Ahh not again... I found myself standing in a familiar looking courtyard.
It was only moments later before I heard that thing's maniacal cackling, I turned slowly and sure enough there it was before me... Discord.
"More mind games, huh?" I said to the deformed looking creature, but I had to admit something seemed different about him. Were his horns black last time?
"I told you I would be seeing you soon..." The creature said as it rose from its throne, it looked at me, with its creepy yellow and red eyes. My eyes...
I tried to keep track of him, but something happened, a flash of light and the creature was beside me, gripping me once again in its claws, but this time not injuring me.
"So, how is the freak fitting into Equestria? Well I'd suppose, they were always friendly towards strangers."
I tried to respond but couldn't, as I opened my mouth my throat constricted making me literally choke on my words.
"I see you've finally learned to listen...good, but have you learned to obey?"
Without the ability to speak, my choices of communication were rather limited. As I raised my arm to elbow him in the gut I think he got my point. He slid back sighing dramatically, "Oh I would suppose not..."
I turned around to face the creature attempting to speak again, no use.
"They're going to turn on you, you know? You're not the first sorry creature I've sent to this world..."
He locked eyes with me. His gaze wasn't how I had pictured him last time; it was far darker than that.
"But you, you are certainly the most interesting. I mean, what made you so unique that you can actually resist me?"
He circled me slowly; I kept my arms raised ready to fight if nessacary.
It gestured towards my stance, "Is it your training?"
I felt something pulse through my head as I saw the images of my team in the burning humvee from my flashback. "Is it your experience?" he said as he stroked his beard in an absent-minded state.
"No matter, one slip and it will all be over for you. 'Till then..." It then snapped it claws togeather and the castle faded away.
****************************
My eyes shot open, I could feel an incredibly painful burning sensation comming from my arm, I reached over and grasped it tightly suppressing a scream, the tattoo was glowing red, a very dark crimson through my shirt, a few seconds of agony later and the sensation gradually seeped away leaving me collapsing backwards in a bed. Wait, a bed? I sat up groaning from the exertion, without the burning sensation comming from my arm I began to notice the other aches of my body, more specifically my head.
Every heartbeat sent a pulse of pain through my skull, groaning I gently fell back into the bed and began to inspect the room I was in. I was in a small room, painted vibrant colours, I noticed another bed opposite mine, currently un-occupied, to my left there was a small dresser and a lamp, to my right there was a square window, I looked through it, I could see tree's off in the distance and an odd glimmering comming from one, it quickly vanished as I caught a glimpse of it, What the hell was that?
I eventually managed to build up enough energy to stagger to my feet, sending a new throb of pain through my skull, I put a hand to my head as I steadies myself, One step at a time man, one step at a time. I exhaled slowly and began to make my way to the far end of the room, or more clearly the door. It took me a few moments but I eventually made it to the door, I carefully grasped the knob, (why it had a knob, I have no idea - they have hooves), and proceeded to open the door.
The swung open easily, unfortunatley emitting a loud whine as the hinges creaked, this did nothing to improve my headache, I stepped into the hallway cautiously. I followed the corridor passing by room after room of closed doors, eventually I came across a pony, an older looking stallion pushing a cart of books, he saw me, he fainted and I face palmed.
I eventually made my way to the lobby, and spotted three familiar ponies, Twilight, Rarity and AJ, along with several I didn't recognise, a mint pont with a similarly coloured mane, a cream pony with twin coloured mane and two fillies who were standing in a corner idly chatting, I coughed, not to announce myself I really just coughed. Every head in the room turned to face me, each expression unique, Twilight looked anxious and nervous, an odd combo, Rarity and Applejack shared a worried look, the mint coloured pony had a bright smile and her partner looked confused, the two fillies looked relieved.
"So, hows everyone doing?" I said attempting to break the awkward silence that had invaded the room, it didn't work, though I did notice the mint pony slowly approaching me.
""Essol, Mai iz Lyra." I had no idea what she just said...and I think she noticed, because she quickly recovered saying.
"Hello." Raising a hoof for a hand-shake, I accepted, if not a little confused.
"Hello." I said returning the greeting, she gave my hand a shake and I gingerly pulled away, a little confused as how a hoof has a grip.
"My name is Heartstrings, though my friends call me Lyra." She said, seemingly completely at ease around me, I felt pretty happy about that.
"I'm Richard." I said, fairly confident that flashback was correct.
"A pleasure to meet you, Richard." She gave me a bright smile.
"Like wise," I said returning her smile, I then turned to face Applejack. "are you OK? You look very..." I felt my smile dissapear "Afraid."
Applejack stuttered as she spoke. "Well, ah uh, I-I was j-just concerned for you..." I didn't buy it.
"Ah'm glad to see your OK mister!" Said a new voice, I turned around only to see one of the fillies from earlier standing near me, Where have I seen her before? I thought as my eyes ran over her feature, it struck me then.
"Your Applebloom, right?" I said to her, she gave me a amazed look, her eyes going as big a plates.
"How did ya kno'?" I laughed.
"I saw your picture at the farm," I said gesturing to AJ. "your sister let me stay over." The small filly giggled
"Well, she always says she likes makin' new friends, isn't that right big Sis?" She said as she ran over to her sister.
Applejack seemed to lighten up after her sister had said this "It sure is sugar cube." She said pulling her sister in for a warm hug. I just realised something then.
"What do you mean your glad to see I'm alright?" I said quizicly to the young filly, she turned around looking embarrassed.
"Well ya see, it was my friend who hit ya..." The back of my head suddenly ached as I remembered falling to the ground, Wow, knocked out by a kid, smooth. It was then that Applejack spoke up again.
"So ya remembered your name then?" She said to me a slight smile forming on her face, I nodded.
"Yeah, it came to me while I was asl- well, out cold." I said, drawing a chuckle from the mare.
"And you thought you were sore after workin' with me!" At hearing this I too let out a laugh.
I'm not exactly sure why, but the room seemed to lose much of the tense atmosphere once the laughter had begun.
*****************
Lyra gazed at the creature, fascinated, they were nothing like her books had described. This thing was small, well for what she was expecting, and apparently spoke fluent Equestrian, that she found both amazingly useful, but also a bit dissapointing, I guess I learned Kriidian for nothing. she thought as she watched the thing talk to a young filly, Applejacks sister, of course he would befriend them first...
They began to laugh, interupting their conversation, Lyra took her opportunity. "Excuse me sir?" She said formally, Richard turned to face her.
"Yeah?" He said, as he regained his composure.
"Would you like to see the town?" Lyra really had little interest in showing him the sights, but it would be interesting to see how it reacts in different environments.
Richard looked at Applejack, bofore turning back to Lyra and speaking. "That would be great."
Lyra smiled, this will be interesting...
*****************
"Would you like to see town?" The pony from a moment ago asked me, Lyra was it? I condidered it, and I wasn't sure if it was a good idea. But something told me I should go with her, I looked at AJ, she appeared to have no objections. "That would be great."
I wasn't exactly sure why I agreed to go with her, but she seemed gunuine. We left togeather, I wondered where we're heading.
***************
At the edge of the Everfree forest, cloaked in a dark robe, stood a camoflauged figure, staring intently at his pray, which had just left the front of this towns hospital. "Ti neds ere, 'Iscord..." It said, slowly retreating into the bowels of the forest.