As she shuffled her papers with her golden magic, Celestia lifted her teacup to her lips and took a sip.

The warm herbal water soothed her mind and gave her time to revel in her recent joys in her life. Luna's return and being reunited with her friend Sean.

Luna has started to regain her former strength and form. With each passing day, the princess grows in size and her fur has started to regain is midnight blue tone. Even her mane and tail had started to sparkle like the night sky. Despite this, Celestia hasn't allowed Luna to take up her responsibilities just yet. Instead, Celestia has decided to have some tutors sent to Luna to bring her up to speed with the current laws and changes that she missed. At least enough so that she can get started. The rest of the minor details coming afterward.

All in all, things are going well on that front.

Celestia's mind then went to her human friend. A small whisper of worry began to speak in the back of her mind. She was concerned about how he was adjusting to his new environment. The concern sprouted from the fact that the human did not connect with others that well. Celestia was able to pick up on that from the few interactions he had with his fellow humans.

Sean's social insecurities became obvious early on during her stay. Celestia knew that the cause of it could easily be pointed at some kind of trauma in his past, but she has been unable to pinpoint the actual event. He had been very quiet about his past most of the time only giving one or two-word answers before changing the subject.

She was able to find out that he didn't along with others his age as a child, and in a sense, she could see why. Sean had this air of maturity and wisdom about him, he saw the world in a different light, and because of this difference, he was picked on. This created a block of self-doubt and over critical of his actions. It also made him hid his emotions and buried them.

With a sigh, Celestia began to reminisce...

Celestia blew a strained of stray pink hair as she and Sean watched a movie in the living room. The movie in itself was interesting. It was about a young boy who finds out that he is something called a 'wizard'. The pony princess found the movie quite enjoyable, but something was off with the atmosphere.

She looked over to the other couch to see one of her human roommates. The one that has helped her the most during the short time she has been here. Sean watched the movie with a neutral expression, but she could feel the negative emotions just rolling off of him.

Concerned Celestia asked, "Is everything alright?"

Sean jerked his head away from the movie and after a moment raised an eyebrow, "Yes, why wouldn't it be?" he asked and while he tried to hide it, the pain and sadness were there.

"What's wrong?" Celestia pressed raising her heard to get a better look at the human.

"Nothing," he replied as he turned his head away and back to the movie. He then put his hands behind his head and pushed his arms upward in an attempt to cover his head from her.

Celestia was going to drop it, but then in her mind flashes of her sister, Nightmare Moon, and the battle where she was forced to send her to the moon. 'No,' she thought as her muzzle tightens with determination, 'Not this time.'

"Tell me," Celestia as she reached out with her magic and picked up the remote.

Even with the angle she had, Celestia still saw Sean's jaw visibly clenched as anger swelled in him. "I said nothing is wrong," he said through gritted teeth.

Celestia paused the movie and audible growl rumbled from Sean's throat. The noise put Celestia on edge and the fur on the back of her neck stood up. Despite this fearful feeling, she pressed on, "Something is bothering you. Did it have to do something to do about that text this morning?"

"Well, maybe I don't want to talk about it!" the human snapped at her.

The room was silent as one human stewed in anger and one pony contemplated one her next move. She wanted to help the human-like he help her, but how? From her limited experience of humans, she could tell that Sean was more closed off than normal. Only when he was around his family could Celestia see more of who he was.

She was able to see the real Sean behind the negative outlook and dark humor. If only there was a way to break through and bring that out. Celestia needed a way to show Sean that she wants to help him...

That's it!

Celestia got off the couch and went over to Sean.

Sean looked over to the approaching pony. "What..." he began to say but was cut off when Celestia got on top of and lowered her self onto him. Her wings unfurled and surrounded them in a furry embrace. "You're touching me..."

"Please," Celestia whispered into Sean's ear cutting him off, "Let me help you..."

"...just as you helped me."

That statement caused the human to tense. His breathing became sharp and quick before it began to slow and began to steady.

Slowly, Sean snaked his arms around Celestia's neck and gently pulled her towards him. Warmth grew within the duo. As time went on the human-made more skin contact. His head rested into Celestia's neck.

"I got a text this morning," Sean said softly, "from a girl I...met in college."

Celestia said nothing instead she adjusted herself so that she rested her head next to Sean's head, and remind quite as he spoke, "She...is the first person that I truly loved," he said as he stared at the ceiling.

"I..." Sean paused to gather his thoughts. Celestia could feel the conflict battling inside of him. She didn't want him to close back up and keep this within him, but she didn't want to sit idly by either.

"It's okay," Celestia whispered sweetly as she nuzzled the human.

"I made peace on waiting and see what would happen, we were friends at the time you see, but..." His pause gave her some concern and so she raised her head to look at him. Celestia's heart throbbed in pain at the sight of the misty eye human.

Sean closed his eyes and took a deep breath, and when he opened his eyes the flow of water stopped. As he moved around to free his arm to wipe his eyes clear. Celestia's mind began to try to understand what she was seeing.

Why is he hiding his emotion? It's obvious that he wants to cry, so why doesn't he? Stallions are very emotional beings and are very expressive in what they are feeling. Why...?

Celestia took a closer look at Sean.

He isn't a stallion, is he? At least not an Equestrian stallion. The rules are a bit different here than back home. Perhaps human males require a little more coaxing.

"It's okay," Celestia whispered to him, "let it out."

Sean's arm went back around the alicorn before he continued. "But then she started giving signs that the interest was mutual, even then I was hesitant to tell her because I wasn't sure that I was reading it right. I wanted to be sure." The human took in a deep breath and the princess's natural scent wafted into his nostrils. The soothing smell of sunflowers and the morning dew helped him to continue. "But then one day we were talking and she...she said something that made me think that she wanted me to confess...and so I did the very next day. I spent the entire day before stressing out trying to figure out if I understood what she was saying. Did she want me to confess? Am I overthinking and completely misunderstand what she was saying? Was there someone who likes me?"

