Chapters Protect these Ponies With your Life
Chapter 1 Protect These Ponies with your Life
I sat Across from a slightly bored looking man, his hairline receding while we sat there. He stared lazily at the paper work in his hand, his eyebrows slightly arching at some of the more interesting bits, but otherwise he was completely inert.
The Name's Isaiah Aarons, Knight of Fiction of the 7th level, and currently the Third youngest of my order. I sat, slumped, eyes sweeping over the room because, hey, what else can you do during the mind numbing process that is a transfer request. The Room was relatively bland, a lot of beige, beige, and oh my what's this, beige. The walls held a few posters, one noticeable one depicting a knight pointing menacingly at the camera with his sword drawn, a caption informed me that canon won't protect itself and that I should join today. Gotta love propaganda.
The mans desk held very little a couple scattered papers, a few loose pens, and a picture in a frame that I couldn't actually see, although I think it's safe to assume that it was a family photo of some kind.
I fiddled with my sword which leaned against my chair. It was a simple iron piece, nothing remarkable about it in it's current state, I had it since I joined the Knights and it served me well, protecting me from many a fanon nasty.
A small cough brought me out of my reflections. The mans eyes had left the paper work and was staring at me, his knuckle slightly pushing in his face as he leaned on it.
"Says here that you first joined in 2005?" The man's eye flicked back to the paper before quickly returning to me, confirming that he hadn't made a mistake.
"That's right." I confirmed, nodding my head.
"Also says here that you trained for the most part in the Fire Emblem series."
"Yep, learned my swordsmanship from the Sword masters of that series." I said, a hint of pride touching my voice.
"Mmm-hmm, It's also says that your first assignment was protecting Pokemon, starting in January of 2006, but it also says that you only stayed there for about a year before turning in a transfer report, why is that?"
"Oh yeah," I murmured, Idly scratching the back of my head, "Well it turns out that Pokemon can get a lot darker than you might think, and then there was that case with the Murderous Totodile in New Bark Town." I never did learn where that thing had came from.
"Alrighty then, It goes on to say that you were then assigned to Dynasty Warriors, but you requested a transfer in about a month."
"Oh the fanon threats were fun to fight in that series, but they also came with a shit ton of mooks, and trust me, weeding through a couple hundreds of generic solders is a thankless job."
"Not the best Justification," I winced a little, "but whatever, finally, it says that You were assigned to Devil May Cry from 4 onwards, and you had been there ever since, until now."
"So, Uh, how does it look for my transfer?" I asked, holding my breath.
"Well, Isaiah, the quick transfers for your first two assignments looks bad, makes it look like you have little patience and that you're not taking the job too seriously." wince, "However, your two years with DMC should dispel any fears anyone may have about your work ethic. Yeah you should be okay, I'm very confident that your request should go through and by the end of the week you should be assigned to a new series."
I exhaled a feeling of relief flowing through me.
"Now just to find you a new possible assignment." with that the man stood up, turned, and walked briskly to a file cabinet that stood behind him. He opened a drawer marked "open series" and flicked through it muttering to himself while he did. When he appeared satisfied with what he found he came back and sat down in his chair. In his hands he held two files which he preceded to set down on the desk. "Luckily for you there's two open, and since there's not other transfer requests after you currently, you get to have the pick of the litter."
"Well what are they, shoot."
"Firstly we actually have a series that was vacated by another Knight with a transfer request, very popular series especially with young women, might want to consider it."
"Okay, but what is it?" I asked, leaning forward a bit.
The man coughed a bit, and flipped open the file, and I found a cover of a book that depicted a pair of hands holding an apple. "It's Twilight." the man murmured looking down and away from me.
"No, No, A thousand times No!" I shouted, raising out of my seat a bit.
"Yeah, that's about the reaction I expected," He said his eyes returning to look at me, "don't worry though you have another option, although I don't think you're going to like it that much more."
"Really I don't care what else you show me, as long as it's not that." I said, pointing at the file that held the cover for Twilight.
"Alright then." he said flipping open the opposite file. A Picture depicting 7 Horses and a small reptile like creature, all smiling, huddled around a Logo that said "My Little Pony, Friendship is Magic," stared up at me.
"You're shitting me."
"Nope."
"There's no other open series?"
"Sorry."
"Alright fine, give me the ponies."
"That's the spirit," He said, sarcasm positively dripping from his voice.
---
I was informed two days later that my request has gone through and that my riffer would be a fellow named Thomas Bell.
I Stood before the machine that would send me into the world of pastel colored ponies, my arms crossed, my eyes closed in contemplation, at least until a lab technician strode up to me and strapped a tube to my arm.
"Okay, I'll bite, what the hell is this for?"
"Oh yeah this is your first time going into a Brand spanking new series isn't it." said a voice that came through the tiny ear piece that I was forced to wear at all times.
I looked up at the window that looked down over me, I could see a Guy, about my age, brown haired, with glasses that were slightly crooked on his face waving at me, this was Thomas Bell and I had just met him earlier that day.
"Yeah it is, so what's so special about that?"
"Well you see," Thomas explained sitting down, "we have to get the main denizens of the series you're going into used to you, not much of a problem when the place is made up of mainly humans, much bigger problem with non-human series such as the one you're about to dive into."
"Okay and..." I said, doing the hurry up motion with my hand.
"Well, heh, long story short were going to have to revert you back to a toddler."
"I 'm sorry WHAT!?"
"Just so you're not threatening to the ponies, don't worry you'll still have your current intellect and you'll perceive the world the exact same way you would now, and by the time the series start you'll be back to your proper age."
"How?"
"Well you're going to be sent back about 15 years before the series starts and you'll grow from there."
I grunted a bit and looked down.
"You're also going to have to leave your sword here."
"Oh Come On!"
"Again, don't worry you'll get it back around the time the series starts."
I groaned and handed the sword to the technician, " Okay, Okay, and what about the tube?"
"Well the process of turning someone into a toddler is kinda painful, so we have to dope you up on painkillers and knock you out something fierce."
"Is it too late to go take the vampires?"
"Pretty much, whenever your ready."
I took a deep breath, steeled myself, and said "ready." Almost instantly I was given a first class ticket right to la-la land.
Wait I'm Not Ready For My Close-Up
Chapter 2 Wait I'm Not Ready For My Close-Up
I woke up feeling like I'd been ran over by a particularly malicious truck. I slowly opened my eyes to find that I'd been left in a particularly dense forest. The trees blocked out any view of the sky except for a select few spots where rays of sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting shadows that looked more sinister than they probably should have. There was a thin cloud of fog, that also caused shadows that, again, looked more sinister than they should've. Strange sounds echoed from deeper in the forest that, would I have been on earth and not had just woken up very much alone in a strange place, would have been kinda soothing, however this wasn't earth and I had most definitely just woken up in a strange place with no one else around, so the effect just made the forest seem even more sinister. I was noticing a pattern with this place and I wasn't liking it, so I made a decision and decided it would be smart to leg it to somewhere that would at least be conceivably safer then there.
I stood up, more then ready to put my plan into action, and sat right back down when I felt a pang that felt like someone had just hammered a railroad spike into my head. It was around then that I noticed that I had, indeed, been reverted to a toddler. I was about 4 feet shorter than I had been and I appeared to be missing about 100 pounds. My shirt hung loosely off me like I had just been fasting for a few months, my pants were so long on me that I had to roll up the legs about thirty times just so I wouldn't look like I had been using blue denim for toilet paper that had stuck it self to my shoes, which, by the way, were about 10 sizes to big. So all in all I must have looked pretty damn silly.
So I was sitting there taking in my predicament while silently cursing the name of the 'genius' who had decided to dump little ole toddler me in a strange forest, when I heard a sharp intake of breath behind me. I jumped up, spinning around to face the new arrival reaching for my sword, however, because of my too large for my feet shoes, I landed right back on my butt, where I promptly remembered that I didn't have my sword. Bloody freakin' geniuses those technicians, I tells ya'.
The creature who stood before me could only be described, with any justice, as Radiant. She (I was assuming that it was a she at this point) stood at about the height of a normal horse, but that was the last thing that could be described as normal about her. Her coat was white, but not just white, it was the white of something at the most extreme of heat. Her mane and tail were long, flowing, rainbow colored, and they were constantly moving. She had a horn that jutted out of her forehead about a foot. She, also, had a pair of wings which, at the time, were folded compactly to her sides. She wore golden boots, a necklace, and a Tiara. The Necklace and Tiara both had an amethyst embedded into them. She was flanked by a pair of what I guessed were guards. The 2 guards were both much shorter then her, white with blue eyes, wore golden armor, and had wings like her, but much smaller looking.
The Regal pony stepped towards me, stooping her head to get a better look at me. Her eyes were violet, and I also saw something else in those eyes. There was a twinkle in them, a twinkle that told me that 'hey I may be serious when I need to be, but I also know how to have fun when I want to.' I also spied an image of the sun on her flank.
She lied down in front of me, her legs folding under her body, and stared into my eyes. She lied there, gauging me I assumed, for a couple minutes, not blinking. After the third minute, when I started questioning what she wanted, she nodded her head, smiled and said "Why hello there Little One."
One of the guards coughed then, causing the Graceful pony to turn and look at said guard, a questioning look probably flashing onto her face.
"Princess Celestia I would Advise moving away from the creature, we don't know when his mother could be back."
At this notion Celestia 'pshed' and and moved here hoof in a motion that can only be described as a hand wave (hoof wave?) "Oh Sergent Warden Hooves, you've always been a worry wort about things like this, Lighten up a bit."
At this Sergent Warden Hooves looked away, his face reddening a bit, while the opposite guard tried to, quite unsuccessfully, hide a little smirk.
Princess Celestia Turned back to me then, a small smile on her face.
"Now then Little One, what's your name?"
I had take a little bit to swallow and find my voice before I answered, "Isaiah." My voice came out scratchy and a little bit high pitched.
Both the guards look surprised that I was actually able to speak, although Princess Celestia Seemed to be taking it in stride.
"A very good name," she said, nodding her head, "Now, where's your mother Isaiah?"
Well that might have been a problem, because at the time my mother was in upper New York, Furiously trying to get her book published, but I couldn't rightly tell her that. I could always lie, but something told me that she'd know if I lied and I didn't need her getting suspicious of me. That left me with one choice, Vagueness!
"Not here."
"Hmm," Celestia hummed to herself, standing up, "Well we can't rightly leave you alone in the Everfree forest and hope your mother comes back soon." the princess stood there for a moment before finally coming to a decision, "Well come along Isaiah."
"Huh?" me and the 2 guard said in unison.
"You three heard me."
"B-b-but Princess Celestia..." Sergent Warden Hooves Stammered.
"No buts Sergent," Celestia Chided, "Come now Isaiah." she said, already moving away.
I weighed my options. Either go with someone I had just met, but seemed nice enough or stay in a hostile looking forest with no ways to defend myself and hope I found a way to survive. Lets just say the decision wasn't that hard.
I stood up, toddled for a few seconds, trying to get my feet under me, and quickly followed after her.
---2 Years Later---
For a year or so after Celestia found me in the Everfree Forest all I really did around the castle was grow, learn about the world of ponies, take up space, and eat food that was set in front of me. When it was eventually decided that I needed to make myself useful, Celestia decided to make me her personal clerk. Basically It was my job to write Celestia's letters, read through paperwork, and just generally push a lot of papers.
One Day in particular stands out to me. It was the day of the Entrance Exams for Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns (say that 5 times fast) and it was my job to sort through the applications for the hopeful future students. The Task didn't exactly excite me. So there I was, flipping through the forms, quickly noting that everything seemed to be in order. Then there was one that I just stopped on, one I couldn't flip past for reasons that I wouldn't have been able to explain. The form had a picture that depicted a small filly with a purple coat and mane with streaks of lavender and pink in it. The Form said her name was Twilight Sparkle, daughter of Starlight and Midnight Sparkle. On the line that should have said what her talent was it just said 'Undiscovered'.
"Hmm, a blank flank, that's interesting." I murmured entirely to myself. However there was something else about her, something that wasn't the fact that she was a blank flank, some kinda feeling that she was special in someway. I was sitting there contemplating this feeling when I felt a presence that I shouldn't have for 13 more years, The Camera.
For the Uninitiated among us an explanation is in order. The Camera is the name the Knights of Fiction has given for the force that watches and records the worlds of fiction. Not much else is know about it other that simple fact but it's first appearance usually means 2 things. First the series has officially started, and second the fanon threats would start rolling in soon. This isn't always the case, but 9 times out of 10 that is most definitely the case. Now again that's not usually a problem because there's usually a Knight ready to start protecting the series. However, while I was most defiantly a knight, I was certainly not ready. First of all I was still very much a kid, and secondly I still hadn't gotten my sword back.
So you can kinda understand my panic when I went sprinting out of the processing room in search of The Camera. My senses told me that The Camera was in the Examination room, so I pounded down the ramparts, gaining me a couple of strange looks from the Guards on duty. I was about halfway there when I heard a giant Explosion from overhead. Whipping my head to look at the sky, I saw a giant ripple of rainbow colors. The ripple seemed to originate from a place that I estimated was around Cloudsdale. A few seconds later I heard a great crashing sound. I looked back up and saw what looked like a giant stuffed dragon I had when I was younger sticking out of the roof of the Examination room. This urged me to run faster.
