"Matthias Lehner?" asked Twilight, puzzled. "That's a weird name for a pony."
"Well, I'm not from around here." said Matthias, not really caring. "It's rather common where I came from."
"Which brings us to our next question: where exactly are you from?"
Matthias wondered is he should tell them that he was from another world, or that he wasn't a pony. That, however, could bring even more uncomfortable questions, so he decided that for now it would be best to be as cryptic as possible.
"Why would you want to know that?" he asked instead.
"Well you're definitely not from Ponyville, and that’s the only town in Equestria that close to the Everfree Forest. And I hope I'm not offending you, but... well..."
"How can you be this old and not have a cutie mark?!" interjeceted Rainbow Dash. "You must be the biggest loser ever."
Matthias facehoofed himself and let out exaspereted noise, remembering similar reaction from the three filies. He didn't have a high opinion of himself, not after everything he has done, but calling him a 'loser' was a bit irritating.
"For the love of Light, can somebody please tell me what the hell is a cutie mark!?" he said, a bit louder than he intended.
"Aaand that's another thing." Twilight said, frowning. "How can you not know what's a cutie mark? That's something everypony knows!"
"Everypony? For Light's sake..."
"I'm from very far away, so things that are normal here are considered rare there." he said, hoping it will be good enough explanation. "I'm willing to bet that there are also few things known to me and not to you or... anypony here."
"Well, at least that's true."
"That's still impossible! How can you be a pony and not know what's a cutie mark?"
"Can you please just explain to me what it is, for Light's sake?"
"Aargh" growled Twilight, irritated. "A cutie mark is a symbol that appears on a pony after he or she discovers his or her's special talent." as to emphasize her words, she moved her body so that Matthias could see her flank, and the star like symbol on it.
For a moment he almost wished that he still had the Helm of Domination on his head, so nopony could see his face as he stared for next few seconds with undoubtedly stupid expression at Twilight cutie mark, until he realized that he was also looking at her ass, which made him uncomfortable enough to snap out of this.
"You're serious?" he asked to be sure. When all of them nodded, he tried to buy himself time to think of some good explanation as to why he didn't know something that apparently was part of this creatures life cycle: "And what, pray tell, is your special talent, Miss Sparkle? Stargazing?"
"No, my cutie mark represents expertise in magic."
"So it's more a metaphorical thing..." Matthias wondered, looking at the other mares: Applejack's cutie mark were three apples, Fluttershy's three butterflies, Rarity's three diamonds, Pinkie Pie's three balloons and Rainbow Dash's was a cloud with thunder in rainbow's colors. "Why more than half of them has three things on their cutie marks?".
"I'm beginning to see why the fact that I didn't know about something like this seemed strange to you." he said slowly. "However, I still stand by my previous explanation: I'm from very far away, where things regarding ponies are... different." Matthias hoped it sounded better than he thought it did. Funny thing was, he was still telling the truth, to some degree at last. "We don't have those cutie marks there, or, in fact, ponies with wings or horns, although we do have legends about them."
He was rewarded with confused looks.
"Where the heck are you from?" asked Rainbow Dash.
"Ever heard of Azeroth?" Matthias answered, figuring he could say at least the name of his world.
"Eee, no." she answered , looking at Twilight.
"I haven't heard of that place either!" she practically yelled, surprise at her voice. "Where is this Azeroth of yours? I've read tons of books, but none of them mentioned of such place, with just earth ponies without cutie marks!"
"Her 'special talent' thing is magic, and she 'read tons of books'? I didn't know Light could be so ironic..." Matthias thought, reminded of Jaina.
Before he could answer Twilight's question, the doors opened and a brown pony with horn wearing a white coat walked in.
"Oh good, you're awake. I'm one of this hospital's doctors." he said as he came closer. "Do you mind if I take a look at your head?"
"Not at all." answered Matthias, relieved.
The doctor's horn glowed and bandages on Matthias' head had untied themselves, or at least he thought so, until he noticed strange aura, that had the same color as light around doctor's horn, surrounding them. Remembering that something like this happened to Pinkie when Twilight took her off him, Matthias guessed that this was magic.
"So only ponies with horns can use it?"
When he finished untying Matthias' bandages, the doctor examined his head, which took him mere second.
"It looks like your skin has healed. I must say, though, you must be really tough. From what I've been told, that timberwolf threw you into a tree so hard that many of its branches fell. Not only it didn't crush your skull, but you also managed to stay conscious for a good ten minutes."
"Yes, well, I've been through worse." Matthias muttered.
"I could see that. Mind telling me how those wounds on your chest were treated? They must have been grievous, to leave such scars."
"One was treated by freezing myself for few years, and the other wasn't."
"I don't really remember, I was unconscious both times. Blood loss does that to you." he said, telling the first thing that came to his mind.
