PROLOGUE
Stranger in a Strange Land
AN 994
The trees danced to the beat of the gentle wind, a tune only they could hear. The shuffling of the leaves the only sound heard, until a pained groan broke the veritable silence. The source being the broken form of a Pegasus lying on his side, in a shallow crater. His eyes could be seen moving quickly beneath his eyelids. While he appeared to still be alive, his body said he might not be for long. His lustrous white coat, speckled with grey, was marred by deep gashes running along his sides, staining the ground around him a dark red. His long glorious wings hung limply at his sides in crumpled heaps, obviously broken in several places. His long, unruly, jet black mane was plastered to the side of his, admittedly handsome, face from sweat.
From the profuse sweating and groans that escaped him, it was obvious he was in extreme pain, small mercy that he was still unconscious... For now... He stirred weakly, only for his body to be wracked with a sudden, overpowering spasm of pain causing him to scream out. "Unnngghh where am I?" he muttered out loud. The age old question merely echoed vainly into the forest, falling on the deaf ears of the small critters around him. They observed the injured pony with little concern other than their own indifferent curiousity toward this stranger.
The Pegasus forced himself to his weak hooves. He found that his appendages felt strange, as though out of place... Not what he was used to. He scoured his mind for a reason to such a strange feeling only for a terrible throb in his head to surface. He could not remember. That simple realization frightened him. He did not remember anything of his life. He could not recall his name nor where he was from. The more he tried to remember, the worse the throbbing got, to the point when his vision blackened and he fell snout first into the ground further aggravating his wounds. With a sharp pull of breath, he logically analyzed his situation.
He surmised he had taken a blow to the head, possibly from a fall which would explain the crater and his severe injuries. How he was still alive, was a miracle he did not want to question until he was out of the dank, threatening forest. Yet, he could not shake question of why his body felt so foreign to him. With great difficulty, he thought himself to walk or, more accurately, stumble then crawl. "Come on, you can't forget how to walk... It's like riding a bike" While he did not remember what a bike was, the metaphor suited the purpose albeit, loosely. "Left, right, left- OOOFFF" Once more, the unforgiving dirt met the pony under unpleasant terms. "Oh shit that hurts..."
While his hooves were mostly uninjured, aside from some bruises, his severely wings dragged painfully on the ground... Every disturbance, every pebble, sent throbs of pain along his spine. It was beginning to take its toll on him, from the excruciating headache to the pain of the broken or cracked ribs in his chest, that made him fear every breath. But he would not give up. With strengthened resolve that he would not die in here, he brought himself, slowly to full height. He took a minute to examine his wings, and remove his dark hair from in front his eye. He found that the muscles were undamaged, and he could still flex them, though rather painfully. "Why don't I remember having wings?" "Course not dumbass, you don't even know your name..."
He found it comforting to voice his thoughts aloud, even if it was chastising. He managed to tuck the strange appendages to his sides, making to task of walking bearable, though not by much. Once more removing his hair from his field of view, his large, vibrant, almost piercing blues eyes scanned his environment for hints on how to get out... "If there is a way out... Only trees, trees and more trees... And a rock... Maybe I'll call him Tom and just live out here. No no no... That's just the blood loss talking, besides Tom is a terrible name," he pondered, somewhat manically.
After trotting rather awkwardly in, what he presumed to be, the predawn darkness for some time, the sun, barely arriving at the horizon, shot rays of light across the sky. The dark navy sky began to give way to a lighter blue-gray, and there were heavy, indistinct shadows on the ground around him. A few minutes more, and the shapes of the branches and tree trunks became clearer, though still shrouded in darkness and the textures were muddled. The occasional small animal could be heard scurrying in the underbrush, probably beginning their morning search for food.
To the Pegasus' surprise, the Sun's morning glow suddenly glared throughout the sky, outlining the tree tops up high and silhouetting the birds chirping and calling out to each other. "Am I dead? I don't think I've ever seen a place this beautiful..." he pondered rather glumly. He perished the thought, as he doubted he'd be sent to the afterlife already on the verge of death. He felt a strange awareness creep into him. He noticed features in the forest that spoke volumes of its history. The tales of survival from the three-stroke scars about twenty feet high up the trees. He surmised that the forest must be extraordinarily old. Some trees, a few hundred years old, while others, extending over a hundred feet into the air, just short of the clouds, could be a thousand. The things they've seen, yet no one to tell it to. No mouth to speak, no ears that candidate listen...
