Equestrian Ending

Chapters

Freedom
Time
Battle
Punishment
A New Beginning
Riches
Canterlot
Celestia
The End

Freedom

Well, that was reckless of me. ‘Hey, how about I kill Discord and use his power to revive my best friend?’ Seriously. Dumb move. I should have known what would happen. I should have thought things through better than I did, but here I am, stuck as a statue.

I guess it isn’t all bad. At least they managed to stop me in time. I honestly don’t know what I was thinking, using Chaos to break a fundamental rule of reality. So here I am, replacing Discord as a lawn ornament for the royal gardens.

Then again, if I’m thinking this through now, I shouldn’t be here much longer. My power must have stabilized. So, who am I? Hmm... Dex. Yes, that’s what I’ve had everyone call me since I’ve entered Equestria. My mind isn’t split between the two powers any more, so I am a shield. Dex the Shield. Yes... but something’s missing.

I came to Equestria with no clues and ended up being the prisoner at the castle. Then, I released Discord because of my presence alone and he sent me away as backup. He failed and I began to hear things... like the voices of my family. The forest, the hospital, the failed spell, and the oath... I’m Celestia’s knight. Knight of the Solar Guard. I am:

Sir Dex the Shield, Knight of the Solar Guard.

*Crack* *Crack* *Chk-kish!*

“Wooaaahh~!”

My body suddenly had weight to it, causing me to stumble and fall off the pedestal I had stood upon for years. I felt grass and dirt and pain, but mostly pain, as I landed face first. Groaning, I righted myself and pulled myself onto the pedestal to sit. As I did so, I took a few moments to look around.

The sun was high in the cloudless sky, with moderate temperatures that I guessed would be around autumn’s norm. Multicolored leaves confirmed my suspicions as I felt the wind blow by. Birds and insects made their songs and the smell of exhaust fumes filled the air. Wait, exhaust fumes?

I hopped off my stool and started to make my way through the hedges and pathways of the garden. As I pondered over the new scents for Equestria, I came across new growths, never quite finding my way out of the changed maze. What am I doing? Just warp to the throne room! With a quick snap of my fingers, I winked out of existence, only to reappear in front of the throne room doors. Two stallions jumped at attention immediately.

“It’s the thing from the gardens! Sound the alarm!” the one on the left said as his partner parted the doors and gave a muffled cry of emergency.

“Stand down men. I’m not who I was when I was captured,” I said calmly, expecting my authority to matter. Neither stallion said a word as they aimed their spears at me. It wasn’t until a few moments later that I realized they weren’t spears, but rifles with bayonets attached! Where did they get guns?! Acting quickly, I channeled my Chaos and reinforced my body against penetration.

I managed to save myself just in time as a bullet slammed into my chest, forcing the air from my lungs and collapse to my knees. As I clutched the impact zone, I boosted my healing factor and looked up to the two, no three ponies now. The newest arrival was, in fact, Luna.

“You have released yourself from your stone prison, just as you said all those years ago. I am surprised that a weapon of your own design could harm you so easily, Sinis,” she said coldly.

The attack had healed enough for me to speak. “I am not Sinis. My power has stabilized.”

“If this is the case, why are you so calm in the face of such change?”

I looked between the guards and the princess, thinking back to the fumes I smelled and the weapons. “The speed you ponies have improved my designs is astonishing, yes, especially in such short amount of time, but remember that they’re things I created.”

Luna’s eyes grew slightly at my statement, but showed no other reaction. “Short amount of time? Dex, if that is you, there’s a lot you have to catch up on.”

She sounds like Celestia. Can she have changed that much as well? “It is true, Luna. I am Dex.” I stood up as the healing process finished mending my surely broken ribs and looked to her with determination. “I am Sir Dex the Shield, Knight of the Solar Guard.”

“Now there’s a name I haven’t heard in some time,” a voice said as the two large doors began to open in a pearlescent aura. The two guards stepped aside as Luna looked behind her. As the doors completed their movement, Celestia stood before me, the same as ever with her wings spread and a tense stance. “Dex, are you truly back to normal?”

“Yes, Celestia, I’m back. I’m sorry for what happened; I just couldn’t bea-”

“It is alright, Dex. I know.” She smiled gently before turning away from me and looked into the chamber beyond. “Court has been cancelled this afternoon for important matters regarding the state. Please return tomorrow if your business has not been dealt with.”

Ponies began streaming out of the room, none of which I recognized, and passed us by hurriedly. Some glanced towards me, while others muttered their discontent to themselves, but all of them had cleared out in less than a minute. With the large throne room now empty, the princesses, guards, and I entered.

Celestia and Luna stepped towards their thrones as the guards stood to either side of me, rifles at the ready. I noted that the general theme of the room had changed into a more harmonic blend between night and day while I was stone. The princesses turned to me when there was a few feet of distance between us and they looked at each other. I watched as the two sisters communicated, either with their minds or just their faces, until they turned back to me.

“Dex, how long do you think you were trapped in stone?” Celestia said.

I thought for a minute. “I’m not sure. Time has no meaning in your mind. Ten years? Twenty?” How have Pan and Riches been without me?

A defeated sigh escaped the princesses lips before Luna spoke. “Many years have passed.”

“How long? How are Pan and Riches?”

“Those two had good lives. They grew up, but never forgot you. I know Riches grew to change Slade for the better, but Pan... She spent the rest of her years working the hospital and eventually passed, alone.”

“What? No! How many years?!” I was growing hysterical.

“Dex, please calm down.”

“How many years Celestia?!”

“One thousand,” Luna said.

My mind blanked, stunned as I was from the answer. Slowly, ever so slowly, I fell to the floor. I knew they wouldn’t lie to me about this, but I couldn’t let it be true. “.....no....” I said under my breath, but still staring the two immortals in the face. “...No....” Pan! Riches! “No...”

“Dex,” came Celestia’s warm voice.

“No!”

“Dex.” Luna’s stern voice.

“NO!” My power turned physical, creating a false wind that spun around me and warped my perception. “NO!”

“Dex!”

I barely heard Celestia call for me and and gunshot ring out. The bullet, slowed by my torrent, bounced off my head and landed on the back of my hand. I looked at it, mind lost in the pain of loss, until something clicked. Riches and I created that. Pan and I studied that. They made a difference, but I lost them to time. They wouldn’t want me to go crazy again, would they?

Everything stopped. The wind ceased to exist, dust dropped back to the earth quickly, and I saw the princesses holding the two rifles and glaring at the guards. I pinched the bullet between my thumb and forefinger, lifting it up so I could see it closely, and stared at it.

I rotated the ball of metal in my hand slowly and said, “One thousand years, and not a single improvement to my design? On my planet, we’d have upgraded from musket balls to self-contained bullets within the century. Tell me, what else hasn’t changed?”

“Your engine design has been improved and electricity is widespread, but there was no need to create stronger weapons. We are still in an age of peace,” came Luna’s voice. I looked up to see the two sisters communicating with one another in their strange way once again. Celestia looked irritated at Luna’s words.

“So I completely changed your futures and lost whatever family I had built.” My head fell in sorrow.

“After you defeated Discord and absorbed his power, you essentially became as immortal as us. You would have lost them to time, whether you were there or not.” Luna’s blunt words did nothing to console me.

“Dex, everything may have changed, but you still have us. Please, do not forget that,” Celestia said.

“What other punishment must I endure?” I said quietly.

“What do you mean, Dex? You have lost so much already. Why would you be punished further?”

“Because I killed Discord. Because I broke a rule of Order. Because I failed my oath! Because I did exactly what I shouldn’t have done from the beginning!”

“Dex, wha-”

“I should have never tried to create anything from my world! I should have never let my emotions get the better of me! I should never have attempted to make a FAMILY!”

“DEX!” Celestia jumped in front of me and slammed a hoof down upon the marble floor. The outburst made me raise my head to meet her emblazoned eyes. “Do not EVER say that you should not make friends or family! I will not stand for it!”

As my eyes stared back at hers, I was sure my own were empty, as I blocked all emotion. “I wish to be alone.” With that, I snapped my fingers and warped to what used to be my room.

I appeared in a flash, in the same position as before, on the cold floor of a spartan room. The furniture hadn’t changed and all of my projects had been moved. Trusting in the castle’s servants to do a good job, I stood, only to step over to my bed and collapse onto it. The smell of clean sheets filled my nose and I realized I wasn’t wearing my glasses.

So now I don’t need glasses to see. Great, I lose nearly everyone I care about in a stupid move to save Stone and I get immortality and perfect sight in return. At least it sounded like Riches grew up well, even without me. Pan, though... Why, Panacea? Why did you not move on? We didn’t even decide if we loved each other or not, so why did you wait for me?

What if she didn’t wait? What if she just never found someone to love? What if it’s all my fault? What if I caused more pain that I thought? What if, what if, what if! Damn it all!

Time

Dawn peaked through the room’s curtains and I awoke from my dreamless sleep. Everything that occurred the previous day was but a memory to me, one that I wanted nothing to do with. As such, I stepped out of the room in a morning fog, not quite awake or wanting to be.

Unconsciously, I walked to the dining hall, as if I had never left my life behind. The journey there was a blur of ponies and hallways until I opened the doors to find Celestia and Luna standing at the far end of the room, discussing something. Their faces were concerned as they turned to me and gestured for me to sit. In response, I took my usual seat next to the sun-emblazoned chair. The room was rearranged so that both sisters chairs were next to the other, so they were both nearby when they took their own seats.

I hung my head as I slouched within my seat, not caring to eat or talk, but willing to go through the motions none the less. I heard a servant enter and leave after a quiet order from Celestia.

Silence. Shuffling. More silence. A cough. Yet more silence.

