The Journals Of A Human

I came to in the morning I the embrace of Sunflare. Oddly enough she was holding me in a very similar way to the way that Tia did….it was comforting. The world faded into black and dark ominous voice came from all around me “Ah, how the mighty have fallen.” I got up from the bed and looked for where the voice was coming from. Again it spoke “I’ve seen the darkness inside you Reaper, I’ve seen that you have allied yourself with the king and queen, and I saw how you mercilessly tore apart my minion with your weapon and destroyed my link to him.”

“Ah, so you’re the ‘almighty Pauron’ how about you show yourself to me.” I started to move around in the darkness, I felt to my side, but my weapons had been taken, if this got into a fight I had only my hands.

“Hah! You wish to pick a fight with the dark pony himself? You have courage and power I will give you that, but I doubt that you would be able to beat me while your unarmed human.”

“Well see about that.” I replied

“Enough of this, I’ve come to make you an offer. I’ve felt and seen the darkness inside you. And I’ve also felt your pain. Join me and I can give you infinite power. I can take the pain away.”

“Hmm. Let me see, a creepy ass voice comes to me in darkness and offers me power, gee, whatever am I to do?”

“Sarcasm is not befitting of you.” he replied

I looked into the darkness and offered my only reply. “You know my answer already. Now fuck off.”

“Fine, I gave you your chance…no matter, you will be destroyed soon enough.” and with that the shadows receded, and I snapped awake in Sunflare’s grasp

--

Sunflare awoke as well as I looked around me and noticed I was now in the king and queens room…aaaannnd in my infinite wisdom, the first words out of my mouth were, “What the fuck?”

The queen looked at me and frowned, “I see your awake…and that your vulgar as ever.”

“Would you have me any other way?”

“Unfortunately, no. As much as I hate to admit it, you are growing on me.”

“Huh….so why am I in your bed and not in the dungeon?”

“Well why would you be in the dungeon?”

“Let’s see, oh, maybe because I threatened you all in a depressed and drunken stupor?”

“Ah yes, that incident. Well you are pardoned from it.”

“Wait what? Why?”

“Because you were hurting. I can only imagine that pain that you must go through at times. To be with a mare who loved you so much, the mare who healed the wounds your old world gave you….and then to be taken from her…you must hold onto hope Johnathan. And as for why I brought you to my chambers, you needed comfort, the kind only a loved one can offer…and if what you said about you being brought into the royal family in the future is true, then that would make me your mother. ”

“Oh…uh…I don’t know what to say.”

she put one hoof on her belly, which did have a noticeable baby bump “You don’t need to say anything. And in one month, you’ll be a godfather.”

I couldn’t help myself “Ah, I see your making me an offer I can’t refuse.”

Sunflare just looked at me confused “What? No, this is definitely up to you, I just thought that since you-”

I cut her off “I was trying to make a joke, I forgot you guys don’t have that movie here, Never mind.”

She sighed “I wonder if I will ever understand you or your humor at times.”

“Don’t worry, you’re not the only one.” I replied, and as I finished my sentence, Orbash walked in “Ah, how’s it going your highness…uh…sorry about last night.”

He looked at me with a look of concern “You do not need to worry about that, but I fear that I must tell you, that your dream wasn’t a dream.”

“The fuck do you mean?” I asked

“Yes, my love, what do you mean?” Sunflare asked

“HE has infiltrated Johnathan’s head. He was trying to strike an accord with Johnathan.”

I heard anger in the queen’s voice “What was Johnathan’s response.”

The king smiled “it was quite simple, and very Johnathan like. ‘Fuck off.”

I gasped sarcastically “Your highness, that kind of language is very unbecoming of you… and you two do realize that I’m standing right here right?” They both just smiled at me as I spoke, but the king began to press

“Did his visits effect you in any way?”

“Did they peak my interests? Yes, was I going to accept? Never.”

They both smiled, but then the smile on the king’s face disappeared “You do realize that he has declared that he wants you dead?”

“Okay.” I responded “I’m not surprised, I did kind of turn his minion into firewood, and I’m in his way of world domination, I mean his goal is extremely cliché, but I’m still gonna kill him if he tries.”

The queen chuckled “Ah yes, typical Johnathan…nonetheless, I think we should put more time into your training.”

