I've watched the world go by, watched it all change, listened to the new song of life that blessed my world of isolation. I've experienced loss like no other, I've watched my own kind die out, watched their creations crumble and rot away, making way for the next inhabitants of this beautiful world. And I was right there when it all happened, no longer ageing, no longer seen, no longer heard, no longer touched. I know it's hard to believe, but I'm actually over a million years old.
I've lived alone for so long I've forgotten the face of my mother and loved ones, I watched each one die. Everything around me was able to die, to move on, I wasn't. Cursed with immortality, forever to walk the desolate earth.
My name is Spirit, fitting right? That was the name given to me by the three beings that possessed the ability to communicate with me, Celestia, Luna and Discord. After a million years of isolation, I found them, my friends, who I would watch over until it was time for them to leave this world. You can't imagine my surprise when I found out that the planet that I once called earth was populated by ponies and creatures of myth.
What was more surprising to me was the fact that my three friends were also immortal. At first I was overjoyed, then realisation hit me. They also bore the same curse as I did, when they get to a certain age they will stop growing, but they are still able to be harmed, to be killed. I however was not.
I've watched these three children grow, watched as their antics drove each other insane. I've been with them all the way, helped them develop their skills, talked to them about their problems, helped solve disputes and was always there for them. They once told me I was like a father to them, and I considered them to be my children. It wasn't long after that the started calling me daddy or father, it made me so happy to here them say that, it filled my nonexistent heart with joy.
It was upsetting to hear that Celestias and Lunas parents had passed away not long before I met them, so I guess they needed some kind of parental figure to fill the void.
Over time they started to mature, grow and learn. Their magic became powerful and respected. Celestia even started researching a possession spell to allow me to have my own body. My presence was known only to them, and that's they way it was kept.
Life was good, everything was going well. Heck, Discord even confessed his feelings for Celestia, a few years later they were married with a foal on the way. After Celestia mastered the possession spell she crafted a body for me, which was nothing more than a doll for me to possess, but I won't lie, it looked awesome.
But alas, all good things must come to an end. Things started to go wrong, and then it happened.
Let's skip to three thousand years later, just as Celestias and Discords foal was due. Luna was left in charge of the kingdom while Celestia was in the stages of labor. Celestia lay on her bed as Discotd held her hoof, Luna and I stood at the side, watching the events unfold, me in the body that was crafted. I noticed something was troubling Luna.
"Hey Luna, you seem a little troubled." She closed her eyes and sighed.
"I'm just lonely is all, looking at them, it makes me wonder when I am going to find somepony to call my own." I placed a hand on her shoulder and she looked up to me.
"You'll find someone, you just need to give it time my dear. For now, let's just be happy for Tia and Discord." She nodded and nuzzled my hand. Discord was using his magic to ease Celestias pain as the foal began to make its exit. No doctors were present as the two wanted their child to be born in secret.
It wasn't long before we heard the wails of a newborn. We walked over to see Celestia holding a small pink filly in her hooves, she had a curly purple main with white streaks along the edges. When she opened her eyes we all saw that her pupils were spirals. "Yep, that's definitely Discords kid." If that wasn't enough proof then what happened next sealed the deal, the filly decided that she was hungry so she summoned a bottle of milk to suckle on.
We all looked to each other and Discord had a huge grin on his face. "That's my girl." I shook my head and Luna facehoofed. Celestia giggled and kissed her foal.
"If you ask me the foal looks like it's got a few screws loose." Commented Luna, Discord was about to say something but then looked to the filly.
"I know what we should call her Celly."
"And what would that be dear?"
"We shall call her, Screwball." Celestia was about to protest but at the mention of her name the filly giggled. "See, she likes it. Don't you Screwball?" That earned a few giggles from Screwball, causing any thoughts against the name to vanish. The filly looked at the three equines and then laid her eyes on me, she tilted her head in curiosity and then reached out her forelegs. "Looks like Screwy wants to be held by grandpa Spirit."
I looked to Screwball then to Celestia who nodded. I took the filly in my hands and cradled her in my arms. I reached my hand out to scratch her belly but she had other plans, she then took one of my fingers and began to suckle on it, earning a smile from everyone in the room. I chuckled and stroked her mane, I handed her back to her mother and walked back to the door. "I'm going for a walk, I'll give you some privacy. Come on Luna."
"Yes father." She huffed and planted a kiss on the foals forehead.
As Luna and I walked down the hallway we began talking about how the kingdom should be notified about the new arrival. Luna suggest a public announcement and I suggested letting the castle staff know first then let some messengers take a letter to each town and city for a few smaller announcements. Life would be different from now on, but this was only a fraction of what was to come.
And I would dread every second of those future events.
Meanwhile
A dark figure watched the newly blessed couple with a wicked grin.
"Oh yes, this should be interesting. I can't do anything right now, I need some time to regain my power. I'll give them a few years, then they will know what it means to fear the Nightmare Fuel."
