"Dad!"
Joel shot his eyes open. Met with a beautiful clear blue sky, the air was crisp and fresh as he took it all in. A gentle wind ruffled his hair and kissed his face, the trees above rustling as they swayed to the slight breeze. He breathed in cool, humid air. He sat upright on the ground, feeling the blades of grass swaying through the wind in his grasp. A wave of nostalgia passed over him. A few birds sang happily from the overhanging branches.
Joel surveyed his surroundings. Taking in the dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves above, the tranquility of the forest enveloped him. Yet, an underlying tension lingered in the air, as if the trees themselves whispered secrets he couldn't quite grasp. Joel had no recollection of ever being outside, nor sleeping for that matter. The forest was both a sanctuary and a puzzle, leaving him already with questions.
"Dad?"
Joel shifted his gaze towards his daughter's voice and his eyes widened. He stared at his daughter standing before him, however, her appearance was shockingly different. No longer did she have the appearance of a young teenage girl, rather she had the body of a young alicorn pony. She was a beautiful mare with a long brown mane with bangs on both sides, a pink fuchsia coat, and blue eyes. Despite her change in appearance, Joel immediately recognized her as Sarah.
Joel's gaze fell upon another pony standing next to Sarah. A striking alicorn stallion with a cornflower blue coat that gleamed under the sunlight. His bright chocolate eyes sparkled with intelligence and warmth, while his short, black mane framed his face perfectly, the bangs falling in a natural, middle-parted curtain that added to his charm. As Joel studied the stallion's features, a wave of recognition washed over him; the eyes and hair were unmistakable. This was his son, Matthew, standing beside his sister while staring worryingly at him.
From below he heard a squeaky coo.
Joel's heart fluttered as he looked down at the unexpected sight. There, nestled between his legs, was an adorable alicorn foal, her light yellow coat shimmering in the sunlight. She wore a tiny diaper that seemed almost comical against her small frame, and her chin-length dark brown hair framed her cherubic face perfectly. Her big blue eyes sparkled with curiosity as she tilted her head, studying him with an innocent wonder that melted his heart. Another turned pony family member he recognized, his one year old daughter, Mia.
Joel lifted his gaze and saw a small puddle nearby. As Joel leaned closer to the puddle, he felt a strange sensation wash over him, as if the very air around him had shifted. The reflection that stared back at him was an alicorn; embodying both strength and grace. The denim blue coat shimmered under the faint light, while the dark chocolate eyes held an ancient wisdom that seemed to pierce through the surface of the water. His long black hair flowed like a dark river, framing a face that was both regal and fierce. Joel's heart raced as he realized this was not merely a reflection, but a transformation, a glimpse into a reality where he was no longer human. The world around him faded into the background, leaving only the enchanting image of the alicorn.
Joel was in a state of pure shock; he felt the fabric of his mind being turned asunder. He was so shocked that he didn't even notice his children walking up to him, and standing by his side. He couldn't comprehend what he was seeing.
"What in the world..?" Muttered Joel.
"Dad, are you okay?" Sarah asked, looking at her father with concern. Joel turned his gaze towards her.
"Y-Yeah, I'm fine," Joel replied, stuttering a little.
Joel turned away from the puddle and sat on his rear in front of his children.
"This is…This is all wrong," Joel said, rubbing his temples. "This has to be a dream, it has to be."
Matthew took a step towards Joel.
"Dad, what's the last thing you remember?" Matthew asked, staring worryingly at him.
Joel briefly looked at his son before glancing down at the ground.
"I…I remember I was picking you guys up from school," Joel replied, his voice wavering slightly. "We went to eat McDonalds, finished our food, and continued driving down the road. Saw a traffic light flashing red. Watched it flash in green before proceeding forward, and then I saw a light—"
Joel paused, his voice trailing off as the memory blurred into a brilliant haze. Fragmented memories of the crash began to surface as his eyes shot wide. He could see the semi truck's headlights speeding towards him from the corner of his eye, its horn blaring like a banshee's wail. Panic surged through Joel, bringing with it a suffocating realization.
A sense of surreal disbelief washed over Joel in those fleeting seconds. It was almost comical, the absurdity of it all—a truck, of all vehicles, was the harbinger of his and his family's end. If Joel had the strength, he might have chuckled at the irony, but instead, a numbing darkness enveloped him, stealing away the laughter that would never escape his lips.