Celestia broke the quiet morning and said, “Dex.”

“Hmm?”

“We are here for you.”

“Of course you are. Just as everyone I’ve ever known was there for me at any other major change.”

“Shall we eat?”

“Go ahead, I’m not hungry.”

“What are you going to do now?”

“That question again. The same answer as before.”

“Dex, will you look at me?”

I raised my head to stare blankly into her eyes, eyes that darted between both of my own. Whether she was looking for something or just wanted to show sympathy, I showed no reaction. Eventually, I blinked.

“I win!” she exclaimed. Her joke did nothing to improve my mood.

“Sister, perhaps it is best to give him it after all.”

Another moment of silence passed before Celestia sighed and agreed. “Dex, stay here a moment, would you?”

“As you command,” I answered blankly. She sighed again before teleporting away.

“Dex, I know what it is like. Do you want to hear a story?” Luna asked, looking to me in hopeful sadness. I nodded, but said nothing, only watching the nightly princess.

She adjusted herself to be more comfortable and began. “When I returned from my imprisonment, I knew nothing. Everything had changed and everyone I knew had passed long ago. In my loss, I secluded myself for over a year, only leaving at my sister’s request that I mingle with our subjects within the castle. I thought I could deal with the changes on my own and get through my emotions alone.

“Then, one day, Celestia had me visit Ponyville and meet with my saviors. I greeted them and had fun with them over the course of the night, but it was only a small step. I was sure that if I made new friends, I would forget the old. On my return to the castle, ‘Tia had me visit the graves of those I had lost.

“It was horrible. I wasn’t ready. I didn’t feel ready to say goodbye to them, but she stayed with me. She stood by me as I wept and she comforted me as I said my goodbyes. Then, after I had spilt my last tear, she said something, something I will never forget.”

“Mourn the loss of life if you must, but never mourn their death; for if you remember them, they are never truly dead.” I turned my head to see Celestia entering the room as she finished speaking. She was carrying a large golden-rimmed mirror behind her in telekinesis. As she set it down in a corner of the room, she said,” Although I would love to take credit for that quote, it was actually one of my dear students who wrote it." She turned to me and smirked. “Though some literary license has been used to translate it from the old language.”

Despite myself, I felt a small smile form. “I’ve heard something similar, though it’s always good to hear it again.” I took a moment to stand and collect myself. “I still am not ready to move on.”

“Of course,” she said as she nodded faintly. “Now come here, Dex. I wish to show you something.” I walked over to Celestia and her mirror, no longer dragging my feet as much as I was. When I reached the object, I saw my reflection.

A tall thin-haired human stared back at me with silver-blue eyes. My skin had paled under my red beard. I vaguely recalled my eyes being a deep sapphire not too long ago, and Celestia caught it as well.

“It is good to see some color returning. After we told you what happened, those eyes of yours dimmed to grey. Now, do you know what this mirror is?” When I shook my head, she continued. “This is the same mirror I told you about when I first met you.”

I turned to her in shock. “You mean...”

“Yes. This mirror will show you other dimensions, as well as other times. I want you to use it until you have said goodbye.” Luna stepped up beside me.

“Don’t dwell on the past too much, Dex,” she said.

“We will leave you for now. Just think of who you want to see and the mirror will respond.” With that, the two princesses left the room.

I stood there, frozen at the spot, as the doors closed behind them. I had been given the opportunity to view any dimension or time, and I wasn’t even in the right frame of mind to use it. Dropping to the floor and crossing my legs, I watched as my reflection did the same. A man with nothing left returned my gaze.

How did I let this happen? I inadvertently causedmy worst fear to come true. I sighed as my head drooped. Well, I guess I should use this thing. Hmm... How did my family on Earth do?

Looking up, I saw the mirror’s surface warp my image and blend colors until I saw my old house. Tall half-dead grass covered the lawn and everyone’s vehicles were present. As the image zoomed in, I took in the slight mess of the kitchen and dining room. My family was seated in the living room: my mom, step-dad, two brothers, sister-in-law, and nephew. No, move forward.

The image changed again, this time to a new house on my old farm, but they were still gathered in one room. They seemed to be enjoying themselves and had moved on. That’s good. I’m glad they didn’t do anything drastic and continued their plans.

I let the image fade away, back to my reflection. Closing my eyes, I let a few tears fall, but I felt slightly relieved that they were doing fine, or had been fine, without me. A long silence was held as I let my emotions smoulder inside me. One more. Riches, one year after my imprisonment.

The mirror blurred into the town of Slade, ponies milling about, until it switched to the tavern Riches was staying at. She had grown enough to be considered an adult mare, her golden coat shining and her silver mane growing further below her shoulders than before. A cutie mark of different ores adorned her flanks. Instead of manning the tables or running supplies, she was sitting at the bar. I watched as she picked up a glass and raised it to the sky.

“Here’s to you, brother,” she said. Tall Glass walked into the picture, standing behind the bar, and grabbed a glass to do the same.

“To Dex,” he added before they both drank deeply. Riches slammed her glass down as she emptied her mug, while Glass continued to hold his own. “You gonna be alright, Metal?”

“Yeah, I’ll be fine... I miss him though.”

I asked the mirror to speed up the image to two years. This time, she was in a house I assumed she owned, as she was tinkering with the gun we had made. Riches stopped and sighed.

“It’s about that time, eh, Numbers?” Heh, of course she still calls me that. She stood and headed out of the house, walking over to the tavern she used to live in. When she entered, Tall Glass greeted her with a wave to the bar. Riches sat at one of the stools while he poured two drinks.

“It’s been two years now, Metal. How are you holding up?” he asked as he set her mug down in front of her.

“I’ve been good, you?” she responded.

“Business is doing good. Haven’t seen hide nor hair of them stallions from a few years back.”

Riches chuckled and reached for her glass, raising it up. “Well, here’s to Numbers then! The knight who saved Slade from wannabe gangsters!”

He raised his own. “Here, here!” They drank.

Once more, I let the image fall as I reminisced and thought over what I had seen. It was good to see Riches doing well without me. I was thankful for that, at least. My family mourned and moved on as I hoped, and now Riches seems to have found her own calling after I left. Well, only one more to see, and how difficult it will be. Another sigh escaped my lips. Just one more to say goodbye to. With an aching heart, I called Panacea into the mirror.

She stood in the castle gardens, looking forlornly towards the statue of me. Surely, she’s just visiting. She stayed there, unmoving and with tears in her eyes, until the sun began to set. This isn’t right. Move forward four months. Again, the same image of Pan in the gardens, but although tears did not form, she still looked sad. No, no, this isn’t right. Move on, Pan! The image blurred for a few moments until the scenery around her turned to winter. Please, Pan. Summer, now. No...

Celestia appeared in the image next to Pan, looking between the peach-colored mare and my statue before she spoke.

“Panacea, he would want you to move on.”

“I know, and I have, but I...” Pan trailed off as she looked to the edge of the gardens. “I miss-”

Something happened to the image. One moment, I was watching Pan speak, and the next, it blurred into darkness. When the picture returned, she was working in the hospital with a smile. What was that?

I didn’t know a thing about the magical mirror, so I called for a page. When the young stallion arrived, I asked him to bring Celestia back to the dining hall. As he left, I stared into the mirror and watched the mare within take care of a patient. By the time Pan completed her checkups on the pony, the sun princess arrived.

“Dex?” Celestia said as she closed the door behind her.

I stood and said, “Celestia, I just saw something strange. I don’t know anything about this mirror, so I hoped you could tell me what happened.” I attempted to conjure up the image of Pan when she was in the gardens, but the mirror didn’t change. “I... I can’t get it to show you.”

She looked into the mirror and saw Pan running some hospital errands. “What happened?” I told her what I saw earlier. “Hmm, try thinking of her before that moment.”

This time, as I thought of Panacea, I let the mirror show me a few minutes prior to the event. The image changed once more into the mare standing at my statue. Just as I was going to ask a question, something streaked by the view. The gardens began to darken as they had before and slowly reached Pan before the mirror cut out and replaced everything we were seeing with Pan entering the hospital.

A small gasp exited Celestia’s lips before she turned to me. “Dex, that was a time worm.”

“A... time worm?” I asked as I continued to watch the mirror.

“A time worm, yes. We do not know much about it, other than it eats time, specifically, time from a certain being.” At my confused response, she continued. “When something occurs that should not have, or can not have, the time worm is released to cleanse the timeline. From what I can see, it is taking you away from our time. Without your time, you will cease to exist.”

“Cease to exist? But, why?”

“If I had to guess, it may be from your battle with Discord and your subsequent breaking of Order’s law.”

“Well, what can I do?”

“Nothing that I know of, Dex. I’m sorry, but soon, it will reach this time and you will disappear.”

Nothing I can do? Disappear? No! I refuse to accept this fate! “I won’t let that happen! If it wants to erase me from existence, I’ll do the same to it!” I began to build my energies until they physically manifested.

“Dex, what are you planning?!” Celestia yelled over the howl of my generated wind.

“If the mirror is any proof, the worm is going backwards first. I’m going back in time and meet it head on!” The strain of forcing all my power into use at once was making me collapse.

“You are breaking another law of Order! You can only go back for a few moments!”

“Don’t worry! I’m going to use a loophole!” God, I hope this works. “I’ll see you again!”

“No!”

Adjusting time to fit my plan was not as simple as creating a single thought. I had to completely rewrite the logic behind time and space in order for me to manipulate it to my needs. Mixing warp theory with relativity, I created a new outlook that I then used to travel through. In a flash of multicolored light, I winked out of time.

All of time was set before me. Though there was no sight, I felt when I needed to go. With a simple thought, I found myself standing in the same spot I was before, only one year after I was turned to stone. Luckily, I was alone in the room, as I did not want to figure out how I would explain myself to Celestia’s past self.

