Chapter 30: Andrew's Past
*POOF!
Wirh a flash of golden and dark blue magic, The group consisting of the Royal Sisters, Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Spike, and Andrew all suddenly appeared in the throne room of the Canterlot Castle. Andrew kept his eyes tightly shut, not knowing if he’s safe.
"Is.. he gone?" Andrew asked as he opened one eye slowly, now seeing the unfamiliar castle. "Huh?! How did we-"
"It was a teleportation spell, young human." Luna said.
"Teleportation?" Andrew replied, "Didn't know that was possible..."
Andrew then took around the castle and softly whistled, "Nice place you got here..."
Before Luna could respond, Twilight suddenly interrupted doing her usual panic attacks.
"I..I don't understand!" Twilight said, "How could've that... demon that looked like Andrew free Discord? And how could he have alicorn-like magic?!"
Princess Celestia only closed her eyes. Despite the claims of her and her sister knowing Dark, nothing came up. As if it was some burning memory.
"It is clear that this new threat Discord brought to us is unknown," She began, "But if this Dark claims to have a grudge against me and Luna for something, then we could all be in trouble..."
"Aww... Don't say that Princess C!" Pinkie said, "We've defeated those mean old baddies in the past! I'm sure that doppelganger won't stand a chance!"
Andrew couldn’t help but chuckle to himself seeing Pinkie's optimism. Before Celestia suddenly walked up to him.
"Andrew..." Celestia said, "Come with me, there's something I wish to show you."
Andrew agreed as he walked with her. But a part of him felt nervous going with her due to how Alex described her. She was way taller than him in comparison, even despite Andrew being 6 feet tall. And knowing that she was all powerful, Andrew knew not to push the wrong buttons.
The white alicorn led Andrew into the archives. Andrew gazed in awe at the sight of everything around him. Celestia then brought Andrew to a mirror. Andrew scratched his head.
"A mirror?" Andrew said, "Hate to disappoint, but I've seen mirrors before..."
"But this is no ordinary mirror, young Andrew." Celestia said, "This mirror is the exact reason you and Alex were brought here."
Celestia the went on to explain everything, "The mirror that brought you here was incomplete and did not allow travel in its current state. Her actions could’ve easily placed you and Alex in terrible danger had it not been through sheer luck.”
"Woah..."
Celestia then stood up. “Yet for her foolish actions, it may have been a blessing in disguise. After you broke through and escaped Canterlot, I studied the mirror in hopes of finding a way to salvage it. What I discovered was an anomaly.”
"An anomaly?" Andrew asked.
An anomaly that somehow still connects our world with yours. The essence of the mirror’s magic is invisible, but it it’s there and it’s faint. Once Luna pulled you and Alex through to our world, it magically attached itself on to Alex like a tether and kept the gateway open.”
“You mean…”
“Yes Andrew. The way back is still open.” she smiled.
Andrew listened to every word. It seemed almost too good to be true to him
“But, like all tethers, it can be easily severed. I’ve sensed the connection getting weaker. He's spent a long time in our world and it won’t be long before the gateway eventually collapses.”
“If you nor Alex are returned through the mirror soon, the gateway will cut the tether and leave you trapped here indefinitely.”
Andrew's eyes widened as he fell to his knees. "I....I can't believe this...."
Celestia then wrapped her wing around him to comfort him. "I understand it's a lot to take in..."
Andrew just stared at the mirror, only seeing his reflection doing everything he did. "It's just... I'm happy that I could possibly return home... it's just..."
"Yes?" Celestia asked, her smile slowly fading.
"I... i don't have a family there..." Andrew said as tears started to flow down his face. "I was born differently than the average human...."
"If you wish to tell me, I am here for you." Celestia said, sitting down with her wing still wrapped around Andrew.
"I... was a test subject...." Andrew began, "Somewhere on Earth. A scientist was doing an impossible test nobody ever tried. To create human life without the need of.... well... you know..."
