“It has been said, 'time heals all wounds.' I do not agree. The wounds remain. In time, the mind, protecting its sanity, covers them with scar tissue and the pain lessens. But it is never gone.”
― Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy

***Third person POV***
**Gotham city construction site**

"...but the Joker can't win. Gotham City needed its true hero..." Batman's gravely voice said to Gordon, as he turned the scarred side of his former friend's face away...showing the hero that Harvey Dent once was...Not the monster, but the man.

Gordon came to a sudden realization, looking upon his friend with anger. How could he suggest such a thing???

"No, you can't! You're not!" He refused to believe what Batman was suggesting, before a radio was shoved into the police commissioner's hands.

The midnight blue Alicorn stood at the ground level, drinking her coffee and watching them from a distance as she sat there as awaiting the next portion of the story with baited breath...

.
.
.

***wait....nevermind, it is still Edgar's POV***
**Tea parlor of Twilight's Castle**

.
.
.

Princess Luna was at the edge of her seat, wide-eyes that were gargantuan with worry and wonder as she tightly squished one of the cushions she hugged against her, completely immersed. She was mid sip of the "no maidens..."coffee mug she was holding next to her until she gulped, her mouth suddenly dropping as it seems like she realized exactly what was coming next.

"He wouldn't...He couldn't.." Luna murmured, looking away from me in thought. I saw a nod from her, and before long she seemingly coming to a realization and turning back toward me with a determined look."...No, he would..."

"His old friend's words echoed in his mind. "You would either die a hero or live to see yourself become the villain", so he decided to become a villain in the eyes of the city he loved for the greater good. To protect the memory of his broken friend and keep the thousands of criminals off the streets...To protect the city from the truest evils." Even as I was telling the story, I felt the same shiver I felt when I first heard about this speech in theaters. "Because he wasn't a hero. He would be the one who actually killed those villains, not his friend...Because sometimes, the truth isn't good enough... sometimes, people deserve more..."

As I was finishing up telling the story of The Dark Knight as an abridged script to Princess Luna, I saw that she started to look a bit more fuzzy, only to now realize that her fur was starting to stand up on its ends in excitement as she was awaiting the climax of this story, with a barely contained grin beaming right at me.

There it is! I got her hook, line, and sinker!

"He was the hero Gotham deserves...but not the one it needs right now." I whipped my head toward Luna's direction with a deathly serious tone and raised eyebrows "So they hunted him! Because he can could take it. And they would never catch this Ghost of Gotham, because he was their silent guardian..." I started to say the ending before I was interrupted by Luna, who had what looked like another epiphany.

"Their watchful protector...Their Dark Knight!"

"The end!" I smiled, cheering internally as I saw her reaction to the ending.

"HUZZAH! What a riveting tale!" Luna giggled as she clapped her hooves together, giddy in excitement.

"You liked it that much?" I asked her, kinda already knowing the answer. I knew that sometime while I was on Equestria, I wanted to tell Princess Luna about batman since it seemed right up her alley. I was also debating about telling her about a bunch of other stories about "dark heroes", but above all else I wanted to get a "Batman" out of the way before anything else.

I'm actually debating whether or not I want to to tell her about an edgy vampire called Alucard that I started to grow fond of while watching an Anime called "Hellsing Ultimate", but I have yet to see anything truly heroic about him yet. Then again, I never got the chance to finish it since was only about three episodes in before I found myself in Equestria on my drive home. I was sticking with the show just to see if he actually fights Dracula, but...

Luna interrupted my train of thought.

"Of course we did! Many fall in the face of chaos; but not Batman! Not this hero, who was armed with nothing other than his mind, body, and unbreakable determination!"

...and a mansion and a butler and a gazillion dollars and Plot armor and...

"He's not a hero, remember? He's just doing what he felt was right."

Luna shook her head in disagreement, and almost seemed to take offense to me besmirching Batman's achievements.

"Tis a lie! Is that not what makes a true hero is on your world? Meddling regardless of whether or not those believe he was needed? The noble sacrifice of his reputation for the greater good? Nay, he is a hero, regardless of what he thought of himself! He lives with the tragedy of what happened to his parents every day, but not in the way we could have expected. He took his tragedy to turn it into something special. Helping Ponies in his city every day to protect them from the tragedy he had experienced! In the eye of the storm that wicked Jester had brought upon his home and the corruption that befell his friend, his valor shined brightest against a backdrop of despair! He was an incorruptible monument...like our sister!"

I was in disbelief.

"Really? You see similarities between Batman and your sister? Batman...and Princess Celestia. Nobody else comes to mind?"

"Who else could I compare to this stalwart guardian. Thee?" Luna asked as she tilted her head in confusion. "Thou art a hero too, but we have yet to witness thou prance about in costume. Still, "Tis not who thou art underneath thine mask, but what thou dost achieve that defines you!"" Luna quoted, or tried to quote as best as she could. Suddenly, a flash of inspiration appeared from her smile. "Perhaps thou could consider staying for Nightmare Night. You may come as the Dark Knight thou hast regaled us with! Wouldn't this be splendid?" She beamed at me, suddenly leaning in toward and over me, awaiting my answer.

It is clear that none of these ponies have any concept of a personal bubble, as she was close enough for me to once again feel her hot breath close to me. It smelled fresh and fruity, which is kinda weird since I know she had been drinking black coffee during the entire time I've been in this room. I thought coffee breath was supposed to stink, or at the very least smell like coffee. Before I could place what the smell was, we were interrupted from a voice in the room.

"Ahem." came a voice from behind. Luna looked up and a blush immediately manifested on her face. "Luna, what am I to think of this? What have we stumbled into?" Said the regal voice that I recognized as Celestia. I looked behind my spot and saw her standing in the door way, with a serving tray containing three bowls of what looks like light-brown industrial sludge garnished with apple slices on top. At least, I hope it is that and not oatmeal. I never liked oatmeal. It's gross.

"Thou hath stumbled upon nothing, you nosy ninny! Edgar, tell her!" Princess Luna commanded, expecting me to defend her virtues. She was right.

"Nothing happened?" I testified unsurely. "Also, that was way longer than a few minutes. I literally told two whole Batman stories."

"Why dost thou specify a specific number? There is MORE to his tale?" Luna inquired, excited over the possibilities that the boy billionaire would get into.

"Bat...man?" Celestia asked with a raised eyebrow, like an older person who just heard about what an CD-ROM or ASCII was.

"Yea. Genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist Bruce Wayne, who is also a crime fighting detective by night! There are plenty of comic books about him, but of the story I was telling Princess Luna about, there should be one more story connected to the last one." I explained, glancing over to Luna to see her reacti-aaaaand she's positively beaming again.

Celestia did not really seem as enthused.

"...That sounds very interesting, Edgar, but it seems to be more of an acquired taste for me. I'm sure that there is a very good explanation as to how all of those circumstances have occurred in a sensible manner in your story." Celestia remarked as she walked past my couch and set the tray on the coffee table. Honestly, I don't blame her for doubting, since you can make a lot of stories sound silly if you don't have enough context. "I am sorry that I was gone for so long. I was preoccupied and lost track of the time. I suppose it is now a "brunch". Do not worry, the oatmeal is still very warm. It was freshly made and I made sure to keep it warm."

God...Damn it. Why does oatmeal exist? It is the Jared Leto of all breakfast foods. Easily the worst thing of any pantry it's in.

"It's made from oats, which is a grain here in our world." Celestia reassured.

"I know what oatmeal is. I was never really a fan of it. I had it forced on me as a kid when there was perfectly good cereal Cookie Crisps or Lucky Charms in the cupboards, so it was always a mood breaker for me. I don't even like Oatmeal Cookies."

Celestia shook her head as she used her magic to slide the bowl closer to me.

"Beggars can't be choosers, Edgar. Oats are standard in our food stores. When stored properly, they can last close to a decade without going bad. We always have an ample supply of this for emergencies, along with other foods and water. I think you should try it Edgar. I am sure you'll like it." Celestia encouraged, trying to convince me. "The apple slices on top are courtesy of the Apple Family. The grandmother of the filly you were found with really wanted you to have this bowl. When she found out who I was bringing this to, she was adamant about making it herself. She downright wrestled the ladle out of one of the chefs to add it to the bowl herself, along with, and I quote, "A spoonful-ah-sugah, spices, and her very favorite apple slices." Celestia drawled in a slight southern accent. There was no mockery in her tone, but you could tell she was mimicking Granny Smith's way of speaking. "We couldn't stand in her way." She chuckled.

Looking again and prodding it experimentally with a wooden spoon that came with the bowl, I can barely see tiny pieces of green apple shavings mixed into the oatmeal. This would probably bring more of an apple-y flavor out than the three apple slices garnishing the top of the oatmeal. Even the full apple slices on this one looked as if were browned with what I assume is cinnamon and brown sugar. I took an experimental bite of the oatmeal along with a spoonful of apple on top.

...It's delicious!

It was sweet, and gooey, and reminded me more of an inside-out apple pie than the semi-solid "gross" that I was expecting. Granny Smith couldn't have done that much to the bowl. Maybe it was knowing that she had a hand in it? With renewed morale, I started eating with renewed vigor. Both Celestia and Luna joined me in breakfast, albeit a bit more reserved and regal even in eating. After the first two bites, I realized that I was probably eating like a caveman in front of them, so I slowed down and tried to match both the pace and decorum they showed while eating.

"Thank you. I was practically dying."

Celestia did not respond apart from her nod of acknowledgement, and after she swallowed, she spoke again. "I bumped into Princess Twilight Sparkle on my way back here."

Luna's ears perked up. "Pray thee, she is well?" Luna asked.

Celestia chewed for a bit longer with this question, eyes closed, before swallowing once more. "She was clearly tired from yesterday's and last night's events." Celestia answered, probably referring to both the invasion, and either her one million questions to me or her slumber party. "She has also had some difficult conversations with some friends. She seems very stressed...and may require our guidance in the future."

"I see." Luna nodded along in contemplation. It was almost as if they were having their own conversations under the conversation.

Celestia ears raised as if she just remembered something. "Oh, she was with Trixie Lulamoon, and they were both asking about our guest. I trust you aren't harassing Edgar too much, Luna?"

"We haven't even touched him! Edgar, tell her!" Luna commanded once more. That was a lie, since she was being super reassuring a bit before my story about Batman. Grabbing my hands and wiping my face to clear up the not-tears from my face. But I did as she asked and lied, not exactly wanting to give Celestia more ammo to harass her sister.

"It's true. Touching royalty was the kind of stuff was punishable by death in different nations in my world. I probably would have stopped Luna long before something like that happened."

"Ah, I suppose our worlds aren't that different then, are they? I am glad nothing happened." Celestia nonchalantly weighed in, finishing up the remainder of her bowl of oatmeal with a smile as the room was put into a deafening silence from the implications. I was stuck wondering what "counted" as touching. Was it just the lewd stuff like, or was it as something as simple as Luna poking me or grabbing my hands like she did earlier.

