A Thousand Winters' Past

Chapters

0 - Prologue
1 - A Land Unknown
2 - A Rough Start

0 - Prologue

Princess Twilight Sparkle, protégé to Princess Celestia and hero of Equestria, was taking some time away from her many friends and family in order to do something fun, well, at least fun in her mind. With the land at peace for once after she and her friends had defeated many evils, both ancient and current, the lavender alicorn was letting off some steam in the only way she truly knew how, reading. Yet it was not the books within her castle that she buried herself in, no it was within the hallowed halls of the great Canterlot Royal Library where Twilight found herself, muzzle-deep in ancient tomes and long-forgotten history as she shifted from one massive book to the next.

And yet, within the pages of one hulking mass of literature, the young princess stumbled across something that she had never expected to see, especially within a book detailing what little history there was prior to Princess Luna’s banishment.
Her wings flared in shock and her magenta eyes widened as her gaze travelled over the pages before her, and for a moment she thought somehow, she had traded out one of the huge history books for a modern spell book. Yet after checking the cover to make sure it was in fact the same book a new emotion overcame Twilight’s senses.

Excitement.

A scroll and quill materialized in her magical grip as she frantically wrote down notes and personal thoughts on the complex diagrams and magical formula that had been carefully transcribed onto the pages before her. She never once stopped to think about how the forgotten history had come to be, only that it was comparable to modern Equestrian spellcasting and at the same time completely different. Revolutionary breakthroughs in magical advancement had been discovered during the period before Luna’s banishment, and somehow nopony knew about it! It was a discovery to end all discoveries and the studious mare could barely contain her glee, being the first to bring these historic findings to the other princesses!

Barely restraining herself long enough to place the books back where she had found them, save for the tome containing the seemingly impossible spell-craft, Twilight gathered up her notes and stuffed them neatly into her saddlebags. She raced from the library and back to Canterlot Castle, where she knew Princess Celestia would be just finishing up with Day Court and getting ready for her evening meal with Luna.

Twilight barely paid the castle staff or the passing guards any mind as she blitzed through the hallways, sliding to a halt before the throne room doors just as they opened in a soft golden glow. Twilight slid past the slightly startled nobles as they walked out, coming to a halt in front of the twin thrones as Celestia slowly stood from her seat. The elder alicorn had a smile on her face, an amused gleam in her eye as she walked down the steps and stood before her nearly frantic companion.

“Twilight, calm yourself.” She admonished with a nearly inaudible giggle, “I’m certain whatever it is you have to say isn’t going to vanish in the next five seconds.”

“Princess!” Twilight managed to force out as she levitated the tome and her notes from her saddlebags, “You’re not going to believe this! Somepony managed to figure out how to get around the Magical-Transferal-Compatibility-Paradox!”

Celestia’s eyes widened just a fraction of an inch, her gaze travelling over Twilight’s notes for a second as she gripped the pages in her own magic, “Really? And do you know who managed to crack one of the greatest mysteries known in magic research?”

“That’s just it! According to this book,” Twilight levitated the tome before Celestia, missing the slight wince that crossed the older mare’s face in her excitement, “it was discovered over a thousand years ago, before Princess Luna became Nightmare Moon and was, um, detained. What I can’t possibly understand is why nopony has ever heard about this! I mean, one of the greatest magical discoveries of all time and it was somehow forgotten?!”

It was only as the younger alicorn calmed herself that she noticed the crestfallen expression that had overcome Celestia’s face, her own mood falling rapidly as she took a hesitant step forward, “Princess?”

Celestia shook her head and collected herself, her gaze shifting back to Twilight as she carefully stowed the tome and Twilight’s notes back in her saddlebags, “I’m afraid the knowledge you found is not what it seems, Twilight. While it is true that the magic in that book solves the Compatibility Paradox, the reason that it is not well-known is due to the fact that the magic required was tied to a single individual. He did everything he could during his life to try and solve it for every spellcaster, but in the end it proved fruitless. With his passing, the magic required was lost, and although his legacy was recorded, I’m afraid it will never again be of use to the common pony.”

Twilight could feel her worldview shattering around her, her shock evident on her face as she held a hoof to her head, “But, how is that possible? Pony magic is the same now as it was then, if more refined and advanced, how could it be that nopony else could use it once it was discovered?”

“Because the one who discovered it wasn’t a pony.” Celestia replied, “However, if you really want to know more, I would suggest speaking with Luna about it once she is up and about. She was far closer than I with the one detailed in that book.”

Twilight’s muzzle scrunched slightly in irritation, “Could you at least tell me his name?”

“Thomas,” was the simple answer, “and that is all I will say on the matter at this time. It is Luna’s story to tell, and I would not dare put words in her mouth when it comes to one of her closest friends.”

Twilight nodded, her head spinning with the possibilities as she followed Celestia out of the throne room and into one of the Royal Sister’s private dining rooms. Thomas? With a name like that it certainly stood to reason that this mysterious spellcaster wasn’t a pony, but then why hadn’t she ever come across his name in any of the other history books she had read? It wasn’t even recorded in the tome that held one of the greatest magical secrets of all time!

