I shivered at the sight of a massive wooden bridge that was the only thing separating us from the castle. Under the bridge was a massive trench. If stone bridges were enough for me to be afraid of, it was old...wooden....rope...

"Oh gods above...." I fell to my knees. I could tell the girls were looking at me with confusion.

"What's wrong Chris?" Apple Bloom asked me.

"I-....I'm afraid of bridges..." I answered honestly. "T-the forest wasn't a problem. I'm used to walking in the woods from where I used to live...but bridges....."

"Why are you so afraid?" Scootaloo walked up next to me. I had tried my hardest not to look at the old bridge. "It's just a bridge."

"Y-you don't understand! I-it could tear and break, making us fall to our deaths! O-or a plank might give out a-"

Sweetie Belle huffed. "You know, this bridge can support six ponies. I'm sure it can support three fillies and a human!"

Even though she had a point, I shook my head. "I-I just can't cross it... I-I'm too afraid..." That much was true. The sight of the bridge caused my legs to buckle and lock up, preventing me from standing up right.

Apple Bloom sadly sighed. "Come on girls...Looks like we'll just go on without him..."

Right as the girls began nearing the bridge, my protective instincts kicked right in time to jump in front of them, blocking their path. I gave a deep glare to each of them, which luckily made them back off. "You can't just go running off without me! It's dangerous, and you three are my changes. If anything happens to any of you, I'll get in much more trouble then I could get in for punching Luna in the face." At that they all stared at me with wide eyes.

"Look, I know you three want to go into that castle to look for some lost treasures, but sometimes its best to look at a situation before you go diving into it. You need to look before you leap."

"But Princess Twilight and the others cross this bridge all the time! Rarity even replaced the ropes!" Sweetie Belle said.

"And my big sis' replaced the planks! It's safe!"

I could feel myself being pushed to the edge here. I had made a promise with these three, and they also got out of their punishments with the idea of getting 'treasure' to pay off Rarity. With a deep sigh, I looked back to the bridge. At a closer look, the planks of wood that reached all the way to the other side seemed to be much fresher than the ones you'd see on a movie. The ropes looked like the same ropes Rarity would pull her curtains at her boutique, but much thicker to support the weight.

"Alright girls....But I go first. If anything goes wrong, I want you to run right back to the this side. That's an order."

They all saluted me, I even returned it with a smile which soon vanished as I turned to face my biggest of all fears....Bridges...

I've been deathly afraid of them since I was a little kid. I was hardly around bridges for some time of my early childhood, but whenever I was around one, I would try not to cross them. I always got a bad feeling in the it of my stomach that always grew the closer I got to them. It felt like a googol of butterflies just flying around inside. And now, it was like a googol times a googol as I took my first few steps.

It swung like a monkey with each step. I could hear the fillies close behind me, only driving my anxiety higher. Hearing my heart beat every time it pulsed, my worries grew. It hurt, but I had promises to keep and deals to fulfill. I kept thinking on the bridge, not being able to have the earth below me caused me to pant. My brow was flooding with sweat.

As we neared the middle of the bridge, I could hear the girls talk among themselves, but I was unable to hear them. They spoke softly, untold words I wasn't able to hear them speak them. All I could do was keep my eyes locked on each step I took, trying my hardest to travel across each step. I thought of how stupid I was for doing this. Every time I tried to do some good, my ass got handed to me.

And it hurt...

I jumped over the last step of the bridge to the ground on the other side. I kissed it several time, igniting the Crusader's laughs.

"I-it's n-n-...not funny...." I staggered out. "Ugh....I had n-not a single ounce of dirt beneath m-me!"

"Well, at least we survived!" Sweetie Belle cheered. Oh the oh so cheerful one, isn't she? "Don't worry now Chris! We're here! We can start looking for treasure!"

"Do you three have any idea how to traverse a castle?"

"Nope!" Great...so I was the only one? And I'm going off of historical knowledge here of castles.