Princess Luna, still sitting at my side, started to finish up her oatmeal as well as she kept quiet. I am not liking the vibes. I felt an urge to clear my throat, but resisted since that cliché act might raise questions.

"...So why were Trixie and Twilight asking about me?" I inquired, quickly changing the subject.

"They simply wanted to know that you were okay." She remarked, placing her now-empty bowl onto the silver serving tray, which confused me at first. She took less bites and ate slower than me, how did she already finish hers? "You seem to be quite a hot topic around here as of late, even considering your encounter yesterday. I know that they both had more questions about you that they didn't voice. I suspect that they will try to more than make up for it after our discussion." She revealed, causing an uneasy feeling to bubble up from my stomach.

"Great. More questions." I grumbled, massaging the bridge of my nose. I just know that this is headache was just going to get worse, I could feel it.

As if sensing my dissent, Celestia continued carrying the conversation as Luna appeared to be oddly quiet. "Why do you look upset, Edgar? Twilight seemed excited about you when she spoke about you in her letter. Judging from all the notes she has written about you, your traits, and your personality, you were both clearly busy last night."

"I barely survived." I grumbled about. "She was practically talking my ear off. I was happy to talk, but god, she just kept going and going! I thought see was going to ask more substantial questions, but everything she asked brought up more questions! And not even what I would consider interesting ones. She also kept hyper-focusing on so many uninteresting things! "How did the Pandas manage their "Panda Express" delivery service?" and "Does your hide change color for camouflage?"." I shuddered. Thank God she ran out of paper. I seen the memes about her, but I think she might actually be slightly autistic.

"...Thank you for indulging her curiosity. She can be overly-enthusiastic, but she needs the distraction." Celestia showed gratitude with a head bow, catching me off-guard.

Oh...wasn't expecting that.

"You're welcome, I guess? I mean...it was really wasn't that bad. If it made her day a little better, I would probably sit through it again, though." Taking a sip from my teacup, I couldn't help but think about how every other pony was handling this. "Is everyone else okay? It doesn't look like battles are an everyday occurrence here in Ponyville." I asked. I know that I have been putting up a bit of an act so far, but I really am concerned about them. I seen a few fan-fictions that were 18+ that tried doing their best to try and copy HBO and put their characters through extremely stressful situations, but those characters only acted as they were written. I never imagined...no, that's a lie. I did imagine myself in situations with them every now and then when I was bored. It never really amounted to anything other than "what if I was in Dark Souls, but AppleJack was a companion" and other daydreams like that. I never really considered them real with real thoughts until I ran into Trixie the other day. I hope these ponies are doing alright.

Celestia nodded. "You are correct. She not the only one who needs the distraction, as this town is reeling from this "Queen Telsona". Upon arriving, it is clear that they are afraid and understandably gloomy about the events that took place, even if they tried to hide it around us."

"If thou art curious, we have a spell in mind that should help with this, but it is merely a balm before the true treatment."

"Spell?" I asked, turning back toward Princess Luna.

"Indeed. There isn't a good name for it yet, but it is a derivative of one that our niece and nephew-in-law improvised during the battle of their wedding. We had performed this spell to a lesser extent upon our arrival yesterday to inspire Ponyville and to rid ourselves of any changelings left in Ponyville. It wanes as it expands, but we are sure that it would be more than enough once we put our combined strength towards it." Luna stated flatly, triggering a bit of a light-bulb in my head.

"...Did it look like a shiny blue bubble that kept pulsing out?" I asked, being reminded of the Patronus-looking thing that rocked the fuck out of Telsona.

Luna's nodded, confirming that it was indeed her. "So thou hath witnessed it?"

"Yeah, I noticed. It was a bit hard to ignore since it saved me more than once..." My eyes widening upon that realization. Wow, I really did cut it close, didn't I? I should not have lived through that situation, and I have Luna to thank for it. "Thank you, by the way. You saved my life more than once now." I bowed my head to her, trying to be as sincere as possible.

Luna answered with a small smile, before clearing her throat and continuing. "We will require multiple magic users for this spell, including Twilight and our niece's help for this. With this caveat Twilight will need some rest before we attempt it. "Hopefully casting it will give us time to keep spirits up before the Life party."

"Life party?" I asked with a wince, getting flashbacks to the Star Wars Christmas Special that I sat through out of morbid curiosity.

Questions questions, too many questions. I can't help but feel bad about giving Twilight grief about that now. I thought the show was simple enough to understand given that it was a children's show, but I have been learning more and more about this place every single day. It's starting to make my head hurt.

"Yes, it is a funerary tradition. Shortly after one is laid to rest, we celebrate them." Celestia illustrated.

Now that was a bit confusing to me. "You guys would throw a party right after a battle? Where people die? I don't know, that seems kinda disrespectful."

Celestia raised her eyebrows, seemingly just as confused as I was from my query. "Disrespectful? Could you explain, Edgar? Does your kind not have funerals or burial rites?"

"We do but...I mean they died, right? Why celebrate that?" I explained my confusion, still not quite picking up what she's putting down.

As if she was starting to have a better understanding of my gripes, Celestia looked toward the ceiling in curiosity."...I think I see your confusion. We don't celebrate at the funeral. It is a sad state of affairs when a pony you hold dear passes away. But when you die, would you rather your loved ones cry and mourn over what once was? Or would you perhaps rather they smile and remember the joyous times they had with you. We are not celebrating their deaths, but the life they led up to that point. It can be difficult at times, but it helps us move on with pleasant memories."

"So its like, "don’t cry because it’s over, and smile because it happened?"" I quoted Dr. Seuss, thinking I get the gist of what they were saying. I never liked funerals back home. I never felt good after going to one, knowing it was going to be the last time I saw one of my aunts or grand parents. Celestia looked down from the ceiling to meet my gaze and had the other eyebrow raise alongside the first eyebrow. It looks like her apparent skepticism changed to a welcome surprise.

"Yes, Edgar. An apt choice of words. If these do not exist where you are from, perhaps you should try it one day. It may help knowing that when your loved ones look down upon you, that you are doing fine." Celestia's mood seemed to take a more gentle tone as she spoke of this topic. So far, her tonal shift has been a welcome improvement, but she seemed to be thinking of other things as she was acting more civil to me. "Death" must be a touchy subject around her, given the tact and respect she was showing when talking about it.

"Ponyville won't forget what happened here, nor should they, but this will help them come to terms and accept that what happened. They will not relive the terrors in their dreams, and their hope will not abandon them." Luna said a frown...which was morphing into something more and more menacing. Truthfully, this shift was beginning to frighten me as it appeared to come out of nowhere. It was almost as if both Luna and Celestia swapped bodies.

"A-are you okay Luna? It wasn't something I said, was it?" I asked, feeling my heart rate start to rise. I started to feel an onset of a migraine happening, and it was beginning to get very annoying. "I am sorry if I insulted your traditions. I just never hea-"

"You are fine for now, Edgar, but I ask that you silence yourself for a moment." Celestia herself started to gain a frown as well, before closing her eyes and concentrating hard. Her horn began to pulse, glowing and dimming as her own ears twitched. "Did you sense them too, Luna?"

"Yes...we have uninvited guests. We can't tell who they are, since they appear to be trying to mask their presence with a muffling spell. Whomever had cast this spell must be quite powerful indeed. We almost couldn't feel it."

"Do you think your wards failed?" Celestia asked bemused.

"No."

"Is there something I need to know about?" I asked them, worried that it was Telsona coming back for revenge.

"Not particularly... and no Edgar, it isn't Changelings." Celestia clarified as her horn started to glow. As their horns glowed, they seemed to have another silent conversation before Luna stood up.

"They are somewhere above us." As she spoke, a dark miasma surrounded Luna as her body looked as if she was sinking into her own shadow. We shall go pay them a visit." And with that last declaration, she phased into the floor. While that seemed counter productive, considering that she is presumably looking for the intruders upstairs, she looked cool as hell doing it. Still, I wonder if any ponies below us saw anything.

It would be weird to imagine a butt with legs starting to float down from the ceiling.

Celestia was still looking at the spot before she closed her eyes and shook her head. "Show-off. She could have just walked out the door." she chuckled to herself.

"So could you..." I remarked, remembering her disappearing into a cloud of glitter.

The smile on Celestia's face started to falter before turning back toward me. "I teleported because I hardly get to stretch my wings and work my magic for anything other than raising and lowering the sun. Luna on the other hoof seemed to be doing it because she did not want to be outshined in front of you...why is that, do you wonder?"

***Luna's POV, third person.***
**A storeroom in Twilight's castle, above the tea parlor*
*Mid-Day*

As Luna quietly lurked in the shadows of the room above Edgar and Celestia, she couldn't help but wonder how both she and her sister could let whatever this was slip by their watch. While Twilight and her friends were looking after the anomaly known as Edgar, she and the other guard unicorns used almost every sentry ward in the book to secure Ponyville and the area surrounding it. If there was a flock of geese migrating, she would know. If there are ponies coming back from a camping trip, she would know. If a tree fell in the Everfree and nopony was around to hear it, she would know if it made a sound or not. Nothing could have crossed any of the wards she placed, so it is certainly not Changelings making another infiltration attempt so soon after their first incursion.

And it is not as if whomever was causing this magical disturbance just teleported into the castle. The amount of magic it would take to blast past our magical sentries would make so many "ripples" that would have had the entire castle in full alert immediately. This means that the intruders must have already been inside the castle at the start, and this worried Luna.

"Can you hear them yet? Anything?" came the voice of what sounds like a certain magician Luna spoke to earlier in the night. It is clear she was trying to speak quietly, but you could barely call her attempt at it a whisper.

Luna heard the familiar voice in a hushed tone behind some crates. "There they are..." she thought, and she made her way to the crates in the slowest and quietest manner possible, she caught bits and pieces of the back and forth conversation that was going on from the other side of the boxes.

"No, I can't get around it, and I don't think they are taking that spell down anytime soon." A voice that was unmistakably Twilight's said. "I certainly don't want to risk trying to pry my way in. They would notice it instantly."

"Do you think they knew we were planning on listening, Sparkle? We did a good enough job with muffling our trots with a spell, didn't we?"

"I don't think so. We can't hear what they are saying, but they obviously put up their own muffling spell was up before we even started trying to snoop on them... Uhhg, why did I let you talk me into this? This wasn't going to work!"

"Because you still owe us big time! Besides, this is your castle. You should be able to go wherever the hay you want! That's what Trixie would do if she had a castle. She certainly would not let her powers go to waste."

"She has a point, Lass." A faintly familiar third voice called out. "...where did she go?"

Luna peeked her head over the boxes to find what looked to be both Twilight Sparkle and Trixie Lulamoon looking toward a small beam of light emitting from a crack. Miss Trixie was in her normal attire, but her cape seemed to not be flowing freely, and was instead bound tighter to her body with what looks to be a cerulean-colored gossamer sash with star embroidery. Twilight herself was wearing...a black nylon body suit and a bandana?

