Second Chances Chapter 6 - Magic: Canterlot Subterrane

>Well, this have gone from strange to uber bucking weird.

>For once, brain, I agree.

>You glance around your surroundings like a kid in a museum dedicated to chocolate bars. The tapestries, the ornate architecture, and the mass of guards at almost every turn. You look down at your companion in front of you, Twilight.

>Strolling through, like a baus.

>The train ride to Canterlot seemed to take forever. Pinkie Pie deflated like a balloon when she was told that nop0ny was to come with you except Twi. Twilight, on the other hand, was surprised when Spike declined to accompany the two of you, but as the little guy said, he “had a date.”

>Way to go, little bro.

>Spike is not my little brother, brain. My little brother is a flesh-and-blood human. Spike, while a cool little guy, is a figment of my imagination.

>Still on about that, huh? If this is all make believe, why play along?

>Well, I have to be seeing all this for a reason, right? If I play along, I might figure out what the hell’s going on.

>Red light.

>Red light? What does thaACK!

>You’re so lost in your own inner monologue that you didn’t notice Twilight stopped, running into the purple unicorn from behind.

>”H-hey! Watch it!” She looks back at you, a slight crimson flushing her cheeks.

>You look down.

>Awkward.exe

>You back up a step and move up next to her, your face mirroring her blush.

*ahem* “Sorry Twilight….where are we?”

>You look around the great hall you’ve stopped at. The red carpet you’ve been walking along rises up a grand staircase, stopping at the top with two thrones. On them sits a pair of ponies that look like a mix between pegasus and unicorn. Both are bigger than any pony you have seen thus far, and their manes flutter in a nonexistent wind, like an ethereal smoke.

>The first one is the smaller of the two. Sharp teal eyes seems to melt into her violet fur, a small crown atop her head with a circlet the color of the darkest black you have ever seen around her neck, offset by a silvery crescent moon.

>You don’t notice Twilight next to you, bowing down in respect. As you look across to the next one, you…

>Oh my god.

>You have never beheld such a radiant creature, in this world or the last. Fur the color of the whitest snow cradles a flowing pastel mane that shines like the dawn. A golden crown sits upon her head, as pink eyes take the two of you in, a warm smile as genuine as you have ever seen. White wings flutter as she stands, a marking of the blazing sun on her flank, feeling your heart skip a beat when her gaze locks on you. It reminds you of the first time you saw-

>”Show some respect!” Twilight whispers through gritted teeth as she yanks you down in a kneel. “Those are the princesses of Equestria! Stop staring like a slack-jawed idiot!”

>badpokerface.jpg

>You bow your head as the violet one giggles, rising to her feet as well as both descend the staircase, the air of royalty evident with every clop of their hooves.

>”Twilight, you are my student. You know you don’t have to be so formal.” The white one speaks with an angelic, somewhat motherly tone. Twilight smiles and rises to her hooves, and you follow suit.

>”Princess Celestia! It’s so good to see you!” Twi runs up and nuzzles her teacher’s chest affectionately. Celestia responds by hugging Twilight with a wing. “And Princess Luna! Good to see you too!”

>”Well met, Twilight Sparkle,” Luna replies, like she was restraining herself from shouting. Her gaze locks on you, with a look of concern that’s somewhat off-putting. “So, is this the one mentioned in thy correspondence?”

>”Oh, yes. Princesses, this is Anonymous. Anon, meet Princesses Celestia and Luna.”

>You fumble for a minute, unsure what to do before settling on an awkward bow.

“Your…highnesses?”

>The white one giggles. “Please, Celestia is fine.” Then, as Twilight backs away, Celestia’s gaze turns serious as she approaches you, a full 180 from the jovial mood before.

>Your rustling jimmies break the sound barrier as you find yourself frozen in place, unable to move.

>”So…Anon, I’ve read Twilight’s report. It was…unusually detailed.” Celestia glances down at your crotch.

>Your jimmies explode from the rustling.

>I SWEAR TO GOD PENIS, IF YOU DON’T STAY RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE I AM CUTTING YOU OFF.

>Celestia looks back at you, gazing into your eyes like she was trying to read your soul, finding it out it was Made in China. “What I want to know is exactly who you are. Instead of telling me, I will see for myself.” She smiles soothingly, preempting any further rustling of what was left of your jimmies. “I promise, it will not hurt a bit.”

