//------------------------------// // Chapter 8: A Song of Sun and Moon // Story: On Light Hooves I Tread // by AdamThePony //------------------------------// On Light Hooves I Tread a Fanfic by Adam J Nelon Chapter 8: A Song of Sun and Moon The early morning sun gently smothered the hills throughout the roving fields between Ponyville and Canterlot. I rested my somewhat weary body in the padded seat of the chariot as the Steel Sabre and Iron Sides (Whom I learned were female and male, respectively) galloped across the sky, their wings batting at the skies in their gallant motions, their golden (or possibly gilded? Hard to tell) Centurion armor glowing in the warmth of their queen's ever warm sunlight. As the warmth of the sun caressed my near-white coat, I felt my energy slowly coming back to me. Normally, I wasn't that much of a morning person, but given this moment, I decided I would make an exception. After all, it was a glorious sight, seeing just how poignant the light of Princess Celestia’s golden graces, which could illuminate the whole of Equestria, could be. A sight of greater beauty, my virgin eyes have never laid upon. My energy now slowly coming to me, I rose from my prone position, near the eye level of the two guards. “If I may ask, what exactly does the job of a Royal Guard Pony entail?” I quipped, stretching out a bit. “Well, it's actually pretty simple. We are trained and specialized in keeping watch over not only Princess Celestia, but the whole of Canterlot and Equestria. We often keep by the Princess's side to keep her from being harmed, but aside from that, we do patrol duty. It looks like simple work, but it's far from it. We go through a lot of training to make sure that we're at our peak for when somepony does decide to attack. That is our duty: To Protect and Serve.” Iron Sides grunted, a solemn, yet cocky tone in his voice. “So what about Princess Luna?” “That's easy. She has her own faction in the Guard. They comprise the Night Watch. It's a lot harder to see them, as they're usually based around black ops work. They still keep by Luna's side, but the Lunar Guard isn't typically at Luna's side. So, we typically work double duty for the both of them.” Steel Sabre answered curtly, her eyes focused on the sky and ground. I felt stupid for even asking what I was going to ask next. “What does it take to become one of the Guard?” The two guards burst out into laughter, somehow still keeping the chariot aloft through some form of skill. “Ha! Good one! You want to be a guard? You don't exactly look the type to be a guard Pegasus.” Silver Sabre giggled. Iron Sides was joining in, but quieted down for a moment. “I think what she meant to say was, it's not an easy feat. It takes a lot of training and discipline, and a lot of Pegasi wash out than Earth Ponies and Unicorns typically. Pride has always been a common foible of our kind. It's been that way since during the Tribal days. Though, we had a heck of an army.” I frowned a moment at my hopes being dashed like that, but Silver Sabre quickly brought me back from my sadness. “Yeah, but oftentimes, when it comes to newbies, the Princesses have the final say. When they learn of anypony who shows real promise, they'll get either knighted, or drafted. It's all in what they think of them. Don't get your hopes up, though. It's not easy to impress them. It's easy to please them, yeah, but impressing them takes a lot of gusto.” I nodded, leaning past the railing of the chariot, being completely perplexed by the astonishing fields nearing Canterlot. I had already gone there once, but it was by train, not by air via a chariot in the sky. Seeing the green fields of the Capital with my naked eyes was an awe-inspiring. “Heads up, kid. We're going to be in Canterlot in a few minutes. I'd lie down so you don't conk your head on the buildings,” Silver Sabre advised. I nodded at the Pegasus mare's advisory, lying in the chariot prone, my eyes on the cobblestone roads of Canterlot's main square. There wasn't much going on so early in the morning, but that was to be expected. The only other ponies on the streets were Royal Guard, and most of them were switching shifts. The only real sound around was the sound of rushing air as we began to touch down onto the street. “Well, we're here. We should be at the castle within about five minutes or so. I'd stretch my legs, if I were you.” Iron Sides grunted, our pace now slowing substantially. This in mind, I stretched out in a manner more of a feline than an equine, cutting loose a loud groan before shaking myself to my hooves again. The castle was soon in sight, and seeing this massive alabaster