I sighed at the three of them. "You three are very unprepared. Not only do I only have a single clew, we have no way to find our way back to the courtyard."

"Actually! I know a spell!" Sweetie beamed up at me. "Princess Twilight taught me a spell to help me find my way any time I get lost! It's how she helped the Elements of Harmony escape the Diamond Dogs! She said it's really simple! She also uses it to teleport easier! She said-"

"So-" I interrupted her. "please set the spell now. Thanks."

She frowned at me, but her horn glowed bright. A tiny orb formed at the very tip of her horn, then fell to the ground. "It's done." Sweetie gave me this unhappy look, but looked on. "So where should we head first?"

"If anything, we should try the very center of the castle. Right around the thrown room."

"Why there?"

"Well...Humans grew to protect their monies or trade goods in the center of their capital. Hence why currency is called capital by richer people. It would lay to the right of the buyer."

"How do you know so much?"

"You would best know your peoples history to figure out how to change the world." I explained, taking the lead on through the court yard, and then to the main gates. "I had a plan set out. Learn how advanced machines ran, learn their inner workings, then evolve."

"Evolve?" Scootaloo asked. "As in how ponies developed from simple ponies..? Like those...bacteria shaped thingies?"

I chuckled at her half guess, but it was right. I nodded, then lead them through a yard of statues. Many looked to be broken, some even were missing their heads. But most had vines covering them, and their small gold plaques. I walked over to a statue that we were about to pass by. Kneeling down to it, I pushed aside the vines and grass growing on or around it.

Captain Keel Haul:
125-202 E.F.

"E.F. That wouldn't happen to be Equestria's Founding?"

Apple Bloom nodded. "That's right! Captain Keel Haul was the one who survived a Griffin ambush during the Stoner Wars!"

I cracked a smile and slapped my face. My walk over that shitty bridge was well worth it now. As I stood up, I looked on to the two, massive wooden doors that marked the entrance to the castle. Now that we were passed the entrance to the castle, now all that awaited was inside. Hopefully I just wanted to get the bits and get out, but now that I thought about it, it would be good to get a book or two from this place.

History is one of my favorite subjects. I've always been fascinated by history's making. Even though I know most of it to be lies, I still wanted, and felt a strong drive to knowing the exact details of what happened. For a long time I was focused on the Greek and Roman eras, and the European Medieval era. So trying to figure out how to get to the treasury they lay beyond the throne room, hopefully. I really just hope that I'm right, and we can get out of here asap.

The door was massive, heavy too, but luckily I was able to push it open. Not a single trap in sight so far, though I suppose that since Twilight seems to come here often, then that might be why there weren't any traps. Ugh...I'm worrying too much for my own good, but it's keeping me on edge just enough to be alert of any dangers. I had a pretty good sixth sense, but with my charges behind me, I had to make sure I wasn't going to let myself get too loose.

"This is so cool!" Scootaloo beamed, looking around the entrance to the castle. In front of us were two sets of stairs that split off to the other wings of the castle. In the center of the room was a broken altar. Two candles long since past their dues looked melted onto the top of the table, and some of the wax lay on the floor.

Sitting in between the stairs was another door with two symbols engraved in them. The left had a sun while the right had a moon. Pointing towards it, I said: "There, that might be the way to the throne room." The girls nodded and followed me. Each step I took was a careful one. I made sure my sword was just over my stomach, pointing away from my body. "Careful girls..."

"You act like you've done this before." Sweetie noted.

I nodded, not feeling like lying. "Yeah, I have. I used to sneak out of my dad's house when I was a younger teenager. I would always go hanging out with my friends, and going to parties."

"Sounds kinda reckless if you ask me." She said with a flat face. "Rarity always complains when I sneak out, most of the time the lectures aren't even worth it."

I snorted with a smile. "Yeah, I was just trying to get away from my dad. He wasn't exactly a Class-A kind of guy." I replied, as I pushed the doors open. Across from where we were entering, sat two chairs elevated off the ground on a stone slab. Above each chair was a long cloth that hung from the wall.

