my back, limbering up.

Getting my torch, I light it and make my way into the forest.

My first trap? Nothing.

My second? The same.

All my traps had nothing.

As I was heading towards the final trap, I heard a growl… Yet the backs of my hair hadn't risen.

“Danger Detection did activate…?” Bringing up the torch and I saw something I didn't quite expect.

A large grey wolf, slightly emaciated with its grey fur thinning around its hind.

A single back leg made of wood and a right eye filled with green veins, the edges of the pupil slowly turning a similar shade.

This at least confirms my parasite theory.

“Wolves are omnivores here…?” I say, looking down to the mushrooms… there were small bite marks all over them.

Way smaller than a wolf’s…

Oh I get it! Some small critter was eating the mushrooms, not triggering the trap due to its size, however a wolf came over to try and get a free meal, only to be caught!

Whatever, this is good for me… Now what to do with him?

I could try knocking him out… Well the blood rushing to its skull will do that soon enough…

I don't want to leave it here though, what if some other animal decides to snatch my prey? Can't have that.

Taking my knife from my rope belt, I walk towards the back of the wolf. It could currently barely move since the parasite was sapping all its energy. With one swift motion, I push the knife into its throat from behind.

“Sorry I couldn't put you out of your misery in a faster way…” I close my eyes, sticking the torch in the ground and putting my palms together, “Paz a su alma… ”

I played there for a few minutes, waiting for the infected wolf’s whining to stop. After a while it went quiet, using my knife, I cut down the rope and began dragging it back to the fire. Not before reinstating the trap though.

“I guess I have to work overtime today…” This is an amazing opportunity, and I have to take advantage of it. First I should let the blood drain from it. Taking a rope, I tie it up to a branch, making a few more cuts along the arteries to quicken the process, “It's recommended to leave deers out overnight to fully remove all the blood and reduce the risk of spoilage…”

This isn't a deer though... It's about the same weight, maybe a little less so I'll just treat it as if it was a deer.

After that, I can skin it in the morning, set it up for tanning and venture off to the lake for some freshwater seashells…

That's tomorrow me’s work, today me needs to sleep…

I walk over to the river, washing off the blood on my hands before collapsing into the shelter, passing the fuck out.

Author's Note

I was worried this chapter would be too short, then I looked at the world count and realised I am big dumb

Also didn't proofread this chapter so sorry if there are mistakes 😭

Edit: Been a few minutes, proofread it. Why didn't I just do this at the beginning, that was easy as hell 😭

Chapter 5: Labour, Labour and Even More Labour

{DAY 4}

“Angel!? Where have you been!?” A female voice shouted… or it would've been shouting if not for the fact that it was barely even above 30 decibels, “Are you okay? What happened to you? You've been gone a couple of days?”

The origin of the voice was a pony. A pastel one, with yellow fur and soft pink hair. A pair of wings closed by her sides and a strange tattoo of three pink butterflies inscribed onto both sides of her rear, her forest green eyes currently piercing into a pure white rabbit.

The bunny began to squeak in response and she nodded her head, before her eyes widened in shock.

“You got lost in the Everfree?” Her tone softened even further as she walked close and hugged the small critter as it nodded, before it continued its squeaking, “When you were getting hungry, you ate a few mushrooms, only to be chased by a wolf!?”

She immediately became even more sombre, if that was possible, her hoof caressing the head of the tiny beast as it hugged her back.

That was until she realised something missing from the story, as she picked up the creature and quickly floated into the sky.

“W-where did it go? Is it still here!?” She seemed incredibly frightened by the prospect of the wolf coming here, as her custard coloured ears became pinned against her head.

The rabbit began squeaking yet again, and the pony began to float down slowly, “You’re saying that you managed to outrun it after it caught you eating…?”

A frown appeared on her brow, as she touched down, releasing the bunny, “What did I tell you about lying Angel…?”

The rabbit began squeaking again, waving its paws wildly to reiterate its point…

“Are you sure you’re not lying…?” Her brows furrowed further, and she gave a strangely scary look towards the critter, before it slumped down slightly and squeaked a bit more, “You heard a thwap and looked behind you to see the wolf caught in a rope? But you were so scared you ran away without thinking?”

“Why didn't you just say so?” The pony sighed as the bunny squeaked yet again, before walking into the small cottage nearby, smiling warmly at the animal who hopped with her “It's okay Angel, no need to be embarrassed. Being scared is normal, let's get you some food…”

{DAY 7}

The past two days had been quite uneventful.

Filled with more tedious hard labour than anything. The 5th day was filled with me tanning the leather in a mixture of hot water, wolf fat and mushed brain, before placing it on a stretching rack.

I decided against eating the parasite infected wolf, placing its carcass next to a trap,so I can use its meat for something else.

I also collected a shit ton of seashells by the lake, crushing them with a stone to form Calcium Carbonate.

Using some more animal fat, I made some proper soap and had my first shower in what felt like years.

Day 6 was a bit better. The leather had finished tanning long enough for it to be wearable. I fashioned it into a kind of skirt. It wasn't big enough nor was I good enough at sewing to form it into a proper pair of clothes, but it WAS good enough for this.

I also managed to make an actual iron axe. Using the leg of the dead parasite wolf as a handle. I got the fire pretty damn hot using the eye. Sadly I had to use one half of it completely, as it had turned a charred black and became much stiffer, losing its jelly-like properties.

I’m still trying to find ways to fill it with energy again but no luck…

Also no level ups, which is pretty sad.

And that leads me to today.

“One week done…” I groan out, looking into the dishevelled roof of my so-called home, strands of light hitting my face from the holes.

The sun was at its peak, and assumedly, it's hottest.

From what I could tell, it was the middle of summer…

I got up, crawling out of the tiny shelter before taking the axe I had gone to bed next to, and placing it in my emergency rope belt, next to my stone knife.

The weight of both my newfound clothing and iron axe pulled down on me in a comfortable manner.

“I was expecting it to be more itchy but it's surprisingly manageable. Not nearly as soft as polyester or cotton, but still better than nothing…” I moved myself to the river, washing my face and stretching out, numerous small cracks coming out of my back.

Today I'll just spend my day making a basic fishing rod…

I feel like meat SO fucking BAD!

If I had a fishing hook I could probably go towards the lake and get myself a few fish…

Or if I made a stone spear I could fish like that.

I looked towards the numerous pots and bowls I had put over the fire yesterday.

I had a bit of time yesterday, so it was only natural to make use of it.

Using a stick, I pulled out the pieces of pottery, putting out the flames underneath the two large pots.

I had a total of three big pots and 5 bowls, which is just more storage so that's great.

I had said that once I got an axe, I would start working on a proper home… but I first need to do some maths…

Considering the space I have, as well as the size and thickness of the trees here…

Times by four walls… Plus a proper roof… add in the floors…

I need to cut down approximately 80-ish trees…

Because the iron axe I have is quite simple, I won't be cutting down the thick trees over here, but instead some younger thinner trees.

Still, that's a lot…

Whatever, I should be able to get it built in a month.

Once I cut down a tree, I'll probably get a skill for it, which I can invest in with that skill point I've been saving, before having both that and Craftsmanship carry me to victory in normally impossible times!

God I love having a system sometimes…

No, rather, I love having a system, period.

Now let's get to work.

I didn't know much about tree felling.

Like at all.

Well the best way to learn is research. And since I can't do that, the second best is repetition.

I can theorise though.

Everything in this world can be explained with mathematics and science.

I'm assuming tree felling will just be geometry and physics.

I'll do something I haven't done in a while…

That being, making a mental diagram.

If I keep cutting in one place, then the tree will fall on top of me. In order to get it to fall the desired direction, I should start with a notch in said direction, before flipping and making another above it.

The centre of gravity should be able to bring it down naturally…

But that'll take a lot of time…

I know that some people are able to fell a shit ton of trees over the course of a day, and the method I listed seems a bit wrong for that…

What if instead of making two notches and letting gravity do it, I use it as a kind of hinge and twist the axe whilst it's inside the tree to speed up the process?

That might work…

I took the axe out of my rope waistband and began to swing at the closest tree near me.

It dug deep into the wood, before I began to pull…

I ended up using most of the strength in my arms to try and remove the axe head.

If I had used a regular stick, instead of the parasite leg, it would've most definitely snapped.

I managed to pick it out.

Alright, don't use too much force this time…

I swung yet again, this time at a downwards angle to meet the previous chip.

And it did so.

I began to swing again and again and again and…

Well you get the picture.

It took me a while to create the notch.

And a shit ton of energy.

I was absolutely boiling at the moment, as I tried to rub off the sweat formulating all over my face.

I brought myself to the other side and began to bring the sharp end of the axe to a bit higher than the notch I had previously made.

It took me a few hours of work in total, but I managed to make a deep thin cut in the wood. I began to twist the handle with all the strength I could muster as the oak began to creek…

”TIMBEEEER~!”

I've always wanted to do that.

I walk over to the branches of the felled tree, before chopping them off.

Half an hour later I had completely finished.

All I was left with was a stump and a nice log.

Now for the big reveal…

“Status”

I skimmed down to the skills section, as a smile crawled onto my face.

[Available Skills: Enhanced Senses, Spatial Awareness, Tree Felling]

IT WORKED!

Fuck yeah!

I quickly pick up the skill, and read through its description.

[Tree Felling: 200% Increase in Tree Felling Speed]

I know I'm repeating myself but...

I don't know how I would survive without you, my beloved system!

I bring myself to the forest and take a deep breath, closing my eyes, before I begin my massacre against the forest.

{DAY 26}

I lay across the floor, every muscle in my body absolutely exhausted.

I had done quite a lot over the past 19 days.

My approximation was wrong, it required a few more trees than I had initially expected.

I thought I had finished a few days ago, but no, I was wrong…

I looked towards the little “cabin” I had made…

Cabin is a stretch, it was literally just all walls…

No levels up again, after all I've been doing manual labour, not research.

My stats haven't increased a single digit, because again, no levels up…

And nothing was caught in my traps since that first wolf…

“Ugh~” I groan out to myself as I rolled around on the ground, “I don't wanna work anymore!”

“I wanna read books! Meet people!” I stared at my unfinished hut and put my palms against my river eyes, before sliding down to my mouth.

Whatever, it's not a choice. I probably could've used my time better, but honestly? I don't care. I was too used to having a roof over my head to not resist the temptation of a home…

I'm so close too…

I've made a makeshift door and finished up with the floor as well…

I just need like ten more trees for the roof…

My gaze wandered towards the three or four tree stumps before me.

I had decided against chopping anymore trees close to my home. Call it vanity but I want a proper backyard as well.

I'm worried about so many dumb things when I'm supposed to be surviving…

It's hard to do this by myself, if I had another person I would've been able to finish by now and start actually working on meeting new people.

But I have noticed something weird…

Throughout this entire time I haven't pissed or shat once.

I don't know if I'm just constipated or something, but judging from the lack of discomfort in my stomach, it may just be a case of me being a game character.

One thing I've noticed about my body, is that no matter the physical ailment, I'll almost always wake up fully regenerated.

I stared down at my right hand, a single finger missing.

A mishap with my axe, cutting off my favourite finger…

I can't flip people off anymore which is such a shame…

I managed to cauterize the wound by putting my axe over the flame and pressing against my now giant stub.

Pragmatism really came in clutch, otherwise I might have gotten it infected whilst I was writhing in pain.

My grip strength has suffered majorly because of it…

I could probably just make a prosthetic… IF I HAD THE TIME AND RESOURCES!

It's fine…

I don't know how much longer I'll be stuck out here. Years, days, months, hours, decades… It wasn't a bad decision to try and make home so early.

At least that's what I'm telling myself.

Whatever… Just get it over with…

{DAY 29}

”¡VIVA!”

DONE. I'M DONE. I’M FINISHED. FINALLY!

Oh my god I may have gone insane if it took any longer.

An empty, dark home with nothing inside, the walls packed with clay for its insulating effects.

It was decently big, one floor with no walls of about 5² Metres of pure open space. 4-ish metres tall walls and no lights.

But it was done.

Completed.

Finito.

It'll take me a day to bring everything inside, but until then, I was able to relax…

Author's Note

Sorry if the chap seems a bit rushed, but I'm speeding up the pacing a bit.

It took so god damn long to write this because I initially just wrote the entirety of Day 5, but it was WAAAAAAAY too short.

I'm sick asf (because OFC I get sick right when I gain motivation), and I've had my mock Art GCSE's which sucked the creativity AND soul out of me.

Six Hours cooped up in a room, a surprise how I'm not insane.

I gotta do it again on Monday so it's a bit too early to say that.

Chapter 6: First Contact

{DARING DO POV}

There it was. The Crystal Book…

The oldest existing piece of writing detailing the Before Times…

This could quite possibly be one of my greatest discoveries… EVER!

The amount of traps I had to get through to come here though…

I looked behind me to see rubble of the collapsed stone hallway sealing my only escape route…

It shone in the dim light of my torch, the leather bound front engraved with a completely bizarre and utterly incomprehensible set of runes. A language, and one much older than Ancient Ponish that's for sure…

I took a few careful steps towards the staircase leading to it, each step filling me with dread.

There is no way in Tartarus that it isn't protected by… Something…

I know Caballeron was hot on my trail, but thankfully I was protected here, so I could take my time.

At last I was face to face with it.

However, with my last step, I sinked a bit into the floor.

The entirety of the chamber shook with monumental force as I looked down to see a small pressure plate under my hoof.

“Buck…” I scrambled forwards, placing the book into my bag with urgency as parts of the ceiling began to fall down besides me.

A small sliver of sunlight befell the room for the first time in probably millennia.

My eyes shone and a smile graced my face as I fanned out my wings and shot up as fast as I could.

I could feel the stale air resist against my face as I got ever closer to my only hope of survival.

I felt a jolt of pain flood through my limps as I got pelted with rocks. Turning and spinning, I tried to manoeuvre myself to dodge the incoming strikes, but I was too slow.

Speeding up, I launched out into the open sky, but I misjudged the size of the hole as one of my wing clips with the ceiling.

My inertia was enough to send me soaring, but soon I was hurtling down towards the forest floor as incomprehensible speeds.

I hadn't even realised it, but the secret passage in the Castle of The Two Sisters had been so long that I ended up behind the mountain…

I didn't have the time to worry about that, as I mustered up all the force I could and fanned my wings out, pain coursing through each and every feather.

I crashed straight into the floor, landing awkwardly on my right wing as I heard a dull-

*CRACK*

A familiar feeling flooded throughout my right wing. I gritted my teeth and looked back.

“N-no blood…” This isn't the first time I've broken my wing during an expedition, and this is much better than the last time…

From the looks of it I hadn't broken anything, just a sprain…

A nasty one, but a sprain nonetheless.

