I awake to find myself in a bed of grass out in an open field, but...when did I fall asleep? I don't remember at all falling asleep, especially not in a field. Nor do I remember much at all, actually. Okay, my name is Alexander Roy Stephen Aiden Brown, I'm 16 years old, year 12 student based in Waikiki, Western Australia. I live with my older brother and my mum. Great, I remember all that but I still feel like I'm forgetting something, something really big. Like whole months of my life were wiped away.
However, sitting here trying to remember won't get me anywhere. I need help. Wherever I am, I need to find civilisation quickly. Getting up from my spot in the grass, I get a closer look at myself, and I'm completely lost as to why I'm wearing what I'm wearing. My normal street clothes are gone and have been replaced with a male's kimono. I have a black top with a white undershirt, white trousers, a black thigh-length haori with a gold underside, socks and sandals. Now I'm really confused at this point. Why am I dressed like I'm from the Meiji era in Japan when I was born in September of 1997 in Australia? The Meiji era began in 1886 and ended in 1912! That's more than eighty years before I was born for God's sake! Also, why is this kimono so comfortable and why is it just right for my height?
If the kimono wasn't wierd enough, I find something on the floor very close to where I was lying down just moments ago....a sword. Well, more specifically, a katana blade but whatever. I pick it up with a shaky hand and bring it up to eye-level. The hilt of the blade is wrapped in a red strapping and the guard is square in shape with four different pattern arrangements on each side; on the top is half of the sun, the bottom having pieces of the earth, on the left swirls coinciding with each other and finally, the right adorned a cloud with raindrops falling. By just unsheathing the top, I find that it's the real deal, it's an actual katana. Taking the blade out completely, I marvel at the handiwork for a few minutes before I sheathe it again and tuck it to my side, fitting it snugly in between my garments.
It's strange. I've only ever once held an actual blade in my hands but I was just a little kid, I barely remember that time. And yet, here I am wielding my own blade, and it feels natural, like I was supposed to have this katana. But enough gawking. I need to find a river, my throat is really dry and I don't want to beg for water or food on my way to find help, my pride won't let me.
Lucky for me, I hear swishing water behind me. A fair ways away I see a stream with fresh water. It may not be big, but hey, it's water. Slowly do I walk over to my destination, not wanting to waste my energy. However, when I do reach the stream, I'm met with yet more surprises. Looking upon my reflection in the crystalline water, I see my hair has not only changed from chocolate brown to a raven black in colour, but also has doubled in length. I have a bloody ponytail. It's a small one but nonetheless. The second change is that my ice blue eyes have changed to a burning gold. I must say, they look good, but they're not my real eyes.
Now I have even more questions that I need answered. Why am I here? Where is here? Where's my home? Where's my family? My friends? Why has my appearance almost completely changed? Why do I have a sword? And where the hell am I?!
I scratch my head in hopes of figuring out why I'm here or remembering anything at this point. But I'm still just drawing blanks, I cannot remember a thing aside from what I already know. Okay, no more moping around. For real this time. After taking large mouthfuls of water from the stream, I set off on my journey for answers.
I see a castle built on the side of a mountain (?) far away to my right. Estimating the distance, I'd say I have around 30-50 kilometres of walking to do. That will definitely bring it to the hours of the late night by the time of my arrival, so I'll rest and make camp for the night on my way and continue walking when morning comes. I don't feel right about the forest that is my way however. From what I can see, it is dark, ominous and very dangerous. But I need to go through there to get my answers. It's do or die.
And I choose 'do'.
Some would say that my choice was a mistake, but as my friend and teacher said to me: "A man who hasn't made a mistake, hasn't made anything". I believe those words, so if my choice really was a mistake, at least I know I can protect myself. So, I make my way towards the forest.
As I enter the forest, the sense of foreboding in my mind just keeps getting stronger and stronger. Not even most of the midday sun can reach in here, making it dark and very hard to see anything. When night comes, it will be pitch black and I'll be even more vulnerable to attack, thus rendering me useless and at worst, dead. I'll admit, I'm a little scared, but I need to get home. And if getting through this forest is the only way, so be it.
But what I didn't know, was that it wouldn't be long until I had to protect myself and that my body had even more changes to it than I realised.
Meanwhile, on the other end of the forest, three little girls were making their own way into the realm. "Scootaloooooo! Why are we here in the Everfree forest again?" Whined a distressed young girl with yellow fur around her small body, her clothes being an orange t-shirt, blue overalls and white, circled sneakers. In her blood red hair was a pink bow and sprouting outof the bottom of her overalls was a tail the same colour as her long hair.
"Because Apple Bloom, we're trying find our cutiemarks in potion brewing. That's why we are in the Everfree, to find Zecora and to get her help in doing it. Also, we're old enough to come out here on our own." Replied a burnt orange girl of the same age, her hair and tail completely purple and quite scruffy in appearance, on her back were two small wings. Her clothing comprised of also an orange t-shirt with denim shorts and black shoes.
"We're only eleven Scootaloo." Deadpanned Sweetie Belle at her rash, winged friend. Her white fur contrasting her one piece, blue dress and shoes that she was wearing. Protruding from her forehead was a small, white horn.
"See? Plenty old enough." Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle simultaneously rolled their eyes and folded their arms. The three friends travelled together, further than their original intention, blissfully ignorant of the glowing eyes that followed close behind.