As my head broke the surface of the river I gasped to gather air back into my lungs. I shook my head side to side in order to clear any loose water out of my blue-green eyes. With my hands, I pushed my hair to the back to see where the edge of the river was. As I made my way to where I stripped out of clothes, Steven Magnet decided to make small talk with me.

Steven Magnet was a sea serpent of epic proportions as he easily overshadowed me in height. His body, the part that I could see, was covered in bright purple scales and a grey underbelly. His orange hair with yellow highlights swooped back in a hairstyle that reminded me of the greasers back in the 50s. Our relationships was...alright I guess. We would chat when I would come down to bathe or grab some water and talk about the little things. Mostly it's him asking questions about me and my home while I gave short answers.

“So,” he began with his flamboyant voice, “What are your plans for the celebration?"

I took a deep breath in order to calm my raging heart. For a large being the motherfucker knows how to be quiet.

“Gather food and books, and water my plants,” I told him as my bare feet touched the cool grass. I sat down on the ground as my body dripped with water. As my semi-curly chocolate hair dried the sea serpent continued.

“Aww…that’s it?” Steven whined.

“Yep,” I retorted when I rolled my back to crack a few tensed bones, “I have a list of things I need to do in order to survive every day.”

Plus I don't like crowds.

Steven snorted, "You, my dear, need to have a social life," he waved a hand around, "go to town see the sights!"

And you need to go suck a dick.

This time I snorted as I waved to myself, "Really? The last time I went there they shot at me," I crossed my arms, "I'm not going back for a while, especially while they are getting ready for this celebration."

"You have to go there eventually though," Steven pointed out and I rolled my eyes.

"Yea, no shit, I'm going to run out of supplies sooner or later," I told him as I looked down at my hands both my human and ponyified one. What am I going to do? Apples and berries are already getting old, and I can feel my body get tired from the lack of protein. I could start fishing, but I never really learned how to gut a fish. The basic understanding I know, but how to actually do it was another story. The water from the well was also starting to make me feel queasy which is why I'm having to get water from the river instead.

That is just the peak of my problems. I can feel my curse working on my insides, even now I can feel the tingle of magic running around my body, changing me. The magic around me tickled my skin. I wonder if this is what the inhabitants of this world feel. Perhaps unicorns can pick this up more acutely which is why they can perform magic? Something to ask Celestia when I see her next.

That is unless we all are killed by Nightmare Moon because of the changes that I and Celestia did.

"So, tell me why are you so eager to go home? Do you miss your family?" the purple river snake leaned down towards me with a smug smirk, "perhaps a human female or two?"

His voice snapped me out of my mind and I clenched hands before I glared up at Steven. "I don't have a girlfriend or wife if that is what you're asking," I laid down and rested my head on my crossed arms. The coolness of the grass and the warmth of the sun felt nice and I almost was lulled into sleep. "I do have my family, but I have other things that I need to do."

"Oh like what?"

"It's hard to explain, and it doesn't make sense," I told him hoping that he would drop the subject.

"Honey," Steven said with a raised eyebrow, "I'm looking at a human, a creature that doesn't exist in this world, and said human that is slowing turning into a furry creature. Try me."

I opened my mouth to spit out a retort, but then I realized that he had a point. Plus, I think he gave me a backhand insult but I'm not sure so I don't know how to answer to that.

Well, I guess it wouldn't hurt to tell him.

"You see there is this country back home," I began as the clouds above me floated by lazily, "for some reason I have to go there. I don't know why I have to go there I just feel this...pull to go there. At first, I thought it was just something for me to focus on in order to get out of that fucking hell hole that I grew up in." With my human hand, I reached out to 'grasp' the clouds.

"But then something would always happen to reignite that spark of passion I had, so I have to go there to see why."

"You right that is weird," Steven chuckled.

FUCK YOU THEN ASSHOLE!!!

"But with that fire behind your eyes," he pointed out, "I know why you're in such a rush to get home, but..."