The was a pit created in Celestia's stomach as she watches an array of emotions that played across the human's face, if she wasn't standing she would fight to remain standing. She knew how this story was going to end and even then it was still a blow to her.

"A few days later I get a text from her saying that she just wants to be friends..." Sean trails off as a single tear trail down his face as he relived the entire experience once again.

Without a word, Celestia lowered her head so that it was resting on top of Sean's and with her wings encased them both in a shell of feathers. While outwardly Celestia was calm but inside she was livid. How could somepony do something like to another? The heart was the most precious part of any living thing and love that is shared with another is priceless. "She sent you something this morning didn't she?" said more than asked.

Sean's body went completely lax like a wet noodle and Celestia pulled back to look at the human's face. His eyes seemed to look at her but not at the same time. They closed and he took a deep breath before they opened back again. There behind the dullness, there was a spark of life as it tried to push through. "Yea, the bitch wants to talk about us," he snorted, "As if there was an us in the first place."

Celestia saw the human was doing and it is what many soldiers did when they came home. Bury the pain behind other emotions. This was on a smaller scale but the symptoms are the same. If what the alicorn was reading from the human was true then this is just the tip of the iceberg for him. This made the princess wonder...are all humans like this? Are they so cruel to each other that they bury themselves to hide their emotions? But his family doesn't seem to have the same symptom so why he like this.

She would ask but later. He is going through enough right as it is.

"It's her loss," Celestia said as she curled her head around Sean's, "From the little time I've known you I can tell that anypony would be grateful to have you as their special somepony." For reason that was unknown to her even to this day the princess gave the human's forehead a lick.

"At this rate, I doubt it," the now bewildered Sean said before his head dug deeper into Celestia, "thank you though."

"Just be patient, the day will come when you meet your special somepony or someponies," Celestia soothed as she nuzzled the human's head.

Sean began to rub his hands through Celestia's coat which caused the pony princess nickered softly, "Singular, humans are monogamous remember," Sean cut in.

Celestia hummed with mirth, "Not all humans, I found out that there are humans that take multiple partners." she said as she pulled her head back to look at the human with a playful smirk.

With a raised eyebrow Sean snorted, "That's because of their religion and culture," he then pointed to himself, "Neither of which I follow."

"Oh, why don't you join them then?" Celestia a smile started to form on her muzzle.

"HA!" the human let out a breathless laugh, "Besides the fact that I gave up religion long ago. I can barely get one much less six or seven."

With a sly smile, Celestia spoke into his ear, "You never know until you try."

Shivering from the sensation the human pushed the princess slightly away from his ear, "Right...I'm going to pretend that you just asked me to become player, I respect people too much to do that to them," he said.

'And that's what I like about you.' Celestia said inwardly before outwardly saying, "I didn't, I'm asking that if you love more than one like that then do so."

Sean looked at her with a deadpanned glare, "Now I know your fucking with me," he said without emotion.

Celestia pulled her head back and gave the human a half-lidded gaze, "Not unless you want me to," she said with a low tone with a slight purr, "All you have to do is say yes."

Eyes wide, the human showed surprising strength and agility as he pushed Celestia slightly and shimmed out from under her. "OKAY!" he said as he got to his feet while Celestia bit her lip to hold in her laughter. "I'm going to get something to eat now!"

Celestia giggled out loud at the memory. The princess found it cute to see Sean so flustered, he could sling a few saucy comments and could take it as well. Celestia was one of the few that could find just the right button to make him blush like a virgin. It was adorable to watch.

The sound of something burning pulled Celestia out of her muse and she looked up to see a spiral of green and grey smoke float over to her. With a soft smile, Celestia reached out with her magic to grasp the parchment that was forming in the green flames. "I wonder what you have learned today my student," Celestia murmured out loud as she unrolled the message from Twilight.

Immediately Celestia knew something was wrong by the slight miss-curves from Twilight hoofwriting and a few minute wet drops.

Dear Princess Celestia,
I regret to inform you that I have failed. You put me in charge of watching over your friend and it hasn't been a day and I failed. There was a situation with a griffon that was visiting Rainbow Dash and according to him, the griffon was attacking Fluttershy. Sean decided to step in and defend her. In the process, he punched her violently. He then brought her over to the library and set her in his room to recover, Fluttershy is fine just scared, before Rainbow came wanting to get payback. I promise to give her a through a lecture on violence against stallions.

They went...

With a sigh, Celestia skimmed through the rest of the letter to find out that Sean had gone back into the Everyfree Forest to continue his residence in her old castle. The letter floated down to her work desk as Celestia stood up and went to her vanity desk.

She knew that this was bound to happen, but she didn't expect it to be this soon or this violent. He always preferred a non-confrontal approach to things and would rather try and talk things about. Never in the amount of time she been with him did he ever show any violent outbursts, granted he is in a place where mythical creatures are the norm. Still, it brought a concern to the princess and she needed to talk to Sean.

Celestia reached her vanity desk and closed her eyes.

I stared at the bloodstain on the ground. The place where I fought Nightmare Moon.

The place where I nearly died.

The place I now considered a lesson: This is what happens when you get involved in things you shouldn't.

I just wanted to help. That's all I ever wanted. To do the right thing and make everyone happy. Is it so hard to ask for that in return? To have something nice to happen to me? Why do I constantly have to suffer and put everyone else before me?

The crackle of Nightmare Moon's laugh echoed in my head. Strength in my legs left and collapsed to my knees. Shivering at the memory of Nightmare stalking towards me like a lion at a mouse. So powerless, what was I thinking? Going against something like that. Who was I trying to fool? I didn't stand a [Beep] chance against her. Hell, every creature in this place could beat me. Even Fluttershy is more powerful than me.