“Uh….ok” is all you can muster. She could have asked for your bank account, social security number and your left nut, and you’re not entirely sure you would have refused her.

>”Now, just relax…” Celestia’s smile fades as she concentrates, her pink eyes turning a stark glowing white as she touches her horn to your forehead. Twilight and Luna look on from behind her as you first feel a flow of warmth emanating from your head.

>And like that, all you perceive shatters like glass. The last thing you see before everything fractures is Luna and Twilight covering their ears from the loudest scream of pain they have ever heard.

>You have never felt such an intense pain.

>You see images flash around you like glimpses of a television screen. You claw at your head, or what you perceive to be your head. If you could rip it off and empty it to get at whatever was causing this agony, you’d do it without a second thought.

>In fact, that seems like a great idea. What do you think, brain?

>AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHKILLMEWHATEVERJUSTMAKEITSTOP

>I’ll take that as a yes.

>As you float in nothingness, surrounded by images while you try to rip off your own head to get to the candy inside, you start recognizing what you’re seeing.

>There…that’s when you were born.

>That was during the sixth grade, when you tried out for the football team.

>And there, you were five, and you saw your first tornado.

>That was at a hockey game, when someone dropped their beer on your head, ruining your favorite hat.

>Your grandpa’s funeral. You were eleven.

>And that’s you having a beer in a bar with that someone, laughing about it. Her hair was a black as her eyes. You learn her name is Maria.

>Your first puppy.

>You and Maria at the state fair.

>The day you got your driver’s license.

>The day you asked Maria to marry you.

>Your downfall.

>Her betrayal.

>You pulling the trigger of that gun you have stuck in your mouth, pointed upwards.

>You shake your head, your attention focused back on the pain that feels like it’s feng-shui’ing the wrinkles of your mind. You make out the image of a figure of translucent white, also viewing these images…your memories.

>You open your mouth to try and call to it, only managing a rattling scream of a consciousness pushed to the limit.

>It spins and looks at you in surprise, pink orbs wide in surprise, like it didn’t realize you were here.

>You feel your head splitting apart in a literal sense as the apparition’s solid pink eyes flood reality.

>You fly back from Celestia as if blasted by an unknown force in the face, crumpling in a heap across the hall.

>”ANON!” Twilight bolts over to you, checking you over worriedly. “Oh good, you’re still breathing. Are you alright?”

>Brain, we need to respond. Help me out here.

>I LIKE PIE.

>Great.

You groan as you try to sit up. “Did you get the number of that freight train?”

>On the other side of the hall, Luna attends to her sister, who is staring at you with a mixture of pain and regret. “I…I’m sorry. I didn’t…”

>”Sister, I beseech thee to calm yourself. We all know you didn’t intend to hurt him.”

>Twilight looks at you concerned as you piece reality back together. “When Celestia touched you, you began screaming like you were on fire. There was a strange barrier that kept us from getting to you two…I’ve never seen that kind of reaction.”

>”I didn’t consider that magic would affect his kind differently than my p0nies,” Celestia muttered, leaning on Luna as her body began to feel the overwhelming experience she just had. “Normally, I just see their memories…I’ve never…”

>Luna’s face was a picture of concern. Celestia looked like she was about to cry, like something was causing her a great personal pain.

>”I’m sorry,” Celestia said as you sat up, your ability to comprehend simple speech returning. “I…Luna, take care of our guests please. I…I need to be alone right now.”

>And with a flash, Celestia disappears.

>The rusty old sword you found in the forest sits quietly in the loop of your pants.

 

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>”I must apologize for the uncouth turn of events…but Sister is…feeling under the weather.”

>Dear merciful Jeebus, this has got to be the most palatial room you’ve ever stayed in. Even the hastily prepared sandwiches on the table for you and Twilight look like they cost more than that damn Shining Gundam cosplay you helped your brother build.

>And that cost a lot of coin, let me tell you.

>”It’s alright, Princess, we understand,” Twilight reassures the night ruler while you gawk about like a rube. “I’m sure Princess Celestia will be just fine.”

>”Yes, of course Twilight Sparkle,” Luna replies with a small smile, knowing that Celestia’s protégé is right. “Now then, I bid you both good night.”

>And with that, Luna teleports out.

