(Perspective of view: Ryan Steele)

“Is… he …ake?”

“Applejack ….ook!”

My head started to rise after recovering whatever dream delusional trip that was. I could hear bits and pieces of two people talking to each other until I eventually came to my senses. I didn’t like when I did. Flashes of memories I never knew I had come to me, knowledge implanted into my mind revolving around death and rebirth from the encounter with the two deities is devastating.

“Nine regenerating lives, that’s what this body brings me. Any god who calls this a fucking gift is out of their minds.” My aging even stopped.

Where am I? The depressing atmosphere and nearly pure white room, an uncomfortable bed I’m lying down on and covered up in bandages around my arms and head while wearing some white robe with green polka dots. Applejack was hovering over, smiling wider than I thought she could even manage. Probably could’ve rivaled the pink demon’s smile too. Yep, I’m in a hospital right now.

A shiver rolls down my back at the mere thought of her. “Good thing I’ll never see her ever again.” The shivers only grow worse after thinking that.

Applejack looks at my shuddering body. A concerned frown is present on the gal’s face. “Looky here, the fellow is finally awake, about time too. The doctors ain’t say he was physically sick though, in that head of his is an entirely different story.”

“Hardy hardy har.” I start sitting up to give the pony a piece of my mind to repay her for the terrible joke. “You’re a real piece of work lady and I’d kick your ass if it meant that I could- OOF!” I’m cut off when an attacker leaps at my chest and wraps their arms around me in a death grip, actually making that two attackers because another one piles on my other side.

The purple colored scamp who was already my height had decided to tighten his claws around my midsection. “Ryan! Fuck me man! You had a bro worry about you. We were already arranging the funeral too, guess Night and Shining aren’t gonna be popping beer bottles now.” Spike’s happy face was always a sight to see.

Besides a few of my bones probably cracking under the pressure I decided to crack a joke for my little brother to lighten the mood. “Yeah, well tell pops and Shining that there isn’t an easy way of getting rid of me. I’ll guide you so much to the point where Twilight’s lectures start leaving your head.”

From the other side of this frontal assault, a pair of purple hands tries bringing me closer to them. “Ryan, if you keep scaring us, my mane is going to go white from stress. I was so scared when you got those injuries, they should have been life threatening for Celestia’s sake!”

I manage a laugh out of my throat. “It doesn’t matter, we’re all fine and dandy. It’s a shame I’ll never see that weird place again. I’m pretty sure I owe them some sort of birthday present when that time rolls around.” The orange pony who was beside the hospital bed, snorted in amusement.

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that partner. I am here standing in front of y’all so that could be a good indicator.” Applejack grinned, I considered what she meant. It’s hard to do so with a lack of oxygen however.

Rubbing the bottom of my nonexistent beard, I do my best to come up with some explanation. “Mmm, is it a send off party? Which in that case, you’re cool in my book if you’re willing to stick around for however long ago I got knocked out for.” Spike moves one of the hands that were constricting around me to cover his own mouth, holding back his laughter.

My little brother’s eye holsters a glint of mischief. “If that’s what you want then you won’t like what Twilight has to say.” I raise an eyebrow and look at Twi as if to ask, ‘what does he mean by that?’

Twilight smile grows to a fully fledged tooth filled smile. “We’re staying here in Ponyville, all three of us are. I guess you can go out to get those drinks that you were offering.”

“I’m staying here? S-so no more luxury bedrooms, maid service, or protection by the crown?” I nearly devolved into a fully fledged attack. A nigh complete and utter mental spiral to feel myself go insane but control myself enough in an act of composure. “No more adult supervision. I am the adult now! I’ll be able to rip and tear at the seams whenever I desire and no egotistical maniac of a poser can stop me! I’ll do whatever I want now Princess Celestia.”

Twi pokes the side of my cheek. “Uh are you alright Ryan?” She asks me.

A sly grin I didn’t know I was holding appeared. “Oh you’ve got no idea how alright I am.” I start ruffling up my own hair to get rid of its new morning appearance. “When am I gonna be discharged? I don’t see any injuries on myself, plus nothing feels broken as far as I’m concerned.”

“And I think we all know why that is.” Twilight’s tone turns serious, she motions for Spike to leave, who shrugs and walks out of the door. “Ryan, by all means you should be dead. I chose not to tell Princess Celestia, and Princess Luna doesn’t seem to remember you dying during that fight.” Dammit I should have predicted that. Of course oh so mighty Princess Celestia herself would check up on her student; gotta have some type of save for this, right? And my number one sister hid the truth from her; maybe those loyalty lessons have been paying off.

