“Kazuki?”
I stir at the sould of my name and open my eyes, finding myself staring into the face of a human female. Her white hair tickled my face as she bent down to get a closer look at me, my sleepy eyes blinking in the shining sun. I could feel the soft folds of her blue sun dress she always like to ware and a light blush appeared on my furry cheeks as I found where I was exactly laying upon. The feeling of her shifting slighlty to better posistion my head on her lap made me blush even deeper. She had really soft legs. “F-Fionna? Is that you?” I ask in a raspy tone. My throat felt dry as I spoke. “W-what are you…?”
She placed a finger on my lips. It felt cooled yet so very warm.
“You must listen for I don’t have enough time.” She placed a hand on my head, brushing my hair back as she did so. “Do you think you can hear me out for a few moments.”
I try to give her a inquisitive look but I can’t seem to find the energy to do so. Instead I nod by head once in acknowledgement.
She smiled as I did so, brushing my hair from from my face to get a better look at me. “You’ve grown so much Kazuki. I barely recognize you anymore.” He let the palm of her hand lay gently upon my cheek, cupping it softly. “I remember when you were just a wide eyed curious cub. Look at you now.” Her smile faltered slightly. “A proper little Guardian. My little protector”
I scoff in my mind. She doesn’t know about what had happened. About what I had done in my final hour. Or maybe she does and she is disappointed in me. She never wanted me to be a Guardian int the first place. Not with what It entailed. But I had to. For her. For us. I wanted her memory to live on...
“I hold no ill will toward you Kazuki." She told me as if reading my mind. She was always good at reading me. "What you have done for our world, what you had done for many others, you are someone that deserves to rest. You deserve to find your own peace…” Her voice trailed off for a moment. “…That...Cannot be however. I am sorry, you cannot rest just yet my little Guardian. I can’t allow you to. Not now.”
I open my mouth to speak, to protest. I felt my lips move and I knew what I was saying, but the words did not come.
She smiled sadly none-the-less.
“There is no place for you here, with me...at least not right now Kazuki, not when your life is still yours.” She leaned over me, placing a gentle kiss upon my cheek as she did so. “You will awaken soon little Kazuki. Take to heart what I have to say. Listen and remember every word I utter. He is very near and he will take all you hold dear if you are not careful.” Her voice began to drift out of focus as she spoke and I had to strain my ears just to hear her. “My time is coming...I am sorry. Please. Stay safe. Stay well, my little Kazuki…”
~
He awoke slowly, wanting to clutch a paw to the top of his throbbing head, but found himself restricted from doing so, an overly heavy comforter being the one to with restrain him. The warmth of it made him shift under the covers slightly, nor really knowing if he should enjoy the feeling the the covers gave him or complain about his apparent headache. He couldn't help but scoff slightly though. It was always like this after a mission, rather it be successful or a failure. With nothing else to do, he would allow his body to rest, giving in the the sweet embrace of the warmth and hopefully able to wake up a bit more refreshed.
That is until he realized something important.
He was alive.
The being sat straight up, but regreted it when he yelp with pain, his body cringeing over in protest to his hasty actions. He was stuck where he was, unable to move due to how overbearing it was to him. When he was able to calm down from his painful high he opened his eyes to take stock of himself.
The first thing he noticed was that his lower torso seemed to have been bandaged, quite expertly he might add. His whole left arm and part of his right seemed to be in in the similar manor as well. He gave a quick look under the covers and just as quickly recovered himself back up when he found that he was, by all accounts, pants-less, though he was able to see that parts of his right and left leg were bandaged as well.
Forgoing his wellbeing for the moment, his gaze focused on his surroundings, giving them a once over. The warmth of a beaming sun shined through an opened window, warming his exposed furry torso. A small lit candle lit on a small table beside him, sending the scent of vanilla wafting through the room. The rest of the furniture seemed to be normal and sturdy, yet beautifully crafted, more than likely out of wood.
His head hung down as he began to contemplate exactly was happening to him.
I...I died, Right? I-I should be dead. T-that explosion should have destroyed me along with…him. So why…? He raised a paw and curled his fingers into a fist. Is this the afterlife? Maybe I am dead. He shook his head. But if that was true then why the bandages?
