Lonely Among Us

The city was located behind the castle walls - all the buildings looked very nice and clean - I could see a lot of ‘top brass’ ponies walking on the streets. Not really my kind of place, but it looked nice enough.

As we got closer, my head started to hurt. “Argh… APE can you do something about that damn headache?”

“Sensors indicate elevated power levels in this place, that might be causing it, sir. Unfortunately, nano-tech still needs more time to learn to adapt as efficiently as on Earth,” APE responded with his usual ‘charming’ voice.

“Great… I wish I had my ibuprofen with me… or my vodka...” I grumbled.

A few minutes later we arrived at our destination, my guards led me to some kind of reception room, full of ponies - the same ‘top brass’ I saw earlier.

“Please wait here, while we get the Princess,” one of the guards said, and I nodded in agreement.

At that point, my headache got very bad. What’s worse, I noticed, everybody was staring at me - it was uncomfortable, to say the least. Then they started whispering - of course little did they know that with my enhanced ears, I could hear most of it from where I was sitting.

“...oh my, what a weird creature...”
“...look at his outfit - no style what so ever…”
“...how come is this thing allowed to Canterlot? That is an outrage if you ask me...”

Usually, I wouldn't care if someone was gossiping about me - especially if that 'someone' was from 'higher class' - my opinion of those types was so low... - but at that moment, their whispers were aggravating my headache - I snapped.

“ENOUGH!” I shouted, probably producing at least 120 dB. “Would you all kindly stop staring at me, and MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS?!”

My outburst didn't silence the whispers - on the contrary, now even more horses were commenting my behavior between themselves. “I’M ARROGANT?!" I shouted again after hearing a comment from a classy mare, "I’m not the one slandering your name behind your back, lady! And YES, I can hear everything you said about me from this distance!” my angry words finally ended all conversations about my person.

I closed my eyes from pain, and said to myself, “Finally some peace…” as it turned out - I spoke too soon…

***

“May I join you?” asked, a soft but confident voice.

By then, my head was hurting so much, I didn’t even bother to open my eyes as I answered with irritation, “...be my guest… this is a public bench anyway…”

I had hoped that the person, who joined me would sit quietly but… no such luck. “So… what’s your business in Canterlot if you don’t mind me asking?”

“I have no idea, I was called by the Princess, and now she makes me wait… damn royalty - reminds me of home, and our politicians...” I answered grumpily.

“I assume, you don’t like royalty very much, do you?”

I don't know why, but my headache started to subside a little. “I don’t like most politicians, royalty or not - all they bring is chaos, destruction and - of course - taxes... At least that’s how it worked in my world."

My interlocutor answer calmly, “I see… perhaps you will find our ‘politicians’ different, I hope you are willing to give them a chance?"

“Sure, that would be a pleasant surprise…” I finally opened my eyes, my head still hurt - but not as severely as a few moments before.

“You seem to be in great pain,” the stranger said to me.

This time, before I answered, I finally took a look at my companion - she was a huge white mare, biggest pony I’ve seen so far, her quadruple-colored mane was constantly in flowing motion.

“Yeah… It’s that damn headache - I don’t know why, but since I arrived in this city, my head started to hurt like hell…” I answered more calmly than before, “interesting hairstyle, by the way.”

The white mare smiled and blushed a little. “Thank you, but I meant the pain you hold inside of you, I can feel it - perhaps you would like to share it with somepony?”

For a moment I hesitated to answer - I mean, talking about something like that to a total stranger, I’ve just met? And who the hell was she anyway? On the other hand - I must admit that somehow I enjoyed our little conversation…

Finally, I replied with a calm voice, "Unless you have been living alone for last 300 years, with nobody to talk to, no purpose whatsoever, cursing your every passing moment of existence and knowing there is not a damn thing you can do about it… I’m afraid you will not understand."

Suddenly my companion's mood changed, her smile was gone - replaced with an expression of astonishment. She replied after a long pause - her voice sounded very sad, “I may not know, what you went through captain, but I would still like to hear it - as there is a pony, that went through similar ordeal… or shall I say - I put her through it.”

I didn't expect that kind of answer, I was shocked - but curious at the same time.

“I dare not ask her, how it was like, but perhaps I could talk to you about it...?” my companion inquired with an uncertain voice.

It took me a while to process what I heard, then I responded with a demanding voice, “Wait a minute… how did you know who I am? Who are you?”

“I am Princess Celestia - I am the one that called you here. I must apologize for not introducing myself earlier, but I was hoping this would ease our conversation,” she replied with a hint of embarrassment in her voice.

“Another princess…? I thought Luna called me... Well, I feel insulted,” I said with ironic voice and put on a little angry expression on my face, “... On the other hand, I guess I insulted you somewhat earlier, when I made an ass of myself - while talking about royalty, so... If that’s fine with you, perhaps we can call it even?” I added, trying to lighten the mood a little.

“Very well,” Celestia responded, as a smile returned to her face. “Please follow me - I would like to continue this conversation elsewhere.”

***

We walked for a few minutes through the private part of the palace - it felt like I was in a museum - paintings, and artifacts everywhere. I must say the place was very nice. Finally, we arrived at the inner palace garden, there was a table waiting for us - with a teapot on top.

