PATHFINDING IS MAGIC ACT 3
 
>Be Twilight Sparkle
>Be 5 hours after chase that resulted in the creature who landed at Sweet apple acres passing out mid stride while -Floating- at extreme speeds away from Rainbow Dash
>Currently residing in Canterlot palace`s magical studies’ room, overlooking a table with the `Man` as Princess Celestia said it was called on it
>After Dash saved the thing and brought it back to the farm, Celestia arrived shortly afterwards
>While many of the ponies regarded it with fear, awe, you with curiosity, the princess’s reaction was the oddest
>She recognized it
>The twinkle of recognition and the stony look on her face as she ordered her guards to load the Creature onto her chariot before motioning for the rest of the ponies too follow suit
>Something wasn't right here
>And you intended to find out what
 
 
>Surrounding the table while mage's of Celestia`s court worked too remove the man`s second skin, it gave way to reveal black rubbery consistency while the first layer was made up of a hardened metal
>Whatever these men were, they were made of some tough stuff, and the exoskeleton only had light dents in it from the impact with the tree
>”Hey, Twilight! “Dash startled you from your thoughts as you turned to her
>”Hm? AAH! “Dash was a few inches away from you hovering in midair; she had the man’s helmet on
>”SHAZBOT! “
>Falling backwards in surprise with a groan as Dash burst out in laughter, you scowl at the Pegasus `This is no time for pranks Rainbow, for all we know this could be first of many men to appear in Equestria!`
>Rainbow waved off your comment with a snort as she threw the helmet back into the pile of exoskeleton
>`Men, Shmen, I already took that guy in a race and he was pretty fast, nothing compared to me though, but if faster ones appear....`Her grin set in full force as a twinkle set in her eyes
>You stifled a sigh while looking back to see the man’s Armor had been fully removed now
>Something was happening in Equestria
>Whatever it was, Twilight didn't like it one bit
 
>You are Princess Celestia, Eldest of the Goddess sister`s on Equestria
>And for the first time in 1000 years you felt truly scared for what was too come
>Staring down upon the man in thought, it had been 800 years since a nomad had walked on Equestria; they were rare creatures that she preferred to keep hidden
>They were violent, war driven
>They were killers
>But from what your little ponies had told you this one was different, it was in pain as it woke up and spoke in an odd dialect they didn't recognize
>You sighed deeply; you had to be sure of its motives
>There was only one way to find out for sure though
>Motioning for your court Mage's too leave as their job was done now, you turned to the assembled elements of harmony
>Twilight was the first too speak
>`Princess, just what are these men, and why haven't I seen anything about them in my books, I’ve double-checked my notes and nothing in the library matches up with wha-`
>Raising a hoof you silence Twilight before speaking I shall tell you of what I know Twilight sparkle, but first we need to confirm just where this one comes from`
>”Where...it comes from? “Fluttershy managed to squeak out the question, her curiosity finally winning out over her meekness
 
 
>Turning to look at the man`s sleeping form over your shoulder you explain `They come from the race of Men, a chaotic and war driven race, they appear roughly once every millennia in Equestria by unknown means and live out short but violent lives`
>`The places they come from though are varied and frankly, it worries me how many of them exist....if they were too find Equestria`
>The silence finishes the open thought for you
>But you couldn't shake the feeling that this one was.....odd
>Something you could use too finally judge the race of man fully, rather than have them sent too Tartarus immediately after going on a murderous spree
>Your eyes narrowed
>It would be risky, but the knowledge you would gain of them would be well worth the risk
>Taking the creature within your aura you motioned for the Elements to follow you
>Soon, they would have their answers
>You all would
 
> Soon afterwards the elements and their bearers had been gathered to a circular room, three ponies on each side of the chamber, each atop a pedestal with a mark for the element they wielded carved into the stone
>This was an ancient room, with magic just as old encased within its walls
>Oval in nature with a crystal housed in the roofs center, the crystals tip pointed downwards to the stone slab underneath it
>You had not revisited this place in 800 years
>It was time for its magic’s too be reawakened
>Placing the man on a slab located in the center of the circle, you took the ancient pedestal reserved for the channeller of the spell located on either side of the ponies in the room, staring down upon the still form of the warmonger
>`uh princess, you mind tellin` us what exactly this here spell is gonna do? ` Applejack had been quiet up until now, but the question had to be asked
>All the ponies in the room nodded as they looked too the princess, they too wanted to know what was too happen
>`Close your eyes little ones, and when I tell you too open them you will have your answers` slowly but surely each closed their eyes, and silence took the room
>A shudder crept through the air
>It was time
 
