The Final Element: The Guardian of Equestria

The Second Chapter

It must be mentioned briefly, that Canterlot is the capital of Equestria. It is a strong, lofty, fortified castle city, that is situated on the outcrop of a massive mountain range North-East of Ponyville. It has been in existence for several thousand years, and is the home of the overseeing monarch of the realms.

At the present, the rulers of Equestria, Princesses Celestia, and Luna live in Canterlot Castle. Their responsibility being uniquely distinct, to the point that they split their ruling of Equestria; one by day and one by night. Celestia raising the sun in the morning, and Luna raising the moon at evenfall.

In actuality, they do not raise the sun, or the moon. They merely turn the planet when the time calls for it. Since the planet was formed without any rotation to it what-so-ever. Were the Princesses, or some other highly skilled users of magic, mechanics or ingenuity not to rotate the world, then one half would be perpetually plunged in darkness, and the other would wilt under the constant temperatures of eternal day.

For nearly two thousand years, the two have shared the rule of Equestria, and only once—in recorded history at least—in all that time did they ever dispute amongst themselves, with regards to their leadership. It was eventually resolved with Princess Luna being imprisoned on the Moon for one thousand years, for threatening to bring darkness to the whole world.

It must also be noted, that the Royal Princesses do not rule the entire planet. There are many countries and realms that are uninhabited, and or independent of the Canterlot Monarchy. Due however to the overwhelming size of Equestria, as it is in relation to the small nature of the planet, the Princesses have more than enough political pull to get away with most anything they desire, should they desire it. All except for the plunging of the whole planet into eternal darkness however—that simply cannot be tolerated.

At this moment, as Twilight Sparkle and Spike arrived at Canterlot, every-pony there was in an uproar, and the guards had to take them through a massive crowd that had gathered outside of the castle demanding to see the Princesses. Among them were the occasional lot that cried in despair, and those that believed it to be some sort of hoax, and of course there was even the pony with the cardboard sign that read, “The end of the world is neigh” no doubt, a typographical error on the last bit.

Entering the castle, Twilight and Spike were bustled along the corridors and hallways, past several areas that most ponies did not see, or get privilege to see, and eventually down several sets of winding staircases.

“Where’s the Princess?”  Twilight asked the closest guard, leading them.

“Further in the castle,” was all he said, in a sharp crisp tone.

In the bottom most part of the castle away from everyone else, Princess Celestia was pacing back and forth with Princess Luna in tow, both wore a worried expression on their pony faces, and had they the appropriate hands to wring, they would be wrung with much fretting.

“Princess Celestia!” Twilight called out as soon as the guards led them into a small chamber with little illumination, and huge tapestries draped from every wall—and let's not forget the occasional resplendent painting here and there.

“Thank goodness,” said Celestia as she approached Twilight and Spike. “I am pleased to see that you have arrived safely.”

“It seems that for the moment, the earthquakes have ceased,” said Princess Luna appearing next to Celestia and nodding at Twilight and Spike, causing her iridescent blue hair to briefly wrap around her long horn, before it returned to its natural position of flowing waves.

Luna and Celestia are both a unique breed of unicorn, often referred to as Alicorn, or High Unicorn. They, unlike the standard fare of unicorn ponies are much taller, and in addition to having a long slender horn on their foreheads, have a sturdy pair of wings. To some they seem almost a unicorn and pegasus hybrid, but to the ponies of Equestria they are more akin to deities, due to their massively high ability of magic.

Their long lifespan also lends itself to the notion that they are in fact deities and not your normal run of the mill highly adept magical ponies; and in the several thousand years that they have lived, they seem to be the only such ponies of their kind.

“I have to apologize, for the abruptness of your summons, Twilight Sparkle,” said Celestia as she closed her eyes and breathed in a few times. “But, as difficult as it is to ask, and as many times as you and your friends have come to the aid of Ponyville, even Equestria, I now need your assistance once more.”

Twilight regarded both Celestia and Luna as if there was a big secret that was about to be revealed, and though she had absolute trust in the Princesses, she couldn't help but feel unease at the revelation.

“Of course Highness, I'll help however I can.”

“You have been brought here, because of your highly adept skills at magic, Miss Sparkle,” boomed Luna as she looked down at the purple pony. “As such, we require your assistance to perform a particular troublesome spell.”

Twilight was taken aback by this, “A spell?”

