Legendary Return (discontinued)

>You are Anonymous.

> Twilight's ruler Celestia has just promised to kill you, Twilight, and all of her friends;  for no better reason than she doesn't trust you with a sword you found in a forest. She claims it can destroy nations, but right now all you want to do is protect your friends. They don't deserve what this psycho bitch is going to do to them.

>The power of the strange weapon is coursing through your veins and the wings and horn have returned, along with the tingling sensation in your sword arm. You can't see them, but your pupils have been engulfed by a shining light that spit white fire from the corners of your eyes.

>She's building up some kind of magical energy at the tip of her horn which is crackling and radiating waves of power, and you're getting goose bumps from just being near her. It doesn't take her long to finish charging her spell.

>She fires the swirling ball of magic directly at you, but you are not afraid. It's somewhere around eight feet high and four feet wide; it's blacker than a bottomless pit on a starless night and it's screaming towards you, promising nothing but death. You charge forward with both hands on your sword, screaming at the top of your lungs. The sword seemed to respond in kind, and its howl resonates with your battle cry.

 

>It's about fifteen feet away from you now. Acting with guidance that seems to come from the sword, your wings pump once, then twice, and you lunge towards it while slashing your sword wildly to the side, hoping to bat it out of the way like an oversized baseball.

> When you make contact the ball flies to the side and into a wall, smashing the bricks and mortar into dust as it dissipates. Thinking that it would be harder to push away, you swing the sword too savagely and spin a few times in mid-air as you fall back down to the ground from your jump.

>You land pretty clumsily and you almost drop the sword, but still...

>Holy shit, it actually worked.

>After recovering from your bad jump, you point sword at Celestia and your voice becomes infused with power from the sword again.

"CELESTIA! HAVE YOU BECOME SO DERANGED IN MY ABSENCE THAT YOU WOULD TREAT MY PRESENCE AND MY CHOSEN WIELDER SO CALLOUSLY?  PERHAPS I HAVE BEEN AWAY FOR TOO LONG; I HAD NOT NOTICED YOU ACTED TOWARDS YOUR SUBJECTS AND THEIR FRIENDS SO POORLY!!!"

>Celestia looks you over, and after a moment she smiles and starts to talk back.

>"No Ancient One, I am not deranged. However, you HAVE been away for a very long time if you  do not recognize that your surroundings are an illusion... a creation of mine to test your new wielder. I honestly thought you would be able to tell."

>Huh? What does she mean?

>The sword vibrates in your hand, and the voice in your mind speaks to you.

>"She speaks the truth, child. We are in a dream world. I could sense that something was wrong, but I... I did not comprehend the trap until it had been sprung."

>You respond to the voice in your thoughts.

"So none of what happened was real? I'm not actually in a palace with a psycho unicorn trying to kill me?"

 

>"No child, you're failing to grasp the situation. Your physical body is in the palace, but your conscience has been whisked away to a dream world by a spell from Celestia. Think back to when you first entered the chamber, and it should become clear to you."

>You try to remember what happened after Twilight opened the doors. You walked in and admired the beauty of the room you were in, then you saw Celestia... she said hello to Twilight, and then looked at you. Her gaze seemed to pierce your mind and read your thoughts... that must have been it.

>It was her eyes; the spell activated when she looked at you. You glance over to where Twilight was supposed to be, and she was not there.

>The tingling in your sword arm suddenly changes from a minor annoyance to a pain that rips down your shoulder to your hand; your train of thought is broken and you scream in agony.

>You grind your teeth and grip your arm as you drop the weapon. The warmth from the wings and horn vanish as it clatters to the cold floor, but you don't care; all you want in this world right now is for the pain to stop. It lingers for a few moments like last time, and fades away.

>If this is an illusion, why does everything feel so real?

>Celestia watches all of it. "It seems you cannot control the flow of magic from the sword for very long." She walks over to where you are and stops a few feet in front of you.

 

>"You probably don't even know what that weapon is, do you? Yet you still managed to summon its spirit and control it for a short time. Very impressive."

>If only you were here seeking her approval; that would have made your fucking day.

>You desperately want to say something back to her, but the sudden pain you just received from the sword drained your energy; twice in one day is just too much.

>As if reading your thoughts, Celestia responds. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound as if I was mocking you while you are down. Please, accept my apology."

>Really? Why should you?

>It's obvious at this point she actually is reading your thoughts, because she responds to that as well.

>"My sister and I sensed a magical anomaly, so we sent Twilight Sparkle to the forest to investigate. Imagine my surprise when she sends me a letter stating that a strange creature had appeared, and had a powerful weapon thought to be sealed away safely in a forest that nop0ny goes into for long periods of time. I had to test you, Anonymous. And you passed, with flying colors.

>Still, there's no reason to accept an apology from someone that pretty much manipulated you into hurting yourself.

>"Well, it would be understandable if you don't. You came here with questions and seeking answers, yet you were met with threats and tricks. You must understand what you carry with you, Anonymous; it is a powerful relic that should not be taken lightly. It has the spirit of the world tree residing in it, which was once the source of all magic in the world. In the right possession, it is a fantastic tool for peace. It can literally change the fate of anyone that is in contact with it for too long. If in the wrong care, the world will be put in danger and for all my power I would not be able to stop it."

>Wow, that was more than you can take in. Spirit of the world tree?

 

>"Yes. It was the world tree that gave birth to my race, the Alicorns. It was also by her great love for the world that she took the form of elemental magic to protect it. It is a sacred relic of my kin, and almost all that remains of our race after we were annihilated by Discord."

>Discord huh? Sounds like a nasty son of a bitch.

>"Yes. Yes he is; or was, rather. He ruled over Equestria before my sister and I; we over-threw him with the help of the Ancient One and the Elements of Harmony. He has been imprisoned in stone for millennia. Recently he escaped, although I don't know how. Through the magic of the Elements of Harmony, he was re-sealed until he has been deemed fit to be released."

>Elements of Harmony and a sword? A god-like being that's sealed in stone? This is real interesting and all, but you didn't come here to learn about p0ny history.

>You manage to get on your feet and you stare at Celestia, waiting for her to reply to your thoughts; but she doesn't.

"I don't mean to offend you Princess, but I didn't come here to find out about the history of your race."

>"Yes, you came to re-discover your own history, correct?"

>You nod, a serious look on your face.