I was weak after my time jump, but not so weak that I couldn’t walk. Trying to be as quiet as possible, I left the dining hall and snuck around the hallways of the castle. There was a close call or two where I had nowhere to hide as a pony walked along, but I managed to get by with a simple levitation to the ceiling, although it was difficult and drained me further. After what felt like hours, I reached my room and softly opened and closed the door as I entered. The room looked just as it did when I was turned to stone, a mess of inventions and papers.

I chose the time I did for a few reasons. One, I wanted to see Riches and Pan again. Two, I needed to recharge if I was going to fight the time worm. Three, I was getting away from the constant changing of events for a little while. With those points in mind, I collapsed upon my bed and passed out.

Battle

I awoke to the sound of birds as the sun peeked through the curtains. In my groggy state, I stumbled out of bed and ran into my dresser a few feet away. I let the change in posture wake me up some before heading to the nearby window to my left. When I pulled the drapes to the side, sunlight blinded me through my eyelids for a few moments. I opened my eyes to see the same morning ponies I had watched every time I woke up.

The light and sounds of the early day completed my little wake up ritual, but I continued to stand there and take in what I had lost. As much as I’d love to stay here after I destroy the worm, even I know it would be wrong. As soon as I’ve assured my existence, I will return to my normal time.

I closed my eyes and breathed calmly, checking over the power that was restored to me over the night. I nodded as I felt the Chaotic and Harmonic energies swirl within me equally. Good enough for now, but hopefully I’ve left enough time to recharge completely before that worm arrives. First, breakfast.

At that thought, my stomach woke up and growled. With a snap of my fingers, I conjured up some eggs on toast. I ate in silence as I thought up my plan. Avoid Celestia until I need to, meet with Pan and fix her future, meet with Riches and tell her I’m fine, and finally deal with the worm. Priorities, I am bad at them. I chuckled for a moment at the thought. You’d think I’d take care of the worm first.

I finished my small meal and thought over how best to go about completing my list. Thinking Pan would be on her way to work, but not wanting to cause a panic, I warped into her house first. I didn’t find her there, but did find that she had left her nurse’s outfit. Then it hit me, she was always at my statue. With another snap, I appeared in the gardens.

I was standing few yards away from myself as a statue. Panacea was there, sitting and looking up towards my stone face, as an autumn wind blew and stirred a few leaves into the air. I took in the sight for a moment before starting towards her, but Riches walked up to her and caught her attention. What is Riches doing here? I couldn’t hear them too well, so I heightened my senses.

“-just found out. Mail takes a long time to reach Slade,” Riches said, looking forlorn.

“You’re his sister, right? Riches, was it?” Pan said in return as she turned to give her full attention.

The young golden mare sat herself upon the grass. “Yeah, that’s what Numbers called me.”

I couldn’t wait a moment longer and took another step towards them, only to be stopped once more when Celestia walked over to them. Oh, come on! Now I have to deal with Celestia, too? You know what? Screw it. Through some unexplainable luck, they all turned to look at the statue as I stepped up. This... is just... yeah... I’m going for it.

“-was a good knight,” Celestia said

“Was?” I said and watched the three mares reactions. I smiled as Celestia jumped slightly, Pan spun in mid-air as she jumped, and Riches jumped forward before turning around slowly. The two younger ponies paled when they saw me, but Celestia just turned around slowly and narrowed her eyes.

“Dex, why are you here?” the princess said, visibly irritated. Pan and Riches looked to her in confusion as they continued to be shocked silent.

“ 'Why'? Do you not want to know how, first?”

“I know how and I know my future self would have stopped you from breaking yet another law.”

“Loophole,” I said simply and paused to think on how best to sum up my mission. “Time worm is eating my existence, so I came back to destroy it.”

“What?!” Celestia paused to collect herself. “If that is true, there is nothing you can do. Go back to your own time before your loophole backfires.”

I glared at her. “I am not leaving until I talk to the two most important mares in my life, and I will destroy the time worm.”

“The time worm does not have a physical form on this plane. There is nothing you, or I, can do to stop it. If you do not return to your own time soon, there will be disastrous consequences, just as there were when Sinis attempted to revive Stone.”

“Dex?” Pan said as she stepped forward. “Is what the princess said, true? Are you really going to disappear?”

I sighed sadly and turned to the two. “Yes. If I don’t stop the worm, my time will be eaten and you will forget I ever existed.”

“Can you stop it?”

“I will.”

Pan and Riches looked at each other before nodding and turning to Celestia. “Princess, I don’t want to forget Dex. Give him a chance,” Pan said.

The princess faced them and said, “My little ponies, it is not up to me. The powers beyond will stop him and our world will be destroyed if he does not accept his fate.”

A rumbling sound shook the gardens and I could see darkness approaching from all angles, but the ponies in front of me seemed to be unaware. Is this the worm already, or the world breaking? I couldn’t be sure of anything. “Celestia, do you see this?” I said quietly as the void continued stretching towards us.

She looked around for a moment. “What is it, Dex? Nothing is out of the ordinary.”

“A dark, void-like emptiness is coming towards us.”

“If the world was being removed from existence, I would see it. I imagine what you are seeing is the time worm’s presence,” the princess said all too calmly.

I grew irritated at her actions. “Why are you so calm about this?! I’m about to cease to exist and you’re not even concerned!”

“She knows the truth.” A deep, reverberating voice echoed within my mind. I looked around, puzzled for a moment, before scowling, the darkness had ceased its approach.

“The time worm can talk?” I asked Celestia, but she had stopped moving, along with Panacea and Riches.

“You are the one this one was sent to remove, and yet you have crossed through time to reach this one. Why?”

“You should know why! I’m going to destroy you to preserve my existence!” I did not care to know who sent it or why it was curious.

“This one does not understand why you came to this time.”

“To save my memory in others!” I created a sword and took a ready stance.

“This one is amused at your actions. This one is indestructible in the third dimension.”

Right, what to do? Go back into the time dimension? But I can’t see there and it takes too much energy.

“This one will complete its task.” The darkness started to creep forward once more. I was running out of time and I had no plan. I cursed my luck, I was sure I could have planned something before it arrived. In a desperate move, I gave my sword the power to reverse time and swung it at the void.

A hiss resounded in my mind and I hoped it was because of me, as I had very little strength left after creating the weapon. The darkness continued, however, and I was forced back until there was only a twenty foot wide circle around me and the frozen mares.

“Dex, there’s nothing you can do.” Okay, not frozen. Regardless, Celestia’s statement only made me try harder as I continued to slash at the air. The occasional hiss would assault my mind, but nothing seemed to truly affect it.

The area got smaller and smaller as I kept up my futile struggle. Since the ponies could not see what I did, they knew not where to stand. Celestia was swallowed by the darkness first, face in calm acceptance and knowledge. Then, Riches faded out, confused and worried at my movements. Finally, Panacea was taken, watching me fight for my very existence with sadness in her eyes.

I stood in a small, four-foot wide perimeter of light. The void took everything and then stopped just before it reached me. “Why do you struggle?” the worm said in my mind.

“You already know why!”

“This one knows why you came, but not why you struggle against futility.”

“It’s the same answer as why I came!” I tried cutting at the darkness again, but it proved just as useless as before.

“This one does not understand.”

I changed tactics at that. If I couldn’t beat it, maybe I could convince it to leave. “Have you erased others?”

“Yes. The others did not struggle against this one.”

“Could they see you like I can?”

“No.”

“If they could, they would have fought for everything. I am not an anomaly.”

“This one will still complete its task. This one feels content with this new knowledge and thanks you.”

Well, that was a bust, was all I could think of as the darkness engulfed me. There was no feeling of pain or anguish when I fell into the void. I thought I would lose myself when it happened, but I was floating in nothingness, completely whole.

Punishment

“IT IS.”

A voice or sound filled my ears after a long, long time in solitude, or maybe it was just a few seconds. I couldn’t be sure of anything, anymore.

“IT WILL FACE US.”

I felt myself turned and twisted around in that empty space until I beheld three lights. From left to right, they were blue, purple, and red. I floated there, confused.

“IT WILL GREET US.”

I found my voice and said meekly, “H-hello? W-who are you?”

“WE ARE THE TITANS.” Then, they spoke individually.

“Order,” said the blue one in a stoic voice.

“Harmony,” said the purple one, sounding like a song.

“ChAoS,” said the red one in a constantly changing pitch.

“I am Dex.”

“WE KNOW WHAT IT IS.”

“I am Dex, not it.”

“IT IS IT UNTIL IT IS TOLD OTHERWISE.”

“What?”

Harmony spoke up. “You have changed your name many times. We call you what we wish.”

Ah, okay. I guess that makes sense. “Why am I here?”

“IT IS OUT OF TIME. IT WILL FACE ITS PUNISHMENT.”

“My punishment? I don’t even exist to anyone now, what other punishment could there be?”

“IT MUST BE PUNISHED FOR ITS CRIMES:

IT DESTROYED THE EMBODIMENT OF CHAOS IN THE PHYSICAL PLANE.
IT BROKE THE RULE OF ORDER IN ATTEMPTING TO REVIVE ONE LONG DEAD.
IT BROKE THE RULE OF TIME IN ATTEMPTING TO CONSOLE ITSELF.
IT INTRODUCED IDEAS AND CONCEPTS NOT FIT FOR THE TIME IT ARRIVED.
IT SHOULD NOT EXIST IN THIS DIMENSIONAL REALITY.”

“Also, you are completely unstable. There’s no easy place for you in our dimension,” Harmony added alone. “Not that it is a crime, but you are difficult to account for.”

I... I did do all that, didn’t I? What are they going to do to me?

