Kenny waved goodbye as he left Luna to her sleep. They had finished up a board game with cuddling, right up until Luna's hoof sank a little low. At that point Kenny politely excused himself, making up an excuse that he had a meeting with Flash later in the day. Luna, having stayed up well beyond her usual bedtime, fell soundly asleep. She muttered about 'teasing' and 'domination'. Whatever that was supposed to mean. Kenny decided to go out riding again with Holly, she could use the exercise. Then Kenny remembered that he hadn't done anything with the Arcana in a while. He hopped by his room to extract the tome from his drawers. He found Flash waiting as he always was. Kenny always got up early to greet Luna before she headed off to bed, earlier than even most guards got up. All things considered, it was just easier that Flash waited for Kenny at beginning of each day.
"What's up?" Flash asked as Kenny walked into his room, following him in. "Are you and Luna still good?"
"As good as we can ever be." Kenny replied. "She is kinda rushing the sex thing though..." He began rooting around in his drawer's for the Arcana.
"I don't know why you're so opposed to it. You are of legal age and more than capable." Flash said, messing around with Kenny's Joyboy. "What's stopping you?" Kenny sighed.
"I don't know... I just feel like I'm not ready for it, you know?"
"I honestly don't. I lost my virginity in a drunken night of debauchery, if you recall. Never even had the chance to say no."
"Still... How are things holding up with Edith?" Kenny asked, book in hand and heading for the door. Flash followed suit, throwing the Joyboy to the bed.
"Fine, though I wish we could see each other more often. Her father is still upset about us hitting it off from right under his nose. We've been restricted to letters for a while now, and all she talks about is how much she wants to see me again." Kenny laid a brotherly hand on Flash's shoulder, offering a smile of support. Flash returned the smile and they continued walking.
"Where are we going?" Flash asked.
"No idea, wasn't paying attention."
"Oh!" Flash reached under his wing and pulled out two tickets. "Edith Sent us tickets to a concert in Manehattan!"
"What's the band?" Kenny momentarily forgot about the Arcana, interested instead in this band Edith thought they would like. She had once sent Kenny a roasted ham when he mentioned that he was getting sick of eating fish all the time.
"The End," Flash said as he scanned the tickets. "It's supposed to be tonight at eight. If we leave now by train we'll be able to see the sights as well as watch the show. What do you say?"
Kenny grinned. "I say we leave immediately!"
"I still can't believe you have a Statue of Liberty," Kenny said as he and Flash munched on carrot dogs. "I mean, you never had a Revolutionary War, so why do you have a Statue of Liberty?"
"It was a gift from the Gryphons after we fought off their tyrannical oppressor, Julius Goretalon. It is the symbol of the freedom that Gryphons have today thanks to Equestrian intervention." Flash explained as he munched away. "I always thought of it as a symbol of what Equestria stands for, Peace, Equality and Freedom."
Kenny wiped a mock tear from his eye, "That was beautiful Flash, a real tear-jerker."
"Shut-up you ass." The End had proven to be quite the band. Made up of a unicorn vocalist, pegasus drummer, gryphon guitarist and a zebra bass, they were quite the varied group. The music was a interesting variant of human alternative music, reminiscent of Linkin Park, yet still a brand of its own. The show had lasted long, and now Kenny and Flash roamed the still bustling streets of the city that never sleeps in search of the train station.
"What was this 'Revolutionary War' like?" Flash asked out of the blue.
"Huh? Oh.. What do you mean?" Kenny inquired.
"I mean, why was it fought? Who fought? Where? Basic stuff. It's gonna be another twenty minutes before we can get a cab so I would like to pass the time. I love old war stories." Flash looked expectantly up at Kenny.
"Well, the Revolutionary War was fought when a colony called America decided they were done with their mother-country, Britain, and rebelled. The colonists from thirteen colonies unified under the banner of liberty and justice for all and drove Britain out. Afterwards they would become a country of their own, the United States of America. It was the first country in thousand's of years to practice democracy as a form of government. Most thought it would fail." Kenny paused to finish off his carrot dog. "Yet it is now a major world power, as well as my home."
"What's democracy?" Flash asked.
