SurvivalAnon V2-Chapter 1

With a loud thud, you land hard on a smooth stone surface. The air is forcibly knocked from your lungs and your ears are filled with a loud ringing. Groaning, you push yourself up onto your knees, clutching your spinning head. Wait…you don’t remember falling, what happened? The last thing you recall is hiking in the woods near your home and then... nothing. It was like you fell asleep, impossible to recall the exact moment of transition. Shakily rising to your feet, you tentatively open your eyes, the light harsh against your vision. What you saw before you made your breath seize in your throat.

        You were in some sort of grand hall. The walls and floor were made of a flawless polished marble. The ceiling arched several stories above you, supported by sets of exquisitely carved pillars running parallel to the walls. Sunlight streamed through huge stained glass windows, flanked by enormous tapestries and banners. The entire space radiated a sense of grandeur and importance. But what really drew your attention, were the numerous multi-colored creatures standing around you.

        Your mind struggled to compose a sane way to describe what you saw. They were…horses? No, they were far too small for horses? Ponies maybe? They certainly weren’t any kind of ponies you had ever heard off. Their coats were a veritable rainbow of colors, pinks, blues, whites, golds, and browns. And they wore clothes! Suits on stallions and dresses on mare, as far as you could tell, all overly elaborate in their design. They looked like they were in the middle of a formal ball or dance. Some of them had top hats and monocles! They all stared at you, eyes filled with disbelief and jaws hanging open in shock. Somewhere in the distance, a glass shattered against the floor.

“…the fuck?”

        Suddenly, all hell broke loose. A single mare let out a shrill shriek of terror, and was quickly joined by the others. Ponies began running in every direction, screaming and yelling madly. Between the bodies of the churning crowd, you glimpse several stallions running toward you, clad in armor and wearing grim expressions. You don’t know what’s going on, but their intentions are obviously not friendly. So you simply do what any other sane, rational human being would.

You run.

        You bolt out of the room, exiting through a set of massive wooden doors. Turning down the hallway, you continue to flee. The sound of your footsteps reverberates off the walls as adrenaline pours through your veins and panic begins to set in. You quickly take inventory of your belongings, hoping you have something to aid in your flight. The pockets of your cargo pants are empty, as well as the ones on your camouflaged jacket. A quick pat with your hand confirmed that your knife is still in the sheath on your belt, tucked against the small of your back. You could feel your quiver bouncing on your back as you ran, the arrows inside rattling against each other. Above all, you were relieved to find you still clutch your old recurve bow in your left hand, strung and ready. The familiar touch of the smooth wood grip fills you with confidence. You could still fight. You weren’t helpless. You still had control. As long as you had your bow, you could handle anything, nothing could stop you.

        The sound of numerous sets of horseshoes against the stone floor, as well as several gruff and angry shouts from behind you redirects your attention back to your escape. You turn down a random hallway, having no clue where you were or how big this building was. The whole space was built like a maze, with multiple hallway branching off frequently in every direction. It looked like some sort of castle? Maybe a mansion? You debate hiding within one of the many closed doors you passed, but quickly dismiss the idea as the sounds of pursuit behind you grew closer. It would take far too long to open one of the doors, and who knew what lay inside?

        Rounding another corner, you spot another pony along your path. It was a white coated guard, wearing armor identical to the ones you spotted earlier. He had just exited a room on your right, completely unaware that you were barreling toward him. By the time he notices, you are already on him. Thinking fast, you knew you couldn’t let him get in your way. You instinctively struck him across the face as you pass, using your speed to bolster the punch. You could hear the clatter of his armor against the floor behind you as continue running. You doubt the blow knocked him out, but it gave you the head start you needed to get away.

        Turning around another corner, you spot sunlight streaming through an open doorway at the end of the hall. Your spirits soar as you race toward it. Finally, an escape! Bursting into the sunlight, you quickly skid to a stop. What you thought was an exit turned out to be a balcony several stories above the ground, a majestic vista stretching before you. It seemed you were in a castle, perched on the side of a towering mountain. You could see for miles across open fields and thick forests, the sun just beginning to set behind a range of mountain peaks on the far horizon. As beautiful as the view is, you still need to find a way out of here. The outside wall of the castle was made of the same flawless stone as the inside, devoid of any handholds or methods of climbing. A quick glance down confirmed jumping was out of the question, the courtyard below multiple stories beneath you. You were completely cornered.

        Cursing under your breath, you turn around, hoping the guards hadn’t cut you off just yet. You hopes are dashed as at least twenty armored, armed, and angry guards round the corner. You quickly reach behind you, snatching an arrow between your fingers and nocking it to your bowstring in one swift motion. Sliding your feet into a shooting stance, you draw back, anchoring your hand behind your right cheekbone. You level the gleaming steel broadhead on the guard leading the group as they come to a halt. You doubt ponies were capable of archery, but they obviously recognized a weapon when they saw one.

