> I Wake Somewhere Strange
>  by MsDuplicity
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Wake Up
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Its cold....

Should I open my eyes?....

I don't want to though...

Its nice and dark like this...

But I want to be warm....

I guess I have to though...

I open my eyes and am relieved to see that its night or is it just dark? There are trees above me but I can't really tell. I sit up and see that I'm naked but I am not really happy with it. I'm flat chested my skin is extremely pale. Its almost like I'm glowing in the dark. Again I'm not happy about this my skin is wrinkled horrible I look like I'm centuries old.

Actually wait, how old am I? I don't remember. Come to think of it. I don't remember how I even got here or where my clothes are for that matter. While musing to myself I see that my hair is somehow whiter then my skin. Was my hair always white?

I should probably stop thinking to myself and find out where I am. I start to get up. I struggle to get fully standing my knees are shaking. I feel so weak why? After some difficulty I finally finish standing and start to walk where I'm looking. Despite it being being dark I can see very well.

I see a bush. There are berries growing on it. I hurry to it stumbling as my knees give out and I fall on my face. Oh darkness my old friend hello to you again.

"Ugh."

Oh is that my voice!? Its so weak and it sounds like It was painful. But I don't feel any pain. Not even from when my face just hit the ground. I lift my head up and am joyed when i see that I am right next to the berries. I reach out and grab some.

I go to eat the ones I grabbed but I stop. I look at them in confusion as I watch them wither away in my hand. They slowly lose their color turning to the shade of my skin. Then they fade away to dust.

"What?"  

Wait my voice sounds better and sexier. I quickly grab more and as expected those wither as well and I see my wrinkles start to vanish before my eyes. I start feeling more awake and stronger.

I grab the bush to lift myself up to off the ground then get some more of these seemingly magical berries. To my surprise the bush gives out under my weight and I see that the bush has withered its leaves and berries gone and all my wrinkles are gone.

"Wait?"

I look at my hand and lift myself up but my attention gets taken elsewhere as I feel a new weight on my chest. I look down and see that I am no longer flat chested. My breasts have returned and are about a C-cup I am guessing. Well good thing I am no longer flat.

I redirect my attention to my hand and I note that I feel so good now but I should probably keep moving I have no way of figuring out how I just murdered a bush with no remorse. I notice that behind the deceased shrub that there is a path. I walk over the dead bush and see that to the right leads deeper into this forest. Were as the left seems to lead out.

"Left it is."

I start going down the path to the left and after a few minutes I'm out and see a castle. Hmm it seems to be decrepit but I hear voices in it. I can't make out how many but I see that there is a path to the back.

I decide I will follow the path and scout before anything else. I start to make my way towards the back and the voices get louder. There seems to be alot mostly girls if I had to guess. When I get to the end of the path there are windows to my joy.

I walk up to the window and look into it. I see 7 horses? Wait no they look small uhh what do you call a small horse again?

"You still don't have the sixth Element! The spark didn't work!"

I look back at the voice this big black horse thing in the room talked? How can it...my train of thought stops when I remember my first degree bush murder. Yea nevermind.

"But it did! A different kind of spark. I felt it the very moment I realized how happy I was to hear you, to see you, how much I cared about you. The spark ignited inside me when I realized that you all... are my friends! You see, Nightmare Moon, when those Elements are ignited by the... the spark, that resides in the heart of us all, it creates the sixth element: the element of... magic!"

I think the purple horse thing said that and why are they such weird colors and whats this stuff about elements? There is alot here that I do not understand. I look closer and see that they are not just weird horse things. But two of the six have wings and abother of the two have horns. What are those called again? Pegasi and Unicorns I think?

The big black doom horse has both wings and a horn. One thing all these horse things have rear tattoo's all with weird pictures none of them matching.

"Nooo! Nooo!"

I look on in confusion as the six horse things float up and shoot a doom rainbow at the big black horse thing and it screams no a few times but I see a shadow jump out of the big black horse and fly at me. 

