//------------------------------// // Chapter 18 - Out and About (Edited by JBL 06.24.2017) // Story: The Last Descendant // by Cup of Coffee //------------------------------// “That was a disappointment,” Nicholas remarked as we strode through the grassy fields with the sun in our faces and a gentle breeze on our backs. “Yeah, I liked Taken 2 better, although the first movie is my favourite,” Sammy replied as he walked hand in hand with Renee. She laughed at our debate which had been raging for almost ten minutes. “Meh, they’re okay,” I interjected. “Lisa, what do you think?” Lisa whipped her head to the side and grabbed her hair in one hand before tying it up in a ponytail. “I’ve seen better. Underworld: Rise of the Lycans was way better.” “It was terrible,” Jesse commented. She had never been a fan of monster movies of any kind, and wasn’t that keen on action movies either. Give her a movie that depicted real life or the fantasy genre and she would be happy. “You all suck, you know that, right? It was awesome!” Adam walked in front of us, looking over his shoulder at our group. “Action movies are the shit, right, Max?” “I prefer romantic stories.” The giant shrugged with a smirk. “Seven feet two inches, built like a bulldozer, lifts like a bro, and you prefer romance instead of action?” Adam shook his head and sighed. “I bet you read Fifty Shades of Grey too.” “Working on it,” Max replied without missing a beat. “OH COME ON!” We all burst into laughter. It was rare, but sometimes he could deliver a comeback with pinpoint accuracy and timing that would see us shaking in mirth. It was one of the many reasons we all liked him so much. I sighed in contentment as we walked through the grassy fields. It was pleasant since there were no distraction aside from the fresh air and the singing of birds, noise pollution yet to affect this part of the world. Just for a moment, it felt that all was right in the world, with my friends at my side as we talked and laughed amongst ourselves. Still, I felt a small niggle of uncertainty play at the back of my mind. Had this happened before, or did it just feel like it? That thought made me wonder for the first time where we actually were, as I couldn’t remember previously walking through this area. I took a casual look around and saw nothing but an enormous grassy field with snow-capped mountains in the distance. Everything seemed so much more in focus as well. It was as if the skies were clearer, the grass was greener, and flowers that we walked by also seemed to be more vivid. “Magnus?” Lisa placed her hand on my shoulder. “Are you okay?” “Yeah, I’m good. Just got this strange feeling or something.” I smiled at her, whereupon she laid an arm around my neck. “Is it the headache again?” I shook my head. “No. It’s strange, but I haven’t had one today… even for several days, now that I think about it.” “That’s good, sweetie.” I tripped on something and fell forward, but managed to right myself at the last second. One of my shoelaces was untied and I had stepped on it. The others kept walking as I stooped down. Looking at my untied shoe, a whisper of wrongness slithered up my spine. How could I fit shoes on my feet? Weren’t they different somehow? Try as I might, I couldn’t remember. I tied my shoelaces and stood, seeing that my friends had managed to put some distance between us. I jogged to meet up with them, but the space between us remained the same. I picked up the pace, yet they were always out of reach. “Guys, wait up!” I called to them, though it seemed as though they couldn’t hear me. “Come on, this isn’t funny!” If they heard me, they chose to ignore my pleas. Not once did they look back at me either. I continued to sprint behind them until my legs felt weak and wobbly, exhaustion burning through my body. I clenched my fist, knowing for some reason that if I didn’t catch up to them, I would never be able to see them again. In the distance, a giant door appeared in front of my friends. It was made of wood and seemed to be ancient, yet was in pristine condition. As tall as it was wide, it opened all the way, allowing my friends to pass through. Something tickled at the back of my mind as I stared at the door. There were no walls attached to it, and it seemed as though it was floating in mid-air. My friends all walked through the door with nary a pause or a glance back. Despite the tiredness dogging my body, I urged some life into my legs as I set off again, kicking up grass and dirt behind me. The door began to slowly close the closer I got to it. Sensing an opportunity to get through, I jumped forward to clear the door sill, only to violently collide with something that sent me sprawling to the ground. I grunted and shook my head, disoriented by the impact. Gathering my feet under me, I stood up and ran towards the door again only to bounce into an invisible wall of some sort. How could it be? I saw my friends walk through it—why was it preventing me from doing the same? Through the invisible wall and the half-way closed door, I glimpsed the streets and familiar houses of my hometown. Houses and stores I knew, people I recognized, and cars drove around as my friends kept walking down a street. “Guys, wait! Help me!” I called to them, banging my fists on the barrier that prevented me from getting home. Finally, it seemed as though they had heard me, as they halted and turned around, looking at me directly. They waved their hands and smiled, motioning for me to follow them. Their lips moved, though the distance was too great to make out the words. “WAIT!” By now, only a small gap remained in the doorway that I could peek through. I delivered punch after punch, but nothing worked. I resorted to kicking instead, yet still the invisible barrier held up. Desperation kicked in, and I ran backwards and charged towards the wall, hoping to use my weight to shatter it. It