Solace of the Phoenix

by ImperatorAetheris

Rating: teen
Tags: Princess Celestia, Crossover, Human, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Other, Princess Luna
Length: 3705

Humans are now in Equestria... but the secret this one holds is the greatest secret ever...

In a world where people can go over and play tourist or even immigrate into Equestria, a very mysterious man catches the Princess' attention... what is he hiding?
(Crossover with ''Letter to a Phoenix'' by Fredric Brown)

P.D: Rated T for safety

Published 2015-06-23 01:30:01 UTC
Last updated 2015-08-30 03:22:05 UTC

A New World

Solace of the Phoenix: A New World

(A MLP/Letter to a Phoenix Crossover)

For Anatoli Mikhailovich Artyunov, It had been some odd two months...

Two Months ago, a mysterious portal different to any other he had seen in his life had appeared, then again, to the casual observer, he was only 35...

Anatoli however, wanted to leave his own world, it was something odd to be said, but he needed to do so, not that anyone could know, or would, however, when a program to immigrate to the world on the other side began, he was among the first volunteers...

You see, the mysterious world on the other side of the portal, was this really strange land known as Equestria, inhabited by intelligent equines (among other species) this made it funny to him, it remembered him of an old toy line that had been scrapped so long ago...

he made his way to the Airport, then to the plane, He had to go to Switzerland... it reminded him of the countless accidents he had heard of on such Hadron Colliders... not that anyone knew how much he did...

Slowly, as the car left him in what was now the main portal between the universes, and he stepped into the building that was set up as a de-facto consulate, he wondered... could it be?

A Few Days Later

Anatoli was now on a train, a part of him thinking of the trains back in the era of the Czars, dreaming about traveling in the Siberian Steppes in a certain trip, a rather ill-fated trip at that...

It took a few days for the train to reach it's destination: The city of Canterlot, the capital of this land, ruled by two... Alicorns wasn't it? He stood up, and walked out, it was a nice sunny day, but this still puzzled him...

''Mister... Artyunov, the Princess wishes to meet you''

He turned to see a guard pony, one of those called Earth Ponies, letting the pronunciation-butchering at his surname go -not that anyone had got it right since he left Russia- he looked at him... it was a him right? anyway, he looked at him and nodded

''but... why would the Princess be interested in me?'' Honestly he had no idea why, he tried to not to draw attention after all

He however, knew better than to reject such an offer... it was not as if he had not dealt with royalty before, he simply asked the pony to wait for him to pick up his few belongings, and then they parted, heading up to the castle... And then he realized that it had been a long time since he actually walked so much...

At arriving, the sight was truly awe-inspiring, it was larger than any castle, nay, than any structure -maybe except for those monstrosities in Taiwan and Dubai that had just finished construction- he had ever seen. The castle was a massive towering structure, reminiscing of a fantasy castle that seemed to be carved out from the mountain rather than built, or at least so it seemed for him.

The guards hushed him inside, and he was told to wait on a large room, this room was surely bigger than his old apartment, that was something he was sure of...

He was finally sent inside and told that neither princess was available yet... However someone was supposed to show him around. It was a small pony, seemingly female. Although he was sure that it would do well to learn how did the locals refer to this... A mare was it? She led him around, and he now truly realized how big this castle actually was. It was still the largest building he had ever seen.

Right now, he was on a balcony with a breathtaking view of the valley and the city below. It reminded him vaguely of some valleys on his home world, the Alpine valleys more exactly except that those had not as many pastel colours as the ones he now could see. He could also see that the sky was almost perfectly clear, a few clouds here and there, and the sun kept shining.

Only now he remembered that the princesses had the power to control them, or at least that was what he was told; Then again, he had heard before of beings who could control the rotation of a planet or the orbit of a natural satellite...

Of course, when you are much older than what you look like, you tend to know more than you're supposed to...

His thoughts were interrupted by another pony, seemingly a... stallion? then again, in his long years he had never really known that much about horses...

