> Im not a hero > by WinterFall > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Ch 0: Prologue > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- -Lonesome Road Bar- February 16- 2:45 Am. -The Lonesome Road Bar… a rustic old western themed tavern in the middle of the highway 45, technically a bar in the middle of nowhere pretty accurate to the name, wood walls form the humble place covered in dust, a few vehicles parked on the outside and a neon sign of a cowboy walking forwards the horizon aside the name of the bar, in the inside some pool tables adorn the place along with a little stage where a band plays sometimes, an old jukebox was playing this time “Anything goes” giving a nostalgic atmosphere to the place, sometimes the place was full of drunken folks listen rock & roll playing pool or just hanging around telling bad jokes or playing blackjack, but tonight was a strange and lonely night, just a few men’s talking and playing cards, seems a calm night to everyone…except for one fellow. -“another …” *said a young man in dry and depressed tone clearly drunk sitting in a wooden stool on the bar, he was leaning with one elbow on the table with the face covered by his hand and long black and a bit scruffy hair, he was wearing a dark green cargo jacket over a black shirt underneath, a red crimson scarf wrapped around the neck and his hands were covered by black biker gloves, for last he wear blue jeans and black boots. -“I think you drink too much for tonight pal, you should better go home and get some sleep” said the bar tender, a middle age men with brown skin with black hair and beard wearing a leather jacket and a white shirt underneath, he was filling jars with cold yellowish beer from a dispenser and sending them to some other drunken folks across the table -“bullshit…” he turned to the bar tender resting his arm on the wooden table, his eyes ,red and tired with black bags caused by the lack of sleep glared the barman, under the light you can appreciate the unusual amber color of his eyes those cat-like eyes highlighted by his brownish skin, he got a cut scar across his left cheek, with a grim expression that says “Fuck off “ painted on the face, he took a pack of cigarettes out of the jacket front pocket, took one to his mouth, then lit it, he took a deep puff filling his lungs of poisonus smoke and then he expelled it out- “im making your business rich,so give me another damn beer already!!” –he demanded. -“alright, alright” –the bartender decide that was useless try to reason with the young man and acceded to give him another round- why you´re always this moody? -he wont replied, only glared the bartender- -“sorry for asking...” –the bartender say unamused- -The young man sighted- “whatever…” he dryly said. -“well…at least you gonna tell me what is bothering you that much?” –the barman ask, he was trying to make conversation, because nobody in the bar seemed to be able to speak coherently besides him- -“Why do you even care?” – The young man replied- -“well you been coming here for almost twice a week to get drunk until you pass out, getting in fights and always be in a hell of a mood for to months by now” -“ha!” –for the first time the barman hear something close to a laugh coming from the sad young man. -“it’s because a girl? Cause always guys come here to forgive old loves in alcohol” –the barman ask- -the expression of the drunk man got dark and its seems he want to say something but The noisy sound of motorcycles outside the bar cut the conversation between the two men’s in the bar followed by the abruptly opening of the bat-wing doors. -“oh great…” –says the bar tender in a frustrated tone- -The young man snapped out of his trance and turned to the entrance- “hmm? “ -“well, well, well, isn’t my dear uncle Ulysses…” said a cocky voice coming from a tall Caucasian guy dressed with a black letter jacket that says “Kings” a clearly gang member with jet black hair slicked back with more gel than necessary as a cliche wannabe badass from that a 50´s movie "grease". -“how many times I have to say it Frederick, you and your “pals” are not welcome in this establishment! “ -“what’s the matter old man? You can’t have a little fun in this shit-hole?” –the man approach to the bar followed by his fellows three more individuals wearing the same jacket, the few other men’s In the bar mind their own business or get out of the place before the scene turns ugly, all of them except one. -“I will ask one more time! You and your gang of misfits must leave this place at once!” -“Or what?” –said the punk with defiant tone- -“I call the police!” -“-he give a false sarcastic laugh- Call them! See if we care”-replied de punk- -“Better hear your uncle “pal”…you should better leave…now” –finally spoke the young man who turn around in the stool- -the punk took the young man from the shirt and with a flick of his other hand pulls out a switchblade to intimidate the young man “better mind your own business kid!” -The young man did not flinch and looked the punk with an indifferent look- “Better take that toy away before your cut yourself with it kid “ -“oh! We have a tough guy here fellows” –said the punk sarcastically while the others laugh- -The young man just continue staring at them silently- -The punk stops making fun of the stranger and look more closely at him- “wait a second… those eyes…I know who you are! You are from that gang of a freakshow! The Marked ones you are the golden eyed freak Zeeb! “–he exclaimed -the drunk stranger eyes widened hearing that name he was sure had forgotten long time ago- -Then the mobster committed the worst mistake he can make in his entire life- “hey goldy eyes what happen to your junkie girlfriend?”