The canopy had helped absolve me of any real permanent damage…

They seemed to be glued to my sides, and I didn't even attempt to open them up.

I remember seeing a river… If I remember, there's a small village a bit downstream from there…

Thankfully, I was let off with only a hurt wing, everything else seemed okay, apart from the scratches and small bruises…

{DAY 30}

I finished moving.

I didn't have all that much so it didn't take long, just a shit ton of pottery and iron sand.

Now I can relax, inside my… HOUSE!

Oh my fucking god.

I still can't get over the fact that I BUILT THIS.

FROM NOTHING.

I DID THIS!

Holy fuck I'm so fucking excited I don't even know why.

It's something people have been doing for millenia.

But I'm probably one of the few modern men to do it…

Well whatever, I'll just enjoy this dark room a bit more…

I should probably make a generator next, get myself some light.

I'll need some glass, copper, iron, a bit of luck and a whole lot of time…

But it should be doable.

I need to check the traps, but they'll probably be empty, like usual.

I open the door to the cabin and walk out, stretching a bit before heading off into the woods.

I've gotten pretty accustomed to walking through this place, and I haven't encountered a wolf in a stupid long time, so I doubt I'll come across one now.

Every trap was, as expected, empty.

I was halfway through them before I found something actually unexpected.

A strange looking creature, semi resembling a horse, though with humanoid facial features.

A pair of incredibly large disk-like eyes, locked onto me in what seems like rebellion.

With an absolutely filthy dirt and blood stained coat of a straw-like shade of yellow.

A mane comprised of numerous shades of grey, two ruby pink eyes and a torn up Indiana Jones like khaki shirt and off-white circle brim hat with a few holes up top. And most surprisingly a strange looking compass dyed into her fur…

”Who are you!”

She spoke.

Also it's a she.

She was hung up by the left back hoof(?) with all her parts exposed.

Honestly, if she was going to wear clothes, why the hell didn't she cover up the most important bits?

Though, what intrigued me the most was the bent out of shape wings folded at her side.

But what overshadowed my intrigue, was my absolute excitement.

An admittedly evil looking smile crept up my face as my own eyes began to sparkle.

Removing the axe from my waist, I escape the shadow of the canopy and swing it in a practised motion without any words.

The talking, presumably sentient, horse creature flinched at the action, before there was a dull-

*THUD*

The limp body of the creature hit the floor…

Before she got up slowly, holding her head with her front hoof, her eyes spinning around out of sync in a cartoonish fashion, though it stops after she shakes her head a bit and resets herself.

I drop my axe on the floor and dash over, the critter flinches yet again, prepared for combat, only to be surprised when I hold her face with all 9 of my fingers.

My action seemed to be incredibly unexpected to her, and it was only when my thumb entered her jaw to open it and examine the insides of her mouth did she really do anything about it.

That anything was skittering backwards and fanning out her wings, only for her to wince in pain at the action and buckle forwards.

She caught herself and I take a breath to try and recentre my excited mind, before raising my hands up in surrender.

She continues to glare at me.

“Careful, you'll burn a hole through my skull if you stare any harder,” I say with a chuckle.

Frankly, I'm a bit scared. I don't know anything about this creature, just because it's sentient doesn't mean it's friendly or not dangerous.

Since it resembles a horse I'll assume it has about the same strength…

Horses were bred for the express purpose of carrying heavy loads, and are capable of exerting forces around 20% of their weight…

From what I remember, a big horse is around 170 cm and 1000 KG, so scaling it down…

This one is around my belly button, a bit bigger than the parasite wolf… Assuming what I inputted in the character creator was true, which why wouldn't it be, I'm 6 Foot 2 Inches tall.

Converting to centimetres… I’m 187.96 cm tall, round that to 188. My belly button is placed a bit above my waist, which is halfway up my body.

A conservative estimate would be this creature being a clean and round 94 cm tall.

Weight is a bit harder, but whatever.

1000 divided by 170 is…

This is a bit hard…

5.8823529412 KG per cm of height, I'll just have it as 5.88. Multiply by 94… 552.72 KG.

Round up to 553 KG and find 20% of it…

This creature can presumably output a force of around 110.6 Kilos…

And again, that's just a conservative estimate…

Yeah, better not get on her bad side.

“Hey hey hey, relax… I'm not gonna hurt you…” I tried to speak as softly as I could, but it was rather hard.

She didn't seem to buy it as she became a bit more defensive.

”Are you one of Ahuizotl’s minions?” She questioned, as I took a step back and she glanced down at the floor. I try to keep eye contact with her, but I become a bit curious, looking down with her to spot my axe beside my feet. I nudge it away a bit with my foot… The tension was so thick I could cut it with a knife, ”No, he only has Felines… did Caballeron send you?”

She seemed to relax a bit as I kicked away the axe even further.

“Who…? I promise no one sent me, I just live here…” She scoffed, rolling her eyes at my statement.

”As if I'd believe that! Nopony lives in the Everfree Forest apart from Timberwolves, Ursa Major’s and Cockatrice!” I just chuckled in response.

Everfree Forest? So that's the name of this place…

Timberwolves I'm guessing are the parasitic wolves, but Ursa Major I'm not sure…

Ursa Major and Ursa Minor are both constellations, is it perhaps named after it? This is another world, I doubt they would have the same sky as Earth, so maybe it's a coincidence…

Considering that those constellations are meant to be bears, I would probably not want to find out… At the moment at least.

And lastly, the Cockatrice… in Roman myth it was a wyvern-like creature with the ability to turn things to stone with its gaze or breath… Though it was adapted within the 17th Century to be an unnatural hybrid birthed by both a chicken and toad, or serpent…

Not too much information…

Once is a coincidence, twice is suspicious and thrice is a certainty.

Once: Me and this creature both speak the same language despite being of different worlds.

Twice: The Ursa Major is related to Earth’s Sky.

Thrice: The Cockatrice from Roman Myth…

There is something fundamentally connecting the both of our worlds, I know this now.

Though again, this could just be a case of this being a game world…

I snap myself out of my thoughts and bring myself back to the present.

“Really? That would explain why I haven't found anybody else yet…” A drop of sweat runs down my brow, as the horse creature looks with even more suspicion at me, “I could bring you to my house…? Would that be enough to prove I simply just live here?”

She frowns, thinking for a moment before nodding her head silently.

“Great! Uh, can you bring my axe with me?” Better for her to have my only weapon to let her feel safer and more at ease.

”...Sure…” She speaks out sceptically, going over towards the hatchet, before pausing. She reluctantly brings her mouth up to the item and picks it up, placing it in her saddle bag.

So that's how they hold things…

Interesting

I keep my hands raised as I begin to navigate my way out towards the river.

The journey was silent.

Even after we reached the cabin, it was silent.

I turned my head to stare at her face, only to see a look of… Pity?

”...Just how long have you been living here…?” The question was expected, and my ears perked up at it, as I brought myself to one of the three tree stumps and sat myself down.

“Hehe…” I laughed to myself dryly. It's been a month…

A fucking month.

Now that I think about it, it doesn't sound all that long.

But honestly it was-

“-Way too fucking long,“ I groan out, rubbing between my eyes in a bit of exhaustion. Let alone the physical strain of making a home, the mental strain of being completely isolated, with no hope for escape, survival and anything else. In a body that isn't mine. In a world where I am quite literally the only human alive…

Her visage somehow turns to an even heightened form of pity.

I take a breath and restore some of my sanity, before turning to the creature.

“What about you Miss…” Oh, now that I think about it… “I haven't asked your name yet, have I? I'm Victor.”

”Daring Do” Her guard was now very much non-existent, ”I have some of my own circumstances…”

She took my axe out of her bag and placed it gently onto my lap, only she stayed there for a little longer than needed. She seemed a little out of it in all honesty…

She backed off after she snapped out of her small daze, a small bit of red on her face.

After a small awkward, though I admit to having no idea why, silence.

I was about to say something… Before my mind turns to her wings.

She was so beat up and bruised, yet she was still feeling pity for me…

A feeling I couldn't quite recognise welled up within me.

“Your wings…” I didn't finish, as I placed my axe in my waist and stretched myself out a bit. I moved over to my home, opening the door and getting something from one of my storage pots.

I felt Daring’s gaze wander to me as I emerged with a long sheet of woven retted vine threads.

”What about them?” I sighed, crouching down to her, holding out the rolled up makeshift bandage.

“It hurts, doesn't it? Use this to compress it and reduce the swelling” I then realise she's a horse, “Nevermind, it's easier if I do it.”

”I can do it myself…!” I think I got a grasp on her character now. The outfit, her name, the bruises… she's a rowdy explorer type, the kind that doesn't like relying on others, like a lone wolf of some kind.

“With what, your hooves?” It was my fault for getting her trapped, I don't know how long she'd been hanging there. It's only right for me to be kind, “Now which wing is it?”

Plus…

The kinder I am, the lower her guard, the more information I get and the faster I get to civilisation.

Is it manipulatory? Perhaps…

She seemed a little embarrassed, as she gestured to her right wing. She looks away and flinches as I raise the appendage slowly…

It's sprained pretty bad…

I begin to press around the wing gently, checking for her reactions. The origin of the pain from what I could tell was the base of the wing. An easy to treat area, so she's lucky with that.

I begin to wrap it with the bandage, not doing it that tight to still allow for blood circulation.

After I was done, her wing slowly collapsed back down to her side.

“All done. You should probably get it looked over by a professional though…” I advise her a bit, as she nods through the red.

I don't know why she's blushing so much…

”Well… Thank you, I'll be off now…” I deadpanned at her.

“Do you even know where you're going?” This bitch… is she just gonna let herself get mauled to death by Timberwolves?

Well, then again, she is theoretically pretty powerful… On the other hand she's also wounded.

”There's a small village downstream, I'll just ask for some help there…” Wait what.

My mind flashes towards the first thing I did when I awoke.

Okay not the first, more like the second, after a panic attack.

That being, going upstream.

If I had decided to go downstream instead…

I let out a sigh of aggravation at myself, before going back into my cabin and rummaging around.

I had exited with a wicker basket attached to my back filled up with a few essential items.

“Well, I'm coming with you,” I stretch out my arms a bit.

If there's a village, there's a more than 0% chance to find a library. If I find one, I can answer literally all of my questions, apart from some.

I can't let go of this opportunity.

I should take advantage of the month of progress I've made.

As well as examine their technological development.

Maybe I could also try and get a job…

The creature seemed a little surprised by my words but simply groaned in response.

”Do what you like,” She looks away from me and begins to walk her way down.

I follow behind.

Thankfully her tail was keeping me from gaining any more… good looks…

Now that I think of it, Males have a social disadvantage… What did it mean by that?

Also, why is she so… Undisturbed by me?

I'm a brand new race she's never seen before now. There should at least be a bit of confusion…

But then again, the race list in the character selection was so large, it wouldn't surprise me if people just don't bother to learn all of them.

“What are you by the way?” She keeps trotting forwards unhindered.

”What, Never seen a Pony before?” So that's what they're called…

*DING*

Haven't heard that in a while…

“Status. Nope, never,” I looked through my status, before whistling to myself a bit.

[Name: Darwin
Level: 10
Race: Human
Class: Scholar - Learning = EXP
Class Points: 1*

-Stats

Strength: 6 —> 25
Agility: 7 —> 14
Dexterity: 9 —> 27
Endurance: 11—> 29
Reflex: 7 —> 10
Intelligence: 16 —> 20
Comprehension: 17 —> 23
Magical Precision: N/A
Magical Power: N/A

Bonus Points: 1

-Skills

[UNIQUE - Genius: 200% Learning Speed + EXP Gain]

[UNIQUE - Unforgettable: What was once learned cannot be unlearned]

[Craftsmanship: Allows the user to speed up the creation of items and structures they have already made by 200%. All items you've previously made have a 100% success rate of being crafted]

[Observation: Gives you a short description of anything you want by using your own knowledge]

[Survivalism: 200% Crafting speed for items if you use tools you've made yourself]

[Danger Detection: Gives you a subtle instinctual warning whenever your life is threatened]

[Pragmatism: Removes all pain and emotions once a day for 1 minute, allowing you to think clearly without distractions]

[Mark Territory: Select a small area as your “Territory”. Animals with territorial instinct such as wolves, will avoid entering this area. You will always know where your territory is]

Skill Points: 1*]

It’s SO good to see some change after nearly a month of zero progress…

And something new as well!

I press the star next to the class point.

[Class Points

Gain one every 10 levels. Can be used to gain a new Subclass or to level up your current class. Leveling up your current class will reset your level and is the only way to level up your Unique Skills. Available Classes are chosen using the same system as skills. You can only have one Subclass activated at a time. You can change it once every hour with another Subclass. Every Subclass has its own level, after reaching level 10 in the Subclass you can spend a point to reset it's level and enhance it's class skills.

Available Classes: Survivalist, Lumberjack, Avenger, Programmer]

Avenger…? Lumberjack and Survivalist are expected, however Avenger?

When have I ever avenged-

A thought snapped into my head.

From the looks of the Programmer Subclass, it includes things from before I came to Equestria.

That would… Yeah that tracks.

I guess this Subclass is talking about David…

I got my get back, it's over. What happens on Earth, stays on Earth…

…

I'll just use the point on my Main Class.

[Scholar —> Scholar (Man)]

Man…?

Hmm…

Think… Man, Man, Man, Man, Man…

The Book of Changes…?

The Book of Changes, or Yijing, was an ancient Chinese Divination text that had a profound impact on Chinese Philosophy, Medicine, Science and Culture for over 3000 Years…

I read it a while back because a bunch of Mythology and novels I used to read linked back to it.

Within Yijing, it references the Hierarchy of the Universe being ordered into three levels. Human, or just Man, Earth and then Heaven.

That's the only thing I can think of that this would be referencing…

[Scholar (Man) - Learning = EXP]

Not much has changed…

Well, what about Unique Skills?

[UNIQUE - Genius: 300% Learning Speed. 200% EXP Gain]

Seems pretty straightforward…

EXP Gain didn't increase? I mean I get it, if it did I would get back to level 10 at an exponential rate.

[UNIQUE - Unforgettable: What was once learned cannot be Unlearned. Heightened Resistance to Mental Attacks]

I don't know how common Mental Attacks are, so it's impossible to discredit the usefulness of this development…

I'll add my bonus point to my lowest Stat… So reflex goes from 10 to 11.

Nice…

And lastly…

[Level: 1]

All my progress, gone in the blink of an eye…

My stats are still the same, so no real difference in all honesty.

I was walking absentmindedly, so I didn't even realise when I bumped straight into Daring’s behind.

I swiped away the screens and looked forwards to see what happened.

