//------------------------------//
// Chapter One: Unfamiliar Spaces 
// Story: HYBRID 
// by TheHalf_and_TheHalfNot 
//------------------------------//

Chapter One 
Unfamiliar Spaces 
The Most Difficult thing in life 
Is to know yourself _Thales 

The filly was surrounded by smiles, but she didn’t feel like she deserved them, she didn’t feel like she knew them, or even that she wanted to. Her body felt compressed somehow, her innards constricting painfully inwards, and twisting. She closed her large blue eyes and hung her head, trying to hide from those unfamiliar smiling faces. 
“How do you feel, young one?” asked a beautiful mare with a constantly shifting waterfall of pastel colors for a mane. The filly opened her eyes again and looked at the ponies around her. 
“I don’t know how to answer that question,” She said honestly. Wavering on her hooves. 
“Do you know who you are?” asked another midnight blue mare with wide curious eyes. That question seemed odd to the confused filly, but for the life of her she couldn’t remember who she was. She tossed her mane and pawed impatiently at the stone floor. 
“Strawberry Bell,” Said the beautiful white mare, touching her soft muzzle to the spot right under the filly’s horn, “Don’t you remember?” her voice was warm and musical, but it only served to make the filly: Strawberry Bell, more uncomfortable. 
The filly tossed her mane again, whinnying in uncertainty. The Mare nuzzled her gently and brushed her cheek against Strawberry Bell’s. 
“You had a nasty accident,” Said the blue mare, Strawberry Bell’s eyes darted over to her taking in her starry mane and her horn, then falling to her large, folded blue wings. 
“What sort of accident?” she asked, turning back to the white mare. 
“It’s best you don’t ask,” She said, a mysterious gleam in her purple eyes. Strawberry Bell nodded. She felt like she was about to vomit. 
“Come with me,” Said the blue mare, a sigh in her voice. 
“You need rest; tomorrow we’ll send you home.” she began leading her up a flight of stone stairs. 
“Where is home?” asked Strawberry Bell, staggering clumsily behind the taller mare, her movements were practiced and grateful, but tight, as if she was fighting of something inside of her. 
“Why, Hoofington of course.” Her voice was darker and richer than the other mare’s, and Strawberry Bell felt far more comforted by it than the airy lilt of the white mare’s voice. 
“Who are you?” the filly whinnied softly, her ears dropping flat on her skull. The mare looked over her shoulder. 
“I am Princess Luna, and she is Princess Celestia, my sister.” She jerked her head towards Princess Celestia, who bobbed her majestic head slightly. 
“Princesses?” It was just too much, Strawberry Bell crumpled, resting her muzzle on her forehooves. Her head was reeling, and it hurt. Half glimpsed images crackled behind her eyelids like fireworks, bursting to painful life behind her eyelids, and then fading, everything went black. 

~0~ 
Hoofington was bright, filled with verdant plants and shining flowers that stood out like jewels, the air was thick with the smell of sweets, and the mild perfume of the plant life. the ponies she met seemed friendly enough, if not a bit too curious. She didn’t like the feel of eyes on her, and she couldn’t help but think that something was wrong. 
“Who am I staying with again?” she asked her escort, a colt only about a year or so older than herself. A hyper thing with the propensity to be unintentionally insulting, he had introduced himself as Marshmallow. 
“The Skys,” he said in an exasperated voice, rolling his lime-green eyes. Strawberry Bell flinched slightly. 
“I’m sorry.” She whispered. Her ears drooping a little, the colt just ignored her, jumping quickly to the next topic. 
Strawberry Bell’s eyes drifted to the right, and landed on a purple stallion, turning the pages of a book with his horn. He was humming quietly to himself, idly tapping his hoof on the grass, the wind rippled through his brown mane, sending it scattering about his face and back. 
“That’s Moon Dancer.” Marshmallow announced, following her gaze. 
“He’s my teacher.” 
The stallion shivered slightly, as if a fly had landed on his flank, and his blue eyes rose to meet hers. The square rimmed glasses he wore magnified them, making them look too large. He offered a quick nervous smile before turning back to his book. 
“I…I want to go home.” Strawberry Bell whimpered, tears welling in her eyes and spilling onto the grass, quickly disapearing into the rich, fertile soil. 
“You are home,” Said Marshmallow.