Fractured

When Nathan regained consciousness, he had two immediate thoughts spring up.

Fuck, that hurt! And what the fuck is with me being knocked out so much?!

Finding himself unrestricted, he didn't bother opening his eyes, simply raising a hand to rub his head, where a sharp pain was emanating.

Oh shit, that stings.

A sudden flux of pain in his chest caused a bout of coughing. Blearily opening his eyes, he coughed into his hand and clenched his eyes, trying to shut out the pain. After several moments of intense discomfort, the feeling passed and was replaced with a strange numbness in his torso. Opening his clenched eyes, he couldn't help but give a gasp as he stared at his hand.

Mixed in with the ordinary flicks of slight spittle, a large mix of red was pooled on his hand. As he watched it slowly move about his hand as he began to shake, one thought sprung to mind, encompassing the whole situation.

Well, fuck this shit.

After he had looked around and discovered he was in a large bedroom, he had found an accompanying bathroom and washed the blood away, swishing some water in his mouth to rid himself of the copper taste for good measure. As he finally finished rinsing and shut off the tap, he looked around the bathroom in curiosity, suppressing his fear in favor of learning his location.

The bathroom was clearly that of somewhere classy. There was a large tub near a window, a small toilet in another corner, and the sink built into a black marble countertop near the door. The walls were a strange but not unpleasant mix of midnight blue and black that seemed to fit perfectly. Looking up, he realized the ceiling was much taller than normal and instead of having a simple coat of paint as usual, was seemingly made of a magical starry sky, complete with twinkling stars.

Exiting the bathroom through a door made of a strange dark wood, he re-entered the bedroom he had so quickly scrambled from and surveyed it again.

The room had a similar theme to the bathroom regarding walls and the ceiling, the difference being that the ceiling was vaulted and the floor was a midnight blue-black carpet instead of the dark marble of the bathroom. Looking around, he found that the four-poster bed matched the theme of the two rooms, facing a pair of close-curtained windows flanking, surprisingly, a large television with what looked suspiciously like a gaming console sitting on a shelf on it's glass stand. Also to his left was a dark wooden dresser right next to the bathroom door.

Well. That would explain the gaming meme if I'm where I think I am. Oh well. Only one way to prove it.

Concentrating on the princess herself, he focused on a single sentence reaching her.

Luna, can you hear me?

The response was almost immediate.

Nathan was treated to the somewhat amusing sight of the bedroom door being shoved open and Luna quickly trotting over while firing off questions in a concerned manner.

"Are thou alright? Dost though hurt? Can we be of assistance? Will-"

Nathan held up a hand and smiled slightly, amused at Luna's jabbering.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I don't know why you're concerned about me, though. I kinda got here yesterday."

Luna looked confused and somewhat hurt.

"Are we not friends? We had assumed since we had spoken yesterday that 'twas true."

Shit. Cover! Cover, you fool!

"Oh, well, in my world we just don't make friends that fast, that's all."

"Oh.", Luna said, seemingly put off.

Goddammit. Why do I keep fucking this kind of stuff up?!

"Don't take it that way! I mean, we can be friends. I just don't have a lot of... experience... with that.", Nathan finished awkwardly.

"You haven't had many friends?", Luna asked, sounding as if she pitied him.

Better end that now.

"It was a self-made isolation.", Nathan explained. Luna only appeared more curious.

"You prefer loneliness?"

"Not all the time, no. Just more often than normal. I used to sociable. Even had a wife. Divorced quite a while ago. Still, we had a daughter. She-", Nathan stopped, his cheerful voice stopping as he stared off in the distance, thinking. Finally, he spoke again, sullen.

"She's gone now. Doesn't matter at this point. I've moved on from it."

Luna looked at him with sympathy in her eyes, understanding his need to not discuss it. Deciding to move the conversation on, Nathan decided to address one of the sharper points of his arrival.

"So... Any decisions made while I was... Out..?", Nathan asked, using air quotes at the word 'out'.

Luna smiled slightly but turned slightly grim.