I don't know how long we were walking, but I barely felt tired… Must be the Endurance boost.

I didn't even get to use my skill point, but whatever, I've got time.

In front of me…

Was a village. It spanned a stupid large amount of terrain.

Each and every building unique yet still of the same type. It reminded me of a medieval village from the large yellow thatch roofs and white walls held up with wooden scaffolding.

I didn't even realise I had exited the forest, but I found the view… Beautiful

I looked down to see Daring in a new outfit. A sunhat, red cat-eye glasses and a purple cloak.

“What's with the outfit?” I question as she readjusts her hat down a bit, covering some of her eyes.

”I'm pretty famous… just don't want any extra company,” She shrugged off the comment and began trotting again.

It seems I made a good decision being kind to her… If I play my cards right, I may just gain a nice sponsor for my future endeavours.

She had already walked off a bit, and now I had to follow.

Author's Note

This always happens with this series. I start writing, think the chapter isn't long enough, write a bit more and then quickly realise it's nearly 4000 words and I should probably stop.

Chapter 7: Round and Round We Go On The Carousel

The town was still quite a good distance away.

But as we drew ever closer, thoughts began to run through my head.

This Pony, Daring Do, is most likely a streaker. I mean, why else would she not have any pants on?

She covered up with a cloak, but I'm still shirtless, underwear-less and pants-less. All I've got protecting my dignity is some dead wolf skin…

So not much. A simple breeze and literally everyone would get a good look at my organs.

I'd rather not embarrass myself, so first things first is finding a tailor and getting myself some clothes…

With what money.

Oh yeah I'm broke.

No matter, I'll just find a job.

Who would employ someone who's wearing this? Hell, who would employ a human?

Also, why did she call this a small village? This place is massive!

Problems after problems after problems…

At least I'm in a functioning civilization though.

I was still a good distance away, but it seems I overestimated the accepting nature of these ponies…

Because literally every being in the town had stopped what they were doing and stared at me.

Glared, even. A few even dashed off into their homes.

“Sure are a friendly bunch…” I manage to mumble out.

”They’re just scared, must've never seen a…” She stops, and for the first time gives me a real good look up and down, ”Centaur-Minotaur Hybrid?”

“Human,” I say with a sigh, two more species added to the ever growing list, “Why don't you go get yourself patched up, I'll try and deal with this myself, okay?”

Daring sighed and began to walk away. Despite how rural the village looked, we had managed to catch glimpses of a rather large Hospital out on the other side, so that's where she was headed.

I need to get directions to a store that sells clothing…

Which means I need to talk to the residents of this fine village.

Which means… I had to tap into a subject I never really learned much about.

Psychology.

I know of different ailments as well as their symptoms and such, but I never really got around to learning the ins and outs of it.

Same with most medicine, there's a reason doctors spend years at Med School.

Like most medical subjects, it’s incredibly vast, however it's unique in the fact that it's very distinctly objective and person specific, so the exact opposite of the hard and thoroughly researched topics I usually dig through the wiki pages of.

More specifically though, the aspect I'm the worst at. Social Psychology.

The Psychology of Communication and Social Interactions. A very important subject, but my status as a freelance programmer who stays inside all day without a lick of interaction with the outside world (except for the occasional calls from my Amá) has made it a subject I'm particularly weak on. Like most things though, I have the most rudimentary understanding.

Which is more than enough for the situations I find myself in right now.

The situation had calmed down now, as some of the ponies stopped staring. Yet they still stole as many glances as physically possible.

They were all on edge, ready to run at the drop of a hat.

First I need to establish trust…

I put on my friendliest face and simply walk through the crowd

The ponies seemed to have three subs-species. Ones with wings, ones with horns and some with neither.

There may be more actually, but those are the only beings I had observed…

Shouldn't I already know this though…?

After all I scrolled throughout the entire race list before settling on human.

Strange, I don't really remember much from it in all honesty

Shouldn't Unforgettable make it possible for me to do so?

[UNIQUE - Unforgettable: What was once learned cannot be Unlearned. Heightened Resistance to Mental Attacks]

What was once learned… perhaps it isn't photographic memory like I had initially assumed…

I can remember topics I hadn't indulged myself in for years with ease, yet something I saw merely a month ago is completely gone…

Does it perhaps mean that knowledge stored into long-term memory is impossible to forget, and therefore gets recalled instantly? That would seem to be the most sensible theory…

Let's think… all the other races have a naming scheme related to Mythology, considering the Cockatrice, Minotaur and Centaur…

It's plausible to assume this rule follows through to other ones. So in order, it would be Pegasus, Unicorn and…

Horse?

I mean that just doesn't seem right…

I'll ask Daring about it later.

Also, everyone is nude.

I'm trying my genuine best to avoid staring at any one of these naked beast's private areas.

And it's a challenge… the worst part is that there was just way too many of them.

Everywhere I look, BAM! Dick. I turn around and BOOM! Pussy.

There is also a severe lack of males. I counted mentally, for every ponies, there are 9 females I only a single male…

Is that why it's stated to be a disadvantage? There's just not as many as on Earth?

But why would that be a disadvantage? Socially I mean. My brain just isn't able to wrap around why…

Am I just an idiot?

…

Stop getting side tracked! You've found, or rather, have been brought to a village!

Who gives a shit about psychology, or social disadvantages, or the system, or anything else!

I'm just gonna assimilate into this society, meet up with a wizard and have them find me a way back.

But again… Clothes, I hate being clothed so little, even when everyone else is naked. It makes me feel indecent…

I can't just steal someone else's clothes, because one, they would be too small for me, and two, I have no clue if they even had any…

My glance turns to a pony nearby.

A maroonish one, kind of like a velvety dull pink, with a pink mane and tail, a single stripe of a similar shade yet less saturated. Bright emerald green eyes and three flowers with smiles on them dyed onto both sides of her flank.

I squat down.

“Excuse me…” Alright, let's test out my common sense. From what I could tell the males (which I knew for a fact were males because I could actually see their genitalia) had more angular faces and stood a slight bit taller. It's hard to differentiate without looking, but this one had softer features and longer lashes, so I'm just gonna assume, “Miss, I'm Victor, would you happen to know where the closest clothing store is?”

Strangely, those same features are prevalent in humans and are the differences between males and females with them. Though it's not a 100% thing, I've met guys prettier than most women and women more handsome than most men. Also hormones can affect these differences a shit ton, I could be misgendering, but I'll put my odds pretty high on this bet.

”Eh-?” The pony was surprised. She was one of the few without wings or horns. I could sense a hint of fear in her voice, and I noticed something as she opened her mouth. A small, nearly invisible thin layer of… Something, by her teeth, ”Oh, that would be the Carousel Boutique, to the right of the Ponyville Town Hall…”

I could hear a small list in her voice, as I continued to stare at her teeth. It was a retainer…

This is important. Most retainers are made of a polyurethane-based material. Which means a few things, one being this world has plastic, crude oil, utilizes fractional distillation, and most importantly they have an understanding of biology akin to the 19th century. Or at least dental understanding to that level. Even more so, they have an understanding of Chemistry similar to my world.

This is confusing though… The Architecture of this world is akin to the middle ages, yet the chemistry… Maybe it's simply a design choice.

That also brings me back to the safari shirt that Daring had on. Quite obviously not polyester despite this world seemingly having the ability to produce it… Another clue to the technological level of this world.

There was a little less fear with every word, which seemed to show that it was purely just fear of my intentions and not of me.

I looked at her with a bit of confusion, before her eyes widened and she smiled awkwardly.

”Oh, yes,” She came to realise that I had no clue where the Town Hall of this city was, which I'm assuming is called Ponyville. She turned around and gestured with her nose at a road, ”Follow that road till you see a large building, then take the rightmost road and you'll find it rather easily.”

I did my head slightly, getting up and nodding at her.

“Gracias,” I began to walk along the road she showed, looking behind me to see her seem a bit confused at my last words before she simply smiled and waved at me, and I waved back. It seems the politeness of our interaction was enough to send a bit of relief through the other ponies. I could feel the tension melt away slowly, from minor fear to caution.

It took a while to find the town hall, bit once I saw it I knew what I was looking at.

A giant cylindrical building with a flared base and two floors, a balcony on each that spanned the entire circumference of the building.

The top of the building was domed with a sharp spike on top, and it had domes all around it.

The river which I had been living by had trickled down here and streamed around the building a bit like a moat, but it left a little after a quarter of the way to go in its own direction.

There were a few roads converging here, but the one to the right I'm assuming is the one the pony was talking about.

It was directly right of the hall, so if you turned exactly 90° from the centre of the building, it would point exactly to it.

I moved myself towards the road and began to walk.

I had gathered more and more stares but nobody really seemed all that worried. I guess they figured if I came this far without any screams then I'm not much of a threat. They seemed more curious than anything to be honest.

This town was huge, no denying that, but thankfully I seemed to have arrived pretty close to the economic district of this place.

Now I just need to find this “Carousel Boutique”…

I kept walking absentmindedly through the road, trying to mentally jot down every technological advancement I could see.

But it was hard to pinpoint what era this world was currently in…

I sighed to myself, this is a fruitless endeavour with simple observation… Right now I can say this place is late 1800s at the most.

I kept trying though. It's not like me to back down against a challenge of intellect.

That building is pretty weird though, it's so… frilly?

From what I could tell it was… Two? No four? No wait two? Nevermind, I couldn't tell how many floors it had. There were four main segments of the building. The first segment was ground level, being an irregular octagon, like one that had been squished.

The doorway was on the first face, which was just big enough to contain it, the opposite side being the exact same size, however the other sides were just normal, being the size of regular walls.

The walls were painted a lovely baby blue with a few intricate designs in a paler shade. Judging from the smell of fresh paint, it was rather new. Two large oval windows in the centre of the walls beside the door, which in of itself was painted a nice purple.

The door was cut in half… no, rather, it was cut one third up from the bottom, with an iron handle on each part. A small diamond window besides both as well.

The second segment reminded me a bit of a tent, a piece of checkered pastel purple fabric draped upwards towards the centre of the structure, but instead of fabric it was obviously just… A material, I'm not sure.

I know that I know a lot, but that doesn't mean I can just instantly identify a substance or material without a few inspections.

Anyway, the material was stopped halfway by a large pillar in the centre of the building, a few windows on it signifying it as either a room or stairway, which was the third segment.

The fourth was a small Hershey's kiss like, what I'm assuming is an attic, of a similar pastel checkered material that extended over the edges of the pillar by a good bit. A few spiraling bits of thin flat iron with two weathervanes (without the cardinal directions on them) stuck in the midpoint of the iron that were, instead of roosters, ponies.

Kind of like a carousel-

…

Oh that genius.

I changed my direction, now heading towards the building, before knocking.

Wait, it's a store, what's the need to knock?

I simply open the door and walk in. Thankfully it was big enough for me, though I had to duck my head a bit.

*DING*

A system notification? No, this was a higher pitch, and it came from… I looked above me, a golden bell right above my head. It must've rung when I came in.

“Oh! Yes I'll be right there dear!” I heard a voice come from upstairs.

The first thing I noticed was the absolutely blinding amounts of rose pink fabric all around, as well as the few blank mannequins spread sporadically around the place.

This place is new. Very new. Like opened this week new.

The few cardboard boxes all over the floor helped with this conclusion.

It may have just been refreshed but this seems like the most plausible answer… and if it's this new and people- er, ponies are already recommending it then it must be quite good.

Which means expensive.

Fuck…

Payment…

I may be able to pay it off with some labour.

My favourite thing ever.

That was sarcastic if you couldn't te-

”AHHHHH!”

*THUD*

A high pitched, ear piercing scream attacks my eardrums as I wince and turn to the origin.

I see a little below average height Unicorn with an eggshell white coat and deep purple mane styled into one large, though I have to admit, fashionable curl. The same being done to her tail.

She had a line of sewing tape around her neck and red cat eye glasses framed on her muzzle.

Her eyelids were closed in a relaxed manner, as if she was sleeping…

She was splayed on the floor, her front hoof on her forehead dramatically…

She fainted… due to fear? I'm not that scary… That must mean this is medical!

I rush forwards to her side.

Would human first aid even work on an animal? Whatever, who cares!

I place the middle finger and index finger of my left hand on what I would imagine to be her fetlock, trying to feel for a pulse. It was strong, that's a good sign.

I pry open her eyelids… her pupils are shrinking a bit in response to the light, so that's also good.

I lift up her head to see if you may have fallen on anything, being as careful as I could be. Nothing, no bruise from what I could tell either but the mane was in the way so that could be wrong…

Right now, she's just plain sleeping.

It was a bit awkward, because of the dreadful view I was given from any and all positions I had been in, so my only option to not get an eyeful of peach was to turn around and wait it out.

One thing I did notice were the three blue diamonds tattooed onto her hind, which seemed to be a common denominator between almost every pony, with the exception of young. Not diamonds, but just a marking of some kind dyed on the flank of every pony above a certain age that I've seen.

It felt wrong to just leave her here, and I still need my clothes so this is probably the best.

It turns out she did faint because she saw me… What an incredibly weak psyche, it's nearly impressive if it wasn't so strange.

I sat myself down with crossed legs, turned away from her besides her back hooves.

I gently shake her, trying to rouse her awake a bit sooner.

People usually only faint for a few minutes, most doing so for around 20 seconds. I'll call for a medical professional after three minutes or if she seems to be in danger…

Though those mental preparations didn't seem to be needed, as the pony soon shot up.

The sudden movement made me regretfully turn my head, as I tried not to focus on the pink in the corner of my vision and stared into her shiny blue eyes, before raising a hand and waving.

“Good morning…?” I got up and dusted myself off swiftly, as she did the same, “Have you gotten the shock out of your system yet?”

The pony just silently nodded, staring at me with a confused expression. Nothing I haven't experienced before.

“First off, are you okay? Does your head hurt at all?” I need to make sure there isn't any lasting damage.

“Er, Yes-” Her body seemed stiff. Holy shit this is getting old incredibly fast, “-I mean, no I'm feeling fine…”

“No need to be so tense, I'm not going to eat you,” she let out a breath even she didn't know she was holding from her expression, “I just came around to ask if this is the Carousel Boutique”

”Oh yes it is my dear!” Her face lit up and it was as if all the fear had disappeared, the tension washing away in the blink of an eye as her posh accent and professionalism took over, ”I’m so sorry you had to oversee such a sight! I’m Rarity, the tailor of this fine establishment…”

She turned her head slowly, ”I do apologize for the mess, I've only been open for a few days but I’m absolutely flooded with requests, being the only tailor in a small village like this…”

“Ah, well I don't mind it, I was just asking if I could put in a request of my own,” the only tailor here…? Is owning clothes that uncommon?