Celestia blushed at the thought of it before giggling. Andrew continued on,
"I was his first creation. But I wasn't anything like he expected, I had an odd appearance. I almost looked like some rejected cartoon character. But to my surprise, he didn't consider me a failure. But as a success! He had shown me around the world. I was considered a miracle despite my odd looks."
"That must’ve felt amazing for you." Celestia said, "You were the talk of the town."
"Yeah... I was glad to see that the world was happy to see me not as a monster." Andrew said before he frowned. "But, it never felt.... happy...."
A long moment of silence occurred for a moment before Andrew continued. "I didn't like the attention. I was hoping to live a peaceful life. I thought things would be fine... until THEY showed up..."
"Who's they?" Celestia asked.
"The FBI..." Andrew said, "They thought I was some sort of alien. I was absolutely terrified. I had so many thoughts over what they could do to me... But the scientist wanted me to fulfill my dreams of living a peaceful life. When the FBI were pounding at the door, he rushed me over to a device. He told me that he would teleport me somewhere far from where we lived. I didn’t want him to leave me.... but he told me his final words..."
"Remember, Andrew..." The scientist said, "Always be Honest, Generous, Kind, Loyal, Brave, and most of all... be yourself..."
"I....I promise...."
Just as the scientist pushed the button. An FBI solider suddenly charged up to him and pointed his gun at him.
"FREEZE!" He shouted.
"It's too late." The scientist said, "You won't take him away! Not without getting through me!"
"Move now, or else we'll have no choice!" The FBI solider said.
The scientist stood his ground and looked at the solider dead in the eye. "No."
*BANG!*
"NO!" Andrew screamed from the glass tube he was encased in. The scientist suddenly fell to the ground, clutching his chest. Andrew's eyes were filled with tears as the teleporter suddenly sent him far in a city he was familiar with. Andrew looked around the place. Andrew was still heartbroken as the camera zoomed on his face as he sobbed.
The scene slowly faded back to Andrew who had the same expression from before. "I never saw him again...."
Celestia felt nothing but genuine sorrow and sympathy for the young child she was with. Andrew was considered a monster by the agency and it caused him to lose the only person he felt connected with.
"And when everyone in this world started to chase me and Alex, I was emotionally scarred... I just didn't want to look weak..."
"I'm so sorry for your loss, Andrew...." Celestia cooed, "I really am.... You didn't deserve to suffer... But there is a huge difference to being weak and feeling sad emotions... and I really am sorry for putting both you and Alex through all this..."
Andrew then bursted into tears as he cried into Celestia’s chest. Letting her coat absorb his tears. For what felt like hours. Andrew letball his tears out as Celestia comforted him.
"S...sory for getting your fur wet, your highness..." Andrew sniffed.
"Don't worry about me..." Celestia reassured. "Lachlan always cried into me whenever he was sad."
Andrew then slowly smiled with tears still in his eyes. "Th...thank you...."
Celestia just smiled back, "no need for thanks, young Andrew. Now, if you want some alone time, I can grant you it."
"Y..yeah... that'd be nice..."
"Very well.... you can return with us when you feel like doing so..." With that, Celestia walked out of the archives, leaving Andrew alone in his thoughts.
"Sister, is Andrew alright?" Luna asked. "You were in there with him for quite some time. But he wants time to himself."
"I see... but while you were gone, everyone else had shown up." Luna pointed at the group, with now Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Applejack, Lachlan Dingo, and Alex were all in the castle too, having small reunions with each other.
"Oh I was so worried you all wouldn't make it!' Twilight said, hugging her friends.
"Are you kidding?" Rainbow Dash replied, "We die hard."
"Ah'll tell ya one thing," Applejack said, "That varmint was quite the fighter. Ah'm just glad that Lachlan was able to save me from him."
"They told me everything that just happened!" Fluttershy said, "Oh, all those poor ponies that demon terrorized..."
"Hey, don’t worry Fluttershy." Lachlan said, "We've faced many villains before, I'm sure that creep won't be any different!"
Meanwhile, Alex was standing in the corner, knowing time was running short for him and Andrew to return home. But Luna was assuring him that they will be fine earlier.
