Alistair’s hearing returned to him before his sight. An ambient rumbling hummed sweetly in his ears as the sound of a muffled pattering sounded against something solid; both of their frequencies at an unwavering pace.
Opening his eyes, he was met with an uncomfortable gleaming of light that burned more than it illuminated. Rubbing them gingerly, he blinked a few times until the spots at the corners of his sight stopped flashing. But as his vision slowly faded back into focus, he found himself to be in place he did not recall entering.
He was in a circular chamber of some sort; its floor comprised of creamy well-sanded wood with the walls dyed a maroon shade of red. But the rest of the chamber walls that were not painted over were instead covered by several sets of slick transparent force fields that reflected the outside view from the enclosure.
Encircling the room and resting within the walls themselves, were several wooden slots containing numerous sets of books, most the color of purple or some lighter or darker shade of it. He could not read their side titles from the position he sat at, but he assumed he would not recognize any of the titles before him, that is, if he could even comprehend whatever language the inhabitants wrote in.
Sitting upwards from the rickety and uncomfortable bench he rested on, he felt the aged object creek and groan loudly, startling him for a moment as if someone maybe approaching. Relieved that it was nothing, he arose from the bench and scanned the room.
The chamber was empty, with only the distant rumbling from outside giving him any sort of company. How long this would remain he could not tell, but he prayed this moment of solitude would last as far as possible.
He remembered being distressed about his first encounter with the bloodthirsty locals, shaken by how close they’d come from catching him. But know it seemed they’d gotten the better of him on their second try. How else had he arrived in this strange building? But then again, how exactly the creatures subdued or transported him here remained unexplained.
Alistair considered himself to be a favorably alert individual, staying one step ahead of the mild predators that dwelt on Solitude’s pleasant forests, boars and bucks for the most part. But one of the clumsy equines he’d seen earlier sneaking up on him seemed laughable, a near impossible feat on their part he considered boldly. Still, he raked his mind for what for what he could recount from before awakening, hoping for some possible trail to reveal itself to him.
The details were foggy, with his descent from the tree line coming in the most receptive. Everything else…seemed to trail off afterwards. His mind recounted certain passing echoes with even a few images crossing through properly, but they floated away whenever he attempted to pin them down clearly. The more and more he strained to remember, the more the pieces of his memory flew away quicker and quicker, adding to his frustrated inability.
Shaking his head to clear his muddled conscious, his eyes traveled to another one of the odd force-fields erected along the structure’s walls. The image it projected from outside appeared quite black from where he was. If this was true, how much time had passed since he last remembered? Approaching the wall, he inspected the shield’s field for answers.
The thick gray clouds he’d seen earlier from the forest tree tops had evolved into a full on monsoon, and he could clearly see the effects of its thick downpour upon the already drenched landscape. Mucked puddles were sprouting up like weeds along dirt pathways and grassy plots, while the swirling howl of wind tossed whatever was too light in a manic frenzy.
And even then he could barely see past the rain itself, with nearly the entire sky blocked out by the storm’s clouds and the cover of evening, which gave the outside a poisonous and brooding green haze. A far cry from the garden-like environment he’d observed earlier.
“Contemplating leaving?” asked a feminine and mild voice from behind him.
Shifting his weight to the ball of his right foot, he spun around with a single jerk of his body and came to face to face with the mysterious figure, which stood a few paces away by a curved set of stairs.
The creature looked very similar to the beings that had chased him out of the apple orchard not even a day earlier, with the exception of some minor differences. Her (the voice suggested it was so) coat of fur was a darkened violet with a matching head of hair that was of a deeper purple complexion. The equine’s furred tail matched its hair well, with both colored conclaves closely resembling cosmic nebulas he’d observed for many years in the Solitude sky.
Other than that, the equine being was hard to distinguish visually from the orange one that had nearly caught him, minus its very defining voice that contrasted against the harsh and drawling interjections that the other one had shouted at him.
This one was much more collected, calm and focused, with a sharp edge to her personality that he had picked up on from the single two words she had uttered. With this in mind, he responded to her with caution, keeping as much authority in his voice as he could without appearing hostile.
“I’d prefer not,” he said with a squared jaw and placid face that did not give much away. “Your current weather is not very appealing. But if need be, I can leave if you wish.”
The equine shook her head. “I wouldn’t hope so, anypony outside now would get soaked not matter how many coats they wore. Even the one you wear.” She gestured with her hoof towards his large and enveloping clothing.
