Prologue: Only in the Everfree...
It was a peaceful morning like any other in Equestria. Celestia's sun shined bright in the sky and ponies of every creed and color went about their daily lives. For one lavender unicorn however, it was not one of those days.
The faithful student and loyal protégée of princess Celestia, and the bearer and wielder of the Element of Magic. Who, along with the Elements of Harmony, absolved the Mistress of the Night, Nightmare Moon, and re-petrified the Lord of Chaos and Disharmony, Discord. The filly who never knew the meaning of the word tardiness, Ponyville's favorite bookworm, the over-persuasive, overbearing, melodramatic, downright insane...
"SPIKE! " Twilight Sparkle yelled, eyeing her number one assistant. The little purple dragon, who sat calm and relaxed on her back with a paper and quill in his claws, now suddenly jumped at the sudden interruption and beheld Twilight glaring at him with an annoyed frown. "Just what are you doing?"
“GAH! Twilight!” He quickly hid his quill and paper behind his back and chuckled nervously. “Hehe... N- Nothing. Just writing my journal...” He said smiling. Twilight frowned at him even more. “...and monologing to myself...”
“Well, cut it out! It's really annoying!”
“Sigh! Fine...”
Besides, that's my job! Ahem! Where were we..? Ah Yes! Twilight and Spike had wandered into the dark and foreboding Everfree Forest. A dark forest filled with all manner of beasts and dangers. Normally a pony with any common sense would avoid this forest, let alone wander into it. But every now and then Twilight would brave the forest's dangerous paths and terrible beasts to obtain the very thing she needed...
...A delicious batch of Zecora's herbal tea.
“Seriously Twilight, I don't understand why you come out here.” The little dragon huffed. “Can't you just buy tea from the market like anypony else?” He suddenly jumped and clenched his tiny arms around Twilight's neck as a he was startled by a low flying bat. “It's really creepy out here...”
“Zecora's tea is one of my favorites Spike, and she's the only po- err zebra who's brave enough to acquire them.”
“I just can't believe you keep doing this after what happened last time.”
Twilight paused, eyed her little assistant and chuckled nervously. “Eh hehe... Well... That was unforeseeable.” She continued onward. "Besides, it turned out alright."
“Thanks to Fluttershy.” Twilight frowned at Spike's remark.
“Well, I'm prepared for anything! I've mastered over 50 powerful spells, all capable of repelling and countering any possible threats!” she said proudly. “This forest will think twice before messing with Twilight Sparkle!”
“So... Why drag me along?”
“Simple...” she smiled. “Distraction.” Spike eyes widened as he wasn't particularly fond of that notion. “Aw, don't worry Spike.” she laughed. “With me around you have nothing to worry about-”
CRASH!
“WHAT WAS THAT?!? A COCKATRICE??” She covered her eyes. “DON'T LET IT GET ME!!!” Twilight shrieked, rearing backwards and tossing Spike off her back. She screamed and ran around blindly. “I DON'T WANT TO BE STONE AGAIN!”
As soon as Spike got back on his feet, Twilight jumped suddenly into his arms and he found himself holding a frightened (and heavy) Twilight, eyes closed and trembling with fear.
“'Nothing to worry about' Huh?” Spike muttered annoyed as he less than gracefully dropped Twilight on the ground. The startled mare yelped as she frantically sprung back up on her hooves, her eyes still shut and horn glowing bright as she blindly aimed for the encroaching beast.
“Relax Twilight! There is no Cockatrice!” Spike looked at Twilight with a frown and arms crossed. She stopped shaking, opened her eyes and her horn dimmed. She then looked back at Spike with a sheepish grin.
“Hehe... Eh... I knew that.” she chuckled. “Just being on the alert... Squee!” Spike just rolled his eyes. The two then looked down the dark path where the loud crash was heard.
“What was that?” Spike now asked nervously.
“I don't know...” Twilight answered. By now she was more curious than afraid. “I'm going to find out!”
“Good! I'll stand right here and...” Spike didn't have time to finish his line as Twilight lifted him up on her back with her magic and continued towards the direction of the noise.