The Princess of the Night had blinked and shook her head at the thought of such a ridiculous costume. Twilight always was one to try and do things by the book, and if sneaking around required a pelt-tight bodysuit, there was no talking her out of it. Luna thought it suited her form quite nicely, and without the added flair that she saw from Generosity's "fashion sense", Twilight must have made for herself.

"Still, that only makes two out of the three voices she heard. Where is the other one?" Luna thought to herself. Peering toward the middle of where they were staring, there appeared to be the bottom-half of a Breezy sticking half-way out of the floor. Possibly from a crack or a whole that hadn't been repaired.

"Where did who go? Did Princess Celestia leave?" Twilight asked in a nervous manner. She probably knew that what she was doing was wrong or sneaky, and she certainly did not want to be caught spying on her teacher. That being said, the trio seemed too distracted to even notice Princess Luna slowly creeping up to them in the dark store room.

"No...N-Nightmare Moon." A quiet but shaken voice said as the breezy tried pulling herself out of the hole. With a bit of struggle, she succeeded in doing so, falling back on the tile as the light beam from the hole grew wider in diameter.

"You can call her Princess Luna. She hasn't been "Nightmare Moon" since last Nightmare Night, and that is just for fun." Twilight clarified. Luna thought it was nice of her to try and clear her name and sweet talk the breezy, but it would certainly be a losing battle. They are horrified of Nightmare Moon over what she represents...Darkness. Absence of Light and the warm glow of the sun. Absence of the coming dawn in the darkest night.

"Trixie thought you were watching them the entire time. How could you miss her leaving? She is the second biggest pony in the castle, aside from Princess Celestia!" Trixie questioned in a hushed yell.

Luna's poor self esteem was wounded...

It is no lie that she is fairly large compared to most other ponies, and she has intimidated many in the past with her height and size. Even as she worked hard to diet and exercise to make sure she is of adequate and lithe proportions, an unfortunate fact remains that muscle weighs heavier than fat. With her muscles being dense due to her Alicorn body, she has found herself close to the same heft as the most portly of ponies, even if she is told that she wears it better than others. Celestia has told her to have pride in her body and other "desirable features", as she put it. With all that, it is still difficult for Luna to take her sister's words to heart. Not when she compares herself to her other Royal Family members. Not with all she's already done...

Princess Mi Amore Cadenza herself was known for her beauty, kindness, and grace. Try as she might, Luna could not help but feel insecure about her own personality compared to Cadance. How could a Princess of Darkness and Nightmares compare to the literal Princess of Love. Nightmare Moon destroys and corrupted, while Princess Cadance encourages creation and harmony. Her infectious personality helps her gets along with ponies so easily, as evidenced by all the couples that may sneak a letter to her for advice. She has shared quite a few stories during their meetings and always knew what to suggest to the young lovers. Cadance even landed the stallion of a lifetime within nearly no time at all once she met Twilight Sparkle's brother. They both look so happily married, and he isn't even the slightest bit interested in adding other mares to form a herd. She makes him happy enough as it is, and they would both make wonderful parents one day.

Celestia herself was positively gorgeous. Even amongst the four alicorns she was the one most sought after in most ponies dreams. It mattered not that the mare has two planets for an ass and sneaks cake during the night. It mattered not the mischievous streak she had when causing chaos during the Gala or pranking the castle staff during the day. One would argue that those are "features" to an already incredible mare that nopony could hold a candle to. She has a voice like honeyed-butter accompanied by an exquisite smile that could wipe away any fear and doubt. This coupled with her experience and confidence, she always knew what to say when somepony needed advice. She wasn't the best to come to when it came to "love" as that honor had already been claimed by Princess Cadence. No, her advice has the common sense that seemed absent from ponies in this time period, and she was persuasive. She had literally the perfect personality...it is no mystery as to why she found that the subjects of Equestria have had multitudes of more dreams involving Celestia than herself.

Even Twilight Sparkle, her sister's former student, now stands as an equal Princess of Equestria. She is a fellow princess who has earned the admiration and respect of ponies across Equestria. Princess Luna admits that she feels envious of Twilight's close daughter-like relationship with Celestia and her rapid rise to power and responsibility, but she has proven time and time again to be more than deserving of it. She somehow always finds a way to make everything alright in even the most dire circumstances. With all dilemmas seeming to turn out better than before in the end of any event they may find themselves involved in, as if Twilight Sparkle is the main character of her own book. But more than anything that Luna envies, it is how easily she forms everlasting bonds and friendships with those she meets.

It isn't quite as easy for a mare that ponies told Nightmare Night stories about for the past one thousand years to make many friends, or even a real conversation. It's not like the days before she was banished, where she was sought and desired.

The ponies of Equestria still have nightmares of her and the idea of her, after all. Her form was unknown for many a year, and these ponies were imaginative as to what monstrous features they had in their "head canon" for her. Though she was mostly powerless during her banishment, she still had a clear view of their dreams and nightmares during her time on the moon. They may play along and run around during Nightmare Night but she still catches the uneasy side glances of ponies that happen to see her outside of night time hours. The only ones that seem to alleviate Luna's loneliness in this regard apart from her fellow royals would have to be her stalwart Lunar guards(who were forced to interact with her at first), the foals and fillies she entertains once a year during said Nightmare Night, and the dreamers who don't know they could be speaking with the Princess Luna.

Has anypony really spoken with Luna apart from these ponies? Has anyone even spoken with Luna as a friend since her banishment, without it either being some requirement or falsehood of them not knowing it was her?

"... I only saw you as how you look right now. As the nice and gentle Princess that saved me a couple minutes ago. I promise, I would probably be the last person to judging you."

That's right... The creature known as "Edgar" didn't show the least bit of caution around her, even if he does speak before he thinks...

"Why would I automatically assume that you are evil? I just met you."

...

Perhaps Luna and her Sister may be going about things too harshly with him. He doesn't seem too bad.

"Ay must've blinked or somethin'. One minute she was there. Another, "Poof"." The high-pitch voice of the Breezy rationalized with shaky rattle.

Princess Luna shook herself from path her thoughts were taking, and refocused on her investigation. There was time for introspection later.

The great and powerful Trixie spoke after the silence became too much for her. "Where do you think Princess Luna could have gone?"

"Right behind you." Princess Luna growled.

"AHHHHHHHHH!!!" came the cacophony of terrified screams from the trio, stumbling over each other in a sea of chaos. Delphi, the Breezy suddenly zipped right back into Trixie's hat. Trixie was in the process of throwing a smoke bomb onto the ground, which was swiftly caught by Princess Luna's magic as it detonated into a fine compressed powder in the shape of the smoke bomb into her magical bubble. Twilight's reflexes were nothing short of phenomenal, as she quickly hoped over with flared wings and kept her horn primed at the ready.

In the back of her mind, Princess Luna was glad that Twilight was this skilled and has no doubt that she could have defended herself if it was any other unicorn or magic user on the caliber of Discord or even the Changeling Queen she had the nightmare about last night. But Princess Luna was not just any other magic user, and there are extreme advantages to the element of surprise. Princess Luna released her magical hold on the condensed smoke from Trixie's smoke bomb and flung it at Twilight's face, momentarily blinding her and throwing her focus off as Princess Luna finally wrangled her in her magic. In power, they may have been closely matched, but Twilight still had a few more decades to go before she could go up against Luna when she fights dirty.

In summary, the Trio was no match for Luna as she was able to predict all their moves and rendered them completely immobile in her magical grasp.

"Twilight Sparkle..." Luna growled in annoyance, greeting the purple Alicorn with the intention of letting loose the Royal Canterlot voice and scold her.

"Hip-KHOFF KHAK KHAK!" Before Twilight Sparkle could speak, she erupted in a coughing fit from the smoke, blue powder puffing out of her mouth. After a few short moments of Twilight's coughing and dry hacks, Twilight's breathing started to stabilize with her heaves starting to become less labored. "Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia-KHAK" Twilight strained out.

"What?" Luna asked, momentarily forgetting the verbal lashing she was going to give Twilight. This didn't sound like a cough, but some form of coherent sentence she was trying to get out.

"Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia! Also, you brought EXPLOSIVES!?!" Twilight wheezed, involuntarily turning toward Trixie as they both still floated and spun in the weightlessness of Luna's magic.

"They're simply smoke bombs, Sparkle. They are quite valuable for quick getaways!" The lopsided and upside-down Trixie justified as she kept trying to crane her neck to see Twilight. Her cape was just barely sweeping the floor as she held onto her Magician's hat to keep it on her head.

"That's not better! What if somepony thought there was a fire."

"The smoke is blue and fun, like myself. Nopony would think "danger" when they see it, they'll think of the greatest magician in Equestria."

"Unless they thought it was smoke from a chemical spill or the experiments I run!"

It soon came to Luna's attention that Twilight could have escaped Luna's grasp at any point with enough effort. However, it is clear that Twilight was letting Luna hold them to not aggravate her.

"...What...What was that sound, Twilight? Dost thou need an apothecary? " Luna asked again, even more confused with a raised eyebrow, causing Trixie to interject.

"It's long-word-a-phobia! It was Twilight's code word yesterday. We're not changelings, see?" Trixie said, trying to ease Luna's worries and hopefully not become a shish-kabab. "Just put me down and don't hurt us! Or me, at the very least."

...Of course Twilight would change the pass phrase from "Bibliography" to something that ridiculous. Couldn't be anything simple like "Friendship" or "Harmony", now could it?" Luna thought to herself. "It still doesn't make any sense to us why she liked to convoluted things like a password, as we doubt her guards have an easier time with it then we do. It defeats the purpose if her guards can't even understand it or question if the phrase was said correctly. We must address this with her later."

"You do not have to worry Miss Lulamoon, for we were fairly certain you weren't changelings. There is no way you could have passed my sentry wards otherwise." Luna let out a sigh of relief as she lowered Twilight Sparkle and the Loud and Bound Trixie onto their hooves. Princess Luna then shook her head and gave an annoyed huff. "Still, thou had us filled with dread. Twilight Sparkle, have you cursed us upon entering your castle? This now marks the THIRD time that we hath had our conversations ease-dropped on. And why in Faust's name were you sneaking around your own castle in such ridiculous costumes?"

"Told you!" Trixie snarked as she flared her cape and let it rest properly on her barrel, prompting Twilight to frown and take a second to stick her tongue out at the magician in mild annoyance. "We were worried about Edgar. We thought you all would have the wrong idea about him, and we wanted to make sure he was going to be alright."

Princess Luna's gaze shifted between the two horned ponies with an intent to admonish them with the fury of a mother who caught a filly's hoof in the cookie jar.

"It isn't like thee to act in such a guileful manner. We told you both that we would make sure no harm would befall him, and our sister has assured you both that he was alright. Doth thou not trust in us?" She asked, hoping to get a better explanation out of them.

"Then why did you try to EAT HIM!?!" A voice came out from Trixie's hat, eliciting a double take from the stunned night princess.

