The World Hereafter. [Ch1] A long way from France.

>The meeting was adjourned and you make your way out of the conference room.
>The soft autumn breeze brushes past your cheeks, coloring them a subtle red.
>Wrapping the scarf closer to your face, you stroll down the empty street.
>"Wow, that crap got old fast." You thought.
>"This wouldn't fly back home and now I've got to wait at least another week before i can get things moving?" A sigh escaped you as you kept talking to yourself internally.
>You had come here to the french commune, Cassis to acquire a central plot in town to set up another establishment to your vast chain of clothing stores.
>You were considered eccentric. Why would the franchise owner go himself to do the deal?
>Because that's why you were #1, baby!
>You put the idea into the community that you gave a shit and that's what made you popular with the kids who then bought your wares.
>Your board of directors thought you were a sneaky weasel, using their trust for profit.
>The truth was that you DID care.
>The town hall staff had been interested in your offer, but wanted to have a word with the community before signing anything.
>France was the big one, your chance to put your name on the map in fashion and accessories.
>Walking by a café, you overhear a couple discussing the weather. They were obviously on their first date, nervous and trying to keep a conversation going.
>You listen to them while pretending to read from the menu.
>From what you hear, french romance is the exact same as any other nation's. Awkward and Cringe worthy.
"Fucking France."
>You mumbled that and more softly as you take up a pace again.
>Losing the illusion that France was different irked you. Is there truly no magic left in the world?
>You hide your balled fist inside your coat pocket.
>Showing distress in public wasn't an option, being raised by a strict father who had hammered the ideology into you.
>"Emotion was bad for business." He had taught you.
>He wasn't wrong either.
>Having been screwed out of a deal by competitors by making you lose temper and embarrass yourself in front of a client, you knew all too well.
>Show only the emotion that can get you what you want and to hell with the rest.
>You hated that.

>The waves crash across the rocks beneath the railing across the seaside promenade.
>Stopping for a while, you lean against the railing, taking a deep breath of the chilled, salty air.
>Seagulls soar above, pestering the town as much as they can before they would be flying south in the coming weeks.
>You take a few moments to reflect.
>On the things that made you happy. Art, Fashion, wine, Jazz and Blues. When you had a hard day, you could always shut yourself in and let loose.
>A good album and a bottle of wine, bunny slippers and letting nerds on the internet know that their opinions were objectively retarded. (which they were)
>The small things.
>This was when you were yourself, when the facade came down and you didn't need to hide any more.
>Your precious weak moments.

>You flick the collar of your knee-length coat up to cover your ears before turning to continue down the street.
>A wet piece of seaweed disagrees with this course of action and you slip, sent flailing over the railing.
>The last thing you see is the rocks and water coming closer before you raise your arms to shield your face.

>Then when nothing happens, you lower your arms, only to be greeted by falling leaves and the faint sound of a rumble.
>Looking around, you find yourself sitting on a small hill in the middle of the woods.
>Motherofwat
>No, no. No, seriously, fucking what?!
>It takes about 20 minutes of nonstop freaking out, looking around and frantic breathing before you calm down a bit.
>Did you wash ashore somewhere?
>But there's no water anywhere!
>Did someone drag you all the way here from the shore and left you?
>Whatever the reason, you were in the wild and you had left your phone back at the hotel.
>"Alright Anonymous, keep calm. Remember, we've planned for shit like this."
>-"In the bathroom, while reading wildlife magazines, you dolt."
>"I'm failing to see your point."
>-"I'm saying we don't know shit about real wilderness survival, or orientation. Like, a major metropolis could be like a mile away and you'd still be found half-dead in a bush, eating pine cones."


>"Fuck off. I don't need the truth right now. I need reassuring lies and a false sense of badassery."
>-"Whatever. You do what you need. I'll be here, freaking out internally."
>A few feet away, a sound can be heard and you notice a pair of creatures running past you on what you suddenly realize is a nearby dirt trail, kicking up dust behind them.
>Odd.. did one of them have a tail colored like a rainbow?
>A few seconds later, an entire herd of the things rushed by. All vividly colored and kicking up an absurd amount of dust and knocking almost every leaf loose form the trees.
"Alright, scoot over, I need to freak out a bit too." You mumble.
>After some time, comforting yourself, you finally decide to man the fuck up and get moving. That trail implied civilization.
>Standing up, you look upon yourself.
>Other than a damp spot on your left elbow, you seem perfectly fine.
>You decide to check your pockets.
>You find your gold pocket watch, your wallet, A pack of matches from the restaurant you ate at yesterday and your gloves.
>Scanning your surrounding, you also come across your suitcase where your secret design ideas and the business papers were.
>You pick it up and brush some dust from your dress slacks, some leaves from your shoulders, unwrap the scarf and let it hang down across your front.
>You straighten your tie and take up a slow stroll, following the road opposite of the direction the creatures had gone.

