The King Without a Crown

Chapters

Awakening
Eventful Wedding Receptions
Revelations
Facing a Familiar Foe
Departing Canterlot
Of Manticores and Men

Awakening

Chapter 1 - A Fortunate Accident

For as long as it had existed, there were many theories revolving around the existence of the Everfree Forest and as to why it had such a damning reputation.

Some spoke of the forest having been home to some malevolent entity, whose very presence within the woods had corrupted the roots of the trees themselves. Others told of the forest having once been the site of some ritual gone wrong, with the aftereffects of the incantation having transformed the forest into that which the nearby inhabitants of Ponyville so feared to enter. Perhaps the forest had always been this way, and that its cursed reputation stemmed from the locals, having had travellers enter the forest only to never return, most likely lost to the hungering predators who lay in wait within the dense darkness of these woods.

How the forest came to be is of little significance compared to the secret it concealed. For deep within the Everfree there was a cave, covered in vines and other flora which had grown over the entrance for many years, leaving the entrance almost unnoticeable to many. Explorers of the foreboding forest could walk past this entrance time and time again, never knowing of the caves existence and the power it held within.

It is therefore doubtful that this cave would have been found for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. But of course, not all secrets can remain as such forever. The discovery of the cave, however, would come as a surprise. For it was not found by an intrepid team of explorers searching for the lost artefacts of an ancient race, nor was it discovered by a lovelorn knight, searching for some monstrous beast to slay so as to acquire the heart of a maiden.

No. Instead, the finding of this cave was by both sheer luck and fate itself.

When he opened his eyes for the first time in what felt like years, he was met with nothing but sheer darkness. As if by instinct, Cyrus willed into creation a small, luminescent ball of light from his hands. With his surroundings now visible, he realised that, unless he had somehow turned the capital of Eden into a mountain, he must have been underground. In a cave most likely. Such a possibility left Cyrus utterly confused, however, as such a thing had to be impossible. Where am I? How did I get here? Did we win? Had my gambit succeeded? Was the Great Enemy no more? Dozens upon dozens of questions formulated within his mind, each one of them spawning dozens more to go alongside them. Rising to his feet, he took in his surroundings, hoping to find some sort of clue as to where he currently found himself.

The time for questions would have to come later, however, as a sudden flurry of noises brought his attention to the other side of the cave. Realising that he wasn't alone, Cyrus extinguished the light with but a small gesture, darkness enveloping the chamber once more. A few moments later, something must must have entered the chamber, for it was not Cyrus hyperventilating in fear. Whilst not as attuned visually to the darkness as other species, Cyrus nevertheless could rely upon his own innate magic to heighten his senses - including his eyesight.

When he did just that, he was certainly intrigued to find not some sort of earth dwelling predator but instead an equine; a small, white coated filly with a mane of lilac and pink. Judging by her fearful expression and her lack of breath, Cyrus had to assume that she must have been fleeing from something, having found her way into this cave in an attempt to outrun her pursuer. Or maybe she was just a hopeful spelunker searching for riches within the gloom of the caves. 'An Equestrian? Intriguing. This must mean that, unless we did defeat the Great Enemy at the citadel of Eden, the Equestrian nation managed to accomplish what we did not and best the foe.'

What was important to Cyrus, however, was not why she was here but that she was here. He had many questions, but, seeing the dishevelled state she was in, his morals made themselves known and he decided that his first priority would be to help this child.

"Greetings, young one." His voice echoed softly throughout the chamber of the cave, although it did little to soothe the terrified filly before him. Startled, the eyes of the filly darted all over the cave, seeing nothing but darkness around her. Not knowing who or what was in the cave with her, she knew that she had to tread carefully, preparing herself to dart away from what could be an intelligent yet nefarious monster.

"W-w-who's t-t-the-ere?" She stammered, her frame shivering in still lingering terror from both what had been pursuing her and of the possible danger she now found herself in.

"Please, do not be afraid little one, for I wish you no harm," Cyrus promised, his voice seemingly soothing the fear of the equine in front of him, though she still appeared ready to bolt at a moment notice, "I wish only to help you." Despite not knowing where the voice was coming from, nor if she could even trust the beings intentions, the filly found herself calming somewhat. Swallowing her fear, she took a step into the darkness, coincidentally straight towards Cyrus.

"Where... where are you? Who are you?" The filly said, her voice still shaky yet holding more confidence than it did a moment ago. Knowing that appearing before her at his full height would most likely scare the poor thing, Cyrus opted on lowering himself to the ground, seating himself before the unaware filly. Then, with another flick of his wrist, another ball of light manifested itself into existence. With light now flooding the chamber, both parties could look upon each other fully.

Cyrus was expecting a frightful scream of terror. What he got was not what he was expecting. After a few seconds of silent staring, the filly tilted her head in curiosity, her eyes expressing a childish wonder he had not seen in a long time.

"Are you some sort of Minotaur?" Cyrus blinked. Not once in his long life had he ever been referred to as one of those robust creatures from the subterranean kingdoms of Minotouria. Giving the filly an amused smile, Cyrus shook his head, bemused at her confusion.

"No, little one, I am no Minotaur." Hearing this, her eyebrows furrowed in thought. Perhaps she was trying to think of another kind of creature that resembled a Minotaur. To no avail. After a while she gave up, thoughtful expression replaced with a familiar look of curiosity.

"Well, if you aren't a Minotaur, then what are you, mister?" Whilst prepared to answer her question, Cyrus in turn wanted to ask his own. He needed to know where he was, for a start, and whether or not his people were in the lands he was in.

"I am a being from a very old and ancient race, the name of which I fear you may not recognise. For now, may I be so bold as to ask a few of my own questions?" The filly, after a moments hesitation, nods. "I thank you. For now, may I have the pleasure of knowing your name?"

"My name's Sweetie Belle. What's yours?" A small part of Cyrus can't help but find the filly heavily endearing. She reminded him of the daughter of one of his servants, a sweet little thing called Talia, who had gotten herself lost in the well maintained gardens of the castle. Another yet larger part of Cyrus mourned that she had most likely perished in the attack.

"I thought that we had agreed that it was my turn to be asking questions, young Sweetie Belle?" Cyrus remarks with a small, playful smile. Sweetie Belle chuckles, her muzzle slightly red from embarrassment at her eagerness to learn more about the mysterious being sat before her.

"Sorry, sir."

"No need to apologise, little one," He assures her, " I applaud your desire for knowledge. It is a fine trait for one so young. As for your question, my real name is long and strange, the language of which it is spoken in being one that I doubt you know. However, I do have a name that your ancestors bestowed upon me, my little Equestrian." If she wasn't curious before, Sweetie Belle most certainly was now. Any fear she had of the being before her had all but vanished, replaced with wonder and awe.

"And what's that?" She asked, awaiting his response. The being looked her in the eyes and, in a deep voice, with a tone as regal and authoritative as the Princesses of her people themselves, answered.

"'Rex Hominum, vigil de Eden'. You may know me, as Cyrus Perennem."

Author's Note

So I've found myself feeling a bit stumped as to my other story. Instead, I found myself inspired by some things I'd read and thought about during my frequent lapses of insanity and daydreaming, usually brought upon by a mixture of boredom and unhealthy amounts of alcohol.

Only joking, I'm as fit as a fiddle leedee.

Hopefully my will to write for this story lasts longer than it has been for the other one. Do let me know what you think of this one so far.

Eventful Wedding Receptions

Chapter 3 - The Return of the King

As for the book itself, it held within it the tales of times long passed. The times before the Rise and Fall of Nightmare Moon. The times where legends were born and melded in the fires of bravery and courage, their exploits lining the annuls of history for all eternity. It was during these times that a kingdom, born from hardship and victory, was founded.

The Kingdom of Eden.

There are few left to this day who remember such a kingdom as having ever existed; even fewer with knowledge of those who actually founded the kingdom. The Aeterna. A species of two legged warriors, scholars, traders, explorers and rulers. They were unique in their own ways. Once, there were many dozens of tribes in the lands which would become theirs. Each one had a different culture, religion, funeral rites and many more varying traditions and rituals. Each group as well held differing views towards their neighbouring tribes. Few were allies, many were enemies, all were divided.

Yet there soon came a time when a savage host of barbarians arrived to conquer and pillage their way across Eden, originating from the frozen lands to the North of Equestria (these lands would later be pacified and settled by a unique race of Equestrians, paving the way for the birth of the Crystal Empire), every single tribe banded together under a common banner. Whilst they may have held different views and different principles, they all shared a common goal - a desire to defend what was theirs.

