Canterlot

It's a beautiful night in Equestria, a full moon to be specific. The mark of the mare on the moon covers the full moon tonight, as any other night. Princess Celestia, the high princess, the leader of the pony race, and the most powerful pony on the planet lowers the sun and raises the moon every night.

There are... rumors... that just 1000 years ago, there was once a mare who had control over the moon. Rumors are just rumors though, so we shouldn't take it seriously.

It's something I heard about a few days ago actually.

Normally I don't trust rumors, but if that's true then maybe I could finally have something to do after all this time. If this was some kind of story from a comic book, the hero would either be holding a family's members guts and be screaming at the sky, or they would be assaulted by some kind of criminal.

Well, not exactly the same thing here.

I guess I should introduce myself, my name's Seiji. Yeah, Seiji isn't a common name for Equestrian ponies. Well, that's because I'm not Equestrian. My parents are from Neighpon, but we moved here when my father scored a better job in architecture.

My parents actually recently moved back to Neighpon, apparently Equestria was a little too colorful for their tastes. And they have a point, everything looks like it came out of a foal's color book. Also, the poniescolors?

It literally looks like someone tasted the rainbow and puked it all at once on the natives.

Neighponese ponies tend to come in basic colors, common ones are grey and white. We also tend to use the term, "Someone" instead of "Somepony". Equestria isn't exactly the center of the world.

Well...

It's at the center of the world map but that's besides the point!

Anyways, that's not the specific story you'll want to know about.

Did I mention I'm in a grocery store?

Customers walk all along the isles, looking at the selections of food available to them. Lettuce, pre-wrapped daisy sandwiches, oat cereal, ice cream, and all the casual items for every day needs. An air conditioner cools the room, and bright lit lights adorned the store.

Some of the ponies weren't even collecting some of the goods, the reason why is because a few of them are giving me odd looks.

I think it's because of my costume: A yellow jumpsuit, red boots, red strong grip gloves, and a white cape to accompany it. I admit, it may seem a little strange at times, but this costume wont be changing any time soon. I got it from a cloths designer in Manehattan, he made it for me when I expressed my desire to become a superhero. I've grown attached to it since then!

At least, I think their amused stares and expressions are because of my costume. I don't really see what else they could be questioning about m-

"Is that pony bald?" A mare whispered to her friend.

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A part of me doesn't care, but...

THERE ARE PLENTY OF BALD PONIES WHAT IS YOUR MAJOR MALFUNCTION?!

I do my best not to over-react, but an annoyed expression started to dominate my expression. Onlookers around me took notice and proceeded to look away. Then, I immediately went back to my far off facial expression. I grab a few canned oats, and place them inside the grocery basket. That's all I really need anyway, I'm planning to move to somewhere else tonight.

Canterlot is... too safe. If I stay here then there's going to be even less of a chance of a challenge revealing itself. Most monsters and villains tend to steer away from the capital, mainly since the princess lives here.

A pegasus filly from an elementary school dressed in black and white striped cloths waves around a newspaper, she appears to be selling the school paper. She's even wearing a beanie on the top of her head, I wonder what's her deal.

"Summer Sun Celebration next week! Princess Celestia going to Ponyville! Read all about it!" She shouts waving the paper in her hands.

A couple ponies take interest and purchase a newspaper for the cost of one bit. I would buy one, but due to the fact that I'm saving up to finish the process of moving, I don't bother.

Let's see what else is on the list, ah, I also need to buy some instant noodles before I head home.

Strangely, the lights went out, and the store gets much colder with unspecified reason. I don't look up at the lights like everyone else did, I just kept looking for the noodles before I head home.

Maybe I should ask an employee...

The wall suddenly bursts open, leaving a gigantic hole smack dab in the center. In it's place, was what caused a multitude of customers to begin screaming. A mare in the back even fainted at the sight of it, and I kept looking for the noodles I was to buy.

A large serpent, seemingly made of shadows, with fangs made from red energy. It's eyes were glowing with a white tint, reflecting the light as if they were small mirrors. The full moon was shining from behind, and the large snake began to speak.

"Greetingssss! I am the Emperor SSSSnake, servant of the Nightmare Moon Cult! We will be the ones to usher a new age under our ladyshipssss rule!" He shouted with absolute bravado.

It was then when he proceeded to smash and push over shelves of assorted goods. All the while he was laughing maniacally, utterly enjoying the chaos. The moon seemingly started to glow slightly brighter, and stars began to slowly but surely gather around it.

I wonder what that's all about.

Many ponies started to sprint for the exit, some even jumped out of windows and fled into the night. Citizens all around me were screaming with evident fear, and they all escaped successfully. I was still looking for the noodles, where oh where could they be?

Almost everyone has made it out, except for a single foal.

"Where do you think you're going?!" The serpent shouted slashing his tail forward.

The villain's tail encompassed the fleeing youngster. The filly from before, the one selling the newspaper to the passing customers. She began to scream with fear, as if she was in a nightmare she couldn't wake up from!

