Strange New World

Blackness. Complete and total blackness.

August's mind remained in the dark the entire time throughout the Transfer Process. He was in what Master Eios called 'Stasis'. According to him, its the state in which one has his form reconfigured to fit the needs of a new world. August's appearance had begun to change drastically in the very late stages, but even then, it would still take quite some time for him to reawaken without any harm. The only thoughts that traveled through his mind were his memories.

But even those precious things had begun to change.

Master Eios himself stood in the same place he had been for past three hours. He was dead center of the Control Room, just outside the TR where August was now. He had been watching an endless amount of numbers and equations flash across the abundant computer screens. They all showed, in one way or another, August's vital signs and he was making sure everything was stable and normal as he went through the last stages of his transformation.

It was the most important part of the procedure. As well as the most dangerous...

Sweat began to trickle down Eios' face as he continued to watch the numbers on screen. He noticed that August had began to show small signs of brain activity. He began to worry as he let out a long heavy sigh. If anything were to go wrong during the final stage; any drastic fluctuation in brain activity, it would alter the transformation process and August would remain in Stasis for an eternity.

"Come on, August... Just hang in there a little more..." Eios whispered. Despite his plea, his levels began to climb. August's mind began to slip away as it ventured into an unknown part of Stasis. Eios lowered his head in disbelief. "No..."

August had walked for what seemed like ages in the vast wasteland of white and nothingness. There was no sound except for the tapping of his own footsteps on what sounded to be like plastic covering under him. The atmosphere was light and electric. His limbs began to feel numb as he moved.

He had spotted something far off on the bright horizon of the... world. He started towards it, curious to what was here, in this forsaken world, with him. Despite all what was happening, he was oblivious to the most obvious of questions: why was he here? How did he get here? All he focused on was the blonde girl who was, now, a few yards away from him.

"Gene...?" he whispered. She flinched at the sudden voice directed towards her. She was used to the loneliness and quiet and the sudden return of sound startled her. Gene turned to see and smiled as she saw him. August returned with one. "Gene." he said, happily. Gene let out a laugh... or at least, tried to. Nothing seemed to come out. Everything remained silent. August stood confused. "Gene?"

Gene began to speak to him, her facial expression turned to confusion as well. However, nothing seemed to be actually said. Nothing was to be heard from her. August shook his head at what was happening. It was so very strange. "What's going on?" he asked, indirectly.

There was a sudden shot of pain in the back of his head. August clawed at it, letting out a long grunt. His head began to swim and he fell to his knees. It was unbearable. His head felt as if it were in a vice and was slowly being tightened by unknown forces. "Aghhhhh!" he screamed. Gene stood over him, hands behind her back.

And...as quick as it came...it was gone. The pain subsided and August let his hands rest, down into his lap. He noticed that his arms had turned quite pale and he questioned how they had gotten that way. His vision slowly started to blur and he began to lose his hearing. Gene bent down over him.

"Come on you lazy bum, wake up." August could barely make out what she said. He struggled to lift his head up to look at her. Her face was a blur.

"What?" he whispered.

"Wake up."

August opened his eyes and shot up from his back, choking and gasping for air. He spit out the foam that was in his mouth and back of his throat. His heart pounded and even after he was done coughing, he breathed heavily. His body ached and a horrible migraine tortured his thoughts. August reached up to rub his forehead.

"Ughh........what happened....?"

He stopped and his eyes grew wide. He began to take in all that was around him. He squinted at the sun that shone down upon him. The sky was blue and filled with fluffy white clouds. The air was warm and sweet smelling of flowers. A line of trees surrounded him as he sat in the in its center clearing. The grass he was sitting in was soft and silky to the touch.

"Wha...Where........huh?"

I... I can't feel my fingers...

August lowered his arm and held it out in front of him. He screamed. There were no fingers upon his... 'hand'... or at this point he was unsure what to call what he was looking at. His arm ran down and slanted at one side. He took his other arm and compared the two. They were exactly the same. August began to breathe rapidly as his peripheral vision caught his legs. It was all the same.

August examined the rest of his body. Everything about him had changed. He was without his clothes and his skin was covered in a coat of soft, light grey fur. His brown hair was longer now.

What... What is this? What's going on?

August rolled over and tried to force himself up. His muscles ached as he pushed himself up. He strained as he stood on his legs. His head was swimming and he lost his balance. He toppled over quickly and fell to the ground with a thud. He tried again but with the same result.

It's these new legs... I'm not used to them...

August got on all fours and stood up. And then he realized it.

Maybe this is how I'm supposed to move around now... Great.

He took another look at his legs.

But what am I...?

