Exposed

Chapters

My Life
Present Day
Everfree 101
Time Ticks On
Summer Sun's Eve

My Life

=====|]Exposed[|=====
=====|]Chapter 1: My life[|=====

If someone told you they've had their life stolen, they probably have it far easier than me. They don't have to deal with the loneliness and hardship that I have for years, waking up every day knowing that survival was, is, and always will be their second priority...

Wait, that last part may seem confusing. To make sense, I will describe my situation. I am in a world far, far away from Planet Earth. As far as I know, I am the only human that has ever come to this world. I later learned that the land I had the luck to fall into is called Equestria, who's sapient race is multicolor talking ponies. They also have access to actual magic.

Yes, I know. It sounds like some kind of storybook or fantasy world, but it's true. As I mentioned earlier, survival is my second priority. That is because I am not sure what they will do to me. For all I know they could trap me, torture me, kill me, or worse.

My life for almost seven years now has been my survival, and the hiding of my existence. Over the years, I have grown adept in many skills. The most important of which being skills in tailoring, hunting, stealth, and survival; the last of which being very useful.

I think this is getting somewhat disorganized now, so I'm just going to start fresh. Right from the day everything changed.

It was a regular day in Oregon. I was walking down the street to a friend's house when a freak storm came in. The strangest part was that it was completely sudden with no sign earlier. Then a lightning bolt strikes and I find myself blinded. Once I can see again, I discover I'm walking in a thick forest. Luckily, the forest edge was nearby, so I walked out to see three things.

One: A small village in a valley.
Two: There is a castle on the side of a mountain.
Three: The spectacular light show.

The lights are what drew my attention to the castle. I'm not sure what caused it, but it was incredible to watch, even from the distance that I was. Then came a sudden stop to the lights, and my mind went into autopilot. I left the forest entirely, and walked to the village I saw earlier. Eventually, I was close enough to see moving shapes. It was twenty feet later that I recognized those shapes.

Ponies... Ponies everywhere.

At this point, I was also close enough to see that they were talking to each other. This, among other things I could see and hear, made connections in my young mind.It wasn't too long before I connected everything with the word "Girly," and therefore fled the scene.

Looking back now, I think ignoring the girlyness and walking into the town would have given me a much better life here. Meh, C'est la vie.

In any case, I ran away from the village and back into the forest I would later call my home. After a while, I stopped in a clearing. A short time later, I began thinking on my situation. This was a bad idea for two reasons, both of which I soon discovered.

'I'm lost, and I'm alone...'

That revelation resonated in my head for a while. A few minutes later, I laid down and cried. A sound in the trees got me back on my feet, and I was soon running from whatever it was. After I knew I had lost it, I began thinking rationally for the first time. Actually, I began thinking of this situation as a minecraft survival game. Honestly, I think it helped keep me calm. The first thing I knew I had to get was wood. It would help me start a fire, and it would help me make a shelter. Knowing I couldn't punch wood, I came to the realization that I would need an ax. Knowing I couldn't make one, I would have to find one. Then I realized the village I found earlier would probably have one laying around. I began searching for the forest edge, and after finding it, began waiting for the day to end.

I should say first off, that the sunset and moon rising was very different here. Much more beautiful. Once I saw the last light go out in the village, I took off. Eventually, I found an ax leaning against a pile of wood near a home. I picked it up and left hoping I didn't leave a trace.

The following days involved learning how to survive in the wild, as well as many other night raids. I later found ways into the houses, which opened the scale of what I could take wide. The raids eventually came to a standstill when the ponies stopped being careless and locked practically everything. By the first week, I had a crude shelter built. It was made from small branches I either cut or found on the ground. It wasn't much, but it was something I could call home. Later on, I learned how to take down larger trees with that ax, as well as how to use it as an effective weapon. I also had made my first hunt by this time, which involved many hours of chasing a rabbit around trees with an ax raised above my head screaming bloody murder. Much later, I became very adept in using snares to do the dirty work for me.

The one problem with settling in the woods was the monsters. Most simply left me alone after seeing I was not worth the trouble. But some were much scarier. My first encounter with what I would later find were called Timberwolves, for example, was immensely terrifying. I managed to get away at least. They began ignoring me after I cut a tree down and heard a whimper off to the side followed by rustling in the bushes though.

And so my life continued on in the woods I later found were called Everfree. Days were eventful for a while, but after a month or so, I found that it almost seemed normal, strangely enough. I discovered a solace in reading books I had acquired as well. Some interesting things were discovered from those books. Apparently, weather in Equestria was controlled manually by pegasi, and the rulers of the land was a princess, not a queen. There were also stories I found interesting, such as the Mare in the Moon. I first looked at it only because it seemed similar to the Man in the Moon myth. The story was very different from what I expected it to be. The story about a sister's jealousy leading to imminent betrayal. And the older sibling sending her sister-turned-evil to the moon...

Sorry, getting sidetracked. I guess there isn't much to note on what I've been doing all these years. The night raids eventually opened up again. The ponies were getting careless again, so I took advantage. The difference this time is I started spacing out my raids. I eventually found interest in eavesdropping on ponies when they were awake at night. I learned ponies' names, hobbies, you name it. One piece of info I found very interesting was the existence of an apple farm to the north. How I missed that, I will never know. I first heard about it during the third month. I left almost immediately and grabbed about five apples. I came later with a bag.

Something I came into the habit of doing was leaving gifts during these raids. Wasn't much, just something I though I could use to get some guilt off my chest. Most of these things were either carvings I made in my free time, or random gems I found. There were a surprising amount perfectly visible. I didn't have any use for either of those, so I used them as payment for the items I took.

Eventually, I became adept in the art of stealth while doing raids. This became very useful when the ponies started staying up at night to find what they were beginning to call "The Shroud." Rumors began spreading about this character. Some rational, others inconceivable. Whatever the case, I felt a sense of pride to be feared.

