Chapter One: The End

Hello readers. I am Archangel, Watcher and Guardian of Equestria. I am the embodiment of pure positive and negative energy working together in harmonious synergy. An unimaginable force to be reckoned with. Before all of that nonsense however, I was just a simple human being called by the name of Jon VanSmidt. This is the chronicle of my journey to a heavenly life and a higher state of being, and the wonderful creatures that helped me get there.

UPSTATE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY, SYRACUSE NY / JULY 27, 2073

I stared off into the dark void. I had been there before, quite a few times actually. "Will I wake up this time? Should I?", I asked myself in my head. "I don't see the point. I have nothing to wake up to anymore."

"CLEAR!", yelled an echoing voice from somewhere unknown.

Lightning scattered across the void and I felt a burning pain, and a sensation of being pulled away from it all. "Well, here we go again I suppose."

"CLEAR!", screamed the voice again only this time much sharper.

The void rippled and broke into bright white light, that burning pain now throbbing. I finally realized I was just waking up when I opened my eyes to the group of medical personnel leaning over me. That white light wasn't what I was hoping for either, I looked around and shook my head, just yet another emergency room visit. And my chest burned from a damn defibrillator shock. Then a younger looking doctor came over to me with a clipboard and a pretty bleak expression on his face.

"Mr. VanSmidt? Can you hear me alright?", he asked plainly.

I only nodded, still quite shocked by the whole situation and my chest hurt so bad I wasn't sure if my mouth was gonna work.

"Alright then.", he began, "Mr. VanSmidt you've just suffered from a major heart attack."

"Shit son only one this time?", I said in my nowadays usual smart ass tone. I guess my mouth still worked too. He didn't seem to find it very funny though.

"Mmm Hmm, well sir it was a bad one this time. You were rushed here after collapsing in the grocery store downtown. Lucky for you, there were a lot of eyes and cameras present.", he simply stated.

Lucky? He was right, I was lucky to have it happen in a crowded place rather than alone in my house. Still, lucky wasn't exactly my favorite word lately. I'm eighty-two years old. My 'everything' is screwed up at any given point. This was the third heart attack in two weeks! Hell, 'lucky' was about my least favorite word for the past thirty years, I won't even go into before that, or my childhood! First my wife battles and loses horribly to cancer! Then, my only daughter decides to turn her sadness for the loss of her mother into anger and a false sense of retribution, and joins the military knowing how against it I was. She died one year later in a car accident of all unexpected things! She didn't even get close to any warfare. Finally from all of the mental and emotional stress that caused me as a husband and a father, it's a damn wonder that I'm still breathing! My wonderfully simple life has blown up into a catastrophic tragedy! So put frankly, 'lucky' can go FUCK ITSELF!!!

"Umm sir, are you with me right now?", the doc asked looking very perplexed.

I looked down and noticed my hands were balled up tightly, my teeth were gritted, and I felt a very strained expression on my face fading away. I must have zoned out in rage mode pretty bad for a minute.

"Uh yea, sorry I must have zoned out.", I chuckled awkwardly.

"Okay, that's fine. Now sir, this is the part I never like.", he lowered his head and sighed. "Mr. VanSmidt, I'm afraid I don't have any good news this time. Your heart is severely damaged beyond repair, and honestly, the fact that you are still here is a miracle."

I laughed a little, "Geez Doc, don't candy coat it or nothing."

He seemed to cringe a little at that, "I'm really sorry sir, I hate to be the bearer of bad news."

"Don't sweat it sonny, when you get to be my age and go through the shit I have, you start almost liking the idea of it being over.", I said trying to reassure him. I don't think it worked though because he only seemed to nervously cringe more. I couldn't blame him though, even though I said what I did, I was even still a little scared of the unknown. Then it hit me again, out of nowhere, a thought. A thought I hadn't payed any attention to for a long time. It was something that came to my mind almost without me thinking it, as far back as when I deployed with the Marines in my early twenties. Back then I thought to myself about what happens in the end of this life. What if the worst were to happen to me? Do we all really have to die? Can't we just transcend into something else? Something better? Then, where do we go? Does it have to be one of two extremely different places?

All these questions plagued my mind here and there throughout my younger life until one day another thought hit me. 'Free will'. I thought maybe, just maybe if I believed enough. If I wanted something enough, then maybe I could have a choice in it all. I could go to that place I called heaven back in my childhood days. If only I could remember what it was called. Ah crap I zoned out again!

"Right, well thank you sir, that's an interesting point of view. I need to go see another patient now, but I'll be back in the morning with more exact results on your condition. Try to get some rest Mr. VanSmidt. See you in the morning.", he said as he turned for the door and exited.

