//------------------------------// // Canterlot Conference // Story: I think we're lost // by Poetic Brony //------------------------------// The train screeched to a halt in Canterlot Central. Several ponies and a single person disembarked after the conductor opened the doors for them. Arron re-adjusted his AR and back pack before stretching his arms over his head. There were a lot of ponies staring at the three beings, though most of their attention was aimed at Arron. Midnight tapped AK on the shoulder. She turned her head so fast her glasses almost fell from her muzzle. “Where are we going,” Midnight asked a bit shaky, she looked around at all of the ponies who were staring their way so she backed herself behind Arron’s leg. She probably isn’t used to seeing so many ponies, or even being around so many ponies for that matter, AK thought. “Come on you two,” she gestured for them to follow. While ponies kept staring and pointing their hooves at the group, Midnight and AK could hear all of the rumors and comments made about them and their big friend. AK glanced at the man behind her. She let out a sigh of relief, at least he can’t hear what they’re saying, she thought with a smirk. He’d probably use that weapon of his if he did, she glared at two particular unicorns standing by a light post across the street, the brown coated unicorn stallion kept pointing at Midnight, while commenting to a cream colored unicorn with done up mane, AK thought either was his mare friend or wife, either way they weren’t saying very nice things about Midnight’s blank flank nor about Arron and something about bighoofs wearing such hideous clothes. Midnight also heard the two ponies talking. She was angry and embarrassed at the same time. If AK hadn’t held out her hoof to stop her she would have gotten into a fight with the two unicorns. “They’re not worth it,” AK whispered, “Trust me.” “Fine,” Midnight gruffly muttered back. AK was rather shocked when a troupe of royal guards descended upon them. “Halt,” the lead guard shouted making the dozen or more guards stomp their hooves behind him. “Wow,” Arron stepped between Midnight and AK. “Shining Armor, is that you?” Shining Armor tilted his head. “You know me?” Arron chuckled. “Let’s just say that I know of you,” he leaned over and held out his hand. “This is actually the first time we’ve met, I’m Arron.” Shining Armor rubbed his chin and eyed Arron’s offered hand. “Oh,” he exclaimed before putting out his hoof. Arron grabbed it and shook it. “That felt weird,” Shining eyed his hoof when Arron let go. He noticed a frown on Arron’s face. “I mean it was good,” he corrected. “But still weird... it was a weird good.” “I guess there aren’t too many beings with hands around here to offer a pony a proper handshake,” Arron folded his arms and closed one eye. “Huh, Shining?” “Yes,” Shining shook his head. “I mean no,” he face hooved. “You know what; just fallow me before I embarrass myself even further.” “Fine by me,” Arron let his arms down and placed his right hand on his waist. “Where are we going exactly?” “I’ve been ordered to escort you to the palace,” Shining didn’t even turn his head; he ordered the rest of his guards to form a perimeter around the trio. “The princess is really looking forward to seeing you.” “No doubt,” Arron slumped. AK tugged on Arron’s pant leg. “You know the princess?” “Princesses,” Arron flatly retorted. AK rolled her eyes. “Fine princesses,” she glanced up at him. “Happy?” He shrugged, “I guess?” “So,” AK glanced away. “How do you know the princesses?” “I met them a few days after arriving,” Arron rubbed his stomach where the armor stabbed him. “Twilight introduced me, but I’ve actually known them for quite a while.” He noticed both mare’s were giving him odd looks of disbelief. “You know what, forget what I said.” Midnight tilted her head in the direction of either the pony or person who was speaking while she followed their conversation. I want to know too, she thought. I can’t believe I’m meeting the princesses, what if they don’t like me? What if they tell Arron that he can’t be around me anymore...what if they tell me not to be around him anymore! Her fears, getting the better of her made her latch onto Arron’s leg. “Don’t worry Midnight you can still fallow me around if you want to,” Arron eyed the unicorn and patted her head. “So you don’t have to cling to me so tightly.” His words only made her ease up, but she still held on to him. “I think Midnight likes you,” AK said with a chuckle. “I kind of like you too,” she quietly muttered. “I know,” he replied, not hearing