I finally reached the examination when the presence of The Camera Suddenly Disappeared. Out of breath, and nursing a stitch in my side, I stumbled into the room, where a strange sight greeted me. In the room stood Princess Celestia and around her bounced the filly from the form before, who was shouting 'yes' gleefully multiple times, however something wasn't quite what it said on the form. On her flank instead of just a bit of her purple coat, there was a Cutie Mark that depicted a star with 5 small sparkles around it. Moving on to another oddity, on a pile of squashed straw and smashed wood sat a baby dragon obliviously sucking on it's own tail. The Examiners looked like they had just been dropped, and finally by the doors of the room stood a Mare and Stallion who looked like they were trying to shake off something that wasn't there, I went ahead and assumed that they were Starlight and Midnight.
After about a minute, Celestia noticed me standing there, and the smile on her face grew a bit more.
"Ah Isaiah," she said, a bit of laughter coming through her voice, "come, meet my new Protege."
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Well the Series Started, Now Where the F**k is My Sword
Well the Series Started, Now Where the F**k is My Sword
Chapter 3 Well the Series Started, Now Where the F**k is My Sword
---13 Years Later---
The next 13 years were largely uneventful, with little to no important events that I can think of off the top of my head. I mostly spent my time continuing to push papers, although around year 7 of my time there I took to a vigorous Work out routine just to make sure I was ready for the start of the series. About the only other thing I did other then push papers and work out was keep tabs on Twilight Sparkle. There was always this vibe about her, something that said that she was something special. Most of my info of her came through Celestia, who informed me she was just about the model student. She listened well, was always excited for a lesson, and was the most studious pony she'd ever met, though maybe a bit too studious. This last remark got a bit of a reaction out of me.
"Is there something wrong with a young unicorn taking an interest in her studies?" I would ask flipping through the newest bit of paper work
"Well of course not," Celestia would reply, "But, she seems to be disregarding everything else in her life, not the least of which being her social life. I mean, are you aware she hasn't made a single friend since coming here?"
"Hmm," I nodded, "yeah I can see why you might be concerned 'bout that." Then I'd notice I had just signed on the wrong line and would have to take two hours to fix said mistake, my forehead would meet the desk, and all conversation about Twilight Sparkle would cease.
---
In all of the years after the incident on the day of the examinations I didn't sense the camera until that day. It was 2 days before one of Equestria's most important events, The Summer Sun Celebration. I had somehow gotten all my paperwork done for the day and decide to pay Twilight and Spike a visit. I walked up the tower that held Twilight's private chambers and library and knocked on the large double doors and waited to be let in.
When the doors opened there stood a dragon with purple scales and green and spines, also he was about half the size of a normal pony. This is Spike and he was the tail sucker (Stop Laughing!) from my last report.
"Oh, hey Isaiah." Spike said, smiling a bit.
"Yo, Spike." I said, giving off a tiny, informal salute.
"So whatcha doin' here?" Spike questioned, moving, allowing me to enter.
"Oh, I had some extra time thought I'd swing by and say hi," I replied, entering. Looking around the rather impressive library Twilight kept I noticed that a certain purple Unicorn was missing.
"So where's Twi?"
"Oh she's off studying somewhere." Spike answered without looking at me.
"Aren't you two on break?" I asked, Chuckling.
"Well you know Twilight." Spike said, laughing a bit himself. I then noticed that, while talking to me, he had been wrapping a gift.
"Who's the present for?"
"Oh," Spike turned then, realizing that what he had been doing might be construed as rude, "Moondancer's having a party in the west courtyard."
"Ah," I nodded, "So, What did ya' get her?"
Spike leaned in a bit, motioned for me to do the same, and said in a conspiratorial whisper, "A Teddy Bear."
It probably would have gone on like this for while had I not, at that very instant, sensed The Camera's presence and heard a slight buzzing my ear, which was quickly replaced by a really familiar voice.
"Isaiah do your read me? Earth to Isaiah, are your there?"
I stood ramrod straight, my eyes bugging out slightly.
"Um... are you okay Isaiah?" Spike asked, a concerned look on his face.
"What? Oh, yeah I uh... just remembered I need to find a certain book. Twi won't mind if I look around, right?" I replied, quickly trying to find someway to get me some alone time.
"Well she shouldn't, go ahead." Spike answered, the look of concern lingering on his face.
"Great!" I said with much fake cheer, and scurried off very quickly.
Finding a spot where Spike was unlikely to see me, I knelled down, put my hand to my ear, and spoke.
"Isaiah reporting."
"Oh thank God, thought we lost ya' for a minute there." The familiar voice said, relief evident in his tone.
"That you Thomas?"
"The one and only. Nice to see you remember me after 15 years."
"Yeah, well you kinda don't forget about the guy who turned you into a toddler and dropped you off in a forest, all alone."
When Thomas responded his tone was much more sheepish, "Well to be fair I'm not directly involved in the toddler reversion process, and it wasn't my idea to leave you in that forest."
"Then whose idea was it?" I questioned, exasperated.
"That would be Intern Bob."
I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose to keep from getting to annoyed. "Well why are contacting me now?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Thomas asked excitement building in his voice. "Your 15 year wait is over, the series just started."
I could tell he was trying to be all dramatic, but I just had to laugh a little bit. "Well that's great, so... where's my sword?"
"Don't worry we're working on that right now. Your sword should be in the world by the end of the episode."
I about to question why they hadn't been working on getting it to me before the series started when I heard the double doors of the library burst open.
"Spike! SPIIIIKE! Spike? There you are." The new arrival said, allowing me to identify her as 'Miss strange feeling about her' herself, Twilight Sparkle. My senses were also kind enough to point out that The Camera had apparently followed her here, very much like a lost puppy.
"Hurry, act natural!" Thomas shouted in my ear, which, in that case, involved standing up, taking my hand away from my ear, movie very quickly over to a bookcase, and make like I was looking for a book.
"Quick! Find me that old copy of Predictions and Prophecies ." Twilight Shouted, galloping into the main library area. She was a little bit surprised to see me there. "Oh, hello Isaiah."
"Hi Twi." I muttered, still pretending I was looking for a book.
By then Spike, who had a slightly dejected look on his face, had caught up with Twilight. Impaled on his tail was the present from earlier.
"What's that for?" Twilight asked.
"Well, it was a gift for Moondancer..." Spike said, removing the ruined present from his tail, out of which fell a Teddy Bear that had a hole in it's stomach.
"Ouch, rough." I said sympathetically.
"Oh, Spike, you know we don't have time for that sort of thing." Twilight said, beginning her search for the aforementioned book.
"But we're on break!" Spike Complained (not without merit mind you).
Twilight, paying no heed to Spike's complaint, closed her eyes, her horn flaring up a second later. A multitude book, seemingly of their own power, then floated off their shelf's, a faint magenta glow surrounding all of them. In reality Twilight was just using a very simple form of magic, telekinesis. I'd learned very early during my stay in Equestria that pretty much all Unicorns could use telekinesis, so the floating books didn't freak me out to much.
"No... no... no,no,no!" Twilight said, glancing at each book in turn. "SPIKE!" she then shouted in exasperation.
Spike, who I guess had memorized the layout of the library, had already made it to the top of a shelf on one of the upper levels shouted down "It's over here." He probably should have waited a bit to tell her because twilight then used her telekinesis to drag the book down to her and, unfortunately for spike, him along with it.
Twilight, satisfied that the tome had been found, set about flipping through it searching for an entry on somethings called 'The Elements of Harmony', she found it, but all it did was redirect her to another entry on 'The Mare in the Moon' which Spike informed was 'just an old ponies' tale' (Yeah, Yeah I can hear you groaning).
All I got out of the story the entry told was a myth about how there was an pony in the moon who was just waiting to turn out the lights for the world, however Twilight seemed much more panicked by it, and told Spike, who had just fallen off a ladder where he was re-shelving some book onto Twilight's back, to take a note.
She then went on to talk out a letter to Princess Celestia about how she thought The Mare in the Moon was actually someone named Nightmare Moon and would soon return, and how she urged Celestia to quick action to prevent such a thing from happening. Admittedly I was only half listening to what she said was just glancing around the room when I noticed something. In the giant hourglass that stood as a centerpiece for the room, for just a second, right when Twilight walked by it, I would have sworn I saw a face there. The face was that of a mare, a mare with a black coat, only visible on her lower jaw and muzzle the rest of her head covered by blue armor. Her eyes looked almost serpentine, with green irises and slits for pupils, her eye lids a deep purple. Finally she had a horn that I estimated to be about the size of of Princess Celestia's, and the little bit of mane visible was a dark blue with white spots, very much like the night sky. The face chilled me to the bone for reasons that I couldn't explain.
While I was busy being creeped out by the face Twilight had finished her letter.
"Twi-light," Spike said slowly, writing the last bit of the letter, "Spar-kle, got it!"
"Great! Send It!"
"Now?"
"Of course!"
"Uh... I don't know Twilight," spike said, an uneasy look on his face, "Princess Celestia's a little busy getting ready for The Summer Sun Celebration, and it's, like the day after tomorrow."
"That's just it Spike. The day after tomorrow is the thousandth year of The Summer Sun Celebration. It's imperative that the Princess is told right away." Twilight informed Spike.
Spike going back to the letter then muttered to himself, "Impera... Impera."
Twilight with a annoyed face then shouted with enough force to send Spike tumbling "IMPORTANT!"
"Okay, Okay." Spike said, picking himself back up. Taking a deep breath Spike then blew out a thin stream of green fire which, instead of burning it, turned the rolled up letter into smoke and carried out an open window. That green fire was enchanted fire given to spike for message delivering and, no, as of writing this report I don't know how it works.
"There, Its on its way!" Spike informed Twilight, "But I wouldn't hold your breath." he said waving a claw.
"Oh, I'm not worried." Twilight said rather smugly, "The Princess trust me completely. In all the years she's been my mentor she's never once doubted me."
Pretty much instantly Spikes cheeks bulged like something that disagreed with him had just caught up, and he belched out a burst of green flames which deposited a rolled up letter.
"I knew she would want to take immediate action." Twilight said, a bit of smugness still caught in her voice.
Clearing his throat spike began to read the newly arrived letter, " My dearest, most faithful student Twilight. You know that I value your diligence, and that I trust you completely."
"Mmm-hmm" Twilight nodded to herself
"But," Spike continued, "simply must stop reading those dusty books!"
Twilight gave a little gasp at this, and right then is when The Camera disappeared.
"Well ain't that a kick to the teeth," I said to a very awkwardly silent room.
---
Later that night I was flipping through some newly acquired paperwork while Princess Celestia sat nearby, reading a book silently.
"So... you're sending Twilight off to Ponyville tomorrow?" I inquired, glancing up from the stack of papers.
Celestia nodded, continuing to read her book without so much as a sound.
"Twi didn't seem to happy about that." I told The Sun Princess.
"She needs to make friends," Celestia muttered.
"Yeah she does... although it might help if someone else went along with her."
"She has Spike." She informed me.
"Again, yeah she does... but, it might help is she had someone her own age going along with her."
Celestia looked up from her book smiling, "Why Isaiah, are you volunteering to accompany Twilight to Ponyville?"
"Yeah, I kinda am." The Camera was obviously following Twilight, and where ever The Camera went I would be following, you never know when those Fanon threats are gonna pop up.
"Well what about your paperwork?"
"Oh this," I said, motioning to the stack, "I'll be done with this by midnight no problem."
Celestia closed her eyes, considering the proposition. "Well Twilight could use some support.," The monarch muttered to herself. Celestia opened her eyes and nodded, "Yes it's a fine idea, Isaiah. You shall accompany Twilight to Ponyville."
"Glad to hear it, now just to finish this infernal paperwork."
---
The following morning found me, Spike, and a particularly grumpy Twilight Sparkle in a Pegasus drawn chariot. Spike was rereading the letter aloud to Twilight, who for her credit she seemed to perk up a little near the end of the trip, although I wouldn't have been able to tell you why. I wasn't really listening to them, partly because really all the talking that went on was by Spike, who was just reciting a letter I'd heard before, but mostly it was because it took all of my concentration to keep a hold of my breakfast. I've never liked flying and 15 years in Equestria didn't change that a bit. When we landed in Ponyville I got off shaky legged while Twilight thanked the two guards pulling the chariot.
"Maybe the ponies in Ponyville have interesting things to talk about!" Spike said, still trying convince Twilight that the trip wouldn't totally suck, and, what do you know, up trots one of those ponies just then. This pony was bright pink in color with a curly mane that was a slightly darker pink. Her eyes were blue, a smile seemed permanently pasted to her face, and on her flank was Cutiemark depicting three balloons. She stood before us not saying anything.
"Come on Twilight, just try." Spike urged her on.
"Uh... hello?" She said quite uncertainly.
suddenly the Pink Pony suddenly jumped up gasping, and, just for the scantest of seconds something weird happened. This Pony took on a strange vibe, a strangely familiar vibe. More specifically the vibe that Twilight had ever since the second I met her, only this pony's feeling was slightly more intense, a big spike of the strange feeling. Then the Pink Pony dashed off the feeling disappearing in the same instant.
