A Strange New Land

I woke up and jerked into a sitting position. I looked out the window and grimaced at the stars. I stood up and walked to the window looking at the shining city of Canterlot. I leaned down on the windowsill letting out a heavy sigh. "How long do I have to stay here?" I thought outloud, "I don't want to risk offending the princess... tensions between zebras and ponies are tight enough as it is. Argh, but I need to get back to my tribe!" I put my face in my hands and groaned.

I felt a sudden breeze across my back. I shivered and looked over my shoulder. Standing in the doorway was a tall mare. Not as tall as Celestia, but still tall. She had a deep navy blue coat, almost black, with a mane that flowed like Celestia's. It was a lighter shade of blue with a purple aura.

I didn't need an introduction. I knew exactly who this mare was, she was a demon in every aspect of my religion. She was a champion of the stars, a mare of pure evil. She was Nightmare Moon, and I would not let her trickery or evil control me.

"Nightmare Moon! Why are you here!?" I shouted immediatly jumping into a fighting stance the daimond dogs had taught me when I was young.

She looked at me with an expression of bafflement, "W-What? We are not Nightmare moon any longer! The Elements of Harmony banished her forever."

"You are Nightmare Moon; follower of the stars, bringer of night!"

She gaped at me in amazement at my introduction of her.

"You misunderstand! We were Nightmare Moon but are not anymore! We are merely the princess of the night. We do not wish you any harm!" Nightmare Moon said taking a step forward.

"One more step and I will wipe your evil off the face of this planet, Nightmare Moon," I said slowly, threateningly.

Luna gulped stepping back into the doorway.

There was a gasp and Zecora appeared in the doorway, my hand woven clothes on her back.

"Arvac you know not what you do," She gasped at me.

"I know exactly what I'm doing Zecora, I'm protecting myself from the champion of the stars! The mare of the moon! The bringer of night!" I said to the zebra mare.

Zecora said something to Nightmare Moon, who nodded and walked off.

I relaxed a bit looking at Zecora, "Why are you speaking with Nightmare Moon, Zecora?"

"She is no longer Nightmare moon, She is Luna you bufoon!" She said angrily.

"Watch your tongue herbalist!!" I shouted at her, speaking as I would if she were in my tribe. She stepped back and I took a deep breathe, "I'm sorry; I didn't mean to speak to you so disrespectfully, Zecora. It's just... this has been a really frustrating day for me."

Zecora nodded, "Yes, I understand, an instant change to this culture is much to demand."

I groaned, "Zecora... the rhyming, please..."

"I am sorry..." She said walking laying my pants and vest on it.

"Thank you Zecora, Do you know when I'll be able to leave?" I asked her pulling on my pants and vest, "I really need to get back to my tribe.

"No I am afraid I do not... I can ask the princess, I am here to give you comfort as a fellow zebra." Zecora said to me.

I sighed, "Please do, I do not want to risk offending Celestia, with tensions between our two nations so stressed and all but if I have to escape myself to get back with my tribe I will."

"Yes I am worried about that as well," Zecora looked up at me, "I will leave you for the evening, Celestia has given you permission to roam the castle in the time of dreaming." She finished talking then left with a nod.

I nodded and looked around the room. I looked at the stars. The malevolant stars, bringers of so much misfortune throughout zebra history. I snarled to myself and turned away. I walked to the door and pulled it open looking into the long hallway. I started walking down it deciding to explore. I noted the two dark gaurds that followed me. I see Celestia trusts me... I thought. I turned down a bend in the hall and came into a gigantic ballroom.

I gaped in amazement at the sheer size of the room. The windows went from the floor to the high, high ceiling at close intervals. There was a large platform for a band to play on, and a dozen tables scattered throughout the room.

"Woah..." I said quietly.

I slowly made my way across the room to the door on the other side. I really gotta get out of here, I thought to myself.

"So, guys..." I said to the two gaurds, "How do I get the buck out of here?"

I sighed at their unemotional expressions and silence. I turned a corner then immediately broke into a sprint. The two gaurds turned the corner and began to chase after me. I turned a corner then turned around and vaulted over their heads.

"See ya!" I shouted as I flew over them, laughing at the expressions on their faces.

I darted into the ballroom and saw a large door on the far side. I ran through the door slamming it shut behind me. I ran into a gigantic garden thinking there would be plenty of hiding places. I was right. I got to what I thought was the center of the garden and jumped up grabbing a thick tree branch. I used the momentum to spin myself into the tree, then began climbing. I got (hopefully) out of sight and sat down ready to jump out any second. The two gaurds began searching and I watched them from above. After five minutes they ran off to go inform the princesses. I jumped out of the tree landing quietly on one knee.

I looked around then realized there was only one way for me to go; to Canterlot! I started walking towards the lights, keeping in the shadows so as not to be seen. It was almost an hour before I arrived at the city.

I went through the city looking for somewhere to stay the night. I slipped in and out of dark alleys, weaving my way slowly and silently through the city. I went unnoticed, or at least I thought I did.

There was a squeak behind me and I heard a mare's voice say, "A h-human!?"

I closed my eyes and turned to look at the mare who had spoken. I noticed that the alley led all the way to a park on the otherside. I looked down at the mare who had spoken. She was mint green, with an even darker green mane.

"Oh crap, listen miss please leave and forget you sa- wait... waht'd you call me?"

"A human!" She yelled excitedly, "That's what you are right!? I mean, you look like one!"

"I... don't know actually," I said with a sheepish grin.

"Really? You don't know what you are?" She said with an air of disbelief.

"Well you see I was raised by zebras, so you know I always considered myself a zebra."

"Well.. I guess that makes since," I noticed she kept looking at my hands, "Uhm... would you like to come to Ponyville with me? I can show you some books on humans. I'm a really big studier of anthropology, and humans are my favorite subject!"

"Well... ok then I guess. I just need to keep a low profile while I get out of this nation back to the zebra lands," I said to her.

I swear if that mare smiled any bigger than her mouth would fly off her face. So she led me to Ponyville on foot, as I couldn't ride a train, and on the way I learned who she was. Her name was Lyra, which did explain her cutie mark, and she had apparently been fascinated with anthropology her whole life. She managed to sneak me to her house in Ponyville. By the time we got back to Ponyville it was early in the morning. She showed me a few of her books before I forced her to finally get some sleep.