“I don’t recognize who the hell Princess Luna is though. Maybe she’s some sort of long distant royal from another land.” Assuming my guess is right, I’ve got another royal up my ass to think about then.

Applejack nods, agreeing with my younger sibling. “It just ain’t natural, which is why this entire thing doesn’t add up Sugarcube.” She walks forward, her hooves clopping on the floor, when she places a hand on the side of my bed. “Don’t you have any idea how that happened? This ain’t even mentioning the huge spark of light that came from you.” I blankly stare ahead, being sure not to gaze into either of their eyes.

Dammit this is too soon. Heck, I’m only learning why that happened now. Keeping my mind busy from it is what’s keeping me from wrecking this room from top to bottom.

Opening my mouth for a second, I close it again, unsure of what exactly to say.

A bead of sweat drops from my back. I make a clicking noise with my tongue and sigh, charisma stat be damned if it didn’t help me in this situation. “I’m not sure if I’m ready to answer that. Could you all just leave out? I need some time to think for myself, I can’t slip back into what I was thinking about.” Fuck me for half truths. All I can do is practically stall and stall for time on this.

The two ponies look at each other. Quickly moving away from the opposite sides of the bed and whispering to each other in the farther corner of the room. They briskly nod and leave one after the other, not before Applejack says this though.

“Take care of yourself before you take care of others Ryan. I don’t care if you’re rough around the edges, you are a friend to me and more important to your family. I’ll always be at Sweet Apple Acres if you need me.” She gives me a pitying smile, carefully making sure not to slam the door shut.

I instantly go slack in my hospital bed, releasing a breath of relief.

“Just me, myself, and I.” I soberly joke. Might as well check out my fixed stats now.

‘Showcasing player: (Ryan Steele/Myriad) Status screen!’

Player: (Ryan Steele/Myriad)

Power 15
Born: 11/21/03
Race: Cameo (Ascended)
Age: 28
Time: 9:42 AM
Strength: 25
Agility:40
Intelligence: 5
Willpower: 15
Fortitude: 15
Charisma: 35
Attunement(s): None
Armor: 100%
Blood: 100%
Hunger: 99%
Thirst: 89%

Investment Points: 37

Medium Weapon: 35
Light Weapon: 20
Heavy Weapon: 10

I snorted. “Something to keep track of my vitals? That isn’t nearly enough to compensate but who am I to complain, a wronged soul in a wronger world by the wrongest Princess to exist.”

“That’s much, much better, might as well point these left over points to good use. And stop doing the whole ‘Myriad’ thing, it’s annoying beyond belief.” I pressed the plus signs next to the stat screens.

Player: (Ryan Steele)

Power 15
Born: 11/21/03
Race: Cameo (Ascended)
Age: 28
Time: 9:42 AM
Strength: 25
Agility:40
Intelligence: 5
Willpower: 15
Fortitude: 15
Charisma: 40
Attunement(s): None

Investment Points: 0

Medium Weapon: 50
Light Weapon: 22
Heavy Weapon: 25

A small audible ping from above my forehead appears, a blue orb from it materializes and breaks open, showing me four cards that had the same yellow and brown ornate decoration that I’ve previously seen.

‘New talent(s) unlocked; Steady footing, Wyvern’s Claw, Thresher’s Claw, Avenger (D+). New Mantra(s) unlocked; Twin Cleave’

“More bullshit to worry about for later. I’m tired of staring at these blue screens all day.” I grumble.

As Ryan prepared to open up the loot chest that was also gifted to him, a knock at the door nearly stopped me yet he managed to clumsily press it anyways, activating an animation in the process.

(Perspective of view: Third Person)

Princess Celestia has been known to be a patient mare, awaiting for her dear and cherished friend Ryan Steele to get situated. After her student left for home and told her to withhold congratulations for ten or so minutes, she understood.

She however was growing concerned after hearing Ryan talk to himself for the entire time and was now knocking at his door.

“Hello, may I come in, Ryan? I heard some noises in there and decided to check on you. It’s me, Celestia.” The cautious, newly made diarch instead of monarch, opted to just use her regular name instead of the formalities of her title. Knowing the patient that laid inside that hospital bed, it would be of no use to do otherwise.

A large thump from inside the room is heard by the royal Princess. The fine mare cringes in worry.

From the other part of the wall, Ryan opted to call out and answer the cake loving solar diarch. “Ah the guest of honor herself; do not allow your servant to dissuade you, come in and make yourself at home.”

Though it was small, the Princess of Equestria smirked. This immortal pony could never get over such a colorful character; regretfully even if he was not jesting. She quickly wipes it off and turns back into her loving motherly persona and opens the door.