didn’t even budge. Fear and desperation bubbled to the surface of my mind. I screamed and began mindlessly ramming and smashing at the barrier until the skin on my fists broke, smearing the wall crimson red with my blood. My shoes began to tear as I kicked, and each blow sent a dull thud through the air. Despite the obvious wounds, I felt nothing but numbness and the growing sense of loneliness. I fell to my knees, leaning onto the blood-stained wall, exhausted and alone. Through the tiny gap that remained, I saw the smiling faces of my friends and the familiar buildings of my town disappear as the door closed with a loud thud that reverberated eerily across the landscape, the finality of the sound echoing in my mind. “No…”  Why? Why couldn’t I go home? Why couldn’t I catch up with them? Why was I here? “Please… I just want to go home… I don’t want to be here…” I slumped to the side, feeling the grass brush my face as the breeze blew gently through the field. Despair and grief filled my heart along with an overwhelming sense of loneliness. I was alone here, with not a single human in sight. “Human?” I whispered to myself and sat up, wondering why I had said those words. “Human? What?” Once again, that strange queasiness seemed to shoot through my brain, manifesting itself physically. My arms began to itch and my shoes instantly felt a few sizes too tight. I took off my sneakers and found an unknown shape under my socks, something that wasn’t a normal foot. I tore off my socks, only to find my toes and foot were morphing and convulsing into a single digit that didn’t resemble anything human. “No! This is insane! I want out!” I stood up on one malformed foot, feeling my other limb also beginning to morph. I had to get out! I had to break the wall! Throwing aside my jacket, I began punching and kicking the barrier again. Each punch left bloody marks on it, along with the sound of wet flesh and breaking bones. Through it all, the wall bore it with silent condemnation of my actions. Exhausted, I stumbled back on wobbly legs, staring at the cursed wall. I spat on it, cursed at it, swore at its existence. In response, the itching on my arms seemed to increase in intensity. I held up my right arm, seeing my fingers swell thicker and my hands stretch longer while copper-coloured fur squeezed its way out of my lower arms. I screamed. *** I came to a shout. ‘Where’s the wall? I want out! Now! I can’t stay! I have to get out!’ As I sat there, feeling my heart thud violently in my chest, my eyes darted around fearfully. The room was cast in darkness, with only a faint light trickling in from the window and underneath the door. I rested my hands down, feeling the hospital bed beneath me. Tremors overtook my body as the memory of that horrible nightmare flashed across my mind’s eye. I took deep breaths as I slowly lowered myself back onto the bed. “Only a dream, a bad dream… No need to be alarmed…” I repeated to myself in a shaky whisper. The door slammed open and two of the guards came galloping inside, the unicorn flooding the room with light from his horn. “Mr Powell, are you alright?” one of them asked as his companion quickly scanned the room, spears clutched in their forelegs. “We heard you scream.” “Yeah… Yeah, I’m okay, just a bad dream.” I wiped sweat from my forehead, accidentally touching my horn at the same time and making me shudder. “Well, okay then.” He lowered his spear into a more relaxed position. “You should ask Princess Luna for help with that.” “I’d rather not.” I didn’t want Luna crawling inside my head for just a dream, at least until I knew full and well what she was capable of. The guard nodded. “Suit yourself.” “Magnus?” I heard a familiar voice ask. Doctor Mgangah came trotting into the room behind the guards. “Are you alright? I heard you all the way from the offices.” He flipped a switch on the wall, the resultant bright lights causing me to squint. “Yeah, nothing to worry about.” I stretched my arms and pulled the duvet aside, swinging my legs onto the floor. My hooves made a loud audible clop as they touched the tiles. “If you say so,” Mgangah replied and looked at my hooves, then at my face. “How do you feel? You’ve been sleeping strongly for several hours.” I rolled my shoulders and my head and then slowly stood up, supporting myself on the bed frame. It was difficult and my legs in particular ached, but I succeeded in standing, albeit feeling somewhat woozy at first. “Huh, look at that.” I shifted my weight from one leg to the other. Taking a few steps around to get my blood flowing again, my footing gradually became steadier. There was no pain, and I didn’t feel sleepy, only a bit hungry and anxious to walk around. I laughed slightly as I walked back to the bed. “I feel great.” Mgangah smiled. “Good, very good. What about your addiction? Do you feel the urge for morphine? Any need at all?” The whispers in my mind concerning morphine had been banished. It was one thing I was certain about at this moment. I felt like a hyperactive kid, so full of energy and ready to take on anything. Still, I was able to hold back the rush I was experiencing even though I wanted nothing but to get out of here and just start sprinting around. “No, no need for morphine anymore!” I exclaimed, feeling a burble of laughter rise in my chest. “I haven’t felt this great in years!” That was nothing but the truth. Now, for the first time in ages, I truly felt like I was alive. “I’m very happy to hear that.” Mgangah smiled brightly at that. I sat down on the bed after noticing I had walked around in only my boxer shorts, and began dressing myself. The doctor took the opportunity to ask me a few questions regarding my health, always scribbling down my answers in his notepad. Seemingly satisfied by my response, he finally spoke the words that I had been anticipating for days. “Well, as far as I can see, you