The pause had me curious so I sat up to get a better look at Steven, and what I saw kinda put me off. His eyes didn't have that same playfulness to them. No, instead what I saw was wisdom. The wisdom that is only born from someone who has lived a long time and a certain hardness to them. When I looked closer there was even a sparkling glow to them, "Perhaps you were meant to come here?" when he spoke it was hollow even reverberating, "Everything that has happened to you has led you to this point in time." The sea serpent then moved to hover over me.

"Have you ever wondered why Celestia visited your home? Out of all the humans in your world, she chooses yours, and here you are? A strange set of...coincidence don't you think?"

I stood up quickly, "What do you know?" I demanded from him.

Steven said nothing as he sank into the river and disappeared. Like the silent serpent that he is.

A cold chill crept in my bones as the ordeal began to sink in. "What...was...that?" I said hoarsely. I didn't tell him about Celestia at all, but then again I don't think that was Steven Magnet at all. The voice, the way his eyes looked everything scream not Steven. Which begs the question...

Who or what was that?

"That didn't sound like something that belongs to a land of rainbows and unicorns,” I said as I began to get dress, "Just another reason why I need to get home ASAP," With that, I headed back to the ruined castle putting what had just transpired on the back of my mind for now. I had other things to worry about, like tonight.

I’ve spent the last three days not only setting up my home but also preparing for the celebration. That doesn’t really amount to much though; my preparation was only me gathering anything I could use to defend myself which ended up being a hell of a lot of nothing. Everything has mostly degraded to uselessness. So I could only pray that all the action will take place away from me.

I also pray that I can mind my own business.

With the changes that have already taken place, I can’t help but feel the pull to intervene. Of course, I have been arguing with myself whether or not I should. I hope that things are not that different…

…but what if they are?

I let out a frustrated gasp as I entered my ‘home’. I gathered up my bucket and began my work. I’m not much of a farmer so all I can really do is water my trees and hope for the best. My knowledge about trees is minimal but I do know that they need lots of space to grow, and that’s about it.

The work was simple enough and I’ve already built a groove so that I don’t even have to think about my actions. I would go to the well and fill up the bucket and take it to the tree and soaked the area around them before going back to the well and refill. My body moved mindlessly as I went about watering my trees outside the castle walls. I'm a creature of habit after all.

Tonight is the night. The night that Nightmare Moon will be free from her prison and immerse Equestria in eternal night. Tonight I need to make a choice, whether I should be on the sidelines, or should I change the world for the better damn the consequences.

I looked around to see that I was back at my campsite. It was nice to live off the planet but there was a set of dangers. Dangers that I didn’t need to deal with. Celestia offered me a place at the castle, but I turned it down. Not only because I was afraid of the other ponies reactions, but also my own pride of wanting to be self-sufficient.

I’ve always had relied on other’s to provide things for myself. Food, clothes, a roof over my head. Even now Celestia was the one who gave me the gear I needed to survive in the castle and the forest. Twenty-six years old and I still have to rely on others.

Perhaps I should move out of Everfree and into somewhere safe. It would be the most logical thing to do. If I do so then I know that I’ll be in the middle of everything whether I like it or not.

So what will my choice be?

I guess we’ll find out soon now, won’t we?

“Fuck me,” I muttered into my rekindled fire. I wasn’t able to sleep much last night as I kept tossing and turning. My dreams were plagued with nightmares about every worst possible outcome. By the time morning came I, at most, got a couple of hours of sleep. Well my biological clock says it is morning, but the moon was still high in the sky.

I looked to the sky and the moon was still clear with no signs of the Mare on the Moon. The silent night betrayed the internal battle that was taken place in my mind. “Fucking shit,” I cursed as I looked back at the fire. No matter how many times I looked it still remained the same. Like the light at the end of the tunnel shining the path in front of me. The only path that I should take, the only path that is right.

I stood up and paced around the flames. “Fuck, fuck, fucking shit!”

I shouldn't interfere, it is not my place. Plus the damage it could cause.

