William silently sat in the private rail car of Princess Celestia while Luna was in the car ahead of them talking to Moondust who had woken up. She had wished to learn from Moondust and give a friendly familiar face to talk to. So WIlliam was at the moment finishing telling Celestia what the Nightmares had shown him after gaining permission from Luna to tell her sister. William leaned back in the chair in the rail car and closed his eyes rubbing his eyes with his forefinger and thumb. “Sorry, it is just that, It still gives me a headache to even think of, it makes me sick and mad.” William muttered as he put his glasses back on and looked at Celestia while putting his hands in his lap.
Celestia only nodded her head. “Then, maybe we can move to something more private. I have not had the time to speak to you about something that is a little more closer to my mind. You mentioned your world created weapons and power plants using the Atom. Have you used the weapons on humans before?” Her voice showing, an emotion William was unsure of really.
William felt the car sway along the track as they traveled to Canterlot and William knew that this was one question he could not run from at the moment. “Well,” he looked down at his feet. “Yes, We used the weapon twice on two cities.” He leaned back and closed his eyes. “Tell me, did you have to face an enemy that would not stop. Who no matter how much you pushed them back would not fall back, would not surrender. My Grandfather on my mom’s side was a Civilian who worked on evacuating the civilians in war torn areas. He was captured and was forced to march with the soldiers on what was a Death March. Any soldier that fell to the wayside was runthrough on the spot.” William got up and moved to look out the window.
“This was my grandfather, a Civilian working on getting innocent people out of the way and they treated him like that. He survived to the camp. Then he was placed on a transport before the islands were taken back by my people. The convoy was hit by us, but his ship survived and he was a POW on the mainland.” William turned back and leaned against the window. “See the top of this window? That is about six five? I am five foot seven, imagine a man that height down to a ninety eight pounds by the end of the war. He was only one of one hundred thousand POWs. Now if we had invaded the mainland of the enemy, all of them would have been executed and the guards sent to the front to push back.”
“Now, my grandfather on my dad’s side was in the Army in the same theatre. Before the bomb was dropped. He was preparing to tell him men that they were going to be part of the land invasion of the mainland of the enemy. An enemy that after the war we learned had fortified the exact landing areas with more troops and planes then we had thought. They would have hit our forces and cause massive death. IF the invasion did go through they would have executed my mom’s dad. My dad’s dad was going to be part of the first wave. Both of my parents were born after the war ended.” William looked up at Celestia and walked forward.
“Tell me, I am too close to the war to not be removed objectively. I meet only one of these men in my lives. My mom lost her dad while she was in high school. He died of the complications from being a POW for so long. My grandfather died of working with the atom after the war, mind you he was in his eighties when he died, but if those bombs were not dropped. Our Military would have wiped out more then what was killed in those two bombs.” He paused and tried to calm down.
William took another shaky breath before continuing, “We would have caused a culturcide of an entire group of people to end a war. All because we stopped oil and scrap iron trade due to them invading a landmass and then treating the inhabitants of that landmass like second class citizens, worse in some cases. They rapped a city, the capital city of that nation. A war that they believed they would win because they were a more honorable warrior spirit then who they thought were barbarians without honor.” William’s voice held conviction and pain and hurt. “I have had this argument many times. I had one man who literally told me that he thought that if he and I were never born in the name of the atom never being touched he would have been happy never to have existed and I should be to.” William held his wrist. “he broke my arm before others pulled him off when I told him no and turned my back on him.” He looked down. “Sorry, but I really shouldn’t be the one to be asked this, I have my bias and as I said, I cannot remove myself from the past objectively.”
Celestia blinked before speaking wanting to change the subject. “Your world will fight each other over the use of the atom? What about the power plants?” She looked shaken but at the same time there was somthing William could not place. “Surely those do not bring contention.”
William harshly laughed at this and began to pace up and down. “Oh, it brings as much contention if not more. We should never have touched the atom as that man told me. We should never even think about it as we will only pollute mother earth more and kill all life on earth. He thinks that oil and Coal as well should be untouched to keep nature pristine and untouched by man untamed and more power over man.” William turned. “He thinks that little pinwheels on roofs could make all the power man could need. He thought the big fans we do have were too big and too ugly.” William paused a little, “I need to tell you that I am using the most extreme of folks I have meet, all but that one man is more in the middle, that we can use all the above but not atoms, or use atoms but be harsher with environmental laws. But all the time those that hate the atom as a power source will point towards one power plant disaster, Chernobyl.” William paused as he felt the train begin to slow down.
“Thank you William, as you have once again shown, Humanity is as much of a diverse group as this world. Amazing that your own race can be as across the board as going from a Changeling to either I or my sister.” William actually flinched at the words as if fearful of her next words, which she smiled that same annoying smile she used when she successfully pranked somepony. “I think I will enjoy it when we open relations. I have so much to teach them, and them to us I think.” Celestia only smiled as she moved and placed a wing softly on William’s shoulder. “Thank you for opening a painful part of humanity to me.”
