Warriors of the Deep

The room is quiet. My hooded helm covers my face, so my reaction isn’t revealed quite yet. Meaning that what I say next could determine how they see me from here on out. If I just submit then they might believe controlling me in the long run to be beneficial. But if I’m too abrasive and harsh that has it’s own bundle of problems. The princess’s gaze turns questioning, probably due to my extended silence.

“Before I agree to this questioning, may I ask what I’m being charged for? I have no memory of how I got here and seemed to have woken up in a cell”. Both the guards and the Princess were apparently startled by something in my response. Maybe they expected more resistance?

“Oh, sorry about that. The reports states you just appeared on top of a residents roof around 12 last night. You were unconscious, and for some reason we were unable to take off that armor for medical treatment. So after confirming your breathing status they put you in the local detention cell under drunken vandalism.” Oh, well that’s interesting. But the way she keeps glaring at me while keeping her horn charged, as well as the energy I keep feeling probing what feels like my very existence, tells me I’m somehow suspicious to her.

“So any specific reason why you keep prodding me with magic? Usually we would go out to dinner first. But hey, maybe your culture works a little more… aggressive.” That got her somehow glowing a bit red regardless of the layers of fur as she stuttered and avoided eye contact. The guards on her sides chuckling under breath until receiving a glare from her.

“Well if you will follow me, I’ll be happy to explain everything about your situation.” Realizing that I have little control of the situation if I want a peaceful approach I nod and follow the princess out of the containment block. Entering the main lobby of the station, sure enough the main populace are ponies of all kinds. Signing in at one cubicle is a pegasus cop struggling into their jacket, probably can’t find the wing holes. Another across the room tending to her unicorn child as she waits in customer service to file some complaint. Bringing my attention to a mint green unicorn right behind her with eyes deadlock on you. We both tilt our heads to the side in intrigue. Flipping her off, she seems to get flustered. Huh, wondered if that translated or not. I’ll apologise if I ever see her again… Or remember…

“Fuck!” I exclaim, recovering from my head hitting the door frame. While I was following them with my peripherals, I didn’t notice the shorter than average doorframe entering the room. Already hearing the chuckles again, including from the princess, I walk over to the empty stool across the metal, bolted table from her. This is probably one of the interrogation rooms for the station if the glass window wall behind her is one way. All but confirmed to me if the huge magical signature behind it is any indication.

“Alright, since i’ve introduced myself already, why don’t you start the conversation.”

“Alright. My name is Artorias of the Deep,” I state confidently. If I start out with my alias title they’ll probably think there's more to this case. Then I can create a backstory from there. She narrows her gaze, nodding her head and asks the next question.

“Why do you feel the need to lie? You are aware that this situation isn’t favorable, correct?” Well that wasn’t expected. They definitely didn’t connect any lie detector to me. And her expression before calling me out seems as if there is some contact with another. Best guess being that someone on the other side is gauging my answers through magical means. “This is too complex of a  situation. Guess there’s no harm in indulging. But I wonder if I can test something out...”

“Arlan Artorias of the Deep? Not sure why you think I was lying though… One name shouldn’t be too much consequence.” Gaze constant, she now quirks an eyebrow. Success, whoever is judging my words is somehow confirming how much belief there is in the phrase. The first one was a lie because it was just a title I used. But adding my actual first name and focusing a bit more made it more believable. “But I want to know, why do you deem me such a threat that you need some living lie detector for back up.” to punctuate my point, I take my helmet off and reveal the biggest change about me. Looking where I believed the person stood, I smile and wink. In actuality I just pondered at how my face changed: Still the same dark skin tone, though a little weathered. Biggest change being the dark green mop of long hair in a ponytail as well as my modest green beard. Little weird having this much facial hair at 19 but i’ll take it. Twilight clears her throat to get my attention.

“If you insist, there have been two major incidents. The most recent being a portal of dark energy appearing and a bipedal warrior, like yourself, appeared and tried to assassinate Princess Luna and Princess Celestia during the Grand Galloping Gala event. The other  being another portal that dropped diseased slugs that attacked anything nearby. And when I was scanning you earlier I noticed the same energy emitting from your personal aura. Which leads me to believe that you are the cause of these attacks.