>”So Anon, are you sure you’re feeling alright after what ha-“ The purple p0ny turns to see you tearing into your sandwich like a starving man at a buffet line.

“Oh man, I got to find out what’s in this thing.” You aren’t sure, but it tastes sort of like bacon.

>Twilight just rolls her eyes and glares at you. You must be feeling fine. “Dandelion and spinach. Now…” She sits across from you, nonchalantly slicing her sandwich into bite-sized pieces with her magic. “Are you sure you’re alright? What happened there?”

>You pause and look down at your plate, partially because as time has passed it’s become more difficult to put what happened into words. Also, you’ve finished your sandwich.

“I…I can’t really explain it. It was like…watching her, watching my life. Like, everything.”

>Including a few things you wish you could forget.

>Twilight’s face twists in concern as you explain the details that you can remember with clarity. Especially the pain.

>Oh sweet gods the pain.

>”Come on, Anon, you should get some rest. We’ll continue this in the morning.”

>That is the best suggestion you’ve heard all night.

>Oh sweet Celestia, you swear you’re going to try to steal this bed back home.

>You don’t care if it’s too big for Twilight’s loft. You fit in it, it’s big enough for you and Twilight to share it without jimmies rustling, and you imagine this is what sleeping on a cloud feels like.

>Now, if only you could sleep.

>What’s wrong, Anon?

>I don’t know, brain. It’s just…that thing with Celestia got me thinking.

>No wonder it hurt.

>trollface.jpg

>Yeah, so anyway…it did hurt. A lot. I always thought you couldn’t feel pain in dreams.

>Yeah, so?

>So…what if this isn’t a dream?

>You roll over and look at Twilight, who is sleeping rather peacefully, her back turned to you in a fetal position.

>What if this really is real? I know that before, I died.

>I certainly remember, you shot me.

>…

>Twilight rolls over, her face contorted as she snuggles further into her pillow. You’ve been sleeping in the same room as her and Spike for a couple weeks now, but you’ve really never noticed before how…cute the magic mare was when she was sleeping.

>Yeah, anyway…if I…you know, died.

>You mean killed yourself?

>DIED, how did I end up here, alive?

>Twilight grunts a little, likely from some dream she’s having.

>I wonder what she’s dreaming about.

>Way to change the subject, Anon.

>Whatev’s brain, stop trippin’.

>Twilight grips her pillow tightly, her mouth muttering in a low whisper in her sleep. “Anon…”

>Before you can find a jimmie awake to rustle, existence flashes in a pink light around you.

>Suddenly, carpet.

>Specifically, a rather plush carpet in front of a fireplace in a room that makes your guest room look like an hourly rate cesspool at the local Motel 6.

>”I’m sorry, Anon…but I wanted to talk to you privately, and Twilight would have been awakened if I sent for you.”

>Princess Celestia sits on the carpet next to you. She looks like she’s got her act together, but her expression is still very much pained when she looks down at you.

>Wait…is that a tear?

>You blink, laying next to her, dressed in nothing but your boxers, looking up as that tear falls between your eyes.

“Celestia?” You sit up, coming up to eye level with an obviously tired sun goddess.

>”I feel like I owe you an apology. That spell on a pony will just show me memories of at most a few months. But on you, I saw…everything.”

“Everything?”

>She raises a hoof to silence you. “I felt…everything. Every emotion and feeling you had at that time…no matter how deeply you buried it, I felt, and it came with me when the spell was broken.”

>Your expression changes from it’s usual neutral/sour to something more dour and somber, as it sinks in that this princess who took your breath away now knows things you don’t want anyp0ny to know.

“…even.”

>”Yes…” Celestia looks like she just wants to hug you and tell you it’s going to be alright.

>Sounds like a dandy idea.

>Not now, brain.

“…is there anything else?”

>Celestia frowns. “I know you probably won’t answer, and I know –why-…but…why? I’ve ruled Equestria for thousands of years…and I’ve never known any p0ny who tried to take their own li-“

You raise a hand, mirroring the Princess’ earlier motion. “I’d rather not talk about it…”

>”Then please tell me this.” Man, Celestia must not be able to wrap her head around the notion. “If you had the chance to choose again…would you?”

>You remain silent. You cannot answer, but your silence is still answer enough.

