A New Beginning Mlp (Wip)

Chapter 2: The Shock

With my strength coming back to me I realize the bad news. I don't have any food. I finally decide to walk to the hatch of my bunker and see what the outside world has in store for me.

Shock courses through my veins as I exit my little home and stumble on to green grass as an exceptionally hot sun beats down on me. It's so bright that I am forced to close my eyes. It's a little while before they have adjusted enough to explore my surroundings. I suck in a gust of air as I see what lays before me.

Huge mountains, a forest as far as the eye can see... Absolutely nothing resembling the deserted wasteland I left. I have to ask myself the big question... How long have I been in stasis?

As I continue to walk along, I come across a wide lake. It stretches out for a while, and I am just not realizing how thirsty I am. I stick my hands into the clear liquid. What the heck, I think to myself before splashing the water onto my face. I cup more water and begin to drink it, I drink more and more until my body can hold no more liquid, and I continue to walk.

I have no idea what I am trying to find. Civilization maybe, but mostly I am just trying to absorb as much sunshine and fresh air as possible. I have been neglected these things for so long that they are hard to remember. Everything here has a sense of newness. Like this is my fresh start.

It's a while before I notice a clear trail in the forest, and I jump out to see it. It looks like a dirt road, so I decide to follow it. I'm having trouble keeping time, but I think I have followed it for about an hour when I reach the top of a hill, well out of the forest's confinement, and I see a small town. I gasp as I see it in all its glory. The perfect size. I almost black out from hyper-ventilation and crumple to the ground.

I wonder if all of this is real, and decide that it better be. Either that or I'm probably dead. I get to my feet, swallow my fears, and start down the path to the town.

The first thing I saw as I neared the town was a pony holding a basket. Staring at me. I have an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach. What did I just walk in to? I continue through the town and see that everyone is staring at me.

I got about half way through the town when I felt someone behind me. I picked up the speed of my pace and exited the town as fast as I dared. What is going on here, exactly?

I rush back into the forest and set up a makeshift camp. Once it's up I climb under my shelter and try to gather my thoughts. What the hell's gone wrong, and how did I get here in the first place?

I stare up at the moon, perplexed by its beauty. Besides the fact that I have no food and I'm starving, I'm happy. I could eat anything, but so many other things are going on I barely even notice. Then -- out of nowhere -- I hear the snap of a branch behind me.

I turn around as fast as I can, just in time to see a dark blue horse with a mane of light blue and cyan eyes. As she came closer a thought shot through my mind, am I still in Stasis? I hope not.

"Hello strange beast." She said. Shock was the only emotion I could muster. I had Goosebumps.

All I could do in answer was give a noise that sounded like I was choking. "Do not be frightened." She calmed me, but I was still too frightened. This was all too much.

   After a few moments of staring at the strange horse, I exparimented by opening my mouth and saying a nearly silent, "Hello..."

She went on to ask me who -- or what -- I am, and I became more confused. "I'm human. My name is Austin." This time confusion shot across her face.

"Human?" She whispered. Both of us seemed ready to run at any moment, need be, but something in her face drew me in. She was a horse... but I couldn't help feeling as if she was beautiful. As if this was the kind of person I should feel safe talking to. Up until now I didn't realize I was shaking.

We started at each other for what seemed like a long time, but couldn't have been more than a two or three minutes. Finally, I got the courage to ask, "Who are you?"

She straightened up her posture and said, "I am known as Princess Luna of the Moon." My heart skipped a beat, and I felt my breathing speed. Princess? A horse princess? I must be dead, or, at the very least, still in Stasis. I quickly discarded the thought of running for favor of finally having somebody to talk to after so many years. Seven years in complete and total isolation and the first person I am talking to is a horse. Figures.

After she fed me -- her barely eating and me forcing it down like a ravenous pig, she informed me that she had to leave. It was almost dawn. I thanked her and yawned as she flew into the air. I didn't even have time to be surprised that I just spent the night with a flying, talking horse. I was too tired.

I figured that I should probably find my way back to my bunker, because it probably can't be too safe in these woods. It took me nearly three hours, but I found it. I jumped into my bed and passed out immediately. My last thought was, I wonder what will await me tomorrow, before I sunk into a deep sleep.