“IT WILL HAVE A CHOICE IN PUNISHMENT.” Really?!

“It WiLL bEcoME my CHaMpion aS thE nEW SpIRIt of ChAoS.”

“It will return to its own dimension with no memory of its time here.”

“You will take the form of a being here, starting on the day you arrived, but none will know who you are. Everything will reset to that day.”

“OR IT WILL DIE. CHOOSE WISELY.”

Oh, man... Well, option four is out, so I have becoming Chaos, returning, and becoming pony. I’m sure returning is out of the question. I’m dead there, and even if they returned me to when I was in a coma, I feel like I’ll be stuck in the same routine I had before. So option two is out because of the same reason I had when Twilight tried to send me back: I would be much happier here.

Become Chaos’ embodiment or become another citizen of Equestria? If I became the Spirit of Chaos, I could protect everyone from Discord. But what if Discord had a similar option? What if he did it to save everyone and the chaos got to him? Changed him? Am I strong enough to prevent that from happening to me? I don’t really feel confident, but I’ll keep it in mind.

Everyone will forget me if I choose the third option, and that is exactly what I fear the most. Can I live without anyone? Maybe I can reunite with them, even Stone? Discord would be back and imprisoned, but as a pony, I won’t have the Chaos leeching off me to release him. So, it’s time to make a choice: universal reset or shield from ultimate chaos? I weighed both options over and over, the Titans watching me with extreme patience. After a long time of second guessing myself, I decided to stop questioning and just do.

“I am Dex the Shield. Knight of Celestia’s forces, sworn to protect Equestria from all harm, even myself, if I must.” I paused, letting my life wash over me, all that I have seen and done weighed upon my shoulders. The future and the ones I love. My greatest fear, I had to overcome. “Let those I have met... forget me and all my creations, for it is best that I am forgotten.” I will find you again, Pan, Riches, Stone. “I only ask that I be a unicorn, so I may continue to protect those I care for with everything that I am, as only my mind can.”

“YOU ASK OF US, AFTER ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE. HOWEVER, WE WILL ALLOW IT.”

Harmony floated in front of the others and said, “Your mind will stay, so that you will remember your crimes. I will be your guardian, Dex, just as Chaos is Discord’s and Order is the Alicorn’s. Use this wisely, for I only grant my power when the need is great and harmony must be restored.”

“All of your crimes will be wiped, but do not make the same mistake again. We are giving you this one chance to start over.”

“Thank you. I will try my best.” I thought about what I created. “Can I still work on things, like electricity?”

“Don’t invent something that has no purpose existing yet, but improvements are always allowed.”

“WE HAVE SPOKEN.”

Power flowed out and in and around and through me. The loss of my power and the magic used to change me became too much for me to stay conscious. I collapsed in that void and let sleep take me.

A New Beginning

“Ugh, damn sun.”

Wait... The sun!

My eyes snapped open, only to be forced closed by the burning light. I tried to roll over, the different body design proving very difficult to maneuver. Argh, why did I think this was a good idea?! After much struggling, in which my new appendages flopped about somewhat uselessly, I managed to flip onto my belly.

With the sun no longer trying to fry my pupils, I opened them to see a grassy field. Ah, this again. Alright, now just wiggle around until I figure out how to stand. I tensed the muscles I was familiar with: thigh, shoulder, abdomen, neck. Then, I stretched them out until all four legs were extended. I tried a knee and an elbow, finding the translation between human and horse to be similar enough to move. Finally, I tried wrists and ankles, feeling stumps move instead of hands and feet.

This is so weird. Alright, basic motor functions are good. Normally, I don’t need to think about this so maybe if I... I pushed off the ground with my front legs, but the rear ones bent down instead of up at the knee like I was used to, forcing me to scoot back and lose whatever balance I may have gained. My butt hit the ground and I stabilized in a sitting position I had seen ponies do.

Halfway there! Now lean forward a bit... not that much! “Oof.” I landed face first, but now my back legs were in a position to stand. With a bit more maneuvering, I managed to stand on all four limbs shakily. Aha! ...How do I walk?

I looked down to see beige legs and attempted to move the left one. As I did so, I put all my weight in the other three legs until I put the leg back down a few inches in front of the other foreleg. Quarter of the way there! ...Which one came next? I stood there, one leg stretched out from the others, perplexed. Before I could decide my next move, a voice interrupted me.

“Are you alright, mister?” I slowly turned my head as I continued to try to keep my balance. Pinkie Pie, of all ponies to find me, looked back at me with her head tilted and a confused look on her face.

“Honestly? No, I’m having a hard time learning how to walk.” I hoped that she would help me somehow, but I should have known better.

“That’s silly. You’re a full grown pony, not a baby. How would you have gotten here if you didn’t walk? Oh! Were you a griffon or a bear and somepony turned you into a pony? But that doesn’t make any sense. They walk on four legs too.” Pinkie continued to ramble and I was stuck listening to her as I could not concentrate on walking. Eventually, she let up for me to speak.

“I’m just...” I trailed off, because I realized I couldn’t tell the truth of my past now. I could change everything if I did. “Can you help me? Please?” I was desperate for some tips, even from Pinkie.

She agreed, but had no real useful information, as she kept referencing how to jump. I gave up on that avenue and asked her to just walk back and forth in front of me until I learned how to do the same on my own. At first, she would put too much hop into her step, until I asked her to do it slowly. After the fourth pass, I figured out the movements.

Alright, I need to lift my back right a moment after I start to put down my front left. Then, when they are placed, do the same for the other two. Don’t stop in the middle or I’ll lose balance. Here goes nothing! Back right moved into place a bit behind the front right, then front right moved moments before the back left. I was throwing my weight around like crazy and nearly slamming my hooves down on the ground, but I was walking. Very poor walking, but walking!

I came across a problem. I didn’t know how to turn. “Pinkie, how do I turn?” I asked nervously; I was headed straight towards the forest edge.

Pinkie was surprisingly patient with me as she taught me what any foal would have learned quickly. Once I had learned to turn, I started practicing until the sun began to set. Luckily, it seemed that my strength as a human transferred over, as I wasn’t tired. “I’m sorry about wasting your time, Pinkie,” I said as I turned around another time. I was nearly ready to enter Ponyville without getting looked at funny, I hoped.

“It’s alright. Always glad to help a friend in need!” she responded as she walked beside me.

“A friend?”

“Of course! Anypony who knows my name must be my friend!”

Well, that answers why she didn’t ask how I knew her name. Being a pony definitely helps this redo. I caught sight of my tail and noticed the two-toned blond hairs when we pulled a quick turn. “I’m sorry, I haven’t introduced myself yet. I’m Dex,” I said as we completed another lap.

“I’m Pinkie! Of course, you already knew that, but I had to return the introductions! Oh, that reminds me, I was coming over to give you a big Ponyville welcome!” She stopped and I continued for a moment before turning around to face her.

“What stopped you then?”

“I rushed over as fast as I could, but then I saw you flailing and thought you were possessed or something and didn’t want to get possessed as well, so I stopped and watched you for a moment and then I realized there was something else wrong with you so I decided to come up and ask you if you were alright and then you said you were learning how to walk and-”

“That’s enough, Pinkie,” I said as I held up a hoof to stop her. Before I could continue, I was hit with the realization that I was standing on three hoofs. Slowly, I looked at my extended leg and started to think about my position. Somehow, standing, walking, and pointing all became natural in the course of the day.

“How am I... Nevermind. I think I’m ready to walk freely now. Thanks again, Pinkie.”

“Oh, wait! You should come meet my friends!” She grabbed my hoof and started dragging me into town. I unconsciously managed to stay on my feet as we continued our little dance all the way to the library as Pinkie ignored my efforts to walk on my own. Am I going to repeat everything that happened on the first day I arrived? I really hope not.

I felt like I was replaying my life. Sure enough, I met all of Element bearers just as I had last time. A small party, instead of a town-wide event, was made to welcome me when I asked that we keep things simple and I even repeated a few conversations with them. As the sun set below the horizon, I wondered where I was going to sleep and how I was going to get by without money.

“So, where ya stayin’, Dex?” Applejack asked just as I was about to panic.

“I’m not sure. I just arrived without thinking about it, I guess.”

“The hotel should still be open for you, darling,” Rarity chimed in.

“That brings me to my other problem.” I managed to wave a hoof over myself. “As you can see, I don’t exactly have any bits on me.”

“I found this pouch next to you earlier! What about it?” Pinkie handed me a small denim bag designed to be strapped over my shoulder. As it hung from my hoof, I peered into it to find it empty. So the Titans gave me my ‘clothes’ but took everything else. Makes sense, I suppose, since it was money from the ‘future’.

Just as I was about to lament my situation, some bits fell into the pouch as I stared at it. I looked up to see Rarity stepping back and smiling. “That should get you started, dear,” she said.

“Rarity, I... Thank you. I’ll pay you back one day, count on it,” I said as I looked between her and the money.

“Think nothing of it.”

I will pay you back, Rarity. I promise. “Thank you, so much,” I said as I attempted to toss it on my back. Of course, it only caught my back before sliding off and hitting the floor. I turned to stare at the thing. Oh no, how do I put this on? They’ll think it’s strange! Then, I tried to pick it up in my mouth, but leaning over that much almost made me fall over from the loss of balance.

Pinkie Pie giggled and grabbed it in her hoof before slinging it over my withers. She then brought the lower strap around and buckled it before tightening it against my shoulder. “There you go!” she exclaimed as her friends looked at me oddly.

I decided it would be best to avoid any further questions. With a round of nervous farewells, and another expression of gratitude to Rarity, I headed out to the local inn and got some much needed rest. I left the pouch on, so I didn’t have to deal with it the next day.