>”I see…” Celestia bows her head. “Unfortunately, I have need of you for other matters. Please get dressed, awaken Twilight and meet me in the great hall.”

>And with a flash, you’re gone.

>Was that disappointment on Celestia’s face as she teleported you? Or was it…

>Whatever it was, she wasn’t concentrating on her aim.

>”OW! GET OFF ME!”

>You land on a very surprised Twilight, the smell of her rustled jimmies reminding you of apricots. Or was that her mane? You certainly got a face-full as you landed.

“Sorry, sorry, Celestia, she…” You notice Twilight, blushing furiously, under you…

>Jimmie-1, launching in 5…4…3…

>You aren’t sure if you can perform magic like Twilight and the Princesses can, but you moved like you had a teleportation spell. You spend a few moments glancing back and forth at each other, both as red as an apple’s butt, like a pair of nervous schoolchildren.

“Anyway…Celestia wants to see us in the great hall.” You finally break the silence as you pull on your pants.

>And like that, Twilight is back to normal. Whew, awkwardness averted.

 

 

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>Great Hall, Take 2.

>”Now then…Anon, may I see that sword?”

>Celestia stands in front of you, Luna close behind. If she’s thinking about that exchange in her room earlier, she’s not showing it.

“Oh, that?” You pull the rusty sword and hold it up. You’ve been carrying it whenever Twilight wasn’t trying to experiment on it. “Yeah, I was wondering if you could tell us about it. Twi thinks it’s important, and for some reason, I just feel…more comfortable carrying it with me, no matter how useless it is.”

>Celestia looks at it with a deathly serious glare as you hold it in front of you, apparently not hearing a word you said through her concentration. You feel like that sandwich resting happily in your gut has turned into a lead weight.

>The moments tick by like hours. Celestia stares at the sword. Twilight and Luna stare at Celestia. You stare at anything to help you forget just how uncomfortable this is making you.

>”….Guard.”

>”Yes, Princess?”

>Oh shit, you don’t know what you did, but Celestia’s gonna throw your happy ass in prison, you know it.

>”Take Twilight Sparkle and Anonymous to the gate to the Canterlot ruins. They have my leave to enter.”

>Twilight Sparkle’s jaw hitting the floor sounded like a bag of bricks dropped from 20,000 feet. “OHMYGOSHTHERUINSNOBODYHASBEENINTHEREINATHOUSANDYEARSTHEREMUSTBESOMANYBOOKSANDSCROLLSANDSPELLS*breath*ICANTBELIEVEIGETTO-“

>Celestia clears her throat. “I’m afraid this isn’t a leisure exclusion, Twilight. I need you and Anon to take that sword to a temple in the center of the ruins of Old Canterlot, buried under the city.”

“Wait…that’s it?”

>Celestia nods. “If my suspicions are correct, yes. That’s it.”

 

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>You and Twilight follow the guard down a set of spiral staircases that seem to go on forever.

>At least, it seems that way because your unicorn companion will. Not. Shut. Up.

>”Oh man Anon, I bet there are just so many magical artifacts buried down there! Maybe even the Staff of Earthspike the Landshaper! Or even the Cor-“

“Twi…” You say with a deep breath. Your poor, overworked jimmies have been rustling at the slightest provocation since you came to Equestria, however this one feels…different.

>”Oh…hehe, sorry. I guess I can get a little excited.” Twilight smiles sheepishly, turning pink on the cheeks in embarrassment. “It’s just…my friends usually don’t have an interest in this kind of thing, much less get to go with me. I’m glad I have someone I can see this place with for once.”

You blink. You didn’t realize, but you can certainly empathize how lonely it can be to have eclectic hobbies. “I know, Twi…I’m glad I can come with you. Really, I am…I’m just focused on finding this temple, you know?”

>Twilight smiles genuinely. “Thanks Anon…You know, I-“

>”We’re here,” the guard states with all the energy of a two-bit extra.

>You find yourself standing before a rather impressive stone door, which looks ancient by any standard you could muster.

>Twilight is already taking notes, copying down the various runes that adorn the door. “Wow, this kind of writing hasn’t been seen in Equestria since the first battle against Discord…”

>The nameless guard clears his throat.

>I think I’ll call him Fluffles.

>…whatever makes you happy, brain.

>The name…AHEM, Fluffles clears his throat. “We have no information on what you will find inside. I am under orders to reseal the door if you are not out by dawn, which is four hours from now. “

>Twilight pauses and gulps at “resealed.”