Many Aeternan's fought and fell, yet they never faltered and, in the end, their determination to win and the desire for vengeance overcame the savagery of the invaders. The barbarians were beaten back into the frozen wastes of the North. The brotherhood that these tribes forged in the fires of battle endured long after they were victorious and, within a year of their total victory, they banded together to form one singular kingdom.

One could argue that this should have been an impossibility; the various ideologies many of the tribes held would have surely ripped the kingdom apart from infighting. Yet this never happened. Some argue that this was because of the sheer bonds of friendship and camaraderie that they had forged during their way against the oceanic barbarians. Others say that it was because they all knew that their best bets of prosperity would be in banding together, despite the contrasting and outright blasphemous views held by their fellows.

Yet all agree on one factor which most certainly helped to prevent any form of war within Aeternan society. The power and influence held by the ruling family. Out of all of the tribes that fought, one stood out amongst them for the sheer honour and bravery that they'd shown during battle. When the Kingdom of Eden was formed, the leaders of the tribes all met together and cast their votes as to whom would speak for them. As to whom would lead them towards a great and glorious future.

They were all but unanimous in their decision. The tribe of Perennem would be the harbingers of Eden's golden age.

When Cyrus arrived, he quickly noticed a plethora of things which concerned him. For a start, he wasn't where he had pictured himself. Unless the castle had undergone a drastic change in scenery, this was not the inner courtyard. Instead, it seemed more akin to the entrance of the city itself. Cyrus himself wouldn't have been too concerned had it not been for another concerning yet definitively more disturbing issue.

Parts of the city were burning, green flames lapping at the cities shops and homes.

Making his way into the city, he quickly found the most likely suspects behind the viridescent fires spreading across the city harassing a group of terrified ponies. Changelings. They were almost exactly like the equines, yet had a number of conspicuous differences. Firstly, they all held a coat the colour of night, a stark contrast to the vibrant coats of the pony population. Secondly, each of them had large, sharp fangs, similar to those of the big cats of the Eden forests.

Cyrus doubted that the two species were related, however.

The last feature that separated the Changelings from the ponies, however, was that the changelings were even alive. During the reign of his predecessors, Changelings had attempted to take over Aeternan society by kidnapping and taking the roles of prominent nobles and government officials, such as the Regent of Eden, a position second only to the king himself. It was only by sheer luck that they were discovered. A maid had accidentally walked in on the transformation process, and immediately reported to the first guard that she came across.

A great scouring followed. Those suspected of being an infiltrator were tested and, if found to indeed be a Changeling in disguise, were forced out from Eden. Within a fortnight, every single Changeling in Eden had been forced from it's borders and, for many, many years, were never heard from again. As the days passed, the people of Eden began to ponder just what it was that they wanted from them. Power? Resources? Knowledge? Integration? Nobody would ever know their reasons. Despite their more-than-likely nefarious intentions, some in Aeternan society felt varying degrees of guilt. They had most likely caused an entire species to die out after all, as they never heard any more mentions of Changelings from any other species.

After a while, however, these feelings vanished, alongside the memories of the Changelings having ever existing. Cyrus himself, upon ascending to the throne, pondered their motives, wondering just what it was that they were aspiring for. Yet after a time he too forgot about them entirely, focusing his attention on the matters of state instead of on the matters of a species believed to have died out.

He was surprised, of course, when he saw them. A part of him was glad. He wasn't one for genocide, after all. Still, his feelings at present mattered little.

They were here, here and now, laying siege to the seat of power of his oldest and dearest friends and their people. Unless they could be reasoned with, Cyrus was prepared to force every single Changeling out of the city into the wastes of the North, where his people had pushed the ancient barbarians into.

Sight set upon the castle in the distance, Cyrus marched forwards, assisting any ponies he came across, ignoring their stunned, fearful and impressed stares.

Many years later the Equestrian art gallery would unveil its latest masterpiece - that of a lone two legged creature offering its hand towards a pony trapped under the rubble of their home.

In the castle, meanwhile, the shouting of the attackers and the roars of the defenders raged within the hallways, spear versus claw, armour versus fangs. Despite their initial assumptions of the Royal Guard, the Changelings were finding themselves struggling to overcome their defences mounted by the garrison, numerical advantage and all. Having trained for years and years in the name of protecting their sovereign - recently sovereigns - the standard guardspony was worth three Changeling drones.

Unfortunately for the Royal guards, there were plenty of Changelings to spare.

Little by little, the guards were forced back, unable to stem the seemingly endless tide of drones from overtaking their defensive positions. Fortunately for both sides, those struck down seemingly suffered only minor words. The hardy carapaces of the Changelings meant wounds suffered wouldn't be fatal, whilst the finely crafted armour of the guards resulted in them being incapacitated.

Granted, a few would most likely be maimed or left in a wheelchair for months to recover from their wounds, but they'd prefer that over death any day. They'd at least be able to show off their battle scars to the fair mares of Canterlot.

Lieutenant Flash Sentry, having tried and failed to push through the horde of Changelings and to the throne room, finally stirred from unconsciousness. Opening his eyes, he found himself in the outer courtyard alongside a number of fellow guardsponies, all bound in the same chitinous substance. Standing near them were a group of drones, standing guard in case any heroic guardponies came to the rescue of their brethren.

There was a good chance that none were in the position to come to their aid anyway.

"Filthy insects, do you truly believe that our Princesses will fall to the likes of you?" The lieutenant snarled, baring his teeth at his captors. They did not flinch nor did they make any sign of reacting to his taunt, continuing to stand vigilant over their captives. Their silence did nothing to stop the lieutenant's tirade, however, and he continued. "Do you think you've won? That, because you may have defeated the Royal Guard, you've somehow gained victory? Ha! Don't make me laugh. The Princesses are beyond any of you, especially that Queen of yo-"

He would have continued with his rant against the Changelings had it not been for the sudden explosion that originated from behind the drones. Almost as one, the Changelings immediately turned to face the cause, fangs bared and claws outstretched, ready to fight off any sort of rescue mounted by the remaining Royal Guard.

Instead, they were confused to find themselves looking upon not a pony, but a strange, two legged creature walking towards them, its features grim and hardened. Stopping just a few feet away, Cyrus gazed upon the scene that lay before him. At least a dozen or more Changeling drones and eight captive guardsponies, bound to the floor. Just as he had done with every other group of drones he had come across on his way to the castle, he offered them the same choice.

Perhaps they would be the first to be smart enough to accept.

"Changelings! Hear my words and take heed! Cease your attacks against the populace, leave this city and never return! This is the first and final offer you shall be so mercifully given! Make your choice now, whilst you're still in the position to do so!" Silence reigned throughout the courtyard, Cyrus's voice echoing around the courtyard. For a moment, Flash believed that maybe, just maybe, the drones would actually accept this strange creature's proposal.

But, just like the rest of them who had been offered the same choice, they did not. The Changelings charged, claws sharp and outstretched. To the guardsponies, they did not fancy the odds of the strange two legged beings. They had trained for years to get to the positions they were in, suffering under the arduous training regimes in which they'd been put under during their days as recruits. They were the finest warriors Equestria had to offer. If a whole garrison of them could not hold back the Changeling army, what chance did this creature have?

He failed to notice one of the creature's hands glowing in a magical energy. Just as the drones were about to converge upon it, the creature suddenly threw its arm in a backhanded motion, a wall of ethereal energy flying out and sending the Changelings careening into the stone walls of the castle, incapacitating every single one of them.

When all was said and done, Lieutenant Sentry and his fellow guardponies were released and left to rearm themselves with the scattered weaponry littering the courtyard as Cyrus continued forward, heading towards the castle. Finding and retaking his spear, Flash Sentry looked to his saviour, seeing him advancing towards the main entrance.

"Wait!" The lieutenant called out. Stopping in his tracks, Cyrus looked over his shoulder to the one who had spoken. Seeing the impatience on the creatures face, Flash swallowed his nerves, his training kicking in. "What are you and what do you want?"

"Your questions can wait for a later time, Lieutenant," he answered, staring at the insignia upon his armour, displaying his rank, "for now we must find the Princesses." Flash did not fully trust this being. Still, glancing over to the pile of dazed and unconscious Changeling drones that the creature had left in its wake, he at least knew that it wasn't a foe. Hopefully.

"I last saw her Majesty at the chapel, overseeing the wedding, before their leader, Queen Chrysalis overpowered her. Come, I shall take you there. But be warned creature - if you should make one wrong move towards the Princess, you won't make it far." Even as he spoke the words he knew that he most likely had little chance of actually besting this creature in battle.

