I soon returned back to Equus. I woke up in Luna's bed. Sunlight pierced through the curtains and the sound of construction disturbed my sleep. I rubbed the back of my head as I had a searing headache. I sat up. Soon Luna had come through the room. She smiled lightly.

"Afternoon," Luna said. I still couldn't comprehend it. Luna. Pregnant!

"That the time?" Luna walked slowly to me and sat down.

"Lucas, do you still love me?" I soon shot up.

"Of course! What drove you to ask that question?"

"Well, I am scared. I am not going to lie. This war was enough. Now I am going to have a child. I don't know what to do. Last thing I want to happen is to lose you," Luna nuzzled my arm.

"Luna, I got a higher chance of winning the lottery on Friday the thirteenth when the planets align to even remotely consider not loving you," Luna had a blank expression on her face, "That means it will never happen".

"So, you are not mad?"

"Of course I am not mad. I am going to be a father! I couldn't be happier!"

"So why did you faint?"

"Shock that's all. Having a child isn't something everypony can predict". I crawled out of the bed, "Luna, now that we are having a child. I now know what I am going to do".

"Huh?"

"I need to make a haven. A safe place for our child. Canterlot is too dangerous, I don't want our child to be threatened by this plague," I looked out of the window, Canterlot was being rebuilt slowly. Thanks to Project Machina. I hope to see Canterlot reconstructed within a year.

"So you are going to imprison it?"

"Of course not. I am thinking of moving to Ponyville. That is most secure, I know you want what is best for our child. So I leave it up to you Luna. Please make the right decision". I hugged her, she planted a small kiss on my cheek.

"I hate this place in all honesty. Everypony thinks of themselves, It is horrible. I hope that Ponyville is more accepting of you now," Luna said to me. Recalling the events of our first visit to Ponyville.

"I think they will be, otherwise they will end up having you dropping on them like a ton of bricks!"

"Shall we go downstairs, I think dinner is almost ready".

"Yeah, I am pretty hungry".

We walked downstairs to the dining room, soon as we entered the room fell silent. Celestia was in her usual place at the table, this time we had visitors. A large, built stallion sat near Celestia. He had a grey coat and one scar on his face, most likely from being clawed at. My own seat and been made, instead of having a blank one. Everypony had a emblem engraved on their chair that corresponded with their profession, just like the royal guard commanders. Celestia obviously had the sun, Luna had the moon, the stallion had 5 stars on his. Must be a general. I took my seat. My emblem had a shield with 3 gears on, guess that means engineer or something. Soon the food had arrived and we began talking.

"So Lucas, what are your plans for Canterlot?" Celestia asked.

"Better defence, finally installing a electrical grid, tons of stuff. I will go through the entire list of improvements later". I didn't even finish eating before...

"So when is it due?" I ended up nearly inhaling my fork.

"They think July," Luna replied, looking and smiling at her abdomen which had already began to grow larger.

"So Lucas, what do you think?"

"About what?" I asked suspiciously.

"About your child".

"I think it's great, I couldn't be happier," I smiled, hugging Luna. I looked at the general, he seems a bit out of place. We had soon finished and entered the throne room once more. I walked along side the general.

"So haven't seen you around here before," I stated, smiling at him. I was only met with a emotionless glare.

"Indeed, I am General Armoured Javelin. You must be this Lucas I have heard so much about," His voice was monotonous, he was devoid of all emotion. Neither happiness or despair seemed to exist. Even some robot's AI drives are much more enthusiastic than this. Guess he fits in with the theme of grey.

"Yes, I am Lucas. Were you here in the Battle of Canterlot?"

"No I was in Saddle Arabia, I recently got transferred here. I hope you meet expectations, my troops call you the 'Angel of Steel'. Pretty good nickname to go by if you ask me," A small smile cracked. Some emotion, finally.

"Well, as you heard, Canterlot is being rebuilt from ground up. The technology I know will be implemented here, creating a much more secure, advanced Canterlot".

"I came here to take over the captain's job. I guess your forces are independent," Armoured stopped and looked at me.

"They are".

"Who is commanding them then?" He asked suspiciously.

"Classified. Not even the Princesses know of the commanders identity," Armoured began to get annoyed.

"You hold back information from the Princesses?"

"There is a lot I have held back. Unlike you ponies, the robots swear their allegiance to me. Not the royals," I carried on talking.

"You traitor! You are organising a coup d'etat!" He then drew his sword.

"Not at all, the robots must not be burdened by politics. For they only want orders. I know this because the AI was developed by me," I lectured. Armoured raised his sword.

"You created abominations of pony-kind! You must be brought to justice!"

"Abominations? I think it is about time you left Armoured!"

"Cease talking criminal!"

"No he is right, remove yourself immediately!" Luna sternly said. She was standing in the doorway. I turned around and smiled at her.

"Princess, do you even know what this creature has done!"

"I do, he has saved us all. Without him, we would all be gone. I suggest you go back to Saddle Arabia!" Luna began to advance.

"Yes, your highness". Armoured walked off but not before turning to me once more, "This isn't over, creature".

"So. What have you been withholding from me?"

Me and Luna walked into the empty dining room. Complete silence. Complete solitude. Perfect.

"Well, what are these plans of yours then Lucas?" Luna sat down, narrowing her eyes at me.

"I have started several projects. One notable is something I call Project Sol," I sighed.

"Project Sol?"

"It is Latin for Sun. I cannot tell you more. I can't for your safety".

"Lucas, tell me".

"Fine, here are the project plans. I will not talk to you about it in case somepony is listening". I imprinted off the entire plans for project sol on pieces of paper and then handed them to Luna. She scanned them, having looks of awe, fear and intrigue.

