Laughter, tears, and smiles drove conversation forward while Princess Celestia translated into Equestrian and Princess Luna translated into English. It was a noisy affair but all present were heard and understood. After a heart-felt and teary eyed apology from Krysta to Fluttershy the two royals decided it was time to focus on the food in front of them as it had been delivered some minutes before while they were all still speaking.

The only topics left were those that seamed most important. How did Krysta get here and why did the Princess' wish to speak with Krysta so directly? Though translation was of course important, they were royals charged with running a kingdom. There was hardly time for a gathering of friends without an element of importance beyond the six's understanding. After some time of eating and relaxing with hot tea, with Krysta's attention almost entirely on the food and the overly convenient shape of the silverware, their collective curiosity was finally being satisfied.

“Krysta, do you know how you came to be in Equestria?” Celestia's gentle smile did not reach her eyes while she spoke. Purple hued iris' locked onto the lithe human, her sister beside her translating. Celestia, of course, could speak English as well. However, for the sake of everyone present understanding what was said, they kept their respective translating roles.

~I honestly do not know. One moment I am running from bandits and rogues, trapped against a tree and the next I wake up in a different forest without a single thread on my body. I... I think there was something else but every time I try to remember I start to shake. My heartbeat doubles and I feel out of breath. I don't know how else to describe it.~ Krysta's face contorted with thought, each word more unsure than the last. Eyes were wide all around her as the story of bandits reached their ears. New worries boiled and festered inside each of them, though none as strong as the growing dread within the two monarchs.

“A memory that does not wish to be remembered. I am sorry to say that the only explanation for such a thing is that it is painful. So painful that your mind and heart wish it to be gone.” The pale royal sighed as her eyes drew up pity for the creature before her. “Later, we shall bring you to one of our royal mages to see if we cannot divine the reason you are here with us now. For the moment however there is something else we must discuss.”

Golden energy surrounded her horn moments later, its swirl and power creating an energy over the middle of the table. Soft popping sounds came after as two small items came into being. A hair brush and a pair of scissors. Each item drifted towards the human, landing on the table in front of her. The table was hushed throughout, each and every eye on the items and the human they were presented to.

Celestia then turned her gaze not to Krysta, but to the ponies surrounding her. “My dear little ponies, what you are about to learn will undoubtedly shock you. It is however the truth. Krysta, please pick up the brush.” Once more the wise monarch put her attention onto Krysta, the latter spying the brush with apprehension in her eyes. The stare of Celestia was all she needed to press forward it seems as lithe digits wrapped themselves around the handle and lifted it.

The anticipation could be cut with a butter knife as all eyes locked onto the human with her tool. When nothing seemed to come of it the anticipation was replaced with confusion and even disappointment. It was quickly pushed aside as Celestia began to commentate. “Krysta has what we call fingers, attached to what is called a hand. See how they grasp the handle so fluidly without the help of magic?”

Krysta took her lip between her teeth as she held the item up, the simple and well known tool offering some sort of controversy for the ponies surrounding her. All present know what it is and how it is used yet there was still a mystery. One that Celestia revealed presently.

“This brush was invented by humans so they could groom themselves more easily.” Her explanation warranted gasps from the lunch party.

“What do you mean to say Princess? Humans invented our stuff? How does that work? As far as I know humans didn't even exist until Krysta showed up.” The brash Rainbow Dash spoke up almost immediately as if something needed to be defended. Celestia merely raised a hoof for silence before continuing.

“The scissors Krysta. Hold those up next.” Just in case she made sure to point at the cutting tool, unsure if Krysta herself knew of it. There was no way of telling how advanced Krysta's people could have been without seeing it for herself. She may or may not have already learned of scissors and how to use them.

Once more the human girl extended her hand. First to drop the brush next to her next target, and second to grasp that target. Celestia's question was answered immediately as the girl properly gripped them, digits in each hole. She extended her fingers within the handle and opened them up, unsure of Celestia's desires.

“It is painfully obvious that this device can only be used effectively by magic, less so by a skilled pegasus with their wings and much less so by an earth pony. Why is it that this design has been with pony kind for so long?” The point of the demonstration was finally revealed in full by the princess, each and every pony thinking long and hard on an answer. Once again, Rainbow Dash was the first to comment.

“Isn't it for other races? Like griffons and minotaurs and stuff? They have fingers. Well... claws. But you get what I am saying!” Her words were followed by nods from several present, though Twilight was not among them.