Amidst the chaos of twisted metal and shattered glass, Joel laid there, acutely aware of the torment his body was enduring. The pain was a distant echo, overshadowed by the overwhelming darkness that began to envelop his senses. It was a cruel twist of fate that Joel remained conscious, feeling the slow, agonizing decline of his failing organs, each one a reminder of the life he once lived. The cacophony of honking horns and frantic voices faded into silence, as if the world had decided to turn a deaf ear to his suffering. Joel could not even register the sensation of his bones fracturing, a gruesome symphony of destruction playing out within him. The metallic tang of blood filled his mouth, yet it felt like a distant memory, a fleeting taste of life that was slipping away.
Joel found himself ensnared by a torrent of thoughts In the solitude of those fleeting moments. Each one more haunting than the last. The abyss loomed before him, a paradoxical promise of both sweet relief and the irrevocable end. Joel was a mere spectator in his own life, staring blankly into the void, as if it held the answers to the questions he dared not voice. As Joel's eyelids grew heavy, the world around him began to blur, fading into a distant memory. The inevitable darkness crept in, wrapping around him like a shroud, and he felt the gentle cold touch of death drawing him away from the chaos of existence. Joel's consciousness slipped away, leaving behind the echoes of a life once lived.
Joel surrendered to the silence that awaited him. The thought of being whisked away to Heaven had lingered in his mind, a comforting notion despite his lack of religious affiliation. He believed in a higher power and the promise of an afterlife, yet nothing could have prepared him for the jarring reality that awaited. Instead of celestial gates, Joel found himself surrounded in peaceful sound and color. The bright indistinct lights assaulted his senses, and for a moment Joel was disoriented, caught between the remnants of his past life and the uncertainty of what lay ahead. It felt like an eternity compressed into mere seconds; the truck's impact had been swift, but the aftermath was a surreal journey into the unknown, where clarity and confusion danced in a dizzying blur.
That's when he heard his daughter's voice through the blurry light.
Bringing him to where he is now.
Joel's heart raced as he took in the sight of his children, transformed into ponies, their eyes wide with a mix of confusion and understanding. It was as if an unspoken connection had formed between them, a shared acknowledgment of the bizarre reality they now faced. The air was thick with the weight of this revelation.
Joel trembled violently; this couldn't be real. None of this could be real. This should be impossible! He only sees this sort of stuff in anime and fanfiction! Joel was in a state of pure shock; he could feel the fabric of his mind being torn asunder.
"Are you guys thinking what I'm thinking?" Joel asked. Matthew stared down at the ground.
"We…we died, and somehow reincarnated in another world," Matthew replied softly.
There was silence.
"But that…that's impossible!" Sarah shouted. "Stuff like that only happens in books, right? Not in real life!"
"Well, how else would you explain us looking like damn ponies?" Matthew asked, turning his gaze towards his sister.
Sarah parted her mouth. As to say something but quickly shuts it.
"You got me there," Sarah replied.
Another moment of silence passed.
"But that would mean…we will never be able to go home…or see our family and friends again," Sarah said, glancing down at the ground with a sad frown. "Whether it's in our old world or the afterlife."
A profound sense of loss enveloped her as Sarah's tears fell silently. Memories of laughter and shared moments flooded her mind, each one a reminder of the warmth of her friends from high school. The weight of unspoken goodbyes pressed heavily on her heart, leaving a void that felt insurmountable. She longed for the chance to express her love, to share her regrets, and to find solace in their presence one last time. The reality of her solitude settled in, amplifying her grief and deepening her sorrow. In that moment, she realized that the bonds of friendship, though unbreakable, could not shield her from the pain of separation.
A wave of concern washed over Matthew as he noticed the sadness in her eyes. He stepped up to his sister, slowly pulled her into a warm hug, wrapping his hooves around her protectively. Sarah melted into the embrace, finding solace in his presence as tears began to stream down her cheeks. She cried quietly, the weight of her emotions spilling out in that moment of vulnerability. Mia spotted Sarah's distress from the corner of her eye.
Mia made her way toward them with a determined crawl. She climbed onto Matthew's back, her small hooves reaching out, and gently wiped away Sarah's tears. Her touch is soft and comforting, embodying the innocence and love she took after her mother. The bond between the siblings grew stronger in that tender moment, each one offering support in their own way.