"Whats that Shadow?"

I say right before it hits me and I lose Consciousness.
    
> Unwelcome Friend
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	I start to feel the air going across my chest. I try to remember what happened. Was I attacked by a shadow? Were those things I saw the new main species? Are humans gone? I don't know what I'm supposed to think.I decide that I will worry on this later and open my eyes but I immediately recoil at the light and my hands instinctively cover my eyes.

So you do not like the day either?

It takes me a second to process this strange voice I heard and I look around me only seeing the decrepit ruins of the castle and nothing that could have talked to me.

"Who are you show yourself!?"

That is a difficult request I am inside of you dear.

"What do you mean who are you?"

The last name I went by was Nightmare Moon and I mean that before I was killed I jumped into a new host you being the closest one and might I say you are an interesting host. Usually my hosts have heartbeats.

Wait what I move my hand to my wrist and press down just under my thumb and wait a few seconds and my blood runs cold (can it even do that now?) that she is right I don't have a pulse. How am I even alive? Am I like a zombie? My mind goes back to the berries that died as I touched them. Do zombies not eat people but have murdering hands?

I sense you are confused perhaps I can help you? 

"OK yea you can lets start with how your inside me next we can go into details about why I want you out."

I have no intention of hurting you I am a friend you see without a host body I will cease to be and as you don't seem to know enough about where we are I could help you with that.

Ok well now I feel like a dick since I just essentially threatened to kill her. But is that really that bad for all I know I'm dead and I can eat stuff on touch and I do know not a lot about where we are. But with the name Nightmare Moon do I really want to trust her?

"How do you expect anyone to trust you with that menacing name. It just screams I'm going to stab you in the back."

Well that was only my most recent name and I didn't do it my last host had named herself that.

"Oh I see so what are you really called?"

It really does not matter to me I would like to know what you are called though.

"Oh um...."

I never really thought about this when I initially woke up what is my name? I could try to remember what it was. Or on the other hand I could come up with a new cool name. Well first White hair that's a detail hmm also I am very pale. I seem to have the power to eat by touch and eating I guess makes me younger and feel stronger. Rogue? no no what why would that work hmm... Ravenna? no that just sounds stupid.

Are you having difficulty?

"huh?" 

I notice that I'm twirling my hair as I was thinking.

"Oh no um my name is hmm c-ca-Caera yes Caera" 

Its seems I picked a stupid name fuck me.

Hmm yes greetings Caera.

I start to get and notice that it is very bright out could it be my eyes are just more attuned to the dark? Given how easily I can navigate through it that seems to be the case.

"So you said your my friend?"

That is correct.

"And your only goal is to survive on me?"

That is all I desire yes.

Hmm I guess I do need a guide. I start walking back up the path I took to get here and look around and see just how bad of condition this castle is in I looks as if it doesn't even have half of its roof anymore.

"Um Nightmare I guess I'm calling you what is exactly in this castle?"

Relics of a time passed. There are outdated books and tomes you can use for knowledge. Bed's should you find yourself tired.

"Are there any clothes?"

Perhaps why do you ask?

"My kind doesn't really enjoy exposing ourselves like this."

I cover my chest while saying this holding back a blush.

I see I do not know if there would be any clothes designed for your kind but perhaps you can make do with what is in there.

I keep going around the path and reach the door it was left open since last night and I wander in. To my surprise It doesn't look that decrepit at all (I should probably use a different word to describe it) it just looks like someone decided to not dust in a couple years. There are torches still lit. I assume they were lit last night and just haven't went out.

I start to walk deeper in and see that it is very well lit despite only having torches usually these leave some dark spots but not here. It is 100% lit. Maybe I should take one might be better to hit something with a torch then make it wither away. Can I even do that to living things? I assume I can. But its different between some fruit and a sentient thing.

