//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: Espurr's Wrath // by M Specter //------------------------------// Chapter 1 The moon was beautiful tonight. The street lights sparked to life, giving the streets an eerie look as I walked through them. My hands were tucked into my blue jeans to protect them from the cold, and my face covered by my hoodie. As I continued my trek through the empty streets, the wind picked up a bit. Pssst... I stopped in my tracks as I heard a small whisper in my ear. Looking around, I only saw things illuminated in the moonlight. “Who’s there?” I said looking for a voice in the night. I heard nothing as I waited for an answer. Maybe it was just the wind, I thought as I continued to walk. Pssst... Okay, I definitely heard it that time. As I looked ahead of me, I see an alley to my right. I contemplate whether or not I should walk in or continue on my way. Whatever, I just walk into the alleyway. It was very dark, both of the walls on either side of me obscured the light from the moon or street lights. The only thing I hear is the stepping of my feet against the asphalt. Trash is strewn about the entire alley, forcing me to put extra energy into climbing over it. Surprise surprise,there wasn’t anyone in the alley. As I made my way out and back to the streets, something shone out of the corner of my eye. To make sure it wasn’t just my imagination I made my way to the spot of where I thought I saw it and began digging. “No way,” I say as I plucked my prize from the garbage. It was a lifelike replica of Majora’s mask. “Why would anyone throw this away?” I say out loud as I dust it off to take a better look at it. It seemed to be in brand new condition and looked as if it was expertly crafted. Getting excited over my new discovery, I then put the mask on my face to see if it would fit my head. It felt a little bit loose but I could definitely wear this around and cosplay as skull kid if I wanted to. Then something unexpected happened. The mask shrunk to fit my face and pain erupted through me soon after. The pain was absolutely unbearable as I tried to tear it off of my face. The mask was firm in its grip and it was impossible to rip it off with my strength. Losing consciousness, I fell to my knees and hands, too weak to continue fighting the pain. And then, my eyes slid closed. I don’t know how long I was unconscious but when I woke up, I felt...different. Something was definitely wrong with me. My body was feeling kind of weird, as if I had new limbs. Suddenly a part of my side needed a scratch. I lifted my arm to scratch an itch on my side and felt fur. I instantly froze up. Fur. I feel fur. Why am I feeling fur where my body is? I asked in my head. I lifted my hands to my face only to find that my hands were now replaced by small grey ‘stubs’ with white tips. Hyperventilating now, I used my ‘stubs’ to lift the front half of myself into a sitting position. Regretting it instantly as I see my legs are now replaced with ‘stubs’ as well. Looking around my environment, I realized that I was in a forest, with apple trees everywhere. I see a small pond of water near me and thought of what the rest of my body looked like. I got onto my ‘legs’ as I walked over to the pond and used the water’s surface reflection to get a good look at myself. I now had grey fur and my dark brown eyes were now replaced with lilac as well as dark purple pupils. My nose is now triangular as well. I now noticed I had a freaking tail that was small and curved slightly. No way...I’m an Espurr? I stared in awe at my new body, wondering what could have possibly lead me to have this new form. I’m pretty sure I wasn’t on any substance when I found the mask. Wait a minute. The mask! I turned my head to the right and found a smaller version of the mask near me. I held it in my stubby paws and stared at it in anger. Getting bored of staring the mask to death, I then sighed and walked into a random direction. Staring at a mask isn’t going to get me out of my situation. I placed it on the side of my head and continued to walk. First things first where am I? Taking a look at my surroundings again, I only see that there are countless of apple trees everywhere. Maybe an apple orchard? I climb up one of the nearby trees and looked around to see if I can find anything remotely like they were at home. Unfortunately all I could see where apple trees in each direction I looked. It seemed like an endless field of apple trees. At least I’ll never go hungry, I thought as I searched some more. Eventually my eyes fell upon a barn. I could barely see it over the trees which was probably why I didn’t catch it the first time. I decide that, that is where I should be headed. Maybe the locals could help me. Using my new body’s stature to my advantage I began to hop across the trees branches toward the direction of the barn. Not wanting to reveal myself to the owners yet, I decided to sit on a tree and wait. After all, if I’m right, I won’t have anywhere to return to anytime soon. After only a couple minutes of waiting I began to get bored. There's not much you can do when your waiting for something to happen instead of causing it. My stomach then growled at me. I guess I haven’t eaten in awhile, I thought getting up from my spot on the tree. I climbed higher until I reached the solution to my hunger. It shown with beauty as I plucked it from its position on the branch. I licked my lips in anticipation before taking a big bite out of it. The juice trickled down the sides of my mouth as I continued to eat. It was so good. I’ve never tasted any fruit that was as delicious as the apple I now held. Am I in heaven? Immediately my good thoughts are interrupted by a net coming over me and making me topple down, hitting as many branches as possible and ultimately landing on my face. After checking to see that my face was fine and my mask was still with me, I took a glance around for who could have done it. Imagine my surprise when I see a orange horse with a stetson on her head approach me and start talking. “Listen hear ya little varmint, I don’t take to kindly to critters eating my produce. If you’re hungry you’ll have to find somewhere else to chow down.” I could only stare at the orange impossible in front of me. The words that it spoke didn’t even reach my ears. My brain just couldn’t get over what I was looking at. After awhile of my staring it began to grow nervous, if its facial features are anything to go by. Have I mentioned that it has huge eyes that are easy to read? No? Well now you know. Anyways, my brain finally decided to put itself back into working condition making me think of a way to get out of it. I could just keep staring at it, after all, everyone knows that Espurr has one of the best stare’s known to man, but that won’t lead me anywhere. Once I rule that out, the only other option that becomes clear is something I never thought of myself doing to get out of trouble. I lower my face and begin to start crying, not legitimately of course, just an act to make myself look like a helpless animal. Apparently it works because after a couple of seconds the orange horse picks me and begins to rock me in its arms. Judging by the motherly way she’s holding me in I knew that she was female as well as someone who had to do this countless times before. “There there, I won’t hurt you anymore.” Her voice definitely sounds feminine confirming my previous thoughts. I stop my crying to get a better look at its face. Her green eyes shown with kindness making me feel strangely happy. “Well, I definitely can’t leave ya here. How about I take you to one of my friends. She’s very good with animals I’m sure will take good care of you.” I smile and nod. “Good, Hey Big Mac!?” Applejack yelled out for his brother. A red stallion then appears from behind one of the trees of the apple orchard with apples on his back. “I’m taking this little guy over to Fluttershy’s. You think you’ll be alright on your own for a while?” “Eeyup.” He nods and continues to work. The orange horse then trots out of the orchard in the direction of what I could only assume would be Fluttershy’s house. I could see a town in the distance as well as a forest near us. We neared the forest without actually going in and after a while of walking near it we approached a cottage with many small homes with animals in them. Approaching the door, she lifted a hoof and knocked on the door and soon a yellow horse with pink hair and wings opened the door. “Hello Applejack, what can I do for you?” “Well, ah found this little guy in my orchard this morning trying to eat some of mah apples. Ah figured you would know what to do with him better than I would.” The pegasus took a look at me and before I could even do anything she scooped me up in an immediate hug. “Applejack he’s so cute,” she said as her hug grew tighter. “Yeah I guess. I’ll see you later Fluttershy, ah have some work back at the farm that needs to be done.” “Bye, Apple Jack.” Yes, good bye Apple Butt. Make sure to watch your back. I will never forget the pain you caused me.