>"How...how did I get here?"
>The same voice you heard last night awakens you from your slumber.
>You yawn, awakening with your back against the fallen tree.
>With a quick stretch, you slowly open your eyes to see the strange pony surveying her surroundings.
>You pull yourself up to your feet and dust off.
>Time to introduce yourself.
>As you begin to walk towards the pony, she finally becomes aware of your presence
>She glowers you as she lies vulnerable in a prone, her body tensing as she bares her fangs, violently hissing at you.
>You throw your hands up in defense, and let out a quick chuckle trying to defuse the situation.
>You want to at least be on good terms with her.
"Whoa, easy there, is that how you're gonna treat the guy that just saved your life?"
>Well, you're not entirely sure you even did anything.
>Regardless, it's the thought that counts, right?
>Your gesture causes her to immediately cease her snarling, but she continues to glare at you with suspicion.
>"Just who are you?"
>She gives your form a quick up and down.
>"And WHAT are you?"
>This elicits another giggle from you. Of course you'd be the oddity in this situation.
>You shrug.
"Fair enough, I'm a stranger in a strange land after all. It's only fair I introduce myself first."
>You grin as you point your thumb to your chest.
"The name's Anonymous, but you can call me Anon."
>She opens her mouth to ask another question, but you quickly stop her.
>You've had this conversation more times than you could count in the past year.
"Yeah, yeah, before you ask, I'm what you call a human, and I'm not exactly from around these parts."
>Satisfied with your answer, she tries to get up.
>Slowly, she moves to a standing position, noticeably straining herself as she does.
>Her legs suddenly give way, sending her body hurtling to the ground
>You dash to her, and manage to catch her just in time
"Hey! Don't try to strain yourself, you'll only end up hurting yourself more."
 
>She tries in vain to push you away.
>”Don’t touch me, creature, I don’t need your help!”
>The fact that you’re the only thing keeping her standing right now says otherwise.
“I’m just trying to give you a hand. You don’t need to snap at me like that.”
>She glares at you, realizing she’s in position to say otherwise.
>A devilish grin suddenly appears on her face.
>”So you want to help me, is that it?
>She cocks her head towards yours, staring deeply into your eyes.
>”Oh, you’re going to do far more than that!”
>Her irises begin to form a pattern of light and dark tints and shades of her original eye color that fall into a center point behind her purple in a rhythmic motion.
>Almost like that snake from the jungle book, only scarry and glowing.
>She continues to gaze at you for a good while, seemingly unaware that you were completely unfazed by this little charade.
>You raise an eyebrow.
>This just might go on forever if you don’t do anything to stop it.
>Bringing a free hand to her snout, you give quick three snaps.
“Uh, hello? Are you okay?”
>She shakes her head a few times, blinking as her pupils return to normal.
>As she comes out from her stupor, she becomes incredibly nervous.
>”I-it didn’t work?!”
>Yeah.
>That was pretty much all the confirmation you needed.
>The eyes, that smirk, the gaze
>She just tried to mindrape you, didn’t she?
>You huff in frustration.
 
“Look, I’m not at thickheaded as I look, sweetheart, you try something like that again and I leave you here, got it?”
>She scowls, turning her gaze to the ground below.
>This mare may be testing your patience, but you’d never leave an injured person, or pony, alone in the Everfree
>Luckily, she doesn’t call your bluff.
>”Fine, human, you may do as you please, now put me down.”
>Happy with her sudden change in heart, you begin to gently lower her to the ground.
“That’s more like it. Now how about you indulge me with a few questions of my own.”
>She rolls her eyes.
>”Be swift with it.”
>Alright, now you’re getting somewhere.
“Can you tell me your name at least? What are you anyway? I’ve never seen a pony that looks like you.”
>”My name, human, is Chrysalis, and I am queen of the Changelings.”
>A queen, huh? That explains the high and mighty attitude, but changelings? You haven’t heard a word about such creatures in any of the books in Twilight’s library.
“So what’s a changeling exactly?”
>She grumbles something you couldn’t quite make out, but quickly composes herself.
>”We are creatures that can change our appearance to any form of our choosing, though I’m not surprised you haven’t heard of us before.”
>You furrow your brow.
>So there’s more of them out there, huh? Still, that doesn’t explain why you haven’t heard of the existence of an entire race until now.
>Unless.
>An epiphany strikes you like a bolt of lighting, and you snap your fingers and with a sly grin on your face as you speak.
“You don’t want anyone to know you exist, do you?”
>She cringes at that last line, maybe you shouldn’t have said that.
>You frown, it wasn’t your goal to make her upset.
“I’m sorry, didn’t mean t-”
>She interrupts, trying in vain to mask her distress.
>”No, you’re right, I didn-DON’T wish any of those imprudent little ponies to know of the existence of my kind.”
 