"Why did we- what?" Luna asked, the poor alicorn's confusion not at all dwindling as she found herself speaking to Trixie's hat. Out from under the rim of Trixie's hat, popped out the head of a Breezy...the one from yesterday, yes. Delphi seemed to be putting on a brave face in front of Luna and the other two, but it was still clear to Luna that she still instilled fear into the Breezy.

"I saw the whoooole th-th-thing! You tried to eat him earlier by going right for his weak-spots. Right under his bandages. So I went back and warned everypony else about you and your plans to eat him and gain his power! Riiiiight here." Delphi pointed at the left side of her own chest.

"I thought it was silly when Delphi came to us with that, but I wanted to help her understand that you wouldn't gobble Edgar up. We also didn't want to interrupt, since Delphi is still a bit scared of you." Twilight explained with an embarrased chuckle as she shook her head, dismissing the nonsense before she looked back at Princess Luna...who was now starting to blush like a filly with her hooves caught in the cookie jar. "Why are you being quiet, Princess Luna?"

That marks the fourth time Luna was spied on, but this was pushed into the corner of her mind. Her face started to flush in heat as blood rushed to her cheeks. Though it was obviously a misunderstanding, she couldn't help but feel bashful at the whole situation.

"N-no we were not biting Sir Edgar on purpose, we merely ho-..." Luna started before clearing her throat and realizing that they were getting off topic. "Hark, there are still mysteries surrounding him."

"Please don't change the subject, were you trying to eat him or now?" Twilight asked, leaning away from Princess Luna as her left eyebrows raised, as she started to look at Princess Luna strangely. "...Princess Luna, please! Just say that you didn't and we can prove that Delphi has nothing to fear."

"Yea, what do you mean by "on purpose"?!? Did you actually bite him?" The Great and Powerful Trixie's right eyebrow raised as she gave Princess Luna a suspicious look. "He couldn't have tasted good, since I don't remember him taking a bath this entire time. Why would you bite him if you aren't even da-."

Princess Luna shook her head as she squeezed her eyes shut.

"TheSubjectIsBeingAltered. PrayWeDoNotAlterItFurther!" Princess Luna spoke quickly, almost as if she was trying to match the speed of Laughter's manner of speaking. She didn't come close, but the untrained ear would not know that. After a few calming breaths, she regained her composure and turned back to Twilight. "Now, is that the only reason that you were spying on us?"

Twilight looked down and to the side in guilt, almost as if she was caught reaching into the cookie jar.

"...Edgar didn't ask for any of this."

"What does that mean, Twilight? He didn't ask for "what" exactly?" Princess Luna inquired, wondering if Twilight had the same feelings on the matter that she herself had.

"When Celestia asked me to voice any concerns I had...I didn't, and I forgotten my courage that moment. You and I helped each other build his dampening box, and I get why Princess Celestia thinks it's needed. I just don't think we even gave him a chance to see how he felt about all this. I just think we should have given him more of a chance then simply building that cage around him while he slept. It feels wrong that he doesn't even know why, and he had to have been so confused and scared when he woke. He shouldn't have been in the cage to begin with..."

Princess Luna is near certain of Twilight's intentions, but she has to make sure. "Take the Human's feelings into consideration? Even if it could hurt the ponies of Ponyville if let loose? Even after knowing what you know about Edgar now? If our sister's theory is correct, he could be affecting Ponyville's emotions and state of mind, and this is the worst time for that to be the case."

Twilight shook her head and gave Princess Luna a determined glare. "If he was planning on hurting anypony, he would have done it to Trixie when they met. He could have done it to Apple Bloom in the field. He could have done it to me when I was interviewing him, but he didn't! We want to live in a world where we will protect the innocent, we can't punish somepony because we think they could be guilty of doing something wrong. We don't even know that he's doing it, and if-..." Twilight continued her fierce defense of Edgar, but in honesty Princess Luna stopped listening after the first few sentences after hearing her conviction to protecting the innocent.

"If only Celestia could hear this, she would be so proud." Luna thought, almost getting chills from Twilight's continued declaration. The good kind, that is. She can see why her sister has made it a habit to tutor new students and witness their growth, and it almost tempted Luna to try and procure a disciple for herself. At the very least, one that is less talkative and excitable than Twilight. A student like her may be fulfilling, but she would certainly be a hoof-full.

"I agree. Come." Princess Luna interrupted before turning facing the stairs out of the storeroom.

"-And its not fair that I didn't make an exception when doct-..." Twilight stopped and did a double-take. "Really? Just like that?"

"Indeed. Thou art a princess too, Twilight. Your fears and worries matter just as much as ours, and if you are concerned that we are going too far with Edgar's detainment, this needs to be taken into consideration. Art thou going to follow us?"

"...I had twenty more minutes worth of reasons as to why we needed to free Edgar...This is anti-climactic." Twilight mumbled in a dispirited tone, kicking away at an imaginary pebble on the ground. Luna chuckled as she took a hoof and patted Twilight's back.

"Thou may save thine speech for our sister. She likely wouldn't want to miss it. For now, we breaketh the ice once more!" Princess Luna shot a hoof forward, pointing at the staircase "leading the charge" toward the tea parlor.

"You've been using that slang phrase often. Did you just learn it somewhere?" Twilight asked with a smile and a cheerier disposition. She, along with Trixie started to follow Princess Luna out of the room and into spiral staircase leading to the castle halls.

"Indeed. We would like to work on modernizing our vernacular. Perhaps we should simply try echoing Loyal Rainbow's or Laughing Pinkie Pie's manner of speaking, though we admit we still struggle with Kind Fluttershy's lesson of "Volume"..."

"We might wanna hurry." Delphi yelled from the back. As the trio of magic users looked behind them toward the ground where the noise was coming from, they saw Delphi peeking through the hole again. "Princess Celestia isn't smiling anymore. She looks mad."

"Ugh, Edgar probably said something stupid... Again!" Trixie face-hoofed, adjusting her hat. Delphi flew right up into the Trixie's hat, prompting Trixie to once again readjust it in annoyance after she got done the first time. After following Princess Luna toward the staircase going down from the storeroom, Trixie pipped up once more. "...Princess Luna wasn't talking about The Great and Powerful Trixie's uniform being ridiculous earlier, was she? I can understand her complaints about your outfit, Sparkle. But I think blends with my coat and suits me very well." With a wave of pride, Trixie struck a pose. "It's my brand!"

"You mean how it's super over the top and funny looking, right?" A tiny voice from her hat questioned, crushing Trixie's ego in a fell swoop. "And aren't you ripping off Star Swirl?"

"its not that bad..." Trixie said, dejected.

Luna's voice could be heard from below the staircase.

"Tis a wonderful look for a Falling Star such as thee, but thine embroidery gives thee no tactical advantage whatsoever."

***Edgar's POV***
**Tea Parlor of Twilight's castle**

"Very well, Edgar...I suppose you thought that if you had pushed her away, you may have been in a perilous predicament. There is no point in getting angry over it now." Princess Celestia said, still very annoyed at me. "This is Luna's mistake. She buttered her bread, now she gets to lie in it when I speak with her about it later."

Long story short, Princess Celestia somehow knew right away that we were lying about not touching each other, but after I explained that it was purely platonic, I am not in serious trouble. I didn't make a conscious effort to stop Luna, but I don't think I could have even if I wanted to. Given that this was the first thing she was probing me about once Luna left, I honestly don't think she was kidding about touching a princess lewdly being a punishable offence.

"Now, back to the elephant in the room. You came here to find a way home, correct?" She asked, while I nodded my head to her question. "...and because no normal pony is as strong, skilled, or knowledgeable enough to cast this spell, Trixie Lulamoon brought you here." I nodded once more. "I believe in Twilight, but even an Alicorn such as her would need help when it comes to opening a gateways like the one you're asking for, and from what Twilight described Trixie wasn't a particularly powerful Unicorn when she left. I doubt she could conjure a portal to your world."

"Well yea, I guess. She said she knew Twilight, who knew you. So I was hoping you would help me get home."

"This task is more complicated than it sounds. We can't just drop everything we are doing because you asked nicely, and it may be a bit more time-consuming than you may have hoped."

"Time-consuming? How long do you think it's going to take???" I asked, sort of dreading the answer.

"Because of how complicated spells like this can get, we need to make sure everything is set up perfectly. If our spell and preparation is imperfect, we may conjure a portal to the void between the moon and stars, and you would not survive. We need to research and determine what exactly your world is. Is it an alternate dimension? A world across the stars? Another time deep in the past of another dimension? We are unsure. That is the biggest hurdle, but not the most important one." Celestia mentioned in a slightly contradictory manner. "The medium we would need to use to accomplish this was one of my own teacher's creation, a genius of magic. It was one of his crowning achievements, and as he is no longer of this world, I would like to preserve his memory in any way that I can." Celestia mused reminiscently, probably referring to Star Swirl the Bearded.

If she is talking about Star Swirl's mirror portal thing, then this means that either the comics are canon(or so I heard, since I saw one panel from a Bizzaro-world Equestria), or the Equestria Girls movie is canon. Whichever the case, it will likely piss off a large portion of the fanbase back home.

However, I can't take joy from that thought since Celestia has been rubbing me the wrong way this entire time. It may have been the fucking headache, or it may have just been pent-up frustration from being hangry earlier or with Celestia's attitude and the runaround I have been given so far, but I just let her have it. I am sorry, but I don't think I can deal with it being spoken to like this. Being given the runaround on me getting home or not. Her not showing any form of gratitude in the slightest for saving this town, and me still not knowing what the fuck is up with that zoo exhibit she turned my room into.

"Well don't you kind of owe me for saving Ponyville? I did my part and all that, and its not like I had to do so or anything. I chose to do so."

Celestia paused her sip and put her cup down. "Explain." She commanded. "The Royal Guard stationed here made the same choice you have without asking for anything more than a safer Equestria and compensation for their services. Six of them have given their lives yesterday."

"Only six guards died in this invasion? That's way better than I thought it could have been. From what I saw coming in, they were getting beaten back and I came in to help with the heavy lifting. It could have been much worse if I didn't show up last minute, right?"

The corner of Celestia's mouth twitched. "Only six?"

Oh...oh that could have been worded better.

"I mean, when all things considering, this could have been much worse, and I didn't really swear any oaths or pro-" Celestia held up a hoof and I shut up immediately. I clearly crossed a line with her.

"Only six..." she repeated to herself looking off to the side and nodding with a pursed smile. It felt as if she was deciding how best to serve me to a neighboring dragon, and it only affirmed my fears once Princess Celestia turned back to me. "Private Sequoia Saps, M.P Shields. Sergeant-Major Loud Mouth..." Princess Celestia started to recite names and titles, but the impression was that it was not from memory, but from heart with the care of that one would show when giving a eulogy. "Second Centurion Slow Dancer. Private Barkhide. Private Major Stone Wall. Cadet Onyx Bolt. Vexillarius Flag Keeper. Praetorians Left Hook and Right Hook. Vexillarius Stand Maker, and now Private Heavy Spoon, who was executed in broad daylight after giving his life to protect Ponyville. These are the names of the Stallions and Mares that have given their lives protecting Equestria this year of the many hundreds I have personally overseen the funerals of. I've personally lost count of them, and of all of our failures yesterday, the bravery of my little ponies were not one of them. You may have "saved" Ponyville before my sister could, but every minute they spent battling off the changelings was another life they saved. None of our citizens died, and the price of this was their blood, not yours. I would ask that you choose your next words very carefully and not disrespect the noble dead in my presence ever again."

