//------------------------------// // Chapter 12: Now What // Story: 117 The Eternal Guardian // by Nanofield //------------------------------// ^Equis^ {125AD} 15:00 [John] Celestia has scheduled a meeting with me today. It's odd because if she wanted to see me, she would have said so at the moment and had me see her then. Anyway, I am on my way to meet her for something. Probably military related. I make it to the doors of the meeting room and knock three times with a resounding dull thud. “Enter.” Well, not the welcome I expected. Nevertheless, I enter the room. “You wanted to see me?” “Oh, it's you. Yes, We wanted to have a discussion with you and wanted to make sure We had the time.” “Yes. What did you need to talk about?” “Well Chief, We wanted a status report on our current military situation.” I knew it, military. “All is well. The added branch of marines is doing well and growing in size. Not as rapidly or to the same size as the army, but it was expected.” “How so?” “As you know, each branch that I created is based off of the branches I had back with the humans. Army, navy, air force, marines. We had no need for a navy so that was excluded; but as with the others, I had training manuals, information on protocols, and basic necessities to create and run the branch if the need ever arose. The marine corps is only for the best of the best. The elite of the elite. The 'If all else fails, they don't.' It is to be expected that less manage to get in there than into the army or air force.” “OK, what is the current troop count between the branches?” “Approximately 15,000 unicorns in the army, 2,500 earth ponies, and 7,500 pegasus ponies. In the air force we have just over 10,000 pegasus ponies and a handful of unicorns and earth ponies working in engineering and maintenance. The royal guard has over 5,000 ponies total between the three types. The marine corps almost have 1,000 ponies in it.” “We see what you mean about the marines not having as much development.” “Give it time, it will grow.” “We will take your word for it. Now, anything else to report?” “Well, as you know, Equestria is currently standing as the strongest military nation on the planet in both training, and soon, numbers. Approximately 60% of the male pony population is currently in the service, 5% female. The rate of male enlistment is projected to rise to at least 80% in the next few centuries but it is debatable. The only constant in the universe is nothing stays constant. The officers in the various branches have become capable of running the entire military with little help from me. As you know, I was never an armchair general; always leading from the front lines. They no longer need me watching over them however. I wanted to know what you would like me to do now.” “Well, if what you say is true, whatever you want. The question is; what are you going to do now?” “I don't know yet. For the last century and a half all I have known is war and leadership. What should I do?” “Well, maybe you could join me and Luna as leaders. After all, you have been doing so for the last 75 years; have you not?” “True. I suppose it could work. The ponies have mostly gotten used to an alien warrior leading them into battle. And my advancements to pony tech have been helpful. The repeating crossbow works along with the magic enhancers I designed. My research on pony magic has helped a lot.” “Then it is settled, you shall rule alongside me and Luna. I will call upon her to let her know. We will make a powerful nation Chief.” “Yes Celestia, we will. Oh, and one more thing. It's John.” “What?” “My name, it's John. We have known each other for 75 years, I think you should at least know my name.” “John? What a wonderful name! I wish you told me sooner but thank you for telling me now. John, I will now go speak with Luna.” “OK, good luck convincing her. She is still mad at me for punching you or something.” “Yes. I noticed. No matter, I am not giving her a choice in the matter. I have long since forgiven you and it is time she did the same.” That went better than expected. Now she plans to make me a leader of this country officially. ***** [Luna] I am woken up by a knock at my door. Whoever it is had better have a good reason for waking me up. I reach the door and open it to find my sister there. “Hello Celestia. Why did you wake me?” “Luna. I wanted to inform you of my plan to make John a prince of Equestria alongside us.” “Why?” “Well, he has done so much for us. He has finished all that he had to do and since he is such a good leader I thought he could rule with us.” “Fine, whatever. I trust your judgment. Who is this John anyway?” “He's the Chief.” “Hmm, ok...wait....WHAT!!! ARE YOU INSANE?! HOW COULD YOU MAKE HIM PRINCE?” “Well, I haven't yet. I plan to though. He has done so much for us. Have you looked at our military lately?” “Yes, it is very nice. But he is an ALIEN. Making him commander of the entire military is one thing. But giving him AN ENTIRE COUNTRY is something entirely different.” “He has been here for 75 years. He has caused no trouble since the incident with the moon. Why are you still mad at him?” “I AM MAD AT HIM BECAUSE...Because... I just am. OK?” “No, it's not OK. If you want to be mad at him give me a reason. Tell me why you don't like him.” “He is too powerful. OK! There. THAT is your reason. He fell from space after JUMPING OFF THE MOON! He came here and put you in the med wing for a week with JUST ONE PUNCH. I threw him almost a mile and it did nothing to stop him. Not even the Elements of Harmony stopped him. What's more, he actually disabled them with just a touch. He is more powerful than Discord himself yet has no magic of his own. And we brought him here. If he where to turn on us again and actually TRY to kill us, you saw what he is capable of. When he first got here, he could have killed you with that sword of his and we could do nothing about it. And what if his claims of immortality are true? How can we stop someone who is invincible AND immortal?” “Simple, we make him our friend. Seeing as I have done so already; I suggest you do the same.”