Pete Powell in Equestria

Four Months Later

It had taken Pete weeks to recover from Luna's news. He could not go home, not yet. How ever he had managed to perform magic was still a mystery to the Princesses, and therefore they could not allow him to return if his powers were a constant. Humans did not have magic. Not magic they could use. A spark, perhaps, in the best of cases. What Pete did was something else entirely, something they were not going to risk. He understood their logic, but that didn't mean he liked it.

A squad of guards, accompanied by Luna, came to his quarters after a week and brought him to a barracks for recruits. Luna explained once again that she genuinely wanted him to join her guard, and Pete came to realize he had no other options anyway. It would be hard to find the kind of work he used to do, even more so if he wanted to be near Rainbow Dash while doing it. No idea of the economy, society, it set in all at once that he was completely alien. He had no real choice at that moment.

Basic training for ponies was much harder than anything he'd seen in the human military. Many exercises were different, distances they needed to run were insane by human standards, and it only got worse once armor was added. Pete's body never seemed to stop aching during his months of training. Even when they added magical studies in, in the off chance he could cast magic, it never seemed to be enough rest. His muscles filled back in over time, and he became more fit than he'd ever been. Though he silently told himself his new physique was not worth the military life style.

One day, during training, a guard came from Luna for Pete. He was excused from training for the day, and every fiber of his being was thankful for that. He followed the batpony into the castle and down to the basement. He'd been away from the bright lit and colorful halls of Canterlot castle for so long he was almost grateful when they descended into the darker portions of the building.

The basement of the castle was still well lit, for the most part, but it was cut from a different stone. Pete could almost feel the shift as he walked down the large staircase. The darker walls and silence added to the oppressive atmosphere of the situation, and Pete began to wonder just what he was walking towards. A portion of his mind readied itself for the worst case. He'd been deemed a threat to Equestria and imprisonment or death waited for him at the end of this walk. He didn't believe the sisters would come to such a conclusion without him being present, but he also knew they were royalty. They made many decisions without the input of the ponies it would affect.

Or perhaps they had decided he wasn't a problem any more, that he could go home. This felt less likely even as he yearned for it. That had been a theme of his life. Everything he wanted seemed to come at an inopportune time or he would never get it. The ponies had arrived in his apartment at a time he needed them, but his desire to try again in the human world seemed further and further away. Their timing had not been ideal in the end.

Amid these thoughts Pete became aware that the batpony had stopped at a door. He pushed it open and stood aside, prompting Pete subtly to enter. Pete did so, nodding quickly to the guard as thanks, and found himself in a surprisingly large room. It was made of the same stone as the rest of the lower level, but he felt a certain grandeur from it. On the opposite side was a table which seated both princesses and several unicorns on either side of them, and in the middle of the room was the mysterious sword. Pete hadn't seen it since Celestia took it from him in the hospital, and it hadn't changed at all.

Celestia quietly conferred with a unicorn on her right and then looked at Pete.

“Pete Powell, four months ago you displayed a capability for magic. An ability not possessed by your kind. They tried in vain thousands of years ago and we've tested the rest of the humans living in Ponyville now. None of them can wield magic. Yet you could.”

Pete stepped forward to interject, but Celestia gave him a cold stare. The stare made his spine tingle and gave him a glimpse into why she was the ruler of the land. He swallowed and stepped back, standing at attention as he'd been taught. Celestia raised an eyebrow at the gesture, but continued without change.

“The only factor left to test is this sword. Through your studies here in military magic you've tried and failed to produce a spell. My sister and I thought perhaps it was a fluke, but then she made one final suggestion.” Celestia sat back on her seat. “Step forward now, Pete Powell. Take the sword into your hand and apply what you have learned of magic.”

Nervously, Pete walked forward. He was more than hesitant. No matter the outcome his fate was decided. If he couldn't cast magic the last four months would have been a waste. The princesses would likely send him back to his home, and who knew how long it had been there. Months at the very least. He would be homeless, jobless, worse of than he was here certainly. But if he could cast magic he would become a guard. Risking his life day in and day out, never sure what he would come up against, if he would have the strength to fight the monsters and enemies that crawled across this alien land.

Do you desire power? A voice hissed inside his mind, stopping him for a moment. I am here for that. Take me in hand. My power shall be yours as yours is mine. Pete looked around, a murmur filling the room from the table.

“Pete?” Celestia asked as her horn lit up.

