When the darkness comes

(Sorry for the long wait.)

The everfree forest

Second year since the redemption of the moon/ 2486 CE (Council era)

Prometheus POV

9:35 A.M

After me and the zebra, Zecora, had breakfast. I startled looking through my bag to see if it has a miniature distress beacon or some clothes I could wear since mine are torn up by that damn manticore. Seriously this place, it…it feels like I’m in some sort of a six-year old girly dreamland.

‘Ugh’

I pray to the spirits that the locals have a spaceport or I may have to spend the rest of my immortal life here until they found a way to achieve spaceflight, but now I’m stuck here; if I can find a FUCKING BEACON IN THIS BAG!

I’m so damn tired of getting into these situations like this. Luckily, there were some spare clothes I could wear on this planet , and some military bar rations.

That soup that Zecora made isn’t going to last me forever.

after inspecting my belongings, I put out my IPod to listen to music while I rummage through my bag. I click it on, and scroll thought my list of favs.

I picked Serpentine.

See the dogs come running

Smelling blood now

to an open sore

on a parasite

Countless hearts have fallen

Hard to number

Damnation's whore

is looking for a victim tonight

Good thing I had headphones since zecora went to a town named….Ponyville was it, on the outskirts of the forest to get ingredients for a healing potion, because I don’t have the time to explain to her about a device that plays music. Though  she was a lot happier this morning than what happen last night.

The pistol that I had was on one of the shelf that she kindly put, despite knowing the purpose of the device that could kill a raging manticore.

Though I do have concerns about this world; during Zecora brief history of this world about Pegasus being stewards of the  weather, bending and manipulate it at their own will. Unicorns using...magic to manipulate physics at their own will, unlike element zero that manipulate dark matter, these beings that Zecora describe can able to shoot out fire and eclectic at their own will. Thought the most concerning part was about these two...ponies controlling the sun and the moon itself.

That...that bullshit. There no way that possible. Two beings that posses the power to move large celestial bodies at will is impossible. Even if Zecora words sounded crazy, I can tell from my experience at interrogating prisoners that she wasn't lying. Every word that came out of her was...true, but it doesn't make me believe about ponies rising and lowing celestial bodies.

Of course they may have been lying to keep themselves in power over those who were easier to followed them blindly.

I went to the hut’s restroom with the spare clothes with me, closing the door; I stop my IPod and remove my headphones. I set it on a counter as I change out of my shirt and pants, leaving me almost naked except my underwear, exposing my pale skin and filmy build body as I put on a long sleeve shirt that is red except the sleeves are black; My pants’ color is orange with lines running down are colored magenta.

I’m really not into the fashion sense unlike my another daughter, Victoria. She really into fashion that sometimes she used me to try out her latest fashion (Not female clothes of course).

I could have refused to do it, but she usable gives me those puppy dog eyes look that she does when she was a little kid.

I always give in into that.

‘Ugh’

After that was done, I look over  myself in the mirror, seeing the dire blood and dirt in my hair, some of the blood mixing in with the brown markings on my face; seeing there no form of a sink. I opened the door and walked around to find a bottle of water to wash off the dirt and dried blood.

Finally found one on the lower shelves near a window to the forest, giving me a clear view of the fauna out there. From what can tell, this forest is very dense, enough to hinder anyone view without a light source and giving the predators the prefect chance to hide in the bushes, and await their prey. I don’t know if its morning or not since the sun’s breams can’t reach thought the dense tree lines.

‘Even prefect for snipers; waiting for hours, looking for the enemy to come,’ I thought, as I remember one of my Battles with the Batarians in the jungles of the Turian colony, Septimus, named after the general who fought and die during the Reaper war.

I grab the bottle and went back to the restroom, shutting the door again. I stand in front of the mirror again, turning my head over a nearly bucket. I turned the bottle over my head, pouring down the water; making contact with my hair.

I moved my left hand on getting the dirt out, well most of it if zecora had a shower.

The dried blood is going to be a major problem if I enter town with blood on my face, it will give them the wrong idea to attack me.

After feeling there no more water, I set the bottle on the counter next to my IPod. I let out a sigh as I looked on the small musical device.