A creek to his side caused him to tense slightly. Looking over he would see…A shapely butter yellow butt? A tail swished teasingly, or at least he thought it was teasingly, in the air as it backed up, opening the door. He blushed profusely as he turned away from it, not really knowing what to do or what to say. A sharp gasp and the sound of something shattering caused him to look back toward the one who had entered.
Now that he was taking a good look at what had just entered he found that It was a small miniature horse. Its fur was light yellow and upon its head was a pink mane that seemed to fall down past its knees. It seemed to be at least as tall as his torso, maybe a little bigger. At its hooves were the shattered remains of what looked like a ceramic cup. It seemed to stare dumbfounded at him for a moment before its crystal blue eyes widened considerably. It quickly cantered towards him and placeed its hoof upon his chest gently pushing him back down. It felt warm to the touch, which was very surprising to say the least.
“P-please don’t move too much. You might still be damaged on the inside.” She said in gentle, motherly tone. Whoever she was she seemed to be concerned for his wellbeing. He couldn't help but comply to her demands.
That is until his mind registered a second fact he had a little trouble believing.
“Y-you can talk!?” He asked hesitantly. His voice sounded raspy like in his dream. Maybe he still was. Very, VERY elaborate and odd dream though.
“Y-you can talk!?!” She asked just as confused as he was.
Both the girl and he stared at one another for a moment before the little horse pulled away and ran out the door, closing it behind her. The being could only watch as she did so, not really knowing what happened or why she would run. He heard voice come from behind the door and footsteps, or in this case he believed hoof steps making their way toward the room he was in. With a swing of the door, he could see the same yellow pony but she was being led by lavender one now.
~
Twilight eyes widened as she looked upon the male. She noticed that he too was looking upon both she and her friend with growing interest. a gentle squee came from her throat as she placed a hoof over her mouth.
It was a new lifefore not yet documented in Equestria's archives. Was he a resident of the Everfree Forest? Not too many ponies venture too far past its gates to correctly map the area or check on anything past a certain marked path. Who knows what lay within the depths of such a forest. Pegasi don’t even fly over it due to its unnatural energy. If he is a resident then that would mean…
Twilight visibly gasp.
He’s was an undiscovered race! He had to be!
And she was the first to find it!
SHE WAS IN FIRST CONTACT!!
Well technically Fluttershy was but she wouldn’t mind sharing the fame. Actually scratch that. Fluttershy had her fill of fame during the whole model thing and she hated it. That would mean she had it all to herself. Yes her name would be forever labeled PRINCESS TWILIGHT SPARKLE; DISCOVERER OF-
~
He looked upon the lavender mare with the deep purple mane spin around and around in place as she looked up into the ceiling. He wanted to interrupt the horse but she seemed to be enjoying herself quite wholly. Instead he turned his attention back to the yellow mare. The one in question seemed to have the same confused expression he had just bore directed toward the awkward purple pony. He took the laps in conversation to study his two new visitors. The yellow mare seemed to have a pair of wings on her back. More than likely she could fly, though how she was able to elude him. They seemed so small and fragile to even lift her up off the ground. Upon her rear, which he tried not to stare at too much, was a picture of three butterflies.
The mare spinning beside her had wings just like the yellow one did. The only few differences was the fact that she had, upon her head, a horn sticking out from the middle of her forehead. Her rear also bore a picture, but this one looked like a starburst with little stars surrounding it. He had figured that it meant something but could not quite pinpoint what that something was.
After a long while of him studying the two horses, he raised a hand to cough politely into it hoping to gain their attention. Forgoing his questions about why the world was still in one piece for now, he decided that a more…reasonable question was in order.
“Hello…um…who are you?”
The lavender mare stopped spinning upon hearing his voice and looked upon him with a brightened expression, her mouth forming a ‘O’ as she seemed to process what he had just said. Her horn suddenly began to glow and a quill and parchment seemed to pop into existence just above her wrapped in a purple glow. The mare quickly made her way Kazuki’s side a bright smile upon her face.
“You really do speak Equestrian!" The lavender horse squeed. "I have so many questions. Who are you? What are you? Where did you come from? Why are you here? Did something attack you? How is your body healing itself? What are-“
He visibly tried to back away from the onslaught of questions. With his head reeling from her verbel attack, he tried to figure out what she had said, he really did, but she spoke so fast that most of them past over him without a second thought. “I…Um…W-What?” was all he could muster at the second.
