//------------------------------//
// Meeting Celestia (Alex POV) (EDITED) 
// Story: Friendship isn't just Magic, it can heal hearts too 
// by Raumo 
//------------------------------//

	As I came to, I don't make any noise or movement. I quickly categorized what I could with my eyes closed:	
1. I am in a bed
2. I smell antiseptic, so I assume I am in a hospital or recently cleaned cell
3. I am not in a hospital gown, I can feel my usual mission uniform still on me so I assume cell for now
4. I can feel a breeze, so an open window nearby
5. Voices muffled and distant, so people behind a door somewhere, but not near me or my cell

I opened my eyes and looked around. My 'cell' was not what I expected. It looked like a standard hospital room, expect it had more color than the normal white I was used to. The open window had a nice view of a waterfall.

I was surprised and confused. Confused, because I was alive. My uniform can usually protect me from bullets, but being shot in the heart at point blank was something even I couldn't survive. Surprised, because even if it had been possible to survive the shot, I should be locked in a cell, not in a room with an open window. 

What is really weird is that I feel no pain. Sure I can feel the typical pain of past scars, but no pain in my chest.

I looked down at my chest area. No blood. Not even a bullet hole in my uniform. Its like I was never shot. 

And yet, I knew that I had been. The memory was clear as day in my mind. The main thing running through my mind was: What the heck?!

I was about to get out of the bed and go to the window, when the talking was becoming closer and clearer. I quickly got out of the bed, and stood, facing the door, poised to run if they proved hostile.

A weird light encompassed the doorknob as it turned and as the door fully opened, I completely froze in shock. I had faced madmen, giant jellyfish, heck I had even been in a space station, but seeing a winged-unicorn was beyond what I could imagine.

As I quickly tried to hide my shock, 3 unicorn with medieval looking armor marched in and stood in defensive positions.

And then she spoke, "I am Princess Celestia. Ruler of Equestria. And who might you be?

I stared at her, my jaw slightly dropped. My mind was racing and I couldn't seem to speak. I took a deep breath and opened my mouth to speak, but instead of my name, I blurted out, "How in the world can you talk? Princess? Equestria? What in the world is Equestria?!" I found myself beginning to panic, my breath becoming short. Something that hadn't happened in years. I was usually very controlled. Emotions only got in the way on missions.

"Deep breaths. In and out. Slowly," she told me in a soothing yet slightly commanding tone. I found myself complying as she repeated the instruction. Perhaps it was the slight command. I had trained with soldiers for a brief amount of time. 

As she saw that I had calmed down a bit, she gently said, "Let's try this again. I am Princess Celestia, Ruler of Equestria. A nation comprised of ponies. As to how we can talk, that is how we were created. Now, what is your name?"

"Alex Rider. 25 year old human, who is as confused as heck", I answered.