A Legendary Issue
(1) - Recognition
I stood at the top of the plateau that I had called home for the past fifty-or-so years, gazing off into the distance. Where the clouds broke, I could see the rolling farmland of the Unicorn Range that stretched infinitely into the horizon, with the colourful rainbow waterfalls of Cloudsdale shining overtop. I peered over the edge, and saw the city of Canterlot jutting from the mountainside like a tick—a majestic, royal tick, if that made my analogy any better.
To the untrained eye, it appeared that I was standing there placidly, not particularly invested in the view, and not doing anything important. While the two formers were true (a view stops being breathtaking after the hundredth time), the latter was most certainly not. My mind was operating a mile a minute, with ideas, concerns, emotions, questions, answers, and plans being thought and mulled over at a speed considered frightful by anyone who didn't know how to catalogue them properly.
Being a Metagross certainly had its ups and downs, but the biggest advantages by far were the ones occurring beneath the hood, so to speak. I had the processing power of a top-of-the-line computer, and numerous Psychic abilities that were useful in a myriad of different way. Unfortunately, the piercing headaches that I received as both a Beldum and Metang were still present and annoying, but hey, that was an acceptable price tag.
I sighed heavily, despite not actually having lungs by which to do so. The scroll I received from the messenger now huffing her way back to Canterlot was a direct summoning from Celestia herself, and it wouldn't do to keep her waiting. Still, I could always pull the 'I'm old' card, even though I wasn't subject to any of the aches, pains, and general loss of cognitive capacity that comes with being a few centuries old...
... Ah, screw it. Hibernation was quite appealing, but I was awake for the first time in fifty-six years, if my internal clock was still functioning correctly, and I felt the need to do something.
I needed... adventure.
With a groan befitting the one-ton behemoth that I was, I launched myself into the air and over the edge of the mountain top, folding my legs as I did so. I dropped like a stone and gained momentum at a rapid pace, with the air rushing by at a frightful speed. The tallest spires of Canterlot grew increasingly larger with every passing second.
When I was but a few seconds away from impact, I engaged my floating capabilities with an effort of will, halting my progression almost immediately. Had I been something squishier, the sudden cessation of speed would've probably broken several bones and given, but being almost entirely metal, I didn't feel a thing.
I scanned the city below me. Ponies the size of ants hustled and bustled to-and-fro through the city streets, most of which were too pre-occupied to look up. I could hear the worried and panicked cries of the few that did.
If I could change the grumpy expression permanently etched into my face/body, I might've smiled. For some reason, being able to literally crush ponies but choosing not to was strangely satisfying. Must be some sort of power trip-type thing.
With a mental shrug, I flew towards the Royal Castle.
/\/\/
Canterlot may have grown and changed, but the Royal Castle remained unmodified since time immemorial—or at least, for as long as I could remember. I guess white marble never truly goes out of style.
I landed in the open courtyard, a dust ring expanding outward when I placed all four limbs onto the ground. I looked up at the guards standing in front of the entrance, which sat at the top of a small staircase. To their credit, I only saw one pony's eyes widen in fear. That was half the normal amount.
"Can I come in?" I asked.
The visibly shaken one became even more so. "I can't do that," replied his partner, swallowing nervously, but otherwise as blank-faced as a stone. "Only visitors bearing the royal seal can enter. If you have a complaint, you'll have to wait until tomorrow's Day Court."
Damnit. I knew I should've brought that bloody scroll with me...
I sighed, a sound akin to metal being crushed by a trash compactor. "Let me speak to your Guard Captain. I'm expected by Princess Celestia, and I'd hate to keep her waiting."
The straight-faced guard narrowed his eyes. After a couple seconds of deliberation, he nodded and muttered to the wide-eyed guard, "Go get the Captain. If you hear me scream, go to the barracks instead and raise the Guard. I don't think this thing means trouble, but one can never be too sure." The other guard was gone before the first's murmurings faded away.
Sometimes, it was nice to have incredibly amplified hearing.
"As a matter of fact, I don't mean trouble. I may look like an angry, floating tank, but I'm actually a pretty nice guy when you get through my rough exterior."
The guard blinked in complete confusion, and didn't say anything.
"Never mind," I muttered.
The rest of the time spent waiting went by in complete silence, with the guard thinking about how much he was going to enjoy his retirement, and with me twiddling my metaphorical thumbs.
What? I only listen to a pony's thoughts when it's absolutely necessary, or when I'm bored. And I was bored. Sue me.
When the nervous guard came back with the Guard Captain, I would've done a spit take had I been drinking a liquid. Lo-and-behold, it was none other than Shining Armor.
I guess I should've expected that I would eventually find the correct time period, but to be completely honest, I had given up that hope when I first realized I was stuck in a much younger Equestria. Now that I was finally in the right time, after all these years... I didn't know what to do. Might as well keep my knowledge a secret; it would be weird if I called him by his full name the first time we met.
"When you first described the size, I thought you were exaggerating, Corporal Pauldron," Shining Armour mused after doing a double take. "I see now that's not the case." Turning to me, he said, "I take it that you're the emissary Princess Celestia was speaking of."
"You would be correct in your assumption," I replied evenly. "Do I have your permission to enter?"
Shining Armour nodded. "Yes, but..."
I raised a metallic eyebrow. "But...?"
"I'm pretty sure you can't fit through the door. Is there another entrance you can—?"
"Yeah. I'll use the Garden entrance." There was another reason for me using the Royal Garden entrance, but Shining didn't need to know that. There was an old... acquaintance that I wanted to see before I met with Celestia.
"Good. I'll meet you there," he replied.
I launched myself into the air, folding my legs together in the process. If Shining Armour was surprised, he didn't show it.
Drifting towards the Garden, I wondered what I would say to my old acquaintance. After all, it had been over a hundred years since I last spoke with Discord.