“Forgive me,” said Celestia, “perhaps it would be best if we started from what we know. It’s best you understand the full weight of the situation; and that you understand the task that has been set before us,” said Celestia fixing her gaze on Twilight. “Come, walk with us Twilight Sparkle.”

As Princess Celestia lead the way, Twilight and Spike followed after, waiting intently on the Princess to explain. Troubled and afraid, Twilight looked from Spike to Luna and was met with confusion from Spike, and solemn resolve from Luna.

Coming to a stop next to a long wooden table, Celestia sat back and regarded the two items on it. Two books, each old and frayed, with signs of wear seen only on the sorts of books that were not well maintained.

“Tell us Twilight Parkle,” inquired Celestia, “what do you know about Equestria's history? Or of the history of the planet?”

Believing this to be some sort of test, Twilight thought hard for a moment, and answered; “I know that Equestria was founded by the three tribes of ponies long ago, and that sometime afterward you Princesses came to rule over them. It's where we get the story of Hearth's Warming Eve.”

“An excellent summation,” said Celestia as she looked over at the two books, and lifted a hoof to rest on top of the one closest to her. “However, the events that lead to that first Hearth's Warming Eve, were somewhat modified into the tale that all of Equestria is now familiar with.”

Frowning at this bit of revelation, Twilight looked from face to face, and felt more lost in confusion that when she first arrived. “I don't understand Princesses. What does this have to do with the earthquakes that have been happening in Ponyville, and why would any-pony want to change the story of Hearth's Warming Eve?”

The founding of Equestria on Hearth's Warming Night, later renamed to Hearth's Warming Eve, is a tale that has been handed down to the ponies of Equestria for centuries. The story, in its simplest rendition depicts the three tribes of ponies separated and segregated from one another, and only working for their own ends, and only interacting with one another to pay for, or receive service for things that only the other breed of ponies were capable of providing.

In exchange for food from the earth ponies, the unicorn ponies would gather to raise the sun, and lower the sun each day. In exchange for armor and crafts, the pegasus ponies would clear the skies of storms and villains that roamed about the wilds. Each doing for the other, but secretly loathing the tasks expected of them.

As the story goes, the distrust and manipulation of the three tribes reached a crescendo, and eventually their cold bitterness toward one another made way for terrible spirits to create a frozen storm that threatened to turn the whole region into a wasteland of ice and snow.

Fearing the end was near, and with little recourse, a committee was assembled to discuss the future, or fate of the tribes. When no suitable mutual decision could be reached, the three tribes abandoned their country. When they separately found their way to the lush green warm lands of their new home, they began to instantly quarrel with one another again, causing the return of the storm, and the spirits.

Thanks to the efforts of the tribe's commoners, and their disinterest in conflict, and the desire for unity, they unleashed a magical force that dissolved the eternal Winter, and they banded together as common friends, instead of bitter rivals and enemies.

“That, is a story that has been fabricated to tell to foals,” said Princess Luna. “Like most things meant to instruct and instill moral value, it has been changed and crafted into a lesson, meant to be learned.”

Unable to take much more of the deep dialogue, Spike placed both of his talon clad hands on his head and swooned. “I am so confused right now.”

“I can't say it's any less clear to me,” said Twilight with some frustration.

With a level of resolve that Twilight had never before seen from Celestia, she watched as the Princess sighed deeply, and patted the book with her hoof. There was a subtle sense of sadness that seemed to emanate from her as she did.

“What if I told you, that there was a different version of events that lead to the forming of Equestria, and the unification of the tribes of ponies across the planet?” she said at last, watching Twilight Sparkle.

Twilight gave no response, though everything in her wanted to beg the answers out of Princess Celestia, she stood quiet and waited for what she felt was sure to be a terrible truth. As she glanced from Celestia to Luna, she could tell that what was about to be told to her was deeply troubling, and no doubt privileged.

“Some time ago, this book was discovered in the lower archives by our scribes,” said Celestia as she once again patted the old book her hoof rested on. “It is in fact, a forgotten book of prophecy by the wizard, Star Swirl the Bearded.”

Suddenly intrigued, Twilight's eyes seemed to glimmer at the thought of being in such proximity of one of the old wizened magician's works. Though she quickly caught her guard again, knowing that this was not the place or the time to get excited over the notion of lost works and the no doubt fascinating information therein.

