Disclaimer: I do not own My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic or any characters or materials taken from the cartoon series. No copyright infringement intended.
Chapter 1: Twilight's Compassion.
The weary human trudged down the road, searching for any sign of water. The sun, though bright and cheery, was hot and oppressive to the dehydrated girl as she walked along the dusty road. Despite all this however, the land she walked through was rich and fertile, like her homeland of Humania. Soon she saw a town in the distance.
'Maybe I can get some water there,' she thought.
"Monster! Everypony run for your lives!" screamed a pony and ran away.
The whole town was in uproar! Ponies running this way, ponies running that way, doors slamming… soon the whole town was barred against the young human. She didn't mind much, she just wanted to quench her thirst. She trudged down the road only for her strength to give out in front of the library.
Twilight Sparkle was reading as usual. Today she had been taken by a sudden desire to read that old book on myths and monsters she'd never gotten around to for some odd reason. It was called, A Complete Guide to the Myths and Monsters of Equestria Legend. She found it completely fascinating. She had been reading about a creature known as a human and had been completely enthralled by it.
'The human is an omnivorous beast that walks upon two legs who's hooves are known as feet, and possesses two appendages known as arms who's hooves are known as hands, which are used for holding, carrying, and manipulating objects and to bring food and water to the mouth. Humans are strong, swift, and agile, able to climb trees, and are powerful swimmers. They are cunning and clever hunters and take great pride in their skills, often displaying the heads, horns, teeth, and claws of their prey or using them to make traps, weapons, and tools. They will also display the hides of their kills, but more often use them for clothing and blankets among other things. They appear in some of Equestria's darker legends as predatory monsters and bloodthirsty savages.'
"Hmm. I wonder if humans are really like that," Twilight wondered aloud as she closed the book and gazed out the window.
She suddenly saw a human walking towards the library! But something was wrong. All of a sudden the human collapsed! Twilight rushed out the door and stared dumbfounded at the unconscious creature. She decided to bring the poor creature inside and see if she couldn't revive her. She levitated the limp human into the library and laid her on her back on the sofa. Twilight then felt her fore head, which was covered in sweat and burning to the touch.
"Poor thing. Must be dehydrated. I wonder how far she's walked," Twilight mused aloud. "Spike!" she called into the kitchen.
"Yes, Twilight?" Spike asked, popping his head out of the doorway.
"Can you bring a glass and a pitcher of cool water, please?" asked Twilight.
"Sure thing," said Spike.
He appeared with the desired articles a moment later. After depositing them on the nearby table, he noticed the strange guest. "Hey, Twilight, is that a… a human?" he asked in a whisper.
"Yes, Spike, and she's very weak. If I had to guess, I'd say it's been a day or two since she last had water and probably several since she last had food," replied Twilight.
"How do you know? I mean, you've never seen a human before," said Spike.
"I don't know. I just have a feeling. In the meantime, can you make some of your famous cookies? I'm sure she'd appreciate something sweet." Twilight smiled.
"Sure thing," said Spike.
Twilight smiled as he waddled off to the kitchen again. She then turned back to the human and gently nudged her with her horn. The girl moaned and slowly came halfway to consciousness. Twilight poured a glass of water and held it to the girl's lips. The water seemed to revive her as she drank.
"Thank you. I am Alex Castaway, but you can call me Alex. Where am I?" she said once she had recovered her voice.
"You are in the land of Equestria, ruled by the Princesses Celestia and Luna. Where are you from?" asked Twilight.
"The land of Humania, ruled by the usurper Ryan Shadowrider. I have been banished because I oppose his rule," said Alex forlornly.
"I'm sorry. You must be famished. You look as though you haven't eaten for days. Spike!" Twilight called.
"Yes, Twilight?" Spike popped his head out of the kitchen again.
"Could you bring some apples and carrots, please?" asked Twilight.
"Sure thing." Spike soon appeared with a bowl of apples and a plate of carrots.
"Hi, little fella. You're a dragon right?" asked Alex.