Twilight took a seat beside Celestia at the small round table, the cozy lounge calming her frazzled nerves somewhat as the evening sunlight washed over the room through the single large window behind her. It was only a few moments before a side door opened, revealing Luna in her morning, or rather, evening glory, meaning her head was slumped over and thick bags hung under her eyes as she plodded over to the table.

Twilight desperately wanted to ask the stumbling alicorn about the mysterious spellcaster from the book, but she knew better than to get between Luna and her fresh cup of coffee. A servant had dropped off the food right as Luna had walked in, a steaming cup of the life-giving elixir presented with a huge plate of pancakes covered in thick golden syrup. Celestia had a cup of wine with a large salad before her, while Twilight had a similar ensemble placed on the table just as Luna plopped into her seat. The coffee mug was gripped with a slightly limp hoof rather than magic as the pitch-black liquid was downed in the span of a few seconds, the scalding hot temperature notwithstanding as Luna set the cup back down as she dove face-first into her food.

Twilight had seen the lunar princess in the evenings before, but it still shocked her how animalistic she was before fully waking up. She slid her own plate out of the way as bits of pancake flew left and right as Luna destroyed the tower of perfect fluffy goodness before her, leaving no survivors in her wake as the light of life finally came back to her ocean blue eyes.

There was a moment of silence for the fallen pancake warriors, having never stood a chance as Luna wiped her mouth with a napkin, her regal poise returning as she turned her attention to Twilight, “It has been some time since you last visited the castle, Twilight Sparkle, is there something that you wished to bring to our attention?”

Shaking the cobwebs out of her brain, Twilight nodded before pulling out the tome that she had discovered within the library, “Actually, there is something I wanted to talk with you specifically about. I discovered something amazing in one of the pre-banishment history books in the Royal Library, what few there are, and Princess Celestia told me I needed to talk with you about it.”

Luna’s eyes locked onto the cover of the book as it was levitated over to her, her regal bearing cracking slightly as her eyes widened just a hair. A hoof was carefully placed on the cover as she flipped it open to the page Twilight had marked, her eyes widening further as she spotted the formulas and diagrams carefully inscribed within.

“According to Princess Celestia,” Twilight carefully continued, noting the sudden shift in Luna’s expression and mood, “You were close friends with the one who created these spells, and I was hoping that you could tell me a bit more about him?”

Luna’s eyes closed and a sigh escaped her lips before she turned her attention to the younger royal, “It is a story that is filled with many feelings, things I have not thought about for a long time. Celestia and I were young then, new to our rule and still learning about how to lead the ponies of Equestria. The creature, no, person who made these spells,” her hoof gently ran over the text as if it could feel her tender touch, “was one of the few who I could call a friend back then. He and one other were the light in my darkness back in those days, and it is one of my greatest regrets that I couldn’t say goodbye to them.”

A rush of pity ran through Twilight as she realized what must have happened, “Then, your friends, they were there when,” she couldn’t bring herself to finish as Luna’s head slowly nodded.

“Our fall into madness was one of the last things they saw before We were cast into the moon,” Luna’s voice cracked slightly as she wiped away a tear that had managed to break free from her self-control, “and ‘twas one of the most painful things We realized upon Our return, that Our two closest friends were dead and there was no way to ever apologize for the pain We must have caused them.”

The three princesses sat there in silence for some time, allowing Luna to get her emotions under control again. It was only when Luna sat up straight once more that Twilight dared to ask the question that she had originally come to Luna for, “Princess, Luna, would it be alright if I asked you what they were like? What kind of friends they were to you before your fall? I would really like to know, but I can understand if it’s not something you want to talk about.”

Luna smiled for the first time since she had entered the room, a fond light of nostalgia entering her gaze as she saw things far beyond the walls of the lounge, “No, it is a story that I think must be told, if for no other reason than to give myself closure for my past mistakes. Come,” Luna stood as she opened the door with her magic, Twilight stumbling to her own hooves as Luna stepped into the hallway, “I believe this is a tale that would be better told in a more comfortable setting.”

Twilight glanced behind her at Celestia, who waved her off with a hoof as she sipped at her wine, “Go ahead without me. I think this is something that should be between the two of you. I will be available in my study until an hour after sunset if you need me for anything.”

Feeling much more comfortable with leaving her mentor behind, Twilight nodded with a smile before following Luna through the halls of the castle, their hooves clicking on the marble floors between each long carpet as they climbed up several flights of stairs. It was only as they stepped up to a set of large oak doors that Twilight realized that they had come back to Luna’s personal chambers, and a feeling of slight nervousness overcame Twilight as Luna opened the doors with a wave of her horn.

They walked into the main living space as a collection of candles lit around them, illuminating the dark room with a warm glow as Luna pulled out several pillows and arranged them in the center of the floor. Twilight lay down on one pile while Luna took the other, the doors closing behind them with a click of finality, leaving the two mares alone as Luna let out a soft sigh.