William moved to gather his stuff, unable to really answer at the moment, he move towards his stuff that he had placed in a corner of the rail car. He was still dressed in the combat uniform that Luna had him wear during the last day’s battle. As he moved Celestia seemed to be thinking on something before holding a wing. “How, many nations have the atom?”
William paused at the question. “That is a good question your highness, how many of us have it.” He moved and sat down in a chair. “Let’s see, I will count the weapon form as the power plant is all over the place.” He closed his eyes. “Mind you this is from off the top of my head so I might miss a few or give them to a nation that doesn’t have them.” He took a deep breath. “There is the USA, Russia or formerly the Soviet Union, England, Israel, India, Pakistan, and North Korea is the newest, however going back to England, as it once was an empire the stretched all over the world I might include Australia as well as it is a commonwealth but considered its own nation as well.” William laughed there. “Earth can be complicated. However, with North Korea the rest of the world is not happy with it and have tried to use the UN to keep them from progressing further and so far it is semi working.” William took another breath as if to gather more thoughts. “They are so far the only nation that is even thought of as crazy enough to launch a weapon like that is North Korea.” William sighed and shook his head. “I cannot answer you any more questions really without giving you my own opinion and biases. IF you want more information you might want to ask the United States Government or the United Nations.”
“United Nations?” Celestia asked with worry. “Is that some one world government?” The look of confusion only made William chuckle as the train began to brake for more than likely the station of Canterlot, or maybe a personal station for the royal sisters. He wasn’t sure as he left by other means.
“No, it is more of a place for all the nations of the world to gather and meet to air their grievances or ideas of how to make the world safer or better. It was created after World War Two to create a means by which we would avoid another world war. Two is enough I personally think.” William spoke matter of factly with his tone of voice. “At times it is seen as a good thing, at the worst a joke, and depending on issues the same human being might think about the group across the spectrum all at the same time.”
Celestia smirked. “Sounds like a place I would enjoy visiting and speaking at.” She spread her wings at William’s confused look. “Why I am an alien to your world that combines mythical creatures together, I think what I will say will be listened to for no other purpose then it is coming from me.”
William mouth twitched into a small half smile before looking one last time at the gear around him before walking to the door as he looked at Celestia with a confused look when she stepped back to give William the path to be the first to exit the rail car. William did not have much time to react as he felt one of Celestia’s wings pushed him to the door as it opened in her magic. William stumbled a little out the door and into what he saw was a massive cavern. His attention was snapped to the small band of Ponies as they began to play an arrangement that riveted William’s ears, eyes, and mind upon every single instrument. William stepped forward before moving to a stance of attention as he tried to fight tears in his eyes. His mind finishing the last words of the song. “home of the brave.” his voice a horse sad whisper.
William stood rigid as the music ended after the final note was held for a little bit. William noticed a shimmering and a disguise spell was lifted towards his left. He realized that this train station which had the elegance of royalty carved into the rock walls of the cavern that the area he had not seen before were flagpoles of national flags that were in connection to Equestria. This was a way to showcase who were considered friends and allies of the Equestrian Crown. There off to the side and in an area that was looking like it was freshly carved and created for more nations was a tall flagpole that seemed lonely without other flags. Hanging limply from this pole was his stars and stripes of his home nation. William unable now to keep the tears from rolling down his eyes snapped even taller and straighter as he rendered a crisp salute to his nation. After a few moments of personal reflection and keeping the pose he slowly dropped it and began to move forward. Once again he was shocked at how zoned in on the music and the flag were as suddenly the cavern was echoing with the sound of voices, hooves clip clopping on the stone floor.
He began to look around the place and realized that the main station was in the cavern wall in front of him, while behind him were the single track for the train that ran into the cavern through a smaller hole in both ends of the cavern wall. He saw a water tower for the locomotive to the side as well. He turned and looked more closely toward the flags and notice three flags that he could recognize on the spot as all of them were hanging limp on their respective poles. The Equestrian Flag, the Griffin Empire, and finally the Diamond Dog Republic. He had slowly stepped further into the cavern and left the train behind him.
“William!” A voice called out from behind him and he turned around to see Luna with the lunar pony at her side walking up to him from where her car was located further up the train. She waited till she was standing in front of him and smiled as she opened a wing and motioned to the lunar pony. “Meet Moondust, she is the daughter of my Disaster Minister.” She smirked at William’s confused look. “We lived on the moon, I felt it would be best if my little ponies were to have plans for leaving the moon if things got too bad.” Luna paused and bowed her head. “Her father launched her during the infection of Nightmares, she didn’t know what was happening, only that her father was going to test some procedures and pull her back once they were done. She was lucky she was in the capsule when the Nightmares attacked she was launched into space and placed into cryo sleep until a pony from the Lunar Empire could revive her.”
Luna looked saddened. “She is without, she is as alone as thou art and as I feel, I think it is time that my sister and I talk to the two of you about an idea with have in helping all to fit in and keep away from the Nightmares or the Black Sun’s view.”