AK’s last statement. The only thing that’s bothering me is why she does? Neither pony, nor person had any more time for contemplation, nor discussion due to the pony perimeter being surrounded by news ponies and camera flashes. Most of the reporters where waving their hooves in the air trying to get Arron’s attention while yelling out question, after question, others were vainly attempting to ask Shining Armor about the bighoof, but he never answered. The palace doors opened upon their arrival. Shining Armor led the two ponies and one human into the throne room. Both princesses looked up from the scroll they were reading when they walked in. Shining gave them a quick bow before closing the doors behind him and locking it with his magic. I wouldn’t want to be in their horse shoes, he thought. Wait, he tilted his head. Do bighoofs even wear horse shoes? He pondered the question his entire trot back to the barracks. Princess Celestia rolled up the scroll with her magic before setting it aside. The two royal guards tapped the butts of their spears on the floor before exiting with a dismissive wave and a nod from Luna. Celestia beckoned for the group to come closer. “Arron,” Luna suddenly stepped down from her throne. “It is very good to see you.” She trotted up to greet them. “And AK Yearling I presume,” she tilted her head to glance at the pegasus who nodded her head. Midnight peeked out from behind Arron’s leg. Luna leaned forward when the made eye contact. “And you must be Midnight?” Midnight nodded before vanishing behind Arron’s leg again. “She’s shy,” Arron reached behind his back to rub her head. “I don’t doubt it,” Celestia came down from her throne she brushed up against Luna, then stood before Arron, they gave each other a nod before Arron stood aside, crouched down and pulled Midnight in front of him. She was clearly shaken when he did that, her head kept snapping back and forth between Celestia and Arron, a look of betrayal on her muzzle every time she glanced his way. “Don’t worry,” Arron scooted beside her and draped an arm across her back, he rubbed her neck and behind her ears to calm her down. She sat on her rump, her look of betrayal turned into a sigh of contentment. She craned her head back and her ears flattened so that Arron could rub them. “I promise she won’t hurt you,” he softly spoke, though he didn’t think she heard nor cared. “Eem, hmm,” Midnight replied. “If you keep doing that,” AK straightened her glasses. “She’s bound to fall asleep.” Celestia looked the unicorn in the eyes. “Twilight informed me,” she glanced back at Luna who coughed into her hoof. “Informed us,” she corrected, “about what happened to you as a filly, and about the diamond dogs.” “No pony deserves to be treated that way,” Luna stepped forward. “We weren’t nearly treated as badly as you were, even after we became Nightmare Moon.” Midnight’s ears perked back up. “So, you won’t force me to abandon Arron?” Celestia and Luna shared a smile before Celestia faced her once more. “No, Midnight, I wouldn’t do that to you, not after Arron saved you.” “Good,” Midnight closed her eyes, smiled and nodded, “because I love him.” Arron fell backwards, Celestia, Luna and AK all looked at her. AK’s mouth opened so far that her glasses fell off her muzzle, she was too shocked to even attempt to catch them. The sound her glasses made was even more deafening than a gunshot in Arron’s ears. No, Arron thought. She can’t possibly, I mean I’m a person...and she’s a... po... he vigorously shook his head while putting his feet so that they were at least in front of him instead of partly under him, then he used his hands to get himself back to a sitting position. Midnight slowly turned her head to look at Arron. Her eyes were the size of dinner plates and there was a bright red glow that adorned her cheeks. “I didn’t mean”— Arron quickly placed his finger over her lips. “Yes, you did, and please don’t insult me by telling me you didn’t.” He removed his finger and sighed. “Why?” Midnight didn’t seem to understand, Luna and Celestia where now intently looking at Arron as if they didn’t understand either. “I’m asking you,” he pointed at Midnight. “Why you love me... and please don’t say that it’s because I saved you from the diamond dogs.” Midnight slightly shook her head. “That’s part of it,” Arron raised an eyebrow at this. “A part?” “Yes,” she nodded. “A part, the rest of it is because of the way you act around me,” she folded her forehooves and frowned. “Or the way you don’t act around me.” “I’m more confused now than I was,” Arron rubbed his hand