seem to be in perfect health.” He tucked away his notepad and pencil. “Still, I’d like you to take it easy for a few days, just to be certain. I’ll also schedule an appointment with Doctor Silver Heart. I’m sure he would like a few samples so that we can be sure that all of the morphine has been flushed out of your system.” “That sounds reassuring. I wouldn’t want a relapse, not after this.” Apprehension flitted across my mind briefly before I clamped down on it. “I’m quite sure you wouldn’t. The amount of patients who revert to their old habits after treatment is nearly zero.” Mgangah paused for a moment. “Now then, I guess I have nothing else to do but sign your release papers.” My eyes widened at that. “What? You mean I can go now? Just walk out of here?” “Of course. It wouldn’t make sense to keep you here. If there’s anything you need or a medical emergency, the infirmary is just a short walk away.” I never considered that it would be this easy—just a short interview concerning my health and then I could leave a rejuvenated man. It was all thanks to the princesses and Doctor Mgangah. I knew the hell I would have gone through on Earth to even attempt to free myself from the curse of addiction, and yet here I was, ready to walk out after only a few days. I was finally free, free of those debilitating headaches. Just thinking about it caused tears to well in my eyes. “I... ah, I can’t, I mean I do…” I drew a shuddering breath. Unable to find the right words, I just shook my head quietly. I couldn’t cry now; I should be happy. Mgangah nodded understandingly. “I’ve seen reactions similar to yours many times. They all described the same emotion to me: free to be yourself again.” I nodded and took a deep breath. “Yes. Yes, it does. It feels, I feel… like a new man.” I exhaled slowly and smiled at him. “For the first time in my life.” ‘I shouldn’t do it. Men just don’t do it out of the blue. Lisa would, though, sometimes Renee, and on a rare occasion, Jesse would… Ah, what the hell!’ I knelt and in one quick motion hugged Mgangah close to me. He let out a gasp when he realized my arms were going around my neck. He struggled for a moment before I spoke. “Thank you.” Mgangah ceased his attempts at escape. “I can’t even tell you how much this means to me.” “I, um… you’re welcome,” he replied a bit hesitantly. “Usually my patients don't hug me, but I… well, I think I can make an exception in this case.” I felt his hoof carefully pat my back a couple of times before I released him and stood up. Mgangah took a step back before straightening his tie. “Well, I think I should take care of your release papers now.” He walked towards the door. “I’ll return soon; it shouldn’t take long.” “I’ll just wait here then.” I sat down again. Shortly after Mgangah left, one of the guards went to inform the princesses that I was to be released. While waiting, a certain odour caught my attention. Discreetly, I lifted one of my arms, wrinkling my nose when I realized that it was me. Though sponge baths were somewhat effective at keeping me clean, they were no substitute for a real shower. I had craved a proper bath for days, and now that I had some time to myself, one sounded like just the ticket right about now. Heading to the dresser to pick out some clothes, I went to the bathroom, the lights automatically turning on. There was no recognizable light fixture in the ceiling, only a crystal ball that emitted soft illumination. I walked over to the sink and peered into the mirror. “God, what a mess,” I muttered as I stared at my reflection. The guy staring back at me looked like he had been caught in a desert war for weeks. The solid scruff, thick hair, and pungent odour would have allowed me to fit in with any urban city’s finest street dwellers. Looking around the sink, I found some dental products awaiting me. My dental hygiene had been quite low on my list of priorities these last few days, and it felt good to finally get the chance to brush my teeth. Afterwards, I removed my clothes and slipped into the bathtub after the water had been adjusted to my preferred temperate. The tub was not made for someone my size, so I had to crouch to get under the showerhead. I simply stood in the warm water spray, feeling it drizzle over me. ‘Did it always feel like this?’ I mused to myself. ‘No, it didn’t. The water’s different, like I can feel every individual droplet… Was I always so wasted on morphine that I’ve forgotten about complete sensations? Who knows how else the morphine might’ve affected me? I always thought that my pain tolerance was high, but maybe it was always the morphine.’ I enjoyed the warm water for a few more minutes before I began washing myself. There was a bottle of shampoo and shower gel which promised ‘a sparkling mane and tail’ and ‘lustrous coat’, which made me a bit leery even though I did end up using them. It was weird washing my hooves, especially the soft tissue underneath them, the frog I believe it was called. It was soft yet muscular, and touching it felt weird, but in a pleasant way. ‘And now I’m fondling my hooves… Way to go.’ After showering, I dried myself off and threw on a fresh set of clothes. Walking back to the sink, I took another gander at myself. The scruff had to go, but there was no razor nearby. My appearance had changed for the better at least, my skin seeming more rejuvenated. My eyes also appeared more focused and alert, and somehow the green in them seemed to be more striking, though that could be a trick of the light. I left the bathroom area, only for a voice to give me pause. “There you are.” The first pony my eyes fell upon was Celestia herself. She stood with the guards and turned to me when I opened the door. “Evening, Princess.” I closed the door and smiled. “Good evening, Magnus.” She trotted closer to me, taking in my appearance. “You certainly look better out of bed. How do you feel now?” I motioned my hands up to my head and down my body. “Like a new born; healthy as can be.” “I’m happy to hear that,” Celestia replied and smiled. “When the guard informed me that you had woken up, I had to come see you immediately.” “You didn’t have to. I’m sure you were busy with something.” She shook her head. “My work for the day is over and the sun has set. Now that you are to be released, I wished to know if you would accompany Luna and me for dinner.” Food, proper food. Maybe even something else other than salad and fruit? I would be an idiot to refuse. “Sure, I’d like that, but I have to wait for Doctor Mgangah. He has my release papers.” “He dropped by a few minutes ago with them; they only require your signature.” Celestia levitated over a document to me with her magic. I looked over the document, seeing that it was already filled out and signed by Mgangah and Silver Heart. “You can sign it at the reception desk.” I nodded in reply and rolled up the document in my hand. “Shall we?” Together, we walked out of the room that I had been confined to for days. I gave it one final glimpse before the door shut behind us, glad to be able to walk on my own once again. The guards fell in behind us as Celestia led the way. The infirmary staff stared at me, but this time they didn’t seem to be afraid, probably because their princess escorted me. A few even smiled at me and said hello, asking if I was being released. It was a refreshing change to the fearful stares I had previously received. A few ponies gawked a bit longer than necessary, and somehow I think that Celestia noticed since she stared back at those ponies. They quickly decided to focus on something else. We reached the reception area and walked up to the desk which was manned by a mare. I gave her somewhat of a scare when I knocked on the desk, drawing her from her paperwork. She released a strangled squeak when she saw me towering over the desk. “Hi, sorry for scaring you, but I’m checking out.” I showed her my release form. “Oh, it’s okay, I just wasn’t expecting—I mean, I can usually look ponies straight in the eyes, but you’re kinda, um, tall,” the mare explained as she carefully took the document and scanned it. “Everything seems to be in order. I just need your signature right here.” She pointed out the line and gave me a quill. I had never written with a quill before, and the first thing I did was spill ink right in the middle of the document. On my second attempt, I poked a hole through the dotted line. My third attempt was somewhat successful, though my signature looked more like chicken scratches. “Err, sir, I can’t read this.” The receptionist returned the document and left me staring at my decidedly English signature. Of course she couldn’t read it—no one here was able to. I signed it in Equish as best I could, but writing foreign letters was a lot harder than it seemed, seeing as the Equish letters consisted of elegant swirls, circles, ovals, and lines that curved slightly. Nearly all the Equish letters I found in my mind were written in cursive; luckily, they also had block letters which I found easier to replicate. It took around five minutes before I could finally write my name. I returned my release form to the receptionist, and Celestia and I were off. It didn’t take long before I could recall the corridors we were taking, though walking them without chains was a vast improvement. I also found myself admiring the architecture of the castle. Soft pastel colours broke the monotony of the white walls, with paintings, flowers, and other decorative items being encountered along the way. It felt like wandering through a castle set in a fantasy novel. “Do you like it?” I turned my attention to Celestia, who glanced at me over her shoulder as we walked. “This castle is breath-taking, almost unreal.” “I am happy to hear it. Canterlot Castle took many years to build and was quite expensive. I find it just as beautiful now as the day the last roof tile was placed.” While we walked, Celestia told me a bit about the castle and its construction. Built a thousand years ago, it was meant to be a beacon of hope to ponies after Luna's banishment. The city of Canterlot was already there, although it was a small mining town at the time. During the castle’s construction, workers decided to settle around the castle, and so the city of Canterlot was born. Celestia took on the role of tour guide and me the tourist, the princess chiming in with titbits of information whenever my eyes fell on any particular trinket or object. For a thousand year old castle, this castle seemed pretty well-maintained. Eat it, Tower of London. After walking for a few minutes, we came to a door. Celestia opened it and walked inside while the guards remained outside. I recognized the room as the same one I had breakfast with Celestia in. Luna was already seated at the table and stood as we entered. “Sister, Magnus.” Luna walked towards us, a slight smile on her face and stopped in front of me. “Magnus, it brings me great joy to see you walking on thine own hooves.” “Thank you for your concern, Princess Luna,” I replied with a small bow. “It’s good to be up again.” “I am pleased to hear so. Also, as I told you before, you may call me Luna.” “I’ll remember that, Luna." I chuckled lightly. “Now, perhaps we shall take a seat.” Celestia walked to her seat at the table and sat down on a cushion. Luna did the same and sat down to Celestia’s right, while I took a seat on the opposite side of the table. I almost expected a horde of servants to enter the room with food, though that didn’t materialize. Celestia noticed me looking at the door and spoke up. “Dinner is being prepared as we speak. Luna and I thought that we could first discuss a matter of importance.” Celestia met my questioning gaze. “It concerns your appearance and subsequent… treatment.” “Treatment?” The