Tales of Equestria Prologue 1

>It's cold...

 

>You're returning home after a long walk. Long walks aren't a regular thing for you, but you thought it would do you good to get out of the house for a while. Plus, the power company is replacing all the old cables in your street meaning you'll have no power until tonight, so you can't spend all day online or playing games as usual.

>The wind from earlier in the day is now absent, and it's started raining.

>You weren't expecting rain, so you were absolutely drenched without your umbrella.

>This wouldn't have been much of a problem, if it wasn't for the cold.

>Still an hour or so from your home, you decide to take a shortcut through the forest, which should save you some time.

>The old trees will shield you from the pouring rain, too.

>As you're walking through the forest, you spot an odd looking owl in a tree some fifty feet away.

>He sure looks... misshapen compared to the other owls you've seen before.

>Seconds after you meet his gaze, he flies off.

>Strange.

 

>As you come across the river that runs through the forest, you notice it's gotten foggy.

>The fog soon becomes thick, until you can barely see anything beyond thirty feet or so.

>After a few minutes, you reach the old bridge that stretches across the river.

>As old as it may be, this bridge sure is sturdy. You remember hearing it was built before the first world war.

>It's quite long, too. Because of the fog, you can't even see the middle from your side of the river.

>You begin walking across. You hear no creaking from the wooden planks as you walk- just the sound of your own footsteps.

>Sturdy, indeed.

 

 

>As you approach the center of the bridge, the fog obscures both sides of the river bank. Greyness, everywhere. You continue walking across.

>...You really should have reached the other side by now.

>You can't help but feel that the fog is somehow keeping you from your destination.

>Not only that, but you feel an electrical disturbance around you. You can hear small thumping sounds, but from where they originate you do not know.

>You start walking faster.

>A couple of seconds later, you see the other side of the river bank.

>As you step off the bridge, you notice the ground feels different. The soil feels softer than it did on the other side of the bridge.

>The trees around you look less rugged than the ones from before, too.

>Though, it's hard to tell. It's gotten dark rather quickly.

>It's gotten colder, too.

 

>You continue walking through the forest.

>You should have reached the outskirts of town, by now.

>But, you have not.

>You aren't lost, surely? You've walked through this forest many, many times before.

>But it now feels unfamiliar.

>The dirt path is different than you remember. You remember it being narrow, and straight. This path was several feet wider, and undulated somewhat.

>You're lost. And it's dark. And raining.

>And foggy.

 

>You walk for another hour, and aren't any closer to your home.

>And then, in the distance, you make something out.

>An old, decrepit castle. Surely centuries old.

>Wasting no time, you hurry to the castle and go inside, taking shelter from the now heavy rain. Much of the castle's roof has collapsed, but there is still enough of it left to provide cover. Inside, there are some worn but ornate horse statues.

>Like it or not, you were spending the night here. You'll have to find your way home in the morning.

>You briefly go back outside to collect some fallen branches, and hurry back inside with ten relatively dry branches which will do nicely for a fire.

>Lightning flashes in the distance. Seconds later, thunder follows.

>You neatly arrange the branches, and take out your lighter. There is just enough fuel to get the fire going.

>You toss the spent lighter into the flames. After a few seconds, the plastic begins to melt away and the residual drops of fuel ignite and crackle.

>For an abandoned castle, this place isn't as creepy as you would have expected.

>The stone bench you're lying on certianly isn't comfortable, though.

>Your fire is now burning rather nicely.

>After a few minutes, your eyes close with a little hesitation, and you fall into a deep, empty sleep.