Brave New World: Fallen.

Ethan sat up with a loud intake of air. It took all of his willpower to not scream as he felt like he awoke from the most vivid nightmare one could have. But he knew better. "Holy fuck. I'm...I'm free," Ethan thought to himself. "But...Where am I?" Ethan asked out loud, just to hear his voice. He knew when he was. He was over 1000 years in the future. Centuries ahead of when he was immortalized in stone by Discord. "Over one thousand years ahead of Bright Eyes..." Ethan noted.

The door opened and Ethan turned to face it. A tall white alicorn walked in. One might say she and Ethan were old friends. Celestia herself spoke when it was clear Ethan was not going to. "Ethan," She began with a smile. "Welcome back to the land of the living,"

"Celestia," Ethan said with a nod. "Where are we?" He asked.

"We are in canterlot castle,"

"That old outpost you put on top of a mountain? It's a castle now?" Ethan asked. Canterlot mountain was previously home to a small watchtower during the beginning of Celestia's rule. After the Nightmare Moon incident, the capital city that previously resided in the everfree was destroyed, and the capital was moved to canterlot mountain. The center of the Equestrian territories.

"Well it's not much of an outpost. It's so much more now. Have you looked out your window?" Celestia said, gesturing  to the curtains beside Ethan's bed.

Ethan took this opprotunity to examine the room he was in. The first thing he took notice of was that it was fancy and had a really high ceiling. A pegasus could fly comfortably around the room. The furniture was fancy too, there was a sitting area surrounded by couches and armchairs to ethans right. To his left was the door along with a dresser and a wardrobe. Ethan swung his legs over the side of the bed and let his feet touch the floor. The fact that his sneakers had survived over 1000 years was amazing.

It took an amazing amount of effort for Ethan to attempt to stand up. "Hold on, i have you!" Celestia said as she hurried over to Ethan's side and helped his balance by lowering her neck under his arm.

"Thanks," Ethan said with an embarrassed smile.

The pair maneuvered over to the window where Ethan used his free arm (The one that was not wrapped around celestia) to open the curtains. What he saw left him in shock.

Canterlot was a beautiful city. It reminded him of how he imagined rome back when caesar was emperor. A stone city with tall spires and guard towers that shone in the light of Celestia’s sun, houses, apartment complexes, he could even see a few parks littered around. But one thing was missing. "Celestia...Where's the mountain?" ethan asked hesitantly. He was sure he would not like the answer.

"The mountain, dear Ethan, is below us. The city of Canterlot is built on top of Canterlot Mountain."

Ethan stumbled a little as he tried to get as far away from the window as possible. Which wasn't very far without celestia, who caught him with her magic and brought him back to her side. "Sorry, sorry," Ethan said, out of breath from his struggle and fall. "I'm...not a fan of heights..."

"I figured. And I apologise for startling you, but you of all pon--people should know that I prefer honesty when addressing my subjects." Celestia helped Ethan hobble back to bed where he sat down.

"Well at least you've not become a Discord. May that bastard rot in his stone prison." Ethan said with clear distaste in his voice.

Celestia's wince as he said that went unnoticed by Ethan. He didn't know of Discord's recent release and reforming. "Ethan I have something I need to--" Celestia was interrupted by a rumbling coming from Ethan. Specifically his stomach. Ethan can find out later.

"I think maybe we should go eat. I haven't had food in 1000 years!" Ethan and Celestia both shared a small laugh at that. Celestia helped Ethan up again and they hobbled out of the room together. Two of the oldest friends in history reunited and spending time together once more.

Little did they know of the deep blue pair of eyes watching their every move.

Ethan and Celestia had finally made it to the dining hall. They had managed to get there fairly quickly as Ethan was getting better at walking the farther they went. Celestia used her magic to open the large double doors that led inside. The large table was already set for lunch as Ethan had slept through breakfast. Celestia helped Ethan over to the chair next to hers where Ethan fell like a rock onto the seat. Celestia sat next to him after making sure Ethan was comfortable.

“Are you sure you’re fine Ethan? I can ask the servants for more seat pillows, I can have some meat ordered in from--” Celestia’s overbearing rambling was interrupted by the doors slamming open and the sound of four larger than normal hooves scrabbling across the floor as fast as they could carry their owner.

Luna had arrived.

“ETHAN! YOU HAVE RETURNED! WE ARE MOST EXCITED THAT WE ARE ALL REUNITED AGAIN!” Luna was shouting in the royal canterlot voice at Ethan and Celestia. Mostly at Ethan though. Celestia made  a hoof motion for luna to adjust her tone and Luna cleared her throat before speaking normally as she ran up next to Ethan with a guilty smile on her face.

“Lucy!” Ethan said, not having been phased at all by Luna’s royal canterlot voice. Luna had shouted at him long enough in the past that he was very very used to it. Ethan opened his arms and motioned for Luna to give him a hug. Luna latched on to Ethan like a tick and squeezed him as gently as she could. Luna had broken his ribs enough times that she knew how to handle the frail man. “So lucy have you been a good girl while I was away?”

Luna and Celestia both gave him nervous smiles as Ethan looked down at Luna. “Well...erm…kinda…” Luna said as her face became very solemn. Luna took a quick glance at Celestia who nodded Luna. “I...I...Ibecameamonsterofthenightanddestroyedthecapitalandcelestiabanishedmetothemoonbutiforgaveherforthatbecauseideservedthatbecauseihurtsomanyponiesand--and--and---” Luna quickly devolved into a sobbing teary mess at the admission of doing something Ethan obviously wouldn’t approve of. Luna valued Ethan’s opinion highly, which is why he was the only one allowed to call her Lucy.

Ethan hugged Luna tighter and began to stroke her mane, an action that comforted her often when she was young. “Lucy it’s fine. Don’t worry, I’m not mad. If anything you two should be mad at me. After all, I did do something incredibly stupid before all this,”

Luna ceased her crying and both her and Celestia looked up at Ethan with shocked expressions. “Ethan!” Celestia began. “How could you ever assume that we would be mad at you for doing whatever you could to protect what you had? You had every right to turn us in to Discord and while I was slightly miffed at the time, now I am even more impressed at your bravery. You are still our first knight of Equestria and not only did you risk both yourself physically and mentally to protect our little ponies, but you almost died in the process of protecting those you loved,”

“And if I recall correctly we still owe you your armor and blade seeing as how we did not have a proper kingdom at the time of your knighting,” Luna said as she dried her tears.

“Well let’s worry about eating first. I’m still hungry as all hell. Where are those servants you mentioned Celestia?”