Chapter One: Jumped Right In
Sun shone on the land. The great lush expanse of the untamed Everfree stood tall, sprawling as far as the eye could see. The great spires of Canterlot's proud castle scraped the very sky. Fluffy white clouds were dotting the blue sea like a flock of sheep while a calm breeze flowed through the leaves of grass.
Truly, it was a peaceful day in the land of Equestria.
The key word here: was.
With a flash of lightning and a thunderous roar, reality itself shuddered and, if it could speak, it would ask, ‘what the hell just happened?’, and, ‘who in the blazes just smacked me over my metaphorical head with a bar stool? Rude.’
A wound in the weave, a crack in the barrier dividing worlds. A hastily cut hole into the fabric of spacetime itself. Less a bridge across realities, more of an old, termite ridden plank of wood leading over the gap between them, threatening to break at any time.
The plank is also on fire.
Something jumped out of the hole, fast on its legs, dodging an unseen enemy.
That something was small, had green fur with a wild mane of black and a stubby horn jutting from its forehead, and right now was cursing like a sailor.
A pony. Unicorn filly, to be exact. Smugness was clear in her features as she smirked at something behind her. She was holding a hoof in an ineffective attempt at making a gesture for which you need fingers - well, one finger, at least. “Eat that you sh- Oh.”
At that moment the foal realized she was floating above the surrounding treetops, a fact that rapidly changed as she began her uncontrolled descent back to the ground after gravity was done having a nap.
There was no screaming, flailing blindly or more obscenities. Only a single bizarre thought.
‘No, not again!’
The filly sat by the roots of a tree, below a suspiciously pony-shaped hole in its canopy. Her body was covered in scratches, her attempts at first aid with only the items she had on hoof adding more into the already impressive number of bandages covering her barrel.
She was writing in a journal, green magic covering a ballpoint pen. The journal itself was a cheap one, made from yellow paper so bad it was practically like writing on a tree bark. Made using the most inexpensive ink and printing method possible, so the lines on the pages were crooked and invisible without the use of an electron microscope.Yet still, someone decided that a printed quote from someone famous on top of every page was a must to add, as was a picture of a double-decker bus on the cover, long since faded.
From outside, it was the most ordinary object imaginable, something that comes together with a little pen and one buys for a relative when coming home from a vacation as an afterthought. Yet, to the jumper, it was the most valuable of her possessions: a gift from long ago.
Another page, another quote.
The story so far:
In the beginning, the Universe was created.
This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move.
-Douglas Adams
The foal looked over the writing and scrunched her muzzle in a pout.
Three consecutive emergency jumps. No major injuries, several burns, some small lacerations. Avoided frostbite in time. Sadly, I lost the last of my emergency chocolate milk rations in the warp. All in all, stuff going according to expectations, which were that I'm going to die terribly, so that’s probably not good.
She noticed another twig stuck in her mane. Getting it out from the tangled mess turned out to be quite the struggle.
Still in the horse body in another horse land. And still a girl too. I checked. At least the weird psychic power remained a constant. Hopefully, it's going to stick around, kinda need it now that I don't have hands.
With some struggle, she pulled an orange crystal ball from her pocket. Watching the glowing glyphs on it, before nodding and putting it back. The orb gave her warmth and the feeling of security, but with the wild animals howling around her, shelter was something she desperately needed. Her ears flicked in different directions subconsciously.
This world seems alive, or at least not too inhospitable - that's a nice change. No contact with the locals yet, going to avoid it if I can. Not the best experience with the few I met in the adjacent worlds so far. But I need to find a better camp soon and some food. Can't run purely on magelight for much longer.
The unicorn filly gave a deep sigh and looked at the tree, pulling her old hiker jacket closer to her.
Going to hunker down in the tree roots, and see how that goes. My ancestors did it. Cannot be that hard, can it?
End of day 1124ish. Signing out and see you soon.
The foal approached the massive trunk of the old tree, touching the bark with her hoof.
“Now what?”
She didn't get an answer.
Rain.
Thunderstorm was raging above, bolts of lightning striking in the dark clouds hidden by the treetops.
Thousands of water droplets fell from the dark sky, through the greenery, down and down until they landed right on a little pony trying to get through the dense underbrush.
Lacking shelter and soaked to the bone, legs trembling and barely holding her own weight, the lone traveler had problems on her hike through the Everfree. The cold began to get to her. Damp fur wasn’t known for being the best at heat insulation.
