Chapter 1: Knights in need
Germany, 2018
Jens Meier was once a man with a good looking future, being husband of a beautiful wife and father of a son.
But fate had other plans for him.
During a protest of neo-Nazis during the summer of 2017, he and his family were making through the town, enjoying the warm weather, as the protest escalated into a street battle.
One protester threw an improvised explosive device towards the police forces, unfortunately landing near the family before anyone could react.
Jens had survived with much luck, his wife and son had died in the hospital.
This caused him to be deeply depressed but he had found a way to help himself.
My little pony: Friendship is magic, a TV show for young girls, having been on the TV since 2010, also gaining a lot of male adult fans, who called themselves bronies. He was a Brony since 2010, his son and wife included.
The show not only made him feel better, but also made him determined to prevent that others would have the same or a familiar fate, joining the Harmonious Guard.
It was a German PMC founded in the late 1980s, using German WW2 equipment that was updated to today’s standards. But that wasn’t the reason he had joined, the PMC was known for having many bronies in its ranks, earning the nickname “Brony Army”, allowing many to share their hobby with each other.
Right now, Jens was on leave at home, looking through a photo album, as sometimes, the depression got the better of him.
The young man let out a sigh. “Maybe a walk will help feel me better.” He spoke to himself as it was a nice warm spring day.
He lived in Volkach, a small town in Bavaria, also being the home of the founder and leader of the Harmonious Guard.
During his walk it started to rain, not that it bothered Jens, he liked rain, it was somehow relaxing to him.
Little did he knew that today, his life would change.
As he made his way back, he heard a faint confused voice coming out of an alley.
“Okay...two things. One; What happened? Two, very important; WHAT THE BUCK HAPPENED?!” It sounded like a young boy.
It reminded Meier of his son and he couldn’t live with himself letting a child freeze in the rain. “Hello?” He called out but got no reply.
Slowly walking into the alley, he took notice of three silhouettes, looking strangely like foals, lying against the wall.
One of them jumped up upon noticing him. “Stay back! I don’t want to hurt you!” The voice sounded female, followed by a growl.
The man held his hands up. “Calm down, I intend no harm. I just want to help.”
The girl slowly stopped to growl and looked at the other two silhouettes.
“I can’t say we trust you, sir, but I can tell you are honest.” The boy he had heard before said in a neutral voice and stood up, coming slowly out with the others.
The German couldn’t believe his eyes as the silhouettes became fully visible.
They were indeed three foals.
The first was a grey bat pony colt with pure white eyes, the second a Pegasus filly with fiery navy-blue coat with matching eyes and flowing silver mane and the third was a unicorn colt with green coat, a blonde mane and completely light blue eyes, having no pupils and fluctuating like water.
The Brony tried to make sense, realizing that was impossible and would be every brony’s dream, blinking but the foals didn’t vanish.
So, sir, where do you live?” The unicorn asked, tearing him out.
“Not far from here.”
They followed him silently and he was glad that the streets were deserted at the time, allowing him to get home without anyone noticing the foals.
Upon arriving at home, Jens saw that the foals were trembling a bit, probably being cold from the weather, so he got a towel out of the bathroom.
The two colts said nothing but had an expression that said “Thanks” as he dried them.
The filly looked at the towel with a displeased look. “Careful, please.” She said to him.
“Of course.” He replied as he dried her two, being careful of her wings, knowing how sensitive they could be.
“How rude, my name is Jens Meier but Jens is just fine.” He introduced himself.
“Pleasure. My name is Midnight Blade and those are my friends White Wolf and Fletcher Fray.” The bat pony pointed to the Pegasus and unicorn.
Jens smiled. “Nice names. Do you fancy a hot chocolate to warm yourselves up?”
Midnight gave a barely noticeable smile. “I wouldn’t mind that.”
“Me neither,” Fray replied.
“Count me in,” Wolf added.
“Alright then.” With that as answer, Maier made three hot chocolates for his young guests, which they enjoyed with happy expressions.
“That was good.” Fray said after he had finished.
“Glad to hear it. How did you end up in that alley?” Maier asked, despite it was obvious but better safe than sorry.
“Well…Uh…Princess Luna was experimenting with a new portal spell with us and two friends but something went wrong, as far as I can remember. And turned us physically into foals for some reason.” Midnight explained, his ears lowered in embarrassment.
It took Meier a few seconds to fully understand it. “I see. I take Luna is your ruler?”
“Yes…how did you know?” Wolf asked suspiciously.
“Educated guess, a princess is mostly the rule a kingdom, am I correct?” Maier countered calm, having already suspected such a reaction.
“I…guess that’s a fair point. There are actually two rulers. Princess Luna, being in control of the moon and her older sister Celestia, being in control of the sun in Equestria. As you can see with my friends, there are unicorns and Pegasus ponies. And also Earth ponies.” Midnight explained.
“Fascinating,” Jens replied, although it really wasn’t for him. “You said you were turned into foals, so I take you are adults?”
“Yes. To be precise, we are the specialists of Princess Luna’s bodyguards, the Eternal Knights.” The bat pony replied.
“And what are you?” The filly asked Maier.
“Well, have you heard of humans?” The man asked.
“They are only a myth in Equestria,” Wolf replied before realizing something. “Wait, are we…”
“On earth? Yes.” And with that, the young man told the Eternal Knights where they were exactly and what year it was, earning neutral expressions as reaction.
They stayed silent for a moment before Fletcher broke it.
“Well, I never thought I would be in Earth again so quickly, neither to see this town again.” He mumbled surprised.
Jens blinked in awe. “Did I hear that right?”
Midnight cleared his throat. “I know it would be interesting but can this wait for another time? We should figure out how this happened.”
“If you see that as top priority, I won’t stop you. If you need something, I’m in the basement.”
“Okay.” the three foals replied as he walked down the stairs towards the washroom, to make the laundry and to check if he still enough beverages, leaving the living room to his guests.
The man almost lost track of time whenever he was in the washroom, only noticing it was getting late as it was getting dark outside but was finished with his work.
Should check how the kids are. Although, can they be called kids as they technically still adults? Meier wondered although he decided to think about it later.
Upon entering it, he saw the group was Brainwriting, having several notes in the ground, together with some food, eliminating the need for dinner.
Jens cleared his throat, the Knights turned to him slowly, almost expectantly. “It’s getting late.”
“We're aware” Fray replied in a neutral tone.
“We've work to do,” Wolf added.
“...won't you get tired?” The young German asked in return, knowing that everyone needs to rest regularly.
The trio gave him an unimpressed look. “I wouldn't think so.” The grey colt replied.
“Okay,” Jens said in an unimpressed voice and left the room, having to chuckle.
His son was just like that, saying he wouldn’t get tired, only to fall asleep shortly afterward.
Having done his work, Jens ate bread to dinner and watched the news in the kitchen, which took a quarter of an hour, then looked after the trio again.
His heart melted at the sight.
The foals had been fallen asleep on the floor.
He had to chuckle at this, as suddenly, Wolf snapped awake holding a knife and looking about wildly, sniffing the air. Meier watched still and silently as the Pegasus settled down and fell asleep again.
Did she took one of the kitchen knives or had she already those with her? He wondered as he gently carried them to the guest bed, tucking them in.
“Goodnight.” He whispered as the foals were sleeping peacefully, going to his own bed.
Before Meier fell asleep, he had one last thought.
I hope Luna finds them soon.