Stranded - Chapter 1

 

 

I awake in complete darkness. My senses are numb and my mind clouded as I slowly regain consciousness, trying to lift myself back up and take in my surroundings. As my eyes begin to get used to the dark, I make out the shapes of trees, looming over me like surreal monsters, poised to strike. Of course they won’t, they are just trees, after all, they’re not able to harm a living soul. Or at least I hope so. The image has its effect on me, though, my heartbeat quickens, my muscles tense and I feel the blood rushing through my veins as my body prepares to flee. I suppress the urge and force myself to calm down, taking in a few deep breaths.

 

Finally being relatively calm again, I focus on my surroundings. The dense forest around me darkens the light dramatically and blotting out the sky entirely. I can’t tell what time it is, I have lost every sense of orientation, not knowing where I am, not knowing where to go.

 

“Where am I, anyway? Is this the Everfree Forest?” I am voicing my question. The trees here are huge, probably the biggest I’ve ever seen in my lifetime, their crowns touching and twisting around one another, thus building an impenetrable layer of leaves and thick branches above me. The underbrush seems just as dense as the trees, not letting anything through it and the darkness prevents me from seeing any further than the nearest trees. It is most likely the Everfree, but I must be near the heart of the forest, far away from Ponyville.

 

“How did I even get here?”

 

I try to remember the last thing I did, but my memory is clouded, somehow obscured. I feel like I have just been born, like and infant, cast into an unknown and frightening world, but I still can remember my name, my home, the faces of my friends.

 

“My friends!” I gasp. Their images appear before me, all of them, smiling at me. I reach out for them, trying to hold them, but the illusions turn into smoke and get whisked away by a nonexistent breeze. I panic at the thought of something happening to them, they could be in danger! What if they are stranded in this forest, too? They could be nearby!

 

At the last moment, I stop myself from calling their names out loud. The last thing I want is the local predators becoming aware of me. Having read tons of books about the Everfree, I have quite a clear idea of what lives in the woods. A shiver runs down my spine; Manticores and Dragons are only the beginning of what lies in wait deep within the forest. Drawing their attention might be the last mistake I’d make.

 

Thought of my friends possibly finding themselves in a similar situation only gives me more reason to worry. Applejack and Rainbow Dash could handle themselves; they are strong and capable of surviving in the wild, but what of Rarity, Pinkie Pie or afraid-of-her-own-shadow-Fluttershy? She must be horrified by now, cowering under the root of a tree, petrified by fear, while nightmarish creatures are lurking around her hiding place.

 

Indeed a horrible thought, but how can you be sure about that? Maybe you are the only one who’s stranded here; maybe the others are looking for you right know.

 

But what if not? Should I just let them die, being eaten by bloodthirsty monsters? They are my friends, I have to find them, I have to help them!

 

And risk your own life doing so? What would they think of you if you recklessly sacrificed yourself trying to rescue them? Do you think they would be proud if you throw your life away? And even if you would now try to find them, how are you going to do that, combing through the entire forest? This forest is vast, how are your chances to find them? Shouting out loud would mean your certain end the darkness keeps you from seeing far.

 

But this isn’t right, I can’t leave my friends behind, there must be a way.

 

There is. Save yourself, get out of here, maybe you can make it to Canterlot and send a search party into the forest. Most likely, you really are the only one. This is the only way to be certain, the only safe way, at least.

 

If only I knew. If only I knew anything! My own lack of memory frustrates me, I have nothing to start with, not a single memory of why I am here or what happened.

 

“Memory, memory….” I mutter to myself. “Memory, of course!” What if I tried a memory-regaining spell on myself? I should be able to clear my mind this way.

 

I close my eyes to concentrate. I open myself to the constant flow of magic and steel my mind to not be overwhelmed by its force. I reach forward, into the arcane pool, only to find…

 

“Nothing!” My concentration breaks and I fall into the mud as if I’ve stumbled over a rock. I am dumbfounded; my mind is racing, trying to find an explanation for the complete absence of magic. Impossible. It should be impossible. I try to cast the spell again, but I am once again greeted by emptiness.

 

How is this all happening to me? What could have possibly been gone so wrong? I try to stay as calm as possible, but I am feeling my confidence slipping away, making room for heavy sobs climbing up my throat.