No real shelter, wounded, tired, and hungry. A grave situation to be stuck in, but she persevered.
“Dammit all,” she rubbed her hooves together in an ineffective attempt at gaining at least some heat.
Sleeping under the tree, while at least somewhat dry, was cramped and left her muscles sore, the bandaged injuries aching. The jacket was full of holes, and did not really help that much. If it wasn’t for its sentimental value and many pockets, she probably would have discarded it long ago.
But by now she couldn’t bring herself to throw it away, even if a better option appeared. It was one of the few things that made it all the way here. An artifact from a home she was unsure she would ever see again.
“Stupid rain.”
She was sure she saw it somewhere around here from up in the tree: an ancient ruin. The danger of it being occupied was offset by the desperate need for a sanctuary. But her search had yet to produce any fruit other than more exhaustion.
Under her breath, the filly repeated her mantra. The basic needs for survival.
Three minutes without air, three hours without shelter in bad weather. Three days without water, three weeks without food, and three years without toilet paper.
That’s the limit on how long a human being can go without dying or turning into a crazed psychopath.
It’s been over three years since she saw a bathroom and the prospect of soft toilet paper was enough to send her into a frenzy.She was pretty sure that no one healthy should be so sure about the fact that they would kill for a basic utility.
On the other hand, er, hoof, you try wiping with unfamiliar limbs without toilet paper.
Finally, after hours of trekking in the storm, she saw the first signs of civilization. A dilapidated rope bridge.
A relieved sigh left the intrepid explorer and, after carefully testing if the structure was stable, to her great surprise she made her way across the chasm with no incident. Normally, that was the point where the bridge fell apart for dramatic effect, making her run like the IRS were hot on her tail.
The ruins of the castle were impressive, the once magnificent halls and gateways still standing. An echo of their former glory, yet a testament to the skill of their builders.
Going through the archway and side-stepping the rotten gate, the tiny unicorn found herself in a hallway where the roof still held. As good a place as any, she supposed. Grabbing pieces of old lumber from broken furniture and cloth from ancient banners, somehow untouched by moths or other insects, she built a pile.
She needed a fire, but the wood she had was too wet to burn by itself.
First, carefully and with almost religious reverence, she took a small metal box from her pocket, blackened and with holes in its lid. Tearing some cloth into strips and placing it inside the box, she then aimed her horn at it. Feeling the magic buildup and swell, she let images of campfires and memories of staring at the old brick fireplace back home fill her mind.
“Brisinger!” the unicorn whispered, and released her spell.
She smiled. The word itself had no real magical power, unfortunately, but it helped her conjure the idea of fire, which was the important part.
The box heated, releasing gray smoke. Waiting a few painful minutes, filled with shivering and teeth rattling, she opened the box and took the char cloth out, lit some kindling under the wood pile, and tended it until she saw the flames grow.
Fire, one of the cornerstones of civilization. The servant, the savior, and the despoiler.
Steam rising from her green fur, she sat down on her haunches and hummed to herself as she opened the notebook.
Another day, another storm. Water is in enough supply now. Started a fire. Food is next. Interesting plant life in the forest - very Earth-like. Getting closer with each jump, I swear. Nothing dangerous so far, but seeing what waited in the last few, I'm not trusting anything I see.
A shiver ran down her spine at the memory.
Found a ruin, which had some banners in it. Locals (read: small horses) built it. Either they had the habit of building big, or I'm of below-average height. Had trouble reaching anything.
A yawn, eyelids getting heavy.
This body gets tired very easily, or the injuries are taking their toll. Combined with the coming hunger, I’m getting worried about infections - immunity boost or not. Not trained or equipped to deal with this. My supplies are low as they are now.
The storm still continued outside. Water rushing down from the skies.
Going to sleep. Looking for food and exploring tomorrow. Added a few drawings of the stuff I saw today.
End of day 1125hish. Signing out and see you soon.
The unicorn filly stepped into yet another ruined library, an old, rusted halberd levitating beside her.
The rain had not lost any intensity from yesterday, making the decision between exploring the forest or the rest of the castle very easy. Looking for anything useful, she didn’t have much luck. So far, she had a haul of old paper, future firewood, dirty utensils, and her new weapon.
Better than nothing.
Also, by the size of the set of plate armor she found, the green unicorn came to the unpleasant conclusion that she was indeed tiny by local standards. She puffed her cheeks in annoyance. Another thing to add to the long list of seemingly deliberate actions made by the universe itself in a long-standing attempt at making her life as miserable as possible.
