//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: Waking // Story: New World, New Rules // by Zilver5664 //------------------------------// Location: ??? ??? Time: ??? ???? Date: ????? ??? ??? Waking up to notice the feeling of grass on your hands and feet comes as a surprise when you’re supposed to be dead. Which is what happened when I came to, slowly getting my bearings by wiggling my fingers and toes and reaching to my entire body. I deduce that I have no physical injuries so far. Sitting up and looking around I notice I’m in a clearing of sorts in a very dense forest, somehow looking farther into the forest, the trees make it look like it is pitch black in there. Chalking it up to a trick of the light I stand up, albeit shakily at first but I have no idea how long I’ve been out. Taking a look at what I’m wearing it appears to be a navy blue plain t-shirt, along with dark blue Jeans, as for shoes I’m wearing blue and black tennis shoes. Taking my first step I bump into something on the ground, I look down and see a black military backpack. Deciding to check it out later I begin to move about the clearing trying to piece together just what the hell happened. ‘OK, so I’m in a forest, I should be dead, but somehow I am alive and miraculously teleported into a forest clearing. Logically this doesn’t make sense, so until I get more information, I better not think about it…screw it I have a headache now.’ I continue walking around the perimeter of the clearing, scanning my surroundings and blanking my mind when something doesn't add up to prevent migraines. Attempting to distract myself I return my attention to the backpack. It was mostly black all around with pockets at the sides for drinks or other items; there was a decal at the front showing the delta force emblem, the emblem looked like a ribbon forming a triangle around a sword, stopping at the handle. There was another ribbon in black with white trim saying “Delta force” normally I would wonder where I got this, but I remember seeing it on my step-fathers drawers, so i would assume it came here with me from his possession. (AN: Look him up if you want. Name: Dale Comstock.) After staring at the bag for a good fifteen seconds I decide to open the bag up and see what’s inside, needless to say I was surprised at what’s inside. After supposedly taking everything out of the backpack I begin an inventory check. Dark grey hooded sweatshirt with a wool inside – good for cold nights and winter when I need it most. Black gloves – Good when handling rough surfaces or doing some work. Not as good as leather though. Not to mention keeps my hands warm. Silver zippo along with ronsonol lighter fluid – Should be good for starting fires or lighting candles, careful not to burn myself though. Lighter fluid should last about a year if I use it sparingly. KM-2000 Military knife – Gifted to me when I was ten by my step-father; he had a few close calls with it in the military and in the real world. Decided to pass it to me for good luck (or should I say bad luck?) Should be good for cutting rope to use to tie things together or sharping twigs to makeshift knifes. Also a good self-defense weapon. (How did this get here?) Seven tampered .45 ACP caliber magazines – when I mean tampered I mean the bullets have been changed, they look like tracer rounds but instead of going with red led it is blue. I am unaware of its property and what it does. ‘Odd, if I have magazines where is the pistol?’ I thought as I reach over to pick up the backpack only to find out it still has something in it. Looking inside I find three more items, adding it to the inventory check. My gifted .45 ACP caliber M1911 – gifted by my step father when I was eleven, shot it ever since, Took up learning self-defense and how to use other weapons since then as well, looks to be in pristine shape. (How... In the world, is this here?!) Leg holster for the M1911 – attaches to the right thigh, feels like it’s made of leather. black all around and uses a clasp to attach. Some weird black thing – looks like it’s been cut in half, no idea what these are, will have to look into it later. Feeling around the backpack I find one more thing, or in this case six more things. adding it to Inventory check. Six, One liter mountain dew bottles - No idea how they got there, seems to be fresh, should last about a week, or three days. Depends on my mood. Uncapping one of the bottles I put it up to my mouth and start drinking it hungrily as i had no idea how thirsty i was. ‘The first sip is always the best’ After taking the best sip in the entire world and thanking whatever higher power gave it to me. I put everything back except for the pistol, holster, magazines, zippo, and knife. Putting on the holster onto my right thigh I then place the pistol in it. ‘Perfect fit’ I thought. Placing two magazines into the pockets on the holster and the rest in my jean pockets, I attach the knife to the left side of my belt. Feeling like I could take on anything I look up and see that it’s most likely ten o’clock in the morning. ‘……ah crap, where do I go now?’ My mind was drawing up a blank on where or what to do and if I want to look for civilization I would probably go the wrong way and end up further. Somehow the higher power that gave me the mountain dew was able to see my distraught. So they decided to send me a map. Only problem was this map appeared out of nowhere from a blue fire and it looked like a scroll. So my first reaction was… “......Wat....I say again, What?!” I scream out against the act of injustice towards physics. After taking a long look at the scroll I draw out my pistol and slowly make my way towards it, after circling it and making sure it's not a trap, I place the pistol back into the holster. Picking up the scroll carefully and unwinding slowly to see if it was a bomb or something. it only leads me to more confusion as the map shows of a country or whatever called “Equestria” ‘Equestria? What kind of name or place is this? Wait…..Where have I heard that name before?’ My mind was acting like it knew something, it was on the tip of my tongue. I would need something else to help jog my memory. ‘Gahh... Come on... Think... Think!’ Try as I might I am only picking up vague memories of a name I can barely remember. ‘I can’t remember… No stopping here and wasting time, where is the nearest town…?’ Just then, that one name brought that name to my mouth and shoved it down my throat. “Ponyville...!” ‘My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic…you have got to be kidding me. I am stuck in a little girl’s show?!’ “OF ALL THE PLACES IT HAS TO BE HERE?!” I exclaim. I have no quarrel with the TV show or its popularity towards the unintended demographic. However I was not expecting to be sent here, needless to say I even knew what happened. I knew of the TV show because a couple friends of mine introduced me to it, i only watched the first five episodes and although it wasn't bad, i didn't show any appeal to it what-so ever. So i just went to my friends and politely declined. The last time i checked which was about two months ago, the TV show as halfway through season 2. After thirty minutes of trying to figure out how and why i was sent here i gave up and accepted that i was stuck here until further information acquires my mind. Until then, i might as well get started on a new life. ‘If I can even get a new life here, according to the show, there are a bunch of ponies that can talk, fly, and do magic, FREAKING MAGIC! Not to mention I am most likely a complete alien to them.’ Attempting to calm myself down and keep myself from going insane, I go to the backpack and grab the weird black thing and start looking at it. “Just what the heck is this thing?” I wonder. Upon closer examination there is a tiny note wedged between a crack in the item. According to the note, I need to place the two halves to the side of my head as if I was putting on glasses. Cautiously I put it on like so, only to get an unpleasant surprise… “Rrraaarrrrggghhh!!!” ever had that feeling that something is burning onto you? No? Well good for you. Cause that’s what exactly what I was feeling. Due to the pain I was reduced to kneeling down and clutching the sides of my head. After what felt like eternity the pain subsided and I fell down into the ground as relief filled me, opening my eyes back up. i was greeted by a tint, almost like a sunglasses tint. Strange thing is, these sunglasses have a Heads up display. “Welcome: Christopher Taylor” It read. “What the hell is going on!?” I demanded, not realizing that the sunglasses pick up voice recognition. “You have put on: Computer LG-1441 HUD, if you wish I can give you the instruction menu for this device,” It read. “You go do that,” I reply, still mad that i was tricked and in so much pain. After dealing with my head-splitting migraine, I take a look at the computer again and start reading the instructions. Apparently this thing has connected to my brain and is a cybernetic enhancement. Whenever I want I can turn this thing on or off with just a simple thought and when it’s turned on it acts as a heads up display, when it's off it rests on the side of my head. This can also be customized and I can access the internet (I thought they don’t have internet here). There are more surprises but that’s for me to discover later. *sigh* “Ohhhh dear god…this can't get any worse can it?” I exasperated, turning off the device. It splits in half and moves to rest on the side of my head. Just then I hear a growl, or more specific a multitude of growls. Looking up I see a bunch of yellow eyes looking directly at me. ‘God damn it, Murphy’ At that moment one of the eyes lunges at me, in the split second between the pounce, I roll backwards and get out of the way before I get ripped to shreds. Getting back up and assuming a fighting stance I look at the target, it seems to be some kind of wolf except it looks to be made out of wood. It also seems to be a head taller than me and not to mention the backup it has. ‘Ah crap, I’m at a disadvantage aren’t I?’ My fight or flight instincts kicked in along with the adrenaline. I grab the backpack and make a beeline north. The Timber-wolves in hot pursuit, jumping over the roots and pulling the branches back to swing at the wolves I am able to put a fairly big gap between me and them. Just as I figured I would be safe from them, a wolf jumps from the right of me and tackles me to the ground. Dazed, I grab the wolf before it has a chance to strike. However I need to act fast, as the other wolves are catching up. Grabbing my pistol in my right hand I hold the wolf in position and put the gun right next to its head. The wolf tries to deter my aim by swinging his head around, but that just makes his demise all quicker, clicking the safety off, I point the weapon at it's head and shoot, blowing the branches out of the timber wolf's head. The wolf falls to the side and I get back up checking to see how much farther the other wolves are, I see that they are five seconds behind. Not wasting anytime I make a mad dash out of there. After a while I come across a dirt path, thinking it’s a path to civilization I get on it and start running along the path. Looking behind me I see that the timber wolves have reduced from five to two, it seems that majority of the pack stayed behind giving up on its prey. However the remaining two are catching up to me, and fast. These two aren't going to let me escape without a fight. Looking back ahead I see the exit out of this hell hole and I make a final sprint for it. Apparently so did the wolves as they had caught up to me. Just as I was about to exit I get slashed in the leg. “AHHHH!! MOTHER FUUUUUAAAAA!“I scream out, purposely cutting off the remaining swear word. The slash sends me toppling onto the ground just out of the exit. Looking behind me I see the two Timber-wolves right in front of me and ready to pounce on the left and right flanks, I grab my pistol out of the holster and ready it for the unlucky bastard who makes the first move. However I can’t stand up because of the gash on my leg that is now bleeding profusely, god it feels like it’s on fire. Sensing my moment of vulnerability, the timber wolf on my left lunges at me, seeing the first move out of the corner of my eye, I raise my pistol and take three shots at it. each hitting him in the head and body. He falls to the ground dead before he hits the floor. I made the mistake of relaxing my grip on my pistol there as the wolf on my right lunged for the gun as it proved to be a threat. Knocking the gun out of my hand and kicking it out of reach the wolf turns back to me, thinking that he has me beat. I think not... I unsheathe my knife from my belt and take up a low fighting stance, ready for the wolf to attack, the timber wolf jumps at me, making the mistake of charging me to begin with. I rush forward just in time to get underneath the wolf and dig my knife into its underbelly knowing full well that’s a weak spot. Feeling the sticky sensation of tree sap leaking onto my fingers, the wolf shudders on my shoulder for a bit before breaking into a heap of sticks and branches. ‘Huh, that’s new,’ I turn around and notice I seem to have attracted a bit of a crowd. To my very surprise they aren’t ponies, rather humans, with equine features; such as a tail, wings or horn. After turning around and stumbling to retrieve my pistol from the dirt, I start to lose consciousness slowly. Turning back to the crowd I look them in the eye and see them with looks of shock and awe. Well most of them really, a pink one seems to be giddy for some apparent reason. It stayed like that until one of them; a female with a horn and purple hair with pink streaks steps forward. "Are you all right?" She asked. Just then I feel something trickle on the right side of my forehead, I dab a bit with my index and middle finger and take a look at it seeing blood. Now knowing I probably have a concussion from the tackle that timber-wolf gave me before, I return my attention back to the women who is now looking at me with concern in her eyes "...Nope.." The only thing I saw before I collapsed was the woman rushing over to me.