April-ish

(New) Journal Entry 1

Well, it's official. My first journal is pretty much unsalvageable. No, wait...unsalvegable? Unsalvagable? Whatever. So I'm using my spare one that I have for when I filled up the first one.

I had written this awesome, professional-looking introduction and everything. Made up a title, something to the effect of “Living in the Land of the Lost” and I made these references to scientists and adventurers and Indiana Jones and I wrote my signature in the most perfect way after wasting so many sheets of paper and...ugh, at this point it's just too much work to try to recreate.

Point is, I'm an idiot that lost the last three month's worth of writing since I landed wherever I am. So stupid, seriously. I was taking a leak and decided to read some old entries. I think I looked through the first few weeks, about how I woke up in a forest while hitchhiking and couldn't find the highway. 'Take a sabbatical' I thought. 'College can wait' and 'I need real world experience for an Anthropology major too' I told my parents. And lo and behold, I dropped the journal into the river I was pissing into.

Luckily it's the kind with a leather binding so I managed to find some still readable entries and I'm going to try transcribing them to this new journal. However there are some portions that I couldn't read and save because the ink bled too much.

January (?) - I think late January

I don't recognize any of the stars. I never really knew constellations and junk, but the North Star totally isn't where it's supposed to be. [part that's missing] Where am I?

February 1

I've set up another campsite after finding my other one completely wrecked. Must be the wildlife looking for food.

February 13/15(?)

Yesterday was cold & rainy but today is a completely clear sky and sunny. There's still snow but no blizzards have come through in a while. My shelter survived the test since I made this out of tree bark, wood and tall grasses.

February 29

Tried cooking again. I finally managed to make a fire after 50 tries. Was the blandest rabbit I've ever tasted. I need some salt & pepper stat! Maybe I should have watched the food network more...

March(?) 23

I've been keeping to the edge of the forest where I first spotted the ponies just beyond the hills. A couple of them are ones I think I've seen before, but can't be too sure. The two I don't recognize at all is a blue one and a pink one. They seem to be friends with Peaches since they're all together. But it's so weird to see wildlife that are colored like that. I wish had a working set of binoculars so I can make out the things they're carrying. I think Snow's wearing clothes still. Do they have owners nearby or something?

I'm paranoid enough to want them to be some alien life. It's been a few weeks and I'm sure I'm not hallucinating. [part that's missing] but [part that's missing] cooking(?) has gotten better (I think this is what it says, but I think I was writing really quick at this point) because I found berries and tried wild grass too.

(New) Journal Entry 2

It's just...it's just really frustrating, you know? Rereading through my journal was what was keeping me sane when I got tired wandering around, observing and taking notes about the area around me. Some things I can still remember like when I first saw the ponies a few weeks ago, but there are other more mundane entries like in February 23 when I was so happy about making a fire.

I'm sure that a few of the ones I lost were ones that were more whiny and depressing. I'm kind of happy that I lost them. 'Good riddance' and all that junk. I would skip over those ones whenever I reread my journal anyway. Not like I'm missing anything important. Any other entries were either observations about plant life and weather, or else there really were some things very important that I've forgotten.

In any case my parents know that I'm independent enough to take care of myself. While all the money I have on me is pretty much worthless right now, I've done a good enough job surviving up to now thanks to Dad's paranoid survival training. They've never really worried that I haven't mailed them back for long stretches of time. But I'm sure dropping off the face of the Earth for a few months must be pushing it.

--

(New) Journal Entry 5

Looking a few entries back, I realized my notes on my pet names for the ponies I've seen were among the entries that were lost. I'm sure I can't forget Peaches, but I'm sure if I ever get back home or if this journal manages to be found by someone else I want them to at least be impressed by my observations. Maybe posthumously give me an Anthropology degree?

Today I decided to grow some balls and get a bit closer to the ponies, and they haven't yet spotted me. But they're so much more bizarre than I originally thought!

Listed in the order of when I first observed them above I've seen four ponies so far. When I first saw them I thought that just their colors were weird. There were a few other entries I made about Peaches and Snow, but my March 23 entry is the most recent one related.

Anyways, after getting closer I noticed how Peaches and Rainbow had wings. They even flew around a bit. Snow has a horn, so that makes her a unicorn. Pink just has really curly hair and hops a lot. There may be other ponies out there since the four I've observed are just so unique. I'm totally going to win a Nobel prize or some scientific award for my discovery!