They stood like monuments... Guardians... Forever watching over their kin, providing shelter and food for the animals. Even in death, as a large fallen trunk appeared home to several fascinating and strange species. The Stallion felt like an intruder, dooming himself to an even greater punishment with every step he took into the depths. The groans of the wood felt like warnings. He felt eyes were boring into the nape of his neck, but with quick glances around, he knew not from where. Thick ivy coated his path, and he found no way around. He tested their strength and found them very strong, yet supple. "This isn't gonna. Be easy..." he muttered dejectedly. Maneuvering his body through the vines, the thought eventually surfaced in his already panic-stricken brain, "What if these are really snakes and not vines?... SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT"
On that final thought he eventually forced, or rather, squirmed fearfully, through the veritable wall of ivy and landed, unceremoniously on his rump with a loud "OOFF." He took much longer than he thought to right himself as he found his hooves rather numb and clammy. With a glance behind him, he saw the reason. The path through the vines had large patches of red, and his wounds were seeping freely. He didn't have any thing to stench the flow, so he continued on at a less awkward yet brisker pace. "Gotta.. Unnngghh.. be quick... Won't last much longer like this"
The forest seemed to go on without end. He assumed he has travelled at least several miles, since he had been moving for around six hours. But some conditioned part of his brain told him it was possible he had been moving in a circle, and that the forest could very well continue on forever for all he was concerned. He had no idea where he was. It could very well be a different world, completely unpopulated. He hated that logical part... "I need some blind optimism, not logic..." Finally, after what seemed like forever, of his awkward quick-learned trot, the forest opened up quite a bit, with the trees becoming much shorter and farther apart letting more sunlight in through the canopy.
It appeared to be around eight o' clock judging from the angle of the sun. "That's a good sign" he said "But I probably should stop talking to myself, someone mightn't wanna help a schizophrenic... WHAT THE HELL AM I?" he finally decided to attack the question head-on. "Okay so hooves, WINGS? Oh right, saw those already.. Tail, sweet.. A talking Pegasus? What the hell is going on?" The throbbing in his head seemed to intensify tenfold causing him to fall over, clutching his skull, as if it were about to explode. "GAAAAHHH" After a few agonizing minutes, the pain eased enough for his normal thought processes to continue allowing him to observe his new environment.
He had arrived at a brook; a narrow stream flowed lazily, cutting through the forest floor haphazardly, with a fallen tree providing a make-shift arch around one length of the stream. The water reflected the rays of light, almost blinding the Stallion. It glistened gloriously, more so than any gem. The gentle trickling added to the sweet symphony of music echoing all around him, from the sweet singing of the birds to the subdued croaking of the frogs on the banks. Beautiful, but it only made the poor Pegusus' head hurt more, unable to appreciate the orchestra as much as he'd like. He took a moment to quench his ravenous thirst in the stream. Not to quickly, but with slow controlled sips. He knew in his current state, he'd throw up if he drank too quickly.
His predicament brightened considerably. "At least I'm not gonna die of thirst..." Maybe, not so considerably. He took the time to clean his wounds of dirt and his coat of dried blood, wincing as the cool water hit the deep gashes. He hadn't realized there were so many, or so deep. His headache always seemed to overpower everything else. He dunked his head under water, making the water murky with blood. After a bit of soaking, his headache lessened making him groan with relief. The area was still considerably swollen, and sensitive to touch. His wings were another story. One look at the strange additions and his head swam. They definitely hurt, but there was nothing he could do for them now.
His hair was, once more, plastered to his face... "I really need a haircut, but I'll explore my barber choices once I get out of here... I'm starting to get fed up of green and brown..." "Shouldn't be too hard to find a town or something... Just follow the river upstream... Or is it downstream? Oh well I've got a fifty-fifty shot..." Walking with an actual direction allowed him to cover more distance, now that he was properly motivated. However, after half an hour of trekking, his breathing became more and more strained and laboured.