Fifteen years later
I was sitting in my study underground, I was taking notes on my latest project while Screwball read a book. What, you thought I was just floating about keeping those three company for the last three thousand years? No, I've dedicated my free time to learning everything I could about magic and science. Over the past hundred years I've noticed that Equestria has been threatened by supernatural forces and only barely survived the attacks. So I began developing ways for Equestria to defend itself against these dangers, not necessarily by killing the attackers but by dispelling the darkness.
"Screwball sweetie, could you be a dear and fetch some light magic essence from the storage closet?" My granddaughter nodded and did as asked. "Thank you." She smiled and watched me work. "Now, I just need to find a way to match the magic wavelengths to the soul without actually tapping into a ponys magic reserves."
"Would it help if I used my magic to do it?"
"Sorry Screwball, your magic is chaos magic, it would cause the opposite effect I'm looking for." She shrugged and went back to her book. "Now, I just need to figure out which type of magic would dispell dark magic."
"Didn't you say chaos magic would cause a different effect, then you just need to make the opposite of chaos magic." I froze in place and looked at her.
"Screwball you're a genius."
"I try." I shook my head and began jotting down everything.
"What's the opposite of chaos...something that would reverse it...harmony...the answer is harmony magic!" I jumped with joy as I began collecting the necessary ingredients and began adding them to a bottle, each time moving the bottle to a different temperature and conditions. Once the potion was done what sat before me was a bottle of glowing rainbow liquid. "Woah..." I picked it up and held it in the air in victory. "Yes! It's finally done!" I set it down and spun Screwball around in my hands causing her to giggle at my excitement. "Screwball, you have helped me out with something I've been working on since before you were born, with this, Equestria will be safe from powerful forces without actually killing the user."
"Then what are we waiting for, let's get this thing to my mom."
"No."
"What?" I set her down and took a serious tone.
"Under any circumstances you are not to speak one word of this to your mother, father or aunt. They would depend on it too much, it is for a last resort only." She nodded in understanding. She's always been a smart mare despite her name and usual behaviour. She's like Discord except she has Celestias intelligence, letting her think rationally and have more self control. I ruffled her mane and picked up the potion. "Come on, we need to get this somewhere that lacks harmony for it to work."
"Like the Everfree?"
"Again my dear, you're a genius." She smiled and teleported us outside the castle. We walked over a bridge and walked down the steps to the cavern where the heart of the Everfree was contained. When we reached the tree that controlled everything in this damn forest. I placed a drop on its roots and watched as it partially crystallised the tree. Taking a shot I threw the potion on the tree and a bright light enveloped the cave.
When the light died down we gasped at the sight before us.
We stepped forward and I placed a hand on the tree, causing a white aura to envelope my body. "Grandpa!"
"It's alright Screwball, it's not hurting me." I concentrated on the energy the tree was giving off. I pulled my hand away and the aura disappeared. I looked at a small rock and held my hand out, I imagined the rock floating towards me and it did, the white aura enveloped my hand and the rock as it floated towards me. "Well Screwy, looks like your grandpa can use magic now." I tried exiting my body but found that I couldn't. "That's odd..."
"What's wrong?"
"I seem to be stuck in the body, I can't separate my soul from it." I tried a few more times before giving up. "Hold on." I walked over to a wall and pushed my hand through it, like when I was in my spirit form it just went through it. "But I appear to have the abilities of when I'm a ghost." I turned to the tree. "Curiouser and curiouser." I walked towards it and placed my hand on it again. This time I was given knowledge...
Terrible...terrible knowledge...
I was given visions of future events, and it physically hurt to see what was about to happen in the next few years.
"Grandpa Spirit!" I collapsed to my knees and held my head in my hands. "What's wrong?"
"Keep an eye on your father Screwball, if anything seems out of the ordinary...you come get me. Understood?" She nodded, not pushing for more answers. "Come on, your mother will be wondering about you."
One month later
I've been keeping an eye on both Luna and Discord the past month, both have been acting normally, I haven't seen them do anything they normally wouldn't do, but time would tell. I don't know what is going to cause those two to act like they will, but I know that I'm not supposed to know.
I was given far off visions, it all has to happen...I can't stop it. The oncoming storm that will lead to the thousand year peace.
"Father, you seem troubled." I looked to my right to see Celestia looking at me with concern.
"I'm fine Celestia, I'm just thinking about the outcomes of one of my experiments."
"You do seem to be spending a lot of time in your study, have you reached some kind of breakthrough with that defensive project?"
"It looks promising, just got to iron a few things out then it should work." She nodded and was about to turn away. "The real question is are you ok, you've been very busy lately, more than usual."
She sighed and looked at me. "It has been very stressful, I've currently had little time to spend with Discord and Screwball, I can't tell you how much I appreciate you looking after her."
"What are grandparents for?" She smiled and nuzzled my side. "Now, I want you to drop everything you have planned for the day and go spend some time with your husband." She was about to protest when I placed a finger to her muzzle. "I'll take care of the paperwork, you need some quality time with Discord and Screwy. And it's not a question, it's an order."
"Oh really, and what if I do protest?"
"You're a million years too young to try to argue with me, now get going." She smiled and walked off. I sighed and walked into her study where a mountain of paperwork stood. "I'm starting to regret this."