”Why of course! Though firstly I personally think you should do something about that awful muck staining you!” She quickly maneuvered herself around me, pushing me with her head towards a corner of the room, ”Why in Celestia's name would you let yourself be so…”

Wait a minute, she's so relaxed, just a few seconds ago she was shocked enough to faint…

Why the sudden switch? This Pony is obviously someone who cares about looks, she owns a boutique and has diamonds on her rear which further exemplifies her care of looks and perhaps maybe even greed…

Is it that she fainted, not because I'm a bizarre creature, but simply because… I'm dirty? But I'm not dirty, what the hell could she be talking about!?

Whatever.

I really couldn't do anything as she pushed, I tried to plant my feet but I simply just ended up sliding across. I felt her horn poke into my back, as it seemed to heat up a bit, the rose red fabrics swirling around without warning. Revealing a wall stacked full of rolls of beautiful fabrics, however out of all the materials, the item that floated up was a rag.

“E-excuse me, muck?” I managed to respond, as the rag came up to me, she came back into my field of vision as it began to rub across my arm rather forcefully.

”Those strange specks all over you!” She said as she sniffed the air a bit, ”You seem to be quite the hygenic pony, er, creature, so I'm utterly baffled by how you would let yourself get like that!”

“Strange specks…?” I say, as Rarity's sewing tape floats off her neck and begins to float in front of me with practised expertise. I looked down at my arm to see what she was referencing before my jaw literally dropped, “I'm sorry if this comes off as rude, but are those glasses the correct prescription…?”

”Glasses…?” She stopped for a second, before her front hoof raised to her face, touching them a bit before pulling them off somehow, ”Oh my sincerest apologies! I completely forgot I had these on!”

She let out a small chuckle, before getting a good look at me without them on, rubbing my arm a bit harder.

”Now what is this! It isn't coming off no matter how much I rub!” I was just baffled.

“That isn't anything… it's a scar,” Yes, what she was trying to rub off my skin with a rag was my scars. I'm assuming she couldn't tell initially because of her glasses, which considering her occupation, are nearsighted which make things far away blurrier. To her these scars must've just looked like random white blotches all over my body.

”Scar? Now you've piqued my interest, I've never heard of such a thing!” She's never heard of scars…? Now this is confusing… Does nobody here know what a scar is? Or is it just her? If that's so that might explain the looks I was getting…

“You don't know what a… scar is?” She had stopped rubbing by now, but her sewing tape on the other hand had now wrapped around my waist. This is less the acts of a clothing store and more of a tailor…

”No, should I? Is it some kind of trend I've accidentally missed from the latest issue of Vanity Mare?” Vanity Mare? Sounds like a magazine… they have those here? That means printing press, considering the fact that fashion magazines most likely have coloured printing- No, hold your horses, the first ever fashion magazine, Mecure Galant, was created in 1672 so it doesn't necessarily need coloured printing. Don't try to fall into fallacies…

“I would hope so, it's a medical thing,” with those words Rarity backed down a bit, pulling back a bit, her sewing tape unwrapping from my waist and slowly floating its way back to her… How does that work…? My first real encounter with controlled magic and I'm doing it at a tailor's. It's good that I'm at a tailor’s though, pretty sure a regular shop wouldn't have anything shaped for humans.

”Is it contagious…?” She spoke with a smaller voice. Oh wow, like really wow. That's… Something. If this was a genetic condition I probably would've been offended, but with how bizarre the situation was I couldn't help but find it funny. I tried to stifle a laugh, and thankfully succeeded.

I rose both hands and showed off all nine of my fingers.

“You see this hand? It's got five fingers,” I lowered my left hand and flipped her off with my right hand, showing her the cauterization scar, “This one should have five, but I lost one of them, this is the scar that formed afterwards.”

That was the best demonstration I could think of at the moment to be honest, she seemed to understand though.

”So you used to have… fingers…all over?” Or maybe she didn't.

“Scars form wherever there's been a big enough wound and its had enough time to heal,” I explained as simply as I could, “From what I know, all creatures get scars, how do you not know about them…?”

Actually, now that I think of it, ponies grow fur, fur that would most likely cover up any scars they have, so anyone who had scars wouldn't be able to show them to anyone else without shaving it off. It's likely those of a medical profession would know of them but to the average pony anyone who's been hurt would just heal after regrowing their coat without a single cosmetic difference.

”Really?” She seemed quite intrigued by this information, before she realised what she'd been doing all this time and her eyes widened, ”Oh, I am truly sorry, I had no idea! Honest!”

“No no, it's fine!” The moment I said this she furrowed her eyebrows…? Now that I think of it they have eyebrows? No, it looked more like if someone without eyebrows furrowed them, the contour and shadows told me more than the actual hair did, “Are you sure dear?”

“Yes I'm sure, it's fine if you really didn't know,” Her calling me dear reminds me a bit of David's mom, it's a bit weird to be honest, “And, Victor is fine.”

“Well then, Victor, if it's just something simple, I could get it to you by tomorrow!” Really? She only measured my upper half- wait, considering these ponies' tendency to flash others…

“With pants…?” I questioned slightly, as she rotated her head a bit in her own questioning.

”Pants…?” As I thought, better snip this in the bud before it gets too…

I let out a small sigh.

“Can you get me a pencil and paper?” She nodded and quickly floated a notebook nearby.

There was something written on the cover, a language I couldn't read… FUCK! I completely forgot! This is another world, if they speak English, that's great, but there's no 100% guarantee they write in English as well! There goes my plans of visiting a library… I need to find someone who can teach me how to read and write before anything.

I picked them both up, the first few pieces of paper were covered in writing, paired with rather nice doodles and drawings of different dresses.

I turned to a page that had nothing written in it And began to draw a simple pair of pants.

“I'm not the best artist, sorry, but something like this? To cover my lower half,” I drew some stickman legs to show how I could put my feet through them.

”This is fine, but why would you want to hide your hindlegs? Yours seem quite nice, albeit a bit too muscular,” She responded, floating the pencil up behind her ear.

A bit too muscular…? I looked down, and yeah I had turned up the muscularity slider a bit during character creation, but it wasn't THAT muscular…

Also why would being muscular be bad? Are legs not something to hide in this world?

This world’s common sense is confusing…

“Well, either way, how much do I owe you?” To this question she seemed to light up a bit.

”Oh it's on the house dear” This time I was shocked. Is this place full of commies or something? Kidding.

“Are you sure?” She simply smiled, bringing her tape to my ankles and measuring the both of them, as well as the length of my leg to my waist.

”Of course dear! Consider it my apology for before,” She said, before continuing, ”Consider my payment the exposure you'll give me when walking around, a creature such as yourself wearing my clothing is bound to bring a few customers!”

Someone actively wanting to pay in exposure? What kind of sorcery is this? This world truly is twisted…

“¡M-Mil Gracias!” I slipped into espaniol accidentally as the words shot out of my mouth in gratitude, this Pony is so… What's the word? Oh yeah, Generous!

It's so jarring to meet someone this kind just randomly.

She seems confused at what I said but just smiles and nods, ”Though it might take a bit longer with the, what did you call them? Pants?”

“Ah yeah, no that's fine, I just want to get out of this as fast as I can,” I gesture to my leather skirt and she snickers a bit.

”I can see why, its quite the… fashion statement…” Was that supposed to be a jab at me? Whatever.

I quickly say my goodbyes and come out feeling a bit more rejuvenated.

Next is trying to find a profession…

Lets think about my skills, not the ones listed but my applicable ones.

A librarian was my first choice, but since I found out that I'm illiterate, there's no way I could…

I could try… working as a mechanic? Nobody has cars. A chef? I can't cook that well. Baker? Whilst I can bake decently and make some absolutely to-die-for brownies, it's probably not the best choice…

A waiter? Customer service isn't for me, and would probably hurt the business more than anything… What else, What else…?

I mean I could always just break bad, but that's just a last resort…

A dishwasher? Something that customers don't interact with, nor something that requires much skill, as well as a job nobody really wants to do… Perfect!

Now I just need to find somewhere that needs their dishes cleaned.

Author's Note

NEAR FIVE THOUSAND WORDS I COOKEDDDD!!!

I hope I didn't absolutely butcher Rarity's character but with the Carousel Boutique being New you can now understand where on the timeline we are. Also, can anybody guess who the pony with the retainer was? Hint, she had braces in her teens (and she's enough of a main character we have pics of her in her teens)

ALSO TYLER, THE CREATOR HOPPING ON THE HEY NOW BEAT! YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS? KENDRICK X TYLER ALBUM SOON (I'm delusional)

Listening to "That Guy" and Coast Contra on repeat writing this

ALSO YORMSKY DROPPED THREE CHAPTERS TO BLESS OUR CHRISTMAS AFTER A YEAR OF WAIT LETS GOOOO (AND SO DID CORYXKENSHIN WITH A FIRE MANGA)

Chapter 9: These Fine Lands...

{DAY 31}

Maybe I should've just stayed alone and isolated in the forest… or perhaps I should've built some modern weaponry before interacting with these ponies…

I don't know jack shit about royal etiquette or the customs of this world. What if my existence as a being without magic was somehow an affront towards their Ruler? Like God granted everyone magic and since I don't have it I must be a devil or something along those lines…

I hope not.

It doesn't help that I'm ABSOLUTELY under dressed. A single leather skirt that I had (thankfully) washed before I went to bed last night was all that protected my dignity. At least it wasn't short, being around shin length.

That was my only saving grace if I'm being honest… I'm absolutely fucked.

It's been a few hours of soaring above the clouds, just how much further is it? Or am I getting exiled out of the country or something… Not to mention, judging from the rate at which objects below me are moving, we have to be traveling many times faster than a plane…

Goodbye Ponyville treehouse library, I never even learned how to read so I wasn't able to indulge myself in you…

In another life maybe we could've become good friends…

As I mused the destruction of my nonexistent bond with an abandoned location, I looked over the edges of the chariot to see the scenery around me swiftly changing.

Somehow, I couldn't feel a twinge of air resistance against me, it didn't even feel that chilly. Two nice Pegasus stallions were pulling the carriage against the air with their wings…

Now isn't that interesting? That most definitely shouldn't not be possible with my understanding of physics…

Then again, this is another world, who's to say my understanding is the best one.

To my side, seated quite nicely was the mare in front of my door, a bit of a smug expression plastered on her face as she stared at my looks of amazement at the scenery.

”The Equestrian Empire is the most beautiful country anypony could ever visit,” She says in a haughty voice as I look over and deadpan at her, ”But this is nothing compared to the Capital, or the Canterlot Castle…”

“Mmhmm, sure,” I say, obviously uninterested in her boasting, looking back towards her to truly show how little I cared and… damn, yep, no matter how snobby, rotten or annoying, ponies are cute.

“Very humble, aren't you?” I mutter to myself as we fly over… a train!?

My eyes widen as I stare, the smoke, the sounds, the smell…

It's an engine. The first one I've seen in a while…

My eyes followed the train tracks ahead of it to see where it was going, before I was stopped by a wall. Not just a wall, I mentally zoomed out a bit as I took it all in. The snobby messenger was not wrong in the slightest…

Canterlot is absolutely stunning, a giant central circular city with hundreds of thousands of buildings and houses. Even from how high I was because of the carriage, I was only barely able to see it's edge. The streets looked like a winding and impossible to navigate yet ethereal labyrinth from above.

The greatest part was the castle that was jutting out of the cliffside, a feat of architectural engineering like no other, made of marble and stone, radiating an aura of wealth… forget the city! That cliff dwarfed the entirety of all pony made structures, reaching up twice or thrice higher than the chariot could ever reach…

I stood up in surprise, just how is any of that possible!

Shouldn't the weight of those structures destroy them entirely!? What about the square cube law!? HOW DOES ANY OF THAT MAKE SENSE!?

”D-dios Mio…” I muttered under my breath, falling back in my seat, the structures that defied every law of physics fighting against my common sense.

Just… Just how utterly huge is this place? How big… is Equestria? No, how big is this world…?

I felt all the hairs on my body raise at the question…

[Level Up! 1 —> 2]

Or from the fact we were now descending towards the ground. I did the same as we were ascending, but I gripped as hard as I could onto the chariots side, feeling the cool metal edge helped calm my monkey brain that currently thought I was free falling.

We eventually landed onto the floor and I get out slowly, my legs incredibly wobbly from the hours I spent stuck inside the chariot.

I do a few stretches to help loosen myself up a bit before cracking my neck and taking a deep breath.

“Well, mind leading the way, pendeja?” She seems to question my incredibly flattering nickname for a moment, “It's Span…Sponish for beautiful…”

She seems to buy it as she holds her head high and begins to lead me into the castle. We had landed right in the palace barracks, a sort of airplane runway lay across the ground behind us.

I turned to the two nice pegasus stallions who had brought us here and gave a small head nod of which they responded in kind, before unbuckling themselves from the chariot.

I turn back to the idiot leading me to my presumed death and sigh, following as she meanders through the barracks with relative ease.

“If you don't mind me asking, pendeja, why am I being by her majesty, Princess Celestia?” And is she even allowed to do this? It must be against SOME law…

”Well, you are supposedly an incredibly important creature! You are the first unknown sentient creature to enter Equestrian soil in over a hundred years, after all…” I can sort of understand why I would be brought to Princess Celestia. I mean, if a sentient creature unknown to humans had entered the United States, the President would be one of the first to make contact with it…

I just hope they don't put me in Pony Area 51.

The mare trotted her way up to the entrance of the castle from the barracks, a few stallions at the entrance that crossed their spears at her, before she floated a small badge from the inside of her dress out and they let us through.

The halls were wide and smelled of… expensive, I have no clue what to describe it as other than that.

The floors had a long red luxurious carpet that never seemed to end.

There were a few branching paths but the mare maneuvered her way through them with a skilled expertise, I inevitably found myself at a main hall like area with a few spiral staircases that lead up to the next floor.

From the outside it was large, but it seems most of those were to house workers and staff. As we walked up the stairs, the feeling of the soft carpeting was to die for. After over a month of walking barefoot, it seemed like heaven…

I need some shoes, good ones…

Inevitably we ended up at the front of a door, at which I prepared my mind for an encounter with the Princess…

Only for… Nothing? The room was spacious and fit for royalty, sure, but I seemed to note a distinct lack of Princess.

“Unless I'm mistaken… I don't see any Princess here…” I mean, she could be invisible… I don't know much about this place, nor what the Princess looks like or can do, so I may be sorely mistaken…

”Well of course, we have to get you ready to meet her after all!” Ready to meet…? I look at her confused as I walk into the room. The idiot claps with her two front hooves as a few stallions in butler outfits rush out of god knows where and she closes the door…

“Fuck”

What happened next could've been classified as sexual assault if it was done by a person, as one of the unicorns magically untie the rope keeping my leather skirt up and take it off, staring at it with distaste.

