//------------------------------// // Revealing myself // Story: T.I.M. of EQUESTRIA // by Winter Eclipse //------------------------------// I am The Invisible Man of Equestria, but you can call me Tim. Unoriginal I know, but I honestly have forgotten my name. When you don't use it that can happen. Anyways, right now I'm standing in the throne room of Canterlot Castle trying to figure out how to reveal myself so I can get some help. My story can wait as I've been sick for awhile and if I don't get help, I fear for my life. Contemplating more I decide to just go for it. It's night so the throne is occupied by Princess Luna. I walk up to in front of her and prepare myself. "Good evening, Princess Luna. I ask that you don't be alarmed, so please hear me out. I'm in a unique situation and need your help." I watch as she is startled at first, but then calms down some. "Where are you so that we can speak muzzle to muzzle." "Well, that's part of my unique situation Princess. I'm actually standing about seven feet in front of you." Curiosity crossed her features as she stood up. She walked to the bottom of the dias and if I hadn't moved, the princess would have walked over me. "Where are you right now?" "I'm right beside you. I had to move so that I wasn't in your way. Before you ask, no I'm not under a spell of any kind, nor am I affected by anything that could make me invisible from here. If you agree to it, I will set my hand on your left front shoulder to prove I'm here. I mean no harm, Princess." "Very well. Proceed." When I did set my hand on her shoulder, her eyes widened. "How is this possible?" "It's a long story, my Lady. My invisibility is because of a experimental drug meant to save my life, which it did, but in another way it ended it. It made me invisible somehow, I will admit to stealing food while I've been here, but that was to survive. I hated doing it, but I had no choice." "What is your name and what do you mean you had no choice. All you had to do was ask and somepony would have helped you." "First, you can call me Tim and second, it's kinda hard to ask for help when you are not from this planet. I was afraid to ask because I didn't know how your ponies would react to me, especially since I can't be seen. "What do you mean not from this planet?" "I mean in the sense, that I haven't seen any other humans since I've been here." She didn't seemed surprised by me declaring myself to be human. Hmmm, makes me wonder about something. "Princess, if I may ask? Why did you act like you know of my species? I was expecting shock or maybe fear." "Humans once existed on Equis. Granted that was long before I was born, but my parents made sure my sister and I had knowledge of your race just in case something like this happened. Now, we can speak more on the subject later, but right now I would like to try something if you would allow it?" "What are you go in to do Princess?" "I would like to try a spell and see if it makes you visible for a short time and please call me Luna." "Very well....Luna and you can see if it works." I watched as her magic flared in to a silvery blue color. Casting her spell, I didn't notice anything until I looked at the hand still on her shoulder. I...I could see my hand. I couldn't believe it, it worked. I walked away from Luna a few steps and turned back to her. "It's nice to see you." She froze for a moment then cocked her head. "Why are you nude? From what my mother has said, humans don't like going around naked." "That is true, but how would you react to a bunch of cloths just floating in midair?" She thought for a moment. "You are correct on the reaction. Now, what help do you need?" "I need medical attention. I've been sick for two months and I think I know what I've got." "It's not contagious is it?" "No Luna, it's not. I believe I have pneumonia. If I don't get treated it could kill me." Before she could say anything else, I started to feel faint. No, not now I thought. Its farther along than I thought. The next moment I knew nothing. I came to gasping for air. Looking around, I could tell I was in a hospital room hooked up to a variety of monitor equipment. I was covered by a heavy blanket and I wasn't alone. One guard stood next to the door and was looking my way. I guess he heard me when I came to. "Sir? Are you awake?" "Yes I am. Why? Is there a problem?" "No sir. The princesses wishes to be informed of your waking." Opening the door I heard a quiet conversation, then he closed the door. "The princesses will be here shortly and the doctor that has been treating you as well." "Thanks I guess." So without anything better to do, I settled in to wait. About fifteen minutes later the door opened and in walked Celestia, Luna, Cadence and Twilight Sparkle? Two doctors was behind them as well. I watched them gather around the bed I was in. "Tim? Would it be okay for me to cast the spell I used in the throne room?" "If you want to see me go ahead." With a nod she started channeling her magic and cast the spell. I heard a gasp from Twilight when the spell took effect. Looking at the gathered princesses, I could see sympathy in their eyes. "Do I look that bad to you all?" "Tim. In all honesty, the doctors said you would not have survived another few days. You was that close to death." "I figured as much" I said nodding. "Was it pneumonia?" "Yes, it was." One of the doctors replied. "How did you know?" "I had it once when I was younger and still remember the symptoms. I'm far older than then and knew my body couldn't handle it." The doc seemed satisfied with my answer and stepped back. When he did Celestia stepped closer to me. "Luna has told us of the conversation between the two of you. I would hazard a guess that you know of the rest of us?" "I do Princess Celestia. Be kinda hard not to know since I've been here five years." "Why didn't you come forward then? It would have been a lot easier on you" Cadence asked. I just shrugged my shoulders before I spoke. "I was afraid to. I am a alien creature, with unknow motives, that happens to be invisible. How do you think I would have been received?" "Probably not very well. The ponies here in Canterlot tend to be....not very welcoming of any creature not a pony." "Exactly. I learned that in my first week here." "How did you get here" Twilight asked me. Her look of curiosity was kinda...scary. "I don't know Princess. I was trying to find shelter from a storm and I think I got hit by lightning. Next I know I wake up here." Her contemplating gaze was broken after a minute. "You said you've been here five years correct?" "Yes, give or take a couple of months." "That's about the time I fought Tirek. I did notice a storm over the Everfree at the time and it got hit by one of his missed magic attacks." "Thinking it created a portal somehow Twilight" pondered Luna. "It's quite possible. With you being here that long and with no way to replicate the situation, I'm afraid there is no way to send you home." The sympathy that Twilight's eyes showed was not needed. "I accepted my fate long ago Princess. I figured as much." Celestia finally got into the conversation again then. "You do not need to address any of us with our titles Tim and you are welcome to stay here in the castle of you wish. Now, I will not say anything about you stealing food. We understand you was trying to survive. I believe the good you did offsets your indiscretions." I got nervous and looked away. "What do you mean, Sister?" "Various accounts from across the city about thieves suddenly falling in a chase or rapists being knocked out and tied up while their victims escape. There is even one account of a ponynapping victim escaping her captors mysteriously and said captors being arrested." Celestia was smiling at me then. "I was just trying to balance out the scales by doing some good" I admitted while I fidgited with my hands. "So your the Hidden Protector" Luna asked in wonder. "I never wanted recognition for it. I just couldn't justify walking away from someone in need. How did you know Celestia?" "It was a educated guess really. I knew the one doing the good deeds wasn't a pony and no trace could be found. So when you showed up, I put two and two together, plus you admitted it" she finished with a smile. I signed in resignation. I still didn't really know what was going to happen to me. "I know you said I was welcome to stay at the castle, but I have to wonder what will happen to me?" "You will be given the chance to live a normal life if you wish it Tim. I would not have the one that saved me, be treated as anything other than a honored guest" Luna declared walking up to me and nuzzling into my neck. "What do you mean, Sister?" "I was one of the mares he saved." The incredulous look that crossed Celestia's muzzle was surprising. "WHAT?" "I decided to go out one night in disguise and was accosted. I was so shocked by the act, that I couldn't defend myself. It was at that moment that my attacker suddenly went down and I escaped to alert the guard. When we came back the stallion was tied up and was unconscious." She looked me in my eyes and smiled happily. "Anything you wish for, if it is in my power. I will get for you." "A cure for my condition" I asked with hope. "I shall have our best scientists work on it." "Thank you Luna."