So far in this world, I have only made one friend. The circumstances surrounding my meeting her were somewhat sketchy. I'm still glad I met her though. I probably wouldn't be in the mental state I am without her. We met during the second year. I was sitting by my recently made fire tending to a stewing rabbit. I heard a sound in the bushes behind me. I grabbed the knife I had on me and turned ready to fight. Imagine my surprise when I saw a surprised zebra with saddlebags at the edge of my outpost. Sighing, I replaced my dagger and sat back down. Then I heard a voice.

"I did not mean to give you such a fright, but I must admit, you are an unexpected sight."

I tensed for a moment before remembering zebras in this world are also sentient. I turned to reply.

"No problem. You don't have any idea what's around here."

Imagine my shock when she didn't react to my speaking. Luckily, I kept it to myself.

"Your situation is well recognized by me. I have been traveling a while in these woods of Everfree."

I sat up at this. "Travelling? Why through these woods?" I questioned.

There was a brief pause before her answer. "The way around the woods is vast, and where I am heading, I would like to be. Fast."

"Oh, where you headed?" I asked, interest slowly growing.

"My plan was to settle near Ponyville. My directions say it's over the hill."

By this point, I was wondering where she got all these rhymes. "Well, those directions aren't wrong. The town's that way." I say pointing a finger. "By the way, my name's Ryan. What's yours?"

"Zecora is my name. Potion making is my game." Was her response before disappearing into the woods.

Over the years, Zecora and I became good friends. To this day, I still visit her daily. Normally, we just talked about things. Other times, it would be for a bit of help. Maybe a potion was needed, or a tool was required. Either way, I think things have worked out so far.

Other than all this, I really have nothing else to say. I've so far managed to live in seclusion for a long, long while now, and nopony has seen neither hide nor tail of me.

Just hope it stays that way...

Author's Note

I shall begin this by saying I'm sorry that there isn't much to see here. I can promise that the next chapter will be much more eventful though. In the mean time, comment and rate fairly. Also, feel free to criticize. I don't have much experience in writing, and I need to get a feel for how to better myself. On that note, Sandvich Brony signing off!

Present Day

=====|]Exposed[|=====

=====|]Chapter 2: Present Day[|=====

Sitting in a high tree, I had the perfect view. The forest stretching outwards is very beautiful. In this position, I could stay for long periods of time, just thinking to myself. Nothing up here could bring me down, and everything below to make me smile.

A movement below caught my eye. I shifted my position to find a wild deer in the underbrush.

One thing you need to recognize in Equestria is the very real fact that there are other sentient races out in the world besides ponies. The problem is that just about any animal with hooves is another sentient life form. There is some good news for a hunter like me, however, in the form of non-sentient wildlife. The wildlife is basically a mirror of the sentient life, though as you might expect they aren’t nearly as smart.

In case you were wondering, I recognized the deer as non-sentient due to its unpreparedness for its current location.

Well, that and the fact that it wasn’t freaking out about being trapped in Everfree.

Not wanting to waste the opportunity, I grabbed my bow, one of the items I never leave home without, and notched an arrow. Pulling back on the bowstring, I sighted my arrow cautiously, making sure to account for anything the shaft might encounter on its journey. Once done, I took a deep breath and held it...

My hands never left their positions until I was sure the arrow was gone. A shrill squeal told me that it had hit the mark. The bushes below began shifting as the deer ran in a futile attempt to save itself. In about three seconds, the sounds all stopped. At this point, I started climbing down from my perch. Once at the lower branches, I ran through the trees towards the location of the last sound I heard. Over the years, I had picked up skill in free running. Eventually, I found the deer lying in a small clearing in the woods. Jumping down from my position, I gave a small bow alongside a clenched fist over my heart as a sign of respect. This is something I did just for kicks to begin with, but now it's just become habit. After doing this, I pulled out a knife and began skinning it. I put the venison in my hunting bag as well as the hide. This in all took about forty-five minutes.

I should mention I brought some of the other innards with me. I wasn't going to eat them, but there were other creatures that might. Some of the monsters in the woods will usually leave you alone after giving them something to eat that isn’t yourself. I carry around bits of meat for that reason. Luckily, I didn't have to use any on the way home.

I reached my camp exited for a good meal that night. I unpacked my items and began removing my gear.

Some items weren’t too important, but others I feel the need to say where I acquired. My bow, for example, is just one of many attempts to create one. Since ponies aren’t exactly hunters, and unicorns have spells to cast for ranged attacks, I had to make one myself. All I had to go off of to begin with was my head, but after a few months of trial and error, I found a shape that works.

Item number two that I feel is important is a blade I have yet to name. I don’t mean a name in the sense of “Excalibur.” What I mean is what to call the weapon. It’s about five feet long, and has a sword blade on one half, and a long pole on the other. I acquired it during a trip to the local blacksmith. Originally, I was only there for coal, but then I saw the weapon on the rack.

That was one of the few times I left a note alongside the usual gift.

The third object was a band of leather that I had across my chest. I used it to carry an arsenal of small knives. I kept a larger dagger on my belt, but these knives were kept on me specifically for throwing. I first picked up knife throwing during my fourth year, and so far I haven’t had too much time to practice or use. I can’t say I’m some kind of master with them, but I can throw accurately.

Now unequipped, I grabbed an iron grill and placed it on two large rocks that sat on opposite edges of my fire pit. This done, I lit some dried moss and began building a fire. Once I had a considerable blaze going I placed some of my freshly caught meat on the grill. While on the grill, I salted one side while the other cooked. After a few minutes, I flipped the meat and began repeating the process.

It was during this time that I heard a noise behind me. Quickly recognizing that whatever was making it wasn't trying to stay silent, I realized who it was.

"Evening, Zecora." I said without turning, "Want something to eat?"

"While an apple may sound delightful, I have already eaten. I am quite full." She responded.

I left and brought out a stool for her. She sat down quietly. Meanwhile I returned to my cooking.

"Is that meat from today's hunt?" Zecora asked, "To find the creature must have been quite a stunt."

"Actually, it didn't take much. I was sitting in a tree when it came into view." I answered, "All I did was took the shot."

"Then some fine shooting you have done today." She commented.

It was when I heard that sentence stop there that my mind started counting down. 'Five, four, three, two...'

"Oh, I nearly forgot. Is this your night away?" Zecora continued.