--

May-ish

(New Journal) Entry 7

From the presence of a full moon tonight, I think it's the middle of May. I never really paid attention to astronomy and only sort of remember that the moon's cycle determines the months, or at least signifies that it's a new month? Before I dropped it in the water, I was depending on my journal to keep track of the days I've been here. Other than the unrecognizable star patterns, the weather seems to be about the same, with the presence of winter, spring and the beginnings of summer, and the moon and sun's movements don't seem strange to an amateur like me.

--

nj Entry 9

I've seen Peaches many more times than I have the other three. I've yet to see other ponies, but I believe she (I will refer to all ponies as 'she' until proven one way or another) will be good as my Subject 0. The existence of pegasi raises a number of questions. From the Greek myth, does Peaches signify the existence of other fantasy creatures? Loch Ness monster, Big Foot/Yeti/Abominable Snowman, Medusa, Cerberus, Vampires, Werewolves, etc.?

Can I assume all pegasi act like her, or should I put weight into the unique physical attributes between Peaches and Rainbow and at least hypothesize that those differences can be extrapolated to their personalities as well? Will need to find examples of clones or twins to test hypothesis.

I can say with certainty that Peaches is quite nature-oriented. The other ponies when they accompany her are less likely to interact with animals (rabbits, deer, birds, etc.) and have more on than one occasion worn clothes of some kind. Snow is the prime example of this. (Please read Entry 6 for initial unicorn observations.) I find Peaches to be graceful and quite endearing. I almost believe that on some events I may have heard singing or humming. I have yet managed to confirm or refute this because going any closer may expose me.

Entry 10

I was almost found today. First off, I need to make two more additions to the list of ponies, Purple (tentative name) and Cowgirl, so named for wearing a stetson hat. (Listed above) It was unbelievable. Six ponies together gathered nearby my observation spot, all of whom had an animal companion (pets?) with them. Confirming the local existence of: dog, cat, alligator, tortoise. The two other animals present, rabbit and owl, have previously been confirmed.

But it was because of Peaches and her pet rabbit because they came quite close that I had to end observation before I was exposed. This is an amazing find. There really are other ponies out there.

Entry 11

Peaches and her rabbit were waiting nearby my observation spot. None of the other ponies were present. I think it is her rabbit that is suspicious of my presence, but I can't be too sure. Previous theories about the capacity of intelligence of the local animal population has been completely thrown out the window, considering the seemingly sentient ponies. Being closer than before I've been able to make a few new observations about Peaches. Her odd coloration aside, her hair and tail seems too groomed for it not to be possible that ponies take care of their appearance. She has blue eyes, and there was a distinctive pattern—three butterflies—on her flanks.

Entry 12

Peaches was waiting nearby my old observation point today as well. She definitely thinks there's an animal nearby. Whether it's instinctual or as a result of communication with her rabbit needs further testing. Speaking of which, she was alone and had brought a wicker basket. It's contents were never revealed. The sounds she made seemed to me like calls for me to come out. As I've yet to come across any animal larger than a pony, I cannot be certain if it could be coincidental she is trying to attract something to her.

Entry 13

Today I awoke to find Peaches in my camp. This display of inquisitiveness and curiosity further pushes me to believe that the ponies have at least near-human levels of intelligence. Their use of clothing, herd/independent society and domestication abilities of other animals make me further believe my hypothesis to be more than likely true. Consider this: she had never directly come into contact with me and in fact went to search the surrounding area from a specific point of origin. That is, my old observation spot. She did not simply search for me by scent from what I can tell. Her forward-facing eyes award Peaches and other ponies with good spatial perception to have noticed the camouflage of my shelter.

It's a bit awkward but she's actually still here as I'm writing this.

She has kept a safe distance of probably 2-3 feet from my shelter since I realized she was here and kept that distance following me around to the nearby river to clean up and then back again to the campsite. I wish I could get closer but I don't want to think I'm hostile. But now I can tell her hair is definitely groomed and her yellow coat (can't believe I thought ponies had fur, ha) is clean and well taken care of. I think she tried to communicate with me to no avail, then left as the sun began to set. It may have been as a result of my feigned disinterest in her.

Entry 14

Peaches came by again today. She arrived alone. Did they sense my smell on her and decide not to come, or did she not tell the others? From my observations the ponies obviously can communicate with one another. Peaches' attempts to call me out a few days ago supports this. Or maybe they're hiding nearby? Watching me from a distance?

