KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

“Sure hope that they’re still up,” I scratched the back of my head as I wait. Nero was still sitting on the top of my head. “Do you know the person or pony who lives here buddy?”

Hoo

“A pegasus? Wait, how is that I can understand you now?” I looked at my companion who only tilted its head and what I assumed was I shrug from the way its wings moved. “Okay, that’s fair. Another, very important, question. Boy or girl?”

HooHoo

“Girl. Got it. Do you like the name Nero or do you want a different one?” I asked only to receive a peck. “Ow. Guess you like that name then.” I heard someone in the house clamoring around on the second story of the cottage and then I saw a light turn on. “Man, it must be really late if I woke them up or they just wake from an awesome dream from that commotion.”

Hoo

I heard the sound of footsteps coming down a flight of stairs and then I heard someone behind the door. There was a small light in the window. Not much of anything really. Just enough to see, so it must have been a candle of some kind. I was in Equestria according to that note the Gambler left me and from what I remember they didn’t rely on electricity. So candles make sense. I was called back to the door when I heard the knob turn and the door barely opened up to reveal the pair of turquoise eyes looking at me and Nero.

“Hi,” I waved.

EEP!

I received a squeal, from what I guess was a girl and then a slammed door in my face. I could hear her behind the door hyperventilating for the sounds of it. I moved my eyes upward to look at Nero who only tilted her head to the side again. I decided to knock again but a lot softer this time. I also took Nero off my head and put her on my lower arm. I remembered that one of the main characters from the TV show liked animal but was quite skittish.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

The door creaked open to reveal them same turquoise eyes but this time there was a soft voice that came with them.

“Um… can … I h-h-help y-you?” The scared girl studdered out. ‘Man, I feel like I’m picking on the poor thing. I hate this. I was always taught to be nice to girls.’

“I’m sorry if I scared you before but this was the close sign of civilization from that forest I came from,” I point behind me. “See, I woke up in a literal hole in that forest and the first thing I did was get out of it as soon as my vision cleared.” I paused to look at the eyes staring at me. They were visibly shaking.

I decided to back up turn around and sat down in the ground. I let Nero hop off my arm on to the ground. The girl noticed this and then shut the door. I heard a chain on the door come loose and dangle for a bit before the door opened slowly. I turned my head slightly to so the full figure that those eyes belonged to. There was a girl with long pink hair wearing a pair of pink pajamas with little white rabbit faces on them. On her feet was a pair of white bunny slippers.

‘Man, I haven’t seen any of those things in years’

“My name’s ...Fluttershy.” She spoke spaced but not studdering “What’s yours?”. ‘Guess she saw something that eased her mind.’

“Names… Ah,” I scratched my head. ‘CRAP! I can remember everything but my name! Ya know what?! Screw it!’ after I recomposed myself from my internal freak out. “My name’s Asta Spades. Sorry, but I can’t remember my real name. Guess it’s partial amnesia.” I chuckled a bit as I rubbed the back of my head and then I winced in pain. “ESS rah. Forgot about that damn knot on top of my head.”

“Oh, you poor thing you hurt. I’ll be right back,” She quickly rushed back into the house. While she was in there a little white rabbit hopped out and over to me.

“Hey there, little fuzzy rabbit,” I went to scratch the little guy under the chin then the damn thing bit me. “YEOW!”

Nero quickly flew to my side and pulled the little bastard off my finger and dropped it off to the side a few feet away. I put my finger in my mouth to stop the bleeding. Then the rabbit came back for round two. The rat actually started to kick me and pointed at the gate. Nero soon intervened again stared down the mangy white ball of fur.

“Look here you little nuisance,” I pointed at the bunny who then tried to bite me again but I quickly pulled my finger back this time. “I have no idea where I am okay. I just wanted directions. Once I figure out where I am and find the nearest town then you won’t have to see me again.”