monolith stretch past my small eyes, I was put into a heavy stupor. A magnificent manor for one magnificent pair of mares... “Welcome to the Royal Castle, Morning Haze. Your hooves are about to tread on the single most sacred piece of ground to ever exist in Equestria. I don't think I need to say it, but be on your best behavior. It's not too often that the Princess ever has the company of an such an average pony as you. But, don't let it get to you, either. You've got a rare opportunity in your hooves. Enjoy it. We don't know why the Princess is so keen on having you here, but whatever the reason, it must be good. Just follow us, and you'll be in the throne room with time to spare.” Silver Sabre instructed, flanking me, Iron Sides being at my other side as we entered. I naturally trusted these two, not because it was a complete necessity, but given they were the personal protectors of both the Royal Pony Sisters and Equestria as a whole, they naturally had to know the sacred grounds of the Royal Palace as they would the backs of their hooves. Plus, knowing I was being escorted by the military was as much as an honor as it was to be able to share the personal company of royalty. The whole expanse of the castle was an amazing and elaborate spectacle. Marble walls, stained glass images of times far before many generations of ponies lay immortalized in images and murals upon large arched windows. Many of the scenes I saw in the windows were vaguely familiar to me. The original sealing of Nightmare Moon, the chaotic reign of the Mad Deity Discord, among many other things. A pipe organ hummed its song from a room that neither of the three of us seemed to be going. While my instinct would have suggested that the music would lead to me to the Princesses, it seemed that my instincts weren't exactly the keenest. However, I had another feeling that was ever so slowly cluing me in on where I was headed. While magic was a talent I was not in the least capable, there was one thing I understood fully of magic; When it was used, there was a clear example of the power of the user in each spell. While it would be impossible to detect the power of a Unicorn using telekinetic magic, when a Unicorn was utilizing a strong enough magical spell, a passerby with a keen enough amount of senses in their body could very clearly note how such extreme magic exerted itself upon the environment about the caster's circumference. While it may seem odd to describe it as such, incredibly potent magic can often be felt as an intense energy, whether it was heat, cold, or simply an intense feeling of static, like one would get from shuffling about a carpet in socks. With Alicorns, there was a a simple fact in mind. While the amount of energy in a Unicorn is so usually reserved, it is only often truly recognized when one is casting magic, Alicorns exerted a natural arcane aura. Their power was that great and intense. I could feel its radiation arcing through every last fiber of my coat, and as we neared two large doors, I knew where I was exactly. Just beyond that gate, the two Alicorns, to whom I would serve the role of esteemed guest, sat in wait in the throne room. While I tried in my best of capacities to maintain what was known as a poker face, the guards didn't need much of a clue for them to know I felt a strong sense of foreboding at these doors. “Star-struck, perhaps? Don't worry. After a while, you'll get used to that magic aura of theirs. We'll introduce you, but once we've got you in there, you're on your own.” Silver Sabre said, chuckling as her larger companion pried the door open. “Your Majesties, the Pegasus known as Morning Haze has arrived. We safely brought him to Canterlot, and have led him safely to your chambers. Shall we bring him in?” Iron Sides asked, his stance prone as a classic gesture of respect. The large alabaster Alicorn smiled, lowering her head, her eyes shut for a moment as she chuckled. “Make it so. I have been anticipating this day for long...” “As you wish, Princess.” With this, the metal-colored Pegasus Stallion propped the door further open for me, and I came in, my head low, but my eyes somewhat focused on the two mares of the power cosmic before me. As I neared their proximity, I lowered myself prone to greet them. “Good Morrow, Princesses. I am honored to be in your prescience today.” The elder of the two mares chuckled. “The is no need for the formalities, dear. While my sister may enjoy it, it's unnecessary. “ I chuckled at that sentiment, raising myself again. “You may leave now, Guards. We would like our privacy, you see.” The solar mare chirped. “Yes, ma'am!” Both of them shouted, saluting