//------------------------------// // Arrival // Story: Alternate Geoverse #1: To Learn Is Human // by GeodesicDragon //------------------------------// CHAPTER ONE Arrival I opened my eyes slowly, adjusting them to the light that was all around me. I looked straight up at the sky, and wondered how long I had been out of it. The last thing I could remember was being beaten up and shot. And all because I questioned some jackass about his driving skill. Or lack thereof. I got to my feet and took stock of my surroundings. I was in a forest clearing, with trees stretching into the distance in every possible direction. A dirt path led to parts unknown, and I saw that I had been lying on grass, which had been stained red. Wait, red? I craned my head as far back as it would go and looked at my back. As well as dirt, my t-shirt had a small hole in it, not much bigger than a twenty pence piece. But what troubled me the most was the large red stain. Blood... I looked around for any signs of life, hoping that someone would be able to help me. But all I could see were trees. I took a few deep breaths to calm myself. Okay, Geo. Relax. You're not dead yet. This dirt path has to lead somewhere, so just follow it, and hopefully it will lead to civilisation... as well as a doctor and a bath. I realised that I would have to stem the flow of blood from the wound before I went anywhere. The only thing I could see were the leaves from the trees. Grabbing a handful, I used them as makeshift plasters. The result wasn't the best, but I figured it would have to do. Taking another few breaths, I began the slow walk along the path, and into the unknown. *** After what felt like hours, I saw buildings in the distance. I thanked every deity I could think of and quickened my pace. To take my mind off the grim fact I was still losing blood, I focused on the buildings, to see if I could recognise where I was. As soon as I saw the building with the giant cupcake on the roof, I stopped dead in my tracks and realised that I didn't. I looked at a few of the other buildings. One looked like a merry-go-round, and another appeared to have been built into a tree. I shook my head, thinking that the blood loss was making me hallucinate. I even pinched myself a couple of times. But nothing happened. My jaw open in shock. The sound of voices snapped me back to reality. Straining to hear better, I could also make out the sound of hoofsteps. Whoever these people were, they were travelling along a road running parallel to the forest path I was on. Well, if anyone can tell me where the fuck I am, it'll be the locals. And they use horses. It's not a car — but it can still go fast. Leaving the path, I began following the voices towards the road. As I did, I could hear the conversation they were having. "This is all your fault, Scootaloo!" the voice was female, and had a Southern ring to it. "Of all the ponies ya could hit with a water bomb, it just had ta be Miss Cheerilee!" Scootaloo? Ponies? What the fuck? "Don't blame me for this, Apple Bloom!" the one known as Scootaloo retorted. "It was your idea to try and get our cutie marks in water bombing in the first place!" "It was not mah idea!" Apple Bloom replied. "It was Sweetie Belle's! She's the one who told me about it!" "No it wasn't!" a third voice piped up. "I told you that we should water bomb Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon as payback for all the times they've been mean to us! You were the one who thought we could get our cutie marks out of it!" "GIRLS!" a fourth voice rang out. "Be quiet!" This voice was loud and authoritative. And the way the other three voices stopped led me to believe that this one belonged to an adult. Thankful that my fate wasn't in the hands of children, I quickened my pace. The road was only a few feet away. "Girls, you should be thankful that I only gave you lines to do." the adult said. "But if something like this happens again, I won't be so lenient. Okay?" "Yes, Miss Cheerilee." the three kids replied in unison. The road was finally in sight. I quickened my pace to a run. The snapping of twigs beneath my feet must have attracted the attention of the four. "Did anypony hear that?" Apple Bloom said. "Y-yeah." replied Sweetie Belle. "There's something in the forest... and I think it's coming this way." "It's not a cockatrice, is it?" Scootaloo asked. "Or... a manticore?" "Whatever it is," Cheerilee said, "it could be dangerous. Girls, get behind me." I stepped onto the road just in time to see... three little horses dive for cover behind another one. It was purple, with a two-toned pink mane and light green eyes the size of dinner plates. It also had a look of sheer terror on its face. I looked around, expecting to see the people I was hearing earlier. Instead, Apple Bloom spoke up again. "What is it, Miss Cheerilee?" "I-I-I don't know, Apple Bloom." she replied. It was then that I realised that it was these four I had been hearing. I took a step forward and opened my mouth to explain myself to the four equines. The three children squealed in terror. "It's attackin'!" Apple Bloom cried. "Everypony fer herself!" I stopped. "Attacking?" I asked. "Is that what it looks like?" The three of them stopped screaming and looked at me blankly. "Did... did it just talk?" Scootaloo asked. "Ah... Ah think it did." Apple Bloom replied. The four of them looked up at me in awe. I knew that I had to defuse the situation, and convince them that I wasn't as dangerous as they think. And given the fact I was a clear two feet taller than Cheerilee, and not an equine, I had to act fast. "I'll admit that I look dangerous." I said. "But I can assure you that I'm anything but. I've been hurt and I have no idea where I am. And judging by the brightly-coloured talking horses—" "Ponies." Cheerilee said sternly. "Not horses." "I beg your pardon." I replied, before continuing. "And judging by the brightly-coloured talking ponies, I can safely say that I'm not where I should be." The four of them seemed to relax a little as they realised that I was being sincere. "I mean you no harm." I said, before turning around and showing them my wound, which got a few gasps of shock. "But as I said, I've been hurt and I need a doctor." "There are doctors in Ponyville." Cheerilee said. "Follow us, and stay close. If everypony sees that you're with me, they'll have less reason to fear you." "Then please, lead the way." I said. "Oh, and my name is Geo. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance." Cheerilee moved in front of me and I began following her, the three fillies walking by my side. Apple Bloom was the first to speak. "Ah'm Apple Bloom." she said. "This here is Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. The three o' us make up..." All three of them took a deep breath. Cheerilee flinched a little, as if expecting something. Suddenly, all three fillies voices boomed out. "THE CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS!" I covered my ears as fast as I could. Who knew three little ponies could make so much noise? Scootaloo pointed at Cheerilee, who was smiling at the sight of me trying to get the ringing noise out of my ears. "That's Miss Cheerilee." she said. "She's our teacher." "I gathered that from your conversation." I replied. "I heard you all talking while I was walking through the forest." "Now what about you, mister?" Sweetie Belle asked. "What are you meant to be exactly." Questions already? Oh well, I can't blame the kids for being curious. I'm probably the first human they've ever seen. "I'm a human." I replied. Sweetie Belle opened her mouth to ask another question, but I silenced her with a raised hand. "I understand you have a lot of questions." I told her. "But so will the rest of your town. I'd rather answer everyone's questions at the same time, rather than repeat the same answers again." "First of all, it's 'everypony', not 'everyone'." Cheerilee said. "Secondly, he's right girls. Everypony will indeed have questions to ask him, especially Twilight. So let's get him to the hospital and then, once he's better, he can give us the answers we want, okay?" The three Crusaders nodded as I mouthed a silent 'thank you' to Cheerilee, who smiled in return. As the town came into view, I became aware of the many eyes watching me. Because of my height, the townsponies saw me before Cheerilee or the Crusaders. But once they came into view alongside me, the feeling of panic was replaced by one of curiosity. As the crowd gathered, I opened my mouth to speak to them... ... and then the world went black.