"Democracy means 'rule-by-the-people'. It's a form of government where the citizens have a say in national matters. Decisions are decided by a vote, majority rules. It's an ancient method of rule made by the Greeks, one of the oldest known civilizations on my world, as a way to combat political corruption. This way, no one person has any say, he has to get others to support him."
"Weird, was political corruption common on your world?"
"Somewhat, usually you get a decent person in the seat of power. Every now and then though a snake slithers into it and a hell breaks loose. When only one person has all the power, it can be difficult to stop him from misusing it. The results are sometimes catastrophic on the whole part."
"Goes to show how great it is to have two, long-lived, kind Princesses in charge. It also helps that they do listen to the public," Flash commented before he bought two ciders from a street vendor, handing one to Kenny. "Does your world have anyone like the Princesses?"
"You mean a demigod? Nope." Flash punched him. "If you mean good rulers we had plenty. More than I care to mention."
"That's good, I was afraid your world was filled with dictators or something."
"Nah, the dick-tators just leave a more lasting impression."
Flash nodded in understanding. They continued walking along the street, the lights from various neon billboards illuminating the night. The sidewalks were littered with ponies going about their business, more often than not stopping to admire the biped tourist and his golden-armored companion. Flash and Kenny rounded a corner and right in to one of these ponies, Kenny and the stallion ending up on their respective rears.
"Hey, who do you think you araaAAAAHH!" Yelled the young stallion in a grey trench coat and fedora that had run straight into the stomach of Kenny. "Mr. Lee! I'm so sorry about that!" The stallion and Flash helped Kenny to his feet.
The flustered stallion rushed to apologize again, "I'm so sorry Sir! I should really watch were I'm going..."
"It happens," Kenny said as he dusted himself off. "Don't worr-"
"Can you do something for me?" The stallion quickly asked.
"Sure?" Kenny responded.
"I would really appreciate it if you could sign this for me." The stallion said, pulling out a comic book. Kenny grabbed from the stallion's mouth and examined the brightly colored cover, it was a stylized image of a human man wearing a short robe and some basic armor. A hood was pulled over his face and a sword was slung over his hip. He looked over a battlefield where more men clashed in some sort of epic struggle. The title was Earthbound. It was probably the coolest thing he had ever seen.
"My son loves these comics. His birthday's around the corner and I thought that maybe getting him the newest issue signed by a real human would be great. It would mean a lot..." Kenny suddenly whipped the comic straight.
"What's your son's name?" Kenny asks.
The stallion's face broke into a wide grin. "Fastball."
To Fastball, Don't forget to enjoy the greatest story of all, yours.
Sincerely, Kenneth Washington Lee.
Kenny wrote in magical letters. He wove an enchantment of his own design into it, a spell to make the comic's images move and live to the flow of the story. He gave the comic back to the stallion.
"Thank you Mr. Lee! You have no idea what this means to my son!"
"Au Contraire," Kenny said as he walked away, Flash Sentry in tow. "You have no idea what it will mean to him. Tata!"
Kenny was either unwilling to put-out or about as sexually aware as Twilight. She had tried everything to get him out of his shell, from pheromones to sub-conscious suggestion. Even wearing that racy saddle had no effect. She had watched her guards and five nobles faint at the sight. Kenny had given her one look and said, "That look's good on you." The compliment was nice but not nearly what she was going for. Once again, Kenny is immune to her feminine wiles. She was starting to think that his kind were sex gods in comparison to her's, numbing Kenny to her advances.
She had woken up to find that Kenny was far from home, having left with Flash earlier in the day to attend some event. Now she waited patiently in his room for him to arrive, she had been there for little over half an hour playing the frustrating game on his Joyboy.
"You will bow to me cretin..." She whispered as she delivered another series of powerful blows to the beast in the game. When it lied dead she looted its corpse for seven gold and a helmet. She thrust her hoof up in victory. These video games were great, giving her all the sense of fulfillment for half the effort. She again lost herself in a battle with another burly titan and never noticed Kenny walk into his room tired and weary. It had been a long, fun day of exploration and new things and now he wanted to rest. He threw himself into the bed, the resulting flop disturbing Luna at a crucial moment of battle.
"NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!" Luna yelled as the game played out the well-known tune of defeat. Kenny was shaken out of his tired stupor and forced to acknowledge the mare laying next to him. "You have killed me, Kenny Lee! Now you owe me and I intend to be repaid well!"