>You cross your arms, she is definitely hiding something from you.
”And why is that?” You say as you continue to press her for more information.
>She turns her eyes away from you, utterly despondent. It’s obvious she doesn’t feel comfortable talking about it, but she continues.
>”Changelings cannot survive on organic matter, we feed off the love of other species.”
>You’re completely awestruck, you can’t even fathom how that’s possible.
>A entire race that survives off an emotion? That’s crazy!
>Then again, you can’t really explain the any of the magical phenomena you’ve seen in Equestria. This place never ceases to amaze you.
>They were practically a myth, no wonder there was no mention of them in any of the histories you’ve read.
Their ability to change their appearance, their true form, and that episode between you and Chrysalis earlier, you gathered that Changelings were the equivalent of succubi.  
>You recompose yourself after racking your brain, and ask your final questions.
“Why did you just drop out of the sky like that? Why here? And how are you even alive after falling that fast?”
>She stomps her hoof, angrily dodging the question, grimacing at you.
>”And why is that of concern to you, human?”
“I just need to know.” You say with a shrug.
>”You’re a nuisance.” She retorts, coating every words with venom.
>You realize that there is far more to this situation than she’s letting on.
“I prefer the term “inquisitive”.” You laugh, trying to hide your disappointment as she continues to stare daggers at you.
>It wouldn’t take a rocket scientist to figure she’s hiding something. Hell, maybe she has good reason to deny you that information.
>You let out a sigh, this was probably as far as you were going to take the conversation.
“Alright, alright, you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”
 
>”That’s right!” She exclaims.”I don’t have t-” She abruptly stops her ranting, puzzled by your response.
>”I don’t have to tell you?” She asks.
“It’s your business, not mine; you can tell me when you want.”
“Besides,” You say with a grin as you twirl your finger around in a circle, “Everything comes full circle eventually, whether we like it to or not.”
>She only responds with that trademark glare of hers. You have to admit, it’s kind of cute in a weird way. She acts all tough, but when push comes to shove, you can sense she’s really just a big softie.
>You approach her and extend her your hand to help her off the ground.
“Time’s a wastin’, we better be off.”
>She narrows her eyes at you in suspicion.“And just WHERE do you think you are taking me, human!?”
“First of all, the name’s Anon. Got it? Second, we can’t stay here. The forest is far too dangerous for you in your condition.” You state bluntly.
“I’m taking you back to Ponyville, maybe Twilight can hel-”
“NO” She shouts, recoiling in fear. Was it something you said? “Y-you can’t take me there! I refuse to go!”
“I can’t risk you staying here another night.”
>You really pour your heart out, trying to break through to her.
>”...There is another place, rendezvous where my subjects have been instructed to regroup in case of…” She cuts herself off at the last second, the sadness hanging in her voice is palpable.
“It’s fine, you don’t have to tell me anything, but if there’s a place you’d be safe, I can take you there.”
>You present your hand a second time. A warm smile dancing on your lips.
“You can trust me.”
>Chrysalis averts her eyes once again, silently staring into space. Without a word, she cautiously extends her forehoof towards your open palm.
 
>You gently grasp her hoof. It’s strangely firm, kinda like rubber, yet it has far more give than you would’ve imagined.
>A finger gently brushes against the inside of one her holes, causing a short gasp to escape her mouth. You quickly move your finger out of the hole as Chrysalis gives you a dirty look.
“Heh, sorry” You say in apology.
>You didn’t strike her for the ticklish type.
>Slowly, she uses your hand to gain some leverage and lift herself off the ground to a standing position.
>Oddly enough, she seems to be doing a lot better now. Her balance seems to be normal. With any luck, she should have no problem making the trip.
>Her speedy recovery is nothing short of a miracle.
 
