ToE Chapter I: Ponies

>"Ahl' right, Granny, Big Mac, Ah'm off to the market. See ya'll later".

>Said Applejack, as she began towing her cart full of apples down the road.

>"Okay, dear".

>"E'yup".

 

>...

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxljSFgShUw

 

>You're about ten minutes from the village...

>Now safe from the dangers of the forest, you're walking across the plains. There is a light breeze coming from the mountains to the north west.

>...One mountain in particular catches your eye. It towers above the surrounding mountains and hills, and looks rather mean and foreboding. At it's highest point, it reaches beyond the clouds.

>Below it, is a long mountain range that stretches for miles.

>You can't see what lies beyond. Wildlands, you imagine.

>As your field of view shifts back to the village, you hear something about twenty yards behind you.

>It sounds like gentle footsteps, and two rather creaky wheels.

>You look over your shoulder.

>It's the orange horse from the farm. Still pulling a cart, full of apples, with no difficulty.

>Now much closer than before, you can clearly see that this horse is indeed wearing a hat.

>And, at this distance, it looks less like a horse, and more like a pony, standing at just over four feet. And a mare, at that.

>...But even then, she still doesn't look quite like any pony you've ever seen.

>Her eyes are huge, for starters. Her general shape is the same, but more...round, in comparison.

>She's smiling, too.

 

>And, this pony is still all alone. No farmer. No rider.

 

"Where am I...?"

>You whisper.

 

>The orange pony is only a few feet behind you, now.

>As the distance between the two of you closes, you turn your gaze slowly towards her.

>She angles her head towards yours, and your eyes meet.

>Her eyes are rather large, together occupying about half of her face. Each eye consists of a prominent black pupil, and a green iris. Behind each eye, are three white freckles.

>As you make eye contact, you feel a sentience beyond anything possessed by even the highest of the earth's creatures.

>...This is not a mere animal.

>For a moment, silence. And then,

 

>"Howdy, stranger!"

 

>...!

 

"Uhh...."

"Hello"

>The pony.

>She talked.

 

>She sweeps her eyes across you for a moment.

>"From the looks of yeh, ahm' guessin' yer' not from 'round these parts. What brings yeh here, if yah don't mind mah askin'?"

>She seems rather jolly and welcoming...

"You guessed right. I'm not sure how, but I seem to have lost my way, and now, I... don't know where I am."

>You reply, to the talking pony.

"And, I was hoping I could find some assistance in that village."

>The pony looks at you, then at the path, then towards the forest in the distance, then back to you.

>"Uhhh, yah don't happen tah live out there in the Everfree forest, do yah?"

>Says the pony, with a look of mild concern.

"Uhm, no, I don't. I've never set foot in that forest until today."

>"Hm?"

"Somehow, I just... Wound up there. I'm not sure how."

>"Hm, ah reckon I know just the pony who can help yah. Right now, Ahm on mah way to the market with these here apples..."

>She motions to her cart of apples.

>"But ah I can take yeh to 'er house on the way."

"...Really? Thank you, Miss..."

>"Applejack. And it ain't a problem."

"...Miss Applejack. I'm Anon".

>"Anon?".

"Yes. Short for Anonymous."

>"Ahl' right then, Anonymous. Looks like we've almost reached Ponyville. You just follah' me."