//------------------------------//
// Ch: 1 Arrival 
// Story: Riku's Journey 
// by xZeroSoulx 
//------------------------------//

	“My life was perfect, or so I thought.” Riku said to himself. “When I turned ten years old the curse on our family took effect on me, and I was scared at first.” He added. “When I turned fourteen I was abducted off the street and taken away to a secret facility, where scientists performed tests on me to find out more about my family’s curse, sad thing is the curse only effects one person in the family and that person is me.” He said. “My name is Riku Kagerashi and this is my story.” He said.
-Containment chamber 1-
Riku was seventeen, and was on the bed in the containment chamber trying to relax. He closed his eyes and began to imagine what his life would be like without the curse that was on him. When he was about to fall asleep he heard the chamber door slide open.
“Get up we have some more tests to perform.” A scientist with grey hair and aged face said with a scowl.
“Why now I just finished with the last tests.” Riku said with a tired groan.
“Don’t complain you’ll do as we ask with no question you understand!” the scientist shouted. “Now hurry time is money.” The scientist added. 

-Test chamber 13-

Riku stepped into the white room and awaited orders for what he was suppose to do. Before an order came, a needle hit his neck and his vision began to go out of focus.
“What did you do to me?” Riku asked as his world began to spin. 
“We’re going to extract some of your blood to perform tests with it and then you’re going to test the portal.” A younger scientist said. “Hurry take him to the portal chamber and prep him for the transfer.” The scientist added.

-Portal chamber-

Two guards dragged Riku to a huge steel room with a portal frame on the far wall.
“Set him on the center platform.” The scientist ordered.
As many scientists began to turn on the portal Riku finally stood up and had a look of anger in his eyes. 
“So you’re finally going to make your super soldiers with my blood!” Riku shouted in anger. Riku watched the portal spring to life and ran for the opening. As he jumped into the portal, he spun around and threw a metal plate towards the control panel. When Riku vanished through the gate, it closed quickly and the frame collapsed.

-Equestria near the edge of the Everfree Forest-

There was a quick flash and Riku morphed into his wolf form to allow his body to heal from the side effects of the portal. When he returned to normal he had no memory of going through the portal.
“I must have transformed when I went through that thing, guess it wasn’t safe for human tests.” Riku said as he painfully stood up. He looked around and realized he was not in the facility anymore. “I’m actually free!” Riku shouted. Riku began to walk around to find any sign of life anywhere.

-Ponyville, Sweet Apple Acres-  

Riku soon found he was walking through an apple orchard and could see a barn in the distance. “I could probably sleep there until morning and speak to the owners as well.” He said as he quietly ran to the barn. He jump through a window and fell asleep in a pile of hay.