The entire night I was terrorized by dreams of my life in a waste land. This waste land corrupted the new world I came into, and, as I exited my bunker, I would find that I never left at all. That I would be forced to live in solitaire for the rest of my existence. I woke with a start, cold sweat running down my face.

I nearly ran out of my bunker, praying that meeting the pony and freezing myself in Stasis wasn't all just a dream. I sigh of relief blew from my mouth as I saw it was all still here.

I nervously made my way back into the bunker, almost regretting leaving the new world outside. But I needed to eat. Last night Princess Luna had kindly given me eggs, and I gratefully cooked them on my stove. I ate my breakfast quickly on the steps of my bunker, too excited stay inside, after being locked up in there for so long.

I didn't bother washing my dishes, and figured I better take a shower somehow. Then, I remembered, the wide, deep, clean lake that I passed on my way to town and back. I grabbed a bar of soap and nearly ran out the door.

It was a short walk to the lake, since I knew my way there, but as I approached it I saw something peculiar. Clouds. Moving. Rapidly. Being pushed around into some sort of pattern. It was strange to see the clouds floating around like they had a mind of their own, but, hey, if there are talking, flying ponies, then I can handle a few clouds.

I rolled my eyes and began to remove my shirt, before I realized I wasn't alone. There, on the other side of the lake, was a blue pony. At first glance I could have sworn it was Luna, but then I saw her light color and mane that seemed to have been made out of a rainbow. This was not Princess Luna.

She didn't seem to notice me, but, just to be safe, I kept my boxer shorts on as I entered the lake. The cool water felt amazing on my dirty skin. I glided slightly deeper into the water and looked towards the pony, who seemed to finally be awaking from her nap. She awoke slowly, looking around, but in the seconds our eyes met she had flown over to me. She was such a fast flier compared to Luna that I was genuinely startled by her quick movement.

"Who are you?" She said in an excited, snarky tone.

I replied "Austin."

"Where are you from?" She questioned.

"Is it really important?!" I said back, my voice sharp with irritation. This pony was not the kind, gentle pony that Luna was.

"Yeah, it does!" Said the cyan pony, a huge smine breaking across her lips, "I've never seen a creature like you before!"

"That's 'cause I'm most likely the last of my kind..." I mutter.

"Oh," she replied "I'm Rainbow Dash," she said "sorry about being so question-y."

"That's alright, Rainbow Dash. Nice to meet you" I reached my hand out to shake hers before remembering that she wasn't human. She looked at it questioningly for a second before I let it drop back to my side.

"just call me Dash!" she exclaimed "it's easier that way." She said simply, as if it should be obvious that I should call her Dash.

"Okay then, Dash."

"So... what brings you to this lake?" she asked with intrigue.

"I'm in need of a bath... since I just arrived a few days ago. I need to get clean, you know how it is."  I gave a little smile.

"I hear you." She said sympathetically , "I know a place you could shower its better than here!" She informed me excitedly. I felt a little foolish. How strange I must look to Dash, bathing in a lake when there are probably showers here.

"Is it back in that village I saw?" I asked with discomfort.

"Yes it is, but don't worry, it's secluded.  And I can trust my friend to keep you a secret." She promised. I was starting to really like this pony.

I nodded in agreement "I'll go later tonight to avoid being noticed if that's okay with you."

"That would be okay by me!" she added with a grin.

I got out of the lake and put my clothes back on.

That night I followed Dash to the village and to my utter amazement she took me to a huge tree house. Literally. A huge tree house! Only funny part is, when we stepped inside, it was a... library? I tapped on Dash's back.

"Why did you take me to a library?" I asked in confusion. Maybe this was a prank.

"It’s not a library. It's a house.... well, it's sorta both. But my friend Twilight would be happy to provide you a shower and keep it a secret!" She was clearly delighted by herself.

"Really? Can you trust her, 'cause I'd like to remain a secter and I don't think that... your kind... would, how do I say? Accept me."

"I know they might get scared by you and run off... until they found out that you were a friendly -- uh, what did you say you were again?"

"Human." I reminded her.

"Right, right, a human! They would have to get to know you. So, I guess, for now, here’s where you can shower! Just give me a second and I’ll go ask Twilight…"