William blinked and was about to ask when Luna smiled and turned around. “Follow me please, we shall be meeting in the School for Gifted Unicorn’s practice rooms, that should give enough safety and security to keep folks from wandering too much on what is going on.”
William cleared his throat at this. “So, how will we get to the school? I mean I doubt there is teleporting allowed into or out of the school, and I doubt you want to have a human seen walking into the school not out of.”
“That is a very good question,” Celestia's voice sounded in a whisper in his left ear which made William jump in shock and fear and actually stumbled as he tried to get Celestia into his eye sight. “As to answer your question, there is a royal passageway we shall be using that can be taken, it is what I usually take when I am at my school and had to make it to the train platform.”
“You should know that for the royal family and their friends,” Luna began with a tone that William could only guess she was smiling at the idea of having a guest through the tunnels was now prancing a little as she continued to speak. “Get to use special tunnels that get to let them move quickly about when we have to, we don’t like using them too much but when discretion is needed, it is good to use them.”
William blinked as they entered the building that was carved into the wall, whose architecture to William felt like it was as if part of a European fortress, or maybe helm's deep had been merged into the rock wall. He was reminded as well of the temple from Last Crusade as well. Still they passed below the archway of the station and William had a chance to see a few carvings that seemed to hold significance with the way Celestia brush a wing over them. Her doing the action covered up a lot of the carvings but William was sure he saw a carving of a circle of something, but then he was through the portal and inside a spacious waiting room that made Grand Central Station seem small and dressed up like a country station compared to the grandeur that was showed case. William felt that this was to impress the visiting dignitaries and if he was one, especially one who never saw Canterlot, this was a grand first impression there were gems everywhere, rich paintings of history. He paused upon seeing something new. “Do the Elements of Harmony know they are some of the faces that dignitaries see?” William asked Celestia.
The mural that they were seeing was a rather stylized section of mural work that seemed to bleed together into a history of the Equestrian nation. “Oh, they know, they were asked to model a little after their award ceremony to honor them on resealing Discord.” Celestia only smiled a little. “It is also an easy way to give a warning to any dignitaries that if any of their nations were to say, go after one of them. They would have every ruling Alicorn on their doorstep geared for war.”
William blinked and looked at Luna, “ALong with their military guard?” He asked while thinking of three Alicorns and their troops behind them all ready for war.
“No, just three alicorns fully decked out to fight for their people.” The way Celestia spoke caused William’s mind to call up an empty field with three Alicorns standing their decked out with full armor just send a very cold shiver down his spin.
“That just seems colder and more ominous than anything I have heard.” He paused as he realized something. “The Alicorns power... you never used your full might against Chrysalis.”
Celestia only nodded her head with sadness. “I underestimated her powers, as well as how much to use of mine. If it was just her and her army, I would have unleashed all I had. But as she attacked within the castle itself I had to make sure I did not overdo it and scare my little ponies, but also so I would not harm or kill them in the backlash of anything I did.”
William paused and slowly nodded his head. “So you went with less power, and your look of shock at being overpowered?”
“Not my best moment.” She admitted as they walked through a field of magic that made him tingle a little. “We are in the royal passageways, so I would like you not to talk too much about them. The citizens know that they may exist, but not where they are.” William nodded his head to the agreement. “I take it you have some questions?”
“Uh yes, what were the elements of harmony for?” William asked in confusion, “I mean we have seen them used in our world on Nightmare Moon, twice, one by a storybook animation and the other... well I guess maybe how it happened. Then we learned they were used on Discord, twice, well three times if what I saw with Discord roaming around the castle is not a trick on my own eye.” Celestia laughed a little at that. “And finally this is postulation on the fans but we think you and Luna used them on King Sombra.”
Celestia looked at William with a curious eye. “Your world has seen much and I take it that some are making guesses?” She leaned in closer, “What are some of the guesses that your people have postulated about the future of Equestria?”
William looked at Celestia, “Only if you tell me what your plans were for Queen Chrysalis.” William and Celestia held a small staring contest as they walked down the hallway, William was focused on Celestia so he was not seeing much of the carvings of the hallway.
Celestia only smiled after a few moments of time passing. “Very well, I will tell you first and then you can tell me. Is that acceptable to you?”
William only nodded his head and upon seeing that Celestia answered the question. “It was a red herring.” William blinked and his mouth opened a little. “Well somewhat, I hoped Queen Chrysalis would have sent her minions to intercept the Element Holders, and knowing her, she would not harm them otherwise she wouldn’t have be able to use the ponies emotions.” William began to open his mouth only to have Celestia to cover it with a wing. “You are like Twilight in that you find a new question and you cannot wait to have some pony answer it, I shall answer about what Changelings feed on at a later date.” She looked up ahead. “You did promise to answer my question before we reached the school.”