It's too late though. Celestia has already changed things by sending Twilight to Ponyville early and from her visit to our world. Hiding in the background isn't going to change things for the better. The only thing to do now is to get involved and try to keep things on track.

With one last glance at the moon my resolved harden, I said, “Fuck it,” I chucked a bucket of water at the fire to put it out before I grabbed the quiver of arrows and slung it around my back. I pulled the bow to test it to make sure that it won’t break. When I was satisfied I looped it around my back as well and picked up my walking staff.

Once I was set I made my way to the entrance of the castle with a flurry of my cloak.

“Goddamn fucking shit,” I muttered as I stomped through the halls of the collapsed castle. The normal smell of rot and mold noticeably absent. It might as well be the green mile for me. There is no turning back after this.

Well hell to be honest staying in the back, doing nothing but sit on my ass well…

…that’s just not my style, and boring.

“Goddamn ponies.”

Fuckers always make me cry and now they're making me worry about timelines and shit. God damn pastel ponies, why the hell do they make me feel this way with their childlike naivete? Makes no damn sense! I'm a grown ass man damn it! I'm too old for this shit.

My internal hype was put on hold when I reached the entrance of the castle. I looked up to see the broken wall with a giant red door that only seemed to be held up by broken dreams and spit. A shaky breath escaped my lips while my hands clenched around my staff. My mouth became dry and rough like sandpaper. My free hand trembled and legs shook.

“Come one, you can do this,” I said to myself as I took a step forward…

…and nearly had my head taken off by a blue-purple mist as it zoomed by.

I cursed to myself as I turned around my staff up and ready. Only I found that there was nothing except the stone containers of the Elements of Harmony.

Aw fuck.

How the fuck did I forget those! How could I not see them during my wanderings?! Am I retarded or something?! I should grab them now and give them to Twilight and the others? What the fuck should I do?!?

Shut up! Get ready its show time.

Behind me, there was a gaggle of voices headed right towards me. I spun around again and looked to the side to side trying to figure out my next move. The doors opened with a loud squeak. Should I hide somewhere?

A gasp broke my train of thought and I looked in front of me to see six wide-eyed ponies looking at me.

The mane six to be precise.

Twilight Sparkle the purple unicorn leading pack, no wait, a group of horses is a herd right? Anyway, Twilight had dark purple mane and tail with a light purple and pink streak in it. On her flank was a purplish-pink six-pointed star on top of a white star, and each point had a star on it.

Next to her was another unicorn with a styled purple mane and freshly cut tail. Rarity looked at me with disgust hidden by shock. Applejack, on the other hand, was an orange earth pony with blonde mane and tail that was done up in a pony-tail, yes pun intended, and she was looking at me with careful guardedness. Unlike Rainbow Dash who looked like she was ready to pound me into the ground.

Speaking of the rainbow hair pegasus she was a light blue furred pegasus, and as she floated over the rest with her front hooves grounded together she glared at me with her crimson eyes. The pink earth pony Pinkie Pie, on the other hand, had no reservations about me as she bounced in place with her classic grin on her muzzle. Her bright blue eyes shined with glee. Fluttershy, on the other hand, was at the other end of the spectrum and had her yellow fur self covered by her long pink mane.

Think think THINK!!!

“Who dares disturb my slumber,” I rasped out as I slammed down my staff. The Mane Six let out another gasp, “SPEAK!”

GOOD FUCKING JOB NUMBNUTS!!! THEY’RE NOT GOING TO BE SCARED NOW!!!

The purple unicorn Twilight stepped forward and spoke, “P-P-Please, monster, s-s-sir,” she added as an afterthought. “We’re here to find the Elements of Harmony before Nightmare Moon does.” The purple unicorn gulped loudly, “We don’t mean any harm…”

I adopted a relaxed stance, “Oh that’s all?” I turned around and pointed at the Elements, “There you go.” The shocked look of the ponies didn’t get past me. “Hurry up and take care of that bitch, please. She nearly took my head off just now.” With that, I walked away, “Laters,” I said as I waved back at them.