"No harm shall befall your Princess. Now lead on." Whilst to the lieutenant Cyrus may have been brushing off his threat, he was nevertheless impressed by his boldness and loyalty to his ruler. Satisfied with this answer, Flash looked over to and signalled for the rest of his squad to follow them, their mission clear once again: to rescue the Princess and to fight off the invaders. With the help of their new ally, perhaps both could be achieved a lot more easily. Seeing a small part of Canterlot engulfed in a green flame brought a mirthless chuckle from the lieutenant.

"Join the guard, they said. It'd be a blast, they said," Flash mumbled, placing his helmet back upon his head, "Yea, right. Thank you very much father. Fighting off an invasion of bugs and being saved by some all-powerful warrior truly is a blast." He couldn't say that his career wasn't an exciting one, though.

"This 'all-powerful' warrior you speak of would rather be referred to as Cyrus, Lieutenant." Cyrus spoke, amused at the the lieutenant's words. 'This one will go far.'

"Of course, Sir Cyrus." They made haste towards the chapel.

Meanwhile in the chapel itself, things were not going well for the defenders themselves. Princess Cadance, whilst able to release her beloved Shining Armour from Chrysalis's control, was not strong enough to channel her magic with her beloved Shining's. What was worse was that Chrysalis was now acutely aware to their plans and, with a quick wave of her horn, threw them both to the far end of the room.

Her victory was not yet complete, however. Twilight Sparkle, taking advantage of the distraction, was able to blast away the Changelings who had surrounded her and her friends, allowing them all to dash over to Cadance's side. At the same time, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy flew up to and freed Princess Celestia from her imprisoned state, somehow managing to carry the larger Equine to rest beside Cadance. It would not matter in the end however, as, without the Elements and, weakened by Chrysalis in their earlier bout, Celestia was not in any position to assist her subjects fend off the malevolent Queen of the Changelings.

"Why do you even bother?" Chrysalis laughed, looking upon the weak and helpless band of resistance before her. On both sides of the large Changeling stood dozens of drones, all mindlessly loyal to their Queen and matriarch. "You have no hope of defeating me now. Your precious Celestia lies there weak and defenceless, Shining's harlot can all but stand up straight and my drones are already scouring the castle to find that other Princess of yours."

"It doesn't matter," Twilight replied, eyes narrowed, "we'll find a way to stop you, no matter what!" Her friends cheered, voicing their own declarations alongside Twilight's. Rolling her eyes, the ruler of the Changelings observed the rabble ahead of her. As she'd already pointed out, the two Alicorns were in no real position to challenge her. The only threat she'd face would be from the two unicorns, mainly the one who'd spoken. Still, if Celestia couldn't stand up to her, what chance did this one have? What chance did any of them have against her now?

"I don't think you understand, Twilight Sparkle," Chrysalis purred, a mouth stretching into a sinister grin, "that, right now, you have no hope at all of stopping me now. Look at your Princess! She couldn't stop me and you think that you have even as much a chance as she did? Don't make me laugh. It would take a miracle for you to somehow have any possibility of defea-"

The chapel doors quite literally exploded, cutting Chrysalis's rant short. Through the thick cloud of smoke came a wave of Royal guard charged, at the forefront being Lieutenant Flash Sentry, his eyes locked onto those of the surprised Changeling ruler. Her surprise was only momentarily, quickly being replaced with annoyance at her impotent guards stationed outside. Before Flash could give any orders, a beam of emerald light shot out from Chrysalis's horn towards him, the Queen intent on finishing what her guards could not.

Just before her spell could strike the guard, she watched in shock as a separate beam of light blasted out from smoke of the explosion, meeting her own magic head on. Shrieking in pain, she cancelled her spell, the beam aimed at Flash Sentry vanishing. In anger she narrowed her eyes, staring into the smoke and at the faint silhouette of whatever pony had dared to hurt her.

Her anger quickly vanished as she watched the silhouette grow in size and density, replaced with a mixture of shock and curiosity when a two legged creature stepped out from the smoking rubble of the chapel entrance, the guardsponies making way.

Stopping just in front of the formation, Cyrus looked at the large Changeling before him, assuming it to be their Queen due due its larger and more regal appearance compared to the drones at her sides. He then looked to the other side of the room, gazing upon the Equines huddled together, their expressions mirroring that of the Changeling ruler. They seemed to be guarding something - or someone - but he couldn't see past them. The voice of the Changeling brought Cyrus's attention back to her.

"You dare strike a Queen!?" That confirmed his suspicions of this one being the ruler, "Do you have any idea who or what you are dealing with, you insolent creature!?"

"I believe I should be asking you that question."

The second she heard the words, a shocked gasp escaped Celestia's throat. She knew that voice. She'd heard it many times before diplomatic meetings and friendly escapades. It was the voice of a king. It was the voice of her best friend.

It was the voice of Cyrus Perennem.

The group of mares heard her gasp and, concern overriding their trepidation from the scene ahead of them, rushed to check on the well-being of their ruler. As this was happening, Cyrus and the guards kept their focus solely on Chrysalis and the drones, neither side making any moves, both sides prepared to lunge for one another.

"This need not end in violence, Queen Chrysalis of the Changelings. You still have a chance to call off this misbegotten invasion and spare both yourself and those in this room any further sufferi-" He had no time to finish he plea before, having grown tired of diplomacy, Chrysalis let loose another spell, this time aimed at creature ahead of her. Unlike the last time, he did not meet it with his own, remaining motionless as it shot towards him. Cyrus sighed and, spreading his arms, embraced the oncoming spell.

Every being within the room watched as Cyrus was engulfed in a virescent fire, his whole being smothered within a blanket of pure flame. The guards - Lieutenant Flash Sentry especially - were in sheer shock. The being who they'd watched casually force his way through groups of Changelings had just been so easily vanquished. Chrysalis herself was as equally shocked, though more due to how he'd so nonchalantly embraced his demise. Even Twilight Sparkle and her friends found themselves speechless at what they'd just witnessed - what could have been their saviour being reduced to ash.

Celestia, peering through the gap between the protective circle of the mares around her, had just bared witness to everything that had just happened alongside everypony else. Yet unlike them, she was neither shocked nor despaired. Instead of sharing the look of horror with which her ponies held, she instead wore a small, knowing smirk upon her muzzle. She knew that, if this was truly the Cyrus of old, if he had truly survived the invasion of Eden and the cataclysm that followed, then she knew what was about to happen.

She knew that Chrysalis could not hope to fell Cyrus with one simple spell.

Celestia was therefore the only being in the room who was not surprised when the fire surrounding Cyrus began to change. Before their very eyes, every pony watched as the green inferno began to shift and pulsate, the very colour of the flames changing from its sickly green to a more majestic gold. The Royal guard backed away quickly, unsure as to what to do. Even Chrysalis recoiled, the pride of her victory now replaced with confusion and a touch of fear at the sudden and drastic events unfolding.

The fires expanded, growing larger and hotter until, finally, they exploded outwards. The blinding light that followed forced all within the chapel to cover their eyes. When the light receded Cyrus emerged, drastically changed.

A thick set of metal armour - coloured in a coat of gold and silver - covered his whole entire body - minus his head. It shined bright, the rays of sun coming in through the windows giving it an almost ethereal appearance. As if to further enhance its already pristine beauty, patterns and designs seemingly etched into the armour furthered its awe inspiring majesty. Finally, a great, golden eagle was portrayed within the centre of the thick, hardy armour; its wings outstretched and ready to take flight.

Celestia had seen him like this on multiple occasions, yet it never once ceased to amaze the Princess of the Day how truly astonishing he appeared within his armour. She'd never forget the first time she laid eyes upon him within that great suit of armour; standing at the forefront of his army during a military parade through the streets of Eden's capital. It was a sight that both she and her sister remembered for many days afterwards.

"I offered you a chance," Cyrus spoke, his already deep having deepened even more so, now sounding as fearsome as the armour he wore, "and you refused to take it. Now you may consider the following." He took a step forward, the impact of his armoured boots echoing throughout the chapel. "One; You have attacked a being whose powers you know little about, endangering the continued existence of both yourself and your forces." He took another step, the distance between him and the now nervous Changeling decreasing. "Two; My offer of a peaceful resolution to this conflict has expired, and will not be made again for as long as a single Changeling remains within this city."

By this point Chrysalis realised the dire situation in which she now found herself. This was no ordinary creature. She'd been so used to dealing with Equestrians that she never accounted for any beings of power - minus the Princesses - being able to pose a threat. Nevertheless, she had come this far. She would not just surrender to this being, no matter how daunting he may be.

After all, he was just one creature, and, whilst he was backed by a dozen of armed and armoured guards, she still had the numerical advantage. It would be enough. Her drones could handle the guards, along with those pesky mares at the other side of the room if they got involved.

The armoured warrior however would be hers to deal with. With a furious cry on both sides, the Equestrians and the Changelings charged into battle once more.

