Am I alive?

I was conscious as far as I can tell but my body wouldn't move and my eyes wouldn't open. What happen, I racked my brain trying to search for memories that just wouldn't appear. I could hear a faint, slow heart beat coming from my chest which relaxed me for the moment thought I was still frustrated about my memory. Chest, for some reason that seemed relevant but I couldn't think of the reason but it didn't matter suddenly it began to hurt incredibly badly. I would have screamed if I could but my mouth wouldn't open and I couldn't even force a grunt out but the pain was so intense like my own heart was being torn from my own chest. I could feel muscles beginning to tighten and cramp as feeling returned to them only adding to the excruciating pain coming from my chest, I wanted to die.

"Try.....keep going....she can......don't.....up!" Muffled voices appeared I couldn't make out everything as they were incredibly faint but steadily getting louder. "She's waking up keep going Twi!" The voices were getting louder and one sounded eerily familiar but I couldn't place my hoof on it. The pain was easing but it still was in the center of my mind, now that I could feel the rest of my body I noticed I was shaking horribly like a seizure. Then suddenly everything came into focus, the pain went away and the shaking stopped.

"Are you okay sugarcube?" I was breathing heavily and I felt sluggish and tired but my mind was focusing finally, I was on a bed an orange mare with a blonde mane sat to my immediate right just next to the bed looking at me. Where was I, I thought to my self trying to look around the room but too weak to turn from the mare. "Hey can you talk?" She asked her eyes trailing to my chest than back up to my eyes.

"I..I'm fine." I choked out my mouth dry.

She smiled instantly and turned to somepony out of my eyesight. "You did it Twi, you brought her back!" What was she talking about, brought me back from where and who was Twi? Even though I had just woke up I was incredibly tired and before the mare turned back around to me I fell asleep again not being able to fight the fatigue any longer.

I felt something gently nudging my shoulder but I ignored it, the bed was so comfortable and I was still groggy I would do anything for some more sleep. "Hello sleepy head can you uhm please look over here?" That voice it was familiar, my ear twitched and I forced my eyes open turning over onto my back in the bed to see who it was. It was Fluttershy, all at once everything from when I woke up in Ponyville hit me like meteor causing my breath to quicken. Fluttershy instantly looked worried and scanned over my body for any sign of anything that might be causing me pain. "Oh please don't worry are you in pain I can get something for you?"

I shook my head and tried sitting up in the bed, I felt slow but the feeling was quickly passing. "Fluttershy where are we?"

My question temporally startled her. "We are in the Everfree Forest in Zecora's home don't worry we are safe here."

I had a million questions who was Zecora, wasn't the Everfree Forest dangerous, why were the zebra attacking, how was I not dead but before I could ask a single one the mare I saw before I fell asleep walked in and looked to Fluttershy. "Hey there Fluttershy is she alright?"

She looked to me then back to the mare and nodded slowly. "Yes, I think she will be okay where is Twilight?" I listened intently to their conversation but couldn't really pull anything from it, I had no idea who they were talking about so I just sat there and said nothing.

The orange mare tilted her head out the door. "She's out there, you should go talk to her fill her in on our fighter here." Fluttershy nodded and smiled at me before walking outside the room, the mare waited till she left before walking up to my bed looking at me curiously. "So, beg mah pardon but who are ya?"

I truthfully didn't know so I just shrugged and stared at the door Fluttershy had closed behind her hoping she was going to be okay even though she said it was safe here. "I don't remember I'm sorry."

She looked at me sympathetically like she just knew I wasn't lying to her and shook her head. "This is just terrible what's goin on, t'aint right. But where are my manners I'm Applejack Fluttershy's and Rainbow Dash's friend." She extended her hoof to me and smiled.

I extended my own and formally greeted her, her accent reminded me of a cowpony but she still had well taught manner a respectful pony to say the least. "Hello Applejack, what's going on, Fluttershy said we were in the Everfree Forest."