The sight she sees is abnormal to say the least.

There laid Ryan, the hospital patient, that would be a given. Lying down on a messy bed and broken flower vase on the floor. Yet he was pushing his finger against some imaginary object in the air, that or he went crazy. The Princess opted to go with the more believable latter.

“Would you like me to come back at a later time?” Although Celestia asked this, it was more rhetorical than an actual question. The mare knew that Ryan would only hold things off if they were important.

The estranged man pushed his finger against the air, and without using direct eye contact, nodded. “Nah it’s uh. It’s fantastic for me; wouldn’t say the same for you.” Ryan’s voice was very dissociative to the seven foot tall mare as he whispered the last part under his breath.

Taking a step through the door and calmly inspecting Ryan, Celestia’s confusion only grew as her student’s protector randomly smiled. “Are you sure? You seem very preoccupied at the moment. I may even have to report this to the medical personnel as a sign of you showing side effects.” Ryan Steele lightly coughed and for the first time during the conversation, directed his attention to his Princess in the room.

“Sorry! Sorry, uh what were you saying Princess?” Ah, there’s that usual speech of his.

Princess Celestia was pleased to finally be getting somewhere with the person in front of her despite his suspicious behavior.

The Alicorn cracked a small smile. “I shall question my dear Steele on that later but until then…”

“I am merely here to give thanks. Without you and one of Ponyville’s only guilds, this would have spelt greater danger than what originally happened.”

Celestia walked until she reached the chair that rested beside Ryan who watched intently. She was not a picky mare, and sat down despite it being a few sizes too small. “You do not have much Reservoir reserves which has always worried me. What happened during your clash with Nightmare Moon concerns me much more however.” She cranes her neck to lean over and stare directly into her student’s brother.

“The mana flow inside of your body, the one that is supposed to serve as a well for mana and ether for storage and release excess magic? It was completely destroyed, as if somepony got a sledgehammer and went into a frenzy on it. If you attempted to absorb any raw natural mana you would suffer from a magic burn so greatly there’s a chance that total combustion could occur.”

Ryan’s expression acted as if a sudden realization occurred inside himself. The Player’s mind suddenly backtracks to the final attack he pulled against Nightmare Moon, the one that forced him unconscious. He repeatedly shakes his head as if trying to get something off of him. “No… No you’re joking Celestia.” The eldest sibling of Twilight Sparkle stares at the solar diarch with genuine pleading eyes. “Please tell me that this didn’t actually happen! Please tell me that I can still use magic!”

“So much emotion, does he truly hold magic in such a high regard?”

The only alicorn in the room holds out a comforting hand, gently cupping his face. “Calm down Ryan, there is good news. For some odd reason, one that could only be described as divine intervention, there’s some oddity inside your body. One that I hope to study extensively. It’s as if magical circuitry has been implanted into your body, it’s flowing mana through your body without needing to do it consciously.” Celestia holds her other hand onto Ryan’s cheek who almost was on the verge of entering denial. “Do you not understand? Magic is flowing through you so efficiently the results could only be done through generations upon generations of selective breeding!”

Ryan felt his heart drop inside his chest. “...So, can I still do basic applications then?”

The Princess laughed and smiled, moving both of her hands back. “Ryan, you can do so much more than that. In fact that’s another reason I am here, even if the reserves are not that large and the job seems patch worked to some extent. My dear sister Luna would like to give a certain thanks to you by digging through the treasury to give you this.” Celestia lit her horn and levitated a small brown bag to Ryan who gingerly took it in his hands. “She called it a “taste of what’s to come” Luna told me not to open it and I respected that privacy.”

“I don’t know what to say, I know I’m an assho-” Ryan paused for a second and side eyed the Princess.

“Then say nothing and open it. Also, please, I’ve heard more swears than the amount of seconds you have been alive. I’m in a better mood now, after all, I did get you back for those pranks. A good scare never hurt anyone.” The cake loving royal chuckled.

Ryan thought that last sentence was false by many means but did not speak on it. A person who can’t do any sort of thing magic related would definitely be cast away. Even by their own family, even by his little Spike and Twilight.

He sighed and held the brown bag, feeling zero weight in it whatsoever. “I take back what I said about me being an asshole; there’s nothing in here.”

The mare rolls her wrist and gestures for him to open it anyways. “Trust my sister, I certainly needed to do that when I still had the chance.”

Ryan Steele grumbled in annoyance, silently protesting in the process. Little by little he came over his previous mood yet it still lingered. Even while opening this seemingly empty gift.

