REIGN

Realm

Zero opens his eyes, looking around as all there was around him was darkness. Everything was quiet, a little too quiet for his liking as he starts to walk around to see if he’ll find something. Before he went any further, he was stopped by a yellow-like lightning bolt striking down in front of him making him look up to see the metallic-dragon from before, this time in an anthro-like body as it floats down to Zero, making him pull his gun on the dragon. “Alright, who the hell are you?”
The dragon just chuckles as he turns Zero’s gun to dust. He then walks up to a shocked Zero, towering over the human, “I am someone who has been watching you ever since you got to this dimension Zero. Or should I call Victor?” He smirks slightly, seeing Zero glaring at him. “Oh, I see I struck a nerve.”

“No one but my family and close friends know my real name. But how? Who even are you?” Zero continues to glare at the dragon as he brightens up their surrounding area. Looking around, he notices that he was in some sort of chamber as he sees a large hourglass in the distance along with a building. “What is this place?”

“So many questions... but so little time,” The dragon chuckles as he sits down on the ground. “My name is Kiryu. And you my friend have gained quite a fan base since you’ve been in the hospital for a week…” He looks up and sees Zero’s shocked face as he shuts his mouth with his tail. “You’ll catch flies in your mouth if you leave it open. Now I know you have many questions but now’s not the time, so just sit and listen okay?” Zero nods as he sat down in front of him and looks directly at him.

“Good... now as I have stated, my name is Kiryu, and I am a Psyker. Psykers are beings that can manipulate the electrons in the surrounding air, making them able to control and wield lightning either as a defense or a weapon. Psykers’ abilities grow along with the wielder. The stronger you get, the stronger your attacks and defense will become.” Zero was paying attention to everything he was saying, a little confused as to why he was being told this, but this ability still intrigued him.

“I haven’t been able to return to Equestria, not since... nevermind, anyway I want you to find the door hidden within the castle of the two sisters.” Kiryu’s piercing golden eyes looks into Zero’s eyes.

Zero felt a chill down his spine as he looks right back at him, “How do I know I can trust you? You could try to kill me if I do help... plus I wouldn’t know where to look since I am new around here.”

“If I wanted you dead, I would’ve killed you already. But I understand your concern. How about this, you help me and I might consider teaching you on how to become a psyker.” Kiryu gave him his claw hand as he waits for a handshake. Zero looked at Kiryu’s hand and looks directly at him, “Do we have ourselves a deal?” It was a pretty good deal and Zero had nothing to lose as he shakes the dragon’s hand.

“Alright, Kiryu... you got a deal,” Zero smiles and so does Kiryu as he summons a radar-like device and gives it to him. “What’s this?”

“It’ll help you when you’re looking for the door. Also, you might have to steal the key to open the door.” Zero asked where the key was and what did it look like. “Someone by the name of Celestia should have it hidden somewhere in her castle, but once you find it, put the key inside and it should open the door.” He stands up and opens up a portal as Zero stands up as well. “I will see you soon Zero…”

“Be seeing you... and you better keep your word Kiryu.” Kiryu just chuckles as Zero walks through the portal, his conscious heading back to his body.

Kiryu sighs as a being with a horn and wings appears behind him. She was a pale pink color as she had a crown with six different gems on it, all different colors. “So I see you have chosen another champion? But will he betray you like the last one?” She walks beside him, looking up at him as he looks back at her, “Are you sure about him? I looked into his head and saw everything... he’s dangerous and shouldn’t have been promised that sort of power.”

“I know... but that what makes things much more interesting,” She was about to say something until he stopped her. “Since I could barely do anything in this state, I want you to give him this…” He summons a medium-sized energy ball and hands it to the mare as she looks at it, confused as to why he gave her it. “When he comes into the contact with your gems, I want you give him that. Also to answer your second question, no. I do not believe he would betray me like the last one did because he wants power. And to gain power, you need have to have powerful allies.” He smiles slightly as he gives her head pats as she pouts.

“You and the others worry too much. But I know one thing… He has the capability to reign above all, and I will be by his side.” Kiryu disappears in a flash of lighting as the female sighs and opens up a portal.

“I hope you’re right Kiryu…” She then walks into the portal and disappears.