Frowning she nodded and sat down next to the bed getting comfortable. "Yeah...We are so far it has been the safest place we could think off that was close to Ponyville." At the mention of her town she cracked in her speech before quickly recollecting herself. "Pardon." I nodded and urged her to continue her story and she nodded clearing her throat. "As ah was sayin, after Rainbow Dash found you and our friend Fluttershy, you were in pretty bad shape." She stopped and thought it over for a second. "Well actually you were dead from as far as they could tell. Fluttershy wouldn't let Rainbow leave you so they took you along back to me and Twilight at her library, the spells that enchanted the home protected it against the bombs, where Ponyville was having its last stand." She pointed to my chest and I looked down to see a nasty scar where my coat used to be, it looked like a 6 sided star and took up a large portion of my chest. "Fluttershy stopped your bleeding but you quit breathing before they even got you to us, outside a few Ponyville guards were fighting with the Zebra holding them off while twilight kept the shields up and tried to get Celestia to send a rescue team." Applejack looked toward the door and sighed. "Poor thing couldn't get through to the princesses without Spike, but anyways the Zebra quickly broke through defenses we had set up and only Twi's shield stood between us and them so in a desperate final act Twilight tried to teleport all the survivors outside Ponyville." She suddenly stomped her hoof on the floor cracking it slightly under the force. "She wasn't strong enough to get everyone out only me, you, Fluttershy, Rainbow, and a few other survivors still we didn't get even get out of Ponyville only down the street and before we escaped to the forest everyone but Fluttershy, me, Rainbow, you and Twi made it out. She was furious with her failure and made it her mission to save you once we made it to Zecora's house and somehow she did it even though both you and her passed out after the operation."

I couldn't believe the story yet every once of my being said she was telling the honest truth but how was that possible? No Pony can bring another pony from the cold clutches of death it was impossible, and was really everypony in Ponyville dead how could that be nothing made sense. Applejack looked close to tears after the story and kept her head down trying to avoid eye contact with me but I felt horrible for the mare who went through so much I felt bad for all of them they sounded like amazing people and they should deserve better. I wrapped by hooves around her and pulled her to me giving her a big hug as she started sobbing on my shoulder, she started talking about a farm Sweet Apple Acres and a filly called something Bloom I couldn't fully understand her through her sobs but it didn't matter I held her for a while until she let everything out. Slowly but surely the sobbing slowed to just a few tears and a runny nose, I felt slightly uncomfortable she looked the same age as me maybe even older yet I was holding her like she was my filly but I didn't let go, I didn't know her very well but she had a good heart and she deserved a friend right now. "You feel better?" I asked softly as she moved away from me back to her normal sitting position eyes red from crying.

"I feel...better." She looked at me and smiled. "Thanks for that, I really needed it." I smiled back and assured her it was no problem at all. "Twilight would probably want to see you too, you think your strong enough to walk?"

"Yeah I think so." I got up from the bed and stood up, Applejack leaned to me so I could use her for support until my nausea dispersed. "Thanks." I said following her to the door as she opened it. The next room was about twice as big as the one I was in, Fluttershy jumped up from the ground from seeing me walk and had a big smile on her face but she was the only one in the room. In the very center stood a large black cauldron and the walls of the room had creepy artifacts hung everywhere making it look like an alchemy shop, a small window revealed a large dark forest outside sending a shiver down my spine I was glad to be safe inside here. "Hi Fluttershy how are you?" I asked still looking around the eerie surroundings.

She must have noticed that the decor was unsettling because she quickly rushed to comfort me. "Oh don't worry you're safe here, it's a little creepy but our friend Zecora is different from other people from here." I didn't know what she meant but I nodded and sat down waiting for this Twilight to appear, Applejack walked to the front door and headed outside but Fluttershy assured me it was fine. After a few minutes of awkward silence I saw Applejack's head pass by the window then a purple unicorn and then....then a Zebra.

"Fluttershy run to the back room!" I jumped up from the floor and levitated a vase from a shelf ready to throw at the Zebra but Fluttershy didn't move only looked at me startled.

"What is it?" She asked.

"It's a Zebra Fluttershy now go!" I quickly answered as the door opened and the Zebra walked in.

"Wait it's not what you think." Fluttershy squeaked under the pressure but it was too late the vase was already on its way.

The Zebra turned to me in shock and anger. "What is this?" She closed her eyes and braced for impact but a purple field stopped it mid air inches from her face and got placed safety onto the ground.

The purple unicorn walked in behind the Zebra with Applejack following behind, she looked at me with sympathy instead of anger and the zebra mumbled something under breath as the unicorn patted her on the back. The Zebra turned from me and walked over to the cauldron and started mixing some sort of potion while the unicorn walked up to me. "Don't worry, Zecora doesn't want to hurt you." I'm all for everyone being equal and all but after what happened just a little while ago I'm not to keen on trusting a Zebra, Twilight seems to have noticed my reluctance to lower my guard and shakes her head. "Trust us we wouldn't have taken you somewhere dangerous." Applejack nodded agreeing from across the room now sitting down next to Fluttershy.

I looked to the Zebra but had to lower my head from the shame of trying to attack her. "Do not worry little one, you tried to protect a friend but I am also one." She had a funny way of speaking but her tone relaxed me.