Yet I still fought Nightmare Moon. Still punched Gilda who could have easily tear me to shreds.

But both Twilight and Fluttershy were in danger...

It doesn't matter I shouldn't have gotten involved.

The blood lust though...

Another shiver went through me as the memory of Gilda's words and Twilight's wounds from her fight with Nightmare Moon ran through my head. None of that was in the show. Was this because of my presence? Water began to form in my eyes as a typhoon of thoughts began to pour through my head.

"Are you okay?" Celestia's voice said from behind me.

With a snap of my head, I spun around and saw the alicorn princess standing behind me, concern and worry were written all over her muzzle. I turned my head back around and wiped my face before I stood back up to view a concerned Celestia. I need to bury this, I can't let her see me like this. She has enough things to worry about.

"I'm fine," I told her as I walked to her.

When I got close Celestia fizzled like static on the T.V. Immediately I stopped walking and went on the defense. 'Celestia' picked up on my heightened alertness as she raised her hoof. "It is still me," she stated calmly., "This is just a magical projection. I'm still in Canterlot."

I eased a bit and took a step forward. With my pony hand, I swiped at the hologram. As expected my hand went right through. Not smoothly mind you, it was like very watery jello and warm like the sun. As my hand traveled through 'Celestia' it also began to tingle. Removing my hand I looked at it while I clenched it multiple times. I didn't see anything changing, but I made a note that I probably shouldn't play with it just in case. "Ooh, tingly," I cooed out loud.

"I am tight on time so I am going to get right down to it," Celestia firmly stated quickly and I got the point. "What happen?"

She didn't have to say what she was talking about I already know what she wanted to know. "Gilda was going to attack Fluttershy," I began as I walked past the hologram. Before I continued I made sure that 'Celestia' was following me. "I ran to defend her."

Silence followed which gave me time to form my train of thoughts.

"I'm scared," I said which broke the dam.

"I'm not a fighter, but I gotten into two fights since I got here. I fought Nightmare Moon for christ sakes! I can feel this [beep]-ing curse turning me to a pony every second I'm here. Everything tingles, I sometimes wake up in the middle of the night with random parts of my body hurting. I haven't gotten a decent night's sleep since I got here, and worse yet the timeline is all [beep]-ed up. I don't know what to do! And then Twilight goes through my things!" I said not realizing that I said it all in a single breath as I started to gasp for breath when I was done.

After my rant concluded a subtle quietness settled and our walk continued. The cool breeze that drifted through the castle tickled my skin. My shiver must have alerted Celestia to my dilemma as I felt a motherly warmth radiate from the magical form of Celestia's hologram.

The warmth hugged me, enveloped me, pulled me in and told me it was going to be okay.

"I [beep]-ed up," I said as we crossed the archway that led to the remains of my camp. Everything that Celestia had given me was gone and the only thing that remained was my 'bed' and the fire pit, who's embers had long died down. It would seem that I will have to start from scratch again.

"Overacted would be the word I would have used," Celestia said and I sat down next to my dead fire, "at least when dealing with Twilight."

Curiously I looked at the princess as she continued, "You saw one of my little ponies in danger and you protected her." The hologram Celestia smiled, "I know you, Sean. Your not a violent pony...er person." Her slip up caused me to chuckle which in turn made Celestia giggle.

"As I was saying," Celesta said after she recovered, "I may not have known you for a long time, but I do know that violence is not in your nature. Truth, justice, high morality, passionate and standing up for those that can't. That is your nature."

"I just don't know how to express it," I supplied.

"You don't open yourself up to allow yourself to express yourself," Celestia said, "you closed yourself off even when your dying to let your true self out."

Confused I asked for clarification, "What are you talking about?"

A small smile graced the princess's lips, "Something you must find out for yourself."

I frowned at the vague answer, "Why do you always gotta be cryptic," I grumbled as I wrapped my arms around my chest.

"Comes with being a teacher," Celestia chimed, "how can you learn if I do everything for you."

I huffed which caused Celestia to giggle.

The dreaded awkward silence began to settle around us. I tried to search for something to talk about when the realization hit me. I knew what Celestia wanted me to do, the main reason why she came all this way to talk to me.

"You want me to go back don't you," I stated.

Celestia nodded, "It will be safer for you if stay in Ponyville."

"But-"

"Sean," Celestia cut in through clenched teeth frustrated at me, "You need to stop worrying about the timeline. This isn't a T.V. show this is real life."

Her angered tone cut through me and I lost all will to argue. I made her upset and she has every right to be so, "I know," I mumbled.

"Then why are you still worried about it?" she asked sharply.

"We've gone over this, because I'm worried that if things changing. Instead of an Ursa minor coming into Ponyville, it could be Ursa Major comes instead!" I ended yelling.

"Do you know that for sure?" Celestia asked, "Have you ever consider the fact that perhaps the show is wrong?"

"No," I said having no answer to her question. She does have a point, the show could be wrong.

"Then why worry?" she asked. Her question stumped me and I pulled knees to my chin.

[Beep] she got me there.

"I have to go," Celestia said, "Promise me that you will go back to Ponyville.

With a sigh, I nodded my head, "Preferably soon," Celestia said, "I have to lower the sun soon and the Everfree Forest is not a place to tread lightly especially at night."

"Okay," I mumbled.

I watched lazily as Celestia's hologram walked over to me. She lowered her head to look at me. "I am not mad or angry at you," Celestia soothed, "I just do not want you to worry yourself over things that you cannot control. So much so that you don't help the ponies around you."

My eyes opened a bit further to look at the princess more clearly, "What do you mean?" I asked her.