“I believe it would be best if I started at the beginning, back when my friends didn’t know each other and only one of them had ever met me, although putting it that way might be stretching it a bit.” A soft chuckle managed to escape Luna’s lips as she gazed up at the ceiling, her eyes seeing things only she knew as the tale began to fall from her mouth.

“It was over a thousand years ago, when the winters were harsh, and the kingdom was just beginning to grow beyond the simple collection of villages and towns that had originally formed Equestria.” Twilight hung on every word as Luna spoke, her eyes wide as saucers as she tried to imagine what it must have been like back then, “Most of the tribes still lived apart save for when they had no other choice, the pegasi living in their great cloud cities while the unicorns and earth ponies squabbled and bickered over the land. We met the first of our friends when she was just a filly, before she had even earned her cutie mark. Her name was Snowdrop, and it is thanks to her that we have the miracle known as the snowflake.”

Twilight gasped as she realized what it was Luna meant, “You mean Snowdrop was the one who created the first snowflake?! Tell me more, please!”

Luna chuckled as her gaze returned to reality, her eyes landing on Twilight as a smile graced her features, “All in good time, Twilight, be patient.”

“Sorry.” Was the admonished reply as Twilight fought back her inner scholar and tried to pay attention.

“It was in fact the creation of that first snowflake, or as she referred to them, ‘the stars of winter’, that earned Snowdrop her cutie mark, and her appreciation of the night that captured my attention as she grew into a strong and caring mare.” The smile on Luna’s face fell into a frown as she continued, “However, she faced many hardships in her early years, and even after her great gift was bestowed upon ponykind, she still struggled to find her way in a world that never truly understood her. In many ways we were alike in that regard, outcasts who just wanted to find our place.”

“What made it so hard for her?” Twilight had to know.

“Snowdrop was a pegasus like any other, not overly powerful in flight or noteworthy in any other way, save for one.” Luna’s gaze locked with Twilight’s, “From the moment she was born, Snowdrop was completely blind in both eyes. She never saw the stars she loved so much, could never see the brilliant designs she created, or see the smiles that she brought to ponies’ faces each and every winter.”

Twilight’s jaw dropped open in dumbfounded shock, her mind screeching to a halt at Luna’s words, “B-Blind?! But how did she fly? How could she have made such amazing and detailed designs like snowflakes if she couldn’t see?”

“That is a mystery even to me,” Luna replied, “but if you think that is shocking, then the rest of my story will be rather hard to believe. There are things that even now I still struggle to comprehend, so I can only imagine what it will be like for you.”

Now Twilight’s curiosity was peaked, there wasn’t any way she was going to let this go until she knew everything. She had to, if for no other reason than to finally learn more about the mare in front of her prior to her fall into darkness.

A smile found its way to Twilight’s face as she shifted into a slightly more comfortable position, “I don’t know if that’s true or not, but I’m willing to find out if you are willing to tell me.”

Luna nodded, “Then I think the place to continue would be several years later, when Snowdrop was a young mare. I was still learning how to rule Equestria, Celestia and I both were at the time, but it was the appearance of Thomas that truly put our skills as princesses to the test. He was unlike anything we had ever seen before, but it would not be long before he had worked his way into our hearts, and those of our little ponies. You see, Thomas was a being that came from far beyond the borders of Equestria, so far in fact, that if he hadn’t managed to prove it time and time again, we would have never believed his outlandish claims of being from another world. Yet over time, he created such wonders, such amazing creations, that there was no other possible explanation.”

Luna’s gaze shifted to the ceiling once more as her eyes once again became lost in the past, “Thomas, the first and only human to ever appear in our world, and one of the few beings we have ever called our closest friend.”

Author's Note

Well hello there to all of my faithful readers both new and old. This is the beginning of my newest creation and I hope you all like it so far. Please comment in the towel section below if you have thoughts, and be sure to hit that like button if you want to see more.

Also, say hello to my Patreon supporters, WuBzY and Earthpatriot117. They have been standing beside me for several months now and it is through their continued support that I have been able to keep creating these amazing stories for all of you. Check out my author's page if you want, there's a link to my Patreon if any of you are so inclined to add in your own support for a worthy cause.

Other than that, I hope to see you all next chapter, and I look forward to hearing what you all think of my latest creation,
Shadow Quill, Messenger of the Moon.

1 - A Land Unknown

I had to be crazy or doped up on drugs until my brain called it quits. There was no way any of this was real. And yet, the gnawing hunger in my gut told me this couldn’t be a dream, and unless my subconscious was very confused on what was supposed to be normal, there was no way I could have come up with what my eyes were seeing in even my most fanciful mental wanderings.

Perhaps I should back up a bit. My name is Thomas Miller, and prior to waking up in the middle of this strange forest, I was a grad student learning how to program computers and other such technology. I had gone to sleep the night before in my dorm room same as I always had, but when I woke up I had been shocked to find that my bed had been replaced by dirt and rocks, my room’s ceiling shifting into a thick canopy of leaves and branches that were nearly enough to block the early morning sunlight.