Holy fuck, I'm a douche...

"I-I wasn't thinking, and I'm sorry. I'm really really sorry." I tried to apologize. "On my world, when you hear of battles or war, we'd hear about fights that had at least a few dozen or a few hundred, let alone the millions that have died. There was a battle we learned of in our history class in a single city called Stalingrad, which had roughly a million soldiers die on the low estimate."

"...I see. What a terrible place you come from, for your first thought of their deaths to be the quantity of the mares and stallions that died rather than the quality of the pony who made gave everything they ever had...everything they ever will have, for your tribe." Celestia clicked her tongue. "I will pray every day now that we never become so callous here."

"We don't do that. That was just me being frustrated and a douche about the whole "not getting home anytime soon" thing. Respecting soldiers is actually a really big deal in my country and I was just being an idiot and speaking before I think...again. I can't apologize enough."

"Don't apologize or justify yourself to me. Be better." She scolded at me, now wearing a rigid expression as she seemed to judge me. There was an awkward and tense silence in the room for a few moments as we seemed to start calming down, and Celestia took this time to use her magic and refill both her own cup and mine with tea. Strangely enough, the liquid in both of our cups seemed to be steaming even more than usual. I would have expected it to cool by now, and the steam seemed to obscure Celestia's face as well as a gossamer veil.

"Regarding your trip back home, I have given it a bit more consideration. I now believe it is for the best to get you home as quickly as possible, and I will ask all of the three other Alicorns and some of the strongest unicorns we know of to make time for "Ponyville's Hero" and send you to your home. It would have taken up a few months on normal circumstances, but for you..." Celestia seemed to give that answer a bit of thought as she bore into me with that uncomfortable glare. "...weeks."

I released my breath that I didn't know I was holding. It is a bit bittersweet hearing that. I do want to get home, and while I am happy that it could have been done so quick, it sucks that I gave Celestia has such a bad taste in her mouth about me now. That's not me, and I hate feeling like I can't make up for this or take back this mistake. I'm getting the feeling that she is trying to plow through this as quickly as possible because she doesn't want me to stick around, which sucks because I really wanted to try and hang out with everyone else from the show. Possibly do a little bit of trolling with Discord? I don't know if I'll have time for anything, or anypony if I am leaving this quickly.

"And if we find a way for you to go home you will leave for certain?" Celestia probed with a monotone voice.

"I'm sorry?"

"We're going to be spending a lot of time trying to send you home. This will be a monumental risk, and I don't want efforts that can be better spent ensuring the safety of my ponies to be in vain." She explained, using her magic to pour herself another cup of tea. She already finished the first piping hot cup that she poured since our spat? Is her throat insulated or something? How is she not in pain? "I need you to say that you will. Once you do, we shall commit to this."

"Is that all I have to do? Just dip out as soon as I can?" She just scanned me with calculating eyes, not letting up her burning gaze as she sipped her tea, not blinking since the question was first asked. "Alrighty then. Let's shake on it. I leave the minute the portal is made." I extended my hand out in hopes to get some sort of agreement between us, but it just hung out awkwardly in mid-air as she kept that gaze upon me. "Eh-heh, it's called a handshake on my world, by you might call it a hoof-shake." I explained.

If I had blinked, I could have seen that she only looked down for a fraction of a moment at my offending appendage before leveling her eyes back to bore into mine. She saw my hand was out but she made zero effort to reciprocate and just kept looking at it. It was like my hand was offending her some way or another. Her eyes seemed warmer when she offered the oatmeal before, but there was a cold calculation behind them now, like she was sizing me up—not as a guest, but as a threat.

Ok I know handshakes existed in the show. There was plenty of episodes that had something like this, right? Unless this is some sort of Mandela thing going on. I'm not going crazy, am I?

I retracted my hand and put it to better use scratching the back of my head in what I would assume is obvious discomfort.

"Very well. We shall work on getting you back to your world. We do not need your hand-shake, as your word would suffice," She waved off, still unblinking in her judgements. "During this time, I am prohibiting you from making any attachments to my little ponies. Control whatever "urges" you may have during your time, and do not act upon them. Do not make friends with them. Do not court them. Do not even touch them, or I will know."

"What, why?" I stuttered as a blush crept on my face. "I-I mean I'm not planning on trying to go on a date or anything, but that seems a bit off-topic. I mean, they aren't humans. I mean, sure I think they are nice and colorful and have great personalities, but they're... I mean, they're ponies!!! I mean, not that there was anything wrong with that, or anything, but...they're PONIES!"

I was doing my best to convince her, but I think I was honestly trying to convince myself as well. I will admit feel a bit disgusted with myself for thinking of these characters in that way for the past few days. While they may be adults and act lewd sometimes(or a little too often in the short time that I known them), they were made to entertain children. At least, that was the intention, before a bunch of Bronies decided to draw lewd/humanized art of them.

Did I get a boner with Trixie when we were drunk that one time? Sure! I was drunk as hell and that was my second time having alcohol. I'm not that good with drinking yet. And even when she did suck on my finger like she was trying to polish it into a fine point...come on, it caught me off-guard. It doesn't count!

Did I get a boner when that Changeling Queen was acting like one of those chicks from the Monster Girl Quest tiddy games? You betcha, but she was already stroking my dick with her tail! Her TAIL! Kinda hard to resist biology and it's cruel effects on a guy who still hasn't gotten laid yet.

It's a bit different from seeing a lewd on Derpibooru or FimFiction and seeing a cartoon character you know in the flesh, Humanized, Anthro, or otherwise. Even if I had an attraction to them(or the idea of them), I would feel like a creep trying to make a move on them after knowing so much about them and their world. Like I was some stalker or something. That'd be like trying to get it on with Ash Ketchum's Mom or something.

Wait, did she say I can't even make friends with them? What the hell kind of out-of-character statement was that?

Celestia took a large intake of air through her nose as she seemed to start getting frustrated. The feeling is mutual. "I don't know why I have to explain this to you. Surely you would have considered this as a common courtesy you should have zero issue following through on. Should you by any miracle or curse sire a foal, you cou-"

"Celestia stop, please!" This is getting annoying.

"So we are in agreement in this, at least?" What a stupid question, and I feel like you're drilling into me on purpose. I get it, you don't like me. Cool.

I was starting to get a bit irritated at her, and this headache isn't helping. "Yea, but why even bring it up in the first place? If I am leaving as quickly as you said I was, there wouldn't be a chance, even if I was interested in that kind of stuff, which I'm not! And why did you say I can't even be friends with them? I'm not doing anything wrong if I crack a joke or two, or if we tell stories and-"

Celestia interrupted me once more, her words feeling like they are pressing into my skull and pounding their way out. "Why do you think it be ill-advised to make lasting bonds and attachments with my ponies when you know you will never see them again?"

"Fine, I get it. I'll do my best to be as blunt and unapproachable as you would like me to be." I snarked at her, getting a bit more angry.

"You will not "do your best", you will do. I need you to make this promise right now. I need to hear these words right out of your mouth. You need to give me your word, your solemn vow that you will stay away from my ponies. If a pony even bumps into you on accident, you will tell me and explain in detail what happened. Do I make myself clea-"

I had enough of this bullshit.

"ALRIGHT already! I already said I wouldn't do it, what the FUCK do you want from me!?!" I shouted at her, smacking a fist against my bandaged palm. "God, ever since I've been cooped in that box, I've been treated like an SCP or a Zoo animal! The guards that escorted me here would not say a fucking word and couldn't even be bothered to grab a cane or a crutch or something. Because of that, I took one little stumble and almost tripped. A good half of your guard drew their swords at me for that. ME! After I played hero for Trixie and Ponyville, my reward is to be treated like John Wayne Gacy?" I slammed my fist against my palm again, as if to count my grievances. "You still haven't explained why I woke up in that glass box. You haven't even explained what that is about. You still don't trust or believe a word I say when I have ZERO reason to lie right now. I feel like I've been walking on eggshells, and its only around you. I really don't appreciate the fucking third-degree. You fucking made your point, so take your "W" and just drop it, bitch!" I rested my pounding head in my free hand as I leaned back.

...Holy crap, my jaw is actually shaking right now, and I can't get it to stop.

Though I don't like her at all right now, her reasoning made sense so far. What I didn't like, however, is how she said it. Her logic made sense, but I still let my emotions get the drop on me.

There was an eerie silence in the room before I felt a small shiver right as I got done venting at her, feeling goosebumps over my body. This was not a cold shiver, but it felt like one of those random shivers I would get just out of the blue. I started to fear that I might have made a big mistake interrupting her...calling her a bitch...and being as aggressive as I was right now.

Something in the room changed and it's not just the mood. I can't tell what, but it's there.

Neither her face changed nor her posture as she sat there on that couch observing me, but she kept looking at me as the room grew a little bit brighter from her horn's glow. She was still holding her tea. It was the fact that she seemed so unfazed by my outburst, that was giving me the heebie-jeebies, and she was clearly the one in charge in this room. Almost like she was expecting this from me.

Gradually, I felt my entire body started shaking for some reason. It wasn't just my jaw from earlier, but it was like I was getting cold shivers across my entire body... It was as if I was feeling a primal fear.

Like I was in imminent danger

As if I was already staring at a snake inches away, only to now have it start uncoiling its hood and revealing itself to be a King Cobra that I just poked with a stick.

"So I have..." Celestia said after clicking her tongue again before getting up and walking toward me, avoiding the coffee table between us. It now came to my attention that I was relying on that as a sort of teddy bear or a placebo for a wall between us. As she drew closer it dawned on my just how much taller she was. " For the time being, you are to remain in your guest room. You are not to try and leave until we ponder upon on this situation further. I also know of your diet, due to the extensive notes my faithful student wrote down, of course. I don't know what your previous eating habits were, but all forms of bovid are sentient here. Chickens and Pigs are also not on your menu, as they help with our agriculture. Every meal from them to feed you would take the meals of three or more ponies. As such, we can only accept you adopting a pescatarian diet while you remain in Equestria." She got nothing but a blank stare from me. "... This means "fish"." She deadpanned at me.

"I-I see...none of that is bad. Thank you" I acknowledge, still stuttering. I kinda expected that, since that was the fallback that most fanfictions fell back on. Otherwise, I would have no idea how they would tolerate Gryphons or Minotaur in the show's lore. Celestia stayed quiet after this, and I looked down and away from her to try and hid from her gaze. The silence was starting to get to me. Maybe she wants an apology from me? Yea, That's it. I just have to swallow my pride and apologize. "Cel- er, Princess Celestia, I want to apologize. I shouldn't have s-"

"Don't think you are off the hook just yet, hero." She warned me, letting the word roll off her tongue like a piece of raw garlic. "You may have pulled a wool over the eyes of my sister, my student, and that entertainer that insisted on traveling with you, but you have not fooled me. I know that you were lying to us...about more than just Luna "holding hooves" with you." Celestia finally revealed with a mocking tone, as if to gauge my reaction. I'm bit sure what face I could have made since my heart stopped for a split-second after hearing that.