I won't touch sentient things.I should stop musing to myself and start looking for something to wear. Last thing I need to be seen as is a zombie prostitute.With that last thought I started to search the rooms for anything that can be considered modest covering.
> A New View on Myself
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Whoever used to live in this castle I must say had decent taste. I have thought about asking the other in my head who used to own it. But I don't feel like conversing with it for such useless details would be good. Should things go wrong between us I don't want to grow attached. I have probably been looking around here for a few hours now (I think I haven't exactly had a good grasp on time since I have woken up.) and I think I have a decent look going for me now. I need to find a mirror of course to make sure.

But as there was not any clothes made for me and only horse clothes I had to get creative. So I took some violet (I think the names violet) drapes and fashioned a type of dress out of them. Then I made really bad looking gloves from what I had left over just to avoid possibly killing the first person I shake hands with. (or hooves with I don't know how to word it) I may not remember a lot but killing someone as soon as I introduce myself probably won't go over well.

My plan for right now is keeping the little friend in my head a secret because if they were going to force it off the first host I definitely don't want them to think I'm in cahoots with it and hopefully I can actually get into this society. I mean that is if there even is a society this is the first building I've seen and apart from last night there is no one but me in here.So for all I know this colony? Yea lets call it a colony for now. This colony could just be like traveling brutes that just evicted somebody from someone else.

I should probably ask this Nightmare for more information but I'm not to keen on that. Right now at least but first things first. I need to find a mirror. With this new goal in my head I start moving through the rooms again passing a library. I quickly make a mental note to come back here later and see if I can possibly learn anything of value.

After going through a few more rooms. All of them useless to me right now. I come along one with a mirror. Giving myself a mental good job head pat. I go over to it, to my annoyance its covered with so much dust that it completely blocks out all detail. Yea this place is definitely abandoned. I start wiping off the dust going from the bottom up. I get the mirrors dust free (relatively) after a few minutes and look at my body in the makeshift dress.

It looks fairly well. The gloves I made are atrocious essentially just me wrapping the material around my hands just to cover them. The dress it self has a sort of princess feel to it. A princess in poverty but it will do. My hair is start white surprising very clean considering I have slept outside twice so far.What caught my attention finally would scare anything. (It even scared me) It was my eyes. Honestly this is just truly horrifying they look like something you would tell children at night to keep them behaving.

The first thing to note is the lack of a iris and pupils. The eyes are as white as marble. Except for the fact they there are black lines covering them like they are bloodshot. The black lines continue past my eyes To my temples and the bridge of my nose.

"There goes any hope of me being a model."

You just keep getting more interesting don't you?

"If by interesting you mean horrifying then yes quite."

Sure you might scare a few ponies here or there but you could also have fun with it.

I suppose she has a point but not only am I apparently dead(or just don't have a heart which could be worse) but I also will look eternally angry. Getting past my eyes my whole look isn't that bad all things considered I can be considered attractive. Which does bring me a little bit of joy.I always like looking good or do I? I still need to sort my memories out.

Caera?

"Huh what?"

What are you planning to do if I may ask?

"Oh I was going to ask you where the nearest town is if there even is one."

An easy question to answer the nearest town is Ponyville followed by the nearest city Canterlot.

I have to pause for a second. Do people really name there towns and cities that? I don't know why but this just bothers me. It's not horrible but its there just a sort of distaste for those names.Its probably nothing and I am sure the feeling will pass but its there for now.

"How far is um Ponyville?"

Not far at all simply follow the path out of the main entrance and you will arrive in a matter of one to two hours.

Hmm that does not seem to bad. But I should pry for more information first.

"Anything of value for me to note of Ponyville?"

From my last visit I could tell that it is more rural and in the town everypony knows everypony and that the six Elements of Harmony reside there.

"Do I need to worry about these um Element of Harmony?"

If they do not know of me and if you show that you mean no harm it is safe to assume no.

"Can you give me a quick description of what the Elements of Harmony are?"

The Elements of Harmony are six magical artifacts that wield the power of friendship to protect Equestria from all danger.

