Do you believe in magic?

Adrian White was exhausted, after breaking up the princesses pillow fight he had to spend almost an hour assuring the towns ponies that he was not going to eat their brains. After saying goodbye and thanking his new friends, the princesses teleported them directly to their castle in Canterlot. They would have gone by carriage, but Celestia decided that Adrian was far too tired to handle facing the uproar his presence would undoubtedly bring. Besides the princesses were planning to present him at a ceremony the next day anyway, wanting to assure the ponies of Equestria that Adrian was a friend.

Adrians jaw fell open when he beheld the room the princesses had prepared for him. From the massive canopy bed and polished oak night tables to the silver and gold candlesticks, this was the most expensive looking room he had ever seen. One side of the room had a large set of windows that looked out onto a perfectly tended garden before terminating at a ten foot wall. beyond the wall was a breathtaking view that extended out to the snowcapped mountains miles away. Adrian smiled when his gaze landed on a small town bordering a huge forest in the distance.

"Ponyville?" he asked pointing.

"Indeed, how could you tell?" asked Luna.

"Simple, if you look carefully you can make out the library."

Celestia smiled at Adrians comment, impressed that his observational skills were so sharp.

"Luna I'll handle raising the moon if you would like to show Adrian around the castle."

Luna agreed eagerly at the thought of being alone with Adrian.

"Thank you Tia, that would be great."

Luna grabbed Adrian's arm with magic and all but dragged him out the door, giggling the whole time.

As she watched her sister and Adrian leave the room Celestia felt an odd sensation, a powerful desire to go with them ran through her. Shaking off the feeling Celestia wondered where it had come from, and continued wondering for the rest of the evening.

Luna was so excited she could burst, the thought that she finally had somepony who wouldn't cringe at the site of her was wonderful. She wondered what she should show Adrian first, it only took her a moment to decide on the perfect place to take him.

"Whoa Luna, what's the rush? I'm not going to disappear you know."

Luna blushed sheepishly and slowed her pace.

"Sorry, I just can't wait for you to see this, it's my favorite place in the castle."

Luna led Adrian through several wide corridors and , down two spiral staircases before leading him outside into a garden. This however was like no garden Adrian had ever seen. All over he saw the most incredible flowers, they had large ovoid leaves with faintly luminous silver veins, and teardrop shaped white flowers that glowed with a ghostly blue aura. Adrian was well versed in botany but had never seen any flower like this, the leaf veins pulsed faintly with a silver white energy as the light from the moon hit them. For a moment Adrian was struck speechless by the beauty surrounding him.

"Luna, this is amazing, I have never seen such beautiful flowers in my life, what are they called?"

Luna blushed as she answered.

"There called 'Lunar Tears' and they only bloom at night when the moon is shining."

Adrian knelt down in front of a bed of flowers, and gently touched one of the glowing plants. It felt warm and almost seemed to hum with mysterious power.

"Luna tell me, is this garden yours?"

Luna knelt down next to Adrian enjoying the hypnotic pulsing of the plants, and feeling happier than she had in a long time.

"Yes, I am the only one who tends this garden, I come here when I need to think, and I wanted to share it with you."

Adrian leaned forward and inhaled the flowers scent, he could only describe it as; night in the form of a smell. He looked at the pony next to him to see her staring at the full moon. Adrian marveled at how beautiful Luna looked surrounded by the garden and looking up at the night sky with a gentle breeze running through her mane.

"Adrian, I wonder, what do you feel when you look at the moon?"

Adrian considered the question for a moment, trying to describe the emotions he felt gazing at the silver orb.

"I feel, at peace yet strong, as though I can draw strength from the light of the moon and stars, sounds silly doesnt it?"

"No, not at all, I get the same feeling." Luna replied leaning her head against Adrian, and blushing as he wrapped one arm around her.
For almost two hours the two companions sat there watching the moon and enjoying the moment, finally though Luna reluctantly rose to her feet.

"Adrian why don't we get some dinner? I am starving."

Adrian got to his feet and nodded.

"That sounds awesome, I could really go for a steak."

Luna looked at Adrian curiously.

"What is a 'steak'?"

"Uh,nothing, just a human dish, forget I mentioned it" Adrian said hurriedly.

Luna was going to say that the royal cook might be able to prepare it if Adrian knew the ingredients, but her stomach interrupted with a loud growl.

"Oh heh, excuse me." Luna said with an embarrassed smile, "follow me and I'll show you the dining hall."

