Hello. My name is Lucas. First thing I should make note of, I am a human living in the 'magical' world of Equestria. How I got here, however, is a story for another day- You know what, no. I'll tell that story now. It all started on an average, ordinary Friday afternoon...
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"AH! GOSH DANGIT!" I shouted as the words, 'EpicNinjaGam3r didn't bounce' popped up on my TV screen. I was playing Terraria with my friend, Invisibl3 Panda.
His voice came through my mic. "Fall damage? Again?"
I retorted, "Shut up. I'm going to play Lego Lord of the Rings." As I got up to change the game, a portal opened beneath my feet and I began to fall. It was all so random too. I mean, since when do random portals open for no reason? Anyway, my mic and controller disappeared from my hands and off my head as I fell further. When I when reached the bottom, I hit the 'ground' head first. "Ow... My face..." I slowly stood up as a regal sounding voice spoke from behind me.
"You are the EpicNinjaGamer, correct?"
"Uh, yeah-" I spoke as I turned around, but I was shocked at what I saw. Before my eyes, stood Princess Celestia from the TV show My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. "Huh? What- How- HUH?"
"I see you are confused. Yet, I also see that you recognize who I am. Good. That makes things slightly easier. Since you are familiar with me, I'm sure you are also familiar with the changeling ruler Queen Chrysalis."
"Yes... Wasn't she defeated on Cadence and Shining Armor's wedding day?"
"That is what we all thought... But she returned, and she brought creatures the likes of this world had never seen. when she summoned them, it was clear she sapped enough power from Shining Armor that day. The creatures came from the outer reaches of space... It released humanoid machines, something my little ponies could never have prepared for. Along with the humanoid machines, they turned the ponies into zombified machines as well. I am familiar with the humans, and I thought I had heard something like this in human lore... But what kind of enemy is this?"
I thought for a second, then came to a sudden, horrible realization. "...Reapers... But how...?"
"In my studies of the humans, I learned of the Internet, an invaluable research tool."
"I'm familiar..."
"Before Chrysalis returned, we had no need for such a thing. But when she attacked... Needless to say, we had every pony adept in science and magic to create our own Internet and to attach it to yours. But the day it was finished, my student, Twilight Sparkle, perished from exhaustion... We used the Internet to learn more of these 'Reapers'. One valuable resource was YouTube. And that's how we found you."
I think I began to understand. "But why me? If you can summon anyone from the Internet, why not someone with even more knowledge of gaming than I do? What about PeanutButterGamer? Jirard Khalil, the Completionist? The Fiery Joker?"
"They were all invaluable generals in my army..."
"You mean they were here? And they died?!?"
"Yes... Jirard's last words were, 'Come on guys, let's complete this!'... PeanutButterGamer was a brilliant tactician, but it was him that showed that the Reapers were unbeatable... Well, almost. Josh, the Fiery Joker, defeated one by sacrificing himself in one of his famous, 'KABOOM's!!' ...But seeing what it took to destroy just one..."
"...You said Twilight died. What about her friends?"
She grew silent. Obviously, this memory was painful for her. "... They all perished at the hands of the Reapers... Just like the rest of the kingdom. Only a handful of ponies still live... Not even Chrysalis survived, the Reapers betrayed her... From ten thousand ponies to ten ponies, in a matter of days... Come..."
She showed me what it was like outside what I assumed to be our safe haven. It was all destroyed... Instead of clear blue skies, they were red... Instead of ponies, there were zombie machines of humans and ponies alike...
This truly was grim news. "So how do expect me to do anything?"
"In this time, nothing. But, I'm going to send you back in time to change this future. I researched you on the Internet and created the weapons you claim to use. The legendary blade Chillrend, and a Chaos Emerald."
"But if you can bring these weapons and real people here, why not just bring the heroes from gaming? I mean, Chrysalis brought the Reapers, and they're from a game."
She shook her head, "That kind of magic is far beyond that of my power. So, I shall send you back to stop Chrysalis before she becomes too powerful... And to change this future. I shall also send with you the last of the Pegasi. Commander Hooves?"
A pony walked out of the shadows and spoke to me. "Derpy Hooves, at your service." I remembered Derpy from the show, but this one was different... She had scars and an eye-patch covering her left eye, and spoke in a grim manner. But could anyone blame her? From what she's probably been through, I'm surprised she's alive. But then another realization dawned on me. "There's one problem. Even if Derpy and I are able to stop Chrysalis, it won't change this future."
Celestia questioned, "What do you mean?"
"You see, if I go back and stop her, it will do nothing to change this future. It will change the fate of another future, but this one will not reap the benefits. It's not like this one will just disappear. It will still exist even though I fixed the future of the timeline you will send me to."
"I see... I did not take that into account..." She grew silent, probably to think. "... I have made my decision. I do not wish for any other future to experience this fate. So, even though I shall never see it, I want you, EpicNinjaGamer, to rescue that future, and stop this one from happening to anypony else."
"Will do." I replied. "And you can call me Lucas."
Derpy asked, "...But what about you Princess?"
Celestia responded, "Commander Whooves- No... Derpy," Tears began streaming down her face. "I cannot go with you two. I must stay and buy you time to escape, because it's running short. I fear that they may have found us. You are the last of the Pegasi. Don't ever give up." Just then, an explosion rattled the building. She opened a portal to send us back in time. "It was an honor..." She got momentarily choked up. "And a pleasure to serve with you, Derpy."
Derpy saluted with tears falling down her own face. "I won't ever give up...Likewise. Goodbye, Princess..."
With that the zombie machines broke through the door, but Celestia held them against the wall. "I won't fail you." I said.