Hmm I see and don't understand at all but I guess it answered me. Now all that's left to do is make first contact and I set off to do just that.
	
> The Boring Walk
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	I go through the door I entered the castle from and see that it is near dusk out. I didn't think I had spent that long in there. Maybe one to two hours at most. But what do I know anymore. I woke up however many days ago murdered a bush and then got a shadow person in my head.Everything is just so strange and I don't understand it I won't even pretend to know what I'm doing here.

I guess I can use this walk to reflect upon everything that's happened so far. But I don't see how that would change anything so ultimately I think that options pointless. I could pry for Information from Nightmare whatever it knows but that might open myself up to getting closer to it. I know it said that it meant me no harm but how can I believe it? The answer is I can't there is no reason I should trust anything it says.

But it said this walk would take maybe two hours. Actually that brings something to my attention.

"Nightmare what gender are you?"

The answer to that is relative right now I am female.

"Oh I see so you what? assume the gender of your host?"

That is correct why are you asking this now?

"Well this seems to be better to talk to you then just muse to myself."

That is true. Anything else you want to ask Caera?

"Hmm what exactly are you I know your like a leech in a sense."

I am not a leech I am not a malicious organism stealing from you to survive. I am embodiment of magic that requires a host capable of sustaining me to survive.

"Capable of sustaining you how?"

They need to have a substantial capacity to wield magic.

"Wait are you saying I have magic?"

Were you not aware of this?

"No I wasn't but that explains how I murdered a berry bush."

You murdered a berry bush how dear?

"Um I guess I can demonstrate it does feel good so I don't mind."

I look around and see a small sapling I suppose it will do. I take off my left glove and touch it watching as it withers away feeling all the better as it dies.

Hmm it appears you can absorb life force of other things to make yourself better.

"Is that rare or?"

Its actually a forgotten art Princess Celestia and Princess Luna had this necromancy and other similar forms of magic outlawed when they claimed the throne.

"Wait two princesses?"

Yes, Is that a problem?

"I mean it sounds wrong but I don't know why."

That is how it is, There was only Princess Celestia for 1000 years until a few nights ago when they banished me from Princess Luna and now she has reclaimed her spot by her sisters side.

Hmm so Immortal Princess sisters ok well I guess its going to be hard understanding this place. Well I have ran out of things to ask great so now I guess I keep walking and muse to myself. Why do I feel as if this will become a regular thing?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

After what felt like an eternity of just following this damned path I started to see the exit. I decided scouting before I just walk into an unknown place would be for the best. So I diverged off the path to the bushes on the right side of me and moved up the where the exit was and peered at the town from behind some tree's and shrubs.

What shouldn't be surprising is that since it is clearly night no one is outside.

"Why didn't I guess everyone would be asleep?"

Are you asking me this question?

"Um no I wasn't I was asking my self."

Ah I see I should probably add they there is a pink pony running at you currently.

True to her word I looked forward and barely caught the pink thing running (galloping?) at me. Only thinking about what would happen if she touches my skin. (At least I assume it has to be skin contact I never really tested.) I take a defensive step back and throw my fore arm up just in time to  hit it in the jaw sending it back with a spectacular flip. 

Only after did I realize that I essentially just declared war by attacking the first citizen I seen.

"Fuck me." 
> Acquaintances
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

I stare at the pink pony as it stands up rubbing its nose oddly looking unharmed.

"Ow, That hurt." The pink pony whined

"I'm sorry that I did that but you cannot touch me at all." I sound crazy but I need to be clear.

"If you touch me you will die...I think I'm at least sure of that." I'm not lying actually I have no idea how this magic I have even really works I don't even know if my glove stopped her from dying or if I just didn't touch her long enough.

"Uh okie dokey then, I'm Pinkie Pie." The now Identified Pinkie Pie smiled at me more then should be physically possible but what confused me more was that she just accepted what I had said. Why? Was this just a common occurrence are there more like me our there? I will find that out later I need to focus on introductions right now.