their sire with their wings as they left, the door shutting behind them. Upon seeing her armored attendants were away, her expression became all the more casual. “How are you, dear Adam? I've been waiting for the day where we could truly meet face to face in this waking world.” I blushed a bit at that sentiment, primarily from being referred to by my true name. Curisoity had me ask the most reasonable question at hoof. “How do you know my name? Moreover, why are you so aloof about it?” The Goddess of the Power Solar chuckled at me then. “It's rather simple, Adam. I was the one that brought you here in the first place, so I wanted to learn what all I needed to before we met personally.” I smiled a bit, then that smile evolved into a smirk. So she knew more about me than she let on? I had to confirm. “Really? So you know more about me than you lead me on to believe?” “Indeed. Ask me anything.” “When is my birth-” “November Seventh” “What are my si-” “Western, Scorpio; Eastern, Rooster.” “What is my ag-” “Seventeen, going upon the age of Eighteen. And your blood type is A-Positive.” I kept frozen in a stupor for a long time, blinking. She did know a good deal about me! But how was it possible? I knew the two of them were deities, but I never knew just how omniscient they truly were! “That is the majority of what I know, at least. Which brings us to the reason why I brought you here. I simply would like for us to get to know one another, and I feel being in this manner of privacy and comfort would aid the proceedings. This is the first time we have truly brought an outsider into our world, so my intention is for us both to share the wonders between our two worlds.” I smiled. Sharing information between the three of us? Fair enough. “Right, so I'll start with technology. From what glimpses have shown us, your world isn't too far off from ours in technological advancements. However, there are a few bits and pieces we have not quite gotten our hooves on. What interesting bits of technology could you talk about?” I thought about that for a moment There was certainly plenty of devices that existed in this world and the other, but only a few actually came to mind. “Well, at the moment, only one real advancement in information technology comes to mind. It's a device called a personal computer. It's a series of devices connected to one another that form a system comprised of a keyboard, a mouse, some speakers, a tower, a monitor, and a few other peripherals. One of the most common uses for them is to communicate with people throughout the world through a series of connected computers that form a massive web known as the Internet. Through this infrastructure, we are able to entertain ourselves in a variety of ways, including viewing video clips, browsing through images of many different types, gaming, and many other things, including keeping in touch with friends and family.” Princess Celestia nodded attentively. “I see...it sounds like a wondrous invention. It seems that Televisions and Video Gaming are commonplace in your world as well.” I smiled at that, nodding a bit. “Indeed. They're practically the two most common entertainment devices out there. Although, yes, you are correct. They are indeed more advanced. At this moment, the resolutions on single televisions are massive, sprawling things, and the most common medium for gaming is the compact disk format.” “Indeed. Currently, the only disks we've had access to are vinyl records. However, it seems these are not fully out of phase in either of our worlds.” “Indeed. But, I do have to wonder. How does Equestria get its power? Is it based off the natural flow of magic in this world?” The Lunar Mare spoke this time, smiling. “That is correct. Because of the natural flow of arcane energy in these lands, we have found a way to use this energy to power roughly any device to our understanding. Which leads us to wonder: How does electricity normally come in your dimension?” “Oh, all sorts of ways! We have used Hydroelectric, Geothermal, Wind, Solar, and even Nuclear Power, but the most common modes are fossil fuels?” The mare's smile straightened. “Fossil...Fuels? Pray tell, what are those, should I dare ask that?” “Well...put simply, they are things like coal and oil, which form from the remains of long-dead creatures...” The two mares looked mortified at the sentiment. “I apologize. However, that is sadly the most common form of energy in our world. Shall we move on?” “Please.” They both asked. Following further discussion over technological advancement, we moved on to a new topic. “So, what can you tell me about your race?” Princess Celestia