Author's Note

Hello,Lazy here, I just wanted to say I rewrote this chapter because... well, the previous ending was rushed. I don't why I wrote what I did. But I hope this more... vague... ending, is more satisfactory.

Also, thank you to Romeo for pointing this out, I do hope this version is better. And don't hesitate to tell me otherwise. This helps me become a better writer.

I Almost lost it. (Rewritten)

The moon sat beautifully over the slumbering city of Canterlot. Well, mostly sleeping; there were still a few ponies milling about in the night hours.

But, deep within the castle itself, sat a large chamber. Big enough to be called an indoor stadium. It being able to hold just about three hundred ponies with enough room to prevent overflowing. In it sat the Solar and Lunar guard, filling the bleachers. Their respective princesses reclining upon elevated seats with a creature never before seen in between. Towards the center was a decently sized stage. Two groups of three occupying the elevated platform.

On one side, stood three of Celestia’s best: Lieutenant Bright Light, a unicorn. Lieutenant Meatheat, an earth pony. And Lieutenant Swift Hoof, a pegasus.

In the opposite side, stood three thestrals. Sergeant Shadow, a unicorn. Sergeant Saint Blade, an earth pony. And Sergeant Night Skies, a pegasus.

The whole chamber echoed with murmuring coming from the onlookers. Some placing bets while others simply watched. The room fell silent when Both princesses stood up.

“My little Ponies!” Celestia began.

“We call thee this night to test thy might!” Luna bellowed in a subdued version of her Royal Canterlot Voice

“We selected the top three ponies of our Royal guard, the best of the best. To see, once and for all, who will triumph in battle!” The guards in the bleachers roared in excitement. Celestia held up a regal hoof to silence them. “Competitors! To your positions!” The ponies in the ring lined up at opposite sides across from their counterparts.

“The match shall begin in three!” Luna started counting down. The six ponies crouched low. Plans beginning to form in their heads.

“Two!” Celestia continued. The ponies watching looked on with bated breath. This was it; do or die time. One side will leave with their head held high, the other with the heads hung low.

“One!”

“Begin!” Both princesses said. In that instant. The Solars rushed the Lunars. Swift Hoof took to the air, going for a dive bomb towards Night Skies. Bright casting a stun spell towards Shadow. While Meathead opted to gallop at full speed towards Saint Blade. The two moving Solar guards were upon their nightly counterparts in mere seconds. Cheering from their brethren urging them on. Celestia hid a smirk on her face. The Lunar’s haven't moved an inch! What were they thinking!? It was inevitable they will fall to her guard.

Meathead and Swift were mere feet away from their targets. But a yellow glowing shield halted their advance. Both of them dazed from the sudden impact, neither given enough time to prevent the collision. Night Skies and Saint Blade pounced. Night collided his rear right hoof with Swift’s jaw. While Saint delivered a solid uppercut to the jaw of Meathead. Both ponies who were struck stumbled back in shock. They weren't given any time to recover, however, as both Night and Saint wasted no time unleashing tartarus upon the two Solars. Leaving Bright and Shadow to deal with each other. Celestia's smirk waned before this point. How were the thestrals this fast!?

A loud clanging sound gained everypony’s attention. Bright and Shadow had teleported closer to each other, and erected barriers. It quickly became a power struggle. Both unicorns seemed to be a match for each other. Celestia smirked at this. She looked over to her sister, he smirk nearly vanishing when she saw the Look on Luna’s face. An almost manic smile was curving her lips. She looked back at the sparing ponies just in time to see the unthinkable happen;

Shadow, with a flick of his horn. Locked his barrier with Bright, somehow mixing his shield with Bright, and threw his opponent's shield off to the side. It gave Shadow the perfect opening, and quickly cast a stun spell. It hit its intended target, and Bright’s limbs locked up. Causing the Solar to topple over, leaving him a rigid mess. With the Solar unicorn down for the count, Shadow turned to his comrades. It appears they are in the power struggle as well. Meathead and Saint locked forehooves hooves and foreheads, trying push the other back. While Swift and Night looked as if they were performing aerial acrobatics rather than fighting. Every time they closed in on each other would result in a flurry of kicks and punches. Before breaking away to keep altitude.