>"Unfortunately... it is beyond my power. I can see into your mind clear as day, however there are no clues in it that lead to your past. I'm sorry."

>You feel like you're going to collapse again. If she can't help you, then what was all this for? Why are you here wasting your time with a p0ny princess that tricked you into hurting yourself again?

>"I never said I could not help you, Anonymous. I can help you for as long as you accept it; I merely said recovering your memory was beyond my power."

"What are you talking about? Please, speak clearly. I don't think I can handle any riddles right now."

 

>She smiles at you, and gracefully covers the short distance between you. She really is beautiful, even if she isn't human.

>"Whether you like it or not, the weapon is yours now; you have proven yourself worthy to care for it, and I shall not try to take it from you again. However, that does not mean you know how to wield it properly."

"What are you getting at?"

>Her horn lights up with magic, and the sword levitates over to her.

>"The weapon reacts to its wielder's emotions, or to be more specific... their need. Should you have enough need to call out to the spirit, it shall aid you. Let's say that you were facing down a beast much larger than you. An elder hydra, for instance."

>Celestia's horn glows with a fierce white light, and a monstrous form with far too many heads to be natural began to take shape on the opposite side of the room.

>You gasp as you recognize the form of a monster that is still fresh in your mind; It's a hydra...but this monster has more than four heads. You count them. One...two...five...ten...fifteen.

>This monster has the maximum number of heads that Twilight said was possible. They let out 15 bloody screams that shatter the windows in the room as the monster charges at Celestia, who you notice as you cover your ears, is strangely calm.

>"You must focus your emotions into a solid form, a definite NEED. Right now, I feel as though I need this hydra to stop moving towards me." The hydra has covered most of the room and is a few dozen yards away from Celestia, but she remains calm." Now, as you may or may not know, just cutting off the heads of a hydra will not kill it; it actually makes them stronger. You need fire to cauterize the wound to prevent the heads from growing back."

>The sword has begun burning with ghostly orange fire, but Celestia's horn did not glow; she's using the magic of the sword alone to power the spell.

 

>Celestia flies towards the rampaging monster with grim determination in her eyes. In the middle of her jump, she twists to the right and the sword flies through every single one of the hydra's necks in the blink of an eye, leaving behind a trail of fire in its wake.

>She glides back down to the floor and all of the monster's gruesome heads fall backwards, detaching from the body. Each of the bases for its huge necks catch fire as the body slides towards you and stops a few feet away.

>She decapitated and cauterized every single head with a single swipe of the blade. You can smell the meat of the hydra being cooked right in front of you.

>"Your goal has to be clear, your need must be strong. However...if you are unable to control the flow of magic from the sword, your body will absorb it."  As she says this, her horn shoots out a stream of lightning."Without something to channel it into, it will destroy your body from the inside."

>The magical lightning was streaming from the sword to her body and leaving through her horn in a line several feet long. You watch as it dwindles into nothing but a few sparks, and stops completely.

>Well, that would explain the agonizing pain that came after using the sword. You were being electrocuted with magic.

"So, what you're saying is... that I have to control my emotions better, and learn to keep the magic from killing me?"

>She smiles at you, and levitates the sword back over to you.

 

>"Basically yes, if all you want to do is prevent it from hurting you."

>Wait a second

"Are you telling me that I can actually USE the excess magic from the sword?"

>"Yes, it is very likely that you can; otherwise you would not transform when you wield it. Magic was obviously not prevalent where you came from, so your body just isn't familiar with it yet. I'm already an Alicorn, which makes channeling the magic much, much easier for me." She giggles and points a hoof towards her horn.

>Yeah, that makes sense. You grab the sword floating in mid-air in front of you, and it starts to glow when your hand touches the hilt.

>Celestia looks on with a smile. "Oh my, she certainly likes you." She giggles again.

>God, what a trouble maker.

>"Hmm? Did you say something?"

"...No."

>She's still reading your thoughts dummy

>Her smile grows even wider. "Well Anonymous, that is as basic as it gets when it comes to the blade. As for the sheath... could you remove it, please?"

>Wait, the sheath? What does the sheath do?

>"I would be happy to show you if you would remove it."

>You sigh as you unbuckle the strap and hold the sheath out for her. It glows with magic and floats over to Celestia.

>"The sheath was made from a dying branch of the world tree, and has incredible magic suppressing abilities. You need something like this to contain the power of the sword, otherwise the flow of magic would never end."

>She levitates the sheath about twenty feet in front of her and concentrates on it. A dark magic started to form at the tip of her horn... wait a second, she's not going to... is she?

>She sure as hell is. A dark ball of energy similar to the one that you faced earlier is moving towards the sheath with incredible speed. It reaches its target... and it vanishes. Nothing happened.

>The sheath hovers back over to you. "Please, examine it. It's safe for you to touch."

 

>You grab it out of the air and look it over. The runes and the Alicorn symbol are lit up with a silver light, but they fade back to a dark purple after a few seconds.

"So, the light that flashes whenever the sword is drawn...?"

>"Is the sword's magic being released! Good, glad to see you understand so far."

>So far? You can barely remember that none of this is real, let alone most of what she is saying. The power of the sword though...

>You look over to the hydra's corpse; not forgetting that image any time soon.

>Looking over to your side, you see where the princess' original magic attack demolished an entire wall. The sheath isn't anything to joke about either.

>You move to put the sword back in its sheath, but it starts to vibrate. You hear the voice in your head speak to you again.

>"Anonymous... please let me go. I would like to speak to the princess face to face."

>You do as you are told and let go of the weapon. It floats a few feet in front of you, and embeds itself in the floor. The green gem at the bottom of the hilt begins to glow. Slowly, the figure of an Alicorn even larger than Celestia takes shape near the blade. It has no mark on its flank, and its coat is even whiter than the snow colored fur Celestia has. It's mane and tail are the same colors as the sword; white and purple. She doesn't have any pupils; her eyes are covered with some kind of magical white fire.

>"Celestia, my beloved daughter of the sun... it has been far too long. I am sorry I did not reveal myself to you earlier, but I could not judge the situation you put before me clearly; it was a very wise decision to test him, and it would be foolish for me to be upset with you for my own ignorance. Where is your sister, Luna? The dream world is her domain, so should she not be here with you?"

>As the spirit finishes her question, the chamber rumbles with the power of another voice that you are not familiar with.