To Princess Cadance, the scene before her was like something ripped straight from the pages of an epic fantasy book: two different sides battling it out to decide the fate of an entire city - an entire kingdom. Had it not been for the fact that the livelihoods of her, her friends and everyone else within Equestria hinged on this battle, she may have felt a sense of joy to be able to pay witness to such a historic event.

Alas, she was more worried for what would happen if they lost. As good a reason as any, she supposed. Still, she couldn't help but look over towards their armoured ally, battling it out with Chrysalis herself within the middle of the conflict itself. Both the guards and the drones were far too busy dealing with one another to interfere with the duel. Both were throwing a mixture of offensive and defensive spells, testing each others magical might and prodding for any signs of weakness in the other.

"Cadance." Ripping her attention away from the battle for a moment, Cadance turned to the mare who had been her guardian for so many years.

"Yes, auntie?"

"You must listen to me carefully," Celestia spoke, propping herself up with her hooves, her strength still depleted yet slowly returning, "for it is up to you and Captain Armour to win this fight." Hearing his name being said, Shining Armour forced himself to look away from raging battle as well, joining Cadance in facing Princess Celestia.

"What do you mean?"

"Cyrus is outnumbered, and I fear that, despite his many strengths, he may not win this fight. Not without our help." The ponies blinked. How did their Princess know the name of this being?

"How do you-"

"I will answer all your questions later, my dear niece, but for now we have more pressing issues to deal with." The Princess interrupted, gesturing towards the battle. Following her hoof, they understood just why time was of the essence. Despite their skill, the guards were being overwhelmed, and now more and more Changelings were beginning to jump into the battle between their ruler and Cyrus, attempting to assist their queen however they could.

Cyrus himself realised this fact and knew that he had to end the battle quickly, yet the combined efforts of the drones alongside the surprising strength of Chrysalis herself was making such a thing difficult to achieve. With a growl, Cyrus reached forwards with his gauntlet, catching a drone midair, throwing it into the horde of Changelings around him as if it were a pebble. It made no difference however, as they kept on coming.

"Then what are we supposed to do?" Cadance asked, her voice cracking slightly from prospect of this 'Cyrus' somehow falling to the Changeling horde. If neither Celestia nor the armoured warrior could defeat Chrysalis, who could?

"You are the Princess of Love, Mi Amore. That is a power stronger than most, and it is a power that can defeat Chrysalis and her army if only you channel it correctly."

"How do I go about doing that then?"

"Captain?" Shining Armour nodded, "Close your eyes and picture my niece. Picture everything about her that you love and adore. Do the same for the captain, Cadance." Although confused, Shining did just that, his thoughts coalescing into a singular picture of his fiancees radiating smile. Cadance followed suit, her own images of her beloved 'Shiny' formulating in her mind.

In the background, Celestia could see that the guards were now all but incapacitated, and now most of the Changelings were beginning to converge upon Cyrus, the challenge of fending them all off beginning to strain her friend.

Celestia could only hope that he could hold them off for just a little while longer.

Left and right the drones were sent flying as Cyrus's magic forced them away. He he had no allies left in this fight. The guards, despite their ferocity, had been beaten due to the sheer numbers of their foe, leaving Cyrus to fight this battle alone. He did not know what mares in the corner were doing for he was preoccupied with a more pressing issue - Chrysalis.

It hurt his pride yet he had to admit he had underestimated her. She was stronger than he had initially believed and, with the help of her numerous drones, was beginning to force him back. Grinning maniacally, Chrysalis began to taunt her opponent.

"Did you truly believe that you had a chance? Pathetic! I don't know who or what you are, you insignificant insect," the irony almost brought a smile to his face, "but I don't care either way. Their city? Their people? Their love? It's mine! Mine! All of it, do you understand!? MINE!" Fuelled by her own frenzied words, Chrysalis let loose a powerful blast of magic, impacting right within the middle of Cyrus's armour, sending him crashing to the ground.

Dazed, Cyrus yet rose to his knees, staring defiantly at the horde of Changelings. "You don't know who I am?" Cyrus asked, his voice taking on an eerily calm tone, "Then allow me to enlighten you." The way he said those words unnerved Chrysalis somewhat. With a screech, she ordered all of her drones to converge upon the creature. Fangs at the ready and claws sharp, they all lunged at him as one.

And they were all sent flying backwards at extreme speeds, many of them hitting the walls and dropping to the floor with little grace. Enraged, Chrysalis fired a constant beam of magic towards Cyrus, intent on finishing the battle once and for all. She then watched as her opponent, possibly as a plea for mercy, threw his hand out to intercept her spell.

The moment her magic connected with the palm of his hand it stopped, going no further despite her efforts. The sight before her unnerved her greatly. Rising to his feet, Cyrus's pupils were glowing with the colours of his own armour, small mist-like tendrils of gold emanating from his eyes. When he spoke, his very voice seemed to echo a thousand times throughout the whole entire chapel.

"I, am Cyrus Peremnum. I am the King of the Aeterna and the Watcher of Eden. You are not the first to seek my end nor will you be the last, but as the rest of them have so too shall you bear witness to my fury!" With renewed strength and purpose, Cyrus began to advance towards the Changeling monarch, her magic still going no further than the palm of his hand.

As if the sight of Cyrus holding back her attack with but the palm of his hand wasn't bad enough for the now panicking Chrysalis, a flicker from the corner of the room caught her eye. For but a moment she was distracted long enough to see what was going on. She saw both Shining Armour and Cadance pressing their horns together, their magic coalescing.

She knew at that moment that she had lost.

Seeing the sheer panicked look in her eyes confused him and, following her gaze, Cyrus sought to find the source of her despair. Who dared to steal his moment of glory? He wasn't able to see what it was that she'd seen for as soon as he'd turned his head his vision was enveloped in a bright light. A moment later and he felt something pass through him. Something warm and caring. Whatever it was, it was strong.

When his vision returned to him, he looked to where Chrysalis once stood. She was no longer there, the only clue to her whereabouts being a Changeling sized hole in one of the windows. He had to guess that she'd either fled or had been forced from the city from the sheer force of the unknown energy, alongside the rest of her forces. Still, a victory was a victory, even if he wasn't the one responsible for it. With but a mental thought, his armour began to fade into a golden mist which itself faded immediately thereafter.

With the Changelings gone, Cyrus could now return to his original goal of finding the Princesses. Luckily for him, one of them wasn't far.

"You always did know how to make an entrance." He'd heard her voice many times, yet not once did it ever fill him with as much joy as it did right now. He turned around to find Celestia standing right before him, her expression void of any emotion.

"Princess." Cyrus said, nodding to his oldest and dearest friend. She hadn't aged a day in his eyes, even though he suspected the last time he'd seen her must have been many years ago judging by how

"Cyrus." Celestia prided herself on her facade of a calm and collected ruler. She'd perfected it over hundreds of years of meetings and petitions with her subjects and fellow rulers. It would take a persistent effort from even the smoothest of diplomats to form even a crack in that mask.

"It would appear you've gained weight, Celestia." Or that.

The epic battle which everypony in the room had just witnessed would be fresh within their minds for years to come, yet hearing the strange yet powerful warrior known as Cyrus, who had stood against a whole horde of Changelings alone without fear, implying that the Princess was fat would be something they'd remember for even longer.

Shaking her head, Celestia couldn't help the tears that fell from her eyes as she threw herself onto him, wrapping her forelegs around his neck, smiling as he returned the tender embrace. After a few moments she finally let go, taking a step back to look over him again, a small part of her expecting him to just suddenly vanish. She prayed that he did not. Not again.

"You're gone for over two thousand years and the first thing you do is call me fat? You really haven't changed have you." He shrugged, offering her an innocent smile.

"You always did value my honest council, did you not?" Yes, this was him alright. "Now," he said, his tone becoming a touch more serious, "I have many questions, Celestia, and whilst I'm not sure the answers will be the ones that I desire to hear I must hear them regardless. But first, I must ask: Luna. Where is she?" In all of the chaos none had spared a thought as to the whereabouts of Princess Luna, the newly reformed Princess of the Night and Celestia's younger sibling.

Almost as if summoned by fate itself, a sudden battle cry emanated from outside the chapel, growing louder by the second, before the mare herself, adorned in her old armour and holding a hood via her magic leapt through the breach.

"Vile Changelings! Thou shalt harm our subjects no longe-" She stopped upon realising that there were no Changelings in the room. Blinking in surprise, she looked to her sister for an answer, before noticing who it was beside her. Her sword dropped to the floor with a cloud clatter as she struggled to formulate a sentence.