Shadow pondered how he could aid his brethren. A simple plan quickly formed in his mind; he would cast a weak concussion spell towards Meathead, and a light flash bang spell on Swift. He began with the spell towards Meathead. The spell nearly knocking the Solar’s helmet off on impact. Meathead stumbled back a few steps, and his attention -rage included, were directed at Shadow. He took a single step, and then received a thunderous buck to the head from Saint. Rendering the Solar stallion unconscious. Saint nodded his thanks towards Shadow, who nodded back.

Both ponies turned their heads towards the dogfight. Shadow sending a bright spell to them. It was rather odd the spell was just shot from Shadow’s horn, seemingly with no real target intended for the spell. Then the strangest thing occurred. The ball of magic curved its trajectory halfway along its apex, it looked as if the spell had a mind of its own as it made its way straight towards Swift. The Solar pegasus’s back was facing it. Night saw the spell rocketing towards them and immediately pushed Swift away and closed his eyes while turning away. Swift looked confused at the sudden action. He shook it off and made to go for his opponent. But a bright, blinding flash of light enveloped his vision. He cried out from the little jolt of pain the flash caused in his eyes. Night heard this and moved in for the kill. He rushed Swift and held him by the withers with one hoof. While the other punched him in the stomach several times, with a last punch to the face before they hit the ground. Night threw Swift towards his fellow downed guard. Losing most of the momentum making for a soft landing. The three Lunar’s lined up, facing the princesses, and bowed. The stadium was in uproar. The Solars were screaming their discontent. While the Lunars were roaring and screeching their approval.

Meanwhile, with the celestial sisters. Princess Luna had the largest, smug, shit eating grin upon her features. Aimed directly at her sister.

“It seems that we are victorious, dear sister.” Celestia sighed an dlowered her head, defeated.

“Yes.” She said with a heavy sigh. Luna would've looked so adorable with pony tails! “It seems that way…”

“Aww. Do not fret Tia! Mayhaps you could win our next little bet?” Luna suggested.

“Yeah…” Celestia paused. An idea seizing her mind. “Maybe… Maybe we can turn this,” She gestured to the stadium with a hoof. “into a yearly tournament?” Luna gasped at this, there was an excited glint in her eyes.

“What a splendid idea Tia! Yes! We shall hold this contest annually!” Luna said. And Celestia flashed her own little impish smile.

“Good. ‘Cause I will get your mane into cute pony tails!” Celestia declared.

“We shall see about that!” Both sisters chuckled at each other. They then noticed Michael for the first time since the sparring match. They saw the look on his face. The jovial atmosphere almost went away.

“How doth thee think of tonight's match Michael?” Luna asked.

“I knew your guard would win.” He replied without missing a beat.

“Really?” Celestia asked with indignant tone. To which Luna snickered at; a mortal even knew how this match was going to end.

“Your guard have chased me around the castle three times now. And one of the those time lead me to jump off a cliff. Your guard are incompetent.” He answered bluntly before turning and walking away. The ancient sisters paused in their antics, and watched Michael as he walked away.

“I wonder how he really is when he's not away from everything he knows…” The elder muttered.

“We believe he may have been a nice male of his kind.”

“Really? Have you been in his dreams?”

“Yes, we have…”

“Did you find anything positive, at least?”

“... Nay.” Luna hung her head. “There was nothing in his dreams. He just sits in the middle of an inky darkness. We have tried to communicate with him. But ignores us, it is as if we are not there in the first place…”

“Oh my…”

“Has your student informed thee of anything regarding young Michael?”

“No. Twilight hasn't sent anything. Not even one of her usual friendship reports.”

“We see… Have you tired..?”

“No.” Celestia’s face hardened into a scowl. “I will not have Discord involved in any of this.”

“Ah, good. I trust him very little as well.” Celestia smiled a little. Her sister's starting to act like the older alicorn.

