the Adventures to be had.

Welcome Excel.

Ever get that feeling when you believe you’re going the right way but deep down in you’re brain, something is telling you that you’re going the wrong way and that you’re lost? Well that’s how I feel. I have been, hopefully, going in a straight line through these, God forsaken, woods for at least three hours, or in may have been five minutes, hunger has a way of obscuring one’s sense of time.

The worst part of this ‘hike’ was that my new legs are so damn short I’m not even getting anywhere fast. Well at least I have shelter from the sun under the trees.

*clonk*

something small hit me in the head. “ow.” I said, surprised. It didn't really hurt, it just surprised me. I looked down to see what it was that had hit me. It was an, acorn? “What the…?” I trailed off as I another acorn made contact with my head.

turning my head in the direction I was sure the acorn had come from, there were a few cute little squirrels sitting on a branch, up in a tall tree. The three squirrels where looking at me, and making strange chitting sounds. It almost sound like laughter, but squirrels can’t laugh can tha--?

*Clonk*

another acorn hit me straight in the forehead. Why those little bastards where chucking acorns at me.

The squirrel in the middle, which looked to be the leader, hurled another acorn at me, but this time I was ready. quick as a flash, I grabbed the acorn out of the air before it hit me and hurled it as hard as I could back.

I missed the squirrels by a few feet, hitting the trunk of the tree they were on instead. To my surprise the acorn exploded into dust, hitting the trunk with a very loud *CRACK* and causing the squirrels to flee in terror. The impact also left a tiny gash in the tree bark.

“What the hell?” I asked out loud. I could never throw that hard; in fact I don’t think it was physically possible for anything to throw that hard.

I was looking down at my small hand, thinking, “Did I really just do that?” but I was knocked out of my wondering when I felt the familiar pressure in my stomach and a *grumble* resonating from it. Man, was I hungry.

time to stop fooling around and get to this town before I topple over from hunger and exhaustion. So onward I hike, through these dim woods and deep foliage.

very soon, the woods began to get even dimmer, though, as the sun had begun to go down. This worried me because I was not interested in sleeping outside, in the open, especially when there are evil demon squirrels about. It was then, that I decided the best thing to do, if that happened, was to make a fire and to just wait the night out.

Just as I thought I might need to start gathering supplies to start a fire, which I had no clue on how I was going to start one, the sound of voices talking, came from up ahead of me. i also started to hear the crunch of feet on the forest floor.

my hopes have been lifted and my prayers have been answered, THANK YA JESUS! Finally, I had found civilization, and where there was civilization there was food, and where there is food there might be Chef Boyardee microwavable ravioli, which I have been craving at the moment.

quickly, I hurried to where the voices were coming from. some Low branches whipped my face, the pesky bushes scratched my lower section, and the messy forest floor clung to my boots. I just knew I had to catch up to the voices.

Just up ahead, past a few strangely comically large shrubs, I would catch up to whoever it was that was walking in the forest. “Hay, whoever that is!” I yelled out, “Wait up, I need your help!”

The voices and walking sounds stopped so I picked up the pace. finally braking through one last large bush, panting and sweating I found them. Man I really need to work out, but I think that most of the exhaustion was caused by the lack of food in my system.

I was looking down at the ground, trying to catch my breath when, whoever it was, finally spoke. “Hay, silver, what is that thing?” a female’s voice asked. I snapped my eyes wind open, I seemed to have over looked the fact that I was not quite human.

“Oh, I can explain.” I started to say as I looked up. I didn't continue, however, on account of what I saw. There standing before me where two horses, but they were not just horses, one had a horn protruding from its forehead; a unicorn?

I’m not sure how to explain what I was seeing, but to start with how they looked like is good: the one who was not a unicorn was a sandy yellow, with a dark reddish brown mane and tail and golden eyes. The most notable thing was that it was wearing a small purple jacket vest. It also had pink bangles on its front for leg, cute!