PonyVille Hospital

Zero coughs slightly, rubbing his head as he wakes up, looking up at a white ceiling. He sits up and has a look around the room and sees that he is indeed in a hospital. Confirming to him that Kiryu was speaking the truth about him being in a hospital as he looks down and sees that he was given a standard white hospital blanket as he rubs his temples as he groans slightly.

He looks to his side and saw a monitor checking his heart rate, and some fluids being sent into his body from an IV. He got a little worried, thinking of what sort of chemicals were going into his body but decided not to mess with it. He rubs his side and feels bandages around his stomach and his right hand as he felt as though he just got the best nap ever as he noticed he was in a hospital gown. Before he could do anything else, he heard the door open as he looked towards the one who opened it as he saw a nurse pony entering the room holding a clipboard in her hands. She had light pink-colored mane and tail, had sky blue colored eyes, was wearing a nurse uniform, and had a tattoo of a red plus and a few hearts on her shoulder.

“Oh, thank Celestia you’re awake! You had us all pretty worried. We thought you would never wake up,” She said walking towards him with her clipboard in her hands.

“How long was I out for?” He knew that Kiryu said a week, but he had to make sure.

“You were out for a week.” She answered as he just chuckles and thinks to himself, but then notices that he didn’t see his belongings as he looks around the room and back at the nurse.

“Miss, where are my clothes and belongings?”

“Oh, don’t worry about that. Your clothes and belongings are safe with us. You’ll get them as soon as you’re ready to be checked out of the hospital,” She answered.

He sighs as he knows this is standard hospital procedure, but he really didn’t like them touching his stuff, especially his desert eagle and phone. “Alright, but I hope none of you tried anything with a certain item of mine.”

She arched a brow at me, but then she smiled and said, “Don’t worry dear. That certain item was carefully placed along with the rest of your belongings.”

He nods as he sits back down on the bed as the nurse takes out her pen, “What’s your name dear?”

“Zero Blade... age twenty-three, date of birth December 7th, 1991. Blood Type AB-... hospital I was born in, New York-Presbyterian / Weill Cornell Medical Center. Anything else?” He looks up at her.

She scribbles down all the information he told her as she smiles again, “No sir. My name is Nurse Redheart, a nurse here in PonyVille Hospital and Pharmacy”

“Nice to meet you as well Miss Redheart,” He held out his hand for a handshake.

She takes his hand and shakes it and asks, “If you don’t mind me asking for medical reasons, what are you? Are you some kind of furless pony?”

He chuckles at the little remark as he shakes his head. “No, I’m not a furless pony. I’m a human”

She stared at him, her eyes as wide as saucers as it looks like she had seen a ghost “T-that’s impossible. Humans can’t be real.”

“Well, you’re looking at one,” He replied, started to stretch out his body.

“Oh, I’m sorry dear. I didn’t mean to offend you in any way.” She bowed her head and looks back up at Zero.

“It’s cool. I know how surprising it can be to meet a creature that’s supposed to be a myth, legend or whatever.”

“Well, I guess that’s understandable,” She replied with a knowing smirk.

He nods as he looks outside and back at her, “So... what happened while I was out the past week?”

“Well, Twilight and her friends have been visiting you from time to time, checking up on you. They have also been trying to calm down the town after the little fight you had with the diamond dogs. They’re saying you’re dangerous and should be thrown in the dungeons or turned to stone because they believe you to be evil…” Redheart explained as Zero looks into her eyes.

“And what do you think Redheart? Am I dangerous? Am I evil because I defended myself?” She shook her head and smiles softly at him, placing her hand on his shoulder.

“No I don’t... it’s just us ponies aren’t used to that sort of violence. We usually just lock them away, turn them into stone, or send them to Tartarus,” She said as he just looked at her. He didn’t agree with the turn to stone since that was a fate worse than death in his eyes, but to them, it was okay as he sighs.

Nurse Redheart heads to the door and opens it as she looks back at Zero, “Twilight and her friends are outside in the waiting room right now. Do you want me to bring them in?”

Zero lays back down and chills, “Sure you can call them in.” She nods and left the room, closing the door behind her he sighs and scratches hair. “When I’m out of here, I really need a shower... wonder if they got that manly smell good shampoo and body wash?”

The door then opened as he looks and sees Twilight and the others walking in with cookies in their hands as they all smiled, happy to see that he was okay as Pinkie pounces him and gives him a bone-crushing hug and nuzzled into him. “Oh Zero we’ve been worried sick about you! We thought you would never wake up…” Zero grunts in pain as he gives her head pats.