".....Eh?"
"So, how do you intend to repay me, hmmm?" Luna said, suddenly switching to a sultry tone. She climbed over him pinning him down with her body. "I wonder... How many kisses is a life worth?" Kenny rolled his eyes and attempted to get up, only to find he was quite well fastened to the bed. Luna was either heavier than she looked, or stronger. Now his face turned to an expression of fear.
"Well?" Luna said. Kenny opened his mouth to answer.
He got a tongue in his throat before he uttered even a syllable.
The kiss was heated, a little forced, and left Luna immensely satisfied. After she pulled away she found her significant other was wide-eyed in wonder.
"What in heck's name was That!" Kenny asked.
"That," Luna said smugly. "Was the first of many kisses I expect to get for you getting me killed. So hunker down, hot-stuff. We're going to be her a while."
One hundred and twenty-three kisses later, Kenny was free. Luna had some business to attend to, so Kenny needed to waste some time. He was thinking on just how to waste it when he remembered the neglected book in his pocket. He pulled it out and decided that if he was going to practice magic, now would be the best time. Now he headed off to read it...
It has been two months, three weeks, four days, fifteen hours, thirty-seven minutes since you've arrived here. Kenny had situated himself in Holly's Cave, as it had been taken to being called. The floor was littered with the various toys she has destroyed in her time here. A saddle made of elegantly carved wood and a padded seat. It was truly a marvel, little trees and vine motifs garnished it's polished oak surface. The satin seat was like a cloud. Perfect Fit had some great connections in the craftspony world.
Flash sat on said saddle reading more Attack on Sleipnir.
'What is that supposed to mean?' Kenny liked talking to the book with his head. It made him feel psychic.
You're time here has lasted long enough. You were only kept here so long because the hardships you faced were fewer than I judged necessary. You have suffered enough, and I will now give you the means to return home. Kenny stared at the words written, on the page. He had been here so long and had so much happen he had forgotten about going home. That he was stuck in Equestria for an indefinite amount of time. Now that time was up. He could go back home to his friends and family. Back to his reality.
Did he really want to?
Flash was the best friend he has ever had. They were practically brothers. Who else had a giant, wooden, wolf for a ride? Screw Porsche, Holly was better than any other ride he could think of. Then there was Luna.
Could he bring himself to leave Luna? She would be devastated. Not to mention the repercussions of breaking the heart of a demigod and more than likely pissing off her sister. What should he do? He turned to page, expecting to find the circle. Instead there was more words. You don't have to go. It is an option, nothing more. Despite all the bad things that have happened, an unprecedented amount of good things have as well. Your extended time here has left you with several anchors here. Know that you can return home anywhere and anytime you want. It is also not one way or the other. Once you leave, you are every bit as capable of coming back. If I can make a suggestion, go home and say something to your parents. They need to know if you plan to stay here. These words helped Kenny settle his thoughts. He silently thanked the Arcana.
"Flash, I need you to take Holly for a walk. You know the route." Kenny left the room before Flash could respond. If he was going to do this, he wasn't going to say anything to anyone. It's better that know one worries about him coming back. Kenny navigated his way through the castle till he reached his destination, the castle's long-forgotten dungeons. He headed into one of the cells and opened the Arcana. The page fell open to a perfect image of the portal's circle. ready for transcription on the stone wall.
Flash was riding Holly through the Canterlot hedge maze. The twists and turns entertained the timber-wolf to no end, especially when it was as dark as it was. Flash just let her run around the labyrinth as he continued reading his comic book. It was getting good too. The have just found out who the female sleipnir was. He put the comic down as the mind-blow did its min-blowing job. He just sat there, absorbing it all.
Then Holly stopped, vaulting the pegasus off her and into the grass with an 'oof!'
Flash grumbled as he got up from the ground, looking for his lost comic. He found it quickly, but made no move to retrieve it, seeing as it was at the feet of the Princess of the Night. Now he knew why Holly had stopped.
"P-Princess Luna!" Flash said, saluting. "What do you need your highness?"
Luna was worried, she and her sister had felt a flux in the magic fields around the castle. Something had happened, and whatever it was had altered the space-time continuum, if but for a moment. Celestia and Luna had come to the same conclusion, Kenny was involved. The only other being that had access to space-time altering spells was Discord, and he was last reported as being in Las Pegasus. Luna hoped Flash knew what had happened.
