An Otherworldly Adventure

Twilight Sparkle and her friends were all currently making their way towards Canterlot castle, where they were on their way to meet up with princess Celestia. Earlier today Twilight received a letter from the princess, which was rather short and not overlay clear on what was going on. The only thing that the note specified was that Twilight bring her friends to Canterlot, so that she could discuss and explain somethings that only she knows. So the unicorn did as her mentor instructed, and went about to gather all of her friends and boarded the next train to Canterlot.

“So Twilight, any idea why the princess wanted to meet with us so urgently?” Applejack asked her violet friend as she, and the other five mares trotted past the front gates of the castle, and started to enter the main lobby.

“I have a strong hunch it’s about the creature she brought to the castle.” Twilight replied to her farmer friend, which was followed quickly by a scoff. The group in unison turned to look at the source of the scoff, and found the cyan pegasus of the group, Rainbow Dash, still having frown on her face as trudges behind the group.

“Rainbow Dash don’t tell me your still upset about that tussle you and that, creature, had and how you lost.” Rarity said to the mare, which quickly got a rebuke from the pegasus in a defensive manner.

“I didn’t lose!” Rainbow growled as she looked up from the ground and towards her white coated friend.

“It just pulled a trick on me, and forced a draw.”

“Oh for Pete’s sake RD! Get. Over. It!” Applejack grunted in annoyance as she looked over to her friend, stopping the groups advancement into the castle.

“Ever since you got out of that dang hospital, you’ve been bellyaching on how you could’ve beaten that thing, and how you could’ve done so, if it didn’t do whatever it did!” the farmer said in a clearly annoyed tone as the pegasus’s attitude was weighing on her.

“The princess even said that it’s not dangerous.”

“And how do we know for sure.” Rainbow retorted as she hovered over to Applejack, and actually started to question with the princess was right about her notion of the creature.

“What if it’s just playing, nice, so it can lull us into a false sense of security, and then spring on us when we least expect it!” the pegasus emphasized as she leapt into the air. “After all we don’t even know what this thing is.”

“Rainbow I’m sure the princess has everything under control, and I doubt its much of a threat to her, or Luna.”

“Twilight is right. besides, I don’t think that thing is dangerous, who knows it could be a good pony!” Pinkie said with a level of optimism as she bounces in the center of the group.

Twilight nodded to Pinkie’s optimism, and continued trotting through the halls of the castle, up a flight of stairs, and making the last lengthy stretch of hall that leads to the throne room. with Rainbow Dash still pouting and grumbling as she flies above the others. Upon reaching the large doors the mares greeted the guards who stood watch, the duo then used their magic to open the door so the group could trot in, thanking the guards the six ponies made their way into the throne room. upon entering the room the group found the princess, with Luna sitting by her side in her own throne, talking with a dapper looking noble pony wearing a fancy red suit. They seem to be in the midst of an important talk, but Twilight noticed that Celestia spotted her and her friends, and when the violet unicorn waved to her teacher, Celestia gave a small wave back but then quickly gestured for the six ponies to wait off to the side until the meeting was over. The six ponies did so and patiently sat down near the door till the meeting was over.

“—As I was saying your majesty, I think it would be best to renovate the southern district of Prince’s Ward, that way we can make way for new businesses which will increase Canterlot’s trade ventures with other cities, and nations across the world.” the stallion said as he looked up to the two royals.

“While that does sound like a promising idea Mr. Tulip, the southern district of Prince’s Ward is a community district. Where the more less fortunate ponies reside. If we renovate that district then we would be evicting hundreds of families.” Celestia then rolled up the document that she was levitating in front of her, and floated back over to the noble stallion.

“I’m afraid I can’t sanction this proposal.”

“I, understand your majesty.” The stallion said in a somewhat disappointed tone as he took the document, and placed it under his wing.

“I will relay your decision to my fellow members of the Traders Guild.”

The pegasus bowed his head before turning around and leaving the throne room, while muttering something to himself that Twilight, nor none of her friends could quite hear. But by the look of mild frustration on his face, it probably wasn’t anything nice. As the stallion left the room Twilight and the others approached the two thrones, where they could hear the two princesses talking to each other.

“Lately sister it seems that some of the noble factions are getting more concerned with their own coin purses, and expanding their influence than the well-being of their fellow Equestrians, regardless of status and class.” The group heard Luna say with a bit of a saddened and disappointed tone.