'There’s the finisher.' I thought somewhat happily. Then I realized she was waiting for an answer.

"Well, I wasn't planning on it. I just made a trip last week. Why do ask?"

She brought out a herbology book from one of here bags and opened it to a specific page. She then pointed a hoof
towards one of the pictures.

"I am in need of a special herb. It’s a common ingredient to make potions superb."

I took the book and looked at the picture closely. Then I noticed the wall of text next to it. Upon further searching of the
page, I discovered that it was the list for potions requiring the specific ingredient.

"I take it this stuff runs out fairly quickly."

A simple nod was all she gave. I closed the book and handed it back.

"Alright, I'll do it. Just tell me how much you need."

===|===|-|===|===

I finished the last of my meal with gusto, thankful for the meat. I put out the fire soon after, making sure that every last ember was gone. Once the wood was cool enough to touch, I sifted through and grabbed the leftover wood that could be used to burn again. I tossed those into my small woodpile under a covering of branches and leaves. After that, I found the larger pieces of charcoal, and put them in a bag for later.

Now finished with my after-meal cleanup, I gathered my equipment and suited up in preparation for the night. I remembered to bring my messenger bag this time, knowing I didn't need too much room for everything. Now fully ready, I grabbed a hooded cloak for the final touch. It wasn't much to look at, just a plain dark brown cloak, but it would at least make sure ponies couldn't see my features.

Now fully prepared, I took the short trek to the edge of the forest. Then all I had to do was wait for the houses' lights to go out. It was already dark, so there weren’t too many on to begin with. Once the last visible light went out, I ran in a direct line towards the closest house. Not yet in town, I gave a quick glance around the corner of the house. There were some ponies here and there in the streets, as well as pegasi flying in circles above. The fact that each pony had a partner told me that they were search parties, most likely looking for me.

I feel such an odd mixture of pride and worry when I see things like this.

Not wanting to be spotted, I dodged in between buildings. Every once and a while, I would have to wait as a patrol walked past. I found moving like this somewhat tedious. Normally, I would have chosen to go over the rooftops, but the pegasi patrols kept that option out of the question.

There were a few patrols I had to distract due to complete dedication to finding me. One such patrol included the only pony to see me so far. I managed to flee that scene quickly. I stuck around later to hear her description of me. It was fairly accurate. My hood kept her from seeing my face at least. The other ponies didn't believe her though. Apparently, she's thought to be crazy because she believes humans exist. Go figure.

In any case, I managed to distract most of the more focused parties after throwing a small rock in any direction away from my current path. There were a few other patrols that were more annoying, however. This was mostly because of lack of movement. They just sat in one place and never moved an inch. Luckily, most weren't too focused and didn't notice me. It was with these patrols that I liked to eavesdrop. I usually stayed up to date through methods like this.

"I wonder if we'll see it tonight." said one voice.

Though I couldn't see, the voice seemed familiar enough. My thoughts, probably Ditzy Do. Makes sense that they would keep her on the ground considering her... condition. Her eyes aren't exactly in alignment, to say the least.

"Probably not. Ya' know it ain't just gonna' walk down the road."

Okay, only three ponies have a southern drawl like that. The fact that it sounds like an older female tells me it's Applejack, the owner of Sweet Apple Acres, the apple farm to the north. Thinking of this reminded me of the need for more apples...

"Ah' still can't believe ah' got roped inta' this. Ah' got a farm to run, an' food to get preparin'."

At this point, my mind starts to wander. 'Food? What does she need to prepare food for?'

"Oh right! You're in charge of the food for the Summer Sun Celebration." Ditzy asked.

'Summer Sun Celebration?' I repeated in my head. Then I remembered. It was the summer solstice. The ponies celebrate the longest day by staying up all night and watching Princess Celestia raise the sun in the morning. Each year, a different town hosts it. Apparently, this year is Ponyville's turn.

Great, just what I need. More ponies to keep away from.

"Well, it ain't jus' that. The Apple Family Reunion is also happenin' at the same time."

Wait a minute...

Apple Family Reunion?

From what I've heard, the Apples have relatives spread all across Equestria. The family is gigantic, and it's almost impossible not to find a town without its local Apple.

I'm having a slight headache just thinking of all the ponies that will be crammed into this town soon.

Not wanting any more bad news, I soon left the area and left to my first location: Carousel Boutique. I was in need of a few cloth materials. I tried to take tougher, more resilient cloth. I normally used them for patches, but they had other uses.

Now in sight of my first stop on my “excursion,” I made note of the lights on upstairs. I listened for any sign that the town’s local seamstress and up-in-coming fashion designer, Rarity, at work. Luckily, I found an even better sign. There was a light tune heard through an open window. Singing, coupled with late-night work meant she was either slammed, or “in the zone”. At a time like this was the perfect time to strike.

Cautiously, I circled the bottom floor, trying to find any opening I could. What I discovered was an unlocked window. I lifted it slowly, and crept inside.

If I could describe the interior in one word, it would have to be posh. On one side, there was a wall with evenly spaced mirrors. A long table affixed to the wall was set underneath with stools under the table, one for each mirror. A few pony shaped mannequins were lined up against the remaining wall. Each mannequin was wearing some piece of clothing. On the other side of the room was a small stage, most likely for ponies to show off any new look. A small saloon style door could be seen to the side, with a dressing room behind it. If I had to guess, the dressing room had some door leading to backstage.

In any case, the room I was in was not the room I was looking for. I made my way as quietly as I could to the back rooms. Eventually, I found the room conveniently titled “Storage.” I opened the door and went for the cloth rolls currently stockpiled. I gave each roll a slight tug before making my selection and rummaging through my “gift bag” as I started calling it.

Knowing that this designer liked her gems, I found the biggest one I had and laid it where the roll of cloth used to.

Now done with my heist, I begin to make my way back to the open window. Then hoofsteps from upstairs cause me to freeze. Luckily, those steps stayed upstairs, though they came close to the stairwell. Not willing to take any more chances, I made a silent dash for the window.

