I woke up, finding a female guard standing over me. I got up, pulling a pair of shorts and t-shirt over myself. I walked into the bathroom and took a quick shower, and walked out to see the guard with a small blush on her face and a dreamy smile on her face.
“Yeah yeah yeah... Alright, lets go.” I said, walking past her and opening the door. She shook her head and looked at me, then blushed more and walked out. I walked after her, an awkward silence following us, until we walked into the throne room. I looked at the thrones, only to find them empty.
“Aren't we supposed to meet the princesses?” I asked. She turned her head and smirked.
“We’re meeting them at the war room, where your armor and weapon is waiting, along with a bag of supplies. The one called Fluttershy is also waiting for you.” She said. We walked to a large pair of doors and met the princesses and Fluttershy, sitting around a large table with a table with a terrain that looked of Equestria with the nearby countries. There was a desert, with a land that looked completely dead directly behind it, with a run down castle in the middle of the Deadlands. There was a flag that was in the middle of a small camp that was a small distance from the Deadlands.
“It’s good to see you Daniel. Now, do you have everything you need?” Celestia asked. I pulled out the seal, my iPod, and looked at the flaming dog tags, which Twilight enchanted to make it look like it’s actually on fire, and the scouter on my face and nodded, placing the items back in my pockets.
“Good, now, we can show you the armor and teleport you to the San Palomino Desert where the group of ponies are waiting for you. The time spent getting to the Deadlands would be about three hours, then getting to the ruins in the middle would be where the Delomelonicon will be located will be two days, and that’s if you don’t run into trouble. You should be able to be back in Equestria in under two weeks.” Celestia said, getting up and walking over to a closet door. She opened the door and levitated out the most awesome armor I've ever seen. The armor was full black, with a crescent moon as the crest, with a white cape with a burning sun on the cape. From top to bottom, there was a hood that would shield most, if not all, of my face from the sun, or any type of light, smooth shoulder pads, chestplate that has the crescent moon over it, leggings that reached all the way down to my ankles, and boots that went up to my knees. The cape itself was a bright white color, with a golden trimming around it that touched the back of my knees. I stared at the armor in amazement, my mouth dropped slightly, and Celestia gave a small smirk.
“This armor is amazing... What’s the material?” I asked.
“Well... We heard your conversation about tungsten and titanium, and we mixed the two metals. We actually hadn't thought about mixing it before, so we tried it and it created a metal that was even stronger then both, and a lot lighter than the Tungsten itself.” Luna said, waving an arm over a dark blue bar.
“Wait... Tungsten is a silvery gray color, and Titanium is a silver color itself, how did it get into that color?” I asked.
“We honestly don't know...” Celestia said, scratching her chin.
“Chalk it up to chemical reactions and save yourselves a headache I guess.” I said, shrugging. I scratched my chin for a moment, then facepalmed.
“What’s wrong?” Luna asked.
“I have no fucking idea on how to put on armor.” I said, facepalming once more.
“It’s just like putting on clothes.” Celestia said, walking up to me and pushing me into the room with the armor. The light flickered on, revealing a small dressing room, my armor standing in the middle of the room and my greatsword on the left wall. I untied the cape from the armor, placing it on one of the many hooks in the room, undressed, then took the fairly heavy chestplate and put it on. The chestplate morphed and formed to my body, becoming tight and snug, leaving enough to room to move around a little and to breath. I put on the leggings, the piece of armor doing the same thing, except not crushing my groin. I put the boots on, but they didn't form to my feet and were a little loose.
“Won’t have to worry about them falling off.” I said, picking up and placing my greatsword across my back, the metal clanking together slightly. I walked around the room, getting a feel of the armor, the armor scraping against itself. I turned off the door and opened the door, ducking slightly to avoid hitting my head. (Couldn't find an image for the armor on how I envisioned it in my head. Deal with it.)
After ten minutes, Daniel walked out of the room, ducking to avoid hitting his head on the door, and looked around the room. Celestia and Luna looked impressed by the sheer intimidation he gave off by just standing there, while Fluttershy was looking a little... south. She was looking at his chest and stomach, seeing the chestplate practically showing off his toned body. A few of the female guards were giving stunned, excited, and dreamy looks toward him, a few of the pegasi guards’ wings becoming erect at the sight.
Some of the male guards were giving stunned and jealous looks towards him. Fluttershy’s wings were becoming erect themselves, but she couldn't look away. Yes, she’s slept with him (not sex perverts), but shes never actually taken the time to actually look at his body. After about a minute of awkward silence from all of the ponies, he coughed into his fist, knocking all of the females from their dirty daydreams and the guys from their whispered death threats.