"Well we will s-", I started to joke again but figured he had enough of that for one day, so I just watched him leave. I let out a deep pained sigh and let my head sink into the pillow. It had been one hell of a day, and sleep took me quickly.

I awoke the next morning feeling quite rested despite my circumstances. I also recalled a few strange fragments of a dream that I couldn't piece together. They were of beautiful places and beings I could not quite make any sense of. Shortly into the dream though, it all turned dark, and there was only one emotion present, pure fear. That's when I abruptly woke up. It was weird to say the least. I just laid there thinking for a while until the same doctor from yesterday came walking in.

"Hello Mr. VanSmidt, did you sleep alright?", he asked.

"Yea, not too bad. Thanks for asking. Umm, any news on those results doc?", I asked nervously.

"Yes sir, the results are in.", he said with a hint of negativity. "Sir, from the look of things, you may have less time than we previously thought. I'm saying maybe a week, or two max. I'm sorry."

My eyes went wide at the thought. I knew I was pushing my luck as is, but I didn't think it would be that soon. "Well, thank you for telling me son. I gotta say, your job must be hard having to tell people these things, but I want you to know, there aren't any hard feelings from me. I'm sure everything has been done to help me, but a person's time is gonna be when it's gonna be. I think I'm ready for the next step anyway, whatever it may be.", I sighed and slightly smiled at him.

"Thank you sir, that really means a lot coming from you. I've never had a patient as brave and understanding as you before. I just hope that when it finally comes time for me, I can have such a positive outlook on things as well.", he then looked at his watch, "Ugh! Where does the time go? It's been a pleasure talking with you Mr. VanSmidt, but unfortunately I have a whole floor of patients waiting on me. I'll have to talk with you later, but the nurse will be in soon to take your vitals and get you anything you need.", he said putting his hand out towards me.

I took his hand, shook it firmly, and smiled, "Thanks doc, it's been short, but sweet. Oh, and by the way, call me Jon. All that proper 'Mr.' shit makes me feel old or something.", I joked and gave him a wink. He actually laughed at that one.

"Alright will do M-, I mean Jon, have a good morning.", he chuckled as he left the room in a hurry.

About an hour passed and the nurse finally came in. I had a specific request for her in mind. I was pretty sure I was gonna be told no, but maybe if I played the dying wish card she'd let me get away with it. Dirty minds be gone!

"Good morning Mr. VanSmidt. My name is Chelsea and I'm just gonna take some vitals here alright?", she said walking up to me.

"Do your worst.", I jeered.

She finished what she was doing and finally asked the question I was waiting for, "Is there anything else I can do for you sir?"

I looked out the window and smiled, "There is just one thing. As you may have heard, I don't have much time left. So there's just one thing I want to do before I go. Call it a man's pride or whatever, but I want to get out of this bed, go outside on my own two feet, and breath in the fresh morning air one last time. Can you help me make that happen Ma'am?"

"Well sir, that's against hospital policy, unless you want to sign an insurance waiver.", she said concerned.

"Sure! I'll sign whatever, I just want to go outside for goodness sake.", I said impatiently.

The nurse then left the room and returned a minute later with some papers. "Alright sir, if you'll just sign and date here and initial these we can go ahead and go outside. Now, I must insist you let me help you out of bed and for the first few steps so we can make sure you're okay to do this.", she said sternly.

"Fair enough!", I replied happily signing the waiver and leaning up in bed. I then carefully dragged my legs over the edge and slid down to the floor. My chest felt stiff as hell, and my legs ached, but I didn't care anymore. The nurse then helped me stand up all the way. Damn I was weak.

"Are you sure about this sir?", she asked nervously.

"Yep, worth it.", I grunted through gritted teeth. From there I slowly but surely shuffled down the hallway towards the elevator with the nurse close behind. When we reached the ground floor my chest started throbbing and I was breathing heavy.

"Sir I really think this is a bad idea. We need to get you back upstairs.", the nurse pleaded, clutching my arm.

"No! I don't care if it kills me, this is the last piece of happiness I can think of and I'm gonna get it!", I growled desperately. I then wrenched my arm away from her and made my way quickly through the lobby to the courtyard. I was now clenching my chest in pain and breathing heavier than ever. The door was only inches away. The pain was getting unbearable. Then, the automatic doors flew open and I was blinded by a white flash. I had figured my eyes would need to adjust, but damn! Then I realized the light wasn't fading. I was surrounded by pure white. It didn't hurt my eyes anymore though. I turned around, the doors, the nurse, hell the whole hospital and everything was just, gone. I almost wanted to be afraid and panic, but I couldn't help but feel warm and at peace in this place, like I had just let go of everything holding me down. I felt great! 'But what now?', I thought.