way she said it sounded ominous. I suspected I wasn’t out of trouble yet, and shifted uncomfortably. “Yes,” Luna replied, sounding just as serious as her sister. “It is something that has been on our minds ever since I found you, or rather, Star Swirl’s staff.” “What about it? Am I still being held responsible for it?” “No, it would not be fair to hold you accountable for actions beyond your control. Star Swirl knew what he did when he created it, yet he was unaware what a symbol of terror it would become to us, to Equestria’s history.” I caught onto what she was referring to. “You mean the unicorn hunters?” “Indeed. How much do you know about them?” Celestia asked. “Only what I’ve read about in the newspaper.” “Ah, that saves us quite a bit of explanation. Perhaps you remember what was mentioned about their acts of violence?” “That they would raid villages inhabited by unicorns and remove their horns.” “That is one version of the truth.” A shadow briefly passed across Luna’s face. “However, as history is written, details are oft forgotten. That cult was far more ruthless that any history book can describe.” “How so?” “They did raid villages, and they did remove horns.” Celestia grimaced slightly. “Mares, stallions, the elderly…” “Foals,” Luna added quietly. I involuntarily clenched my fists, the blood draining from my face. “What kind of monsters were they!?” I exclaimed, louder than I intended. “Why children!?” Staring at the princesses for a moment, I could tell by the glances they exchanged how hard it was for them to speak about this. “Because they believed they would grow powerful by collecting horns, it did not matter the age of the pony, only their horns. It was a strange and barbaric belief at the time.” I stared at Luna, waiting for her to continue, but it seemed the past had caught her in its grip. Celestia continued in her stead. “There was a small village called Bridleton that existed more than three millennia ago.” Celestia visibly swallowed the lump in her throat. “Nearly every resident was a unicorn. Luna and I had many friends there, friends we had known for decades. At the time, the unicorn hunter cult was just a rumour that travelled the land, though we soon found how real they were.” Luna nodded solemnly. “We were returning from the Crystal Empire when we decided to visit Bridleton. The journey back to Equestria had been long, and we desired the company of our friends. It was late in the evening when we approached the village, but when we saw black smoke and fire rising from the village, we feared the worst.” She briefly closed her eyes. “Houses burnt to cinders, crops destroyed… ponies severely wounded, so many dead.” She seemed to withdraw into herself as she spoke, each word seemingly taking a part of her as she said them. “The village was in chaos. Unicorns lay dead or dying from their wounds, bleeding out from large wounds on their heads… where their horns once were. Earth ponies and pegasi had also perished trying to defend their neighbours, their friends. They were not prepared for the cowardly attack that came under the cover of darkness.” “We lost many friends that day,” Celestia now spoke up, similarly affected. “We could do nothing but tend to the wounded, ease their suffering, and help bury the dead. Following the attackers was pointless—the villagers needed our help more than anything, so we stayed and cared for as many as we could. The Equestrian Noble Council, the government of Equestria in those days, was alerted to the threat by one survivor that managed to escape the attack. The Council sent healers to aid the wounded, along with soldiers to protect villages and hunt down the attackers.” “And they succeeded.” Luna scowled and gritted her teeth, her anger evident in her eyes. “The soldiers were ambushed by the attackers themselves, a group of griffons, diamond dogs, and minotaurs. Poorly trained and equipped with swords, spears, and the foolish belief that they could defeat career soldiers, the hunters were swiftly dispatched. When the battle ended, the soldiers discovered their grim weapons: unicorn horns served as grips for swords, fashioned for spearheads and to decorate staffs.” “Around their necks, they wore necklaces displaying horns as trophies,” Celestia interjected. “It is said that the cultist would call for fire, ice, and thunder during the battle, believing that they could summon magic because they collected horns. A fool’s dream.” I recalled what I had learnt about the nature of this world. “It’s because they don’t have magic, right?” “All creatures have magic in them, even the cultists,” Luna corrected. “However, unicorns can call upon magic at will.” Celestia nodded at Luna’s answer. “In any case, during the following months, numerous attacks followed, but by that point the news had spread to the entire country, with villages and towns well-defended by soldiers and volunteers. Villages formed militias to combat the threat while spies discovered where the attackers originated; islands in the eastern sea. The Noble Council ordered the construction of forts along the eastern coast in order to halt attacks.” “Did it work?” “It did. Scouts sent from forts reported seeing small ships landing on the shores at night, which was how the cultists came to Equestria unnoticed. Within hours, they were apprehended and sent to the dungeons.” I had to admit the strategy was simple yet efficient. A pegasus would be an ideal scout: able to fly, hide in clouds, retreat safely. No wonder they could react so quickly to the cultists and their fast ships. “It took many years before the cult was finally destroyed,” Celestia continued. “After nearly two decades, their remaining members launched a desperate attack on Equestria which ended in their total defeat, marking the end of a terror-filled era.” I scratched the skin under my horn, wondering what it would feel like to