Riches

I had ten bits left, enough to get me to Slade and nothing more. That is how dawn found me at the station, waiting on my train. The teller looked at me funny when I spent ten minutes learning how to open my bag and to exchange bits for the ticket, watching as the coins and paper would slip out of my hoof. As I stood near the train loading station, I thought about what I was doing.

I felt that the sooner I got to Riches, the sooner she would be safe. I also wanted more time to build up my courage before seeing Stone again, as I still felt it was my fault for his death last time. I boarded the train when it arrived and took a seat by a window.

I need a plan. I have no money left and I need to get Riches to trust me. Last time, I had the bits available to feed her until that happened. Now? Well, as much as I live to react to situations, I think this one needs to be thought out. I hate to say it, but maybe it’s best if I caught those thugs messing with her. If I did... what? I’d fight? I just learned how to walk, how am I going to defend her?

I spent the rest of the trip practicing my movements: dodging, bucking, and punching. It was slow going, but I was learning how to balance properly. By the time I felt confident enough to hold my own against an opponent with a limp, I arrived at Slade’s train station.

As I stepped onto the platform, I glanced at the town hall's clock to find only six hours of sunlight left. The station attendant informed me of potential tourist spots as I walked past, not that he was talking to me specifically. Then, I came across a new problem: stairs.

In the hotel I stayed, my room was on the ground floor. The platform at Ponyville had a ramp to walk up. Slade had stairs. Alright, I’ve learned how to walk and sorta fight. I can lean forward and walk down some measly stairs, right? One step at a ti- “Wooah!”

Well, I made it down the stairs at least. Three steps, that was all I had to do, and I failed. I slipped on the first step down and tumbled to the bottom, but the short drop wasn’t bad enough to harm me.

“Ohmagosh, are you okay?” a voice said as I untangled my limbs. I didn’t respond immediately, waiting until I stood up and tested my weight on each leg. Pain from the fall was all I felt, but at least nothing was broken or bruised too badly.

“Yeah, looks like I’m fine.” I looked up to see a tan pegasus with green hair and saddlebags. She had a worried frown on as she spoke again.

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah, just a little tumble. Thanks for the concern.”

“What a relief. I was so worried when I saw you slip from my handkerchief.” After she said that, I looked back to see a white cloth still sitting on the steps like the demon it was.

“I see...”

“I’m so sorry! It fell out of my bags and-”

“No need to apologize; I’m alright and it was an accident.” I limped over and picked up her kerchief to save another passerby.

As I handed it to her, she said, “Oh, you really are hurt. You’re limping!”

“I’m just sore is all, no need to worry about it. I’ll be fine in a few minutes, really.”

“Oh, no, no, no. I must make it up to you.” She started digging through her saddlebags.

“No, please. Don’t worry about it.”

“Never,” she said as she removed a pouch from within the bags and set it down in front of me. When I didn’t make a move, she said, “Take it. I won’t take no for an answer.” She nudged the bag closer and I heard bits raddle within.

“Ma’am, I really...” I trailed off as she spread her wings and flew away. “...right.” With a sigh of acceptance, I picked up the bag with my mouth and nuzzled my shoulder bag open to place the coin purse within. Fall down, get money when I need it most. There’s just so much kindness around here, it’s like Canada!

I began walking aimlessly in search of Riches. Over time, the soreness left me just as I told the pegasus it would, but I was grateful for her kindness all the same. As I turned a corner, I spotted the colts that picked on Riches when I met her the first time... in the future... time... thing. With a sudden headache, I approached the two as they were walking and overheard their conversation.

“-fun.”

“Yeah, what do you want to do now?”

The first colt seemed to think it over for a bit. “How about messing with that orphan filly? It’s always good for a laugh.”

“Nah, we did that yesterday when we trashed her little alley home.”

“Right, right. I still have a laugh at remembering her face when she saw us.”

“Yeah, and when she ran off to that tavern across the street expecting some help?”

I left them as soon as I heard that. Now that I knew the place I saw her originally was actually her home, I didn’t need to keep listening. As much as I wanted to, I couldn’t get into a fight with the young stallions with my current skills.

The tavern came into view after a few turns down other streets and I found myself looking towards a familiar alleyway. Trash was littered about and paint was thrown on the walls in crude designs. I heard rustling from the far end, near the brick wall with the largest amount of destruction. Cautiously, I entered the alley.

“Hello? Is anyone in here?” I said as I slowly made my way to the back. “I heard some noises and...” and what? Wanted to save a little filly scared of everyone? I’m way over my head here. A small glint of golden fur caught my eye and I turned to watch where it disappeared. “Whoever you are, I’m not here to hurt you.” Classic...

Ruby red eyes peered out from a darkened spot of debris. They watched as I stared back at them and sat down. I really hope I can play this out right. I know her, but she doesn’t know me. What do I know about her? C’mon, think!

“W-who are you?” a small voice said from the trash. Her voice, though frightened, still held that beautiful sound I remembered.

“A friend.” Oh god, what is this, an afterschool special?

Her head peeked out. Even dirty as she was, the silver mane held a slight glimmer. “I don’t know you, and nopony is my friend.”

“I want to be. What’s your name?”

“I’m not telling.”

“I’ll give you a name, then.”

“What is it? I’ve heard them all: urchin, scum, waste, orphan. All of them!” This is not going well.

“Woah, woah. I would never call you such names. Why don’t we get something to eat?”

“No. You’re trying to gain my trust so you can do stuff to me.” What?! Oh god, I’m coming off creepy to her!

“NO!” She flinched when I shouted and buried herself into the mess again. “No, please. Come on out. I want to help you.”

“I d-don’t want your p-pity.” My yell seemed to have scared her back to when we started.

Alright, new approach. Using my knowledge against her. “I’m at your command. Just help me help you and I’ll do anything you want.”

“I don’t need your help!”

“Riches, you’re living in an alleyway, surrounded by trash,” I said, trying as hard as I could to keep the disapproving tone out of my voice.

“Riches?” Oh, yay... Let’s just repeat what happened last time.

“Yeah, cause you’re gold and silver with ruby eyes. Do you not like it?”

The filly huffed in the darkness of her sanctuary. “No, but I’m not telling you my name anyway.”

“Oh, look at me. Trying to get your name without supplying my own. My name’s Dex.” I raised a hoof out of habit before putting it back down a few moments later when she didn’t come out.

“...Numbers,” she mumbled.

“What was that?”

“Numbers, that’s your name.”

“Numbers?” I tilted my head to the side in mock curiosity.

“Because of your cutie mark,” she said arrogantly.

“My... cutie mark?” I turned to look at my flank, and sure enough, there was a cutie mark. As strange as it sounds, I didn’t notice it until now. Two brass cogs, one with sigma and the other with delta written in black on them, adorned my flanks. “Ah... I see.”

“What, you’ve never seen your cutie mark before?”

“Now that you mention it...”

“What kind of adult are you?”

“A... very imperceptive one, it seems.” I was still looking at my mark, surprised I even had one.

“How do you even grow up without knowing you got your cutie mark?” Her voice was louder than before. When I looked up, she was completely out of her ‘house’ and looking at me funny. She lacked a cutie mark of her own and I assumed her newfound boldness came from seeing a stallion at a loss for words over his own mark.

“It’s complicated.”

“I’m sure it is,” she said in a way that demanded I continue.

“Um...” I looked around the area for a few moments. “If you want to know, come with me. We’ll talk while we eat.” The talk of food made both of our stomachs growl.

Riches paused as she thought it over, looking between me, her home, and the alley entrance. “Fine, but just this once!” she said as she started off.

“I... um...” I was stunned at her sudden desire to talk and trotted after her in a daze. I should be used to this by now. Why am I surprised? I shook it off and caught up with her, leading her towards a very familiar tavern. Just to be sure I wasn’t repeating everything, I looked toward the town entrance to find no chariot or princess around.

The sound of train tracks thumping along the rails filled the cabin. Moonlight shone through the windows and landed on Riches sleeping form. We were on our way to Canterlot to meet with the other ponies I had grown to know, while I was sitting at the nearby table, ruminating over events that transpired earlier that led to the current situation.

After we made our way to the tavern and sat down at a table, I had pulled the coin purse out of my pouch to see what I could do. The pegasus had given me far more than I originally expected and I allowed ourselves a full course dinner. Over the course of the meal, I gathered information from the filly I already knew as she slowly opened up to me.

At the end of dinner, we spoke of the colts who had bullied her. I made the same promise as before when I repeated my want for revenge against them. Riches had me follow her to the bath house so she could get cleaned up and then we started looking around for somewhere to stay the night. Over the course of the day, she had opened up completely to me and I let her know more about my past.

As much as I wanted to tell her everything, I avoided mentioning the Titans, Discord, and the Shades. Riches let me talk and, surprisingly, didn’t think I was crazy at the end. As night fell, she asked if she could come with me and I reluctantly agreed as we made our way to the train station.

Why did she believe me so easily? How did I think bringing her along was a good idea? Then again, it’s not like this is dangerous, just crazy. I’m attempting to reconnect with people that don’t remember me. One out of three so far though, so maybe I have a knack for getting them to trust me? Whatever, it’s a night’s ride to Canterlot and I need to sleep.

I took the other bed across from her so I didn’t have to deal with the ladders. After all that had happened, I was tired enough to pass out almost instantly.

Canterlot

“Hey, Numbers, wake up!” I mumbled at the sound of Riches voice and willed myself to roll over, only to fall off the bed and collapse in a heap of limbs and sheets. I heard her giggle as I groaned, sleepy and oddly comfortable in my new position. “C’mon, get up! We’re almost there!” she said as she nudged me.

