Canterlot
It was nighttime when the airship docked, and Twilight informed Revenant that he would probably be meeting Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. His mind was lost in the scenery and absorbing the elegance of the city. He has seen some nice places before in his travels but Canterlot would have to be one of the most prestigious cities he has ever been to.
“This place is amazing, I just don’t see why you left Twilight.” Revenant then saw some of the more elite ponies merely glance at them and cocked their heads high avoiding them. “Oh I think I see why.”
“I really didn’t pay attention to them when I used to live here, it was mainly when I went to Ponyville is when I decided to stay.” Twilight said answering Revenant.
“Well I guess I’ll have to see in order to find out.”
Revenant followed the group up into the castle. He almost wasn’t let in by the guards until Twilight let them know he was with them. Revenant was gawking even more of the interior of the castle. The castle in Animardia is nice but more of a fortress. Canterlot castle is itself a work of art. After a few minutes, they reach the throne room where Princess Celestia and Luna are waiting for them.
“Princess Celestia and Princess Luna,” Twilight says while her friends and Revenant bow out of respect, “We have succeed in bringing back the weather element.”
“That is wonderful news my faithful student, you may all rise.” Princess Celestia gratefully responded.
Twilight and her friends rose while Revenant still kept his head bowed down. Twilight gave the weather element to Princess Celestia who then gave it to Princess Luna.
“Thank you Twilight, we can always count on you and your friends.” Princess Luna said praising Twilight and her friends. Both regal sisters then notice Revenant.
“Is everything okay with your friend there?” Princess Celestia asked Twilight.
“Oh well, we did have some trouble in getting the weather element and he may be still in pain.”
“Pain, from what?” Princess Celestia continued to ask.
“We were ambushed by a group known as the Diamond Dogs. They tried to steal the weather element from us and kidnap me but were stopped thanks to him.” The regal sisters raised an eyebrow of interest of what Twilight just said.
“Tell me my sister, do you happen to know of these ‘Diamond Dogs’ that have troubled my faithful student?” Princess Celestia asked her sister.
“I have heard of them. A band of jewel thieves that sometime uses kidnapping as a means of reaching their goals. I will look into this matter and put an end to them.” Princess Luna confidently responded to her sister.
“Thank you,” she then turned to Revenant, who still had his head bowed down. “So may I know the name of the savior of Twilight and her friends?”
“Yes your royal highness. I am Revenant Soul, a wanderer. Please, I ask for forgiveness of my poor title due to being displaced of my homeland.” Revenant calmly responded. The girls were curious with the sudden change in Revenant.
“Aye vay, Revenant there is no need for that anymore, so look up.” Levia said and then shot an ice bolt at one of Revenant’s wounds. He did not move from the ice bolt despite the pain he felt from it. The regal sisters caught on what was going on and knew how to rectify the problem.
“You are forgiven Revenant Soul and you may gaze upon us with thine eyes.” Princess Celestia said with more authority in her tone.
He then raised his head and allowed himself to gaze upon them. He then showed a strong posture, similar to the guards, but with more pride and discipline. Levia let out a sigh of grief that Revenant still acted in some of his old ways despite the fact they left that life behind.
“You can relax now Revenant Soul,” Princess Celestia calmly said.
“As you wish regal madam.” Both the sisters then stared in confusion.
“A bit more relaxed Revenant,” Princess Luna said using his first name only to show a friendly atmosphere.
“Yes….milady” Revenant nearly choked just saying that.
“Uh Revenant, you don’t have to talk to them like that.” Twilight informed Revenant.
“And try relaxing your posture some bit. You aren’t a guard here so ya don’t have to think like one.” Applejack advised Revenant. RainbowDash was holding some laughs back at Revenant of how he was acting.
“I’m impressed that there are others who still honor the old ways, tell us where are you from.” Princess Luna asked.
“I hail from Animardia. It is an old land that has stood strong for the longest of time that still takes great pride and honor of the old ways. We have advanced since then but still have traditions to uphold.”
“Commendable.” Princess Luna said impressively.
“You said that you were a wanderer. Why is that you have left your homeland?” Princess Celestia asked.