I sighed “Well in that case, I should probably go see how much damage I did to my room. And try to salvage what I can. Hopefully my gear won’t be too badly damaged.” The king and queen looked at each other with concerned glances on their faces, but they couldn’t stop me. I walked out the door and down to my room, and when I opened the door…… all I saw was destruction, my room now in shambles once again. My gun were probably broken beyond repair, and that meant whether I like it or not, I would have to learn how to fight without my guns. I needed to adapt, or I wouldn’t be able to protect this family…I’d fail again….no, I needed to stop, I need to learn that I wasn't alone. I walked around the room, just taking in the surroundings, and i saw that with the exception of my guns and gear that had been safely locked away, my room was destroyed. “Now I see why the two of you were concerned…. I really did a number on this place didn’t I?”

The king sighed “Yes you did, and we heard all of it.”

“I see then why do I not have any injuries?” I asked

“Because we healed them.” the queen replied “Physically you are fine, but mentally-”

“Yeah, I know, mentally I’m wounded severely.” I cut in

We all just stood there observing my destruction for a few minutes before the queen spoke again, “Perhaps we could use this as a form of training?”

The king looked at her “Well I would prefer that he knew how to get his armor on and off through his shadow phase before we move onto magic.”

“What is it with you two having conversations about me like I’m not there when I’m right next to you both?”

The Queen snickered “What is it with you and your humor?”

“What do you mean?” I asked

“What I think my wife is trying to say is that she doesn’t understand your humor at time…then again I don’t either.” the king replied

“Ah I see…well I chalk it up to my time in MilSim…and probably my broken mental state……….so what’s the plan for fixing my destruction?”

“Well my wife is right, this could be a good way for you to better learn the magic abilities of your armor, but first you need to effectively get it on and off.” I snickered as the king said that last part. Because, as damaged as I am, it still took every single ounce of will I had to refrain from saying ‘That’s what she said’

“So, I guess that’s what we’re gonna start with?” I asked

“Yes.” he replied, “Now try to summon your armor.”

I just stood there “Uhh…. you didn’t tell me that part.” I replied

The king scratched his chin “Ah yes…right then…. Just try to will it to appear on you.”

“Probably easier said than done.” I replied as I closed my eyes and mentally called out for my armor to come to me. as I did so I felt somewhat of a breeze, it only lasted maybe a half second, but as it hit me I felt…different…stronger. I opened my eyes, and much to my surprise, my armor was on my body, and my vision was slightly tinted, and the HUD was once again displayed in my vision. I raised my hands up to feel my head, and I felt my helm on my head. “Nice.” I said. The king and queen just smiled as the queen levitated what remained of a mirror over to me, and holy shit I looked badass.

“Don’t get excited, getting the armor on is easy.” the king replied, “Now try to get the armor off using the same technique I told you yesterday.”

I closed my eyes and tried to clear my mind “Here we go again.” I began to focus on my armor and let the mental breeze blow it away. I let the breeze pick up, and eventually, one by one, the pieces mentally faded from my mind until it was all gone. When I opened my eyes, I was surprised to see that the armor had disappeared as well. The whole process took maybe thirty seconds. “Well what do you know, I did it.”

The king smiled “Yes you did, and with more practice, you should be able to put the armor on and take it off in the blink of an eye, be it the full set or just a certain piece.”

“Hmm, that will be helpful.” I replied

“Yes, it will.” the queen continued, “Now try the process with your eyes open.”

“Ah, ramping up the difficulty is see.” I replied

“This is nothing, you know as well as we do that most enemies will not fight fairly.” the king replied.

“Yeah true.” I answered, looking down at my hands and in my minds eye, imagining the armor on them, and sure enough as I did this, my arms darkened as the armor phased onto them “Ok that is definitely badass.” I replied. I took a few swings before I imagined them fading away, and low and behold they disappeared.

The king and queen smiled as the king spoke “Good, now to add the stress component.”

“Stress component?” I had a feeling I knew what they were talking about but I wasn’t sure, and all my hopes were confirmed as the king levitated up a wrench

“Yes, you will be placed under attack, and you will be expected to summon your armor to block the attacks.”

“Ah yes because if I can dodge a wrench I can doge any regular attack.” I deadpanned

The king offered no reply, he only smiled and tossed the wrench at me, causing me to raise up my arm to block it and I only had time to think, “armor”, but that was all that was need. Right before the wrench it my arm, the armor phased onto my arm and the wrench bounced off of it. and with another though, the armor disappeared. I raised my arm up again and the armor appeared and with another thought it disappeared. I nodded my head, “Huh…neat.”