>As she straightens herself out, you’re able to observe her body more carefully.
>Chrysalis easily dwarfs everyone back home, though the top her head barely reaches chest.
>Her abdomen is a fluorescent bluish color that almost seems to glow, and what you had initially thought was some sort of crown, is actually part of her anatomy.
>You get a proper look at her wings, insect-like in appearance, and riddled with holes and tears.
>You think it’d be impossible to fly with such badly damaged looking things, but the holes in her legs make you think twice about jumping to any conclusions.
>As you look at her agitated face, you can’t help but wonder what could’ve happened to make her so bitter.
>This whole encounter seems like something straight out of a fantasy novel.
>You’d never expect to be holding the hoof of a creature older than legend, let alone a queen.
>It’s as unreal as the land of Equestria, yet here you are, and here she is.
>As you look at her unsure eyes, you can’t help but wonder how deep they go.
>She is a truly a unique creature, and...beautiful?
>Chrysalis’ voice brings you out of your haze.
>”Andl? I’m waiting, are you going to escort me to my lair or not?”
>She may sound impatient, but at least she’s not trying to fight you anymore. It’s not a complete 180, but you're satisfied you’ve come this far with her in such a short period of time.
“Lead the way”
 
>You’ve been trekking through the jungle for a good four or five hours judging from the sun's position in the sky, and you still had plenty of time before nightfall.
>Chrysalis hasn’t said a word for the entire trip as you march behind her, but you didn’t let that get you down.
>You were making good time, covering quite a bit of ground, and that was all that mattered.
>Still, you would’ve enjoyed a little conversation to break this uncomfortable silence.
>Almost as if she had read your mind, she finally speaks.
>”So...Anonymous, you haven’t told me what you’re doing here?”
“You never asked until now.” You say placing your hands behind your head.
“It’s a long story, but I can tell you if you want”
>”I have nothing better to do.” Whether or not she was trying to be sarcastic was lost on you.
>You take a deep breathe and start at the very beginning.
“Well, I don’t actually come from Equestria, I come from an entirely different world called Earth.”
>Her ears perk up, intrigued by this revelation.
“As far as I know, I’m the first and only one of my kind to actually come to this land.” You say. “And I’m still not exactly sure how I got here.” You say idly scratching the back of your head.
“Anyway, when I first got here about a year ago, I was put up by this nice mare for the time being while she tried to find a way for me to return home.”
>”Hmph, well she certainly seems to be taking her sweet time.” She interjects.
“That’s one way to look at it I guess.” You say solemnly.
>She senses your dejection and cranes her neck back to face you.
>”What other explanation could there possibly be?” She inquires.
>You silently contemplate how to word your suspicions.
“I think…I think they see me as a threat.”
 
>Chrysalis lets out a snort in disbelief.
>”You? Threatening? Don’t make me laugh.”
“Don’t count me out that quickly,I’m a lot stronger than I look, sweetheart.” You say with a quick flex of your bicep and a quick laugh.
>A frown forms on your face. She hadn’t seen what happened when one of their own kind, a Zebra and witch doctor, had came to town. You imagine that whole incident was the entire reason the witch doctor still lived alone in the woods.
“But still, after I a little incident her in the Everfree, I discovered that no magic has any effect on me what-so-ever.”
>”We should all be so lucky…” She mutters under her breath. “The way you make it sound, this ability seems more of a curse than a blessing.”
“You’re not seeing the whole picture, Chrysalis.” You say concisely. “But you’re right, when I first heard that I was practically invincible, I was so excited.” You say remembering the look of sheer joy on your face at the time.
“But if you were in a pony’s horseshoes, what would you think it this situation?”
“A strange creature from another dimension suddenly pops into your world without a clue how he got there? And to make matters worse, he, and most likely his entire race, are immune to their only means of defense?” You say with a sneer.
>Chrysalis remains quiet, unable to answer, but her silence is enough for you to continue.
“Hell, they wrote hundreds of books back home about this exact thing.” Your face falls. “And we’d probably do the same to any one of you.” Your words hang in the air with bitterness.
 
>When you first arrived in Equestria, you were already a pariah of sorts. You had slowly tried to ease your way into the community, hoping to show them you meant no harm. Everything you worked so hard for disappeared in an instant when rumors of your anti-magic properties spread, and multiplied tenfold.
>Gone were the few cautious, but kind words of the local shopkeepers or that group of fillies that hounded you with questions about your home. Now on the rare occasions you entered town, you were outright avoided at all costs.
>The sheer loneliness you felt put your heart in a vice. It was bad enough being an outcast, but when you thought about home…
>Your friends, your family, it had been nearly a year since you’d last spoken to any of them. They couldn’t have any idea of what happened to you, but after this much time has past, you had to wonder how they’re managing without you.
>You realize the gravity of the situation. You are alone, and no one knows you’re here.
>The tension in the air was thick as you both move wordlessly through the jungle.
>With a sigh, you break the silence.
“It’s all up in the air right now, I might be right, I might be wrong, there’s no use dwelling on it at this point.” You continue your story. “So, rather than sit around and do nothing, I went to Twilight with a preposition: I’d go into the Everfree and gather any useful materials I could find.”
>”And what good would that do? From what I know, most of the local flora are incredibly toxic, how would that help at all?” She scoffs.
 