She...She knows. She has to know.

I started to hear music again...

There was something wrong... There's been something wrong here, but now I can hear it in this music. It didn't sound anything like any of the music that I heard my entire time here. Not even when I was fighting Telsona did the music become this sinister...this terrifying.

Involuntarily, I started to retreat back further, only succeeding in pushing myself further and further into the cushions of the couch I was sitting in, molding myself into the fabric.

"Do I know of one par~ti~cu~lar lie? Do I know about every lie you have given up until this point? I will let you stew on that...It's not the first time we have been lied to and it will probably not be the last. That is what your kind is known for. A cornucopia of "Lies"." I heard Celestia spat out, almost as if peeling a nasty bit of food off of her tongue. "Your kind have destroyed families, eviscerated nations, and ruined the lives of loved ones with lies. Even the ones told in good intention paved the road to Tartarus, and those who do so with good intent suffer the worst, as they not only sacrifice the trust of those that love them but they sacrifice their own convictions. They sacrifice what made them "ponies", what made them..."Hyuuu-man." Celestia's words were coated with venom as she approached my seat with a quiet fury. "As hatred breeds hatred, as love blossoms into more love, lies grow upon lies like a cancer, eventually leading to more suffering. This cancer, however, has been known to be contagious. I should probably admit to you that I too have lied today. Were you not in the nullification zone, you may have heard of how much that Magician, Trixie, obsessed over your wellbeing. You may have heard how much my student questioned my decision in interviewing you. You may have even been woken up by the argument and choice words my sister had for me earlier this morning about your circumstances." I felt that Princess Celestia stopped somewhere in front of me as the room grew humid and thick.

"I told Miss Trixie Lulamoon you were fine, and this was true. But also I told my student and my sister earlier this morning that no harm, no matter the circumstance, would befall you in your time here. This was a lie, and a promise I can't keep...Look at me, Human."

I didn't dare to do so. I couldn't even voluntarily blink or shut my eyes. The stinging feeling I felt as from not blinking was overshadowed by the terrifying presence looming over me...an overwhelming pressure bearing down on me as a small screech grew louder and louder.

"I command thee LOOK!" Princess Celestia BOOMED as she reared back on two legs and as slammed her two of her gold-adorned front hooves about a foot and a half away from either side of my head in a muffled CRACK. I flinched, still shaking as I slowly turned my head back up to meet Celestia's gaze. I heard cracking noises coming from what I assumed was stressed wood under the upholstery from the section where she was resting her weight on. As I craned my neck upward, this position perspective just how huge and menacing she actually was, as the shadow casted from her silhouette was enough to swallow me entirely. She was not as big as an actual horse, but that hardly made a difference as she was still an Alicorn, and she was bigger than Luna at the end of the day. I felt as if she could break me with her bare hooves if she so pleased. She needed no magic to do so. What struck me most of this view was her face, or lack thereof. Obscured by a copious amount of steamy mist, all I could perfectly make out were her eyes...her glowing magenta eyes that peered furiously through this induced fog.

Celestia still had her teacup and the pot in her magical grip, hovering over me and glowing not just from her magic, but from an ever growing heat that felt like would eventually turn the dishware into molten ceramic even from where I was sitting. The strange concoction inside both was starting to boil and sizzle like crazy as steam continued to billow from the dishware. Tiny little droplets from the bubbles that popped from it landed every which way. Some landing on my face, causing me to let out hitches in my breath as I winced. Some of it landed on Celestia, though it did not even seem to effect her, as it evaporated into a milky steam as soon as it touched her. A tumultuous whistle of hot vapors poured out of the teapot she had in her grasp like a continuous scream, growing louder and louder and LOUDER. The steam could not come out fast enough though, as the lid of the teapot had an ominous rattle as the steam was trying to find any way it could to escape it's confinement. Celestia was unfazed, Not breaking her eye contact with as if she watching for my next move. "Now pay close attention Hyu-man...Don't touch me. If you so much as brush up against me, the magic holding these will likely fail and they will melt on top of you."

The music changed again...or, evolved. It was more or less the same, but it was starting to get bombastic. Louder. It was as if it was screaming at me, trying to warn me that I was in terrible danger, and that I needed to run, while also warning me that if I so much as tried, I was going to die right there. I can't control the trembling in my hands nor the sweat from the humidity beading down my forehead nor the formation of liquid terror starting to coalesce near my tear ducts, and as I exhaled, i-my breathing, oh my god I can't control it! As many breaths as I take in, I can't seem to get enough air. I feel like I'm suffocating. These bandages are getting too tight, a--aad-and I

"Whether or not I keep my promise to them is based entirely upon your actions hence forth. I can not keep it if you attempt to bring any harm, intentional or not, to the lives of the ponies here...I would recommend you do not give me a reason to come back and take you back to Canterlot myself, because I promise you will be looking for one. If it were up to me and me alone, you wouldn't even be sitting here. You would have been placed in a dungeon, or kept in the crystal maze under Canterlot until it is time for you to leave. But no, you get to rest in that gilded cage only because of my student's faith in you, which can change the moment you slip up. And if you think about breaking any taboos with Twilight... I won't hesitate to kill you with my bare hooves." Celestia raised her right hoof and banged down on the couch's wooden ridges, leaving sickening snaps as the wood spine started to fracture. "Stomp... Stomp... STOMP! And when you die, you won't have anypony here to mourn or celebrate you. I will make sure you are forgotten to time. Am I still making my point clear?!?! AM I???" She yelled into me as the prismatic colors of her hair growing whiter and whiter as her hair adopted a shade of white-hot fire.

I'm petrified.

I can't move. I can't breath. I can't think! My vision is getting blurry, and whether it is from tears streaming down my face or from the steam of the tea being flash boiled away, I can't tell since I can't even tell if I am still asleep or if I am living through a nightmare.

"...and you're crying now??? All that bravado, your blustering boasts, and your crude mockery of the fallen and you're CRYING?You haven't even received that "Third-degree" that you were talking about earlie-"

"TIA!"

An echoing boom came from the doorway, giving me the absolute worse jump scare of my entire life as I yelped and metaphorically shat myself...if I had actually had anything to eat other than that bowl of oatmeal, I would have. The crystal chandelier above us rattled as a few papers napkins flew from the coffee table toward Celestia's direction. It looked as if they were going to hit Celestia until they combusted into embers before touching her. As Celestia looked up from me, I felt the hold her eyes had on me break.

Those haunting eyes...

I'm alive... You're alive... Breath in through your nose...and out through your mouth... You're still alive, and you have to breath...

As quickly as the music came it faded abruptly, leaving the the only ambiance I could make out being our heavy breaths and my heart seemingly trying to beat it's way out of my chest.

As things were starting to get too quiet for my comfort, I turned shakily turned to find Princess Luna at the doorway. Her knees were bent as she appeared ready to charge; Her eyebrows were cocked like a blade, and you could almost see a tumbling blue flame starting to seep out of the corner of her eyes as she barred her teeth in fury at the white alicorn.

"A word. NOOOOOoow!" She growl through her teeth.

With a raised eyebrow and flared nostrils, Celestia gave a nod and walked over to Luna, letting the ceramic dishware in her magic gently rest on the table, slowly warping as the air cooled it. Gone were the embossed floral patterns that previously adorned the kettle, as the multitude of colors they used to have mixed to form a pinkish-green amalgam. You could still feel the heat radiating off them as they cooled, and the air felt humid now. Celestia's hair reverted back to its rainbow-pastel colors, but the scowl she wore never left.

I'm still shaking, and I'm still alive. I'm fine. I'm fine. I can just ignore the headache and I'll be fine later. Just... in through my nose, out through my mouth.

Luna's horn glowed, and they were soon surrounded by a blue translucent bubble. I saw that Luna was flaring her nostrils in suite as she was breathing, and she looked upon her sister with loathing. She took a deep and long winded breath and in that split second I thought I was going to lose my hearing for good this time. I covered my ears as best as I could and squeezed my eyes shut, bracing myself for the Royal Canterlot voice. Strangely enough, I didn't hear single thing. At first I thought that they were so loud I lost my hearing with Luna's yelling, but then heard some rumbling and some of the crystals of the chandelier jingling a little. When I opened my eyes I saw that Luna was in fact yelling at her sister, though I couldn't hear a single thing of what was being said. It looked as if she was trying to pantomime her audition for the Incredible Hulk, and though I couldn't hear what was being said I could feel her yelling. Celestia didn't let up either and gave what looked like just as much force back into her retorts, adding to the vibrations that were reverberating in the bubble and around the room too. Even the leftover tea inside the cups were rippling like there was an earthquake going on outside.

They both had to be talking about me somehow, as both Luna and Celestia were making gestures toward me as they yelled.

"Edgar..." a voice called from my side."...Edgar, are you okay?"

***Third person POV***
The tea parlor of Twilight's castle

Music rang in the ears of both Alicorns, but as they casted wards on themselves earlier to try and negate the effects, they paid little attention to the ambiance that echoed within their little bubble.

.

.

Luna could not believe what she had seen. In truth she arrived roughly a minute before she even spoke, observing a side of her sister she had never seen before. She appeared to be at a loss for words, trying to find the right thing to say, as calm heads prevail.

"You...BITCH!" Princess Luna spat.

But how could she stay calm after what she just witnessed?

"Hast thou lost thine senses!?!" Luna screamed at her sister, pointing at the Human stallion still trembling at the couch. "That stallion risked life and limb to save this town and the first thing you do is imprison and interrogate him like a war criminal?"

"I thought that's exactly what we both agreed we were doing. Whatever happened to "good guard, bad guard", Lulu?"

"Do not presume to "Lulu" us, Celestia! Forsooth, madness hath overtaken thee in thy attempts to interrogate this pony! That was MORE than you being "The Bad Guard"! Had you a cock, I wouldst mistaken thee for THE MAD KING SOMBRA!" Luna stomped her hoof into the ground, causing a few cracks to appear in the Azure floor as magic slowly left one of the tiles. Had she been paying attention, she would have noticed a few specks of crystal falling from the ceiling and bouncing off the shield the siblings have conjured. "Edgar already did gallow half-to-death with thee imprisoning him out of nowhere. Imprisonment that WE had helped with, and thou art threatening the boy with a life in Tartarus? WITH DEATH? Holding Liquified clay over him after he hath obviously shown he did hath nothing but valorous intentions? THIS IS NOT OUR SISTER!"

