> Artist Training Grounds: The Fiction
>  by D'Koda
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Chapter 1
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

You wake up in the morning. It's around 11:30AM. Work doesn't start until 3, and it's hardly a long shift. You work part time in retail, so the money isn't all there. But in times like now, you need to take what you can. You start your PC, and while it loads up, you go make a coffee. Cappuccino maker? Instantly heating up the water so you only need to press the coffee button? Everyone you know loves that machine. Best thing that you ever bought. You take the first sip of caffeine for the day. It tastes different today... almost magical. You assume that crazy dream you had last night is still wearing off. 

You are a brony. A fan of "My little Pony, Friendship is Magic." In fact, You’re not the only person you know. Samie is too. She's amazing. You got her hooked onto the show, and then she got you hooked into watching every episode live at 2AM in the freaking morning. You are the biggest bronies out there, and she even gave a couple of pony figures for Christmas from herself and her boyfriend. Nearly a month later, you still think that it is the best present ever.

You took your coffee back to your desk and did your usual: open your browser and check your e-mail, nothing new there; go to Twitter, nothing new there... Equestria Daily, MLP's best fan site... It has a new poll?

Every four years, The Great Griffon Empire and Equestria play out a massive mock war with various non-lethal weapons (Water balloons, pies, ect) to celebrate seven centuries of peace.

Unfortunately, the lack of fighting in the griffon nation has created a huge boom in population, and the ponies need more troops to really relive the epic battles of old. 

Grand Archwizard Trixie has come up with a solution: summon random sapient creatures from other dimensions and transform them into ponies! What could possibly go wrong? It is HER idea after all, and Trixie is infallible. 

She is allowing you to choose a specific role for the war games:

Oh. Hell. Yeah. The interaction with its readers is one of those things that made you love Equestria Daily. With no second thought, you clicked on the option that said Pegasus. A gust of wind blew through your room. Odd, you never sleep with your window open. You get up to shut it, only to find it’s already closed. You figure it's just the air con acting strangely. Ignoring it, you start your daily chores. Before you know it, its 1:30, so you grab your phone and keys, lock the house up and walk to the bus stop. There's clouds overhead. You begin to daydream about being a strong pegasus like Rainbow Dash, and just move the clouds away, but your dream is rudely dissipated by a strong gust of wind that knocks you off your feet. It's probably not the best idea to get caught in the weather, so you make a break for the stop. 

This wind is fierce! It's almost like it’s after you! Nothing else seems to be getting affected, except for the things nearest you. You begin to panic, and run that little bit faster. This crazy weather was ridiculous! You make it to the bus stop and take a seat, holding into the hand rail. You notice another pair of hands holding onto the rail as well. Samie.

"Hi! I assume you're having the same bad hair day?" she joked whilst waving at you.

You laugh a little bit. The wind has indeed ruined your hair a little bit. Your mind immediately goes to ponies, thinking of when Rainbow Dash dries off Twilight Sparkles mane. You laugh a little bit harder. Oh yeah. You're a brony alright.

The wind picks up and you and Samie scream as the bus stop sign comes clean out of the concrete, and the bus stop shelter begins to wobble and give way. You look at her, and she looks at you. You have it plastered all over your face, and Samie does as well: you're terrified. You're about to get sucked into this hurricane and when you fall...

The shelter gives way. The sudden force of pressure sends you, and your friend, into the sky. The last thing you remember is the sound of screaming before the G forces make you pass out