-the punk ask mockingly but the answer was a sharp blow on the face that pull him back with one or two less teeth’s and a broken nose- –The punk cried painfully holding the torrent of blood coming from his broken nose and teeth’s while he whimpered- “You gonna pay for that! Guys kill that bastard! –He ordered- -“the worst mistake you will...ever make...” –anwered defiantly in a murderous statement- -the first one attempt to slash Zeeb’s face with a knife but was stopped by a powerful grip holding his wrist that start to creak- “AGH!!!” he cried in pain feeling the crushing grip twisting his wrist make him throw the blade to the floor, Zeeb grabbed a half empty bottle of rum and crash it onto the thug face that was knocked back covered in blood and some broken glass, he grabbed him from the shirt collar and struck a killing head-butt that make his own forehead bleed. “That’s it! im gonna stab those pretty goldy eyes with my own fingers!!” exclaimed one of the remaining rascals before grabbing a pool cue and beginning to wield it against the ferocious foe who was dodging the constant blows while he was stumbling because of the alcohol that was messing with his balance, a low kick followed by a sharp pain on the calf take down the mobster who cried in pain and the next thing the poor bastard felt was a pair of boots landing on his gut making him throw up. “Damn… you disgusting son of a-“ zeeb was interrupted by the hit of a blunt object landing dryly on his nape knocking him down near to the fallen tug- “Ugh!” –his vision blurs as he crawled on the bar floor trying to get up while the world around him was spinning, he turn back to encounter an approaching foe trying to stab him with a sharp broken pool cue, his eyes widened by the adrenaline rush he got clearing his sight just in time to repel his aggressor kicking him in the crotch “Ah! Fuck!” –he yells while bending in pain for the previous kick, Zeeb took the chance to get up quickly, grab the disabled tug from the hair and hit it with the knee on the face make him get up just for being slammed face on in a near table. *Pant, Pant* “ugh… “Exhausted after the fight with the thugs he recover a little himself, grab his breath again, then he took the sharp broken pool cue from the floor- “You! Crazy bastard son of a bitch! so the rumors about you were right huh?... But, what you gonna do now asshole?” –yelled the last of the crew, Frederick the prick with the broken nose, he was cowardly holding a knife against the neck of his uncle the bartender. - Zeeb gritted his teeth for the anger that was boiling inside him “you are calling me crazy bastard while you plan cut your uncle´s throat just for a fucking bar fight?! If you ask me, I said you are pretty fucked up dude, now…leave the knife and nobody gonna regret something today. -“No fucking way pal!” –replied furiously- “you really thing you can come here, beat the fuck out of my partners , punch ME in the face, and just walk away like nothing happened? This doesn't work like that”. -“Frederick! Think what you're doing! – Yelled the frightened barman- -“You SHUT UP OLD MAN!” –Replied pressing the knife against Ulysses neck- “when I finish with you uncle I’m, gonna kill that bastard and take this bar for me and my gang! End of the fucking story!” -“you know what? I’m tired of your shit!” –Growl zeeb before he clench the pool clue on his hand- -“and what you gonna do Hero?!” –Replied defiant- -“this…” –before he can react zeeb grab the pool clue and throw it like a spear against the rascal with incredible strength nailing him in the wall by the jacket dropping the knife and letting go the barman who run for his life close to the an exhausted zeeb who approached to the nailed thug. -“how…how you do that!?” –ask the now frightened Frederick- -“Just call it…Luck” –and with that last answer he knocked out the foe with a clean blow on the face- -“so…really you could miss that shot and kill me?” –Ask the confused barman- -“Normally I have good aim… but now I’m a bit drunk…” – replied Zeeb- -“oh god…” -“I should go now…” –said Zeeb recovering his serious tone- -“Yeah you should…” –replied the barman looking at the mess caused by the fight, half of the bar was destroyed and stained in blood, beer, splinters and broken glass- -zeeb put his hand in his jacket and pulled out a wad of cash- “I hope this covers the damaged of the bar” –he said to the barman -"actually i think it does!, now that explain how you can come so often…”-the barman mocked- -“hmp”- a little smile was the only response from the young man. -“better go before I call the police to pick up this ruffians” -“Yup” –zeeb answered and then he walk to the exit and rise the right hand as a farewell sign -“now that’s a strange fellow over there hehehe” –the barman said once the Youngman was out of the bar. -“damn…what a night…” –exclaimed zeeb in a groggy tone while walking the where his motorbike was parked but a few steps away from his bike he felt dizzy and his sight go blurry- -“shit….I doesn’t feel…very well…” he leaned a little to recover himself and when finally the sensation stops he sat on his bike, a navy blue chopper bike with some red stripes on the sides and a name was printed on the front its says Midnight Sun in silver letters form some reason that name mean something for him just don’t know what, after organize his thoughts he turn on the engine and head to the road- -besides the alcohol and the fights something that zeeb loved was the sensation of the wind running across his face on the road, travel through the dessert at night with the cold wind and the moon as he´s only companion was like flying something that he ever wanted, for the last couple months his bike and the constant rides through the road have been the only reasons that prevent him of go insane because for a few moments at day he can stop