“Alright, alright. I’m up.” I tossed my legs around until the sheet made an opening and crawled out. With a huff, I stood and threw the blanket back on the bed. I headed over to the table and pulled the coin purse out of my pouch that was laying upon it. “Alright, looks like we got enough for a small breakfast when we reach town,” I said as I counted out the coins within and placed the bag back in.

I managed to slip the shoulder pouch on and tighten the strap slightly. Riches rolled her eyes and reached over to pull it tight enough that it wouldn’t move. “You are a unicorn. How hard could it be to just use your magic?” she asked as she stepped away.

“I have no idea. I’m still getting the hang of grabbing things and running, let alone fighting and using magic.” The train conductor announced our arrival approaching in five minutes.

“I saw a book about basic magic. It said you just have to will it to happen.”

“Alright, now I know you’re just making it up.” I looked at the candle sitting on the table. “There’s no way I can just... want this candle to float, let’s say.”

“Not ‘want,’ but ‘will.’”

“U-huh...” I stared at the half-melted candle and saw it move up in my mind, but nothing happened. “I don’t get it. Maybe I need to read the book myself.”

“Probably. You’ve never used magic before so it might be different for beginners.”

“Well, whatever. I’ll figure something out later.” The train began to slow down as the conductor announced our arrival. “First, we eat.” Riches nodded in agreement as we walked to one of the train’s exits and waited for our stop.

There were many restaurants in Canterlot, and I knew most of them, but there was a specific place I wanted to go as we stepped off the train. With no time to waste, as we really wanted to eat, I set off down one of Canterlot’s main thoroughfares.

“This place is huge,” Riches said in awe as she looked around. “How do you know where you’re going?”

“Used to live here. Now come on, doughnuts await!” I picked up the pace into a trot, but she had no trouble keeping up. We turned a corner and found what I was headed for, Donut Joe’s.

Stepping inside, a bell rang above the door and Joe came out of the back to greet us. There were ponies sitting at tables and the bar, but it wasn’t crowded for being morning. As we took our seats at the back, I let Riches look at all the doughnuts and decide.

“What’ll you have?” Joe called as he refilled a stallion’s mug further down the bar.

“Sweet black tea and a couple eclairs,” I answered when I looked over.

“And the little miss?”

“Sprinkle frosted glazed doughnuts. Two of them and a black coffee.”

“Coming right up.”

“Wanting of sugar there, Riches?” I asked as I turned to her.

“That’s what the black coffee is for.” I just smiled and shook my head. When I looked back over to where Joe was, I froze.

Sitting, just a few seats down, was Stone. There’s no way I could have confused him with anyone else, as he was the only large grey stallion that wore the Guard’s armor and didn’t have a helmet to hide his red hair. I watched, unmoving, as he laughed with a few squadmates. There he is... alive.

“Here ya go, you two.”

“Thank you!”

He’s right there, completely fine. I didn’t kill him. He doesn’t even know I exist now. I can’t involve myself with him. I might get him hurt again. He might die again. I don-

“Dex!” I snapped out of my trance and turned around to face Riches. “What’s wrong? You look pale.”

“I... I...” I shook my head vigorously. “Nothing, let’s eat.”

“Was that-”

“I said it was nothing,” I snapped and shakingly picked up my tea. The warm liquid soothed some of my nerves going down, but it wasn’t enough.

“Well, now. Are you alright, boy?” Oh dear god, no.

Without turning, I said, “Yeah, I’m fine.”

“You don’t look fine.” Stone sat down in the next seat over out of the corner of my eye. “I heard your filly across the room and now I see you shaking. What’s the matter?” he said in his old stoic voice, so I knew he was being serious about this. I couldn’t just brush him off now. I stayed silent, not wanting to lie, but not wanting to tell the truth either. “Are you in trouble with the law, boy? Is that it?”

“No, he’s not. He’s just nervous,” Riches said as I saw her lean over onto my side. So now I had a filly backing me up and my best friend trying to get the truth on either side of me.

“Nervous? Why we’re just guards. What does have to be nervous for?”

“He gets nervous around authority. If you go back to your table, he’ll be fine.”

“Alright, just one last question then, since it seems you two are from out of town. Have you seen any suspicious activity where you came from?”

“No,” Riches said almost immediately as she pushed off me back to her seat. I mumbled the same and he thanked us before walking off.

I quickly drank the rest of my tea and asked for a refill, using body language since I was still struck mute from the encounter. As Joe refilled my glass, I felt Riches staring at me. When I twisted my head to look at her, she frowned.

“He really is, isn’t he? Why are you so nervous around him, but met me so easily?”

“He...” I looked back down at my plate of untouched eclairs and tried again. “Stone died last time. All because of my mistakes.”

“Were they your mistakes, or were they circumstances outside of your control?”

I stared at the pastries for a long time before finally picking one up and taking a bite. As much as I know that is true, it still comes back to me. All I had to do was not make that oath with Celestia and I never would have left Canterlot and made those Shades.

“You’re trying to rationalize your guilt, aren’t you? Well, stop it. Life is just one circumstance after the other. Even if you changed something, it still could have happened. And don’t say ‘could’ is better than ‘will,’ because that’s just useless want.”

Maybe she’s right. Maybe I should try again and ignore what could happen. Besides, I’m not human anymore so everything won’t play out the same this time. I glanced towards the table the guards were at as I took another bite of the pastry. He’s alive and I can talk to him again. Hell, I could even apologize to him. He won’t know what it means, but I’m sure I’ll feel better about it all.

I took a swig of my tea and looked back at Riches. “You know, you are too smart for your own good,” I said with a hint of a smile.

“You know you couldn’t do without me... dad.” I gagged on air for a few moments as she said that.

“D-dad?” I wheezed and reached for my tea.

“‘Your filly,’ he said. I’m just going along with it.”

I settled down after a few gulps of the warm liquid and motioned for a refill. “I think you’re a little too old, and I’m a little too young, to be your dad.”

“Oh, I know. Anything to get your mind off it, though.”

“You are really too smart for your own good.”

“U-huh. Why don’t we pretend for a day? See if anyone thinks otherwise?”

“Ya know what? Why not?” I finished my eclairs and my tea before standing up. “Let me pay and do something first. Finish up.” I set down a few bits to cover our meal and headed over to the guards.

“Excuse me, sir,” I said to Stone as I reached him. “Could we talk for a moment?” He looked up at me, pardoned himself from his men, and walked with me to an empty part of the room.

“Whaddya need, boy?”

I shuffled a bit before speaking. “I’m sorry.”

“For what? Earlier? You’re fine, boy. Nothing to be sorry for. You just get nervous around the Guard; a lot of ponies do, actually.”

“Not that... Something else. I’m sorry for...” I groaned and brought a hoof up to my muzzle. “Look, this will sound crazy, but I’m sorry for essentially getting you killed, in another timeline.”

“That doesn’t make any sense, boy.”

“I know, I know. Just, it’s more for me than you, but I just want to apologize because I feel like I should, even if you don’t understand why.”

He turned serious and said, “This isn’t some ruse to get out of trouble, is it?”

“No, no! I- Look, it’s really complicated and I’m really not in trouble. I just wanted to say I was sorry.” I sighed slowly and started back towards Riches. “I didn’t mean to waste your time,” I said over my shoulder.

“Now hold on there, boy.” Stopping and looking behind me, I saw Stone stare into my eyes for a moment. He eventually loosened up and said, “Well, whatever you might have done, I forgive you.”

I was surprised at how those three words made me feel so much better. I smiled and brought up a hoof. “I’m Dex.”

“Stone,” he said and bumped his own hoof against mine. “If you’re ever in the area, stop by the guard’s training grounds. We’ll talk.”

“I will, and thank you.” He nodded and headed back to his table as I sighed in relief. Riches trotted over and jumped up on my back before laying down with her head on top of my own.

“How’d it go, dad?”

I looked up at her with my eyes. “You’re sitting on me...”

“Yes I am, now answer the question.”

“Fine. It went fine,” I responded as I nodded to Joe and left the building.

“Now we just need to meet your last friend, right?” Riches said as we headed down the street towards the castle.

“I don’t really want to meet her so soon. Sure, you needed some goading and I had to get over my guilt with stone, but Panacea is different in a whole other way.”

“Why do all your friends need to be so complicated to meet?”

“Because... I...” The rest of my sentence was drowned out in my mumbling.

“What was that?”

“I... Pa...”

“One more time?”

“I think I love Panacea.”

We were silent after my bold declaration, turning another corner and wandering aimlessly once more. A park opened up as we rounded another bend and I saw children playing in the grass while their parents talked. A street vendor yelled out his products being on sale and the sun shone down on us as I walked through the open land. We reached the other side when Riches spoke up.

“What did she think of you?”

“She reciprocated, sorta.”

“What do you mean, ‘sorta’?”

“We agreed there may be feelings there, but we stayed friends until we could know for sure.”

“You idiot!” she said as she knocked a hoof on my head. “That means she likes you, not may like you!”

“I know, she proved it when I saw her...” I paused before I said something I shouldn’t and continued with a different train of thought. “But I wasn’t sure about my own feelings. I don’t even know now.”

“Numbers,” she said as she tilted her head over me to look me in the eyes, “I’m a girl too. Do you or don’t you? Right now.”

The only thing I could see was Riches’ face, so I had to stop, which helped since now I had to think. Do I or don’t I, you ask? Well, everything is golden if I do now, huh? Can I see myself with her, always? Do I-

“Stop thinking and just feel! Do you or don’t you?” It felt like I was being backed into a wall.

“You are a pushy little filly aren’t you?” I asked to try stalling her longer.

“Just do it!”

“Yes!” I said suddenly.