“Yes. It would appear that way.” Celestia said as she used a wing to rub her brow. She then turned to look at Twilight and her friends, a small smile appearing on her muzzle as she looks at the group.

“I’m glad you all could make it.”

“Of course princess, but we’re all a little confused on why you asked us to come here. Your letter didn’t give an exact answer.” Twilight said to the princess who got up from her throne, and made her way down to the group with Luna following behind her.

“The reason why I have called you all here, is to shine some light on the creature that came to Ponyville.”

The six ponies muttered to themselves as the princesses trot past them and made their way to the door. The six mares quickly trotted after the two alicorns, who upon leaving the throne room started to make their way down a side corridor. The group relatively traveled in silence, mostly because each of the ponies were wondering what is it that they were going to learn, especially Twilight. The unicorn was extremely excited about finally learning about what this thing is, and have all the questions she’s been holding onto finally be answered. And who knows, maybe answers to questions that she hasn’t even thought of. Fifteen minutes of trotting later, the group have made their way to the guest quarters. They continued to trot down the hallway until they reached the mid-way of the hall, where they stopped as Celestia knocked on the door they all stood in front of.

“Doors open!”

A voice, like a young stallion, called out from the other side of the door. With permission granted to the group they all entered the room, Celestia going first with Twilight and her friends following afterwards, and when the group trotted into the room they were surprised at what they found. In the room near the back where the bed was, the six ponies found the strange hairless creature doing push-ups, but as it does so the group could hear faint wincing sounds, as if the creature was in some kind of pain. That’s when they all remembered .

“Fifty!” the creature said as he gives himself a big push up, and landing on his backside. The creature then wiped his forehead before turning to look at the group, an inquisitive expression on its face.

“Celestia I thought you wanted to limit my interaction with others until your certain that you can trust me.”

“Oh don’t worry Adam I am. However these six ponies will be an exception to the rule.”

Celestia informed the creature as she made her way to the front of the group, and started to introduce Twilight and her friends. but when the princess got to introducing Rainbow Dash, both the pegasus and the creature just glared at each other, which the princess was able to notice immediately and went to lessen hostilities before someone said or did something regrettable.

“I know that you two didn’t meet under the best of circumstance, but I ask you both to forgive one another and try to get along.” Rainbow Dash’s response just a small snort to the princess’s request, while the creature just gives a half-hearted sigh before answer.

“Fine. I’ll play nice, so long as no one tries to attack me for no reason.” Again, Rainbow Dash just snorted at the creature, but this time flaring her wings before to spoke up.

“As long as you don’t try anything that will hurt my friends.” Even if the conversation between the two was anything but pleasant, the princess was happy to hear that they came to some kind of agreement.

“Well now that introductions are over, Adam I would like for you to join us.”

“Join you for what?” the creature, Adam as he was called, asked the alicorn as he got up from his sitting position, and showing Twilight and her friends just how tall he was! Clearly showing that he was the same height as the princess.

“I’ll be explaining on who and what you are to not only my sister, but to my student and her friends, and show them a bit of forgotten history.”

Adam shrugged his shoulders and complied with following the group to wherever it is Celestia planned to take them. after the creature had placed some socks and shoes on his feet, which Twilight found odd, the group left the room and began making their way down a hall. While the group walked about and followed Celestia and Luna, Twilight would occasionally glance over at the creature and taking the opportunity to give it a once over, but as she does so she noticed that the creature was giving her a questioning look.

“You need something little lady?” the creature asked.

“Oh, ugh no, I was—I was just wandering just what you are. It’s just that I’ve never seen or read anything that looks just like you.”

“Don’t worry Twilight you’ll get an answer to your questions soon.”

Celestia said as the group makes their way up a small flight of stairs, and continued to make their way through another hallway. But this venture was shorter than the previous one, as the group reached a pair of double doors that look rather old, like they are rarely used. Celestia then opened the doors with her magic, the hinges creaking with a rustic ‘creak’ as they slowly open up. once the doors were open the group then entered the room, and when they did Twilight was surprised at seeing marble statues of creatures that look somewhat like Adam, but they had their distinct features and own clothing styles.

“Princess. What is this?” Fluttershy asked as she trots about and looks at the statues.

“This is my Room of Remembrance. Here, this is where monuments of old friends and companions of mine, from another world are memorialized.”

