A Titanic Destiny

by Timeless Lord Slayer


Four: A New Beginning – From Here On

Adric was annoyed. Not just because his Ghost had persuaded him to go along with these "ponies", but because he would now be forced to deal with them for some time if this went through. Now, he loved company as much as any, but he preferred not to be disturbed when he had much more important matters to deal with. Like fixing his ship. Or his communications system. Or even maintaining his guns. He let out an agitated sigh as he followed the two rulers out of the forest, his Ghost floating beside him.

"Come on, Adric, lighten up! We're about to make a breakthrough in relations with these ponies!" said Ghost implored.

"Something that would've happened once I was good and ready," Adric grumbled.

"You mean never," his Ghost replied wittily. Adric lightly swatted the Ghost. "Hey! That was uncalled for!" Adric said nothing as they continued to walk through the Everfree. The Ghost harrumphed. Meanwhile, the Princesses listened to their conversation with interest as they lead the two out of the forest.

"You two are an... interesting, duo," Celestia noted.

"If you call having an abusive relationship interesting, then yeah, I guess we are," the Ghost replied.

"And yet thou'st some bond, deeper than friendship," Luna pointed out.

"That would have to do with me bringing old grumpy pants here to life after being dead for centuries," Ghost told them.

"... You do not mean necromancy, do you?" Celestia asked, tone dangerous as they walked, turning her head to face them.

"You mean like cultists? No. I resurrected him by re-encoding his corpse into a living body. Basically, I took elements from around the area into the predefined structure that I've always had. No real magic involved, just science," Ghost explained. Celestia and Luna blinked owlishly a few times.

"I... see. Well, I'm glad it's not necromancy, at least," Celestia said, before they continued walking. She and her sister made further mental notes to keep an eye on the Ghost and Adric. After a short while of walking, they finally arrived at the outskirts of Ponyville. "Well, here we are. The town of Ponyville." Adric and his Ghost gazed out at the simple homes with shock and disappointment. Their thatched roofs, the mundane cobbled streets, and the myriad of ponies walking about, was, to them, underwhelming.

"It's very... Homey," Ghost downplayed.

"You mean sadly inefficient and simple," Adric corrected him.

"Oh? And what knowest thou of city planning?" Luna asked in an obviously irked tone. Her sister placed a hoof on her shoulder, and Luna slowly calmed.

"We've had to make do with what we had at hoof, what with the war still raging," Celestia informed.

"War, huh?" Adric mused. He shared a look with his Ghost before turning back to the rulers. "With who?"

"The denizens of Shadow. They appeared about two years ago, swiftly eradicating most of the populations of each country. The few who survived fled here, to Equestria. Since then, we've been fending off the denizens of Shadow, but they are always encroaching on our borders," Celestia explained. Adric and his Ghost shared another look. This was exactly like back home. An entire planet, lost to hostile forces and chasing the remaining natives to one spot. Adric was deep in thought, and if the way his Ghost was making noises was any indication, so was it. Adric, while he was thoroughly annoyed by these ponies, didn't feel right just letting them be slaughtered. His Ghost was of the same mind. Finally, they both came to a conclusion.

"I think we can help with that," his Ghost said. The two Princesses seemed surprised at this.

"You would risk your life for a people you do not know?" Celestia asked, surprised. Adric nodded.

"My duty is to protect others. Whether that's my team, my home, or innocents I don't even know, doesn't matter. I'm a Titan. We are the Wall that our enemies break upon," Adric told them.

"Exactly. Besides, we aren't likely to get off of here anytime soon, what with our ship unable to take off," the Ghost continued. The Princesses were, understandably, taken aback, but quickly recovered.

"Well, that is most unexpected. Tis not often that we art witness to such selflessness," Luna praised.

"Indeed," Celestia agreed. "And now that you have shared that with us, I believe we have a position that would befit you."

"And that would be?" Adric queried, crossing his arms.

"We've been in need of a Special Response team towards incursions from the Shadow, and no one will take the position of commander for the team. How would you like to be that commander?" Celestia offered.

"Sounds reasonable to me," Adric's Ghost noted.

"Wonderful. But, for now, let us continue on our way to Ponyville. We can discuss more about what you are up against on the way," Celestia said.

"Right. Lead on, your Highnesses," the Ghost urged. With that, the four continued their trek into the small town.


Soon after arriving in the small town, which the Princesses had informed Adric was called Ponyville, him and his Ghost took immediate notice of the many looks that were sent their way.

He assumed it was because he was different, and after coming to that conclusion, shrugged it off and let them think what they wanted.

His Ghost was more conscious about the stares. Most of them were fearful. Some were just curious. Either way, Ghost didn't like it.