thinking about that incident. -the cracking sound of burning flames runs across the mind of the night traveler in an instant, he does not pay much attention to it and keep driving, but the sound comes again to the thoughts of the young man, he shakes his head- “I must be hearing things now…must be the fatigue” he said to himself. -but the mere sounds of flames turn into lights in the front of the road, first like little fireflies, then like burning coal sparks, and then they turn to full visions, the visions of the blazing fire burning in the night- “Shit!” –the visions stop has zeeb realizes that he was losing the control of his bike, he struggles a little before recover the control of his vehicle- “what’s wrong with me tonight… “–He ask himself before stop the bike in the middle of the road to take a breath- -“Oh! My head!” –he whimper while holding his head with the hands- “Zeeb”- he clearly listens somebody calling his name and immediately turn around to find there´s nobody around, but he felt like he wasn't alone, he take a deep breath before starting the engine again and continue his journey -“I must hurry before I crash or something…” –he said- “Zeeb!” again he hear someone screaming his name but he don’t see anybody, the flames appeared again in front of him, this time blazing furiously burning something this time…he can clearly hear the crack of the wood burning, he can see know what is it…a house…burning- “Zeeb!!” –now he can clearly heard it…it’s not his voice…is a familiar voice…a female one he can recognize, inadvertently he accelerates, tears form in his eyes but they don’t go anywhere just stay there like frozen memories, he is accelerating more than he should, but don’t mind…just want to go away from there, the incessant sound of burning wood cracking accompanied with the constant screams of that female voice that call his name-“Zeeb!...Zeeb!!...Zeeb!...Zeeb!!” he was going crazy, he mash the accelerator -“No…No...No…I need to keep going”- he sees the lights of the nearly city like a light of hope in the horizon but…then it happens. -“ZEEB!!!” –Something looking like a woman, a young woman covered in flames with here’s skin falling apart appeared in the middle of the road- “LUCY NO!!!” *SCREEEEEEEECH* –he yells in horror before making a violent brake that sends him and his bike flying across the air before all went black. -our traveler open his eyes, he can’t see well, his sight its blurry and his head spins around and cannot move, he can see flames but they´re real, not in his head…his bike…burning he remember the accident but he cannot get up… and then…in front of him a big figure a big black shape approach him he can’t see what is it in the dark but clearly it’s not human. -“so…at least I’m gonna die” this though cross his mind before the figure spoke. - “The time has come” the figure speaks in a deep unnatural voice. -“Finally…” –zeeb said before black out. Everfree Forest- February 16- 10:30 Am. -“Hey…hey…wake up” –a voice called- -“hmm?” -“wake up! You need to wake up!” –insisted the voice- -“Again” -“HEY YOU IDIOT! WAKE UP!” -it took a few seconds before zeeb understand he was talking to himself- “so…I’m not dead?” –he ask- -“Duh! Obviously! How the hell you think we are talking right now?” –The voice replied, it’s clearly was his voice but seems like he was talking to a completely different person – -“now I’m truly sure I’m getting crazy…” -“yeah, you are crazy but if you don’t wake up now! You gonna be Dead too! Now move your ass! WAKE UP! - He suddenly awakened taking a deep breath filling his lungs with oxygen before he was fully conscious- “wow…that was…interesting”- he said before getting up, stumbling a little because of the dizzy feeling of the hangover he was having -“My head…what…happen” –he opened his eyes to look at his surroundings, he was standing in the middle of a huge and dense forest, the skies cover by trees, flowers and plants that he never saw before even in T.V, birds flying around and squirrels running on the thick branches of the trees- “where the hell I am?...this place seems… uncomfortably familiar…but why?” – for some reason the place looked like if he had been there before but he can’t place it why, Suddenly he felt a sharp pain on the head- “AGH!” –some memories of the night sky covered in ashes and smoke, blazing flames and the cold feeling of the sand- “now I remember… something happened last night…I have an accident... lost my bike...something more i can´t place it…but that doesn't explain what is this place…or what I'm doing here" -“I should look around…maybe I can find where I’m …or find someone...maybe…” –he reached his pocket searching for his cellphone he grab it and hope for signal without any result- “Why did I even bother…this is how horror movies start…” – he kept walking straight along the path that had been left by animals and other creatures of the forest. -15 minutes later- -“oh bingo bangle bangle I’m so happy in the jungle forest tana nana nanah! Bingo bangle bangle I’m so happy in the jungle forest I refuse to go my ass!” –He concluded his singing with a grumble; he was walking across the forest without finding the end of it. -“Damn forest! Damn lack of signal! damn luck!” –he yells frustrated while pulling his hair in distress until he notice an intense shaking from a bush. -alarmed Zeeb pulled out his folding knife from his belt and unfurled with a flick of his wrist, a four inch straight silvery two-edged blade with an ornamental golden and crimson handle, a fancy looking knife but in Zeeb’s hands it was one of the deadliest weapons, he stood in a defensive position waiting for the upcoming attack. -Suddenly the shaking stop and a little red squirrel jump out of the bush- “…why I wasn’t expecting something like that? I