Now outside, I began making my way across town to my second destination: the sweets shop and bakery known as Sugarcube Corner. I needed salt for my meats. This part would be slightly more challenging due to two factors. One being it was located near the center of town. The searches were more coordinated there. The second factor is the pony named Pinkie Pie lives in the building. This was a problem because of the pink pony’s pure spontaneity. That and she appears to have the ability to ignore all known laws of physics. I once saw her pop up around one house corner, and then move to the other house corner… on the opposite side of the road. There are other examples of this, but I think I made my point.

In any case, she seemed to be asleep when I found a way inside. Her snoring was loud enough to be heard from outside the building. I moved to the cupboards and looked through the shelves to find the object I needed. I grabbed a container and left an ornate carving of a wolf in its place. I left the premises shortly afterwards.

Now out of the bakery, I sneaked across town to the next stop on my escapades. The local spa. They would most likely have the herb I was looking for. After all, I promised Zecora I would get her the herb she wanted. Besides, that was pretty much the only reason why I decided to make a trip in the first place.

Upon finding the spa, I managed to climb the side of the building into a steam vent. They had a massive hot tub inside, which made plenty of steam. I eventually crawled through into the building. Once inside, I walked to the back to find the herb. Luckily, they had everything organized with a name and picture right next to the many small bags containing many different herbs.

I took the one I needed and left a small gem in its place.

I managed to open a door from the inside to make my way out. I then moved swiftly through the buildings to my final destination. I wasn’t planning on heading to Sweet Apple Acres beforehand, but the conversation from earlier reminded me about my apple shortage.

The farm wasn't too far outside of Ponyville, so getting there wasn't a problem. The strange thing was that search parties never showed up around the farm. Whatever the reason was, it made my job all the more easier.

Now at the farm, I found a suitable tree and began climbing. Once level with the fruit, I began picking apples one by one. I finished my apple picking after eight, and left a parting gift in the bough of the tree where it would stay until a strong shake to the tree.

My list now fully checked, I hit the ground rolling and started running for the farm edge. As soon as I was outside the farm boundaries, I began arcing my run to make a longer path around town. After I was sure I was out of sight, I immediately picked up my pace and booked it back to the forest whence I came.

Once in the thick of the trees, I slowed my run to a brisk walk. I didn't want to run the whole way, but there were still creatures out at night. Eventually, I made it to my camp. By now it was about 11:30pm, so I was ready to unpack and sleep.

I removed my baggage and placed everything in my stores. I then unceremoniously dumped all my extra gear on the side of my makeshift bed. Now completely ready for a good night’s sleep, I fell into bed, literally. Before sleep could take me, I started thinking about what the immediate future would hold. I had a strange feeling that the Summer Sun Celebration would definitely bring something different in the long run, though I didn't know what. There wasn't much time to dwell on the subject however, as I found rest soon after.

Author's Note

I said I would offer more in the previous chapter, but I'm not sure I delivered well. If there is any disappointment, I will take all responsibility. I'm still setting the scene, so I don't have too much to offer. I'll be touching more on life in the forest in the next chapter, so there should be some interesting tidbits there. But for now, please feel free to rate, comment, and critique. Until next time, Sandvich Brony signing off!

Everfree 101

=====|]Exposed[|=====
=====|]Chapter 3: Everfree 101[|=====

I woke up the next morning feeling somewhat tired. Then again, what do you expect to feel like when you've woken up after running around late at night? Groggily, I sat up and moved my legs so that they hung off the side of the bed. After a brief stretch, I pushed myself up to a standing position. Now more awake than asleep, I began my morning routine, which started with a short walk to my stores for a breakfast meal.

The cave I called my storehouse was small, but usable. It was about fifteen feet wide at the entrance, and was somewhere around thirty feet long. I discovered it after a brief exploration of the surroundings of my camp, and after finding it to be empty decided to claim it. Shelves of my creation lined the walls and back of the cave, as well as a few sacks filling the empty spaces. A few barrels I managed to roll in from town stood in the center of the room. And to top all this off, I built doors to fit the mouth of the cave to keep the larger things out.

Grabbing an apple, I started what could eventually become my morning chores. I scanned the shelves doing what I called inventory management. I looked at the amount of each item I had, and made a guess on if I needed more of anything. I finished this noting only a shortage of wood in my burn pile

I stepped across the cave to my non-food storage. This was where I kept all my equipment and tools, which included my weapons, clothes, and woodworking tools. I grabbed my ax and walked out of the cave. I then began the search for a tree to topple. Eventually, I found a suitable tree and began swinging.

The tree came down without too much trouble. I left the area and later returned with a saw. I then began to work, cutting the tree into sizable pieces that I would later burn. Once the tree had been completely sawed through, I started the tedious process of bringing each piece back to my woodpile. I left out a few pieces of wood for a fire later that day.

With my only chore done for the day, I grabbed some of my equipment and suited up for a stroll in the woods. Once prepared, I left the area and took to the trees.

If one were to go in a southward direction in Everfree, they would eventually find the edge of a cliff. Following the edge in an eastward direction would eventually lead to a deep canyon.

It was to this canyon that I now traveled.

Upon reaching my destination, I took a pensive moment and looked down into the depths. The bottom was visible from the top, but it would definitely not be survivable should something fall. Once finished with my peek, I reached into my bag and pulled out a long rope. I then tied one end to a tree close to the edge. I tugged on the knot a few times to make sure it was secure. Now prepared, I took hold of the rope with both hands, and repelled into the canyon.

The happier part of my decent was that I didn't look down. Then again, I didn't look at all. My eyes were closed the whole way down. I opened them a few times to find a foothold, but even then I only looked at the wall of rock in front of me.

If you couldn't tell, I was elated once I reached the bottom.

Once I had solid ground beneath my feet, I brushed the dust off my clothes, and began walking down the canyon to the south. In due time, I made it to the end of the canyon where it abruptly hit the cliff face. Though in my way rested a large manticore.

Unafraid, I walked up to the beast. I didn't bother using stealth. It was fast asleep and showed no sign of waking up. The scorpion-like tail curled around it as it slept.