"Open thine eyes, sister. Do you really think that something that is pissing their pants over there is a powerful warrior capable of routing an entire army, let alone a Changeling Queen by themselves?" Celestia pointed to Edgar. "If you try to do the exact same thing without magic and you would not be standing here and you know it." She explained with furrowed brows. "We both know he is not being honest with us, and his words thus far is highly suspect! If he had told us the truth, we could accept that he simply wanted to make a name for himself, as his situation mirrors Miss Lulamoon's situation with the Ursa Minor, and yet he is so adamantly keen on trying to keep his secrets, one would suspect that he might die if they are discovered."

With every emphasized word, she cocked her hoof back and pointed right toward Edgar, not taking her eyes of her eyes off of Luna as the wind of her Royal Canterlot voice blasted Luna's hair back.

"WHY is he still alive after encountering Telsona's forces and WHY was he so Tartarus-bent on not telling us!?! Every moment he keeps this secret is another moment our ponies are not safe."

"From whom? The Changelings? Thus far, the only threat to anypony we have seen today is thee!"

"Watch...your...tone, Luna." Celestia's eyes narrowed as her voice started to lower. "You know that I am referring to the human..."

"You think we do not knoooow he has not been honest about his time here? We were both in agreement of this, but I shall not idly by as a Princess of Equestria-neigh, my own BLOOD treating him with such sadistic hatred. Hast though not seen his bandages? His cuts and bruises? Of his lies, he can't be faking those, and his actions and his pain speaks for themselves. Look upon him..." Luna interrogated as she turned and pointed to Edgar. Upon seeing him and the shivering tear-stained face again, Luna whipped her head back at Celestia with a renewed vengeance and speed that you could almost hear. "LOOK AT HIM!!! LOOK AT WHAT THOU ART WROUGHT UPON HIS STATE! Sir Edgar scared and in an unfamiliar world...alone. Whether he is was telling the truth or not, his cuts and bruises speak more than his words ever could! He is clearly not wanting of yet another battle against a Queen, and certainly not threats of death or imprisonment from the one Princess everypony looks up to in Equestria."

Celestia took a moment to magically steady her crown, which had almost slid off the Diarch's head due to the wind and vibrations occurring in this bubble. A normal ponies ear drums would have suffered long term damaged by now, but despite the Alicorns being accustomed to this volume of speech, Celestia was starting to get a migraine. "I will not pity a fool who willingly wanders in places they have no duty being. Better ponies have died on that battlefield, regardless of if they truly understood the finality of their fate." Celestia said heatedly, completely dismissing Edgar's plight and state. Tensions in the sister's bubble seemed to rise, almost as if ready to pop the bubble at any moment as Luna was slowly starting to lose what little patience she had of her sister this very moment. Celestia was not finished however. "He "saved" Ponyville. Great. Fantastic, even! That will certainly make up for the knife he would have lodged in any of our backs at the worst possible moment."

"A bold claim coming from somepony who portrayed themselves as a fair and just ruler until now. Though art bucking delusional! Were it not for him, this town would have be ashes. Are you simply going to take the lives he saved for granted, Celestia?" Luna spat off to the side of her sister's hooves as if to wash the now bitter taste out of her sister's name out of her mouth. A tear of wet, frustrated anger began to form on the corner of Luna's eye, caused by disbelief that she could see her own sister in such a state of vitriol. "Perish the truth thou so seeketh. Tis not worth the price of his friendship! Tis not worth the kind heart I know you have! This isn't you! We know it!"

"Even if he was telling us the entire truth at this point, its purpose would be a lie. His kind i-..." Celestia interrupted her train of though. "This human is unpredictable, and thou art no better a ruler, what with your "idea" to use him and whatever his capabilities are to help rid us of Changelings." Celestia took an antagonist tone, scolding her sister. "You act as though you are on some sort of "moral high-ground", but have you even told him you expect him to aid you further? To do it all again and assist you in your genocidal crusade you are trying to pitch to Equestria? Or are you going to spring that onto him out of nowhere?"

"Thou art not one to speaketh of such things, hypocrite. As we recall it was you who sent Discord to capture with Tirek, only to have him join him in "Jolly Cooperation". " Luna spat with her hooves forming air quotes, as she now started to pace back and forth in the bubble. "Yet despite all that, his betrayal, his lesson, his atonement were the key to defeating Tirek. We loath to admit it, but Discord is "reformed", and has since been a stalwart companion to Kind Fluttershy. Like with Edgar, none of us would be here today without him. If somepony who was as vile and chaotic as Discord once was could make a turn of the better and become allies with us, then why can't he?" She pointed at Edgar. "Rather than force him to leave, make peace and let it be his choice if he would like to help us. Until the time whence he is needed, we will protect him..."

Celestia blinked a couple times, almost dumbstruck.

"Prote-TELSONA'S INCURSION JUST PROVED THAT WE CAN'T EVEN PROTECT OUR OWN PONIES. THINK! LU-NA!" Celestia screamed, tapping a hoof at her head with those last three syllables. Celestia herself was starting to get teary-eyed in frustration. "Let's just entertain this for a moment and pretend that he is a venerable knight such as Shining Armor and isn't lying through his teeth. One who do no such thing as to bring harm upon our subjects. How is it that you think you can protect him, hmm? I've heard the Queen is still alive, Luna. What do you think this Changeling, whom Twilight described being sadistic, dangerous, and on the same caliber of Chrysalis, would do when she recovers from this humiliating defeat? Who do you think is the first pony she is going to hunt down, HMM?" She pointed at Edgar's direction once again, who was still very-much frozen in fear. "He is as good as dead if he stays, and I will not leave the fate of my little ponies in the clutches of a MONSTER! I made the choice that nopony else could, Luna! I was the "bad guard", and I made sure he will have zero intention of staying, let alone have to worry about his effects on Equestria. He will be galloping back to his rotten home the moment we are able to create his portal. It will be on his own volition, and we don't have to factor him in. That is final!" A stomp of Celestia's own cracked tiles on her side of the crystal floors, giving signs that she herself was starting to lose patience with this conversation. This was ending right now, and Edgar was going back into his gilded cage as she started to walk toward the direction of the couch the Human was yet trembling at.

"We were once a monster once too, Tia...and we still are to many, including the Changeling vermin." Luna said with gritted teeth, her voice trembling as she wore a face wet with rage and frustration, as tears finally started to roll down. "W-were I not your sister, would we hath simply been another monster to you? You hath given us a chance to prove ourselves despite every horrible thing we have done all those years ago, and we hath lived as honorably as one could since then..." Luna's face had wet streaks running down her face. This has been an emotional time for them, and while they have been known to argue from time to time, they had not done so with such vitriol for a long time. Seeing Luna's angry tear-soaked face caused Celestia to turn away from her sister and Edgar's direction, her own tears starting to roll down from the painful memories long since past.

"Luna, please...you can't fall for that monster's charms! You mustn't..." Celestia barely eked out with a voice hoarse from the yelling they have both done to one another, she barely sniffled. There is only one fight they had that was worse than this, and the stain of time has yet to wash away from that millennia ago.

"...and the one creature that we didn't have to prove ourselves for...The one creature who knew who we were and still accepted us without demanding us to prove ourselves is across the room from us. And they are a scared of us...If that matters to thee, we...I'm begging of you. Consider the same kindness you had shown to us for one who has also acted honorably, who trusted Twilight enough to speak plainly for every silly little question she had. Whom little Apple Bloom called "her guardian angel". Who had not shunned us for the monstrous things they know I had done..."" She rubbed out the tears that started to fall down her eyes, looking toward Edgar to see if he finally calmed down, but also in hopes that he could not see them both in such a pitiful state.

"...Where art thou, Edgar?" Luna asked in sudden shock. Celestia's eyebrows raised as she looked where Luna was looking, finding an empty spot on the couch and pieces of bandage strewn about. Neither the human, Twilight, or Trixie were anywhere to be seen.

***Edgar's POV***
**Tea Parlor of Twilight's castle.**
*Moments before*

As I watched these ponies bicker back and forth, I almost could have sworn that they would have damaged their vocal cords by how much they seemed to be yelling, or lost their hearing... and I was relieved that no pony was talking to me.

"Edgar...?" a voice called from behind me.

I stayed quiet...I didn't want her to notice I was still here.

The same voice called out but I was honestly too shaken up to realize who it could have been until a light blue unicorn came on the left side of my peripheral vision. As I turned toward her, I could tell it was Trixie by the shape of her outfit and the color of her coat, but she honestly seemed like a blur to me.

"...Edgar, are you okay?" Trixie asked in a gentle voice, sizing me up with worry in her eyes. "You're shaking Edgar, please say something. What did she tell you?"

"Yea, don't..." I had to stop myself to take a few breaths. I just realized that I was holding my breath the moment Trixie started talking to me as if I was waiting for something to happen. Despite all that, I am still okay. I stuck a thumb out of my fist and the flesh of my hands turned white as I squeezed to try and give a picture-perfect thumbs-up. "Don't worry about me. I'm su-super!" I smiled with strain. Judging how miserably I failed to stop that stutter, I can only imagine what it looked like to Trixie. I don't think there was a point in trying to lie. Trixie did not call me out on that though, and she reached toward me as if to comfort me.

Without knowing why I started to lean away from her, pulling one of the segments of the couch cushion with me. It was then I realized that I was still squeezing it for dear life with my other hand, and after forcing myself to let go, I started to feel an aching relief in my digits and my wellbeing.

Just when I thought I was starting to get my bearings and steady by own breathing, I saw out of the corner of my eye that Celestia turned towards me.

Despite the hot flashes I had already been receiving throughout my day, the look she gave me froze my blood and soul to their core.

That look. That horrible horrible look. Those horrible horrible eyes.

For anyone else that has never watched this show, she could have just been upset or angry, but I had a flashback to a scene from the show when she fought Queen Chrysalis in the Royal Canterlot wedding. It had a frontal shot of Celestia's face upon the reveal of Queen Chrysalis. In the show, it was just a fight where she had stand up to the evil queen to save Canterlot against a threat in city lands. Here in this Equestria with death and with ponies that had feelings and weren't two-dimensional? It was probably kill or be killed between her and Queen Chrysalis, with the fate of her friends, family, and her country on the line.

And here I was on the receiving end of the same look she gave Queen Chrysalis before they fought, and I started to shake again.

I felt something touch my right shoulder.

I flinched on reflex as I balled up my right fist and retracted in a sort of half-boxer stance. As it was coming up from my lap, I ended up nailing something that felt fleshy yet rigid.

"OW!" came the other voice, and as I looked, I saw a purple Alicorn holding her nose with scrunched up eyes. I realized what I had just done, and though it was on accident I was now certain of my imminent future.

"oh no...."

The shaking turned to quaking...

***Third person POV***
**Tea Parlor of Twilight's castle.**

"oh no...." Edgar uttered quietly.

"Jeez Edgar... I'm sorry for startling you, but you have to be more careful in the future. That really hurt." Twilight said with a nasally voice, sniffling with her head tilted upward as she gave her nose some experimental prods. She soon winced in regret. "oww-oww-oww. Am I bleeding Trixie? It feels like it."

