Author's Note

Proofread by: Thunderbolt Sentinel and Wild Balance

Chosen By The Light

Pendragon laid on the ground dripping in sweat and completely out of breath, he was struck by a high fever and an unbearable amount of pain that made him scream in agony. The ponies could do nothing but watch as their friend suffered until nurse Red Heart and her doctor came rushing up to offer what help they could.

"Everypony stay back! Give him some air." The doctor ordered while checking Pendragons heartbeat which had become very weak from the venom now coursing through his body.

"Can you help him doc?" Applejack asked after hearing her friend cry out in pain and saw his arm had been blackened by the poison.

"We need to get him to the hospital! Red heart get a stretcher!"

"Yes Doctor!"

"Hold on kid, you're going to be alright." The doctor said aloud hoping to assure the others but even he couldn't be sure if Pendragon would survive knowing the strength of a manticores sting. By the time they had arrived at the hospital, things took a turn for the worst.

"AGGGH!!"

"Hold him down!"

The doctors and nurses worked furiously to tie down the human as his body began thrashing around from the immense pain of the venom and after much difficulty they had finally got Pendragon to settle down. Nurse Red Heart had applied a bag of I.V to help manage his fever along with an oxygen mask to help regulate his breathing. Twilight and her friends were waiting outside when they received the news that their human friend was doing okay for the moment but if he didn't get an antidote in his body soon he wasn't gonna last long.

"Poor sugarcube..." Applejack grabbed a small tissue to wipe the sweat from his brow as he took another wheezed breath, just the sight of her friend in such a state made the mares heart sink but knew standing around feeling sad wouldn't be much help.

"I'll see if Zecora can come up with an antidote." She announced before heading for the door with Fluttershy following behind.

"I'll go to, I need to pick up some medicine for my animals."

"Can't he just use his magic lighty thingy?" Pinkie asked before getting startled by a green glow coming from Pendragons blood veins. He had been poisoned by the fel.

"Okay. That's just weird!" Said Rainbow attempting to poke him when he cried out in pain once again.

"GAAA!!!" Pendragon writhed in agony with the straps on his bed holding him down as Nurse Red Heart rushed into the room with more painkillers hoping to calm him.

"What happened?" She asked with her eyes shooting daggers at Rainbow Dash who was closest to him.

"I didn't touch him I swear!"

"It's not you Rainbow, it's the poison! He must feel like he's on fire." Twilight said after noticing him break into another sweat.

"Maybe that's why he can't use his magic, the fel must be interferring somehow."

"So what do we do?" Asked Spike looking worried as his friends breathing became rapid and for the first time in her life Twilight couldn't think of an answer since she had no idea how to cure such a strange poison especially one made of a magic that she had never seen before.

"Come on Spike! We got work to do." Twilight and Spike returned to her castle hoping to find some answers in her research lab, she had worked furiously for hours with the help of Spike and Starlight Glimmer who was helping her examine some of the samples they had collected from the everfree forest.

"Fascinating!" Said Starlight looking through a microscope.

"It's like this magic is alive, it eats away at anything!"

"Well right now it's eating away at our friend so we better work fast!" Twilight said jotting down a few notes when Starlight asked.

"Maybe we can try using that magic of his? From what you told me it's really powerful stuff."

"Oh I wish we could Starlight but Pendragon said that he was chosen to wield that magic."

"What? How can magic choose who wields it and who doesn't?" Starlight asked trying to wrap her head around all this new information.

"Pendragon told me that the magic in his world is a bit different from ours, in fact the magic he uses comes from a living being!" Twilight then brought out a book that was given to her by the paladin and showed Starlight a picture of what looked like a crystal shrouded in the holy light, surrounded by warriors kneeling before it.

"These are the Naaru, they are beings of pure energy and are the ones who gave Pendragon and many others like him the magic known as The Holy Light and they are also protectors of the known universe; They have dedicated their lives to battle dark forces across the cosmos in hopes of bringing everlasting peace and have chosen many warriors as their champions."