The horse standing next to it was slightly taller and had a horn coming out of it head. I didn't even know Unicorns existed. In fact they don’t, but standing in front of me, honest to God, is a real live Unicorn. The unicorn's silver gray coat, that seem to shimmer and sparkle in the light went well with it's Its short black mane, which was styled in a cool messy way. It had a streak of silver in it's hair, that looked like tin foil. I must look like an idiot, with my dirty vest, muddy boots, and the fact that they said they have no idea what I am.

The unicorn leaned over to its companion and whispered, “Do you think it’s some sort of wild animal?”

The tan hoarse had a “that’s a stupid question” look on its face. “No,” it replied in a normal female sounding tone. “If it was a wild animal, do you think it would be wearing clothes?” she pointed her hoof at me to indicate my vest.

The silver Unicorn face dropped to an “oh duh” expression. “Oh Ya. I didn't think of that.” He replied. He looked at me and asked, “Do you need any help?”

That’s the last thing I remember before I felt my legs give way underneath me and darkness envelope me. I guess I must have fallen to the ground, but it felt like I did so in slow motion. I lost consciousness before I even hit the ground.

I remember this place. The restaurant I used to hang out with my friends at. “Thunderbird Bar and Grill” why am I here? I remember now, this was the night before I left. My best friend, Peter, had thrown me a going away party. I was only going to be gone a week or so, but Still it was a nice guested.

“So this is the start of that big adventure you've always wanted, huh?” he had asked me.

I smiled, “yup!” I exclaimed. “But this isn't the start; it really starts when I meet this relative of mine.” Peter just stared at me. I knew that look he was giving me. “What?” I asked.

“You really think that 'true adventure' starts when you meet this guy?” he had asked me.

taken aback by this question I responded, “yes, of course.”

“So leaving by yourself to a state you have never been to, finding out you have a long lost relative, and finally, actually following through with it, don’t count as part of this adventure?” he asked, staring hard into my eyes.

I wanted to look away, but those deep blue eyes of his, kept me in a trance. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, not taking my eyes off him. “Well,” I began, “an adventure starts when I choose for it to start.” I said, thinking fast; smooth.

Peter just shook his head. “You’re missing the true fact about it.” He pointed out, “An Adventure starts weather you decide for it to begin or not.” He took a sip of his drink before continuing. “We can’t plan ahead for what we want an adventure to be, but really we need to excel toward the greatness of the adventure once we realize it has begun already.”

I rubbed the back of my neck. Peter was always spouting deep, insightful quotes like that. He comes up with stuff like this, on the spot all the time, but regardless I knew he was right; Damn.

I never responded to what he said, but instead was saved by our waitress placing our ordered food in front of us. We thanked her and I immediately changed the subject by asking, “How come it’s only you and me? Did you not invite Andrew, Chase, or Heather?” they were some of our other friends.

“I just wanted to spend tonight with my best friend.” He replied. He lightly touched my hand from across the table.

“Does he have a crush on me?” I thought. I could tell it in his eyes. We have been friends for so long that I can tell when he is in love with someone, even though his past relationships had ended in flops. I thought I could see that look in his eyes when he looked at me. man this is awkward.

Jerking my hand away, I pretending that I was fixing my hair. This startled him and he put his hand back on his side of the table, But what is this feeling that I feel now? Do…do I like him as well? I don’t want to make our friendship weird, but why do I feel I want it to go beyond that? okay maybe that came out wrong.

“I think…alright for…waking up some time soon.” a voice garbled as I began to come to. Something was warped around my head. It felt soft and cool. I could tell that I must have been in some kind of bed. It feels all nice and warm under the covers.

I began to stir in the bed, this was getting a reaction from whoever was in the room. They came over to me and I felt something pocking my shoulder, like someone was using their whole fist but had no knuckles or fingers. Slowly I opened my eyes and saw that I was in what looked like a hospital room.

“Was it all a dream?” I thought.

“Good, your awake!” a soft voice said.

I turned to the source of the voice. “GAH!” I shrieked in surprise. Standing there was a small white horse. In my defense, what scared me was that she was right up in my face, closer than I would have expected, and those eyes that seem to stare right through me.