“Twilight!” The one named Twilight seemed to visibly flinch as the yellow one called out, what he could only guess, was her name. “Now Twilight, you have to give him time to rest. Weird healing ability or not, he was badly hurt and he had slept for four days straight.” She turned to face the male with a kind smile as the lavender mare shrunk away sheepishly. “Um…how do you feel? Are you ok?” The yellow mare asked in a tentative tone.
He looked upon the mare with his brown eyes unblinking. After a moment he gave her as kind of a smile he could muster. “Yes…Thank you…” Truth be told though he still hurt everywhere, but it was more then likely a lot worse before he awoke. “If you don’t mind me asking, who are you? Both of you?”
“W-well…my name is…Fluttershy…” She spoke in a low voice as she said her name before motioning towards the lavender horse. "And this is my friend Twilight Sparkle."
He nodded and smiled as kindly at the pair. “I take it that you two did...Well” He motioned towards his body. "You two fixed me?"
“W-well…yeah…When I saw you out in the river, I couldn’t just leave you.” Fluttershy said as looked away with a light blush on of features. "I bright you in and did the best I could for you.” She motioned towards Twilight. “After that I brought Twilight here and she helped me with getting you comfortable.”
He nodded and closed his eyes. “I see…thank you…both of you.”
“Excuse me,” The lavender mare took her place back by Fluttershy’s side. “But if you don’t mind me asking. Who are you? What are you?” She at leasted asked in a more reasonable speed so he was able to understand her a lot better.
He sat up slowly and stopping Fluttershy as she tried to push him back down with a wave of his hand in front of him.
“I am Kazuki Knights." He spoke in a formal tone. "A furon...Hedgecat to be more accurate. "
“Kah-Zoo-key?” Twilight repeated, enunciating each of the sysibles. “That is quite the uncommon name to have around here. And you say you’re a hedgecat? What is that exactly?”
“Well…I am a cross between a hedgehog and a cat.” Kazuki made placed a hand upon the back of his head. “I'm...ah...a crossbreed...”
“Fascinating.” The lavender mare mused. “Now how does that work? A hedgehog and a cat together?”
“Well...it’s complicated.” He looked away blushing. “And not really something that I was all too interested in to to find out about tell you the truth. But it was common where I came from so...I don't question it.”
“Hmm…I see.” Twilight quickly jutted down some notes. “And you said you’re a furon? Is that you race? Are there more of you?”
Kazuki hung his head down. “I...ah...yes...and...ah..." He grew scilent.
Twilight looked up from her writing with a questioning gaze.
The hedgecat shook his head. “There should be...” He tightened his grip on the covers as he spoke. “I guess...”
Twilight tried to get more out of him but he didn’t answer. Seeing this Fluttershy turned to her friend. “Twilight, I think it would be best to let him rest for now.” She turned to face the hedgecat. “I think he might need it.”
Twilight wanted to protest but she thought better of it, not wanting to be subjected to the stare...again. Instead she nodded and made her way out of the door leaveing the two in the room. Before Fluttershy followed she gently pushed Kazuki back down. “I’ll bring you some food later ok Mr. Knights. You being feline I would guess fish is acceptable.” He nodded and looked away. With flattened ears the mare made her way out the door and closed it behind her.
Kazuki turned to his side as he gripped the covers tighter. One thought, one terrible thought forming over and over in his mind as he tried to drift himself off to sleep.
What...Happened to me?
~
“Fluttershy! Why did you stop me?!” Twilight yelled in a hush tone. "I needed more infomation from him!"
The yellow mare shifted her hooves on the ground as she was berated by the alicorn princess. “B-because…He was hurting…”
“Well of course he was hurting. Healing ability or not he was seriously wounded and we had to treat his wounds just a few days ago.” Twilight groaned. “Princess Celestia wanted a report as soon as he woke up.”
“I know Twilight…it’s just…” She looked away. “I’ve seen that look before…The one he was giveing before we left...”
“That look?”
Fluttershy nodded. “That look…It’s the same look I get from some of my smaller animal friends who live in the Everfree Forest who lost thier home...or thier loved ones. He gave me a look that told me…” She looked up at the mare. “He was alone…”