Author's Note

Before you read this chapter; I want you to know now, IT IS NONESSENTIAL FOR THE STORY!
People say this box is the bane of their existence, I love it! I can use it to tell people that the next chapter is the turning point of the story, and the official voting block. Now in the last chapter I told you how to vote (comments), but now you get to! It's nothing major, okay that's a lie, it is major. You will be voting on which path Garrett will follow. Will he follow the path of Annihilation, Immortality, or Serenity? It isn't hard to determine which word goes to each path (Evil/Neutral/Good). So voting starts now, and ends when I post the winner. [I might start a blog for the voting process]

For clarity, Italics (no " " around words) mean flashback/Celestia telling story[this chapter only]. Italics (with " " around words) mean speaking during flashback. Bold words mean one of the Main 6 is asking a question/making an inference/interjecting their thoughts into the story. Finally, Normal words (unaltered) in the flashback means Celestia's answering a question, or it's back to the normal story. And finally, Bold Italics mean Garrett is speaking while using Lunarkinesis (after losing control).

Side note - 1. past tense writing, easy. Keeping it, bout damn near threw my laptop across the room.

1. If you have an OC named Platinum Shield, I'm sorry. I picked two words and said 'This looks good.' (This is also how I wrote this chapter [with little care])

2. I officially hate flashbacks; it's next to impossible to convey emotion, it's told from one character, and you can't and "X" I said bitterly, I don't like how it's all entirely left up for interpretation (I like to keep some details concrete). It also annoys me how to show external events (such as coughing) you have to use asterisks. Finally, flashbacks just get on my nerves; they're past tense, until you speak and then it's a constant switch between past and present, to show a character is performing and action, you *use these damn things*, proper speech rules apply to the one telling the damn thing, while everyone else appears as a quoted segment, and last but not least, they almost serve no purpose to advance the plot or help establish character personalities.
   Yes this chapter ends on a cliffhanger, I need to stop that, but anyways, tell me what you think about it. Also don't forget to place your votes for the next chapter!

Rise and Fall

"Twilight, I want you and your friends to know that, despite what Garrett may claim, I am not a whore, nor am I a tyrant. But I am one of the reasons he is in this state. For you see, a long time ago, Garrett wasn't a noble or a knight, no; he was an outcast." Celestia says motherly, "And when Luna and I first met him, he was lost and scared. We stood up for him, took care of him, raised him like our own son. If only we realized back then that he suffered from a serious mental condition; Post Traumatic Stress Disorder." She finishes solemnly.

"What's post traumatic stress disorder? Is it some kind of sugar disorder?" Pinkie Pie asks, earning harsh glares from the other girls.

"It's quite alright girls, she's done nothing wrong. PTSD is a serious mental condition in which something, someone, or some altercations of any kind cause a sudden and serious flashback. This becomes a problem as the victim tends to lash out at what triggered the event, sometimes needing to be tranquilized in order to safely insure others are safe. Garrett's PTSD is triggered by three things; knives, crossbows, and wingblades. But that's beside the point, I was going to tell you all of how Luna and I caused is ultimate demise." Celestia says looking out of a window with a tear in her eye, glistening in the sunlight.

Our tale begins here actually; on a bright and sunny day. The birds were chirping, the sun shining, and not a single cloud to speckle the crystal blue skies. Nothing could shatter the serenity of the day, that is, until two young and beautiful women decided to leave the castle.

"Come on Luna, you can't stay inside these walls all your life."

"Of course I can Tia, watch me." Luna said defiantly. My response was to grab her in magic and take the chariot into town. Once we arrived, and after another bout of telling the ponies not to bow, we headed off to have some fun around the place. The one thing that bugged me, were these things that looked like ponies, but they weren't.

"Lulu, do you know what those hairless beings are?"

"No dear sister, we have no notion what they might be." We cut our venture short there and asked around. Turns out they were called humans, a race formerly used as slaves for work in the fields. Even though they didn't like it, they put up with it, because the ones that did usually ended up as a meal for the animals surrounding the town. It was horrible, knowing that those humans had to live in constant fear of death, well, all but one did.

"Was it Garrett?"

"Yes miss Pie. Now Garrett was different back then."

He lived in secrecy, only coming out to get what he needed before leaving until the next day. After spending time in the town, Luna and I decided enough is enough, we had to know who this mysterious human was. When asked, only one pony knew where to look, and while she was right, the sight we saw will never leave our memories.

"Dost thou see it sister? A human performing magic!"

"Yes I see it, but I just don't believe it." But sure enough he was using magic on a thug robbing a young mare. Only back then, he wore a full bodied black hooded robe, and had a black and red trimmed side cloak. Along with this, the hood hid his face from view. At first we observed him from afar, but Luna insisted on meeting him. So, on one of his outings into town, we decided to lose our commoner disguises and ask him as royalty. Now, when we did this, like everywhere else, the towns ponies and humans bowed, yet Garrett merely nodded before walking on his merry way.

"Didst thou not see who we are? We are thine Princesses, you should've shown us respect."