“As you are no doubt aware, Star Swirl lived more than a thousand years ago, and in that time gained the ability to foresee the future. He has made many predictions, and most of which have come to pass.” Celestia scooted the book close to her as she said this.

“In this book however was a particular prophecy that alluded to events of the past that neither myself or Princess Luna were aware. It also gave a detailed exacting account of the recurrence of a terrible calamity that would be wrought upon the whole of the world.” Celestia spoke slowly at this point, to emphasize the weight of the matter. “In short, Star Swirl the Bearded gave forth a prophecy of the end of the world, save for the return of a heroic champion.”

“Oh, no,” was all Twilight could bring herself to say, as she lowered herself down on her haunches, in an attempt to steady her body that seemed to be wanting to swoon. Oh, no,” she said again under her breath, as she struggled to comprehend the meaning of a revelation of this weight.

“There was one thing in particular about the wizard's prophecy that we found as equally unsettling,” said Luna interjecting at this point. “The mention of Queen Stella.”

Both Spike and Twilight had a look of complete ignorance at the mention of the name, and in her dumbfounded inquisitiveness, Twilight asked who that was.

“She was our mother,” said Celestia with a thin smile.

At that, both Spike and Twilight's mouths seemed to hang agape, while Twilight looked from between the two Princesses in what can only be described as the most shocking look of disbelief ever before witnessed on the face of a pony from that day onward.

“Well, certainly you didn't think that Luna and I popped up from the ground like turnips did you? Of course we had a mother,” said Celestia suppressing a smile at her student's expression.

“So then, if you have a mother, then you have to have a father,” said Spike getting excited at the idea.

“That is how those things work,” said Luna uncharacteristically soft spoken. “Though, We have no memory of our father. He was taken from us while we were still very, very young foals.”

“I never knew, Princess,” said Twilight formulating the information in her head, “I never realized that you had a mother, I just always thought that you and Princess Luna were all there were.”

“Yes, sadly... we do not speak of our parents. It is a wound we have not been able to close properly in our hearts for all the time we have ruled in our mother's stead.” turning away from Twilight, and looking Luna in the eye, Celestia said, “Our mother died long ago, before Luna and I came to rule. It is doubtful any-pony would know of, or think to believe that there were any before us.”

“This takes us back to the prophesy of Star Swirl the Bearded,” said Luna, walking around to the side of the table with the books, and pointing at the second. “The prophecy referred to the past-tense unification of all ponies under the banner of Queen Stella. Which if correct, would contradict the ages past story of Hearth's Warming Eve.”

“For days Luna and I search tirelessly through the archives, and the libraries, even the catacombs, in the hopes that further light might be shed on this new history of ours, and of course on this cataclysm that Star Swirl alluded to.” Celestia lifted her hoof from the top of the book of prophecy and rested it now on the other book.

“It was a month into our search, before this book was discovered enshrined with our mother's most precious belongings, deep within the castle vaults.” Taking a deep breath, and looking once again at Luna, Celestia hesitated before continuing, but at a subtle nod of Luna resumed.

“This is our mother's diary, and daily thoughts,” said Celestia, as she patted the book and stroked it with immense delicacy. “Her collected writings over her near thousand years of life, and of our father, and of the formation of Equestria... even the great and terrible war that Star Swirl the Bearded prophesied would return.”

At the mention of the word “war”, Twilight Sparkle jerked her head up in yet another bout of shocked disbelief. “Wait... War?” she stammered out.

“That is correct Miss Sparkle,” said Luna in a booming voice, “war was the catalyst for the formation of Equestria. War was the reason all tribes of ponies united under one faction. And war is the thing that obliterated more than half of this world, destroying countless lives before its end came.”

“According to our mother's diary—nearly two thousand years ago—a great and terrible evil was unleashed, and armies of darkness entered this world, and decimated it.” Celestia was standing now, looking down on Twilight as she spoke.

“Tell me Twilight Sparkle. Do you know what a human is?” asked Celestia.

Twilight recovered enough of her composure to frown slightly in thought. “According to the books, they are a mythical creature unlike any creature on the planet. They're the stuff of fairy stories and old mare's tales,” she said remembering some of the fantasy stories from her foal-hood.

“Then it would surprise you to know that there were many humans, once, on this planet,” said Celestia. “According to our mother's diary, they were numerous, and they fought in the terrible war along side the horse tribes.”

