Author's Note

not too many changes, most of the royal sisters encounter is the same with some of the wording changed.

prologue 3: the royal sisters.

ONE WEEK LATER ARIES POV

It has been a week since my encounter with discord. In that week I've recovered most of my strength and am now ready to look for the royal sisters. It’s still hard to believe he was at that level, I knew he was strong, but that? Even after a direct hit from my divine tailed beast bomb he was still strong enough to keep up with me at my normal strength. Every time I did damage to him he only pulled out more power. Was he even using his full power? I need to get stronger, and unless there is a Gedo statue nearby, it doesn’t look like I’m going to get much more chakra at this point. If I had the rinnegan I would have one hell of an advantage, but unfortunately I don’t.

If I want to get stronger I need to acquire magic, and the strongest magic that I can think of aside from the elements here, and they don’t have DNA, is alicorn magic. Getting dna from Discord is just too dangerous at this point.. That is if he even has DNA to collect. I activate my sage of six paths senjutsu and channel the Tailed Beasts chakra to maximise my sensory range. It seems Discord has calmed down some, though now he won't underestimate me or give me a chance to get the drop on him.

I hate not being able to go after him myself but the devastation from our last fight has already caused enough damage. Now, where are they.... There! at the edge of the forest are two extremely strong magic signatures, and no malevolence in them either. This has to be them, they aren't anywhere near as strong as discord but are about as strong as two tailed beasts each. I make my way through the forest and keep a low profile dropping the chakra cloak and staying as quiet as possible as I get near their position and find a campsite. It's them! there sitting next to a fire talking with one another. They haven't spotted me yet, alright now how to approach them. I need to make sure they don't think I'm a threat. I drop down silently and walk forward. Just as i am about to come out I step on a twig…. Shit.

“Who’s there?!” Celestia shouts.

Ten minutes earlier
Celestia and luna's campsit
3rd pov

Celestia and Luna sat next to their camp fire conversing on the past week's event. They had been on their way to combat Discord now that they had finally believed they had reached their peak, but when they arrived there the devastation they found was mind-boggling, they found a massive crater where Discord throne had been and Discord was rampaging about in a terrifying form cursing an unseen opponent that had apparently fled. They had been confident with the power they had obtained by ascending that they could finally take down the tyrant that had tormented them and their ponies for so long.

It had taken the magic of two thousand S-Class of each of the three tribes, six thousand in all, in order to complete the ritual to make them what they are now. They had been completely changed, the life force of every last pony and their magic focused into them. The ritual had changed them in every way except mentally. They were still who they were before, but not what they were before, they had been changed on a genetic level. Their magic, strength and speed were now god like, but even after everything, all those lives lost, all that effort and the level of magic they felt in the AFTERMATH of the battle made theirs look like that of a sick ant. They had no hope of defeating him, all those lives wasted! and for what? they were not any closer to defeating discord then they were before.

"Tia what have we done? Because of us so many lives were lost and for what? So that we may be immortal goddesses that are powerless to do anything?" Luna asked defeated, she had lost so many friends in the ritual, all of them had put their hope in her..

"I don't believe that, there has to be some way we can defeat him! something to amplify our powers some artifact strong enough to take him down. I won't give up until we've beaten him." Celestia stated, she would not let their sacrifice be in vain. She would do everything in her power to take Discord down, but what!? The alicorn amulet was out of the question, it would amplify their power but at the cost of being corrupted beyond repair if they wore it for too long, and that was if they could even find it. The crystal heart was out as it only worked when enough positive emotions were put into it and even then it would be useless outside of the crystal empire and even if that wasn't the case there was no guarantee it would be strong enough to take him down anyway. There had to be something! But what?!

"Tia what can we do? There are none strong enough to take him down and it would take centuries if not millennium to create an artifact that could work on him. We need to find a way to get stronger." Luna said finally coming to a conclusion of her own. If they could get stronger than they maybe eventually they could take on discord together.

"How Luna? We trained for two hundred years to get where we are now and we stop getting stronger thirty years ago. We are as strong as we are going to get naturally, and even if we still could then it would take just as long if not longer to reach his level." Celestia retorted. Luna wanted to argue, but how? Celestia was right. Their power had plateaued years ago and no matter what form of training they tried it seemed to be of no use. Without some sort of weapon or artifact they were doomed to fail. They knew every spell that pony kind had and not one would be be able to give them an advantage.