Eventually, I was close enough to touch the massive creature during its sleep. Taking a large amount of fur in my hand, I hoisted myself up and began climbing until I was on top of it. The manticore shifted slightly as I did this. I then stood and walked across it until I was standing on its neck. I then knelt and began scratching with wide motions. By this point, the beast was shifting quite a bit. If anything, it definitely wasn't asleep now.

"Morning, sunshine," I said into its ear. "How was your sleep?"

The manticore said nothing in reply. It simply purred and turned its head to look at me.

"I'll take that as an 'okay'." I simply stated.

I stopped scratching and slid off its back to the ground below. The beast stood and turned to face me. I reached into my bag and pulled out a large chunk of meat.

"Here you go," I said, throwing the meat in the air.

The food's journey through the air didn't last long. The manticore caught it mid-flight in his massive open maw. He then munched on it happily.

"Glad to see someone's glad," I mentioned under my breath as I turned to walk away. The beast I called my friend, meanwhile, curled back into a comfortable position on the canyon floor, and began sleeping away.

The manticore's relationship with me has lately been much smoother than when it began. I first met him before I had weapons to use. To put it bluntly, I ran far, far away from there. Our second meeting was after I picked up my dagger. I actually put up a fight until it swiped at me. Then I ran again. Our meetings continued like this, with me consistently gaining more and more time fighting against him. It eventually came to a head when I came close to killing him. By that point, we were both exhausted and I was ready to fall to the ground and just rest, but I still triumphed. Standing on top of him with my blade to his throat. The only thing that stayed my hand was that he literally taught me everything I knew about fighting. Sure it was unintentional, but it happened.

From that point onwards, we never fought again. We would sometimes cross paths in the forest, but we simply looked, and went our separate ways. I think by this point, we both had a mutual respect for eachother's space. Eventually, I began taking trips to his place, and over time, we grew slightly closer.

And that, my friends, is how I befriended a manticore.

If there's one thing I learned from the entire ordeal, it's how to deal with Everfree animals. Most will eventually ignore you if you find ways to gain respect. For example, I found a cocatrice searching in the bushes for berries. Luckily, I had already read about them, so I immediately looked away. I then walked away slowly, using my dagger's reflection as a way to keep tabs on the creature. It eventually came close and lashed out at me with a claw. I retaliated by jumping away, closing my eyes, and making a blind swing. All I heard was a shriek, and some hurried slithering mixed with some bushes rustling.

From that day forward, I have only seen parts of cocatrices. Usually, they were running away from me, but a few turned to give a small glare. Nothing like their "turn to stone" stare, but still something to strike fear.

In any case, I eventually found my rope hanging on the side of the canyon. I took a firm grip, and began the arduous climb back up the canyon wall. Eventually, I reached the top, and began untying the rope. Once finished, I coiled it, and stowed it away in my bag. I then climbed the nearest tree and began freerunning my way back to my camp.

As soon as the clearing came into view, I dropped to the ground. I then walked to the small pile of wood I left earlier and grabbed some pieces. I started a fire, and put some meat on for a quick lunch. I checked the time on a sundial I had set up. The time read 1:45.

From this, I could definitely say that Zecora was already in Ponyville. She made trips once every month to town, but for some reason everything just shuts down when she arrives. Neither of us know why, but I've heard some tidbits from from some eavesdropped ponies, and apparently they think she's some kind of "Evil enchantress" or something like that. Somehow, they get this from monthly trips from a zebra who no one's actually talked to. Well, I shouldn't say absolutely no one. Some ponies actually look past everything else, but they are highly outnumbered.

Honestly, this is one of the reasons why I prefer to stay hidden and away from society. I would rather not have false rumors spread about me that have absolutely no fact to them. For all I know, they could say I'm some kinda creep who only comes at night to steal things from ponies.

Wait, that description matches me almost exactly... Um, moving on.

My meat was finally done. I grabbed some of my dining items and began digging in. I didn't have much. Just a single plate, bowl, fork, and spoon. I used one of my throwing knives or my dagger for a knife. Once I was finished, I cleaned and put everything away. I put the fire out only partially with a few embers still smoking. I then turned to the forest to check my snares. This was a chore I did almost daily, but it was necessary. I almost always found at least something stuck in one of the small nooses around the forest.

I began my rounds finding nothing. The next few yielded no more than the first. Eventually, I did find something, though not what I was looking for. A small timberwolf pup was trapped in the snare. I jumped down and cut it free, where it then ran off. I payed attention to the general direction it bounced off in and made a mental note never to go there.

The rest of my snares went along the same lines as the first bunch. First a whole lot of nothing. Then, something caught, either usable, or not. By the end of my run, I had enough fresh meat to continue on for a few more weeks. That on top of the deer from yesterday meant I had enough meat to last for a long while.

I let that sit for a while as I stood on the forest floor. It wasn't everyday I had so much food. I mean sure, life in the forest had it's ups and downs, but I never had this much before.

On a much higher note, I walked back to my camp. This was unusual, because I usually don't ever walk on the forest floor like this. The trees were faster, and normally kept me from danger. Regardless, I walked back to camp. I did make sure to avoid most of the plants that would cause harm to me. There wasn't honestly too much plant life that could cause harm to me, but the one I most definitely wanted to avoid was the blue flower known as Poison Joke.

The plant wasn't harmful by any means. The main problem are its affects. It doesn't poison you or kill you in seconds. Instead, it gives an affect that's more or less a joke. The other thing about it's effects is that it changes not just from person to person, but over time as more things happen to you. My first time being affected by it was during puberty. I'm not sure why, but I got a complete sex change. I'm just glad it was only temporary, but it was still a very strange experience. My second time was a missed branch falling into a large patch of it. By this point, I was getting better at hunting. To put it bluntly, it turned me into a griffon. Luckily, I knew Zecora by this point. As it turns out, there's an herbal remedy that can completely reverse the effects. I'm just glad I didn't have to live with it like I did the other change.

Speaking of Zecora, I noticed some stripes when I pushed through the bushes to my campsite.

"How long were you waiting?"

"Not to long, my biped friend," She began, "I came for my herb. I hope you kept to your end."

