A Promise Not Forgotten

Dan and I spent some time in the depths of the castle, making sure the car still worked. From his perspective the car had been gone for over three years, but from ours it was just half a year. While covered in dust the car was still fully functional.

“Thank God, man,” I said, sitting on a rock near the truck. “This will make everything much easier.”

“Heh, yeah,” Dan replied as he wiped his grease covered hands on his pants. “So what’s the big plan?”

“Get to the lost city, aside from that, I haven’t really thought of anything,” I covered my face with my hands. “I miss the good old days…”

“What good old days?” Dan asked.

“When we were back on Earth,” I replied.

“Really? I thought this is what you wanted,” Dan said.

“Nah. Hell, every brony wants to go to Equestria, but I don’t think many would stay forever…”

“What are you saying?” Dan asked, with a look of concern on his face.

I stared at the floor, “Nothing…”

Dan stood where he was for a few seconds, just watching me. I wanted nothing more than to make him stop, but I wasn’t about to say anything.

“Alright, well we have to make sure the others are ready, you coming?” Dan asked as he started for the staircase.

“I’ll be a minute,” I replied, still sitting on the rock.

Prophet…

Yes?

This city… are you sure it’s real?

Positive.

Then why do I feel like it’s too good to be true?

Dan:

I walked up the old staircase alone. Walking into the main throne room I saw the ponies who were finishing up the last things we needed. Colin and the guards had made a few more expeditions into the town to get more supplies that we would need for long-term survival.

“Iron Hoof, how are things going?” I asked.

“Everything is in order, all the supplies are loaded now,” He said while looking over what the ponies had done.

“Good, now get the cart and follow me,” I said while walking out of the throne room to the main exit. The confused guards did as instructed and followed, pushing the heavy cart. “Need some help with that?” I asked when I saw that the four guards were struggling quite a lot.

“Please…” The day guard said, grunting as he pushed.

I moved to the back of the cart and helped. Prophet was right, my powers were focused. My super strength was almost completely gone, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t stronger than a pony. “Ok, through here,” I said as we rounded the corner, revealing the open door leading to the tunnels.

It was dark down there. Without Aidan to light up the place I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face. “Can you light us up, Iron Hoof?”

“Yeah,” He replied gruffly before his horn lit up brightly.

A smile spread across my face once more as I saw my truck. A white 1997 Chevy Silverado 1500, with the camper shell still attached. “Aidan,” I said on approach.

“Yeah, I’m still here,” He said as electricity covered his arms again.

“Aidan?” Iron Hoof said, surprised. “How is that not hurting you?”

“Human magic, it works differently than pony magic,” He said. I’m not even sure if he really knew how it worked.

Aidan:

Dan and the ponies arrived with the cart.

“Hey, Aidan, go grab Colin for a sec, we’ll need an extra set of hands,” Dan said.

I got up and left without complaining to fetch my friend. Upon walking upstairs I found him with the mane six, Twilight in particular. “Hey Colin, we need you downstairs real quick.”

Colin turned from the circle of ponies to look at me, “What for?”

“No idea, Dan needed you for something,” I replied as I walked over to the ponies and my friend.

Colin groaned, “Alright…” He said as he got up and walked to the staircase.

“So how are we all doing?” I asked, kneeling down on one knee.

“Good, I think,” Twilight replied on behalf of the group. “The whole idea of Celestia doing this is a little weird for us, but we will manage.”

“Hey, if you need anything, just let me know. I’m here to make sure everything is okay,” I said.

“Thank you, Aidan,” Rarity said. She looked tired, maybe because of all the stress recently. Managing a shop all by herself and now all this must be exhausting for her.

“Aidan, what are we going to do now?” Rainbow asked.

“There’s rumor of a lost city that we can run to. Some kind of oasis down in the Southern Wastes,” I said, while scratching the back of my head. My hair had grown long and wild over my six months in a coma. “That’s where we’ll be headed.”

