> A Stranger In A Pony Land > by Kazz The Hunter > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Chapter 1 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I could hear the wolves howling behind me, as I ran my lungs burned as I gasped for air,I tripped over an unseen log, falling flat on my face I rolled over just in time to see it jump at my throat. I awoke in a cold sweat, the fear of the dream still had a hold of my heart as I looked over at my computer. I had fallen asleep watching MLP: FIM again. As I got out of bed I saw the time 4AM. I decided to take a walk. Slipping on a pair of jeans I grabbed my trusty pocket knife, when I got outside it was still dark. A loud peal of thunder makes me jump, the next thing I know white hot pain is shooting through my body, I open my eyes and see trees, stars and the moon. Then I hear a sound the sound of...wolves. I get to my feet and run not knowing where I’m going, I just run. I had been running for 15 minutes when I came to a fence. Not thinking about it, I jump it in one fluid motion I guess gym class did pay off after all. As I run I notice the trees starting to change, instead of them being wild and overgrown, they were…spread out, well trimmed and quite healthy looking apple trees, I was in an orchard, in the distance I could see a farm house. I make my way over to the house, next to it a large barn, I decide not to wake the people in the house. I would ask them for directions in the morning. So I make a bed out of hay bales and went to sleep. I awake to yells I look around and see to my surprise. A small horse? No a pony, with a large pink hair bow. “Apple Bloom,” I say her eyes widening in fear. She asks me how I know her name. What I am and where I come from. I explain about my world. About “My Little Pony” and how I was chased through the forest. Suddenly the barn doors open. Two ponies step through the large doors, a small orange coloured mare and a much, much larger red stallion, I recognise them as Applejack and Big Mac, as they look over to me I can see they’re scared, however after a few moments with Apple Bloom retelling my story to them, Applejack looking over at me before saying, “We should get you to Twilight, so she can get you home.” Before I could say anything Scootaloo comes flying into the barn, on her scooter, yelling frantically about Sweetie Belle and some timber wolves. I tell Apple Jack to get the others, then tell Scootaloo to take me to Sweetie Bell. We run into the Everfree Forest. We run deep into the forest until we come to a clearing. Sweetie Belle is hiding in a small cave. At the entrance are five timber wolves. I can hear Sweetie Bell crying in the cave, an ungodly rage manifesting in my chest as I yell at the wolves “Hey, pick on someone your own size!” They turn on me with hunger in their glowing green eyes, I reach into my pocket for my knife. Nothing it must have fallen out of a hole in my pocket, One of the wolves jumps at me. Instinctively I punch it shredding my knuckles on its bark skin. The pain meaning nothing to me as adrenaline pumps through my veins. As another wolf bites into left arm I scream and punch it, breaking its head and three of my fingers but I don’t care. The only thing that mattered at the moment, to me, was saving Sweetie Belle. Another wolf latches onto my leg I kick it off, three down two to go my vision starts to blur from blood loss. The last two wolves circle me one jumps at me. I grab it and throw it at the other both exploding into sticks. As I fall to my knees in exhaustion the sticks of the wolves combine, combining to make a larger wolf “Oh shit I forgot they could do that.” I curse, berating myself for not remembering that fact. As I get ready to meet my end, a rock the size of basketball strikes the wolf’s head. I turn around and see AppleJack, Twilight, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. I have to admit if I hadn’t been suffering from blood loss I still would have fainted. But I did regardless, knowing Sweetie Bell was in safe hands or should I say hooves, as the world went dark. My eyes open to blinding light “Am I in heaven?” I ask out loud. “No silly, you’re in ponyville hospital,” said three familiar little voices. At the foot of my bed are Apple Bloom Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle. “Let me guess cutie mark crusader nurses,” their jaws drop. “How did you know?” “Lucky guess” I laugh, immediately I was regretting the action due to the pain it caused. I look at my left arm and see thick white bandages. The same on my right leg and my right hand has a cast. Just then the door opens and I am greeted to a wonderful sight. Twilight, Apple Jack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy they asked me how I was feeling. “Fine,” I reply wincing at the pain. “How long have I been out for?” I ask. “Two weeks,” replies Apple Bloom, “The doctor says you can leave tomorrow.” “Great” I say “Can I be alone with Twilight for a minute?” I ask, everypony but Twilight leaving the room. “Twilight I don’t want to go back to my world,” I say, she looks at me questioningly I tell her everything about the world of humans. The good the bad and the worst by the end her eyes were full of tears and so were mine. “I can’t go back to that,” Twilight just looks at me, her eyes showing her sadness. “Tell them no magic can send me back,” Twilight looked shocked and then nodded. I laid back on the bed and sleep just wanting to be out of bed. The next day nurse Tender Hooves cut off my