mean…it’s a forest after all it’s not like…” - in that same instant a huge beast come from behind the bush and devour the little squirrel in just one bite, then the creature jump in front of zeeb snarling and growling. -“Oh crap! now I’m really screwed…” –Without warning the huge beast jumped over zeeb, but in a quick instinctive reaction he jumped backwards in an unnatural speed- whoa! What just happened?! –he was at least 2 meters away from the beast that now was clear on sight, a gigantic wolf of the size of a polar bear, with white fur and piercing yellow eyes showing his blood stained fangs ready to tear zeeb apart. -“Easy doggy…easy…” –he was walking backwards without losing sight of the ferocious mutt he was sure running wasn’t an option he will be outrun and that will be the end, however the previous jump make him realize something, he was feeling lighter than before like a feather, maybe there’s still a chance of surviving if his current attempt of scape doesn’t work. -the humongous wolf attack again with his powerful paws trying to shred zeeb but he jump sideways and skidded on the ground to jump again backwards increasing the distance between the two of them, the beast doesn’t give up and lash out against zeeb who only can doge he´s overwhelming attacks one after another with his incredible new speed and agility, but after a few more jumps he began to get tired “Dammit! I can stay like this to much longer; I have to finish this before I end being his dinner!” –the wolf attacked one more time trying to bite zeeb of the face, he jumped backwards but a tree stopped his leap “Ugh!” the wolf took the chance and pounce against his prey, with no place to run he decided to jump up, for his surprised and the wolf´s too he jumped above the beast for a few inches now was his turn to fight back he made a somersault in the air and grabbed his knife with both hands before use the fall speed to stab the wolf in the head but a few inches of the fatal blow the beast jumps backward and the knife only cut his face making the animal growl and cry in pain- “Crap! Almost had it!” he recovers his fighting stance as the beast glared at him again craving for blood, the beast was enraged at the time he attacked again hitting the air most of the time because of the blood on his face that was blurring his sight the battle lasted some more minutes before a blind blow hit zeeb on his side tearing his clothes and part of his abdomen and up to his chest -“AGH!!!” -he cried in pain, the surroundings turn confusing as his vision turned red, his survival instinct told him to run and that was he do, he run without stopping through the dense forest, he can almost feel the breath of his pursuer on his neap but he still running his vision turns dizzy because of the critical loss of blood. “This is the end?” –He ask himself- “I’m gonna die like this?”... “Becoming someone else meal… this wasn’t what I was expecting for my last minutes”. -he was about to collapse, to give up and die…but then, like a guardian angel he heard a voice…a female voice…a voice that yells at him something…an order… “GET DOWN!!!” –ordered the voice -he just fell to the ground as if he had stumbled with something in that instant a thick branch pass above him hitting the wolf that was closely behind him directly on the face. -the animal cried in pain, hurt, humiliated and with nothing to eat he decided to run away with the little dignity he had left. - before fainting zeeb managed to sit, leaning against the tree behind him and even with a blurry vision he saw something approaching to him but it wasn’t walking…was floating… a yellow and pink figure…”T…Thank you…” –he said before pass out. > Ch 1: First Day > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- -Unknown place- ??? - ??? -“ugh…I hate passing out”…-he grabbed his head as he feel the world spinning, when he recovered his vision he was welcomed by a totally white and endless place- …so…I’m dead now? -“Almost” –replied an incorporeal familiar voice- -“almost? ...wait…who said that?” –He asked in confusion- -“that will be me” –replied the voice from behind him, zeeb turn around to meet the source of the voice only to encounter an odd version of himself standing with his arms crossed staring at him, he was a bit taller, his hair was longer and was red instead of black, and the iris of his eyes was white instead of amber, his clothes were totally black, black long coat, turtle neck black shirt, black pants and shoes- -“who are you…why you look like me, why you talk like me?!–He asked a little annoyed- -“That’s because I’m YOU dumbass” –he replied mockingly- well…part of you, my name is Autumm” -“Autumm? What kind of name is that?! And what the hell you're talking about, I'm not understanding” –he replied again, anger and frustration growing within- -The mysterious being rubbed between his eyes in clearly frustration- “I liked you more when you did not do so many questions or even talk that much” -“and what you want me to do Huh? I was ALMOST killed by an overgrown bear-sized mutt on the middle of a creepy forest, saved by some kind of a forest fairy however stupid that sounds, and I wake up HERE in this weird place with an Emo-gothic version of myself who does nothing except being a dickhead and telling me IM asking to many questions?!”