get it removed. The skin around the base of the horn was quite sensitive, and it brought the sensation of a file grating against teeth, causing me to shudder. “I’m glad to hear those cultists were dealt with, but why exactly are you telling me this? Is it because you thought I was one as well?” I queried. Though their story had some relation to me, I had the distinct feeling that it went deeper. Celestia sat there with a thoughtful look in her eyes, her mouth opening barely before closing. She turned to Luna, who sat with an even more thoughtful and regretful look in her eyes. “Because I…” She paused for a moment, refusing to look at me. “When I discovered the staff amongst the debris of your vessel, I was shocked. That quickly turned to fury.” Slowly she looked up into my eyes. “Fury against you.” “Because you thought I was a unicorn hunter.” I shrugged. “I can understand that.” Luna slowly shook her head and sighed. Celestia looked over to her sister and placed her wing over Luna’s back, giving her a comforting pat. “We knew many of the unicorns in Bridleton.” Celestia’s voice was low. “Friends we had known since they were foals, and some who had grown to be quite old.” Slowly, she turned to me and spoke, “When we were crowned Princesses of Equestria, we made a vow to keep our subjects safe from harm, and we have succeeded in doing so for centuries. Your appearance and the staff brought back memories of the cult and their brutal ways.” “In our eyes, you were a threat.” Luna slowly looked up, tears in her eyes. “Sister and I have always tried to act according to Harmony: loyalty, kindness, generosity, honesty, laughter, and magic. These tenets are the core of Equestria, what many ponies choose to live by, and we…” “We ignored them when the staff was found,” Celestia finished. The way she said it made it sound like she was ashamed, as if she had committed a cardinal sin. It made me even more confused. What was Harmony to them? Was it their religion or something? If it was, then what did have to do with me? I scratched my head. “I won’t pretend to know what Harmony is to you, but I’m curious as to why it’s bothering you like that.” “We judged you,” Luna admitted, hanging her head. “I judged you. I believed you to be one of those misguided monsters from long ago, and wanted nothing more than to throw you in the dungeons so that your poisonous words could never be heard by anypony.” Celestia similarly seemed stricken with guilt. Their words offered an insight into the decisions they had taken concerning my well-being. I could understand now the hateful glares they had shot me the moment I had regained consciousness, the contempt in their voices, and their mistrust in anything I had to say. To them, I was a lying, murderous monster that was a dire threat to their subjects, and my possession of the staff was evidence against me. The fact that they were the law upon themselves reminded me that if circumstances had been different, I could have been occupying a mouldy dank cell without any recourse or relief. “We judged you when we knew nothing about you,” Luna uttered, breaking the silence that had fallen over us. “We saw no reason to speak with you other than an interrogation, we saw nothing but evidence that you could bring harm to our ponies, and we ignored every item you possessed that indicated your origins were foreign to this world.” “We did everything wrong when meeting you, and for that we wish to apologize to you,” Celestia concluded sombrely. Torn away from my musings, I could barely believe what they had said. Thus, I responded in a most intelligent and articulate way: “Eh?” Celestia and Luna shared a brief confused glance, then turned their attention back to me. “We wish to apologize for how we treated you,” Luna repeated slowly. “We offered you nothing to help you plead your defence, nor were you informed of our laws. A prisoner does have rights if they are unfamiliar with our laws.” “Oh.” I scratched my head, my mind whirling. Though it seemed a simple thing to grant on the surface, I was somewhat wary as to the consequences of accepting or rejecting it. My earlier realization of my potential fate had it not been for Star Swirl’s intervention flashed across my mind. “I might not be a lawyer, a judge or a police officer, but I know right from wrong,” I began slowly, trying to choose my words carefully. “I agree that you overreacted somewhat.” Both of them looked even more ashamed. I could help but recall my earlier treatment, how I had been placed in chains and stripped of my clothing, and a hot flush crossed my face briefly. It had been demeaning and humiliating. However, a more reasonable voice urged me that playing nice with the princesses would be the ideal way to go in order to increase my chances of survival in this strange world. “If I had to think about it, Princesses, you probably did the right thing in a difficult situation.” “What?!” Celestia and Luna exclaimed in unison, looking at me in astonishment. “Think about it.” I scooted closer to the table, propping my head up on my elbow, pointing a finger at my face. “For one thing, you all have never seen anything like me, so that would be an automatic black mark against me.” I pointed to Luna. “When you found the staff on me, you assumed that the unicorn hunters were back and took appropriate action. I can’t hold you responsible for wanting to protect your kingdom and citizens.” I pointed to Celestia next. “I didn’t like having my clothing taken from me. I honestly don’t know what harm they could have caused for me to keep them, even if I was a suspect, unless the intent was to make me feel uncomfortable.” Hearing the heat in my voice, I took a deep breath, attempting to place a lid on my temper. Guilt-stricken or not, it wouldn’t do for me to poke the proverbial bear. “At the hearing, I told the truth, and I realize I must have