through his hair. “We, can’t explain why,” AK trotted up to him. “We just do!” “We,” Arron and Midnight both cried in confusion. “Yes,” AK placed a hoof around Midnight. “We love you, though I don’t love you the way she,” she gave Midnight a gentle shake. “loves you, but yes I still love you, stupid human.” “First,” Arron reached over and took AK’s glasses out of Celestia’s telekinesis spell and placed them back on her face. “I’m not stupid, especially when you throw words like love in my face.” “Why,” Celestia asked perplexed. “Don’t you have some pony... or person who loves you where you’re from?” Arron shook his head. “Not really,” he flatly stated. All four ponies balked at this. “Why?” “That’s what I want to know,” he cried in frustration. “Didn’t you have a mare friend,” Midnight paused when Arron shook his head. “What about parents,” AK asked, but Arron shrugged. “Not really.” “What kind of colt hood did you have,” Celestia asked concerned. Arron glared at her for a second before sighing. “A hard one that I don’t want to talk about,” he glanced at all of the ponies. “At least not right now,” he got up and brushed off his pants. “It’s not important, because it’s in the past, and the past can go to hell for all I care.” I really wish that John erased my childhood memories, he sighed. Or, at least all of the bad ones. He removed his back pack and knelt down on the floor in front of Midnight and AK. “Look, I don’t know how I feel about you,” he glanced at both of them. “Either of you, what I do know is that it would be disingenuous of me if I told you to stop or go away, so I’ll say this.” He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. All of the ponies felt a sense of anxiety when he did so, Celestia and Luna were even more anxious than Midnight and AK at that moment when Arron reopened his eyes. There was a look of great sadness that appeared in them for a split second, all four ponies noticed it even though it was very brief. “I don’t know how I feel about you Midnight,” he stopped her from speaking by lifting his hand. “I’ve never been in this kind of situation before,” he reached out with both arms and brought her in for a hug. “I care about you, I do, but I don’t know if I love you... or if I’ll ever love you the same way you do about me. I hope you can accept that, if not then please find someone...some pony else you will treat you the way you were meant to be treated.” Midnight started to weep, I won’t ever leave you Arron, she thought, because she couldn’t speak, her mouth wouldn’t utter her thoughts. I’ll wait for as long as I need to, I know you love me, you just don’t know that you do, but when you realize then... “Not fair,” AK yelled she quickly jumped at the pair of hugging fools. Arron reached out and caught her in mid air and brought her in to their hug before she had the chance to break into it. “Better,” Arron whispered. “Much,” AK muttered back. Celestia wrapped her wing around Luna. “Friendship is magic,” she whispered to her sister. Luna leaned into her older sister. “I think there’s more than just friendship between those three,” she glanced up at her sister with a smile. “Perhaps,” Celestia replied with a smile of her own. It was a while before they broke away from each other. Celestia and Luna returned to their individual thrones, Arron, Midnight and AK stood at the bottom of the steps in proper audience below them the group returning to some semblance of normalcy. After Celestia and Luna settled back onto their thrones they were curious to know the reason why Arron, Midnight and AK where in Canterlot. “Didn’t Twilight tell you in the letter she sent,” Arron asked stunned. Celestia shook her head. “I’m afraid my former student failed to include that detail.” Luna nodded her head. “It’s also the reason we sent Shining Armor to fetch you.” “It’s actually a good thing you did,” AK eyed the camo back pack on the floor at Arron’s feet. “Come on,” she bopped his leg with her hoof. “Show them already!” Arron rolled his eyes and Midnight giggled. “Fine,” he lamented, he reached down, grabbed the heavy pack by the left strap and brought it up in front of him. He eyed both princesses and gulped before opening it to show them the contents. Luna and Celestia strained their necks to see what was inside, so Arron walked up the steps so they’d both get a closer look. Celestia gasped and Luna’s eyes went wide, they kept going from the coins to Arron and back. “By the stars,” Luna cried, “Is that silver,” she pointed at one of the coins, so Arron fished it out to show her. “This is why we’re here,” Arron