“H-hey! Watch what you're doing!” I shout out as I use my hand to cover up my junk, the other hand being used to keep the skirt on, “Unless you've got some pants, the skirt stays on!”

They seemed quite perplexed by my words… Right, pants don't exist here. They don't seem to mind it as the pull of their magic is greater than the grip strength of my middle-fingerless hand and they rip it off of me, throwing it onto the bed.

Wait a second… a big, royal looking bed, stripping me naked… That ominous talk about the Princess having made “arrangements”...

Don't tell me… is the Princess this world’s equivalent to a monster fucker? They're getting me prepared to go to bed with her!? I mean I've been suspecting it from a while ago due to the hints that have been dropped here and there, but it's safe to assume this world’s gender roles are switched…

So what, she has a fetish for non-pony men? Ugh… I really don't want to sleep with a horse…

As I was lost in thought about the Princess's debauchery, I felt the familiar sensation of getting pushed from behind by a pony. My hands were now completely used to hide myself as the servants came and managed to push me into the bathroom.

“I-I CAN SHOWER BY MYSELF! LEAVE, ¡PERVERTIDO!” I shout out as they seem to take the hint and all leave the bathroom with me alone.

I take a deep breath, I can guess what they wanted me to do quite easily. I don't think i smell since I've been bathing in the river but considering how I've just been using basic animal fat soap instead of the professional scented stuff they were used to, as well as the fact that I had no shampoo or conditioner so my hair was greasy as all hell, they must be wanted me in here pronto.

Also, I'm nor sure about ponies but most animals have a better sense of smell than others, so maybe I do stink to them…

I sighed and frustratedly slapped myself a bit… If push comes to shove, I'll display my distaste and she'll leave me be… worst case scenario, I can run away. I mean, how hard could it be?

I'm regretting coming here more and more by the second.

I lock the bathroom door and look over… Even the shower was massive…

The tap indicated running water and a working plumbing system, as well as a basic level of hygiene, the liquid soap near it showed they had at least basic knowledge of bacteria and the like.

I might as well use this opportunity to freshen up a bit. Properly as well.

This is the Princess’s room after all, so that means that she's paying for the water bill. Not me.

I walk into the shower and turn it on. The knows and turnable handles were very noticeably the opposite of ergonomic, at least for humans.

I managed to turn it to the correct heat, not too hot, not too cold, but a sort of lukewarm that only just bordered on turning too hot to be enjoyable.

I let my worries wash away in the flowing water as every muscle in my body relaxed.

Let's look through my system as I do this…

[Name: Darwin
Level: 2
Race: Human
Class: Scholar (Man) - Learning = EXP
Class Points: 0*

-Stats

Strength: 25 —> 25
Agility: 14 —> 14
Dexterity: 27 —> 27
Endurance: 29 —> 30
Reflex: 11 —> 11
Intelligence: 20 —> 23
Comprehension: 23 —> 25
Magical Precision: N/A
Magical Power: N/A

Bonus Points: 2

-Skills

[UNIQUE - Genius: 300% Learning Speed. 200% EXP Gain]

[UNIQUE - Unforgettable: What was once learned cannot be Unlearned. Heightened Resistance to Mental Attacks]

[Craftsmanship: Allows the user to speed up the creation of items and structures they have already made by 200%. All items you've previously made have a 100% success rate of being crafted]

[Observation: Gives you a short description of anything you want by using your own knowledge]

[Survivalism: 200% Crafting speed for items if you use tools you've made yourself]

[Danger Detection: Gives you a subtle instinctual warning whenever your life is threatened]

[Pragmatism: Removes all pain and emotions once a day for 1 minute, allowing you to think clearly without distractions]

[Mark Territory: Select a small area as your “Territory”. Animals with territorial instinct such as wolves, will avoid entering this . You will always know where your territory is]

Skill Points: 2*]

Yep, everything is normal…

Two skill points I can use… I'll save one in the bank and use the other on either Pragmatism or Danger Detection…

I should check my available skills as well while I'm at it.

[Available Skills: Enhanced Senses, Spatial Awareness, Logical Deduction, Mental Mathematics, Silver Tongue, Stamina Freak]

Now that's a pleasant surprise. Stamina Freak I'm guessing is what I got for having a high endurance and raising it through physical labour instead of getting hurt. Silver tongue… well, the phrase Silver Tongue means someone who is good at lying or flattery, I must've got it when I lied to that cute mare about the word Pendejo.

Logical Deduction I probably got from a lot of instances, Mental Mathematics… probably from me doing math to approximate Daring Do’s strength.

Hmm, there are a lot of options here, so many to choose from…

Right now I think Silver Tongue is the most useful skill I can have. After all, flattery will get you everywhere.

I looked over to the side, wondering which one of the many bottles was shampoo.

I'll just pick whatever…

This one has a mango on the label, and I like mangoes so this seems like the best choice.

I squirt a little of it into my fingertips to see if it had that strange oily feel of conditioner, and thankfully it didn't, meaning it was most likely shampoo.

I won't bore you with the details of me bathing, but after a nice half an hour of showering I left the shower and used one of the complimentary towels on the side.

Well, less thirty minutes for a shower, more fifteen minutes of showering and fifteen minutes of enjoying the heat.

I open up the door slowly, peeking out to see if those impatient stallions were still outside, before sighing and running my hand through my hair.

It had grown out quite nicely to around a little below my chin, and I kinda looked like a wet cat from what I saw in the mirror, my hair weighed down by the water.

Now that I look at it properly, it was a thousand times longer than before... Once it grows out a bit more and I get the time I should try to style it… Maybe cornrows? Braids also seem nice…

Whatever, I walk out the door, towel around my waist as I quickly change it for my leather skirt that was still on the bed.

The room was empty, those stallions must've left when I said I could shower by myself. I'm assuming they just think of me as a primitive individual who didn't know how to use the bathroom.

I used the towel to dry off my hair a bit, by the time I was done it had fluffed and curled up to my eyebrows.

Walking to the door, I opened it to see the blue pony yet again.

“What was all that about?” I ask as she snickers to herself.

”You are meeting the ruler of our glorious country, of course you'll have to look your best…” She replies as if it was obvious, which it was.

“And that's all this is, right? A meeting? Nothing more, nothing less?” I ask as she turns her head in confusion like a puppy…

”Why of course! What else could it be?” That seemed genuine so maybe I was jumping to conclusions before…”Now, would you please follow me?”

This Pony… she's a bit gullible and arrogant when it comes to Equestria but she doesn't seem like a bad person… pony.

I sigh, and bring myself to follow her as she walks down the stairs. Honestly the castle was so large that I kinda forgot how many twists and turns we made before we ended up in some sort of garden area.

A variety of different flora I had never seen before scattered around in utterly astonishing patterns, like a sea of petals and colour's.

There was a small pitch black obsidian gazebo-like structure at the centre of the garden, a single path of stone leading towards it, sitting down and sipping on a cup of tea being a large, pure white pony Unicorn… No, she has wings as well.

A mane of flowing greens, blues and pinks that seemed to move majestically even without the help of wind, sparkling spots all around it.

A golden tiara on her head and some strange large iron necklace made of gold as well… but this gold was strange, it seemed a much lighter shade than regular gold, same with the tiara…

Not to mention her horn isn't Proportionate, it's instead many times longer, same with her wings, though it was hard to tell with them folded by her side. The teacup floated effortlessly to her lips as she took a sip and brang it back down, the porcelain clattering against the plate.

Her eyes were closed and she seemed to be incredibly serene at the moment, a regular light blue stallion pony unicorn by her side, refilling her cup by lifting the teapot.

It looked like a scene straight out of a painting.

She seemed to acknowledge my pretense and open her violet eyes, as they slowly drifted towards me, a soothing smile on her face.

I nodded my head as a similarly calm smile appeared on my face.

I walked forwards and took what I presumed to be my seat.

The stallion beside who I presumed to be Celestia poured me some tea as I nod at him, adding two sugar cubes from the tea set laid out and a bit of milk from the creamer.

”Might I say, your Majesty, you seem incredibly pendeja today,” Said the blue mare by my side. Now that I think about it, this mare and that stallion have basically the exact same shade of blue on their coat, the only difference was their mane, ”Ah, pendeja means-”

I continued to smile, taking a sip from my cup before Celestia interrupted.

”Yo sé lo que significa pendeja,” As she spoke, I did a spit take to my side, coughing out the tea that had traveled down the wrong pipe as I saw the Princess look at me with a hint of mischief in her eyes, ”It seems our guest is quite the prankster, isn’t he?”

A nervous grin framed my figure as I stiffened up a little.

“Haha, will I assure you I was just having a bit of fun, amiga,” She raises her eyebrow in response, “But beside that, I would like to know why such a prestigious pony such as yourself call a meager Scholar like me.”

Might as well own up to that Scholar title I gave myself.

Chapter 10: ...And their Equally Fine Ruler

{DAY 31}

”Well, I just thought it be imperative to strengthen the relations between our species, after all, throughout my entire life, or through all of our books, we have never even heard of your species,” I just laugh a bit waving away the comment.

“There's no need, after all I'm the only human on this world,” She stares at my with a bit of concern as I take a sip of my drink, “And it's not because all of us are extinct or something, more like I'm the only one to be brought here…”

”Do you mean to say you come from the Distant Lands?” a new location? Where would that be…

“Ah, no, believe me if you wish to but I am not of this world,” The concern turns into doubt, to finally acceptance.

”Alright, I suspect you're not lying…” Huh? So easily?

“Huh? So easily?” Wait, did I just say that out loud…

”Well for one, from what I heard, you don't have a Thaumaturgical System, do you?” I sigh, staring into my cup, swishing the liquid inside as I lean back a little.

“No, I don’t,” I say, looking up from the cup to her to see her silently stare for a bit before the Unicorn by her side backed off in fear.

”It seems your telling the truth…” The Unicorn came back with a relieved expression, as I turn to the mare who was still by my side to her have the exact same expression, ”Considering the fact you're not reacting…”

Reacting? Reacting to what?

She seems to pick up on my confusion and brushes it off.

“What does not having a thaumaturgical system have to do with me being truthful?” I ask.

”Well it all comes down to the nature of magic. Every creature needs magic to survive, as magic is the energy of harmony materialized,” She explains, taking a sip of her tea, ”So all creatures can see magic, however, Ponies are the only ones who can utilize magic at will because they are the most harmonious creatures in all of Equestria. ”

That checks out… Humans aren't really known for being lovey lovey kindness bombs. Sure there are people who are like that, but it's not the majority.

“So…?”

”If a creature has no thaumaturgical system, it means they aren't harmonious. The reason harmony is needed for a species to survive is not because it’s necessary to be alive, but because creatures without it would have all killed each other and caused a self-extinction… Which means you couldn’t have possibly come from a world with the same laws as this one,” So essentially, magic is a byproduct of Harmony, and not its own thing… Is that why the ponies have been so kind? Because they're evolved to be harmonious? And the reason no other species exists is because…

“Well that doesn't seem right…” I murmur, and she seems to pick on it as she smiles.

”And why is that?” She responds in a questioning tone, as if probing me for an answer she already knows.

“Well, for one, isn't that outlook quite pessimistic?” I try to respond politely but I'm not sure if that came out as conceited…

”How so?” She takes another sip of her tea as a look that I could recognise anywhere displayed itself on her face. Curiosity.

“What you said aligns with a psychological and moral dilemma. Nurture vs Nature, aren't all individuals unique with free will? No two people, or ponies, are the exact same, even if they have similar Cutie Marks,” I close my eyes in a bit of thought as I think of my wording, “But if harmony is native to the race then shouldn't there be no bad ponies? I don't know much about your history or laws, but I assume murder is illegal, yes?”

”Yes it is, why?” She seemed a bit taken aback by my question.

“Well, the only reason murder is Illegal is because someone, or rather somepony, has killed another pony within your history. If ponies were as you said and the most harmonious being alive then such a thing shouldn't happen,” I take a sip of my tea before some words roll out of my mouth before I could stop, “To me it just sounds like your trying to arrogantly place yourself at the top of the moral hierarchy.”

It was much too late for me to stop. That dirty habit of talking too much had finally caught up with me now, and it's even worse since I haven't talked to somebody for so long.

It took a few seconds for me to realise that I had just called out an entire race’s ideological issues in front of their ruler's face.

I feel two glares from both my side and in front of me, probably from the two ponies also at this meeting.

I was about to apologize and correct myself before I heard something rather strange.

Laughter.

”Pfft-” I looked up to see Princess Celestia struggling to hold down a laugh, looking down and to the side away from me, a more innocent smile plastered on her face. It took a few moments but I heard her take a breath and she returned to normal as if nothing had happened, still wearing that innocent smile, ”Is that truly how it seems from an outside perspective?”

“Well… you may have said that I'm a prankster, but I don't really lie with this kinda stuff,” I seemed to have piqued her interest yet again as she responds.

”And what would ‘this kind of stuff’ be?” I stop myself as I begin to think.

“Hm… It's hard to explain? You asked for my opinion on newfound knowledge, so of course I would give it,” I don't forget to apologize though, “Oh and I'm sorry for what I said, sometimes my mouth moves faster than my brain and I just end up leaking my inner thoughts…”

She stares at me for a good moment, sucessfully stifling the laugh this time before I think over my words. I basically just confirmed that what I said was my true, honest to god opinion. Which they were, but it would’ve been better if she didn’t know that. She was also seemingly mentally weighing the pros and cons before asking me a question.

”...How would you like a job?” She smiled in a more motherly way as she continued, ”From what I've seen from your visa request, you seem to call yourself a Wandering Scholar, correct?”

“It's a bit of a self-imposed title, but it's the one that describes what I do the best…” This quickly went from a meeting between two unfamiliar species, to a ideological debate, to a job interview real quick. What's next? A marriage request?

”Would you like for me to officiate that title?” It didn't seem all that important, but the stallion by her side went wide eye'd and looked between the two of us in shock.

”Your majesty, you wouldnt possibly be thinking of giving a non-pony…” He was halted mid sentence with Celestia raising a hoof.

I was still completely lost though.

”You see, due to some circumstances, the castle is currently lacking one of our twelve Royal Scholars, do you think you would be up to the task?” Less a job interview more a proposition… unless, has this entire meeting been a way of interviewing me for such a position? Just how far ahead did she plan since seeing my request? It's only been a single day… from a logistical standpoint, that alone is rather… frightening.