>"I AM HERE, ANCIENT ONE!"

 

>Looking around for the source of the shouting, you see a dark form on the other side of the room near the throne. It's taking the shape of an Alicorn as well, but her colors are a stark contrast from Celestia's.

>She is about a foot shorter than Celestia. She might be younger than her.

>She approaches the spirit and bows deeply; as she does so, you notice she has a mark on her flank as well... a crescent moon surrounded by stars. This is definitely the sister of the moon the voice instructed you to find, making her Celestia's (younger?) sister.

>How convenient, they found you. That's one problem solved.

>"Luna, daughter of the stars; it is so good to see you again.  You have grown so well... you are as beautiful as the moon on a star-lit night.

>"I... thank you, Ancient One. It was only with our sister's guidance that we have grown so much. It is truly a blessing to see you again after so long."

>The spirit smiles at her, and then turns to face you. "Anonymous, this is Princess Luna. She is ruler of the night sky and the realm of dreams, and has come here searching for you.

>Luna raises from her bow and turns to look at you. She studies you carefully before approaching you.

 

>"Anonymous... a pleasure to meet you at last." Her horn glows for a few seconds, and her blue eyes look you up and down. They're almost as deep as Celestia's;  you feel insignificant under her gaze.  "You do not seem to understand where, or even WHO you are... and yet, you have plunged yourself into a great deal of responsibility."

"Uh, it's nice to meet you too, I guess."

>She resumes talking, ignoring your sarcasm. "We saw you defend the fake Twilight Sparkle from our sister. A most unwise choice, but you are to be commended for your bravery."

"But none of it was real, she was never in any danger. And even still, it seemed wrong that she would hurt an innocent pers...uh.. p0ny. I couldn't just stand there and watch."

>She smiles at your modesty. "You did not know it was an illusion; that is why it was admirable."

> Her smile fades as quickly as it came. "Yet it seems as though the Ancient One guided your approach. You do not know how to control the magic, but even if you could how well off would you be without it?"

"What are you getting at?"

>"The Spirit has chosen you to be its wielder, Anonymous. You are therefore the rightful owner of the blade, and its magical prowess. However, we are interested in how well you can defend yourself or your friends should its magic fail you, as unlikely as that may be. We would like to present a test of our own to you, Anonymous. While it will not truly have any bearing on whether or not you will keep the sword, it shall satisfy our curiosity. Do you accept the challenge?"

>Another test? Well, if you don't have to do it then why should you?

>"That is not the answer we wish to hear; we would be most disappointed should you refuse."

"Are you all reading my mind now?"

>"Yes."

>Well, that's just fantastic. You can't even have a thought to yourself, and these princesses are treating you like some sort of guinea pig. However, she might be able to help you.

 

>"It is beyond us to recover your memories, so please do not ask. However, we can help you in other ways; the sword's magic is very difficult to master, as our sister has explained. You do not know how to use it, and we can provide guidance along with our sister that could prove most helpful for you, should you accept."

>Man, you just can't get a break today. Fuck it, it's not like you have anywhere else to be.

"I'll do it."

>"Excellent! We shall begin immediately. Prepare yourself. "

>Her horn glows with magic, and another form is taking shape in front of you; however, it doesn't seem to be another p0ny or Alicorn. It looks almost human... and a strangely familiar human at that.

>The dark mass finally takes the form of a human about your size. Actually, it looks exactly like you... except he's much more muscular. You're not exactly a weakling, but this guy is scary looking.

>Luna notices your reaction. "This is a magical clone of you; it has any physical attributes you could achieve naturally."

"So this is me... but at my physical peak?"

>"That is correct Anonymous. You will fight it, and we will judge your current abilities. You may use the sword, but its magic will not be available to you. He will also receive a sword, and we shall see to it that you are not killed."

"So I have to fight this copy of me, and then you and Celestia will train me to use the sword?"

>"We can teach you how to control the sword's magic, yes."

 

>Without another thought, you walk over to the sword and grab the hilt. As you do, you're reminded of the pain you felt from its magic earlier. You won't die, but you are going to feel every little scratch and bruise you get from this fight.

>A sword appears in the clone's hands as you pull yours out of the ground. The spirit nods to you, and you hear her voice in your mind. "Do your best Anonymous."

 

>Locking eyes with your doppelganger, you both walk to the center of the room. He moves to his left and you instinctively move to your right, circling each other. After a few seconds he suddenly dashes towards you with incredible speed, closing the distance between the two of you in a blur of motion and makes a jab at your chest. All you can do is parry his thrust before he twists the sword and attempts to strike at your head from above your guard.

>You jump backwards but it's only a split second before he's back on the offensive, unleashing a series of slashes and thrusts that seem to come from all directions. You deflect what you can, but your eyes and reflexes just aren't able to keep up with his movements.  A stab to your side hits home, and you can feel warm blood trickling down your ribs.

>The sudden shock from the pain makes adrenaline pump through your body, and you redouble your efforts. You slash at his extended sword arm, but he moves backwards and easily avoids your clumsy attack. You reach out in two wild horizontal swings and he flicks them away, almost casually. On your third,  he matches your swing with only one arm and halts your forward momentum as your swords meet with sparks. Pushing forward, you attempt to slide down his sword to the hilt and kick him, but he meets you in the middle and punches you hard in the chest, causing the gash in your rib cage to flare up in pain and push you back instead.

>You manage keep your balance and dodge an oncoming vertical slash, but he stops his attack in mid-air and changes its direction. His sword bites deep into your arm; you fall to one knee and scream in pain, but he doesn't relent.

 

>He moves in for what you think is a finishing cleave to your head and you fling your sword up with one good arm in a desperate attempt to defend your vital area, but he doesn't make contact with the blade; instead, he moves sideways and rams the pommel into your face, which crushes your nose and makes you fall onto your back.

>He's not only stronger and faster than you, but he can anticipate and counter your every move like he's been fighting for years. You're no match for him.

>The clone lowers his sword and looks you over; he knows you're beaten. He moves his sword to the left and swings it quickly to the right, and your blood flies off of his blade onto the floor. He takes one last look at you and vanishes.

>You didn't even scratch him. Then again, how could you? He was literally your better in every way. You never had a chance.