>You ignore her skepticism and press on.
“On my planet, there are a multitude of plant species with medicinal properties that are highly toxic at first, but when purified, can be used as incredibly potent medicines.And with much of the forest largely unexplored, who knows what could be lying around? I could be the one to discover the cure to cancer!” You exclaim.
>”Cancer?” She says confused.
“It’s a disease from back home.” You stop yourself from rambling too much. “When I told her I’d risk going on these expeditions to search for plants, she was thrilled.”
>You reminiscence to when you first told her of your proposal. She was beaming with excitement when you told her. You hadn’t felt that kind of pride in a long, long time.
“I can really help people with my work, change this world for the better.” You remark.
“All I want is acceptance, I don’t want to be the bad guy.” You clench your fist. “And I’m willing to do whatever it takes to prove it.”
>Nothing more is said between the two of you, as the sounds of the forest echo around you.
 
>You have a couple hours before the sun finally begins to set, but the hike is beginning to take it’s toll on both of you.
>You’ve become drenched in sweat, your hair matted to your head, and can feel blisters beginning to form on the soles of your feet.
>She would never admit it, but she’s starting to feel the fatigue seep into her body as well.
>”W-we..we are very close now.” Chrysalis pants. “It shouldn’t be..be much longer now.”
>If you could say anything about this mare, she was definitely a resilient one. It’d take
“How far from here?” You say as you wipe the sweat from your brow.
>”N-not much..farther n-” She begins to collapse before she can finish the thought.
>You spring to her aid, narrowly catching her as she limply falls into your arms.
“Gotcha!”
 
>Her breathing is strained, she hadn’t recovered as much as you had initially interpreted.
>”I just need…a moment to catch my breath…” She rasps.
“Hey no worries, no need to push yourself so hard.” You reply.
>Regardless, you fear that if continue on foot like this, she won’t be able to make it.
>You mediate with her in your arms, trying to think of a solution. As you close your eyes, you’re able to make out the faint sound of running water in the distance, you must be close to a river!
“Hold on tight, Chrissy.” You say with a grin.
>”What do you me-GAHHH.” She’s cut off as you heft her off the ground.
>Draping her forehooves over your shoulders and placing your hands below her flank, and begin to carry her as you make your way towards the stream.
>She’s surprisingly light, much to your surprise, it takes you very little effort considering her size. Unlike her hooves, the rest of her body is more akin to a normal pony’s, complete with fur.
>”Put me down this instant! I do not wish to be treated like this!” She complains.
“Hush, princess, I’m just trying to make this go quicker for the both of us.”
>”That’s QUEEN to you peasant!” You can only laugh.
“Well, I didn’t vote for you!” You say doing your best impression of a British serf. “Besides,” You say giving her a small pat on the back, “You’d think royalty would be used to a little pampering now and again, eh?”
>”...I didn’t need your help.” She mutters quietly as she shifts in your arms.
>You smirk, she’s enjoying a little bit of special treatment it seems.
“I know you don’t.” You say as you continue your march. “But you’re gonna get it anyway.”
 
>You make your way to the bank of the river.
“No way...this is just what we need!”
>Drifting down the river are enormous lilypads, they look like they could hold the two of you easily!
>Lady Luck was really smiling at you today.
“Chrysalis, do you think this stream will take us where we need to go?” You inquire to the mare nestled in your arms.
>”It should lead us right to the cave, but just what exactly are you planning?”
>You roll your eyes.
>Jeese, did you really have to spell it out for her?
>You bend down to pick up a large stick with your free hand to use as a paddle.
>You position yourself at the bank for a pad to drift close enough. As one drifts within reach, you toss the stick onto the pad.
>You lept onto the pad with Chrysalis in tow, landing squarely on your feet, the lilypad unfazed by the extra burden placed upon it.
>Yup, she was seaworthy alright!
“10/10’s across the board, the crowd goes wild!”
>Chrysalis is seemingly unamused by your antics. Everyone’s a critic.
>You gently place her down and take a seat beside her.
“We should make great time now wouldn’t you say?” You remark as you lie down with your hands behind your head.
>”Yes, it shouldn’t be long at all now.”
>You close your eyes, planning on getting some well deserved rest.
>”...Anonymous?”
“Yeah, Chrissy?”
>”....Thank you.”
>You smile appears on your face, the sounds of the jungle softly lulling you to sleep as you drift down the river.
 
http://edamame.bandcamp.com/track/my-afternoon-floating-downstream
 
>She didn’t even care you called her Chrissy.
 
 
 
PART 2 END.