"I know who you are, Princess Luna. I've known for awhile now, but I don't care for ponies I don't respect." If he had said this anywhere in private with us, we would've had a nice laugh about it, but he chose to say it in front of the entire town.

"Did you hear him, the nerve!"

"Bite me. I shall say what I choose, and whom I say it to." We were taken aback, no one had ever said something like that to us before. I must say, it was quite the welcome change of pace.

"Yes, but what of your secret? Surely thou must know we hold it like thine self?" I don't know why Luna said that, but it was what caused his rise to glory as Luna's personal guard, though at the time, he didn't know it.

"What happened next? Did Garrett learn some respect?"

"Please Twilight, show some tact. During that time frame he was homeless, and needed help. Now as for what happened next, I'll start with his meeting with our parents."

This was Garrett's most important meeting of his life, and the first thing he did was spit on our fathers face, and tell our mother to 'get bent' whatever that meant. I still remember hearing Luna and the guards laughing their asses off. But that's not important, it was the aftermath that counts.

"Son, do you have any idea how much trouble you're in? You're lucky I don't come down there and kill you myself."

"Oh come now, he was only messing around with you Solaris, I think he'd fit right in as one of the castle guards." Luna and I jumped into the air at that statement, all we needed to hear was our fathers approval.

"Very well Nocturna, but should this fail, note it's on thine own shoulders this frivolity had failed." Even though it was a warning, Luna, mother, the guards, and myself included all shouted in approval knowing we'd all be earning not just a new guard, but a new heir to the throne, after Luna and myself.

"So does that make him a prince then? That actually sounds pretty cool."

"No miss Dash, he refused the option to succeed our father, seeing that he'd die in around 72 years. That made him at least 16 years of age, humans only lived to an average of 88 years. Well, I say he refused, in secret he accepted. Now, onto the moment our parents found out he could do magic."

"I don't see why they keep me around sometimes, I mean maybe as a novel concept."

"I don't know either, but quit beating yourself up over every Celestian damn thing and enjoy your break, wait never mind. It seems that your rival wants to fight." And sure enough, the guard was right. Garrett's main rival, Platinum Shield, had challenged him to a brawl.

"But I can't do magic, surely an Arcainian such as yourself would know this."

"I care not for your excuses human! I will have this brawl, and you will grant me this fight." When word broke out that a guard and noble were to have a brawl in the coming night, every pony and human showed up to the Everfree stadium to witness it. When the fight started, Platinum fought fairly, then he started to use his magic to take the upper hand.

"Lulu, Platinum is breaking the rules of the brawl."

"Tia, please. Garrett may be down, but he shan't lose to the likes of Platinum." We both turned back towards the fight ensuing, well more like everyone gathered to start shouting in disapproval.

"Dost thou see that Tia? Garrett's visage is changing."

"Come now Lulu, surely you jest." It was at that point that Garrett started laughing like a mad man. He opened his eyes, nay, that thing opened its eyes; black and red orbs made to pierce the soul. He then opened his left hand and revealed a small white sphere.

"Is that all? An appearance change and a small orb. This fight will be over after my next attack."

"You under estimate me. This tiny little orb could kill you, and all I have to do is hit you with it." to our surprise Platinum walked up to Garrett and said he could have a free hit.

"Tell you what, you can have a free hit to the face, and I won't kill you instantly." If only he had headed Garrett's warning. After acknowledging his opportunity, Garrett didn't hit him, but he uppercutted Platinum with that damned white orb. I pity whichever poor fool ends up on the receiving end of that forsaken orb. That orb had two uses, as a simple knock back and heal, or it could be used to take a ponies life away in an instant. Platinum suffered from the latter and payed dearly, while Garrett didn't take his life, his left arm and leg were blown clean off of his body. I still remember the fiendish laugh of Garrett, followed by the screaming of the crowd.

"So what happened next? Also, what year was this?"

"Now now Miss Pie. I will explain what happens, as for the year, it was 100 years before Luna was banished to the moon."

Now we rejoin the story at Garrett's court case.

"We of the Shield family, in the Platinum House, find the human, Garrett; guilty of all charges presented upon him." The judge looked at Garrett, and insteads of getting an objection, he nodded and let the verdict stand. Garrett was deemed guilty of attempted murder, became a convicted felon of the state, and had a term that would last longer than his life would allow him to live. Well, I shouldn't say Garrett went down quietly, no. He pulled a trump card that nopony present saw coming.

"This case is vitrified on the case that not only am I a knight to her majesty; Princess Luna, but I am also a Prince of Equus, as stated by King Solaris and Queen Nocturna!" He shouted just before the hand cuffs were locked on his wrists. While I was not there, nor was Luna, the entire event was documented. Back at the palace, we heard the news and ultimately made a startling realization; Garrett declared what had been speculated around the castle. When we asked our parents they confirmed that he was now an immortal, and like us, a guardian. I guard the sun and the future, Luna the moon and dreams, and Garrett the night itself. After some time, he saw the corrupting abilities of his powers,he saw what power does; corrupts, he saw the corruption of Luna long before anypony else did. I only wish he'd have told us.

"Um what about the whole beautiful woman, a young man, and a jealous sister thing you stated earlier?"