"Seriously?" Starlight asked while getting a second look at the picture leaving Twilight to continue the research.

Meanwhile

Applejack and Fluttershy had arrived at Zecoras hut and told her of what was happening in the hope that she had a cure for their human friend.

"I am am sorry to hear your friend is unwell but I fear I have no cure for this thing you call Fel. Though it is true I have many a remedy this dark magic is new even to me." The Zebra told them in her usual rhyming pattern which left Applejack more worried than before even though she knew coming to Zecora's was gonna be a long shot.

"Come now my friend, do not mope. Where there is life there is always hope." Zecora then handed the farm mare a small pouch with a friendly smile.

"If it will help erase that frown, this mixture will help bring his fever down."

"Thanks Zecora."

Applejack and Fluttershy left her hut shortly afterwards and returned to ponyville to see how the others were doing and while she did her best not to show it the farm mares thoughts drifted back to her friend now laying in a hospital bed completely helpless, in that moment a strange voice called out to her.

"Applejack..."

She began looking around the trees and bushes for the source of the voice before it called out to her once again.

"Applejack. You are worthy."

"Who's there?!?" She asked looking around and feeling nervous but the voice had stopped.

Applejack figured that all the recent stress was causing her to hear voices and simply shrugged off the incident as nothing and rushed out of the forest with Fluttershy. By the time she arrived at the hospital she could see Pendragon had taken another turn for the worst, the poison had worked its way through half of his body giving him a hideous appearance and his fever had spiked once again.

"Oh Applejack! Now's not a good time." Red Heart told her after noticing her presence.

"I brought this." Applejack handed the nurse the small pouch Zecora gave her.

"It's from my friend Zecora, it should help with his fever."

"I see. We'll give it to him at once!" True to their word, the nurses mixed the powder in a tea and helped Pendragon to drink it and after a few hours his fever began to die down along with his pain allowing him some much needed rest.

"I'll leave you two alone." Red Heart said with a warm smile before leaving the room. Applejack stood next to her friend who was fast asleep and felt relieved not seeing him suffer but his current condition still made her feel worried.

"Applejack...." Pendragon whispered catching her by surprise but it was a surprise she was glad to have.

"Sugarcube you're awake!"

"Applejack listen." He said slowly turning his head to her.

"You have to kill me..."

Applejack froze in complete shock when she heard this and slowly became furious as she angrily glared at her friend.

"What in the hay seed are you saying sugarcube?!? You shouldn't talk like that!" She lectured.

"The poison. Once it kills me I will become one of the undead." He slowly raised his right arm now blackened by the poison in his body.

"If I am to die then I wish to die while I'm still me..."

"STOP THAT!!" She yelled slowly breaking into tears and to see Applejack cry was something Pendragon had not expected to see.

"You're not going to die! Me and the girls are going to find a way to cure you!"

"Applejack-!"

"Please Pendragon just hold on a little longer." She begged holding his hand not caring for the poison. Pendragon was at a loss for words, he had not seen someone care for him so much in such a long time and could not help but smile as he answered.

"Alright, for you." Out of common courtesy and gratitude the paladin gently pulled her hoof towards his lips planting a kiss that made the farm mares cheeks flush pink.

"Thanks for looking out for me Applejack."

The farm mare just stood there frozen for a moment when the nurse came in telling her that visiting hours were up, Applejack said her goodbyes and left the hospital with the thought of the kiss still fresh in her mind. Her heart began to race for a moment as she remembered the feeling of her hoofed being kissed for the first time in her life and even began to have a daydream about it before snapping herself back to reality.

"Pull yourself together AJ! A kiss on the hoof doesn't mean nothin'! And besides he's not even a pony!" She said to herself while heading back to the farm for some much needed sleep.

That night in her dreams, Applejack found herself standing below a sea of stars that seemed to go on forever yet could not figure out why she was here; She usually dreamt about harvesting apples.