I walked to my storage and grabbed her bag of herbs. Upon my return, I tossed them to her.

"So, how was your visit to town?" I asked politely.

"Nothing has changed from my previous trip. They all simply hide, without a single tip."

"Must be hard for you," I commented.

"I am fine, at least for now. I just hope they will see more than my shadow." She stated.

"Well, who knows," I said, giving her head a few pats, "Maybe they will sooner than later."

She nodded. "Yes, that we can assume." Zecora began walking back into the forest. Before she hit the treeline, she turned to look at me. "Well, I must be off. I bid you Adieu."

"See ya." I responded.

Once she was gone, I looked at the time. It was now 8:48. Nearly sundown.

Seeing this, I stood and took to the trees. Eventually, I made it to my favorite. It was the same one I was on yesterday when I shot the deer. The reason why I favor it was because it was one of the few trees that broke the canopy. If you climbed it, you could see beyond the sea of leaves and branches and look into the sky.

Quickly, I climbed to a high branch and sat there, watching the sunset. It was a beautiful sky filled with pinks, reds, oranges, and yellows.

If only I had a camera.

Instead of taking pictures, I stayed there and watched until the last rays of day died out over the horizon. I waited until the first star appeared in the sky before I began my descent.

I dropped down into my camp without hesitation. I shed my equipment quickly and laid them by my bedside. I then got in bed slowly and found sleep without much trouble.

I slept like a rock, blissfully unaware of the preparations going on elsewhere.

Author's Note

And so ends the setting of the story. Now we can start getting into the good stuff. The next chapter I can guarantee at least some action. Now if you don't mind, I need to get my ideas flowing. In the meantime, Like, Comment, Critique, maybe even follow me if you so choose. Until next time, Sandvich Brony signing off!

Time Ticks On

=====|]Exposed[|=====
=====|]Chapter 4: Solstice[|=====

The remaining weeks before the Summer Sun Celebration passed by fairly quickly. It was during these days that I made frequent trips to the edge of the forest just to get a look at something happening in town. Every day brought something new to my eyes. One morning, I found the ponies doing a complete town cleaning on a massive scale. On another day, I saw multiple ponies attempting a complex form of a human pyramid. Meanwhile, more ponies continued to pour in through just about every kind of transport imaginable. From the boarding platform on the train, from the ground in massive carriages and walking parties, and even from the air in planes with a similar design to the original Wright Bros. planes.

In all, I went through the same routine pretty much every morning. Every day, I would wake up, I would go to the forest edge, I would see all the ponies coming into town and participating in the festivities...

Then I would feel two things. Anxiety, and a sense of longing. I'm not sure why, but I honestly felt left out. Then again, it's one of the biggest celebrations of the year. And here I was, sitting in the middle of the Everfree Forest completely alone with no one to celebrate with. I mean sure, I had Zecora, but I don't think she'd understand.

Usually, when thoughts like this start coming into my head, I immediately start pushing them out and start thinking of reasons why I shouldn't. Ranging from completely rational fears to the most outlandish things imaginable, each and every situation ended with me in the same place: Trapped with no path to freedom.

In any case, I continued watching the days go by, all the while making preparations myself. The amounts of monster sightings had been increasing recently. I had no idea why they were, but I had to keep myself protected regardless. I set numerous traps around my camp, ranging from hidden pitfalls, to large nets hidden in the branches. To put it bluntly, the sightings decreased after they were set.

Other preparations I made involved food. The monster sightings also meant more predators in the area. I set more snares in an attempt to try and catch more meat. The plan worked. Partially. I caught more, but I also found some of my snares completely destroyed by a monster having dropped by for a free meal. I also used more of my free time for hunting and foraging, either tracking animals or gathering roots and berries. Either way, I gathered a massive food store.

Meanwhile, I continued to count down the days, time ticking off the days between me and the solstice.

|===|===|-|===|===|

I woke up in the morning in a cold sweat. My anxiety had been building over the last few weeks, and wasn't showing any signs of leaving any time soon. It was also meant many nights with little or no sleep at all, resulting in me being completely wiped out despite having just woken up.

Ignoring my body's urgings to curl back up and sleep some more, I planted my hands under my back and sat up. Once the dizzy feeling left my head, I removed myself from my bed and stood. Now at my full height, I walked towards a nearby tree and lightly knocked my head against it. Now more awake, I walked to my cave and grabbed a piece of bread for a quick breakfast. Once every last crumb was gone, I turned to the wall of my cave that had my dry storage for my calendar. I found it helped quite a bit sometimes when you could tell what the date was.

The date read June 20th

I let that sink in for a second. The eve of the Summer Sun Celebration, today...

I bolted for my equipment, put it on in record time, and ran for the nearest tree. Once in the branches, I didn't wait to make a decision on which branch to jump to next. I simply found a path through the branches and gunned it. Eventually, the line would end, making me pause briefly before finding a new line to travel. Regardless of which paths there were, I tried to choose the one that led towards the forest edge.

If your were wondering about why I was rushing like this, I needed visual confirmation on the date. If I was correct, there should be something happening today that would be all I needed. I just hoped I wasn't too late to see it.

Eventually, I reached my destination. I first looked downwards at the town. Nothing of interest caught my eye except for extra ponies wandering the streets. Frowning in disappointment, I lifted my gaze to the horizon. Scanning the skies yielded nothing, sadly. I turned to head back into the forest, when something caught my eye. I turned back around to get a better look to find what I had been searching for.

A glint of light from a golden chariot, flying in towards Ponyville.

Seeing this, I knew that the calendar wasn't lying. For some unknown reason, the pony responsible for making sure everything was going as planned showed up early in the morning on the eve of the Summer Sun Celebration. Who decided this, I have no idea.

In any case, I now had my confirmation. I didn't stay any longer. The amount of ponies coming into town had dropped considerably during the last week, as well as the general activity level.

I returned to my camp with mixed feelings. On one hand, the biggest event of the year was about to happen, and then everyone would go home. On the other hand, I had an extremely risky move to make, and it had to happen tonight. I just hoped nothing went wrong, or else I would have a hard time escaping...

