Consciousness returned slowly, my mind fuzzy and murky as I came back to reality. Dizziness flowed in waves over me, making my head spin nauseatingly.
Where was I? What was going on?
Trying to answer those questions by opening my eyes proved a folly, and were quickly shut as bright lights seared into my retina. Pausing to take stock of the situation, I concentrated on what little I could make out. What felt like a soft mattress sat below me, and thick blankets wrapped themselves tightly around my body. From somewhere nearby a constant beeping irritated my ears.
Grunting with the effort required to move sleep stiffened muscles, I stretched out and grabbed at the covers, feeling the freshly washed cloth between my fingers. As nice and cosy as it was, the extra layers of cloth proved too warm, so with a flick of my wrist I threw them to the side.
Many moments passed as I lay there, letting my mind catch up to reality, trying to work out why everything seemed so... strange. Strange, but in a good way. Like a cast being removed from a previously broken leg. Drumming my fingers on the bed spread, I -
Fingers?
Bolting upright, ignoring the painful throbbing from my head and eyes, I stared at my hand. My hand. Five digits, four fingers, one thumb, palm and wrist.
Like tiny hammers, memories flooded into my head. The press release, the speeches, reporters, flashing of camera's. Snippets of questions came to mind.
"Mr. Roberts, how does it feel to be the first to go through?"
"Will you be releasing any more details of the process, at this time?"
"Has there been any statement made by the Equestrians?"
Gazing past my hand, I took in the room around me. Sparsely furnished, the bright white room consisted of the bed I had been sleeping upon, a desk covered in papers and documents, and what seemed to be a medical cart. The cart appeared to be where the consistent beeping came from, a heart rate monitor if I had to hazard a guess.
And below me, stretched out on the mattress, I saw a body. My body. My human body. It was a bit older than I remembered, but it was to be expected. Had been a good while since I'd last seen it.
The heavy wooden door creaked open. and a brown unicorn poked his head through the gap. Spotting me, he softly smiled, looking relieved.
"Oh thank goodness, you're finally awake." Turning around, he shouted to someone behind him, "Mr. Hemmings!? He's up!" Smiling once more towards me, he said, "He'll be here shortly. Now, you've been out for four days, so I shoul -"
The unnamed Unicorn never got to finish, as a orange blur barreled past him, knocking the half open door off its hinges. Immediately I was set upon by the frantic Earth Pony, leaping around the bed and launching rapid fire questions.
"Oh boss, you're up! Are you ok? How are you feeling? Does anything hurt!? You weren't supposed to be unconscious for that long! Please tell me nothing hurts! We need to get the - "
Reaching over, I closed my hand around his muzzle, silencing any further inquiries. Taking a moment to gather my thoughts, I noted just how small he seemed. Everything seemed smaller, in truth.
"I feel... fine. I think it worked." I replied.
Two glistening eyes, and a radiant smile was my only answer.
* * *
Ever since I'd set foot upon the stage, the reporters had never once let up with the flash photography. Star's filled my eyes, almost blinding me to the crowd filling the streets, a sea of mishmashed colors. To either side of the mass of citizens, huge buildings stood proud, some up to four stories high already. A testament to all the hard work and dedication of everyone within the city.
Rearing onto his hind legs, Hemmings was giving his speech, mostly filled with the more technical details of the Anti-Conversion Formula. Never being much for science, I tuned most of it out. Not like it made any sense to me.
"...now, if you would, Mr. Roberts has a few words to say."
The mention of my name jerked me from my half dozed state, and I quickly stood, taking my place at the podium. Clearing my throat, I looked down at the cue cards in my hand.
"My friends, today marks a new, wondrous beginning for Humanity," I began, speaking into the microphone set before me, my voice reverberating through multiple loudspeakers. "Fifteen years ago, we were brought to our knees, forced into extinction by the actions of a few. We may never know what exactly transpired to cause this turn of events, nor may we ever know who. But despite all odds, I stand here before you, once more as a human being. As living proof that we are not yet finished."
"We survived the Cold War, when a push of a single button would have reduced Humankind to ash. We survived World War Three, when a push of a button would have vaporized the surface of the planet! And we, as a species, have now survived the Ponyfication!"
The crowd roared, cheers and whistles filling the air, stamping the ground with their hooves sending vibrations through the surface of the stage. Holding up a hand to request silence, I gave it a moment to die down.
"However, I am aware that after such a long time, there will be those who would rather not return to their human form. We have no desire, nor intent, to force anything upon those who have no wish to change. For all those who are interested, clinics will be setup to help ease you back to your old self."
"For now, though, may we celebrate this day away, upon this momentous occasion. Thanks to the tireless efforts of the scientists you see behind me, Humankind will live again! And thank all of you watching today for all your effort. Without your support, and hard toil, we would never have gotten back onto our feet. You have placed your trust in us, and I hope that we continue to live up to your expectations."
Fifteen years ago the species Homo Sapiens, commonly known as Man, was rendered extinct. Either killed, or changed. Only in mind and soul did we live on.
For ten years, we were confined to living within Equestria's borders, as the purification would kill any sentient life form. Supposedly.
Five years ago, we left Equestria, and began again. Clearing wild forests to make way for housing, flattening hills for roads.
One month ago, we successfully turned a New Foal back into a human. That human was me.
Today, clinics around the city are full of New Foals awaiting to be returned to their human bodies and the Anti-Conversion Formula is being transported to other cities.
In the past, Humanity has made mistakes. We've warred endlessly over resources like Oil and Coal, all the while those very substances polluted the air and water. Eventually we found other sources of energy, cleaner and more efficient. The rapid decay of our planet was halted, and its effects beginning to reverse, but there was always that ever present smell in the air. Now, it's a brand new planet, ripe for civilization.
Thankfully we never lost the knowledge of those modern energy sources, so this time around, those old, polluting technologies will never be an issue. And what knowledge was lost can be easily recovered, as the theory is still known.
I know not what the future may hold. No one ever truly can. When I walked away from that New Foal Center with my few possessions, I wanted nothing to do with anyone, just a desire to be left alone.
Now? I've helped shape the direction Humankind will take for generations to come. And I honestly hope it's for the better.
Thank you for reading, and putting up with my... less than stellar writing. At times it's grown long winded, others it's been lackluster.
But this is important to me, and to many of us.
Never forget your past, lest it become your future.
THE END