“So there were more of these creatures?” Rarity asked as she looked towards the princess who nodded and then trotted over to Adam who stood by one of the statues.

“Correct Rarity. For the duration of Luna’s banishment each of these creatures, which are called humans, have been coming to Equestria by unknown means every hundred or so years.”

“But why?” Applejack questioned.

“I unfortunately don’t know. and none of the humans, including Adam here, know why they were being brought to our world.” Celestia said in a somber tone as she looks to the statues.

“But despite how they came to our world, these humans have helped me not only make Equestria in what it is today, as well as help me through my hard times.”

“So they were your friends.” Pinkie asked as she hopped about, clearly enjoying the sentimental vibes in the room.

“Indeed Pinkie, some were more than friends.” Celestia said as she looks between some of the statues with a clear expression of love. And the group seemed to catch on what the princess had just implied, and some of them were actually surprised. Luna and Adam most of all.

“But princess if these humans were so close to you as you say, then why aren’t they more well known.” Twilight questioned as she looked away from the statues and towards her mentor.

“I’m afraid the reason why the humans are not known, is because everything that they each accomplished were re-written by ponies to make it seem like it was a pony who did their deeds. Instead of them.” Celestia said with dismay in her voice, as well as a little disappointment. “Like how the legends say that a mare named Ebony Rouge was the first great designer of fashion in Canterlot.”

“I know here!” Rarity spoke up. “Ebony Rouge was the forerunner and the one who created the modern day fashion industry.”

“Indeed that is how modern ponies think is fact, but in reality, its because of her.” Celestia gestured to a statue that Luna was standing in front of, which the whole group looked over to. “Her name was Abigail Inglehart, and she spent a lot of time studying what ponies back then considered fashion, and how she could incorporate her worlds own styles of clothing for ponies and vice versa. And she went by an alias known as…Ebony Rouge to make it more marketable to ponies.”

“B-but…there were pictures of Ebony—”

“A stand in. A pony that was Abigail’s assistant, who took her name and ideas when Abigail died of cancer.” The room went silent after learning this, and it seemed to have hit Rarity really hard.

“Each of these humans had a pony took their place of their accomplishments, mostly ponies in Canterlot as they lived in the castle with me, and after only a decade of so when they did pass…no pony even remembered them. Or that they even existed.” The princess sounded really heart broken about this fact and visibly slouched but her sister quickly comforted her by nuzzle up to her, trying to lift the older alicorns spirit.

“After the fourth human had arrived in Equestria, I commissioned scribes to write down all of the deeds and achievements, so that once they passed the real owners of the advancements in Equestrian society would be remembered and praised for what they did, instead of being imposture or erased. But even then the scribes could only write down so many books that none were rarely taken.” As the princess spoke Rainbow Dash noticed four other statues on the other side of the room, and when she went over to inspect them, they were not as well taken care of than the others.

“What about these ones princess.” The pegasus asked as she directed everyone’s attention to the neglected statues.

“…those…are the ones that took my kindness, and affection, and used it to blindside me to their evil deeds.” The princess said as she gives them a not so menacing glare.

“The Storm King. The Black Dragon of Hate. The Usurper. And finally the Necroshade. These four humans abused their connection towards me, and the power they acquired when they came to Equestria, and nearly brought the nation to its knees several times.”

“Wait a minute!” Twilight said as she looked towards the princess, a terrorfied expression written on her face. “T-These are the names of some of Equestria’s most dangerous villains! One of them was recorded to have almost killed you in the history books!”

“WHAT!”

the group as a whole said in unison, Luna’s cry more boisterous because of the royal Canterlot voice. Celestia only nodded to what Twilight had just said. The princess then used her magic to remove her gilded neck piece, and once it was removed the ponies plus Adam saw a huge scar across the base of her neck! Twilight has never known about this scar, even the stories she’s read about these evil forces never shed light on this. Celestia then put her neck piece back on, adjusting it so that it fitted comfortably.

“And so my little ponies that is a little bit of lost history, and look into these humans that were brought to Equestria.”

“So what will happen to Adam now?” Pinkie asked as she looked at the human who had made his way to the princess, and was giving her a pat on the back.

“For the time being he will live here in the castle, where I will help him adjust to life and the ways of Equestria.” Celestia said before she developed a look of realization.

“By the way Adam I just remembered about having you look over some artifacts recently found.”

“You mean those strange objects that we, and the guards have found?” Twilight asked the princess who nodded.

