The Tenth Crusade: To Take Canterlot!

After successfully passing the judgment of the princesses you decided to spend the rest of the day in the library with Twilight, having her teach you about the history of the land you were now free to explore. You had no idea how extensive a history Equestria had, tomes upon thick bound tomes were brought to you by spike. Only beginning to pile higher and higher, until both Twilight and yourself were surrounded by these books. The piles rivaling even your own large stature.

"Me thinks that enough literature for the night" you say stretching your sore back, eliciting a loud crack.

"I shalt retire for the eve, I bid thee goodnight dear Twilight and hope to continue this at a later time." Giving Twilight a deep bow and turing to go to your makeshift chambers.

"Wait Rowan!" you hear Twilight call out from behind you as you shift books away to make an exit.

"Perhaps rather than sleep another night on the floor, you could share a proper bed with me?" She asks, a slight blush overcoming her features.

You think about this, while you wouldn't want to intrude upon her personal privacy you do wish to sleep on something else than a quilt over a hard wood floor. You stop and turn to her, making sure that you were looking her dead in the eyes.

"Doth thout truly wish to share mine company this eve, I would hate to intrude or cause discomfort in thine bedding" you say, hoping that she would only see your reply as merely a formality and allow you to join her in a more comfortable sleeping arrangement.

"O-of course, it's no problem! I have plenty of room in my bed and I'm sure that Spike wouldn't mind you in the room either" she replies rather quickly, the blush becoming more and more obvious on her face as she looks down at her crossed forehooves.

You had never thought of bedding in the same room with an animal before, then again they were beasts back where you came from. These ponies however, they displayed an almost equivalent amount of intelligence to yourself.

"I thank thee for thine offer and accept it gratefully" you finish your speech with an even lower bow, almost toppling yourself over.

Twilight smiled brightly and sat up, exiting through the opening you had made in the book wall and walked towards the stars, gesturing for you to follow. You obliged and allowed Twilight to lead you upstairs and into her room. The bed near the window was definitely large enough for the two of you to sleep in comfortably, a small basket at the foot of the bed already housing a sleeping Spike. You smiled as Twilight trotted over to the bed and got in, you began to remove your apparel and with your undergarments and shirt being the only remaining clothes, joined her in the bed.

It felt nice to feel the heat of Twilight warming the blankets, and you soon found yourself drifting off to sleep. The world falling away as you began to dream, leaving you alone in the darkness of your mind.

You felt a certain unease come over you as you found yourself standing in a barn backness, the only light appearing to emirate from your standing form. You quickly search around, frantically looking for any kind of hint as to where you were. Then it hit you, you were dreaming. This was just the basic startings of a dream, the foundation of fantastical adventures and mystical images. You smile, relieved that you hadn't sipped into any kind of dark realm. Then you heard it, distant at first, but growing into an audible level. It was the voice of Princess Luna, this began to worry you. Perhaps you were wrong in your assumption of your current location and indeed you had slipped into a hellishly dark place and now she and her compatriots were searching for you, hoping to find you before the creatures go this world did.

"Princess Luna, I am here!" you called out, waving your arms above your head and attracting the attention of a flying Princess Luna.

"Ah, good Sir Rowan. I am glad that I hath found you here" She said, landing a few feet in front of you. Curling her wings back to rest against her sides and looking up at you.

"It was quite the difficult task to find thine dreams, and navigating them was even more so a challenge" she said, letting out a girlish giggle.

You were relieved to find that you were indeed in your dreams, but now confused as to why Princess Luna now accompanied you here. Perhaps you had just dreamt her into being to accompany your lonely self in this endless blackness.

"Art thou real or art thout merely a figment of mine mind, Formed into creation to accompany mineself in this dark void?" you ask, using an arm to gesture around at the black expanse surrounding you.

"I assure thee that I am very much so real Sir Rowan, I wished to speak to you privately after our first encounter. You had, peaked my interests for lack of better phrasing" she said as she moved closer to you, her hot breath moving across your face as she stepped within inches of you.

The smell of blueberries becoming noticeable as she began to circle around you. She finished her actions by seating herself on her haunches only a few feet away from your tensed standing form, a bead of sweat dripping down your forehead as you recomposed yourself.

"I had not the knowledge that I peaked thine interests Princess Luna, I am humbled upon learning of this" you shakily said, taking a deep bow.

"I hope it nary too bold of mineself to beseech thee as to why thout has taken interest in me?" You ask, a bit of apprehension leaking through your question as you stood and faced Luna. She shook her head and smiled at you, calming your nerves as you too took a seat across from her.

"I had hoped to ask you a few questions good Sir Rowan as to thine origin and to thine meaning of 'crusader' and the 'Knight's Templar order' that thoust speak of so fondly and frequently" she said, ruffling her feathers and making herself more comfortable in the blackness. Clearly knowing that the tale she had asked you to regale upon her was to be a long one.