Ever since I was a kid, I was so interested in 20th century technology that I could search the extranet though my free time, and tried to buy some old technology from some Citadel tech store’s websites.

I brought this IPod about one hundred fifty years ago at an auction sale on Illium; luckily I outbid a Salarian tech junkie by biding six hundred thousand credits for the damn thing.

I laugh a little when how stupid I was, spending all that money on a small device that can only play music.

I grab my IPod and my torn up clothes and turned the doorknob. I open the door and put my old clothes in the bag while continue to search for my Omni-tool.

I began to sing along while trying to find my Omni-tool. Damn it, why did they have to make the drive so small for portable use?

“With an angry soul

And a wicked design

your will cannot endure

and your heart is torn away

I was caught up in the moment

We were alone and

You seemed to harness the light

Even though I felt cold inside

When you told me it would be alright

I had given up control and

I didn't focus hard enough to see

The warning signs

Your heart is serpentine

Damn what I'm becoming

One of them now

Just an opened door

On an endless night

Dark desire burning

In my blood now

How can I be sure?

I don't know if I'll be able to fight.”

I finally found the freaking thing under my laptop, putting it out of my bag; luckily it didn’t suffer any damage from the laptop weight. I examine the black drive as I moved it around the front. The back, It slides, and the bottom. There no scratch marks or cracks on it. No external damage, it looks good as new.

(I’m just speculating here how to put an omni-tool on, so don’t kill me for this.)

I swiftly move the drive towards my arm, watching as the drive magnetize on my right forearm. I stutter as I feel the cold metal of the drive on my skin.

Ignoring the coldness, I continue to sing the song.

“With a tortured soul

And an honest design

My will cannot endure

As my heart is torn away

I was caught up in the moment

We were alone and

You seemed to harness the light

Even though I felt cold inside

When you told me it would be alright

I had given up control and

I didn't focus hard enough to see

The warning signs

Your heart is serpentine”

I stop the song again, as I moved my right arm around to see if the omni-tool is working right.

*ping*

My forearm and my hand were quickly enveloped in a reddest light, revealing a holographic screen, also the holographic keyboard need to type in the correct password to unlock its functions.

++Please enter password++

++Athena++

++Password accepted++

++Welcome back General Prometheus Bychovskaya-Victus++

I sighed as my Omni-tool ping again, knowing that it allow me full access. I moved one of my fingers to the screen, clicking on it. The seal of the turian military appeared as the background, with several programs and folders on the screen as well. I click on each one of them to see if they’re working right.

The hacking abilities are clean and not damage, but I don’t think the locals have any electronics that I can hack into.

The comms are working fine, but needs a little calibrating to get any signal out here.

My personal stuff, mostly my pictures and videos of my family and friends were not label corrupt.

I closed the omni-tool down, seeing that there are no viruses harming it. I sat down and shifted my legs into a ‘v’ sitting position near one of the windows, feeling the heat on my back. The warmness feels good as I take out one last thing from my bag.

The picture of my…wife and my daughters.

It was me, my wife, and our three kids taking a picture in the wards, showing the view of the station arms in the background.

The Picture was taken in the year twenty two filthy during our trip to the Citadel, even though I been on that ancient station a couple of times with my meetings with council to conduct Strategies on patrols guarding the ever expanding mass relay network while planning or raided a couple of pirate or slaver dens in Skyllian Verge, yet it was the first time I took a vacation on that station; me and my wife laughed when we saw our daughters reaction to see the station for the first time.

After the battle of earth, the Citadel was a mess. Pieces of it arms were scatter across the orbit of earth. We hadn’t even started to repair it when we were finishing repairing the Charon relay; with the help of the surviving keepers, we were able to repair the power and the arms in record time. Luckily the station had some sort of Element Zero thrusters that helps move it to earth, during the final moments of the war. After it was completely repaired, we moved it back to its original position in the Serpent Nebula; of course it did come with a few changes to it. The fleets that guard the relays to it had been doubted, and security has also been doubted to combat the ever-growing crime rate that had been rising due to economic overtures after the second war with the terminus systems.

It was cute when Victoria tried to disturb one of the Keepers while we were walking around the Presidium, though she did have gotten scared when it snarled at her.