raised the coin so that Luna could take it with her magic. He pulled out another one to give to Celestia. They kept spinning the coins around with their magic and read the Pledge of Allegiance on the back. They even counted the stars of the American Flag on the face and rubbed a hoof over the Eagle relief beside it. “Where did you get these,” Celestia asked holding the coin in front of Arron. “I brought them with me,” Arron replied with a shrug. “If the noble ponies discovered you had these,”— Luna interrupted her sister. “You’re very lucky they didn’t.” Celestia nodded and returned the coin to its owner. Arron graciously took it from Celestia, though Luna held on to hers for a moment longer before giving it back to him. “That’s the reason why we came to Canterlot,” AK pointed her hoof at the coins in Arron’s hand. “I’m here to see an acquaintance of mine to see how much the coins are worth and if there is any pony interested in purchasing a few of them.” Celestia eyed Arron’s back pack. “And how many coins do you have?” “I have,” Arron picked up his back pack and dropped the two coins inside. “Over two hundred ounces of silver and at least one hundred ounces of copper.” He pulled out a plastic tube and pulled off the cap, he removed a copper coin and flicked it to Celestia who easily caught it with her magic, though she did almost let it hit the floor being caught off guard by the sheer amount he was carrying around. “You are a very rich pon...” Celestia shook her head. “I mean person, Arron.” He rubbed the back of his head. “I don’t feel that way,” Arron shook his back making all of the coins jingle. “I was only collecting coins in case the dollar ever collapsed.” “What’s a dollar,” Midnight asked tugging on Arron’s pantleg. He looked at her and smiled. “It’s the more common currency back home, though it’s only made of paper”— “Paper,” the four ponies exclaimed in unison. “Well,” Arron scratched the top of his head. “It’s really made from a special blend of cotton and paper pulp so we all call it paper money.” “Paper currency,” Celestia rubbed her chin in consideration. “True it would be easier to carry, but how would such a thing be backed? You must have some way to back your paper money.” “Yes,” Arron gave her a grin and a wink. “It’s actually backed by gold.” “GOLD,” they all cried again. Arron started laughing. “Sorry I should say our dollars were, backed by the gold standard. Now it’s backed with the silver standard.” He started to frown. “Or was that repealed too.” He vigorously rubbed his hands through his shaggy brown hair. “I can’t remember! I know that the government took us off the gold standard back in nineteen thirty three, but I don’t remember when we removed the silver standard, though I think it might have been when Nixon was still president...” “President,” Celestia questioned. “Yes,” Arron folded his arms and nodded. “President, my country left monarchy rule back in the seventeen hundreds, ever since then we’ve been ruled by the three branches of government.” “Three,” Luna asked looking doubtful. “Branches,” Celestia tilted her head in disbelief. “Yep,” Arron nodded again. “The Legislative branch consisting of the House of Representatives and Congress who write laws, the Executive consisting of the President and his cabinet, who either vetoes the laws passed by the house and senate, or passes said laws under which we are governed.” Arron paused and glanced at all of the ponies who where both shocked and awed, making him chuckle. “Then there’s the Judicial Branch, who, interprets said laws written by the Legislative Branch and passed by said President, though it is the largest Branch of government because each state has their own Supreme Court judges and then there are nine judges on the Federal Supreme Court which is our highest court in our society.” “It sounds to me,” Celestia spoke after regaining her composure. “That you have quite a lot of bureaucracy in your world.” “How does anything get done,” Luna asked with an earnest expression of curiosity on her muzzle. “Sometimes,” Arron let out a lengthy sigh. “It doesn’t.” He glanced up at the co-rulers. “Listen because we don’t have a single being holding all power and or authority and because of the checks and balances each Branch watches the other so that the people don’t become oppressed.” Celestia and Luna gasped. “We do not oppress our ponies!” They both yelled. “I didn’t say you did,” Arron shook his head and held out his hands defensively. “But as a wise man once said, power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” He stared at