“I left because…I…I had to. I had lost everything that mattered to me and now………” Revenant then took a deep breath to reconcile his words. “And now I wander to find a new start, a new life, a new beginning. That is why I’ve left my homeland.”
“I see my deepest condolences.” The regal sisters stepped off for a moment to have a private discussion. They shortly arrived with their decision of the matter at hand.
“Revenant Soul, as gratitude for aiding in the recovery of one of the weather elements and for protecting Twilight Sparkle and her friends, we hereby grant you residency in Ponyville for you to begin the new life you seek.” Revenant was speechless at what he heard from Princess Celestia. The rest of the girls cheered for the great news. Levia went right in front of Revenant trying to bring him back.
“Hello anypony in there? C’mon Revenant show some emotion, we now have a home.”
Home. Those words resonated within Revenant’s mind.
“I said show some emotion!” and then Levia collided into his forehead with her ice magic. That definitely broke his silence.
“ARGH! LEVIA WHY!” Revenant yelled at her. He then looked at everypony staring at him and changed his tone, “I mean…thank you Princess for this great blessing. I do not know how I can repay you.” He said while bowing down out of gratitude
“Well you showed great help in finding the weather element, so what you can do is help find the others when we need to.” Princess Celestia said answering Revenant. She then walked over and lifted up his head so she could see him face to face, “Also it’s the least I can do for you saving my faithful student, so thank you Revenant.”
Princess Celestia then handed Revenant a charter that he would have to show the mayor of Ponyville that would entitle him to a house.
“All of you must be exhausted so allow me to take you all home. I’ll be right back sis.” Princess Celestia said turning to Princess Luna. She only nodded as a response.
Twilight's House
Princess Celestia then used her magic to teleport all of them into the library in Ponyville. Levia was amazed now to be in Twilight’s house instead of just being outside. Revenant was observing his new surroundings and building a better understanding of this place. He figured from the design, the town must be a small one where everypony knows everypony. He smiled, just the way he liked it.
“I’ll leave it to you from here. I’m sure Twilight and her friends will welcome you properly to Ponyville,” Princess Celestia said to Revenant. Pinkie Pie was drawing a big smile of how she was going to welcome their new friend to town.
“Also before I leave Revenant there is one more thing I need to ask of you.”
“Anything Princess,”
“You see, I have Twilight here to learn of the magic of friendship. When her or her friends learn something about it, I have them send me a letter of what they’ve learned. Could you do that for me?”
“It would be my honor.” Revenant responded with one last bow.
“Thank you, well girls I’m off. Do take care of your new friend here.” With that Princess Celestia was gone.
The girls were getting ready to head back to their homes when Pinkie Pie blocked the door.
“Wait girls we can’t leave until we welcome Revenant and Levia to Ponyville.”
“Pinkie, no pony is going to have a party at this hour. Everypony is probably asleep.” RainbowDash objected her pink friend’s proposal.
“Well of course Dashie. Which is why I figured us six could have a little get together.”
“Pinkie Pie I think all of us are pretty tired. I’m gonna go home” RainbowDash said trying to move Pinkie Pie aside. Pinkie Pie had a look of defeat that she couldn’t do any kind of welcoming for Revenant and Levia.
“Pinkie Pie, if you really want to…” Revenant began to say. The pink mare’s face was glowing with anticipation. “You…could do what you need to do.”
“Oh thank you Revenant!” She said quickly hugging him. He grimaced from pain all over his body. “Don’t worry you two won’t regret this. I’ll be right back.” Then she went off to the next room.
“I’ll go get some rags for you Twilight.” Rarity said trotting off into Twilight’s kitchen.
“Rags for what?” Twilight asked. Then Pinkie Pie came back with a small pink wagon. “Pinkie, where did that come from?”
“Oh Twilight, you should know by now that I have stuff like this hidden throughout all of Ponyville.” Twilight didn’t really appreciate the fact that there could be other things that Pinkie Pie stashed in her house.
“More importantly, what is that?” Levia asked.
“It’s my wagon that I use to welcome folks to Ponyville.”