The damn thing started to squeak at me uncontrollably. The worst part was I could understand every single dirty word being spat at me. Nero quickly came back in between the two of us and tried to play mediator only for the potty-mouthed bunny to try and bite my new and might I add my ‘only friend’ I had in this world. I was about to lay into the smart ass rabbit when Fluttershy came back and stepped in instead.

“Angel, bad bunny,” She raised her voice harshly scolding the wild rabbit.

‘Damn’ that’s kind of hot. Whoa, no not going there.’

Before I knew it she was in front of me. “I’m sorry about him. He doesn’t really like new people, especially men. Now, let me see your head and finger please.” She looked at the back of my head eyeballing the sore spot. “Well, the good news is that it’s nothing but a bad knot and all you need is an ice pack and some rest. Let’s treat your finger now.” She took my hand and some white bandages from the box she’s brought with her. She put a stinging liquid on my bite wound and then wrapped it up. Nero hopped over on to my lap and eyed my finger and then looked to Fluttershy.

Hoo

“I think I’ll live Nero,” I lightly scratched her behind her head.

“OH, what a cutie.” Fluttershy squeed as she rubbed Nero under the chin. “Wait, you... you just spoke … directly... to this owl. You even… called it… Nero. You can understand animals.”

“Uh, yea. Only been able to for a few hours but, yea,” I moved my finger to loosen the bandages a bit. “Yea I named her Nero because she reminded me of a character from a story I like. It’s crazy because she even has the same color scheme.” I jumped up causing Nero to fly up then land on my head where she’d perched herself previously. I caused Fluttershy to fall back. “Sorry’” I reach my hand down. She took it my hand and I easily pulled her off the ground.I noticed as she was patting the dirt off her pants she had a pair of butter yellow wings on her back.

‘So that’s why she’s called a pegasus,’ I stared a bit too long because she noticed and quickly popped back up and turned around red-faced. I turned to hide my own blushing. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to stare. It’s.. just ..where I’m from… we don’t have … girls with wings.”

“Oh, those are what you were staring at?” She giggled. “It’s alright. I thought you were going to ask where my tail was. I forget to let it out due to being rushed to through something on” She blushed.

I turned around and sure enough, she had a tail the same shade of pink as her hair.

“I’m very sorry for staring at your wings,” I was now bowing so profusely the Nero was in the nearby tree. ‘Why the hell am I bowing.”

“It’s fine, really. I understand your curiosity. But, if you’ve never seen a pegasus before then where are you from and what kind of pony are you?” Fluttershy walked over and placed a hand on my shoulder to stop my bowing.

“Oh, um, well? I’m not a pony at all,” I shrugged as Nero returned to my head. “Why do you like perching on my head?”

Hoooo

“Spikey but soft,” Fluttershy reached up and patted the nesting owl then she ran her finger through my hair. “Wow, she’s right. I didn’t notice a moment ago but your hair is soft.” She
“Yes… well” I froze at her touch and froze herself when she realized how close she was to my face.

“Like … I was saying… I’m not... a pony… but a what’s called… a human. Our species is said to be descended from … monkeys.” My blood got pumping as she backed off and started to really list to me. “But half our species believes this and the other half is split up amongst many many other diverse cultures and religions that each have their own versions of creation of our universe. Personally, I prefer to stay away from it all because it causes nothing but fights and squabbles that cause nothing but more trouble for those around it.” I crossed my arms and plopped back down on the ground.

“It sounds like there’s a lot of conflicts where you come from,” Fluttershy looked at me with worry.

“Yea, human nature is partial to resolving our problems with some form of conflict. I've been in a few fist fights here and there but I only fight for my own reasons. Same goes for every human back home though,” I rubbed the back of my then a winced in pain forgetting the knot. “Ow!”

“I completely forgot about your head,” She grabbed my hand and I blushed. “Come inside and lie down on the couch. I hope you don’t mind animal?”

“I actually love animals as long as they don’t cause trouble for me. What about Nero?” I looked to the owl on my head.