 
>Lowering your head you activated the magic buried within the stone around you, slowly at first but gaining strength the elements shined before one at a time launching a beam of light towards crystal housed in the roofs centerpiece
>Loyalty, Honesty, Kindness, Generosity, Laughter and Magic each forming a rainbow corona under its shimmering surface
>Now, for the final part of the spell
>Concentrating your near infinite magic potential into a solid beam from your horn, you sent it inching upwards too the ball of energy
>Eyes opened around the room in concern as you let out a groan in concentration
>As the beam finally touched the crystal a spark occurred, a brilliant lance of light dipping down for the orb
>The downward tip shining brighter than the sun itself before the magic drained downwards, entering the man’s chest with a flash of light
>The others winced at the brightness but you welcomed it
>This one was indeed different
 
 
>The spell complete, a solid pillar of light now pierced the man’s chest
>Images projecting from it around the room, the bewildered looks upon the ponies as they looked upon the shattered pieces of this man’s memories, laid bare before them
>Each piece of glass shimmering with images of battle and of the man’s life
>Noticing that she needn't tell the ponies too open their eyes she explained what had happened while they regarded the room in wonder
>"This spell is an ancient art, one that will never leave this room, It opens up the heart of the pony it is used on for all too see, We used it in ancient times in times of war too judge charges of extreme treason...but has not seen the light of day in over 800 years" The old memories hurt too remember, but soon worry replaced them
>The images were shifting
>Something was wrong
>These memories were fractured and flickering, as if the man himself were not in possession of them, they changed sporadically too show static and blank reflections
>He wasn't just in a coma....
>He was an Amnesiac.
 
 
>This posed more problems than could be dealt with
>Twilight though had her brow furrowed in thought, something didn’t make sense to her `princess, I already know a memory spell, couldn't we just have used that too find out if he was a threat? ` Smiling at her you explained further
>Threat...the word is harsh yet rings true
>"I will not lie to you all, this was a personal choice...to see if this man was worthy of staying in Equestria so he could recover, no simple memory charm would do the trick"
>"I need too judge this nomads very soul, like the hundreds of men before him he holds the ability to kill, this I cannot risk too chance"
>Pinkie only gasped in excitement "HE GETS TOO STAY!?!?" Her enthusiasm was admirable but short lived as you stared solemnly at her
>"I don't know Pinkie, Look upon his thoughts and see the way they change and break even as we speak, his mind is broken and I fear may remain that way for the rest of his life..."
>But there was still hope
>Even as the room`s silence grew, a change began to occur in the images, they now all showed the man floating in darkness looking around him, his voice echoing throughout the chambers as he called for help
>The young ponies were confused, looking from panel too panel as if one of them carried the cause of such a sudden change
>You smiled, so the second part of the spell had already begun? How convenient
 
 
>You are....SOMEONE; you can’t remember who you are
>Nothing makes sense
>You can’t remember what your life was but as for now it has ended
>And fear has overtaken everything you know
>Voices echo out around you, whispers of past sins crawl into your mind as you whip from side to side
“WHOS THERE? SHOW YOURSELF! “
>A thunderclap occurs and your head explodes
>Unbearable pain
>Unimaginable pain
>And it’s all for you
>You curl into yourself, eyes streaming tears of fear
`GODDAMNIT MAKE IT STOP, AHHHHHHRH HNGCK`
>Your voice catches on itself as a whip crack echoes out from the darkness
>Slowly but surely, shattered pieces of glass begin to form around you
`What the...`
>Images assault your mind as the glass shards strobe images in unison
>You can see things, Memories of a man being born, graduating, being forcefully recruited into a regime at the thought his mother would die if he didn't, of speed and the need to be the best
>A name echoes through each memory as you watch, Anon, it seems....familiar?
>Watching the panels you switch from side to side looking for clues as to who this man was and why he mattered
>SUDDENLY RELFECTIVE PANE OF GLASS
>Your reflection stays back at you in horror
"No...This...you got to be joking..."
>YOU are Anon
>Realize that this is YOUR life that streams past on the windows
>Brain aches in frustration
>You can’t remember it though
>Not a single damn thing
 