>A minute or two passes before a sight makes you jump in behind a tree and stare in disbelief.
>A purple-coated horse.. wait no, not a horse. It looked more like a pony, but it's physique was off somehow.
>It's eyes are large, expressive. It has a smile on it's face as it looks upwards, towards the canopy, following a leaf of two as it falls to the ground.
>It moves past you in a bouncy, relaxed trot. Also, it had a paper patch with the number 42 on it's backside.
>Did it also have a.. horn?
>It continues in the same directions as the two other ones and soon vanishes behind a bend.
>A minute goes by with some nervous fidgeting before you finally step back onto the trail.
>You follow it further until you see the trees stop and an opening in the woods comes up.
>You can see a small town across a large open field of grass.
>On the field, near the forest a stadium seems to have been set up, currently empty.
>A banner stretching above the trail depicts a pair of the creatures in a running fashion.

>Was this some kind of circus attraction or something?
>Maybe some local fall celebration where you paint weird breeds of ponies and make them race.
>Fucking France.
>You'd just deal with the oddity of all of this later once you found someone in a suit to talk to.
>Moving along, you came to the edge of the town.
>The colors of the buildings were vibrant and stimulating, but the size of the houses seemed off somehow.
>Also, the doors on most of the buildings only reached up to your chest.
>Was this some kind of french pygmy village or something?
>You knocked on a few doors, but no one answered.
>Perhaps most inhabitants were off attending to that circus thing.

>After a few tries, you came up to a building that caught your attention.
>It was a tall building, adorned with a stylized carousel atop it, painted in soft blue, pink and yellow.
>It looked like some sort of art project.
>You decided to give it a try and knock on the door.
>Surprisingly, your knock is answered.
>"Come in!" A voice calls out.
>Finally, life!
>You open the door and bend down a bit as you enter. This door is taller than the others, but only reaches to your shoulders.
>Your eyes widen as you seem to have walked into the most bright and colorful boutique you've ever seen.
>Sowing machines, clothes racks, a changing booth, rolls of material, boxes full of accessories and even a few gems here and there.
>Oh! A clothing store, or at least some kind of textile-related business.
>Hopefully you could use your name to gain a favor and get a ride back to Cassis.
>You decided to use your time waiting for the person who invited you to check out if their craft was any good, laying an eye on the mannequins.
>The.. horse mannequins?
>A few of them stand in the middle of the room with paper shapes pinned to them along with some cloth draped across various parts.
>"Please, forgive the mess, I was just in the middle of work."
>The voice returns with the sound of soft clicks as another of those weird equines step out from a backroom.
>Her gaze falls upon you, blue eyes suddenly staring intensely.
>Play it cool, Anon. Don't drop your spaghetti in front of a talking horse. I've heard horses bite when they're scared.
"I-It's alright. Also, you can talk?"
>Fuck, you just HAD to ask a completely logical question?
>The purple, styled mane sways as she shakes her head and seem to regain her composure after a few seconds.
>"W-what kind of question is that? Of course I can talk!"
>She seemed more confused and slightly insulted now than startled, by the tone of her voice.
>You lifted your mental hanging jaw before regaining your own composure, letting out a nervous cough onto your clenched hand.