William smiled and chuckled a little before falling silent. “As I was going to continue,” Celestia well, continued with her story. “Anyway, if Twilight and her friends got the Elements, I would have had them blast her brother, which would have restored his energy and broken the mind control. Instead something much more wonderful came about that I did not plan for. My Niece,” Here she paused and leaned in like a conspiracy whisper, “She is a niece by adoption.” she pulled back and smiled as William blinked at the rather shocking information to his mind was given. “Instead my niece and her to be wedded husband overwhelmed the Changelings, her love powered his magic which then turned that power and energy into his bubble that then pushed all the changelings out past the badland mountains.” She smiled as they passed through another magic force field.
“Now,” Celestia spoke like one that was eager to hear something good, “What are some of your thoughts, or the fans thoughts on the future of the show?”
William blinked and gulped, “Uh well, there were rumors of the season finale, or rather the last show before a long pause to let animators and voice actors work for the next group of episodes, a group of episodes are called seasons.”
“Interesting, and what season did you leave at?” Celestia asked and smirked a little at the befuddled look William gave her.
“Three your highness, and for the finale, there were rumors that somehow Twilight would become an Alicorn as well.” he took a breath and closed his eyes missing the action that Celestia did, but he did hear a suppressed laugh from Luna before Celestia made a motion to continue as he opened his eyes. “As for me? I don’t make predictions, I have learned long ago that what I think will happen never comes to pass, or if it does it does so in a very different manner than what I thought.”
“Most interesting,” Celestia continued. “Does it work?”
“well, based on the leaked images that showed up on the Equestria Daily, one of about two major news sites that report on the Bronies around the world, it looks like it worked as they have a vector all drawn out.”
Celestia only smiled as if what she was hearing was funny. “Humanity seems to be more interesting then I have given credit. I really do hope we can reopen dialog with them.”
William blinked. “Reopen?” his voice showing confusion at the word.
“Well yes,” Celestia stated. “After all the pathway was opened and you came through, so the pathways should exist as after images that we can use to reopen the pathway. As you might say, the path once made is easier to find a second time.”
William only nodded his head, “That makes sense, like how a nerve in the brain the more you use it, the more set it becomes.” He smiled. “So in a way magic can be a way of the nerves, once done it is easier to do the more you work at it.”
“That is a good continuation of an idea, if you were a Unicorn I think I would have enjoyed seeing you in a conceptual magic course.” She was smiling at the conversation before looking up. “Ah, we need to take a left and we shall be at the school. I hope you like what we have thought up for helping you hide from the Black Suns.”
William looked at Celestia, “How can I like something that I have not seen, nor even heard about. This is all rather hush hush at the moment so I cannot really form my own opinion.” He paused before adding another phrase. “Your majesty.” He had learned in the car ride that she did not like the rather familiar tone he had started to take with the Ruling Sisters, she didn’t care what her sister had him do, but William was to use one of her titles while they talked either in private or public. Words she said still ringing in his ears. “Only Twilight and if her friends can get over their own fears they too may call me Celestia, anyone else, especially foreign dignitaries should always address me with one of my titles.”
as these word reran through his head they walked through a set of double ornately carved doors carved of some kind of hardwood and were suddenly in a small alcove with worn stones and for some reason William had the feeling in the air of once more being in a hall of learning. It might be the giggling and laughter echoing through the hallways that also tipped him off that this was a school. He smiled before they turned a corner and the smile dropped as he saw a hallway that looked more like a hallway from a frontier prison. “Uh?” he managed to get out.
Luna was the pony to start talking here. “This is for their own protection, each room is lined by magic dissipating runes and statis markers. Meaning that even if a spell goes out of control it will not rebound upon the student, nor can it destroy the school either. These rooms were built for safety.” She turned her head as she smiled as they continued down the hallway.
“However, as I thought, the future Element of Magic by hatching a magical resistant egg we knew that the normal classrooms of magic practice would not be enough, so we built a larger room, what we call the royal chambers for the Element of Magic to practice without turning any more ponies into plants.” There were a few chuckles and William wondered if Twilight ever did live that down in the academic circles, or did she see that as a bit of pride in what she did, he paused in his thinking as he realized that might be where her modesty came from. At least it was worth a thought.
They soon were approaching the end where a very heavy door stood set in the stone and William got this feeling in his gut that this would be where the scientists and government agencies would keep dangerous or an unknown creature all locked up and secured. As they walked closer William thought he was hearing singing or, talking? he was not totally sure but he felt, he saw the others looking confused before walking to the door a little faster. William followed and he blinked and raised both eyebrows as Luna yanked the door open and inside the room was a padded room that a miniature Discord was bouncing around in and following behind was a certain pony that William thought didn’t exist outside of the fandom.
Celestia and Luna looked in from the doorway. Celestia actually chuckled. “I see you found a Pony that absorbed a bit of your magic.”