“The Southern Wastes?” She asked, confused. “What’s that?”

“As far as I know it’s a place at the southern pole of this world that once was a thriving civilization, but now is deserted. At the center an oasis is all that remains of it, all around that is a barren wasteland,” I said. “But I have to get back to work now. We have to get there first, before the guards find us.” The mane six looked rather confused at my explanation of the lost civilization. I didn’t expect them to know about the oasis, but the lack of any knowledge whatsoever is what surprised me. I ignored the confused stares, stood and turned around.

“Aidan… can I come with you,” Rainbow asked.

I turned my head to look at her, “What for?” I asked with an eyebrow raised.

“I just… it’s boring here. Come on!” She said with a smile.

“Fine, just don’t get in the way please,” I said as I walked to the staircase and proceeded to descend. Rainbow smiled and trotted after me.

“What are you doing down here anyway?” She asked.

“We’re going to hook the cart up to Dan’s car,” I said.

“What’s a car?” Rainbow asked, completely in the dark in human technology.

“Basically, it’s a giant metal cart that moves… dare I say, on its own,” I said, hoping such a lousy explanation would suffice.

“On its own? What like magic?” Rainbow asked. Damn…

“Not quite. It uses an internal combustion engine to move pistons which turn wheels…” I replied.

“Sooo… magic?” Rainbow said with a mocking smile.

“Yes… magic,” I said with an equally sarcastic smile.

As we reached the bottom and saw the truck in all its majesty, rainbow’s jaw dropped. “That’s the car?”

“Yep…” I said, slightly amused at her reaction. “Ok, Dan, so what did you need?”

“We need to find a way to attach the cart to the truck and we don’t have any spare chains or anything,” Dan said.

“Colin can you make a light-rope or something to hold them together?” I asked.

“Oh right!” Colin said, conjuring up the light. “But that wouldn’t last very long, I would have to refresh the bond every few hours.”

“We will be done by that time, don’t worry. Ok… planning time!” I said while leaning on the car. “In the case of invasion, then we need an escape plan…”

“I can’t fit all the ponies in the truck, some will have to find another way out,” Dan said.

“Good, you will take the Elements, Luna and her guards,” I said, making sure to say ‘Elements’ instead of ‘Mane Six’ because of Rainbow’s presence. “Discord, Iron Hoof, and the day guard will have to stay behind with Colin and I. We will cover your retreat. Dan, I need you to make sure nothing happens to them… Can you do this for me?” I asked as I took a step closer to him.

“Of course, man!” Dan replied.

“Fantastic!” I said, giving him a pat on the shoulder.

“Wait!” Rainbow said, interrupting our planning. “I won’t leave you behind!”

I rolled my eyes at her reluctance to follow orders… wait ‘follow orders’ where the hell is that coming from? Damn this personality schism is really getting to me. I pointed at her, “You, follow me…” I said before walking up the staircase with Rainbow following. “Why do you want to stay?” I asked.

“Well, I can’t just leave you here, what kind of friend would do that?” Rainbow replied.

“The best one…” I said, catching Rainbow off guard.

“What do you mean,” She asked in confusion.

“Rainbow… these guards, they are different than they were. She wants us humans dead, and she’ll kill whoever gets in the way,” I said. “Believe me, I didn’t want any of this to happen, Rainbow, but I can’t let you stay here.”

“Why not Aidan? Why?” She asked.

“BECAUSE THEY WILL KILL YOU!” I shouted.

All the ponies in the room stopped and looked at me. I turned my head to them…

Look at how they stare at you…

NO! I won’t let this happen! Not now!

“I just can’t lose you, Rainbow. I haven’t come this far just to fail,” I said. She looked at me with sad eyes. I took a knee once the ponies had gone back to what they were doing. “Rainbow, everyone has their time… Yours is not now. When the time comes, you will know,” I said quietly. “Just please don’t do this now.”