"It would be of mine greatest pleasure to speak of my past, however I must warn thee that this is a harrowing tale and not one suited for the faint of heart" you warned her, waiting for a response. She merely gave you a short nod and laid upon the ground, conjuring a cushion to rest her head upon as you told her your life's tale. You exhaled a sigh and began slowly, bringing forth the daemons that lurked in your past.

"my life had begun as a simple blacksmith's son in Armenia, working with my father and brothers to forge tools for the local farmers and workers. It was around the age of fourteen years that a Knight happened across mine father's smithy, ordering us to repair his sword. My father was ill that day and so I, being the eldest, took responsibly for the task, promising that it would be done before the sun had set the next morn. And so the knight cast his blade to me for repairs, what he had failed to mention was that the blade had been spit in two. Forcing me to forge a new blade

"I had worked tirelessly at the forge, pounding inch after inch of that blade until it was so sharp and fine that it would suit a king. The knight had returned the next morn and reclaimed his blade, remarking at the craftsmanship. When he had sheathed the blade he asked if I was interested in squiring for him. I was hesitant at first, due to my father's condition, but reluctantly accepted. I had served under that knight for a short amount of time until he was struck by a bolt in combat, ceasing his existence. I still cannot remember his name. He did however open a new possibility for mineself!

"Word had spread to the order of the Teutonic Knights that a skilled bladesmith was now without a master. The day after I had returned to my home to bury some of my siblings I was approached by a Teutonic Knight who, after much hesitation offered me schooling from his order. I accepted immediately, wanting to serve His Holiness right away. Under the Teutons I learned how to properly fight with shield and blade in my grasp, and how to mix herbs and oils to make remedies and poisons. But soon, I was called away from Dutchland and to Francia to serve in the Knight's Templar order.

"Upon gaining my title of crusader I boarded a ship headed to the Holy City of Jerusalem and was to act as a sentry along with others from both my order and affiliate orders." You paused, looking over at Luna to see her completely infatuated with your tale. Her eyes wide with amazement as you spoke more of your life. You smiled and continued, glad that she was so interested in yourself.

"Upon mine arrival to the Sea of Sand and the Holy City, I found myself placed into the first defense of the city. We had taken to calling ourselves God's Hand, since we delivered justice to those that sought to perverse Jerusalem. I had searved with my brothers-at-arms at the Eastern outpost for three seasons before, one battle I was struck by an etherial steed and awoke here in Equestria" You said, finishing your tale and looking at the currently amused princess lounging in your dreams.

"I thank thee for telling me thine tale good Sir Rowan, but it seems that thou art about to awaken. I bid thee farewell and hope to speak with you again" Luna said, rising to her hooves and giving you a bow.

"It would be my honor princess, but could I request that thout call me simply Rowan?" You ask, giving her a bow as you stood as well.

"If it pleases thee then I see no qualms in thine request. I shall speak with you again Rowan, until then" Luna said, taking flight and appearing to vanish before you began to awaken, the blackness of your dreamscape being replaced with the morning in Twilight's bed.

You had woken up in Twilight's bed, finding that sometime in the night Twilight had snuggled against you, her sleeping form pressed against your body. Carefully moving out of bed as to not disturb the sleeping princess you were able to gather up your apparel and exit the room almost silently, not waking Twilight or Spike from their slumber. Quickly washing yourself and donning your armor, you exited the library and headed outside to explore Ponyville proper.

At first the ponies had been quick to panic, quickly running away from you whenever you came near. However, after many polite "Greetings" and waving you were able to calm them to a normal level, although they still refused to approach you. Continuing on your morning stroll you saw a collection of foals ad fillies playing in a field, curiosity getting the better of you, you decided to join in on their fun. Jogging up the children you saw them all freeze as you approached, some beginning to quiver in fear. Suddenly three fillies approached you, apparently not afraid of your strange form.

"Who are ya stranger?" The small earth pony asked. her coat was light tan and she had a large bow tied into her red mane.

"I think you mean what are you" the small orange pegasus corrected, blowing a tuft of her sort purple mane aside.

"Hi! I'm Sweetiebelle and that's Applebloom and Scootalo, we're the Cutie Mark Crusaders!" The last one shouted, jumping in front of her arguing friends.

"It is my pleasure to meet thee Lady Sweetiebelle, likewise for the Ladies Applebloom and Scootalo" you said, giving the fillies a deep bow and ceasing their arguing as they turned their attention to you.

"L-lady, I've never been called a lady before" Scootalo said, a cute blush being to creep along her face.

"I ain't no lady, I'm a cowpony!" Applebloom said, stomping her foot for emphasis.

Sweetiebelle just blushed, unable to make words come to her mouth. Upon seeing your interaction with the 'Cutie Mark Crusaders' the other children slowly approached you, asking all sorts of questions. You answered as any as you could as accurately as you could before a bell sounded and much to their hesitancy, the children galloped off to a red building, filing inside. Left alone in the field, you decided to examine the nearby orchard.

Reaching the outskirts of the orchard you examine the apples hanging from the lush trees, whoever kept these fields did an amazing job you thought to yourself. Taking a closer look at the apples they were the richest red you had ever seen, their size being as large as your gauntleted fist. Plucking one from its branch you remove your helmet to take a bite, when a strongly accented female voice stops you.