 

No. I cannot allow myself to fall into despair. Not here, not now, not while there is still hope.

Devastated, I stand up, my fur now completely covered in mud, but I don’t care. What about some dirt on my coat if my purpose of life has just been taken away from me? I have to make things right. Whatever has happened, I sense I played an important role in it, so my goal for now is to get out of here and meet the Princess.

 

Well, easier said than done. I have no magic, for now, at least, and I don’t really know exactly where I am. I could be several weeks of galloping away from the capital and furthermore, I don’t even know in which direction I should head, I can’t see the sky and the trees don’t give away the slightest bit of information. Normally, I’d use my magic to guide me, but this option is clearly not available right now. Now if I just…

 

The grumbling of my stomach interrupts my train of thought. How long did I lie unconscious on the forest floor? I can’t tell, but it must have been long enough to make me hungrier than I have ever been, even hungrier than at that day when the Princess only sent two invitations to the gala and my friends fought over them by giving me presents and…

My friends… I shouldn’t think about them right now, but I can’t help but to feel guilty of possibly leaving them alone.

 

My stomach protests again and I concentrate for now on the task of finding food and water. I find a berry bush nearby and thanks to having read ‘Complete Compendium of Poisonous Plants’ I can identify them as harmless. I am not able to find any source of water, though, so I hope the juicy berries will provide me with enough liquid to get through the day.

 

With my stomach being silent again, I check the site where I landed. I discover that the ground around the place where my body has lain has been scorched, the grass burned away and cracks running through the dry earth. Even the nearest trees bear markings of something like an explosion, the bark partially ripped away and some of the leaves and branches singed. Even now, without my magic, I can practically smell the remains of the spell, still rippling through the air.

 

Whatever was responsible for all this, its power must have been immense, what leaves me thinking again. I would never try an experiment if I know how severe the repercussions could be. But maybe I miscalculated, maybe I allowed myself to make a mistake… or it wasn’t me.

 

Standing here and guessing won’t get me out of this forest. I try to remember the survival guides I’ve read. I need to find a source of water, the best would be a stream, it could even lead me out of here. Next thing, I need a reliable supply of food, so I’ll need to make some sort of backpack or saddle to carry what I pick up. Next up on the list would be something, anything, to orientate myself on, preventing me from running in circles. If I can’t find a stream, this one will be tough, since I can’t see the sky through the branches. I’ll worry about that later and first concentrate on building myself a makeshift-backpack.

 

Easier said than done, with my magic gone, I have to rely on my hoofwork to get it done. I gather several bendable sticks and some big leaves to make baskets. The result is comparable with the abomination of a bird’s nest I created on Winter Wrap Up and I throw it away in disgust. This is clearly getting me nowhere; maybe I should have listened better to my weaving teacher back in school instead of plunging my nose into books, even during class. But who could have known this would be coming back at me some day?

 

Frustrated, I just take the biggest leaf I can find and wrap a vine around it to close it, so it takes the form of a bag, which I then balance on my back. I’ll have to be careful if I should suddenly decide to run and I keep in mind getting something more suitable later.

 

For now, it will have to do, so I return to the berry bush and pluck the rest of the sweet fruits and put them in the makeshift-bag. It’s not much, but it will provide me with at least one more meal. Careful not to squish them, I wrap another vine around my body and the bag to fixate it on my back.

 

I smile at myself for this ingenuity before I remember my incompetence to produce a simple basket.

 

I now turn to the tasks of finding water and a sense of direction. Water, or a least a stream, should be distinguishable by its sound, so I close my eyes and concentrate on the noises around me. The gentle rustle of the leaves and the hushed whisper of the wind feel so inviting. I begin to relax and just now feel how terribly tired I am, even though I must have lain on the forest floor for hours. I imagine myself being at home, in the library. Spike has made me some hot chocolate and I lie on the couch, reading a book while sipping on the drink.

 

The sudden snap of a nearby twig pulls me back into reality. My eyes shoot open, adrenaline kicks in, my heartbeat quickens. Another snap, this time louder, closer.

 

My instincts beg me to run, so I waste no second on trying to find out what made the noises and take off into a random direction. Galloping through the underbrush, I dodge the trees and thicker bushes – quite a difficult feat in this darkness - while running as fast as my legs can manage, without a certain aim, just as far away from danger as possible. The branches slap into my face, cutting open the skin and ripping shreds of fur from my coat, but I continue to run, pushing myself to my limits.

