The Lord does work in mysterious ways. He giveth ans he taketh away.
~Preacher, Twisted Metal Black
It all began in the year 2013. February 3rd. A Sunday afternoon. Super Bowl was on, my friends were either watching it or playing Black Ops 2 downstairs. Bedtime hit. I had school in the morning...funny when destiny decides to strike.
I tucked myself in my bed, wished my friends goodnight, and closed my eyes. The house got silent around 1:00. Everyone was asleep. I was having a fairly decent dream. I can't remember much, but I remember bits like Sonic the Hedgehog chasing a black, shadowy man, or myself sword-dueling a behemoth. Dreams are beautiful things. Things I wish not to leave...until today that is.
When I came to, it was a startling 3:00. How and why did I get up this early? I searched my room and found my annoyance...a white swirling hole on my wall, big enough for a cow to fit through. I was, at this point, pretty freaked out. I mean, it's not exactly everyday you see a portal leaking to God knows where...but I felt tempted. I slowly got out of bed, throwing off the blankets and putting my feet on the floor. I slowly got to a stand, keeping my eyes on the portal. It seemed to be calling me, like it was saying touch me. Without even realizing I was, I slowly reached toward the white hole...the portal that would lead me to my destiny...
As soon as my hand reached the glowing portal, I was suddenly being pulled. Limb by limb. I turned around and watched helplessly as I was watching my room shrink. I cried out...but no sound came. Just a faint noise. No one would hear me scream. My house...my family...my friends...my life...they were leaving me. And I couldn't do anything about it.
Suddenly, my sight just became one, blank color. It was totally white and inescapable. Where was I being taken? Why is this happening? One thing's for sure, I don't want to be in any kind of portal ever again. My lungs couldn't hold any air anymore. My muscles locked up. My head spun. My eyes reached the back of my head. I was being twisted into oblivion! And then, the whiteness I saw began to darken...I'm going...I'm going...I'm gone.
I woke up with a big headache and a groan. Where in hell was I now? It took me a few moments for my vision to focus to its original setting. It seemed that I was in the clearing of a forest of some kind. It smelled of fresh pine, and the occasional stench of animal remains. With a jolt, I was on my feet, which sent pain up my spine. I was scared beyond belief. No mother to take care of me. No friend to assist me. I was alone in a forest of no familiar knowledge.
I fell on my knees and wept as the grief came washing over me. Why? Why did this happen...why? Was it just because of my curiosity? Were that to be the case, I certainly killed the cat now. I had nothing left anymore...I tried holding onto the thought that I would be home again soon...but I couldn't help but think that I was living in my own Hatchet by Gary Paulsen. I was left in a wilderness to live...or die.
I got to my feet. The first thing I should do would be to find some place I could make a shelter...now I began to regret quitting Boy Scouts. Perhaps I might have actually began to learn a few things if I did. Like making a fire, hunting, cooking, et cetera. I guess it wouldn't be so hard, the shelter part anyway. I took my stroll, scanning the area. I ran into a few good-looking starting places, such as a little mini cave naturally formed by rocks, but upon closer inspection, it wouldn't do. I had to keep moving. No sign of food or shelter. I was totally fucked.
"How could this get any worse?!" I yelled out. And then came the loud roar of a beast. A bear? Lion? Mountain lion? I clasped my hands to my mouth. Well, that was unfortunate.
Recently joined this place. Here's my first creation. A series I hope to finish. Wish me luck!
"Spiiiiike!"
Yup, that's her usual response when she's needing assistance. Twilight Sparkle at her finest. I always thought of her as Maka from Soul Eater. Same voice, same bookworm personality. But there's a difference, I learned later, when I met the mare. Twi's real. Maka isn't.
The small purple assistant walked down the stairs. "What is it, Twilight? Did Princess Celestia give you another assignment?"
"Well, yes. She reported to me that there's been an anomaly at the Everfree Forest. Fluttershy told me that the birds told her that some odd...disturbance came in a clearing of a forest. Celestia suggested that I should investigate. Keep an eye on the place while I'm gone, Spike. I'll be back shortly." The unicorn said, quite calmly.
Spike nodded. "Alright. Be careful out there. You know how dangerous the Everfree is at any time of day." He didn't seem so worried. After all, his mentor did defeat like four great enemies of Equestria. Nightmare Moon, Discord (though he recently switched to our side), Chrysalis, and Sombra. What could possibly go wrong?
Twilight stepped out of the door. Her horn glowed purple and then out came her pack that strapped to her waist. Inside was a few scrolls, a quill and ink, a few apples (as gifts from Applejack), and a book for entertainment. She closed the door behind her and trotted to the Everfree forest.
...
I was having a hell of a time. I was constantly watching just about every angle of my surroundings, looking for...whatever was threatening me. I was pretty fucked by now. No weapon, no place to hide. I was pretty much at...whatever that thing is' mercy! I quickly turned my head around for anything that might help. A blunt stone. A thick stick. Anything. What'd I find? ...A frog.
I face-palmed. A frog? I gave it a few looks of interest. I didn't exactly know why, but the frog hopped away, opposite from me. I frowned. Why was it running? I didn't even move. My answer was immediately answered when a drop of gooey saliva hit my shoulder. "Agh! Yuck!!" I shouted as I turned to who decided to drool on my shoulder. My first thought was some kind of gigantic humanized gay pervert. But then I saw the...
"M-manticore."
The orange furred red maned monster stood over me. 10 feet tall I guessed. It let out a fearsome roar, it's eyes staring directly into my soul. I blinked in fear. Maybe I twitched a bit.
"Whelp, not to ruin your lunch time or anything buuuuuuut I GOTTA RUN!" I shouted as I bolted away. I could tell in an instant that I just wasn't gonna make it. The manticore was already nearing me. Closer...closer...Just an arm's length away...I took note of this and swiftly switched directions, taking a left. This caught the manticore off guard, which gave me a few moments of escape. A few wasn't enough. Because soon enough, that beast came chasing after me again. I looked back, pretty exasperated. I failed to notice the newcomer in front of me...
WHACK!
"Ow! Hey! Watch where you're going you-" Twilight was cut short. Not just because of an appearance she's never seen before...but also the fact that there was a hungry manticore towering above the two. The mare took the formalities aside and glowed her horn. Two trees opposite of each other fell on top of each other, blocking the path between her and the manticore. She looked at me with confusion, surprise...but mostly worry. "Come on! We gotta run!"
I took no defiance or hesitation as I rushed beside the unicorn, running for my life. I didn't trust whoever this was, but hey, you'd follow a unicorn too if she just saved your life. I looked back. Already, the manticore was chasing again. Damn, this guy must have been hungry. "You got any food to distract that thing?!" I yelled and gasped, trying to catch my breath again.
"Only apples! They don't eat those!"
Figures. I kept running as that unicorn kept sending those trees falling. I noticed she was easily getting weary. I guess use of magic can do that to you. The manticore ripped through the trees. Does that thing ever get tired? I could see the light at the end of the forest. A bunch of bright colors. Where the hell was I?
"Almost there! Keep running!" Twilight called. I lunged at the light. I made it! I made it! I-
"Shit."
The manticore had me in its jaws.