“Oh Yes, and tomorrow I plan to finalize those tedious paperwork.” he yawned rather big, in fact his mouth grew larger than his head for a moment before returning to normal. “Still, this is amazing, I have my first friend in Fluttershy, and now, now I have a daughter that, oh my you have been right, My chaos can still work in your world but not in ways that harm ponies. Like they were harmed in the first place.” He turned around and William had a feeling he was making fun of the two sisters. Yet they were unmoved and did not react to his barb at least William considered it a barb.
“Oh Daddy, is that a human?” The rather dull pink purple pony with a baseball and screw on her flank asked as she, Will only closed his left eye partway as some of his muscles contracted as his might tried to comprehend the thought that an earth pony was floating in midair and was moving at the moment like she was swimming in water.
William just looked at Luna and Celestia before turning back and finding the pony with the dark purple mane with white highlights staring right into his eyes. Her eyes had swirls where the color should be of the same color of her hair and white streaks as well. “Oh, I can see a natural source of chaos, not as big as my daddy’s power, but still humanity can be chaotic in their choices.” She looked at Celestia, “See not all chaotic energy is bad, just, Daddy didn’t know what can happen or didn’t care, but now he does.” She looked back and Discord only nodded his head smiling with a goofy grin as if, William’s eyes widened as something clicked. This was really a father looking at a child with pride as they worked to be like, William faced palmed. “Oh my, this is bothersome.”
Celestia only smiled as Discord began to chuckle. “Ah the human sees my grand plans and he has only seen my little Screwball for less than five minutes. Oh the Nightmares did wonderfully well in all but one thing.” These words caused William to look up and stare at Discord. Discord uncurled himself and still remaining about Pony size also swam through the air towards William and leaned in to speak into William’s ear. “That one thing was to make you angry and afraid, they gave you a target to focus on... good thing too or who knows the trouble you would have gotten into here without such a resolve.” He pulled back and chuckled at all present. “Oh!!!!” he gasped upon seeing the pony that was hiding very close to Luna. “A child of Luna, I thought I would never live to see the day.” There was a flash of light and he was all old with a cane and small round glasses without rims. “Why, I remember when she was just a filly who got her cutie mark taking control of my moon. Oh that was a month I would never forget.” he laughed a little. “I think she should be the first for your plans... soothe the fears of the human, after all,” Here his voice actually took on a rare serious tone, “You do not know what magic will fully do to a human, I don’t even know and I look forward to seeing this experiment.” He cackled again, “After all, chaos is chaos and humanity without much pushing has shown such wonderful mayhem.”
“How?” William asked but did not get to finish as another flash of light blinded him and he saw himself staring at Discord in that blasted full dress uniform of a four star general once more.
“Oh my fine soldier out of time and space, I know many great things that would just turn your head.” he paused before deadpanning the next sentence. “Literally, it would turn your head completely around.” He paused and looked at Screwball. “Now child, can you go run along and find Auntie Pinkie and play with her? I think some of the power houses of Equestria have some work to do.”
“Okay Daddy, I can’t wait till you show me how to make Candy Clouds.” She giggled and swam off through the door that slammed shut with the sound of laughter replacing metal slamming against metal and stone. The event made William unable to fully concentrate as his brain told him that it was not right and there should have been metal slamming metal.
William blinked as he looked at the others in the room. “No offense to the being of chaos in the room, but that was, way too random and insane for my tastes, now Nathan on the other hoof,” He paused and shook his head, “Hand, on the other hand Nathan would be laughing his head off and loving every single moment of this conversation.” A small look of horror spread over his face. “Discord can’t... give chaos magic to others.... can he?”
“While that would be fun and very chaotic, I cannot, but I can awaken the chaotic magic in those that have it, and your friend sounds like he might have some already... oh I would love to visit your world.” A flash of light and a tall scandinavian man was standing where Discord was and was smiling with pure malicious and a insane look in his eye.
William just stared at the armor clad man. “Loki... You are telling me that you, YOU Are the basis of Loki? The Norse God of Mischief and Chaos?”
“OH no,” Discord chuckled as another flash of light and he was his own form again. “Loki is a half brother twice removed in the realm of chaos lords. Though last I heard he stopped going to your world as you humans have enough chaos energy happening in the wild that he felt he could move on. Frankly, in the realms and circles of Chaos your world is a perfect little ball of chaos and order mixing together into a great big storm of energy.”
“Anyway,” Celestia interrupted, her voice causing the conversation to stop at the moment. “I think we should move back to the subject at hoof.” She seemed to be smiling at William’s slip of the tongue. “We have lots to do and a rather short time frame to do so.”
The others only nod their heads as Luna and Celestia moved to the center of the room. “Now,” Celestia spoke as she took the center of the room. “I believe it should be shown as to what we have planned for you two before we implement the plans.”
Luna began while shooting a look at her sister. “We have decided that the best disguise would be a simple shape misdirect for other races eyes. You will remain in your current shape, but any others who will see you will see what we have placed as your disguise.” She looked at William. “That means that you will be a Unicorn as that would be the easiest to explain as to why you can pick things up and manipulate them with your hands. Those that do not know better and even those that do, will just see a magic aura doing the work you are doing.”