They were here and everything seemed okay and normal despite the changes. Perhaps Celestia was right and I need to relax. This is my problem, I’m always worrying about every little thing and getting upset with things that are out of my control. I just like things to go like the way are supposed to go. To be fair I have gotten better of letting things go but ever so often, like now, it comes out.

But I have every right to worry!

What if things turn out for the worst?! This isn’t a Saturday morning cartoon show! The Nightmare Moon might actually…kill…Twilight.

Lights began to flash in one of the towers.

Fuck!

I changed direction and ran full tilt towards the tower. Dodging and ducking under fallen walls and vines. My mind on getting to the tower as soon as possible.

Hang on Twilight I'm coming.

With burning lungs and heavy breath, I reached the tower’s entrance. Hands tightened my metal pole and I moved quietly into the room, and without a sound except for my slowing breath, I entered the broken room. I stuck to the shadows as I maneuvered through the room. My feet fell slowly and without a sound.

“Oh, what’s wrong,” the condescending tone of Nightmare Moon, “You’re precious Elements of Harmony not working.”

I peaked around the corner just in time to see Twilight and the remains of the Elements of Harmony get blasted away.

I covered my mouth to silence my gasp.

Twilight looked really battered with a few bloody cuts and some discoloring blotches that were are going to turn into some nasty bruises. It didn't seem to be that bad as Twilight was able to move with relative ease.

I hid back into my spot.

That defiantly wasn’t in the show! Oh god! Nightmare Moon is going to kill Twilight! AND YET I’M SITTING HERE DOING NOTHING!!

I’m so scared! I learned a few techniques to defend myself but that’s nothing compared to magic!

IT DOESN’T MATTER GET OUT THERE AND HELP HER!!!!!

Maybe everything will turn out alright. Some slight deviations from the show are to be expected…right???

LISTEN TO YOUR SELF!!!! YOU ALWAYS GO ON AND ON ABOUT HOW YOU'RE ALWAYS READY TO HELP BUT WHEN THE TIME COMES YOU JUST SIT BACK AND ACT LIKE A GODDAMN BYSTANDERED!! AND THEN YOU HAVE THE GALL TO GET PISSED OFF WHEN YOU SEE OTHER PEOPLE DO THE SAME!!! YOUR NOTHING BUT A COWARD!!!

This is life or death here…

THIS ISN’T ABOUT JUST YOU!!! WITHOUT TWILIGHT THE WHOLE UNIVERSE IS AT PERIL!!! WHAT WOULD A SUPERHERO DO!? YOU’VE ALWAYS WANTED TO BE ONE RIGHT?! WELL, NOW IS YOUR CHANCE!!

That was just a fantasy, from a boy who never grew up, a way for me to deal with the cruel world that I was in.

My hands gripped the pole tighter.

But I can’t stand by and do nothing. Even though I’m scared, and my whole body is screaming to run away. I just can’t do anything!

‘There is nothing wrong with being afraid,’ a voice from my memory’s said, ‘Everyone is afraid, but a true warrior faces those fears head-on.’

And a coward runs. I’m not running. Not anymore.

With determination in my veins, I peaked around the pillar. I then hid back when Nightmare blasted Twilight and the Elements again. Her pained cries blasted fear into my veins. With a huge gulp, I forced my fear down and left my hiding spot. Each step came faster and faster until I was running at the unaware mare.

My pole was aimed at the ground as I ran. “OI!! SUSIE!!!” a very bad Scottish accent escaped my throat. Just as the mares turned to look towards me I performed an Unterhau aimed right Nightmare’s jaw.

The effect was less than satisfactory, but not quite unexpected. I pulled back my pole only to find that it had taken the shape of Nightmare’s face just like it would in a cartoon.

Don't think, ACT!

“What-”

I just threw my now useless staff at her before I grabbed her horn and yanked down to meet my upward knee, which connected with her jaw, in two quick secessions. As Nightmare Moon's head recoiled I threw three punches, left, right left.
A right uppercut followed, as her body slightly raised off the ground I charged at her. My tackle barely budges the corrupted alicorn as she manages to gain some ground.