Luna. “You must admit princess Luna, when your hatred for your sister overtook your sense of self and became Nightmare Moon you were by definition what the people in our world would call absolutely corrupt,” he closed one eye. “A dictator, hell bent on extinguishing the light of day in order to cover the world in everlasting night.” Luna, unable to have her past sins thrown in her face quickly looked away. Arron smirked. “Then again,” he caught Luna’s attention from the way he said it. “A dictator can also be benevolent.” “You’re joking,” Luna looked unconvinced and even Celestia was eyeing him with no certain amount of criticism. Arron shook his head, “I’m serious, Pinochet, was a really cool guy who was considered to be a dictator.” “Who,” AK and Celestia asked. “Augustus Pinochet,” Arron replied. “He was the ruler of Chile for a while. He was considered to be a dictator, but only to those who were left of Stalin, or Mao, and maybe even Pol Pot?” He gave up when all of the ponies wore blank expressions. “They were people worse than Sombra.” “Ohhh,” They all mouthed. “That is bad,” Celestia commented. “And,” Luna snipped. “What did he do that made these ponies worse than Sombra so mad?” Arron ignored the pony part. “He rounded them up,” “Yes,” the ponies said. “Placed them in a helicopter,” he received more puzzled muzzles. “Uhhh,” Arron paused. “Hot air balloons he corrected,” that made them all nod and ‘awe’ in recognition. “Then when they were high enough his men... or ponies,” —he eyed and smirked at Luna— “pushed them out of the balloon.” His comments made all four of them gasp in horror. “That is barbaric,” Celestia cried in anger. “Why did he do such a thing?” Arron shrugged. “He didn’t like their politics, to put it bluntly.” He raised his hand to stop them from speaking. “Look it would take too long to explain, let’s just say that because they had the same ideals as Sombra, he didn’t like it so he dealt with them the same way they would have dealt with him, but he freed the majority of people and brought a great amount of prosperity to Chile for doing so. To him and most of his countrymen Capitalism was not a dirty word.” Arron folded his arms and nodded in absolution. Luna, Celestia, Midnight and AK all shared confused glances. “Of course it’s not,” Celestia confirmed. “We enjoy our subjects who build business through entrepreneurship.” “That means,” Arron looked at her and Luna with a smile. “Eqestria is governed by a Monarchy, but with a Capitalist society.” Celestia glanced at the one person and two ponies in front of her, she glanced over at Luna who gave her a quick nod. “We are both very curious to know more about where you come from,” Celestia pointed her hoof at Arron who tilted his head and frowned. “Considering the length of the discussion we’d better relocate to a more suitable location.” Celestia guided their guests through the palace. Luna took up residence beside Arron, while Midnight trotted along on his other side. AK was behind Celestia, both leading ponies turned their heads every once in a while to listen in on the conversation that the three beings behind them were having. Luna and Midnight both kept asking Arron about Earth, and his country he called the United States he wouldn’t answer all of their questions, only telling them that he’d explain everything after they reached their intended destination. Several guards lined the hallway after the party made an abrupt right turn. Two more guards stood on either side of a set of double doors. Several dignitaries milled about while they waited for the Princess to show up. One of the dignitaries pointed a hoof and said something to the others when they saw the Princess. A few of them were galloping over to her, though they suddenly and abruptly halted upon noticing the bighoof and the Lunar Princess behind her. Without a word all of the ponies made way for them to pass. The two guards opened the doors for the entourage when they approached. The ponies outside clamored to enter the conference room after the guards had closed the door. The other guards formed an impenetrable line so that preventing the excited ponies from entering. Celestia and Luna took up seats at the head of a large conference table. The room was well lit with sunlight streaming in from the five windows behind Arron, Midnight and AK Yearling who were sitting down on their left hoof sides of the princesses. Arron enjoyed the warm sun on his back. Not too hot, not too cold, he thought laying his AR across his lap before scotching up against the table. The cushion under him easily