Mad Dark Spirit Holy Knight Hodrick has Invaded

Before she can continue the report or I can react the wall behind me explodes inward and I’m stabbed in the back by a purple haze. Getting of the floor by a roll in the opposite direction, I brace myself on a knee and see a Mad Spirit charge forward. Anticipating this I double hand my Wolf Knight sword and somersault above head delivering a fatal down-slash, flattening him. His health a pixel I cast Dark combustion, burning his body to  ashes as I absorb his soul count, leaving only a vertebrae shackle left. Grabbing it with my left hand, the item is transported to what feels like a space pocket, while the weapon went… somewhere on my back.

Setting back upright the stool, I sit down and gaze at both Twilight and the guards at each of her side, all with dumbfounded shocked expressions. Behind them I can actually see two larger ponies about my height and five average sized ones through the now completely shattered one way window. Well four, the pink one disappeared and reappeared to my side at terrifying speeds.

“Oh MY GOSH, that was AMAZING, he was all “BOOM Backstab!” but you just rolled away and was like ”Not Today! Backslash!” and then uses some black fire which was a ‘teensey bit’ scary but then Super Effective because he was a normal type an-”

“Sorry to interrupt but what are your names?”

“Pinkie Pie! And that's Twilight, but you met already, and Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow, Princess Celestia and Luna, and Fluttershy is hiding behind the couch!” pointing with a twitchy left what I would guess a hoof. Sure enough I could see a tuft of pink hair and two butter ears at the left corner of the couch against the plain wall.

“Well, now that everybody is here let’s play political twenty questions. Since Twilight was talking to you all anyway this should go faster.” Princess Celestia then walked forward to the impromptu barrier between rooms. Pastel rainbow hair flowing like an aura with a horn around eight inches long. Although like Luna and Twilight with both horns and wings, the overall girth and height put her a head taller than me, making her around 6ft 3" without the horn.

“Truly this has been a dire first meeting between races with every being on edge. Let my question solve the majority of fears. And please, although you figured out how to fool dear Applejack, do be honest with us right now.” Definitely the main politician out of the three. Also nice to know my earlier assumption about lie detection wasn’t a bluff. I nod to let her continue. “Can you swear on your sword as a warrior that you were not in leagues with the now three assailants against creatures in our realm?”

“To answer the question, I swear on my sword that I am in no league of malcontent.” A stern gaze.

“Yet you do not swear as a warrior? You do desire peace do you not?” This puts everyone, or pony, on edge.

“I did not swear as warrior due to me not being a warrior. I am merely a human with extraordinary power and tools of survival thrust into a situation. But if it may give you peace,” Looking into her eyes. “I swear on my existence that I wish no harm against any living creature unless they pose an immediate threat to my life or those I care about.” Our gazes hold for several minutes, almost testing each others willpower before we simultaneously nod. “Any other questions?” At this time the second tallest, Princess Luna in her midnight blue form with hair of the astral plane, stepped beside her sister while Princess Celestia went about piling the glass shards in the corner of our side of the room.

“Interesting you say that you’re no warrior, yet you fell a beast that even our elements had trouble fending off. Not even taking into account the weird magics at thine beck and call.”

“To be honest,” I hesitate. “I’m still getting the hang of this new form. Where I come from nothing like this or even any of your society is common. Yet the longer I live and breathe… The more I feel morbidly comfortable in this form. Each little secret and hidden aura whispering the keys...”

“Then how about a compromise?” Princess Twilight spoke up.. “While you're new to our world and have no resources those combat skills are undeniable. So how about working as a sort of default specialist in these situations. That way you get a place to live. As well as a group to help you understand your abilities.”

Truly the ideal circumstances for me if I agree. But even good natured promises can become controlling. “I agree, but on the condition that I remain in control of my own actions. As well as have the freedom to travel on my own time. Not to be rude, just don’t think to highly of contractual obligation “yadda, yadda”.”  Both of the elder princesses seemed to understand and even giggle in understandment. This seemed to give Twilight the okay as she turned towards me and stuck out a hoof.

“Well, Arlan Artorias of the...”

“Please,” I chuckle, shaking her hoof. God this feels awkward. ”Just Arlan or Artorias is fine.” We share a smile as we make our way out of the new uneven entrance to the Police department’s west wing.

“Welcome to Ponyville! Where Friendship is Magic.” dead silence is her only reply. Shaking her head she mumbled something about a tough crowd and having to rehearse for weeks… Yeah, i’m probably going to fit in here fine.