The early hours of the day, more specificly the early hours of Hearts And Hooves Day. From what Sutakira could find out, it was similar to Valentine's Day on their World. Sutakira was currently walking Applejack back to Sweet Apple Acres. Though she insisted she didn't need someone to look out for her, he did it because it was the right thing to do. "Well if ya insist on walking me home, can I ask ya something?" the cowpony asked gaining a nod. "Have you noticed anything different about Big Mac? He seems kinda quiet.".
Sutakira had to go over that statement again, "Big Mac and quiet? Like that is anything new!" he said jokingly, gaining a chuckle from his friend. She had to admit she could have phrased that better, "I mean, more quieter than usual. He seems... unsure of himself. Could ya and the other guys talk to him about it?", she asked him. He promised to talk with the others about it, gaining a grateful smile from his orange friend, "Thanks, partner! I think he's had more fun hanging out with you guys lately... The same is true for me.", she admitted with a small blush, though Sutakira didn't notice it.
"Your birthday is coming up soon, right?" Sutakira asked, gaining a nod from his friend. "I was just wondering if you had anything planned for that day.". Applejack thought about it for a minute before shaking her head, "Not really. I'm probably just gonna stay home with the family. I'm fine with keeping it low-key. I don't want a big old party just for become a year older." she said much to Sutakira's surprise.
"Better hope Pinkie doesn't have anything planned. But Knowing her, she probably already does." he said with a chuckle as his orange friend had to chuckle herself.
Meanwhile over at Canterlot Castle, Skywalker was standing on one of the towers, looking over the city while thinking about what he had found out a few weeks ago. It was true what Celestia had said about only being able to talk to someones ghost or spirit if your related to them. He was certain that Aether wasn't some fabric of his very messed up brain, but that only left one other option. He had to tell Luna about him possibly being related to Celestia, but he was scared to do so. He just felt so happy being with her, he wanted it to continue for as long as possible.
"Is something wrong, beloved?" the voice of his girlfriend brought him out of his train of thought, as he saw the blue eyes of his significant other looking worriedly at him as she landed next to him. "It's nothing Lulu. I have just been wondering... Did Celestia ever had a child or anything?", he asked her with a reassuring smile. Now she knew he was hiding something, though he had that annoying thought that he had to be some sort of Superman that doesn't have any weakness or flaws.
"You didn't heard this from me... but yes." Luna told him as she explained what happened. A thousand years ago, Celestia was... intimate with a knight named Caelumaruku. Even though Luna was still young at the time, she knew Celestia had given birth to his child but not what had happened to it. "I see... Lulu, there is something I must tell you." he said as he started to explain.
Celestia was sitting in her personal study as she looked out of the window. It had been a eventful few years, thanks to the Harmonic Heroes, she had her sister back, Discord got sealed back into stone, Chrysalis was now imprisoned in her castle along with her Changelings. They even had managed to defeat Sombra and free the Crystal Empire from his dark grasp. Though all those victories were because of their friendship, she couldn't help but think of the one behind it all, Jason Sephiroth Skywalker. As soon as he arrived in Equestria, he stood up to Nightmare Moon, became their leader, gathered people. Equestria has come to revere him as their greatest hero and a icon, someone they could look up to and be inspired to be like. And yet, she couldn't shake the feeling she knew him, as her thought drifted back to twenty years ago.
Canterlot Castle, Throne Room, Twenty years ago.
It been an average day for the ruler of Equestria, some nobles asking her to solve their problems, trade discussion with foreign diplomats, the usual. But all that changed when a guard came rushing in, shouting something about two two-legged creatures asking for an audience. Excited that something different was happening, they're request was approved.
Much her surprise, two ape like creatures entered the throne room, a man and a woman. The man was tall with a muscular build. He wore a black long coat with a single white pauldron on his right shoulder, white armored boots and black trousers. The top of his coat is open to reveal his chest. His hair is spiky in the back, and he has chin-length bangs that parted down to frame both sides of his face.
His companion was obviously a woman, she was dressed in a light gray long sleeved hooded shirt with a sleeveless dark brown leather wrapping, trousers, leather calf braces, leather wrap arm bracers, a white sleeveless surcoat, and leather foot wear. Her long very dark almost black reddish hair fell over her shoulders. What struck Celestia the most was her faintly glowing amber eyes, they looked similar to her deceased coltfriend.
Both the figures have a small bow before her as a sign of respect. The male was the first to speak up unfazed by the unicorn guards who had him under aim, watching his every move. "Good afternoon your highness. My name is Marc Morgenstern, Keyblade Knight First Class and this is Superius Knight, Lily Skywalker.", Marc introduced both of them as the woman gave Celestia a respectful nod. "A pleasure to meet you. Though I assume that you did not request an audience with me just to say hallo." Celestia said, gaining a nod from the duo.