"Then what are we going to make to do this?" Luna asked.

"I don't know." Celestia answered. She had been through her tomes many times looking over their options, there were a couple of artifacts that if real would guarantee their victory. The elements of harmony being their best hope, but unfortunately they were just a myth, one they had searched for several years now.

"Well while you think on what trinket we should make for this I'm going to get something to eat." Luna said as she got up, but as she was about to make her way into the forest to forage they heard something in the bushes near their camp.

"Who's there!" Celestia shouted as she shot up charging her horn with magic and Luna reading her swords.

Aries pov

As they get into defensive stances I try to think of a way to calm the situation. I haven't even showed myself! they must really be on edge at the moment.

"Well if you're going to be rude and brandish swords at me then I don't think I'll tell you." I say from my hiding spot they seem to have followed where my voice was coming from because there staring right where I am.

"This Isn't a game! and we have no time for this. Be on your way or else." Luna states pointing her sword in my direction.

"So even if I could give you a way to defeat Discord you would still have me leave?" I ask as I begin to back away. This gets their attention.

"Wait!" Celestia shouts "What do you mean you have a way to defeat Discord? We have tried everything that could possibly work and have not been able to." She says not believing i actually do have a way but it's obvious she hopes she's wrong.

"Have you considered the elements of harmony by any chance?" I ask with a sly grin they can't see.

"The elements? Now I know you're wasting our time. The elements are nothing but a myth." Luna says in an unamused tone.

"Really now? because I know where they are and see them every day in the forest." I retort

“Impossible! Show us. If they do exist then we need them now!" She says.

"And why would I do that? You have yet to give me anything in return." I say about to state my deal, but as I'm reaching for the vials to put the blood in I'm ripped from my hiding spot by Celestia's magic.

"Enough! Either tell me where it is or I will rip the information from your head!" She shouts in my face but as she sees for me for the first time she drops me, they have looks of shock and confusion on their faces.

"What are you?" Luna asks hesitantly "I am a human, and for your information sunbutt, if you even try to that again I'll be gone long before you get close." I state.

“What!? No that’s impossible, humans are just a myth they don’t really exist.” Luna states not believing me.

“Oh really? Then tell me what do I look like to you?” I ask with a smug smirk. But before Luna has an opportunity to say anything else on the matter Celestia interrupts her.

“Enough! I don’t care what you are. If you know where the elements are then tell us.” Celestia demands.

“Again, why would I do that when you have been so unkind to me and have offered nothing in return?” She isn't happy about this.

"You will tell us one way or another." She says.

"I never said I wasn't going to tell you. I just asked what's in it for me?" I say.

"If you tell us where they are you can have Tia!" Luna says shockingly.

"Now hold on! I'm not some bargaining chip!" Celestia sputters with a blush developing on her face.

"Oh please Tia, you haven't ever been able to keep a stallion, maybe this would work." Luna says.

"Um yeah, no thanks. I actually had something else in mind." I say somewhat odded out by the situation

"Ha! Even when you're offered as part of a deal the stallions still want me more!" Luna says as she takes a victorious pose.

"Umm no. No I don't." AsI say this Luna's eyes shoot wide open with shocked expression causing Celestia to smirk.

"what do you want then?" Celestia asks.
I pull out the vials and present them to the sisters.

"Just fill these up with your blood and I'll take you to the Tree of Harmony." i say bluntly already a bit exasperated by that little… unexpected turn of events… They aren't too happy with the idea.

"And what do you want our blood for." Celestia asks somewhat aggressively.

"What I do with it is my business. If you want me to take you to the elements then fill these up with your blood." I say. Reluctantly they take the vials and fill them by making small cuts and pulling out the blood with their magic. They hand them back to me.

"Don't make us regret this." Celestia says. Man if I wasn't strong enough to take them down that look alone might kill me.

"Now. I believe it's time for you to uphold your end of the bargain." Luna states.

"Yes, follow me." I say and they follow me into the forest, where they will find the artifacts that will bring them much happiness and pain. As we make our way to the cave the sisters seem on edge. They must not be used to being in the forest outside of foraging for food and water. Anything you find in the forest isn’t tainted by Discord's magic so it would be safer get their resources here.

“Are you two alright?” I ask trying to calm them down.