''Excuse me... the Princess is ready to recieve you''

With that he nodded, following the stallion towards another large hall which he soon realized, was the throne room. The guards introduced him and he slowly moved forward, bowing before reaching the end of the room. He had been in the presence of monarchs so many times that doing this was not really that unsettling, even if it was to an alien equine princess... Alright, that did made it somewhat unsettling

''It is a Honor meeting you Your Highness'' He managed to say, to that she just looked at him

''There is no need to be so formal with that Mr. Artyunov'' She replied, had he been looking at her, he would have noticed that curiosity in her gaze, not every day did the Princesses received a visitor from another world

He nodded and stood up while containing a chuckle, it seemed that even royalty had a problem with his surname... maybe this time he should not have hid in his Siberian hideout.

''And, I am intrigued that you wished to see me''

As She looked at him the guards slowly departed from the throne room. Before he could do or say much else he found himself alone with the Alicorn and now he had a better view of her, she was larger than most ponies he had seen in this lands, even larger than many horses he had seen before -then again, he did not know much about such creatures- he could see a slight swan-like form in her pose. He had to admit that she was majestic, and she really did have that regal air that so many monarchs he had met before lacked...

She looked at him, motioning for him to sit down, which he did slowly

''I want to know more about your world''

This was definitely the last thing he was expecting, the seemingly 35-year old Russian gave her a surprised look. Why wouldn't she ask the people at the embassies that were popping out, both official and not? almost as if on cue, she continued

''I thought it might be better, that it would not be from someone in a government, so I picked you, from the people that were trying to immigrate to Equestria... I assume you have no qualms with it''

He nodded, this, this was just so odd, he looked at her

''Well, in that case, I will do my best Your Highness'' He said, looking at her before a small bow

''Please, call me Celestia, and as I said, please don't be so formal'' she said. He looked up to see a very slight smile on her face -gentle was perhaps the right word to describe it- and a slightly curious look.

The sudden fact that a royal was asking him to address her by her first name however, was the strange part... This was just more confusing by the second, then again, it had been this confusing for a while already and he had been through worse...

Author's Note

So, as you heard it, a rather odd crossover with a not-so-famous Sci-Fi work... now some ''parochial notices''

This will be two or at most three chapters long

If my use of suspensive dots is excessive, please let me know, really.

I think anyone who has read the short story will know who Mr. Artyunov really is... so no spoilers here, however, the first to guess gets virtual cookies

It is my first MLP fic, so if Celestia (or any other character that might appear later) is OOC, please tell me.

and finally, thank you for lending some of your time to read this little oddity I am writing

Sleepless Nights

Solace of the Phoenix
Sleepless Nights

I must admit that, in the many languages I have learned throughout my life... I cannot find a word to describe my last six weeks. I was supposed to teach the Princesses about my world... however, these had been some rather busy few weeks as of late for the Sun Princess. So I’d decided to learn more about this place in the meantime.

however if there was something that truly surprised me, was the fact that I ended up drawing closer to the younger of the two. While we haven't spoken much… the moon princess is much easier to speak to as night court was much less sought out than the day’s.

One thing you need to know about me is, throughout my one hundred and eighty thousand years, and the cause of my grievances… is how differently my body works. I live in a cycle of forty-six years… where I remain awake for thirty years, then sleep for sixteen. Of course, I cannot let normal people suspect neither my true age, nor my different cycle, so I would usually lay on a bed and rest.

With time, however, I had managed to learn that it made me even less suspicious if I had a sleepless night from time to time.

Tonight was one of such, but it was not because of this tight routine of faking to sleep and such… but another reason. I was standing on a balcony, not too far from the room that they had given me in their castle, as I continued looking into the sky.

I’m not a… a mutant. It was an accident, but I’m afraid I’m getting ahead of myself…

The Human mind is limited, and therefore cannot remember every single detail. This happens at any age, however, after you having basically lived four thousand different lives, been in the center of many a historical event, or decided to remove yourself from said event... many details of such previous lives simply fade away. I can still remember the important things, but once again I’m getting ahead of my story.

As I looked up to these alien heavens, wondering if in this other universe my parents could still see me from their afterlife, I was shaken out of my thoughts by the quiet sound of hooves. I turned around to see the black and blue Alicorn looking at me with a troubled expression.