“Tea?” Celestia asked.

“Sure, why not - although I prefer coffee myself” I responded calmly as she poured a cup. “As for the question you asked earlier, I guess we could talk about it - but first, I need to ask you, who were you referring to when you said there is a pony here who went through a similar ordeal as myself? I would like to meet that person and perhaps talk to him.”

“Not ‘him,’ captain - her, and I believe you've already met.”

For a moment I was lost in thought about who she meant, but my brain quickly put two and two together. “Something tells me you mean Princess Luna, am I correct?”

“Yes… 1000 years ago, she was possessed by evil, and I was forced to send her to the moon. She returned to us, only a few years ago. Since she is an alicorn, she didn’t die - instead, she was trapped there... All alone for all this time..." Celestia paused for a moment and took a sip from her cup, while I looked at her with a stunned expression on my face. "I know she will not admit this to anypony, but she is still hurt inside - to help her I would like to understand her experience,” when she finished her speech, I could see sadness on her face - it was obvious she regretted what she did.

A moment of silence was suddenly interrupted by an electronic voice, “Curious, sir. If what Princess said is true, that would mean ponies are as close to immortality as we are.”

Celestia looked at me confused. “Great entrance APE, making an ass of yourself like a true pro," I shook my head and facepalmed. "Princess, meet APE - Artificial Person Emulator, my personal assistance - and occasional pain in the ass. He is built inside of my head - so if you find me talking to myself, that usually means I talk to him.”

“Usually…?” Princess inquired curiously.

"Well, if I'm drunk enough, then the 'philosopher' mode kicks in, and I really talk to myself - about the sense of life, death and other stuff like that," we both smiled - although I think Celestia thought I was joking.

***

For the next half an hour I told her the story of my life - about Earth, WWIII, etc. - finally the topic she was waiting for the most, arrived. “...after they died, I was alone. For the next few years, I tried searching for survivors but found none. Then…” I took a sip of my teacup, to wash my throat, “I began to lose my mind.”

Celestia waited patiently for the next part, I could see the anticipation in her eyes. I took another sip of tea and continued, “Frankly - I decided to end my miserable life. First, I put a bullet through my brain… only to wake up a few hours later fully healed, then I cut off my head entirely... Only to wake up a few weeks later with a new one," I struck a thinking pose, "Hmm, to this day I don’t know if my body regrew new head or was it the other way around. Anyway... There were many more attempts, but I don’t want to bore you with the details. The last one brought me here,” as I finished talking, I felt my headache was back, I also sensed an adrenaline rush going through my veins - something was wrong, but I tried not to show anything.

After hearing me out, the princess's mood changed again, for about a minute she was just staring into her cup in silence - but her body language told me, she was hurting inside. “Do you think… my sister…” she asked with a sad voice.

“I think we both know the answer to that question, Princess - or rather the probability. Be honest now - if it was you trapped there - wouldn’t you try to end the suffering?” I replied calmly, I could see this wasn’t the answer Celestia was hoping for, but I didn't believe in all that ‘everything will be alright / it’s not your fault’ bullshit.

After a few seconds of uncomfortable silence, the Princess finally spoke again, “May I ask if you still have those thoughts, captain? Do you think my sister still does?”

Somehow this question was unexpected, and out of my comfort zone, what's worse - my headache was intensifying. I felt another rush of adrenaline as I responded, “I don’t know about your sister, Princess - to be honest, you should probably ask her yourself, as for me - yes I do,” I could see a surprise on Celestia’s face. “This is not for me, I never wanted to be immortal, I’m just a simple man... Damn this headache...”

Suddenly Celestia's mood changed again as she put a smile on her face. “Perhaps fate wants you to be more than that?” she asked calmly.

“Like what?”

“A hero in this world, just like you were to yours.”

By then, my headache was killing me again, and my adrenaline levels were very high - something was wrong, and I knew it. “You know what?! FUCK FATE!” as another adrenaline rush shoot through my system - I lost my self-control and shouted loudly, “I’M NO GOD DAMN HERO! What the hell am I supposed to do?! Live here, with you for eternity?! NO! This is not my… world… what the-” I stopped when I realized my body was glowing.

Suddenly APE sounded the alarm, “Danger! Energy overload - emergency release in 5..4..3.”

“OH SHIT! GET DOWN!” I shouted as I pointed my arms into the air, away from any castle structures.

ZAP!

Pure energy began to shoot from all weapon systems on my arms and head. Plasma discharge was so violent, it was shaking my entire body from left to right, as I desperately tried to stand my ground. Fortunately, I was able to aim outside of any structures, directly at the sun.

“What the HELL?!" I shouted when I noticed the sun started to follow the movement of my arms. "APE emergency shutdown! NOW!”

“Unable to comply, energy discharge is spontaneous, sir. I cannot-”

Before APE could finish his sentence - I had noticed an energy sphere surrounding me, it was Celestia. With her abilities, she tried to help - and it was working. After a few seconds, energy flow stopped - but not before one final jolt went through my entire body knocking me out.