Of course I and my wife did have some R&R in a hotel room while the kids were visiting my old friend’s daughter, Siena Vakarian.

I still (even in my three hundred nine years of my life) that I find hard to believe how a turian impregnates one of the greatest heroes in the galaxy, Commander Adolfina Shepard; despite being a different species.

Now I and my wife on Palaven hear about this during dinner, I nearly split my food out when hearing that the father was Garrus. My old trainer during boot camp.

Like how is that possible, they ‘are two different species. Hell, They don’t even have the same blood. Bloody hell I shouldn’t talk about it since it gives a fucking headache every time I think about it.

I move my hand down to the IPod that is attached to my pants, clicking on the IPod to start the song again.

“Damn what I'm becoming

One of them now

Just an opened door

On an endless night

Dark desire burning

In my blood now

How can I be sure?

I don't know if I'll be able to fight”

I sing to the song as I stare into the picture; memories of my family life appearing in my mind.

“With a tortured soul

And an honest design

My will cannot endure

As my heart is torn away

I was caught up in the moment

We were alone and

You seemed to harness the light

Even though I felt cold inside

When you told me it would be alright

I had given up control and

I didn't focus hard enough to see

The warning signs

Your heart is serpentine

Now that I've been torn apart

Will there be an end to this?

Will there finally be release?

Will I finally rest in peace?

I'm determined to believe

my prayers will be received.”

I don’t know if I can continue this lifestyle anymore?

“With a tortured soul

And an honest design

My will cannot endure

As my heart is torn away

I was caught up in the moment

We were alone and

You seemed to harness the light

Even though I felt cold inside

When you told me it would be alright

I had given up control and

I didn't focus hard enough to see

The warning signs

Your heart is serpentine

The warning signs

Your heart is serpentine

Evil personified

Your heart is serpentine.”

“May the spirits forgive me for what I done.” I spoke.

The song ends as I put the picture in my pocket; and stare at the ceiling.

I don’t know why fate has given me this gift? Did it do this just to hurt me, or something more? But who was that voice that stopped me from killing myself.

"Don't give up, your there only hope."

What did that voice mean by that? Only hope? I’m no hero, despite what the vids or everyone in the galaxy thinks. I’m just a soldier who is tired of fighting every time that the council gets into trouble.

I just want to go home and spent time with my grandchildren on Thessia, feeling her gentle breeze through the night on the outskirts of Alida, a small coastal city on the northern continent that luckily survive the reaper invasion. My wife had own a small estate that was on a small hill, overlooking the city, showing the beautiful ocean itself.

I remember as me and my wife lay on one of the grass hills that covered the outskirts of the city; with her hands wrap around my, as the sun slowly descents below the horizon, flashing the sky with red, blue, and orange.

We just sit there, hours on end, watching thessia’s sun going down; waiting until the moon shows itself.

It was time to get back to the estate. Our daughters were always worried about us when we go out; as I and my wife stood up, going back to the estate. But before we head out, my wife kissed me and whisper something in my ear. My face grace out a wide smile that day. The day

My thoughts were interrupted, as the door to the hunt creaked open.

"Zecora, is that you?” I called out; turning off my IPod as the door was fully opened, revealing the Mohawk Zebra with two saddle bags.

As I expected it was the zebra, carrying in her saddle bags were plants and vegetables that were familiar to me on earth. While the other carries fruits and other vegetables that; such as: Applies, Peas, beans, Turnip greens, and other vegetables that could make something pretty good to eat.

I lifted myself up as she unbuckles the bags and places them on the table. She begins to remove the plants and veggies, and setting up accorded on the table.

Creaked

I stop as I hear the floorboards of the hut creaked. I craned my neck towards the source of the creaked, only to find myself being stare at…a unicorn.

The unknown unicorn eyes were a moderate violet with a sapphire mane that had brilliant rose steaks on it, but her coat was unusual for a pony on earth. The coat was a pale, light grayish mulberry; on her flank was a…tattoo with a large purple star with several others around it.

The unicorns’ pupils shrink as she continues to stare at me. I looked back to zecora, still unpacking the ingredients.

I lifted my right hand and cough, grading the attention of the zebra.

