//------------------------------// // A Helping Hoof // Story: A Human's Guide To Equestria // by Hidden_Blade_Attack //------------------------------// My eyes shoot open to Riley pulling at my pant leg. I try to scream but my voice is nowhere to be found. My mouth is filled with drying ash. Splinters fill my arms and legs and smoke suffocates my body as heat burns at my nerves. How am I alive? I must have super endurance! I try to get up but I am reminded of my bleeding ankle. Riley whimpers. That's when I notice the fire and all the surrounding dangerous elements are not effecting him. He must be like a super dog or something. I lean on him and he helps me up. He is truly man's best friend. I can feel my body begging for clean air and some fresh water and vomit threatens to release but I have to get out. I look all around me but only see fire. I clench my fists and hold my breath. I slam into the wall as hard as I can, the woods cracking and breaking on my weight. I fall onto the dying grass and Riley jumps out. I hear the call of guards alarmed of my survival. I get up with whatever energy my body possesses and run. It's too dark to know where but I don't care at this point. I hear Riley's paws behind me as we run through the fields and town and finally free of their grasp. I finally collapse. I kind of wish I don't wake up. I woke up sometime later. I instantly was forced to vomit. I guess I should examine myself. Let's see. I'm very dehydrated, several burns, scratches and splinters. Clothes are torn and battered. My backpack didn't make it but Riley is completely unharmed. "Just me and you boy, from now on!" I said to him. I think I am going crazy, but Riley barked in response which I'm taking as a YEAH! I guess from my surroundings that I'm near Fluttershy's cottage. Me and Riley begin walking around until I find a stream, we viciously consume the water. Riley's ears then perked up and he began sniffing the air. "What is it boy?" I ask him. Obviously no exact response, but I could tell there was a presence near by. I really hope it isn't guards, even though I have super strength, speed, endurance and resistance I think my body can't take much more. I look around but can't see much, just a grassy field, wait, there are some bushes and a tree. Riley was growling quietly to himself, i knew there was something in those bushes. I slowly get up and fight the dizziness my head provides. "Stay back boy." i order Riley as I begin making my way to the bush. Riley follows a ways back. I could see the bush rustle a bit. "alright come out I know your there!" I alarm the watcher. But no response. I take another step forward. "Wait! Don't hurt me!" A light blue, mint green maned mare says jumping from the bush. I instantly recognize the pony. 'Hey, your Lyra." I say. "How do you know my name?" "Uh... I just know things. okay?" She eyes me oddly before shaking it off. "Your a human correct?" "Yes" "A real life one?" "Yes." "Like, one that is real?" "I believe so." "A breathing one that is alive?" "I think breathing comes with living." "So-*" "I'm a living, real human okay!?" I interrupt her. "This. Is. Amazing!" I knew you humans were real!" Wow, just like the fanfics. "You were right! So... am I going to be turned in for death or am will you help me. Or the very least pretend I was never here!" "No way! I would never turn you in! Wait your wanted?" "Yeah, they didn't take well to me. Your the first pony willing to talk to me this close." She shakes her head "Yeah... I figured." She said. "So, just pretend I was never here." I ordered. "No! You kidding me?! This is a huge opportunity! I got to help you! Just come with me!" She said. "Really? Thanks!" I reply. At this point Riley came up beside me. "Oh, you got a pet dog?" She asked. "Ya, his name's Riley, he's very loyal and well trained." I told her. "Is he friendly?" I scratched my head. "Well, his experience with ponies haven't been the best, but as long as you don't attack me he should learn to live with you." "Okay good. Don't worry little guy, I'll make the other ponies not hurt you!" She said to Riley. Then her eyes went wide. "Did they do that to you?!" She said looking at the deep cut in my leg. "I told you they didn't take kindly to me. Also out of all my out of all the injuries I have you notice that one." I replied. "That could get infected, come with me." Lyra said walking ahead. "You know when I said it's just you and me?" I asked Riley. "Well, I trust Lyra so let's go!" Riley followed me along. "This my be an odd question but can i touch your hands?" Lyra asked fixated on them. "Uh, sure." I shrugged. Her hoof gripped on to my hand and played around with my fingers and knuckles. "There so soft, but so strong..." She said as she let go. "Ah!" She randomly said as her hoof shot up to her horn. "What?" I asked. "Just a head ache." She told me and we continue on. "Well, since you know me apparently, what is your name? And a little about your species." She asked. "My name is Samual Cronan, but you can just call me Sam." I reply. "That's an odd name, although you are human." She said. "I'm pretty sure your a boy but I'm not completely sure." She says. "I'm a boy, I guess you couldn't tell considering there is nothing to compare me to." "Well except for vague drawings in a book." "They have books about humans?" "Yeah, humans are myth and stuff, so there just mythology books." "I see." We walk for a little bit in silence, luckily we were on the outs and so the guards probably wouldn't find me easily. "How do you know me, just a question." "Well, like how you know me, except more detail on pony characteristics." "So, ponies, including me and I'm guessing others, are myth in your world?" "Kind of. Let's just say that so not to confuse you further." "So our worlds are connected in a way!" I looked at her confused but was about to explain. "Well, I'v done lots of research on different worlds trying to see if humans are real. And a theory is that there are infinite groups of dimensions and in one of those groups there is mine and yours, ours must be in the same group. Sometimes, dimensions can have a strong connections, ours must. The strong connections can cause displacement of objects and timelines that are very similar." Lyra explained. "Just like if you lose car keys, they must go through dimensions." I joked. "Yeah! Wait, what's a car?" "Never mind." We were silent and snook through a more populated zone, we ducked through bushes and in ally ways, guards still weren't seen but others could alert them. We finally got through unseen. "So, where do you live exactly?" I asked. "Up ahead." She pointed to a house a couple blocks down. "I'm not the richest pony ever so I share a house with my good friend BonBon! She should understand why your here. She should have seen it coming, she knew of my interest in humans." "I see, just like other fanfics..." I murmured to myself. "What?" She asked. "Are you and BonBon just friends?" I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me. "What do you mean?" She asked eyeing me suspiciously. "Well, I'v heard... just rumors, but uh, you know... duh..." I didn't think I was doing myself any good. "Heard what?" She asked staring at me with a stern expression. But Riley was watching her carefully. "Um, you know, when two girls find themselves, liking each other more then usual and s- hey look we're here!" I interrupted myself gesturing to a house. "That's not my house, it's next door." She said. "Just let it go. Hey, did you know humans have an alteration to you ponies!" I redirected the conversation. "Really!?" I guess not all the fanfics are right... We got to the house and Lyra let me in. "Be on your best behavior, I just need to let Bon know your staying here for however long." She barely finished the sentence before we were attacked by noise. "LYRA WHAT IS THAT THING!?!?"