"Indeed, time is of the essence so I shall speak plainly. We came to you with a warning.", Marc explained to her, making the guards even more nervous than they already were. "We are at war with The Outsiders, rebels who have turned away from The Council and are waging war on all Worlds. The Superius Order and The Council have joined forces to protect the Worlds and put a stop to them. Our side is currently winning the war, The Outsiders are on the run and we have it on good Intel that they are planning to take their final stand right here in Equestria. We're not asking you to fight at our side, all we ask is that you do everything in your power to protect the lives of your subjects.".
Celestia was intrigued by this, not only had humans survived Discord's onslaught of them, but they survived the separation of the Worlds. She had no reason to trust the two in front of her, but she had sworn to protect the citizens of Equestria. For some reason, the sincerity in the voice of this Marc Morgenstern convinced her that helping them was the right thing to do. This also gave her an excuse to talk to this, Lily Skywalker. "Alright, Morgenstern, Skywalker. I will not only protect my citizens, but my army will fight along side yours. Together we will make sure the threat of The Outsiders ends here.", she declared as the two humans in front of her nodded respectfully.
Celestia was brought out of her reminiscing by a knock on the door, feeling a certain aura creeping through the door, she already knew who it was. "Come in Jason, the door is open." she said with a smile as the young man who she had come to see as the son she never had walked in to the room. Much to her surprise, his usual calm and relaxed expression was replaced by one of worry and nervouse. "Something wrong, Jason?" she asked as she gestured him to take a seat. "Yeah, there is something..." he said taking a seat in the chair on the other side of her desk.
A few hours later, Phoenix woke up in his bed. It was this day of the year again, the day it all changed for him. After taking a long shower and dressing himself in a simple dark blue jeans and a red t-shirt. Walking downstairs he could see Big Macintosh waiting for him, much to the others surprise. "Phoenix, I need your help. According to the other guys you have been with a lot of women.", the red stallion started, he wanted this day to confess his crush on Fluttershy, though he had no idea how to go about it. Sure Phoenix annoyed him sometimes, but their was no denying he knew his way with the ladies.
"...So your saying I'm a man whore?", Phoenix responded emotionless, this surprised Big Mac. The response he got was in character for him but what happened to his usual energetic and excited tone he used to say it, as if you were talking to a male Pinkie Pie. "I didn't mean it like that!" Big Mac quickly said but he was cut off by Phoenix. "Big Red, I would love to help you get rejected by Sunshine any day of the week. But not today.", Phoenix said as he headed out of the door, the way he said it, as if he was dead inside left Big Mac completely shocked. "What just happened?" Big Mac said to himself as Sutakira came down stairs, seeing the surprised look on his friends face.
"Ah, its that day again..." Sutakira said sadly after Big Mac explained what happened. Noticing the confused look on his friends face, Sutakira explained what was getting the normally genki-boy Phoenix down. "This is the day Phoenix lost both his sister and father.", he said gaining a a shocked gasp from Big Mac.
After his short conversation with Big Mac, Phoenix landed on one of the higher hills surrounding Ponyville. Taking a seat on one of the benches he stared down to the village he had come to love. The people and ponies he cared about the most lived here, except two girls, a guy, a moose and a snowman but they are a different story. Some of them he had come to see as family, though the scar this day had left would never truly heal. He couldn't help but think back at that faithful day.
Fourteen years ago, United Federations. A seven year old Phoenix was sitting outside his dad's office with his ten year old sister. Their father was some higher upper councilman or something he didn't understood yet. Their mother died seven years ago, when she gave birth to Phoenix. Sometimes he felt he killed her but both his sister and especially his dad assured him that was not true. But seeing as their dad had to work all the time, this left the two sibling to spend most of their time together.
Today was the start of their dad's vacation, he had asked what they wanted to do but all they wanted was spend time with him. After a few minutes later, Charles Phoenix came out his office. Appearance wise, he looked like Phoenix when he would be forty years old, the only difference was that his hair was brown as opposed to both his kids who had inherited their mother's red hair but he was happy that both his children had inherited his purple colored eyes. Taking both his kids hands, they prepared to leave when suddenly one of his colleagues came running up to him, he seemed panicked.
"Charles! We have a big problem! The UF Council have called for a vote for 'Plan Sentinel' and they placed ships around New Genesis.", the colleague, gaining a shocked look from Charles. Before either of his kids could ask anything, their dad rushed off to the conference room as they quickly followed him.
As they neared it they could hear a heated debate raging. "A attack with so much force on such a small country will only generate more hate from the Supremehumans and garner more support from their cause.", one congress woman said.
"Please, force is the only thing a man like Marc Morgenstern understands! Have we forgotten how he sacked Los Angeles?" another congress man asked as they entered the room. "We can't support a weapon that targets our own citizens. If these Supremehumans as you describe are living here, they are living here peacefully!" another one argued as a loud crack was heard above them.
Their debate was interrupted as the roof was ripped off the building, they could see that it was the Dark Messiah, Marc Morgenstern, himself levitating the roof with his mind as he slowly floated inside, softly landing on the ground.
With a wave of his hand, five mirrors with obsidian markings appeared above him, broadcasting what he is about to say across the entire planet and showing the UF Council that he knew about 'Plan Sentinel', weapons meant to hunt down those with special powers. He gave one last look at the plans before addressing the UF.