>You focus on breathing; you got to breathe slower....Anon
>C’mon brain don’t leave me in the dark here we got to get this done
>......
>Yeah fuck you too brain.
>You begin hyperventilating as more memories flash before you
>You NEED to find an anchor
>Something you know is true
"My name...is...Anon"
>C’mon pal you can do this
>The reflections speed past with even more ferocity now
"I'm a....Pathfinder? Of the Blood Eagle tribe...."
>Just a little further
>Mutations occur in the panels as they twist and screech in tension
>Shifting around you they show different images
>Hues of red and grey cast over your form
"My god...."
>Death and suffering surrounds you, men and women killed in battle and sacrificed for glory, missions failed and mission completed, and the regret....
>All because of your need for glory
>The whispers come clearly now
>murdererthiefunworthyANONscoundrelfailureANONmurdereassasinMURDERERANONTHIEFMURDERERANONANONANON
"No, I'm just a man, I had too! I'M DIFFERENT FROM THEN!"
>Yelling at the windows you attempt to punch one, only to fly through it tumbling
>It hits you that none of the deaths you've seen have caused a pang of regret within you
>You really are a monster
>It was for the betterment of mankind, no?
>You almost smile at the old memory creeping back into you
>You'd always said too yourself in those times, it was for better or worse, it became a mantra of sorts
>For better or worse you would live for yourself only, for better or worse you would become the best pathfinder who lived
>And now....you had been dealt the result.
 
 
>The atmosphere mutates again
"What now, gonna show me that I killed me mum as well?"
>The though occurs to you that you can't remember your mother’s name or what she looks like
>Hopefully this is hell, and you died
>This shame isn't something you could stand to live with
>Instead of despairing, you stare at the panels as they shift too pastel hues
>Happy colours are appearing in stark contrast to the death you had just seen
"Well...this is new...”
>The images blur, coating your form in different colors as they slowly change too show....ponies?
>The word is foreign too you but comes easily as if you've known it forever
"The hell is a pon-?"
>Time stops as the words leave you
>The shards change once more, shifting into a gateway too what’s currently happening in the world
>Outside of your psyche you see creatures, "ponies" staring at you in judgement
>The yellow one catches your eye in fear
>You stare into each other’s eyes for what seems to be an hour
>You see her relax slightly as you smile
>Smile? What the hell you’re looking at an alien
>Why the hell do you feel so damn CALM though?
>She wanted to help you, she WANTS to help you
>The fuck brain? NOW you talk?
>Yes, and now it’s time for you to listen.
 
 
>The switch has been flipped, now it’s time for you to deal with what I’ve chosen for you, Anon
"The fuck?"
>Jimmies feel a shiver in the force
>Oh fuck.
>Lightning bolt fry's your brain
>Everything floods back, the battle, the portal, crashing into a goddamn apple tree, the escape and subsequent capture
>She was too scared to try and capture you
>She just wanted to help you heal up
"Fl-Flutter...shy?"
>Once the name left your tongue you instantly regretted it
>You opened the door, and now it’s going to see ALOT of use.
>ALL ABOARD THE PAIN TRAIN BABY, WOO WOOOOOO
>Clutching at your head as new thoughts take over, the door of your mind now open to the magic being pumped through it
>Foreign emotions cause you joy and laughter as you experience lives that aren't yours
>Learning how to harness magic, the love of a young sister as she watches you work the apple fields, getting your cutie mark by way of sonic rainboom, discovering the critters of the forest and the joy of life, Accepting that you need to get dirty sometimes, The laughter of your friends giving you enough joy to explode into confetti, Achieving your dreams as a famous clothes’ designer
>Battling your sister with the elements of harmony, tears shining down your face as you do so
>Your jimmies at a train wreck at this point
>Small voice in head recommends amputation
>Promptly tell it to fuck off
>Your brain is nothing but sludge at this point
>Thinking hurts
>Everything is slow
>Nothing makes sense anymore as alien knowledge invades your psyche
>You would yell for help but you don't care at this point
>Nobody cares
>Nobody except for some damn alien you'd just met
>5 minutes after discovering how good your luck was and your already in awe of its shittiness
 
 
>Confused and concern-filled eyes filled the room as the spell took its course, showing them every moment of the man’s plight
>This "Spell" was unlike anything they had seen
>It wasn't just an interrogation device
>It was -TORTURING- the man with his own thought's...
>More importantly, this "Anon" had seen -THEIR- memories, experienced things only -THEY- had seen, eyes fell upon the princess for an explanation but her wide eyes and shocked expression gave away the obvious answer
>She hadn't a clue what was occurring too this man either
>In truth though, she had an inkling of knowledge
>A small thought she kept to herself and more than likely always would.
>She had seen this once before, but only once
>A nomad had experienced this once before, a blow to the head had caused his mind too become unclear
>Against her better judgement she had brought mage's too attempt a mind relapse, rewind the man's brain to a point before the injury
>What had happened was something she never thought to experience again
>The nomad instead of regaining his own memories, absorbed the magic being forced into him
>With it, he absorbed the memories of those using the magic
>Whatever he was, not only were his memories being affected by Equestria, but the more magic they pumped into him the more his memories crumbled at the seams
>He died 2 days after the attempted "healing" rites
>And here it was again, right in front of her
>She finally understood what had gone wrong
>It was the magic of Equestria
>Equestria itself was ruining this man
>And as you all had seen, it was happening at a breakneck pace
>Curing him would need to happen now or never
>Even then, would it be enough?
 
