It was some of the guards day off, and Ash was one of the lucky guards. Spending his day sleeping in is one thing he plans on doing, but all good things must come to an end, sadly. The door’s to Ash’s room burst open, a sudden impact lands on Ash. “Get up Ash, it’s Christmas!” Ash sat up with a yell.

“Give me an hour.” Giving Ash an annoyed look, Conner was in the process of removing the covers when Ash’s room guards pulled him off and dragged him out. Ash laid back down with a content sigh when he felt nothing is on him.

“We apologize Sir Ash.”

Ash waved his hand dismissively, not even looking up “Don’t worry about him, he’s always like this.” The sound of a door being closed could be heard, Ash taking that cue to go back to sleep.

A yellow flash appeared in Ash’s room but he ignored it, just wanting to sleep.

A pressure was put on the bed, said pressure wrapped it’s arms around him “Ash~“

Ash gave a whine “Sunshine not you too, I already got bodied by my brother.”

She gave a little giggle before moving in to nuzzle him, “Please~, everypony is already waiting for you. I just took the liberty of getting you.”

Ash pouted “But I don’t want to get up.”

“Not even to have cuddles and kisses with me later on tonight?”

Thinking that prospect over, with a sigh of defeat Ash got up. Celestia giving a laugh of triumph “Now, come on sleepyhead.”

“I’m gonna get you back for this.”

This earned him a cheeky smile “I’d like to see you try.”

Celestia had told them they would be having the present opening in the library, and the princesses were kind enough to let Ash’s friends join them, but were told to head straight back to work afterwards. They called it fair and all agreed to the terms.

When Ash arrived everyone was already there waiting for him “Oh, wow, you actually got up this morning! That’s a surprise.” Rolling his eyes he sat in between Gold Streak and Celestia.

Cosmo Wave broke the ice and asked who was going to go first. Ash being a gentleman suggested the princesses, besides, he was excited to see their reactions to his gift. It took him weeks to make the necklace so he hopes it was worth it.

Luna ended up going first and grabbed a present that was red with big green stripes. Tearing the wrapping off, she opened it for it to reveal a small plush designed to look just like her. She gave an ‘aww’ at the cute design and went to look for a card, but there wasn’t one. She looked up and asked if anypony of them gave her the plush. All of them replied with a ‘no’, but Ash saw in the corner of his eye Orion hiding in the shadows of the crackling fire next to them. He had a bright smile and blush on his face before fading away.

”*Gasp* Does Orion have a-?”

”That would explain why there wasn’t a card.”

Luna sported a blush with Celestia giggling at her sister. Ash felt a whack against his head, knowing it was from Orion. ”It wasn’t even me who said anything!”

Celestia was next, levitating a gift into her arms. This present had a pattern of red polka dots on a white wrapper. ”This one’s mine.” Ash thought himself excitedly. The wrapping was already on the rug, and as she was about to open the box, one of the guards came into the room.

“Your Highness, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza is here.”

Celestia clapped her hands together “Oh, Wonderful! And thank you.” The guard bowed before stepping out of the room.

”Now that’s a long name if I’ve ever heard one.”

Celestia and Luna left the library before coming back with another Alicorn, who to Ash looked like the definition of candy and sugar. Ash stood up and bowed to her “You must be Cadence, Celestia and Lulu have told me great things about you.”

Cadence smiled “And you must be Ash, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Likewise.”

They all walked over to the fireplace after a few words of greeting, Ash whispered to Conner when he caught him staring “Don’t try anything, she’s engaged.” Conner deflated a little but didn’t challenge it.

Ash went back next to Celestia and became excited once more.

Celestia picked up the box once more and removed the lid. She gave a gasp covering her mouth.

Ash worried “D-Do you not like it? Is it to over the top? I’m sorry I-“ Celestia stopped him with light tears.

“Ash it’s beautiful.” She removed it from the box, to show a silver chain holding the pink crystal in a detailed design of the sun as well as tiny gems dotted around it.

Everyone studied the necklace with amazed gazes. Celestia gave Ash a gaze full of love “You made this? Thank you, it’s wonderful.” Ash nodded as well as gesturing to the box.

She picked up the box to make it look like she was setting the necklace back inside but read the hidden message at the bottom.

Will you go on a date with me Princess Celestia? Next Saturday, at 12:30 pm?

“Again, thank you.” Celestia nodded as she was speaking. Ash gladly got the message and smiled happily.

The gift opening went on for about 30 minutes and when it ended Ash’s friends went back to their shifts.

Ash was talking with Cadence when a guard ran into the room, “Sir Ash, you're needed with the other guards.” By his frantic speaking Ash knew it was serious. He excused himself and followed after the guard. His friends following as well.

“There is an attack in Ponyville so I need 100 of you to fight in Ponyville, the rest of you stay here and guard the perimeters of Canterlot."

They all saluted, breaking out with 100 of them heading down towards Ponyville.