The deity blessed human was blessed for the second time today. Third, if you counted the information he was given about his new body, he surely didn't, which is why he’s trying so hard to forget.

“Oh, ho, ho! This was so worth breaking the sword!” The unraveled brown pouch, revealing a mace inside of it. One that was multiple times larger than the bag yet could be held inside it.

‘Alert, player (Ryan Steele) has received medium weapon “Morning Star (uncommon), requirement to wield, 30 medium weapon” from an unknown benefactor’

Medium weaponry, not too heavy and not too light. A black spiked club with a sharp point at the end, large enough to kill if you’re lucky.

He got up from his bedside, even after Celestia’s small protests and gave the mace a few swings in the air. “If your sister is going to be sending bad boys like these I’ll gladly accept ‘em.”

Ryan stops in his tracks, cogs silently turn in his empty head. The mace hits the ground with a large thud. “Who’s Luna? Celestia, you and Twi keep mentioning her name like I’m supposed to know her.”

Princess Celestia got up from her seat and levitated the morning star from the ground which evidently left a crack in the ground. “Where do you think Nightmare Moon came from? She was originally my dear sister but a nightmare Luna is no longer.”

Ryan Steele may not be the smartest person to have passed high school, it doesn’t mean he could not put an obvious two and two together. “No way! Nightmare Moon was your long lost sister? And the cartoon cliches just keep on coming.”

Celestia smiles, putting the mace in her hands and physically handing it back to Ryan Steele. “Cartoons hm? I’ve heard of them becoming more and more popular these days, I may even have to watch a few of them to know what they’re all about.” Choosing not to directly answer the given question by her dear friend.

“If you do then always bet that they’d be based on the sun goddess before me- hold on, I remembered something.” For the third time, Ryan tried inspecting the air in front of him, leaving the solar princess mildly concerned.

The mildness of this concern turns into a sensation of being weirded out by Ryan cheering as if he won an entire pot at a casino. And for the Alicorn’s first every time, she heard the human squeal in excitement .

“Ryan! Not so loud, ponies being nosy are the last thing I need. And I feel too tired to put up a silencing barrier.” The mare snorted, understanding the human in front of her was an Element worthy problem. “Ah, while it’s fresh on my mind. I assume Twilight has told you about your more permanent residence?”

The Ascended Cameo nods his head. “Mhm, I love that you gave my little siblings some fresh air from that snotty place. They need some friends who’ll keep them grounded for once.”

“She was worried for you.” Princess Celestia began. “I could only wonder why; you had no real wounds to speak of. Do you have any idea Ryan? Twilight is one to exaggerate but not when it comes to life and death.”

Ryan Steel shrugged his shoulders in response. “No clue, I only fainted because I used up so much energy. Nightmare Moon was toying with me the entire time so I didn’t even get hit.” The lie rolled off his tongue as naturally as breathing came to him.

Celestia wasn’t a foolish mare however, she didn’t believe most of the small bit from the story, the mare would let it go for now. Even if you think you show no signs of lying, they always do in the end.

“Ah, it gets better Ryan. Your new assignment is to protect each and every one of those mares that helped along the mission to defeat Nightmare Moon.”

Improv knight or not Sir Steele still saluted to show his falsified respect. “Then let me start as soon as possible Princess. I’ll go get my things.” Ryan found that he was stopped by an assortment of hovering clothing that blocked his path.

The Princess truly did have many secrets that the player knew nothing about, cards even she’d never reveal. And somehow that cheeky grin told it all. “I believe I have that covered Ryan, you will begin a bigger life here in Ponyville. One larger than you could ever imagine.” But what she didn’t know was that the Player had the very same; a facade of foolishness and idiocy that would pay off in due time.

“And I believe that life will change as a whole. Just you wait Princess, I’ll turn everything on its head using only the fruits of my labor.” Ryan looked in front of himself as he left, grinning like a madman at the items that were included.

‘Item: Nightmare Essence, requires power 10, (Rarity: Artifact)’
‘Item: Ring of Gaia, requires power 10, (Rarity: Artifact)’
‘Item: Earring of Nature, requires power 10, (Rarity: Rare)’
‘Item: Ring of Nightmare, requires power 15, (Rarity: Artifact)’
‘Item: Devil’s Coin, requires power 100 0, (Rarity: Artifact)’
‘Item: Lilith’s Scaled Skin, requires power 15, (Rarity: Very Rare)’

Author's Note

And that's the rest of this to finish the NMM Arc and focus more on Ryan's ability aspects. Also starting next chapter there will be little snippets in author notes explaining things that are unclear or answering any questions to things that seem a bit less transparent.