I nodded my head towards the shocked unicorn that is slowly moving towards the door. Zecora was shocked at the unicorn that had followed her to her home.

“Twilight, This is unexpected. I didn’t predict that you will follow me since our last conversion.” Zecora said, irritated in her voice. The unicorn did not respond and simply at me even more.

I hold out my hand forward and sapped my fingers to try get now named unicorn ‘Twilight’ out of her trance.

The unicorns blinked and close her eyes again than open them up again, breaking the staring; her pupils return to normal. I can hear her regain her breath.

“Are you all right?” I said, crossing my arms; breaking the silence in the hut.

The purple unicorn gasps and took a step back.

“You…you’re a human!” the unicorn finally spoke, shocked in her voice.

My eyebrow perked at the mention of my species’ name. ‘Did zecora tell her about me? No she told me right before she left that she will not reveal me until the right moment.’

“How do you know my species name, unicorn?” I said as I emphasize on the word unicorn, trying to be a little threating to her to sprint the beans.

The unicorn didn’t respond as she brushed locks of her purple hair, looking down at the hut’s floor. I was getting really frustrated from this pony. I snapped my fingers again.

“I’m sorry, again. I was only thinking.” She apologized. The purple unicorn took a deep breath, inhaling and exhaling through her nose.

“Humans were once legends in my books at the library… until now.”

She lifts her head and stared at my red eyes again.

My mind was about the unicorn’ revelation was mixed. She could have been lying to me, and had may have convinced zecora about me, even though zecora told me right before she left that she won’t revealed me until the right time.

Or maybe...no, no it can’t be. They were supposed be all killed on New Florentia and New Mediolanum.

How is this possible? We destroyed their bunker. Their cloning factices were destroyed.

A thought pierced thought my mind.

Equestria, Equestria, Equestria.

I finally remember that familiar name now. Equestria is their homeworld.

I have to warn the council, the turian Hierarchy, hell even the terminus systems if I have too.

They’ve returned

My left hand began to shaken from this revelation. This is one of the few times in my life that I been afraid of something. And they are one of these times.

My shaken came to stop when I felt a certain touch on my arm. I looked down, locking my red eyes with the one that touch me.

It was zecora, her hoof running up and down on my arm, concern in her eyes.

“I’m fine, zecora just a shaken what….the unicorn just say?” I lied. I couldn’t tell her about them. She could be one of their puppets by now.

The zebra let go of my arm, but concern about me is still in her eyes.

“So, is this the part where you suppose to take me to your home?” I asked the unicorn.

The unicorn looked at me; I can tell from her eyes were gleaming with enthusiasm and with a thirst of knowledge for me since I can tell this one is very smart.

The unicorn begins to jumping up and down in excitement. I couldn’t help but laugh at this, she like a little girl in candy store.

After a few moments of her jumping around the hut, she finally had claimed down.

“Yes finally a human! My questions will finally be answered!” she exclaimed.

I looked down to zecora to see if she okay with me going with her.

“You can go with her, but I believed her excitement will overwhelm you in the future.” She warns.

I gather my belongings and hoister my pistol, saying my goodbyes to the zebra, knowing that I will visit her someday. I told the unicorn I’m ready to head out.

Third person view

The unicorn was thrilled of having a legendary creature among her kind. She had read stories in the Canterlot Library when she was a little filly; stories about this man who served among her teacher’s mother, Queen Lauren Faust, in the War of Secession from the Zebraica Empire. The First contact war with the griffons, and the bloodiest war in Equestria history.

The war with the god of chaos himself, discord; the war itself had ravaged across Equestria for 20 years. Thousands of lives had been taken in battles around the deserted city of Canterlot, even the human live was taken during the battle of White Tail Woods. The war was at a stalemate. Discord himself was able to use a speech spell that can allow him to convinced thousands to his cause. Yet, during the final years of the war, Faust daughters were use the one of the greatest weapon against the god of chaos.

The Elements of Harmony

Twilight was always interested in that era since one of her ancestors had taken part in the war as a healer during the final battle in Canterlot. Yet now standing beside her is… one of the greatest things that happen in ponykind since Princess Luna’s return.

“So, twilight is it? Which way to your home?” a voice asked.