"Yes, Hello Pinkie Pie I am Caera." She looked at me for a second then spoke again.

"Hiya Caera did anypony ever tell you that that's a weird name." She looked like she was about to continue but I cut her off.

"No, no uh 'pony' has said that my name was strange."

"Oh well I guess it doesn't matter." 

Why does she keep smiling its unnerving. I need to get this pink pony away from me somehow

"OH YOU HAVE TO MEET TWILIGHT!" Pinkie yelled at me suddenly almost making me jump back.

"Uh who is this Twilight?" On second thought this could be beneficial. 

"Ooooh she is just the best shes really smart and reads a lot but that is just common sense she does run the library here in Ponyville oh oh then you have to meet my other friend Rarity she really likes clothes and can probably make you a better dress to wear since your dress is dirty! Then you just have to meet Applejack-

"How about we just meet one at a time." I cut her off she was going to just keep going had I not done that.

"Okie Dokey follow me Caery."

Caery? This is going to be draining. But I feel like this has to be done just to get it out of the way. I need information to make a plan for what to do.This town doesn't seem to be that populated that is reassuring for me at least less interaction but on the other hand this seems like a self contained town so information on where I am as a whole could be very limited.

Further examining the Pink Pony 'Pinkie Pie' as she goes by she is hopping to our destination I don't think that is how ponies are supposed to move. I mean wouldn't that hurt horribly why is she doing it?

Oh she stopped I guess we are at our destination.

"We're here!" Pinkie says what I thought a bit over excitedly in my opinion.

"I assumed as much seeing as you stopped hmm bouncing."

"Yep yep." 

Pinkie starts knocking on the door absurdly loud she might wake everyone up on this path with that loud of knocking.

"I'm coming you can stop!" I hear an unidentified person(or pony) say from behind the door Pinkie is mercilessly beating. In response to that Pinkie stops knocking looking absolutely livid why is she so energetic.

I see the door open and behind it is a magenta colored pony her hair (or was it mane?) bags under her eyes she either was just woken up which seems to be the case from the loud knocks of doom or she hasn't been sleeping in quite some time.

"Pinkie.... What do you want?" She looked at I assume her friend if Pinkie can be trusted on saying that with a obvious look of annoyance I wonder what time it is actually. After looking at Pinkie for a moment she turned her gaze to me almost looking frightened.

"Uh Pinkie who is your uh friend?" The one of purple takes a few steps back almost defensively.

"This is my new friend Caery, Twilight she is really nice even if she does look a little spooky!" Pinkie replies to her again to excited for my taste. How am I really nice? I barely talked and what does she mean by spooky looking?

"Uh Hello Caery. Hehe." 'Twilight' giggles nervously while looking into my eyes.

"Caera actually." I corrected Pinkies mistake.

"Oh my uh my bad is it uh alright if I talk with Pinkie in private for a minute?" Either she doesn't trust me or has a problem with Pinkie both are distinct possibilities between my appearance and Pinkies loud erm personality.

"I see no problem with that." As soon as I reply she yanks Pinkie inside with some sort or Purple field hmm interesting.
> Unexpected Engagement
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

How long will they be talking in there I wonder it has been for what seems hours. Could they be plotting against me? Maybe this Twilight is simply planning what to do with me.

"Nightmare what do you think they are doing?" I decide to ask simply wanting any form of conversation even if it is with an entity in my head.

Do not think low of Twilight to my understanding she is quite sharp whether this will be good or bad for you I do not know.

"I wish I had something to pass the time. Sitting out here in the dark is really draining." I look towards the sky it seems to be almost day and hmm it looks as if something is flying to this little town.

"Nightmare what is that thing in the sky?" I ask half asleep my voice completely dry of any enthusiasm.

A sky chariot judging by the color I would say it belongs to one Princess Celestia

"You can tell that from all the way down here?" I can barely make out a yellowish color and to my knowledge she is using my eyes as well this definitely requires further questions.

The Princess is likely to engage you in combat.