Stop! Victor, what's happening right now? Your getting swept up in Celestia’s flow, rather the power of this conversation is in her favour…

How can I take control from someone who is so skilled at directing the flow of conversation? I’m just a kind of anti-social nerd! One who’s only conversation for the past month has been with themself!

Think, Victor, Think! Wait, that's right! The best course of action is to think everything out clearly, with complete disregard for the power difference. To do that, I need to not be afraid of her position.

And for that to happen…

”Pragmatism”

I feel myself get ejected from my body, viewing the scene at an almost second person perspective. Like being a passenger in a car with a guy who mumbles out everything. I could hear every single one of my thoughts clearly, but it felt as if I had no sway on them. Merely a passenger.

I felt an almost thick and suffocating mask of emotion flash on my face.

“Judging by the fact that it has ‘Royal’ in the name, I'm guessing it's quite the prestigious title? As well as quite the important one if you are resorting to hiring non-ponies for the job…” I need to sway the conversation in my favour, list out why I am the one in charge of the conversation, “Are you lacking non-Royal Scholars who can take the position instead perhaps? Or rather are you lacking talented individuals?”

”Oh… quite the bold claim. I am simply displaying the ‘arrogant’ Harmony that allows my people to use magic, is that so bad?” She's trying to resolidify her stance as the one in power here… good, I think I can make use of this, ”Frankly I decided to grace you with such an opportunity out of pity, if you do not wish for the position, I have hundreds of ponies more than willing to take up the offer.”

“...Princess Celestia, from what I've seen you are an impeccable ruler,” She doesn't show it, but I could see a hint of boredom poke through her facade, “Which is why I know you will be willing to do anything to get your hands on something that can help your citizens.”

The boredom fades. All that's left is curiosity. Judging from her character and position, she's been flattered too much for it to really do anything to her at this point, however…

”I would like to believe I would,” She questions me with a smile, ”Why?”

“One Month,” What I am doing isn't flattery, “Within one month, assuming you give me the resources, I will create something that you couldn't imagine, even in your wildest dreams.”

It's a challenge.

“Something that no Scholar within your expansive kingdom would ever hope to create.”

”And what is this creation?” She asks with genuine curiosity.

“A machine that can store and sort hundreds of thousands of different pieces of information, be able to solve complex calculations within mere seconds, all whilst being able to fit onto a singular desk,” Yes that's right, what I'm proposing…

Is a computer.

”Your majesty, if I may, you cant possibly be expected to believe that, can you?” The Stallion beside her looks frazzled, completely unable to trust a single word I said. Celestia was about to intervene but I stopped her by doing it first.

“And what would I need to do in order to be believed? For me to make it?” The stallion seemed a bit stumped, but Celestia soon came in help him.

”I can see there being problems about this in the future… so the best way to remove any possibility of such arguments in the future…” I picked up on her insinuation and thought it through mentally.

“The best way to squash opposition into submission is a display of undeniable ability,” Celestia nodded, seemingly having come to the same conclusion.

”Then it's settled. Within exactly one week, you will face off against one of the current Royal Scholars in a friendly Mental Match,” She states it as fact and leaves it be, ”Until then, Victor will be staying in the guest room of the Royal Castle with full access to the Castle Library in a matter of fairness.”

“That's fine, Your Majesty, but…” She stops me and begins to speak again.

”Yes, from what I know you can’t read Equish, correct? If that’s so you will be provided with a temporary translator,” I nod my head, before I stop for a second…

“Your Majesty, if I may request, can I have a Tutor to learn Equish instead of a translator?” She seems quite confused by my request.

”Accepted, however that doesn't seem to be very beneficial for you…” I take a sip of my tea, leaning back with a facade of confidence.

“It's fine. I'll learn it all in a week.”

Walking into the guest room, I saw the blue mare in a dress leave behind me with a conflicted look.

I had to feign emotion in order to not allow for Celestia to pick up on anything, but there was a small sliver of time where Pragmatism was completely unhindered. Thankfully it had turned off as I walked over here.

It's a scary skill, that's for sure. The "Me” affected by Pragmatism is able to accurately assess and read people like a book, it takes every piece of information in my brain and utilizes it all at once on literally everything in order to not miss anything.

No matter how obscure… out in the forest, I never noticed it, but in this social situation, every single one of my thoughts were so… detailed.

My head was throbbing so incredibly bad. Like my very brain was going to explode if I thought any more…

This didn't happen when I was cauterizing my finger, but it hurts…

Why is it happening now but not then?

That's right! I was in a social situation… the thoughts of another sentient creature are very complex and I was using every single ounce of mental energy I had into predicting them, for the sole purpose of getting the most beneficial deal.

There were some things I regret about the meeting though, for example those shitty promises…

Through Pragmatism me, now dubbed “Prag-Victor”, I was able to assume that one month would be plenty of time to create a computer, especially when I would have the full support of an entire kingdom backing me up. Same with language, because of how many letters repeat in the texts I've seen so far, he deduced that the Ponish script is basically just heavily modified English.

I hear a knock on my door as I turn and open It to reveal a rather average sized violet Unicorn mare, a mane of a deep navy blue with two singular rose pink and dark purple stripes.

That's not the only thing on her flank though, as sitting there with a scroll in one claw and quill in the other was a small scaly child of a similar colour, bright green fins going up their spine and onto their skull. A look of frazzled dismay.

She was breathing heavily, a near manic look on her face. She was out of breath, obviously, but why…? Was she rushing over here for some reason?

”Is…It…True…?” I heard the pony whisper between deep breaths.

“...What?” I manage to edge out, a sense of strange dread overcoming me, as my sixth sense goes haywire. It was different from danger detection, this was more of a natural response than a skill.

The strange pony dashed forwards, cushion both of my cheeks with her hooves and bringing my face closer to hers as sweat drops down my forehead, "IS IT TRUE!?”

She shouted at near the top of her lungs, a set of incredibly excited eyes locking onto mine as I wince at the loud noise, my eardrums felt like they were going to rupture, and it certainly didn't help my headache…

I quickly swat away her hooves with my hands pulling away, her physical strength was nothing to laugh at but it turns out I had the advantage when it came to that, compared to her at least.

“Is what true!?” I manage to shout out, before an even more important, “Who even are you!?”

”My name is Twilight Sparkle,” She rushed through her introduction before gesturing to her back, ”And this is Spike, my assistant.”

”Don't mind her, she's just a bit…” The Lizard child trailed off, seemingly unable to find the words to describe her state.

I look down at her face, not an ounce of shame as she looks at me up and down with dull eyes.

Oh yeah. I know that look. Second time I've said that today, but it's true. Now that I say it… Those two are basically carbon copies arent they? At least in terms of personality. probably due Celestia's position as a Princess, she's much better at hiding it.

They both have the same curiosity. That strange internal, gnawing feeling to understand something in full. I could respect it, as well as understand it. I'm the exact same after all.

”I heard you didn’ have a thaumaturgical system…” She seemed to have regained a bit of her composure, a little less frantic but a heavy ounce of anticipation audible in her voice, ”Is it true?”

I was considering whether I should answer or not. But restricting information isn't really my style, so I decided against it.

“It’s true,” I give space for her to enter my room as I sit down on my bed. Thankfully my skirt was long enough for nothing to be visible even when sitting down. That wolf was really clutch… in more ways than one.

”Oh I have SO many questions!” She spoke with an air of restrained insanity… not really but it's a good descriptor, ”How are you alive without being able to absorb ambient Mana? What are those markings all over you? Are those wings on your back a cutie mark? How do you have one when your not a pony? When you don't have Mana? Why does one appendage have less flesh claws than the other? Why-”

I raise my hand and stop her momentum, as she simply just waits impatiently.

My head hurt so much… Holy hell, the throbbing just wouldn't stop. It felt like my brain was trying to bash through my skull with a rock. Whilst being stabbed half to death by a spear.

She really wasn't making it any better. Her incessant noise was causing it to get worse by the second. The throbbing pain seemed to match up perfectly with my own heartbeat as I winced a bit.

She seemed to notice this, as her voice died down and she gestured for Spike to get off, whispering something in his ear as he nodded and left the room.

I dont know how much time passed to be honest, but heard footsteps and my eyes landed on Spike’s claws gripping a cup of ice water out in front of me. I give my own regards with a nod and take the drink, gulping it down swiftly.

It seemed to help as the searing pain died down back to an ache.

I sit up, taking a deep breath before slapping myself awake. That specific action seemed to start both Twilight and Spike.

“What was the first question again? Mind if you elaborate?” She seemed quite concerned for my well being before she slowly began to speak.

”Are you sure…? You don’t seem well…” I look at her with eyes full of excitement, reciprocating her curiosity with my own.

Insanity breeds Insanity, Chaos breeds Chaos, Violence breeds Violence and Curiosity breeds Curiosity. She had caused my own curiosity to flare up with her questions. I already had some things that needed answering but I didn't really have the opportunity to ask till now.

“I promise I'm fine. However, If I answer your questions, I need you to do the same,” She nods her head reluctantly, a small glimmer of guilt on her face.

”Ah, yes… How are you alive without being able to absorb the ambient Mana? Creatures use their thaumaturgical system to take in Mana from the surroundings by breathing,” She explained, quickly discarding the guilt, ”They then use this ambient Mana to power their beating hearts, but you don't have one and are still alive, how?”

I think a bit. What she just described what basically just breathing normally… if they talk about magic I should trust it, right? After all I don't know anything about it… But if this ‘Magic’ answer is just a misunderstanding without understanding the fundamentals of respiration…

“You mind if I ask a question?” She nods her head, “Do ponies cough when exposed to smoke?”

”No, why would they?” So it's not a misunderstanding but actual knowledge…Wait does this mean ponies don't need oxygen to survive? They only need ambient Mana?

“Well, you see, Humans respire by breathing, like ponies, however we don't absorb Mana. Instead we take in oxygen, a natural element in the air, and have that diffuse into our blood, which we then use, much like mana, to power our muscles and heart,” If ponies respire using mana, then do they have blood? Perhaps Mana works like oxygen in that respect, “I asked about smoke because smoke has Carbon Dioxide, where Carbon, another element, and Oxygen combine. Since Humans can't process it, we cough, trying to expell the harmful compound.”

”Fascinating… I’ve never heard of such a thing…” She says with a look of intrigue.

“I mean that's to be expected. Outside of Magic, ponies seem to be…” I decide not to finish my sentence, “Well either way, next question?”

I spent the rest of my time answering and asking questions. Most of them being of the developmental state of this world. Asking if various items rang a bell in her head, if she recognised any mathematical theroms and such. The reason I'm trusting Twilight to give an accurate answer is due to the fact that she was curious. She seemed to be quite intelligent, as well as open to new ideas. The most surprising fact that I found, however, was the absolutely abysmal state of Equestrian Mathematics.

I assumed they would know a thing or two because they have trains, but turns out this place is heavily reliant on magic, probably causing an extremely stunted growth in STEM fields, even economics were sloppy…

I had asked if she had any idea about Supply and Demand, and nothing.

Remember how I said Equestrian Mathematics are abysmal? I asked her a simple mathematical question, 1768 + 1947, and she couldn't get it, no matter how much time I gave. I thought that maybe a more geometrical approach was nessecary, so I asked for the formula for the Area of a Circle… and she said she didn't know.

I asked if she knew what Pi was and she told me about the food. And finally, something that explained all of this…

Equestria, or rather ponies in general, have only really had a society for around 3000 years. Genuinely. Right now, Equestria is the Earth equivalent to Babylon.

And my last question, was something I actually needed to know. “What was a Mental Match”. Celestia had talked about me having one with a Royal Scholar to see if I was eligible to become one and the answer is quite exciting. Essentially, it's the same as a Renaissance Mathematics Challange.

If you didn't know, Mathematicians in the Renaissance had it incredibly hard. At any point in time they could be challenged to another mathematician. Where they would send each other a few questions, and whoever got the most answers correct won. Winning either fame, or their job security. If they lost, well… shame and humiliation was all that faced them.

However because of the nature of Equestrian Mathematics, all of the questions they ask would be able to be solved eventually within the time frame, so instead they give each other the questions in front of a government official, in this case Celestia, and they have to solve all the questions within a time limit.

So basically the world's most important pop quiz.

Either way… It seems that this is going to be way too easy…

All I gotta do is learn their number and mathematical symbol system, and I'm grunted to win.

Whilst the information was nice, there was something equally good that I got from this encounter.

[Level Up! 2 —> 3]

Author's Note

ARGGHHHHHH

It's technically not the next week so I'm SAFE! I'm so cool for keeping a "consistent" schedule.

The next few chapters are gonna have boring Mathematic/linguistic/nerd stuff that's integral to the plot so if u don't like that, SORRY!

Chapter 11: Linguistics and Gifts

Author's Note

Trying something different this chapter!

The text will be a little easier to read for our light mode brethren.

To put it simply, only the first line from a character will be coloured.

Example:

(Original)

"I like Cake," Said Celestia, "And Not helping Twilight protect Equestria from world ending events!"

"I really wish you would though..." The words released from Twilights lips beneath her breath, followed by an exasperated sigh.

Celestia's ears perked up, noticing her student's objection and smiling, "NEVER!"

"Why am I here?" Twilight let out, "Just to suffer?"

(New Version)

"I like Cake," Said Celestia, "And Not helping Twilight protect Equestria from world ending events!"

"I really wish you would though..." The words released from Twilights lips beneath her breath, followed by an exasperated sigh.

Celestia's ears perked up, noticing her student's objection and smiling, "NEVER!"

"Why am I here?" Twilight let out, "Just to suffer?"

EXTRA:

POLL go check it out and vote

Chapter 11: Linguistics and Gifts

{DAY 31}

I stop for a moment, before looking over to Spike's face and squinting slightly

“So what's with the Lizard?” There was a small awkward silence as I asked the question before I heard a slightly aggravated voice respond.

”For your information, I'm a dragon, not a lizard.” I raise an eyebrow and smile a bit.

“Huh, really? Where I'm from, Dragons are considered mythological creatures, with some cultures treating them as deities… To think the first dragon I see is so…” Twilight seemed a bit interested by my comment, before Spike spoke up.

”T-that's just ‘cuz I’m still growing!” I snicker a bit at Spike's response, as Twilight simply smiles at him.

It's been a few hours of the both of us chatting. Spike hadn't really been all that included, having zoned out a quarterway through our conversation. And I don't blame him. To most people what we're talking about is quite mundane. Keyword most. You couldn't even imagine how much Twilight’s eyes sparkled when I said that the markings on my body are in fact scars. She had known of them, and only ever had drawings from her textbooks, never having seen the real deal. Also the concepts of tattoos don’t exist here. Makes sense when you have fur though, but I won't be able to get any new ones for a while sadly…

Honestly, I kinda wanted to chat with Twilight a bit more but she apparently forgot that she was supposed to be overseeing an event of some kind.