Twilight shanked her head, breaking her train of thought. They were outside of the hut; she looked again at the human; his red sapphire eyes staring right back at her.

Twilight couldn’t help but stare into those eyes. They were beautiful as the flowers she smelled when she reads her books in the Canterlot Gardens. His silver hair was glistening from the sun’s rays from the gaps that were not blocked from the dense trees around them.

The most noticeable about this human are his scars. There is one scar that is trace on his left creek from his neck, though you can see it if you’re up close. She can clearly tell that his body is very muscular in appearance.

She can also tell that he about tall as her mentor, about six feet tall. It seems strange to her, seeing a creature that tall in front of her. The only creatures that were tall were the Creatures from this forest that eat…meat.

Her mind shudder at that thought. She had read countless books at the Ponyville library about how diets and environment conditions can affect the growth of animals and sentient beings; but since her species’ diet considers of a (somewhat) Herbivore diet, but ponies can eat some meat, such as fish and dairy products. Yet their maximum height is at least four feet.

“Hey, are you okay?” a concern voice said.

She quickly snaps out of her another trance.

‘What is happening to me? Why do I keep acting up like this?'  She though, confusion and frustration clouded her mind.

She looked up to the human again. If she can tell from his facial expressions; he was concern about her.

“Yes, I’m fine just thinking about something.” She responded

“Really now, what were you thinking while you were starting at my eyes?” Prometheus smirked as the unicorn turned red like a tomato.

“Relax, twilight I was only joking.” Prometheus laughed as he starts to walk north.

“Hey! Where are you going?” Twilight yell in response to his sudden departure from their conversion.

“Saw your town about north of here when I was drop here, and besides by the looks of this forest, it very dangerous.” He explained as he continues walking thought the dense forest.

“Hey, wait up!” she sprinted towards the human as he begins to laugh.

In the bushes among the tree lines, he watches as the unicorn ran off towards the human. The human appearance has caused a stir in its programs. It made several clicking sounds as his programs decide what to do. It has been marooned on this planet for sixty years, twelve days, thirty six minutes and still been counting ever since. It had watched the planet’s locals for days, observing them. It had finally made a decision, to confront the human and hopefully has a ship to get back to its creators in Citadel Space, thought the human does look familiar to him, he quickly search though his memories to Identify the albino human. Several seconds pass by and it made another clicking sound and made a low sounding whistle as it finally recognize the human.

“Prometheus-General,” It spoke it first words in sixty years.

The leaves around it began to crunch as he begins to follow the human and its unicorn friend.

In route to Ponyville

9:54 A.M

2th year since the redemption of the moon/ 2486 CE (Council era)

“We are nearly to the town, your Majesty.” One of the Pegasus guards who putting the flying carriage, spoke.

Celestia looked up from the latest report from the minster of industries about the latest increase of production in Trottingham. She sat the scroll down next to her on her seat and look down, seeing her beautiful country.

Her sister was not with her since she instead use a teleporting spell to get to Ponyville to assist with the ‘anomaly’ in the everfree forest.

Of course, she is missing this beautiful view of the countryside.

Her carriage passes over many of her subject’s towns, seeing going thought their day to day lives as if it was nothing. She had sent her student to the name, Ponyville two years ago were she discover her destiny and her friends destiny as the wielders of the Elements of Harmony. She was so proud of her, yet she felt regretless in her.

She closed her eyes and silently signed.

She was supposed to be the most powerful alicorn in the land, but instead she was beaten and was, temporarily, banished by Nightmare Moon. She knew that there was a possibly that her student won’t survive the confrontation, but instead of hearing her sister’ maniacal laugh, her student and her friends have defeat Nightmare moon with the Elements of Harmony.

The princess snapped out of her thoughts as she feels the carriage began to descend.

‘We’re already here.’ She thought.

The carriage came to a stop as it hit the ground.

She steps out and glances around the town. The residents of the town stopped what they were doing, and bowed. Apparently she had arrival during the middle of a work day.

She trotted along the dirt road, leading up towards the town marketplace with her escort of royal guards behind her.

She passed many of her subjects, who in response, bow to her. Their reaction to the princesses’ sudden visit was…unexpected.

