The Bourne Identapony

by Arya Stark

Equestria; 03;00pm

EQUESTRIA; 03;00

She was on a beach, and the salty water lapped at her hooves. She lay on her side, wings twice the length of her body splayed out in an awkward, painful angle underneath her. Many of the white feathers were snapped and broken, a sandy mess, scraps of seaweed tangled in the feathers.

Her mane was in a similar disastrous state, tangled and knotted beyond repair. Lightning Hoof’s once ivory white pelt was discolored to yellow tints, caked with dirt, sand, and seaweed. Arching her neck, Lightning Hoof flared her nostrils, inhaling the scent of the dark red gashes on her side, and rippled her pelt. As she suspected, along with the dirt, dried and caked blood was among the mix.

Groaning, Lightning Hoof struggled to her hooves, shaking her pelt over vigorously. Folding her wings in proved to be a painful mistake, as her right wing sent a shot of liquid fire pain up her ligament, forcing her to keep it hanging at her side limply. The other folded in with less struggle, though it creaked and cracked like an only pony’s arthritis. Her own scent clogged her nostrils, making her wrinkle her nose in disgust. Between grime, seaweed, fish and blood, she didn’t smell the freshest.

She supposed she would need fresh water and food first, so scenting the air, Lightning Hoof turned her gaze inland. She wasn’t sure where the nearest source of her needs would be, so -

“Are you alright?”

Panic shot through Lightning Hoof’s system, causing her to whip around and rear with a flurry of panic, sending sand flying, whinnying and tossing her mane. The actions caused her to wince in pain, which she managed to hide from the onlooker. She quickly dropped to all fours, keeping her dirt caked horn aimed and between her and the intruder.

Stiff and ready for flight of fight, Lightning Hoof eyed over the pony before her.

The male pony stood a couple feet away, his head lowered in a respectful posture, to signal the paranoid alicorn that he meant no harm. He sported a soft faded green pelt, with an earthy brown mane. Kind, golden brown eyes peered at her from under his mane, as curious about her as she was him.

Standing at his flank, a dark brown pony was peering at her as well, ears pricked and head tilted in curiosity. The wind was blowing the wrong way as Lightning Hoof flared her nostrils, trying to catch their scent. They didn’t appear to prove any threat, so slowly she lifted her head, shaking her mane with a snort.

“Sorry for startling you,” the green pony spoke, his voice sturdy but soft spoken.

Her mouth dry, Lightning Hoof spoke in return, her voice cracking. “Who are you?”

The dark pony nickered in amusement, while the other made introductions. “I am Forest Canter, and this is Mud Skipper.”

Legs stiff as a newborn filly, Lightning Hoof let them approach, extending her neck to exchange breathes. Forest Canter’s velvety muzzle touched hers briefly, and she inhaled deeply. His scent was earthy and reminded her of a mix between pine trees and grass. She released her breath, allowing him to take in her scent, and then arched her neck to meet Mud Skipper, repeating the process.
“I’m Lightning Hoof,” the mare said after taking a step back.

“Pleased to meet you,” Forest Canter dipped his head, and then eyed her over. She was aware of his gaze grazing her wings and bloody flank, and she was surprised he didn’t turn his nose up at her reeking scent. “Where do you come from? What happened?”
“I…don’t know,” Lightning Hoof admitted.

Mud Skipper snorted, flicking an ear at her, “What do you mean?”

“I…I can’t remember anything, other than waking up on the beach. All of it is blank. I don’t know how I got these injuries, and I haven’t the faintest idea of where I am, or where I come from.”

Mud Skipper’s eyes were below her legs, and he spoke in awe and wonder. “Well, whatever happened, it must have been quite the fight. You also are clearly not from anywhere around here.”

Following his companion’s gaze, Forest Canter whickered in surprise, ears flicking. Lowering her head, Lightning Hoof went to look at what had caught the attention of the two.