>Your arm feels like it's going to fall off, your rib cage has been cut open, and your nose is definitely broken. Warm blood is gushing from all three injuries. You lay there breathing heavily in a growing puddle of your own blood, realizing you've been beaten in less than a minute.

>You use your uninjured arm to help you move into a sitting position. Waves of nausea start to crash through your body. If you had eaten anything today you would be throwing it up now, but instead you roll over onto your knees and start to dry heave.

"HURGH...*pant* *pant* hhhHUURGH!!"

>Every move you make causes your body to be racked with fresh pain, but you can't stop the convulsions; if you don't get help soon, you're going to hyper ventilate and pass out from shock.

>The Alicorn sisters rush over to you.

>"Let's have a look at you..."

>Celestia leans forward "Let me see your arm... oh my, your nose is broken as well... and your chest... he gave you quite a thrashing."

 

>Their horns each light up red and white as they send magic to your wounds, which unfortunately makes them itch incredibly. You grind your teeth together and fidget as you resist the impulse to claw at them, but the sensation stops after a moment, and sweet relief washes over you.

>After a few seconds your breathing becomes stable and you can sit up straight. Whether this is a dream or not... you feel like you could have died if the princesses had not healed and rejuvenated you.

>The spirit approaches you now.

>"It seems I did indeed choose well, Anonymous. You were faced with hopeless odds time and again in a single day, yet you chose to face them head-on and without fear. You saved a young pegasus from a rampaging hydra without a second thought. You defended an innocent unicorn from an unfair sentence that would have ended her life. Finally, you faced an enemy that you knew you had no hope of defeating, but you did back down. You have the heart of a champion, and it has shown brightly through your actions."

>Luna speaks up again, "Indeed, Anonymous. You have passed our test, and we shall be happy to teach you to control the magic of the sword."

>Celestia smiles at you. "Yes, your training will begin as soon as you are ready. You need to rest now, and I'm sure your friends will want to see you after you have been asleep for so long."

>Wait, what?

"What do you mean by that?"

 

>"You have been sleeping in the real world for a few days now. Your friends are waiting patiently for news of your recovery."

>You jump up in surprise.

"A FEW DAYS?!?"

>It feels like you were only here for an hour or so... how is that possible?

>"The spell I used on you put you to sleep, and we are in your subconscious. Basically, this is a dream and we are part of your thoughts."

>"And the dream world is another extension of our own domain, Anonymous. We may come and go as we please, without effort. We have raised the moon during my time in the dream, and Celestia has gone about her own duty of raising the sun as well."

>Being named princesses of the sun and moon makes more sense now. You thought it was just a title for royalty, but it seems it's literal. Rainbow Dash was talking about how pegasi  control the weather also... apparently the laws of physics don't apply here unless the p0nies want them to.

>The spirit of the sword hovers over to the weapon in your hands. She closes her eyes, and then turns to mist that the sword slowly absorbs. The Alicorn symbol at the bottom of the blade flashes white and fades back to silver.

>The room starts to become blurry, and you can't focus on the two princesses. You stumble and hold your hand to your forehead, trying to stay focused.

>"Anonymous. You are going to awaken very soon. Our sister is going to stop the magic of the spell, and you must not resist the urge to release your hold on the dream world."

>"Rest now, Anonymous. You will return to your body soon."

>The room suddenly fades to black, and you can't see anything.

>You hear voices in the darkness...

 

>"He's been asleep for days... is he okay, Twilight?"

>"Princess Celestia promised me he would be. We have to trust her."

>OH! Look, he moved! Is he waking up?"

>You open your eyes enough to see Pinkie Pie's face right in front of yours, which makes you open them wide in shock.

"Aahh!"

>"Aahh!" She jumps up in surprise. Streamers and confetti seem to come from nowhere, and she lands on her feet opposite of the side of the bed she was originally at.

>"Anonymous! Are you okay?"

>You slowly sit up in your bed and look at Twilight.

"Yeah... I think so. Where am I? "

>"You're still in Canterlot. The princess moved you to one of the guest rooms so you could rest until the spell wore off."

>You take a look around the room; it's a small, square bedroom with two windows on each side of the bed you're sitting in. There isn't much furniture, but the bed you are lying in is extremely comfortable. Probably a room for somewhat important visitors, like a messenger from another country.  

>All of the p0nies you met in the forest are here. Something isn't right though. You can't quite put your finger on it, but it feels like...

>Oh god, you're naked. You're under a blanket, so it didn't hit you right away.

"Twilight, where are my clothes?"

 

>The purple mare looks at you strangely. "Your clothes? Oh! That's right, you wear clothes all the time. Right, right. Um, the palace staff removed them because they thought you would be more comfortable without them. They're right over here."

>Her horn lights up and a neatly folded pile of clothes floats over to you and lands softly in your lap.

>"Princess Celestia has the sword, so don't worry about that."

>That was your next question. That's good, Celestia seems to know more about the sword than you do anyway, so it's probably better if she held onto it until you started training.

>Still, they stripped you while you were asleep? What the hell man?

>Applejack walks to the foot of your bed.  "We was startin' to worry about ya, Anon."

>"Well, as soon as we found out about what actually happened in the forest, we were worried about you Anonymous." Rarity walks to your side and continues. "Of course, when we heard that Princess Celestia was putting you through some kind of test we came here as soon as possible."

>Fluttershy hovers over to your bed. "Uhmm, I'm glad that you're okay, Anon..."

"Thanks Fluttershy, I appreciate your concern. I appreciate everyone's concerns about me, but I'm fine."

>You wish you weren't naked though.

>Rainbow Dash flies over next to Fluttershy. "Yeah, you've been sleeping for days. Even I don't sleep that much! But it's good to see that you're okay, because we've got stuff to do!"

"What do you mean by that? What stuff?"

>"Princess Celestia asked us to show you around P0nyville when you woke up Anon. We have some things we need to talk to you about also, but we should see the princess before we leave. Do you feel well enough to walk?"

>Well strangely enough, you don't feel sore or stiff from too much sleeping. However...

"Yeah, I feel fine Twilight, but I'm still naked. I need my clothes."

>"Oh. Well, put them on then."

"I can't change while all of you are watching."

       

>"Why not?"

>Pinkie hops back over to the bed. "Yeah, why not Anon? Are you hiding a banana under the blanket? We don't want to eat your banana!"

"Pinkie, I'm not a monkey."