Spike, during most of the conversation had resorted to cowering behind Twilight, and was now wringing his tail in his claws. He had gone beyond simplistic confusion and had substituted it for sheer alarm. Which he reasoned was better than trying to understand the depths of the issues he was now privy to.

“That's what the prophecy is about, isn't it?” Twilight asked.

“Yes.” Celestia nodded. “Star Swirl predicted that another war would occur, and that the only hope for our salvation would be to summon back our once legendary hero.”

“How did the war start?”

“According to the diary, the war began centuries after our mother arrived here,” said Luna. “She is not specific about her origins, or time before the war. But she makes it clear that the Dark Legions were bent on destroying the world, the moment they appeared.”

“For a long time, the humans that were the dominating species on this planet, fought the Legions, though they were eventually all destroyed,” said Luna sternly. “When the horse tribes began to fall prey to the circumvent of warfare, Queen Stella used her magic to summon powerful warriors to her aid.”

Thinking more clearly about the facts that were being laid out for her, Twilight asked how the armies of the Dark Legion were able to come to the planet.

“An astute question,” said Celestia. “They arrived through a complex system of gateways across the planet, an ancient portal technology that predates all known history.”

“It was through the use of one such portal, that Stella drew the legendary warriors to our world, and begged them to assist us in our peril.” Celestia once again resorted to resting her hoof on the diary.

Thinking for a few seconds, Twilight's eyes suddenly few wide. “So the earthquakes in Ponyville are...”

“Yes, part of the prophecy, heralding the arrival of the Dark Legion,” said Celestia with remorse.

“So then, all we have to do, is summon the legendary heroes, and they'll take care of the legions?” said Twilight. It was a rhetorical question.

“We do not know,” said Luna. “Our mother was not forthcoming in her diary about the exacting manner in which the Dark Legions were defeated. She goes on at length, to say that the warriors were all killed, save for one. And that he alone was responsible for defending against them in the end.”

Twilight was about to speak, but Celestia cut her off. “The war brought a terrible toll on the world. One which we fear may repeat itself, even were we able to bring this last warrior to us.”

“However, we must still try,” said Luna, reassuringly placing her hoof on Celestia's foreleg. “We must do everything in our power to save Equestria, and the world.”

“We're going to bring a human here? How are we going to do that?” asked Twilight.

Turning behind her, Celestia pointed at a door, which Twilight hadn't noticed until now. “Beyond that door, is one of the portal devices,” she said. “Before I asked you to come here, Luna and I used a spell in our mother's diary in an attempt to bring the last guardian to us... but we were only able to locate him.”

There are few words that can describe the overwhelming fascination and mystical awe that seemed to radiate from Twilight Sparkle, as she gazed at the closed wooden door. Behind it, she knew there lay a strange device of untold age and magic, and the depths of her limited understanding, coupled with her insatiable appetite for learning were more than she seemed visibly able to bear.

Never mind the fact that just moments before she had been told, that not only was her history of Equestria a fabrication, and that everything she had been taught to believe about the world was half-truths and out-right lies; beyond that door was a mystery that transcended her simple life, and opened to a world, possibly even worlds of undiscovery.

“Unfortunately,” said Luna in a hushed tone, “we... that is I was unable to perform to the fullest of my ability. It seems that Our return from exile has left Us... left me, much weaker than I had anticipated.”

“As such,” Celestia continued, “we were only able to find the location of the guardian, we were unable to summon him. The magic required is enormous.”

“The spell.” Twilight, finally understanding for the first time how all these pieces seemed to fit together.

~   ~   ~

There were several things over the course of hundreds and thousands of years that had been kept secret for one reason or another inside of Canterlot Castle.  Some of the more important artifacts and trinkets, and oddities, and objects, were kept in the vaults lower down. In fact it seemed that the most valuable items were kept lower and lower in the basement, and the further one descended, the more important the item became.

Situated in the next chamber room however, which was located some great depth in the castle, was the very chamber that housed the before mentioned portal. A terribly large and clunky looking circlet of braided metal and scroll-work.

Now it has been implied that these portals are of a technology and industry that pre-date the known Equestris Historica, and though perhaps mention should be made of their origin, that would be impertinent at this point. So it should suffice to say that these devices are both ancient, and mysterious. And the fact that this individual portal was glowing and activated, only served to increase the curiosity of all on-lookers, historians, technophiles, and or dragons as the case may be.