>Fluffles presses a button on the wall and the stone slides back with a heavy grind. “Good luck.”

>Great, more stairs.

>You feel like you really need to go to the little Anon’s room as the two of your descend the new set of stairs into darkness, Twilight’s horn lighting up to show the way.

>And still taking notes. Bonus points for dedication, Twi, but your rustling jimmies think she doesn’t quite understand the situation.

>It seems like it takes you one of your four hours before the two of you finally reach the ground floor, a soft glow of dust surrounded by blackness, the stairs you descended behind you, rising back into the dark.

“Where are we now, Twilight?” Must be a big room, your voice has a killer echo.

>”I don’t know Anon, hold on…” She closes her eyes and strains, as a large ball of light forms at the tip of her horn. As it shoots off above you, you jump a little in your skin. It attaches to the ceiling and intensifies, like an artificial light, casting the chamber in a moody purple glow as…

>Oh sweet Celestia.

>You said it, brain.

>The contents of the chamber are massive, bringing to mind that Helms Deep place from the Lord of the Rings movies. Ancient spires and battlements grace the ceiling as the ground leading into the fortress lies littered with stones from the walls and the bones of ponies long dead.

>Twilight recoils at the sight, obviously uncomfortable. “I’ve been in plenty of ruins before, but never this…” She eyes the bones. “…messy.”

>You place a hand on Twilight’s shoulder. She jumps a little at your touch, looking up at your expressionless face. Nevertheless, your look softens, which gives the purple p0ny enough comfort to cause her smile.

“Come on, Twilight. We have a job to do.”

>She nods, and the two of you approach the ruined gate.

>Inside the ruined walls is the remains of an ancient city, resembling those medieval ones you saw in those history books as a kid. The dust crunches under a combination of boots and hooves, which has been lying undisturbed for a millennia. You lose track of time as the two of you wander the streets, unsure of what even to look for.

>Twilight takes the occasional note, but she mostly sticks to your side, a look of apprehensiveness on her face. She must be frightened.

>Damn, it’s quiet.

>”….Anon?”

>Or not.

“Yeah, Twi?”

>”Are….are you happy? Staying with Spike and I, I mean…”

>Where did this come from?

“Yeah, why?”

>”It’s just…you never seem happy.”

“It’s…complicated.”

>Twi looks down. “Yeah, you say you’re happy, but…”

You stop and turn to Twilight, kneeling down so you’re eye level with her. Placing both hands on her shoulders, you lock eyes with hers, which goes wide with surprise as her cheeks flush again.

>You even force a halfhearted smile.

“Twilight. I love staying with you and Spike. Spike is like a little brother to me, and you…you’ve been kinder to me than anyone I’ve met in a long time, p0ny or otherwise. I wouldn’t change anything for all the tea in Equestria.”

>You certainly hope they have tea in Equestria.

>Twilight sniffles a little, you hope it’s from the dust, before finally returning your smile. You get the feeling she knows just how fake it is, but she appreciates the effort nonetheless, and your words are at least true. “T-thanks Anon…Come on, we’re running out of time.”

>Awww, you big softie.

>Oh goddamnit heart, not you too.

>The two of you continue, seeing nothing but ruined buildings and pony remains until you happen upon two buildings that seem mostly intact. Two signs are carved above their doors, again in that ancient language.

“Twilight, what do they say?”

>TS squints as she reads the sign on the left building in the low light. “I…think that says ‘The Lusty Mare Bordello and Bathhouse.”

>…You both turn a little red at the thoughts that provokes.

“umm…and the other one?”

>”Temple.”

“Oh…well…that’s convenient.”

>The two of you head inside.

>Temple, my ass. This looks more like a mausoleum. The single-room circular building is lined with what appear to be coffins lined up along the sides of a carpeted walkway. The room reeks of death as candles jump to life as you pass by, causing Twilight to draw even closer to you, her chattering teeth echoing off the walls.

>Oh, wait, those are your teeth.

>As the two of you continue deeper into the chamber, the candles’ self lighting speeds up, coming to a climax in a circle around an altar in the center of the room, the coffins spread around it like worshippers to a dark ritual.

>On the altar appears to be a stone tablet and something you can’t make out at this distance. You and Twilight speed up, reaching the circular altar.