>"I know that! I just thought you liked bananas, so maybe you keep one next to you while you sleep so you can wake up and eat a snack!"

>"Well, I'm more of an apple gal myself. I sure don't want any bananas."

>Oh god why...they can't be serious. Are they really this dense?

"Please at least turn around while I put the pants on, okay?"

>Twilight sighs. "This must be something that humans do for each other... Alright Anon. If it means that much to you, I'll turn around."

>The other p0nies follow suit with confused expressions.

>Looking at all of them, you notice something you didn't before.

>None of these p0nies have genitals. That answers your previous question, but raises oh so many more.

>You make mental note to ask Twilight about that later in the least awkward way possible.

>You get out of the bed and quickly put your boxers on, then your pants.

>As you reach for your shirt, you call out to the oblivious mares.

"It's okay to turn around now."

>Rainbow Dash rolls her eyes.

>"I won't lie Anon. That was pretty weird."

"Well, if you don't understand then I'll explain later."

>Maybe.

>"Well, how about now Anon? Ready to go?"

"Yeah Twilight. Are my shoes anywhere around here?"

>"Shoes? I didn't see any shoes. They might have moved them somewhere else Anon. I'm sorry, but can you manage without them for a while?"

"Yeah. Let's go."

>Where the hell are you going to get another pair of shoes in  a world full of p0nies? Hopefully the servants didn't lose them.

>You walk out of the room last, closing the door behind you as you step into a familiar hallway.

"What part of the castle are we in?"

>Twilight turns to answer your question. "We're in the main hall that leads to the council room."

 

>So you were right next to her the whole time. She probably didn't want you to be too far away in case something went wrong.

>"This way Anon. We should let the princess know you're awake before we leave."

>You start walking down the hall. The marble floors are cold to the touch, and you wonder why someone would think it was a good idea to move your shoes to a different spot.

>Twilight leads you and her friends to the same giant double doors you walked through two days ago. Her horn lets out a spark of magic, and they swing wide open. She and her friends casually stroll through, but you don't see how. Even though this is your second time entering the chamber, it has the same effect on you as before.

>You look around, taking it all in for the second time. The fountains are spraying crystal clear water several feet in the air. The golden sun-and-moon throne is reflecting the light that is pouring from several gigantic windows on the walls. The red and gold carpet is soft and warm on your cold feet; a sudden, but not unwelcome change from the hard stone floors.

>Unlike the first time however, the room is now fully staffed with guard p0nies and servants. Both groups are paying close attention to the strange bi-pedal creature that walks alongside six mares to the throne where Celestia was sitting.

>You ignore their whispers and stares as you stop walking to look for a giant hole in the wall and a decapitated hydra; neither are there.

>Dream or not, it all felt so real that you're still surprised to see that they are missing.

>Pinkie stops and notices you staring at the spot where the hydra was supposed to be.

>"Something wrong Anon?"

"Huh? Oh, no. It's nothing, don't worry about it."

>"Okie dokie lokie!" She resumes her carefree hopping.

>As your group approaches the throne, Celestia stands up and smiles.

>"Anonymous! I'm glad to see you're awake and feeling well. Thank you for checking on him, Twilight."

 

>"We didn't mind at all, princess. Anon is our friend, so we were worried about him. He woke up a few minutes after we arrived."

>Pinkie chimes in. "Yeah! And he scared the bejeebus out of me!"

>You laugh at that. You never apologized to her.

"I almost forgot. I'm sorry Pinkie, I didn't mean to startle you. If it helps you feel any better, you scared me a little too."

>"I did? Yeah! I do feel better now. Thanks Anon!" she giggles, as do the rest of the p0nies.

>"Well Anon, during the last two days my sister and I have decided on how to teach you best. Depending on how well things go, you may even be able to recover your memory."

>You perk up at the last few words she says.

"Really?"

>"Hahaha! Is that all you can say? I thought you would be happier!"

" N-No, of course that makes me happy! Please, tell me what you've thought of."

>"It's actually very simple. You will live with my student, Twilight Sparkle. She is in P0nyville to study how friendship affects our everyday lives, and I believe that the magic of friendship is what you need to help you recover your memories."

>You stand there waiting for her to continue speaking, but she doesn't. In the dream world, she and her sister both told you that they couldn't directly give you your memories back. So she's basically telling you to relax and adjust to life here, hoping your memories will come back on their own.

 

"Is... is that all? Just live with Twilight and wait? What about the swo-"

>As you start to mouth the word 'sword', Twilight tenses up and her horn flares with magic that silences you in mid-sentence. Confused, you look over at her and see her expression. She clearly doesn't want you to talk about the weapon.

>You nod at her and the magic fades.

>Celestia's voice echoes in your mind.

>"Please, don't worry about that Anonymous. I have spoken to Twilight and her friends on the matter of your magic. Twilight has agreed to help teach you how to control it, and her friends will help you in other ways. However, my sister and I will always be ready to answer any questions you might have, so please do not hesitate to contact us if you need help. Twilight is also learning to control her own powerful magic, so she regularly writes reports to me on what she has experienced with her friends. Rather than writing them alone, you will write with her on your progress."

>She speaks out loud now. "If you're wondering about your shoes, I'm sorry. The attendant that was over-seeing care of your clothes has misplaced them. When you get back to Twilight's house, I'm sure she can help you with replacements. Who knows, you might even find them there."

>She winks at you, and you understand.

"Thank you, Princess. I'll manage until then."

>Putting it out of your mind for now, you turn to the small group of p0nies with a grin.

"If she thinks living with you is going to help get my memories back, then I trust her. I'm counting on all of you."

>Twilight smiles reassuringly at you.

>"If Princess Celestia wants us to help you, then you CAN count on us, Anon. And besides, you're our friend. We want to help you in any way we can."

>"If you need new shoes Anon, you can always come by my boutique and I will gladly make you a pair. You did promise to stop by when we met, if I remember correctly."

>You scrunch your toes on the red carpet.

 

"Thanks Rarity. Hopefully that won't be necessary though. I wouldn't want to impose."

>Rarity shakes her head. "Impose? Oh please, don't be silly! I would be more than happy to-"

>"GAAAAAASP!!!" You turn to see Pinkie suspended in mid air with a shocked look on her face. You think something is wrong, but before you can ask, you find out that it isn't what you thought.