He felt something brush up against his back legs. He spin around but to his surprise, nothing was there. He looked to his left and right. Nothing but the forest around his small clearing. He felt it again and turned. Nothing. He looked underneath him and saw hair dangling from his backside. He turned his head over to see it. He rolled his eyes.

I have a tail... Now I know I'm dreaming...

He sighed and took another look around him. There was nothing but forest and the sounds of wildlife.

Now what....? And how the hell did I end up here in the first place?!

"What the hell is going on here?!!"

Master Eios sat down in front of the computer screens and let out a heavy sigh. He was relieved he had finally gotten the chance to rest. He had strained over the computers for hours and hours on end. He removed his hood to reveal a rugged face and white hair. He rubbed his forehead; wiping it clean of sweat.

"So... How long's it been?"

Eios turned to face one of his own who appeared in the doorway. He was leaning against the door, arms folded.

"Ahh, Nolan, good to see you," Eios lowered his head again. "Its been seven hours since he's been in there. Thought I lost him but he's in Equestria now."

"Seven hours?" Nolan walked forward to the computer screens, removing his hood as he did so. He was blue eyed with brown hair and a small ear piercing. "That's the longest anyone's been in the TR... and he's alive?" He turned back to his Master.

"Yes... Like I said, he just made it through Stasis. Probably a rough wake-up call, though, I imagine." he chuckled. Nolan smiled.

"So what now?" he asked.

"Rest," Eios answered and he stood up from his chair. "I need rest..." He turned and started for the door. "August will be fine for a day without any direction."

"And... what exactly was your reasoning for sending him there?" Eios stopped just inside the doorway. Nolan had been told a Civi had been sent in but not specifically told why. He was second in command and wondered why he still hasn't been informed entirely of Eios' plan. He turned around to face Nolan, his arms folded back across his chest; a concerned and irritated look on his face. Eios sighed.

"He's special..."

"Special how...., exactly?" Nolan stepped forward.

"He's specially built for the world. He's built for Equestria."

"Oh, so he's a Nexus?" Nolan stopped in front of Eios.

"Precisely." Nolan stared at Eios intently.

"And why, now, are we starting to send Nexus' to other worlds?" Eios sighed.

"Its an experiment..."

"Oh, its an experiment!" Nolan nodded his head. Eios became slightly irritated.

"Don't you take that tone with me. This is my decision to send August there, not yours." Eios stated firmly.

"Master, I'm only concerned whether if your doing this for the wrong reasons."

"Wrong reasons? What other reason would I have..." Eios hesitated. Nolan raised an eyebrow. Eios knew where he was going with this and he became frustrated. Eios pointed at him. "Now you listen here; no one is to know about this. I've chosen to send August in as an 'experiment'. Its true; he is a Nexus, but..." Nolan stopped him by holding up his hand.

"Master, its not my place, nor is it in my personality to intrude on your personal life but, I just want to know that this is your decision and you want to continue along with it. If anything were to go wrong, the Committee would pin it on you."

"I am aware of this..."

"So you take full responsibility?"

"I am the leader of this Sector, so, by default, yes." Eios smiled half-heartedly. Nolan nodded.

Eios cleared his throat. "Well then..." Eios bowed his head. Nolan did as well. Eios the left him alone in the Control Room. Nolan turned back towards the computers. He went and sat down and watched as August went along on his journey.

Just an experiment, my ass. Nolan thought.

August waded his way through tall grasses, ferns, bushes and branches as he continued through the forest in the only direction he knew to go; forward. A few hours had already past since his awakening in the clearing. He felt odd leaving it. The atmosphere of it felt calm and still. Maybe it was just the changing to the forest but he still felt very safe while there. Alas, he wasn't going to get any answers staying there.

He was still disoriented and achy from awaking so he moved slowly through the forest. He would occasionally fall over from trying to get used to his new legs. He cursed every time he did. But, nevertheless, August pushed forward, deeper into the forest; the buzzing of insects around his ears, the chirping of birds and even the occasional croak from a frog. At least it was warm, unlike back home on Awehul.

He had been thinking of home ever since he arrived in this strange new world. More specifically he missed Gene. He would shake his head any and every time he thought of her. He knows she's waiting for him now. They were supposed to go to the museum together at noon. August knew, deep in the back of his mind, that that wasn't going to happen.

August stopped and examined his surroundings. Then he let out a sigh.

Dammit... Lost in the woods. Wonderful...

He lowered his head and shook it in disbelief. Then, he blinked.

Maybe not...?

He spotted what seemed like a small rugged path heading down one side where the forest began to slant with the ground. It wasn't very wide but he guessed it was a path, nonetheless. He followed it downwards with dim hope until it eventually brought him outside. The forest was now behind him and he, in an open field. The grasses were lower and spotted with flowers, and streams could be seen far off in the distance. The sun was starting to descend from its highest point in the sky. It would soon grow dark.