Both sister then regarded the stadium. The occupants have calmed down and are now waiting for what their princesses are going to say.

“Mine subjects!” Luna called out. Making Celestia frown a bit, she was not going to like her sister going through her secret supply of cake. “Tonight! My night guard rain victorious!” The announcement gained some mixed reactions. Every thestral screeched in celebration of their victory. While the Solars roared in disappointment.

“However!” Celestia said in a magically amplified voice. “We will host another competition next year! I advise all of you to train until then! Prove that you can grow stronger!” The very floor shook from all the pony’s shouting and stomping. Both Celestia and Luna got up from their seats and proceeded to leave the room. Followed by their guards. One would notice the amount of banter going on between the two groups. Well, it was more of the thestrals taunting and mocking the other ponies. Celestia and Luna smiled at it all. Though, their thoughts returned on the human.

How did he get a new body?

Where did he go during his absence?

Was he the cause of the magic flux in the Everfree?

How much cake could widdle Luna steel before the time expires?

These thoughts swirled around their heads, begging to answered. But, the alicorns will get their answers soon enough. In fact, there's the human right there! He seems to be looking a window…

Oh, poo…

“Michael!” Both princesses called out. Michael calmly turned to them.

“Yes?”

“Please, step away from the window.” Celestia lightly ordered. Michael looked back at the open window, then back to them.

“If you thought I was going to jump off. I wasn't, I was just breathing in some fresh air.” Celestia and Luna breathed a relieved sigh; he wasn't planning anything.

“Oh, that's good.” Celly said while she and Luna walked up to him. All three of them looked out the window.

The city of Canterlot has changed over the last thousand years. The buildings grew in height, artificial lighting dotted both residential and market districts. What are now considered ‘Royal’ colors covered every square inch of each and every building. Golden yellows, snowy whites, and various shades of lavender. All in different patterns ranging from simple upward spirals, to complex floral and peacock patterns. If it weren't for the reputation the ‘nobility’ built up for themselves, Canterlot would truly be known as the Pony Capital.

That would be ideal, wouldn't it? Mm. I suppose nothing can be ideal.

Too bad the ponies in Manehattan treat outsiders more as equals than most other settlements.

“What do you think of our city?” Luna asked, while getting the story back on track.

“It's very beautiful.” Michael commented. “I've been a few places like this back on Earth. Those were more lit up, and taller.” The last he said confused the princesses. Taller buildings? How is that possible?

“What doth thou mean ‘taller’?” Luna asked.

“How tall are these places here on average?”

“About nine levels. Why do you ask?”

“The average height of buildings in one city I’ve been too is twenty.”

The princess's eyebrows shot up at this. That’s impossible! Nopony can erect a tower that high.

“And the tallest ones their are over a hundred.”

Ok, now that's just ludicrous.

“Sure thou art jesting! That is simply impossible!” Luna said aghast.

“I'm not lying. I have nothing to gain from lying about human accomplishments.” Michael said. “If you want, you could go through my memories. I remember ponies saying you could do that, right?” He asked while looking at Luna. “We’ll do that when we're asleep. Speaking off…”

“We will have you escorted to your new room. But we have more questions.”

“Alright then, ask away.”

“How did you… Acquire this body?” Luna was the first to ask.

“I got it after meeting some pony.”

“What was their name?”

“Lauren Faust. I met her after I touched some crystal tree.”

…

The princesses were left speechless at his answer.

“You mean to tell us…” Luna whispered.

“That you met…” Celestia continued for her sister.

“This is insane!” Luna shouted. “Mother died millennium ago! There is no conceivable medium thou could have spoken through to her!” Michael shrugged.

“I did. Believe it or don't. I don't care.” Michael faced the window again.

“Wait… You said came into contact with a crystal before meeting mother?” Celestia asked.

“Yeah. Made me feel like I was high on something before I passed out. I woke up in some void thing when I met her.”

“I see…” Celestia turned to her sister. ‘You don't think..?’ She mouthed the question to Luna.