“This place is home to some of the most dangerous creatures in the world. Besides Discord of course. Why wouldn’t we be on edge?” Celestia asks rather rudely.

“Well considering your more dangerous than anything here I'd say you're just being ridiculous.” I say.

“What do you mean? Sure we are alicorns but we aren’t invincible.” Luna says after she jumps at the sound of a twig snapping somewhere in the shrubbery.

“True, but neither are the creatures of the forest. I have lived here for years and so far I have been able to take down everything that’s threatened me, even some of the dragons here know not to mess with me.” I say. I sense several concentrated sources of magic and nature energy approaching us, timberwolves. I stop and gather nature energy to activate basic sage mode. As they jump from their hiding spots they ignore me and growl at the sisters.

“Timberwolves!” Luna shouts as they ready themselves for combat. I walk up to the nearest Timberwolf and smile. He looks to me questioningly.

“Why have you brought these outsiders here? They disturb the forest!” He says to me.

“Human get away from it! Timberwolves are extremely dangerous!” Celestia shouts.

“I have a name you know. And these are my friends. Do not worry. As long as you stay with me they will not harm you.” I say trying to calm them.

“What? You honestly think that these animals are your friends?” Luna asks looking at me as if I had grown a second head.

“Birch can you please call off the pack? I promise they will not disturb the forest anymore then they need to while they're with me." I ask the alpha of the pack.

“Very well, but do not make me regret this Aries.” The timberwolf says to me as he and his pack slowly retreat back into the trees.

“You are a strange one you know that?” Celestia asks.

“Yes.” I simply respond

“What is your name by the way?” Luna asks as we trudge through the forest.

“Finally some manners!” I say.

“Hay! We have manners!” Celestia says insulted.

“Do you now? Then why don’t you ever use them?” I ask making them frown. “Up until now you have not shown one bit of manners. Luna just barely has by asking my name.” Celestia tries to retort but ends up looking like a fish out of water. “And for your information my name is Aries..” I answer Luna's question.

“Well then Aries it is, nice to meet you.” Luna says politely.

“Likewise.” Celestia says curtly.

“Well here we are.” I say as we get to the edge of the cliff that has the elements cave in the side of it, though they can’t see it yet.

“Where? There is nothing here but a gorge!” Luna shouts.

“I knew we shouldn’t have trusted you!” Celestia says as she readies her magic.

“You know you could try looking in the cave beneath us before jumping to conclusions.” I deadpan.

“Oh… Well let's have a look shall we?” She says as she stops her magic and a slight blush appeared on her cheeks. We make our way down the path on the side of the cliff and find the cave. As we make our way inside the sisters notice my living arrangements. It’s not much considering I only ever use a bed made from leave in a wooden bowl made with wood style.

“Is this where you live?” Celestia asks

“Yup, home sweet home.” I say happily.

“You mean you have had to live in a cave with just a pile of leaves to sleep on?” Celestia asks her voice taking a somewhat depressed tone.

“Yea, it’s not much but it’s home.” I say a little weirded out by this change in attitude. “Anyway here is the tree of Harmony” I say. They gasp at the sight of it

“The Tree of Harmony!” Luna says in awe.

“Yes , it’s quite impressive isn’t it?” I say walking up to the tree. “Alright, take them, they will bond to you once you do.” I say.

“And why have you not done so then?” Celestia asks.

“Several reasons, they work better with more users, up to six at a time, but will not work for a single person, not to mention I have no magic for them to bond to.” I say. How do I know this you ask? I don't really just theories, but they make sense for the most part right? Besides it's not like they would know if it's true or not, and I'm technically not lying right? Right?

“What?! No that’s impossible, everything has at least some magic!” Luna says.

“Well I don’t, yet. I am not from this universe, so I do not have its energies inside me nor do I have the capability to gain it.” I say. “Now then take the elements and let's go take down Discord.” I say.

“No.” Celestia says. “It’s too dangerous for you. You may be strong but Discord is far stronger than any of us. Stay here while we handle him.” She says “We will come back for you afterwards, you can live with us once we defeat discord. We owe you that much.” I'm not to happy with letting them face discord at the moment but she's half right. It’s too dangerous for me to be there, if he sees me he won't give them a chance to use the elements on him.

“Alright, but I'Il hold you to that promise.” I say not leading on to my real reason for not going.

“Stay safe until our return.” Luna says as they exit the cave.