"One of the main reasons why I want you in Ponyville is so that you can teach them," Celestia explained, "you can bring a unique perspective to them."

I raised an eyebrow, "Or you just want to troll Twilight and the others."

Celestia stuck her tongue out and winked at me, "Come on, it will be fun don't you think!" she said before she fizzled out of existence.

"[Beep]," I chuckled that turned into a sigh, "[Beep] me she's right."

I rested my head on my knees and breath deeply. "I guess I have to get going soon," I mumbled, "I can't sit here and mop all day."

That is when it began.

It started softly like background noise. Gentle bells chimed, whispered in me. Like I didn't hear it with my ears. The sound was coming from within my head. Quickly I stood up to look around to pinpoint the source. The sound seemed to be coming from a particularly dark and broody arc way that lead into darkness. It was unsettling to look at.

Unsettling because that pathway didn't exist before.

Despite my common sense screaming me to do otherwise, I took a step forward. Only by chance that I looked down and saw my furry hand. "I really shouldn't do this," I muttered, as I slowly clenched my hand, "[Beep] me I'm retarded."

I slowly inhaled and then exhaled just as slowly. The thump of my boots as they touched the ground echoed off the walls. My cloak fluttered in the whisper of the wind, and the jingle in my head hummed in content. The bells began to chime to a very familiar tune, and out of habit, I sang along with glee in my heart.

"...My little pony, ah~ ah~ ah~..."

"Talk about anticlimactic," I grumbled as I picked up the pace of my walking. After I had passed the archway I was met with a long dark, dusty hallway. That's it. No mystical artifact or creature-

I did a quick 180 at the sound at something crumbling behind me. My breath became slow but panicked as my eyes strained to find the source of the noise. My paranoia, which was already growing, spiked. I lied, none of this was anticlimactic, and that's because it was still building up. While the music was nice and comforting I couldn't help but feel that I'm being coraled like cattle.

I don't like it.

The music became sharp and hurried. With a growl, I turned back around and continued down the hall.

I don't like this.

I control my life, not my grandmother, not my dad's family, and definitely not some god [beep] mystical jukebox!

Yet I'm still following the [beep] music!!

That's because you'sa dumb[beep]

RING!

I grunted in pain as a particularly loud ring reverberated through my head. My throat vibrated with a growl as I began to plan on to lay down some pain on the source of this music.

As if to call out my bluff the shadow in front of me quickly gave way to reveal an orinamate door. There was a carving on its oak body. I depicted a very familiar tree. With my human hand, I traced the outline of the limbs of the Tree of Harmony. "Now this is interesting," I said when I trailed down the door. "For being a thousand years old your in excellent condition."

So why did the music bring me here and how did it know the theme song of MLP?

Well, only one way to find out.

Putting both hands on the door and pushed. the scream of the rusted hinges for a time covered the music that slowly turned somber.

I don't like this at all.

With on final shove the door gave way to a vast room, no it wasn't a room...

...it was a tomb in a garden.

On the wall green vines covered them, some even had blooming flowers in bright blues and whites. I looked around the room only to see rose bushes. these bushes contained the biggest most beautiful roses I have seen. Colors of every hue danced around except for one spot. The path in front of me was clear as it let to a coffin in the center of the spacious room.

The stone coffin laid in the center and above it, Luna and Celestia stood. The alicorn princesses stood on their hind legs to hold up a stone halo. The halo was small than my head but wide enough to hang around my neck I reckon. A light came from some kind of golden crystal that hanged from the ceiling casted a heavenly aura.

The music fell silent as I took a step forward.

So this is where you wanted me to be, but why?

Curiosity overwhelmed my sense of worry and I continued to travel deeper into the tomb. As I got closer I became more at awe at the preservation of everything. I thought the preservation in the castle was perfect but this takes the cake.

"Who are you?" I asked the tomb when I came up to it. The only marking on the coffin was more of the ancient equestrian right on the top. Properly explaining who this pony is. Below it was the merging of Celestia's sun and Luna's moon. Just like what you would find on Equestria's national flag.

If the environment around is anything to go by, they were very important. Important enough to gain the attention of Celestia and Luna.

Dude, I wanna know who you are. Argh! if only I had a way to-

My right hand comes up to slap my face in a facepalm.

God [beep] it. I'm so [beep] stupid.

RING!!

[BEEP] YOU!

I reached into my pocket to pull out my phone and switched it to the camera. As I began to take pictures of the writing the magic around me began to come alive. Quickly, if the tingle on my skin was anything to go by.

With a tab of my finger, I stop recording the mini-movie I had started. Something was coming, something big...

There was a rumble and the ground began to shake. I hurriedly stuffed my phone into my pocket, I might have grown up in the south but I still know what a [beep] earthquake feels like!

Well, it's more like a cave in.

[Beep] off!

Before I made my Indian Jones escape a loud crack and everything stilled. Tensed, I slowly looked around to find the source of the crack.

CRACK!

Ever so slowly I looked up to the statue of the Royal Sisters. The halo was shaking in a way that casted off its stone covering. Underneath the stone was a polished silver ring. A hum began to ring out as the ring rose in the air and spun before it rotated.

I took a step back, and as my foot landed something round and rolly, probably a rock or something like that. So obviously, I slipped and fell. With a pain-filled growl, I pushed myself up just in time to see the spinning halo headed right at me with the speed of a bullet. I only had time to put my hands up in a vain attempt to block the projectile.

One ring to rule them all. Was the singular thought ran through my head.

Tsh, really brain.

There was a sensation of something cool grasping my pony arm. A grunt escaped my lips as the object tighten. I opened my eyes and looked down at my arm in question to see the ring had clasped around my forearm. It seems that I've done [beep] with more unknown ancient magic that just going to [beep] with me in some convoluted way.

