The Hearts of Man: Chapter 4 -Exodus-

Chapter 4: Exodus

 

>The knot in your stomach grows as you near Canterlot.

>Gazing out one of the windows of the carriage, you look down at the sweeping valleys and forests of Equestria that lay before

>The hues of green and dark blue fly by slowly as the carriage makes it's way towards the castle on the mountain.

>You look over to Twilight, hoping she'll explain more than she did before.

>Hours earlier, Twilight had sent a letter Princess Celestia, telling her that she had found a strange being and needed her to address it.

>Twilight hasn't taken her eyes off of you since the flight to Canterlot began.

>Spike on the other hand has been looking out his window and marveling at the earth below.

"Uh... Twilight?"

>"Yes?" she says, not breaking her stare from you.

>She looks at you analytically, examining you.

>Like you were an anomaly.

"When we get to Canterlot to see the Princess... what will she do to me? Did you tell her who I am and what I am?"

>"I don't know what she'll do, Anonymous. I imagine she'll ask the same questions I asked you, maybe more."

>"As for who and what you are, I haven't told her. I imagine it's be better for you to tell her in person."

"What? Why?"

>"Anonymous, I don't know much about you. I don't know who you are or where you came from. All I know is that you're a "human," something I've never heard of before, and you don't even know your own name. You had to take one from one of my books."

"I thought it fit."

>"Honestly it sounds forced."

"Maybe."

>"All I can say is this: Celestia is a kind and fair ruler. She'll know what to do."

>The two of you stare at each other, your unsure expression locked to Twilight's assured demeanor.

>You give a sigh, and look back out the window. It had been hours since you left Ponyville.

>The sun was beginning it's decent to meet the horizon.

 

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>Marbled floors and pillars of gems greeted you as you walked down the halls of Canterlot.

>Guard ponies in shining armor escorted you and Twilight Sparkle to the throne room.

>Spike was told to stay with the carriage, despite his insistence.

>As you get closer to the throne room's massive doors, the knot in your stomach becomes more and more apparent.

>You're nervous as hell.

>You know (somehow) that Celestia is a benevolent being and that she wouldn't harm you.

>But there's a part of you that fears for your life.

>After all, there haven't been many times where you've dealt with royalty before.

>You're feet away from the main doors, when the guards step in front of you suddenly.

>Guard: "Miss Sparkle must enter first to speak with the Princess."

"Oh. Yeah uh.. sure. Of course."

>The second guard opens one of the doors, through which Twilight enters.

>The door then closes, and you're left with the two stoic guards.

>The silence is unsettling and gets to your nerves.

>You have to break it.

"So... uh.. how long have you been guards?"

>The guards stare ahead, not answering you.

"Huh, so you're like the guards outside of Buckingham palace eh? That's cool."

>Silence

"You know, just... without the big hats."

>More silence.

>You realize that they have no idea what the hell a "Buckingham" is as you bring your palm to your face.

"Yeah I'm just... I'll be over there by the door."

"Not touching anything."

 

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>Only minutes pass when you hear a muffled yell emit from the throne room.

>You couldn't hear whose voice it was, but it seemed deeper than Twilight's.

>Celestia?

>Why would she ye-

>A third guard pony bursts through the doors and locks eyes with you.

>Guard: "You. Come."

>You stumble a bit, straighten yourself up, and quickly follow the guard into the Princess' chamber.

>The scale of it hits you.

>This room is massive.

>The white marble and gems take the setting sun's rays and make them dance across the room in a brilliant display.

>You follow the rays as they bounce from gem to gem, shimmering in their beauty, and find Princess Celestia waiting for you at the end of the room.

>The look on her face seems...

>Problematic.

>Now you're only ten feet away from her, shadowed by her flowing mane.

>She looks down to you.

>Celestia: "Speak."

>You pause.

>You at least expected some form of greeting, but you brush it aside.

"...Okay? What should I-"

>Celestia: "Name."

"I... well I don't really know what my name is. I don't even know if I have a name. So I just chose to-"

>Celestia: "NAME."

>This time she said it much stronger, cutting you off.

>The tension in the room could be cut by a knife."

"..Anonymous."

>Celestia: Anonymous, what species are you?"

>You look at Twilight, confused by the manner in which Celestia has been questioning you.

>Her face appears slightly drained, and she fidgets slightly.

>She looked scared.

>Why was she scared?

>Celestia: "Anonymous."

>You snap your head back to the Princess.

>Celestia: "What. Species. Are. You."

>The knot in your stomach grows, and you swallow back your trepidation.

"Human. I'm human."

>Her gaze lowers slightly, and she pauses.

>Celestia: "Human. Well. That's unfortunate."

>Unfortunate?

>Why are you unfortunate?

>You look to Twilight again, meeting her eyes.

>She turns her gaze from you.

>What is this?

>Celestia: "Anonymous. I'm afraid I have no choice."

"What do you mean? No choice? What's going on?"

>You take a step towards the Princess.

>Those guard ponies are instantly on you, as glowing rings lock onto your wrists and hold you back.

"Hey!"

>Celestia: "You must understand, we have not had to deal with your kind for some time now."

>What's going on?

>Celestia: "The last time we did, there were many lives lost."

>What is she talking about. Why did the guards hold you down?

>Celestia: "For the safety of my kingdom, I will have to deal with you in a manner I have not used in a millenium."

>You feel light. Like you're fading.

>Celestia: "I am sorry. Truly. I do this for the good of my ponies."

>Suddenly, light.

>So much light.

>You feel warmth spark across your skin, like static crawling along your entire being.

>Wind.

>And then nothing.

>You drop to your knees, panting.

>As you look up, your mid goes blank in disbelief.

>The ground.

>It's gray and dusty.

>And it's so...

>Quiet.

>Dark.

>As you look up to the sky, you realize where you are.

>You stand there, gazing at a planet in the distance.

>You're on your knees as you begin to break down.

>Without warning.

>Without reason.

>Without explaination.

>Princess Celestia has banished you.

 

>To the moon.