“It’s okay Pinkie... now could you please let me go. But thanks for cracking my back for me,” She smiles and hops off of him. “So I heard things are pretty shitty out there... Applejack tell me since I know you won’t sugarcoat it,” He thanks Spike as he took a cookie and ate and waits to hear what Applejack had to say.

“Well as Redheart told you... ponies think you’re dangerous because you brutally beat those diamond dogs and cut one of their paws off. But we kept everyone calm and not have them call the guards on you. Look Zero, tell us what you did on your world.” Applejack looks directly at Zero as she notices he wasn’t afraid at all, he just sat there like it meant nothing as he asks Spike for a coin as he gives him one.

“As I told you before, I am a businessman on my world. But there are some things I do not wish to tell any of you, no offense, but as the saying goes… mind your own business. But to give you all some closure. Am I dangerous? Yes.. yes I am. Am I as your kind quote ‘Evil’? No, humans aren’t good nor evil. We do things because we are given choices... choices that could be for the better or worse. Yes, some people do horrific things, but when they’re not doing that, they’re keeping their families safe and secured from others. I am not a pony or diamond dog or whatever else is in this world... I am a human. Plus, I wanted to show you all that I am not to be trifled with and to show you I could defend myself if I have to.” Zero stands up and heads over to Applejack who looks up at him.

He moves in closer as he stares right into eyes, piercing through them. “Tell me Applejack... am I evil because I defended myself? Choice is yours.”

Applejack shivers slightly. His stare felt dominant and of someone who was a higher up as he told the truth to her but there was still something that was missing as she blushes slightly, backing up a bit since her breasts were pressing against his chest. “Well next time, let us help you... and yes, your technique of dealing with things is a little... violent. Just tone it down next time okay?”

“Okay Applejack, but I won’t promise anything…” She nods as he goes back to sitting down. “So now that we got that out of the way and since I’m stuck here for however long, I’m going to need a job... you girls have any suggestions?”

“Well you could come work on the farm if you want to.” Applejack stated as she crosses her arms.

“You could work with me at the Sugarcube Corner!”

“Y-you could help me take care of the animals in my house... I mean it’s fine if you don’t want to…” Fluttershy squeaked out.

“You could totally work at my gym/dojo! I know the guy so he should let you work for him.”

“You can come work for me at the Carousel darling…” Rarity looks at Zero lustfully as that sent shivers down his spine as Spike just pouts.

“Or you could work at the mayor’s office or my treehouse which is a library.”

Zero looks at each of them and thinks. “How much will I get paid? Each of you answer the question,” Zero turns to face them.

“Well we’re hard workers at the farm, plus you’ll get paid 250 bits a day…”

“You’ll get paid 480 bits every two weeks if you work for the cakes…” Pinkie said as she nibbles a cookie.

“I would pay you 150 bits every week... I know it’s low, but I do have to feed the animals…”

“I think he pays you 860 bits a week... doubles it if you be a fitness trainer and not just a desk worker there.” Rainbow said as she flats in the air.

“Darling, I would pay you 1,200 bits a week since I have wealthy customers each day asking me to make their dream clothing... plus I need that body of yours…” Rarity mumbles that last part since she and the others saw Zero with his shirt off.

“Well if you work in the library, you’ll be paid 350 bits every day. If you work in the office, you’ll be paid 560 bits a week.”

Zero thinks as he needed money badly in this world as he looks at Rarity and sighs, “I’ll take you up on your offer Rarity... when would you like me to start?” He gulps as he saw that crazy look in her eyes like he was a snack as she claps her hands.

“Wonderful!! You can start tomorrow or today... or tonight~.” Rarity drools as the others just look at her and roll their eyes as Zero felt that chill down his spine again.

The door then opens again as Nurse Redheart came into the room with Zero’s clothes and belongings, putting them down on the bed and taking the IV needle out of his arm and putting a bandaid on the mark as she also took the bandages off around his hand and stomach. “Alright you all. Let Zero have his privacy so he could get dressed…” Rarity whines wanting to stay as they dragged her out of the room as they shut the door behind them.