With shaking feet I stood up and grunted as I hobbled. I felt like I was carrying an uneven backpack. My center of gravity was offset by something heavy. A growl rumbled in my throat as I glared at the silver band on my arm. "Can things get any worse," I said out loud as I took a step forward.

A resounding clicked echoed in the tome as the ground below my foot gave way.

I looked up the ceiling and gave it the double finger, "[Beep] you Muuuurrrppphhyy!" I screamed as a trap door opened from underneath me. My scream was cut off when my legs collapsed and my back hit the ground.

Time to recovered wasn't given to me as my body began to roll downhill. Fear began to course through my body when I realized that I couldn't stop rolling. Every time I tried to stop myself I would be tossed in the air. Finally, after the third bump I quickly stood up thankfully I was on the right side up and my feet touched the ground.

The momentum propelled me forward and I did my best to keep running and maintain my balance. Unfortunately, I couldn't see and I ended up tripping, but this time the set up was perfect.

I performed a safety roll and as the back of my feet hit the ground I dugged in. A grunt of satisfaction and pain escaped my lips as I began to slow down. That was short-lived, however, as the ground disappeared from underneath me.

"[Beep]!!" I yelled as the air screamed past my ears before my eyes were blinded by a bright light.

I was blinded for a few seconds before all my senses came back to me and the next thing I knew I was lying face down in a lightly lit cave. My eyes blinked a few time to clear my vision. Throbs of pain panged my body when I got to my feet. "[Beep] me," I groaned as I limped around, "Where the hell am I?"

"There we go," I said as I spotted the mouth of the cave and my exit, but before I could hobble away...

...the music began to sing again.

I froze in place as the bells and chimes morphed into a piano with a familiar tune.

A tune I began to sing along, "Its been a long day, without you my friend, and I'll tell you about it when I see you again."

Slowly, I turned around and gasped in shock. The Tree of Harmony stood in all of its crystal glory. I've seen in on the screen, but to see it in person. Never in my life have I been so moved by something so beautiful. Tears began to flow from my eyes. With my eyes, I traced every sharp edge, leaf, and even the indents where the Elements of Harmony use to rest. Its roots spread out and covered the rocky floor as if hold everything together.

Magic radiated off of it like a nuclear reactor, but instead of burning me it warmed me up like a blanket made of love and family. The pain from my fall melted away.

It was at that moment that my mind felt like it expanded. Like a key turned and unlocked a door that I didn't know was there. The whole world was opened up to me, everything became clear as if I understood everything. A deep connection formed and I felt myself feel everything little thing that the tree felt. My worries flowed away in a waterfall of pure bliss. An infectious giddiness began to take ahold of me. Deep down inside of me, I knew where it was coming from. "So you're the source of the music, huh?" I asked the tree as I stepped forward.

A hum came from it.

"Why bring me here?" I asked when I was stepped up to it.

Silence returned.

"Well...?" I growled from the lack of response. "Tell me!" I demanded as I reached out and grasped the tree's trunk.

Honestly, I didn't expect my mind to be bombarded with images as they raced through my mind faster than the Flash On crack. The snippets I was able to get painted the picture of the tree's desire.

Ponies milling about as they go about their lives in a heavy metropolitan city. Pony drawn carts zoomed back and forth on the road.

Life

Fillies playing with each other on the playground. Squeals of laughter as they watched as a monarch butterfly flew around them.

Curiosity

Tempest Shadow decked in black armor with the mark of the Storm King etched on the shoulders pads. The unicorn was walking up the plank of a steamed airship as a village burned behind her the Storm King's Army marched beside her in their arms crates of trinkets.

Loneliness.

Pushed out by an unknown source, I gasped for air while taken a few steps back. I sucked in as much air as I possibly could and calmed my mind enough to process what I just saw.

Okay, okay just breath Sean.

I looked to the tree at wonder. Just how connected to the world is the tree? How aware is it? Its' desire was fully understood as if there were my own.

"You want to experience the world," I said and I reached out to touch the tree. It was cool to the touch and I could feel the flow of magic course through it as it pulses, like a heartbeat, "You want to know what it's like to have a life, but most importantly," I rested my forehead on its's cool crystal surface.

"You don't want to be alone anymore." I wrapped my arms around the Tree of Harmony, "Your the only one of your kind and no one to visit you."

The tress began to vibrate softly with sorrow.

"But how can I help," I asked, "I can't exactly pick you up." To emphasize my point I tapped my hands on the sides of its trunk, "Can't even reach around and don't even get me started on them roots of yours."

The tree hummed with amusement before there was a loud crack. Having heard that sound enough times today to know that it always leads to me getting [beep] over.

Faster the Quicksilver I jumped away from the tree and with my head on a swivel trying to find.

Dumb[beep]! stop looking RUN!

I was about to book it when there was a hollow clatter and looked to see a piece of the tree had broken and fallen to the ground.

Curiously, I went over the piece to examine it further.

It was a simple long straight piece of crystal, at least I think its crystal. The show never went into detail on what the Tree of Harmony is. They only talked about its orgin but thats about it. Even that was a bit effy. The explainaiton that was given seemed off like it was wrong.

"Take me away~" the tree sang in my head.

"You seemed very familiar with music from Earth?" I asked with narrow eyes as I picked up the stick. "Why is that I wonder."

As I waited for an answer I turned the stick in my hand. There was a vibration, a flow, that coursed through the stick and somehow I knew that a part of the tree rests within this piece. With a hum, I planted one end of the stick on the ground and looked up to see that it stood just shy above my head. "This can work but I might not be able to carry this around everywhere I go," I explained as I rolled the stick in my human hand. "So how-ah [beep]!" I screamed out as the stick in my hand collapsed to the size of a pen.