She called it the “Summer Sun Celebration”.

Apparently it's being held here in Canterlot, so that'll be fun.

I think it's time to upgrade my status a bit now…

I have three skill points. I ended up not needing to get Silver Tongue for the meeting. The plan was to get it if things went out of hand, but thankfully they didn't so I saved some.

Now, I didn't really have to worry about the Mental Match between a Royal Scholar, so my focus was currently on something else.

The computer.

Now, initially I had trouble deciding if I should actually promise a computer or not, but there is something more with it. After all, in a world like this, a machine capable of advanced mathematics would be more novel than anything else, which is why I'm not just aiming for one of those old punch-card Binary computers, but something a bit more advanced.

Not a modern day computer, no, trying to go from the medieval times to the 21st century in a single month is a bit too much… at least for normal people.

What I'm going for was the absolutely Ancient level of Windows 95. Whilst slow, it was capable of organizing, storing and finding information at speeds many times that of a human.

Now, this may seem like just as impossible of a task, however, there is one thing you shouldn't forget.

That is, of course, the fact that I'm practically cheating.

I was promised the full support of the kingdom, so I expect the full support of the kingdom. That means materials aren't a problem. Crafting isn't a problem. The only thing that's needed are blueprints…

For things like wire, I already have a few ideas of how to make them. Simply put, one month may have been too much time.

That isn't even beginning to mention the biggest cheat of all…

THE SYSTEM!

I think it's about time I invest my skill points. Not on new skills, but rather in upgrading skills.

First skill to be upgraded is-

[Craftsmanship: Allows the user to speed up the creation of all items and structures by 300%. All items you've previously made have a 100% success rate of being crafted]

Nice!

Next is…

[Mark Territory: Select two small areas as your “Territory”. Animals with territorial instinct such as wolves, will avoid entering this area. You will always know where your territory is. 200% Crafting Speed in Territory]

And my third skill point is going into, you guessed it, the bank. You never know when you have a new skill you need Urgently.

Now, the grade for both Mark Territory and Craftsmanship are a thousand times better than what i was hoping for! With Craftsmanship, i just wanted to speed up the creation of more tedious and repetitive tasks, but now I've got a speed increase for everything! And Mark Territory was a bit of a gamble, I wanted to increase my territory size so I can place a territory here in the Castle so I can find a way back to my room whenever but the crafting boost is INCREDIBLY welcome!

Now, collectively thats a six times crafting speed boost for EVERYTHING! And a 12 times boost if i make it from myself befause of survivalism! As long as it's built within my territory…

Which I soon placed here in my guest room.

Even though I'm cheating, it's still going to be one hell of a time crunch. Most of it is material science after all.

I looked outside the window and… yeah it's almost turning night now.

I guess I can relax now-

*KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK*

Huh? Who's that?

I walked my way to the door and open It up for the second time today.

Standing outside was a unicorn mare of shorter, more stout stature, a little chubby, but in a cute way. With a well groomed, almost flesh-like light pink coat with a short chalky bone mane. She seemed to be on the older side, perhaps around the same age as Strawberry Sundae, still holding that unique motherly nature in her voice as she spoke. The saddlebag strapped to her bag held a variety of different books as well as a single scroll of parchment.

”Hello, I am Berry Bourbon, your new Ponish…” She initially was looking a little up, where a regular Pony's face might be, but it took a while for her to register that she wasn't teaching a regular pony. Or a pony at all, ”...T-tutor.”

She seemed to trip over her words in a rather cute manner, as I simply smiled and made way for her to enter. It may be a bit dark, but there's no time like the present when it comes to learning!

The first thing I noticed was her Cutie Mark. A collection of red berries filling up an empty glass… Her name is bourbon so liquor? Oh my god, THEY'VE GOT BOOZE!?

I don't know why I thought they wouldn't, but for once I'm thankful for being brought here.

Wait, aren't Cutie Marks supposed to be related to your job? Why would someone whose Mark, what I'm assuming at least, is related to alcohol tutoring me into writing Ponish?

She seemed to spot my confusion and quickly gathered her courage to speak.

“Y-you see, my family owns a Winery, but my Older Sister had inherited it, so I decided to go a different path…” She seemed like she was preparing for some sort of questioning due to her vague answer but I didn't really mind. When it comes to teaching me, anypony works, whether their Cutie Mark helps or not.

”Well, you probably know this already, but my name is Victor De La Cruz, but you all can just call me Victor, there's no need for formalities,” She nods in understanding and smiles slightly, a little less tense now.

”Well, now that we're done with the introductions, it's time to begin with the lesson,” She says as she floats the scroll out of her saddle bag and out in front of me.

Inscribed in ink was a variety of symbols I had recognized from before. The Ponish script.

I furrow my brows as I stare.

The first thing I noticed was the resemblance to both Sanskrit and Korean Hangul writing systems.

It was quite beautiful, Composed of straight lines and circles, almost sci-fi in nature.

At the moment, it was quite utterly incomprehensible. But not for long, as I began to mentally categorize the script. Initially I had noticed around 16 different symbols that had included circles, and 22 symbols that didn't.

Isn't this supposed to be a modified English text? I mean it should be considering the language but it's not even close…

If it was truly English then it would've had the same number of letters, but this has 38…

But this is interesting, the script seems to have two repeating parts. A top part and a bottom part. These two seem to be part of a set group of possibilities with 5 total top parts and 7 bottom parts…

C'mon these have to mean something…!

”I feel like today we should try working on memorizing all of the alphabet before we begin with writing,” She says, with an obvious amount of experience, yet there was a motherly tone behind it. She seemed to have gotten a bit more comfortable, her tone less guarded.

“Yeah, sure…” I mentally wave her away a bit as I continue to focus on the letters.

”...If you're trying to learn it by yourself, you should know that it's near impossible-” I interrupted her, pointing to three different letters with the same bottom piece but different top pieces, before speaking.

“Hey, what are these ones?” She seems a bit surprised before rolling her eyes and answering with a more annoyed tone.

”Thats, B, D and E,” I immediately begin to write that down, before stopping and realizing I don't have a pen.

I look over to her, but she simply let out a sigh, almost as if saying “I should've expected this”, before handing me a quill from her bag.

I immediately flip the scroll over and write down all the notes I had made mentally whilst looking over the paper.

Those three letters I picked had the same bottom and therefore sounded the same…

Is it perhaps pronunciation? If that's the case then this makes sense!

These 16 symbols with circles are for the 16 different vowel pronunciations within English, and the rest would be the consonants.

If what I'm thinking is correct then this is an absolutely ingenious way of writing…

You see, the top segment is probably the place of articulation, where to put your tongue, and the bottom part is the manner of articulation, how to use your tongue…

I begin listing out everything.

“Hey, you mind giving me that?” I ask, not looking over and pointing over to the book in her saddlebag. She floated it over to me and into my open palm as I opened it up to a random page and began to decode it using the letters I already knew and context clues. This gave me more letters, letting me decode more, giving more context clues… and it wasn't long before I finished writing out my cheat sheet.

“That was easy,” I say, holding out my arm, the book in my hand as she just stares with her mouth agape.

”D-did you just…” I wave her off a bit, “I mean, I know you're a Scholar, but I didn't expect…”

“Oh chill out a bit, I'm a fluent vocal speaker and your language is incredibly intuitive with its shapes literally telling me what the letter is, it would’ve been weirder if I couldn't translate this fast,” That was much faster than expected… mostly because of the Ponish’s nature but even then it would take me a good bit of time to figure this out normally…

Oh yeah, I have Genius. 300% Learning Speed FTW!

It seems I found out why she expected me to try, and fail, in decoding this myself. She spoke of me as a Scholar, so perhaps she thought that I was just being stuck up and not letting some random pony teach me.

“Either way, I still haven't memorized it, that'll take me the rest of this week,” I predicted, but with genius it'll probably take a third of the time.

My initial prediction of learning everything in a week didn't take Genius into account. I am a bit of a genius, even without the system. Whilst that may sound conceited, it's accurate.

Now what to do with the downtime…?

Well, I should probably first get my down time…

{DAY 34}

It's the third day I've spent at the royal palace.

Memorizing the Ponish script wasn't hard, all I had to do was replace some words mentally. I couldn't read fluently yet, but it was fast enough to be done mentally. I spent most of my time reading texts and learning more about this world as a whole.

The world, which I now know is called Equis, is devised into two distinct supercontinents. Each being approximately the size of Pangea.

The land where I was residing in currently was also, frustratingly, called “Equis” and the other is only known by one name. “The Distant Lands”

There aren't any records of The Distant Lands, and everypony who I try to question about it simply doesn't care all that much about it. It's like asking a medieval person what's on the moon. The only answer you'd get is “Rocks”. Bad example but you get the point right?

The Distant Lands is a place rid of Harmony, where thousands of species live. Because of the nature of there being little Harmony, they haven't been able to establish kingdoms over there. And unlike Europe and America, Equestria simply can't conquer The Distant Lands because every single species there is outright monstrous. Or so I've heard.

It's said that a single creature from the Distant Lands is powerful enough to take on the average ponish military platoon with ease…

Most of my reading was done on the geography of Equis (The World) in order to understand it better. Because of my slow reading speed, during this time I was only able to get halfway through a single book…

The old me would have finished it in a single sitting. An all nighter sure, but still a single sitting. If only they wrote in English, then I'd be practically unstoppable.

I did get something quite important out of this though, that being level ups. And not just one, not just two…

BUT THREE WHOLE LEVEL UPS!

[Level Up! 3 —> 6]

Because I didn't really have a need to increase my Endurance, considering the fact that I've already surpassed the need for strenuous activities with my soon-to-be Royal Scholar position, so the Stat points are better spent somewhere else.

Though I do feel a little off from leaving my home alone for so long…

Whatever, focus on the here and the now. Stat points…

Intelligence? Four entire Stat points in it seems great, especially considering the fact I'm going to be a Scholar but…

Hmm, it doesn't seem right. Okay, I'll go for a safe option. Increasing my lowest Stat.

[Reflex 11 —> 15]

Beautiful.

I also have three more skill points. I'll be saving those for later though, never know when you may need new Skills.

*KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK*

I walk over and look down, preparing to perhaps meet Twilight again, or maybe Bourbon decided to come over for some tea. She's meant to be teaching me, but there isn't really much she CAN teach me so she usually heads over as an excuse to skip out on other duties.

A bit naughty of her but I'm not one to snitch.

Instead, the figure I saw was tall mate.

Tall, white, with a mane of different flowing greens, purples and blues. A bit on the rounder side but it was cute so I'm not complaining.

Yes, you know who it is. Everypony's favourite Spanish speaking Alicorn, Celestia herself.

Wonderful.

”Good Morning, Victor De La Cruz,” She spoke with a serene smile on her face, her tone open and consistent, ”I do hope everything has been good these past few days.”

“Well, this place is over a thousand times better where I used to live, and it makes quite a nice temporary residence,” I say, mulling over my words as I speak, “However… no nevermind.”

She raises a brow and questioned what I was going to say, walking into the room, “Oh? Really? You can be comfortable with me, Victor, I don't bite.”

I let out a small chuckle, trying not to make it sound too forced as I brush over the subject, “Well, anyhow, what would a prestigious figure such as yourself be doing here?”

“I only came to drop off a gift, something that will make your transition into living within Equestria more… manageable,” She floated a small string necklace towards me, a strange rune inscribed into its black gemstone surface, completely unlike the Ponish script… I took it and felt…

Heat.

It was really hot. Scalding even. But it didn't really hurt, just a bit mildly uncomfortable.

“Thanks… what is it?” I say, putting it around my neck.

“It's a necklace,” She says with a smile, obviously a bit, before taking a deep breath and closing her eyes.

The gem rapidly heated up, it burned and hurt. Really hurt.

I quickly moved my hand to its string to get it off my chest, but it was practically glued there. I was unable to move it no matter how much power I used.

“FUCK!” I let out a curse as I burnt the palms of my hand trying to rip it off. Thankfully, it slowly cooled down back to its original heat as a horrible stinging sensation rang out across my chest.

I was finally able to rip it off of my as I heaved, Celestia doing the same. I tried to withhold myself but I let out a glare at her.

“What was that…” My voice was low and seeping with distrust as I took a small step back, prepared to book it out the window if anything were to happen.

“...I apologize for the heat, but it was simply a necessity in order for the magic within it to work,” She explained calmly, her voice edging a hint of genuine grief, “However I assure you that it would not bring you any permanent harm.”

I sigh and look over at the necklace in the palm of my hand. It was ice cold to the touch, freezing a bit of the air around it.

“And what was the magic within it…?” She gestured for me to put it on as I did, before she came forward and tapped it twice on my chest.

The necklace heated up yet again, and I was preparing to rip it off before my vision was obscured by a small tornado of golden flames. They were lukewarm, not hurting in the slightest as the necklace was manageably the same temperature.

It only lasted a fraction of a second but I suddenly felt something strange. The centre of my gravity being shifted in an obscure manner. I immediately landed straight on my ass. It didn't feel like that bad of a landing though, as if I was cushioned. However I did feel an awkward pain, as if I landed on my ankle wrong, but closer to the end of my spine.

I saw Celestia wince at it, before letting out a breath she had been holding.

I looked over to my hands, only to see… Nothing?

my left hand was flat and thick. I knew what it was, I had seen it quite a few times in this world.

A hoof.

I slowly raise myself and look into the nearby full length mirror in the corner, a strange sight meeting me.

With large golden eyes… I recognised them, yet they had a sort of uncanny valley effect. They were mine.

Those eyes wandered around to view my entire figure, mentally zooming out a bit.

My coat was a light shade of brown, like my original skin colour, with a mane of black curly strands. It was undeniably me.

Yet so… different?

I was an Earth Pony (Something I had learned in a book), with no horn or wings but a nice muscular figure. I was tall for a pony, reaching up to around Celestia's chin at my highest point. On my rear, a cutie mark of a pair of wings. It was the exact same as the tattoo on my back with no real color, purely an outline.

The most interest factor however was the large deep gash in my right hoof, the same one I lost my finger on. There was an entire segment lost in a jagged fashion.

I could see what was causing my discomfort, I was currently sitting awkwardly on my tail. It took a while before I stood up a bit with shaky legs, fighting the urge to get off all fours.

“This is…” Celestia smiled at her handiwork before speaking.

“It's a transformation spell written onto a rune. Whenever you tap it twice, it will take the magic out of the Mana Crystal it's inscribed on and transform you into a pony,” She spoke with a sly smile, "This would usually be impossible, with the thaumaturgical systems within your body fighting against the transformation, however due to your particular biology, the magic is acting as it would on an inanimate object.”