-Morning-

Riku woke up with a hard kick to his right side. 
“What are you doing in our barn!” a orange mare with a blonde mane and tail shouted.
“I was only looking for-“ Riku began but stopped when he realized a pony just spoke to him. “Talking horse!” Riku shouted panicked.
“I’ll have you know I’m a pony.” The mare said.
“Oh, that makes the fact you talked so much better.” Riku said as he grabbed his side. “By the way, nice kick.” He added as he stood up slowly.
“Now explain, what are you, and why were you in our barn?” The mare asked ready to kick him again.
“My name is Riku Kagerashi and I’m a human, and I was in your barn for a safe place to sleep I was hoping to speak to you the owners when the sun rose.” Riku said letting go of his side. “Now what is your name?” He added.
“The name’s Applejack.” The mare said.
“Pleasure to, meet you, Applejack.” Riku said with a polite tone.
“Uh...Doesn’t your side hurt?” Applejack said raising a brow.
“It did but it kind of went away over the time we were talking.” Riku said sitting back down. “Now care to explain the fact you kicked me awake.” Riku said.
“You weren’t waking up to my shouting so I kicked you.” Applejack said looking at the ground. “Sorry about that sugar cube.” She added
At that moment, Riku finally noticed she had a strong farm accent. He then began to think that this world had more surprises in store for him. “Is there a town close by?” Riku asked.
“Ponyville is just a short walk away I can show you the way if you help me get the apples to my stall.” Applejack said with a smile.
Riku followed Applejack to a cart full of buckets of apples. He then noticed a big red stallion running at him. “Please don’t hurt me!” Riku shouted his british accent slipping out with his shout.
“What happened to your voice?” Applejack asked with a curious expression. 
“It was my accent I can hide it if I don’t shout.” Riku said. “In all honesty I hide it because it made me feel different where I was before coming here.” Riku explained with a sad expression. He reached up, ran his hand through his jet-black shoulder length hair, and closed his eyes. 
“Well let’s go to Ponyville, and Big Mac no killing our guest.” Applejack said. She and Riku walked to Ponyville and Riku pulled the cart of apples along with no problem.
When they got to town Riku could not help but notice all the stares, he was getting. Then a pink mare with a fluffy mane and tail bumped into him and stared before jumping in the air gasping and running off.
“Is she going to be ok?” Riku asked.
“That’s just Pinkie being Pinkie, she is most likely getting a welcome party ready for you as we speak.” Applejack explained.
“A welcome party?” Riku questioned.
“You’ll see sugar cube.” Applejack said as she stopped at a cart.
“OK and thanks for bringing me into town.” Riku said with a small grin.
“It was nothing but I got to run the stall so you’re free to go where you want.” Applejack said as she set up the apples ready to sell.
Riku decided to go by his routine and started to run through Ponyville at full sprint. He ran towards a wall and ran up the side of a house landing gently on the roof. As he sat in a crouch on the roof, he began to focus on the task, pushing hard with his left leg he jumped from roof to roof. As he was jumping, he began to pick up speed at a quick rate. Soon he saw a cyan blur and the next thing he knew he was laying on his back next to a cyan mare with a rainbow mane and tail.
“Watch where you’re going!” the cyan mare shouted with a hint of irritation in her tone. As she looked at what she crashed into, she became confused. “Who and what are you?” she asked. 
“Answer to your shout I didn’t see you coming, my name is Riku kagerashi, and I’m a human.” He said. “Now, what is your name?” He added.
“I’m Rainbow Dash fastest flier in Equestria.” Rainbow boasted.
Riku stood up and held out a hand to Rainbow Dash. She put her hoof in his hand and he helped her up.
“Sorry for bumping into you.” Riku said. “I honestly need a new way of meeting ponies because getting hurt when meeting someone new isn’t the best way.” He added laughing a bit.
“You mean to say somepony right?” Rainbow said with a confused look.
“Yes, that is what I meant now I hope we can speak again but I want to continue my run.” Riku said as he began to jog out of town.
Rainbow just flew into the sky and took a nap on a cloud.
As soon as Riku got out of Ponyville he saw a figure wearing a black cloak who appeared to be human. He ran towards the figure but as he got closer, the figure ran into the forest. Riku looked into the forest and began to run along the outside. He soon saw a cottage with many animals all around. As he got closer he saw a yellow Pegasus with a long pink mane and tail flying around tending to the animals. Riku ducked behind a tree and observed not wanting to scare the Pegasus.
“She’s beautiful.” Riku whispered to himself. When the yellow Pegasus was not looking Riku darted from his hiding place and ran back towards Sweet Apple Acres. 
“Hey Riku follow me for a second.” Applejack shouted as Riku ran up to her. “I got a surprise for you.” Applejack added.
“What is it?” Riku asked following Applejack into town. They were soon at the doors to Sugar Cube Corner and Riku could tell the lights were off.
As Riku followed, Applejack inside all he heard was multiple voices shout “Surprise!” in unison. Riku fell flat on his back startled by all the ponies shouting that one word.
“You ok sugar cube?” Applejack asked looking at Riku hiding his face.
Riku rolled onto his back laughing with tears in his eyes. “No one has ever thrown me a party before.” Riku said stopping his laughter. “Thank you Pinkie this is an amazing welcome surprise.” He added.
-3 hours later-
Riku walked with Applejack towards the barn where he was going to sleep.
“I’ll see you in the morning.” Riku said walking into the barn. 
“Where do you think you’re going? You’re going to sleep in the guest room.” Applejack said with a small chuckle.
Riku followed her into the house and shown the guest room. He climbed into bed and slowly fell asleep.
Luna detected the dreams of a creature she has never seen before and went to investigate. When she entered the dream, she noticed it was a horrible nightmare. She slowly walked towards a young man who was curled up in the corner of the room.
“Who are you?” Luna asked with a gentle tone.
“My name is Riku and you might want to leave before it gets here.” He said with a blank expression.
“Before, what gets here?” Luna asked a bit confused. As she finished speaking, a howl could, be heard, in the distance.
“Run!” Riku shouted running past Luna.
Luna left Riku’s dream and went to wake her sister.
-Riku’s dream-
“Why do you do this every night?” Riku asked a wolf like man beast.
“Because, I want to be free!” the wolf shouted. As the wolf finished speaking, Riku woke up to Applejack shouting his name.
-Sweet Apple Acres guest room-
“Finally you woke up it seemed like you were having an awful nightmare.” Applejack said.
Riku looked around the room and saw a small yellow filly with a red mane and tail and a big pink bow in her mane standing by the door.
“Who’s the little one?” Riku asked.
“That’s my little sister Applebloom.” Applejack said with a small smile.
“It’s nice to meet you Applebloom.” Riku said allowing his british accent to slip out. “My name is Riku.” He added.
“It’s nice to meet you too, also what are you?” Applebloom asked looking at Riku a bit confused. 
“I’m a human.” Riku explained standing up from the bed.
“Do all humans have a tail?” Applebloom asked looking at the black wolf like tail hanging behind Riku.
“What do you mean I don’t have….” Riku began reaching behind him feeling a furry tail has appeared. “I have a tail!” Riku shouted in a panic. 
“I guess you don’t normally have that.” Applebloom said.
Before he responded, he ran and jumped out of the open window landing with a loud “Thud”. Riku ran at full sprint towards the forest without saying a word.
Applejack ran into the library. “Riku ran off after he woke up with a tail!” Applejack shouted in a small panic.