Adrian walked in synch with Luna, glad that she had not asked anything more on what "steak" was. He was going to have to explain human eating habits at some point, but now definitely wasn't a good time. After a short walk the pair came to a cavernous dining hall lit by enchanted chandeliers and candles. Adrian was surprised to see Celestia waiting for them, she was speaking with a unicorn in polished armor. He had a dark blue mane with lighter blue highlights and a cutie mark featuring a sort of heraldic shield. As Adrian and Luna got closer the unicorn turned and gave him an amazed look that turned to a friendly (if guarded) smile. As soon as she noticed Adrian Celestia made the introductions.

"Ah there they are, Captain Shining Armour, may I present Adrian White. Adrian meet Captain Shining Armour, commander of the royal guard."

Adrian put on a winning smile and extended his hand.

"A pleasure to meet you Captain."

The Captain gripped Adrians offered hand with a his hoof, Adrian was shocked to feel something akin to very short fingers grasp his hand, despite no such anatomy being visible.

"Glad to meet you mister White, welcome to Canterlot, I understand you're friends with my sister Twilight."

Adrians thoughts came to a violent stop as he processed what the Captain said. "Twilight's brother is Commander of the royal guard?! Please tell me Celestia didn't mention that I'm dating his sister."

Adrian needn't of worried, Celestia would never violate anyponys trust when it came to their private lives (at least not if she thought it might cause serious harm.). Of course she was not above smiling at Adrian as the color drained from his face, Celestia had to admit Adrian was absolutely adorable when he was freaked out. "Did I really just think that?" Celestia wondered internally.

Since Adrian, Luna, and Twilight had announced they were forming a herd, Celestia had not been acting like herself. She was acting more immature than she had at any point in the last thousand years, she kept thinking of ways to tease Adrian or make him uncomfortable. Celestia had needed to speak with Shining Armour, but introducing him to Adrian after mentioning he was friends with Twilight had been totally unnecessary, she only did it to make Adrian squirm. Celestia felt like she couldn't help herself, like she was being driven by some odd compulsion to act differently when Adrian was involved, "What is the matter with me? I should be trying to put Adrian at ease, not rile him up.". Celestia decided to put it out of her mind for the moment, as Shining Armour excused himself and returned to his duties.

An hour later after an enjoyable meal (with the exception of Celestia accidently giving Adrian a Hay turnover.) Adrian was following Luna and Celestia back to his room. He had been surprised, when he found out his room was across from the princesses private chambers. He bid the two rulers goodnight, and as he undressed for bed he considered how much better his life had gotten since leaving his home universe. "I honestly have never been happier than I am right now.", Adrian thought as he stored his cloths in a beautifully carved dresser. The bed was the most comfortable thing he ever lain on, in moment's Adrian was asleep, and as he slept; he dreamed.

Adrian found himself lying on a hillside, and was watching Twilight and Luna play, the sun shone brightly overhead and a gentle breeze carried the scent of summer. When the girls saw Adrian they motioned for him to join them. Smiling Adrian rose to his feet and headed over to them, as he walked he saw Luna and Twilight start galloping toward him. For some reason Adrian began feeling uneasy, he slowed his pace then stopped altogether, as his two marefriends got closer the unease turned to fear, and then to panic. Somehow Adrian knew that if the girls got near him something horrible would happen, and he found himself desperately yelling and waving at them to stay away. But it was like Luna and Twilight did not even notice, as they ran toward him smiling. Adrian tried to run but his feet refused to move, he screamed at the girls to stay away from him, but it was too late. They girls stopped a few feet in front of Adrian as he did everything he could think of to prevent them approaching any closer. The two mares leaned toward Adrian apparently for a kiss. As Adrian watched in horror the sky went dark, the once beautiful surroundings changed to resemble the "No man's land" of WWI and the smell of decay and death nearly choked him. Adrian heard Twilight and Luna scream in agony before they disintegrated into ash just before they touched him. Standing in shock Adrian had no time to mourn as he heard something coming from behind the hill he was on. It was a cacophony of explosions, gunfire and other sounds of battle, finding he could move again Adrian desperately ran up the hill to see what was happening. When he reached the top Adrian's legs collapsed under him, there before him was Ponyville in flames. Unable to look away Adrian saw human soldiers, tanks, and aircraft raining death down on the town, the mutilated corpses of ponies littered the streets or where tossed into hastily prepared mass graves. Adrian saw a small group of ponies crying as they were held at gunpoint, and to his horror he recognised them as Pinky Pie, Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash. With a surge of adrenalin Adrian lept to his feet and started running toward the group of soldiers trapping his friends, screaming at them to stop. He was ignored completely as the humans took aim, and without hesitation gunned down the helpless ponies, though he knew it was pointless Adrian continued running to his fallen friends. He didn't stop until one of the soldiers grabbed him, as he fought to get free, he noticed their expressions, they were smiling.