Author's Note

Okay, I know this chapter is short, not to mention not much action like I promised, but please stay patient. I can say the next chapter will have more to offer. Besides that fact, it'll also come out fairly quickly, especially when you consider most of it's already pre-written. Now if you don't mind, I have some typing to do. In the mean time, feel free to rate, comment, critique, maybe watch me if you deem it worth. And on that note, Sandvich Brony, signing off!

Summer Sun's Eve

===|Exposed|===

===|Chapter 5: Summer Sun's Eve|===

I crouched in the treetops at the edge of the forest, waiting for my chance to come. It was well past midnight, but I was awake regardless, as were the ponies in town. The lights of Ponyville slowly faded out as the ponies left their homes for the festivities. They were being held at the Town Hall. It was the largest building in Ponyville, round, pointed at the top, and it glowed like a beacon in the soon-to-be otherwise lightless town.

They clustered around the Town Hall, but few actually went in. Instead, they socialized. They talked with excitement about a pony named 'Princess Celestia.' Their words were almost worshipful, like they genuinely believed this 'Celestia' could control the sun. As I watched them, I felt the same sense of longing I'd felt before. It wasn't confusing to me. How long had I been alone? Seven years. Back on Earth I'd heard that going a long time without any contact with another human being would drive you insane. But I didn't think I was insane.

Then again, I was watching sentient pastel-colored ponies, who would probably kill me if they could, hold a party for a princess they believed could raise the sun, so insanity wasn't really out-of-the-question.

Despite the senselessness of my whole situation, the irrational feeling of longing remained. I didn't enjoy the way things were. All the hiding, the sneaking, the pilferring. It was almost easy to forget, as I looked down at the Ponyvillians chat and be friendly and celebrate, that I was planning to steal from them the first moment they could. I tasted bile at the thought that I was so used to stealing that I didn't feel bad about it anymore. What would my parents have thought if they could see me now?

I shook my head to clear my thoughts. I couldn't consider that. I'd lose my nerve, and I wouldn't get another chance like this for a year. It was now or never.

Eventually, the last non-Town Hall light went out, and only the full moon lit Ponyville. I dropped from my perch, with a silence that would have made the old me proud, and fast-walked into town before breaking into a full-out sprint. There was no need for stealth tonight. Every pony was in the Town Hall, eagerly awaiting the festivities and their princess. They wouldn't give me trouble. The celebration would begin in fifteen minutes, and I didn't know how long they were, so I might only be safe for that long. I would likely have longer, but I wasn't eager to be wrong and find out whether Princess Celestia had an elite Royal Guard. Fifteen minutes wasn't long, but it was still more than I usually had. It was enough to make two stops around town.

Changing course, I headed for the Ponyville market district. While the stalls had items I could put to good use, I rarely made runs there. Early on I’d made constant runs, but then the shop owners started using locked chests to store goods. I could pick the locks, but not fast enough to keep from being spotted. Due to this fact, I only came at times when I knew there would be little or no ponies on patrol.

But the time limit wasn’t the only thing that kept me moving quickly. There was something wrong. I couldn’t see it, smell it, or hear it, but I knew it was there. It hung like vapor in the air. It almost felt like it was the moonlight, but I didn’t concern myself with that.

I paused for a few seconds when I reached the market to look at the stalls lining the road and made a quick decision on which ones I would hit.

The popularity of the blacksmith’s stall was questionable at best. The main thing he sold was weaponry, and seeing as ponies were herbivores and the town was peaceful, there really wasn't much of a need for something like killing. Then again, the Everfree forest was right on the border, so they might need protection. Another reason why they might need weapons was me, but I preferred not to dwell on that possibility.

I hopped over the table and into the back of the stall. Crouching down to access the chest underneath the wooden booth, I grabbed lockpicks from my bag and started moving the tumblers inside into place. With any other lock, I would’ve been through it in seconds, but that specific lock always gave me trouble. The tumbler system was more complex than the others, and even seemed to change every once in a while. Then again, it was owned by a talented metalworker.

Four minutes later, I shifted the final tumbler with a satisfying click. When I lifted the lid, a mess of points and vorpal edges glittered in the moonlight. Taking a deep breath, I began sifting through the pile, shifting daggers and swords back and forth, trying to find something I didn't recognize. There was always a small chance that I could find a new weapon to add to my arsenal. Tonight was not one of those nights. I settled for some arrows to replace the ones I lost and a new whetstone. I left a small ruby as my ‘gift’.

The next stall was another with questionable popularity. They sold animal pelts. From leather to furs, the stall sold pelts of all kinds. The only reason I could think of that the ponies would hesitate to buy is where the pelts came from. While some were clearly not from sapient creatures, others weren't so easily recognizable.

Compared to the blacksmith's lock, the tumblers practically flew into place. I pinched my nose before lifting the lid, but I could still smell the intense, musty scent as I began searching for pelts to line my winter clothing. I'd bagged one roll and was in the middle of inspecting a second when there was a flash of light in the corner of my eye. I probably would have dismissed it as a part of the celebration if I hadn't heard thunder boom from the same direction as well.

I practically leapt up, already bagging the roll of fur before I realized I was fine, and looked over the rooftops, eyes locking onto the cupola of Ponyville Town Hall. It wasn't hard to spot. Lightning flashed and thunder boomed, easily seen from across town.

A black, ethereal fog swirled around the building in coils. Stars glittered inside it, and it seemed almost like the night sky. Strange, there weren’t any pegasi around to make the weather.

I had a very bad feeling about this.

I slipped out into the street for a better view. Not long after the lightning and thunder stopped completely. But the fog drew together into one mass and flew off into the night sky. Right behind it was a chromatic blur that I recognized all too well as Rainbow Dash. Ponyville's weather manager and self-proclaimed "Fastest flier in Equestria." She had the speed to back her claim, which only added to my surprise when she gave up her chase and began hovering.

My surprise turned to horror as she seemed to notice me from the corner of her eye and turned towards me. Her eyes went wide, and so did mine.

