Falling again, off a bridge. I could hear the sounds of war raging on above slowly die off as the sound of rushing water quickly overtook my hearing. I watched as the waves crashed against the jagged rocks below.
I could hear faint screams, and cries of pain and agony, but all I could see was the water quickly approaching. I felt the chilling crash as my body broke through the surface of the water, it felt as if I was slamming into a solid wall. I let out a scream of utter agony as my body caved and cracked under the force of the impact. The water rushed in around me, filling my lungs, engulfing me in its raging current and everything went black.
From there I don't remember much. Now you're probably wondering how I got here. The truth is I don't really know. How did I, someone not of this world, land himself in a world full of equines. Well for that tale to be told, we’ll have to go back to the beginning. It all starts with a man falling from a bridge.
Axle Grey, a tall light skinned man with an average build stood watching droplets of water glimmer in the light of the moon, as they fell from the rusted heavy metal frame that supported the bridge. His damp short brown hair swayed lightly in the breeze as he climbed over the railing. The chipped blue paint and crusted rust crackled and crumbled from the force of the grip of his hands, falling down a few hundred or so feet to the bottom of the rocky ravine.
“This is it, time to end this hell” Axle said under his breath as he planted his feet on the water slickened edge. Turning around, using the railing as support. Axle gazed down at the ravine and watched the moonlight glitter in the small stream below, glancing up toward the moon he watched as clouds slowly creep over its gentle light. After a few moments Axle was completely surrounded in darkness, as the rain started to pick up again Axle closed his eyes and lowered his head leaning forward.
With a sudden crack of rumbling thunder, being thrown from the solace of his tranquility, he jolted his head up and his eyes flew open in shock. Losing his grip, he stumbled back and his feet slipped out from under him. His head flew back and slammed into the railing sending a low rhythmic ringing throughout the structure of the bridge. Failing to regain his grip he was sent tumbling off the edge.
Darkness slowly began to ebb into Axle’s vision as he let his body go limp, feeling the wind and rain rush around him and thrash at his clothing and it lashed at his uncovered skin. Axle’s eyes began to close as he gave into the rapidly growing darkness, waiting for the sweet embrace of death to comfort him and take him away from the living hell that has been his life for the past seven and a half months. The last thing Axle saw was a dim golden light enveloping him, covering him in a soft glow that felt warm and comforting, like a hug from a loved one on a warm summer day. With a flash of bright golden light, everything stopped and faded to black.
A fold creased blood speckled page sways side to side as it floats slowly down in the gentle breeze and light drizzle to the bottom of a deep ravine from an abandoned bridge, its edges lightly singed. After a brief freefall, it comes to rest on a small moss covered rock.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =Journal Entry day 228= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Today was rougher than most, I collapsed again while searching for signs of anyone left alive. When I collapsed I fell into a ditch and rolled down the 10 foot embankment, I only stopped after I bounced off the drainage culvert. I woke up 15 minutes later with the mother of all headaches and threw up more blood.
I found another untouched relief aid cash. I only took one of the packets of potassium iodine tablets, and a few of the MRE’s and bottles of water. I made sure that the crate was properly re-sealed so no wildlife can get into it, just in case if somehow someone else might find it as well.
I think the radiation poisoning has taken a turn for the worse, I’ve been coughing up more blood and as of writing this I can barely stand let alone breath. It's hard to believe I've made it almost 9000 km since the bombs dropped. I’ve done all I could, helped everyone I could. There's a bridge with a nice view not far from here, I think it'll be a nice place to go.
To whoever finds this, on the back is a detailed map of where all the closest relief aid cashes and locations that are stacked with food, water, and medicine. To whatever god there might be, have mercy on us all.
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Axle awoke to find himself in what appeared to be an ever expanding white hallway, all around him seemed to glow in an ethereal light, the floors covered in a thin wisping mist. Getting to his feet Axle started walking down the hall, after a while thin tendrils of pulsing violet light started flowing off him and twirling around, moving further down the hall as if beckoning him to keep moving forward.
As the tendrils passed Axle’s vision he could see his memories scrolling through them, like an old movie real. A memory from his childhood scrolls across his vision of him with his family at the local park, Just as soon as it appeared it was gone. Axle lets a few tears fall before continuing on, focusing on a bright light that appears to be the end of the hall to avoid reliving his past.