>Either you had been knocked out from the fall and was dreaming, or you were dead and this was a sick joke by the powers that be.
>Neither reason would get the enjoyment of you freaking out. You refused to play that game.
"I apologize. It's just.. I've never seen anything like yourself. If it's not too rude, may I ask who and what you are?"
>Damage control is GO!
>She gives you a puzzled look before raising her left front leg daintily and points at herself.
>"Well, my name is Rarity and I am a Unicorn.."
>She does a dramatic twist of her head and a small horn comes into view from behind her mane.
>She then puts her hoof down and gives you a piercing stare.
>"..and may I ask the same of yourself?"
>You stand still for a bit, a million questions swarming your mind.
>She raises an eyebrow and you suddenly snap out of it.
"Forgive me, I was just.. never mind. My name is Anonymous, I'm a human. It's a pleasure to meet you, miss Rarity."
>Her expression softens a bit and a smile creeps up on her lips.
>"Likewise, Mr. Anonymous."
She suddenly takes up a slow trot towards you, circling you, eying you with curiosity.
>She then stops and took a look at your belt buckle, which she was about eye-height with.
>Donotbitemydickdonotbitemydickpleasuedonotbitemydick.
>"Now, if you don't mind me asking.. who made you that GORGEOUS outfit?"
>She suddenly seems to have dropped any sense of nervrosity around you.
>Her unexpected question and the fact that she let you keep your dick makes you surprisingly relaxed.
>Perhaps playing along for now, pretending that all of this was normal would be to your advantage.
"Quick to trust, are we?"
>You chuckle with false confidence as she rolls her eyes at you.
>"Well, you have manners and you dress with style. How bad could you possibly be?"
>She giggles and lifts the bottom of your coat and examine the stitching at the fold.
>Her explanation didn't make much sense, but she is right. You are a gentleman and you have no intention of harming her on anyone else for that matter.
>You'd punch her in the marshmallow if she bit your dick, though.

"I suppose you're right. As for your previous question, I made this particular ensemble myself, well except for the tie, which was a gift."
>She suddenly stops, her blue eyes growing larger as she stares up into yours.
>"Y-you are a designer as well?"
>You give her a now slightly nervous nod.
"Yes. I own a large chain of stores specializing in business and dress wear."
>You look around the establishment.
"I assume this is your boutique?"
>She suddenly vanishes in a gray puff of smoke, moving like a thunderbolt around the store, putting things back into their rightful spot.
>After the store has been properly cleaned in a flash, she returns and announces with a small squee.
>"Why yes. This is the Carousel Boutique where every garment is chic, unique and magnifique."
>You can't help but D'awww inside. You love stores with a cute motto.
"It does live up to it's name, miss Rarity. I can see you put a lot of effort into your craft."
>You stroll up to a mannequin with a flowing dress, dark blue with shimmering stars embroidered across the edges with a light blue saddle and a high collar.
>For a moment, your panic is replaced with curiosity.
"It's been ages since I've seen something with such a simple, but eye-catching theme."
>Behind you the sound of shuffling hooves can be heard and you could almost feel the flustered heat from her cheeks.
>"W-why thank you! It's for a friend to wear for the upcoming fashion show as well as the Grand Galloping Gala later this year."
>Turning around, you walk back to her, kneel down and take her hoof in your hands.
>Alright Anon. Time to get on her good side and get her to help you get the fuck out of here.
"Please, may I see more of your creations?"
>She absolutely beams with pride and after she get her hoof back she puts them on her cheeks and let out another squee.
>HNNNNGH!
>"Well of course! But I was just about to close down for lunch."
>She trots over to the door and waves you over.
>"Would you like to come along? We can go through my catalog once we've gotten something to eat."
>It seems like a good idea, and you just realized how hungry you are. You had planned to have lunch before the incident.
>Plus, you've already decided to just go with it for now. Might as well not starve while you're at it.
"It would be my pleasure, miss Rarity."

>Her horn begins to glow and the door swings up.
>Brucewillis.jpg
>The doorknob is enveloped in a soft blue hue matching that which shines from her horn.
>Wait... unicorn. Did she?
>No, no, fuck no. This thing was magical?
>"Hey bro, wanna run and flail our arms?"
>-"Oh shit, that sounds like fun."
>"Alright, on three."
>-"One, two, Thr-WAIT! What if she catches us with her magic?"
>"And bites us in the dick!"
>-"Just play it cool. We'll get away when she goes to sleep. Magical horses sleep, right?"
>"Alright, alright. We play it cool for now and abscond when we get the chance."

>Strolling through the town, you see a few more of the colorful creatures.
>Some with horns, some with wings and some without either.
"Miss Rarity. Where exactly are we? I mean, this is like nothing I've ever seen before."
>She looks up at you, noticing you staring at the surroundings.
>"You're currently in Ponyville, Anonymous."
>She then points a hoof upward towards a mountain.
>"Up there you can also see the capital city, Canterlot and the royal castle."
>Just as she said, a large castle with a towering city can be seen, built into the side of a mountain.
"I'm... I'm not in France anymore, am I?"
>She gives you a quizzical look before shaking her head and giggle heartily.
>"Prance? No, I'm afraid not. This is Equestria, Darling."
>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1wy41Ezzf8
>Alright, keep calm. You're suffering slight disorientation, nausea and.. oh wow, you're pretty fucking unconscious.