sounded like a lunatic, talking about another world. I doubt you would have found someone to defend someone like me.” I looked to the princesses, shaking my head. “All in all, this was a mess from the very start!” Celestia and Luna flinched, looking like a pair of children that received a scolding from their parents, as ridiculous as that comparison was. It had been an entirely crappy situation. All of this could have been avoided if they could have tried to put aside their biases, or even if I had been allowed to show them some of my stuff, like my cell phone. I beat down another flare of indignation rising within and spoke the words that needed to be said: “I accept your apology.” The princess’s heads snapped up, staring at me as though I had grown a second head. “W-What? You accept our apology?” Celestia carefully asked. “Yup.” “Why?” Luna inquired, seemingly just as confused as her sister. I took a few moments to ponder her question. “Several reasons, all of them are valid. Like I said, this was a mess from the start. If there’s anyone to blame, you can’t do it because he’s been dead for about five thousand years. You both did what you believed to be right with the sparse information you had. Luckily, the guilty party showed up and explained everything. Case closed.” I looked over my shoulder towards the large double doors. “Wasn’t food supposed to be ready soon?” “But we treated you terribly!” Celestia argued. “We refused to believe your explanation and held you in chains!” I sighed. “If a monkey fell from the skies, landed on your back, and said that country music was the herald of doom before growing wings and flying away, would you believe him?” One of Luna’s eyebrows rose slightly. “Was this most peculiar primate sent by Discord?” “What? Who’s—Never mind,” I shook my head in exasperation. “The point is that you didn’t know me, didn’t know if I was dangerous, and you did what you believed to be right. Everything’s been cleared up now, and I’m sitting here with you, alive and unharmed. That’s what matters the most to me.” Luna and Celestia fell silent, glancing to each other before turning to me. “From the depths of my heart, thank you,” Celestia said with a warm smile, sounding reassured that I had accepted the apology. “We also thank thee, Magnus.” Luna smiled and gave a barely noticeable bow. “It brings us great comfort knowing that thine heart is kind enough to forgive us for our mistreatment of thee.” “No problem,” I replied, smiling back at them. “I also want to thank you for everything you have done for me ever since I came here. You fed me, housed me, and most important of all, you’ve helped me defeat my addiction.” I absolutely meant that with all the sincerity in the world. No matter what misgivings I might have concerning the princesses, they had facilitated the treatment that resulted in no cravings for morphine, headaches, no pain at all, in fact. No matter how it had come about, I was grateful to be free of that demon gnawing away at my soul. Those sentiments gave rise to my next words. I bowed my head slightly. “Thank you, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, for everything you have done for me. I never expected the kindness you have shown me, nor did I expect the help you have given me. I can’t even tell you how much this means to me. All I can say is thank you, thank you so much.” I slowly straightened myself up to find Celestia and Luna smiling at me before giving a respectful nod. “T’was our pleasure, human friend.” “Indeed it was, Magnus,” Celestia added. “I hope now that we can look forward instead of dwelling on the past. Now that you have defeated your addiction, I feel a celebration of your health is in order.” Celestia’s horn glowed momentarily before the doors opened and servants entered with covered silver plates balanced on their backs. With ease, they placed them in front of us along with a jug of water and various utensils. A familiar scent reached my nose, which in turn made my mouth water. The servant removed the lid, revealing several large pieces of lightly fried fish filet covered in some kind of white sauce, steamed vegetables, thick slices of sautéed potatoes covered with parsley, and two slices of freshly baked garlic bread. The smell of it all was so appetizing that I almost drooled. “We heard from the infirmary staff that you have a preference for fish, and we hope that this meal is to your liking.” I looked up at Celestia, who stared at me with an expectant smile. “This looks great!” I exclaimed, filling my glass with water and grabbing the knife and fork. I cut a small slice of fish and popped it into my mouth. It was soft on the inside with a thin crispy crust. The cream sauce and mild tang of wild herbs complemented the fish perfectly. The vegetables were also fresh and tasty as were the potato slices. “Oh my god,” I moaned with my mouth full. “This is soooo good.” After days living on vegetables, fruit, and bread, this was just the ticket. “We are glad you like it,” Luna said as she and Celestia began their own meals. I looked over at their plates, seeing some type of fried vegetable dish with white sauce and bread. Their vegetables did look delicious, but it had nothing on the fish I ate. “Can I ask you something?” I asked after eating several pieces. “Of course, what’s on your mind?” Celestia wiped her mouth daintily. “Well, it’s about the fish. Aren’t you guys herbivores? How’d you get fish?” “It is true that we are herbivores.” Celestia levitated the jug and refilled my glass. “However, fish can be bought in Canterlot. Our city is home to a community of griffons, who are omnivores just like you. Griffons are rather fond of fish, and they have their own section in the market. Meat, on the other hoof, is something you won’t easily find.” “How so? Is there some kind of meat-eating taboo? I scared a nurse a few days ago by mentioning