"Wait what do you mean engage me in combat what have I done?" I ask honestly wanting to know why I have not hurt any of these ponies except for Pinkie but that doesn't count she wasn't even bruised.

The magic you possess was outlawed by her she will sense you have it and try to arrest you I can only assume with any means necessary. I don't know how I can even possibly consider fighting royalty I think surrendering is my best option.

You do not want to do that. 

"I don't want to do what."

Surrender. Do not even consider that.

"I thought that how did you hear me." 

Dear I can hear everything you think and no I do not feel offended you do not trust me.

"Well maybe you can let me know you can hear these things before hand?"

I will try to improve. The Princess is landing.

Since I can just think at you how do you know she is landing I can't see that.

I see a rather regal (and big) pony approaching she is stark white with a sort of ethereal rainbow mane I can only assume this is the one and only Princess Celestia. As she approaches I rise to my feet still half asleep if Nightmare is right she will most likely ask me to turn my self in.

I am watching her but she stops quite far away from me and points her horn at me before I can move into cover or run she fires this hard to describe beam at me. The closest I can manage is pure sunlight. The only responses I can manage is covering my eyes in a very ineffective shield.

I think she stopped I no longer feel the heat. I decide to open my eyes and see a large shadow like wall between me and her. How did this wall come to be did I conjure it?

"HOW DID YOU CREATE THE WALL UNDEAD BEAST? Did she say undead and call me a beast? There are worse insults but that is still hurtful.

I put down my arms and the shadow wall vanishes.

"I don't know why you decided to attack me I have done nothing wrong." I hope I can reason with the rather rude princess.

"I WILL NOT HAVE ANOTHER ONE OF YOUR KIND ENDANGER MY LITTLE PONIES." Ok guess reasoning is out of the question.

I drop down to a fighting stance and see shadows much like the wall from before embrace my hands. Looks like its the age old battle of light versus dark.

"I DO NOT KNOW HOW YOU CAN WIELD THE POWER OF MY SISTER BUT I WILL MAKE SURE YOU DO NOT HAVE THE CHANCE TO USE IT AGAINST MY LITTLE PONIES." Her sister? Is Nightmare her sister?

Before I have a chance to listen for a reply from nightmare (if there was even going to be one) the princess decides to try the beam thing again on me I simply cover my eyes the same way as before and lo and behold the very familiar wall of shade come to my aid. This is my new friend look upon her she may be flat but she is good to me. 

After Princess Celestia's beam dissipates I try throwing my shadowed hands forward to try and shoot some sort of projectiles to my joy I didn't just look stupid throwing my arms around but orbs of the dark (or something that doesn't sound stupid) fly at the princess.

To my woe they are about as effective as her beam was on me. I didn't even come close to hitting her my aim is terrible.

In the middle of me thinking to myself Celestia chose the strategy to charge me and it worked I was impaled in the chest knocking the air out of my lungs. 

"Ackkk ow." I groan out as I try and push her off with my right hand. 

After a few seconds pulling I get her violating horn out of me and jump away to get some distance that is when I noticed that when at some point during this fight my makeshift gloves came off.
> What's Happening?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

As I was looking at my uncovered hands the one I am in combat with fired a beam at me I only had a moment to react but I just blinked my eyes and prepared for the inevitable disintegration that was awaiting me.

And I kept waiting for what seemed like an eternity and it never came. I decided to open my eyes only to find myself in a place unfamiliar to me and far different then where I had been before. I was near a waterfall that was emptying into a river which went under a drawbridge then proceeded to become another waterfall when I looked to where the drawbridge led I had to take a pause.

I looked up and saw that the sun and moon were revolving very rapidly almost racing each other through the sky.

"Ok, so I am not only somewhere completely new to me. The sun and moon have also seem to have lost it. Ughhh what else could go wrong." I talk to myself and I guess also nightmare.

You really shouldn't say that. Nightmare said back to me within my mind.

"Why not?" I said to her in return.