"WHY?" Adrian screamed, "WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?!!".

The soldiers looked at him strangely as they answered.

"Whoa, take it easy pal, there's no reason to be so upset." said one.

"Yeah, it's there fault for not leaving when they had the chance." said another.

Adrian was too shocked to reply as they continued.

"I mean the resources here on New Terra are going to make a lot of money and jobs for people, besides there just horses, why do you care?"

Adrians entire body felt numb, his vision swam, and he couldn't breath for a moment, then he felt it. A rage more powerful than any he had ever experienced seized him, his vision was tinged red, he gritted his teeth so hard they shattered, and blood poured from the cuts his fingernails made in his clenched fists. Adrian screamed like a demon as he finally freed his arms, grabbing the soldier on his left he snapped the man's arm like a twig. His rage granting him unearthly strength Adrian proceeded to tear the soldier apart, blood splattered his face and chest as he tore off limbs, pulped organs, and splintered bone. He didn't care that the soldier was bigger and better armed than him, or that he was outnumbered, or even that the other infantryman was probably about to shoot him. All Adrian cared about was killing every human he could reach, but as Adrian looked down at his victim, he was still smiling, and despite having no throat or lungs he spoke.

"It's your fault you know, you knew this would happen, but you still let us in." the broken creature let out an insane laugh. "You let us in, you could have done what was necessary and protected this world. But instead you ignored all reason, in the foolish belief that humanity would ignore their nature and act for a greater good. Think about our history, the Roman Empire, Feudal England, the British Empire, the settlers and native americans, and on and on. Even in America the so called "Leader of the Free World" we only maintain our quality of life by feeding on weaker countries and exploiting them. Then the people who buy the products and luxuries paid for by the suffering and blood of the weak have the unmitigated gall to claim themselves to be "Good people". You knew all of that, and yet you let us come here, to a land devoid of a true military, rich with resources and safely isolated from the public eye back on earth. You want to know why this happened? Because YOU allowed it to, you had the power to prevent this, but you let it happen anyway."

Adrian stumbled back from the now hysterically laughing corpse, as images flashed through his mind. A portal to earth, first contact with the UN, trade negotiations, then. . . . "Oh dear god no.".

Like a movie Adrian saw everything, Earth corporations wanted access to the resources in equestria, but when the ponies refused to allow it they sent private military companies to annex the land. Because there was only one portal it was easy to prevent any unfavorable press from getting out. When the ponies tried to fight back, they were unprepared for an enemy that was so brutal and cruel and were slaughtered in a genocidal war. All because Adrian vouched for humanity, Equestria was destroyed.

Adrian fell to his hands and knees as he was forced to acknowledge the truth, he felt himself falling into an abyss of despair and pain and then. . . .

Adrian sat bolt upright in bed, he was covered in sweat and felt like he wanted to vomit, as he tried to calm himself Adrian happened to look across the room to a carved wood dresser with a mirror hanging over it.

Luna had been having a wonderful (and rather erotic) dream about her future with Adrian and Twilight when she was awoken by a hideous scream from outside her room. Recognizing Adrians voice, Luna rushed out into the hall and almost crashed into Celestia. The two princesses ran into Adrians room only to find him in bed, they didn't need to ask what was wrong as it was all too obvious; Adrians eyes were glowing.

Luna and Celestia stared at Adrian who now had two brilliant white pools of light for eyes, they were so bright that they resembled a pair of stars.

"Adrian stay calm and. . ." Celestia started but Adrian cut her off.

"Stay calm!? Uh in case you didn't notice MY FUCKING EYES ARE GLOWING!, if that isn't a good reason to be freaked out, then I would very much like to know what is!!?" Adrian shouted.

"Yes, because being hysterical alwayse solves the problem more quickly." Luna replied sarcastically.

Adrian wanted to say something clever in response, but he had to admit Luna had a point.

"Ok, fine, but I reserve the right to start yelling again if my eyes explode or something."

Despite the gravity of the situation Luna had to stifle a laugh.

"Fair enough." Celestia replied hiding her own smile. "I think the best thing to do, is to use a scanning spell, we use them to gain detailed knowledge of a creature's magical ability. The spell also can be used to determine if a creature's body is functioning properly, that should tell us what we need to know, or at least where to start."