There was another option of what happened, but she refused to acknowledge the possibility, just in case she gave the universe more ideas on how to mess with her.
It would not matter anyway, she decided. ‘I am doing my best to avoid the local denizens as much as possible. If all goes well, no one will ever know I was here.’
She found some grass growing between the tiles in what must have been a throne room if the large, important-looking, broken chairs were something to go by.
One was made of black onyx, decorated with a silver picture of a moon, the second design was solid gold. Literally. A miracle that nobody stole it. Or the locals just valued precious metals differently, who knows? Well, the locals, actually. Assuming there were any left.
The grass caught her attention more at the moment. Her rumbling belly made itself known.
“Yeah, I hear you. Working on it.”
She was a horse momentarily. ‘Horses eat grass, don’t they? Sounds logical.
‘At least I know this isn’t poisonous. I had the same grass growing in my goddamn garden.’
The small unicorn bent down, giving the grass a cautious bite, then immediately spit it back out.
“Ergh, blergh. Nope.”
Continuing her bout of exploration, she found locked doors, far away from her starting point. Richly decorated and preserved in great condition, she could see the fine details and craftsmanship. A sigil of a sun on it. Hinges decorated with flowers, spirals, and swirls. With a touch, she confirmed it. Soft, even more solid gold.
No one had bothered to loot the place, nothing was stolen. As if the inhabitants all got up and ran, unable to take anything, and then never came back, or more worryingly, all vanished suddenly.
Interesting conclusions could be drawn from both theories, but none of them meant well for the tiny traveler.
She gave the doors a test whack with the halberd, not even denting the sturdy wood.
"Hmm, let's try it the other way."
Raising one hoof, she leaned against the wood, eyes closed in deep concentration.
Then walked through it.
The doors did not open, she just ignored that little fact. Body blurring and stuttering, until she phased to the other side.
Horn without its telltale glow.
"A bedroom?" she called out. “Really? Not even anything cool? One armory, that's all I’m asking for.”
Time was not as kind to the inside of the room. The outer wall had failed, letting the rain in. Yet there were suggestions to the room’s past beauty. More sun sigils made from gold; remnants of an ebony desk; the broken frame of, frankly, an obscenely large bed.
And two pairs of giant gold horseshoes.
A realization snuck up on her, slowly worming itself into the explorer’s mind.
"Ah, so this used to be hers," she fidgeted with her bandages, reminded of the burns under them.
Nothing useful left here. Only rubble and bad memories.
The next day, she went hunting.
Figuratively, of course. The equine body with its flat teeth did not lend itself well to a meat-based diet.
Her first catch was some wild asparagus, which put up a great fight but was eventually defeated after a prolonged battle of attrition. The asparagus was swiftly followed by a find of cattail, defeated in a blitzkrieg aimed at its tasty, tasty stalks, with the puffy long flower giving it the name serving as good fire starter for later. The sheep sorrel found its end next, joining the prestigious ranks of her future dinner.
Not for the first time, she found herself thankful for the years spent in Boy Scouts. The badge in foraging had come in clutch for her more times than she could bother to remember. The tendency of worlds to share at least some basic similarities in their flora and her knowledge saved her more times than she cared to remember.
Carrying most of her finds in her mouth and pockets, she couldn't help but drool. Maybe it was just how long it had been since her last proper meal, but even a bunch of flowers tasted great. It was no steak, but it came pretty close!
So why did grass taste so fucking horrific? It was like trying to eat a soggy, week-old sock cut into small pieces.
She also got a first glance at some of the forest predators: giant wolves made from twigs and bark.
Timberwolves, she called them with a chuckle.
The forest was active, filled with life after the storm ended during the night. Air felt fresh and clean, the wind playing with her mane.
She counted herself lucky that she saw them first. A dark silhouette stalking in the underbrush. Yellow hungry eyes scanning for prey. Missing her hiding spot in a shrubbery, probably thanks to her own green fur.
The tiny unicorn made a hasty retreat to the safety of the castle, which seemed to ward off predators, or any animal, now that she thought about it. She had not found a single sign of the local fauna in the ancient ruin.
Her other important discovery was a dirt path leading out of the forest. Well-worn and with fresh marks from hooves, very similar to the ones she had been leaving behind wherever she walked, only hers were smaller.
Evidence that the locals were alive. The path could lead to a settlement or even just a lonely hut or cottage in the middle of nowhere. The conclusion stayed the same.
Someone was using the road.
