//------------------------------// // Waking Up Furry // Story: Diamond Heart // by Wayofthepen //------------------------------// Life ain’t always what it’s cut out to be. I learned that the hard way. When you’re just a teen and some random dude walks up to your face and asks you if you want to go to some other world...Run away. I am getting ahead of myself, though. He approached me as I was walking through down the sidewalk near a diner. The man had a strange beard, eyes of different sizes, and a voice that sounded like it came from Star Trek. “Hello there, young one.” He said to me. I just waved with a smile and tried to keep walking by, but was stopped by him. “Quick to get home to the fighting and other drama?” How did he know? “Step inside, and it will all become clear.” He lead me inside and we sat at a booth. “Now, I will tell you the tale of Equestria.” I couldn’t believe my ears. He knew everything even before what the show had told me. More importantly, how did he know I watched it? “Wow, you really know your fandom.” I said jokingly to him. He still had an crooked smile on his face when he spoke his next words. “Fandom, or truth? Only one way to find out, and that is to leap into it head on.” I gave him a confused look. What did he mean ‘head on’? “Would you dare step into the dangerous world?” I jumped out of my thoughts at his question. Equestria didn’t look too dangerous, so why would he say that? Might as well humor him. I shrugged. “Yes, I would.” His laugh made me feel a little weirded out, mainly because it seemed to echo through the empty diner. “I could send you there, you know. Would you like to experience their world for yourself?” I think I will see how far he will go on this. “Alright, send me there. You can decide on what I am.” He outstretched his hand and I took it, shaking with a firm grip. Light shot from his shoulder to his hand, slowly spreading to me. I couldn’t even move as it started to consume me. “Have fun.” Was all he said as I fell into a dark void. God, what did he put in my drink? I tried to open my eyes, but they felt...Larger. When I went to move my fingers, they felt bulkier, as did my arms. Adjusting to some of the light, I could see I was in some type of...Let’s call it a treeline. Getting to my feet took some time taking I had paws instead of feet. A note was lodged into a tree. “Good luck, kid. You’ll need it. -Discord” Well, I am going to have a few words with him, and they won’t be clean ones either. In the distance were three voices that sounded like children. I decided it would be best to ask some locals where I was, if I could speak that is. With even more light blinding me, I made my way to the voices. After adjusting to the light, I could see three little...Oh you’re kidding me. Three foals are right infront of me. A unicorn, a pegasus, and an earthpony. “Hi?” I said in what sounded like a growl. The earthpony and unicorn hid behind the orange pegasus. “W-What do you w-want...?” I gave her a blank look, which she returned. “I want to know where I am, actually.” She cocked her head a little as her friends slowly came out from behind her. “You’re near Ponyville. They don’t like your kind here, after what you did to Sweetie’s sister.” Now you really have to be kidding me. “Let me guess your names. Sweetie Bell, Applebloom, and Scootaloo.” They just stared at me in awe and nodded. “Can you tell me about this area?” They nodded as I sat down on the soft grass. I put my back to the ground and started panting. It felt surprisingly good, then I remembered why dogs panted. “Sounds like the one I want to talk to is Twilight.” They nodded at me. I looked down at my chest. Black fur with tattered clothes around my body. I decided to make use of my claws and cut them off, but scavenged what I could for later. “Well, guess I better try town.” I called as I literally jumped to my feet. Scootaloo trotted over to me and motioned me to squat down to her level. “Is that a smart idea? I mean, they could do something bad to you.” I gave her a shrug and a smile. They pointed me to the town and my journey began. The town was bustling with life, at least until I stepped into town. Ponies were glaring at me and telling their foals to go inside, thinking I would try something. A pegasus flew down infront of me with a guitar on his back. His mane and tail were black, his eyes were blue, and his mark was a mix of a sword and guitar. “What do you want?” I shrugged at him. “Looking for a pony who could help me.” The pegasus looked shocked at me. “Hey look, the furball can speak properly.” He’s starting to get on my nerves... “Look, I just want to know where Twilight Sparkle is.” The pegasus laughed at me as more ponies crowded around us. “Look, mutt. Your kind isn’t welcome here, and I highly doubt she would help you.” I gained a smirk, showing some of my sharp teeth. The urge to grab him and smack him around was growing, but my self control kept the feeling in line. “Look, jackflank, I want to know where she is because...Wait, why am I explaining myself to you?” I shoved the flying stallion aside and continued my search, only for him to ram me into the ground. As the pegasus started laughing at me, I decided to listen to the unwise words of my friend. Screw self control. I quickly got to my paws and grabbed his neck. Fear overtook him as I grinned devilishly at him. “Listen closely...Out of respect for the old me, I am going to let you live. Also, I think you wet your coat.” I set him down as he checked himself. This was going to take some getting used to... After aimlessly walking around, I figured out that I got myself lost. Again. I sat myself against the wall of a home and put my head in my paws. “Now I know how Dr. King felt...” I said half joking. “Dr. King? Who’s that?” I jolted my head up to see a purple unicorn still reading her book, which was levitating in the air. “You sure you want to be caught talking to me?” She looked away from her book and took a few steps back. “For a Diamond Dog, you speak clearly. What are you doing in town?” She sounded extremely scared, but I shrugged. “Looking for you, actually.” She looked like she was about to say something when a familiar voice called out to me. “Hey mutt! Time for you to get out of town.” We turned to see the pegasus being followed by a mob of stallions and mares alike. I went to do a facepalm, but hit myself square in the nose. Stupid long face... “Shut your flap, why don’t you?” That set him off. I got on all fours and began running through the many twists and turns of the town. “You can’t run forever, furball!” Now that’s seriously offensive. I ran outside of the town and made way for the clearing where I met Scootaloo and her friends. Hopefully they were still there. After a few minutes run, they were. I tried to come to a halt, but I felt something hit my in my leg, causing me to fall and do plenty of rolls until I stopped infront of Scootaloo. “This won’t end well for me, I just know it...” I said aloud as the three filly’s stood around me. Resting on my elbows, I could see what was happening. “Scootaloo? Why would you stand up for him?” Scootaloo backed down a little, but was quickly backed up by her friends. “He’s different, Lisp.” She looked back at me and gave me a wink, which I returned with a smile. It was short lived as they were pushed aside while Lisp took his guitar by the end. I got to my feet and was about to tell him something as he swung it, connecting with my face. I flew to the side and did a faceplant. Slowly getting to my knees, I felt another blow hit my back, sending me down again. “Yikes...What is that thing made of?” I choked out as another blow connected to me. “You’re hurting him!” Sweetie Bell yelled out. Lisp proceeded to hit me one last time, but closer to my neck. God, it hurt so much I wished he would kill me. He put his guitar back where it belonged and trotted away with the crowd. Scootaloo and her friends rushed to my side, all with worried glances. “Are you ok?!” Scootaloo quickly and worriedly said. “How...Do I look...?” They just frowned at me as I tried once more to get to my paws. “Need some help?” A female voice called out to me. “Help getting beat...No thanks..” I said as Scootaloo and Applebloom aided me. “You’re bleeding.” Oh really? I hadn’t noticed. “Thanks you two...I just need to walk this off...And here we go again!” I fell down a lot quicker than I got up. Only this time, I stayed down.