Rock-a-by baby
On the tree top,
When the wind blows
The cradle will rock.
When the bough breaks,
The cradle will fall,
And down will fall, baby
Cradle and all.
His mother stood above him. Burnt to a crisp. Her voice raspy and deranged.
"And down will fall baby!" she cackled diabolically.
He sat up. Beeping ringing in his ear. He swallowed the lump in his throat. Soon his breath returned to him.
"Nightmare?" a regal female voice asked beside him.
He turned to see a royal blue mare with a dark starry mane and turquoise eyes. She resembled Princess Celestia by the fact she had a horn, wings, and a crown. "Sadly," he answered.
"How so?" she inquired.
"It was a nightmare about my mother," he sighed. "Are you Princess Celestia's sister?"
"Yes," she replied, "I am Princess Luna, princess of the night."
"Salutations, your majesty," Geoffrey placed his right hand over his heart and nodded, "I would bow if I could."
"Your gesture is quite enough, Geoffrey Anthony Tarsus."
Geoffrey coughed, his throat dry. He reached for the water bottle on the table. An aura a light blue enveloped it and it hovered towards him. He looked over to Princess Luna and saw he horn encased in a similar glow. He accepted the bottle in his hand. He felt stronger than when he first was awoken. Princess Luna waited patiently for Geoffrey to get a drink of water before questioning him.
The door opened in a golden aura of magic and Princess Celestia sauntered in. She saw her sister beside Geoffrey and noticed him drinking water.
"Greetings again, Geoffrey," she spoke.
"And to you, Princess Celestia," he placed his right hand over his chest and nodded to the solar princess. "Can I finally know where I am?"
"Certainly," Celestia answered, "You are on Equus, in our kingdom of Equestria, in the medical wing of the castle."
"Where I come from, I used to be a prince; that is until my mother got disowned by her parents the king and queen. It was a long time ago so I barely remember my grandparents."
"You had told me you had a nightmare about your mother and that it was sad. How come?" Princess Luna questioned.
"Because," he sighed, "I love my mother but she never loved me. Nothing I did would ever please her." He swallowed hard, "I remember seeing her burning before I was knocked unconscious."
The three of them sat in silence for a moment before Luna spoke up.
"What was your world like?"
Geoffrey smiled, "It was a beautiful place, full of wonderful cultures and people. A war had ended which reunited the land to become peaceful once again. We were enjoying bounty and prosperity."
"Were there. . . creatures like us over there?" Luna asked cautiously.
"Yes, but they were not sapient creatures. We used them as work animals. They were not as colorful as you all here nor did they possess magic. May I ask what exactly are you?"
"We," Celestia began, "are alicorns. Ponies that have the attributes of the other three pony species: earth, pegasus, and unicorn. Earth ponies are very strong physically with a high constitution, they can grow all sorts of plants with their magic. Pegasus ponies have wings that they use to fly in the air, they can manipulate the weather and clouds with their magic. Unicorns are the most magically inclined species and have horns which help them focus their magic and manipulate the world around them."
"Fascinating!" Geoffrey elated, "We have stories of ancient beings who could do all those things. I like to think they were real but everyone else says they were all make believe." He started squirming around, "I'm sorry but I'm really itchy. Can you call the nurse?"
"Of course," Princess Luna trotted off to fetch the nurse.
Princess Celestia edged closer to Geoffrey, "I truly am sorry you came into this world in your state. I wish I could have been of more use."
"At least I did not lose my legs or arms," he joked, "Do not worry, your majesty, I do not blame you for my injuries."
Nurse Comfort Healing entered the room, "I am sorry, your majesties, but you must leave while I change his bandages."
Factual Theory's Lair
"I did it before and I'm not afraid to do it again!" Mason challenged.
"Do it! I would supremely enjoy the sight of you crawling on your belly out of here!" Factual Theory taunted.
Mason huffed and sat on his butt, "I just want to know what happened to my brother."
"You were the only specimen to arrive. I would have enjoyed having a more. . . complete specimen, but I will make do with what I have."
Something metallic clattered before him. He could smell fruit. A glass clank sounded beside the metallic thing.
"Food and water," Factual Theory spoke, "Can't have you dying on me." A second, more hollow, metallic clang sounded, "Something for you to do your business in."
"What? No paper?" Mason remarked. A roll of toilet paper caught the back of his head, "Thanks."
An explosion rocked the laboratory and Mason clamped his hands over his ears. Then the reality of his situation hit him: he had no hands. He could hear shouting above the ringing in his ears. He could hear multiple hooves and metal scrapping. Then he heard his cell door creak open.
"Are you alright?" a gruff male voice asked.
"Well, I am teleported to a new world with no arms or legs, get locked up and treated like an experiment, and now you are here and interrupted my dinner," he paused, " So yeah, I'm just peachy. How are you, good sir?"
"I am Sergeant Vickers Ballista of the Royal Guard. We are here to rescue you and bring you to the princesses at once."
"Can I have some clothes or something? I am literally freezing my balls off," Mason complained.