"Applejack, you are worthy." Said the same voice she had heard from before.

"Alright show yourself! Who are you and what are you talkin' about?!?" She yelled when bright light suddenly appeared out of nowhere and with it a strange floating crystal.

"My name is A'Dal, do not be afraid." Said a gentle voice coming from the strange being who began to float down towards the mare.

"W-what do you want with me?" She asked feeling nervous.

"You wish to save Pendragon. I can help you." A'Dal replied catching her attention.

"How?"

"By giving you the same power." At that moment A'Dal bestowed the holy light upon her without a second thought, the sensation Applejack felt was warm and soothing like that of a fireplace on a cold winters night and slowly the light faded back into her body.

"Why are you doing this?"

"You will understand in time."

Before Applejack could ask any more questions her dream instantly faded in a bright flash that brought her back into the waking world. The sun had just begun to rise over the hills of sweet apple acres as the rooster began to crow which meant she was late to prepare breakfast and rushed downstairs only to find Granny Smith and Big Macintosh working together in the family kitchen.

"Well good morning Applejack!" Said granny in a cheerful manner as she placed a stack of pancakes on the table.

"Morning Granny! Sorry for not makin' breakfast"

"Oh don't you fret none. You got enough to worry about what with yer friend being in the hospital and all."

"Eeyup." Big Mac agreed while placing a pitcher of apple juice on the table. After the family finishes breakfast and the daily chores, Applejack went to the hospital for her daily visit along with her friends who had brought gifts. Pinkie came with some balloons and a small chocolate cake with sprinkles while Rainbow Dash brought some weights knowing her friend would want to get his strength back after getting out of the hospital.

"I really hope Pen likes this cake, it's triple chocolate!" Pinkie said having second thoughts about her gift.

"I'm sure he'll love it." Fluttershy assured her as the hospital doors automatically opened. Rarity went to the front desk to check if their friend was able to have visitors when she got the frightening news that he had been rushed to the emergency room earlier this morning.

"What happened?!?"

"All we know is that his vitals suddenly dropped. The doctors are doing everything they can."

"You have to let us in there!" Applejack demanded but the receptionist told her only hospital staff were allowed inside for the moment, thankfully Twilight was able to work her way around such rules now that she had become a princess and with a little persuasion she was able to get them inside the room holding their friend.

Operation Room

The room was filled with ponies dressed from head to hoof in robes surrounded by trays of medical tools, six more ponies entered the room with one having the distinguished features of an alicorn that the doctors and nurses recognized.

"Princess Twilight!"

"We came to see our friend. I read that having loved ones near you during a medical operation helps one relax."

"Understood your majesty but try not to disturb him too much."

The doctor moved aside for Twilight and the others to see Pendragon who now laid dying on a hospital bed. The paladins body was now completely ravaged by the fel poison as it slowly drained what was left of his life yet somehow he was still trying to fight it off, even at deaths door Pendragon refused to give in.

"Pendragon? It's us." Fluttershy's voice was the first thing to wake him and for a moment he smiled after seeing all his friends by his side but he didn't have the strength to speak and simply drifted back to sleep with his gaze still focused on them.

"We've done all we can...the best we can do now is make him comfortable." That is the last thing anyone would want to hear from a doctor trying to save a loved one. For a while the room was still with nothing but the beeping of the heart monitor and the sound of the oxygen tank pumping air into Pendragons lungs when Applejack spoke gently as she placed a hoof on his hand.

"I don't know if you can hear me sugarcube but listen. You can't leave us especially after we became such good friends and it's true we didn't get along at first but we're all still really glad we met you especially me." She said with a small blush on her cheeks.

"I still haven't forgotten how you saved my little sister and her friends. I was so worried that I'd lose her just like I lost my parents but you saved her and for that I'll always be grateful so please...please don't give up." She gently kissed his hand and from that kiss came a small spark of holy light.