It was quiet again, but there were no birds, no kids playing, no adults talking. Riches had disappeared from above my head. It was just me and the wind on a quiet earthen plain. I saw light swirling in the air around me and in front of me, Harmony floated.

“So you finally listened to your heart.”

“I’ve listened to it before,” I said, confused.

“You listened to what the mind thought the heart wanted. Now you can follow your emotions as they should be.”

“Why are you here, Harmony?” I looked around for a moment. “Better yet, why am I here?”

“To congratulate you. Love is a powerful emotion and as long as you listen to your heart, you won’t be so unstable. The heart stabilizes the mind, just as the body supports the two.”

“Any advice for me?”

“As long as you balance the mind and the heart, you will have no more trouble with us. Goodbye, Dex.”

Reality warped back into place and I felt Riches shuffle on top of me. “So you love her,” she stated and I assumed that was my cue to keep walking. Back on the cobblestone streets, I trotted along with her on my head. It was actually not that bad.

“I think I’ll go talk to Celestia,” I said as we got back on the main thoroughfare towards the castle.

“Oh no you don’t. Meet your girlfriend first.”

“Riches, she doesn’t even remember me, so she can’t be my girlfriend. Besides, she’s probably busy at the hospital right now.”

“And the princess isn’t?”

“Of course she is, but she’ll make time for me; she always has.”

“Numbers, you aren’t a knight anymore, remember?”

“Aw hell... I forgot. It’s just, I’m so used to having free reign over the castle. Well, how does one normally gain an audience with the princess then?”

“Through registering, probably.”

“Oh wait, I got an idea.”

“No. No ideas. Go talk to Panacea,” Riches said as she turned my head towards the hospital. She was lucky it was on the same street.

“Fine, but if she’s busy, we’re going to talk to Celestia first.” With the deal struck, I marched ourselves over to the hospital’s large doors and entered.

“Panacea, your boyfriend is here!”

“Honestly, hun. You know we aren’t like that.”

“Sir?”

“Huh?” I managed as I shook myself out of a daze. Whatever I had just heard must’ve just been my imagination, as the receptionist was looking at me oddly.

“I asked you what services you required.”

“Ah, yes. I’m here to see Panacea. Is she in?”

“One moment, she’s in with a patient,” she said as she smiled. “Just have a seat and she’ll be right out.” I heard the receptionist page further down the hall as I took a seat against the wall. Somehow, Riches was keeping her balance.

“What’s the plan, Numbers?” she asked quietly while looking down the corridor.

“No idea. Maybe just say hello?”

“Yeah, that’s a great idea. ‘Oh, hello. I just wanted to say that while you were working.’ I don’t think that will go over so well.”

“Well, you think of something. Last time, I was gravely injured when we met.”

“Just do what you did last time.”

“She’s at work. I told you she’d be too busy to talk.” I glanced down the hallway to see Pan step out of a room and froze. She trotted towards the front desk and, after a brief nod towards our direction by the receptionist, turned to us.

Upon seeing me and Riches, she paused for a moment before walking up to us. “Hello, I hear you wanted to see me?” she said in that calm manner that was so fun to toy with. I mumbled incoherently before Riches came to my aid once again.

“Hi, I’m Riches and this is Dex. He’s here to talk to you, but he’s being silly right now.” She then proceeded to wap me on the head with a hoof again.

Pan looked stunned for a moment. “Dex?” She paused and took a closer look at me. “I feel like I know you from somewhere... And that name is so familiar for some reason.”

Could it be that she remembers something? No, no. It’s not possible. Time was reset. But what if it’s true? Maybe I can work with this? I lifted a hoof nervously and said, “The feeling is mutual, believe me.”

She knocked her own hoof against mine. “I’m Panacea, the head nurse here at Canterlot Medical.”

“Hey, how about we go for lunch?” asked Riches from atop my head.

“That sounds wonderful, Riches. It will give me a chance to talk without worrying about work. Just let me punch out real quick.”

I watched Pan walk off towards the break room where ponies clock in and out of work. “That was too easy.”

“Every mare likes a good meal.”

“No, not that. She feels something about me, like the universe wasn’t entirely reset.”

“Of course not. If it was, you wouldn’t exist at all. Look at the loose ends and find the truth behind the veil.”

So her remembering me is a loose end from my judgment?

“She doesn’t remember you, her emotions feel you.”

Why are you helping me so much? I thought this was a punishment?

“I am watching you, helping is just a side effect.”

So you’ll be watching over me forever?

“Not forever, just until you find your center.”

Well, that’s nice to know.

“Oh, here she comes. Have fun~”

I got the feeling Harmony was getting enjoyment out of my situation. Then again, I did choose her option, so maybe she wanted to play with me. In either case, I was now stuck trying to figure out why everything seemed to fall into place and how I was going to deal with Panacea.

She returned a few moments later and we agreed to go to a local cafe. All the while, Riches never left my head. As we placed our orders, she hopped off and took a seat of her own. Panacea looked between the two of us and opened conversation.

“Does your daughter normally ride on your head a lot?” Riches and I turned to each other for a few moments before she started giggling as I smirked in return. Pan nervously glanced between the two of us. “What? What did I say?”

“She’s not my daughter. She’s a friend of mine who thought it would be fun to see how long it would take someone to think otherwise.”

“And you went along with it,” Pan responded blankly. I smiled weakly in response and she continued. “Why don’t we discuss why we feel so odd towards each other?”

I sat back and contemplated the best way to explain things, before Riches rolled her eyes and took the initiative. “He remembers you from before the world reset and you feel something for him because love is stronger than time.” Pan stared wide-eyed at the filly as I turned toward Riches with a glare. “What?” she asked as she saw me. “Like you would have said anything.”

“I was trying to come up with something that didn’t sound so crazy,” I hissed.

“If it’s the truth, it doesn’t matter how crazy it sounds.”

“Is it true?” Pan interjected. “Did we know each other before?”

I sighed and asked if she wanted the whole story. Upon her request, I began relaying everything I told Riches back in Slade. The food came and we ate, the filly and I taking turns telling the story when one of us took a bite. As we concluded both the story and the meal, Pan’s visage changed from curiosity to indignant.

“Are you two scam artists?” she asked. The shocked looks on Riches’ face must have rivaled my own as the nurse looked between us.

“What?” I turned to Riches. “See? I told you it’s too crazy to believe.”

“It’s not too crazy to believe, it’s too practiced to believe. I can see it if you told her your story, but I can’t see her relaying so much of it so easily.”

“She’s smarter than she looks,” I said, which earned me a glare from the filly. “I have to deal with her insight all the time.”

“So after telling her your story once, she memorized it well enough to pick up where you stop?” At my nod, she relented. “It’s true then?” Another nod from me and she sighed.

“I better get back to work,” the nurse said as she got up.

“Wha- but- I- Wait!” I fumbled through my words, trying to slow her down.

“Bye, Panacea!” Riches said as the nurse started back towards the hospital. Then, the filly turned to me. “I can see why you like her.”

“Yeah, she’s... Pan,” I said slowly as I watched her go. Dejected, I dropped the bits for lunch on the table and stood up. “Come on, I should talk to the princess.” Riches caught up beside me as I stepped back onto the main street from the outdoor cafe and I could see her peering up at me out of the corner of my eye.

“Give her some time, Numbers. She’ll come around.” I barely nodded my head at her words. “So what’s the plan?”

“Plan?” I asked, confused at the sudden topic change.

“You had an idea earlier about getting in to see the princess.”

“Hmm, you’ll see.”

Celestia

The grand building wasn’t too far away from the restaurant, as it only took a few minutes to reach. In that time, I was lost in my thoughts of Pan and how I could improve our relationship. We ascended the castle’s first set of stairs, something that was much easier to do than going down, and were stopped by a couple guards standing in front of their small guard houses. “Halt. State your business in Canterlot Castle,” one said.

“I have important information regarding suspicious activity I feel needs to be addressed directly by Her Majesty, Princess Celestia,” I said, recalling my time as her knight in her services.

“Very well, wait here and a page will escort you to the Grand Hall, where those that seek audience wait.” The guard on the left stepped into his small station and pulled a rope, ringing a bell it was attached to and calling the aforementioned page.

We only had to wait a moment before a young stallion appeared and walked us through the front lawns and into the building. Riches looked around in awe at the design and extravagance as I walked slowly through the halls, used to the structure as I was.

Soon enough, we were brought to the large hall just to the side of the throne room used as an overflow area for excess ponies wishing an audience with royalty, when not used to hold balls on special occasions of course. A steward stood behind a podium near the side door and noble-looking ponies mingled about. I trotted over to the stallion and added my name to the list, hoping that the urgency of my request was understood.

Nearly there, just have to wait for these others to get through. I have to remember to be polite, as Celestia doesn’t remember me. Furthermore, how am I even going to convince her? No one knows about the Titans, so maybe I can use that. And surely, she wouldn’t want me to talk about them in front of an audience. I’ll just have to wing it as I always have, even if it makes me seem completely compulsive.

“Dex and Riches of Slade, please step forward,” the steward called as a guard opened the side door to the throne room beyond. That was way too quick. I walked over, with Riches behind me, and saw many ponies look at me in anger. They were there before me, I believed they were thinking.

Once again, the filly was awed as she took in the splendor of the room when we stepped over the threshold. Princess Celestia was sitting upon her throne, listening to a pony ramble on about taxes or building supplies, I wasn’t sure. We took our place behind a familiar looking pony as we awaited our turn, in the loosest description of a line. There was a general structure to the line, but many of the ponies stood next to each other or turned to face one another as they chatted quietly. Now that I have to wait, I feel bad for Celestia, having to deal with so many petitioners every day, I thought as I scanned the assembled.