"Well, that was interesting all right." Twilight said, mystified.
"In more ways than one." I muttered to myself.
---
"Summer Sun Celebration Official Overseer's Checklist." Spike Read. To tell the truth, between my fear of flying and the strange Pink Pony we had just met, I had forgotten why we had came to Ponyville in the first place. It was Twilight's job to make sure The Summer Sun Celebration went off without a hitch, Spike, as Twilight's assistant, was there to, well, assist her, and I was there to... well, now that I think about it, I don't really now what my job was there, I think Celestia put me down as emotional support, but eh.
Anyway were coming up to a Farm while Spike continued to read of the list.
"Number one. Banquet preparations - Sweet Apple Acres."
"Yee-haa!" All three of us were suprised by a sudden shout with a heavy southern Accent
A orange Pony galloped by. The Pony had a blonde mane and tail, both of which were tied back. The Pony was green eyes, with freckles on each cheek. On her flank was a Cutiemark that showed a trio of apples. although, I have to say, the most amazing thing about her was that she wore a brown stetson atop her head, which was weird to me because most of the Ponies during my 15 year stay here hardly wore anything at all most of the time.
The Orange Pony galloped over to a tree where she planted her forlegs, pivoted, and bucked it (Pony terminology, either you learn it fast, or you stay lost.) causing all the apples in the tree to fall in baskets that were set up around the trunk.
I golf clapped a bit, impressed.
"Let's get this over with." Twilight sighed, hanging her head. A bit of pessimist that one. She approached the Orange Pony straightening up and putting on a smile. "Good afternoon. My name is Twilight Sparkle." That's as far as she got before the Orange Pony grabbed one of her hoof and started shaking it vigorously.
"Well, howdy do, Miss Twilight. A pleasure makin' your acquaintance. I'm Applejack. We her at Sweet Apple Acres do like makin' new friends." And another strange thing happened. All though her saying this she took on that strange feeling, much like the strange Pink Pony, only her's didn't disappear quickly, her's lingered, and again it had a stronger feeling than Twilight's. My basic question around this point was 'what the hell is going on.'
"Friends?" Twilight inquired while Applejack shook her hoof hard enough to cause Twi's voice to vibrate. "Actually I..."
"So, what can I do for you?" Applejack asked, finally releasing Twi's hoof, who didn't realize right away so Spike had to stop her hoof from shaking, giggling a bit after doing so.
Twilight had to readjust herself a bit before continuing on. "Well, I am in fact here to supervise preparations for The Summer Sun Celebration. And you're in charge of the Food?"
"We sure as sugar are." Applejack affirmed, "Care to sample some?"
"Well, as long as it doesn't take," Applejack didn't wait around to hear the end of the sentence, "to long."
Applejack galloped over to a Triangle suspended by a slender rope form a wooden post, took up the wand, and rang the Triangle.
"SOUP'S ON EVERYPONY!" Applejack hollered.
"Hey do you guys hear that poun-- OH GOD!" I was cut off as a great flood of ponies that swept up me, Spike, and Twi. We somehow found ourselves seated around a table with yellow tablecloths. Applejack popped up (Literally) a second later with a grin on her face.
"Now why don't I introduce you to the Apple Family?" Applejack said, gesturing to the ponies starting to congregate around the table.
"Thanks, but I really need to hurray." Twilight said, quickly trying to make her escape. Just then a tasty looking treat was presented before Twilight, the treat itself being held by a member of the Apple Family, who Applejack introduced as Apple Fritter. After that there was no leaving as more and more Family members, all of who held a delectable looking apple treat, all of which ended up on the table, witch actually started to sag a little bit under the weight. The introductions culminated with three that somehow I could tell were the most closely related to her.
"Big Macintosh, Applebloom, aaand..." Applejack paused a little bit to shove an apple into Twilight mouth, "Granny Smith." Who was a much older mare, who, up til now, had been asleep in a rocking chair. She had to take a little bit to wake up and to walk over to the now crowded table.
"Why, I'd say," Applejack said, patting Twi's back, "they're already part of the family."
Twilight then spit out the now chewed bits of the apple (which was more than a little gross) and let out an uneasy giggle.
"Okay, well, I can see the food situation is handled," Twilight said, trying to make her escape again, "so we'll be on our way." There were disappointed looks from the Apple Family members, along with a tiny voice that caused Twilight to stop.
"Aren't you going to say for brunch?" The owner of the voice turned out to the young, yellow coated, red maned filly Applejack had introduced as Applebloom, who at the moment was giving what could only be described a puppy dog eyes.
"Sorry," Twilight Said, visibly cracking even then, "but we have an awful lot to do." There was a disappointed sigh from all (and I do mean all) the Members of the Apple Family, which pretty much sealed the deal with Twilight staying.
"Fine." There was a huge Cheer from The Apple Family, and we were treated to a fabulous Apple brunch. I probably would have enjoyed it more had it not been for one thing. That Feeling about Applejack was still there and it stayed there for the whole brunch and didn't fade until we had left Sweet Apple Acres, and were well along our way to checking on the next object on our list.
---
"Food's all taken care of." Spike said, ticking food his list, "Next is Weather."
"You okay back there Twi? You seem to be putting on a few pounds." I said, looking over my shoulder
"I ate to much Pie." Twilight Groaned back.
Hmmm..." Spike stared up at the sky, "there's supposed to be a Pegasus Pony named Rainbow Dash Clearing the sky."
Me and Twilight both glanced up at the sky, which, while not overcast, was definitely cloudy.
"Well, She's not doing a very good job, is she?" She said rather huffily. Then a Rainbow colored blur rammed into Twi, knocking her down into a mud puddle. Laying in a heap in the puddle was Twilight (Duh) and on top of her was an unfamiliar Blue Pegasus. The Pegasus had a Rainbow colored mane, violet eyes, and a Cutiemark with a cloud and a Rainbow colored lighting bolt. The Mud splattered Pegasus got up with a goofy grin on her face and bent over to check on Twilight, who was still lying face down in the Mud puddle.
"Uh... 'scuse me?" The Rainbow Pegasus then took off and hovered a few feet of the ground, glancing around looking for something, while Twilight picked herself up, groaning a bit. "Let me help you." she said, quickly zipping off, only to return with a cloud, which she positioned over Twilight. The Pegasus jumped onto the cloud (you heard me right) and stomped on it a few times witch, caused a torrent of water of water to wash over Twilight. This did give the desired effect of cleaning Twilight off, but it also left her completely soaked. "Oops," the Pegasus said looking down from her cloud, "I guess I overdid it. Um.. how about this." She then swooped down and flew in a tight circle fast enough to cause a Rainbow (all about the rainbows with this pony) colored whirlwind, which sucked up all the Mud in the puddle. "My very own patented," she said, raising out of the whirlwind, "Rainblow-Dry!" She landed on the ground before continuing. "No, no, don't thank me. You're quite welcome." She then got a good look at Twilight, whose mane and tail had frizzed out enough to give any hair stylist a heart attack. She looked quite miffed. This caused the Pegasus to burst out laughing, and Spike wasn't fair behind, falling over the Pegasus in fits. This didn't help Twilight's mood.
"I have to admit it's a funny look for you, Twi." I said, before being silenced by a glare from Twilight.
"Let me guess," Twilight said, returning her gaze to the Pegasus and Spike, both of whom were still in fits, "your Rainbow Dash." Rainbow Dash then bolts up, throwing Spike off her.
"The One and only!" Rainbow confirmed, taking off, "Why? Ya' heard of me?"
"I heard you're supposed to be keeping the sky clear." Twilight then sighed, annoyed, before fixing a smile onto her face. "I'm Twilight Sparkle, and the Princess sent me to check on the weather." Rainbow Dash, who was not interested in the conversation at this point had flown up to a cloud, where she was now lounging.
"Yeah Yeah," Rainbow said, waving her hoof in a nonchalant manner, "that'll be a snap. I'll do it in a jiffy. Just as soon as I'm done practicing."
"Practicing? For what?" Twilight Asked.
"The Wonderbolts!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, pointing at a poster promoting the premier Equestrian stunt flying team. "They're gonna perform at The Celebration tomorrow," Rainbow then leaped to another cloud, doing a little loop in the process, "And I'm going to show them my stuff."
"The Wonderbolts?" Twilight said, smiling shrewdly.
"Yep."
"The most talented flyers in all of Equestria?"
"That them." Rainbow confirmed.
"Pfft! Please." Twilight continued, which caused Rainbow Dash to glare down at her, "They'd never accept a Pegasus who can't even keep the sky clear for one measly day."
"Hey. I could clear this sky in ten seconds flat." Rainbow Dash declared.
"Prove it." Which was all Rainbow Dash needed to get going. She took off from the cloud she had been sitting on, which caused it to disperse. Shen then flew through the sky, sometimes bucking the clouds or sometimes just dashing (Ya' see what I did there?) through them. I again felt something, and I'll give ya' three tries to guess what. Yep, that strange felling, just as intense as it was for that strange Pink Pony, and Applejack. This time the feeling lasted for the entire time she was clearing the sky (which, call me crazy, I think actually took her ten seconds flat!).
"Loop-the-Loop and wham!" Rainbow exclaimed, finishing up. "What'd I say?" She asked, landing on a bridge that crossed a small stream. "Ten seconds flat. I'd never leave Ponyville hanging." By now Twilight and Spike were staring up at the sky in open-mouthed, wide eyed amazement, although Spike recovered before Twilight did. "Your should see the look on your face!" Rainbow laughed, while taking off again, "You're a laugh, Twilight Sparkle. I can't wait to hang out some more." This seemed to shock Twilight back into working order, but Rainbow flew of before she could say anything further.
"Wow... She's amazing." Spike said, duly amazed. He then started toying with Twilight's still very messed up mane, laughing a bit. Twilight walked away then, with an annoyed groan, heading towards the Town Hall. "Wait!," Spike said, quickly following behind Twilight, "It's kinda pretty once you get used to it."
"Yeah," I muttered, falling into step behind them, "that's the word for it."
---
The first words out of my mouth upon entering the Town Hall? "Wow, Festive." and Indeed it was. The big circular room had been decorated with many banner, some of which depicted the 2 Ponies from the myth about Nightmare Moon. Very tasteful.
"Yes." Twilight, said in response to Spike, who had said something about something being beautiful, "The decor is coming along nicely. This oughta be quick. I'll be at the library in no time. Beautiful indeed." The mare was focused, I tells ya.
"Not the decor... her." The her in question being a White Unicorn who stood at the back of the room. Her mane and tail, which were done up up in elegant curls (which must take bloody hours to style), were a deep purple. She wore a deep blue eyeshadow, which did compliment her blue eyes. Her Cutiemark was a trio of diamonds. She was sorting through a collections of ribbons.
"No... No... No... Oh goodness no... No... hmmm." The mare spoke with a Mid-Atlantic accent, highly dignified.
Spike hurriedly started grooming himself, "How are my spines? Are they straight?" Me and Twilight both rolled our eyes, though Twilight's roll was more good natured. She then approached the White Unicorn.
"Good Afternoon..." Twilight started.
"Just a moment, please," The White Unicorn cutoff Twilight, "I'm in the zone, as 'twere. Ah yes," The unicorn says, tightening a glittering red ribbon onto pole using her magic, "sparkles always does the trick, does it not? Why Rarity you are a talent." and we had a name, helpful for me. "Now, um, how can I help you- Wah-ha-ha!" That would be a cry of horror that stopped whatever she was about to say. "Oh, my stars, darling! Whatever happened to your coiffure?"
"Oh you mean my mane?" Twilight asked glancing at the frizzed up mess that was her mane, "Well, it's a long story. I'm just here to check on the decorations, and then I'll be out of your hair."
"Out of my hair?" Rarity ask horrified, "What about your hair?" Rarity then proceed to push (literally) toward the exit, where she was heading I didn't know.
"Wait! Where are we going? Help!" Spike floated (literally) after them, not attempting to stop rarity at all, while I followed after them, waiting to see where this went.
We ended up at what I later learned was Rarity's boutique, Carousel Boutique, where Rarity then stuffed Twilight into a bunch of different outfits, all of which Rarity disapproved of slightly. She was finally satisfied with a comparatively simple saddle with small jewels embedded into it with a necklace with an emerald.
"Now go on, my dear. You were telling me where you're from." With this she grabbed the strap to the saddle and stared pulling, tightening the saddle.
"I've..." Twilight was trying desperately to breath out against the constricting saddle, "been... sent... from... Cantorlot..." a tear was actually starting to form in Twilight's eyes. Luckily Rarity finally let go with a surprised "huh?"
"Cantorlot?!" Rarity was practically brimming with excitement, "Oh, I am so envious! The glamor, the sophistication! I have always dreamed of living there! I can't wait to hear all about it. We're going to be the best of friends you and I." Twilight had a shock look on her face (happened a lot that day) after hearing that last bit, although Rarity wasn't really paying attention to her face at the moment. She took one last look at the outfit. "Emeralds!? what was I thinking? Let me get you some rubies!" and she dashed off to do so.
