Title:           Anon in Pre-Equestria: Disharmony - Chapter 1
Author:          Zuul
Pastebin link:   http://pastebin.com/j0LYFZBY
First Edit:      Wednesday 19th of September 2012 11:48:16 PM CDT
Last Edit:       Wednesday 19th of September 2012 11:48:16 PM CDT

>”Captain. Hey! Over here.”
>…
>”What is it?”
>We found… something.”
>”Something?”
>”A creature, sir. Over here, on the ground.”
>”Well, what is it?”
>”I don’t know. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
 
>You are Anonymous, and you are laying face down on a muddy bank.
>A heavy, freezing rain pounds against your bare back.
>You have no memory of how you got here, or even where you came from.
>Despite the dire situation, your body refuses to cooperate.
>All attempts to move your arms and legs fail completely.
 
>…
>”Is it alive?”
>”Yes, sir. It’s breathing. See?”
>”I see. Well, it won’t last much longer out here in this weather.”
>”It’s getting dark…”
>”Turn it over.”
 
>They flip you onto your back and you suddenly find breathing to be much easier.
 
>”What the buck is this thing?”
 
>You turn your head and blink to get your eyes working again.
>Before you stand several tall armored horses.
>With no riders.
>Each of them is armed with a sharp spear, and has a long horn protruding from an opening in their helmet.
.
>”Pick him up. We’ll bring him back with us.”
>”Yes, sir.”
 
>A blue glow envelops you, and an invisible force lifts you off of the ground.
>The unicorns begin their hasty journey back to where they came from, bringing you along with them.
>A thick veil of fog hides the land around you, but they seem to know where they’re going.
>As night falls, the unicorn captain creates a bright light at the end of his horn.
 
>”Stay alert.”
 
>The small party starts to make it’s way up the winding path of a steep hill, mindful to not make much noise.
>As you round the final turn and come out on the flat top of the hill, lights come into view.
>They come from the windows of a tall stone tower that stretches up and disappears into the mist above you.
>Without saying a word, the captain approaches it’s thick, oak door and knocks three times.
>After a long pause, a wooden slat slides open in the door and a pair of bright, purple eyes peer out from inside.
 
>”Oh, captain,” Says a female voice through the door.
>”Clover the Clever.” He says in greeting.
>”Just a moment.”
 
>The door is unlocked and pulled open to let the group through.
 
>“I’m glad to see you made it back safely, I- What is that?!”
>Clover gestures at you, still floating helplessly next to the guard.
>”I was hoping you could tell me.”
 
>You notice a significant change in temperature as you’re taken inside the tower and set down on an ornately carved bench.
>”We found him out in the mud, half-dead from the cold, about a quarter-mile East of here.”
>”Well, it’s no wonder he was freezing. He’s got no fur or clothes! Take this.”
>Clover drapes her own cloak around you, and you no longer feel like your dying.
“Th-Thank you.”
>”You’re welcome.”
>She studies you.
>”Do you have a name?”
“…I can’t remember.”
>”Where are you from?”
“I can’t remember. I don’t remember anything. I could be anyone… from anywhere.”
>”So, you’re Anonymous.” She giggles.
“Works for me.”
>”Well, pleased to meet you, Anonymous. I’m Clover the Clever.”
“It’s an honour, Miss Clover.”
 
>The unicorns make some rough clothing to fit you, then you spend some time in front of the fire beside Clover while she answers questions about where you are and what’s going on.
>She tells you that you’ve been brought to a newly established unicorn outpost in the nation of ‘Unicornia’.
>Clover herself came to this outpost from the city to conduct studies on the wildlife of the nearby woodland.
 
“Is this ‘outpost’ some kind of military detachment? Why does everyone here carry weapons?”
>”It’s complicated… There’s some conflict with the other residents of this land.”
“Other creatures?”
>”Other ponies. Pegasi and earth ponies specifically.”
>You eye the small armory against the wall.
“What kind of conflict?”
>”Oh, don’t worry. Nothing too serious. That stuff is mostly… precautionary.”
>Clover looks at the fire in silence.
“Where are you staying?”
>”Here in the tower. The beds are all upstairs. There are more than enough for all the soldiers that stay here, so we’ll have one for you too.”
“For how long?”
>”As long as you’re planning to stay here, I guess. You’re welcome to accompany me back to Canterlot when my research is finished.”
“Canterlot. That’s where you came from, right?”
>”That’s right. I’ve lived there for many years, since before it was even called Canterlot.. It was actually the first unicorn settlement in this land, when we first migrated here from our sovereign kingdom-”
>She blushes slightly.
>”Sorry. I don’t want to bore you with one of my history lessons.”
“Don’t apologize. It’s very interesting! Please go on.”
>”Maybe some other time. It’s late, and I’m very…” she stifles a yawn. “..very tired. Have you noticed everyp0ny else has gone to bed?”
>She’s right.
>You and Clover are alone on the ground floor.
>In front of the fire.
>The only sound is the storm outside.
“Sorry for keeping you up.”
>”It’s fine. I don’t usually get much sleep, anyway. Good night, Anonymous.”
“Good night.”
>She gets up, walks to the staircase and looks back at you one more time before disappearing to the next floor.
>The sound of her hoofsteps are soon drowned out by the rain and thunder.
>You watch the flames dance around in the hearth while processing what you’ve learned.
>Along with the noise outside, the warmth and glow of the fire is almost hypnotizing, and you are soon drifting off to sleep…
 
 
…
 
 
>You jolt awake.
>The storm is still raging outside.
>The fire has been reduced to a few glowing embers.
>It may have been your imagination, but you believe you were woken by the sound of screaming.
>You lie still on the bench, straining your ears to listen over the howling wind.
>There it is.
>The unmistakable scream of someone outside.
>You jump up as the scream is cut off suddenly.
>What the fuck is going on?
>You run to the weapon rack and grab a spear for yourself.
>”GUARDS!” You hear the captain shout from one of the floors above you. “ARM YOURSELVES!”
>You stand alone in the room, listening to what sounds like fighting upstairs.
>There’s a lot of shouting and the sound of metal against metal.
 
>BANG!
 
>Something just collided with the door behind you.
>You stare at the door, heart racing, too scared to move.
 
>BANG!
 
>Someone or something is trying break through.
>The only escape would be upstairs, where the guards are already fighting attackers, so you continue to stand here, clutching your spear and trying not to piss all over your new pants.
 
>CRASH!
 
>A single pegasus stands in the doorway, staring at you in confusion.
>It’s hesitation works in your favor as you impulsively swing the dull end of your spear at it’s head.
>Clunk!
>The force of your strike knocks it’s helmet clean off.
>The rainbow-maned mare underneath looks at you for a second, dazed, then collapses at your feet.
>You nudge her with your foot.
>She’s out cold.