“Huh…just some crusty old scabbard.”

>”Hey, Anon, can you wipe some of the dust off that tablet? I can’t make it out from here.”

>You oblige. Twilight hops up on the altar, her horn illuminating so that she can make it out. “I dunno Anon, it’s ancient Equestrian, but…it’s older than anything I’ve seen be-“

“…Observe the magic of reality with eyes wide open…and the path will be bare before you.”

>Twilight stares at you like you just spoke Chinese. “YOU CAN READ THAT?!”

“Yeah, can’t you?” you say with a shrug. Looks like regular old text to you.

>”NOP0NY CAN READ THIS, IT’S BEEN A DEAD DIALECT FOR OVER TEN MILLENIA!”

>The room starts shuddering as Twilight’s voice raises.

“SSSH, TWILIGHT! You want to bring the whole place down on top of us?” You hiss as the shaking seems to intensify…and then it stops.

>At the exact same time the candles go out.

“T…Twilight? You there?” You put your hand out, grasping what you think is Twilight’s leg.

>”Yeah, I’m here.” She’s back on the floor…you must be holding the scabbard.

>Before Twilight could illuminate the room with her magic, the room obliges, casting shadows in a deep blue light as a strange, ethereal energy seeps from every coffin in the room. The two of you step back in awe and fear as the energy swirls like smoke, collecting into a ball above the altar. The ball of energy coalesces into a form, a pony phantom.

>A very specific pony phantom.

>Twilight Sparkle’s mouth hangs agape, unable to process what it is she sees.

>”Star-Swirld the Bearded…”

You aren’t sure who that is, but your jimmies are so rustled they’ve come full circle and are stilled once again. “That’s…bad…right?”

>Twilight doesn’t answer. You draw your sword and hold it tightly, the rusty blade rattling.

>Star-Swirl opens his mouth…well, whatever a goddamn ghost calls a mouth.

>”THE UNWORTHY SHALL BE PURGED.”

>Oh shit.

>Twilight pushes you out of the way as a bolt of lightning lashes from the ancient wizard ghost’s horn, cracking on the stone floor with a thunderous boom. You shake your head as you scramble back to your feet, taking cover behind one of the sarcophagi. “ANON, DO SOMETHING?”

>WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK I CAN DO?

“I’M OPEN TO SUGGESTIONS.”

>You see Twilight poke her head up above her cover, firing a purple beam of energy at the phantasm. It passes right through him, as he fires another bolt of lightning in her direction, sending stone bits flying as it impacts on the coffin. Twilight ducks down and covers her head, screaming in fear.

>”ANON, HELP ME!”

>You aren’t sure why, but that really pisses you off.  

>Gathering your jimmies, you jump up and scream your head off, leaping at the phantom, swinging your rusty sword.

>It passes right through him.

>Well, that fucks up your hero gig.

>Oh well, you already died once.

>You see Star-Swirl’s horn light up in what seems like slow motion as he prepares to make you pay for that, when your still-flailing sword strikes the tablet.

>The words on it glow.

>And you disappear.

>Twilight cannot believe her eyes. “A…anon?”

>Star-Swirl fires another lightning bolt.

 

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>What the fuck? Where are we?

>Your guess is as good as mine.

>You find yourself standing alone in what looks like a sea of clouds. A bright blue sky frames a blazing sun in front of you. Looking behind you, a silvery moon hangs in a tapestry of stars so wonderous only the galaxy itself could contain it.

>”You…chosen by the old gods.”

>Your jimmies take control as they spin you around. You see a figure standing. You can’t make out a face, but it’s dressed head to toe in ancient armor, holding a large, rusty sword.

“Holy shit…a human? An honest-to-god human?!”

>The man ignores your words. “In the ebb and flow of time…”

>A flash lights before you. You see Twilight desperately battling the effigy of Star-Swirl, as if you were hanging from the ceiling. You feel a sharp pang in your chest as she gets grazed by a bolt. Obviously, she is not doing well.

>”Life burns brightly…and life is snuffed out.”

>You see your suicide.

>Why does everything come back to this?

>”But in this time…and in this place…dream or no dream, reality is always present.”