The king smiled, “Well done, now we can begin your weapons training.”

“What do you mean?” I asked

The queen stepped forward “Your armor is linked to your sword and it can also summon a shield. As we told you before it has been imbued with our magic, while in that armor you are in effect an alicorn, but you are not invincible or limitless.”

“And what about my guns?” I asked

The queen replied “The weapons that you have here are linked to the armor, however unlike your swords, you cannot use the armor magic to craft more, so once they are lost or broken, you cannot repair or replace them.”

“Understood.” I replied as I walked to the door, but the king stepped in front of me

“Where are you going?”

“Well we’re going to weapons training, so I guess I should go outside right?”

The queen stepped forward and put her hoof on me “The weapons training can wait for now, or at least until you are in a better mental state come, summon the greaves of your armor.”

“Uhh…greaves?”

“The arms of your armor.” she replied

“Ah, sorry, I’m still kind of stupid.” I summoned the arms of my armor as I felt a slap on my head. I turned around to see that the queen had extended her wing to smack me in the head

“You will stop this constant self-depreciation one way or another, and if I have to slap your depression out of you then I will.”

I chuckled “Now I see where Tia gets that motherly side of hers/”

“Ah so she has tried the same thing?” Sunflare asked

“Well…. yeah.” I replied

The queen smiled “I’m happy to hear that my daughter loves you so.”

“Oh, I thought it was because she said ‘the most crucial part of the healing process is the nagging.” I deadpanned, which earned a chuckle from Orbash “See? He gets it.” I replied

“Oh hush” the queen replied “Now I will teach you one of the most basic elements of magic, levitation. It’s quite simple, pick an object, and move it in your minds eye.” her horn glowed and the fragments of a chair levitated up and into a pile

“Ok.” I replied and tried the same to the pistol in the corner. My right arm glowed a faint black and a magical aurora of the same color appeared around the whole gun, yet it fizzled out before I could lift the gun “Damn it.”

“Don’t get frustrated, keep trying.” the queen urged. I looked back at the pistol and focused harder, and ever so slowly, the pistol levitated itself a few feet into the air.

“Hey I got it.”

“Good, now bring it to you.” the queen replied. With a small raise of my arm and opening of my palm, I brought the pistol into my grasp “Holy shit I have the force.”

“The what?” the queen asked

“Don’t worry about it…just something from a famous movie series in my world.” I replied. The king and queen smiled, probably happy to see me out of the dumps somewhat.

“Ah I see.” the queen replied “Now then…perhaps it is time we get this room cleaned up?”

“Uhh…well how? I kind of destroyed it.”

“Ah yes, well that can be undone.” the king replied as both of their horns began to glow. There was a blinding flash, and by the time the white faded from my eyes, my room was in pristine condition, just like it was before I wrecked it.

“With a little magic, anything is possible.” the queen finished.

I dissipated the armor from my arms and hugged them both “Thank you.”

The queen smiled “Your welcome Johnathan…but next time you do lose control of yourself, you’ll be on your own for fixing things up.”

“Fair enough.” I replied. I walked around my room and indeed everything was as it once was, but there were a few additions. I now had a safe to lock my weapons in, a small work desk for repairs, but most importantly, on the walls were pictures of myself with Celestia or the rest of the royal family. I turned back to the king and queen who were smiling at me as they stood in the center of the room. I walked up to them and the queen already seemed to know what I was going to ask.

“We thought that your room could use a little more of a homey feel.” she stepped forward and picked up a picture of Celestia hugging me and floated it over to me with her magic. “And because you need to realize that no matter where or when you are, she will always love you, and always be with you.” I lowered my head as I began to think, but this only prompted Sunflare to walk up to me and lifted my chin with her hoof to look her in the eyes as she continued “What would she do is she saw you like this? Depressed, drinking, on the verge of suicide?”

I sighed…she was right, “She’d tell me she loves me…shed hold me close and make me see that I’m better than what I think I am…and probably smack me.”

The queen smiled at that “Yes, she does indeed sound like my daughter.”

“Yeah…I love her…She is and always will be my beautiful princess.”

