I know, I know, this chapter is literally exactly the same as the original first chapter, minus the whole intro, but, that's because it doesn't really need any changing in my eyes, both because it doesn't contain Pyro's character, and because it just...feels right, to me, to keep at least this part the same.

I honestly don't think I could make something much different than this for this story. But anyways, I apologize for the confusion, everyone, as well as for worrying you all with the last blog. I do still need time, but...well, truth be told, I want to make things up to you all before I even think about taking time to myself.

So, to do that, I'm working on updating all my stories this week and the next, starting with this story.

Hopefully you all will enjoy the updates and changes.

Sounds were what registered first. Birds, the breeze rustling leaves on the trees and blades of grass.

Touch registered next. The warmth of the sun on his skin, the tender embrace of the pleasantly cool grass, the calming breath of the world... And a number of things poking into his back. Groaning, the man opened his eyes and sat up in one smooth motion. Immediately after he raised an arm to cover his bespectacled eyes, wincing at the - to him - harshness of the light. Squinting and letting his eyes adjust, he looked around.

"Wait, what?" he muttered to himself, eyes widening.

Everything looked very, very different. Thin black lines outlined nigh everything, color upon color upon bright color seeming to beg his eyes to stare at them all, and overall, everything looked like he was in some sort of animated world. He appeared to be in a courtyard of sorts, and a decently-sized one at that. The walls were mostly purple, with gold trim and accents and a few darker purple accents. It seemed somewhat familiar, but he couldn't put his finger on why. The apparent "art style" of the world was strange. Not cartoonish, but not exactly like the animes he watched, either. Somewhere between cartoonish and realistic. Slowly, he lowered his arm, eyes wide as could be, and simply stared slack jawed, mind running faster than a drug dealer from the police.

'...Who the fuck drugged me in my sleep? Why is everything so colorful? WHY IS EVERYTHING OUTLINED?!' These thoughts and many, many more of their kind sped up his heart rate.

A rustling in the wind and the feeling of something light rapidly tapping his bicep made him look to said bicep, where a yellow sticky note was attached. Snatching it off in the hopes for some explanation - and the hope that this was a dream and that he was essentially pranking himself - he began to read.

"Life is like riding a boat down a stream while there's a heavy cover of fog. You can make things out when they're close, but beyond that, you're practically blind. And there's always rocks in it. Did I mention that? Well, either way, there are, and they'll trip you up something awful if you don't see them and maneuver around them.

Most times you can't. And most times you get angry, or scared, or sad. But you have to keep going. You have to keep failing. You have to keep getting up, and learning from what has happened. Even if it isn't a mistake you made yourself. You can learn from it.

Take life as it is. Not as it will be, or won't be, or could be. Take it as it is. Remember what you learned. - A Friend."

"...What the H happened last night?" the man wondered aloud.

Suddenly, he heard doors opening to his right, and snapped his head to the sound. A number of figures came out of the doors, chatting loudly, most of which he didn't recognize, but four of them he did.

"Alright everycreature, go ahead and have fun at reces-" the daffodil colored Pegasus stopped abruptly as she noticed the man.

Many of the other figures did as well, all of them staring wide-eyed at the man. A small orange dragon had her maw hanging wide open. The same went for a small, light cyan insectoid equine and a Persian blue Griffon. The Griffon, however, wore armor. Golden, armor. With a blue star in it's center breastplate.

The man simply stared back. "...I'm just gonna, uh...." He looked to the grass below him, then back to them briefly. "Uh, yeah." With that eloquent 'explanation' he flopped onto his back and stared up at the clear blue, sunny sky.

It was a wonder he didn't simply pass out.

Sadly, he didn't. If he had, his mind might have gotten some reprieve. 'I'm in Equestria. I'm in freaking Equestria. I'm in FREAKING EQUESTRIA!' He placed a hand over his eyes. 'Okay, okay okay okay. Breathe. Breathe.' And so he did, as slow and yet even as he could whilst also trying to calm his thoughts.

It was a fairly one-sided battle. 'How did I get here? Let's pull out a list.' He gripped the grass underneath him, breathes coming in shaky and a fair bit fast instead of slow and steady. 'Sense of touch is working. Not entirely unusual for a dream. No points for it being a dream, but no points against it. Can still hear things, but not in my head. One point for not being in a dream.' He breathed deeply again, shuddering slightly as he did. 'Can smell too. I've been told that's not unusual either, but I've never had that happen in a dream... Point to not a dream.'

The sound of hooves and claws in the grass made him sigh. 'Okay, great. Yeah, no, great. Just ruin my attempt at calming down and being rational. Just fine guys.' Lowering his fair-skinned hand, he looked up to find numerous faces looking down at him. They'd crowded around him, apparently.