Exhaustion and blood loss was creeping up on him. It seemed pointless to him now. He had no idea where he was, everything was so strange. For all he knew salvation was a mere dozen feet to his left or right and he'd never know. In this strange land, how would he know they'd even be willing to help, especially a strange creature such as himself. The sun, on his right shoulder, taunted him with his own shadow. Large, equine-shaped, his wings adding prominent lumps on his sides."What am I? Who am I?" The questions kept compounding and rattling around inside him. "Not even a name..." Everything taken from him, with little chance to get it back.
Black dots danced in front his eyes and his head swam sickeningly, causing him to collapse on his side, his hooves no longer able to support his weight. He felt as though the ground had him tied, unable to move, barely able to breathe. Every breath brought a sharp pain in his chest. "This can't be it... Not now... Not here..." Beautiful rays of sunlight broke through the canopy, landing gently on his face. Birds singing a rather melancholy tune seemed to circle him."At least I've got a view, and an audience..." he muttered as he allowed gently felt into the cold embrace of unconsciousness, the chirping of the birds and trickling of the stream seemingly following him into the afterlife, ultimately fading into the oblivion.
A lone zebra filly was wandering on the edge of her tribe's village. Her mother would yell at her if she found out but the river bank was the only place the get the shiny rocks for her collection. She had the biggest out of all her friends, because they didn't know where to look. The little filly enjoyed just walking in the forest, and talking to all the little birds and critters. She didn't mind if they couldn't talk back, just that they'd always be there to listen. Especially when her father gets angry, because she can't talk to anybody in the village about it.
He's really important, and they wouldn't like it when you say bad things about him. The animals are always there to listen, and she could've sworn they were nodding or shaking their little heads sometimes. She had to get back to her hut quickly or her mother would get mad, so she ran as fast as her stubby little legs would carry her. Her brown body moved swiftly through the undergrowth, the path memorized from her frequent visits. Her hair, done in a Mohawk style, rustled as she ran, the occasional leaf getting stuck. Her seas-green eyes darted about with that unique child-like curiousity, always trying to take in as much as possible. But a disturbance made her stop in her tracks. It sounded like heavy hoofsteps, the kind her father makes, so whoever was making them must've been really big.
She moved quietly, with tiny hoofsteps like a mouse, darting from bush to bush, to observe this big zebra. Maybe it'd be her friend? What she saw scared her but also fascinated her. Trotting clumsily near her brook was a strange looking Zebra with a stripe-less white coat and wings like a bird! Could you believe it? Her father used to talk about a kind of Zebra that could fly but she never believed him. Wait till her friends hear about this! But she was scared to talk to him. He was so big and he looked like he was in a bad fight... Maybe he made someone mad? Or maybe someone was just mean to him... He looks so sad.
He started saying something, and for a minute she thought he was talking to her. Her heartbeat calmed after she saw that he was talking to no one... "Hehehe he's funny," she said in a cute high-pitched voice, with a slight twisp on her S's. She yelped as she saw him fall to the ground and she thought he had tripped. She started to make her way slowly to him. He was lying on his side, and she could see he was hurt pretty bad, like almost as bad as that time she fell down the well in the village. His hair was now almost entirely covering his face.
"He snores really loud," she said with a confused turn of her head.
A young zebra paced purposefully in the small thatched-roof ward. She was young with the usual zebra-striped pattern, but in a much lighter palette of tan and an Earthy brown. A cutie mark of a staff with a serpent wrapped around, adorned her flank. She always had many patients to deal with on a daily basis, either a mischievous foal who decided to eat the pretty blue flower, or two Stallions hyped up on too much testosterone decide to mash skulls... Let them fight as they please but why leave her to deal with the concussions? She already had so much to deal with. Since Madame Zecora was chosen to be the village Shaman, Vaidya had to take over for her as healer. While she was very happy for the Madam, Shaman being a huge honour in their community, she missed the company of her mentor, and at times a mother. Even Vaidya's daughter, Ume, looked up to Madame as she would a Grandmother or Aunt. Ume... Vaidya loved her little girl to death but she could be such a troublemaker, though not as much as her father. Clan Leader Zo was highly respected in their community, for his harsh, to-the-point attitude and his tendency to cause Clan Wars over the smallest infarctions. Most recently, the neighbouring tribe had accidentally let a goat wander into their territory. Needless to say, Zo saw this as an act of "invasion" and saw fit to go to war. Thinking back to that moment, the zebra facehoofed in frustration.