“And you are and always will be her prince.” the queen replied. “You are a member of this family, and the godfather of our daughter.”

“Your serious about that?” I asked

“Yes.” she replied “I do not take things like my daughter’s well-being lightly, you are her godfather, and you will be their protectorate and Celestia's prince, I know it, you know it, the tree of Harmony knows it, and your cutie mark defines it.”

I pulled up my sleeve to look at the mark on my arms “Yeah I kinda figured that from what was on it.” I walked out to my balcony and looked out on the sky. The sun was up and the guards were out doing rounds, and my watch showed that it was about time for lunch. The king and queen walked up behind me and I could hear the slight sound of magic. They were probably getting ready in case I tried to jump. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to jump…I just wanted some fresh air…still trying to process my situation.”

The king walked up “I can understand how you feel about being thrown back in time against your will…and I only wish there was a way I could understand your pain…I can only imagine how devastated I would be if I was ripped away from Sunflare.”

“Trust me man, you don’t want to…the pain…the loneliness…the alcohol.” I lifted up my flask and took a swig but it didn’t last long before the queens marigold aura wrapped around my flask and it disappeared

“Hey I was drinking that!” I turned around to face her

The queen looked at me sternly, “Well now you’re not, I don’t know how you can even stomach that swill, but I will not allow you to become a drunkard.” I sighed and went to speak but she put her hoof to my mouth “Ah-ah-ah, no refutations. You will not be allowed to have that flask on you anymore.” she put her wing around me and pulled me out into the hall, “Now come along, it’s time for lunch, I will not have you skipping meals.”

I rolled my eyes and started walking as I commented sarcastically “Yes mom.”

The queen looked back “don’t make me mother you, young man.”

“Young man!? I’m 36!” I replied

“Yes, and I’m as old as existence, so guess what, you’re a young man to me. now come along, the kitchen staff have skills that will astound you.” And with that I followed her into the dining room with the king behind me with a massive grin on his face. The queen pulled out a seat for me and I sat down in it as the two of sat beside me

“So, what’s for lunch?” I asked as a pony in a chef’s outfit came into the room.

He smiled and bowed “Good afternoon your highnesses!” he looked to me and smiled “and you must be the commander, it’s a pleasure to finally see you, I’ve been shown those meals that you have been eating, and I was appalled at how you could stomach those garish things… so what may I interest you all in?”

The queen smiled “What is today's special?”

“Today's special is an onion soup appetizer, a shrimp scampi risotto, and a wonderful pinot grigio.”

The king and queen smiled, “That sounds wonderful, but the commander here will not be partaking in the wine, just a water for him.”

The chef bowed “As you wish your highness.” and with that he left us for the kitchen.

When he left I looked at the queen who already seemed to know my response as she gave one of her own, “I said that you will be cutting back on the alcohol and I meant it.”

I sighed “It bites because I know you're right.”

Sunflare smiled “Good, then maybe you start listening to our advice more often.”

“Yeah, I don’t know about that.” I replied and oddly enough, as I did, the queen began to chuckle.

“Ah yes, there’s the Johnathan that we know….it makes us happy to see you out of the pit of your depression.”

“I’m not fully out…but for better or for worse I’m climbing the ladder that your family has thrown down to me.” I replied. I no sooner finished my sentence when the chef came back into the room with our food in his magical aura.

He placed the food in the table with the drinks “Lunch is served.” and with that, he left.

The food itself was great, it had been a while since I had had anything like it, considering I have been running on a mix of MRE’s and some homemade meals since I’ve arrived. We spent most of the meal enjoying the meal, with the king and queen mentioning that they planned to continue my training after the meal.

When we finally finished out food, we stood up to go back to training, but before we could, guards burst into the room “Your highnesses, there is a large fire near the castle.”

“How close?” the king asked

The guard answered, “Not far, but luckily for us, it is near the lake, it should be easy to put out.”

“That is good, but still, keep more guards at the ready incase an evacuation is needed.” the king replied.

“Wait.” I chimed in “You said near the lake?”

“Yes.” the guard replied.

A look of fear came over my face as I summoned my armor and bolted through the guards and the doors “Nonono, please no.” I ran for what seemed like an eternity, and as I got close to the clearing where my house was, I could see the fires glow “No no no!” I ran faster and summoned my helmet, hoping that it would offer some protection from the smoke now coming towards me. I burst into the clearing and my fears had come true…before me, was house was ablaze…my house. I wondered just how it could have happened, and then the realization struck me “That son of a bitch!”