 

Soon, I am panting madly, my muscles ache with every move and my whole body is glistening with sweat.

 

I finally come to a halt, exhausted and my heart still pounding furiously in my chest. I look back the way I came, but whatever stepped on the twigs didn’t follow me or broke up its pursuit.

 

Unfortunately, my flight wasn’t exactly noiseless, so every predator within miles should now be aware of my presence. With that in mind, I force myself to go on, against my fatigue, and break into a slow trot, being careful to go easy on my sore muscles.

 

While trotting forward, I swiftly check my wounds and my backpack. None of the cuts and bruises is severe, so I’ll do best to just ignore them. The bag has been slightly damaged, ripped open on one side by a pointed branch and a few of the berries have rolled out, but the rest lies safe. I make a mental note to repair the damage, but now focus on more important matters and move on.

 

I still wander aimlessly and rack my brains trying to find a way to navigate through the woods as my sleepiness returns. I feel it as my vision turns blurry and my head becomes heavier with every ongoing minute. It becomes hard to focus on anything and I begin to stumble over roots and branches, as well as the occasional rock. I want to go on, to get as far away as I can, to be sure no one is following me anymore, but my body is making it quite clear that this won’t be possible.

 

I need to find shelter and get some rest. I am telling myself. I am not safe on the ground, especially after the ruckus I caused, so the safest option is to sleep on a tree. I pick the nearest tree and climb it up, my muscles protesting, but its rugged bark provides me with enough footing for even an inexperienced and worn out climber such as myself. I settle down on a promising fork near the trunk, concealed from the eyes of unwanted visitors. I loosen the vine fixating my bag and place it down on another fork right next to mine. I swallow down a few berries before I make myself as comfortable as possible, waiting for Hypnos to take me into his sweet embrace. I hope I won’t fall down here. Are my last thoughts before sleep overtakes me.

 

 

 

A deep resounding rumble awakes me. Then another one, this time more distant. I perceive the sound of impacting raindrops on the foliage above me. With a loud clap, the thunderstorm unloads another current into the air close to me.

 

The rain is dripping through the leafage, but so far spared my body. I’m feeling surprisingly well rested, so I swiftly stand up to gather my belongings when suddenly my alarm bells ring.

 

I’m being watched, out of the underbrush. It should be difficult to see me through the leaves from below, but my plum-coloured coat isn’t exactly helping me blend in. At least I’m not pink.

 

Careful not to make any noise, I lean forward to examine the surrounding bushes. My eyes can’t make much out in the dark, but in a shrub a few metres away, I see a pair of golden eyes glaring at me. So they found me. Or something found me, I can’t see more than the eyes.

 

Although my heart is racing, I try to stay as calm as possible, thinking of my next course of action.

 

Maybe it hasn’t seen me. A second look into its eyes shatters every last hope of being undetected; it is clearly watching me, waiting for me to make the first move.

 

What would Rainbow Dash do? The rhetorical question crosses my mind. I imagine myself, charging into the undergrowth and thereupon being torn apart by whatever horrible monstrosity lies in wait there. I quickly discard the idea, might be not my brightest one.

 

The situation now slowly sinks in; I’m trapped, I can’t climb down that tree without being torn to shreds. I could attempt to jump from tree to tree, but I fear I will slip on the wet wood and fall down. Maybe the impact will break my neck, so my death will at least not be painful.

 

While I ponder about the most graceful way to die, I notice another movement below. Something else is there. Another predator, hungering for my soft flesh? It does not move in my direction, though, it sneaks right to the pair of lingering eyes.

 

The lurking creature seems to notice the newcomer only in the last moment; a mighty roar fills the forest, followed by the vanishing sound of heavy footsteps. The eyes are gone, but now there is a new contester on the field, one who is even more terrifying than the last. I don’t like how things are turning out for me lately.

 

I scan the ground for my newest demise. My heart stops for a few beats as I see its shape sitting out in the open, not even trying to hide in the bushes. It looks like a giant cat with strong, powerful limbs and shining hazel fur. Even though I can’t make out its face, I feel it is staring directly at me, directly through me, as if trying to pierce my very soul with its gaze. No, not trying to. I shudder, I am not able to avert my gaze from it; I am bound to look where supposedly its eyes are located.