>"Anon! I never got to throw you a party! Ohmygosh, how could I forget? That's the first thing to do when I get back!"

>She really takes parties seriously. And how the fuck was she just floating?

>Rainbow Dash flies over Twilight's head. "And as far as the training goes, you can count on me to help you learn how to fly Anon!"

>"There's nop0ny in Equestria that can fly as fast as Dash here, Anon. But if you want a real workout, you can always come on over to Sweet Apple Acres for some good ole' fashioned exercise. We'll feed you good and toughen you up right quick."

>The two p0nies share a laugh.

>The timid yellow pegasus walks over to you slowly.

>" Anon, you're still welcome at my cottage whenever you want to come by. I told my animals all about you, and they really want to meet you now and thank you."

"You...talked to them?"

>"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't tell you before, but I can communicate with animals."

>Oh. That actually makes more sense.

"Of course, Fluttershy. I would be happy to."

 

>"Oh, wonderful. I can't wait!" Her wings flutter in excitement, and she smiles.

>These p0nies are fucking adorable.

>"I'm happy to see that you are all getting along so well, even though you've only met a few days ago. That is the companionship that you will need if you are going to live here, Anon."

>Celestia sits up straight and speaks in more of a formal tone. "Now, while I am glad to see you are okay Anonymous, I have official duties as ruler to oversee. You all may rest here as long as you wish before returning to P0nyville."

"Thank you, Princess."

>Twilight turns to you. "Anon, do you feel well enough to go back now? We never got to show you around town."

"Of course, Twilight. I feel great, and I'm ready to see the world that I was dropped into."

>As you finish your sentence, your stomach lets out a rumble. You haven't eaten in almost three days.

"Although, I could definitely go for something to eat."

>What do these p0nies eat, anyway? Grass? Sure hope not.

>Pinkie jumps up and down excitedly. "We should go to Sugarcube Corner! We can eat some tasty cupcakes!"

 

>You give her a confused look.

"Cupcakes? Do p0nies normally eat cupcakes?"

>Applejack misunderstands. "Did ya want some grass instead Anon? We could get you some right tasty wintergreen if ya like."

"Oh, uh... no thanks Applejack. Humans don't really...like grass."

>"Yeah! They like bananas!"

>You shake your head at the little pink p0ny. You were about to argue, but you can't help but feel like she's baiting you.

"Yeah, I like bananas. You got me Pinkie."

>Heh, at least it's better than grass.

>She smiles at you. "I knew it! You can't pull one over Pinkie Pie so easily!"

>You all share a laugh as your group turns toward the door. You smile as they all describe the places they want you to see first. When you reach the exit, the guards open the giant doors and you walk through to the hallway.

>As the guards shut it behind you, you look back to Celestia. She's staring out one of the windows, and doesn't notice you. Is something wrong? She didn't have much to say... it seemed like she was preoccupied with something else.

>Must be the pressure of ruling a nation. She's probably just tired.

>The sound of the doors slamming shut echoes down the corridor, and you put her out of your mind, listening with great interest as Pinkie describes a pastry she invented called a 'chimi-cherry-changa'.

 

>You are now Celestia

>It's good to see that Anonymous handled the spell well enough to be walking around. After the condition he was in, you were afraid he wouldn't wake up. Luna may have over done her test a little.

>He slept for two whole days, after all. Humans seem to be very resilient if nothing else.

>He also gets along with Twilight Sparkle and her friends very well. He would be hard-pressed not to though; they are very enjoyable company.

>As the door starts to close, you turn your head to stare out the window. It's almost time for the moon to rise.

>After a moment, you look over your courtroom and you speak to your servants and royal guard.

" I would like to have the room to myself. You are all dismissed until further notice."

>The shuffling of armor noisily fills the room as they salute you and head for the door.

>The salute is a gesture you detest and have asked them not to do, but that is the only order you have ever given that captain Shining Armor refuses to enforce.

>Oh well. It's a trivial matter anyway.

>What really matters right now is you finally have a moment to yourself. Ever since you asked your guards to leave two days ago so you could test Anonymous, they have insisted to stay by your side until they could determine that he was not a threat.

>They thought you were crazy to let an armed stranger into your courtroom without protection.

 

>Of course, they didn't really know anything about the sword other than it had a sharp, pointy end on it.

>Seeing him being friendly with the Elements of Harmony must have been enough to put them at ease. Thank goodness. You were afraid that you might have to force them out.

>Really, there are a few hours left in the day. Quiet moments like this as ruler are few and far between, however.

>You are content in watching the sun slowly descend and make way for your beloved sister to raise the moon.

>You 're happy to have her back after so long; knowing that you sent your only sister to a barren wasteland was an everyday torture. She had reached a point of no return, and you did what you had to as ruler of Equestria.

>And as a loving big sister.

>Yet she would still be her old self, were it not for the bravery of your student Twilight Sparkle and her friends. You owed them more than you could ever repay, and in spite of that you continue to send them into danger.

>You wish it could be you that still carried the burden of the Elements of Harmony, but they no longer obeyed your commands. They have found new homes in the pure spirits of six young mares; mares that would give their lives to serve you, and the good of all p0ny kind.

>After you saw Anonymous with the only weapon that could rival their power, you had to test him. He is a stranger in more ways than one, but he showed that he has the soul of a noble defender, and not one of a mindless brute. That was enough for you, but for Luna it was not.

>She wanted to see if he had the will to fight and protect the mares that she had also come to know and love with all her heart. While he could not best his clone, he did not retreat and he did not beg, even though he knew he did not stand a chance.

>He doesn't seem to be especially bright, but he is very brave. Perhaps that will be enough to best the trials he is sure to face in the near future.

 

>You sit quietly, and the peaceful hours pass all too swiftly; the moon rises and it's pale light illuminates the courtroom.

>She will be here soon.

>A star twinkles and disappears. After a few moments, you hear the sound of a window opening up behind you, and you turn to face your guest.

>Luna enters the room with her brown cloak still covering her face. She throws her head back, and the hood comes off.

"Thank you for coming Luna, I'm sorry to send for you on such short notice."

>"Please dear sister, I understand the urgency of the situation. So, the human Anonymous has finally awoken, has he? That is good, I was beginning to worry my test had been too much for him."

>Your little sister has had some trouble adjusting to the subtle changes in your language after a millennium, but she drops all formality when it is just the two of you. If you could not be yourselves in each other's company, then you doubt either of you would still be sane.