. -“hey hey, chill up dude…look…its…complicated, we don’t have much time left you'll wake up soon and I need to get going” –he scratched the back of his head a bit walking backwards- -“wake up? So I’m dreaming?” -“Not exactly… It's like a defense mechanism …every time you pass out from unnatural reasons like being knocked out or by taking serious wounds you enter in this kind of “subconscious realm” where your mind it’s safe while your physical body is recovering -“sub-what now? You mean like being in a comma?” – He asked confused- -“yeah, something like that, but instead of being an almost permanent state, once your physical body its fully recovered you come back to reality if that how you like to call it” -“so I can’t die?” -“oh of course you CAN die, if you get a fatal blow or something happens to your body while you´re in here you´re never going back so watch out where you fall asleep, remember you are not immortal just…tough, so be careful at least for now…” -“I like how that sounds…wait what you mean with that last part?” -“I will love to stay and chat with tea and cupcakes, but you gotta go now I will try to explain you everything at its time, you can thank me later” -Thank you?! Why should I do that? I’m just more confused than I already was you really wasn’t of much help -you really think that? This the SECOND time I save your ass by now, try to be more respectful –and with that autumm vanished- -“Second time? …this is getting weirder and weirder…” -Fluttershy’s Cottage- -“ugh…I’m will never going to get used with the feeling…”-he slowly opens his eyes to discover not an entirely white place, instead was a house, a wooden cottage- -“huh?”- As his eyes explore this new environment he could see that it was afternoon and he was in fact on the really comfy bed covered by sheds under the covers he was almost completely naked except for his underwear, gloves and a blood stained bandage across his chest- “well at least whoever undressed me has the courtesy of patching me up…that’s nice…I guess…now, where am I?” –the cottage was humble, wooden walls and furniture, some plants hanging from the roof, a little kitchen on the bottom a sofa and a dining room, some birds were flying on the house singing merrily- “so…I went from being in a creepy forest to be in Snow white´s house…amazing” –he said in unamused tone, he tried to get up from the bed but a sharp piercing pain across his chest stop him- “AGH!!! Dammit!” –he growls- “it seems that I’m going to stay here for a while…” –he turns around to find a wooden nightstand with a little lamp and a glass full of water, also his folding night and cellphone were there, he grabbed the glass of water and drank it all with a big gulp- “ah, that’s better, where is the rest of my stuff?” –he could see that in front of the bed his pants and scarf were hanging on a chair and his boots were on the floor next to it but he could not see his jacket or shirt anywhere- “where they might be? I hope that giant furry bastard didn’t let them unusable I will make another jacket off him in that case”. –he sighted heavily before resting his head on the pillow, but then he saw movement from the corner of the eye so he turn around to meet a little white bunny that was staring at him with apathetic expression- “hey there little one” –he greeted- where you left alice huh? I need another glass of water –he laughed at the bunny but the furry creature just keep staring him with the same expression as before- “yeah I know it was a bad joke…you know what else is a really bad joke? –He asked and the bunny cocked his head- that I’m chatting with a bunny…that´s pretty sad if you ask me…-he was about to lie back on the bed again but then the rabbit turn around has he saw the doorknob moving- “well finally someone come to visit ol’ Zeeb huh” –he rest his head on the pillow and pretended to being asleep as the door was opened and closed after a few seconds he can hear the sound of what I seems being someone putting bags of groceries on the kitchen and then he heard her- -“hey there angel bunny! Are you hungry? Did momma take too long? –The voice said in a sweet motherly tone- -“angel bunny? How original” –he tough- “well let’s make act of presence…” –he yawned loud enough to be sure he have drawn the attention of the girl on the kitchen- “Ah~ well that was a really good sleep” –he said stretching his arms a little too much- -“I’m glad of hearing you´re awake now and feeling better” –replied the kind voice- “I'll be with you in a minute first I need to chop some carrots for my bunny” –she said- -“Take your time” –he replied in a relaxed tone and lean back- -After a couple of minutes the chopping sound ceased and the girl spoke again- “I'm done” –she walks up to the main room but her steeps sounds odd- -Meanwhile zeeb was looking down to his feet’s without paying attention to the upcoming visitor- -“So” –she spoke again- “how are you feeling today?” –She asked kindly- -“Well a feel pain on the chest if I move too much but otherwise I’m fine” –he said without looking at her- “I… I wanted to said…Thanks…you now…for saving me and…patching me up and all that… –he said a little embarrassed- -“Ow you don’t have to thank me, I could not leave you out there injured like that with that mean wolf” –she replied in a kind and caring way- “I must say you were lucky I was there by the moment” -“Yeah…you´re right I could be dead right now…that’s why I’m thanking you I usually don’t do it” –he said with a chuckle- “Don’t worry about that now, here, let me change your bandage” –she said- -“I’m not uncomfortable with it but alright” -he said before turning as he do it he almost jump off the bed as he saw her savior- whoa dude! AGH! –He stands up in a quick reaction but was struck by the sharp and burning pain of his injured chest making him grab his chest in pain- -was wrong?! –She asked startled by his reaction- you didn’t supposed to move until you were recovered! Please, calm down –she approached to him but was stopped by a frightened zeeb- -“no no no! Stay where you are! Please! Don’t…get any closer” –it was hard to believe that at his almost 20 years old and with all his experience he was clearly afraid of no only his savior, but also he was afraid of a pony…a medium