"Yep. Spike's the name, being Twilight's Number One Assistant is my game. I've got some cookies in the oven, so if you don't mind…" he glanced back towards the kitchen.
"Of course. Thanks," said Alex as she took a bite of apple.
"No problem." Spike bowed out and headed for the kitchen, again.
Alex was quiet for a long time, but after she had downed four apples and six carrots, she seemed rather inclined to go to sleep. Twilight was happy to oblige, even though she was bursting with questions.
As she watched the tired human sleep she took these notes,
'Met Alex Castaway, a human outcast from her own nation. From what I have been able to gather so far, humans are nothing like their mythical reputation. They are polite, kind, and civilized, or at least Alex is. I know it sounds strange, but I feel a sort of connection with Alex. I must find out more about these fascinating creatures.'
Alex suddenly started moaning and talking in her sleep as a fever seized her weakened body.
Meanwhile, in Canterlot Castle, Princess Luna felt a disturbance. It was the disturbance of a fevered mind in the realm of dreams. She immediately set out for the disturbance and found the last person she expected to meet, Alex Castaway, Princess of Humania.
Luna remembered the young human Princess and her kindness to her when she was imprisoned in the moon. The young princess had seen far and deep and had taken pity on the lonely pony and her grieving sister. Every evening she had sat in the window of her tower bedroom and sang and talked to the Princess of the Moon and the Princess of the Sun, keeping them company and even using her magic connection with the stars to free Luna when the time came.
"'Tis not for no reason she is called the Princess of Compassion. I must help her," said Luna as she took flight into the realm of dreams and entered the mind of Alex.
"Where am I? What's going on? Ryan? Ryan! Come back! It's not too late! You can beat this! Together we can destroy the evil influence of the Black Rune Staff and you will be free! Why won't you listen to me? Ryan!" Alex yelled as the image of her half-brother Ryan Shadowrider disappeared into a black mist.
"He cannot hear you. This is but a dream my friend," came a voice from the fog.
"Who said that? Where are you?" Alex demanded looking around the dreamscape.
"I am Princess Luna, Keeper of the Night and Guardian of Dreams. It is well we meet at last, Princess Alex," said Luna calmly walking towards Alex.
"Princess Luna? Oh, my friend! I have longed to meet you for many months, ever since you were restored to your sister Princess Celestia, of the Sun," exclaimed Alex, embracing Luna.
"And I you. Alex, what troubles you? What has become of Ryan that has caused thee such grief?" asked Luna.
"Oh, Luna, Ryan has claimed the Black Rune Staff and has fallen under its influence. I fear he intends Equestria great harm as well the rest of the world," Alex sighed.
"We shall not let that happen. You know what you must do my friend. Come to me in Canterlot Castle. My sister and I shall be waiting for you, but for now you must rest and regain your strength and health. Farewell, my friend. May we meet again soon," said Luna.
"Farewell, dear Luna. I shall come as soon as I am able. Tell Celestia, I look forward to meeting her in person," said Alex.
"I shall. Fare thee well," Luna's voice whispered as she disappeared into the mist.
"Luna?" Alex woke up with a throbbing headache.
"Shh. It was a dream, you're awake now. I heard only your side of the conversation, but I assume you saw Princess Luna. I didn't know you knew her," said Twilight.
Alex smiled. "When I was a teenager many years ago, I heard two songs on the winds of the night. Looking up into the moon I saw there a hurting and bitter pony and looking to the east across the sea, towards Canterlot, I saw a heartbroken sister. I felt sorry for them and felt their sorrow. So every night I would sing and talk to them to comfort them and one night about a year or two ago, I freed the younger to fulfill the ancient prophecy of her return."
"Why? Why would you release such an evil as she was at the time?" asked Twilight.
"To set in motion the return of the Elements of Harmony and the Age of Unity. Long has our world been fragmented, now things have been put in motion to bring our peoples back together, the way it should be," said Alex.
"I'm sure you're right, but you have a fever. You need rest," said Twilight.
Alex drifted off again and Twilight sat up all through the night watching over her.