Looking over the bewildered Luna, Cyrus couldn't help but notice what appeared to be dark shadows under her eyes. Was it fatigue from earlier battle? Or perhaps she had just been awoken from her bed to the sounds of clanging steel and the cries of battle. Knowing Luna's strange sleeping patterns, he wouldn't be surprised if it were the latter.

"I do hope you didn't sleep through this entire siege, Luna. It would not be the first time you'd done such a thi-" Like her sister before her, she too threw herself upon Cyrus. Unlike her sister however, Luna was wearing a weighty set of armour.

Cyrus would later go on to say that the pain of being crushed by Luna outweighed that of the pain endured during the duel itself.

The mare in question did not appreciate such words, claiming that they made her sound 'heavy.' She did not like such drastic comparisons to her sister, after all.

Author's Note

Here's an update just before I go to bed. Wedding + Changeling siege, some most likely poorly written fight scenes and the reuniting of Cyrus and the Princesses. Hoping I wrote it well enough for you fellas.

Also, top of the featured box?

Cheers for the all the positive feedback and attention you've been giving this story over the past day and a half. Really does make me smile.

(Quick side note - any 40K fans? If you haven't been watching the fan-made Helsreach series then you need to sort your shit out boys. Even if you aren't a fan, surely seeing a walking, heavily armed cathedral literally punching something interests you at least? The finale to this great gift to Humanity is here and by the Emperor himself is it glorious.)

Revelations

Chapter 4 - The Price of Knowledge

Perennem. An ancient bloodline stretching far back to the very first days of Aeternan history. When the barbarian army had been driven off and the people unified into their own Kingdom, they chose this family to lead them. As the dust settled, Primus Perennem, leader of the Perennem tribe, settled into his new role as the King of Eden.

Yet for all the bravery and courage that he had shown during the battles against the barbarians, the most salient of factors which led up to his crowning would not be from his actions in battle nor from his own inspiring leadership of men. Such qualities, whilst certainly admirable amongst those he'd fought beside, were not what solidified his right to rule.

Contrary to popular myths and legends, they did not have the same wondrous abilities that us Equestrians possess. They did not have the strength of the Earth Ponies, nor the wings of a Pegasus and they did not bear the horn of a unicorn. So how then could a very specific part of their society wield magic?

In the final battle between the Aeternans and the northern barbarians, an intense and bloody duel took place. The chief of the barbarians, a savage creature known only in records as 'Saeva' fought against the greatest general the Aeternan's had to offer - Primus Perennem.

In the final moments of that duel, Primus took a blade to the heart. Yet he did not fall. Instead, he gripped his own blade and, with what strength he had left, returned the favour. The sight of their leader lifeless upon the ground broke the spirit of the remaining barbarians, and they fled back north.

Those left on the battlefield expected to see the general joining his opponent in the afterlife. He had lead his men to their final victory. He had earnt his rest. Instead, many would watch as the wound he had suffered be enveloped in a strange, golden mist. As the soldiers gathered around their respected general, confused and intrigued, they watched as the light around his wound vanished as quickly as it appeared. What was left in its wake shocked them all.

The wound had healed, and Primus Perennem did not fall.

No Aeternan - Primus especially - could explain this phenomenon. Never in the history of their people did any of them ever exhibit such a power. Many Aeternan scholars and theologians would question the cause behind such a manifestation of power. Was it their Gods? The aligning of the stars? Many theories, yet little explanation. All agreed though that Primus had a power which no other Aeternan had ever before possessed - magic.

Primus himself cared little for why he personally had been blessed with such a gift, only caring as to how it could help his people rebuild. That did not mean he took no time to learn what he was capable of with such a gift.

When he finally passed on to the next life, he had left behind a rather sizeable tome. Within those pages were the countless years worth of knowledge that Primus had garnered throughout the decades in which his prosperous reign had lasted.

His descendants would need this knowledge, for those that took his throne inherited the mysterious power with which he had wielded.

The aftermath of the invasion saw an intense process of rebuilding and recovery. In an admirable show of unity, the entirety of the population came together to help their fellow citizens - the only exception being those requiring medical attention. As the rulers of Equestria, both Celestia and Luna were forced to divert almost all of their time towards appearing to and helping those involved in the restoration of those districts which had suffered the most damage.

Whilst many within the city had seen Cyrus fighting his way through dozens of Changelings, only a select few had managed to pay witness to the final battle between Cyrus and Chrysalis herself. Those few eagerly recounted what they had seen to their fellows; tales both literal and imaginative soon spreading throughout the guard.

When Cyrus himself visited the barracks, wanting to pay his respects to those who had so ferociously fought against the Changelings, he found himself being greeted in a way which, whilst surprising, was not unknown to him. To Cyrus it would seem that they had been forewarned of his arrival as each and every one of the guards were standing to attention, their forelegs raised in a salute. Such a sight reminded him of his own royal guard, and it brought a small nostalgic smile to the Aeternan.

He had spent nearly an hour within the barracks, shaking the hoof of each and every guard he could find, letting it be known that he viewed them all as heroes, and that it had been a great honour to fight alongside them. For those who had witnessed Cyrus more or less single handedly bring the defenders back from the brink, hearing such recognition felt like more of a victory than the actual victory itself.

Lieutenant Flash Sentry, one of those who had fought alongside the Aeternan, found himself especially gratified. Pulled to one side by the powerful warrior, Cyrus praised both the guard's skills in combat and his loyalty to the Princesses - a nod to the warning Flash had given him upon their first meeting in the castle's courtyard. He even said that he would recommend the lieutenant for a promotion of some sort.

Flash Sentry definitely owed the Aeternan a drink for that.

Once he had finished with the barracks, Cyrus had made his way to the rather vast library within the castle. With the Princesses rather preoccupied with looking over their recovering city and ensuring that their subjects were well cared for, he found himself with an inordinate amount of free time on his hands. He wholeheartedly understood their reasons for having yet to actually sit down and talk, of course, but that did not mean Cyrus was happy with having to be kept waiting longer than he'd hoped.

He had dozens of questions, yet nobody to answer them.

To that end he had hoped that the castle's library would hold at least some answers for him. When he first entered, he felt hope. Adorning the walls of the chamber stood dozens upon dozens of bookshelves, with dozens more books resting upon them. He had visited his own library only a few times, yet he could already tell that - in terms of size - it paled in comparison to the one in which he stood in now.

Unfortunately for the Aeternan, his search in regards to his species was met with little results. Apart from a few passing mentions of ancient civilisations, it was almost as if history itself had forgotten about his people. Such a prospect unnerved him greatly and, with a bit more determination, he began to sift through more and more shelves.

A few minutes later and Cyrus had returned to his makeshift study area within the far corner of the library, a few more books in his arms. Placing them amongst the others, Cyrus looked over the desk he had appropriated. Illuminated by a candle, the books themselves appeared rather ancient; torn and tattered pages littered throughout the tomes he had gathered.

Alas, they would have to suffice.

He had been sat at the desk for hours, searching relentlessly for any mentions of either his species or anything similar, to no avail. As he turned a page, the opening of the library doors garnered his attention. Glancing up from the book, Cyrus saw that entering the library was a lavender unicorn, seemingly unaware of his presence. She seemed familiar to him, yet he knew not from where he'd seen her. Looking around, the unicorn noticed him in the corner and, with a somewhat nervous smile, began to approach.

As a filly, Twilight had always been curious when it came to the unknown. A model scholar and academic, she had studied - and continued to study - under the near direct tutelage of Princess Celestia herself, who acknowledged and actively encouraged the unicorn's appreciation for knowledge. It would come as no surprise to anyone that, after witnessing Cyrus's duel with Chrysalis, Twilight elected to remain in Canterlot for a small while so as to study the being.

Yet it took her nearly a full day to muster up the courage to even seek him out. With her friends having returned to Ponyville and her mentor occupied with overseeing repairs to the city, Twilight found herself alone in the endeavour of talking to an unknown creature. At no point in her scholarly pursuits did she ever come across a mention towards a being such as Cyrus. She had initially presumed him to be some sort of Minotaur, yet that theory quickly died out.

Still, in the sparse time that she had had with her mentor, the Princess had personally tasked Twilight with getting to know him and, if possible, even befriending him. Whilst she was perfectly happy with both her tasks, she still couldn't help but feel drastically apprehensive about her eventual meeting with the being known as 'Cyrus'. What if he did not like her? What if he didn't want to be her friend at all? What if, Celestia forbid, she somehow angered him?

It also didn't help that she was desperate to learn all she could about him. A creature - who had declared himself royalty - known to exist only by the Princesses? By Celestia herself she had hundreds of questions. Who was he? What was he? Where did he come from? Was he an alien? How does he know the Princesses? She hoped that her inquisitive nature wouldn't upset him in someway.