After the reunion, the girls then equipped the Elements of Harmony, knowing that Discord and Dark would soon arrive. But now they were luckily able to keep the Elements before Discord got to them. So now they wouldn't fall for his corruption again.
"Be ready, girls..." Twilight said, "Those two could show up at any minute."
"Look, I know we don't have the best relationship right now..." Alex said. "But I want to do my part... I've outwitted you all before. So I guess I can handle myself..."
"Alright, just don't get hurt..." Lachlan said. Alex then noticed an odd red circle on Lachlan’s forehead.
"Uhm... You've got a little something on your..." The red circles suddenly formed into many small circles. Alex knew exactly what was going on. "Oh no...."
"OH YES!"
Discord then suddenly appeared on his throne again at the end of the hallway as he smirked, "Ah, my old friends! So good to see you're all together. Especially you, Lachlan."
Lachlan got chills sent down his spine hearing that. But to make matters worse, Dark suddenly jumped up from behind Discord's throne and landed on the ground.
"But we'll take it from here." Dark Andrew stared coldly at everyone.
Andrew just stared at the mirror that was in front of him, still seeing his reflection. He was beginning to feel hopeless....
A demon doppelganger was on the loose, a lord of chaos was released from his prison, Alex and Lachlan were in danger, and now he reminded himself about everything that had happened to him....
But Andrew then remembered what the scientist said to him...
"Remember, Andrew...Always be Honest, Generous, Kind, Loyal, Brave, and most of all... be yourself..."
Andrew's slowly felt the tears return. Remembering his promise to the scientist... "I promise....."
"You may think sending Dark to do your dirty work will help you, Discord." Twilight said as she and her five friends all rose up from the ground with the Elements of Harmony starting to glow. "But you forgot why you lost last time! By the power of friendship!"
Discord yawned. "Oh how cheesy!"
Wilth that the Elements combined their powers and fire a giant rainbow, just like they did when they defeated him the first time. Discord stammered as the rainbow started to race down to him.
Suddenly Dark suddenly lifted his fist up as the rainbow came crashing down. To everyone's shock, he was pulling the rainbow back!
Dark then too a massive swing on the giant rainbow, sending it straight back at the girls. They all screamed as they hit the ground.
"GIRLS!" Lachlan, Spike, and Alex all yelled in unison as they rushed to their aid.
Princess Celestia was completely at a loss for words. Nopony was able to resist the Elements of Harmony's power. How could he have learned to do something like that?!
"Did you seriously think that would work on me!?" Dark yelled. "I have been studying up on forbidden magic for way too long!"
"Now that was something I didn't see coming!" Discord said as he regained confidence.
"I honestly thought you would at least try to attack me. But now I see everything... you creatures are nothing more than pathetic softies who would rather use magic instead of brawn!"
"Hey! Who you callin' softie?!" Rainbow Dash yelled.
"You... that's for sure..." Dark then shot a small beam of energy at Rainbow Dash sending her flying back into everyone.
"Now then.... all of you..... D̴̨̨̡̨̮͍̼̪̗̞͙̹̬͖͕̩̠͍̟̺̣͈͙̟̥̬̙͎̫̓̉̀͊̊͛̇̾̓̆͂Ȉ̷̼̰̬̜̜̰̮͙͉̾̋̔́̅̃̀̋̃̌̒͐̈̏̕͜͠͝E̵̟̬̲̺̬̖̟̘̬̼̰͇͕͍͈̪̬̙̣͊̀̉̽͂́̊̈́̃̍̐̕͝͝
Dark then lept forward at them at full speed, everyone closed their eyes expecting the worse to come. Dark then prepared to punch them all as it suddenly cut to black....
As we fade back to what happened, Dark was shocked to see ANDREW had grabbed onto his fist. But what shocked Dark even more was that Andrew was covered in a red electricity, almost like his purple electricity....
"LEAVE. MY. FRIENDS. ALONE!" Andrew yelled.