mare with yellow fur and light pink silky mane an a pair of wings folded at her sides that was staring at him with a pair of big and beautiful blue eyes full of concern, she was frozen in place hovering after his previous order- -“a…alright –he let out a nervous laugh- this is all a joke right?! I- I’m dreaming again, I was attacked by a giant wolf and almost killed now I’m must be in the hospital waiting for wake up right…RIGHT?!” –He walked backwards but was stopped by a wall he was acting like a cornered animal- -“what are you talking about? Are you ok? I-I’m fluttershy I found you on the everfree forest being chased by a dire wolf and you were injured…I- I managed to scare the wolf and bring you here to treat your wounds, you were asleep for almost two days by now, you are safe in here, I- I’m sorry if I scare you, that wasn’t my intention I’m just trying to help you believe me!” -"believe you!? I can’t even believe you are real! I-I-I mean you are a TALKING! PONY! And also you-you are a PEGASUS?! You can’t even exist! Pegasus are a myth! This-this is just not right! I-I-I" –but before he can finish his sentence the constant movement of the bed caused it to slip forward making zeeb falls backwards and get hit on the head with the floor knocking him out instantly- -Subconscious Realm- -“that…was…PATHETIC! –Yelled the familiar voice from autumm- come on man! Really!? I wasn’t expecting you so soon, and let alone how did you get here this time, falling from a bed?! That was!-” -“pathetic…I know that! But what I was supposed to do?! I talk with animals while I’m drunk! I don’t expect animals talk to me being sober!!! What the fuck was all that?! Answer! -alright she´s a talking Pegasus who not only save YOUR life…with my help obviously, but also she patch you up, let you sleep on HER bed and try to make you reason while you were all freaked out just because you saw her! Surprise! You´re not on the earth anymore! Is that the answer you were expecting!? -“actually no…” -“of course not! You´re an idiot! You won’t expect intelligent answers!” -stop calling me an idiot! –He yelled furious- -stop being ONE! –Autumm replied- -Zeeb growled before pounce autumm and take him to the floor- -After a struggle both of them separate- -I want answers and I want them now! Where am I?! What are you?! Why you know so much?! What’s going on here?! -autumm fix his coat and clear his throat before speaking- look, I don’t know that much, and I can’t tell you much by now, I’m just know that you´re supposed to be here and I need to keep you alive you should talk to that Pegasus when you wake up, she probably tell you more than I can…” –he stated calmly- -“You don’t answer what YOU are” –he replied in dry tone- -“I already tell you that I’m part of you, and that’s the only thing you need to know for now” -“WHY?!” –He asked furiously- -CAUSE YOU´RE NOT READY! –Autumm answer- -“READY FOR WHAT?!” -“You’ll know when you have to …” –and again he was gone- -Zeeb growled in frustration and hit the floor with his fist- DAMMIT! -Fluttershy´s Cottage- -Ugh…my head…-he robbed his forehead before open his eyes again, when he do it he saw her asleep on the edge of the bed her chest slowly going up and down at pace of a calm breath He looked at the window and he could see that was night time-“how much time I was unconscious? …did…did she just fall asleep watching over me?”-he could not help but feel bad for what he did, how can he be afraid of such a peaceful and beautiful creature, a creature that he never even think it could actually exist, a creature that was lying in front of him- “fluttershy right?...I think I own you an apology…” –despite the pain of his chest he managed to gently grab her and put her beside him, he cover her with the sheds of the bed, then he rest his head on the pillow and before falling asleep he could feel that she moved closer to him, he don’t mind it, actually feeling his soft and warm fur was really heartwarming- “what I’m gonna do now…” –he tough before he fall asleep again- -Fluttershy´s Cottage- 11:20 am- -another day has come and the sun was shining bright in the sky, the birds were singing and the warm rays of the sun took zeeb out of his slumber, he slowly opened his eyes to see that again he was on the same cottage as before, he remove his sheds to discover that the bandage of his chest was a new one white and clean, and most important…fluttershy was nowhere to be seen – “so all this is actually happening…-he turns around and see that on the nightstand was another big glass full of water he take a sip of it and rest again on the back of the bed- “this is going to be a very long day…” –as he stated this his stomach start to growl- “I knew it…” –he soon recalled the “conversation” he got with fluttershy yesterday- “that’s right…I sleep for three days by now I haven’t eat anything since then, I need to eat something…it just I could…-he rise up from the bed and for his surprise the sharp pain on the chest was no longer- “well at least we're making progress here…”- he stand up and get out of the bed, stretched his limbs and get the blood circulation flowing again- “ah~ that’s better” –he took his pants from where they were hanging and his boots from the floor and get dressed, took his folding knife and put it on his belt, he look at his phone but he didn’t took it- “who I will call anyway?”