The circle shaped gateway seemed to bristle with energy as it hummed, and in the center of the threshold was what looked like snow, warbled and distorted by multiple panes of glass, making it impossible for anything on this side to merely peer through.

While the portal was not huge, it was however still awe inspiring. Larger than twice that of a small wagon cart, or carriage, and what with the humming, the crackling and bristling of energy, and the shiny reflective snowy center, it made for a most impressive display.

Standing in a semi-circle around the portal, the four regarded the object for a bit before Celestia motioned her hoof toward Spike. “It would be best if you gave us some distance, little one.”

“We have used a location spell to find the warrior,” said Luna. “However that is as far as my magic was able to be stretched.”

Twilight watched the snowy reflective surface of the portal aperture for a second or two, then turned to Luna. “So, the guardian's just on the other side?”

“Yes. Were the spell fixed in one location, we would be able to see through it, but alas, this is the best we can do,” Luna said. “We are unaccustomed to dealing with this sort of technology.”

Twilight felt a strong sense of importance at this moment in her life. Not that it was a self-gratifying importance, but that she was, of all ponies, standing on the verge of a magical breakthrough; a pathway of new history in the making was right before her eyes, and she knew that every hour, and moment, and second beyond the next decision she made, would affect her life forever.

Taking up a stance directly in front of the portal, Celestia checked to ensure that Spike was a safe ways away, and that he wouldn't become a casualty of the spell should something go awry. Then turned to Twilight.

“When you are ready Twilight, we need you to lend power to the spell of summoning that I will perform,” she said. “Though of course, the choice is yours to make. Should you choose to refrain, then you may do so now, as this spell is highly dangerous.”

There are many types of magic incantations and spells available to those ponies that are fortunate enough to be born with the ability. Most of them, namely the unicorns, are only adept at minor feats of magic, and their powers do not go beyond the ability to levitate objects, or manipulate small items. Those with considerable magic prowess are usually encouraged to develop their skills into something more advanced, and are often encouraged to pursue a career as a mage, or wizard.

As a method of testing for higher functionality in magic in young unicorn foals, an aptitude test is given at an early age to determine the extent of their potential. Should the ponies prove to display considerable levels of magic, they are often-times recruited for the academy of magic at Canterlot, which is overseen by Princess Celestia herself.

Being one such unicorn, Twilight showed great aptitude for magic, even to the point of surpassing everyone's expectation. In fact, her skills were hardly measurable on the test, and once her power manifested itself in the test, it instantly went haywire. Resulting in random shapeshiftings, and oddities of those onlookers of the exam.

Concluding that she was in the single digit percentage of adept students, Twilight Sparkle was placed directly under the sole tutelage of the Princess herself.

Now, as she stood face to face with a strange portal from eons past, Twilight was well aware of her role here. And though no-pony had said as much, it was entirely plausible that the course of her planet's history would hinge on her participation, or disinclination.

“What is thy decision, Twilight Sparkle?” asked Luna as she stood behind her.

Twilight thought briefly, “Of course, Princess. I will help you any way I can.”

Looking from Luna, then to Twilight, Celestia nodded her head. “Very well. Come stand next to me, and I will begin the spell. Once I start, you will strengthen the spell with everything you have, while I bring the warrior from his world to ours.”

“I understand,” said Twilight, as she steeled her resolve. This wasn't a test, or an exam. This was the real thing, the real deal, this is what her past years of magical training had been for, and now was the time to come through.

Resolving herself, Twilight stood next to Princess Celestia while she waited for the spell to begin. Instantly Celestia's long slender horn began to emanate a bright glow near its tip, and Celestia closed her eyes in deep concentration.

As soon as the spell began, Twilight began casting her own spell to reinforce Celestia's magic, and immediately, Twilight could feel a huge drain on her magical power, as if her stomach suddenly went empty, and her whole body wanted to swoon. The drain was enormous, as she had to focus more on her power to keep from losing it all to the force of Celestia's spell.

Once the spell was underway, the portal began glowing bright, and the spinning braided metal of the outlying ring began to hum louder as it increased its spinning to incredible speeds, turning the snowy image inside into swirling super-vortex.

The force from either the portal or the spell began to increase, and Twilight could feel her hooves begin to slide slowly on the stone floor away from the portal, as the force of their magic began to draw pressure from the otherside towards them.

Closing her eyes, and focusing harder, Twilight's horn began to glow brighter and hotter, sending tiny sparks of constituted magical fragments away like a lit sparkling firework. She was near the point of collapsing from the strain, and relaxing her mental concentration when she could feel that something was about to happen.