"Tia believes thou art a danger to our ponies. We argued against it, and convinced her to give thou a 'probationary' period where you would be allowed to learn of Equestria and it's culture. Also, she apologizes for... Jumping to conclusions.", Luna stated, smiling slightly towards the end.

"Well, that's good. But I suppose I should play devil's advocate... What if I can't fit in..?"

Luna thought on this for a moment before responding.

"We suppose Tia would have to find some way to send thou back or to another dimension."

Nathan nodded and gestured around the room.

"Right, then. So am I to assume I'm using this room?"

"Correct, although thou will be allowed to enter most areas of the castle while thou are here."

Nathan nodded and turned to the bed, beginning to empty his pockets and unclip items from his belt as he waited for Luna to speak again.

Geiger counter. Spare clips. Various medicines. Canteen. Lighter.

Are thou always carrying all of these.

Nathan gave no inclination of surprise but shot back a response as he continued.

Yes. It's necessary for survival on Earth now. ID. Security badge...

As Nathan withdrew a small, worn plushie from within a coat pocket, he made no mention of it in his mental list and simply deposited it next to the rest of his items with no further word. He stood still for a moment, shaking almost imperceptibly. Inside, as he was scolding himself while he tried to suppress his roiling emotions from becoming visible.

Dammit, I should have done better! I should have went to headquarters, where it was safe! What the hell was I thinking?!

Luna interjected, sounding concerned.

Who are thee speaking of?

Nathan was silent for several moments, and finally felt Luna's hoof on his back in a comforting move. Finally, he spoke.

"If we're going to tell this story, it should be with all who need to hear it present."

Turning his head enough to see her, he saw Luna nod in agreement and turn, walking towards the bedroom door.

We shall send out a message to the Elements and Tia. In the meantime, make thyself at home and we shall return to guide you around the castle.

Alright.

With that, Luna simply left, leaving Nathan to his thoughts as he began moving his items to their proper places. His spare ammo and other practical supplies went to the nightstand drawers. On the dresser, he placed the plushie, facing towards the windows. Opening the drawers in curiosity, he was surprised to find clones of his clothing sitting in neat piles, except for the underwear. Going back to the nightstand for his geiger counter, he waved it around the clothes and surprisingly found no above-average radiation.  Surprising, given the fact they were likely made with magic.

I suppose magical radiation dissipates quickly.

It would appear so, if thee did not find any 'radiation', given those articles of clothing were made only one hour ago.

Nathan jumped slightly this time and turned, finding Luna standing next to the open door, watching him.

Ever heard of knocking?

Luna looked incredibly amused.

'Tis our castle.

Nathan glared and walked over.

Right, well I'm ready for the tour if you are.

Luna simply nodded and turned, walking out into the hallway beyond.

Very well, Nathan. Follow us.

You know, you don't have to call me that. Nate is fine.

Nathan looked around the long hallway, noting the guards in dark purple armor with fangs and bat wings standing at each end in pairs of two, stonily looking ahead. At one end of the hallway made of blackish marble, double doors stood. To his right, the doors were each emblazoned with the crescent moon of Luna's cutie mark, while the doors to the right held both the symbols of Luna and Celestia intertwined. Lining the hallway in-between were a dozen doors on each side, each likely leading to a room with a different purpose.

As Nathan took note of this, Luna began explaining as she led him to the pair of double doors with the sisters' cutie marks.

We only moved into this section of the castle recently, so we had more control over how it was built and to what specifications. For example, this mareble was taken from deep within our moon, while the rooms themselves are each enchanted to take up an incredibly small amount of space while theoretically being capable of being infinite inside. Of course, we sill only use the space we need.

Nathan smirked as they reached the end and turned back towards the other end.

So, video games?

Luna smirked and provided a hint as she began to point out the rooms and their purposes.

To the left and right our the bedrooms for the next six rooms on each side. Currently, you inhabit the only one as I seldom entertain dignitaries. Up ahead is the library, kitchen, private dining hall, entertainment room, meeting room, and guard's barracks. To the right, we have had several personal rooms added for our hobbies.

Nathan could take a hint.

Rooms relating to... Games of a certain nature, perhaps?