She gave a deep sigh, pen in her grip. Campfire was steadily going, the few remnants of her dinner strewn around.
Explored the ruin yesterday, and found nothing noteworthy. Got food, and encountered hostile wildlife, freaky wooden golems, which I managed to successfully avoid. I know, that's a new one. Added a few drawings. Stumbled upon evidence that the locals are still around.
There was a feeling, settling itself in her chest.
Longing.
The possibility of finding a friendly non-hostile local is tempting. The benefits are clear, but I cannot risk it. Not after last time.
It will be a few more weeks before a safe jump. Gonna spent the time hoarding food and resting. No signs of infection.
End of day 1127ish. Signing out and see you soon.
She slumped down on her improvised bedding made from a pile of ancient banners, using her rolled up hikers jacket as a pillow. And so the filly slept, her dreams filled with visions of golden fire.
The day started as normal, with the forest calm in the morning, awaiting the sunrise. Mist lazily rolling over it.
The little pony went to a nearby stream. Located under the castle, fast, clean running water merrily flowing through the chasm. Drinking her fill, she gave spear fishing a thought after seeing so many of them swimming, but decided to shelve that idea for later.
As she was walking back, her ears twitched, her gut told something was amiss.
The forest fell completely silent.
Then the bushes around her exploded in a shower of dirt and small stones. The timberwolf pounced, jaws open, claws ready to turn the tiny lost unicorn into mince meat.
Time slowed down. Not in the metaphorical sense.
Literally.
A single side step was all it took to get out of the way. Brow furrowed, not in confusion, but in indignant anger.
Time resumed.
With a heavy thud and a splash, one of the most dangerous Everfree predators got an involuntary bath, landing squarely in the cold water. The pony was already booking it and galloping away.
More wolves jumped out of their hiding spots, attempting to cut her off from the safety of the ancient ruins. Swarming like angry hornets.
Run, run to the castle.
Adrenaline shot through her veins, tiredness and injuries forgotten for now. Survival the singular goal.
The pony stopped, hooves skidding on the dirt. Before her, nothing.
"You have to be shitting me."
The old rope bridge, her only lifeline, lay broken in the chasm.
She gulped. No way out now. Howling echoing from all around. Timber wolves closing in, the hungry beast encircling their prey.
The chase had only begun.
Stats
Page generated in 0.021 seconds
Total duration
877 users online
720,772 hits today, 2,814,898 yesterday
FIMFiction
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fanfiction
Designed and coded by knighty & Xaquseg - © 2011-2024
Follow & Support Us
Support us
SubStar
Chat!
Discord
Follow us
Twitter
MLP: Friendship is Magic® - © 2024 Hasbro Inc.®
Fimfiction is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by Hasbro Inc.®
Shows promise. Following and looking forward to more, hopefully spontaneous combustion will wait.
looks neat so far to me
11341775
i agree
There was a large explosion in the news here a bit ago. Some home blew up and it damaged several surrounding houses in the resulting fires.
That wouldn't have been you would it? Northern US, If I remember right. It made the news here in Florida.
Monk.
Oh and Good story, Ill follow it with interest.
11341869
Thanks for the comment and nope, I'm from eastern Europe.
11341775
I promise nothing ;)
11342003
Thanks for the lovely comment, the compliment on the prose especially. I sometimes still struggle with my english and hearing that people like it does bring a smile to my face. And yes, having a proved dimensional hopper throw a curveball into everypony's plans and expectations was the main motivation behind this story.
11342047
Wait really?
I saw horses eat meat before, when some unlucky mouse found its way into the next meal of an inattentive horse. Scared the crap out of me, seeing them with blood in their mouth and thinking something very bad happened.
Well, I did wrote it doesn't land well in their diet. Not that it doesn't work at all. But that fish thing? Huh, the more y’know, I guess.
Lookin good so far yo!
Ok, not gonna lie, this has me hooked.
The prose is pretty great.
Clear sentences, decent exposition that doesn't run on, descriptions that are clear-cut and impactful.
MC is not presented at the start of their struggles, but after having grown in experience and ability, sidestepping most pitfalls of "human/anon turned pony" that happen when one isn't writing a crack fic.
I'm gonna watch this with a great deal of attention.
Dimension-hopping filly with clear ability to prove stuff about herself and present abnormal non-magic abilities is verily an Out of Context Problem for the canon mlp world, and seeing reactions and interactions of others with her will be different enough I'm giddy for more.