Zero didn’t want to work with Rarity since he knows all he was to her was eye candy, but she did paid the most, so he had to go with her. He sees the bathroom as he walks in, shutting the door and takes a shower, thinking about what his father was up to and what happened to Vector as he sighs to himself. He washes his hair and body, scrubbing his body and making sure his area was nice and clean as he rinses off his body and turns off the water. Getting out as he dries himself off in the bathroom, looking into the mirror as he looks down and sees the hospital toothpaste and toothbrushes as he unwraps one and starts brushing his teeth. Once he finished, he opened up the tiny mouthwash and swishes it around in his mouth and spits it out. He smells his clothes as he thought it was nice of them to clean his clothes, but now he’s going to smell like strawberries and vanilla as he puts on his clothes. He opens up the zip-lock bag and took out his phone and puts it in his pocket, checking over his bowie knife as he puts that away as well. He then checks his Deagle to make sure he had ammo as he sighs. “Damn... only got four more shots off and one box of ammunition…”

He reloads it and puts it in its holster as he makes sure he looks good and smells good as he puts back on his watch, smiling at it as he opens it up and looks at the picture inside. “Love ya mom…” He kisses his finger and touches the picture of his mother as he closes it. He then remembers the key that was given to him by Kiryu as he feels around, pulling it out of his jacket pocket as he looks at it and puts it in his regular pockets.

He puts the box of ammunition in his jacket’s pockets as the door opened as a stallion walked in. He wore a doctor’s uniform, had coffee-colored fur, dark brown mane and tail and had an hourglass mark on his arm.

He looked up from his documents and walks towards Zero, “Glad to see you up and moving Mr. Blade. My name is Doctor Whooves, a pleasure to meet you.” He reached out a hand which Zero took and gave a firm shake.

“Nice to meet you doc.” Zero smiles at the doctor as he took his hand away and places it in his pocket to grab a smoke.

“Pleasure is all mine. Now from what the Nurse has told me, you’re a human. Tell me... do humans get side effects to being in a new place?” Doctor Whooves took out his pen and waits for Zero’s answer.

“Well yes actually... if humans are used to one place their body won’t react. But if they do go to someplace different, then yeah they’re going to have side effects. But now that you said something I got a headache before the incident that day and when I wake up today I feel like a million dollars.” Zero watches the doctor write everything down.

“Mhm... how do humans get vitamins in their body?”

“Well, we get vitamins in many ways from pills to food. The vitamin we get the most is vitamin D because of the sun as we absorb the sun’s energy into our skin. But too much of it could get us skin cancer,” Zero looks at the doctor wondering what’s up as the doctor looks at him.

“Well, I know you’re familiar with magic because you Twilight and her friends demonstrated it,” Doctor Whooves sets down the clipboard. “Zero... when you were asleep for that week I took a blood sample to see what I’m dealing with and it turns out magic is seeping through you…” He looks at Zero who looked a little scared but intrigued by this as he continues. “Each day I took a small blood sample, more magical electrons and cells appeared in your blood. You may gain something from this Zero because you do now live in a magical world, full of creatures and wonder. But if you do.. gain something, come back and I’ll have a look at it okay?”

Zero nods, understanding everything as he looks at his hands as he looks back at the doctor who gave him a paper to sign. “Not only is there the normal paperwork for you to sign before you can leave, but there is also additional paperwork so we can have a record on your allergies and family health problems, you know, the usual stuff you have to sign at a doctors office.” Doctor Whooves explained as Zero wrote down and completed the form and hands it back to him as he checks over it and nods, as he tells him he may go as Zero heads out the room and out to the hallway, thinking about what Whooves told him about magic seeping through his skin.

He walks down the hallway and into the waiting to see Twilight and her friends waiting on him as he smiles at them. They smile back as they say their goodbyes to Nurse Redheart and head out the hospital, talking and just enjoying their company. Zero was talking with them as he thinks back to his out-of-body experience and meeting with Kiryu. He wanted to know more about the metallic-dragon as he held the key in his pocket that was given to him by Kiryu as he looks at Twilight. “Hey Twi... who’s Celestia? I heard Redheart say ‘Oh my Celestia’ so I was just wondering.”

Twilight blushes at the little nickname when Zero said it as she looks back at him, “Oh Princess Celestia is the ruler of Equestria. She lives up in Canterlot…” She points at a mountain and Zero could see castle/city on top. “She rules beside her sister, Princess Luna and they both rule the day and night. In addition to her responsibility for ruling the capital, she and Princess Luna also raise the sun and moon each day and night.”