"Quick! Before she decides to dye my coat a new color!" Twilight exclaimed, galloping out of the store. I though that was a little rude of her, but I couldn't rightly blame her, I mean after all she was a busy Pony and she didn't have time to be playing dress up. Also Rarity had made a comment about how drab my gray shirt and pants were on our way to the boutique, and I'd rather not have went through the same ordeal as Twilight.
"Right behind you soul sister!" I hollered after. 'course I had to drag Spike, who was still completely enamored with rarity, behind me, because he certainly wasn't going anywhere on his own anytime soon. Still that give me time to ponder something. All through our visit to Carousel Boutique Rarity had the Same, more intense than Twilight's, feeling that the three other mares I had met that day had. I still had no idea what going on with that, although I had a feeling myself that I'd soon learn all about that feeling.
---
About thirty minutes later found us on the path again to the next item on the list. Twilight had found time to slip out of the saddle from Rarity, and Spike now rode on the her back, still in a dreamlike state.
"Wasn't she wonderful?" This, or something to the same effect was all Spike had said since we had left Carousel Boutique.
"Focus, Casanova."Twilight said over her shoulder, "What's next on the list?"
"Oh... Uh... It's music. It's the last one." We all suddenly stopped when we hear a very harmonious whistling wafting from over next hill. We, for some reason (I think It was Spike's idea.) decided to pop into the bushes and continue on until we found the source of the whistling. We found it quite soon. It turned out to be an all bird choir being conducted by a yellow Pegasus. The Pegasus's wing flaps seemed more gentle than Rainbow Dash's had been. The Pegasus had a long, pink mane and tail. The Cutiemark on her flank was a trio of Butterflies.
The ABC (weird how that worked out) was almost heavenly sounding, were it not for one Bluejay who was clearly out of time. "Oh, my." The Pegasus said in a quiet voice, "Um, stop, please, everyone." The ABC came to rest, and the yellow Pegasus flapped up to the Bluejay, "Um, excuse me, sir. I mean no offense, but your rhythm is just a teeny tiny bit off." The Pegasus then returned to her original position. "Now, follow me, please. A-one, A-two, A-one, two, three." This is when Twilight decides to speak up.
"Hello!" Twilight called up. The Yellow Pegasus let out a startled gasp, all of the ABC flew off, and I face palmed. "Oh, my. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to frighten your birds." The Pegasus started to descended while Twilight talked. "I'm just here to check up on the music, and it's sounding beautiful." The Pegasus landed then, but kept her head down, looking away, not making eye contact while nervously kicking at the dirt. (You could literally feel the awkward.) "I'm Twilight Sparkle." The mare still didn't look up or make a sound. "What's your name?" Twilight asked, just trying to get a response.
The mare continued not to make eye contact and mumbled something I couldn't make out.
"I'm sorry what was that?"
The mare shrunk back a bit and mumbled softer than before.
"Didn't quite catch that." (No wait I was wrong, now you could feel the awkward)
She shrunk even more, ducking down and hiding behind he mane, and all I could make out was a squeak.
There was complete silence as as the two Ponies stood there and birds returned to the tree. (Alright, NOW you could feel the awkward.)
"Well, um, it looks like your birds are coming back. So I guess everything's in order. Keep up the good work." The Pegasus let out another little squeak. "Oo-kay then." Twilight said uneasily, backing off slowly, before turning around to return to us. "Well that was easy." Twilight said to Spike as he exited the bush. There was a sudden excited gasp from the Yellow Pegasus that scared off all the birds that had returned.
"A Baby Dragon!" She then zipped over with speed faster then I would have contributed to her, catapulting Twilight out of her way. "Oh I've never seen a Baby Dragon before! He's so cute!"
"Well, well, well." Spike said to Twilight, who was trying to re-orientate herself. (Good lord I could see he head getting bigger.)
"Oh, my. He talks. I didn't know Dragons could talk." The now-not-so quite Pegasus continued breathlessly, "That's just so incredibly wonderful, I...," The Pegasus hovered off the floor with excitement, "I don't even know what to say." Twilight then grabbed Spike by his tail with her magic and levitated him onto her back and started walking away.
"Well, in that case, we better be going."
"Wait! Wait! What's his name." She asked, falling into step behind us.
"I'm Spike." Spike responded.
"Hi, Spike. I'm Fluttershy. Wow, a talking Dragon! And what do Dragons talk about?" Fluttershy asked excitedly.
"Well, what do you want to know?"
"Absolutely everything." Twilight groaned at that last bit because she knew this conversation wasn't going to end anytime soon. And she was right.
The conversation lasted for a few hours most of it between Spike and Fluttershy, although when she noticed I wasn't a pony she quickly directed a question at me. ("Oh, my. I never seen anything like you before! What are you?") I mumbled something about not really knowing what I was and, other than what my name was, that was all that was said about me. 'course you know what the kicker was? That feeling that four other ponies had shown? Yeah, she had it to and it lasted for the entire conversation.
By the time we got to the library, which was in a hallowed out tree, the day had turned to dusk, and Spike was finally winding down his story.
"And that's the story of my whole life... Well, up til today. Do you want to hear about today?"
"Oh, Yes, Please." Fluttershy said, eager for more. (get that mind out of the gutter.) Twilight did a 180, stopping anymore story Spike might've had.
"I am so sorry. How did we get here so fast? This is where I'm staying while in Ponyville, and my poor Baby Dragon needs his sleep."
"No I don't!" Spike protested, before Twilight bucked him off.
"Aw, wookit that." Twilight said, reverting to baby talk, "He's so sweepy, he can't even keep his wittle bawence." Spike stared rather haughtily back at her.
"Poor thing," Fluttershy said, sweeping up spike, "You simply must get him to bed." She continued entering the library. Twilight quickly dashed after her into the darkened library, with me right behind her. Twilight scooted Fluttershy out the door and, after assurances that Spike'd be put right to bed, slammed it. The library was very dark so I went fumbling for a switch of some kind.
"Huh, rude much?" Spike said from the darkness.
"Sorry, Spike, but I have to convince the Princess that Nightmare Moon is coming, and we're running out of time. I just need to be alone so I can study without a bunch of crazy ponies trying to make friends all the time. Now where's the light?"
"Found it!" I shouted and flipped the switch to revel that the room was full of ponies. (possibly crazy and possibly trying to make friends.)
"Surprise!" The crowd shouted.
"Surprise!" Shouted the Pink Pony from before, slightly out of time. That feeling had returned and I had a feeling it wouldn't be leaving for a while. "Hi, I'm Pinkie Pie, and I threw this party just for you." The 'you' in question being Twilight. "Were you surprised? Were you, were you? Huh? Huh? Huh?" Pinkie was (Literally) bouncing around with excitement.
"Very surprised. Libraries are supposed to be quiet." Twilight said, annoyed. Pinkie giggled like this was the funniest notion ever conceived.
"That's silly. What kind of welcome party would this be if it were quiet? I mean, duh! Booooring!" Twilight stated making her way through the party while Pinkie followed. "You see, I saw you when you first got here, remember? You were all, 'Hello' and I was all 'GASP'! Remember? You see, I never saw you before, and if I never saw you before, that means you're new. 'Cause I know everypony, (Pony term) and I mean everypony , in Ponyville." Twilight walked up to the lone refreshment table in the room, picked up a red bottle, and started pouring the contents into a cup. She then put a straw into the cup and took a sip. all through this Pinkie did not stop talking. "And if you're new, it meant you hadn't met anyone yet, and if you haven't met anyone yet, then you must not have any friends yet, And if you don't have any friends, then you must be lonely, an that made me so sad. And I had an idea, and that's when I went 'GASP'! (I swear that Pony's brain must run at like 3000 RPM) I should throw a great big, ginormous, super-duper spectacular welcome party and invite everyone in Ponyville!" Right on cue the four other Ponies from that day gathered around Pinkie. "See? And now you have lots and lots of friends!" Twilights eyes bugged out, but not I don't think in shock, at least not at the proclamation of her having lots of friends. When she turned around her face was very red, tears were forming in her eyes, and she was sweating profusely.
"Are you all right, sugar cube?" Applejack asked. Twilight then jumped up, steam coming out of her ears, (Literally) and she ran up the stairs to her room. The five ponies left had puzzled looks on their faces before Pinkie spoke up.
"Aww, she's so happy she's crying." Spike, less then convinced that this was the case, investigated the table, and found the red bottle, which had a label that only showed a ball of fire.
"Hot sauce."
"Yeah, that'll do it." I muttered looking over his shoulder. Then Pinkie tipped the bottle, pouring a generous amount onto a cupcake, and popped into he mouth with a "MMM'. After a few question looks form all of us, Pinkie then responded,
"What? It's good."
Pinkie Pie, ladies and gentlemen.
---
So after a couple hours at the party, In which, that strange feeling flared up in all five of the Ponies I met that day (except Pinkie, her's was there the whole party) I figured I had to get another perspective. So after excusing myself from a conversation with Pinkie (harder then you'd think), I quietly slipped into the broom closet and contacted Thomas. I reported to him my day, and told him about those strange feelings that had been flaring up all day.
"So let me get this straight," Thomas said, after I was finished, "For most of the 15 years you've been there Twilight Sparkle has been the only Pony to exhibit this strange feeling you described. Suddenly, just today in fact, you meet not one, not two, not even three, but five Ponies that, not only have the same feeling as Twilight, but these feelings are more intense then her's. Also, just to add to the confusion, these feelings only show up every now and then. Is that about it?"
"Yeah, yeah that's about the gist of it. So any theories?"
"Not a one." I face palmed, and sighed
"What would I do without you Thomas?" I asked entirely rhetorically. "Alright then, what do you recommend I do then?"
"Keep an eye on these five Ponies until you understand what that's all about." I was planning on doing this anyway but, hey.
"Right next item, where is my sword?" I was missing the familiar weight of the iron blade, and I wouldn't be at ease until I had it back.
"Yeah, about that, there's been a slight problem." Thomas said, growing a bit sheepish again.
"What, is it not in this world yet?"
"No it's in the world, we just don't know where it is right now." That last bit was rushed out, all said in one breath, and I swear I nearly burst a blood vessel.
"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE IT IS!" I shouted into the earpiece.
"Just that, we don't know where it is, however we do have an idea." Thomas explained.
"Okay then, what's the idea then?" I asked, very much irritated.
"Well one the interns, instead of looking for coordinates that was near Ponyville, he chose a random bunch of coordinates, and sent the sword there. Now for some reasons we can't get a positive read on where the location is physically, but we do get a reading from it that suggests it's going to have a lot of significances to the second episode of the series."
"Okay couple questions. First, who was the genius who decided to use a random bunch of coordinates?"
"That'd be Intern Bob."
"Why am I not surprised? Secondly, why can't you get a physical read on it?"
"Intern Bob did something screwy with the system, and we won't be able to get a reading on any physical location for awhile." Thomas explained, a hint of annoyance in his voice.
"Hmmm... Okay then. Finally, by important to the second episode, what do you mean?"
"Just that. If I had to take a stab it, I'd say that the place is where the conclusion is going to happen." I was about to follow up with another question when someone opened up the door to the closet, causing me to jump and bump my head on a shelf. Spike stood in the doorway, a lampshade on his head.
"Oh, there you are Isaiah. Come on, everyone's going to the Town hall to watch the sunrise." And he left without saying anything further. I sighed, got up, and followed.
---
Me and Twilight were standing side-by-side, Spike riding on the back of Twilight. The hall was crowded with Ponies, all waiting for sunrise, the earliest sunrise of the year. Well, all but Twilight, who looked about uneasily, as if waiting for something horrible to happen. Then Pinkie Pie Zipped up, taking Twilight's mind off of whatever was getting her down for a moment.
"Isn't this exciting? Are you exited? 'Cause I've never been so exited, well, except for the time that I saw you walking into town and I went (GASP). But I mean, really, who can top that?" Before Twilight could answer that was some fanfare from the ABC, who were being conducted by Fluttershy, and out stepped a tan Earth Pony with a grey man and tail. She wore a Collar with a green tie, a pair of glasses, and had a Cutiemark of a scroll. Someone had informed me that this was the Mayor of Ponyville although no one had provided a name.
"Fillies and Gentle-colts!" The Mayor called, bringing the hum of the crowd down, "As Mayor of Ponyville, it is my great pleasure to announce the the beginning of The Summer Sun Celebration!" All of the Ponies cheered, all except to Twilight and Spike, the former of which still looked uneasy. "In just a few moments our town will witness the magic of the sunrise and celebrate this, the longest day of the year." More cheering from the crowd. "And now, it is my great honor to introduce to you the ruler of our land..." Out of the corner of my eye I saw Twilight glance up and out of one of the windows, and, for some reason, she look a bit stunned at what she saw. "The very pony who gives us the sun each and everyday (she's not kidding) the good, the wise, the bringer of harmony to all of Equestria," (Pause for Dramatic Effect.) "Princess Celestia!" there was a bit of fanfare from the ABC, Rarity, who was standing up on the balcony on which Celestia would stand, pulled back the curtains, a spotlight alighted on the spot on which the Princess would stand and... No Princess. There was a confused murmuring among the crowd.