"I'm sorry about that." I point to the vase before levitating it back to where it was originally careful not to break anything. "Are you the one who saved me, are you Twilight?" I asked the unicorn nodding to my question.

She looked to Applejack with a worried expression but Applejack simply sat there saying nothing probably thinking about that farm she had spoke of with the filly. "Yes I am Twilight, and don't thank me."

Why wouldn't I thank her she saved my life? I was baffled at her modesty but respected it. "Of course I'm going to thank you, wasn't it you that saved my life?"

She looked as if she wanted to cry and her eyes kept trailing down to my chest before she refocused on my eyes but it didn't bother me I understood it was a sight to see. "Because, I'm not sure how long you will stay alive." She pouted like she was embarrassed at her own failure.

My heart beat inside my chest slightly faster at the news. "What do you mean Twilight, you don't know how long I am going to live?"

She looked to Zecora who nodded and gestured her to keeping talking. "That's what I mean exactly. The magic I used to bring you back was dark magic I feel tainted just by using it and I know Celestia will not be pleased, dark magic is dangerous because it has unknown consequences." I listened intently to every word she spoke trying to piece everything together. "The operation Applejack told you about wasn't a medical one but more of a spiritual one, I was fishing for your soul and trying to bring it back to your body but that is only possible through dark magic. The thing is it wasn't working I couldn't get your entire soul back only a chunk but that wouldn't be enough to revive you, that's where the scary part comes in something else latched onto your body as well that completed the operation part of your soul was lost forever and that part that I got back connected with something else but I don't know what."

I was stunned what could possibly connect with a ponies soul, I rubbed my chest feeling the scar sending a shiver down my spine. "So you have no idea what it could be at all not even a guess?" Twilight shook her head and apologized but i went up and hugged her anyways. "It doesn't matter anyways I'm alive and it's thanks to you."

She blushed and said. "Oh please it was no problem at all!"

"No problem?" Applejack stood irritated with her friends honesty. "It was incredibly all sorts of magic was shooting across the room, I was afraid we would bring the entire house down Twi's eyes even turned pure white and she levitated in the air across from your bed." I turn to Twilight once again shocked from what I heard the event sounded like something from fiction but I doubted Applejack would lie.

"That sounds incredible Twilight!" I exclaimed making her blush further. "You must be a powerful unicorn I'm jealous."

"Please it's nothing Applejack over exaggerates." Applejack snorts at the comment but says nothing sitting back down to say something to Fluttershy who was looking at me worryingly after what Twilight had said about my soul. "So Applejack said you couldn't remember your name Stride."

"Stride?" Was that my name, it didn't sound familiar but then again I didn't remember anything either.

Twilight squirmed for a second not sure how to continue. "Well while I was doing the operation my mind connected with yours allowing me too see your memories for a few moments. All i could see was your name and that you where heading to Ponyville with a package after that it was just what you experienced yourself when you awoke in town." I frowned thinking of the filly I met, Twi looked to the ground knowing what I probably thinking about. "I'm sorry for the breach in privacy."

"No it's okay at least now I know my own name right?" I chuckled half heartily trying to seem casual but the room was filled with beaten and depressed ponies and one Zebra.

Rainbow Dash flew down to the front door and knocked before walking inside anyways. "We have a problem girls."

It was the middle of the night from what I could tell from the window but seeing as how this was the Everfree Forest I couldn't be sure. I was still sore and tired from what Twilight had done to save my life but for some reason I just could not sleep, it wasn't that the floor was uncomfortable Zecora had tried her best to give us all a comfortable sleeping area. Dash had been scouting the forest trying to find other ponies who may have tried escaping but returned empty handed, sadly she apparently had spotted tracks from other Zebra in the area but they were a far distance from here. Even though she had assured us that they were far away one can't be a little nervous about it.

"Run friends to the bedroom and hide do not make a sound if you do you might be found!" Zecora shouted at us running to the window. "Some Zebra are coming quickly run!" Rainbow Dash was up in an instant waking Twilight and Applejack and dragging them to the bedroom.

"Stride you get Fluttershy!" Dash said forcefully opening the bedroom door Applejack and Twilight groggily following.

I stood up already full awake and nudged Fluttershy gently. "Wha-...Stride what is it?"

"Zebras Fluttershy we have to go hide in the back for a while okay?" I could see the fear in her eyes and nuzzled her softly calming her down before dragging her up to her feet and coaxing her to follow me.

Zecora turned to us looking away from the window. "Quickly young ones close the door." I nodded and shut it softly after Fluttershy walked in, Twilight and the rest of them sat in the corner of the bedroom partially covered by the bed only Rainbow Dash was standing watching the door closely.