“Next one of you to take a step gets dropped.” You snarl, shifting your aim around the wall of ponies

        It was no empty threat, years of daily practice and thousands of shots had given you a deadly aim. At this close range, you have no doubt you could easily hit any gap in their armor you please. Even so, you know you can’t take all of them. As soon as you loose an arrow they would rush you and close the distance in seconds. But you were guaranteed one kill. It’s a stalemate, and that suits you just fine. What you need is time and leverage to find a way out of this.

        One of the guards steps forward, removing his crested helmet and freeing his dark blue mane. You guessed he was some sort of leader amongst them, a sergeant or captain perhaps? You noticed a short white horn protruding from his forehead. He was a unicorn? But those were just myths! This was impossible, he couldn’t exist! Wait…were you seriously debating the existence of a unicorn after fleeing from a bunch of suit wearing rainbow-colored ponies? Wait…was he speaking English? They could talk too? Oh, you suppose you should have actually been listening to what he was saying…

“Well?” he asks, expecting an answer

“Sorry, zoned out for a second there, could you repeat that?” you deadpan

He snorts angrily, stamping his hoof on the floor,

“I’m in no mood for games creature, now lay down your arms and surrender or we’ll bring you in by force.”

“Yeah…don’t think that’s going to happen” you reply, continuing to hold the bow taught.

The guard captain looks at you quizzically, “You can’t possibly think you can take us all on.”

“Well, no. Not really.” You admit, shifting your gaze around the assembled guards, “But which one of you wants to make the first move?”

        If they were unnerved by that last threat, they didn’t show it. They simply continue to glare at you with different mixtures of anger and stern resolve. The guard captain let out a small sigh, before drawing himself back to his full height.

“Fine, have it your way then.” He replies, his horn glowing in a pale blue aura

        You suddenly notice a strange tingling sensation in your left hand. Your bow began to glow with the same sparkling aura as the guard’s horn. Before you could react, it was forcibly wrenched from your grasp, the arrow flying upward and clattering against the ceiling. Your bow calmly floats through the air to the now smirking guard captain as you stand there dumbfounded.

“What the hell did you just d-” you began before you were cut off as the horde of guards surges forward. A guard head-butts you in the gut, his momentum carrying you backward until you slam in the wall.

        You are by no means a weak man, you weren’t lacking in muscle but you certainly weren’t brawny. What you did lack, was any sense of hand to hand fighting at all. You simply weren’t any good, and tried to avoid it as much as possible. Unfortunately, any chance of that flew out the window two seconds ago, along with everything in your lungs. You gag for air as you’re pinned against the wall by the guard’s head in your gut. He backs up, releasing you as you fall to your knees coughing. Before you can recover, you feel a pair of hard hooves strike your side, sending you sliding across the smooth floor on your back. Your vision becomes a flurry of striking hooves as the guards continue their assault, pummeling your ribs and face. You desperately try to shield yourself from the onslaught, raising your hands to protect your head. One of the guards bites down painfully on your arm, forcing it away

“AUGH! You’ll pay for that you little-”

        The last thing you remember is the loud crack of a hoof against your head

 

        Groaning, you slowly emerged from the realm of blissful unconsciousness to one of dull throbbing pain. Your entire body was stiff and sore, and you could already feel several bruises forming. You slowly sit up, clutching your head as the movement sends waves of nausea and pain through your skull.  Gingerly, you ran your hands over your chest and face, checking for injuries. Nothing seems to be broken, but your left eye was nearly swollen shut. You would probably be sporting a shiner there for a while. You look around, taking in your new surroundings.

 The ponies must have thrown in you in a cell while you were unconscious. The room you were in was small, barely large enough for to lay down without hitting a wall. The air was damp and heavy, smelling of mold and mildew. The walls were made of rough cobblestone and gravel, a stark contrast to the flawless stone interiors you ran through earlier. The floor was made of the same stonework as the walls, but was cold and coated in a thin layer of moisture. The only other noticeable features of the room are the small mat of moldy straw you had been dumped on, and a metal door of the far wall. The only illumination in the room came in through a small slit in the door.

Rising unsteadily to your feet, you walk over and examine the door. It was designed for ponies, so you had to bend over to look through the opening. All you could see was the far opposite wall of a narrow hallway. You can’t see what the source of the illumination is, but by the way it flickers you guess its torches. The only sounds you can make out are the small skittering of rats nearby, and the rhythmic dripping of water in the distance.