“Sorry,” Pete recovered and looked back to the sword. Was that voice the sword? What sword could talk? That was a stupid question, he was in a world of magic. The real question was what talking sword could the Princesses of Equestria not sense?

He reached out again and grabbed the hilt. The sword started to glow and the muttering of the unicorns at the table increased. When the light faded the sword was different again. Longer, over three feet, with a simple and wider guard. Pete unsheathed the blade and examined it. It was a longsword, nothing special at all other than the fact it had been a shortsword moments ago. The increased weight was nothing to him now that he'd been training, but it was still noticeable. Curiously, he swung the sword.

His training had included weapons, alongside the unicorn recruits, and he was familiar with the type of weapon. Casually he took several stabs towards a wall as well as a few pretend parries. It felt right. Something about this sword felt different than the ones he'd practiced with.

Feeling the worried eyes on him, he turned to the right wall of the room, opposite the one he had just shadow fenced, and pointed the sword tip at it. He recalled the concepts of magic. Everything had magic inside it, everything Equestrian born at least. Unicorns were unique in that they came built in with a sturdy way to channel that magic. Unicorn horns were impossibly durable and could only be harmed by magic. Simple enchantments weren't enough and a powerful enough unicorn could channel with even a nub. The second thing was channeling itself, feeling the power, bringing it forth. Pete imagined a river from the core of his being to his sword hand, and then imagined the river flowing into the sword. This method of channeling wasn't supposed to be possible. Potential energy could only travel through living matter and living matter in general could not be used as a casting apparatus. A unicorn, as explained by his teacher, could not pick up a stick and use it. The stick could contain the charge, but not release it. Only a living being could direct the spell, and while the stick could innately hold the magic it could not will it. Horns were unique, built to withstand the “kick” of magic and attached to the caster so they could will the spell into existence and fire.

Finally, came the spell itself. Minor spells could be cast simply with a thought, some could even be cast instinctively. The more powerful the caster the higher the bar for a minor spell. Celestia could probably set a whole city on fire without uttering a word. Pete wanted to err on the side of caution, so he began to speak.

“Fire of life, pour fourth and consume!” He felt the feeling again, the rush of energy and heat from his chest to his arm.

The sword tip ignited and shot a ball of flame the size of his fist. With a loud crackling the fireball slammed into the far wall, the flames reaching up to the ceiling for the seconds they lasted, filling the room with a roar. Afterwards Pete slowly lowered his sword, his eyes fixated on the scorch marks on the wall. He looked down at the blade before turning towards the magically inclined ponies. They were as shocked as he was. Each one sat with their mouths open to different degrees. Celestia's open only a sliver, her eyes focused on Pete himself.

He wasn't sure how long he stood there, but it felt like ages. A slow empty stretch of time that was only broken when Celestia cleared her throat. Those in the room collected themselves and looked at her.

“Pete, please wait outside.” It was clearly an order despite the please.

He nodded and walked outside, sheathing his sword on the way. Deliberations among those in the room went on for longer than Pete expected. He sat on the floor across from the room in silence. The two guards acting as if he wasn't there. He took the time to examine the sword more. According to Equestrian magic theory it shouldn't be capable of channeling a spell. It was inorganic. At best it could be enchanted, but there were no runes on it, and any unicorn, let alone and alicorn, would have felt it from a mile away. Nothing about the sword seemed exceptional, but it did exceptional things.

“So why did they summon you to the testing room?”

Pete looked up and the batpony to the right of the door, a mare with a purple tail and yellow eyes was looking at him.

“Testing room?”

She nodded, “The room we're guarding. It's where they take the unicorns that join the guard to see how capable they are with magic.”

Pete looked at his sword again for a long moment before responding. “I'm magic capable.”

The mare blinked and took a half step forward. “You? How?”

“No idea,” Pete shrugged. “Probably what they're talking about in there right now.”

The doors opened and Luna trotted out, a stack of paper held to her side in a telekinetic grip. She looked down at Pete and then nodded for him to follow. Wordlessly he stood up and followed her back upstairs. He wondered, of course, what exactly would happen now. More boot camp surely, but what after? She had only said she wanted capable people, or ponies, in her guard. It stood to reason since Celestia's guard was the biggest in Equestria after Luna had been sealed away. Equal rulers with uneven armies.