A promissing start, but as an enemy of misinformation i have to adress this.
Horses are opportunistic carnivorse. In iceland they feed them salted fish in winter, the mongols mixed blood in their fodder, and there are multiple reports of horses killing and eating smaller animals.
11342047
To be completely fair, that horses can eat meat doesn't mean it is a good staple of the diet for them, the author is completely right ont that one.
Lest you misunderstand, horse stomach is just not built for digesting meat, it doesn't get stuff from it like omnivore or carnivore would.
Now, sure, larger herbivores are often seen opportunistically munching on smaller ones.
Thing is, however, that such behaviors are often dictated by lacking certain elements, not that they are built for meat-based foods to begin with.
Looks like a good start
11342069
Dont take it the wrong way, but with the username and the red font, this seems more like a threat than anything else.
11342076
... Okay then!
11342072
"It's just supposed to convey my more sinister approach at talking with people here, but yes I am indeed threatening you, continue or suffer eternal damnation."
11342054
Except for eggs. It really doesn't matter how much of a strict herbivore your species is, you stick an egg in front of anything and it'll eat it, so long as it will fit inside the creature's mouth. It is just too good of a bite sized chunk of fats, sugars and proteins to pass up.
Same, funnily enough, goes for bones. That's why horses and cows (along with other ungulates such as deer) tend to eat small animals, they're mostly after the calcium and minerals in the bones, which are fairly easily digestible and not so easily sourced from their environments.
So you are technically right in that it is more of a lack of something driving them to do it, but even if you balance their diets right, they'll still nibble on the odd mouse or chick. It is the same reason we will seek out certain fruits or meats when we don't really need to; all creatures seek variety and stimulation in their diets. Which means yes, some horses just like the taste of meat.
11342104
Don't forget horses are technically omnivores. Some are still born with fangs however this is predominant in mares moreso than stallions. This is one of the reasons why in some places fish are used as a primary source of salt for them.
As I have mentioned before, NEVER leave your BigMac, cheese or not on a fence post of a corral with horses in it.
Also, I had a student who had horses. You could not leave a bottle of beer on a fence post and expect to come back for it. bottle would be there no beer. d---m horse would put the bottle back.
I saw it!!
11342261
The beer is pretty funny. I used to help with horses when I was a kid and they would give them guiness on purpose.
I keep it short, thats where I learned to drink.
Just so your aware, horses are actually opportunistic carnivores. They'll only eat meat if it's easy to obtain, but they can't have too much or they'll get sick
Eating cattail stalks and using the rest for tinder. Been playing “The Long Dark?”
Was pleasantly surprised by this; a very atypical Anonfilly story, and nicely written as well. Definitely tracking to see how this unfolds.
this starts out very good and interesting, hungry for more :)
11341937
11342054
Adding to the carnivore horses convo, there's recorded evidence that horses have eaten meat on every continent. Even in Antarctica.
azquotes.com/picture-quotes/quote-curiously-enough-the-only-thing-that-went-through-the-mind-of-the-bowl-of-petunias-as-douglas-adams-37-52-32.jpg
Let me guess, she ran into evil Celestia?
Bah, that's for beginners. Mature readers use Nabir.
11394254
I'm gonna take a guess.
Is Nabir elvish? Specifically LotR elvish?
it seems to me that she already met another Celestia (probably daybreaker for the luck she seems to have)
Horses do eat meat only smaller animal's though things like birds mice and anything else the same size. They can break and tear skin if they wanted to sharp teeth or no skin being crush still has the same effect as sharp teeth but with more effort. A zebra at a zoo bit a workers hand ran with the hand still in its mouth and took a chunk off the hand did it eat it? No pretty sure it spit it out but it gives you the idea just cause an animal doesn't have sharp teeth doesn't mean it can't do damage.
Brisinger…. Omg someone who has read those books.
A great start.
The whole subject of the Planeswalker and his jumps through the multiverse is interesting in itself. And be Anon I know he has had bitter experiences in them.
I know what the beginning is, but it seems strange to me that Princess Luna did not detect the dreams of an unknown pony that came out of nowhere recently and consequently went to investigate them.
11689219
Perhaps his magic is not yet in tune with the natural magic of that world, so Luna has not yet entered the scene
11565623
One of the things that people usually ignore is the power that nature has given to the jaws, they believe that only predatory animals have the strongest bites but forget that it is the species that I know, if it bites you you are fucked
The human bandibula has the ability to bend the metal if not for the persistent pain and loss of teeth