"W-what in the name of oats and apples?!?" The farm mare shouted before getting blindsided by a bright flash that lit the room.

The whole room was stunned by what they were witnessing, Pendragon was slowly being lifted into the air by an unseen force as the light began surrounding his body and burning away the poison while restoring his strength. The light then fell upon the six friends giving them a strange sensation much like when they received the elements of harmony and were amazed until their friend floated back to the ground and fell to his knees still looking exhausted, Applejack was the first to try and help him stand and asked if he was feeling alright before seeing he was completely cured of the poison.

At first Pendragon could see nothing but blurred images and heard fuzzy voices all around him until the familiar voices of his friends crying out in joy as they joined together for a group hug.

"What...what happened?" Fluttershy asked as they looked at each other when Pendragon finally found the strength to stand.

"The Light...it chose you." He spoke in astonishment looking at his friends who had unknowingly been covered by a radiant aura only he could see.

"What do you mean?" Asked Rainbow Dash as he began to explain.

"Just as you represent the elements of friendship you six also represent the qualities of a paladin. Honor, loyalty, wisdom and compassion."

"Indeed they do." Said the voice of Princess Celestia who came trotting into the halls followed by her sister and royal guards. The doctors knelt before them as did Twilights friends while Pendragon did his best to stand at attention like a soldier would before royalty.

"How do you feel Sir Pendragon?" Asked Luna still feeling concerned for his welfare when the human raised his right hand and slowly formed a fist saying.

"Like I can take a thousand men!"

"And he's back!" Said Rainbow Dash with a proud smile.

"I am glad to see you in high spirits Pendragon because I have something for you and your friends. Come to Canterlot Castle tomorrow."

"As you command Princess Celestia."

Without another word the two sisters left allowing the group to celebrate their friends miraculous recovery.

The Next Day in Canterlot Castle

Pendragon had been fully dressed in his battle armor when he and the others arrived at the castle which was unusually quiet today.

"Where is everypony?" Twilight pondered while continuing towards the throne entrance with the others.

"Perhaps the princess gave the castle staff the day off." Rarity assumed that was the case but it seemed unlikely that the entire castle would take a vacation especially given the recent string of events.

The doors to the throne room began to slowly open as the handles became shrouded by a magic aura and within moments the group was greeted by a large crowd of ponies followed by a squad of royal guards who had cleared the path to the throne, the hall had been decorated with flowers and streamers that made Pinkie break into a wide smile.

"Is this some kind of party?!?" She squealed in anticipation before noticing Celestia and Luna smiling at them.

"In a way, yes." Said Luna answering the pink mares question while they made their way to the throne where the group was presented a banner baring their cutie marks that were placed in a circle around a lions head. Much like the one on Pendragons cape.

"Princess Celestia what is all this?"

"Please kneel." The friends did as they were told and knelt before the princess as she began tapping each of their shoulders with her horn including Spike.

"Twilight my former pupil. You and your friends have done so much for this great land of hours, it is only fitting that you receive the highest honor I can bestow." At that moment the six friends became shocked as Twilight looked up to her former teacher.

"You don't mean-!"

"Twilight Sparkle, I hereby dub you and your friends as The Guardians of Harmony; Knights of Ponyville." There was a mixture of excitement and shock since Twilight and her friends had never been given such a high honor aside from having their images painted in stain glass windows but the surprise didn't stop there.

"And the one I think who is most fit to lead this new order of knights...is you Pendragon."

"Me?"

"Despite not being from this world you protected Twilight, her friends and the very citizens of Equestria with honor and you know of the new enemy we face and how they work. I can think of no other worthy to lead this new order."

Urged by the encouragement of the crowd and his friends, Pendragon slowly took up the banner for all to see as the crowd broke out into a mighty cheer and the royal guards saluted their new knights. It was a proud day for Twilight and the others but while they celebrated, Grogar and his minions had finished putting on the finishing touches for his latest plan; The Scourge was on the move.

End.