Just as he was about to pass through the light a memory of Axle violently stabbing a masked man repeatedly in the gut with a serrated kitchen knife, blood splattering everywhere and coating his vision in a red haze. Axle staggered forward grabbing the sides of his head and letting out a silent scream. Falling through he was sent flailing through the air heading towards the ground. Alex looked down seeing a circular stone brick pad on top of a grass covered hill rapidly approaching.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck, shit, fuck, not again”. Axle screamed as he crossed his arms in front of his face, turning his head to the side and squeezing his eyes closed. The moment before impact everything stopped, Axle opened his eyes to look down and see he was floating a few inches off the ground. Before he could process what was happening, he was promptly spun around in the air and seated on a red felt cushion facing a figure draped in a pearl white cloak with gold embroidered accents around the accents. The figure spoke with a kind and comforting feminine voice.
“Welcome my child. I’m sorry to have called upon you in these dire times, but I require your aid. My forces are spread too thin, my po-”. Before the cloaked figure could finish Axle spoke up after everything caught up and he was slammed back into reality, waving his hands in front of himself.
“Hold up, who the fuck are you, where in gods name am I , and what in the absolute fuck is going on here”.
“I’m sorry, where are my manners? My name is Princess Celestia, the current ruler of Equestria. You may call me Celestia''. Celestia said while using her magic to lower the hood of her cloak to gently rest across her shoulders. Exposing her long alabaster horn and coat, her blue, pink, and green ethereal mane that flowed gracefully to the side out of her face on its own.
Revealing her large bright amethyst eyes, she wore a kind smile on her muzzle. “You are currently in what is known as the Fields of Elysium, by my little ponies. It’s a form of afterlife, I have summoned you here to request your help Axle Grey, my ponies are in danger and my forces are spread too thin. They aren't able to help anypony outside our borders”. Axle let out a long breath as he put his hands together interlocking his fingers and leaving both index fingers extended and replied slightly disgruntled.
“So…. I'm just going to ignore the fact you know who I am and the majority of what happened because I can't deal with shit right now, let alone even fathom how any of this is possible. How am I supposed to help, I know nothing of this world or its people. Not to mention that by the sounds of it, I would stick out like a sore thumb”. Letting out a sigh, Axle continued in a calmer tone. "Fill me in on what is going on, and how I might be able to help. Only then will I decide on if I'll help you or not”.
“That’s understandable”. Celestia said, her smile fading and her voice taking on a somber tone. “About a month ago we stopped a war between myself and my sister Luna, or as she transcended into darkness Nightmare Moon. I had to banish her to the moon to cease her rebellion, but remnants of her army remain. Although the majority of her forces were wiped out or captured, many have gone into hiding. My forces are spread thin scouring Equestria routing them out, and subduing them. We’re not able to send aid to other nations under my crown. I plan on sending you to one such nation, the Celestian Isle’s. About a three day trip by ship from Equestria, the lord there Prince Halberd has sent word that a large mass of Nightmare’s army has emerged there. Now calling themselves the Legion of Night, they are taking over villages and killing those who refuse to join their cause. You of course would be teleported there to a safe location to meet up with my envoy Ascending Light, she is currently helping escort Prince Halberd’s daughter Lumen to the Solar Sanctuary. You are to assist in the safe delivery of Lumen and to help Ascending locate and eliminate the remains of the Legion”.
Celestia looked at Axle with hope filled eyes “Will you help us”. Axle rubbed his hands up his face and through his hair and took a moment before giving his answer.
“Alright, I'll do it. I'll help you, but how am I goi-” Celestia let out a squee of joy and lunged forward, wrapping Axle in a tight hug cutting him off. “Thank you Axle, I was worried you would say no”. Axle struggled in Celestia’s grasp “let me go, hugs were not in the agreement”.
Celestia jolted back looking abashed, a thin blush working its way across her face “S-sorry Axle, I just got excited and I-” “It's alright, just don't do it again” Axle replied cutting her off.
“So how am I supposed to blend in”. Celestia straightened up, regaining her composure. Her joy filled Amethyst eyes seemed to sparkle, and a happy smile ran along her muzzle.
“I have everything already prepared for you, a new body that will be capable of blending in anywhere, and the ability to cast a large variety of spells and enchantments. As well as the ability to learn new ones with relative ease”.
Celestia’s body began to flicker, turning transparent. She looked at Axle, her expression changing to one of worry and panic. “No, no, no. I thought we had more time so I could teach you how to use your new abilities and get used to your new body. I'm sorry but I have to send you there now or they'll die. I'll teleport you as close as I can but it's up to you to find Ascending Light, good luck Axle Grey”. Celestia said whilst charging her horn.
The warm glow of Celestia’s magic surrounded Axle and before he could protest she teleported him away in a flash of golden light. “Please let him make it there in time, I do not want more of my pony’s blood spilled.” she said as a tear rolled down her cheek, fading away from the Fields of Elysium. Axle found himself surrounded in golden light, he felt an odd sensation as his body began to change, morphing into what he needed to become. Before he could tell what he was turning onto everything faded to black.