"Oh no, what'ssss wrong? SSSSScared!?" The serpent taunted while slowly opening his mouth to bite down on his newly caught meal.

The filly's facial expression said something like this: The foal's short lived life was flashing before her eyes, and her whole mind was sent into a life questioning frenzy. Why did it have to come to this? What did she ever do wrong to deserve such cruelty? She clenched her eyes shut the quick, inevitable demise.

I should do something about that, but first!

"Oh, there they are." I said walking towards the serpent.

The serpent suddenly stopped mid-moment, and turned to look at me. The foal opened her eyes and also turned to look at what could have happened, her face started to tear up even more. She wanted to go home!

The serpent raised his non-existent eyebrow, and looked at me with mild curiosity.

"What do you want baldy? I'm in the middle of sssssomething here, unlessss you want to get sacrificed too I suggest you leave." He said with venom.

His hissing with his words is actually kind of annoying.

I stopped walking forwards, and looked into his eyes with pure determination! He recoils back and glares at me with strong hatred and similar determination. His grip upon the foal doesn't cease at all.

"You see." I said with an unflinching stare.

He gets down in a combat position, or at least what could be considered to be a combat stance for a snake. Normally whenever serpents want to attack something, they rise higher into the air. But, this one crouched down, ready to tear anyone or anything apart.

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"The instant noodles are right behind you." I said pointing to the surprisingly untouched shelf behind the monstrosity.

His eyes open wide, and his expression is instantly turned to mild confusion, as if he didn't believe me. Out of pure curiosity, he turns his big head, and sees the shelf holding a plethora of instant noodle cups. Even the labels were confusing him to the point where his non existent left eyebrow raised even more.

"No mare likes her stallion to be an instant!
When it comes to noodles though! Everypony loves an instant!

A pony wearing a baseball uniform was holding the exact same exact noodle cup, while having a broad look facing forward.

Almost forgot, the small foal he was holding in his grip began to slightly cry with hopelessness. The filly looks at me with pleading eyes, and creates the pouty face of the century. It's as if a holy being above us granted this one foal with the power to push any kind of unmovable object with her soft, pleading eyes alone.

"Oh, and I guess I should save the foal you're holding hostage too." I said crossing my arms, and my cape flew upwards from a random gust of wind.

He turns to me with the glare of a century, almost like what I said was an extreme insult to him and all his kind. He drops the foal, and she ran to the exit, away from the brutal scene that will commence. She was swearing under her breath that she'll thank that stranger one day.

Emperor Serpent begins to hiss with anger.

"Who do you think you are?!" He shoutsss with a burning glare.

His glare burns even more, His teeth begin to glow an even brighter shade of red. His eyes shine with a harder glint of light, they looked similar to carriage lights from Fillydelphia.

"You dare approach me, not even caring that I can destroy you without an effort!" Emperor Serpent shouts, his body was rapidly growing to even larger proportions.

The ceiling was very high up, but his height began to reach it.

"And your outfit! Pah! What kind of bald, idiotic pony would wear such ugly clothing as yours?!" Emperor Serpent shouts getting even more angry.

His aura was shrouded with intimidation even to the point where the mightiest of Equestrian warriors would cower in fear. They may even soil their pants as a result.

My expression remained far off as always, I didn't really care about his transgressions in getting taller or stronger. This angered him even more, to the point where steam was coming out of his eardrums. He really wants to annihilate me doesn't he?

Princess Celestia probably hasn't yet been alerted to the growing situation, but escaped civilians were likely alerting the Royal Guard to the situation. Unfortunately, due to the severity of the attack. No guards were coming just yet, and were first alerting the princess before making a move.

The villain's height was now almost to the impossibly high ceiling, I thought this was a grocery store? Why is it the size of a warehouse? His teeth were sizzling from the power he radiated, this was the full might of the majesty that was the Emperor Serpent.

"I WAS BORN TO BRING NIGHTMARE MOON'S PLAN INTO FRUITION. SO, WHAT CAN A MEASLY PONY DO TO A UNTOUCHABLE SPECIMEN LIKE I! EMPEROR SERPEN-

Due to a special circumstance, he couldn't finish his villainous monologue.

The special circumstance, was a red, gloved fist. A straight punch collided with his front face, the measly earthpony had jumped a enormous height to reach the serpent's face. The earthpony was me, and the result was instantaneous.

The, "soft" punch had collided with the villain with impossible velocity and momentum, and Emperor Serpent took the blast full force. Every molecule to every atom in his body was being erased from existence due to the blow. His whole body was dissolving in the millisecond that took place, and he couldn't even say anything as a retort.

The once arrogant, powerful, and godlike serpent was now nothing but a crops of shadow in the night.

I drop down from the air, and look at the empty space that once was occupied by the villain. Instead of a victorious celebration or gawking at the incredible feat that I just accomplished. Or, the fact that such a villain was defeated in a single punch.