“Well, think about it Rainbow. It is one thing to accommodate foreign citizens and another to just constantly keep something like that in your home. It isn't as if there is a danger of a minotaur asking everypony if they could borrow their scissors every day.” Twilight nodded matter of factly as her concise points hit home with the cyan pegasus. It was difficult to argue with that logic.

All the while Celestia stayed silent and listened as her student began to understand and accept what was being said. She was moments from concurring before Krysta cut in with her own two cents on the matter.

~I don't understand. What do you mean we invented them? I mean, of course we did. But we didn't do it for you. Why are you using things like this if they aren't designed for you?~ Her tone carried impatience and anxiety as the whole mess of ideas traveling around in her mind demanded answers. All everyone has been getting up to this point is questions.

A deep breath from both Celestia and Luna gave way for their next words spoken in unison, Equestrian and English respectively. “You all must open your minds and try to take in what we are about to tell you. Once you know there is no going back. Especially for you Krysta.” Worried and anxious frowns were exchanged before one collective nod gave the two of them confirmation to continue.

“In ages long since passed this world which we lived in was home to humans like Krysta here. Do not ask us exactly when, as our own perception of these events is clouded by the distance of time. Ponies did indeed exist, but not how they do today. That will be explained when we get to it.” A preemptive reassurance that the ponys' questions would be answered in order to avoid interruption.

“For millennia humans expanded and grew, almost no point on this world unclaimed. Their reach touched the skies themselves though they had no wings. Their innovation and creativity even led them towards the stars above into our realm. Luna even had a visit if I recall.” The darker monarch fondly smiled at the memory, muttering something lightheartedly about golf under her breath.

Celestia's voice took a dark turn, her frown betraying her youthful face by making it look old and even weary. “This triumph of the human race however was not to last. War. Total, unending, and horrible war. The darkness that once festered within humanity early in their history took hold of them in such force they scorched the planet and destroyed each other. Nothing remained of them besides ruins and graves. After the reign of fire and destruction it took our world millenia longer to repair itself and begin anew. Here we sit now, with a new kingdom upon the soil which once held up a mighty civilization of men.”

Krysta's frown twitched in uncertainty and with a false hope that this story was simply make believe. It couldn't possibly be real. Touch the stars? Impossible. Purely impossible. And yet, the eyes of both Celestia and Luna held no deception. The poor girl suddenly felt herself very small and quite alone in the company of these ponies. Her pupils constricted and her chest rose and fell with rapid breaths as panic crept through her limbs and up to her heart. Luna noticed immediately and wrapped her in a majestic wing, hoping to comfort the girl in her hour of revelation.

“Yes dear Krysta, your fears are confirmed. You are the only human that exists now in this world as far as we know. How and why we do not know, but we hope to find out. If our suspicions are confirmed it would mean that you have been taken from your time and thrust into our own. Far beyond the reach of your people. However, Luna and I swear to discover the cause of this. If we are able to learn how your travel came to be, we may be able to reverse it. Please do not lose hope.”

The now shaking human girl could only whimper in response. Had she been taken from a time later in human history she may have been able to truly fathom what was being said. For the moment however she could only hold onto their words and hope that somehow things would turn for the better. What other course was there for her?

“Pardon me Princess, but that doesn't exactly explain the scissors or why this has obviously been kept secret. Why isn't this common knowledge? It wouldn't hurt anypony to know that we weren't the first intelligent race here. Right?” Twilight's sharp mind brought them all back to the pony side of this explanation, each of the six gravely nodding. Even Pinkie Pie carried a worried frown upon her normally vibrant features. Whatever was to be said would carry a great weight with it indeed.

“You are correct Twilight. Upon first inspection it would seem like there is no real reason to keep such a thing hidden. However, what comes next would challenge many of the beliefs which Luna and I have built this kingdom upon. That is because they are not truly our beliefs, as they are a combination of human ethics and understandings mixed in with the experience Luna and I gathered among the stars. For you see, we did not start our existence as alicorns. We were in fact the sun and the moon themselves in a literal sense. What you see before you are the spirits of the sun and moon made physical by will and power.”

“But why? If you two were literally the sun and the moon before why did you become alicorns? What is the point of it all?” Exasperation rang through Twilight's tones and syllables, a feeling of betrayal welling within her chest. How could she keep such a thing so secret from her own student?