"Hmh... Anyway, I don't see any reason to keep you here any longer. We're kind of full, you see, since there are still ponies with the feather flu here. I need you to fill some papers for the hospital. If you could come with me, please..."
Matthias nodded and got up. While he may have never heard of such disease as 'feather flu', as a former paladin he understood their need for more space. He wondered how serious it must be, so that priests or paladins couldn't have simply healed them, until he realized that maybe ponies don't have either of them.
As he rose from the bed he was lying on, he realized he had some kind of gown on himself, which he took off, since, apparently everypony was walking naked around. Some of the mares gasped when they saw his scars.
"I'll see you later, ladies, Spike. Light be with you." he said for a goodbye, bowing his head, and followed the doctor.
As doctor led him to his office, Matthias discreetly looked at his cutie mark, which appeared to be some sort of gnomish device. Not really sure what was that suppose to represent, he hastened his pace, until he stood in doctor's room.
"Ah, here it is." said doctor, levitating some sheets of paper and a quill. "Name?"
"Matthias Lehner"
Doctor's brow rose, but all he said was: "With two 't'?", to which Matthias nodded.
"Place of residence?"
"Hmm... homeless, I guess?" answered Matthias.
This time doctor made a comment: "You 'guess'?"
"Well, I have no place to sleep, if this is what you meant. Speaking of, do you know of any place they let you live in in return for work?"
"Not at the moment. Maybe one of those ladies would let you stay at her house? They seemed to be grateful to you for saving those fillies, and they are quite friendly."
"Maybe" Matthias replied, not really expecting anyone, or rather, anypony, to be friendly or grateful enough to let a complete stranger live in their house.
"So, what did you think of him?" Twilight asked the other girls as they left the hospital.
"Ah'don know, Twi." said Applejack, her expression puzzled. "Ah mean, am thankful he saved mah sister and all, but... he seems strange."
"Yeah, no kidding!" added Rainbow Dash. "I mean: place where ponies don't have cutie marks and there aren't any pegasi or unicorns?! Does he think we're stupid?! He's hiding something, Twilight."
"Oh, I wouldn't have said so." interrupted Rarity. "Personally, I found him quite charming. I could tell by his behaviour that he's clearly a sophisticated pony. Well, aside for cursing few times, but he was probably under a lot of stress."
"Ye, Dashie, give him a chance." said Pinkie, hopping up and down as they walked."I'm sure we're all gonna have a lot of fun at his welcome party. There're will be music, balloons, food and big sing that will say: 'WELCOME TO PONYVILLE, ATIAS MENER'. Wait... how do you write Matthias Lehner?"
Everypony else rolled their eyes. To Pinkie Pie, only few things mattered.
"And what was this 'light' thing he kept saying about?" wondered Spike. "'Light be with you', what is he, afraid of dark or something?"
"I'm sure this is some custom from where he's from." said Twilight, shooting her assistant a glance. "I'll write a letter to the princess about this 'Azeroth', as well as about Matthias. In the meantime, I think it would be best if he stayed at my place..."
She was interrupted by both Rainbow Dash and Applejack.
"Are ya crazy?!"
"He beat five timberwolves in a matter of seconds!"
"I know, and that is why he should stay with me; if he tries something, I can easily stop him with magic. And besides, I want to hear more about the place he's from, anyway."
"Are you sure, sugahcube? Ah don't know if this is good idea."
"Oh, Applejack, you're fretting over nothing, I'm sure Matthias is a real gentlecolt." said Rarity with a dismissive tone.
"And beside, I'll be there." added Spike with cocky attitude. "Even if he would try to do something bad, he can't beat a dragon."
Ponies again rolled eyes.
"Hey Fluttershy, what do you think of Matthias?" asked Twilight, noticing that their timid friend haven't said a word.
"I, well..." said the shy pony, looking at the ground. "I think he's scary."
"You think everything is scary, Fluttershy." replied Rainbow Dash.
"I know that those scars he had looked scary, Fluttershy," said Twilight; she herself was afraid to think what kind of creature left such wounds on somepony able to beat five timberwolves with relative ease. "but if he often finds himself in such situation as yesterday's, it's not really a surprise he was wounded, right?"
"Um, its not that." answered Fluttershy, shaking her head. "I was scared of... his eyes." she added in a whisper.
"His eyes? Why?" asked Twilight.
"They... were empty."
Why was I listening this
as I wrote this chapter ?
I think I need help
Many tags, but not dark. Interesting...
This is the Lich King dark is all you need
1408865 catchy, DAMMIT MAN I NEED HELP TOO.
Umm, near the end, Fluttershy said where, not were.