The garment in question was a large and muddy brown cloak that shrouded nearly his entire body in its musty embrace. Not a single inch of his skin could be visible past his hands and head; the rest clouded by the sweeping cloth and held together by a thin slip of fabric that had been tied into several knots along his waist. A hood sat flatly on the back of his neck, fully capable to be flipped over his head to cover even more of his small figure.
“Hmmmm,” he concluded appraisingly. “And who might you be, if I may inquire?”
“I am Twilight Sparkle,” said the female with a smile. “Your rescuer to be specific.”
“My rescuer?”
“Yes,” she said with a nod. “I found you along the roadside just a stone’s throw from my doorstep. I brought you here and healed your wound. You would be dead if not for my intervention.”
Alistair instinctively looked down at his left leg while lifting the cloth from his feet, and, just as the female had said, his leg wound was healed. The sliced flesh had been bound tightly with clean white bandages with not even a hint of his blood seeping through them. His injured ankle as well had been treated accordingly with bandages and what felt like a small board of some sort along the top of his foot. A splint perhaps?
Whatever it was, the equine had done a fantastic job fixing him, revealing even more intelligence and tact that went beyond her word choice and tone. Alistair took immediate note to watch himself around her.
“I’m most appreciative,” he thanked her formally, “I can’t particularly recall much from the past few hours, but I thank you nevertheless.”
Twilight bowed her head and smiled once again. “The pleasure is mine.”
She began to slowly approach him from the bottom steps, moving carefully along her four appendages which he formerly assumed to be impossible for any quadruped species. But now, he could clearly see that a creature with a brain placed properly behind its head, no matter what physiology it had, was easily capable of achieving what another could do.
As she neared closer to him, her journey only taking a handful of seconds, the proportions of her body came into closer perspective for him. She was close to his height, her head one or two inches above his own. But the rest of her frame only reached the pectoral line of his chest.
However, even though their height was more or less equal, he could not help but feel intimidated by her size, which was much more heavyset then his own and generally wider and more thick. He needed to remind himself that looks were not everything, and he was more than capable of holding his own in a fight if need be.
“Now,” said the equine at a more personal proximity for discussion. “I have revealed my name to you, so how about I hear yours?”
Alistair grit his teeth. He’d never been verbally enticed into doing something but he already disliked like the feeling of it. The equine had clearly wanted to know this from the beginning and had played around the topic right under his nose. He understood that this female was cunning but he did not like being taken for a fool and would not allow himself to be tricked again, no matter who they were.
“Alistair,” he said with reluctance to his own self-reveal.
“Alistair?”
“Yes, Alistair.”
“Where does that come from?”
“An old book from a long time ago.”
Twilight nodded her head curtly. “Can’t say that’s what I would’ve picked for you, but if that’s your name that’s your name.”
Alistair’s brow furred in suspicion. “What do you mean by that? Where am I?”
Twilight put her hooves in defense to signalize her passivity. “Implying nothing, just a passing statement. Concerning your location…you are in my home.” She gestured out to the entire open space with both of her hooves. “Welcome.”
Alistair did not know how to properly respond. He had his suspicions about this equine and her overly hospitable mannerisms. And now that he found himself in what she claimed was her home, danger seemed to be a much more tangible entity. If this was true, then she knew every square inch of the area, everything walked in, walked on, and walked through numerous times in a single day. His chances of a strong defense and a hasty exit were already diminishing.
“Do you want something from me?” he asked directly, starting to disregard his civility from earlier in the pursuit of his own safety.
Twilight waved the air with her hoof. “That is the quite the question. One that requires a certain knowledge to be properly comprehended and understood.”
He raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
“You are a traveler not of this land, but by now you have already realized this, yes? Yet, you are not the first of a two-legged breed to walk along our paths. Many before you have come, with a cultured history dating back to even before the Reign of Discord. You, and all those before you, have a limitless potential, as all ponies do. But, unlike ponies, you come from different homes, different settings that vary dramatically simply on the person. No two have been alike for quite some time, yet all of you a very similar in your own way.”
Alistair shook his head with an offhanded annoyance. “I don’t believe I understand. Discord, different homes, all this talk of ‘potential’? It doesn’t make any sense.”
“We can focus on that for another time,” she said casually, seeming to expect in his ignorance on the subject. “For now, I have something much more important, a proposal.”
Alistair’s mood lowered, detecting another one of Twilight’s verbal tricks. He was ready for them now. “And what particularly is that?”
A wry smile stretched itself onto Twilight’s face as she responded. “It doesn't take a genius to comprehend that you’re…cut from a different cloth, so to speak. But appearance is not the definition of one’s character, but it can be the definition of one’s knowledge. Know what I mean?”