“Is something bothering you Mr. Artyunov?” The princess asked in a soft tone.

Her voice seemed to sooth my grievances that this foreign land had greeted me with. I however, could not really bring myself to look at her.

“Rest assured your highness, it’s nothing to worry about.” I quickly replied.

Only then do I realize the dire mistake I had been making… I’d been staying up for much longer than I usually had. I guess I can’t blame anyone but myself, as I've always loved watching the night sky and all its dazzling stars. However, I now realized I’d been doing this nearly every night.

“Besides, it is a wonderful night…” I managed to say, needing something to put myself out of that corner I’d found myself against.

It seemed to work as she nodded and awkwardly stood there. You see, one of the main grievances of this cycle is… you cannot really get attached, or rather, you shouldn't... I learned this the hard way. As it stands, just let’s say that not having anyone to hold in your sleep or wake up to a smiling face can make you feel so lonely at times.

I guess that is was made me feel somewhat identified with the sisters... I guess there is no way I could have fit in like this anywhere in this, or any other world I've been to, a part of me feels some understanding. Among the many things I’ve learnt about their world, is the small fact that as quasi-deities, they are more than fifteen-hundred years old if my memory serves me right.

I guess that we might not be as different as I first thought... once again, however, I was taken out of my thoughts by that soft voice.

“There is more to you than meets the eye Human.” She said.

I felt myself almost panicking. Had she figured me out? I wasn't sure, but one cannot discard that possibility so soon, but to my relief - or maybe not so much - she continued.

“We can see how you look at the heavens, and it is not how any creature of your age would.”

Oh, the royal we, it had been so long since I had actually heard it.

“What is this you seek so badly to hide from us?” She asked inquisitively.

I sighed and looked down, at least she had not figured me out… but… on one hand was it really necessary for me to hide this? On the other, how does a person say it without sounding like a madman? I mean, I am pretty sure that ‘Well, I am a hundred times older than you’ just won’t work.

“It is, your highness, a very long and admittedly far-fetched story.” I managed to say as she frowned slightly.

“Please Mr. Artyunov… just call me Luna.” She asked politely.

Once again I stood there surprised, of course, as both of them had already told me this countless times... yet, here I was, going through it again.

“I don’t think you’ll believe my story as it’s rather impossible…” I said looking up into the sky yet again as I continued, “Yet, I guess it could make for a good way of spending time.”

I was really expecting something along the lines of ‘do not waste my time’ but instead I saw her sitting by me, looking at expectantly as I realized that she was waiting for me to begin. And so, sitting down as well, I took a deep breath and began...

As you can imagine... the tale was long, even with me trying to make things as short as I could. The Princess however was not reacting as I had expected her to… and she actually seemed to believe me, which only made it more awkward for me. As you can probably imagine, all I had expected to happen should I tell this, was to be put into a madhouse.

It took a while... however, when the tale was finished she looked right at me, as if expecting something. I said nothing as I looked back, before her next action surprised me the most...

She leaned forward and hugged me.

I froze in confusion as I felt this. When I was about to return the hug, she broke off and stood, where I stood as well. There was something to the way she looked at me, but I didn't quite catch it...

My mind, still clogged with so many memories and thoughts, took a few seconds to process what had just happened. For a few seconds there was silence, neither of us capable to look away from the other. Then she stood back and flew away.

And I was left there, in a position I had not been in a long time.

Trying to understand what had just happened.

Author's Note

First of all...
Proofread/Edited by Pinkies Imagination
Thank you Very Much Pinkies Imagination

Also, I think it will be a three-chapter one!

Explanations (part 1)

Author's Note

Warning; this is not proofread yet

Explanations (part 1)

Solace of the Phoenix
Explanations (Part 1)

The truth being said, I had an idea about what was to come that morning. What else could you expect after such a tale?

I think I will never know what their conversation was but I'm, thanks to hindsight, sure that it was the eldest of them who start it; I'm also sure that the younger had trouble telling her.

As for myself, all thoughts were shifted to the next morning. What would they say? What would happen? After heading to the bedroom that had been granted to me I sat on the bed, there were just too many things in my head.