Nevertheless, she had been set a task by the Princess herself. She had never let her down before, and she did not plan on starting now.

As she got closer, Cyrus was able to get a better look at her and, upon doing so, quickly recognised the mare as having been one of those few within the chapel during the final battle. Stopping a few feet away from where he was sat, the unicorn bowed her head in respect.

"Good afternoon, Your Majesty," She began, keeping her eyes trained on the floor, a slight bead of sweat running down her forehead, "I was wondering if I could talk to you. I-If that's alright with you, of course." Intrigued, Cyrus raised an eyebrow at the rather nervous equine before him.

"Of course, though with whom would I have the pleasure of conversing with?" Cyrus asked, noting the page number before closing the book.

"Oh, my name is Twilight Sparkle Your Majesty, though you can just call me Twilight."

"Then you may cease with the honorifics, Twilight," Cyrus replied, sparing a glance to the books he had gathered, "for I fear they no longer hold as much meaning as they used to." The unicorn did not miss the flash of sadness in his eyes, though she did not push further. "I take it you're curious about who and what I am, yes?" Nodding, her excitement grew tenfold upon hearing what the Aeternan said next. "Then, by all means, let us proceed to a more comfortable setting and I shall regale you with whatever it is you wish to know."

A creature, known to exist only by the Princesses, who had showcased a more than adept handling of magic over the past day, had just offered her the experience one-on-one talk and the opportunity to learn as much as she could about him.

Cyrus had no idea what he had just gotten himself into.

They did not remain within the library, instead settling for a more comfortable location: Cyrus's temporary quarters. Knowing that he wouldn't be leaving for a while, the Princesses had been kind enough to have a maid escort him to one of the many guest rooms within the castle. It was within this room that Cyrus and Twilight Sparkle were now in.

Cyrus himself was no stranger to those of a more inquisitive nature. Having been the only one within his society to wield magic, scholars from all over Eden had travelled far and wide to inquire upon and to document his magic. He had spent countless hours being interviewed, prodded and more or less pestered over his extraordinary abilities. Cyrus expected this little interview of theirs to be the same as the rest.

"-and Princess Luna really slept all the way through?"

Yet this unicorn was different. She did not seem as intrigued in his powers as others were. Instead, she seemed to be more of an actual seeker of knowledge. Her questions had yet to thoroughly touch upon his magic, instead focusing on both himself personally and upon his species. She seemed especially intrigued by his mentions of the Princesses. Overall, the exchange was proving to be a refreshing change to what he was used to.

A surprise, to be sure, but a welcome one.

"Indeed she did. Despite the battle cries of those fighting in the fields down below, Luna herself slept for the entirety of the conflict, awakening only when the Diamond Dogs had been routed from the field." When her giggles had subsided, Twilight looked down at her hooves, gazing over the notepad she held. So far, she had written down at least several pages worth of information about the Aeternan and his society: eating habits, language, style of government and religion.

Those topics were on the earlier pages however. Turning over a page, she had written down a new heading for her questioning - 'Cyrus Perennem.' From what she had learnt so far, Cyrus himself was of royal descent. He - and his ancestors before him - had ruled over a vast kingdom known as 'Eden'. Within the kingdom were the 'Aeternan', the species which Cyrus belonged to.

A part of Twilight had wanted to question Cyrus further, yet she had decided against it. During her questioning, she quickly noted down of how he spoke of Eden; as if it no longer existed at all. Judging by how she had never heard of this kingdom or even of the beings which populated it, she did indeed fear that such a tragedy may have indeed befallen his people, especially when he mentioned a 'Great Cataclysm'.

She did not push the topic further, not wanting to offend her hopefully-soon-to-be-friend.

"Tell me, Twilight," Cyrus began, bringing the unicorn's attention away from her notes and back up to Cyrus, "if my memory serves me correctly, you were one of those guarding Celestia within the chapel, yes?" She nodded. "What is your relationship with Celestia exactly? Are you the head of her personal guard?"

"No, I-"

"Ah, you must be her personal concubine, then." The unicorn's notes hit the ground unceremoniously.

"C-c-concubine? W-what!?" Twilight sputtered, flushing a deep crimson. To his credit, Cyrus remained relatively unfazed.

"Oh, evidently not. My mistake" This did little to console the red faced mare.

"Princess C-Celestia used to have concubines?" Instead of answering her question, he merely laughed, much to the chagrin of the flustered unicorn.

"Of course not, Twilight. I was merely jesting." Cyrus chuckled, his words easing a portion of her worry. It did not help her embarrassment, however, as the blush on her muzzle did not fade. In fact, it intensified rapidly a few moments later when she heard an amused and familiar voice in the doorway.

"Or was he? I was a rather spirited young mare, once upon a time." Entering the room was none other than the mare in question. Whilst Twilight was occupied in trying her hardest to will herself away from the conversation, Cyrus merely raised an eyebrow, a smirk still present on his face.

"Yes, once upon a time indeed." Celestia ignored his remark, instead focusing on her student, who did not know whether to curl up into a ball in embarrassment from what her mentor had just walked into or instead to laugh at the banter before her. Clearing her throat, she got Twilight's attention.

"My faithful student, I trust that Cyrus has not been too much of a hassle?" She said, narrowing her eyes at the Aeternan, who merely smiled innocently.

"Of course not, Princess Celestia. In fact, I've learnt a great deal from Cyrus! About his people, how they lived, what they ate, their culture, everything! And I get to be the first pony to write it all down and to publish it and to-"

"Twilight?"

"...Sorry, I got a bit carried away." Twilight said sheepishly, scratching the back of her head. "Still, now that you're here, Princess, there is a question I'd like to ask." Intrigued, both royals turned to the unicorn, awaiting her question. "Cyrus, you've been telling me so much about your kingdom and it's people, yet at no point in my studies have I ever come across any mention of an 'Aeternan', or the 'Kingdom of Eden'. Why?"

Cyrus himself did not understand why the equines had no recollection of his people. He still did not know for how long he had been within the cave - a question which, alongside Twilight's, he wanted answering. Turning to Celestia, he narrowed his eyes, the innocent smile he had worn having morphed into a straight, thin line.

He had yet to ask the question yet Celestia already knew what he was about to ask. It was this moment that she had been trying to avoid over the past few days, hoping that by personally overseeing much of the reconstruction efforts alongside her sister she would have been able to avoid this particular moment for just a little while longer.

Yet she knew that he was bound to find out regardless, and had decided to tell him today and now. It did not mean though that she was looking forward to it at all.

"Twilight is not the first to lack any knowledge of my people's existence, Celestia. Others have looked upon me as if they have never seen something like myself before." His voice, whilst steady, seemed to have a trace of desperation behind it. "I fear I already know the answer to the question that I am about to ask of you, yet I must know the truth regardless, Celestia: were we truly lost to the Great Enemy?"

When she did answer after a few moments of unsettling silence, she did so with a quiet, sorrowful tone.

"I'm so, so sorry, Cyrus. But... Eden... Eden is gone. There is nothing left there but dust and echoes. It's gone. They're all gone, Cyrus. It has been over a millennia since anypony last saw an Aeternan." Celestia had more or less answered both Cyrus's and Twilight's question, yet left the latter close to tears. It was saddening to hear confirmation of the extinction of a species, b

As for Cyrus, he did not appear angry, upset or in any form of denial. Instead, he just stood motionless, his eyes fixed to the floor, his face betraying no emotion at the words he had just heard. The two equines did not know what to do nor say, and so resigned themselves to keeping Cyrus company whilst he processed the depressing truth.

Over a minute had passed before he finally showed some form of reaction to the news. Slowly, he sunk to his knees, still staring at the floor. He didn't even flinch when Celestia joined him on the floor, her wings forming a protective cocoon around the Aeternan.

"I tried, Celestia." He sighed dejectedly, leaning into the warm fur of the Alicorn. "I had no choice. It was either that, or... or..."

"I know, Cyrus," Celestia murmured, holding back her own tears as well, gently rocking him back and forth, "I know you did." Out of the corner of her eye, Celestia saw Twilight silently leave the room, leaving the two royals alone within the room. It had been over a thousand years since she had seen Cyrus. Holding him again felt natural to the Princess.

They remained like this for a while, content in holding onto one another for as long as they needed.

When Celestia finally broke away, she'd told Cyrus that they would talk more the next day, and that Luna would be joining them. He didn't respond, yet she knew that he had heard her. Knowing that that was all she would get from Cyrus for now, she finally turned and left, leaving the Aeternan alone in the room.

With a shaky breath, he forced himself back to his feet, legs numb after having been sat on the ground for so long. Walking to the other side of the room, he pushed open a set of doors, revealing a balcony and a view over a rather sizeable portion of both the city itself and of the surrounding lands. He looked upon the land for a few minutes, before something struck him.