>You see a montage of the past few weeks. Giving Spike tips on attracting girls. Helping Twilight clean the library. Twilight teaching you about p0nies and P0nyville. You buying Rainbow Dash a drink as her reward for beating you in a race. Getting measured by Rarity for an outfit. Feeding Fluttershy’s bunnies. Hauling a wagonload of apples for Applejack into town…

>”Reality is what you decide it is. That…is the true magic.”

>You wipe a tear from your eye, looking back up at the figure. You cannot put what you feel into words…except.

“I…feel…”

….

>The armored man points his sword at you. “Now, one chosen to wield the Harmony Blade, receive my knowledge and power…the power of Magic.”

>Before you can react, the man dissolves into an orb of bright purple light, which promptly embeds itself in your chest. You expected to scream in agony, but it’s…warm. Like being wrapped in a loving embrace.

>The sword in your hand glows brightly.

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>Twilight Sparkle yelps in pain as she takes a bolt directly in the side, hitting the wall.

>”Celestia…I can’t take much more.” She looks up as the shadow Star-Swirl levitates over towards her, readying what she is sure is the killing blow.  Coughing up a little blood, she gets to her hooves, trying to put the stinging of her wounds out of her mind.

>“Anon…I’m sorry…I…”

>The entire room is blazed in a bright purple light, if only for a minute. It’s enough to get Star-Swirl’s attention, the phantom turning back to face the altar. Her vision follows her opponent’s to see what’s so specia-

>”Anonymous!” Twilight’s eyes light up.

>You look around, feeling surprisingly calm as you stand on the altar.

>You look at the sword in your hand…where you expected a rusty short sword, now rests an elegant steel blade, wider than before, and almost twice as long. It feels light in your hand, like it was almost not there.

>As you concentrate, the blade shimmers with a faint purple glow. You don’t see it, but the glow of your eyes mirrors the sword.

“Oh…hell yes.”

>Star-Swirl lets out a hellish scream as it charges at you like a kamikaze. Twilight pulls herself up, reaching a hoof out to you. “ANON! LOOK OUT!”

>You look up to your opponent. He looks like he’s moving in slow motion. Gripping the sword tight, you twist your shoulder and bring the tip of the blade upwards in a great arc, the blade leaving a trail of purple energy in it’s wake.

>This crescent of magical energy remains and flies ahead, striking Star-Swirl.  Unlike before, the ghost of the ancient wizard feels this one, shrieking in pain as it stays levitated, not moving as purple energy crackles around it.

“I don’t care what you are…you hurt my friend.”

>You draw your sword back.

“So I’m going to hurt you!”

>You leap at Star-Swirl, not the awkward jump you made last time, but like you were flying straight at the wizard. With a cry you’ve never heard yourself yell before, you take a great slash at Star-Swirl.

>TATSUMAKI ZANKATO!

>You are not Zonvolt, brain.

>As you land, Star-Swirl explodes in a shower of energy, purple specks raining around the room. You stand as Twilight walks towards you weakly, her body covered in burn marks and bloody injuries.

“Oh no, Twlight! Are you alright?” You rush over, just in time to catch her as her strength fails.

>Twilight giggles weakly. “I’m…really glad you’re hear with me, Anon…”

>You hold her cheek.

“Hang on, I’m going to get you out of here…”

>You stop as you notice the purple specks begin to coalesce, gathering in a point on Twilight’s chest. As more specks join the herd, Twilight’s injuries begin to heal, even as she remains barely lucid in your grasp.

>You pause, a gentle glow emanating from the p0ny. You notice something form around her chest…a metal breastplate with some weird star-shaped purple jewel in it. It looks almost like the star on her cutie mark.

>You don’t have time to ponder, as the two of you disappear into a flicker of light, which rises up through the ceiling, and towards the sky.

>You can’t describe the experience being light. If you had to equate it to something, it would be that one time you got high behind the football bleachers with the drum line…

>The feeling doesn’t last, as you materialize in the Great Hall. Dawn peeks through the windows as a very surprised-looking Celestia looks down at you.

>Twilight looks perfectly fine. In fact, if you didn’t know better, you’d say she was sleeping in the crook of your arm.

>”Anon! Twilight!” Celestia knocks over her breakfast as she jumps to her hooves, her face a mix of relief and worry. “I thought you were sea-“

>Celestia eyes the sword in your hands, her lids narrowing. She was afraid of this.

>”The Harmony Blade…”