>Be Fluttershy
>Be crying internally at a point of 1.21 gallons of sad per minute
>This...MAN, this animal from another world wanted help
>And there was nothing you could do
>Unless...
>"Um...Princess?" Your voice catches the attention of everyone in the room, their conversation ended to stare at you
>Oh buck.
>"Um...I was just thinking, maybe we could...try....and help...him?"
>You could almost hear the internal squee's most people gave at your show of "kindness"
>It never ends this friendship.
>The princess spoke in a hopeful tone, though her eyes showed...longing?
>Oh right, element of kindness, being kind too an alien
>You walked right into this one
>"We can try, little one, but I can't promise it will work, this man's mind is volatile as is without us trying to fix it..." her voice took on a grim tone
>"We may end up doing more harm than good"
>"B-but...we NEED TO TRY! If we don't he'll just end up dying and- ah, oh..." oh shi- breaking out the assertiveness got you a few looks, back to whimpering.
>Unlucky for you though, Rainbow dash was against the idea of helping him as she pointed at the man’s comatose form
>"Fluttershy are you crazy? As much as I’d LOVE to have someone to race against like this guy, you saw what he’s done, he betrayed his fellow "humans" and he doesn't even have enough willpower to be completely behind the people he fights, no, -KILLS- FOR" stressing the word KILL got the point across to everyp0ny
>uh oh, that's right; he’s kind of a murderer and...Ummmm
>Killing in Equestria was...well it wasn't something that was considered tolerable
>At all.
>You shrink back as the situation starts going downhill
 
>A nod from Rarity comes from Rarity beside you "The brute CLEARLY has no place in our society, I mean I’m all for generosity and giving a second chance, but even I can't give to something who wants nothing more than to take and take without caring how it affects those around him" Rainbow nodded before a stern AHEM brought all attention to Twilight
>"That -IS- true Rarity, and Rainbow brings up a good point as well, but we all saw that he was willing to change, he has no idea who or what he was right now and for all intents and purposes he might as well be a colt stuck in an stallion's body" she continued after a short breath
>"We can't pass judgement on the man in front of us by using the man we saw in his memories as an excuse, that isn't him anymore because he can’t remember the reasons he MADE those decisions let alone that he did make them, and I think he deserves a chance to try again" Rainbow and Rarity looked down, subdued slightly by the purple ponies sound logic
>Pinkie and Applejack looked at each other before nodding "Um, princess? I think it would be safe tah say me an' pinkie are with Twi on this one, I ain't never met a pony I couldn't judge right on the first meetin' with em and this fella..." Applejack gazed at the odd form before her
>"If he's so dang violent, why in the hay didn't he try and fight back instead of jus' runnin'? we didn' exactly break out the red carpet for the guy in the barn after all, id've fought back too and nail if I saw him comin' at ME with a rope"
>Pinkie nods as she bounced on her pedestal "And even when we sent Dashie after him, all he tried to do was RUN! I mean I know ALOT about energy from working with the cakes, but this guy was like ZOOOOM~ and this was just after he woke up! Not even -IM- that energetic when I wake up, id need at least five, no SEVEN! Cakes before I could do what -he- did" flourishing her hoofs in the air for dramatic flair she drew a chuckle from the room
>Rainbow and Rarity smiled at the mare's enthusiasm
>Pinkie and Applejack always were the best at judging people, and if they were willing to take the plunge then who were they to doubt the pink and orange ponies?
>Rarity simply nodded while Rainbow crossed her arm's in playful defiance "Well, I guess it couldn't hurt too give him one chance...but if he hurts the ponies in Ponyville in -ANY- way, I’ll kick his butt to Cloudsdale and back!"
>Twilight looked to the princess for her consent "Is this alright princess? Of course we could do what we can with the elements but having your help would always be better" Celestia surprised everyone by breaking out in full laughter at the statement
>Always so considerate, even in times such as these
>"It would be my honor too help you six amazing ponies help this man, but first we need to find out how, so let’s get to work shall we?"
>You nod with everyone else before Twilight starts outlining her plan to help the man; you though set your eyes on the slumbering human, the mantra he had held so dear to him coming to mind
>This, just like the man’s entire life, would be for better...or worse.