Turning his gaze upwards, he began to search for a certain light in the sky. As a child, he had been taught about a certain star - affectionately known as the 'Star of Eden'. Some had said that the star had come into existence the moment the first king of Eden, Primus, had been born. The story went on to say that, for as long as the star shone bright in the night sky, Eden would never fall.

It didn't take him long, and he quickly found what he was searching for. There, seated within the heavens, stood the star, still shining as brightly as he remembered. The sight of it filled him with a feeling of hope as he recalled the story that he had been told time and time again by his parents.

"For as long as the light of the Estrellan star shines above us all, Eden itself can never truly fall." His voice drifted off into the night, heard only by himself. "The star still shines, and I yet draw breath." A small smile formed on his face as he gazed downwards towards those still up at that hour, their figures illuminated by lantern lights. "Eden is not dead, Celestia, merely forgotten by the world. I shall see that it remembers what it has forgotten. My people deserve such."

Turning, Cyrus took a few steps forward, before stopping in the doorway. Looking over his shoulder and up to the star one final time, he nodded. "As long as I live, so too does Eden. " With that, he stepped into his room, the doors shutting firmly behind him.

The star twinkled in the nights sky.

Author's Note

I've actually been awake about 21 hours and am currently surviving off of energy drinks. Please pray for my eternal soul and stuff.

Also, I've been threatened at genuine gun point to advertise this bollocks with the other boys. Go ask some questions or something.

Excuse me whilst I go enjoy some drinks with the sleep paralysis demon in my closet.

Facing a Familiar Foe

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Departing Canterlot

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Of Manticores and Men

Chapter 2 - Returning To The Light

Nowadays, there remains little in the way of knowledge regarding the ancient Kingdom of Eden. All that is known about it comes from the oldest of texts; decaying books adorning the many of equally decaying libraries. Still, there do exist a few untouched texts of old which hold the knowledge of the ancient times - long before the reign of the sisters of Day and Night. These surviving texts exist within only the most well kept of libraries, guarded by those with a passion for knowing.

Out of all of these texts the one located deep within the illustrious halls of the royal castle of Canterlot, capital of Equestria, is of the most importance to our story.

Within the castles library, amongst the many hundreds and hundreds of books, scrolls and tomes, exists a book. The book, so old and ancient that its cover has long since degraded into dust, leaving the title up to anyone's guess, holds pages after pages of information on an old and prestigious civilisation. For years scholars have attempted to bargain, bribe and, on one occasion, even threaten the rulers of the nation for access to this mysterious tome.

Each attempt had failed, the same answer being given every single time by the benevolent Princesses. "What exists within those pages has faded into nought but dust and echoes. Their legacy, as good as it is in our minds, will be kept untarnished by those who do not understand them." Eventually the pleas stopped, the scholars gave up their attempts and, little by little, forgot and moved on from what they once tried to learn all about.

But they didn't. Not the Princesses. For as long as they lived, they would remember them.

It's what he would have wanted.

They sat in the cave for at least an hour, trading questions and answers and so forth, learning about each other as their time together passed. For Sweetie Belle, she had found - according to him- a being belonging to a race known as 'Aeterna'. In Equestrian, he said that it roughly translated to 'Human'. An ancient and proud people, they had a kingdom which sprawled across many lands, encompassing vast tracts of the earth under their banner. They had a kingdom which promoted trade and cooperation between many of its neighbours, bringing about prosperity to all for many centuries. They had a kingdom which fielded an army so great and mighty that, upon sight of their marching legions, many prospecting warlords threw down their arms in surrender.

They had a kingdom which Sweetie Belle, despite her young age, had never once heard any mention towards.

As for Cyrus, he too learnt a great many things from this young equine. For a start, he now knew where he was. Equestria. An old and ancient ally of Eden, they had been one of the few to openly throw themselves behind him and his people when the Great Enemy bared its filthy mongrel hide at his gates. From the filly, he'd learnt that the Equestrians had become the dominant force in the lands, promoting equality and cooperation between all races. This was a concept he knew all to well, as it was the one presented by their rulers upon their first meeting.

Their rulers, of course, still being the ones that he had met those many years ago. The Princesses themselves: Celestia and Luna, guardians of the Day and the Night respectively. When Sweetie Belle told him of their continued existence, she knew not of how joyful he was at the moment, knowing that two of his oldest and closest friends yet lived.

"-ow I saved the day!" Sweetie Belle finished with flourish. Cyrus couldn't help but smile at the sight of this filly, who not too long ago had been in such a frightful and terrified state, was now regaling him with the exploits of her childhood - mainly the one tale of how she had apparently prevented her siblings business from being set aflame.

Which, despite her claims, she had most definitely caused. By accident, of course.

"Most impressive, young Sweetie Belle. I had no idea I was in the presence of a hero as great as yourself," Cheeks aflame from the compliment of this ancient being, Sweetie Belle giggled, pawing at the ground, "the tales of your heroism shall be heard far and wide."

"Oh it was nothing, really. All I did was run outside and scream for help."

"Nevertheless, your quick thinking prevented a possible tragedy. Be proud of yourself, little one." Beaming, she nodded, a wide smile on her muzzle. Taking his gaze away from the child for a moment, Cyrus pondered the things that he had been told. 'The Princesses live. Equestria has prospered. Surely, then, the Great Enemy has indeed been vanquished... But... at what cost, exactly? What of my people? Did any make it out of the city?'

They say the eyes are the windows to the soul. Staring up at Cyrus, he seemed withdrawn, thinking of something. Sweetie found herself looking into his greyish eyes. Some say that children, despite their young age and inexperience with the many intricacies and complications of the world, can tell just how a person feels. A child will laugh when you are happy, and will cry when you are sad. Children are strange in that regard, of how they can be so knowing and yet so unknowing as well.

When she looked into his eyes, she saw something. It was kind of like when she saw in Scootaloo when she was told that she couldn't fly. She cried a lot that day. But what she saw in Cyrus was something different. Something... worse. Maybe he had lost something? Something valuable, perhaps? He looked like he could use a hug. That made Rarity happy when she was upset, right?

Before she could ask him what had him so withdrawn, he blinked, and looked at her again, his eyes no longer showing the same sadness. But she could tell it was still in there somewhere.

"Are you all right, Mr Cyrus?" Sweetie asked, concerned for her new friend. Nodding, Cyrus smiled sweetly at the filly, putting her at ease for now.

"I am well, my dear filly. I still have many questions, but I fear that you are not in a position to answer them." Hearing this, Sweetie thought for a moment, before a sudden realisation struck her. She knew someone who, according to her sister, both knew everything and could answer anything. Jumping to her hooves, she gestured towards the corner of the chamber, towards where she had entered from.

"Mr Cyrus, I know somepony who can help you! My sister says that she's really smart!" Intrigued, Cyrus raised an eyebrow, leaning forward slightly.

"Truly? What is their name, child?" He asked, curious as to the name of the one who could potentially provide him with the knowledge he seeks.

"Twilight Sparkle! She's a student of the Princess! I bet she'll know what to tell you!" Was her answer, her voice echoing as she sprinted out of the chamber. Cyrus closed his eyes for a moment, pondering all that he had learnt, before rising to his feet, following after the now energised filly.

It didn't take them long to exit the cave. Despite what one may think of a cave which housed a being such as Cyrus, the cave itself was not that impressive. It was a simple corridor of rock, with a few twists and turns before ending in the large earthly chamber in which Cyrus had slumbered within. The entrance - In Cyrus's case, the exit - did not take long to find.

He had not seen daylight for a while and, upon exiting the cave, had to shield his eyes from the blindingly bright beams of light from the sun. It felt good though, feeling its warmth on his skin once more, and he smiled contentedly, appreciating the feeling.

"How long have you been in there, Mr Cyrus?" The voice of his companion asked from beside him, who only now realised just how tall he was; her head just about reaching his kneecap, her small horn a few inches above that.

Now that they were out of the cave, Sweetie Belle could now fully take in the appearance of her companion. He was tall, of course, much taller than and her sister. Heck, maybe even taller than Big Mac, and he was the biggest pony around. His attire as well caught her attention; colours of purple, gold and crimson adorned upon clothing of fine silk, with intricate yet beautiful patterns and designs giving him a majestically regal appearance. Truly, he seemed like something straight out of an adventure book - like a powerful knight. Shaking his head, he sighed.