asked, her smile having returned. I smiled, eager to answer her question. "Well, my original race is often known simply as Humanity," I began, clearing my throat. "We are essentially derived from apes, but not everyone is sure to agree to that sentiment. We have a natural capacity to use tools via a pair of hands each of us has. We're fairly intelligent, and to this day, we have mastered the art of manned flight." "And what of Magic? Are you humans capable of magic?" Celestia inquired. I considered that question a brief moment, as that had a whole variety of possible answers to it. "Personally, it depends on whom you ask. Magic isn't as clear cut in the human world. Some suggest Magic is only stage tricks, for some, it's ritual power, and for others, it's a spiritually diverse thing. We don't know the exact details of magic down to a basic skill like Unicorns do." With this, the Princess frowned a moment, but resumed a smile shortly after. "A shame. You would think that with so many of your kind, somepony would have cracked the secrets of spellcasting." She chuckled. "Which reminds me...how many Humans live in your world, to begin with?" A smirk curled to my lips as I told her matter-of-factly, "There are about Eight Billion Humans in my world. To say that Ponies are a minority would be a crushing understatement." "If thou are not lying, than it certainly is an understatement of the highest caliber! Even Equestria alone hasn't that many Ponies! How can thy people even survive?" Princess Luna shouted, her eyes wide as saucers. "That's a tough question you're asking. It largely depends on which part of the world they are from, and how much they can afford. Unlike Equestria, where most everypony is often united by a single banner, the Human World has so many different nations and factions of this one single, varying race, it's almost enigmatic to a newcomer!" "Interesting..." The Princess of the Sun noted, jotting down notes...Wait, she was treating this as a LECTURE? "Are there Princes and Princesses in your world?" "Oh yes," I said, nodding. "Mainly in places like Europe such as Britain, France, and Italy. Where I come from, however, it is a democracy with a president." Silence took the room for a moment. "Thou seemest to be pensive. Is something the matter?" Luna asked, eying me. "Well, to be honest, I'm having a little trouble adjusting to that intense energy radiating off you two." Luna grinned, her eyes now eerily aglow. "Ah, yes, but SUCH BE A STATEMENT OF OUR VAST AND GLORIOUS POWER!" She shouted in a voice of such magnitude that perhaps even the heavens could echo it. Of course, from where I stood, I had to cover my ears. "Watch your volume, Luna. He's right in front of us!" Celestia noted, a hoof pointed to me. Luna blushed, her voice lowering to a lighter tone. "Of course, sister. I apologize. I lost control over my voice." She squeaked. "You are forgiven. Now then, as to your concern, our radiation is a natural side effect of how much magic we Alicorns have as a race. We are born with a natural capacity to commit ourselves to the most powerful of feats. As such, it is foals' play for us to move the sun and moon, but for smaller, more delicate tasks, such as controlling our aura, it is not so simple." The solar mare explained in her stately way. I nodded my head, but then another question came to mind: "Isn't Luna supposed to be asleep?" Princess Celestia chuckled, "Well, that's a common misconception. We may be the governing bodies between the sun and moon, we tend to be active any time of day that we need to. Although, our power is significantly bolstered by the time of day." Understandable. They were deities of heavenly bodies, and therefore, being in the light of their respective orbs of power would make them much more powerful. I was then locked eye-to-eye with the two princesses as I looked up. "Well, I suppose we've told you enough about us. Please, tell us about you." I froze for a moment, swallowing a rather large knot in my throat. "Me? But why?" Celestia chuckled at me, humming, "We've told you just about all we need to about us. As Princess of Equestria, it is more my duty to learn as much as I need to about my beloved subjects so that I may better cater to the needs of everypony great and small." "Well, what would you care to know?" I asked, blushing from the flattering question I was being posed. Princess Celestia smiled, her wings outstretched as she nicked at them for a moment. "Anything that you care to share with me is acceptable," She told me in that velvet voice she was famous for. "Well..." I began, my eyes searching the room to make sure no one else was particularly