So to magic, I'm not alive, huh?

Interesting…

And scary. If Celestia could do this, who's to say that some random evil unicorn couldn't use transformation magic to scramble my brain to bits.

“So this is what you meant by ‘making the transition more manageable’?” I ask as she smiles.

“Whilst I do apologize for the sudden gift, it will help lessen the criticism from other ponies about your position. Knowledge of your true race has been kept confidential, the only ponies who would know are the ones you've seen directly,” I guess she's good at keeping things a secret. How nice.

Whilst this certainly wasn't what I expected, it was surely helpful. I'm assuming the reason why she needed to give it to me directly was to make sure that both the secret didn't get out, and to apply the magic correctly.

“Now, how would you like to join me for breakfast, Victor De La Cruz,” At the mention of food I mentally gag my stomach out of my throat.

“I would love to, your Majesty, however…” Wait, is denying this the correct choice? What if she finds it offensive? I need to let it down gently, “However I don't seem to be hungry-”

A loud growl comes from my belly as I suddenly begin to flush a bit redder.

Shit.

Chapter 12: Synchronicity

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Chapter 13: Climax

[DAY 35]

I woke up in a cold sweat.

My breaths were fast and shallow, and I could feel bile rising up my throat.

The light of the moon coming in through the window was overbearing, as well as the below freezing breeze that was nipping at my toes.

I had gone to bed as a human because it was simply more comfortable, but I was now regretting that decision. Even with a blanket, a coat of fur would've been quite a bit helpful right about now.

I hadn't taken off the necklace, so with a tired hand, I double tapped it, watching as a golden aura of flame enveloped me and my body got shorter.

The effect wasn't immediate, but I had begun to warm up after a bit of time.

I looked up at the moon.

There was a pony on it.

I never really talked about it before but, yep. Right there, created by a slew of craters, was a pony.

Or, rather, the head of one.

I chuckled to myself.

This is insane.

I've been going with it for a while now, but talking ponies? Really? And there's a pony on the moon as well?

How could I not find that funny? More than funny, it was hilarious.

The hysteria must've begun to hit as I genuinely began to burst out laughing.

”BAHAHAHA!” It quickly died down though, “Hahahahahaha…ha…”

“What is wrong with me?” I spoke out into the abyss.

Computers? History? Geography? Synchro-Rate? There was nothing about lowering it in the description, which means that it's something that'll inevitably reach 100% no matter what I do.

Even if I act the complete opposite of Darwin, one day I'll slip up and it'll be raised by a single percent, which'll cause more mistakes. It's just delaying the inevitable.

So that's it?

A month of building, fighting to survive, reduced to nothing because of this system? The very same system that let me do these things?

…

This game was rigged from the start wasn't it?

Faust must be getting some sort of sick sadistic kick out of it.

So what now?

I'm on a sinking ship, and the only lifeboat I got is full of holes.

Maybe these magic horses have some kind of spell to keep me in control even after he reaches 100%?

Magic horses…

Hilarious.

[Synchro-Rate: 5% —> 7%]

I sat up and looked around.

I'm thirsty. I need water.

I got up, my body moving automatically towards the door. I didn't transform into a pony.

After all, why would I want to?

I’m human, why would I ever want to be a pony?

An idiotic race full of beings who can't comprehend basic mathematics.

[Synchro-Rate: 7% —> 9%]

A race full of beings who religiously praise a half-baked non-deity.

[Synchro-Rate: 9% —> 10%]

I'm the closest being to God in this shitshow of a country, I've talked to her after all.

[Synchro-Rate: 9% —> 10%]

I mean, who else but a God could send me to this place?

[Synchro-Rate: 10% —> 11%]

Why would God bring me here?

Unless it wasn't God.

No being worthy of the title ‘God’ would do something like this.

After all, God is omnibenevolent.

Oh yeah.

If it wasn't God.

Then it must've been…

The Devil.

[Synchro-Rate: 11% —> 15%]

I hear hoofsteps from around the corner.

FUCK.

I NEED TO HIDE, IF THOSE PSEUDO-SAINT BASTARDS FIND ME THEY'LL DRAG ME BACK TO HELL!

Huh?

Pseudo-Saint? Hell? What am I talking about?

[Synchro-Rate: 15% —> 14%]

They've been nothing but kind to me.

Why…

Why would I betray their kindness with hate?

Argh! No time to think about that! I quickly tap my necklace twice and transform into a pony in a gust of golden flame, as I find a tired looking white unicorn stallion in the royal guards uniform.

“Shining Armor?”

”Victor?” we both stopped, he had a torch right next to him, floating. Like always there was absolutely no indication he was using magic, like all magic, the only thing that was ever visible were the effects, ”What're you doing out in the Castle so late?”

“I could ask the same thing to you…” I say, before he straight up deadpanned at me.

“I'm out on patrol, your turn.” He speaks bluntly, barely a hint of friendliness in his tone. Yeah, I guess I am a bit suspicious, whilst I would like to consider the both of us acquaintances, that's all we were. He was Vice-Captain of the Royal Guard, and I'm a random person, well pony, walking around the castle. It's his job to catch ponies like me.

“I was just heading out for some fresh air…” He brings the torch a little closer to me, observing me. I was basically dressed in nothing but my leather skirt, something I had worn to bed but usually took it off whilst in Pony form. I had a nasty case of bed head and an expression that yelled ‘Just woke up’, as he sighed and gestured for me to go on by.

I quickly nodded at him and speed walked my way around the corner he came from.

I didn't really have any direction to go… so I'll just head to the Training Grounds. That's the only real place I knew anyway, and there's an exit from there.

I ventured downwards, and before I knew it I was standing in the centre of said training grounds.

…

What now?

I guess I should go explore…

And then I began to walk. Judging from the position of the moon, it's around just after midnight. Summer is coming to an end, I can feel it, the dry cold of Autumn is approaching fast.

I'm so… hungry.

I'm starving. Genuinely.

I kept walking, and walking. My mind was so… fuzzy.

I couldn't think.

I need food.

I need water.

The sound of flowing water rushed into my mind. I could tell where it was, but it was far. Far as all hell. I could only hear it due to my Enhanced Senses skill probably.

One step forward. Into two steps forward. Into four. Into 8. Into 16. I kept getting faster and faster, my limbs propelling their way to the source of the water.

I finally had it in my vision, a small stone fountain surrounded by finely trimmed hedges in various patterns, marble statues surrounding it.

There was one statue that was seemingly made from regular stone, a strange creature.

Kind of like a chimera of some kind, just not your average mix of animals. The head of one particularly ugly and asymmetrical pony, and the body a mish-mash of all other sorts of things.

It seemed to be laughing at something.

I didn't care though. I was thirsty.

I began to drink from the water fountain. It was strange, the water felt… murky, and very mineraly. Shit, this was probably swarming with bacteria.

Who cares, it's not like I was going to be alive long enough to worry about it. That's Darwin's problem, not mine

Poor Darwin, forced to take responsibility for my actions. I wonder if he'll get killed when Celestia realises he doesn't know how to make a computer? I mean, she would do that. She's an Alicorn After all.

[Synchro-Rate: 14% —> 15%]

GET

OUT

OF

MY HEAD!

*crack*

Huh?

I turn back to the source of the crack. It was quiet, near imperceptible. Absolutely miniscule in its presence. But it existed.

It was there.

On that strange stone statue.

The Draconequus. Chaotic Spirit. Feeds and thrives off of it. Only one can exist at a time and they’re quite strong, this ones weirdly lifelike if I'm being honest.

[Synchro-Rate: 15% —> 16%]

GET

OUT

OF

MY HEAD!

*CRACK*

It was louder.

IT’S MY HEAD!

[Synchro-Rate: 16% —> 17%]

I

WAS

HERE

FIRST!

*CRACK*

NO

YOU

WEREN'T

[Synchro-Rate: 17% —> 18%]

FINDERS!

KEEPERS!

*CRACK*

I turned my head to the sound of the crack yet again to find a fracture line straight across the statue of the Draconequus.

splitting its stone eye was a large hole that had been broken out. And behind It was A pair of closed eyelids.

Fleshy eyelids.

They shot open, before glancing straight at me.

The sclera was a jaundice yellow, a disgusting, grotesque yellow. A strange red, unnerving small pupil looking at me.

It's face morphed into one of… glee

More and more stone fell away, before under the cold moonlight gaze, it revealed its full self.

It let out an exasperated groan as it cracked its back, far too many crunching sounds ringing out in the back of my mind as he did so.

”It is GOOD to be back!” His voice was crisp and clear, yet also dripping with a mischievous arrogance, like he was trying his very best to make somebody want to punch him in his face, ”And what’s this? A ...Human? in Equestria? Sounds like the beginning of some shitty book!”

I stood there a bit starstruck at his visage. He narrowed his eyes and began to speak aloud.

“Shitty… shitty…? Fuck? Bitch?” His eyes lit up as he continued, listing off a few words that I frankly wouldn't be comfortable even repeating in my head. He glared at me for a moment, before he positioned his paw and claw out to the side, tearing open… Something, a strange static filling the area as a rip sound echoes throughout. He shoves his head through the static filled hole in space before whistling, “Teen Rated? Oh Faust you spoil me~”

He stops for a moment though, pulling his head out of the hole and shaking his head, cartoon ducks running above his head, before they sprout giant muscular human legs covered in yellow feathers and run around the area quacking at everything, “Is that how my voice sounds? Making somepony want to punch me?”

He added extra emphasis on the pony part, as the hole in space closed itself with a pop, a bit of static splattered on his face as his freakishly long tongue literally rolled out of his mouth and he licks it away, the fleshy pink muscle deciding to do a few loopty-loops on the way there.

“What the…” I manage to murmur out, as the Draconequus snaps his fingers and the world brightens up tenfold, it takes a few seconds for my eyes to adjust to the newfound light as I look up to see… the sun. In the sky. Blazing like it wasn't night a few moments ago.

It flickered out a bit as he frowns and turns around, a modern day electricians outfit appearing on him, as he uses his thick leather gloves to unscrew the sun, revealing it to be a light bulb, before taking his hand into a leather satchel and pulling out a box much too big to fit inside of it.

Now, I could only really barely make this out because of the residual faint dull glow of the sun light bulb, but anywhere else was completely pitch black. The stars shone like flashlights, without the light pollution from the sun they were beautiful…

He began fiddling with the box, the unscrewed sun in his mouth as he opened it up after a few attempts and screwed in a new lightbulb into it…

How… How? What? Wait… HOW!?

I genuinely couldn't make sense of a single thing, a was a tad bit sleep deprived, not in the best mental state and had also witness somebody do maintenance on THE FUCKING SUN.

What the actual…

“Oh that is fun! You've got quite the filling Chaos, Victor De La Cruz!” He spoke my name with a heavy Spanish accent, as a sombrero, a poncho, a fake mustache and a pair of maracas appeared on him, he shook the instruments in a joyous manner, “Olé!”

I'm going to go insane…

I'm still hungry.

Maybe I should eat this Draconequus. Maybe he'll be tasty.

Are you insane? You think we can beat that… thing? This isn't some Timberwolf, or a random pony! This is a being that can bend the rules of reality at a whim! He unscrewed the sun. I don't even need to describe how great of a feat that is! How could we ever hope to compete?

Just trust me. It’s definitely possible if I make use of ‘Baar’.

What the actual fuck are you talking about? ‘Baar'? Also, even if you could, why the fuck would I trust you? You've been trying to gain control of this body so annoyingly, influencing my thoughts to be all pessimistic and… malicious.

You can trust me BECAUSE I’ve done that. I've only had negative thoughts about those… vermin, also you're currently only at a 4% Synchro-Rate, you can take control again whenever you want.

...I despise the fact that you're actually making sense… but it's too risky… from what I can gather, you had the system too when you were alive, right? You should know that my stats, class and skills are practically all anti-combat. You won't be able to do anything with it…

It’s fine, all I gotta do is buy enough time till the rat arrives. She's of a species with powerful harmony, it'll be hard for the Draconequus to do much to her directly. He was trapped in stone right? That was probably her doing, we just need time till she wakes up.

...

Fine, but the moment you do ANYTHING suspicious, I'm taking back control and booking it.

I rolled my eyes at my own remark. This conversation happened at immense speeds, after all it wasn't really a conversation. Merely me thinking. 'Darwin’ isn't really Darwin, he's just me when I'm not actively mentally suppressing him, or when his ego reacts to certain stimuli.

No matter what, it's still me.

Just an ‘influenced’ me.

Whenever I'm ‘influenced’, it feels like words spill out without me wanting them to, words that I don't even understand. I think about things without knowing about them.

I can't believe I'm doing this…

{VICTOR POV}
{DARWIN POV}

Oooch~ that's good~

Now, enough musing, I need a spear.

I turned my head to the training grounds. I need to make my way over there, there's surely going to be some kind of weapon I can use…

My eyes glance to the Draconequus. Now how am I going to do that with him here…?

I began to walk away. As long as I don't make any sudden movements, the chaos spirit will ignore me, after all there's a much bigger fish in the pond right now. One that he would surely want to catch. Celestia.

And I was wrong. My feet were heavy… feet? The pendant had snapped somehow, bursting into flame as I was reverted back into a human.

I looked down to see a strange white material spreading, crawling its way upwards from the soles of my feet, my movements being frozen wherever it grew.

The material was rock hard, probably because it was rock. Stone, I was being turned to stone.

Shit, finally gaining a bit of control and I’m getting turned to stone.

"You have GOT to be kidding me…” So this is how it ends… the great Darwin dying to Draconequus of all things.

I had realized it before, but this body truly is a younger me… That means I lost all of my… fuck

{DARWIN POV}
{VICTOR POV}

Well that was useless. Like honestly, what was the point of that?

We didn't have a chance from the beginning, did we?

The most tired expression I could ever muster appeared on my face as I turned to face Diacord. I raised my right hand and curled it into a fist, before unfurling my middle finger.

“Puta madre” I let out, both at me and at my situation.

Oh yeah, I don't have that anymore do I?

Can't even show defiance, can I?

I felt my arms stiffen up, I couldn't even use my other hand to properly convey my message, white stone slowly spreading across my arm before I felt my very lungs freeze. I couldn't breathe. My neck was next. then my mouth. And then my vision faded.

Author's Note

Shorter chapter. It's also a chapter that I'm posting a week early. Why? Because I want to. There are thousands of questions that'll be answered later, this is a long term project, with a shit ton of lore and ideas that I tried to make coherent. It may be better for you if you think of this less as a MLP Fanfiction, and rather just a novel that takes place in Equestria (idk what I'm yapping about tbh)

LET ME COOK!!!