cast and removed the bandages. I could see the scars the timber wolves left me. Rarity had fixed my clothes I had to remember to pay her for that. I decide that I should help her first. > Chapter 2 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- As I made my way through Ponyville I got the expected looks. Ranging from shock to fear. Looking forward I can see Carousel Boutique. “Thank Celestia,” I say, running to the door and opening it. The bell rings. “Just a minute” I hear Rarity say as I wait in the entrance. Looking around I can dresses of all kinds. Just then Rarity came in to the room. “Aw hello,” she said. “Thank you for fixing my clothes” I say. “It was nothing” she said. “Is there anything I can help you with?” I ask. “Not really,” she answered. “Well then can you meet me at Twilight's place in an hour?” I ask. “Of course darling.” “Good, can you tell me witch way is Sugarcube Corner?” I ask. “Just go down the street and take a right.” “thanks,” I say waving bye. Walking down the street I can hear a scuffling behind me. Quickly turning around I see a flash of yellow and pink. “Fluttershy, can you meet me at Twilight's place in an hour?” I hear a small yes come from the bush she’s hiding in. “Can you get Rainbow Dash too?” another small yes comes from the bush. As I enter Sugarcube Corner I prepare for what I know is coming. As the door opens the pink party mare tackles me. “Happy out of the hospital party!” before I can say anything she stuffs my mouth with cake. Chocolate cake with cherry filling and vanilla frosting, my favorite. How the hell did she know that? Then I remember that this Pinkie Pie. Pushing Pinkie off my chest and swallowing the mouth-full of cake. “Pinkie can” I start “meet you at Twilights place in an hour--" "Of course I can silly, and I’ll bring Applejack.” she cuts me off. “Well umm thanks. Can I get a piece of cake to go?” As I enter Twilight's castle I am greeted by six ponies all looking at me. “Well thank you all for coming,” I say. “You are probably wondering why I asked you here. Well, since I’m going to be for the long haul I might as well tell you about myself.” “I was born in a small town my dad died when I was young. Mom remarried to a drunk who would beat her and me. The beating stopped when mom had my little sister. Hope was born and for five years life was good. That is until my step-dad lost his job and started drinking again. One night he got drunk and beat my mom to death. My little sister started to cry. He didn’t like that and hit her. The next thing I know my vision turned red. I’m in the kitchen grabbing a knife and in a flash I have stabbed that asshole in the back. As he lay at my feet dying Hope was still alive but just barely. She died in my arms before the ambulance arrived. I…I saw the light fade from her eyes. As she grew cold in my hands I vowed to never let another living thing die if I could stop it.” After telling my story I look up and see tears in everypony's eyes. Even Rainbow Dash was crying. I fell to my hands and knees. “Twilight, remember when I told you about the good the bad and the worst?” “yes,” Twilight said. “Hope was the good my step-dad was the bad and I was the worst for not being fast enough to save Hope,” I slammed my fist down on the floor breaking my middle finger. The next thing I notice is six pairs of hoofs being wrapped around me in a big hug. “Thank you for listening to my story,” I said, standing up and turning towards the door. “What are doing?” Twilight said. Turning and smiling “I am going to need a place to stay.” “You can stay here at the castle. There are plenty of guest rooms.” “Thank you Twilight,” stretching and yawning. “I think I’m ready for bed.” “I’ll show you to your room then,” Twilight said. “By the way you never told us your name.” “Jack, everyone calls me Jack.” “Well then, Jack, I hope you enjoy your stay” “I will Twilight.” Opening the door I see a huge bed and a big bathroom. “Wow, five star hotels back home don’t hold a candle to this.” “really?” Twilight said. “Thank you again, Twilight.” “It’s nothing. It’s what friends do.” “you consider me a friend?” “Well yes, in a new world you need at least one friend.” I felt so happy to hear that I knelt down and hugged the purple alicorn. “Thank you Twilight. A human couldn’t ask for a better friend.” She blushed deep red. “If it's ok with you I would like to run tests in the morning.” “Sure Twilight, I’d be glad to help you with whatever you need.” as I climb into bed the warm blankets make me fall asleep almost immediately. As I dream I am visited by Luna. “So Twilight’s letter told the truth. You are indeed a creature not of this world.” I bow as deeply as can. “Princess Luna tis truly a honor to be graced by the moon princess in mine dream.” She blushes. “there is no need for that.” “I know but the blush on your face is worth its weight in gold.” “I am not blushing.” “Yes you are.” “Enough of this. I am here to tell you to come to Canterlot. My sister would like to meet you.” “You could have just sent a letter.” “I could have but then I could not do this,” she stepped close to me and kissed me on the cheek. “Wait what?” “When you were unconscious in the hospital I took the time to learn about you and your world in your dreams and I learned you like the moon more than the sun.” I awoke to Twilight poking me in the ribs “Hay come on, you said we could run some tests today.” “Ok…ok I’m up, I’m up. Just let me take a shower first.” Today was going to be an interesting day I could tell.