 

It finally breaks the eye contact, turns away from me and runs into the woods.

 

Odd, I couldn’t hear any footsteps; in fact, it didn’t make any sound at all. What was that thing, an illusion? Clearly not, it did chase away the beast in the bush. But where did it go, then? Did it just run away, was it not certain of what to do with me? Or did it just want to help a lost wanderer, do a good deed? Maybe, maybe not. Questioning its motives won’t get me anywhere.

 

A thought occurs to me. The way it looked at me and turned around - maybe I should follow it. The very idea of following an unknown beast deep into the woods frightens me, the idea doesn’t sound bright at all.

 

But what are your options? Would you rather wander aimlessly through the woods, without a clue, be lost forever?

 

If that means not being eaten by monsters, then yes. It would be foolish to assume it will be friendly. I know the books, the descriptions of the inhabitants of the Everfree, meeting a friendly soul is as unlikely as finding the needle in the haystack.

 

It could help you. It surely has a vast knowledge of the woods, so it must know the path out of here, to Canterlot.

 

No. I will not take the risk. It may not have attacked me right away, but that does in no way mean I should blindly trust it. I can find a way out on my own, even though it may take me a while.

 

I won’t make myself any illusions, I am completely lost. Even if I would now find a river, I can’t be sure if it will lead me out, it may as well remain in the forest. Plus, for as long as I can’t see the sky, I will have no sense of orientation. I’ve been guided by the stars my whole life and now they are gone…

 

I quickly shake my head to clear out the emotions brewing inside of me. My only option is to walk in a straight line. I can just wander into the direction I was fleeing yesterday, no sense in choosing one particular path.

 

I wait another hour in my fork on the tree; just to be sure all predators are really gone. The thunderstorm still rumbles overhead, the rain running down through the leafage in miniature waterfalls. It’s a sight worthy of adoration, really, and I even could admire its beauty, if I weren’t in my current situation. I slowly climb down the trunk of the tree, careful not to slip and fall. I couldn’t repair my backpack, so I just reattached it on my back with the vine, hoping the tear won’t open any wider.

 

As my hooves touch the ground, they immediately sink into the moist earth. I will leave a trail for everyone to follow, I realize. Trying to step on stones wherever possible, I continue my path from last day. If I’m lucky, my tracks will be washed away by the rain. Likewise, the muddy water should cover up my scent, making it hard for anyone to track me down.

 

I stop to drink out of a relatively clear puddle on the ground. With the ongoing rain I won’t have to worry about my water supply, at least. Looking at my reflection, I notice my distinctive coat colour. A deeper shade of purple than usual, thanks to being soaking wet, but still not exactly camouflage. If they can’t smell me or follow my tracks, they will at least see me from a few hundred metres away. I need to blend in, I need a camouflage.

 

Dirt. Of course, dirt! I take off the backpack and step into the puddle, stirring up the dirt and sit down in it. The now muddy water reaches my kin. As is stand up again, a layer of mud has encased my whole body, save for the face, which I then paint with my muddy hoof. Content with my work, I put the bag back on and continue my journey.

 

Rarity would be horrified and would probably faint if she’s see me like this. I chuckle at the thought of her - holding her forehead, letting out a heavy sigh and falling to the side in a comical manner. She is really good at this, most likely trained a lot to get this move to perfection, maybe made her Doctor in the Art of Fainting. I am glad I’m not her; I don’t have much for fashion or grace. I’m a magician; all I need is power, finesse, creativity and intelligence. If I were to worry about my looks, I might be dead by now.

 

Dead… Rarity. All I can do is to hope she is safe.

 

I wipe the thought out of my head, rise up again and leave the puddle behind me. Now camouflaged, I feel a lot safer, ready to take on whatever may come.

 

After several hours of walking, my legs ache like they have never before. I’ve never been used to physical exercise, especially not to walking on such an uneven ground. Furthermore, my muscles still remember my flight from yesterday. Roots often block my path and sometimes the underbrush is too thick to walk through, so I have to find a way around it, taking long detours into account. My pace is getting slower; I won’t be able to keep this up for long.

 

If only I had my magic, I could just teleport around, maybe even directly to Canterlot. I try a simple light spell again, but as expected, all I feel is nothingness.