In any case, she kept the same distance of 2-3 feet today but decided to bring her basket from before. She may be coaxing me to come to her to show that she isn't dangerous. I will try an experiment to see if she will try to repeat this again tomorrow, so I won't take the bait.

Entry 15

She did come back today and brought her basket. Ponies can apparently read facial expressions, as Peaches' own expressions are quite human-like. She seemed to have discerned my wariness about her intentions and the basket, and so took the initiative. Like I suspected there was food that she tried to coax me with. Did she think I was supposed to smell the food from within the basket? Going back to the point about reading non-verbal cues, she noticed my confusion (furrowed brow, slight frown) and showed me the sandwiches inside, displaying them and going so far as to mime that I was supposed to eat it and it was tasty (did so by holding the sandwich in her hooves and pretending to bite into it. She then smiled and made the gesture of rubbing her stomach). I decided to stare and feign misunderstanding by tilting my head.

Peaches is quite patient with my on-purpose unsociable behavior. Her ears drooped when I failed to understand what she was trying to tell me. I think she tried to close the gap between us by about a foot, so maybe she feels I'm growing more comfortable with her presence to do so? I surely don't mind the company at all.

Entry 16

I've seen enough documentaries to know that Peaches is also making observations about me. This must mean that I'm a unique creature she's never come across. So perhaps there aren't other humans wherever I am. Because I've already been exposed, I've made it a point not to make quick, unpredictable moves to intimidate her. She is to a point shy, but in the face of the curiosity that brought her to the campsite in the first place I will not say that she is easily frightened. The sheer difference in size between us has calmed me a bit about whether she is a carnivore. She would have brought a pack of the other small ponies to have succeeded in taking me down, unless there's something she can do, like a unique trait. Since I have no experience with pegasi, I don't think it's too much of a stretch to worry about what her diet consists of. Of course, it'll probably be in retrospect that her being a winged pony, it might be a bit silly to think this. Better safe than sorry.

Peaches again brought her basket but this time set out a large placement of food on a picnic blanket. There were sandwiches, soup, drinks, salad. This tells me a few things. First off, there is indeed a developed pony society that has similar norms of food etiquette such as not eating food straight off the ground. The variety of foods she brought shows sophistication because of the need to use spoons, plates, cups, etc. The basket of course and the clothes the other ponies wore are already noteworthy examples of sophistication, but still. The use of tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, mushrooms, etc. for the sandwiches, tomatoes for the use (with spices for flavor? Existence of salt and pepper?) and lemonade all tell me cooking is also practiced by the ponies. It was a bit bland, but still quite tasty. There was no presence of meat in the food.

Neigh-ne-neigh neigh
Neigh neigh-ne-ne-neigh neigh?
Neigh neigh neigh, neigh neigh neigh?

Entry 17

Had lunch with Peaches today as well. She's come closer still, sitting right next to me. She tried talking with me a few times and was curious with what I've been writing. I scribbled what I heard above this entry. I think I've picked up hints of inflection and different tones in her speech(?). For all I know my brain is just picking up what sounds familiar to me and I might be hearing her wrong. I decided to respond much to her surprise. (Widened eyes, mouth opened, wings unfurled)

I asked/said the following:

--

Entry 20

After much coaxing on her part, I decided to follow Peaches and leave my campsite. For the last few days we tried to communicate to no avail and she began to show an interest to taking me somewhere. From our interactions I think where she wants to take me, unless it has been an elaborate ruse to kill, cook and eat me, is safe.

I was unsure how far she would take me so I packed up all of my provisions back into my bag and left the structure I've been calling home for the past few months. I've been slowly losing faith that I would be rescued and I felt this was my best chance at surviving this place.

What I found is nothing short of amazing. Peaches took me to what looks like a cottage. There are small woodland animals everywhere. The cottage itself completely blows me away. It has windows and a front door (like stable doors with distinctly separate top and bottom portions). The inside is furnished, with chairs and a sofa and a rug. A rug! A dresser and a lamp, stairs and items designed for animal usage like a cage with miniature stairs and a small dog-sized bed with pillows, are all present as well.

I've found civilization.

While I sat on the couch, Peaches came from what looked like a kitchen and brought tea with tea cups and a kettle and everything using her mouth and set it on the side table next to the sofa. She seems amused by my amazement. The tea smells like oranges. When there's a knock on the door, Peaches says something to me and heads toward it. Again I'm surprised by the manners that the ponies are displaying, and