She led him to another side of the castle, away from the royal apartments they had visited Celestia in. The room had two batpony guards outside, and the inside was unlike the rest of the castle at all. It was clearly Luna's chambers, unlike the rooms he had seen before this one was finely decorated to its owner's taste. Dark, heavy drapes hung over the windows keeping out the afternoon light. The carpet was a matching deep blue, and the walls were lined with books. Pete could imagine Luna crouching and becoming almost invisible among the shelves and the floor. In the middle of the room was a desk, and the sole illumination came from actual candles on it. Behind the desk was a bed, but Pete had more important things on his mind. Luna took a seat behind the desk and sat the papers she was carrying atop it. Pete stood a short ways in front of the desk, still carrying his sword.

“We are in a very unique position, Pete.” Luna began slowly as she looked through the papers she had brought.

Pete swallowed. “Is that the royal we?”

Luna smiled and shook her head. “I have broken that habit now. Unless the situation demands its use of course. I mean myself and my sister.”

“I think it would be rather difficult for me to join both of your guards. I can't stay awake twenty four hours a day everyday.”

“Your mind is always looking for a way to make a joke.”

“I like levity. It cushions bad news.”

Luna cocked her head at that. “What bad news do you expect?”

“I'm honestly not sure. I mean overall with the levity thing. If you're always making jokes when bad news does happen you'll probably have a good joke about it at least.”

“Well, as far as I know there is no bad news here. Not for you at least.” Luna pulled up two sheets of paper and laid them on the desk facing Pete. He glanced down at them.

Both were finely written with quill and ink. They both appeared to be contracts of some kind. However, one was signed Celestia at the bottom and the other was signed Luna.

“I thought I just said I can't join both-”

“I want you for my guard, Pete Powell.” Luna cut him off and continued on her own. “It has been missing a captain ever since my return and since the Night Guard is made up exclusively of batponies at the moment none of its members can use magic. I have never had anything other than the night dwelling batponies, and it has severely limited my guard on more than one occasion. Since I was the one to ask for you my sister has agreed to let you join.”

Pete nodded slowly as she spoke. He could feel the catch coming.

“She wants you for another purpose however, and that is her stipulation. I could not fight her on it because she is right. It is a job you are uniquely suited for still.”

“Wait, I've heard that phrase before. Celestia said that before shipping me off to help the humans.”

Luna nodded in agreement, “Yes. She is fond of that phrase when it comes to you, I have found. She wants you to become the human's ambassador. To receive their questions and complaints and direct somepony to fixing them. Being a captain you would be in the castle already and you would have easy access to us to bring human complaints to our ears.

“The jobs come with many perks. Living in the castle is just one of them. You would receive compensation for both of course, and both come with a certain weight of power.”

“And with power comes responsibility,” Pete added. “Responsibility I'm not sure I can deal with, you know?”

“I understand your hesitation, however there is a reason for this stipulation of my sister's.”

“Because I'm the only link between the strangers in Ponyville and you two that you'll both trust?”

“That,” Luna chuckled, “And I want to pull you out of training early. My guard missing a captain has become a problem. The longer I wait the worse it is going to be for whoever I ask to fill the position. The current lieutenant of my guard is already being rather forceful about her desires to be promoted. Until our trip and your arrival she would have certainly been the choice to make. What you did today in the testing room changes that. Celestia wants you as ambassador in exchange for letting you enter service early.”

“That sounds...” Pete sighed and bit his lip for a moment, “Incredibly dangerous actually.”

“It carries some risk,” Luna admitted, “But so does waiting for you to finish in another four months. It is calculated risk reward, and I am prepared.” Pete continued to hesitate, prompting Luna to add something she thought pivotal to his decision. “As ambassador to the humans you may have to make several trips to Ponyville. I am sure there are certain ponies that would be interested to see you on a more regular basis.”

Immediately she saw the change on Pete's face. Pete himself could imagine his days of official visits, perhaps accompanied by a certain pegasus to make sure he didn't get lost as he did his job. A small blush climbed up his face and looked again at the papers in front of him. He didn't like signing contracts, but the wording in these was straight forward, outlining his duties. They made sense and unless there was invisible ink involved there wasn't any fine print.

He grabbed a quill that was on the desk and quickly signed his name to both documents. Placing the quill back in the inkwell he looked at Luna and sighed, though he was smiling.

“I guess training is over.”

Luna laughed, “Yes, but now the hard part begins. Doing your jobs.”

“Hey,” Pete's smile grew, “If I don't have to run two miles a day any more I'm all for the hard part.”