She replied, "I know you won't. Now GO!" Derpy and I jumped through the portal and it closed.
Celestia let the zombie machines off the wall and destroyed them. She bravely fought off the incoming hordes, but her efforts were futile. She was quickly overrun and killed, but even in death... she smiled.
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"Princess..." Derpy lamented.
I placed my hand on her back. "...I don't really know what to say... C'mon, we've got a future to save. Celestia gave us a mission. Let's not fail her. What should we do first?"
Derpy sniffed. "Your right. By the looks of things, it looks like we're in Ponyville. The first thing we should do is figure out what time we landed in. There doesn't seem to be Reapers... That's a good sign-"
"Excuse me! Coming through!" A purple pony rushed pass us.
"That was Twilight!" I exclaimed.
"So, she's still alive... Maybe she'll have some answers!" Derpy concluded as she followed Twilight. I did as well. Once we caught up to her somewhat, I shouted her name to catch her attention. She turned and spoke, "What? Tonight is the night of the Summer Sun Celebratio-" She looked at me. "What in Equestria are you? And how do you know my name? And what happened to her eye?"
I replied, "Those questions are not important at the moment. We need to speak to the Princess."
"She should be at the celebration tonight. I am her Royal assistant, and will be attending with her. But for now, I must make preparations. You guys can follow me and help out if you like!"
Derpy whispered to me, "I know what time we're in! This is just a couple months before the wedding, during the Nightmare Moon incident! We should stick with her."
I agreed. "Alright Twilight, we'll help you out." So, we followed her. Nothing really noteworthy happened until that night, after Nightmare Moon revealed herself and Twilight and her newfound friends decided to go to the old castle to stop her. Of course Derpy and I tagged along. It began to get interesting when Twilight and her friends began to get scared by the trees. I whispered to Derpy, "Are they really scared of some leafless trees?"
She whispered back, "After what I've seen, this is really pathetic."
Then, Pinkie Pie paused to start singing about laughing at ghosts, but Derpy and I just kept walking. As we walked on, we were stopped by a manticore that was on a rampage. I drew Chillrend, but I heard the cocking of a gun. I looked over to Derpy, who was aiming a handgun, ready to shoot the beast. Where the heck did she get a handgun?! "Woah," I stopped her, "we don't have to kill it. Chillrend freezes whoever it touches solid. We'll be able to walk on by." So, ran up and slashed it in the place it would do the least amount of damage, and, as I suspected, the manticore was frozen solid. I motioned for Derpy to follow me. I could see our destination. It wasn't very far now... Only, we were stopped by a bridge that had fallen. "What do we do now?" I asked. But my question would soon be answered as I heard Twilight and her friends approached. I could hear Fluttershy speaking, "I still think we should have help the poor guy..."
I spoke to them. "Took you guys long enough. Wait, what happened to Rarity's tail?" I noticed it was shorter now than it was earlier.
Rarity spoke, "There was a water dragon that lost half of his moustache. It was a crime against fabulousity! It simply just wouldn't do!" Derpy and I both facepalmed. I already didn't like Rarity's posh attitude, and when she says stuff like this, it just makes it worse. But I guess I just have to tolerate it for the time being.
"Wait," I asked, "how in heck did we miss that?!? I mean, we didn't even see a river." Derpy shrugged.
"Well, we have another problem." She said, "The bridge is out."
Rainbow Dash gloated, "Is that all? Psh! I've got this!" She flew into the fog and tied the bridge to the masts.
After that, however, nothing really interesting happened until Luna was freed from Nightmare Moon... But that's probably because Derpy and I got lost in the castle and arrived just as she was being freed.
"Congratulations, my little ponies!" It was Celestia.
"Princess!" Derpy yelled.
"Celestia!" I started, "We need to talk! And it CANNOT wait!" Derpy and I dashed over to the princess as the other ponies bowed to her.
"Ah, a human! I've studied about your kind, but why do neither of you bow to me as ruler?"
I started, "I need to make something clear right here and now, because I have a feeling we'll be seeing a lot of each other from here on out. I don't mean to be disrespectful,
but I only only bow to the one true God, the Creator of the universe."
"But I am royalty." She stated.
I didn't care. "Did you die on a cross to save my soul, or for the souls of all creation for that matter?"
"No..." She quietly said.
"I rest my case."
"Fair enough. But what about her?" She nodded at Derpy.
"Well, you see..." Derpy started. With that we relayed everything we had to. Chrysalis. The Reapers. And even how Celestia sent us back through time.
Celestia pondered this. "Hmm... That does sound like something I would do. Now I see why you won't bow. It's okay. Now that I know this, I shall triple security on the wedding day. And even so, I shall make sure you two will be there. But, do you have a place to stay for the time being?"
"Yeah, um, about that..."
Twilight interrupted, "I think I might be able to help with that. I overheard the entire conversation, don't worry, I won't tell the other ponies about the changeling queen, Chrysalis, was it? This pony is from the future, right? So that means her present counterpart still exists? If so, she can't live in her own home, because technically it's not hers. And Lucas just straight up isn't from Equestria. You guys can live with me for as long as you need!" We graciously thanked Twilight for her hospitality and immediately headed back to her house to collapse, because we were exhausted.
In the morning, Derpy spoke to me. "Well, we did it. We warned Celestia of the coming threat. We're done."
I replied, "No, I think the worst is yet to come... But I do feel relieved to have warned her. So, we have a couple of months until we're needed. What do you wanna do?"
She responded. "Dunno. I've not really had free time since before the Reapers... Wanna go hang out with Fluttershy?"
I smiled. "Sure."
THE END