You walk back to your makeshift cot, dropping heavily back onto the rough straw and sending several displaced insects scurrying across the floor. Leaning against the wall, you try to get as comfortable as possible. Now that the excitement from earlier has died down, the full reality of your situation comes crashing down on you. You were in a land of colored, intelligent ponies. What the HELL happened to you? Was this some kind of bizarre dream? Were you in a coma? You don’t remember anything happening to you back home, you just…sort of drifted off while you were walking, and then you were here. No, this was all too real to just be some sort of hallucination. You really were…wherever you are now. Which was where? Was this still Earth, or are you on another planet? A different time? A different dimension? There has to be some sort of connection to earth, the ponies spoke English and this whole place seemed…eerily familiar somehow. Like it was designed by humans, and ponies just live here. Sure some things were obviously built with ponies in mind, like the doors, but you still couldn’t shake the feeling.

You took a deep breath, trying to steady your rising nerves. You would worry about getting home later, right now you have to focus on getting out of here. You groan with annoyance as you realize the guards took your bow, quiver, and knife while you were out. There was really nothing else you could expect, but it still angers you. Without those tools, you feel naked, exposed, and helpless. You loathe the feeling. Laying back down, you sigh as you realize there was nothing you could do from in here except wait for the ponies to come back. Maybe you could explain you actions from earlier? You were kind of panicking at the time. Okay, so you punched a guard, taunted their commander, and threatened to shoot them, but they were chasing you! Of course you would get defensive! Surely they would understand, right?

Okay, you’re in deep trouble here, no doubt about it. Still, you are going to find a way out of this. You don’t know how yet, but you know you will. You’re not going to give in. You still had strength left in you, and it was never hopeless unless you gave up.

        “It’s not hopeless until you give up.” You announce to the silence around you, the words bouncing of the walls and echoing down the hallway. The old phrase fills you with fond memories, a warm bearded face looking down on you with a soft smile, the crisp scent of the mountain air. Yet it also brought a painful twinge of grief up in your chest.

        Adjusting your position on the rough cot, you fold your hands behind your head. Might as well get some rest while you could, being unconscious was surprisingly not very restful. Exhaustion from the first few hours finally catches up to you as you quickly fall asleep.

 

You’re harshly torn from your slumber by a loud banging on the metal door to your cell.

“Get up you….whatever you are! Princess Celestia wants to see you for herself.” A gruff and thoroughly bored sounding stallion announces from the other side of the door. You rise to your feet, stiff joints and aching muscles protesting every movement. You must have been sleeping for several hours, judging by how your body locked up and the empty feeling in your stomach. You also notice a few bug bites, great…

        You try to press some of the tension out of your back as the door swing open. Two guards walk in, one carrying a long spear, while the other holds a set of manacles in his mouth. You notice these guards didn’t have horns, but they did have a pair of large wings folded at their sides. First unicorns, now pegasi?  Just how many types of ponies are there? The armed pegasus levels his spear at you as the second guard steps forward with the manacles.

 “Arms behind your back.” He commands, “And don’t even think about trying anything.”

You grudgingly comply, turning around and presenting your hands behind you. You feel the cold iron snapping around your wrists as the second guard secures the manacles. Once they’re in place, you turn back towards them.

“Follow me, and don’t fall behind.” the pegasus instructs you as he leaves the cell. A few prods in the back from the other’s spear provides the encouragement to keep up. You shoot him an angry glare as you walk into the hallway, earning you another stern poke.

As you follow the guard upstairs, you wonder how this meeting is going to go. The name Celestia means nothing to you, but you definitely know what ‘princess’ means. Maybe this is the chance you need to explain your actions? Although, if she wants you handcuffed, she may not be a receptive as you wish… Still, if she wanted you dead, she could have ordered you executed hours ago.

You exit through a wooden doorway, and are surrounded by the familiar flawless stonework you remember from earlier. You continue walking, the guard’s horseshoes clacking sharply on the bare floors. Passing a window, you look outside and notice the sun beginning to rise over the horizon. Jeez, you were out all night? No wonder you were so hungry, you haven’t eaten anything since yesterday morning!

After a short walk, you arrive at a large set of double door, inlaid with intricate gold scrollwork. Two other guards were stationed here as well. One simply stares forward while the other glares at you angrily. You guess this is your destination. The pegasi you followed steps forward, knocking on the impressive door.

 “You may enter.” a lyrical and light feminine voice answers from within.

The two guards stationed at the door pull the door open, and the three of you enter. Before you sits a being you can only describe as radiant. She’s much larger than the other ponies you’ve seen, it looks like she would as tall as you if she was standing. Her coat is a flawless white, devoid of even the slightest blemish. Her mane is a spectrum of calm blues, green, and pinks. Her lavender eyes seem filled with compassion, sincerity, and wisdom. A pair of massive swan-like wings are folded at her side, and a long ivory horn protrudes from her forehead. Her golden jewelry completes the image of raw divine power and elegance. This must be Celestia, there is no doubt in your mind. You feel a strong urge to bow down before her, to pledge yourself fully and completely to her rule. You catch yourself just as your knees are about to bend, mentally steeling yourself.