- He walk up to the kitchen and discover that on the top of the bar next to the dishwasher was his jacket folded in a little plastic bag with a note on it- -It said- “I wanted to give you this yesterday but because of um… what happened I didn’t have the opportunity to give it to you, I asked my friend Rarity to fix it for you because it was torn by your encounter with that wolf and now its fixed we can talk if you want when I come back at 12:30 pm while I'm gone you can take anything you want from the fridge to make something to eat if you are hungry, also the bathroom its upstairs.” -“12:30?” –he look at the clock and was already 11:30 am- “I got an hour…maybe a lunch would help me make amends with her…”-he took the bag with his jacket in and walk to the bedroom at he passed by a mirror he quickly walk backwards to see his reflection- “man…I look like shit” –in fact, after 3 days without a shower after a razzle, a bar fight and an encounter with a man-eater creature on the middle of the forest everyone will look like shit, his skin was covered in dirt, his hair was a disaster make him look like he was struck by a lightning, his eyes were red and a puffy and black bags were formed beneath them, he leaned front to see more closer as he noted that his beard and moustache were growing too, and then in a blink the hideous vision was replaced by what is seems like autumm was on the other side of the mirror this make zeeb almost jump and he stumbled backwards- oh shit! –He yelled in surprise- -“hey there handsome” –he said mockingly- “you look uglier than before and I think that’s almost a compliment” -“what the hell man?! Will you stop being a dick someday?” –He asked more annoyed than surprised now-“and how I can see you if I’m not unconscious?” -“ugh…I’m part of you remember? If I want to talk to you I can always appear in your reflection it’s pretty useful you know? Now I can be with you anywhere near a reflective surface that does not make you happy?” -“actually it’s the opposite, you´re annoying as hell!” -“aw you´re hurting my feelings” –he replied with a pout- -“ugh! What did you want?!” -“nothing really, I just wanted to show you this amazing trick!” -“look, if you´re not going to say something useful just go away, I have now only like 45 minutes to take a shower and make a decent lunch before fluttershy come back” -“so it’s a date?”-He asked- -what?! No! I’m trying to make amends with her for what happened yesterday! –He replied really annoyed by autumm constant mocking- -“aw, that’s cute coming for the almighty zeeb lord of badassery” -zeeb huffed in annoyance- look, I gotta go I don’t have time for this nonsense conversation! –He walked up to the stairs in search for the bathroom- -see you later Casanova! –autumm said, in response he got a middle finger from zeeb- -zeeb climbed up the stairs to the second floor and after searching a bit he found the bathroom, the bathroom was adorned with multiple flowers and smell really nice and clean, he saw some bathrobes hanging from a rack and clean towels neatly folded and accommodated on a wooden shelf, on the bottom near to a round window there was a porcelain bathtub with a green sliding courting adorned with pink butterflies on the edges of the bathtub there were several bottles of aromatic oils and bottles of shampoo and a little pink carpet near the tub- “this is to girly for me…but whatever” –he take off his clothes and leave them on the floor carelessly, he walk up to the mirror and see himself again- “I need to take of this bandages” –he said before taking his folding knife and proceed to cut the bandages, underneath them he could see his naked chest with a very large claw marks scar running from his side up to his chest looking like deep cracks on his skin another permanent reminder of another close encounter with de death itself, he let out a loud sight and then he get in the bathtub, he saw a rope hanging from the shower- “how this think even work?” –He pulled down the rope and a stream of cold water fall over him- “AH!”- He yelled- “ITS COLD!” –He get away from the stream of water quickly- “alright…it took you by surprise, you can do it” –he get back to the glacial stream of water and proceed with the shower and after a while he get used to the cold water, he let the stream and the soap take away all the dirt that fell to the bathtub like brownish water, he take one of the multiple bottles of shampoo and washed his head and then he was finished, he came out of the tub and take a towel to wipe himself and then he use it to dry the bathroom floor, he walk up to the mirror and he saw a completely different self- “looking good” –he took a hair brush and started brushing his hair it was a little painful at first but after undo some knots everything run smooth as silk, for last he use a soap and his folding knife to shave himself and after that he was ready, he put on his clothes again and get out of the bathroom, walk down the stairs everything seems going on smoothly until he saw the clock- oh crap! Its 12:20 already?! Fluttershy will be here in any minute!” –he run to the kitchen stumbling a little and opened the fridge looking for something to make a lunch he only find different kind of fruits and vegetables some orange juice and a half carrot cake- tomatoes, cabbage, carrots, lettuce?! There´s no ham or something like that in here?-after a few seconds he face palmed- of course! She´s a mare…horses are vegetarians…come on think fast! –he grabbed a few tomatoes, a lettuce some carrots and take them to the kitchen, he grabbed a cutting board and with incredible skill he chop the vegetables as fast as he could without cutting his own fingers on the spot he quickly put the chopped greens on a bowl and starting mixing and seasoning the mix with all that he could find on the cupboard that was edible, mix everything a little more and then put the resulting salad on a pair of plates he run to the dining table and leave the plates there, the he returned to the kitchen and grab two glasses and he filled them with orange juice before putting theme in the table next of the plates and go back for some forks to put them on the table just in time as the clock marked the 12:30- “just in time…not bad” –but then he realized that he forgot to put on his jacket- “Verdammt!”