“Love the armor, but what is with all the damn stares I’m getting from all of you lately?” He asked.
“It’s nothing.” Luna said too quickly.
“Lies! Lies I tell you!” He yelled, chuckling. He coughed into his fist, and although the ponies couldn’t see it, he had a sad look on his face. He sighed, then said.
“Alright, I guess I get the supplies, say my goodbyes, then die a horrible death by fighting an unbeatable undead horde?” Fluttershy hated whenever he did that. He always questions himself, always putting himself down.
“You need to stop doing that.” Fluttershy said.
“You can’t change me, because you know why?” He said.
“Why?” Fluttershy asked.
“‘Cause, I’m Batman!” He yelled, his iPod turning on randomly and starting to play a dopey little song. He took it out of his pocket and started laughing.
“That played perfectly too!” He said, turning the song off.
“What was that supposed to be?” Luna asked, barely holding back her laughter.
“Batman is a superhero from a comic on Earth, who has a theme song to it and everything.” I explained.
“And that was his theme song?” Fluttershy asked, giggling slightly.
“Yep.” I said.
“Anyway, supplies, teleport, and get book.” I said. Celestia snapped her fingers, and a bow and arrow and bag filled to the brim with food, water, and small weapons.
“Throwing axes, daggers, bandages, and bow and arrow...” I said, searching the bag quickly. There were salted meats, jams, fruits, vegetables, breads and cheeses for food, and fifteen canteens of purified water, with medical supplies fitted in at the top of the bag. The small throwing weapons stuffed into smaller pouches on the side of the bag. I stuffed the items back into the bag and slung it over my back, over my greatsword, and turned to Luna and Celestia.
“So, now what?” I asked.
“We teleport you to the San Palomino Desert and you save our world.” Luna said dryly.
“I don’t like the concept of a worlds well being is thrust into the hands of a single man, especially a man that has never seen true combat besides old videos and pictures.” I said, watching as Luna’s horn lit up and her dark purple aura enveloped me. I felt myself being lifted up into the air, a strange sensation followed by a dull throbbing pain to take over my body. The pain was easily bearable, so I didn’t say anything about it.
“Are you feeling any pain?” Celestia asked suddenly.
“Yeah, but it’s bearable.” I said smoothly. Celestia and everypony in the room gasped, but Luna didn’t stop casting the spell.
“Is that bad?” I asked, a tinge of fear on each word.
“That’s very bad. Luna, you must stop the spell!” Celestia yelled.
“I can’t stop the spell, you know what happens if I do!” Luna said fearfully.
“What the hell happens to me?” I asked sternly. I was met with silence for a few moments, then Celestia looked up at me.
“Ponies that have felt pain during these teleportations show up on the destination as a bloody pile. I’m sorry Daniel.” Celestia said, a sad look on her face and tears brimming her eyes. I looked at all of the ponies, each getting the same reaction from all of them, except Fluttershy was already openly sobbing. I sighed tiredly.
“Looks like the end for me... Oh well...” I said, balling my hands into fists.
“This shouldn’t be how it ends!” Fluttershy yelled at me. I looked at her, openly sobbing with Celestia trying to comfort her. I shook my head, going into my pocket as I felt my hand wrap a small and metallic object. I pulled it out and looked at it, seeing the black reflective screen one last time.
“Here Fluttershy. Something to remember me by.” I said, hold my iPod out to her. She looked up, seeing me holding the iPod out to her, and shakily stood up and tooked the object from my hands, taking it in both hands and holding it against her chest. Luna’s horn continued to glow with power, with the pain increasing slightly.
“Look, maybe it’ll be different for me. I’m not exactly a pony, now am I?” I said, hoping to lift their spirits. Celestia just shook her head and hugged Fluttershy.
“DAMN IT! WHY DID I HAVE TO GO LIKE THIS?!” I yelled at the top of my lungs, startling everyone in the room with the power behind it.
“I’m so sorry that this happened Daniel.” Celestia said, a few tears running down her tears.
“This isn’t your fault... Just...” I tried to find words to say anything, but I couldn’t think of anything that would comfort the ponies.
“Fluttershy, can you be a dear and play one last song for me?” I asked her. She nodded, unlocking the device quickly.
“Can you play Fade to Black by Metallica?” I asked. She nodded once more, then started surfing through the device quickly. She pressed the screen one last time, the song starting to play softly. I closed my eyes and listened to the guitar playing softly.
Life it seems, will fade away
Drifting further every day
Getting lost within myself
Nothing matters no one else
I have lost the will to live
Simply nothing more to give
There is nothing more for me
Need the end to set me free
I heard sniffles and small sobs from around the room, and felt the pain intensified ten fold. I stiffened up quickly, letting out a choked gasp of pain. The only ponies that heard was Celestia, Fluttershy, and Luna, and it broke their hearts hearing it.