Celestia began to charge her horn shaping the mana and psychically imprinting her will into it, telling the spell what she needed it to do and how to do it. A yellow aura outlined Adrian as the spell flowed through him recording information and relaying it back to Celestia instantly. Adrian and Luna saw Celestia look confused, then intrigued, then worried, and finally surprised.

"Well the good news is you are in no immediate danger." Celestia stated, to Adrian and Luna's unspoken relief.

"Ok, but what is happening to me?" Adrian asked.

"I think your body is changing in response to our universe, you seem to have developed a significant level of magical power and it is growing stronger every moment. I think your eyes glowing is a harmless side effect caused by high emotion, I'm guessing you had a bad dream."

Adrian nodded suppressing a shudder as he remembered his nightmare, but decided he did not want to describe what happened.

"Strange though, your magic seems different than any I have ever encountered." Celestia said as she mentally reviewed the information from the scanning spell.

Adrian frowned in concern.

"Different how exactly?" he asked, torn between joy at having magic and worry at Celestias tone.

"Well the mana you are producing is a mix of dark mana and light mana, I assume Twilight explained the difference?" Celestia asked.

Adrian nodded remembering how Twilight had explained it, in a nutshell the only difference between the two types of mana was that "dark" mana was linked to negative emotion, while "light" mana was linked to positive emotion. Normally dark magic had to be gained from deliberately corrupting light mana because it was rare for ponies to produce it naturally. Twilight had also mentioned that no creature in Equestria had the ability to naturally create both mana types, because of how the two reacted with each other in their pure state. Twilight had said that the two types of mana often reacted violently, only skilled mages could combine the two without causing a catastrophe, and even then only in very small quantities.

Celestia continued her explanation.

"Your body appears to be able to combine dark and light mana equally into a new form of mana, it is far more powerful than either dark or light is alone. In addition it appears to be making your body a great deal stronger, faster, and tougher."

Adrian digested what Celestia had said for a moment before replying.

"I have just two questions, 1: can you teach me to use magic? and 2: just how much stronger is my body?"

"Well," Celestia began, "your first question is easy enough, I would be happy to teach you magic. As for your second question I think a demonstration might be in order."

There was a flash of light as Celestia teleported a large granite block into the room (hell knows where from) and motioned Adrian to come closer.

"Try hitting this as hard as you can." Celestia stated.

For a moment Adrian hesitated, granite was one of the hardest kinds of stone there was after all. But deciding to trust Celestia he drew back his fist and struck the block with all his strength. He was amazed when the stone exploded like it had been hit by a wrecking ball chips of stone going in every direction, he was even more amazed that he had barely felt the impact.

"Whoa." was all Adrian could manage to say as he stared in shock at the pile of gravel that he had just created.

After cleaning up Adrians room Celestia suggested they all go back to bed as there was nothing more to be done at the moment. After saying goodnight for the second time, Adrian crawled back under the bed sheets and fell into a deep dreamless sleep.

The next morning Adrian woke at the crack of dawn to find his eyes back to normal, and despite his interrupted sleep Adrian felt like a million bucks, dressing he opened the door just as Luna was about to knock.

"Hey there pretty girl, whats up?" He asked in a cheerful tone.

Luna blushed as she replied.

"I just came to get you for breakfast, today we introduce you to the ponies of Canterlot, Tia and I wanted to explain how it will work."

Adrian nodded.

"Sounds good, I hope afterward you can show me around town."

"Well actually my sister thought you might want to start learning how to use your magic." Luna said sounding slightly disappointed, obviously wanting to take him out on the town.

Adrian noticed her tone and smiled.

"Luna, magic lessons can wait, I want you to show me the whole city!"

Luna's face lit up.

"Great! It will be our first official date, I can't wait to show you the shops and restaurants, then there's the public gardens, the fountain, Joe's doughnuts, this will be such fun I can't wait!" Luna squealed practically dancing with joy.

It made Adrian smile to see Luna so happy, "Am I the first person other than her sister to spend time with her? I can't believe no one tried to get to know her since she returned from the moon. Ok fine, I will make sure that she never has to feel alone again, I will prove to everyone that there acting ridiculous.".

"Ok Luna let's go have breakfast, so we have plenty of energy I promise to make our date the best one you've ever been on."

Luna nodded, then a devilish smile crept onto her features.

"Last one to the table is a rotten egg!" Luna shouted before taking off as fast as she could.

"Hey! no fair!" Adrian laughed, as he chased after her wondering how he got so lucky.

Author's Note

I had a lot of trouble deciding how to introduce the main character's magic ability, and honestly I still think I could have done better. But pay close attention to Adrian's dream and ask yourself "Am I as good as I think I am?".

When I asked that of myself the answer was no.