"This can't be good," Twilight said fearfully.
"Remain calm, everypony," the Mayor said, who appeared to be barely following her own advice, "There must be a reasonable Explanation."
Pinkie (whose good mood could not be ruined) bounced in place. "Ooh, ooh! I love guessing games! Is she hiding?" Rarity, who had went to search for Celestia behind the curtains came back then.
"She's Gone!" There was a great gasp from all ponies present. Except Pinkie Pie.
"Ooh, she's good." She then let out a panicked cry. Why? Because, up on the balcony dark-blue vapor had sprung up on the balcony, and it seemed to be condensing in on itself.
"Oh, no." That was Twilight, she knew what was coming. The Vapor suddenly flew apart with a great wing flap and A Big, Black Alicorn Stood there. She was the same Size of Celestia, and I could see a slight resemblance between the two, except for one thing. Everything about Celestia screamed Kindness, Laughter, Warmth, everything that was good about Equestria, Not so with this new Alicorn. Everything about he screamed Doom, Darkness, not one ounce of warmth about her. Her mane and tail were a great ethereal gathering, dark blue with white dots, like it was made out of the night sky itself. On her flank was a Crescent Moon. However there was something about her that really struck me. It was that I recognized her Face. It was the same face that was in the hourglass. "Nightmare Moon." Twilight whispered silently beside me. Spike fainted from shock.
Then the Alicorn began to speak. "Oh, my beloved subject." Nightmare's voice was suave, but with contempt clear in her voice. "It's been so long since I've seen your precious, sun-loving faces.
"What did you do with our Princess." Rainbow Dash shouted from the crowd, her Feeling flaring up. She attempted to charge Nightmare, but was stopped by Applejack Grabbing her tail.
"Whoa there, Nelly!" She exclaimed around the tail.
Nightmare chuckled, acknowledging the outburst. "Why, am I not royal enough for you? Don't you know who I am?" She seemed to be enjoying this.
Pinkie, ever undeterred, spoke up. "Ooh, ooh! More guessing games! Um... Hokey Smokes! How about... Queen Meanie! No... Black Snootie! Black Snootie!" She would have continued like this had Applejack not shoved a cupcake into her mouth, shutting her up.
Nightmare then seemed to be getting a bit agitated, focusing in on Fluttershy, which scared off the ABC, she asked "Does my crown no longer count, now that I have been imprisoned for a thousand year?" She focused in on Rarity next, "Did you not recall the legend? Did you not see the sign?"
"I did!" Twilight called out bringing Nightmare's attention to her, "And I know who you are! You're The Mare in the Moon... Nightmare Moon!" Another great gasp from the crowd.
"Well, well, well, Somepony remembers me. Then you also know why I'm here."
Twilight looks around uneasily, "You're here to... to...," She gulps, unable to finish the sentence, and Nightmare chuckles.
"Remember this day, little ponies, for it was your last. From this moment forth, the night will last FOREVER!" With this her Mane and Tail grow longer, growing into a giant whirlpool of ethereal night above her, and she Cackles a giant evil laugh.
Suddenly the presence of The Camera, a presence I had grown used to that day, flickers for the tiniest moment before strengthening Again.
Oh Great. It was a Two Parter.
To Be Continued...
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A Journey Full of Revelations, Danger, and Ponies
Chapter 4 A Journey Full of Revelations, Danger, and Ponies
Nightmare Moon continued cackling, the assembled crowd still stuck in stunned silence. The Mayor was the first one to recover.
"Seize Her!" The Mayor shouted, jolting the few guard who attended into action. "Only she knows where the Princess is!" Nightmare wasn't having any of that.
"Stand back, you foals!" Nightmare shouted, her eyes turning white. Suddenly three bolts of lighting struck, throwing the guard for a loop, while nightmare continued laughing. The vapor then closed back in on Nightmare, leaving nothing but it, and it flew past the stunned guards, through the now open double door.
Twilight then scooped up Spike, who was still passed out, and galloped out, a determined look on her face. I sprinted after her because, hey, I didn't know what the hell to do, and she seemed like she had a plan of some kind. She led me to the library, she slowed down to a trot and headed up the stairs to a small loft, where there was a small basket on the floor, complete with a tiny mattress and tiny pillow. Twilight deposited Spike into the basket. Spike at this point had become semi-lucid.
"We've got to stop Nightmare!" he exclaimed sleepily, before falling back into unconsciousness. Twilight used her magic to pull a blanket over him.
"You've been up all night, Spike." Twilight said, smiling down at him, "You are a baby Dragon after all." With this she turned to leave the room, turning off the light in the room in process. I walked beside her on the stairs
"You're going to have us ransack the library aren't you?" I asked, looking down into the main room below.
"Yep." she answered shortly.
"So, what are we looking for?"
"Anything on the Elements of Harmony."
"Right." And, just like that, we were off.
Twilight used her Telekinesis to pick random books off the shelves and flipped through them, before tossing them away when the info she was looking for didn't materialize. I, myself, took the more traditional approach, namely picking up the books from the shelves, flipping through them, using my years as a clerk to tune out any words that weren't Element or Harmony, and then adding them to the growing pile of books on the floor.
"Elements, Elements, Elements..." Twilight muttered to herself before letting out a groan of frustration. "How can I stop Nightmare Moon without the Elements of Harmony!?"
"And just what are the Elements of Harmony?" Said a brash, accusative voice that scared the crap out of me. I turned to find Rainbow Dash, who was not respecting Twilight's personal space. Twilight started backing up, but Rainbow moved foreword, not letting Twilight get to comfortable. "And how did you know about Nightmare Moon, huh? Are you a spy?" These accusations were cut off when Applejack, who had entered the library without me noticing, pulled Rainbow back by her tail.
"Simmer Down, Sally." She said, dropping Rainbow's tail. Fluttershy, Pinkie, and Rarity entered then, just missing the dirty look Rainbow gave Applejack. "She ain't no spy. But, she sure knows what's going on, don't ya' Twilight?" The five assembled Ponies gathered around her to hear the explanation. Twilight appeared to consider something, before caving in.
"I read all about the prediction of Nightmare Moon. Some mysterious objects called the Elements of Harmony are the only things that can stop her." Twilight looked up, staring forlornly at the moon through a window. "But, I don't know what they are, where to find them. I don't even know what they do!" Pinkie interpreted the, reading off a seemly random book.
"The Elements of Harmony: A Reference Guide." I was struck speechless, while Twilight plowed Pinkie out of the way, to confirm that was what it really said.
"How did you find that!?" Twilight exclaimed, dumbstruck.
"It was under 'E'!" Pinkie explained in a singsong voice, as she bounced over to join the other five Ponies.
"Oh." Twilight said in a small voice. I, myself face palmed. How had I not thought to do that? Anyway, Twilight pulled the red book from the shelf, reveling the cover which depicted a golden Unicorn head with six diamonds arranged in a circle around it. She quickly flipped to the important passage, and started reading. "There are six Elements of Harmony, but only five are known. Kindness, Laughter, Generosity, Honesty, and Loyalty." As Twilight read I felt this strange feeling, like we were being watched by some malevolent force. "The sixth is a complete mystery. It is said the last know location of the five Elements was in the ancient castle of the royal Pony sisters. It is located in what is now..." Twilight shuddered, her eyes filling with disbelief, "The Everfree Forest!?" The other Ponies gasped, all horrified at the prospect of having to head into the mysterious woods. Fear stayed in Twilight's eyes for a second before she steeled herself, and went galloping out of the library. The five mares looked at each other uneasily, before they themselves galloped out, shouting at Twilight to slow down. I lingered a moment before I put my finger to my ear.
"You thinkin' what I'm thinkin', Thomas?"
"That wherever these Elements are, is where you'll find your sword?"
"Oh my God, Thomas, you must be a mind reader." I deadpanned.
"I do what I can." I laughed a bit before running out of the library myself.
"Hey, Girls! Wait for me!'
---
We Stood at the edge of the Forest, No one saying a word. That is until Pinkie asserted her oh, so cheerful personality.
"Whee! Let's go!" Pinkie chirped, taking a couple steps forward.
"Not so Fast!" Twilight said, stopping Pinkie in her tracks. "Look, I appreciate the offer, But I'd really rather do this on my own."
"No can do, Sugar cube." Applejack interrupted. "We sure ain't lettin' any friend of ours go into that creepy place alone." Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash trotted ahead, undaunted. "We're stickin' to you like caramel on a candy apple." The three other mares hummed their agreement.
"Especially if there's candy apples in there!" Pinkie said, not quite getting the simile. This garners her a strange look from Twilight. "What? Those things are good!" Pinkie trotted ahead, herself. Twilight sighed and looked over he shoulder where she found me, standing nonchalantly, my arms folded behind my back.
"I guess you're coming along too, are you?" I shrugged my shoulders in a vaguely passive way.
"I can't just wait back at the library, while you girls go on an adventure to stop a mad mare from bringing on eternal night." Plus I need to get my sword back, but I wasn't going to tell her that. Twilight sighed, defeated, and started forward, while I followed behind. We quickly caught up to to the other five and started the journey in utter silence.
The strange flora of the forest made for an oppressive atmosphere, their shadows either looking like what they were, the leaves of a naught often seen plant, or the menacing form of an unknown creature just waiting to pounce. It wasn't until we were walking along a cliff face until someone spoke up.
"So...," Twilight said, breaking the silence, "none of you have been in here before?"
"Heavens, No!" Rarity answered, shuddering. "Just look at it. It's dreadful!"
"And it ain't natural." Applejack added, and, for some reason, a feeling of dread settled in my gut. "Folks say it don't work the same as Equestria."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Twilight asked, a very legitimate question I might add.
"Nopony knows." Rainbow answered, adding a creepy little quiver to her voice. "You know why?" She continued, stalking up to Rarity, Fluttershy, and Pinkie, who had all stopped to stare at Rainbow.
"Rainbow, quit it!" Applejack scolded. Rainbow Dash, however, continued undeterred.
"'Cause everypony who's ever come in has never... come... OUT!" She suddenly leaped at that last part, causing a jolt to go through the three Ponies. And that's when the ground gave out from under us. While not a problem for Rainbow and Fluttershy, both of whom could fly, the same could not be said for the rest of us, who were sent sliding down a rocky slope towards another cliff, which gave way to a rather unforgiving looking drop. Rainbow and Fluttershy, not ones to just sit by and watch while their friends hurtle to their certain deaths, quickly snatched up both Pinkie and Rairty. I, meanwhile, had scrabble at the dirt and rock, searching for some kind of hold. While this didn't do my fingers any favors, I did happen to find a sturdy rock which allowed me to slow my decent. Applejack had done much the same, chomping down on an exposed root. Twilight, however, had not been so lucky, and soon found herself hanging onto the ledge for dear life with no real means to pull herself up. Applejack, the ever virtuous soul that she is, let go of her root, and slid down after Twilight, grabbing onto her hooves with hers (don't ask me how). I was just barely in earshot of them.
"Applejack!" Twilight examined, futilely trying to scrabble back onto the ledge, "What do I do?" Applejack was silent for a moment, focusing on keeping Twilight and herself from plummeting to their doom. The she glanced up and spied something.
"Let go." And, as strange as this might sound, the mysterious feeling from before flared up.
"Are you crazy?!" Twilight questioned, not without merit.
"No, I ain't. I promise you'll be safe." Applejack answered, the feeling growing more intense.
"That's not true!" Twilight said back.
"Now Listen here. What I'm sayin' to you is the honest truth. Let go, and you'll safe." And with one final surge the feeling became overpowering, causing me to let go of my rock, but fortunately I was able to stop right on the edge of the drop. Anyway, after a quick moment of weighing her options, Twilight let go of Applejack's hooves. She fell screaming... into the waiting hooves of Rainbow and Fluttershy. I sighed, relieved and glanced over at Applejack and nodded, she then returned the gesture and pointed towards a scattered path of ledges down. I nodded acknowledgement, and worked my way over a more advantageous position, and followed the farmer Pony down, leaping for ledge-to-ledge. When I landed on the ground again, no chance of it giving 'way under me, I smiled the goofiest grin ever and waved at the now recovered Twilight.
"Yo, Twi, great to see you're not dead!" She laughed a bit, and returned the wave. Me and Applejack walked over to the group. "Hey, did something about that seem strange to you girls?" I asked, jerking my thumb back at the collapsed cliff.
"Do ya' mean other then the cliff giving out, and you guys almost dying?" Rainbow Dash chimed in.
"Kinda. I don't know that cliff seemed pretty solid, right up 'til it collapsed. I also had a strange feeling come over me, like something that didn't exactly have our best interest in mind was fallowing us."
"You think Nightmare Moon had something to do with that cliff collapsing?" Twilight questioned.
"Bingo."
"That does make sense." Twilight said, considering the idea. "Well, standing here, thinking, isn't getting us any closer to the castle. We have to get going, but be on guard everypony." Twilight cautioned.
"Right." We all responded, taking up the march again. 'Course I did take a moment to notice something. That feeling Applejack had, it had not faded one bit.
---
We'd been walking for about ten minutes. Rainbow had quickly gotten board and had started giving the details of her daring rescue, emphasizing certain actions with little tricks.