“Really, how come I never saw it when I first got to Ponyville?” Twilight asked in a more serious tone.
“I don’t know guess I just didn’t think of it at the time.” Twilight wasn’t really satisfied with her pink friends answer.
“Well then let’s get this welcome to Ponyville kicked off then.” Levia said.
Pinkie Pie smiled and pushed a button on the side that opened up the wagon to reveal banners, balloons, a couple of confetti cannons, an oven, and a bunch of baked goods. A nice little tune began to play and Pinkie Pie began to sing.
“Welcome, welcome, welcome a fine welcome to you. Welcome, welcome, welcome I say how do you do. Welcome, welcome, welcome, I say hip-hip hooray. Welcome, welcome, welcome, to Ponyville todaaaaay.”
Then the oven burst open and shot confetti at Revenant and Levia. Both were confused why that happened with the oven but then the confetti cannons shot cake batter all over Revenant and Levia.
“Oops. I put the confetti in the oven and the cake batter in the confetti cannons, again.” Pinkie Pie giggled.
“Pinkie! If you knew this was going to happen, then why did you do it inside?” Twilight scolded Pinkie Pie. Reluctantly Rarity arrived with rags to help with the clean-up.
“Ah no need for that, allow me.” Levia assured the girls. She then used her magic to freeze the cake batter on Revenant and herself, and then shattered it frozen cake chunks.
“Oh ice cream cake. Good one Levi,” said Pinkie Pie while eating some of the frozen cake chunks. “Delicious. Try some Revie”
“Pinkie Pie I don’t think…” but it was too late. Pinkie Pie already shoved a couple of chunks in Revenants mouth. He chewed for a moment before swallowing the frozen chunks with delight. “On second thought, these are pretty good.”
“I’ll say you’re a pretty good baker Pinkie,” Levia said after eating some of the chunks. “You know Revenant; with our new home you should find yourself a mare who could cook this good.”
“LEVIA!” Revenant yelled at Levia.
“What? I figured now that we’re settling down, you should find yourself a mare that you can be happy with.”
“What are you my mother?”
“Levia couldn’t be your mother Revie, she’s too small. Also she’s young and has wings.” Pinkie Pie added. Revenant could only bury his face in his hooves.
“Sometimes I have to be Pinkie Pie. Especially now in this town and being around you pretty mares. I have to keep an eye on him and with spring here I wouldn’t be surprised if he tried to…”
“Leeeviiiiaaaaa” Revenant slowly said.
“Yes my little embarrassed pony?” Levia teased at Revenant.
“BE QUIET!” Revenant yelled while bucking Levia. She zipped into the next room and a loud crash was heard.
“Don’t worry…nothing broke. I’m fine…my head just hit the wall, that’s all.” Levia groaned from the next room.
An awkward silence befell the room of how Levia and Revenant communicated with each other. They couldn’t tell if they were best friends or near enemies. Applejack decided to break the silence.
“Well I don’t know ‘bout ya’ll but I’m tired.” Applejack yawned, “I think I’m gonna hit the hay now”
“Me too, see you girls tomorrow.” Rarity said. All the girls followed Rarity out leaving their new friends with Twilight.
“Well guess it’s just us now.” Twilight said.
“So it is. I guess I won’t cause any more trouble with you and go myself.”
“Go? Where are you going to go?”
“Probably find myself a local inn and stay there until I can find a house.” Revenant calmly responded.
“Oh well…you could stay here. That is until you find yourself a place to live in.”
“You don’t have to do that. Besides I don’t want to give you any trouble.”
“It’s no trouble at all. It’s the least I can do for my hero.” Revenant didn’t really take kindly to that. His expression went somber and looked away from Twilight. “What’s wrong? Is it something I said?”
“No no, it’s just….I am not a hero,” Revenant nonchalantly answered.
“What do you mean? You saved me from being kidnapped and didn’t let the Diamond Dogs get away with the weather element, how are you not a hero?” Twilight continued to ask.
“A hero would’ve never put you and your friends in danger to begin with, let alone be in that kind of situation.”