Beside her sits a unicorn. Her coat and mane were two different shades of purple, with highlights running down the length of her mane and tail. Both were cut to a straight edge, giving an almost bookish appearance about her. She stares at you, eyes wide with a mixture of intense curiosity and anticipation.

Between you lies a massive banquet table, the entire surface covered by every breakfast dish conceivable. French toast, donuts, waffles, cereals, ripe fruits, several types of pancakes, and much more are all on full display. The aroma is intoxicating, your stomach growls loudly and your mouth already begins to water in anticipation.

Celestia nods to the guards behind you, and you feel the manacles being released from your wrists. The two guards step away, exiting through the double doors behind you. As the doors shut, you rub the sore skin on your wrists, those cuffs were uncomfortable. An uncomfortable silence fills the room as you stand there awkwardly, unsure on how to proceed. The silence is broken by another loud growl from your stomach, pleading for food. Celestia smiles at you, gesturing to the feast laying out between you, “You are welcome to join us, if you wish.”

That was all the invitation you need. You nearly run over to the table, grabbing a plate and silverware. You dart from one end to the table to the other, grabbing portions of each dish as it catches your eye.

“So,” Celestia begins, as you load a stack of flapjacks onto your plate, “What is your name?”

“Mark.” You answer as you continue adding to your plate. Oh yeah, French toast. Have to have French toast.

“Well then, as you may have guessed, I am Princess Celestia,” She introduces herself. “And this is my personal protégé, Twilight Sparkle.” She continues, gesturing to the unicorn beside her.

“Pleased to meet you.” You reply. Oh man, you haven’t had donuts in ages. Wait, is that bacon? Sweet!

“So…Mark, what are you exactly?” Twilight inquires as you sit down across from them with your mountain of food.

“A human, are there no other humans here?” You ask as you begin pouring a less than healthy portion of maple syrup.

“No, you are the first we have ever seen.” Celestia answers. Her smile has slowly deteriorated into a small frown as she watches you, but you’re far too distracted to notice. “How is it that you came here, to Equestria?”

“Honestly? I have no idea.” You answer through a mouthful of pancakes. The fact you are the only human here unnerves you, but you suppose you’re used to rolling alone. Hopefully these ponies will be able to send you back soon, they seem nice enough now but you still don’t feel like staying. Oh well, you’re sure things will get worked out eventually. You lean back comfortably in your chair, popping a piece of perfectly crisp bacon into your mouth.

Your eyes widen is surprise as a horrible, rancid taste fills your mouth. The strip of bacon you ate had turned into a foul tasting dust as soon as it passed your lips. You lurch forward, spitting and gagging violently. You spew the offending substance from your mouth, desperate to rid your mouth of the terrible taste.

“What the hell was that?” you demand as you look up. Twilight stares at you, eyes wide with a mix of surprise and fear, but remains silent. Your heart sinks as you turn your gaze to Celestia. Her once cheerful and welcoming smile has been replaced by a deep scowl. Her eyes are filled with disgust and loathing, as if you were an insulting insect, a blight on existence itself. She stands up, her horn glowing in a faint white aura as you begin to feel a strong tingling sensation over your entire body. Suddenly, you’re hoisted up into the air by an unseen force, your arms and legs flailing wildly.

“Whoa, Hey! What’s going on???”

“What I should have done the moment you arrived here.” Celestia sneers, “You arrive in my home armed to the teeth, you assault on of my guards, threaten my captain, and you willingly consume the flesh of another being.”

Consume the flesh?  What is she talking abo- oh you idiot! The bacon! They’re ponies, why would they have bacon?

“Okay hold on,” you plead, “This is all one huge misunder-GAAAH!!!”

You’re cut off as the magic surrounding you painfully constricts your body, squeezing the air of your lungs. Every part of your body felt like it was being crushed, from your eyes to your fingers, you can’t even scream. The agony blocks out every sense besides the horrible pain.

‘No, no, NO! It can’t end like this! This isn’t fair!’ you cry out in your head as you desperately try to force air into your lungs. You futilely strain against the magical force binding you, but you can’t move the slightest inch. Darkness begins to encroach on the edge of your vision as your strength begins to fade. You hear faint voices on the edge of your hearing, but you can’t make anything out from the roaring in your ears.

‘No…please…not this way…’ You hate being like this. You hate being so…helpless. You want to fight back, to scream and kick and bite and do SOMETHING, but you can’t. You can’t do anything. You don’t want to die, but if you have to, you want to go down struggling. To know that you gave it everything you could. You’ve always been in control of your own fate, but now…

You wish there was something you could do…

You wish you could fight…

You wish…you had your bow…

You always liked that bow…

…

You wonder what will happen to it…