moved with the slightest movement of his torso and legs. Still it would be nice if there was a back rest like a normal chair, he leaned forward a bit so he wouldn’t lay on his back and fall asleep under the sun. Celestia smiled when Arron began telling them about his home planet and his country. He began the history with the first crossing from England and Europe in fourteen ninety two. The princesses and AK stopped him every once in a while to clarify some things. Two hours past before the Princesses stopped him for a short break. Pastries and tea where offered, AK, Midnight and Luna excused themselves to freshen up. Celestia eyed Arron who looked half asleep, his head was bowed and his arms were folded across his chest. I wonder if he’s praying to his deity, Celestia thought with a frown. I would like to know more about his culture, than his country’s history. She lit up her horn to gently shove Arron’s shoulder to get his attention. “Yes, princess,” Arron opened one eye. “I’m awake, you don’t have to worry.” She smirked and shook her head. “That’s not the reason why I did that.” Arron tilted his head and gave her a quizzical look. “Then what is it?” He glanced around. “The others aren’t back yet are they?” Celestia shook her head. “No, they’re not,” she placed her tea back onto the saucer. “I would like to know more about your deity, would you please tell me what she’s like?” Both of Arron’s eyes snapped open, and he started to laugh. “Did I say something funny,” Celestia asked rather defensively. “No, no,” Arron waved a hand at her. “Our…” he crossed his fingers and placed his arms on the table. “I should say that my God, isn’t a she, but a he…” He looked up at her. “Or more appropriately I should say they.” Celestia tilted her head and her mouth hung open. “You have more than one God?” “Yes,” Arron said without missing a beat. “There’s the father Elohim, the son, Jehovah and the holy ghost, they make up what those of us in the church call the Godhead.” He looked at Celestia and smiled. “There are those that call them the trinity, but they are three distinct beings who’s one in purpose.” “Which is,” Celestia arched forward. There was a small interruption when Luna and the others returned, Arron could see the dignitaries clamoring with comments as they tried to get past the guards. Arron waited until after the others were seated before continuing, though Celestia held her composure, he knew that she didn’t like the annoyance. “Now,” Celestia gestured. “You were saying?” “To bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man,” Arron finished. Celestia’s mouth hung agape, but the others only shared confused glances. “What did we miss,” AK leaned over and bumped Arron’s leg with her hoof a few times. Arron frowned at her. “I hope you washed those,” he pointed at her hoof that was on his leg. “Before you came back.” AK balked. “Of course I washed my hooves,” she exclaimed in disgust. “What kind of pony do you think I am?” Arron replied with a shrug. She folded her forehooves and pouted. “You’re so insufferable,” she muttered several more things, but that was the only thing Arron was able to comprehend. While AK was distracting Arron, Celestia whispered what Arron told her in Luna’s ear. The Lunar Princess also balked and went a bit slack jawed at the news of Arron having three God’s and they were male no less. Arron perceived what Celestia and Luna were talking about so he decided to abate their concerns. “Don’t worry,” he caught every pony’s attention. “We do have goddesses, we just don’t know their names, Elohim doesn’t want their names taken in vain nor besmirched like his own, so he protects them.” “Your people hate your deities,” Celestia cried in disbelief and despair. Arron nodded. “There are many back home who don’t believe in God, they call them mythical, or fictional,” he sighed. “Those of us who believe are persecuted even now by those who don’t…” he glanced up at the ceiling with a frown. “Why can’t those damned atheists leave us alone! They use politics to shut us up or shut us down…the constitution, states that the freedom of speech is protected, yet if a Christian or Conservative speaks, or even makes a comment the leftist and atheists jump down their throats and have them banned from speaking claiming hate speech!” Arron stood up and slammed his hands down on the table. “THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS HATE SPEECH ONLY CALL TO ACTION!” “Arron,” Celestia calmly stated. “Please calm down, there is no need for such angry outbursts here.” He sat back down. “I know,” he