The moment the words left my mouth I see the gate past the drawbridge open. Only for a battalion of stark white ponies clad in gold armor to start marching out. Really!? I just got out of a fight I don't want to go into another.

To my joy they march past me towards a small village I vaguely recognize as the one I had just mysteriously departed from before the gate can close I decide to rush my way in quietly. Whatever this place is it seems important so maybe I should look around.

Inside the gates I see before me a beautiful sparkling city oddly empty of inhabitants. Hmm where is everyone.

Maybe the Princess' engaged a sort of martial law when she left to combat you.

"Do you really think so? What am I saying of course you think so you wouldn't of said it otherwise."

I start walking down the cobbled street I can't read any of the signs they are in a cryptic language I decided to dub as 'squiggles'. As I walk down the streets I faintly hear shuffling behind me but don't really acknowledge it as if they were going to engage me they would have by now.

I found myself walking up a path towards the actual castle itself the entrance is guarded so I'll need to find another way in.
> A Moment's Rest
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

How long has it been since I first woke up. It couldn't be more then a couple days right? I look up at the sky as the celestial bodies continue their never ending race making it impossible to guess the time. How old am I even? I don't know what I am who I am except the stupid name I gave myself and that princess screaming at me that I am undead.

I'm lost. Both physically and mentally. I found a small area of woods near the waterfall. I don't know why i wanted to go towards the castle. In hindsight that was a stupid decision they are obviously hunting for me if the battalion was clue.
Why do they want me dead? What did I actually do? I don't remember causing any significant damage before she attacked me.

Thinking back on it the purple pony. What was her name? Did I ever find out? I don't really think it matters now but I think she called the princess maybe. But why?

I sat by these trees for who knows how long just waiting. It feels like hours but it could easily be days or minutes with the sky show going on. The dark aura around my hands also hasn't dissipated yet. Not even sure if it will. Nightmares also been quiet for awhile but who knows with her.

I decided to finally stand up my knees popping as I do in protest having grown accustom to my seated position.

"Should I even go anywhere?" I ask myself and whoever may be listening in this remote spot. Would you even say remote I mean its not like I move that far I'm only a few minutes away from where I landed. 

Lets make a small list here then. Lost? Check. Don't know who or what I am? Check. Disembodied voice in my head gone mute? Check. I sigh things don't look that good for me right now. I think I might as well follow the battalion safety is meaningless if I don't know who is even safe or why they think I'm not safe.

I start following the battalions trail using the nearby tree's as a form of cover so they have even a chance to not see me as I approach. Hopefully I can get some answers even if there not good ones.
> Tailing Them.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

You know its not that hard to follow a big group of armored ponies. Their armors loud and heavy. They leave a easily seen trail and with all the noise there making I don't need to even be that quiet. Its just a matter of them not seeing me. Which admittedly isn't that hard either.

The problem though. ITS BORING! Like really boring I have been following them for what I assume has been hours the sun and moon are still doing the tango in the sky at mach speed so not that easy to tell time still. Looking more at the small army there's 5 rows of them not sure how many are in each row I'm not close enough but I'm guessing 5 mostly because it matches.

They are all carrying spears and wearing bulky gold armor that cant be comfortable and I can't be sure but I think there all white? Is it just me or does that sound wrong. Anyways these ponies look like they can take a punch or explosion. They look really tough but for some reason I don't think they can keep up with me. Yea they have four legs but that still just looks too bulky to really chase anything in.

We've been following a trail that's running along tracks and have been for awhile now. I don't want to say the whole time but we might have been follow this track the whole time and I say we in the sense that they are I'm just following in secret. Yea following in secret lets go with that. Makes me sound less like the enemy I think should it come up and they actually talk to me.

That's probably what I'm most afraid of If they listen to me maybe we can go without fighting. But when that princess showed up I didn't get a word in. Well nothing she actually heard. You know after walking so long shouldn't I feel tired or at least sore. I feel fine all things considered I mean I took that stabbing really well.