"You plan to built these weapons to destroy us. Why? Because you are afraid of our gifts? Because we are different? Humanity has always feared that which is different. Well, I'm here to tell you, to tell the world, you're right to fear us.", he told them, his voice was calm but behind it they could feel his rage, "This morning, in a small country city in the USA, a young Supremehuman was killed. He was but a child, he had done nothing to deserve that. And I have sworn that if any Supremehuman would be killed, I will be their avenging angel. Anyone who stands in our way will suffer the same fate. Today you wanted to display your power. Instead, I give you a glimpse of the devastation my race can unleash upon yours. Let this be a warning to the world." he declared before turning his attention to one of the mirrors, "And to my brothers and sisters out there, I say this: no more hiding. No more suffering. You have lived in the shadows in shame and fear for too long. Come out. Join me.", he declared turning his attention back to congress.
Much to his surprise Charles had walked up to him. After telling his kids to stay behind, Charles rushed down to the stage, while Charles himself wasn't a short man by any means, even he had Morgenstern tower over him. "Please, Lord Morgenstern, don't do this. You'd be giving Anti-SH supporters exactly what they want, a reason for humanity to fear and hate us..." he argued with the Dark Messiah, and much to his surprise, Charles wasn't blasted to bits the second he spoke up. "You think they need a reason? How long will it be before they turn on you, Charles Phoenix? Or forbid, they would go after your little Ashley or Kyle when they suspect they might be one of us?", Morgenstern argued back, gaining a shocked look from Charles, how did he knew his secret.
Unbeknownst to either man, snipers had slowly taking up shot, taking aim at the Dark Messiah but one of his rival congressmen had ordered a shot to be taken at Charles as well. Noticing a small red dot on Morgenstern chest, Charles didn't think as he pushed him quickly out of the way as shot were fired, Charles taking the full blunt of the attack. In a fit of rage, Morgenstern fired at the snipers with his Azure Beams, destroying the balcony. The room was throw into chaos as soldiers entered the room taking shots at the Dark Messiah and congress members trying to get to safety. Morgenstern didn't even bother to dodge their bullets as all of them simply bounced off him.
Ashley Phoenix was trying her very best to protect her little brother but a shot was fired and something warm leaked from his stomach. The last thing Phoenix remembered was the screams of his sister slowly fading away as a cold blackness swallowed him.
Back in the present, Phoenix was brought back from his reminiscing as he heard heavy hoofsteps walking towards them, turning around he saw a nervous looking Big Mac standing behind him. "Uhm... Hi. This seat taken?" he asked nervously. Phoenix gestured for him to sit down, which he did as a awkward silence followed. "I... Uhm... I heard about your dad and sister... And I'm sorry to hear what happened. If there is anything I could do to help you...", Big Mac said, not getting a reaction from his friend.
Phoenix took a deep sigh before turning his gaze towards his friend, "There isn't, but thanks anyway Big Red." he said with a sad smile before turning serious again, "Say, why are you so sad looking the past few weeks and don't say there is nothing, we all noticed it." he asked. Big Mac tried to deny it before caving in and explain that he feels like the load to the rest of the Harmonic Heroes.
And for the first time in years, Phoenix broke out in laughter on this day of the year. Big Mac gave him an offended look as Phoenix tried to speak, "I-I'm sorry! But you are not the load just because you don't have any super powers! First off, you are one of the most loyal guys I have ever met! Secondly, you are an Earth Pony! If you just realized it, you would know that out of all three races, Earth Pony's have incredible defense but aren't lacking in attack either. Pegasi have a incredible offense but weak defense, and Unicorn's most powerful attacks take time to charge up, and the rest of their spells merely weaken an opponent instead of killing them. Though the three races theoretically counter each other due to something similar like Rock-Paper-Scissors, Sutakira mathematically broke down the 7000+ ways a fight between the three races can play out. Earth Ponies wins 48% of the time, Pegasi 35%, and Unicorns 17%. Also with your strength, I believe you could take three out of five of the guys in a straight up fist fight." Phoenix explained, putting Big Mac's greatest fear at ease.
After few more minutes, Phoenix and Big Mac were walking back to Shoveitupyourass Street 15, both feeling lighter after their talk. "Oh and I promise, I will do everything in my power to help you win Sunshine over." Phoenix declared but Big Mac told him it was alright. "No, no. I will help you, besides I got McGrath and Rarity together didn't I? What? You thought me and him were outside when I knew it was gonna storm that night?", Phoenix said with a smirk, making his friend shake his head. If it was true what he said, then Big Mac needed to make a mental note to never piss Phoenix off.
"I'm curious, Phoenix. Do you have a special somepony?" Big Mac asked, at those words Phoenix closed his eyes as he saw before him a young tall, slender woman, with long, platinum-blonde hair woven in a French braided, blue eyes, a very pale skin with a light dusting of freckles. "I... Don't know. Don't think she likes me that way.", Phoenix admitted. He had seen beautiful woman in his live but for some reason, she stuck in his mind. Maybe he should visit her again, he was always welcome she had said.