eating cows.” “Your comment, although not meant to offend, did cause quite an uproar amongst the staff. We had to work quickly to calm them,” Luna commented, picking pieces of bell pepper out of her dish with her fork and placing it on a napkin next to her plate. “Most ponies do not have anything against carnivores or omnivores. They realize that we must all eat to live, even if it means eating something that once lived. It is not the consumption of meat that is the problem; it is the acquisition of said meat.” “You mean killing, right?” “Yes. Equestria is meant to be a safe place for all, not just ponies but animals as well, and as such, hunting in Equestria is outlawed. Fishing is allowed, as a diet consisting solely of fruit and vegetables for omnivores and carnivores would soon render them ill.” “Not to mention that some ponies have an aversion towards blood and tend to overreact,” Celestia mentioned casually. “Some scientists believe that it stems from a theory that early ponies were a prey species.” “So, meat can’t be bought in Equestria at all?” I asked, holding my breath in anticipation. “Of course it can. It’s simply that most griffons in Canterlot prefer fish to meat. Cloudsdale and Manehattan, two cities where many griffons reside, have butcher shops that import their meat directly from Griffonstone and Griffonia.” Of course fish would get boring in the long run, at least for humans. Variety was important even when it came to meat, and I was sure it applied to griffons as well. I still remembered the fishing trip I took with Grandpa to Idaho. I came home with nearly forty pounds of salmon, and had fish for dinner twice a week for over two months. Thank god for Renee and her cooking skills. I simply nodded and continued eating my fish. A comfortable silence fell over us as we enjoyed our meals. I noticed Luna working her fork with her magic, finding small pieces of bell pepper and then removing them while Celestia smiled and shook her head lightly. The silence was soon broken by Celestia. “While it is nice to share dinner with you, in truth, we do not know you that well, Magnus. Perhaps we can talk about you, if you don’t mind,” Celestia suggested. “Ah, please do,” Luna exclaimed eagerly. “We desire to learn more of your human life and accomplishments.” ‘She said it like I’m not human anymore. Then again, she doesn’t seem to be up-to-date on how most ponies talk, seeing as she tends to change between that archaic speech and modern language on a whim. Even I know that her manner of speech is outdated, and I’ve never even studied their language. Those thousand years must’ve been hard on her.’ “Okay, I guess we can do that.” I wiped my mouth. “Anything specific you want to ask?” “Perhaps we can start with something easy; perhaps you have hobbies you enjoy?” “I don’t actually have any hobbies, now that I think about it. I like camping, but I don’t think that can be considered a hobby.” “Nonsense, everypony has a hobby, something that they enjoy doing.” Celestia levitated her knife to her bread, slicing it neatly into small squares. I propped my elbow on the low table, stabbing a piece of potato and holding it in front of my eyes. What hobbies did I really have? What did I enjoy doing? Lots of things, though I don’t think they were actually hobbies. “I like to play games on occasion. Do you have~-” I paused; Equish couldn’t translate television and computers. I decided to just say the names in English. “ ~TV~ and ~computers?” “Tee-Vee?” Luna raised an eyebrow before seemingly remembering something. “Ah yes, the entertainment devises Star Swirl spoke of. What did he call it? A strange box that will catch your attention and force you to sit still for hours? Almost like a cinematograph! No, I’m afraid these devices do not exist in Equestria or in other countries.” I nodded, somewhat disappointed. It seemed technology here had a way to go yet. “Other than games… I also like to go fishing occasionally. Other than that… well, I just find something that I like doing.” “Fishing? A relaxing hobby, I hear.” “Luna is right,” Celestia commented as she set her utensils down. She then poured herself a cup of tea, adding one sugar cube before stirring. “Some ponies do enjoy fishing, but I believe the difference is what ponies and humans fish for. While you may want to fish for the fish itself, ponies fish for seaweed and plants that grows in rivers.” “Then why call it fishing?” I asked with a short laugh. “Fishing was invented by griffons long ago,” Celestia replied and sipped her tea. “They would fly close to the surface of the water and snatch fish in their talons, but soon found using a fishing pole to be a relaxing recreational activity that was popular by commoner and nobles alike. It soon spread to Equestria and many ponies began using fishing poles with special lures with blades and hooks to cut plants that grew in the water and snag them before the currents carried them away.” “Wow, that’s actually pretty smart.” “Our subjects have even invented a special dish made of water plants; they call it sushi. My sister managed to convince me to try such a dish, a very… slimy type of seaweed.” The disdain in Luna’s voice and her grimace clearly indicated how she felt about the dish. “I have yet to reciprocate my beloved sister’s kind advice.” Luna shot Celestia a faintly irritated glare. Celestia adopted an innocent mien, a smirk briefly tugging at the edges of her mouth. “I thought you would like it. You even said you looked forward to sampling our new cuisine.” “It dripped of goo!” I couldn’t help but began to laugh. Thousands of years old and still acting like a pair of fighting teenagers. “Well, Luna, if you want some payback I can—” The glare Celestia aimed at me quickly shut me up. ‘Dungeon. Right, got it!’ Luna quickly turned to me expectantly. I coughed slightly. “I… I can’t help you with that. Sorry.”