I couldn't give her an opening or I'm toast.

In desperation, I took my right hand and punched her ribs. I was rewarded with a small gasp of pain. I readjusted my grasp so that I held her around her neck and with my leg, I pulled at the back of her front leg. As we gained momentum I threw my full weight into the pony and we hit the ground with a thud.

The next thing I knew I was flying through the air with my chest burning, and then I met the unforgiving ground. I hissed trying to draw as much air as I could. It would seem that Nightmare used magic to toss me off her. I tried to fight against the pain to get back up and I was somewhat successful. I was at least sitting up.

“You dare attack me!” Nightmare Moon seethed as she got up and stalked towards me.

I looked behind her to see that Twilight was getting to her feet abet shakily.

‘Come on girl, you can do it,’ I encouraged the mare in my mind.

Seeing Twilight get up gave me the strength to do the same. I might not have the power to stop Nightmare Moon, but I can at least buy the ones that can time.

“You filthy creature!” Nightmare spat at me as I reached behind me and pull out my bow. “I’m going to break you and rip you to pieces for your transgression, and when I’m-WHAT!?” the mare exclaimed in shock as my bow came into sight. Not wasting time I drew one of the lunar arrows and notched it.

“WHERE DID YOU GET THAT!!” Nightmare demanded as her horn glow dark blue.

I pulled back the drawstring and the arrowhead began to glow. “It’s amazing what you can find laying around here,” I said as I lined up the shot. I was aimed right at her center mass and I was about to let go when I stopped.

This is Princess Luna, even though she has been taken over by darkness, Luna is still under all that. I can’t risk hurting her.

I lowered the bow slightly.

My hesitation was all Nightmare Moon needed to launch her counter attack.

A beam of magic slammed right into my stomach air and spit left my mouth as I soared through the air and was pinned to the wall. An explosion went off and I dropped to the ground. Gasping for breath I tried to find my bow. I found it a few feet away from me. With what little energy I had I crawled towards it.

“That’s right, crawl,” Nightmare Moon giggled as she trotted into my view before she brought a hoof down and crushed my cursed hand.

A scream of pain tore out of my mouth as I felt the bones break and snap.

“Oh, what’s this?”

My broken hand was encased in dark blue aura and the pain increased ten-fold. I couldn’t hear what Nightmare Moon said over the blood rushing to my ears. Something about an old curse, the only thing that I knew was that a hard object was in my other hand, and I swung at the mare’s head.

Nightmare let out a howl of pain and dropped me.

Adrenaline coursed through my veins and my senses told me to fly. Hurriedly I got up and ran as far away from the mare who was recovering from whatever I hit her with. I looked at my hand saw that I had a rock in it.

“YOU INSIFINGANT RODENT!!!” Nightmare roared at me and the power of the scream pushed me back, which saved from her retaliation, but not completely.

A fresh flash of pain raced across my chest and once again my back slammed into the wall. I managed to catch myself on my undamaged arm, but only for a moment as I met the stone ground. With what little energy I had I looked up to see that there was a small cut under her right eye, or was it left?

With a chuckle, I pushed myself so that I was leaning against the wall. My chuckle died in my throat as I watch the cut heal itself. Horror filled me as Nightmare Moon stalked towards me. Her turquoise slit eyes showed only death.

Oh god…I’m going to die…I’m going to die in a magical land with talking ponies.

“Did you really think you could defeat me?!” Nightmare Moon said incredulously, “NIGHTMARE MOON! THE TRUE RULER OF EQUESTRIA!?”

I swallowed the spit in my mouth and cradle my broken hand. Fruitlessly I tried to scramble back to get away, but I was coldly reminded that I had nowhere to go.

When she saw this Nightmare Moon let out a blood-chilling laugh. “Now you understand,” she said as she studied me closely, “I’ll admit very few ponies, especially stallions, had the guts to even attack me. They preferred to let their precious Sun Princess do all the work, but not you.”