That had been two days ago, and all I had managed to find to eat had been a few berry bushes that thankfully hadn’t killed me or made this strange place even crazier by scrambling my brain. I had first thought that I might have sleepwalked out of my room and into the woods, near campus, but the longer I walked, the more I realized I wasn’t anywhere close to home.

Now, I was questioning if I was even on Earth anymore, because what I saw from the edge of the tree line appeared to have come straight out of a child’s drawing book. A large antiquated town took up the space before me, working up to and encircling what looked like a huge castle, although that was the least of my concerns, given what I saw walking around between the buildings of said town.

They were smaller than me from what I could tell, maybe tall enough to reach my ribs if I counted the horns that I saw poking out of some of their heads. Most of them looked fairly normal, given only a few had wings or the aforementioned horns, although that was little of comfort when each and every one of them had to be the brightest combination of colors I had ever seen. Bright pink, neon blue and a host of other eye-watering shades nearly made my brain ache, and that was only the beginning! I could see their lips moving even from this distance, their bodies moving in scarily familiar ways as the marketplace buzzed with the general din of everyday conversation. Gold coins shifted from pony to pony, that was the closest thing my brain could come up with to call these creatures, and I could have sworn that I saw one of the horned ones move things about without even touching them.

Fear of the unknown battled with my shock as I tried to think about what my next move should be, although my stomach overrode them both as it rumbled loudly. I grabbed my gut with one arm to try and keep it from chewing its way through my liver, but the annoying body part had made a very good point. I wasn’t going to be able to survive in the forest by myself, and if I truly wasn’t on Earth anymore, then I needed to ask for help from the locals.

I let out a sigh as I straightened my clothes however much I could, the small tears and stains from my time in the wild doing little to make me presentable. The black vest and white t-shirt had survived for the most part, but my jeans had definitely seen better days. I ran a hand through my short black hair in a vain hope to make it somewhat behave, sucking in a deep breath to try and calm my racing heart.

“Well, here goes nothing.” I stated to myself as I marched out of the trees along what looked like the main road, the cobblestone crunching slightly under my shoes as I approached the thatch-roofed buildings.

At first, nothing seemed to happen, the ponies around me paid me no mind, either too absorbed in their haggling or just focused on their own business as they trotted between the buildings. My eyes widened in even further shock as I was finally able to make out what they were saying, and I was stupefied when I understood every single word!

Of course, the peace couldn’t last forever. One bright blue pony with a gold mane finally spotted me from her stall on the side of the road, her huge eyes narrowing into pinpricks as her body froze in place. Before I could think of anything to say, her jaw opened as a terrified screech erupted from her throat, her forehoof pointing at me as eyes turned from all directions.

“Monster!” That was the word that was rapidly passed from mouth to mouth as ponies sprinted every direction in full-blown panic, their hysterical screams echoing through the air as I stood there like an idiot, wondering what the hell I had done to elicit such a response.

Doors slammed, windows were shuttered, and in less than a minute there was no one left standing in the previously crowded marketplace, save for one winged pony. She stood in the center of the square, her eyes wide and panicked as her ears shifted this way and that. Her wings were clamped to her sides and her tail was tucked between her legs, but for some reason I couldn’t fathom, her gaze never once locked onto me.

Acting on little more than a hunch, I started walking towards the light blue mare, her ears swiveling towards me as my shoes connected with the ground. Her head shifted so she was facing me, but even then, her gaze didn’t move like I expected it to. Her wings flared as I drew within ten feet of her, and her mouth opened as a fear-soaked nicker escaped her lips.

“S-Stay back.” Her voice shook as her tail tucked completely under her body, and I felt a surge of pity as I finally realized what was wrong with her.

Her pale blue eyes stared into the open space between us, never shifting or meeting my gaze because they could not. I had seen this in one of my dogs back home, and it made my heart ache knowing that the mare in front of me couldn’t see. Our golden retriever had cataracts in both eyes when she had been born, and I had learned from a young age that there was nothing that could be done to restore her vision. So, Daisy had gone through life without her sight, and I recognized the cloudy discoloration from Daisy’s eyes in the quivering mare before me.

I could practically smell the fear washing off of her in waves, so I did the only thing I could think of. I bent my knees and sat down on the road in front of her, her ears flicking as she closed her eyes and braced.

I let out a sigh as she visibly shook from nose to tail, and said the first thing that came to mind, “You know I’m not going to hurt a defenseless blind pony, right?”

Her ears swiveled my direction as her eyes shot open in what seemed to be surprise, her head slowly lifting until she was looking, so to speak, right at me, “What?”

I had to chuckle at her expression, it had to be one of the cutest things I had seen in my life, her muzzle all scrunched up in confusion and her ears shifting this way and that, “You really think I would hurt someone who obviously can’t defend herself?” A scoff escaped my mouth as I glanced at the fearful ponies peeking out from behind doorways and window shutters, “I would sooner go back to the forest and starve than do something that inhumane.”

