Stronghold: Legends are Made!

Chapter 1:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU (again)!

As I opened my eyes (Well, more like eye), I woke up in Fluttershy's cottage. I've gone back 100 years, just as I planned. That means it worked, and I have a second chance. I can't blow it. And if I remember it right, today was my 25th birthday. I got up, rubbed my face, stretched and went into the bathroom. I looked into the mirror. I looked like I went to the beach, which I had the day before to have a good time with my now seven year old son. I had a beard going on, so I took my hair trimmer and plugged it in. I then clipped on a number two over the blade. I made sure I had a bag under my chin so that I wouldn't clog the sink with my facial hair.

I got to work on my face, which had lost it's youthful chubbiness over the past 8 years. I looked like my face was chiseled out of wood by a expert craftsman. But that doesn't matter to me. What matters is that I look good for the surprise party that waited for me downstairs. Because you see, the surprise party is also a mission meeting. But it's better to bombard someone with cake on their birthday first instead of manila folders filled with briefings. I have to make an impression for the people I'm trying to help. Otherwise, they won't take me seriously, and they'll doubt me. They'd think; should we really trust that a guy who can't keep his beard maintained can save us from Discord?

Trust me, you'd be amazed at how one thing can relate to the other.

Over the course of 8 years, my hair has gotten some color. For some reason, it's now a shade of yellow that you can see on the mane of Derpy Hooves, a leader of one of our Divisions. The division she leads is called the Destruction team. To be specific, Destruction team alpha D (yes, as in Derpy). I realized my hair was getting longer too, but all i did was remove the number two and put the number four on, since my hair was long enough to sport the number four on the sides and back. I then trimmed away.

So as I now washed off the stray little hairs that stuck to my neck and chest I thought of what to wear. But before I can do that, I had to take a shower, so I strip down and put my pj's in the hamper. I turned on the shower and got in. I washed my body, then used some shampoo and conditioner (Fluttershy made me buy it) to wash my hair. I turned the shower water off and dried myself with my towel. I got out, and wrapped the towel around my waist, so as to make sure nopony (Especially Carrot Cake. It's bad enough that on her 12th birthday she asked about her real parents.) saw me in the nude.

I walked up to my wardrobe, and saw my favorite (and only) birthday suit; a three piece suit with a dark blue tie and a pinstriped jacket and slacks. I put on my underwear and my socks, then the three piece, which was tailor-made by rarity. I found the leather loafers that went with it, and combed my hair in a fashion that waved over my left eye without looking ugly on me. I looked in the mirror and I looked like I was ready to go on a date.

I went downstairs, grabbing the car keys because that same day was my 7 year old's first day of school among the ponies. And when I turned on the lights to the living room, I got shot with Pinkie Pie's Party Cannon. I grinned, remembering this from the first time. "Man, that never gets old." I muttered as all of Ponyville screamed "SURPRISE!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MAX!!!" "Aww, thanks, guys! I'm so glad you remembered!" I said, blushing. Twilight came up to me in human form and shook my hand, speaking in a calm manner, "Well, you deserved a little cheering up. After all you've done for us, you deserve it...besides, I don't want to make your day start out bad." She then added with a cheery little smile.

I can't show that I'm from the future, so I acted as if I'm confused. So, I made a bewildered face and said, "What do you mean, Princess Twi?" She came up to my ear and whispered "We've got a mission for you after the party." I then whispered to her "But what about my kids? They need to get to school." "Fine. But either way, we need you to check this out as soon as possible." She then backed up and hugged me. It lasted a few minutes before she blushed and let go.

"Good morning, Flutters." I said when I saw Fluttershy come up to me in gray jogging pants and a spaghetti strap tank top. "Oh, hey good morning, Max. Is that...is that cologne I smell?" she said as she sniffed me. "What? Oh, yeah. You see, I remembered it was my birthday, so I wanted to feel good about it." I told her with a smile. "Oh. Okay." returned Flutters. Then, out of nowhere, an overly hyper Pinkie Pie yelled "Come on, enough with the talking! Make a wish and blow out the candles, Max!" So I went up to the person holding the cake, who was Reggie. He smiled genuinely (something I see a lot of, lately) as he held out the cake. Ever since the day I interrogated him, he's been trying his hardest to regain the friendship he ended so long ago. It worked, and we're work buddies, in a way.

So he told me as I looked at the cake, "Make a wish, Stronghold." I blew out the candles, my wish being that the events of the battle don't end the same way as before. "What did you wish for, huh huh huh!?! Oh, wait! Never mind, don't tell me!" yelled Pinkie. "Pinkie, you are too funny." I said as I got into the kitchen to make the kids' lunch. "But can I have some cake, dad?" said all three children in unison. "Yeah, sure. I'll pack it in a plastic container with your sandwiches. Just hurry up and get your backpacks ready. You're going to be late at this rate."

I then turned around and said, "Alright, see you later, guys! Save me some cake, please!" And I took three slices and packed it with the lunch. Finally, I brought the kids out and put them into the carriage. With the manila folders in my suitcase, I hooked the carriage to the end of my electric motorcycle. I drove away, the kids having fun in the back.