“I don’t know about you, but a pony that still helps another pony and her friends out of something like that and puts himself in harm’s way to ensure others safety,” Twilight said walking up to Revenant, “I think it’s very noble of them and if no pony thinks so, they’re at least a hero in my eyes.”
Revenant’s face burned up and quickly turned away from Twilight. She then noticed his tail flicking in a weird fashion.
“Are you alright, cause your tails seems to be going crazy?” Twilight asked.
“I’m fine, I just may be still hurt from earlier that’s all,” Revenant poorly defending himself. She walked over to him and saw his face bright red.
“Are you sure cause your face is all red,” She then put her hoof up to his forehead, “And you seem to be heating up fast. You aren’t getting sick are you?”
“I’ll be fine. I just need a night’s rest that’s all.”
“Or maybe you need to cool off,” Levia floated on in. “Allow me to help.”
She then stood on his forehead and spread ice out on her hooves. She made sure they were cleated and trotted all over his forehead. Then she started to dance around and do a couple ballerina spins. To wrap up her little performance she did a couple flips and stuck a pose standing on one hoof.
“Feeling better?” Levia asked with a tiny wicked grin.
“Yes Levia. I’m all better thanks to you.” Revenant muttered through his teeth.
“That looked like it hurt,” Twilight added.
“Not at all,” Revenant said shaking Levia off his head. “So why don’t you show me where I’ll be sleeping and we can all go to sleep.”
“Sure right this way.”
She led them upstairs into her room and pointed out to the spare bed where Revenant and Levia will be sleeping. Revenant almost walked into a heavy sleeping Spike, who Twilight had to point out before walking into the room. Revenant saw that there were books up here too and chuckled at the thought there was probably a book in every room.
“I’m pretty sure this is more comfy than the cold cave floors.” Twilight said to Revenant.
“I don’t know. The cold cave floors do great wonders for your winter coat.” Revenant responded as he crawled into the spare bed.
“*yawn* I’m pretty tired myself, see you in the morning. Goodnight Revenant, night Levia.”
“Goodnight Twilight, sweet dreams.” Revenant said.
Twilight then used her magic to turn out all the lights in the house and went to sleep. Revenant laid there reflecting on his thoughts before going to sleep. He was wondering if this was just a nice dream and was going to wake up somewhere lost in the woods, or wake up in a sunlit room with Twilight. How was adjusting to Ponyville going to be like. Was it going to be smooth or complicated? All these ran through his mind but most….
*psst*…most importantly…..
*psst* Revenant then turned to Levia to see what the noise was about. She was pouting at Revenant, waiting for his response.
“What is it Levia, I’m trying to sleep?” Revenant thought to her.
“How come you wished Twilight sweet dreams and not me?”
“Because she is kindly offering us a place to stay in until we find ourselves a house.”
“Riiiight I saw your face light up and your tail a flicking earlier.”
“Oh shut up and go to sleep.”
“Don’t deny it Revenant. You know I’m only stating the obvious.”
“I have no idea what you’re thinking about.”
“You know what I’m thinking about.”
“…”
“Okay Rev, don’t go ignoring me now.”
“…”
“Revenant you can admit the truth, it’s only me.”
“We are sorry. The pony you are trying to connect to is currently off in dreamland, please leave your name and number and he will get back to you at the earliest convenience.”
“Yeah cause we all know Revenant dreams.” She realized what she thought to him. “I’m sorry Rev. I didn’t mean it like that.”
“It’s alright. I’m sure I can finally dream now.” Revenant calmly responded.
“Oh…okay then, night Rev.” Levia though to him before dozing off.
“Yeah, maybe I finally can.” Revenant thought to himself. He took one last look outside the window before going to sleep and allowed his mind to wander.
Canterlot Castle
Princess Luna was in the chamber of the Elements of Harmony putting away the weather element. She sealed the door and turned around to see her sister entering the room.
“I thought I might find you here.” Princess Celestia called out to Princess Luna.
“Good evening sister. Are you having trouble sleeping tonight?” Princess Luna asked.
“No I’m fine, thank you for your concern.”