"And once Pinkie and Rarity were Safe... Whoosh," She quickly rocketed to the front of our pack, "Me and Fluttershy looped the loop around," a couple barrel rolls, "And Wham!" She landed then, "Caught you in the nick of time."
"Yes, Rainbow, I was there." Twilight responded, slightly irritated. "And I'm very grateful. But we gotta-" Whatever she was about to say was lost when a creature leaped into our path causing her to gasp. The creature had the body and head of a lion with darker yellow fur and a red mane. It also had a pair of bat wings, and a scorpion's tail. "A Manticore!" The Manticore roared in answer to it's species name. "We've gotta get past him." Which we certainly did, but I had no idea how we were going to do it. The Manticore, not waiting for us to make the first move, leaped forward swiping it's paw at the Pony it landed in front of, which happened to be Rarity. Showing tenacity I would not have attributed to her, she ducked the paw and delivered a buck to the Manticore's face.
"Take that, you ruffian!" Rarity exclaimed, right before the Manticore roared full volume in her face, leaving her mane a tangled up mess. "My hair!" Rarity cried in dismay, then the Manticore growled, causing Rarity to let out another small cry and sent her into full speed reverse. There was a small sound from Fluttershy that couldn't be heard over the humdrum when Rarity ran past her, Manticore in hot pursuit. Then Applejack jumped onto the Manticore's back, her feeling still as strong when Twilight was hanging off the cliff, causing the Manticore to stop in confusion.
"Yee-haa!" Applejack called, the Manticore doing it's best impression of a rodeo bull, "Get along, little doggie!" Another sound from Fluttershy that we couldn't make out. The Manticore heaved Applejack off, sending her flying, her path crossing Rainbow's. "All Yours, partner." And then she began her decent. Not wanting any serious harm to come to her, I baseball slid, Catching her right before she hit the ground. "Thank ya', Kindly."
"No, Problem." I said, turning back to see how Rainbow was doing. I turned just in time to see her get smacked out of a Rainbow vortex by the Scorpion tail.
"Rainbow!" Twilight cried. Rainbow slid across the ground, stopping in front of Twilight. Twilight's eyes hardened and she glared at the Manticore, who dared Twilight to try and get by. Five of the Ponies, including the recovered Rainbow, got ready to charge. Didn't seem like the smartest plan ever concocted, but hey, you take what you can get, so I readied myself with the Ponies. We started the Charge, Twilight leading it, The Manticore standing it's ground, neither of the groups backing down. And that's when Fluttershy threw herself between us.
"WAAAIIIT!" She shouted, her feeling flaring up in the progress. We skidded to a stop while the Manticore looked on confused. Fluttershy turned to the Manticore, a smile on her face. She then approached it, apparently without fear. The Manticore reared up, brandishing it's claws. We all turned away, expecting Fluttershy to be turned into Meow-mix. Except she wasn't. "Shh, it's okay." she said tenderly. We turned back to see her nuzzling the upraised paw. The Manticore, with a confused and unsure look on it's face turned over it's paw, unclenching it in the process, to revel a pretty nasty looking thorn stuck in it. "Oh, you poor, poor little baby." She said, comforting the creature.
"Little?" Rainbow Asked.
"Now this might hurt for just a second." Fluttershy said, ignoring Rainbow. She then took the thorn in her mouth, and plucked it out, her feeling growing to the same intensity of applejack's. Then a split second later the Manticore picked up the yellow pegasus, roaring.
"FLUTTERSHY!" We all shouted in unison, concerned. Turned out the Manticore just picking her up so it could cradle her while licking her in thanks. I think it's a bit of an understatement to say it was a strange sight. Although Fluttershy was giggling while it was doing so.
"Aw, you're just a little old baby kitty, aren't you? Yes, you are. Yes, you are." 'Course, not ones to look a gift horse in the mouth we walked by the Manticore with no trouble. Most of our group continued on, getting a good distance away, while me and Twilight waited a little closer by for Fluttershy to get done with her pampering. When she was done her mane was stuck in a large cowlick (Manticore Lick?).
"How did you know about the thorn?" Twilight asked, perplexed.
"I didn't. Sometimes we all just need to be shown a little kindness." Fluttershy said, walking to catch up with the rest of the group. Twilight pondered her words for a second, then a small smile crossed her face and she followed Flutttershy, with me in tow. Oh, and Fluttershy's feeling? Yeah, didn't fade, exactly like Applejack's.
---
Our journey lead us through a swampy part of the forest, the ground having just enough give that we periodically had to stop to pull our feet out of the muck. Suffice it to say, we were not the happiest campers.
"My eyes need a rest from all this icky muck." Rarity said, voicing the thoughts we were all having. Almost Immediately, the path led us to a part of the forest where the flora was much more overgrown. The tree's overhead almost completely blocking out the already meager light from the Moon and stars. "Well. I didn't mean that literally." I got the strange feeling that someone was following us again.
"That ancient ruin could be right in front of our faces, and we wouldn't even know It!" Twilight said, exasperated. We continued walking, stumbling through the darkened forest, muttering complaints.
"Oh, wait," Applejack said from the darkness, "I think I stepped in somethin'." That was when Futtershy shrieked. "It's just mud." Applejack said. She then turned around and found the real cause of the scream. A grotesque glowing face embedded into a tree, with a maw of pointed, sharp teeth. Applejack jumped back in fright with a shout, and that's when we found it wasn't the only face. We were surrounded on all sides by the faces, a low growling coming from somewhere in the group. There didn't seem to be anyway out. The Mares all started screaming, backing closer into a huddle (I myself stayed stoically silent... I swear). That's when Pinkie started laughing. This is going to sound insane, again, but her feeling flared up to about half the intensity of Fluttershy's or Applejack's. She was standing near one of the faces, giggling and making a few funny faces at. 'Twas a journey of strange sights that one.
"Pinkie, what are you doing?! Run!" Twilight called to her. Pinkie laughed a bit more before responding to her. Before she did however the forest appeared to lighten and what sounded like a mandolin started playing, the sound coming from... well I don't frankly know where the sound was coming from.
"Oh, girls, don't you see?" Then she started singing. You heard me. (Note: Since I am a Knight of Fiction and not, say, a musician, I have no idea how I should report someone just randomly bursting into song. I've gotten advice from a colleague, who said I should just direct you to the recording from The Camera. So Here it is. I think you'll get the gist.) As Pinkie sang the atmosphere seemed to get lighter, nothing seeming nearly as scary as it had just been. In fact the faces started disappearing, as if the only reason they had appeared was because of our fear. By the time the song finished all the faces had disappeared, We were all busting our guts laughing, none of the darkness from before was left, and Pinkie's feeling was blazing just as bright as Applejack's and Fluttershy's.
---
The next leg of our journey found us being led by Pinkie's hopping gait. We were all still laughing from before, not looking where we were going, which is why is was such a surprise when Pinkie suddenly stopped, bringing our line to a very cartoonish halt. We stood on the bank of a raging river, the current way to rapid for any creature, equine or humanoid, to cross.
"How are we gonna cross this?" Pinkie asked no one in particular. The answer arrived in the form of distant moaning and wailing. Glancing uneasily at each other, we worked our way through a clump of bushes we found a giant thrashing purple tail that was part of the reason for the impassible rapids. The rest of the withering serpentine body was the other part. Our eye's moved up the body until we found the next strange sight for the quest. The serpent had long, dark blonde hair, it almost looked swept back. He had eyebrows and a mustache to match, all through half of the mustache was torn roughly. He also had skinny arms, I payed more attention to the hair. He also happened to be the source of the moaning and wailing.
"What a world! What a world!" He wailed, slapping his arms against the water.
"Excuse me, sir." Twilight called, bringing attention to our little group, "Why are you crying?"
"Well I don't know." He replied in an effeminate voice. "I was just sitting here, minding my own business, when this tacky little cloud of purple (Boy that sounded familiar) just whisked past me and tore half of my beloved mustache clean off!" He Indicated the mangled mustache. "And now, I look simply horrid!" He flopped over for another bout of wailing, causing a small wave, which preceded to soak all seven of us. It was not turning out to be the best night ever.
"Oh, gimmie a break." Rainbow grumbled.
"That's what all the fuss is about?" Applejack asked, exasperated.
"Why, of course it is!" Rarity exclaimed, shouldering past the two ponies, surprising all of us in the progress. "How can you be so insensitive?" She asked, marching up to the serpent, who had laid his head on the shore, sniffling. "Oh, just look at him." She continued in baby talk. "Such lovely luminescent scales." She said, rubbing said scales.
"I know." He sniffled.
"And your expertly coiffed mane."
"Oh I know, I know!" He said, patting his hair down.
"Your fabulous manicure."
The Serpent gasped, "It's so true." It must have been a while since he talked fashion with someone.
"All ruined without your beautiful mustache."
"It's true I'm hideous!" The serpent exclaimed losing some of that fashion excitement he had going.
Rarity narrowed her eyes in resolution. "I simply cannot let such crime against fabulosity (her word not mine) go uncorrected." She then leaned forwarded and bit down on one of his scales, quickly pulling it off.
"Ow!" The Serpent cried, "What did you do that for?" Rarity raised the scale, it doing a very convincing impression of a blade.
"Rarity what are you-" Twilight was cutoff when Rarity brought the scale down. The serpent fainted, we stared, dumbfounded, and Rarity picked up the target of her slice... her tail. She levitated the tail over to the quickly recovered serpent, and, using some kind of magic, attached her tail to the said of the serpent snout, right where the bit of cut off mustache was. With this the feeling about her flared up, raising to the same level as the three before her, and I was left in a somewhat flummoxed state. Anyway the serpent straitened with a laugh
"My mustache! How Wonderful!"
"You look smashing." Rarity said, clearly happy to have helped resolve the fashion emergency.
"Oh, Rarity, your beautiful tail!" Twilight said, walking up. Rarity had been left with a little purple stump of a tail, something that didn't quite suite her as well as her groomed and styled tail.
"Oh... It's fine, my dear. Short tails are in this season." She glanced a little uneasily back at her stump, although the smile never left her face. "Besides, it'll grow back."
Rainbow leaned in to whisper into Twilight's ear. "So would the mustache." Twilight then looked forward and gasped happily. With the mustache restored the serpent had stopped thrashing and the river was now had a much calmer current. Twilight was the first to start wading in.
"We can cross now! Let's go!" Twilight then let a cry when one of the serpents coils lifted up and out of the water with her on top.
"Allow me!" The serpent said before diving his head under the water, providing us with a bridge of coils over the water, which we used, hopping from coil to coil.
On the other side I lingered a little while longer near the bank while the six mare continued down the path.
"Hey!" I called. The serpent popped out of the water, still admiring his new mustache.
"Yes?"
"You know that purple cloud that cut off you mustache. Could you point us in the direction it went?"
"Oh, definitely." He pointed down the path the Ponies were heading down. The path to the ancient castle. This pretty much confirmed our suspicions. Nightmare was screwing with us.
"Alright, thanks. Watch out for low flying clouds, also try and keep that mustache in tact." I called back, jogging to catch up with the rest of the group.
"Oh, I will, I will!" The serpent called after me, before diving back under the water.
---
We'd only been traveling for about ten minutes after departing the river when our goal was finally in sight.
"There it is! The ruin that holds the Elements of Harmony. We made it!" Twilight exclaimed. I have to say the ruins certainly lived up to the name. what had once probably been a regal castle before was now just a lonely bit of stonework, with the forest slowing creeping toward it. In fact so much of the stone had crumbled away it'd have been appropriate to call it a skeleton of a castle. 'course we'd been traveling most the night, and even in it's decrepit state it was a welcome sight to everyone. Twilight took off at a gallop, eager to reach it. She wasn't the only one, and we fallowed closely behind.
"Twilight! Wait for us!" That would be Applejack.
"We're almost there!" Twilight called back, looking over her shoulder. But fate, who still wanted to throw one last curve ball at us, pretty much made her instantly regret this. Twilight wasn't watching where she was going and almost fell right off a cliff, luckily she caught herself before she fell into the abyss, and she hang there for a second before Rainbow Dash pulled her back to safety by her tail.
"What's with you and falling off cliffs today?" That would be Rainbow showing off her world renowned tact. Anyway, where Twilight would have fallen there was two stone post both of which was attached a bridge, there were matching posts on the opposite side of the chasm; however, there was one, tiny problem. Said bridge was not attached to said opposite posts. Ain't life a bitch.
So we stood there, staring down into the misty chasm, contemplating our new standing in life when Pinkie sighed.
"Now What?"
"Duh!" Rainbow indicated her wings with a quick twitch before taking off.
"Oh, yeah!" Pinkie said, any worry instantly leaving her voice.
Rainbow Dash swooped down into the cavern quickly snatching up the bridge rope and starting her quick ascent to the other side.
"You aren't going, Fluttershy?" I asked, suddenly aware she had wings too.
"Oh, n, no. I'm not the that great a flier, honestly." Fluttershy answered, quickly ducking her head down out of bashfulness.
