The Great Apprentice

Humans have long lived alongside ponies ever since the first ships arrived fleeing a cataclysm that caused many to lose their homes and become displaced. This, in turn, caused many conflicts and wars that ravaged the land as Kingdoms that were forced to move due to the disaster. So humans forced from their homes either by disaster or war took to the ocean and sailed for unknown lands. They landed in Equestria at a growing city which would later become the City of Manehattan two years after the Pony tribes united and dispersed the terrible windigos to the depths of the Far North beyond the Crystal Empire. Humans at the time unaware of the existence of Magic were not powerless the Humans in the Eastern Kingdoms had long held knowledge on how to awaken and use the human bodies natural energies known as Chi and focus it into another form known as Ki or to some Qi. Humans who trained to push their bodies past its normal limits learned to harness this power some born with great Chi rose and became Masters harnessing Chi into powerful Ki techniques that some said could devastate armies with a single strike. The Humans of the Western Kingdoms had different skills than their Eastern kin, they were inventive and curious wanting to understand the mysteries of the Universe as they built machines, some were so large that they were, in fact, the city itself. They brought new forms of learning as well which Starswirl the Bearded took up calling it Natural Science and with the Aid of Humans discovered a way of using Gems which were plentiful in Equestria as sources of power to create even greater machines.

The arrival of these humans in Equestria at first upset the Ponies but under the leadership of the Princesses, grew to accept the outsiders and welcome them into the land. Humans reacted strongly to the knowledge that the Princesses moved the sun and moon through the heaven many calling them Goddesses which while unsettling caused no trouble so they did not dissuade the Humans from this thinking. As time passed and Humans settled in their new homeland thing too settled back in their original kingdoms though they still warred with each other things had stabilized. Some Kings attempted to reintegrate their distant citizens under their banner but failed as these peoples considered themselves Equestrians rather than people of their nations of origin.

Then came the Age of Discord as a powerful and deranged draconequus who could bend reality to his will. While the Humans didn't seem to be as easily frightened as the Ponies and fought back with their Machines and powerful Ki Masters. Their actions meant to buy Celestia and Luna time to discover the Elements of Harmony and trap the Spirit of Chaos in stone. Many Humans wanted to shatter the statue to end the threat of Discord there but Celestia refused instead placing the statue of Discord in a garden.

When Princess Luna fell to the dark emotions of her heart and became Nightmare Moon and was banished to the moon by her sister with the aid of powerful relics known as the Elements of Harmony. Many feared what would happen with the moon unable to move yet Celestia was there and she took the duty of moving both heavenly bodies. Many years Nightmare Moons imprisonment a Human began uniting the Human Kingdoms embracing the technology of the West and the powers of the East he was named the Absolute One and like the kings before tried to bring the Humans of Equestria under his banner but instead of sending envoys he brought a mighty army with him to Equestria. While the human refused to bow to him they could not stand against his powers or his army which brought the first firearms with them.

For the first time since the Tribes united war came to Equestria as Humans and their Pony allies fought for every inch that the Absolute One and his army took with great loss of life. As for Celestia since her sister had been banished she was threatened by a great foe in the Absolute One who mastery of Ki put him on even footing with the Alicorn Princess. The Absolute One met Celestia on the field of battle many times unleashing powerful Ki attacks that met the might of the Solar Princess as they battled each other many times through the conflict till at last the Absolute One was forced to give up the war or see all he had brought to ruin. He surrendered to the Princess near the fledgling village of Ponyville and while the Humans did join under his banner he had been humbled by the strength and benevolence of the Princess and swore eternal friendship with the Ponies and their ruler.

Still holding the Title of Absolute One the warrior returned home and ruled in peace and once reaching old age bequeathed the crown to his son and stepped down as ruler. This was the moment his closest Students betrayed him killing his Son and his Wife before the Absolute One could stop them, he managed to save his Grandson and flee back to Equestria in secret finding a quiet place to live and teach his grandson. Since his disappearance the Humans rulers became fractured but the Humans in Equestria had Celestia to rule them in his place and they continued to live in peace while their homeland across the sea shattered into warring clans squabbling over territory and status.

It has been nearly over twenty years since that day, the Absolute One died the year before Luna's return leaving behind his Grandson who he taught and trained himself, the young man moved to Ponyville proper and lives in the town as a field hand for the Apple Family who runs Sweet Apple Acres. His world will soon change and he must decide the fate of both Humans and Ponies even as forces gather some to support others to destroy or kill the Apprentice of the Absolute One.