Celestia nodded to Luna as a signal for her to continue. With eyes closed and concentration furrowed brows magic slowly charged up her horn before a flash of blue light spread out from her. As the light faded or William’s sight returned, he was unsure of which was happening he saw two shapes, he shook his head, no four shapes just grouped into two shapes.
The shape on his left was Moondust in the back with a blue earth pony with gold mane and tail. On the flank was a cutie mark of a seedling coming from a small cartoonish mound of dirt. “Moondust, thy name shall be under guise of Fertile Seeds.” She smiled at the phrase. “A good earth pony name.” William smiled at the name and image before looking back at the other image. He recognized himself in the back but the image in front of him was not something he thought would be true. It was a Unicorn, grey in color and fur pattern. The mane and tail was black as night and his cutie mark was a white star with a white trail behind it. “Your name shall be Shooting Star and you are, well we have not fully yet agreed on your position just yet.” She smiled a little and William saw his image pick up an apple and their was an apple enveloped in a red magic aura, the same color as his eyes.
William only smiled and watched wide eyed. “Woah.” he breathed out in awe. “So, my hands will become magic to the outside world, most simple and easy to hide. Very good on that.” He smiled and watched at the four images vanished into stardust as Luna finished the projection.
“Moondust, Step forward and be ready to be given your guise.” Luna smiled a little as she held up a small clasp with a crescent moon on it. “This shall be the source of your guise. You shall be wearing it in your mane either side is fine whenever you are outside of the Lunar Tower.” She smiled softly as Moondust slowly and with reservation easy to read on her muzzle as she took a single step at a time into the middle as the three powerhouses as Discord called themselves formed a three pronged outer circle.
Luna was the first to start as her magic began to grow with her blue colored magic as it started to hum already over her horn. Celestia was next with a pure white color while Discord held out both of his hands or paws and swirling balls of changing magic grew in both paws, or hands. William was not sure what to really call them in his mind. Suddenly Luna’s magic seemed to hit a pinnacle and shot out to Celestia’s horn and one of Discord’s paws and as William watched laces of magic began to weave along the solid white line between horn and paw, as well as horn to horn. Suddenly from Celestia a surge of magic from her horn went to Luna and Discord and then Discord’s magic shot out to the two Alicorns in a thick line of changing colors that were more than just the rainbow. William jumped once more as the magic soared into the sky to create a three sided pyramid shaped structure that now completely hide Moondust. As he watched all the sides of the pyramid filled in with white, blue, and changing colors to where it hurt William’s eyes causing him to turn around as no sooner than he did so he felt a blast of heat and wind emanate from the magic structure that blew over him. He moved back to look at the middle as he moved a hand to rub on the stubble of seven days of growth. He blinked and shook his head how it was now November Seventh. Eight days in Equestria William thought to himself, eight days was enough time to show that he was having a patchy beard. His mustache was pencil thin and slowly coming in better than the chin goatee he might end up with, with patchy sideburns. He wasn’t minding the stash, but the horrible beard was making him look rather unprofessional and the trouble was, there were no shaving kits, as every sentient creature had fur, their was really no need for shaving or razors it seems, at least nothing fit for a human.
He was brought out of his musing with a bab to the back of the head by Luna. Her voice showing she had asked the same question before but was going to repeat it again. “What do you see?” Her other wing pointed out towards the center of the room.
William focused his eyesight and grinned. “Exactly what you said would happen. I see an Earth pony.”
The new Earth pony smiled and looked down at a hoof. “I see my normal coat but a ghost image over it of my disguise.” She was happy in her voice. “Oh this is going to be so much fun,” her face fell a little. “Are you sure you want me as a keeper of your moon gardens?”
Luna smiled at Moondust. “Of course I do Fertile Seeds, did you think I would have asked if I didn’t hope for an yes? Besides, this way we have an excuse to speak more and get you acclimated to Equestrian culture.” She paused and looked back at William. “That might be a good idea for you to join as well. So you both would not suffer making mistakes in public.”
Celestia only smirked. “I think William would have a better means, he is a Unicorn with a cutie mark of learning planned, any mistakes he makes would be chalked to being eccentric, and with Fertile Seed, from being removed from big city politics, both back stories work well for both to learn on the job of societies small quirks.”
Luna blinked but sighed a little. “I guess you are right dear sister.” She looked down now.
Celestia chuckled at something she found funny, “Doesn’t mean you can’t still have those meetings, it would just have to be under other circumstances, say, teaching Shooting Star some Lunar Magic? Or maybe letting him compile the first history of your first three to four years of your reign dear sister. Or Fertile Seed how to care for your unique plants, flowers and trees.”
Luna only smiled, “That I guess sounds better than my original idea, thank you dear sister.”
“What are sisters’ for?” Celestia replied with a slight smile on her muzzle.