"Oh! Rarity helped redo those!" Sweetie excellently noted. She was right too. I could tell it was Rarity's work right off the bat.

"So they do come here often then...." I spoke more towards myself. "How often?"

Apple Bloom tapped her chin while we walked in. "Ya think if we find this treasure, we'll get our cutie marks?"

I shook my head. "I don't think so."

"Awww..." They all stopped where they were. "But why?"

"Because this isn't what you like the most. Sure finding treasure is cool and all, but I don't think you'll like the whole deal. Treasure Hunters could lose their own lives trying to find this stuff."

"Why would they do that?"

I shrugged. "Riches I suppose would be the ultimate answer to your question." Looking around for another door, I only found a pathway that led in the opposite direction. Sighing heavily, I motioned to the girls to follow me closely. The hairs on my back were standing up, and despite my growing fear, I kept my breathing calm.

It may sound like I knew everything, but I was a very perceptive and logical person. Didn't see very well when I was a child, back before I had glasses. So I learned how to see better using sound. If there was something around me, I knew. It helped me react quicker, but with such abilities, I was rather a quiet person and I would tend to forget a lot of what other people say. I swear the number of times my hearing just fucks with me and I would barely hear the person I'm sitting next to because of this. I had to break up with a girl because she thought I was trying to ignore her. While that's only half true, I still liked her a bunch.

"Something's wrong..." I warned them. "Stay close, I don't think we'er alone..."

"W-what do ya mean?" Apple Bloom asked.

I clicked my tongue against the roof of my mouth. The air was disturbed ahead of us, but there was also a shattered window above it. I shook the feeling away. My paranoia is still on edge. "Just gotta calm down." I whispered aloud. "Thinking too much..."

"You okay, Chris?"

"I hope so..." I continued to walk, and I could feel the girls close to my legs as I walked. I would bump into them. I knew they were following orders, but still. Once we reached a cross section, I looked in each direction. It was pitch black each way we looked.

"Don't worry, I got a spell for that. It's easy!" She closed her eyes, and a ball of light emanated from her horn. It was a greenish glow, but it lit up a good part of the area we were in. Although, I couldn't hardly see much farther that a few yards.

I still accepted the light. I gave her a nod, and then chose the path to the left, they continued to follow me.

"Tia?" Celestia turned her head over to see her sister Luna.

"Yes Lu?" She asked with a small smile. "Is there something the matter?"

She nodded her head. "We are worried...I am worried...For you."

Celestia's smile vanished. "Is this about him?" Again Luna nodded at her. "You do not have to worry Lu. I am making sure things go right."

"But what if they don't?" Luna cried. "What of your foal to be? Are you not worried what it shall look like? How will it be normal when it can be a hybrid like a Kirin?"

"You gave birth much longer before me Luna. You started that race, and now they are your guard." She noted with a heavy voice. "I do not care of what the nobles or what the public would think. It will be my foal, and I would be a mother."

"Then what of Chris?" Luna stepped closer to her older sister. "Will he rise to king, and you queen?"

"We are equal Luna!" Celestia almost snarled. "I will never betray you, not like you have me! I have forgiven you because you are my only family. Chris may be different from us, but he has also deemed it to be necessary to become a true father. Twilight has spoken with her friends, and they tell her everything."

"So you are using your student to spy on him?"

"Not spy Luna! You don't understand. I am trying to find out who he is! He speaks freely, and never lies."

"So you are protecting your rapist?" Luna shot a narrowed glare at her.

"He didn't rape me! I was giving him a gift, completely unaware of his compatibility to us as alicorns. You know what mother said. Only one of our own can do so...."

Author's Note

Woo! Life sucks! Sorry for the wait!

And the plot thickens!
Clop next chapter! Flashback to the night once again! Get ready for some Human Celestia x Human!