Then, a voice so powerful it sounded like pure thunder, spoke to me, "Welcome Jon VanSmidt. I have been expecting you.", said the voice, seeming to come from everywhere at once.

"Who are you?! Are you God?!", I yelled frightened.

"Do not be afraid my child, you are in a perfect place of being right now. However, I have been called many names by many beings. What name you choose to call me by matters little to me. Just know that I AM.", the voice thundered.

"Right. Great, I understand.", I said not really feeling any less frightened.

"Do you not know why you are here Jon? Do you not remember your wishes from your younger years?", it asked sounding genuinely curious.

"No, uh, not really. I mean, I remember always thinking there was more to life than just eventually dying and going to heaven or hell. Also, I sort of recall wanting to go to another world of some kind, something I think was in a cartoon. I can't remember the name, I just know it was a wonderful place. I don't know anymore than that.", I rambled, struggling to remember more.

"Ah yes, very close. I will remind you now. You always did look beyond just what you were told to believe. You even had a favorite quote, 'The only impossibility, is something being impossible.'. I found this intriguing about you. Of all the mortal beings I have watched throughout the currents of time, you have been the most open-minded to just about anything. To you nothing was impossible, it was only yet to be discovered. You knew deep down there was more to everything, that you didn't have to be on a set path. You believed you could make your own choices, you believed in true free will, even beyond the life you just left. Finally, there was a world you wished to go to. A world that was filled with love, peace, and unity. A beautiful place you called a worldly heaven.", the voice stated happily.

"Wow, haha, I guess I was a pretty imaginative kid. But you know, things changed a lot in my life. Sure, I loved peace and unity and all that good stuff. But after my mother passed away from a heart attack, and my delusional father decided to take that and everything else out on me before he wrapped his car around a friggin tree! And, especially after my wife...and my daughter! I-I-", I started to tear up and feel my anger surging, "I didn't know what to believe anymore! Truthfully I didn't really care! Oh and by the way, since you seem to be the 'Almighty' or something, I wanted to ask you something. Why the hell did I have to lose everything?! My life was perfectly simple! I mean my wife and fucking daughter for shit's sake. They were supposed to bury me!", I raged.

I heard nothing for a moment, then the voice calmly replied, "Jon, I am truly sorry for the pain you have experienced through your life but I must make you aware of something no human being really knows. It is about the soul. A soul is a living entity that knows all there is to know, but seeks the actual experience of this knowledge. Some are very old and experienced while others are new and seek to experience the very simplest of things. So, when someone is born into the world, a soul, old or new, will enter the body becoming one with it, giving it life and purpose. Now, what people really don't understand is, that while they may make all of the outward decisions in life, the soul makes the ultimate inward decisions that shape a person's life. Even if that means experiencing something terrible like pain or even, death. The bottom line is that a soul's purpose is to constantly move forward and experience all it knows."

"So what I'm supposed understand here is, both my wife and daughter, my parents too, all had souls that wanted to experience death? What the hell? And why couldn't you, being all powerful and such, do anything about that?", I asked still ignorantly furious.

"I may be all powerful, but I abide by only one rule. I will not tamper with free will!", it said forcefully.

I hung my head and sighed loudly, "Fine, whatever. Nothing is bringing any of them back anyway. I just have two more questions, then do whatever you planned to do with me. One. Are my wife, daughter and parents at least in a better place and happy? Two. What does this all mean for my soul then?"

"Your wife, daughter and mother are all in their own finest renditions of heaven, happy and without a single worry. Your father however, for reasons not even I can explain, his fate and further existence is shrouded to my view. It is truly a strange mystery but I know as much as you do. As for your soul now, that is a far more enormous subject. You have tied with you one of the oldest souls in existence. It has lived hundreds of thousands of lives and experienced more than any other soul in it's league. Perhaps you remember having many dreams that seemed more like brief glimpses of distant memory rather than jumbled nonsense? Those are actually fragments from the many different lives your soul has run through over time. Your soul has already done so much, it is ready to evolve, to move on to something greater than all of it's experiences combined. So, what this means, why I chose you and your soul, is because I need to ask something of you.", it answered.

I scoffed and shook my head."Sounds just like dear ol' Dad, a mystery to the end and even beyond, I never really did get him. And wait...you, ask something of me? I mean, my soul sounds great and all, but me? What do you expect to get out of me?", I asked, my anger and frustration now being overcome with pure curiosity.