"Yes, to be honest I was beginning to worry as well. However, it seems he is a very tenacious creature."

>"Indeed. I was very surprised that he did not simply admit defeat when he took the first blow to his chest."

>You were channelling the spell from your throne room most of the time, and you remember the fight very well. You cringed several times while you watched in your mind's eye, which sent your guards into an uproar.

>It took a lot of convincing to keep them from calling a doctor.

 

"Well Luna, I asked you to stop by because I wanted to speak to you about the possible damage Anonymous has done to our world in the short time he's been here."

>Luna gives you a confused look. "What damage would that be? And how could he have possibly done anything wrong if he has been bedridden for the last two days?"

"It isn't so much what he has done so far, but what he will do that could be damaging. As you know, the sword has the power to change the fates of those who come into contact with it."

>"Yes, of course. But do you think he will misuse it's power?"

"It has happened to us, Luna. You know what it is capable of. It isn't just the wielder, it is also those around them."

>"What are you trying to say, Tia? That we tested him for no reason and he will bring the end of us all?"

>You shake your head. You knew this would be difficult to explain.

"Of course not, Luna. If I doubted him at all, he would not have left this chamber earlier with my student."

>"Then please, tell me Tia. What is troubling you?"

>You walk over to the open window that Luna came through and step out onto the balcony. The sky is full of stars and the moon is shining brightly. Its ghostly light is washing Canterlot clean of the previous day.

> Luna walks to your side and looks out to the city, waiting patiently for you to gather your thoughts.

"What worries me Luna, is not Anonymous' character, nor is it completely the sword itself."

>You sigh. Here goes nothing.

"The real problem... is that whatever happens from now on, Anonymous will have a direct hand in it's occurrence. He should not be here, Luna. I do not know why or even how he arrived in Equestria, but he is not from this world. No, this entire plane of EXISTENCE. Combine him with the sword, and the unpredictability of each of them is doubled."

 

>Luna is visibly shocked. Her jaw dropped in surprise, and her eyes are the size of saucers. "B-but that's... that's impossible. How... why do you think this?"

"We have been alive for thousands of years, Luna. Our ancestors left us incomparable amounts of knowledge, and we have seen and learned much that their books could not teach us. Yet in all of our studies and experiences, have you ever heard of any creature like Anonymous? A creature with no fur that walks on two legs and is intelligent enough to speak and have emotions?"

>"Admittedly, no I have not. But perhaps you are jumping to conclusions?"

"I don't think so. He just so happens to appear when there is a huge abnormal magical disturbance, and right next to the sacred grove? And we both read his mind. It felt foreign to me, like it was not made for us to see into. It's just too much for me to ignore. Not to mention he has no recollection of us, or the world we live in."

>"Well, understandable... he does have amnesia after all."

"No, that isn't what I mean. He doesn't have a firm grasp on ANYTHING we find normal, especially magic. Twilight said he acted as if he had never seen a unicorn before; that he was horrified when he saw the hydra in the forest, and he had no idea what Twilight did to save them."

>"Then the only logical thing to do is to send him back to wherever he is from, is it not?"

"If the Ancient One had not chosen him to be her wielder, then yes, that is what I would say. However, it seems that she has seen something in the future that she does not want to happen, and has thought it fit to be changed, despite the obvious consequences."

>Luna is silent for a moment, and speaks again.

>"Has the Ancient One spoken to you about this?"

"No, she has not. Other than what I have already said, it is conjecture at this point."

>"I thought so. Have you been thinking of nothing but this for the last two days?"

"Yes, I have."

 

>"What am I going to do with you, Tia?"

>You smile. It's always nice to hear her talk like that; it means she can't argue anymore.

"You can help me, Luna. Help me by watching over him with me, and be there when I cannot. Any events that involve Anonymous from now on, no matter how small, will greatly affect the future. I can only hope that it will be for the better."

>Luna gives you a reassuring nudge. "Naturally, you have my support. If it is in my power to aid you dear sister, then I shall do so. To be honest, I was going to watch him whether you approved of it or not."

"Yes, I had a feeling you would. However, I want Twilight and her friends to teach him how to control his magic, if possible."

>"I've been meaning to ask you about that. Why would you want six mares who have only just reached adulthood teach him about magic, let alone the world? Don't you think we could do better?"

>You close your eyes and shake your head as you grin at her confusion.

"Perhaps we could, Luna. But Twilight is still learning about magic and the world. There is no better way to learn about them than to experience both with one's own senses. If Anonymous bonds with Twilight and her friends, as I suspect he has already begun to, he will not only learn of the world we live in, but he may even come to love and protect it like his own home."

>"Of course, I hadn't thought of it that way. I trust in your judgment sister, I was only curious."

"And I trust in yours, Luna. He has control over the future, now. Hopefully Anonymous' appearance will be more of a blessing than a burden."

>"Yes, we can only hope."

 

>You look over the city with your little sister, wondering what the future has in store for your student and her friends.

>Anything that happens from now on is a deviation from what should have been. It's not as though life has been written out for you; things have happened that have been beyond your control before. You are uncertain of the future, but ready to face it head on with your sister if need be.

>And as she departs the throne room and you head to your chambers for the night, you can only hope that Twilight will be able to as well.

         

>You are Anonymous

>After stuffing yourself with banana flavored cupcakes, you find yourself back at Twilight's tree house.

>You didn't forget about the sword. In fact, it's been on your mind since you left the castle. You were reminded every time you stepped on a sharp rock or a sticker bush in the grass, or every time a clumsy p0ny would crush your toes.

>Celestia is pretty clever. She didn't want you to forget about it, so she took your shoes and used them to keep your mind on the sword.

>Twilight opens the door for you. She magically ignites candles scattered about the room, and the den lights up.

>"Spiiike! I'm back! And Anonymous is awake!"

>A moan comes from the couch in the middle of the den.

>"Spike, is that you? Spike, why are you sleeping on the couch?"

>You walk over to the couch and take a look at Spike. His face is green.

>Not green like, a natural green because he's a mythical creature, but green as in he's probably going to throw up all over the place.

>His voice is weak with exhaustion, but you manage to make out "Ohhh... Twilight... felt horrible for...hours..."

"He looks sick, Twilight."

