Duty
A young man stood solemn, his face blank and arms relaxed as the doors closed behind him. A simple cloak given by Rarity hung loosely on his body.
The fabric was course to the touch and reminded him of a tarp. Sure it looked nice but he felt that the thread count was way to low for human skin.
Twilight, Celestia and Luna stood tall before him. Their power obvious and laid bare. Even now he could feel an energy in the air. His skin prickled as he felt their presence touch him.
Yes, truly these were powerful beings,even so he could detect a hint of fear.
It was not in there smiles, which were pleasant to look upon. It was not in their eyes. Those seemed to search into his, trying to understand his soul. No, it was in there postures and the guards ordered to stay beyond the door.
It was the unknown they feared. After all if two of these beings had raised the sun and moon for time innumerable then they must be used to knowing what things were and what they were thinking. The changeling invasion must of upset that.
John knew that they get nothing from him. His clothes had been thrown into a fire by his own hand. His watch, wallet and phone quickly following.
A simple bed sheet had become his clothing until Rarity made him the clothes he was currently wearing. Twilight had gasped in horror after returning to find what he had done. She had yelled at him with tiny tears in the corner of her eyes. It nearly broke his heart.
He had barely spoken to any of them. Simple words of thanks and greeting. It was best to not get attached. It would be easier for them. He did after all owe each of the element bearers a dept. Even if they themselves did not know that each had a lesson they taught him.
Now though that no longer mattered.
Nothing really mattered now.
Not since he had come to this land. The cold certainty of fate settling on his shoulders. Even at this moment he looked over at Twilight's face, hungry for the knowledge that was contained behind his eyes. She hid it well...for a pony.
"Mr.Earth was it?" Celestia asked with a quick smile. Her millennial long calm and dignity cracked and crumbled by the un-breaking mask over her guest face. “There is no reason to feel such...despair. I assure you that we mean you no harm. We only wish to understand."
John's heart sank a little lower. Already he should be shaking and hyperventilating. Yet years of self-taught control and mental exercises would not allow that.
"Could you tell us the name of your kind?" Her face showed genuine concern. Fear even. John could guess at the questions running through her mind.
Why is he so afraid? How is he maintaining control? How can a get through to him? What is he hiding?
"I have no species." John said his eyes unwavering as they stared into the sun avatars “I am the only one of my kind."
Confusion rippled across their three faces as they exchanged looks. Twilight spoke up first.
"Umm, well we know that is not true. The technology and garments you original had before-" she winced “burning them. Where incredibly advance. Thousands of years ahead of our time or that of any nation we know of..."
"I am the only one of my kind." Regret rippled through him. He should have said they were dead, but it was too late now.
"It is obvious that this creature will not speak directly to us sister. If it feared for its own life it would not be here. No it must fear to reveal the location of its kind. They must be well hidden to of escaped our sight for so long." Suspicious eyes caused a pang of sorrow that was quickly snuffed out by the hollow ringing inside of him.
"Why would they need to hide? " Twilight gasped. Her wings standing up as fear coursed through her. “Do you think they are like the changelings? Perhaps they feed on emotions!?"
"Calm down Twilight,we do not know that." Celestia soothed despite the concern in her eyes strengthening “Tell us Earth. Please speak up and alleviate our fears. This is a peaceful land, we wish no harm to your kind."
John stood silent. His ceasing to blink being the only indication of the growing fear. The implications of what their conversation implied were not lost on the lone human. They could feel his emotions. Most assuredly as there questions continued unanswered they would seek to take the knowledge directly.
"I am the only one of my kind." He dared not break that pattern. Not for a moment or that kind smile would break him. Break him as surely as glowing hot red glass thrown into water.
He could see recognition in her eyes. She sensed his weakness. With a flutter of her wings she floated down over the steps and landed in front of him. A small smile on her lips encouraging him to do the same.
“Surely you do not think so little of us to believe that? We only wish to become friends with your race." Celestia cooed in a motherly voice. John had no doubt what she said was true. That all she wanted was to bring peace and happiness wherever she went.
Bile came up his throat.
"I am the last of my kind."
"Last? So there were more?" Celestia said with a smile. A twinkle of laughter in her eyes.
John's fear seemed to fade as he looked deep in her eyes. Prehaps he had been to harsh. I mean Celestia was an immortal, filled with motherly love. Maybe he could just-
NO.
He shook his head and clamped down on the errant line of thought.
"I am the only one of my kind." He grunted through gritted teeth.
"Oh, you can't go back to that now, Cats out of the bag." She said whimsically.
"I am the only one of my kind." A bead of sweat appeared on his brow
"Please," Spoke Twilight coming up beside Celestia “Let us in."
"I am the only one of my kind." his voice quivered.
“Tell us creature. We do not wish to have to enter your mind to take the answers we must have." Luna's voice cut through his desire to open up to them. Sending a chill running down his spine.
There it was.
There was no doubt now.
A breaking heart leading the way John began the process. A twitch in the back of his mind sent a ripple through his being. Riding the sensation he turned his mind inward, focusing on his breathing.
In-
-and out.
In-
-and out.
In moments the tension in his body began to lessen. His fears fell away. For the first time since he came to this land he entered a state of Zen.
John let himself break out into a small smile causing them to do the same.
All his life he had practiced this art. The mind was a fickle thing, wrote with blocks and protective measures. Though none were absolute.
Gathering his will John punched through those barriers. Down into his subconscious. Down further into the most basic functions of his mind. Down further until he found the source.
His heart fluttered in his chest.
The smiles on the sisters faces had been wiped away and replaced with shock at the sudden flash of willpower. Before either could react however, John stepped forward and leaned down in front of Twilight.
With the turbulent forces at play in his mind there was nothing left to hide his emotions. A loving smile as if to an old friend fell across his face. Reaching out he deftly embraced the purple alicorn.
She stiffened at his contact, unsure of what it meant or how to react. Awkwardly she reached up and patted him on the shoulder.
The human pulled back and stood up his body twitching in odd ways. Trembling began to rack his bady as the beating of heart echoed into his head.
Turning to faced Celestia the tears began to flow freely from his eyes.
“Please burn my body Celestia. Leave it unexamined and unopened."
With a sudden convulsion John collapsed to the floor.
He was pushing it now. Harder and harder. A mental grip iron clad on his heart. Years of meditation and mental practice allowed him to maintain control even as his body fought against it.
He would not be denied. Soon the muscle shuddered.
Then ceased.
Echos reverberated through him as a loud voice called out for the guard to come. Panic and confusion taking hold.
As the darkness began to creep into his eyes the only thing he could see was Twilights face. Asking the single question. Why?
The answer flashed through his mind. Out of her reach forever.
Celestia wanted to touch humanity and her ponies would have been touched in return. Happiness given by another, Harmony at the death of what made mankind great would come. What worked for the ponies would be poison to them. Oh, he hoped one day they would find such things, but not like this. Not at the hoof of another. Mankind must be the master of its own destiny. It needed to find its own path.
It seemed right to him. Mankind would not react well to being so affected. Surly the ponies would be destroyed by us. Worse and far more damming would be the introduction of technology to a society that was not ready for it.
No, they were fragile to the other. Bad for the other.
Even if he wanted nothing more than to embrace Twilight in a near bone crushing hug and
eat a cupcake of Pinkie’s, he dared not.
On that day, in the magical land of Equestria, John Carmichael died.
It was a philosophy he had to accept. Logic demanded it.
He died for mankind.
He died for Ponies.
He did for himself.
In the end it had to be done. It was his duty.