Joel lowered his gaze to the earth's floor. Taking a deep breath, trying to calm the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside him. It's not just the shock of being reborn; it's the overwhelming sense of loss that lingers like a shadow. Imagine waking up one day in a new body, finding yourself in an unfamiliar place, yet knowing that you once had a life filled with memories, friends, and dreams.
The fact his soul was transferred in the body of a pony felt like a betrayal to the person he used to be. So he laid here, silently battling with the reality of their situation, wishing for a way to reconcile his old life with this new bewildering existence. The memories flooded back with vivid clarity. He could see the faces of his friends and loved ones, hear the laughter that once filled his days, and feel the warmth of hugs that seemed like a distant echo. It was a bittersweet experience, reliving those moments while being trapped in the innocence. Each tear that slipped down his daughter's cheek was a reminder of the life they had lived, the joys and sorrows that shaped them.
It was as if they were caught in a loop, oscillating between the simplicity of babyhood and the complexity of their past. Each memory a thread woven into the fabric of his being.
Joel closed his eyes. The tapestry of his past is woven with a myriad of emotions. Each thread represents a distinct memory that he long to revisit. Even the most mundane days at work, filled with building houses and break times, hold a certain charm when viewed through the lens of nostalgia. Joel found himself reminiscing about family gatherings, where laughter filled the air and stories were shared, creating bonds that seemed unbreakable at the time. However, the reality of his current situation leaves him feeling incomplete, as if those cherished moments are just out of reach.
Joel sifts through his mind recalling the faces of those he once knew. Some barely left an impression beyond a name and a fleeting interaction, while others were integral to his journey, their presence brightening his days. The memories of their shared adventures, the laughter and the mischief they indulged in, serve as a bittersweet reminder of the connections that have faded. Each recollection is a testament to a life lived fully, yet it also highlights the void he now feels, a longing for the warmth of those experiences that once defined him. But the most painful were the people that Joel got really close to; the bonds that he painstakingly forged with them had all been disintegrated.
"What…What do we do, Dad?" Sarah asked, pulling away from her brother to look at her father. Matthew and Mia shifted their gaze towards their father as well.
Joel glanced at his children. Their innocent faces filled with confusion and worry, he felt a surge of responsibility, and he knew that showing weakness would only add to their pain. Each tear he held back was a promise to them—a vow to protect and shield them from the harsh realities of their situation. In this moment of crisis, Joel understood that his strength was not just a personal battle; it was a lifeline for his family. He resolved to be their anchor, to face the storm ahead with unwavering resolve, because their future depended on it. Joel took a deep breath, steeling himself against the wave of despair that threatened to engulf him.
"What your brother said makes sense," Joel said, trying to stand up on all fours. His children's gaze followed him as he stood up. "I don't know if this is the doing of some higher being, or some twisted fate. But one thing is for sure. I don't know what kind of world we're in, but whether we like it or not, this is our home now. We've been given a second chance, and I say we should take it. Because I believe it's what your mother would've wanted for us, if she was still here."
Joel clumsily walks towards his children. Once he was close, he once again sat down on his rear in front of them. He placed his hooves on Matthew and Sarah's shoulders—staring at them with determination set in his eyes.
"Whatever is down the long road of our new lives, we'll face it head on." Joel shifted his gaze towards Sarah. "Together."
Matthew blinked in surprise before nodding firmly in agreement.
"Together," Matthew repeated.
Sarah nodded along.
"Together," Sarah echoed.
Mia chimed in. "Boo-boo."
After the group embraced in a warm family hug they embarked on their journey through the heart of the forest. It took two minutes for Joel to get the hang on moving the limbs with his new body. Having to learn how to walk in the body of a pony was quite difficult for him. However, after watching how his children managed to stride carefully through the jungle with each step, he was finally able to stride without a trip of failure.
The group proceeded forward through the jungle. The dirt path, winding like a serpent, was bordered by majestic trees that stretched skyward, their trunks thick and gnarled, telling tales of centuries past. Dense foliage enveloped them, creating a lush green tapestry that whispered secrets of the wild. This jungle, a realm seemingly untouched by outsiders, offered a stark contrast to the familiar comforts of civilization. Here every step was an invitation to explore the raw, unrefined beauty of nature. The air was thick with the scent of earth and life, while the sound of rustling leaves and distant calls of unseen creatures filled the atmosphere with an enchanting symphony.