“Oh gag me, can we get on with this so I can go teach my daughter how to craft chaotic rain clouds? I am thinking of making it snow strawberry sherbet.” a disgruntled being of chaos muttered crossing his arms while making a gagging motion with his tail. This action actually made William laugh a little at the antics before shaking his head missing the smile that was now on Discord’s face as another positive reinforcement was shown of how simple chaos could work better than turning an entire town upside down.
Luna and Celestia only rolled their eyes at each other before walking back to their original spots as they motioned William to step forward and into the center as Fertile Seed or Moondust stepped out as hoof brushed the moon clip in her mane, a smile of joy on her muzzle. William however did stop her to ask a question, “Did it hurt?”
Fertile Seed shook her head. “Not really, it did tingle, like your entire body went to sleep on you, but your mind is still awake.” She continued walking to where William had stood before as William took to standing in the middle.
“Please, take a seat.” Celestia spoke, “The closer you are to being about the size of the disguise the better the spell would work, and I would rather if anything did happen, you would have less height to fall from.”
William only smiled a little. “I will keep that in mind, Thank you your majesties,” He turned around, “Discord.” he turned back to face forward. Which happened to be looking right at Luna, the same direction that Moondust had faced as well. He nodded his head once more before sitting down by pulling his knees up and wrapped his arms around the knees grinning a little at the events to come. “Hello freedom.” he whispered moments before the lights connected together and blasted into the skeleton three sided pyramid. However before he had to close his eyes to keep from being blinded he thought it looked like a four sided pyramid. Darkness greeted him right before they were invaded by light, even with his eyes closed it felt like he was staring into a flashlight. Even as the magic flowed through him he was unsure of the feelings his brain was receiving he felt like his body was off. It was here that his body felt like it became nothing but pin and needles, it hurt and tickled at the same time and he was unable to even make a vocal sound it was so confusing.
Suddenly just as quickly as it all started it faded and he found himself regaining his senses and he felt like he was on his hands and feet, well, no, yes he was on his hands and feet but his back felt level. He slowly opened his eyes and saw Luna looking at him with an unreadable expression, well maybe a little as her mouth was opened a little in a confused looking o shaped mouth and her body, He blinked and looked down to see a pair of dark olive green hooves. He told his mind to lift his left hand, the left hoof lifted up.
The very next thing he knew he was opening his eyes while laying on his side and the room had changed. “What?” he spoke in confusion, he felt energized and ready to get to work, the fatigue he had been ignoring earlier was completely gone and he smiled as he tried to sit up. Only to find that his body was not wanting to work correctly. He made a face before trying again getting halfway before a blue glow surrounded him and covered his vision tinting the world.
“Easy, Easy.” Luna’s voice softly sounded in the air. “Take it easy, there was,” Their was the sound of a loud explosion and William turned his head only to see two shapes dart by the window that was above the couch he was on.
“Celestia is not happy,” Luna started again, “At the moment she and Discord are arguing over who’s magic changed at the last minute.” She paused and William caught her frowning as he turned his head to face her again. “However from what I gathered, we all experienced a spike or surge of magic. What concerns me is that room is built to prevent outside magic to effect anything that is performed there. Meaning something of immense power must have interfered, but why? For what ends?”
William could feel his face show one of worry, it was freaky feeling new ears change as well to show emotions. Luna he saw reacted to his emotions, “Oh no, your form is safe and in fact the Nightmares would never find you now, the last form had a very small chance of you being found out.” She looked to the door as their was knocking on it. “Come In.” She commanded.
One of her winged Lunar Guard walked into the room saluted and left a scroll on a small table by the door. While Luna went to read the scroll and left William free from her magic, he decided to look around this new location of the castle.
William blinked as he saw that the room was first of all larger than his own personal room. Second it looked like it was some kind of receiving room. Around the wall opposite from him were floor to ceiling bookcases full of books. In the middle of the room was a large crescent moon shaped table with pillow cushions around it. More than likely for some kind of meetings. He looked around and saw on the other walls were a mixture of paintings and weapons. William smirked a little. “Well, I sure would hate to be a burglar if this was a home in the US.” He was finding that his mind was at the moment on the cusp of remembering many histories of the weapons and books, and the paintings. he noticed in a corner what appeared to be a place that Luna was working on a new painting. At the moment it was covered with a sheet and hidden from prying eyes.
He blinked when a scroll dropped in front of his eyes as Luna spoke very softly, “Please read, this is your test results.” Her voice lowered as if ashamed over something, “Sorry for reading a report for your eyes.”
“Meh, you’re my commanding officer you need to know the medical status of your troops can’t really be a fighter if I run the risk of being a liability for others.” He slowly read the report only to stop midway and read much slower from the top. He read three more times some key paragraphs before looked at Luna. “Are you, so,” He looked at Luna. “We might want to get my blood tested now.” He paused, “If the report was true and nothing, not even the dragon blood on hoof was compatible...” He shivered. “Would I end up being run solely on magic charms and healings that. Can you magically create new blood? from samples?”