watching us speak, "I'm an average person with a few quirks in the physical department, and quite a few perks in the mental department. I'm a fast learner, but when it comes to my legs and lungs, I'm the runt of my family. I grew up...well...a bit rough, but I didn't particularly have a bad childhood. Though, it could have been much better." My legs were beginning to buckle under me. My naturally-weak legs were showing, their wobbling forcing me to the carpet beneath me. The Princesses chuckled at my weakness, but Princess Celestia did so with a smile of encouragement. "Ah, most interesting, dear Adam. Please, do tell us more!" Chuckled Luna, clearly a bit amused. I blushed, lowering my face a tad, squeaking out, "Well, it's nothing I feel entirely comfortable talking about..." The Lunar Mare cocked a quizzical brow in my direction. "Oh? Is there something we should not know of you?" My blush grew even redder. "Why, no! It's just that it pains me to talk of...some things..." Celestia approached me then, an alabaster wing encircling me in a light, tender embrace. "It's okay. If you don't wish to talk, you are all but welcome to keep silent," She assured me, her head craned around mine. "But, perhaps you'd prefer for us to see for ourselves? I can take a look inside your memories instead, if that would be more private." I blushed a moment, beginning to draw sweat the size of bullets. "Don't worry. You have our word as Princesses that whatever information we come across shall remain secret in these chambers at your discretion." I was still fairly uneasy at the Solar Mare's proposition. They were essentially asking permission to probe my mind for information. They'd have access to every secret I had...they'd see every moment I had ever experienced, feel every pain that I had...Then again, Princess Celestia gave her solemn pledge that neither she nor Luna would breathe even a single world of what they saw outside the privacy in the three of us, and given what they could do, I felt they could keep to their word. Thus, I nodded, the Princess of the Sun offering me a thankful smile. "Wonderful. Sister, if you could join me please?" She asked, craning her head to her younger. "As thou wish." She yawned, trotting down and sitting at my opposite flank. "Now then, Adam. I want you to relax and lie down. We shall induce a spell to put you to sleep. This will keep us from hurting you as we travel through your mind. We promise to leave everything as we found it." I nodded, lying prone on the floor as their two horns crossed together, casting their spell upon my form, laying me to rest. My eyes drooped ever more with each blink, and within moments, they had put me fast asleep. My dreams were flashbacks of the most clear caliber to the most clear moments I had had in my life. Many of them were crowning achievements which I look fondly on even today, while others were moments I only wish would leave my cursed memory, yet they persist even today...Every single trauma (and every single pleasure) was shown to the two princesses in full clarity. When I awoke, both Princesses bore a face mixing the feelings of shock and concern. As I slowly snapped into consciousness, Luna was the first to confront me. "We...are astonished." She said, a tone of surprise deep in her. "Thou art well within thy right to keep yourself quiet." Celestia nodded, looking to me. "We never realized how it was for you...but that makes us wonder...if all of what we saw is true, then just how do stand before me, your demeanor so chipper and your mind so lucid?" I looked to the two princesses dead in the eye for a moment and cut a chuckle. "To be honest, I don't have any Earthly idea. I guess it comes from my ties to my friends. How I have someone I can trust to hear me out on my pain and help me." I admitted, a smile on my face. The Princess Smiled, a wing curling about me again as she rested her neck across mine. "Truly, you are somepony who knows how to appreciate the power of friendship. To be honest, you remind me of an orchid; Though you have suffered greatly, you bloomed into a beautiful creature." I smiled at Celestia's kind words as her wing retracted from my form as the rest of her did. "I believe I have seen enough for one day. Perhaps I can show you some of the finer details of this castle?" I smiled for a moment, taking up her side, chirping "That would be lovely." "Splendid. Follow me, please." "Whoa...so this was Twilight's favorite room?" I asked, staring into the paperback, hardbound abyss that was the library in Princess Celestia's Castle. There were literally so many books that one needed a ladder to even attempt to