The Princesses also noticed the stares, but kept quiet, just glad their citizens didn't run in fear like they'd heard Ponyvillians typically did over new and frightful things.

Regardless, in time they reached a building made completely of crystal, standing strong and looking like a tree of sorts, only, well...crystal. It had a few smaller, more house-like portions in it's branches, and a set of large, golden double doors for an entrance.

A number of barricades and makeshift towers of wood lay around it, with what Adric assumed to be pony soldiers patrolling around them, if their armor and spears were any indication. They arrived at a large wooden gate, where two guards sat in front of, and two more were on towers above.

A guard on the tower looked down, saw the Princesses, and yelled, "Halt! We need to check and see if you are who you appear to be! Stay put!" Adric and Ghost watched in interest as what they could only describe as an insectoid pony, complete with black chitin, bug wings, and strangely enough, fangs and a horn, glided down from the walls, wearing sleek black armor that didn't cover much, likely for better movement, Adric supposed.

The bug pony lit up it's horn with green magic, scanning the Princesses, before looking back up to the guard up top once done and nodding.

"Alright, head on in, your Highnesses! Sorry for the trouble!" The guard called down as the gates opened.

"It's no problem, Blue Chevalier, we understand," Celestia said kindly as they walked through the gates. While they were walking through the camp of tents and guards and such, Adric decided to make a comment.

"Semi-efficient defenses, but it could use work," he noted idly as he gazed around. Luna opened her mouth to retort, but a look from her sister stopped her short.

"We would be pleased to hear more on what you have in mind, but perhaps it would be best to do so at a later time," Celestia told Adric.

Adric simply grunted in acknowledgement. Once they made it to the golden double doors, Celestia and Luna opened them, and they all walked in. Ghost was beeping and whirring and making many a small chirp as he took in the interior of the castle, noting the crystal it was made of in particular.

A large lobby greeted them, but Adric paid it little mind, seeing it as simply old and outdated decorations and luxuries. They walked through the lobby in silence, until they reached another set of doors and opened them, revealing all the mares from that night in the forest.

"Hiya!" Pinkie chirped, in Adric's face now. He pushed her away.

"Don't do that," he said coldly. Pinkie deflated a little, falling to the ground with a plop now that she wasn't using her physics bending powers to keep herself up.

"I just wanted to say hi..." she said solemnly. Adric sighed.

"Then don't get in my face to do it," he said, tone a touch warmer, yet exasperated.

"Princess, why is he here?" Twilight asked.

"And can I fight him?" Rainbow queried with an eager grin.

"You would lose," Adric said simply. It wasn't anything less than a statement.

"Oh yeah?" Rainbow said, flying up to his face. Celestia pulled her away with her magic.

"Rainbow, you must recuperate and rest, still," she reminded. Rainbow pouted.

"Fine..." she said, crossing her hooves. "But I get first swing at him when I'm better!"

Celestia chuckled. "Of course," she turned to the others. "Girls, Adric here is going to be the new captain of the Special Response team." Applejack gave him a once over.

"Yew sure, Princess? He don't seem all that trustworthy," Applejack said.

"Whether you trust me or not doesn't matter to me. I'd still kill those...what did you call them?" Adric said. He snapped his digits. "Denizens of shadow, right. I'd still kill them. They're too dangerous to be left alone and fester like an infection."

"My, that's very noble of you," Rarity complimented. Adric shook his head.

"Just the truth," he said simply. Rarity smiled.

"Modest as well? How unexpected," Rarity tittered. Adric sighed.

"Why am I here again?" He asked the diarchs, turning to them with exasperation clear in his tone.

"These mares are going to show you around your new base of operations," Celestia explained. Adric sighed once more.

"Right, right..." he looked to them all. "Well, let's get it over with, shall we?" Twilight got up from her seat, the others doing the same.

"Follow us, then," she said, walking out of the room.

"We will be in Canterlot in the meantime. Stay safe, all of you," Celestia told them, before her and her sister disappeared in flashes of light. Adric stared at where they were for a moment before sighing, chalking it up to more bullshit magic. His Ghost idly scanned the area as he followed his Guardian with the mares.

They lead him all over the castle, showing him the dining room, the kitchens, bath house, and much more until they reached one of the guest rooms.

"This is where you'll be staying," Twilight told him.

"Thank you, Twilight," Ghost said appreciatively. Adric just sighed and pushed the door open, walking inside and closing it behind him. His Ghost let out a sigh as well. "Sorry about him. He probably has a lot on his mind. I'm sure he'll warm up to you all eventually."

With that, he disappeared in a cloud of blue particles, leaving the girls to look on with varying looks of sadness or distrust.