"Oh, my mistake Miss Dash, you see, Garrett is the young man. Luna was the beautiful girl, and I the jealous sister, as for how, that I'll explain soon."

"Garrett, I have to ask you something, do you think Luna's been acting strangely as of late?"

"Yes, she's been acting strange, but no stranger than you M'lady. Remember as I've said; Power corrupts all, even saints fall into its dark grasps."

"I'm well aware! You keep saying that damn phrase over and over! So stop, please, it's annoying!"

"As you wish M'lady, is there anything else you require?"

"Yes. I need to ask, and be honest. Do yo think I'm becoming jealous of Luna?"

"I won't say much, but yes. You do seem to become very irate at the mention of her name. If that's all you need, then I'll be off." I hadn't said it back then, but I'd go back and force myself to ask how to change our relationship. Only I hadn't and paid for it dearly. Over the next few years, Luna's attitude worsened and so did mine, while she became resentful and bitter. I became vengeful and scornful. Soon, the inevitable happened, Luna turned into Nightmare Moon, and against my better judgement, I was elated about it. Until she came and assaulted me, claiming that my days of tyranny were over. At that moment I realized that Luna was gone, only that nightmare remained, but even through all of this, Garrett fought Luna, he held her back to a stalemate, all without having to use his magic, or Lunarkinesis as he calls it. Throughout their entire fight, he tried to get through to Luna, but once that failed he told me to do the unthinkable.

"What was it? Surely it couldn't be that bad."

"Miss Pie, he asked me to use the Elements of Harmony on my own flesh and blood." *sob* "I couldn't bring myself to do that. I-I-I couldn't do it! The moment Equus needed me, I l-let it down." *uncontrollable sobbing*

"Princess, you still did it in the end and that's what counts. You proved then and there that no problem is too large for you to handle."

"T-thank you Twi-light. that means a lot to me."

"What happened next?"

"Right of course, sorry Miss Jack, let's re continue this tale."

"Garrett, I cant! I won't! She's still my sister!"

"At the moment, no, she isn't. The sooner you realize this, the sooner you can end this." I looked at Garrett and nodded reluctantly, I didn't want to do it, but i needed to be done. Not for me, but for Equus. When Nightmare moon saw the Elements of Harmony, she laughed and fought me without hesitation. It was heart breaking, knowing my own sister would try and kill me without mercy. So for that one moment, that moment that is etched into my memory for an eternity; Luna was no more, Nightmare Moon needed to be stopped.

"Nightmare Moon! For attempted treason and acts of terror against Equus, I hereby sentence you to banishment." I had hoped she'd see reason, but alas, she hadn't. I ultimately used the Elements of Harmony to seal Nightmare Moon on the moon. Yet only one hundred years later, I'd use the Elements again. This time on Garrett. For why, I was clouded by guilt, rage, and sorrow. I blamed Garrett, stripped him of his rank as lead guard, and attempted to remove his title of Prince of the Night.

"What'd ya go do thar fer?"

"Miss Jack, you must realize that my sister was now locked on the moon, Garrett hardly consolidates with me, I guess in a fit of rage I confronted him and accused him of Luna's predicament."

"Garrett! Come out here, Now!"

"Yes M'lady? Have I done something wrong?" I didn't say anything, and for the first time ever, I wrongfully attacked some one unprovoked. It wasn't intentional, but I was a nervous wreck, and when I started to attack Garrett he didn't retaliate. Instead he managed to enrage me even more, despite only having good intentions.

"Attack me all you'd like. You need to blow off some steam, everyone does. No one is ever truly perfect."

"I AM THE PINNACLE OF DIVINITY! I AM PERFECTION, YOU ARE CORRUPTION!" I hadn't meant to say those things, but I did, and they hurt me to this day. I live in fear of the monster I became.

"Then finish me off, purge the imperfection."

"I AM GOING TO END YOU!" After I said that, I used the Elements of Harmony in a fit of rage. When the beam connected to Garrett, it originally did nothing, but then my rage corrupted the beam. It turned from a rainbow colored light into a beam of black and green hatred and rage. The beam turned him into a statue, with a look of horror, yet serenity plastered upon his eyes.

"What happened next? To the humans, if you don't mind?"

"I don't mind Miss Shy, the humans went extinct. To put it bluntly, when the corrupted beam from the Elements dispersed, it sent a wave across Equus. This wave corrupted anything it touched, and while it only caused slight disruption, the planets humans, however, were not so lucky. The humans had no magical essence to protect against the blast. Over the following years, the humans slowly started to mutate into the animals that inhabit this forest and the planet."

"Does that mean Garrett will mutate over time as well?"

"No Twilight, Garrett wont mutate, he managed to trap enough harmonic energy inside of his statue to prevent an immediate mutation, or any mutation."

"Um, speaking of Garrett, where is he?"

"I know where he is young Rainbow, but this place is very sacred to him. I expect all of you to be on your best behavior, you are guests in this place, be respectful." *sound of magic charging* "I am not responsible for your actions." *magical release sound* "I'm only in charge of myself... Good luck, and may the stars favor your travel."