While he was never the man she'd have wanted to marry, she had no choice in the matter. Arranged marriages were commonplace, and even expected in their society. She had no regrets though, for Zo gave had gifted her with a beautiful daughter. However, Zo did not condone her career path. He would rather her stay at home to raise Ume, but given Vaidya's skill as a healer and the village's need, he could not argue.. And he is a hard man to argue with. He was not very keen on her spending so much time with Madam Zecora, whom he thought was "too free thinking." She had always been a kind and well-respected mare, something of a village idol. Known for her incredible beauty and boundless perspective, she was something of a mother to everypony in the Clan. No one knows how old she really is, some elders remember her exactly as she is, even in the time of their youth. Most attribute it to her knowledge of herbs and potions, second-to-none. Others think of her as a Goddess, under the guise of a healer. When you hear her speak however, even the second seems possible. Her melodic rhymes seem to explain exactly what wears on your heart. She seems to know a cure to every ailment, from a runny nose to debilitating pains, even those of the mind. She has been known to act as counsellor, from bickering couples to broken warriors who have seen too much.
"How are you today Miss June?" The pained groans of the elderly mare broke her out of her reverie. She spoke in her usual kind, caring, almost singing voice. Some of her patients like to tell her they comeback just to hear her beautiful voice. "My chest pains me Vaidya, I fear this may be the End!" she moaned, rather melodramatically. "That's what you said last time, besides it's just a bit of heartburn. Nothing to worry about, I will get you some antacid." "Hmmpphhh... Maybe I would not have heartburn if you were a better cook" The wrinkly zebra with the dark, almost purple, coat and bright yellow stripes only slightly faded with bits of grey, blew a rather undignified raspberry at her attending. Vaidya smiled at her antics, always counting on June to cheer her up. "Has your son come to visit you yet?" Judging from the sad, distant look she received, she knew the answer. "Do not worry June, I'm sure he will come soon. There is always much to do as a Warrior." The old mare seemed to take her words to heart since she smiled thankfully. It pained her greatly to think that the poor old mare would not have much longer. She fought the tears threatening to break, and steeled herself with her healer's mask. Calm, focus, determination; all the thing needed to be a successful healer. She would not last long if she stopped to cry over every eventual loss, otherwise she would never get any work done, and her young heart would be torn by so many tragedies. She spent the next several hours replacing bedpans and soiled bed sheets, stopping only to catch her breath and stock up on potions.
Despites its taxing nature, she truly loved her job. Saving lives, and healing the sick was her passion, however, it stole time from her daughter.. sweet sweet Ume. Ume understood why her mother could not be around much, but Vaidya hoped she would not grow bitter or feel that she puts her job ahead of her. She was doubtful of this, as Ume was far too sweet a girl, and she knew how much she loved her daughter, despite how much of a hoof-ful she could be. She always had a knack for getting into trouble without meaning to, but one look into those bright, innocent, leaf green eyes made it impossible to do anything but cuddle her. Speaking of Ume, Vaidya glanced at the Sun out the window. It was getting late, and Ume hadn't been to see her yet. She hoped she wasn't in the forest again. It terrified her to think of the animals lurking in the shadows while her sweet little girl was trotting carelessly past. It terrified her so much that she even started packing up to go looking for her. While the young zebra was replacing potion bottles, she heard a voice that rattled her to her very core, filling her with dread. Her motherly instincts screamed at her, as she heard Ume's high-pitched screaming echoing though the village. "MOMMMMYYYYY!" The little filly was running at full speed, which in retrospect isn't very fast for one with such stubby little hooves. She nimbly avoided her neighbours balancing water jugs on their heads. Curious villages began to peer out their huts to see what the commotion was about. "What is it little on?! What are you yelling about?" chastised her mother. Ume took a deep breath before she explained in rapid fire words.