“No.”
“Alright,” said Twilight as she rubbed the edge of her forehead slowly. “I’ll elaborate. I’m not insulting your intelligence or trying to place myself higher than you, but I don’t think it would come as a surprise to anypony that you of all ponies, aren’t particularly knowledgeable in how things work here in Equestria.”
He shrugged. “So? I can manage on my own. I was doing well before this blasted leg had to ruin itself on me.”
Twilight’s brow furred, her tone turning stern as she found Alistair’s indifferent rejection a direct insult to her kindness. “You were squatting on private property while stealing their crops. And yes, I know it was you Applejack chased in the orchard yesterday night. I found the mashed Cortland apples in your pockets.”
Alistair grinned, feeling some satisfaction in lowering Twilight to a level of intolerance with his attitude. “So, you’re a detective as well, most interesting. And what if I say no to your proposal, whatever it is?”
“Then you’ll be sent out of my home immediately and held accountable for whatever crimes you commit in the future with no leniency toward your uncommon situation. This will be your choice.”
Alistair was taken back by the quick reveal to his scenario, suddenly feeling the wind punched out of his sail. Suddenly he didn’t feel like the indestructible adventurer who could handle his own among any beasts nature decided to throw at him, but rather, a weakened and lost little whelp who was completely out of place and completely alone. And, unfortunately, he saw this to be truer and truer the more he thought about it.
Something pained in the crest of his chest, lowering the elated and energetic mood he’d originally found himself in. His body visually slumped forwards like a wounded animal and let out a defeated sigh.
“Wow…” he managed weakly, “I never thought of it like that. Maybe you are right then…”
Twilight’s expression softened from her original scowl, seeing now the distress she’d put the boy in. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend…”
“No-no-no,” he said quickly as he waved the statement away with his hand. “You did nothing, I just never thought about this, all this, until now…” He breathed outwards nervously and shoved his hands downwards into his pockets. Caressing the top of his forehead, he stepped a few paces away from Twilight who looked on in concern.
“I’m sorry if I’ve caused you any trouble,” he said quietly as he flipped the brown cloak hood over his head. “But I should really get going. I’ve given you enough grief already. So in turn—” He hurriedly began towards the front door, his body tensing up with each brisk step he took.
This place, this home, was burning him alive. He could feel it in every nerve of his body, things being torn and smashed. His bliss, his confidence, his independence, all shattered in mere minutes of each other. This world, whatever it was called, was tormenting him even more then the mile-long electrical storms of Solitude. If this was all it would offer him, why stay?
“Wait!” Twilight called desperately as she clamored towards the door and blocked its entire space with her outstretched hooves. “I wanted you to stay here, that was my proposal! To teach you and to prepare you for what lies ahead. I can do that, I want to do that. I’m willing to do whatever it takes, but I need your help as well.” She sighed heavily and smiled brighter than any creature he’d even seen before; casting something upon him he hadn’t felt in months.
She held out her hoof to him, offering him something he’d probably never get back if he didn’t accept it. “What do you say, Alistair?”
Alistair’s body shrunk down from the striding stance he took and stepped away from the door. “Wow…this is all very sudden. I-I don’t know. That’s very kind of you, and it’s reasonable what you’re offering, but…” He contemplated his situation for a moment.
On one hand, he could stay with this kind—pony, as she called herself, and learn the ways of her land, and possibly live in it as she did. He’d have a home once again after what had felt like ages, a proper home, mind you, not the ruined lifestyle he adopted when he refused to accept his situation back on Solitude, and maybe, just maybe, he’d have a friend.
And on the other hand, he could leave. Away from any menial life of normality and live off the land such as he’d been doing in Solitude since he could remember. He was equipped to it, understood it, and did not need to rely upon anything other than himself. He was safe there, away from anything that could hurt him, physically or emotionally.
He stared out the closest transparent wall to the outside and saw that the storm was still in full cycle, hammering the ground with every bit of power it had had earlier. Looking back around the room, he saw he how neatly every single piece of furniture had been placed, along with cleanly swept floors and bright orbs of light illuminating the space as if sunshine itself had been placed inside it. Sighing, Alistair looked back to Twilight.
“Alright,” he said finally. “I’ll stay.”
Twilight sighed in relief. “Whew! You had me worried there a moment. Gosh.” She looked around the room a moment and then back to Alistair. “C’mon, I’ll get you acquainted with the place. Follow me.”
Twilight walked toward the stairwell and began up it. Still standing by the doorway, Alistair looked back towards the wide oak door, then back to the winding set of stairs. Shaking his head, he followed after Twilight.