About half an hour later, I stopped worrying over talking with the princess and my mind started wandering. This pony in front of me... I know I’ve seen him before. The stallion in question was white with blue hair wearing a fancy suit. His three, stacked crowns as a cutie mark didn’t help me recognize him at all.

“Excuse me,” I heard Riches say as she stepped past me a bit and tapped the stallion on the leg. As he turned to look at her, she continued. “My dad recognizes you, but he can’t place your name.” Ssssss, Riches, how do you know that? What happened to my natural blank face? Did it go away when I turned pony?

The cultured pony turned around completely. “Well I say, you only needed to ask, my good stallion. I am Fancy Pants, and you are?” he asked and we spent the remaining wait talking about whatever came to mind. I mentioned the garden party, just to waste time, and we shared our interest in meeting with the princess. Eventually, it was his turn and I bid him farewell.

That helped me loosen up a bit. Fancy isn’t such a bad guy, considering his noble stature. Well, just one pony to go and I can finally get some answers of my own. “I don’t know how you knew, but thanks for that, Riches,” I said quietly to her as the stallion finished his request.

“You’re really easy to read,” she returned just as quietly. So I did change my facial appearance.

“When did that start?”

“Other than the doughnut shop, around when we walked through the park.” Huh...

Fancy Pants bowed low with one leg bent when Celestia finished her speech and took a few steps back before turning around and trotting out of the chamber. The princess turned to me and I gave a polite bow, as I was unsure of my stability still, with Riches doing the complete action. She called me up to the steps and I complied before speaking.

“I apologize for the short bow, Your Majesty. I have not had time to get used to this body, yet.”

“It is quite all right. Does your request for an audience deal with your second statement?” she asked, unfazed by the implications.

“Yes, but I feel it would be best to speak in private about such matters. There is sensitive information involved.”

She smiled. “Would it have anything to do with the Titans?” I stood, frozen in place for a moment, before working my jaw trying to find a response. What? She knows? But how? “I see I am correct. Please wait a moment,” Celestia added at my confused expression before calling for privacy.

The guards ushered the ponies out of the room. Just as the last one left, the guards shut the doors behind them and stood watch on either side. Celestia stepped down from her throne and stood tall in front of me.

“Dex, it is good to see you.” She turned and gave a nod to the filly beside me. “And you must be Riches. Dex has mentioned you a few times in the future past.” If Doctor Hooves really is a Time Lord in this dimension, he must be going crazy right about now, not that I’m understanding this much either.

“Celestia, I-”

She raised a hoof to silence me before speaking. “I am sure you have many questions, and I have answers to most of them. First, I would like to ask you something.”

I gave another small bow, nearly losing my balance this time. “As you wish.”

“What were the terms of your punishment?” I repeated what the Titans had told me. “What are you doing now?”

“Trying to reunite with my friends.”

“Is that not against the rules you have been told to follow?”

“Not really. They didn’t specify that I couldn’t do so.”

“But you are using your knowledge to influence them, just as you must have done to Precious Metal, here.”

“Y-you know my name?” Riches asked.

“I know many things. Your name, I learned from Dex,” the princess said to the filly before turning back to me. “Harmony is allowing it, as you do not follow Order’s plan directly, but there may be consequences if you continue. Do you understand?”

“Yes.” Harmony said I was doing fine, now that I’ve started listening to my heart. Maybe, as long as I just get Pan and Stone back, I can still play with electricity and be fine.

“Very well. Now, let me head off your questions with the most likely answers. I am Order’s charge, so I know what he tells me and he wanted me to make sure you follow Order as much as possible.

“As for your friends, you were the suspicious activity I asked the Guard to watch for, as I knew you would return, but not how you would act. So far, you seem to be adjusting well. If you would like, I can get you a tutor in the use of magic, and” --a smirk played at her lips-- “maybe you should get physical therapy to learn your new body.”

So I’m not the only one with a Titan watching over me, and she said she’ll help me! This day is getting better! “Celestia, what about Pan? She felt something when we met earlier.”

The princess smiled down upon me. “Love is a strong magic, my knight. It can bridge the gap between realities themselves if it must.”

‘My knight’? “What was that about being your knight?”

“Well, surely you haven’t forgotten your oath to me?” I shook my head. “I think I can get away with giving you your old job title back.”

“But Princess, I can barely stay upright when I do so much as bow! How am I to help you?”

“By learning, of course.”

“What of my talent? I’m an engineer.”

“You do not have to do everything I had you do before. I am sure you want a family and a normal life here. I will only call on you when the need is great.”

I stood transfixed on the spot. Can it really be so easy? Can I really have my life I had back, without the chaos of before? How is this allowed by the Titans? I thought this was a punishment, yet here I am, a knight with training in front of him and a brighter future than ever before.

“The Titans are not cruel, Dex. They saw your want of a better life for all, and they gave you the options to do so. Do not forget that all that you have, you gained through your actions and intentions.” There was a pause as I let her words sink in. “Now go, enjoy what you have. I will send word.”

The End

[3 months later]

“C’mon, Dex, only a few trees left to buck!” Applejack shouted towards me as she slammed her rear hooves into another tree. I stood nearby, shaking and panting from exertion after clearing nearly four acres of trees, unable to keep up with her stamina. Looking over the last bit of field to go, I saw just how right she was. Only three trees stood with their delicious apples hanging from branches.

I had completed my therapy a few weeks ago and was finally up to helping everypony that had helped me. Regular visits to Ponyville allowed me to work on my magic with Twilight and pay off the self-proclaimed debts I promised myself to clear. As soon as I was able, I stopped by Rarity’s boutique, and ended up modeling for her new line of stallion clothing as payment. Just last week, I had helped Pinkie in Sugarcube Corner, both to learn how to bake with my new form and to pay her back for all her teaching.

The last apple fell from the last apple tree as I struggled to throw my weight into the buck. As soon as the tree was cleared, I dropped to the ground and lay there. I heard hooves trot over to me and I raised my head to look at Applejack grinning down at me.

“Well, ya did it! Ah’m mighty proud of ya, Dex,” she said.

“I don’t think my legs are too proud right now,” I responded as the aforementioned appendages twitched in the beginnings of relaxing.

“If yer too tired ta stand, I guess you won’t be needin’ any lunch!” she added playfully.

At the sounds of food, my stomach voiced its opinion and I forced myself up. My legs complained, but I remembered that walking off after exercising is important. We came up to the farmhouse slowly and I was met with a wonderful sight.

On the front porch, Granny Smith was sitting in her chair, rocking away, while Riches lay at her feet and listened intently to a story. Panacea was setting drinks and food down on a table nearby as Big Mac strolled over from the barn. Apple Bloom, though, had to go to school.

“Hey, Pan,” I said as I got close. She glanced over at me and set a pie down. Once she was free, I walked in close and nuzzled her. “How was your morning?”

After a week, Panacea started to believe the story Riches and I had told her. Then, about a month later, and after a lot of time spent with us, she agreed that it was true, something I think Celestia had a part in as well. Since then, Pan and I grew closer until we started officially dating.

Yesterday, Riches, Pan, and I all decided to take a day off and visit our friends. The Apple family, being as courteous as farm folk are, agreed to put us up for the night. So, in return, we all did our own small part to help.

“It was fine, until you came along and covered me in sweat,” Pan said with a smile as I pulled away from our embrace.

“Fine, fine. I’ll go wash up first.”

Everything was wonderful.

[2 years later]

“Dad!”

“Yes, Riches?”

“Where’s the sieve?”

“You mean the colander? I’m using it.”

“For what?

“...For pasta?”

“I need it for my science project!”

“...” Good thing I washed it first, who knows what that filly uses the kitchen utensils for.

“Also, Dale needs a change!”

“You’ve done it before, Riches.”

“But I don’t want to!”

“Please? I’ve got my hands full in the kitchen.”

“Hooves!”

“Whatever!”

Time goes by so quickly. One minute, you’re enjoying some time with friends, and the next, you have a wife and kid.

A few years after I became a pony, I managed to snag Panacea as my wife. It was the greatest day of my life, far better than what I ever thought possible. Stone was my best man, or stallion, as I’m being corrected. The ceremony was wonderful, but nothing compares to the life I’ve lived since that day.

Riches, through some strange series of events, most likely due to her own influence, became our daughter. She’s grown up to be a fine young mare. Her talent in psychology shouldn’t have surprised me as much as it did when she came home after school and ran around the house, trying to show off her cutie mark to anyone who would look.

Then, we had a foal, a little blue pegasus we named Dale Wind. And no, I have no idea how that happened. Hush. He is a wonderful addition to the family and his wild nature is sure to get on everyone’s nerves when he grows up.

[8 years later]

There’s not much to say, only that I’m filled with pride in these moments.

Riches graduated university classes in psychology.

Dale learned to fly and got high marks on his tests.

Stone found himself a wife.

Panacea and I went on an airship cruise for our anniversary, after I got a patent accepted for improvements to Equestria’s electrical design and Pan accepted a full doctorship at Canterlot Medical.

Life is wonderful. Friends are always nearby during the hard times and good times. I’ve never been happier.

And that’s how my story ends. I had a wonderful life and I’ll never forget all the friends I made in the end.

Harmony called me occasionally through the years. It felt like she didn’t get too many ponies to talk to and just wanted someone as a friend. One of the Titans is my friend; now that was something I never thought would turn out to be the case.

Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy have always been my friends through everything, and I love them all the more for it. I’ll never forget you all, even now.

So, here I am, old and tired, and I felt like writing down my story. Panacea is a wonderful wife and I hope she can live long enough to see our great-grandkids be born, since I don’t feel that much life left in me. All in all, I think I made the right choice. Thanks, Discord.

--Sir Dex the Shield, Senior Knight of the Solar Guard, age 86