“Because my dear Twilight, we could not bare to watch another race destroy itself. As we hung in the sky and watched the world burn, we wept. Millions of lives and boundless energy flowing throughout all of existence snuffed out by greed and hatred. Darkness that is within each and every human.” All eyes shot to the cowering Krysta, who at this point was holding herself against the moon princess willing tears from flowing down her clammy cheeks. With a confirming nod from Celestia the human buried her face within Luna's coat, shaking her head in utter defiance of the words which she could not bare.

“Yes, even Krysta holds such a darkness within her. Though there were many periods of peace throughout human history each and every one of them were framed with bloodshed and betrayal. The most peaceful human still had the potential for horrific acts.” As grave as Celestia's words were none of the ponies could look upon Krysta with hatred or fear. In all actuality, they pitied and worried for her. None of them could imagine such an existence.

“As for you my little ponies, your questions are to be answered presently. The reason we took this form you see before you. For after the world had healed itself and started again the life energy of the humans had to go somewhere. The cycle of life demands it. We saw that same light within early ponies. Intelligence and creativity without the darkness that led to human destruction. We took it upon ourselves to guide the three races towards community and friendship. Lead them from the darker path that humans walked before them. The balance of energy however, had to remain. There is no way to truly destroy evil. What had light must have darkness.” Everypony tensed at that, dreading what they were to hear next.

“But, it is not within the ponies of our kingdom. Together Luna and I struck it down and pushed it back into the depths of the earth. Through the ages it has cropped up now and again. Nightmare Moon was created due to that darkness. Something that thankfully has been corrected.” Celestia took a moment to offer Luna an affectionate nuzzle. It was of course returned gratefully while she smiled to the six who set her free.

“It lingers within the world and those who would see it grow. The changelings, King Sombra, and in particular... Discord. For he is the physical manifestation of the chaos that overtook humanity and leads all that is evil.” Fluttershy gasped loudly as the revelation struck a chord deep within her heart. Celestia noted it and spoke quickly. “Do not fret dear Fluttershy. For your help with Discord proved that chaos could be overcome and pushed away from the hearts of others. Though it is never gone it can be defeated and kept at bay. That is why Luna and I are here. We wish to ensure that ponies never feel the wrath of such darkness as the poor humans did.”

Fluttershy sniffled and nodded with understanding, leaning against Rainbow Dash for support. Twilight spoke up after a moment of silence, sprinkled with the whimpers and tears of Fluttershy and Krysta. “And what about the scissors and brush?”

Celestia smiled as once again her student fought for the answers that had been promised. “Put simply Twilight, tribute. The houses and castles we live in, the tools we use, and the ethics we carry are from the golden years of human life. Here we sit surrounded by humanity in memory of what they had accomplished and everything it had meant.”

Luna smiled down to her shaking ward as she translated for her. Glistening eyes revealed themselves as she returned Luna's look, the meaning of those words bringing hope to the young girl's heart. “That is right little one. Though you are the last human, you are not at all alone. All around you holds your people's hopes and dreams. And within each pony there is the human spirit, driving them with our guidance. Other than the obvious, deep down, we are the same. And we shall not abandon you.”

Celestia and Luna spoke together as if they could read the others' mind. Gentle smiles from the ponies around her only helped the words hit home within Krysta's mind and heart, an understanding growing within her that not only was she not alone, but that she was cared for and that she was important to everyone. The warmth that she felt replace those awful feelings deep within her caused the girl's grip upon Luna change from desperation to affection and gratitude. With this new found comfort and reassurance Krysta voiced the one other thing everyone had been dying to know.

~What happens next?~

The royal sisters smiled. “What happens next my little Krysta, depends on you. Will you stay with us ponies until we can find a way to send you home? That is, if you want to go back? All is up to you, princess of the human race.”

~Princess?~ An approving nod followed from the colorful equines surrounding her, each smile brighter than the last. It was infectious and quickly spread to her own lips. ~Yes. Please let me stay.~

A happy cheer sounded out around the table as Celestia translated her answer for the rest of them. Luna did not need to interpret those particular sounds to the girl. She merely tightened her wing some around the lithe figure and grinned.

“Well, that is settled then. You will stay with Twilight and her friends under our guidance. I am sure Twilight will not mind taking you under her wing, so to speak, for your schooling.” Celestia smiled down to her student who eagerly nodded. Krysta could only look on somewhat confused.

~Schooling?~

Author's Note

Sorry for all of the exposition in this chapter. It had to be put somewhere.

Please let me know what you think!