"What the hell?" I exclaimed before the stick grew longer and wrapped around my arm. "WHAT THE [BEEP]! I screamed as I tried to shake the stick off of my arm.

"[Beep] off!" I yelled when I tried to pull my new bling off. I tried to smash it off by slamming it into the wall before I tried to scrape it off.

"GOD [BEEP]-ING [BEEP] IT WHY ME!!!!" I screamed to the heavens as I gave up on my attempts to pull the stick off.

My frustrations spent I stood there panting as I fell to my knees. "This is getting ridiculous."

"I agree," a deep voice said from the mouth of the cave.

Shocked I stood up and looked at the owner of the voice. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up and I put my hands up. The stick on my arm began to hum in what I could only describe as defiance, and if the tree didn't like this pony then that's all the reason I needed to be wary.

The pony that stood before me was covered in a black cloak with only his black muzzle visible, but from the pointed shape of the cloaked covered head, I could tell that this pony was a unicorn. Although it was bigger than the average pony I have met, except of course Celestia. I could say that he was roughly the same size as Celestia, which begs the question.

Is he an alicorn?

The stick around my arms unraveled and spun around until it was in my hands. I got the hint and grasped the stick and held it up like I would a sword. "Who are you?" I asked the mysterious pony.

The pony ignored me as it bared its teeth at me and I shivered as I saw a pair of canines. Bat pony? "Your an anomaly, a mistake." the pony said.

"Well [beep] you too [beep]-hole," I spat.

"You're not supposed to be here," he continued, "Your presence is a disruption." His horn began to glow a deep blood red. "I need to remove you but I can't now, because of that damn tree." He spat out.

The stick in my hand glowed in glee.

"Who. Are. You?" I asked again.

The pony looked at me with blood-red eyes. I'm starting to notice a pattern here, "My name is none of your concern," the pony said, "your existence here is a threat to everything here." The pony took a step towards me, "You need to disappear."

I got a bad feeling about this.

"Unfortunately I can't send you back, I can't even touch you with my magic," the pony growled, "not while harmony magic is running through your veins, while it protects you." The pony shifted his glare to the tree.

"Why are you protecting him?" he asked, "He will destroy everything!" he yelled at the tree.

"Why would I do that?" I said stepping into his view and put myself between me and the tree. "Equestria is a wonderful place where happiness, peace, and friendship rule."

Why the hell did I say that? That was corny as hell.

The pony snorted, "So naive, just like the residents here in this...place."

I really have a bad feeling about this.

"Do not interfere in their lives Sean," my eyes widen as the pony turned around, "otherwise I will deal with you."

In a blink, he disappeared. He didn't teleport, he literally vanished. Poof, out of existence.

"What the hell is going on," I whispered as the strength left my legs and only because of the stick in my hands prevented me from completely collapse onto the ground. My eyes zeroed in on the stick in my face. "You're up to something aren't you?"

A chirp in my head was the answer, it was mischievous but in a happy go lucky kind of way. But no visions or any other explanation. This made me weary, I was a puppet in some cosmic game. Something to be used and thrown away...

There was soothing coo that echoed within my head and it brought the thought of reassurance. The explanation I felt was that in time it would be explained.

With a grunt, I stood up and said, "Fine I'll let it go for now, but if this pony starts becoming an issue I will have answers."

It is weird communing with a tree-like this. Talking to something that doesn't talk back but I'm still able to understand what it is trying to convey. Something similar happened during my time in India where the local workers didn't speak any English but I was still able to pick up what they were trying to say.

It's odd that I'm able to do that with a tree...

...in a land filled with talking ponies...

...that use magic...

...and fly...

You know this whole place is odd.

...

[Beep] it, I'm going back to Ponyville.

Straighten back up I looked at the stick in my hand that now was only waist-high. I remembered that it changed its form before I tried to think about how to make it to a more reasonable size to be used as a walking stick. A moment later, right before my eyes, the stick grew to the point that it reached my jaw.

My lips split into a smile,"...I can [beep] with this," I said as I walked towards the mouth of the cave. Before I reached it however I turned around to give the tree one last glance. For a brief moment, I thought it flash at me to 'wink'. My lips pulled up to a smirk before I gave a wave to the tree and left the cave.

But this...pony brings up so many questions and some answers. He could cuss without being censored. He also has some beef with me being here which is because I would somehow lead to the destruction of Equestria, and it was harmony magic that was turning me into a pony. How? The Tree of Harmony, you know I'm just going to call it Harmony, somehow playing a role in all of this. So many questions and not enough answers.

Wait a minute...I just realized something...

"Aw [beep]," I muttered when I realized something. "I'm the bottom of the [beep] ravine."

"[Beep] my life!!"

Celestia released a sigh as the last practitioner of the day court left the throne room. She then looked to a pony on her right, "Is there anything else Raven?" she asked her secretary. Raven was a white-furred unicorn pony with dirt colored mane and tail, both of which were both done up in a professional bun. Her brown eyes were covered by a pair of blacked rim glasses.

Raven looked through her notes and looked back to Celestia, "No your highness we are done for the day."

Celestia nodded her head and addressed the throne room, "Thank you, my little ponies," she said, "you are dismissed for the day."

With a series of "Yes your highness" and salutes or bows the throne room slowly empty. When the room was completely emptied Celestia rolled her shoulders let loose of groan of pleasure when her bones popped. "[Beep] that feels good," she moaned as she relaxed body.

Celestia's eye's shot open and with guilt, in her eyes, while she bit her lower lip, she looked around to make sure that nopony had heard her. A sigh of relief escaped the princess, "That little human," she chuckled.

"He seems to be influencing you already," a voice spoke.

