//------------------------------// // Chapter 3: To Talk with a Princess // Story: Life,Death,and Rebirth // by Shadow-Dancer //------------------------------// Chapter 3: To Talk With a Princess Twilight Sparkle’s POV I woke up early to get up and ready to leave for Ponyville to tell spike about the human and also see if the princesses would talk to Marcus and maybe they would know why six pedestals just suddenly appeared, I tried to get up slowly as to not disturb him. The journey to Ponyville was relatively uneventful when I exited the forest Pinkie Pie jumped up and down and a said’ “Whywereyoutheresolongwethoughtyouwerehurt!” It took me a moment to process what Pinkie had said but then I replied, “A meteor crashed and I whet to the ruins to investigate, what I seen amazed me and I even seen a creature that somehow got transported here. It was a male, and its species was human and his name is Marcus." I replied Pinkie replied, “MarcusshouldcomeheresometimesoIcanthrowhimawelcomeparty!” Twilight thought of how sadden Marcus was for awhile when he talked about his death on Earth it was as if he was restraining more emotion than he let on, based on that she said “Yes we should throw Marcus a welcome party sometime that would probably make Marcus feel welcome.” It may help him a bit on coping with his loss Twilight thought. Pinkie Pie was excited as she said, “Yeathatwouldbefunsotellmewhenwearehavingtheparty!” Twilight continued to her home, when she reached it spike opened the door and said, “Why did you take so long Twilight, I was getting worried about you.” “I met a creature called a human, that is apparently a male, and his name is Marcus. The first day I was so tired that I could not do anything so I slept, the next day we talked for hours sharing information. He eventually said I could sleep in the protection of the ruin. (Careful as to not tell Spike I had slept in the same bed as him and prevent things from being awkward). The rest you know.” Later I wrote a letter to the princess. Dear Princess celestia, I found a strange creature and later learned it was a human male named Marcus, he even wanted to say hi to you and Princess Luna. I also found a strange occurrence six pedestals appeared in the room where we freed Princess Luna Please answer when possible. Also I would like to ask why “English” and Equestrian are literally the same if not at least similar languages. Your faithful student Twilight Sparkle Marcus’s POV When I woke up Twilight was not there, she probably went back to her home in a place called ponyville. I thought I went outside and visited all my traps and it seems that I caught a turtle, and two chickens. I killed both than plucked the feathers of the chicken and prepped it for tonight’s meal, than I proceeded to take the shell off the turtle and skin it and prepped it to get it ready to cook. Once it was ready I put the turtle over the fire waiting for it to cook, once that was done I started to eat it. Breakfast/Lunch is severed I thought to myself, and proceeded to eating. Twilight’s POV About the same time Later that day while I was reading up on ancient civilizations seeing if there was any recorded history on a civilization that spoke a language that got renamed Equestrian, so far no luck. Spike walked up to see what I was doing and suddenly with a loud *BEEERP* a scroll came out. I probably will never know how that works I thought, I opened the scroll and it said, Dear Twilight Sparkle, I need you and your friends to pack some stuff and meet me at the Ruins where you found the human I will be there waiting. Also bring the elements of harmony with you Princess Celestia I told spike about the letter and we started packing. I then went and told all my friends to meet me at the library with their elements. When everyone was at the library I said, “The princess wants us to go back to the old castle Ruins where she will meet us there.” “Do we have to go their again?” Fluttershy inquired. “Yes we have to but the road is not as bad as it was during the Nightmare Moon incident. So you don’t need to be scared Fluttershy.” I assured her An hour later and we were on our way. Princess Celestia’s POV As soon as I sent the letter to Twilight I teleported to the castle ruins. These Ruins hold the memories of my conflict with Luna when she became Nightmare Moon. Still today after 1005 years it still bothers me greatly. I understand why Luna refused to come with me I thought. I saw the meteorite that Twilight was talking about it seemed to be cracked in half for the most part with lots of the jagged rock around. When I entered the castle I seen no sign of anything living there but that was until I went to the second floor where I saw the man cooking what looked like a chicken. I understood that Humans needed protein but I still didn't have to like how they got it. Not to mention that I haven’t seen a human in 1005 years. I never let anyone know the full truth of how I banished Nightmare Moon. Yes I did use the elements of harmony but they never would have been much use if the human had not distracted her also the human was the one to find out about my sister’s plot to make eternal night. Even before then humans have helped save Equestria from certain destruction no matter how seemingly small part they played. Humans usually appear when there is a threat to Equestria. I thought I recognized the name but quickly dismissed it. Marcus’s POV I heard the steps of who I would have thought was Twilight