The soldiers patrolled the area in groups, Ash was with his friends while the pegasi soldiers searched the sky. Out of now where came an arrow, it sailed through the air and became lodged in Ash’s shoulder. Ash yelled out in pain, when that attack was sent the offenders came out of their hiding spots and began their assault from all around the town. With that the battle commenced. One of the enemies came up from behind Ash. Ash saw it coming and stabbed at the offender’s neck, slicing it and killing them instantly. More continued to surround him and his team, landing hits but luckily weren't fatal. Though they were damaging. As Ash got a closer look, the enemies looked like fawns, like the creature Conner mentioned that kicked him off the bridge. With this revelation Ash began to slash them left and right, because of them, he could have lost his brother. "I lost Alexis, I'm not going to lose Conner."

Ash was broken out of his thoughts when he felt a sharp pain in his stomach, he looked down to see a sword lodged through him. When it was removed, Ash's body lifelessly fell to the dirt below him. Ash could hear a constant ringing in his ears as his vision was failing him and fading to nothing.

"No..."

"I can't give up yet, not now, not ever. For Conner, for Celestia, for Equestria!"

"Commander Forestt, the Mage has been slain. Shall we take our next course of action?"

Commander Forestt nodded "Send in the Manticores." The fawn soldier gave a salute before giving out a signaling cry, which led to roars and battle cries. Out of the Everfree Forest came an army of fawns riding on the backs of Manticores.

The manticores ran through the streets rampaging and feasting on the soldiers who tried to fight them off, but for them it was a losing battle. Almost all of the soldiers were torn to shreds, stabbed do death or eaten by the manticores, and by the looks of it, it looked to be a perfect time to fall back. But a blinding light shining through the whole town blinded the manticores and fawns. Ash rose from the ground, his appearance taking on that of an ancient god. His eyes shown a blinding yellow while his body gave off an angelic white aura. His voice was a deep echo as he spoke to the fawn army "You will leave Equestria and retreat or you will continue to fight and perish, choose wisely!"

Some of the soldiers turned to their Commander for an answer. She only laughed in his face "You expect me to be scared of a pathetic creature whom's ancestors line never even contained magic? Ha! We will continue to fight, that was our orders and our orders are to kill you!"

Ash only gave her a blank stare "Very well." He created a ball of light magic in his hands before lifting it up into the air, the ball of light blasted towards the army like a shock wave. Once it gave a single touch, the army began to burn to dust and disintegrate from very existence. Commander Forestt stared wide eyed before joining death along with her troops.

His own friends had to look away from the severe light but once the light was gone, the sight of Ash falling to the ground at a rapid pace got them back to their senses. Steel Wind quickly flew to his rescue, capturing him before his body hit the ground. Blade cuts, 3rd degree burns and a large gash in his stomach was visible to the surviving soldiers. River Dust gave a glow from her horn to contact Shining Armor and a pair of medics to come and help them with the injured and wounded. When the message was sent River Dust and the others looked down at Ash with extreme worry.

"Sir Ash is stuck inside a deep coma, we're not certain how long it will last for but we're predicting at least several months before he could wake up. He's extremely lucky it isn't anything past that considering his wounds that would have been fatal to others. But for now all we can do is heal the wounds and burns but we can't wake him up." The doctor stepped away from her desk and handed the documents to the princess. She gave a nod and watched the doctor step out of the room.

When the door closed Celestia made a sound proof bubble to give her privacy with her coltfriend as well as locking the door for extra measures. She looked over Ash with tears falling down her cheeks, matting her pristine white fur. "Ash..." Her voice wavered as she said his name "Please wake up." She moved her head closer before touching her forehead with his, being extremely mindful of her horn. "Please come back to me Ash. I can’t lose you.”

Location: Memory Central

4 Years Ago

”Chloe! I’m back and I got you something from London!”

The sound of a bed creaking can be heard throughout the whole apartment. “Chloe? Are okay?” Ash asked as he wandered into their bedroom. He froze at the sight in front of him.

“Faster please!” Chloe was in their bed getting fucked by another man. “I’m cumming!” Ash stood their in disbelief, his mind was racing but his mouth stayed shut.

He could feel his heartbreaking right before his very own eyes. After a few moments he actually found the strength to speak. “Chloe…” At the sound of her name she snapped her head back and froze.

“Ash! Baby, you’re back early! If I’d known I would have-“

“Don’t speak! You knew I called you, you knew I texted you. If you didn’t feel the same way you could have done something could have said something, but you decided to go behind my back and cheat on me. Is this what you’ve been doing every single time you’ve picked up the phone?!”

Chloe stood up from the bed and started to make her way over to him “Ash I…” She couldn’t say anything, because he was right.

“Just leave Chloe, you and your boyfriend.”Chloe tried ‘reasoning’ with him saying he was never home and they’d never spent any time together the past few months. “But that doesn’t excuse the fact that you cheated on me, now leave!”