Hopefully this leads somewhere...

August, very easily, became accustomed to walking on all-fours. As if his new form was destined to do so. It puzzled him for the longest time as he continued forward.

So... let's think this through; Grey coat of fur, brown hair... well thats my hair color... and a tail... What animal has a tail? A dog. Could I be a dog?

August continued to ponder as he noticed that the path had grown wider. It was obvious it had to lead somewhere. A town maybe. August stopped and judged his height at a nearby tree.

Hmm.... nope. Too big for a dog..... A horse? Nooo..... to small for a horse...

August stopped and took a look on the bottom of his arm.

Maybe...

He shrugged and continued on.

The sun was lower now, the day quickly growing into the night and August began to worry.

There's nowhere to stay out here...

He took a quick look of where the sun was in the sky. He might have a few more hours before its completely dark.

I'll have to find shelter s...!

"Waah!" August fell over onto the ground. He rolled his eyes as he picked himself up, his chin now bruised. He looked down and saw that the path had changed. It was now almost a road. It transitioned from dirt and ruts to begin to be dotted with small, smooth stones. "Ow..." he said, rubbing his chin. "Damn rocks..." he sighed. "...but at least we're gettin' somewhere."

More and more hours past until it was finally dark. August, thanks to the moonlight, slowly continued. He was very tired and his leg muscles were very sore. But, he kept pushing.

Finally, as he reached the top of a small hill after which, at this point, to him, felt like climbing a mountain, he spotted lights below him. A town.

"Oh, thank Heaven..." he sighed.

August entered through a small wooden arch covered in banners and streamers, exhausted. The buildings were colorful, despite the only light being from lanterns which hung on tall metal poles, and were also made entirely of wood. No plastic siding or any made of bricks. Their tops even had hay or straw acting as their roofs. Odd.

August perked up at the sound of voices coming not far from him. He quickly darted along one side of the buildings and peered around its corner. The square in front of him was full of small wooden carts, the ones you see at local fruit or fish markets, open shops, tables and chairs and a single fountain; all lit up beautifully by the lanterns and decoration lights streamed across their gaps. He could spot other creatures at these various places and made them out to be... well, rather odd. They were all candy colored; various shades of cream, yellow, blue, brown, and even... grey. August looked down upon himself and back at the creatures.

Hu boy... I was just off...

"Ponies..."

"Hey, what are you doing behind there?" August nearly jumped out of his own skin... or rather fur. He didn't notice one of them off to his side had spotted him and came to investigate. The pony jumped itself when August reacted. It looked beyond the corner and cocked an eyebrow. "Uhhh.... are you okay?"

"Nope." he whispered. August was on the ground, his arms over his face.

"Hey..." The pony walked over to him. "Hey."

August moved one his arms from his face and looked up. He stared up into the eyes of a young mare. She was purple, her mane and tail with various shades of purple and pink highlighted throughout. She had a small horn and her eyes... her eyes were mesmerizing. August composed himself by taking a deep breath and stood up. She had a concerned look upon her face as she stared at him.

"Umm...*ehem* are you alright?" she asked. August gulped. He was still stunned by the fact she was, well, a unicorn. And was speaking to him. Asking if he was okay.

"Sorta..."

"Care to elaborate?" He started to shake his head this way and that to try to find someway of explaining his predicament. He was, however, unsuccessful.

"I can't explain it. Any of... this!" August gestured towards himself, her, and pretty much everything around him.

"What?"

"I... I don't know!" August began to raise his voice. A sense of sadness began to creep in as well. "I just... its not... your your.. your your your purple! Your your your a unicorn.. I'm a pony... You can talk... I don't know how the fuck I'm talking... We're both talking... We're talking to each other... We're interacting... I just.. I just.." Tears began to form in August's eyes. "I don't want to be like this anymore! Why the hell am I here?! Why am I like this?!" Hot tears began to stream down his face as he continued his break down. "I just wanna go home! I want to go home! I want to go back to Awehul! I want to see my Uncle! I want to see Gene! I don't want to be this way anymore! I want to go back to being a damn human!" The mare, before, seeming being very disturbed at what was happening, now perked up at his last statement.

"Wait.. Wait what? You were what?" August stopped his tantrum and looked at her, his mouth agape, tears still streaming, and his face engulfed in distress.

"A huma....humaaaAGHHHH!" August put his arms to his head as it pulsated with an excruciating pain. It was completely unbearable this time. His head felt as if it were to implode at any moment. Then, August stopped. His arms fell to his side and his eyes rolled back into his head, and he fell to the ground, out cold.