‘It is difficult not to believe him at this time.’ The Lunar sister mouthed back.

“Michael…” The human faced the ancient alicorns. “Why did mother give you a new body?”

“We made a deal.”

“A deal?” Luna asked.

“She wanted me to help you get rid of some ancient evil. She said something about ‘properly’ taking care of him for good. Something like that.”

“Wait…” Luna trialed off. The dots slowly connecting in her head.

“Mother wants you to kill somepony!?” Celestia shrieked. Michael nodded. “Did she tell you who you needed to kill?” He shook his head.

“She said we’ll know who it is soon.” Celestia was about to ask another question, but a guard galloped up to them.

“Princesses!” He shouted, he was a thestral.

“Yes?” Luna said.

“There's reports coming in about some creature stealing pony’s magic!”

It was only a matter of hours. The princesses, including Princess Cadence, had no time to prepare for Tirek’s arrival. They best they did was transfer all their magic to Twilight. Since the centaur knew not of her existence. With instructions telling her not to give her magic to the monster, Princess Twilight hastily left, just before Tirek burst through the throne room doors. He was about to demand the princesses give them their magic. But a human socking him in the face halted his advance.

Oh, that's right, Michael was here too. The princesses tried to send him away. But magic seemed to not work. So he just stood there, waiting for his moment.

“What is the meaning of this!?” Tirek demanded when he stood back up. He began looking for whoever attacked him. He then received another blow to the head before he could see his attacker. Tirek actually stumbled forward for a few steps, the hit coming from behind. His rage grew as he swiped his right arm back. He smirked knowing he hit the would-be hero. If the loud cracking and ominous crumbling of the far wall wasn't an indication. The princesses saw this all unfold before their very eyes, it was too fast for them, especially Cadence. So they cried out to the human when he slammed into the wall. There was a large crater where Michael landed.

“Who dares impede upon my conquest!?” Tirek bellowed while facing the pile of rubble. He watched as the chunks of marble began to quiver. He was curious to see the ‘pony’ who managed to not only harm him once, but twice. In quick succession no less. He was pleasantly surprised to see not a pony. But… something, stand up from the pile. It looked as if a diamond dog bitch had a pup with a minotaur.

“What are you?” He asked. How could something so insignificantly small do that much damage!? Tirek will have its head on a pike for this!

“I'm just a human.” The being answered. It then seemed to have faded from existence, but, it appeared inches from Tireks face. And delivered a downward punch to his snout. Tirek was unprepared for the amount of energy behind that little punch had behind it. It sent his head on a date with the marble floor.

Tirek had to think fast. He would not let this ‘human’ humiliate him any further!

The ancient monster quickly rose. A plan already forming in that tiny brain of his; if he could steal this creature’s magic. He’d be unstoppable with that kind of strength!

*Clap!* And it was rather easy catching the human.

Hah! Nothing is faster than the mighty Tirek! Now all he has to do is…

…

…

What!?

There's no magic in this thing!

How in the nine floors of hell is it that strong without magic!?

“What!?” Tirek roared in Michael's face. “Ho-” he was interrupted when Michael broke free from Tireks hands and proceeded to repeatedly punch him in the face. Soon, the centaur’s face resembled a bloated, bruised banana. Blood was leaking from open wounds. And his left eye was swollen shut.

“Enough!” He shouted while sending out a powerful burst of magic. It was enough to knock the human back a good distance. “Die!” He then grabbed Michael in his stolen magic. Or rather, he made an attempt, he couldn't wrap his magic around the human. This confused Tirek. After all, how could any living being resist a magical influence as strong as his?

Tirek shoved the thought aside and teleported close to the human, catching Michael of guard. Tirek used this opening and back handed Michael through one of the beautiful stain-glass windows. Tirek laughed through his battered face at how easy it wast to bat away the little pest. He jumped out after the falling human. The princesses cried out at Michael, and hobbled over to the shattered window. They were only able to see Michael and Tirek disappear into the distance. The three of them stared for what felt like an eternity, only one thought fluttering around their heads.

*I hope he's ok...*