Celestia snapped to the center of the throne room where she saw a tall pony draped in a cloak. Putting on her motherly smile, Celestia hid the fact that she was readying herself to go on the offense if needed. "Why hello my little pony," she said softly, "How can I help you?"

How did this pony get in here? Even if she dismissed the guards on the interior, the ones on the outside should have stopped this pony from entering or at the very least announced their presence.

The cloaked pony cocked his head to the side. "You can drop the act Princess," the pony said as he returned his head right side up. "I know you're ready to end me if necessary."

Celestia dropped her smile and pushed out her magic to create pressure around the pony which in turn increased the heat in the room. Her eyes narrowed as a small flicker of flames danced within her mane and tail.

The pony raised a hoof, "Peace your highness," he said, "I have no desire to harm you or your subjects in any way. You are too important to the balance." He lowered his hoof and Celestia saw his red eyes narrowed, "Your human friend, on the other hand, is another matter entirely."

Shocked that this pony was able to shrug off her power Celestia pulled back some of her magic but kept it on locked and load, just in case. Her shock quickly disappeared as the need to protect Sean came up. Behind her lips her teeth clenched. Celestia stood to her full height and bore down her deadly glare. "Don't you dare touch him," she stated ready to blast this pony into nothingness and let his ash scatter to the winds.

"You can rest easy your highness," the pony spat as he turned to the stain glass windows. Particularly the newest edition, with a growl the cloaked pony glared at the glass that depicted the Bearer of the Element of Harmony as they defeated Nightmare Moon. What brought the ire of the pony was the figure that was placed below the bearers was a cloaked figure that was in a center of a light blue shield-shaped arua. He was looking up and with a human hand out as it reached out to the elements.

As if he was giving them the push they needed.

"He's already destroying the balance," the pony muttered before he snapped his head towards Celestia. "Do you have any idea what you have done?!" he demanded as he stalked towards.

"Yes," Celestia, as she to, began to walk towards the pony. "I have risked everything to ease my pain."

"It is much more than that," he spat as he and Celestia began to circle each other. Celesta's wings unfurled as she ready for combat. While the pony said he didn't want to hurt her the princess wasn't going to leave things to chance. "You've disrupted the delicate balance between time and space."

"Balance that I have to restore," the pony said in an emotionalness tone that chilled Celestia's spine, "by any means possible."

She stopped their dance to take a step towards the pony her magic glowing from her horn, "If you so much as hurt a single hair on him so help me..."

"You wouldn't be able to do a thing," the pony said with a single eye glance to Celestia. "Besides if I could I would have already dealt with him, but thanks that fucking Tree of Harmony I can't."

Relief washed over Celestia when she heard that bit of news. Sean is safe from this mysterious pony.

"Make no mistake though," the pony said seemingly picking up on Celestia's relief, "The moment that protection is gone I will deal with him."

"How," she asked with narrowed eyes.

With a dismissive wave of his hoof, the pony said, "However I see fit."

Celestia decided to move the conversation away from Sean and hopefully to get the bottom of this, "Why did you come here?" she asked as their dance continued. Like to predators disputing territory, "Surely it wasn't to tell me this."

"I came here in hopes that would agree to help me minimize the damage that pest is going to cause," he said disdainfully.

"He has a name," she said as she stopped her hoof causing the floor to crack and collapse.

The cloaked eyed the damaged floor and let loose a defeated sigh, "But I see now that it would be a waste of time to try to convince you," just as he said that Celestia decided to act now. He was going to be a threat to Sean, to her little ponies.

A threat that she was going to end now. Celestia del Sol, Diarch of Equestria, Ruler of the Sun charged her magic to the maximum level her mane and tail shifted into flames and her eyes turn white from the excess of magic, "You seem to have strong feelings for him."

That statement caused the princess to pause and it was at that moment the pony took advantage of the distracted Celesta. "No matter, I will find a way to deal with him soon enough. "

"I pray it isn't too late by then," Celestia heard him muttered before she finished with her spell.

Celestia felt a flash of magic when the pony vanished. Quickly she looked around the room and reached out to try to find the magical presence of the pony but found nothing. With the threat gone Celestia canceled the spell just as a pair of guards burst into the throne room.

"Your Highness!" one they exclaimed, "Is everything alright?"

Celestia looked to the duo and smiled, "Of course, I'm just a little tired that's all."

The guards looked to the cracked floor and smelled the burned air. They weren't convinced that was the true cause of their princess's outburst but since she physically looked alright they decided not to question it. With a glance at each other, they bow to Celestia before they left the throne room.

Releasing a sigh Celestia walked towards the glass panel that the pony so vehemently hated. She looked at the cloaked figure that represented Sean before she turned away and headed to the exit of the throne room. Celestia needed to make some arrangements with Shining Armor and discuss this newest development with Luna.

"Wait did he say 'hand'?."

"I'm sorry," I said to Twilight as we set down in the main room of the Golden Oak Library.

My journey back to Ponyville was quiet externally. Internally, on the other hand, my mind was full of questions that quickly changed to worry and anxiety as I got closer to Ponyville.

What was I going to find when I return?

A mad Rainbow Dash that wants to beat me up?

Thought after thought came pouring in as I got closer to the edge of the forest. Each thought was worse than the last. It all came to head when I reached the exit of the Everfree Forest. I looked behind me to the forest and found only darkness waiting for me. I was able to understand the symbolism and so I moved forward towards The Golden Oak Library.

The sun had started to lower, bringing the day to a close.

I had hoped that everyone was still at the party for Gilda and I could make my return without any drama.

That was instantly shot when I entered the library and found Twilight shelving books away. After an awkward silence, she was the one who broke it by offering me a seat on her couch which I took.

This led to the currently awkward conversation.

"Sorry?" Twilight confusion was written on her face, "for what?"