if Princess Celestia had of not sent me a letter before her arrival. The chicken was almost fully cooked, I would let Celestia think and talk once the chicken was done cooking. I put it on a large makeshift plate and started to cut some meat off the chicken. But then the princess came from her thoughts and said, hello Marcus how has your day been?” I chuckled “It has been relatively nice but it could be worse.” I answered The Sun Princess smiled, “yea you could be a lot worse off than you are.” I went to my cot and sat down and said, “Is it just me or have you known I was here before today and all Twilight did was confirm it?” “Not much gets past you dose it Marcus?” said the Princess “No I suppose not, but you would not be here if you had no reason seeing as you must tend to a whole country. So if we can get to the point of why you’re here it will simplify things.” I suggested “It would but I need the ponies with the elements of harmony here so I can continue without having to repeat myself.” Princess Celestia said I let out a quiet growl in annoyance and said, “Okay I understand, I just don’t want to wait here all day.” When Twilight and her friends finally arrived they were surprised to see who I was. The unicorn with a white coat and purple mane and tail fainted at my sight, and the Pegasus with the yellow coat and pink mane shivered in fear a little bit. “These are my friends Marcus she pointed to the fainted unicorn and said, “This is Rarity.” Pointed to the shivering Pegasus and said, “Her name is Fluttershy.” Twilight did this with each one of her friends until I was introduced to all of them. That is when the Princess got up and said, “Well since we all now know everypony let’s get to the matter at hand. As you know Marcus here is not a local. What you don’t know is that the fact he is hear means that trouble is brewing in equestria.” The princess spoke with a confident tone despite a bit worry showing up in her voice. I was still surprised that I was here to help protect equestria but how, how can my human body help others in a world where the inhabitants could use magic against me. I did not want to fail this like I did last time but, how can one human save an entire country? The voices finally reappeared in my head and the images of my family and friends murdered haunted me. Twilight asked, “Princess Celestia what about the six pedestals that just appeared around the same time Marcus landed? Why are they there?” As the Princess pondered the question I decided to go to where the pedestals were so I could possibly figure it out myself I went to the one on the far left and seen a symbol, it was a cloud with a rainbow lightning bolt coming from it, the second symbol was three butterflies, the third was Twilight’s after that I looked at each of twilight’s friends cutie marks and it matched a symbol on the pedestal. Then I looked at a circle in the middle and it had the words “Semper Fidelis” inside the circle written in gold letters. I finally decided to call the others here saying, “I think I found something everyone!” They all trotted to me and I shown them the markings on the pedestal and they were shocked when they looked at their own cutie marks than, I shown them the words inside the circle. When the princess seen the words on the ground she asked. “what does this mean?” pointing a hoof to the words inside the circle. I smiled and answered the question, “The word you are looking at is pronounced “Semper Fidelis” It is a slogan used in the marines. The word its self however is not English/Equestrian. It is an older language on Earth called Latin. In English/Equestrian “Semper Fidelis” means “Always Faithful.” “In the Marines we use it to show our loyalty to the U.S and the Marine Corps” I continued. “Celestia if you don’t mind me calling you that. What do you think all this means?” “What I think it means is that you should stand in the circle and the elements should put their elemental item on the pedestals that match their cutie mark,” Said Celestia in a matter of fact tone. I walked to the middle and Twilight, Fluttershy, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Apple Jack, and Pinkie Pie put their physical representations of the elements in the spot where their cutie mark resided. There was a sudden flash than it all went black. There were images of war and death all around me. All my worst memories flashed before me. The dead bodies of my friends and family back on Earth, The faces of the terrorists that I have killed; the times when I watched my fellow Marine die from two fifty cal. bullets going through his armor one in the stomach and another in the right lung. He died a minute later. I knew he was dead as soon as I seen where the bullets went so I tried to make his death less painful by talking to him, I was at the time glad it did not take any more than a minute because I would have never be able to move forward if his death was not quick. Twilight Sparkle’s POV When Marcus collapsed once we set the elements on the pedestals I was the first to go to his aid. I truly don’t know why but we became good friends when we first met yesterday, maybe it is because his devotion and passion to protect those he cared about. And to think that it all started by me saying “Don’t eat me.” I think to myself as I smile. When I look at where Marcus is I don’t see a human I see an Alicorn. The Alicorn was solid black, so dark it made Luna look like a beacon in comparison. The only thing that was