I nearly had a heart attack when I turned back to the blind pegasus because of the cuteness overload. Her head was tilted like a confused puppy and her left ear had folded against her two-tone mane as she slowly took a step closer, “Wait a minute, all I heard before was everypony screaming about some kind of monster.” Another hesitant step forward, “I was so scared and confused because I couldn’t tell which way everypony was running, so I thought for sure that I was going to die.” She was nearly close enough to touch now, her nose twitching slightly as she inhaled, “You don’t smell like a pony, and I only heard two legs when you were walking, but everypony wouldn’t have run off screaming like that if you were a minotaur.”

Minotaur? I mentally questioned her sanity for a split second before realizing I was talking to a literal pegasus, so who was I to question her? Her hoof lifted again and paused for a second, as if she wasn’t sure about getting any closer to me. I stayed perfectly still, hoping not to spook the only creature I had seen who wasn’t scared stiff by my presence.

Her expression showed her inner battle, her nerves fighting with her curiosity for a moment before she gritted her teeth and stepped forward, bringing herself within arm’s reach as her wings flared wide. She shut her eyes tight and braced again, as if expecting me to attack her, but after a few seconds of nothing, she finally relaxed her stance and lifted her head. With me sitting down, her head was actually a bit higher than mine, and I felt just slightly intimidated as she slowly lifted a hoof and brought it closer to my chest.

Time seemed to stop as her leg made contact with my shirt, and her eyes widened slightly as she slid her hoof along the front of my body. Her curiosity seemed to take over completely, as I quickly found myself being poked and prodded by not only her front hooves but the long primary feathers of both of her wings. She had sat down in front of me with her back legs tucked up against my shins as she inspected me the only way she could, her tender touch setting off all kinds of strange signals from my skin as her wings and hooves mapped out my form inch by careful inch.

Seeing that I hadn’t eaten their friend, the other ponies slowly began to come out as the pegasus before me continued her inspection, her mouth hanging open in awe as more and more of the colorful equines gathered in a loose circle around us. Yet the blind mare paid them no attention, so focused as she was with finding out what I looked like. I kept my hands on my lap as she worked her way down my body, her hoof jerking back for a moment as it came in contact with my wrist.
Her eyes narrowed in confusion as she reached out and picked my hand up with both hooves, her gaze widening again as she slowly moved each finger back and forth. I refrained from moving as best as I could, knowing on some instinctive level that any threatening motion could set off a panic all over again. I even stayed still as the pegasus closed her eyes and rubbed my hand along the side of her muzzle, the soft fur tickling my palm slightly as my fingers ran into the edge of her mane.

It was strange and yet somehow soothing as the ponies around us slowly calmed down, although the moment was quickly soured when a thunderous voice echoed through the air and nearly shook the ground around us.

“RELEASE OUR LITTLE PONY FROM THY GRASP, FOUL CREATURE!” The pegasus gasped as her ears folded against her head, my hand left forgotten as all eyes turned to the sky.

My own jaw dropped as I spotted what, or rather, who had just rung my ears like a gong, and it wasn’t a sight that filled me with confidence.

Decked out in bright silver armor, her horn glowing dangerously pale blue as a set of twin swords floated in the air above her wings, was another pony. Yet by all accounts, I knew this one was a step above the others around me, if for no other reason than she had both a set of wings and a horn. Her ocean blue eyes were narrowed at me as she floated down to the ground, the ponies around us shifting back as they dropped into deep bows. Even my new companion dropped low, her wings flared to the side as the larger mare approached us.

The powder blue mare was larger than the others, maybe up to my chin if I were standing up, yet that did little to help my racing heart as both of her swords jerked through the air until their tips rested against my throat and heart respectively. I noted absently that their hilts were glowing the same blue as her horn, but my concerns were otherwise occupied by the deadly points mere inches from my skin.

“SURRENDER, CREATURE, OR WE WILL SEND THEE BACK TO THE FOREST IN PIECES.” Her tone had an edge as sharp as her swords, and I gulped as I stared into her eyes for what seemed like an eternity.

Only to jerk my head to the side as the blind mare from before stepped up, her wing gently coming to rest on the larger pony’s foreleg, “Princess Luna, I don’t think he’s here to hurt anypony. He talked with me and didn’t do anything while I sat here, poking and prodding him. Please don’t hurt him, I really believe he won’t be a bother if you let him explain himself.”

The newly named princess shifted her gaze to the pegasus beside her, her gaze flicking back and forth between us as her swords remained at the ready, “Fair Snowdrop, tis it true? Did thou speak with this,” a pause, “thing?”

My eyes narrowed as I raised a hand to push the tip of one sword away from my neck, “I happen to have a name, you know. It’s Thomas, Thomas Miller.”

Gasps erupted from several of the gathered villagers, although the two mares in front of me were not among them as the sword I had moved was once again pressed against my neck, “We will have words with thee in a moment. Do not mistake Our mercy for reluctance. We will end thee the moment thou even hints at harming Our little ponies.”

