POV: Third-person
"I'm so glad all of you could make it," Princess Cadence tells the main six.
"Yeah, but why exactly did you call us again?" Rainbow Dash scratches behind an ear as she flies through the halls of the Crystal Palace.
"Rainbow," Twilight sighs, "I told you that she wanted the Elements of Harmony on hand just in case the creature is dangerous." She then turns to Cadence. "What kind of creature is it anyway?"
"No one here knows." Cadence says. "But it seems to be intelligent to some degree, since it had armor, supplies, a weapon..."
Twilight nods thoughtfully. "But then what was it doing up here? Based on the description you gave us yesterday, this creature doesn't seem suited for the cold climate."
Cadence shakes her head. "I don't know. Oh, here we are!"
The seven ponies walk past the guarded door and into the chamber within.
The chamber is a large, white, and rectangular. Computers and medical equipment are situated against the walls, while ponies, mostly unicorns, wander around, comparing notes or observing one of the many devices in the room. In the middle of the room is a smaller room, surrounded by thick glass walls. There are only a few objects inside this second room: IV bags, a heart monitor, and a bed. But on the bed, is the strangest creature the main six have ever seen.
"Ah, Doctor Ward," Cadence waves over an elderly unicorn. "Would you mind informing these six here on what you have discovered?"
Doctor Ward squints at the main six for a moment, then nods. "Very well, your majesty."
He then waves Twilight and her friends over to one of the glass walls of the inner room, through which they can see the left side of the creature. "Based on his body structure, we believe the creature to be bipedal, or two-legged. The forehooves more closely resemble the arms and hands (somewhere, a mint-green unicorn perked up an ear.) of a minotaur, so we assume they function the same way. However, unlike most beings existing today, sentient or not, this creature doesn't seem to have any kind of scales or fur covering the body. The most that we've found is on the top of its head, and a couple of other places.
"It's face looks kinda flat." Twilight's remark gets a nod from Dr. Ward.
"Indeed, and based on its teeth, we've recorded this creature as an omnivore, eating both plants and meat."
This last word causes all present to shiver.
Applejack looks the body up and down, well, side to side. "Didn't ya'll say it was wounded?"
Dr. Ward nods and motions them to follow. "Ah, yes, well, the wound is on the other side."
Upon arriving at the opposite side of the glass room, Dr. Ward gestures at the creature. "This is what you were wanting to see, I believe?"
The main six merely stare. The countless blood-stained bandages cover pretty much the entire right side of the creature's torso, from the right shoulder, down to the hip.
"H-how did it survive?" Twilight stammers.
Dr. Ward smirks. "Remarkably, the creature somehow covered the injured part of its body with snow and ice, slowing down its heart rate and keeping blood from leaving the body quickly." His gaze returns to the creature. "How smart does this creature have to be to know that?"
"But what--"
Twilight's next question is cut off by a rapidly increasing beeping noise from within the creature's room.
Dr. Ward instantly begins pushing the group back, while other doctors rush to the glass. "Keep back," he says, "it's waking up!"
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POV: First Person: IceHeart
'Oh, my head. Why does it hurt so much?'
It takes me a moment, but I do manage to open my eyes. Thank the clouds I still have them.
That's when I realize that my surroundings are wrong.
The sky is white and flat, no wait...is that a ceiling? I feel myself lying on something soft, a bed perhaps?
I raise my right arm and immediately notice two things. Firstly, I am covered in bandages; and second, my armor and weapon have disappeared.
'Someone must've found me' I think as I rotate my arm back and forth. Then I see the tubes and follow them with my eyes up to the IV bag.
'Perhaps a hospital of some sort?'
Still a bit light-headed, I am not yet able to comprehend everything around me, so a few minutes pass before I become aware of the other occupants of the room.
I slowly raise myself to an elevated position, then do a slow scan of the environment. I can tell that I am in a small room within a larger room. I can see the machines...and their operators.
Surrounding my small room, are creatures that I have only read about while living with the windigoes. These are the creatures that many of the windigoes prefer to take form of.
Ponies.
But most of thes ones present appear to be made out of crystal, not at all what the book entailed. Oh, wait, there are a few that match the description.
I do another sweep of the room, before settling my eyes on a particular occupant. A pink pony looking creature with both wings and a horn.
I don't believe the books ever covered one such as her (I'm going to assume it's a her because she looks like a her), but after comparing her to every other pony in the room, I'm going to assume that she's in charge.
I make eye contact with her, then raise my hand.
"Hi."
Their startled reactions indicate that they might be able to understand me. Or maybe they just weren't expecting such a casual action.
The pegi-unis thing looks to the ponies beside her, then turns her attention back to me and raises a hoof.
"Um, hi. Can you understand what I'm saying?" She says.
I nod.
I hear scribbling and I turn my head to see several other ponies writing furiously on clipboards.
Rolling my eyes, I return my attention back to.....my storms! I need a name or a title or something to work with!
My attention is diverted to a third section of my room by a *hiss*.
A door has opened in one of the walls, allowing the pegacorn and six others, including another pink one (oh dear), to enter.
The door closes behind them and they stand just beyond the foot of my bed.
I take several moments to examine my guests.
The group consists of the wingicorn, a purple unicorn (who appears to be holding back a fit of excitement, if her rapidly vibrating form is anything to go by.), a blue pegasus (who looks very hostile at the moment), a yellow pegasus (currently cowering at the back of said group), a white unicorn (her appearance and way she carries herself screams wannabe noble. It makes me sick.), an orange earth pony (i love the hat), and a pink earth pony (this one I fear already, she has an unnatural presence.)