"You!" she shouted, pointing with a hoof. "You stay right there or I’ll—“

I had already turned and was sprinting down the street by the time she began the threat. I had about ten seconds before Rainbow made a move, since she had a tendency to be extremely cocky in just about every situation she came across. I bolted down the alley, cloak billowing, and tried to use those precious seconds to think of a way out. I couldn't think of anything. With my pursuer being who it was, my options were severely limited. There wasn't much that could get past Rainbow.

A noise like a jet sounded out behind me. Rainbow was in motion, and I still needed more time.

She was already behind me a moment later. In an effort to buy a few more seconds, I dropped low and slid, Rainbow blazing past me, my cloak dragged forward by her wind.

I stood again, taking a wide stance in case I needed to make a move. Rainbow let out some pony curse word, twisted up to keep from repainting the side of an inn, and made a wide U-turn. That gave me a couple moments at best. I tried again to think of an escape but I was still clueless. Fleeing would just prolong my capture, and I had just used my only trump card. There was no outrunning Rainbow Dash.

She reached the end of her turn and shot towards me, eyes narrowed, mane and tail almost seeming to leave rainbows as she flew. I desperately tried to think of something but it just left my mind a tangled mess. I had only one option left.

I dropped into a battle stance, balling my fists as Rainbow sped towards me. She seemed surprised that I didn’t run, but she didn’t slow down, stretching out her hooves for an attack. I watched carefully, silently gauging the right moment… Just a second more…

Now! I shouted in my mind.

I leaned back, barely avoiding the outstretched hooves trying to grab me. Twisting my shoulders, I slammed my strongest right hook directly into Rainbow's side.

The next moment there was a crash behind me, a sickening sound of wood twisting and snapping. I turned around and saw one of the market stalls completely obliterated, carrots and wood chips strewn about the wreckage.

A groan came from the stall’s remnants, followed by some of the boards beginning to shift and slide off of a cyan shape. I should have turned and run then, but I just watched the pegasus slowly drag herself from the wreckage. She was hurt. Nothing so bad as a sprain, but more than a few large slivers had found their way into her hide, and a thin river of blood trickled down her left shoulder. She shook the rest of the boards off and tried to take a step forward. Her leg buckled and she ended up flat on the ground. But she stood again, legs trembling as they struggled to support her weight.

It was then that Rainbow finally looked up, her rose eyes full of the largest mix of emotions I'd ever seen. Four were more prominent than the rest: surprise, vengeance, curiosity, and fear. Her body was shaky, but her eyes were the opposite. They glared at me and dared me to try to fight her. I’d never known someone so shaken could be so intimidating at the same time.

I must have been an imposing figure myself, standing there, my travelling cloak covering my body like a shroud. The moonlight lit my cheeks, my nose, my mouth… the rest of my face was hidden. But even without knowing what I looked like, her eyes had found my own, and they bored into me.

The two of us stared at each other for a few long, drawn-out moments. Finally, I turned and ran.

"Ye-yeah, run!” Rainbow shouted at me. “Run like a coward! That's all you are: a thief!"

It was the last thing I heard before I left Ponyville and ran to the Everfree, not once looking back.

===|===|===|===

After reaching the edge of the forest, I stopped and nearly collapsed against a tree to catch my breath. My head was pounding. My heart, too. Beads of sweat dripped from my brow. After a minute of gasping for air, I decided to take the long way and hike back to my camp. I was athletically fit, but I still had limits and I’d been running a lot that night. It also gave me time to reflect, which wasn’t a good thing.

In all my time spent in Equestria, I’d never once resorted to violence in my dealings with ponies. Sure, I’d pulled the occasional trick to get some off my tail, but they were never harmed in any way. And to make matters worse, the mare I’d hurt was the only pony who would try to find me just to get revenge.

I knew I couldn’t think about this. I knew I couldn’t doubt myself. But I couldn’t get her last words out of my mind.

"...Run like a coward! That's all you are: a thief!"

The worst part was they were all true. After boiling down the past years, all I'd ever done in this world was stolen and survived, making me no better than a common thief. Nothing more, nothing less.

I made it to my camp, my thoughts still fresh. I’d already stayed up late, and I knew it wouldn’t be easy to sleep tonight. It was the eve of the Summer Sun Celebration, the longest day of the year. The woods weren't completely soundproof, and the sun would be rising soon.

I tossed my travelling cloak and the pack I’d made out of saddlebags at the side of my bed, barely caring that there were valuables inside. I dropped into bed fully clothed, hoping to catch at least a few winks of sleep before the sunrise. Sleep wouldn’t come. I twisted and turned, shifted positions constantly, but my thoughts wouldn’t go away. Those moments, from the time I’d struck Rainbow Dash to her words, floated around in my mind.

I wondered how I must have seemed to Rainbow, staring back just after sending her crashing into a carrot stand. From my position, she was the dangerous one, the mare who could easily catch me in a fair chase. Yet I knew there had been fear in her eyes. She shouldn’t have been afraid of me, I hadn’t wanted to hurt her. I hadn’t meant to hurt her.

But as I'd stood there, staring into the hateful rose eyes of a pony named Rainbow Dash, I'd been the Shroud: the thief... the villain... the mysterious figure who'd left her shaken and bleeding.

Author's Note

So, I know I've said this a few times now, but I'm sorry about the delay on this chapter. I want to thank you all for being so patient as this went under production.

Now, starting off with the business part of this, I'm sorry to say the next chapter of Exposed won't be out soon. I do have a reason, however. I've been told via Skype from a few experienced writers that my first chapter is a bit "under the mark," as it were. I've looked into this issue, and to be frank, they're right.

And that's why I've decided to completely overhaul the whole chapter.

Yeah, not the best idea when I haven't made much progress, but it's still better to look into a problem while you still can. Besides, it might answer some questions you guys might have about Ryan and his experiences in Equestria.

In other news, I've also picked up an editor for Exposed. Look for his name in the story description.

Alright, now that I've covered most of the important stuff, it's time to say goodbye for now. Please feel free to like, comment, critique, maybe hit that watch button if you deem me worthy of your attention. If you need something else to do while you wait, look out for the revised chapter one. And on that note, Sandvich Brony, signing off!