"Hmm." I grunted to myself, before turning my head back to Rainbow Dash, who had just tied one the ropes to it's post. She was the process of tying the other rope when she suddenly dropped it. She seemed to be talking to someone, other I could see jack through the mist that was forming around her. Who ever it was she was talking to, they were distracting her from tying the other side up.
"Rainbow!" Twilight called to the other side, trying to get the cyan Pegasus's attention, but to no avail. "What's taking so long?" she muttered to herself, slightly angling her head to get a better view. "Oh, no. Rainbow!" A new sense of urgency had entered her voice. The mist suddenly shifted, completely shutting off any view we had. "Don't listen to them!" Twilight continued to call to the other side.
"Wait, them?" I asked, growing concerned myself. A full thirty seconds went by with no change. "Welp," I said, standing up from the squatting position I had taken, "Better try and find another way across." Suddenly, I felt a huge flare from the other side, followed by the Bridge suddenly tightening to a safe level, capped by Rainbow Dash flapping through the mist, completely dispelling it, her feeling having grown just as intense as the four mares before her. There were cheer from our entire group, myself included. We started making our way cross the bridge while Rainbow flapped next to Twilight
"See? I'd never leave my friends hanging." she said, before flying back to the other side again. I jogged to catch up with her.
"So, What happened, back there?" I asked, scratching the back of my head, embarrassed that I'd even hinted that she'd betrayed us.
"Oh three ponies calling themselves 'The Shadowbolts' tried to get me to join them. It was a good offer, but I couldn't just leave you guys up a creek."
"I'm sorry I doubted you for even a second."
"No problem." She said, before trotting forward to our destination, her feeling blazing as bright as a bonfire.
---
We entered the ruins, Twilight bringing up the rear. The first thing we saw was the great hall, which time, the great re decorator that she is, had kindly turned into a court yard. The second thing was a great stone pedestal, on which rested a radial with a great stone globe, and on that rested five stone orbs, all of which had a detailed etching of a gem on them.
"Come on now, Twilight." Applejack said back in a hushed tone, "Isn't this what you've been waitin' for?"
"The Elements of Harmony." Twilight said, relief evident in her voice, "We've found them!" While Rainbow and Fluttershy flew up to retrieve the elements I leaned in to whisper in Twilights ear.
"I'll go and make sure there's no more ambushes set up." I hurried off into a side room, one thought in my mind, finding my sword. I didn't have to go far.
In the first room I entered I saw my sword. It laid on a small pedestal, a small film of dust coating it, although the blue of it's scabbard still easily seen. I stood under the partially whole roof, and put my finger to my ear.
"I've found it Thomas." Not waiting for any answer I quickly crossed the room and took up my sword, it's familiar grip finally back in my hands. There was a quick flash of light, blinked some spots out of eyes, I looked down, and found that I had gone through a small wardrobe change. My gray pants had been replaced by a pair of black ones with a bit of white linen wrapped around both knees. My shirt had also been replaced, although this was less noticeable then the blue gi with a white trim, held together by a black sash. I also wore a pair of comfortable leather gloves with the fingers missing. Heck, even my shoes had been replaced, what had been slightly uncomfortable slip ons created by ponies who didn't now how to cobble for humans were now a pair of comfortable leather boots, things that would definitely last a while. The scabbard hung by my side, while I held the naked blade in my hand. I recognized this outfit. This was the traditional garb of the Myrmidon's of the Fire Emblem universe. Yeah, Knight weapons can be kinda funny like that. The very first time you pick up a weapon that's suited for you, or anytime you hadn't picked up said weapon for a while, say 15 years, it'll instantly change whatever your wearing into that of which you're most suited to be. No one really knows why they do this, through the technicians have a couple theories. Anyway I returned the sword to it's scabbard, a small smile on my face. It was good to have it back. Suddenly, I heard a cry from the great hall, a cry that sounded a lot like...
"Twilight!" I shouted, hearing the other 5 echo the call. I dashed back into the hall at just the same time as the others, just in time to see Twilight leap into a Tornado of Ethereal Night, which proceed to disappear in a flash of light. I just stood there while the 5 looked around confused, calling our for Twilight, before Rainbow Dash stopped and stared at me, which quickly became a glare. I could understand why, I mean I had been by myself while the other 5 were all together when, all of a sudden, something happened to Twilight, and I was left behind in brand new digs with a sword strapped to my waist. You could say it looked a bit suspicious.
"What's with the new duds, Isaiah?" She asked, suddenly in my face.
"W-w-well you see..." I said, backing up.
"Oh, and that sword?" She continued, not letting me get any breathing room. The other ponies looked on.
"T-that's a funny story..." I continued backpedaling away from the anger in her eye's.
"And where were you when we were outside?" The distrust in her voice was palpable.
"I-I-I was..." I tripped over a loose brick, landing on my butt in a pathetic way. Oh, If my mentor could see me then.
"Do you want to know what I think?" She asked, still not giving me an inch.
"What?" I gulped, shrinking my head back, doing a very good Fluttershy impression.
"I think you only tagged along for one reason. I think you never intended to help us. In fact, I think you're the spy!"
"What!" I shouted, finally finding my voice.
"You heard me!" She shouted right back. The others looked about uneasily, probably wanting to start looking for Twilight. But now I was pissed.
"I can't believe you think I would sell you girls out to Nightmare Moon!"
"You haven't helped us once this whole time! In fact you almost lead my friends away back at the bridge!"
As angry as I was I had to concede that point. I almost had lead them away, as unintentional as that had been. I'd also done little to help on the journey. I took a deep breathe, calming myself down. I saw why Rainbow might have had those suspicions, and I had to dispel them so we could start our search for Twilight.
"Rainbow, I can see that your mad." I started.
"You bet your horse-feathers I am!" She shouted.
"But," I continued, "I can honestly say that I had nothing to do with what happened to Twilight just now, and if there had been anyway I could've helped, I would have in a millisecond. Look me in the eye and tell me that I'm lying."
She stared into my eyes for a half a minute before she saw that I was totally sincere, before she sagged a bit, her face taking on a haggard look. "Sorry." she muttered offering me her hoof.
"S'alright." I said, taking her hoof, pulling myself up with her help. "Now then," I said, addressing everyone in the hall, "let's find our friend." And we were off.
My first instinct was to check the floor around which Twilight had disappeared, looking for some kind of secret passage or something along those, until I remembered that magic existed and I abandoned the idea. It didn't look good until Rarity noticed something.
"Look!" She stood at one of the high windows that overlooked the castle. In one of the few towers that was still in tact there was a great white light glow streaming out the windows and open doors.
"Come on!" Applejack called, taking the initiative, galloping out great big wooden doors with the rest of us a step behind.
We made it to the tower in record time and we started making our way up the narrow stairway, calling for Twilight all the way up. The sight that met us as the top was a strange one. There stood Nightmare Moon, stone shards littering the floor around her feet, and her ethereal mane gathered into a vortex above her, and then there was Twilight who stared at us for a second, before she let out a little gasp and a spark played across her eye. Suddenly, with no warning her feeling, that had been stagnant for the 15 years I knew her, started growing.
"You think you can destroy the Elements of Harmony just like that?" Twilight asked with confidence I hadn't heard for awhile, Turing to face Nightmare. The five approached slowly, ready to stand with their friend. I started to take a step to join them, when something stopped me. Something that told me that they should face this together, without me, that I wasn't needed just yet. I didn't exactly like this something, but I knew it was right. "Well you're wrong," Twilight continued, her feeling still growing, "Because the spirits of the Elements of Harmony are right here!" I was slight confused by this statement until I connected the dots, she was talking about her friends.
Suddenly, the stone shards around Nightmare's feet floated off the ground, each glowing a different color.
"What?" Nightmare looked around at the now floating shards, any and all confidence gone from her voice.
"Applejack," Twilight glanced at her, "who reassured me when I was in doubt, represents the spirit of honesty!" All the shards that had an orange aura zipped over and started orbiting the orange Earth Pony.
"Fluttershy, tamed the Manticore with her compassion, represents the spirit of kindness!" The shards that glowed light pink gravitated towards the timid Pegasus.
"Pinkie Pie, who banished fear by giggling in the face of danger, represents the spirit of laughter!" Light blue for the Pink Party Pony.
"Rarity, who calmed a sorrowful serpent with a meaningful gift, represents the spirit of generosity!" A deep purple for the Fashionista.
"And Rainbow Dash, who could not abandon her friends for her own hearts desire, represents the spirit of loyalty!" Finally the shards that glowed red hovered around her. Then, something in my mind just clicked. All these ponies represented one of the Elements of Harmony, and at the time that they exemplified their element, the feeling about them, their spirit, if you will, grew exponentially. By George, I had it! Twilight however wasn't finished yet.
"The spirits of these five ponies got us through every challenge you threw at us!"
"You still don't have the sixth Element!" Nightmare Moon was clearly grasping for straws now. "The spark didn't work!"
"But it did." Twilight said, dashing any hope Nightmare might had still had, "A different kind of spark." She turned to face the five, who, that mourning had been nothing more then strangers, "I felt it the very moment I realized how happy I was to hear, to see you. How much I cared about you. The spark ignited inside of me," the first tears of happiness were starting to form at the corners of her eyes, "when I realized that you all," she turned back to face Nightmare, who's little plot to blot the land in eternal night was starting to seem just the tad bit impossible, "are my friends!" Twilight's spirit, which had been growing steadily, all through her speech, flared at this declaration, growing to match those of her five new friends. Suddenly, there was a flash from overhead, and overhead appeared a stone orb that matched the orbs from before, this time with a star burst on it's side. The sixth Element. A light surrounded the Element. A light that for all intents and purposes should have blinded everyone in the room, however Nightmare was the only one to react to it, using one of her wings to shield her eyes.
"You see, Nightmare Moon," Twilight said, a full head of steam carrying her on, "when those Elements are ignited by the," she had to search for the right word for a second, "the spark that resides in the heart of us all," Nightmare looked like she knew her planned was doomed, "it creates the sixth Element. The Elements of Magic!" With this the glow about the Element of Magic intensified, to a point where I had to shield my eye's a bit. All six of the ponies started floating off the ground, the shards around Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie, Rarity, and Rainbow quickly turning into crystals with the color of their aura, before gathering at the necks of their respective Pony. Even the Element of Magic burst into shards before collecting at the top of Twilight's head. I glanced a tiara suddenly appearing on Twilight's head, before the six floated into a formation with Twilight in the middle with the other five in an arc above her. The bright light enveloped the six, and from that light sprung two rainbows, shooting straight up, circling each other, before meeting at the top and making a straight shot for Nightmare Moon. The rainbow enveloped Nightmare in a twister of multicolored, well harmony I guess, while she shouted. The six friends floated there, seemly unaware, until everything just went white.
I came to a minute later, feeling like another inconsiderate jerk had jammed a railroad spike into my brain again. I pried my eyes open and saw the six ponies sprawled out on the floor, luckily they didn't look to worst for wear. Rainbow was the first of the six to come around.
"My head." She groaned. I felt for her at that moment. The rest of the ponies were starting to recover.
"Everypony okay?" Applejack asked, glancing around.
"Alright over here, just warn a guy when you do that next time." I called, rubbing my temples.
"Oh, thank goodness." Rarity and Fluttershy had been the first back on their hooves, and Rarity seemed ecstatic about something.
"Why Rarity, it's so lovely." Fluttershy complimented Rarity
"I know! I'll never part with it again!" I then noticed that Rarity's tail had grown back, curls and all.
"No, your necklace." There was indeed a new necklace around Rarity's neck. "It looks just like your cutiemark." This was also correct, a perfect purple replica of one of the diamonds on her flank.
"So does your!" Rarity pointed out, and again, she was correct. Fluttershy's necklace had a little pink butterfly.
Applejack was silently pleased with her orange apple.
"Look at mine, look at mine!" That would be Pinkie Pie, also pleased, although not so quietly, with her blue balloon.
"Aw, yeah!" That would be Rainbow being more then content with the red lightning blot on her's.
Twilight, meanwhile, just stared up at her Tiara with a smile on her face. The Elements of Harmony and their wielders, together at last.
"Gee, Twilight," Applejack spoke up, bringing attention away from the newly formed Elements, "I thought you were spoutin' a lot of hooey. But I reckon we do represent the elements of friendship."
"Indeed you do." An all to familiar voice reverberated through the entire room. A beam of light shone through one of the broken windows. Through the window we could see that the sun was finally rising and it was making up for lost time. A ball of light separated itself from the sun and floated through the window. With a flash, the, until then, missing princess of the sun appeared. I, along with five of the six new wielders, kneeled quickly, because, you know, sun princess and all. Twilight, however, felt no such obligation.
"Princess Celestia!" Twilight said breathlessly, rushing to greet her beloved teacher.
"Twilight Sparkle, my faithful student." Celestia said, nuzzling Twilight. "I knew you could do it."
"But... you told me it was all an old pony tale."
"I told you that you needed to make some friends, nothing more." We slowly stood back up while Celestia continued explaining. "I saw the signs of Nightmare Moon's return, and I knew that it was you who had the magic inside to defeat her. But you could not unleash it until you let true friendship into your heart." Twilight shared a look with all of us, a look that said she definitely understood what Princess Celestia was talking about. "Now if only another will as well." We all glanced worriedly to where a minute ago Nightmare Moon had stood.