Things are not what they used to be
Missing one inside of me
Deathly lost, this can't be real
Cannot stand this hell I feel
Emptiness is filling me
To the point of agony
Growing darkness taking dawn
I was me, but now He's gone
No one but me can save myself, but it's too late
Now I can't think, think why I should even try
Yesterday seems as though it never existed
Death Greets me warm, now I will just say good-bye
The song continued playing itself, while the pain started to get out of hand. I let out a pained cough, and felt blood trickling down my chin.
“Shit... This ain’t easy.” I said, a bit pained. Celestia was a bit surprised by his resilience. Most ponies would’ve already been reduced to screaming wrecks from the pain, but he was only starting to show it from behind the enchanted hood (Celestia and Luna were the only ones that could see behind it.). A small trickle of blood was coming from his mouth, along with his nose starting to bleed as well.
“How long until this spell is done?” I asked.
“We have another ten minutes before the teleportation is complete.” Celestia said.
“Shit... Can we get another song?” I asked. She turned the device on, surfing through the songlist. She turned a song on, and I immediately knew what it was.
Circling your, circling your, circling your head,
Contemplating everything you ever said
Now I see the truth, I got doubt
A different motive in your eyes and now I’m out
See you later
I see your fantasy, you want to make it a reality paved in gold
See inside, inside of our heads (yeah)
Well now that’s over
I see your motives inside, decisions to hide
I started to chuckle, but the pain intensified and it turned into pained coughs and a groan. My hands started to twitch and twist uncontrollably.
(Fuck!)
Back off I’ll take you on
Headstrong to take on anyone
I know that you are wrong
Headstrong we’re headstrong
Back off I’ll take you on
Headstrong to take on anyone
I know that you are wrong and this is not where you belong
I can’t give everything away
I won’t give everything away
I opened my eyes, seeing Fluttershy enjoying the music, with Celestia looking at the device curiously. The guards all had mixed reactions of interest, excitement, and enthusiasm.
Conclusions manifest, your first impressions got to be your very best
I see you’re full of shit, and that’s alright
That’s how you play, I guess you’ll get through every night
Well now that’s over
I see your fantasy, you want to make it a reality paved in gold
See inside, inside of our heads (yeah)
Well now that’s over
I see your motives inside, decisions to hide
My arms started to spasm uncontrollably, and the pain only grew quickly. I tried to keep myself calm, but panic and fear only gripped me as I took notice that Luna’s horn continued to glow with intensity.
(Fuck!)
Back off I’ll take you on
Headstrong to take on anyone
I know that you are wrong
Headstrong we’re headstrong
Back off I’ll take you on
Headstrong to take on anyone
I know that you are wrong and this is not where you belong
I can’t give everything away
I won’t give everything away
Conclusions manifest, your first impressions got to be your very best
I see you’re full of shit, and that’s alright
That’s how you play, I guess you’ll get through every night
Well now that’s over
I see your fantasy, you want to make it a reality paved in gold
See inside, inside of our heads (yeah)
Well now that’s over
I know, I know all about
I know, I know all about
I know, I know all about
I know, I know all about your motives inside, and your decision to hide
(Fuck!)
Back off I’ll take you on
Headstrong to take on anyone
I know that you are wrong
Headstrong we’re headstrong
Back off I’ll take you on
Headstrong to take on anyone
I know that you are wrong and this is not where you belong
I can’t give everything away
I won’t give everything away
The song ended, and I was in unbelievable pain. I had no control of my arms, and it felt like I was being torn apart, limb by limb, agonizingly slow. The room was growing darker, while Luna’s horn only grew brighter, until it was the only thing I could see out of the black abyss, until I finally fell unconscious. Celestia watched as Daniel fell unconscious, saying a silent prayer for him to make it out unharmed, and watched as the unconscious man grew brightly until it hurt everypony to look at him.
With a final flash of light, and a scream of pain that sent chills down everypony’s spine, he disappeared. Fluttershy started sobbing, Luna left the room, trying to avoid everypony seeing her crying also, while the guards were at full attention in silent tribute. After an hour, Celestia stood, cradling the still crying Fluttershy, and dismissed the guards, allowing them to take off for the rest of the week, and carried the mare to her guest room. She put her down in her bed and walked out of the room silently. She thought about giving a small stone tribute in the royal garden, but hesitantly decided against it. She knew that Fluttershy, for the rest of her mortal life, Luna, and herself would remember the man known as Daniel, who was not afraid to risk his life for the better of this world.
AN: Is this the end?