"No, you have spirit, fight within you," I watched as her lips pulled up into a smile that did not fill me with butterflies and rainbows, "I like that." I was grabbed by the front of my trashed shirt and lifted towards her.

“Why don’t you join me by my side as I rule Equestria, as my pet!”

Did she go all Darth Vader on me?

With the last of my willpower, I gathered the spit in my mouth, “You can take that offer,” I spat at her with the saliva splattered on her face, “and fuck off.” Something from behind the growling Nightmare caught my eye and I smiled. “Besides I wasn’t supposed to defeat you. Just keep you distracted for them,” I monition behind her where Twilight and the other girls had gathered.

“WHAT!” In her fear of what was transpiring behind her, the mare dropped me to the ground.

I knew what was coming next so as soon I could I scrambled to my feet and ran out of the way. Clutching my chest I moved around the edges of the room as everything unfolded just like they had in the show. A glow of a rainbow basked the room and warmth filled me. A smile graced my lips just before I realized that I was bleeding, thankfully it wasn’t that bad. Although I don’t want to know what would have happened if Nightmare Moon hadn’t used her Canterlot Voice on me.

I looked down to see that the cut was shallow but if I didn’t treat it soon then it would get me into trouble real quick. Without saying a word I left the room and headed to my campsite. It wasn’t easy as I tried to hold my chest together and keep my broken hand immobile. Each bump, each shift in anything sent a sharp pain through me.

“This is what I get for trying to help,” I seethed through sucked breath. “Fucking bitch!”

I wasn’t angry at Luna as this wasn’t her fault, but I needed to keep pushing myself to reach my campsite and rage is one hell of an antithetic.

After a long agonizing and painful walk, I reached my campsite. By now blood had soaked my shirt and I was tired. This was not good, not bad but defiantly not good. Blood loss had started to set in, meaning I had to dress the wound and fast.

I slumped down next to my small fire an idea in my head.

“Fuck me this is going to suck,” I said out loud as I reached over and grabbed a stick and stoked the fires until they were full of life. Again I reached over but this time I grabbed the knife I had scavenged. Slowly I put the knife in the fire.

I didn’t have anything to be used for bandages. It would take too long for me to purify my shirt enough to use, so that left me with only one option.

Cauterization.

The blade began to glow red and with my unbroken hand, I reached into the fire to pull the blade out.

“SEAN! What are you doing?!” Celestia cried as she came into my camp.

“Treating my wounds,” I shot as I held the knife up and it was immediately grasped in a golden aura and yanked out of my hand. The knife went flying to the other side of the camp where it clattered to the ground. “What the fuck lady!”

“Are you crazy?!” the freaking horse yelled.

“No I’m bleeding,” I retorted as my hand went to my chest to apply pressure. I was doing a bang up job too only some blood was going through my hands, never mind the bit that my hand couldn’t cover, like all of it.

Celestia’s muzzle scrunched up in a scowl. Her horn glowed golden as she walked towards me.

My eyes widen when I realized what she was going to do. “Um…hello I’m cursed remember!” I pointed at my broken furry hand. “Magic will aggravate it!”

Sunny D snorted, “Well it either this or you get an infection,” I opened my mouth to say something but was cut off, “You have no say!” Her horn glowed as bright as the morning sun. “I’m not going to lose you!”

My body shined and sparkled, and then my chest burned while my broken hand felt like it breaking over and over again. The pain kept on building until I let it out with a scream. Bright spots danced across my eyes and the sounds disappeared just before my vision followed.

Author's Notes:

I'll try to keep the author's notes down to a minimum as I don't like to break the flow.

I just wanted to thank you all for your support and critique. Please keep it up as I'm trying to improve.

I would like to give a huge thank you to Mix-up for doing my cover art for this story.

And a shot out to Stardust Balance for following me. (Like OMG I'm like a hug fan and it made my day to know that he was following me)