“So why is it that you have come to see me?”
“After the conversation we had with Revenant Soul, you seemed suspicious of him. Mind telling my why?” Princess Celestia raised an eyebrow to her sister.
“It’s the way he answered. When you first asked him why he left, it looked as though he didn’t want to talk about it. When he did, it sounded like he chose his words carefully in order to mislead us from his original intentions.”
“And here I thought it was because he didn’t have a cutie mark.” Princess Celestia calmly joked.
“Well that too.”
“I understand your concern, but you must know that whatever his reason is, it is his alone. When the time comes, we will all know the truth.” Princess Celestia answered her sister.
“Still, I’ve examined the weather element and found traces of dangerous magic that seems similar to Revenant Soul’s magic.” Princess Luna continued.
“Is that so? And when did you get that information?” Princess Celestia sternly asked her sister.
“Well I…did a quick examination on him while he was talking to us.” Princess Luna sheepishly replied. Princess Celestia shook her head at the answer.
“Please know this, he’s in good company. Just because he may be…questionable, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t trust him. Remember when you showed up for Nightmare Night and everypony didn’t trust you.”
“Except for Twilight Sparkle. She didn’t give up on me no matter how bad things got.”
“Precisely, and now Ponyville eagerly waits for your return for this year’s Nightmare Night; all because of her. Do you understand where I’m getting at?”
Princess Luna sighed with defeat, smiled, and answered her sister.
“I do. We need to give him time. He’s in a new land with a new society to adjust to. He does seem to be a good stallion and he’ll come around. If not then Twilight Sparkle will definitely bring him around. I still have much to learn.”
Princess Celestia smiled that her sister understood and walked over and hugged her.
“Indeed, her kind spirit will pull him out from his troubled past and we all do. I’m learning from her and her friends of all the things they’ve done and couldn’t be happier. We just need to be there for those close to us, because what they have to say could be important even though it may sound like it isn’t.”
“That sounds like something that Twilight Sparkle sent to you in a letter.” Princess Luna giggled.
“Like I said, we are all learning. Good night sister, I’m off to bed.”
“Goodnight sister, I shall guard the night.”
Princess Celestia flew off to her room and Princess Luna went off to the throne room. Upon entering, she asked the guards to exit for a minute. They were uncomfortable to leave their princess alone, but obeyed the request given to them. After making sure the room was clear, she used her magic to signal a certain pony. Out of the darkness, a night sky alicorn with a faded purple mane appeared. Smaller than the regal sister but could still stand over anypony the size of Big Macintosh. His features were undetectable due a shroud of darkness surrounding him.
“What is it that I can aid you with milady?” he asked.
“Thank you Nightingale for your response. How goes the investigation of the Diamond Dogs?”
“Currently underway, the investigation team found interesting traces of foreign magic in the caverns where the weather element was located, but needs to be further analyzed.” Nightingale responded.
“And of the Diamond Dogs location?”
“There are multiple locations that have been hypothesized that need further investigating.”
“I see. Nightingale I have a special assignment specifically for you.”
“For me? Now what is it that troubles you so much that requires my involvement?” Nightingale excitedly asked.
“I need you to look into a ‘Revenant Soul’. He is currently residing in Ponyville and is friends with Twilight Sparkle, so that is your lead. What I want is information regarding where he is from, any reasons why he may have left, what his work of trades were, any relations he may have had, family, and the kind of magic he uses.” Princess Luna ordered.
“Very well milady and before I fulfill your request, you wouldn’t happen to know the name of where he came from?”
“I do, it is called Animardia.” Nightingale’s face lite up with excitement and Princess Luna caught it. “Do you know of this place?”
“Oh I most certainly do.” Nightingale happily answered.
“Then before you go, tell me everything that you know.” Princess Luna ordered. Nightingale gave her his grim smile of approval.
Somepony doesn't trust Revenant. Sorry for not including how Nightingale looks but don't you worry readers, I will have a picture of him. Eventually, in the near future but other than that the next couple chapters will be of Revenant surviving in Ponyville. The adventuring will continue also but for now time for Ponyville antics.