“Calm down, please.” She asked, lightly placing her hoof on my shoulder.

“Holy Shit, Are you trying to give me a heart attack?” I said much quieter and in a breath. Placing my hand over my heart, I felt soft fur. I looked at my hand; it was still a short pink fluffy paw. “So, I guess it wasn't a dream.” I thought to myself.

“Do you mind telling us your name?” this question startled me out of my thoughts. “And what you were doing walking around in the woods.” The voice that asked this question came from somewhere else in the room. I turned my head to find who was speaking. It was the tan hoarse from earlier, you know before I passed out.

I just stared at her, still trying to process the question. There was a quick flash back to when I first got here and met Lucius. “Oh and by the way, you will need to change your name, something more fitting for this world.”

“Hello? Can you speak basic language?” another voice brought me back to reality. It was the silver Unicorn that was with the tan horse.

The only thing I could Spit out was, “I-I’m sorry, what?” this actually earned a smile from the two horses.

“Oh good, you speak equine.” The tan horse said.

“Who are you?” I asked.

The tan horse stepped closer. “My name is Gold Rush, you can call me Gold though.” She waved her hoof to signal the Unicorn to introduce himself.

the other horse stepped forward and said, “Hi, my names Quick Silver.”

Those where some strange names, I thought, and I was about to say so when once again I heard “you will need to change your name, something more fitting for this world.” in my head.

I had to give them a name; I don’t think that a name like Alexis would fly very well if every being had a name like those two had, well unless they were native american or something, but i doubt that. Just to get confirmation though, I looked over to the White horse.

She blinked at me. “Oh, silly me,” She giggled, “I’m nurse Tender Redheart, you may call me Nurse Redheart.” She said in a very soft and caring voice.

So I was right. I do need a silly-ish name. I had to think of something, but for some reason the last conversation I had with Peter popped into my thoughts. Something he had said stuck out to me. It was perfect; in fact it was beyond perfect. It was destiny.

“My name,” I started, “Is Excel.”

I waited a moment, seeing if they would believe me. Quick Silver was the first to do anything. He smiled and stuck out his hoof to me. “Well it’s nice to meet you, Excel.” He said in a friendly tone.

I shook his hoof in an awkward handshake, it being awkward because he had no hand.

“What are you? Why where you running around in the woods screaming bloody murder?” Gold asked, interrupting the half hand, half hoof, shake.

I almost forgot, I never got a chance to clearly see my face. I asked for a mirror. Nurse Redheart got a mirror off a small table and handed it to me and I grabbed it greedily.

I saw for the first time, my face. “DAMN!” was all I could say, as I finally saw my face.

My eyes where enormous, at least three times the size of a normal eye. Okay maybe not that big but they were still big and dark black with very long eye lashes. Next my nose, all I can say is that it was big, round and purple. As I expected my mouth was almost the length of my face, and my teeth, MY GOD! They looked like shark teeth. And there was bandage wrapped around my forehead. Coming out of the top of my head where two very long Antenna things.

I forgot that I was being observed as I poked and rubbed my face. “Umm…are you alright?” Quick sliver asked.

This brought me back to my senses. “huh? Oh Ya, I’m alright.” I said, putting down the mirror. I then remembered Gold’s question. But the Hell if I knew what I was. I had to think of something. “Oh and to answer what I am…uh…I’m a…,” what was I? For the life of me I have no idea.

Lucky for me, I was saved by Quick Silver asking, “Are you some sort of koala-Diamond dog mix?”

“sure?” I said, shrugging. I began to try and get out of the bed, but was stopped by the nurse.

She looked at me with kind eyes, “I’m sorry, but we need you to stay here for a few hours so we can make sure you are well enough to be released.”

I sighed, not wanting to stay here, but to just get on with…whatever it was I was supposed to do. “Okay, fine.” I said dejectedly. “Well, where am I, what town I mean?” I asked looking back at Gold and Silver.

Silver grinned widely. “You’re in MinersTown!”