Luna giggled and turned, gesturing to the meeting room as they reached the end.

Tia has sent us a message regarding herself and the Elements. They will arrive soon.

Nathan nodded and followed her into the meeting room, which was similar to the hallway in design, being exceptional in it's circular shape, with a matching round table in the center, with a platter containing foods in the center. Sitting there was a bottle of wine, several glasses, and a plate of cheeses and crackers, along with several fruits.

Taking a place at one end while Luna took one at another, Nathan quickly made note of the obvious.

So, how soon is 'soon'?

Tia did not specify.

Nathan made a thinking face and pretended to have some large realization, to the amusement of Luna.

After around an hour, a giggly Luna and a buzzed Nathan were exchanging stories from their respective worlds while snacking on the pile of fruits, having exhausted the crackers.

"'Tis good to lighten up! We cannot tell thee how booooooring it becomes in the castle!", Luna spoke, giggling uncontrollably at the end for no apparent reason.

"Tell me about it! We used to spend hours staring at these samples of virus, just waiting for them to do something! It was unbelievable!", Nathan said, taking a bite out of what he assumed was an apple and enjoying the rich taste of something not full of chemicals for once in his life.

As they both dissolved into the giggling fits achieved by only the lightest of drinkers, the door to the meeting room opened to reveal a perplexed Celestia and the Elements of Harmony. Almost immediately, a cacophony of voices sounded.

"Tia!"

"Luna?"

"Princess!"

"Awesome, can we have some?!"

"Party!"

There was a slight moment of confusion as a pink blur sped past the rest and ran in front of Nathan, confusing him greatly until he realized who it was.

"Pinke! How are 'ya?", Nathan asked, abandoning the pretense of a lack of knowledge on Equestria in the face of a slightly-inebriated mind. Pinkie, for her part, responded in kind.

"Hi, Nate! Did you really get to work with virulent pathogens in a biosafety level-4 lab?! Was it fun?! Did you get smallpox?! Can I try to-", Pinkie Pie began ranting, being stopped by Applejack's hoof on her mouth, which only muffled it to the point where it was ignorable.

"Right, then. Howdy. I'm-", Applejack started, being cut off by Nathan.

"I know who you are! You're Applejack, you're Rarity, she's Twilight Sparkle, that's Rarity, and Fluttershy is over there, hiding behind Rainbow Dash!", Nathan said, to the amazement of the Mane Six and the consternation of Celestia.

"Well, then. With no need for introductions, perhaps we should hear the story Luna told me about.", Celestia suggested as they took their places at the table, Luna having taken a new spot next to Nathan, with no apparent reaction from Celestia beyond a questioning look, to which Luna replied with a shrug.

Nathan sobered up quickly at the suggestion and sighed, rubbing his temples. The room sat quietly for a moment as he prepared. After a moment, he leaned forward into the table and began with an explanation of all things human.

"The first thing you should know is that humans as a whole are greedy, loathsome creatures that inherently strive to be dominant..."

After around two hours of explanation, during which more snacks were brought in by servants, Nathan finally concluded with a brief summary of the events leading to the beginning of the nuclear war, including the collapse of the Middle East and the beginning of a second Cold War.

"...so you can see how things were tense.", Nathan finished, drawing in a deep breath and helping himself to a glass of wine, which he was pleasantly surprised to find to be a nice tart flavor.

There was silence for several minutes as they all digested the information, with varying degrees of either disgust, curiosity, or just plain anxiousness. As Nathan finished another sip, Celestia spoke.

"I suppose I must ask it then. What came next?"

Nathan scowled instantly and took another sip to calm his nerves.

"I don't suppose I could just say we blasted each other to pieces, could I?"

Celestia gave him a look clearly stating she needed the story. Nathan sighed and leaned forward, staring at a particular etch in the worn table. It had clearly seen many a tense negotiation. Closing his eyes, he began with the end.

"We had warnings. We knew they were coming, and that's what brought out the worst of us I suppose. Though to be fair, we were only different from animals in the fact that we could have our 'civilization', built on the backs of others."