The faithful student and her number 1 assistant ventured carefully down the path, keeping their watchful eyes out for anything scary. Twisted, leafless branches hung like skeletal claws, while an eerie wind rustled and moved them in a frightful fashion. Even when it was daytime, the woods were so thick that not even the sun's rays could pierce through its foliage. Spike trembled the further they ventured, clinging tightly around Twilight's neck as her horn guided them through the dark woods. Twilight felt nervous as she carefully trotted over rocks and broken branches, looking at the numerous eyes that seemed to glare viciously at them from the shadows.
Eventually, they got the spot where the noise had originated. To Twilight's confusion, there didn't seem to anypony there. It was all quiet. Too quiet...
“I don't see anypony Spike... Maybe it was... GAH!” Twilight suddenly tripped over something that lay in front of her, falling hard on her chin. The sudden stop forced Spike off Twilight's back and he rolled a few feet away before hitting a tree. Twilight slowly got back up and shook her head. “SPIKE! Are you alright?”
The little dragon pealed himself from the tree and wobbled dizzily back to Twilight. “I'm fine, but...” Shaking his head, he looked at Twilight and then eyed the thing she had tripped on. What he saw made his eyes grow even wider. “...wh- what is that?” He pointed. Twilight turned her head.
“Hm..? GAH!”
At first she thought it was a pony, but looking at it more closely she could tell that it wasn't. The thing... The creature that lay lifeless on the ground had no coat, no hair (save for what was on its head) and no hooves of which to speak of. In fact, no hooves of any kind! This hairless... 'ape' (was the thought that crossed her) seemed to be male. He had blond, yellow streaked hair and clothes that covered the upper and lower parts of his body; blue jeans and yellow shirt with dark green jacket. On his feet he wore red shoes, too small for anypony to wear. And socks! White socks with red stripes. She trotted carefully around him, keeping a safe distance as she looked him over.
“Twilight..?” Spike uttered, carefully approaching the creature.
“What is this thing? I... I've never seen anything like it!” She leaned her head closer and listened. She could hear faint breathing. She put her ear to his chest and heard a heartbeat. "Whatever it is, it's alive." she said with some relief in her voice. She then lowered her horn, pointed it at the creature and used her magic. A faint purple aura covered the creature for a few seconds and faded the moment Twilight raised her horn. “There doesn't seem to be any serious damage...” she muttered. She then leaned closer to the creature's face and looked at him.
“Be careful Twilight!” Spike shouted concerned.
“I wonder wh...” Suddenly, the creature's eyes flickered open, causing Twilight and Spike to jump back in fright. “GAH!!” The creature sat up in shock, eyed both Twilight and Spike and shrieked like a scared little girl.
*SHRIEK!* “WHAT HAPPENED? WHERE AM I? WHO ARE YOU???” The creature shouted as he quickly backed himself hard against a tree. He breathed quickly, keeping his eyes fixed on an equally surprised Twilight who simply stood there with her dragon companion gripping hard around her neck with fright.
There was a moment of tense silence as Twilight finally worked up the courage to speak. “It... It's okay! I'm not going to harm you!” She took a small step towards him. “My name is Twilight Sparkle. This is Spike, my assistant.” Spike popped his head out of her mane, released one arm from her neck and waved at him while smiling nervously. Hearing Twilight speak seemed to calm the creature down as he slowed his breathing and gathered his resolve. Twilight took a few more steps towards him, but kept herself at a safe distance. “You are in the Everfree Forest, in the land of Equestria.”
“Equestria?” the creature muttered confused. He looked around and realized that he was in fact in a dark forest. The look of disbelief was evident in his eyes. Trying to grasp what he had just been told, he suddenly came to realize that the person in front of him wasn't a person at all. “Wait... You... You're... Aren't you..?” he struggled.
“A pony. A unicorn pony to be more precise.” Twilight said with nervous smile. She could see the confusion in his eyes and wondered if this creature had ever heard of ponies or Equestria. She nervously cleared her throat, closed her eyes, took a deep breath and smiled as she reintroduced herself again. “Ahem! Like I said, my name is Twilight Sparkle. I am the faithful student of Princess Celestia, Mistress of the Sun and ruler of all Equestria. What's your name?”
THUMP!
Twilight opened her eyes and looked surprised at the creature as he lay passed out on the ground.
“He fainted...” Spike plainly uttered as he stood beside him looking at him with a deadpanned expression on his face.
“Oh My...”
***OPENING TITLE***
My little pony. My little pony..