 

As I walk on, my mind wanders further into my magic problem. The bond to my magic hasn’t been cut for good; in fact, it hasn’t been cut at all. Nothing is blocking it, I can still reach my arcane pool, but when I try to dive into it, there is nothing, it’s empty.

 

Now it dawns on me: something must have taken my magic, absorbed it and now is in control of whatever power I held.

 

I shudder. I was immense powerful, the most powerful magician in Equestria, to be exact. If what I expect is true, something else now has this power and can use it at will; use it to wreak havoc all over the land. I shudder again as I remember with dread the last time this power went loose.

 

 

 

I stop to run on top of the hill, the small village below, and break down to cry. While I lie sobbing on the ground, shadows circle around me, whispering; telling me horrible things, taunting me. I beg them to stop, but they won’t.

 

I resist. Resist the urge to destroy, to end it all, it would be an easy feat. I shut my eyes tight, try to block out the voices and the temptation to silence them. But the voices are inside my head, unblockable, insulting me. I know the voices, know them too well. They are my friends, or so they seem. But now, they are mocking me, spitting at me and humiliating me for what I am.

 

I can’t stand it anymore, I feel myself slipping away, loosing control. I desperately try to resist further, but I feel I won’t succeed, it is hopeless, inevitable. I open my mind, inhale deeply and let the magic overtake me. I am lifted into the air, my body radiating energy. The blood in my veins stops to flow; I don’t need a heartbeat to live anymore, I am more, and I am above everything else. I can feel everything around me, sense it all, from the smallest insect to the ponies in town. Their tiny heartbeats are insufferable, the voices in my mind a booming cacophony. I’ve got enough, enough of it all. I breathe in, and demand silence.

 

And silence there is. The voices cease all at once, and so does everything else. I sense nothing around me anymore, only a vast void, absolute tranquillity. The power slowly leaves me; my body descends to the ground and I fall over, my legs failing me. I lie there for what seems to be an eternity until I find the strength to stand up.

 

As I finally open my eyes again, the world around me is gone.

 

All I see is a barren wasteland, dead and deserted. The grass burned away, the small lake evaporated, the little grove completely incinerated and the town raised to the ground, its ashen ruins still smouldering.

 

I feel tears coming up again as my mind becomes clearer and realization hits me. It was me. I just lost control, I was too weak to contain my anger and instead let it burst out and destroy everything. I am responsible for the deaths of thousands.

 

I stand there, paralyzed, unbelieving. What did I do? How could I let this happen? I remember the voices, mocking and taunting me. I am a monster, an abomination to be put down.

 

 

 

It wasn’t the first time I felt like that, but the first time I lost control. Maybe it’s for the better that this power has now been taken from me, who knows what I’d do right now if I had it.

 

No, you don’t deserve this, don’t say things like that. You are responsible, you are loyal, you are no monster.

 

Me, no monster? I killed all those ponies in cold blood, just because I felt like it, because they displeased me, because I was too weak! I am a murderer; I don’t understand how the Princess could forgive me.

 

It wasn’t your fault; everybody has to vent their rage now and then, otherwise they will fall apart.

 

Vent my rage? Ponies died because of my inability to restrain myself! I am a time bomb, how am I supposed to live with that?

 

You have to, you are –

 

My internal dialogue abruptly ends as I smack headfirst into a giant tree. The pain brings me back into reality and I realize I didn’t pay any attention to where I went. The heavy throbbing of my head tells me I must have broken into a fast trot; hopefully I didn’t break anything. I should really be more careful, if I seriously injured myself here in the deeps of the forest, it might be the end, without any medical equipment to treat myself.

 

I swiftly check myself over. A small current of blood is running down my cheek from a tiny laceration on my head, otherwise I seem to be alright. The wound doesn’t look severe, judging by its reflection in a small pond at the foot of the tree. It will close soon and doesn’t hurt, neither got dirt into it, so I just ignore it for now.

 

Out of curiosity, I examine the tree I ran into. It’s an oak, but one of a size I’ve never seen before. Bigger than the library I resided in, in Ponyville, it dwarfs the surrounding trees, the crown having the perimeter of the clearing it is standing in, effectively blotting out the sunlight, just as the forest itself. The trunk itself is big enough to carve a multi story building into it, providing space for several families at once.