There lied the broken and smokey remains of the armor Nightmare had worn, and among them was a tiny, at least for Alicorn standards, pony. Now if you twisted my arm and shouted in my ear to admit it, I would have to begrudgingly say that she looked vaguely like Nightmare Moon. She still had the green eyes and wore the boots from her time as Nightmare Moon, and, yeah, she had the same cutie mark, however she was very clearly not the same Alicorn that had attempted to shroud Equestria in endless night. First of all her coat was a dark blue. Secondly, her mane and tail were just a lighter blue then her coat, definitely not the night sky made into hair. Thirdly, and most importantly, that feeling of Doom that had surrounded Nightmare was decidedly absent, no instant chill that told me she was bad news. Instead there was a quiet sadness and loneliness, a feeling that said that she had majorly screwed up and was still carrying the burden of the mistake.
"Princess Luna." Luna was shocked awake by the voice of the Princess, and proceeded to cower as she approached. "It has been a thousand years since I have seen you like this." The Princess lied down in front of the tiny Alicorn, folding her legs under her, much like she had with me 15 years before, although she seemed to know exactly what she had found this time. "Time to put our differences behind us. We were meant to rule together, little sister.
"Sister?" That would be Twilight and Rainbow expressing what we were all thinking. If Luna was Celestia's sister this could only mean one thing. The two sisters in the myth had to be Celestia and Luna, meaning that Celestia had been ruling for a thousand years since Nightmare Moon's banishment. I think all the ponies there made the same connection I did.
Celestia stood asked one question to her much smaller sibling. "Will you accept my friendship?" We all leaned forward expectantly, concerned about the decision Luna was about to make. Luna took a second before springing up to nuzzle her elder sister chest.
"I'm so sorry! I missed you so much big sister." Luna said, tear streaming from her eyes.
"I've missed you too." Tears were obvious in Celestia voice.
Now I won't say I had tears in my eyes, but I'd be bloody lying if I said I didn't. In fact I'd be the biggest lier to ever exist if I said Pinkie didn't. The party pony had produced a handkerchief from who-knows-where and was crying literal fountains of tears. That didn't last long.
"Hey! You know what this calls for?" Pinkie said, perking up instantly.
"I think I can guess." I said, making my way to the door.
"A Party!"
"Exactly!" I shouted, pointing at the Pink Pony, "Now let's go!" I continued motioning to the door.
---
And Party we did when we made it back to Ponyville. It seemed everyone was celebrating the return of something. For the Ponies of Ponyville it was the return of Celestia, for Spike it was the return of Twilight, safe and sound (although he was slightly miffed he didn't get to come along), for Celestia it was the return of her younger sister, Luna, who it seemed could not get into the festivities, at least not until a pair of filly Pegasuses adorned her with a wreath of roses, a fitting homecoming for the long lost Princess of the Night if I do say so myself. In fact it seemed like the only Pony not celebrating was Twilight, strangely enough.
"Why so glum, my faithful student? Are you not happy that your quest is complete and you can return to your studies in Canterlot?" Princess asked her weirdly saddened protege.
"That's just it. Just when I learn how wonderful it is to have friends, I have to leave them." She glanced at her friends, who all know looked just as saddened at Twilight. Celestia seemed to understand exactly what she meant.
"Spike, take a note." Spike produced a scroll and quill, "I, Princess Celestia, hereby decree that the Unicorn, Twilight Sparkle, shall take on a new mission for Equestria." Twilight's friends were all brightening one-by-one, they all knew where this was going, even if Twilight didn't. "She must continue to study the magic of friendship. She must report to me her findings from her new home in Ponyville." A smile broke out on Twilight's face, while her friends mobbed her, congratulating her.
"Oh, thank you, Princess Celestia! I'll study harder than ever before!" Twilight promised. And there was much cheering. Also, finally, The Camera, which had been around long enough that it just seemed like part of environment, faded a bit, then strengthened again for some reason, and then disappearing entirely. Also strangely Pinkie disappeared for a second before reappearing again. Strange if I do say so myself. From there the Party continued for about two more hours, however the fun was dampened for me by one piece of knowledge. I was going to have to tell them who I really was soon.
---
As the party was winding down I told the six wielders that I needed to talk to them in the library alone. I also invited Spike along because we'd never be able to hide the secret from him, and the two Princesses, mostly because it just seemed right. Luna opted out, citing Tiredness, apparently hate and jealously were good enough fuel to keep a pony going for a thousand years without sleep. Celestia promised to fill her in later on.
The six Ponies, baby Dragon, and Alicorn sat on cushions centered around the table in the center of the main room, while I sat on the edge of said table, my sword resting in my lap. Spike had been nice enough to set a glass of water to the right of me before taking his seat. I didn't pay much attention to it, my mind more set on devising a way to tell them that I was not of this world.
"First of all, I'd like thank you all for siting down here to listen to me instead of having a bit more fun at the party." I started, pulling at my collar a bit.
"Oh it's no problem at all, Sugar cube." Applejack assured me.
"Thanks. Anyway, what I'm about to tell you is going to sound totally crazy, and I will completely understand if none of you believe." I took a drink from the glass, trying to find my voice.
"Is this about how your a being from another world sent here to protect ours?" Pinkie asked with a straight face.
The water that had been in my mouth suddenly found itself as a fine mist violently ejected from my mouth, while I had been left sputtering. "How did you know?!"
"Know what?" Pinkie asked with an innocent look on her face.
"That I'm from another world!"
"Your from another world?!" She asked, genuine surprise in her voice. I face palmed, not quite sure what had just happened. I wasn't the only one.
"What are you talking about, Isaiah?" Twilight questioned, concern showing on her face.
I sighed, a little at lost for words. "Well, like Pinkie said," I glanced over at her, "I think, I come from a different world." The six Ponies and Spike exchanged glances, although Celestia seemed to be taking it in stride, like she does. "Where I'm from, people watch your lives as entertainment through a piece of technology called a TV." I glanced at the assembled group, most of which had disbelieving faces. I knew I was going to have to provide some evidence. I put my finger to my ear and spoke. "Hey Thomas." The Ponies stared at me like I was crazy.
"Yeah?" Thomas asked around what I think was a straw.
"I think I'm going need your help to explain this, I'm going to put you on speaker phone.
"Go ahead."
I took the ear piece out of my ear, pressed a small button and placed it on the table.
"Say hi Thomas."
"Hi Thomas." His voice was mixed with random clattering in the background. The Ponies and Dragon stared at the tiny piece of equipment, Celestia still didn't seem fazed.
"Very funny Thomas." I muttered.
"I try my best."
"So... you're really from another world?" Rainbow asked, interrupting our banter. I nodded my head. "But... if you can watch us on this 'TV' why are you here?"
"Ah, you see, that's where it gets complicated. Feel free to jump in if I miss anything Thomas."
"Oh I will." He said.
"Well some of the people in my world watching you lives on the TV, what we call a TV show or series, some will become fans. Then some of these fans will get on another piece of technology called a computer, get on this thing called the internet and write stories about you and your friends that they made up themselves. We call these stories Fan Fiction."
"So... people will write stories about us. So... what's the problem?" Rainbow questioned.
"Well most of the time, there isn't one, however sometimes these stories will take on a life of their own. It'll use the energy generated by the author and the readers of these stories and find some way to crossover into your world."
"Meaning?"
"It'll find anyway to change the world to fit it, from changing how you think, to what you can do, heck even the basic principles of your world."
"Wait," Twilight spoke up, stopping my explanation, "so if one of these stories said that I was, say, a Pegasus, I could lose my horn and grow a pair of wings?"
"Pretty much." Thomas answered.
"Hmm." Twilight seemed to be taking this a lot better then I would have thought.
"So anyway," I continued, "these effects could dramatically ruin the world the story imposed upon, So The Knights of Fiction send a knight, me, to protect the any world depicted in a movie, book, TV show, etc., and a team of riffers, Thomas and his team, stay behind for support."
"The Knights of What?" Applejack interjected.
"The Knights of Fiction. An organization formed around 30 years ago to counteract the forces of fanon that started invading the canon of fictional worlds, normal enlistment age for the knights, 13, for riffers, 16." Thomas explained, sounding like he was reading from the most boring guide book in the world.
"Wait," Twilight interrupted, "you've been here for 15 years, why were you a member at such a young age?"
"Well you see," I said, considering how to properly explain the answer, "I wasn't really that young." Confused looks from all present, except for Celestia again. "The Knights actually sent me back those 15 years, Thomas said it was so you girls had time to get used to me, and right before doing that, they preformed some weird operation that reverted me to a toddler with the mind of an 18 year old. Don't ask me how it works," I held up my hand to stop the questions that I could on the lips of the six Ponies, "they haven't even explained it to me."
"And that sword?"
"My weapon of choice, though I didn't get it back tell today."
"The ruins!" Rainbow said suddenly, pounding her hooves together.
"Yeah, my sword somehow wound up there because of some incompetent programming." There was some muttered cursing from the ear piece.
"So you only came along to get your sword back?" Rainbow asked, a bit of anger showing in her eyes.
"That was part of the reason, but I did want to help you girls in anyway I could, I mean I like to think we became friends somewhere along the way." I glanced hopefully at the six Ponies. They all nodded, a smile on their faces, even Rainbow Dash, who seemed satisfied with my sincerity. "I also want to apologize to you all for not telling you girls all this 'till now."
"Oh you don't need to apologize for that." Applejack spoke up.
"I don't?" I asked, slightly confused.
"Well of course, darling." Rarity said, "I'm sure you'd have told us earlier if you could have."
"Well I guess I would've, but I needed to make sure of something before I did."
"What's that?" Fluttershy asked quietly.
"I needed to make sure you were all Main Characters." This garnered me confused looks from them all. "13 years ago, when I first met Twilight, there was some sort of feeling that instantly drew me to her. 13 years passed and that feeling was the only one of its kind I'd felt around here. Suddenly, out of the blue, we meet you five," I said pointing at the Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Pinkie, "and not only did you girls have same kinda feeling, buts it was more intense the Twi's. And, just to confuse me more, your feelings just came and went, seemingly at random."
"They did?" Pinkie asked.
"They did. But when we went on the journey to find the Elements, at some point during it all of your feeling grew to like 100 hundred times what they had been and stayed that way, in fact they're still that way."
"Really, when?" Rainbow asked, curious now.
"For Applejack it was when you consoled Twilight when she was hanging off the cliff, for you, Fluttershy, it when you calmed the Manticore down, Pinkie when you got rid of those tree monsters with your song, Rarity when you gave up your Tail to the Serpent for his mustache, and Rainbow it was when you didn't leave us up the creek at the bridge."
"But those are when," Twilight gasped.
"When they proved that they represented the Elements, yes. Also, Twilight," I shot her a smile, "your feeling didn't flare until you realized that you were happy to have them as your friends." The mares sat in stunned silence. "If we had been missing even one of you girls there would have been noway we could have defeated Nightmare Moon, when I realized that I knew I had to tell you all about who I really was."
"So why am I here?" Spike spoke up.
"Mostly because it'd have been to hard to hide it from you."
"And I, Isaiah?" Princess Celestia asked, raising her head a bit. I scratched the back of my head in embarrassment, I'd somehow managed to forget all about her.
"Well your Twilight's teacher, so I couldn't ask her to keep a secret from you." Twilight shot me a smile for the consideration. "Also, I especially wanted to apologize to you, for deceiving you for 15 years."
Princess Celestia let out a good natured laugh. "You don't have to do that Isaiah, I knew who you were the whole time."
"Wait what!?" I asked flabbergasted.
"Your eyes are those of a protector and one that didn't come from this world." Celestia explained.
"Really?" I asked, swelling a bit with pride.
"Really."
I let out a contented sigh, know there was just one more thing that needed to be done. "I won't be coming back to Canterlot."
"Why not?" Twilight asked.
"Well the Camera's going to be fallowing you girls around." I explained
"The wha-"
"The force that records you girls for my world."
"Oh, my." Fluttershy shrunk back at the thought of being watched.
"You girls are going to be the majority of what my world see, so most of the Fan Fiction is going to revolve around you."
"So you need to be around to make sure nothing happens to us." Twilight finished for me.
"Exactly, I just need a cover to stay here."
"Well that's easy." Princess Celestia had stood up. "We'll say that you were inspired by what you saw at the ruins and frustrated that you couldn't help them more, so you volunteered to be be the personal bodyguard for the Wielders of The Elements of Harmony."
"Hey, yeah, that's perfect! It sounds Plausible, and it gives me an excuse carry my sword at all times."
"And the cherry on top is it's not strictly untrue." Thomas said.
"A nice little added bonus indeed. Thank you Princess Celestia." I said bowing to the Alicorn.
"You are most welcome. Now I need to get back to Canterlot to make sure the Elements are secured properly. Also Twilight."
"Yes?!" Twilight hurriedly jumped up from her cushion.
"I cannot wait for your first friendship report." With that Princess Celestia left. There was a moment of silence after the Princess left. Rainbow Dash was the one to break the silence.
"So what now?"
I grinned like a maniac. "Now, we fanfic proof this world."