“She’s more than welcome to come,” Fluttershy smiled at me.

‘God she’s adorable. No bad idea. I’m here and have no idea of what’s going to happen. I remember from a few stories online that these ponies can be skittish when it comes to things they don’t understand. On that thought, not even I quite understand what’s going on either. I do know that I’m going to enjoy this rest. In the company of a pretty girl and my new owl friend for now.’

I decided against notifying Twilight about this fallen star. Having the Elements involved at this time would only serve to stir up the panic of the citizens of Ponyville. My sister was in the crater scanning it for traces of the magic the caused the star to fall here. I flew down to her to see what she’d found while the guards were on patrol.

“Sister, what have you found?” I asked trying not to show my worry.

“That’s just it Celestia?” Luna turned to me with her own confused look on her face.”I can’t find anything.”

“What do you mean Luna?” I asked raising my hand in my confusion. “I don’t understand? There was obviously something here. We’re standing in a giant crater that can only be made by a fallen star. Even the ground has the thick layer of glass from when stars fall.”

“I know all of the signs of a fallen star, sister,” Luna stated in annoyance with a wave her arm. “I’m trying to say there are no signs of magic in this crater other than what we brought with us moments ago. Even here now in this spot, it’s magic is not here. Not mine, not yours, and not Everfree’s. It’s as if all of the magic that was her was sucked up by something or somepony.”

“Perhaps, could it be… Tirek?” I managed to say getting the word past the lump of fear in my throat.

“Not possible. Tirek can’t drain magic power directly from the land like this,” She did her best to calm me down. “I did notice something odd when a was scanning the edge of the crater though,” She pointed upward.

Indeed there was something odd about the section of the crater wall we were looking at. It looked as if something had climbed out of the crater. There were obvious signs that some sort of life form or animal managed to climb out of the almost vertical drop off but there were no signs of anything had fallen into the crater. This could only mean, that whatever crawled out of this hole was what had made it in the first place. I decided to fly up and out of the crater, while I did I took my time to examine the trail left in the wall of the crater. The creature was incredibly strong to be able to dig into the thick rocky soil as it had. Some of the stones were either broken into pieces or severally cracked. There were no signs of more than attempt to get out. I then took a looked at the ground and performed a scan of my own. It reveals the creature had actually sat and stayed here for a while. I then came across a large slit in the ground. It was as if something large and heavy had been thrust in. Strangely there were more signs that the magic of the area had been absorbed by something.

“Luna,” I motion for her to join me quickly. “Look at the ground here,” I pointed to the slit. “This is where the focus point for the missing magic. I’m sure of it. There was some type of large item here that absorb this area’s magic.”

“But what happened to that item,” Luna tilted her head in wonder and worry. “Celestia, we need to find whatever creature came from that fallen star and the item that absorbs magic.”

“I know Luna,” I bit my lip in fear of the thought what could happen if that thing finds a populated area. “

“Sister look here,” Luna pointed out an area of flattened grass. “It looks as if walked this way. What’s off in this genera; direction?”

“Hm. The Sweet Apple Acres and all the roads leading out of Ponyville,” I thought this could be a thing. There was nothing but field and White Tailwoods. “This could be just what we need Luna. Let's follow this trail but quietly so we don’t provoke the creature if we come across it. ”I looked at the sky. “We must hurry though. We must exchange the sun and moon’s places soon.”

We followed the trail for a few hours. It was then time to exchange the sun and moon. Luna would need to head back to Canterlot soon as she needed her rest and so did I. Find this creature was our main priority now that we’d done our duties to the sun and moon. We were then back on the trail but what we came across drained the color from both our faces. In front of us lay one of the homes to the Elements of Harmony. The Element of Kindness, Fluttershy and the creature's trail lead straight into her home. If we were lucky, perhaps we’d find dear Fluttershy unharmed and the creature off guard.

Next Chapter: Sleeping Beauty and The Sword Estimated time remaining: 49 Hours, 7 Minutes