Luna shook her head. “maybe in twenty more years, but at the moment, we do it by blood donations of Ponies, thankfully our blood is less complicated. There are two types of blood per race, We just call them positive and negative. A Unicorn Positive can share with a Unicorn Positive.” She paused. “Their are so far only three universal donors, Celestia, Cadence, and myself.” She only smiled softly. “I am,” She paused. “If this is so, then-”
William finished the thought. “The outside force, could it have known that I was going to face an uphill battle that would kill me because I was the only blood type of my kind?” He looked down at his front hooves. “I, I have a lot to think about, and I might need to start getting use to my body.” William paused before looking right at Luna s she rolled up the scroll. “When can I return to my original form?”
Luna paused and chuckled a little, William saw her look away nervously, “A week,” She held a wing and spoke before he could speak over her further. “Because we need to teach thee how to fly, walk, and act like a Pony. After the week you can return to your human form as much as you like...” She paused and looked sideways. “But remember anytime you are Human, you have to either be in the castle, or an Alicorn must be at your side at all times.” She bowed her head. “I would advise utilizing this freedom as much as possible. But no matter where thou goest, I shall make it a policy to visit so thou mayest return to human if thou wish.”
“And, snub your duties?” William asked before shaking his head. “Princess, you must put your kingdom over one man, over me. I am just one person, a nobody and if anything a hindrance to your nation and governance.”
Luna did not say anything but she still kept her head turned, she finally turned her head and changed the subject. “Let us start with walking, okay? We can talk about duties later.”
William only nodded his head, “As your wish Luna. I will drop the subject for the moment.” He grunted as he tried to stand up on the couch only to fall on his face and his wings flared open as if trying to catch himself. “Ow,” He muttered into the couch muffling his voice. He ignored the small laugh Princess Luna gave.
Luna stopped her small laughter and smirked at seeing William’s body shaking from suppressed laughter himself. “I think we have the perfect idea of how to motivate thee to walk. I shall place a mirror at the other end of the room. Your reward for walking there is to see what your new body looks like.”
William gulped and slowly pushed himself once more up on the couch only to wobble and fall off the couch. “Ow.” he muttered once more. He blinked and laughed. “Well, good news is that I can practice on firmer surfaces.”
Luna laughed their. “Oh, if a normal Pegasus could have heard you, they all learn to walk on clouds, now that, we shall have to teach thee that later, come now, you can use that brain of yours to walk.”
William paused and grinned. “Of course, now.. you are a bit bigger than I, but, but the walking should be about the same?” William smiled and felt rather pleased at the smile and approving nod of the head. He blinked and cleared his mind and stood up again and slowly began to walk. He found that similar to newborn equines from earth he quickly picked up the ability to walk and actually prance and gallop a little. He got so caught up in the act of moving that he forgot about the mirror.
“WILLIAM!” Luna shouted in a normal voice. “Do you not want to see thyself?” The question froze William in place before he actually nodded his head and grinning a little he trotted to the mirror and looked into the surface.
What stared back at him was an alien face and features, and yet as he moved and the image moved he knew it was him. “Stupid magic gobbledygook.” he muttered, “What is the deal with the outside world dealing me with messed up card hands for life?” His expression was downcast at the moment as he realized he was, well for the week not see his human face.
A sad equine face stared back from the mirror. The Dark Olive Green coat stood out in contrast to the royal receiving room of Luna, his short cropped mud brown mane and tail were also contrast to his body and his tail flicked. That was an odd sensation as well that his mind was unsure if it liked it or didn’t. Finally he noticed something else. “A Cutie Mark?” he paused and blinked and He smiled a little. “I look like a Pony version of a war jeep.” He turned his head and body to look closer at the mark. A white five point star with the two prongs pointing to the ground and the single prong pointing up. “I guess this makes sense.” Still he was not too thrilled over this development.
Luna spoke from off to his side. “I want thee to know if I had my way, thou wouldst still be human but invisible to the Nightmares, it is not fun having one’s form changed against thine will by outside forces.” William saw Luna’s face in a frown as well from remembering something in her past.
William blinked and looked back at the mirror. “I will, learn to like this I think, This is not thine fault my princess.” He paused and shook his head. “Also I appear to be picking up more pony speak in this form.” He could only laugh, it was a mixture of bitterness and a bit of finding humor in a crazy situation. “I wonder how many bronies would like to experience this?” He trailed off before moving to walk around some more before he decided to stop and look at Luna. “Thank you,” He smirked at the confused look on Luna’s muzzle. “Thank you for helping me come to terms with this at this moment in time.” He paused and started walking to look at some of the paintings on the wall, he muttered something that caught Luna’s attention but he said nothing more. “It seems the nightmares have shaped us both similarly.” It was an idle comment, and both knew that this was a small fix to the bigger issue of dealing with a new body.
Luna shook her head and before she could allow herself to follow further down that train of thought she quickly took it another way. “let me tell you a little about these paintings, first of all, I painted them during my first year back,” As she talked she slowly eyed William’s form as she began to make a mental map of the armor he would be wearing later on.