All at once the portal gate began to make a terrible whistling noise as its outer ring moved at speeds so intense it seemed to meld into a single glowing object that began to slowly expand away from the aperture of the portal, and with a huge explosive flash of white light and smoke, the center of the device ruptured outward toward both Celestia and Twilight, as a large bubble emerged through the portal and dissipated as soon as it made contact with this side.

At the noise of the blast, both Celestia and Twilight ceased their spell, and opened their eyes to see who or what had come through the portal, as it screeched to a halt, and the aperture vanished away into nothing.

Twilight was the first of the two to stumble to her knees, followed a second later by Celestia. Luna was still standing to the side of them, and moved to stand next to her sister's, when she saw stirring in the thick cloud of smoke left behind by the device.

Spike had resorted to cowering in the farthest corner of the chamber the moment the device began emitting the high pitched whistle, clinging to his tail, and using the flat tip to cover his eyes from the unknown horrors that the two had made.

Though he often appeared to be more mature in character and mannerisms, he was still only an adolescent dragon, and large spinning objects making loud pitched noises, and erupting smoke were still very much terrifying.

As the smoke began to dissipate around the chamber, Twilight looked up to see a silhouette moving amidst it. It was a huge shadowy figure that loomed over her by nearly two full feet, though while crouched on the ground was more in the area of three or four.

Celestia also noted the motion of the figure in the smoke as she began to try and lift herself from the stone floor. Her power so thoroughly exhausted that she felt as weak as a newborn kitten, and the loss of the magic, left her trembling in near shock. It is no stretch to say that in all the days of her life, that she could remember anyway, she had never before felt as she did now.

Inside the cloud of still dissipating smoke, the figure let loose with a terrible series of coughs and gasps, and there was some discernible flailing of arms as attempts were made to clear the smoke. This of course causing all four of those gathered in the chamber to catch their breaths, and watch with wild anticipation at what was to happen next.

Taking three steps forward to reach an area of the chamber that had the least amount of smoke, the figure appeared before them, standing exactly five foot, eleven inches; dressed in a brown leather jacket, and wearing faded blue denim jeans, and exquisitely expensive converse shoes—with the Union Jack pattern.

To their utter surprise, it was a man, with jet black hair, and light brown eyes, and he had a look on his face that reminded Twilight of amazement. He coughed once more, while he took a survey of the chamber before him, noticing Celestia and Twilight kneeling on the stone floor in front of him, and Luna standing a few feet away.

“WHOO! What a rush!” he shouted in abstract delight, waiving at the smoke still gathered around his long legs. “Did you see that just now?”

To her disbelief, Celestia watched as the human male swiped at his clothes, still grinning like a fool while he looked around. She was about to offer her customary words of introduction, or at least the words she had recited in her head, when she was first to meet with this living hero of their past, but he kept speaking.

“At first, I thought... OH SHIT! This is an alien abduction! And I just knew that some weird, strange, crazy aliens from another planet were hoisting me up to their mothership to stick who-knows-what into me.” The man was waiving his arms around, while looking excitedly, as he spoke. “Then I was like... there is no way this is aliens, cause I mean, let's face it, if this was the work of aliens then why would they pick lower New York for a place to nab a human right?”

Getting close to Twilight—who instinctively recoiled slightly at his approach—the man squatted a bit to look down at her, while never missing a beat in his near constant babbling.

“Hot damn! I never expected to be here... I mean holy shit! I spend my whole life listening to stories about this place, and then BLAM-O! Here I am!” Clapping his hands together at the word blam-o, which caused Twilight to shriek in fright at the unexpected shock of the noise.

Twilight Sparkle was confused, horrified, and scared of what she was witnessing. She wasn't sure what she expected to see when the hero appeared, and she wasn't sure how to respond to his string of near unintelligible ramblings. She wasn't sure, but Twilight thought perhaps the human was broken in his head.

Just as quickly as he was squatting in front of Twilight, the man rose back up into an up-right position, and took a few steps back, bringing his hand to his stomach. He got wide eyed and then said, “Ponies!” before falling face forward to the concrete floor, and didn't regain consciousness for several hours.

Rushing forward, Luna knelt by the human male. “Fa...” she started to say, but instead sniffed at his face and placed her hoof on his chest. “He's alive,” she eventually said.