"Now I know that you're not thinkin' of eatin' my apples without permission, nopony does that and the same applies for non-ponies too" She said, a bit of annoyance lurking at the edges of her tone.

You quickly set the apple back on the ground and turned around slowly, making sure to have dawned your helmet before facing this new face.

"I hath meant nothing by it m'lady, twas a simple lack of control due mine hunger. I deeply apologize to thee" You explain, giving her a bow and coming back up to look face to face with an orange mare, her blonde hair covered by a strange hat.

"Now I'm willin' to let ya off with a warnin', what on account of ya bein' a new face and all" she said, tilting her head in confusion at you "Definitely a face i've never seen before"

"I berth fairly new to Equestria, having just gained the ability to roam about freely as deemed by the princesses" you explain, a look of understanding coming over her.

"well why didn't ya say so! Any friend of the princesses is a friend of mine" she said, removing her hat and holding out her hoof "I'm Applejack, it's nice ta meetcha"

You shook her hoof, it was strange that these ponies knew what a handshake was, since they didn't have any. Smiling, you feel like the name Applejack was familiar.

"Doth thout know a filly by the name of Applebloom, good lady Applejack?" You ask, feeling like their names had to be connected, and if not it was an amazing coincidence.

"Eyup, Applebloom's ma lil' sister" she said, a smile coming and going quickly "Why, what did she and her friends do this time?" She asked, a now annoyed look taking over her once cheerful one.

"Thine sister hath done no ill deed, I had merely stumbled across her and a youngling entourage over yonder" you said, gesturing towards where you came from.

"Oh, ya must've caught 'em headin' off ta school" she laughed "Ya must've been up pretty early ta catch em outside!"

"I must admit that I indeed had awoken at an early hour, I needed to breath the fresh air after spending the night with Twilight" you say nonchalantly, noticing that Applejack's ears flattened against her head and her face began to flush the same shade as her apples.

"I-I uh, I see. And how did the uh, two of you spend your night?" She asked, a hoof digging around in the dirt lightly.

"She had taken pity on myself and offered to share her chambers, it was quite a kind action" you say, still not realizing the reason for Applejack's apprehension.

"W-well that was mighty kind of her. I gotta go, um, tend to my apples. It was nice meeting you mr. uh..." she said, trying to rack her brain as to your name, you realizing that you hadn't shared it made to reprimand that.

"The name is Sir Rowan, but thou should feel free to call myself simply Rowan" you say, now having introduced yourself to yet another pony. But by the time that you had finished introducing yourself Applejack was already well down the orchard, continuing to walk on.

You decided it best not to waste the apple you had already picked and grabbed it off the ground, giving it a light dusting off before taking a bite. What graced your tastebuds was one of the richest apples you had ever tasted, not too sweet and not too bitter. You quickly found that you had completely eaten the apple and making sure nobody or pony was watching picked three more, putting them into your belt pouch.

You had continued walking around Ponyville, munching on the apples and greeting any pony that would allow you close enough to interact. Eventually though you found yourself back outside the center of Ponyville, the library looking busy as ponies flowed in and out. Smiling you began to walk back towards your current home, until you were stopped by a shocked cry emanating from behind you. Turning, you now looked at a mint unicorn, her mouth agape staring at you.

"Oh sweet Celestia" she whispered "I can't believe it, a human. A real living human! Can today get any better?!" She cried out, hoping around in a circle in front of you.

"Excuse me, I would hate to intrude upon thine joy, but what doth thought know of humans? All others I come across I am alien to" you say to her, now curious as to who this pony was and how she knew about your kind.

"Oh, right. Um, I'm Lyra, Lyra Heartstrings and I have spent A LOT of time digging up ancient Equestrian texts about anything human" she explained, stoping her bouncing and facing you, a more serious air about her as she told you of her work.

"Well then, I am not the first man to ever come to Equestria?" You ask, sow interested in you're kind having been here before.

"Well yes, or no. I'm not really sure, a lot of it is just old mare's tales and reeeeeeealy old legends" she explained, making the idea that more humans may be on Equestria begin to dwindle.

"Ah, I see" you say, a bit dejected at the new information.

Lyra taking notice of your change of attitude quickly retorted with more conversation, attempting to lighten the mood.

"Well I'd love to hear more about you sometime! It'd be really cool to talk to a real. life. human" she said, finishing her statement with an excited squeal.

"Well I have to go, but we should talk some time Mr. Human" she said beginning to trot off happily.

"My name is Sir Row-an" you finish, but know that Lyra didn't hear. Great, another pony that you had to introduce yourself to later.

Tired from your trip around Ponyville you walked into the library and found the large armchair that sat in the backlist section, sitting down in it and letting out a heavy sigh. With so much more to learn about this strange new world and its inhabitants, you decide it best to save it for another day. Slowly feeling yourself beginning to sink into the comfy chair and drift into sleep.