-He yelled- “I almost forgot!” –he run by the bed and took it from the bag it was in, he put his jacket on and buttoned it up the neck like a shirt and rolled up the sleeves he returned to the dining room just in time as the door was opened to reveal a familiar yellow Pegasus carrying saddle bags- “I’m home” –she said with her usual sweet voice- -“oh…h-hellow fluttershy” –he welcomed her attempting being casual at the fact that he wasn’t used yet to a the talking mare- -hey there! –She greeted him- are you feeling better already? –She asked casually despite the events of the day before- -yeah, I woke up this morning to discover I’m fully recovered now, thanks to you –he let out a nervous chuckle as he scratched the back of his head- -I’m glad to hear that you´re better now, you scare me yesterday when you fell off the bed like that, I tough you really hurt yourself bad and I tough it was my fault for scaring you -About what happened yesterday…I- I’m sorry you didn’t scare me…I was … just shocked...it’s just…you know -she walked towards him and kindly placed a hoof on his hand- “don’t worry about that, I understand, at first when I saw you I was a bit shocked too, I never saw something like you before, but I didn’t care you were injured so I bring you here.” -“Even so I wanted to apologize, so I made you the lunch” –he pointed to the table where the salads and the juice glasses were placed- -“that’s really nice of you!” –The two of them walk to the table, fluttershy left her bags on the floor and took a sit, and also zeeb took a sit in front of her- “this looks delicious” –she said- -“Was the least I could do, by the way…my name is Zeeb” -“It´s nice to meet you zeeb” –she said with a warm smile, both of them began to eat in silence, not an awkward silence, instead was a relaxed one, zeeb wasn’t particularly a fan of vegetarian food but fluttershy seems to being enjoying the meal, he couldn’t help but stare at her a little, after a while she noticed- -“um…why you look at me like that?” –She asked with a little blush- -“uh! I’m sorry is just that I never imagine I will be eating with a mythical creature so casually” -“why do you mean with mythical creature? Its sounds kind of rude” -“I’m sorry didn’t mean to offend you, it’s just that where I come from a Pegasus is a fantastic creature that only live in fantasy tales and ancient legends, I never tough they actually existed”. -“I knew that you wasn’t from here since I saw you out there on the everfree forest, but now I’m a little confused, where did you come from? And if you don’t mind…what are you?” -“I’m a human and I come from a place called earth” -“you come from the earth?” –She gave him a confused look- -“not from the literal earth fluttershy…my…world is called earth, I come from a city called high valley” -“oh! You come from another world?...that’s incredible” –She asked in confusion and surprise- -“I believe so, it’s really complicated…I don’t know how I get here or why…” -“Maybe twilight could know something” –she suggested- -“twilight? Who´s that?” -“she is one of my friends she´s really smart and know a lot of things, maybe she could help you” “Friends...I almost forgot, on the letter you left for me you mentioned someone called rarity, who’s that?” -“it’s another friend of mine, she´s a fashionista, works at Carousel Boutique, she make beautiful dresses and she fixed your jacket, we usually don’t wear clothes except for especial occasions, but you seem to wear clothes more often you should talk to her if you want new clothing she will be glad to help you, she’s a really generous pony” – she smiled at him kindly- -a pony? Wait… So you´re telling me there are more like you, Rarity? Twilight? They are…? -well they´re ponies but not like me, twilight and rarity both are unicorns -Zeeb almost choked at her last answer- “unicorns?!” -“quite so! Instead of fly unicorns can do magic” -“magic? Alright fluttershy slow down before the hamster in my head collapse from a cardiac arrest…” -that would be terrible! –she covered his mouth with her front hooves” I didn’t knew humans had hamsters inside their heads! Poor hamsters! -He sighed- not real hamsters fluttershy is just an expression, it just that I’m more confused now with all this things about magic, and pegasus and unicorns, what´s next? Dragons?” -“actually twilight has a dragon assistant” –she answered smiling but her smile fade away and was replaced by a little blush for seeing zeeb´s unamused expression” I’m sorry” –she said embarrassed- -“it seems this will be more complicated than expected…maybe your friend twilight can help me as you said, where is she?” -“she lives in PonyVille on the town´s library” -“think you can bring her here? I mean someone like me in what it seems to be a town full of ponies…I don’t think that´s a good idea” -you´re right maybe if I bring the girls here they could help you. -the girls? Aside from twilight and rarity? -“hmm hmm” –she nodded-, we are six, I’m sure the girls will help you gladly. -“well… I’ll believe in what you´re saying, after all it seems I will be here for a while…and knowing a few locals aside from you will be helpful to understand this world…thank you again fluttershy”. -what friends are for? –She smiled at him- -“Hmp” –she couldn’t help but smile- “so…tell me more about your friends, PonyVille, and all this place I like to know more about them but take it easy this time, will you? -“of course, well this place is called Equestria the pony kingdom, PonyVille is a calm town where my other friends live, besides Twilight and Rarity there´s Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie and Applejack- “ -“Oh man…this will be interesting.”