"What's happening Rainbow?" Applejack finally asked after getting over her daze of being awaken so suddenly.

Rainbow Dash didn't saying anything but shouting from outside answered her question anyways, it was hard to overhear everything but it sounded like a group of 4 approaching the house Zecora seemed to have walked outside to meet them trying to distance us from them. I knew she was a zebra just like them but I was still dreadfully worried for her safety.

BLAM!

I froze, Rainbow Dash tensed and Fluttershy let out a whimper there was no scream or shouting after the shot just eerie silence until we heard the door open from outside the bed room. "Might as well loot the place don't want it to go to waste." I heard the other three Zebra agree as a wide array of sounds came from the main room.

"What happen to Zecora?" Twilight gasped shivering from fright as Applejack tried calming her down. Angel popped out of nowhere and nuzzled Fluttershy as she sat frozen in the farthest corner of the room.

The door to the bedroom started opening and in walked a Zebra but Rainbow Dash was ready and lunged at him knocking him to the ground and stomping hard on his throat. "That's what you bastards get." She said under her breath barely audible.

"HEY, what are you doing!" A Zebra said from the main room as he charged in with his friends, Rainbow Dash tried to attack each of them as well but no longer had the element of surprise and was bucked hard to the ground her body limp. "Whoa, look at what we got here, good thing we killed that traitor right away."

"What did you say?" Applejack stood up and yelled furious, her demeanor startled the Zebra for a moment before he smiled.

"Did you not hear me? We killed your friend she's outside right now rotting." That sent Applejack over the edge and she stared to move towards the Zebra but his friend instantly shot her with some sort of magical device that shocked her and forced her to the ground. "Hey no fighting we want this to be quick and easy." I turned to Twilight, if she was so powerful in magic she could save us but she just sat there staring back at me frozen.

Sighing I turned to the Zebra 3 total now that Dash killed one before she was knocked unconscious. "Just leave us alone." I said trying to sound intimidating but they just laughed one walked up to me with a sympathetic face. A second later I was on the ground my side on fire from the brutal kick he had delivered to my side causing me to cough out a small amount of blood. Ignoring the pain I jumped back up and bit the Zebra on the neck and tried to tear off flesh but it wasn't working still he was in great pain flailing around.

"Shoot her damn it what are you idiots doing!" He yelled but I ignored him closing my mouth further tearing the skin as he yelled. All that ended when a sharp pain entered my shoulder much worse that the buck to my side causing me to fall against the bed post. "About damn time." The Zebra said wincing at the injury on his neck. "Give me that bucking gun!" He grabbed the small fire arm in his mouth and walked back over to me still on the ground clutching my shoulder. "You bitch." He yelled at me, Fluttershy had tears streaming down her face as another Zebra eyed her body lustfully only enlarging my rage Twilight on the other had was standing now but still frozen. Applejack and Rainbow Dash were both limp on the ground most likely knocked out.

BLAM!

He fried the gun and I flinched closing my eyes but nothing happened, I didn't feel any pain or anything. "She's the....the...Sanguise Queen!" The Zebra screamed and I finally opened my eyes and stared at the bullet inches from my face floating in mid air. The only thing was that the thing that stopped it was blood....my blood. I looked to my shoulder and a trail of levitating blood seeped out of wound painlessly leading up to the bullet holding it right before my eyes but I wasn't controlling it. "By the stars what have we done!" The other zebra that had stared down Fluttershy choked out but a second later my blood formed into a sharp object like an arrow tip and it whizzed to the zebra impaling him the throat and killing him instantly.

"Whats happening?" I screamed to Twilight as she stared at me with shock and fear.

"I don't know!" She finally said trembling. Seconds later another arrow formed and shot straight into the eye of another Zebra leaving only the one that tried shooting me left.

"Please Sanguise Queen spare me!" He fell to his knees pleading, begging for his life but again with out my control my blood poured from my wound and started making its way towards him, he panicked and started running out the room but my blood almost like a tentacle grabbed and stopped him turning him towards me in the air his eyes were filled with fear. I couldn't move or look away, standing helplessly watching him begin to cry shouting prayers to people I've never heard of before. My blood worked its way up to the wound in his neck and started to seep into his body as his screams in tensed, moments later his chest expanded violently cracking ribs but not puncturing skin, he grew limp and my blood quickly retracted into my own body healing my wound instantly after.

Suddenly regaining control of my body I turned to Twilight who took a step back from me. "Twilight...that wasn't me!"

She just stared at me until finally opening her mouth. "Wha.....What are you?"