Zero looked at her strangely but decided not to question it since he was in a magical world and all, “That’s quite impressive. You also speak very highly of her…”

“That’s because Twilight is Princess Celestia’s faithful student,” Spike said as she blushes a little, confirming it for him.

Zero thinks back again to what Kiryu said about someone named Celestia as he continues walking with them and thinking to himself as he looks around the town. Ponies looking at him, still a bit afraid of what he did but he just shrugs them off. Pulling out his phone and seeing if he can go on YouTube, which surprisingly enough he can as he searches up VanossGaming and starts watching.

Spike and Rainbow heard laughing and crude jokes coming from Zero’s phone as they watch along beside him, laughing at how funny Vanoss was with his friends in the video. Then Zero laughed which was quite surprising to everyone as he looks at them, “What? Can’t a guy laugh?”

“No no no... it’s just that... well we never heard you laugh. You just chuckle or smile…” Fluttershy said as she smiles softly at Zero as he smiles back.

Before Zero could say anything else, he felt something small bump into him as he looks down and notices three fillies who rubbed their heads and looked up at him.

One of them was bright yellow, and red colored mane and tail, with a large pink bowtie on her head. She wore a red t-shirt with a pink skirt and had amber eyes. The next one was orange, had a messy mane and tail that was purple, and a pair of small wings. She wore a black leather jacket, with skinny black jeans and purple eyes. The last filly was white like Rarity, along with a horn and blue eyes. She wore a white skirt, along with a short sleeve baby blue shirt.

“Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo? What are you three up to now?” Rainbow raised her brow at them as they smile cheekily up at her.

“Ahh, you know... simple crusading things. Right you guys?” Scootaloo said as the other two agree with her.

“Yep... also we’re sorry for bumping into mister…” Apple Bloom looks up at Zero as her eyes widen. “Wait! You’re that human everypony was talking about!!” Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle were about to say he wasn’t until they got a good look at Zero.

Zero only smirks and kneels down to their levels as they get a little scared. “Boo..” They scream and sprint right off as Zero just laughs to himself, feeling Twilight pinch his cheek.

“That wasn’t nice Zero…”

“Oh come on... so what if I gave them a little scare? It’s all good.” Zero removes her hand as they head into the library to talk. Mostly about girl stuff as Spike and Zero went to talk about guy stuff. “So I heard you like Rarity?”

Spike looks at him and blushes slightly “Yea... wait! You like Rarity too!?” Smoke came out from his nose as he glares at Zero who just laughs. “What’s so funny?!”

“You... you’re funny. Look kid, I’m not planning on doing the do with any of them. For one, that’s disgusting. Two, they could have some sort of STD. And three, they’re horses and it’s essentially beastiality. That’s a huge crime on my world, so I don’t care if they look almost human, it’s kind of weird. So no, I do not like Rarity, nor will I ever will.” Zero saw Spike calming down as he apologizes to him.

“Don’t worry about it... but I will tell you this. Don’t go for it…” Zero ate a piece of pineapple as Spike looks at him funny.

“Why not?

“Because for one, she’s way out of your league. Two, she’s older than you…” Spike tells him he was fifteen. “Doesn’t matter. Sure you can fantasize about her, but you have to face the facts... even if she says yes, it’ll be out of pity. Trust me, I’ve been there. But it’s not my life, it’s yours. So if you want to go for it... go for it. I mean what do you have to lose.. probably a broken heart, but you’ll still have your dignity. Plus as my dad said to me, there are plenty of fish in the sea... big ones, small ones, plump ones, and just outright gorgeous ones… You understand Spike?”

Spike looks at him, surprised as he only had two big brother figures in his life. Big Mac and Shining Armor as he really never thought of it that way as she always seems so nice to him, but he could tell she was just doing it because she cared. Or as Zero puts it, out of pity.

Zero saw how sad he got as he pats his head and smiles at the little dragon. “Hey don’t worry about it bud... you’ll find someone else. You just gotta look far and wide…” Zero smiles slightly as he remembers meeting Jackie. “Once you do that, show her you care and love her.” He thinks about the time when they were on their first date, “Because if she is that one special girl... you want to keep her…” A memory of him and Jackie having their first kiss in Paris. “Because all it takes is one day... because as the saying goes. Anything could happen in a day…” The last memory he thought of was of him thrusting into Jackie, her back arched, blushing and moaning in pure ecstasy.