"--entions and motives." The horny pegasus (what, I'm running out of descriptions) looks at me.
'Ah crap, i didn't realize she was talking! Probably something important! I better improvise.'
"Would you mind repeating that, I kinda zoned out there."
I can feel a burning glare from both the purple unicorn and the blue pegasus, but the Pinkius wingdus hornius reveals a small amused smile.
"I said, you are currently in the top hospital of the Crystal Empire. I am Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, more commonly known as Princess Cadence (YES! FINALLY, A NAME!), and I am the leader of the empire. I would like you to introduce yourself, if you would be so kind, and to reveal to us any intentions or motives of yours while you are staying here."
"I have no motives nor hidden intentions, as my arrival here happened by chance. As for my name, I am Johnathan IceHeart."
Princess Cadence seems to suddenly adopt a look of sadness. "How sad, and yet how appropriate."
"Pardon?" I ask.
"I apologize, I was thinking to myself. Nothing important." Her expression becomes positive again. "Do you have any questions?"
The purple unicorn darts forward, but is stopped by Cadence.
"Not you Twilight. I was talking to our guest."
Twilight blushes and steps back.
"I do have a couple of questions."
Cadence turns her attention back to me.
"Am I healed?"
Cadence looks through one of the glass walls at one of the many crystal ponies. (the appearance now makes sense).
"Dr. Ward?"
The unicorn flips through the papers on his clipboard for a minute.
"I believe he is well enough to leave if he wishes," His tone disapproves. "but he'll have to stay in the Crystal Empire for a while so we can make sure his wounds don't open up again."
Cadence looks back to me, "Would you like to stay here?"
"Not in the hospital, no. I find it better for my health if I am exposed to the outdoors."
"Well then," Princess Cadence straightens up, "I invite you to stay at the crystal palace as my guest."
I can only stare in what would be amazement, if I could show anything but negative emotions.
"Why, thank you."
"You're welcome, and I believe you had another question?"
"Yes." I peer under the covers. "Where are my clothes?"
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Sometime later, after having been checked over and discharged from the hospital, I found myself walking through the streets of the crystal empire with my entourage, which consists of Princess Cadence and the six ponies from before, whose names I have only recently learned.
My fur tunic, pants, and boots had been returned to me, but my weapons, armor, and other belongings had been taken to the palace, which is our destination.
"Geez Icy, lighten up! You even think in monotone!"
"Do I really, Ms. Pie?"
"I told you to call me Pinkie. Ms. Pie is so dull. And yes, everything you've said has been in a somewhat monotone voice."
"I didn't realize."
"I don't think any of the readers did either. Maybe minelittledashie forgot to mention it."
"What did you call me?!"
"Not you Dashie, the other one."
I shook my head and lengthened my stride to get away from the rainbow maned pagasus dubbed 'Rainbow Dash.' I don't think she likes me much.
I soon found myself in between the orange earth pony, Applejack, and the white unicorn, Rarity.
Despite my earlier assumptions, I had discovered that the latter of the two was much kinder than what I was used to seeing in those who favor the higher styles of life, though I was offended when she insulted my pure white, yeti fur clothes, calling them "barbaric".
Applejack, however, was my kind of pony. Strong and hardworking, while at the same time, knowing how to have fun.
"Oh, hello dear." Rarity says.
"How ya doin pardner?" asks Applejack.
"Greetings Ms. Rarity. Ms. Applejack. Lovely day, isn't it?"
"Oh, quite dear."
"Yep, a perfect day to do some apple buckin', and hey, what did I tell you about calling me 'ms' Applejack?"
" I apologize, but you must show me this activity sometime." I say to Applejack. "I wish to see how it differs from apple 'picking'.
The farm pony chuckles. "Maybe if you come back to Ponyville with us."
"You mean you don't live here?" I ask, confused.
"Oh, no darling! We live in Equestria, a nation to the south of the Empire."
"Just you two, or..."
"Yep, both of us, as well as Rainbow, Pinkie, Fluttershy, and Twilight. Speaking of Twi, I think she wants to see you."
I glance in front of us to the last three member of our party. "What about?"
"Knowing Twi, she probably wants to ask ya a heap load of questions."
"Well, I do need to speak with Cadence, so I'll be seeing you girls later." And with that, I break into a quick jog towards the trio in front of us.
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"Ah! Jonathan, you finally decide to join us." Cadence says when she finally notices my presence. "How are you holding up?"
I place a hand on my still bandaged right side. "I haven't felt anything open, so it should still be good."
I hear a quiet *eep* and glance to my left to see the yellow pegasus, Fluttershy, try to hide behind the last member of our little group, Twilight Sparkle.
Speaking of whom...
"Ms. Sparkle, Applejack said you wanted to ask me something?"
Twilight's ears immediately perk up and her eyes begin to sparkle. Her horn glows and a quill and a pad of paper appear from nowhere.
"Well..."
"Oh, will you look at that? We're here!" Cadence suddenly says, actually seeming somewhat frantic.
I turn my attention to the large structure that now towers above us, and feel a tug at my chest. The shine and light blue color of the palace. The smoothness of the walls and the clarity of the window glass.
It reminds me of the windigo palace.
Home.
"Huh, look at that." Cadence says.
I look at her, then look up to see the dark clouds that she is pointing at.
"What's so strange about clouds?" I ask her.
"Not clouds in general," Cadence clarifies. "But we don't usually have storm clouds gather overhead."
"Peculiar." I say.
And with a wave from Cadence to the guards, the gates open, and I enter a whole new world.