The sand must have grinded and cleared out the mud and grime, because black hooves peeked out from the sand line. But they clearly weren’t normal hooves; they appeared to be made of some sort of metal material that capped her normal hoof. Snorting in disturbance, Lightning Hoof lifted a hoof, and saw the print in the sand was deeper than her back hooves, and that the tip of the metal was sharp and slightly curved, as if like a claw. Something triggered in her mind, and she knew automatically that they were for rearing and scraping, and that they would help her run faster when her hoof steps fell into the ground.

Looking herself over more thoroughly, Lightning Hoof noted that some of her own wing feathers had been tampered and adjusted with, sliced in such a way that would help her fly through the air faster, and at the base of her wing where it met her shoulder, a small metal cuff was ringed around the ligament. Scrutinizing it, she saw some letters etched in, some sort of code or series that she had no recollection of.

Glancing back at Forest Canter and Mud Skipper, they were looking at her with equal confusion and awe. Lightning Hoof rippled her pelt in unease. Not only was she a stranger to others, but to herself. With an alien body and no memory, she suddenly wanted nothing more than to retreat and seclude herself. Rumors of her odd appearance and lack of memory was the last thing she needed.
“We need to get those injuries looked at,” Mud Skipper spoke finally, tactfully refraining from commenting on her appearance. “Can you make a small trip into town?”

Once more, something snapped in Lightning Hoof, and she stepped back slightly, shaking her mane with a snort. “No. Not town. I must not be seen.”

Confusion etched in the buck’s gaze. “You’ll be fine, nobody will notice.”

But that was the thing. Somebody would notice, and though it may not be any normal pony, Lightning Hoof knew that if she was here somehow, there had to be others, and they had to be the ones that injured her. And being found, especially with not mental recollection on anything that happened, would be dangerous for her.

“No towns,” Lightning Hoof snorted firmly.

Mud Skipper looked like she was about to protest, but Forest Canter interrupted, gently touching Mud Skipper’s flank. “Fine,” he said, his gaze level with understanding. “No towns. I know somepony that might be able to help you, and possibly trigger your memory. She’s just outside of town, and we won’t have to travel through to get to her. Can you manage?”

Though it wasn’t ideal, Lightning Hoof supposed she had no choice. She dipped her head with a resigned snort at Forest Canter. “Very well. Lead on.”

Looking relieved, Forest Canter reached and touched Lightning Hoof’s muzzle once more, and then turned, starting up the sand bank slowly, Mud Skipper trotting ahead.

Lightning Hof started to follow, and then on second thought, turned and spread her wing. Rearing, she unfurled her wings and moved them in a circular motion. It stirred just enough wind to shift the sand, and the lapping water erased evidence of where she had been laying. Satisfied that no evidence of her presence had been left behind, Lightning Hoof lowered back to her fore hooves, and then cantered after her new companions.

Comments

[FamousLastWords]

Me gusta

[Car Cloth]

Déjà vu

I think I read this before. Did you re-port it?

[Metal Hoof]

Ehem... although I am new and all and have not written any stories, I do believe you have token my name for your story mate.

[Arya Stark]

4749709 How ironic

[Arya Stark]

4748406 thanks! ^.^

[Arya Stark]

4748557 Yeah I took it down and then decided to post it up again

[Metal Hoof]

4750330 seriously? That's it? How quaint.

[Arya Stark]

4750338 Sorry, what?

[Metal Hoof]

4750345 I know that your story already has my name in it so politely as I can be, do you mind altering the name of your character? I'm not asking you to remove and replace the name i'm just asking if you could alter the name a bit? If not then, well let's just say, people are going to be confused and think we are friends, I don't even.know you so that's not gonna work

[Arya Stark]

4750357 Um......no?
I had that thing written up when I first joined here, which was several months ago. You claim to be a newbie here, right? By rights my name was here first....
And look around; there are bound to be a zillion Lightning Hoofs around here, since its not exactly and original name. XP People aren't going to associate us by the nature of the name, trust me. I mean, does every 'Spike' or 'Twilight' here mean they are besties with the author who write about Twilight Sparkle or the other characters?? I don't think so.
Don't take it so personally, and plus, L'Hoof is a kickass character if you read the story, and you should be honored to have a name like hers! XD

[goaway]

Nice work.