reach them all. "indeed it was. When she was studying magic at my school for gifted unicorns, most of her free time was spent feverishly reading away at any book she felt she needed to. In fact, if she weren't tied by the mortal coil, I think she would have time to go through every single book here, cover-to-cover." The Princess told me with a giggle. My eyes shot wide for a fraction of a second as I looked to the Princess in shock. "You're...not serious, are you?" I asked, wanting to verify the ludicrous statement that had just been uttered. "Oh, I'm very serious. She was that much of an intellectual. She was more focused on this castle than anything in or around it...But, in her studies of pony magic, she had become so powerful, I knew that she would be the ideal catalyst for the Elements of Harmony. So, for both the sake of ensuring peace and for helping Twilight's own well-being, I set her out to meet the organizers for the annual Summer Sun Celebration, and in that quest, she gained those five friends you've already become acquainted with." She then explained as I began browsing the massive stores of books. "Which reminds me...how are you liking your time here? I forgot to ask." I stopped for a moment, mulling over what I had accomplished after being brought into the world through a psychedelic dream of the Princess' induction: I managed to relearn how to walk and talk in the shape of a pony, survive falling off a probably-fatal height by way of an untimely rescue, shared a home with a plucky pink pony with a penchant for parties, was thrown a party by said pink pony, taught the mechanics of flight by a pony whose speed was closely on par with that of another certain blue blur, learned how to accomplish and gain an employment in controlling weather via my own four hooves, educated in the racial fallacies and magical capacities of the primary races of this strangely Earth-like world, helped redeem a braggart show pony by making her true talents shine like gilded steel, met the geologically inclined kin of everyone's favorite party pony, accompanied a colt of few words to deliver a shipment of apples to a cantankerous old sod who had seen a run of bad luck, pampered myself for the sake of showing off for my fashionista female friend, performed a number of slightly demeaning errands and chores for my nature-loving Pegasus friend, and spent roughly two hours (give or take) exchanging banter with two celestial deities over the similarities and differences between my cynical human world and their idealistic equine one. All in all? It's been a roller coaster of unadulterated joy. "Personally?" I quipped, turning to face the solar goddess with a smile, "It's been the best week of my life." The sun's embodiment smiled back, more than happy that her efforts to take a proverbial fish out of water turned out favorably. "Although, I have to say. As rocky as my life can be in the Human World, I'm starting to worry of it. Though you and Luna both have assured me I'll be back before a soul notices I'm missing, I've got a bit of Homesickness. While being here has been fun and all, I have to go back home at some point, don't I?" The smile on the princess had not reduced a single nanometer. "I was expecting something like this. Everypony gets homesick, and there isn't a thing wrong with that. I'll make some arrangements to get a portal ready as soon as possible. Meanwhile, I'd find it in your best interest to tie up any loose ends before you leave. Wouldn't want to leave on a bad note now, would you?" I nodded my head, musing, "But of course, your Highness." "Good," Celestia told me, smiling. "I shall arrange a chariot to take you to Ponyville to say your goodbyes. When you're done there, just talk to the guards, and you'll be back here in no time." I bowed in respect before following the Princess back to the throne room, and subsequently, back into the hooves of Steel Sabre and Iron Sides to be escorted back to my original point of origin to put my chapter in this world's book to it's closure. In the trip by sky back to Ponyville, however, something felt cross in the pit of my stomach. Disheartened feelings took me for a moment at the thought that I would soon be leaving this world, in which it had been my wildest of dreams to visit and see in my own two eyes. Then, that feeling of sadness was subsided by that harsh reality that if I never said goodbye, then whatever charms which had bounded me to this world would keep me here indefinitely, and for the sake of keeping the sacred status quo in proper check, I had to get this over with. ...So why does part of me still regret having to do this to begin with?