"Because I could not stop for death,
He kindly stopped for me.
The carriage held but just ourselves,
And immortality."
-Emily Dickinson-
Chapter 1
I grunted, my long legs carrying me quickly away from school. College to be exact. I'm a driver, personality type, and that means if I see the finish line, then my mind is already there. It also means that when I look at what I'll be able to do during my second semester I'm having a hard time waiting for over another year of college.
I shrugged the thought off, sun already down and a light mist hitting my hair. My shoulders were hunched up with my collar pressed to my mouth as usual. It was habit by now along with walking with my eyes almost closed. People often told me that it was creepy the way I walked. Like I was a zombie or sleepwalker or something.
Looking back and forth for headlights I crossed the street into the far parking lot. My car was the only one left, as I had to stay late. Tech classes really took it out of me. I mean, I could whip a computer to pieces then reassemble it but I had trouble with networking. All those logical software elements went over my head. I let the thought cross my mind again. Next semester I could simply... use a few credits in jewelry, or carpentry. I loved to do stuff with my hands. Unfortunately I was good at computers, and they pay well.
I sighed at my stream of thoughts, them actually passing in a few seconds. I clicked the unlock button and climbed into my beater, ready to go home and eat dinner. Maybe read a little fanfiction. But it was not to be had. My car sputtered to life and instantly I smelled oil. I hurriedly turned my car off and popped the hood.
I lifted the thin sheet of metal, begging to not be met with the dreaded sight. I swore. Loudly and prolifically. The engine was covered in oil again! I grumbled and kicked the tire before firing a text off to my dad and brother. They were the car junkies of the family and I wasn't supposed to drive with the oil all over the place.
I just took a seat on the trunk, looking up at the cloudy sky and cursing at my luck. By the time I got home I'd have to go straight to sleep and then wake again tomorrow for more classes, which would go over my head...
Then the strangest noise reached me. I looked around, noticing that it had gotten misty out. Not really that much of a surprise in spring around here. I looked over to the road again and grinned. There was a horse drawn carriage that was coming from the mist. The driver looked over and waved to me. Quite the cheerful guy, dressed up in an old suit and tophat. It almost made me laugh.
"Hello over there!" he yelled.
"Well hello right back!" I shouted as he came to a halt. Truly I had never been near a horse before so I walked up and stayed a little ways away from the beast. "Pretty cool set up that you got here. Haven't seen a horse drawn carriage in a long while."
"Oh, it's nothing. Mainly how I get around really." I looked closer and made note that he wasn't Amish. I mean, I see them around Wal-marts and stuff, so I know what they typically look like. I wasn't discriminating at all, just being observant.
"Well, seems like a slow way to get around. I prefer the car when it isn't busted."
"Broken down, eh? Well is there anywhere I could take you?" At this I was a little worried. You know, all that stranger danger that is drilled into you from an early age. But I shook that off. Statistically that was more likely to happen to kids and by people they knew, not strangers. I glanced at my phone, seeing that neither of my family members had bothered to text me back.
"Well... sure. Why not. Just over to some fast food place or something though. Would be nice to eat tonight before I have to sleep." The man smiled and patted the bench next to him and I climbed up.
It was odd, kind of like being on a moving park bench. The streets were mostly deserted at this hour so I thought nothing of it. My eyes eventually were drawn to the horse, and all the muscles moving underneath its skin. And, eventually, this led my mind to My Little Pony. A friend of mine had converted me to it, starting with the Cider Season episode. After getting home I had been a hermit for two days, watching every single episode. The man snapped me out of my reverie.
"So, you live in the city?"
"Actually, up north a little. It's only a thirty minute drive to get here for class though." I replied, not really noticing that I blanked out on my town's name.
"Ah, so you go to the school then. What course are you in?"
"Oh! I'm in the IT department." He looked a little worried about this. "I much prefer taking the computer apart physically, though. It's getting harder and harder for me to wrap my mind around those logical tables and such. Was thinking of taking some carpentry or something next semester to help me relax."
His face had brightened up the more I talked and I was happy that someone was actually listening to me for once. I found it hard to keep people's attentions and faded into the background most of the time. Almost like a ninja.
"So, what was wrong with that car of yours?"
"Oh, oil all over the engine again. It's happened a few times before, last year and the year before in fact. Always seems to get me on the year." I smiled and then my body went rigid. There was heat, what felt like fire drawing my skin tight and making it crack. I opened my eyes from the blink and a shiver ran up my spine. The man was looking at me with a worried expression.
"You shouldn't try to think to hard." he said, softly, soothingly. But that just made me think harder. I had turned my key, another shiver ran up my spine and a tear leaked out of my eye. Roaring fore, heat and pain had rushed through my body. I clenched my fists and stared at them, shivering and another tear leaking free.
"A-am I dead?" I asked softly.
"Yes, son. And I am sorry for that. Don't worry though, death probably isn't what you're expecting." he assured me, scooting close and wrapping a comforting arm around me. I gave a sad smile.
"Well, dang. And here I was hoping for something like trans-dimensional reincarnation." I muttered.
His body stiffened and I looked at him. Surprise was written all over him. "Well son, you're pretty dang close. Guess I can skip the nag-fest. Now, most people simply choose a world and are reborn as infants, only watching as their knew bodies grow up with separate thoughts... But I've taken a liking to you. I'll let you choose any world and start from where you are right now. How's that sound?"
I chuckled and then leaned against him. This, really, was a dream come true! And in my world being nice didn't get you anywhere! "That. Sounds. Awesome. At least 20% cooler then being reborn." I already had an idea of where I wanted to go. While still new to the whole Brony thing, I felt connected with that. Either that or Pokémon. I pondered for a few seconds that decided that being a pony would be cooler with me memories. After I died there I could always say Pokémon. I wouldn't mind watching that.
"Equestria." I told him firmly. He grinned and laughed. I finally looked around as we stopped and saw a misty clearing. The ground was completely dirt. "And maybe if you take a liking to me again I can choose Pokémon. Either way, Pokémon comes a close second."
I climbed down and waved as the wagon driver drove away into the mist. I yawned, suddenly feeling tired. The dirt felt like the most comfortable feather bed in the world and a tiny thought told me that I would be alright when I woke up.
That quote at the top? My favorite literary quote. Also the driving force behind this story. I hope everypony can enjoy this as much as I enjoy writing it.
So... R&R? Any suggestions for plot? Any ideas for a name? (Already have the species set, just need a name!)