I envy you all so badly for those hours of night sleep.

I went up from the bed when I saw the sun go up in the sky, I knew that the Solar Princess surely had many questions for me and the last thing I wanted was to make her wait.

I slowly entered the throne room and made my way forward. She was already there and seemed surprised. When I turned my head I saw the Lunar Princess go in, surprised to see me.

It took a few seconds for me to understand that Luna had not mentioned it yet. We looked at eachother, then she spoke

‘’Tia… our guest has an… interesting story to tell you’’

I looked at them waiting. In Celestia’s face it was obvious that she could notice that this was more than just your regular tale.

I looked at them and took a deep breath, here went nothing

‘’Your Highness’’ I paused, trying to think of a way to start with this ‘’I think you deserve to know more about myself… however it is rather far fetched...’’

The younger one looked at me, confused, the older seemed interested.

The eyes of the light-pink alicorn were something that I could not figure out… However I knew that Luna would likely back me up if needed

‘’It all began in a war, I was twenty-something’’ I said with a heavy sigh, it was bound to be a long story.

‘’Back then the Nuclear Bomb was a rather new thing, when I was a child they used the first, now they were at war with another great power and both were using them’’

‘’At the time I worked in a factory, I suffered an illness with a name I cannot remember and so, I was deemed unfit for combat at first… But as the illness advanced slowly, the world changed faster.’’

Again I paused, looking at them to see if they had any question, when they didn’t ask I continued

‘’After two years, you could say that I was tired of my life’’ I gave another heavy sigh, the memories beginning to take a toll on me ‘’So, with the army accepting anyone willing to fight, I enlisted… within two days I had been sent to the frontlines’’

The princesses looked at me, I could see a slight frown in Celestia’s face

‘’Before enlisting I was working on a factory’’ I said, perhaps the frown was at the part where I was tired of my life so it might do well to expand on it ‘’I hated my job, and my whole family was dead already, to top it off, my illness was supposed to kill me within one or two more years...’’

Her frown did seem to soften at that, so I decided to continue

‘’I did not last long in combat, shortly after, one bomb fell too close to our lines, I never knew if it was ours, or enemy… All I know is that after the blast, the next thing I remember is waking up in a hospital with some small burns’’

The princess looked at me, then asked

‘’And… how old would that make you?’’

Now that made me look at her, I had hoped that this question would come later, but there was nothing left but to answer

‘’A Hundred and Eighty thousand years old’’

Luna looked at Celestia, who in turn was looking at me, shocked.

Not that I could blame her for it, I did admitted that my story was that far fetched…

‘’And how… how is that possible?’’ she finally asked, now I realized that Luna had not really asked this the previous night…

I sighed, in hindsight, I think I should have seen this question earlier.

‘’It was because of the accident… later I learned that something with the radiation had… tampered with my body. Now it works… differently’’ I managed to say, hopefully it would not make it worse ‘’that is something I will get to in a while’’

She nodded, it was obvious that she was having a hard time believing me, again I cannot blame her.

‘’Now, I woke up in a hospital, and I was rather freaked out, first, the doctors said that I had been cured of my illness… then I couldn’t sleep the first night… or the following nights’’

Again I looked at them, both were looking at me, I sighed. If I were to be honest, maybe I should have tried to get Luna to wait for today, then at least I would not be doing this twice in such a short time.

‘’I tried telling the doctors, but they wouldn’t believe me. I guess that, in their position, I wouldn’t have done so either. But it turned out I was correct’’

Every few minutes I would turn to look at them, waiting for some other reaction, anything.

But there was nothing

‘’At first I was really scared, but I learned to live with it. I settled down, and even got to have a family’’

I did not notice the sad smile on my face, but I did notice a few tears coming down, I could also hear Celestia’s’ voice

‘’If you want you can stop’’ her voice sounded worried, I denied with my head

‘’No your highness… I believe you must know… besides, it is good for the heart to let this come out’’ I said with a sad smile. She gave a small nod…

Well from the good side, she believed me.

Explanations (Part 2)

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