There was a flash behind me as the king and queen teleported in. the queen tried to console me but I wasn’t having it “Johnathan, please, there’s nothing you can do, now please back away from the fire.”

I turned around to face them “Who is Pauron, how does he know you!!”

The king stepped forward “Johnathan we don’t know that this was him.”

“It was.” I replied “It was that son of a bitch…he took my home from me...MY! HOME!” It was then that another realization hit me and I jumped on top of the king and queen “Get down!”

The queen was flustered “Johnathan what is the meaning of this!? Get off of-”

The world shook as a deafening blast followed by small pops erupted from my home, shrapnel and exploded ammunition bouncing off my armor. When the popping died down, I got off the king and queen “My house had a weapons locker and a gas reservoir…the fire got to it…set off everything inside.”

The king and queen nodded, realizing that I had just saved them. They stepped to my side and the kings horn began to glow. I was thinking they were going to levitate some water onto the fire, but instead ice and snow shot from his horn and the fire started to die out, and the charred remains of my peaceful home began to ice up. In a matter of 30 seconds, the king had defeated the blaze…and rendered me homeless. I had lost whatever weapons and ammo were in my house… I had lost pictures…I had lost my truck. I fell to my knees and dissipated my armor. “Its…its all gone.”

The queen walked up to me, sat down next to me, and put her wing around me. She didn’t say anything, she just sat there and held me. Eventually the king walked up to me, sat down on my other side, and put his wing around me too. The three of us just sat there for I don’t know how long, looking at the iced-over, burned down house in front of us. The house where I was going to live with Celestia. The house where the two of us were going to raise a family…it took them some time, but eventually the queen spoke “Perhaps it would be best if we return from the castle…away from all this.”

I just nodded silently and stood back up. The king and queen did the same and walked beside me as we slowly made our way back to the castle. When we arrived, I walked into my room and started putting some things into a bug-out bag all while the king and queen watched me. the did nothing until I picked it up and walked to the door. I only made it a few steps before the king’s magic took the bag off and the queens magic picked me up and pulled me into a hug from the both of them. The queen as usual was the first to speak “You’re not leaving us John.”

“Even if you think it will protect us.” the king finished.

The held me close as I began to cry, and as ponies walked by they started to stare. The queen looked at them all and shouted “Cease your staring at once! This man has just lost his home! He has reason to shed tears, and no pony here shall think any less of him for it!” the onlookers quickly fled and the king went and shut my door.

“It’s ok now John.” he said “Let your sadness out…I shall go see starswirl.”

The queen looked up at him inquisitively “Don’t worry my dear.” There was a flash and I was just left with the queen, who pulled me close into her chest and stroked my back as I cried. She held me close for a few minutes before I spoke.

“Why?...why can’t I have a happy life?”

“Shhhh… you will Johnathan, all this shall pass, and one day soon, there will be light in your life.” She replied. Eventually, my sadness began to fall away and my tears began to subside. Sunflare seemed to sense this as she let go of her hold on me to look me in the eye “Better?” she asked.

“I don’t know if I ever will be.” I replied. As I did there was a flash as Orbash and Starswirl appeared in my room.

Starswirl walked up to me “Come my friend, I need your help with my studies.”

I looked at him and then to the king and queen and wiped the tears from my eyes, “And you need the depressed guy because…. why exactly?” I asked

“Don’t question my methods, just come with me.” Starswirl replied. His horn lit up and even eloped my arm as he pulled me along to his study. Inside it was books upon books upon books, and equipment for every scientific field imaginable. He pulled up a chair for me and sat me down in it, before getting one of his own and sitting done across from me. “I’m sorry for all your loss John.”

I sighed “Don’t be…and if this is some kind of intervention it sucks.”

He chuckled “It’s not an intervention Johnathan, its three friends sitting down.” his magic came to life and levitated out a small box filled with mason jars “And enjoying a drink.”

I look at him skeptically “You can’t be serious…where did you get this?”

He smiled “I copied your recipe…but I still have yet to acquire a taste for it.”

