//------------------------------//
// Chapter 1 
// Story: The Power of Imagination 
// by Golden Flare 
//------------------------------//

I awoke to the sounds of the wind rushing and bushes rustling, groaning in tiredness all the while. I turn over to get more comfortable only to notice that I'm laying on solid ground. I quickly sat up and looked around, finding myself in some kind of creepy forest, naturally, I formed the only response that I could.

"AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!"

Scream like a little chicken-shit.

Wouldn't you?

I hyperventilated like air was going out of style as I gazed upon the situation I was in. How did this happen? I never had a history of sleepwalking, and I sure as hell have never seen this forest before. I tried to calm myself down with little avail and began thinking of how to get out of here; I seemed to be sitting in a pathway of sorts for these woods, so I have to follow it where it goes, but there's a catch, if I go the wrong way, the path will take me deeper into the forest.

Thinking about this kind of reminds me of the forest theme from Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest for SNES.





HOLY TORCH TITS!!

Did I...do that?

Suddenly, I felt my stomach rumbling, wondering how nice it would to have a chilidog right now...

...Only to find a chilidog appear in my hand.

"Ah!" I panic at first, but remember not to look a gift horse in the mouth, "Uh...thanks, I guess." I say to no one in particular and take a bite of one of my most favorite foods.

It was delicious.

I decided that standing around wasn't gonna help me, so I began my trek out of the forest and to find civilization. The music in the background helped me calm my nerves, believe it or not, it was a good song and it took some of the creepiness out of these disturbing woods. Then I heard the bushes rustling again, but more violently, and saw...I don't know what they are, three wolves made completely out of wood? They growled and snarled at me, thinking I was their next meal, which I wasn't gonna let happen.

I turned tail and ran with another piece of music playing from my imagination.





I run as fast as my partially tired legs can carry me, but the wolves were gaining ground and quick. I needed something, anything, to put this chase to an end. But what? I suddenly see a light at the end of the forested tunnel, but I knew no predator gives up on its prey so easily, that even if I made it to the exit, they'd still hunt me down.

Then, out of nowhere, a tall pole with a target mark in front of it and a barrel at the bottom of its shaft appeared at the mouth of the forest. I knew exactly what that was and believe it was my only lifeline away this race for survival. I gave myself an adrenaline boost and rushed to the pole; if I jumped high enough to hit the target, I might get an item, but I don't care about that, I wanted to live, so I just long-jumped to the target and hit it.





The barrel went up like those strength games at carnivals and went back down, not hitting the item up top. I turn back and see the wolves frozen in a freeze frame, taking the opportunity, I run out of the forest and into the sunlight. I breathe in and out, taking in the fresh air, I stop to notice a little cottage at the edge of the forest, wondering who in the hell would live next to a dangerous place, I turn my head to the left and see a weird-looking town in the distance. I smile as I finally found civilization and picture yet another song in my head.





As a wave of nostalgia hit me, I remembered this theme acted as background music for a level in a game and clear screen. I then noticed something floating above me, saying: LEVEL COMPLETE. Just for the hell of it, I did a little victory dance and proceeded to the town with a little bounce in my step.

Oh yeah. I'm gonna milk this power for all it's worth.



Fluttershy was on her way back to her cottage after leaving the Crystal Empire for the Princess Summit. The newly crowned Princess Twilight Sparkle had her crown stolen, which also acted as her Element of Harmony, by a pony that goes by Sunset Shimmer, a former student of Princess Celestia. After one crazy adventure, Twilight and her assistant, Spike the Dragon, had just returned from the world which Sunset now currently resides in with her crown in tow and told them all about her journey into a new world. Fluttershy knew she would've been scared to death if she had to go through all of that, but she was glad her friends were alright.

"Wait," she said, "is that...music?"

At that moment, she saw a bipedal figure strolling along the path into Ponyville and ducked into a bush out of fear. She could hear the figure humming the song as it played from nowhere, confused by how it works. She then noticed something important, the figure looked vaguely similar to the creatures Twilight and Spike saw in that other world. The music began to fade as the figure went on his merry way...towards Ponyville.

Panic gripped her like an icy claw and she flew back into town, but careful enough not to alert the figure to her presence, with one thought screaming in her mind.

I HAVE TO WARN THE GIRLS!