"This is your back up plan I presume?" Luna asked, putting down the plans.

"Yes. If all else fails, Project Sol will initialise".

"But it won't, that's the flaw with your plan". A sudden digital blip was heard.

"Excuse me for a second Luna," I walked out of the room.

"OK DEL. Talk to me, what's up?"

"Well a few things. That general was a happy chap wasn't he? The nerve to call me an abomination!" DEL was fuming. He was the closest thing to sentience I have made so far.

"He was. I assume this isn't the reason though?"

"No sir. I am sorry to eavesdrop but I couldn't help but hear that you are to be a father. Congratulations!"

"Thank you DEL. I am leaving the foundry as a result. Mystic will be in charge but you will take control if he goes mental. Do you understand?"

"Yes sir. I will continue foundry operations as normal. I assume you want Project Sol continued with?"

"Yes. Luna knows now though," I sighed. Looking inside the room where Luna was patiently sitting.

"I estimate that it will ready for deployment in 2 years. That is including resource accumulation such as fuel".

"Good enough. I must go visit the foundry one more time before I leave for a while". This is really happening. Me. A father.

"Fair enough sir. Shall I prepare a pod?"

"Yes," I uploaded my coordinates and walked into the room once more, "Talk to you later DEL".

Luna raised her eyebrow.

"Who was that?"

"DEL. Commander of Project Machina".

"I see," Luna stirred a spoon in a freshly made cup of tea, "Want one?"

"No. I need to see the foundry once more. Then you can have me all to yourself," I winked. She blushed a little.

"Fine. Just this once. I hate to nag but I wouldn't be surprised if the city is still dangerous," She said. My charms worked. Lucas you smooth talker.

I walked outside of the castle into the ruined city. The place was a shit hole. Large chunks of rubble scattered across the roads. Worker bots building or demolishing the old city. Reminds me of a Phoenix. The city is rising from the ashes. I walked along the empty streets. A few buildings stayed remotely intact. Everypony had been taken to refugee camps or evacuated to different cities such as Trottingham. Canterlot was a no go zone. Only the royals stayed in the castle. I walked up to my foundry one last time. Looks like the good ol' force field works. Well I hope so anyway. I entered the corridors and entered the main workshop. Mystic was nowhere to be soon.

"DEL. Where is Mystic?" I asked cautiously. Looking around.

"Mystic Bloom is currently in Refugee Camp #033".

"Send a squad to retrieve him and bring him here. I want him safe!"

"Yes sir".

I took in my last sights of the place. I wasn't the most beautiful place. I sure had my memories here though. Lets have a last look at the protection gear.

I entered the steel room. Soon after a now not painful transformation. I was The Master Mind once more. I broke into maniacal laughter.

"This is brilliant! Canterlot is in ruins and I have the ability to build it to my advantage! I can finally destroy them without them even knowing I am going to strike before it is too late! The game is now in my favour Celestia. I WILL DESTROY YOU ALL!" I walked out of the room, "I am going to miss this place. I can play every card in my favour. The child? Luna? All will be wrapped around my finger and they will figure out my human counter parts true identity before it is too late. This is if they actually can!" I toured the facility once more. Still talking to myself.

"I must talk with master to give me the thing needed for this plan," I closed my eyes and began to picture Pestilence in my mind.

"What! I am busy!" The disease god's dry and evil voice shouted.

"I have a plan. I need your help though master".

"Forget it. You build everything yourself. This form is enough!"

"That is the problem master. The form makes it hard for the plan to execute for now".

"What are you getting at?"

"I am saying I need this form to be dormant for some years. Perhaps 8 years?"

"I do not care about what you do. As long as you get it done! Fine, if you screw up though. I am putting your soul, not the human's, yours, into the madness realm!"

"Yes master," I suddenly felt energy flowing out of me. My body began to revert back to the human form. 8 Years human. Get friendly with Luna. My plan depends on it. Which is why you humans are so nice to play with! My body was soon this human's. Ugh, this is disgusting. I feel weak. Anyway, time to let Lucas back in this body.

Well, this old place is going down for some time. Time to turn out the lights. I flicked the switch, the lights went off. The machines still worked. DEL has things in control but Mystic, he will have a hard time following in my foot steps, or hoof in his case. I need a pony to man the station, just in-case DEL goes all kill, crush, destroy on us all. He should find the override code soon as he enters. I walked out the foundry and saw the sun radiating in the sky.

I walked back to Canterlot Castle, seeing the ruins once more. The wasteland. I think Luna has found a place. A small cottage outside of Ponyville. Royalty has it perks. Not Flutter's cottage before anyone asks. I'm not that evil. Small road leading to the town. Quite isolated but not too isolated so my child can have friends. Luna was looking out on her balcony out to the city.

"Soon we will live in peace for once Luna. Our child will live a happy life," I said.

"Indeed, the cottage I found was perfect. All we need now is the arrangements," Luna's voice was filled with hope, "We are doing this then? A new life?"

"Yes. A new life".

As the sun began to set on the horizon, the smoke began to settle. The noise of work continued on for hours. No pony lived in the ruins so noise was no problem. Me and Luna hugged each other on the balcony of the castle. We looked into each other's eyes. My future was planned out. I am becoming a father. Of a child. My child. The child of the human from the stars. The star child. I am sure that my child will make a difference in the days to come. For he is a fallen star as well. One of the human race. Another human. The war against the fungus has not stopped. I just have retired for a while. My technology should live on for a long time. At least until the star child has grown.

The world is a forever changing place. I will do my best to make my child the best in this world. For that is my duty. As a father.