slumped. “It’s one of the reasons I’m glad I’m here and not back home,” he looked at Luna and Celestia with tears in his eyes. “In my past, I’ve been on the receiving end of true hatred.” Arron leaned over to his right, picked up Midnight and placed her in his lap, now that his rifle was under the table he decided to replace it with a warm mare. “Midnight,” he lowered his voice. “The reason why I’m struggling so hard to get around you loving me is because when I was very young I was very hurt and abused.” “You don’t have to,” Midnight began, but Arron shook his head. “Of all of the ponies I know,” he placed his hand on top of her head. “I want you to hear the truth,” he glanced over at Celestia and Luna, then he looked AK in the eyes. “All of you.” Celestia and the others were all appalled by what Arron began to tell them. Midnight and AK began crying not even half way through his story. Celestia gasped several times and Luna was looking more and more outraged as he continued. “That’s everything,” Arron hugged Midnight. “I don’t know if I can return your feelings or not Midnight,” he reached over and stroked AK’s head, she had removed her glasses and was wiping her eyes with her sleeve. “I’m sorry,” Luna abruptly got to her hooves. “It is very late and I have to go and prepare to raise the moon.” Celestia also got to her hooves, “And I must start lowering the sun.” Both Princesses left the room. Celestia and Luna both sighed after the doors closed. The only ones in the hallway were the two guards on either side of the doors. The rest told the dignitaries that all meetings were postponed until the following day. Many of them left unhappy, but Celestia would smooth things over when she met them. Luna shook her mane. “I thought I’ve heard and seen everything,” she stopped in the middle of the hallway that lead back to the throne room. The light of the waning sun shimmered on her dark blue coat which had lost some of its luster, even her mane and tail were laying flat. The things Arron told her made her want to vomit in disgust. “How can they treat each other like that,” Luna asked. Celestia had also stopped a few steps ahead of Luna, she didn’t turn around when she answered. “After hearing what he went through, I know that Arron is a good…pon…” she smiled for a moment, but it quickly faded. “Man, he’s been through a lot.” “I would rather be sent back to the moon for another thousand years than to go through a betrayal like that,” Luna started raising the moon while Celestia lowered the sun. “He was only five,” Luna stomped her hoof and the moon quivered in the sky. “No more than a Colt, then two years later.” “Sister,” Celestia commanded. “Please, I don’t want to think about it,” she slightly turned her head. “I have an early start tomorrow so I’ll be heading to bed.” Luna watched Celestia vanish in a flash. Celestia teleported herself to her room, with a flick of her head her crown landed and spun on top of her dresser before coming to a restful stop. With a heave she flopped down onto her bed. She covered her eyes with a fore-hoof, tears dripped down her face to streak her fur and moisten the pillow. Celestia had heard a lot of things in her time as a ruler, but after hearing what Arron had gone through as a colt and then telling her that he met people who had it even worse than he did she felt something she only felt one other time in her life and that was when she sentenced Luna or Nightmare Moon to imprisonment on the moon. “What kind of bucked up place is he from,” Celestia thought aloud. “And why hasn’t his God done anything to prevent such things from happening.” I have granted all of my children free will, Celestia shot up in her bed and looked around the room for the pony who was talking to her. The voice was quiet like a pin drop, but had the force of an erupting volcano. Her ears twitched every which way to locate the one speaking. After I created the Earth a war erupted in heaven, my second son rebelled against me so I had to cast him and his followers out, they are all on Earth, they tempt and try the hearts of men. Men like Arron are devout followers and I am sorry that he intruded into your lives, but he is where he needs to be. Celestia, —she was fully alert when Elohim, Arron’s deity called her by name— Because I have given my children my laws and the ability to chose, in the end I will punish those who have broken my law, but it will be in my own way, and in my own time. I would ask you to please look after my son, he’s a good man and the demon he is trying to find also has a good heart…despite the way he looks.