"I will get to the point then. A great force of evil, that wants nothing more than to devour everything good in existence, is moving across the universe, one good world at a time. It's details and motives are also deeply shrouded, I know very little of it other than it leaves every world it comes across lifeless, as if the very energy of life itself has be taken. So, I with the universe itself, have chosen you to bring balance to this evil and ultimately the universe as well. You are the most qualified. I will not directly deal with with this evil for it has a will of it's own and as you already know, I will not tamper with free will myself. However, you are a being of equal free will, a free agent, and should you choose to accept this great task, you could stand against it. You could bring balance once again. It's purely your choice.", the voice declared.

I was in slight disbelief at what I hearing, and I wasn't sure what to say at this point, so I just kept listening.

"Also, you must also know one key detail, the world you wished to go to, is real, and is where this evil will make it's next raid. That is another reason why I have chosen you Jon. Now I know you've always disagreed with all of the fighting and bloodshed in your world, but I also know how much more you want only love, peace, and harmony, and that you would stop at nothing to defend that. Those three values are what this world holds so dear. They do not know the horrors of war and pointless violence, but they sense the evil is coming. They will need someone to answer for them, to fight on there behalf. They will need hope, and a hero to give it to them. These are their prayers I have heard. So Jon VanSmidt, will you answer on all behalves?!", the voice shouted.

I stood there still unbelieving for a moment, then found my resolve and sense of young adventure again, "Yes! Yes I will!"

"Very well then. Now, I will have you swear an oath to yourself and all of existence. Do you, Jon VanSmidt swear to fight this evil for the sake of bringing balance and order to the universe? Do you accept responsibility for the gift of power I will bestow upon you? And finally, do you promise not to use this position of power for personal tyrannical gains?", it asked in a more serious tone.

I knelt down on one knee and put my right arm across my chest, "I swear, accept, and promise to all!"

"So be it! I now bestow upon you a power no mortal has ever known. It is pure positive and negative energy fused together in perfect harmonious synergy. It is fueled by the never ending supply of negative and positive forces in the universe, and ultimately your own will to succeed. I call it 'Invictae Concordat', the invincible agreement.", the voice proclaimed. "It's force is beyond imagination. You will have to unlock and discover your abilities with this power little by little. Too much all at once and you would be ripped apart along with the world you stand upon.", it warned.

At that, I stood and saw a silvery translucent wisp come down towards me. It stopped just in front of my chest. It then glowed intensely right before shooting straight into me. I felt like I was just ripped in half then slammed back together again, atom by atom. Every nerve was on fire. To say I suddenly felt 'energized', would be an extreme understatement. I then looked down at my hands and the rest of my body. I was young again! Every part of me was completely restored. I also seemed to be in far better shape this time than I was at this age before. I never felt more alive!

"This is amazing! And this only the beginning?", I excitedly shouted.

The voice gave a slight chuckle at my excitement, "Yes. there is much to be discovered, in due time. For now, enjoy this responsibly, you may later need it for unimaginable things. Now, finally I give you your new name and title, if you'll have it. You may choose to go by it or still by your formal name, but I believe it will have a better impact where you're about to go to. I shall call you, Archangel, Guardian of Equestria!"

Equestria! That was the name of my dream world! But I still could not remember much about it or it's inhabitants. I just recalled it's beauty and everything about it being wonderful and magical. Now, I was excited, as if I wasn't before. "Thank you for this. This is truly incredible! I do accept my new name and title and I will do my very best.", I said to the unseen voice.

"I know you will, you are an amazing creature Jon. Thank you for accepting this. I am a bit regretful though, that you have to fight for your own heaven. But there is no one better suited for this daunting task than you, and the situation is what it is by way of evil will. And the only way to stop it is by crushing it with your will power! Now then! As Archangel. Go forth and bring balance. The Great War starts on this innocent world. It is up to you if it ends there! See you on the other side.", said the voice with a hint playfulness in it.

"See you then!", I said with a smirk.

At that moment the white space all around me started to look distorted and began to fade. I had the rushing sensation of falling all of the sudden. I felt really hot, but my new-found energy was flaring all over my body like it was shielding me from something. Strange, but I definitely wasn't expecting what happened next. All traces of the white space suddenly erupted violently away into darkness and silence. I looked at what I imagined was down. Nothing but black space and, stars? Then I looked up. I focused my vision and realized I was looking at large bodies of water and land masses. A planet! I WAS FALLING FROM ORBIT!

"Oh, shit!", was all I managed to get out.

Author's Note

Hey everyone! This is my first story on Fimfiction, and my first time writing again in years. So, that being said, constructive criticism is very welcome. Also, any helpful hints or ideas would be nice.Okay so there's chapter one. I know, no ponies just yet! They are the first thing in chapter two I promise! If there's little writing mistakes anywhere, sorry this was done quickly. So please R&R! Thank you!