Yet, amidst this breathtaking beauty, a sense of primordial danger lingered. The towering trees, while awe-inspiring, also served as a reminder of humanity's fragility in the face of nature's untamed spirit. The dense undergrowth loomed like a fortress, swallowing the meager sunlight that dared to penetrate the canopy. It cast an emerald glow that enveloped Joel and his kids, making them acutely aware of their vulnerability in this wild, enchanting world.
Joel and his children rounded down a path that climbed toward a hill. They advanced toward the hill's peak until they finally slowed down just beyond the crest, walking on grass that crunched beneath their hooves. Beyond the narrow hill, he was met with the beautiful sight of the ocean. The sun shimmered off the surface, sending sparkles across the vast expanse of water. Joel looked over the edge of said cliff and marveled at the majesty of the ocean as well as at the shoreline's beauty.
Joel and his children navigated the safe path leading to the beach. With each careful step, Joel felt the cool sand beneath his hooves as he approached the shoreline. The vast ocean stretched out before him, its gentle waves rhythmically lapping at the shore, yet he remained unfazed by their calming presence. Seagulls cawed loudly from above, their silhouettes dancing against the bright sky before they gracefully descended to the sandy bank beside him, creating a lively scene filled with the sounds of nature.
Joel stared at the ocean in awe. His curiosity about the cosmos ignited a passion within him, which led him pondering the vastness of the universe and the possibility of other dimensions waiting to be uncovered. Each night, he gazed at the stars, imagining what lay beyond the visible horizon. The thought of uncharted territories filled him with a sense of adventure, as he dreamt of encountering alien landscapes and life forms that defied imagination. For Joel, the allure of the unknown was not just about discovery; it was also about pushing the boundaries of human understanding and challenging the limits of exploration.
He envisioned a future where humanity could transcend its earthly confines, embarking on journeys that would reveal the secrets of existence itself. The mysteries of the universe beckoned him, promising revelations that could reshape everything we know about life and our place in the cosmos. But he knew a future like that would never come to pass, due to the reality that humans lacked the power or courage to explore such realms. He accepted that reality for the truth it was back then and made peace with the life he lived.
Until now.
A blue interface suddenly popped out of existence in front of Joel. Joel shouted, losing his balance and falling backward into the shoreline's shallow water with a loud splash that echoed in the quiet surroundings. Matthew and Sarah rushed to his side, their eyes wide with concern and curiosity, having heard their father's unexpected shout. As they helped him to his feet, they exchanged worried glances, trying to gauge whether he was hurt or simply startled. Then the family turned their attention to the interface log hovering in the air, its bright blue light casting an otherworldly glow on their faces. The log displayed a cryptic message, capturing their collective attention and igniting a mix of intrigue and apprehension in the air.
They stood momentarily frozen. Captivated by the mysterious apparition before them. Joel and his children slowly stood up, taking cautious steps towards the interface.
The pony-fied family leaned close as their eyes landed on the words. Reading it internally to themselves.
[ Good Morning, New Equestrians.
Welcome, to Equestria. ]
A/N: Finally got the first chapter done. I'm mainly writing this for my entertainment, so I'm not expecting my story to get any attention at all. But I'd be glad to know if readers also finds this story interesting to read. This story is an inspiration of a few mangas that I've been reading since last year. I'm thinking in the next chapter I'll change Joel and his children's names that'll be befitting for themselves as new equestrian ponies in Equestria. Simply because their old selves are dead. They are no longer the human beings they once were. No longer that person. And they would never be going back home.
If they used their old names, every time someone addressed them by that name it would be a painful reminder of what they'd lost. Their family, their friends, etc. They would simply be torturing themselves. There is no reason to do such a thing. So they have to move on and pick a new name for their new selves. I'm going to do my best to be as consistent with this story as possible. And if no new chapter pops up in a while, that is because I may not be feeling writing today or the other day after that. I'll also do my best to keep quality in my writing, especially if the chapter is really long or short.
I'll be working on the second chapter soon (If God wills), but I'll be going now. I hope you all have a wonderful day or night wherever you are!
See you all in the next chapter, my little shimmerings!