“Okay, Aidan, I’ll do it,” She replied with a smile.

“Thanks, Dash,” I said as she walked away. Man, I hate doing that to people or ponies rather, but sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

I returned to a standing position and looked over the open room. It was filled with a few of the same images from the Canterlot castle. Many were broken, though, so I couldn’t see them all. In fact, a few of these showed Prophet’s forces in the gryphon empire from the first time he challenged Celestia.

I walked down the hallway and stopped next to the mane six. Rainbow shot me a smile before I sat down with them. I noticed Dan was following me and had sat down next to me. “So how have things up here been?” Dan asked.

“Better…” Twilight said. “And you?”

“Got our transportation squared away…” Dan said. “And everything is ready for us to leave.”

“Does that mean we are going to the southern wastes soon?” Applejack asked.

“Yeah,” I said while stretching my neck. “We should be all set to go. I figured that I’d be better to wait until midnight, when Celestia’s forces would be most scarce.”

“That’s a great idea,” Pinkie said. I never thought of her as one to understand such subjects, but stranger things have happened.

I noticed Fluttershy hiding behind her mane. “What’s wrong Flutters?”

She heard me and attempted to hide her face, “Oh… nothing.”

“Come on, I’m not stupid, tell me what’s up,” I said with a lighthearted smile.

Fluttershy refused to speak and buried her face in her hooves. “She’s just a little on edge right now,” Rainbow said.

Look at how they fear you…

Damn it, not now… NOT YET!

“Fluttersh---” I stopped mid-word and looked up.

“Aidan, what are you-” Dan started.

“SSHHH! Can’t you hear that?” I said while standing up.

“Umm, hear what?” Dan asked, now confused.

“It sounds like…” I started before I closed my eyes tightly. “Wings…”

“Shit…” Dan said before standing up.

“Get downst-

Pegasi came from everywhere and dropped in through the windows and gaps in the ceiling. “BY CELESTIA’S HOLY NAME YOU WILL SURRENDER!” One guard shouted.

“Holy?” I asked, surprised. “Heh, if you think I’m gonna surrender, you have another thing coming,” I said with a grin.

“THEN YOU WILL BE EXTERMINATED!” He shouted.

I looked to Dan, “That one sounded a little familiar…” He responded with a smirk. “Get them downstairs.” Knowing Dan would handle that, I turned back to the guards that were glaring at me, some charging their horns. “Come on then!”

A wall of light was erected just behind me as a volley of magical blasts showered me. They barely even stung, most of them just bounced off me. Whatever inherent human magic I possess, it negates pony magic.

After the cloud of dust kicked up from the magic blasting the stone all around me I opened my eyes, “My turn…” I looked up and shot blasts of energy at the day guards. With every pony I shocked two stood ready to replace him. The wall of light behind me had now vanished after the ponies ran downstairs with Luna, her guards and Dan. As planned, Discord, me, Colin, Iron Hoof and the day guard stayed behind with me. I looked at the wall of guards ready to kill us… and smiled.

Dan:

“EVERYPONY IN THE TRUCK!” I shouted as bolts of magic sped past us. As planned the ponies got in the truck. It was a bit cramped, but it was faster than walking, not to mention much safer. I jumped in the cab with Luna in the passenger side, being the only one to fit properly.

I jammed the key into the ignition and turned, the car sprung to life with a loud roar. “OH CAROL, YA MISSED ME!” I yelled over the roar of the engine.

“Who is Carol?” Luna asked, bemused.

“The truck!” I replied with a smile. “Time to go!” I said as I stepped on the gas, making the car lurch forward, through the tunnels, and out into the forest. Trees sped past as we drove. I looked back at the castle one last time.

Good luck, Aidan.

“Now, to get out of this forest!” I said with a smile. Damn it was good to be behind the wheel of this truck.

A blast of magic flew past the truck, barely missing it. I looked into the mirror to see how many followers we had… it was a lot… about a hundred…