"A long, long time I believe. I know not the years, but I know them to be numerous." Was his cryptic answer, not meeting her stare of the filly. Shrugging, she looked away, now staring at the treeline ahead. It was only then that she remembered just how it was that she'd even found her way here. She and her friends were bored and, deciding to visit the outskirts of the Everfree, she somehow lost her way before finding herself within the forest itself. Within minutes she was beset by a rather famished Manticore. It was a miracle that she'd managed to make it a few feet from the carnivore, never mind the distance she'd actually managed in her desperate escape.

Perhaps it was due to all those times she'd ran away to escape her sisters vengeful wrath for damaged dresses and tarnished tunics.

That didn't change the fact that it was still out there somewhere, possibly even in the bushes ahead. Hearing a small whimper originating from his side, Cyrus turned to his small companion, his eyes showing concern for her. Kneeling down, he met her eyes with his own.

"There's something out there." He said, more of a statement than a question. Nodding, she swallowed nervously, her eyes moving back towards the trees in case the beast were to suddenly appear. Feeling a comforting hand being placed upon her head, she looked back at Cyrus, who held a face of steely determination.

"To your kind, I am old, ancient even. But so are my powers as well. They kept the Kingdom of Eden safe from all threats, both internal and external. This forest and its denizens will pose no threat to either of us. As long as I am by your side, no harm will befall you. You have my word, Ms. Belle." The ferocity in his words and the protective look in his eyes had erased her fear almost instantly, replaced with a warm sense of safety. Leaning into the warmth of his palm, she smiled, nodding her thanks to her human guardian.

The moment was suddenly ruined by the appearance of that which the moment was centred against. Crashing through the bushes, growling at the sight of its meal, stood a rather large Manticore. Standing upright again, Cyrus calmly turned to face the threat, his eyes staring deeply into those of the beast before him. To its credit, the manticore was unfazed, seeing only a mere meal before it.

Sweetie Belle hid behind the leg of her companion, her small frame shaking in pure terror at the beast which had chased her here in the first place. Had it been waiting for her to leave the safety of the cave? How else could it have found her and Cyrus so quickly?

"Stay behind me, Sweetie Belle." Cyrus spoke, his voice eerily calm and collected, before taking a step forward towards the snarling predator. Perceiving this as a threat, the Manticore growled angrily, pawing at the ground, preparing to charge towards its prey. Cyrus was unfazed. This was a creature which had the body of a lion, the wings of a dragon and the tail of a scorpion. It had the strength of ten men, claws as sharp as shattered glass and the determination of an apex predator.

Against Cyrus, it stood little chance.

Sweetie Belle, from her position behind a nearby rock, watched the scene unfold. The Manticore released a ferocious roar, most likely echoing throughout the entirety of the Everfree. Then, with speed unexpected of a creature of its size, it charged at Cyrus. Sparing a glance at her friend, she was surprised to find not a single trace of fear or worry on his features. Instead, he seemed almost... unimpressed. She had little time to ponder the reasoning for this, though, as the Manticore neared its prey.

Then it screeched to a halt. A few mere inches away from Cyrus, they both stared at one another, neither making any single movement. What felt like hours yet were only mere seconds passed, before finally something happened. She saw it in the eyes of the Manticore. She saw the exact same thing that it saw in her when it chased her.

Fear. Pure, unadulterated fear. The Manticore, its hungering eyes enraptured by those of the creature before it, let out a nearly inaudible whimper. Then Cyrus nodded.

The Manticore took a step back. Then again, and again, and again, until it finally turned around and walked away, leaving both Sweetie Belle and Cyrus alone outside the cave once more. Cyrus's eyes never left the Manticore, nor the bushes in which it had retreated though. Not until Sweetie Belle called his name out from behind him. Turning around, he was met with Sweetie Belle's awestruck muzzle. It was similar to how a child would appear upon seeing magic for the first time.

"That... that was amazing! How did you do that!?" Sweetie Belle cried, thoroughly mesmerised by what she had just seen before her. A Manticore, a beast of almost unchallenged dominance within the Everfree Forest, scared into submission by a mere hardened stare. Cyrus smiled.

"As I told you, my friend. My powers are old, yet powerful. The Manticore has learnt its place and, whilst you are with me, shan't think to harm you again." He replied, kneeling down to eye level. Upon doing so he was suddenly met with the filly throwing its forelegs around his neck. It took him a second to understand what it was that she was doing: hugging him. Smiling, he returned it as best he could.

This touching moment lasted longer than the previous one, as there were no hungry predators around - or brave enough - to interrupt it.

"Now come, lead me to your village of... what was its name, again?"

"Ponyville." She answered.

"Ponyville, yes. We shall forge onward to this town of Ponyville to find the answers of which I seek. Lead onward then, my young squire."

It took them some time to find their way out of the Everfree, considering its size and lack of sign directions. Still, with the threat of being attacked more or less non-existent now, they were able to find their way easier than they would have otherwise. By the time they'd found the exit, the sun had already begun to dip beneath the mountains, the light of day fading by the second.

There was still enough light for the pair to see the town in the distance. Following the road, it took them a few minutes to finally reach a small bridge overarching across a stream, leading into the town itself. From where he stood, he could see the inhabitants milling about, finishing up their final chores and heading home to their families. To their families. A small smile formed on his face as he looked around, seeing the smiling and happy faces of the equines.

It reminded him of home.

"Come on," Sweetie Belle urged, pointing towards the town, "let's go and... find... oh no." Confused, Cyrus looked down to his side, seeing the look on her muzzle.

"What is wrong, young one?"

"I completely forgot. Twilight's not in Ponyville right now. She and my sister and their friends left for Canterlot this morning and I forgot to tell you and now they won't be back until tomorrow and-"

"Hush, child. Cease your worrying for you have nothing to worry about." Cyrus assured her, kneeling down again, giving her a reassuring smile. "They are in Canterlot, you say? Then that is where I shall go." Hearing this, Sweetie Belle blinked, before looking at him in confusion.

"How are you going to get in Canterlot in time for the wedding? It will have happened by now," 'A wedding?' Cyrus mused, intrigued by this. The last wedding he had attended had been between the king of the Dragons, Aurum's, to his lifelong mate whose name Cyrus could not wholly remember. It had been a long time ago, after all. "The last train to Canterlot will have left by now."

"Have no fear, young Sweetie Belle, for I have my own method of transportation."

"Are you going to fly?" The filly asked, expecting a set of wings to suddenly sprout from his back. Chuckling, he shook his head, leaving Sweetie Belle perplexed as just how it was that he proposed to get to Canterlot by neither train nor flight. He had no horn, so he couldn't exactly magically make himself appear there, could he?

Yes, yes he would.

Standing back up, he pictured the royal castle of Canterlot in his mind. More specifically, the front gates. The reason being that, if he pictured an area so vividly in his mind, he could use his magic to will himself there. An Aeternan teleportation spell. Much harder than the typical Equestrian method yet easily more effective. It would be costly, but he'd been dormant for so long that he most definitely had the magic capacity to do so, even if it would be harder than usual. Had he attempted such a thing during the final battle with the Great Enemy, with his energy all but depleted, chances are he would have died from the attempt.

Still, even now it was risky. Then again, all Aeternan magic held risk. However, he did not have the time nor patience to wait.

"My stay in Canterlot may be for a while, young Sweetie Belle, for I have many questions which need answering and much to learn of what has transpired during my apparent slumber. Fear not, however, for I shall return. Be well, child." Before she could say anything, Cyrus was suddenly enveloped in a beam of bright light, the beam reaching into the sky and piercing the thin veil of clouds above.

It also shattered the windows of a house that sat upon the clouds, but that was an unfortunate accident and nobody was hurt.

Sweetie Belle remained there for a few moments, motionless, utterly stunned by what she had witnessed. This being who she had met this day, who had regaled her with tales of an ancient civilisation, who had stared down a Manticore into a fearful retreat, had just vanished in a literal flash. All that remained was a slightly scorched patch of earth.

A cough from behind her brought her out of her stupor and, facing the source, was met with two familiar fillies.

"Sweetie Belle? Wha...what was... who was that!?" Scootaloo stammered, her eyes darting back and forth between the ground on which Cyrus had been stood upon to Sweetie herself. Apple Bloom, for her part, kept silent, trying to process just what it was that she had seen transpire.

Giggling, Sweetie Belle smiled sweetly, as if they'd asked a child's question. In their defense, they had.

"Oh, that was Cyrus Perennem." She then went on to explain what exactly had happened to her that day. How she was pursued into a cave and met a being so powerful it could stare a Manticore into submission. She would repeat the tale again and again. To her friends, to the inhabitants of Ponyville later on that day when they came running to the site of the light show and, finally, to her children and her children's children.

It would not be the only tale told of the Aeternan.

Author's Note

Be me
Wake up for school
Look outside
A_World_Of_Ice_And_No_Fire.
Decide that writing pony fanfiction is better than a broken leg and education