//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 - Strange beginings // Story: The boy who found the moon // by Tuseday Fraulein //------------------------------// The boy who found the moon By Tuseday Fraulein Chapter 1 - Strange beginings Time and time again, Equestria needed to change for the better. No pony liked it when they had to ask the Humans for help because to Ponies it was the same as admitting defeat. For eons they were content to think highly of themselves. Their crops grew enough food for all. The education system had not failed since the dark ages. Crime itself was virtually non-existent. This was truly a paradise for all. Then Humans came, and Equestria did not answer quietly. It's not clear who was to blame but it was as clear as a blue sky that nothing would ever stay the same. One-by-one, strange and wonderful things started to appear in Equestria. Ideas, philosophy, law. All of it ran through the country like a wild fire. They brought more than words; some towed in with cellphones that all but replaced letters, engines that allowed pony's to travel greater distances. Even the humble post-it stamp gave office clerks the ability to track something they were doing not 10 minutes ago. Whatever the land was blooming into, it was something more intriguing for all to see. However, one thing not even the Princess could hide from were their little boxes they called 'Computers'. Princess Luna took a special interest in them, they entranced her. She first saw one as she was casually browsing Ponyville one day. A little boy had been happily tacking away as she came in for a closer inspection. She asked what he was doing and he simply replied: “I'm playing a game.” A game? She thought such things were below her. Though it did seem interesting after a while, and within a matter of minutes she had one of her very own. Its keyboard and mouse were modified to fit her hoofs, and slowly she begin to explore the device's potential. In return for the Human's advice, she offered to teach them her magic. There were a select few that had any ability in them and there were the typical accidents waiting to greet them; but as the months flew by, more and more began to come on par with Equestria's own. And through that one act of kindness, computers managed to improve her beloved country for the better. However as time went on, Luna felt that it wasn’t enough. She needed more. A private tutor, one to guide her and teach her in the ways of the PC. This is what led her sister, Princess Celestia, to hold the biggest competition in all of Equestrian history. Humans of all colors, races, creeds, were pitted against each other in tests that could prove their ability beyond all reproach. Out of the thousands that entered, two remained. They had been going for what seemed like days. Both were equally matched in both the theory and the practical. Seeing no end to their strife, Celestia called them both in for a meeting. Naturally this had not gone unnoticed. With Pinkie Pie being so close at hand that day, all she had to do was tell everypony when to meet. As was Pinkie's usual style, the once meek hall had been transformed to a colorful wonderland. The two combatants began their march through the massive hall of streamers and confetti, making sure not to eye each other, and finally kneeling down in front of the royal throne. One was a teenage boy called Steven, who was no older than 18, had brown hair, blue eyes, and wore black from head-to-toe. The other was a older gentile named Kerth, who instead had no hair, brown eyes, and dressed like golfer; green checkered shirt and all. When Princess Celestia had finally taken her throne, pony and human alike swarmed to the front of the hall, with baited breath aplenty. For a the longest while she stood silently, carefully debating the two choices before her. Her cotton-candy mane flew in the breeze, while her silky white coat hanged like a veil over her wings, which still stood at full span. For the longest time Celestia used this method when two paths weighed equal in both good and bad repercussions. Whichever wing was left in the air represented her final word. This simple act was deemed so powerful by equestrian law, not even she had the authority to go back on it. So there she stood. Two shadows ran the stretch of the room but then only one remained. “Rise, Steven of Earth.” Celestia and Steven sat in the lush garden overlooking the land out towards Ponyville. The statues stood lurking in the distance. The pair were shaded under a great oak tree. Fortunately the sky was still enough for tea. It had only been a few hours, yet she had learned so much about him. His favorite color, what books he liked to read, though there was one thing she hadn’t talked about. “What of your parents?” She asked while pouring them both a cup of Rosewood. “They must be pleased their son got a job.... with a princess, no less.” “My parents and I don't talk much.” Freezing just short of the handle. He asked her if he could show her something. Her eyes narrowed a touch but her curiosity allowed it. Steven concentrated on the liquid in the cup. Bit by bit its contents begin to spiral upwards before bursting into shots of multi-colored light. “My, my, that was quite impressive.” taking the lead to pour him another. Some silence passed before she turned to face him again. The drumming of his finger made her think something was off. “My parents are Christian.” Taking a sip of his tea. He let the cup hang in the air before letting it rest on the bone-white table. A gentle wind sent a chill up his body. If it were not so painfully ironic maybe he would have laughed. “Magic is one of those things I like to do. Everything about is is so wonderful, so fascinating; but my parents...” He should feel like he's on top of the world, yet Steven had never felt so small. It was at Christmas. They had got back from work to find him levitating objects around the room. His mother would have none of it. After a floury of smacks, she beat fear into him like a iron drum. Never do that in my holy place: MAGIC IS THE WORK OF THE DEVIL! Years passed before he tried it once more. He'd been drowned, baptized, and wiped so many times all she could do was chase him out the front door. Luckily, Equestrian hospitality set him up for a good life. At first he went from town to town, then one day he walked passed a sign hanging in a computer shop. Help wanted At the time all he knew about them was that they turned on, but the shops owner was both kind and patient. Crazy; but still the best education he could. However; time gave him the ability to reflect on where he wanted to be in the future. On a limb, he went though Canterlot U, majored in magi theory, even managed to summon his fare share of creatures. But his mind centered on computers. He just clicked with them. Every morning he thought about was how many updates he needed to install. As he showed, he drew folder structures on the condensation. The staff eventually picked up on his ability, they even hired him on occasion to do some work on their computers. TO them it was only natural they get him a entrance form for this competition. His teacher, Miss Eve, notice he was hesitant. So she talked to him about why he was so nervous. Ive put so much effort into this year, Steve said as he chewed over his education To leave it all behind me...what would you do? She had to admit that this was not a question she expected him to ask, but somehow Mis.Eve already knew the answer. Follow your heart Looking back at Celestia made him think over the whole event. all of this time had passed him by, and here he was, drinking tea with the Princess of all pony's. Any normal person would feel like they were thousands of miles off the face of the planet. Steve felt this, but 10 fold. Not because of his position, or of whom he served, or of how much he would get payed. No; he felt the way he did because for him, something he wanted ever since he laid eyes on her was that little bit closer. “Is there something wrong?” Some time had pass while she stared at him from behind her cup, while he stared at the rising moon in the far corners of the horizon. He looked like something was about to leave his mouth but instead, he went back to just sipping his tea. Feeling deflated, she continued her own. “Steven, what would you say if you were not just hired for your skill?” “What do you mean?” “While these 'computers' gave my Luna entertainment, It has also made her somewhat of a recluse. She hardly leaves her room. The only news I've heard from her is how many hats she has in that 'Team Fortress' thing of hers.” She replied, while placing her cup on the table. For a while she looked into his eyes. Could this human really help? “Is it so bad to want my sister back?” [Chapter one end] Continued in Chapter 2 – An offering of peace Credit to : Nimble Wing : Editor/Ideas guru Red Bomber : Editor/Ideas guru Runbow Dash : Edited final draft Blegaleg / Raharu Haruha : Just being there to help out, whether it was with ideas or connections to new people