I crossed my arms across my stomach, making sure not to touch my new accessories, I don't want to anything to distract us from this, "For my outburst," I leaned back into the couch and tried to relax, "I shouldn't have cursed and yelled out you and Rainbow Dash."

"Well you were right," Twilight said, "Gilda did try to attack Fluttershy. Although we didn't find out until we saw her true colors at the party that Pinkie threw for her." Twilight paused as her tail curled around her like a security blanket to help her continue, "Gilda began to trigger all of the pranks that Rainbow Dash had set up beforehand and well...."

"She lost her temper and..." I said as I felt the color drain from my face as the worst possible scenario filled my mind. "Was anyone...?"

Twilight shook her head, "Thankfully no, I was talking to Fluttershy trying to get the story out of her and she had just told me just five minutes before Gilda lost her temper." The unicorn began to rub fetlock with her hoof while her tail flicked. "I was able to subdue her enough for her to calm down and leave after Rainbow Dash ended their friendship."

A weight was lifted off my shoulders as I slumped deep into the couch. "How is Rainbow Dash?"

When I didn't get a response I looked over to see Twilight's head cocked to the side and was looking at me with curiosity. "What," I said with a shrug of my shoulders.

"I thought you hated Rainbow Dash?" she asked.

I turned my head back and looked to the ceiling. "I don't hate her, I'm not even sure I can hate someone, I was just...mad I guess you can say." With a sigh, I sat up and twisted my body so that I rested a leg on the couch. This gave me the chance to look directly at Twilight.

"You don't open yourself up to allow yourself to express your self," Celestia voice echoed in my head, "you closed yourself off even when your dying to let your true self out."

Well here goes nothing.

"You see I'm not a violent person," I told Twilight, "I rather do things diplomatic sure I might talk a lot of [beep] but in the end I...I just don't want anyone to get hurt." I ended with a slight whine.

Just like a [beep] baby.

Something warm and fuzzy was placed on my human hand. I looked over to see Twilight had leaned over and placed her hoof on top of my hand.

"It's okay," the unicorn told me, "If you hadn't intervened then who knows what would have happened to Fluttershy or, Celestia forbid, other ponies. I'm not going to lie your actions are disturbing but only because your a stallion and stallions are not fighters." Twilight then chuckled, "Then again your not a pony are you?"

I shook my head, "No, I'm not."

Celestia's top student then puller her hoof back with a red tent on her muzzle. Twilight bit her lower lip as she shuffled in her seat. With a deep breath she spoke, "I should apologize as well," she said, "I shouldn't have gone through your things without your permission."

"You wouldn't have done that if I actually answered your questions," I replied.

"That doesn't make it right though," the unicorn said with a lower head.

"True d'at," I said which caused Twilight to flinch.

"I just don't understand how you and Princess Celestia could be friends?" she said before she realized something, "I"m not saying that you're a bad pony that doesn't deserve Princess Celestia as her friend, I just..."

"Find it hard to believe," I finished to which Twilight nodded. I took a deep breath and with my human hand I pulled Twilight's head so that she was looking right at me. Then I pulled my hood down to show my small smile, "Wanna find out?" I asked.

Twilight smiled and nodded her head, "Well, how about we start over then," I said putting my hand out, "I'm Sean."

The unicorn looked at my hand curiously before she threw her hoof out parallel to mine. "I'm Twilight Sparkle," she introduced herself. With a chuckle, I grabbed her hoof and gave it a shake.

"Nice to met you," I said before I looked outside to see that the sun had fully set. "Well, I heard that you have a few questions for me and we have sometime before bed." I leaned sideways onto the couch we were on, "So, what would you like to know?"

The purple one's eyes got bigger while her irises got smaller. Her smile began to split her face as she tried to imitate Cheshire, "Everything..." she oozed in a tone that, I'm not going to lie, scared that absolute [beep] out of me.

Ah [beep] what have I gotten myself into.

Well, it wasn't too bad, to be honest. I spent the rest of the day and almost well into the night answering the many questions that Twilight had about my people and my world. As tiredness gripped my eyes and made them dropped I decided that it was time to call it a night. "It's getting late," I told Twilight.

Surrounded by piles of scrolls and broken quills with empty ink containers. Twilight lowered her current scroll just enough so that I could see her eyes, "One last question," she said with her eyes glimmering.

How can I say no to that?

Simple, no.

Meh some other time, one more won't' hurt. With a sigh, "Alright one more question but after that I'm going to bed," I told her and she smiled brightly while making that squee sound that they tend to make.

Heh, so adorable.

"Okay," Twilight said getting a new piece of parchment and scribbling something down, "what are human's matting rituals starting with courtship?"

"Righty-right," I said loudly standing straight up and making a beeline to my room, "Goodnight!"

"But," Twilight sputtered.

I spun around and pointed a finger at her, "Nope I'm not poking that subject with a ten-foot pole," I told her.

"Why not?" she asked to my monotoned expression.

"Because I suck at that myself," I answered her question

"Huh?" she said with her head cocked, "You don't know how to mate?"

[Beep] say what?!

"Of course I do!" I sputtered as I felt my face heat up a little, "I just, it well, fu-arg," the words began to fail me. So I took a deep breath and said, "It is just hard for me to connect with people so relationships don't come easy for me."

Twilight lowered her head as she used her magic to put everything away. "I think I understand," she said as she took her quills and threw them into a bin, "I use to think that friends were not needed or a hindrance to my studies, and at times I wouldn't know what to do or what to say at times." She gave a mirthless chuckle, "So I understand what you're going through."

She then began to turn to me bashfully as her hoof drew a circle on the wooden floor of the library, "perhaps we can learn together?" she asked with a hopeful smile.

I gave her a smirk before "We'll see," I said as I turned around and waved at her while I descended into the basement, "night Twilight."

"Night."