Why did she charge me? Looking back the princess is really strong so why resort to charging me instead of lets say keep lasering me? It doesn't make sense.

I'm pulled out of my train of thought when I hear commanding voice ring out in front of guards.

"All Right Everypony I want you to start patrols where ever this thing is the princess wants it found now. She says it is incredibly dangerous and if you see it you are to signal for backup immediately. In case its not in Ponyville I want Pegasi squads doing sweeps of all the surrounding areas."

A much younger sounding girl chimes in she sounds nervous. "Captain armor how will we know when we see it?"

"The wanted individual has been described as a hairless minotaur scrawny in comparison and presumed to be female. I think you'll know it when you see it. You have your orders move out!"

Well I figured something bad was going to happen if I followed. Maybe they don't mean me?
> Stupid Plan
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm honestly Surprised I haven't been seen through all of this. Its not like I'm invisible or I can blend in to the crowds. I don't even blend into the dark since my clothes are ruined and I'm almost as white as snow. Something in the back of my mind (could that be nightmare just muted somehow?) is making me think it could be a trap. Surely there should be something or someone charging at me planning my pending demise.

But as I look to the surroundings yea there are ponies all around but none of them seem to notice me. I think I would notice if they had as not gonna lie they seem kinda flighty. Nevertheless I stay near the shadows and corners following as closely as I can to these two oblivious guards. I mean they have to be oblivious right they have been being followed for well over a few miles.

We eventually make it to a kinda town square area and if I thought the town was populated before I was wrong there were ponies everywhere all gathering around the princess that attacked me.

"My little Ponies I assure you there is nothing to fear of the beast that was here merely hours ago I have contingents of guards posted all around town and they will be keeping a vigilant watch until we find it." She seems so sure and confidant and looks particularly flawless considering we fought I guess hours ago. I guess that says I am very unskilled at combat. Not very surprising.

"What about the sky!?" one of the ponies asks in a panic thus setting off many other ponies in the crowd (or would it be a herd?) with their own questions too fast for me to keep track of but Celestia seems to be hearing each one and I don't know how that would be even possible.

"There is nothing to be afraid of whatever is causing the sky to do this will be fixed soon." heh damage control much?  

Suddenly I was tackled from behind with the force of something akin to a cannon sliding me along the ground whatever hit me riding me along.

"I KNEW IT!" A raspy voice yelled in my ear. In what probably took too long for my to do I put my hands out in front of me and see the same shadowy aura appear around my hands and then around me like a shell forcing whatever was on me off as I stand up my front evidently covered in a few scrapes.

I turn and look at what hit me and see a lean pony with wings her fur was cyan in color and had a rainbow mane. Were all of these ponies so brightly colored?

"Come out of that ball and fight me freak!" She yelled at me flying a few feet above the air hitting the shield I made. (I really need to learn how to do this stuff on command) 

"And get rode into the ground again? Not really endearing if I'm telling the truth." Her eyes narrow more into a glare as I hear some clanking and hoofsteps behind me and turn to look seeing a small contingent of the guards and the princess walking over to me.

"So you came back certainly makes the search for you easier." Celestia said to me seeming a lot calmer I think shes hiding it though she has a look in her eyes and probably doesn't want to scare her little ponies with anger. Still don't know what I even did with the first place and doubt I'd get an answer if I asked nicely.

"How can you be sure I even left?" What am I doing I can just come clean but something about doing that just doesn't feel right and whoever that blue pony is shes still hitting the bubble I made and its getting really annoying.

"Can you stop already!?" I turn and yell at her she just glares and yells back.

"What too scared to fight me?"

"No I just don't want to." The princess then chimes in from  behind me.

"Leave us I want to talk with her alone."

"But princess!" One of the guards interjects.

"Go Sureshot I will be ok if she wanted to do anything she would of by now."

They all leave except for me and the princess we are both staring each other down eyes locked with one another. I really wish I had Nightmare's advice right now I have no idea what I'm going to do now.