"Do you know where Kenny is?" Luna asked him.
"No, ma'm," Flash responded. "He had asked me to walk Holly and left."
"This is not good..." Luna muttered.
"Permission to speak freely Ma'm?"
"Granted." Luna hoped he had something useful to say, or she would not be responsible for what would happen next.
"He had the Arcana," Flash stoically said. "He had been reading it when he left. I would venture to guess he is testing a spell right now."
There, now it was confirmed. Kenny must have cast a dimension altering spell. That was what she and her sister felt. If only she could pinpoint where he casted it.
"Thank you Flash, as you were." Luna flew off, leaving Flash to hope that whatever it was his buddy had gotten into, he was safe.
It was all so weird. It seemed like forever since he was just in his room. He was hit by an unexpected wave of nostalgia as he walked around the very place he had spent his childhood in. He slid his hand over his mahogany writing desk, a little amazed that there was no dust, even though he had been gone gone for literally zero seconds thanks to setting the portal right. He was home.
Kenny picked up his laptop and examined the expensive, top of the line device. He hadn't realized how much he missed technology until now. He opened the laptop and surfed the web for the first time in what seems like forever. A little disappointed that there was nothing new, he reminded himself that he had been gone for no time at all by this world's standards. He left his laptop on his desk and decided to find his parents. He didn't really know how to break the news that he was leaving to live a life in another reality with a princess without sounding bat-shit insane, but he was sure he could if he tried.
Kenny walked to the door and gripped the handle, breathing deeply in preparation. He opened his door and nearly shat his pants when his Mother was standing right there. The feeling was mutual.
"Kenny! Don't scare me like that!" Kenny's Mother held a hand to her chest. Kenny would have said something if he hadn't been overcome by the pure feels that only a mother can somehow procure. Kenny rushed to his Mom and hugged her, glad to see her again. She was a little surprised. "And here I thought you said you were too old to hug your Mommy," She joked.
"Whatever, Mom..." Kenny said as he let her go. "Where's Dad?"
"That's actually why I'm here. Some men have arrived telling us you have a scholarship!" Kenny's Mom happily clapped her hands together. "They're from a prestigious and exclusive school and would like to invite you to their campus!" Kenny would have been more interested if he didn't have a girlfriend to get back too.
"That's cool and all, Mom, but I have some news of my own to tell-"
"It can wait." His Mom seized him in her iron grip and forcefully steered him downstairs and to the living room where an older, white-bearded man was having a nice conversation with Kenny's father. Two more much younger man in black suits
"Well Mr. Lee, I can assure you that all costs will be covered and your son will be given the best education we can provide. Your son is exactly what we have been looking for at our school. His has talents that go far beyond the usual, the kind of talents that only we can teach him to harness. Ah! Here comes the man now!" The older man rose from his seat and bowed as Kenny approached. "Master Lee, it is nice to see the young man me and my colleagues have heard so much about." He outstretched one of his thin, knobbly hands to Kenny as he introduced himself, "I am Alfred Myrddin, from the Academy for Gifted Individuals. We would like it if you would consider attending our school." The man's voice was as smooth as silk and had the quality of being quiet without you having to strain to hear him.
"I d-don't know what to say..." Alfred's eye's twinkled at Kenny's words.
Well, well, well, you have been far, Master Lee. Kenny's eyes widened in shock when he heard the man's voice in his head. Sorry, I would have thought you would expect this.
Who are you?
If you will allow it, your new mentor and friend, fellow wizard and friend of Equestria.
"Luna, I doubt he would leave without saying anything." Celestia held her shaking sister's body. Luna and Celestia had found the dungeon cell he had used to travel home. The spell he cast was undoubtedly a portal. The Arcana must have finally let him go home.
"HE DOESN'T LOOVE MEEEEE!!!!" Luna wailed. "Why else would he leave without saying anything?"
"Because he intends to return? Because he did not want to worry you?" Celestia calmly said. "He cares more than you know. He will be back Luna, I promise."
Luna sighed miserably and instead snuggled even closer to her sister's embrace.
"Princesses!" Flash came running into the cell. "You have got to see this!"