Again, my savior turned out to be the mare at the princess’s side, her blind eyes rolling as she lightly tapped the larger mare’s leg with her wing again, “Princess, he’s not going to hurt anypony. I think he’s more scared of you than we are of him. Give him a chance to explain,” her gaze rose to meet the royal’s and I nearly keeled over from the diabetes-inducing puppy eyes she was making, “please?”

It seemed the princess wasn’t immune to her gaze either, if the sudden hitch in her breathing was any indication. Her head swiveled away as she let out a huff, her weapons slowly returning to the scabbards on her flanks before she replied, “Very well, We shall give this creature a chance. However,” her cold eyes locked onto me just as I was about to sigh in relief, “any provocation will result in his immediate destruction, is that clear?”

I nodded quickly, frozen stiff under her gaze as I sat perfectly still, “Crystal, ma’am.”

Her gaze lingered on me for a moment longer, as if to make sure I meant what I said before turning around and pointing towards the castle with an extended wing, “Come, we shall continue this conversation within Our castle. Our sister would most likely be interested in hearing what you have to say.”

I stood up slowly, making sure not to scare any of the smaller ponies around us or provoke the princess. I would rather much avoid having a sword stuck through my chest thank you very much. The circle of citizens parted before us as Luna led me down the street, slowly dispersing as we marched along the cobbled way. Yet one pony stayed with us, going so far as to lay a wing on the princess’s side to stay on track. It was Snowdrop who walked along at Luna’s left, having invited herself as she smiled softly over her shoulder at me. I couldn’t help but smile back even though she couldn’t see it, but I had to wonder what kind of relationship this little pegasus had with the princess to be allowed such informal contact. Perhaps she was a personal servant, or maybe something more?

The possibilities spun around inside my head for several minutes, leaving much of the walk up to the castle little more than a blur. Yet that all changed when the great doors swung open, revealing the grand entrance hall in all of its carved marble glory. My jaw dropped as the ponies’ hooves clicked on the hard floor, the sound echoing just slightly in the cavernous space. As my gaze traveled downward, I saw that there were more ponies in here, although the majority of them seemed to be unicorns and were dressed in some rather gaudy outfits. Most turned their noses up at me after nodding or bowing slightly to the princess, completely ignoring our pegasus companion as we walked further into the structure.

The only other ponies that were in constant view were the guards, all white coats with light blue manes and tails. The only true difference between them were the ranks I saw marking their shoulder plates, although they looked nothing like anything I had ever seen before, so it could have been something completely different for all I knew. Most kept their bearing and stared straight ahead as we passed, but a few younger ones stopped and stared at me before being quietly reprimanded by their fellows. All and all they seemed to be more of a presence than an actual force, but then again, I had always been a bad judge when it came to how capable someone else was. Best not to give them a reason to pull out the swords strapped to their flanks.

Other than the snobbish nobles and the stoic guards, the trek through the castle halls was a quiet one, allowing me to get a good look at the place as we worked our way further into the structure. Great marble pillars held up the ceiling where the mural-covered walls didn’t, allowing for the many plants and paintings to illuminate the corridors with color and life as we came up to a set of great wooden doors. They were depicted with a stylized image of the sun, carved out of what looked like solid gold as a duo of guards stood at either side. Both of them had horns, as opposed to the majority of the others, who had sported wings, although I wasn’t sure if that had any significance other than different guard rotations.

The princess’s horn ignited with the same soft blue I had seen earlier, the soft twinkle sound catching my attention as the doors were enveloped in a similar aura. Seemingly without any effort, the doors swung open to reveal a wide and long hall, the set of twin thrones capturing my attention immediately as we entered, the doors slamming behind us as we marched up to the dais.

Seated in the taller of the thrones, the high back marked with the same sun symbol as the door, was another pony, although in her case it might have been more accurate to call her a horse. Like Princess Luna, this mare also had a set of wings as well as a horn poking out from her forehead, although her pure white coat and baby pink mane were in direct contrast to the darker mare leading me.

Luna whispered to Snowdrop for a moment before stepping up onto the dais, leaving the smaller mare standing next to me as Luna turned and sat upon the smaller, moon-depicted throne.

The larger mare looked me up and down for a moment before turning to Luna, “Sister, would you mind explaining what manner of creature you have brought into our throne room?”

“Tis something that We do not fully understand Ourselves,” Luna replied, “but Our fair subject has spoken on his behalf.” They shifted their gazes over to Snowdrop for a moment before returning them to me, “Tis certainly a sentient being, given his attire, but as to what manner of creature he is, We hath no idea.”

“Um,” I lifted my hand like I was waiting to answer my professor’s question, “I could simply tell you what I am if you don’t mind me saying so, Your Highnesses.”

Both mares’ gazes narrowed for a moment before Luna’s sister spoke up, “Very well, we shall allow you to speak for yourself. However, know that any falsehoods would speak poorly on your character and how we choose to deal with you after this meeting is concluded.”