As she walks thought the marketplace, she couldn’t help smell the newly fresh meats that were being sold to the common folk, and couldn't want to try one of them, but her royal duties come first as always.

She remembers how this town was once part of the Everfree Forest until she sold to the Apple family eighty years ago. Their small apple farm soon began to grow profitable when they began to grow zap apples, and sold to customers far and wide; even some decide to stay there, such as one of the richest ponies at the time, Stinky Rich.

She continues walking towards her pupil home: An old library that is actually a carved out tree. She can now see the tree as she make her way towards it, seeing it leaves begin to change color, and some fall to the ground.

As she approaches the door while her guards take positions around the tree house, she begins to feel a familiar…energy coming from Twilight house.

An energy that she, herself. had not felt since she was a little filly.

She knocks on the wooden door, either awaiting a response from twilight assailant, spike, or her student.

No response came.

She knocked on the door again; still no response.

She was getting a little irradiated.

“Twilight, it me, Princess Celestia, I’ve come for a visit.” She called out, hoping for the purple unicorn to recognize her voice and opened the door.

She imminently hears some hoof steps coming from the inside.

The door slowly creaks open, letting out some of the heat that the tree house contained.

“Greetings, my faithful student, I wish to speak to you on…”She stops her sentence when she set her eyes on twilight; she gasps at what she saw.

What in front was her student, instead of the happy student who always diverges into her books, was…shedding tears on the wooden floor below them. Her mane was a mess, her fur was covered in dirt and…blood. There were some minor cuts and bruises around her hoofs.

Celestia, even her guards, were shock at the student injuries.

The student whimpers under her voice, new batch of tears begin to appear in her eyes.

“Please…follow me…Princess.”  Twilight mouth quiver as the tears steam down her cheeks.

The Princess shakily complied and ordered her guards to stay where they were; they nodded and stood their guard around the tree house, despite what they saw transpired a few seconds ago.

Twilight moved aside for her mentor to enter her home. Her mentor slowly enters her student’s household, only seeing it was a complete mess. Books were pile up on each other, on the ground. She could see some ash on the ground.

She was horridly by what happen to her student, she was like a daughter to her. Who could have done this to her?

“Please…follow me.” Her student called out, hearing a whimper after that.

Celestia follow her student through the messy floors cover in books, reaching the stairs. Their hoofs creaked as they ascended up towards Twilight bedroom.

“T-Twilight, what has happen…to you?” Celestia spoke, breaking the silence around them.

No answer came from the purple unicorn.

Celestia didn’t ask again, worrying that her student is too traumatize to speak.

They had finally reached the door to Twilight bedroom. No one spoke, only hearing their breathing; twilight lifted her left bruised hoof towards the door.

She knocks on the bedroom door twice, and setting the hoof down on the floor. “Princess Luna…your sister here, should we show him?” she choked on her words.

Celestia mind was at a buzz. What did she meant, showing him?

She stops her thoughts when a teary reply came.

“Yes,”

Twilight lifted her left hoof again, and moves it towards the door knob.

The door creakily open, Celestia holds her breath, seeing the answer to why her student and her Sister were hiding something.

Celestia can only gasp, and tears begin forming around the corner of her eyes.

Sleeping on her student couch was…a human. She couldn’t believe it; in her immoral life, the only human she had ever met, that raised both her and her sister, alongside her mother, during before and during Equestria dark time.

The human was heavily wounded. It clothing was torn up, bullet holes in his shirt.

It blood was steaming down his right hand, staining the couch.

It face was covered in blood. It skin was very pale.

It chest barley raised and fall again in rhythm, standing beside the human was her sister, Luna.

Her sister had her front hoofs around the human neck, crying on his shoulder.

Celestia can hear her sister’s peas, shock to hear what her sister was saying.

“Please... please don’t leave us again, papa. Don’t leave me in the dark alone again.”

Celestia mind was at a friz, her tears were steaming uncontrollably at the sight of her sister crying over the unconscious human male.

'This cannot be true, he was supposed to pass from our world to the next.'

The guardian has returned, and he'll reclaim what rightfully his own.

(Please Like and fav, and leave a comment.)

Edit: change the ending sentence.