Simon

by Sir Baby Monkey

Chapter 1

"Aaargh! Shit!" Simon shouts and throws his arms forward as he fell to the ground after being changed back from his stone frozen state. He started wondering if he really was turned into stone and what could've done such a thing. He tried standing but he froze up as he saw a large snake-like creature slither away. "Was that a snake?" He thought to himself, "What was wrong with its head?" He stood up and looked at the forest that surrounded him and began to panic. He nervously ran his hand through his black hair. Not knowing where he was he was unsure of what to do. Should he move forward and risk getting even more lost than he is already, or should he call out for help and hope someone finds him. While trying to decide what to do he heard a faint echo of laughter. He tried to scream out for help but the words caught in his throat. Instinctively he ran to where he thought the voices were coming from.

After almost an hour of progressing through the words he was ready to give up searching for any signs of life. As he was about to lay on the ground to rest, he noticed a strange, faint blue light radiating from what seemed to be a wall. He wasn't familiar with what it was as it was distant but he moved towards it in hopes that he might find some other people nearby. He didn't call out as it was dark out and if there wasn't anyone around he didn't want to risk getting attacked by any wild animals.

He reached the source of the blue light and what he saw before him made him turn as white as a ghost. In front of him lay a giant sleeping creature similar to that of a bear but it seemed to be made of stars. It was at least bigger than a two story house. In shock of what he had just encountered, Simon stood there, unable to move. He wasn't sure of what to do, he was completely terrified. He would scream but the most he could manage was a small "Squee."

The large creature shifted in its slumber, knocking over a small tree that was unfortunate enough to be growing nearby. As the tree fell it made a large cracking sound that broke Simon out of his fear induced trance. He ran as fast as he could as far as he could away from the beast, slowing down only when he was sure he was safe enough. After finding a spot to rest he began to think about what happened so far. He was turned to stone, supposedly by a snake with a weird head. He is lost in a forest he is nowhere near familiar with. There was a giant space bear sleeping in the forest, hopefully the only one in the forest. His growling stomach made him realize something else. He needed to eat. Soon. If he couldn't find anything to eat within the next few days he is doomed to die. But right now he is too tired to look for food. Right now he would just sleep and hope he was breathing the next morning.

* * *

Stiff back. Sore neck. Aching legs. What a great way to start the morning. At least he thought it was morning. The trees around him were so big and tall he couldn't see enough light to tell if it was coming from the sun or the moon. It didn't really matter right now though. He needed to find something to eat. He set off wandering aimlessly, occasionally calling out for help, hoping he could at least find some small animal he could cook over a fire. Provided he could make a fire. So far he hasn't come across any life that he was able to spot out. "Stuck in a forest and all the food is hiding from me. Fucking fantastic."

Hours passed and Simon is still without food. He thought he would never find something to eat, let alone find his way out. He looks around him for a place where he could rest comfortably for a few minutes. He spots a patch of bright blue flowers in the distance and walks towards it. He lays down on the bed of flowers and breathes a sigh of relief at how comfortable it was compared to the raw forest floor. He drifts away to sleep happily with the thought that even thought he was hungry, he was at least comfortable for the time being. When he awoke he felt great. He started to get up but as he reached over to lift himself up he noticed his arm was as white as a sheet and his hair had turned white as well. He felt like a skeleton. When he tried to get up he found it difficult. His bones seemed to be weak and almost flexible. He eventually got to his feet and kept walking and thought if he was dreaming. There were so many things that are just so unreal. Maybe the last few days were all a dream. After all he can't remember how he arrived in the forest, and the two creatures he did happen to see were too strange to be real. And then there's his skin. Thinking about all these points he was almost sure he was dreaming, until his stomach convinced him otherwise. "Strange creatures or not, this hunger is all too real."

After a bit of awkwardly stumbling through the forest he saw a small house in the distance. He made his way to the house and knocked on the door. "Hello? Is anyone home? I need some help. My body is all.. I'm not sure really what's going on.. Hello?" A moment passes and then a woman’s voice is heard within the house. "Enter." Simon struggles to get a grip on the door for a second then manages to get it open. Inside he sees many strange masks and trinkets, and sitting opposite of him behind a large pot, a small hooded figure. He couldn't quite make out her face but at the moment it didn't matter what she looked like. What mattered is him finding a way to get himself back to normal and to get something to eat. "Hello, I was wondering if you could help me out. Earlier I found myself completely white and my bones feel a lot weaker and more flexible than normal. Not that they usually are flexible but.. Never mind, I think something is wrong with me. Is there some kind of cure or something that might be able to fix me?"

"I think I may know what is wrong with you. Have you made contact with flowers of blue?"

"Um.. Yes, I have, actually." Simon replied, "Not too long ago, I was resting on a whole patch of blue flowers. Is that what is causing this?"

"Yes, and I'll have your cure in no time. I will have to ask, though, that you wait outside."

"Thank you. Thank you very much. Also, I don't mean to ask too much, but, see I've been wandering this forest for about two days, I believe, and I haven't had any food since. If it's not too much, could I maybe have something to eat?"

"I am sorry but I fear, I have no food to spare you here. But you may be able to take your fill, in the nearby town of Ponyville."

"Ponyville?" Simons whispers under his breath. "Well thank you, and where can I find this town?"

"It is not that far from here, that town. Keep to the east and you'll be there by sundown."

"Thank you so much. I don't think I would've made it much longer without your help. My name is Simon by the way."

"Zecora."

"Zecora.. Thank you." Simon said as he stepped outside, closing the door behind him. He sat against the side of the house, relieved that he may actually survive the night. He began to think back to what Zecora said. Ponyville seemed like a strange name for a town. If anything it sounded rather gay. Maybe something great way back in history involving a pony inspired the founder to name the town such. It better be one great story. Thinking about the past two days, and how things could've gone differently, how he could've never found this place or Zecora, or anybody. He probably would've died. No. Not probably. He WOULD have died if he hadn't found this place. He was thankful he did. After a few minutes he drifted to sleep.

Simon awoke to large pot nearby him, that wasn't there before, and a note on his lap that read

To make your symptoms go away

In the water you must bathe.

Afterwards, head away from my home

And you will see Ponyville for your own.

He found it a bit strange that she spoke in rhymes, but he didn't care. After all she was the one who pretty much saved him. He got in the pot and bathed himself as instructed and after a little while, he felt as good as new. Now the only problem left was finding food. Actually he knew where to find food, now he needed to find the town.

He headed away from the house and soon he saw sunlight and a clearing in the distance. Simon now went into a full run, eager to leave that dreaded forest. He nearly had a heart attack when he saw up ahead were the same blue flowers that made him as he was before. He slowed down and was careful not to touch any of them. After he was out of the forest he smiled. He had survived when he thought he wouldn't. He felt good. Simon began walking forward looking for the town called Ponyville. After a while he saw something in the distance. It looked to be a small, colorful town. He kept forward to make sure it was exactly what he thought it was. He was right. It was a town. There was no mistaking it. Before him was the town he was looking for.

Ponyville.