I nodded, swallowing a lump that had managed to catch in my throat, “Well, I guess the first thing I can tell you is that my kind are called humans. And I know this may sound crazy, but I don’t come from your world.”

Snowdrop’s head spun around to stare at me, or at least over my left shoulder, as all three ponies’ eyes widened in shock.

“Tis a lie!” Luna cried, pointing her hoof at me in an accusatory manner, “Thou speaks of being from beyond our world and yet thou speaks the same tongue we do.”

“I’m afraid that you’ll have to show some form of proof in order to back up your claims if you want to avoid being tossed in the dungeons,” Luna’s sister added, “Lying to a princess is a hefty crime, even more so to do so to both of our faces in our own throne room.”

I glanced at Snowdrop, but she was simply looking at me with a slightly worried expression. There was no way she could help me here. Then, my hand happened to rub up against my pants, and I felt the familiar weight of my phone resting in my pocket. I smiled despite myself as I pulled out the small touch-screen device, the eyes of both royals locking onto it as I held it up.

“You wanted proof, then here is your proof.” I powered on the device and I was graced with a duo of gob-smacked faces as both of their jaws dropped to the floor.

I turned off my phone to save the battery for another day, hoping that they wouldn’t pick me apart for my next sentence, “My name is Thomas Miller, and I’m a human being from Earth.”

Silence followed my words, and I grinned like a fool as the royals tried to get their composure back after letting it break so completely. I had a feeling things were about to get interesting, and it all hinged on what the royal sisters wanted to do with me after my little demonstration. I just hoped they weren’t the types to take what they wanted and get rid of the excess, because I wasn’t sure what I would do if they decided to confiscate my stuff and toss me in a cell regardless.

Author's Note

Well, I finally managed to write something. Took me long enough, but with work draining me of nearly all of my energy, I've not been able to muster up to brainpower to write even on my days off. Oh well, better late then never I guess.

Anyways, hope you are all enjoying the book so far and please remember to leave lots of comments in the towel section below. Also, a warm mention for my Patrons WuBzY and Earthpatriot117 for their continued support.

Other than that, I'll see you all next chapter, hopefully sooner than later,
Shadow Quill, Messenger of the Moon.

2 - A Rough Start

Silence hung over the throne room, my victorious smirk hiding a sinking fear inside that had my heart beating a mile a minute. Snowdrop stood beside me, her ears swiveling rapidly between me and the royal duo while her gaze stayed locked on a space just above my left shoulder. I held the phone before me with its screen illuminating the space between me and the twin thrones, hoping against hope that the royal sisters wouldn’t simply take it from me and toss me into the dungeon anyway.

Finally, the elder sister, who I still hadn’t leaned the name of, closed her mouth and her gaze hardened into a blank mask, “You state that you are a being from Earth, is that correct?”

My arm started to shake from the strain of keeping it extended in front of me, and the smirk fell from my lips as they curled into a frown, “Yes? That is the name of the planet I am from.”

The larger mare’s horn lit up with a brilliant gold light, forcing me to shield my eyes with an arm as my phone clattered to the marble floor. I saw Snowdrop shiver out of the corner of my eye, even though she was unaffected by the Princess’s horn’s harsh glare. I braced for what could only have been some kind of attack, only to freeze as my entire body locked up in place. My eyes frantically darted from side to side as a glow to match the mare’s horn covered my entire body, gripping me in a tight embrace that I was helpless to break free of.

My heart rate skyrocketed, and my breath froze in my chest while the glare from the royal’s horn grew only brighter. Moments stretched into eons as her eyes were overtaken by the same light as her horn, the pressure on my body growing with each second as a tingling sensation began to surface from the skin around my head. The tingling got worse and the pressure on my skull matched the intensity second by second, tears falling from my eyes as pain overtook the tingling. Memories came unbidden to my mind as the pressure got worse, my heart thundering in my chest and breathing coming almost to a complete stop. My mind was laid bare before the onslaught, my earliest memories, my greatest joys and most heinous mistakes. All were presented before the mare atop her golden throne like a goddess of retribution.

Finally, just as I swore I was going to be blinded by the glare of her power or die of asphyxiation, it all stopped. My breath gasped back into my chest as I fell to the floor, holding my shirt tightly over my heart with a clenched fist as I tried to get my abject terror under control. My eyes were locked onto the tiles in front of me as I supported my shaking body with my other arm, my knees unable to support me as I sat on my shoes and prayed that it was over.

For several minutes not a soul dared to move within the throne room, although I was too hyped up on adrenaline to notice much besides the profound silence that hung over the space like a miasma. My eyes slowly rose from the floor in front of me to gaze up at the two mares before me again, the elder’s stupefied expression catching my attention while Princess Luna’s perplexed gaze snapped back and forth between her coruler and me.

“Sister?” Luna asked carefully as she tapped the larger mare on one shoulder with her hoof, “Celestia, what did you see?”

My mental facilities came back a bit at a time as Celestia, I now knew my attacker’s name, turned to face her sister. Her mouth moved a few times before she seemed to find the words she was looking for, her voice cracking as she managed to whisper out her reply.