“Yeah that could take some time.” I replied, as I took out a jar and opened it “But once you do.” I took a sip of the shine, enjoying the taste and the burn “It becomes the best liquor you’ll ever have.” I passed him the jar and he took a small sip before coughing

“I don’t know about that.” he replied “…...but you’ll be happy to hear that I’ve copied your contraption… but well have to keep it secret from the queen.”

“Yeah fair enough…she’d be very pissed if she found out.”

Starswirl laughed, “Oh I know, but I’ve never seen her as angry as you make her sometimes.”

“Yeah I have that effect on people.” I took another swig

He chuckled and took a swig and coughed again “You know, I think I could get a taste for it…in a thousand years.” We both started laughing at that. It felt good to laugh. Eventually I felt his hoof on my shoulder “Johnathan, I truly am sorry about your loss…I know how much your home meant to you.”

“Don’t be” I replied “…. It’s not the house that’s got me like this…It’s what it it stood for. The house can be rebuilt, but the memories and the dreams…” I took another swig “They’re gone.”

“They’re not my friend…they’re just…missing.” He replied

“Maybe…...wait did you just say friend?”

Starswirl smiled “Yes I did.”

I took another swig “Huh…well then.”

We sat there for a few moments in silence before he brought out a book of sorts “This is a book of all my finding in the study the science of magic.”

“Science of magic…sounds kind contradictory.” I replied

“Let me finish…this book contains all my finding…including my theory of the pillars.”

“Pillars?” I asked

“Yes, the pillars, the embodiment of the best elements within us. The ones that can spread life and virtue.” He opened the book to reveal drawings…and holy shit I thought my handwriting was bad “I know of ponies who represent them all.” He handed me the book as his magic flipped through the pages. Inside the book was pictures and research on 5 ponies. Their names were Rock hoof, Flash magnus, Mage Meadowbrook, Mist mane, and Sonambula. These five ponies were depicted in a circle of sorts around Starswirl. “Strength, Bravery, Healing, Beauty, Hope, And Sorcery.” Each virtue appearing under the ponies as he spoke. “I have done countless hours of research on these ponies and how they themselves are pillars of their virtues.”

“Ok…so why tell me this?” I asked setting down my drink and delving into the book.

“Because I believe that you yourself, are a pillar.”

I set the book down and look at him “You kidding me.”

“No, I am not, you sir are the seventh pillar.”

“Of what? Drunkenness and depression?” I countered.

“No.” He replied “You my friend, are the Pillar of Protection.”

“May I ask how you came to this conclusion?”

“It’s simple.” he flipped a few pages over, and in it I saw drawings of myself, my equipment, my house, my guns, everything, and each one had intense notes below it, including a note of my personality and actions “I’ve been studying you.”

I looked over the notes and pictures again “Ok can people please stop breaking into my room? I mean seriously, this is starting to piss me off.”

Starswirl was taken aback “Ah…...yes well if it’s any consolation, I am sorry…. sometimes I can get caught up in the study.”

I sighed “What’s done is done…just don’t do it again…...so have you met up with them?”

“I…...well no…I haven’t had a reason.” he replied

“Well I’d advise that you don’t wait for one, you going to want the team to know each other and have good cohesion if you want to be effective.”

“You mean we, don’t you?” he asked

“No, I mean you. You don’t want me as pillar.”

“Yes, I do, you are the pillar of protection-”

I cut in “Who needs protection from himself.”

“So, you can protect the rest of the world.” he countered “I’ve talked with the king and queen, and they have agreed to let me take you on…and you could do to make some friends.”

“Why?” I asked

“You know the answer…but I suspect that your event with that timber wolf helped my cause.” he replied

“Of course, they would…so when do we go to find this merry band of warriors?” I asked

Starswirl walked into the back of the room and came back with a saddlebag “We leave now.”

“I’ll go get my stuff then.” I replied, but as I got up Starswirl’s horn glowed and my pack and guns appeared in a lump in front of me, I was wondering where my vest was, but then I remembered that the king and queen did away with it to merge it to my armor “Or you can do that.” I picked my pack, put it on, threw it over my shoulder, and attached my weapons to it before pulling my up face shield. “Let’s go then, I want to get out of here before the queen changes her mind.”

“That’s the spirit.” he replied, and together we walked to the castle door and I pulled up my face shield…...and that’s about as far as we got. On the other side of the door was a group of six ponies…all of the pillars were gathered at the castle door, and in front of them, a small unicorn…Stygian.