That brought the end to their argument.

And relationship.

8 Years Ago

A car was driving down the highway with two people in the front seat listening to the radio. “Alexis, do we have to listen to Taylor Swift?”

Alexis only laughed “My car, my rules, my tunes. I own this thing sucker, so you’re just going to have to Suck. It. Up.”

Ash sighed, knowing he wasn’t going to win this battle. “Where are we going anyways?”

Alexis deadpanned “To the funnest place ever.”

Ash dragged his hand out, signaling her to continue “And that is…?”

Alexis squealed “The mall!”

Ash gasped before banging on the window of the car “No! Get me out of this death trap!”

Alexis shoved his shoulder with her right hand “Stop being such a baby, we can go to GameStop to make you feel better.” At that mention, Ash’s mood took a complete turn at the mention of GameStop.

They continued down the road but as they were going through a green light a car on the opposite side of them was speeding at about 95 mph. They didn’t have time to stop for the car to just speed by.

The other vehicle slammed in full force on Alexis’s side of the car and the force of the hit sent the car rolling. Ash was still conscious while the car was upside down when the tumbling stopped, but he turned to Alexis and saw blood dripping on the ceiling of the car, dripping from her head. Ash pulled out his phone on instinct and dialed 911. He gave them their location and situation before looking at his sister once more. He studied her and found a giant gash in her head with a bunch of cuts from the broken glass.

“You’re going to be fine, the ambulance is on its way.” He reassured her as much as he was trying to reassure himself.

But the damage was done.

Alexis was dead.

24 Years Ago

Ash was running down the halls, laughing being chased by a grown man with brown hair and green eyes. He was wearing a Lord of the Rings shirt with blue jeans. “I’m gonna get ya you little monkey!” Young Ash squealed with laughter.

“No you’re not!”

Young Ash was then brought into a surprise embrace. “Yes I am because I have Conner on my side!” Ash yelled when Conner wouldn’t let him go.

“No fair!” In the middle of their little fight, Ash’s dad gave a little cough, but after a few seconds it was more than a few. Then it turned into a coughing fit. The fighting boys stopped when they saw there dad kneel to the ground. Ash tried comforting their dad while Conner ran to get their mom.

The next thing Ash knew is that their mom was on the phone and Ash and his siblings were in the car being driven behind an ambulance.

“Mommy, is daddy gonna be okay?”

Their mother was in tears mumbling to herself “You dad is going to a place where they will make him feel better.”

Conner then said with a frown “Is dad going to die?”

Their mom quickly turned around “No your father isn’t going to die he’s going to be fine.”

They soon parked their car and stood in a room where Ash’s dad was coughing up blood in a hospital bed.

The doctors were doing everything they could but his status was too severe. Ash watched as the doctors talked to his mom, they mentioned something about a severe heart failure. Ash didn’t know what that meant but it must have been really bad by his mother’s reaction.

The line on the heart monitor went straight and the sight brought his mother to hug her husband with tears in her eyes.

Ash was holding Alexis while Conner was holding onto Emily’s hand. Emily turned to Conner “Why isn’t daddy waking up?”

Conner hugged a confused Emily with tears “He’s in a better place.”

Ash stood frozen, at such a young age he already lost someone important to him.

2 Months Ago

Celestia took his place.

Ash quickly picked her up and took her to the same alleyway he came out of. “No, no, no, no, NO! I can’t lose you! Not you Celestia, I won’t allow it. You mean too much to me!” Ash watched as her breathing became labored. And Ash wasn’t just going to just watch the one he hasn’t realized he’s loved yet, be taken away from him. Ash moved his head closer to hers and let his burning magic flow into her as he touched her forehead with his.

Ash laid back as he watched her wound begin to heal itself. And watching her raise her body up like it did, the biggest wave of relief washes over him. “Thank the Lord.”

Celestia gasped as she removed her forehead from his. Watching those memories broke her heart. He’s lost so much, but seeing him relieved of her healing brought a massive warmth to her heart. Celestia lowered her head again and planted a gentle kiss on his lips.

She released the kiss “I love you, so much Ash. And I can’t wait for you to get better, and so you may take me out on that date.”

With a hug, she cancelled the sound proof spell and unlocked the door before leaving to her chambers.

A desk was thrown against the wall, “Even with Manticores I can’t seem to defeat him! I need to know his weakness, everyone has one. But what is it?!” She threw a chair in her fit of rage.

A fawn addressee nervously coughed, the Commander snapped her head towards the imposing creature “What!!”

The fawn found the confidence to speak “May I suggest a hint, he is named the Sun Mage. So that means he would be connected to the sun. And who controls the sun?”

Commander stared blankly before laughing maniacally “Princess Celestia!! Hahaha!!”

Author's Note

Thank you for reading and I hope you liked this chapter. Stick around for the next chapters to come and stay tuned to know when and if Ash will wake up from his coma.

Thank you so much and enjoy the rest of your day!