“That’s right. you wanted me to look them over, and see if they were like the ones I had on me.”

“That’s right, give me a moment I’ll be right back.”

The princess then vanished from the room in a flash of light, but the alicorn was not gone for to long as she returned to the chamber a minute later. And with her she had the four artifacts that the ponies had so far discovered.

“These are the other artifacts that I was talking about Adam, are they like the ones you own?”

“That’s the Monkey Staff! and the Helmet of Jong. And this is the Longi Kite”

“So you do know what these are?” Luna asked as she, and the other mares gathered around.

“Yeah. They are all like my own shen gong wu.”

“Seriously. This thing is simply called the Monkey Staff?” Rainbow Dash snickered. “Not exactly the most unique name.”

“Rainbow!” Rarity said to her friend who just shrugged her shoulders.

“So what do these uh, shing ong uu, do?” Fluttershy asked as she looked at the artifact.

“Shen gong wu. And these are tools that a monk created in order to stop a powerful witch of dark magic, who tried to turn the entire world in her image.” Adam said as he held the staff in his hand.

“And each of these tools has its own magical ability.”

“And what does the Monkey Staff do?” Twilight asked the human.

“Watch.”

Adam then took a step back from the group, and after simply saying the staff’s name, the ponies watched as his ears and facial features changed into a more monkey like appearance! They then watches the humans hands and feet changed to look like a monkey’s, and his posture becomes almost like one. And the final touch was long furry tail coiling out from behind him. once the semi-transformation was over, Adam then started to flip around the ponies, demonstrating an incredible skill in athletic agility and gymnastics. All of the ponies were surprised to see the human just effortlessly flip around them, and swing around the statues before landing back where he started but was using the staff to support his entire body.

“As you can see, by invoking the power of the Monkey Staff anyone can acquire the physical capabilities of a monkey, so long as they hold the staff.”

the ponies then gathered around him and started to ask various questions about the other facts, and what they were capable of. To demonstrate the other artifacts Adam showed that when he put the dragon kite on, he was able to fly around like a pegasus. when he finished with the kite he then placed the helmet on, but it was placed on backwards however Adam said that is how it was supposed to be put on, then he then showed that the helmet allowed the wearer to see things behind him. by acting as a second pair of eyes.

“So any pony can use these things just by saying their names?” Rainbow Dash asked as she held the Monkey Staff in her forelegs.

“That’s right, which is why the monk and his order try to keep them out of the hands of those who would misuse them.” Adam said to the group of ponies.

“Hey Adam, what do these ones do?” Pinkie Pie asked she gestures to the bird statue, and the black snake thing. the human then walked over to the two other shen gong wu’s and then grabbed then, one in each hand before speaking.

“This—” the human said as he presented the bird statue. “Is called the Shadow of Fear, with this shen gong wu you can either look into the mind of someone and see what their greatest fear is, or bring said fear out into the real world.” the ponies all looked rather unsettled by this fact, and started to dread on seeing their own greatest fear, or even have it be brought into real life. The human then held the other shen gong wu out for the ponies.

“And this one. NEVER say its name ever, or even wipe away the black soot covering it.”

“Wait the black stuff is just soot?” Twilight asked as she looked up to the human with a confused look.

“Yes, and trust me, NEVER speak or even touch this shen gong wu.”

“Why?” Luna asked the human.

“Because…this is one of the most dangerous shen gong wu ever, and it’s almost impossible to stop it unless you know its weakness.”

After going over the shen gong wu, and giving explicit warning about the last un-named one, the ponies wanted to give the three ‘safe’ artifacts a try and all of them like them. Pinkie Pie especially loved the one called the Longi Kite, as she was able to zip around and prove to be quite an adapt flyer. Once the ponies had a chance to give the shen gong wu a try, Celestia teleported back to the treasury vault, before coming back to the group where they Celestia and Adam then started to answer questions that Luna, and the other ponies had about the humans that came before.

But among the questions Adam asked if they are any more shen gong wu that the ponies have found, unfortunately the princesses and the ponies said no but the guards and hired treasure hunters have been sent out to find them as they seemed to be connected to glowing spheres of light. The group continued to talk for a bit longer in the chamber, however the discussions and questions were halted when some of the ponies plus Adam’s stomachs started to grumble. So the group decided to end the talks for now, and went about to go and get something to eat and get to know the human better.