>"Yeah, he might be. Oh no, this is terrible. Here, let me help you up the stairs to your bed, Spike."

>She crouches down. Spike crawls onto her back, and she starts climbing the steps.

>"Anon, your bed is up here as well. We set it up for you while you were sleeping in the castle."

 

"Yeah, okay Twilight. I'll be up in a second, I just need to look for something I lost."

>"What could you have possibly lost while you were sleeping?"

"My shoes and a sword."

>"Oh, duh. Heheh...sorry." She resumes her trek up the stairs.

>You start searching, but you don't really know where to look. She definitely wanted you to look here for it, there's no mistaking what she meant. But where could it be? It's not down here, so maybe it's on the next floor?

>You start to move towards the stairs when you hear Twilight call out to you from above your head.

>"Anonymous! Come up here, quick!"

>Oh shit, what happened?

>You rush to the steps and take them two at a time. When you reach the top, you see Spike laying down in a bed with your sword laying on top of his chest.

>"Look Anon, it's the sword! Celestia sent it to us through Spike's magic. That's probably why he wasn't feeling very well."

"Yeah, no joke. The sword is at least twice his size."

>You walk over to Spike to check on him. He's passed out, but at least he was able to relax after hours of having a sword in his stomach.

>That's a hell of a case of indigestion.

>You pick up the sword (still in its sheath, of course) and set your hand on the jewel on the pommel.

>You feel the conscience of the spirit brush against your mind and you shiver.

>"I am glad to see you are doing well, child. I have worried for your well being in these past two days."

>You close your eyes and try to visualize the body of the Spiritual Alicorn you saw in your dream; she appears in your mind's eye without much trouble.

>Her eyes are shining with a bright white fire; her white and purple mane and tail sway in motionless wind.

 

>"Most impressive, Anonymous. Not many have the concentration to summon me completely in their thoughts. However, I took the shape of an Alicorn for the Sun and Moon Princesses' benefit. I have the power to shape into any creature I choose."

>She morphs before your eyes into a young and beautiful woman that stands about five feet and ten inches with long purple hair that flows past her shoulders and pale white skin. Her eyes are still flaring with white fire.

>She's completely naked.

>"Perhaps the form of a female from your own species would be more relaxing for you."

>For some reason, you don't really mind that she's naked. In fact, it almost seems natural.

"Uh, thank you...Actually, I never found out your name. Celestia and Luna were calling you 'Ancient One', so should I do the same?"

>She laughs. "My name? Names are trivial things to me; even Ancient One is a name that was bestowed upon me by Celestia's ancestors. I do not have a name; I simply am, and I have always been."

>That thought makes you shudder a bit. You're talking to what could essentially be God.

"So what should I call you? I'd rather not refer to you as the sword or anything like that."

>"You wish for me to name myself? What a strange thought. I have been called many things over the millennia, and they vary from bloody war brands to noble titles. I have no need for any of them, so the burden of naming me lies on your shoulders."

>Oh man, you just wanted to know her name. Now you have to name her.

>"Anonymous, should you ever need to speak to me, simply summon me in your thoughts as you have just done. You do not need to touch the sword, for we are connected by a magic bond. Call on me when you need me..."

>Her image fades from your sight and you hear a familiar voice calling  your name.

>"Anon, are you listening to me? What's wrong? Anon!"

>Your eyes snap open and you see Twilight levitating a bucket of water near your face.

 

"No no no no no wait-"

>She dumps the bucket on your face and you're drenched with ice-cold water.

>"Oh! I'm so sorry, I didn't know what to do! You were just standing there talking to yourself with your eyes shut, so I panicked!"

>Shivering from the shock of the cold water, you gasp for breath and try to stay calm.

"D-don't w-w-worry ab-b-bout it..."

>"Here, let me dry you off."

>She closes her eyes in concentration, and her horn glows with magic. You're covered in a warm, purple aura, and the water is lifted out of your clothes, then out of the nearest window.

>"I'm sorry Anon, I was worried something was wrong. I didn't know what to do and... well, like I said, I panicked."

"*Sigh* It's okay. No harm done."

>"Uhm, what exactly happened? You were standing there saying something about the sword and Spike, and you shut your eyes and started saying things that didn't make any sense."

"I was talking to the spirit of the sword."

>Twilight looks incredibly worried now. "Oh no, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to interrupt! Is it... is it mad at me? Please tell it I'm sorry..."

>She looks at you with big, desperate eyes. You can't help but smile at her.

>"What? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I doubt she's mad, Twilight. You were only trying to help, and we were finished anyway."

>"She? It's a she? How bizarre... I had no idea that the spirit had a gender. This garners further study...

>She starts to trail off into thought, but turns back to you when she notices you staring.

>*ahem* I'm sorry, I got carried away."

"Please, stop apologizing. You have nothing to be sorry for."

>"I'm sor- ah...heheh...alright." She walks over to a bed much larger than the two that are in the center of the room.

 

>"Anyway, this is where you'll be sleeping Anon. Spike and I had a bed specifically made for somep0ny of your stature. I hope you like it; it's made from cumulus clouds that were taken out of rain production."

"Clouds, huh? Sounds fancy."

>"These beds are very comfortable, and very expensive. When we said that it was for a guest of Princess Celestia's, the pegasus p0nies offered it for free. They make furniture for the castle all the time, so it wasn't hard to convince them."

>You follow her over to the bed, and she lightly taps her hoof on it. "Try it out, tell me what you think."

>You push down on it, and it sinks with your hand.

"Are you sure a cloud can hold me up? I didn't know it was even possible to make things out of clouds."

>"Of course! Please, lay down."

>Alright, here goes.

>You jump onto the bed and land on your back, but to your surprise you don't sink in as far as you thought. It doesn't spring back up either; the magical mattress contours to your body.

>It feels like you're laying... well, on a cloud.

"Wow, it's really comfortable Twilight. Thank you."

>"Oh please, don't worry about it. Like I said, it wasn't hard to get. And you might not be so grateful to me the day after tomorrow."

"What? Why? What happens after tomorrow?"

>She gives you a big smile. "Your training with Rainbow Dash, and daily lessons on magic from me. Get some sleep, Anon. You're going to need it."

>Well, that doesn't sound good.

>And god-dammit, you never found your shoes.

 

                                        END PART 2

                             PART 3 FORTHCOMING: A Strange Salesmare