“He is telling the truth.”

Silence hung over the room after her words, Luna’s disbelieving eyes snapping to me for an instant before returning to Celestia, “Thou canst seriously believe this creature’s lies? What manner of trick did you see in his mind, sister?”

“He doesn’t have magic.” Celestia’s voice was a bit stronger this time. Her gaze returned to me as an unfamiliar expression overcame her face, “He had no resistance to my reading, completely unable to break free of my magic grip or stop my invasion of his mind.”

My eyes widened in horror as I realized what she had done, “Y-You read my mind?!” I recognized the expression on Celestia’s face now. She was feeling guilt for the terror she had just put me through. “You bitch! What right do you have to invade my memories like that?!” Raw fury raced through my veins as the realization of what she had done fully hit me. “Y-You had no right! No cause or reason for doing that!”

I forced myself to my feet, my shaking limbs be damned as I glared white-hoy fury directly into the white mare’s widening magenta orbs, “Forget this! I came here looking for help after I got taken from my home and stumbled around in the woods for three days! I was starving and my first contact with another living thing was a bunch of magical talking ponies. I thought I could get assistance, maybe a point in the right direction, but NO!”

I was doing what I could to control my fury as my fists clenched tight enough for blood to drip onto the marble tiles, my teeth were pressed together so hard I swore I cracked one in my righteous rage, “Screw you! I hope you can’t sleep at night knowing your actions drove away a helpless being looking for aid. I’d rather starve in the wilds than to deal with this crap.” I turned around and began storming out of the throne room, my feet impacting the floor with enough force to send reverberating pain shooting up my legs and spine, “Have a rotten day, and goodbye!”

I made it about two steps before a voice called out from behind me, “Wait!”

I turned around just as a blue and white feathered missile impacted my chest, throwing me to the floor as a sextet of limbs curled around me. I raised an arm to strike my assailant, but paused just before my fist could come down on the pony’s head, seeing for the first time who it was that had tackled me.

Burying her muzzle in my shirt and holding onto me like her life depended on it, was Snowdrop. Tears streamed from her clenched eyes as she blubbered into my chest. Her forelegs were bunching my shirt in a death grip while her wings and hind legs wrapped around me in a weak but firm embrace. I lowered my arm as she lifted her head to look at me, her eyes bloodshot with tears and her nose running badly as she forced her words out in a clearer voice.

“P-Please.” The pain in her tone nearly gave me a heart attack as fresh tears ran down her face, “please don’t go. I know it wasn’t right for Princess Celestia to invade you mind. I know she feels sorry for doing it! You don’t have to starve, and you certainly don’t have to be alone after going through what you have!”

I opened my mouth to retort, my earlier ire flaring up again at the audacity of the mare pinning me to the floor. She had no idea what it was I had been through! How could she possibly understand the pain and terror I had felt being at the complete mercy of a stranger?!

I raised my fist once more to strike her, my anger running wild. For a moment I thought I heard the royal sisters cry out something, but I was so engrossed in my fury that it all faded to the background. My hand began a rapid decent towards the stupid pony’s left eye, with every intent of slugging the arrogant mare for even thinking she could understand my pain.

Almost as if she could sense the impending attack, Snowdrop closed her eyes and whispered one final sentence as my hand neared her face, “I know what it’s like to be alone too.”

Reality asserted itself on me in an instant, my hand freezing a mere inch from the mare’s face. The cold certainty in her statement, the blatant and heartfelt truth in those words and the pain that they had carried. I knew right away that she wasn’t just pulling my leg, and I lowered my arm to the floor just as several other bodies crashed into mine.

Snowdrop was yanked off of me by a soft blue aura while several ponies in gold armor pinned me to the ground, their hooves digging into my sides and limbs as I struggled to free myself. Rage at her betrayal and indignant with myself for falling for her lies poured through my veins, my anger escaping my lips in a wordless roar as a golden horseshoe came down towards my head. My world exploded into bright white flashes as darkness consumed my vision, the last thing I saw was the little backstabber holding onto Princess Luna’s chest while the larger mare looked on with a blank expression.

“I hate ponies.” Those were the last words to escape my lips in a heated whisper as I felt my body slump to the marble tiles, the world around me fading to black as my mind lost connection with reality.

Author's Note

Hello everypony!! And welcome back to another chapter as I FINALLY get back to writing for all of my fans!! Life has been a case of crazy that I could barely begin to comprehend as I got settled into a new job and then had to get myself and my family moved all the way from ALASKA to VIRGINIA!! I have never felt so much joy and stress all at the same time to go through all of that, but now that I'm getting settled in and some of the absolute bedlam has calmed down, I am pleased to be able to write for all of you again!!

So let me know what you think, and don't forget to smash that thumbs up if you all liked what you've seen!! Leave a comment down in the towel section below, comments are an author's food don't you know!!

So happy to be back, and I'll see you all next chapter,
Shadow Quill, Messenger of the Moon.