"Iwaswalkingintheforrestcolle ctingrocksbutthenIheardsomep onywalkingandhesoundedreally reallyloudbutwhenIlookeditwa safunnylookingzebrawithoutan ystripesandwithwingsandhewas talkingtohimselfbuthewashurt reallybadandIdon'tthinkhe'sbreathingsogood! PLEASE HELP HIM MOMMY!" How she managed to say all that on one lungful of air, no one would ever know. Vaidya felt her eye twitch after the outburst and her head throbbed trying to interpret what she assumed were words. It dawned on her after a moment, her eyes widening in surprise... and a little excitement. *A Pegasus in Aarde? This is incredible! Oh I do hope we can reach him in time.. But what is he doing here?* Zo came thundering past the huts, apparently to investigate the disturbance, onlookers shrinking from his crushing gaze. His heavy steps seemed to shake the very ground, his presence inciting the "fight or flight" response. But Vaidya has been married to him for too long to be intimidated, even by his booming voice. "What is going on here?" he roared. While he may seem angry, this was merely his normal, gruff speaking voice. Nonchalantly, the healer replied, "Little Ume discovered an injured Pegasus in the forest, I was just abo-" "A PEGASUS?! This is it.. The invasion we have been waiting for from... the Equestrians!"
"No you have expected it, while we were all very happy with trading with those peaceful people. It is just a pony who is lost and hurt, now if you'll excuse me-"
Her fellow Zebras backed away from her, stunned by her callous tone with which she spoke to their leader in. "YOU DARE SPEAK TO ME IN SU-" He received the worst death stare of his entire life. Entire armies had fallen to his feet, hydras slain by his very hooves, he thought he feared nothing, until the day he married her. He gulped nervously but a look of stubborn pride was still apparent, although it was hiding a deep fear for the mare that held his stallionhood in an almost literal vice. "Sorry sweetheart..." he mumbled unintelligibly to the surprise of the gathering of villagers who were wondering what sort of witchcraft she had used on their, usually, painfully stubborn and ignorant Leader."I will need two of your strongest stallions, while I fetch a stretcher," said the mare. Unused to being ordered around, he grumbled several rather profane words and called out to two of his guards. Vaidya instructed her daughter to stay by the hut, to which she begrudgingly obeyed. Within minutes, the group were bolting through the forest toward the Pegasus. It did not take long to reach him. One look at the Stallion and Vaidya felt her stomach sink. She had her work cut-out for her. He was in extremely bad shape, apparent from his erratic and laboured breathing and the trail of blood leading several hundred feet upstream. "Hmmmph... He's a strong one to have travelled that far" he grunted. She was not sure if Zo was impressed or inconvenienced.
The sun was beginning to dip, so they worked quickly placing him on the stretcher. He mumbled something in his unconscious state, but Vaidya had too much work ahead of her to care. Back at the medical hut, little Ume was waiting patiently outside for any news on her new friend. Inside, the Vaidya and Madam Zecora worked feverishly to save the injured Pony. "His heart is strong and beating, but his body is waning." Her rhythmic voice not as comforting as she'd hoped in this situation. It was a miracle the Pegasus had survived as long as he had with injuries as extensive as they were. He had multiple broken wings, not to mention the deep gashes that running along his sides and chest and his mangled wings. While they had no experience with his kind, it was a relatively simple matter of shifting the tiny bones in his wings back into place and bandaging them tightly. In that time, he was given various salves and potions to ease his pain but it barely took the edge off. Guards had to be called in to hold him steady while they set his bones, and even in his state, they found him to be incredibly strong.
Beads of cold sweat ran down his face, his sopping mane obscuring his face, but his eyes shone through... half-lidded, stricken in agony. After several grueling hours of work, Vaidya and Madam Zecora finally had him stabilized. He asleep, though rather fitfully. Ume had fallen asleep just outside the Pegasus' room, drooling slightly on the chair. The cute scene helped ease her stress. "There is something strange about this pony, It might be best we not leave him lonely" The young healer had not noticed the wise Shaman by her side. "Where do you think he came from Madam?" Vaidya inquired. "I am sure we can ask when he is awake, If he does not object, We have not seen many of his kind here, 'Tis very rare, But Equestrians are peaceful ponies, He should make for nice company." Zecora's words put her mind at ease. She was always wary of strangers, even among her own kind. She had never seen an Equestrian before, and while exciting, he scared her. She knew nothing about him, his life... his intentions... "You are tired Vaidya, Leave him in my care, Take your girl to bed, And I will see to his need." "Oh but Madam Zecora, I am sure you are far too bu-" Zecora silenced her with a hoof. Vaidya smiled gratefully, and Zecora took her in a motherly embrace. "Rest."
She took Ume on her back as she trotted lethargically to her home. Zecora sat patiently by the stranger's bed, watching the gentle rise and fall of his chest. He was finally sleeping peacefully.