"Oh it can't be that bad! Aren't you built like an Armipasi since you're an Alicorn?" Trixie said, ripping another colored handkerchief from her hat as she held it against Twilight's nose.

"I'm a bit tougher than I used to be, but I'm not going to go asking ponies to kick me in the face!" Twilight justified, soon taking the offered handkerchief from Trixie to hold against her nose as she sniffed up the blood. "Thanks Trixie, that wasn't pleasant."

"...I'm...I'm going to die..." Edgar muttered, before starting to get up.

Both the mares who were previously distracted by the quick bop on the nose Twilight received snapped their heads and saw that Edgar sprung out of his seat and started to walk out of the room, which slowly turned into a powerwalk....then a jog, getting faster and faster. All the while, he was tearing away at any of the bandages that were limiting to his movements.

"Edgar?" Twilight questioned with unease, showing a growing concern etched upon her face as she teleported ahead of him as she trotted alongside the human. Her being a quadruped made it easy, even if this whole situation made her uneasy. "Edgar, what does that mean??? Where are you going!?!" Not liking what that implied in the slightest, Twilight sent a magic signal to every guard the west wing of her castle to help stop Edgar from running away, and that something was wrong. In the meantime, she had to try stopping him without the use of her magic. Luckily, Princess Twilight was a strong mare now that she had Alicorn blood flowing through her veins. She teleported in front of him once more and pushed against him with her shoulders.

She was more than strong enough by herself to stop Edgar...for a split second. Somehow, this human appeared to slip past her by doing some sort of "martial" technique on instinct that Twilight had never seen before. Pulling down on the crooks of her hooves she had on his chest, he performed what appeared to be a pirouette and spun out of her grasp. His motion seemed like a hoofball dodge with the grace of a beginner ballerina's twirl, which appeared to use Twilight's own strength against her as it focused on redirecting it. It was a strange technique, and caught Twilight off-guard. She was not harmed, but it stopped her from getting a good hold for that one second.

Now that Twilight knows what to expect, she could probably attempt to do grab Edgar again, but decided against it. If you meet force with more force, there is a chance she might end up hurting him. She needed him to understand that whatever was the matter, he was not in any danger. Either way, Twilight created enough of a delay for Trixie to teleport beside him as well to try and talk some sense into him.

"Edgar please! Take a deep breath. Drink some water, do something but you have to calm down." No response from the Edgar before Trixie ran behind him and grabbed the edge of his pants' nylon belt with her teeth. "WHY WON'T YOU LISTEN TO US!" She yelled through teeth and fabric as she felt herself getting dragged by the Human. Whatever happened in there, he was terrified of something.

Almost immediately, thestral guards lead by one of Luna's helmeted centurions flew in and arrived at the scene with an always impressive response time.

"Whoa hey! What's the rush, Romeo?" The red-eyed thestral asked as she stopped in front of Edgar, holding up a hoof in front of her to get him to slow down. Neither Scarlett nor the guards under her command seemed to intimidate Edgar in the slightest. He did not even register their existence as he ran past them. "I-hey, HEY STOP! HALT!" She dropped her friendly canter as she sprinted up and grabbed his left leg, her intention was to lift him up and knock him off balance. However, he seemed to simply fall forward into a roll without any resistance, taking both Trixie and Scarlett to the ground with him. "By order of the lunar g-". Before the Scarlett could finish a command, she was stunned as she saw that Edgar's eyes were almost blank with pure abject terror as tears rolled down his face, causing her voice to drop in attempts to deescalate the situation. "Hey hey, it's okay. Talk to me. What's wrong, Romeo?"

The human's head turned and appeared to looked toward Trixie's direction, holding one of his claws in front of his face as if to hide from whatever had him spooked as he tried using another one to pull himself away in the opposite direction. "Please...don't hu-" he sputtered with froths of foam started forming at this mouth. His eyes dazed and frightened before slipping into unconsciousness as he started to hyperventilate, making a gurgling sound though the foam of spit as he rolled onto his side.

"HeyheyHEY! Can you hear me!?!" Scarlett asked, wiping away the foam near his mouth and keeping it open to try and clear up his airway. She used a hoof to lightly smack his cheeks and tried shaking him awake. "Come on, come on~.... keep breathing. Give me a sign you can hear me you can hear me, Romeo...EDGAR!" She called out to try and keep him awake.

No response.

"What's happening to him, WHAT'S HAPPENING!?" Trixie yelled with a terror stricken shudder, gently using a hoof to stroke his chest. "Edgar, can you hear me!? You're going to be okay. You're going to be okay, can you hear me?!?" She reassured, frantically shaking his back. Trixie’s hooves fumbled; she didn’t know if she should hold him, call for help, or do something. anything."HELP! HELP US!" She called out.

The female thestral currently tending to Edgar cocked one hoof back and pushed Trixie's chest as hard as she could.

"Stay BACK!" Shouted Scarlett as she shoved Trixie onto her rump back as a few guards moved between Edgar and the duo of magic users. "Keep that Unicorn away from him!" She commanded, rolling the shirtless human onto his back and started feel around his chest. After a bit more prodding, she seemed certain that she found the right area. "Okay, like a minotaur," She said as she started pushing down on his chest, trying to give CPR Chest compressions to the human. "Twinkle ~ Twinkle ~ Little ~ Star. Gotta ~ Give'em~ C-P-R." She sang to herself, pressing down with each word, keeping to the beat to try and keep it in rhythm. Pressing her ears into his chest, she listened to his breathing, heartbeat, anything that could give a clue to what was going on. While his heart rate was starting to slow down, it sounded like his lungs were hardly getting any air. As foam started to form again, she took her hooves off of Edgar and lifted his chin up, wiping away the foam from his mouth once more. Scarlett ripped off her helmet and mashed her muzzle against his lips, forming a seal as she tried to breath air into his lungs.

The sounds of many hooves galloping started to become louder and louder, as did the clangs of armor. From behind Trixie Lulamoon, both Luna and Celestia were galloped up to the scene with puffy red eyes.

Celestia frowned at the development before turning toward some guards that followed them. With a hoarse voice, she took charge of the situation. "You, fetch a medic team and a stretcher now! Twilight, what happened?"

"I don't know." The now-shaken Twilight admitted in nasally voice, looking up at Celestia. "He bumped into me and then he started running away from us! He was ignoring everything we were trying to say to calm him down, but he just kept running and running until he fell over!"

"What happened to you, Twilight? Your nose is bleeding." Celestia asked as her eyes narrowed, noticing the red drip now that Twilight was more concerned with the creature laying on the ground than she was with plugging her nose. Celestia did not get an answer due to Twilight's newfound friend suddenly ripping Celestia's attention toward her.

"What did you do? WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM?" The crazed and hysterical Trixie yelled, rearing up on her hind legs and doing her best to shove Princess Celestia. The Alicorn did not budge an inch as Trixie felt herself sliding away from Celestia. Within a span of a second, the guards came to apprehend her with swords drawn before Celestia raised a hoof to stop them. She was looking upon Trixie as if a million thoughts were forming in her mind, but they were suddenly interrupted as if somepony broke her train of thought.

"Oh fuck." A tense outburst from the thestral who was previously performing CPR caught everypony's attention. Everypony turned to Scarlett, who was staring at Edgar's shoulder. "He's been bitten, right on his shoulder." She poked at fresh four scabs on the shoulder muscle near his neck, once previously covered by bandages. You can barely see red flesh contrasting against his pale skin.

Dread dawned upon the muzzles of every guard once this realization has occurred, as the hairs on their coat started to stand on ends. The princesses themselves seem to be shocked, with Twilight's jaw dropping upon hearing this as well.

Trixie was fearful of this news for a different reason. It appeared as everypony except Trixie knew what this meant, but with how horrified they were acting, Trixie's imagination ran rampant. The terror of the unknown of what could be happening has him left her in a dreadful suspense.

The Thestral Centurion known as Scarlett shook her head to snap herself out of this news, and was about to continue CPR until Princess Luna stopped her.

Princess Luna's movement was calm and collected, but her actions betrayed a sense of urgency. Her horn glowed as her immediately turned head turned toward a nearby stained glass window. As magic enveloped the entire window, she applied force inward toward the hallway ever so slightly. Any unicorn simply witnessing her that moment would have had the equivalent of roughly a few days worth of lessons in that one action, as her dexterity with magic was akin to a praying mantis striking. There was no wasted effort, and only speed and precision. The glass cracked and shattered, and each and every shard of glass landed neatly condensed on the floor near the window, not even clattering against the other thrown glass shards.

"There is no time for a stretcher!" Luna declared with urgency, trotting up to Edgar's unconscious form and started to hoist him up with her hooves, forming a cage around his midsection and beating her powerful wings as she started to lift him up into the air.

Seeing Luna start to grab at Edgar, Celestia gave a panicked gasp as her horn glowed.

"Luna DON'T!!!" She reached out, but was stopped as Luna's head whipped toward the Alabaster-white Alicorn.

"DON'T YOU DARREEEEE!"

Her glare containing almost primal hatred that both Princess Celestia, the solar guards, and the Lunar guards in the vicinity near her felt within their bones. Through barred teeth came what appeared to be a dire warning, as the reverberations of the Royal Canterlot yell pushed some of the smaller glass shards away from the pile. Celestia's hoof and the glow of her horn slowly receded, apprehension plastering her face, as shock was adorned on the faces of even the guards that were present.

With a mighty heave, Luna flew out the window with Edgar and suddenly dropped out of sight, coupled with the sound of glass breaking not too far below them.

As Twilight ran up to the window and poked her head out, she saw a broken window two floors down, indicating that Luna ended up crashing through another window below. As she turned to Trixie, she saw her galloping down a hallway to look for where Luna has taken Edgar, and followed her in pursuit...

As Princess Celestia watched the ponies scramble away in this situation, she caught her own guards looking her with confusion and trepidation. Upon dismissing them to the duties that were likely interrupted due to this event, she turned toward the Tea Parlor that this whole mess started from. Doubt started to gnaw at her, but she soon quashed it. This was right.

"My dear faithful student...My foolish misunderstood sister...Even you, Miss Lulamoon...I am so sorry, but it had to be done. I will protect you all from him...even if you end up hating me after all this is said and done..." Princess Celestia thought to herself as she started to sullenly walk to her guest room in Twilight's castle. "Perhaps one day, I can earn your forgiveness once he is gone, but until this time, I will be his shadow in the light. That demon will charm you with a smile...for a while, but in time? Nothing shall harm you all. Not while I'm still here."

Author's Note

Yooooo.. Wiki Wiki wazzup mah ponizzles.....

So, I am sorry in advance if this chapter is too dark or has a cry-baby feel to it. While writing it, I made sure to start writing when I am tired.

I am thinking ooooooone more cry-baby chapter before things start to look up...or maybe not. Maybe Edgar goes down the path of Guts and has nothing but bad days. Whose to say?

By the way, I am extremely lazy and not really good at constant editing. If you see something blatant that annoys you, message me so I can correct it.

Lastly, how do people feel about AI art in general?

Credits to Joan-Grace