Fluttershy spoke up. "U-Um, w-what are you doing here?" She asked, mane dangling down almost to the point that it touched his face.

Smolder crossed her arms. "And why do you have swords?"

"You know this is, like, a school, right? And that weapons aren't allowed on the grounds?" Gallus asked, raising a brow and toting his own weapon - a spear. The man was about to make a comment on that, but thought better of it eventually.

"A-And, um, could you tell us how you got here?" Ocellus queried, book held in one hoof.

The man sighed deeply again, closing his eyes briefly. 'Alright. Truth or falsehood, brain?'

'...Fuck it, had enough of my own falsehoods back home, so, new start, clean slate.'

He opened his eyes, fair baritone answering their questions. "Didn't get that far yet in my thought process, didn't notice I had them..." he looked down at the sheathed blade at his hip, sat up, and looked to the other on his back, and paused a moment. "...Despite them being familiar," he continued in a near mutter, before looking back to them. "I can see that it's a school now, and, again, didn't get that far in my thought process."

All of them blinked at him, eyes of myriad colors meeting his simple yet still unique hazel green eyes.

Smolder frowned. "Okay, now you're sounding suspicious as heck."

Gallus and the other students nodded. "I'd suggest talking more honestly. Otherwise we'll have to get the Guards."

"Now now everycreature," Fluttershy began, holding out her hooves in placation. "Let's give..." She paused, then looked to the man. "I'm sorry, um, are you a colt, or stallion, or...?"

The man sighed again, sitting up straighter. As he did, he wobbled slightly. "Okay, that's different," he muttered under his breath. 'Did I get taller?' He briefly glanced around, noticing his head was above all of theirs. '...Apparently so. Questions for later.' He shook his head lightly. "Sorry, lost in my thoughts. Anyway yes, I am male. Where I'm from they call me a man." He rolled his shoulders. "As for my name..." He paused, then frowned. '...Well, that's another not good thing. All I remember about my name is my first initial.' He heaved a breathe. 'Alright, guess I'll have to make one up.' "...Just call me Hamin."

Once more, they all blinked. Slowly, Smolder, Gallus, Ocellus, and the students looked to Fluttershy. Thankfully for the man, she didn't falter. Much.

"L-Let's give Mr. Hamin a chance, alright everycreature?" She looked back to Hamin and cleared her throat. "Now, Mr. Hamin, could you explain more, please?"

Hamin grunted. "Alright, just give me a minute to try and remember." He noticed the eyes of the students narrow. "Relax, kiddos," he said with a surprisingly easy smile. "I can promise you on my grandfather's grave I ain't here to harm."

Silence followed after that. Whether it was from the sincerity or not, Hamin didn't care, closing his eyes and trying to recall what led up to all this.

Pain. Pain worse than when Kev nearly split my finger in two. Pain worse than when I broke my chin open. Pain. Pain. So much pain.

Darkness. Flashing lights. Blood. Blood burning in my veins. Bones stretching. Body stretching. Skin ripping. Muscles tearing. Red. Black. Gold. Blue. Green. Red. Black. Gold. Blue. Green. Red. Black.

Pain. Pain. Pain. PainpainpainpainpainpainpainpainPAINPAIN-

A firm jostling shot my eyes back open and I gasped, immediately clutching myself and curling up a little. I barely registered the tears that had started to build in my eyes or whoever had me by the shoulders until I heard the soft voice of Andrea Libman and felt warm wings wrap around me.

"Shhh, shh, it's alright, it's alright, you're safe..." Fluttershy said gently.

I simply let her hold me, pressing into the embrace as I continued to feel tremors rock my body. "I-I-I, s-sorry, I," I chuckled weakly. "S-Sorry, guys. This is pretty p-p-pathetic, h-huh?"

Fluttershy tightened her grip on me. "No, it's not." She said firmly, rubbing my back now. I tensed up a lot. Tried to hold back the tremors. It didn't really work, but eventually, they stopped, though I didn't know how long it took. Didn't care really. Slowly, Fluttershy let go of me, smiling warmly and kindly. "Feeling better?"

I took a good few deep breathes, just to be sure, then nodded. "Y-Yeah." I shook my head, then cleared my throat. "*Uhem,* yeah." A final breath, before I decided to finally answer their question. "I uh... If it's alright with you all, I'd uh, rather not talk about how I got here." I frowned, feeling a final tremor before looking around. My frown only deepened, seeing all the worried youths around me. I looked back to Fluttershy. "At least, not until I come to terms with it. And...not in front of kids."

Fluttershy frowned herself, but eventually nodded before looking to all the kids. "Everycreature, go ahead and enjoy recess." She looked to me. "Mr. Hamin, why don't you come with me? I think I might know somepony who can help you."