1408865 You're sitting here writing stories about cartoon ponies in a non-existant world where dead guys are teleported to and you think you need help? I, for one, know I need help
I'm from very far away, were things regarding ponies are
Not only it didn't crush you skull
managed to stay conscious for good ten minutes
I know that those scar he had looked scary
1. Where.
2. Your.
3. For a good ten minutes.
4. Scars.
"And beside, I'll be there." added Spike with cocky attitude. "Even if he would try to do something bad, he can't beat a dragon."
*holds his breath*
*dies of laughter*
His eyes were empty? I like that, I do! Scares the ponies!
How dare Twilight, oh I can beat him easily with magic. Faggot mage, always think they're so good when they're really just overpowered skilless chumps.
3198045 I agree after all Arthas has drefated many dragons. However I doubt he will try anything.
Empty.........he has no soul is sad i always felt sorry for arthas
Rewritten:
Yeah, an empath like Fluttershy would notice that there was something wrong with someone's soul, wouldn't she?
I saw a World of Warcraft ad. while reading. I think its a sign for me to renew my account.
frankly this is 1 of the few stories i can reread multiple times
Ahhh now i get it, i get the story from the MMORPG folder. World of Warcraft i guess. I start to like this. It is really to much money for me to pay if you can´t or don´t want to play all day, unless you do you are never able to play exactly the time you paid for. It should cost the half then it would not be that bad if you can´t play all day. I just started it for a month, good game but well the money and the time you need for other things.
1408865 What in the actual fuck?
Ugggggh. Why is Twilight reacting as if she has reason to worry about him? If some weirdo claiming he was from Shangri-la came into my neighborhood and saved three young children from a wild animal we'd throw a party and fight over who he got to stay with, not worried about him beating up said animals. Of course we would suggest he get some mental health help, but we would treat him with more wiggle room due to his actions.
Basically, until Fluttershy comments about his eyes, I see several ponies randomly being afraid of what should seem to be the hero of the day.
Her 'special talent' thing is magic, and she 'read tons of books'? I didn't know Light could be so ironic
Tons of damage.
5160782 i don"t get it.
5169987 janna proudmore (misspelled) his ex is the is the same way
Well many do say 'Eyes are the window to the soul'
5039062 well these are ponies were talking about. They're a skittish lot.
OOC characters.
Also, going a bit overboard with the accent on the Apples.
5272682
Does that mean he has no soul?
3990784 i think i'm on my seventh run right now.
5272682
>when you have no soul
CRAWLING IN MY SKIN
WAKE ME UP WAKE ME UP INSIDE CAN'T WAKE UP SAVE MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE 41.media.tumblr.com/f3050f504aa02b640d0a5f210e09a154/tumblr_ns0kvbCMn41sggluzo1_500.png
Huh. The painful characterizations, I can't correct without going through this. Can you re-write the early chapters to provide better characterization? You made this four years ago, so I think that you can characterize them better now, after you've been in the fandom for so long, especially since you mentioned it. If you have things you need to do instead, it would probably be better to do those things instead.
7873495 Sorry, I don't really see myself doing that. Trust me, I had thought about it, as I often find myself disappointed with my early chapters, but whenever I tried to think just what to change, how to get about it... I found my mind empty. Not just because of what I could change, but also because I'm afraid what it would mean for the story as a whole, would there be some inconsistencies in later chapters... I would have to go through a lot of the story just to make sure everything was ok.
Also, there is an issue of how long it would take. I have less time for writing now that I had back then, as I had finished college now, plus I hadn't wrote much for over half a year (January-August actually) when I was working on my master thesis, and now I didn't publish again for two months due to personal problems. I want to make it up to my readers and focus more on writing new chapters (and I have two others ongoing stories to boot).
I do realize that without redoing all those old chapters I might loose a lot of newer readers that were lured into giving Rebirth a try due to being on the Feature Box. I can only hope that you can power through them, but I'll understand if you can't.
7873564 I can go through them, I just have to shout at the top of my lungs when I find something inane.
No conozco toda la historia de Artthas pero es interesante
9370631
I don't completely know the history of Spanish but it is interesting.
Been a while since i last frequent this site...and now have to reread the damn story because i no longer remember anything...
I'll be honest I think Jerk but not total is kinda how people have to write Rainbow dash from what I've seen of these stories. Of course she's not a shining example of kindness in the show either.
As someone with 0 knowledge of Warcraft... This is enjoyable...
10225072
Same. Though I'm a huge Warcraft fan so part of me is screaming, "Akshually, Unicorns existed on the Broken Isles released in Legion in 2017, but no one knew of this at the time since this particular chapter was written in 2012!"
Also for any lore nerds trying to figure out how this short story reconciles with World of Warcraft: Shadowlands, we don't know where the soul goes after it gets destroyed in the Shadowlands, so it might as well go to Equestria. Tbh I like this story more than the actual lore.