not black was the crimson colored words on his flank saying “Semper Fidelis” and his gray eyes, his mane and tail a shimmering black, the shimmer was like how the princesses mane’s and tail’s did the same thing. Two Days Later Celestia visited in her free time also amazed of how Marcus now looks. “What do you think Princess?” I ask She responds by saying, “I didn’t think that he would become an Alicorn, Unicorn perhaps but an Alicorn?” “I really don’t know what will happen or if his body will accept the ability to use magic. Anyway he will have to adopt a new name for his pony form so he can fit in.” Marcus’s POV I woke up in a cold sweat, as I noticed that my body felt different. I looked around and seen the princess and Twilight look at me. “What?” I asked confused after a few seconds Twilight said, Look for yourself.” As she levitated a mirror towards me I looked in to it seeing myself and I was surprised head was like a ponies and so was the rest of my body. I was solid black with a black mane and tail I looked at my right hind leg and seen not to my surprise the words “Semper Fidelis” I figured if I was a pony my cutie mark would signify my loyalty towards those I cared for and my new home of Equestria in one way or another. The princess said, “You know you are now considered royalty do to you being an Alicorn.” I was shocked when Celestia said that because I never intended to become a political figure. “Celestia, I really don’t want to be royalty” “Why?” Celestia said puzzled “One, no offence but I hate politics, and two I’m still a soldier and marine at heart.” I replied “Okay and you know you will have to pick a new name for yourself correct? Also Marcus I take no offence from the statement not everypony wants to be involved in politics, it can be a pain.” Replies Celestia I get up and try to stand, I wobble a bit than get use to it after a minute or two than I try to walk it again feels weird at first I lose my balance sometimes causing Twilight and Celestia to laugh. I shoot them a slightly annoyed glance then they stopped. After awhile I was walking and running effortlessly. “Now all you have to do is learn how to use magic fly and how ponies talk.” said Twilight “Well it’s getting late so I should go back to Canterlot.” Said the Princess “Bye Celestia” I said Twilight looks at me funny and I get the hint “Sorry for not using your title Princess.” I apologize “No need Marcus I consider you a friend, just try to use my title in public please.” The princess replies “Okay I’ll keep that in mind” I say amazed at what I just heard. If I said that to queen Elisabeth I probably would be in a bad situation right now, I think to myself. When the princess leaves I say to Twilight, “Where are your other friends?” “They went home shortly after you got knocked out.” Twilight responds “Why didn't you go with them?” I asked curious Twilight replied by saying, “I don’t really know it’s just felt like I should stay so I did. I can’t explain it much beyond that.” “Twilight do you want to go outside it is pretty nice out.” I ask “Twilight says in turn, “Sure I’ll go outside with you. It is quite nice out.” We exit the ruins and go outside. I notice that she seemed more relaxed at night as opposed to the day. I decided that I would test to see how well I could blend with the shadows so I went to where a shadow was and said, “Twilight do you see me?” She looked towards where my voice came from almost directly at me and said, “Where are you Marcus?” I came out of the shadows and Twilight was surprised that she had not seen me about ten feet in front of her “Wow your black coat, mane and tail makes it hard for anypony to see you from ten feet in complete darkness and probably almost impossible at 25 feet or further.” Twilight said “That may be useful in certain situations defiantly if I decide to help the princesses gather Information at some point.” I said very pleased. “It is a beautiful night don’t you agree?” I ask Twilight replies, “yes Princess Luna dose create beautiful nights. I stand there puzzled than finally gather myself up for this question and say, “Wait you mean to tell me that Princess Luna raises and lowers the moon? Let me guess Celestia Raises and lowers the sun? Twilight responded by saying, “Yes Luna raises and lowers the Moon, While Celestia raises and lowers the Sun.” I laugh, “I am learning more every day.” Thanks for this beautiful night Princess Luna. I say to myself in my head. I am surprised when I hear a response saying, "your welcome Marcus." “Twilight did you just hear Princess Luna?” I asked “No I did not. Why do you ask?” questioned Twilight “I swear I heard her after I said, thanks for the beautiful night Princess Luna in my head.” I responded “That explains why, you just accidently used a telepathy spell.” She informed “You are saying that I just used magic by accident?” I say Confused “Yea that is what you just did.” Twilight answered “Well Twilight I did think of a fitting name for myself.” I said “What is it Marcus?” Twilight Inquires “My new name shall be Shadow Dancer.” I answer Twilight thinks about it and says, “Fitting name indeed Shadow.” (From now on except for few instances Marcus will be called Shadow or Shadow Dancer) “Well I’m tired we should go in and sleep.” I suggest “Yes we should so we can leave for Ponyville in the morning.” Twilight agrees Twilight and I go inside and I get up on the bed and a minute later Twilight climbs on after me, I slept peacefully that night.