I just sigh.

"I'm not a measly pony." I said dusting off my clothes.

Looking around the destroyed building I get a feeling of dread.

"I'm just a stallion who's a hero for fun." I said with a bored voice.

How many times has this happened? A hundred? A thousand?

So many villains have shown up in Equestria the last few years, and I've beaten every single one. All of this, over powering strength is so... dull.

This is what I've always wanted when I first became a super hero. Sometimes I wonder what Equestria would be like if there was some kind of Hero Association, but such a thing doesn't exist. So, to some others the idea of me becoming a super hero was pretty much a ridiculous notion.

I set out to change that.

My basket of groceries lay on the ground, so I walk towards them and take it into my hand. The place is pretty trashed, but I'm sure the issue will be taken care of sooner or later.

After a few complications with working the register, I pay for the groceries and get on my merry way. I could hear the sound of running Royal Guards, they'll be here soon to check on the matter. I should leave before they get the scene, the situation was taken care of anyway.

I head towards the train station on the other side of Canterlot. This city can be beautiful, and a lot of foreigners like I was continually compliment it. Now though, it's lost the spark that once shone above all others. That is the whole reason why I'm moving.

I guess I should explain my story a little bit further. First though, for the people who don't understand my problem. You're probably thinking that ultimate power is the best thing ever!

You're wrong.

Imagine, you're playing some kind of RPG video game, and yes they do surprisingly exist in Equestria. I thought they were only made in Neighpon.

So imagine you're playing one. You start at the beginning at level one, the determination to get stronger and beat the game is what binds you to keep going.

So you train... non-stop. You get stronger and stronger, you want to keep fighting even harder enemies. Beating the game is the only goal you have at the time, so you keep getting stronger.

After so long, and after so much suffering and tears, you finally beat the game.

You can beat almost any kind of enemy with a single hit, no one in existence can possibly beat you. So you would just stop playing and do something else right? Well, I cant.

This is my life, and I beat the game. I can’t retry or restart, I'm just stuck in a infinite cycle of meaningless victory. No enemy can possibly beat me now, so I started to lose interest in the things I once loved.

Ponies around me and friendship started to lose meaning, challenges are overcome almost instantly, and I can beat a villain with just one punch.

That's now my reality.

What do I do now? Everything is so boring!

The first thing I tried was setting out into Equestria to find a harder foe, but nothing ever worked. I just felt even more empty as time went on, and soon... all kinds of feeling was... distant.

Even physical pain was foreign, most blows that can connect with me don't leave a dent on my body.

It's become a cycle, a eternal cycle that I can never leave.

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Stop being so moody Seiji. We have things to do, and a new home to move to. Who knows, maybe this new place can offer me something to cherish. I at least want to find something to do for a while, being a super hero isn't a full time job. So, I've worked a few odd ones here and there.

From dishwashing, dog walking, babysitting, and I once even tried out being a punching bag tester.

Let's just say that the punching bag industry went out of business after a few months on the job.

The night is still young, and it felt somewhat cold. The Summer Sun Celebration isn't too far away, so it wont be cold for much longer. One thought I've had once, was the possibility that I should challenge Princess Celestia to a duel. The only thing that was stopping me, was the fact that if I won...

Equestria wouldn't have a ruler anymore.

Without noticing, I realized I managed to fully walk to the train station. I could see train booth with a single train attendee almost falling asleep inside, his hand was holding his muzzle, barely stopping him from falling. He was wearing light blue and white striped clothing, conductor hat included.

The movers said that they'd transport all my belongings from my apartment to the new house, so that should be covered. All I have on me are a couple spare bits, a train ticket, and the groceries that I recently bought. There are a few hidden pockets in my costume by the way.

I speed up my pace, and step in front of the exhausted attendee. He has this bored look, but when he sees me he does his best to keep himself awake. Which doesn't seem that hard when he sees what I look like, I think he was trying to hold back a chuckle at the moment.

I hand over the train ticket, and he swiftly takes it out of my gloved hand. He takes a quick look at the purchased ticket, and nods as an approval. At the same time he raises his left existent eyebrow and looks at me with disbelief.

No need to respond to that.

My legs take over, and I step through the door to the train. It's going to leave in about a minute, so I take a seat in one of the cushioned seats near a window. The mountainside is an interesting view to behold, and I give off a light sigh in minor contentment.

At least there's the view.

The train begins to move forwards, and we take off. No one else is on the train, as expected. Not many ponies tend to move away from Canterlot once they settle down, a couple at least like to go on a tour every now and then. But, whatever. My eyes drift towards the train ticket I got a few weeks ago, and read the words imprinted on it.

ADMIT ONE
PONYVILLE

Once again looking far off into the distance, I remembered something important. My face adopts a disappointed expression, and my hands fall to my lap.

"I forgot to buy the instant noodles."

Author's Note

Most One Punch Man crossovers with MLP seem to take scenes directly from the anime, I’d like to try and make this story a little more original.