 

I take a few steps back, taking in the sight that unfolds before me. It is beautiful, a natural wonder, this giant tree. My mind is enthralled by this exceptional beauty, but I notice something else.

 

The tree has a strange feeling to it; it is as the old oak is living, as it is no mere tree, but a creature. The rustle of the leaves – its breath; the gentle swaying of the branches in the wind – movement of fingers; and the creaking of the wood – words in an otherworldly tongue. Also, the slow drumming of its heart –

 

Wait. What was that? Drumming? I must have misheard; my mind is playing tricks on me. No, there it is again, a deep beat, like that of a heart, though much slower.

 

I take another few steps back, just in case. Whatever this is, I know there is no recorded information about it anywhere, or else I would know about it. My heart skips a few beats out of excitement; did I just discover something entirely unknown? Am I first to ever witness the existence of this marvellous magnificence?

 

Thought of having made a new discovery raises my spirits by a fair amount. It’s not like I particularly searched for it, but I always had a faible for exploring. Maybe, should I ever get out of here, I will write a book about my adventures and discoveries in the Everfree; I could become a famous author, looked up to by other intellectuals. But for now, I’ll have to focus on surviving.

 

The rain has stopped; the streams of water from above slowly running out. For the first time, I actually hear birds singing. Their melodies are unknown to me, which is not a surprise; I never had it with ornithology.

 

The whole scenery seems so inviting, so tranquilizing. I feel the strong desire to just rest, to take a nap under the tree. I yawn. I really am tired, no doubt; maybe it is for the best if I follow my heart and lay down for a while, just a short nap, nothing more.

 

I approach the tree, searching for an indentation to squeeze myself into. In one area, near the little pond, the trunk forms some sort of cave, seemingly big enough to fit several ponies into it. I enter the cave, its entrance so high I don’t have to duck to fit through. Inside, it is dark, even darker than the forest itself, nearly no light shines into the cave; I can’t even see the end of it. I make myself comfortable near the entrance, looking out into the forest outside and munch a few berries I gathered during the trip here.

 

My eyelids grow heavy and my mind becomes clouded as I am drifting off to sleep.

 

 

 

I awake as bright rays of the sun shine onto my face. I turn my head away to not be blinded by the light and murmur various curses; I’ve never been an early bird. Slowly and against my sleepiness, I get up and a heavy yawn escapes my lips.

 

I must have slept longer than I intended, the sun is already up and shining. I really should see that I –

 

Wait. The sun is shining? Last time I checked, I’ve been in a dark forest, without being able to even see the sky. What is going on?

 

I step out of the little cave and am immediately blinded by the light. The source of it is not the sun, though, it is something else, standing on the forest ground just a few meters away. I nearly jump in delight as my eyes accustom to the brightness and make out the figure standing amidst the light.

 

“Princess Celestia!” I cry out and run to my mentor, pulling her into a tight embrace, burying my face into her ethereal mane. “You came for me, you found me!” I pull her closer, nearly choking her.

 

She finally found me, now I can get out of this dreaded forest, back into civilisation!

 

I stand there for minutes, tightly hugging her neck, savouring this moment with my beloved teacher, until I notice something odd. She is not returning the gesture, she just stands there, unmoving, like a rigid statue.

 

I finally break the embrace and back away a bit, looking up to her. Her face is unreadable as ever, no emotions at all are crossing her face. Something is definitely wrong; she never conceals her emotions in private.

 

“Princess, is something wrong?”

 

She looks at me, her eyes cold. “I am sorry it has come to this, Twilight.” Her voice even, devoid of emotion. She takes a few steps towards me, her horn flaring up. “But I must do this, for the greater good.”

 

No. There must be a misunderstanding, this can’t be happening! I try to back away further, but my haunches are already pressing against the trunk of the oak. Where did I go wrong? What did I do? There is no turning back now, no escape, this is the end.

 

“Princess, please, whatever I did, forgive me!”

 

She grabs me with her magic, firmly holding me in front of her, and lowers her head. The tip of her horn is glaring at me with vicious intend, aimed directly at my heart.

 

“No, Twilight. Today, there shall be no mercy.” With that, she leaps forward, impaling me with her burning horn. The last thing I see is her multicoloured mane, gently flowing in the wind, inviting me into the Underworld.

 

 

 

Screaming, I awake.